Advanced Industrial Science & Technology

Current techniques for measuring nano/microplastic (N/MP) concentrations in soil require the soil organic matter content to be separated and have limited resolution for analyzing N/MPs sized <1 m. Therefore, researchers have developed a novel yet simple method to measure N/MP concentration in different soil types using spectroscopy at two wavelengths. This method does not require the soil to be separated in order to detect the N/MPs and can accurately quantify N/MPs regardless of their size. Nano and microplastics are a well-known menace, found practically everywhere in nature, including soil, oceans, drinking water, air, and even the human body. Studies show that soils in particular hold a significant portion of N/MPs. The problem with these N/MPs is their microscopic size, which allows them to easily migrate through soil into the ground or freshwater bodies due to rainwater leaching. From there, they enter the human body. Hence, it is imperative to understand the distribution and movement of the soil's N/MPs to gauge their threat and mitigate it. Current techniques for measuring N/MP concentrations in soil require separating the soil organic mattercontent through chemical and physical processes. Subsequently, the isolated N/MPs are analyzed using a microscope, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, or Raman spectrometry. However, these techniques require advanced skills and have limited resolution for analyzing N/MPs smaller than 1 µm. Moreover, often some of the N/MPs in the soil are lost during the separation process, leading to inaccurate measurements. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a simple yet accurate method to detect and measure N/MPs ≤1 µm in soil. To this end, a team of researchers led by Mr. Kyouhei Tsuchida from Waseda University and National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, along with Dr. Yukari Imoto, Dr. Takeshi Saito, and Dr. Junko Hara from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology and Dr. Yoshishige Kawabe, also from Waseda University, devised a novel and simple method to measure N/MP concentrations in soil using spectroscopy without separating the soil organic matter. Spectroscopy can determine the concentration of N/MPs in soils based on how much light of a particular wavelength passes through the sample and how much gets absorbed. In this way, spectroscopy can potentially detect N/MPs regardless of size, provided the correct wavelengths are used to distinguish between the N/MPs and soil. Accordingly, the researchers developed a method to use the difference between the absorbance spectra of N/MPs and soil particles to quantify the N/MPs. Their findings were published in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safetyjournal on 28 May 2024. Six soil suspensions were created from soil samples with different characteristics, such as particle size distribution and organic content, and were mixed with polystyrene nanoparticles sized 203 nm. This created six different simulated N/MP-contaminated soil suspensions, with the N/MP concentration maintained at 5 mg/L. "We measured the absorbance of these soil suspensions at various wavelengths ranging from 200 to 500 nm using a spectrophotometer and based on this, determined the N/MP concentrations in the soil. Then the best combination of two wavelengths was identified for measuring N/MPs, which helped negate the interference from soil particles and leached components in the suspension," explains Tsuchida. The researchers found that a wavelength combination of 220-260 nm and 280-340 nm had the lowest error level for the six samples and was thus found to be suitable for measuring N/MP concentrations in different soil types. They also created a calibration curve between the concentration of N/MPs in the soil suspensions and N/MP content added to the dry soil samples. The calibration curve showed a linear relationship between the two variables and took into account the adsorption of N/MPs on soil particles. This enabled accurate estimation of the concentration of N/MPs in the soil. These results demonstrate the efficacy of this simple spectroscopy-based method to correctly measure the concentration of N/MPs in soil, without any cumbersome separation process. "Our novel measurement approach can quantify different N/MPs, including polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate, in a variety of soils and can easily be used as an initial assessment tool. Moreover, it can help further our understanding of the distribution and migration behavior of N/MPs in the geosphere environment," concludes Tsuchida.

Independent Meta-Analysis Shines Light on Important Visualization Modality CENTER VALLEY, Pa., April 24, 2024 /PRNewswire / -- Olympus, a global medical technology company committed to making people's lives healthier, safer, and more fulfilling, announced today data showing that the use of Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) technology with patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) led to 37% less likelihood of recurrence over 12-35 months.1 Continue Reading Olympus announced that data showing that the use of Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) technology with patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) led to 37% less likelihood of recurrence over 12-35 months. The data are drawn from the hazard ratio referenced in a meta-analysis, "Narrow band imaging versus white light cystoscopy alone for transurethral resection for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer," published in 2022 in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.1 "Without dyes, without any change to the patient's standard cystoscopy, and with only a push of a button, urologists can better visualize a lesion, and potentially contribute to reduced recurrence of what is a notoriously recurrent cancer," said Richard Reynolds, President, Olympus Medical Systems Group. "As more urologists become aware of the benefits of NBI technology, and as more studies are published, we believe use of the modality will become the norm in an elevated standard of care." As reported by the American Cancer Society, bladder cancer has one of the highest recurrence rates.2 Additionally, "recurrence and progression to muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is highly variable, depending on tumor classification and grade at diagnosis. For example, in patients diagnosed with low-grade noninvasive urothelial carcinoma (Ta), recurrence rates range from 30% to 60% at 5 years; however, the risk of progression to MIBC is ≤5%. In contrast, patients with high-grade urothelial carcinoma invading into the lamina propria (T1) have progression rates of 30% to 70%." 2 Keeping a close eye on bladder cancer is critical because of these recurrence rates, with patients typically undergoing cystoscopy every 3-6 months for years after a diagnosis.3 This recent recurrence data complements existing NBI technology claims, indicating that, in comparison to white light, NBI technology visualized NMIBC lesions in: 17% additional patients 24% additional tumors 28% additional Carcinoma In Situ (CIS ).4 NBI is not intended to replace histopathological sampling as a means of diagnosis. "Whether in the office or the OR setting, I find NBI technology a necessary additional evaluation component in cystoscopy for bladder cancer patients," said Michael B. Williams, MD, MS, Associate Professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School. "Physicians should know that training to incorporate NBI technology into their practice is available and it does require some time to identify lesions effectively. However, with additional analysis showing a reduction in recurrence of NMIBC for patients whose physicians used NBI technology, there are now more reasons to adopt use of this visualization technique." Recent start-up activity around NBI technology and bladder cancer was recognized by Olympus in its selection of Vesica AI, a promising medical startup company, as the winner of the inaugural Olympus Asia Pacific Innovation Program (OAIP). Vesica AI was chosen from a field of four finalists for its innovative AI-based clinical visualization software that supports and enhances the early detection of bladder cancer through the cystoscopy procedure. Vesica AI is the result of a collaboration between the University of Tsukuba Hospital in Ibaraki prefecture, Japan, and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), a Japanese public agency promoting scientific development. As the winning innovator, Vesica AI will receive grant funding of $75,000 as well as an exclusive mentorship program with key thought leaders from Olympus. The mentorship program will connect Vesica AI with experts from Olympus in meaningful ways that aim to support the future success of the company. Olympus provides information, images, video and more at the NBI technology for urology product page. NBI technology will also be available for demo at the Olympus booth at the American Urological Association (AUA) conference, May 3-6, 2024, in San Antonio, TX. About Olympus At Olympus, we are committed to our purpose of making people's lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling. As a global medical technology company, we partner with healthcare professionals striving to provide best-in-class solutions and services for early detection, diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment, aiming to improve patient outcomes by elevating the standard of care in targeted disease states. For more information, visit medical.olympusamerica.com. 1 Lai LY, Tafuri SM, Ginier EC, Herrel LA, Dahm P, Maisch P, Lane GI. Narrow band imaging versus white light cystoscopy alone for transurethral resection of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 Apr 8;4(4):CD014887. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD014887.pub2. PMID: 35393644; PMCID: PMC8990285. 2 3 cancer.org/cancer/types/bladder-cancer/treating/by-stage.html 4 Li, K., Lin, T., Fan, X., Duan, Y., & Huang, J. (2013). Diagnosis of narrow-band imaging in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Urology, 20, 602-609. SOURCE Olympus Corporation of the Americas

Engineered bacteria can produce a plastic modifier that makes renewably sourced plastic more processable, more fracture resistant and highly biodegradable even in sea water. The development provides a platform for the industrial-scale, tunable production of a material that holds great potential for turning the plastic industry green. Engineered bacteria can produce a plastic modifier that makes renewably sourced plastic more processable, more fracture resistant and highly biodegradable even in sea water. The Kobe University development provides a platform for the industrial-scale, tunable production of a material that holds great potential for turning the plastic industry green. Plastic is a hallmark of our civilization. It is a family of highly formable (hence the name), versatile and durable materials, most of which are also persistent in nature and therefore a significant source of pollution. Moreover, many plastics are produced from crude oil, a non-renewable resource. Engineers and researchers worldwide are searching for alternatives, but none have been found that exhibit the same advantages as conventional plastics while avoiding their problems. One of the most promising alternatives is polylactic acid, which can be produced from plants, but it is brittle and does not degrade well. To overcome these difficulties, Kobe University bioengineers around TAGUCHI Seiichi together with the biodegradable polymer manufacturing company Kaneka Corporation decided to mix polylactic acid with another bioplastic, called LAHB, which has a range of desirable properties, but most of all it is biodegradable and mixes well with polylactic acid. However, in order to produce LAHB, they needed to engineer a strain of bacteria that naturally produces a precursor, by systematically manipulating the organism's genome through the addition of new genes and the deletion of interfering ones. In the scientific journal ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, they now report that they could thus create a bacterial plastic factory that produces chains of LAHB in high amounts, using just glucose as feedstock. In addition, they also show that by modifying the genome, they could control the length of the LAHB chain and thus the properties of the resulting plastic. They were thus able to produce LAHB chains up to ten times longer than with conventional methods, which they call "ultra-high molecular weight LAHB." Most importantly, by adding LAHB of this unprecedented length to polylactic acid, they could create a material that exhibits all the properties the researchers had aimed for. The resulting highly transparent plastic is much better moldable and more shock resistant than pure polylactic acid, and also biodegrades in seawater within a week. Taguchi comments on this achievement, saying "By blending polylactic acid with LAHB, the multiple problems of polylactic acid can be overcome in one fell swoop, and the so modified material is expected to become an environmentally sustainable bioplastic that satisfies the conflicting needs of physical robustness and biodegradability." The Kobe University bioengineers, however, dream bigger. The strain of bacteria they used in this work is in principle able to use CO2 as a raw material. It should thus be possible to synthesize useful plastics directly from the greenhouse gas. Taguchi explains, "Through the synergy of multiple projects, we aim to realize a biomanufacturing technology that effectively links microbial production and material development." This research was commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization of Japan (grant JPNP20005) and funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Japan (grant 19K22069) and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (grant JPMJTM19YC). It was conducted in collaboration with researchers from Kaneka Corporation and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology.