Study of Ozonated Olive Oil: Monitoring of the Ozone Absorption and Analysis of the Obtained Functional Groups

The peculiarities of ozone absorption during olive oil ozonolysis have been studied by continuous monitoring of ozone concentrations at the bubbling reactor outlet. The determined amount of ozone, consumed during the ozonolysis of the double bonds, was used as alternative way for evaluation of the degree of unsaturation of the oil. The basic functional groups, products of the reaction: ozonides and aldehydes have been quantitatively characterized by means of ¹H-NMR spectroscopy, whereupon their ratio was found to be 93.4:6.6 (mol. %), respectively. The determined ratio between the cis and trans ozonides was 46:54.     

Fluxon Centering in Josephson Junctions with Exponentially Varying Width

Nonlinear eigenvalue problems for fluxons in long Josephson junctions with exponentially varying width are treated. Appropriate algorithms are created and realized numerically. The results obtained concern the stability of the fluxons, the centering both magnetic field and current for the magnetic flux quanta in the Josephson junction as well as the ascertaining of the impact of the geometric and physical parameters on these quantities. Each static solution of the nonlinear boundary-value problem is identified as stable or unstable in dependence on the eigenvalues of associated Sturm-Liouville problem. The above compound problem is linearized and solved by using of the reliable Continuous analogue of Newton method.     

An overview of Mike Moravcsik's publication activity in physics

A bibliometric online technique is applied on data from the INSPEC bibliographic file to describe some aspects of Moravcsik's publication activity (co-authorship, source journals, etc.). Separately, a co-occurrence method is used to represent the subject structure (the main topics and their links) of his papers in physics. The principle underlying this method is to develop a network based on common appearances of classification subdivisions (headings) as well as of controlled terms in Moravcsik's document records. The results, in the form of line and point graphs, give a global picture of Mike Moravcsik's research profile in physics.Dedicated to the memory of Michael J. Moravcsik     

The role of smoothing techniques in the interpretation of results from genomic scans using sib-pair data

BACKGROUND: Budesonide, a corticosteroid with high topical anti-inflammatory activity and low systemic activity, has been shown to prolong time to relapse in Crohn's disease. In the present study, the efficacy of budesonide in an oral pH-modified-release formulation was evaluated for maintenance treatment in patients with steroid-dependent ulcerative colitis. METHODS: Fourteen patients with steroid-dependent ulcerative colitis in the reduction phase of conventional glucocorticosteroids (c-GCS) following a severe attack, were treated with budesonide 3 mg t.d.s. for 6 months. The primary investigation parameters were changes in the clinical activity index (CAI) and in the daily dose of c-GCS. RESULTS: In 11 cases the CAI improved significantly and treatment with c-GCS could be terminated. Three patients experienced relapse and needed further c-GCS treatment. The average daily dose of c-GCS and the average value of the CAI before treatment with budesonide were significantly higher in the relapse group than in the remission group. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with c-GCS-dependent ulcerative colitis, a dose of 9 mg budesonide daily in an oral pH-modified-release formulation was well tolerated, significantly decreased the CAI, and rendered c-GCS unnecessary in the majority of cases.     

Transition between particulate and aggregative fluidization at different state-of-flow of the solids

A criterion is proposed for distinguishing between homogeneous and heterogeneous fluidization. It depends in particular on the Reynolds regime of fluid flow relative to the particles. As well as depending on the physical properties of the system the structure of the determining equation changes with the flow regime.     

Safety investigation of team performance in accidents

The paper presents the capacities of the performance evaluation of teamwork (PET) method. Its practicability and efficiency are illustrated by retrospective human reliability analyse of the famous nuclear and maritime accidents. A quantitative assessment of operators' performance on the base of thermo-hydraulic (T/H) calculations and full-scope simulator data for set of NPP design basic accidents with WWER is demonstrated. The last data are obtained on the 'WWER-1000' full-scope simulator of Kozloduy NPP during the regular practical training of the operators' teams. An outlook on the "evaluation system of main control room (MCR) operators' reliability" project, based on simulator data of operators' training is given.     

Correction to Said, Sebe, and Todorov (2009).

Reports an error in "Structural resemblance to emotional expressions predicts evaluation of emotionally neutral faces" by Christopher P. Said, Nicu Sebe and Alexander Todorov (Emotion, 2009[Apr], Vol 9[2], 260-264). In this article a symbol was incorrectly omitted from Figure 1, part C. To see the complete article with the corrected figure, please go to http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0014681. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2009-04472-011.) People make trait inferences based on facial appearance despite little evidence that these inferences accurately reflect personality. The authors tested the hypothesis that these inferences are driven in part by structural resemblance to emotional expressions. The authors first had participants judge emotionally neutral faces on a set of trait dimensions. The authors then submitted the face images to a Bayesian network classifier trained to detect emotional expressions. By using a classifier, the authors can show that neutral faces perceived to possess various personality traits contain objective resemblance to emotional expression. In general, neutral faces that are perceived to have positive valence resemble happiness, faces that are perceived to have negative valence resemble disgust and fear, and faces that are perceived to be threatening resemble anger. These results support the idea that trait inferences are in part the result of an overgeneralization of emotion recognition systems. Under this hypothesis, emotion recognition systems, which typically extract accurate information about a person's emotional state, are engaged during the perception of neutral faces that bear subtle resemblance to emotional expressions. These emotions could then be misattributed as traits. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sardinian goat’s milk as source of bacteriocinogenic potential protective cultures

Goat breeding in Sardinia constitutes an important source of income for farming and shepherding activities. In this study 170 LAB strains were isolated from Sardinian goat’s milk and tested for bacteriocins production against several food-borne pathogenic microorganisms. Four isolates (SD1, SD2, SD3 and SD4) were selected for their effective inhibition on Listeria monocytogenes. The strains were classified as members of Enterococcus genus, according to their biochemical and physiological characteristics, and then genetically identified as Enterococcus faecium. In MRS broth at 37 °C, bacteriocins SD1 and SD2 were produced at much higher levels (51200 AU/ml) compared to bacteriocin SD3 (3200 AU/ml) and bacteriocin SD4 (800 AU/ml). Their peptides were inactivated by proteolytic enzymes, but not when treated with α-amylase, catalase and lipase. The four bacteriocins remained stable at pH from 2.0 to 12.0, after exposure to 100 °C for 120 min and were not affected by the presence of surfactants and salts (N-Laourylsarcosine, NaCl, SDS, Triton X-100, Tween 20, Tween 80 and urea). Their molecular size was determined to be approximately 5 kDa by tricine-SDS-PAGE.Since the strains exhibited a strong antimicrobial activity against 21 L. monocytogenes strains and 6 Salmonella spp. isolates, they should be considered as potential bio-preservatives cultures for fermented food productions. Moreover, due to their technological features, the four strains could be taken in account for using as adjunct NSLAB (non-starter lactic acid bacteria) rather than as starter culture.     

Characterisation of an antiviral pediocin-like bacteriocin produced by Enterococcus faecium

The bacteriocin-producing strain Enterococcus faecium ST5Ha was isolated from smoked salmon and identified by biomolecular techniques. Ent. faecium ST5Ha produces a pediocin-like bacteriocin with activity against several lactic acid bacteria, Listeria spp. and some other human and food pathogens, and remarkably against HSV-1 virus. Bacteriocin ST5Ha was produced at high levels in MRS broth at 30 °C and 37 °C, reaching a maximum production of 1.0 × 10⁹ AU/ml, checked against Listeria ivanovii ATCC19119 as target strain and surrogate of pathogenic strain Listeria monocytogenes. The molecular weight of bacteriocin ST5Ha was estimated to be 4.5 kDa according to tricine-SDS-PAGE data. Ent. faecium ST5Ha harbors a 1.044 kb chromosomal DNA fragment fitting in size to that of pediocin PA-1/AcH. In addition, the sequencing of bacteriocin ST5Ha gene indicated 99% of DNA homology to pediocin PA-1/AcH. The combined application of low levels (below MIC) of ciprofloxacin and bacteriocin ST5Ha resulted in a synergetic effect in the inhibition of target strain L. ivanovii ATCC19119. Bacteriocin ST5Ha displayed antiviral activity against HSV-1, an important human pathogen, with a selectivity index of 173. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on Ent. faecium as a potential producer of pediocin-like bacteriocin with antiviral activity.