[Application of High-performance Liquid Chromatography to Caprolactam Migration Testing of Food Utensils, Containers, and Packaging].

We assessed the applicability of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to the official testing method for the migration of caprolactam (CPL) from food utensils, containers, and packaging made from polyamide (PA). Hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) columns coated with unmodified silica, carbamoyl, and aminopropyl were used. Water and acetonitrile (ACN) were used as the mobile phase, and the analytical conditions were optimized.

Coalescence and mixing dynamics of droplets in acoustic levitation by selective colour imaging and measurement.

Acoustic levitation is well-suited to 'lab-on-a-drop' contactless chemical analysis of droplets. Rapid mixing is of fundamental importance in lab-on-a-drop platforms and many other applications involving droplet manipulation. Small droplets, however, have low Reynolds numbers; thus, mixing via turbulence is not possible.

[Inter-laboratory Study on the Modified Methods for Analyzing Bisphenol A Content for Migration Tests from Polycarbonate Food Apparatuses, Containers, and Packaging].

An inter-laboratory study involving 24 laboratories was conducted to validate the modified analytical method for the migration solution of heptane for the determination of bisphenol A migrating from polycarbonate food processing materials. In this study, two concentrations of samples were blindly coded. Each laboratory determined the analyte (bisphenol A, phenol and p-tert-butylphenol) concentration in each sample according to the established protocol.

[Plasticizers Used in Polyvinyl Chloride Toys (2019-2020)].

We determined the fifteen types of plasticizers, including four kinds of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) used in 220 polyvinyl chloride (PVC) toys on Japanese market from 2019 to 2020. Three kinds of previously undetected types of PAEs were also detected, but not identified in this study. Di (2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHTP) was the highest detection rate in 209 soft PVC toys out of 220 toys, with 71.

[Modified Methods for Analyzing Bisphenol A Content for Migration Tests from Polycarbonate Food Apparatuses, Containers, and Packaging].

A validation study was performed on the modified analytical method for the migration solution of heptane, 20% ethanol and 4% acetic acid for the determination of bisphenol A migrating from polycarbonate food apparatuses, containers, and packaging. The analytes for the method were bisphenol A, phenol and p-tert-butylphenol. The repeatability, within-laboratory reproducibility and trueness of the method was estimated in the range of 0.

Determination of potential volatile compounds in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles and their short- and long-term migration into food simulants and soft drink.

Head space (HS)-GC-MS was used to analyze possible migration of volatile compounds from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles for soft drinks, and a total of six compounds were identified. Next, a rapid, simple, and accurate simultaneous method was established using purge-and-trap (PT)-GC-MS, to quantify their amounts in the liquid contents after short- and long-term storage in PET bottles. Starting with brand-new PET bottles, the maximum migration of 2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane into distilled water and 50 % aqueous ethanol after 2 years at 25 °C were 2.

[Inter-laboratory Study on the Modified Method Assessment for the Determining Methanol Content in Kitchen Detergents].

We modified a method for determining methanol content in detergents used in kitchens. Furthermore, an inter-laboratory study was conducted in 10 laboratories to validate the modified method. In this study, two concentrations of samples were blindly coded.

[Validation Study on Migration Test for Plastic Food Utensils, Containers, and Packaging].

Migration test of food utensils, containers, and packaging is an important test method for confirming the safety and their compliance to the standards. However, there is little report on inter-laboratory study which was performed to evaluate the entire migration test, including migration operations and quantification. An interlaboratory study was performed participating 22 laboratories using 8 types of model synthetic resin samples containing 10 substances with a wide range of Log P values to evaluate the accuracy of the entire migration test.

NaCl dependent production of coniferin in suspension cultured cells.

A stable salt-tolerant cell-suspension culture of was established, and intracellular compounds that accumulated under salt-stress conditions were investigated. HPLC/MS, and NMR analyses indicated that enhanced accumulation of coniferin was found during the growth phase in medium containing 150 mM NaCl. Coniferin or its derivatives may play an important role in salt-tolerance mechanisms in this plant.

Determination of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde levels in poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) bottled mineral water using a simple and rapid analytical method.

A simple and rapid analytical method was developed for the determination of formaldehyde (FA) and acetaldehyde (AA) contents in water. FA and AA were derivatized by 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine in an LC vial for 20 min at room temperature, about 25 °C, and analyzed using LC-MS/MS. The calibration curve exhibited excellent linearity for FA and AA concentrations of 2-150 ng/mL.

Diffusion enhancement in a levitated droplet via oscillatory deformation.

Recent experimental results indicate that mixing is enhanced by a reciprocal flow induced inside a levitated droplet with an oscillatory deformation [T. Watanabe et al., Sci.

Coalescence Dynamics of Acoustically Levitated Droplets.

The contactless coalescence of a droplet is of paramount importance for physical and industrial applications. This paper describes a coalescence method to be used mid-air via acoustic levitation using an ultrasonic phased array system. Acoustic levitation using ultrasonic phased arrays provides promising lab-on-a-drop applications, such as transportation, coalescence, mixing, separation, evaporation, and extraction in a continuous operation.

[A Case of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma of the Ascending Colon].

A 72-year-old man presented with right lower abdominal pain. Abdominal enhanced CT showed a large tumor in the ascending colon. Colonoscopyrevealed a type 2 tumor infiltrating three-quarters of the ascending colon.

Rapid identification of polyamides using direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry.

Rationale: Polyamide (PA) is the generic name of polymers synthesized by linking monomers via amide bonds, and various types of PAs with different monomer compositions are known. Distinguishing PA polymers is useful in directing monomer residual testing, product testing, and reverse engineering, but is analytically challenging and cumbersome. To simplify this, we explored the applicability of direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) for screening PA polymers.

Acoustic Manipulation of Droplets under Reduced Gravity.

Contactless manipulation of matter is essential for studying physical phenomena. Acoustic manipulation of liquid samples using ultrasonic phased arrays provides a novel and attractive solution for mid-air manipulation, such as levitation, transportation, coalescence, mixing, separation, evaporation, and extraction, with a simple and single sequence. Despite the importance of gravity in droplet dynamics, its effect on a levitated droplet with an ultrasonic phased array remains unclear.

[Headspace GC/MS Analysis of Residual Solvents in Laminated Films Used for Food Packaging].

Multilayer laminated films may contain organic solvents derived from adhesives, printing inks and so on. A headspace-GC/MS analysis method for the simultaneous determination of 30 substances such as toluene, xylene, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, methanol, ethanol, was developed. A N,N-dimethyl formamide solution containing an internal standard substance was added to the sample.

[Changes in Status of Plasticizers Used in Polyvinyl Chloride Toys].

Analytical survey of plasticizers used in about 500 polyvinyl chloride (PVC) toys in Japanese market was performed in 2014. The results obtained were compared with those obtained in 2009. Fifteen types of plasticizers including di (2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHTP) were detected.

Six-year monitoring study of Cs discharge from headwater catchments after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident.

Since headwater catchments are the source areas of Cs for downstream river systems, Cs discharge from headwater areas needs to be evaluated. Dissolved form (Dissolved), coarse organic matter (Org), and suspended sediments (SS) were sampled and Cs concentrations were measured from June 2011 to November 2016 in four headwater catchments in Yamakiya District, located 35 km northwest of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP). The data up to September 2013 (2.

Groundwater age and mixing process for evaluation of radionuclide impact on water resources following the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident.

Radionuclide contamination of groundwater causes critical impacts on water resources, human lives, and ecosystems. The intrusion of radionuclides into the groundwater flow system in Fukushima, Japan, could be illuminated by determining groundwater age and mixing processes. To do this, periodical field surveys were conducted in catchments contaminated by the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident.

[Establishment of Test Methods for Overall Migration Test into Vegetable Oil Applied to Food Contact Materials Intended for Contact with Oils and Fatty Foods].

The evaporation residue test designated in the Japanese Food Sanitation Act is used to determine the total migration amount of substances that food contact materials release into foods. Vegetable oil would be the most suitable food simulant for oils and fatty foods, but it is difficult to remove by heating due to its high boiling point, so heptane and 20％ ethanol are used as substitute food simulants in the test for plastics and rubbers. The EU has introduced an overall migration test into olive oil for plastics intended to come into contact with oils and fatty foods.

Micellar Effects on the Hydrolysis Reaction of an Anionic Surfactant in Aqueous Solution.

The hydrolysis mechanisms of 2-sulfoalkanoic acid methyl ester salts (methyl ester sulfonate, MES) were studied. Under acidic, neutral, and alkaline conditions, the hydrolysis rates of MES were strongly affected by the state of aggregation and the hydrolysis rate changed at the critical micelle concentration (CMC). Under acidic conditions, the hydrolysis rates of MES were enhanced by micellar formation and correlated quantitatively with the amount of protons bound on the micellar surfaces being measured by the electric conductivity along with fluorescence and hydrogen-ion electrode measurements.

Super-early images of brain perfusion SPECT using I-IMP for the assessment of hyperperfusion in stroke patients.

Objective: With the advancement of reperfusion therapy in stroke patients, assessment of perfusion status after therapy is gaining importance. Hyperperfusion tends to be underestimated by the conventional early imaging of I-IMP brain perfusion SPECT. We evaluated the utility of super-early imaging as an adjunct to early imaging for the assessment of postischemic hyperperfusion in stroke patients.

Color-gradient lattice Boltzmann model with nonorthogonal central moments: Hydrodynamic melt-jet breakup simulations.

We develop a lattice Boltzmann (LB) model for immiscible two-phase flow simulations with central moments (CMs). This successfully combines a three-dimensional nonorthogonal CM-based LB scheme [De Rosis, Phys. Rev.

Contactless Fluid Manipulation in Air: Droplet Coalescence and Active Mixing by Acoustic Levitation.

Acoustic manipulation by an ultrasonic phased array provides an entirely new approach to processes such as coalescence, mixing, separation, and evaporation occurring in the generation of new materials, physical property measurement, the biomedical industry, etc. However, to date, ultrasonic phased arrays have not been fully investigated for applications in fluid manipulation. This paper provides contactless coalescence and mixing techniques for droplets in air by controlling the acoustic potential by using an ultrasonic phased array.

[Interlaboratory Study on Evaporation Residue Test for Food Contact Products (Report 2)].

An interlaboratory study was performed to evaluate the equivalence between an official method and a modified method of evaporation residue test using heptane as a food-simulating solvent for oily or fatty foods, based on the Japanese Food Sanitation Law for food contact products. Twenty-three laboratories participated, and tested the evaporation residues of nine test solutions as blind duplicates. In the official method, heating for evaporation was done with a water bath.