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Aim The present study aimed to examine whether heart rate variability (HRV) indices in depressed patients measured at return to work after sick leave are related to the outcome of reinstatement. Methods This study included 30 workers who took a leave of absence due to major depressive disorder. HRV was measured twice, once when participants left work and another when they returned to work. One month after returning to work, 19 participants continued their original work (successful return group), while 11 failed to perform their original work (unsuccessful return group). HRV indices including high‐ and low‐frequency components (HF and LF) were calculated in three conditions within a session lasting for about 5 minutes, initial rest (Rest), mental task (Task), and rest after task (After), and were compared between the two participant groups. Psychological states were evaluated using Self‐rating Depression Scale and State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory. Results No significant differences were observed in the HRV indices on leaving work between groups. On returning to work, the “unsuccessful return group” exhibited lower HF Rest score, higher HF Task/Rest ratio, and higher LF/HF Rest score than the “successful return group.” Psychological scores improved in both groups. Conclusion These results indicate that autonomic dysregulations revealed by HRV measurement at return to work after a leave of absence in MDD patients were related to the outcome of reinstatement and can serve as useful information for the assessment of the risk of unsuccessful return., Autonomic dysregulations revealed by heart rate variability measurement at return to work after sick leave in depressed patients were related to the outcome of reinstatement and can serve as useful information for the assessment of the risk of unsuccessful return.

Daidai (bitter orange, Citrus aurantium) is characterized by its fresh citrus scent. In Japanese cuisine, its juice is an important ingredient. As tons of industrial waste is obtained while processing the daidai juice, additional utilization of this waste has great social value. In our study, we prepared the essential oil from the waste obtained during daidai juice processing and demonstrated that the oil activates human TRPA1 (hTRPA1). This oil contains 10 types of terpenes, all of which activated hTRPA1 with an EC50 value of 6–167 µM. To our knowledge, this study is the first to show a hTRPA1 activation by five terpenes: linalyl acetate, geranyl acetate, osthole, geranyl propionate, and neryl acetate. Because physiological benefits of TRPA1 agonists, such as enhancement of energy metabolism and promotion of skin barrier recovery, have been reported, the oil could be a promising ingredient for anti-obesity food products and cosmetics. Graphical Abstract Human TRPA1 activation by terpenes contained in the peel of daidai.

Bamboo-derived activated carbon prepared by superheated steam (BAC) exhibited performance for utilization as an electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) electrode. Pore structure and EDLC performances were investigated by comparison with phenol resin-derived activated carbon (MSP-20), which is commercially available and often used for the purpose. The nitrogen adsorption isotherm showed that BAC had a large BET-specific surface area of 1268 g/m2 with a developed pore structure, especially of the mesopore, in comparison with MSP-20. It is considered that inherent ash in bamboo promoted activation, in addition to physical activation by superheated steam. Capacitance per electrode volume (CV) was 52 F/cm3 with BAC. Because the density of BAC is high (0.78 g/cm3) compared with that of MSP-20 (0.58 g/cm3), sufficient CV for usage was obtained, although the capacitance per electrode mass (CM) at 5 mA/cm2 itself of BAC (67 F/g) was lower than that of MSP-20 (126 F/g). With IR drop, the resistance value of BAC (9.7 Ω) was lower than that of MSP-20 (10.5 Ω). Especially, the diffusion resistance of BAC disclosed to be smaller than that of MSP-20. These results indicated that BAC produced by steam activation is a promising material with a pore structure suitable for ion transfer in EDLC.

Large amounts of spent coffee grounds are produced daily and represent a global agricultural waste issue. Therefore, conversion of spent coffee grounds to fine chemicals by microorganisms is an attractive biorefinery approach. The valuable tripeptide, glutathione, because of its antioxidant activity, is typically produced in industrial processes by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, S. cerevisiae growth is inhibited by caffeine present in spent coffee grounds. In this report, a caffeine-resistant glutathione-producing yeast Millerozyma farinosa was identified. M. farinosa was originally obtained from miso paste and has not been used previously to produce glutathione. M. farinosa cell growth and cellular glutathione synthesis were enhanced by the addition of a spent coffee grounds extract to the culture medium. The addition also showed two-fold increase in overall glutathione production with an equal cell growth by M. farinosa cultured in artificial seawater because this yeast is salt tolerant.