Evaluation of ammonia emission reducing effect by adding waste cooking oil in pilot-scale composting of dairy cattle manure.

OBJECTIVE: In our previous study, we observed that the addition of waste cooking oil (WCO) reduced ammonia (NH3) emissions during laboratory-scale composting of dairy cattle manure under low-aeration condition. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of addition of WCO on NH3 emissions reduction during pilot-scale composting of dairy cattle manure, which is close to the conditions of practical composting treatment. METHODS: Composting tests were conducted using pilot-scale composting facilities (1.8 m3 of capacity). The composting mixtures were prepared from manure, sawdust, and WCO. Two treatments were set: without WCO (Control) and with WCO added to 3 wt% of manure (WCO3). Composting was conducted under continuous aeration at 40 L/min, corresponding to 22.2 L/(min‧m3) of the mixture at the start of composting. The changes in temperatures, NH3 concentrations in the exhaust gases, and contents of the composted mixtures were analyzed. Based on these analysis results, the effect of WCO addition on NH3 emissions and nitrogen loss during composting was evaluated. RESULTS: During composting, the temperature increase of the composting mixture became higher, and the decreases of weight and water content of the mixture became larger in WCO3 than in Control. In the decrease of weight, and the residual weight and water content of the mixture, significant differences (p<0.05) were detected between the two treatments at the end of composting. The NH3 concentrations in the exhaust gases tended to be lower in WCO3 than in Control. Nitrogen loss was 21.5% lower in WCO3 than in Control. CONCLUSION: Reduction of NH3 emissions by the addition of WCO under low aeration condition was observed in pilot-scale composting, as well as in laboratory-scale composting. This result suggests that this method is effective in reducing NH3 emissions in practicalscale composting.

Research on Methods Decreasing Pesticide Waste Based on Plant Protection Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Review.

In plant protection, the increasing maturity of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology has greatly increased efficiency. UAVs can adapt to multiple terrains and do not require specific take-off platforms. They do well, especially in farmland areas with rugged terrain. However, due to the complex flow field at the bottom of a UAV, some of the droplets will not reach the surface of a plant, which causes pesticide waste and environmental pollution. Droplet deposition is a good indicator of the utilization rate of pesticides; therefore, this review describes recent studies on droplet deposition for further method improvement. First, this review introduces the flight altitude, speed, and environmental factors that affect pesticide utilization efficiency and then summarizes methods to improve pesticide utilization efficiency from three aspects: nozzles, electrostatic sprays, and variable spray systems. We also point out the possible direction of algorithm development for a UAV's precision spray.

Effect of waste cooking oil addition on ammonia emissions during the composting of dairy cattle manure.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of waste cooking oil (WCO) addition on ammonia (NH3) emissions during the composting of dairy cattle manure under two aeration conditions. METHODS: The composting tests were conducted using the laboratory-scale composting apparatuses (14 L of inner volume). Three composting treatments (Control, WCO1.5, and WCO3, with WCO added at 0 wt%, 1.5 wt%, and 3 wt% of manure, respectively) were performed in two composting tests: aeration rate during composting was changed from 0.55 to 0.45 L/min in Test 1, and fixed at 0.3 L/min in Test 2, respectively. The NH3 emitted and nitrogen losses during the composting were analyzed, and the effect of the addition of WCO on NH3 emissions were evaluated. RESULTS: Both tests indicated that the composting mixture temperature increased while the weight and water content decreased with increasing WCO content of the composting mixtures. On the other hand, the NH3 emissions and nitrogen loss trends observed during composting in Tests 1 and 2 were different from each other. In Test 1, NH3 emissions and nitrogen losses during composting increased with increasing WCO contents of the composting samples. Conversely, in Test 2, they decreased as the WCO contents of the samples increased. CONCLUSION: The WCO addition showed different effect on NH3 emissions during composting under two aeration conditions: the increase in WCO addition ratio increased the emissions under the higher aeration rate in Test 1, and it decreased the emissions under the lower aeration rate in Test 2. To obtain reduction of NH3 emissions by adding WCO with the addition ratio ≤3 wt% of the manure, aeration should be considered.

Isolation and characterization of two squalene epoxidase genes from Botryococcus braunii, race B.

The B race of the green microalga Botryococcus braunii produces triterpene hydrocarbons, botryococcenes and methylsqualenes that can be processed into jet fuels with high heating values. In this alga, squalene is also converted into membrane sterols after 2,3-epoxidation. In the present study, cDNA clones of two distinct squalene epoxidases (BbSQE-I and -II) were isolated. Predicted amino acid sequences encoded on these genes are 45% identical with each other. Introduction of BbSQE-I or -II into Saccharomyces cerevisie erg1 mutants resulted in the complementation of ergosterol auxotrophy. The relative expression level of SQE-II increased 3.5-fold from the early stage to the middle phase of a culture period of 42 days, while that of SQE-I was almost constant throughout the culture period. Southern blot analyses suggested that these genes are single-copied genes. This is the first report on the isolation of functional SQEs that are encoded in duplicated loci in the algal genome.

Seawater-cultured Botryococcus braunii for efficient hydrocarbon extraction.

UNLABELLED: As a potential source of biofuel, the green colonial microalga Botryococcus braunii produces large amounts of hydrocarbons that are accumulated in the extracellular matrix. Generally, pretreatment such as drying or heating of wet algae is needed for sufficient recoveries of hydrocarbons from B. braunii using organic solvents. In this study, the Showa strain of B. braunii was cultured in media derived from the modified Chu13 medium by supplying artificial seawater, natural seawater, or NaCl. After a certain period of culture in the media with an osmotic pressure corresponding to 1/4-seawater, hydrocarbon recovery rates exceeding 90% were obtained by simply mixing intact wet algae with n-hexane without any pretreatments and the results using the present culture conditions indicate the potential for hydrocarbon milking. HIGHLIGHTS: Seawater was used for efficient hydrocarbon extraction from Botryococcus braunii. The alga was cultured in media prepared with seawater or NaCl. Hydrocarbon recovery rate exceeding 90% was obtained without any pretreatment.

Clinical pathway for tension-free vaginal mesh procedure: evaluation in 300 patients with pelvic organ prolapse.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate a clinical pathway of discharge on postoperative day 3 for the tension-free vaginal mesh (TVM) procedure in patients with pelvic organ prolapse (POP). METHODS: Between May 2006 and December 2007, 305 consecutive women with POP quantification stage 3 or 4 were planned to undergo the TVM procedure in a single general hospital. Excluding five patients with concomitant hysterectomy, a pathway (removal of the indwelling urethral catheter on the next morning, discharge on postoperative day 3) was applied to the remaining 300 patients. The perioperative complications and postoperative hospitalization were prospectively evaluated in this case series. RESULTS: Perioperative complications were: bladder injury (11 cases, 3.7%), vaginal wall hematoma (two cases, 0.7%), rectal injury (one case, 0.3%) and temporary hydronephrosis (one case, 0.3%). None needed blood transfusion. The indwelling urethral catheters were removed on the next morning as in the pathway in 287 cases (95.6%), and none required clean intermittent catheterization at home. Postoperative hospitalization was within 3 days in 280 cases (93.3%). The six cases (2.0%) with longer hospitalization were due to complications (two cases of bladder injury, one of rectal injury, one of blood loss over 200 mL, one of temporary urinary retention, and one of hydronephrosis). Two patients were re-hospitalized within one month due to vaginal bleeding or gluteal pain. CONCLUSIONS: Patients generally accepted the pathway of discharge on postoperative day 3 in spite of the Japanese culture preferring a longer hospital stay.

[A collision cancer between urothelial carcinoma and malignant lymphoma of the urinary bladder: a case report].

A man in his 70's visited the Department of Internal Medicine due to lumbago that had first appeared two months previously. Abdominal computed tomography showed a low-density area in the liver and swelling of lymph nodes surrounding the abdominal aorta. Four months later, he was hospitalized on an emergency basis in a urology ward in order to control bladder tamponade. Cystoscopy revealed massive blood clots and a papillary tumor at the left wall of the urinary bladder. He underwent transurethral resection of a bladder tumor, and the pathological diagnosis was a collision tumor between urothelial carcinoma (G2, pTa) and malignant lymphoma (B cell type). He underwent a liver biopsy soon thereafter, and the pathological diagnosis was malignant lymphoma (as for the one found in the urinary bladder). Bladder tamponade was repeated, which was relieved after one course of chemotherapy for malignant lymphoma. He underwent six courses of chemotherapy (THP-CO), and he was well without recurrence of either malignant lymphoma or urothelial carcinoma with 3 years' follow-up. To our knowledge, this is the 14th reported case of a collision tumor in the urinary tract.

Overactive bladder and glaucoma: a survey at outpatient clinics in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of a history of glaucoma and the relative safety of prescribing anticholinergics to patients with overactive bladder (OAB). METHODS: Between 2003 and 2005, 267 female OAB patients (mean age, 65.8 years) and 100 male OAB patients (mean age, 73.0 years) were directly asked about their history of glaucoma. Those with a positive history were referred to ophthalmologists to differentiate types of glaucoma. RESULTS: For direct history taking, 31 (11.6%) of the female OAB patients and five (5.0%) of the male OAB patients admitted their history of glaucoma. Referrals to ophthalmologists revealed that 27 had open-angle glaucoma and nine had angle-closure glaucoma. Six of the patients with angle-closure glaucoma had already received laser iridotomy, and the remaining three (8.3% of patients with coexisting glaucoma) were diagnosed as true contraindications for anticholinergics. CONCLUSIONS: As both OAB and glaucoma increase with age, it is not surprising that approximately 10% of OAB patients have glaucoma. Although the majority have had either open-angle glaucoma or angle-closure glaucoma already treated, some of them may be true contraindications for anticholinergics due to uncontrolled angle-closure glaucoma. It seems necessary to treat OAB patients based on accurate information on the relationship between glaucoma and anticholinergics.

Composite tumor of mucinous cystadenoma and somatostatinoma of the kidney.

Approximately 30 cases of carcinoid tumor of the kidney have been reported in the English literature, including three cases found as components of teratomas. Renal composite tumors associated with somatostatinoma have not been described. A 53-year-old female presented with an incidentally found right renal cystic lesion. Computed tomography demonstrated a cystic lesion associated with a solid nodule in the right kidney and postcontrast dynamic MRI revealed enhancement of the solid nodule. The patient underwent radical nephrectomy for the kidney lesion and is now well without recurrence 21 months after the operation. From the histopathological findings we diagnosed the cystic lesion as a composite tumor composed of mucinous cystadenoma and carcinoid tumor. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the majority of cells of in carcinoid portion to be positive for antisomatostatin staining. The present case is the first documented composite tumor of mucinous cystadenoma and somatostatinoma of the kidney.