Enhancing the Cellulose-Degrading Activity of Cellulolytic Bacteria CTL-6 (Clostridium thermocellum) by Co-Culture with Non-cellulolytic Bacteria W2-10 (Geobacillus sp.)

The effect of a non-cellulolytic bacterium W2-10 (Geobacillus sp.) on the cellulose-degrading activity of a cellulolytic bacterium CTL-6 (Clostridium thermocellum) was determined using cellulose materials (paper and straw) in peptone cellulose solution (PCS) medium under aerobic conditions. The results indicated that in the co-culture, addition of W2-10 resulted in a balanced medium pH, and may provide the required anaerobic environment for CTL-6. Overall, addition of W2-10 was beneficial to CTL-6 growth in the adverse environment of the PCS medium. In co-culture with W2-10, the CTL-6 cellulose degradation efficiency of filter paper and alkaline-treated wheat straw significantly increased up to 72.45 and 37.79 %, respectively. The CMCase activity and biomass of CTL-6 also increased from 0.23 U ml^?1 and 45.1 μg ml^?1 (DNA content) up to 0.47 U ml^?1 and 112.2 μg ml^?1, respectively. In addition, co-culture resulted in accumulation of acetate and propionate up to 4.26 and 2.76 mg ml^?1. This was a respective increase of 2.58 and 4.45 times, in comparison to the monoculture with CTL-6.     

Control of the Orientation and Photoinduced Phase Transitions of Macrocyclic Azobenzene

Photoinduced phase transitions caused by photochromic reactions bring about a change in the state of matter at constant temperature. Herein, we report the photoinduced phase transitions of crystals of a photoresponsive macrocyclic compound bearing two azobenzene groups ( 1 ) at room temperature on irradiation with UV (365 nm) and visible (436 nm) light. The trans/trans isomer undergoes photoinduced phase transitions (crystal–isotropic phase–crystal) on UV light irradiation. The photochemically generated crystal exhibited reversible phase transitions between the crystal and the mesophase on UV and visible light irradiation. The molecular order of the randomly oriented crystals could be increased by irradiating with linearly polarized visible light, and the value of the order parameter was determined to be ?0.84. Heating enhances the thermal cis‐to‐trans isomerization and subsequent cooling returned crystals of the trans/trans isomer.     

Neutron Diffraction Study on the Structure of Aqueous LiNO3 Solutions

Neutron diffraction measurements were carried out at 25 °C for aqueous LiNO₃ heavy water solutions, (*LiNO₃) _x (D₂O)_1?x where x = 0.1, 0.05 and 0.01, in which the ⁶Li/⁷Li isotopic ratios were varied. Structural information on intermolecular nearest neighbor Li⁺···D₂O interactions in the extensive concentration range was derived from the first-order difference function, ?_Li(Q), obtained from the difference in scattering cross sections between ⁶Li- and ⁷Li-enriched sample solutions. The nearest neighbor Li⁺···O distance and coordination number for sample solution with x = 0.1 were determined to be r _LiO = 1.969 (8) Å and n _LiO = 4.12 (6), respectively, corresponding to the four-coordinated Li⁺ ion in the solution. On the other hand, those obtained for the solution with x = 0.01 are r _LiO = 2.00 (2) Å and n _LiO = 6.0 (2), respectively, indicating that hexaaqua Li⁺ is dominant in the dilute solution. These results clearly indicate that a concentration dependence of the hydration number of Li⁺ occurs in the aqueous solutions.     

Poly‐ε‐Lysine Modified Nanocarbon Film Electrodes for LPS Detection

We developed an electrochemical system for detecting lipopolysaccharide (LPS) that uses an ultraflat nanocarbon film electrode modified with poly‐ε‐lysine with a high affinity to LPS. LPS was captured on the modified electrode, and then ferrocene labeled polymyxin B (FcPMB) was captured on the LPS adsorbed electrode via the LPS‐PMB affinity interaction. The adsorbed FcPMB provided an amplified response with Fe²⁺ ions, and the current response was dependent on the amount of captured LPS (LOD=2.0 ng/mL). This was due to the efficient accumulation of the obtained current for LPS and the very low noise made possible by the ultraflat surface.     

Triallylstannyllithium-allyllithium as an initiator for the anionic reversible chain transfer polymerization of 1,3-butadiene

The anionic polymerization of 1,3-butadiene using a novel metalloidal anion initiator, triallylstannyllithium (TALi)-allyllithium (ALi), was studied. The TALi-ALi initiated anionic polymerization of 1,3-butadiene gave the star polymer along with the linear polybutadiene (PBD). The star polymer consisted of three PBD branches and a central tin atom. What is striking is a fact that the number-average molecular weights (M_n) and molecular weight distribution of three PBD branches and linear PBD were almost identical. A reversible chain transfer polymerization mechanism, which includes the equilibrium between tri(macroallyl)-stannyllithium and macroallylic anion, is proposed. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A new application of statistical moment theory to evaluate the swelling behavior of thermo-responsive gels

The loosely cross-linked poly(acryloyl-L -proline methyl ester) gel, which is known as one of the typical thermo-responsive gels, shows a volume transition around approximately 14°C in pure water. This volume transition is shifted to higher temperature by treatment in aqueous sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The analysis of the swelling-temperature curve (frequency distribution) was performed according to a moment analysis, in which the area under the swelling-temperature curve (AUC), mean swelling transition temperature (MSTT) and variance of swelling transition temperature (VSTT) were calculated. It is shown that the apparent volume transition temperature can be estimated from MSTT and that VSTT can be used to characterize the shape of the corresponding curves.     

Simultaneous detection of ammonia and humidity using transmission surface plasmon resonance technique

Abstract

Gas sensing by using the transmission surface plasmon resonance (T-SPR) technique was demonstrated. Polyacrylic acid (PAA)/5-nm-thick gold/40-nm-thick silver/polycarbonate grating substrate structure (Sensor A) responded to ammonia; however, it exhibited a strong humidity dependence. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/5-nm-thick gold/40-nm-thick silver/polycarbonate grating substrate structure (Sensor B) as the sensing material was also prepared and it mainly responded to humidity. The T-SPR properties of Sensors A and B were observed simultaneously by a stacking arrangement that enabled us to obtain the responses by using a single spectrophotometer. The ammonia concentration under various humidity conditions could be accurately obtained by simultaneous measurement of Sensors A and B.     

Module-based assembly of copper(II) chloranilate compounds: syntheses, crystal structures, and magnetic properties of [[Cu(2)(CA)(terpy)(2)][Cu(CA)(2)]](n)() and [[Cu(2)(CA)(terpy)(2)(dmso)(2)][Cu(CA)(2)(dmso)(2)](EtOH)](n)(H(2)CA = chloranilic acid, terpy = 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine, dmso = dimethyl sulfoxide)

Two new copper(II) compounds of chloranilate and 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine have been synthesized, and the structures have been solved by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction method. The crystal structure of [[Cu(2)(CA)(terpy)(2)][Cu(CA)(2)]](n)(1), where H(2)CA = chloranilic acid and terpy = 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine, consists of two modules, the dimer unit [Cu(2)(CA)(terpy)(2)](2+) and the anionic mononuclear unit [Cu(CA)(2)](2)(-), forming an alternated chain. The chain is stabilized by semicoordinating and additional but efficient secondary bonding interactions. The crystal structure of [[Cu(2)(CA)(terpy)(2)(dmso)(2)][Cu(CA)(2)(dmso)(2)](EtOH)](n)(2), where dmso = dimethyl sulfoxide, consists of solvent molecules and two discrete modules, the dimer unit [Cu(2)(CA)(terpy)(2)(dmso)(2)](2+) and the anionic mononuclear unit [Cu(CA)(2)(dmso)(2)](2)(-). The dimer units form a layer by secondary bonding interactions, and the monomer units and ethanol molecules are introduced between the layers. The magnetic properties of 1 and 2 have been investigated in the temperature range 2.0-300 K. A weak ferromagnetic interaction was observed in 1, J(a) = 2.36 cm(-)(1) and zJ(b) = -0.68 cm(-)(1) while no exchange coupling was observed in 2.     

Corrigendum to “Constraints on operator ordering from third quantization” [Ann. Phys. 365 (2016) 54–65]

In our previous paper Ohkuwa et al. (2016) corrigendum was found in Eqs. (3.4) and (3.6). However, conclusions of our previous paper are not changed.