Medical image diagnosis of kidney regions by deep feedback GMDH-type neural network using principal component-regression analysis

The deep feedback Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH)-type neural network is applied to the medical image recognition of kidney regions. In this algorithm, the principal component-regression analysis is used for the learning calculation of the neural network, and the accurate and stable predicted values are obtained. The neural network architecture is automatically organized so as to fit the complexity of the medical images using the prediction error criterion defined as Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC) or Prediction Sum of Squares (PSS). The recognition results show that the deep feedback GMDH-type neural network algorithm is useful for the medical image recognition of kidney regions, because the optimum neural network architecture is automatically organized.     

Bioactivities of nostocine a produced by a freshwater cyanobacterium Nostoc spongiaeforme TISTR 8169

A freshwater cyanobacterium, Nostoc spongiaeforme TISTR 8169, synthesizes and releases a violet pigment, nostocine A, into medium. We examined the bioactivity of nostocine A to several model organisms breeding with N. spongiaeforme in the natural environment. To microalgae, nostocine A exhibited growth inhibitory activity comparable to paraquat, and the activity tended to be stronger to green algae than to cyanobacteria. Nostocine A also exhibited strong inhibitory activity to the root elongation of barnyard grass, strong antifeedant activity to cotton ballworm, and acute toxicity to mice resulting in its classification as a dangerous poison. The results suggest that nostocine A may act as a toxin or an allelochemical to breeding organisms in nature. In a laboratory culture of N. spongiaeforme, the production of nostocine A was enhanced at higher temperature, 30 degrees C, and more intense light, 30 W/m2, than the basal conditions, 25 degrees C and 10 W/m2. Cultivation of cells with H2O2 at 1 or 2 mM also enhanced the production of nostocine A, indicating that nostocine A may be synthesized and released when the cells are exposed to oxidative stress, possibly occurring at higher temperature and more intense light. LC-MS and electron spin resonance analyses revealed that nostocine A, reduced previously by NaBH4, immediately recovered to its original form upon exposure to air and the generation of superoxide radical anions occurred at this re-oxidation step. These results suggest that the adverse effects of nostocine A on various organisms may be related to the function of nostocine A in generating toxic reactive oxygen species, which occurs in the cells of target organisms.     

Lipid classes,fatty acid composition and triacylglycerol molecular species of kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Seed oils from five legume cultivars of Phaseolus vulgaris, grown in Japan, were extracted and classified by thin‐layer chromatography (TLC) into seven fractions: hydrocarbons (HC; 0.7–1.4 wt‐%), steryl esters (SE; 1.7–3.3 wt‐%), triacylglycerols (TAG; 33.8–45.9 wt‐%), free fatty acids (FFA; 0.6–1.5 wt‐%), sn‐1,3‐diacylglycerols (1,3‐DAG; 0.3–1.0 wt‐%), sn‐1,2‐diacylglycerols (1,2‐DAG; 0.4–1.2 wt‐%) and phospholipids (PL; 49.4–58.8 wt‐%). Fatty acids derivatized as methyl esters were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and a flame ionization detector. Molecular species and the fatty acid distribution of TAG isolated from the total lipids in the beans were analyzed by a combination of argentation‐TLC and GC. A modified argentation‐TLC procedure, developed to optimize the separation of the complex mixture of total TAG, provided 18 different groups of TAG, based on both the degree of unsaturation and the total length of the three acyl chains of fatty acid groups. SDT (3.2–4.2 wt‐%), M₂T (3.8–5.0 wt‐%), D₃ (4.8–5.9 wt‐%), MDT (8.0–13.9 wt‐%), D₂T (12.5–15.8 wt‐%), MT₂ (19.4–22.7 wt‐%), DT₂ (17.8–23.5 wt‐%) and T₃ (9.2–13.0 wt‐%) were the main TAG components. The dominant fatty acids of TAG were α‐linolenic (48.5–57.8 wt‐%) and linoleic (16.7–25.8 wt‐%) acids, with appreciable amounts of palmitic (8.3–13.2 wt‐%) and oleic (7.8–13.8 wt‐%) acids. The high content of α‐linolenic acid in the cultivars of P. vulgaris could very likely play a beneficial role in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease among the large populations consuming them in Japan.     

Volatile components of the straw of Oryza sativa L

The components of the volatile oils from the straws of Oryza sativa L. (Onshinomai, Asamurasaki, Hinohikari) were analyzed by capillary GC/GC-MS. The quantification of volatile compounds in the oils was made by the internal standard method, using palmitic acid as reference substance. Palmitic acid was the most abundant component in these samples, followed by hexahydrofarnesyl acetone and phytol.     

Development of Tetrachlorophthalimides as Liver X Receptor β (LXRβ)‐Selective Agonists

Liver X receptor (LXR) agonists are candidates for the treatment of atherosclerosis via induction of ABCA1 (ATP‐binding cassette A1) gene expression, which contributes to reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) and to cholesterol efflux from the liver and intestine. However, LXR agonists also induce genes involved in lipogenesis, such as SREBP‐1c (sterol regulatory binding element protein 1c) and FAS (fatty acid synthase), thereby causing an undesirable increase in plasma and hepatic triglyceride (TG) levels. Recent studies indicate that LXRα contributes to lipogenesis in liver, and selective LXRβ activation improves RCT in mice. Therefore, LXRβ‐selective agonists are promising candidates to improve atherosclerosis without increasing plasma or hepatic TG levels. However, the ligand‐binding domains in the two LXR isoforms α/β share high sequence identity, and few LXR ligands show subtype selectivity. In this study we identified a tetrachlorophthalimide analogue as an LXRβ‐selective agonist. Structural development led to (E)‐4,5,6,7‐tetrachloro‐2‐(2‐styrylphenyl)isoindoline‐1,3‐dione ( 24 a ), which shows potent and selective LXRβ agonistic activity in reporter gene assays. In binding assays, compound 24 a bound to LXRβ preferentially over LXRα. It also induced the expression of ABCA1 mRNA but not SREBP‐1c mRNA in cells. Compound 24 a appears to be a promising lead compound for therapeutic agents to treat atherosclerosis without the side effects induced by LXRα/β dual agonists.     

Wavelength conversion film with glass coated Eu chelate for enhanced silicon-photovoltaic cell performance

In order to improve the conversion efficiency of a silicon-photovoltaic (PV) module, we investigated the combination with a wavelength conversion film (WCF), which consists of Eu chelate particles encapsulated by the sol–gel derived silica glass. The photoluminescence (PL) excitation spectrum of Eu chelate shows that the violet light below 400 nm is effectively converted to the red emission at 613 nm. Since the PV cell has higher sensitivity at the red wavelength region compared to the violet region, Eu chelate is one of the suitable material for a WCF. The diameter of fabricated sol–gel encapsulated Eu chelate was larger than the wavelength of irradiated sunlight, therefore, the transmittance of a WCF decreased with increasing the concentration of Eu chelate. The short circuit current (J_SC) was increased by inserting the the WCF on the front side of Si-PV cell compared to the reference module (glass/ethylene vinyl acetate/WCF without Eu chelate/Si-PV cell/EVA/back-film), and the maximum increase of ΔJ_SC was 1.03 mA/cm² compared to the reference module. However, the maximum ΔJ_SC of fabricated module was almost same as the conventional Si-PV cell due to the refractive index mismatch of each layers.     

Fabrication of all solid-state lithium-ion batteries with three-dimensionally ordered composite electrode consisting of Li0.35La0.55TiO3 and LiMn2O4

A composite electrode between three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) Li_0.35La_0.55TiO₃ (LLT) and LiMn₂O₄ was fabricated by colloidal crystal templating method and sol–gel process. A close-packed PS beads with the opal structure was prepared by filtration of a suspension containing PS beads. Li–La–Ti–O sol was injected by vacuum impregnation process into the voids between PS beads, and then was heated to form 3DOM-LLT. Three-dimensionally ordered composite material consisting of LiMn₂O₄ and LLT was prepared by sol–gel process. The prepared composite was characterized with SEM and XRD. All solid-state Li-ion battery was fabricated with the LLT–LiMn₂O₄ composite electrode as a cathode, dry polymer electrolyte and Li metal anode. The prepared all solid-state cathode exhibited a volumetric discharge capacity of 220 mAh cm⁻³.