Natural peloids originating from subsea depths of 200 m in the hupo basin, South Korea: physicochemical properties for potential pelotherapy applications.

The present study firstly reports surface sediment from the subsea depth of 200 m as a potential natural peloid. The fine-silt sediment exhibited a consistent clay mineral composition dominated by illite, chlorite, kaolinite, and diatomite. The most abundant clay mineral was illite/mica, with other minerals loosely packed in a face-to-face orientation. The thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, and cation-exchange capacity of the sediment were in the range 0.855-0.885 W/m K, 2.718-2.821 J/g °C, and 23.06-32.96 cmol/kg, respectively. The concentrations of most toxic elements in the sediment were considerably lower than the limits set by domestic cosmetic regulations and other international standards. The analyzed samples exhibited similar properties to those of previously reported peloids, thus making them suitable for use in the field of pelotherapy; furthermore, the consistency in data across a wide peloid-distribution area is expected to enable economically viable mining. Future investigations should aim to to evaluate the long-term effects on the skin, the bioavailability of potentially hazardous substances, and the therapeutic efficacy for various skin conditions.

A Novel Carotenoid-Producing Bacterium, Paenibacillus aurantius sp. nov., Isolated from Korean Marine Environment.

The novel bacterial strain MBLB1776T was isolated from marine mud in Uljin, the Republic of Korea. Cells were Gram-positive, spore-forming, non-motile, and non-flagellated rods. Growth was observed at a temperature range of 10-45 °C, pH range of 6.0-8.0, and NaCl concentrations of 0-4% (w/v). Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that MBLB1776T belonged to the genus Paenibacillus and was closely related to Paenibacillus cavernae C4-5T (94.83% similarity). Anteiso-C15:0, iso-C16:0, C16:0, and iso-C15:0 were the predominant fatty acids. Menaquinone 7 was identified as the major isoprenoid quinone. The major polar lipids included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylethanolamine. Its whole genome was 6.3 Mb in size, with a G+C content of 55.8 mol%. Average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization values were below the species delineation threshold. Gene function analysis revealed the presence of a complete C30 carotenoid biosynthetic pathway. Intriguingly, MBLB1776T harbored carotenoid pigments, imparting an orange color to whole cells. Based on this comprehensive polyphasic taxonomy, the MBLB1776T strain represents a novel species within the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus aurantius sp. nov is proposed. The type strain was MBLB1776T (=KCTC 43279T = JCM 34220T). This is the first report of a carotenoid-producing Paenibacillus sp.

Physiological effects of zero-valent iron nanoparticles in rhizosphere on edible crop, Medicago sativa (Alfalfa), grown in soil.

We investigated the effects of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) that has been widely used for groundwater remediation on a terrestrial crop, Medicago sativa (Alfalfa), and comprehensively addressed its development and growth in soil culture. Root lengths, chlorophyll, carbohydrate and lignin contents were compared, and no physiological phytotoxicity was observed in the plants. In the roots, using an omics-based analytical, we found evidence of OH radical-induced cell wall loosening from exposure to nZVI, resulting in increased root lengths that were approximately 1.5 times greater than those of the control. Moreover, germination index (GI) was employed to physiologically evaluate the impact of nZVI on germination and root length. In regard to chlorophyll concentration, nZVI-treated alfalfa exhibited a higher value in 20-day-old seedlings, whereas the carbohydrate and lignin contents were slightly decreased in nZVI-treated alfalfa. Additionally, evidence for translocation of nZVI into plant tissues was also found. Vibrating sample magnetometry on shoots revealed the translocation of nZVI from the root to shoot. In this study, using an edible crop as a representative model, the potential impact of reactive engineered nanomaterials that can be exposed to the ecosystem on plant is discussed.

Zunongwangia flava sp. nov., belonging to the family Flavobacteriaceae, isolated from Salicornia europaea.

A yellow pigmented bacterium designated strain MBLN094T within the family Flavobacteriaceae was isolated from a halophyte Salicornia europaea on the coast of the Yellow Sea. This strain was a Gram-stain negative, aerobic, non-spore forming, rod-shaped bacterium. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain MBLN094T was found to be related to the genus Zunongwangia, exhibiting 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 97.0, 96.8, 96.4, and 96.3% to Zunongwangia mangrovi P2E16T, Z. profunda SM-A87T, Z. atlantica 22II14-10F7T, and Z. endophytica CPA58T, respectively. Strain MBLN094T grew at 20‒37°C (optimum, 25‒30°C), at pH 6.0‒10.0 (optimum, 7.0‒8.0), and with 0.5‒15.0% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2.0‒5.0%). Menaquinone MK-6 was the sole respiratory quinone. The polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminolipids, and four unidentified lipids. Major fatty acids were iso-C17:0 3-OH, summed feature 3 (C16:1ω6c and/or C16:1 ω7c), and iso-C15:0. The genomic DNA G + C content was 37.4 mol%. Based on these polyphasic taxonomic data, strain MBLN094T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Zunongwangia, for which the name Zunongwangia flava sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MBLN094T (= KCTC 62279T = JCM 32262T).

Mn(2+)-Ion Site Distribution of Zeolite Y (FAU, Si/Al = 1.56) Depending on the Ion-Exchange Ratio.

To investigate the tendency of Mn(2+)-ion exchange into zeolite Y, four single crystals of fully dehydrated Mn2+, Na(+)-exchanged zeolite Y (Si/Al = 1.56) were prepared by the exchange of Na75-Y (INa75I[Si117Al75,O384]-FAU) with aqueous of various concentrations by Mn2+ and Na+ in a total 0.05 M for molar ratios of 1:1 (crystal 1), 1:25 (crystal 2), 1:50 (crystal 3), and 1:100 (crystal 4), respectively, followed by vacuum dehydration at 400 degrees C. Their single-crystal structures were determined by synchrotron X-ray diffraction techniques in the cubic space group Fd3(-)m and were refined to the final error indices R1/wR2 = 0.0440/0.1545, 0.0369/0.1153, 0.0373/0.1091, and 0.0506/0.1667, respectively. Their unit-cell formulas are approximately LMn33.5Na8I[Si117Al75O384]-FAU, IMn20.5Na34I[Si117Al75O384]-FAU, IMn20.5Na34I[Si117Al75O384]-FAU, and IMn16.5Na42I[Si117Al75O384]-FAU, respectively. The degree of Mn2+-ion exchange increases from 44.3% to 89.1% with increasing the initial Mn2+ concentrations as Na+ content and the unit cell constant of the zeolite framework decrease.

EU-12: A Small-Pore, High-Silica Zeolite Containing Sinusoidal Eight-Ring Channels.

Zeolite EU-12, the framework structure of which has remained unsolved during the past 30 years, is synthesized at a specific SiO2 /Al2 O3 ratio using choline as an organic structure-directing agent, with both Na(+) and Rb(+) ions present. Synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction and Rietveld analyses reveal that the EU-12 structure has a two-dimensional 8-ring channel system. Among the two distinct 8-ring (4.6×2.8 and 5.0×2.7 Å) channels along c axis, the smaller one interconnects with the sinusoidal 8-ring (4.8×3.3 Å) channel along a axis. The other large one is simply linked up with the sinusoidal channel by sharing 8-rings (4.8×2.6 Å) in the ac plane. The proton form of EU-12 was found to show a considerably higher ethene selectivity in the low-temperature dehydration of ethanol than H-mordenite, the best catalyst for this reaction.