Microbiological Quality Assessment of Some Commercially Available Breads.

Bread is a staple, energy-rich food for people of all ages, so quality is important to consumers. In our region, most of the commercially available bread, whether packaged or unpackaged, is produced by local bakeries, so monitoring microbial levels and the types of microbes present on bread can help to draw attention to protect the final product. It can also help to ensure the food safety, quality, and shelf life of bread.

Specific Antimicrobial Activities Revealed by Comparative Evaluation of Selected Gemmotherapy Extracts.

Nowadays, unprecedented health challenges are urging novel solutions to address antimicrobial resistance as multidrug-resistant strains of bacteria, yeasts and moulds are emerging. Such microorganisms can cause food and feed spoilage, food poisoning and even more severe diseases, resulting in human death. In order to overcome this phenomenon, it is essential to identify novel antimicrobials that are naturally occurring, biologically effective and increasingly safe for human use.

Biocide Tolerance and Impact of Sanitizer Concentrations on the Antibiotic Resistance of Bacteria Originating from Cheese.

In this study, we determined and identified the bacterial diversity of different types of artisanal and industrially produced cheese. The antibiotic (erythromycin, chloramphenicol, kanamycin, ampicillin, clindamycin, streptomycin, tetracycline, and gentamicin) and biocide (peracetic acid, sodium hypochlorite, and benzalkonium chloride) resistance of clinically relevant bacteria was determined as follows: , , sp., , , , , , , , sp.

Iron oxide/hydroxide-nitrogen doped graphene-like visible-light active photocatalytic layers for antibiotics removal from wastewater.

Hybrid layers consisting of Fe oxide, Fe hydroxide, and nitrogen doped graphene-like platelets have been synthesized by an eco-friendly laser-based method for photocatalytic applications. The complex composite layers show high photodecomposition efficiency towards degradation of antibiotic molecules under visible light irradiation. The photodecomposition efficiency was investigated as a function of relative concentrations of base materials, Fe oxide nanoparticles and graphene oxide platelets used for the preparation of target dispersions submitted to laser irradiation.

Boost of Charge Storage Performance of Graphene Nanowall Electrodes by Laser-Induced Crystallization of Metal Oxide Nanostructures.

Major research efforts are being carried out for the technological advancement to an energetically sustainable society. However, for the full commercial integration of electrochemical energy storage devices, not only materials with higher performance should be designed and manufactured but also more competitive production techniques need to be developed. The laser processing technology is well extended at the industrial sector for the versatile and high throughput modification of a wide range of materials.

The effect of essential oils and their combinations on bacteria from the surface of fresh vegetables.

During the study, we determined the antimicrobial activity of different selected essential oils (thyme, lemongrass, juniper, oregano, sage, fennel, rosemary, mint, rosehips, dill) on some pathogenic and spoilage bacteria isolated from the surface of various fresh vegetables. At the same time, in the case of some volatile oil combinations we followed the phenomena of synergism and antagonism. The identification of the isolated bacterial strains was made using 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis.

New fabrication method for producing reduced graphene oxide flexible electrodes by using a low-power visible laser diode engraving system.

The fabrication of bendable electronic devices is a scientific-technological area of very rapid advance in which new materials and fabrication techniques are being continuously developed. In these kinds of devices, the fabrication of flexible conductive electrodes adherent to the substrate is a key factor. Further, eco-friendliness, low cost and fast production are essential requirements for the successful progress of new technologies.

Enhancement of the supercapacitive properties of laser deposited graphene-based electrodes through carbon nanotube loading and nitrogen doping.

Several technological routes are being investigated for improving the energy storage capability and power delivery of electrochemical capacitors. In this work, ternary hybrid electrodes composed of conducting graphene/reduced graphene oxide (rGO), which store charge mainly through electric double-layer mechanisms, covered by NiO nanostructures, for adding pseudocapacitance, were fabricated through a matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation technique. The incorporation of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) provokes an increase of the porosity and thus, a substantial enhancement of the electrodes' capacitance (from 4 to 20 F cm at 10 mV s).

Neuronal Correlates of Informational and Energetic Masking in the Human Brain in a Multi-Talker Situation.

Human listeners can follow the voice of one speaker while several others are talking at the same time. This process requires segregating the speech streams from each other and continuously directing attention to the target stream. We investigated the functional brain networks underlying this ability.

Super-Capacitive Performance of Manganese Dioxide/Graphene Nano-Walls Electrodes Deposited on Stainless Steel Current Collectors.

Graphene nano-walls (GNWs) are promising materials that can be used as an electrode in electrochemical devices. We have grown GNWs by inductively-coupled plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition on stainless steel (AISI304) substrate. In order to enhance the super-capacitive properties of the electrodes, we have deposited a thin layer of MnO₂ by electrodeposition method.

Selective Laser-Assisted Synthesis of Tubular van der Waals Heterostructures of Single-Layered PbI within Carbon Nanotubes Exhibiting Carrier Photogeneration.

The electronic and optical properties of two-dimensional layered materials allow the miniaturization of nanoelectronic and optoelectronic devices in a competitive manner. Even larger opportunities arise when two or more layers of different materials are combined. Here, we report on an ultrafast energy efficient strategy, using laser irradiation, which allows bulk synthesis of crystalline single-layered lead iodide in the cavities of carbon nanotubes by forming cylindrical van der Waals heterostructures.

Laser-driven coating of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes with manganese oxide from metal organic precursors for energy storage.

Carbon nanotubes-transition metal oxide systems are intensively studied due to their excellent properties for electrochemical applications. In this work, an innovative procedure is developed for the synthesis of vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) coated with transition metal oxide nanostructures. VACNTs are grown by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition and coated with a manganese-based metal organic precursor (MOP) film based on manganese acetate solution.

Nanosecond Laser-Assisted Nitrogen Doping of Graphene Oxide Dispersions.

N-doped reduced graphene oxide (RGO) has been prepared in bulk form by laser irradiation of graphene oxide (GO) dispersed in an aqueous solution of ammonia. A pulsed Nd:YAG laser with emission wavelengths in the infrared (IR) 1064 nm, visible (Vis) 532 nm, and ultraviolet (UV) 266 nm spectral regions was employed for the preparation of the N-doped RGO samples. Regardless of the laser energy employed, the resulting material presents a higher fraction of pyrrolic nitrogen compared to nitrogen atoms in pyridinic and graphitic coordination.

Active protein and calcium hydroxyapatite bilayers grown by laser techniques for therapeutic applications.

Active protein and bioceramic calcium hydroxyapatite (HA) bilayers were grown by combining conventional pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) techniques. A pulsed UV KrF* excimer laser was used for the irradiations. The HA layers were grown by PLD.

Processing and immobilization of chondroitin-4-sulphate by UV laser radiation.

Chondroitin-4-sulphate (ChS A) was immobilized by matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) with the aid of a UV KrF* excimer laser source. Distilled water was used as solvent for the preparation of the frozen composite MAPLE targets. The surface morphology, chemical structure and functional properties of laser transferred ChS A were investigated as a function of laser processing conditions.

Biomedical properties and preparation of iron oxide-dextran nanostructures by MAPLE technique.

Background: In this work the chemical structure of dextran-iron oxide thin films was reported. The films were obtained by MAPLE technique from composite targets containing 10 wt. % dextran with 1 and 5 wt.

Effects of pulsed laser radiation on epitaxial self-assembled Ge quantum dots grown on Si substrates.

Laser irradiation of Ge quantum dots (QDs) grown on Si(100) substrates by solid-source molecular beam epitaxy has been performed using a Nd:YAG laser (532 nm wavelength, 5 ns pulse duration) in a vacuum. The evolution of the Ge QD morphology, strain and composition with the number of laser pulses incident on the same part of the surface, have been studied using atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The observed changes in the topographical and structural properties of the QDs are discussed in terms of Ge-Si diffusion processes.

Investigation of mineral water springs of Miercurea Ciuc (Csíkszereda) region (Romania) with cultivation-dependent microbiological methods.

Water samples of ten mineral water springs at Miercurea Ciuc (Csíkszereda) region (Romania) were examined during 2005-2006 using cultivation-dependent microbiological methods. The results of standard hygienic bacteriological tests showed that the Hargita Spring had perfect and five other springs had microbiologically acceptable water quality (Zsögöd-, Nagy-borvíz-, Taploca-, Szentegyháza- and Lobogó springs). The water of Borsáros Spring was exceptionable (high germ count, presence of Enterococcus spp.

Immobilization of urease by laser techniques: synthesis and application to urea biosensors.

Urease thin films have been immobilized using matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation for biosensor applications in clinical diagnostics. The targets exposed to laser radiation were made of frozen composites that had been manufactured by dissolving urease in distilled water. An UV KrF* (lambda = 248 nm, tauFWHM congruent with 30 ns, nu = 10 Hz) excimer source was used for the multipulse laser irradiation of the targets that were cooled down to solidification using Peltier elements.

Creatinine biomaterial thin films grown by laser techniques.

Creatinine thin films were synthesised by matrix assisted pulsed laser deposition (PLD) techniques for enzyme-based biosensor applications. An UV KrF* (lambda=248 nm, tau approximately 10 ns) excimer laser source was used for the irradiation of the targets at incident fluence values in the 0.3-0.

Biomolecular papain thin films growth by laser techniques.

Papain thin films were synthesised by matrix assisted and conventional pulsed laser deposition (PLD) techniques. The targets submitted to laser radiation consisted on a frozen composite obtained by dissolving the biomaterials in distilled water. For the deposition of the thin films by conventional PLD pressed biomaterial powder targets were submitted to laser irradiation.

Biocompatible Mn2+-doped carbonated hydroxyapatite thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition.

Mn(2+)-doped carbonated hydroxyapatite (Mn-CHA) thin films were obtained by pulsed laser deposition on Ti substrates. The results of the performed complementary diagnostic techniques, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy investigations indicate that the films are crystalline with a Ca/P ratio of about 1.64-1.