Simultaneous determination of nine kinds of preservatives in foods by HPLC

A simple and rapid HPLC method was developed for the simultaneous determination of nine kinds of preservatives, benzoic acid (BA), sorbic acid (SOA), dehydroacetic acid (DHA), methyl p-hydroxybenzoate (PHBA-Me), ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate (PHBA-Et), isopropyl p-hydroxybenzoate (PHBA-isoPu), propyl p-hydroxybenzoate (PHBA-Pu), isobutyl p-hydroxybenzoate (PHBA-isoBu) and butyl p-hydroxybenzoate (PHBA-Bu), in foods. For solid foods, the preservatives were extracted with methanol. After addition of 5 mmol/L citrate buffer to the extract, the extract solution was cleaned up on an Oasis HLB cartridge. The cartridge was washed with 5 mmol/L citrate buffer and methanol-5 mmol/L citrate buffer (4:6). Then, nine kinds of preservatives were eluted with methanol. The eluent was used for BA, SOA and DHA determination by HPLC. Furthermore, a part of the eluent was cleaned up on a Bond Elut PSA cartridge for p-hydroxybenzoate esters determination by HPLC. Liquid foods were cleaned up after addition of 5 mmol/L citrate buffer without the extraction process, and the subsequent procedure was the same as for solid foods. The recoveries of p-hydroxybenzoate esters from ten kinds of foods fortified at levels of 0.01 and 0.10 g/kg each were 91.5 to 107.4%, and those of BA, SOA and DHA were 76.4 to 104.8%. The quantitation limits of the preservatives in foods were 0.005 g/kg. (Received March 20, 2006)     

Functions and potential applications of glycolipid biosurfactants--from energy-saving materials to gene delivery carriers

Biosurfactants (BS) produced by various microorganisms show unique properties (e.g., mild production conditions, lower toxicity, higher biodegradability and environmental compatibility) compared to their chemical counterparts. The numerous advantages of BS have prompted applications not only in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries but in environmental protection and energy-saving technology as well. Glycolipid BS are the most promising, due to high productivity from renewable resources and versatile biochemical properties. Mannosylerythritol lipids (MEL), which are glycolipid BS produced by a yeast Candida antarctrica, exhibit not only excellent interfacial properties but also remarkable differentiation-inducing activities against human leukemia cells. MEL also show a potential anti-agglomeration effect on ice particles in ice slurry used for cold thermal storage. Recently, the cationic liposome bearing MEL has been demonstrated to increase dramatically the efficiency of gene transfection into mammalian cells. These features of BS should broaden its applications in new advanced technologies. The current status of research and development on glycolipid BS, especially their function and potential applications, is discussed.     

Analytical study on the interface of polymer blends from advanced COPNA-resin and nylon 6

In the previous work, we introduced new polymer blends from the advanced COPNA-resin and nylon 6.¹ The morphology of the polymer blends were quite different between the B-staged state and the fully cured state. In order to investigate a phenomenon occurred in the curing process, ¹³C Fourier transform-nuclear magnetic resonance (FT-NMR) spectral analysis, ¹⁵N FT-NMR spectral analysis, and Fourier transform infrared absorptional spectral analysis were carried out on the blends in a solid state. From the spectral analyses, it was revealed that a graft reaction occurred at the interface between the advanced COPNA-resin and the nylon 6. The difference of the morphology on the fully cured polymer blends was due to the following reason. In the curing process, generated benzyl-type cations of the B-staged Advanced COPNA-Resin initially attacked and combined with nitrogen in the amino groups of the nylon 6. In the late stage of the curing process, the cations mainly attacked and combined with π electrons of the condensed aromatics. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 63: 549–557, 1997     

Whole-Tissue Three-Dimensional Imaging of Rice at Single-Cell Resolution

The three-dimensional (3D) arrangement of cells in tissues provides an anatomical basis for analyzing physiological and biochemical aspects of plant and animal cellular development and function. In this study, we established a protocol for tissue clearing and 3D imaging in rice. Our protocol is based on three improvements: clearing with iTOMEI (clearing solution suitable for plants), developing microscopic conditions in which the Z step is optimized for 3D reconstruction, and optimizing cell-wall staining. Our protocol successfully 3D imaged rice shoot apical meristems, florets, and root apical meristems at cellular resolution throughout whole tissues. Using fluorescent reporters of auxin signaling in rice root tips, we also revealed the 3D distribution of auxin signaling events that are activated in the columella, quiescent center, and multiple rows of cells in the stele of the root apical meristem. Examination of cells with higher levels of auxin signaling revealed that only the central row of cells was connected to the quiescent center. Our method provides opportunities to observe the 3D arrangement of cells in rice tissues.     

Simultaneous determination of neotame, alitame and aspartame in foods by HPLC

Simultaneous determination of three artificial sweeteners, neotame (NE), alitame (AL) and aspartame (APM) in various foods by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed. Chopped or homogenized samples were packed into cellulose tubing with 0.01 mol/L hydrochloric acid containing 10% sodium chloride, and dialyzed against 0.01 mol/L hydrochloric acid for 24-48 hours. The dialyzate was passed through an Oasis MCX cartridge, and the cartridge was washed with water and methanol. Then the three sweeteners were eluted from the cartridge with a mixture of 0.5 mol/L ammonium chloride-acetonitrile (3 : 2). The sweeteners were separated on a Cosmosil 5C18-AR column using a gradient mode with a mobile phase of 0.01 mol/L phosphate buffer (pH 4.0)-acetonitrile and were detected at 210 nm.The recoveries of NE, AL and APM from 8 kinds of foods spiked with 10 and 100 microg/g were 86-100% and 89-104%, respectively. The detection limits of NE, AL and APM were 1 microg/g in samples. Furthermore, the three sweeteners were successfully identified by using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry.     

Microbiological safety of bottled mineral water in patients susceptible to infections

We evaluated the microbiological safety of bottled mineral water products commercially available in Japan. Of 10 bottled mineral water products manufactured in Japan, no bacteria or fungi were detected in 9 (90%), but 1 (10%) contained 1.8x10(3) colony-forming units (cfu)/mL. Of 12 bottled mineral water products manufactured in the EU, 11 (91.7%) contained 23-3.5x10(4) cfu/mL. On the other hand, of 5 bottled mineral water products manufactured in North America, 2 (40%) contained 2.3x10(2)-2.5x10(3) cfu/mL. The detected microorganisms were glucose-nonfermentative Gram-negative bacilli such as Brevundimonas vesicularis, Moraxella spp., and Burkholderia cepacia, but Pseudomonas aeruginosa was not detected in any product. For immunocompromised host patients being managed in ultra-clean rooms, the examined bottled mineral water products manufactured in Japan, except 1, were microbiologically safe.     

Multiwalled carbon nanotube-coating of 3D collagen scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

Surface coating treatment with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was applied to 3D collagen scaffold for bone tissue engineering. Rat primary osteoblasts (ROBs) were cultured on an MWCNT-coated collagen sponge (MWCNT-coated sponge) in a 3D dynamic flow cell culture system and differentiation markers were measured. Alkaline phosphatase activity at 1 day, and calcium and osteopontin contents of the MWCNT-coated sponges at 7 days were significantly higher than those of uncoated sponges. ROBs on the MWCNT-coated sponge differentiated earlier than on the uncoated sponge. In addition, the tissue response to the MWCNT-coated sponge was evaluated. Slight inflammation was observed around MWCNTs at 7 and 28 days after implantation in subcutaneous tissue. Significantly more bone formation was observed around the MWCNT-coated sponges than around the uncoated sponges and new bone attached to MWCNTs directly at 28 and 56 days after implantation in the femur. Moreover, at 28 days after implantation of the MWCNT-coated sponge with osteoblasts cultured for 1 day, bone tissues were successfully formed in the pores according to its honeycomb structure. Therefore, MWCNT coating appears to be effective for bone tissue engineering.     

Realistic Animation of Fluid with Splash and Foam

In this paper we describe a method for modeling and rendering dynamic behavior of fluids withsplashes and foam. A particle system is built into a fluid simulation system to represent an ocean wavecresting and spraying over another object. We use the Cubic Interpolated Propagation (CIP) method asthe fluid solver. The CIP method can solve liquid and gas together in the framework of fluid dynamicsand has high accuracy in the case of relatively coarse grids. This enables us to simulate the fluids in ashort time and describe the motion of splashes in the air that is associated with the liquid motion well.The foam floating on the water also can be described using the particle system. We integrate the rigidbody simulation with the fluid and particle system to create sophisticated scenes including splashes andfoam. We construct state change rules that are used with the particle system. This controls the generation,vanishing and transition rule of splashes and foam. The transition rule makes the seamless connection betweena splash and foam. We employed a fast volume rendering method with scattering effect for particles.One of the important features of our method is the combination of fast simulation and rendering techniques,which provides dynamic and realistic scenes in a short time.     

Mitochondria Turnover and Lysosomal Function in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Metabolism

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) reside in a hypoxic microenvironment that enables glycolysis-fueled metabolism and reduces oxidative stress. Nonetheless, metabolic regulation in organelles such as the mitochondria and lysosomes as well as autophagic processes have been implicated as essential for the determination of HSC cell fate. This review encompasses the current understanding of anaerobic metabolism in HSCs as well as the emerging roles of mitochondrial metabolism and lysosomal regulation for hematopoietic homeostasis.