Purification and characterization of an extracellular alpha-neoagarooligosaccharide hydrolase from Bacillus sp. MK03

An agarolytic bacterium was isolated from soil in Gifu prefecture, Japan, and identified as Bacillus sp. strain MK03. The strain secreted neoagarooligosaccharide hydroluse into the culture medium. The enzyme was purified 49.7-fold from the culture fluid by ammonium sulfate precipitation and anion-exchange and gel-filtration column chromatographic methods. The purified enzyme appeared as a single band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-PAGE. Estimations of the molecular mass by gel filtration and SDS-PAGE gave values of 320 kDa and 42 kDa, respectively, indicating that the enzyme is octametric. The enzyme cleaved the alpha-1,3 linkage in neoagarobiose to produce 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose and D-galactose. It also selectively cleaved the alpha-1,3 linkage at the nonreducing end in neoagarotetraose or neoagarohexaose to give 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose and agarotriose or agaropentaose. The optimum temperature and pH for the enzyme were 30 degrees C and 6.1, respectively. The N-terminal amino acid sequence showed no homology to sequences of other known neoagarooligosaccharide hydrolases and agarases.     

Simulation of migration from a multi-layer laminated film intended for retort foods

Migration from multi-layer laminated film pouches intended for retort foods was investigated through HPLC analysis with a fluorescence detector, and measurements of residue on evaporation, consumption of potassium permanganate and total organic carbon. HPLC analysis revealed that the levels of migrants in oil and the water which were heated in the pouches (121 degrees C, 30 min) were ten times of those in the corresponding official simulants under the official conditions; n-heptane (25 degrees C, 60 min), and water (95 degrees C, 30 min). Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether and related compounds were found in the oil and the water heated in the pouches, as well as in the simulants. These compounds were thought to have been present in the adhesive between the laminated films, and migrated through the food-contact film of the package. Consumption of potassium permanganate and residue on evaporation of the heated water were ten times of those of the water simulant, while the total organic carbon level of the heated water was several-hold greater than that of the water simulant. In addition, migrant levels per surface area of the pouch were one-fourth of the concentrations per content volume of the pouch. Since compliance with the legal limits is evaluated based on the concentration per surface area, real migration into foods would be underestimated by a factor of another four.     

An application of rapid freezing,freeze substitution–fixation for scanning electron microscopy

A combined technique of the rapid freezing, freeze substitution–fixation method and the osmium–DMSO-osmium method was devised. By this combined method we clearly observed the architecture of intracellular components in three dimensions. Morphological characteristics were generally similar to those of tissue prepared by the osmium–DMSO-osmium method but different in some respects. Mucigen droplets in intestinal goblet cells, for example, appeared as separated spheres, while in specimens prepared by chemical fixation they were observed as a mass of fused droplets. In the Golgi complex, all cisternae were extremely flat, although they usually dilated on the cis side after chemical fixation. Particles on the mitochondrial tubules of liver cells were well distinguished. They were mushroom shaped, as are those observed by negative staining. The combined method, that is, the rapid freezing, osmium–DMSO-osmium method, is thought to be effective for studying the true structure of intracellular components by scanning electron microscopy.     

用Fe-Ti合金扩散连接SiC陶瓷

利用Ｆｅ－Ｔｉ合金在１４７３～１７２３Ｋ、０．９～５．４ｋｓ的接合条件下对常压烧结ＳｉＣ陶瓷进行了真空扩散连接,接头中形成ＴｉＣ、ＦｅＳｉ、Ｔｉ５Ｓｉ３反应相。试验结果表明,用Ｆｅ－５０Ｔｉ（ａｔ％）合金,在１６２３Ｋ、２．７ｋｓ的接合条件下,接头的高温（９７３Ｋ）剪切强度达到１３３ＭＰａ。     

Structural Distortion and Compositional Gradients Adjacent to Epitaxial LiMn2O4 Thin Film Interfaces

Thin film electrode materials are key components in the development of high rate, high capacity solid‐state Li‐ion batteries. Detailed knowledge of the epitaxial film/substrate(current‐collector) interface structures, which provides insights into epitaxial growth mechanisms and the effects of microstructure on electrochemical properties, is essential for efficient materials and device design. Here we report the epitaxial growth mechanism of a typical cathodic LiMn₂O₄ thin film by exploring the detailed structural and compositional variations in the vicinity of a film/substrate interface using state‐of‐the‐art scanning transmission electron microscopy. Direct observation of atom columns shows the epitaxial film forms an atomically flat and coherent heterointerface with the substrate, but that the crystal lattice is tetragonally distorted with a measurable compositional gradient from the interface to the crystal bulk. The growth mechanism is interpreted in terms of a combination of chemical and physicomechanical effects, namely a complex interplay between the internal Jahn‐Teller distortions induced by oxygen non‐stoichiometry and the lattice misfit strain.     

Synthesis of Cubic Boron Nitride from Boron Nitride Synthesized by Pressure Pyrolysis of Borazine

Cubic BN was synthesized under high-temperature and -pressure conditions from BN powder formed by pressure pyrolysis of borazine below 700°C and 100 MPa. The conversion of BN powder to cubic BN was strongly influenced by the residual hydrogen identified by the BH/BN ratio of IR absorption band. The activation energy for cubic BN synthesis from BN powder-20 mol% AIN was 46 kJ/mol, when the starting BN was synthesized at 250°C. A mixture of BN powder and cubic BN particles was converted to cubic BN in a 100% yield by heat treatment at 1800°C and 6.5 GPa without any catalyst. The presence of cubic BN particles does enhance the conversion to cubic BN from BN powder. The energy required for the transformation of starting BN to cubic BN in the presence of cubic BN seed was 355 kJ/mol.     

Reaction Phases and Strength of AlN/V Diffusion Couples

Diffusion couples of AlN/V were experimentally examined after annealing in a temperature range of 1373 K1773 K for a bonding time range of 0.9 ks21.6 ks. The interfacial reaction, reaction mechanism, and bond strength of the bonded AlN/V couples have been explained on the basis of phase relations at different bonding conditions, making use of elemental analysis, XRD, and shear testing method. Formation of V(Al) solid solution and V₂N nitride controls the interfacial joining of the AlN/V couples. A complete diffusion path between AlN and V could be predicted at 1573 K before 0.9 ks, following a sequence of AlN/V(Al)/V₂N/V. This sequence can be discussed during the Al-V-N ternary phase diagram. At a high temperature of 1573 K, AlN decomposition at the interface took place. A maximum bond strength could be obtained for a joint bonded at 1573 K after 5.4 ks, having a structure of AlN/V(Al)/V₂N + V.     

X-ray diffraction measurements in high magnetic fields and at high temperatures

A system was developed measuring x-ray powder diffraction in high magnetic fields up to 5 T and at temperatures from 283 to 473 K. The stability of the temperature is within 1 K over 6 h. In order to examine the ability of the system, the high-field x-ray diffraction measurements were carried out for Si and a Ni-based ferromagnetic shape-memory alloy. The results show that the x-ray powder diffraction measurements in high magnetic fields and at high temperatures are useful for materials research.     

Displacement fields around 1/2[111] screw dislocations in bcc metals and their defocus convergent-beam electron diffraction patterns

Displacement fields have been calculated around 1/2[111] screw dislocations with various types of core structures in bcc metals. Three types of cores are studied: two types of polarized cores with large and small extensions of the displacement fields and an isotropic core. The difference in the displacement along the [111] direction Δu_z from that for the elastic solution has been evaluated for each type of dislocation. In the outside of the core region, the Δu_z values are close to zero along the six directions and the regions with Δu_z>0 and Δu_z<0 are alternately arranged, lying between those directions. Appreciable difference in Δu_z has been detected between the polarized cores and the isotropic core up to large distance from the core region. The defocus convergent-beam electron diffraction patterns have been calculated for the dislocations with the incident beam parallel to the dislocation line. Winding and spiral features have been shown in the higher-order Laue zone (HOLZ) lines for the dislocated structures, which have been confirmed by a preliminary experiment. In addition, small shifts of the HOLZ lines have been shown by the calculation between the polarized cores and the isotropic one.     

Solid-state diffusion bonding of silicon nitride using titanium foils

This article presents an effective way to control the interfacial reaction during solid-state diffusion bonding of silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) using titanium foils. The interfacial structure and its growth kinetics were analyzed in detail with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron-probe microanalysis (EPMA), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The actual phase sequence of the joint interfaces bonded at temperatures between 1473 and 1673 K is concluded to be Si₃N₄/Ti₅Si₃(N)/α-Ti(N)+Ti₅Si₃(N), which is different from the phase sequence observed at room temperature after bonding. The joints are very weak due to the formation of a brittle Ti₅Si₃(N) layer at the interface. To suppress the growth of the Ti₅Si₃ layer, a nitrogen-solution treatment of titanium foils prior to each bonding experiment is implemented. Although a perfect prevention of the Ti₅Si₃(N) layer formation is not achieved with this treatment, it is shown that the growth of the layer is effectively suppressed enough to improve the joint strength to a level 3 times higher than the case in which pure titanium is employed.