Assessing Contributions of Synthetic Musk Compounds from Wastewater Treatment Plants to Atmospheric and Aquatic Environments.

The high environmental concentrations, persistence, and toxicity of synthetic musk compounds (SMCs) necessitate a better grasp of their fate in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). To investigate the importance of WWTPs as pathways of SMCs to the environment, air and wastewater samples were collected at four WWTPs in Ontario, Canada. Polycyclic musks (PCMs) were present at higher concentrations than nitro musks (NMs) and macrocyclic musks (MCMs). Three PCMs [galaxolide (HHCB), tonalide (AHTN), and iso-E super (OTNE)] were the most abundant compounds (0.30-680 ng/m3 in air, 0.40-15 µg/L in influent, and 0.007-6.0 µg/L in effluent). Analyses of multiyear data suggest that risk management measures put in place have been effective in reducing the release of many SMCs into the environment. The highest removal efficiency, up to almost 100% of some SMCs, was observed for the plant with the longest solid retention time. A fugacity-based model was established to simulate the transport and fate of SMCs in the WWTP, and good agreement was obtained between the measured and modeled values. These findings indicate that the levels of certain SMCs discharged into the atmospheric and aquatic environments were substantial, potentially resulting in exposure to both humans and wildlife.

Seasonal patterns, fate and ecological risk assessment of pharmaceutical compounds in a wastewater treatment plant with Bacillus bio-reactor treatment.

Pharmaceutical compounds (PhCs) pose a growing concern with potential environmental impacts, commonly introduced into the environment via wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The occurrence, removal, and season variations of 60 different classes of PhCs were investigated in the baffled bioreactor (BBR) wastewater treatment process during summer and winter. The concentrations of 60 PhCs were 3400 ± 1600 ng/L in the influent, 2700 ± 930 ng/L in the effluent, and 2400 ± 120 ng/g dw in sludge. Valsartan (Val, 1800 ng/L) was the main contaminant found in the influent, declining to 520 ng/L in the effluent. The grit chamber and BBR tank were substantially conducive to the removal of VAL. Nonetheless, the BBR process showcased variable removal efficiencies across different PhC classes. Sulfadimidine had the highest removal efficiency of 87 ± 17% in the final effluent (water plus solid phase). Contrasting seasonal patterns were observed among PhC classes within BBR process units. The concentrations of many PhCs were higher in summer than in winter, while some macrolide antibiotics exhibited opposing seasonal fluctuations. A thorough mass balance analysis revealed quinolone and sulfonamide antibiotics were primarily eliminated through degradation and transformation in the BBR process. Conversely, 40.2 g/d of macrolide antibiotics was released to the natural aquatic environment via effluent discharge. Gastric acid and anticoagulants, as well as cardiovascular PhCs, primarily experienced removal through sludge adsorption. This study provides valuable insights into the intricate dynamics of PhCs in wastewater treatment, emphasizing the need for tailored strategies to effectively mitigate their release and potential environmental risks.

Temporal Trends of Legacy and Current-Use Halogenated Flame Retardants in Lake Ontario in Relation to Atmospheric Loadings, Sources, and Environmental Fate.

Since the phase-out of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), large amounts of alternative halogenated flame retardants (AHFRs) have been introduced to the market. Due to their persistence and toxicity, halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) have become a concern for the ecosystem and human health. However, there remains limited assessment of the atmospheric loadings, sources, and environmental fate of HFRs in Lake Ontario, which receives urban-related inputs and cumulative chemical inputs from the upstream Great Lakes from Canada and the United States. We combined long-term measurements with a modified multimedia model based on site-specific environmental parameters from Lake Ontario to understand the trends and fate of HFRs. All HFRs were detected in the air, precipitation, lake trout, and herring gull egg samples throughout the sampling periods. General decreasing trends were found for PBDEs, while the temporal trends for AHFRs were not clear. Physical-chemical properties and emissions significantly influence the levels, profiles, and trends. Using the probabilistic modeling, HFR concentrations in lake water and sediment were predicted to be close to the measurement, suggesting a good performance for the modified model. The loadings from tributaries and wastewater effluent were the primary input pathways. Transformations in the water and sedimentation were estimated to be the dominant output pathway for the three HFRs.

Derivative of cinnamic acid inhibits T3SS of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae through the HrpG-HrpX regulatory cascade.

Bacterial leaf blight (BLB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) has a significant impact on rice yield and quality worldwide. Traditionally, bactericide application has been commonly used to control this devastating disease. However, the overuse of fungicides has led to a number of problems such as the development of resistance and environmental pollution. Therefore, the development of new methods and approaches for disease control are still urgent. In this paper, a series of cinnamic acid derivatives were designed and synthesized, and three novel T3SS inhibitors A10, A12 and A20 were discovered. Novel T3SS inhibitors A10, A12 and A20 significantly inhibited the hpa1 promoter activity without affecting Xoo growth. Further studies revealed that the title compounds A10, A12 and A20 significantly impaired hypersensitivity in non-host plant tobacco leaves, while applications on rice significantly reduced symptoms of bacterial leaf blight. RT-PCR showed that compound A20 inhibited the expression of T3SS-related genes. In summary, this work exemplifies the potential of the title compound as an inhibitor of T3SS and its efficacy in the control of bacterial leaf blight.

[Effect of High-Concentration Uric Acid on Nitric Oxide].

Uric acid (UA) is the final product of purine metabolism in human body,and its metabolic disorder will induce hyperuricemia (HUA).The occurrence and development of HUA are associated with a variety of pathological mechanisms such as oxidative stress injury,activation of inflammatory cytokines,and activation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.These mechanisms directly or indirectly affect the bioavailability of endogenous nitric oxide (NO).The decrease in NO bioavailability is common in the diseases with high concentration of UA as an independent risk factor.In this review,we summarize the mechanisms by which high concentrations of UA affect the endogenous NO bioavailability,with a focus on the mechanisms of high-concentration UA in decreasing the synthesis and/or increasing the consumption of NO.This review aims to provide references for alleviating the multisystem symptoms and improving the prognosis of HUA,and lay a theoretical foundation for in-depth study of the correlations between HUA and other metabolic diseases.

[Dissolution test and evaluation of Guizhi Fuling Capsules].

Because of the complex components, simple content determination can hardly reflect the overall quality of Guizhi Fuling Capsules. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out a multi-component dissolution test. The variability of quality among different batches of products from different manufacturers is a common problem of Chinese medicine solid preparations. To comprehensively control the quality of Guizhi Fuling Capsules, we studied the dissolution behaviors of 7 index components in the capsules under different conditions, and investigated the consistency of dissolution behaviors among different batches of products from the same manufacturer. The basket method of general rule 0931 in Chinese Pharmacopoeia was adopted, and the rotating speeds were set at 50, 75, and 100 r·min~(-1), respectively. The hydrochloric acid solution(pH 1.2), acetate buffer solution(pH 4.0), pure water, and phosphate buffer solution(pH 6.8) were used as the dissolution media. Automatic sampling was carried out at the time points of 5, 10, 20, 30, 45, and 60 min, respectively. The cumulative dissolution of 7 index components was measured through ultra-performance liquid chromatography(UPLC). The difference factor f_1 and similarity factor f_2 were calculated to comprehensively evaluate the similarity of the dissolution curves among 8 batches of Guizhi Fuling Capsules, and a variety of dissolution and release equations were fitted. The results showed that multiple components had faster dissolution rates at higher rotating speed and in hydrochloric acid medium. The 8 batches of Guizhi Fuling capsules showed the average f_1 value lower than 15 and the average f_2 value higher than 50, which indicated that different batches of products had similar dissolution behaviors. Most components had synchronous dissolution behaviors and similar release cha-racteristics. This study provides a reference for the quality consistency evaluation among batches, processing optimization, and dosage form improvement of Guizhi Fuling Capsules.

Occurrence, removal and mass balance of substituted diphenylamine antioxidants in wastewater treatment plants in Northeast China.

Substituted diphenylamine antioxidants (SDPAs) are additives used in various commodities and are commonly found in environmental samples. However, limited information was available on their fate and removal in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This paper reports the results on the occurrence and removal efficiency of ten selected SDPAs in six WWTPs equipped with different treatment processes in Northeast China. Quite similar distributions of different SDPA congeners were shown in the studied WWTPs, with ditertoctyl-diphenylamine (C8/C8-DPA), tertbutyl-tertoctyl-diphenylamine (C4/C8-DPA), and tertoctyl-diphenylamine (C8-DPA) being always dominant in the influent, effluent, and sludge (total > 80%). A cyclic activated sludge system combined with a V-shape filter achieved the highest removal efficiencies of SDPAs among various treatment processes. Styrenated-diphenylamine1 (S-DPA1) (96 ± 10%), C8-DPA (95 ± 5.5%), and distyrenated-diphenylamine1 (DS-DPA1) (94 ± 9.3%) showed high and stable removal efficiencies, whereas C4/C8-DPA (85 ± 31%) and C8/C8-DPA (84 ± 62%) showed considerably varied removal efficiencies. Per-day discharges of SDPAs to the receiving environment through effluent and sludge were estimated as 828 ± 350 and 5578 ± 5196 mg, respectively. A median of 85% of the initial mass loadings of SDPAs was found in the sludge samples, suggesting that the observed removal of SDPAs in the WWTPs was caused by their sorption to the sludge, rather than biodegradation/transformation. This work provides an overall description of the occurrence, fate, and mass balance of SDPAs in WWTPs in Northeast China and highlights a new emission route to the environment via WWTPs.

[Dietary Patterns and Their Association with Diabetes Mellitus in Middle-Aged and Older Rural Population in Xinxiang County, Henan Province].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the prevalence of diabetes mellitus among middle-aged and older rural adults of Xinxiang county, Henan Province and its correlation with dietary patterns. METHODS: The study was done based on the data collected from a cross-sectional survey of Xinxiang County, which was part of the Prospective Cohort Study on the Common Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases in Rural areas of Henan Province. Randomized cluster sampling was used to select adult respondents (≥18 years old) from among the residents of 17 villages in Xinxiang county. The respondents completed questionnaires, and underwent physical examinations and laboratory tests between April, 2017 and June, 2017. A total of 7604 individuals aged between 45 and 79 were included in our study. Dietary patterns were established through factor analysis and the dietary pattern factor scores were divided into quartiles (Q1-Q4). The relationship between dietary patterns and diabetes mellitus was analyzed with multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS: Out of the total of 7604 middle-aged and older rural adults in Xinxiang County, Henan Province, 1604 had diabetes mellitus, suggesting a 21.1% prevalence of diabetes mellitus. Factor analysis was used to establish four dietary patterns, namely animal-based diet, vegetable-egg diet, mixed diet and traditional diet. Subjects of these four dietary patterns displayed different demographic characteristics. There were no statistical difference in anthropometricor clinical indicators between the quartile with the lowest dietary pattern factor score (Q1) and the quartile with the highest dietary pattern factor score (Q4) for subjects with animal-based diet ( P>0.05). Compared with those in the Q1 quartile of vegetable-egg diet, subjects in the Q4 quartile of vegetable-egg diet showed lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), along with different distribution of fasting blood glucose (FBG), showing statistically significant difference ( P<0.05). In comparison to subjects in Q1 quartile of mixed diet, those in Q4 quartile showed lower levels of systolic blood pressure (SBP), the difference being statistically significant ( P<0.05). In the traditional diet group, subjects in the Q4 quartile had lower waist circumference (WC), but higher levels of HDL-C than those of subjects in Q1 quartile. In addition, the distribution of glycated-hemoglobin (HbA1c) and FBG were different, the difference being statistically significant ( P<0.05). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that traditional diet could be a protective factor of diabetes mellitus (odds ratio [ OR]=0.810, 95% CI: 0.690-0.952, P trend<0.05) after adjusting for multiple confounding factors. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of diabetes in middle-aged and older rural residents is relatively high in Xinxiang County, Henan Province, and there may be a protective relationship between traditional diet and diabetes mellitus.

[Research progress on chemical constituents and quality control methods of Succus Bambusae].

Through the investigation of a large number of both domestic and overseas literatures and related quality standards, chemical compositions, quality evaluation system and quality control methods of Succus Bambusae were systematic summarized in this study. There were abundant chemical constituents in Succus Bambusae, mainly including volatile ingredients, amino acids, flavonoids, trace elements and vitamins, with high medicinal and edible value. The quality control methods involved traditional morphological identification, spectroscopy, chromatography and other techniques. However, the current quality standards of Succus Bambusae are relatively low, lacking safety indicators, and cannot effectively ensure its quality, seriously affecting the safety and effectiveness of its clinical use. Therefore, it is particularly important to establish a set of highly sensitive and specific quality evaluation system for Succus Bambusae. In this paper, the current research status of the chemical compositions and quality standards of Succus Bambusae were reviewed, with the purpose of providing a basis for further improvement of its quality evaluation system.

[Determination of five saponins in Xuesaitong Dropping Pills by micellar electrokinetic chromatography and evaluation method of between-batch consistency].

The present study determined five saponins in Xuesaitong Dropping Pills(XDP) by micellar electrokinetic chromatography(MEKC), and evaluated between-batch consistency by MEKC fingerprints and similarity analysis. A background buffer was composed of 20 mmol·L~(-1) sodium tetraborate-20 mmol·L~(-1) boric acid solution(pH 8.5), 55 mmol·L~(-1) sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS), 23 mmol·L~(-1) ß-cyclodextrin, and 13% isopropyl alcohol. All separations were performed at 25 ℃,20 kV and the detection wavelength was set at 203 nm. The separation channel was a fused silica capillary with a dimension of 75 µm I.D. and a total length of 50.2 cm(effective length of 40.0 cm). The contents of notoginsenoside R_1, and ginsenosides Rg_1, Re, Rb_1, Rd were determined with their quality control ranges set. The fingerprints of XDP were established and the between-batch consistency was evaluated by similarity analysis. The contents of five saponins from the 19 batches of XDP were stable in the fixed ranges. Statistical analysis was carried out on the results of multiple batches of samples, and the specific quality control ranges were recommended as follows: notoginsenoside R_1 21.92-34.16 mg·g~(-1), ginsenosides Rg_1 83.54-131.78 mg·g~(-1), ginsenosides Re 13.58-19.82 mg·g~(-1), ginsenosides Rb_1 89.40-129.90 mg·g~(-1), and ginsenosides Rd 22.34-35.67 mg·g~(-1). Eleven characteristic peaks were identified in the fingerprints. Five peaks, notoginsenoside R_1 and ginsenosides Rg_1, Re, Rb_1, Rd, were identified with reference standards. The similarities of the 19 batches of samples were all above 0.988, indicating good between-batch consistency. This method is green and simple, and can be used for the quantitative determination and quality evaluation of XDP. It can also provide references for the quality control of other Chinese medicinal dripping pills.

[Identification of critical influencing factors in dropping process of Xuesaitong Dropping Pills].

With the dropping process of Xuesaitong Dropping Pills(XDP) as the study object, critical factors affecting the quality indicators of pill pass rate, average weight of drop pills and roundness were screened out, so as to deepen the understanding of the dropping process. The critical process units, critical quality attributes and potential critical process influencing factors of XDP were determined by risk analysis and prior knowledge, and then the critical influencing factors were screened out by Plackett-Burman design. First, according to the risk assessment, the critical technique of XDP preparation process was dropping, and then the critical quality attributes of dropping process were pill pass rate, average weight of drop pills and roundness. Then, according to fishbone diagram and failure mode and effects analysis(FMEA), potential critical influencing factors were determined as flow rate, matrix ratio, solid-liquid ratio, feed-liquid temperature, top temperature of condensate, bottom temperature of condensate and dropping distance. Finally, among these seven potential factors, the critical influencing factors were determined as material liquid ratio, dropping distance, top temperature of condensate, bottom temperature of condensate. This study revealed the potential of Plackett-Burman design in screening and understanding the influence of selected factors on XDP dropping process, which could provide a reference for studying the dropping process.

Increased ATFL-PTFL angle could be an indirect MRI sign in diagnosis of chronic ATFL injury.

PURPOSE: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has relatively low accuracy in diagnosing chronic anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) injury. This study's purpose was to evaluate the angle between the ATFL and posterior talofibular ligament (PTFL) as a new indirect MRI sign of chronic ATFL injury in patients with mechanical ankle instability (MAI). METHODS: This study included 200 participants: 105 patients with MAI and 95 patients seen at our institution for reasons unrelated to ankle instability. MR images of all 200 participants were reviewed. The ATFL-PTFL angle in the axial plane was measured and compared between groups. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) were used to analyze ATFL-PTFL angles in participants with and without ATFL injury. The sensitivity and specificity of this method for diagnosing ATFL injury were calculated. RESULTS: The mean ATFL-PTFL angle was significantly larger among MAI patients than among control patients (81.5° ± 9.8° vs 75.2° ± 8.9°, respectively; P < 0.01). The area under the ROC was 0.789 (P < 0.01). The optimal cut-off point for diagnosing ATFL injury on the basis of the ATFL-PTFL angle was 79.0° (sensitivity 0.89, specificity 0.67). CONCLUSION: The ATFL-PTFL angle was significantly larger among MAI patients than among those without MAI. Increased ATFL-PTFL angle offers a new indirect MRI sign for diagnosing chronic ATFL injury. The ATFL-PTFL angle can be used not only to improve the accuracy of diagnosis of chronic ATFL injury, but also to evaluate the restoration of normal ankle joint geometry after lateral ligament reconstruction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

[Comparative study on dissolution behavior of Fufang Danshen Pian].

To compare the quality of Fufang Danshen Pian, the dissolution behaviors of 7 index components in Fufang Danshen Pian in different batches and from different manufacturers in 4 kinds of dissolution mediums, and evaluate by multiple dissolution curves. The dissolution test was carried out by the paddle method, with pH 1.2 hydrochloride buffer, pH 4.0 acetate buffer, distilled water and pH 6.8 phosphate buffer as dissolution medium. The rotation speed was 75 r·min~(-1). The content of 7 index components at each sampling point was measured by HPLC. The accumulative dissolution rate was calculated, the cumulative dissolution curve was drawn, and the dissolution models were fitted. The dissolution behaviors and the dissolution curve fitting equations of Fufang Danshen Pian in different batches and from different manufacturers in different dissolution mediums were quite different. The dissolution of the same preparation from different manufactures was different in the same dissolution medium, and the dissolution of different index components from the same manufacturer was not synchronized in the same dissolution medium; the dissolution behaviors of Fufang Danshen Pian in different batches and from different manufacturers in the same dissolution medium were different and greatly affected by pH value, indicating differences in the quality of Fufang Danshen Pian in different batches and from different manufacturers. This study provides scientific basis for the improvement in preparation process and the evaluation of batch consistency of Fufang Danshen Pian.

[Qualitative and quantitative analysis of Rhodobryum giganteum by using nonlinear oscillating chemical fingerprint technique].

A new method for qualitative and quantitative analysis of Rhodobryum giganteum by using the nonlinear oscillating chemical was established for improving the quality control standard of R. giganteum. Its potential(E)/time(t) curve was recorded by electrochemical workstation in the oscillation reaction system of BrO~-_3-Ce(SO_4)_2-H_2SO_4-malonic acid/tartaric acid. The nonlinear oscillating chemical fingerprints were investigated for repeatability, and it was found that the RSD values of the four characteristic parameters of R. giganteum were less than 4.1%, indicating a good repeatability and high precision of this experiment. After optimizing the experimental parameters such as particle size, rotation speed and temperature, a new method based on nonlinear oscillating chemical was used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of R. giganteum. The results showed that there was a good linear relationship between the induction time/the period of oscillation and the dosage of herbs(0.1-1.1 g), with the relative coefficients of 0.978 and 0.975, respectively. Besides, the highest potential showed a nonlinear relationship with the dosage of herbs, with the relative coefficient of 0.999. This method was also used to discriminate the R. giganteum and R. roseum. They were similar in appearance, but their fingerprints were quite different. Independent sample t test results showed that there were significant differences in the oscillation time, the maximum amplitude and the induction time, providing a basis for the identification of the basic sources of Herba Rhodobryi Rasei.

[Fetal malnutrition assessment program].

OBJECTIVE: To study the application of ponderal index (PI), body mass index (BMI), mid-arm circumference/head circumference (MAC/HC), and Clinical Assessment of Nutritional Status (CANS) score in assessing the nutritional status of neonates at birth, and to find a simple and reliable scheme for the assessment of fetal nutritional status. METHODS: PI, BMI, MAC/HC, and CANS were used to assess the nutritional status of full-term infants and preterm infants shortly after birth. The assessment results of these methods were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 678 full-term infants, 61, 102, 47, and 131 were diagnosed with malnutrition by PI, BMI, MAC/HC, and CANS respectively. Among the 140 preterm infants, 30, 87, 9, and 112 were diagnosed with malnutrition by PI, BMI, MAC/HC, and CANS respectively. The combination of BMI and CANS had a detection rate of 99.3% in full-term infants and 100% in preterm infants. Compared with the single method, the combination significantly improved the detection rate of malnutrition (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between the combination of BMI+CANS and the combination of PI+BMI+CANS (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of BMI+CANS can reduce the rate of missed diagnosis of fetal malnutrition. It is therefore a simple and reliable method for the assessment of fetal malnutrition.

Insights into transcriptional characteristics and homoeolog expression bias of embryo and de-embryonated kernels in developing grain through RNA-Seq and Iso-Seq.

Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is an allohexaploid, and the transcriptional characteristics of the wheat embryo and endosperm during grain development remain unclear. To analyze the transcriptome, we performed isoform sequencing (Iso-Seq) for wheat grain and RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) for the embryo and de-embryonated kernels. The differential regulation between the embryo and de-embryonated kernels was found to be greater than the difference between the two time points for each tissue. Exactly 2264 and 4790 tissue-specific genes were found at 14 days post-anthesis (DPA), while 5166 and 3784 genes were found at 25 DPA in the embryo and de-embryonated kernels, respectively. Genes expressed in the embryo were more likely to be related to nucleic acid and enzyme regulation. In de-embryonated kernels, genes were rich in substance metabolism and enzyme activity functions. Moreover, 4351, 4641, 4516, and 4453 genes with the A, B, and D homoeoloci were detected for each of the four tissues. Expression characteristics suggested that the D genome may be the largest contributor to the transcriptome in developing grain. Among these, 48, 66, and 38 silenced genes emerged in the A, B, and D genomes, respectively. Gene ontology analysis showed that silenced genes could be inclined to different functions in different genomes. Our study provided specific gene pools of the embryo and de-embryonated kernels and a homoeolog expression bias model on a large scale. This is helpful for providing new insights into the molecular physiology of wheat.

[Research progress on quality control methods of traditional Chinese medicine glues].

Traditional Chinese medicine( TCM) glues,including leather glues,horn glues,nail glues and bone glues,have a long application history and unique characteristics. In recent years,their market demand has increased year by year because of their remarkable curative efficacy and nourishing effects,which leads to insufficient supply of raw material resources,and widespread use of fake and inferior products,seriously affecting the reputation of TCM glues and drug safety. In this context,the establishment of a more specific quality detection method for the TCM glues according to their specific characteristics can effectively improve the quality control level,promote rational use,and have a far-reaching impact on the industrial development of TCM glues. In this paper,the classification of TCM glues,as well as the production and application status of their representative( Ejiao) were briefly introduced; the papers on quality control technologies of TCM glues,including traditional identification experience,authenticity identification,physical property determination,protein,peptide and amino acid contents determination,element analysis,biological evaluation,and brand protection technology of TCM glues,were reviewed,and their advantages and disadvantages were summarized and analyzed comprehensively.Based on the specific characteristics of TCM glues,such as complex material basis,unclear pharmacodynamic components and different production processes,it was proposed in this paper to research and develop information-rich,convenient,fast,and non-destructive analytical techniques for the quality control of TCM glues and brand protection of famous products,thus promoting the healthy development of TCM glues industry.

Removal characteristic of surfactants in typical industrial and domestic wastewater treatment plants in Northeast China.

Surfactants are widely used in household and industrial products for cleaning and/or solubilization in our daily life. Therefore, they are finally discharged into wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), which may be the major point pollution source for environment if they were not completely removed during wastewater treatment. In this study, two typical industrial and domestic WWTPs with different wastewater treatment technologies were considered for the topic. Totally, two types of surfactants were analyzed in 24 h influent and each processing unit effluent. Four linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LASs) with the alkyl chain from C10 to C13, and two benzalkonium chlorides (BACs) with the alkyl chain of C12 and C14 were selected as target compounds. The total concentrations of LASs in influent varied from 19.2 to 1889 µg/L and LAS-C11 and LAS-C12 were the predominant compounds with the concentration from 6.01 to 641 µg/L and 8.02-674 µg/L, respectively. The total concentrations of BACs were much lower than those of LASs, with the concentration ranging from 0.00935 to 1.85 µg/L. Significant positive correlations were observed between concentrations of LASs and BACs in influent, indicating their same and/or similar sources. Compared with the concentration of influent, the concentration of effluent was much lower, indicating the high removal efficiency by the two wastewater treatment processes. Biological treatment unit and cyclic activated sludge system were the main treatment units for the removing of surfactants, which suggested that these two types of surfactants can be easily degraded under aerobic condition. Seasonal variation indicated that the removal efficiencies of surfactants in autumn were a little higher than those in winter. The results of this study provided new insights into the environmental fate of surfactants in wastewater treatment system.

[Prevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigens and Hepatitis B Surface Antibodies in 1-12 Years-old Children in Mianyang,Sichuan].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigens (HBsAg) and hepatitis B surface antibodies (anti-HBs) in 1-12 years-old children in Mianyang city,Sichuan Province. METHODS: Children born after the implementation of Hepatitis B immunization policy were selected using a stratified random cluster sampling strategy from January to December 2015. A total of 72 623 eligible children participated in the study,which included a questionnaire survey and blood tests (0.3 mL vein blood) for HBsAg and anti-HBs with ELISA method. Repeated tests were performed on the blood samples with a HBsAg positive result. RESULTS: About 0.24% of the children were HBsAg positive; 64.50% were anti-HBs positive; 35.26% were both HBsAg and anti-HBs negative. The standardized rates based on the 2010 population census were: 0.24% HBsAg positive,64.05% anti-HBs positive,and 35.71% both HBsAg and anti-HBs negative. HBsAg positive rates increased with age, ranging from 0% to 0.65% (P<0.001). Rural children had a higher HBsAg positive rate (0.32%) than their urban counterparts (0.16%,P<0.001). Those with a family history of Hepatitis B had a higher HBsAg positive rate (1.53%) than those without a family history (0.22%,P<0.001). Anti-HBs positive rates decreased withage,ranging from 47.85% to 71.43% (P<0.001). Rural children had a lower anti-HBs positive rate (62.06%)than their urban counterparts (66.81%,P<0.001). The prevalence of both HBsAg and anti-HBs negative cases increased with age,ranging from 28.57% to 51.98% (P<0.001). Rural children had a higher rate of both HBsAg and anti-HBs negative (37.62%) than their urban counterparts (33.03%,P<0.001). About 35.37% of the children who had negative HBsAg and anti-HBs had not received Hepatitis B immunization. CONCLUSION: Hepatitis B vaccinations are highly effective in Mianyang. However,there are disparities in anti-HBs positive rates between the children with different characteristics. A certain proportion of children are still susceptible to hepatitis B infection. It is necessary to attach importance to neonatal hepatitis B vaccination,surveillance on anti-HBs,and strengthened immunization for the children who are lack of antibody protection.

[Application of feedforward control strategy based on spectra of raw materials to optimize alcohol extraction process of Panax notoginseng].

In this work, we obtained the quality information of Panax notoginseng with near infrared spectroscopy in an efficient way. By combining the quality information of raw materials with process parameters in experimental design, quantitative relationship models were established between material quality information, process parameters and product quality of P. notoginseng, thus realizing the feedforward control of the alcohol extraction process. The quantitative models established have high robustness and satisfactory forecasting ability. With new batches of P. notoginseng introduced for the alcohol extraction process, the quality information of raw materials was rapidly obtained. Based on the established models, the process parameters were optimized according to the expected critical quality attributes (CQA), thereby reducing the fluctuation of product quality caused by raw material variation.