Analysis of ethanol in soy sauce using electronic nose for halal food certification

The purpose of this study was to analyze ethanol content in soy sauce using mass spectrometry (MS) with electronic nose (e-nose) to determine if MS e-nose can replace gas chromatographic analysis for halal certification. Gas chromatography–flame ionization detector (GC-FID), the standard method of ethanol content, was used to analyze 24 different kinds of soy sauce. Ethanol was detected from 13 soy sauce samples in the concentration range of 0.0004–1.7wt%. The MS e-nose data were analyzed by discriminant function analysis (DFA). Based on an addition method, the results were more than 96.6% accurate when the ethanol concentrations were greater than 0.5%. A high correlation between the first score of the DFA plot and the ethanol concentration was observed. Thus, mass spectrometry based on e-nose is an efficient method for determining ethanol as a primary screening tool for halal certification.     

Antioxidant activities and nutritional properties of Jeonyak prepared with beef bone stock and gelatin

The antioxidant activities and nutritional properties of Jeonyak made with beef bone stock and gelatin were investigated. Traditional Jeonyak (J1) was prepared with beef bone stock, whereas modified Jeonyak was made with gelatin and honey (J2) or with gelatin and oligosaccharides (J3). All 3 kinds of Jeonyak had antioxidant activities and J1 had the highest activity. The α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was measured to investigate the antidiabetic effect and J3 had the highest inhibitory activity of 80.47%. Glycine was the most abundant amino acid in all 3 kinds of Jeonyak. Both traditional and modified Jeonyaks have antioxidative and antidiabetic effects, suggesting that Jeonyak can be used as an effective traditional functional food.     

Investigation of organic n-type field-effect transistor performance on the polymeric gate dielectrics

We report a copper hexadecafluorophthalocyanine (F₁₆CuPc) based n-type organic field-effect transistor (OFET) with polymeric gate dielectrics with different physical/electrical properties. The gate dielectrics are four types of cross-linked poly(4-vinylphenol) and newly prepared poly(4-phenoxy methyl styrene) and those are characterized based on surface tension, leakage current and capacitance. The performance of F₁₆CuPc OFETs with those gate dielectrics was compared. We found that the composition of the gate dielectrics and the interfacial interaction of F₁₆CuPc with the gate dielectric play a decisive role in the performance of OFETs. The effect of physical/electrical properties, composition and processing condition of the gate dielectrics on the device performance was investigated.     

Principle and application of ball SAW devices

A thin beam of waves usually diverges due to diffraction, which is a limitation of any device using such waves. However, a surface acoustic wave (SAW) on a sphere with an appropriate aperture does not diverge but is collimated, realizing ultra‐multiple roundtrips along an equator of the sphere. This effect is caused by the balance between diffraction and focusing on a spherical surface, and it enables realization of high‐performance ball SAW sensors. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 168(1): 41–51, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20817     

Ni/Al Multilayers Produced by Accumulative Roll Bonding and Sputtering

Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance - Ni/Al multilayers are known to transform into NiAl in a highly exothermic and self-sustaining reaction. The fact that this reaction has a high...     

Lysophosphatidylserine Induces MUC5AC Production via the Feedforward Regulation of the TACE-EGFR-ERK Pathway in Airway Epithelial Cells in a Receptor-Independent Manner

Lysophosphatidylserine (LysoPS) is an amphipathic lysophospholipid that mediates a broad spectrum of inflammatory responses through a poorly characterized mechanism. Because LysoPS levels can rise in a variety of pathological conditions, we sought to investigate LysoPS’s potential role in airway epithelial cells that actively participate in lung homeostasis. Here, we report a previously unappreciated function of LysoPS in production of a mucin component, MUC5AC, in the airway epithelial cells. LysoPS stimulated lung epithelial cells to produce MUC5AC via signaling pathways involving TACE, EGFR, and ERK. Specifically, LysoPS- dependent biphasic activation of ERK resulted in TGF-α secretion and strong EGFR phosphorylation leading to MUC5AC production. Collectively, LysoPS induces the expression of MUC5AC via a feedback loop composed of proligand synthesis and its proteolysis by TACE and following autocrine EGFR activation. To our surprise, we were not able to find a role of GPCRs and TLR2, known LyoPS receptors in LysoPS-induced MUC5AC production in airway epithelial cells, suggesting a potential receptor-independent action of LysoPS during inflammation. This study provides new insight into the potential function and mechanism of LysoPS as an emerging lipid mediator in airway inflammation.     

Influence of chemical structure of hardener on mechanical and adhesive properties of epoxy polymers

The mechanical and adhesive properties of epoxy formulations based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A cured with various aliphatic amines were evaluated in the glass state. Impact and uniaxial compression tests were used to determine the impact energy, elastic modulus and yield stress, respectively. The adhesion tests were carried out in steel–steel joints using single‐lap shear, T‐peel, and impact adhesive joints geometry. The better mechanical and adhesive behavior of the networks is obtained when exists high flexibility of chain between crosslink and/or high elastic modulus. The 1‐(2‐aminoethyl)piperazine epoxy network presents the best adhesive properties, high flexibility, and the largest impact energy. However, it possesses low elastic modulus and yield stress. Also, exhibits increases in peel strength and impact energy while reductions in lap shear strength. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Characteristics of menhaden oil ethanolysis by immobilized lipase in supercritical carbon dioxide

Ethanolysis of menhaden oil was performed with 1,3-regiospecific lipase to produce diglycerides and monoglycerides containing polyunsaturated fatty acids, and fatty acid ethyl esters. Immobilized lipases like lipozyme TL-IM (Thermomuces lanuginosa immobilized on silica gel) were used for enzymatic ethanolysis. Ethanolysis was carried out in different processes (solvent free, organic solvent and supercritical fluid system) to compare the reaction rate and yield obtained by menhaden oil ethanolysis. Organic solvent (hexane) and supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) were used as reaction medium. The reaction products were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC), thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Higher amounts of ethanol as a substrate caused substrate inhibition which dramatically decreased the reaction rate of ethanolysis. To elucidate the effect of pressure, enzymatic ethanolysis was performed in SC-CO₂ at pressures ranging from 75 to 121 bar. Enzymatic ethanolysis of menhaden oil in SC-CO₂ decreased by substrate inhibition. Reaction rate and optimum amount of ethanol used were depended on SC-CO₂ density individually. Kinetic model with substrate inhibition (dead-end inhibition) by excess ethanol was set up to measure the reaction and inhibition rates.     

基于分布式传感网络的结构模态识别方法

结构的模态参数识别是结构健康监测系统的基本任务。随着工程结构的日益大型化和复杂化,振动测试时需要布置大量的传感器。传统的集中采集和处理技术将难以胜任海量数据的处理要求,采用无线智能传感器的结构健康监测系统正是应运而生的新方向,而分布式采集和处理是其特点。在无线智能传感网络拓扑结构中采用分布式算法求解结构整体振型,利用随机子空间法识别各子结构模态,结合粒子群优化算法调整子振型获取结构整体振型。通过混凝土钢管拱桥模型试验验证了分布式算法的可行性,并利用模态置信度(MAC)对比分析了由分布式模态识别方法和集中式模态识别方法得到的结果,结果表明两种算法吻合较好。     

Investigation of impact materials around Barringer Meteor Crater by SEM-EDX and micro-PIXE techniques

Impact materials collected at the Barringer Meteor Crater have been characterized by SEM-EDX and micro-PIXE techniques. Fine textural and true elemental images were created. As a main feature silica-bearing shell and an S–Fe–Ni–Cu core could be distinguished. Three different types of S–Fe–Ni–Cu systems were identified such as chalcopyrite, pentlandite and pyrrhotite.