Decolorization of oxygen-delignified bleaching effluent and biobleaching of oxygen-delignified kraft pulp by non-white-rot fungus Geotrichum candidum Dec 1

Decolorization of oxygen-delignified bleaching effluent (abbreviated as OBE) and biobleaching of oxygen-delignified kraft pulp (OKP) were conducted using a non-white rot fungus Geotrichum candidum Dec 1 (abbreviated as Dec 1) which has ability to decolorize various synthetic dyes and molasses. Dec 1 decolorized up to 77% of OBE for 6 days. In addition, Dec 1 increased the brightness of OKP from 47.8% to 51.2% and decreased the kappa value of OKP from 12.4 to 10.4 points during a 6-day incubation period at a 25% of pulpconcentration. At 2% pulp-concentration, the brightness of OKP increased by 13% and the kappa value of OKP decreased by 4 points only for a 3-day incubation period. When the decolorized OBE was used for bleaching of OKP, the brightness of OKP increased to 62.7% under the shaking culture to a 2% pulp-concentration using culture fluid of decolorized OBE. It was revealed that Dec 1 is a potential to apply for decolorization of wastewater and biobleaching of pulp in paper-mills.     

Neonatal outcomes of congenital diaphragmatic hernia in full term versus early term deliveries: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to review the optimal timing of delivery at term for neonates with prenatally diagnosed congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). We reviewed the literature up to December 19, 2022 using MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library databases. The inclusion criteria were original articles, comparative studies of CDH neonates delivered at an early term (37–38 weeks of gestation) and at full term (39 weeks of gestation or later), and comparative studies investigating outcomes of CDH neonates. Six studies met the inclusion criteria, including 985 neonates delivered at an early term and 629 delivered at full term. The cumulative rate of survival to discharge showed no significant difference between CDH neonates delivered at an early term (395/515; 76.7%) or at full term (345/467; 73.9%) (risk ratio [RR] 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.89–1.16; p = 0.85). Furthermore, the number of neonates requiring oxygen therapy at discharge was not significantly different between CDH neonates delivered at an early term (32/370; 8.6%) and at full term (14/154; 9.1%) (RR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.36–2.70; p = 0.99). Therefore, the optimal timing of delivery at term for neonates with CDH remains unclear.     

Effects of Nitrogen Supply on the Sensitivity to O3 of Growth and Photosynthesis of Japanese Beech (Fagus crenata) Seedlings

To obtain basic information for evaluating critical levels of O₃ under different nitrogen loads for protecting Japanese beech forests, two-year-old seedlings of Fagus crenata Blume were grown in potted andisol supplied with N as NH₄NO₃ solution at 0, 20 or 50 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and exposed to charcoal-filtered air or O₃ at 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 times the ambient concentration from 16 April to 22 September 2004. The O₃ induced significant reductions in the whole-plant dry mass, net photosynthetic rate at 380 μmol mol⁻¹ CO₂ (A ₃₈₀), carboxylation efficiency (CE) and concentrations of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) and total soluble protein (TSP) in the leaves. The concentrations of Rubisco and TSP were negatively correlated with the concentration of leaf acidic amino acid, suggesting that O₃ enhanced the degradation of protein such as Rubisco. The N supply to the soil did not significantly change the whole-plant dry mass and A ₃₈₀, whereas it significantly increased the CE and concentrations of Rubisco and total amino acid. No significant interactive effects of O₃ and N supply to the soil were detected on the growth, photosynthetic parameters and concentrations of protein and amino acid in the leaves. In conclusion, N supply to the soil at ≤50 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ does not significantly change the sensitivity to O₃ of growth and net photosynthesis of Fagus crenata seedlings.     

Feasibility Study of Airbag Concept Applicable to Motorcycles Without Sufficient Reaction Structure

Objectives: An airbag system for motorcycle applications was developed and marketed in 2006 followed by many research projects on the system. In the airbag system, the bag should be supported during the kinetic energy–absorbing period of a rider in a collision. The previously developed system employed a configuration in which motorcycle structures support the airbag, such as a gauge unit and/or a steering structure. The supporting structure functions to receive the reaction force to hold the airbag during a crash to properly absorb the rider's kinetic energy. However, the previous system requires a larger area for this reaction structure and is applicable only to the motorcycles that can provide that area. To overcome this limitation, we propose an airbag system employing another concept. In this concept, the airbag does not use its vehicle structures as a reaction structure but uses the structures of an opposing vehicle, such as doors and/or pillars of an opposing vehicle. In this project, we aim to verify the effectiveness of the proposed system when installed in a motorcycle that cannot provide a larger area for the reaction structure.

Methods: In the system with this concept, it is assumed that the occupant protection performance is largely affected depending on impact configurations. Accordingly, full-scale motorcycle-to-car crash tests using 125 cm³ scooter-type models with and without the proposed system were conducted in various impact configurations. The 7 impact configurations specified in ISO 13232 were selected as the test configurations. Injury variables and injury indices of head, neck, chest, and abdomen were evaluated with the motorcyclist dummy.

Results: Injury variables and indices obtained from the crash tests with the airbag were compared to those of the baseline tests. In 2 impact configurations, the airbags were supported by the side structures of the opposing vehicle and performed to reduce the injury variable of head and/or chest compared to that of the baseline test.

Conclusion: Through the crash tests, beneficial protection effects of the airbag system were confirmed in particular impact configurations. No significant risk for the occupant due to the airbag was observed in the conducted crash tests. It was concluded that the proposed airbag system has feasibility to reduce rider injury in a collision of a motorcycle without sufficient reaction structure.     

Indirect prediction of surface ozone concentration by plant growth responses in East Asia using mini-open top chambers

We developed small and mobile open top chambers (mini-OTC) measuring 0.6 m (W)?×?0.6 m (D)?×?1.2 m (H) with an air duct of 0.6 m (W)?×?0.23 m (D)?×?1.2 m (H). The air duct can be filled with activated charcoal to blow charcoal filtered air (CF) into the chamber, as opposed to non-filtered ambient air (NF). Ozone sensitive radish Raphanus sativus cv. Red Chime and rosette pakchoi Brassica campestris var. rosularis cv. ATU171 were exposed to NF and CF in mini-OTCs at different locations in East Asia. A total of 29 exposure experiments were conducted at nine locations, Shanghai, China, Ha Noi, Vietnam, Lampang, Phitsanulok and Pathumtani, Thailand, and Hiratsuka, Kisai, Abiko and Akagi, Japan. Although no significant relationships between the mean concentrations of ambient O₃ during the experimental period and the growth responses were observed for either species, multiple linear regression analysis suggested a good relationship between the biomass responses in each species and the O₃ concentration, temperature, and relative humidity. The cumulative daily mean O₃ (ppb/day) could be indirectly predicted by NF/CF based on the dry weight ratio of biomass, mean air temperature, and relative air humidity.     

Hydroxyl radical concentration profile in photo-Fenton oxidation process: generation and consumption of hydroxyl radicals during the discoloration of azo-dye Orange II

Dynamic behaviors of hydroxyl (OH) radical generation and consumption in photo-Fenton oxidation process were investigated by measuring OH radical concentration during the discoloration of azo-dye Orange II. The effects of operating parameters for photo-Fenton discoloration, i.e. dosages of H₂O₂ and Fe, initial dye concentration, solution pH and UV irradiation, on the generation and consumption of OH radicals playing the main role in advanced oxidation processes were extensively studied. The scavenger probe or trapping technique in which coumarin is scavenger of OH radical was applied to estimate OH radical concentration in the photoreactor during the photo-Fenton discoloration process. The OH radical generation was enhanced with increasing the dosages of Fenton regents, H₂O₂ and Fe. At the initial stage of photo-Fenton discoloration of Orange II, the OH radical concentration rapidly increased (Phase-I) and the OH radical concentration decreased after reaching of OH radical concentration at maximum value (Phase-II). The decrease in OH radical concentration started when the complete discoloration of Orange II was nearly achieved and the H₂O₂ concentration became rather low. The dynamic behavior of OH radical concentration during the discoloration of Orange II was found to be strongly linked with the change in H₂O₂ concentration. The generation of OH radical was maximum at solution pH of 3.0 and decreased with an increase of solution pH. The OH radical generation rate in the Fenton Process was rather slower than that in the photo-Fenton process.     

Determination of PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs in insulating oil samples from stored Chinese electrical capacitors by HRGC/HRMS

Homologue and congener profiles of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in commercial PCBs formulations are key information for the source identification of PCBs contamination as well as for the risk assessment caused by potential exposure. The isotope dilution technology in combination with high resolution gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS) has made the accurate determination of such profiles possible. So far, various commercial PCB formulations except Chinese products have been successfully determined. Two PCBs containing insulating oil samples from stored Chinese electrical capacitors have been determined with the same methodology for comparability. The total concentration PCBs in two oil samples were 790 000 μg g⁻¹ and 720 000 μg g⁻¹, respectively. TriCBs, TetraCBs, and DiCBs were found to be most abundant. Concentration of dioxins contamination in two samples is 650-670 ngTEQ g⁻¹, of which 69-71 ngTEQ g⁻¹ from PCDD/Fs with the predominant congeners of 1,2,7,8-TeCDF; 2,3,7,8-TeCDF; 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF and 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF. The contributions of DL-PCBs in total TEQ in both samples were more than 85%. The dioxin-like toxicity in insulating oils contained in electrical capacitors could be considered receive attention as an important dioxins source if such wastes are not managed in an environmentally sound manner.     

Inundation Analysis in the Coastal Area Considering Climate Change Due to Global Warming

This paper describes the possible inundation scenarios under sea level rise conditions due to global climate change with particular reference to Nagoya, Japan. The study was carried out by using a two-dimensional sea model integrated with one-dimensional river flow model and two-dimensional overland flow model. For the connections of models, the upstream discharge or downstream water level in each grid is considered as the boundary conditions. The governing equations used for the analysis have been solved by finite volume method. The analysis results implicate that some parts of densely populated coastal area of Nagoya city will be vulnerable to inundation if the sea level rise due to global warming by 1 m. Moreover, the performances of existing sewer system and inundation scenario under various conditions have been analyzed.     

The Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident and exposures in the environment

The Great East Japan Earthquake has occurred on March 11, 2011, in the Tohoku District of Japan. Due to the earthquake, big tsunamis were induced, and they rushed to the Fukushima Nuclear Power Stations, causing severe accidents. Radioactive materials including I-131, Cs-137 and so on were emitted from the plant to the environment. The Japanese government, Fukushima prefectural government and other local governments have struggled against the accidents. The restricted area and deliberate evacuation area are set by the government, and the residents are evacuated. The dose rates in and around Fukushima Prefecture have been monitored by the governments and other involved organizations. Fukushima government has started the health management survey for all residents in Fukushima Prefecture including the questions on their activities for the estimations of their external doses.     

Seasonal variation in the atmospheric deposition of inorganic constituents and canopy interactions in a Japanese cedar forest

The seasonal changes in throughfall (TF) and stemflow (SF) chemistry and the canopy interactions of K+ and N compounds were studied in a Japanese cedar forest near the Sea of Japan. The fluxes of most ions, including non-sea-salt SO4(2-), from TF, SF, and rainfall showed distinct seasonal trends, increasing from autumn to winter, owing to the seasonal west wind, while the fluxes of NH4+ and K+ ions from TF+SF might have a large effect of canopy interactions. The contact angle (CA) of water droplets on leaves decreased with leaf aging, suggesting that surface wettability increases with leaf age. The K+ concentration in TF was negatively correlated with the CA of 1-year-old leaves, while the NH4+ concentration was positively correlated with the CA. The net fluxes of NH4+ and NO3(-) from TF were positively correlated with the CA. The increase in wettability may accelerate leaching of K+ or uptake of NH4+.