Polyphosphate- and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)-accumulating traits of predominant microorganisms in an efficient enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) process were investigated systematically using a suite of non-culture-dependent methods. Results of 16S rDNA clone library and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with rRNA-targeted, group-specific oligonucleotide probes indicated that the microbial community consisted mostly of the alpha- (9.5% of total cells), beta- (41.3%) and gamma- (6.8%) subclasses of the class Proteobacteria, Flexibacter-Cytophaga (4.5%) and the Gram-positive high G+C (HGC) group (17.9%). With individual phylogenetic groups or subgroups, members of Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis in the beta-2 subclass, a novel HGC group closely related to Tetrasphaera spp., and a novel gamma-proteobacterial group were the predominant populations. Furthermore, electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis was used to validate the staining specificity of 4,6-diamino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) for intracellular polyphosphate and revealed the composition of polyphosphate granules accumulated in predominant bacteria as mostly P, Ca and Na. As a result, DAPI and PHA staining procedures could be combined with FISH to identify directly the polyphosphate- and PHA-accumulating traits of different phylogenetic groups. Members of Accumulibacter phosphatis and the novel gamma-proteobacterial group were observed to accumulate both polyphosphate and PHA. In addition, one novel rod-shaped group, closely related to coccus-shaped Tetrasphaera, and one filamentous group resembling Candidatus Nostocoidia limicola in the HGC group were found to accumulate polyphosphate but not PHA. No cellular inclusions were detected in most members of the alpha-Proteobacteria and the Cytophaga-Flavobacterium group. The diversified functional traits observed suggested that different substrate metabolisms were used by predominant phylogenetic groups in EBPR processes.

Three continuous flow enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) systems were operated to investigate the effect of the anaerobic SRT on the phosphate removal. The P removal in the system with a short anaerobic SRT declined due to growth of non phosphate accumulating microbes which competed in anaerobic substrate uptake against polyphosphate accumulating bacteria. The phosphorus removal, however, was improved by extending the anaerobic SRT. Restoration and stabilization of P removal by the long anaerobic SRT were confirmed in two other systems.

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Anoxic depolarization (AD) is one of the major physiological characteristics in the ischemic core. The effect of mild hypothermia on the appearance of AD and subsequent brain injury following profound ischemia is studied to evaluate the protective mechanism of hypothermia against severe ischemia. Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to transient ischemia by hypotension (50-20 mmHg) and bilateral carotid artery occlusion (BCA-O) for 20 min in normothermia and 30 min in hypothermia. The temperature of body and temporal muscles was maintained at 37.5 degrees C and 36.5 degrees C in normothermia and 33.0 degrees C and 31.0 degrees C in hypothermia, respectively. Recording of the DC potential shift and electrocorticogram and monitoring of the cortical blood flow (CoBF) with a laser Doppler flowmeter were done epidurally on the right parietal cortex. The right parietal cortex pathology was examined 24 h after ischemia in normothermia and after 30 days in hypothermia. AD appeared in all seven normothermic rats with a fall in the CoBF to 9%-10% of the control flow. However, in spite of CoBF reduction to 8%-9% of the control flow, it did not appear in five hypothermic rats. Intra-ischemic CoBF was not statistically different between these two groups. AD appeared with the CoBF decreasing to 4%-5% of the control flow in seven hypothermic rats. Intra-ischemic CoBF in hypothermic rats exhibiting AD was significantly lower than the other two groups. The interval between BCA-O and the appearance of AD in hypothermic rats was 5.1 +/- 0.3 min (mean +/- SE), which was significantly longer than the 2.2 +/- 0.5 min observed in normothermia (p < 0.0005). Of seven normothermic rats exhibiting AD, two died within 24 h and four revealed massive neuronal injury. Of seven hypothermic rats with AD, four died between day 2 and day 13, and one revealed diffuse cerebral infarction. However, no severe ischemic injury or ischemic death was observed in all five hypothermic rats without AD. The incidence of severe neuronal injury or ischemic death was significantly lower in hypothermic rats without AD compared with normothermic rats with AD (p < 0.02) or hypothermic rats with AD (p < 0.05). Although mild hypothermia delays AD, it is suggested that raising the cerebral blood flow threshold for AD appearance has a key role in the hypothermic protection of a severely ischemic area such as the ischemic core.