Recent Advances in the Application of the Antimicrobial Peptide Nisin in the Inactivation of Spore-Forming Bacteria in Foods

Conventional thermal and chemical treatments used in food preservation have come under scrutiny by consumers who demand minimally processed foods free from chemical agents but microbiologically safe. As a result, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) such as bacteriocins and nisin that are ribosomally synthesised by bacteria, more prominently by the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have appeared as a potent alternative due to their multiple biological activities. They represent a powerful strategy to prevent the development of spore-forming microorganisms in foods. Unlike thermal methods, they are natural without an adverse impact on food organoleptic and nutritional attributes. AMPs such as nisin and bacteriocins are generally effective in eliminating the vegetative forms of spore-forming bacteria compared to the more resilient spore forms. However, in combination with other non-thermal treatments, such as high pressure, supercritical carbon dioxide, electric pulses, a synergistic effect with AMPs such as nisin exists and has been proven to be effective in the inactivation of microbial spores through the disruption of the spore structure and prevention of spore outgrowth. The control of microbial spores in foods is essential in maintaining food safety and extension of shelf-life. Thus, exploration of the mechanisms of action of AMPs such as nisin is critical for their design and effective application in the food industry. This review harmonises information on the mechanisms of bacteria inactivation from published literature and the utilisation of AMPs in the control of microbial spores in food. It highlights future perspectives in research and application in food processing.     

Increase in the para selectivity in the nitration of alkylbenzenes in the presence of aryl iodides

Conclusions Additives of iodobenzene, para-iodotoluene, and ortho-iodotoluene increase the relative yield of the para isomer in the nitration of toluene, ethylbenzene, and cumene as well as the yield of 4-nitro-o-xylene in the KNO₃/CF₃CO₂H system.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 714–716, March, 1988.     

脂质组学分析中样品前处理技术的研究进展

脂质不仅是细胞膜的主要组成部分,还参与一些生命活动如能量存储、信号传导等,在生命体中发挥着重要作用。近年来,越来越多的研究表明脂质的变化与一些重大疾病的发生发展密切相关,脂质组学研究对理解疾病的发生机制及过程具有重要意义。在脂质分析过程中,由于样品基质的干扰或被分析物浓度的限制,通常需要对样品进行前处理,以得到最佳的分析性能。该文综述了脂质组学分析中的样品前处理技术,包括脂质的提取方法（如液液萃取、固相萃取等）和针对不同类脂质的化学衍生化技术在各领域,尤其是生命分析和代谢组学中的应用,并对脂质组学分析中的样品前处理技术的发展进行了展望。     

Change in the rate of decomposition of dioxetanes in sulfolane solutions in the transition from the liquid to the solid phase

Conclusions It has been established that the rate of decompostion of dioxetanes changes in in sulfolane solutions on transition from the liquid to the solid phase, which is explained in terms of structural changes of the molecular complexes dioxetane-sulfolane in the solid phase of the solvent.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2238–2243, October, 1988.     

水凝胶中物质扩散过程研究进展

主要从模型理论和实验研究方法两个方面综述了国内外聚合物水凝胶中物质扩散行为研究进展.水凝胶中扩散理论模型主要有自由体积模型、流体力学模型、位阻效应模型三大类;实验研究方法主要分为间接法和实时法两种.     

Role of the special pair in the charge-separating event in photosynthesis

We synthesized special-pair/electron-acceptor systems consisting of a complementary slipped cofacial dimer of imidazolyl-substituted zinc porphyrin, bearing pyromellitdiimide as the electron acceptor. In the case of the dimer, the first and second oxidation potentials were split into a total of four peaks in the differential pulse voltammetry measurement. Furthermore, the shift values of the first oxidation potentials obtained by changing the solvent polarity for the dimer were almost half of those observed for the monomer. These results indicate that the radical cation is delocalized over the whole pi system of the dimer. Time-resolved transient absorption measurements revealed that, relative to the corresponding monomer, the dimer accelerated the charge separation rate, but decelerated the charge recombination rate. The smaller reorganization energy of the slipped cofacial dimer relative to that of the monomeric system demonstrates the significance of the special-pair arrangement for efficient charge separation in photosynthesis.     

Modelling the electric potential distribution in the dark in nanoporous semiconductor electrodes

This study concerns the electric potential distribution in the dark in nanocrystalline porous semiconductor electrodes, in full depletion conditions. Since band bending in a single colloidal particle is small, the idea is to develop a model that accounts for the total potential drop resulting from the equilibration between the Fermi level and the redox potential in the solution. As preliminary steps, the band bending and potential distribution in a planar electrode and also in a colloidal semiconductor particle are reviewed. In order to overcome the limitations of results based on these geometries, a model based on a columnar shape is developed. The Poisson equation is solved in the columnar electrode, with careful consideration of the boundary conditions. A large potential drop is shown to take place at the back contact. To complete the study, the effect of the depletion zone in the transparent conducting oxide is analysed. Simple expressions are derived that permit evaluation of how the total potential drop is distributed between the electrode and the substrate. From this, the strength and spatial range of the electric field in the electrode can be estimated. Received: 25 June 1998 / Accepted: 15 December 1998     

Matrix effect in the cryotrapping of gas samples in the ppbv range

A gas mixture containing ppbv concentrations of volatile chlorinated and aromatic hydrocarbons was prepared in helium, nitrogen, or argon in a plastic (Nalophan) bag, in which it was found the mixture could be safely stored for several days. Samples of the mixture were subsequently analyzed by gas chromatography after direct cryotrapping in an empty metal U-tube. The cooling medium used was liquid nitrogen, liquid argon, or a dry ice-acetone slurry (197 K). The efficiency of cryotrapping in liquid nitrogen was over 90% when the aromatic hydrocarbon mixture was prepared in the helium matrix, but between 50 and 70% when it was prepared in nitrogen or argon, the recovery from the argon matrix being somewhat higher. The poor recovery in nitrogen at 77 K and argon at 87 K was explained by the reduced rate of diffusion to the wall owing to mist or aerosol formation. At 197 K condensation was negligible if the partial pressures were lower than the saturated vapor pressures.     

Change in the lipid composition of lichens in the spring period

The dynamics of the amount of total lipids, the ratio of the main classes of lipids, the amount of fatty acids, and the ratio of individual phospholipids in three epiphytic species of lichens from the Zhigulevsk reserve have been followed. It has been shown that all the classes of lipids of the lichens change to some degree or other in this period. The dynamics of the fatty acids has also confirmed a known rule: an increase in the amount of saturated and a decrease in the number of unsaturated fatty acids of the membranes with a rise in the temperature of the environment. This is the first time that the dynamics of the hydroxy acids have been followed.     

自然流产孕妇体内微量元素含量的变化

为了解自然流产孕妇体内微量元素的变化,检测了50例正常妊娠妇女和50例自然流产妇女（其中忆查明流产原因的33例,不明原因流产17例）头发中微量元素。结果显示,查明原因流产组发锌、铜、铁、钙和不明原因流产组发锌、铜、铁含量均明显低于正常妊娠组;而发铅含量则明显高于正常妊娠组,经统计学处理分析,差别有显著性。提示妊娠期微量元素平衡与否,对宫内胎儿的发育乃至安危均有一定的影响。     

On the feasibility of the numerical Laplace Transform in the calculation of the statistical moments in GC

Summary Statistical moments may be used to augment the information content of stored GC data. Their calculation can be performed either directly by the methods of statistics or by the numerical Laplace Transform. It was found that the direct statistical computation will yield the better results.

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Zur Frage der Anwendbarkeit der numerischen Laplace-Transformation in der Berechnung der Statistischen Momente in der Gas-Chromatographie

Zusammenfassung Die statistischen Momente können zur Erhöhung der Aussagekraft von GC-Daten verwendet werden. Diese Berechnungen können auf dem Weg der Statistik direkt oder mittels numerischer Laplace-Transformation durchgeführt werden. Es wurde festgestellt, daß die direkte statistische Bestimmung der numerischen Laplace-Transformation vorzuziehen ist.

     

Change in the lipid composition of lichens in the spring period

The dynamics of the amount of total lipids, the ratio of the main classes of lipids, the amount of fatty acids, and the ratio of individual phospholipids in three epiphytic species of lichens from the Zhigulevsk reserve have been followed. It has been shown that all the classes of lipids of the lichens change to some degree or other in this period. The dynamics of the fatty acids has also confirmed a known rule: an increase in the amount of saturated and a decrease in the number of unsaturated fatty acids of the membranes with a rise in the temperature of the environment. This is the first time that the dynamics of the hydroxy acids have been followed.Institute of the Ecology of the Volga Basin, Tol'yatti. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 660–664, September–October, 1993.     

Intermediates in the transformation of 1,2-dialkylpyrimidinium iodides in the Kost-Sagitullin rearrangement

Intermediate recyclization products were obtained in a study of the Kost-Sagitullin rearrangement of a series of 1,2-dialkylpyrimidinium iodides. The initial attack of the nucleophile leads to the formation of products of the addition of the hydroxyl group, namely, the corresponding pseudo bases. Heating one of these intermediates in ethanol or in the presence of primary amines leads to rearrangement to give a pyridone derivative. Upon heating in chloroform, the pseudo bases readily lose a water molecule and are converted to anhydro bases, namely, derivatives of 1-alkyl-1,2-dihydro-2-methylidenepyrimidine. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 894–900, May, 2006.     

Study on the Photodegradation of Salicylic Acid in Different Vehicles in the Absence and in the Presence of TiO2

In this work, the direct photolysis of salicylic acid, generally used as keratolytic agent in many dermatological products and as preservative in cosmetics, was investigated. The photodegradation of the acid under UVB irradiation was evaluated in different vehicles, such as water solutions at different pH, propylene glycol/water, and ethanol/water mixtures, sodium dodecyl sulphate solutions, and O/W emulsions prepared with Montanov 68 and Amphysol K as emulsifiers. The increase of pH enhanced the photodegradation of salicylic acid while the different vehicles protected the acid from the action of UVB radiations. However, the best protection was observed dissolving the acid in the lipid core of O/W emulsions, which probably removes the active from the polar environment that can promote the photolysis. The photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ on the degradation of salicylic acid also was evaluated. TiO₂ frequently is used as sunscreen in many cosmetic preparations. Salicylic acid and the pigment can be contained in the same solar formulation; hence, it can be interesting to study their interaction under UVB. TiO₂ enhanced the photodegradation of salicylic acid in all the media previously reported and its photocatalytic activity was influenced by the pH and by the components of the vehicles.     

贵阳市红枫湖底栖生物体中多溴联苯醚的初步研究

为了研究贵阳市红枫湖底栖生物体中多溴联苯醚(polybrominateddiphenyl ethers,PBDEs)的污染情况,通过索氏抽提、凝胶色谱柱和多层硅胶/氧化铝层析柱净化,对红枫湖底栖生物体中PBDEs的含量、分布模式、来源进行分析。结果表明,红枫湖样品中Σ18PBDEs为105.71～43902.73 pg/g(干重),各单体含量为1.05～20045.38 pg/g。红枫湖底栖生物体中PBDEs的污染尚处于较低水平。     

Atoms in molecules interpretation of the anomeric effect in the O--C--O unit

The conformational preferences of two model compounds for the O--CH2--O anomeric unit: methanediol and dimethoxymethane analyzed within the framework of the QTAIM theory provide a new interpretation of the anomeric effect. The characteristic stabilization of the gauche conformers of these compounds is accompanied by a progressive reduction of the electron population of the hydrogens of the central methylene as the number of their gauche interactions to lone pairs rises. The electron population removed from these atoms during the conformational change is gained in the gauche conformers by atoms of larger atomic number, which results in a more negative molecular energy. Also, the variations displayed by atomic populations and the QTAIM delocalization indexes are not keeping in line with the hyperconjugative model of the anomeric effect.     

QSERRs方法及其在色谱手性识别机理研究中的应用

介绍了定量结构-对映保留关系(QSERRs)方法及其在色谱手性识别机理研究中的应用。引用文献31篇。     

Licensing in the italian regulatory system in the use of radioisotopes

The regulatory system in force in Italy concerning radioisotopes is based on two statutes dating back to 1962 and 1964; the latter is based on a 1962 Directive of European Community, of which Italy is a Member. European Directives of 1980, 1984, 1989, 1990 and 1992 will be enacted into Italian legislation by January 1^st, 1996. In the statutes in force the basic rules are established governing the holding and use of, trading in and disposal of radioactive material. These activities are subject to notification and licensing. Notification and licensing are based on two tiered system: a local, regional or provincial level and a national one, depending on the intersection of a number of parameters. The role of the governmental organs, state agencies such as ANPA (National Agency for Environmental Protection), local administrative bodies, their competence and their powers are discussed with regard to notification and licensing.     

The Astrochemical Observatory: Molecules in the Laboratory and in the Cosmos

Astrochemistry is a discipline consolidated recently, although its roots extend back to the dawn of early civilization with the observation and mapping of the sky. The way to the understanding of the common natural laws on earth and in space paved by Galilei's observations by the telescope, has been extended in the last decades, by new technologies such as radioastronomy and space missions. Plenty of new chemistry was surprisingly discovered. Extreme rich information on the chemical “composition” of the universe is being obtained, either from the other planets and satellites in the Solar System, from meteorites and comets, or from the interstellar space. In this article we will present selected topics regarding the chemical structures and reactions being discovered. Particular attention will be devoted to aspects considered as relevant for the prebiotic processes on earth, such as those involving chirality and its role played in the origin and evolution of life.