Behavioral and electroantennogram responses of periplanone analogs

The biological activities of synthetic periplanone analogs, including four candidates of periplanone-A (P-A), were evaluated by behavioral and electroantennogram (EAG) assays. Among 16 periplanone analogs, six compounds evoked pheromonal activity from the male American cockroaches. The threshold dosages of these biological active analogs were 10–10⁵ times lower than that of the known periplanone mimic, germacrene-D. The conformation required for eliciting the pheromonal activity is discussed in terms of the structure-activity relationship of these analogs. Hauptmann's P-A elicited the strongest pheromonal activity among four candidates of P-A in our bioassay, suggesting that Hauptmann's P-A is a natural P-A produced from female cockroaches.     

Hydroxypropyl-Distarch Phosphate from Potato Starch Increases Fecal Output, but Does Not Reduce Zinc, Iron, Calcium, and Magnesium Absorption in Rats

The physiological effects of hydroxypropyl‐distarch phosphate (HDP) were examined in rats. Male rats were fed a fiber‐free purified diet containing gelatinized potato starch (PS, 50 g/kg diet) that was not modified chemically or gelatinized, chemically modified potato starch (CMS, 50 g/kg diet) for 21 d. PS was used as the control. Six kinds of gelatinized HDP from potato with 2 different degrees of hydroxypropylation and 3 different degrees of cross‐linking were used as CMS. The wet weight and moisture of the fecal output of the rats fed highly hydroxypropylated HDP was 70% and 30% greater, respectively, than that in the control rats. The weights of the cecal wall and content of the rats fed highly hydroxypropylated HDP were 15% and 30% higher, respectively, than those of the control rats. The apparent absorption of Mg was 15% higher in the rats fed highly hydroxypropylated HDP than in the control rats. On the other hand, the apparent absorptions of Ca, Zn, and Fe were not affected by the diet. Cross‐linking did not influence the above‐mentioned physiological effects of HDP. Fecal excretion of bile acids and the plasma cholesterol concentration were not affected by the diet. These results show that the physiological effects of HDP depend on the hydroxypropylation but not the cross‐linking.     

First-Principles Study on the Grain Boundary Embrittlement of Metals by Solute Segregation: Part II. Metal (Fe,Al, Cu)-Hydrogen (H) Systems

The microscopic mechanism of grain boundary (GB) embrittlement in metals by hydrogen segregation (trapping) has been not well understood for many years. From first-principles calculations, we show here that the calculated cohesive energy of bcc Fe Σ3(111) and fcc Al(Cu) Σ5(012) symmetrical tilt GBs can be significantly reduced if many hydrogen atoms segregate at the GBs. This indicates that the reduction of the cohesive energy of the GB may cause the hydrogen-induced GB embrittlement in Fe, Al, and Cu. Considering the “mobile” effect of hydrogen during fracture, especially for the Fe system, more hydrogen atoms coming from solid solution state can segregate on the gradually formed two fracture surfaces and reduce further the cohesive energy. We suggest a new idea about the upper and lower critical stresses observed in the constant-load test of hydrogen-induced delayed fracture in high-strength steels; the upper critical stress is determined by the amount (density) of “immobile” hydrogen atoms segregated at the GB before fracture, and the lower critical stress is determined by the total amount (density) of immobile and mobile hydrogen atoms, the latter of which segregate on the two fracture surfaces during fracture.     

Virtual metamorphosis

The virtual metamorphosis system lets people change their forms into any other form in a virtual scene. To realize these changes, a computer vision system estimates facial expressions and body postures and reproduces them in a computer graphics avatar in real time. We introduce three systems in order of their development: the Virtual Kabuki system, Networked Theater and “Shall We Dance?”     

Long-term evaluation of combined antihypertensive therapy with lisinopril and a thiazide diuretic in patients with essential hypertension

For the treatment of hypertension, the combination of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and a thiazide diuretic is supported by multiple lines of evidence, because these drugs have synergistic action and are expected to cancel out each other's adverse side effects. However, the long-term outcome of this combination antihypertensive therapy is not entirely clear. In the present multicenter open trial, we investigated the long-term efficacy and safety of combined antihypertensive therapy with an ACE inhibitor, lisinopril, and a thiazide diuretic, trichlormethiazide. A total of 466 patients with essential hypertension were treated with lisinopril alone (monotherapy group, n = 360) or with a combination of lisinopril with trichlormethiazide (combination therapy group, n = 106) for 1 year. The average blood pressure was effectively lowered to below 150/90 mmHg in both the monotherapy and the combination therapy groups throughout the study period. The average maintenance dose of lisinopril was lower when combined with thiazide than when given alone (9.8 vs. 11.5 mg/day, p < 0.001). Dry cough was the major side effect of lisinopril; no severe adverse effects were observed. The incidence of cough was not significantly different between the monotherapy group (13.1%) and the combination therapy group (11.3%). The increase in serum potassium observed in the monotherapy group was reversed by the concurrent use of the thiazide diuretic in the combination therapy group. Fasting blood glucose was significantly reduced in the monotherapy group; the reduction observed in the combination therapy group was not significant. Thus, the present results provide useful information as to the effectiveness and safety of combined antihypertensive therapy with lisinopril and a thiazide in comparison with monotherapy with lisinopril.     

Nutritional intake by the oldest elderly Japanese. Tokyo Centenarian Study 6

Rapid demographic aging has made caring for the elderly an increasingly important social issue in Japan. To study current conditions of the oldest elderly citizens, we investigated the dietary practices of centenarians in the Tokyo metropolitan area. First, we compared the food intake of centenarians with that of octogenarians. Next, to identify dietary trends, we investigated whether food intake by centenarians had changed significantly between 1981 and 1995. Nutritional intake by the centenarians and octogenarians in 1995 was about 60% and 75% that of the control, respectively. However, the nutritional intake of well nourished centenarians was similar to that of the octogenarians. Cognitive function and daily activity have an influence on nutritional intake. The centenarians were similar to the control subjects in their consumption of dairy products, sweets, and fruit. However, their intake of cereals, meat, fish, and fatty oils was loss than 60% that of the control, which indicates their preference for soft and sugary foods. The pattern of dietary practices of centenarians in 1981 was similar. Although the total food intake of centenarians amounted to 60% of the control in 1995 energy intake per kilogram of body weight averaged over 30 kcal. As to dietary trends, centenarians in 1981 are more cereals, eggs, algae products, and legumes than did their 1995 counterparts. This finding seems to reflect a generational difference in dietary habits.     

Improvement in stabilization of launching performance and launching velocity using linear accelerator

This paper describes the improvements in launching stability and launching velocity of the linear accelerator (LAC). The authors have designed and produced a railgun using the LAC for weaving loom shuttles. The LAC is an electromagnetic launcher which enables a projectile to be launched at a speed of more than 50 m/s. Basically, it consists of a unipole linear dc motor and operates the same principle as dc rotary motors, the most difficult problem in this system being the stabilization of the current collection on the projectile. Then, various launch experiments have been conducted. As a result, the carbon projectile was launched at a speed of 73 m/s using double-state-type LAC.     

Effect of losartan, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, on response of cortisol and aldosterone to adrenocorticotrophic hormone

Many imidazole derivatives are shown to inhibit adrenal steroid biosynthesis. The present study was undertaken to examine an effect of another imidazole derivative, losartan (an angiotensin II receptor antagonist), on responses of cortisol and aldosterone to adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). Nine patients with essential hypertension were given placebo orally for 7 days and 50 mg of losartan for the next 9 days. Response of serum cortisol and plasma aldosterone to intramuscular ACTH injection were determined before and at the end of the treatment with losartan. Serum cortisol and plasma aldosterone significantly increased after ACTH injection in both periods of treatment (placebo and losartan). The increments in these parameters during treatment with losartan were not significantly different from those during treatment with placebo. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of losartan on adrenal steroid biosynthesis is negligible.     

Behavioral responses of malePeriplaneta americana L. to female sex pheromone components,periplanone-A and periplanone-B

Bioassays were performed on malePeriplaneta americana L. using synthetic (–)-periplanone-B (P-B) and Hauptmann's (–)-periplanone-A (P-A), and their mixtures at various ratios to estimate the roles of both periplanones for the sexual communication of the species. Both P-A and P-B elicited qualitatively the same responses, such as antennal movement, rapid locomotion, wing raising, and homosexual behavior of male cockroaches, but the threshold of the pheromone activities for P-B was two orders of magnitude lower than that of P-A. Neither synergistic nor inhibitory but only a simple integrated effect on the responses was observed when mixtures of P-A and P-B were applied.     

Synergistic action of Sb2O3 with bromine-containing flame retardant in polyolefins. 1—the variance in their performance versus Sb/Br ratio

The synergistic action of antimony (Sb) with bromine (Br) was studied for polypropylene-2,3-dibromopropylpentabromophenyl ether–Sb₂O₃ systems at various Sb/Br molar ratios. Oxygen index, weight loss rate and heating value were used to evaluate the retardant effect. Bromine and antimony emission and their material balances were measured by gravimetric and X-ray fluorometric analysis of heated samples at each reaction time. Retarded HBr formation in the gaseous phase through SbBr₃, SbOBr and Sb₄O₅Br₂ was proved by X-ray diffraction analysis of heated residues and model products. SbBr₃ and HBr formation were greatest at Sb/Br ratios of 1/3 and 1/4, respectively, while the highest oxygen index and the lowest weight loss rate and heating value were obtained at 1/4. Consequently, HBr will most probably produce the retardant effect rather than SbBr₃. Effective synergistic action at the Sb/Br ratio of 1/4 is explained by presuming the formation of an acidic HBr.SbBr₃ complex in the molten phase for the particular reaction pattern of bromine in 2,3-dibromopropylpentabromophenyl either.