Modulatory effects of ammonia-N on the immune system of Penaeus japonicus to virulence of white spot syndrome virus

To study response to white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) under ammonia stress, Penaeus japonicus were exposed to 5 mg l(-1) ammonia-N and challenged orally with WSSV (NW). Controls consisted of an ammonia-N-exposed control group (N), a WSSV-challenged positive control group (W), and an untreated control group (control). Immune parameters measured were total haemocyte count (THC), haemocyte phagocytosis, plasma protein content and haemolymph enzymatic activities for prophenoloxidase (proPO), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS). THC and plasma protein had downward trends with time in all treatment groups (NW, N, and W) in contrast to the untreated control group (control). The percentage phagocytosis, NOS activity, and ALP and proPO activity of W and NW decreased initially then increased from 6 to 78 h (except for NOS and ALP, from 6 to 54 h) before declining thereafter until the end of the experiment. Compared with untreated controls (control), there was a downward trend for all measured parameters in the treatment groups (N, NW, and W), but the degree was W > NW > N. WSSV was detected at 78 h postchallenge in both W and NW. In conclusion, 5 mg l(-1) ammonia-N reduced the immunocompetence of P japonicus and may have decreased the virulence of WSSV (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Flocculation and removal of the brown tide organism, Aureococcus anophagefferens (Chrysophyceae), using clays

Previous attempts to remove the brown tide organism, Aureococcus anophagefferens, through flocculation with clays have been unsuccessful, in spite of adopting concentrations and dispersal protocols that yielded excellent cell removal efficiency (RE>90%) with other species, so a study was planned to improve cell removal. Four modifications in clay preparation and dispersal were explored: 1) varying the salinity of the clay suspension; 2) mixing of the clay-cell suspension after clay addition; 3) varying of concentration of the initial clay stock; 4) pulsed loading of the clay slurry. The effect of salinity was dependent on the clay mineral type: phosphatic clay (IMC-P2) had a higher RE than kaolinite (H-DP) when seawater was used to disperse the clay, but H-DP removed cells more efficiently when suspended in distilled water prior to application. Mixing after dispersal approximately doubled RE for both clays compared to when the slurry was layered over the culture surface. Lowering the concentration of clay stock and pulsing the clay loading increased RE, regardless of mineral type. However, this increase was more apparent for clays dispersed in seawater than in distilled water. In general, application procedures that decrease the rate of self-aggregation among the clay particles and increase the collision frequency between clay particles and A. anophagefferens achieve higher cell removal efficiency. These empirical studies demonstrated that clays might be an important control option for the brown tide organism, given the proper attention to preparation, dispersal methods, environmental impacts, and the hydrodynamic properties of the system being treated. Implications for the treatment of brown tides in the field are discussed.

The characteristics of nutrient removal and inhibitory effect of Ulva clathrata on Vibrio anguillarum 65

To investigate the ecological effect of macroalgae on de-eutrophication and depuration of mariculture seawater, the variation of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and phosphate (DIP), the amount of Vibrio anguillarum, and total heterotrophic bacteria in Ulva clathrata culture, as well as on the algal surface, were investigated by artificially adding nutrients and V. anguillarum strain 65 from February to April 2006. The results indicated that U. clathrata not only had strong DIN and DIP removal capacities, but also showed a significant inhibitory effect on V. anguillarum, although not reducing the total heterotrophic bacteria. Vibrio anguillarum 65 dropped from 5 similar to 8 x 10(7) cfu mL(-1) to 10 cfu mL(-1) (clone-forming units per mL) in 10 g L-1 of fresh U. clathrata culture within 2 days; i.e., almost all of the Vibrios were efficiently eradicated from the algal culture system. Our results also showed that the inhibitory effect of U. clathrata on V. anguillarum strain 65 was both DIN- and DIP-dependent. Addition of DIN and DIP could enhance the inhibitory effects of the algae on the Vibrio, but did not reduce the total heterotrophic bacteria. Further studies showed that the culture suspension in which U. clathrata was pre-cultured for 24 h also had an inhibitory effect on V. anguillarum strain 65. Some unknown chemical substances, either released from U. clathrata or produced by the alga associated microorganisms, inhibited the proliferation of V. anguillarum 65.

Removal of NO by microwave discharge with the addition of CH4

Removal of NO by a continuous microwave discharge at atmospheric pressure with the addition of CH4 is reported. The conversion of NO to N-2 is approximately 80%, and the energy efficiency is up to 0.55 g-NO/kWh. The effects of CH4 addition and three discharge modes on NO conversion and energy efficiency are investigated. The dependence of NO conversion on experimental time is also observed.

Removal of endotoxin from human serum albumin solutions by hydrophobic and cationic charged membrane

A novel matrix of macropore cellulose membrane was prepared by chemical graft, and immobilized the cationic charged groups as affinity ligands. The prepared membrane Fan be used for the removal of endotoxin from human serum albumin (HSA) solutions. With a cartridge of 20 sheets affinity membrane of 47 mm diameter, the endotoxin level in HSA solution can be reduced ro 0.027 eu/mL. Recovery of HSA was over 95%.

Graphitic nanofilaments as novel support of Ru-Ba catalysts for ammonia synthesis

A novel graphitic-nanofilament-(GNF-) supported Ru-Ba catalyst is prepared and used in ammonia synthesis reaction. The Ru-Ba/GNFs catalyst shows remarkably high activity and stability for ammonia synthesis, which can be attributed to high purity and graphitization of GNFs with unique structure. TEM micrographs of the Ru-Ba/GNFs catalysts show that Ru metal particles uniformly disperse on the outer wall of GNFs, and the particles become bigger than that before ammonia synthesis reaction after 50 h of operation at 500degreesC and 7.0 MPa, probably due to the Ru crystals covered by promoter and support materials and/or sintering of Ru crystals. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).

Ammonia synthesis over Ru/C catalysts with different carbon supports promoted by barium and potassium compounds

Ammonia synthesis over ruthenium catalysts supported on different carbon materials using Ba or K compounds as promoters has been investigated. Ba(NO3)(2), KOH, and KNO3 are used as the promoter or promoter precursor, and activated carbon (AC), activated carbon fiber (ACF). and carbon molecular sieve (CMS) are used as the support. The activity measurement for ammonia synthesis was carried out in a flow micro-reactor under mild conditions: 350-450 degreesC and 3.0 MPa. Results show that KOH promoter was more effective than KNO3. and that Ba(NO3)(2) was the most effective promoter among the three. The roles of promoters can be divided into the electronic modification of ruthenium, the neutralization of surface functional groups on the carbon support and the ruthenium precursor. The catalyst with AC as the support gave the highest ammonia concentration in the effluent among the supports used, while the catalyst with ACF as the support showed the highest turnover-frequency (TOF) value. It seems that the larger particles of Ru on the carbon supports are more active for ammonia synthesis in terms of TOF value. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

The ion-molecule reaction after multiphoton ionization in the binary cluster of ammonia and methanol

The binary cluster (CH3OH)(n)(NH3)(m) was studied by using a multiphoton ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MPI-TOFMS). The measured two series of protonated cluster ions: (CH3OH)(n)H+ and (CH3OH)(n)NH4+ (1 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 14) were attributed to the ion-molecule reaction in the binary cluster ions. The mixed cluster of CH3OD with ammonia was also studied. The results implied that the proton transfer probability from the OD group was larger than that from CH3 group. The ab initio calculation of the binary cluster was carried out at the HF/STO-3G and MP2/6-31G** levels of theory, and indicated that the latter process of the proton transfer must overcome a barrier of similar to 29 kcal/mol. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.