Comparison of Polyaromatic Hydrocarbon Residue Concentrations in Clarias gariepinus Smoked with Traditional and Mechanical Kilns

Background. Wood, a common fueling material for fish smoking in Nigeria, contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which have been found to be carcinogenic and pose a human health hazard. Objectives. The present study investigated the interactions and effects of kiln types on levels of PAHs in smoked fish. Methods. Twenty fresh samples of Clarias gariepinus with an average size of 800 g were eviscerated, washed and salted for smoking. Sixteen (16) of the fish were randomly and equally allotted to each of the two kilns (treatments) and replicated three times in a completely randomized design. Each kiln was loaded and heated up with hard wood charcoal and the effects were evaluated on the resulting smoked fish. The remaining four fish samples were kept under refrigeration (controls). Samples of the smoke-dried fish from each kiln were homogenized using a porcelain mortar and pestle, sieved through a 250-μm2 sieve, and packaged in labeled airtight containers prior to extraction. Pure extracts from the samples were subjected to gas chromatography. Results. The results showed that the PAH concentration in non-smoked catfish was 1.0 mg/kg, the PAH concentration in fish samples smoked with a traditional kiln was 2.0 mg/kg, and no PAHs were detected in samples smoked with a mechanical kiln. Conclusions. The level of PAH contamination of smoked fish is dependent on the type of kiln used, as demonstrated by the differences between fished smoked with traditional and mechanical kilns in the present study. Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests

Carbon and nitrogen ratio in the soils of the lithalsa landscapes in Sentsa River valley, East Sayan

The subject of this study is the ratio of carbon and nitrogen content in the soil of the lithalsa landscape in the Sentsa River valley. The focus is on the spatial distribution of C/N ratio in the genetic soil horizons: humus (A), illuvial (B), the parent rock(C), as well as in the buried peat horizon (T). The carbon and nitrogen content is analyzed in 70 samples using the element analyzer C, H, N, S –O EA 1110. Sample preparation included drying the soil through a sieve and grinding it with a rubber pestle in a porcelain mortar. It is found that cryogenic concentration of soil solutions, cryogenic heaving, thermokarst, zoogenic turbations, peat burial, and alluvial loam deposition are the main processes determining the peculiarity of soil formation within lithalsa landscapes. The maximum variation in the ratio of carbon and nitrogen content is observed in the illuvial horizon, while in the humus horizon and in the parent rock, as well as in the buried peat horizon, this indicator is of a smaller range.

Rietveld Analysis of Aurivillius-Type Structure Ceramics Synthesized from Precursors Prepared by Classical and HEBM Methods

The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of the method of preparing the substrates in the form of simple oxides for the structure of the final Bi5Ti3FeO15ceramics. Milling of the substrates was carried out by two methods: the classical one by hand mixing in a porcelain mortar, and by high-energy. Structure studies were performed by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) method. XRD patterns were analyzed with the Rietveld method using the DBWS 9807a program. It was found out that the slightest deviation of the network parameters from the catalog data occurs for the sample obtained from simple oxides by free sintering (BTFs). Furthermore, it was also determined that the optimal high-energy time of the substrates is 5 hours. When compared to the ICDD catalog data, the resulting ceramics is a single phase one and has the lowest network parameters deviation among all samples which were subject to high-energy.

KONSENTRASI KLOROFIL DAUN PADI PADA SAAT KEKURANGAN AIR YANG DIINDUKSI DENGAN POLIETILEN GLIKOL

KONSENTRASI KLOROFIL DAUN PADI PADA SAAT KEKURANGAN AIR YANG DIINDUKSI DENGAN POLIETILEN GLIKOL ABSTRAK Telah dilakukan penelitian mengenai konsentrasi klorofil daun padi (Oryza sativa L.) kultivar Serayu dan IR 64 pada saat kekurangan air yang diinduksi dengan polietilen glikol (PEG). Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk membandingkan konsentrasi klorofil total, klorofil a dan klorofil b pada daun padi pada saat kekurangan air yang diinduksi dengan PEG 8000 dengan mengkultur tanaman padi pada medium dengan potensial air (PA) 0; -0,5 dan -1 MPa. Sampel helaian daun (lamina) untuk tiap perlakuan diambil sebanyak 1 g, dihaluskan dengan mortar dan pestel, lalu diekstraksi dengan alkohol 95% sampai semua klorofil terlarut. Ekstrak disaring dan supernatan ditampung dalam labu ukur 100 ml, lalu ditambahkan alkohol 95% sampai 100 ml. Konsentrasi klorofil diukur dengan spektrofotometer pada panjang gelombang 649 dan 665 nm. Berdasarkan hasil yang diperoleh, tanaman padi kultivar Serayu dan IR 64 mulai mengalami kekeringan pada PEG dengan PA -0,5 MPa dengan ciri-ciri daun yang kering, menggulung dan batang yang berwarna kecoklatan. Perbedaan konsentrasi klorofil total, klorofil a, dan klorofil b pada daun padi kultivar Serayu dan IR 64 diamati pada PEG dengan PA 0; -0,5 dan -0,1 MPa. Kata kunci: konsentrasi klorofil, polietilen glikol (PEG), kekurangan air, padi kultivar Serayu dan IR 64 THE CHLOROPHYLL CONCENTRATION IN RICE LEAVES UNDER POLYETHYLENE-GLYCOL- INDUCED WATER DEFICIT ABSTRACT A research was conducted to evaluate the concentrations of total clorophyll, chlorophyll a and clorophyll b in rice (Oryza sativa L.) leaves under polyethylene-glycol-induced water deficit. The water deficit was induced by culturing the plants in medium containing polyethylene glycol (PEG) 8000 with water potential (PA) 0;-0,5; and -1 MPa for 2 days. Leaf lamina (1 g) was sampled from each treatment at day 0 and 2. Each sample was ground using porcelain mortar and pestle, and extracted with 95% ethanol until all chlorophyll was dissolved. The extract was filtered, the supernatant was collected in 100 ml flask and added with 95% ethanol until 100 ml. The chlorophyll concentration was measured using spechtrophotometer at 649 and 665 nm. The dry and rolled leaves and brown stems were observed in cultivar Serayu and IR 64 that were cultivated in media containing PEG with PA -0,5 and -1,0 MPa. The concentrations of total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a and b in leaves of cultivar Serayu and IR 64 cultivated in media containing PEG with PA 0; -0,5 and -1,0 MPa were different. Keywords: chlorophyll concentration, polyethylene glycol (PEG), water deficit, Serayu and IR 64 rice cultivars

Suppository Preparation: Density Factor Determination for Some Over-the-Counter Analgesic Products

Background: The formulation of analgesic suppositories by the compounding pharmacist may offer an alternative to patients who cannot take medications orally. Objective: To determine the density factor (DF) for 9 nonprescription nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, aspirin, and acetaminophen for use in compounding suppositories. Methods: Nine nonprescription analgesic products were purchased from local stores in North Carolina. All products were solid dosage forms (ie, tablets, caplets, or geltabs). The solid units were pulverized with a porcelain mortar and pestle and then incorporated into a cocoa butter base for formulating the suppository. The DF estimation was evaluated according to the Paddock method. Results: The highest DF value (mean ± SD) among the products tested was for St. Joseph Aspirin (1.45 ± 0.78); the lowest value was for Motrin IB (ibuprofen) (1.06 ± 0.23). Overall, 11.1% (40/360) of all compounded suppositories had some sort of defect. The most often encountered defect was chipping (3.6%; 13/360); the least encountered was sticking to molds (0.83%; 3/360). Conclusions: A practical method for preparing compounded suppositories provides a viable alternative for patients who require analgesic medications but cannot take them orally.

A new colorful test for detecting hidden blood in feces

The author suggests the following method: take 5.0 of the test feces by eye, thoroughly grind it in a porcelain mortar with excess acetone and filter it, and the feces remaining on the filter is washed with acetone until almost discolored liquid flows out; after the acetone is squeezed with a pestle as much as possible, the feces is removed from the filter into another porcelain mortar, grinded with 20 cc. c. of a mixture of alcohol and glacial acetic acid (1 c. c. of acid to 1 c. c. of absol. alcohol), is filtered again, and 1 c. c. of the filtrate is poured into a mixture consisting of 1 c. of Leukomethyl-violett'a or Leukofuchsin with 2 drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide.

Monazite and Xenotime in European Rocks

As the phosphates of the cerium and yttrium groups, monazite aud xenotime, have proved to be quite widespread microscopic accessories in certain types of Brazilian granites and gneisses, "a batea test has recently been made on a number of hand specimens obtained from the mineral establishment of Dr. F. Krantz, of Bonn, for the purpose of determining if these interesting minerals were equally characteristic of the corresponding types of European rocks. About half of an ordinary museum specimen was crushed in a porcelain mortar to pass through a moderately fine sieve, concentrated in the batea and examined under the microscope after cleaning with the Thoulet or Klein solution, or both, and, when necessary, with the electro-magnet. The identifications of the minerals in the residues thus obtained, especially in cases of doubt, have been kindly revised by Dr. Eugen Hussak.