Effect of juice processing on cranberry antibacterial properties

The effects of the industrial juice process on the ability of neutralized cranberry samples and extracts (polar, apolar and anthocyanins) to inhibit the growth of Enterococcus faecium resistant to vancomycin (ERV), Escherichia coli O157:H7 EDL 933, E. coli ATCC 25922, Listeria monocytogenes HPB 2812, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442, Salmonella Typhimurium SL1344 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 were investigated. The juice process appeared to have a general enhancing effect on the antibacterial properties of cranberry polar and anthocyanin extracts. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) (1.80–7.0 μg phenol/well) were obtained when S. aureus, S. Typhimurium, and ERV were exposed to the juice concentrate. The growth of P. aeruginosa, L. monocytogenes, E. coli ATCC, and E. coli O157:H7 was not inhibited by the juice concentrate, but did show sensitivity (maximal tolerated concentrations of 0.007–0.4 μg phenol/well). The lowest MICs (22.6–90.5 μg phenol/well) for P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, S. Typhimurium, and ERV were observed when they were exposed to the cranberry anthocyanin extract obtained from cranberry pomace. The results also showed a negative effect of the juice process on the antibacterial properties of the cranberry apolar extracts: the one obtained from frozen cranberries was most efficient against P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, L. monocytogenes and S. Typhimirium (MIC of 45.50 μg phenol/well). The tested bacteria showed the greatest resistance toward the cranberry extracts obtained from the mash and the macerated and depectinized mash.     

基于Intel MIC架构的3D有限差分算法优化

有限差分算法是一种基于偏微分方程的数值离散方法,被广泛应用于弹性波传播问题的数值模拟中。该算法访存跨度大、计算密度高、CPU利用率低,这在实际应用中成为了性能瓶颈。针对上述问题,在详析3D有限差分算法(3DFD)的基础上,基于Intel MIC架构,采用三步递进法对其进行优化:首先,通过分支消除、循环展开、不变量外提等基本优化法削减计算强度并为向量化扫除障碍;然后,通过分析数据依赖及循环分块,使用向量指令集改写核心算法等并行优化法,充分利用MIC协处理器多线程、长向量的机制;最后,在异构众核平台(CPU+MIC:Many Integra-ted Cores)下通过数据传输最小化、负载均衡等异构协同优化法实现CPU和MIC的并行计算。实验验证,与原有算法相比,优化后的算法在异构平台上获得了50～120倍的加速。     

温度对厌氧环境中硫酸盐还原菌所致铜镍合金腐蚀行为的影响

目的 探究环境因素（温度）在微生物腐蚀（Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion,MIC）过程中的影响以及细菌最适宜的温度条件,初步探索铜合金的MIC机理,为微生物的腐蚀与防护提供依据。方法 利用生物学分析、表面分析以及电化学手段,研究不同温度（25、37、45℃）条件下培养基中硫酸盐还原菌（Sulfate-reducing Bacteria,SRB）的生长状况和铜镍合金表面的腐蚀状态,进而对微生物体系中的MIC行为进行分析。结果 从生物学分析来看,培养周期内SRB细胞的数量先迅速增加,之后又逐渐减少。温度为37℃时,检测出的SRB细胞数和培养基中生成的H₂S最多。从表面分析来看,铜镍合金表面生成不致密的生物膜,在生物膜下面检测出点蚀坑,且点蚀密度小。温度为37℃时,生物膜覆盖的区域最大,且该温度下检测到最大的平均点蚀坑深度,约9.3μm。从电化学分析来看,在各种温度下,浸泡在生物介质中的试样的开路电位（OCP）大致向正方向移动,Rp曲线呈现先上升后下降的趋势,温度为37℃,试样检测出的Rp值最小。结论 温度能够影响SRB所导致...     

铜厚膜环行器的研制

采用新型的在大气气氛中烧结的铜厚膜多层导电浆料,应用厚膜混合技术制作了2。2GHz和2.8GHz的环行器。其性能指标可与同类型采用薄膜贵金属制作的环行器相媲美,且工艺简单,成本低及生产周期短。     

辣木叶蛋白质酶解产物的制备及其抗菌活性研究

为了研究辣木叶蛋白及其酶解产物的抗菌活性,利用碱提酸沉法提取辣木叶中的蛋白质,并分析其氨基酸组成;分别采用6种单酶和3种复合酶对辣木叶蛋白进行酶解,考察辣木叶蛋白及其酶解产物的抑菌活性,确定最佳蛋白酶。通过二倍稀释法,研究有效抑菌组分对不同菌的最小抑菌浓度(minimum inhibitory concentration,MIC)。结果显示:辣木叶蛋白提取率为32.67%±0.45%,必需氨基酸占氨基酸总量的39.27%。抑菌活性研究表明辣木叶蛋白仅对金黄色葡萄球菌显示抑菌活性,抑菌圈大小为(7.67±0.24) mm;胃蛋白酶结合胰蛋白酶分步酶解蛋白所得酶解产物抑菌能力均高于其他几种蛋白酶,酶解产物对化脓性链球菌的抑菌活性最强,抑菌圈大小为(10.83±0.62) mm,且其对金黄色葡萄球菌、单增李斯特菌及化脓性链球菌的MIC分别为5、10、2.5 mg/mL。说明辣木叶蛋白及其酶解产物均有抗菌活性,双酶酶解法制备的酶解产物具有较强的抑菌性及广抑菌谱。     

Biological activities of Solanum paludosum Moric. extracts obtained by maceration and supercritical fluid extraction

Solanum paludosum extracts obtained by maceration (SP-EtOH_CRUDE and SP-EtOH_MARC) and supercritical fluid extraction (SP-SFECO₂) were evaluated. Three extracts with distinct chromatographic profiles were obtained: SP-EtOH_CRUDE, with a complex phenolic composition; SP-SFECO₂, containing methoxylated flavonoids; and SP-EtOH_MARC, which bears mainly polar polyphenols. All extracts were strong antioxidants, as measured using the diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method, xanthine/xanthine oxidase/luminol and iron-induced lipid peroxidation systems. Extracts were also evaluated as modifiers of antibiotic activity in strains of Staphylococcus aureus expressing fluoroquinolone, macrolide and tetracycline efflux proteins. Despite their lack of antibacterial activity, all extracts were able to potentiate antibiotics activities by as much as eight fold. Both the maceration and supercritical fluid extraction processes were adequate to obtain extracts with different biological activities according to their patterns of phenolic compounds. The data suggest that S. paludosum could be a valuable source of antioxidants and putative efflux pumps inhibitors.     

Corrosion of carbon steel in sodium methanoate solutions

The behaviour of steel electrodes in sodium methanoate solutions was studied by coupling electrochemical techniques (voltammetry, OCP vs. time) with in situ micro-Raman spectroscopy analyses of the corrosion products. The polarisation curves depended strongly on the methanoate concentration. For the smallest concentration (10⁻³ mol L⁻¹), the current density increased regularly with the applied potential. So the behaviour of the electrode was typical of an active material. In contrast, for the largest concentration (10⁻¹ mol L⁻¹), the curves obtained were typical of a passive material. Methanoate ions favoured growth and stability of a passive oxide film more likely by adsorbing on its surface. The polarisation curve obtained for the intermediate concentration (10⁻² mol L⁻¹) was unusual and testified of an imperfect passivation of the steel surface. Finally, steel electrodes were left at the open circuit potential in the methanoate solutions. In any case, the passivity was rapidly lost and a general corrosion of the surface took place. In situ Raman spectroscopy analyses at the early stage of the corrosion process demonstrated that the first product to form was a green rust, GR(HCOO⁻). It was oxidised later into γ-FeOOH (lepidocrocite) by dissolved O₂. The process is then typical of what is usually observed in neutral or alkaline media, whatever the anions present and responsible of the GR formation. A new and detailed characterisation of GR(HCOO⁻) by X-ray diffraction was performed and a crystal structure is proposed.     

Corrosion of ferrous alloys in deep sea environments

Abstract

The deep sea corrosion of ferrous alloys that undergo uniform corrosion without forming a passive layer is related to the amount of dissolved ox ygen available in the sea water. The performance of some ferrous alloys at depths of 500, 1200, 3500, and 5100 m in the Indian Ocean has been studied. The results of atomic absorption spectroscopy have revealed that the corrosion product present on mild steel coupons is FeOOH. The results of experiments in shallow water have shown that micro- and macrobiological growths play a significant role in the corrosion of ferrous materials. However, in deeper waters, the absence of macrofouling was evident, and corrosion was not related to any biological product but mainly to the electrochemical reaction of these alloys with sea water. The results of morphological studies by SEM on the surfaces of ex posed specimens are also presented.     

Combined effect of high pressure treatment and anti-microbial bio-sourced materials on microorganisms' growth in model food during storage

Antimicrobial bio-sourced films based on poly(lactic acid) containing either carvacrol or allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) were prepared and their antimicrobial properties were assessed on Botrytis cinerea during storage and after a high pressure (HP) “pasteurisation-like” treatment (up to 800 MPa at ambient temperature). A dry process (extrusion + thermomoulding) was used to shape the material. The high temperature encountered during film processing dramatically decreased the carvacrol and AITC content in the film, leading to a less efficient antimicrobial activity. The use of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) to encapsulate the active compounds before film processing proved to be efficient to protect the AITC against thermal degradation and to control its release from the films during its use. PLA-based films containing either AITC or β-CD encapsulated AITC showed a significant activity against B. cinerea. An effective combination between the antimicrobial activity of AITC-based films and the high pressure treatment was observed on a model food system (PDA) inoculated with N × 10⁴ (N ~ 1–9) conidia of B. cinerea. An HP treatment of only 300 MPa associated with an antimicrobial PLA/β-CD system providing an initial quantity of active agents equivalent to 4 mg of AITC/L of air (i.e. almost 2 folds lower than the minimal inhibition concentration of the active packaging used alone, which was determined to be equal to 10 mg/L of air in the same conditions) was found more efficient (total inhibition of B. cinerea growth during 10 days) than an 800 MPa HP treatment used alone (increase of the lag phase growth of 3.3 days).

Industrial relevance

The consumer demand for “fresh like” product containing reduced amount of preservatives without compromising human and environmental safety needs the development of new preservation strategies. As a consequence, the concept of “hurdle technologies” has risen up. The combined effect of HP treatment and volatile antimicrobial packaging allowed the use of lower individual treatment intensities to inhibit B. cinerea growth. Combining such “hurdles” is of relevance in the context of development of low-cost and eco-friendly food technologies.