New perspective in fisheries product development: importance of seaweeds as biomass resources

Brown seaweeds have an important role to preserve coastal ecosystems. Brown seaweeds are also major class for aquacultured seaweeds. They contain valuable nutrients and bioactive components and some of them have not been found in terrestrial plants. Especially, much attention has been paid to brown seaweed lipids because of their high functionality. Several brown seaweeds show high total lipids (TL) contents, ranging from 10-20 wt% per dry weight. The lipids are rich in functional 18:4n-3, 20:5n-3 and 20:4n-6. Brown seaweed TL also contains fucoxanthin as a key functional compound. Brown seaweed lipids show anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects, which are mainly due to the up-regulatory effect of fucoxanthin on energy expenditure in abdominal white adipose tissue and glucose utilization in muscle

CABINS: Case-based interactive scheduler

In this paper we discuss the need for interactive factory schedule repair and improvement, and we identify case-based reasoning (CBR) as an appropriate methodology. Case-based reasoning is the problem solving paradigm that relies on a memory for past problem solving experiences (cases) to guide current problem solving. Cases similar to the current case are retrieved from the case memory, and similarities and differences of the current case to past cases are identified. Then a best case is selected, and its repair plan is adapted to fit the current problem description. If a repair solution fails, an explanation for the failure is stored along with the case in memory, so that the user can avoid repeating similar failures in the future. So far we have identified a number of repair strategies and tactics for factory scheduling and have implemented a part of our approach in a prototype system, called CABINS. As a future work, we are going to scale up CABINS to evaluate its usefulness in a real manufacturing environment

Antioxidant activity, total phenolics and flavonoids contents: should we ban in vitro screening methods?

As many studies are exploring the association between ingestion of bioactive compounds and decreased risk of non-communicable diseases, the scientific community continues to show considerable interest in these compounds. In addition, as many non-nutrients with putative health benefits are reducing agents, hydrogen donors, singlet oxygen quenchers or metal chelators, measurement of antioxidant activity using in vitro assays has become very popular over recent decades. Measuring concentrations of total phenolics, flavonoids, and other compound (sub)classes using UV/Vis spectrophotometry offers a rapid chemical index, but chromatographic techniques are necessary to establish structure-activity. For bioactive purposes, in vivo models are required or, at the very least, methods that employ distinct mechanisms of action (i.e., single electron transfer, transition metal chelating ability, and hydrogen atom transfer). In this regard, better understanding and application of in vitro screening methods should help design of future research studies on ‘bioactive compounds’

Squalene modulates fatty acid metabolism: Enhanced EPA/DHA in obese/diabetic mice (KK-A(y)) model

Biosynthesis of long-chain n-3 fatty acids from precursors is limited. In vivo effect of squalene (SQ) on the metabolic fate of n-3 fatty acid precursors in obese/diabetic KK-A(y) rodent model was evaluated in our work. Soybean oil, being rich in ALA (18:3 n-3; a known precursor of EPA/DHA), was chosen as the n-3 fatty acid precursor rich source. A high-fat diet (20%) containing 7% soybean oil (SO) was fed to obesity/diabetes-prone male KK-A(y) mice (control). In the case of diets fed to test groups, soybean oil was replaced with 5% SO and 2% SQ. Hepatic DHA levels increased (four fold) in SQ fed group over control (p<0.05). Gene and protein expressions of (5) and (6) desaturases, key enzymes involved in the fatty acid metabolism, further supported the results. Also, SQ exhibited a hypotriglyceridemic and hypoglycemic effect. The results clearly indicated the effect of SQ in modulating the n-3 fatty acid metabolism, including EPA/DHA synthesis in the presence of n-3 fatty acid precursor. This is the first report of enhancement of in vivo DHA/EPA by SQ and in turn, modulating the physiological fatty acid profile. Practical applications: Squalene (SQ) is an important marine biofunctional material that is found in some terrestrial sources as well. Squalene, being a cholesterol precursor, forms an interesting subject of research for its effect in vivo. SQ significantly enhanced proportions of EPA and/or DHA when their n-3 fatty acid precursors were available in the diet. The study further establishes the usefulness of SQ in functional food formulations. The work provides an important basis for further evaluation of the role of SQ in normal and disease conditions.KK-A(y) mice were fed high fat/sucrose diet to induce obesity/diabetes. Fat source in control diet was lard and soybean oil while experimental group diet contained 2% squalene+13% lard+5% soybean oil. Feeding squalene for 4weeks modulated fatty acid metabolism with increased docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and decrease in triglycerides (TG), compared to control. The enhanced DHA in the fatty acid profile was supported by upregulated mRNA expression of (5)-desaturase enzyme and protein expression of (5) and (6) desaturases (FADS1 and FADS2). Additionally, squalene had a hypoglycemic effect in the mice

Comparison of Oxidative Stability of Monogalactosyl Diacylglycerol, Digalactosyl Diacylglycerol, and Triacylglycerol Containing Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Oxidative stability of three different lipid classes, namely, monogalactosyl diacylglycerol (MGDG) and digalactosyl diacylglycerol (DGDG) from spinach and edible brown seaweed (Akamoku) and triacylglycerol (TAG) of linseed oil was compared. Analysis of oxygen consumption and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition demonstrated that spinach DGDG had the highest oxidative stability, followed by Akamoku DGDG, Akamoku MGDG, spinach MGDG, and linseed TAG. These results disagree with the order of oxidative stability expected from the average number of bis-allylic positions of each lipid. Additionally, DGDG constituents of both spinach and Akamoku showed higher oxidative stability than their MGDG constituents. The unusual oxidative stability of MGDG and DGDG could be conferred by the protection of bis-allylic positions of the PUFA against oxidative attack by the galactosyl moiety of the GL

Identification of 45 New Neutron-Rich Isotopes Produced by In-Flight Fission of a 238U Beam at 345 MeV/nucleon

A search for new isotopes using in-flight fission of a 345 MeV/nucleon 238U beam has been carried out at the RI Beam Factory at the RIKEN Nishina Center. Fission fragments were analyzed and identified by using the superconducting in-flight separator BigRIPS. We observed 45 new neutron-rich isotopes: 71Mn, 73,74Fe, 76Co, 79Ni, 81,82Cu, 84,85Zn, 87Ga, 90Ge, 95Se, 98Br, 101Kr, 103Rb, 106,107Sr, 108,109Y, 111,112Zr, 114,115Nb, 115,116,117Mo, 119,120Tc, 121,122,123,124Ru, 123,124,125,126Rh, 127,128Pd, 133Cd, 138Sn, 140Sb, 143Te, 145I, 148Xe, and 152Ba

Generation of Stratified Squamous Epithelial Progenitor Cells from Mouse Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Background: Application of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells in regenerative medicine will bypass ethical issues associated with use of embryonic stem cells. In addition, patient-specific IPS cells can be useful to elucidate the pathophysiology of genetic disorders, drug screening, and tailor-made medicine. However, in order to apply iPS cells to mitotic tissue, induction of tissue stem cells that give rise to progeny of the target organ is required. Methodology/Principal Findings: We induced stratified epithelial cells from mouse iPS cells by co-culture with PA6 feeder cells (SDIA-method) with use of BMP4. Clusters of cells positive for the differentiation markers KRT1 or KRT12 were observed in KRT14-positive colonies. We successfully cloned KRT14 and p63 double-positive stratified epithelial progenitor cells from iPS-derived epithelial cells, which formed stratified epithelial sheets consisting of five- to six-polarized epithelial cells in vitro. When these clonal cells were cultured on denuded mouse corneas, a robust stratified epithelial layer was observed with physiological cell polarity including high levels of E-cadherin, p63 and K15 expression in the basal layer and ZO-1 in the superficial layer, recapitulating the apico-basal polarity of the epithelium in vivo. Conclusions/Significance: These results suggest that KRT14 and p63 double-positive epithelial progenitor cells can b