Isolation and structure determination of cassumunarins A,B, and C: New anti-inflammatory antioxidants from a tropical ginger,Zingiber cassumunar

New antioxidants, cassumunarins A, B, and C, were isolated from the rhizomes ofZingiber cassumunar, and the structures were determined by spectroscopic methods to be complex curcuminoids. The antixidant efficiency of cassumunarins was determined by inhibitory activity of autoxidation of linoleic acid in a buffer-ethanol system. The anti-inflammatory effect was measured by inhibition of edema formation on mouse ear induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. Both types of activities were stronger for the cassumunarins than for the curcumin. Visiting scholar at University of Texas (October 1992–September 1993).     

Immunological characterisation of barley polypeptides in lager foam

Eight monoclonal antibodies (mAb) recognising barley polypeptides have been identified from a library developed to wheat prolamins. The specificity or the mAb has been determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting. Six were of broad specificity, recognising D, B, C and γ-hordeins to varying degrees by both techniques. IFRN 0610 preferentially recognised γ-hordeins by ELISA but was highly specific for this hordein group by immunoblotting. Another mAb, IFRN 0624, bound to a M_r ∽ 18000 polypeptide belonging to the CM protein (trypsin/α-amylase inhibitor) family by immunoblotting. This, or a related protein, was detected by 0624 in all hordein fractions using ELISA. These mAb, together with two others described previously and found to recognise the repeat motif of C hordein, were used in ELISA and immunoblot analysis of Octyl-Sepharose fractions of lager foam. Hordein polypeptides were found in all foam fractions, indicating that much foam protein originates from the malt. The CM-like protein was found present in a virtually unmodified form. In contrast, the repeat motif of C hordein was not detected, indicating that it had either been destroyed or masked by other beer constituents. The foam stabilising agent, propylene glycol alginate (PGA), increased the apparent hydrophobicity of hordein fragments suggesting that at least part of the activity of PGA is mediated by interactions with the hordein components of foam.     

Detection of norovirus RNA in bivalve molluscs by using bacteria-culture-employed method (A3T method)

Norovirus (NV) RNA has rarely been detected in foods despite the use of highly sensitive methods such as RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR. In the modified method (A3T method) reported previously, a bacterial culture process was introduced into the standard protocol for NV detection to remove some inhibitor(s) present in food ingredients. To confirm the efficiency of the A3T method and to examine NV contamination in bivalve molluscs, we tried to detect NV RNA in bivalve molluscs on the market and in oyster samples associated with foodborne outbreaks by using the standard method and the A3T method. NV RNAs were detected in 20 samples (18.0%) of 111 bivalve molluscs, including oysters, on the market by use of the A3T method, while only one sample (0.9%) was positive according to the standard method. NV RNA was also detected in 10 of 35 oyster samples related to foodborne outbreaks by the A3T method. Those results show that the A3T method is suitable for the detection of NV in bivalve molluscs in general laboratories.     

Radiochemical analysis of rubble and trees collected from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

To characterize the rubble and trees contaminated by radionuclides released by the recent accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, the radiochemical analysis protocols were modified using those developed by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency for the waste generated by research, industrial, and medical facilities. The radioactivity concentrations of gamma-ray-emitting nuclides ⁶⁰Co, ⁹⁴Nb, ¹⁵²Eu, and ¹⁵⁴Eu, and beta-particle-emitting nuclides ¹⁴C, ¹²⁹I, ³⁶Cl, ⁷⁹Se, and ⁹⁹Tc were successfully applied by the modified analytical method. In contrast, the radioactivity concentrations of ³H, ⁹⁰Sr, ¹³⁷Cs, and alpha-particle-emitting nuclides were applied by the conventional method. Unfortunately, ³⁶Cl, ⁹⁴Nb, ¹²⁹I, ¹⁵²Eu, ¹⁵⁴Eu, and alpha-particle-emitting nuclides were below the detection limit of the conventional method. The measured radioactivity concentrations, except for that of ³H, were not uniform in the area but depended on the reactor unit. Although the radioactivity concentrations were varied widely, this analysis successfully clarified the characteristics of the radioactivity concentrations of the rubble and trees.     

Surface temperature of Pd/C catalyst under microwave irradiation in dechlorination process of PCBs

In recent years, a new effective method of processing for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has been developed: It enables PCBs to become harmless by dechlorinating them using a 2.45 GHz microwave (MW). Compared with conventional thermal heating, MW processing hardly produces any harmful byproduct materials, and has high reaction velocity. To investigate such promotion of chemical reaction by MW irradiation, the surface temperature of the catalyst is measured by an infrared camera just after the irradiation by MW. It is recognized that there are some heated regions on the catalyst and the temperature is not uniform. It is natural to say that chemical reaction is promoted well on such a heated region. Copyright © 2009 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Dielectrics loss of PCBs leading to microwave heating

A new effective processing for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has been recently developed. PCBs become harmless by dechlorination using 2.45 GHz-microwave (MW). To investigate such chemical reaction by MW irradiation, the dielectric loss of pure PCBs solutions and an isomer mixture in MW band is measured. Some PCBs and isopropyl alchol, added as a source of hydrogen supply have high dielectric loss in MW band. This suggests that MW heats PCBs and isopropyl alchol, and then the temperature of the solvent consisting mainly of insulating oil rises by the thermal conduction. Copyright © 2009 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Effect of shear thinning on aspiration – Toward making solutions for judging the risk of aspiration

Polysaccharide solutions containing a contrast medium were prepared so that their viscosity at 50 s⁻¹, which was reported as a shear rate in the oral cavity, is the same but different at other shear rates. Preparation procedure of such solutions based on heat treatment using widely used polysaccharides in foods is described, and the rheological properties of these solutions are discussed in relation with flow behaviours in the swallowing process. Videofluorographic observation was performed for healthy persons and patients and compared with rheological characteristics of these solutions to understand the mechanism of aspiration. It was shown that the degree of aspiration depended on the degree of shear thinning of polysaccharide solutions. This study showed the possibility to find what kind of fluid induces the aspiration and to reduce the risk of aspiration in dysphagic patients by controlling the food rheology.     

Synthesis and Preliminary Evaluation of 11C-Labeled VU0467485/AZ13713945 and Its Analogues for Imaging Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor Subtype 4

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) have five distinct subunits (M₁–M₅) and are involved in the action of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the central and peripheral nervous system. Attributed to the promising clinical efficacy of xanomeline, an M₁/M₄-preferring agonist, in patients of schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease, M₁- or M₄-selective mAChR modulators have been developed that target the topographically distinct allosteric sites. Herein we report the synthesis and preliminary evaluation of ¹¹C-labeled positron emission tomography (PET) ligands based on a validated M₄R positive allosteric modulator VU0467485 (AZ13713945) to facilitate drug discovery. [¹¹C]VU0467485 and two other ligands were prepared in high radiochemical yields (>30 %, decay-corrected) with high radiochemical purity (>99 %) and high molar activity (>74 GBq μmol⁻¹). In vitro autoradiography studies indicated that these three ligands possess moderate-to-high in vitro specific binding to M₄R. Nevertheless, further physiochemical property optimization is necessary to overcome the challenges associated with limited brain permeability.     

A Hydrogen Management Method in Residential Distributed Generation Systems with Photovoltaic Cells and Hydrogen‐Storage Type Fuel Cells

Recently, renewable energy has been attracting attention as a result of global warming and the depletion of fossil fuels. Photovoltaic (PV) systems have spread rapidly around the world because they generate electric power quietly and can be installed in many places. The output power generated in a PV system fluctuates with changes in solar irradiance and panel temperature. The reverse flow of surplus power in output spikes may have a negative effect on electric power quality, such as on the frequency and voltage in a power system. A residential distributed generation (DG) system composed of a fuel cell (FC) unit, an electrolyzer (EL) unit, and a PV system has been proposed in order to resolve these problems. In order to operate this system without interruption, the hydrogen storage volume must be managed. This paper proposes a novel hydrogen management method for a residential DG system with PV cells and hydrogen‐storage type FCs. The hydrogen storage volume is maintained at the preset frequency by operating the FC unit and the EL unit. Models of the PV, FC, and EL were constructed for a simulation. In the simulation, we showed that the proposed management method is viable for a residential DG system with PV cells and hydrogen‐storage FCs.