Alkylphenol and bisphenol A levels in rubber products

Levels of p-t-butylphenol (PTBP), p-t-octylphenol (PTOP), p-nonylphenol (NP) and bisphenol A (BPA) in rubber products in food-contact use, infant-related use and other uses are reported. Of 60 rubber products tested, PTOP was found in three in a concentration range of 2.2-37 μg g^-1, and NP in 15 in a concentration range of 2.6-513 μg g^-1. PTBP and BPA were not found in any sample. PTOP and NP were not detected in any infant-related sample, regardless of the material type. In contrast, among the samples with food contact and with other uses, the percentages containing PTOP or NP were 33 and 43%, respectively. A migration test was performed on eight samples containing NP and used in food-contact environments. The migration level of NP from spatulas to n-heptane was 0.83-1.52 μg ml^-1. The average migration rates to water, 20% ethanol and n-heptane were 0.03, 0.7 and 6.6%, respectively.     

Role of brown adipose tissue in thermogenesis induced by overfeeding a diet containing medium chain triglyceride

The role of brown adipose tissue in the mechanism of medium chain triglyceride (MCT)-induced thermogenesis was investigated. Under anesthesia, the interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT) was excised in male Sprague-Dawley rats, and the animals were fitted with gastrostomy tubes. After a 10-day recovery period, the animals were divided into two groups: one group received a diet containing MCT as 50% of calories, and the other group received an isocaloric diet containing long chain triglyceride (LCT). The diets were fed for 6 wk at a level of calorie intake that was 150% of the ad libitum intake of a parallel control group. During the last week of the study, resting and norepinephrine (NE)-stimulated O₂ consumption and CO₂ production were measured in a Noyons diaferometer. At the end of 6 wk, the animals were weighed and killed. The individual fat pads were dissected and weighed, and an aliquot of the right retroperitoneal fat pad was used to measure adipocyte size and number. The results showed that body weight and adipocyte size (but not adipocyte number) were significantly smaller in the MCT-fed compared to the LCT-fed animals. Resting as well as maximal NE-stimulated oxygen consumption values were significantly higher in the MCT-fed than the LCT-fed rats. It is concluded that the enhanced thermogenesis induced by MCT persists despite the absence of IBAT and that the phenomenon is likely related to more extensive oxidation of MCT-in contrast to LCT-derived fatty acids, thus leading to increased oxygen consumption, enhanced dissipation of energy as heat and diminished efficiency of weight gain and deposition of body fat. Presented at the symposium on “Specialty Lipids and Their Biofunctionality” at the annual meeting of the American Oil Chemists' Society, Philadelphia, May 1985.     

Tensile strength of plasma-sprayed alumina and/or zirconia coatings on titanium

The heat treatment effect on the characteristics and tensile strength of plasma-sprayed alumina, yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), and mixtures of alumina and YSZ coatings on titanium was investigated. The as-sprayed structures of alumina and YSZ coatings consists of a and y alumina phases, and cubic and tetragonal zirconia phases, respectively. The tensile strength of the coatings containing a large amount of YSZ is increased from 25 to 50 MPa by heat treatment at 800 °C. The 60% YSZ-AI₂O₃ coating showed the highest tensile strength. The tensile strength increase of the YSZ-containing coating by heat treatment is caused by formation of 10 to 100 nm wide microcracks. The interface adhesion strength between the heat-treated titanium substrate and the alumina-containing coating is increased by chemical reaction at the in-terface. Thus, a heat-treated alumina and zirconia mixture coating may be favorable in obtaining high tensile strength due to microcrack formation in the coating and the chemical reaction at the interface. During this work, S. Baba was a graduate student at Kyushu Institute of Technology, Sumitomo Metal Ind. Ltd., Osaka, Japan.     

Technological and sensorial properties of liquid nitrogen ice cream enriched with protein from brewing waste (trub)

Debittered trub (brewing waste) is an important source of protein source (70.26%). Trub and whey protein were used for 5% protein enrichment of ice cream frozen by liquid nitrogen. Three formulations were elaborated: ice cream standard (ICS), ice cream with whey protein (ICW) and ice cream with trub (ICT). Chemical composition, rheological properties, texture, overrun, melting rate, scanning electron microscopy and a sensorial test were performed. Results showed that ICT presented a higher viscosity, obtained on the upward curve up to 6.76 Pa s⁻¹, consistency index (22.96 (Pa s⁻¹)ⁿ), hysteresis area (140.40 mPa s⁻¹) and hardness (31113.33 g) but a lower melting rate (0.38 g min⁻¹), overrun (13.92%) and sensorial acceptability than the other formulations. The addition of trub debittered for protein enrichment improved ice cream properties and demonstrated that it could be used as a food ingredient.     

Collagen and elastin synthesis by desmoid tumor in vitro

In order to characterize human desmoid tumors in vitro, the production of collagen and elastin and the expression of collagen types alpha1(I), alpha1(III) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 mRNA were investigated in six desmoid tumors; five derived from familial adenomatous polyposis patients and one from a sporadic case. The proportion of collagen production to total protein production was determined by 3H-imino acid incorporation, an indicator of collagen synthesis, using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The proportion of collagen production to total protein production was much higher in all six desmoid tumors compared with human skin fibroblasts (HSF). Quantitatively, the rate of elastin synthesis in desmoid tumor cells monitored by valine-proline peptide was also significantly higher than in HSF. Pro-alpha1(I) collagen mRNA was highly expressed in both desmoid tumors and HSF at approximately the same level, whereas pro-alpha1(III) collagen mRNA was more abundant in some of the desmoid tumors than the normal skin fibroblastic cell lines. Tumor growth factor-beta1 mRNA, which is believed to stimulate collagen synthesis, was expressed in both desmoid tumors and HSF to the same extent. These results demonstrate the increased formation of collagen and elastin in desmoid tumors in vitro and suggest that the increased synthesis of elastin rather than of collagen and TGF-beta1 may be involved in increased fibrogenesis by desmoid tumors.     

Enhancing low-temperature energy harvesting by lead-free ferroelectric Ba(Zr0.1Ti0.9)O3

The energy-harvesting ability of the lead-free ferroelectric Ba(Zr,Ti)O₃ was investigated and greatly enhanced using the Kim novel electrothermodynamic cycle for low-temperature application. Ba(Zr,Ti)O₃ was synthesized with a Zr:Ti ratio of 10:90 (BZT10) by hot-press sintering, which exhibited a mix relaxor-ferroelectric behavior. For power generation using the Kim cycle with low and high temperatures of T_L = 25°C, T_H = 120°C, the most optimized temperature pattern occurred for a heating time of 12.5 s and a cooling time of 22.5 s. Under these conditions, the electric field increased during the novel isodisplacement process, and the displacement variation in the isoelectric step reached the highest value and maximized the BZT10 cycle loop area. Applying these conditions while lowering T_L to 20°C, an energy density N_D = 504 mJ/cm³ was achieved. This value is the highest obtained energy density in a practical test for lead-free ferroelectric bulk material in the BaTiO₃ family.     

NOTE: SOLVENT EXTRACTION OF PLATINUM(IV) BY TRIOCTYLPHOSPHINE OXIDE

The equilibrium distribution of platinum(IV) between hydrochloric acid and trioctylphosphine oxide (T0P0) in toluene at 303 K was examined. From the concentration dependencies of the distribution ratio, it was determined that platinum(IV) is extracted as follows:

The extraction.equilibrium constant was found to be Ke = 3.6×10³.     

SOLVENT EXTRACTION EQUILIBRIA OF GALLIUM (III) WITH ACIDIC ORGANOPHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS FROM AQUEOUS NITRATE MEDIA

A comparative investigation on the solvent extraction equilibria of gallium(III) from aqueous nitrate media was conducted with three kinds of acidic organophosphorus compounds, di (2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA), 2-ethylhexyl 2-ethyl-hexylphosphonic acid (EHEHPA) and di (2,4,4'-trimethylpentyl) phosphinic acid (DTMPPA), in toluene at 303 K. It was found that gallium(III) is extracted as 1:4 metal:reagent complexes with D2EHPA and EHEHPA and as a 1:3 complex with DTMPPA in the region of low loading ratio while it is extracted as 1:3 complexes with all reagents at high loading ratio. The extraction equilibrium constants with these extractants were evaluated for the former complexes as follows: K_e = 2.3xl0^-2, 8.5xl0^-3 and 1.3xl0^-4 for D2EHPA, EHEHPA and DTMPPA respectively.     

Adsorption of Metal Ions on A Novel Amine-Type Chelating Resin

Distribution equilibria were investigated for the adsorption of metal ions and acids on Sumichelate MC-10 resin, a polyethylene polyamine type of novel chelating resin. The total exchange capacities for HCl and HNO₃ were evaluated as 5.6 and 6.3 mol/kg dry resin, respectively. Adsorption of various divalent transition metals and precious metals was investigated from HCl on the chloride form of the resin. The adsorption of transition metals took place in the sequence Cd>Zn>Cu>Co>Mn. The adsorption of Pt(IV) was only slightly selective over Pd(II); however, the latter was selectively eluted with high concentrations of HCl. Adsorption of Ag(I), Zn(II) and Cu(II) was investigated from 1 mol/dm³ NH₄NO₃ on the free base form of the resin. It took place in the sequence Cu>Ag>Zn. The mechanism of the adsorption of metal ions mentioned above was qualitatively discussed.     

Neuroprotective Effects of Liraglutide for Stroke Model of Rats

The number of diabetes mellitus (DM) patients is increasing, and stroke is deeply associated with DM. Recently, neuroprotective effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) are reported. In this study, we explored whether liraglutide, a GLP-1 analogue exerts therapeutic effects on a rat stroke model. Wistar rats received occlusion of the middle cerebral artery for 90 min. At one hour after reperfusion, liraglutide or saline was administered intraperitoneally. Modified Bederson’s test was performed at 1 and 24 h and, subsequently, rats were euthanized for histological investigation. Peripheral blood was obtained for measurement of blood glucose level and evaluation of oxidative stress. Brain tissues were collected to evaluate the level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The behavioral scores of liraglutide-treated rats were significantly better than those of control rats. Infarct volumes of liraglutide-treated rats at were reduced, compared with those of control rats. The level of derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolite was lower in liraglutide-treated rats. VEGF level of liraglutide-treated rats in the cortex, but not in the striatum significantly increased, compared to that of control rats. In conclusion, this is the first study to demonstrate neuroprotective effects of liraglutide on cerebral ischemia through anti-oxidative effects and VEGF upregulation.