Application of residual polysaccharide-degrading enzymes in dried shiitake mushrooms as an enzyme preparation in food processing.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the activities of residual enzymes in dried shiitake mushrooms, which are a traditional foodstuff in Japanese cuisine, for possible applications in food processing. RESULTS: Polysaccharide-degrading enzymes remained intact in dried shiitake mushrooms and the activities of amylase, ß-glucosidase and pectinase were high. A potato digestion was tested using dried shiitake powder. The enzymes reacted with potato tuber specimens to solubilize sugars even under a heterogeneous solid-state condition and that their reaction modes were different at 38 and 50 °C. CONCLUSION: Dried shiitake mushrooms have a potential use in food processing as an enzyme preparation.

Formation and evolution of carbonaceous asteroid Ryugu: Direct evidence from returned samples.

Samples of the carbonaceous asteroid Ryugu were brought to Earth by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft. We analyzed 17 Ryugu samples measuring 1 to 8 millimeters. Carbon dioxide-bearing water inclusions are present within a pyrrhotite crystal, indicating that Ryugu's parent asteroid formed in the outer Solar System. The samples contain low abundances of materials that formed at high temperatures, such as chondrules and calcium- and aluminum-rich inclusions. The samples are rich in phyllosilicates and carbonates, which formed through aqueous alteration reactions at low temperature, high pH, and water/rock ratios of <1 (by mass). Less altered fragments contain olivine, pyroxene, amorphous silicates, calcite, and phosphide. Numerical simulations, based on the mineralogical and physical properties of the samples, indicate that Ryugu's parent body formed ~2 million years after the beginning of Solar System formation.

Pebbles and sand on asteroid (162173) Ryugu: In situ observation and particles returned to Earth.

The Hayabusa2 spacecraft investigated the C-type (carbonaceous) asteroid (162173) Ryugu. The mission performed two landing operations to collect samples of surface and subsurface material, the latter exposed by an artificial impact. We present images of the second touchdown site, finding that ejecta from the impact crater was present at the sample location. Surface pebbles at both landing sites show morphological variations ranging from rugged to smooth, similar to Ryugu's boulders, and shapes from quasi-spherical to flattened. The samples were returned to Earth on 6 December 2020. We describe the morphology of >5 grams of returned pebbles and sand. Their diverse color, shape, and structure are consistent with the observed materials of Ryugu; we conclude that they are a representative sample of the asteroid.

Ground and In-Flight Calibration of the OSIRIS-REx Camera Suite.

The OSIRIS-REx Camera Suite (OCAMS) onboard the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is used to study the shape and surface of the mission's target, asteroid (101955) Bennu, in support of the selection of a sampling site. We present calibration methods and results for the three OCAMS cameras-MapCam, PolyCam, and SamCam-using data from pre-flight and in-flight calibration campaigns. Pre-flight calibrations established a baseline for a variety of camera properties, including bias and dark behavior, flat fields, stray light, and radiometric calibration. In-flight activities updated these calibrations where possible, allowing us to confidently measure Bennu's surface. Accurate calibration is critical not only for establishing a global understanding of Bennu, but also for enabling analyses of potential sampling locations and for providing scientific context for the returned sample.

Sample collection from asteroid (162173) Ryugu by Hayabusa2: Implications for surface evolution.

The near-Earth asteroid (162173) Ryugu is thought to be a primitive carbonaceous object that contains hydrated minerals and organic molecules. We report sample collection from Ryugu's surface by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft on 21 February 2019. Touchdown images and global observations of surface colors are used to investigate the stratigraphy of the surface around the sample location and across Ryugu. Latitudinal color variations suggest the reddening of exposed surface material by solar heating and/or space weathering. Immediately after touchdown, Hayabusa2's thrusters disturbed dark, fine grains that originate from the redder materials. The stratigraphic relationship between identified craters and the redder material indicates that surface reddening occurred over a short period of time. We suggest that Ryugu previously experienced an orbital excursion near the Sun.

An artificial impact on the asteroid (162173) Ryugu formed a crater in the gravity-dominated regime.

The Hayabusa2 spacecraft investigated the small asteroid Ryugu, which has a rubble-pile structure. We describe an impact experiment on Ryugu using Hayabusa2's Small Carry-on Impactor. The impact produced an artificial crater with a diameter >10 meters, which has a semicircular shape, an elevated rim, and a central pit. Images of the impact and resulting ejecta were recorded by the Deployable CAMera 3 for >8 minutes, showing the growth of an ejecta curtain (the outer edge of the ejecta) and deposition of ejecta onto the surface. The ejecta curtain was asymmetric and heterogeneous and it never fully detached from the surface. The crater formed in the gravity-dominated regime; in other words, crater growth was limited by gravity not surface strength. We discuss implications for Ryugu's surface age.

Variations in color and reflectance on the surface of asteroid (101955) Bennu.

Visible-wavelength color and reflectance provide information about the geologic history of planetary surfaces. Here we present multispectral images (0.44 to 0.89 micrometers) of near-Earth asteroid (101955) Bennu. The surface has variable colors overlain on a moderately blue global terrain. Two primary boulder types are distinguishable by their reflectance and texture. Space weathering of Bennu surface materials does not simply progress from red to blue (or vice versa). Instead, freshly exposed, redder surfaces initially brighten in the near-ultraviolet region (i.e., become bluer at shorter wavelengths), then brighten in the visible to near-infrared region, leading to Bennu's moderately blue average color. Craters indicate that the time scale of these color changes is ~105 years. We attribute the reflectance and color variation to a combination of primordial heterogeneity and varying exposure ages.

The surface composition of asteroid 162173 Ryugu from Hayabusa2 near-infrared spectroscopy.

The near-Earth asteroid 162173 Ryugu, the target of the Hayabusa2 sample-return mission, is thought to be a primitive carbonaceous object. We report reflectance spectra of Ryugu's surface acquired with the Near-Infrared Spectrometer (NIRS3) on Hayabusa2, to provide direct measurements of the surface composition and geological context for the returned samples. A weak, narrow absorption feature centered at 2.72 micrometers was detected across the entire observed surface, indicating that hydroxyl (OH)-bearing minerals are ubiquitous there. The intensity of the OH feature and low albedo are similar to thermally and/or shock-metamorphosed carbonaceous chondrite meteorites. There are few variations in the OH-band position, which is consistent with Ryugu being a compositionally homogeneous rubble-pile object generated from impact fragments of an undifferentiated aqueously altered parent body.

Hayabusa2 arrives at the carbonaceous asteroid 162173 Ryugu-A spinning top-shaped rubble pile.

The Hayabusa2 spacecraft arrived at the near-Earth carbonaceous asteroid 162173 Ryugu in 2018. We present Hayabusa2 observations of Ryugu's shape, mass, and geomorphology. Ryugu has an oblate "spinning top" shape, with a prominent circular equatorial ridge. Its bulk density, 1.19 ± 0.02 grams per cubic centimeter, indicates a high-porosity (>50%) interior. Large surface boulders suggest a rubble-pile structure. Surface slope analysis shows Ryugu's shape may have been produced from having once spun at twice the current rate. Coupled with the observed global material homogeneity, this suggests that Ryugu was reshaped by centrifugally induced deformation during a period of rapid rotation. From these remote-sensing investigations, we identified a suitable sample collection site on the equatorial ridge.

The geomorphology, color, and thermal properties of Ryugu: Implications for parent-body processes.

The near-Earth carbonaceous asteroid 162173 Ryugu is thought to have been produced from a parent body that contained water ice and organic molecules. The Hayabusa2 spacecraft has obtained global multicolor images of Ryugu. Geomorphological features present include a circum-equatorial ridge, east-west dichotomy, high boulder abundances across the entire surface, and impact craters. Age estimates from the craters indicate a resurfacing age of [Formula: see text] years for the top 1-meter layer. Ryugu is among the darkest known bodies in the Solar System. The high abundance and spectral properties of boulders are consistent with moderately dehydrated materials, analogous to thermally metamorphosed meteorites found on Earth. The general uniformity in color across Ryugu's surface supports partial dehydration due to internal heating of the asteroid's parent body.

Isolation, characterization and identification of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts from sour Mifen, a traditional fermented rice noodle from China.

AIMS: Considering the effect of natural fermentation on the textural improvement of fermented rice noodles in China and South Asia, and given the lack of reports concerning microbial populations and structure in the fermentation process, this study aims to determine the number of viable micro-organisms and identify the species isolated from the local factories, and to assess their potential use as a starter culture from their enzymatic profiles. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fourteen samples from three local factories were analysed for the presence of micro-organisms. A total of 170 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and 96 yeasts were isolated from the factories. The isolates were phenotypically characterized by using API 50 CHL kits, API 20 Strep kits, API ID 32 C kits and by performing additional biochemical tests. The enzymatic profiles of isolates were assessed by using API ZYM kits. Lactobacillus plantarum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were identified as predominant species in the fermented supernatants. A majority of the isolates of LAB and yeasts displayed activities of alpha-glucosidase, beta-glucosidase, lipase and trypsin. CONCLUSIONS: The microbial composition and strain characteristics present in the fermentation supernatant demonstrate that a majority of micro-organisms have the ability to digest starch, sugar, protein or lipid. It supports our previous work in which the rice starch was modified and purified by fermentation and thus improves the texture of rice noodles. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The dominant strains would be important in developing a starter culture. The results can form the basis for the improvement of product quality and consistency.

iBTA-induced bovine Biosheet for repair of abdominal wall defects in a beagle model: proof of concept.

INTRODUCTION: We evaluated the usefulness of xeno-Biosheets, an in-body tissue architecture-induced bovine collagenous sheet, as repair materials for abdominal wall defects in a beagle model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Biosheets were prepared by embedding cylindrical molds into subcutaneous pouches of three Holstein cows for 2-3 months and stored in 70% ethanol. The Biosheets were 0.5 mm thick, cut into 2 cm × 2 cm, and implanted to replace defects of the same size in the abdominal wall of nine beagles. The abdominal wall and Biosheets were harvested and subjected to histological evaluation at 1, 3, and 5 months after implantation (n = 3 each). RESULTS: The Biosheet and bovine pericardiac patch (control) were not stressed during the suture operation and did not split, and patches were easily implanted on defective wounds. After implantation, the patch did not fall off and was not perforated, and healing was observed nacroscopically in all cases. During the first month of implantation, accumulation of inflammatory cells was observed along with decomposition around the Biosheet. Decomposition was almost complete after 3 months, and the Biosheet was replaced by autologous collagenous connective tissue without rejection. After 5 months, the abdominal wall muscle elongated from the periphery of the newly formed collagen layer and the peritoneum was formed on the peritoneal cavity surface. Regeneration of almost all layers of the abdominal wall was observed. However, almost all pericardium patches were remained even at 5 months with inflammation. CONCLUSION: Bovine Biosheets requiring no special post-treatment can be useful as off-the-shelf materials for abdominal wall repair.