Bioemulsification and Microbial Community Reconstruction in Thermally Processed Crude Oil.

Utilization of low-cost, environmental-friendly microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) techniques in thermal recovery-processed oil reservoirs is potentially feasible. However, how exogenous microbes facilitate crude oil recovery in this deep biosphere, especially under mesophilic conditions, is scarcely investigated. In this study, a thermal treatment and a thermal recurrence were processed on crude oil collected from Daqing Oilfield, and then a 30-day incubation of the pretreated crude oil at 37 °C was operated with the addition of two locally isolated hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria, DQS3-9A1 and sp.

Transcriptional response of Thialkalivibrio versutus D301 to different sulfur sources and identification of the sulfur oxidation pathways.

The genus Thialkalivibrio plays an essential role in the biological desulfurization system. However, to date, the sulfur oxidation pathways of Thialkalivibrio are not clearly understood. Here, we performed transcriptomic analysis on Thialkalivibrio versutus D301 with either thiosulfate or chemical sulfur as the sulfur source to understand it.

Efficient production of succinic acid from macroalgae hydrolysate by metabolically engineered Escherichia coli.

In this study, microbial production of succinic acid from macroalgae (i.e., Laminaria japonica) was investigated for the first time.

Performance of a haloalkaliphilic bioreactor and bacterial community shifts under different COD/SO₄²⁻ ratios and hydraulic retention times.

Sulfur dioxide from flue gas was converted into sulfate after the absorption of alkaline solutions. Haloalkaliphilic microorganisms have been used in reducing sulfate to decrease expenses and avoid sulfide inhibition. The effects of different COD/SO4(2-) ratios and hydraulic retention times (HRTs) on the sulfate removal efficiency and bacterial community were investigated in model experiments.

A randomized controlled trial of single point acupuncture in primary dysmenorrhea.

Background: Acupuncture is often used for primary dysmenorrhea. But there is no convincing evidence due to low methodological quality. We aim to assess immediate effect of acupuncture at specific acupoint compared with unrelated acupoint and nonacupoint on primary dysmenorrhea.

Performance of a haloalkaliphilic bioreactor under different NO3(-)/SO4(2-) ratios.

Effects of NO3(-)/SO4(2-) ratio on denitrification and sulfate removal efficiency were investigated in model experiments applying haloalkaliphilic bioreactor. The reduction of both substrates performed well at different NO3(-)/SO4(2-) ratios ranging from 17.6 to l.

Xiaopiyishen Herbal Extract Granule Improves the Quality of Life among People with Fatigue-Predominant Subhealth and Liver-Qi Stagnation and Spleen-Qi Deficiency Syndrome.

To observe the effects of Xiaopiyishen Herbal Extract Granule (XPYS-HEG) on the quality of life in people with fatigue-predominant subhealth (FPSH) and liver-qi stagnation and spleen-qi deficiency syndrome, the participants were allocated randomly to the treatment group (XPYS, n = 100) and the control group (placebo, n = 100) in this study. The study period was 18 weeks (6 weeks for the intervention and 12 weeks for followup). The results show that there were no differences between the two groups for the scores of eight factors on the SF-36 (Chinese version of the SF-36 universal quality-of-life scale) at baseline.

Does Traditional Chinese Medicine pattern affect acupoint specific effect? Analysis of data from a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial for primary dysmenorrhea.

Objectives: This study assessed the importance of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) pattern on an acupoint-specific effect.

Design: This was a TCM pattern subdivision analysis of the first intervention data from a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial (ISRCTN24863192) (the main trial).

Settings: The main trial recruited participants from six hospitals in three provinces in China.

Optimization of succinic acid fermentation with Actinobacillus succinogenes by response surface methodology (RSM).

Succinic acid is considered as an important platform chemical. Succinic acid fermentation with Actinobacillus succinogenes strain BE-1 was optimized by central composite design (CCD) using a response surface methodology (RSM). The optimized production of succinic acid was predicted and the interactive effects between glucose, yeast extract, and magnesium carbonate were investigated.

Cloud point extraction of aloe anthraquinones based on non-ionic surfactant aqueous two-phase system.

Non-ionic surfactant-based aqueous two-phase system had been investigated to extract aloe anthraquinones. It had the advantage of using a single auxiliary chemical to induce phase separation above cloud point at a low concentration. Non-ionic surfactant Triton X-114 was chosen for its excellent phase-separating ability and low cloud point.

[Clinical observation of pentazocine for postoperative intravenous analgesia in patients with lumbar herniation].

Objective: To observe the effects and side effects of Pentazocine for postoperative intravenous analgesia in patients with lumbar herniation, and to investigate the difference of Pentazocine with different doses.

Methods: From January 2009 to December 2009, sixty patients undergone laminectomy and pedicle internal fixation, who using equal analgesic dosage of Pentazocine and Sulfentanil, were retrospectively analysed. The patients including 34 males and 26 females, aged 40 to 65 (average 59), weighted 60 to 80 kg (average 71 kg), ASA I-II, were divided into Sufentanil group and Pentazocine group I and Pentazocine group II, with 20 cases each.

A comparative study on the immediate effects of electroacupuncture at Sanyinjiao (SP6), Xuanzhong (GB39) and a non-meridian point, on menstrual pain and uterine arterial blood flow, in primary dysmenorrhea patients.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the effects of Sanyinjiao (SP6), Xuanzhong (GB39), and an adjacent non-meridian point on menstrual pain and uterine arterial blood flow in primary dysmenorrhea patients.

Design: The design of the study was a prospective, randomized controlled trial.

Setting: The setting of the study was the Shandong Institute of Medical Imaging, Jinan, China.

Immediate analgesia effect of single point acupuncture in primary dysmenorrhea: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Acupuncture is often used for primary dysmenorrhea.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of a single point of acupuncture in the management of primary dysmenorrhea compared with sham acupuncture and no acupuncture.

Methodology: Patients with primary dysmenorrhea were randomly assigned to acupoint group (n=50), unrelated acupoint group (n=50), nonacupoint group (n=46), or no acupuncture group (n=48).

[Study on the pH-sensitive secondary structure of gamma-PGA embedded with magnetite nanoparticles].

The conformational transition of poly gamma-glutamic acid (gamma-PGA) embedded with magnetite nanoparticles under various pH conditions was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The secondary structure content was determined through the analysis of amide I bands of Fourier deconvolution spectra, secondary derivative spectra and the Gaussian curve fitting of the original infrared spectra. The results showed that the conformation of the gamma-PGA was affected by solution pH.

Purification of aloe polysaccharides by using aqueous two-phase extraction with desalination.

A PEG6000/(NH4)2SO4 aqueous two-phase system was chosen as the separation system. The effects of NaCl, Gu(SCN)2 and pH on the partitioning of aloe polysaccharide and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were studied. The result shows that the recovery of aloe polysaccharide was decreased with the increase in pH and the recovery of protein was not changed; NaCl and Gu(SCN)2 can change the partitioning behaviour of the BSA.

Recovery and purification of nicotine from waste tobacco by aqueous two-phase system/reverse extraction.

A two-step process has been developed for the purification of nicotine from waste tobacco using an aqueous two-phase system and solvent reverse extraction. The partitioning behavior of nicotine was investigated in an isopropyl alcohol/(NH4)2SO4 aqueous two-phase system. The effects of the addition of salt, pH and temperature on the partitioning behavior of nicotine were studied.

In situ magnetic separation and immobilization of dibenzothiophene-desulfurizing bacteria.

In situ cell separation and immobilization of bacterial cells for biodesulfurization were developed by using superparamagnetic Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles (NPs). The Fe(3)O(4) NPs were synthesized by coprecipitation followed by modification with ammonium oleate. The surface-modified NPs were monodispersed and the particle size was about 13 nm with 50.

Separation and purification of Aloe polysaccharides by a combination of membrane ultrafiltration and aqueous two-phase extraction.

A two-step process was developed for the purification of polysaccharides from the pulp of Aloe varavia using aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) extraction and a novel copolymer ultrafiltration membrane. The first step was ATPS under optimal separations conditions using a total composition of 18% PEG2000, 25% ammonium sulfate, pH 3.0, and 0.

pH neutralization while succinic acid adsorption onto anion-exchange resins.

Succinic acid is a useful chemical and its purification from fermentation broth by ion-exchange resins has widely drawn attention. In this study, pH neutralization in the process of adsorption of succinic acid from model solutions and fermentation broth by anion-exchange resin NERCB 04 has been tested. Adsorption capacity of NERCB 04 was about 0.

[Comparison of the desulfurization activity among several bacteria and analysis of the conservation of their desulfurization genes].

Several bacteria, Bacillus brevis R-6, Pseudomonas delafleldii R-8, Nocardia globerula R-9, Bacillus sphaericus R-16, Rhodococcus erythropolis LSSE8-1 and Gordonia nitida LSSEJ-1, which can convert dibenzothiophene into 2-hydroxybiphenyl and sulfate, were investigated. Desulfurization products were quantitively determined by HPLC. Result revealed that each of these bacteria desulfurize DBT at a different rate.

Purification of nattokinase by reverse micelles extraction from fermentation broth: effect of temperature and phase volume ratio.

Nattokinase is a novel fibrinolytic enzyme that is considered to be a promising agent for thrombosis therapy. In this study, reverse micelles extraction was applied to purify and concentrate nattokinase from fermentation broth. The effects of temperature and phase volume ratio used for the forward and backward extraction on the extraction process were examined.

Biodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene by microbial cells coated with magnetite nanoparticles.

Microbial cells of Pseudomonas delafieldii were coated with magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles and then immobilized by external application of a magnetic field. Magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized by a coprecipitation method followed by modification with ammonium oleate. The surface-modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles were monodispersed in an aqueous solution and did not precipitate in over 18 months.

Immobilization of Pseudomonas delafieldii with magnetic polyvinyl alcohol beads and its application in biodesulfurization.

Pseudomonas delafieldii was immobilized in magnetic polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) beads using a hydrophilic magnetic fluid, which was prepared by a co-precipitation method. The beads had distinct super-paramagnetic properties and were compared with immobilized cells in non-magnetic PVA beads. Their desulfurizing activity was increased slightly from 8.