No abstract

We have attempted to synthesize the Bi-2212 phase of BiPbSr2−xBaxRECu2O8+δ (RE = Nd, Sm, Gd, Y, Yb) by the conventional solid-state reaction method. The completely Ba-substituted sample with x = 1 has been successfully synthesized only for Nd. As the ionic radius of RE decreases, the solubility limit of Ba decreases. It has been found that the substitution of Ba for Sr requires the expansion of both the Bi–O and RE layers as well as the synthesis in a reducing atmosphere to suppress the formation of BaBiO3-related phases. Unfortunately, the hole-doping to semiconducting BaPbBa2NdCu2O8+δ has not been successful.

Suppression of rapid increase in blood glucose level using food components can prevent diabetes. To use functional food components from natural resources, information regarding the plant varieties and plant parts where the component exists is important for the effective extraction and the effective use of biological resources. We have previously found that proteins from the albumin fraction of rice endosperm are indigestible and adsorb glucose to suppress postprandial blood glucose elevation in vivo. However, the variety and location of this functional protein remain unknown. We investigated whether water‐soluble fraction from the endosperm of indica and javanica rice and red and middle bran of japonica rice contains functional albumin observed in the endosperm of japonica. Middle bran was found to possess an indigestible albumin with the same molecular weight as that in the endosperm of japonica and adsorb a large amount of glucose. Middle‐bran albumin suppressed postprandial blood glucose elevation after oral glucose loading in animal experiments, as well as the rice‐endosperm albumin. As middle bran is the outer layer of the endosperm, many functional components are distributed. Our study can aid the effective use of middle bran, which is predominantly discarded in the process of making rice wine, as a functional food material for the prevention of diabetes mellitus.