Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) show decreased plasma concentrations of antioxidants due to malabsorption of lipid soluble vitamins and consumption by chronic pulmonary inflammation. β-Carotene is a major source of retinol and therefore is of particular significance in CF. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of daily intake of red palm oil (RPO) containing high amounts of β-c...

A structural and petrological study of the Late Proterozoic rocks in the Wadi Kid area, Sinai, Egypt indicates the presence of an extensional metamorphic core complex in the northern Arabian–Nubian Shield. Gneissic domes throughout the Arabian–Nubian Shield resemble the core complex of the Wadi Kid area and as a result, they are interpreted as extensional metamorphic core complexes. The presenc...

The accumulation of (beta)-carotene by the zygomycete Phycomyces blakesleeanus is increased by mutations in the carS gene. The treatment of spores of carS mutants with N-methyl-N(prm1)-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine led to the isolation, at very low frequencies, of mutants that produced higher levels of (beta)-carotene. Strain S556 produced about 9 mg of (beta)-carotene per g of dry mass when it was ...

The open-circuit sensitivity of condenser microphones, and in particular Laboratory Standard (LS) and Working Standard (WS) microphones, depend on the mechanical ground-shield configuration of the preamplifier. Therefore, the mechanical ground-shield configurations of preamplifiers for LS and WS microphones are defined in the IEC 61094 standard series. The sensitivity, dynamic range and acousti...

Immunomodulating activities of beta-carotene and carotene-associated carotenoids such as canthaxanthin (beta, beta-carotene-4,4 dione) and astaxanthin (3,3'-dihydroxyl beta, beta-carotene 4,4-dione) were analyzed by in vitro cell culture experiments. (i) beta-Carotene, canthaxanthin and astaxanthin caused significant stimulatory effects on the cell proliferative response of spleen cells and thy...

Astaxanthin is a xanthophyll of great interest in animal nutrition and human health. The market prospect in the nutraceutics industries for this health-protective molecule is very promising. Astaxanthin is synthesized by several bacteria, algae and plants from beta-carotene by the sequential action of two enzymes: a beta-carotene, 3,3'-hydroxylase that introduces an hydroxyl group at the 3 (and...

The PULSAR-II pulsed tokamak power plant design utilizes a blanket made of the vanadium alloy, V-5Cr-5Ti, and cooled with liquid lithium. The shield is made of a mixture of the low activation austenitic steel (Tenelon) and vanadium. The blanket is assumed to be replaced every 5.6 full power years (FPY) and the shield is assumed to stay in place for 30 FPY. The activity induced in the blanket at...

The anticancer activities of beta-carotene, astaxanthin and canthaxanthin against the growth of mammary tumors were studied in female eight-wk-old BALB/c mice. The mice were fed a synthetic diet containing 0, 0.1 or 0.4% beta-carotene, astaxanthin or canthaxanthin. After 3 weeks, all mice were inoculated with 1 x 10(6) WAZ-2T tumor cells into the mammary fat pad. All animals were killed on 45 d...

The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that maternal intake of antioxidant vitamins is associated with maternal and cord plasma levels at delivery. Women were recruited in early pregnancy in Aberdeen Maternity Hospital and habitual diet during pregnancy was assessed by a food-frequency questionnaire mailed at 34 weeks gestation. Blood samples were taken at recruitment (n 1149) ...