Nano structure of rapidly quenched Cu–(Zr or Hf) – Ti alloys and their devitrification process

The structure and primary devitrification process of the melt-spun Cu₆₀(Zr or Hf)₃₀Ti₁₀ alloys were investigated. It was confirmed that the compositional segregation in the diameter range of 5–10 nm exists in the as-quenched state. The nanocrystalline particles with cubic structure are observed in the glassy matrix in thehigh-resolution transmission electron microscopy images, of which size is corresponding to the scale of compositional segregation. Small-angle X-ray scattering measurement also indicates the development of nanoscale inhomogeneity with the same size as that of nanocrystalline particles. The nanocrystalline region has high Cu content. In contrast, Zr or Hf and Ti elements are enriched in the glassy region. These results are recognized as the formation of novel structure consisting of the glassy and nanocrystalline phases. It is suggested that the precipitation of bcc CuZr phase as a primary crystallization phase proceeds in the glassy phase remaining the nanocrystalline phase in the Cu–Zr–Ti alloy. Meanwhile, the glassy and nanocrystalline phases are transformed to an orthorhombic Cu₈Hf₃ phase at the initial crystallization stage in the Cu–Hf–Ti alloy. These differences of crystallization process are consistent with the results of thermodynamic and kinetic analyses of the transformation mode.     

Dietary anthocyanin-rich plants: biochemical basis and recent progress in health benefits studies

Anthocyanins are one type of flavonoid phytopigment. Although the role of anthocyanins as a functional food factor remains relatively less established than that of other flavonoids, progress in this area has been made at the molecular level in recent years. This review discusses the potential health benefits of plant-derived anthocyanin-rich foods, with a focus on the role of anthocyanins in obesity control, diabetes control, cardiovascular disease prevention, and improvement of visual and brain functions, areas that have attracted much attention. Such health benefits are not necessarily derived from the antioxidant effect of anthocyanins, but in fact are produced by currently unestablished chemical properties beyond the antioxidant capacity of the molecules. However, a better understanding of the physiological functionality of anthocyanins remains to be elucidated. It is desirable, therefore, to clarify the molecular type and composition of the anthocyanins that confer specific health benefits and to conduct further investigation into the underlying molecular mechanisms. The pharmacological actions of anthocyanins could not be fully established without knowledge on the effects of treatment of anthocyanins alone, the effects of non-anthocyanin components, and the possible interactions between anthocyanin and non-anthocyanin species.     

Microplastics contamination in tidelands of the Osaka Bay area in western Japan

Recently, researchers have been examining the actual state of microplastics contamination in the environment. However, pollution in high biodiversity environments such as tidelands has not been sufficiently investigated. Therefore, to assess the actual level of microplastics pollution therein, we conducted a survey of the tidelands of Osaka Bay in Japan to develop a model that included basins in urban and suburban areas. We quantified the levels of microplastics in the mud from four of Osaka Bay's tidelands and detected them based on three inhabitants of the main river estuary tideland, namely, bivalves (Corbicula japonica), crabs (Chiromantes dehaani) and a tufted duck (Aythya fuligula). Microplastics ranging in size from 300 μm to 5 mm were targeted, and the results indicated that the concentration of microplastics in the mud tended to increase with tideland proximity to an urban area where the density of the human population was the highest. Microplastics were detected in 10% of the bivalves and 6.7% of the crabs (n = 30 in both cases), and eight pieces of microplastics were detected in the stomach of one tufted duck. These results indicate that the mud in tidelands near urban areas had more microplastics. In addition, the results suggest that microplastics contamination levels may be higher in higher order predators in the food web.     

Influence of the conditions of storage and cooking on growth,invasion and survival of Salmonella enteritidis in eggs

Basal studies for the confirmation of sanitary rules in the kitchen were performed, focusing on preventing an outbreak of food poisoning due to eggs contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis (SE), using hen and quail eggs. SE did not grow at 5 degrees C but grew markedly at 25 degrees C in eggs. The invasion and growth of SE were marked under very humid conditions regardless of whether the eggshell was damaged. The invasion of SE into egg also occurred when eggs were taken in and out of the refrigerator. Moreover, SE was spread immediately to all non-contaminated eggs when SE-contaminated eggs were cracked into a bowl with non-contaminated eggs. In homemade mayonnaise containing 15% vinegar, sterilization took several hours to occur. On a stainless-steel bowl, SE survived for 2 weeks or more. These findings suggest that it is necessary to pay attention to secondary contamination.     

In vivo visual reporter system for detection of estrogen-like substances by transgenic medaka

Detection of endocrine disrupting chemicals, in particular, environmental estrogens with living organisms, has many advantages if compared to chemical analysis. The screening of novel pollutants with meaningful endpoints, the integration of uptake, bioconcentration, and excretion as well as the evaluation of endocrine disrupting effects with respect to toxicity require in vivo biotests for estrogen-like substances (ELSs). Critical disadvantages of whole organism biotests are their low sensitivity and the need for laborious and time-consuming work. To overcome these problems, we have developed a transgenic medaka strain harboring the green fluorescence protein (GFP) gene driven by choriogenin H gene regulatory elements. Choriogenin H is an egg envelope protein induced by estrogens in the liver. With yolk sac larvae of this strain, GFP induction in liver was observed 24 h after onset of aqueous exposure to 0.63 nM 17beta-estradiol (E2), 0.34 nM ethynylestradiol, or 14.8 nM estrone. Furthermore, concentrated sewage treatment effluent induced GFP expression. Comparison of E2 equivalents estimated by GFP-induction in transgenic medaka, a YES assay, and GC/MS showed detection limits in the same order of magnitude. These results indicated that the sensitivity of the transgenic medaka strain was sufficient for application as an alternative model in monitoring environmental water samples for ELSs.     

Effect of surface properties of silica nanoparticles on their cytotoxicity and cellular distribution in murine macrophages

In this study, complexes composed of poly-l-tyrosine (pLT) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were produced and the dispersibility of the pLT/SWCNT complexes in water by measuring the ζ potential of the complexes and the turbidity of the solution were investigated. It is found that the absolute value of the ζ potential of the pLT/SWCNT complexes is as high as that of SWCNTs modified with double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and that the complexes remain stably dispersed in the water at least for two weeks. Thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and visualization of the surface structures of pLT/SWCNT complexes using an atomic force microscope (AFM) were also carried out.     

Estimation of the Surface Energy of Polymer Solids

The methods to estimate the surface tension of polymer solids using contact angles have been reviewed in the first part. They are classified into the following three groups depending on the theories or the equations applied: (1) the methods using the Young's equation alone, (2) the methods using the combined equation of Young and Good-Girifalco, and (3) the methods using the equations of work of adhesion. Some notes and comments are given for each method and results are compared with each other. The two-liquids method for rather high energy surface is also introduced.

Next, some new possibilities to evaluate the surface tension of polymer solids are presented by our new contact angle theory in consideration of the friction between a liquid drop and a solid surface. The advancing and receding angles of contact (θ _a and θ _r ) are explained by the frictional tension γ_F and accordingly two kinds of the critical surface tension γ_C (γ_Ca and γ_Cr ) are given.

This work has shown that one of the recommendable ways to evaluate γ_S is either the maximum γ_LV cos θ_a or the maximum γ_C using the advancing contact angle θ_a alone, and another way is the arithmetic or the harmonic mean of the γ_Ca and γ_Cr . A depiction to determine the γ_C such as ln(1 + cos θ₀ ) vs. γ_LV with cos θ₀ = (cos θ₀ + cos θ_r )/2 has also been proposed.