Non‐resonant Element in Slotted Ground Plane for Multiband Antenna Operation

New ways of achieving small, multiband, multifunctional, and standard solutions for mobile handset antennas are demanded in the current wireless market. A non‐resonant element of , a matching network, and a slotted ground plane are proposed to satisfy mobile market demands that require multiband operation and small antenna solutions. The main advantage of the proposed design is that with only one non‐resonant element of considerably small size (0.015λ, 900 MHz), the handset is capable of providing operation at mobile bands.     

Analytical study of apple liqueurs

In the present work the composition of apple liqueurs has been analysed, since the consumption of these beverages in Spain has increased during the last years. Twenty-five samples, belonging to the most representative five brands of the Spanish market have been analysed. The following determinations were carried out: alcoholic grade, total acidity, methanol, furfurol, dry extract, reducing sugars, sucrose, ash contact, macroelements (Na, K, Ca, Mg) and microelements (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn). These parameters enable the quality evaluation of these beverages and contribute to their characterization with respect to the fruit used in their elaboration. To complete the experimental study, a BMDP 7M discriminant statistical analysis has been applied to the results obtained. The variables that best discriminate the groups have been determined and all the samples have been classified and differentiated.

---

Analytisches Studium der Apfelsaftliköre

Zusammenfassung Es wurde die Zusammensetzung von Apfelsaftlikören analysiert, weil diese Getränke öfter in Spanien getrunken werden. Fünfundzwanzig Proben von fünf bestimmten, spanischen Markengetränken wurden analysiert. Es wurden folgende Bestimmungen ausgeführt: Alkoholkonzentration, Gehalt an Säure, Methanol, Extrakt, Zucker, Sucrose, Asche, Macroelemente (Na, K, Ca, Mg) und Mikroelemente (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn). Diese Parameter erlauben die Qualität dieser Getränke zu schätzen und ihre Charakterisierung auf Grund des Fruchtgehaltes. Weiterhin wurde eine BMDP 7M diskriminant-statistische Analyse der Resultate angewandt. Die diskriminant-Variablen der Gruppe wurden bestimmt und alle Proben konnten klassifiziert und unterschieden werden.

     

Physicochemical, microbiological and sensory profiles of fermented milk containing probiotic strains isolated from kefir

A two-strain starter culture containing Lactobacillus plantarum CIDCA 83114, a potential probiotic strain isolated from kefir grains, and Streptococcus thermophilus CIDCA 321 was tested for the preparation of a fermented milk product. Kluyveromyces marxianus CIDCA 8154, a yeast with immunomodulatory properties was included to formulate a three-strain starter culture. Supernatants of enterohaemorragic Escherichia coli, shiga-toxin-producing strain, along with a two-strain or a three-strain starter culture were included in the medium of Vero-cell surface cultures. The results demonstrated that these combinations of microorganisms antagonize the cytopathic action of shiga toxins. The cell concentration of Lb. plantarum did not decrease during fermentation, indicating that the viability of this strain was not affected by low pH, nor did the number of viable bacteria change during 21 days of storage in either fermented products. The number of viable yeasts increases during fermentation and storage. Trained assessors analyzed the general acceptability of fresh fermented milks and considered both acceptable. The milk fermented with the two-strain starter culture was considered acceptable after two week of storage, while the product fermented with the three-strain starter culture remained acceptable for less than one week. The main changes in sensory attributes detected by the trained panel were in sour taste, milky taste and also in fermented attributes. The correlation between different sensory attributes and acceptability indicated that the panel was positively influenced by milky attributes (taste, odour, and flavour) as well as the intensity of flavour. In conclusion, the two-strain starter culture would be the more promising alternative for inclusion of that potential probiotic lactobacillus in a fermented milk product.     

Phage types, virulence genes and PFGE profiles of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolated from raw beef, soft cheese and vegetables in Lima (Peru)

The present study was conducted in Lima Metropolitana to evaluate the prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 in raw beef, raw ground beef, soft cheese and fresh vegetables, sampled at different markets in the city. Between October 2000 and February 2001, 407 food samples were collected from different markets in the 42 districts of Lima Metropolitana. Samples were assayed for E. coli O157 by selective enrichment in modified Tryptic Soy Broth containing novobiocin, followed by immunomagnetic separation (IMS) and plating onto sorbitol MacConkey agar supplemented with cefixime and potassium tellurite. Fifty (12.3%) of 407 food samples resulted positive for E. coli O157 isolation (23 of 102 ground beef; 15 of 102 beef meat; eight of 102 soft cheese and four of 101 fresh vegetables). Thirty-five E. coli O157 isolates were further analysed for the presence of virulence genes. All 35 were positive by PCR for O157 rfbE, fliCh7, eae-gamma1 and ehxA genes. In addition, genes encoding Shiga toxins were detected in 33 of 35 isolates, five isolates (14%) encoded stx(1), stx(2), and 28 (80%) stx2 only. The isolates were of seven different phage types (PT4, PT8, PT14, PT21, PT34, PT54, and PT87) with three phage types accounting for 80% of isolates: PT4 (15 isolates), PT14 (8 isolates), and PT21 (5 isolates). Interestingly, the majority (31 of 35; 89%) of E. coli O157:H7 isolates characterized in this study belonged mainly to the phage types previously found in STEC O157:H7 strains associated with severe human disease in Europe and Canada. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of 32 isolates revealed 14 XbaI-PFGE groups (I to XIV) of similarity >85%, with 23 (72%) isolates grouped in five clusters. Some isolates from different districts presented a high clonal relatedness. Thus, PFGE group VIII clustered eleven strains from nine different districts. The broad range of PFGE subtypes found in this study demonstrates the natural occurrence of many genetic variants among STEC O157:H7 spread in Lima.     

Characterization of Spanish red vermouths

Summary In the present work, the composition of commercial samples of Spanish red vermouths was analysed. Physicochemical parameters such as alcoholic concentration, pH, total sugars, dry extract and ashes were determined following Spanish Official Methods. Most of the samples comply with Spanish legislation for fortified wines. The major volatile components were evaluated by direct gas chromatography using 4-methyl-2-pentanol (Merck) as internal standard. It has been estimated that the concentration of higher alcohols in red vermouth is about twice the concentration in white wines.

---

Charakterisierung der spanischen roten Wermut-Weine

Zusammenfassung In dieser Arbeit wurde die Zusammensetzung von Handelsproben spanischer, roter Wermut-Weine analysiert. Die chemisch-physikalischen Parameter wie Alkoholkonzentration, pH, wie Zucker-, Extrakt- und Asche-Gehalt wurden durch amtliche, spanische Methoden bestimmt. Die meisten Wermutproben kommen den spanischen Gesetzen für aromatische Weine nach. Die mengenmäßig-dominierenden flüchtigen Komponenten wurden durch Direkt-Gaschromatographie mit 4-methyl-2-penthanol (interner Standard) geschätzt. Danach enthalten die roten Wermutweine ungefähr die doppelte Konzentration an höheren Alkoholen wie die weißen Weine.

     

Sequencing analysis of a 40·2 kb fragment of yeast chromosome X reveals 19 open reading frames including URA2 (5′ end), TRK1, PBS2, SPT10, GCD14, RPE1, PHO86, NCA3, ASF1, CCT7, GZF3, two tRNA genes,three remnant delta elements and a Ty4 transposon

The complete sequence of a 40 247 bp DNA segment located on the left arm of chromosome X of Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been determined and analysed. The sequence encodes the 5′ coding region of the URA2 gene and 18 open reading frames of at least 100 amino acids. Ten of these correspond to known genes, whereas eight correspond to new genes. In addition, the sequence contains a tRNA-Ala gene, a tRNA-Asp gene, a Ty4 transposable element and three delta elements. The sequence has been deposited in the EMBL databank under Accession Numbers: Z49405, Z49404, Z49403, Z49402, Z49401, Z49400, Z49399, Z49398, Z49397, Z49396, Z49394, Z49392, Z49391, Z49390, Z49389, Z49387, Z49386, Z49385.     

Aquaporins Are One of the Critical Factors in the Disruption of the Skin Barrier in Inflammatory Skin Diseases

The skin is the largest organ of the human body, serving as an effective mechanical barrier between the internal milieu and the external environment. The skin is widely considered the first-line defence of the body, with an essential function in rejecting pathogens and preventing mechanical, chemical, and physical damages. Keratinocytes are the predominant cells of the outer skin layer, the epidermis, which acts as a mechanical and water-permeability barrier. The epidermis is a permanently renewed tissue where undifferentiated keratinocytes located at the basal layer proliferate and migrate to the overlying layers. During this migration process, keratinocytes undertake a differentiation program known as keratinization process. Dysregulation of this differentiation process can result in a series of skin disorders. In this context, aquaporins (AQPs), a family of membrane channel proteins allowing the movement of water and small neutral solutes, are emerging as important players in skin physiology and skin diseases. Here, we review the role of AQPs in skin keratinization, hydration, keratinocytes proliferation, water retention, barrier repair, wound healing, and immune response activation. We also discuss the dysregulated involvement of AQPs in some common inflammatory dermatological diseases characterised by skin barrier disruption.     

Application of FTIR spectroscopy to determine transport properties and water-polymer interactions in polypropylene (PP)/poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) (EVOH) blend films: Effect of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) content and water activity

This paper reports the use of FTIR spectroscopy along with gravimetric analysis to simultaneously study water sorption, transport properties and water-polymer interactions in PP/EVOH films at 25 °C, as a function of EVOH content and water vapour activity. The results indicate the existence of two different mechanisms, below (dual-mode) and above a critical concentration value close to the clustering limit activity. Several spectroscopically distinguishable “types” of sorbed water molecules with different diffusion rates have been detected, and their evolution as a function of the penetrant concentration followed. The main changes in the water structure take place from the clustering limit activity onwards. Significant differences both in the state of water and diffusion sequence of free/bound water have been found between 90/10 PP/EVOH films and blends with EVOH content ≥20%, suggesting not only composite-dependence but also morphology-dependence.     

Quasi-Diamond Platelet-Shaped Zinc Oxide Nanostructures Display Enhanced Antibacterial Activity

The current study compares the antibacterial activity of zinc oxide nanostructures (neZnO). For this purpose, two bacterial strains, Escherichia coli (ATCC 4157) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213) were challenged in room light conditions with the aforementioned materials. Colloidal and hydrothermal methods were used to obtain the quasi-round and quasi-diamond platelet-shape nanostructures. Thus, the oxygen vacancy (V_O) effects on the surface of neZnO are also considered to assess its effects on antibacterial activity. The neZnO characterization was achieved by X-ray diffraction (XRD), a selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and Raman spectroscopy. The microstructural effects were monitored by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, optical absorption ultraviolet visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses complement the physical characterization of these nanostructures; neZnO caused 50 % inhibition (IC₅₀) at concentrations from 0.064 to 0.072 mg/mL for S. aureus and from 0.083 to 0.104 mg/mL for E. coli, indicating an increase in activity against S. aureus compared to E. coli. Consequently, quasi-diamond platelet-shaped nanostructures (average particle size of 377.6±10 nm) showed enhanced antibacterial activity compared to quasi-round agglomerated particles (average size of 442.8±12 nm), regardless of Vo presence or absence.