Photo atomic layer deposition of transparent conductive ZnO films

Low-resistivity ZnO films were grown by photo atomic layer deposition (photo-ALD) technique using diethylzinc (DEZ) and H₂O as reactant gases. Self-limiting growth was achieved for the temperature range from 105°C to 235°C. It was found that UV light irradiation was very effective to increase the electron concentration of the films and the electron concentration of 5 × 10²⁰ cm⁻³ was achieved even in undoped ZnO. Thus, the resistivity of the films grown with UV irradiation was one order of magnitude less than that grown without UV irradiation. The minimum resistivity of 6.9 × 10⁻⁴Ω cm was obtained by photo- ALD method without any intentional doping.     

Cloning and characterization of a 4-nitrophenol hydroxylase gene cluster from Rhodococcus sp. PN1

A 4-nitrophenol (4-NP)-degrading bacterium was isolated from activated sludge and identified as a Rhodococcus sp. This bacterium, designated as strain PN1, could utilize 4-NP as a sole carbon, nitrogen and energy source. Degradation tests of 4-NP using cell suspensions of strain PN1 revealed that the degradation was induced by 4-NP and that 4-nitrocatechol (4-NC) was one of the metabolites. A gene library was constructed from the total DNA of strain PN1 and introduced into Rhodococcus rhodochrous ATCC 12674. Two recombinant strains showed 4-NP hydroxylase activity, and a 9.1-kb DNA fragment encoding the activity was isolated from one of the strains. In addition, a 2.4-kb smaller fragment expressing the activity was subcloned from the 9.1-kb fragment and sequenced. The sequence analysis showed that the fragment encodes a two-component 4-NP hydroxylase, the predicted amino acid sequence of which exhibits significant similarity to those of phenol hydroxylases and 4-hydroxyphenylacetate 3-hydroxylases belonging to the two-component flavin diffusible monooxygenase (TC-FDM) family proposed by Galán et al. (J. Bacteriol., 182, 627-636, 2000).     

Effect of the withering process on volatile compound formation during black tea manufacture

The amount and composition of volatile compounds in the volatile oils were compared between non-withered tea and withered tea. Important differences in the aroma constituents were found in the amounts of E-2-hexenal, Z-3-hexanol ester, linalool and its oxides, and methylsalcylate. In withered teas, the amounts of Z-3-hexenol ester, linalool and its oxides, and methylsalcylate were much greater than in non-withered tea, but the E-2-hexenal content was higher in non-withered tea. From the results it was thought that the withering process has an important role in the formation of volatile compounds in tea shoots during black tea fermentation.     

Effect of dietary n-9 eicosatrienoic acid on the fatty acid composition of plasma lipid fractions and tissue phospholipids

n-9 Eicosatrienoic acid (ETrA), also known as Mead acid, is a minor fatty acid in essential fatty acid (EFA)-sufficient healthy subjects but is found at increased levels in EFA deficiency. This study examined the influence of dietary ETrA from a biological source on plasma and tissue ETrA. A synthetic fat-free diet was prepared to which was added Mut 48 oil which contains 19% ETrA (wt%) as well as other n-9 fatty acids. Blends of vegetable oils were used to achieve overall diets with 5% fat (wt%) and varying amounts of ETrA at two different dietary levels of linoleic acid (LA), approximately 4.4 and 19% of total fatty acids. These diets were fed to 5-week-old Dark Agouti rats for four weeks. Plasma lipid fractions and liver, spleen, and peritoneal exudate (PE) cells were analyzed for fatty acid composition. ETrA was present at up to 20% total fatty acids in plasma triglyceride, cholesterol ester, and phospholipid fractions. ETrA also accumulated to substantial levels in phospholipids of liver and spleen (up to 15% of total fatty acids) and PE cells (up to 11%). ETrA was found in plasma and tissue phospholipids in proportion to the amount of ETrA present in the diet. The incorporation was reduced in diets with higher LA content compared to diets containing similar amounts of ETrA but lower LA. All rats remained apparently healthy, and histological survey of major organs revealed no abnormality. While the long-term implications for health of ingestion of diets rich in ETrA remain to be established, rats appear to tolerate high levels of dietary ETrA without adverse effects. Dietary enrichment with ETrA warrants further investigation for possible beneficial effects in models of inflammation and autoimmunity, as well as in other conditions in which mediators derived from n-6 fatty acids can affect homeostasis adversely.     

Stabilization of poly(vinyl chloride). X. Synergisms between epoxidized polybutadienes and metal soaps on the stabilization of poly(vinyl chloride)

Effects of epoxidized 1,2- or 1,4-polybutadienes on the zinc stearate/calcium stearate synergetic soap-induced thermal stabilization of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) were investigated by colorimetry. The remarkable stabilization effects of epoxidized polybutadienes could not be observed on the PVC films without synergetic soaps, while the stabilization of PVC was markedly enhanced by combined use of epoxidized polybutadienes with synergetic soaps. Excessive coloration of cool color-producing zinc chloride-polyene complexes that were the source of abrupt discoloration of stabilized PVC was retarded by using epoxidized polybutadienes together with synergetic soap. The synergism of epoxidized polybutadienes was enhanced with increasing epoxy contents. Moreover, the effect is also clearly dependent on degree of dispersion of epoxidized polybutadienes in PVC. Further colorimetries, infrared (IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies on the various PVC-containing epoxidized polybutadienes and zinc chloride indicated that the epoxy groups capture the zinc chloride. The synergistic effect between epoxidized polybutadienes and metal soap was ascribed to epoxidized polybutadienes serving as acceptors for the excessive cool color-producing zinc chloride produced by zinc stearate to retard the abrupt discoloration of stabilized PVC. The plate-out phenomenon appeared during the molding process of PVC-containing epoxy compounds was considerably retarded by epoxidized polybutadienes which modified polyols. The polyol-modifying epoxidized polybutadienes also exhibited a marked effect on PVC stabilization with metal soap.     

Injection sclerotherapy for gastric varices using N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate and ethanolamine oleate

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Tissue adhesive agents, such as the cyanoacrylates, have been used as an alternative to conventional sclerotherapy to treat gastric varices, but the long-term efficacy of this approach has not been determined. We evaluated the efficacy and long-term outcome of injection sclerotherapy with n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate and ethanolamine oleate in 16 patients with gastric varices. METHODOLOGY: We evaluated the effect of injection sclerotherapy in 16 Japanese patients with gastric varices. Injection sclerotherapy was performed on an emergency basis in 6 patients, an elective basis in 5 patients, and as prophylaxis in 5 patients. RESULTS: No bleeding was observed in the 7 patients in whom gastric varices disappeared during the 51 month follow-up period. The non-bleeding rate after treatment was significantly higher in this group than in the 9 patients in whom gastric varices did not disappear (p<0.05). Acute bleeding was stopped in 5 (83.3%) of 6 patients. The single failure was a patient in whom the sclerosant could not be injected into the gastric varices. No serious complications, such as emboli in other organs, were observed. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that this therapy is a safe and useful treatment for gastric varices and that the goal of injection sclerotherapy should be the disappearance of gastric varices.     

The Effect of Barley Adjuncts on Free Amino Nitrogen Contents in Wort

Free amino nitrogen (FAN) and other low‐molecular‐weight nitrogen compounds (LNC) are highly important as nutrients for yeast. Many different types of low‐malt beer exist around the world, some of which are produced with barley as an adjunct. In these cases, inhibitors contained in barley are known to influence the amount of LNC in wort. Accordingly, it is important to investigate which proteinase class is key in producing these compounds. By investigating the relationship between the FAN contained in wort produced from malt and barley (barley adjunct wort) and malt proteinase activity, it was found that cysteine proteinase and 1,10‐orthophenanthroline (O‐Phen)‐inhibitable metallo proteinases had a significant correlation to the barley adjunct wort FAN levels. In addition, the relationship between malting conditions and these proteinase activities was investigated and the conditions defined for maximal production of proteinases as follows: steeping degree, 50%; germination temperature, 12°C; germination days, 6 days; water spray, 3 times and concentration of gibberellic acid, 10 mg/kg (barley).