Microemulsions based on five-component mixtures for food applications and improved oil solubilization have been studied. The compositions included water, oil phase [such as R(+)-limonene and medium-chain triglycerides (MCT)], short-chain alcohols (such as ethanol), polyols (propylene glycol and glycerol), and several surfactants and their corresponding mixtures (nonionic, such as ethoxylated sorbitan esters, polyglycerol esters, sugar ester, and anionic, such as phosphatidylcholine). The phase behavior of these systems is discussed with respect to the influence of polyols and short-chain alcohols on the degree of solubilization of oils in the aqueous phase. The alcohol and polyols modify the interfacial spontaneous curvature and the flexibility of the surfactant film, enhancing the oil solubilization capacity of the microemulsions. The solubilization of R(+)-limonene was dramatically improved in the presence of the alcohol and polyols, whereas the improvement of solubilization for triglycerides containing MCT was less pronounced. In some systems high oil solubilization was achieved, and some of them can be easily diluted to infinity both with the aqueous phase and with the oil phase. Viscosity measurements along selected dilution lines [characterized by a single continuous microemulsion region starting from a pseudo binary solution (surfactant/oil phase) to the microemulsion (water/polyol corner)] indicate that at a certain composition the system inverts from a W/O to an O/W microemulsion.

The monkey goby originating from the Ponto-Caspian area, has appeared in increasingly wide-spread areas of Hungary. In the Tisza-to water reservoir in North-Eastern Hungary along the Tisza River, 83 first summer samples of the fish were collected in the vicinity of Tiszafured on October 21st, 2000. The average length of the fish, not including the caudal fins, was 50,4 mm, the average weight was 2.1 g. Their alimentari canals contained mostly gnats (Chironomidae), but also the relative amount of the taxons Copepoda, Ephemeroptera, Ostracoda and Odonata was notable.

This study was conducted within the framework of the recommendations of the seminar on "Water management and irrigation”. The main purposes of the study on best Practices for drought preparedness and water management with focus on wastewater re-utilization in north Africa are: identification and analysis of best practices to prevent and combat drought in the sub-region, and to carry out a comprehensive analytical study on the present situation and prospects for wastewater production and reuse, water pollution, wastewater treatment existing network.

The release phenomena of propyl paraben from a polymer coating to water and three food simulating solvents (10% aqueous ethanol, 50% aqueous ethanol, n-heptane) were studied for antimicrobial packaging applications. The effects of food simulating solvent, initial concentration in the coating and temperature on the propyl paraben release were examined. The initial concentration of propyl paraben in the coating ranged from 1.26 x 10(4) to 10.52 x 10(4) g/m3 and the temperature from 5.5 to 30C. For water, the release was controlled by Fickian diffusion with constant diffusion coefficient (7 approximately 11 x 10(-11) cm2/s at 30C), and independent of the initial concentration. For 10% ethanol, the release followed again the Fickian model with constant diffusion coefficient (30 approximately 40 x 10(-11) cm2/s at 30C). For 50% ethanol and n-heptane, the release was instantaneous and not controlled by Fickian diffusion. For the release into water, the activation energy for diffusion from the Arrhenius relationship was around 88 kJ/mole.

When fed once daily with wet squid, turbot (30-50 g) accustomed to dry pellets require many days to increase intake to meet their feed requirement (approximately equal to 10 mg dry matter g(-1) bw meal(-1)). Adaptation takes 1-2 days if several daily feedings are given. With dried squid, they ingest about 20% of the wet squid bulk because the stomach contents expand when moisturised. In contrast, turbot eat enough wet squid to fill most of the available stomach volume (approximately equal to 7.6 mL 100 g(-1) bw). When presented in gelatine capsules, food water content is masked and does not affect the volume ingested. Moistening the contents shortens the delay before gastric emptying starts to one-third (0.6 h) compared with dry food (1.9 h). Daily dry-matter intake increased when dry contents were moistened but only if two or more meals were offered per day. Turbot adapt their digestion to supply water for dry diets but this may add extra metabolic costs. When offered 20 mg dry matter g bw(-1) day(-1), divided into four equal meals, turbot grew faster and more efficiently with moist than with dry squid. Protein, energy and dry-matter digestibilities were also enhanced. The increased daily protein absorption did not increase ammonia release, indicating that the extra protein was used for somatic growth.