Nitrification Potential of Mud Sediment of the Ariake Sea Tidal Flat and the Individual Effect of Temperature, pH, Salinity and Ammonium Concentration on its Nitrification Rate

Abstract: The aims of this study were to know the nitrification potential of the mud sediment of the Ariake sea tidal flat, and to investigate the individual influence of environmental parameters such as temperature, pH, salinity and ammonium concentration on its nitrification rate. The Ariake Sea is a semi-closed shallow sea with macro-tidal and the largest tidal flat in Japan. Nitrification Potential Rate (NPR) and Nitrification Rate (NR) of the tidal flat mud sediment were determined by amending sodium chlorate to inhibit the oxidation of NO 2 -N to NO 3 -N. NPRs of the sediment were 91.4, 71.2 and 64.8 nmol N/g Dry Weight Sediment (DWS)/h at the depth of 0-3, 3-6 and 6-9 cm, respectively. NRs were relatively high in the temperatures range of 20-35 o C with the optimum temperature of 29.3 o C. Relatively high NRs were determined in the range of pHs 7.5-8 with the optimum pH 7.7. The optimum salinity for nitrification was 15 ppt. NRs increased drastically in the range of salinity 10 to 15 ppt, but it decreased sharply at 15 to 20 ppt. Relationship between ammonium concentration and NR resulted a hyperbolic Michaëlis-Menten type curve (R 2 = 0.98) with the maximum NR rate (Vmax) 32.5 nmol N/g DWS/h at NH 4 -N concentration 3,000 mM and the half saturation constant (Ks) 700 mM NH 4 -N. To our knowledge, this is the first report on nitrification of mud sediment of the Ariake sea tidal flat, and its optimal temperature, pH, salinity and NH 4 -N concentration as a single parameter

Factors Affecting the Absorption of Midazolam to the Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Circuit

Sedatives are administered during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy to ensure patient safety, reduce the metabolic rate and correct the oxygen supply-demand balance. However, the concentrations of sedatives can be decreased due to absorption into the circuit. This study examined factors affecting the absorption of a commonly used sedative, midazolam (MDZ). Using multiple ex vivo simulation models, three factors that may influence MDZ levels in the ECMO circuit were examined: polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tubing in the circuit, use of a membrane oxygenator in the circuit, and heparin coating of the circuit. We also assessed changes in drug concentration when MDZ was re-injected in a circuit. The MDZ level decreased to approximately 60% of the initial concentration in simulated circuits within the first 30 minutes. The strongest factor in this phenomenon was contact with the PVC tubing. Membrane oxygenator use tended to increase MDZ loss, whereas heparin circuit coating had no influence on MDZ absorption. Similar results were obtained when a second dose of MDZ was injected to the second-use circuits

Dermoscopic Characteristics of Acquired Melanocytic Naevus in Childhood Affecting the Acral Region

ArticleACTA DERMATO-VENEREOLOGICA.93(6):751-752(2013)journal articl

The relationship between a low grain intake dietary pattern and impulsive behaviors in middle-aged Japanese people

Several studies indicate that dietary habits are associated with mental health. We are interested in identifying not a specific single nutrient/food group but the population preferring specific food combinations that can be related to mental health. Very few studies have examined relationships between dietary patterns and multifaceted mental states using cluster analysis. The purpose of this study was to investigate population-level dietary patterns associated with mental state using cluster analysis. We focused on depressive state, sleep quality, subjective well-being, and impulsive behaviors using rating scales. Two hundred and seventy-nine Japanese middle-aged people participated in the present study. Dietary pattern was estimated using a brief self-administered diet-history questionnaire (the BDHQ). We conducted K-means cluster analysis using thirteen BDHQ food groups: milk, meat, fish, egg, pulses, potatoes, green and yellow vegetables, other vegetables, mushrooms, seaweed, sweets, fruits, and grain. We identified three clusters characterized as "vegetable and fruit dominant," "grain dominant," and "low grain tendency" subgroups. The vegetable and fruit dominant group showed increases in several aspects of subjective wellbeing demonstrated by the SF-8. Differences in mean subject characteristics across clusters were tested using ANOVA. The low frequency intake of grain group showed higher impulsive behavior, demonstrated by BIS-11 deliberation and sum scores. The present study demonstrated that traditional Japanese dietary patterns, such as eating rice, can help with beneficial changes in mental health

Melanocytic Naevus Shows Parallel Ridge Pattern due to the Melanin Columns Under the Ridges

ArticleACTA DERMATO-VENEREOLOGICA.95(1):95-96(2015)journal articl

Brown Nodule on the Lower Eyelid: A Quiz Lichenoid keratosis

ArticleACTA DERMATO-VENEREOLOGICA.95(8):1037-1038(2015)journal articl

Mediators of the effects of rice intake on health in individuals consuming a traditional Japanese diet centered on rice

Although the Japanese diet is believed to be balanced and healthy, its benefits have been poorly investigated, especially in terms of effects on mental health. We investigated dietary patterns and physical and mental health in the Japanese population using an epidemiological survey to determine the health benefits of the traditional Japanese diet. Questionnaires to assess dietary habits, quality of life, sleep quality, impulsivity, and depression severity were distributed to 550 randomly selected middle-aged and elderly individuals. Participants with any physical or mental disease were excluded. Two-hundred and seventy-eight participants were selected for the final statistical analysis. We determined rice to be one of the most traditional foods in Japanese cuisine. Scores for each questionnaire were computed, and the correlations between rice intake and health indices were assessed. When analyzing the direct correlations between rice intake and health indices, we found only two correlations, namely those with quality of life (vitality) and sleep quality. Path analysis using structural equation modeling was performed to investigate the association between rice intake and health, with indirect effects included in the model. Additional associations between rice intake and health were explained using this model when compared to those using direct correlation analysis. Path analysis was used to identify mediators of the rice-health association. These mediators were miso (soybean paste) soup, green tea, and natto (fermented soybean) intake. Interestingly, these mediators have been major components of the Japanese diet since 1975, which has been considered one of the healthiest diets since the 1960s. Our results indicate that the combination of rice with other healthy foods, which is representative of the traditional Japanese diet, may contribute to improvements in physical and mental health

こだわりを強く示す重度重複障害者との「共体験」を目指した動作法の事例

本論文では，こだわりの強さや情緒の不安定さなどの問題を抱える重度重複障害者に対して動作法を実施し，「共体験」を目指した心理リハビリテイションキャンプの事例について検討した。初日は， Aが自体に注意を向けることはほとんどなく，動作課題中も一方向的なやりとりに終始し，筆者は戸惑いを覚えた。二日目以降は，腕挙げ課題や肘屈げ課題において，箪者がAの緊張や動きを感じ取り，その感覚を同じように感じているということを言語的，非言語的に伝えることを意識した。また， A に対してどのように緊張を弛め， どのように動いてほしいかについても，言語的な教示だけでなく， Aに触れた手を用いて力の加減や方向性を示していくことを試みた。その結果，二日目以降はAがリラックスして課題に取り組むことが増え，筆者と課題を行うことを要求する様子もみられるようになった。また，課題以外の場面で，自身の要求が受け入れられない場面であっても，感情をコントロールできた。このように，言語的なコミュニケーションが困難な重度重複障害者に対して，動作法による身体を通した「共体験」を重ねることは，情緒的な側面に対する支援に有効である可能性が示唆された。In this paper, we examined cases that we conducted Dohsa-Therapy for severely handicapped people who have problems such as strength of feelings and instability of emotions, and aiming at "co-experience". On the first day, a rarely turned trainee attention to himself, and the trainer was confused by the one-way interaction during the task. From the second day onwards, we were aware of the verbal and non-verbal communication that the trainer felt A's tension and movement and felt that feeling in the same way in the arm raising and elbow bending tasks. The trainer tried to indicate how he wants to relax and how he wants to move not only using linguistic teaching, but also using touched hand to A. As a result, since the second day, A has been more relaxed and he have requested to do the task with the trainer. In addition, A was able to control his emotions even in situations where his request was not accepted in situations other than tasks. In this way, it is suggested that repeated "co-experience" through the body by the movement method may be effective in supporting emotional aspects for people with severe multiple disabilities who have difficulty in verbal communication