Surface Analysis of Cr2O3‐, CoO‐, and Al2O3‐Doped Iron–Phosphate Glasses at High Temperature

Surface structures of iron–phosphate glasses were examined using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Cr₂O₃, CoO, and Al₂O₃ were introduced to the glass by the replacement of a part of Fe₂O₃, and the simulated fission products are also added. The obtained glasses showed high chemical durabilities by MCC‐1 test. In situ high‐temperature and room‐temperature XPS measurements were conducted on the polished sample surfaces and also those after 1‐week chemical durability test. Unique trends were observed in XPS spectra on heating and after the chemical durability test, respectively. Nature of the glass surface of iron–phosphate glasses was explained from the point of view of surface energy, and the origin of high chemical durability and the effect of chromium ions were discussed based on the changes on surface composition and valence states of transition‐metal ions.     

Immunomodulatory Properties and Osteogenic Activity of Polyetheretherketone Coated with Titanate Nanonetwork Structures

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a potential substitute for conventional metallic biomedical implants owing to its superior mechanical and chemical properties, as well as biocompatibility. However, its inherent bio-inertness and poor osseointegration limit its use in clinical applications. Herein, thin titanium films were deposited on the PEEK substrate by plasma sputtering, and porous nanonetwork structures were incorporated on the PEEK surface by alkali treatment (PEEK-TNS). Changes in the physical and chemical characteristics of the PEEK surface were analyzed to establish the interactions with cell behaviors. The osteoimmunomodulatory properties were evaluated using macrophage cells and osteoblast lineage cells. The functionalized nanostructured surface of PEEK-TNS effectively promoted initial cell adhesion and proliferation, suppressed inflammatory responses, and induced macrophages to anti-inflammatory M2 polarization. Compared with PEEK, PEEK-TNS provided a more beneficial osteoimmune environment, including increased levels of osteogenic, angiogenic, and fibrogenic gene expression, and balanced osteoclast activities. Furthermore, the crosstalk between macrophages and osteoblast cells showed that PEEK-TNS could provide favorable osteoimmunodulatory environment for bone regeneration. PEEK-TNS exhibited high osteogenic activity, as indicated by alkaline phosphatase activity, osteogenic factor production, and the osteogenesis/osteoclastogenesis-related gene expression of osteoblasts. The study establishes that the fabrication of titanate nanonetwork structures on PEEK surfaces could extract an adequate immune response and favorable osteogenesis for functional bone regeneration. Furthermore, it indicates the potential of PEEK-TNS in implant applications.     

Nondestructive determination of fatty acid composition of husked sunflower (Helianthus annua L.) seeds by near-infrared spectroscopy

Determination of the fatty acid composition of sunflower (Helianthus annua L.) seeds by near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was examined. Sunflower seeds were husked (removed from their hulls by a husking machine or manually with a knife). NIR spectra of these seeds were scanned from 1100 to 2500 nm at 2-nm intervals in a whole-grain cell with a wideangle moving drawer for machine-husked seeds or in a single-grain cup for a manually husked single-grain seed. The extracted oils from machine-husked seeds also were scanned by sandwiching them between a pair of slide glasses to create a thin layer and by placing them on a syrup cup. For extracted oil, the absorption band around 1720 nm filled out to the shorter wavelength region in the NIR second-derivative spectra as the percentage of the linoleic acid moiety increased, because linoleic acid absorbs in this region. On the other hand, for husked seeds and for a single-grain seed, as the percentage of linoleic acid increased, the trough at 1724 nm where oleic and saturated acids absorb decreased in the second-derivative NIR spectra. Determination of the fatty acid composition of sunflower seeds could be carried out successfully according to the NIR spectral pattern for both extracted oil (r=−0.989) and kernel seed (r=−0.993). This is important, especially for a manually husked single-grain seed (r=−0.971), because it can still be germinated after such nondestructive analysis.     

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.     

Effects of growth temperature on the fatty acid composition of the free-living nematodeCaenorhabditis elegans

The effects of growth temperature on the fatty acid compositions of the phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and total lipid (TL) fractions of the free-living nematodeCaenorhabditis elegans were investigated. A reduction in growth temperature from 25 to 15°C caused the proportions of eicosapentaenoic acid (20∶5n-3) to increase from 23.6 to 32.5% in the PC, from 7.4 to 10.8% in the PE, and from 12.9 to 19.9% in the TL fractions. Conversely, the levels of dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (20∶3n-6) and arachidonic acid (20∶4n-6) in these phospholipid fractions and the TL fraction both decreased with decreasing growth temperature. Analysis of the positional distribution of fatty acids in the PC fraction revealed that the change in the composition of C₂₀ polyunsaturated fatty acid was obvious in positionsn-2. Lowering the growth temperature induced an increase in the level of the diacyl subclass of PE from 58% at 25°C to 71% at 15°C, with a concomitant decrease in the levels of the alkylacyl and alkenylacyl subclass of PE ofC. elegans. These changes observed in the phospholipids ofC. elegans might be one mechanism for adaptation to low temperature. Lipids 31, 1173–1178 (1996).     

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.