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Main Ingredients (main + ingredient)
Selected AbstractsFirst-Order Schemes in the Numerical Quantization MethodMATHEMATICAL FINANCE, Issue 1 2003V. Bally The numerical quantization method is a grid method that relies on the approximation of the solution to a nonlinear problem by piecewise constant functions. Its purpose is to compute a large number of conditional expectations along the path of the associated diffusion process. We give here an improvement of this method by describing a first-order scheme based on piecewise linear approximations. Main ingredients are correction terms in the transition probability weights. We emphasize the fact that in the case of optimal quantization, many of these correcting terms vanish. We think that this is a strong argument to use it. The problem of pricing and hedging American options is investigated and a priori estimates of the errors are proposed. [source] Methylone and mCPP, two new drugs of abuse?ADDICTION BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2005M. Bossong Recently, two new ecstasy-like substances, methylone and mCPP, were found in street drugs in the Netherlands by the Drugs Information and Monitoring System (DIMS). Methylone (3,4-methylenedioxymethcathinone) is the main ingredient of a new liquid designer drug that appeared on the Dutch drug market, called ,Explosion'. mCPP (meta-chlorophenylpiperazine) is a substance often used as a probe for the serotonin function in psychiatric research, and has now been found in street drugs, both in tablets and powders. Methylone as well as mCPP act on monoaminergic systems, resembling MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), with mCPP mainly affecting the serotonin system. The subjective effects of both new substances exhibit subtle differences with those of MDMA. Only little is known about the harmfulness of both methylone and mCPP. However, because of similarities between these substances and MDMA, risks common to MDMA cannot be excluded. [source] Ethnic differences in use value and use patterns of baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) in northern BeninAFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2009E. De Caluwé Abstract The aim of this study was to combine qualitative and quantitative tools to evidence ethnic differences in use value and use patterns of baobab for the rural populations of northern Benin. The study was carried out in the municipalities of Boukoumbé and Karimama, focusing on Ottamari and Dendi ethnic groups, respectively, who have good knowledge on baobab uses. Ethnobotanical data were gathered through semi-structured individual interviews and processed by quantitative (multiple use curve, use value and fidelity level) and qualitative (flow chart) analytical and ethnobotanical methods. Leaves, fruit pulp and seeds of baobab were shown to be well-known for several food uses and were often the main ingredient in sauces, pastes, porridges and beverages. Medicinal uses were especially well-known for the bark, which was also used for making ropes. In both communities, a total of 38 different uses were mentioned for baobab products. There were significantly more uses known by the Ottamari than by the Dendi, with use values of 8 and 5, respectively. There were no differences detected in knowledge between sexes and age classes. As a result of its nutritional and high potential market value, preservation of ethnobotanical knowledge on baobab and exchange between communities is critical. Résumé Le but de cette étude était de combiner des outils qualitatifs et quantitatifs pour mettre en évidence des différences ethniques dans la valeur d'utilisation et dans les schémas d'utilisation du baobab chez les populations rurales du nord du Bénin. Cette étude fut réalisée dans les municipalités de Boukoumbé et de Karimama, spécifiquement chez les groupes ethniques Ottamari et Dendi, respectivement, qui ont une bonne connaissance des utilisations du baobab. Des données ethnobotaniques furent récoltées grâce à des interviews individuelles semi-structurées et elles furent traitées par des méthodes analytiques et ethnobotaniques quantitatives (courbe d'utilisation multiple, valeur d'utilisation et degré de fidélité) et qualitatives (graphique d'évolution). Les feuilles, la pulpe de fruits et les semences de baobab se sont avérées être bien connues pour plusieurs utilisations alimentaires et elles étaient souvent les ingrédients principaux dans des sauces, des pâtes, des bouillies et des boissons. Des utilisations médicinales étaient particulièrement bien connues pour l'écorce qui servait aussi pour fabriquer des cordes. Dans les deux communautés, un total de 38 utilisations différentes ont été mentionnées pour des produits du baobab. Il y avait significativement plus d'utilisations connues chez les Ottamari que chez les Dendi, avec des valeurs d'utilisation de 8 et de 5, respectivement. On n'a décelé aucune différence de connaissances en fonction de l'âge ni du sexe. Suite à sa valeur nutritionnelle et à sa haute valeur commerciale potentielle, la préservation des connaissances ethnobotaniques sur le baobab et des échanges entre communautés est critique. [source] MIXTURES OF BEEF TRIPE, BEEF LIVER AND SOYBEANS APPLIED TO FOOD DEVELOPMENTJOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION, Issue 3 2007L. MALVESTITI ABSTRACT A nutritive sausage-type product was developed with beef tripe, beef liver and soybeans as ingredients. A three-component mixture design was used to obtain seven different formulations (minimum of each main ingredient: 16.5%, maximum: 67.0%). Ingredients were ground, mixed and packed tightly with a polypropylene film to obtain a roll. Pieces were cooked in boiling water for 90 min. The composition of the obtained products varied within the following ranges: proteins 17.32,25.56 g/100 g, lipids 3.22,3.87 g/100 g, crude fiber 1.50,4.50 g/100 g, minerals 1.44,2.72 g/100 g. Total iron levels varied between 1.39 and 2.98 mg/100 g and calcium levels between 15.07 and 34.01 mg/100 g. Surface response analysis was applied to parameters obtained from texture profile analysis (hardness, adhesiveness, cohesiveness and elasticity). Products hardness increased when the soy content increased; on the contrary, formulations enriched in beef tripe were those of higher elasticity and cohesiveness. Color was mainly determined by the incorporation of liver. A nontrained panel was used to evaluate the acceptance of the different formulations. The most accepted one was that with equal proportions of the three main ingredients. Microbiological challenge testing showed that the thermal treatment was enough for assuring the product safeness even in samples with high initial microbial charge. [source] Improvement of the in vitro Digestible Iron and Zinc Content of Okra (Hibiscus esculentus L.) Sauce Widely Consumed in Sahelian AfricaJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 2 2007Sylvie Avallone ABSTRACT:, The effects of the formulation (okra, fish, soumbala, extract of wood ash) and cooking time of okra sauce on total iron and zinc content and on their in vitro digestibility were evaluated following a Doehlert uniform shell design with 5 factors and 33 trials. Cooking time had no significant effect on in vitro digestible iron and zinc content, whereas formulation did. Each ingredient had a specific effect. Extract of wood ash, which is a source of soluble and digestible iron and zinc, is a good way of increasing the digestible mineral content of the dish. Okra, the main ingredient in this sauce, has a negative effect and should be added in moderate quantities (< 37.7% of the DM of the sauce). An optimization using the desirability function allows us to identify the optimal recipe that enabled the quantity of digestible iron to be doubled and the quantity of digestible zinc to be increased by one third. This recipe calls for a mixture of 37.7% okra, 26.3% dried fish, 18.5% soumbala, and 3.7% extract of wood ash cooked for 25 min. [source] Chemical composition and antiproliferative activity of essential oil from the leaves of a medicinal herb, Schefflera heptaphyllaPHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 1 2009Yao-Lan Li Abstract Schefflera heptaphylla (L.) Frodin is a medicinal herb widely used as a main ingredient of the popular health tea formulation against infections in Southern China. Twenty-seven volatile compounds were identified by GC-MS analysis from the essential oil obtained from the leaves of S. heptaphylla, and 17 of them belonged to monoterpenes or sesquiterpenes. The main volatile constituent in S. heptaphylla was found to be a monoterpene, , -pinene, comprising about 22% of the total volatile components. The essential oil showed significant antiproliferative activity against three cancer cell lines, MCF-7, A375 and HepG2 cells, with IC50 values of 7.3 µg/mL, 7.5 µg/mL and 6.9 µg/mL, respectively. The result of the cytotoxicity assay indicates that (,)- , -pinene and (+)- , -pinene (commercially available from Sigma) also possessed antiproliferative activity against the cancer cells MCF-7, A375 and HepG2 with IC50 values ranging from 147.1 to 264.7 µm. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] "You will only see it, if you understand it" or occupational risk prevention from a management perspectiveHUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS IN MANUFACTURING & SERVICE INDUSTRIES, Issue 4 2008Paul Swuste Evidence of a managerial influence on occupational risk prevention is largely lacking. The incidence of major accidents in high-hazard sectors of industry does not show a downward trend. Also, the decline of fatal occupational accidents in industrialized Western countries may well be attributed to the growing employment in the relatively safe service sectors and to a phenomenon known as export of hazards. Looking more closely at accidents and disasters, we now believe they are not only caused by direct physical events, nor by human errors alone. They have their roots in organizational settings and in the sociotechnical system companies are active in. Whatever their cause, we know that (major) accidents almost always take us by surprise. Despite all our efforts and systems, we seem unable to foresee or predict these events. It seems our management systems are looking at the wrong items. Critics from small- and medium-sized enterprises also point in that direction; management systems are too bureaucratic and lack a focus on hazard and risk identification. Apparently, we fail to incorporate the main ingredients of accident causation in our management systems. This article will discuss current models and presentations. In reference to the title of this article, the possibility to integrate these presentations into management systems will be discussed. This article is based on the presentation given at the 4th International Conference on Occupational Risk Prevention, Sevilla, Spain, May 10,12, 2006. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Synthesis of multiport resistors with piecewise-linear characteristics: a mixed-signal architectureINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CIRCUIT THEORY AND APPLICATIONS, Issue 4 2005Mauro Parodi Abstract Non-linear multiport resistors are the main ingredients in the synthesis of non-linear circuits. Recently, a particular PWL representation has been proposed as a generic design platform (IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst.-I 2002; 49:1138,1149). In this paper, we present a mixed-signal circuit architecture, based on standard modules, that allows the electronic integration of non-linear multiport resistors using the mentioned PWL structure. The proposed architecture is fully programmable so that the unit can implement any user-defined non-linearity. Moreover, it is modular: an increment in the number of input variables can be accommodated through the addition of an equal number of input modules. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Ionic liquids in the selective recovery of fat from composite foodstuffsJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 11 2009Huma Lateef Abstract BACKGROUND: Ionic liquids (ILs) are able to dissolve a wide range of organic and inorganic molecules and have potential application in the separation and recovery of valuable components from wastes. The potential for ILs to separate sugar and fat from food waste is demonstrated using chocolate as a model system. RESULTS: The ILs 1-(2-cyanoethyl)-3-methylimidazolium bromide (cyanoMIMBr), 1-propyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (propylMIMBr), 1-hexylpyridinium bromide (hexylPyrBr) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (butylMIMCl) were synthesised by microwave technology and fully characterised by mass spectrometry, thermogravimetric differential scanning calorimetery, thin layer chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The solubilities of the fat and carbohydrate components in the ILs are reported for the two main ingredients in chocolate. CyanoMIMBr and propylMIMBr selectively solubilise sugar leaving the fat insoluble. Both cyanoMIMBr and propylMIMBr have been used to successfully separate sugars and cocoa butter fat from white, milk and dark chocolate and the Fourier transform infrared spectra and thermogravimetric differential scanning calorimeter profiles of the extracted fat samples are in good agreement with reference material data. CONCLUSIONS: The ILs cyanoMIMBr and propylMIMBr are successful in the separation and recovery of fat from white, milk and dark chocolate, as confirmed by FTIR and TG-DSC data. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source] MIXTURES OF BEEF TRIPE, BEEF LIVER AND SOYBEANS APPLIED TO FOOD DEVELOPMENTJOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION, Issue 3 2007L. MALVESTITI ABSTRACT A nutritive sausage-type product was developed with beef tripe, beef liver and soybeans as ingredients. A three-component mixture design was used to obtain seven different formulations (minimum of each main ingredient: 16.5%, maximum: 67.0%). Ingredients were ground, mixed and packed tightly with a polypropylene film to obtain a roll. Pieces were cooked in boiling water for 90 min. The composition of the obtained products varied within the following ranges: proteins 17.32,25.56 g/100 g, lipids 3.22,3.87 g/100 g, crude fiber 1.50,4.50 g/100 g, minerals 1.44,2.72 g/100 g. Total iron levels varied between 1.39 and 2.98 mg/100 g and calcium levels between 15.07 and 34.01 mg/100 g. Surface response analysis was applied to parameters obtained from texture profile analysis (hardness, adhesiveness, cohesiveness and elasticity). Products hardness increased when the soy content increased; on the contrary, formulations enriched in beef tripe were those of higher elasticity and cohesiveness. Color was mainly determined by the incorporation of liver. A nontrained panel was used to evaluate the acceptance of the different formulations. The most accepted one was that with equal proportions of the three main ingredients. Microbiological challenge testing showed that the thermal treatment was enough for assuring the product safeness even in samples with high initial microbial charge. [source] Mixing of shear-thinning fluids with yield stress in stirred tanksAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 7 2006P. E. Arratia Abstract Mixing of shear-thinning fluids with yield stress is investigated in a three-dimensional (3-D) flow both in experiments and in simulations. Experiments are conducted in a stirred tank using tracer visualization and velocity measurements. Bulk flow visualization shows the familiar cavern formation around the impeller with stagnant zones surrounding it. Detailed flow visualization inside caverns reveals the main ingredients of chaotic flow: lobe formation, stretching, folding, and self-similar mixing patterns. For multiple impeller systems, however, we find strong compartmentalization characterized by robust segregation between adjacent caverns, hindering mixing performance. Mixing efficiency is enhanced by moving the shaft off-center, which breaks spatial symmetry. The displacement of the shaft from the tank centerline has a beneficial effect on manifold structure: segregated regions are destroyed, separatrices are eliminated, and axial circulation is improved. Numerical simulations are performed by solving the incompressible Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes equation with a Galerkin Least-Squares finite-element formulation and a macroscopic rheological model. Simulations are able to capture the main features of the flow and are used to investigate stretching statistics and scale behavior. © 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2006 [source] Testing the accuracy of synthetic stellar librariesMONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 4 2007Lucimara P. Martins ABSTRACT One of the main ingredients of stellar population synthesis models is a library of stellar spectra. Both empirical and theoretical libraries are used for this purpose, and the question about which one is preferable is still debated in the literature. Empirical and theoretical libraries are being improved significantly over the years, and many libraries have become available lately. However, it is not clear in the literature what are the advantages of using each of these new libraries, and how far behind models are compared to observations. Here we compare in detail some of the major theoretical libraries available in the literature with observations, aiming at detecting weaknesses and strengths from the stellar population modelling point of view. Our test is twofold: we compared model predictions and observations for broad-band colours and for high-resolution spectral features. Concerning the broad-band colours, we measured the stellar colour given by three recent sets of model atmospheres and flux distributions, and compared them with a recent UBVRIJHK calibration which is mostly based on empirical data. We found that the models can reproduce with reasonable accuracy the stellar colours for a fair interval in effective temperatures and gravities. The exceptions are (1) the U,B colour, where the models are typically redder than the observations, and (2) the very cool stars in general (V,K, 3). Castelli & Kurucz is the set of models that best reproduce the bluest colours (U,B, B,V) while Gustafsson et al. and Brott & Hauschildt more accurately predict the visual colours. The three sets of models perform in a similar way for the infrared colours. Concerning the high-resolution spectral features, we measured 35 spectral indices defined in the literature on three high-resolution synthetic libraries, and compared them with the observed measurements given by three empirical libraries. The measured indices cover the wavelength range from ,3500 to ,8700 Å. We found that the direct comparison between models and observations is not a simple task, given the uncertainties in parameter determinations of empirical libraries. Taking that aside, we found that in general the three libraries present similar behaviours and systematic deviations. For stars with Teff, 7000 K, the library by Coelho et al.is the one with best average performance. We detect that lists of atomic and molecular line opacities still need improvement, specially in the blue region of the spectrum, and for the cool stars (Teff, 4500 K). [source] Julio Cortázar quotes on normal and abnormal movements: Magical realism or reality?MOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 8 2006Marcelo Merello MD Abstract Together with Mario Vargas Llosa and Gabriel García Márquez, Julio Cortázar was one of the most representative authors of the Latin American magical realism genre. Within his extensive body of work, many descriptions of characters suffering physical disabilities, as well as situations suggesting such medical conditions, can be extracted. In this review, two short stories by Cortázar are presented. In the first one, the main character could easily be a man suffering from corticobasal degeneration; in the second, an old woman with symptoms suggestive of progressive supranuclear palsy is clearly depicted. Despite the fact that one of the main ingredients in Cortázar's magical realism is fiction, cases described here fit real medical conditions quite well, making it hard to believe that they represent purely fantastic descriptions rather than the product of Cortázar's inquisitive observation and the description of real patients. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society [source] Photodynamic Actinometry Using Microspheres: Concept, Development and Responsivity ,PHOTOCHEMISTRY & PHOTOBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2004Stuart K. Bisland ABSTRACT Photodynamic therapy (PDT) relies on three main ingredients, oxygen, light and photoactivating compounds, although the PDT response is definitively contingent on the site and level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. This study describes the development of a novel, fluorescent-based actinometer microsphere system as a means of discerning spatially resolved dosimetry of total fluence and ROS production. Providing a high resolution, localized, in situ measurement of fluence and ROS generation is critical for developing in vivo PDT protocols. Alginate-poly- l -lysine-alginate microspheres were produced using ionotropic gelation of sodium alginate droplets, ranging from 80 to 200 ,m in diameter, incorporating two dyes, ADS680WS (ADS) and Rhodophyta-phycoerythrin (RPE), attached to the spheres' inside and outside layers, respectively. To test the responsivity and dynamic range of RPE for ROS detection, the production of ROS was initiated either chemically using increasing concentrations of potassium perchromate or photochemically using aluminum tetrasulphonated phthalocyanine. The generation of singlet oxygen was confirmed by phosphorescence at 1270 nm. The resulting photodegradation and decrease in fluorescence of RPE was found to correlate with increased perchromate or PDT treatment fluence, respectively. This effect was independent of pH (6.5,8) and could be inhibited using sodium azide. RPE was not susceptible to photobleaching with light alone (670 nm; 150 Jcm,2). ADS, which absorbs light between 600 and 750 nm, showed a direct correlation between radiant exposure (670 nm; 0,100 Jcm,2) and diminished fluorescence. Photobleaching was independent of irradiance (10,40 mW cm,2). We propose that actinometer microspheres may provide a means for obtaining high spatial resolution information regarding delivered PDT dose within model systems during investigational PDT development and dosimetric information for clinical extracorporeal PDT as in the case of ex vivo bone marrow purging. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||