Non-destructive quality evaluation of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) seeds using LED-induced hyperspectral reflectance imaging.

In this study, we developed a viability evaluation method for pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) seeds based on hyperspectral reflectance imaging. The reflectance spectra of pepper seeds in the 400-700 nm range are collected from hyperspectral reflectance images obtained using blue, green, and red LED illumination. A partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model is developed to classify viable and non-viable seeds. Four spectral ranges generated with four types of LEDs (blue, green, red, and RGB), which were pretreated using various methods, are investigated to develop the classification models. The optimal PLS-DA model based on the standard normal variate for RGB LED illumination (400-700 nm) yields discrimination accuracies of 96.7% and 99.4% for viable seeds and nonviable seeds, respectively. The use of images based on the PLS-DA model with the first-order derivative of a 31.5-nm gap for red LED illumination (600-700 nm) yields 100% discrimination accuracy for both viable and nonviable seeds. The results indicate that a hyperspectral imaging technique based on LED light can be potentially applied to high-quality pepper seed sorting.

Surfactant-Driven Dynamic Changes in Rheology of Activated Carbon Slurry Electrodes.

Carbon black slurry electrodes are an effective means to improve flow battery performance by increasing the active surface area necessary for electrochemical reactions with a cost-effective material. Current challenges with this specific flow battery chemistry include the stability and flowability of the carbon black suspensions, especially in response to formulation choices. Advancing the manufacturing, operation, and performance of these redox flow batteries requires a deeper understanding of how slurry formulation impacts its rheological profile and ultimately battery performance. In response to this need, the linear and nonlinear rheological responses of activated carbon (AC) based slurry electrode materials used in an all-iron flow battery in the presence of a nonionic surfactant (Triton X-100) were measured. Results from these measurements show the slurry is a colloidal gel with elasticity remaining constant despite increasing surfactant concentration until α (= Csurf/CAC) < 0.65. However, at α ≥ 0.65, the slurry abruptly transitions to a fluid with no measurable yield stress. This critical surfactant concentration at which the rheological profile undergoes a dynamic change matches the concentration found previously for gel collapse of this system. Moreover, this transition is accompanied by a complete loss of electrical conductivity. From these data we conclude the site specific adsorption of surfactant molecules often used in slurry formulation has a significant and dramatic impact on the stability and flowability of these suspensions. Work presented herein demonstrates the importance of additive choices when formulating a slurry electrode.

Surfactant induced catastrophic collapse of carbon black suspensions used in flow battery application.

HYPOTHESIS: Carbon black particles act as electronically conductive additives in the slurry electrodes used in electrochemical redox flow batteries. Modifying the carbon black slurry formulation with the addition of a nonionic surfactant could impart improved particle dispersion, gravitational stability, and flowability leading to better battery performance. EXPERIMENTS: Carbon black particles were dispersed in 1 M H2SO4 with volume fractions Φ = 0.01 to 0.06 and a nonionic surfactant (Triton X-100) concentration of csurf. = 0, 0.05, and 0.1 M. Particle size was characterized using microscopy and surfactant adsorption using UV-vis spectroscopy. Sedimentation kinetics was measured using a custom camera set-up that tracks the height of the settling particle bed. Rheology experiments were conducted to measure linear viscoelasticity and shear flow behavior. FINDINGS: The sedimentation dynamics of the slurry resembled that of a gel collapse. At short times we observed fast sedimentation associated with structural gel collapse and at long times very slow sedimentation associated with compaction of the sediment. Rheological investigations revealed that the slurry indeed behaved like colloidal gels. Addition of nonionic surfactant at α (= (csurf./cCB)) < 0.75 improved particle dispersion and increased gel elasticity. However, α> 0.75 led to a weaker gel that exhibits a fast 'catastrophic collapse' under gravity.

Development of Precipitation-Strengthened Al0.8NbTiVM (M = Co, Ni) Light-Weight Refractory High-Entropy Alloys.

Single-phase solid-solution refractory high-entropy alloys (RHEAs) have been receiving significant attention due to their excellent mechanical properties and phase stability at elevated temperatures. Recently, many studies have been reported regarding the precipitation-enhanced alloy design strategy to further improve the mechanical properties of RHEAs at elevated temperatures. In this study, we attempted to develop precipitation-hardened light-weight RHEAs via addition of Ni or Co into Al0.8NbTiV HEA. The added elements were selected due to their smaller atomic radius and larger mixing enthalpy, which is known to stimulate the formation of precipitates. The addition of the Ni or Co leads to the formation of the sigma precipitates with homogeneous distribution. The formation and homogeneous distribution of sigma particles plays a critical role in improvement of yield strength. Furthermore, the Al0.8NbTiVM0.2 (M = Co, Ni) HEAs show excellent specific yield strength compared to single-phase AlNbTiV and NbTiVZr RHEA alloys and conventional Ni-based superalloy (Inconel 718) at elevated temperatures.

Vis/NIR hyperspectral imaging distinguishes sub-population, production environment, and physicochemical grain properties in rice.

Rice grain quality is a multifaceted quantitative trait that impacts crop value and is influenced by multiple genetic and environmental factors. Chemical, physical, and visual analyses are the standard methods for measuring grain quality. In this study, we evaluated high-throughput hyperspectral imaging for quantification of rice grain quality and classification of grain samples by genetic sub-population and production environment. Whole grain rice samples from the USDA mini-core collection grown in multiple locations were evaluated using hyperspectral imaging and compared with results from standard phenotyping. Loci associated with hyperspectral values were mapped in the mini-core with 3.2 million SNPs in a genome-wide association study (GWAS). Our results show that visible and near infra-red (Vis/NIR) spectroscopy can classify rice according to sub-population and production environment based on differences in physicochemical grain properties. The 702-900 nm range of the NIR spectrum was associated with the chalky grain trait. GWAS revealed that grain chalk and hyperspectral variation share genomic regions containing several plausible candidate genes for grain chalkiness. Hyperspectral quantification of grain chalk was validated using a segregating bi-parental mapping population. These results indicate that Vis/NIR can be used for non-destructive high throughput phenotyping of grain chalk and potentially other grain quality properties.

Improvement of atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mice by topical application of CpG phosphodiester-ODN.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with pruritic and eczematous lesions characterized by increased total IgE level, inflammatory cell infiltration, and the elevated expression of Th2 cytokines. Synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides containing unmethylated CpG dinucleotides are known to have immunostimulatory activities in mice and to convert from Th2 to Th1 immune responses in AD. Previous work has shown clinical effectiveness of CpG phosphorothioate-ODN in AD mice model. However, due to longer in vivo half-life and the possibility of causing unwanted side effects, therapeutic use of CpG phosphorothioate-ODN can be limited. Thus, we investigated the efficacy of CpG phosphodiester-ODN with a novel sequence in NC/Nga mice. Topical application of phosphodiester-ODN penetrated rapidly from epidermis to the lymph nodes, accompanied by reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells and decreased number of cells expressing cytokines such as IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-gamma. Furthermore, the expression of IFN-gamma was reduced in the CpG ODNs-treated NC/Nga mice while the expression of IL-12p40 was increased, suggesting stimulation of Th1 immune response. The expression of IL-10 was strongly reduced, which meant the suppression of Th2 immune response in NC/Nga mice, accompanied by reduced level of IgE and IgG1, but increased level of IgG2a in sera. Since phosphodiester-ODN has been shown to cause minimum side effect comparing its phosphorothioate counterpart, it is proposed to become a new therapeutic modality for AD.

Enhanced Raman spectroscopic discrimination of the geographical origins of rice samples via transmission spectral collection through packed grains.

Transmission Raman spectroscopy has been effectively utilized for the discrimination of rice samples according to geographical origin. Since the constituents of rice are heterogeneously distributed and/or localized in a grain, the collection of Raman spectra providing a better compositional representation of packed rice grains is an essential requirement for accurate analysis. The optimal packing thickness yielding the most reproducible transmission spectra was initially determined. Internal propagation of radiation was more sensitively influenced by random packing when a packing was thinner; while, a thicker packing largely attenuated transmitting Raman signal and eventually degraded the signal-to-noise ratio of collected spectra. At the determined packing thickness, transmission spectra of all rice samples were collected, and discrimination into two different geographical origins was performed using principal component analysis (PCA) combined with linear discriminant analysis (LDA). For comparison, back-scattering Raman spectra of the same samples were also collected. The discrimination accuracy was improved when Raman spectra collected directly through the packed rice grains were used. Since the constituents of rice were not homogeneously distributed in a grain as confirmed using Raman microscopy, the transmission measurement enabling transversal sampling across a packing of rice grains was better for compositional representation of individual grains in the packing and able to recognize minute spectral differences between two groups, ultimately leading to more accurate discrimination of geographical origin.

Variovorax ginsengisoli sp. nov., a denitrifying bacterium isolated from soil of a ginseng field.

A Gram-negative, aerobic or facultatively anaerobic, non-spore-forming, motile, rod-shaped bacterium (strain Gsoil 3165(T)) was isolated from soil of a ginseng field in Pocheon, South Korea. Its taxonomic position was determined by using a polyphasic approach. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain Gsoil 3165(T) was shown to belong to the family Comamonadaceae, class Betaproteobacteria, and was related most closely to the type strains of Variovorax boronicumulans (98.9 % similarity), Variovorax paradoxus (98.3 %), Variovorax soli (98.2 %) and Variovorax dokdonensis (96.6 %). Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain Gsoil 3165(T) and the type strains of other species in the family Comamonadaceae were less than 97.0 %. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain Gsoil 3165(T) was 66 mol%. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data (Q-8 as the major ubiquinone; C(16 : 0) and C(17 : 0) cyclo as major fatty acids) supported the affiliation of strain Gsoil 3165(T) to the genus Variovorax. The results of physiological and biochemical tests allowed the genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain Gsoil 3165(T) from recognized Variovorax species. Gsoil 3165(T) is therefore considered to represent a novel species of the genus Variovorax, for which the name Variovorax ginsengisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Gsoil 3165(T) (=KCTC 12583(T) =LMG 23392(T)).