Prevention of Clostridium botulinum Type A, Proteolytic B and E Toxin Formation in Refrigerated Pea Soup by Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014

The ability of Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014 to inhibit Clostridium botulinum toxin production in pea soup was investigated. Soup containing C. botulinum spores (10³/g) with and without L. plantarum (10⁶/g) were evaluated. Soup containing only type A spores was toxic on days 1 and 2 when incubated at 35°C and 25°C, respectively. Soup containing only proteolytic type B spores was toxic on days 2 and 5 at 35°C and 25°C, respectively. Soup containing only type E spores was toxic at 25°C, 15°C, and 5°C in 7, 7, and 63 days respectively. No toxin was found in soup containing C. botulinum spores plus L. plantarum at any temperature studied.     

Measurement and modeling of lignin pyrolysis

Pyrolysis of lignin is one approach that has been investigated to upgrade this material into higher value products. However, there have been relatively few efforts to quantitatively model these reactions. This paper describes a methodology for modeling lignin pyrolysis which has been extensively developed for related materials like coal. The samples are characterized using pyrolysis experiments under a standard set of conditions, where the products are analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy and Field Ionization Mass Spectrometry (FIMS). Solvent extraction experiments are done to determine the extractables yields and elemental analysis is done to further constrain the model.

One lignin, produced from ethanol/water extraction of mixed hardwoods, was selected for the application of this modeling approach. The model was able to qualitatively predict the tar molecular weight distributions and quantitatively predict the variations of the gas and tar evolution rates and yields with heating rate for the calibration set of experiments. The model can be improved by more precise information on lignin structure, crosslinking chemistry, and tar transport mechanisms. It also needs to be validated by simulation of pyrolysis conditions at high heating rates and/or high pressures for which data is currently not available.     

Performance evaluation of CBN,coated carbide,cryogenically treated uncoated/coated carbide inserts in finish-turning of hardened steel

In the present work, the performance of cubic boron nitride (CBN) inserts was compared with coated carbide and cryogenically treated coated/uncoated carbide inserts in terms of flank wear, surface roughness, white layer formation, and microhardness variation under dry cutting conditions for finish turning of hardened AISI H11 steel (48–49 HRC). The flank wear of CBN tools was observed to be lower than that of other inserts, but the accumulated machining time for all the four edges of carbide inserts were nearer to or better than the PCBN inserts. Results showed that tool life of carbide inserts decreased at higher cutting speeds. The surface roughness achieved under all cutting conditions for coated-carbide-treated/untreated inserts was comparable with that achieved with CBN inserts and was below 1.6 μm. The white layer formation and microhardness variation is less while turning with cryogenically treated carbide inserts than the CBN and untreated carbide. At low to medium cutting speed and feed, the performance of carbide inserts was comparable with CBN both in terms of tool life and surface integrity.     

Nanocrystalline scheelite SrWO4: a low temperature co-fired ceramic optical material-synthesis and properties

Nanocrystalline strontium tungstate (SrWO₄) is synthesized through a single step modified combustion process. The X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform Raman and Infrared spectroscopy studies reveal that the as-prepared powder is single phase and possess tetragonal structure. The transmission electron microscopic investigations have shown that the particle size of the as prepared powder is in the range 18–22 nm. The optical constants are estimated from the UV–Visible studies and calculated optical band gap is 4.28 eV. The sample showed maximum transmission in the visible regions but poor transmittance in the ultraviolet region. The photoluminescence spectra recorded at different temperatures showed intense blue emission. The nanocrystalline SrWO₄ obtained by the present combustion method was sintered to 95 % density at a relatively lower temperature of 810 °C for 3 h. The dielectric constant (ε_r) and loss factor (tan δ) of the sintered SrWO₄ pellets at 5 MHz measured at room temperature were 9.9 and 6.29 × 10^?3 respectively. The experimental results obtained in this work demonstrate the application of SrWO₄ as UV filters, transparent films for window layers on solar cells, anti-reflection coatings, scintillators, detectors and for low-temperature co-fired ceramic applications.     

Curcumin and Liver Disease: from Chemistry to Medicine

Curcumin, the natural yellow‐colored active principle, also called turmeric yellow, extracted from the perennial herb Curcuma longa L., has potent biological and pharmacological properties such as antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, anti‐ischemic, antitumor, and anticancer actions. The molecular mechanism of the hepatoprotective action of curcumin is due to its antioxidant properties and inhibitory activity against nuclear factor (NF)‐κB that regulates different proinflammatory and profibrotic cytokines. Overall, scientific reports demonstrate that curcumin has high therapeutic ability for treating hepatic disorders. Here is a systematic discussion of the hepatoprotective activity of curcumin and its possible mechanisms of actions.     

Sizing Cracks in Power Plant Components Using Array Based Ultrasonic Techniques

New techniques developed using the array transducer, to image and size the bottom-surface and near-through-wall crack-like defects in thick carbon steel components are discussed. Three studies are reported here including (a) Optimal beam steering angle for focused and unfocused inspection using phased array method for bottom-surface crack sizing. (b) A front wall correction algorithm for sizing of near-through-wall crack-like defects. (c) A small aperture technique for sizing of near-through-wall crack-like defects. A Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) based simulation was used to study and verify the experimental observations. The application of time domain scheme relative arrival time technique (RATT), to measure the size of the near-through wall crack-like defects for the leak before break (LBB) criterion, was also investigated and found to be insufficient. A conventional SAFT algorithm was used for improving the sizing using the small aperture technique.     

Performance analysis of a solar photovoltaic operated domestic refrigerator

This paper describes the fabrication, experimentation and simulation stages of converting a 165 l domestic electric refrigerator to a solar powered one. A conventional domestic refrigerator was chosen for this purpose and was redesigned by adding battery bank, inverter and transformer, and powered by solar photovoltaic (SPV) panels. Various performance tests were carried out to study the performance of the system. The coefficient of performance (COP) was observed to decrease with time from morning to afternoon and a maximum COP of 2.102 was observed at 7 AM. Simulations regarding economic feasibility of the system for the climatic conditions of Jaipur city (India) were also carried out using RETScreen 4. It was observed that the system can only be economically viable with carbon trading option taken into account, and an initial subsidy or a reduction in the component costs – mainly SPV panels and battery bank.     

Link Estimation and Routing in Sensor Network Backbones: Beacon-Based or Data-Driven?

In the context of IEEE 802.11b network testbeds, we examine the differences between unicast and broadcast link properties, and we show the inherent difficulties in precisely estimating unicast link properties via those of broadcast beacons even if we make the length and transmission rate of beacons be the same as those of data packets. To circumvent the difficulties in link estimation, we propose to estimate unicast link properties directly via data traffic itself without using periodic beacons. To this end, we design a data-driven routing protocol Learn-on-the-Fly (LOF). LOF chooses routes based on ETX/ETT-type metrics, but the metrics are estimated via MAC feedback for unicast data transmission instead of broadcast beacons. Using a realistic sensor network traffic trace and an 802.11b testbed of ~195 Stargates, we experimentally compare the performance of LOF with that of beacon-based protocols, represented by the geography-unaware ETX and the geography-based PRD. We find that LOF reduces end-to-end MAC latency by a factor of 3, enhances energy efficiency by a factor up to 2.37, and improves network throughput by a factor up to 7.78, which demonstrate the feasibility and the potential benefits of data-driven link estimation and routing.     

Metal recovery from jarosite waste – A resin screening study

Work has been carried out screening hydrometallurgical resins for application in the valorization of industrially produced jarosite. Of the seven resins tested, anion exchange resins performed poorly for valuable metal recovery. Purolite S950+ and S957, along with a strong acid resin, show good extraction properties, but are selective for Fe³⁺ over the other (divalent) metals. Purolite S930+ (iminodiacetic acid-functionalized resin) demonstrates selectivity for Cu²⁺ over Fe³⁺, but poor selectivity for Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Co²⁺. Dowex M4195 (bispicolylamine-functionalized resin) demonstrates promise for extracting metals of value away from a mixed metal pregnant liquor solution (PLS). A three-stage column-based recovery process is proposed for jarosite leachate treatment.     

Reduction of spoilage microorganisms in fresh beef using hydrodynamic pressure processing

Hydrodynamic pressure processing (HDP) was investigated as a technology to reduce spoilage microorganisms found in fresh beef. In two separate studies (studies 1 and 2), retail ground beef and beef roasts were purchased (day 0). The roasts were divided into stew pieces (30 to 40 g). All meat samples, including control samples, were stored at 5 degrees C for 20 h in a plastic film. After storage, designated samples were treated with HDP In study 3, ground beef was treated with HDP (day 0) and stored aerobically (5 degrees C) for 14 days with control samples. Each meat type was vacuum-packaged for HDP (100 g binary explosive, steel shock wave container). The pHs and the aerobic plate counts (log10 CFU/g) were measured on day 0 (studies I and 2) and on days 0, 7, and 14 (study 3) for control samples and for HDP-treated samples. There was no pH difference between control and HDP-treated meat types (studies 1 and 2); HDP reduced bacteria in both meat types in study 1 (2 log) and study 2 (1.5 log) on day 0. In study 3, there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in pH between control meat (8.2) and HDP-treated meat (5.6) after storage. There was an immediate reduction (1.5 log) of microorganisms following HDP (day 0) and a 4.5-log difference between control samples (9 log) and HDP-treated samples (4.5) after 14 days of storage. With HDP, it is possible to reduce spoilage microorganisms found in or on different meat types (ground beef versus stew pieces), which could extend the shelf life of meat products.