Detection of Kids milk Quality using Methylene Blue Reduction test

Back ground and Objectives: Milk is a highly nutritious food that serves as an excellent growth medium for a wide range of microorganisms. Rapid, simple and inexpensive microbiological quality determination methods including Methylene Blue Reduction (MBRT) test could be commonly used as a quick method to assess the microbiological quality of raw and pasteurized milk. The aim of study is to determine quality of kids milk using Methylene Blue Dye Reduction Test Methods: A total of 37 samples comprising of kids milk collected at different levels of collection and processed. Accordingly 12 different milk samples from hypermarket, 8 different milk samples from unlicensed hawker (retail market), 11 different samples with additives from hyper market samples and 6 different samples with high price. Samples were collected. One ml of the Methylene Blue Thiocyanate solution added into a test tube then 10 ml of milk poured into test tube. Tubes incubated at 37 oC Results: Results showed that all types of milk that purchased from super market, local market and high price milk types shown no change of methylene Blue color appear on the base of time, that indicate very good quality of the milk. On the base of milk types with additive materials only one milk showed change in colour but after confirm test the colour remained blue and not changed. Conclusion: Methylene blue reduction test is rapid economic method that can be used for detection of milk quality. Approximately all the kids of milks that is purchased in our market and local markets showed sterility and the source contamination if take place may be by storage condition and transvers vehicle

An investigation into the effect of thickness of titanium dioxide and gold-silver nanoparticle titanium dioxide composite thin-films on photocatalytic activity and photo-induced oxygen production in a sacrificial system

Thin films of titanium dioxide and titanium dioxide with incorporated gold and silver nanoparticles were deposited onto glass microscope slides, steel and titanium foil coupons by two sol–gel dip-coating methods. The film's photocatalytic activity and ability to evolve oxygen in a sacrificial solution were assessed. It was found that photocatalytic activity increased with film thickness (from 50 to 500 nm thick samples) for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue in solution and resazurin redox dye in an intelligent ink dye deposited on the surface. Contrastingly, an optimum film thickness of [similar]200 nm for both composite and pure films of titanium dioxide was found for water oxidation, using persulfate (S2O82−) as a sacrificial electron acceptor. The nanoparticle composite films showed significantly higher activity in oxygen evolution studies compared with plain TiO2 films

The role of the enzyme in the succinate-enzyme-fumarate equilibrium

The following is an account of an investigation into the role of the enzyme in the succinate-enzyme-fumarate equilibrium. The method consisted in the comparison of the value of the free energy change in this reaction obtained from oxidation-reduction potentials, with that calculated from the entropies and other physicochemical properties of succinic acid and fumaric acid

Deposition of ZnO Thin Films by Spray Coating Technique for Photocatalytic and Photochemical Degradation of Methylene Blue (MB)

Deposition of a thin layer of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) on glass substrates by spray coating techniques has been done. ZnO is a semiconductor with band gap energy of ~ 3.2 eV and has the properties as oxidation photo catalysts that will transform harmful compounds and toxic substances in water into harmless compounds. ZnO thin film deposition is conducted by making gel ZnO with dissolving zinc acetate dehydrate (Zn(COOCH3)2.2H2O into a solution of isopropanol ((CH3)2CHOH) and monoethanolamine (MEA: HOCH2CH2NH2) at room temperature with a concentration of 0.3 M zinc acetate and the molar ratio is 1:1. ZnO gel is placed on the spray hole and sprayed on a glass substrate which has been heated at a temperature of 250°C at a pressure of 70 psi to form a thin layer. A thin layer is sintered at a temperature of 450°C for 2 hours. A ZnO thin layer then used as a photocatalytic and photochemical degradatioan of methylene blue (MB) with and without stirring. The microstructure analysis by using XRD show that the thin layers having polycrystalline wurtzite structure with orientations (100), (002), (101) and (110). EDS characterization showed that thin layers of ZnO consists of 50.27% and 49.73% zinc and oxygen atomic, respectively. ZnO photocatalyst reaction by using ultra violet light (UV) for 3 hours has been reduces the concentration of MB until 97.05%. A high percentage of color degradation MB performed by treatment with stirring

Synthesis and properties of Co-doped titanate nanotubes and their optical sensitization with methylene blue

Here we report on a novel chemical route to synthesize homogenous cobalt doped titanate nanotubes (CoTNT), using an amorphous Co-doped precursor. The influence of the synthesis temperature, autoclave dwell time and metal doping on the structural and microstructural as well as on the optical properties of the synthesized titanate nanotubes is studied and discussed. The optical band gaps of the CoTNT samples are red shifted in comparison with the values determined for the undoped samples, such red shifts bringing the absorption edge of the CoTNT samples into the visible region. CoTNT materials also demonstrate particular high adsorption ability for methylene blue, the amount of the adsorbed dye being higher than the one predictable for a monolayer formation. This suggests the possibility of intercalation of the dye molecule between the TiO6 layers of the TNT structure. It is also shown that the methylene blue sensitized Co-doped nanostructures are highly stable under UV radiation and present a strong and broad absorption in the visible region.Comment: 31 pages, 3 tables, 7 figure

Health technology assessment of pathogen reduction technologies applied to plasma for clinical use

Although existing clinical evidence shows that the transfusion of blood components is becoming increasingly safe, the risk of transmission of known and unknown pathogens, new pathogens or re-emerging pathogens still persists. Pathogen reduction technologies may offer a new approach to increase blood safety. The study is the output of collaboration between the Italian National Blood Centre and the Post-Graduate School of Health Economics and Management, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. A large, multidisciplinary team was created and divided into six groups, each of which addressed one or more HTA domains.Plasma treated with amotosalen + UV light, riboflavin + UV light, methylene blue or a solvent/detergent process was compared to fresh-frozen plasma with regards to current use, technical features, effectiveness, safety, economic and organisational impact, and ethical, social and legal implications. The available evidence is not sufficient to state which of the techniques compared is superior in terms of efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness. Evidence on efficacy is only available for the solvent/detergent method, which proved to be non-inferior to untreated fresh-frozen plasma in the treatment of a wide range of congenital and acquired bleeding disorders. With regards to safety, the solvent/detergent technique apparently has the most favourable risk-benefit profile. Further research is needed to provide a comprehensive overview of the cost-effectiveness profile of the different pathogen-reduction techniques. The wide heterogeneity of results and the lack of comparative evidence are reasons why more comparative studies need to be performed

Safety and efficacy of methylene blue combined with artesunate or amodiaquine for uncomplicated falciparum malaria

Besides existing artemisinin-based combination therapies, alternative safe, effective and affordable drug combinations against falciparum malaria are needed. Methylene blue (MB) was the first synthetic antimalarial drug ever used, and recent studies have been promising with regard to its revival in malaria therapy. The objective of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of two MB-based malaria combination therapies, MB-artesunate (AS) and MB-amodiaquine (AQ), compared to the local standard of care, AS-AQ, in Burkina Faso. Open-label randomised controlled phase II study in 180 children aged 6-10 years with uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Nouna, north-western Burkina Faso. Follow-up was for 28 days and analysis by intention-to-treat. The treatment groups were similar in baseline characteristics and there was only one loss to follow-up. No drug-related serious adverse events and no deaths occurred. MB-containing regimens were associated with mild vomiting and dysuria. No early treatment failures were observed. Parasite clearance time differed significantly among groups and was the shortest with MB-AS. By day 14, the rates of adequate clinical and parasitological response after PCR-based correction for recrudescence were 87% for MB-AS, 100% for MB-AQ (p = 0.004), and 100% for AS-AQ (p = 0.003). By day 28, the respective figure was lowest for MB-AS (62%), intermediate for the standard treatment AS-AQ (82%; p = 0.015), and highest for MB-AQ (95%; p<0.001; p = 0.03). MB-AQ is a promising alternative drug combination against malaria in Africa. Moreover, MB has the potential to further accelerate the rapid parasite clearance of artemisinin-based combination therapies. More than a century after the antimalarial properties of MB had been described, its role in malaria control deserves closer attention. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00354380

Pseudohypocalcemia caused by perchlorate (Irenat (R))

Background: Blood gas analysis (BGA), including measurement of ionized calcium, is performed routinely in patients with end stage renal disease on renal replacement therapy, especially when using citrate for regional anticoagulation. After installation of a new blood gas analyzer (RAPIDpoint (R) 405; BGA), we observed lower ionized calcium concentrations in a few patients without signs of hypocalcemia, whereas calcium concentrations were normal using a standard laboratory method. Pseudohypocalcemia was of limited duration and correlated with the short-term intake of sodium perchlorate monohydrate (Irenat (R)). Methods: We prepared dilution series from whole blood samples and stock solutions of calcium and perchlorate with different concentrations of ionized calcium and perchlorate. Measurement of ionized calcium concentrations was performed using two different blood gas analyzers (RAPIDpoint (R) 405; BGA and Roche AVL 9180; standard laboratory method). Results: After addition of different amounts of perchlorate, significant lower ionized calcium concentrations were measured with BGA compared to the standard laboratory method using either preparations from whole blood samples or stock solutions. The addition of potassium or methylene blue known to complex perchlorate had no effect on the concentrations of ionized calcium measured with BGA. Using different mathematical methods, a calculation of the "real" ionized calcium concentration from the value measured with BGA was not possible. Conclusions: Based on our experiments, we confirm the hypothesis that perchlorate can influence the measurement of ionized calcium by BGA. As the effect depends on the ion selective electrode that is used, it is advisable to test the blood gas analyzer with calcium and perchlorate solutions

TiO2-doped resorcinol–formaldehyde (RF) polymer and carbon gels with photocatalytic activity

Resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) polymer gels offer a relatively easy and versatile route for incorporating metals into a carbon aerogel matrix. The hybrid materials thus obtained are ideal candidates for applications involving enhanced adsorption or catalysis. This paper presents a detailed study of Ti-doped RF and carbon aerogels. The metal was introduced into the system at three different stages of the preparation process: during polymerization, by impregnation of the RF gel, or by impregnation of the carbon gel. The structure and morphology of the samples are compared using low temperature N2 adsorption, SEM, and small and wide angle X-Ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) methods. The TiO2-doped carbon aerogels display photocatalytic activity in breaking down aromatic compounds