Normal viscous force of pendular liquid bridge between two relatively moving particles.

In this work, Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) of a pendular liquid bridge formed between two relatively moving particles are performed to evaluate the normal component of the viscous force exerted on the particles. The viscous force obtained are non-dimensionalised in order to clarify the parameters which can affect the dimensionless force. The DNS results are compared with the viscous force models in literature which are commonly used in DEM simulations.

Occurrence of four Fusarium mycotoxins, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, T-2 toxin, and HT-2 toxin, in wheat, barley, and Japanese retail food.

A survey of the contamination of wheat, barley, and Japanese retail food by four Fusarium mycotoxins, deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), T-2 toxin (T-2), and HT-2 toxin (HT-2), was performed between 2010 and 2012. A method for the simultaneous determination of the four mycotoxins by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was validated by a small-scale interlaboratory study using two spiked wheat samples (DON was spiked at 20 and 100 μg/kg and ZEN, T-2, and HT-2 at 6 and 20 μg/kg in the respective samples). The recovery of the four mycotoxins ranged from 77.

Inter-laboratory study of an LC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of fumonisin B1, B2 and B3 in corn.

To validate an LC-MS/MS method using a strong anion exchange cartridge for simultaneous determination of fumonisin B1, B2 and B3 in corn, an inter-laboratory study was performed in 9 laboratories using one fumonisin-negative corn sample, three spiked corn samples (FB1: 100-1,000 μg/kg, FB2 and FB3: 10-100 μg/kg) and two naturally contaminated corn samples. The recoveries were in the ranges of 79.7-87.

Inter-laboratory study of an LC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of deoxynivalenol and its acetylated derivatives, 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol and 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol in wheat.

To validate an LC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of deoxynivalenol (DON) and its acetylated derivatives, 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3ADON) and 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (15ADON), in wheat using a multifunctional column, an inter-laboratory study was performed in 9 laboratories using one blank wheat sample, three spiked wheat samples (10, 50, 150 µg/kg) and one naturally contaminated wheat sample. The recoveries ranged from 98.8 to 102.

Interlaboratory study of LC-UV and LC-MS methods for the simultaneous determination of deoxynivalenol and nivalenol in wheat.

To evaluate LC methods with UV or MS detection for simultaneous analysis of deoxynivalenol (DON) and nivalenol (NIV) in wheat, an interlaboratory study was conducted in 11 laboratories. DON and NIV were purified using a multifunctional column, and their concentrations were determined using LC-UV or LC-MS(/MS). No internal standards were used.

Novel actin-like filament structure from Clostridium tetani.

Eukaryotic F-actin is constructed from two protofilaments that gently wind around each other to form a helical polymer. Several bacterial actin-like proteins (Alps) are also known to form F-actin-like helical arrangements from two protofilaments, yet with varied helical geometries. Here, we report a unique filament architecture of Alp12 from Clostridium tetani that is constructed from four protofilaments.

[Application of DNA extraction kit, 'GM quicker' for detection of genetically modified soybeans].

Several DNA extraction methods have been officially introduced to detect genetically modified soybeans, but the choice of DNA extraction kits depend on the nature of the samples, such as grains or processed foods. To overcome this disadvantage, we examined whether the GM quicker kit is available for both grains and processed foods. We compared GM quicker with four approved DNA extraction kits in respect of DNA purity, copy numbers of lectin gene, and working time.

Multi mycotoxin analysis in food products using immunoaffinity extraction.

We developed a method for the simultaneous determination of deoxynivalenol, T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin and zearalenone in wheat and biscuit by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization/tandem mass spectrometry coupled with immunoaffinity extraction. This chapter describes a method to extract, clean-up, and quantitate these mycotoxins and the effect of the ion suppression of multifunctional column and IAC in the clean-up were compared.

Genetic evidence for containment of viruses in the first outbreak of influenza A pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in Kobe, Japan.

Background: On 16 May 2009, a high school student in Kobe with no history of overseas travel was reported as the first case of influenza A pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus infection in Japan. Subsequently, it was revealed that the infection had spread to some cities in the Kansai region and most patients were high school students. The number of patients decreased rapidly within a week; however, it began to increase in the middle of July.

Conversion of 11-hydroxy-O-methylsterigmatocystin to aflatoxin G1 in Aspergillus parasiticus.

In aflatoxin biosynthesis, aflatoxins G(1) (AFG(1)) and B(1) (AFB(1)) are independently produced from a common precursor, O-methylsterigmatocystin (OMST). Recently, 11-hydroxy-O-methylsterigmatocystin (HOMST) was suggested to be a later precursor involved in the conversion of OMST to AFB(1), and conversion of HOMST to AFB(1) was catalyzed by OrdA enzyme. However, the involvement of HOMST in AFG(1) formation has not been determined.

Determination of Fusarium mycotoxins by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry coupled with immunoaffinity extraction.

A method for the simultaneous quantitative determination of deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 toxin (T-2), HT-2 toxin (HT-2) and zearalenone (ZEN) in wheat and biscuit by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS) coupled with immunoaffinity extraction is described. A clean-up was carried out using a DZT MS-PREP immunoaffinity column (IAC), and the effect of the sample dilution rate and sample loading was investigated. Furthermore, the effects of ion suppression of a multifunctional column (MFC) and the IAC in the clean-up were compared.

Rapid detection of nivalenol and deoxynivalenol in wheat using surface plasmon resonance immunoassay.

A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) immunoassay using a monoclonal antibody was developed to measure nivalenol (NIV) and deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination in wheat. A highly sensitive and stable DON-immobilized sensor chip was prepared, and an SPR detection procedure was developed. The competitive inhibition assay used a monoclonal antibody that cross-reacts with NIV and DON.

Four-year surveillance for ochratoxin a and fumonisins in retail foods in Japan.

Between 2004 and 2007 we examined foods from Japanese retail shops for contamination with ochratoxin A (OTA) and fumonisins B(1), B(2), and B(3). A total of 1,358 samples of 27 different products were examined for OTA, and 831 samples of 16 different products were examined for fumonisins. The limits of quantification ranged from 0.

Determination of nivalenol and deoxynivalenol by liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure photoionization mass spectrometry.

Fusarium species, a plant pathogenic fungus of wheat and other cereals, produces toxic metabolites such as nivalenol (NIV) and deoxynivalenol (DON). Control of contamination by these toxins is very difficult, and a continuous survey of the occurrence is necessary for these toxins. Thus, the accurate and convenient determination of the cereals contaminated with these toxins is important for the supply of safe foods.

Occurrence of aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, and fumonisins in retail foods in Japan.

We conducted a survey of aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, and G2, ochratoxin A, and fumonisin B1, B2, and B3 contamination in various foods on the retail market in Japan in 2004 and 2005. The mycotoxins were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, or high-performance thin-layer chromatography. Aflatoxins were detected in 10 of 21 peanut butter samples; the highest concentration of aflatoxin B1 was 2.

Development of a liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometric method for the simultaneous determination of trichothecenes, zearalenone and aflatoxins in foodstuffs.

A liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (LC/APCI-MS) method based on time-of-flight MS (TOFMS) with a real-time reference mass correction technique was developed for the simultaneous determination of Fusarium mycotoxins (nivalenol, deoxynivalenol, fusarenon X, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol, HT-2 toxin, T-2 toxin, diacetoxyscirpenol, zearalenone) and Aspergillus mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin B2, aflatoxin G1, aflatoxin G2) in corn, wheat, cornflakes and biscuits. Samples were cleaned up with a MultiSep #226 column. Detection of the mycotoxins was carried out in exact mass chromatograms with a mass window of 0.

Validation of an HPLC analytical method coupled to a multifunctional clean-up column for the determination of deoxynivalenol.

To evaluate a method using a multifunctional clean-up column coupled with high performance liquid chromatography as an official analytical method for the determination of deoxynivalenol in wheat used as food or feed, an inter-laboratory study was performed in 12 laboratories using four naturally contaminated wheat samples and one spiked sample. The relative standard deviations for repeatability (RSDr) and reproducibility (RSDR) of naturally contaminated wheat were in the range 5.8-11.

[Evaluation of three commercial ELISA kits for rapid screening of deoxynivalenol in unpolished wheat].

Evaluation of commercial ELISA kits for the screening of deoxynivalenol (DON) was carried out. Three kinds of commercial kits supplied by different companies were used. Three lots of naturally contaminated wheat and DON-free wheat (<0.