Biofouling control of a forward osmosis membrane during single-pass pre-concentration of wastewater.

Pre-concentration of wastewater using a forward osmosis (FO) membrane prior to processing by an anaerobic digester can enhance biogas production. However, biofouling caused by microbes in wastewater remains a challenge. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of chloramination in mitigating the biofouling of an FO membrane during a single-pass concentration of primary wastewater effluent.

Analysis of psoriatic patients registered in Asahikawa Medical College Hospital from 1983 to 2007.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, which has been increasing during the last 50 years in Japan. The aim of the present study is to analyze psoriatic patients registered from 1983-2007 in Asahikawa Medical College Hospital, which is located in the northern part of Japan. A total of 607 cases were registered at the first inspection in the Department of Dermatology, Asahikawa Medical College.

Irreversible membrane fouling during ultrafiltration of surface water.

For more efficient use of membranes, the control of irreversible membrane fouling, which can be defined as fouling requiring chemical reagents to be mitigated, is of importance. In this study, irreversible fouling caused by constituents in surface water was investigated, based on a long-term pilot scale study. The membrane employed was a low-pressure hydrophobic ultrafiltration (UF) membrane made of polysulfone and having a molecular weight cutoff of 750,000 Da.

Reduced superoxide dismutase activity in UVB-induced hyperproliferative pig epidermis.

Decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity has been reported in various hyperproliferative keratinocytes. In order to elucidate the relationship between epidermal SOD activity and keratinocyte proliferation, we employed in vivo UVB irradiation. Following UVB irradiation at twice the minimum erythema dose, pig epidermis revealed an initial decrease in thymidine incorporation and mitotic counts for at least 48 h, followed by a marked increase, the peak of which was observed at 96 h after irradiation, and a return to basal levels by 5-7 days.