Avrami constant (k) (indicating the crystallization rate) decreased as the temperature increased except for samples with Span 60. At higher temperatures, values of t(1/2) were significantly higher which reflects the decrease in k at higher temperatures. Crystal microstructures at 30 degrees C were obtained by using polarized light microscope. Lecithin and Span 60 samples showed large and dense crystals compared with the control sample. Tween 60 sample showed very small crystals which aggregated

in a line trend. However. small differences were observed in fractal dimension results except for Tween 60 sample. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The use of atmospheric pressure nonthermal plasma represents an interesting and novel see more approach

for the decontamination of surfaces colonized with microbial biofilms that exhibit enhanced tolerance to antimicrobial challenge. In this study, the influence of an atmospheric pressure nonthermal plasma jet, operated Ion Channel Ligand Library screening in a helium and oxygen gas mixture under ambient pressure, was evaluated against biofilms of Bacillus cereus,Staphylococcus aureus,Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Within < 4 min of plasma exposure, complete eradication of the two Gram-positive bacterial biofilms was achieved. Although Gram-negative biofilms required longer treatment time, their complete eradication was still possible with 10 min of exposure. Whilst this study provides useful proof of concept data on the use of atmospheric pressure plasmas for the eradication of bacterial biofilms in vitro, it also demonstrates the critical need for improved understanding

of the mechanisms and kinetics related to such a potentially significant approach.”
“Stress, commonly associated with weaning, marketing, and shipment DNA Damage inhibitor of feeder cattle, can compromise immune function, and vaccine administration during immunosuppression may reduce vaccine efficacy and calf growth. Four treatments were compared in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement to evaluate the effect of on-arrival (d 0) vs. delayed (d 14) administration of clostridial (CLOS) and respiratory (RESP) vaccines on health, performance, bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) antibody titers, and physiological immune measurements of high-risk, newly received calves. Crossbred bull and steer calves (n – 263) were weighed (239 +/- 1.2 kg), stratified by sex, and randomly assigned to vaccination treatment: 1) arrival CLOS, arrival RESP (ACAR); 2) arrival CLOS, delayed RESP (ACDR); 3) delayed CLOS, arrival RESP (DCAR); and 4) delayed CLOS, delayed RESP (DCDR). Body weight and blood samples were collected on d 0, 14, 28, 42, and 56. Average daily gain did not differ (P >= 0.34), averaging 0.98, 0.93, 0.95, and 0.91 kg/d for ACAR, ACDR, DCAR, and DCDR, respectively, for the entire 56-d trial. Vaccination timing did not affect morbidity (P >= 0.23); however, there tended to be a CLOS timing effect (P – 0.07) and RESP timing effect (P – 0.