Higher concentration of 25-hydroxycholesterol in treatment-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes compared to healthy individuals.

BACKGROUND: Oxysterols are cholesterol oxidation derivatives with diverse biological activities. However, little is known about the oxysterol levels in treatment-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes. OBJECTIVE: We utilized gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to investigate the potential association between oxysterol concentrations and type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis in treatment-naïve patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: This case-control study enrolled 53 eligible patients with type 2 diabetes and 50 healthy volunteers. We compared serum oxysterol concentrations between the two groups; we examined the correlation between the oxysterol concentrations and the carotid plaque score in the type 2 diabetes group. RESULTS: Univariate analysis revealed significant differences in the concentrations of oxysterols (i.e., cholesterol-5α, 6α-epoxide; cholesterol-5ß, 6ß-epoxide; 7ß-hydroxycholesterol; and 25-hydroxycholesterol [25-HC]) and other cardiovascular risk factors between the two groups. The 25-HC concentration was almost twofold greater in the type 2 diabetes group than in the healthy volunteers (median [interquartile range]: 8.52 [6.37-11.26] vs. 4.58 [3.45-5.44] ng/mL). After adjusting for multiple covariates, such as age, body mass index, mean arterial pressure, and triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels, only the concentration of 25-HC showed a significant association with type 2 diabetes. However, the univariate analysis failed to demonstrate any significant correlation between oxysterol concentrations and the carotid plaque score among individuals with type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of various oxysterols differ between treatment-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes and healthy individuals; the 25-HC level differs the most prominently.

Adaptation of anammox granules in swine wastewater treatment to low temperatures at a full-scale simultaneous partial nitrification, anammox, and denitrification plant.

In the anammox process, maintaining a high anammox activity at low water temperatures for stable nitrogen removal is a challenge. In this study, to verify the adaptability of anammox to low water temperatures, we investigated effects of annual temperature fluctuations on nitrogen removal in a full-scale swine wastewater treatment plant, where anammox bacteria accumulated. Annual quarters were defined as L-1 (November-January), L-2 (February-April), H-1 (April-July), and H-2 (July-October). The total nitrogen removal rate was stable at 0.08-0.11 kg-N/m3/d, even during temperature fluctuations. Removal efficiencies of biochemical oxygen demand and total nitrogen were consistently high at 95-99% and 69-81%, respectively. The anammox activity and abundance of anammox bacteria were highest in granule L-1 and lowest in granule H-2. The optimal temperature for anammox activity shifted from 35 °C in granules H-1 and H-2 to 30 °C in granules L-1 and L-2, while the latter maintained a moderate activity compared to the former at low temperature. Candidatus Jettenia asiatica was predominant, especially in granule L-2, accounting for up to 54% of the microbial community composition at the genus level. The high specific anammox activity in granule L-2 was considered to be due to the abundance of anammox bacteria and the adaptation of Ca. Jettenia asiatica to low temperature. The anammox granules adapted well to low temperatures and demonstrated high efficiency in the simultaneous partial nitrification anammox and denitrification process without heating. Thus, constructing an energy-saving and cost-effective nitrogen removal system can be considered.

Start-up of a trickling photobioreactor for the treatment of domestic wastewater.

A stand-alone trickling photobioreactor (TPBR) was seeded with activated sludge and microalgae to treat domestic wastewater. The TPBR was started-up at 12-h hydraulic retention time at room temperature with 12:12 h light:dark cycle. The light was provided by blue LED strips. The reactor has a total volume of 30 L and is divided into six segments. Each segment is 30 cm long and has a diameter of 15 cm. Each segment was packed with polyurethane foam sponge cubes (2.5 × 2.5 × 2.5 cm3 ) with 40% occupancy. The chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), and phosphorus (P) of domestic wastewater varied in the range of 164-256 mg/L, 84.4-133.8 mg/L, 34.2-55.6 mg/L, and 24.7-39.3 mg/L, respectively, during this period. The COD, TOC, TN, and P concentrations in the effluent after 45 days of operation were 30.24 ± 3.36 mg/L, 7.69 ± 0.09 mg/L, 16.67 ± 0.39 mg/L, and 17.48 ± 0.5 mg/L, respectively. The chlorophyll-to-biofilm biomass ratio increased during the experimental period. The above results indicate that the algal-bacterial symbiotic relationship is beneficial for carbon and nutrient removal from domestic wastewater. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Trickling photobioreactor works on natural ventilation and has low power requirements and a small footprint. The porous sponge media helped in immobilizing and subsequent harvesting of biomass. The reactor conditions favored the growth of diatoms (brown algae) over green algae.

A Japanese Family with DICER1 Syndrome Found in Childhood-Onset Multinodular Goitre.

INTRODUCTION: Germline DICER1 mutations have recently been identified in familial multinodular goitre (MNG). The natural history of thyroid nodules in DICER1 carriers in children is unclear. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical and genetic findings of childhood-onset MNG with DICER1 carrier in a patient who underwent total thyroidectomy. CASE PRESENTATION: The 6-year-old proband had a thyroid nodule, and the number and size of nodules increased over 3 years. A total thyroidectomy was chosen because of the rapid rise in thyroglobulin levels, discomfort when swallowing, and the mother's history of poorly differentiated thyroid cancer (PDTC). Histopathology revealed adenomatous goitre without malignant cells. Her mother, maternal aunt, and maternal grandmother also had thyroid nodules removed during adolescence. Also, her mother had PDTC with lung metastases, and her maternal aunt had an ovarian germ cell tumour. DICER1 mutation analysis identified a heterozygous novel nonsense mutation (c.4509C>G, p.Y1503X) for the patient, her mother, her maternal grandmother, and her asymptomatic elder brother. Y1503X was identified in all resected thyroid tissues, while heterozygous D1709G, D1810V, and E1813K mutations were identified in individual nodules. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: A thyroid nodule was detected in chemotherapy- or radiotherapy-naïve patient with DICER1 carrier aged 6 years, and MNG developed over 3 years. This pedigree highlights the natural history of nodular disease in DICER1 carriers and identifies a possible association between DICER1 and more aggressive malignancies.

Effect of fulvic acid on bioreactor performance and on microbial populations within the anammox process.

The long-term effect of fulvic acid (FA) on bioreactor performance and on microbial populations within the anammox process were firstly investigated in this study. The average nitrogen removal rate showed an upward trend when the influent TOC concentration of FA was 25.2-65.1 mg/L. However, when FA was increased to 80.3 mg/L, the reactor performance was slightly inhibited. In addition, judging from the particle size and settling properties, FA can promote anammox sludge granulation. After 53 days of exposure to FA, the genus Anaerolineaincreased in number, while Denitratisoma decreased. Candidatus Jettenia and Candidatus Kuenenia survived and enriched in the changed environment, potentially due to the interaction between anammox bacteria and some heterotrophic bacteria, which could protect anammox bacteria from adverse environments. These results indicate that FA can change the bacterial community and trigger different microbial interaction mechanisms within the anammox reactor.

Nutrient removal by duckweed from anaerobically treated swine wastewater in lab-scale stabilization ponds in Vietnam.

In Vietnam, swine wastewater is generally treated using anaerobic processes. Nevertheless, the level of pollutants in effluent after anaerobic treatment remains very high, thereby necessitating further treatment. This research was conducted to assess the applicability of duckweed (Lemna minor) for purifying wastewater collected from a household swine wastewater treatment system in Hanoi, Vietnam. After the anaerobically treated wastewater was diluted 10-fold, it was fed continuously to lab-scale stabilization ponds with and without planted duckweed at a hydraulic retention time of 5 days under ambient conditions. The chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (T-N), and total phosphorus (T-P) concentrations in the influent were, respectively, 260-290 mg/L, 24-28 mg/L, and 1.4-1.8 mg/L. The COD, T-N, T-P removals in the pond with duckweed (74%, 84%, and 84%) were much higher than in the pond without duckweed (71%, 55%, and 58%). The duckweed greatly enhanced the first-order removal rates by 1.4, 2.0, and 3.2 times, respectively, for COD, T-N, and T-P in the ponds. Although the primary purification mechanisms in the ponds were sedimentation and adsorption, the duckweed grown with the relative growth rate of 0.07-0.16 d-1 showed nutrient uptake activity from the wastewater. Biofilms formed on the duckweed roots apparently promoted COD removal and degradation of organic nitrogen into ammonia. Stabilization ponds planted with duckweed are anticipated for use as co-beneficial systems for wastewater treatment and biomass production.

Impaired glucose tolerance and future cardiovascular risk after coronary revascularization: a 10-year follow-up report.

AIMS: Practical management guidelines for impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) have not been established. Although IGT is a potent marker of cardiovascular disease (CVD), it is still controversial whether its magnitude of CVD risk is comparable to that of frank diabetes. Moreover, information on long-term clinical outcomes of IGT patients undergoing coronary revascularization is limited. The aim of the present work was to investigate the 10-year prognostic impact of IGT in comparison with diabetes in patients with CAD undergoing coronary revascularization. METHODS: This cohort recruited from two Japanese clinical sites included patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between 2004 and 2008. Patients were categorized into previously known diabetes (PKD, n = 197), newly diagnosed diabetes (NDD, n = 51), and IGT (n = 50) groups according to oral glucose tolerance test results except for PKD. The primary end point was defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, repeat revascularization, and heart failure hospitalization. RESULTS: The cumulative risk of the primary outcome was significantly higher in the PKD and IGT than in the NDD (log-rank test p = 0.017). A Cox proportional hazards model demonstrated that IGT (hazard ratio [HR], 7.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.84-27.58) and creatinine clearance (HR, 7.89, 95% CI, 2.73-19.10) were predictors of long-term CVD risk, while NDD and PKD were not. CONCLUSIONS: IGT significantly increased the long-term risk of developing CVD in patients with CAD after PCI compared with diabetes.

Performance evaluation of two trickling filters removing LAS and caffeine from wastewater: Light reactor (algal-bacterial consortium) vs dark reactor (bacterial consortium).

Micropollutant removal efficiencies of two trickling filters - operated under light and dark conditions were studied and compared. Linear alkylbenzene sulphonate (LAS) and caffeine were selected as model micropollutants. Both lab-scale trickling-filter type reactors were packed with polyurethane foam sponge cubes (2 cm × 2 cm × 2 cm) with 40% occupancy. The trickling filter with the white color LED light was named as Light Reactor (LR), which was operated under light: dark cycle of 12:12 h with a quantum flux of 15 µmoles/m2/s. No light was provided in the other trickling filter, named Dark Reactor (DR). Synthetic wastewater containing glucose (250 mg/L), LAS (12 mg/L), and caffeine (0.05 mg/L) was fed to the reactors at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 12- and 8-h at 25 °C for 2 months. The C, N, and P removal at 12-h HRT were 85%, 15%, and 49%, respectively, in LR, the corresponding values in DR were 88%, 18%, and 43%. Similarly, at 8-h HRT 90%, 24%, and 37% was observed in LR and 84%, 19%, and 37% in DR. However, the LAS and caffeine removal decreased from 99 to 96% and 96 to 86% respectively in LR, and from 96 to 79% in DR with decreasing the HRT from 12 to 8-h. The number of LAS degraders in LR (5.5×104 CFU/sponge cube) was higher compared to DR (2.2×104 CFU/sponge cube) at 8-h HRT. The above results indicate that algal-bacterial symbiotic relationship in LR was beneficial for carbon and micropollutants removal from domestic wastewater.

Biosynthesis of bismuth selenide nanoparticles using chalcogen-metabolizing bacteria.

Cost and energy reductions in the production process of bismuth chalcogenide (BC) semiconductor materials are essential to make thermoelectric generators comprised of BCs profitable and CO2 neutral over their life cycle. In this study, as an eco-friendly production method, bismuth selenide (Bi2Se3) nanoparticles were synthesized using the following five strains of chalcogen-metabolizing bacteria: Pseudomonas stutzeri NT-I, Pseudomonas sp. RB, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia TI-1, Ochrobactrum anthropi TI-2, and O. anthropi TI-3 under aerobic conditions. All strains actively volatilized selenium (Se) by reducing selenite, possibly to organoselenides. In the growth media containing bismuth (Bi) and Se, all strains removed Bi and Se concomitantly and synthesized nanoparticles containing Bi and Se as their main components. Particles synthesized by strain NT-I had a theoretical elemental composition of Bi2Se3, whereas those synthesized by other strains contained a small amount of sulfur in addition to Bi and Se, making strain NT-I the best Bi2Se3 synthesizer among the strains used in this study. The particle sizes were 50-100 nm in diameter, which is sufficiently small for nanostructured semiconductor materials that exhibit quantum size effect. Successful synthesis of Bi2Se3 nanoparticles could be attributed to the high Se-volatilizing activities of the bacterial strains. Selenol-containing compounds as intermediates of Se-volatilizing metabolic pathways, such as methane selenol and selenocysteine, may play an important role in biosynthesis of Bi2Se3.

Potential of waste activated sludge to accumulate polyhydroxyalkanoates and glycogen using industrial wastewater/liquid wastes as substrates.

Recovery of the organics in industrial wastewaters/liquid wastes as polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and/or glycogen (GLG) in waste activated sludge is a useful strategy to not only improve the resource value of waste activated sludge but also reduce the energy and cost of waste disposal and wastewater treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of activated sludge to accumulate PHA and GLG using complex substrates (actual and simulated industrial wastewaters/liquid wastes) in addition to various simple organic substrates (organic acids, saccharides, and glycerol). The 24 h PHA and GLG accumulation experiments resulted in the accumulation of up to 25.5%, 6.0% and 14.1% of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), polyhydroxyvalerate (PHV) and GLG, respectively, from simple substrates, and up to 9.8%, 0.1% and 14.6%, respectively, from complex substrates. The results indicated that activated sludge can accumulate PHA and GLG even from complex wastewater substrates, although the accumulated PHA and GLG levels were not sufficiently high. The results also indicated that the PHA and GLG accumulation abilities of activated sludge from complex substrates can be drastically enhanced by a short-term acclimation to the corresponding substrate. This study will present the practical implications for value-added resource production through the combined use of waste activated sludge and industrial wastewaters.

Removal of selenite from artificial wastewater with high salinity by activated sludge in aerobic sequencing batch reactors.

Selenite (Se(IV)) in artificial wastewater under high-salinity conditions of 70 g/L was treated by using sequencing batch reactors (SBRs). Activated sludge derived from a municipal wastewater treatment plant was acclimated to high salinity and was subsequently subjected to Se(IV) treatment. Two SBRs with different operating conditions, SBR-A and -B, were tested; the former was fed with influent containing a higher concentration of Se(IV) at 100 mg Se/L, whereas the Se(IV) concentration of influent for the latter was increased stepwise at 20-100 mg Se/L. Both SBRs showed high removal efficiency of up to 98% from the beginning. The removal efficiency gradually worsened in the middle stage, from the 11th and 16th batches in SBR-A and -B, respectively. After the 18th batch, a batch cycle with twice the duration was employed, and the removal efficiency was recovered from the 20th batch onward in both SBR-A and -B. This indicated that the hydraulic retention time is an important factor in maintaining efficient and stable performance of Se removal. The mass balance analysis revealed that Se was removed mainly through biovolatilization, which was attributed to a carbon source containing proteins or peptides. This study was the first to investigate the possibility of using biotreatment for Se-containing saline wastewater.

Impact of glycemic variability on myocardial infarct size in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: quantitative assessment of left ventricular wall motion severity.

Glycemic variability (GV) is relevant to impaired myocardial salvage in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Severity of hypokinesis at the infarct site as assessed from contrast left ventriculography can reportedly predict infarct size in STEMI. We prospectively studied 58 consecutive patients (mean age, 63 ± 11 years) with anterior or inferior STEMI who underwent successful reperfusion therapy. Mean amplitude of glucose excursion (MAGE) was obtained from continuous glucose monitoring system. Patients were divided into the upper tertile of MAGE as Group H, and the other two-thirds as Group L. Serial regional wall motion severity at the infarct site was computed postprocedure and at follow-up using a quantitative left ventricular analysis system. Impaired myocardial salvage was defined as severity recovery ratio < 20%. Significantly shorter onset-to-balloon time (196.9 vs. 279.0 min, p = 0.033) and relatively lower postprocedural wall motion severity (2.4 vs. 2.9, p = 0.096) were observed in Group H, but absolute severity recovery was significantly smaller in Group H (0.5 vs. 1.3, p = 0.017). Multivariate analysis showed higher MAGE as predictive of impaired myocardial salvage (OR, 406.10; 95% CI, 4.41-37,366.60; p = 0.009). Recovery of reginal wall motion severity at the infarct site was compromised in STEMI patients with higher MAGE. Our results suggest that final infarct size is potentially larger than expected in STEMI patients with higher GV.

Cake layer bacterial communities during different biofouling stages in full-scale membrane bioreactors.

A detailed understanding of the bacterial communities in the cake layers formed on the membrane surface is required to control biofouling in a membrane bioreactor (MBR). This study aimed to investigate the dynamics of the cake layer bacterial communities in full-scale MBRs operated in a wastewater treatment plant in Japan and to identify the key bacteria responsible for cake layer formation. The bacterial communities in the cake layer and the activated sludge were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing when biofouling occurred under different fouling conditions. The most dominant phyla in activated sludge were almost always Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. By contrast, when the cake layer had unique bacterial communities distinguishable from those in the activated sludge, members of Firmicutes were highly dominant in the cake layer, irrespective of the fouling conditions. This study reported for the first time that Firmicutes play an important role throughout the biofouling process.

Characterization of moderately halotolerant selenate- and tellurite-reducing bacteria isolated from brackish areas in Osaka.

Moderately halotolerant selenate- and tellurite-reducing bacteria were characterized for wastewater treatment applications. A selenate-reducing strain 9a was isolated from the biofilm of a leachate treatment plant at a sea-based waste disposal site. A tellurite-reducing strain Taa was isolated from an enrichment culture derived from brackish sediment. Both bacterial strains were Shewanella species. Strain 9a could anaerobically remove 45-70% of 1.0 mM selenate and selenite from water containing up to 3% NaCl within 4 days, while strain Taa could anaerobically and aerobically remove 70-90% of 0.4 mM tellurite from water containing up to 6% NaCl within 3 days. Globular particles of insoluble selenium were observed both outside and inside the cells of strain 9a. The insoluble tellurium formed by strain Taa was globular under microaerobic conditions but nanorod under aerobic conditions. These bacteria will yield a range of useful selenium and tellurium nanomaterials as well as wastewater treatment applications.

Effect of extracellular electron shuttles on arsenic-mobilizing activities in soil microbial communities.

Microbially mediated arsenate (As(V)) and Fe(III) reduction play important roles in arsenic (As) cycling in nature. Extracellular electron shuttles can impact microbial Fe(III) reduction, yet little is known about their effects on microbial As mobilization in soils. In this study, microcosm experiments consisting of an As-contaminated soil and microbial communities obtained from several pristine soils were conducted, and the effects of electron shuttles on As mobilization were determined. Anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS) and riboflavin (RF) were chosen as common exogenous and biogenic electron shuttles, respectively, and both compounds significantly enhanced reductive dissolution of As and Fe. Accumulation of Fe(II)-bearing minerals was also observed, which may lead to re-immobilization of As after prolonged incubation. Interestingly, Firmicutes-related bacteria became predominant in all microcosms, but their compositions at the lower taxonomic level were different in each microcosm. Putative respiratory As(V) reductase gene (arrA) analysis revealed that bacteria closely related to a Clostridia group, especially those including the genera Desulfitobacterium and Desulfosporosinus, might play significant roles in As mobilization. These results indicate that the natural soil microbial community can use electron shuttles for enhanced mobilization of As; the use of this type of system is potentially advantageous for bioremediation of As-contaminated soils.

Relationship Between Glucose Fluctuations and ST-Segment Resolution in Patients With ST-Elevation Acute Myocardial Infarction.

This study was conducted to assess whether any relationships exist between glucose fluctuations and electrocardiographic surrogate markers of reperfusion injury in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).We prospectively studied 63 consecutive patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI. Patients had either diabetes (n = 30), impaired glucose tolerance (n = 26), impaired fasting glucose (n = 1), or normal glucose tolerance (n = 6). STsegment resolution (STR, %) was measured using electrocardiograms recorded 60 minutes after PCI. STR was categorized as ≥ 30% and < 30%. Glucose fluctuations were assessed by the following parameters obtained from a continuous glucose monitoring system: mean amplitude of glucose excursion (MAGE, mg/dL); and area under curve with reference to mean blood glucose (AUCMBG, mg/ dL/day).Both MAGE and AUCMBG were significantly higher in STR < 30%. In univariate analysis, MAGE ≥ 70 mg/dL (OR = 17.0; 95%CI, 1.93-150.12; P < 0.01), AUCMBG ≥ 20 mg/dL/day (OR = 10.9; 95%CI, 1.92-61.77; P < 0.01), and reperfusion arrhythmias (OR = 7.6; 95%CI, 1.32-44.29; P < 0.05) were significantly associated with suboptimal STR. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed only MAGE ≥ 70 mg/dL was predictive of suboptimal STR (OR = 22.5; 95%CI, 2.43-208.66, P < 0.01).Parameters of glucose fluctuations correlated with electrocardiographic surrogate markers of impaired myocardial salvage in STEMI after reperfusion therapy. Our results suggest that glucose fluctuations may represent a potential therapeutic target to reduce myocardial reperfusion injury in STEMI.

Removal of heavy metals from synthetic landfill leachate in lab-scale vertical flow constructed wetlands.

Synthetic landfill leachate was treated using lab-scale vertical flow constructed wetlands (CWs) in sequencing batch modes to assess heavy metal removal efficiencies. The CWs filled with loamy soil and pumice stone were unplanted or planted with common reed (Phragmites australis) (Reed-CW) or common rush (Juncus effusus) (Rush-CW). Synthetic leachate contained acetate, propionate, humate, ammonium, and heavy metals. Common reed grew almost vigorously but common rush partly withered during the 8-month experiment. The CWs reduced the leachate volume effectively by evapotranspiration and removed easily degradable organic matter, color, and ammonium. Furthermore, the CWs demonstrated high removal amounts for heavy metals such as Zn, Cr, Ni, Cd, Fe, and Pb, but not Mn from leachate. The metal removal amounts in the CWs were low for high-strength leachate (influent concentration increased from one time to three times) or under short retention time (batch cycle shortened from 3days to 1day). The Rush-CW showed slightly lower removal amounts for Cr, Ni, Mn, and Cd, although the Reed-CW showed lower Mn removal amounts than the unplanted CW did. However, Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni, and Zn were highly accumulated in the upper soil layer in the planted CW by rhizofiltration with adsorption compared with unplanted CW, indicating that the emergent plants would be helpful for decreasing the dredging soil depth for the final removal of heavy metals. Although the emergent plants were minor sinks in comparison with soil, common rush had higher bioconcentration factors and translocation factors for heavy metals than common reed had.

Temperature dependence of nitrogen removal activity by anammox bacteria enriched at low temperatures.

The anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) process, which is applicable at ambient temperature, is necessary to develop more versatile nitrogen removal technologies. In this study, two anammox reactors, Low-R1 and Low-R2 inoculated with activated sludge respectively in Kumamoto and Hokkaido, Japan, achieved nitrogen removal rates (NRRs) of 1.5 kg-N/m3/day at 20°C. The specific anammox activity (SAA) of the Low-R1 and Low-R2 sludge samples had peaks, respectively, of 2.8±0.3 mg-N/g-VSS/h at 25°C and 4.2±0.3 mg-N/g-VSS/h at 30°C and dropped over the optimum temperature. Moreover, the SAA values of the Low-R1 and Low-R2 were higher at 10-25°C and 10-35°C, respectively, than that of an anammox reactor inoculated with activated sludge in Kumamoto operated at 35°C (Mod-R). The apparent activation energy for anammox of Low-R1, Low-R2, and Mod-R were 108 kJ/mol (10-25°C), 73 kJ/mol (10-30°C), and 89 kJ/mol (10-35°C), respectively. Candidatus Kuenenia stuttgartiensis dominated in the Mod-R sludge. The Low-R1 sludge was comprised of Ca. K. stuttgartiensis, Ca. Brocadia caroliniensis and Ca. B. fulgida and uncultured anammox-like or planctomycete-like bacteria. The Low-R2 sludge was comprised of various uncultured anammox-like or planctomycete-like bacteria. As Low-R2 was constructed, enrichment of freshwater anammox bacteria at low temperature with seed sludge collected from cold regions is expected to be an effective strategy for anammox applications under a wide temperature range.

Removal of phenol, bisphenol A, and 4-tert-butylphenol from synthetic landfill leachate by vertical flow constructed wetlands.

Lab-scale vertical flow constructed wetlands (CWs) were used to remove phenol, bisphenol A (BPA), and 4-tert-butylphenol (4-t-BP) from synthetic young and old leachate. Removal percentages of phenolic compounds from the CWs were in the following order: phenol (88-100%)>4-t-BP (18-100%)≥BPA (9-99%). In all CWs, phenol was removed almost completely from leachate. Results show that BPA and 4-t-BP were removed more efficiently from CWs planted with Phragmites australis than from unplanted CWs, from old leachate containing lower amounts of acetate and propionate as easily degradable carbon sources than from young leachate, and in the dry season mode with long retention time than in the wet season mode with short retention time. Adsorption by initial removal and subsequent biodegradation processes might be major removal processes for these phenolic compounds. The presence of plant is beneficial for enrichment of BPA-degrading and 4-t-BP-degrading bacteria and for the carbon source utilization potential of microbes in CWs.