Performance of a novel up-flow electrocatalytic hydrolysis acidification reactor (UEHAR) coupled with anoxic/oxic system for treating coking wastewater.

In this study, the performance of a novel up-flow electrocatalytic hydrolytic acidification reactor (UEHAR) and anoxic/oxic (ANO2/O2) combined system (S2) was compared with that of a traditional anaerobic/anoxic/oxic (ANA/ANO1/O1) system (S1) for treating coking wastewater at different hydraulic retention time (HRT). The effluent non-compliance rates of chemical oxygen demand (COD) of S2 were 45 %, 35 %, 25 % and 55 % lower than S1 with HRT of 94, 76, 65 and 54 h. The removal efficiency of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) in S2 was 10.6 ± 2.4 % higher than that in S1. The effluent concentration of volatile phenolic compounds (VPs) in S2 was lower than 0.3 mg/L. The dehydrogenase activity (DHA) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) of O2 were enhanced by 67.2 ± 26.3 % and 40.6 ± 14.2 % compared with O1, respectively. Moreover, COD was used to reflect the mineralization index of organic matter, and the positive correlation between COD removal rate and microbial activity, VPs, and BTEX was determined. These results indicated that S2 had extraordinary microbial activity, stable pollutant removal ability, and transcendental effluent compliance rate.

Comprehensive pan-cancer analysis reveals NUSAP1 is a novel predictive biomarker for prognosis and immunotherapy response.

Nucleolar and spindle-associated protein 1 (NUSAP1) is a microtubule-associated protein that plays a crucial role in mitosis. Despite initial reports suggesting a potential involvement of NUSAP1 in tumor progression and malignant cell regulation, there has been no systematic analysis of its role in the tumor immune microenvironment, nor its predictive value for prognosis and immunotherapy response across different cancer types. In this study, we analyze NUSAP1 mRNA and protein expression levels in various human normal and tumor tissues, using data from TCGA, GTEx, CPTAC, HPA databases, and clinical samples. Our findings reveal that NUSAP1 is highly expressed in multiple tumor tissues across most cancer types and is primarily expressed in malignant and immune cells, according to single-cell sequencing data from the TISCH database. Prognostic analysis based on curated survival data from the TCGA database indicates that NUSAP1 expression levels can predict clinical outcomes for 26 cancer types. Furthermore, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) suggests that NUSAP1 promotes cell proliferation, tumor cell invasion, and regulation of anti-tumor response. Analysis of immune score, immune cell infiltration, and anti-cancer immunity cycle using ESTIMATE, TIMER, and TIP databases show that high NUSAP1 levels are associated with low CD4+T and NKT cell infiltration but high Th2 and MDSC infiltration, inversely correlated with antigen-presenting molecules and positively correlated with a variety of immune negative regulatory molecules. Notably, patients with melanoma, lung, and kidney cancer with high NUSAP1 expression levels have shorter survival times and lower immunotherapy response rates. Using Cmap analysis, we identify Entinostat and AACOCF3 as potential inhibitors of NUSAP1-mediated pro-oncogenic effects. In vitro and in vivo experiments further confirm that NUSAP1 knockdown significantly reduces the proliferation ability of A549 and MCF-7 cells. Overall, our study highlights the potential of NUSAP1 expression as a novel biomarker for predicting prognosis and immuno-therapeutic efficacy across different human cancers and suggests its potential for developing novel antitumor drugs or improving immunotherapy.

Mitochondrial dysfunction and mitophagy: crucial players in burn trauma and wound healing.

Burn injuries are a significant cause of death worldwide, leading to systemic inflammation, multiple organ failure and sepsis. The progression of burn injury is explicitly correlated with mitochondrial homeostasis, which is disrupted by the hyperinflammation induced by burn injury, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death. Mitophagy plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular homeostasis by selectively removing damaged mitochondria. A growing body of evidence from various disease models suggest that pharmacological interventions targeting mitophagy could be a promising therapeutic strategy. Recent studies have shown that mitophagy plays a crucial role in wound healing and burn injury. Furthermore, chemicals targeting mitophagy have also been shown to improve wound recovery, highlighting the potential for novel therapeutic strategies based on an in-depth exploration of the molecular mechanisms regulating mitophagy and its association with skin wound healing.

Performance enhancement, membrane fouling mitigation and eco-friendly strategy by electric field coupled membrane bioreactor for treating mariculture wastewater.

An eco-friendly strategy for mariculture wastewater treatment using an electric field attached membrane bioreactor (E-MBR) was evaluated and compared with a conventional membrane bioreactor (C-MBR). The removal efficiencies of total nitrogen (TN) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) increased significantly and the membrane fouling rate reduced by 44.8% in the E-MBR. The underlying mechanisms included the enriched nitrifiers and denitrifiers, the enhanced salinity-resistance, the increased activities and upregulated genes of key enzymes involved in nitrification and denitrification for improving the performance of mariculture wastewater treatment, and the enriched extracellular polymeric substance (EPS)-degrading genera, the downregulated EPS biosynthesis genes, the repressed biofilm-forming bacteria, the enhanced zeta potential absolute value and the generated H2O2 for membrane fouling mitigation by electrical stimulation. Compared with the C-MBR, the energy consumption, carbon emissions, and nitrogen footprint were reduced. These findings provide novel insights into mariculture wastewater treatment using an applied electric field.

Improvement of sludge characteristics and mitigation of membrane fouling in the treatment of pesticide wastewater by electrochemical anaerobic membrane bioreactor.

Electrochemical anaerobic membrane bioreactor attracted attention due to stable treatment quality with low footprint, and draw solute has significant effect on the sludge characteristics and membrane fouling performance. In this pilot-scale study, an electrochemical anaerobic membrane bioreactor (E-AnMBR) was proposed for treating pesticide wastewater at different hydraulic retention times (HRTs), demonstrating that E-AnMBR was superior on improvement of sludge characteristics and mitigation of membrane fouling, compared with the conventional anaerobic membrane bioreactor (C-AnMBR). E-AnMBR reduced sludge yield by 41.2 ± 6.7% and the SVI was significantly decreased by 32.5±13.8%. The accumulation of VFA in E-AnMBR was slighter than that of C-AnMBR, and the minimum average VFA was 255±6 mg/L. The methane yield of E-AnMBR (0.22-0.29 L CH4/g CODremoved) was 1.2-1.4 times than that of C-AnMBR. The EPS contents in suspended and attached sludge of E-AnMBR were significantly reduced by 41.8 ± 3.3% and 77.4 ± 14.5% than that of C-AnMBR, respectively. These results suggested that E-AnMBR has lower sludge disposal pressure, higher stability and methane recovery potential. Not only that, E-AnMBR successfully reduced membrane resistance, delaying the fouling rate by 31.0-38.5%. Finally, the linear relationship between EPS characteristics and membrane pollution was determined.

The responses of activated sludge to membrane cleaning reagent H2O2 and protection of extracellular polymeric substances.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is evaluated as a potential replacement for chlorine to control biofouling in membrane bioreactors (MBRs). However, H2O2 might diffuse into the mixed liquor and damage microorganisms during membrane cleaning. This study comprehensively analyzed the impacts of H2O2 on microbes. Key enzymes involved in phenol biodegradation were inhibited with H2O2 concentration increased, and thus phenol degradation efficiency was decreased. Increase of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) indicated more severe cell rupture with H2O2 concentration increased. At the same H2O2 concentration, Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) extraction further led to inhibiting the activity of key enzymes, decreasing phenol degradation efficiency, and enhancing LDH release and ROS production, demonstrating that the existence of EPS moderated the adverse impacts on microbes. Spectroscopic characterization revealed the increase of H2O2 decreased tryptophan protein-like substances, protein-associated bonds and polysaccharide-associated bonds. Hydroxyl and amide groups in EPS were attacked, which might lead to the consumption of H2O2, indicated EPS protect the microorganism through sacrificial reaction with H2O2.

Removal of azimsulfuron and zoxamide using a tapered variable diameter biological fluidized bed combined with electrochemistry: Mass fraction division, energy metabolism activity and carbon emissions.

The performance of the combination system of tapered variable diameter biological fluidized bed (TVDBFB) with electrochemistry (EC) was evaluated for removing azimsulfuron and zoxamide under different temperatures and influent concentrations. Maximum removal efficiency of azimsulfuron and zoxamide could reach 94% and 98% under higher influent concentration (about 780 mg/L). As temperature decreased from 32 ℃ to 8 ℃, the mSe increased from 48% to 56%, and the mSo and mSxv decreased from 30% to 22% and 27% to 24%, respectively. As the influent COD equivalent concentration of azimsulfuron and zoxamide enhanced from 260 mg/L to 780 mg/L, the Kd increased from 0.06 d-1 to 0.23 d-1. Temperature and influent concentration were main influencing factors of DHA, ATP and ETS. Increasing aeration in TVDBFB and HRT in EC under shock conditions could improve azimsulfuron and zoxamide removal efficiency, however, it was also accompanied by higher carbon emissions.

Optimizing anaerobic technology by using electrochemistry and membrane module for treating pesticide wastewater: Chemical oxygen demand components and fractions distribution, membrane fouling, effluent toxicity and economic analysis.

Optimization in performance and membrane fouling of an electrochemical anaerobic membrane bioreactor (R1) for treating pesticide wastewater was investigated and compared with a conventional anaerobic membrane bioreactor (R2). The maximum COD removal efficiency of R2 was 80.1%, 80.0%, 67.4%, 61.1% with HRT of 96, 72, 48 and 24 h, which of R1 was enhanced to 84.7%, 84.3%, 82.0% and 66.3%. These results demonstrated that the optimum HRT of R1 was shortened to 48 h, which of R2 required 72 h. R1 reduced the contents of particulate and colloidal COD, and the fraction of COD converted to sludge was 5.0-8.2% lower than that of R2. The fouling rate was 0.99-1.44 kPa/d and reduced by 31.0%-38.5% compared with R2. Detoxification was enhanced by 7.8-47.7% with the assistance of bio-electrochemistry. Ultimately, ensuring similar performance, R1 achieved a 65.6% improvement in environmental benefit, a 26.3% and 38.9% reduction in unit capital and operating costs.

A novel low temperature aerobic technology with electrochemistry for treating pesticide wastewater: Compliance rate, mathematical models, economic and environmental benefit analysis.

In this study, a novel combination system of the tapered variable diameter biological fluidized bed (TVDBFB) with electrochemistry (EC) has been developed and its performances are investigated at different seasons. The results showed that the COD removal efficiency of TVDBFB increased from 61% to 67% and compliance rate increased from 84% to 88% when the carrier packing rate increased from 15% to 30% and temperature was 12 ℃. However, COD removal efficiency and compliance rate increased to 87% and 100% when EC was a post treatment unit. The mathematical models could fit well with the attached biomass, which can be applied to reflect and predict the biomass per unit carrier under different conditions, and the EC removal of COD follow the first-order reaction kinetic model. The economic and environmental benefit analysis indicated that TVDBFB and EC were feasible for treating pesticide wastewater.

Novel tapered variable diameter biological fluidized bed for treating pesticide wastewater with high nitrogen removal efficiency and a small footprint.

In this study, the removal efficiency of nitrogen, specific nitrification rate (SNR), specific denitrification rate (SDNR) and compliance rate of the novel tapered variable diameter biological fluidized bed (TVDBFB) and anoxic/oxic (AO) process were compared at different temperatures. The results showed that the optimal TN, NH4+-N, and TKN removal efficiencies of the TVDBFB were 76%, 89% and 88%, respectively, and those of AO were 65%, 67% and 69%, respectively. The SNR and SDNR of the TVDBFB were significantly higher than those of AO. The TVDBFB had a smaller footprint than AO. The alkalinity/NH4+-N, BOD5/TN and temperature play important roles in the compliance rate. Increasing the carrier packing rate has emerged as a new strategy for enhancing the compliance rate. Mathematical models were developed and determined to be well-fitted with the experimental values, which can be employed to predict the SNR and SDNR of the TVDBFB.

A sustainability anti-infective pharmaceutical wastewater treatment technology: multi-stage vertical variable diameter membrane bioreactor with DO online controlling.

The proper choice of dissolved oxygen (DO) is important in aerobic treatment. In this paper, a multi-stage vertical variable diameter membrane bioreactor was developed to treat pharmaceutical wastewater containing 6-APA and ceftriaxone sodium. In the 180 days of operation, the performance of COD, BOD5, 6-APA, ceftriaxone sodium removal, sludge index, and microbial enzyme activity under different DOs (from 0.5 to 6.0 mg/L) were investigated. The results showed that the optimal range of DO was 1.5-2.1 mg/L, and the highest removal rates of COD and BOD5 were observed 87.3%±2.4% and 95.3%±1.8%, the corresponding effluent COD and BOD5 were 189 mg/L and 24 mg/L, respectively. To reduce the energy consumption and ensure stability of DO in the reactor, a control strategy based on an improved differential evolution BP fuzzy neural network was built and found that the performance and cost of the controlled DO were improved effectively than that of uncontrolled DO.

Performance of an up-flow anaerobic bio-electrochemical system (UBES) for treating sulfamethoxazole (SMX) antibiotic wastewater.

This paper focused on the feasibility and performance of an up-flow anaerobic bio-electrochemical system (UBES) for treating sulfamethoxazole (SMX) antibiotic wastewater at different COD loading rates (LRs) from 2.02 ± 0.13 to 6.09 ± 0.14 kgCOD/(m3·d). Open-circuit UBES had a lower average COD removal rate of 62.4 ± 4.7% in Run2, and the accumulation of volatile fatty acid (VFA) was occurred. However, closed-circuit UBES can alleviate the accumulation of VFA (which was decreased from 720.4 to 102.4 mg/L), the highest average COD, SMX removal rates were 85.7 ± 3.2% and 73.7 ± 2.0%, respectively. The closed-circuit UBES can withstand more than 3 times LR than open-circuit UBES, which proved that the ability of microorganisms to resist toxic substance stress was strengthened. And the mathematical models for pollutants removal rate were established and well interpreted the results, which also can guide the operation of UBES.

Multiple draft tubes airlift loop membrane bioreactor as an efficient system for acidic 7-amino cephalosporanic acid (7-ACA) wastewater treatment.

In this study, a lab-scale multiple draft tubes airlift loop membrane bioreactor (Mt-ALMBR) was used for treating acidic 7-amino cephalosporanic acid (7-ACA) wastewater under different pHs (3.54-6.20) and hydraulic retention time (HRT) (48 h, 36 h, 24 h and 16 h). During about 200 days operation, under HRT of 48 h and pH condition about 6.0, the optimum average COD and BOD5 removal rates were reach to 84.4 ± 2.1% and 94.9 ± 0.8%, and the highest 7-ACA removal rate also observed as 77.6%. Biodegradation, membrane rejection, hydrolysis and sludge adsorption were the four main pathways of 7-ACA removal. With the increase of pH, biodegradation, membrane rejection and hydrolysis had significant positive impacts on 7-ACA removal, while adsorption had a negative impact. Moreover, mathematical models for 7-ACA removal rate and pH were calculated to guide the operation of Mt-ALMBR. Biodegradation was the main pathway to remove 7-ACA when pH was >4.17.

Performance improvement and model of a bio-electrochemical system built-in up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket for treating ß-lactams pharmaceutical wastewater under different hydraulic retention time.

This paper focused on the performance of an up-flow bio-electrochemical system (UBES) for treating the ß-lactams pharmaceutical wastewater under different hydraulic retention time (HRT). UBES is added a bio-electrochemical system below the three-phase separator based on up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB). Comparisons of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, accumulation of volatile fatty acid (VFA) and biogas production were investigated during the 316-day operation time, which was divided into five parts with HRT of 96 h, 72 h, 48 h, 36 h and 20 h, respectively. The average COD removal efficiency of UBES could reach 45.3 ±â€¯7.5%, 72.2 ±â€¯3.5%, 86.2 ±â€¯1.4%, 75.9 ±â€¯1.8% and 64.9 ±â€¯2.0%, which were 2.4%, 6.1%, 6.4%, 10.2%, 8.7% more than those of UASB under different HRTs, respectively. Biogas production as well as methane production of UBES were significantly higher than UASB during the whole changing HRT process, the maximum methane yield of UBES was 0.31 ±â€¯0.07 L/gCODremoved. Accumulation of VFA in UBES was discovered to be lighter than UASB, the minimum average VFA in UBES was 131.9 ±â€¯18.5 mg/L, which was obtained at HRT of 48 h. These results proved that UBES can slow down the inhibition of VFA on methanogens to make sure a good performance on COD removal and biogas production than UASB. Moreover, the relationships between methane production and VFA, biogas production and COD consumption were analyzed. A cost and benefit were analyzed for evaluating the potential of UBES in practical applications compared with UASB. Finally, radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) model was developed and fitted well with the experimental data, which can be employed to predict the effluent quality of the UBES and UASB.

Feasibility of cultivation of Spinibarbus sinensis with coconut oil and its effect on disease resistance (nonspecific immunity, antioxidation and mTOR and NF-kB signaling pathways).

Application of traditional bait in aquaculture caused environment pollution and disease frequent occurrence. Residual coconut could be re-utilized to culture Spinibarbus sinensis as dietary supplement. Therefore, a novel integrated system of the improvement of yield, antioxidant and nonspecific immunity of Spinibarbus sinensis by dietary residual coconut was proposed and investigated. Spinibarbus sinensis could grow well in all supplement residual coconut groups. Survival rate, yield, whole fish body composition under 15-45% groups were increased compared with control group (CK). Bioactive substances (polyphenols and vitamin) in residual coconut enhanced AKP, ACP, phagocytic, SOD, CAT activities through up-regulating AKP, ACP, SOD, CAT genes expression levels. Theoretical analysis showed bioactive substances regulated these genes expressions and enzyme activities as stimulus signal, component, active center. Moreover, residual coconut improved mTOR and NF-kB signaling pathway. Furthermore, residual coconut inhibited Aeromonas hydrophila that increased resistance to diseases. This technology completed the solid waste recovery and the Spinibarbus sinensis culture simultaneously.

Performance and kinetic model of degradation on treating pharmaceutical solvent wastewater at psychrophilic condition by a pilot-scale anaerobic membrane bioreactor.

A pilot-scale anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) was operated for 435 days in this study, aiming to treat pharmaceutical solvent wastewater containing m-Cresol (MC), isopropanol (IPA) and N,N-Dimethylformamide (DMF) pollutants at different temperatures of 35 ±â€¯3 °C, 25 ±â€¯3 °C, 15 ±â€¯3 °C and 25 ±â€¯3 °C, respectively. The reactor reached average total removal efficiencies of about 96%, 97.2% and 98% of MC, IPA and DMF at psychrophilic condition (15 ±â€¯3 °C). Higher physical removal rate was obtained at 15 ±â€¯3 °C due to the important contribution of membrane filtration. At this stage, the biogas production, methane content and specific methanogenic activity and extracellular polymeric substances of suspended sludge were observed with the lowest level. Moreover, the kinetic models for solvent degradation were established at different temperatures, results showed the smaller maximum specific substrate degradation rate of MC and IPA, besides, the lowest degradation rate of three solvents were obtained at 15 ±â€¯3 °C.

Performance and methane fermentation characteristics of a pilot scale anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) for treating pharmaceutical wastewater containing m-cresol (MC) and iso-propyl alcohol (IPA).

In this study, a pilot scale anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) was operated for 80 days to treat pharmaceutical wastewater containing m-cresol (MC) and iso-propyl alcohol (IPA). The aim of the study is to investigate the performance and methane fermentation characteristics of AnMBR at different hydraulic retention time (HRT) (48, 36, 24, 18 and 12 h). The average total removal efficiencies of MC and IPA were 95%, 96% during the 80 days, which demonstrated that the AnMBR system performed well in the MC and IPA removal. The major volatile fatty acid (VFA) was found to be acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, besides, the VFA accumulated apparently when HRT decreased to 12 h. The decrease of HRT led to an increase of relative abundance of methanosarcina from 13 to 33% and a decrease in biogas yield from 0.19 to 0.05 L/gCODremoval. The biogas production was found to increase dramatically at HRT of 36 h. The trend of methane content kept stable at this stage with the average value of 78.5% which higher than other HRTs. The investigation of methanogen community showed that methanosarcinaceae was always dominant acetoclastic methanogens and methanomicrobiales was the dominant hydrogen utilizers throughout the operational period. When the HRT dropped to 12 h, the growth of the methanosarcinaceae and methanomicrobiales was observed, the amount of the methanosarcinaceae and methanomicrobiales sharply increased. After the overall research, HRT of 36 h was chosen as the most suitable operating condition due to the comprehensively preferable performance and more economical.

The performance and membrane fouling rate of a pilot-scale anaerobic membrane bioreactor for treating antibiotic solvent wastewater under different cross flow velocity.

The performance of a pilot-scale anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) for treating antibiotic solvent wastewater under different cross flow velocities (CFV) was investigated. Effects of mixed liquid suspended solids (MLSS), colloid total organic carbon (TOC) and CFV on membrane fouling rate (RMF) were also explored in this paper. Throughout 341 days of experiment, the average total removal rate of N, N-Dimethylformamide (DMF) was 98.5% which hardly affected by the variation of CFV, and the compliance rate of DMF was 92% according to the Chinese standard (<25 mg/L). However, the relevant high total removal rate of M-cresol (MC) was achieved as 97.5%, the content of effluent failed to meet the national level emission standard (<0.1 mg/L). The biogas yield and the methane content of the biogas increased gradually with the increase of CFV, and the average methane content were over 70%. There were four kinds of methanogens in AnMBR, Methanosaeta spp was the largest methanogenic community, with an area of 45-70% of the archae. There was a linear relationship between colloid TOC and RMF at different MLSS concentrations. Then a universal mathematical model for the changes of RMF with influence factors was established. The result showed that model well fitted the laboratory data. It is suggested that the model proposed could reflect and manage the membrane fouling of AnMBR treating antibiotic solvent wastewater.

Effect of organic loading rate on the removal of DMF, MC and IPA by a pilot-scale AnMBR for treating chemical synthesis-based antibiotic solvent wastewater.

This study focuses on the effects of organic loading rate (OLR) on the removal of N,N-Dimethylformamide(DMF), m-Cresol (MC) and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) by a pilot-scale anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) for treating chemical synthesis-based antibiotic solvent wastewater at period of improved influent COD concentration with decreased HRT. The whole process was divided into five stages in terms of the variation of OLR ranging from 3.9 to 12.7 kg COD/(m3·d). During 249 days of operating time, the average DMF, MC, IPA removal efficiency were 96.9%,98.2% and 96.4%, respectively. Cake layer was accumulated on the membrane surface acted as a dynamic secondary biofilm which lead to the increase of physical removal rate. In addition, mathematical statistical models was built on the linear regression techniques for exploring the inner relationship between EPS and the performance of the AnMBR.

Performance and extracellular polymers substance analysis of a pilot scale anaerobic membrane bioreactor for treating tetrahydrofuran pharmaceutical wastewater at different HRTs.

Tetrahydrofuran (THF) is one of the most representative characteristics of pollutant in pharmaceutical industry usually has high biological toxicity, making it difficult to treat. In this study, a pilot scale anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) was employed to treat THF pharmaceutical wastewater under different hydraulic retention time (HRT). During the 80-day operating time, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and THF removal efficiencies reached 95.3% and 98.5% when HRT was above 24h. Mixed liquid suspended solids (MLSS) and mixed liquor volatile suspended solids (MLVSS) in the attached sludge on membrane surface showed a trend of rising on first 28days (48h-36h) and then decreasing. Protein is the major component of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) independent of changes in HRT. The study concludes that THF pharmaceutical wastewater can be effectively remedied in the AnMBR system at low HRT.