The aim of this study was to investigate the performance of sponge as an active mobile carrier for attached-growth biomass in three typical types of aerobic bioreactors to treat a high strength synthetic wastewater. The results show that sponge thickness deteriorated the organic and nutrient removal and 1cm is the optimum thickness for fixed-bed sponge biofilter (SBF). The sponge volume had sig...

Marine sponges are frequently inhabited by a wide range of associated invertebrates, including caridean shrimps. Symbiotic shrimps are often considered to be commensals; however, in most cases, the relationship with sponge hosts remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that sponge-inhabiting shrimps are often parasites adapted to consumption of sponge tissues. First, we provide detailed examination...

Exendin, a member of the glucagon-like peptide-1 family, and its antagonist exendin(9-39) affect cognition and neuronal survival after their intranasal delivery. Here, we examined the uptake of radioactively labeled exendin(9-39) (I-Ex) by the olfactory bulbs, brain (minus pineal, pituitary, and olfactory bulb), cerebrospinal fluid, and cervical lymph nodes (C-node) as well as levels in serum a...

INTRODUCTION Down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) reactors employ polyurethane sponge media to retain biomass. Wastewater is trickled from the top of the reactor and purified by microorganisms within and on the surface of the sponge media as influent flows vertically downward through the reactor. Since the sponge media of DHS reactors are exposed to the atmosphere, oxygen dissolves continually into t...

A novel bioartificial dermal regeneration template has been developed using platelet-rich plasma and acellular animal skin collagen sponge for the treatment of larger area and full thickness skin wounds. This platelet-rich plasma-collagen sponge keeps native skin structure and contains huge amounts of growth factors. The effect of this bioartificial dermal regeneration template was tested in vi...

There have been no studies on the susceptibility and host immune responses to an intranasal infection with Listeria monocytogenes. In this study, we compared the susceptibilities and cytokine responses between intranasal and intravenous infections with L. monocytogenes in mice. Moreover, we compared efficiency of acquisition of host resistance to L. monocytogenes infection between intranasally ...

A biodegradable sponge, composed of chitosan (CS) and sodium alginate (SA), was successfully obtained in this work. The sponge was ethereal and pliable. The chemical structure and morphology of the sponges was characterized by FTIR and SEM. The swelling ability, in vitro drug release and degradation behaviors, and an in vivo animal test were employed to confirm the applicability of this sponge ...

objectives: the aim of the present study was to compare the effects of intranasal ketamine and midazolam on behavior of 3-6 year-old children during dental treatments.   materials and methods: in this randomized cross-over clinical trial, 17 uncooperative children requiring at least two dental treatments were selected and randomly received ketamine (0.5mg/kg) or midazolam (0.2mg/kg) prior to tr...

Encrusting and excavating Caribbean sponges Cliona aprica, C. caribbaea and C. tenuis (Hadromerida: Clionaidae) aggressively undermine and displace live coral tissue. To establish modes and rates of lateral advance into neighboring organisms, 171 sponge individuals were studied for 13 mo. Sponge advancement into live coral, via excavation underneath boundary polyps, occurred only when the 2 con...

The chemistry of the burrowing sponge Aka coralliphagum was investigated to identify chemically labile secondary metabolites. The HPLC-MS analysis of the two growth forms typica and incrustans revealed different metabolites. The previously unknown sulfated compounds siphonodictyals B1 to B3 (6-8), corallidictyals C (9) and D (10), and siphonodictyal G (11) were isolated, and their structures we...