Simultaneous detection of Salmonella spp., Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Typhimurium in sliced fruits using multiplex PCR

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and quantity of Salmonella spp., Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Typhimurium in sliced fruits from hawker stalls and hypermarkets in Malaysia. Analysis was carried out using the most probable number (MPN) – multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The prevalence of Salmonella spp., Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Typhimurium in 210 samples of sliced fruits examined were 23.3%, 7.6% and 3.8%, respectively with estimated quantity varying from 0 to 19 MPN/g. This study urged the authority to look into the biosafety of sliced fruits in Malaysia.     

Random-phase-shift Fizeau interferometer

A new and potentially cost efficient kind of vibration-tolerant surface measurement interferometer based on the Fizeau-principle is demonstrated. The crucial novelty of this approach is the combination of two optoelectronic sensors: an image sensor with high spatial resolution and an arrangement of photodiodes with high temporal resolution. The photodiodes continuously measure the random-phase-shifts caused by environmental vibrations in three noncollinear points of the test surface. The high spatial resolution sensor takes several "frozen" images of the test surface by using short exposure times. Under the assumption of rigid body movement the continuously measured phase shifts of the three surface points enable the calculation of a virtual plane that is representative for the position and orientation of the whole test surface. For this purpose a new random-phase-shift algorithm had to be developed. The whole system was tested on an optical table without vibration isolation under the influence of random vibrations. The analysis of the root-mean-square (RMS) over ten different measurements shows a measurement repeatability of about 0.004 wave (approximately 2.5 nm for 632.8 nm laser wavelength).     

Synthesis of Mg1−xCoxAl2O4 blue pigments via combustion route

MgAl₂O₄ was successfully used as crystalline host network for the synthesis of cobalt-based blue ceramic pigments. Different compositions of Mg_1?xCo_xAl₂O₄ (x = 0.1–0.3) powders have been prepared by the combustion reaction of corresponding metal nitrates with mixtures of urea and β-alanine. The resultant powders were characterized by means of XRD, TG-DTA, EDAX, SEM, BET surface area, diffuse reflectance spectrometry and CIEL1a1b1 color measurement. For x = 0.2, thermal analysis investigations evidenced that combustion reaction occurs at 276 °C. XRD analysis certified the formation of the designed solid solution, no additional thermal treatment being required. EDAX elemental analysis confirmed the purity of the as-prepared compound. The resulted powders had large surface areas, which varied from 8.7 to 62.6 m²/g. The crystallite size of Mg_1?xCo_xAl₂O₄ powders was less than 15 nm. Experimental results evidenced that as the proportion of Co²⁺ increased, the crystallite size decreased and the specific surface area increased. The diffuse reflectance spectra of the Mg_1?xCo_xAl₂O₄ pigments confirmed the presence of tetrahedrally coordinated Co²⁺. CIEL1a1b1 chromatic coordinates indicated that the bluest color was obtained for x = 0.2.     

Ertüchtigung der genieteten Stahlbrücken am Beispiel von zwei Straßenbrücken über den Fluss Marosch in Rumänien

Genietete Stahlbrücken sind heute beinahe nur noch als Eisenbahnbrücken im Einsatz. Es gibt eine relativ geringe Anzahl an genieteten Straßenbrücken, die auf Nebenstraßen in Betrieb sind. Sie sind i. A. in schlechtem technischem Zustand. Dieser Aufsatz ist ein Plädoyer für die Ertüchtigung und Erhaltung dieser Bauwerke als Zeugen einer vergangenen technischen Kultur und Beispiel für eine ansehnliche Stahlkonstruktion. Es werden zwei Fallstudien präsentiert: eine Fachwerkbrücke mit vier Spannweiten von 40 m und ein Fachwerkgerberträger mit einer Gesamtlänge von L = 185,4 m. Maintenance of riveted steel bridges exemplary shown with two highway bridges across the river Marosch in Romania. Riveted steel structures are in present mainly railway bridges. There is a small number of existing highway bridges, generally in bad technical condition. The paper is a speech for the maintenance of these structures as technical monuments and witnesses of the past. Two case studies are presented: a truss girder bridge with fore spans of 40 m and a cantilever truss girder bridge with a total length of 185.4 m.     

Cyansäureester. 25 [1]. Umsetzung von Mercapto-N-heterocyclen mit Arylcyanaten

Cyanic Acid Esters. 25 The Reaction of Mercapto-N-heterocycles with Aryl Cyanates Unsaturated N-heterocycles containing a cyclic thio urea structure and aryl cyanates (molar ratio 1:2), react to form azolo(1,2-d) (1,2,4)thiadiazoles. This reaction has a wide scope concerning starting materials and gives good yields. Under the same conditions 2-thione-benzthiazolin is transformed to the corresponding disulfide. 4,5-Bis-mercaptomethylene-o-xylene and aryl cyanates give 2,3-dithia-6, 7-dimethyl-tetraline.     

Struktur und Reaktivität heterosubstituierter Nitrile. 24 Kinetik und Mechanismus der Reaktion von o-Phenylendiamin mit Arylcyanaten

Structure and Reactivity of Heterosubstituted Nitriles. 24. Kinetics and Mechanism of the Reaction of o-Phenylen diamine with Aryl Cyanates The second and third order rate constants for the reaction of o-phenylene diamine with aryl cyanates to 2-amino benzimidazole phenylester imide in water/dioxane have been determined by i.r. measurements. The reaction proceeds through a bimolecular and a trimolecular mechanism simultaneously. In the slow step of the bimolecular process an electrophilic attack of the aryl cyanate on o-phenylene diamine takes place in a seven membered cyclic transition state. The slow step of the trimolecular mechanism consists of a nucleophilic attack of the diamine on a phenole aryl cyanate associate by a six membered cyclic transition state. The final products of both reactions are formed by successive fast reactions.     

Hybrid Androgen Receptor Inhibitors Outperform Enzalutamide and EPI-001 in in vitro Models of Prostate Cancer Drug Resistance

Androgen receptor targeted therapies for prostate cancer have serious limitations in advanced stages of the disease. While resistance to the FDA-approved enzalutamide is extensively documented, novel therapies based on epichlorohydrin scaffolds (EPI) are currently in clinical trials, but display suboptimal pharmacokinetics. Herein, we report the synthesis and biological characterisation of a novel class of compounds designed through covalently linking enzalutamide and EPI-001 through various triazole based linkers. The compounds display an 18 to 53 fold improvement in the cell killing potency towards C4-2b prostate cancer (PCa) cells compared to the gold standards of therapy, enzalutamide and EPI-001. The most promising compounds were proven to exhibit their toxicity exclusively through androgen receptor (AR) mediated pathways. This work sets the basis for the first class of hybrid AR inhibitors which successfully combine two drug moieties – EPI-001 and enzalutamide – into the same molecule.