Preparation of Alginate Hydrogel Beads on a Superhydrophobic Surface with Calcium Salt Powder to Enhance the Mechanical Strength and Encapsulation Efficiency of Ingredients.

Calcium alginate hydrogel is one of the most widely used materials for drug-carrier beads used in drug-delivery systems. In this study, we developed a new method to improve the encapsulation efficiency of ingredients, such as medicines, in calcium alginate hydrogel beads. In the gold standard method, the hydrogel beads are prepared in the liquid phase.

Microbiological insights into anaerobic phenol degradation mechanisms and bulking phenomenon in a mesophilic upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor in long-term operation.

In this study, a long-term operation of 2,747 days was conducted to evaluate the performance of the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor and investigated the degradation mechanisms of high-organic loading phenol wastewater. During the reactor operation, the maximum chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rate of 6.1 ± 0.

Microscopic and metatranscriptomic analyses revealed unique cross-domain parasitism between phylum Patescibacteria/candidate phyla radiation and methanogenic archaea in anaerobic ecosystems.

To verify whether members of the phylum Patescibacteria parasitize archaea, we applied cultivation, microscopy, metatranscriptomic, and protein structure prediction analyses on the Patescibacteria-enriched cultures derived from a methanogenic bioreactor. Amendment of cultures with exogenous methanogenic archaea, acetate, amino acids, and nucleoside monophosphates increased the relative abundance of . Patescibacteria.

Preparation of Hydrophobic Cryogel Containing Hydroxyoxime Extractant and Its Extraction Properties of Cu(Ⅱ).

Hydrophobic cryogels with monolithic supermacropores based on poly-trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (pTrim) containing 1-(2-Hydroxyl-5-nonyphenyl)ethanone oxime (LIX84-I) were successfully prepared by a cryo-polymerization technique using organic solvents with freezing points between room temperature and around 0 °C as solvents. The prepared cryogels were characterized in terms of macroscopic shape and porous structure. The cryogels had a monolithic supermacroporous structure and high contents of LIX84-I depending on the added amount of the extractant to the monomer solution.

Embrittlement Fracture Behavior and Mechanical Properties in Heat-Affected Zone of Welded Maraging Steel.

In welded maraging steels, mechanical properties, particularly ductility and toughness, are often compromised in the heat-affected zone (HAZ). This study focuses on 300-grade maraging steel bars, solution annealed at 1123 K for 1.5 h (5.

Optimization of Sulfide Annealing Conditions for AgSnS Thin Films.

AgSnS (ATS) has been reported to have a band gap of 1.33 eV and is expected to be a suitable material for the light-absorbing layers of compound thin-film solar cells. However, studies on solar cells that use ATS are currently lacking.

Method for Stress Assessment of Endosymbiotic Algae in as a Model System for Endosymbiosis.

Endosymbiosis between heterotrophic host and microalga often breaks down because of environmental conditions, such as temperature change and exposure to toxic substances. By the time of the apparent breakdown of endosymbiosis, it is often too late for the endosymbiotic system to recover. In this study, I developed a technique for the stress assessment of endosymbiotic algae using as an endosymbiosis model, after treatment with the herbicide paraquat, an endosymbiotic collapse inducer.

High-rate cotreatment of purified terephthalate and dimethyl terephthalate manufacturing wastewater by a mesophilic upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor and the microbial ecology relevant to aromatic compound degradation.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is produced worldwide, mainly as material for plastic drink bottles. PET is produced by polymerization of purified terephthalate (PTA) or dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) with ethylene glycol. During the synthetic manufacturing processes of PTA and DMT, high organic loading wastewater is produced, which is typically treated separately by anaerobic wastewater treatment technologies.

Tensile Examination and Strength Evaluation of Latewood in Japanese Cedar.

With the crisis awareness of global warming and natural disasters, utilization of local wood has drawn increasing attention in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is necessary to investigate the deformation and fracture of the structural tissue in wood in order to improve the safety and reliability of wood application. However, deformation and fracture mechanisms of the structural tissue in each annual ring are unknown.

Real-Time 3D Imaging and Inhibition Analysis of Various Amyloid Aggregations Using Quantum Dots.

Amyloidosis refers to aggregates of protein that accumulate and are deposited as amyloid fibrils into plaques. When these are detected in organs, they are the main hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and other related diseases. Recent medical advances have shown that many precursors and proteins can induce amyloidosis even though the mechanism of amyloid aggregation and the relationship of these proteins to amyloidosis remains mostly unclear.

Routine Management of Microalgae Using Autofluorescence from Chlorophyll.

From a high-potential biomass perspective, microalgae have recently attracted considerable attention due to their extensive application in many areas. Although studies searching for algal species with extensive application potential are ongoing, technical development for their assessment and maintenance of quality in culture are also critical and inescapable challenges. Considering the sensitivity of microalgae to environmental changes, management of algal quality is one of the top priorities for industrial applications.

Temporal variation of eukaryotic community structures in UASB reactor treating domestic sewage as revealed by 18S rRNA gene sequencing.

Eukaryotes are important components of ecosystems in wastewater treatment processes. However, little is known about eukaryotic community in anaerobic wastewater treatment systems. In this study, eukaryotic communities in an up flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor treating domestic sewage during two years of operation were investigated using V4 and V9 regions of 18S rRNA gene for amplicon sequencing.

Reduction of alkalinity supplementation for acid-based wastewater treatment using a thermophilic multi-feed upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor.

Generally, distillery wastewater treatment is required the addition of alkalinity agents for an increase of pH in the UASB reactor. However, to reduce the cost of alkalinity supplementation, cost-effective reactor operation method has been desired. This study aimed to reduce the alkalinity supplementation for a thermophilic (55°C) multi-feed up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (MF UASB) reactor for the low-cost treatment of the wastewater from the production of the Japanese distilled alcohol called .

K336I mutant actin alters the structure of neighbouring protomers in filaments and reduces affinity for actin-binding proteins.

Mutation of the Lys-336 residue of actin to Ile (K336I) or Asp (K336E) causes congenital myopathy. To understand the effect of this mutation on the function of actin filaments and gain insight into the mechanism of disease onset, we prepared and biochemically characterised K336I mutant actin from Dictyostelium discoideum. Subtilisin cleavage assays revealed that the structure of the DNase-I binding loop (D-loop) of monomeric K336I actin, which would face the adjacent actin-protomer in filaments, differed from that of wild type (WT) actin.

Applicability of Automated Cell Counter with a Chlorophyll Detector in Routine Management of Microalgae.

Microalgae have attracted attention for several industrial applications, but all such applications demand culture quality because of their sensitivity to environmental changes. Although simplicity, speed, and accuracy are important to assess algal cultures, researchers have expended vast amounts of labor to monitor algal health using hemocytometry. Along with its user bias, quantifying the cell status aside from the cell density is not easy.

Simultaneous Evaluation of Life Cycle Dynamics between a Host Paramecium and the Endosymbionts of Paramecium bursaria Using Capillary Flow Cytometry.

Endosymbioses are driving forces underlying cell evolution. The endosymbiosis exhibited by Paramecium bursaria is an excellent model with which to study symbiosis. A single-cell microscopic analysis of P.