4-O-Methyl Modifications of Glucuronic Acids in Xylans Are Indispensable for Substrate Discrimination by GH67 α-Glucuronidase from Bacillus halodurans C-125

A GH67 α-glucuronidase gene derived from Bacillus halodurans C-125 was expressed in E. coli to obtain a recombinant enzyme (BhGlcA67). Using the purified enzyme, the enzymatic properties and substrate specificities of the enzyme were investigated. BhGlcA67 showed maximum activity at pH 5.4 and 45 °C. When BhGlcA67 was incubated with birchwood, oat spelts, and cotton seed xylan, the enzyme did not release any glucuronic acid or 4-O-methyl-glucuronic acid from these substrates. BhGlcA67 acted only on 4-O-methyl-α-D-glucuronopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-xylopyranose (MeGlcA³Xyl₃), which has a glucuronic acid side chain with a 4-O-methyl group located at its non-reducing end, but did not on β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-[4-O-methyl-α-D-glucuronopyranosyl-(l→2)]-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-xylop- yranose (MeGlcA³Xyl₄) and α-D-glucuronopyranosyl-(l→2)-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-xylopyranose (GlcA³Xyl₃). The environment for recognizing the 4-O-methyl group of glucuronic acid was observed in all the crystal structures of reported GH67 glucuronidases, and the amino acids for discriminating the 4-O-methyl group of glucuronic acid were widely conserved in the primary sequences of the GH67 family, suggesting that the 4-O-methyl group is critical for the activities of the GH67 family.     

Antioxidant Functions of E- AND Z-Ajoene Derived from Japanese Garlic

Antioxidative activities of E- and Z-ajoene prepared from Japanese garlic were studied using various radical scavenging effects. Among the various antioxidative activities tested, ajoene was found to show the highest hydroxyl radicals scavenging activity (E-ajoene = 50% and Z-ajoene = 63%). These ajoene were 5.2-13 times less efficient at reducing DPPH radical and 1.1-1.4 times less efficient at hydroxyl radical as compared with authentic α–tocopherol. Essentially E- and Z-ajoene were capable of scavenging superoxide anion (E- ajoene = 0.11%, Z-ajoene = 3.74%), but 80 minutes later antioxidant activity could not be detected. The effectiveness of Z-ajoene is significantly higher than E-ajoene.     

Design study of the demonstration FBR in Japan

The objective of the plant design study Phase 2, conducted by the Japan Atomic Power Company since 1997 for 3 years, is to accomplished a plant overall concept of the Demonstrative FBR (DFBR) that has economical potential toward commercialization and offers high reliability to plant operators not to cause a long unexpected shutdown resulting from a trouble, i.e., sodium leakage or fires. This has been successfully achieved by establishment of a plant overall design of 672 MWe consisting of the reactor system with drastically simplified internals, the compact and double walled coolant boundaries, the well rationalized fuel handling system, the BOP systems introducing up-to-date LWR equipment, and the compact reactor building.

The plant construction cost has been estimated based on the quantity of materials to be about 130 % on the bases of a 1000 MW LWR, which is well contented with the requirement.

The DFBR plant concept, having economical potential toward commercialization, safety and reliability, has been established in the plant design study Phase 2.     

Statistical Shape Model of the Liver and Its Application to Computer‐Aided Diagnosis of Liver Cirrhosis

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in statistical shape modeling of human anatomy. The statistical shape model can capture the morphological variations of human anatomy. Since liver cirrhosis will cause significant morphological changes, the authors propose a computer‐aided diagnosis method for liver cirrhosis based on statistical shape models. In the proposed method, the authors first construct a statistical shape model of the liver using 50 clinical CT datasets (25 sets of normal data and 25 sets of abnormal data). The authors apply the marching cubes algorithm to convert the segmented liver volume to a triangulated mesh surface containing 1000 vertex points. The coordinates of these vertex points are used to represent the 3D liver shape as a shape vector. After normalization and identification of correspondences between all datasets, principal component analysis (PCA) is employed to find the principal variation modes of the shape vectors. Then the authors propose a mode selection method based on class variations between the normal class and abnormal class. The authors found that the top two modes of class variations are most effective for the classification of normal and abnormal livers. The classification rate of abnormal livers and normal livers by the use of a simple linear discriminant function were 84% and 80%, respectively.     

Dependence of structure of polymer side chain on water structure in hydrogels

To investigate the effects of structure of polymer side chains on structure of water in hydrogels, Raman spectra of polyacrylamide (PAA) and poly-N,N,-dimethylacrylamide (PDMAA) hydrogels were measured. PAA and PDMAA have similar chemical structures, except for the side chain structure. The result shows that the frequency of the O–H stretching mode for the PAA hydrogel decreases as the water content decreases, while that for the PDMAA hydrogel increases. Furthermore, the analysis of the relative intensities of the O–H stretching modes shows that the number density of tetragonal water structures differs between the hydrogels. We conclude that most of the bound water molecules in the PAA hydrogel form four strong hydrogen bonds with the hydrophilic groups in the side chain of PAA, whereas those in the PDMAA hydrogel form weak hydrogen bonds with surrounding water molecules. The water structure is an important factor governing the physical and chemical properties of gel materials.     

Study of nanoscale structural changes in isolated bamboo constituents using multiscale instrumental analyses

To reveal morphological changes in bamboo constituents induced by delignification and hemicelluloses removal processes, changes in chemical composition and dynamics were examined at molecular‐ to nano‐scales, using scanning electron microscopy images, attenuated total reflection infrared spectra, solid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, and relaxation time analysis at multiple hierarchical levels. Boiling removed spherical particles from the parenchymal cells of bamboo, leaving the cells containing water that had infiltrated into the nanostructure composed of carbohydrates and lignin. Treatment of the boiled bamboo with NaClO₂ solution removed most of lignin, leaving hemicellulose chains that made the parenchymal cells stretch. In contrast, treatment of the boiled bamboo with NaOH solution removed both hemicellulose and lignin, with the result that parenchymal cells shrank in the cross‐section direction. Furthermore, treatment of the delignified bamboo with NaOH solution demolished the parenchymal cells due to complete removal of hemicellulose and lignin. A nanostructural model proposed on the basis of molecular‐ to nano‐scale analyses was consistent with the changes of vascular bundles and parenchymal cells. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40243.     

Preparation of core–shell poly(l-lactic) acid-nanocrystalline apatite hollow microspheres for bone repairing applications

In this paper, hybrid inorganic–organic core–shell hollow microspheres, made of poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) and biomimetic nano apatites (HA), were prepared from biodegradable and biocompatible substances, suitable for bone tissue applications. Preparation is started from Pickering emulsification, i.e., solid particle-stabilized emulsions in the absence of any molecular surfactant, where solid particles adsorbed to an oil–water interface. Stable oil-in-water emulsions were produced using biomimetic 20?nm sized HA nanocrystals as particulate emulsifier and a dichloromethane (CH₂Cl₂) solution of PLLA as oil phase. Hybrid hollow PLLA microspheres at three different HA nanocrystals surface coverage, ranging from 10 to 50?μm, were produced. The resulting materials were completely characterized with spectroscopic, calorimetric and microscopic techniques and the cytocompatibility was established by indirect contact tests with both fibroblasts and osteoblasts and direct contact with these latter. They displayed a high level of cytocompatibility and thus represent promising materials for drug delivery systems, cell carriers and scaffolds for regeneration of bone useful in the treatment of orthopaedic, maxillofacial and dental fields.     

A New Approach for Reversible RNA Photocrosslinking Reaction: Application to Sequence‐Specific RNA Selection

On and off in a flash : We describe a novel, ultrafast, reversible, interstrand RNA photocrosslinking reaction via 3‐cyanovinylcarbazole nucleoside. The interstrand RNA‐photocrosslinking reaction showed a high degree of sequence specificity and can be used in the selection of a target RNA sequence.

     

Stability of bifidobacteria in powdered formula

Two stability tests of bifidobacteria in powdered formula were conducted. In a strain comparison test, three kinds of bifidobacterial powders; Bifidobacterium longum BB536, Bifidobacterium breve M-16V and Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 powders, admixed in follow-up formula were used. In a commercial product evaluation, powdered formulas for toddlers containing bifidobacteria sold in the Indonesian market were analysed. When the inactivation rate constant of each sample, which was used as an index of the loss rate, was determined from the stability tests, B. longum was the most stable strain. The mean inactivation rate constant of commercial products was significantly lower than those obtained in strain comparison, although the same strains ( B. longum BB536 and B. breve M-16V) were used. A possible reason was the lower water activity of commercial products compared to the follow-up formula. Also, higher storage temperature yielded lower stability in all strains or samples, which obeys the Arrhenius theory.