Dual-isotope imaging method for Actinium-225 and Bismuth-213 using alpha imaging detector.

Recently, Ac has received considerable attention for its use in targeted alpha therapy because it has a relatively long half-life and yields four more alpha-particles from the daughter nuclides. The performance evaluation should separately assess the distribution of Ac and Bi because daughter nuclides, including Bi, can cause renal toxicity, which may hinder the widespread use of Ac for targeted alpha therapy. In this study, we describe and validate a spectrum decomposition method for dual-isotope imaging of Ac and Bi using an alpha imaging detector.

Complete Genome Sequence of a Sulfur-Oxidizing Bacterium, Alcaligenes faecalis Strain NLF5-7, Isolated from Livestock Wastewater.

The complete genome sequence of Alcaligenes faecalis strain NLF5-7, which was isolated from livestock wastewater, is reported. The genome of strain NLF5-7 contains genes for assimilatory sulfate reduction, dissimilatory sulfate reduction and oxidation, and an SOX system, based on its functional genetic characteristics.

Draft Genome Sequence of a Sulfur-Oxidizing Bacterium, Aquamicrobium lusatiense NLF2-7, Isolated from Livestock Wastewater.

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of Aquamicrobium lusatiense NLF2-7, a Gram-negative, aerobic, non-flagellum-forming, rod-shaped bacterium that was isolated from livestock wastewater in South Korea. The assembled genome sequence is 5,201,486 bp, with 4,972 protein-coding sequences in 12 contigs, and possess the genes for the sulfur oxidation pathway.

The microbial communities (bacteria, algae, zooplankton, and fungi) improved biofloc technology including the nitrogen-related material cycle in farms.

Microbes are essential in biofloc technology for controlling nitrogen levels in water. The composition and function of microorganisms with biofloc systems were reported; however, data on microorganisms other than bacteria, such as algae (which are essential in the nitrogen cycle) and zooplankton (which are bacterial and algal predators), remain limited. The microbial communities (including bacteria, algae, zooplankton, and fungi) were investigated in shrimp farms using biofloc technology.

Gene Expression Analyses of Mutant (Enokitake Mushroom) with Clogging Phenomenon.

Regulation of proper gene expression is important for cellular and organismal survival, maintenance, and growth. Abnormal gene expression, even for a single critical gene, can thwart cellular integrity and normal physiology to cause diseases, aging, and death. Therefore, gene expression profiling serves as a powerful tool to understand the pathology of diseases and to cure them.

Electronic Structure Modulation of Ag S by Vacancy Engineering for Efficient Bacterial Infection.

Vacancy engineering can modulate the electronic structure of the material and thus contribute to the formation of coordination unsaturated sites, which makes it easier to act on the substrate. Herein, Ag S and Ag S-100, which mainly have vacancy associates V and V , respectively, are prepared and characterized by positron annihilation spectroscopy. Both experimental and theoretical calculation results indicate that Ag S-100 exhibits excellent antibacterial activity due to its appropriate bandgap and stronger bacteria-binding ability, which endow it with a superior antibacterial activity compared to Ag S in the absence of light.

Endophytic Fungi of Salt-Tolerant Plants: Diversity and Ability to Promote Plant Growth.

Bunge, and in the Seocheon salt marsh on the west coast of the Korean Penincula were sampled in order to identify the endophytes inhabiting the roots. A total of 128 endophytic fungal isolates belonging to 31 different genera were identified using the fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and the 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene.

SnS Nanosheets for Rapid and Effective Bacteria Sterilization Under Near-infrared Irradiation.

Today, the threat of pathogenic bacterial infection worldwide that leads to the increase of mortality rate strongly demands the development of new antibacterial agents that can kill bacteria quickly and effectively. Although there are a lot of antibacterial agents that have been developed so far, few studies on the antibacterial performance of SnS have been investigated at 808 nm laser. Here, we synthesized SnS nanosheets with strong near-infrared absorption performance and excellent antibacterial performance via a simple solvothermal synthesis route.

Removal of ammonium, phosphate, and sulfonamide antibiotics using alum sludge and low-grade charcoal pellets.

Powder adsorbents perform well due to their large surface area but are difficult to use because of aggregation and channeling. In this study, pelletization of adsorbents was proposed as a solution to these operating problems. A three-component mixture was extruded into pellets and calcined under air or nitrogen conditions The pellet adsorbent removed 47, 71, 97, and 72% of ammonium, phosphate, sulfathiazole, and sulfamethoxazole, respectively.

An X-ray spectrum estimation method from transmission measurement combined with scatter correction.

Purpose: Conventional x-ray spectrum estimation methods from transmission measurement often lead to inaccurate results when extensive x-ray scatter is present in the measured projection. This study aims to apply the weighted L1-norm scatter correction algorithm in spectrum estimation for reducing residual differences between the estimated and true spectrum.

Method: The scatter correction algorithm is based on a simple radiographic scattering model where the intensity of scattered x-ray is directly estimated from a transmission measurement.

Pyrosequencing and Taxonomic Composition of the Fungal Community from Soil of in Gyeongju.

is an ectomycorrhizal fungus that has a symbiotic relationship with the root of . Soil microbial communities greatly affect the growth of , however, few studies have examined the characteristics of these communities. In the present study, we analyzed soil fungal communities from Gyeongju and Yeongdeok using metagenomic pyrosequencing to investigate differences in fungal species diversity, richness, and taxonomic composition between the soil under fruiting bodies (Sample 2) and soil where the fairy ring of was no longer present (Sample 1).

sp. nov. from Ulleung Island in Korea.

In a study of the fungal diversity on Ulleung Island in Korea, three novel strains of were isolated. Different sites on Ulleung Island were selected for collecting endophytic fungi, and three endophytic fungal strains showed unique morphological characteristics. DNA sequence of the internal transcribed spacer, -tubulin, calmodulin, and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit regions of the strains were analyzed and they showed unique taxonomic position from the other species of section .

Diversity and Plant Growth Promotion of Fungal Endophytes in Five Halophytes from the Buan Salt Marsh.

The diversity and plant growth-promoting ability of fungal endophytes that are associated with five halophytic plant species (, and ) growing in the Buan salt marsh on the west coast of South Korea have been explored. About 188 fungal strains were isolated from these plant samples' roots and were then studied with the use of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2).

Effects of Co-culture on Improved Productivity and Bioresource for Microalgal Biomass Using the Floc-Forming Bacteria .

Bacterial and algal floc formation was induced by inoculating three species of wastewater-derived bacteria (, and ) into algal cultures (). Bacterial and algal flocs formed in algal cultures inoculated with and , and these flocs showed higher sedimentation rates than pure algal culture. The floc formed by (4988.

Prediction of varying microcystins during non-thermal plasma oxidation of harvested microalgal biomass.

By capturing intracellular microcystins (MCs) release from microalgal cell destruction and extracellular MCs oxidation, this study suggests a mathematical model explaining the simultaneous removal of microalgae and their toxins (MC-LR, -RR, and -YR) in non-thermal plasma (NTP) application. Although the suggested model was built based on simplified kinetic assumptions, it can reasonably predict the behavior of extracellular MCs in a harvested/concentrated slurry of microalgae taken from a blooming site. After 24 h of NTP treatment, the experimental reduction of extracellular MCs was recorded up to ∼77 %.

Comamonas flocculans sp. nov., a Floc-Forming Bacterium Isolated from Livestock Wastewater.

A Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped, floc-forming, and non-spore-forming bacterium, designated as NLF-7-7, was isolated from the biofilm of a sample collected from a livestock wastewater treatment plant in Nonsan, Republic of Korea. Strain NLF-7-7, forms a visible floc and grows in the flocculated state. Cells of strain NLF-7-7 grew optimally at pH 6.

Biosynthesis of (R)-(-)-1-Octen-3-ol in Recombinant with Lipoxygenase-1 and Hydroperoxide Lyase Genes from .

is an ectomycorrhizal fungus, related with the host of . Most of studies on have focused on mycelial growth, genes and genomics, phylogenetics, symbiosis, and immune activity of this strain. is known for its unique fragrance in Eastern Asia.

Unusual genome expansion and transcription suppression in ectomycorrhizal Tricholoma matsutake by insertions of transposable elements.

Genome sequencing of Tricholoma matsutake revealed its unusually large size as 189.0 Mbp, which is a consequence of extraordinarily high transposable element (TE) content. We identified that 702 genes were surrounded by TEs, and 83.

Performance evaluation of a Compton SPECT imager for determining the position and distribution of Ac in targeted alpha therapy: A Monte Carlo simulation based phantom study.

In this study, the performance of a Compton Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) imager when in vivo monitoring the position and distribution of Ac radionuclide in targeted alpha therapy (TAT) was evaluated. When Ac radionuclide, which emits various γ-rays (218 and 440 keV), is used in TAT, both the photoelectric and Compton scattering events can be used for image reconstruction. Moreover, all information pertaining to the various γ-rays of the Ac radionuclide can be individually or simultaneously utilized in the reconstructed image.

Performance of a virtual frisch-grid CdZnTe detector for prompt γ-ray induced by 14 MeV neutrons: Monte Carlo simulation study.

The performance of a virtual (6 × 6 × 15 mm) Frisch-grid cadmium zinc telluride detector for the detection of contraband with 14 MeV neutron-activation prompt γ-rays was studied using Monte Carlo simulations. A sensitive nonlinear iterative peak clipping algorithm was applied to the spectra to rapidly and easily identify the prompt γ-ray peaks. This algorithm showed better performance than directly using the original spectra.

Comparative microbial communities in tidal flats sediment on Incheon, South Korea.

Coastal ecosystems, play critical ecological roles of which tidal flats are a significant component of coastal wetlands, such as habitat and nutrient cycling in aquatic biology. Microbial communities in tidal flats are known to play vital roles of self-purification. And the microbial ecology of the sediment is easily affected by human activities and pollution.

Distribution, Characterization, and Diversity of the Endophytic Fungal Communities on Korean Seacoasts Showing Contrasting Geographic Conditions.

This study analyzed the distribution of endophytic fungi in 3 coastal environments with different climatic, geographical, and geological characteristics: the volcanic islands of Dokdo, the East Sea, and the West Sea of Korea. The isolated fungal endophytes were characterized and analyzed with respect to the characteristics of their host environments. For this purpose, we selected common native coastal halophyte communities from three regions.

Plant growth promoting effect of H-2-5 on crop plants and influence on physiological changes in soybean under soil salinity.

This study was aimed to identify plant growth-promoting bacterial isolates from soil samples and to investigate their ability to improve plant growth and salt tolerance by analysing phytohormones production and phosphate solubilisation. Among the four tested bacterial isolates (I-2-1, H-1-4, H-2-3, and H-2-5), H-2-5 was able to enhance the growth of Chinese cabbage, radish, tomato, and mustard plants. The isolated bacterium H-2-5 was identified as H-2-5 based on 16S rDNA sequence and phylogenetic analysis.

Substance flow analysis and environmental releases of PBDEs in life cycle of automobiles.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a class of brominated flame retardants, have been widely used in many applications in industry such as automobiles, textiles, and electronics. This study focused on a quantitative substance flow analysis (SFA) of PBDEs in automobiles in order to identify their flow by life cycle and treatment pathways of PBDEs-containing materials in end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) in Korea. In addition, this study has estimated environmental releases of PBDEs in automobiles by life cycle in Korea.