Correlation study between standard plate count and flow cytometry for determination of raw milk total bacterial count

Milk samples were collected in the dry season ( n =  155) and in the rainy season ( n =  68) to establish a correlation between electronic flow cytometry and standard plate count for the determination of total bacterial count of raw milk. Results were expressed in individual bacterial count (ibc) and colony forming unit (cfu) for electronic flow cytometry (Bactocount) and standard plate count, respectively. The accuracy of Bactocount, denoted by the residual standard deviation ( s ( y,x )), was 0.309 log cfu/mL. The predictive interval of estimated values was broad and it is suggested that total bacterial count should be expressed in ibc without transformation to cfu.     

Pressure infiltration of Al and Al-12 wt% Si alloy into compacts of SiC and oxidized SiC particles

Oxidizing SiC particles is a common practice in the fabrication of SiC/Al composites through direct mixing of the liquid metal and the ceramic particles. This practice is addressed to reduce the reaction between the two materials. In a previous work it was concluded that oxidizing SiC particles scarcely affected the threshold pressure for infiltration of pure Al into compacts made of those particles. In this work we present a detailed study of this problem for infiltration of pure Al and the eutectic Al-Si alloy. Our results indicate that oxidizing of SiC particles does not affect significantly either the threshold pressure or the infiltration kinetics. This conclusion is equally valid for both pure Al and the eutectic alloy.     

Synthesis and characterization of NiPcTSTNa(L) thin films

NiPcTSTNa(L) [L = ethylenediamine (EDA); 1,4-diaminobutane (BDA); and 2,6-diamineanthraquinone (AqDA)] thin films were deposited by thermal evaporation. Their surface morphology was studied by AFM and SEM, and their chemical composition determined by EDS. Optical absorption studies of NiPcTSTNa(L) films were performed in the 200?C1150?nm wavelength range. The optical bandgap of thin films was determined from the (??h ??)^1/2 vs h?? plots for indirect allowed transitions. The temperature dependence of electrical conductivity shows a semiconducting behaviour. The amorphous semiconductor films show thermal activation energies of electrical conduction between 3·3 and 3·7?eV.     

On the stability of a class of non-linear continuous systems†

A procedure to find the existence and domain of asymptotic stability for a class of systems described by a set of non-linear partial differential equations is presented in the context of semigroup theory.

No a priori bound is imposed on the non-linearity which is assumed to be a quad ratic (bilinear) or multilinear form.

The linearized system can be non-self-adjoint and need not be asymptotically stable equation by equation.

The solution of the stability problem is carried out. in two steps :

(a) the development of an L₂-like norm that bounds above the sup norm, a requirement to obtain a useful estimate of the non-linear term, and

(a)the computation of an estimate of the L₂-likc norm of the semigroup generated by the linearized system in terms of its usual L₂ norm.     

Inline electron holography and VEELS for the measurement of strain in ternary and quaternary (In,Al,Ga)N alloyed thin films and its effect on bandgap energy

We present the use of (1) dark‐field inline electron holography for measuring the structural strain, and indirectly obtaining the composition, in a wurtzite, 4‐nm‐thick InAlGaN epilayer on a AlN/GaN/AlN/GaN multinano‐layer heterosystem, and (2) valence electron energy‐loss spectroscopy to study the bandgap value of five different, also hexagonal, 20–50‐nm‐thick InAlGaN layers. The measured strain values were almost identical to the ones obtained by other techniques for similarly grown materials. We found that the biaxial strain in the III‐N alloys lowers the bandgap energy as compared to the value calculated with different known expressions and bowing parameters for unstrained layers. By contrast, calculated and experimental values agreed in the case of lattice‐matched (almost unstrained) heterostructures.     

MULTIVARIATE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF VOLATILE COMPOUNDS AS A CRITERION FOR SELECTING TECHNOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN THE OSMOTIC DEHYDRATION OF PINEAPPLE

Principal component analysis and cluster analysis of volatile compounds were used for selecting technological parameters in the osmotic dehydration of pineapple. Assessment of volatile losses permitted differentiation between samples obtained by different osmotic treatments. Treatments at 30C for 1 h at atmospheric pressure or under vacuum and at 30C or 40C for 1 to 3 h with pulsed vacuum (1 cycle) produce the lowest losses of volatile compounds. Apparently, pulsed vacuum allows higher aromatic volatiles retention than two other pressure modes. It also allows increases in both process temperature and time without an important increase in losses.     

Variety and storage time affect the compositional changes that occur in grape samples after frozen storage

Background and Aims: In viticultural and oenological research, grape samples are frequently stored frozen to overcome time and facility restraint. However, there is little knowledge on how freezing, variety and storage time affect the changes occurring in grape quality parameters. The aim of the paper was to evaluate these effects using cv. Cabernet Sauvignon (CS), Grenache (GA) and Tempranillo (TE) samples. Methods and Results: Quality parameters were assessed in fresh grapes and after 1, 3 and 6 months of frozen storage. Soluble solid concentration remained unchanged. Freezing decreased titratable and tartaric acidity. pH increased after 1 and 3 months of storage, but decreased after 6 months. Freezing increased malic acid concentration only in GA. Yeast assimilable nitrogen diminished with freezing time, with each variety behaving differently. A significant colour enhancement was found (EAnt, L*, C*), whereas degradative reactions for polyphenols occurred at any storage time for GA, and for all varieties after 6 months. Conclusions: Variety and storage time play a large role in the changes occurring in stored frozen grape samples. Not considering these factors may lead to misinterpretation of results obtained through subsequent use of these grapes. Significance of the Study: Specific correcting factors for each quality parameter, variety and storage time are needed when working with stored frozen samples.