Survival of Pseudomonas fluorescens on beef carcass surfaces in a commercial abattoir

The influence of a commercial chilling process (18 h at 10 °C followed by up to 78 h at 2 °C) on Pseudomonas fluorescens inoculated on beef carcass surfaces at four sites, neck (NE), outside round (OR), brisket (BR) and foreshank/brisket (FB) before chilling (“hot inoculated”) or after chilling for 24 h (“cold inoculated”) was investigated. Pseudomonas counts increased significantly at all sites on “hot inoculated” carcasses during storage, but on “cold inoculated” carcasses, counts declined or remained unchanged. On hot and cold inoculated carcasses, differences in Pseudomonas growth or survival were demonstrated between sites. No clear relationships were observed between Pseudomonas growth or survival and chiller relative humidity (RH) or surface water activity (a_w) at the different sites. These results were unexpected, and are discussed in relation to environmental factors that affect the growth/survival of P. fluorescens on carcass surfaces during chilling i.e. temperature, RH, and the relationship of these parameters to surface water activity (a_w).     

Long-term effects of feeding gossypol and vitamin E to dairy calves.

Male Holstein calves were used to test the effect of feeding 400 mg of free gossypol/kg of diet and to determine whether vitamin E could counteract gossypol toxicity. Fifty-two calves were allotted to treatments as follows: 1) soybean meal-based starter; 2) cottonseed meal-based starter; 3) cottonseed meal-based starter + 2000 IU of vitamin E/d per calf, and 4) cottonseed meal-based starter + 4000 IU of vitamin E/d per calf. Vitamin E supplementation (treatments 3 and 4) improved weight gain and feed intake over calves on treatment 1. Gossypol concentrations in plasma were higher in calves on treatments 2, 3, and 4 than in calves on treatment 1; however, no differences were observed among animals receiving the three cottonseed meal diets. Hemoglobin and hematocrit were decreased in calves receiving treatment 2, and vitamin E supplementation counteracted this effect (treatments 3 and 4). Plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations were not affected by gossypol intake and followed the vitamin E supplementation pattern During the experimental period, 10 calves died, six from treatment 2 and two each from treatments 3 and 4. Necropsy findings from 4 of 10 calves were suggestive of gossypol toxicity. Histopathological examination revealed centrilobular necrosis in the liver and atrophy and vacuolation of cardiocytes. Feeding cottonseed meal caused death of some calves with gossypol related toxicity signs, but did not decrease plasma alpha-tocopherol; however, vitamin E supplementation increased performance and may have conferred some protection against gossypol toxicity.     

The debonding and fracture of Si particles during the fatigue of a cast Al-Si alloy

Constant-amplitude high-cycle fatigue tests (σ_max=133 MPa, σmax/σy=0.55, and R=0.1) were conducted on cylindrical samples machined from a cast A356-T6 aluminum plate: The fracture surface of the sample with the smallest fatigue-crack nucleating defect was examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). For low crack-tip driving forces (fatigue-crack growth rates of da/dN<1 × 10⁻⁷ m/cycle), we discovered that a small semicircular surface fatigue crack propagated primarily through the Al-1 pct Si dendrite cells. The silicon particles in the eutectic remained intact and served as barriers at low fatigue-crack propagation rates. When the semicircular fatigue crack inevitably crossed the three-dimensional Al-Si eutectic network, it propagated primarily along the interface between the silicon particles and the Al-1 pct Si matrix. Furthermore, nearly all of the silicon particles were progressively debonded by the fatigue cracks propagating at low rates, with the exception of elongated particles with a major axis perpendicular to the crack plane, which were fractured. As the fatigue crack grew with a high crack-tip driving force (fatigue-crack growth rates of da/dN>1 × 10⁻⁶ m/cycle), silicon particles ahead of the crack tip were fractured, and the crack subsequently propagated through the weakest distribution of prefractured particles in the Al-Si eutectic. Only small rounded silicon particles were observed to debond while the fatigue crack grew at high rates. Using fracture-surface markings and fracture mechanics, a macroscopic measure of the maximum critical driving force between particle debonding vs fracture during fatigue-crack growth was calculated to be approximately K _max ^tr ≈6.0 MPa √m for the present cast A356 alloy.     

Multidimensional Flash Diffusivity Measurements of Orthotropic Materials

A generalization of the radial flash technique is presented whereby the thermal diffusivity of an orthotropic solid is measured in directions parallel and perpendicular to the flash source. The theoretical formulation is based on a Green's function approach which assumes a general orthotropic solid with three mutually orthogonal thermal diffusivities (or conductivities). Using this approach, a solution to this problem is presented which can be used to develop solutions for arbitrary pulse waveforms and incident geometries. Analytical and numerical results are presented for two-dimensional and three-dimensional cases of finite and semiinfinite solids. Characteristic equations which describe the ratio of the temperatures at two points along a principal axis are given. The equations show excellent agreement with numerical predictions as well as experimental results. A parameter estimation approach is given which improves on the accuracy of the radial flash technique in the determination of thermal diffusivity from experimental data.     

Evolution of structure and free volume in symmetric tilt grain boundaries during dislocation nucleation

Grain boundary evolution in copper bicrystals is investigated during uniaxial tension at 10 K. Grain boundary structures are generated using molecular statics employing an embedded atom method potential, followed by molecular dynamics simulation at a constant 1 × 10⁹ s^?1 strain rate. Interfacial free volume is continuously measured during boundary deformation, and its evolution is investigated both prior to and during grain boundary dislocation nucleation. Free volume provides valuable insight into atomic-scale processes associated with stress-induced grain boundary deformation. Different boundary structures are investigated in this work to analyze the role of interface structure, stress state and initial free volume on dislocation nucleation. The results indicate that the free volume influences interfacial deformation through modified atomic-scale processes, and grain boundaries containing particular free volume distributions show a greater propensity for collective atomic migration during inelastic deformation.     

The Adsorption of Gold,Palladium, and Platinum from Acidic Chloride Solutions on Mesoporous Carbons

Studies on the adsorption characteristics of gold, palladium, and platinum on mesoporous carbon (CMK-3) and sulfur-impregnated mesoporous carbon (CMK-3/S) evaluated the benefits/drawbacks of the presence of a layer of elemental sulfur inside mesoporous carbon structures. Adsorption isotherms collected for Au(III), Pd(II), and Pt(IV) on those materials suggest that sulfur does enhance the adsorption of those metal ions in mildly acidic environment (pH 3). The isotherms collected in 1 M HCl show that the benefit of sulfur disappears due to the competing influence of large concentration of chloride ions on the ion-exchanging mechanism of metal ions sorption on mesoporous carbon surfaces. The collected acid dependencies illustrate similar adsorption characteristics for CMK-3 and CMK-3/S in 1-5 M HCl concentration range. Sorption of metal ions from diluted aqueous acidic mixtures of actual leached electronic waste demonstrated the feasibility of recovery of gold from such liquors.     

A20 Attenuates the Fibrotic Response in the Trabecular Meshwork

Although the extracellular matrix (ECM) in trabecular meshwork (TM) cells is known to be important in intraocular pressure (IOP) regulation, the molecular mechanisms involved in generating a glaucomatous environment in the TM are not completely understood. Recently we identified a molecular pathway, transforming growth factor beta 2 (TGFβ2)–toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling crosstalk, as an important regulator of glaucomatous damage in the TM, which contributes to fibrosis. Here we evaluate a novel molecular target, A20, also known as tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3), which may help to block pathological TGFβ2–TLR4 signaling. Primary human TM cells were analyzed for A20 message and for A20 and fibronectin protein expression after treatment with TGFβ2. A20 message increased when the TLR4 pathway was inhibited in TM cells. In addition, TGFβ2, a known inducer of fibrosis, increased fibronectin expression, while at the same time decreasing the expression of A20. We then overexpressed A20 in TM cells in order to test the effect on treatment with TGFβ2, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or cellular fibronectin extra domain A (cFN-EDA). Importantly, overexpression of A20 rescued the fibrotic response when TM cells were treated with TGFβ2, LPS, or cFN-EDA. In situ hybridization was used to probe for A20 RNA expression in age-matched control (C57BL/6J) mice and mice that constitutively express the EDA isoform of fibronectin (B6.EDA^+/+). In this novel mouse model of glaucoma, A20 RNA was increased versus age-matched control mice in a cyclic manner at 6 weeks and 1 year of age, but not at 8 months. Overall, these data suggest that A20 may work through a negative feedback mechanism attenuating the ability of TGFβ2–TLR4 signaling to induce fibrosis.     

Discrete element modelling of under sleeper pads using a box test

It has recently been reported that under sleeper pads (USPs) could improve ballasted rail track by decreasing the sleeper settlement and reducing particle breakage. In order to find out what happens at the particle–pad interface, discrete element modelling (DEM) is used to provide micro mechanical insight. The same positive effects of USP are found in the DEM simulations. The evidence provided by DEM shows that application of a USP allows more particles to be in contact with the pad, and causes these particles to transfer a larger lateral load to the adjacent ballast but a smaller vertical load beneath the sleeper. This could be used to explain why the USP helps to reduce the track settlement. In terms of particle breakage, it is found that most breakage occurs at the particle–sleeper interface and along the main contact force chains between particles under the sleeper. The use of USPs could effectively reduce particle abrasion that occurs in both of these regions.