Bacterial spores in spices and dried herbs: The risks for processed food

Production and world consumption of spices are constantly increasing. Although the antimicrobial properties of some spices are well documented, their use in the agri-food industry is also responsible for microbial contamination and spoilage. Bacterial spores introduced by spices can withstand different preparation processes, particularly thermal treatments, leading to food alterations during storage. This review brings together data from the literature about the prevalence and concentrations of spore-forming bacteria in all commercially available spices. The sporeformers found in spices belong mainly to the genera Bacillus and Clostridium. Such contaminations are very common and sometimes reach high levels, as in pepper and turmeric. Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus cereus are the most frequently detected species. Studying the harvesting, processing, and storage procedures for spices provides elements to explain why high prevalence and concentrations are observed. Spices are mostly produced in developing countries on small farms using traditional production methods. Spices become contaminated by bacterial spores in two main ways: by contact with soil during harvesting or drying, as for pepper, or by cross-contamination during the water-cooking step, as for turmeric. From these observations, we propose some recommendations. Different methods that can be used to eliminate bacterial spores from spices are presented indicating their efficiency and the limitations of their use.     

45 GHz self-pulsation with narrow linewidth in quantum dot Fabry-Perot semiconductor lasers at 1.5 /spl mu/m

Self-pulsation at 45 GHz repetition frequency has been demonstrated in 1.5 /spl mu/m monolithic single-section quantum dot Fabry-Perot semiconductor lasers without saturable absorber. The mode-beating exhibits a narrow linewidth below 100 kHz, demonstrating high phase correlation between these modes. Such modelocked lasers open ways to low timing-jitter components for clock recovery or millimetre-wave generation in wireless transmission applications.     

Trends in family psychology.

Presents an overview of the recent past, the present, and anticipated future trends in the field of family psychology (i.e., the scientific study of the family in terms of its historical forms and variations; structure and functioning across time, space, culture, and generations; and idiosyncratic and systems attributes). Areas discussed include availability of graduate education in family psychology, internship availability, postgraduate training opportunities, clinical practice, research and publications, ethical and legal concerns, credentialing, and impact on other family therapy organizations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Object permanence and working memory in cats (Felis catus).

Cats (Felis catus) find an object when it is visibly moved behind a succession of screens. However, when the object is moved behind a container and is invisibly transferred from the container to the back of a screen, cats try to find the object at or near the container rather than at the true hiding place. Four experiments were conducted to study search behavior and working memory in visible and invisible displacement tests of object permanence. Exp 1 compared performance in single and in double visible displacement trials. Exp 2 analyzed search behavior in invisible displacement tests and in analogs using a transparent container. Exps 3 and 4 tested predictions made from Exps 1 and 2 in a new situation of object permanence. Results showed that only the position changes that cats have directly perceived are encoded and activated in working memory because they are unable to represent or infer invisible movements. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Arsenic deactivation enhanced diffusion and the reverseshort-channel effect

The effect of enhanced diffusion caused by the electrical deactivation of arsenic on the reverse short-channel effect (RSCE) in NMOS devices is investigated. A simple four-mask process was utilized to fabricate deep sub-micron NMOS devices. Source/drain (S/D) implant and anneal conditions were varied in order to determine their implications on the RSCE. Results indicate that when high concentrations of arsenic deactivate, enhanced diffusion occurs, leading to significantly more RSCE. This implies that the dose of the arsenic implant and the subsequent anneals should be carefully considered in source/drain engineering     

Toward two-dimensional self-organization of nanostructures using wafer bonding and nanopatterned silicon surfaces

The structure of ultrathin silicon layers obtained by molecular hydrophobic bonding is investigated. The twist and tilt angles between the two crystals are accurately controlled. The buried Si|Si interface is observed by transmission electron microscopy and by grazing incidence X-ray techniques. For low twist angle values (/spl psi/<5/spl deg/) plane view observations reveal well-defined dislocation networks. Cross-section observations give evidence that the dislocation networks are localized at the bonding interfacial plane with no threading dislocation. Grazing incidence small angle X-ray scattering measurements confirm the good quality of the bonding interface as well as the quality of the dislocation networks. Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction is also used and shows the long-range order of the periodic strain field in the silicon layer. It shows, especially, the interaction between the dislocations. X-ray reflectivity was employed and estimated that the interfacial thickness (i.e., thickness of the bonding) lower than 1 nm decreases when the twist angle increases. The nanopatterned surface is then investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy and X-ray methods. To validate these substrates for long-range order self-organization, the growth of Si and Ge quantum dots is finally achieved.     

CONDITIONING COAL GAS WITH REFRIGERATED METHANOL IN A SYSTEM OF PACKED COLUMNS

Experience with the operation of a pilot-scale unit is used to outline potential difficulties in the operation of acid gas removal systems on gases produced from coal. The pilot plant has been used to condition gases produced from subbituminous coal, devolatilized char, peat and lignite. The solvent used in the acid gas removal system has been refrigerated methyl alcohol. Data from this study document accumulation of hydrocarbons, sulfur and nitrogen compounds, and mercury in the circulating solvent.