The L1(2) CrPt3 underlayer effect on the ordering of L1(0) FePt films

This study discusses the effects of a CrPt3 alloy underlayer on the magnetic properties and microstructure of FePt films. The L1(2) CrPt3 phase was chemical long-range ordered at a temperature above 600 degrees C, and the 120-nm thick CrPt3 film annealed at 800 degrees C, resulting in ferrimagnetic behavior. The long-range ordered CrPt3 underlayer slightly increased the ordering of the L1(0) FePt film, as evidenced by the individual L1(2) CrPt3 and L1(0) FePt (0 0 1) superlattice peaks. An X-ray slow scan of the [FePt/CrPt3(T degrees C)](400 degrees c) bilayer shows that the integrated intensity of the L1(0) FePt (0 0 1) peaks was higher on the long-range order L1(2)-type CrPt3 (T= 600,800) underlayer and lower on the partial short-range order L1(2) and A(1) -types CrPt3 (T= 400) underlayer. However, optimal magnetic properties were obtained in the [FePt/CrPt3(400 degrees C)](400 degrees c) bilayer. When a FePt film is deposited on a ferrimagnetic CrPt3(800 C) underlayer, the resulting bilayer shows isotropic magnetic hysteresis loops and cannot be saturated at 1.8T. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transition electron microscopy (TEM) show that the L1(2) CrPt3(800 degrees C) underlayer exhibits coarse surface roughness and plate-like grains, respectively. From TEM images, all the FePt grains were isolated uniformly by CrPt3 matrix. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Magnetic properties and microstructures of perpendicular anisotropy (SmCo7/Cu)(n) films

Pseudobinary SmCo7-xCux intermetallic compound films with a TbCu7-type structure were prepared by sputtered (SmCo7/Cu)(n) multilayer. After annealing, the spacer layer Cu (0.5-1.5 nm) diffused into the SmCo7 matrix and stabilized the SmCo7 meta-stable phase. The resulting microstructure was investigated by transmission electron microscopy. Perpendicular anisotropy was obtained by introducing a Cu/Ti dual underlayer during sputtering, resulting in prefer-orientated SmCo7 (00L) X-ray diffraction peaks. This study observes a maze-like domain pattern in perpendicular anisotropy films and finds single- and multi-domain particles in correlated AFM and MFM images. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Capture of heavy metals by sorbents in incineration flue gas

The emission of heavy metals can be controlled by injecting solid sorbents into the flue during incineration processes. Feed waste elemental compositions and types of sorbents influence the controlling efficiency of the sorbents for heavy metal compounds. The objective of this work is to experimentally study the controlling efficiency of different sorbents for heavy metals in the flue of an incineration system, and study the effects of feed waste composition on the controlling efficiency of sorbents. The investigated heavy metals are Pb, Cd, Cu and Cr. The operating parameters evaluated included: (1) different sorbents (kaolinite, limestone, aluminum oxide, and water); (2) the feed waste contained organic chloride (PVC); (3) the feed waste contained inorganic chloride (NaCl); (4) the feed waste contained sulfate (Na2SO4); (5) comparing the controlling efficiency of sorbents used in the combustion chamber and injected in the flue of an incineration system. Experimental results indicated that the control efficiency of the four sorbents for heavy metals under various feed waste composition follows the sequence of limestone > water > kaolinite > aluminum or;ide. The best sorbent for the four heavy metals is limestone, especially as the feed waste contained organic chloride PVC, because limestone slurry provides a lot of calcium and alkali to react with the metal chlorides and acid gas. The presence of inorganic chloride NaCl and sulfate Na2SO4 in the feed waste is helpful to increase the capture efficiency of the sorbents for heavy metals. By comparison, the capture efficiency of the sorbent injected in the flue is lower than that added in the combustion chamber. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B,V. All rights reserved

Antioxidative effects of intracellular extracts of yogurt bacteria on lipid peroxidation and intestine 407 cells

The antioxidative activity of intracellular extracts of yogurt bacteria was measured based on the inhibition of lipid peroxidation of two model systems, namely a free fatty acid (linoleic acid) system and a biological lipid (plasma lipid) system. The inhibitory rate on linoleic acid peroxidation was 61 and 57% for Streptococcus salivarius ssp. thermophilus ATCC 19258 and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus ATCC 11842, respectively. The inhibitory rate on plasma lipid peroxidation was 57 and 41% for S. salivarius ssp. thermophilus ATCC 19258 and L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus ATCC 11842, respectively. Results from both systems demonstrated that these two yogurt strains were potentially highly antioxidative. Further experiments were done on Intestine 407 cells to determine the antioxidative effects of yogurt bacteria on reducing oxidative damage of oxidant H2O2. Intracellular extracts of yogurt bacteria reduced the genotoxicity of H2O2. Although L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus ATCC 11842 had only minor effects on reducing DNA damage, S. salivarius ssp. thermophilus ATCC 19258 showed excellent potential for protecting the Intestine 407 cells from the genotoxicity of oxidant H2O2. Both yogurt bacteria demonstrated high cytotoxicity inhibitory ability for oxidant H2O2. The cytotoxicity inhibition rate was 71 and 48% for S. salivarius ssp. thermophilus ATCC 19258 and L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus ATCC 11842, respectively

Hepatoprotective Effect of Lactic Acid Bacteria in the Attenuation of Oxidative Stress from tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide

The pathogenesis and progression of liver disease are associated with free radical injury and oxidative stress, which can be partially attenuated by antioxidants and free radical scavengers. Lactic acid bacteria, which have been traditionally used in the production of various fermented foods, are important intestinal microflora and natural antioxidants. The hypothesis that lactic acid bacteria can prevent or decrease tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced oxidative damage in HepG2 cells was investigated. Intracellular extracts and heat-killed cells of Lactobacillus acidophilus La12, Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus Lb23, Bifidobacterium longum Bl36 and Streptococcus salivarius ssp. thermophilus St28 were used in this study. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), reactive oxygen species (ROS), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GRd), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were determined to explore the influence of lactic acid bacteria intervention on cell damage and antioxidative status. Toxic damage to hepatocytes. by t-BH P was attenuated by lactic acid bacteria (which exerted protective effects by decreasing the risk of accumulated ROS and by reactivating antioxidant enzymes) in HepG2 cells treated with lactic acid bacteria before t-BHP exposure. The results of this study provide new insights into the mechanisms by which lactic acid bacteria with antioxidative properties can help to protect the liver

Stability of fungal immunomodulatory protein, FIP-gts and FIP-fve, in IFN- production

Fungal immunomodulatory proteins (FIPs) are a group of novel proteins, purified from medicinal fungi or edible mushrooms that possess immunomodulatory properties. FIP-gts and FIP-fve have been isolated and purified from Ganoderma tsugae and Flammunlina velutipes, respectively. The evaluation of FIP immunomodulatory activity was based on their ability to stimulate human peripheral blood lymphocytes to release interferon-gamma (IFN-). We found that FIP-gts exhibited better immunomodulatory activity than FIP-fve. Activities were both greatly reduced with duration of heating. For digestibility, FIP-fve was more resistant than FIP-gts to digestive enzymes in simulated gastric fluid and simulated intestinal fluid. IFN- production is only detectable in dimers of FIP-gts as opposed to polymer of FIP-fve. These results suggest that FIP-gts and FIP-fve have activities that are stable and have a strong potential of being applied to food or pharmaceutical products for commercial development

Pollutants in incineration flue gas

Previous studies have shown that pollutants from incineration include heavy metals, organic compounds, particulate and acid gas, However, most studies on a single pollutant, it is rare for a study to concentrate on all possible pollutants and the relations between these pollutants under various incineration conditions. The objective of this work was to experimentally study the effect of different operating conditions on the pollutants emitted during incineration and the relations between these pollutants. The operating conditions of the experiments included the temperature of the combustion chamber and the species of organics. The findings indicated that the concentration of hydrogen chloride (HCl) in the presence of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was higher than that of sodium chloride (NaCl). Regardless of what Cl-containing feedstock was added, the concentration of chromium (Cr) was constant. When organic chloride was added, Cr was the main metallic element which influenced the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). On the other hand, when inorganic chloride (NaCl) was added, lead (Pb) was the major element. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

Antioxidative Effect of Lactic Acid Bacteria: Intact Cells vs. Intracellular Extracts

The present study compared the anti-oxidative ability of intact cells and intracellular extracts of two lactic acid bacterial strains, Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus. Results showed that both intact cells and intracellular extracts of 10(9) cells of B. longum and L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus had the ability to scavenge alpha-diphenyl-beta-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical by 70.4-75.1%, to inhibit liposome peroxidation by 25-31%, and to decrease significantly the malondialdehyde (MDA) production in Intestine 407 cells. The effect of intact cells and intracellular extracts of these two bacterial strains on the oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) isolated from cerebrovascular accident (CVA) patients and healthy subjects was also compared. Oxidation of LDL was monitored by measuring the lag time for the formation of conjugated dienes in isolated LDL particles. When LDL was treated respectively with 10(9) intact cells of B. longum and L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, the lag time of oxidation of LDL was prolonged significantly. The extent of inhibition was greater on LDL isolated from healthy subjects than from CVA patients. When LDL from either CVA patients or healthy subjects was treated with intracellular extracts of 10(9) cells of B. longum and L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, respectively, the copper-mediated oxidation was extensively inhibited with a lag time exceeding 180 min. Results from this study show a greater inhibitory effect on LDL oxidation exerted by the intracellular extract than the intact cells, suggesting the presence of effective inhibitory factors in the intracellular extract

FIP-fve Stimulates Interferon-Gamma Production via Modulation of Calcium Release and PKC-alpha Activation

Fungal immunomodulatory protein, FIP-fve, has been isolated from Flammulina velutipes, and its immunomodulatory effects are believed to be associated with the enhanced activation of IFN-gamma-releasing Th1 cells. However, the mechanisms of FIP-fve-mediated signal transduction in the regulation of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) gene expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are still poorly understood. Using fluo-3 AM, we found that FIP-fve induces a rapid elevation in calcium concentration. ELISA, RT-PCR and Western blot assays demonstrated significant increases in the production and mRNA expression of IFN-gamma and protein kinase C-alpha (PKC-alpha) activation in activated PBMCs, which were abolished by EGTA, nifedipine and GO6976. In conclusion, Ca(2+) release and PKC-alpha activation are required for IFN-gamma production induced by FIP-fve in PBMCs