The surface condition effect of Cu2O flower/grass-like nanoarchitectures grown on Cu foil and Cu film

Cu₂O flower/grass-like nanoarchitectures (FGLNAs) were fabricated directly on two category specimens of Cu foils and Cu film using thermal oxidation method. The FGLNAs are approximately 3.5 to 12 μm in size, and their petals are approximately 50 to 950 nm in width. The high compressive stress caused by a large oxide volume in the Cu₂O layer on the specimen surface played an important role in the growth of FGLNAs. The effects of surface conditions, such as the surface stresses, grain size, and surface roughness of Cu foil and Cu film specimens, on the FGLNA growth were discussed in detail.

PACS

81. Materials science; 81.07.-b Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; 81.16.Hc Catalytic methods     

Enhanced Development of Azoxymethane-Induced Colonic Preneoplastic Lesions in Hypertensive Rats

Metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. This study investigated the impact of hypertension, a component of metabolic syndrome, on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colorectal carcinogenesis using SHRSP/Izm (SHRSP) non-diabetic/hypertensive rats and SHRSP.Z-Lepr^fa/IzmDmcr (SHRSP-ZF) diabetic/hypertensive rats. Male 6-week-old SHRSP, SHRSP-ZF, and control non-diabetic/normotensive Wister Kyoto/Izm (WKY) rats were given 2 weekly intraperitoneal injections of AOM (20 mg/kg body weight). Two weeks after the last injection of AOM, the SHRSP and SHRSP-ZF rats became hypertensive compared to the control WKY rats. Serum levels of angiotensin-II, the active product of the renin-angiotensin system, were elevated in both SHRSP and SHRSP-ZF rats, but only the SHRSP-ZF rats developed insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hyperleptinemia and exhibited an increase in adipose tissue. The development of AOM-induced colonic preneoplastic lesions and aberrant crypts foci, was significantly accelerated in both SHRSP and SHRSP-ZF hypertensive rats, compared to WKY normotensive rats. Furthermore, induction of oxidative stress and exacerbation of inflammation were observed in the colonic mucosa and systemically in SHRSP and SHRSP-ZF rats. Our findings suggest that hypertension plays a role in the early stage of colorectal carcinogenesis by inducing oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, which might be associated with activation of the renin-angiotensin system.     

Color control of Japanese soy sauce (shoyu) using membrane technology

The present study systemically decolorized soy sauce using a membrane process to analyze the separation mechanism. An ultrafiltration (UF) membrane (NTU-2120) exhibited only slight decolorization ability. A nanofiltration (NF) membrane with a lower molecular weight cut-off and produced by sulfonated polysulfone (NTR-7400 series) rather than polyvinyl alcohol/polyamide (NTR-7250) had higher decolorization ability. The NF membranes rejected total nitrogen by 17–24%, unsalted soluble solid content by 24–32%, reducing sugar by 25–43%, and amino acids by 10–25%. The NTR-7400 series membrane rejected lactic acid by 6–9%, and pyroglutamic acid by 11–21%; other quality indexes were maintained. In the NF membrane processes, higher rejection of acidic amino acids than neutral and base amino acids was observed. The separation performance was governed by the electrical effect as well as the sieve effect. Soy sauce color could be controlled by blending NF membrane-processed soy sauce with feed soy sauce. Color can be matched to preference in accordance with dishes by suitably blending NF membrane-processed soy sauce with feed soy sauce.     

Active sites of Cu-ZSM-5 for the decomposition of acrylonitrile

The catalytic decomposition of acrylonitrile (AN) over Cu-ZSM-5 prepared with various Cu loadings was investigated. AN conversion, during which the nitrogen atoms in AN were mainly converted to N₂, increased as Cu loading increased. N₂ selectivities as high as 90–95% were attained. X-ray diffraction measurements (XRD) and temperature-programmed reduction by H₂ (H₂-TPR) showed the existence of bulk CuO in Cu-ZSM-5 with a Cu loading of 6.4 wt% and the existence of highly dispersed CuO in Cu-ZSM-5 with a Cu loading of 3.3 wt%. Electron spin resonance measurements revealed that Cu-ZSM-5 contains three forms of isolated Cu²⁺ ions (square-planar, square-pyramidal, and distorted square-pyramidal). The H₂-TPR results suggested that in Cu-ZSM-5 with a Cu loading of 2.9 wt% and below, Cu⁺ existed even after oxidizing pretreatment. The activity of AN decomposition over Cu/SiO₂ suggested that CuO could form N₂, but, independent of the CuO dispersion, nitrogen oxides (NO_x) were formed above 350 °C. Cu⁺ and the square-pyramidal and distorted square-pyramidal forms of Cu²⁺ showed low activity for AN decomposition. Temperature-programmed desorption of NH₃ suggested that N₂ formation from NH₃ proceeded on Cu²⁺, resulting in the formation of Cu⁺. The Cu⁺ ions were oxidized to Cu²⁺ at around 300 °C. Thus, high N₂ selectivity over Cu-ZSM-5 with a wide range of temperature was probably attained by the reaction over the square-planar Cu²⁺, which can be reversibly reduced and oxidized.     

Allelopathic Effects of Volatile Monoterpenoids Produced by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvia leucophylla</Emphasis>: Inhibition of Cell Proliferation and DNA Synthesis in the Root Apical Meristem of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica campestris</Emphasis> Seedlings

Salvia leucophylla, a shrub observed in coastal south California, produces several volatile monoterpenoids (camphor, 1,8-cineole, -pinene, -pinene, and camphene) that potentially act as allelochemicals. The effects of these were examined using Brassica campestris as the test plant. Camphor, 1,8-cineole, and -pinene inhibited germination of B. campestris seeds at high concentrations, whereas -pinene and camphene did not. Root growth was inhibited by all five monoterpenoids in a dose-dependent manner, but hypocotyl growth was largely unaffected. The monoterpenoids did not alter the sizes of matured cells in either hypocotyls or roots, indicating that cell expansion is relatively insensitive to these compounds. They did not decrease the mitotic index in the shoot apical region, but specifically lowered mitotic index in the root apical meristem. Moreover, morphological and biochemical analyses on the incorporation of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine into DNA demonstrated that the monoterpenoids inhibit both cell-nuclear and organelle DNA synthesis in the root apical meristem. These results suggest that the monoterpenoids produced by S. leucophylla could interfere with the growth of other plants in its vicinity through inhibition of cell proliferation in the root apical meristem.     

Effect of zeolite in surface discharge plasma on the decomposition of toluene

Toluene was decomposed in a surface discharge plasma reactor packed with various zeolites. The positioning effect of the zeolite bed was also investigated Reactor-B, in which the zeolite bed was located upstream, performed much better than Reactor-A, in which the zeolite bed was located downstream. Furthermore, the decomposition efficiency in Reactor-B increased with the capacity for toluene adsorption on zeolite, while that in Reactor-A did not. The toluene adsorbed in micropores was not decomposed effectively by direct electron impact, but was decomposed by active oxygen species generated in the plasma zone on the zeolite surface. A good correlation was also observed between toluene decomposition and ozone consumption in the downward-type reactor.     

Deterioration of diacylglycerol‐ and triacylglycerol‐rich oils during frying of potatoes

The stabilities of a commercial diacylglycerol‐rich oil (DAG) and a salad oil (TAG) that had been prepared from a mixture of rapeseed and soybean oils were compared while frying potatoes at 180 °C for 3 h. The representative chemical and physical characteristics of the oils were assessed before and after frying, together with the amount of volatile aldehydes in the exhaust of frying. Among the deterioration indications, the carbonyl value, polymer content, and residual polyunsaturated fatty acid content were similar and not significantly different between the TAG and DAG. On the other hand, the characteristics relating to free fatty acids, i.e. the acid value and emission of chemiluminescence at 100 °C, were greater and the smoke and flash points were lower in the DAG than in the TAG. An irritating odor was generated from the DAG after 1 h of frying and got stronger as frying continued. These results suggested that DAG more easily forms free fatty acids under frying conditions than TAG.     

Semi-indirect synthesis of LPG from syngas: Conversion of DME into LPG

Efficient conversion of dimethyl ether (DME) into liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) with a hybrid catalyst is a novel method for semi-indirect synthesis of LPG fuel from syngas. The hybrid catalysts consisting of zeolite and hydrogenation catalyst were investigated in a fixed bed reactor. Experimental results demonstrated that the hybrid catalyst consisting of (Pd/SiO₂) and USY efficiently converted DME into LPG and restrained decomposition of DME into CO and H₂. With that catalyst, the one through conversion of DME reached about 100%, almost no CO and CO₂ were produced and selectivity for LPG was more than 65%.     

Mating Communication Systems of Four Plusiinae Species Distributed in Japan: Identification of the Sex Pheromones and Field Evaluation

The sex pheromones of four Plusiinae species in the family Noctuidae, Ctenoplusia albostriata (CA), Macdunnoughia purissima (MP), Syngrapha ain (SA), and Diachrysia stenochrysis (DS) were identified by GC-EAD and GC-MS analyses. These were subsequently evaluated by a series of field trials in different ecological habitats. CA females produced (Z)-5-decenyl acetate (I), (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate (II), and (Z)-7-dodecen-1-ol (III) in a ratio of 2:100:13. While the antennae of CA males responded to all three components, neither I nor III was essential to capture males. The MP females produced II, III, and (Z)-5-dodecenyl acetate (IV) in a ratio of 100:80:20, and this blend captured the most MP males. Compounds II and III were also identified from SA females, and mixtures ranging from 4:1 to 2:3 were equally attractive to males. DS females only produced one active compound, (Z)-7-decenyl acetate (V), and DS is the first Plusiinae species identified as using only the ω3-compound and none of ω5-compounds, such as II and III, which are common components of Plusiinae pheromones. Using previously published chemical and biosynthetic data, together with the finding from this study, we propose a classification of the Plusiinae sex pheromones.     

A highly stable and efficient catalyst for direct synthesis of LPG from syngas

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuel was directly synthesized from syngas over a hybrid catalyst which contained a methanol synthesis catalyst and zeolite. The new hybrid catalyst composed of (Pd–Ca/SiO₂) and β-zeolite, showed a high activity and selectivity for LPG production. X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterization of the catalyst was used to analyze the deactivation of (Pd–Ca/SiO₂)/β-zeolite.