Effect of different cranberry extracts and juices during cranberry juice processing on the antiproliferative activity against two colon cancer cell lines

The effect of cranberry extracts and juices during cranberry juice processing on the antiproliferative properties against colon cancer cells was investigated. Two colon cancer cell lines HT-29 and LS-513 were treated with different concentrations of cranberry phenolic extracts from fruits, puree, depectinised puree and pomace and different concentration of three juices (raw, filtered and concentrated juices). The phenolic extracts consisted of water-soluble phenolic compounds, apolar phenolic compounds and anthocyanins. These phenolic extracts and juices were tested against two cell lines at pH 2.5 (natural juice pH) and at pH 7.0 (physiological pH). All cranberry extracts and juices could inhibit the growth of both cell lines with the IC₅₀ values (the concentration of phenolic content required to inhibit 50% the growth of cancer cells) varied from 3.8 to 179.2 μg gallic acid equivalent/ml. It was found that three types of extracts from fruit at pH 7.0 were the most effective at inhibiting the growth of HT-29 cell line. Extracts containing anthocyanins from fruit and from pomace were the most and the least efficient, respectively, in inhibiting the growth of both cancer cell lines. Further, three juices at natural pH (pH 2.5) were more effective at inhibiting the growth of two cell lines as compared to juices at pH 7.0. Concentrated juice at both pH values was the most effective at growth inhibition of two cancer cell lines compared to two other juices.     

Comparison of demyelination and neural degeneration in spiral and Scarpa's ganglia of C57BL/6 mice

Spiral and Scarpa's (vestibular) ganglia of female C57BL/6 mice, ranging in age from 1.5 to 32 months, were examined by light and electron microscopy. The spiral ganglia of C57BL/6 mice undergo sweeping neuronal losses. Based on cytological characteristics that repeat themselves in both young and old mice, we divided perikaryal demyelination and degeneration of spiral ganglia into four arbitary stages: (1) incipient demyelination, myelin sheaths begin to loosen and unravel; (2) contact, the partially demyelinated perikarya abut as the extracellular matrix disappear; (3) clumping, clusters of naked perikarya clump together, cytoplasmic processes surround the exterior of the clump; and (4) resorption, the clumps gradually disintegrate, leaving at completion large, fluid-filled spaces and few cellular remnants. In Scarpa's ganglia, a small number of neurons demyelinate and clump, but none degenerate or undergo resorption.     

Bacterial identification by near-infrared chemical imaging of food-specific cards

Near-infrared chemical imaging (NIR-CI) is investigated as a tool for the high-throughput analysis of self-contained microbial identification test cards for micro-organisms of concern in food. In this initial work, a NIR-CI system operating in the spectral range 1000–2350 nm was used to acquire NIR chemical images of bacterial cells deposited on a ‘card’, containing both the calibration and test samples. Results show that some bacteria can be identified from differences observed at unique wavelengths, and that a standard operating procedure can be developed for a particular ‘card’ to differentiate and hence identify the various organisms it contains using discrete wavelengths. For situations where a particular organism of concern is sought, a PLS chemometric model may offer better performance by accounting for variables that can be incorporated in the calibration without the need to know the taxonomic identity of the complete complement of bacteria present on the ‘card’. Overall, the NIR-CI results obtained in this investigation show that this high throughput technique possesses the specificity required to differentiate bacteria on the basis of their NIR spectra.     

Pilot-scale evaluation of ozone and biological activated carbon for trace organic contaminant mitigation and disinfection

In an effort to validate the use of ozone for contaminant oxidation and disinfection in water reclamation, extensive pilot testing was performed with ozone/H₂O₂ and biological activated carbon (BAC) at the Reno-Stead Water Reclamation Facility in Reno, Nevada. Three sets of samples were collected over a five-month period of continuous operation, and these samples were analyzed for a suite of trace organic contaminants (TOrCs), total estrogenicity, and several microbial surrogates, including the bacteriophage MS2, total and fecal coliforms, and Bacillus spores. Based on the high degree of microbial inactivation and contaminant destruction, this treatment train appears to be a viable alternative to the standard indirect potable reuse (IPR) configuration (i.e., membrane filtration, reverse osmosis, UV/H₂O₂, and aquifer injection), particularly for inland applications where brine disposal is an issue. Several issues, including regrowth of coliform bacteria in the BAC process, must be addressed prior to full-scale implementation.     

Alcohol intake and cognitive abilities in old age: The Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 study.

Objective: Moderate alcohol consumption has been associated with better cognitive performance in late adulthood, possibly by improving vascular health. Few studies have examined the potentially confounding roles of prior cognitive ability and social class in this relationship. Method: Participants were 922 healthy adults about 70 years old in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 study, for whom there are IQ data from age 11. Alcohol consumption was obtained by self-report questionnaire. Cognitive outcome measures included general cognitive ability, speed of information processing, memory, and verbal ability. Results: Moderate to substantial drinking (>2 units/day) was associated with better performance on cognitive tests than low-level drinking (≤2 units/day) or nondrinking in men and women. After adjusting for childhood IQ and adult social class, most of these associations were removed or substantially attenuated. After full adjustment, a small, positive association remained between overall alcohol intake and memory (women and men) and verbal ability (women only). Women's overall alcohol intake was derived almost exclusively from wine. In men, effects differed according to beverage type: wine and sherry–port consumption was associated with better verbal ability, but beer was associated with a poorer verbal ability and spirits intake was associated with better memory. Conclusions: Prior intelligence and socioeconomic status influence both amount and type of alcohol intake and may partly explain the link between alcohol intake and improved cognitive performance at age 70. Alcohol consumption was found to make a small, independent contribution to memory performance and verbal ability, but these findings' clinical significance is uncertain. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Variation in magnetic properties during chemical reactions producing Fe1-xS and FeCl2

 By use of a Hall measurement gaussmeter, the magnetic properties of chemically-reacting iron-sulfur powder mixtures and of iron powder plus hydrochloric acid have been extensively studied. In the case of iron sulfide (non-stoichiometric Fe_1-xS) the measured value of the magnetic (B) field first increased continuously and significantly as the chemical reaction proceeded, then decreased sharply as the reaction neared completion. This behavior was stronger in the presence of an externally applied static magnetic field but was also clearly observed in the absence of an external field. The recovered product of the reaction was bronze-colored pyrrhotite which was in the form of a thin magnetic coating on Fe particles with a narrow conical morphology aligned with the external B field. The magnetic behavior during the Fe+HCl reaction was similar but far less pronounced. The general magnetic field behavior in both systems parallels the character of an activated state energy behavior. Received: 21 July 1998 / Accepted: 28 August 1998     

Exposure to violent media: The effects of songs with violent lyrics on aggressive thoughts and feelings.

Five experiments examined effects of songs with violent lyrics on aggressive thoughts and hostile feelings. Experiments 1, 3, 4 and 5 demonstrated that college students who heard a violent song felt more hostile than those who heard a similar but nonviolent song. Experiments 2-5 demonstrated a similar increase in aggressive thoughts. These effects replicated across songs and song types (e.g., rock, humorous, nonhumorous). Experiments 3-5 also demonstrated that trait hostility was positively related to state hostility but did not moderate the song lyric effects. Discussion centers on the potential role of lyric content on aggression in short-term settings, relation to catharsis and other media violence domains, development of aggressive personality, differences between long-term and short-term effects, and possible mitigating factors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Characterization of soluble organic matter from Youssoufia rock phosphate

Extractable lipids represent 12% of the total organic matter contained in Youssoufla rock phosphate. This soluble organic matter corresponds mainly to free, directly extractable lipids. They are dominantly neutral lipids (neutral/acid fraction ratio: 1.5). Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric studies showed for the alkanes a bimodal distribution C₁₅---C₂₁ and C₂₂---C₃₃ dominated, respectively, by C₁₈ and C₂₇. The dominant hopanes were identified under the thermodynamically stable αβ-form, αββ-steranes were also present with the non-diagenetic ααα- and βαα-steranes. Phytane and pristane deriving from the transformation of chlorophyll chains were also identified.Acids were saturated linear C₁₂---C₃₀ acids with a predominance of the C₁₆ and C₁₈ members, unsaturated C_16:1 and C_18:1 acids and even dicarboxylic acids. The results obtained suggest that the organic matter present in the phosphate has a marine origin with a significant continental contribution.