JAM3: A prognostic biomarker for bladder cancer via epithelial­mesenchymal transition regulation

Understanding the intricate relationship between prognosis, immune function, and molecular markers in bladder cancer (BC) demands sophisticated analytical methods. To identify novel biomarkers for predicting prognosis and immune function in BC patients, we combined weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis. This was conducted using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Ultimately, we screened the junctional adhesion molecule 3 (JAM3) as an independent risk factor in BC. High levels of JAM3 were linked to adverse clinical parameters, such as higher T and N stages. Additionally, a JAM3-based nomogram model accurately predicted 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates of BC patients, indicating potential clinical utility. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that high JAM3 expression activated the calcium signaling pathway, the extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction, and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and was positively correlated with genes associated with epithelial­mesenchymal transition (EMT). Subsequently, we found that overexpression of JAM3 promoted the migration and invasion abilities in BC cells, regulating the expression levels of N-Cadherin, matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2), and Claudin-1 thereby promoting EMT levels. Additionally, we showed that JAM3 was negatively correlated with anti-tumor immune cells such as CD8+T cells, while positively correlated with pro-tumor immune cells such as M2 macrophages, suggesting its involvement in immune cell infiltration. The immune checkpoint CD200 also showed a positive correlation with JAM3. Our findings revealed that elevated JAM3 levels are predictive of poor prognosis and immune cell infiltration in BC patients by regulating the EMT process.

[Comparison of Carbon Emissions in Different Treatment and Disposal Process Routes of Municipal Sludge].

With the introduction of the goal of carbon neutrality, the efficient resource recycling of municipal sludge has been given increasing attention. In order to scientifically evaluate the routes of sludge treatment and disposal from the perspective of carbon emissions, four typical routes were chosen for accounting the carbon emissions per ton for dry sludge (DS). Based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), combined with Chinese sludge characteristics, carbon emissions were divided into three types:the direct emissions, indirect emissions, and carbon offsets, and accounting boundaries were initiated at sludge thickening and ended at products or energies. The results showed that the total carbon emission of R4 (gravity thickening+thermal hydrolysis+anaerobic digestion+plate and frame filter pressing+transportation+land utilization) was 99.41 kg·t-1(calculated as CO2/DS, same below), which was the route with lowest carbon emissions. If the fugitive emission of CH4 from anaerobic digestion was avoided, the route (R4) could achieve carbon neutrality at this stage. Process units with larger carbon emissions should focus on optimization to reduce the carbon emissions, such as through thermal drying (1049.24 kg·t-1), deep dewatering (960.99 kg·t-1), sanitary landfill (786.24 kg·t-1), incineration (635.52 kg·t-1), aerobic composting (614.17 kg·t-1), and thermal hydrolysis (544.67 kg·t-1). The main carbon offsets were the incineration power generation (-1440.29 kg·t-1), CH4 collection of anaerobic digestion (-435.06 kg·t-1), land utilization (-415.83 kg·t-1), and building materials utilization (-169.75 kg·t-1). In summary, "anaerobic digestion and land utilization" has a great potential for carbon offsets, which should be advocated for as the widely used treatment.

Complete chloroplast genome of Adonis pseudoamurensis W.T.Wang (Ranunculaceae).

Adonis pseudoamurensis W.T. Wang 1980 is an important traditional medicinal plant used for the treatment of cardiac diseases. The complete chloroplast (cp) genome of Adonis pseudoamurensis is reported for the first time in this study. The circular cp genome is 156,917 bp in length, consisting of a large single-copy region (86,262 bp), a small single-copy region (18,067 bp), and two inverted repeat regions (26,294 bp). The genome encodes 129 genes, comprising 84 protein-coding genes, 37 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that A. pseudoamurensis is closely related to A. amurensis.

Complete chloroplast genome of adonis amurensis (ranunculaceae), an important cardiac folk medicinal plant in east asia.

Adonis amurensis Regel et Radde is an important cardiac folk medicinal plant which endemic to Northeast Asia. We determined the first complete chloroplast genome of A. amurensis using genome skimming approach. The cp genome was 157,032 bp long, with a large single-copy region (LSC) of 86,218 bp and a small single-copy region (SSC) of 18,212 bp separated by a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 26,301 bp. It encodes 129 genes, including 84 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA genes. We also reconstructed the phylogeny of Adonideae and Isopyreae using maximum likelihood (ML) method, including our data and previously reported cp genomes of related taxa. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that A. amurensis is close related with Adonis sutchuenensis.

Synthesis and anticonvulsant activity of some 7-alkoxy-2H-1,4-benzothiazin-3(4H)-ones and 7-alkoxy-4H-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-d]benzo[b][1,4]thiazines.

A series of 7-alkoxy-2H-1,4-benzothiazin-3(4H)-ones and a new series of 7-alkoxy-4H-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-d]benzo[b][1,4]thiazine derivatives were synthesized using 5-methoxybenzo[d]thiazol-2-amine as starting material. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by IR, (1)H-NMR spectroscopic data and microanalyses. The anticonvulsant activity of these compounds was evaluated by maximal electroshock (MES) test and rotarod test following intraperitoneal injection in KunMing mice. Among the synthesized compounds 3a-v, 7-(hexyloxy)-2H-benzo[b][1,4]thiazin-3(4H)-one (3f) could be considered potentially the most useful and safe therapeutic compound. Among the synthesized compounds 4a-u, compound 7-(2-fluorobenzyloxy)-4H-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-d]benzo[b][1,4]thiazine (4k) was the most active compound with an ED(50) of 17.0 mg/kg, TD(50) of 243.9 mg/kg and protective index (PI) of 14.3. Its neurotoxicity was lower than all the other synthesized compounds and also markedly lower than that of the reference drug carbamazepine.

[Start-up Characteristics of SNAD Process and Functional Abundance Succession of Volcanic Rock Biological Aerated Filter].

A SNAD(simultaneous partial nitrification,ANAMMOX,and denitrification) process initiated in a submerged biological aerated filter (SBAF) was started up by seeding nitrification sludge and an ANAMMOX filter to investigate the operating characteristics and the succession of functional bacteria. The results showed that when the autotrophic nitrogen removal and denitrification were operated stably for 67 days at an initial COD concentration of 60 mg·L-1, the maximum nitrogen removal efficiency, the COD removal rate, and the nitrogen removal rate were 92.0%, 82.9%, and 2.3 kg·(m3·d)-1, respectively. Moreover, the total nitrogen removal rate of the SNAD process in this study was 12.6% higher than that of CANON process. The results of quantitative PCR showed that the abundance of AOB slightly increased, while the abundance of ANAMMOX was one order higher than that before the start-up of SNAD. In comparison, the abundances of denitrifiers and NOB remained at a relatively low level (107 copies·g-1). Taken together, these results suggested that the SBAF process with volcanic filter was beneficial for the accumulation of ANAMMOX and AOB.

Complete chloroplast genome of Prunus pensylvanica and its implications for the phylogenetic position within Prunus sensu lato (Rosaceae).

Prunus pensylvanica is one of the two native cherry species of North America. We determined the first complete chloroplast genome of P. pensylvanica using genome-skimming approach. The cp genome was 157,953 bp long, with a large single-copy region (LSC) of 86,030 bp and a small single-copy region (SSC) of 19,135 bp separated by a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 26,394 bp. It encodes 129 genes, including 84 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA genes. We also reconstructed the phylogeny of Prunus sensu lato using maximum likelihood (ML) method, including our data and previously reported cp genomes of related taxa. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that P. pensylvanica is closely related to P. emarginata.

Dissipation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil amended with sewage sludge and sludge compost.

In this study, greenhouse experiments were conducted under the condition of different amendment ratios and planting tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea). The amendment ratios of sewage sludge or sludge compost to soil were of 0, 10, 25, and 50% (w/w). The removal rates of PAH, catalase, and dehydrogenase activities of amended soil and accumulation of PAHs by vegetation were detected to investigate the differences of PAH dissipation in sludge-amended and compost-amended soils. The initial PAH concentrations in three amended soils increased with the more addition of sludge or compost. After 126-day experiment, maximum PAH removal rates were observed in sludge-amended and compost-amended soils with PAH concentration of about 200 µg kg-1. And the removal of PAHs showed better efficiencies in compost soil rather than in sludge soil. The more catalase activity and dehydrogenase activity of soil were obtained, respectively, in sludge soil and compost soil. The results indicated that the mechanism of PAH dissipation in two types of amended soils were different. The abundant amount of microorganism dominated PAH dissipation in sludge soils, and PAHs dissipated mainly caused of intense activity of microorganism in compost soils. In addition, PAH accumulation in tall fescue suggested that the transference approach of PAHs was from soil to the roots, and then accumulated in the shoots of tall fescue. It was prone to store up more PAHs in vegetation in the condition of high molar weight of PAHs, more biomass of vegetation, and heavy PAH concentration in soil.

Kinetics and pathways of Bezafibrate degradation in UV/chlorine process.

UV/chlorine, as a novel disinfection method, has attracted great interest due to its effective removal for pathogenic microorganism and degradation of trace organic contaminants existed in water environment. This paper investigated the degradation kinetics and pathways of Bezafibrate (BZF), a typical antilipemic drug, during UV/chlorine process. The results showed that 92.3% of BZF was degraded after 20 min in UV/chlorine process. This indicated HO• and reactive chlorine species (RCSs) formed in UV/chlorine played the dominant role in degrading BZF. Observed rate constants of BZF degradation (k obs,BZF) in UV/chlorine process increased linearly in a wide chlorine dosage from 0.1 to 1.0 mM, which implied that ClO• generated from the reactions of chlorine with HO• and Cl• could react with BZF rapidly. The steady-state kinetic modeling result proved this deduction and the rate constant of ClO• with BZF was fitted to be 5.0 × 108 M-1 s-1. k obs,BZF was affected by Cl- and HA. The total contribution of RCSs (including Cl•, Cl2•-, and ClO•) to the degradation of BZF was determined to be ~ 80%, which is much higher than that of HO•. Thirteen degradation products of BZF were identified by LC-MS/MS. Initial degradation products were arisen from hydroxylation, chlorine substitution and cyclization by HO• and RCSs, and then further oxidized to generate acylamino cleavage and demethylation products.

Transformation of aminopyrine in the presence of free available chlorine: Kinetics, products, and reaction pathways.

Aminopyrine (AMP) has been frequently detected in the aquatic environment. In this study, the transformation mechanism of AMP by free available chlorine (FAC) oxidation was investigated. The results showed that FAC reacted with AMP rapidly, and a 74% elimination was achieved for 1.30 µM AMP after 2 min at 14.08 µM FAC dose. AMP chlorination was strongly pH-dependent, and its reaction included second- and third-order kinetic processes. Three active FAC species, including chlorine monoxide (Cl2O), molecular chlorine (Cl2), and hypochlorous acid (HOCl), were observed to contribute to AMP degradation. The intrinsic rate constants of each FAC species with neutral (AMP0) and cation (AMP+) species were obtained by kinetic fitting. Cl2O exhibited the highest reactivity with AMP0 (kAMP0, Cl2O = (4.33 ± 1.4) × 109 M-1s-1). In addition, Cl2 showed high reactivity (106-107 M-1s-1) in the presence of chloride, compared with HOCl (kAMP+, HOCl = (5.73 ± 0.23) × 102 M-1s-1, kAMP0, HOCl = (9.68 ± 0.96) × 102 M-1s-1). At pH 6.15 and 14.08 µM FAC dose without chloride addition, the contribution of Cl2O reached to the maximum (33.3%), but in the whole pH range, HOCl was the main contributor (>66.6%) for AMP degradation. The significance of Cl2 was noticeable in water containing chloride. Moreover, 11 transformation products were identified, and the main transformation pathways included pyrazole ring breakage, hydroxylation, dehydrogenation, and halogenation.

Study of Nitrogen Removal Performance When Treating Low Carbon Sewage Using External Solid Carbon Sources in SBBR Systems.

Based on low carbon wastewater as the research object and using corncob as an external solid carbon source, the performance of corncob organic matter was assessed for its release potential, quantity of release, and safety of use. The effects of varying quantities of the solid carbon source on simultaneous nitrification and denitrification were investigated in a sequencing biofilm batch reactor (SBBR). Results show that the regularity of corncob as solid carbon source material was linear, with released concentrations of heavy metals being below the Chinese national standard limit values for heavy metals according to the surface water environment quality standards (I and II) (GB3838-2002). When temperatures were within 28~31°C, the dissolved oxygen level was 4.0 ± 0.2 mg/L and the pH conditions were within 7.5~8.0. The optimal quantity for corncob dosing was 5 g per 1.5 L of low carbon wastewater. Following treatment, the average effluent concentrations of NH4+-N and TN were 2.85 mg/L and 4.51 mg/L, respectively. The effluent concentration of NH4+-N, TN had reached the A level national standard of sewage treatment plant pollutant discharge standard (GB18918-2002).

Determination of selected pharmaceuticals in tap water and drinking water treatment plant by high-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometer in Beijing, China.

A simultaneous determination method of 14 multi-class pharmaceuticals using solid-phase extraction (SPE) followed by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer (HPLC-MS/MS) was established to measure the occurrence and distribution of these pharmaceuticals in tap water and a drinking water treatment plant (DWTP) in Beijing, China. Target compounds included seven anti-inflammatory drugs, two antibacterial drugs, two lipid regulation drugs, one antiepileptic drug, and one hormone. Limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantitation (LOQs) ranged from 0.01 to 1.80 ng/L and 0.05 to 3.00 ng/L, respectively. Intraday and inter-day precisions, recoveries of different matrices, and matrix effects were also investigated. Of the 14 pharmaceutical compounds selected, nine were identified in tap water of Beijing downtown with the concentration up to 38.24 ng/L (carbamazepine), and the concentration levels of detected pharmaceuticals in tap water (<5 ng/L for most pharmaceuticals) were lower than previous studies in other countries. In addition, ten and six pharmaceuticals were measured in raw water and finished water at the concentration ranged from 0.10 to 16.23 and 0.13 to 17.17 ng/L, respectively. Five compounds were detected most frequently in DWTP, namely antipyrine, carbamazepine, isopropylantipyrine, aminopyrine, and bezafibrate. Ibuprofen was found to be the highest concentration pharmaceutical during DWTP, up to 53.30 ng/L. DWTP shows a positive effect on the removal of most pharmaceuticals with 81.2-99.5 % removal efficiencies, followed by carbamazepine with 55.4 % removal efficiency, but it has no effect for removing ibuprofen and bezafibrate.

A novel approach to treat combined domestic wastewater and excess sludge in MBR.

Domestic wastewater was treated by combined anaerobic biofilm-aerobic membrane bioreactor(MBR) process, and part biomass MBR was withdrawn to treat with ozone, then the ozonated sludge was returned to anaerobic inlet. In aerobic MBR, MISS and DO were controlled at 3000-3500 mg/L and 0.8 mg/L respectively. Comparing the experimental results of two stages, it was noticed that ozonation did not affect the removal efficiency for organics but had a significant influence on the removals of NH3-N and TN. During the ozonation period of two months, no excess sludge was wasted, and a zero sludge yield was obtained.

[Effect of different forms of inorganic nitrogen on the photodegradation of antipyrine in water].

The photodegradation performance and mechanisms of antipyrine (ANT, a member of anti-inflammatory analgesics) under simulated irradiation using a 300 W Xenon lamp were explored in this study. And the variation of the photodegradation of ANT in the presence of different forms of nitrogen and different pE values in the aqueous environment were also investigated. The results demonstrated that ANT photodegradation proceeds via pseudo first-order kinetics in all cases. Photodegradation of ANT in water occurs through direct photodegradation and self-sensitization via reactions with hydroxyl radical (*OH) and singlet oxygen (1O2). Presence of different forms of inorganic nitrogen (NH4+, NO2- and NO3-) showed rather different effects. At low pE value (< 5), NH4+ was the main form of inorganic nitrogen, and little effect was observed on ANT photodegradation. With the increase of pE value from 4.82 to 6.85, nitrogen form changed from NH4+ to NO2- accordingly, and the inhibiting effect increased gradually due to their competitive absorption for the irradiation and NO2- acting as a scavenger of *OH. At pE 6.85, NO2- was the main form of inorganic nitrogen, which showed a maximum inhibiting rate of 35.31%. When the pE value continued to increase from 6.85 to 8.15, the nitrogen form changed from NO2- to NO3-, and the suppression effect on ANT photodegradation decreased.

Reaction kinetics and transformation of antipyrine chlorination with free chlorine.

Chlorine has been documented that it can effectively remove some pharmaceuticals. Recently, new active oxidants chlorine monoxide and molecular chlorine, which exist as free active chlorine in solution, were reported during pharmaceuticals chlorination. In this study, reaction kinetics, active oxidants, and transformation products during antipyrine chlorination were investigated with batch experiments. The reaction orders in [chlorine] were determined at various pH (6.53-7.62) and ranged from 1.13 ± 0.15 to 1.59 ± 0.08, which indicated that antipyrine chlorination is the concurrent existence of reactions appearing first-order and second-order in [chlorine]. The results by varying solution conditions (solution pH, chloride, ionic strength, and buffer concentration) show that chlorine monoxide and molecular chlorine play significant roles during the process of antipyrine chlorination. With kinetics modeling, the second-order rate constants for hypochlorous acid, chlorine monoxide, and molecular chlorine were obtained at 25 ± 2 °C (units: M(-1) s(-1)): kHOCl = 3.23 × 10(3), kCL2 = 2.86 × 10(7), kCL2O= 8.38 × 10(9) (R(2) = 0.9801). At pH 7, hypochlorous acid and chlorine monoxide are the main contributors to the degradation of antipyrine, about 80% and 20%, respectively (calculated by kHOCl, kCL2 and kCL2O. By applying these rate constants to predict the antipyrine elimination in real water matrixes (surface water, ground water), a good agreement was obtained, particularly in ground water. Moreover, liquid chromatography-tandems mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used for products identification. Two main intermediate products and three stable products were observed during the process of antipyrine chlorination. The possible routes for antipyrine chlorination were proposed, which mainly consisted of halogenations, dealkylations and hydroxylations.

[Photodegradation performance and mechanisms of carbamazepine and its impact factors].

The photodegradation performance and mechanisms of carbamazepine (CBZ) in pure water were investigated in simulated irradiation using a 300 W Xenon lamp. Batch experiments were carried out to explore the influences of nitrate (NO3(-)), bicarbonateradical (HCO3(-)) and humic acid (HA) on CBZ's photodegradation. The results demonstrate that the photodegradation of CBZ in pure water follows a pseudo-first-order kinetics. When the irradiation intensity was 1200 mW x cm(-2) and the initial concentration of CBZ was 200 microg x L(-1), the CBZ's photodegradation rate constant and half-life were 0.028 7 min(-1) and 24.15 min, respectively. Sensitization degradation gave the priority to the photodegradation of CBZ, and the contribution of singlet oxygen (1O2) was 75.3% which was higher than hydroxyl radical (*OH) of 5.6%. Under the conditions of this study, the increase of NO3(-), HCO3(-) and HA concentration inhibited CBZ's photodegradation. Among of which, the inhibition effect of NO3(-) on CBZ's photodegradation was the most significant. When the concentration of NO3(-) was up to 0.5 mmol x L(-1), the half-life of CBZ was prolonged to 433.22 min, which was 18 times as that in pure water without NO3(-).

[Treatment performance of submerged membrane bioreactor treating brewery wastewater].

Under the condition of keeping the influent COD: TN: TP = 100:5:1, submerged MBR has an excellent treatment performance for COD and NH4+ -N, and the removals for COD and NH4+ -N are both beyond 90% under steady state, in addition, MBR has a strong adaptation ability for shock organics loading rate. When the organic loading rate was increased from 0.27g/(g x d) to 0.54g/(g x d) suddenly, there was no big fluctuation for COD in effluent. According to the results of GC/MS, the remaining organics in effluent was mainly alkyl hydrocarbon, and the membrane modules played a main role in stabling permeation quality. When the sludge in MBR was at the multiplication stage, the system has a removal of about 40% for TN because of biosynthesis and simultaneous nitrification and de-nitrification, in addition, a certain removal for TP was also observed. When the sludge was at the steady stage, the removal for TN decreased to about 30% due to simultaneous nitrification and de-nitrification, whereas, the removal efficiency for TP was very little, and sometimes even below zero.