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Production Mechanisms of Black Tea Polyphenols
No full textBlack tea accounts for 70-80% of world tea production, and the polyphenols therein are produced by enzymatic oxidation of four
tea catechins during tea fermentation. However, only limited groups of dimeric oxidation products, such as theaflavins, theasinensins, and theacitrins, have been isolated from black tea and chemically characterized. This is largely because of the complexity and heterogeneity of the oxidation products. To determine structures and production mechanisms of uncharacterized black tea polyphenols,in vitro model fermentation experiments using pure catechins and polyphenol oxidase have been applied, and basic oxidation mechanisms
have been established. Contemporary methods, such as LC-MS, are also effective to identify catechin oxidation products in black tea. Despite ongoing efforts, almost 60% of the solids in black tea infusion remain uncharacterized. These compounds include the so-called thearubigins, which are a heterogeneous mixture of uncharacterized catechin oxidation products with oligomeric structures. This review
summarizes the current knowledge of the production mechanisms of representative black tea polyphenols and presents recent progress in characterization of thearubigins
Characterization of substrate specificity and novel autoprocessing mechanism of dipeptidase A from Prevotella intermedia
No full textPrevotella intermedia, a gram-negative anaerobic rod, is frequently observed in subgingival polymicrobial biofilm from adults with chronic periodontitis. Peptidases in periodontopathic bacteria are considered to function as etiological reagents. Pre. intermedia OMA14 cells abundantly express an unidentified cysteine peptidase specific for Arg-4-methycoumaryl-7- amide (MCA). BAU17746 (locus tag, PIOMA14_I_1238) and BAU18827 (locus tag, PIOMA14_II_0322) emerged as candidates of this peptidase from the substrate specificity and sequence similarity with C69-family Streptococcus gordonii Arg-aminopeptidase. The recombinant form of the former solely exhibited hydrolyzing activity toward Arg-MCA, and BAU17746 possesses a 26.6% amino acid identity with the C69-family Lactobacillus helveticus dipeptidase A. It was found that BAU17746 as well as L. helveticus dipeptidase A was a P1-position Arg-specific dipeptidase A, although the L. helveticus entity, a representative of the C69 family, had been reported to be specific for Leu and Phe. The fulllength form of BAU17746 was intramolecularly processed to a mature form carrying the N-terminus of Cys15. In conclusion, the marked Arg-MCA-hydrolyzing activity in Pre. intermedia was mediated by BAU17746 belonging to the C69-family dipeptidase A, in which the mature form carries an essential cysteine at the N-terminus
Patterns and predictors of co-morbidities in Tuberculosis: A cross-sectional study in the Philippines
Get PDFDiabetes and undernutrition are common risk factors for TB, associated with poor treatment outcomes and exacerbated by TB. We aimed to assess non-communicable multimorbidity (co-occurrence of two or more medical conditions) in Filipino TB outpatients, focusing on malnutrition and diabetes. In a cross-sectional study, 637 adults (70% male) from clinics in urban Metro Manila (N = 338) and rural Negros Occidental (N = 299) were enrolled. Diabetes was defined as HbA1c of ≥6.5% and/or current diabetes medication. Study-specific HIV screening was conducted. The prevalence of diabetes was 9.2% (54/589, 95%CI: 7.0–11.8%) with 52% newly diagnosed. Moderate/severe undernutrition (body mass index (BMI) <17 kg/2) was 20.5% (130/634, 95%CI: 17.4–23.9%). Forty percent of participants had at least one co-morbidity (diabetes, moderate/severe undernutrition or moderate/severe anaemia (haemoglobin <11 g/dL)). HIV infection (24.4%, 74/303) was not associated with other co-morbidities (but high refusal in rural clinics). Central obesity assessed by waist-to-hip ratio was more strongly associated with diabetes (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 6.16, 95%CI: 3.15–12.0) than BMI. Undernutrition was less common in men (AOR = 0.44, 95%CI: 0.28–0.70), and associated with previous history of TB (AOR = 1.97, 95%CI: 1.28–3.04) and recent reduced food intake. The prevalence of multimorbidity was high demonstrating a significant unmet need. HIV was not a risk factor for increased non-communicable multimorbidity
evelopment of "SDGs Shiny Mudball (dorodango)" for teaching "Sustainable and contribution" and achievement of SDGs 4.7
Get PDFThere are few learning materials that can read the history (archive) carved in the soil and mud, look over disaster prevention education and geo-environmental problems in a single relationship diagram, and feel the feeling of the palm. Recognizing geo-environmental problems, experiencing soil
and mud, revering soil and mud, and cultivating a "heart that cherishes the earth" means a skill necessary to achieve sustainable development involving SDGs. The authors conducted research and
development using industrially adjusted pottery clay to make a learning material for visiting lecture using Shiny Mud Ball to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). "SDGs Shiny Mud Balls" certainly enable everyone to get excitement and pleasure that shine or polish is obtained in a short period of time. "Contribution" of the SDGs can be understood by "SDGs Shiny Mud Balls"
The historical study of architectural planning for Nagasaki Yojosho by comparison of
Get PDFWe restored the drawings of Nagasaki Yojosho from previous studies, old photographs, and
excavated materials. In addition, by comparing with a western hospital manual and guideline, which are “HANDLEIDING TOT DE KENNIS DER BURGERLIJKEEN MILITAIRE BOUWKUNST” and “Notes on hospitals”, we examined whether Nagasaki Yojosho was influenced by them. By restoring drawings, the situation at that time became clear, that is high probability that Pompe
referenced when he planned Nagasaki yojosho. They don't all match, because he had created its plan in consideration of the given site
Cutaneous pilomatrical carcinosarcoma: a case report with molecular analysis and literature review
Get PDFBackground: Cutaneous pilomatrical carcinosarcoma (CS) is a very rare biphasic tumor composed of admixed epithelial and mesenchymal malignant cells, with limited information on its pathogenesis. We report a case of pilomatrical CS of the scalp with comparative immunohistochemical and molecular analysis together with a review of the literature. Case presentation: A 74-year-old woman presented with a rapidly growing long-standing tumor of the scalp. The tumor was surgically resected. Histologically, the tumor was 25 mm in diameter, and was composed of carcinoma showing a clear pilomatrical differentiation and sarcoma with pleomorphic spindle cells and giant cells. Both epithelial and mesenchymal components shared focal cytoplasmic and/or nuclear accumulation of β-catenin based on immunohistochemical analysis, although a mutation of exon 3 of the CTNNB1 gene was not detected. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis revealed gains of chromosomes 9p21, 3, and 7 in both the epithelial and sarcomatous components. Conclusions: The current case demonstrated characteristic findings of pilomatricoma and further evidence of partial clonality between the carcinomatous and sarcomatous component, suggesting the possibility of malignant transformation of pilomatricoma. Rapid growth of a pilomatrical tumor should warrant the development of a malignant tumor, including CS
High-temperature properties of Fe-Pt film-magnets prepared by electroplating method
Get PDFWe prepared L10 ordered Fe50Pt50 thick-films on Cu substrates using the electroplating method and evaluated their high-temperature properties in the temperature range of 25-200○C. The Hc and the (BH)max at 150○C for the Fe50Pt50 films annealed by ordinary annealing method(700○C, 60 min) were 500 kA/m and 50 kJ/m3, respectively, and the thermal coefficient of Hc was -0.3%/○C. To improve the high-temperature properties, we employed a flash annealing method using an infrared furnace (8 kW). The flash annealing method improved the hightemperature
properties (Hc = 700 kA/m, (BH)max = 70 kJ/m3 at 150○C) and the thermal coefficient (-0.21%/○C). The thermal stability of
the films is comparable to those for Sm-Co-system magnets and better than for Nd-Fe-B-system ones. We, therefore, found the L10 ordered Fe50Pt50 films prepared by the electroplating and the flash annealing are one of the hopeful small magnets in the wide temperature range
Advantages of Project-based Learning: How Students Apply Their Outcomes to Job Practice
No full textProject-based learning (PBL) facilitates students' acquisition of various practical skills. However, there has been limited analysis of how such outcomes work in actual job practice after graduation. This study, through follow-up interviews with graduates, explores the outcomes of PBL from the viewpoint of its application to job practice. Results indicate that graduates fully utilize the outcomes of PBL, including ommunication and analytical skills, in their work environment and encounter opportunities for further learning. Based on these findings, theoretical contributions and practical implications are provided.松本睦樹教授定年退職記念号In Honour of Prof. Mutuki Matumot
Fiscal Consolidation and Sustainability of Japan's Public Debt after the Global Financial Crisis
Get PDFAfter the 2008 global financial crisis, the sustainability of public indebtedness has become a central public policy issue in the United States, Europe, and Japan. In the United States especially, the public debt ceiling has become a continuing source of concern and political dispute. This paper employs Japanese Long-term Economic Statistics (LTES) to investigate the sustainability of Japan's public debt and changes in fiscal discipline after the 2008 global financial crisis.First, results of the unit-root test show that the level of Japan's public debt has become unsustainable after the crisis. Second, the 2008 global financial crisis has destroyed Japan's fiscal discipline, which had been relatively strong before the crisis. Third, fiscal discipline was strong between the Russo‒Japanese War and World War I and for several decades following World War II. It was relatively strong during the fiscal consolidation period in the latter 1980s. We thus conclude that post-war fiscal discipline in Japan resembled the pre-war period despite the absence of military expenses after World War II. Although fiscal consolidation could reduce public debt to some degree, the level of public debt in 2017 might generate high inflation in the future, as it did after World Wars I and II.松本睦樹教授定年退職記念号In Honour of Prof. Mutuki Matumot