Wax,policosanol, and long‐chain aldehydes of different sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) cultivars

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) wax that contains policosanol (a mixture of long‐chain alcohols), is widely known to have beneficial effects on human health. In order to investigate differences in the composition and content of sugarcane wax in different sugarcane cultivars, the wax, policosanol, and long‐chain aldehyde composition of eight sugarcane cultivars were examined. The wax composition of sugarcane was analyzed using HPLC coupled with an evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD). Sugarcane waxes were comprised of 55–60% aldehyde and sterol esters, 32–40% alcohol, and small amounts of TAG, acid, and plant sterols. Additionally, the composition of policosanol and long‐chain aldehydes was determined using GC‐FID and their mass fragment compounds were identified using GC‐MS. The highest content of policosanol and long‐chain aldehyde compounds (500 mg and 600 mg/100 g rind, respectively), was found in the hand‐peeled rind of the Ni 22 sugarcane cultivar. The content of these compounds increased up to 72% during sugarcane maturation from October to January. This study indicated that the composition and content of wax, policosanol, and long‐chain aldehydes may vary depending on the cultivar of the sugarcane and the specific part of the sugarcane analyzed, as well as on the degree of sugarcane maturity. Practical applications: Different sugarcane cultivars have been evaluated in terms of their usefulness as a source of policosanol, which is a valuable wax component that may have beneficial effects on human health. Policosanol is the common name that refers to a group of long‐chain (C₂₀–C₃₀) aliphatic primary alcohols that are of great interest since their effects include reduction of platelet aggregation, reduction of low‐density lipoprotein levels in blood, inhibition of cholesterol synthesis, and prevention of atherosclerosis development, and which also display ergogenic properties. The present study detailed the wax composition, including that of policosanol and long‐chain aldehydes, of sugarcanes of different cultivars. The results of this study could provide a basis for selection of sugarcane cultivars in agricultural areas for wax or policosanol production.     

Intraventricular, cystic, atypical meningioma

A 37-year-old male presented with a very rare cystic meningioma in the trigone of the left lateral ventricle. Neurological examination revealed mild conduction aphasia and right hemisensory disturbance. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a solid, enhancing tumor in the left trigone which had multiple cystic components located anteriorly and superiorly. The tumor was totally resected via a parietal, transventricular approach. Histological examination revealed an atypical meningioma with cellular pleomorphism and prominent nucleoli. Both the solid component and the cyst wall consisted of tumor cells.     

Signal-to-noise ratio analysis of 100 Gb/s demultiplexing usingnonlinear optical loop mirror

This paper investigates experimentally and theoretically the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) characteristics of 100 Gb/s all-optical demultiplexing using a nonlinear optical loop mirror (NOLM). The analysis takes into account two effects that degrade the SNR associated with NOLM demultiplexing. First is channel crosstalk originating from the leakage of nontarget channels. Second is the intensity fluctuations of demultiplexed signals caused by the combined effects of timing jitter and a profile of the switching window. Considering these two effects, power penalties associated with NOLM. Demultiplexing are theoretically evaluated using the conventional noise theory of an optical receiver followed by an optical preamplifier. Experimental results of bit error rate measurements for 100 Gb/s demultiplexing using three different NOLMs with different intrinsic crosstalk values, defined by signal transmittance in the absence of control pulses, show that the power penalties are in good agreement with the evaluation based upon our proposed analysis. It can be found from our investigation in demultiplexing from 100 to 10 Gb/s that intrinsic crosstalk of less than -25 dB, corresponding to a coupling ratio, K, of |K-0.5|⩽0.03, is required for the power penalty of less than 1 dB. The root-mean-square (rms) value of the relative timing jitter necessary for obtaining a sufficient timing tolerance width for combining control and signal pulses is determined     

200 Gbit/s, 100 km time-division-multiplexed optical transmissionusing supercontinuum pulses with prescaled PLL timing extraction andall-optical demultiplexing

A single channel, single polarisation 200 Gbit/s time-division-multiplexed optical transmission experiment is successfully demonstrated using optical short pulses generated by supercontinuum. A prescaled clock is recovered directly from the 200 Gbit/s signal to drive an all-optical demultiplexer     

Multiwavelength birefringent-cavity mode-locked fibre laser

Generation of simultaneous four wavelength optical pulses is successfully demonstrated using a novel multiwavelength mode-locked Er/sup 3+/-doped fibre ring laser with two, 45 degrees concatenated, birefringent fibres in the cavity. Wavelength separations of 0.9-2.7 nm and pulse durations of 28-55 ps are obtained.<>     

270-360 GHz tunable beat signal light generator for photonic localoscillator

A new millimetre- and submillimetre-wave generation method is proposed. The method employs three techniques, namely the modulation of CW light by an electroabsorption modulator, pulse spectrum expansion through higher-order soliton compression, and spectrum filtering by using tunable fibre Bragg gratings. With this method, a continuously tunable beat signal from 270 to 360 GHz with no frequency fluctuation was obtained experimentally. In addition, the method requires only one laser source, and generates a beat spectrum with a linewidth of less than 10 Hz. By using optical filters with a sufficiently wide tuning range, it is possible to generate a beat signal at any frequency from 100 GHz to 1 THz     

160 Gbit/s full optical time-division demultiplexing using FWM ofSOA-array integrated on PLC

160 Gbit/s full time-division demultiplexing using a semiconductor optical amplifier hybrid integrated demultiplexer on a planar lightwave circuit is demonstrated. Error-free, demultiplexing from a 160 Gbit/s signal to eight-channel, 20 Gbit/s signals is successfully demonstrated     

Effects of control-signal pulse walk-off on BER performance of nonlinear optical loop mirror demultiplexer

The effects of pulse walk-off between control and signal pulses on the BER performance of an NOLM demultiplexer are studied at 32 Gbit/s using a wavelength tunable mode-locked Er/sup 3+/-doped fibre ring laser. It is confirmed that BER degradation caused by timing errors is effectively suppressed by choosing an appropriate amount of pulse walk-off.<>     

Molecular biological researches of Kuro-Koji molds, their classification and safety

To assess the position of Kuro-Koji molds in black Aspergillus, we performed sequence analysis of approximately 2500 nucleotides of partial gene fragments, such as histone 3, on a total of 57 Aspergillus strains, including Aspergillus kawachii NBRC 4308, 12 Kuro-Koji molds isolated from awamori breweries in Japan, Aspergillus niger ATCC 1015, and A. tubingensis ATCC10550. Sequence results showed that all black Aspergillus strains could be classified into 3 types, type N which includes A. niger ATCC 1015, type T which includes A. tubingensis ATCC 10550, and type L which includes A. kawachii NBRC 4308. Phylogenetic analysis showed these three types belong to different clusters. All 12 Kuro-Koji molds isolated from awamori breweries were classified as type L, thus we concluded type L represents the industrial Kuro-Koji molds. We found all type L strains lack the An15g07920 gene which is required for ochratoxin A biosynthesis in black Aspergillus. This sequence is present in the genome of A. niger CBS 513.88 and has homology to the polyketide synthase fragment of A. ochraceus which is involved in ochratoxin A biosynthesis. Based on the industrial importance and the safety of Kuro-Koji molds, we propose to classify the type L strains as Aspergillus luchuensis, as initially reported by Dr. Inui.     

Assessment of global nitrogen pollution in rivers using an integrated biogeochemical modeling framework

This study has analyzed the global nitrogen loading of rivers resulting from atmospheric deposition, direct discharge, and nitrogenous compounds generated by residential, industrial, and agricultural sources. Fertilizer use, population distribution, land cover, and social census data were used in this study. A terrestrial nitrogen cycle model with a 24-h time step and 0.5° spatial resolution was developed to estimate nitrogen leaching from soil layers in farmlands, grasslands, and natural lands. The N-cycle in this model includes the major processes of nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification, immobilization, mineralization, leaching, and nitrogen absorption by vegetation. The previously developed Total Runoff Integrating Pathways network was used to analyze nitrogen transport from natural and anthropogenic sources through river channels, as well as the collecting and routing of nitrogen to river mouths by runoff. Model performance was evaluated through nutrient data measured at 61 locations in several major world river basins. The dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations calculated by the model agreed well with the observed data and demonstrate the reliability of the proposed model. The results indicate that nitrogen loading in most global rivers is proportional to the size of the river basin. Reduced nitrate leaching was predicted for basins with low population density, such as those at high latitudes or in arid regions. Nitrate concentration becomes especially high in tropical humid river basins, densely populated basins, and basins with extensive agricultural activity. On a global scale, agriculture has a significant impact on the distribution of nitrogenous compound pollution. The map of nitrate distribution indicates that serious nitrogen pollution (nitrate concentration: 10-50 mg N/L) has occurred in areas with significant agricultural activities and small precipitation surpluses. Analysis of the model uncertainty also suggests that the nitrate export in most rivers is sensitive to the amount of nitrogen leaching from agricultural lands.