Development of a new reference material for the validation of molecular detection methods for microbiological analysis

The standard methodology used for the detection of bacteria in environmental samples and food is primarily based on bacterial growth on specific culture media and confirmation by biochemical and/or immunological tests of all presumptive colonies. However, this methodology presents a number of drawbacks, such as low sensitivity and specificity, and the long time needed to obtain results. For this reason, the implementation of molecular methods in diagnostic laboratories has increased over the past several years. Nevertheless, most of these newer methods have not been included in current legislation, and, in most of cases, they have not yet been normalized. In this sense, the availability of appropriate reference materials (RMs) can help to overcome these deficiencies. The aim of this study was to develop and validate, following ISO Guide 34, a new RM, in a tablet format, for the quantification of Legionella pneumophila and Salmonella spp. by quantitative PCR (qPCR). This new RM can be used as a work reference sample in internal quality control, in the organization of proficiency testing schemes (PTS), as well as for the validation of molecular methods based on qPCR.     

Technical electrodes catalyzed with PtRu on mesoporous ordered carbons for liquid direct methanol fuel cells

This paper presents the behavior of ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC)-supported catalysts as anodes for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC), fed with an aqueous methanol solution. OMC samples were prepared by the nanocasting method from a polymerized furan resin using mesoporous silica as a template. Pt and PtRu nanoparticles were supported on OMC with high dispersion, the particle size being 2.4 nm at PtRu loading of 15 wt.%. The resulting catalysts were analyzed using carbon monoxide stripping voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry, and chronoamperometry in three-electrode experiments and recording cell voltage vs. current density curves in practical DMFC. It was found that PtRu-catalyzed technical electrodes exhibited good activity towards methanol electrooxidation in half-cell experiments under fuel-cell-relevant conditions. Specifically, Pt₈₅Ru₁₅/OMC catalyst showed the highest catalytic enhancement compared to Pt/OMC for the steady-state electrooxidation of methanol at 60 °C and 0.5 V, by a factor of 22 in 2-M MeOH solution. DMFC single cells yielded an open-circuit voltage of 0.625 V at 60 °C. Polarization curves indicate that DMFC with OMC-supported Pt₈₅Ru₁₅ catalyst at the anode exhibited the best performance.     

The effect of palladium dispersion and promoters on lactose oxidation kinetics

Lactose oxidation was investigated at 70 °C and at pH 8 using oxygen as an oxidant over a comprehensive set of commercially available mono- and multi-metallic as well as promoted Pd catalysts with active carbon, alumina and calcium carbonate as catalyst supports. An optimum cluster size of 6–10 nm resulted in the highest initial turnover frequencies. High conversion levels above 90% were achieved on Pd/C catalyst, as well as over Pd/Al₂O₃ and (Pd–Pb)/CaCO₃, whereas (Pd–V)/C catalyst gave only 30% conversion after 200 min. The latter catalyst was relatively inactive due to its high support acidity and profound deactivation during oxidation. Besides the main oxidation product, lactobionic acid, also, lactulose was generated as a result of lactose isomerisation under alkaline conditions. The electrochemical potentials of the catalysts were measured during lactose oxidation. The main result of these measurements was that, when the electrochemical potential of the catalyst increased very quickly, its oxidation activity was low due to metal over-oxidation. The selectivities to the desired product, lactobionic acid, were relatively high, above 80% for most of the catalysts, except for (Pd–V)/C. Furthermore, the selectivity to the lactobionic acid decreased with increasing metal dispersion, thus, indicating that the optimum metal particle sizes for producing high amounts of lactobionic acid is above 3 nm.     

Synthesis and reactivity of some diselenasila cycles containing an annelated dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane(12) unit

The use of 1,2‐diselenolato‐1,2‐dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane(12) dianions [1,2‐(1,2‐C₂B₁₀H₁₀)Se₂]^2? prepared in situ as the dilithium salt may lead to irreproducible results. This is shown by the straightforward synthesis of silanes using the purified and isolated dianions, in contrast with previous less successful attempts. Thus, the reactions of the dianions with dichlorosilanes afford the five‐membered diselenasila cycles containing the SiMe₂ or the SiPh₂ units, and with 1,2‐dichloro‐tetramethyldisilane the six‐membered cycle containing the Si₂Me₄ unit. The latter was studied by X‐ray diffraction, and all products were characterized by multinuclear magnetic resonance (¹H, ¹³C, ²⁹Si, ⁷⁷Se NMR) in solution. Novel isotope effects were detected in ¹³C and ⁷⁷Se NMR spectra. Exchange reactions of the five‐ and six‐membered diselanasila cycles with chlorosilanes were studied. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fatty Acid Carboxylate‐ and Anionic Surfactant‐Controlled Delivery Systems That Use Mesoporous Silica Supports

We report the preparation of a MCM‐41 mesoporous material that contains the dye [Ru(bipy)₃]Cl₂ (bipy=bipyridine) inside the mesopores and functionalised with suitable binding groups at the entrance of the pores. Solids S1 – S3 were obtained by the reaction of the mesoporous material with N‐methyl‐N′‐propyltrimethoxysilylimidazolium chloride, N‐phenyl‐N′‐[3‐(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]thiourea, or N‐phenyl‐N′‐[3‐(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]urea, respectively. A study of the dye delivery of these systems in buffered water (pH 7.0, 2‐[4‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)piperazin‐1‐yl]ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES), 10^?3 mol dm^?3) in the presence of a family of carboxylate ions was carried out. In the interaction of the anions with the surface of the solids, the response depends on the characteristics of the binding groups (i.e., imidazolium, urea and thiourea) at the pore outlets and their specific interaction with the corresponding anion. The interaction of long‐chain carboxylate ions with the binding sites at the surface of the solids resulted in a remarkable inhibition of the delivery of the dye. This inhibition was observed clearly for the dodecanoate anion, whereas the octanoate, decanoate, cholate, deoxycholate, glycodeoxycholate and taurocholate anions induced a certain pore blockage that varied according to the solid studied. The interaction of smaller anions, such as acetate, butanoate, hexanoate and octanoate, with the solids had no effect on the dye release process. The possible use of the gating system for the chromo‐fluorogenic detection of anionic surfactants through selective dye delivery inhibition was also explored. Molecular dynamic simulations that use force‐field methods have been made to theoretically study the capping carboxylate mechanism. The calculations are in agreement with the experimental results, thus allowing a representation of the dye delivery inhibition in the presence of long‐chain carboxylate ions.     

The Role of Ion Pairs in the Second‐Order NLO Response of 4‐X‐1‐Methylpiridinium Salts

A series of 4‐X‐1‐methylpyridinium cationic nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores (X=(E)‐CH?CHC₆H₅; (E)‐CH?CHC₆H₄‐4′‐C(CH₃)₃; (E)‐CH?CHC₆H₄‐4′‐N(CH₃)₂; (E)‐CH?CHC₆H₄‐4′‐N(C₄H₉)₂; (E,E)‐(CH?CH)₂C₆H₄‐4′‐N(CH₃)₂) with various organic (CF₃SO₃^?, p‐CH₃C₆H₄SO₃^?), inorganic (I^?, ClO₄^?, SCN^?, [Hg₂I₆]^2?) and organometallic (cis‐[Ir(CO)₂I₂]^?) counter anions are studied with the aim of investigating the role of ion pairing and of ionic dissociation or aggregation of ion pairs in controlling their second‐order NLO response in anhydrous chloroform solution. The combined use of electronic absorption spectra, conductimetric measurements and pulsed field gradient spin echo (PGSE) NMR experiments show that the second‐order NLO response, investigated by the electric‐field‐induced second harmonic generation (EFISH) technique, of the salts of the cationic NLO chromophores strongly depends upon the nature of the counter anion and concentration. The ion pairs are the major species at concentration around 10^?3 M , and their dipole moments were determined. Generally, below 5×10^?4 M , ion pairs start to dissociate into ions with parallel increase of the second‐order NLO response, due to the increased concentration of purely cationic NLO chromophores with improved NLO response. At concentration higher than 10^?3 M , some multipolar aggregates, probably of H type, are formed, with parallel slight decrease of the second‐order NLO response. Ion pairing is dependent upon the nature of the counter anion and on the electronic structure of the cationic NLO chromophore. It is very strong for the thiocyanate anion in particular and, albeit to a lesser extent, for the sulfonated anions. The latter show increased tendency to self‐aggregate.     

Voltammetric detection of metals and metal compounds on surfaces following a new sampling technique using alkali amalgam droplets

We propose a new method for the voltammetric detection of metals and metal compounds on surfaces of sold materials. The method is based on the reduction of oxidized metal compounds using an alkali amalgam droplet, the dissolution of the metals in the amalgam droplet, finally followed by recording the voltammetric anodic dissolution of the metal. The sample collection and all the following steps, including the voltammetric measurement, are performed at the same site of the sample and without any temporal interruption as one and the same electrode system is used for all steps. The proposed method is as an easy to handle, non-destructive express analysis for a wide range of samples.     

ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDIES ON THE MECHANISM OF THE PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY OF TUMORS

Abstract Balb/c mice bearing a transplanted MS-2 fibrosarcoma were injected with 2.5 mg kg ¹ of either tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl/porphine (TPPS) in phosphate-buffered saline or 0.5 mg kg⁻¹ of Zn²⁺-phthalocyanine (Zn-Pc) incorporated into unilamellar liposomes of dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine. Chromatographic studies showed that TPPS is mainly transported in the serum by globulins and albumin, while Zn-Pc is specifically bound by lipoproteins. Exposure of the injected mice to red light (300 J cm⁻²) caused extensive tumor necrosis. The ultrastructural analysis of tumor specimens taken from mice at 15 h after PDT showed that TPPS photoinduces a preferential necrosis of the neoplastic cells, while Zn-Pc causes severe photodamage to both the vascular system and the neoplastic cells. The different modes of tumor photosensitization by TPPS and Zn-Pc are discussed on the basis of the transport mechanism of the two dyes.     

True detection limit of rare earth elements in atomic emission analysis with an arc two-jet plasmatron

The “true detection limit” C_L,true was measured by a method proposed by Boumans et al. for 10 prominent lines of La, Ce, Pr, Nd and Sm, the most abundant rare earth elements (REEs) in geological samples. It is demonstrated how spectral interferences can increase of C_L,true. The spectra were excited in an argon arc plasma jet with evaporation powders of five complex natural samples. The data show that there is a significant increase of C_L,true in real samples containing large concentrations of such elements as Ti, Zr, Cr, Nb, Ta and REEs emitting complex spectra. Received: 17 June 1997 / Revised: 20 October 1997 / Accepted: 26 October 1997