Draft Genome Sequence of Newly Isolated Agarolytic Bacteria Cellulophaga omnivescoria sp. nov. W5C Carrying Several Gene Loci for Marine Polysaccharide Degradation

Valdehuesa, Kris Niñ,o G.,Ramos, Kristine Rose M.,Moron, Llewelyn S.,Lee, Imchang,Nisola, Grace M.,Lee, Won-keun,Chung, Wook-jin Springer-Verlag 2018 Current microbiology Vol.75 No.7

Recent advances in the metabolic engineering of microorganisms for the production of 3-hydroxypropionic acid as C3 platform chemical

Valdehuesa, Kris Niñ,o G.,Liu, Huaiwei,Nisola, Grace M.,Chung, Wook-Jin,Lee, Seung Hwan,Park, Si Jae Springer-Verlag 2013 Applied microbiology and biotechnology Vol.97 No.8

<P>Development of sustainable technologies for the production of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3HP) as a platform chemical has recently been gaining much attention owing to its versatility in applications for the synthesis of other specialty chemicals. Several proposed biological synthesis routes and strategies for producing 3HP from glucose and glycerol are reviewed presently. Ten proposed routes for 3HP production from glucose are described and one of which was recently constructed successfully in Escherichia coli with malonyl-Coenzyme A as a precursor. This resulted in a yield still far from the required level for industrial application. On the other hand, strategies employing engineered E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae capable of producing 3HP from glycerol are also evaluated. The titers produced by these recombinant strains reached around 3 %. At its current state, it is evident that a bulk of engineering works is yet to be done to acquire a biosynthesis route for 3HP that is acceptable for industrial-scale production.</P>

Identification of aldehyde reductase catalyzing the terminal step for conversion of xylose to butanetriol in engineered Escherichia coli

Valdehuesa, Kris Niñ,o G.,Lee, Won-Keun,Ramos, Kristine Rose M.,Cabulong, Rhudith B.,Choi, JiSoo,Liu, Huaiwei,Nisola, Grace M.,Chung, Wook-Jin Springer-Verlag 2015 BIOPROCESS AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING Vol.38 No.9

<P>Biosynthetic pathways for the production of biofuels often rely on inherent aldehyde reductases (ALRs) of the microbial host. These native ALRs play vital roles in the success of the microbial production of 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, and isobutanol. In the present study, the main ALR for 1,2,4-butanetriol (BT) production in Escherichia coli was identified. Results of real-time PCR analysis for ALRs in EWBT305 revealed the increased expression of adhP, fucO, adhE, and yqhD genes during BT production. The highest increase of expression was observed up to four times in yqhD. Singular deletion of adhP, fucO, or adhE gene showed marginal differences in BT production compared to that of the parent strain, EWBT305. Remarkably, yqhD gene deletion (KBTA4 strain) almost completely abolished BT production while its re-introduction (wild-type gene with its native promoter) on a low copy plasmid restored 75?% of BT production (KBTA4-2 strain). This suggests that yqhD gene is the main ALR of the BT pathway. In addition, KBTA4 showed almost no NADPH-dependent ALR activity, but was also restored upon re-introduction of the yqhD gene (KBTA4-2 strain). Therefore, the required ALR activity to complete the BT pathway was mainly contributed by YqhD. Increased gene expression and promiscuity of YqhD were both found essential factors to render YqhD as the key ALR for the BT pathway.</P>

Facilely synthesized NiMoO₄/CoMoO₄ nanorods as electrode material for high performance supercapacitor

Nti, Frederick,Anang, Daniel Adjah,Han, Jeong In Elsevier 2018 JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS Vol.742 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>A facile synthesis scheme is employed to form NiMoO<SUB>4</SUB>/CoMoO<SUB>4</SUB> nanorods. The as-prepared sample was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Electrochemical characterization of the sample was investigated by employing cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge and discharge (GCD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Our facilely synthesized NiMoO<SUB>4</SUB>/CoMoO<SUB>4</SUB> nanorods utilizes the synergic effects of Ni and Co ternary molybdates which enabled a high specific capacitance of 1445 F/g to be achieved at a current density of 1 A/g and retained 78.8% of its initial capacitance after 3000 cycles at a current density of 10 A/g. The sample also exhibited a low ionic resistance of 1.20 Ω. This performance was much higher than individual NiMoO<SUB>4</SUB> and CoMoO<SUB>4</SUB> nanorods. The simple and scalable scheme employed to form the high performance NiMoO<SUB>4</SUB>/CoMoO<SUB>4</SUB> nanorods makes it a significant low cost electrode material for supercapacitor application.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Design of a facile synthesis scheme for NiMoO<SUB>4</SUB>/CoMoO<SUB>4</SUB> nanorods. </LI> <LI> Simple and environmental friendly scheme for NiMoO<SUB>4</SUB>/CoMoO<SUB>4</SUB> synthesis. </LI> <LI> Evaluation of the synergic effects of NiMoO<SUB>4</SUB> and CoMoO<SUB>4</SUB>. </LI> <LI> NiMoO<SUB>4</SUB>/CoMoO<SUB>4</SUB> as a promising electrode material for supercapacitor application. </LI> </UL> </P>

Layered Na_2/3Ni_1/3Mn_2/3O₂ as electrode material with two redox active transition metals for high performance supercapacitor

Nti, Frederick,Han, Jeong In Elsevier 2017 JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS Vol.728 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>In this work, simple solid state method was employed to synthesize Na<SUB>2/3</SUB>Ni<SUB>1/3</SUB>Mn<SUB>2/3</SUB>O<SUB>2</SUB> which has two redox active transition metals. The electrochemical performance of the material was studied in a three electrode system with 1 M KOH aqueous solution as electrolyte, Hg/HgO as reference electrode and platinum wire as the counter electrode. Na<SUB>2/3</SUB>Ni<SUB>1/5</SUB>Mn<SUB>4/5</SUB>O<SUB>2</SUB> and Na<SUB>2/3</SUB>MnO<SUB>2</SUB> were also synthesized and used as control experiments to study the contribution of Ni in the complex. Our results confirmed that doping the base material (Na<SUB>2/3</SUB>MnO<SUB>2</SUB>) with an active mass of Ni increases the supercapacitive properties of the resulting material as a result of the multiple redox active sites offered by the two transition elements (Ni and Mn). Thus, the Na<SUB>2/3</SUB>Ni<SUB>1/3</SUB>Mn<SUB>2/3</SUB>O<SUB>2</SUB> sample showed a specific capacitance of 532.121 F/g at a current density of 0.5 A/g while Na<SUB>2/3</SUB>Ni<SUB>1/5</SUB>Mn<SUB>4/5</SUB>O<SUB>2</SUB> and Na<SUB>2/3</SUB>MnO<SUB>2</SUB> samples showed specific capacitance of 283.50 F/g and 210.29 F/g respectively at a current density 0.5 A/g. Na<SUB>2/3</SUB>Ni<SUB>1/3</SUB>Mn<SUB>2/3</SUB>O<SUB>2</SUB> also retained about 79% of its initial capacitance after 3000 cycles at 1.3 A/g.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> First application of sodium based material with two redox active transition metals in supercapacitors. </LI> <LI> Simple and scalable solid state synthesis method used. </LI> <LI> Performance of Na<SUB>2/3</SUB>MnO<SUB>2</SUB> is improved by doping Ni to form Na<SUB>1</SUB>/<SUB>5</SUB>Ni<SUB>1/3</SUB>Mn<SUB>4/5</SUB>O<SUB>2</SUB> and Na<SUB>2</SUB>/<SUB>3</SUB>Ni<SUB>1/3</SUB>Mn<SUB>2/3</SUB>O<SUB>2</SUB>. </LI> <LI> The influence of Ni doping in Na<SUB>2/3</SUB>MnO<SUB>2</SUB> is explored. </LI> <LI> Na<SUB>2</SUB>/<SUB>3</SUB>Ni<SUB>1/3</SUB>Mn<SUB>2/3</SUB>O<SUB>2</SUB> is a promising electrode material for supercapacitor application. </LI> </UL> </P>

Influence of care practices on nutritional status of Ghanaian children

Christina Antwiwaa Nti,Anna Lartey 한국영양학회 2008 Nutrition Research and Practice Vol.2 No.2

A community-based longitudinal study was conducted in the Manya Krobo District of the Eastern Region of Ghana with the objective of assessing how caregiving practices influence nutritional status of young children in Ghana. The study subjects were one hundred mothers with infants between the ages of 6 and 12 months. Each child was visited at home monthly for a period of six months. On each visit, information was collected on caregiver household and personal hygiene, child’s immunization status, child’s dietary diversity, caregiver responsiveness during feeding, caregiver hygienic practices related to feeding and child’s weight and length. At the end of the study, summary scores were generated for each variable and quality of care practice determined based on their distribution. Classification of child nutritional status was based on z-scores for both weight-for-age and length-for-age. The results revealed that caregivers who exhibited better quality of care practice had well-nourished children. Such caregivers were more likely to practice good household and personal hygiene than those of poorly nourished children (97.1% vs 31.8%, p<0.001). They were also more likely to complete their children’s immunization schedules (88.2% vs 62.2%, p<0.001), provide good quality diets from highly diversified sources (79% vs 23%, p<0.001), exhibit high responsiveness during feeding (100% vs 22.7%, p<0.001) and feed under hygienic conditions (100% vs 22.7%, p<0.001). Based on the findings it was concluded that good caregiving practices are associated with improved child nutritional status.

Household dietary practices and family nutritional status in rural Ghana

Christina A. Nti 한국영양학회 2008 Nutrition Research and Practice Vol.2 No.1

A cross-sectional study involving 400 mothers was conducted in the Manya Krobo district of Ghana with the objective of studying household dietary practices, quality of diets and family nutritional status of rural Ghana. A combination of methods, including structured interviews using questionnaire, dietary assessments and anthropometry was used to collect data for the study. The data obtained was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 10 in Windows. Means and standard deviations were generated for continuous variables and frequency distribution for categorical variables. Most women consumed meals three times a day but only a few (12.5%) cooked all three meals at home. Breakfast and lunch were the two main meals purchased from food vendors. The most frequently consumed food items on daily basis were the starchy staples, maize, fish, pepper, onion, tomato and palm fruits. The nutritional qualities of diets were poor in terms of calcium and the B-vitamins. A significant proportion of the women were nutritionally at risk of being either underweight (12%), overweight (17%) or obese (5%). For adequate nutrition in this population, nutrition education intervention programs aimed at improving nutrient intake through improved diet diversity and increased use of local foods rich in calcium and the B-vitamins needs to be undertaken. There is also the need to intensify education on excessive weight gain and its attendant health problems in the area.

Implementation and Experiments of Dual-Antenna WiFi Backscatter Communication

Richard Boateng Nti(리차드),Ji-Hoon Yun(윤지훈) 대한전기학회 2020 대한전기학회 학술대회 논문집 Vol.2020 No.7

Dual-Filter Approach for Decoding in WiFi Backscatter Communication

Richard Boateng Nti(리차드),Ji-Hoon Yun(윤지훈) 대한전기학회 2020 대한전기학회 학술대회 논문집 Vol.2020 No.7

Signal Combining for Reliable WiFi Backscatter Communication

Richard Boateng Nti(리차드),Ji-Hoon Yun(윤지훈) 대한전기학회 2021 대한전기학회 학술대회 논문집 Vol.2021 No.10

The application of frequency shift in WiFi backscatter communication is efficient in minimizing the effect of the intrinsic fluctuation of WiFi signals, especially in bistate backscatter system. Nonetheless, because the backscattered signal is weak, additional signals from dominant transmitters may emerge in the shifted frequency channels, interfering with the backscattered signal substantially. To address this issue in a seamless manner to incumbent transmitters, we propose code repetition wherein the information bit is repeated a number of times equivalent to the code length from the transmitter side. Decoding at the receiver end is implemented on the basis of majority voting in the shifted channels, to reduce bit errors caused by residual interference. The focus is to investigate the impact of code repetition for WiFi backscatter communication regarding transmission reliability. We show that the proposed method improves performance as code length increases using system prototyping and testbed experiments.