Non-destructive Visible/NIR Spectroscopy for Differentiation of Fresh and Frozen-thawed Fish

Nondestructive visible/near‐infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was evaluated to investigate whether fish has been frozen‐thawed. Fresh or frozen‐thawed red sea bream Pagrus major (n= 108) were scanned using a NIRSystems 6500 spectrophotometer equipped with a surface interactance fiber‐optic accessory then discriminated by soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) based on principal component analysis (PCA) scores. The major effect of freeze‐thawing treatment involves a gross change in total reflectance after freezing and thawing; this arises from changes in light scatter presumably arising from alterations in the physical structure of at least the surface layer of fish. Untreated original absorbance spectra achieved much better (100%) classification accuracy for the prediction samples while the same figures for multiplicative scatter correction (MSC) treated spectra are considerably worse, indicating that scattering is the major information that makes classification work. No incorrect type of classification at all and also there are no samples classified to both groups either. This faster technique has the potential to differentiate fresh and frozen‐thawed fish and could be applied for online or at‐line processing control.     

Ferulic acid production from clove oil by Pseudomonas fluorescens E118

For the production of the useful antioxidant ferulic acid from clove oil containing abundant eugenol, the growth of eugenol-degrading microorganisms in the presence of clove oil was examined. Pseudomonas fluorescens E118, a clove-oil-tolerant strain, accumulated 6.1 g/l ferulic acid under optimized culture conditions with the intermittent addition of eugenol. When the bacterium was applied to ferulic acid production from clove oil, 5.8 g/l ferulic acid was produced with the intermittent addition of clove oil. Since clove oil is much cheaper than eugenol, ferulic acid production from clove oil by the bacterium is promising for the industrial production of ferulic acid.     

Mechanism of the First Falling Rate Period: An Alternative Approach by Image Analysis

An alternative experimental approach using the image luminosity of a drying surface photographed by a bore scope was conducted in order to elucidate the drying mechanism for the first falling rate period including the critical moisture content. The observed luminosity was in fair agreement with the luminosity predicted from the model of the configuration of water, indicating that the configuration of water plays a critical role for the drying mechanism, especially for the first falling rate period and the critical moisture content. The parameters of the configuration of water estimated in this work could be effective for prediction of drying rates along with other transport properties.     

Genital Paget's disease with clear cells in the epidermis of the axilla

We report an 84-year-old man with extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) involving the genital region. Microscopic examination revealed very few clear cells appearing pagetoid in the lower portion of prickle cell layer of the right axilla epidermis, with no clinically detectable eruption. Their histochemical, immunohistochemical and lectin-binding reactions were almost identical to those in the genital lesion. However, although the axillary lesion was diagnosed as subclinical Paget's condition, the clinical course showed no aggressive or destructive nature. Our case suggests that not all subclinical Paget's conditions become malignant, and that in some cases the clear cells may be precursors of Paget's cells developing multifocally.     

Nonlinear resistivity in epoxy composites containing Mn-based ferrite magnetic particles

In this study, magnetic particles were employed as nonlinear resistive materials in electric stress grading composites. Epoxy resin films containing either manganese-based ferrite magnetic (Mn-FM) particles or manganese-magnesium-based ferrite magnetic particles were prepared, and the threshold voltages required for these films to exhibit nonlinear resistivity were determined. The sample containing Mn-FM particles having irregular shapes [Mn-FM(i)] at 20 vol % showed the highest nonlinear resistivity. Assessments of the magnetic characteristics of these materials demonstrated a relationship between magnetic flux density and nonlinear resistivity. The magnetic flux density of the Mn-FM(i) composite was the highest among the various specimens, indicating that magnetic flux density may affect nonlinear resistivity. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48229.     

Fracture-mechanics-based evaluation of failure limit on pre-cracked and hydrided Zircaloy-4 cladding tube under biaxial stress states

ABSTRACT

To better understand the failure limit of fuel cladding during the pellet-cladding mechanical interaction (PCMI) phase of a reactivity-initiated accident (RIA), pre-cracked and hydrided cladding samples with base metal final heat-treatment status of cold worked (CW) and recrystallized (RX) were tested under biaxial stress conditions (strain ratios (ε_z/ε_θ) of 0 and 0.5). Displacement-controlled biaxial-expansion-due-to-compression (biaxial-EDC) tests were performed to obtain the hoop strain at failure (failure strain) of the samples. The conversion of the failure strains to J-integrals at failure (J_IC) by finite-element analysis involving data of stress-relieved (SR) cladding specimens from our previous study revealed that the failure limit in the dimension of J_IC unifies the effects of pre-crack depth. About 30–50% reduction in the J_IC value was observed as the strain ratio increased from 0 to 0.5 irrespective of the annealing type, pre-crack depth, and hydrogen content. The rate of fractional decreases of J_IC with increase of hydrogen content is in the order of CW>SR>RX, which are essentially independent of strain ratio for the CW and SR samples. The results were incorporated into the failure prediction model of the JAEA’s fuel performance code in the form of a correction factor that considers the biaxial loading effect.     

Electrophysiological characteristics of submucosal neurones in the proximal colon of guinea-pigs: comparisons with caecum and descending colon

A systematic examination has been made of the active and passive electrophysiological properties and synaptic inputs of forty-four randomly impaled submucosal neurones in the proximal colon of the guinea-pig to compare these characteristics directly with those of submucosal neurones in the caecum (n = 70) and descending colon (n = 45). Within each of the three electrophysiological classes of submucosal neurones identified (S, S/AH and AH), no statistically significant regional differences were found with respect to the resting membrane potential, membrane time constant or input resistance between neurones of the proximal colon, descending colon and caecum. Of submucosal neurones from the proximal colon, forty-three of forty-four (98%) received fast excitatory synaptic potentials (fast EPSPs); thirty-nine (91%) were S neurones and the others were S/AH neurones; only one of the forty-four cells (2%) was an AH neurone. An idazoxan-sensitive slow inhibitory postsynaptic potential (slow IPSP) was induced in thirty of forty-three S and S/AH neurones (70%) of the proximal colon, compared with sixty-one of sixty-six caecal neurones (92%) and twelve of forty-one neurones (29%) in the descending colon. The mean (+/- S.E.M.) amplitude of the slow IPSP in proximal colonic neurones was 17 +/- 1 mV (range, 6-30 mV; n = 30), compared with the significantly larger synaptic response (25 +/- 1 mV; range, 7-38 mV; n = 66; P < 0.05) recorded in the caecum; the mean slow IPSP amplitude in the descending colon was significantly smaller (12 +/- 2 mV; range, 5-27 mV; n = 12; P < 0.05) than that in the caecum. In the proximal colon and caecum, only those neurones with a slow IPSP had a hyperpolarizing response to noradrenaline, whereas about 50% of those neurons of the descending colon that lacked a slow IPSP were hyperpolarized by noradrenaline, acting via alpha 2-adrenoceptors. Thus, the electrophysiological characteristics of the submucosal neurones of the proximal colon more closely resemble those of the caecum than those of the descending colon, of which many do not have a functional noradrenergic synaptic input. Furthermore, the results confirm that there are fundamental regional differences in the guinea-pig large intestine with respect to the synaptic organization of submucosal neurones of particular electrophysiological classes.     

Dynamic mechanical properties of paper containing a polyacrylamide dry‐strength resin additive and its distribution within a fiber wall: Effect of the application method

Laboratory handsheets made from lightly beaten hardwood kraft pulp containing various amounts of cationic‐type polyacrylamide (PAM) dry‐strength resin were prepared by both internal and external application methods. We performed the internal application by adding a dilute aqueous PAM solution to a pulp fiber suspension, whereas we performed the external application by dipping a dry paper (handsheet) into an aqueous PAM solution and further squeezing it out with or without the standard wet press. Attenuated total reflection/Fourier transform infrared analysis combined with a gradual etching method was used to clarify the difference in the depth profiles of PAM within a fiber wall between these application methods. For the internal application method, PAM existed, on the whole, mainly close to the fiber surface and slightly distributed from the fiber surface toward the center of the fiber wall. On the other hand, for the external application method, PAM existed mainly on the fiber surface and around the fiber‐to‐fiber bonds. Dynamic mechanical properties of the papers containing PAM were measured at temperatures ranging from 100 to 300°C and at the various frequencies. In case of addition by the internal method, no characteristic viscoelasticity of PAM appeared. On the other hand, external method addition at the nearly same retention level of PAM gave the characteristic viscoelasticity. These findings suggest following things: when cationic‐type PAM dry‐strength resin was applied by the internal method, the PAM distributes within the fiber wall in a molecularly dispersed state. The induced state of PAM within the fiber wall, with no existence of a phase of PAM, led to the disappearance of the viscoelasticity of the PAM. On the other hand, the external application method brought about the PAM distribution around the fiber‐to‐fiber bonds and over the fiber surface. The induced state of PAM, the existence of a kind of PAM phase, led to the appearance of the viscoelasticity of the PAM itself. Dynamic mechanical analysis may be a good method for examining whether PAM is molecularly distributed or making aggregates in paper and other polymer composites. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(tetramethyl-1,4-silphenylenesiloxane) Derivatives with Oxyethylene Substituent on Phenylene Moiety

Summary Novel poly(tetramethyl-1,4-silphenylenesiloxane) derivatives having 2-methoxy-ethoxy or 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy substituents at both 2- and 5-positions on phenylene moieties were synthesized and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry analyses. Poly(tetramethyl-1,4-silphenylene-siloxane) derivatives were obtained by condensation polymerization of the corresponding disilanol derivatives, i.e., 1,4-bis(dimethylhydroxysilyl)-2,5-bis(2-methoxyethoxy)benzene and 1,4-bis(dimethylhydroxysilyl)-2,5-bis[2-(2-methoxy-ethoxy)ethoxy]benzene, which were prepared by the Grignard reaction using chlorodimethylsilane and the corresponding dibromobenzene derivatives followed by the hydrolyses, catalyzed by palladium on charcoal. The introduction of 2-methoxyethoxy groups on the phenylene moiety made the melting point high, compared with poly(tetramethyl-1,4-silphenylenesiloxane); however, that of 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy groups made it low, indicating the longer oxyethylene moiety induced the lowering of the melting point. There were no significant differences in the thermostabilities of both present polymers, suggesting the length of oxyethylene moiety would not affect the thermostability, though the introduction of polar oxyethylene group onto the phenylene moiety induced a decline of thermostability.     

Limb salvage and survival rates among elderly patients with advanced limb ischemia

Beta-Thalassemia hemoglobin E (beta-thal/Hb E) is the commonest form of hemoglobinopathy in Thailand. Shortened red cell life span, rapid iron turnover and tissue deposition of excess iron are major factors responsible for functional and physiological abnormalities found in various forms of thalassemia. Increased deposition of iron had been found in renal parenchyma of thalassemic patients, but no systematic study of the effect of the deposits on renal functions has been available. The purpose of this study is to describe the functional abnormalities of the kidney in patients with beta-thal/Hb E and provide evidence that increased oxidative stress might be one of the factors responsible for the damage. Urine and serum samples from 95 patients with beta-thal/Hb E were studied comparing with 27 age-matched healthy controls. No difference in the creatinine clearance was observed. beta-thal/Hb E patients excreted significantly more urinary protein (0.8+/-0.5 vs. 0.3+/-0.1 g/day, p < 0.001). Aminoaciduria was found in 16 % of the patients. Analysis of urinary protein by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and silver staining revealed abnormal pattern of protein with increased small molecular weight (<45 kD) bands. Morning urine analysis showed significant lower urine osmolality (578.3+/-164.6 vs. 762.4+/-169.9 mosm/kg, p < 0.001) in patients. Patients excreted more NAG (N-acetyl beta-D-glucosaminidase, 26.3+/-41.3 vs. 8.4+/-3.9 U/g Cr, p < 0.0001) and beta2-microglobulin, 124.3+/-167 vs. 71+/-65.5 microg/g Cr, p = 0.001. Plasma and urine MDA (malonyldialdehyde) levels were both raised (p < 0.0001). Nine patients were selected for renal acidification study. All were found to be normal, but showed poor response to DDAVP challenge (urine osmolality 533+/-71). This is the first report of renal tubular defects found associated with beta-thal/Hb E disease. The mechanism leading to the damage is not known but it might be related to increased oxidative stress secondary to tissue deposition of iron, as indicated by the raised levels of serum and urine MDA. It is not known whether these functional defects would have any long-term effects on the patients. Further studies are warranted and means of prevention of these defects should urgently be sought.