Quick Semi-quantitative Test for Lead in Processed Foods

A simple, quick semi-quantitative test for the determination of lead metal in canned fruits,vegetables other than dehydrated onion, fish, and meat products, has been developed using theoptimised concentration of dithizone reagent under alkaline pH as the test solution, which onreaction with the sample solution gives green to blue to violet to red colour, depending on thelead concentration in the sample.  The quick test results were compared with atomic absorptionspectrophotometric analysis. A total of 80 samples were analysed and it was found that the leadcontent ranged from 0.001 ppm to 10.35 ppm in all the samples

Enzymatic pretreatment of grey cotion fabric for improving dye uptake, lustur and hand feel using fungal cellulase

Cellulase enzyme was extracted from pineapple peel substrate using Aspergiluss niger.  Because enzymes are sustainable alternatives to harsh toxic chemicals used in the Textile Industries. Cotton fabrics were treated with cellulase at variable concentrations at a pH of 5.5 and 55°C. Changes in various properties of the treated fabrics like weight loss, lusture, soft touch and overall dyeing properties were investigated. The results obtained show that cellulase have successfully removed staple fibres from the fabrics and thus, yield a glabrous appearance and soft touch of the treated fabrics; furthermore, it was established that percentage dye uptake and fastness properties of the fabrics were greatly improved as confirmed by the FTIR spectral analysis and UV- visible spectrophotometric analysis of the absorbance maximum of the dye liquor before and after dying.Key Words: Cellulase, Aspergillus niger, pre- treatment, cotton fabric and dye uptake

Encéphalocèle occipitale : aspects épidémiologiques, cliniques et thérapeutiques : à propos de 161 cas opérés en 9 ans à l’hôpital national de niamey

Objectif Définir le profil épidémiologique et clinique de l’encéphalocèle occipital et alerter pour une stratégie préventive. MéthodeIl s’agit d’une étude prospective en série continue réalisée de janvier 1999 à Mars 2008 dans le service de neurochirurgie de l’hôpital national de Niamey au Niger. Après examen clinique de l’enfant et de lamalformation, une échographie transfontanellaire avec souvent un scanner étaient réalisés. L’intervention chirurgicale a consisté en une résection du tissu cérébral dysplasique, une coagulation systématique du plexus choroïde au sein de la malformation, et dans certains cas une conservation sans pression du tissus nerveux d’allure saine. L’évolution des patients a été analysée à J7 à 1mois, 3 mois et à 1an. RésultatsLa série comprenait 161 encéphalocèles en situation occipitale. La moyenne d’âge était de 8.34 mois. La moyenne d’âge maternel était de 17 ans. Il s’agissait d’un mariage consanguin dans 67.080% des cas ; Une échographique prénatale était faite dans 7.3% des cas. Le defect osseux était en occipital dans 67.43% des  cas, à la jonction parieto-occipitale dans 27.8% des cas et à la jonction occipito-cervicale dans 4.77% des cas. Il s’agissait d’une méningocèle dans 16.42% des cas, d’une encéphalocèle pure sans kyste dans 6.34% des cas et d’une forme mixte dans 78.81% des cas; l’hydrocéphalie était associée dans 23.60% en préopératoire et dans 49.57% des cas en postopératoire. La durée moyenne d’hospitalisation post opératoire était de 24.41 jours. La mortalité était de 22.36% à 3 mois. 48.78% des patients étaient revus à 1an et 13 patients étaient revus à 5ans soit 8.66% des cas. Conclusion L’encéphalocèle occipitale est une pathologie fréquente à Niamey ; Elle est responsable d’une mortalité et d’une morbidité importantes. Il ya urgence à élaborer une stratégie de prévention des malformations du tube neural au Niger

A novel multiplex PCR system for the detection of virulence associated genes of E. coli O157:H7 from food system

In view of the importance E. coli serotype 0157:H7 in human diseases, an easy and quick system is desirable to detect toxin producing strains. In this report, we describe standardization of a novel multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (mPCR) assay for simultaneous detection of four important genes associated with the organism E. coli 0157:H7 viz., stx 1, stx 2, eae A, hly A along with an internal amplification control (IAC). The mPCR method developed in the present study is sensitive enough to detect cells as low as 103 CFU ml-1 or g-1 of the food samples. The E. coli 0157:H7 strains having been identified to contain the gene in the mPCR were unequivocally detected positive for the serological and conventional culture method.  As E. coli 0157:H7 is qualified as biowarfare agent; this mPCR system is of immense help in detecting them during emergencies of biological war and suspected outbreaks.&nbsp

Characterization of partially purified β-galactosidase from Bacillus Sp MTCC-864

β-Galactosidase is an important enzyme for the hydrolysis of lactose in milk and other by-products of dairy industry such as whey and for the synthesis of galacto-oligosaccharides known for their prebiotic properties. In the present study we report the extraction, partial purification and characterization of intracellular β-galactosidase from Bacillus sp MTCC-864. The media containing tryptone, yeast extract and lactose was used for growth and enzyme production. The enzyme was extracted through ammonium sulphate fractionation and gel permeation chromatography technique using Sephacryl-200. Optimum enzyme activity was found at 50oC and pH 7.0. Further enzyme activity was enhanced in the presence of divalent metal ions such as Mg++ and Mn++, while it was inhibited by EDTA. The enzyme was thermostable and retained 70% of its original activity after 30min of incubation at 60oC. These properties of enzyme indicate its potential use for hydrolysis of lactose in milk and whey from the dairy industry

Pulsed electric field and combination processing of mango nectar: effect on volatile compounds and HMF formation

Mango nectar is a commercially familiar and preferred product. The traditional processing of mango nectar has been by thermal processing which resulted in the alteration of the flavour of the product due to the effect of high temperature. The thermal processing of the nectar also resulted in the production of byproducts of non-enzymatic browning such as 5- hydroxy methyl furfural (HMF). These process induced effects, affect both the nutritive and sensory attributes of the fruit product, making it less preferable. With the growing interest and awareness about the benefits of alternative non-thermal technologies, such as pulsed electric field (PEF), the present work was proposed to use PEF to minimize the loss of volatiles and formation of HMF. The study involves thermal (96 ºC for 300 s and 600 s), PEF (24 µs, 120 Hz and 38 kV/cm) and combination processing (PEF + Thermal (96 ºC for 90 s)) of mango nectar. The effect of these treatments on the volatile composition of mango nectar has been analysed using GC-MS technique. The reduction in the volatile compounds was significant (p 0.05) different from unprocessed sample, proving the fresh-like character of the product

Design data for ablators. Part III - Mathematical model for decomposition of phenol-formaldehyde ablators Final report

Mathematical model for pyrolytic mechanics of phenol formaldehyde ablator

CP violation in associated charged Higgs boson production with a single top at the LHC

We explore the CP violation in the charged Higgs production associated with a top quark at the LHC in the MSSM. The supersymmetric phases of gaugino masses and trilinear $A$ terms lead to a CP violating asymmetry of the cross section in the $p p \to g b \to t H^\pm$ process through loop corrections to the $tbH^\pm$ vertex. We find that a CP violation more than 10 % is possible if the charged Higgs boson is heavy enough.Comment: 8 pages including 5 eps figures, JHEP, corrections mad