Efficacy of sodium chlorite in inactivating Vibrio parahaemolyticus attached to polyethylene terephthalate surfaces.

The inactivation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus cells attached to a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) disc in a sodium chlorite (NaClO) solution was kinetically studied in a weakly acidic pH range of 4.0 - 6.5.

Visualization of polypeptides including fragmented α-amylase in rice koji grains using mass spectrometry imaging.

The quality of rice koji greatly affects the quality of sake. To accurately evaluate the quality of rice koji, various approaches for the evaluation of rice koji are required. In this study, we directly and simultaneously visualized the distribution of polypeptides in rice koji using mass spectrometry imaging.

Ultra-high-molecular-weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) Wing Method for Strong Cranioplasty.

We developed a new cranioplasty method that utilizes artificial bone made of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene, with a wedge-shaped edge (UHMWPE Wing). This study shows the methods and data of case series and finite element analyses with the UHMWPE Wing. A circumferential wing was preoperatively designed for a custom-made artificial bone made of UHMWPE to achieve high fixed power and to minimize the usage of cranial implants.

Participation of cysteine 30 residue in the folding process of ovalbumin evaluated in a refolding experiment using cysteine mutants.

To understand the role of cysteine (SH) residues in the folding of hen ovalbumin (OVA), SH-mutated OVAs, in which each SH residue was replaced by alanine (C11A, C30A, C367A, and C382A), were prepared. SDS-PAGE analysis under non-reducing conditions showed that the C11A and C30A mutants produced a disulfide (SS) isomer in addition to a protein with a native SS bond (Cys73-Cys120). The susceptibility to elastase digestion suggested that the Cys73 residue in the SS isomer participates as a counterpart of the SS bond.

Quantitative evaluation of haze formation of koji and progression of internal haze by drying of koji during koji making.

The construction of an experimental system that can mimic koji making in the manufacturing setting of a sake brewery is initially required for the quantitative evaluation of mycelia grown on/in koji pellets (haze formation). Koji making with rice was investigated with a solid-state fermentation (SSF) system using a non-airflow box (NAB), which produced uniform conditions in the culture substrate with high reproducibility and allowed for the control of favorable conditions in the substrate during culture. The SSF system using NAB accurately reproduced koji making in a manufacturing setting.

Kinetics of the Inactivation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Weakly Acidic Sodium Chlorite Solution.

　The kinetics of the inactivation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in sodium chlorite (NaClO) solution was studied in the weakly acidic pH range of 4.0 to 6.5 and at various temperatures.

Inactivation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Unattached and Attached to a Solid Surface in pH-Controlled Sodium Hypochlorite Solutions.

　The inactivation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus cells that were unattached or attached to a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) disc in pH-controlled sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) solutions was studied under turbulent conditions. No significant desorption of attached cells occurred at the free available chlorine (FAC) concentrations from 0.1 to 1.

Active control of sound transmission through a rectangular panel using point-force actuators and piezoelectric film sensors.

This study deals with the active control of sound transmission through a rectangular panel, based on single input, single output feedforward vibration control using point-force actuators and piezoelectric film sensors. It focuses on the phenomenon in which the sound power transmitted through a finite-sized panel drops significantly at some frequencies just below the resonance frequencies of the panel in the low-frequency range as a result of modal coupling cancellation. In a previous study, it was shown that when point-force actuators are located on nodal lines for the frequency at which this phenomenon occurs, a force equivalent to the incident sound wave can act on the panel.

Change in enzyme production by gradually drying culture substrate during solid-state fermentation.

The influence of drying the culture substrate during solid-state fermentation on enzyme production was investigated using a non-airflow box. The drying caused a significant increase in enzyme production, while the mycelium content decreased slightly. This suggests that changes in the water content in the substrate during culture affect enzyme production in fungi.

Rapid enzyme production and mycelial growth in solid-state fermentation using the non-airflow box.

Solid-state fermentation (SSF) has become an attractive alternative to submerged fermentation (SMF) for the production of enzymes, organic acids, and secondary metabolites, while there are many problems during the culture of SSF. We recently created a SSF system using a non-airflow box (NAB) in order to resolve the problems, which enabled the uniform culture in the whole substrate and high yield of many enzymes. In this paper, further characterization of SSF using the NAB was carried out to obtain other advantages.

Theoretical and experimental study on active sound transmission control based on single structural mode actuation using point force actuators.

This study deals with the feedforward active control of sound transmission through a simply supported rectangular panel using vibration actuators. The control effect largely depends on the excitation method, including the number and locations of actuators. In order to obtain a large control effect at low frequencies over a wide frequency, an active transmission control method based on single structural mode actuation is proposed.

The mode of action of sodium hypochlorite in the decolorization of azo dye orange II in aqueous solution.

The effect of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) on the decolorization of azo dye orange II (4-[(2-hydroxy-1-naphthalenyl) azo]-benzenesulfonic acid, monosodium salt) in aqueous solution was studied as a function of pH. The first-order rate constant of color reduction (k) was evaluated from the curve of color reduction in the initial stage of decolorization. The k values increased with increasing the pH from 5.

Uniform culture in solid-state fermentation with fungi and its efficient enzyme production.

Solid-state fermentation (SSF) has attracted a lot of interest for carrying out high-level protein production in filamentous fungi. However, it has problems such as the fermentation heat generated during the culture in addition to the reduced mobility of substances. These conditions lead to a nonuniform state in the culture substrate and result in low reproducibility.

Improvement of the cleanability of pseudo-sensitized stainless steel surfaces by solution treatment.

Type 316L stainless steel particles were pseudo-sensitized by being heated at 700 degrees C for 100 h under a reduced pressure of 1.3 x 10(-3) Pa. Pseudo-sensitization treatment resulted in the formation of chromium-rich precipitates at the outermost surfaces of the stainless steel particles.

Cleanability of titanium and stainless steel particles in relation to surface charge aspects.

The cleanability of titanium and 316L stainless steel particles was studied in terms of their apparent surface charge density (sigma(app)). Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as the model fouling agent. Curves for the sigma(app) of titanium and stainless steel particles showed the apparent points of zero charge (pzc(app)) of 4.

Role of a surfactant in caustic alkali cleaning of polyethylene terephthalate surfaces fouled with organic substances.

The role of polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (POELE), a nonionic surfactant, in removing bovine serum albumin (BSA) and catechin from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) particles was quantitatively studied. Relatively large fractions of adsorbed BSA and catechin were removed from PET particles under weak alkaline conditions below pH 9, whereas cleaning with high concentrations of NaOH was not so effective, especially on the removal of BSA. This was attributed to the lower susceptibility of PET particles to water-based alkali (OH-) cleaning because of the lower degree of the polarity of PET surfaces.

Mechanisms of actions of sodium hypochlorite in cleaning and disinfection processes.

Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is the most widely used disinfectant in the food industry despite the increasing availability of other disinfectants. Sodium hypochlorite fulfills many requirements as the ideal disinfectant and furthermore it has an excellent cleaning action. The effectiveness of sodium hypochlorite in the cleaning and disinfection processes depends on the concentration of available chlorine and the pH of the solution.

Involvement of radical species in inactivation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in saline solutions by direct-current electric treatment.

The effect of pulsed low-direct-current (DC) electric treatment on the viability of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in artificial seawater and 3.0% (w/v) NaCl solution was studied as a function of available chlorine (AC) concentration. The amount of AC generated during the DC electric treatment increased in proportion to the amount of passed DC.

Repression of secondary metabolite production by exogenous cAMP in Monascus.

The cAMP signal pathway controls various biological functions, including secondary metabolism of filamentous fungi. We found that exogenous cAMP represses the production of lovastatin, red pigments, and citrinin in Monascus. Interestingly, a mutant MK-1 with increased lovastatin and red pigments production was not influenced by cAMP on these productions, indicating that cAMP signaling might be lacking in MK-1.

Cleanability of stainless steel surfaces as influenced by heat treatment.

The cleanability of heat-treated 316L stainless steel particles treated at various temperatures of 100 to 500 degrees C was studied in a plug-flow column fed by a 0.1M NaOH solution. Bovine Serum albumin (BSA) was used as the model fouling agent.

Effects of the principal nutrients on lovastatin production by Monascus pilosus.

Lovastatin production is dependent on the substrates provided. We investigated how several carbon and nitrogen sources in the medium affect lovastatin production by Monascus pilosus. M.

Selective protein adsorption property and characterization of nano-crystalline zinc-containing hydroxyapatite.

Nano-crystalline Zn-containing hydroxyapatite (ZnHAp) was prepared by the wet-chemical method and the selective adsorption of essential proteins was examined, taking bovine serum albumin (BSA) and pathogenic protein such as beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)-MG) as model proteins. Transmission electron microscopy observation and X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the increase of Zn content led to smaller crystallites and their specific surface area of ZnHAps increased with increasing Zn content, accordingly. Furthermore, the amounts of BSA adsorption on ZnHAp particles decreased with increasing Zn content in spite of the increase in the specific surface area.

Kinetic study of desorption of two species of bovine serum albumin from alumina during alkali elution process.

Kinetics of desorption of irreversibly adsorbed bovine serum albumin (BSA) from alumina (Al2O3) particles at various surface coverages (theta) was studied in a plug-flow column by feeding 0.05 M NaOH solution. The desorption curve obtained by plotting the logarithm of the amount of residual BSA against elution time was analyzed by using an integrated model that describes two simultaneous first-order processes.

Conformation of adsorbed bovine serum albumin governing its desorption behavior at alumina-water interfaces.

The mode of initial adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) onto positively charged Al2O3 particles was studied as a function of surface coverage (theta). The adsorption isotherm of BSA exhibited saturation (theta = 1) and the existence of an inflection point at theta of 0.82.