Bioconversion of fumarate to succinate using glycerol as a carbon source

In this study, a facultative bacterium that converts fumarate to succinate at a high yield was isolated. The yield of biocon version was enhanced about 1.2 times by addition of glucose into culture medium at an initial concentration of 6 g/L. When the initial cell density was high (2 g/L), the succinate produced at pH 7.0 for initial fumarate concentrations of 30, 50, 80, and 100 g/L were 29.3, 40.9, 63.6, and 82.5 g/L, respectively, showing an increase with the initial fumarate concentration. The high yield of 96.8%/mole of fumarate in just 4 h was obtained at the initial fumarate concentration of 30 g/L. Comparing these values to those obtained with low cell culture (0.2 g/L), we found that the amount of succinate produced was similar, but the production rate in the high cell culture was about three times higher than was the case in the low cell culture. This strain converted fumarate to succinate at a rate of 3.5 g/L·h under the sparge of CO₂.     

Accelerated hydrolysis of esters catalyzed by receptors, II. Degradation of RNA by polyvinylpyrrolidone

The nonenzymatic hydrolysis of RNA by polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) has been investigated. A bell-shaped kinetics was observed when the first order rate constant of the reaction was ploted as a function of PVP concentration, which means the kinetic feature of PVP as a degradative receptor distinct from those of degradative enzymes (e.g., ribonuclease).     

Microstructure of Ni/YSZ cermets according to particle size of precursor powders and their anodic performances in SOFC

Four different Ni/YSZ cermets were prepared by combining two sets of NiO and YSZ powders of different size. The microstructural change evolved during the course of electrode adhesion and cell operation was monitored using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The anodic activity was compared by analyzing the ∝ impedance spectra of four Ni/YSZ cermet (H₂) / YSZ half cells at 1000 °C. Among the cermets, the one that prepared from the smaller NiO and larger YSZ powder showed the best anodic performances on aspects of the initial activity and long-term stability. This favorable performance is partly responsible to the presence of larger YSZ particles which provide a supporting matrix to suppress the microstructural change against Ni sintering and concomitant volume shrinkage, and partly to an easy formation of Ni channel for electronic conduction. Anodic performances of the other cermets were also discussed based on their microstructure.     

Calculation of molecular weight distribution in a batch thermal polymerization of styrene

Molecular weight averages have long been used as a measure of polymer molecular weight properties in industrial polymer manufacturing processes. With a kinetic model, it is possible to directly calculate the polymer chain length distribution by integrating an infinite number of the polymer population balance equations. However, when the polymer chain length is very large, such a direct integration of polymer population balance equations can be computationally demanding. In this paper, the method of finite molecular weight moments is applied to the calculation of polymer chain length distribution in a batch free radical thermal polymerization of styrene. The weight fraction of a finite chain length interval is directly calculated in conjunction with a kinetic model. The method of calculation is illustrated through model simulations.     

Novel Asymmetric and Stereospecific Aziridination of Alkenes with a Chiral Nitridomanganese Complex

The addition of pyridine N -oxide is necessary to obtain high enantioselectivities in the asymmetric aziridination of styrene derivatives through transfer of a nitrogen atom from chiral, toluenesulfonic anhydride activated nitridomanganese complex 1 [Eq. (a)]. Remarkably, high stereospecificity was observed in all the aziridinations of trans- and cis-1,2-disubstituted alkenes. R¹=H, Me, nPr, iPr; R²=H, Me; Ts=p-toluenesulfonyl.     

Br-radical-mediated [3+2] annulation: synthesis of 2-bromomethyl-substituted alkenylcyclopentanes by the reaction of alkenylcyclopropanes with allyl bromides under photo irradiation

A radical chain addition of allyl bromides 2 to alkenylcyclopropanes 1 resulted in [3+2] annulation to give 2-bromomethylalkenylcyclopentanes 3 in good yields(16 examples). In this reaction, two kinetically fast radical reactions, cyclopropylcarbinyl radical-ring-opening and 5-exo-radical cyclization, preceded the β-fragmentation of a bromine radical to make the formal cycloaddition possible.     

Discriminating Among Co‐monomer Sequence Distributions in Random Copolymers Using Interaction Chromatography

Interaction chromatography has been employed to validate that adsorption of poly[styrene‐co‐(4‐bromostyrene)] (PBr_xS) random copolymers, where x denotes the mole fraction of 4‐bromostyrene (4–BrS) in PBr_xS in solution depends on the average number of adsorptive segments, the type of adsorbing substrate, and on the co‐monomer sequence distribution in PBr_xS.

     

Synthesis of Eu x Si6? z Al z O z N8? z green phosphor and?its?luminescent properties

Rare-earth-doped oxynitride or nitride compounds have been reported to be photoluminescent and may then serve as new phosphors because of their good thermal and chemical stabilities. In this work, Eu²⁺-doped β-SiAlON phosphor with a composition of Eu _x Si_6−z Al _z O _z N_8−z (x=0.018, z=0.23) was prepared by gas-pressured solid state reaction. The crystallinity and particle morphology of the prepared phosphor were characterized. The Stokes shift and zero-phonon line were calculated mathematically and estimated from the spectral data. The temperature dependence of photoluminescence was measured from 25 to 250°C. The prepared Eu²⁺-doped β-SiAlON green phosphor showed superior thermal quenching property compared to silicate (SrBaSiO₄:Eu²⁺) green phosphor. The white light-emitting diode (LED) back-lighting unit (BLU) using the prepared β-SiAlON:Eu²⁺ green phosphor exhibited higher color gamut than a commercial silicate phosphor.     

Nanoscale laser processing and diagnostics

The article summarizes research activities of the Laser Thermal Laboratory on pulsed nanosecond and femtosecond laser-based processing of materials and diagnostics at the nanoscale using optical-near-field processing. Both apertureless and apertured near-field probes can deliver highly confined irradiation at sufficiently high intensities to impart morphological and structural changes in materials at the nanometric level. Processing examples include nanoscale selective subtractive (ablation), additive (chemical vapor deposition), crystallization, and electric, magnetic activation. In the context of nanoscale diagnostics, optical-near-field-ablation-induced plasma emission was utilized for chemical species analysis by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. Furthermore, optical-near-field irradiation greatly improved sensitivity and reliability of electrical conductance atomic force microscopy enabling characterization of electron tunneling through the oxide shell on silicon nanowires. Efficient in-situ monitoring greatly benefits optical-near-field processing. Due to close proximity of the probe tip with respect to the sample under processing, frequent degradation of the probe end occurs leading to unstable processing conditions. Optical-fiber-based probes have been coupled to a dual-beam (scanning electron microscopy and focused ion beam) system in order to achieve in-situ monitoring and probe repair.     

Inorganic species formation in a discharged water generating system

Inorganic species formation in a discharged water generating (DWG) system consisting of a plane-to-plane electrode arrangement with a 20 kV, 20 mA and 1 kHz power source has been investigated. The DWG system is able to produce the various oxidants HNO₂, HNO₃ and O₃, as well as OH radicals and many other unconfirmed radicals. These products can play an important role in the advanced oxidation of organic compounds and in rot protection. The pH of water discharged from the system for 20 min during inflow of natural air was about 3, nitrogen concentrations of nitrite and nitrate were 4.6 mg/L and 7.9 mg/L, respectively, residual dissolved ozone concentration was 0.7 mg/L and the oxidation power as measured by KI titration methods was approximately equivalent to 46 mg-O₃/L.