The journey from white rice to ultra-high hydrostatic pressurized brown rice: an excellent endeavor for ideal nutrition from staple food.

Although brown rice (BR) contains significantly higher levels of nutrients than the traditionally used polished white rice (WR), its consumption among the population is still not noteworthy. WR and BR are essentially same grain. The only difference between the two is the application of an exhaustive milling procedure during the processing of WR that removes all other layers of the grain except the portion of its white endosperm. BR, on the other hand, is prepared by removing only the outer hull of the rice seed. Thus, in addition to its inner endosperm, the bran and germ are also left on the BR. Hence, BR retains all its nutrients, including proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, fibers, vitamins, minerals, tocopherols, tocotrienols, γ-oryzanol, and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) packed into the bran and germ of the seed. Since BR tastes nutty and takes longer to cook than WR, it is not appreciated by the consumers. However, these problems have been circumvented using non-thermal ultra-high hydrostatic pressure (UHHP)-processing for the treatment of BR. A superior modification in the physicochemical and functional qualities of UHHPBR, along with its ability to curb human diseases may make it a more palatable and nutritious choice of rice over WR or the untreated-BR. Here, we have reviewed the mechanism by which UHHP treatment leads to the modification of nutrients such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and fibers. We have focused on the effects of rice on cell and animal models of different conditions such as hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and hypertension and the possible mechanisms. Finally, we have emphasized the effects of UHHPBR in human cases with rare conditions such as osteoporosis and brain cognition - two age-related degenerative diseases of the elderly population.

Influence of Ultra-High Hydrostatic Pressurizing Brown Rice on Cognitive Functions and Mental Health of Elderly Japanese Individuals: A 2-Year Randomized and Controlled Trial.

Brown rice contains many ingredients that might protect against cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. However, brown rice is very hard, difficult to cook, and is poorly digested; thus, it is difficult to eat long-term. To solve these problems, ultra-high hydrostatic pressurizing brown rice (UHHPBR) was prepared. We investigated the effects of dietary UHHPBR administration for 24 mo on cognitive function and mental health in the elderly. Healthy elderly participants (n=52) were randomized into UHHPBR and polished white rice (WR) groups. The UHHPBR group consumed 100 g of UHHPBR per day for 24 mo and the WR group consumed white rice. At baseline, and after 12 and 24 mo, cognitive functions were assessed using the Revised Hasegawa's Dementia Scale, Mini-Mental State Examination, Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), and the Cognitive Assessment for Dementia, iPad version (CADi). Mental health condition was also assessed using the Apathy Scale and the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, and serum biochemical parameters were determined. From baseline to month 24, the mean change in the FAB-sub item 1 scores was higher in the UHHPBR group compared to the WR group. Furthermore, apathy scores decreased, as well as the time required to answer all questions of the CADi, and plasma epinephrine levels increased. These results indicate that a 2-y oral consumption of UHHPBR increases information processing speed (as a measure of cognitive function) and improves apathy in the elderly, suggesting a protective effect of UHHPBR administration against age-related decline in brain cognition and motivation.

Long-Term Ultra-High Hydrostatic Pressurized Brown Rice Intake Prevents Bone Mineral Density Decline in Elderly Japanese Individuals.

Bone embrittlement with aging, namely osteoporosis, is characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue, and can lead to increased risk of fracture. The development of functional foods that can prevent geriatric diseases is in progress. Our focus was on brown rice because of its properties. An interventional study using of ultra-high hydrostatic pressurized brown rice (UHHPBR) for human has not yet been conducted. In this study, we investigated whether long-term dietary intake of UHHPBR prevents aging-related decline of bone mineral density in elderly Japanese individuals. Elderly participants (n=40; mean 73.1 y) in Iinan-cho, Shimane, Japan, were randomly divided into two groups. The UHHPBR-intake group (n=20) consumed 100 g of UHHPBR and 100 g of white rice (WR) per day for 12 mo, while the WR-intake group (n=20) consumed 200 g of WR per day. Pre- and 12-mo post-intervention, bone mineral density was evaluated by quantitative ultrasound. After 12 mo of intervention, the UHHPBR group's bone mineral density was significantly higher than the WR group's bone mineral density. Moreover, chronic intake of UHHPBR had no adverse side effects on participants. Long-term oral UHHPBR intake may have beneficial effects on bone mineral density decline and may attenuate osteoporosis in the elderly.

Strategy of optical path of daylight signal into tissues in cold-season turfgrasses using small, concave silica bodies.

Plants incorporate inorganic materials (biominerals), such as silica, into their various components. Plants belonging to the order Poales, like rice plants and turfgrasses, show comparatively high rates of silicon accumulation, mainly in the form of silica bodies. This work aims to determine the shapes and roles of these silica bodies by microscopic observation and optical simulation. We have previously found convex silica bodies on the leaves of rice plants and hot-season turfgrasses (adapted to hot-seasons). These silica bodies enabled light reflection and ensured reduction of the photonic density of states, which presumably prevented the leaves from overheating, as suggested by theoretical optical analyses. The silica bodies have been considered to have the functions of reinforcement of the plant body. The present work deals with cold-season turfgrasses, which were found to have markedly different silica bodies, cuboids with a concave top surface. They presumably acted as small windows for introducing light into the tissues, including the vascular bundles in the leaves. The area of the silica bodies was calculated to be about 5% of the total surface area of epidermis, which limits the thermal radiation of the silica bodies. We found that the light signal introduced through the silica bodies diffused in the organs even reaching the vascular bundles, the physiological functions of this phenomena remain as future problems. Light signal in this case is not related with energy which heat the plant but sensing outer circumstances to respond to them.

Highly water pressurized brown rice improves cognitive dysfunction in senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 and reduces amyloid beta in the brain.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and the number of AD patients continues to increase worldwide. Components of the germ layer and bran of Brown rice (BR) help maintain good health and prevent AD. Because the germ layer and bran absorb little water and are very hard and difficult to cook, they are often removed during processing. To solve these problems, in this study, we tried to use a high-pressure (HP) technique. METHODS: We produced the highly water pressurized brown rice (HPBR) by pressurizing BR at 600 MPa, and then we fed it to an AD mouse model, senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8, to investigate the therapeutic effects of HPBR on cognitive dysfunction by Y-maze spatial memory test. RESULTS: HP treatment increased the water absorbency of BR without nutrient loss. HPBR ameliorated cognitive dysfunction and reduced the levels of amyloid-ß, which is a major protein responsible for AD, in the brain. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that HPBR is effective for preventing AD.

Nickel (II) pyrrocorphin: Enhanced binding ability in a highly reduced porphyrin complex.

Pyrrocorphin is an air-sensitive porphyrinoid with a highly reduced hexahydroporphyrin core. In contrast, pyrrolidine-fused pyrrocorphin (Pyr) obtained by successive 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of azomethine ylide to 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin is less air-sensitive. In order to reveal the effect of highly reduced porphyrin rings on the physicochemical properties of their metal complexes, we have prepared diamagnetic (S=0) Ni(II) complex Ni(II)(Pyr). The addition of excess pyridine (Py) to the toluene solution of Ni(II)(Pyr) yielded five-coordinate Ni(II)(Pyr)(Py), which was then completely converted to six-coordinate paramagnetic (S=1) Ni(II)(Pyr)(Py)2. The latter was characterized by UV-Vis, 1H NMR, CV, SQUID, and X-ray crystallography as well as DFT calculations. As compared with analogous complexes of porphyrin (Por), chlorin (Chl), and isobacteriochlorin (Iso) reported by Herges and co-workers (R. Herges et al., Inorg. Chem. 2015), Ni(II)(Pyr)(Py)2 has longer equatorial NiN and shorter axial NiN bonds. The CV study has shown a large decrease in HOMO-LUMO gap as the reduction of porphyrin ring proceeds, which has further been confirmed by UV-Vis and DFT calculation. Titration studies using 1H NMR and UV-Vis have shown that the first binding constant of pyridine toward Ni(II)(Pyr) is ca. 4 times as large as that of Ni(II)(Iso) and ca 230 times as large as that of Ni(II)(Por). Thus, we have concluded that the binding constant of pyridine to Ni(II) porphyrinoid increases by the following order: Por

Spin-crossover between high-spin (S = 5/2) and low-spin (S = 1/2) states in six-coordinate iron(iii) porphyrin complexes having two pyridine-N oxide derivatives.

In contrast to the general tendency that six coordinate iron(iii) porphyrin complexes with neutral oxygen ligands adopt a high-spin state in a wide range of temperature, some complexes with substituted pyridine N-oxides have exhibited spin-crossover from high-spin to low-spin states with decreasing temperature both in solution and in the solid state.

Printable Organic Light-Emitting Devices and Application for Optical Signal Transmission.

Organic light emitting devices, in particular, properties of polymer light-emitting transistors with printed electrodes and bilayer printed devices with in-plane emission have been investigated and discussed. The semitransparent device based on poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-co-benzothiadiazole) (F8BT) with Ag-nanowire source/drain and transparent carbon nanotube gate electrodes exhibits ambipolar and light-emitting characteristics. For the devices with oriented poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) (F8) films, enhanced electron and hole field-effect mobilities have been achieved by aligning the polymer chains parallel to the transport direction. The bilayer device using F8BT lower layer and oriented F8 upper layer with the channel direction parallel to the polymer orientation exhibits improved EL intensity and higher external quantum efficiency than that with the channel direction perpendicular to the polymer chains orientation. The optical pulses of more than 100 Hz frequency are generated by directly modulating a bilayer device with an in-plane emission pattern.

A flexible proximity sensor formed by duplex screen/screen-offset printing and its application to non-contact detection of human breathing.

We describe a flexible capacitance-type sensor that can detect an approaching human without contact, fabricated by developing and applying duplex conductive-ink printing to a film substrate. The results of our calculations show that the difference in size between the top and bottom electrodes of the sensor allows for the spatial extension of the electric field distribution over the electrodes. Hence, such a component functions as a proximity sensor. This thin and light device with a large form factor can be arranged at various places, including curved surfaces and the back of objects such that it is unnoticeable. In our experiment, we attached it to the back of a bed, and found that our device successfully detected the breathing of a subject on the bed without contacting his body. This should contribute to reducing the physical and psychological discomfort among patients during medical checks, or when their condition is being monitored.

High-energy, stable and recycled molecular solar thermal storage materials using AZO/graphene hybrids by optimizing hydrogen bonds.

An important method for establishing a high-energy, stable and recycled molecular solar heat system is by designing and preparing novel photo-isomerizable molecules with a high enthalpy and a long thermal life by controlling molecular interactions. A meta- and ortho-bis-substituted azobenzene chromophore (AZO) is covalently grafted onto reduced graphene oxide (RGO) for solar thermal storage materials. High grafting degree and close-packed molecules enable intermolecular hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) for both trans-(E) and cis-(Z) isomers of AZO on the surface of nanosheets, resulting in a dramatic increase in enthalpy and lifetime. The metastable Z-form of AZO on RGO is thermally stabilized with a half-life of 52 days by steric hindrance and intermolecular H-bonds calculated using density functional theory (DFT). The AZO-RGO fuel shows a high storage capacity of 138 Wh kg(-1) by optimizing intermolecular H-bonds with a good cycling stability for 50 cycles induced by visible light at 520 nm. Our work opens up a new method for making advanced molecular solar thermal storage materials by tuning molecular interactions on a nano-template.

Covalent functionalization of graphene by azobenzene with molecular hydrogen bonds for long-term solar thermal storage.

Reduced graphene oxide-azobenzene (RGO-AZO) hybrids were prepared via covalent functionalization for long-term solar thermal storage. Thermal barrier (ΔEa) of cis to tran reversion and thermal storage (ΔH) were improved by molecular hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) through ortho- or para-substitution of AZO. Intramolecular H-bonds thermally stabilized cis-ortho-AZO on RGO with a long-term half-life of 5400 h (ΔEa = 1.2 eV), which was much longer than that of RGO-para-AZO (116 h). RGO-para-AZO with one intermolecular H-bond showed a high density of thermal storage up to 269.8 kJ kg(-1) compared with RGO-ortho-AZO (149.6 kJ kg(-1)) with multiple intra- and intermolecular H-bonds of AZO according to relaxed stable structures. Thermal storage in experiment was the same order magnitude to theoretical data based on ΔH calculated by density functional theory and packing density. Photoactive RGO-AZO hybrid can be developed for high-performance solar thermal storage by optimizing molecular H-bonds.

Infrared-actuated recovery of polyurethane filled by reduced graphene oxide/carbon nanotube hybrids with high energy density.

Optically actuated shape recovery materials receive much interest because of their great ability to control the creation of mechanical motion remotely and precisely. An infrared (IR) triggered actuator based on shape recovery was fabricated using polyurethane (TPU) incorporated by sulfonated reduced graphene oxide (SRGO)/sulfonated carbon nanotube (SCNT) hybrid nanofillers. Interconnected SRGO/SCNT hybrid nanofillers at a low weight loading of 1% dispersed in TPU showed good IR absorption and improved the crystallization of soft segments for a large shape deformation. The output force, energy density and recovery time of IR-triggered actuators were dependent on weight ratios of SRGO to SCNT (SRGO:SCNT). TPU nanocomposites filled by a hybrid nanofiller with SRGO:SCNT of 3:1 showed the maximum IR-actuated stress recovery of lifting a 107.6 g weight up 4.7 cm in 18 s. The stress recovery delivered a high energy density of 0.63 J/g and shape recovery force up to 1.2 MPa due to high thermal conductivity (1.473 W/mK) and Young's modulus of 23.4 MPa. Results indicate that a trade-off between the stiffness and efficient heat transfer controlled by synergistic effect between SRGO and SCNT is critical for high mechanical power output of IR-triggered actuators. IR-actuated shape recovery of SRGO/SCNT/TPU nanocomposites combining high energy density and output forces can be further developed for advanced optomechanical systems.

A mechanically strong, flexible and conductive film based on bacterial cellulose/graphene nanocomposite.

A highly flexible nanocomposite film of bacterial cellulose (BC) and graphene oxide (GO) with a layered structure was presented using the vacuum-assisted self-assembly technique. Microscopic and X-ray diffraction measurements demonstrated that the GO nanosheets were uniformly dispersed in the BC matrix. The interactions between BC and GO were studied by Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy. Compared with pristine BC, the integration of 5wt% GO resulted in 10% and 20% increase in Young's modulus and tensile strength of the composite film. The electrical conductivity of the composite film containing 1wt% GO after in situ reduction showed a remarkable increase by 6 orders of magnitude compared with the insulated BC.

Increased antibiotic release from a bone cement containing bacterial cellulose.

BACKGROUND: Major disadvantages of antibiotic bone cements include limited drug release and reduced strength resulting from the addition of high doses of antibiotics. Bacterial cellulose, a three-dimensional hydrophilic mesh, may retain antibiotics and release them gradually. We hypothesized that the addition of cellulose to antibiotic bone cement would improve mechanical strength and antibiotic release. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We therefore examined the mechanical strength and antibiotic release of cellulose antibiotic cement. METHODS: A high dose of antibiotics (5 g per 40 g cement powder) was incorporated into bacterial cellulose and then mixed with bone cement. We compared the compression strength, fracture toughness, fatigue life, and elution kinetics of this formulation with those of plain cement and a traditional antibiotic cement. RESULTS: The average values for compression strength, fracture toughness, and fatigue life of the cellulose antibiotic cement were 97%, 97%, and 78% of the values obtained for plain cement, respectively. The corresponding values for the traditional antibiotic cement were 79%, 82%, and 17%, respectively. The cumulative elution over 35 days was 129% greater from the cellulose antibiotic cement than from the traditional antibiotic cement. CONCLUSIONS: With a high dose of antibiotics, incorporating cellulose into the bone cement prevented compression and fracture fragility, improved fatigue life, and increased antibiotic elution. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Antibiotic cements containing cellulose may have applications in clinical situations that require high levels of antibiotic release and preservation of the mechanical properties of the cement.

Effective viscosity for nematic-liquid-crystal viscosity measurement using a shear horizontal wave.

We investigate the effective viscosity of a nematic-liquid-crystal (NLC) for viscosity measurement using a shear horizontal (SH) wave propagating through a glass substrate loaded with the NLC. The phase measurement of the SH wave determines the NLC viscosity because SH wave propagation depends on loaded material viscosity. Using this viscosity measurement, we can also determine the viscosity anisotropy of the NLC with director reorientation. In experiment, phase shifts are detected when voltages are applied to a NLC layer. The measured phases show an unpredictable shift which cannot be explained by conventional director angular dependence of viscosity. To analyze the phase shifts quantitatively, we introduce average effective viscosity for the viscosity measurement using SH wave. This effective viscosity is calculated considering the NLC director configuration and SH wave penetration into the NLC layer. The phase shifts calculated from the effective viscosity well agree with the measured phase shifts. The use of effective viscosity enables quantitative analysis for NLC viscosity measurement using the SH wave and also clarifies the mechanism of the unpredictable SH wave phase shift with director reorientation.

Excited-state molecular vibration observed for a probe pulse preceding the pump pulse by real-time optical spectroscopy.

It is shown experimentally that the absorbance change observed in the "negative" time range, where probe pulse precedes pump pulse in real-time vibrational spectroscopy is induced only by the excited-state wave-packet motion as theoretically expected. Coherent molecular vibration of a polymer in the excited state was observed in the real-time trace without the effect of wave-packet motion in the ground state, which usually makes it difficult to ascribe the signal either to the ground state or to the excited state.

Improved electrical and optical properties of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) via ordered microstructure.

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) nanorods (80-150 nm in diameter) and nanospheres were synthesized through a self-assembly method using ferric chloride (FeCl(3)) and ammonium persulfate (APS) as oxidants, respectively, and camphorsulfonic acid (CSA) as the dopant. The PEDOT nanorods showed broader absorption bands, higher crystallinity and much higher room-temperature conductivity (approximately 300 S cm(-1)) than the PEDOT nanospheres. Such obviously distinct properties of these products were considered to be due to the much lower rate of polymerization with FeCl(3) than APS, which made the growth of PEDOT according to the suggested cylinder micelles more moderate and regular; as a result, the morphology of the microstructure changed and the crystallinity, the doping level, the molecular orderliness and the conductivity of PEDOT synthesized under lower rate of polymerization improved intensely at the same time.

TE-TM mode coupling in two-dimensional photonic crystals composed of liquid-crystal rods.

We theoretically demonstrate the TE-TM mode coupling in two-dimensional photonic crystals composed of liquid-crystal rods due to anisotropies of liquid crystals. In such structures, the classification of the TE and TM modes is generally impossible, that is, the TE-TM mode coupling occurs. Frequencies of the mode coupling are investigated by the plane-wave expansion method, and the mode coupling is discussed by transmittance calculated by the finite-difference time-domain method. Changes of transmittance by rotating directors of liquid crystals are also discussed.

Tunable photonic defect modes in a cholesteric liquid crystal induced by optical deformation of helix.

We have demonstrated, based on numerical analyses, that the introduction and tuning of photonic defect modes in a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) can be realized by the local deformation of its one-dimensional periodic helical structure. The defect modes appear in transmission spectra only when incident circularly polarized light has the same handedness as CLC's. The tuning of defect modes position can be performed upon both local elongation and shortening of the helix; however, the direction of the shift of the defect mode wavelength is opposite. By controlling the degree of the deformation of helix, a continuous shift of the defect modes can be realized. Our results will open the way for the optical introduction and tuning of defect modes in CLC's.

Tunable photonic band gaps in two-dimensional photonic crystals by temporal modulation based on the Pockels effect.

We theoretically demonstrate the tuning of photonic band gaps in two-dimensional photonic crystals composed of rods by temporal modulation based on the Pockels effect. Refractive indices of rods can be changed periodically by applied alternating voltage under the influence of the Pockels effect, which causes new photonic band states other than original ones. Therefore, photonic band gaps can be closed by the new photonic band states, which may provide novel applications for tunable photonic crystals.