Metal‐Free Synthesis of Chlorinated β‐Amino Ketones via an Unexpected Reaction of Imines with Arylacetylenes in 1,1,1,3,3,3‐Hexafluoro‐2‐propanol

The metal‐free reaction of terminal arylacetylenes with α,α‐dichloroaldimines in 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoro‐2‐propanol as the sole solvent results in the rapid and selective formation of γ,γ‐dichloro‐β‐amino ketones. In this solvent the expected dichlorinated propargylamines and/or allylic amines are not formed. The dichloromethylene moiety of the aldimine acts as an activating group and is essential to accomplish this transformation. Electron‐rich acetylenes lead to the best results and work well with all imines (with or without α′‐H at the nitrogen substituent), while electron‐deficient acetylenes only reacted with N‐tert‐butylaldimines (no α′‐H). The mechanistic pathway showed 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoro‐2‐propanol to protonate the aldimine, which in the rate‐determining step will react with the arylacetylene to form a resonance‐stabilized allene cation, which is trapped by a HFIP molecule giving rise to an enol ether, which promptly hydrolyzes to furnish exclusively the β‐amino ketones. Using DFT techniques we found that the first C C bond forming step is the rate‐determining step and is associated with a barrier of about 21 kcal mol⁻¹.

     

Study of device parameters for work function engineered gate recessed S/D SOI MOSFET incorporating quantum mechanical effects

For the first time analytical modeling of nanoscale work function engineered gate recessed S/D SOI MOSFET including quantum mechanical effects has been presented based on the solution of 1 D Schrödinger and 2 D Poisson’s equation. As classical models are insufficient in nanoscale regime, quantization effect has been incorporated in this model to explore the actual potential profile characteristics along the film thickness. An extensive calculation has been carried out with proper boundary condition to solve the 2-D Poisson’s equation for device parameters. The value of deviated quantum threshold voltage has been calculated from classical model, and then these two are added to resolve the final quantum threshold voltage. Channel length modulation has also been taken into consideration during drain current modeling for this structure. A comparative study based on the threshold voltage, drain current, transconductance and drain conductance has been presented for the classical and quantum model. The results are also compared with the simulation of SILVACO Deck build, Deck Editor Version 4.2.5.R (aka 4.2.5.R) device simulator to validate the proposed model.

     

Phages and their lysins: Toolkits in the battle against foodborne pathogens in the postantibiotic era

Worldwide, foods waste caused by putrefactive organisms and diseases caused by foodborne pathogens persist as public health problems even with a plethora of modern antimicrobials. Our over reliance on antimicrobials use in agriculture, medicine, and other fields will lead to a postantibiotic era where bacterial genotypic resistance, phenotypic adaptation, and other bacterial evolutionary strategies cause antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This AMR is evidenced by the emergence of multiple drug-resistant (MDR) bacteria and pan-resistant (PDR) bacteria, which produces cross-contamination in multiple fields and poses a more serious threat to food safety. A “red queen premise” surmises that the coevolution of phages and bacteria results in an evolutionary arms race that compels phages to adapt and survive bacterial antiphage strategies. Phages and their lysins are therefore useful toolkits in the design of novel antimicrobials in food protection and foodborne pathogens control, and the modality of using phages as a targeted vector against foodborne pathogens is gaining momentum based on many encouraging research outcomes. In this review, we discuss the rationale of using phages and their lysins as weapons against spoilage organisms and foodborne pathogens, and outline the targeted conquest or dodge mechanism of phages and the development of novel phage prospects. We also highlight the implementation of phages and their lysins to control foodborne pathogens in a farm–table–hospital domain in the postantibiotic era.     

Natural Inhibitors Targeting the Localization of Lipoprotein System in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

The localization of lipoprotein (Lol) system is responsible for the transport of lipoproteins in the outer membrane (OM) of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. LolB catalyzes the last step in the Lol system, where lipoproteins are inserted into the OM. If the function of LolB is impeded, growth of V. parahaemolyticus is inhibited, due to lack of an intact OM barrier for protection against the external environment. Additionally, it becomes progressively harder to generate antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In this study, LolB was employed as the receptor for a high-throughput virtual screening from a natural compounds database. Compounds with higher glide score were selected for an inhibition assay against V. parahaemolyticus. It was found that procyanidin, stevioside, troxerutin and rutin had both exciting binding affinity with LolB in the micromolar range and preferable antibacterial activity in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibition rates of 100 ppm were 87.89%, 86.2%, 91.39% and 83.71%, respectively. The bacteriostatic mechanisms of the four active compounds were explored further via fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular docking, illustrating that each molecule formed a stable complex with LolB via hydrogen bonds and pi–pi stacking interactions. Additionally, the critical sites for interaction with V. parahaemolyticus LolB, Tyr108 and Gln68, were also illustrated. This paper demonstrates the inhibition of LolB, thus, leading to antibacterial activity, and identifies LolB as a promising drug target for the first time. These compounds could be the basis for potential antibacterial agents against V. parahaemolyticus.     

Physical Properties and Volatile Composition Changes of Cooked Sausages Stuffed in a New Casing Formulation Based in Surfactants and Lactic Acid During Long‐Term Storage

The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of different modified casings and storage time on the quality attributes of cooked sausages using principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant analysis. The effects of modifying different casing treatments on sausages’ color (L^*, a^*, b^*), pH, and texture (hardness, springiness, cohesion, gumminess, chewiness) after 36‐d storage were estimated by PCA. According to the PCA, lightness at day 36 was correlated to sample stuffed in casing with treatment 2 (T2; soy lecithin concentration: 1:27.5, soy oil concentration: 1.25%, lactic acid concentration: 19.5 mL/kg NaCl [solid], residence time: 75 min). T2 sample can be distinguished from control sample at days 1, 8, 15, and 36 according to electronic nose system. DA was performed to determine possible different sample groups according to selected variables. Results showed that chewiness was the best discriminator for differentiating sausages stored for 15 d from other days. Chewiness and gumminess were able to discriminate sausages stuffed in casing with T2 from control sample. The relationships between modified concentrations and quality attributes of cooked sausages after 36‐d storage were also established.     

Germination and growth from spores: variability and uncertainty in the assessment of food borne hazards

We have developed a model for the variability of spore lag times and shown that variability has an important role in the quantitative assessment of risks associated with spore forming bacteria in food. The model includes two sequential independent delay times that contribute to the lag time for a single spore. We have shown that a population of variable spores also has a variable lag time, and we have emphasised the significance of this variability in quantitative representations of population dynamics for small populations. We have made a Bayesian estimate for the extent of the variability in spore lag times and made a comparison with direct microscopic observations of individual spores of nonproteolytic Clostridium botulinum. We conclude that Bayesian inference is a practical method for quantifying variability and hence a significant element in the development of quantitative risk assessments for hazards associated with spore forming bacteria.