Comparison between old and new methods for detection of allergenic substances (egg and milk)

The old ELISA method for detection of allergenic substances (egg and milk) in Kanagawa prefecture from 2003 to 2007, employed before improvement of the food allergen labeling system, yielded detection rates of 20% for egg and 30% for milk. In 2005, after improvement of the labeling system, the detection rate using the new ELISA in solutions containing 1% SDS and 7% 2-mercaptoethanol increased by about 10% for egg, but decreased by half for milk. There were 4 positive samples (over 10 μg/g) for both egg and milk proteins, on account of contamination by ingredients at the manufacturing line and the lack of proper food labeling. In 2009, the contamination levels of egg and milk proteins in labeled commercial foods were low. In a comparison between the new and old methods with the same samples, both the new ELISA and Western-blot analyses showed an increase in the detection rate of egg protein. In relation to milk protein, the detection rates were decreased with the new ELISA, although the ELISA detection rate and consistency rates with Western-blot analysis were increased. On the other hand, in the case of a protein content below 5 μg/g, it was impossible to determine ovomucoid and casein by Western-blot analysis.     

Pesticide adsorption by granular activated carbon adsorbers. 2. Effects of pesticide and natural organic matter characteristics on pesticide breakthrough curves

The principal objective of this study was to elucidate mechanisms by which NOM affects the adsorption of a nonpolar (simazine) and a polar (asulam) herbicide on activated carbon. Experiments were carried out in microcolumns that were continuously fed solutions containing NOM with different molecular weight (MW) distributions and intermittently solutions containing the same NOM plus simazine or asulam. The MW distributions of a groundwater NOM were altered by coagulation and ultrafiltration, which resulted in the preferential removal of high-MW, UV260-absorbing NOM. At a given NOM loading, the simazine removal efficiency was higher in the column that was preloaded with raw groundwater than in columns receiving coagulated or ultrafiltered water. In contrast, the asulam removal efficiency was similar for all three NOM solutions at a given NOM loading. Therefore, the results suggested that low-MW, UV260-absorbing NOM molecules competed directly with strongly adsorbing pesticides, such as simazine, for adsorption sites. For more weakly adsorbing pesticides, such as asulam, direct competition for adsorption sites originated not only from the strongly adsorbing, low-MW NOM, but also from more weakly adsorbing, higher-MW NOM. Consequently, the competing NOM fraction increases as the adsorbability of the SOC decreases, a result that was confirmed by adsorption data for additional pesticides of similar size. However, a smaller pesticide competed more effectively for adsorption sites than a larger pesticide of similar polarity, suggesting that the concentration of competing NOM decreases as the MW of the SOC decreases.     

Stable organic thin-film transistors using full solution-processing and low-temperature sintering silver nanoparticle inks

We have fabricated electronically stable organic thin-film transistor (TFT) devices that are fully solution-processed and adopt printed electrodes using silver nanoparticles dispersed in organic solvents, whose sintering temperatures are 100 °C or less. The bottom-contact organic TFT devices showed good electrical characteristics, and exhibited threshold voltage shifts less than 2.0 V after applying a DC bias voltage stress for 10⁴ s, which is attributed to relatively low contact resistance. These results demonstrate the feasibility of producing stable organic TFTs that are fully solution-processed at relatively low temperatures, for use in large-area flexible electronics applications.     

Inhibitory Effects of Saururus chinensis Extract on Receptor for Advanced Glycation End-Products-Dependent Inflammation and Diabetes-Induced Dysregulation of Vasodilation

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and the receptor for AGEs (RAGE) are implicated in inflammatory reactions and vascular complications in diabetes. Signaling pathways downstream of RAGE are involved in NF-κB activation. In this study, we examined whether ethanol extracts of Saururus chinensis (Lour.) Baill. (SE) could affect RAGE signaling and vascular relaxation in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Treatment with SE inhibited AGEs-modified bovine serum albumin (AGEs-BSA)-elicited activation of NF-κB and could compete with AGEs-BSA binding to RAGE in a dose-dependent manner. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) secretion induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)—a RAGE ligand—was also reduced by SE treatment in wild-type Ager^+/+ mice as well as in cultured peritoneal macrophages from Ager^+/+ mice but not in Ager^−/− mice. SE administration significantly ameliorated diabetes-related dysregulation of acetylcholine-mediated vascular relaxation in STZ-induced diabetic rats. These results suggest that SE would inhibit RAGE signaling and would be useful for the improvement of vascular endothelial dysfunction in diabetes.     

Ultrathin Hydrogel Films toward Breathable Skin-Integrated Electronics

On-skin electronics that offer revolutionary capabilities in personalized diagnosis, therapeutics, and human–machine interfaces require seamless integration between the skin and electronics. A common question remains whether an ideal interface can be introduced to directly bridge thin-film electronics with the soft skin, allowing the skin to breathe freely and the skin-integrated electronics to function stably. Here, an ever-thinnest hydrogel is reported that is compliant to the glyphic lines and subtle minutiae on the skin without forming air gaps, produced by a facile cold-lamination method. The hydrogels exhibit high water-vapor permeability, allowing nearly unimpeded transepidermal water loss and free breathing of the skin underneath. Hydrogel-interfaced flexible (opto)electronics without causing skin irritation or accelerated device performance deterioration are demonstrated. The long-term applicability is recorded for over one week. With combined features of extreme mechanical compliance, high permeability, and biocompatibility, the ultrathin hydrogel interface promotes the general applicability of skin-integrated electronics.