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This study examined the feasibility of utilizing high-pressure processing (HPP) with enzymatic impregnation to soften vegetables. Freeze–thaw (FT) processing was used as a positive control to compare the hardness, physicochemical characteristics, and cell microstructure of vegetables. Carrot and broccoli samples were subjected to 200 MPa pressure for 15 min and then impregnated using a Viscozyme L enzyme solution. Compared with the hardness of fresh samples, the hardness of the carrot and broccoli samples that underwent HPP and enzymatic impregnation decreased by 84.6% and 95.5%, respectively, and the hardness of the carrot and broccoli samples that underwent FT processed decreased by 73.6% and 91.3%, respectively. In particular, HPP with enzymatic impregnation reduced the content of insoluble dietary fibers (18%), increased the content of soluble dietary fibers (3%), and considerably increased the concentration of carotene (1.9 times) and isothiocyanate (4.5 times) in carrots and broccoli, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy reveals that HPP physically damaged the intercellular compartments of the vegetables, thereby increasing the impregnation of enzymes. In addition, the level of HPP and the holding time increased, and the amount of vegetable residue and the degree of moisture retention substantially decreased, indicating a negative correlation between damage and hardness. Moreover, HPP pretreatment require a short processing time then FT, which promoted the penetration of enzymes and the internal microstructural biodegradation of vegetables, and it also helped these vegetables release more soluble nutrients. Overall, HPP can be used with enzymatic impregnation to obtain texture-modified vegetables for older consumers with mastication difficulties. HHP assisted Viscozyme L enzyme homogeneous permeation and fibrous tissue hydrolysis. [Display omitted] • High pressure processing (HPP) promotes enzyme impregnation into vegetables. • HPP with enzymatic impregnation decreased hardness of carrot and broccoli. • Scanning electron microscope showed that HPP induces physical damage to vegetables. • HPP with enzymatic impregnation helps release nutrients within vegetable cells. • HPP with enzymatic impregnation can be used to develop softened vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrared-to-visible transparent upconverter offers an appealing prospect of demonstrating in situ invisible information without interfering with the intrinsic vision of human eyes. However, previous studies required high operational voltage for visible light emission failing to meet the prerequisite of practical application. Here, we report an organic upconversion device composed of a single photoactive material ClAlPc for sensing infrared light and subsequent visualization by BCzPh:CN-T2T exciplex co-hosted phosphorescent light-emitting diode. Incident NIR signal (λ max at 780 nm) is upconverted into visible light emission (λ max at 523 nm) under an onset bias voltage of merely 1.7 V by the virtue of barrier-less bipolar exciplex design. Particularly, the device exhibits linear dynamic luminance toward NIR power density down to 34 μW/cm2 and real-time response to frequency-modulated NIR signal up to 10 kHz. By comprising a transparent multilayered electrode for see-through upconverter, a high-quality infrared visual image with a maximum resolution of 1588 dpi is demonstrated. This work demonstrates the practical realization of a device that can feasibly upconvert infrared (780 nm) signal to visible (523 nm) image with a low bias voltage at 1.7 V. The upconversion was achieved by the collaboration between an infrared photodetector with a single-component photoactive material ClAlPc and an OLED device with Ir(ppy) 2 (acac) as emitter dispersed in an exciplex-forming co-host system of BCzPh:CN-T2T. [Display omitted] • A single-component photoactive layer is introduced without bulk heterojunction design. • Barrier-free bipolar exciplex co-host system facilitates charge recombination under low external bias. • Infrared-to-visible upconversion process is fulfilled at 1.7 V bias voltage. • All-organic upconvertor shows linear dynamic sensitivity toward infrared intensity down to 34 μW/cm2. • An infrared visual image with a maximum resolution of 1588 dpi is realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: One of the critical issues in test blanket module (TBM) system is to reduce tritium permeation from Pb–Li into the water/helium coolant. Use of alumina coating is one of the most promising methods to solve this problem. In the present study, well-adhered alumina coatings on ferritic steel substrates were prepared by the sol–gel method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field-emission scanning electron microscope (FSEM) were employed to identify the phase and examine the microstructure of the coating. The coating prepared at 500°C is amorphous, while that prepared at 650°C is γ-Al2O3. When calcination temperature is elevated to 1100°C, α-Al2O3 is formed. The surface of the well-adhered coating was smooth and uniform. No spallations and cracks were observed in the coating or at the scale/alloy interface. The grain size of the coating remains very small even at 1100°C (in the range 30–40nm for 1100°C). The thickness of the coating can be controlled by changing aging time and the number of dipping cycles. The flexibility to coat complex geometries by this method, even inside tubes, is guaranteed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A straight capillary model is developed to estimate the mass leak rate of the cast ceramic tape seals for planar solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), which is further rectified with consideration of microstructure complexity including the tortuosity, cross-section variation and cross-link of leak paths. The size distribution of the leak path, effective porosity and the microstructure complexity are the main factors that influence the leak rate of the cast tape seals. According to the model, Al2O3 powders are selected for preparation of the seals by tape casting, and the leak rate is evaluated under various compressive stresses and gauge pressures. The results indicate that Al2O3 powder with D 50 value about 2μm and specific surface area near 5m2 g−1 can be used for the cast tape seals; and the obtained leak rate can satisfy the allowable leak limit. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, a three dimensional model is constructed to investigate the flow distributions and the pressure variations for a 40-cell solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to optimize the design parameters of external manifold in the stack. The model consists of equations for the network with chamber structure of manifold. Simulation results indicate that the flow uniformity strongly depends on geometric shapes of manifold, including the joined position between tube and manifold, the dimension of manifold and the number of tubes. The ratio of flow velocity which describes the uniformity of flow distribution can be decreased by optimizing the geometrical structure of manifolds. In addition, it is found that the flow distribution can be intensively influenced by the gas resistance of the stack, which is closely related to the configuration of interconnect channels. The results summarize the importance of structure design of external manifold for stack performance. The numerical results are in good agreement with the experimental measurement in a 40-cell stack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Flash vacuum pyrolyses and photolyses of 2-methylthio-N-(arenylidene)anilines 2a–h are new and convenient methods for the syntheses of 2-arylbenzothiazoles 1a–h. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • HHP promoting the conversion process in the myrosinase–glucosinolate system. • SEM showed that HPP induces cellular damage to radish. • HHP modify physiochemical characteristics, and decrease microbial risk. • HHP has the potential for application in the vegetable pickle processing. The myrosinase-glucosinolate system, physicochemical properties, and bacterial community were profiled during fermentation of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) pretreated brine-pickled radishes; traditionally brine-pickled radishes were utilised as the control. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed that 300 MPa pretreatment promoted brine infiltration in radish cells and damaged cellular microstructures, which activated the myrosinase-glucosinolate system. The conversion of glucosinolate (GLs) to isothiocyanates (ITC) increased and significantly enhanced the raphasatin and sulforaphene contents of pickled radish. However, 600 MPa pretreatment suppressed myrosinase activity. HHP pretreatment altered the natural radish bacterial communities by reducing the total bacterial and lactic acid bacteria counts. Lactobacillus spp. became the dominant bacterial genus within 15 d of fermentation. However, the destruction of cellular structures by HHP pretreatment also significantly decreased hardness and caused the dissolution of amino acids and TTA into brine. This caused reduced amino acid and TTA contents compared to the control group, as well as decreases in pH. HHP pretreatment suppressed the growth of spoilage bacteria (e.g. Pseudomonas , Staphylococcus , and Shewanella genera). This study provides new insight into the potential applications of HHP treatment in pickling, as it demonstrates that HHP can increase the ITC conversion rate of pickled radish, modify its physiochemical characteristics, and decrease microbial risk. Therefore, HHP is a promising preprocessing technique to be used for pickle manufacturing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the performance of SUS 430 alloy as a metallic interconnect material for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell (IT-SOFC), a low-cost and Cr-free spinel coating of MnCu0.5Co1.5O4 on SUS430 alloy substrate by sol-gel method is studied. MnCu0.5Co1.5O4 coated SUS430 alloy is evaluated in the simulated reducing (anode) and oxidizing (cathode) SOFC working environments at 750 °C for 1000 h about the microstructure, oxidation resistance and electrical conductivity. The result confirms that the spinel coating shows electrical conductivity of 105.5 S cm−1 at 750 °C in air and an average CET value of 12.27 × 10−6 K−1 at temperature range of 20-1000 °C. The coating layer is identified as MnCu0.5Co1.5O4 in cathode, and MnO, Cu and Co in anode atmosphere. And the thickness of the oxidized scale is around 7-8 μm after 1000 h of oxidation in both situations. The dense coating layer is effective in blocking the Cr migration/transport and depressing the growth of Cr2O3 and formation of MnCr2O4. In cathode atmosphere, the oxidation kinetics obeys the parabolic law with a rate constant as low as 1.77 × 10−15 g² cm−4 s−1 and the ASR contributed by the oxide scale is 0.3 mΩ cm². In anode atmosphere, the Δm/A of MnCu0.5Co1.5O4 coated SUS430 alloy is 0.2 mg cm−2 for 1000 h. Generally, the overall performance of the MnCu0.5Co1.5O4 coated SUS430 alloy is superior to those of bare SUS430 and other ferritic candidate alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the present work, novel composites for hydrogen storage were prepared by two-step re-melting and their activation characteristic and microstructure were investigated. The influence of content on the activation characteristics was analyzed by electrochemical method. With the increasing content of , activation characteristics and maximum discharge capacities of composites increase first and then decrease. The composite with 5% has the least cycle number for activation and the highest discharge capacity. It is activated after only 6 cycles at room temperature and its maximum discharge capacity reaches 274.4mAh/g. However, the composite contained 30wt% is difficult to be activated at room temperature. It is also found that it is easier to be activated for the composites at and than that at and , but their discharge capacity decay slightly at the condition of and . The XRD and SEM analysis show that, with the increasing content, the microstructure of the composites varies gradually from lamellar , acicular to massive , and the activity of the composite declines as a result of the grain size of phase grows up. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]