Model system of bulking and flocculation in mixed culture of Sphaerotilus sp. and Pseudomonas sp. for dissolved oxygen deficiency and high loading

A mixed continuous culture system was made up as a model for bulking and flocculation phenomena of the activated sludge to study the effect of dissolved oxygen (DO) deficiency and the effect of high organic loading. The system consisted of a floc forming bacterium and a filamentous bacterium which were isolated from the activated sludge and were identified as Pseudomonas sp. and Sphaerotilus sp., respectively. Sphaerotilus sp. had potential to cause a filamentous bulking phenomenon on the activated sludge. It was observed that the filamentous microorganism showed three kinds of growth form, filamentous form, pellet form and dispersed form, and that the floc former showed two kinds of growth form, good floc form and dispersed form. In the model system, these changes of growth form of two microorganisms, which could be thought as the cause of settling characteristics changes, depended on the DO level and the dilution rate (as a substitution for organic loading). The DO level also influence the aggregative ability of each microorganism and the maximum oxygen uptake rate, Q_O2max, of filamentous microorganism. The proportions of both microorganisms in model system were inverted reversibly by the DO level or the dilution rate changes.     

Are increased costs worth paying to raise non‐monetary utility?: Analysis of intrinsic motivation and fringe benefits

In standard agency models, only performance‐based wages (monetary incentives) motivate an agent to work more. The present paper proposes a new agency model in which the principal makes an investment, in addition to the standard wage incentive, to raise non‐monetary utility. We clarify two problems according to the type of non‐monetary utility: the intrinsic motivation (IM) problem and the fringe benefits (FB) problem. The results of our analysis of both problems are as follows: (1) The results of the IM model and the FB model are similar regarding monetary payment. (2) Although IM is dependent on the attributes of a job and the worker, such as productivity or cost sensitivity, FB is not dependent on such factors.     

A combined environmental straining specimen holder for high-voltage electron microscopy

A novel specimen holder that enables in situ observation of crack-tip deformation and/or fracture under a controlled environment is developed for a high-voltage electron microscope (HVEM). A window-type environmental cell (EC) that incorporates a uniaxial straining apparatus is built into a side-entry-type single-tilt specimen holder. The gas control in EC, straining apparatus design, limited field of view for crack-tip observation, and specimen preparation for the specimen holder are presented in detail. Experimental results successfully demonstrate that the developed specimen holder is quite useful for the dynamic observation of crack-tip deformation and/or fracture subjected to a hostile environment, such as hydrogen gas.     

Polycrystalline silicon films with nanometer-sized dense fine grains formed by flash-lamp-induced crystallization

Flash lamp annealing (FLA) with millisecond-order pulse duration can crystallize microm-order-thick a-Si films on glass substrates through explosive crystallization (EC), and flash-lamp-crystallized (FLC) poly-Si films consist of densely-packed nanometer-sized fine grains. We investigate the impact of the hydrogen concentration and the defect density of precursor a-Si films on crystallization mechanism and the microstructures of FLC poly-Si films, by comparing chemical-vapor-deposited (CVD) and sputtered precursor a-Si films. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation reveals that FLC poly-Si films with similar periodic microstructures are formed by the FLA of the two kinds of precursor films, meaning no significant influence of hydrogen atoms and defect density on crystallization mechanism. This high flexibility of the properties of precursor a-Si films would contribute to a wide process window to reproducibly form FLC poly-Si films with the particular periodic microstructures.     

Reinforced Suspension Preheater (RSP) Process of Cement Manufacture?Suspension Preheater with Special Furnace for Boosting Calcination of Raw Meal

The reinforced suspension preheater (RSP) process for the production of portland cement comprises a suspension preheater equipped with precalcining vessels designated as swirl burner and swirl calciner. The process has been demonstrated through the operation of a 235 metric ton per day plant. The swirl burner and swirl calciner provide effective heat transfer and permit control of temperature to obtain raw meal decarbonation of 85-90 percent. Data are presented describing sulfur absorption at various stages of the process. Nitrogen oxide emissions are limited due to the low temperature maintained in the swirl calciner. Excellent cement quality has been obtained.     

Efficient Identification of the MYC Regulator with the Use of the CRISPR Library and Context-Matched Database Screenings

MYC is a major oncogene that plays an important role in cell proliferation in human cancers. Therefore, the mechanism behind MYC regulation is a viable therapeutic target for the treatment of cancer. Comprehensive and efficient screening of MYC regulators is needed, and we had previously established a promoter screening system using fluorescent proteins and the CRISPR library. For the efficient identification of candidate genes, a database was used, for which mRNA expression was correlated with MYC using datasets featuring “Similar” and “Not exactly similar” contexts. INTS14 and ERI2 were identified using datasets featuring the “Similar” context group, and INTS14 and ERI2 were capable of enhancing MYC promoter activity. In further database analysis of human cancers, a higher expression of MYC mRNA was observed in the INTS14 mRNA high-expressing prostate and liver cancers. The knockdown of INTS14 in prostate cell lines resulted in decreased MYC mRNA and protein expression and also induced G0/1 arrest. This study confirmed that CRISPR screening combined with context-matched database screening is effective in identifying genes that regulate the MYC promoter. This method can be applied to other genes and is expected to be useful in identifying the regulators of other proto-oncogenes.     

Development of multicomponent vaporization/condensation model for a reactor safety analysis code SIMMER-III: Extended verification using multi-bubble condensation experiment

Complex phenomena such as phase transitions and heat transfers in multiphase, multicomponent flows were modeled in the fluid-dynamics portion of SIMMER-III, which was developed to appropriately assess core disruptive accidents (CDAs) in liquid–metal fast reactors (LMFRs). A new multicomponent vaporization/condensation (V/C) model was developed and introduced to SIMMER-III by the authors. In the present study, a new series of multi-bubble condensation experiments was performed to demonstrate that SIMMER-III with the present V/C model is practically applicable to multicomponent, multiphase flow systems with phase transition. In the experiments, bubble diameters and void fractions were quantified from visualization images using original image-processing techniques. Comparing SIMMER-III predictions with experimental data, it was confirmed that SIMMER-III with the proposed V/C model could suitably represent the effects of noncondensable components on the condensation process in multi-bubble systems. This work has improved the reliability of SIMMER-III with regard to multicomponent phase-transition phenomena.     

Influence of tool inclination on brittle fracture in glass cutting with ball end mills

Glass milling is discussed with influences of tool inclination on brittle fracture. Cutting tests are performed to observe surfaces in the up-cut and the down-cut processes with a ball end mill inclined in the feed direction of the cutter. Brittle fracture occurs in the down-cut process at high feed rates. Then the machined surfaces in cutting with the ball end mills tilted in the vertical plane with respect to the feed direction are associated with those of the up-cut and the down-cut processes. The cutting forces are also measured to discuss brittle fracture with the change of the undeformed chip thickness. The scratches on the surface finished with the tilted ball end mill are shown in an analytical model with a notched edge shape. The maximum feed rates at which brittle fracture does not occur are shown with the tool inclination in the cutting tests.     

Effects of Elevated Carbon Dioxide and Ozone on Foliar Proanthocyanidins in Betula platyphylla, Betula ermanii, and Fagus crenata Seedlings

Proanthocyanidins (PAs) or condensed tannins are a major group of phenolic compounds in the leaves of birch trees and many other woody and herbaceous plants. These compounds constitute a significant allocation of carbon in leaves and are involved in plant responses to environmental stress factors, such as pathogens or herbivores. In some plants, PA concentrations are affected by atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) and ozone (O₃) levels that may influence, for example, species fitness, community structure, or ecosystem nutrient cycling. Therefore, a study on the quantitative response of PAs to elevated concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and ozone (O₃) was undertaken in seedlings of Betula platyphylla, Betula ermanii, and Fagus crenata. Seedlings were exposed to ambient or elevated O₃ and CO₂ levels during two growing seasons in the Kanto district in Japan. Ten open-top chambers were used for five different treatments with two replicates: filtered air (FA), ambient air (ambient O₃, 43 ppb; ambient CO₂, 377 ppm), elevated O₃ (1.5 × ambient O₃, 66 ppb), elevated CO₂ (1.5 × ambient CO₂, 544 ppm), and elevated O₃ and CO₂ combined. In addition, seedlings growing in natural conditions outside of chambers were studied. Leaf samples were analyzed for total PA concentrations by butanol–HCl assay and for polymeric PA concentrations by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Total PA concentrations in leaves of all species were similarly affected by different treatments. They were significantly higher in seedlings treated with elevated CO₂ and O₃ combined, and in seedlings growing outside chambers compared with the FA controls. F. crenata contained only traces of polymeric PAs, but significant species × treatment interaction was observed in the polymeric PA concentrations in B. ermanii and B. platyphylla. In B. platyphylla, leaves treated with elevated CO₂ + O₃ differed significantly from all other treatments. It was suggested that the strongest effect of elevated CO₂ and O₃ combined on leaf PA contents resulted from the additive effect of these environmental factors on phenolic biosynthesis.