Surface features of uniaxial tensile fractures and their relation to rock anisotropy in Inada granite

Uniaxial tensile fractures parallel to the rift, grain and hardway planes were formed in Inada granite. Most of the fractures split the rock-forming mineral grains as transgranular paths under microscopic observations. The surface topography of the fractures was measured by the stereo-photogrammetric technique, and is different in different orientations. The rift-parallel uniaxial fracture has the smoothest surface, and the grain-parallel fractures are smoother than hardway-parallel fractures. The mineral compositions are also different on the failed surfaces of different directions. The rift-parallel fractures have almost the same constituent mineral ratio as the parent rock. However, the grain-parallel fractures pass preferentially through feldspar grains, and contain less quartz grains as compared to the bulk composition of the parent rock. In addition, it is remarkable on hardway-parallel fractures. It is considered that the differences of surface topography and mineral compositions are caused by preferred orientations and spatial distributions of pre-existing microcracks in Inada granite.     

Abiotic Stresses: Insight into Gene Regulation and Protein Expression in Photosynthetic Pathways of Plants

Global warming and climate change intensified the occurrence and severity of abiotic stresses that seriously affect the growth and development of plants, especially, plant photosynthesis. The direct impact of abiotic stress on the activity of photosynthesis is disruption of all photosynthesis components such as photosystem I and II, electron transport, carbon fixation, ATP generating system and stomatal conductance. The photosynthetic system of plants reacts to the stress differently, according to the plant type, photosynthetic systems (C₃ or C₄), type of the stress, time and duration of the occurrence and several other factors. The plant responds to the stresses by a coordinate chloroplast and nuclear gene expression. Chloroplast, thylakoid membrane, and nucleus are the main targets of regulated proteins and metabolites associated with photosynthetic pathways. Rapid responses of plant cell metabolism and adaptation to photosynthetic machinery are key factors for survival of plants in a fluctuating environment. This review gives a comprehensive view of photosynthesis-related alterations at the gene and protein levels for plant adaptation or reaction in response to abiotic stress.     

Determination of dimetridazole, metronidazole and ronidazole in salmon and honey by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry

A liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed to determine the residues of dimetridazole (DMZ), metronidazole (MNZ) and ronidazole (RNZ) in salmon and honey. These compounds were extracted with ethyl acetate from samples and cleaned up using a silica solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridge. These compounds were determined by reversed-phase LC using a C18 column with distilled water-methanol as the mobile phase, and MS detection in the positive mode by applying selected reaction monitoring (SRM). DMZ-d(3), MNZ-(13)C(2),(15)N(2) and RNZ-d(3) were used as internal standards. The method was validated in salmon and honey spiked with these compounds at 0.4-2 μg/kg, and average recoveries were in the range of 91.2-107.0%. Repeatability was 1.7-17.1% and intermediate precision was less than 20%. The detection limits of DMZ, MNZ and RNZ in salmon and honey were 0.05-0.2 μg/kg. The method was applied to 3 salmon and 20 honey samples. The concentrations of these compounds in all samples were lower than the detection limits established by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan.     

Adsorption of poly-DL-alanine at the mercury-solution interface

The adsorption of poly-DL-alanine (mean molecular weight 3900) at the mercury-solution interface was studied by means of differential capacity and surface tension measurements. The poly-DL-alanine adsorbed in the potential region between 0.0 and ?1.6V(sce). At the potentials of ?0.15 and ?1.1 V the maximum surface concentration Γ_m, and the surface area occupied by one molecule, S, were derived from the diffusion-controlled adsorption behavior with the assumption of the diffusion coefficient. The values of S at ?1.1V in 0.1 N sulfuric acid, 0.1N sodium sulfate and 0.1N sodium hydroxide were 348, 282 and 274Ų/molecule, respectively, and the values at ?0.5V became somewhat larger than the above values. The above S values derived from the differential capacity measurement were supported from those derived from the surface tension measurement by means of the Lippmann adsorption equation. The adsorbed conformation at the mercury-solution interface was discussed from those S values.     

Consumer Acceptance of Ozone-Treated Whole Shell Eggs

ABSTRACT: Ozone-based processing is a novel technology with potentially fewer adverse effects than in-shell thermal pasteurization of eggs. There are no consumer acceptance studies published on ozone-treated eggs. This study examines consumers’ ability to detect changes between ozone-treated, thermal-treated, and fresh untreated eggs. Consumers (n = 111) evaluated visual attributes of uncooked eggs and a separate group of consumers (n = 132) evaluated acceptability of cooked eggs. Consumers evaluated attribute intensity of the eggs. The yolks and albumens of the thermal-treated and ozone-treated eggs were perceived to be significantly cloudier than the untreated control, while the ozone-treated eggs were more similar to control (P < 0.05). The yolks of ozone-treated eggs were perceived to have significantly lower heights and greater spreads than the others (P < 0.05). Despite these perceptions, overall visual appeal of ozone-treated eggs was not significantly different from control eggs. A separate set of consumers used hedonic scales to evaluate overall liking, appearance, aroma, flavor, and texture of cooked eggs. Just-about-right (JAR) scales were used to rate the color, moistness, and texture. There were no differences on any attribute scores between the treatments, except thermal-treated and ozone-treated were perceived as less moist than the control. There were no adverse effects on consumer acceptance of eggs, treated with ozone, with acceptance the same as an untreated control. These findings are useful as ozone pasteurization can enhance the safety of fresh shell eggs to meet the goals of the U.S. Egg Safety Action Plan. Practical Application: The U.S. Egg Safety Action Plan requires all shell eggs to be pasteurized to prevent foodborne illness. Heat pasteurization partially cooks the egg, so an alternative process uses ozone with less heat. This study shows the ozone pasteurization has no detectable sensory defects.     

Occurrence of aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, and fumonisins in retail foods in Japan

We conducted a survey of aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, and G2, ochratoxin A, and fumonisin B1, B2, and B3 contamination in various foods on the retail market in Japan in 2004 and 2005. The mycotoxins were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, or high-performance thin-layer chromatography. Aflatoxins were detected in 10 of 21 peanut butter samples; the highest concentration of aflatoxin B1 was 2.59 microg/kg. Aflatoxin contamination was not found in corn products, corn, peanuts, buckwheat flour, dried buckwheat noodles, rice, or sesame oil. Ochratoxin A was detected in oatmeal, wheat flour, rye, buckwheat flour, green coffee beans, roasted coffee beans, raisins, beer, and wine but not in rice or corn products. Ochratoxin A concentrations in contaminated samples were below 0.8 microg/kg. Fumonisins were detected in popcorn, frozen corn, corn flakes, and corn grits. The highest concentrations of fumonisins B1, B2, and B3 in these samples were 354.0, 94.0, and 64.0 microg/kg, respectively.     

Determination of origin of ephedrine used as precursor for illicit methamphetamine by carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratio analysis

The sale of ephedrine, one of the precursors of methamphetamine, is strictly controlled and monitored in various countries to prevent the production of illicit methamphetamine. There are three kinds of production scheme for ephedrine manufacture, and it is very useful for precursor control to investigate the origin of ephedrine used for the synthesis of illicit methamphetamine. By means of stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IR-MS), we investigated the origin of ephedrine based on the delta(13)C and delta(15)N values. The various origins of ephedrine (biosynthetic, semisynthetic, or synthetic) could be discriminated clearly by using these values. The delta(15)N values of synthetic ephedrine were more negative than those of ephedrine from other sources. By the repeated distillation of methylamine in our laboratory, we confirmed that this could be due to isotope separation during distillation for the purification of methylamine used for ephedrine synthesis. The values for ephedrine used as the precursor were well-correlated with those for methamphetamine synthesized from it. This drug characterization analysis should be useful to illuminate the origin of the precursors used for clandestine methamphetamine and to trace the diversion of medicinal ephedrine for illicit manufacture of methamphetamine.     

Novel broad-band optical switch using silica-based planar lightwavecircuit

Novel wavelength-insensitive thermooptic switches which use silica-based planar lightwave circuits are proposed and successfully demonstrated. The fabricated switch has an extinction ratio of more than 17 dB over a 1.25-1.65 μm wavelength range     

Direct action of nitric oxide on osteoblastic differentiation

The effect of nitric oxide (NO) on osteoblastic differentiation was examined in cultured mouse osteoblasts. Interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha expressed inducible NO synthase gene with little effect on constitutive NO synthase gene. These cytokines increased NO production, which was inhibited by L-NMMA pretreatment, and decreased alkaline phosphatase (AIPase) activity, which was not restored by L-NMMA. Furthermore, NO donors, sodium nitroprusside and NONOate dose-dependently elevated AIPase activity and expression of osteocalcin gene. These results suggest that NO directly facilitates osteoblastic differentiation and the cytokine-induced inhibition of AIPase activity is mediated via mechanism other than NO.     

Studies of the crystallisation of gallium hydroxide precipitated from hydrochloric acid solutions by various alkalis

Gallium hydroxide precipitated from aqueous gallium chloride solution on addition of alkalis at varying pH have been aged in the mother liquors for different periods of time. The resulting precipitates have been examined by X-ray diffraction and i.r. spectrophotometry. It is found that the precipitate, separated immediately from the mother liquor after preparation, exists in an amorphous type and transforms to α-gallium oxyhydroxide during aging independent of pH.