Effect of hydrophilic organic seed aerosols on secondary organic aerosol formation from ozonolysis of α-pinene

Gas-particle partitioning theory is widely used in atmospheric models to predict organic aerosol loadings. This theory predicts that secondary organic aerosol (SOA) yield of an oxidized volatile organic compound product will increase as the mass loading of preexisting organic aerosol increases. In a previous work, we showed that the presence of model hydrophobic primary organic aerosol (POA) had no detectable effect on the SOA yields from ozonolysis of α-pinene, suggesting that the condensing SOA compounds form a separate phase from the preexisting POA. However, a substantial faction of atmospheric aerosol is composed of polar, hydrophilic organic compounds. In this work, we investigate the effects of model hydrophilic organic aerosol (OA) species such as fulvic acid, adipic acid, and citric acid on the gas-particle partitioning of SOA from α-pinene ozonolysis. The results show that only citric acid seed significantly enhances the absorption of α-pinene SOA into the particle-phase. The other two seed particles have a negligible effect on the α-pinene SOA yields, suggesting that α-pinene SOA forms a well-mixed organic aerosol phase with citric acid and a separate phase with adipic acid and fulvic acid. This finding highlights the need to improve the thermodynamics treatment of organics in current aerosol models that simply lump all hydrophilic organic species into a single phase, thereby potentially introducing an erroneous sensitivity of SOA mass to emitted OA species.     

New modules for PCR-based gene targeting in Candida albicans: rapid and efficient gene targeting using 100 bp of flanking homology region

The use of PCR-based techniques for directed gene alterations has become a standard tool in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In our efforts to increase the speed of functional analysis of Candida albicans genes, we constructed a modular system of plasmid vectors and successfully applied PCR-amplified functional analysis (FA)-cassettes in the transformation of C. albicans. These cassettes facilitate: (a) gene disruptions; (b) tagging of 3'-ends of genes with green fluorescent protein (GFP); and (c) replacements of endogenous promoters to achieve regulated expression. The modules consists of a core of three selectable marker genes, CaURA3, CaHIS1 and CaARG4. Modules for C-terminal GFP-tagging were generated by adding GFP-sequences flanked at the 5'-end by a (Gly-Ala)3-linker and at the 3'-end by the S. cerevisiae URA3-terminator to these selection markers. Promoter exchange modules consist of the respective marker genes followed by the regulatable CaMAL2 or CaMET3 promoters at their 3'-ends. In order to ensure a reliably high rate of homologous gene targeting, the flanking homology regions required a size of 100 bp of gene-specific sequences, which were provided with the oligonucleotide primers. The use of shorter flanking homology regions produced unsatisfactory results with C. albicans strain BWP17. With these new modules only a minimal set of primers is required to achieve the functional analysis of C. albicans genes and, therefore, provides a basic tool to increase the number of functionally characterized C. albicans genes of this human pathogen in the near future.     

Phosphorus feeding levels and critical control points on dairy farms

A viable and cost-effective approach to managing P on dairy farms is to minimize excess P in diets, which in turn leads to less excretion of P in manure without impairing animal performance. A questionnaire survey was conducted, coupled with on-site feed and fecal sample collection and analysis on dairy farms in New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. The purpose was to assess dietary P levels and to identify critical control points pertaining to P feeding management. Survey responses, 612 out of 2500 randomly selected farms, revealed a wide range of dietary P concentrations for lactating cows, from 3.6 to 7.0 g/kg of feed DM. The mean was 4.4 g/kg, which was 34% above the level recommended by the NRC for 27.9 kg milk/d, the mean milk yield in the survey. Higher P concentrations in diets were not associated with higher milk yields (n = 98, R2 = 0.057 for the survey farms; n = 92, R2 = 0.043 for farms selected for on-site sampling). However, higher dietary P led to higher P excretion in feces (n = 75, R2 = 0.429), with much of the increased fecal P being water soluble. Phosphorus concentrations in diet samples matched closely with P concentrations in formulated rations, with 67% of the feed samples deviating <10% from the formulations. On 84% of the survey farms, ration formulation was provided by professionals rather than producers themselves. Most producers were feeding more P than cows needed because it was recommended in the rations by these consultants. In conclusion, P fed to lactating cows averaged 34% above NRC recommendations; to reduce excess dietary P, ration formulation is the critical control point.     

Using lactic acid bacteria for developing novel fish food products

Lactic acid bacteria‐induced fermentation of fish was tested with the purpose of developing a novel fish food product with desired meat properties. Three selected lactic acid bacteria strains, isolated from lightly preserved fish products, were inoculated into minced frozen fillet of yellowfin tuna, and changes in fish properties were observed during 52 days of storage at 8 °C. Organoleptic, bacteriological and biochemical studies (pH, histamine, TVB‐N, malonaldehyde) and shelf‐life measurements suggest that Leuconostoc mesenteroides could be considered as a possible starter culture for fish fermentation, but additional experiments should be performed. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Removal of methylated arsenic in groundwater with iron filings

Field and laboratory experiments were conducted to study the potential use of Fe filings to remove monomethyl arsenate (MMA) and dimethyl arsenate (DMA) from contaminated waters. Batch experiments show that the affinity of MMAfor Fe filings is comparable to that of inorganic arsenate, but lower than that for arsenite. In contrast, very little DMA was retained by Fe filings or their corrosion products. The wide range of affinities of different As species for Fe filings was confirmed by a series of retention and selective-leaching experiments using small columns and As-spiked groundwater. The effectiveness of Fe filings was also demonstrated with a field deployment at a U.S. Superfund site where groundwater is highly contaminated with both organic and inorganic As species. Over the course of 4 months, a 3 L cartridge of Fe filings removed > 85% of As contained in 16000 L of groundwater containing 1-1.5 mg/L total dissolved As, approximately 30% of which was organic As. The results indicate that Fe filings could be used to treat groundwater contaminated with MMA, which is the main organic form of As at most contaminated sites. Indications of partial demethylation in the column of Fe filings suggest conditions might be optimized further to enhance the removal of DMA.     

Effect of sodium citrate plus sodium diacetate or buffered vinegar on quality attributes of enhanced beef top sirloins

As new pathogen intervention products come to market, it is important to ensure that they maintain or improve meat quality. Shelf-life and palatability traits were measured for top sirloins enhanced to 110% with solutions containing 0.5% sodium chloride and 0.4% sodium tripolyphosphate (CNT); CNT with a 1% solution of 80% sodium citrate plus 20% sodium diacetate (SC+D); or CNT with 2% buffered vinegar (VIN) in the final product. Enhancement solution did not influence color over 7days of retail display, except VIN was subjectively more red than CNT and SC+D on d 7 and SC+D had less discoloration than CNT on d 7 (P<0.05). VIN was rated lower (P<0.05) than CNT for trained sensory tenderness and there was no difference in shear force between treatments. SC+D and VIN show promise for use in beef enhancement solutions, however, further sensory studies are warranted.     

Applications of high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry to measurements of average oxygen to carbon ratios in secondary organic aerosols

The applicability of high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR ESI-MS) to measurements of the average oxygen to carbon ratio (O/C) in secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) was investigated. Solutions with known average O/C containing up to 10 standard compounds representative of low-molecular-weight SOA constituents were analyzed and the corresponding electrospray ionization efficiencies were quantified. The assumption of equal ionization efficiency commonly used in estimating O/C ratios of SOAs was found to be reasonably accurate. We found that the accuracy of the measured O/C ratios increases by averaging the values obtained from both the posive and negative modes. A correlation was found between the ratio of the ionization efficiencies in the positive (+) and negative (-) ESI modes and the octanol-water partition constant and, more importantly, the compound's O/C. To demonstrate the utility of this correlation for estimating average O/C values of unknown mixtures, we analyzed the ESI (+) and ESI (-) data for SOAs produced by oxidation of limonene and isoprene and compared them online to O/C measurements using an aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS). This work demonstrates that the accuracy of the HR ESI-MS method is comparable to that of the AMS with the added benefit of molecular identification of the aerosol constituents.     

Chlorophyll Fluorescence Imaging for Monitoring the Effects of Minimal Processing and Warm Water Treatments on Physiological Properties and Quality Attributes of Fresh-Cut Salads

In this study, chlorophyll fluorescence imaging (CFI) was used to monitor plant stress induced by cutting of mini romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia) and by cutting and washing of endive (Cichorium endivia L.) during storage. Regarding the more detailed study of endive fresh-cut salads, we additionally monitored respiratory activity, phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activity, contents of plant pigments, and cut edge browning. Determination of maximum quantum efficiency F _v/F _m was feasible through sealed consumer-sized film bags, thus, enabling the non-invasive monitoring of both fresh-cut salad types in the corresponding modified atmosphere during storage. Cutting of romaine lettuce provoked a partially reversible drop of F _v/F _m during the first 24 h. Subsequently, F _v/F _m of cut romaine strongly decreased with elapsing shelf life, whereas intact leaves exhibited only a slight decline. Regarding minimally processed endive, warm water washing progressively reduced F _v/F _m with increasing heat exposure, while respiratory activities and the content of accessory pigments remained unaffected. The heat-dependent decrease of F _v/F _m was correlated to the inhibition of the PAL activity. Mildly warm washing (40 °C, 120 s; 45 °C, 60 s) reduced PAL activities, while F_v/F_m remained widely unaffected and visual quality was only partially improved. However, warm water washing at elevated temperatures (45 °C, 120 s; 50 °C, 30–60 s) enabled maximum visual quality retention, accompanied by a significant decrease of F _v/F _m. CFI may represent a useful tool to monitor the stress conditions due to cutting and warm water treatments, hence, allowing the systematic improvement of fresh-cut produce.     

COLLOIDS IN GLASS1

A discussion of the various elements and compounds found in a colloidal state in glass. Attention is called to the similarity of colloidal behavior in vitreous and aqueous media. Theories and experimental evidence are furnished to account for the formation and destruction of the colloidal state.