PARATI – a dynamic model for radiological assessments in urban areas

The structure and mathematical model of PARATI, a detailed computer programme developed for the assessment of the radiological consequences of an accidental contamination of urban areas, is described with respect to the scenarios used for the estimation of exposure fields in a village or town, the models for the initial and secondary contamination with the radionuclide ¹³⁷Cs, the concepts for calculating the resulting radiation exposures and the changes with time of the contamination and radiation fields. Kerma rates at various locations in tropical urban areas are given, and the contribution of different contaminated surfaces to these rates after dry or wet deposition are discussed. Received: 12 April 1996 / Accepted in revised form: 30 August 1996     

Quantification of viable biomass in biofilm reactors by extractable lipid phosphate

 Lipid phosphate, which is a measure of viable biomass, was determined using biofilm samples from three different laboratory-scale reactors. The analysis procedure proposed in the literature was modified and tested for suitability in experiments with biofilm reactors. The microbial contents of the biofilms studied are compared in three types of reactor. Received: 2 November 1994/Accepted: 23 January 1995     

Energy contents and organic constituents in Antarctic and south Chilean marine brown algae

The content of proteins, lipids and carbohydrates and the calorific contents in six Antarctic and three south Chilean brown algae were determined. These constitute the first reports of chemical composition in the endemic Antarctic species Cystosphaera jacquinotii, Phaeurus antarcticus and Desmarestia antarctica. There were no marked differences in total energy levels between Antarctic and cold-temperate species (values between 10.6 and 13 kJ g^–1 dry weight). However, species such as Adenocystis utricularis showed significantly higher ash-free energy (26.3 kJ), which is explained in terms of morpho-functional differentiation. Ascoseira mirabilis and Phaeurus antarcticus showed high total lipids (2.1–2.2% dry weight) and soluble carbohydrates (5.9 and 3.4% dry weight). In general, algae from Chile had similar energy levels and no obvious differences in organic content could be found.     

The effect of the olive phenolic compound, oleuropein, on growth and enterotoxin B production by Staphylococcus aureus

The presence of low concentrations (0.1% w/v) of oleuropein, a phenolic compound extracted from olives, delayed the growth of Staphylococcus aureus in NZ amine A and brain heart infusion media modified by the addition of growth factors and glucose (NZA + and BHI +), as indicated by changes in conductance, whilst higher concentrations (0.4–0.6% w/v) inhibited growth completely. Intermediate concentrations of oleuropein (0.2%) prevented growth in BHI + but allowed growth to occur in NZA + despite an extended lag phase (30 h). Concentrations of oleuropein > 0.2% inhibited growth and production of enterotoxin B in both types of media. Lower levels (0.1%) did not affect the final viable count and production of toxin in BHI + but decreased the number of viable organisms and reduced the toxin production in NZA + by eightfold. An increase in the concentration of oleuropein resulted in a decrease in the amount of glucose assimilated and consequently the amount of lactate produced. In addition, oleuropein prevented the secretion of a number of exoproteins. Addition of oleuropein during the exponential phase appeared to have no effect on the growth of Staph. aureus in NZA +.