Syntrophic methane production from volatile fatty acids: Focus on interspecies electron transfer.

Methane is a renewable biomass energy source produced via anaerobic digestion (AD). Interspecies electron transfer (IET) between methanogens and syntrophic bacteria is crucial for mitigating energy barriers in this process. Understanding IET is essential for enhancing the efficiency of syntrophic methanogenesis in anaerobic digestion. Interspecies electron transfer mechanisms include interspecies H2/formate transfer, direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET), and electron-shuttle-mediated transfer. This review summarizes the mechanisms, developments, and research gaps in IET pathways. Interspecies H2/formate transfer requires strict control of low H2 partial pressure and involves complex enzymatic reactions. In contrast, DIET enhances the electron transfer efficiency and process stability. Conductive materials and key microorganisms can be modulated to stimulate the DIET. Electron shuttles (ES) allow microorganisms to interact with extracellular electron acceptors without direct contact; however, their efficiency depends on various factors. Future studies should elucidate the key functional groups, metabolic pathways, and regulatory mechanisms of IET to guide the optimization of AD processes for efficient renewable energy production.

LAMP2A regulates cisplatin resistance in colorectal cancer through mediating autophagy.

BACKGROUND: Drug resistance is an important constraint on clinical outcomes in advanced cancers. LAMP2A is a limiting protein in molecular chaperone-mediated autophagy. This study was aimed to explore LAMP2A function in cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum, DDP) resistance colorectal cancer (CRC) to seek new ideas for CRC clinical treatment. METHODS: In this study, LAMP2A expression was analyzed by molecular experimental techniques,such as qRT-PCR and western blot. Then, LAMP2A in cells was interfered by cell transfection experiments. Subsequently, the function of LAMP2A on proliferation, migration, invasion, DDP sensitivity, and autophagy of CRC/DDP cells were further investigated by a series of experiments, such as CCK-8, transwell, and western blot. RESULTS: We revealed that LAMP2A was clearly augmented in DDP-resistant CRC and was related to poor patient prognosis. Functionally, LAMP2A insertion remarkably CRC/DDP proliferation, migration, invasion ability and DDP resistance by strengthen autophagy. In contrast, LAMP2A knockdown limited the proliferation, migration, and invasion while heightened cellular sensitivity to DDP by restraining autophagy in CRC/DDP cells. Furthermore, LAMP2A silencing was able to curb tumor formation and enhance sensitivity to DDP in vivo. CONCLUSION: In summary, LAMP2A boosted malignant progression and DDP resistance in CRC/DDP cells through mediating autophagy. Clarifying LAMP2A function in DDP resistance is promising to seek cancer therapies biomarkers targeting LAMP2A activity.

Alleviating Ultrafiltration Membrane Fouling Caused by Effluent Organic Matter Using Pre-Ozonation: A Perspective of EEM and Molecular Weight Distribution.

Wastewater reclamation has gradually become an important way to cope with the global water crisis. Ultrafiltration plays an imperative part as a safeguard for the aim but is often limited by membrane fouling. Effluent organic matter (EfOM) has been known to be a major foulant during ultrafiltration. Hence, the primary aim of this study was to investigate the effects of pre-ozonation on the membrane fouling caused by EfOM in secondary wastewater effluents. In addition, the physicochemical property changes of EfOM during pre-ozonation and the subsequent influence on membrane fouling were systemically investigated. The combined fouling model and the morphology of fouled membrane were adopted to scrutinize the fouling alleviation mechanism by pre-ozonation. It was found that membrane fouling by EfOM was dominated by hydraulically reversible fouling. In addition, an obvious fouling reduction was achieved by pre-ozonation with 1.0 mg O3/mg DOC. The resistance results showed that the normalized hydraulically reversible resistance was reduced by ~60%. The water quality analysis indicated that ozone degraded high molecular weight organics such as microbial metabolites and aromatic protein and medium molecular weight organics (humic acid-like) into smaller fractions and formed a looser fouling layer on the membrane surface. Furthermore, pre-ozonation made the cake layer foul towards pore blocking, thereby reducing fouling. In addition, there was a little degradation in the pollutant removal performance with pre-ozonation. The DOC removal rate decreased by more than 18%, while UV254 decreased by more than 20%.

[Adverse reactions of tanshinone II(A) sodium sulfonate injection in treating 18 cases: an analysis of clinical features].

OBJECTIVE: To explore clinical features the adverse reactions of Tanshinone II(A) Sodium Sulfonate Injection (T II(A) SSI) and their reasons, thus providing reference for rational medication. METHODS: The literatures on adverse reactions and incompatibilities of T II(A) SSI were retrieved (domestic medical journals from January 2000 to December 2011) and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: In the 18 cases of adverse drug reaction (ADR), the clinical manifestations of T II(A) SSI induced adverse reactions were various, involving reactions of appendages and the neuromuscular system (each accounting for 50%). The elderly and women were mainly involved. Many organs and systems were involved. There existed more incompatibilities. CONCLUSION: The medical workers should pay special attention to T II(A) SSI induced adverse reactions, thus avoiding recurrence of ADR, evading risks, and ensuring safe and rational medication.

Minimal effects on human memory following long-term living at moderate altitude.

A number of studies describe memory deficits at extremely high altitudes. However, little is known about the effect of long-term living at moderate altitude (MA). The subjects for this study were 52 college students originally from sea level (SL), but studying at a MA of 2260 m over a 7-month period, with a return to SL for 30 days in the middle of the period. Fifty-two matched college students who stayed at SL all the time were the control group. The neuropsychological battery of assessments included the Chinese revised version of Wechsler Memory Scale tests (WMS-CR), verbal and spatial two-back working memory tests, long-term explicit memory (word recall and recognition of words, faces, and pictures) tests, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning test, Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) test, degraded picture naming test, and the Serial Reaction Time Test. We found that the MA subjects showed significantly poorer performances than SL controls only in short-term visual construction assessed in the visual reproduction test from WMS-CR and in the ROCF immediate test. There were no significant differences in all other tasks between the MA group and SL group. These findings suggest that long-term hypoxic exposure at moderate altitude has minimal effects on human memory.

[Study of factors associated with subclinical chorioamnionitis in term pregnancy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of various factors upon subclinical chorioamnionitis (SCCAS) during pregnancy and delivery. METHODS: A total of 796 cases of pregnancy in full-term birth at our hospital from December 2006 to December 2008 were reviewed. The data of maternal age, gravidity, parity, gestational age, prenatal care, history of vaginitis, premature rupture of membranes, occupation, educational status and delivery mode were recorded. And then the relationship between one of them and chorioamniotis were analyzed by chi(2) test. RESULTS: The overall incidence of SCCAS was 39.95% in full-term birth. The pregnant women, who had no prenatal care or no occupation, or had a history of vaginitis or premature rupture of membranes, were found to have a higher incidence (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). However, there were no statistical significance (P > 0.05) between SCCAS and other seven factors, such as gravida age, gravidity, parity, gestational age, educational status, delivery mode and living conditions. CONCLUSION: Women with full-term birth, even in the absence of symptoms, may have already suffered from acute or chronic chorioamnionitis. The incidence is associated with prenatal care, history of vaginitis and premature rupture of membranes.

Laser ablation in analytical chemistry-a review.

Laser ablation is becoming a dominant technology for direct solid sampling in analytical chemistry. Laser ablation refers to the process in which an intense burst of energy delivered by a short laser pulse is used to sample (remove a portion of) a material. The advantages of laser ablation chemical analysis include direct characterization of solids, no chemical procedures for dissolution, reduced risk of contamination or sample loss, analysis of very small samples not separable for solution analysis, and determination of spatial distributions of elemental composition. This review describes recent research to understand and utilize laser ablation for direct solid sampling, with emphasis on sample introduction to an inductively coupled plasma (ICP). Current research related to contemporary experimental systems, calibration and optimization, and fractionation is discussed, with a summary of applications in several areas.