Alternative-ingredient Recommendation Based on Co-occurrence Relation on Recipe Database

AbstractThis paper proposes a recommendation method of alternative-ingredients based on co-occurrence relation on recipe database. Currently, dishes are often cooked with reference to recipes on Website. Convenience to access so many and varied recipes encourages beginners to cook. Recipe on Website list ingredients used for a dish. However, for some reason, some of the listed ingredients cannot be used for the cooking; this paper defines such ingredient as “exchange-ingredient.” To cook a dish, it should alternate exchange-ingredient and another one (i.e., alternative-ingredient). This paper proposes two algorithms to recommend alternative-ingredient. Through the cooking and tasting experiments, it was confirmed that the each of the proposed methods were effective for each intended purpose

Structural characterization of the trans -equatorial isomer of (aqua)(ethylenediamine- N , N , N ′-tripropionato)chromium(III) trihydrate,[Cr(edtrp)(H2O)] · 3H2O

The structure of trans-equatorial [Cr(edtrp)(H2O)] · 3H2O (edtrp3− is the anion of ethylenediamine-N,N,N′-tripropionic acid) was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The chromium(III) ion is surrounded octahedrally by the two nitrogen and three oxygen atoms of the quinquedentate edtrp3−, forming a five-membered diamine ring and the three six-membered β-propionato chelate rings. The remaining coordination position is occupied by the H2O ligand. The crystal structure conformation is compared to the result of recent molecular mechanics analysis. The ring strain of R and G chelate rings was found to be in agreement with the previously proposed mechanisms for the C—N bond cleavage and recombinatio

Ume (Japanese Apricot)-Induced Small Bowel Obstruction with Chronic Radiation Enteritis

Stricture formation is recognized as one of the complications of chronic radiation enteritis. Here, we present a case of a 73-year-old woman who presented with small bowel obstruction 16 years after pelvic irradiation for uterine cancer. Computed tomographic (CT) scan of the abdomen demonstrated a 1-cm foreign body in the terminal ileum. Laparotomy revealed a stone of ume (Japanese apricot) stuck in an ileal stricture, leading to complete impaction and perforation. She was successfully treated with ileocecal resection and ileocolic anastomosis without any complication. Pathological study revealed that the low compliance caused by fibrosis of the bowel wall prevented the small ume stone from passing through the irradiated ileum. Our case implies the specific risk of food-induced small bowel obstruction in patients with a history of pelvic irradiation

A Study on High School and Undergraduate Students’ Learning Motivation : A Case of Joint Management of the Educational Relationship between K Agricultural High School and A University for the “K Agricultural High School & A University Program"

This paper introduces the joint management of an educational relationship between K Agricultural High School and A University, and reports the program's effects to increase students' motivation for learning at both schools. In the program, first, the high school students presented the results of their project based learning, and the university students and university instructor gave comments. Next, the high school students received a lecture from the university instructor and a research report from the university student. Finally, the high school students, university students, and instructors attended a social gathering. An analysis of responses to the study questionnaire suggests that students’ motivation for learning increased at both schools, except the university students who have high motivation originally

cyclo-Tetra-μ-fluorido-1:2κ2 F;2:3κ2 F;3:4κ2 F;1:4κ2 F-octa­nitrato-1κ8 O,O′;3κ8 O,O′-tetra­kis­(1,10-phenanthroline)-2κ4 N,N′;4κ4 N,N′-2,4-dichromium(III)-1,3-dineodymium(III) methanol tetra­solvate monohydrate

In the title compound, [Cr2Nd2F4(NO2)8(C12H8N2)4]·4CH3OH·H2O, two cis-difluoridobis(1,10-phenanthroline)chromium(III) fragments containing octa­hedrally coordinated chromium(III) bridge via fluoride ions to two tetra­nitratoneodymate(III) fragments, forming an uncharged tetra­nuclear square-like core. The fluoride bridges are fairly linear, with Cr—F—Nd angles of 168.74 (8)°. Cr—F bond lengths are 1.8815 (15) Å, slightly elongated compared to those of the parent chromium(III) complex, which has bond lengths ranging from 1.8444 (10) to 1.8621 (10) Å. The tetra­nuclear complex is centered at a fourfold rotoinversion axis, with the Cr and Nd atoms situated on two perpendicular twofold rotation axes. The uncoordinated water mol­ecule resides on a fourfold rotation axis. The four methanol solvent mol­ecules are located around this axis, forming a cyclic hydrogen-bonded arrangement. The title compound is the first structurally characterized example of unsupported fluoride bridges between lanthanide and transition metal ions

New psychoactive substance Α-PVP in a traffic accident case

The problems of new psychoactive substances (NPSs), especially related to drivers, constitute an open research area. In this case report, we present a traffic accident case, in which two passengers of five individuals died instantly, while the other three persons survived the accident with minor injuries only. From the blood samples of the driver and the passengers, α-pyrrolidinovalerophenone (α-PVP), an NPS belonging to the category of cathinone derivatives, was disclosed. Therefore, we established a detailed procedure for analysis of α-PVP in blood samples by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. After careful validation tests of this method, α-PVP concentration in blood samples from the surviving driver and passengers, and from the two deceased, were measured. The concentrations varied from 20 to 650 ng/mL. Access to detailed information originating from the court files and from explanations provided by the driver and eye witnesses revealed extremely valuable illustrative details addressing the symptoms and pharmacological effects of α-PVP on the human organism, thus contributing to enriching the body of knowledge of α-PVP abuse

Alpha7 nicotinic ACh receptor mediated neuroprotective action by nicotine and GTS-21: An approach by the hippocampal organotypic slice cultures.

Nicotine, main constituent of tabaco, is known as a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonist and increases cognitive performance. 3-(2,4-dimethoxybenzylidene)-anabaseine (GTS-21) is derived from the marine worm toxin, anabaseine, and is alpha7-selective nAChR (D7-nAChR) agonist. Both nicotine and GTS-21 were expected as therapeutic agents of Alzheimer’s disease. Several studies showed that nicotine and GTS-21 protected neuron by activating nAChR, especially D7-nAChR. It has been reported that D7-nAChR has been shown to be an essential regulator of inflammation. The purpose of this study is to examine the neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of nicotine and GTS-21 using organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. Kainic acid (KA, 5-50µM) induced concentration- and time-dependent neuronal cell death in the hippocampal organotypic slice cultures. The pretreatment with nicotine and GTS-21 tended to decrease in KA toxicity. In a CA3 area-specific analysis, pretreatment with nicotine resulted in significant inhibition of KA-induced neurotoxicity. The results suggest that nicotine may protect KA-induced neuronal cell death via D7-nAChR. We also examined anti-inflammatory effects of nicotine and GTS-21. Hippocampal slices were pretreated with nicotine or GTS-21, and then treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LPS treatment induced concentration-dependent increases in TNFD and IL-1E gene expressions. LPS-induced TNFD gene expression, but not IL-1E was suppressed by GTS-21 pretreatment. These results suggest that D7-nAChR might be involved in the microglia activation towards a neuroprotective role by suppressing inflammatory cytokine

在宅高齢者の口腔機能評価と口腔体操プログラムの 効果について

　本研究は、健康な在宅高齢者を対象に、嚥下に関わる口腔機能を評価し、口腔体操プログラム（Ｐ）を実施することによる口腔機能の変化や、健康関連QOL（Quality of Life）との関連について調べた。近畿地区の在宅高齢者41人を対象として、口腔体操Ｐを実施する訓練（Ｔ）群と実施しない対照（NT）群に分けて，３か月の訓練による口腔機能評価と健康関連QOL の変化について検討した。その結果，口腔体操Ｐにより、音節交互反復運動（Oral Diadochokinesis: OD）では「パ」「タ」「カ」の発声回数が増加し、特に「タ」と「カ」で有意な増加が認められた。また、OD のpre の初期値と変化量との間に有意な負の相関関係が認められ、初期値の回数が少ないほど、発声回数が増加し口腔体操Ｐの効果が顕著であった。唾液嚥下時間および唾液分泌量について有意ではなかったが、改善する傾向はあった。一方、NT 群では口腔機能評価には変化がなかった。健康関連QOL では、SF-8TM のPCS（身体的健康感サマリースコア）が口腔体操Ｐにより向上する傾向があった

Importance of “meal first” strategy and effective situations of supplement use in elite athletes: Japan high performance sport center position stand

The “meal first” strategy is traditionally recommended for athletes' conditioning. However, the importance of the “meal first” principle has not been detailly well documented in athletes' lives. Supplement use has recently become a common part of athletes' diets, but unmonitored supplement use can cause negative consequences, such as anti-doping violations and health issues. Therefore, this review summarizes how the “meal first” strategy and planned supplement use are important for enhancing athletes’ health and performance. We believe that the “meal first” strategy is beneficial in terms of the following aspects: (1) consumption of multi-nutrients and other functional components simultaneously; (2) positive effects on psychological well-being; (3) contribution to athletes' health by way of mastication; and (4) less risk for anti-doping violations. Before supplement use, we recommend that athletes first verify their basic factors (e.g., diet, training, and sleep), given that the benefits of supplements are examined and demonstrated with the control of those factors. Otherwise, athletes cannot obtain maximal benefits from the supplements. In contrast, there are situations in which supplements in athletes' lives can be advantageous, such as (1) nutrient deficiency due to ongoing dietary characteristics; (2) interruption of meals due to disease; (3) inaccessibility of quality food during athletic travel; (4) difficulty preparing food due to societal restrictions associated with disasters or infection outbreaks; (5) having a meal before, during, or after exercise is difficult; and (6) achieving targeted intake of performance-enhancing ingredients is not practical. In summary, we emphasize that the “meal first” strategy is recommended for athletes' conditioning, but there are several contexts when supplement use can be more useful in athletes' lives