二垩英与资源回收-Ⅰ考虑到二垩英生成的资源与能量回收基础研究

目前在日本,存在大量工业垃圾,包括各种塑料制品,ASR(汽车破碎垃圾),含有毒PCB(多氯联苯)的110变压器和PVC(聚氯乙稀)制品等.而来自城市垃圾焚烧炉的废气含有大量能量.因此,在充分考虑环境、避免二垩英生成的同时,安全回收来自工业垃圾、城市和/或工业垃圾焚烧炉的资源和能量是个非常重要的课题,这也将对抑制CO2排放作出贡献.正确地阐明焚烧过程中二垩英的生成机理及详细研究含少量二垩英的焚烧废气在冷却过程中大量形成二垩英的临界温度是项很重要的工作.解决这个问题可有效实现资源和能量的回收.本报告介绍日本在二垩英排放方面目前采取的对策和存在的问题以及大阪大学为阻止二垩英生成所做的基础研究工作.     

Determination of standard gibbs energies of formation of Cr2N and CrN

The standard Gibbs energies of formation of Cr₂N and CrN have been measured by an equilibration technique and by using thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) at temperatures ranging from 1232 to 1523 K. The results are expressed as follows:

Fluorometric detection of interaction between lipase and glyceride

Previously, we devised the efficient modification of lipase, which can be dissolved and still maintain its activity in organic solvents. In this work, the fluorescence of the modified lipase could be detected in chloroform. When glycerides were added to the modified lipase solution, the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence of the modified lipase decreased, which suggests that the environment of the tryptophan residue was affected by the substrate. The interaction between the modified lipase and glyceride was studied kinetically in terms of fluorescence intensity of the tryptophan residue. Because glyceride is not subject to hydrolysis in nonaqueous solution, the dissociation constant of the enzyme-substrate complex could be determined. Thus, insight into the direct interaction between enzyme and substrate provided some structural information regarding the active site of lipase.     

A New Technique to Optimize System Reliability

This paper describes an algorithm for solving reliability optimization problems formulated as nonlinear binary programming problems with multiple-choice constraints. These constraints stand for restrictions in which only one variable is assigned to each subset making up the set; thus, they are expressed by equations whose r.h.s. is unity. Different types of methods for achieving high reliability (an increase in component reliability, parallel redundancy, standby redundancy, etc.) can be easily used simultaneously as design alternatives for each subsystem. In order to solve the problem effectively, the Lawler & Bell algorithm is improved by introducing a new lexicographic enumeration order which always satisfies the multiple-choice constraints. The function for obtaining feasible solutions which give first ~ L-th minimum values of the objective function is added to the algorithm in order to make it more useful for decision making. After a numerical example assists in understanding the algorithm, the computational efficiency is compared with that of the Lawler & Bell algorithm.     

Influence of free-stall flooring on comfort and hygiene of dairy cows during warm climatic conditions

An evaluation of behavioral and hygienic conditions was carried out with 4 materials used as free-stall flooring for dairy cows: polyethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and polypropylene vinyl acetate (PVA) mats, wood shavings, and solid manure. The free-stall type selected by cows was evaluated in response to changes in environmental temperature and humidity. Two tests were used: 1) a preference test, in which 8 cows were housed in a pen with 32 free stalls and 4 types of flooring; and 2) an aversion test, in which 32 cows were placed in 4 pens, each with 8 free stalls. The free stalls in each pen had a single type of bedding material. These tests showed that the comfort of dairy cows was predominantly influenced by environmental conditions. The preference test for lying showed that cows preferred free-stall floors with EVA mats over those with PVA mats, wood shavings, and solid manure (332.4 ± 24.0 vs. 130.8 ± 6.2, 160.9 ± 23.7, and 102.6 ± 23.2 min/d, respectively), but under conditions of heat stress, with a temperature-humidity index > 80, they chose wood shavings and solid manure lying areas. These results were confirmed by the aversion test. In all experimental and environmental conditions, the PVA mats were the least suitable. The mats contaminated with organic manure and the free stalls bedded with wood shavings and organic solids did not differ in either the coliform load on the lying surfaces (EVA mats: 290 ± 25; PVA mats: 306 ± 33; wood shavings: 290 ± 39; and solid manure: 305 ± 23 log₁₀ cfu/mL) or the total bacterial count in the raw milk (EVA mats: 232 ± 22; PVA mats: 233 + 24; wood shavings: 221 ± 24; and solid manure: 220 ± 25 log₁₀ cfu/mL). These results demonstrate that the comfort of dairy cows housed in barns with free stalls as resting areas does not depend only on the material used, but also on the value of the material in microenvironmental conditions.     

Detection of Leuconostoc strains at a meat processing plant using polymerase chain reaction

To simplify the labor-intensive conventional routine testing of samples to detect Leuconostoc at a meat processing plant, we developed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers specific for Leuconostoc from 16S rRNA gene sequences. These primers did not detect other common lactic acid bacteria such as Lactobacillus plantarum, Lact. sake, Lact. fermentum, Lact. acidophilus and Weissella viridescens. PCR with this primer detected all Leuconostoc species tested (Leu. mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides, Leu. pseudomesenteroides, Leu. carnosum, Leu. lactic, Leu. citreum, Leu. amelibiosum, Leu. gelidum), except for Leu. fallax, and no other lactic acid bacteria on agarose gel electrophoresis. The method could identify areas contaminated with Leuconostoc in a large-scale industrial meat processing plant. Of 69 samples analyzed, 34 were positive for Leuconostoc according to the conventional culture method (isolation of LAB producing dextran) and PCR, whereas 29 were negative according to both. Six samples were culture-negative but positive by PCR. No false negative results were generated by PCR. The method is rapid and simple, is useful for routinely monitoring areas contaminated with Leuconostoc in meat processing plants, and could help to prevent the spoilage of meat products.     

Corrosion by bacteria of concrete in sewerage systems and inhibitory effects of formates on their growth

Not only sulfur-oxidizing bacteria but also an acidophilic iron-oxidizing bacterium (or bacteria) were found in the corroded concrete from several sewerage systems in Japan. The surface pH of concrete test piece exposed to an atmosphere containing hydrogen sulfide of the concentrations more than 600 ppm in the systems was usually below 2 after a month. This was attributable to ability of the sulfur-oxidizing bacteria to grow in the thin water layer which contained hydrogen sulfide and covered the piece even when the surface pH of concrete was 12-13. When the sulfuroxidizing bacteria grew in the surface of concrete and produced sulfuric acid, the pH of the inner parts of concrete was lowered where the bacteria were hardly found. Probably, sulfuric acid formed by the bacteria in the surface parts penetrated into the inner parts. The different species of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria were found in different sewerage systems. The growth of the sulfur-oxidizing and acidophilic iron-oxidizing bacteria was completely inhibited by formates, especially by calcium formate of concentrations more than 50 mM. Calcium formate can protect concrete in sewerage systems from bacterial corrosion.     

Immunobiology of Thymic Epithelial Tumors: Implications for Immunotherapy with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are a group of rare thoracic malignancies, including thymic carcinomas (TC) and thymomas (Tm). Autoimmune paraneoplastic diseases are often observed in TETs, especially Tms. To date, chemotherapy is still the standard treatment for advanced disease. Unfortunately, few therapeutic options are available for relapsed/refractory TETs. In the last few years, the deepening of knowledge on thymus’ immunobiology and involved altered genetic pathways have laid the foundation for new treatment options in these rare neoplasms. Recently, the immunotherapy revolution has landed in TETs, showing both a dark and light side. Indeed, despite the survival benefit, the occurrence of severe autoimmune treatment-related adverse events has risen crescent uncertainty about the feasibility of immunotherapy in these patients, prone to autoimmunity for their cancer biology. In this review, after summarizing immunobiology and immunopathology of TETs, we discuss available data on immune-checkpoint inhibitors and future perspectives of this therapeutic strategy.     

Acrylamide content in potato chips on the Italian market determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

An easy‐to‐use and simplified liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐ESI (+)‐MS/MS) method was adopted to determine the amount of acrylamide in thirty‐two samples of potato chips purchased on the South Italian market in 2009. Extract produced from matrices was directly analysed without derivatisation, the use of isotopically labelled acrylamide or the use of clean up cartridges. Quality analytical data were reported. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were 6 μg kg^?1 and 18 μg kg^?1, respectively and recovery values ranged from 90.7–96.3%. The relative standard deviation (RSD) ranged between 2.1% and 5.8%. The values ranged between 27 and 1400 μg kg^?1 and the arithmetic mean acrylamide content resulted 363 μg kg^?1. According to Foot et al. [Food Additives and Contaminants, 24 (2007)(S1), 37] and considering 500 μg kg^?1 as the minimum level possible with the actual available mitigation tools, the number of samples showing an acrylamide level higher than 500 μg kg^?1 resulted to be 22%. This paper gives a contribution to data collection in response to the monitoring activity of EFSA and following the Commission Recommendation 2007/331/EC: really, the number of Italian samples of potato chips and potato products for which acrylamide values was reported in the ‘results on the monitoring of acrylamide’ of EFSA ( http://www.efsa.europa.eu/cs/BlobServer/Report/datex_report_acrylamide_en,0.pdf?ssbinary=true , 2009) issued on 30 April 2009 is very limited.