Analysis of isoflavone content in tempeh, a fermented soybean, and preparation of a new isoflavone-enriched tempeh

To produce a tempeh-like functional food containing a high level of isoflavone with a high absorptivity, we analyzed changes in the composition of isoflavone during tempeh fermentation and the difference in isoflavone content depending on the soybean variety and particular tissue. By adding soybean germ (hypocotyl) that contained a large amount of isoflavone, we prepared a new isoflavone-enriched tempeh in the form of a granular fermented soybean-based food, which can serve as a nutritious supplement for the elderly.     

Relationship between metabolic hormones and ovulation of dominant follicle during the first follicular wave post-partum in high-producing dairy cows

Recent studies suggest that IGF-I is a crucial regulatory factor in follicular growth during early post-partum period. The aim of the present study was to determine in detail the changing profiles of metabolic and reproductive hormones in relation to ovulation of the dominant follicle (DF) of the first follicular wave post-partum in high-producing dairy cows. Plasma concentrations of related hormones in 22 multiparous Holstein cows were measured from 4 weeks pre-partum to 3 weeks post-partum, and the development of DF was observed with colour Doppler ultrasound. Thirteen cows showed ovulation by 15.2 days post-partum. Anovulatory cows showed higher GH and lower IGF-I levels than those in ovulatory cows during the peri-partum period. Each DF developed similarly, and a clear blood flow in the follicle wall was observed despite ovulation or anovulation. In addition, detailed endocrine profiles were analyzed in 9 out of the 22 cows. Five cows showed an increase in plasma oestradiol-17beta (E2) with follicular growth followed by E2 peak, LH surge and ovulation. In these cows, plasma IGF-I concentrations remained high until 10 days post-partum followed by a gradual decrease. Subsequently, the insulin level increased together with the E2 peak towards ovulation. These profiles were not observed in anovulatory cows. In conclusion, our data strongly support the concept that IGF-I and insulin represent 'metabolic signals' of the resumption of ovarian function post-partum in high-producing dairy cows. Moreover, we provide the first visual evidence that both ovulatory and anovulatory DFs of the first follicular wave post-partum are similarly supplied with active blood flow.     

A facile polymer templating route toward high-aspect-ratio crystalline titania nanostructures

High-aspect-ratio rutile and anatase hybrid nanowires are produced via a template-directed process using a novel cylindrical polyelectrolyte brush template. Loading the highly negatively charged 1D templates with pre-synthesized TiO(2) nanocrystals, results in the fabrication of soluble crystalline TiO(2) hybrid nanowires.     

Curing behavior and properties of epoxy resins cured with the diamine having the quinoxaline or triazine structure

2,3-Bis(4-aminophenyl)quinoxaline (1a), 2,3-bis(4-aminophenyl)-6-methylquinoxaline (1b), and 5,6-bis(4-aminophenyl)-3-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazine (2) were studied as curing agents of epoxy resins. The exotherms on differential scanning calorimetry thermograms of the mixtures of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) with 1a, 1b, and 2 were observed at higher temperatures than that of the mixture of DGEBA with a commercially used diamine, for example, 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS). However, the epoxy resin cured with 1a (EP-1a) showed higher tensile strength to stainless steel at 20°C than that cured with DDS, and the high tensile strength of EP-1a was maintained even at 180°C. The epoxy resin cured with 1b or 2 also possessed higher tensile strength at 20°C than that cured with DDS, but the high tensile strength lowered somewhat at 120°C. Using diamines 1a, 1b, and 2 as a curing agent improved heat distortion temperatures of the cured epoxy resins. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 69: 1737–1741, 1998     

Continuous production of hydroxyapatite powder by drip pyrolysis in a fluidized bed

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) powder was produced by drip pyrolysis in a fluidized bed (DPFB) at 913–1113 K with dry air. In this study, HAp powders derived using different concentrations of a solution-type precursor material were compared with those derived using slurry-type precursor materials. From a solution-type precursor containing calcium nitrate and ammonium phosphate dibasic, fine HAp powders with mean particle sizes of approximately 8–40 μm were produced, depending on the solution concentration and reaction temperature. In these cases, bimodal particle size distribution was observed. Spherical alumina of 250 μm was found to be superior to silica sand of 270 μm as the coarse medium particles in reducing contamination of the product powder. The thermal stability of HAp derived from a slurry-type precursor after 1-day aging was improved by DPFB. HAp powders derived from the solution-type precursor material were Ca-deficient, and their Ca/P molar ratio increased with bed temperature. In contrast, the Ca/P molar ratio of HAp powders from the slurry-type precursor material was nearly stoichiometric. Morphology strongly depended on the starting precursor material. The solid collection ratio was closely related to the population of product particle sizes larger than 25 μm.     

Crystallographic Domain Structure of an Epitaxial (Pr0.7Ca0.3)MnO3 Thin Film Grown on a SrTiO3 Single Crystal Substrate

We characterized the structure of the crystallographic domain of a (Pr_0.7Ca_0.3)MnO₃ (PCMO ( x =0.3)) thin film epitaxially grown on a (001)SrTiO₃ (STO) single-crystal substrate. We found that the domain structure exhibited an atomically smooth coherent interface with the STO substrate with no misfit dislocations. The crystallographic relationships between the domains and the substrate in their planes were interpreted to be PCMO ( x =0.3)[110][001]//STO[100][010] and PCMO ( x =0.3)[001][1-10]//STO[100][010]. The domain structure of PCMO ( x =0.3)[110][1-10]//STO[100][010] has less possibility of having the larger anisotropic strain energy found in a monoclinically distorted pseudo-cubic perovskite unit cell of PCMO ( x =0.3). This epitaxial growth structure is totally different from the previously reported PCMO ( x =0.5) epitaxial thin-film structure on STO substrate. Our observations suggested that an x value change strongly influences the structure of epitaxial PCMO thin films.     

Magnetic interactions between metal nanostructures within porous silicon

Electrochemically deposited magnetic nanostructures arranged in a three-dimensional system are investigated with respect to their cross-talk between each other. The nanostructures are embedded in porous silicon templates with different morphologies which means pores offering dendritic growth of different strengths. An increase of the uniformity of the pores is concomitant with an increase of the smoothness of the metal deposits which strongly influences the magnetic behavior of the system. Less dendritic structures lead to an increase of the coercivity of the nanocomposite which reveals less cross-talk between the metal deposits due to a modification of the stray fields. The system allows in a cheap and simple way to tune the magnetic interactions of magnetic nanostructures in a three-dimensional arrangement.

PACS

81.05.Rm; 81.07.Gf; 75.75.-c     

Mechanism of color breakup in field-sequential-color projectors

Abstract— To investigate color breakup in field-sequential-color projectors, we measured the threshold of color fusion frequency relative to retinal velocity of the moving edge on the color flicker field. The characteristic changed as the velocity approached saccade. The result suggests that the mechanism of color breakup differs according to the velocity of the image on the retina.     

Grating Lobe Suppression of Narrow-Wall Slotted Hollow Waveguide Millimeter-Wave Planar Antenna for Arbitrarily Linear Polarization

A high-gain and high-efficiency slotted waveguide planar antenna is developed in the millimeter-wave band. Forty-five degree inclined polarization is required for automotive radar systems. In the design of slotted waveguide array for arbitrarily linear polarization, slot spacing is one guide wavelength which is larger than a wavelength in free space. Consequently, grating lobes appear in the radiation pattern. So, we developed a slotted waveguide planar antenna composed of post-loaded narrow-wall slots and a single-layer alternating-phase feeding circuit. A planar antenna with suppressed grating lobes has been fabricated and its RF performance has been measured. The measured gain is 33.2 dBi and antenna efficiency is 56% at 76 GHz. Grating lobe level is -28.6 dB lower than main lobe level. Since the proposed structure remains simple, the antenna is expected to be manufactured by metal injection molding for low cost     

Reaction of 6-bromo-6-deoxycellulose with thiols in lithium bromide-N,N-dimethylacetamide

Nucleophilic substitution reactions of 6-bromo-6-deoxycelluloses of high degrees of substitution with eight thiols having functional groups such as carboxyl and amino groups were studied under homogeneous conditions in LiBr-N, N-dimethylacetamide in the presence of triethylamine. The reactions under the homogeneous conditions proceeded more extensively than those run under heterogeneous conditions in aqueous alkaline solutions. The reactivity of thiols was found to increase with increasing acidity of the mercapto groups of the thiols. Reaction products with 2-mercaptobutanedioic acid and with 2-mercaptobenzoic acid were soluble in alkaline and neutral water but not in 1 N HCl, while the reaction products with 2-aminoethanethiol did not dissolve even in 1 N HCl. The reaction products with cysteine showed amphoteric behavior. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.