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The content of 12 essential and toxic elements (V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Mo, Pb) in Bulgarian forest fruits as bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), cornel (Cornus mas) and howthorn (Crataegus laevigata) was investigated. The highest content of Zn was found in cornels (10.67±0.04 mg kg-1), while the richest in Fe is lingonberry (37.1±0.3 mg kg-1), followed by the hawthorn (10.42±0.05 mg kg-1). Content of toxic metals (Pb, Ni) are in amount significantly below the permissible standards. The lowest content of total carbohydrates belongs to hawthorn (5.9±0.1%), while the highest in cornels (11.2±0.1%). The differences in metal content of the investigated fruits were proven by application of mathematical- statistical analysis. Discriminant analysis was used to define the fruit and to estimate the significance of individual indexes in modelling. Canonical variables, included by degree of importance in discriminant functions for examined group of wild edible fruits are Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article the possibility to detect adulteration of costly olive oils with cheaper vegetable oils using fluorescence spectroscopy is studied. Total luminescence spectra were recorded by measuring the emission spectra in the range 350 nm to 720 nm for excitation wavelengths from 375 nm to 450 nm. Fluorescence spectra of 12 types of olive oil samples were studied. Ten of the olive oil types were purchased locally, while two (samples 1 and 4) were obtained directly from Greek olive oil producers. Analysis of the fatty acid and the tocopherol contents has been performed. Two of the samples exhibit the content of sunflower oils, two are admixtures of sunflower and olive oils, while the remaining eight samples are natural olive oils. The samples show differences in their fluorescence spectra. The latter fact shows that fluorescence spectroscopy can be used for the quick identification of possible adulterations of olive oil, although a more detailed gas chromatographic analysis is needed for the exact quantitative determination of the content of the adulterant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The refractive index, conductivity, optical rotation, thermophysical parameters, and infrared spectra of bee honey samples, as well as the content of β-carotene and potassium, were determined with a view to discriminate between pure honey and honey adulterated with glucose. The glass transition temperature and the optical rotation may be used for qualitative assessment of honey adulteration with glucose. Another indication of lime honey adulterated with glucose was the β-carotene content below 20 ppm and the potassium content below 200 ppm. The minimum detectable amount of glucose adulterant was 25 g in 100 g honey. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

• Workers' attitudes towards DV impact their professional efficacy. • High professional efficacy is associated with less willingness to collaborate. • Willingness to collaborate is moderated and mediated by professional efficacy. The high prevalence of co-occurring domestic violence (DV) and child maltreatment requires collaboration between domestic violence organizations (DVO) and child protection services (CPS) to meet family needs. Little is known about how individual worker characteristics and agency level factors interact to influence staff's willingness to collaborate between these two services. Data from a US statewide survey of 846 DVO and CPS workers was used to examine how worker characteristics (experience, training, education, professional efficacy) and organizational collaboration factors (supervisory support, appropriate workloads, etc.) impact workers' willingness to collaborate. The results indicate that while agency collaboration factors increase workers' willingness to collaborate, this relationship is mediated and moderated by workers' professional efficacy. Other factors that influenced willingness to collaborate included workers' attitudes, experience, salary, and personally knowing someone who has experienced DV. The findings indicate that while agency support for collaboration is important, worker factors must also be addressed for collaboration to occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the case study of a 14-year-old boy who had a history of asymptomatic, unilateral brown streaks of 5 years' duration on the left side of the trunk and left upper limb. No prior inflammation or any preceding eruption was observed. Physical examination revealed a healthy boy with linear hyperpigmented atrophic patches measuring 2-3 cm in breadth on the left upper trunk and on the medial aspect of the left arm, from the axilla to the wrist. Laboratory findings, including a complete blood count, urinalysis and liver function test, were normal. Complete ophthalmologic, odontologic and radiologic surveys were performed and revealed no abnormalities.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the generation of autoantibodies against a diverse array of self-antigens. The B cells producing immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to double-stranded DNA appear to play a main role in the disease progression. Their specific elimination is a reasonable mechanism for effective therapy of SLE. The presently used approaches for silencing autoreactive disease-associated B cells are nonspecific and more precise therapies are needed. We have previously constructed a chimeric protein molecule consisting of several DNA-mimotope peptides coupled to a rat monoclonal anti-mouse CD32 (FcγRIIb) antibody. The mineral oil pristane induces a lupus-like syndrome in non-autoimmune mice leading to the development of glomerulonephritis and lupus-associated autoantibodies. In the present paper, using a pristane-induced autoimmune model in SCID mice, we analyzed the ability of the chimeric antibody to suppress selectively the autoreactive B lymphocytes by cross-linking B-cell surface immunoglobulin receptors with the inhibitory IgG FcγRIIb receptors. Treatment with DNA-like chimeric molecules inhibited B- and T-cell proliferation, restricted the number of anti-DNA antibody-producing cells and suppressed the generation of IgG anti-DNA antibodies. In contrast, phosphate buffered saline (PBS)-injected control mice experienced an increase of disease-associated antibody levels and developed glomerulonephritis similar to pristane-treated donor Balb/c mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Crust of carbonate minerals, named calcrete, underlies the arable soils of Southeast Bulgaria. The basic microorganism groups from soil, developed on top of a massive calcrete and in the rhizosphere of Cichorium intybus (Common chicory) were estimated by culturable methods. In this plant''s rhizosphere, microorganisms from some physiological groups were found in numbers 1 to 3 orders of magnitude higher, compared to non-rhizosphere samples of massive calcrete. The dominant microorganisms in this plant''s rhizosphere are represented by genera Bacillus. 16S rRNA gene nucleotide sequences were used for identification of four strains, obtained from the rhizospheres of C. intybus. The sequences obtained were compared to those of Bacillus species held in GenBank. The strains CI R1 and CI R3 were found to belong to the species Bacillus subtilis and the strains CI R2 and CI R4 to the species Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. Numerous studies confirm that these species are good facilitators of plant growth in nutrient deficient carbonate environment. Study of the growth‐promoting potential of these bacterial species, for economically important plants cultivated in this region, is currently in progress. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]