Determination of Sugars in Soft Drinks by High Performance Liquid Chromatography

The fructose, glucose and sucrose contents of selected soft' drinks available in Malaysian markets were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The soft drinks tested had a soluble sugar content of between 8.5 to 15.3 g 100 ml- 1 • The average fructose, glucose and sucrose contents werefound to be in the ranges of 0 - 6. 7, 0 - 6.9 and 0 - 10.5 g 100 ml I respectively. The content of individual sugars were found to be more variable than the content of total sugar in different samples of a specific soft drink

Investigating diet as the source of tetrodotoxin in Pleurobranchaea maculata

The origin of tetrodotoxin (TTX) is highly debated; researchers have postulated either an endogenous or exogenous source with the host accumulating TTX symbiotically or via food chain transmission. The aim of this study was to determine whether the grey side-gilled sea slug (Pleurobranchaea maculata) could obtain TTX from a dietary source, and to attempt to identify this source through environmental surveys. Eighteen non-toxic P. maculata were maintained in aquariums and twelve were fed a TTX-containing diet. Three P. maculata were harvested after 1 h, 24 h, 17 days and 39 days and TTX concentrations in their stomach, gonad, mantle and remaining tissue/fluids determined using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Tetrodotoxin was detected in all organs/tissue after 1 h with an average uptake of 32%. This decreased throughout the experiment (21%, 15% and 9%, respectively). Benthic surveys at sites with dense populations of toxic P. maculata detected very low or no TTX in other organisms. This study demonstrates that P. maculata can accumulate TTX through their diet. However, based on the absence of an identifiable TTX source in the environment, in concert with the extremely high TTX concentrations and short life spans of P. maculata, it is unlikely to be the sole TTX source for this species

Mechanisms Of Fracturing In Structures Built From Topologically Interlocked Blocks

Failure of materials is in many cases associated with initiation and subsequent propagation of macroscopic fractures. Consequently, in order to increase the strength, one needs to inhibit either crack initiation or propagation. The principle of topological interlocking provides a unique opportunity to construct materials and structures in which both routes of the strength increase can be realised. Materials and structures built on the basis of this principle consist of many elements which are hold together by the special geometry of their shape, together with an external constrain. The absence of the binder phase between the elements allows the interfaces to arrest macroscopic crack propagation. In addition, with sufficiently small size of the elements an increase in local strength and, possibly, in the stress for crack initiation can be achieved by capitalising on the size effect. Furthermore, the ability of some interlocking structures to tolerate missing elements can serve to prevent the avalanche-type failure initiated by failure of one of the elements. In this paper, experimental results and a theoretical analysis with regard to this possibility are presented

Stratigraphic succession and depositional framework of the Sandakan Formation, Sabah

The Sandakan Formation of the Segama Group is exposed across the Sandakan Peninsular in eastern Sabah. This Upper Miocene part of the Segama Group unconformably overlies the Garinono Formation and is conformably overlain by the Bongaya Formation. This formation was investigated with detailed logging of outcrops and microfossils analysis in order to map the depositional facies and sedimentary environment. This study showed the presence of seven lithofacies: Thick amalgamated sandstone; thin, lenticular interbedded HCS sandstones and mudstone; laminated mudstone with Rhizophora; trough cross-bedded sandstone; laminated mudstone; strip mudstone with thin sandstone and siltstone; and interbedded HCS sandstone and mudstone. Based on the presence of Rhizophora, Brownlowia, Florchuetia sp., Polypodium, Stenochleana palustris, Ascidian spicule low angle cross bedding, very fine grained sandstone, thin alternations of very fine sandstone, silt and clay layers showing cyclicity (muddy rhythemites), rocks in the Sandakan Formation are interpreted as mangal estuary and open marine facies. Three facies associations could be deduced from the seven lithofacies: Gradual coarsening upwards shoreface; abrupt change facies and prograding estuary facies association

Serological prevalence and haematological profile of Feline Immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in semi-roamer and outdoor cats

Feline Immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is among the most common infectious diseases diagnosed in cats. In this study, 55 client-owned cats presented to the University Veterinary Hospital, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UVH-UPM) were sampled. Inclusion criteria were semi-roamer and outdoor cats aged more than 6 mont hs old. Blood samples were collected for serological testing us ing commercial immunochromatographic test kits and haematological an alysis. Of the 55 cats tested, 13 cats (23.6%) tested positive for FIV antibodies. There was a significant association (P<0.05) between neuter and health status to FIV seropositivity. FIV infect ions were more likely occured in intact cats compared to neutered cat s, and in sick cats compared to healthy cats. Erythrocytes, hemoglobin and packed cell volume (PCV) were significantly redu ced (P<0.05) in FIV cats compared to FIV-seronegative cats, however these parameters were within the normal range

Out-of-frame T cell receptor beta transcripts are eliminated by multiple pathways In Vivo

Non-productive antigen receptor genes with frame shifts generated during the assembly of these genes are found in many mature lymphocytes. Transcripts from these genes have premature termination codons (PTCs) and could encode truncated proteins if they are not either inactivated or destroyed by nonsense-mediated decay (NMD). In mammalian cells, NMD can be activated by pathways that rely on the presence of an intron downstream of the PTC; however, NMD can also be activated by pathways that do not rely on these downstream introns, and pathways independent of NMD can inactivate PTC-containing transcripts. Here, through the generation and analysis of mice with gene-targeted modifications of the endogenous T cell receptor beta (Tcrb) locus, we demonstrate that in T cells in vivo, optimal clearance of PTC-containing Tcrb transcripts depends on the presence of an intron downstream of the PTC

The Global Trade Architecture and the Developing World

It can be argued that the main stated objectives of the World Trade Organization are those of raising living standards, full employment and growth of real income, as well as ensuring that developing countries secure a fair share in global trade growth, whilst reduction of tariffs and non-tariff barriers and elimination of discriminatory treatment are instruments to achieve them. However, in practice, the means have many times prevailed over the ends and, in particular, insufficient attention has been given to the "development dimensions" of the global trading system, in particular on what trading rules and complementary policies are necessary to maximize the trade-development link. This paper looks at the major aspects of the trading system and its relations to development. It is divided in six parts. The first summarizes the process and outcome of the Uruguay Round of negotiations that created WTO. The second considers the WTO agenda from the point of view of development. The third analyzes more specifically the proposals on market access that have surrounded the current Doha round. The fourth takes a look at decision making in WTO and its dispute settlement mechanism. The fifth analyzes the proliferation of free trade agreements over recent decades. The sixth draws some brief conclusions