Decrease in optical density as a results of germination of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris spores under high hydrostatic pressure

Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris is a spore-forming bacterium, causing spoilage of juices. The spores of these bacteria have the ability to survive in the typical conditions used for thermal pasteurization. Therefore, the use of other techniques such as high hydrostatic pressure is considered for their inactivation. The effect of hydrostatic pressure of 200–500 MPa, at temperatures 4–50 °C for 15 min, on the dynamics of germination of A. acidoterrestris spores in apple juice and pH 4 buffer was studied. To estimate the share of germinated spores, the method of determining the optical density at a wavelength of 660 nm (OD₆₆₀) was used. Parameters of hydrostatic pressure treatment used in this work affected the dynamics of germination of A. acidoterrestris spores in apple juice, and the temperature had the greatest effect. The results indicate that nutrients present in apple juice can promote the germination of A. acidoterrestris spores.     

Nanosensors having dipicolinic acid imprinted nanoshell for Bacillus cereus spores detection

Molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs) as a recognition element for sensors are increasingly of interest and MIP nanoclusters have started to appear in the literature. In this study, we have proposed a novel thiol ligand-capping method with polymerizable methacryloylamido-cysteine (MAC) attached to gold–silver nanoclusters, reminiscent of a self-assembled monolayer and have reconstructed surface shell by synthetic host polymers based on molecular imprinting method for recognition. In this method, methacryloylamidoantipyrine–terbium ((MAAP)₂–Tb(III)) has been used as a new metal-chelating monomer via metal coordination–chelation interactions and dipicolinic acid (DPA) which is main participant of Bacillus cereus spores used as a model. Nanoshell sensors with templates give a cavity that is selective for DPA. The DPA can simultaneously chelate to Tb(III) metal ion and fit into the shape-selective cavity. Thus, the interaction between Tb(III) ion and free coordination spheres has an effect on the binding ability of the gold–silver nanoclusters nanosensor. The binding affinity of the DPA imprinted nanoclusters has been investigated by using the Langmuir and Scatchard methods, and the respective affinity constants (K _affinity) determined were found to be 1.43 × 10⁴ and 9.1 × 10⁶ mol L^?1.     

Influence of Solution Acidity on Structure of Actinocin Derivatives and Their Affinity to DNA Studied as a Function of pH by Raman Spectroscopy

An important problem of molecular biophysics is the influence of pH and ionic strength of a solution on chemical structures and charge of biologically active substances. By means of pH titration and Raman spectroscopy methods, the influence of solution acidity on structural changes of actinocin derivatives was investigated, analogues to antitumor antibiotic actinomycin D. It has been shown that these ligands have different values of cation charges in neutral solutions. From analysis of Raman spectra, it was concluded that protonation of nitrogen atom and amino group of the phenoxazone ring starts only at pH < 3.5. It was shown that protonation of actinocin derivative with two amide groups (diaminoactinocin) occurred in two steps. Corresponding protonation constants for diaminoactinocin (log k ₁ = 6.9 ± 0.5 and log k ₂ = 5.3 ± 0.1) and for partially protonated actinocin derivative with three methylene groups in the side chains (log k = 5.3 ± 0.1) were obtained. Characteristic frequencies of Raman spectra for the basic functional C=O, C2–NH₂, C–C=C, and –N=C groups of phenoxazone chromophore of actinocin derivatives in protonated and nonprotonated states were determined. The different affinities of binding of variously charged ligands to DNA have also been demonstrated.     

Structure of self-implanted silicon annealed under enhanced hydrostatic pressure

Implantation of any ions at a sufficiently high dose and energy (E) into single-crystalline Si leads to the creation of amorphous Si (aSi), with damages peaking near the projected range (R _p) of implanted species. Enhanced hydrostatic pressure (HP) at a high temperature (HT) influences the recrystallization of aSi. The structure of self-implanted Czochralski silicon (Si⁺ dose, D=2×10¹⁶ cm^?2, E=150 keV, R _p=0.22 μm) processed for 5 h at 1400 or 1520 K under HPs up to 1.45 GPa was investigated by X-ray, secondary ion mass spectrometry and photoluminescence methods. The implantation of Si produces vacancies (V) and self-interstitials (Si_i). Vacancies and Si_is form complex defects at HT–HP, also with contaminants (e.g. oxygen, always present in Czochralski silicon). The mobility and recombination of V and Si_i as well as the kinetics of recrystallization are affected by HP, thus processing at HT–HP affects the recovery of aSi.     

Structure and magnetism in compressed iron–cobalt alloys

Combined Co K-edge XANES-XMCD and XRD measurements were used to shed light on the magnetic and structural phase diagram of the Fe_1?x Co _x alloy under HP in the Co-rich region (x≥0.5). At 0.5≤x≤0.75, the alloy shows a pressure-induced structural/magnetic phase transition from bcc-FM to hcp-non-FM phase just like pure iron but at higher pressures. The x=0.9 sample has an fcc structure in the pressure range investigated but presents an FM to non-FM transition at P=64 GPa, a significantly lower pressure compared with pure Co (predicted ≈120 GPa), showing that Fe impurities strongly affect the HP Co response.     

Evaluation of the importance of germinative cycles for destruction of bacillus cereus spores in miniature cheeses

Our objective was to determine the effect of high pressure on inactivation of spores of Bacillus cereus ATCC 9139 inoculated into cheese made of raw cow's milk. Inoculated miniature cheeses were manufactured under controlled bacteriological conditions, vacuum packed and kept at 8 °C for 15 days after pressure treatment. Cheeses were submitted to pressures of 300, 400 or 500 MPa at 30 °C, during 15 min. Some of them were treated with a germination cycle of 60 MPa at 30 °C for 210 min. Lethality was calculated comparing surviving sample counts to control ones. Adding the germinative cycle resulted in higher efficiency, and when applied with 500 MPa, lethality reached 2.0 log cfu/mL. We saw that with both cycles initial counts of spores diminish, but all of them were not inactivated. However, considering that in raw milk mesophilic spore counts are 2.6-2.9 log cfu/mL, this treatment may be useful.     

Microorganisms baroinactivation of germinated mung bean (green gram) seeds

It is possible to describe the pressure degradation of microorganisms as being analogous to thermal inactivation. Equation for baroinactivation is derived from thermal death time (TDT) model D _p = D _pref 10^{(pref-p)/z _p} , where D _pref is decimal reduction time at the reference pressure (min), p _ref is the reference pressure (MPa), z _p is the pressure increase (MPa) required to reduce the D _p value by a factor of 10. This method was used for the calculation of baroinactivation model parameters of the total number of microorganisms of pressurized germinated mung bean (green gram) seeds (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek). Microbial contamination of germinated mung bean (green gram) seeds can be effectively decreased by treatment at a high pressure of 400 MPa, time of pressurization 5 min.     

Moderate hydrostatic pressure–temperature combinations for inactivation of Bacillus subtilis spores

We report the effect of using moderate hydrostatic pressure, 40–140?MPa, at moderate temperature (38–58°C) to inactivate Bacillus subtilis spores in McIlvaine's citric phosphate buffer at pH 6. We have investigated several parameters: pressure applied, holding time, pressure cycling, and temperature. The kinetics of spore inactivation is reported. The results show that spore inactivation is exponentially proportional to the time the sample is exposed to pressure. Spore germination and inactivation occur at the hydrostatic pressures/temperature combinations we explored. Cycling the pressure while keeping the total time at high pressure constant does not significantly increase spore inactivation. We show that temperature increases spore inactivation at two different rates; a slow rate below 33°C, and at a more rapid rate at higher temperatures. Increasing pressure leads to an increase in spore inactivation below 95?MPa; however, further increases in pressure give a similar rate kill. The time dependence of the effect of pressure is consistent with the first-order model (R²?>?0.9). The thermal resistance values (Z_T) of B. subtilis spores are 30°C, 37°C, and 40°C at 60, 80, 100?MPa. The increase in Z_T value at higher pressures indicates lower temperature sensitivity. The pressure resistance values (Z_P) are 125, 125 and 143?MPa at 38°C, 48°C, and 58°C. These Z_P values are lower than those reported for B. subtilis spores in the literature, which indicates higher sensitivity at pressures less than about 140?MPa. We show that at temperatures <60°C, B. subtilis spores are inactivated at pressures below 100?MPa. This finding could have implications for the design of the sterilization equipment.     

High Pressure-Temperature Processing as an Alternative for Preserving Basil

In this study the effect of sterilisation by high pressure (HP) on the quality of basil was compared to conventional processing techniques. By means of freezing, or blanching followed by drying, microbial reduction of spores was maximal one-log. Pulsed HP-temperature treatment yielded a reduction of the natural occurring flora of more than 3 log CFU/g product. The essential oil content in basil consisted mainly of methylchavicol and linalool. HP sterilisation preserved these compounds in contrast to the equivalent conventional heat sterilisation process, which reduced the linalool and methylchavicol content to respectively 21 and 3% of the original amount. Drying and freezing also resulted in a significant reduction of the essential oil content.     

Dry sliding wear characteristics of in situ synthesized Al-TiC composites

Abstract

Aluminum-based composites containing 0.06, 0.09, 0.12 fractions of in situ-synthesized TiC (Titanium carbide) particles have been prepared through in-melt reaction from Ai–SiC–Ti system following a simple and cost-effective stir-casting route. The TiC forms by the reaction of Ti with carbon which is released by SiC at temperatures greater than 1073 K. However, some amount of titanium aluminide (Al₃Ti) is also formed. The formation of TiC has been confirmed through X-ray diffraction studies of the composite. The hardness and tensile strength have been found to increase with increasing amount of TiC. The friction and wear characteristics of the composites have been determined by carrying out dry sliding tests on pin-on-disc machine at different loads of 9.8 N, 19.6 N, 29.4 N, 39.2 N at a constant sliding speed of the 1 m/s speed. The wear rate i.e. volume loss per unit sliding distance has been found to increase linearly with increasing load following Archard’s law. However, both the wear rate and friction coefficient have been observed to decrease with increasing amount of TiC in the composite. This has been attributed to (i) a relatively higher hardness of composites containing relatively higher amount of TiC resulting in a relatively lower real area of contact and (ii) the formation of a well-compacted mechanically mixed layer of compacted wear debris on the worn surface which might have inhibited metal–metal contact and resulted in a lower wear rate as well as friction coefficient.     

Effect of high pressure processing on textural and microbiological quality of pink perch (Nemipterus japonicus) sausage during chilled storage

The non-thermal high pressure (HP) processing was studied on fish sausage to enhance the quality during chilled storage. Pink perch (Nemipterus japonicus) sausages, packed in poly amide casing under vacuum were subjected to 400, 500 and 600?MPa pressures (dwell time: 10?min and ramp rate: 300?MPa/min) and compared with heat-set samples for physico-chemical and microbial quality parameters. Pressurized samples formed softer and glossier gels with a slight reduction in water-holding capacity. HP made the texture of sausage softer, cohesive and less chewy and gummier than heat-treated ones. Folding test seen higher acceptance values in samples treated at 500 and 600?MPa, during storage. Maximum log reduction in microbial count was observed in 600?MPa immediately, and significant difference in cooked and pressurized sausages was seen only up to 7th day. This revealed the potential application of HP in replacing conventional heat treatment for sausages preparation with enhanced shelf-life.     

The infrared spectrum of DCCF in the 320–850 cm−1 region: bending states up to υ4+υ5 = 3

Infrared spectra of deuterated monofluoroacetylene, DCCF, have been recorded in the region between 320 and 850 cm^?1 at an effective resolution ranging from 0.0024 to 0.0031 cm^?1. In total, 6650 rotation vibration transitions were assigned to 37 bands involving the bending states with v₄ + v₅ and |l₄+l₅|, respectively, up to 3, allowing the characterisation of the ground state and of 18 vibrationally excited states. The vν₅ bending fundamental has been studied for the first time. In addition, the difference band v₃ ← v₄ has been detected and analysed. All the assigned transitions have been fitted simultaneously by adopting a model Hamiltonian that takes into account the vibration and rotation l?type resonances. Rotational transitions in the ground and in bending excited states reported in the literature have been included in the global analysis. The set of 57 derived spectroscopic parameters reproduces 6130 infrared and 90 microwave and millimetre?wave transitions satisfactorily with root mean square values of 5.3 × 10^?4 cm^?1 and 77 kHz, respectively.     

In Vitro Analyses of Effect of Light on Toxicity of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles to Tetrahymena pyriformis Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectra

ABSTRACT

The wide application of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) has caused a large number of TiO₂ NPs to be released into the water environment without treatment, which would inevitably result in unexpected toxic damage to aquatic animals. The objects of this research were to discuss the toxic effects of TiO₂ NPs to Tetrahymena pyriformis (T. pyriformis) under dark and light conditions. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra were utilized to investigate the biochemical constituent changes of T. pyriformis under the exposure of TiO₂ NPs. The results showed that illumination had little effect on the cell numbers of T. pyriformis after 24 hr exposure at 5 mg/L of TiO₂ concentration. However, the cell viability of TiO₂ NP–exposed T. pyriformis under light illumination (81.4%) decreased compared with that in the dark environment (96.1%). The FTIR results showed that the typical absorption band of the CH₂ asymmetric stretching vibration shifted from 2924.64 to 2925.49 cm^?1 in the dark, which indicated an increase in membrane fluidity without illumination. A decreased intensity (p < 0.05) was observed in amide I and amide II from 98.57 ± 9.62 and 41.88 ± 3.63 to 75.65 ± 4.07 and 25.25 ± 1.12 in the irradiated T. pyriformis, respectively, which suggested that the coexistence of TiO₂ NPs and light could induce an obvious decrease of protein. In the light condition, the overproduction of ROS led to the breakdown of balance of the oxidative/antioxidative system, resulting in the lipid peroxidation and the death of cells. The results further reveal that TiO₂ NPs under light conditions are more toxic than in the dark.     

Possibility of Campylobacter jejuni inactivation in smoked salmon by high-pressure treatment

The sterile samples of cold-smoked salmon were placed in polyamide–polyethylene pouches and inoculated with three-strain composite of Campylobacter jejuni (inoculum ca 10⁷ CFU g^?1). The inoculated samples were sealed under vacuum and subjected to 200, 300 and 400 MPa of hydrostatic pressure for 0, 5, 10 and 15 min. The number of surviving C. jejuni per gram was determined by the 10-fold dilution method followed by plating on Karmali agar. D ₁₀ values were calculated. This work has shown that for reducing C. jejuni in cold-smoked salmon by 6 log units, the application of 200 MPa for 64.26 min or 300 MPa for 17.10 min or 400 MPa for less than 5 min is needed. Applying such parameters of high-pressure processing should not change significantly the organoleptic properties of the product.     

Stabilisation of Ce-Cu-Fe amorphous alloys by addition of Al

The present work describes the formation of amorphous alloys in the (Al_1?xCe_x)₆₂Cu₂₅Fe₁₃ quaternary system (0 ≤ x ≤ 1). When the amount of Ce falls in the range 0.67 ≤ x ≤ 0.83, the alloys obtained exhibit a completely amorphous structure confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction. Otherwise, at compositions x = 0.5, 0.58, 0.92 and 1, a primary crystalline phase forms together with an amorphous matrix. The crystallisation temperature (T_x) decreases with increasing Ce content, varying from 593 K for x = 0.5–383 K for x = 1. Composition x = 0.75 is considered as the best glass former, exhibiting a large supercooled liquid region of 40 K width that precedes crystallisation. In order to form bulk amorphous alloys, ribbons with this later composition were consolidated into few millimetre thick discs using pulsed electric current sintering at different temperatures, yet preserving the amorphous structure. Meanwhile, increasing temperature above 483 K triggers crystallisation of a primary phase isostructural to AlCe₃. Further increase in the temperature up to 573 K yields a higher fraction of the crystalline phase. Testing mechanical properties, using nanoindentation, revealed that both elastic modulus (E) and hardness (H) depend on the Al content, ranging from E = 85.6 ± 3.7 GPa and H = 6.2 ± 0.7 GPa for x = 0.5 down to E = 39.8 ± 1.0 GPa and H = 3.1 ± 0.2 GPa for x = 0.92.     

Heartbeat sensors under pressure: a new method for assessing hyperbaric physiology

Non-invasive heartbeat sensors to measure the cardiac activity of crustaceans have been adapted for use under hyperbaric conditions. Able to record data continuously over long timescales, these sensors can collect high-resolution data on the physiological state of an organism up to a tested limit of 300 atm. Using this technique, heart rate was recorded in a juvenile of the sublittoral spider crab, Maja brachydactyla (Decapoda: Majidae), when subjected to hydrostatic pressures of 1, 50, 100, and 150 atm for periods of 30 min. Heart rate increases with pressure until 100 atm (one-way repeated measures ANOVA: F _{(4, 25)}=154.76, p<0.001). However, the significant decrease in the mean heart rate from 137.07 bpm at 100 atm to 118.40 bpm at 150 atm (t-test: t=4.581, d.f.=10, p<0.001) indicates a mechanistic limit in the cardiac response of this species to pressures beyond 100 atm. This method could be potentially applied to any marine invertebrate with a neurogenic heart.     

Intermediate Ce3+ defect level induced photoluminescence and third-order nonlinear optical effects in TiO2–CeO2 nanocomposites

We report on the linear and nonlinear optical studies of TiO₂–CeO₂ nanocomposites. It was found that the band gap of the nanocomposite can be tuned by varying Ce/Ti content. Nonlinear absorption characteristics of these samples were studied by employing open aperture Z-scan technique using an Nd:YAG laser (532 nm, 7 ns, 10 Hz). It has been observed that as the CeO₂ amount increases, band gap of the nanocomposites decreases and the reason proposed for the change in band gap is the smudging of localised states of Ce³⁺ into the forbidden energy gap, thus acting as the intermediate state. Fluorescence studies confirmed the above argument. Nonlinear investigation revealed that with increase in the CeO₂ amount, the two-photon absorption coefficient increased due to the modification of TiO₂ dipole symmetry. Suitable candidature of the nanocomposites for the fabrication of nonlinear optical devices was proved by determining the optical limiting threshold.     

A neutron diffraction study of the high pressure structural phase transition in (CD3ND3)2MnCl4

Abstract

High-pressure neutron diffraction experiments have been performed at room temperature on a powdered sample of the perovskite type-layer compound (CD₃ND₃)₂MnCl₄. A phase transition from the orthorhombic room-temperature phase (ORT) to a new high-pressure phase (HP) is demonstrated at 20.5 ± 0.2 kbars. A monoclinic unit cell with lattice parameters a = 6.824 (5) Å; b = 7.409 (8) Å c = 17.126 (12) Å and β = 82.94(9)° has been inferred for the HP phase, consistent with a two-dimensional perovskite-type structure. The HP phase appears to be much more compact than ORT; it is characterized, in particular, by an important compression (?10%) of the inter-layer distance. Space groups P2/c or P2₁/c consistent with the experimental data have been deduced for the HP phase, after group theoretical considerations based on shear transformation and order-disorder mechanisms.     

Optical properties of Zr5Ti7O24:Eu3+ prepared by the sol–gel technique

Thermal processes can lead to the creation of photoluminescence centers in sol–gel derived Zr₅Ti₇O₂₄:Eu³⁺ (ZT:Eu³⁺) systems. Photosensitivity starts with heat treatments at 700 ^°C in air. The photoluminescence excitation occurs in the 225–550 nm range. The emission spectra covers the 550–700 nm range and consist of several sharp lines associated with transitions between the stark components of the excited states of the 4f ⁶ configuration to the ⁷ F _j states of the Eu³⁺ ion. The crystalline structure of the compound was obtained by X-ray diffraction techniques and is associated with a space group Pbcn. The thermal treatments in the 700–960 ^°C range have corresponding effects on both, the crystalline parameters and the optical properties of the europium ions. Time-resolved experiments were performed and the results are presented and discussed in order to get a better understanding of the effects of the thermal treatments on the Eu³⁺ transition lifetimes.     

Region-Specific Susceptibilities to Cuprizone-Induced Demyelination of C57BL/6 Mouse: In vivo T2WI and DTI Studies at 7.0T

The cuprizone (CPZ) mouse model of demyelination was recognized and used to explore multiple sclerosis (MS)-like brain lesions. In this study, we assessed CPZ-treated mice using T₂-weighted imaging and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). C57BL/6 mice treated with 2 weeks of 0.2 % CPZ-containing diet (n = 10) and regular chow diet (n = 10) were scanned with a 7.0 T MRI scanner (Agilent, USA), respectively, using fast spin-echo and fast spin-echo DTI sequences. The normalized T₂ signal intensity (normalized to the cerebrospinal fluid) was calculated and fractional anisotropy (FA value), mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity and radial diffusivity were measured in the brain region of the cerebral cortex (CTX), caudate putamen (CP), hippocampus (HP) and thalamus (TH). Compared with controls, increased normalized T₂ signal intensities and reduced FA values (p < 0.05) were observed in the CTX, HP and CP (p < 0.01), but not in TH in cuprizone-fed mice. In the regions of reduced FA values, an increase in mean diffusivity (p < 0.05) and radial diffusivity (p < 0.05) was also found. Significant decreased axial diffusivity was only observed in CTX (p < 0.05). DTI is sensitive to detecting cuprizone-induced demyelination of C57BL/6 mice. This study suggests that CTX, HP and CP are more susceptible to cuprizone-induced demyelination than TH. Our results also indicate that the decrease of FA value may be more likely due to increased radial diffusivity.