The morphometrical evaluation after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) and the corresponding postoperative morphometrical changes. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome who complained of snoring and apnea were enrolled in this study. Pre- and postoperative tests, including CTs, pharyngeal volume (PV), cross-sectional area (CSA), and six-category morphometrical studies, were performed. RESULTS: Of 11 patients included, 10 showed improvement of symptoms. BMI correlated with the respiratory event index (REI). In terms of PV, there was a significantly wider postoperative area. The rate of change between preoperative REI and postoperative REI (ΔREI) correlated with the amount of change of PV between preoperative PV and postoperative PV (ΔPV). CSA increased postoperatively and correlated with REI. Uvula space (UV) and distance between the hyoid bone and the base of the tongue (HB) increased postoperatively, and posterior airway space (PAS) and epiglottic space (Epi) decreased postoperatively. UV and PAS were significant (p = 0.046, 0.014). UV was related to REI. CONCLUSION: Widening the PV, increasing CSA, and the posterior movement of the tongue base after UPPP surgery were found. The improvement of REI did not depend only on volume. These results suggest that it was important not only to widen the PV but also to improve the shape of the pharynx.

Site of distant metastasis affects the prognosis with recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with Nivolumab.

BACKGROUND: Nivolumab is approved for the treatment of recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC). However, the influence of the site of distant metastasis on the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor in R/M HNSCC remains unclear. We investigated the prognosis of R/M HNSCC patients treated with nivolumab, focusing on the site of distant metastasis. METHODS: We reviewed the data of R/M HNSCC patients treated with nivolumab between April 2017 and June 2020 at Saitama Prefectural Cancer Center. The differences in the prognosis were evaluated according to the site of distant metastasis. RESULTS: Of the 41 patients enrolled, 26 (63.4%) had lung metastasis, 7 (17.1%) had bone metastasis, and 4 (9.8%) had liver metastasis. Ten patients (24.4%) had single-organ distant metastasis (lung metastasis in all cases). Univariate analysis identified lung metastasis alone (single-organ distant metastasis) was associated with a significantly better prognosis [HR0.37 (95% CI) 0.14-0.97 p = 0.04], while liver metastasis was associated with a significantly worse prognosis [HR3.86 (95% CI) 1.26-11.8 p = 0.02]. Multivariate analysis identified lung metastasis alone and liver metastasis as independent prognostic factors. While 7 patients (70%) with lung metastasis alone could be continued on nivolumab treatment or received subsequent chemotherapy, only 1 patient (25%) with liver metastasis received subsequent chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: The site of distant metastasis affects the prognosis of R/M HNSCC patients treated with nivolumab. Lung metastasis alone appears to be associated with a better prognosis, in that it allows easier transition to subsequent chemotherapy, while liver metastasis associates with a worse prognosis.

Piezo Actuator-Driven Pulsed Water Jet for Neurosurgery: Laboratory Evaluation with the Swine Model and Implications of Mechanical Properties.

Object Pulsed water jet is an emerging surgical instrumentation intended to achieve both maximal lesion resection and functional maintenance through preservation of fine vessels and minimal damage to the surrounding tissue. The piezo actuator-driven pulsed water jet (ADPJ) is a new technology that can deliver a precisely controlled uniform and efficient pulsed water jet with minimum water flow. The present study evaluated the ADPJ system in preclinical animal studies in the swine brain, and investigated breaking strength, one of the parameters for mechanical properties, to elucidate the mechanism of tissue selectivity for tissue dissection by the water jet. Methods This system consisted of a pump chamber driven by a piezo actuator, a stainless steel tube, and a nozzle (internal diameter: 0.15 mm). The water was supplied at 6 ml/min. The relationship between input voltage (3-25 V at 400 Hz) and peak pressure was measured using a pressure sensor through a sensing hole. Temporal profile of dissection depth during moving application was evaluated using gelatin brain phantom and swine brain. The dissected specimens were evaluated histologically. The mechanical property (breaking strength) of swine brain was measured by a compact table-top universal tester. Results Peak pressure increased linearly with increase in the input voltage, which reflected dissection depth in both the gelatin brain phantom and swine brain. Small arteries were preserved, and minimum damage to surrounding tissues occurred. The breaking strength of arachnoid membrane (0.12 ± 0.014 MPa) was significantly higher compared to gray matter (0.030 ± 0.010 MPa) and white matter (0.056 ± 0.009 MPa) (p < 0.05). The breaking strength of gray matter corresponded to that of 3 wt% gelatin, and that of white matter corresponded to a value between those of 3.5 and 4 wt% gelatin, and the dissection depth seemed to be estimated by 3-4 wt% gelatin. Conclusion The present study suggests that the ADPJ system has the potential to achieve accurate tissue dissection with preservation of blood vessels in neurosurgery. The difference in breaking strength may explain the tissue selectivity between brain parenchyma and tissue protected by the arachnoid membrane.

Analysis of different self-propulsion types of oil droplets based on electrostatic interaction effects.

This study aims to investigate electrical effects in self-propelled oil droplets and analyze the motion caused by electrical interactions between two droplets. We examine the motion of self-propelled oil droplets in terms of electrical effects; no similar analyses have been reported to date. When an oleic acid droplet is introduced into a surfactant solution, oleic acid is adsorbed at the droplet surface; as a result, the surface becomes negatively charged. However, the electrostatic interaction between oil droplets has not been studied so far. We focus on the chargeability of self-propelled oil droplets, and propose that their motion can be controlled by changing the charge state at the oil/water interface. This is realized by controlling the pH of the surfactant solution. We prepared several aqueous solutions with slightly different pH values, and introduced two oil droplets into each solution to investigate the relationship between the pH value and the correlated motion of the oil droplets. In an aqueous solution at pH 12.00, the two oil droplets showed two types of motion (follow-up and parallel motion), while in an aqueous solution at pH 12.10 they exhibited only one type of motion, i.e., repulsive motion. In order to analyze the three types of motion, we investigated electrical effects on the surface of the oil droplets. First, we measured the zeta potentials of aqueous solutions at pH 12.00 and 12.10, and analyzed the relationship between pH and charge. Furthermore, we calculated the amount of charge and the repulsive force generated on the surface of the oil droplets. For the pH 12.10 solution, the charge of one oil droplet and the repulsive force generated by the charge were found to be -30.79 pC and 282 nN, respectively. Taking into account the driving forces controlling the motion of oil droplets reported in previous studies, this repulsive force could be the driving force of the observed repulsive motion. Based on the experimental results, we inferred that the three types of self-propulsive motion were controlled by electrical effects at the oil/water interface. To further examine these motions, we analyzed the time dependences of the total distance traveled by a droplet and of the distance between oil droplets, as well as the droplet velocities and images of internal convection of oil droplets.

An oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide-binding-fold protein enhances the alternative splicing event producing thylakoid membrane-bound ascorbate peroxidase in Nicotiana tabacum.

The stromal and thylakoid membrane-bound ascorbate peroxidase isoforms are produced by the alternative splicing event of the 3'-terminal region of the APXII gene in spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), but not in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). However, all alternative splicing variants were detected in APXII gene-transformed Arabidopsis, indicating the occurrence of its regulatory mechanisms in Arabidopsis. The efficiency of this alternative splicing event in producing thylakoid membrane-bound ascorbate peroxidase mRNA is regulated by a splicing regulatory cis element, but trans splicing regulatory factor(s) for alternative splicing remain unclear. To identify this factor, we conducted a forward genetic screen using Arabidopsis in combination with a luciferase reporter system to evaluate the alternative splicing efficiency of thylakoid membrane-bound ascorbate peroxidase mRNA production. We isolated 9 mutant lines that showed low efficiency of the AS in producing thylakoid membrane-bound ascorbate peroxidase mRNA compared with that in the control plants. From one mutant [APXII alternative splicing inhibition (apsi1)], the causal gene responsible for the phenotype, AT5G38890 (oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide-binding-fold protein, APSI1), was identified. The levels of thylakoid membrane-bound ascorbate peroxidase mRNA from the transformed APXII gene decreased and increased in APSI1 knockout and APSI1-overexpressing plants, respectively. APSI1 was localized to the nucleus and specifically bound to the splicing regulatory cis element sequence. Tobacco plants that disrupted the closest homologs of APSI1 showed low levels of endogenous thylakoid membrane-bound ascorbate peroxidase mRNA. These results indicate that APSI1 is an enhancing component of the alternative splicing event of APXII.

Effective Treatment of Intraoperative Hiccups With Chlorpromazine Under General Anesthesia Without Muscle Relaxants: A Case Report.

Hiccups are common reflexes and many treatment methods have been reported. Chlorpromazine is a known treatment option for hiccups, but its efficacy under general anesthesia remains unclear. We report the case of a patient with vagal schwannoma who developed hiccups while under general anesthesia. Muscle relaxants were not used because the patient was under neuromonitoring. The depth of anesthesia was deepened; however, the hiccups did not disappear. The hiccups were relieved by intravenous chlorpromazine administration (total; 5 mg), which allowed for surgery under neuromonitoring. This case indicates that chlorpromazine may be effective to treat hiccups under general anesthesia.

Current state of building demolition and potential for selective dismantling in Vietnam.

In Vietnam, an increase in construction activities together with the absence of recycling-oriented demolition techniques is giving rise to an alarming generation of construction and demolition waste. This study scrutinized the current state of building demolition approaches in Hanoi, Vietnam and evaluated the potential for the selective dismantling, or deconstruction, of reinforced-concrete (RC) houses. Site observations, direct measurement, and interviews were conducted to obtain information on technical, environmental, and economic characteristics of three residential housing sites, each representing a typical current demolition technique (manual, hybrid, and mechanical demolition). A selective dismantling site is proposed based on the collected survey data and published case studies. Our findings confirmed the unsustainability of RC-building demolition practices in Hanoi, which have an average reuse/recycling rate of roughly 3%. The application of selective dismantling will boost the recycling rate to a remarkable 90%, associated with a 55% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. Even though selective dismantling is more time-consuming and therefore more costly, it results in double the resale value and an eight-fold decrease in disposal costs. The results of a sensitivity analysis indicate that increasing the current disposal fee will significantly improve the feasibility of selective dismantling, suggesting a need for stricter disposal charging mechanisms along with other interventions such as the development of recycling facilities to promote the introduction of this building removal alternative in Vietnam.

Impact of diatomite addition on lead immobilization in air pollution control residues from a municipal solid waste incinerator.

Air pollution control (APC) residues, which are known to be the byproducts of incineration treatment, exhibit a high leaching potential of toxic metals. Calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H), which is a major hydration product of hardened cement and immobilizes toxic metal, can be formed by the reaction of Ca with pozzolanic Si in a highly alkaline environment. Toxic metals might be immobilized by the addition of pozzolanic material to APC residues (instead of using cement), which is a Ca source and provides an alkaline condition. In this study, diatomite, which mainly comprises amorphous silica (SiO2·nH2O), was investigated as a pozzolanic material for Pb immobilization in APC residues obtained from a municipal solid waste incinerator. APC residues were cured with and without the addition of diatomite at different temperatures. When diatomite was added to APC residues, pozzolanic phases such as C-S-H gel were formed via the consumption of Ca(OH)2 and CaClOH. Compared to APC residues cured without diatomite, the leaching of Pb decreased by 99% for APC residues cured for 14 days with 10% diatomite at 70 °C. The results of sequential chemical extraction showed that water-soluble Pb in APC residues was reduced from 10.3% to nearly zero by the pozzolanic reaction. Consequently, the leaching amount of Pb dropped below 0.3 mg/L (Japanese criteria for landfill disposal). Overall, these experiments provide promising results regarding the possibility of using diatomite for pretreating APC residues.

Delineation of prostatic calcification using quantitative susceptibility mapping: Spatial accuracy for magnetic resonance-only radiotherapy planning.

To investigate the spatial accuracy of delineating prostatic calcifications by quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) in comparison with computed tomography (CT), we conducted phantom and human studies. Five differently-sized spherical hydroxyapatites mimicking prostatic calcification (pseudo-calcification) were arranged in the order of their sizes at the center of a plastic container filled with gelatin. This calcification phantom underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, including the multiple spoiled gradient-echo sequences (SPGR) for the QSM and CT as a reference. The volume of each pseudo-calcification and center-to-center distance between the pseudo-calcifications delineated by QSM and CT were measured. In the human study, eight patients with prostate cancer who underwent radiation therapy and had some prostatic calcifications were included. The patients underwent CT and SPGR and modified DIXON sequence for MR-only simulation. The hybrid QSM processing combined with the complex signals in the SPGR and water and fat fraction maps estimated from the modified DIXON sequence were used to reconstruct the pelvic susceptibility map in humans. The threshold of CT numbers was set at 130 HU, while the QSM images were manually segmented in the calcification phantom and human studies. In the phantom study, there was an excellent agreement in the pseudo-calcification volumes between QSM and CT (y = 1.02x - 7.38, R2  = 0.99). The signal profiles had similar trends in CT and QSM. The center-to-center distances between the pseudo-calcifications in the phantom were also identical in QSM and CT. The calcification volumes were almost identical between the QSM and CT in the human study (y = 0.95x - 9.32, R2  = 1.00). QSM can offer geometric and volumetric accuracies to delineate prostatic calcifications, similar to CT. The prostatic calcification delineated by QSM may facilitate image-guided radiotherapy in the MR-only simulation workflow.

Postoperative functional evaluation of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome by computational fluid dynamics.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and the corresponding postoperative airflow. Eleven patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome who complained of snoring and apnea were enrolled in this study. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was implemented. CFD could be accomplished in nine cases. Airflow analysis was not possible in cases with a high respiratory event index (REI) score. Before surgery, stenosis was identified in the oropharynx and epiglottic area. And the airflow velocity and pressure were found to have significantly decreased in the oropharynx postoperatively, while in the epiglottic area, those data had increased postoperatively in some cases. The velocity and pressure of the oropharynx are related to REI score. From the CFD analysis, airflow analysis is important for evaluating the apnea state. It is suggested that the postoperative function can now be predicted preoperatively.

Financial and economic evaluation of construction and demolition waste recycling in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Increasing waste generation and the absence of a formal recycling industry are exacerbating the inadequacy of Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) management in Hanoi, Vietnam. This study assesses potential CDW recycling in Hanoi by estimating the prospective supply of and demand for CDW recycling plants and evaluating their likely costs and benefits. Supply of concrete waste was calculated based on the weight-per-construction-area method whilst demand for recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) was determined by estimating the amount of aggregates for road construction in Hanoi from 2013 to 2017. Two potential models of CDW recycling plants were considered: a stationary plant and a mobile plant, with capacities of 1,000 and 360 tons/day, respectively. Our findings reveal that demand for RCA exceeds waste concrete supply, suggesting a promising market for RCA. Positive Net Present Value and Internal Rate of Return values of the stationary plant indicate its feasibility as an investment option. Meanwhile, the introduction of mobile recycling plants might require governmental intervention to internalize recycling positive externalities. Supporting policies might include a combination of a virgin material tax, green public procurement, and quality standard development.

Co-cultivation of sake yeast and Kocuria isolates from the sake brewing process.

Kocuria isolates collected from the sake brewing process have inhabited the Narimasa Sake Brewery in Toyama, Japan. To investigate the effect of these actinobacterial isolates on the growth and metabolism of sake yeast, co-cultivation of sake yeast and Kocuria isolates was performed in a medium containing tryptone, glucose and yeast extract (TGY), and a solution containing koji (steamed rice covered with Aspergillus oryzae) and glucose. In the TGY medium, the ethanol concentration and the number of living cells of each microorganism were measured. In the koji solution, the concentrations of ethanol and organic acids (citric acid, lactic acid and succinic acid) were measured. The results showed that in TGY media, the growth of each Kocuria isolate in the co-culture of the two Kocuria isolates was similar to that in each monoculture. However, the growth of both Kocuria isolates was inhibited in the co-cultures of sake yeast and Kocuria isolates. On the other hand, the growth and ethanol productivity of sake yeast did not differ between its monoculture and co-cultures with Kocuria isolates. In the koji solution, Kocuria isolates TGY1120_3 and TGY1127_2 affected the concentrations of ethanol and lactic acid, respectively. Thus, Kocuria isolates affected the microbial metabolism, but the effects were not identical between the two isolates. This strongly suggests that bacteria inhabiting a sake brewery may influence the flavor and taste of sake products of the brewery.

Genomic information of Kocuria isolates from sake brewing process.

Bacteria belonging to the genus Kocuria were identified as bacteria peculiar to a sake brewery in Toyama, Japan. Comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed two groups of Kocuria isolates. Among known species, one group was similar to K. koreensis (Kk type), and the other, K. uropygioeca (Ku type). We determined complete genomic DNA sequences from two isolates, TGY1120_3 and TGY1127_2, which belong to types Kk and Ku, respectively. Comparison of these genomic information showed that these isolates differ at the species level with different genomic characters. Isolate TGY1120_3 comprised one chromosome and three plasmids, and the same transposon coding region was located on two loci on the chromosome and one locus on one plasmid, suggesting that the genetic element may be transferred between the chromosome and plasmid. Isolate TGY1127_2 comprised one chromosome and one plasmid. This plasmid encoded an identical transposase coding region, strongly suggesting that the genetic element may be transferred between these different isolates through plasmids. These four plasmids carried a highly similar region, indicating that they share a common ancestor. Thus, these two isolates may form a community and exchange their genetic information during sake brewing.

Waste generation, composition, and handling in building-related construction and demolition in Hanoi, Vietnam.

This study conducted a survey at 15 building construction and demolition sites in Hanoi, Vietnam in order to identify waste generation rates (WGR), composition, and current handling practices of construction and demolition waste (CDW). Waste quantification based on CDW layout, image analysis to identify CDW components, and face-to-face interviews with construction and demolition contractors to reveal CDW flows were performed. WGRs of 79.3 kg/m2 and 1,030 kg/m2 were determined in small- and large-scale construction sites, respectively, whilst WGRs at small and large demolition sites were 610 kg/m2 and 318 kg/m2. The composition analysis identified soil, concrete, and brick as the major CDW components, consistent with building structures in Vietnam. The interviews discovered that merely 10% of total CDW flows was from recycled and reused CDW. Reuse and recycling rates were most significant for metal and were lower (in descending order) for brick, concrete, and soil. These findings raise a need for aggressive and integrated strategies to promote more sustainable CDW management in the country, including the development of recycled CDW product standards, policies that facilitate recycling, and more importantly, a sustainable business model for CDW recycling, for which future evaluations of economic feasibility are of great importance.

Low fraction of methane in landfill gas emissions in an industrial waste landfill containing incineration ash and gypsum board waste under anaerobic conditions.

The behaviour of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) emissions at the surface and below the soil cover in an industrial waste landfill under anaerobic operating conditions was evaluated for six years. This landfill contained gypsum board waste and incineration ash - a practice currently allowed because of a change in Japanese regulations. The CO2 and CH4 fluxes decreased throughout the six years of the survey. Almost all of the survey points exhibited fractions of CH4 in landfill gas emissions of <0.5 (mean values: 0.0-0.1 [surface], 0.0-0.3 [subsurface]) under anaerobic conditions. In addition, a relatively high first-order reaction rate constant for the landfill gas emissions (0.3 year-1) was observed. The landfill leachate showed a relatively high sulphate ion (SO4 2-) concentration, although other environmental conditions, such as the pH, oxidation-reduction potential and ammonium concentration, were not at levels that could have inhibited CH4 production. These findings suggest that the low fractions could have been related to the lower amounts of CH4 generation caused by competition between methanogens and sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB). Therefore, SRB could play a major role in the degradation of organic carbon in the landfill.

Low-energy extracorporeal shock wave therapy for a model of liver cirrhosis ameliorates liver fibrosis and liver function.

Low-energy extracorporeal shock waves (LESW) have been studied as a new treatment for angina pectoris and several ischemic diseases because of its effect on angiogenesis and inhibition of fibrosis of the heart. The effect of LESW on fibrosis in liver cirrhosis has not been studied. The aim of this study was to verify the amelioration of liver fibrosis by LESW and elucidate its mechanisms in a rat model of drug-induced liver cirrhosis. Male Wistar rats aged 7 weeks were injected with carbon tetrachloride intraperitoneally twice a week for 12 weeks. Eight rats underwent LESW therapy (0.25 mJ/mm2, 4 Hz, 1000 shots) under general anesthesia (shock wave group). Seven rats only underwent general anesthesia (control group). Quantitative analysis showed that the area of fibrosis in the shock wave group was significantly reduced compared with the control group (11,899.9 vs. 23,525.3 pixels per field, p < 0.001). In the shock wave group, the mRNA expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1 was significantly suppressed (0.40-fold, p = 0.018) and vascular endothelial growth factor-B was significantly increased (1.77-fold, p = 0.006) compared with the control group. Serum albumin was significantly higher in the shock wave group than in the control group (3.0 vs. 2.4 g/dl, p = 0.025). Aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio decreased by LESW compared with the control group (1.49 vs. 2.04, p = 0.013). These results suggest that LESW therapy ameliorates liver fibrosis by reducing the expression of TGF-ß1 and increasing the expression of angiogenic factors, and improves hepatic function.

Directional and velocity control of active droplets using a rigid-frame.

This paper introduces a novel directional control method of self-propelled oil droplets. Oil droplets locomote spontaneously with surfactant action. This self-propulsion is caused by Marangoni convection within the oil droplet due to differences in the surfactant concentration at the droplet surface. Recent studies have reported that self-propelled oil droplets change their locomotion style depending on their shapes. We confirm that spherical oil droplets move randomly, including straight motion, bending motion, and rotation. In particular, we discover that boomerang-shaped oil droplets exhibit only straight motion. In this study, we introduce an exoskeleton for the directional and velocity control of oil droplets. A droplet shaped as a boomerang by an exoskeleton locomotes in the direction from a concave region to a convex region. Through experimental studies, we found that the stability of the velocity and locomotion direction depended on the boomerang shape. Self-propelled oil droplets with exoskeletons were then applied to a transporting robot driven only by the energy obtained from chemical reactions. We demonstrate the robot pushes and transports an object floating on water.

Cancer of the mandibular gingiva metastasizing to the small intestine.

Head and neck cancer metastasizing to the small intestine is very rare. Here we report a case of cancer of the mandibular gingiva metastasizing to the small intestine. The patient was an 82-year-old man who had squamous cell carcinoma of the mandibular gingiva staged as T2N2bM0. Two months after surgery, he presented with lower abdominal pain accompanied by signs of peritoneal irritation. Urgent abdominal surgery was performed, during which a crater-shaped perforation was noted on the wall of the ileum. Microscopic findings at this site confirmed a diagnosis of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma in the small intestine from the mandibular gingiva. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of oral cancer metastasizing to the small intestine. If gastrointestinal symptoms appear in a patient with advanced oral cancer, a differential diagnosis of metastasis to the gastrointestinal tract should be kept in mind.

The effectiveness of passive gas ventilation on methane emission reduction in a semi-aerobic test cell operated in the tropics.

Two landfill test cells, with and without gas vents, were used to investigate the effectiveness of passive aeration, through basal leachate pipes, in mitigating methane emissions from municipal solid waste disposal in the tropical climate of Thailand. Surface methane emission rate, as well as methane content in the landfill gas, were determined for a period of three years. The results indicate that the average methane emission rate from the test cell with passive gas vents (42.13 g/t dry wt./d) was about half of that from the test cell without gas vents (90.33 g/t dry wt./d). Methane emission rates from both test cells fluctuated and were influenced by precipitation. The emission rate during the wet period in the test cell with gas vents (61.67 g/t dry wt./d) was 3 times as much as that observed during the dry period (20.95 g/t dry wt./d). The emission rate during the wet period in the test cell without gas vents (120.33 g/t dry wt./d), was twice the value of that observed during the dry period (60.32 g/t dry wt./d). The measurements also revealed the formation of methane hotspots in the test cell with passive vents after rainfall events, leading to higher localized surface emissions. Introduction of gas vents helped reduce methane emissions from solid waste landfills in a tropical region. However, rainfall should be limited to avoid turning semi-aerobic conditions into anaerobic conditions.

Detection of Bacterial DNA During the Process of Sake Production Using Sokujo-Moto.

There are two types of starter cultures used in Japanese rice wine (sake) fermentation, namely, sokujo-moto and yamahai-moto. Analyses of microbiota changes during sake production using yamahai-moto have already been reported. In this study, we analyzed microbiota changes during sake production using sokujo-moto. In addition, we sequenced bacterial DNA from the water used in sake production. The Lactobacillus DNA sequences, which are frequently detected during sake production using yamahai-moto, were not detected during sake production using sokujo-moto, indicating that the Lactobacillus DNA detected in sakes made from yamahai-moto is from the fermentation starter. Most bacterial DNA sequences detected in water were not found in the production samples of sake suggesting that these bacteria do not proliferate during sake production. Thus, most of the bacterial DNA sequences detected during the production may be from the bacterial contamination during the production process.