Development of a Simultaneous Quantification Method for Multiple Modes of Nitrogen in Leaf Models Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopic Measurement.

By focusing our attention on nitrogen components in plants, which are important for cultivation management in data-driven agriculture, we developed a simple, rapid, non-chemical and simultaneous quantification method for proteinic and nitrate nitrogen in a leaf model based on near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopic information obtained using a compact Fourier Transform NIR (FT-NIR) spectrometer. The NIR spectra of wet leaf models impregnated with a protein-nitric acid mixed solution and a dry leaf model obtained by drying filter paper were acquired. For spectral acquisition, a compact MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) FT-NIR spectrometer equipped with a diffuse reflectance probe accessory was used.

Mid-infrared spectroscopic analysis of saccharides in aqueous solutions with sodium chloride.

The infrared spectral characteristics of three different types of disaccharides (trehalose, maltose, and sucrose) and four different types of monosaccharides (glucose, mannose, galactose, and fructose) in aqueous solutions with sodium chloride (NaCl) were determined. The infrared spectra were obtained using the FT-IR/ATR method and the absorption intensities respected the interaction between the saccharide and water with NaCl were determined. This study also focused on not only the glycosidic linkage position and the constituent monosaccharides, but also the concentration of the saccharides and NaCl and found that they have a significant influence on the infrared spectroscopic characterization of the disaccharides in an aqueous solution with NaCl.

Evaluation of salt influence on sugar consumption by suspension cells based on spectroscopic analysis.

The influence of metal salt on sugar consumption by suspension cells in food models constructed by a sugar and salt aqueous solution was investigated based on mid-infrared spectroscopic analysis. The contaminated suspension cells in the food model could be detected using the spectral feature change that measured the present spectrum subtracted in the initial spectrum. The cells were prepared for growth and although the cell did not grow under the induction period, the cell activation (start of sugar metabolism) was detected on the subtracted spectral behavior before the cell growth.

Sugar uptake analysis of suspension Arabidopsis, tobacco, and rice cells in various media using an FT-IR/ATR method.

The kinetic behavior of the sugar uptake phenomena of a suspension of Arabidopsis cells was investigated by mid-infrared spectroscopy using Fourier transform infrared spectrometers and attenuated total reflection techniques. The kinetic behavior of the cell growth was also studied and the growth and the sugar uptake behaviors were discussed for three typical plant cells (Arabidopsis, TBY-2, and rice cells). The cell growth rate and the lag period were influenced by not only the types of the plant cells, but also the sugar species used as the carbon source.

Analysis of kinetic uptake phenomena of monosaccharide and disaccharide by suspension TBY-2 cells using an FT-IR/ATR method.

The influence of sugars in culture media on the kinetics of the mono- and disaccharide uptake and cell growth behavior was studied by mid-infrared spectroscopy using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) equipped with an attenuate total reflection accessory (ATR). We performed the plant cell cultivation with Nicotiana tabacum cv. Bright Yellow No.

Stabilization of free and immobilized enzymes using hyperthermophilic chaperonin.

Chaperonins suppress the denaturation of proteins and promote protein folding in vivo. Because hyperthermophilic chaperonins are expected to be used as a stabilizer for proteins, the effects of a group II chaperonin from a hyperthermophilic archaeum, Thermococcus strain KS-1 (T. KS-1 cpn), on the stabilization of mesophilic and thermophilic free enzymes and an enzyme co-immobilized with T.

Biological treatment of wastewater discharged from biodiesel fuel production plant with alkali-catalyzed transesterification.

The biological treatment of wastewater discharged from a biodiesel fuel (BDF) production plant conducting alkali catalysis transesterification was investigated. BDF wastewater has a high pH and high hexane-extracted oil and low nitrogen concentrations, and inhibits the growth of microorganisms. The biological treatment of BDF wastewater is difficult because the composition of such wastewater is not suitable for microbial growth.

Effects of C N ratio and pH of raw materials on oil degradation efficiency in a compost fermentation process.

Waste oil treatment was attempted using a compost fermentation process. To develop a simple method for waste oil treatment, cheap and simple materials were used as compost materials. The fermentation experiment was performed using a domestic composter to determine the optimum conditions of the fermentation.

Bioprocess monitoring using near-infrared spectroscopy.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) is a nondestructive analytical technique that has been used for simultaneous prediction of the concentrations of several substrates, products and constructs in mixtures sampled from fermentation processes. In this chapter, we discuss applications of NIR for the monitoring of bioprocesses involving rice vinegar, compost, glycolipid, L-glutamic acid, lactic acid fermentation, mushroom cultivation, and Koji production. This includes detailed discussion of applications of NIR to process management of rice vinegar fermentation and compost fermentation.