Removal of Radioactivity from Sediment Mud and Soil and Use for Cultivation of Safe Vegetables in Fukushima, and Removal of Toxic Metals Using Photosynthetic Bacteria

The immobilized photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodobacter shpaeroides SSI (SSI), cultured on porous 2 cm ceramic beads, effectively removed and recovered 20 mg/L of non-radioactive Cs (almost 100%) and Sr (≌50%), after 3 - 5 days of aerobic treatment. Toxic and heavy metals such as Hg, Cr, Pb and As were also removed, almost 100%, after 6days of aerobic treatment. A practical method of removal of radioactivity of 10 - 30 μSv/h, caused mainly by radioactive Cs released from the accident at the Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant on 11th March 2011, from sediment mud and soil in Fukushima, Japan, was also carried out. Using immobilized SSI beads, more than 90% and 42% - 73% of radioactive Cs was removed and recovered from sediment mud and soil, respectively, after 3 - 14 days of aerobic treatment in an outdoor 60 L vessel. The weight and mass of the harvested beads could be reduced by more than 97% after desiccation. This technology of removal and recovery had therefore, considerable advantages over other technologies that demanded very large storage facilities in Fukushima. After removal of radioactivity from polluted soil, vegetables like Komatsuna (Turrip leaves) and Chingensai (Green pakchoi) were cultivated on remediated soil. Safe vegetables grown on these treated soils showed a radioactivity content lower than the recommended limit for edible foods in Japan, i.e. less than <100 Bq/kg. Treatment by SSI beads, therefore, appeared to be a compact and suitable technology that could make significant contributions towards agricultural recovery in radioactively polluted areas of Fukushima.

Sonographic findings of acute appendiceal diverticulitis

因为把阑尾的憩室炎与象急性阑尾炎或盲肠的憩室炎一样的另外的回盲肠疾病区分开来的困难，尖锐阑尾的憩室炎的外科手术前的图象很少被报导。我们报导外科手术前地诊断的尖锐阑尾的憩室炎的一个案例。有从历史和体格检查的急性阑尾炎的假定诊断的 30 岁的女性进入我们的医院。超声 sonography 显示出煽动的阑尾的憩室和包围织物的煽动性的变化。肿的附录被检测，但是它的调查结果与在下列点的典型急性阑尾炎的那些稍微不同。一差别是附录的变厚的墙，另外的差别是在附录的空气的存在。病人经历了阑尾切除术，病理学的标本在附录以内揭示了憩室的煽动性的变化。

Simultaneous removal of cesium and strontium using a photosynthetic bacterium, <i>Rhodobacter sphaeroides</i>SSI immobilized on porous ceramic made from waste glass

This study investigated practical and simultaneous removal of cesium (Cs, initial concentration of 5 mg/L) and strontium (Sr, initial concentration of 5 mg/L) using a photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodobacter sphaeroides SSI, immobilized on recovery-type porous ceramic made from glass waste. When 4 - 8 pieces /L of SSI immobilized ceramic were added to synthetic sewage wastewater containing glucose, almost 100% of Cs and 57% - 61% removal of Sr was observed after 3 day’s aeration treatment. The high potassium (K) concentration in wastewater suppressed Cs removal, but did not affect Sr removal. Other substrates such as lactic, acetic, and propionic acids were useful for Cs and Sr removal. But, removal efficiencies were lower than about 50%. When the practical outdoor removal experiment carried out using1 m3 vessel, almost 100% of Cs and 51% of Sr were removed like a laboratory experiment after 3 day’s aerobic treatment. After treatment, the SSI immobilized ceramic was recovered easily from water using an electromagnet. This SSI immobilized ceramic seem to remove radioactive Cs and Sr from water environments of Fukushima,Japan.

Removal of Sodium from Seawater Medium Using Photosynthetic Bacteria

The removal of sodium (Na) from seawater using two photosynthetic bacteria was investigated using Rhodobacter sphaeroides SSI (SSI) and Rhodovulum sp. which is a marine photosynthetic bacterium. Both Rhodovulum sp. and acclimated SSI were shown to grow well in a 3% NaCl supplemented glutamate-malate medium. The maximum rate of Na removal was 39.3% by SSI and 64.9% by Rhodovulum sp. after two days cultivation under static light conditions. However, Na was re-released back into the medium after two to three days. When a nutrient-supplemented seawater medium (3.3% NaCl, 13.10 gNa/l) was used, the maximum Na removal rates were 30.3% (9.05 gNa/l) by SSI and 48.9% (6.69 gNa/l) by Rhodovulum sp., under static light conditions. Similar growth and Na removal rates were found under aerobic dark cultivation. In this case, no re-release of Na was observed with either bacterium. Two stages culturing was conducted first, with Rhodovulum sp. and then with SSI replacement. The Na concentration was reduced to 0.79 gNa/l (94.0% removal) after cultivation for eight days under aerobic darkconditions. The supernatant was applied successfully as a liquid fertilizer in the cultivation of Japanese radish.

Clinical Outcomes of Patients Who Perform High-Load Activities after Total Hip Arthroplasty in Snowy Agricultural Areas

Background: In snowy agricultural areas, weeding and snow shoveling are essential activities, and sports activities are common recreational activities. Clarifying the relationships between the degrees of these activities after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and the clinical outcomes may enable us to predict the results of THA for high-load activity patients. Methods: The subjects were 227 post-THA patients who were followed up between 2012 and 2014. Patient-reported outcomes were investigated by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Hip Disease Evaluation Questionnaire (JHEQ) and a questionnaire on postoperative activity. In addition, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Hip Score (JOA score) was used to quantify hip function. Results: Patients who resumed activities had significantly higher JOA and JHEQ scores than patients who had given up their activities. However, 25.8% of patients had not resumed weeding with a squatting posture. Furthermore, 20% had not resumed sports activities. The most common reason for giving up these activities was fear of implant failure. Conclusions: If the patients were informed that there is no problem restarting their activities after THA, the patients could resume activities and their clinical outcomes may be improved.