Properties of Crude Ethylester-forming Enzyme Preparations from Some Lactic Acid and Psychrotrophic Bacteria

Ester-forming enzyme preparations were obtained from 48 h cultures of Streptococcus diacetilactis ATCC 15346, S. lactis ML3, Lactobacillus No. 81 and two strains of psychrotrophic bacteria belonging to the genus Pseudomonas (Strains No. 50 and 53).Optimum pH's of the enzyme preparations of Lactobacillus No. 81 and two strains of the lactic streptococci for the production of ethylbutyrate and ethylhexanoate were 6.5 and 7.0 to 7.5, respectively. Enzymes of Strains No. 50 and 53 had their maximum activities at pH 8.0. The optimum temperature was 32 C for all strains. Enzymes were generally stable below 35 C at pH 7.0, but their activities were rapidly lost at higher temperature. When the esterases were incubated at 4 C for 24 h, Lactobacillus No. 81, the lactic streptococci (Strains ML3 and ATCC 15346), and the psychrotrophic bacteria (Strains No. 50 and 53) were most stable at pH 6.0, 7.0, and 8.0, respectively. Copper, manganese, and cobalt salts inhibited all the enzymes. The inhibitory effect of cobalt on enzyme activities of Strains ML 3, No. 50 and 53 and that of copper on Strain No. 81 were especially significant.     

Anisotropic structure of alkali metaphosphate glasses

Orientation anisotropy, which is well known in organic polymers with appropriate network structures, is less common in oxide glasses. We present the intermediate-range order in anisotropic alkali metaphosphate glass which consists of oriented PO₄ tetrahedral chains and intervening alkali cations along the elongation direction. The X-ray total structure factor S(Q) indicates that the inter-chain spacing depends on the size of alkali cations and varies from 5.03 to 6.28 Å. The mixed alkali effect is primarily related to an increase of the separation. The total correlation function T(r) provides the first definite evidence that the anisotropic structure is composed of phosphorus-bridging oxygen bonds (P–O_B) lying along the elongation direction and phosphorus-non-bridging oxygen bonds (P–O_T) oriented perpendicular to the elongation direction. The present result unveils fundamental aspects of the anisotropic structure of an oxide glass and provides essential information for the development of oxide glasses to control structural anisotropy.     

Material Design of p‐Type Transparent Amorphous Semiconductor,Cu–Sn–I

Transparent amorphous semiconductors (TAS) that can be fabricated at low temperature are key materials in the practical application of transparent flexible electronics. Although various n‐type TAS materials with excellent performance, such as amorphous In‐Ga‐Zn‐O (a‐IGZO), are already known, no complementary p‐type TAS has been realized to date. Here, a material design concept for p‐type TAS materials is proposed utilizing the pseudo s‐orbital nature of spatially spreading iodine 5p orbitals and amorphous Sn‐containing CuI (a‐CuSnI) thin film is reported as an example. The resulting a‐CuSnI thin films fabricated by spin coating at low temperature (140 °C) have a smooth surface. The Hall mobility increases with the hole concentration and the largest mobility of ≈9 cm² V^?1 s^?1 is obtained, which is comparable with that of conventional n‐type TAS.     

A Solution‐Processed Ultrafast Optical Switch Based on a Nanostructured Epsilon‐Near‐Zero Medium

All the optical properties of materials are derived from dielectric function. In spectral region where the dielectric permittivity approaches zero, known as epsilon‐near‐zero (ENZ) region, the propagating light within the material attains a very high phase velocity, and meanwhile the material exhibits strong optical nonlinearity. The interplay between the linear and nonlinear optical response in these materials thus offers unprecedented pathways for all‐optical control and device design. Here the authors demonstrate ultrafast all‐optical modulation based on a typical ENZ material of indium tin oxide (ITO) nanocrystals (NCs), accessed by a wet‐chemistry route. In the ENZ region, the authors find that the optical response in these ITO NCs is associated with a strong nonlinear character, exhibiting sub‐picosecond response time (corresponding to frequencies over 2 THz) and modulation depth up to ≈160%. This large optical nonlinearity benefits from the highly confined geometry in addition to the ENZ enhancement effect of the ITO NCs. Based on these ENZ NCs, the authors successfully demonstrate a fiber optical switch that allows switching of continuous laser wave into femtosecond laser pulses. Combined with facile processibility and tunable optical properties, these solution‐processed ENZ NCs may offer a scalable and printable material solution for dynamic photonic and optoelectronic devices.     

Tiered Electron Anions in Multiple Voids of LaScSi and Their Applications to Ammonia Synthesis

Electrides—compounds in which electrons localized in interstitial spaces periodically serve as anions—have attracted broad attention for their exotic properties, such as extraordinary electron‐donating ability. In our efforts to expand this small family of phases, LaScSi emerges as a promising candidate. Its electron count is 2e^? f.u.^?1 in excess of that expected from the Zintl concept, while its structure offers interstitial spaces that can accommodate these extra electrons. Herein, this potential is explored through density functional theory (DFT) calculations and property measurements on LaScSi. DFT calculations (validated by heat capacity and electrical transport measurements) reveal electron density peaks at two symmetry‐distinct interstitial sites. Importantly, this electride‐like character is combined with chemical stability in air and water, an advantage for catalysis. Ru‐loaded LaScSi shows outstanding catalytic activity for ammonia synthesis, with a turnover frequency (0.1 s^?1 at 0.1 MPa, 400 °C) an order of magnitude higher than those of oxide‐based Ru catalysts, e.g., Ru/MgO. As with other electrides, LaScSi's ability to reversibly store hydrogen prevents the hydrogen poisoning of Ru surfaces. The better performance of LaScSi, however, hints at the importance of the high concentration (>1.6 × 10²² cm^?3) and tiered nature of its anionic electrons, which offers guidance toward new catalysts.     

Elimination of boron and lithium coexisting in geothermal water by adsorption-membrane filtration hybrid process

Direct release of geothermal waters to the environment may cause some damages to some plants because they contain toxic species such as boron, arsenic, fluoride etc. along with valuable minerals including lithium. In this study, a hybrid process combining adsorption and membrane filtration was used to separate boron and lithium simultaneously from geothermal water. According to the results obtained, separation efficiencies for lithium and boron from geothermal water were 100% and 83% using boron selective ion exchange resin Dowex XUS-43594.00 and lithium selective λ-MnO₂ adsorbent, respectively. The kinetic data of lithium and boron adsorption have been evaluated using pseudo-first order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models.     

Sources of nitrate and ammonium contamination in groundwater under developing Asian megacities

The status of nitrate (NO(3)(-)), nitrite (NO(2)(-)) and ammonium (NH(4)(+)) contamination in the water systems, and the mechanisms controlling their sources, pathways, and distributions were investigated for the Southeast Asian cities of Metro Manila, Bangkok, and Jakarta. GIS-based monitoring and dual isotope approach (nitrate delta(15)N and delta(18)O) suggested that human waste via severe sewer leakage was the major source of nutrient contaminants in Metro Manila and Jakarta urban areas. Furthermore, the characteristics of the nutrient contamination differed depending on the agricultural land use pattern in the suburban areas: high nitrate contamination was observed in Jakarta (dry fields), and relatively lower nutrients consisting mainly of ammonium were detected in Bangkok (paddy fields). The exponential increase in NO(3)(-)-delta(15)N along with the NO(3)(-) reduction and clear delta(18)O/delta(15)N slopes of NO(3)(-) ( approximately 0.5) indicated the occurrence of denitrification. An anoxic subsurface system associated with the natural geological setting (e.g., the old tidal plain at Bangkok) and artificial pavement coverage served to buffer NO(3)(-) contamination via active denitrification and reduced nitrification. Our results showed that NO(3)(-) and NH(4)(+) contamination of the aquifers in Metro Manila, Bangkok, and Jakarta was not excessive, suggesting low risk of drinking groundwater to human health, at present. However, the increased nitrogen load and increased per capita gross domestic product (GDP) in these developing cities may increase this contamination in the very near future. Continuous monitoring and management of the groundwater system is needed to minimize groundwater pollution in these areas, and this information should be shared among adjacent countries with similar geographic and cultural settings.     

Microstructure and transport properties of [0 0 1]-tilt bicrystal grain boundaries in iron pnictide superconductor,cobalt-doped BaFe2As2

Relationships between microstructure and transport properties of bicrystal grain boundary (BGB) junctions were studied in cobalt-doped BaFe₂As₂ (BaFe₂As₂:Co) epitaxial films grown on [0 0 1]-tilt bicrystal substrates of MgO and (La, Sr)(Al, Ta)O₃ with misorientation angles θ_GB = 3–45°. The θ_GB of BaFe₂As₂:Co BGBs were exactly transferred from those of the bicrystal substrates. No segregation of impurities was detected at the BGB junction interfaces, and the chemical compositions of the BGBs were uniform and the same as those in the bulk film regions. A transition from a strongly-coupled GB behavior to a weak-link behavior was observed in current density–voltage characteristics under self-field around θ_GB ～ 9°. The critical current density decreased from (1.2–1.6) × 10⁶ A/cm² of the intragrain transport to (0.7–1.1) × 10⁵ A/cm² of θ_GB = 45° because supercurrent becomes more governed by Josephson current with increasing θ_GB.     

Spatial distribution of submarine groundwater discharge and associated nutrients within a local coastal area

To understand the local-scale distribution of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) and dissolved nutrients, a multiple-detector (222)Rn monitoring survey was undertaken along the Mt. Chokai volcanic coast in northern Japan. The surveys revealed that the highest SGD (calculated to be 6.2 × 10(4) m(3) d(-1), within an area of 2 × 10(4) m(2)) with the greatest nutrient fluxes (sum of NO(3)(-), NO(2)(-), and NH(4)(+) (DIN): 9.2 × 10(2) mol d(-1); PO(4)(3-) (DIP): 56 mol d(-1)) is present at the edge of the youngest volcanic lava flow in the area. Recharged groundwater transports nutrients through porous volcanic flows and discharges as SGD near shore. Our results demonstrate that the spatial distribution of SGD in the study area is closely regulated by the local geology and topography. Furthermore, we show that continuous (222)Rn monitoring with a multidetector system at boat speeds of 1-2 knots provides details at a scale one order of magnitude greater than has been reported previously. In addition, the results of our study suggest that SGD-borne DIP may play an important role in the important local oyster production.     

Antimutagenicity of milk cultured with lactic acid bacteria against N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine.

The antimutagenic effect of cultured milk using 71 strains of lactic acid bacteria belonging to the genus Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Lactococcus, and Bifidobacterium on the mutagenicity of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine was investigated in vitro using Salmonella typhimurium TA 100 as an indicator bacterium. Each cultured milk sample displayed its characteristic antimutagenic effect on the mutagenicity of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. The milk cultured with Lactobacillus acidophilus LA 106 (LA2) showed the highest inhibition of 77% against the mutagenicity of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine among the strains tested. Changes in the antimutagenic effect of the milk cultured by Lb. acidophilus LA 106 (LA2) during incubation were also examined using N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine as a mutagen.