Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Bacterial and Archaeal Lipid Biomarkers from Anaerobically Digested Sludge

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) was used in the analysis of bacterial respiratory quinone (RQ), bacterial phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA), and archaeal phospholipid ether lipid (PLEL) from anaerobically digested sludge. Bacterial RQ were determined using ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). Determination of bacterial PLFA and archaeal PLEL was simultaneously performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The effects of pressure, temperature, and modifier concentration on the total amounts of RQ, PLFA, and PLEL were investigated by 23 experiments with five settings chosen for each variable. The optimal extraction conditions that were obtained through a multiple-response optimization included a pressure of 23.6 MPa, temperature of 77.6 °C, and 10.6% (v/v) of methanol as the modifier. Thirty nine components of microbial lipid biomarkers were identified in the anaerobically digested sludge. Overall, the SFE method proved to be more effective, rapid, and quantitative for simultaneously extracting bacterial and archaeal lipid biomarkers, compared to conventional organic solvent extraction. This work shows the potential application of SFE as a routine method for the comprehensive analysis of microbial community structures in environmental assessments using the lipid biomarkers profile

Comparison of glucose monitoring between Freestyle Libre Pro and iPro2 in patients with diabetes mellitus

Aims/Introduction: Flash and continuous glucose monitoring systems are becomingprevalent in clinical practice. We directly compared a flash glucose monitoring system(FreeStyle Libre Pro [FSL-Pro]) with a continuous glucose monitoring system (iPro2) inpatients with diabetes mellitus.Materials and Methods: Glucose concentrations were simultaneously measured usingthe FSL-Pro, iPro2 and self-monitoring blood glucose in 10 patients with diabetes mellitus,and agreement among them was assessed.Results: Parkes error grid analysis showed that the 92.9 and 7.1% of glucose valuesmeasured using the FSL-Pro fell into areas A and B, respectively, and that 96.3, 2.8 and0.9% of those determined using iPro2 fell into areas A, B and C, respectively. The medianabsolute relative differences compared with self-monitoring blood glucose were 8.1%(3.9–12.7%) and 5.0% (2.6–9.1%) for the FSL-Pro and iPro2, respectively. Analysis of 5,555paired values showed a close correlation between FSL-Pro and iPro2 glucose values(q = 0.96, P < 0.01). Notably, 65.3% of all glucose values were lower for the FSL-Pro thanthe iPro2. Median glucose values also decreased by 3.3% for the FSL-Pro compared withthe iPro2 (177.0 [133.0–228.0] vs 183.0 [145.0–230.0] mg/dL, P < 0.01). The difference inglucose values between the two systems was more pronounced in hypoglycemia. Themedian absolute relative difference between FSL-Pro and iPro2 during hypoglycemia wasmuch larger than that during euglycemia and hyperglycemia.Conclusions: Both the FSL-Pro and iPro2 systems are clinically acceptable, but glucosevalues tended to be lower when measured using the FSL-Pro than the iPro2. Agreementwas not close between these systems during hypoglycemia

Material Cycle of Agriculture on Miyakojima Island: Material Flow Analysis for Sugar Cane, Pasturage and Beef Cattle

Agriculture on Miyakojima Island is highly dependent on imported fertilizer and feed. To reduce this dependence, the present research examines the biomass resources on the island by conducting a material flow analysis of stockbreeding and other related systems. To accurately quantify the amount of available biomass resources, loss ratios of the storage and composting processes are established. Then, a material flow analysis of a composting facility is made. Finally, current material flows between beef cattle, sugar cane and pasturage are shown. Based on this research, two proposals are made: the first is to use urine as liquid fertilizer, which is currently being done in Saga prefecture. The precedent of using urine as fertilizer is now widely accepted in the Saga area; is considered to be readily adoptable in other areas and could be substituted for the imported fertilizers on Miyakojima Island. The second is to use more residues of sugar cane for the beef cattle feed when the pasturage growth is slow in the winter. The present research suggests that the silage feeds for beef cattle

Correction: Tamura, S. and Fujie, K. Material Cycle of Agriculture in Miyakojima Island: Material Flow Analysis for Sugar Cane, Pasturage and Beef Cattle. Sustainability 2014, 6, 812–835.

We found a typo in our previous published paper [1]. “Okinawa Main Ilsand” and “Kyushu Ilsand” are supposed be “Okinawa Main Island” and “Kyushu Island”

THE BEHAVIOR OF SOLUBLE METALS ELUTED FROM Ni/Fe-BASED ALLOY REACTORS AFTER HIGH-TEMPERATURE AND HIGH-PRESSURE WATER PROCESS

The behavior of heavy metals eluted from the wall of Ni/Fe-based alloy reactors after high-temperature and high-pressure water reaction were studied at temperatures ranging from 250 to 400oC. For this purpose, water and cysteic acid were heated in two reactor materials which are SUS 316 and Inconel 625. Under the tested conditions, the erratic behaviors of soluble metals eluted from the wall of Ni/Fe-based alloy in high temperature water were observed. Results showed that metals could be eluted even at a short contact time. The presence of air also promotes elution at sub-critical conditions. At sub-critical conditions, a significant amount of Cr was extracted from SUS 316, while only traces of Ni, Fe, Mo and Mn were eluted. In contrast, Ni was removed in significant amounts compared to Cr when Inconel 625 was tested. It was observed that eluted metals tend to increased under acidic conditions and most of those metals were over the limit of WHO guideline for drinking water. The results are significant both on the viewpoint of environmental regulation on disposal of wastes containing heavy metals, toxicity of resulting product and catalytic effect on a particular reaction.</p

Recovery of Organic and Amino Acids from Sludge and Fish Waste in Sub Critical Water Conditions

The possibility of organic and amino acid production from the treatment of sludge and fish waste using water at sub critical conditions was investigated. The results indicated that at sub-critical conditions, where the ion product of water went through a maximum, the formation of organic acids was favorable. The presence of oxidant favored formation of acetic and formic acid. Other organic acids of significant amount were propionic, succinic and lactic acids. Depending on the type of wastes, formation of other organic acids was also possible. Knowing the organic acids obtained by hydrolysis and oxidation in sub-critical water of various wastes are useful in designing of applicable waste treatment process, complete degradation of organic wastes into volatile carbon and water, and also on the viewpoint of resource recovery. The production of lactic acid was discussed as well. The results indicated that temperature of 573 K, with the absence of oxidant, yield of lactic acid from fish waste was higher than sewage sludge. The maximum yield of total amino acids (137 mg/g-dry fish) from waste fish entrails was obtained at subcritical condition (T = 523 K, P = 4 MPa) at reaction time of 60 min by using the batch reactor. The amino acids obtained in this study were mainly alanine and glycine. Keywords:  organic acids, amino acids, sub-critical water, hydrothermal, resources recover

Supercritical Fluid Extraction and Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography of Respiratory Quinones for Microbial Community Analysis in Environmental and Biological Samples

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