Characterization of lactic acid bacteria isolated from Bukuljac, a homemade goat's milk cheese

The Bukuljac cheese is traditionally homemade cheese, produced from heat-treated goat's milk without the addition of any bacterial starter culture. The presence of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in Bukuljac cheese has been analyzed by using a polyphasic approach including microbiological and molecular methods such as rep-PCR with (GTG)5 primer. Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei represents a dominant strain in the microflora of analyzed cheese. Out of 55 Gram-positive and catalase-negative isolates, 48 belonged to L. paracasei subsp. paracasei species. Besides lactobacilli, five Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis and two Enterococcus faecalis were found. Results of PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of DNA extracted directly from the fresh cheese revealed the presence of Leuconostoc mesenteroides. Only lactobacilli showed a high proteolytic activity and hydrolyzed alpha(s1)- and beta-caseins. They are also producers of diacetyl. In addition, 34 out of 55 isolates, all determined as lactobacilli, showed the ability of auto-aggregation. Among 55 isolates, 50 also exhibited antimicrobial activity.     

Smart‐Dust‐Nanorice for Enhancement of Endogenous Raman Signal,Contrast in Photoacoustic Imaging,and T2‐Shortening in Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Raman microspectroscopy provides chemo‐selective image contrast, sub‐micrometer resolution, and multiplexing capabilities. However, it suffers from weak signals resulting in image‐acquisition times of up to several hours. Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) can dramatically enhance signals of molecules in close vicinity of metallic surfaces and overcome this limitation. Multimodal, SERS‐active nanoparticles are usually labeled with Raman marker molecules, limiting SERS to the coating material. In order to realize multimodal imaging while acquiring the rich endogenous vibronic information of the specimen, a core–shell particle based on “Nanorice”, where a spindle‐shaped iron oxide core is encapsulated by a closed gold shell, is developed. An ultrathin layer of silica prevents agglomeration and unwanted chemical interaction with the specimen. This approach provides Raman signal enhancement due to plasmon resonance effects of the shell while the optical absorption in the near‐infrared spectral region provides contrast in photoacoustic tomography. Finally, T2‐relaxation of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) experiment is altered by taking advantage of the iron oxide core. The feasibility for Raman imaging is evaluated by nearfield simulations and experimental studies on the primate cell line COS1. MRI and photoacoustics are demonstrated in agarose phantoms illustrating the promising translational nature of this strategy for clinical applications in radiology.     

CFD boundary conditions for contaminant dispersion,heat transfer and airflow simulations around human occupants in indoor environments

Indoor computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations can predict contaminant dispersion around human occupants and provide valuable information in resolving indoor air quality or homeland security problems. The accuracy of CFD simulations strongly depends on the appropriate setting of boundary conditions and numerical simulation parameters. The present study explores influence of the following three key boundary condition settings on the simulation accuracy: (1) contaminant source area size, (2) convective/radiative heat fluxes, and (3) shape/size of human simulators. For each of the boundary conditions, numerical simulations were validated with experimental data obtained in two different environmental chambers. In CFD simulations, a small release area of a contaminant point source causes locally high concentration gradients that require a very fine local grid system. This fine grid system can slow down the simulations substantially. The convergence speed of calculation is greatly increased by the source area enlargement. This method will not influence the simulation accuracy of passive point source within well-predicted airflow field. However, for active point source located within complicated airflow filed, such an enlargement should be carried out cautiously because simulation inaccuracy might be introduced. For setting thermal boundary conditions, convection to radiation heat flux ratio is critical for accurate CFD computations of temperature profiles around human simulators. The recommended convection to radiation (C:R) ratio is 30:70 for human simulators. Finally, simplified human simulators can provide accurate temperature profiles within the whole domain of interest. However, velocity and contaminant concentration simulations require further work in establishing the influence of simplifications on the simulation accuracy in the vicinity of the human simulator.     

Nanocrystalline Zn2SnO4/SnO2: Crystal structure and humidity influence on complex impedance

Journal of Electroceramics - Nanocrystalline Zn2SnO4/SnO2 powder was obtained by a solid state reaction of ZnO and SnO2 nanopowders mixed in the molar ratio 1:1. The phase composition of the...     

Development and in vitro characterization of chitosan-based microspheres for nasal delivery of promethazine

Conventional and composed promethazine-loaded microspheres were prepared by spray drying of chitosan solution systems and double water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion systems, respectively. Double emulsions were prepared in two different feed concentrations, with chitosan dissolved in both water phases, and ethylcellulose dissolved in oil phase. Swelling and bioadhesive properties of the microspheres depended on the chitosan content, type and the feed concentration of spray-dried system. Results obtained suggested that better ethylcellulose microcapsules with promethazine in the chitosan matrix were formed when less concentrated emulsion systems were spray-dried. Thus, in case of such a system, with ethylcellulose/chitosan weight ratio of 1:2, prolonged promethazine release was obtained.     

Investigation of the effects of NAA‐type zeolite on PDMS composites

The aim of this article was to investigate the effect of a NaA‐type zeolite on a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)–zeolite composite. The obtained results show that the introduction of a NaA‐type zeolite into polysiloxane matrices results in a change of the equilibrium degree of swelling (DSe) of composites in toluene, their hardness, and their thermal stability. With increase in the zeolite, the time required to achieve the DSe is reduced, DSe decreases, and hardness increases. A double effect of the zeolite concentration on the change of the composite characteristics was noted. At zeolite concentrations of up to 20%, there is a drastic change of the DSe and hardness with zeolite concentration, while this effect is considerably less pronounced at higher concentrations. The results obtained show that a NaA‐type zeolite plays the role of a reinforcing filler. A new mechanism of bonding the zeolite into the composite was suggested. According to this model, there is a possibility that bonds are established between the polymer and the zeolite via interaction of the π‐bond of terminal vinyl groups of PDMS with the Na cation of the zeolite. With increase in the zeolite concentration in the composite, the total number of established polymer–zeolite bonds increases, but the density of the interaction decreases. This explains the change in the characteristics of the composite with the change of zeolite concentration. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 1171–1176, 2000