Recovery of Calcium Phosphates from Composted Chicken Manure

To recover phosphorus from composted chicken manure, a batch method with aqueous HNO3, HCl and H2SO4 was used to examine the elution behavior of the aqueous calcium and phosphate contained in the manure. Since the main components in manure are Ca2+ and K+ along with PO4 3- and those ions can be dissolved using an acidic eluate, it was expected that most of the aqueous Ca2+, K+ and PO4 3- could be obtained via the elution. Therefore, it seemed plausible that the removal of the aqueous K+ obtained by the elution of composted chicken manure would result in the formation of calcium phosphates. If calcium phosphates are formed, they can be used for phosphate rock, which also consists of various calcium phosphates. When using 0.1 mol/L HNO3, HCl or H2SO4, the elution behavior of the PO4 3- was not dependent on the acids. However, 0.1 mol/L H2SO4 was not sufficient for the elution of Ca2+, probably due to the precipitation of the calcium sulfate. The eluted amount of K+ using 0.1 mol/L HNO3 was lower than that using 0.1 mol/L of either HCl or H2SO4. Since the poor elution of K+ should enrich the concentrations of Ca2+ and PO4 3- in the acidic aqueous solution after the elution, it was suggested that aqueous HNO3 would be suitable as an eluate in the present system. After the elution of the composted chicken manure, when 0.1 mol/L HNO3 was used to adjust the solution pH of the acidic aqueous solution to greater than 6, Ca2+ and PO4 3- were precipitated, but K+ was not. The precipitate was calcium hydroxyapatite, one of the typical components of phosphate rock, which showed that composted chicken manure could be replaced phosphate rock as a new source of phosphorus

Impact of Motivation for Eating Habits, Appetite and Food Satisfaction, and Food Consciousness on Food Intake and Weight Loss in Older Nursing Home Patients

Background This study analyzed data from the Long-term care Information system For Evidence (LIFE) database to examine the effects of motivation to eat, appetite and food satisfaction, and food consciousness on food intake and weight loss. Methods Of the 748 nursing home residents enrolled in the LIFE database, 336 met the eligibility criteria for this cross-sectional study. Motivation to eat, appetite and food satisfaction, and food consciousness were rated on five-point Likert scales (e.g., good, fair, normal, not so good, and not good). We applied Spearman rank correlation coefficient and multiple regression analyses to analyze the relationships between these three items, daily energy and protein intake, and body weight loss over 6 months. Results The mean participant age was 87.4±8.1 years and 259 (77%) were female. The required levels of care included—level 1, 1 (0%); level 2, 4 (1%); level 3, 107 (32%); level 4, 135 (40%); and level 5, 89 (27%). The mean daily energy intake was 28.2±7.8 kcal/kg. The mean daily protein intake was 1.1±0.3 g/kg. The mean weight loss over six months was 1.2±0.7 kg. We observed strong positive correlations among motivation to eat, appetite and food satisfaction, and food consciousness (r>0.8). These three items were significantly associated with higher daily energy intake but not with daily protein intake. Only appetite and food satisfaction were significantly associated with lower weight loss over six months. Conclusion The observed associations of appetite and food satisfaction suggest that these factors may be more important to assess than motivation to eat or food consciousness among older adult residents of long-term care facilities

Recovery of the Phosphorus from the Nitric Acid Extract of Powder Collected in a Bag Filter during the Recycling of Used Fluorescence Tubes

During the recovery of phosphorus from the powder collected in a bag filter during the recycling of used fluorescence tubes (bag-powder), the batch method with aqueous HNO3 was used to examine the elution behavior of aqueous phosphate contained in the bag-powder. The main components of the bag-powder included Ca2+, PO4 3- and Y3+ along with Si4+, Sr2+ and lanthanide cations such as La3+ and Ce4+. Therefore, it seemed possible that, with the selective dissolution of Ca2+ and PO4 3- from the bag-powder, these lanthanide cations in the residue could be enriched. With the batch method, most of the phosphate in the bag-powder was dissolved within 0.2 min using 1.0 mol/L HNO3. The dissolution behavior of calcium cation was similar to that of the phosphate. In contrast, the dissolution of yttrium, the content of which was the highest among the lanthanide cations in the bag-powder, was increased with the dissolution times, reaching complete dissolution after 24 h. The Sr2+, La3+ and Si4+ in the bag-powder, however, did not dissolve under the same conditions. Although Ca2+, PO4 3- and Y3+ were the main components in the nitric acid extract, Y3+ was separated as YPO4 at pH = 4.0, while Ca2+ and PO4 3- were separated as calcium phosphates at pH= 7.0. These results revealed that the separation of calcium phosphates, YPO4 and some residue was possible, and resulted in the enrichment of lanthanide cations along with the recovery of phosphorus from the bag-powder. Using the present technique, 91% of the P in the bag-powder was recovered

Metastatic breast cancer presenting as severe anemia, platelet reduction and abnormal cells in peripheral blood

　Worldwide, breast cancer accounts for 22.9% of all cancers excluding non-melanoma skin cancers in women. More than 80% of breast cancer cases are discovered when a woman discovers a lump that feels different from the rest of the breast tissue. We report the case of a 60-year-old woman who had been treated for one year at a psychiatric hospital for suspected schizophrenia, and was referred to our hospital on March 23, 2011 for consultation regarding complete blood count abnormalities: hemoglobin, 4.8g/㎗ ; Plt, 1.9×104/μl ; WBC, 12,700/μl with 18.5% abnormal cells. Computed tomography revealed an enhanced, irregular mass in her right breast as well as right axillary lymph node swelling, suggestive of breast cancer. BM biopsy confirmed the presence of abnormal, keratin-positive cells, suggesting metastasis to the bone. CA15-3 was 300U/㎖ (normal range ＜25). The patient died on April 11, 2011, post-admission day 20. We found a rare case of terminal breast cancer that presented with peripheral blood abnormality. Breast cancer in patients who do not notice breast abnormality can present with peripheral blood abnormality

Metastatic breast cancer presenting as severe anemia, platelet reduction and abnormal cells in peripheral blood

　Worldwide, breast cancer accounts for 22.9% of all cancers excluding non-melanoma skin cancers in women. More than 80% of breast cancer cases are discovered when a woman discovers a lump that feels different from the rest of the breast tissue. We report the case of a 60-year-old woman who had been treated for one year at a psychiatric hospital for suspected schizophrenia, and was referred to our hospital on March 23, 2011 for consultation regarding complete blood count abnormalities: hemoglobin, 4.8g/㎗ ; Plt, 1.9×104/μl ; WBC, 12,700/μl with 18.5% abnormal cells. Computed tomography revealed an enhanced, irregular mass in her right breast as well as right axillary lymph node swelling, suggestive of breast cancer. BM biopsy confirmed the presence of abnormal, keratin-positive cells, suggesting metastasis to the bone. CA15-3 was 300U/㎖ (normal range ＜25). The patient died on April 11, 2011, post-admission day 20. We found a rare case of terminal breast cancer that presented with peripheral blood abnormality. Breast cancer in patients who do not notice breast abnormality can present with peripheral blood abnormality

Formation of a transdisciplinary community of practice in rural areas, with an interactive database of co-created knowledge: A case study in Noto, Japan

Many rural areas suffer from severe depopulation, and the absence of a university is one reason for outmigration. Where research and education are valued, however, such rural areas can attract scholars and students visiting from universities and other external institutions. Scholarly outputs of research, such as research articles and project reports, particularly those from community-based research (CBR), can themselves become an asset for use by local communities. We consider that CBR can contribute to asset-based community development (ABCD) when a transdisciplinary community of practice (TDCOP) emerges and drives the processes of collaborative creation and use of the knowledge. A particularly critical mechanism, which is currently lacking, is to allow the local community to collect knowledge outputs and make them easily available to interested actors within and outside of the community. We assume that a core tool in this mechanism is an interactive database. It can be equipped with a user interface, allowing enjoyable and active searches, and possibly a mechanism by which users themselves can contribute to gradual development of the database. We formed a study group of researchers and practitioners to conduct a case study in the Noto region of Japan. We identified the existing assets in Noto, including the knowledge created through CBR, and then collected and shared our own experiences and practices, as well as lessons learned from other regions in Japan, to explore the principles of designing a database. A CBR database should not only be a static inventory of past research, but also capable of facilitating new cycles of knowledge co-creation. With a comprehensive and easily accessible inventory of knowledge in place, we conclude that there is high potential in enabling CBR itself to be an asset, which can help achieve ABCD in rural communities

ムショウ シンリョウジョ ノ カンリエイヨウシ ハイチ ニ タイスル セイカツ シュウカンビョウ カンジャ カラ ノ ニーズ ニ ツイテ

【目的】これまで我々は、無床診療所医師を対象とした調査を行い、管理栄養士による栄養指導が普及していない理由として、「患者からのニーズがない」という意見が多くあることを明らかにした。一方、無床診療所の管理栄養士配置に対する患者からのニーズを調査した成績はない。そこで今回、無床診療所の管理栄養士配置に対する生活習慣病患者からのニーズを明らかにすることを目的とした。【方法】東大阪地域の市民祭りや老人クラブの活動拠点に集まった方のうち、糖尿病や高血圧症などの生活習慣病を患い、病院もしくは診療所に通院されていた245 名を対象として、聞き取り式のアンケート調査を行った。【結果】管理栄養士の名称や業務を認知していた者は75.1％（184/245 名）であった。このうち「管理栄養士を無床診療所に配置する必要がある」と回答した者は70.7％（130/184 名）であり、その理由として「食生活について身近に相談できる人がいると嬉しい」「食の専門家である管理栄養士の意見を聞きたい」という意見が多くみられた。一方、「管理栄養士を配置する必要がない」と回答した者は16.3％（30/184 名）であり、その理由として「他の医療従事者による栄養指導で十分」「自分自身で食事管理できる」という意見が多くみられた。また、「どちらでもない」と回答した者は13.0％（24/184 名）であり、その理由として「管理栄養士を置く必要性が分からない」という意見が多くみられた。【結論】今回調査した地域における無床診療所の管理栄養士配置に対する生活習慣病患者からのニーズは、約7 割と高いものであった。今後は無床診療所医師に対する普及活動や、管理栄養士の役割を理解できていない患者に対する啓発活動が必要である。In this study, we aimed to clarify the needs of patients suffering from lifestyle related diseases, to determine the perceived role and importance of a registered dietitian placement in a non bed clinic. A previous survey of non bed clinic physicians suggested that nutritional guidance provided by registered dietitians was not valued in the clinical setting; many physicians felt that “there is no need for the patient” to receive dietary advice from registered dietitians. However, no research has examined patients’ perspectives regarding the placement of a registered dietitian in a non bed clinic.Methods: We conducted a questionnaire with 245 participants suffering from lifestyle related diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. They were recruited from those who gathered in the activity base of a civic festival, and from a seniors club in the Higashi Osaka region. All of the participants had visited the hospital or clinic at one time.Results: Of the 245 participants, 184 (75.1%) had been advised by a registered dietitian. The opinion that “a registered dietitian needs to be placed in a non bed clinic” was expressed by 70.7% (130 of 184) of those surveyed. Many wanted “to hear the opinion of a registered dietitian who is an expert on food” and gave reasons such as, “I’m happy to have people who can consult closely with me about my diet.” By con- trast, 30 of the 184 participants (16.3%) responded that “there is no need to place a registered dietitian” in a non bed clinic. They believed that “the nutritional guidance offered by other health care workers was enough” or that “their own opinion” provided adequate dietary management. Finally, 24 (13.0%) participants answered “Neither,” giving “I do not know whether there is a need to place a registered dietitian” as their reason.Conclusions: It needs from lifestyle related diseases a patient to a registered dietitian placement of the non bed clinic in conclusion was this time the study area were those about 70% and higher. Based on our findings, we suggest that in future dissemination activities, including those provided by non bed clinic doctors, there is a need for awareness raising for patients who do not understand the role of registered dietitians in a non bed clinic setting