Disposal of the seaweed wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) by inoculating the halotolerant bacterium Bacillus sp. HR6 was examined in an experimental scale composting system. Strain HR6 was effective in initiating the composting process of wakame, and there was a rapid increase in temperature to over 54.9-55.7°C after 18-20 h. The composting process of wakame could be carried out despite a high NaCI content, 28.2 mg/g, although lower salinity resulted in a shorter lag time and higher weight reduction. In a larger scale composting process with aeration, two peaks of temperature change were found which corresponded well to oxygen consumption and CO2 emission during the process. The pH increased to 8.83 and organic materials were reduced to 93.4 % after 72 h. The initial N and C contents were 3.9 and 34.%, respectively, both of which decreased during the composting process. The changes in the viable cell numbers suggested that strain HR6 predominated before 24 h and other microorganisms including HR6 were present in a mixed state during the later period of composting. The total content of alginate (TA), 32.2 % in the initial stage, decreased to 29.2 after 72 h, while water soluble alginate (WSA) increased, indicating that the solubilization and decomposition of alginate had occurred during the composting process.
The phylogenetic group stramenopiles refers to the systematic groups that possess tripartite tubular hairs (stramenopiles) on their flagella. There have been a number of studies describing the fine structure of these mastigonemes and a few studies isolating the component proteins; however, these proteins and their gene sequences have not yet been identified. In the present study, we identified a mastigoneme protein (Ocm1) of the chrysophycean alga Ochromonas danica Pringsh. (UTEX LB1298). Its corresponding gene, Ocm1 , was identified by using degenerate primers that correspond to the partial amino acid sequences of a protein (85 kDa) obtained from a mastigoneme‐rich fraction of isolated flagella. The polypeptide encoded by Ocm1 has four cysteine‐rich, epithelial growth factor (EGF)–like motifs, potentially involved in protein–protein interactions. It lacks obvious hydrophobic regions characteristic of transmembrane domains, suggesting that this polypeptide is not likely a protein for anchoring the mastigoneme. In addition, a polyclonal antibody against Ocm1 labeled the area where the tubular shafts of the mastigonemes are located, but not the basal portion or the terminal filaments.
This paper describes a new visualization technique for three-dimensional large-scale finite-element analyses, whose visualization speed is independent of mesh size. Once an analysis shape is defined, a small-scale mesh with uniform distribution of element sizes is created using an automatic mesh generation technique. The mesh is named here a virtual finite-element model and used only for the purpose of visualization. Then the mapping between the virtual FE model and the analysis shape and the mapping between the virtual FE model and an actual FE model are established. Analysis conditions and analysis results can be visualized using the virtual FE model interactively on any graphics hardware. We developed a postprocessor, and applied it to a large-scale heat conduction problem. It was demonstrated that this technique can provide a fully interactive visualization environment.
Abstract A 5‐year‐old girl who was diagnosed as having erythrophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis died at age 9 years. Peripheral lymphocytes from the patient persistently lacked natural killer (NK) cell activity during the 4‐year observation period: the percent lysis values as measured by a 4‐hr 51 Cr release assay at a 40:1 effector:target ratio were below 1.0% against K562 and Molt‐4 cells as compared with the normal lymphocyte value (mean ± SD) of 46.2% ± 5.8% and 43.9% ± 6.7%, respectively. The patient's lymphocytes never developed NK cell activity by their incubation with target cells for longer time periods or by their stimulation with interferon‐α, interleukin‐2, or polyinosinic‐polycytidilic acid. Single cell‐in‐agarose assay showed the absence of target‐binding cells (TBCs): TBC numbers were below 0.3% as compared with the normal lymphocyte value of 8.1% ± 1.3% (mean ± SD). Flow cytometry showed a marked decrease in Leu‐7 + cells (1.7%) and the absence of Leu‐11 + cells (0.4%) in the peripheral blood. These results first demonstrate a case of erythrophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in which there is the lack of NK cell activity due to the absence of circulating NK cells.
Three dimensional crack propagation analysis will enable more realistic assessment of the structural integrity for aging structures such as aircrafts and power plants. Recently, as a linear-elastic fracture parameter evaluation method, VCCM (Virtual Crack Closure-Integral Method) is extended for 3-D tetrahedral element. With fully automatic generation capability of tetrahedral mesh, more realistic crack propagation of a 3-D arbitrary curved geometry can be handled efficiently. Here, we developed a new mesh generation technique for 3-D crack propagation analysis. A crack propagation analysis of an elliptical crack in a mixed-mode environment, which is initially flat and is gradually growing into a curved crack in 3-D space, is also demonstrated.
Nowadays the application area of numerical simulation is growing rapidly. Many researchers challenge complicated and large-scale simulation, for example seismic response simulation. The utilization of ADVENTURE system on the Earth Simulator enables such a time dependent simulation of a large-scale model. As this technology advances, post processing requires further advancement. We should think about how to deal with a huge amount of data. In particular, visualization demands interaction with users' needs. One of the solutions of those demands is to develop a Walkthrough Visualization System in a precise simulation world. In this research, we propose a Walkthrough System for structural simulations of a large-scale and complex model.
Abstract The environmental impact of two biocide-free antifouling paints, fluoropolymer and silicone types, painted on a test cylinder was assessed using a battery of ecotoxicity test and chemical analyses for organic micro-pollutants such as perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). A biocide paint containing zinc pyrithione (ZnPT2) and cuprous oxide was assessed as a positive control. A standardized laboratory rotating-cylinder method using each test cylinder with artificial seawater was performed for 45 days. After 1 h rotation, the leaked seawater was subjected for bioassay and chemical analyses twice weekly. The seawater extracts from the biocide paint showed adverse effects on bacteria, algae, and crustaceans, but those from the biocide-free paints did not. The leakage seawater from biocide-free paints, after 7-day continuous rotation, contained the same concentration levels of PFAS as blank seawater used to conduct the tests. Thus, no significant toxicities of the biocide-free paints were found under the conditions of this study. Simultaneous analysis of ZnPT2 and copper pyrithione (CuPT2) was developed using an HPLC with a polymeric resin column, showing that ZnPT2 was converted to CuPT2 by trans-chelation in the leakage seawater from the positive control paint. The experimental results using a laboratory rotating-cylinder method demonstrated that biocide-free paints did not markedly affect three species tested and no PFAS was detected. In contrast, biocide paint was significantly toxic to test species and toxicity of the extract on bacteria was partly responsible for CuPT2 produced in leakage seawater. Thus, a laboratory rotating-cylinder method may be applied for ecotoxicological assessment of antifouling paints. Keywords: biofoulingcopper pyrithionecrustaceanluminescent bacteriamicroalgaperfluoroalkyl substanceszinc pyrithione Acknowledgments This work undertook financial supports from the Global Environmental Research Fund (D-072) in 2007–2009, by the Ministry of Environment, Japan, and from a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Monbukagakusyo B20310019, 2008–2011). The marine diatom Skeletonema costatum (NIES-323) was obtained from the Microbial Culture Collection, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan. We thank Mr Hiroki Yoshida and Ms Yuki Mitsunashi for their technical assistance in sample preparation and bioassays.
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