Comparison of different methods for extraction and estimation of aflatoxin B1 in groundnut

Aflatoxin extraction methods namely Best Food (BF), Contaminant Branch (CB), Pous’ and Romer’s and analytical methods namely thin-layer chromatography, spectrophotometric and minicolumn techniques, in different combinations, were compared for their efficiency for determining aflatoxin B1 occurring naturally in groundnuts and also for estimating aflatoxin B1 levels in groundnut meal samples spiked with known quantity of the toxin. The BF and Pons’ methods gave better efficiency than the other two methods. Spectrophotometric method was more effective than TLC and minicolumn techniques. BF method was found relatively less expensive and less time consuming as compared to other extraction methods. The Pons’ method was found convenient while handling large numbers of samples especially in the absence of centrifuge facilities required for the BF method

Studies on the dynamic characteristics of monolithic RC wall panels

Monolithically built RC wall panels permits for the industrialized construction of a group of integrated buildings using mechanized, rationalized and mass-production procedure. This is a unique, fast and economical technique. Most of the national and international codes comprise of a brief design procedure of this type of construction. Lot of research is being carried out worldwide about the effect of dynamic loads on these structures. In this paper, FE analysis is done on a designed typical monolithic RC wall panel structure for all zones as per Indian code and the results are compared with different international codal provisions and the formulae presented by Saheb & Desayi and Doh & Fragomeni. This paper consists of background, design and construction of monolithic RC wall panel, FE analysis and comparison of results. © 2013 CAFET-INNOVA TECHNICAL SOCIETY

Induction of acrosome reaction of spermatozoa in Eriocheir sinensis by low temperature

The effects of temperatures, durations of treatment, and derivations from spermatophores or spermaries on in vitro acrosome reaction of the spermatozoa in the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis were investigated. The results showed that the different temperatures resulted in extremely significant differences (p < 0.01) in the time of beginning acrosome reaction, the time of the maximum percentage of acrosome reaction, and the maximum percentage of acrosome reaction of the spermatozoa from spermatophores; and the low temperature (−20, −80 °C and liquid nitrogen) induced acrosome reaction of more than 90% spermatozoa while 15 and 4 °C didn’t. Similar results occur in the spermatozoa, treated with −80 °C for 15 min, from spermaries but the time of beginning acrosome reaction and the time of the maximum percentage of acrosome reaction were obviously longer than those from spermatophores. In conclusion, low temperature can induce acrosome reaction, which is a novel and efficient operating method of inducing acrosome reaction; the spermatozoa might be affected physiologically to capacitate with chilling. The study may be beneficial to new understandings of mechanism of acrosome reaction and provide the foundational material for artificial fertilization and breeding of this crab and other commercial aquatic crustaceans