Study of mechanical properties of wooden bolt-nut connector I: effect of size and shape of thread on withdrawal strength

The withdrawal strength of a bolt-nut connector made from wood-based material was evaluated. The thread strength of the wooden bolt-nut connector was tested to select various parameters of the connector and the type of wood material; the wood materials tested were hard maple, white oak, ebony, glue-laminated bamboo, and densified Japanese cedar. A plane model of wooden threads with various thread angles was also evaluated. The results showed that the maximum failure load of the thread increased with increasing bolt density and connection area, which was calculated from the diameter of the bolt and the thickness of the nut. The withdrawal resistance after reaching the maximum load underwent a graded decrease because the bolt threads were broken one by one. In addition, the thread strength depended on the thread angle. In the model with a thread angle of 90°, compressive deformation in the transverse direction occurred prior to shear deformation along the root of the threads; the model with this thread angle thus had higher strength than those with other angles.     

Spontaneous fibrosarcoma with pleomorphic appearance in an aged brown norway rat

An 18-month-old male Brown Norway (BN) rat showed a grayish-white subcutaneous mass in the right cheek. Histologically, the mass was composed of highly pleomorphic cells producing collagen. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the tumor cells were strongly positive for vimentin and partially positive for Ki-67; however, they were negative for ED-1, ED-2, S-100, cytokeratin, desmin and myoglobin. Ultrastructurally, the cytoplasms of the tumor cells contained well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum. Thus, the tumor had no characteristic feature other than collagen production and was diagnosed as a fibrosarcoma.     

Keratoconus in a cynomolgus monkey

In a seven-year-old male cynomolgus monkey, erythema of the upper eyelid and forehead and corneal opacity, edema and conical protrusion in the eye were observed. At necropsy, ophthalmological and serological examinations revealed binocular corneal opacity and conical protrusion and a high IgE level, respectively. Thinning of the epithelium and stroma of the cornea were noted histopathologically. At the center of the corneal epithelium, the number of epithelial cells was reduced, their cytoplasm was poorer and the basal cells were flatter than at the periphery. Bowman's membrane was folded with partial loss or breakage. Collagen fibers were compacted or disarranged, and the keratocytes were increased in the stroma, with focal pyknosis or loss of the endothelium and folding of Descemet's membrane. Electron microscopical examination revealed atrophy of the corneal epithelial basal cells. This is the first report of a case of keratoconus in a cynomolgus monkey.     

Determination of nucleotides in infant formula by ion-exchange liquid chromatography

Nucleotide-supplemented infant formula has been shown to positively modify the composition of intestinal microflora, emulating the attribute of human milk. Quantification of nucleotides in infant formula is of interest because of its applicability in quality and safety assessments. There is no standard method for the analysis of nucleotides in infant formula. In the present study, ion-exchange liquid chromatography (IELC)- and centrifugal ultrafiltration (CUF)-based protocols were developed for routine determination of additive nucleotides in infant formula. Five target nucleotides, guanosine 5'-monophosphate (GMP), inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP), uridine 5'-monophosphate (UMP), cytidine 5'-monophosphate (CMP), and adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP) were measured by IELC with a mobile phase of 50 mM diammonium hydrogen phosphate buffer, pH 4.0, with UV detection at 254 nm. The calibration was linear over the range 0.5-50 microg/mL; R(2) = 0.999. The calculated LOD and LOQ were 0.01-0.05 microg/mL and 0.05-0.5 microg/mL, respectively. Recovery values (spiked concentration levels: 0.5, 5, and 10 microg/mL) ranged from 85.0 +/- 1.4% to 92.3 +/- 2.1% using only CUF preparation. This was applied to measure the concentration of five nucleotides in common infant formulas.     

Comparison of the glucosinolate-myrosinase systems among daikon (Raphanus sativus, Japanese white radish) varieties

Myrosinase is a cytosolic plant enzyme present in daikon ( Raphanus sativus, Japanese white radish) roots that hydrolyzes 4-methylthio-3-butenyl glucosinolate (MTBGLS) into the natural pungent agent 4-methylthio-3-butenyl isothiocyanate (MTBITC), which possesses antimicrobial, antimutagenic, and anticarcinogenic properties. The concentration of MTBGLS, myrosinase activity, and production of MTBITC in seven daikon varieties (one conventional and six heirlooms) were determined to rank the activity of the glucosinolate-myrosinase system and identify critical factors influencing the production of MTBITC. The six heirloom varieties produced 2.0-11.5 times higher levels of MTBITC as compared to the conventional variety, Aokubi, which is consumed by the present Japanese population. The myrosinase was located exclusively in the outer epidermal layer in Aokubi, and MTBGLS was widely distributed throughout the root tissue. Although the skin is a potentially rich source of myrosinase in Aokubi, the skin is usually peeled off in the current practice of preparing daikon for cooking. New practices are therefore proposed for the preparation of daikon tubers that eliminate the peeling of the skin to avoid removing the enzyme needed to convert MTBGLS to the health-beneficial MTBITC. It is also concluded that the consumption of heirloom daikon varieties in addition to changes in food preparation will optimize the health benefits of daikon.     

Bitter gourd suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses

Bitter gourd ( Momordica charantia L.) is a popular tropical vegetable in Asian countries. Previously it was shown that bitter gourd placenta extract suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TNFalpha production in RAW 264.7 macrophage-like cells. Here it is shown that the butanol-soluble fraction of bitter gourd placenta extract strongly suppresses LPS-induced TNFalpha production in RAW 264.7 cells. Gene expression analysis using a fibrous DNA microarray showed that the bitter gourd butanol fraction suppressed expression of various LPS-induced inflammatory genes, such as those for TNF, IL1alpha, IL1beta, G1p2, and Ccl5. The butanol fraction significantly suppressed NFkappaB DNA binding activity and phosphorylation of p38, JNK, and ERK MAPKs. Components in the active fraction from bitter gourd were identified as 1-alpha-linolenoyl-lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), 2-alpha-linolenoyl-LPC, 1-lynoleoyl-LPC, and 2-linoleoyl-LPC. Purified 1-alpha-linolenoyl-LPC and 1-linoleoyl-LPC suppressed the LPS-induced TNFalpha production of RAW 264.7 cells at a concentration of 10 microg/mL.     

Purification of curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin by high-speed countercurrent chromatography

Curcuminoids are substances of great interest because of their important pharmacological activities, particularly anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, and anti-Alzheimer's activities. In this study, we report the first procedure and effect of processing for the high, efficient, and useful purification of curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin from turmeric powder. Purification involves high-speed countercurrent chromatographic (HSCCC) separation of these curcuminoids using a simple two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane/chloroform/methanol/water (5/10/7.5/2.5, v/v). The HSCCC-fractionated effluent peaks indicated that the peak resolutions were 1.7 between curcumin and demethoxycurcumin and 2.1 between demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin for 25 mg of loaded turmeric powder. These purified substances were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with scan and daughter scan negative modes, and the wide absorbance from 200 to 500 nm was monitored by photodiode array detection. The separation yielded 1.1 mg of curcumin, 0.6 mg of demethoxycurcumin, and 0.9 mg of bisdemethoxycurcumin (>98% purity). Moreover, the antioxidant effect of curcuminoids was measured by a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil assay. The order of antioxidant activity was purified curcumin > purified demethoxycurcumin > purified bisdemethoxycurcumin > turmeric powder. Curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin can be used for various evaluations of their pharmacological activities.     

Effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid and porcine growth hormone on survival of the euryhaline rotifers <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brachionus plicatilis</Emphasis> sp. complex preserved at low temperature

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at 50 μg/ml and porcine growth hormone (GH) at 0.025 IU/ml were tested to see whether these chemicals would reduce the stress experienced by euryhaline rotifers Brachionus plicatilis species complex (L-, S- and SS-morphotypes) during low temperature (4–12°C) storage. Rotifers cultured at 25°C were transferred to 4–12°C for 10–30 days and transferred back to 25°C for recovery. GABA or GH were added to the rotifers at three different time points: 6 h before transfer from 25°C to low temperature (6h−), on day 7 after preservation at low temperature (7d+) and on the first day of recovery. For L-type rotifers, the GH treatment before the transfer to 4°C for 30 days was effective for better survival, while the GABA treatment was most effective for the S-type preserved at 10°C for 14 days. For the SS-type, the chemical treatments were not effective when the rotifers were preserved at 12°C for 14 days. After low temperature preservation, GABA treatments with the S- and SS-type rotifers just after their transfer to 25°C induced a relatively faster recovery of the rotifer population.     

Changes in the strategy of a small-scale jigging fishery for Japanese flying squid Todarodes pacificus off northeastern Japan

Fisheries Science - Long-term fluctuations in the strategy of a small-scale squid jigging fishery for Japanese flying squid Todarodes pacificus off northeastern Japan were evaluated based on time...