We apply the coupled dynamics of time-dependent density functional theory and Maxwell equations to the interaction of intense laser pulses with crystalline silicon. As a function of electromagnetic field intensity, we see several regions in the response. At the lowest intensities, the pulse is reflected and transmitted in accord with the dielectric response, and the characteristics of the energy deposition is consistent with two-photon absorption. The absorption process begins to deviate from that at laser intensities ∼ 10 13 W/cm 2 , where the energy deposited is of the order of 1 eV per atom. Changes in the reflectivity are seen as a function of intensity. When it passes a threshold of about 3 × 10 12 W/cm 2 , there is a small decrease. At higher intensities, above 2 × 10 13 W/cm 2 , the reflectivity increases strongly. This behavior can be understood qualitatively in a model treating the excited electron-hole pairs as a plasma.

Staphylococcus intermedius isolates from dogs (n ‫؍‬ 44) and pigeons (n ‫؍‬ 62) were categorized into 12 types by intergenic ribosomal DNA spacer polymorphism analysis. All isolates from pigeons were lukS positive and all isolates from dogs were lukS and lukF positive by dot blot analysis. The mean leukotoxicity titer for dog isolates was at least 129-fold higher than that for pigeon isolates.

A full-scale swine-wastewater activated sludge treatment plant that contains naturally enriched anammox biofilms was investigated for 2 years. Red biofilm in this system included Planctomycetes at a maximum of 62.5% of the total bacteria diversity, including Candidatus Jettenia and Candidatus Brocadia. The plant was operated with an influent containing 1,104 ± 513 mg/L biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and 629 ± 198 mg/L total nitrogen (TN) (BOD/N of 1.78 ± 0.58) at a volumetric BOD loading rate of 0.32 ± 0.12 kg/m3/d. Notwithstanding drastically varying influent concentrations, BOD removal efficiency was stable at 95 ± 4%. However, TN removal fluctuated at 75 ± 14%. Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in the aeration tank were 0.06–2.0 mg/L. DO concentration greatly affected nitrogen removal, e.g. when DO was lower than 0.3 mg/L, total inorganic nitrogen removal was 61 ± 14% (≤20 °C), 78 ± 16% (20–30 °C), and 75 ± 12% (≥30 °C), whereas at higher DO concentrations, removal rates were 47 ± 13%, 55 ± 16%, and 68%, respectively. As BOD concentration in the influent was limited compared to nitrogen concentration, nitrogen was likely removed by simultaneous nitrification, anammox, and denitrification (SNAD) under microaerobic conditions. Maintaining low DO concentrations would therefore be a simple method to improve nitrogen removal during SNAD processes for swine-wastewater treatment with fluctuating influent.

The electrophoretic behaviors of five bases and corresponding nucleosides in the oil in water (o/w) microemulsion capillary electrophoresis, microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography (MEEKC), were examined in comparison with those in normal capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). The microemulsion systems were composed of heptane, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 1-butanol and 10 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) or toluene, SDS, 1-butanol and 5 mM carbonate buffer (pH 10.0). CZE was carried out in the range of pH 9.7-10.9, and the dissociation constants, pKa, of the bases and nucleosides and the electrophoretic mobilities of the anionic forms were determined. The electrophoretic behaviors of the solutes in the microemulsion systems were analyzed from their pKa, the electrophoretic mobilities of the anions determined by CZE, and the distribution constants, K(D), of the neutral forms between the microemulsion droplets and the outer aqueous phase. The importance of adsorption mechanism in MEEKC system was suggested from the correlation between log K(D) and log P.

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