Simultaneous bilateral open wedge high tibial osteotomy versus simultaneous bilateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty in the treatment of bilateral medial knee osteoarthritis: a retrospective study of an average three-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: There is growing evidence that simultaneous bilateral open wedge high tibial osteotomy(SBOWHTO) and simultaneous bilateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty(SBUKA) is an effective surgical treatment for bilateral medial knee osteoarthritis (MKOA). However, which intervention is more beneficial for bilateral MKOA patients remains unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of these two strategies through early clinical outcomes, complication rates, and prosthetic survival. METHODS: The clinical data of 60 patients with bilateral MKOA admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from January 2018 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, and they were divided into SBOWHTO group (n = 28) and SBUKA group (n = 32) according to different treatment methods. Clinical relevant indexes, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score, Knee Society Knee (KSS) score, range of motion(ROM), postoperative complications and prosthetic survival rate were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Patients in the SBOWHTO group were followed up for 27 to 50 months, with an average of (37.18 ± 6.84) months. Patients in the SBUKA group were followed up for 24 to 59 months, with an average of (39.38 ± 9.74) months. There were no significant differences in postoperative KSS, HSS and ROM between SBOWHTO group and SBUKA group (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference in complication rate between the two groups (p = 0.721). There was no significant difference in prosthetic survival rate (p = 0.622) and prosthetic survival curve (χ2 = 0.546, p = 0.46) between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study compared early clinical outcomes, complication rates, and prosthesis retention rates after SBOWHTO and SBUKA, and found that the early clinical benefits of SBOWHTO and SBUKA were comparable in patients with bilateral MKOA.

The role of NF-κB-SOX9 signalling pathway in osteoarthritis.

The nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signalling pathway exists in a variety of cells and is involved in the gene regulation of various physiological and pathological processes such as inflammation, immunity, cell proliferation and apoptosis. It has been shown that this signaling pathway is also involved in numerous events associated with osteoarthritis, including chondrocyte catabolism, chondrocyte survival, and synovial inflammation. SRY-related high mobility group-box 9(SOX9) is the "master regulator" of chondrocytes and one of the key transcription factors that maintain chondrocyte phenotype and cartilage homeostasis. NF-κB can positively regulate the expression of SOX9 by directly binding to its promoter region, and play a role in the formation and development of chondrocytes. This article reviews the regulatory effect of the NF-κB-SOX9 signaling axis on osteoarthritis.

Novel Pink Pigments Produced by Thermal Interaction of Theaflavins, Theanine, and Glucose: Color Formation, Isolation, and Structural Characterization.

A color-deepening effect of theaflavins on the theanine-glucose thermal reaction model was revealed. Generated chromogenic intermediates in the initial stage and an accelerated browning rate through the promoted degradation of theanine-glucose Amadori rearrangement product in the intermediate and final stages are responsible for the color-deepening effect. Four pink-to-red theaflavin-theanine intermediates were verified as theaflavinies referencing the nuclear magnetic resonance and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry information on theaflavins and l-theanine, including one accurately identified as theaflavinie 4. Theaflavinie 4 showed two maximum absorption peaks at 401 and 506 nm with parallel intensities, which resulted in a significant dichromic color change from pale pink to orange and red. Theaflavinies also could undergo further thermal reactions to yield brown polymers under higher temperatures (130 and 140 °C). This research provided new insight into realizing thermally formed polymers during black tea processing, which may be formed by oxidation products and amino acids or proteins through non-enzymatic thermal reactions.

Isolated Pt Atoms Stabilized by Ga2O3 Clusters Confined in ZSM-5 for Nonoxidative Activation of Ethane.

Selective activation of light alkanes is an essential reaction in the petrochemical industry for producing commodity chemicals, such as light olefins and aromatics. Because of the much higher intrinsic activities of noble metals in comparison to non-noble metals, it is desirable to employ solid catalysts with low noble metal loadings to reduce the cost of catalysts. Herein, we report the introduction of a tiny amount of Pt (at levels of hundreds of ppm) as a promoter of the Ga2O3 clusters encapsulated in ZSM-5 zeolite, which leads to ∼20-fold improvement in the activity for ethane dehydrogenation reaction. A combination of experimental and theoretical studies shows that the isolated Pt atoms stabilized by small Ga2O3 clusters are the active sites for activating the inert C-H bonds in ethane. The synergy of atomically dispersed Pt and Ga2O3 clusters confined in the 10MR channels of ZSM-5 can serve as a bifunctional catalyst for the direct ethane-benzene coupling reaction for the production of ethylbenzene, surpassing the performances of the counterpart catalysts made with PtGa nanoclusters and nanoparticles.

Characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of the complete chloroplast genome of Mesembryanthemum cordifolium L. F. (Aizoaceae).

Mesembryanthemum cordifolium, a perennial plant with crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) in the Aizoaceae family, has significant ornamental and medicinal values. In this study, we reported the first complete chloroplast genome sequence of this species. The total genome size was 153,734 bp in length, including a large single-copy (LSC) region of 85,692 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,212 bp, and a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions of 24,915 bp by each. The overall GC content of the M. cordifolium chloroplast genome was 37.08%. The genome encodes 131 genes, comprising 87 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 36 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and eight ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs). Phylogenetic analysis shows this species was relatively close to M. crystallinum. This chloroplast genome sequence will be valuable for species discrimination and for understanding phylogenetic relationships within the genus Mesembryanthemum.

The role of vascular and lymphatic networks in bone and joint homeostasis and pathology.

The vascular and lymphatic systems are integral to maintaining skeletal homeostasis and responding to pathological conditions in bone and joint tissues. This review explores the interplay between blood vessels and lymphatic vessels in bones and joints, focusing on their roles in homeostasis, regeneration, and disease progression. Type H blood vessels, characterized by high expression of CD31 and endomucin, are crucial for coupling angiogenesis with osteogenesis, thus supporting bone homeostasis and repair. These vessels facilitate nutrient delivery and waste removal, and their dysfunction can lead to conditions such as ischemia and arthritis. Recent discoveries have highlighted the presence and significance of lymphatic vessels within bone tissue, challenging the traditional view that bones are devoid of lymphatics. Lymphatic vessels contribute to interstitial fluid regulation, immune cell trafficking, and tissue repair through lymphangiocrine signaling. The pathological alterations in these networks are closely linked to inflammatory joint diseases, emphasizing the need for further research into their co-regulatory mechanisms. This comprehensive review summarizes the current understanding of the structural and functional aspects of vascular and lymphatic networks in bone and joint tissues, their roles in homeostasis, and the implications of their dysfunction in disease. By elucidating the dynamic interactions between these systems, we aim to enhance the understanding of their contributions to skeletal health and disease, potentially informing the development of targeted therapeutic strategies.

Deciphering the role of PLCD3 in lung cancer: A gateway to glycolytic reprogramming via PKC-Rap1 activation.

PLCD3 belongs to the phospholipase C delta group and is involved in numerous biological functions, including cell growth, programmed cell death, and specialization. However, the role of PLCD3 in lung cancer still needs further investigation. This research aimed to investigate if PLCD3 influences glycolytic reprogramming and lung cancer development through the PKC-dependent Rap1 signaling pathway. This study found that PLCD3 was increased in lung cancer tissues. PLCD3 promotes the proliferation and invasion of lung cancer cells by activating the PKC-dependent Rap1 pathway. The detailed process involves PLCD3 triggering PKC, which subsequently stimulates the Rap1 pathway, leading to glycolytic reprogramming that supplies adequate energy and metabolic substrates necessary for the growth and spread of lung cancer cells. Moreover, PLCD3 can also promote the metastasis and invasion of lung cancer cells by activating the Rap1 pathway. This study reveals the mechanism of PLCD3 in lung cancer and provides new ideas for the treatment of lung cancer. Inhibiting PLCD3, PKC, and the Rap1 pathway may be an effective strategy for treating lung cancer.

Phosphorescent metallaknots of Au(I)-bis(acetylide) strands directed by Cu(I) π-coordination.

Knots containing metal atoms as part of their continuous strand backbone are termed as metallaknots. While several metallaknots have been synthesized through one-pot self-assembly, the designed synthesis of metallaknots by controlling the arrangement of entanglements and strands connectivity remains unexplored. Here, we report the synthesis of metallaknots composed with Au(I)-bis(acetylide) linkages and templated by Cu(I) ions. Varying the ratio of the building blocks results in the switchable formation of two trefoil knots with different stoichiometries and symmetries (C2 or D3) and an entangled metalla-complex. While the entangled complex formed serendipitously, the strand ends can be subsequently linked through coordinative closure to generate a 41 metallaknot in a highly designable fashion. The comparable structural characteristics of resulting metalla-complexes allow us to probe the correlations between their topologies and photophysical properties, showing the backbone rigidity of knots endows complexes with excellent phosphorescent properties. This strategy, in conjunction with the coordinative closure approach, provides a straightforward route for the formation of highly phosphorescent metallaknots that were previously challenging to access.

Combination of circulating tumor cells and 18F-FDG PET/CT for precision diagnosis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: To investigate the value of 2-deoxy-18f-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) for the differential diagnosis of patients with benign lung diseases and those with NSCLC. To explore the phenotypic heterogeneity of CTCs and their correlation with FDG uptake in patients with Stage I-IV NSCLC. METHODS: Blood specimens from patients with benign lung diseases and patients with primary NSCLC were collected for the detection of CTCs and their subtypes (epithelial, mixed, and mesenchymal) and analyzed for 18F-FDG PET/CT tumor metabolic parameters, including the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), standard uptake value (SUL), metabolic tumor volume of primary lesion (MTV), total lesion glycolysis of primary lesion (TLG). Clinical data including age, gender, smoking history, tumor size, TNM stage and pathology type were also collected. The value of the two method alone and in combination for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant was comparatively analyzed. Finally, the differences in CTC and its subtypes in different stages of NSCLC were compared, and FDG metabolic parameters were correlated with CTC subtypes. RESULTS: There were a total of 65 patients with pulmonary diseases, including 12 patients with benign pulmonary diseases and 53 patients with NSCLC. The mean age was 67 ± 10 (38-89 years), 27 were females and 38 were males. 31 (22 males and 9 females) had a long history of smoking. The mean size of the largest diameter of all single lesions was 36 ± 22 mm with a range of 10-108 mm. Seven out of 12 benign diseases were inflammatory granulomatous lesions and 5 were inflammatory pseudotumours. Twenty-four out of 53 NSCLC were adenocarcinomas and 29 were squamous carcinomas. Twelve out of 53 patients with NSCLC were in Stage I, 10 were in Stage II, 17 were in Stage III and 14 were in Stage IV. SUVmax, SUL, MTV, TLG, total CTCs, epithelial CTCs, and mixed CTCs were all valuable in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant. TLG combined with mixed CTCs was statistically different from all other diagnostic methods (p < 0.05) and higher than any other diagnostic criteria. In the differential diagnosis of benign and Stage I NSCLC, only total CTC (Z = -2.188 p = 0.039) and mixed CTCs (Z = -3.020 p = 0.014) had certain diagnostic efficacy, and there was no statistical difference between them (p = 0.480). Only mesenchymal CTCs differed in Stage I-IV NSCLC, with a higher number of those who developed distant metastases than those who had non-distant metastases. Epithelial CTCs correlated with SUVmax (r = 0.333, p = 0.015) and SUL (r = 0.374, p = 0.006). Mmesenchymal CTCs correlated with MTV (r = 0.342, p = 0.018) and TLG (r = 0.319, p = 0.02). Further subgroup analyses revealed epithelial CTCs were correlated with SUVmax (r = 0.543, p = 0.009) and SUL (r = 0.552, p = 0.008), and the total CTCs was correlated with SUVmax (r = 0.622, p = 0.003), SUL (r = 0.652, p = 0.003), MTV (r = 0.460, p = 0.031), and TLG (r = 0.472, p = 0.027) in the early group (Stage I-II). Only mesenchymal CTCs was associated with MTV (r = 0.369, p = 0.041), and TLG (r = 0.415, p = 0.02) in the intermediate-late group (Stage III-IV). CONCLUSION: Both FDG PET metabolic parameters and CTCs demonstrated diagnostic value for NSCLC, and combining TLG with mixed CTCs could enhance their diagnostic efficacy. The total CTCs and mixed CTCs showed greater diagnostic value than FDG PET in distinguishing benign lesions from Stage I NSCLC. In NSCLC patients, the epithelial CTCs exhibited a positive correlation with SUVmax and SUL, while mesenchymal CTCs correlated with MTV, and TLG. Besides, epithelial CTCs showed stronger correlations with SUVmax and SUL, and total CTCs showed stronger correlations with SUVmax, SUL, MTV, and TLG in Stage I-II NSCLC. Only mesenchymal CTCs in Stage III-IV NSCLC showed correlations with MTV and TLG. Stage IV NSCLC cases displayed a higher number of mesenchymal CTCs.

TREM2 promotes the proliferation and invasion of renal cell carcinoma cells by inhibiting the P53 signaling pathway.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a prevalent malignancy characterized by poor prognosis and high mortality. The role of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-2 (TREM2) in RCC progression has been increasingly recognized, yet its underlying mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of TREM2 on RCC cells and its potential mechanisms. Lentiviral transfection was used to knockdown and overexpress TREM2 in RCC cells, and the expression level of TREM2 was evaluated using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays were used to assess the proliferation of the RCC cells. Cell migration and invasion was evaluated using the wound healing assay and Transwell assay, respectively. Western blotting was used to assess the expression levels of TREM2, P53, p-P53, P21 and p-P21 in TREM2 knockdown or overexpression RCC cells. The results demonstrated that the expression level of TREM2 was significantly higher in cancer tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. The results of the CCK-8 and EdU assays demonstrated that knockdown of TREM2 significantly inhibited the proliferation of RCC cells, whilst overexpression of TREM2 enhanced the proliferation of RCC cells. The results of the wound healing and Transwell assay revealed that, compared with the control group, the overexpression of TREM2 significantly increased the migration and invasion of RCC cells, whereas knockdown of TREM2 significantly decreased the migration of RCC cells. In addition, western blotting demonstrated that the phosphorylation levels of P53 and P21 proteins were significantly increased after TREM2 knockdown in RCC cells. In conclusion, TREM2 is highly expressed in RCC tissues and promotes the migration of RCC cells by inhibiting the P53 signaling pathway. The present study provides new insights into the regulatory effect of TREM2 on RCC and further reveals the potential of TREM2 as a therapeutic target for RCC.

Chemical profile and in-vitro bioactivities of three types of yellow teas processed from different tenderness of young shoots of Huoshanjinjizhong (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis).

In the present study, bud yellow tea (BYT), small-leaf yellow tea (SYT) and large-leaf yellow tea (LYT) were produced from the same local "population" variety Huoshanjinjizhong (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis), and the effects of raw material tenderness on the chemical profile and bioactivities of these teas were investigated. The results showed that 11 crucial compounds were screened by headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry from 64 volatiles in these yellow teas, among which the heterocyclic compounds showed the greatest variations. In addition, 43 key compounds including organic acids, flavan-3-ols, amino acids, saccharides, glycosides and other compounds were screened by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry from 1781 non-volatile compounds. BYT showed the best α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and antioxidant capacity among the selected yellow teas, which might be contributed by the higher content of galloylated catechins. These findings provided a better understanding of the chemical profile and bioactivities of yellow teas.

Phase separation of hnRNPA1 and TERRA regulates telomeric stability.

Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences and associated protein complexes located at the end of chromatin. As a result of the DNA replication ending issue, telomeric DNA shortens during each cell cycle. The shelterin protein complex caps telomeric ends and forms a high-order protein-DNA structure to protect telomeric DNA. The stability of telomeres is critical for cellular function and is related to the progression of many human diseases. Telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA) is a noncoding RNA transcribed from telomeric DNA regions. TERRA plays an essential role in regulating and maintaining the stability of telomeres. Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) are RNA-binding proteins associated with complex and diverse biological processes. HnRNPA1 can recognize both TERRA and telomeric DNA. Previous research reported that hnRNPA1, TERRA, and POT1, a component of the shelterin complex, worked coordinately and displaced replication protein A from telomeric ssDNA after DNA replication, promoting telomere capping to preserve genomic integrity. However, the detailed molecular mechanism has remained unclear for over twenty years. Our study revealed the molecular structure through which the hnRNPA1 UP1 domain interacts with TERRA. Through structural analysis, we identified critical residues on the interacting surface between UP1 and TERRA. Furthermore, we proved that nucleic acids significantly increase the phase separation ability of hnRNPA1 and disrupting the UP1-TERRA interaction extraordinarily affects hnRNPA1 droplet formation both in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, these data revealed the molecular mechanism of the droplet formation of hnRNPA1 and TERRA and the possible function of the droplets for maintaining genomic stability.

Bioinformatics analysis of the mechanisms of traumatic brain injury-associated dementia based on the competing endogenous RNA.

RATIONALE: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a critical condition associated with cognitive impairments, including dementia. This study is aimed to construct a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA)-microRNA (miRNA)-messenger RNA (mRNA) network based on bioinformatics analysis and explore molecular mechanisms underlying post-TBI dementia. METHODS: GSE104687 and GSE205661 datasets were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus database. Molecular Signatures Database (MSigDB) was used to search oxidative stress-, metabolism- and immune-related genes as the target gene datasets. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes were carried out for functional annotation and enrichment analysis. A TBI mouse model was built to validate the expression of NF2, PLXNA2, NCBP2 and U2SURP in brain tissues. RESULTS: A total of 7 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) and 191 DEmRNAs were obtained. Subsequent to differential expression (DE) analysis, a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network was established. Notably, 13 key DEmRNAs were identified, potentially playing pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of TBI-induced dementia. By comparing the target gene datasets with 13 DEmRNAs, we identified 4 target genes that overlap with the 13 DEGmRNAs, namely NF2, PLXNA2, NCBP2 and U2SURP. Functional enrichment analysis highlighted the involvement of neuronal projections in the dementia-enriched cluster, while the protective cluster showed associations with protein synthesis and ubiquitination pathways. Importantly, we explored potential drug interventions based on interactions with the above 4 target genes. Additionally, drug interaction prediction showed that NF2 could interact with SELUMETINIB, EVEROLIMUS and TEMSIROLIMUS. CONCLUSION: Our study provides insights into the complex regulatory networks underlying post-TBI dementia and suggests a potential role for three classes of drugs in managing dementia symptoms in TBI-induced dementia.

Recombinant canstatin inhibits the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma by repressing the HIF-1α/VEGF signaling pathway.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a hypervascular tumor, is the most frequent primary malignant tumor of the liver. Angiogenesis inhibitors, such as endogenous angiogenesis inhibitors, are essential for HCC therapy and have generated significant interest owing to their safety, efficacy, and multitargeting attributes. Canstatin is an angiogenesis inhibitor derived from the basement membrane and exerts anti-tumor effects. However, the inhibitory effects and underlying mechanisms of action of canstatin on HCC remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, HepG2 and Huh7 cells were used to investigate the inhibitory effects of recombinant canstatin on HCC cells. Subsequently, the biosafety and inhibitory effects of recombinant canstatin on tumor growth were investigated in a xenograft animal model of liver cancer. Canstatin inhibited the growth of liver cancer cells by regulating their proliferation, apoptosis, and migration. Additionally, it suppressed the occurrence and progression of HCC by modulating the HIF-1α/VEGF signaling pathway. In mice, canstatin exerted no discernible harmful side effects and suppressed the growth of HCC subcutaneous xenograft tumors. Overall, our findings shed light on the molecular pathways underlying canstatin-induced HCC cell death that may help develop novel HCC treatments.

Application and innovation of artificial intelligence models in wastewater treatment.

At present, as the problem of water shortage and pollution is growing serious, it is particularly important to understand the recycling and treatment of wastewater. Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is characterized by reliable mapping of nonlinear behaviors between input and output of experimental data, and thus single/integrated AI model algorithms for predicting different pollutants or water quality parameters have become a popular method for simulating the process of wastewater treatment. Many AI models have successfully predicted the removal effects of pollutants in different wastewater treatment processes. Therefore, this paper reviews the applications of artificial intelligence technologies such as artificial neural networks (ANN), adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and support vector machine (SVM). Meanwhile, this review mainly introduces the effectiveness and limitations of artificial intelligence technology in predicting different pollutants (dyes, heavy metal ions, antibiotics, etc.) and different water quality parameters such as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) in wastewater treatment process, involving single AI model and integrated AI model. Finally, the problems that need further research together with challenges ahead in the application of artificial intelligence models in the field of environment are discussed and presented.

Exogenous nitric oxide treatment delays the senescence of postharvest mung bean sprouts by regulating ascorbic acid metabolism.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the effects of nitric oxide (NO) treatment on ascorbic acid (AsA) metabolism and mung bean sprout quality. It examined changes in the AsA content, enzyme activity associated with AsA metabolism, antioxidant capacity, cell membrane composition, and cellular structure to clarify the effects of NO on mung bean sprouts. RESULTS: Nitric oxide treatment preserved mung bean sprout quality by enhancing significantly the activity of enzymes involved in the l-galactose pathway (including guanosine diphosphate (GDP)glutathione (-d-mannose pyrophosphorylase, GDP-mannose-3',5'-epimerase, GDP-l-galactose phosphorylase, l-galactose-1-phosphate phosphatase, l-galactose dehydrogenase, and l-galactose-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase) and the AsA-glutathione (GSH)(Beijing Solarbio Science and Technology Co.,Ltd., Beijing, China) cycle (including ascorbate peroxidase, ascorbic acid oxidase, glutathione reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase, and monodehydroascorbate reductase) during the germination and storage stage. Increased enzyme activity led to an increase in AsA content and enhanced antioxidant capacity, and reduced the membrane lipid damage in mung bean sprouts. This was demonstrated by higher levels of DPPH radical scavenging capacity, unsaturated fatty acids and phospholipids, along with lower levels of hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anions, and malondiadehyde, in NO-treated mung bean sprouts. Scanning electron microscopy also revealed that NO treatment maintained the integrity of the cellular structure of the mung bean sprouts. CONCLUSION: Nitric oxide accelerates AsA metabolism effectively by regulating the biosynthesis and regeneration of AsA in mung bean sprouts. These changes increased AsA levels, alleviated membrane lipid damage, delayed senescence, and maintained the quality of mung bean sprouts during storage. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Advanced N removal from low C/N sewage via a plug-flow anaerobic/oxic/anoxic (AOA) process: Intensification through partial nitrification, endogenous denitrification, partial denitrification, and anammox (PNEnD/A).

Achieving low-cost advanced nitrogen (N) removal from municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) remains a challenge. A plug-flow anaerobic/oxic/anoxic (AOA) system with a mixtures bypass (MBP) integrating partial nitrification (PN), endogenous carbon denitrification (EnD), partial denitrification (PD), and anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox), was constructed to treat actual sewage with a low C/N ratio. The effluent concentrations and removal efficiency of total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) during stable operation were 2.9 ± 0.9 mg/L and 93.1 ± 2.0 %, respectively. EnD was enhanced by the MBP through the efficient utilization of polyhydroxyalkanoates generated in the anaerobic zone. PD was promoted by the addition of carries and sodium acetate to the anoxic tank and the subsequent implantation of the Anammox biofilm successfully coupled PD/A. Stable PN was obtained with a satisfactory nitrite accumulation ratio of 92.6 %, facilitated by carriers and the introduction of hydroxylamine in the oxic zone. Mass balance analysis revealed that EnD and Anammox contributed 40.8 % and 48.2 % of TIN removal, respectively. The enrichment and synergistic effects of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, denitrifying bacteria, glycogen-accumulating organisms, and anaerobic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria formed a diverses bacterial basis for the establishment of PN, EnD, PD, and Anammox (PNEnD/A) in the AOA system. The successful integration of PNEnD/A into the AOA process provides an innovative approach for low-cost advanced N removal in WWTPs.

ADP-based online compensation hierarchical sliding-mode control for partially unknown switched nonlinear systems with actuator failures.

This article investigates an adaptive dynamic programming-based online compensation hierarchical sliding-mode control problem for a class of partially unknown switched nonlinear systems with actuator failures and uncertain perturbations under an identifier-critic neural networks architecture. Firstly, by introducing a cost function related to hierarchical sliding-mode surfaces for the nominal system, the original control problem is equivalently converted into an optimal control problem. To obtain this optimal control policy, the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation is solved through an adaptive dynamic programming method. Compared with conventional adaptive dynamic programming methods, the identifier-critic network architecture not only overcomes the limitation on the unknown internal dynamic but also eliminates the approximation error arising from the actor network. The weights in the critic network are tuned via the gradient descent approach and the experience replay technology, such that the persistence of excitation condition can be relaxed. Then, a compensation term containing hierarchical sliding-mode surfaces is used to offset uncertain actuator failures without the fault detection and isolation unit. Based on the Lyapunov stability theory, all states of the closed-loop nonlinear system are stable in the sense of uniformly ultimately boundedness. Finally, numerical and practical examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of our presented online compensation control strategy.

Unveiling senescence-associated secretory phenotype in epidermal aging: insights from reversibly immortalized keratinocytes.

Aging of epidermal keratinocytes profoundly impacts skin health, contributing to changes in appearance, barrier function, and susceptibility to diseases. Despite its significance, the molecular mechanisms underlying epidermal aging remain elusive. In this study, a reversible immortalized cell line was established by expressing SV40T in keratinocytes using the Tet-Off lentiviral system. Inducing a senescent phenotype by terminating SV40T expression revealed a significant reduction in mitotic ability, as well as characteristics of cellular aging. RNA sequencing analysis revealed alterations in gene expression and signaling pathways including DNA repair dysfunction, notably senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP)-related genes, such as MMP1, SERPINB2 and VEGFA. Our study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of epidermal aging, offering potential therapeutic targets and highlighting the role of SASP in the aging process.