Percent Levels Research Articles

ENERGY MANAGEMENT IN COMMERCIAL FOOD SERVICE OPERATIONS

Asia has experienced the world’s fastest economic growth, accompanied by rapid urbanisation. This remarkable growth has led to twin energy challenges namely sustainability and energy security and this study explores the possible energy conservation methods in the selected food service operations and hencethe study was undertaken with objectives to study the different types of energy used in selected food service operations, assess the renewable and non renewable resources used in various sections of the food service operations and develop the various energy conservation methods adopted at food service operations. A total of five food service operations with three commercial and two non- commercial food service operations at Coimbatore were selected for the study. An energy audit programme was conducted for three sessions at each food service to understand the existing pattern in energy management using a checklist. Based on the results of the energy audit, the guidelines were planned and implemented for two days at each food service operation using flash cards, power point presentation and face to face to discussions. A total of forty employees with eight from each food service operations were deputed to participate in the programme. The energy management programmes planned and implemented to the selected Commercial Food Service Operations and Non Commercial Food Service Operations when interpreted with statistical ‘t’ test a significant improvement at five percent levels both at the selected Commercial Food Service Operations and Non Commercial Food Service Operations.

Fast weak-lensing simulations with halo model

Full ray-tracing maps of gravitational lensing, constructed from N-Body simulations, represent a fundamental tool to interpret present and future weak lensing data. However the limitation of computational resources and storage capabilities severely restrict the number of realizations that can be performed in order to accurately sample both the cosmic shear models and covariance matrices. In this paper we present a halo model formalism for weak gravitational lensing that alleviates these issues by producing weak-lensing mocks at a reduced computational cost. Our model takes as input the halo population within a desired light-cone and the linear power spectrum of the underlined cosmological model. We examine the contribution given by the presence of substructures within haloes to the cosmic shear power spectrum and quantify it to the percent level. Our method allows us to reconstruct high-resolution convergence maps, for any desired source redshifts, of light-cones that realistically trace the matter density distribution in the universe, account for masked area and sample selections. We compare our analysis on the same large scale structures constructed using ray-tracing techniques and find very good agreements both in the linear and non-linear regimes up to few percent levels. The accuracy and speed of our method demonstrate the potential of our halo model for weak lensing statistics and the possibility to generate a large sample of convergence maps for different cosmological models as needed for the analysis of large galaxy redshift surveys.

Gendered Representation and Critical Mass: Women’s Legislative Representation and Social Spending in 22 OECD Countries

To better understand the dynamics of representation of women’s interests such as public expenditure on healthcare, daycare, and education, this study examines statistical evidence for the notion of critical mass. To do so, this study uses the Comparative Welfare States Data Set and the piecewise regression method to produce two linear models that best fit to the data for different ranges of the share of seats in parliament held by women. The analysis fails to find consistent support for a threshold below which women legislators have little-to-no impact upon policy outcomes. By adjudicating seven hypothetical thresholds, the analysis also shows that when there is a critical mass effect, the 10 percent level is more a consequential threshold than 15, 20, or 30 percent levels. Findings suggest that we reject the idea of a critical threshold for women’s legislative representation. However, the relationship between the representation and social spending is robust with or without presumed critical mass.

Radiative transfer modeling of MESSENGER VIRS spectra: Detection and mapping of submicroscopic iron and carbon

We model the spectral effects of submicroscopic Fe and submicroscopic C particles within a transparent mineral host in order to investigate whether such materials could reproduce the major spectral characteristics of Mercury's reflectance spectra (i.e., low reflectance relative to the Moon, a lack of Fe absorption features in the near infrared, and an increasing continuum slope between visible and near-infrared wavelengths). By using the radiative transfer technique to model the VIRS (Visible and Infrared Spectrograph) spectral dataset obtained from the MESSENGER (MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging) mission, we found that our spectral models based on nanophase and microphase Fe and C consistently fit the VIRS data (except of regions of Mercury's low-reflectance material). Our models show that the mean global submicroscopic Fe abundance is 2.5wt%, which exceeds the total Fe abundances obtained from the MESSENGER Gamma-Ray Spectrometer (GRS) and the X-Ray Spectrometer (XRS) and the global average submicroscopic C abundance is 1.9wt%, which is within the three-standard-deviation level of the MESSENGER GRS C measurements for Mercury's northern hemisphere. We also produced nanophase and microphase Fe and C abundance maps that show: (1) submicroscopic C is present at percent levels across the surface, (2) the spatial variations of submicroscopic particle abundances are correlated to the maximum surface temperature, (3) lower concentrations of nanophase Fe in fresh craters and their ejecta, (4) the submicroscopic Fe abundance is lower in the northern volcanic plains and Caloris basin than the global average, (5) the submicroscopic C and Fe abundances are very low around NE Rachmaninoff, a pyroclastic deposit, and (6) the submicroscopic particle abundances vary between low-reflectance material (LRM) deposits. In correlating these maps to geology and surface temperatures, we concluded that Ostwald ripening is responsible for the longitudinal and latitudinal variations and that the C is endogenic in origin.

Effect of incorporation of sapota pulp and cocoa powder on the physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of shrikhand

The present investigation was made with an attempt to develop shrikhand by partial addition of different level of sapota pulp and cocoa powder and to evaluate its effect on nutritional and microbial quality. The sapota pulp was incorporated at 7,14 and 21 percent levels . The cocoa powder at the rate of 2% was incorporated in all samples including control. Physico-chemical analysis, total solids, acidity, carbohydrate, moisture, fat, protein, ash, antioxidant and TPA, was done for estimating nutritional content safety. The shrikhand with 14% level sapota pulp was found to be highly acceptable. Physico-chemical and nutritional quality has been evaluated.

Diode array detection and derivative spectroscopic methods for stability study of Oxprenolol and Cyclopenthiazide in liquids

Abstract Today, many single-pill combinations (SPC) exist and are used as a promising choice in hypertension treatment. However, this trend made more of a challenge to analysts in Pharmaceutical Quality Control Laboratories. In this work, three sensitive and selective analytical methods were proposed for simultaneous determination of two anti-hypertension drugs; Oxprenolol (OXP) and Cyclopenthiazide (CYPZ) in bulk powder and in laboratory prepared tablets “LPTs”. Two of them were simple spectrophotometric methods (derivative and derivative ratio) and the third was HPLC-DAD method. For the spectrophotometric methods, the major problem encountered during analysis was attributed to the extensive spectral overlap and the challenging ratio of both drugs in their dosage form, CYPZ:OXP (0.2:100). The derivative (D) method was based on using the first derivative ( 1 D) and second derivative ( 2 D) spectra for the quantitative analysis of CYPZ at 335.5 nm and OXP at 280.5 nm, respectively. While for the derivative ratio method ( 1 DR), OXP was determined at 285.5 nm and CYPZ at 335.5 nm. The HPLC method was based on the separation of both drugs on a C 18 column with a mobile phase containing acetonitrile and 50 mM phosphate buffer of pH 3.5 (50:50). In order to quantify OXP and CYPZ accurately and maximize the assay sensitivity; the DAD was set at 224 nm. Optimization of chromatographic conditions was done at which OXP eluted at 4.34 min and CYPZ at 6.73 min with optimum sharpness and peak symmetry. The study of forced degradation of both drugs was done under various conditions including; hydrolysis (acid, alkaline and neutral), oxidation, dry heat and photo-decomposition. The proposed method could separate each drug peak from those of the different forced degradation product peaks and the purity of the drugs peaks was confirmed using the photo-diode array detector. The data obtained by spectrophotometric and HPLC methods were statistically comparable by ANOVA test. No significant difference was recorded between the mean percent levels determined by the proposed methods.

Transient reducing greenhouse warming on early Mars

AbstractThe evidence for abundant liquid water on early Mars despite the faint young Sun is a long‐standing problem in planetary research. Here we present new ab initio spectroscopic and line‐by‐line climate calculations of the warming potential of reduced atmospheres on early Mars. We show that the strength of both CO2–H2 and CO2–CH4 collision‐induced absorption (CIA) has previously been significantly underestimated. Contrary to previous expectations, methane could have acted as a powerful greenhouse gas on early Mars due to CO2–CH4 CIA in the critical 250–500 cm−1 spectral window region. In atmospheres of 0.5 bar CO2 or more, percent levels of H2 or CH4 raise annual mean surface temperatures by tens of degrees, with temperatures reaching 273 K for pressures of 1.25–2 bars and 2–10% of H2 and CH4. Methane and hydrogen produced following aqueous alteration of Mars' crust could have combined with volcanically outgassed CO2 to form transient atmospheres of this composition 4.5–3.5 Ga. Our results also suggest that inhabited exoplanets could retain surface liquid water at significant distances from their host stars.

Mantle to surface degassing of carbon- and sulphur-rich alkaline magma at El Hierro, Canary Islands

Basaltic volcanoes transfer volatiles from the mantle to the surface of the Earth. The quantification of deep volatile fluxes relies heavily on estimates of the volatile content of primitive magmas, the best archive of which is provided by melt inclusions. Available data from volcanoes producing mafic alkaline lavas in a range of tectonic settings suggest high volatile fluxes, but information remains sparse, particularly for intraplate ocean islands. Here we present measurements of volatile and trace element concentrations, as well as sulphur speciation, in olivine-hosted melt inclusions and matrix glasses from quenched basanite lava balloon samples from the 2011–2012 submarine eruption at El Hierro, Canary Islands. The results reveal remarkably high concentrations of dissolved volatiles and incompatible trace elements in this magma, with ∼80 ppm Nb and up to 3420 ppm CO2, 3.0 wt.% H2O and 5080 ppm S. Reconstructed primitive CO2 contents, considering CO2/Nb systematics and possible CO2 sequestration in shrinkage bubbles, reach weight percent levels, indicating that carbon is a major constituent of Canary Island magmas at depth and that exsolution of a CO2-rich fluid begins in the mantle at pressures in excess of 1 GPa. Correlations between sulphur concentration, sulphur speciation and water content suggest strong reduction of an initially oxidised mantle magma, likely controlled by coupled H2O and S degassing. This late-stage redox change may have triggered sulphide saturation, recorded by globular sulphide inclusions in clinopyroxene and ulvöspinel. The El Hierro basanite thus had a particularly high volatile-carrying capacity and released a minimum of 1.3–2.1 Tg CO2 and 1.8–2.9 Tg S to the environment, causing substantial stress on the local submarine ecosystem. These results highlight the important contribution of alkaline ocean island volcanoes, such as the Canary Islands, to volatile fluxes from the mantle.

English

Stem rust (Puccinia graminis f.sp.tritici) is a major disease of wheat that occurs more in the main wheat growing regions of Kenya. The objective of this study was to assess the incidence and severity of wheat stem rust during the 2015 growing season. A survey was conducted in Mau-Narok, Njoro and Kabatini regions. During the survey work, 149 small scale wheat growers’ fields were assessed. The results revealed that stem rust incidence of the three surveyed areas ranged from 11.3 to 77.8% and severity 20 to 60%. The survey confirmed that the incidence and severity were associated with the farming practices such as chemical control, varieties grown, use of certified or uncertified seed and cropping systems. The survey showed that high to moderate incidence and severity levels were found on fields with one or two sprays with a fungicide. The use of fungicide was the major practice by growers for stem rust control reporting Mau-Narok with 43.2%, Kabatini 38.9% and Njoro 17.8%. The varieties grown had a relationship to disease incidence and severity percent levels. The use of uncertified seed by farmers contributed to high disease incidence. About 50.6% growers preferred old varieties mainly Robin and NjoroBWII. About 97.8% of the farmers practiced crop rotation of wheat with legumes. A multi-tactic disease management approach mainly two fungicide sprays per growing season, use at recommended rates, planting of certified seed of resistant varieties and crop rotation of legumes with wheat are required as stem rust effective management strategies. Key words: Wheat production, farm classifications, disease assessment, survey.

REPRODUCTIVE TOXICITY AND ENDOCRINE DISRUPTION OF ORAL AND DERMAL EXPOSURE TO PESTICIDE MIXTURE IN MALE RATS

The current study was performed to assess the risk and hazards of oral & dermal exposure to chlorpyrifos & cypermethrin mixture based on some reproductive & endocrine impaired parameters as well as histopathological alterations & histomorphometric study. Eighty-five Wister male rats (weighing 130-150g) were randomly classified into four groups (a, b, c and d). Each of group (a) and (b) were further subdivided into 5 subgroups used for determination of the oral and dermal LD50. While group (c) and (d) were classified into 3 subgroups which were used for oral and dermal treatments respectively. The first subgroups of (c) and (d) were considered as control. Rats of two subgroups (c) treated orally by 2 doses 4.26 mg/kg (1/20 LD50) and 2.84 mg/kg(1/30 LD50). Rats of two subgroups (d) treated by dermal application of 2 doses70.85mg/kg (1/30 LD50) and 42.51 mg/kg (1/50 LD50). The experiment was conducted for 65 consecutive days. The results revealed that, the tested pesticides mixture caused a significant reduction in reproductive organs weights, sperm count, sperm motility percent, alive sperm percent, pseudocholinesterase and serum testosterone levels in all treated groups especially the dermally treated groups (P≤0.05), moreover there was azoospermia in most of the group of rats treated with high dermal dose. The treated groups showed a significant increase in sperm abnormalities and composite score which represent sperm DNA fragmentation. Moderate to severe histopatholoical alterations were detected in testis and epididymis of treated rats in a dose and route dependant manner in the form of germ cell desquamation, multinucleated giant cells formation and leydig cell vacuolization with disturbance in spermatogenesis. Moreover the histomorphometric parameters analysis detected significant (P≤0.05) reduction of diameter, thickness, endothelium height & lumen of seminiferous tubules and also significant reduction of sertoli cell population. There was significant increase of blood vessel wall thickness. These results indicated that the tested formulation had synergistic effects and induced significant harmful effects on male reproductive system which were more pronounced with dermal exposure.

Associations between Blood and Urine Arsenic Concentrations and Global Levels of Post-Translational Histone Modifications in Bangladeshi Men and Women.

Background:Exposure to inorganic arsenic is associated with numerous adverse health outcomes, with susceptibility differing by sex. Although evidence from in vitro studies suggests that arsenic alters post-translational histone modifications (PTHMs), evidence in humans is limited.Objectives:The objectives were to determine: a) if arsenic exposure is associated with global (percent) levels of PTHMs H3K36me2, H3K36me3, and H3K79me2 in a sex-dependent manner, and b) if %PTHMs are stable when arsenic exposure is reduced.Methods:We examined associations between arsenic, measured in blood and urine, and %PTHMs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 317 participants enrolled in the Bangladesh Folic Acid and Creatine Trial (FACT). We also examined the stability of %PTHMs after the use of arsenic-removal water filters (n = 60).Results:Associations between natural log–transformed (ln) urinary arsenic, adjusted for creatinine (uAsCr), and %H3K36me2 differed significantly between men and women (p = 0.01). ln(uAsCr) was positively associated with %H3K36me2 in men [β = 0.12; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.01, 0.23, p = 0.03] but was negatively associated with %H3K36me2 in women (β = –0.05; 95% CI: –0.12, 0.02, p = 0.19). The patterns of associations with blood arsenic were similar. On average, water filter use was also associated with reductions in %H3K36me2 (p < 0.01), but this did not differ significantly by sex. Arsenic was not significantly associated with %H3K36me3 or %H3K79me2 in men or women.Conclusions:Arsenic exposure was associated with %H3K36me2 in a sex-specific manner but was not associated with %H3K36me3 or %H3K79me2. Additional studies are needed to assess changes in %H3K36me2 after arsenic removal.Citation:Howe CG, Liu X, Hall MN, Slavkovich V, Ilievski V, Parvez F, Siddique AB, Shahriar H, Uddin MN, Islam T, Graziano JH, Costa M, Gamble MV. 2016. Associations between blood and urine arsenic concentrations and global levels of post-translational histone modifications in Bangladeshi men and women. Environ Health Perspect 124:1234–1240; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1510412

Reconstruction and identification of tau leptons in CMS

Tau leptons constitute an important experimental signature for analyses at the CERN LHC related to Higgs boson, Standard Model, and beyond the Standard Model measurements. We describe the algorithm used by the CMS experiment to reconstruct and identify decays of tau leptons into hadrons and a neutrino during Run 1 of the CERN LHC. The performance of the algorithm is studied in proton-proton collisions recorded at a center-of-mass energy of 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb −1 . The algorithm achieves an identification efficiency of typically 50-60%, with misidentification rates for quark and gluon jets, electrons and muons that vary between per mille and percent levels.

Exploring the Potential of Alternative Pozzolona Cement for the Northern Savannah Ecological Zone in Ghana

This project evaluates the performance of pozzolana cement elements produced from alternative raw materials with a view using them in low-cost housing. It also seeks the reduction of waste from agricultural sources and the cost of sandcrete blocks by using locally available materials. The need to find alternative materials to replace existing conventional ones has necessitated research into substitutes to cement with a view to investigating their usefulness to wholly or partly substitute ordinary Portland cement in the production of sandcrete blocks. This project investigates the possible use of Corn Cob Ash (CCA) as a partial replacement of cement in sandcrete block production. 140 no. 450mmx150mm×225mm solid sandcrete blocks of mix ratio 1:8 were cast, cured and crushed at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. The corn cob ash was replaced at 0 to 40 percent levels at 5% intervals. The maximum compressive strength of 2.10 N/mm2 was recorded at 30% replacement on the 28th day. After 12 months of exposure under northern savannah climatic conditions, the compressive strength remained stable or even increased with the weathering exposure. The maximum value of 2.10N/mm2 for the 30% replacement level is found suitable and recommended for building construction having attained a 28-day compressive strength of more than 2.0N/mm2 as required by the National Building Code for non load bearing walls.

Mineralogy, provenance, and diagenesis of a potassic basaltic sandstone on Mars: CheMin X-ray diffraction of the Windjana sample (Kimberley area, Gale Crater).

The Windjana drill sample, a sandstone of the Dillinger member (Kimberley formation, Gale Crater, Mars), was analyzed by CheMin X‐ray diffraction (XRD) in the MSL Curiosity rover. From Rietveld refinements of its XRD pattern, Windjana contains the following: sanidine (21% weight, ~Or95); augite (20%); magnetite (12%); pigeonite; olivine; plagioclase; amorphous and smectitic material (~25%); and percent levels of others including ilmenite, fluorapatite, and bassanite. From mass balance on the Alpha Proton X‐ray Spectrometer (APXS) chemical analysis, the amorphous material is Fe rich with nearly no other cations—like ferrihydrite. The Windjana sample shows little alteration and was likely cemented by its magnetite and ferrihydrite. From ChemCam Laser‐Induced Breakdown Spectrometer (LIBS) chemical analyses, Windjana is representative of the Dillinger and Mount Remarkable members of the Kimberley formation. LIBS data suggest that the Kimberley sediments include at least three chemical components. The most K‐rich targets have 5.6% K2O, ~1.8 times that of Windjana, implying a sediment component with >40% sanidine, e.g., a trachyte. A second component is rich in mafic minerals, with little feldspar (like a shergottite). A third component is richer in plagioclase and in Na2O, and is likely to be basaltic. The K‐rich sediment component is consistent with APXS and ChemCam observations of K‐rich rocks elsewhere in Gale Crater. The source of this sediment component was likely volcanic. The presence of sediment from many igneous sources, in concert with Curiosity's identifications of other igneous materials (e.g., mugearite), implies that the northern rim of Gale Crater exposes a diverse igneous complex, at least as diverse as that found in similar‐age terranes on Earth.

Multiple oscillations in Neoarchaean atmospheric chemistry

The Great Oxidation Event (GOE) represents a crucial juncture in Earth history, signifying the rise in atmospheric oxygen from parts per million to percent levels at ∼2.45–2.32 billion-years-ago (Ga). Although planetary oxygenation undoubtedly led to the inception of the contemporary Earth system, the trigger(s) and mechanism(s) controlling this chemical reorganisation remain elusive. Quantitative estimates of the atmosphere's composition in the prelude to the GOE are central to understanding this oxygenation event. Previous analyses of 2.65–2.5 Ga sediments from the Griqualand Basin (South Africa) invoke a tantalising picture of an unusual Earth environment, alluding to an atmosphere periodically dominated by a layer of organic particles (“haze”) formed from methane photolysis. However, as yet this hypothesis has remained untested. Here we present four new coupled carbon and quadruple sulphur isotope records from distal, time equivalent (2.7–2.5 Ga), sedimentary successions from South Africa and Western Australia. These extended records reveal similar chemostratigraphic trends, supporting a dynamic terminal-Neoarchaean atmosphere, oscillating between a hazy state at elevated methane concentrations, and a haze-free anoxic background state. We suggest these atmospheric aberrations were related to heightened biogenic methane fluxes fuelled by enhanced nutrient delivery from climatically or weathering induced feedbacks. These data question the canonical view of a simple, unidirectional planetary oxygenation and signify that the overture to the GOE was governed by complex feedbacks within the Earth–biosphere system.

Detection of Vegetable Oil and Animal Depot Fat Adulteration in Anhydrous Milk Fat (Ghee) using Fatty Acid Composition

Two type of adulterants i.e. soybean oil (SO) and buffalo depot fat (BDF) along with pure cow and buffalo milk fats, collected and prepared after every two months of interval for a complete one year, were analyzed for their fatty acid composition using gas liquid chromatography. Both the adulterants were added individually at 5, 10 and 15 percent levels (v/v) as well as in their combinations at 5+5 (10), 10+10 (20) and 15+15 (30) percent levels (v/v) in both types of milk fat separately. It was observed that soybean oil consisted of high amount (51.86 percent) of linoleic (C 18:2 ) acid, while buffalo depot fat possessed high content (49.17 percent) of oleic (C18:1) acid. Milk fats from both the species of cow and buffalo were found containing more of myristic (C 14:0 ), palmitic (C 16:0 ), stearic (C 18:0 ) and oleic (C 18:1 ) acids. The results revealed that the SO was detected even at 5 percent level using linoleic (C18:2) acid as marker, while BDF was detectable at 5 percent level using oleic (C 18:1 ) acid as the base. When the ratios of some fatty acids (C14:0/C16:0, C14:0/C18:1, C14:0/C18:2, C16:0/C18:1, C16:0/C18:2 and C18:0/ C 18:2 ) were calculated for detecting adulteration, it was noticed that two fatty acid ratios (C 14:0 /C 18:1 and C 14:0 /C 18:2 ) were found more useful in detecting adulteration in maximum number (78 percent) of samples. Whereas, on the basis of the ratios of sum of C 4:0 to C 14:1 / sum of C 15:0 to C 20:0 fatty acids and vice-versa, addition of both the adulterants at all the levels (added individually as well as in their combinations) in both the milk fats was easily detected.

Elevated Levels of Cytokines Associated with Th2 and Th17 Cells in Vitreous Fluid of Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Patients

Macrophages are involved in low-grade inflammation in diabetes, and play pathogenic roles in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) by producing proinflammatory cytokines. T cells as well as other cells are also activated by proinflammatory cytokines, and infiltration into the vitreous of patients with PDR has been shown. In this study, we measured helper T (Th) cell-related cytokines in the vitreous of PDR patients to define the characteristics of Th-mediated immune responses associated with PDR. The study group consisted of 25 type 2 diabetic patients (25 eyes) with PDR. The control group consisted of 27 patients with epiretinal membrane (ERM), 26 patients with idiopathic macular hole (MH), and 26 patients with uveitis associated with sarcoidosis. Vitreous fluid was obtained at the beginning of vitrectomy, and centrifuging for cellular removals was not performed. Serum was also collected from PDR patients. IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, IL-22, IL-23, IL-25, IL-31, IL-33, IFN-γ, soluble sCD40L, and TNFα in the vitreous and serum samples were measured. Both percent detectable and levels of IL-4, IL-6, IL-17A, IL-21, IL-22, and TNFα in the vitreous were significantly higher than those in the serum in PDR patients. Vitreous levels of these cytokines and IL-31 were significantly higher in PDR than in ERM or MH patients. Vitreous levels of IL-4, IL-17A, IL-22, IL-31, and TNFα in PDR patients were also significantly higher than those of sarcoidosis patients. In PDR patients, vitreous IL-17A level correlated significantly with vitreous levels of IL-22 and IL-31, and especially with IL-4 and TNFα. Although it is unclear whether these cytokines play facilitative roles or inhibitory roles for the progression of PDR, the present study indicated that Th2- and Th17-related immune responses are involved in the pathogenesis of PDR.

Utility of Oncotype DX Risk Assessment in Patients With Invasive Lobular Carcinoma

Introduction/BackgroundOncotype DX (Genomic Health, Redwood City, CA) uses reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis to measure tumor gene expression for determining recurrence risk (RR) and guiding chemotherapy decisions for breast cancer patients. Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is a histologic subtype that has not been the focus of prior studies validating Oncotype DX. The study purpose was to develop a model using histologic tumor characteristics to predict uniformly low Oncotype DX Recurrence Scores (RS) in ILC. Patients and MethodsILC cases in our pathology database with Oncotype DX testing were identified. Histologic tumor characteristics, immunohistochemical (IHC) of estrogen receptor (ER)/progesterone receptor (PgR) percent, HER2, E-cadherin expression, and Ki-67 levels were obtained for cases. Discriminant analysis was used to test the hypothesis that tumors classified as lower/higher risk based on Oncotype DX RS would differ significantly on a linear combination of variables. ResultsFrom 2006 – 2014, 158 cases of ILC having Oncotype DX testing were identified; 90 low risk (RS < 18), 66 intermediate risk (RS 18 – 30) and 2 high risk (RS > 30). Discriminant analysis showed that PgR% followed by Ki-67 provided the greatest contribution to discern low versus elevated RS. A subset of 57 cases (∼36%) with predicted probabilities > 86% for either low or high RS yielded 96.5% correct classification, 92.3% sensitivity, and 97.7% specificity. ConclusionOur analytical model may be useful in predicting lower RR in patients with ILC. If validated, this provides a faster and less expensive alternative to Oncotype DX testing in certain patients with ILC.

Halogenated flame retardants in the Great Lakes environment.

Flame retardants are widely used industrial chemicals that are added to polymers, such as polyurethane foam, to prevent them from rapidly burning if exposed to a small flame or a smoldering cigarette. Flame retardants, especially brominated flame retardants, are added to many polymeric products at percent levels and are present in most upholstered furniture and mattresses. Most of these chemicals are so-called "additive" flame retardants and are not chemically bound to the polymer; thus, they migrate from the polymeric materials into the environment and into people. As a result, some of these chemicals have become widespread pollutants, which is a concern given their possible adverse health effects. Perhaps because of their environmental ubiquity, the most heavily used group of brominated flame retardants, the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), was withdrawn from production and use during the 2004-2013 period. This led to an increasing demand for other flame retardants, including other brominated aromatics and organophosphate esters. Although little is known about the use or production volumes of these newer flame retardants, it is evident that some of these chemicals are also becoming pervasive in the environment and in humans. In this Account, we describe our research on the occurrence of halogenated and organophosphate flame retardants in the environment, with a specific focus on the Great Lakes region. This Account starts with a short introduction to the first generation of brominated flame retardants, the polybrominated biphenyls, and then presents our measurements of their replacement, the PBDEs. We summarize our data on PBDE levels in babies, bald eagles, and in air. Once these compounds came off the market, we began to measure several of the newer flame retardants in air collected on the shores of the Great Lakes once every 12 days. These new measurements focus on a tetrabrominated benzoate, a tetrabrominated phthalate, a hexabrominated diphenoxyethane, several brominated benzenes, and a highly chlorinated norbornene compound called Dechlorane Plus. Most recently, we have begun measuring the atmospheric concentrations of several organophosphate esters, which are an increasing part of the flame retardant market. The interesting feature of this story is how one compound or set of compounds has followed another out of and into the marketplace even though none of them have been officially regulated. This replacement of one commercial product by another with similar functions shows that the chemical industry does respond to scientific environmental measurements and to the resulting bad publicity. This is a good thing. The problem is that often the replacement chemicals also become environmentally ubiquitous.

Physico-chemical properties of wheat-yam flour composite bread

This work investigated the effect of yam flour substitution on characteristics of wheat bread and also determined the functional properties of the experimental flour samples. Flours were obtained from three varieties of yam (Dioscorea rotundata, Dioscorea alata and Dioscorea bulbifera) and blended with wheat flour at 25, 50 and 75 percent levels of substitution for bread production. Wheat flour (WF) and each of the yam flours were used as the positive and negative controls respectively. The functional properties (bulk density, water/oil absorption capacities, emulsion activity) of the flour samples were determined while the proximate, physical and sensory characteristics of loaves were also determined. The functional properties of the flour samples ranged from 0.42g/ml to 0.67g/ml packed bulk density; 0.39g/ml to 0.47g/ml loose bulk density; 0.88ml/g to 2.10ml/g oil absorption capacity; 1.50ml/g to 3.90ml/g water absorption capacity and 43.75% to 49.37% emulsion activity. The proximate composition of the bread samples ranged from 26.82% to 38.90% moisture, 4.23% to 5.10% fat, 6.10% to 9.25% protein, 1.90% to 2.45% ash, 0.12% to 0.64% crude fiber and 46.43% to 56.71% carbohydrate. The volume, weight and specific volume of loaves varied from 200ml to 400ml, 142.6g to 170.2g and 1.18ml/g to 2.81ml/g respectively. The crack formation of bread samples showed that there were no cracks on wheat bread (WF) and 25% yam flour substituted breads while 100 percent yam flour breads had large cracks. The sensory properties of the 25% yam flour substituted breads were statistically (p>0.05) the same with the 100% wheat bread but differed from all the other bread samples. The mean score of the sensory attributes decreased as yam flour increased in the formulation. Sensory Evaluation of the bread samples showed that substitution level of 25% yam flour produced bread that was acceptable to the consumers whereas up to 50% and above were not acceptable. It is therefore recommended that substitution level of not more than 25% yam flour be used for yam/wheat composite bread production.