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The purpose of this paper is to determine the effect of synbiotic combination of lactobacilli with konjac glucomannan hydrolysate (GMH) to reduce Streptococcus mutans growth in vitro with the intention of characterising its efficacy as a new approach for oral hygiene.

Strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus and S. mutans were grown individually or in combination in modified Columbia base broth supplemented with 2 per cent GMH. Following incubation, the samples were plated on De Man, Rogosa and Sharpe and Columbia blood agar and growth of both strains was assessed.

The probiotic bacteria L. acidophilus was able to “out grow” S. mutans in the presence of konjac glucomannan in the mixed cultures.

The results indicate that consumption of prebiotic and probiotic combinations may play a role as potential prophylactic or therapeutic agents for reducing the presence of organisms in the mouth associated with tooth decay. In order to confirm a beneficial effect of GMH further in vivo in this concept, studies involving healthy human volunteers should be considered.

The purpose of this paper is to prepare alginate‐pectin‐starch containing matrices expanded by the generation of carbon dioxide, from carbonates when in contact with acids, characterise their structure in vitro and to assess their capacity to provide satiety in vivo.

For in vitro characterisation, carbon dioxide expanded polysaccharide matrices (rafts) were prepared in HCl and their structural strength was measured in terms of their capacity to resist breakage in a model test system. For in vivo trials, 12 healthy volunteers (mixed sex, aged 25‐55) were recruited to take part in the three‐part trial. Each part lasted for one week where volunteers consumed polysaccharides (in 50 ml water) with or without rafting salts (carbonates), or water (as a control). Effects on satiety, reduction of food intake and any change to body weight were evaluated with the volunteers.

The in vitro results showed that aqueous solution/dispersions (50 ml) of alginate‐pectin‐starch matrices produced rafts in hydrochloric acid (pH < 2), where increasing the ratio of carbonates to polysaccharides (range from 0.25:1 to 1.5:1, w/w) provided increased floatation capability but reducing gel strength. These rafts were stable for over 24 h at room temperature within 0.05‐0.5 M HCl. For in vivo “satiety” studies, when volunteers consumed (daily) aliquots of the polysaccharide mixture plus flavour and sweetener without carbonates 2.5 h after lunch, they felt the onset of hunger on average 186 ± 68 min after consumption of the polysaccharides. This was not significantly different from a water only control (onset of hunger at 165 ± 47 min). When polysaccharides plus flavour sweetener and carbonates were consumed, however, volunteers reported feeling the onset of hunger at 224 ± 62 min on average after consumption which was significantly different from the water control (p < 0.001), or the polysaccharides without carbonates (p < 0.01). When consuming the polysaccharide rafting format, half of the volunteers reported a reduction in size of their evening meal.

These data indicate that the alginate‐pectin‐starch combination with carbonate salts in a “gastric rafting format” provide a potential approach in the management of body weight and obesity.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how synbiotic combinations of lactobacilli with konjac glucomannan hydrolysate (GMH) may be used to reduce Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium) growth in vitro.

Growth of S. aureus and S. typhimurium was assessed individually and when mixed with L. acidophilus in modified media supplemented with two per cent GMH. The effect of the GMH and the Lactobacillus strain on S. aureus growth was also investigated using the well diffusion test on Muller‐Hinton agar medium.

The results showed that L. acidophilus “out grew” the pathogens S. aureus and S. typhimurium in the presence of konjac glucomannan in the mixed cultures.

The paper demonstrates that konjac glucomannan hydrolysates combined with probiotic bacteria, may be used to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria such as S. aureus and S. typhimurium. These data support the development of an alternative approach to reduce infections and promote consumer health.

The aim of this study is to determine the effects of depolymerised mannans and specifically konjac glucomannan hydrolysates (GMH) on the colonic microflora of mice. Blood glucose and cholesterol were also measured.

Two groups (n = 20) of 12‐week old Wister mice were used for a period of 14 weeks. One group (treatment group) were fed diets containing 5 per cent konjac GMH dissolved in drinking water in addition to the control (group) standard diet. Faecal microflora, feed consumption, body weight, blood glucose and cholesterol were determined.

The GMH promoted the growth of anaerobes and lactobacilli in the treatment group where this was statistically, highly significant (P < 0.001). Also, the hydrolysate was able to reduce highly significantly (P < 0.001) faecal Clostridium perfringens and Escherichia coli counts. A significant increase in average daily feed consumption (P < 0.05) and weekly body weight (P < 0.001) was found for the treatment group. The mean ± SD (mmol/l) of blood glucose and cholesterol was lower in the treatment group.

In addition to modulating the gut microflora, GMH seems to lower the blood glucose and cholesterol in mice. Although this needs to be verified by further studies, GMH could also be a candidate for possible treatment of subjects with high cholesterol and for diabetics.

This paper aims to focus on the utilisation of pre- and probiotics for oral care and the state of knowledge at this time.

Pre- and probiotics describe beneficial carbohydrates and microbiota, respectively, for optimal gut health. Carbohydrates provide energy selectively for the gut-friendly bacteria. The use of both carbohydrates and bacteria is, however, being expanded into other areas of the body – including the skin, vagina and oral cavity – for health-related applications.

There is increased interest in both pre- and probiotics for oral care products. The importance of oral microflora and their selective substrates is discussed against a background of contemporary oral care approaches. The issues and benefits are discussed in this review.

It is clear that consumption of prebiotics and probiotics may play a role as potential prophylactic or therapeutic agents for reducing the presence of organisms in the mouth associated with tooth decay. To confirm a beneficial effect of pre- and probiotics further in vivo studies involving healthy human volunteers should be considered.

THE Farnborough 1966 Show was at first glance much the same mixture as before, but the second glance was the more revealing. The participation in the flying display of European aircraft by no means swamped the air, even if the Italian verve took the acrobatic honours, but the theme of collaboration with other countries was to be found on practically every stand inside the exhibition tent. It was obvious that the smaller firms not directly involved in production agreements with other nations were very export conscious. The pacemaker of all this collaboration was of course the Concorde, only to be seen in model form, but rapidly taking shape at Toulouse and Filton, and many of the equipment manufacturers had Concorde hardware on display. Beagle announced the Pup, Britten‐Norman produced the production Islander, and Handley Page showed the Jetstream mock‐up. After many years of neglect, the industry is now taking an interest in the general aviation market. The P.1127 (R.A.F.) made its first appearance. The paradox of the P.1127 is that it is almost a part of Farnborough history, yet there is no other V/S.T.O.L. aircraft in the world that has but a fraction of the operating experience it has gained. Farnborough this year gave the impression of being more a serious trade show, and less a public spectacle. Sir Richard Smeeton, Director of the Society of British Aerospace Companies, reported that the exhibiting firms had received more serious business enquiries this year than ever before, and he forecast that 1968 would be a vintage year, which would see the appearance of the HS.801, the Concorde and Jaguar in the Farnborough skies. It is not possible to cover every exhibit shown at the Farnborough Show, but the following report describes a wide cross‐section beginning with the exhibits of the major airframe and engine companies.

This paper aims to evaluate the effect of depolymerised glucomannan in regulating blood lipid and glucose concentrations.

Twenty adult volunteers were recruited. Blood samples were taken at Day 0. The volunteers consumed drinks containing 3.0 g active glucomannan hydrolysates (AMH) for 14 days, after which time blood samples were retaken (Day 15). Blood samples were analysed to determine the blood lipid and glucose concentrations.

The average fasting blood glucose at the start of the trial was 2.54 mmol/L but reduced slightly to 2.49 mmol/L after consumption of the glucomannan. The total average cholesterol at the start of the trial was higher (6.69 mmol/L) than desirable ( < 5.0 mmol/L). This was reduced after consuming the glucomannan to 6.44 mmol/L (3.74 per cent). The triglyceride content was also higher initially than recommended (2.88 mmol/L) but was reduced by 11.5 per cent. The high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was within the desirable range before and after consumption (1.57 and 1.52 mmol/L, respectively), while the average low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was higher than recommended ( < 3.0 mmol/L), representing 4.55 mmol/L and 4.40 mmol/L before and after consumption, respectively. Both parameters were reduced by over 3.0 per cent. The consumption of the glucomannan hydrolysates also reduced the total cholesterol/HDL and LDL/HDL ratios.

The AMH was effective in lowering blood cholesterol and glucose concentrations. Consumption of such carbohydrates could prove useful for these physiological disorders. Further studies are desirable to characterise the exact mechanism.

The purpose of this study was to carry out the analysis of impact resistance for aluminum hybrid laminates and polymer matrix composites reinforced with glass and carbon fibers. Damage modes and damages process under varied impact energies are also presented and discussed.

The subject of examination were fiber metal laminates – FMLs (Al/CFRP and Al/GFRP). The samples were subjected to low-velocity impact by using a drop-weight impact tester. The specimens after impact were examined using non-destructive and destructive inspection techniques.

The hybrid laminates are characterized by higher resistance to impact in comparison to the conventional laminates. The delaminations between composite layers as well as the delaminations on metal/composite interface and lateral cracks are the prevailing type of destruction mechanisms. No significant relationships between metal volume friction coefficient vs response to the impact were recorded for the hybrid laminates under tests.

The understanding of impact behavior of FMLs is particularly important for selecting these materials and their designing, in damage tolerance philosophy aspect in aerospace industry as well as in searching the methods of predicting of FML hybrid materials resistance to impact. The test results might be useful for the validation of simulations using numerical methods.

The paper presents the impact resistance of new hybrid laminates for aerospace applications. The identification of damage character and failure mechanisms as well as the relationships between damage and impact responses of aluminum/carbon and aluminum/glass hybrid laminates were estimated.

Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) is the federal department responsible for housing over 190,000 Canadian federal public servants. During Y2K preparations, it became apparent that a single source or form of integrated, emergency response information at the infrastructure level did not exist. A process had to be created and developed that would serve as a single vehicle and source for building‐based emergency response. These preparations for Y2K saw the creation of the Infrastructure Continuity Unit (ICU) and a system for the creation, validation, and maintenance of Infrastructure Continuity Plans (ICPs). An ICP is an event‐management document that contains a series of procedures and protocols to be used during a building‐based incident or disruption of services. The ICU is supported nationally by a network of Regional Coordinators who oversee the gathering of information needed to create ICPs for their own parts of the country. This paper demonstrates how this system, along with the ICU’s recent certification by the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) to the ISO 9000 standard, have contributed to the ICU’s success. This paper takes the reader through an in‐depth exploration of the ICU’s processes, methodologies and procedures and demonstrates why, in a post‐September 11th world, the ICU has begun to attract international attention.

Over 80 companies from throughout Europe and from the USA are already exhibitor‐listed in “Airmec News”, the preview for the biennial International Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Exhibition & Conference, which return to the Zuspa Halls, Zurich, from 10–13 February 1981. This preliminary list alone clearly indicates the comprehensive nature of developments in the facilities, services and support equipment employed in the maintenance of civil and military aircraft. It includes not only the repair, overhaul, maintenance and testing of airframes, engines, avionics and other equipment, but also the refurbishing of interiors, maintenance planning and management techniques and other innovative aids to efficiency and economy.