A new method for sodium sulfide removal from an aqueous solution and application to industrial wastewater and sludge

The catalyst activities for Na₂S oxidation in aqueous solution were examined for various materials such as activated carbon, carbon black, ferric salts, hydroquinone, 1,4-naphthoquinone-2-sulfonic acid sodium salt, 1,4-naphthoquinone, and their mixed systems. The following conclusions have been drawn: (1) These catalyst systems are all active. (2) The effect of carbon black-ferric sulfate-system or hydroquinone-ferric chloride-system on oxidation efficiency is larger than that of carbon black or hydroquinone alone. (3) In case of carbon black system, the experimentally determined requirement of air is, respectively, about 40, 15, and 10 times larger than theoretical, corresponding to the runs of no catalyst, carbon black, and carbon black-ferric sulfate-system. In case of hydroquinone system, air requirements are, respectively, about 40, 15 and 8 times, corresponding to the runs of no catalyst, hydroquinone-ferric chloride-system and hydroquinone-ferric chloride-ammonium peroxydisulfate-system. (4) Application of the catalyst systems studied was made to wastewater and sludge treatments. These catalyst systems gave good results.     

Induction of lipid peroxidation in mice by hexavalent chromium and its relation to the toxicity

Comparative effects of hexavalent (K2Cr2O7:Cr(VI)) and trivalent chromium (Cr(NO3)3:Cr(III)) on the development of lipid peroxidation, and the relationship between the lipid peroxidation and damage to tissues were studied using male ddY strain mice. The animals were administered with either of two chemicals at a dose of 20 mg Cr/kg by a single intraperitoneal injection. The results obtained were as follows: (1) Lipid peroxidation in the liver, as measured by the synthesis of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), showed a significant increase at 24 and 48 hr after Cr(VI) injection, while in the kidney it was observed only at 48 hr. In the mice administered with Cr(III), TBARS formation in the liver went down below the control levels, while no change was observed in the kidney. (2) Chromium contents in the liver and kidney showed a maximum level at 6 hr after injection of Cr(VI) and then those declined to the half of the maximum level at 48 hr, respectively. Chromium contents in the liver and kidney of the mice injected with Cr(III) were lower than those injected with Cr(VI) during the experimental period. (3) Increases of TBARS formation in the liver, chromium content in the liver and kidney, and ornithine carbamyl transferase (OCT) activity indicative of the liver cell damage, and urea nitrogen content in the serum, indicative of the kidney damage, observed at 24 hr after injection of Cr(VI) were inhibited by simultaneous injection of 100 mg/kg of L-ascorbic acid, as antichrome agent, respectively. These observations might suggest a possible causative role of lipid peroxidation in Cr(VI) toxicity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Importance of estuarine nursery areas for the adult population of the temperate seabass Lateolabrax japonicus,as revealed by otolith Sr:Ca ratios

Otolith Sr:Ca ratios were used to evaluate the contribution of estuarine nursery areas to the temperate seabass (Lateolabrax japonicus) population in Tango Bay, the Sea of Japan. Otolith Sr:Ca ratios of juveniles collected from freshwater, brackish and coastal areas were analysed to determine a criterion for distinguishing whether individuals used estuarine or coastal areas as nurseries. Otolith Sr:Ca ratios of adult seabass collected around Tango Bay were also analysed to detect the records of salinity that juveniles experienced and to estimate the contribution of each habitat. Sr:Ca ratios of the edges of otoliths of juveniles from freshwater areas were 2.4 × 10^?3 in average, which were significantly lower than those of juveniles collected from a coastal area (4.9 × 10^?3 in average) owing to differences in salinity conditions among these areas. Based on the threshold criterion determined by this difference, 39 out of 107 (36%) adult seabass were estimated to have used the estuary as a nursery during their juvenile stage according to their Sr:Ca chronologies. Despite the small area covered by estuarine nurseries compared with coastal waters, the Yura River estuary contributed considerably to the adult seabass population. This indicates estuaries play an important role as nurseries for seabass juveniles, and it should be noted that the estuaries are important nurseries to conserve the stocks of coastal fishes.     

Growth performance and physiological responses in striped knifejaw, Oplegnathus fasciatus, held under different photoperiods

The growth performance and stress response in striped knifejaw, Oplegnathus fasciatus (body weight 100–300 g) reared under four photoperiods (6L:6D, 12L:12D, 16L:8D and 24L:0D) were investigated. Fish were fed a commercial diet to apparent satiation, two times a day for 8 weeks. A trial of acute handling and confinement stress was also carried out to investigate the stress-induced levels of different stress indicators in O. fasciatus. Blood was also collected from undisturbed fish which was considered as control. Although there were no significant differences in weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) in fish exposed to 6L:6D, 16L:8D and 24L:0D photoperiods, all parameters in these photoperiods were significantly higher than those of 12L:12D photoperiod (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in protein retention efficiency (PRE) between fish exposed to 16L:8D and 24L:0D photoperiods, but PRE in both photoperiods was significantly higher than that of 12L:12D photoperiod.Acute stress significantly increased the plasma levels of cortisol (110.3 ng ml^− 1) and glucose (195.4 mg dl^− 1), and decreased plasma levels of total protein (0.8 g dl^− 1); however, all parameters were returned back to the levels indistinguishable from those of control, undisturbed fish within 24 h. The levels of cortisol, glucose and total protein in fish exposed to different photoperiods during the study were far from the stress-induced levels (P < 0.05). The results demonstrated that the growth performance of O. fasciatus reared from 100 to 300 g can be stimulated significantly by using the manipulated photoperiods where feeding time may be playing an important role to increase food intake and feed conversion efficiency. It also revealed that the artificial photoperiods did not cause significant stress response in fish.     

Presence of chloroplasts in mestome sheath cells of the C3 Pooid grass Elymus tsukushiensis

ABSTRACT

The successful introduction of the C₄ pathway into C₃ crops would increase photosynthetic rates and crop productivity. However, our poor understanding of how Kranz leaf anatomy develops poses a great obstacle. In particular, the origin, development, and genetics of bundle sheath (BS) cells in C₄ plants are key points to elucidate. Here we report that Elymus tsukushiensis, a common C₃ grass of the subfamily Pooideae, contains chloroplasts in the mestome sheath (MS) cells of the leaf, unlike most MS cells of C₃ grasses. The chloroplasts are smaller than those of mesophyll cells. Immunogold localization showed that the chloroplasts and mitochondria of MS cells, respectively, accumulate ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase and a photorespiratory enzyme, glycine decarboxylase, as in mesophyll cells. Thus, we suggest that the MS cells have weak photosynthetic and photorespiratory functions. This finding provides an insight into the development and evolution of C₄-type BS cells in leaves of C₃ grasses.     

Migration route of Pacific saury Cololabis saira inferred from the otolith hyaline zone

In order to establish the migration route of Pacific saury Cololabis saira, we measured the radius of otolith annual rings (ROA) in fish collected from areas off the Japanese coast up to 165°W in June and July (pre-fishing season) and from fishing grounds in August?CNovember (fishing season). The average ROA for six sea areas that each spanned 10° of longitude sampled during the pre-fishing season were compared with data obtained during each month of the fishing season. The average ROA decreased from west to east and also decreased monthly from August to November. The average ROA of fish caught after October at the peak of the fishing season was equivalent to that of the fish caught in the areas east of 160°E or 170°E. We conclude that Pacific saury caught by Japanese fishing vessels during the peak of the fishing season migrate from an area east of 160°E.     

Seasonal variation in Campylobacter-contaminated retail chicken products: a year-round investigation in Japan

Campylobacter was isolated from retail meat samples collected during the fiscal year 2009 in Japan. The higher percentages of contamination of chicken products were observed from June (39.3%) to November (83.3%). However, the highest number of human campylobacteriosis cases was reported in June in the Infectious Agents Surveillance Report. The chicken isolates with distinct clusters IVb and I, based on the restriction fragment length polymorphism of the flaA gene, were predominantly obtained during the periods between April and November 2009 and between February and March 2010, respectively. Extensive monitoring of Campylobacter contamination in chickens produced in various places is needed to analyse the seasonal variations between contamination of the meat products and the number of human cases with campylobacteriosis.     

Ent-2'-epi-Orobanchol and its acetate, as germination stimulants for Striga gesnerioides seeds isolated from cowpea and red clover

Striga gesnerioides is a root parasitic weed of economic significance to cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) crops in Western Africa. Seeds of the parasite germinate in response to cowpea root exudates. Germination stimulants for the seeds were isolated from the hydroponic culture filtrate of cowpea, and their structures were unambiguously determined as (-)-(3aR,4R,8bR,2'R)-ent-2'-epi-orobanchol and (+)-(3aR,4R,8bR,2'R)-ent-2'-epi-orobanchyl acetate, on the basis of mass, CD, and (1)H NMR spectra; optical rotatory power; and chromatographic behavior on HPLC. The alcohol was first isolated and identified from the cowpea root exudates, and the acetate may be the same compound that had been previously isolated from the exudates and designated as alectrol. Identity of the stimulants produced by cowpea to those produced by red clover (Trifolium pratense) was confirmed.     

Food components inhibiting recombinant human histidine decarboxylase activity

Histidine decarboxylase (HDC) catalyzes histamine formation from histidine. Histamine is a bioactive amine acting as a neurotransmitter as well as a chemical mediator. Phenolic food components have been tested for their ability to inhibit recombinant human HDC. Epicatechin gallate (ECG) was found to be a potent inhibitor as it inhibited HDC activity in a competitive manner with Ki = 10 muM against l-histidine. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) showed time-dependent inhibition which disappeared under anaerobic conditions. It is probable that time-dependent inhibition could be due to the result of autoxidation of EGCG. The initial burst observed for EGCG suggests that EGCG itself is involved in HDC inhibition as observed for ECG. Our present results have shown that the tested food components can inhibit HDC activity. This inhibition likely affects histamine biosynthesis and possibly leads to controlling the biological action induced by histamine. Therefore, those food components exhibiting HDC inhibitory activity might be potentially useful in controlling histamine-induced biological actions.