Extraneous Matter Research Articles

In the Court of Time: The Reckoning of a Monster in the Apocolocyntosis of Seneca

Seneca's Menippean satire, the Apocolocyntosis is constantly interrupted by digressions containing apparently extraneous matter about astrological and seasonal phenomena surrounding the central events—an important device known as temporal periphrasis. But the motif of time, in and of itself, is molded by Seneca to provide particular perspective to the characters of the Apocolocyntosis. Temporal transitions and periphrases are transformed into dominant narrative devices that often dwarf and tacitly critique the characters and events that they would be expected merely to frame. The description of Claudius's final days, death, and afterlife is interrupted by numerous temporal and historical digressions, and this disjointed narrative befits the monstrous physical and moral character of the emperor. The insipid language of the central panegyric to Nero has attracted critical comment, and this study concludes with a close reading of this section, which reveals several ambiguities in the praise of the emperor. The location of the panegyric is problematic, interrupting the account about Claudius. Nero is surrounded by the scatology, monstrosity, and buffoonery connected with Claudius' life and death. Instead of being located in the satire as successor to Claudius and being praised at the end of the narrative, Nero is embedded within it. But of most significance is the employment of the imagery of temporal periphrasis in praising Nero. He is compared with stars in flight, the evening star, and the sun at dawn—all of which call to mind the stale images of Epistle 122, as well as those of the numerous temporal digressions of the Apocolocyntosis. Character has been subordinated to abrupt narrative transitions, shifts, and temporal periphrases, and the two emperors Claudius and Nero have become part of the machinery of the Apocolocyntosis and absorbed into its temporal collapse.

Sistema de monitoramento de perdas visíveis de cana-de-açúcar em colhedora de cana picada

A área de cana colhida mecanicamente tem crescido, sobretudo em regiões com relevo até 12% de declividade, principalmente por ser essa uma forma de viabilizar a colheita de cana-de-açúcar crua a um custo competitivo. A adoção desse sistema introduz certos inconvenientes, tais como: aumento dos índices de matéria estranha na carga, o que, por sua vez, implica a redução da qualidade tecnológica da matéria-prima fornecida para moagem, e perdas de colmos e/ou frações no campo. A tentativa de reduzir tais índices, por meio do aumento da velocidade de saída de ar dos extratores das colhedoras, pode aumentar as perdas de matéria-prima em níveis inaceitáveis economicamente. Este trabalho avaliou o nível de perdas visíveis de lascas de cana, por meio do extrator primário da colhedora, para duas rotações do ventilador, monitorado por sensor de perdas de cana desenvolvido especialmente para esse fim. Em seguida, essas perdas foram relacionadas com a eficiência de limpeza da colhedora. Os resultados mostraram que a eficiência de limpeza do extrator primário (cerca de 85%), as perdas de cana-de-açúcar em geral (entre 5,68% e 2,51%) e a velocidade do ventilador estão diretamente relacionados. As perdas (totais), e principalmente lascas (entre 3,91% e 0,91%), apontaram diferenças significativas entre os tratamentos estudados.

Effect of Chemical Dehairing on the Prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and the Levels of Aerobic Bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae on Carcasses in a Commercial Beef Processing Plant

The objective of this experiment was to test the hypothesis that cleaning cattle hides by removing hair and extraneous matter before hide removal would result in improved microbiological quality of carcasses in commercial beef processing plants. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effect of chemical dehairing of cattle hides on the prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and the levels of aerobic bacteria and Enterobacteriaceaeon carcasses. Samples from 240 control (conventionally processed) and 240 treated (chemically dehaired before hide removal) hides (immediately after stunning but before treatment) and preevisceration carcasses (immediately after hide removal) were obtained from four visits to a commercial beef processing plant. Total aerobic plate counts (APC) and Enterobacteriaceae counts (EBC) were not (P > 0.05) different between cattle designated for chemical dehairing (8.1 and 5.9 log CFU/100 cm2 for APC and EBC, respectively) and cattle designated for conventional processing (8.0 and 5.7 log CFU/100 cm2 for APC and EBC, respectively). However, E. coli O157:H7 hide prevalence was higher (P < 0.05) for the control group than for the treated group (67% versus 88%). In contrast to hides, the bacterial levels were lower (P < 0.05) on the treated (3.5 and 1.4 log CFU/100 cm2 for APC and EBC) than the control (5.5 and 3.2 log CFU/100 cm2 for APC and EBC) preevisceration carcasses. Prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 was lower (P > 0.05) on treated than on control preevisceration carcasses (1% versus 50%). These data indicate that chemical dehairing of cattle hides is an effective intervention to reduce the incidence of hide-to-carcass contamination with pathogens. The data also imply that any effective hide intervention process incorporated into beef processing procedures would significantly reduce carcass contamination by E. coli O157:H7.

The use of light microscopy in a study of extraneous matter and authenticity of guava, strawberry and grape jams

Samples of guava, strawberry and grape jams were analyzed to determine the presence of filth and mold filaments, and to test their authenticity. Eighty percent of the samples (36/45) presented at least one extraneous material. According to the type of fruit, in 100.0% (15/15), 73.3% (11/15) and 66.7% (10/15) of the samples of guava, strawberry and grape jams, respectively, at least one extraneous material was found. The extraneous materials found were mold filaments, insect fragments, mites, non-edible plant parts (leaves and stems), maggots, a whole insect, a nylon thread, a piece of plastic material, and a metallic particle. No foreign plant tissue was found in any sample when compared to authentic fruit tissues.

Collegheft 1894-1895 by Thomas Mann , Yvonne Schmidlin , Thomas Sprecher (review)

MLRy 98.1, 2003 239 a cultural theorist, and whether the impressive accomplishment here needs to be balanced with a review of the interaction of Loos's writing and his design. Trinity College Dublin Gilbert Carr Collegheft i8g4-i8g5. By Thomas Mann. Ed. by Yvonne Schmidlin and Thomas Sprecher. (Thomas-Mann-Studien, 24) Frankfurt a.M.: Klostermann. 2001. 217 pp. ?10. ISBN 3-465-03137-7 (hbk). 'Tief, famously, 'ist der Brunnen der Vergangenheit'; but individual barrels have a bottom. This, some letters apart, is the earliest preserved Thomas Mann document, his notes as a 'Gasthorer' at the Munich Technische Hochschule and occasionally the University. What did a school leaver with no Abitur, a would-be writer aware of the gaps in his culture and of the professional need for knowledge, choose to hear about? Economics; literary and art history; aesthetics; some bits of history.Attending lectures put some structure into his day, and he stuck at it?more or less: 106 pages of 'Mitschriften' for the winter semester but only 20 for the summer (fancy that). The editors calculate an average of one word per minute of lecture sat through. Too little substance to reconstruct the lectures from, so they have looked up relevant passages from the lecturers' publications, sometimes rather much to hang on the small hook of a briefjotting. They are also looking, of course, for earliest hints of Mann's themes and mo? tifs; though they aptly say these may have been the last occasions when Mann took disinterested?notconsciously montagefdhig?notes. The harvest of relevance is fairly thin. A lecture on Egyptian architecture was probably not a signpost on the way to Joseph, but Mann's marked interest in Hartmann von Aue's Gregorius seems decidedly less random, even though the 'Kollegheft' demonstrably did not turn up again till after he started writing Der Erwdhlte. The most direct exploitation is of that surprise choice, economics, as expounded in especially lively manner by Pro? fessor Haushofer, liberal-minded enough to argue that the 'Murren des Arbeiters' suggested flaws in the system which economists should look into. He gets a minute monument as the 'idealistische Nationalokonom' Laube in the framework narrative of Gefallen (GWy viii, 11-12). Some ofthe economics goes into a chapter of Konigliche Hoheit as Mann's firstsubstantial montage of extraneous matter, referred to within his text as 'die schone Tauschung der Sachkenntnis' (GW, 11,162). Occasionally student Thomas is not a mere passive absorber. In literature and aes? thetics, he is already enough his own man (if in part with the backing of Hermann Bahr) to scorn these out-of-touch oldies who still propound classical principles and have not registered the arrival of the new 'Dekadenzasthetik'. Confident in his own 'lachelnde Souveranitat als Kiinstler', he can listen 'mit freundlicher Herablassung aber dennoch achselzuckend [. . .], wenn ein alter Herr unter fortwahrenden Blamagen sich muht, die Kunst in das haBliche Foltersystem einer Eisernen Jungfrau zu zwangen'. (Be careful, you never know what future literary star is in your audience.) One such yesterday's man dismisses the likes of Gutzkow and Laube (aha!) as 'keine Dichter' because they depend too much on' Verstand & Berechnung'. Franz Muncker, for it is he, will still be there in 1925?an ironic thread the editors have not noted?at the Munich dinner for the now famous writer's fiftiethbirthday, will indeed make a speech so grudging about Mann's oeuvre ('von sehr ungleichem Wert') that it became a familyjoke (see Briefe ig3y-ig48, pp. 242,660). Did he still have reservations about over-intellectual writers? If so, by 1925 it was no joke: the prejudice had long become a grim form of politics. The Queen's College, Oxford T. J.Reed ...

Sample Preparation for Electron Probe Microanalysis-Pushing the Limits.

There are two fundamental considerations in preparing samples for electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). The first one may seem obvious, but we often find it is overlooked. That is, the sample analyzed should be representative of the population from which it comes. The second is a direct result of the assumptions in the calculations used to convert x-ray intensity ratios, between the sample and standard, to concentrations. Samples originate from a wide range of sources. During their journey to being excited under the electron beam for the production of x rays there are many possibilities for sample alteration. Handling can contaminate samples by adding extraneous matter. In preparation, the various abrasives used in sizing the sample by sawing, grinding and polishing can embed themselves. The most accurate composition of a contaminated sample is, at best, not representative of the original sample; it is misleading. Our laboratory performs EPMA analysis on customer submitted samples and prepares over 250 different calibration standards including pure elements, compounds, alloys, glasses and minerals. This large variety of samples does not lend itself to mass production techniques, including automatic polishing. Our manual preparation techniques are designed individually for each sample. The use of automated preparation equipment does not lend itself to this environment, and is not included in this manuscript. The final step in quantitative electron probe microanalysis is the conversion of x-ray intensities ratios, known as the “k-ratios,” to composition (in mass fraction or atomic percent) and/or film thickness. Of the many assumptions made in the ZAF (where these letters stand for atomic number, absorption and fluorescence) corrections the localized geometry between the sample and electron beam, or takeoff angle, must be accurately known. Small angular errors can lead to significant errors in the final results. The sample preparation technique then becomes very important, and, under certain conditions, may even be the limiting factor in the analytical uncertainty budget. This paper considers preparing samples to get known geometries. It will not address the analysis of samples with irregular, unprepared surfaces or unknown geometries.

Quality of gari from selected processing zones in Ghana

Gari, the most commercialized cassava product in Ghana continues to increase in production due to the increasing urban demand and export market potential. Therefore, many small scale processors are involved in the production of gari with the potential for quality variation. Studies were carried out on gari samples from selected gari processing centres within three regions in Ghana. Physical parameters such as colour, extraneous matter, particle size and swelling capacity and, chemical factors such as moisture, crude fibre, ash content, pH and total acidity were measured. The results showed that the quality of the gari samples from the selected centres was good and many of the samples met both the international and national specification for good quality gari processing. The moisture content was found to be low (4.39–7.44%) with an appreciable total acidity (TTA, 0.63–1.55% and pH, 3.60–4.47). Almost all the samples were found to have very good swelling capacity (>3.0), low level of extraneous matter (0.03–0.09%) and appreciable level of crude fibre content (1.47–2.50%) with a creamy/yellow colour which is acceptable to consumers. Although the ash content was very low (0.72–1.96%), particle size was quite good (0.63–1.02 mm). There were some variations in sample quality which may be attributed to method of processing and variety of cassava.

Commercial cane sugar trends in the Tully sugar district

Commercial cane sugar (CCS), as measured by sugar mills, is in decline in the wet tropics of Australia. One of these mills, Tully Sugar Ltd, has measured CCS in the factory as required by legislation and also measured whole clean stalk CCS through a small mill, which is free of contaminants. ‘Factory CCS’ measures the CCS of cane entering the mill, after it has been harvested. The harvesting and transport process delivers to the mill cane that is contaminated by extraneous matter such as leaf material and soil. Beween 1988 and 1998, 1516 blocks were sampled for ‘small mill CCS’. These data were combined with block productivity information to determine the trends in small mill CCS and factory CCS using a linear mixed model analysis as the data were unbalanced. Other data, including the date of harvest for factory CCS, date of sampling for small mill CCS, farm of origin and cane variety were available and fitted as random effects in the mixed model. Year was fixed to determine time related trends in the 2 measures of CCS. Small mill CCS was higher than factory CCS and remained constant from 1988 to 1998. Predicted factory CCS declined from 12.76 units in 1988 to 10.91 units in 1998. We conclude that the CCS levels in whole clean stalks were actually stable, since small mill CCS remained constant over the 10-year period. Possible reasons for the differences in the trends for the 2 CCS measures are discussed.

Vertical migration of137Cs in certain soils of Uzbekistan

The characteristic features and quantitative parameters of the vertical migration and distribution of t37Cs in soil samples from several territories of Uzbekistan, which are preserves and which have been affected by anthropogenic activity (Table 1), are investigated in this work. The samples were obtained in 1 cm thick soil layers with an average depth of 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, 7.5, 10.5, and 20.5 cm. The soil density averaged over the sampling depth was 140(O1700 gaiter. Extraneous matter was removed from the samples obtained, and the samples were reduced to an air-dry state, pulverized, sifted, and placed into 1 liter MarineUi vessels. The measurements were performed using a gamma spectrometer with a Ge(Li) detector with a 100 cm 3 sensitive volume and 6.2 keV energy resolution on the 1332 keV line. The detector was placed in lead shielding. An LPA 4910.2 linear amplifier and a PA001 amplitude-to-digital converter combined with an IBM PC were used in the spectrometric channel (Joint Institute of Nuclear Research, Dubna). The data were recorded, accumulated, and processed using the MARS code system (Joint of Institute of Nuclear Research). A standard collection of special standard activity measures was used to determine the "y-ray detection efficiency [2]: 134Cs ' 137Cs ' 226Ra ' 232Th, and 4~ with silica gel (9 = 980 gaiter) and quartz sand (p = 1800 gaiter) fills, placed in Marinelli vessels. The measurement time of the spectra for individual samples was 3-12 h, and the energy range was 150--1500 keV. Measurement Results. The 661 keV photopeaks of 137Cs were observed in the spectra of samples taken from the upper layers of all soils investigated, with the exception of samples from a recultivated area. The photopeaks of the natural radionuclides were present in the spectra of all samples. The specific activity C a, the 137Cs store q.r = C.vl3a AX in the investigated layers of thickness AX, and the store per unit t/ surface area of the soil Q = ~qx, where n is the number of layers and 9s is the density of the soil in the xth layer (C x for the A=l intermediate layers which were not investigated is determined by interpolation), were determined from the area of the 661 keV photopeaks in the spectra of the samples taking into account the quantum yield, detection efficiency, sample mass, and measurement duration. The specific activity of 137Cs in the soils investigated does not exceed 151 Bq/kg, and the store per unit surface area of soil with undisturbed profiles is 2-3.9 kBq/m 2 (Table 2). The error in determining the values does not exceed 20%. The specific activity of natural radionuclides in the soil layers investigated shows a much smaller variation. Thus, for

Scanning Electron Microscopy Study on Spinal Microcatheters

Scanning Electron Microscopy Study on Spinal Microcatheters

The Non-Appearance of the Phoenix at Tacitus Annals 6.28

The Non-Appearance of the Phoenix at Tacitus Annals 6.28 Elizabeth Keitel Book 6 is the stepchild of the first hexad of the Annals, little studied and even less appreciated, perhaps because of the large lacuna which breaks the continuity of the narrative after book 4, perhaps because of its allegedly static and monotonous content summarized thus by Syme: “The concluding book of the hexad carries a dreary epilogue down to the extinction of the old emperor, with many prosecutions and deaths, with little extraneous or antiquarian matter for variegation.” 1 But let us consider here the placement and function of one minor episode in book 6, the alleged appearance of the Phoenix in Egypt. Paulo Fabio L. Vitellio consulibus post longum saeculorum ambitum avis phoenix in Aegyptum venit praebuitque materiem doctissimis indigenarum et Graecorum multa super eo miraculo disserendi. de quibus congruunt et plura ambigua, sed cognitu non absurda promere libet. sacrum Soli id animal, et ore ac distinctu pinnarum a ceteris avibus diversum consentiunt qui formam eius effin{x}ere; de numero annorum varia traduntur. maxime vulgatum quingentorum spatium; sunt qui adseverent mille quadringentos sexaginta unum interici, prioresque alites Sesoside primum, post Amaside dominantibus, dein Ptolemaeo, qui ex Macedonibus tertius regnavit, in civitatem, cui Heliopolis nomen, advolavisse, multo ceterarum volucrum comitatu novam faciem mirantium. sed antiquitas quidem obscura: inter Ptolemaeum ac Tiberium minus ducenti quinquaginta anni fuerunt. unde nonnulli falsum hunc phoenicem neque Arabum e terris credidere, nihilque usurpavisse ex his, quae vetus memoria firmavit. confecto quippe annorum numero, ubi mors propinquet, suis in terris struere nidum eique vim genitalem adfundere, ex qua fetum oriri: et primam adulto curam sepeliendi patris, neque id temere, sed sublato murrae pondere temptatoque per longum iter, ubi par oneri, par meatui sit, subire patrium corpus inque Solis aram perferre atque adolere. haec incerta et [End Page 429] fabulosis aucta: ceterum aspici aliquando in Aegypto eam volucrem non ambigitur. 2 (Ann. 6.28) Previous scholarly discussion of this episode has not answered two basic questions: why the historian has placed it in 34 C.E., when Pliny the Elder (NH 10.2) and Dio (58.27.1) date it to 36, and why Tacitus devotes a whole chapter to what may have been a non-event, since he suggests that there was no genuine appearance of the bird in Tiberius’ time. These questions lead inevitably to a discussion of the role of this episode in the structure of book 6 and its relationship to the book’s predominant themes. I propose that Tacitus has placed the Phoenix in the year 34 to highlight two important concerns in book 6: the destruction of the nobility, and the unnatural cruelty of Tiberius and his heir, Gaius. Let us first address the question of Tacitus’ source or sources. Hahn may well be right that the source was an antiquarian work like that of Pliny the Elder, though not Pliny himself (praebuitque materiem doctissimis indigenarum et Graecorum multa super eo miraculo disserendi, Ann. 6.28.1). However, because Dio also reports the Phoenix, Hahn believed that it was already noted by the annalistic tradition when it reached Tacitus. Townend believed that Tacitus would not deliberately shift the Phoenix if he had found it clearly dated in his main annalistic source. Rather, the historian discovered this information, without any precise indication of the year, in a semihistorical work by Tiberius Balbillus, a former prefect of Egypt and probably the son of Thrasyllus, Tiberius’ astrologer. Then Tacitus simply inserted it at the first convenient place. We know from Pliny that Claudius displayed a Phoenix at Rome as part of his Secular Games, though no one believed it genuine (NH 10.2.5). So it is also possible that Tacitus, a member of the quindecimviri sacris faciundis in 88 C.E., when they were in charge of Domitian’s Secular Games (Ann. 11.11.1), might have had access, in the records of his priestly college, to a discussion of the possible link between the Egyptian Great Year and the Roman saeculum. This would have led him to conclude that the report of the Phoenix of the last years of Tiberius’ reign could not have been genuine, and it...

Preharvest factors affecting appearance

Abstract The appearance of fresh fruits and vegetables is a primary criterion in making purchasing decisions. Product appearance is characterized by size, shape, form, color, condition and absence of defects. A wide range of preharvest factors can modulate the appearance of the harvested product. These include: (1) biological factors (pathological, entomological, animal); (2) physiological factors (physiological disorders, nutritional imbalances, maturity); (3) environmental/cultural factors (e.g. climate, weather, soils, water relations, light intensity); (4) mechanical damage; (5) extraneous matter (growing medium, vegetable matter, chemical residues); and (6) genetic variation and aberrations. Creating and/or maintaining production conditions that minimize undesirable product appearance is essential. While field grading during harvest is utilized to eliminate a significant portion of product with substandard appearance, minimizing the occurrence of inferior product can significantly increase net profit.

Surge tank control in a cane raw sugar factory

Abstract The performance of the juice circuit in a cane raw sugar factory is critical to the production of high quality sugar, and hence its saleability on the international market. In this paper, we present a control project that deals with this aspect of the raw sugar production process. The problem that is addressed is to control surge tanks within the juice circuit in order to steady the flow (minimisation of the rate of change) into a settling vessel known as the clarifier. This is a particularly important problem since the clarifier’s efficiency is reduced by rapid flow rate variations with the ultimate result being a reduction in raw sugar quality due to increased extraneous matter in the sugar. The new solution involves using gain-scheduled feedforward techniques to control the existing surge tanks so that the available capacity is used in an efficient way. The new control scheme was implemented on existing hardware and achieved the desired level of performance.

Novel composites utilizing raw wool and polyester resin

Considerable research has been conducted with natural fibres as a source of reinforcement for organic matrices. These fibres have included wood pulp, sisal, hemp and numerous other plants [1–3]. However, little attention has been given to natural animal fibres such as wool and hair. Traditionally, wool fibres have been spun into multilayer fibres in the form of threads, which are then knitted into cloth and utilized for the manufacture of garments. As a composite, wool fibres have been combined with polyester fibres and spun into multistrand yarn as threads, again for use in garments. The major engineering application of these composites has been for thermal insulation for the human body. In general, the mechanical properties were not considered relevant for cloth applications. This study seeks to investigate the mechanical properties of a new form of wool–polyester composite, i.e. the reinforcement of raw wool fibres (before spinning into thread or yarn) with a polyester resin matrix for use in structural applications not associated with clothes. Raw wool is one of the major export commodities of a number of countries, including Australia. It is one of the oldest naturally renewable fibres in use. It is epidermal in origin and grown naturally on the bodies of sheep. The wool is obtained by shearing the fleece from the sheep, and then graded, washed and combed to remove any extraneous matter such as grease, dirt, moisture and vegetable matter. The fibres are generally entangled and crimped. In this study, the wool fibres were supplied by the CSIRO Division of Wool Technology. The fibre was classified as fine, clean carded wool, i.e. washed and combed with all foreign matter removed. The composite matrix was prepared from polyester resin with 1% hardener (methyl ethyl ketone peroxide). Samples of composite sheets were prepared in the laboratory from skeins of wool laid alternatively with layers of resin mixture, and placed in a rectangular mould. This was repeated until the required fractions of wool and resin were achieved. The top of the mould was sealed and hydraulic pressure of 1.2 MPa was applied for a period of 24 h. The pressure was then reduced to 0.6 MPa, the sample sheet was removed and excess solid resin trimmed. The composite so obtained was cured in air. This process was repeated for sample sheets containing wool by mass of 40, 30, 20 and 10 g and a ‘‘control’’ sheet of polyester resin. All test pieces had the wool aligned in the longitudinal direction except for the 40 g (55% mass fraction) transverse samples. Wool composite samples were prepared for a range of fibre fraction by wool mass content corresponding to mass fractions of 21, 40, 52 and 55%. Specimens were cut from the prepared sample sheets for use in three test procedures: flexural (36 test pieces), tensile (36 test pieces) and Izod impact with 48 test pieces. All specimens were conditioned for 24 h at 22 2 8C at a relative humidity of 52 5%. An Instron hydraulic testing machine (model 1114) was used for both the flexural and tensile testing. Automatic data collection was employed to allow further processing of the test data. Flexural test pieces were cut into rectangular shapes measuring approximately 150 mm 3 15 mm (of various thickness, approximately 26 mm) using a rotary saw. Three-point bending tests with a span of 50 mm were conducted. The flexural strength (modulus of rupture) was calculated as 3Pl=2bd2 where P is maximum load, b is test piece width, d is test piece thickness and l is test piece span length. Impact test specimens were cut into rectangular shapes using a rotary saw and notched with a milling machine cutter. Tests and sample dimensions followed the conditions outlined in AS1146 [4]. Impact testing was conducted using a Material Forge model TM 52004 impact tester (an Izod type test). The results from the mechanical tests are given in Table I. These results indicated that there is little influence on the tensile stress or modulus of elasticity with increasing fraction of wool content. However, when the fibres were laid in a transverse position to the tensile load the tensile stress was approximately one half of that for the parallel loading case with the 55% wool fibre test pieces. Moreover, the modulus of elasticity of the transverse samples was similar to that of the parallel fibre samples. The variation of flexural strength with increasing fibre content is shown in Fig. 1. Flexural strength results are also shown for a control sample with 0% fibres, and transverse aligned fibres with 55 wt % wool fibre. The maximum value of flexural strength was at the

Elemental hair analysis using nuclear microscopy and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy

Analysis of hair is a potential means of determining the body's trace elemental status, since throughout its growth hair may concentrate minerals and thus provide a record of the elemental status of an individual. However, levels of most trace elements in hair vary widely, often attributed to its surface contamination. Using both electron microscopy with X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy and nuclear microscopy with proton-induced X-ray emission spectroscopy, we investigated the efficacy of five washing procedures on contemporary and historical hair samples. We conclude that persisting extraneous matter on hair is a likely source of inconsistency with bulk analysis even of washed hair samples. We therefore developed a technique, using the Oxford nuclear microscope, first to differentiate trace elements within hair from surface contamination and, secondly, to analyse accurately, at concentrations of parts-per-million, the elemental content in cross-sections of hair. All hairs in cross-section were shown for the first time to have three distinct types of distribution of elements across the hair shaft.

Purification of viruses by electrophoresis in sucrose concentration gradients. 1972.

Zone electrophoresis (ZE) in concentration gradients of sucrose proved to be a powerful technique in the purification of viruses although it is seldomly used as a single step for the separation of the infective agent from extraneous matter but usually as a final procedure. No difficulties were experienced in the purification of plant viruses with ZE possibly because of the resistance of the agents to the chloroform butanol treatment which the impure plant viruses received prior to the ZE. Likewise no difficulties were encountered during purification of human and animal picorna viruses because they also are resistant to chloroform or chloroform-butanol treatment prior to ZE. Purification of animal and possibly human reoviridae ZE as a final step is involved as they are associated with or even attached to the host cell membranes which are lipoidal in nature. Because the lipoidal material on the virus has an affinity for organic solvents the virus particles are caught in the emulsion when an extract of the crude virus material is shaken with the organic solvent. With these viruses polyethylene glycol M(r) 6000 (PEG) is often helpful as a means of displacing most of the host proteins as a step in the partial purification prior to ZE. Neurotropic African horse sickness virus which presented many problems to overcome was rendered free of extraneous proteins to the extent that electron micrographs could be made of it. Neurotropic Rift Valley fever virus was similarly difficult to purify as it was always associated with mouse brain components. This virus was finally purified from infected mouse blood in which the virus particles were not associated with host cell debris and other extraneous proteins. Zone electrophoresis experiments were not conducted on viruses with large particle sizes e.g. myxoviruses because they could be purified without a great deal of effort using polymer displacement, and thin layer centrifugation. Zone electrophoresis as a means of final purification was vividly displayed with the purification of five viruses of the larvae of the pine emperor moth, Nudaurelia cytheria cytheria.

Methodical aspects of characterization of alginate and pectate by light scattering and viscometry coupled with GPC

The reliability of light scattering depends on the complete removal of extraneous matter from the polymer solution. The use of membrane filters to clarify aqueous solutions is common practice. This paper studies the effect of the pore size of the membrane filter on the light scattering of several polyuronides. Alginate and pectates were fractionated by GPC on Sepharose gels, and the eluent was taken after filtration for light scattering and viscosity measurements. Light scattering data were represented as GUINIER plots to provide information about the scattering functions and scattering level. While for alginate satisfactory separation of molecularly dispersed polymer from extraneous material was achievable, heterogeneity of pectates did not allow an unequivocal differentiation of extraneous matter from ‘proper’ pectate. Dextran sulphate was included as a model substance which was free of extraneous material.

Variations in the 190Os/184Os ratio in some stone meteorites and acid residues of Sikhote Alin iron meteorite.

Many samples of bulk and sieved fractions of Ambapur Nagla and other stone meteorites as well as acid insoluble residues of Sikhote Alin iron meteorite have shown isotopically anomalous ratios for 190Os/184Os as measured by RNA. Both positive and negative deviations, relative to terrestrial standard, are seen. The largest values, found in bulk samples are 60% enrichment of 190Os in Efremovka and 50% depletion in Allende. The number of anomalous cases are very few (19–22%) as compared to the normal cases. Apparently isotopically anomalous osmium is contributed from interstellar or extraneous matter in both stone and iron meteorites.

Foodborne and Waterborne Disease in Canada-1984 Annual Summary

Data on foodborne disease in Canada in 1984 are compared with those for 1983. A total of 1,181 incidents, comprising 1,016 outbreaks and 165 single cases, caused illnesses in 9,953 persons in 1984. These figures are the highest on record with almost double the number of cases occurring in 1983. Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens, and Bacillus cereus were responsible for most of the illnesses. The main Salmonella serovars involved were S. typhimurium, S. enteritidis, and S. heidelberg. There were no incidents of parasitic infections or paralytic shellfish poisonings similar to 1983. Fifty-five incidents (82 cases) of chemical origin were recorded; extraneous matter and rancid compounds were the most frequently implicated. There were two deaths, one from botulism and the other from salmonellosis. Most of the illnesses were associated with meat and poultry (30.6% of incidents and 29.9% of cases). Dairy foods, particularly cheese, bakery products, and marine foods were also major vehicles of foodborne disease. Mishandling of food took place mainly in foodservice establishments (38.8% of incidents), homes (20.6% of incidents), and food processings establishments (5.9% of incidents). Chemicals, such as extraneous material and rancid compounds, were the agents associated with 40.0% of incidents caused by processors' mishandling. On a population basis, incidents were greatest in Ontario, followed by those in Quebec, British Columbia, and Manitoba. Details of several foodborne disease incidents are presented. In addition, seven incidents of waterborne disease were documented in 1984, five more than in 1983. Campylobacter, Salmonella and Yersinia were identified as pathogens associated with drinking water.

Foodborne and Waterborne Disease in Canada - 1983 Annual Summary

Data on foodborne disease in Canada in 1983 are compared with those for 1982. A total of 963 incidents, comprising 752 outbreaks and 211 single cases, caused illnesses in 5,955 persons in 1983. These figures are slightly less than for 1982, although the numbers of incidents and cases are the second highest on record. Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens and Bacillus cereus caused most of the illnesses. The main Salmonella serovars involved were S. typhimurium, S. hadar, and S. agona. The small outbreaks of hepatitis A were attributed to food served at a school cafeteria and an outdoor barbecue, respectively; viral foodborne outbreaks had not been documented before. Also, for the first time there were no records of parasitic diseases. There were no incidents of paralytic shellfish poisoning but ciguatera intoxication occurred for the first time. There were 29 incidents (36 cases) of chemical origin; extraneous matter and rancid compounds were the most frequently implicated. There were three deaths, one each from botulism, salmonellosis, and methanol in vodka. A major portion of illnesses were associated with meat and poultry (30.6% of incidents and 42.7% of cases). Bakery products, marine foods, and dairy foods were also important vehicles of foodborne disease. Mishandling of food took place mainly in foodservice establishments (38.3% of incidents), homes (25.2% of incidents), and food processing establishments (5.9% of incidents). Chemicals, such as extraneous matter and rancid compounds, were the agents associated with 33.3% of incidents caused by processors' mishandling. On a population basis, incidents were greatest in Ontario, followed by those in Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta. Details of several foodborne disease incidents are presented. In addition, two incidents of waterborne disease were documented in 1983, two fewer than in 1982. Giardia lamblia was the etiologic agent in one of them.