An automatic modeling system of the reaction mechanisms for chemical vapor deposition processes using real-coded genetic algorithms

The identification of appropriate reaction models is very helpful for developing chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes. In this study, we have developed an automatic system to model reaction mechanisms in the CVD processes by analyzing the experimental results, which are cross-sectional shapes of the deposited films on substrates with micrometer- or nanometer-sized trenches. We designed the inference engine to model the reaction mechanism in the system by the use of real-coded genetic algorithms (RCGAs). We studied the dependence of the system performance on two methods using simple genetic algorithms (SGAs) and the RCGAs; the one involves the conventional GA operators and the other involves the blend crossover operator (BLX-alpha). Although we demonstrated that the systems using both the methods could successfully model the reaction mechanisms, the RCGAs showed the better performance with respect to the accuracy and the calculation cost for identifying the models.     

Influence of carbon structure of the anode on the production of graphite in single-walled carbon nanotube soot synthesized by arc discharge using a Fe–Ni–S catalyst

We investigated the production of the graphite contained in the soot of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) synthesized using the arc discharge method with a poorly graphitized carbon (PGC) rod in comparison to a graphite rod. A PGC rod was produced using a mixture of coal tar and carbon black and was heat treated to 1000 °C. The rod was packed with a mixture of iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), sulfur (S), and PGC and used for the production of SWCNT soot using arc discharge. From the results of X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy, the amount of graphite in the SWCNT soot synthesized by PGC rod was lower than that by graphite rod. The production of graphite in the soot was found to be dependent on the carbon structure of the anode and the current density of arc discharge.     

Application of slightly acidic electrolyzed water as a potential non-thermal food sanitizer for decontamination of fresh ready-to-eat vegetables and sprouts

The sanitization efficacy of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) against food pathogens on selected fresh ready-to-eat (RTE) vegetables and sprouts was evaluated and compared to sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) solution. RTE vegetables and sprouts were dip-inoculated with Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Salmonella spp. and dip-treated with SAEW, NaOCl solution for 5 min. SAEW treatment significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the total aerobic mesophilic bacteria from Chinese celery, lettuce and daikon sprouts by 2.7, 2.5 and 2.45 log₁₀CFU/g, respectively relative to un-treated. Pathogens were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced from Chinese celery, lettuce and daikon sprouts by 2.7, 2.8 and 2.8 log₁₀CFU/g (E. coli) and 2.87, 2.91 and 2.91 log₁₀CFU/g (Salmonella spp.), respectively following a SAEW treatment. SAEW and NaOCl solution showed no significant sanitization difference (p > 0.05). Results demonstrate that SAEW at low chlorine concentration and a near neutral pH is a potential non-thermal food sanitizer that could represent an alternative to NaOCl solution and would reduce the amount of free chlorine used in fresh-cut vegetables industry, since the same microbial reduction as NaOCl solution is obtained.     

A thermostable histamine oxidase from Arthrobacter crystallopoietes KAIT-B-007

A thermostable histamine oxidase (EC 1.4.3.-) was found in cells of Arthrobacter crystallopoietes KAIT-B-007 isolated from soil. The enzyme was purified about 715-fold over the cell free extracts with a yield of 55% by ammonium sulfate fractionation and various column chromatographies. The purified enzyme was homogeneous on polyacrylamide gel-electrophoresis (native-PAGE). When the enzyme was kept at 65 degrees C and 70 degrees C for 10 min, the activity was fully stable at 65 degrees C and decreased to 9% of the initial level at 70 degrees C. The enzyme was very thermostable. The optimum pH for histamine oxidase activity was found to be at 9.0, and the enzyme was stable over the pH range of 6 to 9. The purified enzyme showed a single protein band on SDS-PAGE and its molecular mass was estimated to be about 81 kDa. The enzyme showed potent activity toward histamine, whereas it was inactive toward putrescine, cadaverine, spermine, and spermidine. Histamine oxidase was inhibited by N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC). The inactive enzyme was restored with Cu2+ to 65% of the initial activity, but Cu+ did not enhance the enzyme activity. It is suggested that Cu2+ is essential for expression of histamine oxidase activity. The enzyme was a copper-containing protein having one atom of copper per mol of the enzyme protein as a result of atomic absorption analysis. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified enzyme was different from that of histamine oxidase from Arthrobacter globiformis IFO12137.     

Hydrolysate from Eggshell Membrane Ameliorates Intestinal Inflammation in Mice

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) comprises of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Cohn’s disease (CD) as two main idiopathic pathologies resulting in immunologically mediated chronic inflammatory conditions. Several bioactive peptides and hydro lysates from natural sources have now been tested in animal models of human diseases for potential anti-inflammatory effects. Eggshell membrane (ESM) is a well-known natural bioactive material. In this study, we aim to study the anti-inflammatory activity of ESM hydro lysate (AL-PS) in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, AL-PS was shown to inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 secretion. In vivo treatment with AL-PS was shown to reduce dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced weight loss, clinical signs of colitis and secretion of interleukin (IL)-6 (p < 0.05). In addition, treatment with AL-PS also attenuated the severity of intestinal inflammation via down-regulation of IL-10 an anti-inflammatory cytokine. This validates potential benefits of AL-PS as a novel preventative target molecule for treatment of IBD.     

Pure hydrogen generation in a fluidized-bed membrane reactor: Experimental findings

A pilot-scale fluidized-bed membrane reactor was tested for the production of hydrogen. The prototype reactor operated under steam methane reforming (SMR) and autothermal reforming (ATR) conditions, without membranes and with membranes of different total areas. Heat was added either externally or via direct air addition. Hydrogen permeate purity of up to 99.995+% as well as a pure-H₂-to-natural-gas yield of 2.07 were achieved with only half of the full complement of membrane panels active under SMR conditions. A permeate-H₂-to reactor natural gas feed molar ratio >3 was achieved when all of the membrane panels were installed under SMR conditions. Experimental tests investigated the influence of such parameters as reactor pressure, hydrogen permeate pressure (vacuum vs atmospheric pressure), air top/bottom split, feed flowrate and membrane area. Reactor performance was strongly dependent on the active membrane surface area.     

Melting behavior of poly(l-lactic acid): X-ray and DSC analyses of the melting process

To clarify the melting behavior of poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA), the wide-angle X-ray diffraction patterns of the isothermally crystallized PLLA samples (ICSs) were successively obtained during heating. We have already suggested the discrete change in the crystallization behavior of PLLA at a crystallization temperature (T_c) of 113 °C (= T_b) and formation of two crystal modifications for the ICSs obtained in the temperature range T_c ≤ T_b and T_c ≥ T_b. It was elucidated from the change in the X-ray diffraction pattern that the phase transition from the low-temperature crystal modification (α′-form) to the high-temperature one (α-form) occurred in a range 155-165 °C for the ICSs(T_c ≤ T_b), and that the crystal structure for the ICSs(T_c ≥ T_b) did not change. Recrystallization during heating, which is the origin of the multiple melting behavior, was proved by the increase in the diffraction intensity before steep decrease due to the final melting. A temperature derivative curve of the X-ray diffraction intensity almost coincided with the DSC melting curve.     

Influence of inoculation method, spot inoculation site, and inoculation size on the efficacy of acidic electrolyzed water against pathogens on lettuce

The influence of bacterial inoculation methods on the efficacy of sanitizers against pathogens was examined. Dip and spot inoculation methods were employed in this study to evaluate the effectiveness of acidic electrolyzed water (AcEW) and chlorinated water (200 ppm free available chlorine) against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella spp. Ten pieces of lettuce leaf (5 by 5 cm) were inoculated by each method then immersed in 1.5 liters of AcEW, chlorinated water, or sterile distilled water for 1 min with agitation (150 rpm) at room temperature. The outer (abaxial) and inner (adaxial) surfaces of the lettuce leaf were distinguished in the spot inoculation. Initial inoculated pathogen population was in the range 7.3 to 7.8 log CFU/g. Treatment with AcEW and chlorinated water resulted in a 1 log CFU/g or less reduction of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella populations inoculated with the dip method. Spot inoculation of the inner surface of the lettuce leaf with AcEW and chlorinated water reduced the number of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella by approximately 2.7 and 2.5 log CFU/g, respectively. Spot inoculation of the outer surface of the lettuce leaf with both sanitizers resulted in approximately 4.6 and 4.4 log CFU/g reductions of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella, respectively. The influence of inoculation population size was also examined. Each sanitizer could not completely eliminate the pathogens when E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella cells inoculated on the lettuce were of low population size (10(3) to 10(4) CFU/g), regardless of the inoculation technique.