Improvement in the productivity of xylooligosaccharides from waste medium after mushroom cultivation by hydrothermal treatment with suitable pretreatment

The effective xylooligosaccharides (XOs) production from the waste medium after mushroom cultivation (WM) was investigated. The WM contains rich nutrients (protein, etc.) which induce Maillard reaction with reducing sugars under hydrothermal conditions. To improve the productivity of XOs, the suitable pretreatment combined with washing and grinding was investigated, and subsequently hydrothermal treatment was demonstrated with batch type and continuous flow type reactor. The washing pretreatment with hot water of 60 degrees C was effective to remove nutrients from the WM, and it led to prevent brownish discoloration on the hydrothermal treatment. On the basis of experimental data, industrial XOs production processes consisting of the pretreatment, hydrothermal treatment and purification step was designed. During the designed process, 2.3 kg-dry of the purified XOs was produced from 30 kg-wet of the WM (15% yield as dry basis weight). Theoretical yield of XOs attained to 48% as xylan weight in the WM.ArticleBioresource Technology. 101(15):6006-6011 (2010)journal articl

Nuclear dynamics of topoisomerase II beta reflects its catalytic activity that is regulated by binding of RNA to the C-terminal domain

DNA topoisomerase II (topo II) changes DNA topology by cleavage/re-ligation cycle(s) and thus contributes to various nuclear DNA transactions. It is largely unknown how the enzyme is controlled in a nuclear context. Several studies have suggested that its C-terminal domain (CTD), which is dispensable for basal relaxation activity, has some regulatory influence. In this work, we examined the impact of nuclear localization on regulation of activity in nuclei. Specifically, human cells were transfected with wild-type and mutant topo II beta tagged with EGFP. Activity attenuation experiments and nuclear localization data reveal that the endogenous activity of topo II beta is correlated with its subnuclear distribution. The enzyme shuttles between an active form in the nucleoplasm and a quiescent form in the nucleolus in a dynamic equilibrium. Mechanistically, the process involves a tethering event with RNA. Isolated RNA inhibits the catalytic activity of topo II beta in vitro through the interaction with a specific 50-residue region of the CTD (termed the CRD). Taken together, these results suggest that both the subnuclear distribution and activity regulation of topo II beta are mediated by the interplay between cellular RNA and the CRD

Problems of SEA implementation in the energy sector : A comparative study of the adaptation of wind power in Sweden and power plants in Japan -

Today, it is common to see Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) as a tool to enhance environmental consideration for Policies, Plans and Programmes (PPP) through decision making processes. However, SEAs in both Sweden and Japan are pointed out that they have been facing some challenges. The purpose of the thesis is, therefore, to find out problems of SEA implementation, especially by looking at and making comparisons of wind power plants in Sweden and electric power plants in Japan as case studies. Although Sweden and Japan have a long history of Environmental Assessment, our study shows that SEA in the field of energy planning in both countries has not been effectively used yet. Through the study, some of the problems surrounding the SEA have become visible, which include mixed understanding and confusion of SEA for PPP and Environmental Impact Assessment for projects; inappropriate planning system as an obstacle of SEA usage; national policy as a cause of resistance/hesitation for SEA; and insufficient public access to the environmental information