Molecular weight distributions of polysaccharides and lignin extracted from plant biomass with a polar ionic liquid analysed without a derivatisation process

Polysaccharides and lignin, extracted from wheat bran with 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium methylphosphonate, were directly analysed with high-performance liquid chromatography with the aid of ionic liquid as an eluent (HPILC). Polysaccharides and lignin were clearly detected independently with the use of both a refractive index detector and UV detector. Polysaccharides with low molecular weights were obtained at 25 °C in 2 h with an extraction yield of only 4%. High molecular weight polysaccharides were extracted with a yield of 26% at 120 °C and selective extraction of high MW polysaccharides was succeeded with pretreatment at low temperature. Furthermore, a similar extraction was carried out for wood biomass. Characteristics of pine and oak were observed in the molecular weight distributions of the extracted polysaccharides and lignin. We also analysed the extracts from different parts of Prunus × yedoensis \u27Somei-yoshino\u27. The average molecular weight of polysaccharides from its leaves was determined to be lower than that of its twigs. The present HPILC method has potential to rapidly and easily analyse molecular weight distributions of components of plants. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.Embargo Period 12 month

Effect of heat treatment on the chemical structure and thermal properties of softwood-derived glycol lignin

A large-scale glycol lignin (GL) production process (50 kg wood meal per batch) based on acid-catalyzed polyethylene glycol (PEG) solvolysis of Japanese cedar (JC) was developed at the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI), Tsukuba, Japan. JC wood meal with various particle size distributions (JC-S < JC-M < JC-L) (average meal size, JC-S (0.4 mm) < JC-M (0.8 mm) < JC-L (1.6 mm)) and liquid PEG with various molecular masses are used as starting materials to produce PEG-modified lignin derivatives, namely, GLs, with various physicochemical and thermal properties. Because GLs are considered a potential feedstock for industrial applications, the effect of heat treatment on GL properties is an important issue for GL-based material production. In this study, GLs obtained from PEG400 solvolysis of JC-S, JC-M, and JC-L were subjected to heating in a constant-temperature drying oven at temperatures ranging from 100 to 220 °C for 1 h. All heat-treated GL series were thermally stable, as determined from the Klason lignin content, TMA, and TGA analyses. SEC analysis suggests the possibility of condensation among lignin fragments during heat treatment. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, thioacidolysis, and 2D HSQC NMR demonstrated that a structural rearrangement occurs in the heat-treated GL400 samples, in which the content of α–PEG-β–O-4 linkages decreases along with the proportional enrichments of β–5 and β–β linkages, particularly at treatment temperatures above 160 °C

Collection and Analysis of Japanese Terms on Texture of Cooked Rice

One hundred and ten Japanese terms on texture of cooked rice were collected from 229 young females (mean age: 20. 2 years). General terms, which were used by many subjects, were rare. Only 7 terms were used by more than 20 subjects; these 7 terms can be regarded as general terms. Among these 7 terms, two terms, which are antonyms each another, express hardness of the cooked rice. Two of the 7 terms express unsuitable moisture level in a cooked rice; lack and excess of moisture, respectively. Three of the 9 terms express suitable stickiness/elasticity/adhesiveness, fluffiness and temperature, which are made by suitable moisture level.報

Elevated levels of plasma lactate dehydrogenase is an unfavorable prognostic factor in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer, receiving treatment with gefitinib or erlotinib.

Treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) has been shown to prolong survival in patients with EGFR mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The present study performed a retrospective analysis to investigate the association between the plasma lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and survival in patients with EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC receiving treatment with EGFR-TKIs. The medical charts of patients with EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC who were receiving treatment with EGFR-TKIs at Toyama University Hospital between 2007 and 2014 were assessed. The data from 65 patients were included in the analysis. Patients with higher plasma LDH levels exhibited shorter progression-free survival (6.2 vs. 13.2 months; P<0.01) and overall survival (10.5 vs. 36.1 months; P<0.01) periods compared with patients with lower plasma LDH levels. A Cox proportional hazards model identified that the plasma LDH level was associated with the progression-free survival (P=0.05) and overall survival (P<0.01). An association was demonstrated between the pretreatment plasma LDH level and the survival in patients with EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC receiving treatment with EGFR-TKIs. Close observation is required in EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC patients exhibiting high plasma LDH levels following the initiation of treatment with EGFR-TKIs.出版社サイトへのリンク：https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2016.77

Establishing the Japan-Store House of Animal Radiobiology Experiments (J-SHARE), a large-scale necropsy and histopathology archive providing international access to important radiobiology data

Purpose: Projects evaluating the effects of radiation, within the National Institutes of Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS), have focused on risk analyses for life shortening and cancer prevalence using laboratory animals. Genetic and epigenetic alterations in radiation-induced tumors have been also analyzed, with the aim of better understanding mechanisms of radiation carcinogenesis. As well as the economic and practical limitations of repeating such large-scale experiments, ethical considerations make it vital that we store and share the pathological data and samples of the animal experiments for future use. We are now constructing such an archive called the Japan-Storehouse of Animal Radiobiology Experiments (J-SHARE). Methods: J-SHARE records include information such as detailed experimental protocols, necropsy records and photographs of organs at necropsy. For each animal organs and tumor tissues are dissected, and parts are stored as frozen samples at -80 ˚C. Samples fixed with formalin are also embedded in paraffin blocks for histopathological analyses. Digital copies of stained tissues are being systematically saved using a virtual slide system linked to original records by barcodes. Embedded and frozen tissues are available for molecular analysis. Conclusion: Similar archive systems for radiation biology have been also under construction in the USA and Europe, the Northwestern University Radiation Archive (NURA), and STORE at the BfS, respectively. The J-SHARE will be linked with the sister-archives and made available for collaborative research to institutions and universities all over the world

Plasma neuron-specific enolase level as a prognostic marker in patients with non-small cell lung cancer receiving gefitinib.

Determination of the presence of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutation is useful for predicting the efficacy of gefitinib. However, the survival rate following the initiation of treatment with gefitinib varies among individuals. A retrospective study was conducted to investigate the associations of the pretreatment serum pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (pro-GRP) and plasma neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels to the patient survival rate following initiation of treatment with gefitinib in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving gefitinib treatment. Patients with NSCLC harboring EGFR gene mutations who received gefitinib therapy between 2004 and 2012 were included in the study. Data from a total of 41 patients were analyzed. The serum pro-GRP level was measured in 31 patients and the plasma NSE in 22 patients. The progression-free survival (PFS) (P=0.013) and overall survival (OS) (P=0.014, log-rank test) rates decreased as the plasma NSE level increased. Statistical analysis using a Cox proportional hazards regression model adjusted for age, gender, performance status (PS) and disease stage showed that higher NSE levels were associated with shorter PFS (P=0.021) and OS (P=0.0024). By contrast, no association was detected between the serum level of pro-GRP and survival rate. The results suggest that pretreatment NSE measurement could be clinically useful in patients with NSCLC scheduled to receive gefitinib treatment.出版社サイトへのリンク: https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2015.56

Multicentre multiobserver study of diffusion-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MRI for the diagnosis of sporadic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease: a reliability and agreement study

Objectives: To assess the utility of the display standardisation of diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) and to compare the effectiveness of DWI and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) MRI for the diagnosis of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD). Design: A reliability and agreement study. Setting: Thirteen MRI observers comprising eight neurologists and five radiologists at two universities in Japan. Participants: Data of 1.5-Tesla DWI and FLAIR were obtained from 29 patients with sCJD and 13 controls. Outcome measures: Standardisation of DWI display was performed utilising b0 imaging. The observers participated in standardised DWI, variable DWI (the display adjustment was observer dependent) and FLAIR sessions. The observers independently assessed each MRI for CJD-related lesions, that is, hyperintensity in the cerebral cortex or striatum, using a continuous rating scale. Performance was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC). Results: The mean AUC values were 0.84 (95% CI 0.81 to 0.87) for standardised DWI, 0.85 (95% CI 0.82 to 0.88) for variable DWI and 0.68 (95% CI 0.63 to 0.72) for FLAIR, demonstrating the superiority of DWI (p<0.05). There was a trend for higher intraclass correlations of standardised DWI (0.74, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.83) and variable DWI (0.72, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.81) than that of FLAIR (0.63, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.74), although the differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Standardised DWI is as reliable as variable DWI, and the two DWI displays are superior to FLAIR for the diagnosis of sCJD. The authors propose that hyperintensity in the cerebral cortex or striatum on 1.5-Tesla DWI but not FLAIR can be a reliable diagnostic marker for sCJD

Reliability of DWI and FLAIR for diagnosis of sporadic CJD

Objectives: To assess the utility of the display standardisation of diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) and to compare the effectiveness of DWI and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) MRI for the diagnosis of sporadic Creutzfeldte–Jakob disease (sCJD). Design: A reliability and agreement study. Setting: Thirteen MRI observers comprising eight neurologists and five radiologists at two universities in Japan. Participants: Data of 1.5-Tesla DWI and FLAIR were obtained from 29 patients with sCJD and 13 controls. Outcome measures: Standardisation of DWI display was performed utilising b0 imaging. The observers participated in standardised DWI, variable DWI (the display adjustment was observer dependent) and FLAIR sessions. The observers independently assessed each MRI for CJD-related lesions, that is, hyperintensity in the cerebral cortex or striatum, using a continuous rating scale. Performance was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC). Results: The mean AUC values were 0.84 (95% CI 0.81 to 0.87) for standardised DWI, 0.85 (95% CI 0.82 to 0.88) for variable DWI and 0.68 (95% CI 0.63 to 0.72) for FLAIR, demonstrating the superiority of DWI (p<0.05). There was a trend for higher intraclass correlations of standardised DWI (0.74, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.83) and variable DWI (0.72, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.81) than that of FLAIR (0.63, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.74), although the differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Standardised DWI is as reliable as variable DWI, and the two DWI displays are superior to FLAIR for the diagnosis of sCJD. The authors propose that hyperintensity in the cerebral cortex or striatum on 1.5-Tesla DWI but not FLAIR can be a reliable diagnostic marker for sCJD

Fundamental physics activities with pulsed neutron at J-PARC(BL05)

"Neutron Optics and Physics (NOP/ BL05)" at MLF in J-PARC is a beamline for studies of fundamental physics. The beamline is divided into three branches so that different experiments can be performed in parallel. These beam branches are being used to develop a variety of new projects. We are developing an experimental project to measure the neutron lifetime with total uncertainty of 1 s (0.1%). The neutron lifetime is an important parameter in elementary particle and astrophysics. Thus far, the neutron lifetime has been measured by several groups; however, different values are obtained from different measurement methods. This experiment is using a method with different sources of systematic uncertainty than measurements conducted to date. We are also developing a source of pulsed ultra-cold neutrons (UCNs) produced from a Doppler shifter are available at the unpolarized beam branch. We are developing a time focusing device for UCNs, a so called "rebuncher", which can increase UCN density from a pulsed UCN source. At the low divergence beam branch, an experiment to search an unknown intermediate force with nanometer range is performed by measuring the angular dependence of neutron scattering by noble gases. Finally the beamline is also used for the research and development of optical elements and detectors. For example, a position sensitive neutron detector that uses emulsion to achieve sub-micrometer resolution is currently under development. We have succeeded in detecting cold and ultra-cold neutrons using the emulsion detector.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, Proceedings of International Conference on Neutron Optics (NOP2017

Exploring deep microbial life in coal-bearing sediment down to ~2.5 km below the ocean floor

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