Arsenic Contamination of Groundwater at the Middle Basin of Ganges in India

This paper shows the situation and mechanism of arsenic contamination of groundwater at the worst contaminated areas in UP (Uttar Pradesh) state, India, which is obtained from the integrated arsenic mitigation project by University of Miyazaki under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Partnership Program (JPP). The project has been executed from 2008 until now. The integrated mitigation, such as the raising awareness of villager, installing of alternative water supply units and healthcare of arsenocosis patients, have been executed at the 2 villages. The symptom of the arsenocosis patients was not so severe, which will be, therefore, improved by drinking arsenic-safe water supplied through arsenic removal units, installed by this project. We have obtained following results for the situation and mechanism of arsenic contamination of groundwater, objected in connection with the installation of arsenic removal units:(1) Groundwater is almost contaminated with arsenic in deep tubewell (depth: about 30m), but scarcely in shallow tubewell (depth: about 10m). (2) Arsenic contaminated groundwater is under the reduced condition with the oxidized condition for no-arsenic contaminated groundwater. (3) Arsenic concentration shows almost linear correlation with concentrations of Fe2+ and NH4+-N. (4) Ground is composed of sand with high arsenic content at around 25m depth. (5) Arsenic exists mainly in the phase of reducible fraction or weak acid soluble fraction but no oxidizable fraction in the ground

Numerical Study on Acoustic Oscillations of 2D and 3D Flue Organ Pipe Like Instruments with Compressible LES

Acoustic oscillations of flue instruments are investigated numerically using compressible Large Eddy Simulation (LES). Investigating 2D and 3D models of flue instruments, we reproduce acoustic oscillations excited in the resonators as well as an important characteristic feature of flue instruments – the relation between the acoustic frequency and the jet velocity described by the semi-empirical theory developed by Cremer & Ising, Coltman and Fletcher et al. based on experimental results. Both 2D and 3D models exhibit almost the same oscillation frequency for a given jet velocity, but the acoustic oscillation as well as the jet motion is more stable in the 3D model than in the 2D model, due to less stability in 3D fluid of the rolled up eddies created by the collision of the jet with the edge, which largely disturb the jet motion and acoustic field in the 2D model. We also investigate the ratio of the amplitude of the acoustic flow through the mouth opening to the jet velocity, comparing with the experimental results and semi-empirical theory given by Hirschberg et al.

A Simple Method for Screening of Macrofilaricidal Compounds-The Inhibitory Effect of Substances on Phosphatase Activity of Adult Dirofilaria immitis

A simple and reproducible screening method of macrofilaricides is described. The method evaluated in the present paper is based on inhibitory activity of the drugs on acid-phosphatase of Dirofilaria immitis adult worms. The potent inhibitor of acid-phosphates, NaF, inhibited completely the enzymic activity at 1 mM. trimelarsan, suramin and flubendazole inhibited partially the enzymic activity. Their inhibitory activity is comparable to that of Na_2HAsO_4, a specific inhibitor of phosphatase. Diethylcarbamazine and levamisole did not inhibit the phosphatase of D. immitis

Physicochemical characteristics of rapidly dried onion powder and its anti-atherogenic effect on rats fed high-fat diet

Rapidly dried onion (Milan cepa L. cv. Momiji No. 3) powder (OP) prepared from the outer layers (from second to fourth scale leaves from the surface) of onion bulbs was analysed for its quercetin and polyuronide contents, the effects of enzymatic treatment and the anti-atherogenic effect on rats fed a high-fat diet. Quercetin 4'-glucoside (50%), free quercetin (30%) and quercetin 3,4'-diglucoside (20%) were identified as quercetin derivatives, and boiling-water extraction was effective in extracting these compounds. OP contained 12.9% of polyuronides, the basic skeleton of pectin. Enzymatic degradation (cellulase and pectinase, 50 degrees C for 12 h, pH 6.0) of OP was effective in obtaining a slurry of smaller particle sizes. The free quercetin increased and the glucosides decreased with enzyme treatment. In Wistar rats fed an OP-added high-fat diet, the total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were not significantly different from the rats fed a high-fat diet without OP. However, the atherogenic index (AI) of Wistar rats fed an OP-added high-fat diet was lower (AI = 3.3) than rats fed the diet without OP (AI = 4.1). The incremental elastic modulus (IEM) of the aorta from rats fed the OP-added diet was also significantly lower than that of the rats fed the diet without OP. The AI and IEM values of the rats fed the OP-added diet were quite similar to the values of rats fed the diet without OP but were allowed spontaneous exercise. These results suggest that OP intake is effective for decreasing the risk of arteriosclerosis.ArticleFOOD CHEMISTRY. 129(3):810-815 (2011)journal articl

Evaluation of serum amylase and gabexate mesilate with endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation

Gabexate mesilate (GM) relaxes the papilla of Vater in addition to inhibiting the several proteases. We evaluated whether prophylactic administration of GM would prevent the occurrence of acute pancreatitis in endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD). Nineteen patients with common bile duct stones were separated into two groups according to the admission year. The group A has been administered GM intravenously at 2mg/kg/hr after EPBD till six hours later, and the group B has been administered GM before fifteen minutes of EPBD till six hours later. The mean value of sphincter of Oddi (SO) basal and peak pressure in the group B was significantly lower than that in the group A, moreover the mean value of the pancreatic pressure in the group B was significantly lower than that in the group A. However two cases had mild acute pancreatitis in the group B. GM loosened SO and pancreatic duct pressure by direct stimulation of SO, although it could not have enough effect to prevent the acute pancreatitis in EPBD

Non-Effectiveness of Azadirachta indica (Neem Tree) Leaf Extract against the Larvae of Angiostrongylus cantonensis and Trichinella spiralis.

The effectiveness of the leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica (neem tree) against two nematodes, Angiostrongylus cantonensis and Trichinella spiralis was investigated in mice. Laboratory mice were inoculated with the nematodes followed by the oral administration of the leaf extracts. Two standard drugs, flubendazole and mebendazole were compared with the plant extract in the study. No significant effects of the leaf extract against the nematodes were observed. Thus, although the extract has been shown by other investigators to be animalarial, antibacterial and antifungal, no activity was observed against the two nematodes in this study