Incomplete Dispersion Research Articles

DNase I and proteinase K impair Listeria monocytogenes biofilm formation and induce dispersal of pre-existing biofilms

Current sanitation methods in the food industry are not always sufficient for prevention or dispersal of Listeria monocytogenes biofilms. Here, we determined if prevention of adherence or dispersal of existing biofilms could occur if biofilm matrix components were disrupted enzymatically. Addition of DNase during biofilm formation reduced attachment (<50% of control) to polystyrene. Treatment of established 72h biofilms with 100μg/ml of DNase for 24h induced incomplete biofilm dispersal, with <25% biofilm remaining compared to control. In contrast, addition of proteinase K completely inhibited biofilm formation, and 72h biofilms—including those grown under stimulatory conditions—were completely dispersed with 100μg/ml proteinase K. Generally-regarded-as-safe proteases bromelain and papain were less effective dispersants than proteinase K. In a time course assay, complete dispersal of L. monocytogenes biofilms from both polystyrene and type 304H food-grade stainless steel occurred within 5min at proteinase K concentrations above 25μg/ml. These data confirm that both DNA and proteins are required for L. monocytogenes biofilm development and maintenance, and that these components of the biofilm matrix can be targeted for effective prevention and removal of biofilms.

Direct quantification of TiO2 nanoparticles in suspension by grazing-incidence X-ray fluorescence spectrometry: Influence of substrate pre-treatment in the deposition process

X-ray fluorescence at grazing incidence (GIXRF) was investigated as a method for the quantification of TiO2 nanoparticles in aqueous suspensions. One of the major advantages of this technique is the possibility to analyze the particles without pre-treatment, like harsh acid digestion, as required by most other conventional methods. However, reliable quantitative measurements require a number of precautions. Particularly, the deposition process of the sample on the flat reflecting substrate must maintain homogeneity in composition and concentration over the entire surface of the deposition residue once dried. Scanning electron microscopy showed that using an adhesive coating of the substrate significantly improves the morphology and chemical homogeneity of the residue, hence leading to better performance of the method from a quantitative point of view. Linear calibration curves using internal standardization were established with ionic Ti and with two different types of TiO2 nanoparticles. Low limits of detections of 18μgL−1 and 52μgL−1 at incident angles of 0.20° and 0.75°, respectively, were obtained. It was found that correlation factors of the calibration linear fits were particle-size dependent, which was assigned to sampling problems due to possible incomplete dispersion of the particles in suspensions. The measured fluorescence of the dried deposits changed within a 4-month timespan for both types of TiO2 nanoparticles, demonstrating the very peculiar behavior of these particulate samples.

Potassium fixation in soil size fractions of arid soils

Amounts of potassium (K) fixed in soil fractions of 10 calcareous soils of southern Iran were measured to evaluate the contributions of different soil size fractions to K fixation. Soil particles were fractionated after dispersion of the soils with an ultrasonic probe. Potassium fixation analysis was done by addition of 1000 mg K/kg samples. Mineralogy of the size fractions was determined by X-ray diffraction. The clay fractions were dominated by smectite, chlorite, mica, and palygorskite. Potassium fixation capacities ranged from 104 to 148&amp;nbsp;mg/kg for clay, from 102 to 155 mg/kg for silt, and from 96 to 187 mg/kg for sand fractions. A positive and significant relationship (P &amp;lt; 0.05) was obtained between K fixation capacity and smectite content for the clay fractions. High amounts of K fixed in the sand fraction may be explained by a larger diffusion path of fixed K out of the frayed edges of micaceous and smectitic minerals into the extracting solution, low cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the coarse fraction and thereby the high concentration gradient along solution and interlayers, physical entrapment of K&amp;nbsp;ions in coarse aggregates cemented by carbonates, and by the presence of clay particles in coarse fractions due to incomplete dispersion of coarse aggregates.

Dispersion of tungsten oxide on SCR performance of V2O5[sbnd]WO3/TiO2: Acidity, surface species and catalytic activity

Effects of tungsten on vanadium-based catalysts were studied under differently dispersed conditions of tungsten oxide on titania surface. Acidity, surface species and NH3-SCR performance over commercial WO3/TiO2 and V2O5WO3/TiO2 have been investigated. The incomplete dispersion of tungsten oxide gives rise to the formation of crystalline WO3 on titania surface, and the mounts of surface Brønsted acid sites decrease consequently. From the TPR and Raman spectra, it is indicated that two-dimensional vanadium species exhibits a tendency to moderately anchor onto titania surface in the immediate vicinity of tungsten species. It is also found that amorphous tungsten oxide has different impacts on the dispersion of vanadium species over titania surface at variable loadings of vanadia. At low vanadium loadings, amorphously distorted tungsten species show promoting effects on the formation and dispersion of two-dimensional vanadium species. With vanadium loadings increasing, amorphous tungsten species exert compressing effects on surface vanadium species and lead to the aggregation of vanadium oxide.

The incomplete plasma dispersion function: Properties and application to waves in bounded plasmas

The incomplete plasma dispersion function is a generalization of the plasma dispersion function in which the defining integral spans a semi-infinite, rather than infinite, domain. It is useful for describing the linear dielectric response and wave dispersion in non-Maxwellian plasmas when the distribution functions can be approximated as Maxwellian over finite, or semi-infinite, intervals in velocity phase-space. A ubiquitous example is the depleted Maxwellian electron distribution found near boundary sheaths or double layers, where the passing interval can be modeled as Maxwellian with a lower temperature than the trapped interval. The depleted Maxwellian is used as an example to demonstrate the utility of using the incomplete plasma dispersion function for calculating modifications to wave dispersion relations.

Oxidized banana starch–polyvinyl alcohol film: Partial characterization

AbstractComposites of polyvinyl alcohol, native banana starch, oxidized banana starch using glycerol like plasticizer, were studied by mechanical tests (MT), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and solubility in water. The oxidized banana starch showed higher level of carboxyl groups than of carbonyl groups. Composites of native banana starch/polyvinyl alcohol and oxidized banana starch/polyvinyl alcohol showed irregularities, indicating incomplete dispersion of the polymers. However, the film elaborated with the blend oxidized banana starch/polyvinyl alcohol showed the highest mechanical properties and the melting temperature of the first transition, as well as the lowest water vapor permeability, indicating higher interaction between both polymers. The composite oxidized banana starch/polyvinyl alcohol showed higher water solubility than the one of its counterpart with native banana starch at 25°C, and similar values were obtained for both films at 60°C. The oxidation of banana starch in order to elaborate a film blended with polyvinyl alcohol improved some mechanical and barrier properties, and this composite could be used for specific applications in the packing of food.

Climate-driven genetic divergence of limpets with different life histories across a southeast African marine biogeographic disjunction: different processes, same outcome

Genetic divergence among populations of marine broadcast spawners in the absence of past geological barriers presents an intriguing challenge to understanding speciation in the sea. To determine how differences in life history affect genetic divergence and demographic histories across incomplete dispersal barriers, we conducted a comparative phylogeographic study of three intertidal limpets (Siphonaria spp.) represented on either side of a biogeographic disjunction separating tropical and subtropical marine provinces in southeastern Africa. Using a combination of mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data, we identified two distinct evolutionary lineages each in both Siphonaria concinna (a planktonic disperser) and S. nigerrima (a direct developer), and panmixia in a second planktonic disperser, S. capensis. Although phylogeographic breaks were present in two species, how these became established differed depending on their life histories. In the direct developer, lack of gene flow following divergence, and demographic expansion from a small initial size in the species' subtropical population, point to a single colonisation event. In contrast, the evolutionary lineages of the planktonic disperser split into two genetic lineages with much larger initial population sizes and southward gene flow continued at least periodically, indicating that divergence in this species may have been driven by a combination of reduced larval dispersal and divergent selection. These findings help explain why the presence or absence of phylogeographic breaks often appears to be independent of species' dispersal potential.

Optimize the Structure of Air Sparger for Stirred Bioreactor

During the whole process of cell culture, it needs enough air, especially oxygen supply. Therefore, the research about air sparger became significant. There are many influence factors of air sparger are important, including air sparger structure, installation location, ventilation rate. In order to solve these problems, the finite element numerical calculation is used to set a numerical model of air-liquid two-phase flow. This analysis makes clear that the distance between air vent and the bottom of bioreactor has little effect on the air voids, and the air voids is higher by adopting the structure of single air vent compared with the one of distribution ring structure. But the ventilation structure of big distribution ring avoids flooding effectively. The air voids of bioreactor increased with the velocity of ventilation is increased within limits. However, it causes air incomplete dispersion in bioreactor, overflowing from head top of the liquid, flooding and low air voids, if the ventilation velocity is over speed.

Removal of short‐range‐order minerals prior to grain‐size analysis of volcanic ash soils

AbstractIncomplete dispersion of aggregates is a well‐known difficulty when analyzing soil texture of Andosols, particularly if no fresh soil material is available. To facilitate such investigations, several dispersion procedures were carried out on air‐dried samples rich in short‐range‐order minerals, originating from selected Andosol profiles (S Mexico). As a result, we propose an improved method based on a sequential chemical treatment with K oxalate, NH4 oxalate, and oxalic acid that reliably removes cementing agents and allows for a stable dispersion of soil particles after addition of Na pyrophosphate. This method was proved to be well reproducible and highly reliable for routine grain‐size determinations. The potential error caused by the inherent risk of dissolving primary minerals or fresh volcanic glass remains far beyond the analytical error resulting from the incomplete and irreproducible dispersion of highly resistant aggregates by other commonly used techniques.

Neural and Hybrid Optimizations of the Fed-Batch Synthesis of Poly-β-Hydroxybutyrate by Ralstonia eutropha in a Nonideal Bioreactor

ABSTRACT Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) is synthesized by some microorganisms under stressful conditions. Despite its properties being comparable to those of synthetic polymers, and its biocompatibility and biodegradability, low productivities have dampened commercial interest in microbial PHB production. To increase production efficiency, a fed-batch fermentation with Ralstonia eutropha was optimized recently through a neural-cum-dispersion model (D-model) incorporating incomplete dispersion and noise in the feed streams. The approach described in the work has been improved in two ways: first by a model comprising neural networks only (N-model) and then by a hybrid neural model (H-model) with a mathematical component. At optimum dispersion, PHB production through the N-model optimization was 35% more than by the D-model, and this was enhanced by a further 58% using hybrid optimization. Recognizing that the D-model itself more than doubled the PHB production compared to a noise-free fully dispersed bioreactor, the present results establish hybrid neural optimization as a viable method for PHB production improvement under realistic conditions.

Processing and mechanical performance of liquid crystalline polymer/nanofiber monofilaments

Monofilaments of Vectra A950, a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer, with 0–10 wt.% of vapor-grown carbon nanofibers were extrusion-mixed and characterized by tensile testing, nanoindentation and fractography. A maximum increase in modulus (35%) and strength (18%) was observed at the 1–2% nanofiber level, and increases were observed with decreasing diameter for all nanofiber concentrations. Incomplete dispersion of nanofiber clumps and microvoiding are thought to be responsible for the observed decrease in property values at the higher nanofiber levels.

The Paracentrotus lividus populations from the northern Moroccan Atlantic coast: growth, reproduction and health condition

The condition of three intertidal Paracentrotus lividus populations, which inhabit an area between Rabat and Casablanca (Morocco) known by its high wave energy and its substantial anthropogenic disturbances were described. The growth rate of the juvenile sea urchins in this intertidal zone was low compared with more sheltered populations. A sharp increase in the gonad index was observed between January and March at the beginning of a period of algal production, and was concomitant with increases in seawater temperature and food consumption rate. This gonad index increase was followed by a single spawning period occurring between March and June, probably triggered by the phytoplankton bloom induced by upwelling conditions. Larval development in all three populations was severely inhibited and could be explained, in part, by high and generalized Cu contamination throughout the region. Specific contamination of particular populations by Pb or Hg was attributed to local industries and the incomplete dispersion of pollutants in spite of the high hydrodynamics along the Moroccan Atlantic coast. One of the three populations studied showed strong indications of abnormal development; the degradation of its condition appeared to be due to the presence of a wadi (temporary river) which can seasonally reduce the salinity, directly affecting the sea urchin physiology and indirectly enhancing the metal toxicity.

Nylon-Nanotube Fibers

One potential application of carbon nanotubes is as a reinforcing agent for polymer fibers, and direct mixing has led to some significant improvements in tensile strength and Young's modulus. However, incomplete dispersion of the nanotubes, which tend to bundle together, and a lack of direct bonding to the polymer, which helps prevent pullout, have limited performance. Gao et al. have overcome some of these difficulties by using caprolactam as both solvent and monomer for incorporating single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs) into a nylon-6 matrix. Nitric acid-treated SWNTs, which are terminated with carboxylic acid groups, are well solvated by amide-containing compounds such as caprolactam. After nylon-6 is formed by the ring-opening polymerization of caprolactam, the amino end of the nylon chain can couple to the SWNTs via an amide linkage. The tensile strength and Young's modulus of nylon-6 improved by about a factor of 2 to 3 for SWNT loadings of 0.5 to 1.5 weight %. — PDS

Lack of phylogeography in European mammals before the last glaciation.

In many extant animal and plant species in Europe and North America a correlation exists between the geographical location of individuals and the genetic relatedness of the mitochondrial (mt) DNA sequences that they carry. Here, we analyze mtDNA sequences from cave bears, brown bears, cave hyenas, and Neandertals in Europe before the last glacial maximum and fail to detect any phylogeographic patterns similar to those observed in extant species. We suggest that at the beginning of the last glacial maximum, little phylogeographic patterns existed in European mammals over most of their geographical ranges and that current phylogeographic patterns are transient relics of the last glaciation. Cycles of retreat of species in refugia during glacial periods followed by incomplete dispersal from one refugium into other refugia during interglacial periods is likely to be responsible for the deep genetic divergences between phylogeographic clusters of mtDNA seen today.

A multi‐scale biogeographical analysis of Bambusa arnhemica, a bamboo from monsoonal northern Australia

AbstractAims To identify the edaphic, environmental and historical factors influencing the patchy distribution of the semelparous bamboo Bambusa arnhemica F. Muell. at global, catchment and streambank scales.Location The entire range of B. arnhemica, a highly fire‐prone savanna matrix with generally infertile soils in the north‐west of the Northern Territory of Australia above the 1200 mm mean annual rainfall isohyet.Methods Distribution surveys were conducted by air, boat and on the ground. Plot data were collected throughout the range of the species.Results Bambusa arnhemica occurred predominantly in gallery forests on flood‐prone but nevertheless well‐drained and deep alluvial soils on sloping stream banks. It ranged widely along lentic watercourses from ephemeral headwater streams to the banks of major rivers and levees on the coastal floodplain. The species did not occur in savannas; savannas adjacent to B. arnhemica gallery forests were also flood‐prone and on deep alluvial soils, but were upslope on level ground. Bambusa arnhemica's infrequent non‐riparian occurrences were on a wide variety of substrates but generally on soils of moderate fertility and in coastal and/or rocky areas where at least partial topographic protection from fire is likely. Within and between catchments, the distribution of B. arnhemica was idiosyncratic, occurrence being almost always continuous downstream from highly variable ‘starting’ points to the poorly drained coastal floodplain.Main conclusions At local scales, B. arnhemica appears constrained by poor drainage and high fire‐frequencies. Enhanced soil fertility may increase its capacity to cope with fire. At the catchment and global scales, we propose that the distribution of B. arnhemica is the product of infrequent and as yet incomplete dispersal across and away from watercourses by seed that lacks specialized dispersal mechanisms, combined with passive dispersal along streams. From this we infer that B. arnhemica is neither a very recent, nor very ancient colonist from Asia. Bambusa arnhemica's circumscribed global distribution has no parallel amongst co‐occurring rain forest plants and may be the product of poor dispersal capacity and a substantial rock and floodplain barrier to the east. Limited dispersal capacity may be inextricably linked to local domination of space and the subsequent creation of regeneration space by parental death.

Fine-scale genetic structure in a free-living ungulate population.

The fine-scale genetic structure of wild animal populations has rarely been analysed, yet is potentially important as a confounding factor in quantitative genetic and allelic association studies, as well as having implications for population dynamics, inbreeding and kin selection. In this study, we examined the extent to which the three spatial subunits, or hefts, of the Village Bay population of Soay sheep (Ovis aries) on St Kilda, Scotland, are genetically structured using data from 20 microsatellite and protein loci. Allele frequencies differed significantly among three hefts in all the study years we considered (1987-2000 inclusive). Small but significantly positive F(ST) and negative F(IS) values were observed in most years, indicating that the hefts are genetically differentiated, and that within each heft there is more observed heterozygosity than would be expected if each were an isolated breeding population. Males showed less fidelity to their natal heft, and as a consequence higher levels of relatedness within hefts were observed among females than among males. There was a significant negative relationship between geographical proximity and relatedness in pairwise comparisons involving females, and on average pairs of females located within 50 m of each other were related at the equivalent level of second cousins. Structure is therefore largely driven by incomplete postnatal dispersal by females. Mating appears to be random with respect to the spatial-genetic substructure of the hefts, and therefore genetic structure does not contribute to the overall rate of inbreeding in the population. However, genetic substructure can lead to allelic associations and generate environmental effects within lineages that have the potential to confound heritability analyses and allelic association studies.

Effect of fluid dispersion on cybernetic control of microbial growth on substitutable substrates.

Many fermentation media contain two or more substrates, which a microorganism utilizes for similar purposes. Depending on the conditions prior to and during a fermentation, the substrates may be utilized in succession or simultaneously. Since it is difficult to portray this behavior through mechanistic models, a cybernetic method was proposed earlier. Here the microorganism chooses the mode of substrate utilization that maximizes its own survival, usually expressed by the growth rate. In a fully dispersed bioreactor, simultaneous utilization generates higher growth rates but leads to low biomass concentrations since this utilization pattern is preferred at low concentrations of the substrates. In this study it has been shown that by allowing less than complete dispersion in the broth it is possible to shift from sequential to simultaneous utilization at high concentrations, thereby enabling both high growth rates and large biomass concentrations. This strategy thus allows the natural incomplete dispersion in large bioreactors to be gainfully exploited.

Neural Optimization of Fed‐batch Streptokinase Fermentation in a Non‐ideal Bioreactor

AbstractMicrobial fermentations involving two or more kinds of competing cells and operating under realistic conditions are difficult to monitor, model and optimize by model‐based methods. They deviate from ideal behavior in two significant aspects: incomplete dispersion in the broth and the influx of disturbances. The approach here has been to optimize the filtered noise and dispersion on‐line through neural networks. This method has been applied to the fed‐batch production of streptokinase (SK). The culture has two kinds of cells — active (or productive) and inactive — and their growth is inhibited by the substrate and the primary metabolite (lactic acid). Using simulated data, the fermentation was optimized by a system of three neural networks, updated continually during successive time intervals. Such sequential optimization with dynamic filtering of inflow noise generated better cell growth and SK activity than static optimization and even an ideal fermentation.

Numerical comparison between distributed and discrete amplification in a point-to-point 40-Gb/s 40-WDM-Based transmission system with three different modulation formats

We describe a detailed numerical investigation on the relative merits of gain flattened distributed Raman amplification (DRA) and discrete gain flattened amplifiers. We simulate a system with forty 40-Gb/s channels spaced at 100 GHz and compare the performance of three different modulation formats nonreturn-to-zero (NRZ), return-to-zero (RZ) and carrier-suppressed RZ (CS-RZ). Three types of amplifiers, multifrequency backward- and forward-pumped DRAs, and an idealized discrete gain flattened amplifier are examined for various signal powers and transmission distances. For the backward-pumped DRA, we also describe calculated tolerance limits imposed by incomplete dispersion slope compensation and polarization mode dispersion (PMD) level.

Enhancement of protein activity in a recombinant fermentation by optimizing fluid dispersion and initial plasmid copy number distribution

Recombinant fermentations carried out in large bioreactors are characterized by incomplete dispersion of fluid and a distribution of plasmid copy numbers among the cells. The effects of both features have been studied for the batch production of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) by E. coli harboring the plasmid pBR Eco gap. GAPDH activity is maximized by a large average copy number (within metabolically permissible limits) of the cell population and intermediate optimal values of its variance and of dispersion in the broth (expressed by the Peclet number). The optimum conditions, however, should be chosen judiciously because, although GAPDH activities are high, the incremental benefits are lower than under non-optimal operation.