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Locust bean gum (LBG) is used as a thickener, stabilizer, emulsifier and gelling agent in the food industry, and is approved in most areas of the world. The aim of this study was the production of carob dibis, separate and purification of LBG from seeds then investigate the effect of addition of carob dibis at the rate of 10% and LBG (0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06 and 0.08% w/v) on the pH, total solids (T.S), water holding capacity (WHC), mineral content, rheological properties, microbiological analyses and sensory evaluation of set-type yoghurts. It was found that carob dibis is a rich source of sugars and contains high concentrations of minerals. The use of LBG in the yoghurt processing affected the pH. It was found that the water holding capacity of samples ranged from 20.15% to 23.95% during storage period. Dibis and LBG addition did not influence the counts of bacteria. The use of LBG as a stabilizer at concentration of 0.04% LBG+10% dibis in yoghurt manufacture was the best treatment that improved the sensory and rheological properties compared with the yoghurt from the other treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare lung function in wheezy infants, with risk factors of asthma and with some immunological parameters which may be useful as predictors of subsequent asthma.Methods: The data of 241 infants aged 5–36 mo, with recurrent wheeze (≥3 episodes of physician confirmed wheeze) prior to receiving inhaled corticosteroids or anti-leukotrine agents was retrospectively analyzed. They were subdivided into 2 subgroups; those with asthma risk factors (132 patients) and those without (109 patients) Also, 67 healthy, age and sex matched children without recurrent wheezes were taken as control group. Total serum IgE, eosinophilic percentage, tPTEF/tE (time to peak expiratory flow to total expiratory time), total respiratory system compliance (Crs) and resistance of the respiratory system (Rrs) was done for patients and control groups.Results: Wheezy infants had a significantly higher eosinophilic percentage and total serum IgE as well as a significantly lower pulmonary function parameters when compared to healthy controls. Wheezy infants with positive family history of asthma and those who had not been breast fed showed significant reduction in the mean values of tPTEF/tE and increased both eosinophilic percentage and total serum IgE. Crs was significantly decreased in wheezy infants with positive seasonal variations and those who had increased both eosinophilic percentage and total serum IgE. Rrs showed significant increase in wheezy infants with positive family history of atopy and those who had increased eosinophilic percentage and increased total serum IgE.Conclusions: Lung function, eosinophilic percentage, total serum IgE and asthma risk factors could be used as predictors for ongoing wheeze in this subset of children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To check for the association of genetic polymorphisms of IL-6-(-174)G/C and IL-1RaVNTR with the susceptibility and severity of asthma in Egyptian children.Methods: Subjects included 69 asthmatic children and 98 healthy unrelated controls from the Nile Delta of Egypt. Cases consisted of 20 males and 49 females with an age mean +/- SD is 7.5 +/- 2.1 ranging between 2-13 years. DNA amplification using PCR with sequence-specific primers was done for detection of promotor single nucleotide polymorphism of IL-6 gene as well as intron 2 VNTR of IL-1Ra gene. Frequency of case-genotypes or alleles were compared to controls using Fisher exact test and Odds ratio.Results: Cases showed significant higher frequency of the genotypes: IL-6-174 GG (P<0.05, OR=3.2, 95% CI=1.09-10) that was evident mainly in the uncontrolled asthma subgroup indicative of the possibility of being a severity genotype. All cases as well as case-subgroups showed high significant frequency of IL-1Ra A1A1 (p<0.0001, OR=1.5, 95% CI=1.3-1.8). This may be considered a susceptibility genotype. Cases have also shown significant lower frequency of IL-6(-174) GC and IL-1Ra A1A2 genotypes (P<0.001 and P<0.0001 respectively).Conclusion: IL-6 and IL-1Ra polymorphisms can be considered genetic markers for bronchial asthma susceptibility and/or severity among Egyptian children. This may have a potential impact on family counseling and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of insulation location on the heat transfer characteristics of building wall elements under initial transient conditions is studied. Thermal performance with an insulation layer placed on the inside of a wall is compared to that when the insulation layer is placed on the outside. The investigation is carried out for the climatic conditions of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during representative days for July and January using a finite-volume implicit procedure. The initial temperature distribution across the wall is assumed to be uniform and equal to the daily mean external air temperature. The numerical model is validated against a semi-analytic solution developed for a simple test case. The results of model application under the present conditions show that placing the insulation on the inside gives an instantaneous load that is about 20% of the value for outside insulation during the first few hours in the initial transient process. Besides, the duration of the transient process which leads to steady periodic state, and thus, the period of thermal discomfort due to radiation exchange is much shorter for the inside insulation. The average heat transmission over the first 24 hours of air-conditioning operation with the inside insulation is about one-third of that with the outside insulation. The dynamic R-values are averaged over the first 24 hours and compared for various wall orientations, seasons and insulation locations. It is recommended that for spaces where the air-conditioning system is switched on and off intermittently, the insulation should be placed on the inside. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Examines the inverse method applied to a body of revolution with an extended favorable pressure gradient forebody. Manipulation of the geometrical parameters of the shape to achieve lower drag of the structure; Mechanism of the boundary layer in providing favorable pressure gradients; Potential flow techniques for the direct and inverse problems.