Cultivation characteristics of denitrification by thermophilic Geobacillus sp. strain TDN01.

Nine thermophilic denitrification bacteria were isolated from field soil, mud, and spa samples. The alignment of 16S rDNA showed that all were identical to the genus Geobacillus. Two of the bacteria produced N2O and N2 gas and the other seven strains produced N2 gas from nitrate.

Development of an artificial synapse using an electrochemical micropump.

Improving the resolution of artificial sensory organs requires an interface that receives external information from electronic circuits and stimulates appropriate neurons individually in response to that information. The method of electric stimulation in available artificial sensory organs is fairly nonselective; therefore, we developed a method of chemical stimulation of neurons using a neurotransmitter containing an electrochemical micropump powered by the bubbling that occurs during water electrolysis. The micropump contains a glass nozzle with a tip 10 microm in diameter.