Studies on the contents of water-soluble chlorides and water-soluble sulfates in food color aluminum lakes

Japan's Specifications and Standards for Food Additives, 7th Edition (JSFA-VII) does not set limits for total contents of water-soluble chlorides and water-soluble sulfates (water-soluble inorganic salts) in food color aluminum lakes (FC-Als). However, the regulatory limit is 2% in JECFA and CFR. We used column switching suppressor-type ion chromatography (CSS-IC) for determination of anions. The total contents of water-soluble inorganic salts in FC-Als (112 qualified samples) were determined using the modified CSS-IC from fiscal year 1998 to fiscal year 2003. Total contents of water-soluble inorganic salts in four samples exceeded 2%. From an international point of view, it is desirable that the total content of water-soluble inorganic salts in FC-Al should again be regulated in Japan.     

Antioxidant Effects of Herbal Tea Leaves from Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) on Multiple Free Radical and Reducing Power Assays,Especially on Different Superoxide Anion Radical Generation Systems

Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius), a native Andean plant, has been cultivated as a crop and locally used as a traditional folk medicine for the people suffering from diabetes and digestive/renal disorders. However, the medicinal properties of this plant and its processed foods have not been completely established. This study investigates the potent antioxidative effects of herbal tea leaves from yacon in different free radical models and a ferric reducing model. A hot‐water extract exhibited the highest yield of total polyphenol and scavenging effect on 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical among four extracts prepared with hot water, methanol, ethanol, and ethylacetate. In addition, a higher reducing power of the hot‐water extract was similarly demonstrated among these extracts. Varying concentrations of the hot‐water extract resulted in different scavenging activities in four synthetic free radical models: DPPH radical (EC₅₀ 28.1 μg/mL), 2,2′‐azinobis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) cation radical (EC₅₀ 23.7 μg/mL), galvinoxyl radical (EC₅₀ 3.06 μg/mL), and chlorpromazine cation radical (EC₅₀ 475 μg/mL). The yacon tea‐leaf extract further demonstrated superoxide anion (O₂^?) radical scavenging effects in the phenazine methosulfate‐NADH‐nitroblue tetrazolium (EC₅₀ 64.5 μg/mL) and xanthine oxidase assay systems (EC₅₀ 20.7 μg/mL). Subsequently, incubating human neutrophilic cells in the presence of the tea‐leaf extract could suppress the cellular O₂^? radical generation (IC₅₀ 65.7 μg/mL) in a phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate‐activated cell model. These results support yacon tea leaves may be a good source of natural antioxidants for preventing O₂^? radical‐mediated disorders.     

Application of microalgae hydrolysate as a fermentation medium for microbial production of 2-pyrone 4,6-dicarboxylic acid

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Estimation of daily intake of phenols in hospital meal samples

Daily intakes of 12 phenols which are possible endocrine disruptors were estimated in hospital meals from 2000 to 2001. 4-Nonylphenol (4-NP (mix)) and bisphenol A (BPA) were detected at levels of 5.0 to 19.4 ng/g and 0.2 to 1.1 ng/g, respectively. 4-tert-Butylphenol, 4-n-pentylphenol, 4 -tert-pentylphenol, 4-n-hexylphenol, 4-n-heptylphenol and 4-tert-octylphenol were detected at levels of 0.1 to 2.4 microg/g. The daily intakes of 4-NP (mix) and BPA were 5.8 microg/day and 0.42 microg/day, respectively. The daily intakes of other phenols were less than 1 microg/day.     

Higher-order gradient effects in micropillar compression

Deformation behavior in single-slip oriented micropillars subjected to compressive loading is analyzed using a three-dimensional finite element method incorporating a higher-order gradient crystal plasticity theory in which the spatial gradients of the geometrically necessary dislocation densities are assumed to give rise to backstress that impedes or promotes dislocation motion, depending on its sign. In experimental studies, it has been frequently observed that the gauge portion of micropillar samples is split into a shear zone and two nearly unstrained dead zones under compressive loading. Here it is shown that effects of a higher-order gradient are essential for the formation of this particular deformation mode.     

Purification, characterization, and sequence determination of phospholipase D secreted by Streptoverticillium cinnamoneum

Phospholipase D (PLD), secreted into the culture medium of an actinomycete, Streptoverticillium cinnamoneum, has been purified to homogeneity and characterized. The Stv. cinnamoneum PLD efficiently catalyzes both the hydrolysis and transphosphatidylation of various phospholipids, including phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylcholine (PC), and phosphatidylserine (PS). However, the substrate specificity differs between the two reactions; PE serves as the most preferred substrate for the hydrolysis, but PC and PS are better substrates than PE for the transphosphatidylation. In addition, the transphosphatidylation but not the hydrolysis of PE and PC is markedly activated on the addition of metal ions, especially Al3+. Nucleotide and amino acid sequence determination of the Stv. cinnamoneum PLD revealed the presence of common structural motifs identified in all PLD sequences from various species.     

Characterization of carbonaceous films deposited on metal substrates by liquid-phase electrodeposition in methanol

In this study, we report the characterization of carbonaceous films deposited on metal substrates by liquid-phase electrodeposition in methanol. The characterization of carbonaceous films by electrodeposition was examined by means of Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), atom probe (AP) and high resolution-elastic recoil detection analysis (HR-ERDA). From these results, it was found that the films deposited on the metal substrates were composed of the sp² and sp³ carbon contents, of which the ratio was about 7:3. Furthermore, the films by electrodeposition contained much hydrogen. The hydrogen contents in the surface were about 60 at.% and those in the subsurface were a few 10 at.%.     

An edible oil deodorizer with a direct-fired heater

Engineers have long believed a direct-fired heater (DFH) for deodorization is always in danger of over-heating. Commercial tests done in recent years have proved this danger can be avoided by proper furnace design. At least ten commercial deodorizers with this system are now used in Asia. A new deodorizer with a DFH was designed and built in 1986 in Taiwan. It features a single-shell design and steam-stripping of deep oil layers. It has been operated successfully for several years. The deodorized oil was compared with oil produced by conventional deodorizers. The new deodorizer with a DFH revealed several advantages.     

Selectively dry-etched n+-GaAs/N-InAlAs/InGaAs HEMTs forLSI

High-speed n-InAlAs/InGaAs HEMT large-scale integrated circuits must have uniform device parameters. A selectively dry-etched n⁺ -GaAs/N-InAlAs/InGaAs HEMT which has a very uniform threshold voltage is discussed. Despite the high dislocation density at the n⁺-GaAs layer, its performance is excellent. For a gate length of 0.92 μm, the maximum transconductance of the HEMT is 390 mS/mm. The measured current-gain cutoff frequency is 23.7 GHz, and the maximum frequency of oscillation is 75.0 GHz. The standard deviation of the threshold voltage across a 2-in wafer is as low as 13 mV     

Multimedia processors

This paper describes large-scale-integration programmable processors designed for multimedia processing such as real-time compression and decompression of audio and video as well as the generation of computer graphics. As the target of these processors is to handle audio and video in real time, the processing capability must be increased tenfold compared to that of conventional microprocessors, which were designed to handle mainly texts, figures, tables, and photographs. To clarify the advantages of a high-speed multimedia processing capability, we define these chips as multimedia processors. General-purpose microprocessors for workstations and personal computers (PCs) use special built-in hardware for multimedia processing, so the multimedia processors described include these modified general-purpose microprocessors. After reviewing the history of programmable processors, we classify multimedia processors into five categories depending on their basic architecture. The categories are reduced instruction set computer (RISC) microprocessors for workstations, complex instruction set computer microprocessors for PCs, embedded RISCs, low-power digital signal processors (DSPs), which are mainly used for mobile communications devices, and media processors that support PCs for multimedia applications. These five classes are then grouped into two: microprocessors with a multimedia instruction set and highly parallel DSPs. An architectural comparison between these two groups on the basis of Moving Picture Experts Group decoding applications is made, and the advantages and disadvantages of each class are clarified. Future processors, including “system on a chip,” and their applications are also discussed