Effects of dressing containing plant sterol on serum cholesterol concentration and the safety evaluation in borderline or mildly hypercholesterolemic Japanese subjects

In a placebo-controlled double-blind study, we examined the effects of dressing containing plant sterol (PS) on blood lipids and the safety in Japanese borderline or mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects. Fifty-nine subjects [total cholesterol (TC) concentration > or = 200 mg/dL] were randomly divided into two groups and were given daily 15 g of dressing containing 800 mg of PS [PS(+)-group] or without PS [PS(-)-group] for 12 weeks. Every 4 weeks, fasting blood was examined and subjective symptoms were analyzed. Serum TC, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) concentrations did not change in the PS(-)-group, while TC and ApoB significantly decreased in the PS(+)-group at 8 and 12 weeks and LDL-C at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Moreover, serum TC, LDL-C and ApoB concentrations were significantly lower than those of PS(-)-group at 8 and 12 weeks. Other laboratory tests were all in normal ranges and no adverse events were observed. The results indicated that PS-containing dressing decreased serum TC, LDL-C and ApoB concentrations in borderline or mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects. It is therefore proved that the dressing containing PS is helpful in maintaining blood cholesterol level normal and hence, the health of Japanese.     

Ether lipids based on the glyceryl ether skeleton: Present state,future potential

Lipids from natural sources consist mainly of saponifiable substances, such as glycerides, along with some unsaponifiable lipids, some of which are ether lipids. Typical ether lipids are monoalkyl ethers of glycerin, also called alkyl/alkenyl glyceryl ethers. Alkyl/alkenyl glyceryl ethers have also been reported in marine organisms and in human feces. Several chemical syntheses of such ether lipids have been reported. Typical examples are alkyl glyceryl ether formation by the addition reaction of alkyl glycidyl ether and the telomerization reaction of butadiene with glycerin and a transition metal catalyst. Characteristic chemical structures, such as terpene alkyl glyceryl ethers, archaebacterial macrocyclic ether lipids, and glyceryl ethers of condensed cyclic planar molecules, have been obtained as well. Over the past few decades, industry has shown much interest in the chemistry and application of highly branched fatty acids. For example, isostearyl glyceryl ether (GE-IS) with methyl branching in the middle chain was already known, but it is now prepared at an industrial scale by proprietary alkyl glycidyl ether methods. The characteristic behavior of GE-IS toward water, such as formation of water-in-oil emulsions containing large amounts of water and of liquid crystals, has made it applicable for use in hair and skin-care cosmetics. Based on these studies and considerations, glyceryl ether lipids, which are rarely investigated, may become one of the most important and useful lipids in the industry.     

Corrosion characteristics of reduced activation ferritic steel, JLF-1 (8.92Cr–2W) in molten salts Flibe and Flinak

Static corrosion tests were performed in molten salts, LiF–BeF₂ (Flibe) and LiF–NaF–KF (Flinak), at 500 °C and 600 °C for 1000 h. The purpose is to investigate the corrosion characteristics of reduced activation ferritic steels, JLF-1 (8.92Cr–2W) in the fluids. The concentration of hydrogen fluoride (HF) in the fluids was measured by slurry pH titration method before and after the exposure. The HF concentration determined the fluoridation potential. The corrosion was mainly caused by dissolution of Fe and Cr into the fluids due to fluoridation and/or electrochemical corrosion. Carbon on the surface might be dissolved into the fluids due to the corrosion, and this resulted to the decrease of carbide on the surface. The corrosion depth of the JLF-1 specimen, which was obtained from the weight losses, was 0.637 μm in Flibe at 600 °C and 6.73 μm in Flinak at 600 °C.     

Volatile Flavor Compounds of Sweetened Condensed Milk

ABSTRACT: The volatile compounds of sweetened condensed milk (SCM) were investigated to explain their contribution to SCM flavor. Commercially processed SCM was diluted with water and the volatiles were isolated by simultaneous steam distillation-extraction under reduced pressure. Commercial liquid milk was used for comparison. The odor concentrate was analyzed by GC and GC-MS, and then fractionated by silica gel TLC and preparative GC to determine the contributors to SCM flavor. Major volatile compounds were 10 fatty acids, 14 lactones, 10 ketones, 13 hydrocarbons, 8 alcohols, 4 aldehydes, and 8 miscellaneous compounds. δ-Decalactone and δ-dodecalactone were the principal contributors to SCM flavor although the other lactones may contribute as well.     

Antihypertensive Effect of Salt-Free Soy Sauce,a New Fermented Seasoning,in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

ABSTRACT: In this study, we focused on the antihypertensive effect of newly fermented salt-free soy sauce (SFS) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). A 13-wk oral administration of SFS was performed daily in 8- to 21-wk-old SHRs with a dose of 200 mg/kg of body weight/d. The systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures were measured for each week during the experimental period. As a result, a significant (P < 0.01) BP lowering effect was observed from the 5th d to the end of the experiment in the SFS group compared with the control group (ΔSBP_21-wk: 27 mmHg, ΔDBP_21-wk: 20 mmHg). In contrast to such substantial effect by SFS intake, angiotensin I-converting enzyme activities in blood and local organs as well as pharmaceutical parameters such as serum Na⁺ or K⁺ level did not show any significant difference between in both SFS and control groups. Vasoconstriction experiment using thoracic aorta rings from 21-wk SHRs provided an interesting result that the rings from the SFS group evoked a >2-fold higher increase in the angiotensin II-stimulated constrictive response compared with the rings from the control group (P = 0.012), which suggested that the SFS-intake would be effective in possessing a higher vessel tone. Practical Application: In this study, we investigated the antihypertensive effect of newly fermented SFS in SHRs. As a result of 13-wk SFS-administration, we found a significant antihypertensive effect of the SFS. This finding strongly demonstrates that the developed SFS would be greatly beneficial for health and useful for health-related industries.     

A three-dimensional soil–water coupled FE analysis of hollow cylinder test concerning non-uniform deformation

The hollow cylinder shear test is somewhat controversial due to its non-uniform stresses and strains, and has been analyzed by simple theoretical methods and two-dimensional FE calculations. In this paper, the hollow cylinder test under strain control was carried out numerically by treating the specimen as a three-dimensional initial-boundary value problem considering the inertial forces. At first, besides the known nonuniform strain, the non-uniformities of excess pore water pressure and overconsolidation ratio have been shown to benefit from a soil–water coupled analysis that employs the SYS Cam-clay model. Then, the influence of the specimen geometries, including wall thicknesses, heights and outer diameters on the non-uniformity was investigated sequentially. A new method for evaluating non-uniformity was proposed, which is suitable for the three-dimensional analysis. The response under a uniform deformation field, which is indicated by “the perfect path”, was presented to draw a comparison with the apparent behaviors, with non-uniformities taken into consideration. It should be noted that there is a critical height to prevent failure at the specimen ends according to the apparent behavior. Finally, the torque-controlled experiment indicated that 4 ribs could not transfer the torque reliably while 6 or 8 ribs were feasible.     

TRANSIENT THERMOELASTIC CONTACT PROBLEM IN A LONG,CIRCULAR CYLINDER

This paper treats a transient thermoelastic contact problem in a long, circular cylinder to which a heated rigid band is bonded. The problem may be reduced to that of solving dual-integral equations. The radial, hoop, and axial stresses have singularities at the end of rigid band on the cylindrical surface. The coefficients which may determine the strength of singularities of stresses are introduced.     

TWO-CRACK PROPAGATION PATHS IN A FUNCTIONALLY GRADED MATERIAL PLATE SUBJECTED TO THERMAL LOADINGS

Two-crack propagation paths in a ceramic/metal functionally graded material plate (FGP) under one-cycle temperature change of heating and cooling are considered. When the FGP is subjected to thermal shock, a single crack or multiple cracks often initiate on the ceramic surface during the cooling process and propagate in the FGP. Crack paths are influenced by the heating temperature conditions, a compositional profile of the FGP, the fracture toughness, interaction among multiple cracks, and so on. Transient thermal stresses are treated as a linear quasi-static thermoelastic problem for a plane-strain state. The crack paths are treated under fracture mechanics using the finite-element method. The effects of heating temperature conditions, a compositional profile of the FGP, the fracture toughness, and a crack space on the crack propagation pattern are discussed and are shown in figures.     

THERMAL-STRESS PROBLEMS IN INDUSTRY. 2: TRANSIENT THERMAL STRESSES IN A DISK BRAKE

A general solution is given for the transient thermal stresses in a disk brake caused by constant heat generation on both plane surfaces. The solution rigorously meets the traction-free boundary condition on both the lateral and plane surfaces of the disk. Numerical results for the stress fields are given.