The gastrula transition reorganizes replication-origin selection in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Although some features underlying replication-origin activation in metazoan cells have been determined, little is known about their regulation during metazoan development. Using the nascent-strand purification method, here we identified replication origins throughout Caenorhabditis elegans embryonic development and found that the origin repertoire is thoroughly reorganized after gastrulation onset. During the pluripotent embryonic stages (pregastrula), potential cruciform structures and open chromatin are determining factors that establish replication origins.

Dielectric monitoring and respirometric activity of a high cell density activated sludge.

A novel method was developed to assess the viability of activated sludge present in a biological wastewater treatment process and signify its distinction from respirometric activity. The respirometric activity and viability of activated sludge at high cell density, such as typically encountered in membrane bioreactors, were investigated in batch and fed-batch systems. The method for measuring the viability of activated sludge was based on the sludge permittivity monitored online by a capacitive sensor.

Biomass characterization by dielectric monitoring of viability and oxygen uptake rate measurements in a novel membrane bioreactor.

The application of permittivity and oxygen uptake rate (OUR) as biological process control parameters in a wastewater treatment system was evaluated. Experiments were carried out in a novel airlift oxidation ditch membrane bioreactor under different organic loading rates (OLR). Permittivity as representative of activated sludge viability was measured by a capacitive on-line sensor.

Determination of yeast viability during a stress-model alcoholic fermentation using reagent-free microscopy image analysis.

A dedicated microscopy imaging system including automated positioning, focusing, image acquisition, and image analysis was developed to characterize a yeast population with regard to cell morphology. This method was used to monitor a stress-model alcoholic fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Combination of dark field and epifluorescence microscopy after propidium iodide staining for membrane integrity showed that cell death went along with important changes in cell morphology, with a cell shrinking, the onset of inhomogeneities in the cytoplasm, and a detachment of the plasma membrane from the cell wall.

Single-cell analysis of S. cerevisiae growth recovery after a sublethal heat-stress applied during an alcoholic fermentation.

Interest in bioethanol production has experienced a resurgence in the last few years. Poor temperature control in industrial fermentation tanks exposes the yeast cells used for this production to intermittent heat stress which impairs fermentation efficiency. Therefore, there is a need for yeast strains with improved tolerance, able to recover from such temperature variations.