Identification of Sex Pheromone of Adzuki Bean Borer,Ostrinia scapulalis

By means of gas chromatography with electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and a series of bioassays, (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate (Z11–14:OAc) and (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate (E11–14:OAc) at a ratio of 100:3 were identified as the female sex pheromone of the adzuki bean borer,Ostrinia scapulalis. The average amounts ofZ11–14: OAc andE11–14:OAc in a single sex pheromone gland were 6.6 ± 2.4 ng and 0.2 ± 0.1 ng, respectively. In a wind-tunnel bioassay, the binary blend ofZ11- andE11–14:OAc elicited almost the same male behavioral responses as did virgin females and sex pheromone gland extract. In field trapping experiments, rubber septa impregnated with the binary blend (50 g/septum) attracted more males than virgin females. The sex pheromone ofO. scapulalis thus turned out to be similar to that of theZ-type European corn borer,O. nubilalis, in both components and their ratio.     

Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage in a Moroccan dialysis center and isolates characterization

Staphylococcus aureus, which has its ecological niche in the anterior nares, has been shown to cause a variety of infectious diseases mainly for patients in hemodialysis units. We performed this study to evaluate the prevalence of nasal S. aureus carriage among hemodialysis outpatients, to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates, to characterize the virulence genes, and to identify associated risk factors. Nares swab specimens were obtained from 70 outpatients on hemodialysis between March and June 2010. Samples were plated immediately onto S. aureus specific media and pattern of antibacterial sensitivity was determined using disk diffusion method. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect nuc, mecA, and genes encoding staphylococcal toxins. Medical record of patients was explored to determine S.aureus carriage risk factors. Nasal screening identified 42.9% S. aureus carriers with only one (3.3%) methicillin‐resistant S. aureus isolate. Among the methicillin‐susceptible S. aureus isolates, high rate of penicillin resistance (81.8%) has been detected. The identified risk factors were male gender and age ≤ 30 years. Research of virulence factors showed a high genetic diversity among the 30 S. aureus isolates. Twenty‐one (70%) of them had at least one virulence gene, of which 3.3% were Panton‐Valentine leukocidin (lukS/F‐PV) genes. S. aureus carriage must be screened for at regular intervals in hemodialysis patients. Setting up a bacterial surveillance system is one of the strategies to understand the epidemiology of methicillin‐resistant S. aureus, to guide local antibiotic policy and prevent spread of antibiotic‐resistant S. aureus.     

The dynamic response characteristics of traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Research has been undertaken in order to better understand the characteristics of the injury event and measure the risk of injury to develop more effective environmental, technological, and clinical management strategies. This research used methods that have limited applications to predicting human responses. This limits the current understanding of the mechanisms of TBI in humans. As a result, the purpose of this research was to examine the characteristics of impact and dynamic response that leads to a high risk of sustaining a TBI in a human population. Twenty TBI events collected from hospital reports and eyewitness accounts were reconstructed in the laboratory using a combination of computational mechanics models and Hybrid III anthropometric dummy systems. All cases were falls, with an average impact velocity of approximately 4.0 m/s onto hard impact surfaces. The results of the methodology were consistent with current TBI research, describing TBI to occur in the range of 335–445 g linear accelerations and 23.7–51.2 krad/s² angular accelerations. More significantly, this research demonstrated that lower responses in the antero-posterior direction can cause TBI, with lateral impact responses requiring larger magnitudes for the same types of brain lesions. This suggests an increased likelihood of sustaining TBI for impacts to the front or back of the head, a result that has implications affecting current understanding of the mechanisms of TBI and associated threshold parameters.     

Development of a food frequency questionnaire to estimate habitual dietary intake in Japanese children

Background  

Food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) are used for epidemiological studies. Because of the wide variations in dietary habits within different populations, a FFQ must be developed to suit the specific group. To date, no FFQ has been developed for Japanese children. In this study, we developed a FFQ to assess the regular dietary intake of Japanese children. The FFQ included questions regarding both individual food items and mixed dishes.     

Dentin bond strength and nanoleakage of the adhesive interface after intracoronal bleaching

This study evaluated dentin bond strength (BS) and nanoleakage of non‐ and pre‐etched dentin immediately (T₀,), 7 days (T₇), and 14 days (T₁₄) after bleaching. Bovine incisors (150) were selected and half of them submitted to intrapulpal dentin etching (e). Non‐ and pre‐etched dentin were subjected to the following (n = 15): no bleaching/control (C); 35% carbamide peroxide (CP); 35% hydrogen peroxide (35% HP); 25% hydrogen peroxide (25% HP); and sodium perborate (SP). Bleaching agents were applied to the pulp chamber four times within a 72‐h interval. Afterwards, pulp chamber dentin was prepared for the BS test at different evaluation times (n = 5): T₀, T₇, and T₁₄. Composite blocks were built on pulp chamber and sectioned in slices. Slices were reduced to an hour‐glass shape with a cross‐sectional area of 0.8 mm² and submitted to microtensile BS test. Two additional specimens for each group were prepared for nanoleakage evaluation by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results were analyzed by ANOVA (two‐way) and Dunnett's test (p < .05). BS decreased immediately after intracoronal bleaching for both sound and pre‐etched dentin (p < .05). At T₁₄, the BS of non‐etched bleached dentin increased for all groups, whereas the pre‐etched SPe group presented BS similar to the Ce. Nanoleakage within the hybrid layer was perceptible immediately after bleaching, although a decrease in nanoleakage was observed for all groups at T₁₄. Adhesive restorations should be performed 7–14 days after bleaching, according to the bleaching agent used. Intracoronal bleaching should be performed preferably with sodium perborate if previous dentin etching is applied.     

In vitro inhibition of α-glucosidases and glycogen phosphorylase by catechin gallates in green tea

We investigated in vitro inhibition of mammalian carbohydrate-degrading enzymes by green tea extract and the component catechins, and further evaluated their inhibitory activities in cell cultures. The extract showed good inhibition toward rat intestinal maltase and rabbit glycogen phosphorylase (GP) b, with IC₅₀ values of 45 and 7.4 μg/ml, respectively. The polyphenol components, catechin 3-gallate (CG), gallocatechin 3-gallate (GCG), epicatechin 3-gallate (ECG), and epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG), were good inhibitors of maltase, with IC₅₀ values of 62, 67, 40, and 16 μM, respectively, and EGCG also showed good inhibition toward maltase expressed on Caco-2 cells, with an IC₅₀ value of 27 μM. The ungallated catechins, such as catechin, gallocatechin (GC), epicatechin (EC), and epigallocatechin (EGC), showed no significant inhibition toward GP b, whereas the gallated catechins CG, GCG, ECG, and EGCG inhibited the enzyme, with IC₅₀ values of 35, 6.3, 27, and 34 μM. From multiple inhibition studies by Dixon plots, GCG appears to bind a new allostelic site, the indole inhibitor site. These gallated catechins also inhibited glucagon-stimulated glucose production dose-dependently, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 33 to 55 μM. Dietary supplementation with these gallated catechins or the green tea extract containing them, which inhibits both α-glucosidases and GP in vitro and in cell culture, would contribute to the protection or improvement of type 2 diabetes.     

Identification of chemical detected in kiwi fruit during analysis for residual pesticide

An unknown peak was detected in a GC chromatogram of many kiwi fruit extracts during analysis for pesticide residues. It was identified by GC/MS as diphenyl 2-ethylhexyl phosphate (DPEHP), used as a plasticizer and flame retardant. The concentration of DPEHP was investigated in 15 samples of kiwi fruit, and it was detected at between 0.02 and 0.14 microgram/g in 10 of the samples. It might be due to migration of DPEHP into the fruit from the printed portion of the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) package.     

Optimum condition of Fourier transform infrared multiple-angle incidence resolution spectrometry for surface analysis

A novel measurement technique of pure out-of-plane vibrational modes of thin films on a nonmetallic substrate has recently been proposed, which is named multiple-angle incidence resolution spectrometry (MAIRS). Since this technique could not be replaced by other conventional techniques, MAIRS was expected to be a promising tool for analysis of thin soft materials and surface adsorbates. Nevertheless, some experimental conditions have been found to be inappropriate for MAIRS, which yields incorrect results. In the present study, therefore, the problems in the technique have been investigated in terms of optics to improve the accomplishments of MAIRS. The problems have been found to have a strong relationship with optics in FT-IR, which is influenced by refractive index of the sample material and angle of incidence. In particular, optimization of the size matching of the detector surface and the infrared spot at the detector was a key to having MAIRS perform properly. It has been concluded that reliable MAIRS measurements require overfilling of the detector and a substrate with a high-refractive index.     

Identification of unknown peaks in foods during residual pesticide analysis

Four unknown peaks were detected in GC chromatograms during analysis of organophosphorus pesticide residues in foods. They were identified by using GC/MS as triethyl phosphate (TEP), tributyl phosphate (TBP), diphenyl 2-ethylhexyl phosphate (DPEHP) and N-ethyltoluenesulfoneamide (NETSA), which are used as plasticizers or flame retardants in food packaging. These chemical substances were detected in the range of tr. (below 0.01 microg/g) to 11 micro/g from 29 samples, and they were also detected in the packaging. It was supposed that they were transferred to the foods from the packaging. Furthermore, they were detected in some cereals and cereal products which contain fat and had been preserved for a long time.