Kultur vonAspergillus parasiticus im Apfelsaft

Zusammenfassung Kulturen vonAspergillus parasiticus NRRL 2999 in Apfelsaft (aus Sirup) wurden Natriumbenzoat bzw. Kaliumsorbat (100, 200, 300 und 400 mg/l zugesetzt, danach wurden diese bei 25 °C, 3, 6, 9, 12, oder 15 Tage bebrütet und Myceltrokkengewicht, pH und Konzentration der Aflatoxine B₁ und G₁ bestimmt. Der pH-Anfangswert von 2,5 blieb in allen Fällen während der ganzen Inkubationsdauer unverändert. Natriumbenzoat unterdrückte bei allen getesteten Konzentrationen das Wachstum und förderte die Biosynthese von Aflatoxin G₁, während es die Anhäufung von B₁ wenig beeinflußte. Kaliumsorbat förderte das Wachstum bei 100 mg/kg, doch alle getesteten Konzentrationen inhibierten die Produktion der Toxine erheblich (keine nachweisbaren Mengen von B₁ und 3- bis 5 mal weniger G₁ als in der Kontrollreihe). Ausnahmslos wurde Aflatoxin G₁ stärker als B₁ angehäuft.

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The cultivation ofAspergillus parasiticus on apple juiceI. Influence of sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate on fungal growth and aflatoxin biosynthesis

Summary Sodium benzoate or potassium sorbate (100, 200, 300 and 400 mg/l) were added to cultures ofAspergillus parasiticus NRRL 2999 on apple juice (from syrup) and incubated quiescently at 25 °C for 3, 6, 9, 12 or 15 days. The cultures were analyzed for pH, mycelial dry weight and accumulation of aflatoxin B₁ and G₁. The initial pH of 2.5 remained constant in all instances throughout the incubation period. Sodium benzoate, at all concentrations, supressed fungal growth and stimulated the biosynthesis of G₁, whereas little influence was exerted upon the accumulation of B₁. Potassium sorbate stimulated fungal growth at 100 mg/l, while at all concentrations it considerably inhibited toxin production (no detectable amounts of B₁ and 3 to 5 times less G₁ than in controls). The concentration of G₁ surpassed that of B₁ without exception.

     

Hydrogen in energy transition: A review

The energy transition is not something that awaits us in the next decade. On the contrary, it is a process in which we are already deeply enrolled. The main step towards the creation of a carbon-neutral society is the implementation of renewable energy sources (RES) as replacements for fossil fuels. Given the intermittency of RES, energy storage has an essential role to play in this transition. Hydrogen technology with its many advances was recognized to be the most promising choice. As multiple hydrogen applications were researched relatively recently, the current development of its technology is not yet on the large-scale implementation level. With the increasing number of studies and initiated projects, the utilization of hydrogen's immense ecological potential is to be expected in the next few decades. New innovative solutions of hydrogen technology that includes hydrogen production, storage, distribution, and usage, are permeating all industry sectors. In a rapidly changing world, technological advances bring forth public discussions, that are a deciding factor whether society will be able to adapt and accept those new contributions or reject them. Currently, hydrogen is the best associated with fuel cell electric vehicles which emit only water vapour and warm air, producing no harmful tailpipe emissions. As various scientists are stressing the gravity of climate change effects that are reaching the physical environment, ecosystems, and humanity in general, concern for the future is becoming the main global topic. Consequently, governments are implementing new sustainable policies that promote RES as a substitute for fossil fuels. Increasing progress in hydrogen technology instigated nations worldwide to incorporate hydrogen in their energy legislations and national development plans, which resulted in numerous national hydrogen strategies. This work shows the progress of hydrogen taking its place as a key factor of the future green energy society. It reviews recent developments of hydrogen technologies, their social, industrial, and environmental standing, as well as the stage of transitioning economies of both advanced and beginner countries. An example of the ongoing energy transition is Croatia, which is in the process of implementing a hydrogen strategy with the ambition to be able to one day equally participates in the rapidly emerging hydrogen market.     

Effect of test variables on apparent activation energy for hot working and critical recrystallization temperatures of V-microalloyed steel

The effect of test variables on the apparent activation energy for hot working of a medium carbon V-microalloyed steel, Q_HW, and the critical recrystallization temperature, T_nr, have been studied by means of isothermal continuous and anisothermal multipass torsion test. The Q_HW is found to be temperature dependent. Above the T_nr, the Q_HW^U is close to that of austenite self diffusion, Q_SD, irrespective of the type of test or test variables. Below the T_nr, the Q_HW^L is not only considerably higher, but that based on multipass flow curve exibits a strong interpass time dependence. With increasing interpass time from 1.8 to 10 s the Q_HW^L and the T_nr increase and decrease respectively. The former is assumed to be controlled by solute drag, while the latter both by solute drag and precipitation pinning. Beyond 10 s, the two parameters exhibit the same trend, and the precipitation pinning is assumed to be the only recrystallization inhibiting mechanism.     

Formation of hollow ZnO particles by simple hydrolysis of zinc acetylacetonate

Formation of hollow ZnO particles by simple hydrolysis of zinc acetylacetonate [Zn(acac)₂] at 90 °C was monitored. Isolated precipitates were characterized with XRD, FT-IR and FE-SEM. Different amounts of Zn(acac)₂ underwent the hydrolysis in 1 × 10^?3 M NaOH for 24 h. The conditions for the formation of hollow ZnO particles were determined and the process was explained by the aggregation mechanism.     

Kultur vonAspergillus parasiticus im Apfelsaft II. Einflu? von Butylhydroxyanisol (BHA) and Butylhydroxytoluol (BHT) auf Pilzwachstum and Aflatoxin-Biosynthese

Zusammenfassung Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL 2999 wurde im Apfelsaft (aus Sirup) in Gegenwart von BHA bzw. BHT (100, 200, 300 oder 400 mg/1) bis zu 15 Tage bei 25 °C ruhend bebrütet. Myceltrockengewicht, pH and Konzentrationen der Aflatoxine B₁ und G₁ wurden in dreitägigen Abständen bestimmt. Der pH-Anfangswert von 2,5 blieb durchwegs unverändert. BHA unterdrückte das Wachstum and die Toxinanhäufung in der beobachteten Zeitspanne. Es kam jedoch zu konzentrationsabhängigen Wachstumsverzögerungen und zu früheren Toxin-Höchst-werten als in der Kontrollreihe, was auf eine Anpassung ans Milieu hinweist. BHT führte erst ab 200 mg/l zu einer ca. 25%igen Wachstumshemmung (Löslich-keitsgrenze von BHT zwischen 200 and 300 mg/1) und bei 200 mg/l zur ca. 45%igen Hemmung der Toxinanhäufung. Bei 100 mg/l wirkte BHT fördernd auf die Toxinsynthese (1,90 mal mehr G1 and 6,65 mal mehr B₁ als in der Kontrollreihe). Bei allen getesteten Konzentrationen von BHA bzw. BHT sowie in der Kontrollreihe wurde Aflatoxin G₁ starker als B₁ angehauft.

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The cultivation ofAspergillus parasiticus on apple juice II. Influence of butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene on fungal growth and aflatoxin biosynthesis

Summary Aspergillus parasiticus (NRRL 2999) was incubated in apple juice (from syrup), quiescently at 25 °C for up to 15 days in the presence of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) or butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) at concentrations of 100, 200, 300, or 400 mg/l. Mycelial dry weight, pH and concentration of aflatoxin B₁ and G₁ were measured every 3 days with the initial pH of 2.5 remaining unchanged in all samples. BHA suppressed fungal growth and toxin accumulation during the observed incubation period. However, a concentration-dependent growth delay and earlier peaks of toxin accumulation suggested environmental adaptation of the mould. BHT (from 200 mg/l onwards), led to growth inhibition by about 25% (solubility limit of BHT lies between 200 and 300 mg/1), and at a concentration of 200 mg/1, it led to a reduction of toxin accumulation by approximately 45%. At 100 mg/l, however, BHT stimulated aflatoxin production (1.90 times more G, and 6.65 times more B₁ than in the controls). At all tested concentrations of BHA or BHT, as well as in the controls, the accumulation of aflatoxin G₁, without exception, surpassed that of B₁.

     

Hydrogen production using alkaline electrolyzer and photovoltaic (PV) module

In this paper it is presented hydrogen production using alkaline water electrolysis where a 30 W photovoltaic (PV) module was involved as a source of electric energy. Therefore, the process is without emitting CO₂. There is constructed and tested an alkaline electrolyzer with 50 × 50 × 2 mm Ni metal foam electrodes, 50 × 50 × 0.4 mm Zirphon^® membrane and 25% alkaline (KOH) solution electrolyte. Electrolyzer UI characteristics for natural and forced flow of electrolyte with PV module UI characteristics are presented. The results are in favor of forced flow circulation, and these are better if the flow velocities are higher. Calculated Energy efficiency (based on hydrogen high heating value) for both types of circulation is above 55%. There are much evidence for further improvement of the system components and consequently electrolyzer and system efficiency.     

Formation of nanosize ZnO particles by thermal decomposition of zinc acetylacetonate monohydrate

Formation of ZnO particles by thermal decomposition of zinc acetylacetonate monohydrate in air atmosphere has been investigated using XRD, DTA, FT-IR, and FE-SEM as experimental techniques. ZnO as a single phase was produced by direct heating at ≥200 °C. DTA in air showed an endothermic peak at 195 °C assigned to the ZnO formation and exothermic peaks at 260, 315 and 365 °C, with a shoulder at 395 °C. Exothermic peaks can be assigned to combustion of an acetylacetonate ligand released at 195 °C. ZnO particles prepared at 200 °C have shown no presence of organic species, as found by FT-IR spectroscopy. Particles prepared for 0.5 h at 200 °C were in the nanosize range from ∼20 to ∼40 nm with a maximum at 30 nm approximately. The crystallite size of 30 nm was estimated in the direction of the a₁ and a₂ crystal axes, and in one direction of the c-axis it was 38 nm, as found with XRD. With prolonged heating of ZnO particles at 200 °C the particle/crystallite size changed little. However, with heating temperature increased up to 500 or 600 °C the ZnO particle size increased, as shown by FE-SEM observation. Nanosize ZnO particles were also prepared in two steps: (a) by heating of zinc acetylacetonate monohydrate up to 150 °C and distillation of water and organic phase, and (b) with further heating of so obtained precursor at 300 °C.     

The Social Cognition of Immigrants' Acculturation: Effects of the Need for Closure and the Reference Group at Entry.

Three studies found support for the notion that immigrants' acculturation to the host culture is interactively determined by their need for cognitive closure (A. W. Kruglanski & D. M. Webster, 1996) and the reference group they forge on their arrival. If such reference group is fashioned by close social relations with coethnics, the higher the immigrants' need for closure, the weaker their tendency to assimilate to the new culture and the stronger their tendency to adhere to the culture of origin. By contrast, if the reference entry group is fashioned by close relations with members of the host country, the higher their need for closure, the stronger their tendency to adapt to the new culture and the weaker their tendency to maintain the culture of origin. These findings obtained consistently across 3 immigrant samples in Italy, 1 Croatian and 2 Polish, and across multiple different measures of acculturation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)