Changes in the amounts of water-soluble umami-related substances in porcine longissimus and biceps femoris muscles during moist heat cooking

Time course changes in amounts of glutamic acid, total free amino acid, inosine monophosphate (IMP), and 2%-trichloroacetic acid-soluble oligopeptides in whole, muscle only, and cooking juice during wet-heat cooking in pork longissimus and biceps femoris muscles were investigated because the movements of umami-relevant substances during cooking treatment had not previously been clarified in detail. The amounts of glutamic acid, total free amino acid, and IMP significantly (P<.05) decreased and increased in muscle and cooking juice during 180min of cooking, respectively. The whole amounts of glutamic acid and total free amino acid remained unchanged during cooking treatment. The whole amount of IMP, however, increased significantly at 10min of cooking (P<.05) and was maintained after the 10-min period. The extramuscular oligopeptides amount increased significantly in response to the cooking treatment (P<.05). The intramuscular amount of oligopeptides decreased at 30min of cooking but increased significantly (P<.05) after 60min. The whole meat oligopeptides amount increased significantly during a 180-min cooking treatment (P<.05). These results indicate that glutamate, total free amino acid, and IMP were released from the muscle during cooking, and that IMP levels increased in the initial phase of cooking. In addition, oligopeptides increased during wet-heat cooking of pork muscles.     

Investigation of ochratoxin a, B and citrinin contamination in various commercial foods

Ochratoxin A (OTA), ochratoxin B (OTB) and citrinin (CIT) in commercial foods were simultaneously determined and confirmed with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). The samples examined were made up of cereal, fruit, coffee, and cacao products. The limits of quantification (S/N> or =10) of OTA, OTB and CIT were 0.1 microg/kg or less. Aflatoxins (AF), deoxynivalenol (DON) and fumonisins were also surveyed. Of 157 samples examined, 44 were contaminated with OTA at levels of 0.11 to 4.0 microg/kg. At least 2 positive samples were labeled as domestics. In most positive samples, the OTA level was low, less than 1 microg/kg. The highest incidence of OTA was observed in cacao powder (10/12), followed by instant coffee (5/7), cocoa (5/8) and raisin (6/13). OTB was found in fruit and cacao products containing relatively high levels of OTA. Co-occurrence of OTA, CIT and DON was found in cereal products, and co-occurrence of OTA and AF was found in cacao products. Approximately 30% of naturally contaminated OTA in roasted coffee bean moved into the extract solution when brewed with paper filter.     

Mutation analysis of the WT1 gene in myelodysplastic syndromes

Infectious mononucleosis due to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is almost always a self-limited disease, most commonly seen in young adults. Hepatitis is a well-recognized complication of EBV infection that usually resolves spontaneously. Jaundice occasionally results from the unusual complication of autoimmune haemolytic anaemia rather than hepatitis. We report a 60-year-old man with severe cholestatic jaundice whose history, liver histology and laboratory findings suggested EBV infection. He also developed significant jaundice related to his hepatitis, but not to autoimmune haemolysis, a situation that led to diagnostic delay. Costly diagnostic laboratory tests and invasive procedures were performed to rule out a malignant extrahepatic biliary obstruction. Physicians need to be aware of this complication and EBV infection should be included in the differential diagnosis of cholestatic jaundice in the elderly.     

Development of radiochromic dosimeters based on polymer films with fluoran and divinyl phthalide dyes

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - We fabricated polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films containing NIR Black78, Black100 and Black400 for use as...     

Base metal Co-fired (Na,K)NbO3 structures with enhanced piezoelectric performance

A NaF-Nb₂O₅ flux doped (Na,K)NbO₃ (NKN) based lead-free ceramic was successfully co-fired with nickel inner electrodes in reduced atmospheres. No chemical reactions and/or inter-diffusion were detected at the interface between the nickel (Ni) electrodes and the NKN-based piezoelectrics. Dielectric, resistivity, and electromechanical performance were measured with processing under different firing conditions and flux additions to obtain high densities. Ceramics are obtained with submicron grain structures with the NaF-Nb₂O₅ sintering aids (2 and 4 wt%) fluxes, and high densities when firing at low pO₂ (10^?10 atms) atmospheres at sintering temperatures ~1150 °C for 2 hours. High resistivities and low losses can be obtained through a second annealing condition at 850 °C and 10^?7 atms at 8 hours. High d ₃₃ values (over 350 pm/V) determined under unipolar converse electromechanical measurements were obtained in the simple prototyped co-fired structures to show feasibility towards base metal electrodes in multilayer actuators.     

Fundamental Evaluation of Power Supply and Rectifiers for Wireless Power Transfer Using Magnetic Resonant Coupling

This paper provides a fundamental analysis of a power supply and rectifiers for wireless power transfer using magnetic resonant coupling (MRC). MRC enables efficient wireless power transfer over middle‐range transfer distances. MRC for wireless power transfer should operate at a high frequency in the industry science medical band, such as 13.56 MHz, because the size of the transfer device decreases at higher transfer frequencies. Therefore, the output frequency of the power supply on the transmitting side should be 13.56 MHz. In addition, the rectifier on the receiving side is operated at a high frequency. This paper focuses on the reflected power in the power supply and rectifiers. Thus, the parametric design method is clarified for the power supply, including a low‐pass filter to match the output, the impedance of the power supply with the characteristic impedance of the transmission line. In addition, the effects on the rectifiers of silicon carbide and gallium nitride diodes are confirmed by performing an experiment and a loss analysis.     

Verification of Iron Loss Calculation Method Using a High‐Precision Iron Loss Analyzer

Because of the improved performance of power devices, the volume of the ac filter inductors used in high‐frequency PWM inverters has been reduced. However, the temperature rise in the filter inductor due to this miniaturization has become more pronounced. Therefore, we have proposed an iron loss calculation method for the ac filter inductor. However, the accuracy of the value calculated via the loss map method cannot be verified, because the iron loss arising during each switching period cannot be measured with conventional power measuring instruments. In order to resolve this problem, we developed an inductor loss analyzer (ILA), which allows precise measurement of the iron loss in the inductor during each switching period. The accuracy of the calculation of iron loss in the filter inductor by the loss map method was verified with the ILA. We found that the value calculated by the loss map method differed slightly from the value measured with the ILA. However, these differences can be reduced if we take into account the accurate flux density calculation and the effect of the duty ratio of PWM pulses on the loss. Finally, we verified that the loss map method can provide accurate iron loss calculations.     

Comparing the Osteogenic Potential and Bone Regeneration Capacities of Dedifferentiated Fat Cells and Adipose-Derived Stem Cells In Vitro and In Vivo: Application of DFAT Cells Isolated by a Mesh Method

Background: We investigated and compared the osteogenic potential and bone regeneration capacities of dedifferentiated fat cells (DFAT cells) and adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs). Method: We isolated DFAT cells and ASCs from GFP mice. DFAT cells were established by a new culture method using a mesh culture instead of a ceiling culture. The isolated DFAT cells and ASCs were incubated in osteogenic medium, then alizarin red staining, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assays, and RT-PCR (for RUNX2, osteopontin, DLX5, osterix, and osteocalcin) were performed to evaluate the osteoblastic differentiation ability of both cell types in vitro. In vivo, the DFAT cells and ASCs were incubated in osteogenic medium for four weeks and seeded on collagen composite scaffolds, then implanted subcutaneously into the backs of mice. We then performed hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunostaining for GFP and osteocalcin. Results: The alizarin red-stained areas in DFAT cells showed weak calcification ability at two weeks, but high calcification ability at three weeks, similar to ASCs. The ALP levels of ASCs increased earlier than in DFAT cells and showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) at 6 and 9 days. The ALP levels of DFATs were higher than those of ASCs after 12 days. The expression levels of osteoblast marker genes (osterix and osteocalcin) of DFAT cells and ASCs were higher after osteogenic differentiation culture. Conclusion: DFAT cells are easily isolated from a small amount of adipose tissue and are readily expanded with high purity; thus, DFAT cells are applicable to many tissue-engineering strategies and cell-based therapies.     

Porous poly(L‐lactic acid)/poly(ethylene glycol) blend films

Poly(L ‐lactic acid) (PLLA: M_w = 19.4 × 10⁴)/poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG: M_w = 400) blend films were formed by use of a solvent‐cast technique. The properties and structures of these blend films were investigated. The Young's modulus of the PLLA decreased from 1220 to 417 MPa with the addition of PEG 5 wt %, but the elongation at break increased from 19 to 126%. The melting point of PLLA linearly decreased with increases in the PEG content (i.e., pure PLLA: 172.5°C, PLLA/PEG = 60/40 wt %: 159.6°C). The PEG 20 wt % blend film had a porous structure. The pore diameter was 3–5 μm. The alkali hydrolysis rate of this blend film was accelerated due to its porous structure. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 965–970, 2004