Validation of the Charm MRL-3 for fast screening of beta-lactam antibiotics in raw milk

The biochemicals utilized in the Charm MRL beta-Lactam test (8 min test) were applied to faster flowing lateral components to create a new 3 min, one-step beta-lactam test called Charm MRL-3 (Charm Sciences Inc., Lawrence, MA). This new test was validated at T&V-ILVO according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. The following analytical parameters were checked: test specificity, detection capability, and test robustness (impact of deviation of the test protocol, and impact of the milk composition, batch differences of reagents). Further, the suitability of the Charm MRL-3 to screen heat-treated milk or milk from animal species other than the cow was also tested. Finally, the test was integrated in the monitoring of dairy samples to check the occurrence of false-negative or false-positive results, and the test was also included in a national ring trial and an international proficiency study. The results proved that the Charm MRL-3 is a fast, simple, and reliable cows' milk test that can be used at the farm level in order to prevent tanker milk contamination, or at the entrance of the dairy plant to screen tanker milk for the presence of beta-lactam antibiotics.     

Preparation of flexible and elastic poly(trimethylene carbonate) structures by stereolithography

3D porous and non-porous structures are designed and prepared by stereolithography using resins based on PTMC macromers. Tough, flexible network films prepared in this manner show E moduli of ≈3.8 MPa and high elongations at break >900%; tensile strengths are ≈4.2 MPa. These values increase with increasing PTMC macromer molecular weight. To reach suitable viscosities for processing, up to 45 wt% propylene carbonate is added as non-reactive diluent. The solid specimens have compression moduli of 3.1-4.2 MPa, similar to the values determined in tensile testing. The built porous structures show porosities of 53-66% and average pore sizes of 309-407 μm. The compression moduli of the porous structures are significantly lower than those of the solid structures.     

Redox properties of 8-quinolinol and implications for its mode of action

8-Quinolinol (oxine, 8-hydroxyquinoline) is a simple aromatic alkaloid with allelopathic, antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic activities. Generally, it is assumed that 8-quinolinol toxicity depends on transition metal chelation that negatively affects their availability for metalloenzymes in the cell or reactive oxygen species generation (ROS), which are formed following reduction of molecular oxygen by autoxidation of the redox active metal central atom of the 8-quinolinol complex. On the contrary, beneficial effects of 8-quinolinol and its derivatives in the medication of certain degenerative diseases are known. In this context, the activity of 8-quinolinol derivatives is attributed to their antioxidant activity following iron complex formation. To address this controversial issue, we explore the possible anti- or pro-oxidant effects of 8-quinolinol and its iron complexes in the deoxyribose degradation assay, by cyclic voltammetry and in a biological assay. The antibacterial effects of 8-quinolinol and its complex with iron were evaluated on Curtobacterium flaccumfacies and Paenibacillus amylolyticus. 8-Quinolinol showed strong antioxidant activity in the deoxyribose degradation assay. This activity may not depend exclusively on iron chelation, but probably more on the notable reducing properties of 8-quinolinol; it proved to be a more efficient antioxidant than the flavonoids catechin and quercetin. By contrast, 8-quinolinol showed no pro-oxidative effects in the deoxyribose degradation assay, both in free form and in complex with iron, as it may occur with redox cyclers. Cyclic voltammetry confirmed this too. 8-Quinolinol significantly inhibited bacterial growth and respiration. Idiosyncratically, its 50:1 mixture with iron(III) ions was less active compared with free 8-quinolinol; it even caused a U-shaped nonlinear hormetic effect on growth and failed to inhibit respiration as totally as the pure mixture; the respiration was even accelerated compared with the control as a result of lower stress. Our results support the notion that complex formation with either iron or other transition metals affects the reducing power of 8-quinolinol, but, in contrast to general assumptions, this study finds no support that complex formation with iron represents the major mode of action.     

Photosynthese isomerer octacarbonyl-μ-η3:3-2,5-hexadien- 1,4-diyldimangan-komplexe

UV irradiation of decacarbonyldimanganese(0) and 1,3,5-hexatriene at 243 K yields two isomeric (EE, EZ) octacarbonyl-μ-η^3:3 -2,5-hexadiene-1,4-diyldimanganese complexes, which were characterized by C, H elemental analyses and by IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy.     

Die Synthese von 3β-Acetoxy-24-aza-24-desoxa-xysmalogenin,. Partialsynthetische Versuche in der Reihe der Herzgifte. 12. Mitteilung,

Synthesis of 3β-acetoxy-24-aza-24-desoxa-xymalogenin Starting from the pregnenolone-derivative 1 we report the synthesis of the possibly cardiac-active compound 24-aza-24-desoxa-xysmalogenin 15 .     

Theoretical investigation of the cyclic conformer of ozone

Ab initio SCF and CI calculations are reported which find the cyclic conformer of ozone to lie 16 kcal/mole above the preferred (open-chain) form of this substance. Polarization functions in the AO basis set are found to be quite important in this determination, strongly favoring the cyclic species. The possible experimental significance of such a relatively stable ring conformer of ozone is assessed.