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In this study, a biowindow with a piped gas collection network is proposed as an area-efficient landfill gas treatment system. A 9-m2 biowindow was constructed for treating landfill gas collected from an area of 450 m2 in a sanitary landfill, and its performance was evaluated for 224 days. The methane removal efficiency was 59–100% at 146.3–675.1 g-CH4 m−2 d−1. Odorous compounds were also removed by the biowindow, with a complex odor intensity removal rate of 93–100%. In particular, the removal efficiency for hydrogen sulfide and methanethiol, major contributors to the complex odor intensity, was 97% and 91%, respectively. Metagenomic analysis showed that the dominant bacterial genera shifted from Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas to Methylobacter and Methylocaldum due to the high concentration of methane. A high bacterial diversity was maintained, which may have contributed to the robust performance of the biowindow against environmental fluctuations. At 1/50th of the size of conventional biocovers, the proposed biowindow can greatly reduce the required installation area and represents a competitive method for the simultaneous treatment of methane and odor in landfills.

Korean chronicles have a large amount of observational records of natural phenomena, including astronomical and meteorological events over two thousand years. Here we examine the correlation of solar activity and climate change from historical sunspot and frost records in the Korean chronicles. There are 42 sunspot records in Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392 CE) and 13 records in Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910 CE). The sunspot records in Goryeo Dynasty show a periodicity in good agreement with the well-known solar activity of 11 years. Korean sunspot records suggest that the solar activity in Joseon Dynasty decreased compared with that in the previous ∼500 years. In order to examine the long-period variation of solar activity, we include Chinese historical sunspot records in our analysis to supplement the lack of Korean records, and find a new ∼240-yr long-period solar activity from the power spectral analysis. Korean chronicles also have about 700 frost records during the last millennium. We investigate these frost records and find a sign of cooling down that can be interpreted as climate change during the last millennium. We also find ∼240-yr cooling period from the historical frost records, which is well in accord with that of solar activity. Therefore, we conclude that the solar activity has decreased during the last one thousand years and also has a long-term variation of ∼240 years.

Unpleasant odors emitted from landfills have been caused environmental and societal problems. For odor abatement, two pilot-scale biocovers were installed at a sanitary landfill site in South Korea. Biocovers PBC1 and PBC2 comprised a soil mixture with different ratios of earthworm casts as an inoculum source and were operated for 240 days. Their odor removal efficiencies were evaluated, and their bacterial community structures were characterized using pyrosequencing. In addition, the correlation between odor removability and bacterial community dynamics was assessed using network analysis. The removal efficiency of complex odor intensity in the two biocovers ranged from 81.1% to 97.8%. Removal efficiencies of sulfur-containing odors (hydrogen sulfide, methanethiol, dimethyl sulfide, and dimethyl disulfide), which contributed most to complex odor intensity, were greater than 91% in both biocovers. Despite the fluctuations in ambient temperature (-8.2 to 31.3 °C) and inlet complex odor intensity (10,000-42,748 of odor dilution ratio), biocovers PBC1 and PBC2 displayed stable deodorizing performance. A high ratio of earthworm casts as an inoculum source led to high odor removability during the first 25 days of operation, but different mixing ratios of earthworm casts did not significantly affect overall odor removability. A bacterial community analysis showed that Methylobacter, Arthrobacter, Acinetobacter, Rhodanobacter, and Pedobacter were the dominant genera in both biocovers. Network analysis results indicated that Steroidobacter, Cystobacter, Methylosarcina, Solirubrobacter, and Pseudoxanthomonas increased in relative abundance with time and were major contributors to odor removal, although these bacteria had a relatively low abundance compared to the overall bacterial community. These data contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between bacterial community dynamics and deodorizing performance in biocovers.

A soil burial-composting method was proposed as a hybrid disposal method for infected carcasses. This is a modified soil burial technique that involves covering carcasses with compost to achieve a final compost bed of 1.0–1.2 m during the soil burial process. To evaluate the feasibility and applicability of the soil burial-composting method, a pilot-scale system was constructed to dispose of pig carcasses and monitored its performance for 346 days. Temperature around the pig carcasses in the compost bed increased gradually, and was in the range of 35–45 °C after 200 days. Mesophilic (Sporosarcina and Steroidobacter) and thermophilic (Truepera) bacteria were dominant in the compost bed. Based on odor gas profiling and the morphological properties of the carcasses excavated after 346 days, it was estimated that an advanced decay stage was reached after 243 days. Considering the results of previous studies, the carcass degradation rate achieved by soil burial-composting was faster than that of soil burial, but slower than that of the composting method. Sum of odor quotient (SOQ) in the upper soil bed was lower than the SOQ in the compost bed where the carcasses were buried. This result demonstrated that the upper soil bed functioned as a biofilter to mitigate odor gases emitted during degradation of the carcasses. The soil burial-composting disposal method is preferred over soil burial because the degradation of carcasses is faster, and over composting because odor complaints and compost usage can be minimized.

Rhizoremediation, CH4 emission, and bacterial community dynamics were evaluated in diesel-contaminated soil cultivated with tall fescue via a pot experiment. At the beginning of the experiment, total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) removal efficiency was 30.2% in tall fescue-cultivated soil, which was significantly higher than that of unplanted soil (19.4%). However, when compost was added as a soil amendment, TPHs removal efficiency increased to 39.2% in tall fescue-cultivated soil. Interestingly, potential CH4 emissions were more affected by the initial diesel concentration than by compost addition or tall fescue planting. Specifically, the potential CH4 emission was approximately 3.8 times higher in the treatment with the highest initial diesel concentration (T-WC38) than that of the treatment with the lowest initial diesel concentration (T-WC5). Functional gene analysis revealed that TPHs removal had a linear correlation with the alkB/16S gene ratio, whereas potential CH4 emission had a linear correlation with pmoA gene copy numbers. Initial diesel concentrations in soil also affected bacterial community structures and the genera Rhizobium, Halothiobacillus, and Geobacter were found to be positively linked to diesel-contaminated soil rhizoremediation. Therefore, this study provides useful insights into the development of strategies to enhance rhizoremediation efficiency and CH4 emission mitigation in diesel-contaminated soils.

Kinetic and enzymatic inhibition experiments were performed to investigate the effects of methanethiol (MT) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on methane oxidation by a methane-oxidizing consortium. In the coexistence of MT and H2S, the oxidation of methane was delayed until MT and H2S were completely degraded. MT and H2S could be degraded, both with and without methane. The kinetic analysis revealed that the methane-oxidizing consortium showed a maximum methane oxidation rate (Vmax) of 3.7 mmol g-dry cell weight (DCW)(-1) h(-1) and a saturation constant (Km) of 184.1 μM. MT and H2S show competitive inhibition on methane oxidation, with inhibition values (Ki) of 1504.8 and 359.8 μM, respectively. MT was primary removed by particulate methane monooxygenases (pMMO) of the consortium, while H2S was degraded by the other microorganisms or enzymes in the consortium. DNA and mRNA transcript levels of the pmoA gene expressions were decreased to ∼10(6) and 10(3)pmoA gene copy number g-DCW(-1) after MT and H2S degradation, respectively; however, both the amount of the DNA and mRNA transcript recovered their initial levels of ∼10(7) and 10(5)pmoA gene copy number g-DCW(-1) after methane oxidation, respectively. The gene expression results indicate that the pmoA gene could be rapidly reproducible after methane oxidation. This study provides comprehensive information of kinetic interactions between methane and sulfur compounds.

This study investigated the effects of proton exchange membranes (PEMs) on performance and microbial community of air-cathode microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Air-cathode MFCs with reactor volume of 1L were constructed in duplicate with or without PEM (designated as ACM-MFC and AC-MFC, respectively) and fed with a mixture of glucose and acetate (1:1, w:w). The maximum power density and coulombic efficiency did not differ between MFCs in the absence or presence of a PEM. However, PEM use adversely affected maximum voltage production and the rate of organic compound removal (p0.05). Quantitative droplet digital PCR indicated that AC-MFCs had a greater bacterial population than ACM-MFCs (p0.05). Likewise, ribosomal tag pyrosequencing revealed that the diversity index of bacterial communities was greater for AC-MFCs (p0.05). Network analysis revealed that the most abundant genus was Enterococcus, which comprised ≥62% of the community and was positively associated with PEM and negatively associated with the rate of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal (Pearson correlation0.9 and p0.05). Geobacter, which is known as an exoelectrogen, was positively associated with maximum power density and negatively associated with PEM. Thus, these results suggest that the absence of PEM favored the growth of Geobacter, a key player for electricity generation in MFC systems. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that MFC systems without PEM are more efficient with respect to power production and COD removal as well as exoelectrogen growth.

The depth profiles of the CH4 oxidation potentials and the methanotrophic community were characterized in a lab-scale soil mixture biocover. The soil mixture samples were collected from the top (0–10 cm), middle (10–40 cm), and bottom (40–50 cm) layers of the biocover where most of methane was oxidized at the top layer due to consumption of O2. Batch tests using serum bottles showed that the middle and bottom samples displayed CH4 oxidation activity under aerobic conditions, and their CH4 oxidation rates were 85 and 71% of the rate of top sample (8.40 μmol g dry sample−1 h−1), respectively. The numbers of methanotrophs in the middle and bottom were not significantly different from those in the top sample. There was no statistical difference in the community stability indices (diversity and evenness) among the methanotrophic communities of the three layer samples, even though the community structures were distinguished from each other. Based on microarray analysis, type I and type II methanotrophs were equally present in the top sample, while type I was more dominant than type II in the middle and bottom samples. We suggested that the qualitative difference in the community structures was probably caused by the difference in the depth profiles of the CH4 and O2 concentrations. The results for the CH4 oxidation potential, methanotrophic biomass, and community stability indices in the middle and bottom layer samples indicated that the deeper layer in the methanotrophic biocover serves as a bioresource reservoir for sustainable CH4 mitigation.

Tobermolite was characterized as a bed material for methanotrophic biofiltration. A lab-scale biofilter packed with tobermolite was operated for different operation times under identical conditions. The three different runs showed similar acclimation patterns of methane oxidation, with methane removal efficiency increasing rapidly for the first few days and peaking within three weeks, after which the efficiency remained stable. The mean methane removal capacities ranged from 766gm(-3)d(-1) to 974gm(-3)d(-1) after acclimation. Pyrosequencing indicated that the methanotrophic proportion (methanotroph/bacteria) increased to 71-94% within three weeks. Type I methanotrophs Methylocaldum and Methylosarcina were dominant during the initial growth period, then Methylocaldum alone dominated the methanotrophic community. A community comparison showed that total bacterial and methanotrophic communities were temporally stable after the initial growth period. Quantitative PCR showed that methanotrophic density increased during the first 3-4 weeks, then remained stable over 120 days. Tobermolite can provide a special habitat for the selective growth of methanotrophs, resulting in rapid acclimation. Tobermolite also allows the microbial community and methanotrophic density to remain stable, resulting in stable methane biofiltration.

Dental caries are initiated by the attachment of Streptococcus mutans aggregates to the surface of teeth. Bacterial adhesion to the interproximal space, the space between adjacent teeth, has not been investigated due to the lack of devices that mimic the space. Herein, we describe a method for determining the effect of shear stress and sucrose on the attachment of S. mutans aggregates to the interproximal space using microfluidic funnel device (μFFD). Using μFFD, the shear stress tolerance of sucrose-independent and sucrose-dependent S. mutans aggregates (larger than 50 μm in diameter) trapped in the funnel was tested against various flow rates of saliva solution (5 to 50 μl/min). Sucrose-independent aggregates were completely removed from the funnel walls at a low flow rate (10 μl/min) within 7 min., while sucrose-dependent aggregates were removed from the walls only at higher flow rates (25 and 50 μl/min) within several minutes. These results suggest that sucrose-dependent aggregates are more tolerant of shear stress than sucrose-independent aggregates, and are more likely to remain in the region with the smallest shear stress in the teeth.

Simultaneous removal of methane and malodor-causing volatile sulfur compounds (MVSCs), both emitted from landfills, is a desirable characteristic for methane-mitigation approaches. A methanotrophic bacterium was isolated from a microbial consortium, enriched with methane and dimethyl sulfide (DMS). It grew in the complex nutrient medium R2A without methane, and stably exhibited methanotrophic activity after facultative growth. It was identified as Sphingopyxis sp. MD2 by comparison of the 16S rRNA gene. It belongs to Sphingomonadales, whose members have not shown methanotrophic activity, phylogenetically distinct from orders of known methanotrophs. The MD2 biomass increased at a growth rate of 1.18d(-1) when methane was used as the sole growth substrate. An inhibition test with allylthiourea and PCR/sequencing confirmed the presence of particulate methane monooxygenase in MD2. DMS decreased the methane oxidation rate (2634±146 μmole g DCW(-1) h(-1)) by 12%, while H(2)S had no effect on the methane oxidation rate. Interestingly, methanethiol (MT) enhanced the methane oxidation rate by more than 50%. MD2 degraded H(2)S and MT, regardless of the presence of methane. MD2 also degraded DMS in the presence of methane, indicating co-metabolism. These combined results indicate that MD2 may be a promising biological resource for simultaneous removal of methane and MVSCs.

The ionospheric total electron content (TEC) in the northern hemispheric equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) crest region is investigated by using dual-frequency signals of the Global Positioning System (GPS) acquired from Rajkot (Geog. Lat. 22.29°N, Geog. Long. 70.74°E; Geom. Lat. 14.21°N, Geom. Long. 144.90°E), India. The day-to-day variability of EIA characteristics is examined during low solar activity period (F10.7∼83 sfu). It is found that the daily maximum TEC at EIA crest exhibits a day-to-day and strong semi-annual variability. The seasonal anomaly and equinoctial asymmetry in TEC at EIA is found non-existent and weaker, respectively. We found a moderate and positive correlation of daily magnitude of crest, Ic with daily F10.7 and EUV fluxes with a correlation coefficient of 0.43 and 0.33, respectively indicating an existence of a short-term relation between TEC at EIA and the solar radiation even during low solar activity period. The correlation of daily Ic with Dst index is also moderate (r = −0.35), whereas no correlation is found with the daily Kp index (r = 0.14) respectively. We found that the magnitude of EIA crest is moderately correlated with solar flux in all seasons except winter where it is weakly related (0.27). The magnitude of EIA crest is also found highly related with EEJ strength in spring (r = 0.69) and summer (r = 0.65) than autumn (0.5) and winter (r = 0.47), though EEJ is stronger in autumn than spring.

The metabolism of cyclohexanes by Rodococcus sp. EC1 was investigated using a sequential tracking method of degradation intermediate. Evidence for the formation of cyclohexanol, cyclohexaone, 2-cyclohexen-1-one, and phenol was presented. EC1 metabolized cyclohexane to phenol by aromatization of 2-cyclohexen-1-one, and furthermore gamma-butyrolactone as an intermediate of 2-cyclohexen-1-one was formed. Aromatization by EC1 was confirmed using tetrahydrofuran. Tetrahydrofuran was metabolized through aromatization reaction, involving furan and 2,3-dihydrofuran as key intermediates. EC1 can degrade cyclohexane and tetrahydrofuran in aromatization via desaturation.

The performance of a pilot-scale anti-clogging biofilter system (ABS) was evaluated over a period of 125days for treating ammonia and volatile organic compounds emitted from a full-scale food waste-composting facility. The pilot-scale ABS was designed to intermittently and automatically remove excess biomass using an agitator. When the pressure drop in the polyurethane filter bed was increased to a set point (50 mm H(2)O m(-1)), due to excess biomass acclimation, the agitator automatically worked by the differential pressure switch, without biofilter shutdown. A high removal efficiency (97-99%) was stably maintained for the 125 days after an acclimation period of 1 week, even thought the inlet gas concentrations fluctuated from 0.16 to 0.55 g m(-3). Due the intermittent automatic agitation of the filter bed, the biomass concentration and pressure drop in the biofilter were maintained within the ranges of 1.1-2.0 g-DCW g PU(-1) and below 50 mm H(2)O m(-1), respectively.

To treat wastewater containing high concentrations of perchlorate, a perchlorate reducing-bacterial consortium was obtained by enrichment culture grown on high-strength perchlorate (1200 mg L(-1)) feed medium, and was characterized in a sequence batch reactor (SBR) over a long-time operation. The consortium removed perchlorate in the SBR with high reduction rates (35-90 mg L(-1)h(-1)) and stable removal efficiency over 200-day operations. The maximum specific perchlorate reduction rate (qmax), half saturation constant (Ks), and optimal pH range were 0.67 mg-perchlorate mg-dry cell weight(-1) h(-1), 193.8 mg-perchlorate L(-1), and pH 7-9, respectively. The perchlorate reduction yield was 0.48 mol-perchloratemol-acetate(-1). A clone library prepared using the amplicons of cld gene encoding chlorate dismutase showed that the dominant (per)chlorate reducing bacteria in the consortium were Dechlorosoma sp. (53%), Ideonella sp. (28%), and Dechloromonas sp. (19%).

We present the result of a search for a massive color-octet vector particle, (e.g. a massive gluon) decaying to a pair of top quarks in proton–antiproton collisions with a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV. This search is based on 1.9 fb − 1 of data collected using the CDF detector during Run II of the Tevatron at Fermilab. We study t t ¯ events in the lepton + jets channel with at least one b-tagged jet. A massive gluon is characterized by its mass, decay width, and the strength of its coupling to quarks. These parameters are determined according to the observed invariant mass distribution of top quark pairs. We set limits on the massive gluon coupling strength for masses between 400 and 800 GeV / c 2 and width-to-mass ratios between 0.05 and 0.50. The coupling strength of the hypothetical massive gluon to quarks is consistent with zero within the explored parameter space.

We have studied the solar proton events associated with the coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and flares during the solar cycle 23 (1997–2006) in order to determine what physical parameters of the solar eruptions might control the SPE intensity and time profile. For total 63 SPEs, we found that (1) SPE rise time, duration time and decrease times depend on a CME speed (cc=0.34, 0.48 and 0.48) and (2) a SPE peak intensity depends on an earthward direction parameter of a CME as well as the CME speed and x-ray flare intensity (cc=0.40, 0.31 and 0.37). The SPEs were divided into two groups according to the correlation between the CME earthward direction parameter and the SPE intensity. First group consists of large six SPEs (>10,000 pfu at >10 MeV proton channel of GOES satellite) and shows a very good correlation (cc=0.65) between the SPE peak intensity and the CME earthward direction parameter. Second group has a relatively weak SPE peak intensity and shows no correlation (cc=0.01) between the SPE peak intensity and the CME earthward direction parameter we found that the first group SPEs are associated with a very fast halo CME (>1400 km/s) and most of those are located at disk except for only one case. Especially, large six SPEs have a good correlation with their associated CME earthward direction parameters, implying that these events are produced by ICME-driven shocks. We also found that those six SPEs are associated with the preceding CMEs originated from the same solar source region and a nearby pre-existing helmet streamer. Thus, we speculate that the preceding CME and helmet streamer might provide seed particles for CME-driven shocks and cause a clear separation between two groups.

The use of biocovers is a promising strategy toward mitigating CH(4) emission from smaller and/or older landfills. In this study, a filter bed material consisting of a mixture of earthworm cast and rice paddy soil in a biocover was evaluated. Although the CH(4) oxidation rate of the enriched paddy soil was 4.9 microg g-dry soil(-1) h(-1), it was enhanced to 25.1 microg g-dry soil(-1) h(-1) by adding an earthworm cast with a 3:7 ratio of earthworm cast:soil (wet weight). CO(2) was found as the final oxidation product of CH(4), and the mole ratio of CO(2) production to CH(4) consumption was 0.27. At a moisture content range of 15-40% and a temperature range of 20-40 degrees C, the CH(4) oxidation rates of the enriched mixture were more than 57% of the maximum rate obtained at 25% moisture content and 25 degrees C. By denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis employing primers for the universal bacterial 16S rRNA gene, and terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis using primers for the pmoA gene, the bacterial and methanotrophic communities in the enriched mixture were mainly originate from paddy soil and earthworm cast, respectively. Both type I (mainly Methylocaldum) and type II methanotrophs (mainly Methylocystis) played important roles in CH(4) oxidation in the enriched mixture.

The performance of a polyurethane (PU) biofilter inoculated with Rhodococcus sp. EH831 was evaluated under different transient loading conditions, such as shutdown, intermittent and fluctuating loading. A mixture of benzene and toluene vapors was employed as model pollutants. When the biofilter was restarted after a 2 week-shutdown, during which neither clean air nor water was supplied, the benzene and toluene removal capacities were rapidly restored after a re-adaptation period of only 1 day. A comparison of the removal capacity under continuous and intermittent loading revealed that constant and periodic loading (8 h on/16 h off per day) and a 2 day-shutdown did not significantly influence the biofilter performance, although the removals of benzene and toluene were relatively unstable and lower under intermittent loading during the initial week. The result of quantitative real-time PCR showed that Rhodococcus sp. EH831 could be maintained during transient loading periods (10(10)-10(11) CFU/g-dry PU) irrespective of the different operating conditions.

Using data from FOCUS (E831) experiment at Fermilab, we present a model independent partial-wave analysis of the K{sup -}{pi}{sup +} S-wave amplitude from the decay D{sup +} {yields} K{sup -}{pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup +}. The S-wave is a generic complex function to be determined directly from the data fit. The P- and D-waves are parameterized by a sum of Breit-Wigner amplitudes. The measurement of the S-wave amplitude covers the whole elastic range of the K{sup -}{pi}{sup +} system.

Cyclohexane is a recalcitrant compound that is more difficult to degrade than even n-alkanes or monoaromatic hydrocarbons. In this study, a cyclohexane-degrading consortium was obtained from oil-contaminated soil by an enrichment culture method. Based on a 16S rDNA polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis method, this consortium was identified as comprising Alpha-proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Gamma-proteobacteria. One of these organisms, Rhodococcus sp. EC1, was isolated and shown to have excellent cyclohexane-degrading ability. The maximum specific cyclohexane degradation rate (Vmax) for EC1 was 246 micromol g-DCW(-1) (dry cell weight)h(-1). The optimum conditions of cyclohexane degradation were 25-35 degrees C and pH 6-8. In addition to its cyclohexane degradation abilities, EC1 was also able to strongly degrade hexane, with a maximum specific hexane degradation rate of 361 micromol g-DCW(-1)h(-1). Experiments using 14C-hexane revealed that EC1 mineralized 40% of hexane into CO2 and converted 53% into biomass. Moreover, EC1 could use other hydrocarbons, including methanol, ethanol, acetone, methyl tert-butyl ether, pyrene, diesel, lubricant oil, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m-xylene, p-xylene and o-xylene. These findings collectively suggest that EC1 may be a useful biological resource for removal of cyclohexane, hexane, and other recalcitrant hydrocarbons.

We present a search for a pentaquark decaying strongly to $\Xi^-\pi^-$ in $\gamma N$ collisions at a center-of-mass energy up to 25 GeV/c^2. Finding no evidence for such a state in the mass range of 1480 MeV/c^2 to 2400 MeV/c^2, we set limits on the yield and on the cross section times branching ratio relative to $\Xi^*(1530)^0$.

We study the decay of D s + mesons into final states involving a K S 0 and report the discovery of Cabibbo suppressed decay modes D s + → K S 0 π − π + π + ( 179 ± 36 events) and D s + → K S 0 π + ( 113 ± 26 events). The branching fraction ratios for the new modes are Γ ( D s + → K S 0 π − π + π + ) Γ ( D s + → K S 0 K − π + π + ) = 0.18 ± 0.04 ± 0.05 and Γ ( D s + → K S 0 π + ) Γ ( D s + → K S 0 K + ) = 0.104 ± 0.024 ± 0.014 .

Using data collected by the high energy photoproduction experiment FOCUS at Fermilab we performed a Dalitz plot analysis of the Cabibbo favored decay D{sup +} {yields} K{sup -}{pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup +}. This study uses 53653 Dalitz-plot events with a signal fraction of {approx} 97%, and represents the highest statistics, most complete Dalitz plot analysis for this channel. Results are presented and discussed using two different formalisms. The first is a simple sum of Breit-Wigner functions with freely fitted masses and widths. It is the model traditionally adopted and serves as comparison with the already published analyses. The second uses a K-matrix approach for the dominant S-wave, in which the parameters are fixed by first fitting K{pi} scattering data and continued to threshold by Chiral Perturbation Theory. We show that the Dalitz plot distribution for this decay is consistent with the assumption of two body dominance of the final state interactions and the description of these interactions is in agreement with other data on the K{pi} final state.

Using a large sample of D{sup +} {yields} K{sup -}K{sup +}{pi}{sup +} decays collected by the FOCUS photoproduction experiment at Fermilab, we present the first non-parametric analysis of the K{sup -}{pi}{sup +} amplitudes in D{sup +} {yields} K{sup -}K{sup +}{pi}{sup +} decay. The technique is similar to the technique used for our non-parametric measurements of the D{sup +} {yields} {bar K}*{sup 0} e{sup +}{nu} form factors. Although these results are in rough agreement with those of E687, we observe a wider S-wave contribution for the {bar K}*{sub 0}{sup 0}(1430) contribution than the standard, PDG [1] Breit-Wigner parameterization. We have some weaker evidence for the existence of a new, D-wave component at low values of the K{sup -}{pi}{sup +} mass.

Using data collected by the FOCUS experiment at Fermilab, we present a new measurement of the charm semileptonic branching ratio BR ( D + → ρ 0 μ + ν ) BR ( D + → K ¯ ∗ 0 μ + ν ) . From a sample of 320 ± 44 and 11372 ± 161 D + → ρ 0 μ + ν and D + → K − π + μ + ν events respectively, we find BR ( D + → ρ 0 μ + ν ) BR ( D + → K ¯ ∗ 0 μ + ν ) = 0.041 ± 0.006 ( stat ) ± 0.004 ( syst ) .

Toxic H2S gas is an important industrial pollutant that is applied to biofiltration. Here, we examined the effects of factors such as inlet concentration and space velocity on the removal efficiency of a bacterial strain capable of tolerating high sulfate concentrations and low pH conditions. We examined three strains of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans known to have sulfur-oxidizing activity, and identified strain AZ11 as having the highest tolerance for sulfate. A. thiooxidans AZ11 could grow at pH 0.2 in the presence of 74 g l(-1) sulfate, the final oxidation product of elemental sulfur, in the culture broth. Under these conditions, the specific sulfur oxidation rate was 2.9 g-S g-DCW (dry cell weight)(-1) d(-1). The maximum specific sulfur oxidation rate of A. thiooxidans AZ11 was 21.2 g-S g-DCW(-1) d(-1), which was observed in the presence of 4.2 g-SO4(2-) l(-1) and pH 1.5, in the culture medium. To test the effects of various factors on biofiltration by this strain, A. thiooxidans AZ11 was inoculated into a porous ceramic biofilter. First, a maximum inlet loading of 670 g-S m(-3) h(-1) was applied with a constant space velocity (SV) of 200 h(-1) (residence time, 18 s) and the inlet concentration of H2S was experimentally increased from 200 ppmv to 2200 ppmv. Under these conditions, less than 0.1 ppmv H2S was detected at the biofilter outlet. When the inlet H2S was maintained at a constant concentration of 200 ppmv and the SV was increased from 200 h(-1) to 400 h(-1) (residence time, 9 s), an H2S removal of 99.9% was obtained. However, H2S removal efficiencies decreased to 98% and 94% when the SV was set to 500 h(-1) (residence time, 7.2 s) and 600 h(-1) (residence time, 6 s), respectively. The critical elimination capacity guaranteeing 96% removal of the inlet H2S was determined to be 160 g-S m(-3) h(-1) at a space velocity of 600 h(-1). Collectively, these findings show for the first time that a sulfur oxidizing bacterium has a high sulfate tolerance and a high sulfur oxidizing activity below pH 1.

Using data from the FOCUS (E831) experiment at Fermilab, we present a new measurement of the weak decay-asymmetry parameter α Λ c in Λ c + → Λ π + decay. Comparing particle with antiparticle decays, we obtain the first measurement of the CP violation parameter A ≡ α Λ c + α Λ ¯ c α Λ c − α Λ ¯ c . We obtain α Λ c = − 0.78 ± 0.16 ± 0.19 and A = − 0.07 ± 0.19 ± 0.24 where errors are statistical and systematic.

Using a large sample of D + → K − π + μ + ν decays collected by the FOCUS photoproduction experiment at Fermilab, we present the first measurements of the helicity basis form factors free from the assumption of spectroscopic pole dominance. We also present the first information on the form factor that controls the s -wave interference discussed in a previous paper by the FOCUS Collaboration. We find reasonable agreement with the usual assumption of spectroscopic pole dominance and measured form factor ratios.

We review genetic programming principles, their application to FOCUS data samples, and use the method to study the doubly Cabibbo suppressed decay D+ -> K+ pi+ pi- relative to its Cabibbo favored counterpart, D+ -> K- pi+ pi+. We find that this technique is able to improve upon more traditional analysis methods. To our knowledge, this is the first application of the genetic programming technique to High Energy Physics data., 39 pages

We apply a genetic programming technique to search for the doubly Cabibbo suppressed decays Λ c + → p K + π − and D s + → K + K + π − . We normalize these decays to their Cabibbo favored partners and find BR ( Λ c + → p K + π − ) / BR ( Λ c + → p K − π + ) = ( 0.05 ± 0.26 ± 0.02 ) % and BR ( D s + → K + K + π − ) / BR ( D s + → K − K + π + ) = ( 0.52 ± 0.17 ± 0.11 ) % where the first errors are statistical and the second are systematic. Expressed as 90% confidence levels (CL), we find

Using data from the FOCUS (E831) experiment, we have searched for T violation in charm meson decays using the four-body decay channels $D^0 \to K^-K^+\pi^-\pi^+$, $D^+ \to K^0_SK^+\pi^-\pi^+$, and $D^+_s \to K^0_SK^+\pi^-\pi^+$. The T violation asymmetry is obtained using triple-product correlations and assuming the validity of the CPT theorem. We find the asymmetry values to be $A_Tviol (D^0) = 0.010 \pm 0.057(stat.) \pm 0.037(syst.)$, $A_Tviol (D^+) = 0.023 \pm 0.062(stat.) \pm 0.022(syst.)$, and $A_Tviol (D^+_s) = -0.036 \pm 0.067(stat.) \pm 0.023(syst.)$. Each measurement is consistent with no T violation. New measurements of the CP asymmetries for some of these decay modes are also presented., Comment: 17 pages,6 figures,submitted to Phys.Lett.B

Using data from the FOCUS experiment (FNAL–E831), we study the decay of Λ c + baryons into final states containing a Λ hyperon. The branching fractions of Λ c + into Λ π + , Λ π + π + π − and Λ K ¯ 0 K + relative to that into p K − π + are measured to be 0.217 ± 0.013 ± 0.020 , 0.508 ± 0.024 ± 0.024 and 0.142 ± 0.018 ± 0.022 , respectively. We also report new measurements of Γ ( Λ c + → Σ 0 π + ) Γ ( Λ c + → Λ π + ) = 1.09 ± 0.11 ± 0.19 , Γ ( Λ c + → Σ 0 π + π + π − ) Γ ( Λ c + → Λ π + π + π − ) = 0.26 ± 0.06 ± 0.09 and Γ ( Λ c + → Ξ ( 1690 ) 0 ( Λ K ¯ 0 ) K + ) Γ ( Λ c + → Λ K ¯ 0 K + ) = 0.32 ± 0.10 ± 0.04 . Further, an analysis of the subresonant structure for the Λ c + → Λ π + π + π − decay mode is presented.

Using data from the FOCUS (E831) experiment at Fermilab, the authors present a new measurement for the Cabibbo-suppressed decay mode D{sup 0} {yields} K{sup +}K{sup -}{pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -}. They measure: {Lambda}(D{sup 0} {yields} K{sup +}K{sup -}{pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -})/{Lambda}(D{sup 0} {yields} K{sup -}{pi}{sup -}{pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup +}) = 0.0295 {+-} 0.0011 {+-} 0.0008. An amplitude analysis has been performed in order to determine the resonant substructure of this decay mode. The dominant components are the decays D{sup 0} {yields} K{sub 1}(1270){sup +} K{sup -}, D{sup 0} {yields} K{sub 1}(1400){sup +}K{sup -} and D{sup 0} {yields} {rho}(770){sup 0}{phi}(1020).

Using data collected by the fixed target Fermilab experiment FOCUS, we present several first measurements for the semileptonic decay D0→K¯0π−μ+ν. Using a model that includes a K¯0π− s-wave component, we measure the form factor ratios to be rv=1.71±0.68±0.34 and r2=0.91±0.37±0.10 and the s-wave amplitude to be A=0.35±0.22±0.05GeV−1. Finally, we measure the vector semileptonic branching ratio Γ(D0→K*(892)−μ+ν)Γ(D0→K¯0π−π+)=0.337±0.034±0.013.

Using data from the FOCUS experiment (FNAL-E831), we report on the decay of D 0 mesons into final states containing more than one K S 0 . We present evidence for two Cabibbo favored decay modes, D 0 → K S 0 K S 0 K − π + and D 0 → K S 0 K S 0 K + π − , and measure their combined branching fraction relative to D 0 → K ¯ 0 π + π − to be Γ ( D 0 → K S 0 K S 0 K ± π ∓ ) Γ ( D 0 → K ¯ 0 π + π − ) = 0.0106 ± 0.0019 ± 0.0010 . Further, we report new measurements of Γ ( D 0 → K S 0 K S 0 K S 0 ) Γ ( D 0 → K ¯ 0 π + π − ) = 0.0179 ± 0.0027 ± 0.0026 , Γ ( D 0 → K 0 K ¯ 0 ) Γ ( D 0 → K ¯ 0 π + π − ) = 0.0144 ± 0.0032 ± 0.0016 , and Γ ( D 0 → K S 0 K S 0 π + π − ) Γ ( D 0 → K ¯ 0 π + π − ) = 0.0208 ± 0.0035 ± 0.0021 where the first error is statistical and the second is systematic.

We present a new measurement of the branching ratio of the Cabibbo suppressed decay D 0 → π − μ + ν relative to the Cabibbo favored decay D 0 → K − μ + ν and an improved measurement of the ratio | f + π ( 0 ) / f + K ( 0 ) | . Our results are 0.074 ± 0.008 ± 0.007 for the branching ratio and 0.85 ± 0.04 ± 0.04 ± 0.01 for the form factor ratio, respectively.

Using a large sample of D 0 → K − μ + ν and D 0 → π − μ + ν decays collected by the FOCUS photoproduction experiment at Fermilab, we present new measurements of the q 2 dependence for the f + ( q 2 ) form factor. These measured f + ( q 2 ) form factors are fit to common parameterizations such as the pole dominance form and compared to recent unquenched Lattice QCD calculations. We find m pole = 1.93 ± 0.05 ± 0.03 GeV / c 2 for D 0 → K − μ + ν and m pole = 1.91 −0.15 +0.30 ± 0.07 GeV / c 2 for D 0 → π − μ + ν and f − ( K ) ( 0 ) / f + ( K ) ( 0 ) = − 1.7 −1.4 +1.5 ± 0.3 .

Using a high statistics sample of photo-produced charm particles from the FOCUS experiment at Fermilab, we report on the measurement of the ratio of semileptonic rates Γ ( D + → K π μ + ν μ ) / Γ ( D + → K ¯ 0 μ + ν μ ) = 0.625 ± 0.045 ± 0.034 . Allowing for the Kπ S-wave interference measured in [J.M. Link, et al., FOCUS Collaboration, Phys. Lett. B 544 (2002) 89], we extract the vector to pseudoscalar ratio Γ ( D + → K ¯ * 0 μ + ν μ ) / Γ ( D + → K ¯ 0 μ + ν μ ) = 0.594 ± 0.043 ± 0.033 and the ratio Γ ( D + → K ¯ 0 μ + ν μ ) / Γ ( D + → K − π + π + ) = 1.019 ± 0.076 ± 0.065 . Our results show a lower ratio for Γ ( D → K * l ν ) / Γ ( D → K l ν ) than has been reported recently and indicate the current world average branching fractions for the decays D + → K ¯ 0 ( μ + , e + ) ν μ , e are low. Using the world average B ( D + → K − π + π + ) [K. Hagiwara, et al., Particle Data Group Collaboration, Phys. Rev. D 66 (2002) 010001, and 2003 partial update for edition 2004 ( http://pdg.lbl.gov )] we extract B ( D + → K ¯ 0 μ + ν ) = ( 9.27 ± 0.69 ± 0.59 ± 0.61 ) % .

A membrane-less microbial fuel cell (ML-MFC) with the internal resistance of 3.9 MΩ was used to enrich a microbial consortium oxidizing electron donors with concomitant current generation. Within 4 weeks the system generated a stable current of 2 mA. The current yield was less than 10%. Forced aeration to the cathode compartment generated higher current, but the yield was similar. Use of a cathode with a higher affinity for oxygen could improve the current yield. Additions of NaCl or HCl increased the current generation further with the current yield of 15%. Aerobic microbes turned out to be the predominant oxygen consumer at the cathode. Based on these findings suggestions are made for a ML-MFC configuration with better performance.

Low-grade kaolin contains Fe(III) impurities, which cause the detraction of refractoriness and whiteness of porcelain and pottery. Microbial refinement of low-grade kaolin to remove Fe(III) by iron-reducing bacteria was investigated. The removal of Fe(III) impurities could be performed by the indigenous microorganisms in kaolin, but could be enhanced by the inoculation of iron-reducing bacteria. Maltose, sucrose, and glucose could be used as substrates. The removal efficiency of Fe(III) increased with increasing sugar concentrations in the range of 1–5% (w/w, sugar/clay). After the microbial refinement, the whiteness of the kaolin increased from 64.49 to 71.50, and the redness decreased remarkably from 7.41 to 2.55. Fe(III) impurities were selectively removed from the kaolin without changing or losing the mineralogical composition of the kaolin by the microbial refinement.

Using a large sample of D + → K − π + μ + ν decays collected by the FOCUS photoproduction experiment at Fermilab, we present new measurements of two semileptonic form factor ratios: r v and r 2 . We find r v =1.504±0.057±0.039 and r 2 =0.875±0.049±0.064. Our form factor results include the effects of the s -wave interference discussed in Phys. Lett. B 535 (2002) 43.

Using a large sample of charm semileptonic decays collected by the FOCUS photoproduction experiment at Fermilab, we present new measurements of two semileptonic branching ratios. We obtain values of Γ(D + → K ∗0 μ + ν) Γ(D + →K − π + π + ) =0.602±0.010( stat )±0.021( sys ) and Γ(D s + →φμ + ν) Γ(D s + →φπ + ) =0.54±0.033( stat )±0.048( sys ) . Our D + → K ∗0 μ + ν result includes the effects of the s-wave interference discussed in Phys. Lett. B 535 (2002) 43.

Using a large sample of charm semileptonic decays collected by the FOCUS photoproduction experiment at Fermilab, we present evidence for a small, even spin K−π+ amplitude that interferes with the dominant K ∗0 component in the D+→K−π+μ+ν final state. Although this interference significantly distorts the D+→K−π+μ+ν decay angular distributions, the new amplitude creates only a very small distortion to the observed kaon pion mass distribution when integrated over the other kinematic variables describing the decay. Our data can be described by K ∗0 interference with either a constant amplitude or broad spin zero resonance.

An anaerobic bioleaching of a manganese nodule by anaerobic Mn-reducing bacteria was evaluated for the leaching of metals, Mn, Co, and Ni. Insoluble Mn4+ in the nodule could be reduced to soluble Mn2+ by dissimilatory Mn-reducing bacteria that use a carbon source and Mn4+ as an electron donor and acceptor, respectively. As a result of the Mn reduction, Co and Ni could be leached from the loosed Mn matrix. Leaching experiments were carried out to optimize various process parameters, such as inoculation, pH, temperature, mineral salts, and particle size of the nodule used. The leaching efficiencies of Mn, Co, and Ni increased from 18, 7, and 10% to 77, 70, and 75%, respectively by the inoculation of the Mn-reducing enrichment culture broth. Metals could be efficiently recovered from the nodule in the ranges of pH from 5.0 to 6.5 and temperature from 30 to 45°C by anaerobic bioleaching. External addition of mineral salts was not necessary for Mn, Co, and Ni leaching from the nodule. The optimum ratio of nodule to glucose was 0.1 (w/w). To obtain a leaching efficiency above 70%, the particle size of the nodules must be less than 0.6 mm.

Biological deodorization of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) was studied using porous lava as a carrier of Thiobacillus thiooxidans in a laboratory-scale biofilter. Three different samples of porous lava, A, B, and C, which were obtained from Cheju Island in Korea, were used. The water-holding capacities of samples A, B and C were 0.38, 0.25, and 0.47 g-H2O/g-lava, respectively. The pHs and densities of the lava samples ranged from 8.25-9.24 and 920-1190 kg/m3, respectively. The buffering capacities, expressed as the amount of sulfate added to lower the pH to 4, were 60 g-SO4(2-)/kg-lava for sample A, 50 g-SO4(2-)/kg-lava for B, and 90 g-SO4(2-)/kg-lava for C. To investigate the removal characteristics of H2S by the lava biofilters, T. thiooxidans was immobilized on the lava samples. Biofilters A and C showed a removal capacity of 428 g-S.m(-3).h(-1) when H2S was supplied with 428 g-S.m(-3).h(-1) of inlet load at a space velocity (SV) of 300 h(-1). At the same inlet load and SV, the removal capacity of biofilter B was 396 g-S.m(-3).h(-1). The H2S critical loads of biofilters A, B and C at a SV of 400 h(-1) were 396, 157 and 342 g-S.m(-3).h(-1), respectively. It is suggested that natural, porous lava is a promising candidate as a carrier of microorganisms in biofiltration.

Over 7000 events containing a fully reconstructed D D pair have been extracted from data recorded by the FOCUS photoproduction experiment at Fermilab. Preliminary results from a study of correlations between D and D mesons are presented. Correlations are used to study perturbative QCD predictions and investigate non-perturbative effects. We also present a preliminary result on the production of Ψ(3770).