Association between duration of obesity and risk of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The Sotetsu Study

The authors investigated the association between duration of obesity (ordinary obesity as body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2) > or = 25.0 and extreme obesity as BMI > or = 27.8) and the risk of diabetes mellitus. Male employees of a railway company, aged 30 years or older, observed for 10 years or more, free from serious disease conditions, with initial BMI <25.0, aged 30 years or more at the time diabetes was diagnosed, and with complete data, were examined by univariate and multivariate analyses (n = 1,598). Age-adjusted odds ratios for diabetes were significantly increased among males who were obese for 10-19.9 years and >20 years (odds ratios = 2.10 and 2.84 for ordinary obesity and 6.14 and 4.15 for extreme obesity, respectively). Additional adjustment for current obesity, physical activity, smoking, drinking, family history, and observation period did not change the findings remarkably. In conclusion, > or = 10 years duration of ordinary obesity or > or = 1 year of extreme obesity was an important predictor for diabetes independent of age, current obesity, physical activity, smoking, drinking, family history, and observation period.     

A case of unilateral gustatory disturbance produced by the contralateral midbrain lesion

We reported a case of unilateral gustatory disturbance produced by a lesion in the contralateral midbrain. A 37-year-old man first noticed dysesthesia in the left side of his face. Later, the patient developed dysesthesia of the left part of the lip, muscular weakness on the left lower extremity and gustatory disturbance on the left side. MR scan disclosed a lesion in the tegmentum of the right midbrain, which showed low intensity on a T1-weighted image and high intensity on a T2-weighted image. This lesion could be due to multiple sclerosis. This case suggests that the unilateral gustatory information ascends via the contralateral pathway at the midbrain level. It is suggested that the central gustatory pathways above the ipsilateral pontine taste are ascend via the contralateral projections to the thalamic taste area (parvicellular portion of the ventral posteromedial thalamic nucleus, VPMpc).     

Electrode heat balances of electrochemical cells: application to NaCl electrolysis

This paper deals with a method of estimating single electrode heat balances during the electrolysis of molten NaCl-ZnCl₂ in a cell using a-alumina diaphragm. By measuring the thermoelectric power of the thermogalvanic cells: (T) Na/-alumina/NaCl-ZnCl₂/-alumina/Na(T+dT) and (T) C,Cl₂/NaCl-ZnCl₂/Cl₂,C(T+dT) the single electrode Peltier heat for sodium deposition and for chlorine evolution at 370° C were estimated to be –0.026±0.001 JC^–1 and+0.614±0.096 J C^–1, respectively.     

Fusarium toxins in wheat from an area in Henan Province, PR China, with a previous human red mould intoxication episode.

Wheat samples of the 1998 and 1999 crops from Puyang, an area in Henan Province, PR China with a previous human red mould intoxication episode, were analysed for trichothecenes and zearalenone (ZEA). For the 1998 Puyang crop, deoxynivalenol (DON) was the predominant toxin detected abundantly and frequently at a level of up to 14,000 microg kg(-1) (mean 2850 microgkg(-1)) in 30 of 31 (97%) wheat samples. Among these were 21 (70%) with a DON level that exceeded the Chinese regulation of 1,000 microg kg(-1). Nivalenol (NIV) and 15-acetyl-DON (15-ADON) were also found at 578 microg kg(-1) (one sample) and 59-1,800 microg kg(-1) (mean 365 microg kg(-1), 20 samples), respectively. ZEA co-occurred in 21 samples at 9-1,400 microg kg(-1) (mean 209 microg kg(-1)). Twenty-five (89%) wheat samples from Zhumadian, a region without a history of human red mould intoxication in the same province, contained low levels of DON (53-1240, mean 223 microg kg(-1)) with seven (25%) co-contaminated with ZEA (10-217, mean 108 microg kg(-1)). All were free from 15-ADON and NIV. Significant differences in DON, 15-ADON and ZEA concentrations between both areas were found. DON (<1000 microg kg(-1)) and ZEA (5-111 microg kg(-1)) were also detected in the 1999 Puyang wheat. Proper environmental conditions for Fusarium species surviving winter combined with unusual high precipitation during wheat flowering were responsible for a high concentration of Fusarium mycotoxins in the 1998 Puyang wheat.     

Excretion of deoxynivalenol and its metabolite in milk, urine, and feces of lactating dairy cows

Corn contaminated with deoxynivalenol was added to the diets of three dairy cows for 5 d and milk, urine, and 3 d following feeding of the diets. Dietary concentrations of deoxynivalenol averaged 66 mg/kg. Following exposure to deoxynivalenol, unconjugated deepoxydeoxynivalenol, a metabolite of deoxynivalenol, was present in milk at concentrations up to 26 ng/ml. Deoxynivalenol was not detected in the milk. Approximately 20% of the deoxynivalenol fed was recovered in the urine and feces in the unconjugated forms as deepoxydeoxynivalenol (96%) and deoxynivalenol (4%). After incubating urine with beta-glucuronidase, the concentration of unconjugated deepoxydeoxynivalenol increased by 7 to 15-fold whereas unconjugated deoxynivalenol increased 1.6 to 3-fold. Detectable concentrations of unconjugated deepoxydeoxynivalenol were found in urine and feces up to 72 h after the last oral exposure. Thus, urine and feces are the diagnostic specimens of choice for the determination of deoxynivalenol exposure in cows. Feeding deoxynivalenol-contaminated diets for 5 d did not alter feed intake or milk production nor were the milk concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, magnesium, or nitrogen altered.     

Crack profiles under a Vickers indent in silicon nitride ceramics with various microstructures

The effect of microstructure on crack morphology under a Vickers indentation was studied using 20 various silicon nitride ceramics including bearing-grade silicon nitrides. The indentation load was decreased from 98 N to 9.8 N and a transition of the crack types from half-penny crack to radial one was observed with both decoration method and serial sectioning technique. All of the indented samples possessed the half-penny cracks at the load of 98 N. The transition of crack profiles in the samples with coarse microstructure occurred when the load decreased from 49 N to 19.6 N, whereas the transition load for the sample with fine microstructure was ～9.8 N. Half-penny cracks were formed regardless of the microstructures when the ratio of the half of crack length to the half of diagonal size of an indentation, c/a, was above ～2. The dependence of the transition load on both Vickers hardness and fracture resistances was analyzed using Pajares's equation.     

Fabrication of Highly Porous Silica Thermal Insulators Prepared by Gelation–Freezing Route

Highly porous silica thermal insulators were produced by gelation of a gelatin solution with dispersed silica particles, followed by freeze‐drying and heating at 800°C. The relationship between the ice‐template morphology and the parameters involved in gelation freezing was investigated, in addition to the effect of the microstructure on the thermal conductivity of the silica insulators. The porosity and thermal conductivity of the insulators ranged from 88 to 98 vol% and from 0.168 to 0.054 W (m·K)^?1, respectively, both of which could be controlled by changing the silica content in the gel stage. Gelation–freezing route was proved to be a feasible and promising route for the production of very highly porous, machinable insulators.