Stable carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotope analysis as a potential tool for verifying geographical origin of beef

Stable isotope analysis of organic elements such as carbon and nitrogen has been employed as a powerful tool for provenance determination of food materials, because isotopic compositions of the materials reflect many factors in natural environment. In this study, we examined carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotope signatures of beef from Australia, Japan, and USA, in order to confirm the method as a potential tool for verifying geographical origin of beef commercially distributed in Japan. Defatted dry matter of beef from USA was characterized by higher carbon isotopic composition (-13.6 per thousand to -11.1 per thousand) than that from Japan (-19.6 per thousand to -17.0 per thousand) and Australia (-23.6 per thousand to -18.7 per thousand). That from Australia was characterized by higher oxygen isotopic composition (+15.0 per thousand to +19.4 per thousand) than that from Japan (+7.3 per thousand to +13.6 per thousand) and USA (+9.5 per thousand to +11.7 per thousand). The oxygen isotopic composition in Japanese beef showed a positive correlation with the isotopic composition of cattle drinking water, the difference in which is clearly latitude dependent. These results suggest that a comparison of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotopic compositions is applicable as a potential tool to discriminate the provenance of beef not only between different countries (i.e. Australia, Japan, and USA) but also among different regions within Japan.     

Cytotoxic iridoid aldehydes from Taiwanese Viburnum luzonicum

Four new iridoid aldehydes bearing (E)- or (Z)-p-coumaroyl group, luzonial A (1), luzonial B (2), luzonidial A (3), and luzonidial B (4), were isolated from a methanol extract of the dried leaves of Viburnum luzonicum collected in Kaoshiung, Taiwan and their structures were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data. Compounds 1-3 exhibited moderate inhibitory activity against HeLa S3 cancer cells.     

A systematic preparation of new contracted Gaussian-type orbital sets. V. From Na through Ca

Minimal compact contracted Gaussian basis sets are constructed for the atoms from Na to Ca. They give satisfactory valence shell orbital energies, although they are minimal-type basis sets. Split-type basis sets are also derived from the minimal Gaussian basis sets in order to enhance the flexibility of the basis sets for molecular calculations.     

Physical properties and structure of silk. V. Thermal behavior of silk fibroin in the random-coil conformation

The thermal behavior of films of amorphous silk fibroin in the random-coil conformation has been investigated in the temperature range 25–220°C by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal expansion, dynamic mechanical measurements, x-ray diffraction, and infrared spectroscopy. As the temperature is raised, water is lost up to about 100°C. Intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonds are broken between 150 and 180°C. The glass transition is observed at 173°C by DSC. The random-coil→β-form transition accompanied by reformation of hydrogen bonds takes place above 180°C. Thermally induced crystallization to the β-form crystals starts at about 190°C.     

The valence orbital ionization potential of the first transition-metal atoms and ions

The 3d, 4s and 4p valence orbital ionization potentials (VOIP) are determined for the atoms and the ions with the electron configuration 3d 4s p , using the Anno-Teruya values of the average energies of the configurations and the experimental ionization potentials. Not all the configurations of this type are treated for lack of the data. As far as the data are available, a quadratic equation in terms of the atomic number Z is fitted to the VOIP's of an isoelectronic series: VOIP=A ₀+A ₁ Z+A ₂ Z ². The coefficients A ₀'s, A ₁'s and A ₂'s thus obtained are analysed in the light of Slater's simple expression for the total energy of an atom with the idea of screening effect due to inner electrons.

---

Zusammenfassung Mit den Anno-Teruya-Werten für die durchschnittliche Energie der Konfigurationen und den experimentellen Ionisationspotentialen werden für Atome und Ionen der Konfigurationen 3d 4s p die 3d-, 4s- und 4p-VOIPs bestimmt. Mangels verfügbarer Daten werden nicht alle Konfigurationen dieses Typs behandelt. Sofern Daten verfügbar sind, wird den VOIPs einer isoelektronischen Reihe eine in der Kernladungszahl Z quadratische Gleichung angepa\t: VOIP=A ₀+A ₁ Z+A ₂ Z ². Dies aus dieser Gleichung gewonnenen RegelmÄ\igkeiten in den Koeffizienten A ₀, A ₁ und A ₂ werden mit der einfachen Slaterformel für die Gesamtenergie eines Atoms als Abschirmeffekte der inneren Elektronen erklÄrt.

---

Résumé Les potentiels d'ionisation des orbitales de valence (VOIP) 3d, 4s et 4p sont déterminés pour les atomes et les ions de configuration électronique 3d 4s p en utilisant les valeurs de Anno-Teruya des énergies moyennes des configurations et les potentiels d'ionisation expérimentaux. Par suite d'absence de données toutes les configurations de ce type ne sont pas étudiées. Dans la mesure des données existantes, une relation quadratique en fonction du numéro atomique Z est ajustée pour les VOIP d'une série isoélectronique: VOIP=A ₀+A ₁ Z+A ₂ Z ². Les coefficients A ₀, A ₁ et A ₂ ainsi obtenus sont analysés à la lumière des expressions simples de Slater pour l'énergie totale d'un atome avec l'idée d'un effet d'écran dû aux électrons internes.

     

Asymmetrically modified silica particles: a simple particulate surfactant for stabilization of oil droplets in water

Spherical silica particles that are able to assemble at a phase boundary of a dual-phase mixture of water and an immiscible organic solvent were prepared by a partial modification of their surface hydroxyl groups with an alkylsilylation agent. Scanning electron microscopic observation of these particles in which their remaining surface hydroxyl groups had been selectively modified with colloidal gold particles revealed that each particle has an asymmetric surface structure: one side of the surface is hydrophilic and the other is hydrophobic. We found that these particles could form a micellar structure in water in the presence of an organic solution of a toluene/polystyrene mixture. The micellar structure was evidenced by formation of golf-ball-like polystyrene particles with dimples imprinting morphologies of the hydrophobic part of modified silica particles.     

On the existence of sports schedules with multiple venues

We give theoretical methods of creating sports schedules where there are multiple venues for the games, and the number of times each team uses each venue should be balanced. A construction for leagues having 2^p?8 teams was given by de Werra, Ekim and Raess. Here we show that feasible schedules exist when the league has an arbitrary even number of teams greater than or equal to 8.