Complete Genomic Sequence of the Thermophilic and Hydrogenotrophic Methanogen Methanothermobacter sp. Strain KEPCO-1.

Here, we describe the complete genome of Methanothermobacter sp. strain KEPCO-1, a thermophilic and hydrogenotrophic methanogen that was isolated from an anaerobic digester in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The genome of KEPCO-1 shares 96.98% of its sequence with Methanothermobacter marburgensis strain DSM 2133 and consists of 1,741,029 bp, with 1,822 protein-coding genes, 44 noncoding RNAs, and a GC content of 48.47%. The development of this genome will facilitate future genomic studies of KEPCO-1.

Simultaneous production of methane and acetate by thermophilic mixed culture from carbon dioxide in bioelectrochemical system.

A thermophilic bioelectrochemical system was operated with mixed culture at 60 °C, while introducing only carbon dioxide. Methane production was initially observed in a membrane-less single chamber without a mediator, but eventually acetate was also found as 10.5 g/L after 137 days of operation. Comparing the microbial communities before and after the electricity supply using next-generation sequencing technology, acetoclastic methanogens such as Methanosaeta concilii were increased, and this result also indicates the production of acetate in bioelectrochemical CO2 conversion system. With the advent of sulfate-reducing bacteria, Desulfotomaculum peckii was considered to be an acetate production promoter. These high production results for both methane and acetate can be applied to CO2 storage using excess electricity for value-added chemicals.

Laparoscopic live donor left lateral sectionectomy is safe and feasible for pediatric living donor liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Compared to the open method of left lateral sectionectomy, the laparoscopic method has demonstrated shorter hospital stay with less bleeding and complications and is becoming the gold standard procedure. We report our experience with 15 Iaparoscopic left lateral sectionectomies performed during PLDLTs from May 2008. METHODOLOGY: From May 2008 to April 2010, there were 15 cases where laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy was performed for donor hepatectomy. All cases were performed by a sin-gle surgeon. RESULTS: The mean size of the actual graft was 248.8±52.8mL (range 150-350). The mean operation time was 331.3+63.1 minutes (range 220-480),the mean blood loss was 410.0+71.2mL (range 250-500) and the mean warm ischemic time was 5.8+1.6 minutes (range 4-10). The mean time to oral intake was 2.0±0.3 days (range 1-3) and the mean hospital stay was 7.1+0.8 days (range 6-10). There were no complications or deaths among donors postoperative-ly. CONCLUSIONS: We believe it is a safe and reproducible procedure and an especially useful procedure for young mother donors who desire small wounds and rapid recovery.

Printed UHF RFID antennas with high efficiencies using nano-particle silver ink.

One of the most popular targets of conductive ink technology is to print RFID tag antennas. However, the printed RFID antennas, manufactured by conductive silver ink which is generally based on microsized silver particles, have lower conductivity and consequently lower radiation efficiency than those by conventional copper etching method. This work demonstrates nano-particle conductive silver ink that is capable of printing UHF RFID antennas with improved radiation efficiency. Compared with commercial micro-particle silver ink, the solid content of metal is much higher in the proposed nanoparticle silver ink, leading to better electrical properties. Two types of dipole antennas are printed with the proposed nano-particle as well as with commercial micro-particle inks. Also, the same antennas are fabricated by copper etching. With these conductive inks, a straight and a meandered dipole antennas are fabricated and their radiation efficiencies are measured with the Wheeler cap method. Experimental results show that the radiation efficiencies of the antennas based on nanoparticle silver ink are superior to those printed with the micro-particle silver ink, and are comparable to those of popular copper antennas.