Bioethanol from sea lettuce with the use of crude enzymes derived from waste

The mid-gut gland of the scallop contains saccharification enzymes such as cellulase and amylase, and these enzymes have been disposed of together with the mid-gut gland after the removal of the adductor muscle, an edible part of the scallop. We used a drip from the mid-gut gland of the scallop, obtained by squeezing the gland, as an inexpensive enzyme mixture and tried to produce bioethanol from the glucans present in sea lettuce by the method of simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) with the use of baker’s yeast. The ethanol concentration attained was as high as 7.2 g/L, which corresponded to ~37% of the conversion of glucans in sea lettuce in the solid-state SSF. Furthermore, we ascertained that the drip and sea lettuce contain nutrients that are indispensable for maintaining the yeast activity, and, thus, the SSF did not require any additional nutrients, such as yeast extract or peptone, the use of which increases the cost of fermentation to a high level.     

Nervous system disruption and concomitant behavioral abnormality in early hatched pufferfish larvae exposed to heavy oil

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Spills of heavy oil (HO) over the oceans have been proven to have an adverse effect on marine life. It has been hypothesized that exposure of early larvae of sinking eggs to HO leads largely to normal morphology, whereas abnormal organization of the developing neural scaffold is likely to be found. HO-induced disruption of the nervous system, which controls animal behavior, may in turn cause abnormalities in the swimming behavior of hatched larvae. To clarify the toxicological effects of HO, we performed exposure experiments and morphological and behavioral analyses in pufferfish (Takifugu rubripes) larvae. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE: Fertilized eggs of pufferfish were exposed to 50?mg/L of HO for 8?days and transferred to fresh seawater before hatching. The hatched larvae were observed for their swimming behavior, morphological appearance, and construction of muscles and nervous system. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: In HO-exposed larvae, we did not detect any anomaly of body morphology. However, they showed an abnormal swimming pattern and disorganized midbrain, a higher center controlling movement. Our results suggest that HO-exposed fishes suffer developmental disorder of the brain that triggers an abnormal swimming behavior and that HO may be selectively toxic to the brain and cause physical disability throughout the life span of these fishes.     

Gas chromatography�Cmass spectrometry for metabolite profiling of Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) juveniles exposed to malathion

Purpose

We evaluate malathion toxicity to Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) juveniles by using a mass spectrometry combined with gas chromatography (GC/MS) metabolomics approach.

Methods

Medaka were exposed to low (L) and high (H) concentrations (nominally 20 and 2,000 ??g/L, respectively) of water-borne malathion. Metabolites were extracted from the fish, derivatized, and analyzed by GC/MS. Identified metabolites were subjected to one-way analysis of variance and principal component analysis (PCA). We examined the variations in the amounts of the metabolites during the exposure period.

Results and discussion

At 24 h, control, L, and H groups were separated along PC1, suggesting that the effects of malathion depended on exposure concentration. The PCA results at 96 h suggest that the metabolite profiles variations of the L and H groups differed, and thus that the effects of malathion in groups differed. At 24 h, the amounts of amino acids in both exposed groups were lower than the control group amounts, perhaps owing to accelerated protein synthesis. At 96 h, the amounts of almost all the amino acids increased in the L group but decreased in the H group relative to the control group amounts, suggesting the proteolysis occurred in the L group while protein synthesis continued in the H group, that the high malathion exposure affected the fish. In addition, at 96 h, gluconeogenesis may have been induced in the L group but not in H group.

Conclusions

Malathion exposure may have altered the balance between protein synthesis and degradation and induced gluconeogenesis in medaka. Our results suggest that metabolomics will be useful for comprehensive evaluation of toxicity.     

Residues of pharmaceutical products in recycled organic manure produced from sewage sludge and solid waste from livestock and relationship to their fermentation level

In recent years, sludge generated in sewage treatment plants (STPs) and solid waste from livestock being utilized is useful for circulation of nourishment in farmlands as recycled organic manure (ROM). In this study, we determined the residue levels and patterns of 12 pharmaceutical products generated by human activity in the ROMs produced from human waste sludge (HWS), sewage sludge (SS), cattle manure (CM), poultry manure (PM), swine manure (SM) and horse manure (HM).The kind and number of pharmaceutical products detected in ROMs were different. Fluoroquinolones (FQs) were detected at high levels in HWS and SS samples. In addition, the detection frequency and concentration levels of sulfonamides (SAs) in PM and SM were high. Moreover, high concentrations of chlortetracycline (CTC) were found in only SM. These differences reflect specific adherence adsorption of the pharmaceutical products to different livestock and humans. Moreover, it was found that the concentrations of pharmaceutical products and fermentation levels of ROMs had significant positive correlation (r = 0.41, p = 0.024).When the fermentation test of ROM was conducted in a rotary fermentor in a lab scale test, the residue levels of pharmaceutical products decreased effectively except carbamazepine (CBZ). The rates of decrease were in the case of tetracyclines (TCs): 85-92%, FQs: 81-100%, erythromycine: 67%, SAs: 79-95%, trimethoprim: 86% and CBZ: 37% by 30 d. Pharmaceutical products that can be decomposed by fermentation process at the lowest impact of residual antibiotic activities may therefore be considered as environmentally friendly medicines.     

Endocrine effects generated by photooxidation of coplanar biphenyls in water using titanium dioxide

The oxidative photodegradation behaviors of selected three coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), (CB77, CB81, and CB169) using titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) in water were investigated. The main purposes were to clarify the structural relation between the original PCBs and the intermediates derived by TiO(2) oxidation and to evaluate the estrogenic and thyroid hormonal activity in the treated three coplanar PCBs during the oxidative reactions. Approximately 90% of the three coplanar PCBs decomposed within 180 min. Intermediates from the decomposition of the three coplanar PCBs, such as some hydroxylated-PCBs (OH-PCBs), carboxylic intermediates, phenolic intermediates, and other intermediates produced by the cleavage of a benzene ring were identified and quantified. In the degradation pathways, the produced amounts of OH-PCBs increased within 60 min of irradiation time. The estrogenic activity and thyroid hormonal activity of the intermediates from the three coplanar PCBs in water at 0, 60, 120, 180 and 240 min of irradiation time were assessed by using a yeast two-hybrid assay system for human estrogen receptor alpha (hERalpha) and human thyroid hormone receptor alpha (hTRalpha). The maximal estrogenic activities were induced by the solutions of decomposed PCBs with irradiation time at 60-120 min similar and slightly lower than those after the irradiation time. We found that the solutions occuring during the irradiation times of 60-120 min contained several 4-OH-PCBs substituted with OH and Cl at para- and para'-positions having estrogenic activity. The thyroid hormonal activity was not detected in the decomposed three coplanar PCBs solutions.     

Influence of oxygen flow rate and compost addition on reduction of organic matter in aerated waste layer containing mainly incineration residue

Landfilling municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) residue alkalizes the waste layer, causing a subsequent decrease in microbial activity and a delay in the decomposition of organic matter. In this study, efficiencies of neutralization of the leachate and organic matter decomposition in the waste layer in a column filled with MSWI residue using aeration and compost addition were evaluated.Total organic carbon (TOC) reduction in the waste layer is large at high oxygen flow rate (OFR). To effectively accelerate TOC reduction in the waste layer to which compost was added, a high OFR exceeding that by natural ventilation was required. At day 65, the pH of the leachate when OFR was above 102mol-O2/(day·m3) was lower than that when OFR was below 101mol-O2/(day·m3). At the same OFR, the pH of waste sample was lower than that of waste sample with compost. Although leachate neutralization could be affected by compost addition, TOC reduction in the waste layer became rather small. It is possible that humic substances in compost prevent the decomposition of TOC in MSWI residue.     

Age-specific filial cannibalism in a paternal mouthbrooding fish

Entire-brood cannibalism by mouthbrooding males of the cardinal fish Apogon doederleini was investigated in temperate waters of southern Japan during two breeding seasons. The rate of cannibalism was 17–18% in each season and did not differ among age-groups. However, the seasonal pattern of cannibalism differed markedly among age-groups: young (1- and 2-year-old) males frequently cannibalized early broods, especially the first brood, of the season, whereas cannibalism by middle-aged (3- and 4-year-old) and old (5- and 6-year-old) males mainly occurred late in the breeding season. We explain this difference in terms of trade-offs between current and future reproduction. Young males, whose future reproductive success is enhanced by the growth increment, may allocate more time and energy to growth by cannibalizing early broods. In contrast, for older males who have had more breeding cycles and grow little, cannibalism could be a way to reverse the deterioration in their somatic condition that occurs as the breeding season progresses. It is also likely that the current reproductive loss entailed by the cannibalism is effectively compensated by quick re-mating with another female. Received: 24 February 1997 / Accepted after revision: 20 July 1997     

Prenatal diagnosis of atelosteogenesis type I at 21 weeks' gestation

We describe prenatal diagnosis in a male fetus at 21 weeks of gestation with atelosteogenesis type I (AO I). Fetal ultrasonography (US) revealed absent or deficient ossification of the posterior neural arches of the thoracic spine, humeri, radii, ulnae, fibulae, and short tubular bones other than the distal phalanges, in addition to extremely short, thick femora. Fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using an ultrafast imaging sequence depicted dysmorphic features, pulmonary hypoplasia, and large cisterna magna. Postmortem radiographs warranted a diagnosis of AO I. Autopsy corroborated not only pulmonary hypoplasia but also laryngeal stenosis. The chondro-osseous histological findings were consistent with those of AO I. Meticulous evaluation using fetal US and MRI permits a definitive prenatal diagnosis of AO I to be made. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Atmospheric methanethiol emitted from a pulp and paper plant on the shore of Lake Baikal

On-site measurement of methanethiol (CH₃SH) was performed for three years on ships and cars near a pulp and paper plant standing on the shore of Lake Baikal in Siberia, Russia, to investigate the behavior and impact of atmospheric CH₃SH emitted from a point source. Despite its strong odor, there are few reports on atmospheric CH₃SH, while many investigations have been carried out on dimethyl sulfide (DMS). In this work, CH₃SH and DMS were measured every 15 min by a recently developed automated instrument based on single column trapping/separation and chemiluminescence measurement. Hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide and ozone were also measured simultaneously by individual instruments. Of these sulfur compounds, CH₃SH was dominant and its concentration sometimes reached several tens of ppbv. The concentration of CH₃SH was high at night, because of the lack of photodecomposition and local winds from the mountain to the lake. Such time variation was marked in the summer. The CH₃SH level decreased significantly downwind, while decreases in concentrations of other compounds such as DMS and SO₂ were relatively small. From these temporal and spatial variations, the behavior of CH₃SH is described in this paper. The impact of CH₃SH near the Siberian big sources is discussed with the presented data.     

Gaseous and particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) emissions from commercial restaurants in Hong Kong

Commercial cooking emissions are important air pollution sources in a heavily urbanized city. Exhaust samples were collected in six representative commercial kitchens including Chinese restaurants, Western restaurants, and Western fast-food restaurants in Hong Kong during peak lunch hours. Both gaseous and particulate emissions were evaluated. Eight gaseous and twenty-two particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were quantified in this study. In the gaseous phase, naphthalene (67-89%) was the most abundant PAH in all of the exhaust samples. The contribution of acenaphthylene in the gaseous phase was significantly higher in emissions from the Chinese restaurants, whereas fluorene was higher in emissions from the Western cooking style restaurants (i.e., Western restaurants and Western fast-food restaurants). Pyrene is the most abundant particulate PAH in the Chinese restaurants (14-49%) while its contribution was much lower in the Western cooking style restaurants (10-22%). Controlled cooking conditions were monitored in a staff canteen to compare the emissions from several different local cooking styles, including deep frying, steaming, and mixed cooking styles (combination of steaming and frying). Deep frying produced the highest amount of total gaseous PAHs, 6 times higher than the steaming. However, steaming produced the highest particulate emissions. The estimated annual gaseous PAH emissions for the Chinese restaurants, Western restaurants, and Western fast-food restaurants were 255, 173, and 20.2 t y(-1) whereas 252, 1.9, and 0.4 t y(-1) were estimated for particulate phase PAH emissions. The study provides useful information and estimates for PAH emissions from commercial cooking exhaust in Hong Kong.