Tocopherol distribution and molecular species of triacylglycerols in soybean embryonic axes

Soybean embryonic axes were separated from other tissues, i.e., the cotyledons and seed coat. The molecular species and FA distribution of TAG isolated from total lipids in the embryonic axes were analyzed by a combination of argentation-TLC and GC, and were investigated in relation to their tocopherol distribution, which was determined by HPLC. The dominant components were γ-tocopherols, with much smaller amounts of α-, β-, and δ-tocopherols. A modified argentation-TLC procedure, developed to optimize the separation of the complex mixture of total TAG, provided 16 different groups of TAG, based on both the degree of unsaturation and the total acyl-chain length of FA groups. With a few exceptions, the major TAG components were S₂D (6.8–10.3%), SMD (6.9–11.2%), SD₂ (7.2–9.8%), SMT (3.2–7.4%), SDT (11.5–19.5%), D3 (3.5–8.3%), MDT (4.5–7.7%), D₂T (11.1–20.6%), and DT₂ (8.2–15.7%) (where S denotes saturated FA, M denotes monoenes, D denotes dienes, and T denotes trienes). These results indicate that there were significant differences (P<0.05) not only in tocopherol distribution but also in the molecular species of TAG among the four cultivars. Therefore, these tissues should be made available as raw materials for soybean-germ oil or soy milk, based on the differences in the distributions of tocopherol homologs and the molecular species of TAG within the embryonic axes.     

High rate performance of highly dispersed C60 on activated carbon capacitor

Fullerene-activated carbon composite electrodes were prepared and their charge/discharge characteristics were studied for use in a high power electric double-layer capacitor. The capacitance of the C₆₀-loaded activated carbon fiber (ACF) electrodes became greater than that of the unloaded ACF at charge/discharge current densities above 50 mA/cm². In order to obtain a highly dispersed C₆₀-loaded electrode, an ultrasonic treatment was performed. The size of the C₆₀ agglomerate decreased from 1-2 to 0.1 μm or less, and the capacitance of the C₆₀-loaded ACF electrodes increased with an increase in the ultrasonic treatment time. A higher capacitance of 172 F/g was obtained at 50 mA/cm² on a 1 wt% C₆₀-loaded electrode with ultrasonic treatment, and the C₆₀-loaded ACF electrode also showed a higher cycle performance.     

Characterization of bimetallic surface structures of highly active Rh-Sn/SiO2 catalysts for NO-H2 reaction by EXAFS

Rh-Sn/SiO₂ catalysts prepared by the reaction of (CH₃)₄Sn with Rh metal particles supported on SiO₂ have remarkably high activities for NO-H₂ reaction and NO dissociation. The bimetallic surface structure of Rh-Sn/SiO₂ composed of an isolated Rh atom surrounded by six Sn atoms, is presented by Rh K-edge and Sn K-edge EXAFS, FT-IR, TEM and CO adsorption.     

A neolignoid feeding deterrent againstLuehdorfia puziloi larvae (lepidoptera: Papilionidae) fromHeterotropa aspera,a host plant of sibling species,L. japonica

A feeding deterrent against larvae of a papilionid butterfly,Luehdorfia puziloi (Parnassiinae), a specialist onAsiasarum plants (Aristolochiaceae), was isolated from another aristolochiaceous plant,Heterotropa aspera. Antifeedant activity was exhibited by then-hexane-soluble fraction that proved to contain at least two active components. One of the deterrents was identified as a neolignan compound, asatone. The concentration of asatone inH. aspera was estimated at approximately 225 ppm, and larval feeding ofL. puziloi was significantly deterred at concentrations over 90 ppm. By contrast, asatone was not detectable (< 1 ppm, if any) in its host plant,Asiasarum sieboldii.     

k-pairwise disjoint paths routing in perfect hierarchical hypercubes

Hierarchical hypercubes (HHC), also known as cube-connected cubes, have been introduced in the literature as an interconnection network for massively parallel systems. Effectively, they can connect a large number of nodes while retaining a small diameter and a low degree compared to a hypercube of the same size. Especially (2 ^m +m)-dimensional hierarchical hypercubes ( $\mathit {HHC}_{2^{m}+m}$ ), called perfect HHCs, are popular as they are symmetrical, which is a critical property when designing routing algorithms. In this paper, we describe an algorithm finding, in an $\mathit{HHC}_{2^{m}+m}$ , mutually node-disjoint paths connecting k=?(m+1)/2? pairs of distinct nodes. This problem is known as the k-pairwise disjoint-path routing problem and is one of the important routing problems when dealing with interconnection networks. In an $\mathit{HHC}_{2^{m}+m}$ , our algorithm finds paths of lengths at most 2 ^m+1+m(2 ^m+1+1)+4 in O(2^5m ) time, where 2 ^m+1 is the diameter of an $\mathit{HHC}_{2^{m}+m}$ . Also, we have shown through an experiment that, in practice, the lengths of the generated paths are significantly lower than the worst-case theoretical estimations.     

Categorizing users in behavior change support systems based on cognitive dissonance

Most developers of behavior change support systems (BCSS) employ ad hoc procedures in their designs. This paper presents a novel discussion concerning how analyzing the relationship between attitude toward target behavior, current behavior, and attitude toward change or maintaining behavior can facilitate the design of BCSS. We describe the three-dimensional relationships between attitude and behavior (3D-RAB) model and demonstrate how it can be used to categorize users, based on variations in levels of cognitive dissonance. The proposed model seeks to provide a method for analyzing the user context on the persuasive systems design model, and it is evaluated using existing BCSS. We identified that although designers seem to address the various cognitive states, this is not done purposefully, or in a methodical fashion, which implies that many existing applications are targeting users not considered at the design phase. As a result of this work, it is suggested that designers apply the 3D-RAB model in order to design solutions for targeted users.     

Local heating effect in point-contact spectroscopy for magnetic metals of Ni and α-Mn

The current-voltage characteristics at a homojunction point-contact of ferromagnetic Ni single crystal and antiferromagnetic -phase Mn polycrystalline metal have been measured at 4.2 K. Several singularities in the first and second derivative of I–V curves are observed at specific bias voltages for both metals. Taking into account the observed temperature dependence of the bulk electrical resistivity and thermal conductivity (and thus mean free path of electrons), we have performed computer simulations of these nonlinear I–V characteristics based on a modified local heating model and compared with the results by a traditional spherical spreading-out (SSO) model. When a constant additive correction to the bulk resistivity near a contact interface is incorporated, our calculated curves are in good agreement with the experimental results.     

Application of high-resolution scanning electron microscopy to biological macromolecules

The development of ultrahigh-resolution scanning electron microscopes (SEMs) has made the observation of biological macromolecules feasible, but adequate preparation methods have not yet been established. Although it has been possible to observe some molecules after they have been spread on a carbon substrate, this method has not proved suitable for other molecules which exhibit lower contrast, or are more susceptible to damage by the electron beam. In this study we have applied heavy-metal impregnation methods using phosphotungstic acid, uranyl acetate, or osmium tetroxide mordanted by tannic acid. In addition, contamination due to the electron beam was reduced by improving the vacuum in the specimen chamber, and by the use of a heated specimen stage. Using these measures, haemocyanin, ferritin, apoferritin, thyro-globulin and immunoglobulin M were successfully imaged. Ultrahigh-resolution SEM seems likely to become an important means for studying the morphology of biological macromolecules.     

Biomarker signature in tropical wetland: lignin phenol vegetation index (LPVI) and its implications for reconstructing the paleoenvironment

Organic matter of a peat core (3.60 m, 7428 years BP) collected from Rawa Danau, west Java, Indonesia, was analyzed to evaluate the early diagenetic fates of lignin in a tropical wetland and to reconstruct past vegetation and climate changes. Vertical profiles of (Ad/Al)v, (Ad/Al)s, and lambda(8) show that the lignin composition is well preserved in a sub-aqueous environment under reducing conditions. The sedimentary terrigenous plant material at Rawa Danau is comprised predominantly of angiosperm wood. For this kind of tropical, diverse, and dynamic ecosystem, a new vegetation change index called lignin phenol vegetation index (LPVI): LPVI is defined using the lignin phenol composition. This index can sensitively detect terrestrial vegetation changes as well as environmental conditions forcing such changes. The LPVI of the Rawa Danau peat core provides better resolution than other lignin parameters used previously, and reveals four major vegetation change events since the mid-late Holocene. In comparison to other geochemical data (i.e. elemental carbon, isotopes, and hydrocarbons), the LPVI is more sensitive and is able to trace even minor vegetation and climate changes and thus could improve biogeochemical interpretations of peat records.     

Development of Lignin-Based Terpolyester Film and Its Application to Separator Material for Electric Double-Layer Capacitor

For new application of technical lignins as separator material for electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC), we tried first to prepare bipolyester film by melt-polycondensation of polyethylene glycol lignin (PEGL) and maleic anhydride. The EDLC assembled with this film, however, showed lower electrochemical performance than the reference EDLC with commercial cellulosic separator. Porous bipolyester film was then prepared and the resulting EDLC exhibited improved specific capacitance, but high intrinsic and charge transfer resistances. Non-porous terpolyester film was prepared next, using polyethylene glycol 500,000 to improve flexibility of the film, which might lower the resistances. This film was flexible enough and provided the resulting EDLC with superior electrochemical performance to the bipolyester film. EDLC with porous terpolyester film was finally prepared and showed the highest electrochemical performance, comparable to the reference EDLC. Porous morphology and flexibility were key factors to fabricate lignin-based self-standing film as separator material for high-performance EDLC.