Samples Of Different Kinds Research Articles

The bank of biological samples representing individuals exposed to long-term ionizing radiation at various doses.

Collection and storage of biological specimens in biobanks aims to obtain and preserve samples of different kinds for biological and medical studies. Here we present a description of the Bank of Biological Materials (BBM) housed by the Seversk Biophysical Research Centre (SBRC; Seversk, Russia). The main goal of maintaining the BBM is to collect and store biological samples suitable for genetic studies of people exposed to long-term ionizing radiation. Currently, the collection includes 19,194 biological specimens obtained from 8105 donors, of whom 42.3% are diagnosed with malignant neoplasms, 28.7% are healthy residents of the city of Seversk, 18.8% are healthy employees of the Siberian Group of Chemical Enterprises (SGCE), and 10.2% are patients diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction. The donors were enrolled using the Regional Medical and Dosimetric Register database created by the SBRC. For each donor, DNA specimens were extracted from peripheral blood and tissues and cell suspensions for cytogenetic analysis were prepared routinely. The BBM's unique collection is suitable primarily for studies of individual radiosensitivity of humans (IRH), and genetic aspects of the pathophysiology of common human diseases, especially in populations exposed to long-term low-dose ionizing radiation.

Separation, identification and fast determination of organophosphate pesticide methidathion in tea leaves by thin layer chromatography–surface-enhanced Raman scattering

In this work, a fast, sensitive and convenient method for the on-site separation, identification and determination of organophosphate pesticide methidathion in tea leaves was reported, by the use of thin layer chromatography (TLC) in combination with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Five different organophosphate pesticides have been successfully separated and identified. Factors that affect the SERS detection sensitivity of methidathion, such as the brand of TLC plate, material and concentration of metallic nanoparticles (NPs), have been examined. It is found that the limit of quantification for methidathion is 0.1 ppm. Spiked tea samples of different kinds and brands containing methidathion at the ppm level have been tested, with recovery rates in the range of 86–113%. The proposed method for the fast on-site determination of pesticide may help to address food safety concerns in the general public.

COMPARATIVE STUDY ON SOME SELECTED GARRI SAMPLES SOLD IN LAGOS METROPOLIS

Three samples of different kinds of white garri were purchased from, Mushin, Shomolu and Yaba market in Lagos. A reference sample of garri was produced in Yaba College of Technology processing Laboratory. The samples were coded as AOU, BRT, CBN and REF (for the reference). Proximate analysis showed that moisture content ranged between 8-10%, carbohydrate 87-85%, protein 1-3%, fats content 0.5-0.7%, crude fibre 0.5-0.8%, ash content 1-3%. The physiochemical properties of the samples showed that bulk density varied between 0.5glml-0.69glml, pH values 6.4-6.6. A significant differences in the swelling behaviour of the garri sample was observed at room temperature (28 + 2 0 C) particularly in the first 30 minutes of exposure to water. Water absorption varied between 10-13.7%. The sensory evaluation studies revealed preference for Ijebu garri (BRT) over others in terms of desirable attributes of taste, aroma, mouth feel and over all acceptability. While the Cotonou garri (CBN) was preferred in terms of yield and pasting quality alone. The hydrogen cyanide content of all these sample were found to be below (5.4-10.2mg/kgHCN) and fell within the tolerable limits of (10 -15mg/kg HCN) as stipulate by National Agency for food Drug Administration and control (NAFDAC) in Nigeria. KEY WORDS: Cassava, Garri, proximate analysis, organoleptic, bulk density.

An electron paramagnetic resonance study of antioxidant properties of alcoholic beverages

The antioxidant properties of samples of different kinds of commercially available alcoholic beverages were investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. This analytical technique is chiefly designed to enable accurate detection of free radicals. The determination of antioxidant activity by the EPR method is conducted by measuring the changes of the intensity of the EPR spectrum of stable radicals, which results from their interaction with antioxidants. Antioxidant capacity of alcoholic beverages samples was assessed with the use of the stable free radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The highest antioxidant activity was found in red wines, followed by a blend of wine and brandy and then by whiskies, whereas plain vodkas and gin showed negative values of antioxidant activity. From our studies it can be concluded that the value of antioxidant capacity depends on the polyphenolic content, the time and method of ageing, as well as on the flavour and colour additives.

Potential of Gas Sensor Array Based Principal Component Analysis Hybrid for Escherichia Coli Detection

Recent advances in odour-sensing technology and pattern recognition algorithms promise to resurrect olfaction as an important diagnostic option. Electronic nose is an array of chemical sensors connected with a suitable pattern recognition system. This is a rapid, sensitive, specific, non-destructive and easy-to-use tool which can be utilized for detection and identification of pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli in clinical specimen to improve the clinical diagnosis.In this investigation, 100 samples of different kinds of bacteria which were the major cause for sepsis and urinary tract infection were inoculated in 20ml growth medium and incubated for 2 hours for volatile generation. These samples were analyzed with a metal oxide semiconductor based electronic nose for detecting and differentiating Escherichia coli. The instrument was used to generate a pattern of the volatile compounds present in the pathological samples. The sensor responses were evaluated by principal component analysis (PCA) and then with hybrid neural network (PCANN optimized by genetic algorithm). Good results were obtained in the classification of bacterial samples and the methodology was simple and rapid. These results suggest that the electronic nose could be used as a tool for the detection of Escherichia coli.

Quantification of polyphenols with potential antioxidant properties in wines using reverse phase HPLC

A RP-HPLC method with photodiode array detection (DAD) was developed to separate, identify and quantify simultaneously the most representative phenolic compounds present in Madeira and Canary Islands wines. The optimized chromatographic method was carefully validated in terms of linearity, precision, accuracy and sensitivity. A high repeatability and a good stability of phenolics retention times (< 3%) were obtained, as well as relative peak area. Also high recoveries were achieved, over 80.3%. Polyphenols calibration curves showed a good linearity (r(2) >0.994) within test ranges. Detection limits ranged between 0.03 and 11.5 microg/mL for the different polyphenols. A good repeatability was obtained, with intra-day variations less than 7.9%. The described method was successfully applied to quantify several polyphenols in 26 samples of different kinds of wine (red, rosé and white wines) from Madeira and Canary Islands. Gallic acid was by far the most predominant acid. It represents more than 65% of all phenolics, followed by p-coumaric and caffeic acids. The major flavonoid found in Madeira wines was trans-resveratrol. In some wines, (-)-epicatechin was also found in highest amount. Canary wines were shown to be rich in gallic, caffeic and p-coumaric acids and quercetin.

The presence of potential toxigenic fungi in animal feed with particular rewiev on species of genera Aspergillus and Fusarium

The presence of potential toxigenic fungi genera was investigated in 72 samples of different kinds of animal feed. A total five genera of fungi were isolated and identified with followed degree of frequency: Aspergillus (79,17%), Rhizopus (70,83%), Penicillium (68,06%), Fusarium (51,39%) i Mucor (30,56%). The most frequent of the species of fungi from genera Aspergillus and Fusarium were isolated: A. flavus (73,61%), A. fumigatus (31,94%), A. ohraceus (23,16%), A. niger (4,17%), F. verticillioides (36,11%), F. proliferatum (15,28%) i F. subglutinans (2,78%).

Classificação de água de coco processada e natural por meio de HCA, PCA e teores de íons metálicos determinados por ICP OES

Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry was used to determine Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Zn and Cu in samples of processed and natural coconut water. The sample preparation consisted in a filtration step followed by a dilution. The analysis was made employing optimized instrumental parameters and the results were evaluated using methods of Pattern Recognition. The data showed common concentration values for the analytes present in processed and natural samples. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) indicated that the samples of different kinds were statistically different when the concentrations of all the analytes were considered simultaneously.

Multielement analysis of Chinese tea ( Camellia sinensis ) by total-reflection X-ray fluorescence

Total-reflection X–ray fluorescence (TXRF) was used for the simultaneous determination of 15 elements in tea samples which were produced either by acid digestion or acidified infusion of tea leaves (Camellia sinensis). The accuracy and precision of the method were checked by its application to a certified reference material (GBW 08505 : tea). A variety of 39 tea samples of different kinds and/or qualities produced in different regions of China were analysed. The range and mean of the concentrations of elements in the tea leaves (0.1–30.000 μg g–1) and their solubility in infusions (0.5–85%) were determined and the influence of the origin, type and quality of the tea samples was studied. In some tea leaves produced in a Se-rich region, the content of Se was found to be very high (up to 7.5 μg g–1), in contrast to a concentration of only about 0.1 μg g–1 Se in most of the tea leaves examined.

Verbal creativity, depression and alcoholism. An investigation of one hundred American and British writers.

An earlier study of 291 world famous men had shown that only visual artists and creative writers were characterised, in comparison with the general population, by a much higher prevalence of pathological personality traits and alcoholism. Depressive disorders, but not any other psychiatric conditions, had afflicted writers almost twice as often as men with other high creative achievements. The present investigation was undertaken to confirm these findings in a larger and more comprehensive series of writers, and to discover causal factors for confirmed high prevalences of affective conditions and alcoholism in writers. Data were collected from post-mortem biographies and, where applicable, translated into DSM diagnoses. The frequencies of various abnormalities and deviations were compared between poets, prose fiction writers, and playwrights. A high prevalence in writers of affective conditions and of alcoholism was confirmed. That of bipolar affective psychoses exceeded population norms in poets, who in spite of this had a lower prevalence of all kinds of affective disorders, of alcoholism, of personality deviations, and related to this, of psychosexual and marital problems, than prose fiction and play writers. A hypothesis is developed, which links the greater frequency of affective illnesses and alcoholism in playwrights and prose writers, in comparison with poets, to differences in the nature and intensity of their emotional imagination. This hypothesis could be tested by clinical psychologists collaborating with experts in literature on random samples of different kinds of writers.

Occurrence of organochlorine agrochemical residues in Spanish cheeses

AbstractA total of 146 samples of different kinds of cheeses produced in Spain were analysed in order to ascertain the specific contamination pattern. The organochlorine compounds studied were those most commonly investigated in previous surveys: α‐HCH, β‐HCH, γ‐HCH (lindane), γ‐HCH, chlordane, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, and the isomers and metabolites of DDT. α‐HCH, β‐HCH, γ‐HCH, chlordane, p,p′, DDT, and p,p′‐DDE were found in more than 76% of samples; p,p′‐DDE and γ‐HCH were the most frequently detected, with frequencies of 100 and 97.9% respectively. γ‐HCH, aldrin, dieldrin, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, o,p′‐DDT, p,p′‐DDD and o,p′‐DDD were observed at lower frequencies. No residues of endrin were detected in any sample. Insecticides exceeding the maximum residue limits (MRLs) were chlordane, β‐HCH, α‐HCH and γ‐HCH, with 42, 20, eight and six samples respectively. Mean residues of organochlorines found were as follows (μ kg−1 butterfat): α‐HCH = 46.3; β‐HCH = 46.5; γ‐HCH = 54.2; δ‐HCH = 16.9; aldrin = 16.7; dieldrin = 9.7; heptachlor = 15.9; heptachlor epoxide = 14.8; chlordane = 50.2; o,p′‐DDT = 5.1; p,p′‐DDT = 12.4; o,p′‐DDT = 19.6; p,p′‐DDD = 46.7; o,p′‐DDE = 6.9; p,p′‐DDE = 40.7 (.DDT = 55.0).Estimated dietary intakes (EDIs) from cheese consumption were compared to acceptable daily intakes (ADIs) for the pesticides where residues exceeded the MRL. EDIs calculated were in all cases below ADIs, and, therefore, based on the ADIs, there is no health risk involved in the consumption of cheese from Spain arising from organochlorine residues.

Study of trace-element metabolism during the formation of rat's cataract

A cataract in the lenses of Wistar rats was induced by injecting Na2SeO3 into their bodies; they exhibited various kinds of cataract between 8 and 28 days. Samples were prepared using the method of low temperature ashing. The trace-element analyses of samples of different kinds of lenses were carried out by PIXE method. From the results obtained we have studied the ratio of their concentrations relative to the control values in relation to the formation time of cataract. It was found that the metabolites, of most trace-elements in the control lenses are stable, but in various kinds of cataractous lenses they display certain changes. Elements are clearly divided into two types. Elements of the first type are S, Cl, Ca, Fe and Zn. They appear to accumulate relative to the controls, while the second type, P, K and Rb, shows deficiency. The functions of trace-element metabolism during the formation of cataract are also discussed.

Time course of electrolyte leakage from various samples killed by frost, liquid nitrogen or boiling

Samples of the same kind (rape leaves, wheat crowns, onion bulbs or spruce needles) killed by a slow freeze-thaw cycle or by immersion in liquid nitrogen showed a similar time course of leakage. Leakage was accelerated in treatments when the sample, immersed in water, was killed by heating for 5, 15 or 30 min in a boiling water bath. The longer the boiling, the sooner the maximum conductivity (Lkm) was obtained. The Lkm did not depend on the way of killing but in samples killed by freezing, it was achieved after a longer leakage time. The leakage rate decreased from onion to rape, wheat and spruce. The relative conductivity [%] allowed a better comparison of various treatments and of samples of different kinds of tissues than the specific conductivity [μS cm-1].

Histometric and chemical methods for determining collagen in meats

In this paper we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using histometric and chemical methods for detecting collagenous connective tissue in meat products. Twelve samples of different kinds of smoked sausage meat of known recipe were examined chemically and by two histometric procedures. The results obtained with the histometric procedures were almost identical (r = .96) and there was a strong correlation (r = .88) between the results of one histometric procedure and those obtained with the chemical method. It is concluded that histometric and chemical testing methods are equally valuable in that they both provide an objective quality judgement of the meat under investigation. However, since both methods have certain drawbacks and involve certain errors they should be used in conjunction with each other and not independently. In this way it should be possible to obtain a more complete picture of the composition and/or quality of meats than that obtained via chemical analysis alone.

Dimorphism of wings, wing-folding and wing-toiletry devices in the ladybird, Rhyzobius litura (F.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), with a discussion of inter-population variation in this and other wing-dimorphic beetle species

Dimorphism of tergal wing-folding spicule patches and wing-toiletry fringes accompanies wing dimorphism in the ladybird, Rhyzobius litura. Such dimorphism of ‘ancillary' structures is of rare occurrence in the Coleoptera; other instances are discussed. Data are presented concerning the incidence of long and short winged individuals of R. litura in samples from six populations in southern England. Factors likely to influence the relative proportions of the morphs in small populations, and in samples of different kinds, are discussed. Evidence that inter-population variation in the incidence of macropterous individuals has a ‘geographical' component in R. litura is inconclusive.

The composition of different kinds of silage

The chemical composition of eight samples of fresh material and ninety-one samples of different kinds of silage has been determined. The crude protein varied from about 10 to 20 %. Judging by the appearance and edibility of the material, the silage samples made by the A.I.V. process were almost uniformly good. TheirpH values were mainly between 3·5 and 3·8, and they contained less volatile acids and volatile bases than the other silages, and showed the highest proportions of lactic to acetic acid and amino-acids to volatile bases. The results as a whole show a fairly close agreement betweenpH., volatile acids and volatile bases, but attention is directed to the possibility of anomalous figures when, through secondary changes, thepH value has risen to about 6 or 7.