Origin and spoilage potential of the microbiota dominating genus Psychrobacter in sterile rehydrated salt-cured and dried salt-cured cod (Gadus morhua)

Salt-cured and dried salt-cured cod rehydrated using sterile water and equipment have a short shelf life at 4 degrees C due to high bacterial counts. The microbiota develops off-odours which partly can be described as musty, causing sensory rejection within 7-10 days of chilled storage. The microbiota composition was studied in a total of 38 samples obtained from 10 different, both commercial and laboratory produced, salt-cured and dried salt-cured cod products. The dominating bacterium, representing at least 90% of the total viable count in all products studied, was identified as belonging to the genus Psychrobacter; a Gram-negative, oxidase- and catalase-positive, nonpigmented, halotolerant, psychrotolerant, facultative aerobe and nonmotile bacterium. The morphology of the bacterium resembles coccobacilli and the cells occur most often in pairs. The bacterium was able to hydrolyze lipids, but not proteins. It did not produce H(2)S or TMA and the spoilage in rehydrated salt-cured and dried salt-cured cod is therefor different from what is observed in fresh cod. However, samples inoculated with Psychrobacter immobilis gave the same musty odour as spoiled control samples but earlier in the storage period and of a stronger intensity. In a field experiment, carried out to investigate the origin of the dominating bacterium, it was found that the microbiota in both sterile rehydrated commercially produced and laboratory (aseptically) produced salt-cured cod was dominated by this same bacterium. The bacterium was also isolated from cod skin mucus immediately after capture. The bacterium survived NaCl concentrations up to 25% (w/v) NaCl, stating its ability to survive during the salt-curing process. The dominating bacterium in rehydrated salt-cured and dried salt-cured cod seems to mainly originate from the fresh fish itself and not from contamination during processing.     

Extreme and fatigue response of offshore platforms due to three-dimensional stochastic wave fields

This paper deals with stochastic aspects of wave induced vibrations of fixed offshore platforms with view towards probabilistic design. This includes stochastic treatment of ocean waves, wave loading and structural response processes, emphasizing predictions of extremes and fatigue. The load effects of short crested wave fields are exemplified.     

An inexpensive sulphur hexafluoride gas-handling system for an electrostatic accelerator

An inexpensive gas-handling system has been designed and built utilizing standard components. The design of the system and the different safety features are described. Results of a test on the purity of the gas are given.     

Influence of Hyperglycemia and Diabetes on Cardioprotection by Humoral Factors Released after Remote Ischemic Preconditioning (RIPC)

Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) protects hearts from ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury in experimental studies; however, clinical RIPC trials were unsatisfactory. This discrepancy could be caused by a loss of cardioprotection due to comorbidities in patients, including diabetes mellitus (DM) and hyperglycemia (HG). RIPC is discussed to confer protective properties by release of different humoral factors activating cardioprotective signaling cascades. Therefore, we investigated whether DM type 1 and/or HG (1) inhibit the release of humoral factors after RIPC and/or (2) block the cardioprotective effect directly at the myocardium. Experiments were performed on male Wistar rats. Animals in part 1 of the study were either healthy normoglycemic (NG), type 1 diabetic (DM1), or hyperglycemic (HG). RIPC was implemented by four cycles of 5 min bilateral hind-limb ischemia/reperfusion. Control (Con) animals were not treated. Blood plasma taken in vivo was further investigated in isolated rat hearts in vitro. Plasma from diseased animals (DM1 or HG) was administered onto healthy (NG) hearts for 10 min before 33 min of global ischemia and 60 min of reperfusion. Part 2 of the study was performed vice versa—plasma taken in vivo, with or without RIPC, from healthy rats was transferred to DM1 and HG hearts in vitro. Infarct size was determined by TTC staining. Part 1: RIPC plasma from NG (NG Con: 49 ± 8% vs. NG RIPC 29 ± 6%; p < 0.05) and DM1 animals (DM1 Con: 47 ± 7% vs. DM1 RIPC: 38 ± 7%; p < 0.05) reduced infarct size. Interestingly, transfer of HG plasma showed comparable infarct sizes independent of prior treatment (HG Con: 34 ± 9% vs. HG RIPC 35 ± 9%; ns). Part 2: No infarct size reduction was detectable when transferring RIPC plasma from healthy rats to DM1 (DM1 Con: 54 ± 13% vs. DM1 RIPC 53 ± 10%; ns) or HG hearts (HG Con: 60 ± 16% vs. HG RIPC 53 ± 14%; ns). These results suggest that: (1) RIPC under NG and DM1 induces the release of humoral factors with cardioprotective impact, (2) HG plasma might own cardioprotective properties, and (3) RIPC does not confer cardioprotection in DM1 and HG myocardium.     

Electromagnetic Functionalization of Wide‐Bandgap Dielectric Oxides by Boron Interstitial Doping

A surge in interest of oxide‐based materials is testimony for their potential utility in a wide array of device applications and offers a fascinating landscape for tuning the functional properties through a variety of physical and chemical parameters. In particular, selective electronic/defect doping has been demonstrated to be vital in tailoring novel functionalities, not existing in the bulk host oxides. Here, an extraordinary interstitial doping effect is demonstrated centered around a light element, boron (B). The host matrix is a novel composite system, made from discrete bulk LaAlO₃:LaBO₃ compounds. The findings show a spontaneous ordering of the interstitial B cations within the host LaAlO₃ lattices, and subsequent spin‐polarized charge injection into the neighboring cations. This leads to a series of remarkable cation‐dominated electrical switching and high‐temperature ferromagnetism. Hence, the induced interstitial doping serves to transform a nonmagnetic insulating bulk oxide into a ferromagnetic ionic–electronic conductor. This unique interstitial B doping effect upon its control is proposed to be as a general route for extracting/modifying multifunctional properties in bulk oxides utilized in energy and spin‐based applications.     

Influence of different cold storage temperatures during the Rigor mortis phase on fillet contraction and longer-term quality changes of Atlantic cod fillets

Pre rigor produced fillets of Atlantic cod become shorter and more firm than post rigor produced fillets. In pre rigor excised muscle from warm-blooded animals and warm-water adapted fish, cold shortening, extensive contraction during cold storage, is known to occur. The aim of the present work was to study if the extent of fillet shortening in Atlantic cod could be reduced by a slight temperature increase during rigor contraction. The results demonstrate that fillets from this cold-water species showed no cold shortening. On the contrary, the fillets contracted the least when stored at 0 °C during rigor contraction.     

Differences in Wetting Characteristics of Bi2O3 Polymorphs in ZnO Varistor Materials

Detailed analysis of the microstructure of grain boundaries, especially triple-grain and multiple-grain junctions, in ZnO varistor materials has been performed using transmission electron microscopy. Different polymorphs of Bi₂O₃ are shown to exhibit different wetting properties on ZnO interfaces. Recent investigations suggest that the equilibrium configuration consists of crystalline Bi₂O₃ in the triple-grain and multiple-grain junctions and an amorphous bismuth-rich film in the ZnO/ZnO grain boundaries. The present investigation supports this suggestion for δ-Bi₂O₃ and also adds to the microstructural image and wetting properties of α-Bi₂O₃.