Stability and growth characteristics of GFPuv-labeled Cronobacter sakazakii isolated from foods

Stability of ultraviolet green fluorescent protein (GFPuv)-labeled Cronobacter sakazakii and C. muytjensii isolated from foods and the effects of the plasmid GFPuv (pGFPuv) on growth were analyzed. PCR analysis and microscopic observation showed that C. sakazakii and C. muytjensii isolates took up the plasmid into cells and expressed the GFPuv gene. All Cronobacter transformants maintained this plasmid after frozen storage and 2 consecutive subcultures. The C. sakazakii FWHd16 transformant was the most stable, while the C. muytjensii FWHd11 transformant was the least stable. All transformants showed nearly identical growth curves during lag, log and stationary phases, compared to wild type parental isolates. The maximum bacterial growth rates (μ_max) of the transformants and parents were similar, indicating that the presence of pGFPuv in transformants did not affect cell growth. Stable GFPuv-labeled Cronobacter has potential for use in tracking bacterial behavior during food handling and drying.     

Physical and chemical behaviour of tungsten oxide in the presence of nickel additive under hydrogen and carbon monoxide atmospheres

The physical and chemical behaviour of bulk tungsten oxide (WO₃) and Ni doped tungsten oxide (15% Ni/WO₃) were examined by performing a temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) technique. The chemical composition, morphology, and surface composition of both samples before and after reduced were analysed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The XRD pattern of calcined Ni doped tungsten oxide powder comprised of WO₃ and nickel tungstate (NiWO₄) phases. The reduction behaviour was investigated by a non-isothermal reduction up to 900 °C achieved under (10 and 20% v/v) hydrogen in nitrogen (H₂ in N₂) and (20 and 40% v/v) carbon monoxide in nitrogen (CO in N₂) atmospheres. The H₂-TPR were indicated the reduction of bulk WO₃ and 15% NiWO₃ proceed in three steps (WO₃ → WO₂ → WO₂ + W) and (WO₃ → WO₂ → W + Ni₄W) respectively under 20% H₂. Whereas, the reduction of 15% WO₃ under 40% CO involves of two following stages: (i) low temperature (<800 °C) transformation of WO₃ → WO_2.72 → WO₂ and, (ii) high temperature (>800 °C) transformation of WO₂ → W → WC. Furthermore, NiWO₄ alloy phase was transformed according to the sequence NiWO₄ → Ni + WO_2.72 → Ni + WO₂ → Ni + W → Ni₄W + W at temperature >700 °C and >800 °C in H₂ and CO atmospheres, respectively. It can be concluded that the reduction behaviour of WO₃ is matched with the thermodynamic data. In addition, the reduction under H₂ is more favourable and have better reducibility compared to the CO gas. It is due to the small molecule size and molecule mass of H₂ that encourages the diffusion of H₂ molecule into the internal surface of the catalyst compared to CO. Moreover, Ni additive had improved the WO₃ reducibility and enhancing the CO adsorption and promotes the formation of tungsten carbide (WC) by carburisation reaction. Besides, the formation of Ni during the reduction of 15% Ni/WO₃ under CO reductant catalysed the Boudouard reaction to occur, which disproportionated the carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and carbon (CO → CO₂ + C).     

Determination of amylopectin structure and physicochemical properties in rice endosperm starch of mutant lines derived from Malaysian rice cultivar MR219

BACKGROUND: Characterization of starch properties and functionality can apply breeding program selection for desirable traits such as eating, cooking and processing qualities to meet consumer preference. Low amylose content is generally preferred in Malaysia because of cohesive, tender and glossy cooked rice. Rice high in short‐chain amylopectin has a lower transition temperature of starch gelatinization. In the continuing search for improved starch quality in rice cultivars a study was carried out with new mutant lines MR219‐4 and MR219‐9, derived from MR219. RESULTS: MR219 and its mutant lines contain L‐type amylopectin, being high in amylopectin of intermediate chain length with degree of polymerization 12‐21. The apparent amylose content (AAC) in MR219‐4 had lower AAC value (19.2%) compared to other lines. A strongly negative correlation was found between chain‐length fraction of amylopectin and transition temperatures—onset temperature peak temperature, and conclusion temperature (0.992, 0.958, 0.950; P < 0.01)—with fraction b1 (fb1), respectively. CONCLUSION: The Malaysian lines studied contain L‐type amylopectin and offer a better understanding of grain quality improvement in terms of starch properties and functionality. This information will be directly applicable to select for desirable traits in future breeding programs. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Identification of pork in beef meatballs using Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry and real-time polymerase chain reaction

A study on development of Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometric method combined with principle component analysis as well as real-time polymerase chain reaction for determination of pork–beef mixture in meatballs has been performed. A lipid component extracted from pork and beef in meatballs is analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, while DNA extracted from meatball was analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The correlation between actual and predicted concentration of lard using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was performed by aid of partial least squares, while grouping of lard and beef fat components in meatball was carried out by Fourier-transform infrared spectra coupled with principle component analysis. The results showed that Fourier-transform infrared spectra at wavenumbers of 1000–1200 cm^?1 coupled with partial least square and principle component analysis are successfully used for quantification and classification of pork in beef meatballs. The relationship between actual value and predicted value of lard (lipid fraction obtained from meatballs containing pork) with Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometric method revealed good correlation, with coefficient determination (R²) value of 0.997 and standard error of calibration of 0.04%. Principle component analysis is able to classify samples containing pork and beef meatballs. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy using normal spectra is fast technique for identification and quantification of lard extracted from pork in meatball. In addition, real-time polymerase chain reaction using Leptin Primer–AJ 865080 can be used for amplification of pork DNA specifically in meatballs containing pork.     

Adsorptive capacity of spray-dried pH-treated bentonite and kaolin powders for ammonium removal

The effectiveness of ammonium (NH₄⁺) adsorption was investigated, using spray-dried, pH-treated bentonite, and kaolin as adsorbents. Each powder's adsorption capacity towards NH₄⁺ was examined after up to 120 min of sample exposure, and results were compared. The zeta potential values for bentonite samples were between ?1.1 and ?19.4 mV, while for kaolin samples, they were between ?35.7 and ?40.9 mV (pH range examined was 2–10). The adsorption isotherm for bentonite showed a fit with the Langmuir model. The pH 10-treated bentonite and as-received bentonite (dispersed as pH 10 in distilled water) showed the highest adsorption capacity towards NH₄⁺. Meanwhile, for kaolin, the adsorption capacity was low and observed only at low NH₄⁺ concentration (100 mg/L and 200 mg/L), with pH 10-treated kaolin showed the highest adsorption capacity.     

Numerical Simulations of One-Directional Fractional PharmacokineticsModel

In this paper, we present a three-compartment of pharmacokinetics model with irreversible rate constants. The compartment consists of arterial blood, tissues and venous blood. Fick’s principle and the law of mass action were used to develop the model based on the diffusion process. The model is modified into a fractional pharmacokinetics model with the sense of Caputo derivative. The existence and uniqueness of the model are investigated and the positivity of the model is established. The behaviour of the model is investigated by implementing numerical algorithms for the numerical solution of the system of fractional differential equations. MATLAB software is used to plot the graphs for illustrating the variation of drug concentration concerning time. Therefore, the numerical simulations of the model are presented for different values of α which verified the theoretical analysis. Besides, we also observed the pattern of the simulations at the three-compartment of the model by using different values of initial conditions.     

HYBRID GREY RELATIONAL ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK AND AUTO REGRESSIVE INTEGRATED MOVING AVERAGE MODEL FOR FORECASTING TIME-SERIES DATA

The aim of this study is to develop a new hybrid model by combining a linear and nonlinear model for forecasting time-series data. The proposed model (GRANN_ARIMA) integrates nonlinear grey relational artificial neural network (GRANN) and a linear autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model by combining new features and grey relational analysis to select the appropriate inputs and hybridization succession. To validate the performance of the proposed model, small and large scale data sets are used. The forecasting performance is compared with several models, and these include: individual models (ARIMA, multiple regression, GRANN), several hybrid models (MARMA, MR_ANN, ARIMA_ANN), and an artificial neural network (ANN) trained using a Levenberg Marquardt algorithm. The experiments have shown that the proposed model has outperformed other models with 99.5% forecasting accuracy for small-scale data and 99.84% for large-scale data. The obtained empirical results have proven that the GRANN_ARIMA model can provide a better alternative for time-series forecasting due to its promising performance and capability in handling time-series data for both small- and large-scale data.     

Effect of Crystallization Conditions on the Metastable Zone Width and Nucleation Kinetics of p-Aminobenzoic Acid in Ethanol

A detailed knowledge of the metastable zone width (MSZW) and nucleation kinetics is vital for the design of batch cooling crystallization processes. Factors such as cooling rate and impeller speed affect the MSZW and nucleation kinetics. Crystallization and dissolution temperatures were measured as a function of cooling rate and impeller speed during the batch cooling crystallization of p-aminobenzoic acid (pABA) from ethanol in a 0.5-L stirred-tank crystallizer. The polythermal experimental data were analyzed using the Nyvlt and first principles-based Kashchiev-Borissova-Hammond-Roberts (KBHR) methods. In all experimental cases, the latter model revealed that the nucleation process of pABA in ethanol was dominated by an instantaneous nucleation mechanism. The Nyvlt and KBHR analyses delivered a range of parameter values associated with a power-law model describing the nucleation rate as well as the concentration of nuclei.     

Energy Dispersive X-Ray Microanalysis of Elemental Distribution in Raw and Germinated Brown Rice Varieties

In this study, the mineral composition of germinated brown rice, brown rice, and white rice was evaluated. Brown rice grain was processed through a combination of chemical pretreatment and low oxygen treatment, after which germination was confirmed through imaging under a microscope. Using energy dispersive X-ray analysis, Mg, Al, and Cl were found to be slightly higher in germinated brown rice than in brown rice and white rice. These variations in the mineral content of germinated brown rice were attributed to the joint effect of the germination process and the prior soaking. The inability of energy dispersive X-ray to detect other minerals suggested that it was not sensitive and, hence, it was not suitable for studying elemental distribution in rice grains, or maybe the elements were not present in the rice grains studied.