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Camellia sinensis leaves are one of the most economically important crops, and various tea cultivars are available in Japan. In the present study, we compared the constituents of Camellia sinensis var. sinensis cv. Yabukita ("Yabukita"), a standard tea cultivar, and those of C. sinensis var. sinensis cv. Sayamakaori ("Sayamakaori"), grown in Saitama Prefecture, using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) metabolomics technology. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis of 1H-NMR spectroscopic data of the MeOH extracts of C. sinensis leaves revealed differences in the metabolic profiles of each tea cultivar. Chromatographic separation based on 1H-NMR spectral data showed that kaempferol 3- O -β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-D-glucopyranoside was a distinct component of "Sayamakaori". This compound can be used as maker for the identification of "Sayamakaori" and the maintenance of its quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Skin dullness has long been a major concern of Japanese women. It is usually evaluated and judged visually by experts. Although several factors are recognized to play a role, it is unclear to what extent such physiological characteristics contribute to skin dullness. The purpose of this study is to establish an objective method for evaluation, which will assist in developing cosmetics products targeting skin dullness. Methods: We conducted a skin measurement study on 50 Japanese women in their 30–50s, where skin dullness was visually assessed by a group of experts to obtain an average dullness score, and several skin parameters were obtained. We then developed a regression model that explains the visual assessment score using these physiological parameters. Results: The results of partial least squares analysis of the dullness perception and physiological characteristics showed that skin dullness can be defined by colorimetric, optical, and skin surface microtopography parameters. Additionally, the contribution of each parameter to the model was determined. Our results suggest that dullness perception is highly affected by the melanin content and yellowness of the skin, followed by skin reddishness, roughness, and translucency score, whereas glossiness has less effect. Strikingly, the contribution ratio of each parameter varied among age groups. Furthermore, we confirmed that the predicted value of skin dullness increases with age. Conclusion: Our results will help the design of cosmetics targeting factors specific to age groups in developing effective solutions for skin dullness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between nutritional status and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) gene expression in chickens was studied. Chickens (6 wk old) were food deprived for 2 d and then refed. IGFBP-2 mRNA in the brain was significantly decreased by food deprivation and levels did not increase when birds were refed for 24 h. Gizzard and hepatic IGFBP-2 mRNA levels were significantly increased by food deprivation and decreased by refeeding. Any nutrients tested decreased hepatic IGFBP-2 gene expression. In kidney, IGFBP-2 mRNA was detected but not influenced by food deprivation and refeeding. In another study, the influence of dietary protein source [isolated soybean protein vs. casein; crude protein (CP) 20%] and the supplementation of essential amino acids on IGFBP-2 gene expression of young chickens (5 wk old) was examined. The influence of feeding a low soybean protein diet (CP 5%) on tissue IGFBP-2 gene expression was also investigated. Hepatic IGFBP-2 mRNA was not detected in any group. Feeding the low protein diet for 7 d decreased brain IGFBP-2 mRNA level and increased gizzard IGFBP-2 level compared with chickens fed 20% protein diets. A significant interaction between protein source and amino acid supplementation was observed in gizzard IGFBP-2 mRNA level. In both casein-fed groups and in chickens fed 20% soybean protein diet without supplemental amino acids, the levels did not differ from one another or from the low protein diet-fed birds. The level was lower in chickens fed the amino acid-supplemented, 20% soybean protein diet. In conclusion, the response of IGFBP-2 gene expression to variations in nutritional status was rapid and different in several tissues of young chickens, which would help modulate the growth-promoting effect of circulating IGF-I by making the IGF-IGFBP complex. J. Nutr. 132: 145-151. 2002. KEY WORDS: * insulin-like growth factor-I * insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 * gene expression * nutrition, chickens

Here, we designed and synthesized two types of bi‐functional immobilized polymer catalysts based on the prolineamide‐acid combination for direct enantioselective aldol reaction in flow systems. Conventional bi‐functional catalysts in which the two functions are present on the same graft polymer afforded up to 99 % yield and >99 % enantiomeric excess (ee) in a recirculating flow system. We also investigated bi‐functional catalysts in which the two functions are located on different graft polymers. We present a straightforward catalyst immobilization method that allows two different catalysts located on different graft polymers to be introduced separately onto the same polymer by conducting two successive steps of radiation‐induced graft polymerization process (RIGP). We confirmed that the graft polymers (grafted polycatalyst and polyacrylic acid chain) interact with each other to promote the aldol reaction with high conversion and ee. This design strategy may be superior to the conventional approach for synthesizing catalysts in which multiple functions interact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]