Growth behavior comparison of Listeria monocytogenes between Type strains and beef isolates in raw beef

Food Science and Biotechnology - This study was conducted to compare the growth parameters of Listeria monocytogenes between beef isolates and Type strains in raw beef. Beef was artificially...     

Quality-by-design approach for the development of telmisartan potassium tablets

A quality-by-design approach was adopted to develop telmisartan potassium (TP) tablets, which were bioequivalent with the commercially available Micardis^® (telmisartan free base) tablets. The dissolution pattern and impurity profile of TP tablets differed from those of Micardis^® tablets because telmisartan free base is poorly soluble in water. After identifying the quality target product profile and critical quality attributes (CQAs), drug dissolution, and impurities were predicted to be risky CQAs. To determine the exact range and cause of risks, we used the risk assessment (RA) tools, preliminary hazard analysis and failure mode and effect analysis to determine the parameters affecting drug dissolution, impurities, and formulation. The range of the design space was optimized using the face-centered central composite design among the design of experiment (DOE) methods. The binder, disintegrant, and kneading time in the wet granulation were identified as X values affecting Y values (disintegration, hardness, friability, dissolution, and impurities). After determining the design space with the desired Y values, the TP tablets were formulated and their dissolution pattern was compared with that of the reference tablet. The selected TP tablet formulated using design space showed a similar dissolution to that of Micardis^® tablets at pH 7.5. The QbD approach TP tablet was bioequivalent to Micardis^® tablets in beagle dogs.     

The moderation effects of mobile technology advancement and system barrier on m-commerce channel preference behavior

Information Systems and e-Business Management - Mobile commerce, or m-commerce, has quickly become a powerful, indispensable approach for diverse business to consumer (B2C) industries to secure...     

Leader-follower type distance-based formation control of a group of autonomous agents

International Journal of Control, Automation and Systems - We study distance-based formation control of a group of mobile agents consisting of several leaders and the remaining followers. The...     

A vacuum-sealed miniature X-ray tube based on carbon nanotube field emitters

ABSTRACT: A vacuum-sealed miniature X-ray tube based on a carbon nanotube field-emission electron source has been demonstrated. The diameter of the X-ray tube is 10 mm; the total length of the tube is 50 mm, and no external vacuum pump is required for the operation. The maximum tube voltage reaches up to 70 kV, and the X-ray tube generates intense X-rays with the air kerma strength of 108 Gy * cm2 min1. In addition, X-rays produced from the miniature X-ray tube have a comparatively uniform spatial dose distribution.     

Predicting the use of online information services based on a modified UTAUT model

There is a growing consensus that the conventional technology acceptance model should be modified and expanded to provide a better understanding of the behaviour related to Internet services. Recognising this need, this study re-evaluates the utility of Venkatesh et al.’s [2003. User acceptance of information technology: toward a unified view. MIS Quarterly, 27 (3), 425–478] Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model. First, this study proposes a new modified model of technology acceptance by adding the concepts of trust and flow experience to the original UTAUT model. Second, the study investigates how the model's explanatory power changes for different types of Internet services. For this, this study considers two services – ‘e-learning’ and ‘online gaming’ – for their utilitarian and hedonic characteristics, respectively. The results of this study suggest that the proposed model can better explain behavioural intentions towards Internet services than the original model. The two variables – flow experience and trust – contributed to the overall significance of the model. Furthermore, the type of Internet service moderated the effects of the independent variables on behavioural intentions and use behaviour.     

Enterotoxigenic Profiling of Emetic Toxin‐ and Enterotoxin‐Producing Bacillus cereus,Isolated from Food,Environmental, and Clinical Samples by Multiplex PCR

Bacillus cereus comprises the largest group of endospore‐forming bacteria and can cause emetic and diarrheal food poisoning. A total of 496 B. cereus strains isolated from various sources (food, environmental, clinical) were assessed by a multiplex PCR for the presence of enterotoxin genes. The detection rate of nheA, entFM, hblC, and cytK enterotoxin genes among all B. cereus strains was 92.33%, 77.21%, 59.47%, and 47.58%, respectively. Enterotoxigenic profiles were determined in emetic toxin‐ (8 patterns) and enterotoxin‐producing strains (12 patterns). The results provide important information on toxin prevalence and toxigenic profiles of B. cereus from various sources. Our findings revealed that B. cereus must be considered a serious health hazard and Bacillus thuringiensis should be considered of a greater potential concern to food safety among all B. cereus group members. Also, there is need for intensive and continuous monitoring of products embracing both emetic toxin and enterotoxin genes.