Bacteriological characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from humans and bulk milk

The aim of this study was to clarify the epidemiological association and bacteriological characteristics of human and animal Staphylococcus aureus isolates. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed that pulsotypes (PT) of isolates from bulk milk differed from PT from human isolates, suggesting that there is no epidemiological association between isolates from these 2 sources. The absence of a common PT could result from the lack of contact between the sources. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus from human secretions and S. aureus from bulk milk in Japan consisted of 1 and 2 dominant clusters, respectively, whereas methicillin-susceptible S. aureus from humans consisted of assorted clusters. Isolates belonging to the dominant clusters showed the coagulase serotype, the capsule serotype, detection of exotoxin genes, and antimicrobial susceptibility. Isolates from bulk milk did not show the penicillin-binding protein 2a gene, and 252 of 275 isolates belonging to the 2 dominant clusters of bulk milk were susceptible to ampicillin, cefazolin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, oxacillin, and vancomycin. Moreover, the LukM/LukF′-PV leukotoxin gene was detected in 233 of 275 isolates belonging to the dominant clusters in bulk milk isolates. These results support the hypothesis that a number of factors play a role in the adaptation of S. aureus isolates to specific hosts.     

Effects of water-soluble soybean polysaccharide on rheological properties,stability and lipid digestibility of oil-in-water emulsion during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion

Water-soluble soybean polysaccharide (SSPS) is a naturally occurring emulsifier. SSPS was used as the sole emulsifier to stabilize an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion. The effects were investigated of different SSPS concentrations (3–20% (w/w)) on the lipid digestibility, rheological properties and stability of O/W emulsions during in vitro digestion model. The droplet size of the emulsions tended to increase during the oral phase because the emulsions were unstable and droplets coalesced, except with a SSPS concentration of 20% (w/w). The presence of SSPS markedly reduced the free fatty acid (FFA) content after its stabilized O/W emulsion passed through in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. The amount of FFA significantly decreased as the concentration of SSPS increased due to SSPS stabilization film on oil droplet surface and high viscous system. SSPS may be an attractive alternative ingredient to control the lipid digestibility of emulsions for various food products.     

In vitro construction and screening of a Burkholderia cepacia lipase library using single-molecule PCR and cell-free protein synthesis

A mutant library of Burkholderia cepacia lipase KWI-56 was constructed on microplates by a cell-free process and tested with a chromogenic assay. This high-throughput construction system can be used to screen mutant proteins based on their catalytic activity.     

A novel gene delivery system in plants with calcium alginate micro-beads

We have produced micrometer-sized calcium alginate beads referred to as "bio-beads" that encapsulate plasmid DNA molecules carrying a reporter gene. In order to evaluate the efficiency of the bio-beads in mediating genetic transfection, protoplasts isolated from cultured tobacco cells (BY-2) were transfected with bio-beads containing a plasmid that carries the modified green fluorescent protein gene CaMV35S-sGFP. With the bio-beads treatment, approximately ten-fold higher GFP expression was observed after 24 h incubation compared to that with the conventional method using a naked plasmid solution. Transfection was up to 0.22% efficient. These results indicate that bio-beads have a possibility for efficient transformation in plants.     

Reduced insulin-like growth factor-I after acute feed restriction in lactating dairy cows is independent of changes in growth hormone receptor 1A mRNA

Growth hormone receptor (GHR) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) mRNA decrease in the liver of dairy cows at parturition. Epinephrine is released and feed intake is decreased at the same time. The objective of this study was to determine whether feed restriction and (or) administration of epinephrine could recapitulate the changes in the hepatic GHR 1A and IGF-I mRNA that occur at parturition. Eight lactating cows were randomly assigned to one of two rations (ad libitum or restricted). The cows assigned to the restricted ration were fed 75, 60, 60, and 25% of feed consumed by the ad libitum cows on successive days to mimic the changes in feed intake around parturition. Liver samples were collected by needle biopsy before and after feed restriction. Cows received either 0.02 mg/kg of epinephrine or saline approximately 24 h before the second liver biopsy so that a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was created. Feed restriction increased plasma nonesterified fatty acids and liver triglyceride percentages and decreased plasma IGF-I concentrations. The decrease in plasma IGF-I after feed restriction was associated with a decrease in IGF-I mRNA in feed-restricted cows. The amount of GHR 1A mRNA did not change after feed restriction. Epinephrine treatment did not affect the amount of GHR 1A or IGF-I mRNA. We conclude that the decrease in feed intake at parturition may be partially responsible for the decrease in IGF-I but may not cause the decrease in GHR 1A.     

Prognostic predictor with multiple fuzzy neural models using expression profiles from DNA microarray for metastases of breast cancer

Gene expression profiling data from DNA microarray were analyzed using the fuzzy neural network (FNN) modeling method for predicting the distant metastases of breast cancer. The best model consisting of five genes was able to predict metastases of breast cancer with 94% accuracy. Furthermore, 100% accuracy was achieved by majoritarian decision using only 25 genes from five noninferior models which were constructed independently. From the constructed model, gene expression rules, which may cause distant metastases, were explicitly extracted and 60% of the metastases cases could be explained by this rule. The FNN modeling method described in this paper enables precise extraction of significant biological markers affecting prognosis without prior knowledge.     

Contrasting diurnal variations in fossil and nonfossil secondary organic aerosol in urban outflow, Japan

Diurnal variations of fossil secondary organic carbon (SOC) and nonfossil SOC were determined for the first time using a combination of several carbonaceous aerosol measurement techniques, including radiocarbon (1?C) determinations by accelerator mass spectrometry, and a receptor model (chemical mass balance, CMB) at a site downwind of Tokyo during the summer of 2007. Fossil SOC showed distinct diurnal variation with a maximum during daytime, whereas diurnal variation of nonfossil SOC was relatively small. This behavior was reproduced by a chemical transport model (CTM). However, the CTM underestimated the concentration of anthropogenic secondary organic aerosol (ASOA) by a factor of 4-7, suggesting that ASOA enhancement during daytime is not explained by production from volatile organic compounds that are traditionally considered major ASOA precursors. This result suggests that unidentified semivolatile organic compounds or multiphase chemistry may contribute largely to ASOA production. As our knowledge of production pathways of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is still limited, diurnal variations of fossil and nonfossil SOC in our estimate give an important experimental constraint for future development of SOA models.     

Change of the amorphous state by heat treatment below the glass transition temperature

This study was undertaken to elucidate the state of a polymer in the amorphous state through a change of motion of the molecular chain caused by heat treatment below the glass transition temperature. From dielectric measurements of amorphous poly(ethylene terephthalate) heat-treated below T_g, it was found that the average relaxation time, the distribution of relaxation time and the dielectric strength increase with increase of heat treatment. From these results, it was concluded that the amorphous state becomes more random by heat treatment.     

Survey of pesticide residues in imported frozen vegetables and fruits (1989.4~2008.3)

A survey of pesticide residues in 595 imported frozen products on the Tokyo market from April 1989 to March 2008 was carried out. Forty three kinds of pesticides, including organophosphorus, organochlorine, carbamate, pyrethroid and others, were detected between levels of trace (below 0.01 ppm) and 4.6 ppm from 162 samples. Chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin and omethoate were frequently detected in green vegetables (komatsuna leaf and spinach), cypermethrin and methamidophos were detected in pods and seeds (green soybean and string pea), chlorpropham (CIPC) was detected in potato, and captan and carbaryl were detected in berries (blueberry, raspberry and strawberry). The hydrophilic pesticide methamidophos was detected in flesh of lychee. Residue levels of these pesticides were calculated as between less than 0.5% and 30% of their ADI values according to the daily intake of frozen products. Therefore, these frozen products should be safe when they were eaten in customary amounts.