Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differences in thermotolerance of variousEscherichia coliO157:H7 strains in a salami matrix☆

Three strains ofEscherichia coliO157:H7 (ATCC 43895, Ent C9490 and 380–94) were inoculated into salami and heated in water baths at 50, 55 or 60°C. At intervals between 1 and 360 min, salami samples were removed from the water bath and examined for the presence of survivingE. coliO157:H7. Samples were directly plated onto sorbitol MacConkey (SMAC) agar, and onto tryptone soya agar (TSA) with SMAC overlay. The number of sub-lethally damaged cells in each sample was estimated from the differences between the resultant direct (uninjured cells only) and overlay (total recovery) counts. In samples heated at 50°C, the percentage of cell injury ranged from 71·8–88% for all strains. In samples heated at 55°C the percentage of sub-lethally damaged cells in strains ATCC 43895 and Ent C9490 was significantly higher (P< 0·001) at 97% than that observed in strain 380–94 (64%). Cell injury was not measured at 60°C. There were significant differences between the derived decimal reduction times (D-values) related to the different strains ofE. coliO157:H7, the heat treatment applied and the recovery/enumeration agars used. Significant interstrain differences (P< 0·05) in thermotolerance were noted. Strain Ent C9490 was significantly more heat resistant at 50°C and 60°C (D-values of 116·9 and 2·2 min, respectively), while at 55°C strain 380–94 was more thermotolerant (D-value of 21·9 min). The implications of these findings for the design of studies investigating the heat resistance ofE. coliO157:H7 in fermented meat environments are discussed.
Hydrothermal synthesis of ferroelectric perovskites from chemically modified titanium isopropoxide and acetate salts

The feasibility of the acetylacetonate-Ti isopropoxide complex as a new precursor for synthesis of Ti-based perovskite particles under hydrothermal conditions has been demonstrated. Perovskite powders including BaTiO_3, PbTiO_3, PZT, PLZT, and SrTiO_3 were prepared by reacting the acetylacetonate-modified Ti precursor in metal acetate aqueous salt solution under hydrothermal conditions. Synthesis parameters including reaction time and temperature, feedstock concentration, nd reaction medium significantly influence particle characteristics of the hydrothermally derived erovskite powders. It is proposed that use of the acetylacetonate-modified Ti precursor promotes ntimate mixing among multicomponent reacting species at the molecular level and promotes article formation through a dissolution/recrystallization mechanism.
INHIBITION OF FLAMES BY IRON PENTACARBONYL

In previous research [5-81 we have confirmed that Fe(C0)s is extraordinarily effective, but have also found that its incremental effectiveness decreases rapidly as it is added in higher concentrations. For example, adding 200 ppm of Fe(C0)S to premixed methane-air flames reduces the burning velocity by nearly 50%, but increasing the concentration beyond 200 ppm does not lead to significant additional reduction. The goal of the present research is to understand both the powerful inhibition at low concentration and the lack of additional effect as more inhibitor is added. A critical part of the research on Fe(C0)S is to understand iron pentacarbonyl's diminishing effectiveness at high mole fraction in order to avoid similar behavior in future fire suppressants. We also seek to determine the relative effects of homogeneous and heterogeneous chemistry in the Fe(C0)s inhibition mechanism. If particulates play a key role in the inhibition, then the search for halon alternatives could be directed toward chemicals that produce similar condensed-phase compounds. Our study of flame inhibition is intended to provide insights into flame suppression. Although the processes have different end points (weakening the flame vs. extinguishing it), the underlying mechanism is similar: the agent reduces the overall reaction rate of the fuel-air mixture. Inhibition can be viewed as the stage of suppression in which the inhibitor weakens the flame, making it more vulnerable to extinction by external factors such as heat loss or fluid-mechanical
Optical characteristics of a ruthenium(II) complex immobilized in a silicone rubber film for oxygen measurement

The optical characteristics of tris(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline)ruthenium(II) perchlorate immobilized in a silicone rubber film were studied for its application to the measurement of oxygen. The luminescence intensity and the degree of quenching of the ruthenium complex by oxygen were shown to be affected by the concentration of the complex in the silicone rubber film. The optimum concentration was found to be about 0.2 mmol dm–3. At this concentration, the silicone rubber film containing the immobilized ruthenium complex emits the highest luminescence intensity and is able to undergo a high degree of quenching of the luminescence by oxygen. The quenching curves for 20 samples containing various concentrations of the ruthenium complex were correlated with high accuracy by using a modified form of the Stern–Volmer equation. The film preparation procedure and the solvent used were found to be critical for performance. The effect of the film thickness on the luminescence intensity and the dynamic response was also studied.
Theoretical performance of transcritical carbon dioxide cycle with two-stage compression and intercooling

Abstract A computer model was developed to perform a thermodynamic analysis of the transcritical carbon dioxide cycle with two-stage compression and intercooling. In typical two-stage compression with intercooling applications, the intercooler serves the purpose of cooling the fluid to the lowest possible temperature before it enters the second-stage compressor. This paper presents the results of the system analysis of the transcritical carbon dioxide cycle with two-stage compression and intercooling (intercooler cycle) and identifies the pressure ratios that provide maximum system efficiency. The results show that the coefficient of performance (COP), curves of the intercooler cycle are different from the ‘typical bell curve behaviours’ that are observed when plotting the COP versus the intermediate pressure with assumptions of isentropic and real compression process.
Effects of nitrogen plasma post-treatment on electrical conduction of carbon nanowalls

For utilization in future electronic application of graphene materials, nitrogen (N) atom doping into graphene sheets is an important technology. We investigated the electrical conduction of carbon nanowalls (CNWs), consisting of stacks of graphene sheets standing vertically on substrates. By post-treatment for 30 s, the electrical conductivity of CNWs increased. On the other hand, as the post-treatment time increased, the electrical conductivity decreased. According to Hall measurement, the carrier density decreased with increasing post-treatment time, while the carrier mobility increased. Consequently, the electrical conduction of the CNWs was successfully controlled by N2 plasma treatment.
The acidity of surface groups of dioctahedral smectites

Abstract Suspensions of thirty six bentonites were equilibrated for 24 h and then adjusted to pH 3. After an hour, pH titrations up to pH 12 at varying ionic strengths were performed within 4.5 h. The titration data were recalculated into proton affinity distributions (PAD) using the condensed approximation. In spite of widely varying chemical compositions, all bentonites showed a protonation reaction between pK 4 and 5, which could be assigned to aluminol groups at the edge surfaces of the smectites. The average pK is 4.73 ± 0.31. A second prominent peak in the PAD at pK = 10.43 ± 0.13 could be assigned to exchangeable Mg2+ in the interlayer space. The possibility to constrain both pK values at a fixed average value will decrease the number of parameters in surface complexation modelling and thus enhance its convergence.
Determination of volatile fatty acids (C2—C5) and lactic acid in silage by gas chromatography

A gas chromatographic procedure using a graphitised carbon black packing coated with Carbowax 20M has been developed for the determination of volatile fatty acids and lactic acid in silage. This packing gave improved results compared with porous polymer column materials. The method was precise (relative standard deviation for each acid 0.5–5%) and gave a quantitative recovery of acids spiked into silage extracts (98–109%). The results for the determination of lactic acid in silage obtained by the GC procedure were in good agreement with results obtained by a classical distillation procedure; however, the GC method was more selective, more precise and less time consuming. The method has been shown to be of value in the determination of volatile fatty acids and lactic acid in connection with the assessment of silage quality.
Analytical approach to molecular liquids. III. The Born solvation free energy of two fixed ions in a dipolar solvent

The Born solvation free energy (BSFE) of two ions at a fixed distance from one another in a model polar solvent is obtained via two approaches. In the interaction‐site approach, the two ions are modeled as a rigid extended dipolar dumbbell. Analytical expressions for the BSFE for such a dumbbell model in a dipolar dumbbell and a dipolar hard‐sphere solvent are obtained under a mean spherical approximation (MSA). In the second approach, a thermodynamic cycle is established such that the BSFE for two ions a fixed distance apart can be expressed in terms of the solvent‐averaged potential between the two ions and other known quantities. The results obtained via these two approaches are reasonably consistent, with the thermodynamic‐cycle BSFE as a function of distance exhibiting more of the structure one expects to find in a molecular solvent. Both BSFE functions are substantially different from the corresponding continuum‐solvent result. When the distance between two ions goes to infinity, our results reduce .
Biological Synthesis of Zinc oxide Nanoparticles from Catharanthusroseus (l.) G. Don. Leaf extract and validation for antibacterial activity

Biologically synthesized nanoparticles have been widely using in the field of medicine. Research in nanotechnology highlights the possibility of green chemistry pathways to produce technologically important nanomaterials. Present study focuses on the Biological synthesis of Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) by Zinc acetate and sodium hydroxide utilizing the biocomponents of leaves of Catharanthus roseus. The samples were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDAX) and FT-Raman Spectroscopy. The synthesized ZnO-NPs were found to be spherical in shape with an average size of 23 to 57 nm. These ZnO-NPs were evaluated for antibacterial activity. The maximum diameter of inhibition zones around the ZnONPs disk used for Bacillus thuringiensis indicates the resistance to ZnO NPs followed by Escherichia coli. Among the four bacterial species tested, the Pseudomonas aeuroginosa is more susceptible when compared with other three species. It is concluded that the biological synthesis of ZnO NPs is very fast, easy, cost effective and eco-friendly and without any side effects and ZnO Nps may be used for the preparation of antibacterial formulations against Pseudomonas aeuroginosa
Fullerene-Modified Poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) Gas Separation Membranes: Why Binding Is Better than Dispersing

This paper describes the preparation, characterization, and the permeation properties of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) dense polymer films containing fullerenes (C60). The C60 are either dispersed or covalently bonded to PPO at various concentrations. The gas permeability results are very different between covalently bonded and dispersed PPO−C60. The gas permeability of PPO−C60 bonded increases up to 80% with increasing fullerene concentration. The gas pair selectivity, however, stays constant. This behavior is probably due to stiffening of the polymer structure and increase of free volume. The gas permeability through the PPO−C60 dispersed decreases in comparison to pure PPO. This reduction is due to C60 clustering in the polymer. The clusters seem to induce polymer crystallinity, and they are probably aligned along the film plane, creating an extra barrier for gas permeation.
Essential elements content in core vegetables grown and consumed in Ghana by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Food is the primary source of essential nutrients for man. Vegetables are essential part of the Ghanaian diet; therefore the nutritional status of vegetables is of importance. Vegetables that constitute an esse-ntial part of the Ghanaian diet have been analyzed for essential elements content (Ca, Mg, K, Co, Br, Mn, and Na) using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). The purpose of the study was to design a nutrient database of the core vegetables grown and consumed in Ghana and in addition to ascertain the content of the essential elements in the vegetables. The accuracy of the method was verified by analysis of a compositionally appropriate reference material, IAEA -359 (CABBAGE). The results of the study revealed the presence of Br, Ca, Co, K, Mg, Mn, and Na in all the five vegetables studied. Ca, Mg, and K were present in the g/kg range in all five vegetables. The content of Na, Mn, Co and Br was in the mg/kg range in all five vegetables investigated. Key words: Vegetables, Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis, Elemental concentration, Ghana
Síntesis de materiales zeolíticos a partir de ceniza volcánica en presencia y ausencia de bromuro de cetiltrimetilamonio

Zeolitic materials as Na-phillipsite, Na-K-phillipsite-like zeolites and the mixtures of zeolites (phillipsite+analcime and phillipsite+chabazite+analcime) were synthesized from volcanic ash, either in presence and absence of cetiltrimetilamonium bromide (CTAB). The ash sample used in the laboratory experiments contains 75.36 % SiO 2 and 14.11 % Al 2 O 3 , abundances. The reaction time as well as the influence of CTAB were studied in the zeolitic materials crystallization. The experiments were carried out under hydrothermal conditions, autogenic pressure and temperature of 150 oC, as well as reaction time from 8 to 116 h. Products from this hydrotermal treatment were identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and characterized by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Of the zeolitic materials obtained the Na-K-phillipsite-like zeolite was found to be the most effective for the retention of cations Pb 2 + , Zn 2 + , and Ba 2+ .
Aqueous polymerization of acrylamide initiated by acidic potassium permanganate–ascorbic acid redox system

The polymerization of acrylamide initiated by the acidic permanganate–ascorbic acid redox pair has been studied in aqueous media at 30 ± 0.2°C in nitrogen atmosphere. The initial rate of polymerization has been found to be proportional to nearly the first power of the catalyst KMnO4 concentration within the range 6.0 × 10−3–14.0 × 10−3 mole/l. The rate is proportional to the first power of the monomer concentration within the range 4.00 × 10−2–12.0 × 10−2 mole/l. However, the rate of polymerization is independent of ascorbic acid concentration within the range 3.0 × 10−3–6.0 × 10−3 mole/l. , but the further increase of the concentration depresses the rate of polymerization as well as maximum conversion. The initial rate increases but the maximum conversion decreases as the temperature is increased within the range 20–35°C. The overall energy of activation has been found to be 9.8 kcal/mole. The optimum amount of sulfuric acid is essential to initiate the polymerization but its presence in excess produces no effect either on the rate of reaction or the maximum conversion. Water-miscible organic solvents and salts, e.g., CH3OH, C2H5OH, (CH3)2CHOH, KCl, and Na2SO4, depress the rate. Slight amounts of MnSO4 · H2O and a complexing agent NaF increase the rate of polymerization. Cationic and anionic detergents have been found to decrease and increase the rate, respectively, while nonionic surfactants have no effect on the rate of polymerization.
Transient-Diffusion Measurements of Radon: Practical Interpretation of Measured Data

The mathematical calculation to obtain a radon diffusion coefficient from measured radon transient-diffusion data is usually done by fitting a difference equation to the data. The difference equation is obtained through transformation of the time-dependent diffusion equation based on Fick's law. But, actual measured transient-diffusion data often have much scatter. Therefore just fitting over the whole range of the measured data through the method of least squares may not always be valid, because the method offers a mathematical interpretation rather than a physical one. Instead, the actual radon diffusion coefficients must be otherwise obtainable from measured radon transient data. Taking this viewpoint, the present paper claims that about a 90% leveling-off time is often easily discernible regardless of the shape of the radon transient curve obtained from the measured data and it can be a decisive factor for determining the radon diffusion coefficient. Alternatively, transient diffusion data during the taking-off period of the transient for a ramp-wise introduction of radon into the targeted soil column are not so scattered and can also be decisive. The present paper provides theoretical justifications to support these claims.
Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes: Host–Guest Interactions and Hydrogen-Bonding Networks

An overview is given on the structural characteristics of α-, β- and γ-cyclodextrins (CDs). These cyclic oligosaccharides consisting of six, seven and eight glucoses form inclusion complexes with guest molecules small enough to fit into their central cavities and serve as good model systems for non-covalent bonding. Depending on the size and the ionic or molecular nature of the guests, the complexes crystallize in cage- or channel-type structures. X-ray and neutron diffraction have been used to study intermolecular interactions; they provide insight into O—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds stabilizing the macrocyclic conformations and the inclusion of the guest molecules. Throughout the crystal lattices of the CD hydrates, which abound with O—H groups, cooperative networks are formed by O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds; in the β-CD macrocycle, dynamic disorder of the flip-flop type is observed, O—(½H)⋯(½H)—O, between O(2)—H and O(3)—H groups of adjacent glucoses.
CYCLIC TRINUCLEAR GOLD(I) COMPOUNDS: SYNTHESIS, STRUCTURES AND SUPRAMOLECULAR ACID-BASE π-STACKS

Trinuclear 9-membered rings can be formed by gold(I) ions with exobidentate C,N or N,N monoanionic ligands. They are generally slightly irregular and puckered unless the metallocycle is imposed by intramolecular crystallographic symmetry. Gold-gold intramolecular interactions are always present and the complexes exhibit a roughly D3h symmetry. Crystal structures of these trinuclear complexes show individual complexes, dimers supramolecular columnar packing or more complex supramolecular aggregates. Dimers and supramolecular structures are held together by aurophilic intermolecular gold-gold interactions. Bulky substituents on the ligands can prevent intermolecular metal-metal interactions or the formation of supramolecular architectures. It is well established that the Au(I) center in many linear 2-coordinate Au(I) complexes displays electrophilic tendencies in reaction chemistry while also often accepting electron donors to expand the coordination. Trinuclear Au(I) pyrazolates, carbeniates and benzylimidazolates are well known and undergo electron loss through oxidative addition forming first Au(I,III) mixed valence species and ultimately (with the carbeniates, TR(carb), the benzylimidazolates, TR(bzim) and the chlorinated pyrazolate TR(Cl-pz) trinuclear Au(III) species. Surprisingly, these Au(I) carbeniates and benzylimidazolates also are excellent bases for the metals cations Tl(I) and Ag(I). The acidic, neutral [Hg(C6F4)3]3 interacts with TR(carb) and TR(bzim) as seen by X-ray solid state and solution NMR measurements. Recently it has been shown that the neutral pi acids C6F6 and TCNQ also form stacked pi-acid, pi-base solid state products with TR(carb) and TR(bzim). The TR(bzim) and TR(carb) products are luminescent as solids but C6F6 intercalation quenches the luminescence of the p-tol, ethoxy TR(carb), which is a dimer in the solid state. It is interesting that pi-acid, pi-base stacking can involve either a ABAB pattern or an ABBABBA pattern of the molecules, where B is base, TR(carb) or TR(bzim). The B units are aurophilically bonded to each other by two Au…Au linkages. DFT calculations demonstrate that the basicity of the BB dimer is increased relative to the molecular species.
Multiple Myeloma: Increasing Evidence for a Multistep Transformation Process

MULTIPLE MYELOMA (MM) is a clonal B-cell neoplasm that affects terminally differentiated B cells (ie, plasma cells) and may proceed through different phases: an inactive phase in which tumor cells are nonproliferating mature plasma cells, an active phase with a small percentage (<1%) of
Botrytis cinereaManipulates the Antagonistic Effects between Immune Pathways to Promote Disease Development in Tomato

Mohamed El Oirdi,a,1,2 Taha Abd El Rahman,a,1 Luciano Rigano,b Abdelbasset El Hadrami,c Marı́a Cecilia Rodriguez,d Fouad Daayf,c Adrian Vojnov,b and Kamal Bouaraba,3 a Centre de Recherche en Amélioration Végétale, Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1K 2R1, Canada b Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnologı́a Dr. Cesar Milstein, Fundación Pablo Cassará-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientı́ficas y Técnicas (CONICET), Saladillo 2468-C1440FFX, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina c Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada d Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biologı́a Experimental and Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono (CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, C1428EGA Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
One-pot facile decoration of CdSe quantum dots on graphene nanosheets: novel graphene-CdSe nanocomposites with tunable fluorescent properties

Fluorescent graphene-CdSe quantum dot (QD) (G-CdSe) nanocomposites with tunable optical properties can be prepared by a one-pot facile decoration of CdSe QDs on graphene nanosheets. The formation of such nanocomposites is based on the interaction between the surfactants on the surfaces of the synthesized graphene and the CdSe QDs through electrostatic interactions and van der Waals forces of the long chain alkane surfactants. PXRD, TEM and PL spectra have been acquired to demonstrate the successful decoration of CdSe QDs on graphene nanosheets. This kind of nanocomposite may have potential applications in bio-imaging and light emitting devices in the future.
Biodiversity, ecosystems and coastal zone management: linking science and policy

Coastal zone ecosystems and the goods and services they provide are under increasing pressure from anthropogenic impacts. Climate change and demographic effects are particularly rele- vant, and it is critical to establish proper control systems (policies) to protect and conserve the wide- ranging benefits that these systems provide. The concept of 'holistic assessment', the Ecosystem Ap- proach, is now being widely promoted, but the relationship between the science supporting this policy and the development of the policy itself is not always well-coordinated. This Theme Section discusses applications of science to coastal zone management and provides a critique of some approaches.