Correlation between Macro- and Microstructural Changes in Ge:SiO2 and SiO2 Glasses under Intense Ultraviolet Irradiation

The photochemical transformation mechanism of defects in germanosilicate and silica glasses under ultraviolet (UV) laser irradiation has been investigated based on the changes in Raman spectra before and after irradiation. Two types of silica glasses, fused silica (type I) and dry synthetic silica (type IV), and germanosilicate optical fiber preforms were irradiated by intense UV photons from excimer lasers. Spectral changes in optical absorption and Raman spectra were examined to clarify a correlation between the microscopic defect formation and the macroscopic structural changes causing a photorefractive effect. Successive generation of E' centers through divalent centers is closely correlated with changes in Raman spectra, indicating that large structural changes in the glass network involved in this process would be the origin of photon-induced densification of the glasses. In addition, it has been proposed that the successive generation of E' centers is mediated by transient divalent centers converted from relaxed cation homobondings.     

Multiresidue analysis of pesticides in agricultural products by GC/MS,GC-ECD and GC-FTD using acetonitrile extraction and clean-up with mini-columns

An analytical method was developed for determination of organochlorine, pyrethroid and nitrogen-containing pesticide residues in agricultural products by GC/MS, GC-ECD and GC-FTD. Pesticides were extracted with acetonitrile, and the organic layer was cleaned up on C18 and ENVI-Carb/LC-NH2 cartridges. Pesticides were determined by GC/MS, GC-ECD and GC-FTD. Detection limits of pesticides by GC/MS and GC were below 1-30 ng/g and 1-3 ng/g, respectively. Recoveries of 27 out of 53 pesticides determined by GC/MS and 47 out of 53 determined by GC were 70-120%. This method was useful for the multiresidue analysis of pesticides in agricultural products. Pesticide residues in 81 domestic crops were investigated from April 2001 to March 2002. Residues of 31 pesticides were detected from 21 crops.     

Characteristics and structural change of layered polysilane (Si6H6) anode for lithium ion batteries

Layered polysilane (Si₆H₆) has a graphite-like structure with higher capacity than crystalline silicon. The rate of increase of the thickness of a layered polysilane electrode after 10 charge-discharge cycles was smaller than that for a Si powder electrode, although the layered polysilane electrode has higher capacity. The structural changes of electrochemically lithiated and delithiated layered polysilane at room temperature were studied using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Layered polysilane became amorphous by insertion of lithium to 0 V, whereas insertion of lithium into crystalline silicon produces Li₁₅Si_4. Layered polysilane maintained an amorphous state during lithium insertion and deinsertion, whereas silicon changed between Li₁₅Si₄ and amorphous Li_xSi, which explains the smaller volume change of a layered polysilane electrode compared with a Si powder electrode.     

Study on degradation process of polymer electrolyte by solution analysis

Degradation process of Nafion which is one of the polymer electrolyte generally used for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell was investigated by solution analysis and structural analysis of eluted species. Nafion degraded by gamma-ray irradiation and heat treatment was immersed in distilled water and the solutions were analyzed using ion chromatograph, total organic carbon (TOC) analyzer, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES). The solutions after the Fenton reaction were also analyzed with the same methods. Proton, sulfide ion, fluorine ion and organic carbon were eliminated into the solution, and their ratio was changed depending on the degradation method. To determine the eliminated species to the solution, structural analysis of concentrated dissolved species was performed using FT-IR. As the results, the initial process of degradation was detected sensitively in solution analysis compared with membrane analysis, and difference of the degradation process under different conditions was clearly observed. It was also found that new functional group COOH was formed in the eliminated species. These results showed that solution analysis are very simple yet powerful methods to elucidate the degradation process, which can also be applied to actual fuel cell operation to track minute changes in the polymer electrolyte.     

Evaluation of the implant type tissue-engineered cartilage by scanning acoustic microscopy

The tissue-engineered cartilages after implantation were nonuniform tissues which were mingling with biodegradable polymers, regeneration cartilage and others. It is a hard task to evaluate the biodegradation of polymers or the maturation of regenerated tissues in the transplants by the conventional examination. Otherwise, scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM) system specially developed to measure the tissue acoustic properties at a microscopic level. In this study, we examined acoustic properties of the tissue-engineered cartilage using SAM, and discuss the usefulness of this devise in the field of tissue engineering. We administered chondrocytes/atelocollagen mixture into the scaffolds of various polymers, and transplanted the constructs in the subcutaneous areas of nude mice for 2 months. We harvested them and examined the sound speed and the attenuation in the section of each construct by the SAM. As the results, images mapping the sound speed exhibited homogenous patterns mainly colored in blue, in all the tissue-engineered cartilage constructs. Contrarily, the images of the attenuation by SAM showed the variation of color ranged between blue and red. The low attenuation area colored in red, which meant hard materials, were corresponding to the polymer remnant in the toluidine blue images. The localizations of blue were almost similar with the metachromatic areas in the histology. In conclusion, the SAM is regarded as a useful tool to provide the information on acoustic properties and their localizations in the transplants that consist of heterogeneous tissues with various components.     

Aluminium content in foods with aluminium-containing food additives

The aluminium (Al) content of 105 samples, including bakery products made with baking powder, agricultural products and seafoods treated with alum, was investigated. The amounts of Al detected were as follows (limit of quantification: 0.01 mg/g): 0.01-0.37 mg/g in 26 of 57 bakery products, 0.22-0.57 mg/g in 3 of 6 powder mixes, 0.01-0.05 mg/g in all three agricultural products examined, 0.03-0.90 mg/g in 4 of 6 seafood samples, 0.01-0.03 mg/g in 3 of 11 samples of instant noodles, 0.04-0.14 mg/g in 3 of 4 samples of vermicelli, 0.01 mg/g in 1 of 16 soybean products, but none in soybeans. Amounts equivalent to the PTWI of a 16 kg infant were detected in two samples of bakery products, two samples of powder mixes and one sample of salted jellyfish, if each sample was taken once a week. These results suggest that certain foods, depending on the product and the intake, might exceed the PTWI of children, especially infants.     

Phenolic Antioxidants in Some Vigna Species of Legumes and their Distinct Inhibitory Effects on α-Glucosidase and Pancreatic Lipase Activities

Phenolic extracts of 4 Vigna species of legumes (mung bean, moth bean, and black and red varieties of adzuki beans) were evaluated for phenolic contents, antioxidant activities, and inhibitory properties against α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase. Results showed that adzuki bean varieties contain higher phenolic indexes than mung bean and moth beans. Adzuki bean (black) variety was found to be the most active 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and superoxide anion scavenger. However, the hydrogen peroxide scavenging and metal chelating abilities were significantly higher in adzuki bean (red) variety. Mung bean exhibited least antioxidant activities in all the methods tested. Phenolic extracts from these legumes also showed distinct variations in the inhibition of enzymes associated with hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. Inhibitory activities of all the extracts against lipase were found to be more potent than α-glucosidase. Although, α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was superior in the black variety of adzuki bean (IC(50,) 26.28 mg/mL), both adzuki bean varieties (black and red) along with moth bean showed strong inhibitory activities on lipase with no significant difference in their IC(50) values (7.32 to 9.85 mg/mL). These results suggest that Vigna species of legumes are potential source of antioxidant phenolics and also great sources of strong natural inhibitors for α-glucosidase and lipase activities. This information may help for effective utilization of these legumes as functional food ingredients for promoting health. Practical Application: Vigna species of legumes are good sources of phenolic antioxidants and strong natural inhibitors of enzymes associated with diabetes and obesity. Therefore, utilization of these legumes in the development of functional foods with increased therapeutic value would be a significant step toward health promotion and wellness.     

Properties of commercial licorice extracts used as a food additive

Properties of eight commercial licorice extracts used as a food additive (sweetener, listed in the List of Existing Food Additives in the Japanese Food Sanitation Law) were surveyed. Residue on ignition ranged from 0.3 to 12.4%, and pH ranged from 4.1 to 6.8, amount of glycyrrhizin, which is the major component in licorice extract, ranged from 10.9 to 77.4%, sodium ranged from 0.1 to 1.2%, potassium ranged from 0.3 to 5.0%, and ammonium nitrogen ranged from 0.03 to 2.5%. These results indicated that various products were distributed on the market. Differences in the manufacturing process may contribute to the variations of product properties.     

Effect of air-drying temperature on antioxidant capacity and stability of polyphenolic compounds in mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaves

The mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaf is a promising dietary source of antioxidants such as quercetin due to its relatively high content of that compound. We investigated effects of an air-drying process on the antioxidant capacity and stability of antioxidant polyphenolic compounds in mulberry leaves. Main compounds playing a central role in antioxidant activities in mulberry leaves are quercetin glycosides and chlorogenic acid. Raw mulberry leaves were air-dried at various temperatures, and antioxidant activity using DPPH radical scavenging assay and levels of antioxidant compounds were measured. DPPH radical scavenging activity and levels of polyphenolic compounds in mulberry leaves air-dried at 60 °C or below were not significantly different from those of freeze-dried mulberry leaves, whereas both values in mulberry leaves air-dried at 70 °C and over decreased significantly. These results indicate that strict temperature control is important in the production of mulberry leaf products to maintain antioxidant activity and levels of polyphenolic compounds.