QScience Connect - Volume 2011, Issue 1

There is currently little information on the composition of heavy metals in beverages imported and locally produced in Nigeria. The study quantitatively determined the composition of antimony (Sb), tin (Sn) and mercury (Hg) in 50 different beverage samples and evaluated the extent of violation of guideline values. Analysis of the beverage samples for the presence of Sb, Sn, and Hg was carried out using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) 929. The mean values detected for mercury, tin and antimony (±SE) in fruit juices and soft drinks were 2.39±0.25, 3.66±0.22 and 0.49±0.048 μg/l; 2.93±0.34, 3.60±0.46 and 0.49±0.10 μg/l in dairy drinks and 0.94±0.02, 4.34±0.48 and 0.48±0.05 μg/l in bottled water samples respectively. While antimony detected in all products was below guideline values, mercury and tin were above the acceptable levels established by the World Health Organization, United States Environmental Protection Agency and European Union in most samples tested.

Abundance and species composition of non-marine benthic diatom assemblages were studied from surface sediments samples of 11 streams distributed in Socotra Island, located in the northwest Indian Ocean. A total of 145 diatom species, representing 44 genera, were identified. The overall diatom communities appear to be the first recorded off the island. Pennales and non-planktonic taxa were most dominant over centrales and planktonic forms, both in diversity of genera and species. The majority of recognized diatoms are of cosmopolitan distribution. The predominant diatom flora in the surface sediment samples follow: Synedra ulna, Synedra longissima, Encyonema caespitosum, Encyonema silesiacum, Encyonemopsis microcephala, Mastogloia braunii, Mastogloia dansei, Mastogloia elliptica, Navicula cryptocephala, Navicula cryptotenella, Navicula rhynchocephala, Navicula cincta, Nitzschia amphibian, Nitzschia frustulum, Nitzschia perminuta, Cocconeis placentula, Pleurosira laevis and Staurosirella pinnata. These are found in addition to the common occurrence of Amphora coffeaeformis, Amphora Montana, Anomoeoneis sphaerophora, Cyclotella meneghiniana, Cymbella affinis, Diploneis elliptica, Encyonema mesianum, Diploneis smithii, Gomphonema gracile, Gomphonema parvulum, Kobayasia subtilissima, Mastogloia smithii, Navicula minuscule, Navicula notha, Navicula tenelloides, Nitzschia obtuse, Nitzschia palea, Nitzschia scalaris, Synedra nana, Tryblionella acuminate, Tryblionella granulate and Tryblionella punctata. Multivariate statistical techniques including detrended correspondence and cluster analyses were used to summarize changes in the diatom assemblages present in the examined streams. The results indicated six major diatom assemblages with a variation in dominant species. Each assemblage reflects distinctive environmental conditions based on salinity preference of the recognized and dominant.

Evolution of cultures is influenced by languages. To understand this influence the paper analyzes how language and cognition interact in thinking. Is language just used for communication of completed thoughts, or is it fundamental for thinking? We review a hypothesis that language and cognition are two separate but closely interacting mechanisms, and identify each of them. Language accumulates cultural wisdom; cognition develops mental representations modeling surrounding world and adapts cultural knowledge to concrete circumstances of life. Language is acquired from surrounding language ‘ready-made’ and therefore can be acquired early in life. Cognition can not be acquired directly from experience; language is a necessary intermediary, a “teacher.” This model is consistent with recent neuroimaging data about cognition, remaining unnoticed by other theories. The proposed theory explains a number of properties of language and cognition, which previously seemed mysterious. It suggests mechanisms by which language grammars influence emotionality of languages and directs cultural evolution. This theory may explain specifics of English and Arabic cultures. We review theoretical and experimental evidence and discuss future directions

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is presently one of the main medical problems in developing countries. This syndrome was studied in Puerto Rico at the Cardiovascular Center of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean with emphasis on understanding the cardiovascular complications.

The medical records of patients admitted between 1999 to 2005 were evaluated for three or more MetS diagnostic criteria.

One hundred and seventy-three patients met the consensus criteria of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The mean age of those diagnosed with MetS was 60 years of age. Fifty-seven percent were males and 42 percent females. The mean body mass was 30 kg/m. The ejection fraction was found to be subnormal ( 49±8%) and the end systolic dimension of the left atrium was increased ( 45±10 mm) in comparison to a group of diabetic patients without MetS used for comparison. The incidence of atrial fibrillation was found to be 16% higher in the MetS group than in the comparison group.

The number of cases of metabolic syndrome recorded within the Hispanic population of Puerto Rico showed a higher incidence of atrial fibrillation without ventricular tachycardia. This is thought to be as a result of the abnormal left ventricular and atrial function.