No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Two new homologous series of amphiphiles–five long-chain, three-headed amphiphiles [3CCb14, 3CCb16, 3CCb18, 3CCb20, 3CCb22; CH3(CH2)n-1OCONHC(CH2CH2COOH)3, n = 14, 16, 18, 20, 22], and six branched-chain, three-headed amphiphiles [3CCb1(7,7), 3CCb1(8,8), 3CCb1(9,9), 3CCb1(10,10), 3CCb1(11,11), 3CCb1(12,12); (CH3(CH2)n-1)2CHOCONHC(CH2CH2COOH)3, n = 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12]–were synthesized. The synthesis of the 3CCbn series was accomplished in two steps from Weisocyanate™ and the long chain alcohol in good yields of chromatographed products (65–81%). The 3CCb1(n,n) series was similarly synthesized from Weisocyanate™ and the two-tailed symmetric alcohol (produced from a reaction of alkyl magnesium bromide and ethyl formate) in good yields of chromatographed products (71–84%). CMC data were collected by pendent-drop technique for the 3CAmn, 3CCbn, 3CUrn, and 3CCb1(n,n) series of amphiphiles to establish the concentration required for detergency. The triethanolammonium salt provided better solubility and higher CMCs of these amphiphiles than the potassium salt. All amphiphilic series tested lowered the solution surface tension from ~ 72 mN/m to ~ 50–55 mN/m, indicating that these amphiphiles are less surface active than typical surfactants such as sodium dodecyl sulfate. The CMCs for the 3CAmn series were found to decrease in value from 2 × 10⁻² M (3CAm15) to 2 × 10⁻³ M (3CAm21) in a linear fashion. The CMCs for the 3CCbn series were found to decrease in value from 7 × 10⁻³ M (3CCb16) to 0.4 × 10⁻³ M (3CCb22) in a linear fashion. The CMCs for the 3CUrn series were found to decrease in value from 2 × 10⁻³ M (3CUr18) to 1 × 10⁻³ M (3CUr22) in a linear fashion. Due to discrepancies in several of the IFT vs. log concentration plots for the previous homologous series of amphiphiles, the CMC data was collected using a pyrene fluorescence measurement technique. The data from the pyrene fluorescence technique seems likely to be more accurate, indicating that surface tension may not be the most reliable method for determining the CMC of these amphiphiles. The CMCs (as determined by pyrene fluorescence) for the 3CAmn series were found to decrease in value from 2 × 10⁻² M (3CAm15) to 2 × 10⁻³ M (3CAm21) in a linear fashion. The CMCs for the 3CCbn series were found to decrease in value from 7 × 10⁻³ M (3CCb16) to 0.3 × 10⁻³ M (3CCb22) in a linear fashion. The CMCs for the 3CUrn series were found to decrease in value from 7 × 10⁻³ M (3CUr16) to 0.2 × 10⁻³ M (3CUr22) in a linear fashion. In both the surface tension and the pyrene fluorescence techniques, the shortest chain length homologues (3CAm13, 3CCb14, and 3CUr14) did not show a break up to the limits of solubility. The CMCs as determined by surface tension for the 3CCb1(n,n) series were found to decrease in value from 0.5 × 10⁻³ M (3CCb1(9,9)) to 0.02 × 10⁻³ M (3CCb1(12,12)) in a linear fashion. The 3CCb1(8,8) and 3CCb1(7,7) amphiphiles did not show a CMC break up to the limits of solubility. The 3CCb1(12,12) showed an unusually steep decrease in surface tension over a very narrow range of concentration. There is considerable doubt as to the accuracy of the 3CCb1(11,11) data, and the CMCs for these two-tailed amphiphiles needs to be measured by a second method as was done for the single-tail series to verify the CMCs of all the two-tail homologues. Activity (minimal inhibitory concentrations, MICs) for the 3CAmn, 3CCbn, 3CUrn, 3CCb1(n,n), 2CAmn, and 2CCbn series was measured against several different bacteria, mycobacteria, yeast, and fungi. Additionally, anti-HIV and cytotoxicity data was collected for the 3CAmn, 3CCbn, and 3CUrn series. Greatest inhibition was typically seen from the 18–20 carbon tail length homologues of each series (3CAm19–3CAm21, 3CCb18–3CCb20, 3CUr18–3CUr20, 2CAm19–2CAm21, and 2CCb18–2CCb20). Inoculum density affected the activity of our earlier studies, and selected organisms were retested to obtain the intrinsic activity. 3CUr18 and 3CAm19 proved most effective against Mycobacterium smegmatis, with MIC99 = 6.3 μM @ 10⁵ CFU/mL inoculum density. 3CCb20 was most effective against Mycobacterium marinum with MIC99 = 16 μM @ 10⁵ CFU/mL inoculum density. 3CAm19, 3CCb18, and 3CUr18 all showed equivalent activity against Mycobacterium chelonae with MIC99 = 17 μM @ 10⁵ CFU/mL inoculum density. Against Staphylococcus aureus, the 2CAm21 was most effective, with MIC90 = 2.0 μM @ 10⁵ CFU/mL inoculum density. 3CCb20 was most effective against MRSA with MIC90 = 2.9 μM @ 10⁵ CFU/mL inoculum density. The two-tailed analogs (3CCb1(n,n), 3CUr(n,n), and 3CUr1(n,n)) typically showed little to no activity against the tested microorganisms. Comparison of MIC to CMC is a relative measure of safety of a drug candidate. All single-tail amphiphiles showed ratios of MIC/CMC of 16–126, with a ratio of 100 or better being optimal. The ratios for the two-tail amphiphiles ranged from 0.39 to 2.9. / Ph. D.

Pulmonary surfactant is synthesized in the alveoli and lines the respiratory epithelium of the airways. Phospholipids, the main component of surfactant, confer it its ability to lower surface tension and to prevent alveolar collapse. Airway surfactant helps maintain smaller airway patency, improves muco-ciliary clearance, decreases bronchoconstriction, and modulates pulmonary immunity. Surfactant alterations in human asthma are therefore believed to contribute to the severity of airway obstruction. The goal of our first study was to characterize surfactant phospholipid composition and function in healthy horses, and to investigate the influence of age and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) sample characteristics on surfactant. For that purpose, BALF was collected from 17 healthy horses and evaluated for BALF recovery percentage, cell count, and cell differential. BALF was separated into crude surfactant pellets (CSP) and supernatant and was analyzed for phospholipid content, protein content, phospholipid composition, and surface tension. Interestingly, phospholipid (surfactant) content in CSP significantly decreased with age. BALF recovery percentage, nucleated cell count, and cytological profile did not affect surfactant composition or function. The hypothesis of our second study was that surfactant alterations in RAO-affected horses are related to clinical stage of RAO. The objectives were 1) to compare surfactant phospholipid composition and function between Non-RAO and RAO horses at clinical stages and 2) to investigate relationships between surfactant alterations and variables assessing clinical stage of RAO. Seven horses with confirmed RAO and seven Non-RAO horses were evaluated in pairs (RAO/Non-RAO) at baseline, during exposure to hay, and post-exposure. Assessments included: clinical scoring, measure of maximal change in pleural pressure (ΔPplmax), airway endoscopy, and BALF cell counts and differentials. Samples were processed and analyzed as described above. Phospholipid levels in BALF were significantly lower in RAO versus Non-RAO horses, even in the absence of clinical signs. In the group of RAO horses, phospholipid content was significantly lower during exposure versus baseline. Furthermore, exposure to hay led to an increase in the protein versus phospholipid ratio in BALF from RAO horses. No significant differences were found in BALF protein content, phospholipid composition, or surface tension between or within groups of horses. Phosphatidylglycerol percentage had a tendency to be lower in RAO horses with higher clinical scores. Supernatant protein content was related to BALF neutrophilia in RAO crisis and overall ΔPplmax . In conclusion, our study demonstrated that surfactant alterations in RAO horses are present in remission and are exacerbated following exposure to hay. It is conceivable that a lower amount of surfactant in bronchioli of RAO horses may contribute to the horses' propensity to develop airway obstruction, mucous accumulation, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. This may be exacerbated during crisis by a relatively higher protein versus phospholipid ratio. Furthermore, a progressive decrease of surfactant levels in older horses may contribute to a worsening of clinical signs in older RAO-affected horses. / Ph. D.

Anaerobic bioreactor landfills are the landfills with an increased moisture content in order to achieve a better biodegradation. Many Bioreactor landfills accept outside liquid wastes to achieve a higher moisture content . But the effect of these wastes on the degradation of landfill components is not known. In this study, the effect of sugar waste, surfactant waste and paint waste on the degradation of landfill components was investigated. Sugar waste, surfactant waste and paint wastes in different concentrations were added to the combination of paper, cardboard, office paper and plastic with a total moisture content of 70%. The samples were incubated, sampled and analytical parameters analyzed. Sugar waste having a COD of 250,000 mg/L in a concentration of even 5% of the total weight was found inhibitive due to a drop in pH and accumulation of volatile fatty acids. Reactors with surfactant concentrations ranging from 50 mg/L to 500 mg/L showed that a higher concentration of 500 mg/L or above may be inhibitive in nature and the inhibition increases with increase in the concentration of surfactant. However, paint waste with a concentration of even 7.5% highly inhibited the degradation in the reactors. This could possibly be because of some toxicity. / Master of Science

Since the surfaces of cantaloupes are highly rough or irregular, Salmonella enteric and other bacteria can easily attach to these surfaces and are difficult to remove. Cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) is the active ingredient of some antiseptic oral mouth rinses and has a broad antimicrobial spectrum with a rapid bactericidal effect on Gram-positive pathogens. Delmopinol hydrochloride (delmopinol) is a cationic surfactant that is effective for treating and preventing gingivitis and periodontitis. The application of delmopinol or CPC to cantaloupe surfaces may be an alternative post harvest technique to reduce the frequency and level of Salmonella contamination. Cantaloupe (Athena and Hale's Best Jumbo (HBJ) cultivars) rind plugs were inoculated with a broth culture of Salmonella Michigan. After 15 min, plugs were sprayed with 10 ml of a 1% delmopinol solution, or a CPC solution (0.5 or 1.0%) or distilled water (Control), and held at 37 oC for 1 hr or 24 hr. For additional samples, the chemical treatments were applied 15 min before pathogen inoculation. Melon plugs were submerged in Butterfield's Phosphate Buffer, shaken, sonicated and solutions were enumerated on Tryptic Soy Agar. The texture quality and color of additional melon samples were evaluated after delmopinol or CPC spray treatments and storage at 4 oC. A 1.0% application of CPC reduced Salmonella levels up to 2.34 log CFU/ml (Athena) and 4.95 log CFU/ml (HBJ) in comparison to the control (p<0.01). A 1.0% delmopinol treatment reduced Salmonella levels as much as 3.1 log CFU/ml in comparison to the control (p<0.01) on both cultivars. In general, the log recovery of Salmonella on cantaloupes treated with delmopinol or CPC solutions, after 1 hr storage, was significantly lower (p<0.05) than the recovery from control cantaloupes, but Salmonella recovery was not significantly different after 24 hr. No significant differences were observed in the texture and color of melons treated with delmopinol or CPC after 14 days. A surface spray application of delmopinol hydrochloride or cetylpyridinium chloride could be an alternative antimicrobial post-harvest treatment that could make cantaloupes surfaces more susceptible to sanitizers or enhance physical removal of bacteria. / Ph. D.

Bacterial biofilms attached to food contact surfaces are an ongoing concern for the food industry due to the resistance of bacteria within biofilms to detergents and sanitizers. Within food manufacturing facilities, stainless steel is a common food-contact surface in which microbial cell attachment and biofilm formation may occur. Identifying methods to prevent and remove biofilms during standard cleaning and sanitation practices could prove useful, as mature biofilms can release planktonic cells into an aqueous environment, causing continual low-level contamination. Dental studies involving delmopinol hydrochloride, a cationic surfactant, have found a preventative and dissociating affect on biofilms, where food applications have scarcely been researched. This study demonstrates the prevention and removal of Listeria monocytogenes 1/2a and S. enterica Agona biofilms on stainless steel with pre- and post-exposures of delmopinol hydrochloride. Stainless steel blanks (#304, 16 gauge, 2cm x 2cm, finish #4) were submerged in a 0.2% or 0.5% delmopinol solution before or after biofilm formation. Treatment times were 1, 5 or 10 minutes, whereas controls were not exposed to the delmopinol solution. Disinfected stainless steel blanks were spot-inoculated with 20µL of a 10⁹ CFU/mL liquid culture, and pre-exposed blanks were additionally submerged in delmopinol and dried prior to inoculation. Biofilms were exclusively formed on the finished and inoculated side by placing the surface face-down on TSA. After cell attachment and biofilm development for 24 hours at 25°C, blanks were rinsed with phosphate buffer. Post-exposed blanks were submerged in 0.2% or 0.5% delmopinol for 1, 5 or 10 minutes before all blanks were individually vortexed for 90 seconds to dislodge films. Bacterial populations were determined by surface plating onto TSA followed by incubation at 32°C for L. monocytogenes and 37°C for S. Agona for 48 hours. Treatments were in-duplicate and repeated three times for each microorganism. Pre-exposure of 0.2% delmopinol resulted in a significant decrease in L. monocytogenes concentration at 1, 5 and 10 minute exposures (P < 0.05). Pre-exposures with the 0.5% solution had no significant effect on L. monocytogenes biofilm populations (P > 0.05), whereas all post-exposures lead to a significant decline in biofilm concentrations (P < 0.0001). Post-exposures of 10 minutes exhibited a mean log₁₀ reduction of 5.59 and 6.40 log₁₀ for 0.2% and 0.5% delmopinol solutions, respectively. For S. Agona, 0.2% pre-exposure resulted in no significant log10 reduction (P > 0.05), while the 10 minute 0.5% pre-exposure exhibited a minimal reduction in bacterial growth (P < 0.05). Post-exposures of 10 minutes exhibited a mean log10 reduction of 7.65 and 7.75 log10 for 0.2% and 0.5% delmopinol solutions, respectively. For L. monocytogenes and S. Agona, post-exposure to delmopinol hydrochloride caused a notable log10 reduction. The removal effect of delmopinol on biofilms is significantly greater the preventative effect. / Master of Science in Life Sciences

The effect of high organic liquid wastes on the overall performance of anaerobic bioreactor landfills is not known. In this study three different liquid wastes were added to mix of office paper, newspaper, cardboard and plastic in 3 different concentrations under anaerobic conditions to determine their effect on degradation of organics. The addition of buffer chemicals was found to improve degradation compared to data from an earlier study done without the addition of initial buffering. Paint waste with a COD 237,500 mg/L added at a concentration of 10% did not show any negative effect on the overall performance. The distillation waste with a COD of 812,500 mg/L added at 5% and higher concentration resulted in accumulation of volatile fatty acids and strong inhibition. The surfactant waste added at concentrations up to 1500 mg/L showed some inhibition but the overall performance was good. The surfactant waste also appeared to improve lignin degradation. / Master of Science