Physicochemical characteristics of rapidly dried onion powder and its anti-atherogenic effect on rats fed high-fat diet

Rapidly dried onion (Allium cepa L. cv. Momiji No. 3) powder (OP) prepared from the outer layers (from second to fourth scale leaves from the surface) of onion bulbs was analysed for its quercetin and polyuronide contents, the effects of enzymatic treatment and the anti-atherogenic effect on rats fed a high-fat diet. Quercetin 4′-glucoside (50%), free quercetin (30%) and quercetin 3,4′-diglucoside (20%) were identified as quercetin derivatives, and boiling-water extraction was effective in extracting these compounds. OP contained 12.9% of polyuronides, the basic skeleton of pectin. Enzymatic degradation (cellulase and pectinase, 50 °C for 12 h, pH 6.0) of OP was effective in obtaining a slurry of smaller particle sizes. The free quercetin increased and the glucosides decreased with enzyme treatment. In Wistar rats fed an OP-added high-fat diet, the total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were not significantly different from the rats fed a high-fat diet without OP. However, the atherogenic index (AI) of Wistar rats fed an OP-added high-fat diet was lower (AI = 3.3) than rats fed the diet without OP (AI = 4.1). The incremental elastic modulus (IEM) of the aorta from rats fed the OP-added diet was also significantly lower than that of the rats fed the diet without OP. The AI and IEM values of the rats fed the OP-added diet were quite similar to the values of rats fed the diet without OP but were allowed spontaneous exercise. These results suggest that OP intake is effective for decreasing the risk of arteriosclerosis.     

Solid state NMR analysis of poly(L‐lactide) random copolymer with poly(ε‐caprolactone) and its reactive extrusion process

A random copolymer based on poly(L ‐lactide) (PLA) with poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) was prepared and characterized by mechanical testing and solid state NMR, compared with a polymer blend. For a monofilament sample consisting of PLA/PCL random copolymer, there were negative correlations between the CL content and the mechanical properties: tensile strength, tensile elastic modulus, flexural rigidity, and flexural hysteresis decreased with increasing CL content. In contrast, the mechanical properties of the polymer blend were only slightly changed by addition of the CL unit. For the random copolymer, the addition of a small amount of CL reduced relaxation times, T₁C and T_1ρH, gradually. The T₁C and T_1ρH values correlated closely with the tensile elastic modulus and the tensile strength, respectively. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Estimation of Zn and Cu unit output loads from animal husbandry facilities

Zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) are toxic to aquatic organisms at very low concentrations that do not affect humans. We measured the daily output of Zn and Cu in wastewater from livestock farms to aquatic environments because waste from animal husbandry operations contains high levels of Zn and Cu. At most pig farms in Japan, a mixture of urine, some faeces, and service water is treated in onsite wastewater treatment facilities and discharged into a water body. Some dairy farms also have wastewater treatment facilities. We surveyed 21 pig farms and six dairy farms. The unit (i.e., per head) output load from piggery wastewater treatment facilities ranged from 0.13 to 17.8 mg/head/d for Zn and from 0.15 to 9.4 mg/head/d for Cu. Over 70% of pig farms had unit output loads of Zn and Cu below 6 and 2 mg/head/d, respectively. For dairy farms, the unit output load from wastewater treatment facilities was estimated at 1.8-3.6 mg/head/d for Zn and 0.6 mg/head/d for Cu. The unit output load for Zn from piggery wastewater treatment facilities was similar to that from treatment facilities for human waste. However, pig farms generally raise several thousand to tens of thousands of pigs; pig farms are therefore presumed to be a significant point source of Zn in rural areas.     

Removal of phosphate,magnesium and calcium from swine wastewater through crystallization enhanced by aeration

In order to confirm the possibility of removing P04-P, Mg and Ca from swine wastewater through artificial crystallization by aeration, laboratory and pilot scale experiments were carried out using actual swine wastewater. The pH of swine wastewater increased up to approximately 8.5 with continuous aeration, and a large part of the soluble PO4-P, Mg and Ca was crystallized. The ingredients of the crystals were estimated as MAP and HAP according to their mole ratio of NH4-N, PO4-P, Mg and Ca. The sedimentation speed of crystals in swine wastewater was about 3 m h(-1), and over 90% of them had settled after standing 1 h. A pilot scale reactor with the dual functions of crystallization by aeration and settling was operated continuously using actual swine wastewater, with aeration conditions of HRT 4.1 h and 26m3 airh(-1) m(-2) cross section (18m3 air h(-1) m(-3) volume). During 50 days of operation, pH at the aeration column held stable at 8.0, and 65% of PO4-P, 51% of Mg, and 34% of Ca were removed.     

Evaluation and fireproofing treatment of wooden heat-insulating/acoustic absorbing materials

Heat insulating and acoustic absorbing materials were endued with fireproof performance and subjected to quantitative evaluations assuming a variety of uses and situations. Fireproofing was performed by spraying an aqueous solution of flame retardants on raw materials (wood shavings, kenaf bast fibers, and core-sheath-type fibers) during the fiber spreading and mixing step. It was possible to treat the materials homogeneously and without increasing manufacturing workload. Flame retardancy was evaluated using vertical flame testing, horizontal flame testing, the 45° Meckel’s Burner method, and a cone calorimetry method in accordance with UL94, JIS D 1201, JIS L 1091, and JIS A 9521, respectively. It was possible to achieve results that satisfied each of these standards, along with quantifying the relations between treatment conditions and performance.     

Simple synthesis of ZrO2/SiOx core/shell nanofibers using ZrSi2 with gallium

ZrO₂/SiO_x core/shell nanofibers with diameter ~ 50 nm were synthesized by the thermal oxidation of ZrSi₂ substrates with gallium. The crystalline ZrO₂ cores were grown with amorphous SiO_x shells. It is proposed that the growth of crystalline ZrO₂ core was guided by the prior supersaturation of Zr species in the molten gallium film, whereas the amorphous SiO_x shell could be attributed to the deposition of SiO vapor on the surface of ZrO₂ core. In addition, the ZrO₂/SiO_x core/shell nanofibers show a wide visible photoluminescence (PL) emission at 480 nm, which should originate from the SiO_x shells.     

Development of tube flow sensor by using film transfer technology and its application to in situ breathing and surface image evaluation in airways

Microsystem Technologies - A micro-electro-mechanical systems flow sensor was integrated onto an optical fiberscope to enable in situ breathing and surface image evaluations in small airways. The...     

Reduction of a NiO thin film deposited by PLD on a single crystal YSZ (111) substrate

The NiO/YSZ interface prepared by depositing NiO on a single crystal YSZ (111) substrate has been investigated by transmission electron microscopy. As deposited, a very thin nickel layer ascribing to the nonstoichiometry at the very beginning growth of NiO and an amorphous silica phase resulting from silicon segregation were present at the interface. The orientational relationship of NiO (1[`1] 1) (1\overline{1} 1) //Ni (1[`1] 1) (1\overline{1} 1) //YSZ (1[`1] 1) (1\overline{1} 1) with NiO [110]//Ni [110]//YSZ [110] was observed. The microstructural and chemical changes at the NiO/YSZ interface after being heated in vacuum and hydrogen indicated different reduction mechanisms. In vacuum, the reaction \textNiO ? \textNi + 1/ 2 \text O ₂ ( \textg ) {\text{NiO}} \to {\text{Ni}} + 1/ 2 {\text{ O}}_{ 2} \left( {\text{g}} \right) was prevailing at the interface between NiO and pre-existing Ni, which led to the thickening of nickel layer. In hydrogen, the reduction initiated on the NiO surface was dominant, following the chemical equation H₂ + O_O (NiO) → H₂O (g) + V_O ^.. (NiO) + 2e (Ni).     

Production of tyramine in "moromi" mash during soy sauce fermentation

The concentrations of 7 non-volatile amines, tyramine (Tym), histamine (Him), phenethylamine (Phm), putrescine (Put), cadaverine (Cad), spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm) in the liquid part of "moromi" mash during soy sauce fermentation were studied. These amines, except for him and Cad, were detected during fermentation by the conventional production method in the laboratory. Put and Spd were detected at the beginning, and Tym, Phm and Spm appeared later; these 5 amines increased gradually during the fermentation. Put, Spd, Spm and Cad were present in the raw starting material for soy sauce; thus, Tym and Phm were produced by the fermentation. When "moromi" mash was added to liquid medium and cultivated, Tym was detected in some "moromi" mash and the other amines were not detected. Tym-producing bacterial strains were isolated from the liquid culture media of Tym-positive "moromi" mash. The Tym-producing strain was a gram-positive coccus. The conditions for production of amines by Tym-producing bacterial strains were examined. These strains grew and produced tyramine under various conditions, which may occur during soy sauce fermentation. Namely, Tym was produced at pH 5-10, at salt concentrations of less than 8%, under either aerobic or anaerobic conditions. During soy sauce fermentation, it is assumed that Tym would be produced by these strains during the early stages of soy sauce aging within a short period when the salt concentration and pH conditions are optimal for growth. Based on the bacteriological properties, the strains were identified as Enterococcus faecium. With the exception of Phm and Him, which did not exist in the starting raw material, non-volatile amines (including Put, Cad, Spd and Spm) were not produced and microorganisms producing them are not believed to be present during "moromi" fermentation.