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Mycobacterium vaccae is a species of nonpathogenic bacterium that lives naturally in soil. This study compared the physiological effects at a metabolomic level with autonomic nervous system responses in adults during soil-mixing activities, based on the presence or absence of M. vaccae in the soil. Twenty-nine adult participants performed soil-mixing activities for 5 minutes using sterilized soil with culture media and M. vaccae, respectively. Blood samples were drawn twice from each participant after each activity. Electroencephalograms and electrocardiograms were measured during the activity. Serum metabolites underwent metabolite profiling by gas chromatography, followed by multivariate analyses. Soil-emitted volatile organic compounds were identified using the solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy, followed by multivariate analyses. The volatile compound analysis revealed that the metabolites related to esters and sulfur-containing compounds are greater in soil with M. vaccae. Serum metabolomics revealed that the treatment group (soil inoculated by M. vaccae) possesses relatively higher levels of inter-alia organic and amino acids compared with the control group (soil mixed with culture media). In the treatment group, the electroencephalogram and electrocardiogram revealed that alpha band activity of the occipital lobe increases, while heart rate decreases. This study concludes that M. vaccae soil contact can affect human metabolic and autonomic reactions.

Effect of water supply to metabolites in tomato fruit was compared in two soils with different nutrient conditions, i.e., either limited or excess. Two types of soil nutrient condition, type A: nutrient-limited and type B: nutrient-excess, were prepared as follows; type A is a low nutrient-containing soil without a replenishment of starved nitrogen and phosphorous, type B is a high nutrient-containing soil exceeding the recommended fertilization. Soil water was adjusted either at −30 kPa (sufficient) or −80 kPa (limited). For harvested tomato fruits, we examined primary and secondary metabolites using non-targeted mass spectrometry based metabolomics. The fruit production and leaf SPAD were greatly dependent on soil nutrient levels, by contrast, the level of lycopene remained unchanged by different levels of water and nutrient supply. The perturbation of metabolites by water supply was clear in the nutrient-excess soil. In particular, limited water supply strongly decreased primary metabolites including sugars and amino acids. We demonstrated that water stress differently shifted primary metabolites of tomato fruits in two soils with different nutrient conditions via non-targeted mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. In conclusion, we suggest that the limited water supply in soils with surplus nutrient is not a recommendable way for tomato ‘cv. Super Dotaerang’ production if fruit nutritional quality such as sugars and amino acids is in the consideration, although there was no disadvantage in fruit yield.

The aim of this review was to develop a test method for the evaluation of heat strain for structural firefighters wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) in Japan. We analysed a series of our laboratory's questionnaires and experimental studies and reviewed international standards on test methods. We investigated the actual average working conditions (total firefighting time on one incidence, working time with full PPE, maximum temperature and humidity during firefighting) at structural firefighting site in Japan by conducting a large-scale questionnaire survey of Japanese firefighters. We discussed test subjects (firefighters vs. non-firefighters; body size; physical fitness), exercise intensity (absolutes vs. relative; light vs. heavy) and duration, experimental temperature and relative humidity, experimental clothing items including station uniforms (shorts vs. long), and measurement variables (physiological and subjective responses), and suggested a standard test method to evaluate the heat strain of firefighters in hot and humid environments.

To investigate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of aWe measured levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and inflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells at various PINE concentrations (25, 50 and 100 μg/mL; but 6.25, 12.5 and 25 μg/mL for interleukin-1β and prostaglandin EPINE 100 μg/mL significantly decreased ROS (ICPINE exerts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators. Identified flavonoids such as taxifolin and quercetin glucoside can be attributed to effect of PINE.

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is consumed worldwide and various cultivars have been developed to enhance fruit quality. However, few studies have comprehensively evaluated the quality of various cultivars. We carried out a metabolomics approach to study the three different cucumber cultivars (Chuichung, White Dadagi, and Mini) and their parts (peel and flesh) coupled with antioxidant activities. The amino acids, sugars, flavonoids, carotenoids, and chlorophylls were upregulated in Mini flesh; however, in the case of peel, they were highly expressed in Chuichung. The highest antioxidant activity was observed in the peel of Chuichung and flesh of Mini. Through correlation analysis between metabolites and antioxidant activity, apigenin and quercetin derivatives, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, lutein, α-carotene, and β-carotene were found to be significantly positively correlated with antioxidant activity. To understand the metabolism of these compounds, we performed a comprehensive pathway analysis using a metabolomics approach and analysis of associated gene expression. In secondary metabolism, the expression levels of carotenoid-related genes (15-cis-phytoene synthase and ζ-carotene desaturase) and chlorophyll-related genes (protochlorophyllide reductase and glutamyl-tRNA reductase) were consistent with the metabolome analysis data. Collectively, carotenoid and chlorophyll metabolism were upregulated in Chuichung peel and Mini flesh, which had the highest antioxidant activity in each part. These bioactive compounds can be used as biomarkers of commercial cucumber fruit quality. Accordingly, this study offers integrative insights into the quality of different cucumber cultivars and explores valuable metabolites and genes that are helpful in improving quality with functional properties.

This study examined the effectiveness of a field-type liquid cooling vest (LCV) worn underneath an impermeable protective suit on heat strain during walking. Eight men walked for 60 min at a moderate speed (3.0 km/h) wearing the suit in a warm environment (33°C, 60% relative humidity) without (control, CON) or with the LCV. A smaller increase in rectal temperature was recorded in participants in the LCV than in the CON condition (37.6 ± 0.1°C vs. 37.9 ± 0.1°C, p

This review aimed to suggest useful, potential measurements as standard test methods for evaluating the mobility of structural firefighters wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). Based on our previous research on Japanese firefighters' activities related to mobility as well as previous literature results, the findings were categorized (e.g., simulated firefighting activities, test method for mobility assessment, and participants groups), and discussed. We identified four categories that can be used to test and evaluate mobility: (1) simulated firefighting activities consisting of step-ups, obstacle strides, crawling, dragging, and jumping; (2) in terms of balance ability, the postural sway and functional balance tests (functional reach and timed up and go) were useful measurements; (3) range of motion can be used to estimate the mobility associated with the various designs of PPE, as well as the effect of wearing the PPE itself; and (4) subjective evaluations of individuals wearing PPE were available for the mobility assessments. Professional firefighters who were familiar with wearing PPE were suitable for the suggested test method. This review provides useful information for firefighters, researchers, and PPE manufacturers that can be used to develop more comfortable and safer PPE.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common dementia characterized by the excessive accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) and tau aggregates, as well as neuronal damage and neuroinflammation. Metabolic disruption in AD has been noticed because metabolite alterations closely correlate with Aβ neuropathology and behavioral phenotypes. Accordingly, controlling various neuropathological processes and metabolic disruption is an efficient therapeutic strategy for AD treatment. In this study, we evaluated the effects of a combination of Cuscuta seeds and Lactobacillus paracasei NK112 (CCL01) on AD neuropathology and altered metabolism in five familial AD (5xFAD) transgenic mice and neuronal cell cultures. First, we observed that CCL01 exerted neuroprotective effects in HT22 hippocampal neurons and primary cultured neurons. CCL01 ameliorated memory decline and protected synapses and neuronal survival in 5xFAD mice. These effects were related to the inhibition of tau phosphorylation. CCL01 also inhibited the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling and neuroinflammatory processes. Moreover, the metabolite profile-particularly characterized by altered phospholipid metabolism-was significantly changed in the 5xFAD group, while CCL01 partly restored the alteration. Lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC), the levels of which were higher in the brains of 5xFAD mice, exerted neurotoxicity in vitro, whereas CCL01 protected neurons from lysoPC-induced toxicity by regulating MAPK signaling. Additionally, CCL01 administration reduced gut inflammation in the 5xFAD mice. In summary, we demonstrated that CCL01 improved the memory function of 5xFAD mice by protecting neurons against Aβ- and lysoPC-induced toxicity through the regulation of MAPK signaling, neuroinflammation, tau phosphorylation, and gut inflammation, suggesting the potential of CCL01 as treatment for AD.

Annona muricata (AM) is evergreen plant of the Annonaceae family and known to have anticancer and antidiabetic effects. However, anti-diabetic mechanisms of AM extracts (AME) associated with hepatic glucose regulation and lipid metabolism remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of AME extracted on hepatic damage in diabetic mice. Diabetes was induced by a high-fat diet with two-times streptozotocin (STZ) injection (60 mg/kg BW) in C57BL/6 male mice. The diabetic mice were daily administered with AME (50 or 100 mg/kg BW) by gavage for 9 weeks. Biomarkers related to energy metabolism and insulin signaling were examined to identify the effect of AME on hyperglycemia induced hepatic damage. AME supplementation reduced levels of FBG, HbA1c, HOMA-IR and hepatic lipid profiles as well as enhanced insulin signaling by increased the protein levels of IRS-1 accompanied GLUT2 in diabetic mice. Especially low dose of AME showed the beneficial effect of reducing oxidative stress (4-HNE, protein carbonyls, Nrf2, NQO1) and improved hepatic morphology demonstrated by lipid droplets along with upregulation of lipophagy (pAMPK, p-mTOR/mTOR, LC3-2/LC3-1) in diabetic mice. Moreover, AME supplementation ameliorated hepatic lipid metabolism (FAS, SREBP1c, C/EBPα, PPARγ, CPT1A, PPARα) and energy metabolism (pAMPK, PGC1α) in diabetic mice. Taken together, this study suggested that AME could be helpful to prevent hepatic abnormality by regulation of insulin signaling associated with energy metabolism and autophagy in diabetes.

Yams (Dioscorea spp.) are cultivated and consumed as edible tubers, while their leaves are discarded as waste or burned with negative environmental impact. Herein, the metabolites of two yam species (Danma, DAN, Dunggeunma, DUN), harvested in June, July, and August, were profiled using GC-TOF-MS and UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS/MS and the antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated to stimulate the utilization of yam leaves as a by-product. We observed that the relative levels of amino acids, organic acids, sugars, and saponins decreased linearly with prolonged harvest time, while fatty acid, phenanthrene, and flavonoid levels gradually increased. Furthermore, the leaf extracts obtained in August exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. To determine the antioxidant-contributing metabolites, OPLS-DA was performed for the leaf metabolites of DAN and DUN leaves harvested in August. Hydroxytyrosol-glucoside, apigenin-rhamnoside, and rutin were more abundant in DUN, while luteolin, phenanthrene derivatives, epicatechin, and kaempferide were relatively higher in DAN and their respective metabolites were positively correlated with the antioxidant activity. Moreover, secondary metabolites were more abundant in the leaves than in the roots, and consequently, the antioxidant activity of the former was also higher. Overall, the potential value of yam leaves as a renewable source of bioactive compounds is proposed.

Yams (Dioscorea spp.) are cultivated and consumed as edible tubers, while their leaves are discarded as waste or burned with negative environmental impact. Herein, the metabolites of two yam species (Danma, DAN; Dunggeunma, DUN), harvested in June, July, and August, were profiled using GC-TOF-MS and UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS/MS and the antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated to stimulate the utilization of yam leaves as a by-product. We observed that the relative levels of amino acids, organic acids, sugars, and saponins decreased linearly with prolonged harvest time, while fatty acid, phenanthrene, and flavonoid levels gradually increased. Furthermore, the leaf extracts obtained in August exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. To determine the antioxidant-contributing metabolites, OPLS-DA was performed for the leaf metabolites of DAN and DUN leaves harvested in August. Hydroxytyrosol-glucoside, apigenin-rhamnoside, and rutin were more abundant in DUN, while luteolin, phenanthrene derivatives, epicatechin, and kaempferide were relatively higher in DAN and their respective metabolites were positively correlated with the antioxidant activity. Moreover, secondary metabolites were more abundant in the leaves than in the roots, and consequently, the antioxidant activity of the former was also higher. Overall, the potential value of yam leaves as a renewable source of bioactive compounds is proposed.

Commercial polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers, widely used as carbon fiber precursors, were treated with ultraviolet (UV) light without any photo-initiators and its effects on the structural changes of PAN were investigated. Easily accessible UV irradiation produced free radicals by breaking the C H bonding in PAN, leading to reducing cyclization temperature and activation energy. Dynamic mechanical analysis indicated a decrease in storage modulus of PAN fibers with increasing UV irradiation time below glass transition temperature. It is suggested that UV irradiation and the subsequent thermal treatment could offer an efficient stabilization by reducing the cyclization temperature and process time.

The thermal conductivity (κ) of two-dimensional conducting and transparent carbon nanosheets (CNSs) prepared by a catalyst- and transfer-free process is calculated for the first time by the optothermal Raman technique. A systematic structural analysis of CNSs reveals that the thickness of polymer films affects the interaction between molecules and a Si wafer significantly, thus helping to determine the ratio of sp2 and sp3 bonding configurations of carbon (C) atoms in the CNS. Notably, the holding time of carbonization can realize a hierarchical structure with graphitic carbon dots emerging from the CNS through the rearrangement of carbon atoms, leading to the excellent κ value of 540 W/(m·K) at 310 K. It is demonstrated that an appropriate increase in carbonization time can be an effective approach for improving the ratio of sp2- to sp3-bonded C atoms in the CNS. The thermal conductivity of the CNS with the highest ratio of sp2- to sp3-bonded C atoms exhibits superior behavior and is comparable to that of reduced graphene oxide and supported graphene, respectively. Finally, when the CNS with the highest κ value of 540 W/(m·K) was applied to a heater as the heat-dissipating material, the heater showed the temperature decrease by 14 °C compared to the case without the CNS. The catalyst- and transfer-free approach for the synthesis of CNSs is highly desirable for use as heat sink materials or substrates with heat dissipation functions for extensively integrated electronic devices.

Nano engineering of semi-metallic graphene can create graphene nanostructures such as nanoribbon and nanomesh for applications in electronic devices. Graphene materials manipulated by delicate patterning technology have exhibited semiconducting behavior, but the complex processes and degradation of the graphene during processing can be a bottleneck for the practical applications. Herein, a direct patterning approach to fabricate mesh-type carbon materials with a nanohole array was developed using phase-separated polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) blends. Carbon nanomeshes (CNMs) with various neck widths less than 100 nm were obtained by controlling the mixing ratio of PAN to PMMA. Gate dependent ambipolar transport behavior was observed even though the CNM exhibits imperfect crystallinity due to the catalyst-free preparation. Based on the systematic investigation of the temperature dependent electrical transport of the CNM-based field effect transistor, it was demonstrated that the charge conduction in CNMs is dominated by variable range hopping between localization states.

Tomato is one of the world's most consumed vegetables, and thus, various cultivars have been developed. Therefore, metabolic differences and nutrient contents of various tomatoes need to be discovered. To do so, we performed metabolite profiling along with evaluation of morphological and physicochemical properties of five representative tomato types. Common tomato cultivars, bigger and heavier than other tomatoes, contained higher levels of amino acids, organic acids, and lipids. On the contrary, cherry tomato cultivars contained a higher proportion of phenylpropanoids, lycopene, β-carotene, and α-carotene than the other tomatoes. Also, the highest antioxidant activity and total phenolic and flavonoid contents were observed in cherry tomato cultivars. Furthermore, to understand metabolic distributions in various tomato cultivars, we constructed a metabolic pathway map. The higher metabolic flux distribution of most primary metabolite synthetic pathways was observed in common tomatoes, while cherry tomato cultivars showed a significantly elevated flux in secondary metabolite synthetic pathways. Accordingly, these results provide valuable information of different characteristics in various tomatoes, which can be considered while purchasing and improving tomato cultivars.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Activated astrocytes are involved in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Traditionally, Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, widely distributed in East Asia, has been used as a medicine for the treatment of fever, gastric diseases, and inflammation. Although A. altissima has been reported to play an anti-inflammatory role in peripheral tissues or cells, its role in the central nervous system (CNS) remains unclear. Aim of the study In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanism of action of A. altissima in primary astrocytes stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Materials and methods A nitrite assay was used to measure nitric oxide (NO) production, and the tetrazolium salt 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was performed to determine cytotoxicity. The expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were determined with western blotting. Reverse-transcription PCR was used to assess the expression of inflammatory cytokines. The levels of reactive oxygen species were measured using 2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate. Luciferase assay and immunocytochemistry were used for assessing nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) transcription and p65 localization, respectively. Memory and social interaction were analyzed using the Y-maze and three-chamber tests, respectively. Results The ethanol extract of A. altissima leaves (AAE) inhibited iNOS and COX-2 expression in LPS-stimulated astrocytes. Moreover, AAE reduced the transcription of various proinflammatory mediators, hindered NF-κB activation, and suppressed extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation without p38 activation. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry analysis revealed that AAE comprised ethyl gallate, quercetin, and kaempferol, along with luteolin, which has anti-inflammatory properties, and repressed LPS-induced nitrite levels and the nuclear translocation of p65. Finally, oral administration of AAE attenuated LPS-induced memory and social impairment in mice and repressed LPS-induced ERK and JNK activation in the cortices of mice. Conclusion AAE could have therapeutic uses in the treatment of neuroinflammatory diseases via suppression of astrocyte activation.

Doenjang and ganjang are secondary fermented soybean products from meju (primary fermented product) following a complex fermentation process that separates the products into solid (doenjang) and liquid (ganjang) states. We performed a comparative study on gas chromatography mass spectrometry-(GC-MS) and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry-(LC-MS) based metabolite profiling with fungal and bacterial microbial community analysis of doenjang and ganjang during fermentation. Metabolite profiling and microbial community data showed distinct patterns, depending on the fermentation process. The relative levels of metabolic patterns were similar and most of the microorganisms produced halophilic or halotolerant microbes during the fermentation period in doenjang and ganjang. In the doenjang end products, isoflavones, soyasaponins, and amino acids were largely distributed and Debaryomyces and Staphylococcus were dominant, whereas the biogenic amine and phenylpropanoid contents were highly distributed in the ganjang end products, with higher levels of Meyerozyma and Tetragenococcus. Our results demonstrate that the quality of doenjang and ganjang is predominantly influenced by the microbiome and by metabolite changes during fermentation. Moreover, the present study provides a platform for comparing samples in different states.

Doenjang and ganjang are secondary fermented soybean products from meju (primary fermented product) following a complex fermentation process that separates the products into solid (doenjang) and liquid (ganjang) states. We performed a comparative study on gas chromatography mass spectrometry-(GC-MS) and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry-(LC-MS) based metabolite profiling with fungal and bacterial microbial community analysis of doenjang and ganjang during fermentation. Metabolite profiling and microbial community data showed distinct patterns, depending on the fermentation process. The relative levels of metabolic patterns were similar and most of the microorganisms produced halophilic or halotolerant microbes during the fermentation period in doenjang and ganjang. In the doenjang end products, isoflavones, soyasaponins, and amino acids were largely distributed and Debaryomyces and Staphylococcus were dominant, whereas the biogenic amine and phenylpropanoid contents were highly distributed in the ganjang end products, with higher levels of Meyerozyma and Tetragenococcus. Our results demonstrate that the quality of doenjang and ganjang is predominantly influenced by the microbiome and by metabolite changes during fermentation. Moreover, the present study provides a platform for comparing samples in different states.

Pinus thunbergii Parl. (PTP) has traditionally been used for edible and medicinal purposes to treat several disorders, including diabetes and neuralgia. Therefore, this study sought to evaluate the inhibitory effects of PTP leaf ethanol extracts on acute inflammation. Moreover, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) generation, and H2O2-induced lipid peroxidation capacity of PTP were assessed in vitro in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Our results suggest that PTP prevents cell damage caused by oxidative free radicals and downregulates the expression of LPS-induced inflammation-associated factors including inducible nitric oxidase synthetase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). PTP inhibited NO production by 53.5% ( P < 0.05 ) and iNOS expression by 71.5% ( P < 0.01 ) at 100 µg/mL. PTP at 100 µg/mL also inhibited ROS generation by 58.2% ( P < 0.01 ) and SOD activity by 29.3%, as well as COX-2 expression by 83.3% ( P < 0.01 ) and PGE2 expression by 98.6% ( P < 0.01 ). The anti-inflammatory effects of PTP were confirmed in vivo using an arachidonic acid (AA)-induced ear edema mouse model. Ear thickness and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were evaluated as indicators of inflammation. PTP inhibited edema formation by 64.5% ( P < 0.05 ) at 1.0 mg/ear. A total of 16 metabolites were identified in PTP extracts and categorized into subgroups, including two phenolic acids (mainly quinic acid), seven flavonoids, five lignans, one sesquiterpenoid, and one long-chain fatty acid. Therefore, our results suggest that PTP possesses anti-inflammatory properties.

Caffeine intake is strongly linked to lipid metabolism. We previously reported the age-dependent physiological effects of caffeine intake in a Caenorhabditis elegans model. Since nutritional status can actively influence metabolism and overall health, in this study, we evaluated the effect of caffeine intake on lipid metabolism in adult-stage C. elegans. We found that, in C. elegans, fat storage and the level of phosphoethanolamine (PE) were significantly reduced with caffeine intake. In addition, mitochondrial activity decreased and mitochondrial morphology was disrupted, and the expression of oxidative stress response genes, hsp-6, gst-4, and daf-16, was induced by caffeine intake. Furthermore, the level of an energy metabolism sensor, phospho-AMP-activated protein kinase, was increased, whereas the expression of the sterol regulatory element binding protein gene and its target stearoyl-CoA desaturase genes, fat-5, -6, and -7, was decreased with caffeine intake. These findings suggest that caffeine intake causes mitochondrial dysfunction and reduces lipogenesis. Interestingly, these changes induced by caffeine intake were partially alleviated by PE supplementation, suggesting that the reduction in mitochondrial activity and lipogenesis is in part because of the low PE level, and proper dietary supplementation can improve organelle integrity.

Although many studies have been conducted on leukemia, only a few have analyzed the metabolomic profiles of various leukemic cells. In this study, the metabolomes of THP-1, U937, KG-1 (acute myelogenous leukemia, AML), K562 (chronic myelogenous leukemia, CML), and cord blood-derived CD34-positive hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and specific metabolic alterations were found using multivariate statistical analysis. Compared to HSCs, leukemia cell metabolomes were found to have significant alterations, among which three were related to amino acids, three to sugars, and five to fatty acids. Compared to CML, four metabolomes were observed specifically in AML. Given that overall more metabolites are present in leukemia cells than in HSCs, we observed that the activation of glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) metabolism facilitated the incidence of leukemia and the proliferation of leukemic cells. Analysis of metabolome profiles specifically present in HSCs and leukemia cells greatly increases our basic understanding of cellular metabolic characteristics, which is valuable fundamental knowledge for developing novel anticancer drugs targeting leukemia metabolism.

In fungi, contactless interactions are mediated via the exchange of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). As these pair-wise interactions are fundamental to complex ecosystem, we examined the effects of inter-species VOCs trade-offs in Aspergillus flavus development. First, we exposed A. flavus to the A. oryzae volatilome (Treatment-1) with highest relative abundance of 1-Octen-3-ol (~ 4.53 folds) among the C-8 VOCs. Further, we examined the effects of gradient titers of 1-Octen-3-ol (Treatment-2: 100–400 ppm/day) in a range that elicits natural interactions. On 7-day, VOC-treated A. flavus displayed significantly reduced growth and sclerotial counts (p 100-200 ppm/day, p 200 ppm/day, p A. flavus in T2. The corresponding metabolomics data displayed a clustered pattern of secondary metabolite profiles for VOC-treated A. flavus (PC1-18.03%; PC2-10.67%). Notably, a higher relative abundance of aflatoxin B1 with lower levels of most anthraquinones, indole-terpenoids, and oxylipins was evident in VOC-treated A. flavus. The observed correlations among the VOC-treatments, phenotypes, and altered metabolomes altogether suggest that the distant exposure to the gradient titers of 1-Octen-3-ol elicits an attenuated developmental response in A. flavus characterized by heightened virulence.

Metabolomics is useful for evaluating the fundamental mechanisms of improvements in the health functions of the elderly. Additionally, gardening intervention as a regular physical activity for the elderly maintained and improved physical, psychology, cognitive, and social health. This study was conducted to determine whether the cognitive ability of the elderly is affected by participating in a gardening activity program as a physical activity with a metabolomic potential biomarker. The gardening program was designed as a low to moderate intensity physical activity for the elderly. Serum metabolites resulting from gardening were subjected to metabolite profiling using gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-linear trap quadruple-orbitrap-mass spectrometry followed by multivariate analyses. The partial least squares-discriminant analysis showed distinct clustering patterns among the control, non-gardening, and gardening groups. According to the pathway analysis, tryptophan metabolism including tryptophan, kynurenine, and serotonin showed significantly distinctive metabolites in the gardening group. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels (BDNF) in the gardening group were significantly increased after the gardening program. Correlation map analysis showed that the relative levels of tryptophan metabolites were positively correlated with BDNF. Our results show that tryptophan, kynurenine, and serotonin may be useful as metabolic biomarkers for improved cognitive ability by the gardening intervention.

This study identifies Japanese study content on heat stroke prevention measures using clothes, provides basic data for quantitative wearing assessment studies, presents a developmental direction for those, and helps invigorate further research. Studies were collected concerning clothing-based heat stroke measures in order to analyze the following factors: current status of heat stroke by industry and working environment, heat stroke and body cooling method, clothing microclimate and air circulation in a hot environment, hot environments and wearable sensors, and heat stress reduction and skin exposure. The current WBGT standard does not consider the diversity of wearing clothes according to the working environment. Therefore, it is preferable to add a correction value in consideration of design, materials, and ventilation to prevent heat strokes. For the heat stroke and body cooling method, wearing water-perfused clothing is effective to reduce heat stress and maintain exercise ability. Changing the material and design of clothing or wearing air-conditioned clothing can improve ventilation and the clothing microclimate. However, further evaluation is needed on the effectiveness of air-conditioned clothing as a heat stroke prevention product. The measurement method using a wearable sensor can provide real-time data on the body response due to working in a hot environment. Therefore, it is an effective alarm for heat stroke. Skin exposure area and heat dissipation efficiency should be considered to prevent heat stroke. Reducing the covering area by exposing the head, neck, and limbs, and wearing breathable material can prevent heat stroke from increased body temperature.

We adopt micromesh structure in carbon nanosheets (M-CNS) fabricated by phase-separation of immiscible polyacrylonitrile/poly(methyl methacrylate) blend precursors to improve their properties as a transparent conductive electrode. The facile approach without any time-consuming patterning processes can improve trade-off between sheet resistance and optical transmittance of conventional CNS. The M-CNS exhibits improved sheet resistance of ∼50% without compromising optical transmittance, leading to a high power conversion efficiency of ∼2.07% for M-CNS electrode-based organic photovoltaics.

Green tea (Camellia sinensis) is a traditional beverage and its ethanolic extract (GTE) is rich in catechins, having numerous biological activities. However, commercial formulations of catechin-rich GTE are limited by low aqueous solubility, and high oxidation sensitivity. Here, normal maize starch was modified by pullulanase debranching or octenylsuccinic anhydride (OSA), and its inclusion complexes with catechin-rich GTE were prepared. Effects of debranching and OSA-modification on the degree of complex formation and characteristics of inclusion complexes were examined using complementary techniques. Results demonstrated that bioactive compounds of GTE efficiently cooperate with debranched or OSA-modified starches to form inclusion complexes. Moreover, inclusion complexes were subjected to a one step extraction followed by UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS/MS analyses, which demonstrated selective inclusion complexation for distinct metabolites of GTE, with modified starches based on host-guest interaction. By debranching, maize starch formed a complex with GTE, demonstrating the highest recovery yield of 67.81% in comparison to other starches. Storage studies showed that the retention of distinct metabolites of GTE in complexes could achieve 92% after 28 days, and the antioxidant activity of the GTE-DBS40 and GTE-DBS20 was higher than that of others at any time and achieved around 90% after 28 days storage. This study reveals that the interactions between debranched maize starch and catechin-rich GTE are effective, and complexes can improve bioactive ingredients’ stability.

Aim In Japan, the incidence of water bathing-related cardiopulmonary accidents among older people is high in winter. The purpose of the present study was to investigate alterations in physiological characteristics and subjective thermal sensations of older people when bathing in a cool environment. Methods We assessed the skin temperature, rectal temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, body fluid loss (sweat and urine), and subjective thermal responses of 11 older healthy male and 10 young male volunteers throughout 42°C and 39°C bathing in a room at 20°C with 50% humidity. Results At 42°C bathing, the rectal temperature during bathing and in the post-bathing period were significantly lower in the older men than in the young men, and skin temperature during the post-bathing period decreased gradually in the older men. Systolic blood pressure and pulse rate immediately increased just after entering 42°C water and decreased during bathing in the older men. With the activities of dressing, systolic blood pressure increased followed by a decrease during the post-bathing period. Thus, double product (pulse rate × systolic blood pressure) increased during the bathing period. Although there was no significant difference in body fluid loss between the older and younger men in 42°C water, the older men produced significantly less sweat. The older men also reported feeling less warm after 42°C bathing, and feeling less cold during the post-bathing period after 39°C bathing. Conclusions These results suggest that hot water bathing during cold seasons might induce more serious physiological changes in older people. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 2164–2170.

Work function of carbon nanosheets (CNSs) is easily controlled using various chloride-based metal precursors. The metal ions in the precursors are reduced despite the simple spin coating without post-treatment due to electron transfer from the CNSs to the ions. The work function of CNSs doped with AuCl3, ZnCl2, and CoCl2 presented values of 4.91, 4.77, and 4.69 eV, respectively, which are significantly higher than pristine CNSs (4.60 eV). The reduced metal nanoparticles locally induced electronic modification of the CNSs located in the vicinity, leading to transparent conducting electrodes with high work functions and subsequently a high power conversion efficiency of ∼2.01% for an ITO-free OPV incorporating a AuCl3-doped CNS electrode.

In this study, reduced graphene oxides (rGOs) with a porous structure were synthesized through a facile sequential low-temperature treatment at 150 and 250 °C in air and nitrogen atmosphere, respectively, without toxic chemicals. For the first treatment under oxygen-rich conditions, competitive oxidation and reduction reactions between various kinds of oxygen functional groups were observed, leading to the formation of preferential pore-forming groups such as carboxyl. Weakly bound groups on the GO surface (such as hydroxyl and carboxyl groups) were removed in the second step, leading to the formation of pores and improving electrical conductivity. The rGO suitable for use as an electrode material had a surface area of 636.6 m2/g and a capacitance of 191.3 F/g. Therefore, we believe that this mild treatment could be a potentially cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally friendly strategy to synthesize electrode materials.

Carbon nanosheets (CNSs) were functionalized by a simple dipping approach using phenylhydrazine-based materials to improve their properties as transparent electrodes. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to investigate the effects of functionalization on the CNS structure and confirm the successful functionalization of phenyl functional groups containing nitrogen and fluorine atoms onto the CNS surface. The functionalized CNSs showed ~32% lower sheet resistance and an up-shifted work function of ~4.8 eV without sacrificing transmittance after being doped with highly electronegative heteroatoms. Accordingly, the functionalized CNS-electrode-based organic photovoltaics exhibited ~13% higher cell efficiency than those based on bare CNSs. These results suggest that direct surface functionalization could improve the performance of CNSs as transparent electrodes.

In this study, we fabricated carbon nanosheets (CNSs) using an eco-friendly cellulose precursor. Various properties such as the electrical and optical properties of the cellulose-based CNS could be easily adjusted by controlling the precursor concentration. In addition, the CNS was directly applied as a transparent electrode (TE) material in an organic photovoltaic without any additional process, and the device exhibited the highest power conversion efficiency of ∼ 1.84 %. The cellulose-based CNS is expected to have practical applications as a TE material for various electronic devices.

Hierarchical tin(III) oxide, Sn3O4, nanospheres were synthesized via hydrothermal reaction under strongly acidic ambient conditions. The morphology of Sn3O4 varied with decreasing pH. The prickly Sn3O4 nanospheres changed into Sn3O4 nanospheres covered with single-crystalline nanoplates having a high BET surface area of ca. 55.05 m2·g–1 and a band gap of ca. 2.25 eV. Small amounts (0.05 g) of the hierarchical Sn3O4 nanostructures completely decomposed a 30% methyl orange (MO) solution in 100 mL deionized water within 15 min under one sun condition (UV + visible light). The Sn3O4 photocatalyst exhibited a fast decomposition rate of 1.73 × 10−1 min−1, which is a 90.86% enhancement relative to that of the commercially available P25 photocatalyst. The high photocatalytic activity of the hierarchical Sn3O4 nanostructures is attributed to its ability to absorb visible light and its high surface-to-volume ratio.

We synthesized highly flexible carbon nanosheets (CNSs) as transparent conducting electrodes (TCEs) suitable for flexible organic solar cells (OSCs). The flexible electrodes were obtained by transferring CNSs, which were synthesized on recyclable silicon wafers using a catalyst-free process, onto a polyethylene terephthalate substrate. The TCEs exhibited a sheet resistance of ∼2.5 kohm/sq. and a transmittance of 61% even after 200 bending cycles, leading to a high power conversion efficiency of approximately ∼1.33%, which is very high compared to that of flexible OSCs composed of pristine graphene generated by chemical vapor deposition or chemical exfoliation methods.

The purpose of this study was to investigate smart features required for the next generation of personal protective equipment (PPE) for firefighters in Australia, Korea, Japan, and the USA. Questionnaire responses were obtained from 167 Australian, 351 Japanese, 413 Korean, and 763 U.S. firefighters (1,611 males and 61 females). Preferences concerning smart features varied among countries, with 27% of Korean and 30% of U.S. firefighters identifying ‘a location monitoring system’ as the most important element. On the other hand, 43% of Japanese firefighters preferred ‘an automatic body cooling system’ while 21% of the Australian firefighters selected equally ‘an automatic body cooling system’ and ‘a wireless communication system’. When asked to rank these elements in descending priority, responses across these countries were very similar with the following items ranked highest: ‘a location monitoring system’, ‘an automatic body cooling system’, ‘a wireless communication system’, and ‘a vision support system’. The least preferred elements were ‘an automatic body warming system’ and ‘a voice recording system’. No preferential relationship was apparent for age, work experience, gender or anthropometric characteristics. These results have implications for the development of the next generation of PPE along with the international standardisation of the smart PPE.

The aims of this study were 1) to evaluate the current pilot test method and ascertain reliable measurements for a standard test method of mobility with personal protective equipment (PPE), such as physical performance and balance ability tests; 2) to compare two participant groups (firefighters versus non-firefighters) and to investigate whether non-firefighters are appropriate as a standard participant group in the field of PPE or not. Totally, 18 participants (nine professional firefighters and nine untrained males) performed the current pilot test method consisting of a balance test, completed prior to and after a performance test. Significant differences were found between PPE conditions and CON (the control clothing ensemble: T-shirt, shorts, and running shoes) for the functional balance test, physical performance test, heart rate, and subjective evaluations in firefighters group. Therefore, the present pilot test method is valid as a standard test method for assessing mobility while wearing PPE. Moreover, the present result shows that firefighters are more reliable than non-firefighters in testing of PPE with current test methods.

Background Heat acclimatization studies have reported that tropical natives have better physiological function to tolerate heat exposure compared to those from temperate natives, in which may result in a better ability to show a better resistance to performance losses during heat stress. In this study, we investigate whether the degree of heat acclimatization affects cognitive abilities during heat exposure by comparing heat acclimatization level of subjects from Southeast Asia and temperate natives from Japan. Methods Eleven tropical males from Southeast Asia and ten temperate males from Japan participated in this study and performed two types of cognitive task: short-term memory test and mental arithmetic test, under control and passive heat exposure conditions. Passive heat condition was stimulated through leg immersion protocol by immersing subjects’ lower legs into a hot water maintained at 42 °C in a chamber controlled at 28 °C air temperature and 50% relative humidity. Results The results show that the subjects in tropical group, who had smaller increase of rectal temperature, did not show any performance losses in both cognitive tests during heat exposure, while for Japanese group, there was performance decrement in mental arithmetic test during heat exposure (P

In Japan, the incidence of water bathing-related cardiopulmonary accidents among older people is high in winter. The purpose of the present study was to investigate alterations in physiological characteristics and subjective thermal sensations of older people when bathing in a cool environment.We assessed the skin temperature, rectal temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, body fluid loss (sweat and urine), and subjective thermal responses of 11 older healthy male and 10 young male volunteers throughout 42°C and 39°C bathing in a room at 20°C with 50% humidity.At 42°C bathing, the rectal temperature during bathing and in the post-bathing period were significantly lower in the older men than in the young men, and skin temperature during the post-bathing period decreased gradually in the older men. Systolic blood pressure and pulse rate immediately increased just after entering 42°C water and decreased during bathing in the older men. With the activities of dressing, systolic blood pressure increased followed by a decrease during the post-bathing period. Thus, double product (pulse rate × systolic blood pressure) increased during the bathing period. Although there was no significant difference in body fluid loss between the older and younger men in 42°C water, the older men produced significantly less sweat. The older men also reported feeling less warm after 42°C bathing, and feeling less cold during the post-bathing period after 39°C bathing.These results suggest that hot water bathing during cold seasons might induce more serious physiological changes in older people. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 2164-2170.

A multi-parallel approach gauging the mass spectrometry-based metabolite fingerprinting coupled with bioactivity and pathway evaluations could serve as an efficacious tool for inferring plant taxonomic orders. Thirty-four species from three plant families, namely Cornaceae (7), Fabaceae (9), and Rosaceae (18) were subjected to metabolite profiling using gas chromatography–time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (GC–TOF-MS) and ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography–linear trap quadrupole-ion trap-mass spectrometry (UHPLC–LTQ-IT-MS/MS), followed by multivariate analyses to determine the metabolites characteristic of these families. The partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) revealed the distinct clustering pattern of metabolites for each family. The pathway analysis further highlighted the relatively higher proportions of flavonols and ellagitannins in the Cornaceae family than in the other two families. Higher levels of phenolic acids and flavan-3-ols were observed among species from the Rosaceae family, while amino acids, flavones, and isoflavones were more abundant among the Fabaceae family members. The antioxidant activities of plant extracts were measured using ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP assays, and indicated that extracts from the Rosaceae family had the highest activity, followed by those from Cornaceae and Fabaceae. The correlation map analysis positively links the proportional concentration of metabolites with their relative antioxidant activities, particularly in Cornaceae and Rosaceae. This work highlights the pre-eminence of the multi-parallel approach involving metabolite profiling and bioactivity evaluations coupled with metabolic pathways as an efficient methodology for the evaluation of plant phylogenies.