A comparative study of the physico‐chemical properties affecting the organoleptic quality of fresh and thermally treated yellow tomato ecotype fruit

In recent years, yellow commercial tomatoes have attracted great interest from consumers. The goal of this work was to characterise the parameters of three yellow genotypes that affect the fruit quality, in comparison with those of a red fruit genotype. Compared to the other genotypes, the GiaGiù ecotype was characterised as having the highest titratable acidity, organic acids content and pectin content before and after a thermal treatment simulating industrial pasteurisation. Most of the analysed parameters influence the taste and aroma of fresh fruit and processed products, particularly the high glutamic acid content measured in the GiaGiù ecotype. This genotype was also distinctive for its higher pectin content, which influences the texture. These features might allow the development of new food products that require a specific viscosity, such as sauces and ketchup. Interestingly, the beneficial properties of GiaGiù were preserved after thermal processing.     

Genotoxicity of recycling electronic waste in Idhna,Hebron District,Palestine

Most Electronic waste (e-waste) ends up in landfills while some is recycled. A major site for e-waste recycling in Palestine is the village of Idhna in the Hebron District and most of this waste originates from Israel. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of e-waste on human DNA damage and chromosome breaks. The test sample was 46 non-smoker individuals with direct exposure to e-waste, either employed in the workshops or resident in Idhna. Genotoxicity data were compared with a control sample of sixteen unexposed individuals from Bethlehem and Al-Aizariya (Bethany). DNA damage was evaluated using the Comet assay while chromosome aberrations were tested by using conventional cytogenetic techniques. We noted an average of 4.83 aberration/cell/subject in test samples while in controls the average was 0.75. Chromosome aberration frequency was statistically different between exposed and control samples for total aberrations, for chromatid and chromosome breaks, and for formation of rings but not for dicenterics and tetraploidy. The Comet assay likewise showed that there was significant difference between exposed and control samples for DNA damage (p < 0.05). We therefore recommend measures to mitigate the health impact of e-waste recycling.     

Reflection properties of small hydrocarbons impinging on tungsten and carbon surfaces

Sticking coefficients of deuterium from are quantified on fusion relevant plasma sprayed tungsten and carbon fibre composite in the incident energy range from about 0-100 eV. The samples that were cut from ASDEX-Upgrade tiles are exposed to a beam of of specific incident energy, E_inc, in the tandem mass spectrometer BESTOF in Innsbruck. Nuclear reaction analysis is performed ex-situ at IPP Garching for the quantification of deuterium content. The deuterium content difference measured on a spot before and after ion-beam exposure of the sample is assigned to the above mentioned species of hydrocarbon molecules sticking on the surface, allowing the calculation of the sticking probability of a specific deuterated molecular ion. The sticking coefficient, S, is found to depend on the incident energy and shows a maximum of about S ∼ 0.4 around E_inc = 30 eV on CFC and about S ∼ 0.1 near E_inc = 20 eV in case of PSW.     

Unpatterned Bioactive Poly(Butylene 1,4-Cyclohexanedicarboxylate)-Based Film Fast Induced Neuronal-Like Differentiation of Human Bone Marrow-Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Herein, we present poly(butylene 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate) (PBCE) films characterized by an unpatterned microstructure and a specific hydrophobicity, capable of boosting a drastic cytoskeleton architecture remodeling, culminating with the neuronal-like differentiation of human bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs). We have used two different filming procedures to prepare the films, solvent casting (PBCE) and compression-moulding (PBCE*). PBCE film had a rough and porous surface with spherulite-like aggregations (Ø = 10–20 μm) and was characterized by a water contact angle = 100°. PBCE* showed a smooth and continuous surface without voids and visible spherulite-like aggregations and was more hydrophobic (WCA = 110°). Both surface characteristics were modulated through the copolymerization of different amounts of ether-oxygen-containing co-units into PBCE chemical structure. We showed that only the surface characteristics of PBCE-solvent-casted films steered hBM-MSCs toward a neuronal-like differentiation. hBM-MSCs lost their canonical mesenchymal morphology, acquired a neuronal polarized shape with a long cell protrusion (≥150 μm), expressed neuron-specific class III β-tubulin and microtubule-associated protein 2 neuronal markers, while nestin, a marker of uncommitted stem cells, was drastically silenced. These events were observed as early as 2-days after cell seeding. Of note, the phenomenon was totally absent on PBCE* film, as hBM-MSCs maintained the mesenchymal shape and behavior and did not express neuronal/glial markers.     

Antimicrobial Activity of Nisin and Natamycin Incorporated Sodium Caseinate Extrusion‐Blown Films: A Comparative Study with Heat‐Pressed/Solution Cast Films

Antimicrobial edible films based on sodium caseinate, glycerol, and 2 food preservatives (nisin or natamycin) were prepared by classical thermomechanical processes. Food preservatives were compounded (at 65 °C for 2.5 min) with sodium caseinate in a twin‐screw extruder. Anti‐Listeria activity assays revealed a partial inactivation of nisin following compounding. Thermoplastic pellets containing food preservatives were then used to manufacture films either by blown‐film extrusion process or by heat‐press. After 24 h of incubation on agar plates, the diameters of K. rhizophila growth inhibition zones around nisin‐incorporated films prepared by solution casting (control), extrusion blowing or heat pressing at 80 °C for 7 min of nisin‐containing pellets were 15.5 ± 0.9, 9.8 ± 0.2, and 8.6 ± 1.0 mm, respectively. Since heat‐pressing for 7 min at 80 °C of nisin‐incorporated pellets did not further inactivate nisin, this indicates that nisin inactivation during extrusion‐blowing was limited. Moreover, the lower diameter of the K. rhizophila growth inhibition zone around films prepared with nisin‐containing pellets compared to that observed around films directly prepared by solution casting confirms that nisin inactivation mainly occurred during the compounding step. Natamycin‐containing thermoplastic films inhibited Aspergillus niger growth; however, by contrast with nisin‐containing films, heat‐pressed films had higher inhibition zone diameters than blown films, therefore suggesting a partial inactivation of natamycin during extrusion‐blowing.     

Thermally stable antimicrobial polyvinylchloride/maleimido aromatic hydrazide composites

Antimicrobial novel substituted maleimido aromatic hydrazides were synthesized from N‐[4‐(chlorocarbonyl) phenyl] maleimide with salicylhydrazide, p‐aminobenzohydrazide, or p‐aminosalicylhydrazide. They were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), hydrogen‐1 nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H‐NMR), mass spectra, elemental analyses, and antimicrobial activities. These derivatives were investigated as thermal stabilizers for rigid poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) at 180°C in air by measuring the rate of dehydrochlorination, the extent of discoloration, and the changes that occurred in the molecular masses of the degraded PVC samples. The previously reported stabilizing efficiency data of a nonsubstituted derivative, which was synthesized from N‐[4‐(chlorocarbonyl) phenyl] maleimide with benzohydrazide, is also given for comparison. The results reveal the greater stabilizing efficiency of the investigated derivatives as shown by their longer thermal stability (Ts) periods and lower dehydrochlorination rates in relation to dibasic lead carbonate, cadmium‐barium‐zinc stearate, and n‐octyltin mercaptide industrial stabilizers. The stabilizing efficiency increases with the introduction of electron donating substituent groups in the aromatic ring of the stabilizer molecules. Moreover, the investigated stabilizers impart better color stability for the degraded samples as compared with the reference stabilizers. A synergistic effect is achieved when the materials under investigation were mixed in various weight ratios with any of the reference stabilizers, reaching its maximum at equivalent weight ratio of the investigated stabilizer to the reference one. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 22:247–258, 2016. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Inhibition of enterotoxicogenic strains Bacillus cereus GT1 and Staphylococcus aureus S1 isolated from double white cream cheese

In this study three different food preservatives (sodium nitrate, sodium benzoate and sodium sorbate) were used to evaluate their effect on two enterotoxicogenic strains (Bacillus cereus GT1 and Staphylococcus aureus S1). A significant decrease in the viability and production of virulence factors was observed. Yet, obvious tolerance to increasing concentrations (from 1 to 6?g/l) of the three preservatives was recorded reflecting possible resistance mechanisms within the tested strains. The two strains were subjected to increasing doses of gamma radiation (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10?kGy). Obvious correlation was observed between the initial counts of bacterial spores contaminating the products and the required dose for their complete elimination. Whereas the eliminating dose of B. cereus GT1 strain was 10?kGy only 4?kGy was sufficient to suppress the growth and virulence of S. aureus S1, reflecting its sensitivity to low doses of gamma irradiation. Also, inhibition of the two strains by probiotic strain Bacillus pumilus G4 was studied both in situ (in cheese) and in vitro (in culture media). The viable cell population of B. cereus GT1 increased from 10⁶ to 2.9?×?10⁸?CFU/g within 60?h in controls but decreased from 2.1?×?10⁶ to 2.3?×?10³?CFU/g after treatment with the probiotic strain. No viable count was observed after 60?h of incubation. Whereas, the viable cell population of S. aureus S1 increased from 10⁶ to 2.5?×?10⁸?CFU/g within 60?h in controls but decreased from 1.5?×?10⁶ to 4.3?×?10²?CFU/g after treatment with the probiotic strain. No viable count was observed after 54?h of incubation.