Texture and Formation Mechanism of Fibrous Calcium Hydroxyapatite Particles Prepared by Decomposition of Calcium–EDTA Chelates

The texture of fibrous calcium hydroxyapatite (Ca₁₀-(PO₄)₆(OH)₂, CaHAP) particles that were prepared by the decomposition of calcium–ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (calcium–EDTA) chelates at 100°C under various pH conditions (pH values of 5–10) was investigated by various means. Well-crystallized fibrous CaHAPs were produced at pH .6. The stoichiometry of the CaHAPs with a chemical formula of Ca_{10− x} (HPO₄) _x (PO₄)_{6− x} (OH)_{2− x} (H₂O) _x was improved by increasing the decomposition pH. All the CaHAPs had unit-cell dimensions of a = 0.9436 ± 0.0003 nm and c = 0.6881 ± 0.0006 nm, exhibiting an enlarged a value. The finding of mesoporosity of CaHAPs by nitrogen gas (N₂) adsorption measurement indicated that the CaHAPs were produced by an agglomeration of primary particles. Furthermore, the nonstoichiometric CaHAPs that formed at pH 6 developed ultramicropores, which were accessible to water (H₂O) molecules but not to N₂ molecules, by the elimination of H₂O molecules that were adsorbed in interstices of primary particles in less-orderly crystallized CaHAPs and/or by dehydration of HPO₄²⁻ groups. These findings by gas adsorption techniques could give evidence for the agglomeration mechanism to attain a polycrystalline CaHAP, although they exhibited good crystallinity with large size.     

The impact of RFID technology on warehouse process innovation: A pilot project in the TPL industry

Using the value chain model which provides a process view, this longitudinal case study and simulation modeling analysis of a Canadian third-party logistics (TPL) supply chain provides some empirical support for the enabling role of RFID technology in effecting warehouse process innovation and optimization for the focal TPL firm. However, the findings of our study also reveal the RFID technology implementation costs as the key inhibitor of RFID widespread adoption and usage among suppliers. This, in turn, precluded the focal TPL firm from implementing the best optimum RFID solution to create better business value from the RFID project.     

Relationship between Expression of Onco-Related miRNAs and the Endoscopic Appearance of Colorectal Tumors

Accumulating data indicates that certain microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are differently expressed in samples of tumors and paired non-tumorous samples taken from the same patients with colorectal tumors. We examined the expression of onco-related miRNAs in 131 sporadic exophytic adenomas or early cancers and in 52 sporadic flat elevated adenomas or early cancers to clarify the relationship between the expression of the miRNAs and the endoscopic morphological appearance of the colorectal tumors. The expression levels of miR-143, -145, and -34a were significantly reduced in most of the exophytic tumors compared with those in the flat elevated ones. In type 2 cancers, the miRNA expression profile was very similar to that of the exophytic tumors. The expression levels of miR-7 and -21 were significantly up-regulated in some flat elevated adenomas compared with those in exophytic adenomas. In contrast, in most of the miR-143 and -145 down-regulated cases of the adenoma-carcinoma sequence and in some of the de novo types of carcinoma, the up-regulation of oncogenic miR-7 and/or -21 contributed to the triggering mechanism leading to the carcinogenetic process. These findings indicated that the expression of onco-related miRNA was associated with the morphological appearance of colorectal tumors.     

Effects of seasonings on physical properties and MRI T2 map of cooked spaghetti

The effect of seasonings on the texture of cooked spaghetti was examined by sensory and shearing tests. Spaghetti tossed with sucrose, trehalose, salt, and monosodium glutamate and their mixture retarded deterioration of the firmness of spaghetti strands. To investigate the penetration of water and seasonings, maps of spin–spin relaxation time and their profiles from the center to the surface of a spaghetti strand were acquired by magnetic resonance imaging. The homogenization of moisture distribution in cooked spaghetti during holding was delayed temporarily by salt owing to a back current caused by the gradient of salt content on the surface immediately after tossing. Monosodium glutamate rapidly penetrated into spaghetti strands and caused water T₂ decrease possibly owing to the decreased mobility of water molecules in starch gel, whereas the sweeteners hardly altered the T₂ maps. Salt and monosodium glutamate are considered to retard more effectively the deterioration of firmness of spaghetti.     

Removal of lignin in a liquid system by an isolated fungus

The screening of a strain which could perform lignin removal was carried out. Based on taxonomic study the isolated strain (LM‐2) was identified as Penicillium sp. LM‐2 could decolorize 0.6 g dm^?3 lignin within 4 days in a shaking culture at 25 °C. The efficiency of decolorization of the lignin was over 80% in the pH range of 4.0–6.0, but was low above pH 6.2. The rise of temperature had a slight adverse effect on the lignin decolorization in the range of 25–35 °C. Lignolytic enzymes such as lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase and laccase were not detected in the culture broth or within the fungal cells. The lignin was removed from the high molecular weight fraction mainly by adsorption and accumulation inside the cells. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Detection of norovirus RNA in bivalve molluscs by using bacteria-culture-employed method (A3T method)

Norovirus (NV) RNA has rarely been detected in foods despite the use of highly sensitive methods such as RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR. In the modified method (A3T method) reported previously, a bacterial culture process was introduced into the standard protocol for NV detection to remove some inhibitor(s) present in food ingredients. To confirm the efficiency of the A3T method and to examine NV contamination in bivalve molluscs, we tried to detect NV RNA in bivalve molluscs on the market and in oyster samples associated with foodborne outbreaks by using the standard method and the A3T method. NV RNAs were detected in 20 samples (18.0%) of 111 bivalve molluscs, including oysters, on the market by use of the A3T method, while only one sample (0.9%) was positive according to the standard method. NV RNA was also detected in 10 of 35 oyster samples related to foodborne outbreaks by the A3T method. Those results show that the A3T method is suitable for the detection of NV in bivalve molluscs in general laboratories.     

Structural characterization of glycopeptides by N-terminal protein ladder sequencing

High-sensitivity and high-throughput mass spectrometry (MS) has become an important tool for characterizing glycopeptides. Here, we analyzed synthetic O-linked glycopeptides using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) MS. First, we applied MALDI-quadrupole ion trap (QIT)-TOF MS, which enables collision-induced dissociation-MSn analysis for fine structural characterization. Subsequent MS/MS of sodium adduct ions selected as precursor ions yielded detailed information about the site of oligosaccharide attachment as well as the carbohydrate and amino acid sequences; however, these MS/MS spectra were very complex. To obtain easily interpretable and simple spectra, we used N-terminal protein ladder sequencing coupled with MALDI-TOF MS. From the extremely simple resulting spectra, we were able to determine the glycosylation sites, amino acid sequences, and oligosaccharide molecular weights of the glycopeptides.     

Development of effective detection method for Coxiella burnetii in mayonnaise by real-time PCR and investigation of C. burnetii contamination in commercial mayonnaise in Tokyo

A PCR method for the effective detection of Coxiella burnetii in commercially available mayonnaise was developed. Sample preparations were isolated from 50 g portions of each mayonnaise product by four successive extraction steps in phosphate buffer with 2.0 M NaCl. These extracts were then centrifuged at 20,000 x g for 60 min. DNA was isolated from the solution containing the precipitate with a commercial kit, and amplified quantitatively using real-time PCR that targeted the com1 region of C. burnetii. The recoveries of C. burnetii from 2 kinds of commercial mayonnaise specimens, with a baseline control of 1 x 10(7) particles of the Nine Mile phase II strain, were 85.0 +/- 6.0% and 72.0 +/- 0.4%, respectively. The determination limit of this method was 500 C. burnetii particles per 50 g of mayonnaise. The DNA specimens isolated from 50 different commercial mayonnaise samples sold in Tokyo using this method were amplified using both nested PCR and real-time PCR. No contamination by C. burnetii was detected in any of the mayonnaise samples.     

A novel bioactive vitroceramic presents similar biological responses as autogenous bone grafts

Bioactive glasses represent an interesting class of bone substitute's biomaterials. The present study investigated the repair of bone defects filled with a novel bioactive vitroceramic (Biosilicate(?)), alone or in association with particulate autogenous bone grafts in calvaria defects of rabbits. After 7, 14, and 30 days the specimens were retrieved for histological, histomorphometric and immunohistochemistry analysis. Satisfactory bone formation was observed in all groups, and direct bone-biomaterial surface was noted. Histomorphometric assessment did not show statistically significant differences in bone formation among the groups and periods, except for BG group at day 14. Immunoexpression of Runx-2 was similar among the groups containing the graft and the biomaterial, being more intense than in control group. Similar result was observed for VEGF expression, especially in the last experimental period. These results revealed that Biosilicate(?) presented a favorable behavior, comparable to autogenous bone graft.     

An Improved Method for Preparing Dimethyl Disulfide Adducts for GC/MS Analysis

Dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) adducts are prepared from fatty acid methyl esters to locate the double-bond position in monoenoic fatty acids by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. We improved our original procedure for preparing DMDS adducts with a simple device that can be made in any laboratory using a glass pipette and silica based packing material, Extelut NT.