Dynamics of Bacterial Community Structure in the Rhizosphere and Root Nodule of Soybean: Impacts of Growth Stages and Varieties

Bacterial communities in rhizosphere and root nodules have significant contributions to the growth and productivity of the soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). In this report, we analyzed the physiological properties and dynamics of bacterial community structure in rhizosphere and root nodules at different growth stages using BioLog EcoPlate and high-throughput sequencing technology, respectively. The BioLog assay found that the metabolic capability of rhizosphere is in increasing trend in the growth of soybeans as compared to the bulk soil. As a result of the Illumina sequencing analysis, the microbial community structure of rhizosphere and root nodules was found to be influenced by the variety and growth stage of the soybean. At the phylum level, Actinobacteria were the most abundant in rhizosphere at all growth stages, followed by Alphaproteobacteria and Acidobacteria, and the phylum Bacteroidetes showed the greatest change. But, in the root nodules Alphaproteobacteria were dominant. The results of the OTU analysis exhibited the dominance of Bradyrhizobium during the entire stage of growth, but the ratio of non-rhizobial bacteria showed an increasing trend as the soybean growth progressed. These findings revealed that bacterial community in the rhizosphere and root nodules changed according to both the variety and growth stages of soybean in the field.     

Quest for the Crypto-phosphoproteome

Protein phosphorylation is one of the most studied post-translational modifications (PTMs). Despite the remarkable advances in phosphoproteomics, a chemically less-stable subset of the phosphosites, which we call the crypto-phosphoproteome, has remained underexplored due to technological challenges. In this Viewpoint, we briefly summarize the current understanding of these elusive protein phosphorylations and identify the missing pieces for future studies.     

Analysis of the correlation between acoustic noise and vibration generated by a multi-layer ceramic capacitor

Acoustic noise generated by a multi-layer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) makes users uncomfortable, so the problem must be analyzed to reduce the noise. There is a correlation between the acoustic noise and the vibration of MLCCs and the circuit board. Therefore, the acoustic noise problem must be investigated from a vibration perspective. In this study, the acoustic noise-generating mechanism was investigated, and the relationship between the characteristics of the noise and the dynamic characteristics of the circuit board with MLCC was analyzed. And a correlation criterion was proposed to predict the acoustic noise using the vibration response of the circuit board.     

Neutralizing capacity of bottom ash from municipal solid waste incineration of different particle size

This study measures the neutralizing capacity of bottom ash from municipal solid waste incineration of different particle sizes. We examine the effect of particle size on the weathering process, a method popularly used for stabilization of heavy metals in incineration of bottom ash. The distribution of particle sizes in municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash is rather broad, ranging from fine powder to as large as 40 mm in diameter. Although considered a by-product highly suitable as a road construction material, the high level of heavy metal leaching is an obstacle to its reuse. Weathering, a method used to reduce heavy metal leaching, is a lengthy process taking over thee months to complete. The chief reaction involved in weathering is carbonation occurring between Ca(OH)2 in bottom ash and CO₂(g) in the atmosphere. During this process, CaCO₃ is produced, causing the pH level to drop from over 12 to about 8.2 and reducing heavy metal leaching. In this paper, we attempt to determine the particle size best suited for reducing the period required for weathering bottom ash by identifying characteristics of different particle sizes that affect heavy metal leaching and neutralization.     

Development of bond strength model for FRP plates using back‐propagation algorithm

For the flexural reinforcement of bridge and building structure, synthetic materials whose dynamic properties are superior and those containing the merit of corrosion‐proof are widely used as the substitute for a steel plate. Since FRP plate has improved bond strength owing to the fibers externally adhering to the plate, many researches regarding the bond strength improvement have been substantially performed. To search out such bond strength improvement, previous researchers had ever examined the bond strength of FRP plate through their experiment by setting up many variables. However, since the experiment for a research on the bond strength takes much of expenditure for setting up the equipment and is time‐consuming, also is difficult to be carried out, it is limitedly conducted. The purpose of this study was to develop the most suitable artificial neural network model by application of various neural network models and algorithm to the data of the bond strength experiment conducted by previous researchers. Many variables were used as input layers against bond strength: depth, width, modulus of elasticity, tensile strength of FRP plate and the compressive strength, tensile strength, and width of concrete. The developed artificial neural network model has been applied back‐propagation, and its error was learned to be converged within the range of 0.001. Besides, the process for the over‐fitting problem has been dissolved by Bayesian technique. The verification on the developed model was executed by comparison with the test results of bond strength made by other previous researchers, which was never been utilized to the learning as yet. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 5119–5127, 2006     

Bifunctional electrodes for an integrated water-electrolysis and hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell with a solid polymer electrolyte

An alternative concept of an integrated water electrolysis/hydrogen-hydrogen fuel cell using metal electrocatalysts and a solid polymer electrolyte is described. Instead of operating both electrodes as hydrogen and oxygen electrodes respectively the electrodes are used as oxidation and reduction electrodes in both modes of operation. A more suitable selection of electrocatalysts and an improved cell design are possible; both can increase the efficiency of the cell considerably. New results on the electrocatalytic activity of various noble-metal containing catalysts with respect to both oxygen evolution and hydrogen oxidation in a proton exchange membrane-cell at 80°C are reported. Kinetic data derived from Tafel plots of the oxygen evolution polarization curves agree closely with those of experiments with aqueous sulphuric acid electrodes. This agreement allows the determination of kinetic parameters for electrocatalysts difficult to prepare in solid smooth electrodes but easy to be made into porous deposits. Polarization curves of the hydrogen oxidation reaction clearly indicate a relative activity rating of the studied catalysts. In cycling tests the lifetime stability of the new bifunctional oxidation electrode was determined. Polarization data obtained under these conditions agree with those obtained in earlier experiments where electrodes were exposed to only one type of oxidation reaction. During a test of 10 cycles (30 min of electrolyser and 30 min of fuel cell mode each) no changes in the electrode potential were observed. With the conventional cell design employing a hydrogen and an oxygen electrode both catalyzed with platinum and a current density of 100 mA cm^–2 a storage efficiency of 50% was calculated; with the alternative concept of oxidation and reduction electrodes and selected oxidation catalysts this was improved to 57%. With further improvements these efficiencies seem possible even at current densities of 500 mA cm^–2.     

Feasibility of Sludge Ozonation for Stabilization and Conditioning

A pilot-scale sludge treatment plant was built to investigate the feasibility of ozonation processes for waste activated sludge treatment. Ozonation of wastewater sludge resulted in mass reduction by mineralization as well as by supernatant and filtrate recycle. Another advantage of sludge ozonation is a significant improvement of settleability and dewaterability. Experimental results showed that mass reduction of 70% and volume reduction of 85% compared with the control sludge was achieved through the sludge ozonation at a dose of 0.5?gO₃/gDS. It is also interesting to note that the filterability deteriorates up to ozone dose of 0.2?gO₃/gDS and then improves considerably at a higher ozone dose. The filterability could be improved by chemical conditioning even at a low ozone dose. The economic feasibility by cost analysis reveals that ozonation processes can be more economical than other alternative processes for sludge treatment and disposal at small-sized wastewater treatment plants.     

Effect of Nitrogen Atmosphere on the Densification of a 3-mol%-Yttria-Doped Zirconia

The densification behavior of a 3-mol%-Y₂O₃-doped ZrO₂ (3Y-ZrO₂) has been investigated under N₂ and O₂ atmospheres. Powder compacts have been sintered at 1550° and 1400°C for various times. The density of the specimen sintered at 1550°C is higher in N₂ than in O₂, while the contrary result is obtained in the case of the specimen sintered at 1400°C. Such results can be explained in terms of nitrogen solubility and oxygen vacancy in a ZrO₂ matrix. Because nitrogen solubility into the ZrO₂ increases with an increase in heat-treatment temperature, leading to the formation of oxygen vacancy, the densification rate becomes higher. The present study thus shows evidence of nitrogen solubility into the ZrO₂ and its role on the densification behavior of 3Y-ZrO₂.     

Mutation of herpesvirus thymidine kinase to generate ganciclovir-specific kinases for use in cancer gene therapies

Understanding the functional and mechanistic properties of themulti-substrate herpes simplex virus type-1 thymidine kinase(HSV-1 TK) remains critical to defining its role as a majorpharmacological target in herpesvirus and gene therapies forcancer. An inherent limitation of the activity of HSV-TK isthe >70-fold difference in the K_ms for phosphorylation ofthymidine over the pro-drug ganciclovir (GCV). To engineer anHSV-1 TK isoform that is specific for GCV as the preferred substrate,16 site-specific mutants were generated. The mutations wereconcentrated at conserved residues involved in nucleoside basebinding, Gln125 and near sites 3 and 4 involved in catalysisand substrate binding. The substrate preferences of each mutantenzyme were compared with wild-type HSV-1 TK. One mutant, termedQ7530 TK, had a lower K_m for GCV than thymidine. Expressionof the Q7530 TK in tumor cells indicated comparable metabolismto and improved sensitivity to GCV over wild-type HSV-1 TK,with minimal thymidine phosphorylation activity. A molecularmodeling simulation of the different HSV-1 TK active-sites wasdone for GCV and thymidine binding. It was concluded that mutationsat Gln125 and near site 4, especially at Ala168, were responsiblefor loss of deoxypyrimidine substrate binding.