Method extension study to validate applicability of AOAC Official Method 997.03 visual immunoprecipitate assay (VIP) for Listeria monocytogenes and related Listeria spp. from environmental surfaces: collaborative study

Test portions from 3 environmental surface types, representative of typical surfaces found in a food production facility, were analyzed by the Visual Immunoprecipitate assay (VIP) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA/FSIS) culture method for Listeria monocytogenes and related Listeria species. In all cases, naturally contaminated environmental test samples were collected from an actual food production facility by sponge or swab. Test samples from concrete surfaces were collected by both swab and sponge; sponge test samples were collected from rubber surfaces, and swabs were used to sample steel surfaces. Test portions from each surface type were simultaneously analyzed by both methods. A total of 27 laboratories, representing government agencies as well as private industry in both the United States and Canada, participated in the study. During this study, a total of 615 test portions and controls was analyzed and confirmed, of which 227 were positive and 378 were negative by both methods. Nine test portions were positive by culture, but negative by the VIP. Five test portions were negative by culture, but positive by the VIP. Four test portions were negative by VIP and by culture, but confirmed positive when VIP enrichment broths were subcultured to selective agars. The data reported here indicate that the VIP method and the USDA/FSIS culture method are statistically equivalent for detection of L. monocytogenes and related Listeria species from environmental surfaces taken by sponges or swabs.     

Substituent effects on pyrid-2-yl ureas toward intramolecular hydrogen bonding and cytosine complexation

Equilibria between two conformational isomers of pyrid-2-yl ureas, the (E,Z) and (Z,Z) forms, have been studied in DMF-d(7) at -70 degrees C. Most of them show a small preference for the (E,Z) form with an equilibrium constant K(i) around 1-2. However, the K(i) value for 1-methyl-2-(3-(pyrid-2-yl)ureido)pyridinium iodide (12) was found to be 14.2 +/- 1.2. That is 1 order of magnitude larger than those of the others, which indicates that the positively charged 1-methylpyridinium-2-yl substituent would facilitate the (E,Z) form formation. Pyrid-2-yl ureas bind cytosine in DMF-d(7) with binding constants K(B) ranging from 30 to 1700 M(-1). Electron withdrawing substituents, such as the 4-O(2)NC(6)H(4)- or 1-methylpyridinium-4-yl substituent, preferentially facilitate the intermolecular cytosine complexation with large binding constants.     

Pressurized liquid extraction of active ingredients (ginsenosides) from medicinal plants using non-ionic surfactant solutions

The feasibility of employing aqueous non-ionic surfactant solutions as an alternative solvent system in pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) is demonstrated for the first time using the roots of American ginseng as model solid samples. When compared to the use of pure water or methanol, the presence of a common non-ionic surfactant (Triton X-100) in water at a concentration above its critical micelle concentration was shown to enhance the amount of pharmacologically active ingredients (ginsenosides) extracted from ginseng roots. The advantages of using aqueous non-surfactant solutions were also demonstrated by comparing extraction performances between ultrasonic-assisted extraction and PLE methods. Furthermore, the combination of PLE and cloud point extraction was shown to be a new and effective approach for the rapid sample preconcentration of herbal materials prior to analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography.     

Photodynamic effects of mTHPC on human colon adenocarcinoma cells: photocytotoxicity,subcellular localization and apoptosis

The photodynamic properties of meta-tetra(hydroxyphenyl)chlorin (mTHPC), a promising second-generation photosensitizer, were investigated using a human colon adenocarcinoma cell line (Colo 201 cells). The study on photocytotoxicity using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide reduction assay showed that mTHPC was an effective photosensitizer on Colo 201 cells. The photocytotoxicity of mTHPC showed both drug and light dose-dependent characteristics. To reach LD50, namely, the dose at which 50% of the cells were killed, only 0.45+/-0.15 microg/mL of mTHPC and 3 J/cm2 of light dose were required. The presence of 10% fetal calf serum in culture medium significantly decreased the incorporation of mTHPC into cells and resulted in the reduction of photodynamic efficacy. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy, mTHPC was first shown to localize in lysosomes rather than in mitochondria. Furthermore, nuclear stainings demonstrated that photodynamic therapy with mTHPC induced apoptosis in Colo 201 cells.     

Basic mass spectrometric investigations of amino acid-fluorescamine derivatives

Mass spectra of fluorescamine derivatives of seventeen of the naturally occuring amino acids have been studied using electron ionization mass spectrometry. Seven fragmentation processes of fluorophors are proposed and elucidated by accurate mass measurements, stable isotope incorpor-ation and low resolution spectra. Two major pathways contributed most of the predominant peaks in the mass spectra. All fragmentations involve specific rearrangements of the spiro ring, while some lose the amino acid sidechain. Identification of the amino acid is unequivocally established in the low resolution spectra. Loss of one oxygen atom from the dehydrated fluorophors was found for all compounds studied. The site of this loss was determined by incorporation of ¹⁸O into the carbonyl groups of fluorescamine.     

Hydrogen migrations in mass spectrometry. IV—formation of [C6H7]+ in the chemical ionization mass spectra of alkylbenzenes

Using specific deuterium labelling the mechanisms of the olefin elimination reactions leading to formation of [C₆H₇]+ in the H₂ and CH₄ chemical ionizatin mass spectra of ethylbenzene and n-propylbenzene (and to [C₂H₅C₆H₆]+ in the CH₄ chemical ionization mass spectra) have been investigated. The results show that the reaction does not occur by specific migration of H from the β position of the alkyl group to the benzene ring. For ethylbenzene 23–29% of the migrating H originates from the α-position, while for n-propylbenzene H migration from all propyl positions is observed in the approximate ratio, position 1:position 2:position 3=0.30:0.22:0.48. It is proposed that the results can be explained on the basis of competing H migration from each alkyl position involving cyclic transition states of different ring sizes, rather than by H randomization within the alkyl chain.     

Interactions of silicate ions with zinc(II) and aluminum(III) in alkaline aqueous solution

We present (29)Si, (27)Al, and (67)Zn NMR evidence to show that silicate ions in alkaline solution form complexes with zinc(II) (present as zincate, Zn(OH)(3)(-) or Zn(OH)(4)(2-)) and, concomitantly, with aluminate (Al(OH)(4)(-)). Zincate reacts with monomeric silicate at pH 14-15 to form [(HO)O(2)Si-O-Zn(OH)(3)](4-) and with dimeric silicate to produce [HO-SiO(2)-O-SiO(2)-O-Zn(OH)(3)](6-). The exchange of Si between these free and Zn-bound sites is immeasurably fast on the (29)Si NMR time scale. The cyclic silicate trimer reacts relatively slowly and incompletely with zincate to form [(HO)(3)Zn{(SiO(3))(3)}](7-). The concentration of the cyclic trimer becomes further depleted because zincate scavenges the silicate monomer and dimer, with which the cyclic trimer is in equilibrium on the time scale of sample preparation. Identification of these zincate-silicate complexes is supported by quantum chemical theoretical calculations. Aluminate and zincate, when present together, compete roughly equally for a deficiency of silicate to form [(HO)(3)ZnOSiO(2)OH](4-) and [(HO)(3)AlOSiO(2)OH](3-) which exchange (29)Si at a fast but measurable rate.     

Thermal conductivity of poly(ether ether ketone) and its short-fiber composites

The effects of crystallinity, orientation, and short-fiber filler on the thermal diffusivity D and thermal conductivity K of poly (ether ether ketone) (PEEK) have been studied. Below the glass transition, D increases by less than 10% as the crystallinity increases from 0 to 0.3. For amorphous PEEK, there is an abrupt drop in D at the glass transition (T_g ? 420 K). The drop is less prominent for the 30% crystalline sample and occurs at 20 K higher. At a draw ratio of 2.5, the axial thermal conductivity is 2.3 times higher while the transverse thermal conductivity is 30% lower than that of the unoriented material. For an injection-molded bar of carbon fiber reinforced PEEK, the variation of D with position along the width or thickness direction is found to correlate well with the fiber orientation. By regarding the injection-molded bar as a multidirectional laminate comprising a large number of unidirectional plies, the thermal conductivities along the longitudinal and transverse direction are calculated and found to agree closely with the experimental data. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Tetraaquatetrakis(trimethylphosphine oxide‐κO)cerium(III) trichloride trihydrate

The title compound, [Ce(C₃H₉OP)₄(H₂O)₄]Cl₃·3H₂O, con­tains eight‐coordinate Ce atoms in an approximate dodeca­hedral arrangement, with Ce—O(P) = 2.372 (2)–2.423 (2) Å and Ce—O(H₂) = 2.518 (2)–2.630 (2) Å.     

Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection.

A number of reliable methods are currently available for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection. These diagnostic tests can be classified into invasive methods that require endoscopy and gastric biopsy, and noninvasive methods. Invasive methods include gastric mucosal biopsies at endoscopy for bacteriologic culture, histology, and the rapid urease test. Noninvasive methods include the urea breath test and serologic tests. Each of these diagnostic tests has its advantages and disadvantages. Histologic examination remains the gold standard for diagnosis. It can also detect coccoidal forms of the bacteria and be used to assess the severity of gastritis. Culture of H pylori should be performed if antibiotic sensitivity of the organism is required. A rapid urease test is the quickest test for H pylori status. The urea breath test detects urease activity in the entire stomach, thus eliminating the possibility of a sampling error, which occurs in random gastric biopsies. Serologic tests using either ELISA or latex-agglutination methods are excellent for diagnosis of H pylori infection, but not useful for monitoring effects of therapy. Recently, the polymerase chain reaction has been applied to fixed-tissue biopsies, as well as body secretions in the diagnosis of H pylori infection.