Influence of reactive oxygen species on the sterilization of microbes

The influence of reactive oxygen species on living cells, including various microbes, is discussed. A sterilization experiment with bacterial endospores reveals that an argon–oxygen plasma jet very effectively kills endospores of Bacillus atrophaeus (ATCC 9372), thereby indicating that oxygen radicals are the key element of sterilization. Ozone in acidic water also kills endospores of B. atrophaeus very effectively, demonstrating the capability of cleaning a large surface area contaminated by toxic biological agents. The viable microbe numbers after the contact with acidic ozone water directly correlate with increase in the ozone decay time in water after lowering the pH value of water from pH = 7 to 4 indicating that acidic ozone water is an effective means of sterilizing microbes. However, advanced cells such as fertilized eggs were not greatly influenced by the acidic ozone water. Also, both human and canine cells after treatment with the acidic ozone water prospered without showing signs of stress due to ozone in acidic water. This study suggests that antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase can be developed in the advanced cells to protect themselves from attacks by reactive oxygen species. Meanwhile, the advanced cells utilize oxygen by certain enzymes, proliferating life on earth.     

Characterization of electronic structure in dielectric materials by making use of the secondary electron emission

The methodology of characterizing electronic structure in dielectric materials will be presented in detail. Energy distribution of the electrons emitted from dielectric materials by the Auger neutralization of ions is measured and rescaled for Auger self-convolution, which is restructured from the energy distribution of the emitted electrons. The Fourier transform is very effective for obtaining the density of states from the Auger self-convolution. The MgO layer is tested as an example of this new measurement scheme. The density of states in the valence band of the MgO layer is studied by measuring the energy distribution of the emitted electrons for MgO crystal with three different orientations of (111), (100) and (110). The characteristic energy of ?₀ corresponding to the peak density of the states in the band is determined, showing that the (111) orientation has a shallow characteristic energy ?₀ = 7.4 eV, whereas the (110) orientation has a deep characteristic energy ?₀ = 9.6 eV, consistent with the observed coefficient γ of the secondary electron emission for MgO crystal. Electronic structure in new functional nano-films spayed over MgO layer is also characterized. It is therefore demonstrated that secondary electron emission by the Auger neutralization of ions is highly instrumental for the determination of the density of states in the valence band of dielectric materials. This method simultaneously determines the valence band structure and the coefficient γ of the secondary electron emission, which plays the most important role in the electrical breakdown phenomena.     

EQCM analysis of Bi oxidation mechanism on a Pt electrode

The electro-oxidation behaviours of bismuth (Bi) species adsorbed on a platinum (Pt) anode were investigated using an in situ electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance analysis in the measurement of cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy under potentiostatic mode. In the CV of Bi modified Pt, there were four distinct features in the current–potential curves during an anodic scan: (i) the adsorption of water molecules in acidic media, (ii) the formation of Bi oxide, (iii) ionization of Bi oxide and (iv) partial desorption of Bi species. During a cathodic scan, the Bi modified Pt surface recovered to its original state via the reduction of Bi oxide and re-deposition of Bi ion. Surface mass data with electrical charge change and impedance measurements of Bi modified Pt supported the electrocatalytic oxidation of bismuth species as the responsible mechanism.     

Study of structural changes for STS 316L using the positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy

The defects due to extrusion strengths and the temperature dependent deformities for low carbon stainless steel (STS 316L) were investigated using positron annihilation spectroscopy. The defects were restored after tempering at 700 °C. The gradients of the peak on the positron annihilation lifetime spectrum for a sample annealed at 700 °C is increased compared to the as extruded sample. In addition, we calculated the trapping rate and bulk lifetime based on the theoretical model. Both values are decreased, as the extrusion strengths are reduced. All annealed samples showed reduced trapping rate and bulk lifetime, comparing with as extruded samples.

     

Deposition yield of nickel in alkaline bath for synthesizing Ni-63 beta source

Nickel (Ni) and Ni-63 films were synthesized by direct current electrodeposition. The composition of an alkaline electrolyte was ammonium citrate (25 g/l), hydrazine hydrate (25 g/l), and ammonium solution (25%) for adjusting the pH to 10. The acidic electrolyte at pH 4 was prepared using a full chloride bath. A higher deposition yield (92%) of the citrate electrolyte (pH 10) than 73% of acidic electrolyte (pH4) was measured using ICP. The deposition yield of radioactive Ni-63 in a citrate bath was also same as natural Ni in alkaline electrolyte. A newly prepared alkaline bath for the deposition of Ni-63 can be a solution for an extremely decreased radio-activity in the waste after plating.     

Measurement of optical signals as a plasma propagation in the atmospheric pressure plasma jet columns

The propagation of plasma jets with argon gas is characterized in terms of two factors, the effect of electric field distribution along the tube and the effect of voltage polarity, from the observed results of optical signals along the entire column of plasma. The optical signal of plasma propagates from the high electric-field region of high-voltage electrode toward the low field region of the open air-space, regardless of the polarity of the voltage. The optical intensity and the propagation velocity are higher for the positive voltage than for the negative voltage. Moreover, the length of plasma plume exited from the end of the glass tube into the open air is shorter for the negative voltage. When the optical intensity is strong enough, a secondary peak signal follows the primary peak. In the plasma column on the inside of the glass tube, the optical intensity and the propagation velocity depend on the strength of the electric field; they are both high at the high-field region of voltage terminal and decay toward the end of the tube. The velocity is as fast as 10⁴ m/s at the high-field region and slows down to 10³ m/s at the low-field region of the glass-tube end. However, the plasma accelerates drastically to be (10⁴–10⁵) m/s after exiting the glass tube toward open air, even though the electric field is a quite low and thus the optical signal decays low before fading out. The experimental observations present in this report are explained with the propagation of the plasma diffusion waves.     

Measurement of Reactive Hydroxyl Radical Species Inside the Biosolutions During Non-thermal Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet Bombardment onto the Solution

Non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma jet could generate various kinds of radicals on biosolution surfaces as well as inside the biosolutions. The electron temperature and ion density for this non-thermal plasma jet have been measured to be about 0.8~1.0 eV and 1 × 10¹³ cm^?3 in this experiment, respectively, by atmospheric pressure collisional radiative model and ion collector current. In this context, the hydroxyl OH radical density inside the biosolutions has been also investigated experimentally by ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy when the Ar non-thermal plasma jet has been bombarded onto them. It is found that the emission and absorption profiles for the other reactive oxygen species such as NO (226 nm) and O₂*^? (245 nm) are shown to be very small inside the biosolution in comparison with those for the OH radical species. It is found that the densities of OH radical species inside the biosolutions are higher than those on the surface in this experiment. The densities of the OH radical species inside the deionized water, Dulbecco’s modified eagle medium, and phosphate buffered saline are measured to be about 2.1 × 10¹⁶, 1.1 × 10¹⁶, and 1.0 × 10¹⁶ cm^?3, respectively, at 2 mm downstream from the surface under optimized Ar gas flow of 200 sccm. It is also found that the critical hydroxyl OH radical density for the lung cancer H460 cells to experience an apoptosis is observed to be around 0.3 × 10¹⁶ cm^?3 under 1 min plasma exposure in this experiment.     

Origin of unusual work function change upon forming Tl nanoclusters on Si(111)-7x7 surface

We report an unusual behavior of the work function that remains unchanged while increasing the coverage (θ) of thallium (Tl) nanoclusters regularly arranged on a Si(111)-7×7 surface. Such a constant work function with increasing θ is understood in terms of a θ-dependent inter-cluster interaction that cancels the change induced by dipoles due to Tl nanoclusters. The spectral changes of Si 2p and Tl 5d_5/2 core-levels as a function of θ strongly indicates the presence of such an inter-clusters interaction, which is further supported by our theoretical calculation revealing a significant charge redistribution. PACS 73.20.-r; 73.30.+y; 68.47.Fg; 79.60.-i; 73.20.Hb     

Electron temperature and plasma density in surface-discharged alternating-current plasma display panels

The electron temperature and plasma density at the lateral distance of 125 /spl mu/m from the center of sustaining electrode gap have been investigated by a Langmuir probe along with the high-speed discharge image in coplanar alternating current plasma display panels. The plasma density at the lateral distance of 125 /spl mu/m from the center of sustaining electrode gap is shown to be maximum value of 3.7/spl times/10/sup 11/ cm/sup -3/, whereas the electron temperature is measured to be decreased from 1.8 to 0.8 eV as the gas pressure increases from 150 to 400 torr in this experiment. It is noted that the electron temperatures measured by the Langmuir probe and high-speed image camera are in good agreement with each other within 5% error limit.     

Synthesis and characterization of LiMnBO3 cathode material for lithium ion batteries

LiMnBO₃ with enhanced powder density was successfully synthesized by a commercially available spray-drying process. A monoclinic-LiMnBO₃ single phase was experimentally substantiated by an X-ray diffractometer with crystallinity investigated by Rietveld refinement method (Bragg R-factor and RF-factor <10). The dense LiMnBO₃ powder prepared by the spray drying process showed spherical morphology. The electrochemical property of LiMnBO₃ was extensively investigated, positively revealing that 0.27 Li⁺ (Li_0.27MnBO₃) was stoichiometrically extracted from the host LiMnBO₃ material at first cycle.