Inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella by natural antimicrobials and high hydrostatic pressure in sliced cooked ham

The effectiveness of nisin, lactate salts, and high hydrostatic pressure to inhibit the growth of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella in sliced cooked ham was studied through a combination of PCR-based detection methods, most probable number, and classical microbial enumeration techniques (International Organization for Standardization protocols). A synergistic effect to inhibit a cocktail of Listeria monocytogenes CTC1010, CTC1011, and CTC1034 was observed between potassium lactate, high hydrostatic pressure (400 MPa, 17 degrees C, 10 min), and low storage temperature when sliced cooked ham was stored for 84 days at 1 degrees C. The high hydrostatic pressure treatment also proved to be useful to inhibit a cocktail of Salmonella enterica serotypes London CTC1003, Schwarzengrund CTC1015, and Derby CTC1022.     

太阳能级硅电沉积用冰晶石熔盐的电导率和黏度

以热解碳化硼管作电导池,用固定电导池常数法研究由Na F-Al F3-Si O2构成的二元系和三元系熔盐的电导率;用扭摆法测定Na3Al F6-Si O2二元系的黏度。研究发现,所研究熔盐体系的电导率和黏度均与温度呈直线关系。Na3Al F6-Si O2二元系的电导率与Si O2含量关系曲线可分为0-10%和10%-40%（摩尔分数）两段,当SiO 2含量超过10%之后,电导率随着Si O2含量的增加而快速下降,而当Si O2含量小于10%时,电导率随着Si O2含量的增加而缓慢增加。在Si O2含量大于10%的冰晶石熔盐中添加少量的SiO 2,熔盐的黏度增加,但增加的趋势基本相同,这与熔盐中形成玻璃网状结构的离子团有关。当在冰晶石熔盐中继续增大Si O2含量到50%时,黏度发生急剧变化。     

Carbon supports for the catalytic dehydrogenation of liquid organic hydrides as hydrogen storage and delivery system

The use of liquid organic hydrides as hydrogen carriers is a promising storage and delivery system due to the advantages of using liquid-based infrastructures and its economic feasibility compared to other conventional systems. The reversible dehydrogenation/hydrogenation of liquid organic hydrides is a key point for the development of highly performance reactors. In this study different carbon materials have been investigated as platinum supports, including carbon nanofibers, carbon black, carbon xerogel, activated carbon and ordered mesoporous carbon. To individuate the effect of the carbon support on the catalytic activity, platinum particles were synthesized by a microemulsion procedure. The analysis of the hydrogen evolution curves indicate that the support BET surface area plays a very important role on the initial catalytic activity, obtaining a maximum rate of 220 mmol g_Pt⁻¹ min⁻¹ when using an ordered mesoporous carbon with a surface area of 930 m² g⁻¹. Nevertheless, the analysis of catalytic activity at prolonged duration indicates a better behavior toward deactivation for supports characterized by wide pores and low graphitization degree like carbon black or carbon xerogel, despite their lower initial dehydrogenation rate (100–140 mmol g_Pt⁻¹ min⁻¹). The ultimate use in the dehydrogenation reactor as well as the operation conditions will define the best catalyst structure from the point of view of the carbon support.     

Radiation‐induced effects in gamma‐irradiated PLLA and PCL at ambient and dry ice temperatures

The effect of γ‐rays sterilization at ambient (23°C) and at dry ice temperatures (?78°C) on two biodegradable semicrystalline polyesters, namely poly(L ‐lactide) (PLLA) and poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL), was studied. The radical processes generated by irradiation were investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, whereas postradiation changes were monitored for 5 months by scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and apparent viscosity measurements. It was confirmed that the radiation sterilization initiates degradation in both studied polymers, however, the effect is smaller in PCL than in PLLA, and that the range of changes might be limited by lowering temperature of the exposure to γ‐rays. Newly formed oxygen containing functional groups confirmed by EPR and thermogravimetric analysis methods are produced in the irradiated polyesters. In PCL, the process might give rise to thermally induced cross‐linking via oxygen containing intermolecular bridges. During storage, in both irradiated materials, morphology determined by differential scanning calorimetry is changing ‐ PCL ability toward crystallization decreases insignificantly, whereas in PLLA the tendency is opposite ‐ on irradiation a contribution of crystalline phase is growing considerably, from 18 and 19% to 41 and 31% for PLLA irradiated at 23°C and at ?78°C, respectively. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Mathematical modelling of thermal conductivity process in salt-contaminated wall materials

The results of computational investigations dealing with the influence of moisture and salt on the effective thermal conductivity of the masonry wall were presented. The investigation was carried out on the basis of mathematical modelling of heat transfer in capillary-porous materials. The dependencies between the thermal conductivity of the wall and the content of moisture and salt, as well as the physical state of salt were described. The assessment of the degree of salt influence on the thermal conductivity of masonry wall for the admissible exploitive moisture content was performed. Practical formulae were obtained and presented for realistic estimation of the effective thermal conductivity of ceramic brick and masonry wall.     

Spray-dried nanoparticle-loaded pectin microspheres for dexamethasone nasal delivery

Abstract

In this study, we present the development of an innovative dry powder dexamethasone (Dex) nasal delivery system comprising Dex-loaded lipid/alginate nanoparticles incorporated within pectin microspheres (Dex/NPs-loaded pectin microspheres; DNM). DNM microspheres were characterized by the mean diameter of 2.76?±?0.10?µm, zeta-potential of –36.2?±?1.1?mV, and drug loading of 3.3?±?0.3%. The morphology study revealed irregular microsphere surface forming external voids. In contact with simulated nasal fluid, DNM microspheres demonstrated desirable property of moderate swelling and ensured stronger mucoadhesion compared with conventional Dex-loaded pectin microspheres. The strategy of Dex incorporation within the lipid/alginate NPs resulted in prolonged Dex release in relation to Dex being directly entrapped within the conventional pectin microspheres. DNM microspheres showed excellent biocompatibility and rendered Dex permeation across the selected epithelial cell model similar to that of Dex solution. In conclusion, balanced biopharmaceutical properties of the proposed nasal Dex delivery system provides the potential for prolonged contact time with nasal mucosa, prolonged therapeutic effect, and improved patient compliance.     

Strategies to optimize phosphate removal from industrial anaerobic effluents by magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP) production

BACKGROUND: Owing to more stringent phosphate discharge requirements and the increasing prices of fertilizers, beneficial recovery and reuse of phosphate from industrial anaerobic effluents is becoming an important issue. Phosphate recovery by struvite or magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP) permits its recycling in the fertilizer industry because struvite is a valuable slow release fertilizer. Two different approaches to MAP crystallization depending on initial levels of phosphate in the wastewaters were tested and compared. RESULTS: For low‐phosphate‐containing anaerobic effluents (<30 mg PO₄^3?‐P L^?1), a novel approach using ureolytic induced MAP formation with MgO addition appeared to be suitable. The residual phosphate concentrations in the effluent ranged from 5 to 7 mg PO₄^3?‐P L^?1 and the separated matter contained residual amounts of Mg(OH)₂. High‐phosphate‐containing anaerobic effluents (100 to 120 mg PO₄^3?‐P L^?1) were treated efficiently using air stripping combined with MgCl₂ and NaOH reagents, yielding residual phosphate levels of 8 to 15 mg PO₄^3?‐P L^?1 and spherical pure MAP crystals of 0.5 to 2 mm. CONCLUSION: Results show that depending on the initial phosphate concentrations in the wastewaters and the ammonium and magnesium levels, the strategy selected for struvite crystallization is a determinative factor in achieving a cost effective technology. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Liquid crystalline polyamines containing side dendrons: Toward the building of ion channels based on polyamines

In this article, we modified poly[2-(aziridin-1-yl)ethanol] (PAZE) with the dendron 3,4,5-tris[4-(n-dodecan-1-yloxy)benzyloxy]benzoic acid, to obtain liquid crystalline columnar polyamines. The chemical modification reaction was first tuned on a model compound, N,N-dimethyl-2-hydroxyethylamine. The best results were obtained by the esterification method with N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide at room temperature, in the presence of 4-dimethylaminopyridine. The obtained copolymers showed higher char yield than starting PAZE. In all cases they exhibited small crystalline portions after annealing and columnar mesophases, as inferred by DSC, XRD and POM. The dimension of the unit cell resulted slightly narrower than in the case of the copolyethers bearing the same dendron. This is probably due to the presence of a longer spacer in PAZE, which allows better accommodating of the side tapered group.