A VALIDATED PREDICTIVE MODEL FOR LISTERIA INNOCUA GROWTH AT SUPERATMOSPHERIC OXYGEN AND CARBON DIOXIDE CONCENTRATIONS

Predictive modelling and validation of Listeria innocua growth at superatmospheric oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations

Predictive modelling and validation of Pseudomonas fluorescens growth at superatmospheric oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations

For the design of high oxygen modified atmosphere packages, knowledge and modelling of respiration rates at both low and super‐atmospheric oxygen levels is required. Fresh‐cut butterhead lettuce was stored in glass jars at three different temperatures (1 °C, 5 °C and 9 °C), three carbon dioxide levels (0, 10 and 20 kPa) and eight different levels of oxygen partial pressures (0, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 70 and 100 kPa). Oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production rates were measured. The respiration rates were significantly reduced by low temperatures and elevated carbon dioxide concentrations up to 10 kPa. At carbon dioxide concentrations of 20 kPa the respiration rates were comparable to those at 0 kPa CO2 probably due to an injury response. Oxygen concentrations had to be below 2 kPa to significantly reduce the respiration rates compared to air conditions. Respiration rates were also slightly lower under super‐atmospheric (50, 70 and 100 kPa) oxygen partial pressures than at air conditions. Additionally, a Michaelis–Menten based model to describe the respiration rates as a function of oxygen, carbon dioxide and temperature was constructed. Models that include respiration rates at super‐atmospheric oxygen levels have not previously been described. The inhibitive effects of carbon dioxide and high oxygen concentrations were incorporated by an uncompetitive and a non‐competitive inhibition term respectively. Temperature effects were described using Arrhenius' law. The model gave a good description (R2adj = 0.82) of the oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production rates over the temperature, oxygen and carbon dioxide range tested. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry

Carbon assimilation at low carbon dioxide levels was measured on three Oryza specics (O. sativa L. cv. Toyonishiki, O. officinalis Wall, and O. meyriana Baill.), Brassica napus L. cv. Michinokunatane and Triticum aestivum L. cv. Konosu No.25. Measurements were made at two different oxygen concentrations; 140% and 21% (atmospheric pressure). An improvement in measurement device was made for ensuring an accuracy of the meter readings. That is, a recorder with a modulator was used to enlarge the differences in the carbon dioxide concentration; two- and five-fold for carbon dioxide levels above and below carbon dioxidc compensation point (gamma), respectively. It seems that HEATH and ORCHARD (1968) and HOLMGREN and JARVIS (1967) Changed the carbon dioxide concentration at large intervals, resulting in 3 to 5 measurements below gamma. Such a few measurements would obscure the statistics of the carbon dioxide exchangc rate at low carbon dioxide levels. The changes of carbon dioxide concentration in this experiment, however, were made at intervals of about 2 or 4 ppm from 0 ppm to gamma, resulting in 7 to 14 mean values below it. As the characteristics of carbon dioxide absorption at low carbon dioxide levels, GABRIELSEN (1948) proposed the 'threshold hyPothesis' in which gamma was regarded as a threshold value below which no assimilaton occurred, while HEATH and 0RCHARD (1968) postulated the existence of a 'third process', in addition to ordinary (dark) respiration and assimilation, which could be expected to have a different balance between respiration and assimilation. They denied the adoptation of the threshold hypothesis. From the prescnt experiment in which the carbon dioxide exchange rates were traced by Changing the Carbon dioxide concentrations at very small intervals, hwever, it appeared that the rate of carbon dioxide uptake at low carbon dioxide levels and atmospheric oxygen pressure tended to decrease toward 1/2 gamma carbon dioxide level, and the carbon dioxide uptake seems to cease and only the carbon dioxide release secms to occur below it. In case of measurements at 14% oxygen concentration the situation was similar to those at 2l% oxygen concentration, but a considerable decrease of the value of gamma. Thus, the process of carbon dioxide uptake at low carbon dioxide levels seems to imply the threshold hypothesis and 1/2 gamma seems to be an approximation of the threshold value. The assimilation rate is estimated as the ratio of carbon dioxide concentration differences between ambient air and assimilation center to the sum of diffusion resistances.As an estimate of carbon dioxide levels in the assimilation center in this formula, GAASTRA (1959) proposed zero, while BIERHUIZEN and SLAYTER (1964) adopted the Practise of using gamma to estimate it. From the results mentioned above, we could propose to use 1/2 gamma as its primary approximation because the photosynthetic center would be exposed to this carbon dioxide level but not absorb it.

The effect of oxygen (low and superatmospheric concentrations), carbon dioxide and temperature on the respiration rate of fresh-cut butterhead lettuce, was evaluated. The lettuce was stored in glass jars at three different temperatures (1°C, 5°C and 9°C). The jars were flushed with humidified gas mixtures. Three carbon dioxide levels (0, 10 and 20 kPa) were combined with 8 different levels of oxygen concentrations (0, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 70 and 100 kPa). Temperature, carbon dioxide and oxygen concentrations significantly influenced the respiration rate. A model based on Michaelis-Menten kinetics to describe the respiration rates was constructed. The influence of temperature was described using an Arrhenius equation, and carbon dioxide was considered as an uneompetitive inhibitor of the respiration. The inhibiting effect of superatmospheric oxygen concentrations was described by a non-competitive inhibition term.

Objectives The purpose of this study is to examine changes in carbon dioxide concentration and noise levels in classrooms, and to analyze the effects of these changes on elementary school students' attention and problem behaviors. Methods First, To measure the change of carbon dioxide and noise levels in classrooms, theses levels were measured in general classroom, specific subject classroom, and specific subject classroom with ventilation system operating. Second, to analyze the effect of carbon dioxide and noise levels on students’ attention and problem behavior, situations where both carbon dioxide and noise levels are low (cLnL), only carbon dioxide levels are high (cHnL), and only noise levels are high (cLnH), and both carbon dioxide and noise levels are high (cHnH). Results The carbon dioxide concentration in each classroom ranged from 400 to 1951.8 ppm, and the noise level ranged from 12.6 to 96.6 db(A). As a result of analyzing the effects of carbon dioxide and noise levels on attention and problem behavior, it was resulted that the higher the noise level, the negatively correlated with Work instruction comprehension, Selective attention, and Sustained attention. In addition, problem behaviors occurred the least (3 times) in the cLnL group and the most (31 times) in the cHnH group. Conclusions Carbon dioxide concentration and noise levels in the school exceeded the standard. The learning environment can affect not only students' attention and problem behavior, but also their health. To improve this, physical environment improvement is required.

This experiment was conducted to observe the effect of the composition of atmospheric gases on the respiration of fruits and vegetables. The average of repiration rate of eggplants, Japanese pears, spinach and cauliflower (under storage in modified atmosphere) were lower than that under storage in air. Especially, the respiration rate of the products stored in modified atmosphere conta fined 5% oxygen and 5% carbon dioxide was about half of that in air. (Experiment I.)It is clear that a decline in the respiration of these products in storge is brought about by a combination of super-normal carbon dioxide concentration and reduced oxygen concentration. However, the data in experiment I has not been elucidated which is the main fatter concerning the reduction in respiration.In order to test the precise contribution of each of these fatter, experiment II was conducted both tests on oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations in atmospheric gases on the respiration of vegetables. Carbon dioxide test was carried out at the range of 0-20% and oxygen test was carried out at the range of 5-25%.In this experiment, the respiration rate of some vegetables could be controlled either by decrease of oxygen concentration or by increase of carbon dioxide concentration.It was found that there was three phases to control the respiration rate in practical CA-storage. Three phases were as follows: (1) decrease of oxygen concentration, (2) increase of carbon dioxide concentration and (3) both decrease of oxygen concentration and increase of carbon dioxide concentration. Vegetables showed pattern (1) were spinach, pea in pod, kidney bean, lettuce, bell peppers and eggplants. They were very sensitive to the oxygen content in atmospheric gases. Cauliflower belonged to pattern (2) which shows relatively sensitive carbon dioxide concentration. Other vegetables which are pattern (3) are strawberries, celery, tomatoes, welsh onion and garden asparagus. These vegetables were sensetive to carbon dioxide and oxygen concentration in the atmospheric gases. Thus, it was considered that the response of vegetables to special gases reducing the respiration was different from the kinds of vegetables.

The effects of incubator carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2) concentrations with parental stock age (PSA) on embryonic deaths (ED), hatchability of fertile eggs (HFE), some blood parameters, and the tissue development of broilers were investigated. Four consecutive repetitions following the similar materials and methods were carried. From 3 different aged ROSS 308 broiler parental flocks 7,680 hatching eggs were obtained and classified as young (Y; 29 wk), middle (M; 37 wk) and old (O; 55 wk) as regards PSA, and randomly distributed. Four different incubator ventilation programs (IVP) as control (C; 0.67% CO2 and 20.33% O2), high CO2 (HC; 1.57% CO2 and 20.26% O2), high O2 (HO; 0.50% CO2 and 21.16% O2), and high CO2 + O2 (HCO; 1.17% CO2 21.03% O2) were applied with oxygen concentrator, and ED and HFE were investigated. Lung and heart tissues, hemoglobin value, packed cell volume, and red blood cell count, triiodothyronine, thyroxine, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) values of the chicks were analyzed. It was found that IVP affected ED and HFE. Higher rate of early ED (EED) was obtained from the HC than HCO, and higher middle+late stage+pipped but unhatched ED (MLPED) with a lower rate of HFE was observed in the C group than HO and HCO (P < 0.05). Association was found between PSA and IVP (P < 0.05), being more evident in EED for young PSA, in MLPED with HFE for Y and O PSA. From hematological values, no statistical difference in RBC, PCV, and Hb values were found among the treatment groups, ACTH concentration known as a response to stress was found to be higher than C in all groups, triiodothyronine concentration was higher in the HO group than C. In the histopathological examination, used IVPs were found to have negative effects on the lung and heart such as vacuolization, hemorrhage in all PSA groups except for C. Conclusively, PSA and IVP affected some hatching, blood and tissue development parameters of the broiler chicks.

On the extinction characteristics of alcohol droplet combustion under microgravity conditions – A numerical study

The microcolony technique enables the effects of several atmospheric conditions on fungal growth to be studied by measuring the radius of the colony, while excluding effects of those conditions on germination of the sporangiospores. Various concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the gas environment were found to influence growth ofRhizopus oligosporus on malt extract/soya peptone/agar. The maximum radial growth rate was 1.48 mm/h and the maximum specific growth rate was 0.109 h−1 at 30°C. Oxygen became limiting below 1% (v/v), but growth remained possible at levels of 0.001% oxygen. Carbon dioxide stimulated growth at limiting oxygen levels. The specific growth rate increased from 0.043 h−1 at 0.5% (v/v) oxygen and 0% (v/v) carbon dioxide to 0.096 h−1 at 0.5% (v/v) oxygen and 5% (v/v) carbon dioxide. A mixture of 0.5% (v/v) oxygen and 35% (v/v) carbon dioxide inhibited growth. Delay of sporangiospore germination due to low (less than 0.001%) amounts of oxygen was not observed with the techniques used. Fungal activity in a rotating drum fermentor was more strongly affected by low levels of oxygen than was biomass formation on model media. High concentrations of carbon dioxide inhibited growth in the rotating drum fermentor at non-limiting levels of oxygen. It is concluded that aeration and heat removal are both essential aspects of optimization of large-scale solid-substrate bioreactors withRh. oligosporus.

The microcolony technique enables the effects of several atmospheric conditions on fungal growth to be studied by measuring the radius of the colony, while excluding effects of those conditions on germination of the sporangiospores. Various concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the gas environment were found to influence growth ofRhizopus oligosporus on malt extract/soya peptone/agar. The maximum radial growth rate was 1.48 mm/h and the maximum specific growth rate was 0.109 h−1 at 30°C. Oxygen became limiting below 1% (v/v), but growth remained possible at levels of 0.001% oxygen. Carbon dioxide stimulated growth at limiting oxygen levels. The specific growth rate increased from 0.043 h−1 at 0.5% (v/v) oxygen and 0% (v/v) carbon dioxide to 0.096 h−1 at 0.5% (v/v) oxygen and 5% (v/v) carbon dioxide. A mixture of 0.5% (v/v) oxygen and 35% (v/v) carbon dioxide inhibited growth. Delay of sporangiospore germination due to low (less than 0.001%) amounts of oxygen was not observed with the techniques used. Fungal activity in a rotating drum fermentor was more strongly affected by low levels of oxygen than was biomass formation on model media. High concentrations of carbon dioxide inhibited growth in the rotating drum fermentor at non-limiting levels of oxygen. It is concluded that aeration and heat removal are both essential aspects of optimization of large-scale solid-substrate bioreactors withRh. oligosporus.

: In order to simulate the expected environmental conditions in a submarine that has become disabled (i.e., loss of electrical power and subsequent inability to control temperature, humidity, and oxygen and carbon dioxide levels), a system was created to control the oxygen and carbon dioxide concentration of an environmental chamber. The study protocol called for a baseline testing period of ambient environmental conditions for 2 days (20 deg C, 50% RH, 20.93% O2, 0.04% CO2), followed by a 24-hour transition phase to the disabled conditions (4 deg C, 80% RH, 16.75% O2, 2.50% CO2), which where maintained for 5 days. Due to numerous design factors, the hypobaric chamber facility was chosen to conduct this study, since the facility met all of the needs of the study except for the ability to control oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, which none of the institute's chambers are normally capable of. Reduced oxygen content was achieved by displacement with nitrogen, and increased carbon dioxide content was achieved by injection of 100% carbon dioxide and metabolic carbon dioxide production. The oxygen and carbon dioxide content of the chamber was continually monitored and controlled by a custom designed software system. During the 5 day 'disabled' portion of the study, chamber conditions were as follows: temp 4.51 +/- 0.56 deg C; relative humidity 80.48 +/- 5.27% RH; oxygen 16.73 +/- 0.06% and carbon dioxide 2.49 +/- 0.04%. Variations in temperature, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, as indicated by the standard deviation, were all within desired limits (+/- 1.0 deg C; +/- 0.10% concentration). Relative humidity was outside the desired limit of +/- 3.0% R.

STUDIES IN THE PHYSIOLOGY OF SPERMATOZOA

Lactic acid, carbon dioxide and human sweat stimuli were presented singly and in combination to femaleAedes aegypti(Linnaeus) within a wind-tunnel system. The take-off, flight, landing and probing responses of the mosquitoes were recorded using direct observation and video techniques. The analyses determined the nature of the response to different stimuli and the concentration ranges within which specific behaviours occurred. A threshold carbon dioxide concentration for taking-off of approximately 0.03% above ambient was detected. Lactic acid and human sweat samples did not elicit take-off when presented alone, however, when they were combined with elevated carbon dioxide, take-off rate was enhanced in most of the combinations tested. Flight activity was positively correlated with carbon dioxide level and some evidence for synergism with lactic acid was found within a narrow window of blend concentrations. The factors eliciting landing were more subtle. There was a positive correlation between landing rate and carbon dioxide concentration. At the lowest carbon dioxide concentration tested, landing occurred only in the presence of lactic acid. Within a window of low to intermediate concentrations, landing rate was enhanced by this combination. At the highest carbon dioxide concentration, landing was however inhibited by the presence of lactic acid. The sweat extract elicited landings in the absence of elevated carbon dioxide. This indicated the presence of chemical stimuli, other than lactic acid, active in the short range. Probing occurred only at low carbon dioxide concentrations and there was no probing when lactic acid alone was tested. There was however probing in the presence of combined stimuli, the level of response seemed to be positively correlated with the ratio of carbon dioxide and lactic acid concentrations.

High‐flow nasal therapy – modelling the mechanism