An important factor for increasing the commercialization of phytosanitary irradiation (PI) is the adoption of generic doses in international and national regulatory frameworks. A limiting factor to accelerating the use of PI is the availability of information on commodity tolerance for the wide range of horticultural products that might be eligible for treatment with PI. The International Database on Insect Disinfestation and Sterilization (IDIDAS) created by the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/International Atomic Energy Agency (FAO/IAEA) Program for Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture contains an extensive collection of international research on PI. The International Database on Commodity Tolerance (IDCT; https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/naipc/IDCT/Pages/default.aspx), also created under the auspices of the Joint Program, contains information on the reaction of fresh horticultural commodities including fruit, vegetables, flowers, roots, and tubers, to radiation. Data were extracted from scientific publications from 1950 to the present. The procedure was to collect defined data elements for reporting in a consistent manner. The information used for the database focused on the parameters of specific treatments and conditions. The concepts of "market acceptance" and "market rejection" were determined based on factors associated with how the radiation dose (or range of doses) affected acceptance or rejection of the commodity by taking into account the damage from the treatment and handling conditions in each research scenario. Approximately 415 articles were reviewed: 336 articles corresponded to 48 different fruit species; 47 articles corresponded to tubers and vegetables; and 35 articles covered 21 species of flowers. The database can be searched by commodity using the common name, cultivar, or Latin name as well as by genus and family. Each study lists the respective reference and listings are illustrated with the Google photo gallery. The availability of this information in the IDCT database greatly facilitates the process of identifying potential trade opportunities using PI and helps highlight where commodity tolerance research is sufficient or is still needed.

The purpose of the databases developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is to facilitate the collection and sharing of data among fruit fly workers and to provide access to information that details findings on doses required for phytosanitary irradiation (PI) and for the purpose of applying the sterile insect technique (SIT) as part of area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM) programs. These include: Tephritid Workers Database (TWD), the International Database on Insect Disinfestation and Sterilization (IDIDAS), and the World-Wide Directory of SIT Facilities (DIR-SIT). These databases have been continuously updated and populated with new data, including the TWD list of over 1500 members and more than 7000 literature references relevant to tephritid fruit flies. Furthermore, TWD hosts the web pages of the three regional tephritid worker groups and their respective Steering Committees: the Tephritid Workers of the Western Hemisphere (TWWH), the Tephritid Workers of Europe, Africa and the Middle East (TEAM) and the Tephritid Workers of Asia, Australia and Oceania (TAAO). IDIDAS includes 373 insect datasheets with radiation doses for sterilization and phytosanitary irradiation extracted from over 5400 references. DIR-SIT lists 38 mass-rearing facilities, including details about the insect species, the production capacity, and the irradiation sterilization parameters. The newly developed International Database on Commodity Tolerance (IDCT) helps to determine the tolerated PI dose for the disinfestation of fresh products. Up-to-now, data have been retrieved for IDCT from 243 references and have returned 156 different cultivars belonging to 89 fresh commodities (fruit, vegetables, and cut flowers). IDCT is an added value to IDIDAS and both share several common resources. With IDIDAS and IDCT data, food safety officers can select the optimum dose that balances between the insect/mite pest sterility or lethality and the commodity tolerance. In addition, technical resources, news, newsletters, event calendars, and photo galleries have been included in these databases. The monitoring and evaluation of the performance of these sites in terms of the audience and visits are tracked via Google Analytics. With these four databases, TWD, IDIDAS, IDCT, and DIR-SIT, FAO and IAEA are offering a valuable repository of information and a comprehensive networking service to their member states. The objective of this chapter is to provide an overview of these resources to the community of tephritid fruit fly workers, including some information on their metrics.

Several studies had shown that many project managers are facing difficulties in predicting the performance of Traditional General Contract (TGC) projects. This is due to the fact that there are many factors that affect TGC project success. This paper presents the TGS project success factors that have been identified. In addition, a model to predict the performance of TGC project based on time is also described. Through literature research, a total of forty-four factors affecting TGC project success had been established. The degree of importance for these factors was determined through questionnaire survey. The outcome of the survey formed a basis for the development of the project performance prediction model. The best model was found to be a multi-layer back-propagation neural network consists of eight input nodes, five hidden nodes and three output nodes. The model was tested by using data from nine new projects. The results showed that the mean error for this prediction model is relatively low. The model enables all parties involved in TGC projects to predict and ensure that their project performance is within the time constraints.

This work reports on the possibility of using the LKB 2277 thermal activity monitor to study the influence of anionic, cationic and neutral surfactants on the stability of a series of an-alkyl acetates.

In this study, we have compared the effects of the World Health Organization oral rehydration solution (WHO ORS) and an ORS containing short polymers of glucose (Amylyte ORS) at a high caloric density (five times) and comparable osmolality, on stool output, duration of diarrhea, weight gain and fluid and electrolyte balance, in randomized, open‐labeled, controlled clinical trials in five centers. A total of 198 male children (4 months to 10 years) with acute diarrhea (<72 h after onset) were assigned by random allocation to either WHO ORS or Amylyte ORS at five centers in Asia. Children were stratified according to grade of dehydration (mild, moderate or severe) and the initial purging rates during the first 6h (low (<2ml/kg/h), moderate (2–5ml/kg/h) and high (>5ml/kg/h) purgers). The clinical characteristics of the children in the two treatment groups were comparable. Amylyte ORS reduced stool volumes significantly in children with severe dehydration (285.4 ± 74.2 versus 75.5 ±20.0 ml/kg; p < 0.05) and in children with a high initial purging rate (200.3 ±42.8 versus 130.5 ± 9.1 ml/kg; p < 0.05). This was accompanied by a significant (276.4 ±14.6 versus 227.6 ± 11.8 ml/kg; p < 0.01) reduction in ORS requirements in the Amylyte ORS treated group, the effect being greatest in children with severe dehydration (491.5 ± 108.5 versus 155.7 ± 27.3 ml/kg; p < 0.01) or high initial purging rates (394.2 ± 66.2 versus 316.8 ± 34.8 ml/kg; p < 0.05). In mild or moderate dehydration and low or moderate purgers, duration of diarrhea in children treated with Amylyte ORS was not reduced. A significant (p < 0.05) reduction in duration of diarrhea was found in children with severe dehydration (56.4 ± 1.8 versus 34.0 ± 5.6h) or high purging rates (51.5 ± 7.1 versus 38.2 ± 4.8 h). Significantly (p < 0.0001) greater weight gain (520.3 ± 48.5 g versus 228.5 ± 42.1 g) and percent gain in weight (4.8 ± 0.4% versus 2.3 ± 0.4%) were found in children given Amylyte ORS compared with those given WHO ORS. Amylyte ORS rehydrated children with acute diarrhea, reduced stool volume, duration of diarrhea and ORS requirements in children with severe dehydration or high initial purging rates, and improved weight gain. Amylyte ORS has the advantage of containing short polymers of glucose that provide over five times the calories per liter than the glucose‐based WHO ORS.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to experimentally develop and clinically evaluate the safety and potential usefulness of a rice-based, short glucose polymer oral rehydration solution (ORS), Amylyte, in the treatment of acute diarrhea. Amylyte has a similar osmolality but a higher caloric density than the WHO ORS. METHODS Different amounts of rice were cooked in 500 ml of water containing salts (1.5 g NaCl, 600 mg KCl, and 150 mg CaCl2) with varying amounts of thermophilic amylase (252,500 modified Wohlgemuth units). Amylase (25 mg) thinned the gluey rice water when 100 g of rice was cooked in 500 ml of water for 10 minutes. The volume of the resultant supernatant (Amylyte) was approximately 250 ml. A two-part, clinical case study was performed. In study 1, 12 children with diarrhea and mild dehydration were studied to determine the safety of Amylyte. In study 2, Amylyte and the WHO ORS were given to 24 and 31 male children with acute diarrhea and moderate to severe dehydration, respectively. RESULTS 92-96% of the rice amylose and amylopectin were converted to short polymers of glucose (3-9 molecules of glucose). The osmolality of 7,994 packages used to make the Amylyte solution ranged between 277-340 mOsm/kg. The mean electrolyte composition was Na+ = 68 mEq/L, K+ = 20 mEq/L, Cl = 73 mEq/L, the caloric density 425 kcal/L and rice proteins 0.7 g/L. In study 1, 12 children with diarrhea and mild dehydration were rehydrated successfully with Amylyte ORS and the diarrhea ceased within 48 hours. None developed clinical features of carbohydrate intolerance. In study 2, an open-label clinical case study, children with acute diarrhea given Amylyte ORS had significantly less stool output than children given the WHO ORS. CONCLUSIONS Amylyte ORS has the advantages of a higher caloric density than the WHO ORS and shares a simple preparation of appropriate osmolality and electrolyte composition. It can safely and effectively rehydrate children with acute diarrhea and dehydration.

OBJECTIVE:To compare the efficacy of an oral rehydration solution (ORS) containing short polymers of glucose derived from rice (Amylyte-ORS) and five times the caloric density of current ORS to the standard glucose-ORS (World Health Organization [WHO] = ORS) in the treatment of acute diarrhea in children.METHODS:The rice ORS (Amylyte-ORS) was obtained by adding thermophilic amylase (252,500 MW units) and salts (1.5 g NaCl, 600 mg KCl, and 150 mg CaCl2) to 100 g rice and boiling for 10 minutes in 500 mL water. This yields 250 mL Amylyte-ORS, which contains 92% to 96% short-chain glucose polymers, three to nine molecules in length, and provides 425 kcal/L, compared to 80 kcal/L for the WHO-ORS. One hundred forty-four male children, 4 months to 3 years of age, presenting with acute diarrhea and mild, moderate, or severe dehydration, were assigned by random allocation to receive either WHO-ORS or Amylyte-ORS. Data from 127 children were analyzed (57 received the WHO-ORS and 70 the Amylyte-ORS). Two children given Amylyte-ORS and 15 given the WHO-ORS were not included in the analysis because of improperly collected data or lost urine or fecal specimens. None were given antibiotics during the study. Free water and feeding were allowed after the children were rehydrated.RESULTS:The clinical characteristics of the children in the two treatment groups were comparable. Five children who received the WHO-ORS and three children given Amylyte-ORS were treatment failures. Amylyte-ORS reduced diarrhea duration by 15% (41.4 +/- 2.5 vs 34.7 +/- 1.8 hours; P < .03) compared to the WHO-ORS, regardless of the severity of dehydration. In the Amylyte-treated group, ORS requirements were significantly less (234 +/- 15.2 vs 295 +/- 17.6 mL/kg; P < .01) and weight gain was significantly more (367.7 +/- 45.1 vs 199.2 +/- 38.2 g; P < .01) than in those given the WHO-ORS. The net intestinal fluid balance and total body fluid balance were similar in the two groups.CONCLUSIONS:Amylyte-ORS effectively rehydrates children with acute diarrhea, reduces diarrhea duration, decreases ORS requirements, and improves weight gain compared to the WHO-ORS.

The objective of the study was to determine the clinical indications for antibiotic therapy in diarrhoeal diseases (DD) in 619 children aged 6 to 59 months who were evaluated during a clinical study of diarrhoea. The patients were seen at the outpatient clinic of the Palembang General Hospital from May 1991 through March 1992. Data concerning abdominal pain, pain during defecation, fever, status of breastfeeding, vomiting, mucoid stool, bloody stool, abdominal distention, stool leucocytes and erythrocytes were analyzed to determine their predictive value (PPV) in relation to the bacterial isolation of pathogen in the stool. All clinical variables examined had a low PPV for isolation of any enteric pathogen, including Shigella. The PPV of grossly bloody diarrhoea was 20.8% (95% confidence limits 17.6%-24%), and that of body temperature (> 37.5 degrees C) was 19.6%. When the stool leucocytes were 10 or more per high-power microscopic field (HPMF), the PPV was 22.2%; of erythrocytes found microscopically in the stool, 19.6%. We recommend that those patients with bloody stools and mucoid stools with temperatures of 37.5 degrees C get antibiotics (22%). Second, those patients having 10 or more leucocytes per HPMF plus those with red cells in stools (regardless of the number) should receive either antibiotics and or amoebicides if amoebae are present (5%).

ABSTRACT The present study examined the effect of verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, on gastric acid secretion and circulating gastrin levels in rats after ethanol challenge. Normal saline or verapamil were given intraperitoneally to different groups of rats at 1 min, 1 h or 2 h before the administration of ethanol. One hour later, gastrin and gastric acid concentrations were determined. Regression analysis revealed the relationship between gastric acid output and serum gastrin levels in the group receiving saline intraperitoneally and ethanol orogastrically and the group receiving saline both intraperitoneally and orogastrically is similar. The slope of the regression line of the ethanol‐challenged group treated with verapamil, however, was significantly lower than the slopes of the other two groups ( P < 0.001). Furthermore, verapamil decreased gastrin levels and acid output significantly in the ethanol‐challenged group ( P < 0.01). When given 10 min prior to ethanol challenge, verapamil had a greater acid suppression effect than when given 60 or 120 min before the challenge. Verapamil at 20 mg/kg was more effective in acid secretion than at 10 mg/kg bodyweight, when administered 60 min before ethanol challenge.

A study on knowledge, attitude and practice of health care providers in Palembang had been conducted at the end of 1989 and beginning of 1990. Four approaches were carried out: (1) by recording the help obtained by cases who consulted researchers for further help for the same diarrheal diseases (DD) episode, (2) by studying the medical records of DD cases admitted to three hospitals, (3) by studying prescriptions dispensed by three pharmacies and (4) by focus group discussions. The findings were analysed to evaluate the achievement of the Indonesian Diarrheal Diseases Control Program (CDD). ORT, avoiding antimotility drugs and appropriated feeding have been accepted and practiced by the providers in Palembang. The target of promotion now is to support the acquisition of these behaviours to be implemented as a routine habit of the providers and as a part of the ongoing system of health care delivery system. Specifically the danger of loperamide promotion to the policy on antimotility must be stressed. Rapid iv rehydration and avoiding surface precipitating agents have been accepted, but are not practiced consistently yet due to practical considerations. It seems that there is no impact at all of CDD towards the rate of antibiotic therapy in DD. Besides intensifying the campaign, enforcing group pressure, may be we have to elaborate more the perception of health care provider as a practitioner, and conforming the strategy of the CDD campaign towards the findings. Health education had not been practiced effectively yet. Morale and value system of the providers are important for the success of this program. In general the medical-technic aspect of the CDD has been accepted by the providers, but there is still a lot to do in communicating them to be adopted as an effective behaviour.

Quindoxin (quinoxaline-1,4-dioxide), a former 'growth promoter' used in animal husbandry, has been taken from the market because of its photoallergic properties. Nowadays its derivatives olaquindox, carbadox and cyadox are frequently applied for the same purpose. Recent reports show that olaquindox too, can induce photoallergic skin reactions in stockmen. From the present investigation it appeared that all compounds mentioned, form a reactive oxaziridine upon exposure to light, just like many other imino-N-oxides. Photoreactivity with protein, which is considered as an important condition for a compound to be a potential photoallergen, was also studied. Quindoxin and olaquindox proved to meet this condition, as was expected. But carbadox and cyadox also react and were shown to be even more reactive towards human serum albumin.

The extent to which diazepam, diazepam-N4-oxide and N4-desoxychlordiazepoxide irreversibly bind to plasma protein upon UV irradiation was determined. Comparison with the results for chlordiazepoxide leads to the conclusion that the N4-oxide function is essential for the occurrence of irreversible binding in vitro. Investigation of the photopharmacology of diazepam in the rat gave results similar to those for N4-desoxychlordiazepoxide: in contrast with what already had been found for chlordiazepoxide no difference was observed between the pharmacology of diazepam in UV-A irradiated rats and those kept in the dark. Both in vitro and in vivo data expand the hypothesis to other 7-chloro-1,4-benzodiazepines, according to which the presence of an N4-oxide group is a prerequisite for the occurrence of phototoxicity and that an oxaziridine is the toxic intermediate.

By using the LKB 2277 thermal activity monitor, it is demonstrated that both ampoule and flow-through modes can be used to monitor the reaction parameters for chemical reactions. Theoretical relationships applicable to first-order reactions are proposed and compared with those reported in the literature. Mathematical relationships applicable to second-order reactions are also proposed. The experimental results confirmed the validity of the theoretical relationships and showed that flow microcalorimetry is a rapid technique in kinetic studies.