The use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for the determination of pollutants in environmental and industrial wastes.

Twelve enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), for the determination of surfactants [linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS), alkyl ethoxylates (AE), and alkylphenol ethoxylates (APE)], endocrine disruptors [alkylphenol (AP), AP + APE, and bisphenol A (BPA)], estrogens [17beta-estradiol (E2), estrone (El), estrogen (ES: El + E2 + estriol (E3)), 1 7alfa-ethynylestradiol (EE2)], dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), were validated on environmental water and industrial wastes. The lowest quantification limits of these ELISAs were 0.05 microg/L (BPA, E2, El, ES and EE2), 2 microg/L (AE), 3 microg/L (dioxins and PCBs), 5 microg/L (AP, AP + APE) and 20 microg/L (LAS and APE). To apply these ELISAs to environmental or industrial waste samples, simple and appropriate pre-treatment methods were also developed for each ELISA. With optimized pre-treatments, the values of ELISAs were well co-related, in all cases, to those of instrumental analytical methods such as liquid chromatography (HPLC), liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and high-resolution gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HR-GC-MS), etc.     

Effects of intermittent and continuous aeration on accelerative stabilization and microbial population dynamics in landfill bioreactors

Performance and microbial population dynamics in landfill bioreactors were investigated in laboratory experiments. Three reactors were operated without aeration (control reactor, CR), with cyclic 6-h aeration and 6-h non-aeration (intermittently aerated reactor, IAR), and with continuous aeration (continuously aerated reactor, CAR). Each reactor was loaded with high-organic solid waste. The performance of IAR was highest among the reactors up to day 90. The respective solid weight, organic matter content, and waste volume on day 90 in the CR, IAR, and CAR were 50.9, 39.1, and 47.5%; 46.5, 29.3 and 35.0%; and 69, 38, and 53% of the initial values. Organic carbon and nitrogen compounds in leachate in the IAR and the CAR showed significant decreases in comparison to those in the CR. The most probable number (MPN) values of fungal 18S rDNA in the CAR and the IAR were higher than those in the CR. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis showed that unique and diverse eubacterial and archaeal communities were formed in the IAR. The intermittent aeration strategy was favorable for initiation of solubilization of organic matter by the aerobic fungal populations and the reduction of the acid formation phase. Then the anaerobic H₂-producing bacteria Clostridium became dominant in the IAR. Sulfate-reducing bacteria, which cannot use acetate/sulfate but which instead use various organics/sulfate as the electron donor/acceptor were also dominant in the IAR. Consequently, Methanosarcinales, which are acetate-utilizing methanogens, became the dominant archaea in the IAR, where high methane production was observed.     

Microstructures controlling the ductile crack growth resistance of low carbon steels

Microstructures controlling the ductile crack growth resistance in the ductile-brittle fracture transition region have been investigated with three low carbon low alloy steels, which showed characteristic differences in the R curves. The crack growth resistance is related to both the primary dimple morphology and the total length of local shear zones appearing on the fracture surface; the latter contribution predominates over the former. The heterogeneity of the microstructures, which constrains slip propagation at the grain boundaries, supplies sites for easy void nucleation and induces local shear and the resulting surface roughness.     

Microstructures relevant to brittle fracture initiation at the heat-affected zone of weldment of a low carbon steel

Charpy toughness of the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of weldment of a low carbon steel has been investigated by means of an instrumented Charpy test and fractographic analysis. Microstructures were varied with thermal cycles simulating double-pass welding. The ductile-brittle transition temperature is the most deteriorated at an intermediate second-cycle heating temperature. The origin of the difference in the transition temperatures has been analyzed to exist in the brittle fracture initiation stage. Fractographic examination correlating with microstructural features has revealed that the brittle fracture initiation site is associated with the intersection of bainitic ferrite areas with different orientations rather than the martensite-austenite constituents. The role of the constraint of plastic deformation on the brittle fracture initiation is discussed.     

Electrochromic properties of nickel oxide films prepared by introduction of hydrogen into sputtering atmosphere

Colorless as-deposited films of nickel oxide were prepared by introduction of hydrogen into sputtering atmosphere, which is mixture of argon and oxygen. The electrochromic characteristics of the films thus obtained were investigated. Change in optical density depended linearly on the density of injected charges. The coloration efficiency decreased with increasing RF power of sputtering. On the other hand, the coloration efficiency increased a little with increasing hydrogen content in sputtering atmosphere up to 40%, but decreased steeply at 50%. The maximum coloration efficiency of 36 cm²/C was obtained at 8 Pa total pressure with hydrogen content of 40%.     

RETENTION OF VOLATILE FLAVORS IN CONFECTIONS BY EXTRUSION PROCESSING

Cold extrusion has been used for many years to form gums, licorice, and other confectionery products. The cooking extrusion of confectionery products is relatively new and is currently being pursued by many manufacturers. The technology of cooking extrusion offers the industry the opportunity to modernize processes, shorten processing time, and ultimately achieve significant cost savings for their production. However, stabilizing volatile flavors during extrusion has been a difficult problem to resolve because of the heat, pressure, and mechanical shear applied. Several different approaches have been made in recent years to solve the problem. One recent approach is the use of encapsulated flavors in extruded confectionery products. Encapsulation makes volatile flavors more stable under the rigid conditions of cooking extrusion and helps retain them better in a food matrix. However, maintaining the quality of volatile flavors in products will continue to be a challenge for the confectionery industry.     

The Neuroprotective Role of Acupuncture and Activation of the BDNF Signaling Pathway

Recent studies have been conducted to examine the neuroprotective effects of acupuncture in many neurological disorders. Although the neuroprotective effects of acupuncture has been linked to changes in signaling pathways, accumulating evidence suggest the participation of endogenous biological mediators, such as the neurotrophin (NT) family of proteins, specifically, the brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Accordingly, acupuncture can inhibit neurodegeneration via expression and activation of BDNF. Moreover, recent studies have reported that acupuncture can increase ATP levels at local stimulated points. We have also demonstrated that acupuncture could activate monocytes and increase the expression of BDNF via the stimulation of ATP. The purpose of this article is to review the recent findings and ongoing studies on the neuroprotective roles of acupuncture and therapeutic implications of acupuncture-induced activation of BDNF and its signaling pathway.     

Investigation of interfacial instabilities with a two-layer slide coating process

Organic electronics have been thoroughly investigated due to their broad application potential, ranging from light-emitting diodes to photovoltaics. The processing of organic electronics is trending from vacuum toward wet chemical deposition, which allows fast low-cost mass production of devices with scalable dimension. One of the current challenges of wet film processing is the redissolution of already dried active materials when applying a liquid top layer. Further, increasing overall process efficiency by coating multiple liquid layers in one step raises such challenges as liquid–liquid mixing or dewetting. This article describes the experimental investigation of these instabilities for two-layer flows with organic solvents. A modified slide coating device was chosen where an extended plate after the slot exit allows prolonged observation of the flow while it travels down the plate. During experimentation, stable and unstable two-layer flows as well as different types of instabilities were detected. The key finding is a correlation of flow stability with the spreading coefficient, a combined measure of surface and interfacial tensions. Focusing on fluid properties, this paper succeeds in defining a three-dimensional stability window for a dual-layer flow.