Feasibility of using constructed wetland treatment for molasses wastewater treatment

The surface flow constructed wetland (SFCW) with Cyperus involucratus, Typha augustifolia and Thalia dealbata J. Fraser was applied to treat anaerobic treated-molasses wastewater (An-MWW) under the organic loading rates (OLRs) of 612, 696, 806, 929 and 1,213 kg BOD(5)ha(-1)day(-1). The results showed that both removal efficiency and plant growth rate were increased with the decrease of organic loading rate (OLR). All tested-plant species could not grow under OLR of higher than 696 kg BOD(5)mg l(-1) (p>0.05). Also, the plant-biomass of the systems was reduced by 10.4%, 26.5%, and 64.7% of initial plant-biomass under the OLR of 806, 929 and 1,213 kg BOD(5)ha(-1)day(-1), respectively. However, all tested-plant species showed the same pattern on the plant-biomass production yield and removal efficiency. The highest SS, BOD, COD, total phosphorus, NH(4)(+), NO(3)(-) and molasses pigments (MP) removal efficiencies of 90-93%, 88-89%, 67%, 70-76%, 77-82%, 94-95% and 72-77%, respectively were detected under the OLR of 612 kg BOD(5)ha(-1)day.     

Induction of oscillatory ventilation pattern using dynamic modulation of heart rate through a pacemaker

For disease states characterized by oscillatory ventilation, an ideal dynamic therapy would apply a counteracting oscillation in ventilation. Modulating respiratory gas transport through the circulation might allow this. We explore the ability of repetitive alternations in heart rate, using a cardiac pacemaker, to elicit oscillations in respiratory variables and discuss the potential for therapeutic exploitation. By incorporating acute cardiac output manipulations into an integrated mathematical model, we observed that a rise in cardiac output should yield a gradual rise in end-tidal CO2 and, subsequently, ventilation. An alternating pattern of cardiac output might, therefore, create oscillations in CO2 and ventilation. We studied the effect of repeated alternations in heart rate of 30 beats/min with periodicity of 60 s, on cardiac output, respiratory gases, and ventilation in 22 subjects with implanted cardiac pacemakers and stable breathing patterns. End-tidal CO2 and ventilation developed consistent oscillations with a period of 60 s during the heart rate alternations, with mean peak-to-trough relative excursions of 8.4 +/- 5.0% (P < 0.0001) and 24.4 +/- 18.8% (P < 0.0001), respectively. Furthermore, we verified the mathematical prediction that the amplitude of these oscillations would depend on those in cardiac output (r = 0.59, P = 0.001). Repetitive alternations in heart rate can elicit reproducible oscillations in end-tidal CO2 and ventilation. The size of this effect depends on the magnitude of the cardiac output response. Harnessed and timed appropriately, this cardiorespiratory mechanism might be exploited to create an active dynamic responsive pacing algorithm to counteract spontaneous respiratory oscillations, such as those causing apneic breathing disorders.     

Seafood wastewater treatment in constructed wetland: tropical case

A series of investigations were conducted to evaluate the feasibility of using constructed wetlands to remove pollutants from seafood processing wastewater. Six emergent plant species; Cyperus involucratus, Canna siamensis, Heliconia spp., Hymenocallis littoralis, Typha augustifolia and Thalia deabata J. Fraser were planted in surface flow wetland. They were fed with seafood wastewater that was 50% diluted with treated seafood wastewater from an aerated lagoon. All macrophytes were found to meet satisfying treatment efficiency (standard criteria for discharged wastewater) at 5 days hydraulic retention time (HRT). While C. involucratus, T. deabata and T. augustifolia met acceptable treatment efficacy at 3 days HRT. Nutrient uptake rate of these species was observed in the range of 1.43-2.30 g Nitrogen/m(2)day and 0.17-0.29 g Phosphorus/m(2)day, respectively at 3 days HRT. The highest treatment performances were found at 5 days HRT. Average removal efficiencies were 91-99% for BOD(5), 52-90% for SS, 72-92% for TN and 72-77% for TP. Plant growth and nitrogen assimilation were experienced to be most satisfactory for C. involucratus, T. deabata and T. augustifolia. Lower HRTs affected contaminant removal efficiency for all species. C. involucratus, T. deabata and T. augustifolia can remove all contaminants efficiently even at the lowest hydraulic retention time (1 day).     

A fortuitous syncope. The pitfalls of integrated bipolar defibrillator leads

Myopotential oversensing in implantable defibrillators causing inhibition of pacing and inappropriate therapies is well described. Current literature is dominated by reports of diaphragmatic muscle as the source of such far-field oversensing. Those reporting pectoral muscle sources were invariably due to unipolar sensing circuits, incorrect DF-1 connections or inappropriate programming. We report an interesting case of pectoral muscle myopotential oversensing causing inhibition of bradycardia pacing leading to presyncope and syncope.     

Molecular monitoring of the developmental bacterial community in the gastrointestinal tract of Japanese infants

The dynamics of the developmental bacterial community in the Japanese neonatal gastrointestinal tract were examined by monitoring 16S ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) diversity in fecal samples by PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The results showed a certain pattern common in infants without antibiotic treatment, in which aerobes, e.g., Pseudomonas, appeared first and were then immediately replaced by facultative anaerobe, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, and Enterobacteriaceae through the first month, and finally strictly anaerobic Bifidobactrerium appeared.     

Differences in developing intestinal microbiota between allergic and non-allergic infants: a pilot study in Japan

The bacterial compositions of feces were monitored in the first 2 months for 15 infants born in Japan, including eight subjects who developed allergy by the age of 2 years. Primer sets targeting six predominant bacterial groups in the infant intestine, Bacteroidaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, bifidobacteria, enterococci, lactobacilli, and the Clostridium perfringens group, were used for real-time PCR to quantitate each population in the feces. The population of Bacteroidaceae was significantly higher in the allergic group at the ages of 1 month (P=0.03) and 2 months (P=0.05) than in the non-allergic group, while no statistically significant difference was observed for the other bacterial populations.