A method for controlling self-propelled particles includes providing the particles to a liquid crystalline medium having predesigned local ordering. The method may control at least one of: a local concentration, trajectory, and net flow of self-propelled particles.

The invention provides a method of processing MSW comprising the steps ofproviding a stream of unsorted MSW to a microbial fermentation reactor in which the MSW is fermented with agitation at a non-water content of between 10 and 50% by weight and at a temperature of between 35 and 75 degrees C. for a period of between 1 and 72 hours under conditions sufficient to maintain a live lactic acid bacteria concentration of at least 10,000,000,000 CFU/L, andremoving a stream of fermented unsorted MSW from the reactor and subjecting it to a separation step whereby non-degradable solids are removed to provide a slurry of biodegradable components. Further, a slurry of bio-degradable components prepared according to said method is provided.

The present invention provides a method for producing a recombinant protein, which can increase the cell growth rate in culture while stably maintaining plasmids in the cells, thereby improving the recombinant protein yield. The present invention provides a method for producing a recombinant protein, including a high-temperature culture step of culturing at 32 C. or higher a Brevibacillus bacterium that contains a gene encoding a recombinant protein, and a low-temperature culture step of culturing the Brevibacillus bacterium at a temperature lower than 32 C. after the high-temperature culture step.