Demonstration of the bluish color on veins.

This study aimed to demonstrate and quantify the greenish-blue color of veins using tissue paper and stocking via the simultaneous color contrast phenomenon. The colors of real skin and veins were accurately measured in the experiment and used as a reference to simulate the color of the skin and the veins. Subcutaneous veins were simulated using gray paper covered with tissue paper for Experiment 1 and stockings for Experiment 2. The color appearance was quantitatively measured by the elementary color naming method. The results suggest that tissue paper and stockings were used to enhance a stronger simultaneous color contrast of the veins. Moreover, the color of the veins appeared complementary to the color of the skin.

Antiviral effect of electrolyzed reduced water on SARS-CoV-2.

The inhibitory activity of electrolyzed reduced water (ERW) against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is the etiological agent responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), was tested in vitro on Vero E6 cells using a plaque assay. Infectious virus titers of cells treated with ERW 100%, 50% and 33.3% solutions and phosphate buffered saline (PBS, negative control) and exposed to the virus suspension for 60 seconds were 2.25, 2.65, 3.21 and 7.38, respectively. ERW has a high pH and low surface tension. It is considered that the alkaline property of ERW breaks down phospholipids and proteins of envelopes. The role of pH and reducibility on the virucidal effect of ERW should be further evaluated. This study provides a foundation for utilizing ERW as an effective antiviral aqueous solution in a variety of applications.

Electrolytic-reduction ion water induces ceramide synthesis in human skin keratinocytes.

Ceramides play a critical role in the skin barrier. We previously demonstrated that electrolytic-reduction ion water (ERI) improves skin integrity and enhances the protective barrier function of the epidermis. Here, we first examine the effect of ERI on the expression of ceramide synthesis-related enzymes in human skin keratinocytes. The expression of enzymes involved in the elongation of very-long-chain fatty acids protein 4 (ELOVL4) was increased after treatment with ERI-containing media. The expression of ceramide synthase 3 (CerS3), which binds ultra-long-chain fatty acids to sphingosine to produce ceramides found in the skin, was also increased. Subsequently, we examined the expression of ceramides in keratinocytes treated with ERI using thin-layer chromatography. The results showed that ERI increased the ceramide content, and these ceramides were more hydrophobic than those extracted from untreated keratinocytes. These results suggest that ERI enhances the expression of enzymes involved in the synthesis of ceramides containing ultra-long-chain fatty acid residues, which have a protective function in the skin.

The effect of tissue paper on the color appearance of colored papers.

A sheet of tissue paper can change color appearance. Various colors were observed through tissues, and the appearance was quantitatively measured by the elementary color naming method. The saturation decreased with tissues, but the color appearance was fairly vivid in spite of a marked decrease of excitation purity, suggesting that visual mechanisms neglect the white color appearance to judge the color behind the tissue. A tissue was applied to the simultaneous color contrast stimulus, and a vivid color appeared on the central gray patch, which otherwise appeared just gray. The analysis of the color appearance of both the surround and the test patch suggested that the simultaneous color contrast phenomenon is a result of chromatic adaptation to the color of the surround.

An electrically conducting crystal composed of an octahedrally ligated porphyrin complex with high-spin iron(iii).

A porphyrin-based octahedrally ligated complex with high-spin iron(iii) was designed, and the resulting electrically conducting crystal TPP[FeIII(tbp)Br2]2 (TPP = tetraphenylphosphonium and tbp = tetrabenzoporphyrin) was synthesised. Although TPP[Fe(tbp)Br2]2 was isostructural to the reported TPP[Fe(Mc)L2]2 systems (Mc = macrocyclic ligands such as phthalocyanine (Pc) or tbp; and L = CN, Cl, or Br), the bond lengths between Fe and ligands in the [Fe(tbp)Br2] unit were evidently longer than those in the other units, because of the different spin states of Fe: high-spin in TPP[Fe(tbp)Br2]2 and low-spin in others. The magnetic anisotropy observed in the low-spin state vanished when the Fe is in the high-spin state. Based on reports for Pc-based systems, the negative magnetoresistance (MR) effect for TPP[Fe(tbp)Br2]2 was expected to be smaller than that for TPP[Fe(tbp)(CN)2]2. However, the former showed a giant negative MR effect similar to or larger than the latter, suggesting that the nature of iron is a crucial factor for the electrical properties of porphyrin-based materials.

A new strategy for inducing dipole moments in charge-transfer complexes: introduction of asymmetry into axially ligated iron phthalocyanines.

Introduction of asymmetry into charge-transfer complexes composed of axially ligated iron phthalocyanines was achieved. In the obtained crystals of TPP[FeIII(Pc)(CN)Cl]2, TPP[FeIII(Pc)(CN)Br]2, and TPP[FeIII(Pc)BrCl]2 (TPP = tetraphenylphosphonium and Pc = phthalocyanine), the axial positions of the iron atoms were occupied by 50/50 ratios of the ligands CN/Cl, CN/Br, and Br/Cl, respectively. The crystal structures of the obtained CT complexes were isostructural to those composed of the symmetric analogues of the type [FeIII(Pc)L2] (L = CN, Cl or Br); the [FeIII(Pc)LL'] units formed regular one-dimensional chains along the c-axis following the symmetry of the P42/n space group. Despite forming similar regular chains to the symmetric systems, the electrical resistivities and activation energies were enhanced in the obtained CT complexes compared to those in symmetric systems, indicating that the charge-ordered states were stabilised by the introduction of asymmetry. More specifically, the dielectric relaxation behaviour of the inhomogeneous disordered TPP[FeIII(Pc)(CN)Cl]2 probably suggests that a dipole moment was induced in this material.

A giant negative magnetoresistance effect in an iron tetrabenzoporphyrin complex.

By measuring the electrical resistivity in TPP[FeIII(tbp)(CN)2]2 (TPP = tetraphenylphosphonium and tbp = tetrabenzoporphyrin) under the application of a static magnetic field, a giant negative magnetoresistance (MR) effect with high anisotropy is observed. More specifically, the MR ratio at 13 K under a field of 9 T perpendicular to the c axis is -70%, whereas the MR ratio under a field parallel to the c axis is -40%. Furthermore, electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements indicate large anisotropy in the principal g-values of d spin (S = 1/2) in the [FeIII(tbp)(CN)2] unit; the g1 value almost perpendicular to the tbp plane and the g2 and g3 values almost parallel to the tbp plane are 3.60, 1.24, and 0.39, respectively. It is revealed that the anisotropy in the MR effect arises from the anisotropy in the d spin, suggesting that the d spins in TPP[FeIII(tbp)(CN)2]2 affect the π-conduction electron via the intramolecular π-d interaction. The anisotropy and magnitude in the giant negative MR effect for TPP[FeIII(tbp)(CN)2]2 are smaller than the corresponding values for the isostructural phthalocyanine (Pc) analogue TPP[FeIII(Pc)(CN)2]2. This is consistent with the fact that the intermolecular antiferromagnetic d-d interaction in TPP[FeIII(tbp)(CN)2]2 (suggested by the Weiss temperature: Θ = -8.0 K) is weaker than that in TPP[FeIII(Pc)(CN)2]2 (Θ = -12.3 K). This indicates that the minor modification in coordination complexes can significantly affect the MR effect via tuning the intermolecular d-d interaction as well as the intermolecular π-π overlap.

Phthalocyanine-Based Single-Component Molecular Conductor [Mn(III)(Pc)(CN)]2O.

A new manganese complex, [Mn(Pc)(CN)]2O, was prepared by an electrocrystallization method. This material is a single-component molecular conductor that displays semiconducting behavior with room temperature conductivity of 4.5 × 10(-3) S cm(-1). Furthermore, we observed negative magnetoresistance at room temperature due to interaction between conduction π electrons and localized d spins. X-ray structural analysis and IR absorption spectroscopy indicated structural disorder. The magnetic susceptibility measurements suggested the unequal spin states of two manganese atoms owing to this structural disorder.

Research and development of an electron beam focusing system for a high-brightness X-ray generator.

A new type of rotating anticathode X-ray generator, where an electron beam of up to 60 keV irradiates the inner surface of a U-shaped Cu anticathode, has achieved a beam brilliance of 130 kW mm(-2) (at 2.3 kW). A higher-flux electron beam is expected from simulation by optimizing the geometry of a combined-function-type magnet instead of the fringing field of the bending magnet. In order to minimize the size of the X-ray source the electron beam has been focused over a short distance by a new combined-function bending magnet, whose geometrical shape was determined by simulation using the Opera-3D, General Particle Tracer and CST-STUDIO codes. The result of the simulation clearly shows that the role of combined functions in both the bending and the steering magnets is important for focusing the beam to a small size. FWHM sizes of the beam are predicted by simulation to be 0.45 mm (horizontal) and 0.05 mm (vertical) for a 120 keV/75 mA beam, of which the effective brilliance is about 500 kW mm(-2) on the supposition of a two-dimensional Gaussian distribution. High-power tests have begun using a high-voltage 120 kV/75 mA power supply for the X-ray generator instead of 60 kV/100 mA. The beam focus size on the target will be verified in the experiments.

Performance of an electron gun for a high-brightness X-ray generator.

A prototype thermionic electron gun for a high-brightness X-ray generator has been developed. Its extraction voltage and design current are 60 kV and 100 mA (DC), respectively. The X-ray generator aims towards a maximum brilliance of 60 kW mm(-2). The beam sizes at the rotating anticathode must therefore be within 1.0 mm x 0.1 mm and a small beam emittance is required. The fabricated electron gun optimizes an aperture grid and a Whenelt electrode. The performance of the prototype electron gun measured using pulsed-beam tests is as follows: maximum beam current, 85.7 mA; beam focus size at the rotating anticathode, 0.79 mm x 0.13 mm. In DC beam tests, FWHM beam sizes were measured to be 0.65 mm x 0.08 mm at the rotating anticathode with a beam current of 45 mA. The beam current recently reached approximately 60 mA with some thermal problems.

Neocimicigenosides A and B, cycloartane glycosides from the rhizomes of Cimicifuga racemosa and their effects on CRF-stimulated ACTH secretion from AtT-20 cells.

Two new cycloartane glycosides, named neocimicigenosides A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the rhizomes of Cimicifuga racemosa. The structures of 1 and 2 were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis and enzymatic hydrolysis followed by chromatographic and spectroscopic analyses to be (16S,23R,24S)-24-acetoxy-16,23:16,25-diepoxy-15alpha-hydroxycycloartan-3beta-yl alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (1) and (16S,23R,24S)-24-acetoxy-16,23:16,25-diepoxy-15alpha-hydroxycycloartan-3beta-yl beta-D-xylopyranoside (2), respectively. Neocimicigenosides A and B enhanced CRF-stimulated ACTH secretion from AtT-20 cells.

Analytical separation of tea catechins and food-related polyphenols by high-speed counter-current chromatography.

High-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) using the type-J coil planet centrifuge was applied to compositional analysis of tea catechins and separation of other food-related polyphenols. The HSCCC separation of nine different standard compounds and those from extracts of commercial tea leaves was performed with a two-phase solvent system composed of tert-butyl methyl ether-acetonitrile-0.1% aqueous trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) (2:2:3, v/v/v) by eluting the upper organic phase at a flow rate of 2 ml/min. The main compounds in the extract of non-fermented green tea were found to be monomeric catechins, their galloylated esters and caffeine. In addition to these compounds, oxidized pigments, such as hydrophobic theaflavins (TFs) and polar thearubigins (TRs) were also separated and detected from the extracts of semi-fermented oolong tea and fermented black tea. Furthermore, several food-related polyphenols, such as condensed catechin oligomers (procyanidins), phenolic acids and flavonol glycosides were clearly separated under the same HSCCC condition. These separation profiles of HSCCC provide useful information about the hydrophobic diversity of these bioactive polyphenols present in various types of teas and food products.

Dose-dependent hypocholesterolemic actions of dietary apple polyphenol in rats fed cholesterol.

The dose-dependent hypocholesterolemic and antiatherogenic effects of dietary apple polyphenol (AP) from unripe apple, which contains approximately 85% catechin oligomers (procyanidins), were examined in male Sprague-Dawley rats (4 wk of age) given a purified diet containing 0.5% cholesterol. Dietary AP at 0.5 and 1.0% levels significantly decreased the liver cholesterol level compared with that in the control (AP-free diet-fed) group. Dietary AP also significantly lowered the serum cholesterol level compared with that in the control group. However, the HDL cholesterol level was significantly higher in the 1.0% AP-fed group than in the control group. Accordingly, the ratio of HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol was significantly higher in the 0.5% AP-fed group and 1.0% AP-fed group than in the control group. Moreover, the atherogenic indices in the 0.5 and 1.0% AP-fed groups were significantly lower than those in the control group. The activity of hepatic cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase tended to be increased by dietary AP in a dose-dependent manner. In accord with this observation, dietary AP increased the excretion of acidic steroids in feces. Dietary AP also significantly promoted the fecal excretion of neutral steroids in a dose-dependent manner. These observations suggest that dietary AP at a 0.5 or 1.0% level exerts hypocholesterolemic and antiatherogenic effects through the promotion of cholesterol catabolism and inhibition of intestinal absorption of cholesterol.

Inhibitory effect of polyphenol-enriched apple extracts on mast cell degranulation in vitro targeting the binding between IgE and FcepsilonRI.

Extracts from immature fruit of the apple (Rosaceae, Malus sp.), which contain procyanidins (polymers of catechins) as the major ingredients, are known to inhibit histamine release from mast cells. We analyzed in this study the mechanism for the anti-allergic activity of two polyphenol-enriched apple extracts. These extracts, termed "crude apple polyphenol (CAP)" and "apple condensed tannin (ACT)", reduced the degranulation of mast cells caused by cross-linking of the high-affinity receptor for IgE (FcepsilonRI) with IgE and the antigen in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, western blotting revealed that phosphorylation of the intracellular signal-transduction molecules caused by cross-linking of FcepsilonRI was markedly decreased by the addition of CAP or ACT. We then analyzed the effects of CAP and ACT on the binding of the IgE antibody to FcepsilonRI on mast cells, which is the first key step in the allergic reaction mediated by mast cells, and found that this binding was markedly inhibited by both CAP and ACT. These results indicate that the inhibition of binding between FcepsilonRI and IgE by either CAP or ACT was the probable cause of the suppression of mast cell activation. This is the first report demonstrating the molecular mechanism for the anti-allergic effect of procyanidin-enriched extracts from apples.

Inhibitory effects of polyphenols on gastric injury by Helicobacter pylori VacA toxin.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori induces gastric damage and may be involved in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer. H. pylori-vacuolating cytotoxin, VacA, is one of the important virulence factors, and is responsible for H. pylori-induced gastritis and ulceration. The aim of this study is to assess whether several naturally occurring polyphenols inhibit VacA activities in vitro and in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Effects of polyphenols on VacA were quantified by the inhibition of: 1, vacuolation; 2, VacA binding to AZ-521 or G401 cells or its receptors; 3, VacA internalization. Effects of hop bract extract (HBT) containing high molecular weight polymerized catechin on VacA in vivo were investigated by quantifying gastric damage after oral administration of toxins to mice. RESULTS: HBT had the strongest inhibitory activity among the polyphenols investigated. HBT inhibited, in a concentration-dependent manner: 1, VacA binding to its receptors, RPTP(alpha) and RPTP(beta); 2, VacA uptake; 3, VacA-induced vacuolation in susceptible cells. In addition, oral administration of HBT with VacA to mice reduced VacA-induced gastric damage at 48 hours. In vitro, VacA formed a complex with HBT. CONCLUSIONS: HBT may suppress the development of inflammation and ulceration caused by H. pylori VacA, suggesting that HBT may be useful as a new type of therapeutic agent for the prevention of gastric ulcer and inflammation caused by VacA.

Rhizoremediation of dioxin-like compounds by a recombinant Rhizobium tropici strain expressing carbazole 1,9a-dioxygenase constitutively.

A recombinant Rhizobium strain, PBK3-IS, that constitutively expressed the oxygenase component of carbazole 1,9a-dioxygenase from Sphingomonas sp. strain KA1, was constructed. In the water-cultured siratro rhizospheres inoculated with strain PBK3-IS, 48% of the dibenzofuran was removed within 3 days (initial substrate, 25 microg). Similar results were obtained in soil-cultured siratro rhizospheres using sterile vermiculite. When non-sterile field soils were used instead of sterile vermiculite, the inoculated recombinant strain could grow on the siratro root in all soils tested, except for wet paddy field.