Fate of Escherichia coli strains inoculated in model cheese elaborated with or without starter and treated by high hydrostatic pressure

The aim of this research was to study high hydrostatic pressure inactivation of two strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli O59:H21 [CECT 405] and E. coli O157:H7 [CECT 5947]) inoculated in washed-curd model cheese elaborated with and without starter and the ability of these strains for survival, recovery, and growth. Samples were treated at 300, 400, and 500 MPa for 10 min at 20 degrees C and analyzed after the treatment and after 1, 7, and 15 days of storage at 8 degrees C to study the behavior of Escherichia populations. Cheeses elaborated with starter showed the maximum lethality at 400 and 500 MPa, and no significant differences in the baroresistant behavior of either strains were detected, except for E. coli O157:H7 at 400 MPa in cell counts obtained with thin agar layer method medium, where the decrease value was significantly lower. In cheese elaborated without starter, the highest decrease value was observed at 500 MPa, except for E. coli O59:H21 in cell counts obtained with selective culture medium, where the highest decrease value was also found at 400 MPa. The ability to repair and grow was not observed in model cheese elaborated with starter, as cell counts of treated samples decreased after 15 days of storage at 8 degrees C. By contrast, in cheese elaborated without starter, all pressurized samples showed the trend to repair and grow during the storage period in both strains. These results suggest that the presence of starter and low pH values are the main factors that control the ability of Escherichia strains inoculated in this type of cheese and treated by high hydrostatic pressure to recover and grow.     

A CD14 domain with lipopolysaccharide-binding and -neutralizing activity

The interaction of lipopolysaccharide with CD14 plays a key role in signaling that activates an early defense against pathogens but also contributes to the development of sepsis and septic shock. Here we have mapped the entire 356-amino-acid protein with synthetic 20-amino-acid peptides and have identified a new lipopolysaccharide-binding domain with a strong LPS-neutralizing activity. Moreover, analysis of the structure-activity relationship of this peptide, which corresponds to amino acids 81-100 of human CD14, revealed that leucines 87, 91, and 94 are essential for these activities. The functional relevance of these residues was confirmed by cellular expression of mutant CD14 proteins that are no longer able to bind LPS. Furthermore, the peptide provided a basis for the generation of highly soluble analogues with stronger lipopolysaccharide-neutralizing activity.     

An averaging two-electrode probe for monitoring changes in myocardial conductivity evoked by ischemia

This paper considers the applicability of effective conductivity measurements for monitoring physiological and/or pathological phenomena induced by ischemia in the myocardium. The sensitivity of a probe, calculated by means of the finite element method, to changes in the conductivity of the tissue examined is defined for this purpose. Probes developed by Schafer and collaborators (1995) and in our own departments have been examined on the basis of this sensitivity. Theoretical results were verified experimentally using a tank, enlarged models of the probes, and a specially developed electronic circuit. It follows from this study that the probe developed by Schafer et al. is characterized by positive and negative sensitivity. This can lead to misinterpretation of the measurements obtained. In contrast, the sensitivity of our probe is dominantly positive. An example of the in vivo result obtained during experimentally induced ischemia in a swine heart is included.     

High-precision shape measurement by white-light interferometry with real-time scanner error correction

White-light interferometric techniques allow high-precision shape measurement of objects with discontinuous structures by detecting the peak of the coherence envelope. These techniques assume a specific change in the optical path difference (OPD) between the interfering beams; however, the scanning device effecting that change often introduces OPD errors that are carried over to the measurements. We present a technique for measuring OPD changes from the collected interference fringes during each measurement. Information about the scan is directly fed into the algorithm, which compensates for the errors, resulting in improved measurement accuracy. The method corrects not only the scanner errors but also slowly varying vibrations. In addition, this technique can be easily adapted to any existing low-coherence interferometer because no large data storage or postprocessing is required.     

The contribution of blood-flow-induced conductivity changes to measured impedance

The paper considers the contribution of conductivity changes undergone in an anisotropical medium to measured resistance. This was achieved by extending the relationship proposed by Geselowitz to anisotropical materials described, therefore, by a conductivity tensor. It was found that each element of a conductivity change tensor contributed to the measured resistance only if a corresponding component of the electrical field was nonzero. Numerical calculations were performed for blood-flow-associated conductivity changes. A special experiment stand was developed which allowed experiments to be performed proving the theoretical results. It was found that the absolute value of resistance change measured in the direction perpendicular to the vessel axis was much smaller than that measured along the vessel axis. The results obtained may explain the fact that the actual change of measured resistance created by changes of conductivity induced by aortic blood flow is lower than expected from simplified models.     

Generalization of the Jared and Ennis method of complex transmittance objects for the generation of synthetic discriminant function filters

We present a simple method of constructing synthetic discriminant function filters optimized to take into account the modulation of liquid-crystal devices. This relaxation algorithm, a generalization of the Jared and Ennis method, is an iterative method that includes arbitrary modulations for both scene and filter, extending the problem to the complex plane. Simulated and experimental results obtained in a VanderLugt correlator are presented for a two-class recognition problem. The optimal number of images needed to describe an object in a filter generated in this way is discussed, and the influence of the spatial light modulation resolution on the correlation is studied.     

Wärmeübergang und Druckverlust wässeriger Tensidlösungen an einer querangeströmten berippten Rohrwendel

Zusammenfassung Durch Zugabe geeigneter Reibungsminderer in das Wasser von Fernw?rmenetzen kann der auftretende Druckverlust betr?chtlich gesenkt und somit die ben?tigte elektrische Antriebsenergie der F?rderpumpen reduziert werden. Neu entwickelte Tensidsysteme erfüllen die Anforderungen der Fernw?rmepraxis an die thermische und mechanische Belastbarkeit. Ein wichtiger Aspekt ist dabei die Beeinflussung des W?rmeüberganges in den für Fernw?rmenetze gebr?uchlichen W?rmeübertragern. In früheren Arbeiten wurden der W?rmeübergang und der Druckverlust w?sseriger Tensidl?sungen in geraden Rohren und in Rohrwendeln untersucht. Aufbauend auf diesen Erkenntnissen werden in dieser Arbeit der W?rmeübergang und der Druckverlust w?sseriger Tensidl?sungen bei umstr?mten Rippenrohren, wie sie bei Brauchwassererw?rmern auftreten, untersucht. Das Ziel ist die Darstellung und Beschreibung der auftretenden Effekte beim Einsatz solcher L?sungen, wobei aufgrund der komplexen Str?mungszust?nde bisher keine Berechnungsgleichungen entwickelt werden konnten.     

Evidence for the Aging of Wax Deposits in Crude Oils by Ostwald Ripening

The ageing of wax deposits is known to occur in paraffinic waxes forming in pipelines and storage tanks. It is characterized by a hardening of the deposit and an increase in paraffin content. A mechanism for the ageing of deposits, based on diffusion caused by temperature-concentration gradients within the wax, has been previously proposed. This work presents evidence indicating Ostwald Ripening to be another ageing mechanism of wax deposits. Rheology of paraffinic crudes, kept isothermally at temperatures in the neighborhood of the pour point, shows a kinetic of hardening of the oil samples. The X-ray diffraction and Cross Polar Microscopy indicate this phenomenon to be caused by an increase of the crystallites size with time. The DSC measurements support the idea that recrystallization takes place in the wax sample. The evidence gathered shows another ageing mechanism based on the recryztallization of the paraffins, such as Ostwald Ripening, to be responsible for the ageing of wax deposits besides the diffusion mechanism previously proposed