Optimizing acidified bleach solutions to improve sporicidal efficacy on building materials

Aims: We evaluated whether lowering pH (with acetic acid) and raising free available chlorine (FAC) levels in bleach solutions would improve efficacy in inactivating Bacillus spores on different materials. We also determined how varying pH and FAC levels affected bleach stability. Methods and Results: Acidified bleach solutions with pH levels of 4·5, 6 and 7·5 and FAC levels between 5000 and 10 000 ppm were evaluated for decontamination efficacy against Bacillus subtilis spores inoculated onto test coupons made from wood, ceramic and galvanized steel. Lowering the pH or increasing the FAC level improved efficacy in some of the tests, but depended on the material, which significantly affected decontamination efficacy. The acidified bleach at pH of 7·5 was significantly less effective than bleach at a pH of 4·5 or 6. The FAC levels in the bleach were the most stable at pH 4·5, and stability at pH 4·5 was not significantly affected by the initial FAC level. Conclusions: It may be advisable to use bleach solutions with lower pH (rather than high FAC levels) in light of both the decontamination efficacy and bleach stability results. For wood materials, use of sporicides other than acidified bleach may be warranted. Significance and Impact of the Study: These results may be useful in preparing acidified bleach solutions for decontamination of materials contaminated with spores such as Bacillus anthracis.     

Exposure of phototrophs to 548 days in low Earth orbit: microbial selection pressures in outer space and on early earth

An epilithic microbial community was launched into low Earth orbit, and exposed to conditions in outer space for 548 days on the European Space Agency EXPOSE-E facility outside the International Space Station. The natural phototroph biofilm was augmented with akinetes of Anabaena cylindrica and vegetative cells of Nostoc commune and Chroococcidiopsis. In space-exposed dark controls, two algae (Chlorella and Rosenvingiella spp.), a cyanobacterium (Gloeocapsa sp.) and two bacteria associated with the natural community survived. Of the augmented organisms, cells of A. cylindrica and Chroococcidiopsis survived, but no cells of N. commune. Only cells of Chroococcidiopsis were cultured from samples exposed to the unattenuated extraterrestrial ultraviolet (UV) spectrum (>110 nm or 200 nm). Raman spectroscopy and bright-field microscopy showed that under these conditions the surface cells were bleached and their carotenoids were destroyed, although cell morphology was preserved. These experiments demonstrate that outer space can act as a selection pressure on the composition of microbial communities. The results obtained from samples exposed to >200 nm UV (simulating the putative worst-case UV exposure on the early Earth) demonstrate the potential for epilithic colonization of land masses during that time, but that UV radiation on anoxic planets can act as a strong selection pressure on surface-dwelling organisms. Finally, these experiments have yielded new phototrophic organisms of potential use in biomass and oxygen production in space exploration.     

Efficacy of liquid spray decontaminants for inactivation of Bacillus anthracis spores on building and outdoor materials

Aims: To obtain data on the efficacy of various liquid and foam decontamination technologies to inactivate Bacillus anthracis Ames and Bacillus subtilis spores on building and outdoor materials. Methods and Results: Spores were inoculated onto test coupons and positive control coupons of nine different materials. Six different sporicidal liquids were spray‐applied to the test coupons and remained in contact for exposure times ranging from 10 to 70 min. Following decontamination, spores were recovered from the coupons and efficacy was quantified in terms of log reduction. Conclusions: The hydrogen peroxide/peracetic acid products were the most effective, followed by decontaminants utilizing hypochlorous acid chemistry. Decontamination efficacy varied by material type. Significance and Impact of the Study: The study results may be useful in the selection of technologies to decontaminate buildings and outdoor areas in the event of contamination with B. anthracis spores. These results may also facilitate selection of decontaminant liquids for the inactivation of other spore‐forming infectious disease agents.     

Methodology for a comparative evaluation of sensitivity to fouling and cleanability of floor materials used in the food industry

Samples of floor materials used at present in different types of food plants were studied for their sensitivity to fouling and for their cleaning properties. A cleaning procedure close to that used in industry was carried out on seven different floor samples fouled with six industrial soils (e.g. green salad soil, reconstituted milk, and meat) and inoculated with spores of Bacillus stearothermophilus var. calidolactis as tracer. Sensitivity to fouling and the cleanability of the different floor materials were measured, and the results showed a significant difference between them. These differences were dependent upon the type of soil. Sensitivity to fouling and cleanability were not correlated with their slipping resistance characteristics.     

An intelligent approach to the discovery of luminescent materials using a combinatorial approach combined with Taguchi methodology

A significant advance made in combinatorial approach research was that the emphasis shifted from simple mixing to intelligent screening, so as to improve the efficiency and accuracy of discovering new materials from a larger number of diverse compositions. In this study, the long‐lasting luminescence of SrAl₂O₄, which is co‐doped with Eu²⁺, Ce³⁺, Dy³⁺, Li⁺ and H₃BO₃, was investigated based on a combinatorial approach in conjunction with the Taguchi method. The minimal number of 16 samples to be tested (five dopants and four levels of concentration) were designed using the Taguchi method. The samples to be screened were synthesized using a parallel combinatorial strategy based on ink‐jetting of precursors into an array of micro‐reactor wells. The relative brightness of luminescence of the different phosphors over a particular period was assessed. Ce³⁺ was identified as the constituent that detrimentally affected long‐lasting luminescence. Its concentration was optimized to zero. Li⁺ had a minor effect on long‐lasting luminescence but the main factors that contributed to the objective property (long‐lasting luminescence) were Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺ and H₃BO₃, and the concentrations of these dopants were optimized to 0.020, 0.030 and 0.300, respectively, for co‐doping into SrAl₂O₄. This study demonstrates that the utility of the combinatorial approach for evaluating the effect of components on an objective property (e.g. phosphorescence) and estimating the expected performance under the optimal conditions can be improved by the Taguchi method. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Identification of Trichoderma strains from building materials by ITS1 ribotyping, UP-PCR fingerprinting and UP-PCR cross hybridization

To study the role of Trichoderma in sick building syndrome, it is essential to be able to accurately identify species. Forty-four strains of Trichoderma spp. isolated from Danish buildings damaged by water leaks were identified using ITS1 ribotyping and universally primed PCR, UP-PCR. Ribotyping allowed the assignment of the strains into three distinct groups. High similarity of UP-PCR banding profiles of the strains allowed species designation for almost all strains (43 out of 44) when compared with the UP-PCR banding profiles obtained from reference strains of T. atroviride, T. citrinoviride, T. harzianum, T. longibrachiatum and T. viride. However, cross hybridization of UP-PCR products showed that the latter strain had high DNA homology to the ex-type strain of T. hamatum. The combined approach is a convenient way for reliable identification of Trichoderma strains.     

Natural radioactivity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th,and 40K in commercial building materials and their lifetime cancer risk assessment in dwellers

Elevated radioactivity levels of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K in building materials were measured using gamma-ray spectrometry and their associated lifetime cancer risks were also determined. The mean activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K are 45.72 ± 0.55, 65.90 ± 8.89, and 487.32 ± 15.20 Bq kg^?1, respectively. Statistically, the principal component (PC) analysis indicates that higher loadings were recorded in Principal Component One (PC1) with large contribution from ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K. The leverage studies indicate that BN Ceramics (BNC) contributes more to the loadings in PC1 followed by Golden Crown Ceramic (GCC) sample. The mean values of 0.399 mSv y^?1 do not surpass the world average value of 0.7 mSv y^?1. The mean gamma index from the measured samples is 0.644, whereas a mean value of 0.271 for alpha index is noted in the samples. The activity utilization index (AUI) from the samples satisfied the AUI <2, which corresponded with the annual effective dose of <0.3 mSv y^?1, except interlock Site 2 and Gomez Spain tiles. Significantly, the mean value of excess lifetime cancer risk of 0.0014 is slightly lower than the world average value of 0.29 × 10^?3.     

深挖教材,利用生成性问题提高探究能力

教材和学生都是教师教学中重要的课程资源。以《酶的作用受许多因素的影响》的复习教学为例,通过深挖教材,同时关注学生在课堂上动态生成的问题,进行适当处置,培养学生实验探究能力和发散性思维,提高课堂教学的效果。     

Modeling approach to control of carbohydrate metabolism during citric acid accumulation by Aspergillus niger: II. Sensitivity analysis

Steady state sensitivity analysis of a model of carbohydrate metabolism and anaplerotic synthesis of oxalacetate were, in Aspergillus niger under conditions of citric acid accumulation, carried out. The flux and metabolite concentration control structure of the system obtained shows that the hexokinase/substrate transport step is the main controlling step of the pathway. The quantitative contribution of the other enzyme catalyzed or transport steps are also discussed. These results allow the design of a proper strategy of biotechnological manipulation aimed at improvement of the process. (c) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Modeling approach to control of carbohydrate metabolism during citric acid accumulation by Aspergillus niger: I. Model definition and stability of the steady state

A model of the carbohydrate metabolism and the anaplerotic synthesis of oxalacetate in Aspergillus niger, under conditions of citric and accumulation, is presented. In this first article we set the stage for subsequent analysis within the framework of the biochemical system theory (BST): we formulate the model and develop the system representation in power law forms, showing that the steady state is locally stable. In the second article, the control structure of the system is described and a rationale for the optimization of the process is developed. (c) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.