Genetic variation in the conservative gene region of Norovirus genogroup II strains in environmental and stool samples

Noroviruses (NoVs) have been one of leading etiological agents for infectious gastroenteritis over the world. Gastroenteritis caused by NoVs is prevalent in winter season, and the contamination of the water environment with NoVs in the epidemic cold season is frequently reported. In contrast, the number of gastroenteritis patients and NoVs in the water environment are reduced during the nonepidemic summer season, and the year-round fate of NoVs has remained to be elucidated. In this study, we collected nucleotide sequences of NoV genogroup II (GII) from domestic sewage, sewage sludge, treated wastewater, river water, and stool samples of gastroenteritis patients in geographically close areas. Phylogenetic analysis of the obtained NoV gene revealed that six out of seven isolates from environmental samples and 10 out of 11 isolates from stool samples belong to genotype 3 (NoV GII.3) or 4 (NoV GII.4), which have been prevalent throughout the world. Genetic distances between the conservative gene region of NoV GII.4 variants implied that genetically diverse strains are likelyto occur in environmental samples. The evaluation of the evolutionary change of NoV gene obtained from environmental samples would make it possible to elucidate the year-round fate of NoVs.     

Analysis of trace residues of tetracyclines in dark-colored honeys by high-performance liquid chromatography using polymeric cartridge and metal chelate affinity chromatography

An efficient clean-up procedure was developed for the trace residue determination of tetracyclines (TCs) in dark-colored honeys. TCs were extracted from samples with McIlvaine buffer (pH 4.0) containing 0.01 mol/L Na(2)EDTA. The extracts were treated with both a polymeric cartridge (GL-Pak PLS-2) and a metal chelate affinity column (MCAC) preloaded with copper(II). TCs were eluted and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using fluorescence detection. The method was evaluated for the determination of oxytetracycline (OTC), tetracycline (TC), and chlortetracycline (CTC) in buckwheat honey, because its color is the darkest. The mean recoveries of OTC, TC and CTC from spiked samples, at three fortification levels, were >70%, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were <10%. Limits of quantitation (LOQs) of OTC, TC, and CTC were estimated to be 0.015 mg/kg, 0.019 mg/kg, and 0.024 mg/kg, respectively.     

Dehydration of 1,4-butanediol over supported rare earth oxide catalysts

Vapor-phase catalytic dehydration of 1,4-butanediol was investigated over rare earth oxides supported on ZrO₂. In the dehydration of 1,4-butanediol, 3-buten-1-ol was mainly produced, together with tetrahydrofuran (THF) and γ-butyrolactone. The heavy group of rare earth oxides, such as Dy₂O₃, Ho₂O₃, Er₂O₃, Tm₂O₃, Yb₂O₃, and Lu₂O₃, supported on monoclinic ZrO₂ showed higher selectivity to 3-buten-1-ol than pure monoclinic ZrO₂ and supported light rare earth oxides, such as La₂O₃ and Pr₆O₁₁. Supported Yb₂O₃ catalysts dispersed on other oxides, such as alumina, silica, and tetragonal ZrO₂ catalyze the formation of THF. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements reveal that cubic Yb₂O₃ crystallites dispersed on monoclinic ZrO₂ provide active sites in the dehydration of 1,4-butanediol to produce 3-buten-1-ol.     

High-coupling-efficient 1.3-μm laser diodes with goodtemperature characteristics

We have proposed uniformly beam-expanded structures based on the advanced concept for realizing high coupling efficiency and good temperature characteristics. Beam expansion (optical confinement reduction) by narrowing the core layer width as well as a carrier confinement are strongly enhanced by adopting a larger bandgap InGaAsP for MQW barriers and separate confinement heterostructure layers. These laser diodes (LD's) were fabricated by the conventional buried heterostructure laser process, which is very important in reducing the cost. Our results have proven the effectiveness of our proposition. The LD's with high coupling efficiency (-3.2 dB) and good temperature characteristics have been achieved even using the simple approach of reducing optical confinement. The threshold currents at 25 and 85°C are 9.3 and 39.4 mA, respectively. The slope efficiency at 25°C is 0.39 W/A and still high (0.26 W/A) even at 85°C     

Phase equilibria of quasi-ternary systems consisting of multicomponent polymers 1 and 2 in a single solvent. II. Cloud point curve

Theoretical equations and a calculation method giving cloud point curve (CPC) for a multicomponent polymer 1/multicomponent polymer 2/single solvent system (i.e. quasi-ternary system) were derived on the basis of the Flory-Huggins solution theory. The systematic calculations based on this method were carried out to examine the effects on CPC of the type of molecular weight distribution, the polydispersity and the weight-average degree of polymerisation of the two original polymers, and three thermodynamic interaction parameters between solvent-polymer 1 (X₀₁), solvent-polymer 2 (X₀₂) and polymer 1-polymer 2 (X₁₂). The shape of CPC sensitively depends on the polydispersity of the original polymer and, with an increase in polydispersity, the immiscibility region becomes wider.     

Estimation of acoustic emission source waveform of fracture using a neural network

The applicability of a neural network to acoustic emission (AE) is presented. It is shown that the shape of the simulated source waveform using piezoelectric ceramics is steplike, similar to that of mode I crack extension, and its rise-time can be varied by the resonance frequency in the thickness direction. The results imply that the simulated source can provide learning waveforms for the network. Actual AE waveforms were also acquired by conducting a tensile test of a chevron-notched graphite specimen. It was demonstrated that the appropriate source waveform associated with mode I crack extension was successfully determined by the network taught with simulated waveforms.     

Synthesis of cationic flocculant by radiation-induced copolymerization of methyl chloride salt of N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate with acrylamide in aqueous solution. II. Copolymerization at higher monomer concentration

The radiation-induced copolymerization of methyl chloride salt of N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate with acrylamide was studied to prepare a polymer flocculant that can be handled as a solid. The product obtained in the presence of 5–20% water was a solid and could be ground to a powder without drying. In order to obtain a water-soluble polymer at a higher concentration, the effect of various additives on the copolymerization was investigated and found that alcohols bearing a hydrogen atom attached to the tertiary carbon atom effectively inhibit intermolecular crosslinking to give water-soluble polymer. It is suggested that the formation of water-insoluble polymer is predominantly attributable to the crosslinking of polymer chains rather than to the imidation of amide groups. Copolymerization in the presence of isopropyl alcohol as inhibitor of the crosslinking was also studied and compared with that reported previously, which was carried out at a lower monomer concentration without additives.