Migration of phosphorus in pig manure during pyrolysis process and slow-release mechanism of biochar in hydroponic application.

Pyrolysis is an effective method for treating of livestock and poultry manure developed in recent years. It can completely decompose pathogens and antibiotics, stabilize heavy metals, and enrich phosphorus (P) in biochar. To elucidate the P migration mechanism under different pig manure pyrolysis temperatures, sequential fractionation, solution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure techniques were used to analyze the P species in pig manure biochar (PMB). The results indicated that most of the organic P in the pig manure was converted to inorganic P during pyrolysis. Moreover, the transformation to different P groups pathways was clarified. The phase transition from amorphous to crystalline calcium phosphate was promoted when the temperature was above 600 °C. The content of P extracted by hydrochloric acid, which was the long-term available P for plant uptake, increased significantly. PMB pyrolyzed at 600 °C can be used as a highly effective substitute for P source. It provides the necessary P species (e.g. water-soluble P.) and metal elements for the growth of water spinach plants, and which are slow-release comparing with the Hogland nutrient solution.

Protective effects of a novel drug RC28-E blocking both VEGF and FGF2 on early diabetic rat retina.

AIM: To investigate protective effects of a novel recombinant decoy receptor drug RC28-E on retinal damage in early diabetic rats. METHODS: The streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: diabetes mellitus (DM) group (saline, 3 µL/eye); RC28-E at low (0.33 µg/µL, 3 µL), medium (1 µg/µL, 3 µL), and high (3 µg/µL, 3 µL) dose groups; vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) Trap group (1 µg/µL, 3 µL); fibroblast growth factor (FGF) Trap group (1 µg/µL, 3 µL). Normal control group was included. At week 1 and 4 following diabetic induction, the rats were intravitreally injected with the corresponding solutions. At week 6 following the induction, apoptosis in retinal vessels was detected by TUNEL staining. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression was examined by immunofluorescence. Blood-retinal barrier (BRB) breakdown was assessed by Evans blue assay. Ultrastructural changes in choroidal and retinal vessels were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Content of VEGF and FGF proteins in retina was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The retinal expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), VEGF and FGF genes was examined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). RESULTS: TUNEL staining showed that the aberrantly increased apoptotic cells death in diabetic retinal vascular network was significantly reduced by treatments of medium and high dose RC28-E, VEGF Trap, and FGF Trap (all P<0.05), the effects of medium and high dose RC28-E or FGF Trap were greater than VEGF Trap (P<0.01). GFAP staining suggested that reactive gliosis was substantially inhibited in all RC28-E and VEGF Trap groups, but the inhibition in FGF Trap group was not as prominent. Evans blue assay demonstrated that only high dose RC28-E could significantly reduce vascular leakage in early diabetic retina (P<0.01). TEM revealed that the ultrastructures in choroidal and retinal vessels were damaged in early diabetic retina, which was ameliorated to differential extents by each drug. The expression of VEGF and FGF2 proteins was significantly upregulated in early diabetic retina, and normalized by RC28-E at all dosages and by the corresponding Traps. The upregulation of ICAM-1 and TNF-α in diabetic retina was substantially suppressed by RC28-E and positive control drugs. CONCLUSION: Dual blockade of VEGF and FGF2 by RC28-E generates remarkable protective effects, including anti-apoptosis, anti-gliosis, anti-leakage, and improving ultrastructures and proinflammatory microenvironment, in early diabetic retina, thereby supporting further development of RC28-E into a novel and effective drug to diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Study of ciprofloxacin biodegradation by a Thermus sp. isolated from pharmaceutical sludge.

Ciprofloxacin (CIP) is an antibiotic drug frequently detected in manure compost and is difficult to decompose at high temperatures, resulting in a potential threat to the environment. Microbial degradation is an effective and environmentally friendly method to degrade CIP. In this study, a thermophilic bacterium that can degrade CIP was isolated from sludge sampled from an antibiotics pharmaceutical factory. This strain is closely related to Thermus thermophilus based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and is designated C419. The optimal temperature and pH values for CIP degradation are 70°C and 6.5, respectively, and an appropriate sodium acetate concentration promotes CIP degradation. Seven major biodegradation metabolites were identified by an ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis. In addition, strain C419 degraded other fluoroquinolones, including ofloxacin, norfloxacin and enrofloxacin. The supernatant from the C419 culture grown in fluoroquinolone-containing media showed attenuated antibacterial activity. These results indicate that strain C419 might be a new auxiliary bacterial resource for the biodegradation of fluoroquinolone residue in thermal environments.

Biodegradation of sulfamethazine by an isolated thermophile-Geobacillus sp. S-07.

Sulfamethazine (SM2) is an antimicrobial drug that is frequently detected in manure compost, is difficult to degrade at high temperatures and is potentially threatening to the environment. In this study, a thermophilic bacterium was isolated from the activated sludge of an antibiotics pharmaceutical factory; this bacterium has the ability to degrade SM2 at 70 °C, which is higher than the traditional manure composting temperature. The strain S-07 is closely related to Geobacillus thermoleovorans based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence. The optimal conditions for the degradation of SM2 are 70 °C, pH 6.0, 50 rpm rotation speed and 50 mL of culture volume. More than 95% of the SM2 contained in media was removed via co-metabolism within 24 h, which was a much higher percentage than that of the type strain of G. thermoleovorans. The supernatant from the S-07 culture grown in SM2-containing media showed slightly attenuated antibacterial activity. In addition, strain S-07 was able to degrade other sulfonamides, including sulfadiazine, sulfamethoxazole and sulfamerazine. These results imply that strain S-07 might be a new auxiliary bacterial resource for the biodegradation of sulfonamide residue in manure composting.

[Preparation of Adsorption Ceramsite Derived from Sludge Biochar].

Adsorption ceramsite (SKC) was prepared with biochar (BC) derived from municipal sludge and kaolin (KL) based on the optimized processing parameters to adsorb ciprofloxacin (CIP) in aqueous solutions. The CIP adsorption mechanism of SKC was investigated by adsorption kinetics and isotherm adsorption models, combined with the analysis of microstructure, pore structure, phase composition, and zeta potential. Furthermore, the heavy metal leaching toxicity was assessed using the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) method. The results showed that SKC, with 60% BC and 40% KL calcining at 1,050℃ for 5 min, showed an outstanding removal efficiency of CIP (65.34%). The pseudo-second-order equation agreed with the adsorption behavior and the Freundlich model described the adsorption process well. The adsorption process was a multilayer adsorption controlled by physical and chemical reactions. The leaching concentration of heavy metals, trapped by the mineral phases in SKC was much lower than that in BC, indicating low ecotoxicological risk. SKC possessed the ability to adsorb CIP with its developed porosity and characteristic mineralogical phases, including silicon aluminum oxide and iron oxide. This work provides a low-cost recyclable sorbing material to remove high concentration CIP from wastewater and offers a new idea for the large-scale safe use of BC.

[Effects of Hydrothermal Treatment Time on the Transformations of N, P, K and Heavy Metals in Sewage Sludge].

Hydrothermal treatment (HTT) of sewage sludge was conducted, focusing on the influence of HTT time on the dewaterability of sludge and transformations of elements N, P, K and heavy metals. The results showed that at a hydrotherma temperature of 160°C, with HTT time increasing from 30 to 120 min, the sludge dewatering performance was significantly improved. The transfer rate of N element in the sludge transferring to aqueous product increased gradually. Almost all of P element remained in the solid phase, and most of K element (57%-62%) was still in the solid phase although it was more easily transferred to the liquid phase than P element. The transferring behavior of heavy metals during the HTT related to their own properties, and their transferring behaviors were different with the increase of HTT time. Compared with the raw sludge, the contents of Cu, Zn, Cr and Pb in the dewatered sludge increased significantly, As increased slowly, while Ni and Cd were first lower than those in raw sludge, and then increased with the prolonging HTT time.

Effect of supersaturation on hillock of directional Growth of KDP crystals.

KDP single crystals were grown in aqueous solution by using "point seeds" with a defined crystallographic direction of 59° to the Z axis. When hillock slopes on the (100) face of KDP crystals were measured within the supersaturation (σ) range of 0 < σ ≤ 0.06, the slope of hillocks with hollow cores depended nonlinearly on supersaturation. Below σ = 0.02, the hillock slope depended on supersaturation, but when σ was ≥ 0.02, the hillock slope increased more gradually and was less dependent on supersaturation. Hollow funnel-shaped growth dislocation on the (100) face of KDP crystals was observed at σ = 0.04, characterized by large holes with micro-steps and step bunching inside, the formation of which were analyzed. The result verified that the reversed growth appears to occur within hollow channels found on growth hillocks.

[Difference of P content in different area substrate of constructed wetland].

Adsorption of substrate is the main removal mechanisms of phosphorus in constructed wetland. It is easily impacted by various environmental factors existing in the wetland bed. The contents of substrate TP and the main inorganic P in different areas of both horizontal sub-surface flow constructed wetland with plant and one without plant were measured after treating wastewater five months. Different areas of the wetland with plant differed greatly in the substrate TP. Rhizosphere substrate in front area had the highest TP content and achieved 0.75 g x kg(-1), and the TP content of non-rhizosphere substrate in back area was only 0.21 g x kg(-1). The TP content of substrate in different areas of the wetland without plant had a little variety and ranged only between 0.21 and 0.27 g x kg(-1). Averagely, the substrate TP content in the wetland with plant was higher than the one in the wetland without plant. The phosphorous with Fe-bound (Fe-P), Al-bound (Al-P), and Ca-bound (Ca-P) were main inorganic phosphorous existing in the substrate in both wetlands, their contents in different areas substrate all increased, compared with the one before experiment. Fe-P and Al-P in different substrates in both wetlands had a similar variety. Their content between rhizosphere and intermediate substrate of front area in the wetland with plant and other area substrate in both wetlands differed greatly because the former increased greatly. Compared with Fe-P and Al-P, the variety of Ca-P in different substrates in both wetlands was low. But the content of Ca-P in rhizosphere substrate in wetland with plant was higher than other two parts respectively in front and back areas. Obviously, the plant root had an impact on the phosphorous content of substrate in constructed wetland. For TP, Fe-P, Al-P, Ca-P and loosely sorbed phosphorous in substrate, it increased with distance of the root.

[Evaluation of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy based on dose distribution].

In this paper, we briefly introduce 3 methods of evaluation for a treatment plan, and mainly discuss the criteria of the plan's optimization based on dose distribution. The elaboratively-designed treatment plan is capable of having the tumor receive higher dose level while the normal tissues and organs receive minimum dose level.