Elimination of glycidyl palmitate in diolein by treatment with activated bleaching earth

In this study, activated bleaching earth (ABE) was used to eliminate glycidyl esters from both triacyl- and diacylglycerol oils. To investigate the mechanism, glycerol dioleate containing glycidyl palmitate (GP) was treated with ABE and the fate of the GP was monitored by analyzing the feed, treated, and ABE-absorbed oils using a gas-liquid chromatograph equipped with a flame-ionized detector. GP was completely removed from both the treated and absorbed oils. This indicates that this treatment is useful for GE removal from diacylglycerol oil, although it was not achieved by absorption of GE on ABE but rather by modification of GP. The results of composition analysis demonstrate that GP is transformed to glycerol monopalmitate, glycerol palmitate oleate, and glycerol dipalmitate at a recovery rate of 99.1 ± 1.3 %. An increase in glycerol monooleate and trace amounts of free glycerol and fatty acids were also observed after treatment. The transformation is proposed to involve a ring-opening reaction of GP with water contained in the ABE and in the bulk oil followed by an interesterification reaction among the resultant monopalmitate and the glycerol dioleate of the bulk oil. All the generated compounds were simple acylglycerols and glycerol. Therefore, ABE treatment could be useful for GE removal during the manufacture of edible oils.     

Characterization of ferroelectric/metal interface under the repeated polarization switching

Polarization fatigue mechanism in organic ferroelectrics, structures at interface between ferroelectric vinylidene fluoride oligomer and Al electrode under the repeated polarization switching process were investigated by high-resolution X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Al₂O₃ layer at interface was formed with increasing the number of polarization reversal. The formation of oxide layer will be strongly related to polarization reversal, thus the repeated charge and discharge process by polarization reversal may promote the oxidation of Al electrode. Furthermore, the structural and orientation changes in ferroelectric molecular films by applying the electric field were observed. The formation of Al₂O₃ layer, as well as the structural changes in thin films, is affected to polarization fatigue process of ferroelectric organic devices.     

A novel type hypertriglyceridemia observed in FLS mice

The unique inborn hypertriglyceridemia seen in FLS (fatty liver Shionogi) mice was relieved by the administration of purified apolipoprotein (apo) C-II. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and its cofactor, apoC-II, play a pivotal role in VLDL metabolism. Therefore, we investigated the genetic background involved in this hypertriglyceridemia. Plasma levels of TG and total cholesterol as well as LPL activity were measured in male FLS mice and C57/BL6J mice. Agarose gel electrophoresis and fast protein liquid chromatography were used to analyze the lipoprotein profile. A cross experiment was done to determine the genetic background of hypertriglyceridemia observed in FLS mice. cDNA sequences of apoC-II and apoC-III of FLS mice were determined. Preα-lipoprotein was the predominant lipoprotein class in FLS mouse plasma. LPL activity remained in the range observed in C57/BL6J mice, and purified apoC-II transiently relieved FLS mice from hypertriglyceridemia. Preα-lipoproteinemia was inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. ApoC-III appeared to be a causal factor for this unique hypertriglyceridemia. Microsatellite analysis, however, revealed that the responsible chromosome was not 7; rather, apoC-III mapped onto chromosome 9. Therefore, we suggest apoC-III as a candidate causative factor for the hypertriglyceridemia observed in FLS mice because an excessive amount of apoC-III attenuates LPL activity in vivo and in vitro.     

Indications for palliative reduction surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma with multiple intrahepatic metastases

It is assumed that stenosis of the right coronary artery (RCA) predisposes CABG patients, by way of incomplete atrial myocardial protection, to postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF). Sixty patients with high-grade RCA lesion were randomized into four groups according to the technique of delivery of cold blood cardioplegia: antegrade, retrograde, retrograde without catheter cuff, and combined antegrade and retrograde. As controls, 34 patients without RCA lesion were randomized to receive antegrade or retrograde cardioplegia. Postoperative atrial fibrillation episodes were recorded. Patients with RCA lesion were more prone to develop AF; odds ratio (OR)=3.75 (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.22-11.5). Retrograde delivery in these patients was more often associated with AF, OR=4.97 (95% CI = 1.02-24.1). Other risk factors for AF were an increasing number of preoperative infarcts (p < 0.05) and more advanced coronary artery disease (p < 0.05). Prolonged stay in the intensive care unit (p < 0.001) and occurrence of postoperative ventricular tachycardia (p < 0.05) were associated with AF. RCA stenosis and retrograde cardioplegia delivery in RCA-affected patients were risk factors for postoperative atrial fibrillation. Retrograde cardioplegia may offer poorer protection at the atrial level.     

Consolidation of machined magnesium alloy chips by hot extrusion utilizing superplastic flow

An examination of consolidation conditions by hot extrusion of AZ31 magnesium alloy machined chips was conducted to enhance the bonding of individual chips, in order to improve the mechanical properties. Hot extrusions were carried out in the superplastic and non-superplastic region. Microstructural observations revealed that grain refinement was attained by extruding machined chips, and the grain sizes of the chip-extruded materials were smaller than 5 m. The interfaces of individual chips of extruded materials were not identified when the chips were extruded in the superplastic region. The ultimate tensile strength was about 300 MPa and elongation-to-failure was about 10% for chip-extruded materials that were extruded in the superplastic region. These materials were comparable with the as-received alloy with respect to the room temperature strength, although the ductility was reduced to half. It was confirmed that chip consolidation utilizing superplastic flow is useful to enhance the bonding of individual grains.     

Measurement of water content distribution in catalyst coated membranes under water permeation conditions by magnetic resonance imaging

The through-plane water content distribution in a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) and in catalyst coated membranes (CCMs) and the flux of water through these membranes were determined under water permeation conditions by means of magnetic resonance imaging and dew point measurements. The PEM or CCM was placed in an experimental cell and subjected to water permeation conditions with various water activities across the membrane. A comparison of the water content distribution and the water flux in the various samples showed that the PEM and CCMs have different water transport properties. These differences suggested that diffusion through the membrane and interfacial transport across the membrane-gas interface, which are the rate determining processes for water transport through the membrane, change depending on whether the membrane has a catalyst coating.     

Experimental Study of Air Entrainment Rates due to Inclined Liquid Jets

The air entrainment rate due to inclined liquid jet plunging into a pool was investigated experimentally. Three types of fluids with varying physical properties in terms of viscosity and surface tension were utilized. For the impinging jet test section, nozzles with different inner diameters were selected. The inclination angles and liquid jet velocities at the nozzle outlet were varied and the entrained air rate was measured by the soap meniscus method. Taking the falling velocity of the liquid jet as a characteristic velocity, it was found that the air entrainment rate under the present experimental condition largely depended on the Weber number. From the obtained database, a new empirical model dependent on the Weber number and Laplace length scale is proposed which is capable of predicting the air entrainment flow rate at a mean absolute relative deviation of 21.7 %.     

The Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitor Teneligliptin Attenuates Hepatic Lipogenesis via AMPK Activation in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Model Mice

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is strongly associated with metabolic syndrome, is increasingly a major cause of hepatic disorder. Dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitors, anti-diabetic agents, are expected to be effective for the treatment of NAFLD. In the present study, we established a novel NAFLD model mouse using monosodium glutamate (MSG) and a high-fat diet (HFD) and investigated the effects of a DPP-4 inhibitor, teneligliptin, on the progression of NAFLD. Male MSG/HFD-treated mice were divided into two groups, one of which received teneligliptin in drinking water. Administration of MSG and HFD caused mice to develop severe fatty changes in the liver, but teneligliptin treatment improved hepatic steatosis and inflammation, as evaluated by the NAFLD activity score. Serum alanine aminotransferase and intrahepatic triglyceride levels were significantly decreased in teneligliptin-treated mice (p < 0.05). Hepatic mRNA levels of the genes involved in de novo lipogenesis were significantly downregulated by teneligliptin (p < 0.05). Moreover, teneligliptin increased hepatic expression levels of phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) protein. These findings suggest that teneligliptin attenuates lipogenesis in the liver by activating AMPK and downregulating the expression of genes involved in lipogenesis. DPP-4 inhibitors may be effective for the treatment of NAFLD and may be able to prevent its progression to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.     

Application of generalized grating imaging to pattern projection in three-dimensional profilometry

The theory of generalized grating imaging for a one-dimensional grating is applied to a pattern projection system in pattern projection profilometry. Contrast of the projected grating image is calculated under various conditions. The results help to determine the conditions suitable for obtaining high contrast grating images in a large space. Although the gratings required for the profilometry are hexagonal, the theory for two-dimensional gratings is prohibitively complex. Therefore, the projection system was designed using the one-dimensional theory. The projection system using two-dimensional hexagonal gratings was constructed and experiments were done with it. The result agrees approximately with the theoretical calculations for one-dimensional gratings. This suggests that the one-dimensional theory may be used for estimating the approximated behavior for hexagonal gratings for use in pattern projection profilometry. Some discussions are given for the application of the projection system for profiling the mannequin or human body.