Optimization of ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) of β-d-glucan polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum for prospective scale-up

Three levels of three ultrasonic independent variables were optimized to obtain the maximum yield of water-soluble polysaccharides (PS) extracted from Ganoderma lucidum using response surface methodology (RSM). Box–Behnken design (BBD) was employed to evaluate the effects of ultrasonic variables on the yield of PS. The parameters that were considered for the optimization are ultrasound power (500–700 W), ultrasonic irradiation time (45–65 min) and temperature (70–90 °C). The analysis of variance suggested that the response dependent variable of yield of PS could be expressed by a quadratic polynomial model. The optimal theoretical extraction conditions were found to be an ultrasonic power of 590 W, an irradiation time of 58 min and a temperature of 81 °C. Under these conditions the predicted optimal yield was 52.33 mg. Whereas by following the optimized conditions, the yield of PS by experiments was found to be 52.28 mg which is in a very good agreement with the theoretically predicted one. These outcomes indicate the adequacy of quadratic polynomial model to represent the ultrasonic extraction variables within the ranges of investigation for a volume of 0.25 L; and any prospective scale-up may require modifications in the geometry of the extracting vessel due to the non-linear effects of power ultrasound

Comparative NO2 Sensing Characteristics of SnO2:WO3 Thin Film Against Bulk and Investigation of Optical Properties of the Thin Film

A comparative investigation of gas sensing properties of SnO2 doped with WO3 based on thin film and bulk forms was achieved. Thin films were deposited by thermal evaporation technique on glass substrates. Bulk sensors in the shape of pellets were prepared by pressing SnO2:WO3 powder. The polycrystalline nature of the obtained films with tetragonal structure was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The calculated crystalline size was 52.43 nm. Thickness of the prepared films was found 134 nm. The optical characteristics of the thin films were studied by using UV-VIS Spectrophotometer in the wavelength range 200 nm to 1100 nm, the energy band gap, extinction coefficient and refractive index of the thin film were 2.5 eV , 0.024 and 2.51, respectively. Hall measurements confirmed that the films are n-type. The NO2 sensing characteristics of the SnO2:WO3 sensors were studied with various temperatures and NO2 gas concentrations. Both thin film and bulk sensors showed maximum sensitivity at temperature of 250 oC. Thin film sensors showed enhanced response in comparison to that of pellets

Utility of Masson’s Trichrome Stain in the Quantification of Mean Vascular Density in Normal Oral Mucosa, Epithelial Dysplasia and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Indexación: Scopus; Scielo.El objetivo de este estudio fue valuar la utilidad del uso de la tinción de Tricrómico de Masson (TM) en la cuantificación de la densidad media vascular (DMV) en Mucosa Oral Normal (MON), Displasia Epitelial Oral (DEO) y Carcinoma Oral de Células Escamosas (COCE). Estudio descriptivo de serie de casos. Se analizaron 17 muestras de MON, 15 muestras de DEO y 16 de COCE, teñidas con TM. Para determinar su utilidad, se compararon con las mismas muestras analizadas con técnica de inmunohistoquímica contra CD31. La cuantificación de la DMV se realizó en las 3 áreas de mayor vascularización de cada muestra. Se determinó la DMV según diagnóstico mediante la tinción TM e inmunohistoquímica contra CD31, y se calculó la correlación entre ambos. La DMV cuantificada con TM y contra CD31 difiere según el diagnóstico, observándose un aumento de la DMV al malignizarse el diagnóstico. No se encontraron diferencias al comparar la DMV cuantificada con TM y contra CD31. La correlación de la DMV analizado por TM y contra CD31 es significativa y moderada. La cuantificación de vasos sanguíneos es posible mediante la tinción de TM en muestras de MON, DEO y COCE, con una correlación moderada con la inmunohistoquímica contra CD31.The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of Masson's Trichrome (TM) staining in the quantification of the mean vascular density (DMV) in samples of normal oral mucosa (MON), oral epithelial dysplasia (ODE) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (COCE). The design - a descriptive study of case series. We analyzed 17 samples of MON, 15 samples of DEO and 16 samples of COCE, stained with TM. To determine usefulness, we compared and analyzed the same samples, either stained with TM or with immunohistochemical technique against CD31. Quantification of the DMV was performed in the 3 areas of greatest vascularization in each sample. DMV was determined according to diagnosis by TM staining and immunohistochemistry against CD31, and the correlation between the two was then calculated. DMV quantified with TM and against CD31 differs according to the diagnosis, with an increase in DMV upon malignant diagnosis. No differences were found when comparing DMV quantified with TM and against CD31. The correlation of the DMV analyzed by TM and against CD31 is significant and moderate. Quantification of blood vessels is possible by TM staining in samples of MON, DEO and COCE. TM staining is moderately correlated with immunohistochemistry against CD31.https://scielo.conicyt.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0717-95022017000401576&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=e

June 1967 in Personal Stories of Palestinians and Israelis

The clash of June 1967, called by Israelis the Six-Day War and by Palestinians the Naksa (setback), is a critical milestone within the longstanding Israeli- Palestinian conflict. Despite all the scholarly attention ever since, there remain unheard voices and untold stories. It is the personal stories of people in the region that are at the center of this book. How do they remember 1967? How were their lives affected, even changed dramatically as a result of that short war? Listening to their stories as told some 50 years later, an incomplete tapestry of memories and understandings emerge. This book is the product of a re- search collaboration among Palestinian, Israeli and European folklorists, cultural anthropologists and sociologists. The personal stories were collected in the framework of interviews with men and women from all walks of life, on the days before, during and after this dramatic confrontation. The book is comprised of eleven chapters based on a corpus of several hundred conversations, as well as eight representative interviews. Together they afford insight into differential memories and sensations, visions of euphoria and despair, newly revived hopes, pain and disappointment, disillusionment and repentance

Pengaruh Perbedaan Dataran terhadap Profil Litter Ayam Broiler yang Dipelihara di Kandang Closed House

Pemeliharaan ayam broiler dipengaruhi oleh suhu, kelembaban, letak kandang, kualitas pakan dan manajemen pemeliharaan. Perbedaan dataran memiliki makroklimat (temperatur, kelembaban, kecepatan angin dan radiasi matahari) yang berbeda dan berpengaruh pada mikroklimat kandang closed house. Mikroklimat yang berbeda akan mengakibatkan perbedaan ketebalan litter dan berakibat pada performa produksi ayam broiler. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji pengaruh perbedaan dataran terhadap profil litter yang meliputi ketebalan litter, persentase litter, kandungan telur cacing dan jenis cacing pada litter ayam broiler yang dipelihara dengan sistem perkandangan closed house. Penelitian menggunakan rancangan acak lengkap (RAL) dengan 3 perlakuan dan 5 ulangan. Perlakuan penelitian terdiri dari T1 (kandang closed house di ketinggian ≤100 meter di atas permukaan laut (mdpl)), T2 (kandang closed house di ketinggian 100 - 300 mdpl) dan T3 (kandang closed house di ketinggian 300 - 500 mdpl). Metode yang digunakan yaitu purposive random sampling pada beberapa titik di dalam kandang yang mewakili luas kandang untuk mengukur ketebalan dan persentase litter, penentuan jumlah telur cacing dengan metode apung (Flotation method) dan jenis telur cacing dengan metode Mc. Master. Hasil penelitian menunjukan perbedaan dataran berpengaruh nyata (P<0,05) terhadap ketebalan litter, namun tidak berpengaruh nyata terhadap persentase litter dan kandungan telur cacing. Hasil penelitian dapat disimpulkan bahwa perbedaan ketinggian dataran mempengaruhi ketebalan litter pada kandang closed house sedangkan telur cacing tidak ditemukan

Home safe home: Evaluation of a childhood home safety program

BACKGROUND: The London Health Sciences Centre Home Safety Program (HSP) provides safety devices, education, a safety video, and home safety checklist to all first-time parents for the reduction of childhood home injuries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the HSP for the prevention of home injuries in children up to 2 years of age. METHODS: A program evaluation was performed with follow-up survey, along with an interrupted time series analysis of emergency department (ED) visits for home injuries 5 years before (2007–2013) and 2 years after (2013–2015) implementation. Spatial analysis of ED visits was undertaken to assess differences in home injury rates by dissemination areas controlling differences in socioeconomic status (i.e., income, education, and lone-parent status) at the neighborhood level. RESULTS: A total of 3,458 first-time parents participated in the HSP (a 74% compliance rate). Of these, 20% (n = 696) of parents responded to our questionnaire, with 94% reporting the program to be useful (median, 6; interquartile range,2 on a 7-point Likert scale) and 81% learning new strategies for preventing home injuries. The median age of the respondent\u27s babies were 12 months (interquartile range, 1). The home safety check list was used by 87% of respondents to identify hazards in their home, with 95% taking action to minimize the risk. The time series analysis demonstrated a significant decline in ED visits for home injuries in toddlers younger than2 years of age after HSP implementation. The declines in ED visits for home injuries remained significant over and above each socioeconomic status covariate. CONCLUSION: Removing hazards, supervision, and installing safety devices are key facilitators in the reduction of home injuries. Parents found the HSP useful to identify hazards, learn new strategies, build confidence, and provide safety products. Initial finding suggests that the program is effective in reducing home injuries in children up to 2 years of ag

PET/CT Scanner and Bone Marrow Biopsy in Detection of Bone Marrow Involvement in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

Evaluation of bone marrow involvement (BMI) is paramount in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) for prognostic and therapeutic reasons. PET/CT scanner (PET) is now a routine examination for the staging of DLBCL with prognostic and therapeutic implications. This study evaluates the role of PET for detecting marrow involvement compared to bone marrow biopsy (BMB). This monocentric study included 54 patients diagnosed with DLBCL between 2009 and 2013 and who had FDG PET/CT in a pre-treatment setting. A correlation analysis of the detection of BMI by PET and BMB was performed. A prognostic evaluation of BMI by BMB and/or PET/CT and correlation with an overall 2-year survival were analyzed. PET was more sensitive for the detection of BMI than BMB (92.3% vs. 38.5%). It can be considered a discriminatory Pre-BMB test with a negative predictive value of 97.6%. In addition, BMI by PET had a prognostic value with strong correlation with progression-free survival (PFS) (HR = 3.81; p = 0.013) and overall survival (OS) (HR = 4.12; p = 0.03) while the BMB had not. PET shows superior performance to the BMB for the detection of marrow involvement in DLBCL. It may be considered as the first line examination of bone marrow instead of the biopsy

June 1967 in Personal Stories of Palestinians and Israelis

The clash of June 1967, called by Israelis the Six-Day War and by Palestinians the Naksa (setback), is a critical milestone within the longstanding Israeli- Palestinian conflict. Despite all the scholarly attention ever since, there remain unheard voices and untold stories. It is the personal stories of people in the region that are at the center of this book. How do they remember 1967? How were their lives affected, even changed dramatically as a result of that short war? Listening to their stories as told some 50 years later, an incomplete tapestry of memories and understandings emerge. This book is the product of a re- search collaboration among Palestinian, Israeli and European folklorists, cultural anthropologists and sociologists. The personal stories were collected in the framework of interviews with men and women from all walks of life, on the days before, during and after this dramatic confrontation. The book is comprised of eleven chapters based on a corpus of several hundred conversations, as well as eight representative interviews. Together they afford insight into differential memories and sensations, visions of euphoria and despair, newly revived hopes, pain and disappointment, disillusionment and repentance