Effects of gamma irradiation on the yields of volatile extracts of Angelica gigas Nakai

The study was carried out to determine the effects of gamma irradiation on the volatile flavor components including essential oils, of Angelica gigas Nakai. The volatile organic compounds from non- and irradiated A. gigas Nakai at doses of 1, 3, 5, 10 and 20 kGy were extracted by a simultaneous steam distillation and extraction (SDE) method and identified by GC/MS analysis. A total of 116 compounds were identified and quantified from non- and irradiated A. gigas Nakai. The major volatile compounds were identified 2,4,6-trimethyl heptane, α-pinene, camphene, α-limonene, β-eudesmol, α-murrolene and sphatulenol. Among these compounds, the amount of essential oils in non-irradiated sample were 77.13%, and the irradiated samples at doses of 1, 3, 5, 10 and 20 kGy were 84.98%, 83.70%, 83.94%, 82.84% and 82.58%, respectively. Oxygenated terpenes such as β-eudesmol, α-eudesmol, and verbenone were increased after irradiation but did not correlate with the irradiation dose. The yields of active substances such as essential oil were increased after irradiation; however, the yields of essential oils and the irradiation dose were not correlated. Thus, the profile of composition volatiles of A. gigas Nakai did not change with irradiation.     

Chemical reaction of carvone initiated by XeCl excimer laser

The results of chemical reaction of carvone (1) initiated by the irradiation of XeCl excimer laser were reported in this paper. According to the relations of the products of carvonecamphor (2) and 1-exo, 5-dimethyl-syn-2 [(ethoxycarbonyl)-methyl] bicyclo [2, 1, 1] hexane (3) to the irradiation energy of the laser, the reaction process of 1→2→3 can be defined. The experiments showed that the production rates of 2 or 3 per joule of the irradiation energy was increasing with the increase of the incident laser beam intensities at low light intensity and had a tendency to saturate at high intensity. Besides, the concentration effect of the sample and luminescence phenomenon could also be observed during the laser irradiation process.     

Photocrosslinking of polyethylene. I. Photoinitiators,crosslinking agent,and reaction kinetics

High density polyethylene has been photocrosslinked in the melt by using 4-chlorobenzophenone (4-CBP) as photoinitiator and triallylcyanurate (TAC) as crosslinking agent. Various factors affecting the crosslinking process (photoinitiator used and its concentration, irradiation temperature and time, atmosphere, UV light source, light intensity) were examined. By optimizing the irradiation conditions, it was found that samples up to 2 mm thick could readily be crosslinked to high gel content (≈ 90%) with satisfactory homogeneity within very short irradiation times (≈ 15 s). The kinetic analysis of the crosslinking process showed a linear relation between log S and log t (S is the sol fraction t is the irradiation time). An induction period was observed, the length of which decreased with increasing concentration of 4-CBP and increasing light intensity. An upper limit of gel content was also found for long irradiation times at a level depending on the concentration of 4-CBP. The crosslinking rate was proportional to the second order of light intensity at lower intensity and changed to first order at higher light intensity. A mechanism based on the recombination of chain radicals through both allyl and alkyl type radicals of TAC was proposed.     

γ-radiation-induced crosslinking of polystyrene

The γ-radiation-induced crosslinking of polystyrene was studied at 30–100°C in vacuo with a dose rate of 6.35 × 10⁵ rad/hr. The amount of hydrogen formation increased with increasing irradiation time, and the rate of the formation decreased with the time. The results were well described by the zero-order formation kinetics with respect to the hydrogen concentration combined with the first-order disappearance. The apparent rate constant for the formation of hydrogen increased somewhat with rising irradiation temperature, and the one for the disappearance was little affected by the temperature. The gel fraction increased with the time by the irradiation beyond the critical time for incipient gel formation, and the rate of gel formation decreased with the time. The gel formation was retarded by rising irradiation temperature, and only a little gel fraction was observed at 100°C. The G values for the crosslinking and main-chain scission were obtained from the gel data by using the Charlesby–Pinner equation. On the basis of these results, the mechanism of the γ-radiation-induced crosslinking of polystyrene was discussed.     

Effect of combination processing on the microbial, chemical and sensory quality of ready-to-eat (RTE) vegetable pulav

Effect of irradiation in combination with retort processing on the shelf life and safety aspects of an ethnic Indian food product like vegetable pulav was investigated. Gamma irradiation of RTE vegetable pulav was carried out at different dosage rates with ⁶⁰Co followed by retort processing. The combination processed samples were analysed for microbiological, chemical and sensory characteristics. Microbiological analysis indicated that irradiation in combination with retort processing has significantly reduced the microbial loads whereas the chemical and sensory analysis proved that this combination processing is effective in retaining the properties even after storage for one year at ambient conditions. The results also indicated that a minimum irradiation dosage at 4.0 kGy along with retort processing at an F₀ value of 2.0 is needed to achieve the desired shelf life with improved organoleptic qualities.     

Wavelength sensitivity of the photoinduced reaction in polycarbonate

Bisphenol A polycarbonate (PC) was irradiated with monochromatic light of wavelengths 260, 280, 300, 320, 340, 400, and 500 nm by use of the Okazaki large spectrograph (OLS). The quantum yield of main-chain scission (?_cs), efficiency of photo-Fries rearrangement (E_r), and effects of wavelength on ?_cs and E_r were investigated. It was found that photodegradation and photo-Fries rearrangement of PC took place by the irradiation of 260–300 nm light, but did not by the irradiation at λ ≧ 320 nm. The ?_cs has a maximum value in the case of the irradiation with 260 nm light, while E_r was found to have a maximum value by the irradiation of 280 nm light. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

IR Spectroscopic Study of Chemical Transformations upon Irradiation of the Poly(vinyl chloride)–Triallyl Cyanurate System

Chemical transformations resulting from irradiation of the poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)–triallyl cyanurate (TAC) system were studied by IR spectroscopy. It was shown that crosslinking was accompanied by scission of the network structure formed in the initial dose range, and the scission process occurred even at small irradiation doses. The scission is assumed to be localized at the interface boundary between PVC and poly(iso-TAC) or poly(TAC).     

Preparation and characteristics of photocrosslinkable hydrophilic polymer having cinnamate moiety

The reaction of copolymer of N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAA) and bromoethyl methacrylate with potassium cinnamate produced water-soluble photosensitive polymers. Photosensitive polyDMAA films were irradiated with a 400 W high-pressure mercury lamp (λ > 280 nm) to produce crosslinked polymers, which were swollen in water. The degree of swelling was controlled by the irradiation time and content of cinnamate moieties in copolymers. Higher cinnamoylation and longer irradiation time resulted in higher yield of crosslinked polymers and less swellability. Partial degelation upon irradiation at λ ～ 254 nm was observed. The advantage of gelation via photodimerization over conventional chemical crosslinking methods is discussed in conjunction with biomedical applications. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Calibration of the irradiation channel DBVK at BER-II reactor and feasibility of applying the k0-method at this device

This work is about k ₀-INAA using unstable neutron flux for sample irradiation. Due to slow transport, each irradiation in the channel DBVK consists of three phases: stable irradiation at the final position, and two additional irradiations during travelling by exposure to an increasing neutron flux in the delivery course and to a decreasing neutron flux in the fetch course. In this work, the neutron flux distribution along this channel was calibrated and the neutron flux variation with irradiation time was calculated, making it possible to evaluate activity growth during a complete irradiation period. The feasibility of the k ₀-method was checked by analyses of four SRM-materials and three multi-element standards at three DBVK-positions. An accuracy of better than ±10% was found for nearly all determined elements in each determination.     

Electron beam pretreatment of sewage sludge before anaerobic digestion

The pretreatment of waste-activated sludge (WAS) by electron beam irradiation was studied in order to improve anaerobic sludge digestion. The irradiation dose of the electron beam was varied from 0.5 to 10 kGy. Batch and continuous-flow stirred tank reactors (CFSTRs) were operated to evaluate the effect of the electron beam pretreatment on anaerobic sludge digestion. Approximately 30–52% of the total chemical oxygen demand (COD) content of the WAS was solubilized within 24 h after electron beam irradiation. A large quantity of soluble COD, protein, and carbohydrates leached out from cell ruptures caused by the electron beam irradiation. Volatile fatty acids production from the irradiated sludge was approx 90% higher than that of the unirradiated sludge. The degradation of irradiated sewage sludge was described by two distinct first-order decay rates (k ₁ and k ₂). Most initial decay reaction accelerated within 10 d, with an average k ₁ of 0.06/d for sewage sludge irradiated at all dosages. The mean values for the long-term batch first-order decay coefficient (k ₂) were 0.025/d for irradiated sewage sludge and 0.007/d for unirradiated sludge. Volatile solids removal efficiency of the control reactor fed with unirradiated sewage sludge at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 20 d was almost the same as that of the CFSTRs fed with irradiated sludge at an HRT of 10 d. Therefore, disintegration of sewage sludge cells using electron beam pretreatment could reduce the reactor solid retention time by half.     

Proteomics Analysis of T Lymphocytes Damage Induced by Ionizing Irradiation

Human T lymphocytes were found to be highly radiosensitive and complex cellular responses including apoptosis could be induced upon exposure to X‐ray irradiation. However, the mechanism of apoptosis associated with irradiation was not clear. In this study, a proteomic method was applied to investigation on alteration of proteome of human T‐lymphocyte cells after irradiation. The Jurkat cells were irradiated with 4 Gy X‐ray and the cell lysates were collected at different times after irradiation (6, 12, 18, 24 and 48 h). The whole proteins were separated and quantified by two‐dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis, and then the differentially expressed proteins were identified by mass spectrometry. 4 proteins exhibited significant irradiation‐induced difference in abundance, including L‐plastin, bifunctional purine biosynthesis protein, tubulin beta chain, beta‐actin. Differentially expressed proteins were reported to be directly or indirectly involved in the function of human T lymphocyte. Thus, this study might provide clues to identify proteins with biological significance related to irradiation.     

Spectroscopic monitoring for the formation of mesoporous MCM-41 materials upon microwave irradiation

The mesoporous MCM-41 materials were prepared in very short crystallization time (∼40 min) upon microwave irradiation in comparison with conventional hydrothermal heating method. With both microwave irradiation and hydrothermal heating, the MCM-41 formation via supramolecular templating method has been monitored by fluorescence and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Pyrene as a fluorescence probe and 4-(N,N-dimethyl-N-hexadecyl)ammonium-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl piperidinyloxy iodide (CAT16) as a spin probe were respectively dissolved into the micelle solutions to form the MCM-41 precursor gels. These probes allow the monitoring of the supramolecular interaction between the anionic silicate species and the cationic surfactant molecules during the MCM-41 formation. Analyses of fluorescence and ESR spectra indicate that the fast increase of hydrophobicity and microviscosity at the solubilzation sites of the probes results from the accelerated condensation of silicates onto the micelle surface upon microwave irradiation. The fluorescence change from the silicate L-center in the MCM-41 precursor gel also probes the fast silicate condensation upon microwave irradiation. It seems that the fast formation of MCM-41 upon microwave irradiation is ascribed to the microwave-susceptible head groups of surfactant molecules in addition to fast dissolution of the precursor gel.     

Potential use of gamma irradiation in the production of mussel and oyster reference materials for paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins

Bivalve shellfish samples containing paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins were subjected to gamma irradiation dosage trials in order to assess the potential suitability of the technique in the production of toxin reference materials. Two candidate reference materials of tissue homogenates, mussels (Mytilus sp.) and native oysters (Ostrea edulis), were prepared in-house. Both were subjected to gamma irradiation at four different dose levels, 3.0, 6.0, 13.0 and 18.1 kGy. Bacterial levels were shown to be eliminated in the mussels and significantly reduced in the oysters following irradiation at all four dose levels. Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxin concentrations were not significantly reduced in any of the samples indicating the treatment had no adverse affect on the initial stability of any of the PSP toxins monitored. Chromatographic results showed near-identical profiles for treated and non-treated samples inferring that no fluorescent toxin degradation products or matrix interferences were produced during the irradiation process. Results therefore proved that gamma irradiation treatment reduced bacterial levels within paralytic shellfish poisoning reference materials without compromising analyte content, with the subsequent potential to enhance the stability of future candidate reference materials treated in this manner.     

Influence of microwave irradiation on enzyme kinetics

The in vitro effect of 2.45 GHz microwave irradiation on porcine pepsin activity under controlled temperature and absorbed microwave power via kinetic parameters was evaluated. Kinetic study with respect of time of irradiation demonstrated the existence of an inactivation effect of microwaves at pH 2 on pepsin molecule. Bovine serum albumin (BSA)-bromphenol blue (BPB) complex was used as substrate for the assay of pepsin by kinetic method. Depending on absorbed microwave dose, the degree of caused inactivation varies from 39.11 to 45.91% for 5 and 20 min of pepsin MW irradiation, respectively. The V _maxapp and K _mapp were calculated for low (5 min of MW irradiation) and higher specific absorbed dose (20 min of MW irradiation), as well as for untreated enzyme, from double reciprocal Lineweaver-Burk plot. The effect of microwaves on substrate (BSA-BPB complex) was also investigated. For reaction performed with MW irradiated substrate for 5 min the reaction rate was decreased for 15.15%, while for 20 min of substrate irradiation reaction rate was decreased for 25.52% compared to the control reaction. The article is published in the original.     

Changes in the sol-gel transformation behavior of azobenzene moiety-containing methylcellulose irradiated with UV light

Azobenzene moiety-containing methylcellulose (AB-MC) was prepared, the changes of the cloud point of its aqueous solutions as a thermotropic sol-gel transformation behaviour were investigated under irradiation with UV light. AB-MC's with degrees of substitution by the azobenzene moiety DS_AB > 2,5 · 10^-2 were insoluble in water. The azobenzene moiety in the AB-MC was confirmed to be reversibly isomerized from the trans- to the cis-form under irradiation with UV light of wavelengths 390 > λ > 310 nm and from the cis-to the trans-form under irradiation with visible light of λ > 400 nm. The cloud point value of the aqueous solution of AB-MC increased under irradiation with UV light of 390 > λ > 310 nm for the AB-MC's with a DS_AB value in a certain range and the extent of the increase in the cloud point value was higher at higher concentrations of AB-MC.     

Essential Work of Fracture of photo-oxidized LDPE/EVA Films

The Essential Work of Fracture approach (EWF) was used to determine how UV-C irradiation alters the fracture behaviour of LDPE/EVA films. Complementary characterization was performed by FTIR, DSC, TOM, and uniaxial tensile testing. The crosslinking reactions that govern photo-oxidation process at initial stage of exposure stiffened the amorphous phase of the polymer, leading to films with enhanced elastic modulus, yield stress and ultimate strength, but impaired strain at break. In the fracture experiments carried out on films irradiated within 0 and 5 days, EWF methodology requirements were met and the corresponding fracture toughness parameters (w_e and βw_p ) turned out to be sensitive to UV-C irradiation. Longer irradiation time triggered the development of microcracks, which not allowed further stable crack growth and invalidated the application of EWF approach.     

Oxygen-independent inactivation of Haemophilus influenzae transforming DNA by monochromatic radiation: action spectrum, effect of histitine and repair.

Abstract— The action spectrum for the oxygen-independent inactivation of native transforming DNA from Haemophilus influenzae with near-UV radiation revealed a shoulder beginning at 334 and extending to 460 nm. The presence of 0.2 M histidine during irradiation produced a small increase in inactivation at 254, 290 and 313 nm, a large increase at 334 nm and a decrease in inactivation at 365, 405 and 460 nm. Photoreactivation did not reverse the DNA damage produced at pH 7.0 at 334, 365, 405 and 460 nm, but did reactivate the DNA after irradiation at 254, 290 and 313 nm. The inactivation of DNA irradiated at 254, 290 and 313 nm was considerably greater when the transforming ability was assayed in an excision-defective mutant compared with the wild type, although DNA irradiated at 334, 365, 405 and 460 nm showed smaller differences. These results suggest that the oxygen-independent inactivation of H. influenzae DNA at pH 7 by irradiation at 334, 365, 405 and 460 nm is caused by lesions other than pyrimidine dimers.     

NONRECIPROCAL SYNERGISTIC LETHAL INTERACTION BETWEEN 365-nm and 405-nm RADIATION IN WILD TYPE and uvrA STRAINS OF ESCHERICHIA COLI*

Abstract— Lethality by 405-nm radiation in three repair-proficient and two uvrA strains of Escherichia coli that belong to two isogenic series was greatly enhanced by prior exposures to 365-nm radiation at fluences greater than 1 times 10₆Jm_-2. Fluences at 365 nm that yielded a surviving fraction of 0.10 (>1 times 10₆ Jm_-2) in the 5 strains tested resulted in the following 405-nm fluence enhancement factors (FEF, ratio of the 405-nm F₃₇ in the absence of a prior 365-nm irradiation to that in the presence): strain K.12 AB1157 (wild type), 8.7; strain B/r (wild type), 52; strain WP2 (wild type), 25; strain WP2s (uvrA), 13; strain K.12 AB1886 (uvrA), 15. The maximal 405-nm FEF value obtained after a prior 365-nm irradiation at greater fluences was 83 in the wild-type strain B/r. Enhancement of anoxic 405-nm radiation after a prior aerobic 365-nm exposure was not detectable, suggesting that prior aerobic irradiation at 365-nm increased the effects of damage produced at 405 nm by means of an oxygen-dependent process. Single-strand breaks (or alkali-labile bonds) were produced by 405-nm radiation at 3.0 times 10_-5 breaks per 2.5 times 10₉ daltons per Jm_-2 in the polA strain P3478; pyrimidine dimers were not detected by biological assay (photoreactivation) at 405 nm. Although the introduction of different DNA lesions produced by 365- and 405-nm radiations cannot be ruled out, we propose that the strong synergistic effect of 365-nm irradiation on 405-nm lethality is the consequence of pronounced inhibition by 365-nm radiation of components of the DNA-repair systems that can mend or bypass damage produced by 405-nm radiation.     

Control of the Orientation and Photoinduced Phase Transitions of Macrocyclic Azobenzene

Photoinduced phase transitions caused by photochromic reactions bring about a change in the state of matter at constant temperature. Herein, we report the photoinduced phase transitions of crystals of a photoresponsive macrocyclic compound bearing two azobenzene groups ( 1 ) at room temperature on irradiation with UV (365 nm) and visible (436 nm) light. The trans/trans isomer undergoes photoinduced phase transitions (crystal–isotropic phase–crystal) on UV light irradiation. The photochemically generated crystal exhibited reversible phase transitions between the crystal and the mesophase on UV and visible light irradiation. The molecular order of the randomly oriented crystals could be increased by irradiating with linearly polarized visible light, and the value of the order parameter was determined to be ?0.84. Heating enhances the thermal cis‐to‐trans isomerization and subsequent cooling returned crystals of the trans/trans isomer.     

Radiation effects on the thermal degradation of poly(vinyl chloride) and poly(vinyl alcohol)

Radiation effects on the formation of conjugated double bonds in the thermal degradation of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were investigated. Thin films of PVC and PVA were either irradiated with γ-rays at ambient temperature (pre-irradiation) and then subjected to thermal treatment, or irradiated at elevated temperatures (in situ irradiation). An extensive enhancement of the thermal degradation was observed for the pre-irradiation of the PVC films, which was more effective than the effect of the in situ irradiation at the same absorption dose. For the PVA degradation, however, the effect of the in situ irradiation was larger than that of the pre-irradiation. The results were explained and related mechanisms were discussed based on radiation-induced chemical reactions and their individual contributions to the thermal degradation behaviors of the two polymers. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 3089–3095, 1998