NISCAIR Online Periodicals Repository Collection: JSIR Vol.63(05) [May 2004]

Respiratory tract contamination with selected toxic elements in a slag based cement plant environment in central India-A need of global concern

Wed, 28 Apr 2004 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Respiratory tract contamination with selected toxic elements in a slag based cement plant environment in central India-A need of global concern

Authors: Sharma, Rajnikant; Pervez, Shamsh

Abstract: To assess the risk associated with cement plant stack emissions and its toxic component, it was planned to locate the present status of respiratory tracts of subjects related to the cement plant and its environment. The work reported describes estimations of selected toxic metals (Pb, Cr, Cd, Co, Ni, Mn and Zn) in a total of 92 samples of respiratory tract washout obtained from diagnosed cases of respiratory ailments in a slag based cement plant environment in central India. Bronchial washout samples were collected from the workers and non-workers of the plant and analyzed for Mn, Pb, Cr, Ni, Zn, Co and Cd using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Results have shown greatest impact on the workers compared to the residents of the township and subjects who are unrelated to cement plant and its environment. Although, all the elements found in respiratory tracts are good in concentration but Mn, Ni, Cr and Pb, showing somewhat higher tendency to be deposited in human respiratory tract than Zn and Co. Order of occurrences of the elements, analyzed in respiratory tract is: Mn > Pb> Cr > Ni > Zn > Co > Cd. The result shows slightly higher susceptibility for respiratory damage in female.

Page(s): 462-465

An optimal sequencing approach for job-shop production

Wed, 28 Apr 2004 22:58:59 GMT

Title: An optimal sequencing approach for job-shop production

Authors: Srinivas, J; Subbaiah, K V; Mouli, K V V Chandra

Abstract: An industry producing multiple components or a component of different models requires frequent changeovers from one machine to another in an irregular fashion. Each changeover takes certain set up time, which cannot be ignored in long runs. The paper proposes a methodology to determine the best possible changeover sequence for a set of products produced on common facilities. In manufacturing firms the set up time plays a key role in changing one model to another and should be minimized. In the past, set up improvements were achieved through either skilled personal or large economic lot size-manufacture. Now-a-days, some of the companies still spending maximum time in set ups and loosing the production. Set up considerations in scheduling problems are of vital importance in finding optimum processing time. The proposed approach formulates the scheduling problem as a Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP) and solves it through a novel lexicographic search approach. A case study of a leading piston manufacturing company explains the methodology.

Page(s): 458-461

Effect of temperature and removal of amino acids on non-enzymatic browning of lemon juice concentrates during storage

Wed, 28 Apr 2004 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Effect of temperature and removal of amino acids on non-enzymatic browning of lemon juice concentrates during storage

Authors: Sharma, S K; Kaushal, B B Lal; Sharma, P C

Abstract: Browning of lemon juice concentrates during storage especially at higher temperatures, not only causes loss of sensory appeal but also reduces the nutritional value of the product. The effect of removal of amino acids from lemon juice by cation exchange resin treatment is evaluated for reduction of browning of prepared concentrates (45, 60 and 71°B) during nine months storage at two temperatures, i.e., ambient and low temperatures. The storage of concentrates prepared both from untreated and treated lemon juices brings about some increase in furfural, HMF and browning with consistent loss of sugars, ascorbic acid, amino acids, and phenols. However, during storage, the removal of amino acids by cation exchange resin treatment of lemon juice is highly effective to reduce furfural, HMF, and browning of concentrates by about 7.54, 42.99, and 3.81 - folds as compared to their untreated counterparts. Also the retention of ascorbic acid, amino acids, and phenols is higher in concentrates of treated juice as compared to those from untreated juice. The changes in various quality characteristics of concentrates stored at refrigerated temperatures is lesser as compared to those stored at ambient temperatures. Further the retention of quality attributes is better in concentrates of 45 and 60°B than in the concentrate of 71°B.

Page(s): 444-451

Secretion of -L-rhamnosidase by some indigenous fungal strains

Wed, 28 Apr 2004 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Secretion of -L-rhamnosidase by some indigenous fungal strains

Authors: Yadav, Sarita; Yadav, K D S

Abstract: Secretion of - L-rhamnosidase [E.C.3.2.1.40] by Aspergillus fumigatus MTCC- 3376, Aspergillus flavipus MTCC-4644, Aspergillus ochraceus MTCC-4643, Aspergillus terreus MTCC-3375, Aspergillus terreus MTCC-3566, and Aspergillus foetidus MTCC-508 in the liquid culture medium are reported. The enzymatic characteristics of -L-rhamnosidases like, K_mfor naringin, pH, and temperature optima have been determined. The K_mvalues are found to be in the range 0.13-0.48 mM, pH optima values are found to be between 4.0-5.5 and temperature optima values between 53-60^oC.

Page(s): 439-443