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Absorption of inhibitory peptides to angiotensin I-converting enzyme, L-valyl-L-prolyl-L-proline and L-isoleucyl-L-prolyl-L-proline, was studied in spontaneously hypertensive rats and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats after an oral administration of Calpis[TM] sour milk, which contains these peptides. Six hours after the administration of Calpis[TM] sour milk or saline to spontaneously hypertensive rats or normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats, the blood pressure was measured and rats were killed. Abdominal aorta, lung, kidney, heart and brain were excised, homogenized and solubilized by detergent treatments. Angiotensin I-converting enzyme activity in the solubilized fractions from the abdominal aorta was significantly lower in spontaneously hypertensive rats given the sour milk than in the rats given saline. L-Valyl-L-prolyl-L-proline and L-isoleucyl-L-prolyl-L-proline were detected by HPLC in the heat-treated solubilized fraction from the abdominal aorta of spontaneously hypertensive rats given the sour milk. In contrast, the tripeptides were not detected in rats given saline, or in normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats given the sour milk or saline. These data suggest that L-valyl-L-prolyl-L-proline and L-isoleucyl-L-prolyl-L-proline in the Calpis[TM] sour milk are absorbed directly without being decomposed by digestive enzymes, reach the abdominal aorta, inhibit the angiotensin I - converting enzyme, and show antihypertensive effects in spontaneously hypertensive rats. INDEXING KEY WORDS: * antihypertensive peptide * fermented milk * angiotensin I-converting enzyme * spontaneously hypertensive rats * intestinal absorption

Lactononadecapeptide (LNDP; NIPPLTQTPVVVPPFLQPE) is a memory-improving peptide. The current study aimed to determine the effects of a single dose of tablets containing LNDP on cognitive function in healthy Japanese men aged 30-59 years. A randomized, double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in participants randomly assigned to receive LNDP or placebo tablets. The Uchida–Kraepelin test was used to induce cognitive load in participants as a model of work load. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Japanese version of the CNS Vital Signs. Composite memory and verbal memory were significantly higher following consumption of LNDP than placebo tablets. Carryover effects were observed in attention and concentration domains so that period 1 data was analyzed. LNDP consumption led to higher processing speed, executive function, and cognitive flexibility than placebo. Thus, supplementation with a single dose of LNDP tablets may improve cognitive functions including memory, attention, concentration, and information processing in daily life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, ablation polymer was studied to improve the thermal interrupting performance of an SF6 gas circuit breaker. One kind of polymer was used as the ablation polymer on the basis of the specific constraint conditions for SF6 gas circuit breakers, such as not including hydrogen, and its ablation characteristics were investigated. Furthermore, the dominant factor of that polymer ablation was discussed by comparing ablated mass characteristics between the ablation polymer and polytetrafluoroethylene, which is widely used as the nozzle material of an SF6 gas circuit breaker. © 2020 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction and characterization of mutants defective enzymes of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) and glycogen synthase (GS) in Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 which catalyze the first two reactions of glycogen synthesis in cyanobacteria is reported. The addition of 0.2 M NaCl or 3 mM [H.sub.2][O.sub.2] to liquid cultures which markedly inhibited the growth of the ADPase and GS mutants revealed a significant role for storage polysaccharides in tolerance to salt or oxidative stress.

Characteristics of PTFE ablation due to SF6 arc exposure were studied to predict the ablated mass of PTFE nozzle in high‐voltage circuit breaker. From the measurement of the ablated mass, the predominant factor of the PTFE ablation was revealed as a radiation power of SF6 arc. Subsequently, the radiation power absorbed in PTFE was formulated on the basis of the radiation transfer property and the arc physics. The formulation for the prediction of the PTFE ablated mass was established with the formulated radiation power and the measured masses. Finally, the validity of the PTFE ablated mass prediction was shown from the results of the error verification with the measured masses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]