Effects of Organic-Loading-Rate Reduction on Sludge Biomass and Microbial Community in a Deteriorated Pilot-Scale Membrane Bioreactor.

The effects of a precipitous decrease in the inlet organic loading rate on sludge reductions and the microbial community in a membrane bioreactor were investigated. The sludge biomass was markedly reduced to 47.4% of the initial concentration (approximately 15,000 mg L(-1)) within 7 d after the organic loading rate was decreased by half (450 to 225 mg chemical oxygen demand L(-1) d(-1)). An analysis of the microbial community structure using high-throughput sequencing revealed an increase in the abundance of facultative predatory bacteria-related operational taxonomic units as well as microorganisms tolerant to environmental stress belonging to the classes Deinococci and Betaproteobacteria.

A Multichannel Bioluminescence Determination Platform for Bioassays.

The present protocol introduces a multichannel bioluminescence determination platform allowing a high sample throughput determination of weak bioluminescence with reduced standard deviations. The platform is designed to carry a multichannel conveyer, an optical filter, and a mirror cap. The platform enables us to near-simultaneously determine ligands in multiple samples without the replacement of the sample tubes. Furthermore, the optical filters beneath the multichannel conveyer are designed to easily discriminate colors during assays. This optical system provides excellent time- and labor-efficiency to users during bioassays.

A Bioluminescence Assay System for Imaging Metal Cationic Activities in Urban Aerosols.

A bioluminescence-based assay system was fabricated for an efficient determination of the activities of air pollutants. The following four components were integrated into this assay system: (1) an 8-channel assay platform uniquely designed for simultaneously sensing multiple optical samples, (2) single-chain probes illuminating toxic chemicals or heavy metal cations from air pollutants, (3) a microfluidic system for circulating medium mimicking the human body, and (4) the software manimulating the above system. In the protocol, we briefly introduce how to integrate the components into the system and the application to the illumination of the metal cationic activities in air pollutants.

Microporous organic-inorganic nanocomposites as the receptor in the QCM sensing of toluene vapors.

We have used novel microporous biphenylene-pillared layered silicates as receptors in a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) for sensing toluene vapors. The silicate was successfully coated on a QCM electrode modified with 2-aminoethanethiol. The resultant electrode showed quantitative frequency responses due to enhanced adhesion between the silicate and the electrode. The silicate-coated electrodes also performed better than polystyrene-coated electrodes in terms of both sensitivity and reproducibility of the responses for toluene vapors exposures because the silicate has an organically-modified open-framework structure with a high surface area. In addition, the electrodes revealed the higher sensitivity for toluene vapors than those for alcohol vapors, suggesting selectivity toward sensing toluene vapors probably due to the π-π stacking interaction between biphenylene units and toluene molecules. Hence, we anticipate that the materials are promising to be used as receptors in QCM devices for sensing aromatic vapors.

Fluorescence detection of ATP based on the ATP-mediated aggregation of pyrene-appended boronic acid on a polycation.

A novel fluorescent sensing system for ATP has been created utilizing the ATP-mediated aggregation process of pyrene-appended boronic acid on a polycation.

Molecular imprinting of bisphenol A and alkylphenols using amylose as a host matrix.

A novel molecularly imprinted polymer has been created by a radical polymerisation of acryloylamylose in the presence of a template.