Protein-conjugated acrolein as a biochemical marker of brain infarction

The relationship between acrolein (CH(2) =CH-CHO) and brain infarction is the focus of this review. It has been found that acrolein is produced mainly within cells from polyamines by polyamine oxidases (PAOs), especially from spermine by spermine oxidase during cell damage, and that acrolein is more toxic than reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a cell culture system. Thus, the possibility that acrolein and PAOs are good biochemical markers of stroke was tested because there are no other reliable biochemical markers at the early stage of stroke. Levels of protein-conjugated acrolein (PC-Acro) and PAOs (acrolein-producing enzymes) were significantly increased in the plasma of stroke patients. The multiplied value of PC-Acro by PAOs was nearly parallel with the size of stroke. Furthermore, when the combined measurements of PC-Acro, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were evaluated along with age using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, even silent brain infarction (SBI), which is a small brain infarction, was indicated with approximately 84% sensitivity and specificity. These findings clearly indicate that acrolein is strongly correlated with cell damage during brain infarction.     

Real-time ellipsometric characterization of the initial growth stage of poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulfonic acid) films by electrospray deposition

Kinetic spectroscopic ellipsometry have been used to study the initial growth stage of poly(3,4-polyethylene dioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonic acid)(PEDOT:PSS) films by the electrospray deposition (ESD) method. The real-time spectra analysis revealed that the surface overlayer decreased in thickness once the first bulk layer monolayer was formed, indicating a smoothening effect as the nucleation-related microstructure coalesced into the bulk layer. Once the coalescence was completed and the nucleation-induced surface roughness layer was stabilized, the underlying bulk layer increased linearly with time. These results originate from the degrees of the evaporation of solvent material during the transferring the precursors to the surface and/or of the diffusion of deposition precursors after sticking at the growing surface.     

Chemical activity of oxygen atoms in the magnetron sputter-deposited ZnO films during film growth

The role of oxygen atoms in the growth of magnetron sputter-deposited ZnO films was studied in a deposition and post-deposition study in which the deposition of a several-nanometer-thick ZnO layer altered with an exposure to an O2/Ar mixed plasma, i.e., a layer-by-layer (LbL) technique. The film crystallization was promoted by suppressing the oxygen vacancy and interstitial defects by adjusting the exposure conditions of the O2/Ar plasma. These findings suggest that the chemical potential of the oxygen atom influences the film crystallization and the electronic state. The diffusion and effusion of oxygen atoms at the growing surface have an effect similar to that of thermal annealing, promoted film crystallization and the creation and the annihilation of oxygen- and zinc-related defects. The role of oxygen atoms reaching the growing film surface is discussed in terms of chemical annealing and a possible oxygen diffusion mechanism is proposed.     

Quantum dot/plasmonic nanoparticle metachromophores with quantum yields that vary with excitation wavelength

Coupled plasmonic/chromophore systems are of interest in applications ranging from fluorescent biosensors to solar photovoltaics and photoelectrochemical cells because near-field coupling to metal nanostructures can dramatically alter the optical performance of nearby materials. We show that CdSe quantum dots (QDs) near single silver nanoprisms can exhibit photoluminescence lifetimes and quantum yields that depend on the excitation wavelength, in apparent violation of the Kasha-Vavilov rule. We attribute the variation in QD lifetime with excitation wavelength to the wavelength-dependent coupling of higher-order plasmon modes to different spatial subpopulations of nearby QDs. At the QD emission wavelength, these subpopulations are coupled to far-field radiation with varying efficiency by the nanoprism dipolar resonance. These results offer an easily accessible new route to design metachromophores with tailored optical properties.     

A novel approach to a fine particle coating using porous spherical silica as core particles

The applicability of porous spherical silica (PSS) was evaluated as core particles for pharmaceutical products by comparing it with commercial core particles such as mannitol (NP-108), sucrose and microcrystalline cellulose spheres. We investigated the physical properties of core particles, such as particle size distribution, flow properties, crushing strength, plastic limit, drying rate, hygroscopic property and aggregation degree. It was found that PSS was a core particle of small particle size, low friability, high water adsorption capacity, rapid drying rate and lower occurrence of particle aggregation, although wettability is a factor to be carefully considered. The aggregation and taste-masking ability using PSS and NP-108 as core particles were evaluated at a fluidized-bed coating process. The functional coating under the excess spray rate shows different aggregation trends and dissolution profiles between PSS and NP-108; thereby, exhibiting the formation of uniform coating under the excess spray rate in the case of PSS. This expands the range of the acceptable spray feed rates to coat fine particles, and indicates the possibility of decreasing the coating time. The results obtained in this study suggested that the core particle, which has a property like that of PSS, was useful in overcoming such disadvantages as large particle size, which feels gritty in oral cavity; particle aggregation; and the long coating time of the particle coating process. These results will enable the practical fine particle coating method by increasing the range of optimum coating conditions and decreasing the coating time in fluidized bed technology.     

Extended Nanofluidic Immunochemical Reaction with Femtoliter Sample Volumes

The growing need to optimize immunoassay performance driven by interest in analyzing individual cells has resulted in a decrease in the amount of sample required. Miniaturized immunoassays that use ultra‐small femtoliter to attoliter sample volumes, a range known as the extended nanospace, can satisfy this analytical need; however, capturing every targeted molecule without loss in extended nanochannels for subsequent detection remains challenging. This is the first report of a successful extended nanofluidics‐based quantitative immunochemical reaction capable of high capture efficiency using a femtoliter‐scale sample volume. A novel patterning method using a photolithographic technique with vacuum ultraviolet light and low‐temperature (100 °C) bonding enables patterning of functional groups for antibody immobilization before bonding, resulting in an immunochemical reaction space of only 86 fL. Reaction rate analyses indicate a decrease in the required sample volume to 810 fL and improvement in the limit of detection to 3 zmol, 5‐6 orders of magnitude better than possible with the microfluidic immunoassay format. Highly efficient (near 100%) immunochemical reactions on a seconds time scale are possible due to the nm‐scale diffusion length, which should be advantageous for the analysis of ultra‐low‐volume samples.     

Residues of total mercury and methyl mercury in eel products

Fifty-two samples of broiled eels and broiled eel liver were analyzed for total mercury (total Hg) and methyl mercury. The mean concentrations of total Hg in broiled eels and broiled eel liver were 0.21 ppm and 0.10 ppm, respectively. Meanwhile, the mean concentrations of methyl mercury in broiled eels and broiled eel liver were 0.085 ppm and 0.039 ppm, respectively. The rate of methyl mercury to total Hg mainly ranged from 60 to 80% in broiled eels and from 35 to 65% in broiled eel liver. The total Hg concentrations of 2 samples of broiled eels and one sample of broiled eel liver exceeded the provisional regulation limit (0.4 ppm) of total Hg in fish in Japan. In these samples, the rates of methyl mercury to total Hg were lower than 20%. The muscles and the skin of broiled eels were measured separately. The ratios of skin to muscle concentration of total Hg and methyl mercury were mainly in the range from 1/10 to 1/4. The mean intakes of total Hg from broiled eels and broiled eel liver per individual were 24.6 microg and 3.1 microg, respectively. The mean intakes of methyl mercury from broiled eels and broiled eel liver per individual were 10.4 microg and 1.2 microg, respectively.     

High-pressure inactivation of Bacillus cereus spores in the presence of argon

We investigated the high-pressure inactivation of Bacillus cereus spores in water containing argon. At the pressure of 600 MPa, addition of argon accelerated the inactivation of spores at 20 degrees C, but had no effect on the inactivation at 40 degrees C. The influence of added argon on inactivation of the spores was marked under conditions with a strong 'water ordering' effect. The pressure resistance of B. cereus spores was thus shown to be affected by 'water ordering'.     

Production of a yogurt-like product from plant foodstuffs and whey. Sensory evaluation and physical attributes

A mixed substrate composed of soya milk, oat flour and dried cheese whey (820, 110 and 70 g kg^?1 respectively) was heat treated (80°C, 20 min) and fermented using two different yogurt starters. Sensory evaluation was conducted in order to get the basic flavour profile and to assess the acceptability of the product. Unfermented mixed substrate and fermented milk were used as references. Two yogurt starter combinations were used. Some additives such as sugar and calcium were also assessed. The addition of an equal weight of milk to the mixed substrate, and flavours such as strawberry jam or honey, were tried as well. Acceptability of the mixed substrate was increased by fermentation and added sugar, milk and/or flavours. A suitable combination of strains was very important to get good acceptability of the fermented product. Colour and syneresis were also evaluated. Heat treatment had very little influence on the colour of the mixed substrate. The mixture was less white and a little less green than milk. Syneresis was lower than that of a yogurt made from milk with 145 g litre^?1 total solids.