Application of two immunochromatographic test kits to screening of four kinds of allergic substances in imported foods

We tested for four kinds of allergic substances (egg, milk, wheat and peanuts) in 52 imported processed foods using immunochromatographic test kits (ITK). ELISA was also employed to confirm the effectiveness of the ITK. Among 92 data from 23 samples, allergic substances were detected in 9 cases with one kind of ITK, but not with the ELISA test. Among 116 data from 29 samples, 6 were negative with one kind of ITK and but positive with the other ITK. These results suggested that these 4 kinds of allergic substances in imported foods can be detected by using a double-check method with two kinds of ITK.     

Comparison of carotenoid components between GM and non-GM papaya

We compared the carotenoid profile in GM papaya (Sunup) line to that of a non-GM one (Sunset). First, to identify major carotenoids in papaya, large-scale extraction was carried out with methanol. HPLC analyses of the methanol extracts revealed that both papayas mainly contained 5 pigments and no apparent difference was observed in the HPLC profiles. On the basis of LC/MS data and photodiode-array spectra, beta-carotene (3), lycopene (2), beta-cryptoxanthin (1), and beta-cryptoxanthin myristoyl and lauroyl esters (4 and 5) were identified as major carotenoids. It is well known that most carotenoids are labile, so a rapid analysis with precautions to avoid decomposition was developed to quantify their contents in the original fruits. Frozen samples of the fruits were sliced and a piece (about 2 g) of fruit was cut out and lyophilized. After extraction of the piece with methanol containing an anti-oxidant, BHT, the extract was further partitioned with hexane and methanol. Finally the contents of the main carotenoids in the hexane fraction were analyzed by HPLC. The contents of total carotenoids (sum of 1-5) and beta-cryptoxanthin (1, 4 and 5) in GM papaya fruit were estimated to be 0.764 +/- 0.056 and 0.604 +/- 0.051 (mumol/g), respectively and those in non-GM fruit were 0.883 +/- 0.145 and 0.705 +/- 0.098 (mumol/g), respectively. These differences are not statistically significant.     

Characterization of superstrate type CuInS2 solar cells deposited by spray pyrolysis method

CuInS₂ films were deposited on glass/FTO/TiO₂/In₂S₃ air ambient air at 300 °C by spray pyrolysis, resulting in superstrate-structured solar cells. The crystallinity of the spray-deposited CuInS₂ films was generally good. The CuInS₂ films with a thickness of below 2 μm showed only one layer and good adhesion. On the other hand, the CuInS₂ films with a thickness of more than 3 μm were formed with several layers, and were easily peeled off during deposition. The band gap value of CuInS₂ samples was around 1.3 eV. The performance of the best cell obtained was V_oc = 0.37 V, J_sc = 11.2 mA/cm², FF = 0.35, and had an efficiency = 1.7%. For large size solar cells (2 × 2 cm²), the effect of In₂S₃ film thickness on the cell performance was significant. In order to characterize the spray-deposited CuInS₂ films, the results of EPMA, XRD, XPS, and UV-vis absorption spectra have been discussed.     

Adsorption of benzene on noble metal surfaces studied by density functional theory with Van der Waals correction

We have studied the atomic geometries and the electronic properties of benzene/metal interfaces by using density functional theoretical (DFT) calculations with van der Waals corrections. Adsorption energies of benzene on Cu(111), Ag(111), and Au(111) surfaces calculated by van der Waals density functional proposed by Dion and co-workers agree reasonably well with experimentally reported values, while those calculated by a semi-empirical van der Waals correction proposed by Grimme are overestimated slightly. The work function change induced by benzene adsorption on the three surfaces are quite well reproduced by the semi-empirical correction, suggesting that weak adsorption geometries can be quite well reproduced by DFT with a semi-empirical dispersion correction scheme.     

Inter-laboratory evaluation studies for establishment of notified ELISA methods for allergic substances (peanuts)

Inter-laboratory evaluation studies were conducted for ELISA methods for allergic substances (peanuts). Extracts of biscuit, sauce, chocolate and butter spiked with peanut standard protein at a level of 5-20 ng/mL as sample solutions were analyzed in replicate in 10 laboratories. Coefficients of variation (CVs) of the ELISA methods using a Peanut Protein ELISA Kit (Peanut kit) and a FASTKIT Peanut ELISA kit (Peanut ELISA kit) were mostly below 10%. Mean recoveries of the peanut standard protein from the food extracts were over 40% in the two ELISA methods. Repeatability relative standard deviations of peanut standard protein in four food extracts were in the ranges of 15.2-49.7% and 3.0-28.3% for the Peanut kit and the Peanut ELISA kit, respectively. Reproducibility relative standard deviations of peanut standard protein in four food extracts were 23.5-44.4%, 9.6-28.4% for the Peanut kit and the Peanut ELISA kit, respectively. The detection limits of both ELISA methods were 2-2.5 ng/mL in sample solutions. These results suggested that the notified ELISA methods are reliable and reproducible for the inspection of peanut protein levels in extracts of biscuit, sauce, chocolate and butter.     

Simultaneous determination of dichlorvos and trichlorfon in agricultural products by GC-FPD

We studied a gas chromatographic method for the determination of dichlorvos (DDVP) and trichlorfon (DEP) in agricultural products. DDVP and DEP were extracted from agricultural products with acetone and re-extracted with ethyl acetate instead of dichloromethane. DDVP and DEP were eluted in one fraction on a silica gel column using n-hexane-acetone (1:1). DEP is a thermally labile compound, so it was derived to a more thermally stable compound by acylation with N-methylbis(trifluoroacetamide) and pyridine in acetone at 60 degrees C for 2 hours. DDVP and the DEP-TFA derivative were determined simultaneously by GC-FPD. The recoveries of DDVP and DEP from agricultural products spiked at levels of 0.1 microgram/g were 72.6-117.7% and 86.2-106.6%, respectively. The detection limits were 0.03 microgram/g in powdered tea and < or = 0.01 microgram/g in other samples. An interlaboratory study by 6 laboratories was conducted to validate this proposed method for 6 crops. Repeatability ranged from 3.1 to 7.8% for DDVP and from 3.4 to 8.3% for DEP, and reproducibility, from 6.9 to 15.5% for DDVP, and from 7.9 to 21.8% for DEP. Precision values were well within statistically predicted levels.     

Detection of recombinant DNA from genetically modified papaya

A method using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was developed to detect the genetically modified (GM) papaya (55-1 line), of which the mandatory safety assessment has not been finished in Japan because of insufficient data. The papaya intrinsic papain gene was used as an internal control. The results of PCR amplification of the papain gene segment indicated that a commercial silica membrane type kit (QIAGEN DNeasy plant mini) was useful for extraction of DNA from papaya fruit, but not for extraction from canned papaya fruit. On the other hand, a commercial ion-exchange type kit (QIAGEN Genomic-tip) provided enough purified DNA for PCR from canned papaya fruit. Compared with the parental line and other commercial non-GM papayas, the DNA from GM papaya fruit provided specific amplification bands in PCR with five primer pairs (Nos. 2-6) including beta-glucuronidase and neomycin phosphotransferase II gene-specific ones. On the other hand, the primer pairs recognizing these genes showed false-positive results when we used DNAs from canned papaya. Therefore, we recommend that the primer pairs (Nos. 5 and 6) recognizing the sequences derived from two different species of organism should be used in order to detect specifically the GM papaya in canned fruits.     

An occurrence mechanism and method for improving the output waveform distortion of CMOS logic ICs

Waveform distortion at a signal edge generally falls into two categories: hysteresis type and non-hysteresis type. Non-hysteresis type distortion has a flat portion in the signal transition, but it will not give any serious problem except for timing oriented circuits. Hysteresis type distortion which makes a round trip between two threshold levels will affect logic judgment. Incorrect information will be transmitted if the signal is seriously distorted. It is important to understand the relationship between spectrum modification and waveform distortion. In this paper, an occurrence mechanism for the output waveform distortion of CMOS logic ICs is analyzed and an improved method for dealing with these distortions is proposed. Waveform distortion occurs when series resonance circuits are composed on the load side of the driving device. The relationship between the rise time per period [%] and the limit frequency at which waveform distortion begins to appear will be made clear. There are two methods to improve waveform distortion. One is to change the spectrum distribution of a rectangular wave by modifying the rise time. The other is to change the resonance frequency by modifying such parasitic elements as inductance (pattern length) and capacitance (number of ICs). © 1998 Scripta Technica. Electr Eng Jpn, 123(3): 11–18, 1998     

Exfoliation of nitric acid intercalated carbon fibers: effects of heat-treatment temperature of pristine carbon fibers and electrolyte concentration on the exfoliation behavior

Effect of heat treatment temperature of mesophase pitch-based carbon fibers on the exfoliation behavior of derived intercalation compounds with nitric acid was studied. Carbon fibers heat-treated above 2500 °C gave intercalation compounds with mass increase of more than 80 mass% and resulted in a marked exfoliation by a rapid heating to 1000 °C, where no memory of original single fiber was observed. On those below 2000 °C, on the other hand, their residue compounds showed mass increase less than 80 mass% and the appearance after exfoliation at 1000 °C was similar to the original single fiber. On 1150 °C-treated carbon fibers, mass increase was only 13 mass% and no evidence of intercalation was detected even after electrolysis and, as a consequence, the formation of only small fissures along their fiber axis was observed, with no apparent exfoliation. The dependence on electrolyte concentration was also examined on 3000 °C-treated carbon fibers.     

Evaluation of Fatty Acid Profile of Wagyu Beef by ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy

Japanese black Wagyu beef has its characteristics of fatty well-marbled texture, flavor, and tenderness which are affected by fatty acid composition. The aim of this study was to develop an analytical method for evaluating the fatty acid profile of Wagyu beef by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. In the current study, attenuated total reflection–FTIR (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography (GC) were applied to the fat tissues, and the solvent-extracted fats which were sampled from subcutaneous, inter- and intramuscular fat tissues. Results of GC analysis showed that monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) content became larger in the order of intramuscular, intermuscular, and subcutaneous fats, and saturated fatty acids (SFA) became smaller in the same order. Subcutaneous fat could be discriminated from inter- and intramuscular fats on the basis of fatty acid composition by principal component analysis. The ATR-FTIR analysis revealed that the shift of the peak positions of alkene C–H stretching vibration at around 3,006 cm⁻¹ occurred depending on the unsaturation degree of fatty acids in beef fat. Partial least squares (PLS) regression analysis with leave-one-out cross-validation was applied to the combined regions of 2,800–3,050 and 1,000–1,500 cm⁻¹ for the fat tissues and the extracted fats. The correlation coefficients of the PLS validation models predicting the content of the MUFA and SFA for solvent-extracted fats were higher than those for fat tissues, and the coefficients (R ²) of determination more than 0.873 were obtained for solvent-extracted fats and 0.522 for fat tissues.