Determination of Dioctyl phthalate (DEHP) concentration in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic parts of toothbrushes

Phthalates are chemicals that are widely used in daily products and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics, mainly because of their ability to enhance flexibility and durability. The presence of phthalates in various products contributes to the substantial exposure that all consumers may experience. Continuity in phthalate exposure has several side effects, including endocrine disruption, neurological damage, asthma, hormonal imbalances, obesity, infertility, genital defects, and testicular cancer. The purpose of this research experiment was to determine the Dioctyl phthalate (DEHP) concentration of PVC plastic parts of toothbrushes. The method used to conduct the experiment was Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry. The result showed that the phthalate concentration of a Reach adult’s toothbrush and a Equate kid’s toothbrush were 1.97 ppm and 0.56 ppm respectively. Therefore, this study found that considerable concentrations of phthalates were also present in toothbrushes, which, due to consumers’ daily exposure, would certainly have negative effects on users’ health in the long term

Determination of Dioctyl phthalate (DEHP) concentration in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic parts of toothbrushes

Phthalates are chemicals that are widely used in daily products and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics, mainly because of their ability to enhance flexibility and durability. The presence of phthalates in various products contributes to the substantial exposure that all consumers may experience. Continuity in phthalate exposure has several side effects, including endocrine disruption, neurological damage, asthma, hormonal imbalances, obesity, infertility, genital defects, and testicular cancer. The purpose of this research experiment was to determine the Dioctyl phthalate (DEHP) concentration of PVC plastic parts of toothbrushes. The method used to conduct the experiment was Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry. The result showed that the phthalate concentration of a Reach adult’s toothbrush and a Equate kid’s toothbrush were 1.97 ppm and 0.56 ppm respectively. Therefore, this study found that considerable concentrations of phthalates were also present in toothbrushes, which, due to consumers’ daily exposure, would certainly have negative effects on users’ health in the long term

GaAs-based Self-Aligned Stripe Superluminescent Diodes Processed Normal to the Cleaved Facet

We demonstrate GaAs-based superluminescent diodes (SLDs) incorporating a window-like back facet in a self-aligned stripe. SLDs are realised with low spectral modulation depth (SMD) at high power spectral density, without application of anti-reflection coatings. Such application of a window-like facet reduces effective facet reflectivity in a broadband manner. We demonstrate 30mW output power in a narrow bandwidth with only 5% SMD, outline the design criteria for high power and low SMD, and describe the deviation from a linear dependence of SMD on output power as a result of Joule heating in SLDs under continuous wave current injection. Furthermore, SLDs processed normal to the facet demonstrate output powers as high as 20mW, offering improvements in beam quality, ease of packaging and use of real estate. © (2016) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only

Effect of Different Growth Conditions on Certain Biochemical Parameters of Different Cyanobacterial Strains

Aims: Variation in the traditional growth medium conditions to enhance the production of lipids, carbohydrates, protein and the free amino acids content of three cyanobacterial species. Methodology and Results: Three species of cyanobacteria (Anabaena laxa, Anabaena fertilissima and Nostoc muscorum) were collected from the culture collection of Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Giza, Egypt, to investigate their biochemical composition under different growth conditions, using BG110 (nitrogen free) as growth medium. These conditions were represented by control medium, static glucose medium with (1%, w/v), aerated medium (aerated by bubbling technique depending on CO2 normally existed in air with a concentration of 0.03%), molasses medium (0.7%, v/v) and aerated medium enriched with glucose (1%, w/v). Lipid content, total carbohydrates, soluble proteins and free amino acids were determined at the previous conditions. Glucose at 0.7% (w/v) was the most favorable for lipid production in A. laxa, where it exhibited the highest lipid content (427 μg/g fresh wt.). Increasing molasses concentration up to 0.7% (v/v) produced an increase in lipid contents of the tested cyanobacterial strains. The highest lipid content of both N. muscorum (366.2 μg/g fresh wt.) and A. laxa (357.4 μg/g fresh wt.) were recorded at molasses concentrations of 0.1 and 0.7% (v/v), respectively. A. laxa expressed high significant values for both proteins (31.6 μg/mL) and free amino acids (40.5 mg/g dry wt.) after 6 days of incubation period under aerated enriched glucose condition (1%, w/v). Also, at the same growth conditions, A. fertilissima exhibited high significant values for carbohydrates at 4th day (876.8 mg/g dry wt.). Conclusion, significance and impact of study: Aerated enriched glucose medium (1%, w/v) was the best growth medium condition used in the present study

Draft Genome Sequences of Six Different Staphylococcus epidermidis Clones, Isolated Individually from Preterm Neonates Presenting with Sepsis at Edinburgh\u27s Royal Infirmary

Herein, we report the draft genome sequences of six individual Staphylococcus epidermidis clones, cultivated from blood taken from different preterm neonatal sepsis patients at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Role of alternating current shape on microstructure and damage evolution of solder joints

Thermal resistivity of solder joints was considered as failure indicator and found that the triangle AC current had the significant effect on the increase of thermal resistivity in the solder joint in a certain time compared with other AC current shape

A geometrical analysis of inclined and tilted spherical plough discs

An analysis is presented of the ef fect of disc geometry in relation to its areas of contact with soil at the working depth , treating the disc as a segment of a thin spherical shell . In addition , the ef fects of the disc angle of tilt , the disc angle of inclination to its direction of motion and the working depth are examined in detail . Shallow and deep disc concavities are considered . A presentation is made of formulae derived for disc critical angle and depth and for bearing and pressure areas of contact with the soil on vertical and horizontal planes . In addition , a study was made of the overlapping of soil working areas when adjacent discs are working in a gang arrangement . The ef fects of inside and outside sharpening of the circumferential edge of the disc are also examined . For the practical range of tilt angle (15 Њ to 25 Њ ) and disc angle (35 Њ to 55 Њ ) it is shown that the bearing area of the rear spherical area of discs is zero , so there is no soil contact with the rear surface of the disc . The vertical pressure area is only slightly af fected by tilt angle and there is little dif ference for the two disc concavities . Disc angle and working depth have significant ef fects on this area . The horizontal presssure area is not af fected by disc angle over its practical range . It has larger values for the 81 mm concavity than for the 51 mm concavity and is significantly influenced by tilt angle and working depth . Discs working in a gang , have overlapping of the areas of soil cut for disc angles and spacings (180 to 300 mm) adopted in practice . The area cut by an individual disc is not markedly af fected by disc angle . Inside and outside sharpening does not significantly af fect the overall findings concerning critical disc parameters . The flat bevelled surface formed by outside sharpening will generally be in contact with soil over the practical range of tilt and disc angles

Plant genomics in Africa: present and prospects

Plants are the world’s most consumed goods. They are of high economic value and bring many health benefits. In most countries in Africa, the supply and quality of food will rise to meet the growing population’s increasing demand. Genomics and other biotechnology tools offer the opportunity to improve subsistence crops and medicinal herbs in the continent. Significant advances have been made in plant genomics, which have enhanced our knowledge of the molecular processes underlying both plant quality and yield. The sequencing of complex genomes of African plant species, facilitated by the continuously evolving nextgeneration sequencing technologies and advanced bioinformatics approaches, has provided new opportunities for crop improvement. This review summarizes the achievements of genome sequencing projects of endemic African plants in the last two decades. We also present perspectives and challenges for future plant genomic studies that will accelerate important plant breeding programs for African communities. These challenges include a lack of basic facilities, a lack of sequencing and bioinformatics facilities, and a lack of skills to design genomics studies. However, it is imperative to state that African countries have become key players in the plant genome revolution and genome derived-biotechnology. Therefore, African governments should invest in public plant genomics research and applications, establish bioinformatics platforms and training programs, and stimulate university and industry partnerships to fully deploy plant genomics, particularly in the fields of agriculture and medicine

Identification of a human neonatal immune-metabolic network associated with bacterial infection

Understanding how human neonates respond to infection remains incomplete. Here, a system-level investigation of neonatal systemic responses to infection shows a surprisingly strong but unbalanced homeostatic immune response; developing an elevated set-point of myeloid regulatory signalling and sugar-lipid metabolism with concomitant inhibition of lymphoid responses. Innate immune-negative feedback opposes innate immune activation while suppression of T-cell co-stimulation is coincident with selective upregulation of CD85 co-inhibitory pathways. By deriving modules of co-expressed RNAs, we identify a limited set of networks associated with bacterial infection that exhibit high levels of inter-patient variability. Whereas, by integrating immune and metabolic pathways, we infer a patient-invariant 52-gene-classifier that predicts bacterial infection with high accuracy using a new independent patient population. This is further shown to have predictive value in identifying infection in suspected cases with blood culture-negative tests. Our results lay the foundation for future translation of host pathways in advancing diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic strategies for neonatal sepsis