Low density lipoprotein receptor mRNA in rat liver is affected by resistant starch of beans

The effects of resistant starches of beans on serum cholesterol and hepatic low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor mRNA in rats were investigated. Rats were fed a cholesterol-free diet with 150 g/kg corn starch (CS), 150g/kg adzuki (Vigna angularis) starch (AS), 150 g/kg kintoki (Phaseolus vulgaris, variety) starch (KS), or 150 g/kg tebou (P. vulgaris, variety) starch (TS) for 4 wk. There were no significant differences in body weight among groups through the experimental period. The liver weight in the CS group was 1.1–1.2 times higher than that in the AS, KS, and TS groups. The cecum weight in the TS was 1.4 times higher than that in the CS group, and the cecal pH in the CS group was significantly higher than in the other groups. The serum total cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein + intermediate density lipoprotein +LDL-cholesterol and high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol concentrations in the bean starch groups were significantly lower than those in the CS group through the feeding period. The total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio in the bean starch groups was also significantly lower than that in the CS group at the end of the 4-wk feeding period. The hepatic cholesterol concentration in the TS group was significantly higher than in the CS group at the end of the 4-wk feeding period. The relative quantity of hepatic apo B mRNA in the AS group was 1.2 times higher than that in the CS group, and the hepatic LDL receptor mRNA levels in the AS and TS groups were 1.8–2.0 times higher than that in the CS group. The results of this study demonstrate that AS, KS, and TS lowered the serum total cholesterol level by enhancing the hepatic LDL receptor mRNA level.     

Unusual minor nonmethylene-interrupted di-, tri-, and tetraenoic fatty acids in limpet gonads

Unusual minor nonmethylene-interrupted (NMI) FA have been identified in the lipids of gonads from the limpets Cellana grata and Collisella dorsuosa by using GC-MS of the combination of their 4,4-dimethyloxazoline derivatives and picolinyl esters. Among 23 NMI unsaturated FA from C₁₈ to C₂₂ and C₂₄ identified in this study, 5,11-nonadecadienoic (5,11-19∶2), 7,16-heneicosadienoic (7,16–21∶2), 9,15-tetracosadienoic (9,15–24∶2), 5,9,15-docosatrienoic (5,9,15–22∶3), and 5,9,15-tetracosatrienoic (5,9,15–24∶3) acids may not have been reported previously from living organisms. The presence of 5,11,14,17-eicosatetraenonoic (5,11,14,17–20∶4) and 7,13,16,19-docosatetraenenoic (7,13,16,19–22∶4) acids as FA components in marine mollusks may be reported here for the first time. In this study, the male and female gonads of both species showed distinct differences in both their composition and proportions of NMI FA. Most NMI FA identified were mainly present in the female gonads of both species, especially in TAG that contained 21 NMI FA.     

Synthesis of a new class of cyclometallated ruthenium(II) complexes and their application in dye-sensitized solar cells

We synthesized a new class of cyclometallated ruthenium(II) complexes, Ru(tctpy)(C^N)(NCS) (1, 2), where C^N is a bidentate cyclometallating ligand such as 2-phenylpyridinato or 2-(4-(2-phenylethynyl)phenyl)pyridinato. Although these complexes exist as stereoisomers, the microwave synthetic technique yielded only one isomer. These compounds act as light sensitizers and have excellent light-harvesting properties, especially in the near-IR region. Therefore, they can be used in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). A DSC sensitized with 2 shows a 10% incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency at 900 nm.     

Heat Transfer of Supercritical CO2 Flow in Natural Convection Circulation System

Measurements are reported of heat transfer to supercritical carbon dioxide (SCD) flow in a natural convection circulation system that consists of a closed-loop circular pipe. Systematic data of heat transfer coefficients are given for various pressures and pipe diameters. Heat transfer coefficients of SCD flow are confirmed to be very much higher than those of usually encountered fluid flow and are shown to be expressed by a nondimensional correlation equation proposed in this work. Numerical model calculations are also presented for the velocity and temperature distributions in SCD flow to elucidate the exceedingly high value of heat transfer coefficient. The heat transfer enhancement of SCD is concluded to result from the high-speed flow near the pipe wall. This strong flow is shown to have velocity and temperature gradients steep enough to cause the enhancement of the rate of heat transfer in the vicinity of the pipe wall.     

Whole-farm nitrogen balance on western dairy farms

Environmental legislation has made it necessary for livestock producers to be able to quantify and adjust the N balance on their farms. Whole-farm N balance and efficiencies were computed for 41 commercial dairies in Utah and Idaho using the University of Maryland Nutrient Balancer. The average N balance, or unaccounted for N, was 81 tonnes per year for the average herd size of 466 cows with 35.8% of the inputs accounted for in the outputs. The major inputs for farms that grew crops (n = 23, herd size = 284 total cows) were imported feed (57.4% of all inputs) and nitrogen fixation (30% of inputs). The major outputs were animal products (primarily milk and some meat, 80% of outputs). For farms that grew no crops (n = 18, herd size = 700 total cows), 98% of the inputs were from imported feed. Of the outputs, 57% of the N was in animal products and 42.9% in manure and compost. Whole-farm balance per product for those farms that grew crops was most affected by herd N utilization efficiency (kg feed N per kg product N), crop N utilization efficiency, and availability of manure N applied to crops, while manure N storage efficiency was of lesser importance. For farms that grew no crops, whole-farm N balance per product was most affected by herd N utilization efficiency and manure N storage efficiency. Maximizing conversion of feed N to product N was the best way to reduce whole-farm N balance.