Effects of rice bran oil on the intestinal microbiota and metabolism of isoflavones in adult mice

This study examined the effects of rice bran oil (RBO) on mouse intestinal microbiota and urinary isoflavonoids. Dietary RBO affects intestinal cholesterol absorption. Intestinal microbiota seem to play an important role in isoflavone metabolism. We hypothesized that dietary RBO changes the metabolism of isoflavonoids and intestinal microbiota in mice. Male mice were randomly divided into two groups: those fed a 0.05% daidzein with 10% RBO diet (RO group) and those fed a 0.05% daidzein with 10% lard control diet (LO group) for 30 days. Urinary amounts of daidzein and dihydrodaidzein were significantly lower in the RO group than in the LO group. The ratio of equol/daidzein was significantly higher in the RO group (p < 0.01) than in the LO group. The amount of fecal bile acids was significantly greater in the RO group than in the LO group. The composition of cecal microbiota differed between the RO and LO groups. The occupation ratios of Lactobacillales were significantly higher in the RO group (p < 0.05). Significant positive correlation (r = 0.591) was observed between the occupation ratios of Lactobacillales and fecal bile acid content of two dietary groups. This study suggests that dietary rice bran oil has the potential to affect the metabolism of daidzein by altering the metabolic activity of intestinal microbiota.     

Initiation of fabrication of neuron-type conducting polymer

Conducting polymers has been polymerized on a bottom of the vessel/cell under certain conditions, and the patterns of two-dimensional (2-D) conducting polymer have become fractal. A neuron-like conducting polymer can be fabricated by changing the polymerization conditions under polymerization. The pattern of conducting polymer network depends on the polymerization/environment conditions. The conducting polymer has many functional properties. If conductivity at paths in the network depends on signals that flow the paths, a neuron-like device can be prepared. In this process, it is hard to control the transition of the polymerized points from the surface of the electrode to the vessel. The pattern depends on the time of transition because the concentrations of monomer and electrolyte decrease with time. In some conditions, transition never occurs. In this paper, the initiation conditions of neuron-type conducting polymer have been investigated. It is found that concentrations of oligomer/polymer that did not attach myself to the electrode is the important factor for the transition of polymerized points from on the electrode to on the surface of the vessel.     

Stage-Specific Characterization of Physiological Response to Heat Stress in the Wheat Cultivar Norin 61

Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) is less adaptable to high temperatures than other major cereals. Previous studies of the effects of high temperature on wheat focused on the reproductive stage. There are few reports on yield after high temperatures at other growth stages. Understanding growth-stage-specific responses to heat stress will contribute to the development of tolerant lines suited to high temperatures at various stages. We exposed wheat cultivar “Norin 61” to high temperature at three growth stages: seedling–tillering (GS1), tillering–flowering (GS2), and flowering–maturity (GS3). We compared each condition based on agronomical traits, seed maturity, and photosynthesis results. Heat at GS2 reduced plant height and number of grains, and heat at GS3 reduced the grain formation period and grain weight. However, heat at GS1 reduced senescence and prolonged grain formation, increasing grain weight without reducing yield. These data provide fundamental insights into the biochemical and molecular adaptations of bread wheat to high-temperature stresses and have implications for the development of wheat lines that can respond to high temperatures at various times of the year.     

Detection of CD133 (prominin‐1) in a human hepatoblastoma cell line (HuH‐6 clone 5)

We examined CD133 distribution in a human hepatoblastoma cell line (HuH‐6 clone 5). We directly observed the cultured cells on a pressure‐resistant thin film (silicon nitride thin film) in a buffer solution by using the newly developed atmospheric scanning electron microscope (ASEM), which features an open sample dish with a silicon nitride thin film window at its base, through which the scanning electron microscope beam scans samples in solution, from below. The ASEM enabled observation of the ventral cell surface, which could not be observed using standard SEM. However, observation of the dorsal cell surface was difficult with the ASEM. Therefore, we developed a new method to observe the dorsal side of cells by using Aclar® plastic film. In this method, cells are cultured on Aclar plastic film and the dorsal side of cells is in contact with the thin silicon nitride film of the ASEM dish. A preliminary study using the ASEM showed that CD133 was mainly localized in membrane ruffles in the peripheral regions of the cell. Standard transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed that CD133 was preferentially concentrated in a complex structure comprising filopodia and the leading edge of lamellipodia. We also observed co‐localization of CD133 with F‐actin. An antibody against CD133 decreased cell migration. Methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin treatment decreased cell adhesion as well as lamellipodium and filopodium formation. A decrease in the cholesterol level may perturb CD133 membrane localization. The results suggest that CD133 membrane localization plays a role in tumor cell adhesion and migration. Microsc. Res. Tech. 76:844–852, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Adsorption and adhesion of poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(ammonium acrylate) as organic additives for wet mold processing of Al2O3

Adsorption and adhesion of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) molecules on Al₂O₃ surfaces in pH 3–10 or 0–0.1 mass% poly(ammonium acrylate) (PAA) aqueous solution was examined using the AFM colloidal probe method. The PVA behavior on the solid surface was estimated using force curve measurements obtained using colloidal probe AFM. Extensions originating from the bridging of PVA between the solid surfaces were observed primarily at less than approximately 200 nm in the pH 3 aqueous solution. The extensions, which were observed at more than approximately 600 nm for pH 6 and 10 aqueous solutions, resulted from different conformations of the PVA molecules. In the PVA–PAA system, the number of extensions decreased by increasing the PAA content. This was not observed in a PAA aqueous solution of greater than 0.1 mass%, which indicates that PAA was adsorbed selectively onto the solid surface. The force curve showed that PAA was more effective than PVA.     

Emergence of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli serovar O157 strains in clade 8 with highly similar pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli serovar O157 (O157) strains with highly similar pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns were isolated in Japan during 2007 and 2008. Several genetic features related to O157 evolution were investigated to indicate whether homoplasy might have contributed to the highly similar PFGE patterns in these strains. The O157 strains were classified in lineage I/II, as defined by a lineage-specific polymorphism assay-6 with an atypical allele in Z5935 (code: 231111). Analysis of the insertion sites of stx(2) phage in these strains showed that the sites were "occupied" in yehV and "intact" in wrbA, indicating that the strains were derived from "Cluster 1" of "Subgroup C." When a specific single-nucleotide polymorphism in ECs2357 in clade 8 strains was investigated, all of the strains in the present study were confirmed to be clade 8 strains. These results indicated that the O157 strains in this study had common genetic features, suggesting that the highly similar PFGE patterns of these strains were not due to homoplasy. Because no common source of these strains could be identified in 2007 to 2008 in Japan, these strains may have emerged from a unique O157 clade 8 clone and then spread by dissemination in Japan.     

Warpage variations of Si/solder/OFHC-Cu layered plates subjected to cyclic thermal loading

Warpage variations of Si/solder/OFHC-Cu layered plates under cyclic thermal loading were investigated as a fundamental subject for inverter power modules. Two different solders, fully annealed and as-received OFHC-Cu plates, and three thickness ratios of the Si and Cu layers were used for the layered plates tested. It was experimentally observed that the initial warpage induced by soldering either grew or recovered with an increase in the number of temperature cycles: the cyclic growth of warpage occurred when the OFHC-Cu layer was fully annealed before soldering and was relatively thick. By performing 3D finite element analysis using available material data, it was then shown that the observed cyclic growth/recovery of warpage can be simulated well if an appropriate constitutive model is employed for the cyclic plastic behavior of OFHC-Cu plates.     

Toughening of poly(L‐lactide) by melt blending with rubbers

Poly(L ‐lactide) (PLA) was melt‐blended with four rubber components—ethylene–propylene copolymer, ethylene–acrylic rubber, acrylonitrile–butadiene rubber (NBR), and isoprene rubber (IR)—in an effort to toughen PLA. All the blend samples exhibited distinct phase separation. Amorphous PLA constituted a topologically continuous matrix in which the rubber particles were dispersed. According to Izod impact testing, toughening was achieved only when PLA was blended with NBR, which showed the smallest particle size in its blend samples. In agreement with the morphological analysis, the value of the interfacial tension between the PLA phase and the NBR phase was the lowest, and this suggested that rubber with a high polarity was more suitable for toughening PLA. Under the tensile stress conditions for NBR and IR blend samples, these rubbers displayed no crosslinking and showed a high ability to induce plastic deformation before the break as well as high elongation properties; this suggested that the intrinsic mobility of the rubber was important for the dissipation of the breaking energy. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Control of degradation rate of bioabsorbable magnesium by anodization and steam treatment

The control of degradation rate of bioabsorbable magnesium devices is crucial for their biomedical applications. In this study, the influence of anodizing voltages and autoclaving on the degradation behavior of anodized pure magnesium was examined by immersion tests in a culture medium for 14 d. The anodization and autoclaving varied the morphology of surface film. Porous films were formed at 7 V and 100 V, and non-porous films were formed at 2 V and 20 V. The microscopic appearance of the anodized films did not change by autoclaving. The degradation rate on Day 1 was the highest and subsequently decreased to a quasi-steady state within the initial 3–5 d. The 7 V- and 100 V-anodized specimens showed the highest and the lowest quasi-steady degradation rate, respectively. The autoclaving significantly retarded the degradation of the anodized specimens. These facts revealed that anodization and autoclaving are useful for the control of the degradation rate of magnesium and its alloys. The porous anodized films showed local corrosion, whereas the non-porous anodized film formed at 20 V did not show apparent local corrosion. The local corrosion was prevented by autoclaving. These results suggest that the occurrence of local corrosion depends on the porous morphology of surface film.