Investigating cigarette-smoke indoor pollution in a controlled environment

The objective of this study was to investigate the evolution of pollutant concentrations generated by smoking in a controlled indoor environment. For this purpose, a small flat in the centre of Athens, Greece was equipped with NO(x), O(3) and SO(2) continuous measuring instruments and portable analysers for spot measurements of TVOCs and CO(2), while two volunteer smokers remained inside and smoked as normal inhabitants. The results indicated that when windows are kept closed and smoking takes place NO(x), CO(2) and TVOCs concentrations increase by an order of 3, 4 or 10 times, respectively, and decrease returning to initial levels after 1 or 2 h.     

Capillary zone electrophoresis on-line coupled to mass spectrometry: A perspective application for clinical proteomics

Clinical proteomics, a rapidly growing field, intends to use specific diagnostic proteomic/peptidomic markers for initial diagnosis or prognosis of the progression of various diseases. Analyses of disease-associated markers in defined biological samples can provide valuable molecular diagnostic information for these diseases. This approach relies on sensitive and highly standardized modern analytical techniques. In the recent years, one of these technologies, CZE online coupled to MS (CZE-MS), has been increasingly used for the detection of peptide biomarkers (<20 kDa) in body fluids such as urine. This review presents the most relevant urinary proteomic studies addressing the application of CZE-MS in clinically relevant biomarker research between the years 2006 and 2014.     

Tuning the Mechanical Properties of BIEE‐Crosslinked Semi‐Interpenetrating,Double‐Hydrophilic Hydrogels

Double‐hydrophilic, semi‐interpenetrating (semi‐IPN) hydrogels are synthesized by encapsulating hydrophilic polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) linear chains in structure‐defined 1,2‐bis‐(2‐iodoethoxy)ethane (BIEE)‐crosslinked (poly(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (pDMAEMA) hydrogels. A series of semi‐IPN double‐hydrophilic hydrogels are prepared in which the pDMAEMA/BIEE content is kept the same and only the PVP content is varied, from 0 up to 33 wt%. The mechanical properties of the water‐swollen hydrogels are experimentally evaluated under unconfined compressive loading conditions, while a nonlinear hyperelastic constitutive equation is used to predict their mechanical response. No significant difference is found in the mechanical response of the semi‐IPN PVP/pDMAEMA/BIEE hydrogel containing 5 wt% PVP compared to the pDMAEMA/BIEE analog, however, for greater loading percentages (15 and 33 wt% of PVP), the semi‐IPN hydrogels exhibit less stiffness/higher ductility. Furthermore, in vitro biocompatibility studies are carried out for the pDMAEMA/BIEE and the semi‐IPN PVP/pDMAEMA/BIEE, indicating that both the formulations exhibit no toxicity in cultured cells.     

Effects of the additive package on the thermal properties of a commercial polyoxymethylene homopolymer

The present study worked out the effects of the additive package on both the degradation behavior and the thermal properties of a commercial polyoxymethylene (POM) homopolymer (Delrin® 900P) during an artificial thermooxidative aging. The POM pellets were investigated as received and after a storage duration of 5 weeks at 140°C in an oven. Additionally, the pellets for the initial and aged conditions were purified to remove the additives. The degradation behavior was determined by means of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), while the thermal properties were studied with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Further, optical microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to follow changes occurring during the artificial aging. Dynamic TGA in nitrogen and air showed that even after a severe aging procedure, some thermooxidative stabilizer was still present. However, its effectiveness was no longer good, as the aged POM showed a lower degradation temperature than the initial material. This result is evidence that thermally sensitive and more volatile compounds were formed. Purification of the aged pellets led to a material that degraded immediately during melting. Isothermal DSC experiments carried out at several temperatures showed that the elimination of the additives increased the crystallization rate. The crystallization kinetics could be described by using the Avrami model. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL, 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Performance of Three Culture Media Commonly Used for Detecting Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes poses a serious threat to public health, and the majority of cases of human listeriosis are associated with contaminated food. Reliable microbiological testing is needed for effective control of this pathogen by the food industry and competent authorities. The aim of this study was to determine the performance of three culture media commonly used for detecting L. monocytogenes in foods. Minced pork meat samples (n = 100) were subjected to microbiological testing for L. monocytogenes according to International Organization for Standardization methods 11290-1:1996 and 11290-2:1998 using PALCAM, ALOA, and RAPID'L. mono culture media in parallel. Presence of the pathogen was confirmed by conducting biochemical and molecular tests on the presumptive L. monocytogenes colonies. Performance attributes of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, positive and negative likelihood ratios, diagnostic odds ratios, error odds ratios, receiving operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and area under this curve were calculated from the presence-absence microbiological test results by combining the results obtained from the culture media and confirmative tests. PALCAM had the best performance in terms of positive predictive value (i.e., a positive result indicates high probability of L. monocytogenes presence) but not in terms of sensitivity (i.e., the ability of the medium to detect the pathogen when present). RAPID'L. mono was the most sensitive medium. None of the culture media were perfect for detecting L. monocytogenes in minced pork meat alone. The pathogen was detected in 16, 19, and 26% (apparent prevalence) of the samples by PALCAM, ALOA, and RAPID'L. mono, respectively, although the true prevalence of the pathogen was 22%. These findings indicate that the use of a single culture medium may lead to erroneous determination of the prevalence of L. monocytogenes.     

Effect of inulin on texture and clarity of gellan gels

The effect of inulin on the gelation of 0.5 wt% low acyl gellan in the presence of increasing concentrations of potassium chloride was investigated by large deformation compression experiments and visible light absorbance. The sugar and salt concentrations varied from 0 to 15 wt% and 40-100 mM, respectively. Stress and strain at failure along with Young’s modulus were calculated from each compression curve. Samples prior to compression were refrigerated at 5 °C for 24 h. Reduced gel strength and firmness were observed for all inulin and salt concentrations. Increasing amounts of inulin resulted in an increase in gel strength which was greater for higher potassium concentrations. Elasticity values did not exhibit great diversion. Inulin at concentrations of 5 and 10 wt% led to less turbid gels than those with only gellan. Samples containing 15 wt% inulin gave absorbance readings greater than 1.     

Assessment of shelf-life of maricultured gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) stored in ice

Gilthead sea bream ( Sparus aurata ) were stored in melting ice (0 °C) for a period of 24 days from the time of harvest with sensory assessments of the whole raw fish and of the cooked fish flesh conducted at regular intervals. The ungutted fish was given an EC freshness grade E for up to 3 days, grade A for a further 7 days, and grade B for 4 more days after which it was graded as C (unfit). The sensory score for flavour of the cooked fillets decreased linearly with period of storage: fresh characteristic flavours were present for 2–4 days, decreasing to a relatively bland flavour after 10–12 days. Off flavours were evident by 13–15 days storage and by 18–19 days the flesh was unpalatable. With the possible exception of hypoxanthine, none of the chemicals investigated was particularly useful as an indicator of change. Changes in pH, trimethylamine and total volatile bases during the first half of the edible storage life were insignificant. Deterioration of flesh lipids, assessed by free fatty acid content and thiobarbituric acid value, appeared to present no serious problem during shelf-life. Proximate composition and sensory attributes, appropriate for routine inspection of gilthead sea bream were also determined.     

Investigation of a Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3−δ based cathode SOFC: II. The effect of CO2 on the chemical stability

The effect of carbon dioxide on the chemical stability of a Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3−δ cathode in the real reaction environment at 450 °C was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), temperature programmed desorption (TPD), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) techniques. It was found that the presence even of very small quantities of CO₂ seriously deteriorates the fuel cell performance at 450 °C. XPS, TPD and XRD results strongly evidenced the formation of carbonates involving strontium and possibly barium after the BSCF cathode was operated in 1% CO₂/O₂ gas mixture at 450 °C for 24 h. SEM-EDX analysis of the BSCF cathode surface, after treatment in CO₂/O₂ environment at 450 °C, showed small particles on the surface probably associated with a carbonate phase and a segregated phase of the perovskite. The corresponding EDX spectra confirmed the presence of a carbonate layer and also revealed the surface enrichment of strontium and barium elements. EIS results indicated that both ohmic and polarization resistances increased gradually with the introduction of carbon dioxide in the oxidant stream, which could be interpreted by the decreased oxygen reduction kinetics and the formation of carbonate insulating layer.     

Photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis using nanocrystalline titania alone or combined with Pt,RuO<Subscript>2</Subscript> or NiO co-catalysts

Photocatalytic mineralization of ethanol in the presence of oxygen has been studied in aqueous photocatalyst suspensions by employing either pure nanocrystalline titania or TiO₂ combined with Pt, RuO₂ or NiO co-catalysts. Combined photocatalysts demonstrated a diverse behavior. Highest mineralization rates were obtained with Pt/TiO₂ and lowest with RuO₂/TiO₂ and NiO/TiO₂. These results were related with the photocatalysts’ behavior when used as photoanodes for the production of electricity in a photoactivated fuel cell running with ethanol as fuel. The highest current was obtained with pure titania. The current dropped in the case of Pt/TiO₂ and became much lower in the case of RuO₂/TiO₂ and NiO/TiO₂ photoanodes. Both current and voltage were lower in the presence of oxygen than in its absence. It is concluded that the presence of electron scavengers, like O₂, and/or the use of efficient photocatalysts, like titania-supported Pt, yield less electric power but assist ethanol mineralization process.