Fabrication of all solid-state lithium-ion batteries with three-dimensionally ordered composite electrode consisting of Li0.35La0.55TiO3 and LiMn2O4

A composite electrode between three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) Li_0.35La_0.55TiO₃ (LLT) and LiMn₂O₄ was fabricated by colloidal crystal templating method and sol–gel process. A close-packed PS beads with the opal structure was prepared by filtration of a suspension containing PS beads. Li–La–Ti–O sol was injected by vacuum impregnation process into the voids between PS beads, and then was heated to form 3DOM-LLT. Three-dimensionally ordered composite material consisting of LiMn₂O₄ and LLT was prepared by sol–gel process. The prepared composite was characterized with SEM and XRD. All solid-state Li-ion battery was fabricated with the LLT–LiMn₂O₄ composite electrode as a cathode, dry polymer electrolyte and Li metal anode. The prepared all solid-state cathode exhibited a volumetric discharge capacity of 220 mAh cm⁻³.     

Effects of methanol feeding methods on chimeric alpha-amylase expression in continuous culture of Pichia pastoris

The effects of two types of methanol feeding methods in a continuous culture of Pichia system on the cell growth and recombinant protein expression were studied using chimeric alpha-amylase as a model protein. With the feeding of methanol by a DO-stat method, the alpha-amylase concentration in the fermentation broth increased with decreasing dilution rate and reached 173 mg/l at a dilution rate of 0.013 h(-1), at which the maximum volumetric productivity of alpha-amylase was obtained. Although almost the same productivity was attained at 0.04 h(-1) with continuous methanol feeding, the alpha-amylase concentration was one third that compared with feeding by the DO-stat method, that is, 55 mg/l. Furthermore, at this dilution rate, the medium volume needed per unit time was three times that required when DO-stat was used. Therefore, continuous culture with methanol feeding by the DO-stat method may be a promising method for the production of recombinant proteins on an industrial scale by Pichia pastoris.     

In vitro inhibition of α-glucosidases and glycogen phosphorylase by catechin gallates in green tea

We investigated in vitro inhibition of mammalian carbohydrate-degrading enzymes by green tea extract and the component catechins, and further evaluated their inhibitory activities in cell cultures. The extract showed good inhibition toward rat intestinal maltase and rabbit glycogen phosphorylase (GP) b, with IC₅₀ values of 45 and 7.4 μg/ml, respectively. The polyphenol components, catechin 3-gallate (CG), gallocatechin 3-gallate (GCG), epicatechin 3-gallate (ECG), and epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG), were good inhibitors of maltase, with IC₅₀ values of 62, 67, 40, and 16 μM, respectively, and EGCG also showed good inhibition toward maltase expressed on Caco-2 cells, with an IC₅₀ value of 27 μM. The ungallated catechins, such as catechin, gallocatechin (GC), epicatechin (EC), and epigallocatechin (EGC), showed no significant inhibition toward GP b, whereas the gallated catechins CG, GCG, ECG, and EGCG inhibited the enzyme, with IC₅₀ values of 35, 6.3, 27, and 34 μM. From multiple inhibition studies by Dixon plots, GCG appears to bind a new allostelic site, the indole inhibitor site. These gallated catechins also inhibited glucagon-stimulated glucose production dose-dependently, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 33 to 55 μM. Dietary supplementation with these gallated catechins or the green tea extract containing them, which inhibits both α-glucosidases and GP in vitro and in cell culture, would contribute to the protection or improvement of type 2 diabetes.     

Transformation of cellobiose to 3-ketocellobiose by the EDTA-treated Agrobacterium tumefaciens cells

Agrobacterium tumefaciens cells treated with EDTA were used as a biocatalyst for the transformation of cellobiose to 3-ketocellobiose. The effects of pH of the reaction medium and temperature on the reaction rate and the selectivity during the transformation by the cells were examined, and it was found that the optimum reaction conditions were pH 6 and 15 degrees C. The selectivity was about 0.8 under these conditions. The substrate concentration had no significant effect on the selectivity up to 300 mmol/I.     

Secondary calcium-binding parameter of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase obtained from inhibition kinetics

Calcium is required for the stabilization of alpha-amylase because of primary binding (essential binding), but has been shown to inhibit hydrolytic catalysis due to secondary binding at the catalytic site in the enzyme. The role of calcium in the hydrolysis of soluble amylose by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase was characterized using the equilibrium dissociation constant (K(m)) and k(cat) for the hydrolytic catalysis. The enzymatic hydrolysis was inhibited by a relatively high concentration of calcium ions ([Ca2+] > or = 2.0 mM). The dissociation constant (Km) was increased with increasing calcium ion concentration. Because k(cat) was practically constant at the high calcium concentration range, a competitive inhibition kinetic model was applied to calculate the inhibition parameters in terms of the secondary calcium binding to the alpha-amylase. The enthalpy and entropy changes for the secondary binding were 54.8 kJ/mol and 215 J/mol.K, respectively, and these values suggest a strong entropic affinity for the bivalent ion binding to the enzyme. The thermodynamical analysis clearly shows the conformational changes in this a-amylase during the primary and secondary calcium ion binding.     

Complete dechlorination of 1-chloronaphthalene by electrochemical reduction with naphthalene radical anion as mediator

The possibility of electrochemical reduction for the complete dechlorination of toxic chlorinated aromatic compounds was investigated using 1-chloronaphthalene as a substrate. Sufficient current was obtained at the reduction potential of naphthalene rather than that of the substrate, and complete (>99.99%) dechlorination was achieved in tetra-n-butylammonium perchlorate/dimethylformamide solution in less than 1 h. The reaction was considered to proceed autocatalytically with the naphthalene radical anion, which was derived from the reduction of the initial dechlorination product (naphthalene) of the substrate, as mediator. The reaction rate was increased by the use of an excess of naphthalene at the start of the reaction, and complete dechlorination was possible without significant loss of current efficiency even if the water concentration was 0.3% v/v. The order of reaction of the mediated reduction was determined kinetically to be 0.5 for the substrate and 1 for naphthalene. Although the reaction of the naphthalene radical anion with 1-chloronaphthalene was very fast, it was considered to be the rate-determining step.     

Ignition and flame-holding of H2 and CH4 in high temperature airflow by a plasma torch

The effect of airflow temperature on ignition characteristics of a plasma torch was experimentally investigated. Various combinations of fuels (CH₄ and H₂) and plasma jets (PJs) (N₂, O₂, and N₂/H₂) were tested for a wide range of airflow temperature from 300K to 700K and the PJ power required for ignition was investigated. Ignition by the PJ occurred more easily in a high temperature airflow than in an atmospheric temperature airflow. The main reason for this was considered to be the increase in the reactivity of the fuel at high temperature rather than the effect of radicals in the PJ, because there was no difference in the spectroscopic measurement of the PJ between T_air = 300K and 700K. The addition of H₂ to the N₂ feedstock was also effective for ignition enhancement of both fuels (H₂ and CH₄). In particular, the H₂ 30%/N₂ 70% PJ was able to ignite both fuels even at atmospheric temperature and the lowest electric power input for the stable operation. One of the reasons for this advantage of the H₂ 30%/N₂ 70% PJ was the heat release from the diffusion flame of the H₂ included in the feedstock with the airflow after injection. Moreover, the conditions around the local ignition site such as the local fuel concentration or the size of the contact area of the PJ and the fuel jet were found to be important factors for the success of ignition.     

Survival of Salmonella in spices and growth in cooked food

Contamination of spices with pathogens has been reported worldwide, and Salmonella might result in foodborne infections. In this study, we investigated the survival of Salmonella in black pepper and red pepper, and the growth of the surviving Salmonella in cooked food. Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Weltevreden and Salmonella Senftenberg were inoculated into spices, and their survival during storage was examined. In black pepper, S. Enteritidis was no longer viable after storage for 28 days, but S. Weltevreden and S. Senftenberg remained viable. In red pepper, S. Weltevreden and S. Senftenberg survived for 28 days although S. Enteritidis was not viable after 7 days. Salmonella Weltevreden and Salmonella Senftenberg were inoculated into cooked food, and their survival during storage was determined. In potato salad, egg salad, namul and kimchi as cooked foods, both pathogens grew at 30 degrees C, but not at 10 degrees C. Our results indicate that cooked food should be stored at low temperature after addition of spices, such as black pepper and red pepper, following the cooking.     

Vibration analysis of delaminated composite beams and plates using a higher-order finite element

In order to analyze the vibration response of delaminated composite plates of moderate thickness, a FEM model based on a simple higher-order plate theory, which can satisfy the zero transverse shear strain condition on the top and bottom surfaces of plates, has been proposed in this paper. To set up a C⁰-type FEM model, two artificial variables have been introduced in the displacement field to avoid the higher-order derivatives in the higher-order plate theory. The corresponding constraint conditions from the two artificial variables have been enforced effectively through the penalty function method using the reduced integration scheme within the element area. Furthermore, the implementation of displacement continuity conditions at the delamination front has been described using the present FEM theory. Various examples studied in many previous researches have been employed to verify the justification, accuracy and efficiency of the present FEM model. The influences of delamination on the vibration characteristic of composite laminates have been investigated. Especially the variation of ‘curvature of vibration mode’ (i.e., the second-order differential of deflections in vibration mode) caused by delamination has been studied in detail to provide valuable information for the possible identification of delamination. Furthermore, two approaches have been investigated to detect a delamination in laminates by employing this information.