Thraustochytrid as a potential source of carotenoids

Thraustochytrids, marine protists whose dominant genera are Thraustochytrium and Schizochytrium, belong to the kingdom Chromista and are known as an industrial source of DHA. We describe here that thraustochytrid strain KH105, isolated as a DHA producer, also accumulates significant levels of β-carotene and xanthophylls including canthaxanthin and astaxanthin. A4-d cultivation using a medium composed of 10% glucose and less than 0.3% of nitrogen sources in a half-concentration of seawater gave an astaxanthin production up to 6.1 mg/L, and canthaxanthin content reached more than 10 mg/L under conditions where a higher concentration of nitrogen sources (6%) was employed. It might be advantageous in mass production systems for these carotenoids to be extracted readily by simply suspending the cells with organic solvents such as acetone and chloroform. Analyses on the morphological and life history features of the KH105 strain revealed that it belongs to the genus Schizochytrium. This particular species of thraustochytrids is thus considered to be a promising source of xanthophylls as well as DHA for use in the food industry.     

Characteristics of chlorophyll formation of the aerial microalga Coelastrella striolata var. multistriata and its application for environmental biomonitoring

The growth and ammonium uptake of the aerial microalga Coelastrella striolata var. multistriata, which was isolated from the surface of rocks, were characterized in this study. The specific growth rate of the alga was mu=0.3 d(-1), as calculated in the growth logarithmic phase. The algal cells were able to remove almost 100% of the ammonium ions from medium in 5 d, with the removal rate of ammonium-N being 0.4 mg/l/h. It was shown that the alga has a unique ability to be a reddish orange to green color depending on the nitrogen source concentration in the medium. Astaxanthin, adonixanthin, canthaxanthin, and beta-carotene were found in the reddish orange cells of the alga. The assessment of water pollution was attempted using this aerial microalga. When the reddish orange alga was incubated in the experimental medium with added ammonium-, nitrate-, or urea-N as a nitrogen source, an approximately linear relationship existed between the nitrogen concentration and chlorophyll formation. Using the chlorophyll formation of the alga, for example, it was possible to estimate spectrophotometrically the total nitrogen content in water collected from aquatic systems. Biofunctional materials for environmental biomonitoring using photosynthetic microorganisms are called green devices in this study.     

Production and properties of phytase and acid phosphatase from a sake koji mold, Aspergillus oryzae

We identified three types of acid phosphatase (ACP-I, ACP-II, and ACP-III) produced by Aspergillus oryzae in a submerged culture using only phytic acid as the phosphorous substrate. The optimum pH for the activities of the three enzymes was in the range of 4.5 to 5.5. Analysis of the substrate specificities of these enzymes revealed that ACP-I and ACP-III were acid phosphatases, and ACP-II was a phytase. These enzymes were produced during different periods of mycelial growth: ACP-II was produced during the early phase of cultivation (around 24 h), and ACP-I was produced between 24 to 72 h. ACP-III was detected after the production of ACP-I and ACP-II had ceased. The release of phosphate from phytic acid was expected to be due to the cooperative hydrolysis of these enzymes.     

Deoxycholic acid formation in gnotobiotic mice associated with human intestinal bacteria

In humans and animals, intestinal flora is indispensable for bile acid transformation. The goal of our study was to establish gnotobiotic mice with intestinal bacteria of human origin in order to examine the role of intestinal bacteria in the transformation of bile acids in vivo using the technique of gnotobiology. Eight strains of bile acid-deconjugating bacteria were isolated from ex-germ-free mice inoculated with a human fecal dilution of 10⁻⁶, and five strains of 7α-dehydroxylating bacteria were isolated from the intestine of limited human flora mice inoculated only with clostridia. The results of biochemical tests and 16S rDNA sequence analysis showed that seven out of eight bile acid-deconjugating strains belong to a bacteroides cluster (Bacteroides vulgatus, B. distasonis, and B. uniformis), and one strain had high similarity with Bilophila wadsworthia. All five strains that converted cholic acid to deoxycholic acid had greatest similarity with Clostridium hylemonae. A combination of 10 isolated strains converted taurocholic acid into deoxycholic acid both in vitro and in the mouse intestine. These results indicate that the predominant bacteria, mainly Bacteroides, in human feces comprise one of the main bacterial groups for the deconjugation of bile acids, and clostridia may play an important role in 7α-dehydroxylation of free-form primary bile acids in the intestine although these strains are not predominant. The gnotobiotic mouse with bacteria of human origin could be a useful model in studies of bile acid metabolism by human intestinal bacteria in vivo.     

Potentiality of Indian pineapple leaf fiber for apparels

The use of textile-grade fiber extracted from the Indian pineapple leaf is an unexplored area. Pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) is fine, soft, and moderately strong and is much acceptable for fashion garment. An attempt has been made to extract and soften Indian PALF from the pineapple leaves by decortication and subsequent water retting. Decorticated cum retted fiber has shown better physicomechanical and surface appearance properties than decorticated fiber. Fine yarn (38 tex) was spun in a suitable spinning system, and the property performance was found to be suitable to make eco-sustainable novelty fabric. Fabric was developed by using cotton as warp yarn and PALF-based yarn as weft in a handloom. The developed fabric shows very good physical and mechanical properties, desired for apparels. This inferred that Indian PALF may be successfully used to make eco-niche apparel quality fabric as well as novelty textiles.     

Three-dimensional measurement and imaging based on multicameras randomly distributed on the circumference

We present a three-dimensional (3D) measurement and imaging based on a multicamera system. In the presented system, projected images of 3D objects are taken by cameras located at random positions on a circumference, and then the 3D objects can be reconstructed numerically. We introduce an angle correction function to improve the quality of the reconstructed object. The angle correction function can correct the angle error caused by the position errors in the projected images due to the finite pixel size of the image sensor. The numerical results show that the point source was reconstructed successfully by introducing the angle correction function. We also demonstrate experiments: the two objects are located on a rotary stage controlled by a computer, the projected images are taken by a single camera, and by using 33 projected images, the two objects are reconstructed successfully.     

Changes in riparian vegetation communities below a large dam in a monsoonal region: Futase Dam,Japan

This paper examines the effects of a dam reservoir flood control on riparian plant communities in an Asian monsoon area subjected to large summer floods under natural conditions. We compared riparian plant communities downstream of the Futase Dam located on the Arakawa River, with communities on the Nakatsu River, a tributary of the Arakawa River with no dam. Historical changes in spatial distribution of riparian vegetation communities were analysed using aerial photographs. Stand ages and flood history were also examined to analyse the likelihood of tree erosion in scenarios with and without flood control. Comparison of the two reaches shows that the reduced flood peaks below the Futase Dam led to the expansion of riparian forest area and an increase in species diversity. Reduction in the flood peaks below the dam means that the toppling moment of the trees is no longer exceeded. The result is that the riparian forest below the dam is able to develop into later successional stages. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Profile of polyunsaturated fatty acids produced by Thraustochytrium sp. KK17-3

More than 300 strains of microorganisms producing polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were newly isolated from coastal seawater in the Seto Inland Sea and around Iriomote Island, Japan, by the baiting method. The profiles of PUFA from docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-producing strains could be classified into four types. A strain, named KK17-3, was chosen for further study owing to its high DHA content (52.1% of total fatty acid) and wide range of PUFA (76.1%) including arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic, and docosapentaenoic acids as well as DHA. Glucose and tryptone were the optimal carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively, in a medium with salinity at 75% that of seawater. The PUFA contents in polar lipids (22.1% of total lipid), in which the DHA content was 39.3%, were higher than those in neutral lipids and glycolipids. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of 18S rRNA gene sequences showed KK17-3 to be a thraustochytrid. It also was observed to possess a life cycle composed of vegetative cells without successive bipartition, zoosporangium, and zoospore stage. Classification by the chemotaxonomic criterion based on PUFA compositions also supported this assignment.     

Highly Moisture-Resistant,Silane-Modified,Cyanogen-Free Optical Adhesives,and Their Reliability

We have developed highly moisture-resistant optical adhesives for optical communication. These cyanogen-free, silane-modified adhesives are less allergenic and environmentally friendly. These adhesives contain organic and inorganic hybrid structure and their median times to failure by deterioration are 11-132 times longer than that of Epotek-353ND. Adhesion characteristics are also good for other adherents.     

Continuous preparation of O/W nano-emulsion by the treatment of a coarse emulsion under subcritical water conditions

A coarse oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion, the oil phase of which was octanoic acid, was prepared at a very low surfactant concentration using a rotor/stator homogenizer. The emulsion was passed in a stainless steel tube immersed in an oil bath at 220 °C at a residence time of 60 s, and then mixed with the surfactant solution to produce a finely dispersed emulsion. The diameter of oil droplets in the fine emulsion was ca. 40 nm at the weight ratio of surfactant to oil of ca. 0.35 or higher.