Abstract
Sous vide cook-chill (SVCC) is characterized by vacuum-packaging raw or partially prepared foods before pasteurization, followed by rapid chilling and storage below 3C. The application of essential oils (EOs) to food products is a suitable strategy to control pathogens and to extend their shelf life by reducing microbial levels and oxidative processes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Rosmarinus officinalis L. (rosemary) and Thymus vulgaris L. (thyme) EOs against Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 679, inoculated in beef processed by SVCC stored at 2 and 8C for 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. The composition of EOs was identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. The main compounds identified in rosemary EO were eucalyptol (13.05%), camphor (8.93%), verbenone (8.58%), endo-borneol (7.87%) and alpha-pinene (6.78%) and in thyme EO were linalool (18.18%), thymol (7.48%), limonene (6.49%), endo-borneol (5.86%) and terpinen-4-ol (5.66%). Using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method, L. monocytogenes was inhibited at 3.9 mu L/mL to thyme EO and at 62.5 mu L/mL to rosemary EO. Beef samples of M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum were packaged in bags, inoculated and one of each EO was added at MIC values. Bags were vacuum-sealed and samples were processed at 55C/65 min for 3log(10) CFU/g reduction. A reduction of the counts of L. monocytogenes was observed in all samples at 2C. At 8C counts of L. monocytogenes were almost similar in control samples and those with thyme EO with an increase of themicrobial counts since day 7. Inversely, counts of L. monocytogenes in beef samples with rosemary EO stored at 2 and 8C decreased about 2 log(10) CFU. These results support the possibility of using rosemary EO as natural preservative due to its antimicrobial effect against L. monocytogenes. Also, our results confirm that an adequate chilling storage is essential to guarantee the safety of SVCC product regarding L. monocytogenes to avoid foodborne outbreaks.

Abstract
New polymer electrolytes (PEs), potentially interesting for solid-state electrochemical devices applications, were synthesized by a solvent casting method using pectin and ionic liquid (IL) N,N,N-trimethyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([N-1 1 1 2(OH)] [NTf2]. The resulting electrolytes besides being moderately homogenous and thermally stable below 155 degrees C, they also exhibited good mechanical properties. The SPE membranes were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and complex impedance spectroscopy.

Abstract
The feasibility of measuring arsenic and selenium contents in a single nail clipping was investigated using a small-focus portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) instrument with monochromatic excitation beams. Nail clipping phantoms supplemented with arsenic and selenium to produce materials with 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 mu g/g were used for calibration purposes. In total, 10 different clippings were analyzed at two different measurement positions. Energy spectra were fit with detection peaks for arsenic K-alpha, selenium K-alpha, arsenic K-beta, selenium K-beta, and bromine K-alpha characteristic X-rays. Data analysis was performed under two distinct conditions of fitting constraint. Calibration lines were established from the amplitude of each of the arsenic and selenium peaks as a function of the elemental contents in the clippings. The slopes of the four calibration lines were consistent between the two conditions of analysis. The calculated minimum detection limit (MDL) of the method, when considering the Ka peak only, ranged from 0.210 +/- 0.002 mu g/g selenium under one condition of analysis to 0.777 +/- 0.009 mu g/g selenium under another. Compared with previous portable XRF nail clipping studies, MDLs were substantially improved for both arsenic and selenium. The new measurement technique had the additional benefits of being short in duration (similar to 3 min) and requiring only a single nail clipping. The mass of the individual clipping used did not appear to play a major role in signal strength, but positioning of the clipping is important.

Abstract
A Fabry-Perot air bubble microcavity fabricated between a section of single mode fiber and a multimode fiber is proposed. The study of the microcavities growth with the number of applied arcs is performed. The sensors are tested for lateral load and strain, where sensitivities of 0.32 nm/N and 2.11 nm/N and of 4.49 pm/mu epsilon and 9.12 pm/mu epsilon are obtained for the 47 mu m and 161 mu m long cavities, respectively. The way of manufacturing using a standard fusion splicer and given that no oils or etching solutions are involved, emerges as an alternative to the previously developed air bubble based sensors.

Abstract
A Fabry-Perot air bubble microcavity fabricated between a section of single mode fiber and a multimode fiber that requires only the use of a commercial fusion splicer is proposed. The study of the microcavities growth with the number of applied arcs is performed and several sensors are tested. The sensors are tested for lateral load measurements, and it is observed that there is dependence between the sensor dimensions and its sensitivity. The maximum sensitivity of 2.11 nm/N was obtained for the 161-mu m-long cavity. Moreover, given the low temperature sensitivity (<1 pm/degrees C), the proposed cavity should be adequate to perform temperature-independent measurements. The accurate technique control leads to the fabrication of reproducible cavities with the sensitivity required for the application. The way of manufacturing using a standard fusion splicer, given that no oils or etching solutions are involved, emerges as an alternative to the previously developed air bubble-based sensors.

Abstract