North Advancement Center for Science and Technology

Background: Kombu (Laminariaceae) is traditionally consumed in Japan. “Harudori-kombu” is young kombu harvested in spring. Harudori-kombu contains functional components, such as fucoxanthin—a carotenoid—which confer various biological effects.Methods: In this study, we investigated effects of the continuous intake of dried Harudori-kombu (2.0 g/day) for 6 weeks. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study including 70 healthy Japanese subjects with body mass index between 22 and 30 kg/m2 and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels between 120 and 160 mg/dL. Subjects were randomly assigned to either Harudori-kombu group or placebo group. Subjects ingested 9 capsules per day for 6 weeks. We conducted medical interviews, vital sign examinations, and blood sampling at weeks 0 (baseline), 2, and 6. Moreover, we assessed body composition at weeks 0 and 6.Results: Harudori-kombu intake did not improve the lipid profile but did reduce body fat. In addition, adiponectin levels were significantly improved.Conclusions: Harudori-kombu intake showed beneficial health effects, such as reduction in body fat and improvement of adiponectin levels, and was deemed safe at the dose administered in this study.

Deformation properties and permeability of sedimentary rock in the compression failure process was numerically studied using the distinct element method. Elastic tensors were estimated using the finite element method (Dfem) and the method assuming the affine deformation (Daffine). Permeabilities were estimated using the effective medium approximation and the fluid flow network. In agreement with the experimental results, the linear stress-strain relation under low differential stress and the nonlinear inelastic stress-strain relation near peak differential stress level were observed in the simulations. The change of Dfem was relatively small in the linear elastic region, then Dfem evidently changed and became anisotropic after the peak strength. On the other hand Daffine didnot varied significantly compared with Dfem but also became anisotropic. After peak strength inelastic deformation was the dominant deformation process. The permeability estimated using the effective medium approximation was increased after the failure. The permeability estimated using the fluid flow network exhibited anisotropy. The anisotropy of the elastic tensors and the permeability estimated from the fluid flow network could be attributed to the structural change of the rock model due to differential stress.

1,1-Dipehnyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities were found in the extract of dried leaves of oregano (Origanum vulgare). The water-soluble active ingredients were isolated, and their structures were determined to be 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-3',4'-dihydroxybenzyl protocatechuate and 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-3',4'-dihydroxybenzyl 4-O-methylprotocatechuate by (1)H-, (13)C-NMR, DEPT, HMQC, and HMBC spectral analyses, and by NOE experiments. The DPPH radical scavenging activities of these compounds were compared with those of rutin, quercetin and rosmarinic acid at a concentration of 2 x 10(-5) M. The scavenging activity of 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-3',4'-dihydroxybenzyl protocatechuate was almost the same as that of quercetin and rosmarinic acid, but that of 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-3',4'-dihydroxybennzyl 4-O-methylprotocatechuate was less than that of quercetin, rosmarinic acid and 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-3',4'-dihydroxybenzyl protocatechuate. The amount of 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-3',4'-dihydroxybenzyl protocatechuate was estimated to be 3.8 mg/1 g of dried leaves by an HPLC analysis.

We compared net Ca absorption and Lucifer Yellow (LY), a paracellular passage dye, permeability in the epithelium isolated from the rat small intestine, cecum, and colon after feeding with control and difructose anhydride (DFA) III diets for 14 days using the Ussing chamber system. Feeding of DFA III increased net Ca transport and LY passage in the cecal but not in small intestinal or colonic epithelium. Ability of paracellular Ca passage via Tight-junction (TJ) in the cecum was changed adaptively by feeding of DFA III. Changes in microbial fermentation may affect the functional changes of Ca transport in cecal epithelium itself.

Acid Bacteria ○

Many kinds of scanning probe microscopes have been proposed for imaging surface magnetic structures. Theoretical calculations predict that the detection of the short-range magnetic interaction such as exchange interaction reveals the magnetic structures on an atomic scale. The non-contact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM) detecting the short-range magnetic interaction is called exchange force microscopy (EFM). In order to detect the exchange interaction between a magnetic tip and a sample, we performed NC-AFM imaging of an antiferromagnet NiO(001) surface using a ferromagnetic Fe-coated tip. To discuss the interaction atomically resolved images obtained are analyzed by the superposition method. The results of the analysis demonstrates that the spin configuration revealed from the superimposed images coincides with the expected one of the NiO(001) surface. To evaluate the corrugation amplitude of the atoms, we introduced the topographic asymmetry, which indicates that the short-range magnetic interaction between the Fe-coated tip and sample can be detected by NC-AFM.