Activity and action pattern of Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase in aqueous ethanol.

A purified B. licheniformis alpha-amylase in a mixture of ethanol-aqueous buffer (1:1, v/v) retains half the activity shown in water alone. In ethanol-aqueous buffer (7:3, v/v) about 20% of the activity is retained. The pattern of oligosaccharides produced from amylose changed with ethanol concentration; in aqueous buffer the products are: DP 1 and 2, 33.7%; DP 3, 28.5%; DP 4, 4.4% and DP 5, 33.4%. Whereas in ethanol-aqueous buffer (7:3, v/v) the products are DP 1 and 2, 66.8%; DP 3, 17.3%; DP 4, 4.1% and DP 5, 11.8%. These results suggest that a change in substrate affinity at the active centre subsites is induced in the ethanol-aqueous buffer medium.

Adsorption of a hydrophobic mutagen to cereal brans and cereal bran dietary fibres.

The abilities of brans from the cereals barley, oats, maize, rice, and wheat to adsorb in vitro the hydrophobic, environmental mutagen 1,8-dinitropyrene (DNP) were investigated using a mutagenicity assay. These brans were obtained from known cultivars using defined milling conditions and were chemically characterised. The abilities of total and insoluble dietary fibre preparations obtained from these brans to adsorb DNP were also investigated. The predicted weight of each bran required to adsorb 50% of the added DNP was used to compare the adsorptive abilities of the different brans. The brans were ranked in the order (most effective to least effective): rice, wheat, maize, barley, and oats. The adsorptive abilities of the dietary fibre preparations were not significantly different from the bran from which they were prepared. However, if the dietary fibres (cell walls) were the only components adsorbing the DNP, we would have expected the dietary fibre preparations to have adsorbed more DNP than the equivalent unextracted bran. This suggests that other components, probably starch, also adsorb DNP in the unextracted brans. It is not known why brans from different cereal species differ in adsorptive ability but the lignified cell walls in wheat bran may be important in conferring good adsorptive properties to this bran. The possible relationship between adsorptive ability and ability of the bran from a particular species to protect against colorectal cancer is discussed.

An improved procedure for the methylation analysis of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides.

An improved procedure for the methylation analysis of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides is described. Steps in the procedure were examined and optimised for quantitative recovery and speed. Methylation was shown to be complete by using [14C]methyl iodide. All operations were performed in the same tube and the need to concentrate solutions containing acetylated alditols of methylated sugars was eliminated, thus minimising losses due to volatilization. The method is convenient, gives high recoveries of acetylated alditols of methylated sugars, and allows analysis of the glycosyl linkages of oligo- or poly-saccharides to be completed within a working day. A wide range of oligo- and poly-saccharides were methylated by this procedure.

Exploring sensory integrative dysfunction in process schizophrenia.

During a 6-week period, the effects of sensory integrative activities on a group of seven chronic nonparanoid schizophrenic adults were compared to the effects of sedentary activities in a control group of seven similar subjects. The effects of each therapeutic approach were evaluated by measuring the patients' performance in several areas using the Nurses Observation Scale of Inpatient Evaluation-30 (NOSIE-30), The Object Manipulation Speed Test, a gait analysis, and grip strength. The results indicated general improvement in the experimental group. Behaviors measured by the NOSIE-30 showed the most significant improvements. The control group showed isolated improvements in grooming (measured by the NOSIE-30) and in right-hand use (measured by The Object Manipulation Speed Test). These findings suggest that 6 weeks of sensory integrative activities can improve the overall functioning of chronic nonparanoid schizophrenic patients, facilitate their adaptive responses, and enable them to participate more fully in other areas of therapeutic intervention.

Appalachian values:.

Appalachia is a distinct geographic region within the United States and natives of this region live within a separate subculture. Initially, inhabitants of this region shared the values of many other early American settlers. However, in time the relative isolation of this region produced a dichotomy between the way of life in and increasingly technological American society and that found within the slower changing region of Appalachia. Thus, values of Appalachian people today reflect these continued differences. Occupational therapists treating patients from Appalachia need to understand the values of this subsulture in order to assess their patients accurately and to provide culturally appropriate treatment. This paper presents an overview of Appalachian values, with implications for occupational therapy.

Occupational therapy intervention in chronic pain.

Chronic pain is one of the most costly health problems encountered in our society today. The problems constituting the Chronic Pain Syndrome are typically composed of a complex array of sensory, perceptual, psychological, environmental and other factors which require the coordinated efforts of an interdisciplinary team. Occupational behavior provides a very useful frame of reference for the occupational therapist treating the chronic pain patient. This biopsychosocial approach focuses on well behaviors and functional role performance. This paper provides an overview of chronic pain and presents occupational therapy assessment and treatment strategies with chronic pain patients.

Adolescent development.

Adolescence is a period of development considered by most to be transitory. It is often viewed as filled with storm, rebellion, and conflict. Although the profession of occupational therapy has developed special practice areas and generated research in the areas of pediatrics and gerontology, little focus in our literature has been placed on adolescents and their special needs in development and treatment. This paper presents an overview of normal development in adolescence. The model of human occupation is used as structure to organize research from other fields to provide therapists with useful guidelines for treatment.

Detection of neutral and aminosugars from glycoproteins and polysaccharides as their alditol acetates.

A new method for the preparation and separation of alditol acetates from neutral sugars has been applied to aminosugars. Reduced aminosugars were rapidly acetylated using 1-methylimidazole as the catalyst without removal of borate formed during reduction. The alditol acetates were separated by glass capillary gas chromatography on Silar 10C. The alditol acetates of aminosugars had retention times much longer than those of neutral sugars. However, the alditol acetates of the deamination products of aminosugars had shorter retention times and were resolved from those of neutral sugars. This method was used for the simultaneous detection of neutral and aminosugars in acid hydrolysates of chitin and the glycoproteins, ovalbumin and peroxidase.