Extraction of phosphorus from sewage sludge ash by CO2 blowing method

Phosphorus is an important element not only for use in fertilizers, but also for the manufacture of industrial products. However, depletion of this resource is a problem. Japan relies on imports for the entire amount of phosphorus it consumes. For this reason, there is an urgent need to secure a stable supply of phosphorus. On the ohter hand, there is waste containg a considerable amount of phosphorus. On of them is sewage sludg ash, but it also contains many heavy metals, extraction of only phosphorus is difficult

Characterization of the Bacteriocinogenic Lactic Acid Bacteria Lactobacillus curvatus Strain Y108 Isolated from Nozawana-Zuke Pickles

We characterized the antibacterial activity of Lactobacillus curvatus strain Y108 isolated from the traditional Japanese pickle Nozawana-zuke, and partially identified the antibacterial agent produced by the strain. The Y108 strain exhibited antibacterial activity against L. curvatus JCM 1096, Listeria monocytogenes JCM7671, Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus JCM20624, and Serratia marcescens JCM20012. The antibacterial activity was abolished upon treatment with several proteases and lipase but not catalase, and it was moderately stable against heat treatment for 2 h at 100 degrees C. The Y108 strain showed higher antibacterial activity when grown at 20 degrees C than at 30 degrees C, which is its optimal growth temperature. SDS-PAGE analysis of the purified culture supernatant revealed the presence of two antibacterial peptide agents, F3-I and F3-II, with net molecular weights of 5.5 and 4.5 kDa, respectively. The IN-terminal amino acid sequences of F3-I and F3-II were homologous to those of lactocin 705 alpha and 705 beta, respectively. However, molecular masses and individual antibacterial activities of the two peptides were considerably different from those reported for lactocin 705.ArticleFOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH. 16(3):253-262 (2010)journal articl

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SLUDGE PARTICLES IN REMOVAL PROCESS OF RADIOACTIVE CESIUM FROM OCEAN SLUDGE BY DECOMPOSITION SYSTEM WITH CIRCULATION TYPE USING MICRO BUBBLES AND ACTIVATING MICROORGANISMS

ABSTRACT: The Fukushima nuclear accident of March 11, 2011, soil and water had been contaminated by radioactive cesium. Moreover, radioactive cesium was found in the ocean sludge in Tokyo Bay flowing from rivers. Cesium which is adsorbed to the sludge cannot be easily removed. One of the authors developed decomposition and purification system, a circulation-type system by micro bubbles, that is, by creating aerobic state, aerobic bacteria are activated resulting to decomposition and purification of ocean sludge. Based on the hypothesis that radioactive cesium is adsorbed on the surface of the sludge deposition. It is considered cesium can be eluted after decomposing the deposited sludge. Once the cesium is eluted in the water, it can fix to a mineral such as zeolite. Now we need the properties of sludge in removal process by decomposition system with circulation type. In this study, our objects is to check the characteristics of the sludge particle in removal process of radioactive cesium from ocean sludge by decomposition system with circulation type using micro bubbles and activating microorganisms. As the results of this experiments, we had very good purification ratio on total nitrogen and had made 40 times of smaller size on diameter of the particle of sludge

Temporal Effects of Cyclic Stretching on Distribution and Gene Expression of Integrin and Cytoskeleton by Ligament Fibroblasts In Vitro

Cyclic stretching is pivotal to maintenance of the ligaments. However, it is still not clear when ligament fibroblasts switch on expression of genes related to the mechanotransduction pathway in response to cyclic stretching. This in vitro study investigated, using ligament fibroblasts, the time-dependent changes in distribution and gene expression of β1 integrin, the cytoskeleton, and collagens after the application of 6% cyclic stretching at a frequency of 0.1 Hz for 3 hr on silicon membranes. We carried out confocal laser scanning microscopy to demonstrate changes in distribution of these components as well as quantitative real-time RT-PCR to quantify levels of these gene expression both during application of cyclic stretching and at 0, 2, 6, 12, and 18 hr after the termination of stretching. Control (unstretched) cells were used at each time point. Within 1 hr of the application of stretching, the fibroblasts and their actin stress fibers became aligned in a direction perpendicular to the major axis of stretch, whereas control (unstretched) cells were randomly distributed. In response to cyclic stretching, upregulation of actin at the mRNA level was first observed within 1 hr after the onset of stretching, while upregulation of β1 integrin and type I and type III collagens was observed between 2 and 12 hr after the termination of stretching. These results indicate that the fibroblasts quickly modify their morphology in response to cyclic stretching, and subsequently they upregulate the expression of genes related to the mechanotransduction pathway mainly during the resting period after the termination of stretching

The behavior of sympatric sea urchin species across an ecosystem state gradient

Background In temperate macroalgal forests, sea urchins are considered as a keystone species due to their grazing ability. Given their potential to shape benthic communities, we monitored the habitat use by three sympatric sea urchin species and compared their behaviors in a vegetated habitat (VH) and an adjacent isoyake habitat (IH). Methods We monitored the environmental conditions and sea urchin density along deep and shallow transects of the VH and IH for over a year. The benthic rugosity at both sites were also surveyed. A mark-recapture experiment was conducted on the two most abundant sea urchins, Diadema setosum and Heliocidaris crassispina, to elucidate sea urchin movement patterns and group dynamics. Results We found that exposure to waves was highest at the VH while the IH was sheltered. The deep IH experienced the least amount of light due to high turbidity. Water temperature patterns were similar across sites. The VH benthic topography was more rugose compared to the smoother and silt-covered IH substate. Peak macroalgal bloom occurred three months earlier in IH, but macroalgae persisted longer at the shallow VH. Among the sympatric sea urchins, H. crassispina was most abundant at the shallow VH and was observed in pits and crevices. The most abundant across IH and in the deep VH was D. setosum, preferring either crevices or free-living, depending on hydrodynamic conditions. The least abundant species was D. savignyi, and most often observed in crevices. Small and medium sea urchins were most often observed at the IH site, whereas larger sea urchins were more likely observed at the VH. The mark-recapture study showed that D. setosum was found to displace further at the IH, and H. crassispina was more sedentary. Additionally, D. setosum was always observed in groups, whereas H. crassispina was always solitary. Discussion The behaviors of sympatric urchins, Diadema savignyi, D. setosum and H. crassispina, differed in response to changes in the benthic environment and physical conditions. Sea urchin displacement increased when rugosity and wave action were low. Habitat preference shifted to crevices in seasons with high wave action. In general, the mark-recapture experiment showed that sea urchins displaced further at night