Young female rats fed semipurified diets containing casein or a soy protein isolate had extensive nephrocalcinosis at the junction between the outer and inner stripe of the outer medullary zone after 5 wk on the diets, whereas rats fed a diet containing a lactalbumin concentrate did not. Although the percentages of actual protein and of total ash were similar in all three diets, the concentrati...

Since the antiquity, and on an empirical basis, man has accumulated experience on the benefits and risks of minerals (such as, special clay, mud and sand) and other mineral resources (such as, salt, sea water, spring water, underground water, volcanic emissions and dust) on human health. Man and minerals are chemical systems sharing a common composition, comprising major, minor and trace chemic...

Numerous reports have appeared in the Uterature purporting to show the value of phosphoritic minerals as calcium and phosphorus supplements in animal nutrition. A great variance exists between the results obtained by different investigators. Forbes and others (Oy have inferred that the fluorine content of these naturally occurring products was the cause of the harmful and variable results obtai...

The primordial earth surface exposed minerals comprised mainly of carbonates, silicates and smaller amounts of phosphates. Weathering eventually led to the dissolution of the surface rock and the leaching of their components into the rivers, lakes and oceans. There, complex chemistry depending upon the temperature, pH, pressure, and atmospheric carbon dioxide content led to the reprecipitation ...

Clay mineral-containing nanocomposite hydrogels have been proven to have exceptional composition, properties, and applications, and consequently have attracted a significant amount of research effort over the past few years. The objective of this paper is to summarize and evaluate scientific advances in clay mineral-containing nanocomposite hydrogels in terms of their specific preparation, form...

Coconut water (coconut liquid endosperm), with its many applications, is one of the world's most versatile natural product. This refreshing beverage is consumed worldwide as it is nutritious and beneficial for health. There is increasing scientific evidence that supports the role of coconut water in health and medicinal applications. Coconut water is traditionally used as a growth supplement in...

Introduction: Building upon our previous work on an automated mineral classifier [1], we are working to extend its functionality towards classification of rocks. The current work focuses on building an automated classifier using Raman spectral data to identify key minerals contained in igneous rocks. The ability to identify minerals in igneous rock samples provides inportant information on thei...

Samples of Late Devonian/Early Mississippian New Albany Shale from the Illinois Basin, having maturities ranging from early mature to postmature, were analysed using micro-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, ImageJ processing software and scanning electron microscopic X-ray spectroscopy to explore the distribution, connectivity and chemical composition of organic matter, clay minera...

The biopersistence of fibers and minerals in the respiratory tract is an important parameter in the toxicity of those materials. The biopersistence of respirable synthetic fibers and minerals in man can be most closely evaluated in an animal model. While acellular and in vitro systems are important for initial evaluation of solubility and durability, they cannot simulate the dynamics of inhalat...