Influence of chemical compositions on the properties of random and multiblock sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone)‐based proton‐exchange membranes

The influence of chemical compositions on the properties of sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone)‐based proton‐exchange membranes was studied. First, we synthesized three different series of random SPAES copolymers using three kinds of hydrophobic monomers, including 4,4′‐dihydroxyldiphenylether, 2,6‐dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN), and 4,4′‐hexafluoroisopropylidenediphenol (6F‐BPA) to investigate effects of hydrophobic components on the properties of SPAES membranes as proton‐exchange membranes. Random SPAES copolymers with 6F‐BPA showed the highest proton conductivity while random SPAES copolymers with DHN displayed the lowest methanol permeability among the three random copolymers. Subsequently, we synthesized multiblock SPAES using the DHN as a hydrophobic monomer and studied the effect of the length of hydrophilic segments in the multiblock SPAES copolymers on membrane performance. The results indicated that longer hydrophilic segments in the copolymers led to higher water uptake, proton conductivity, and proton/methanol selectivity of membranes even at low humidity. In addition, the morphology studies (AFM and SAXS measurements) of membranes suggested that multiblock copolymers with long hydrophilic segments resulted in developed phase separation in membranes, and ionic clusters formed more easily, thus improving the membrane performance. Therefore, both the kinds of hydrophobic monomers and the length of hydrophilic segments in SPAES copolymers would influence the membranes performance as proton‐exchange membranes. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Wisteria floribunda Agglutinin-Positive Mac-2 Binding Protein as a Screening Tool for Significant Liver Fibrosis in Health Checkup

Chronic liver disease is generally widespread, and a test for screening fibrotic subjects in a large population is needed. The ability of Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive mac-2 binding protein (WFA⁺-M2BP) to detect significant fibrosis was investigated in health checkup subjects in this research. Of 2021 health checkup subjects enrolled in this prospective cross-sectional study, those with WFA⁺-M2BP ≥ 1.0 were defined as high risk. Liver fibrosis was evaluated using magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) in subjects with high risk. The primary outcome was the positive predictive value (PPV) of WFA⁺-M2BP for significant fibrosis (liver stiffness ≥ 2.97 kPa by MRE). This trial was registered with the UMIN clinical trial registry, UMIN000036175. WFA⁺-M2BP ≥ 1.0 was observed in 5.3% of the 2021 subjects. The PPV for significant fibrosis with the threshold of WFA⁺-M2BP at ≥1.0, ≥1.1, ≥1.2, ≥1.3, ≥1.4, and ≥1.5 was 29.2%, 36.4%, 43.5%, 42.9%, 62.5%, and 71.4%, respectively. A WFA⁺-M2BP of 1.2 was selected as the optimal threshold for significant fibrosis among high-risk subjects, and the PPV, negative predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity for significant fibrosis were 43.5%, 84.0%, 71.4%, and 61.8%, respectively. WFA⁺-M2BP ≥ 1.2 was significantly associated with significant fibrosis, with an odds ratio (OR) of 4.04 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1–16, p = 0.04), but not FIB-4 ≥ 2.67 (OR: 2.40, 95%CI: 0.7–8.6, p-value = 0.2). In conclusion, WFA⁺-M2BP is associated with significant fibrosis and could narrow down potential subjects with liver fibrosis. The strategy of narrowing down fibrosis subjects using WFA⁺-M2BP may be used to screen for fibrotic subjects in a large population.     

Generation of monoclonal antibodies using simplified single-cell reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and cell-free protein synthesis

The single-step PCR amplification of IgG Light chain (Lc) and Heavy chain (Hc) (Fd portion) from the cDNAs of a single cell was facilitated using a low concentration of cDNA-specific primers with 5' homotags in the presence of a homotag-specific primer. This method was found to be successful in generating a functional antibody with an antigen-binding activity and useful for the high-throughput generation or screening of monoclonal antibodies.     

High-throughput genotyping of filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae based on colony direct polymerase chain reaction

High-throughput genotyping of Aspergillus oryzae was achieved using an FTA card for the extraction of a genomic DNA template for polymerase chain reaction from a fungal colony growing on an agar plate. This method was then applied to detect other fungal species from agar slants and food materials. This method offers a convenient tool for the genotyping of filamentous fungi without using an organic solvent or specialized equipment.     

Dose-dependent hypocholesterolemic actions of dietary apple polyphenol in rats fed cholesterol

The dose-dependent hypocholesterolemic and antiatherogenic effects of dietary apple polyphenol (AP) from unripe apple, which contains approximately 85% catechin oligomers (procyanidins), were examined in male Sprague-Dawley rats (4 wk of age) given a purified diet containing 0.5% cholesterol. Dietary AP at 0.5 and 1.0% levels significantly decreased the liver cholesterol level compared with that in the control (AP-free dietfed) group. Dietary AP also significantly lowered the serum cholesterol level compared with that in the control group. However, the HDL cholesterol level was significantly higher in the 1.0% AP fed group than in the control group. Accordingly, the ratio of HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol was significantly higher in the 0.5% AP-fed group and 1.0% AP-fed group than in the control group. Moreover, the atherogenic indices in the 0.5 and 1.0% AP-fed groups were significantly lower than those in the control group. The activity of hepatic cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase tended to be increased by dietary AP in a dose-dependent manner. In accord with this observation, dietary AP increased the excretion of acidic steroids in feces. Dietary AP also significantly promoted the fecal excretion of neutral steroids in a dose-dependent manner. These observations suggest that dietary AP at 0.5 or 1.0% level exerts hypocholesterolemic and antiatherogenic effects through the promotion of cholesterol catabolism and inhibition of intestinal absorption of cholesterol.     

Directional dependence of thermal emission from nonspherical carbon particles

The directional intensity distribution of thermal emission from nonspherical particles can be predicted in the geometric optics limit using the Kirchhoff's law, or, in general case, using the Rytov's theory based on the fluctuation–dissipation theorem. This study demonstrates the first experimental evidence of the directional variation of thermal emission from nonspherical particles of a size smaller than the geometric optics limit. We used a method of laser-induced incandescence with multi-angle detectors to observe the directional dependences of thermal emission from individual carbon particles. For laboratory carbon particles with various shapes, the measured directional dependences of thermal emission were consistent with theoretical calculations for model nonspherical particles. This study provides a new physical principle for measuring the shape of aerosols according to the directional dependence of their thermal emission and is especially useful for online, in situ shape classification of carbon particles.     

Wind characteristics of a strong typhoon

The wind characteristics of a strong typhoon (Typhoon Maemi 2003) are analyzed on the basis of 10 min wind speed samples. The wind speeds were measured simultaneously by nine vane and seven sonic anemometers at a height of about 15 m. Turbulence intensity and scale, gust factor, peak factor, decay factor of the coherence function, probability distribution function, power spectrum, and their variations with wind speed are obtained. Wind-direction-dependent analysis is conducted on the wind characteristics. Turbulence intensity decreases with wind speed and remain almost constant when the wind speed becomes high. The averaged values of gust factor and peak factor are 1.6 and 3.3, respectively. The spatial cross correlation and decay factor of the coherence function increase slightly with wind speed. The probability density function of fluctuating wind speed of a strong typhoon follows a Gaussian distribution, and the power spectrum of strong wind can be expressed by a Karman-type spectrum at the low frequency. The wind characteristics of this strong typhoon are shown to be very similar to those of non-typhoon winds.     

Palladium-alumina Cryogel with High Thermal Stability and CO Oxidation Activity

Abstract  

Palladium-alumina cryogel was prepared from palladium nitrate and aluminum sec-butoxide through a sol–gel processing and subsequent freeze drying. The cryogel showed higher thermal stability of palladium and catalytic CO oxidation activity than the corresponding xerogel and impregnation catalysts. The superior stability and activity were ascribed to the uniform distribution of palladium ions in the boehmite gel by the one-pot preparation of palladium-boehmite co-gel, and also to the suppression of transfer and aggregation of the metal during the subsequent freeze drying. As a result palladium ions were finely distributed and stabilized throughout the alumina cryogel support, which consequently suppressed the sintering of palladium at elevated temperatures.     

Metabolic profiling and identification of the genetic varieties and agricultural origin of Cnidium officinale and Ligusticum chuanxiong

Quality control methods for Cnidium officinale and Ligusticum chuanxiong are lacking because their quality is influenced by multiple factors. Thus, there is a need to develop a multifactorial method for measuring quality that is both standardized and practical. Here, we report a profiling method based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to discriminate among the genetic varieties and agricultural origins of C.?officinale and L.?chuanxiong. Our metabolome analysis identified 68 metabolites, 13 of which were newly identified in our samples. The S-plot of the OPLS discriminant analysis enabled us to determine significant biomarkers. Using only double-compound biomarkers, the samples were successfully classified into distinct groups defined by genetic variety and cultivation origin. This method will simplify the process of searching for quality control markers that can be used to determine genetic variety and agricultural origin.