A review of metallurgical slags as catalysts in advanced oxidation processes for removal of refractory organic pollutants in wastewater.

With the rapid growth of the metallurgical industry, there is a significant increase in the production of metallurgical slags. The waste slags pose significant challenges for their disposal because of complex compositions, low utilization rates, and environmental toxicity. One promising approach is to utilize metallurgical slags as catalysts for treatment of refractory organic pollutants in wastewater through advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), achieving the objective of "treating waste with waste". This work provides a literature review of the source, production, and chemical composition of metallurgical slags, including steel slag, copper slag, electrolytic manganese residue, and red mud. It emphasizes the modification methods of metallurgical slags as catalysts and the application in AOPs for degradation of refractory organic pollutants. The reaction conditions, catalytic performance, and degradation mechanisms of organic pollutants using metallurgical slags are summarized. Studies have proved the feasibility of using metallurgical slags as catalysts for removing various pollutants by AOPs. The catalytic performance was significantly influenced by slags-derived catalysts, catalyst modification, and process factors. Future research should focus on addressing the safety and stability of catalysts, developing green and efficient modification methods, enhancing degradation efficiency, and implementing large-scale treatment of real wastewater. This work offers insights into the resource utilization of metallurgical slags and pollutant degradation in wastewater.

Design and test of potato seeding apparatus based on double-layer seed picking scoop structure.

At present, potato seeders in China generally have poor uniformity of seed rows and high coefficients of variation in plant spacing during seed rows, causing difficulties for subsequent mechanized plant protection and harvesting. Based on the effect of seed discharge to analyze the sowing process, a potato seed discharger with a double-layer seed picking spoon structure was designed. By analyzing the seed discharging mechanism and its operation process, the shape and size structural parameters of the seed picking spoon were determined. Finite element simulation of the seed pickup process and seed carrying process of the seed discharging mechanism was carried out by EDEM software to determine the double-layer seed scoop scheme and the range of factors for subsequent tests. A two-factor test was conducted with seeding line speed and seed drop height as test factors, and plant spacing coefficient of variation and seed potato lateral offset dispersion as test indexes. The test results showed that the double-layer seeding spoon chain seeder reduced the coefficient of variation in plant spacing by 5.8%, and the dispersion in lateral offset by 5.5 mm, compared with the single seeding spoon seeder, when the seeding speed was 0.184 m/s and the height of falling seed was 9 cm.

CSTF2 mediated mRNA N6-methyladenosine modification drives pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma m6A subtypes.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of gene transcripts plays critical roles in cancer. Here we report transcriptomic m6A profiling in 98 tissue samples from 65 individuals with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We identify 17,996 m6A peaks with 195 hyper-methylated and 93 hypo-methylated in PDAC compared with adjacent normal tissues. The differential m6A modifications distinguish two PDAC subtypes with different prognosis outcomes. The formation of the two subtypes is driven by a newly identified m6A regulator CSTF2 that co-transcriptionally regulates m6A installation through slowing the RNA Pol II elongation rate during gene transcription. We find that most of the CSTF2-regulated m6As have positive effects on the RNA level of host genes, and CSTF2-regulated m6As are mainly recognized by IGF2BP2, an m6A reader that stabilizes mRNAs. These results provide a promising PDAC subtyping strategy and potential therapeutic targets for precision medicine of PDAC.

Toxicological evaluation of TBBPA by common carp (Cyprinus carpio) about the in vivo/vitro disturbance of the AHR pathway.

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is a widely used plastic additive with high bioaccumulation potential and toxicity on both humans and wildlife. Currently, research on its ecotoxicity and the underlying mechanism is limited. Using common carp (Cyprinus carpio), we evaluated the toxicity of TBBPA, especially focusing on its alteration of a key metabolism-related pathway aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), using in vivo/vitro assays and in silico simulation. The 96 h LC50 of TBBPA of common carp was 4.2 mg/L and belonged to the acute toxic level II. The bioaccumulation potential of TBBPA follows the role of liver > gill > brain and varies between 3- and 14-day exposure. On the AHR pathway respect, as expected, the metabolism-related cyp1a1 and cyp1b1 were upregulated in the liver and brain. Ahr2, the receptor, was also upregulated in the brain under TBBPA exposure. The alteration of gene expression was tissue-specific while the difference between 3- or 14-day exposure was minor. AHR inhibition assay indicated the 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-induced AHR transactivation can be inhibited by TBBPA suggesting it is not a potent agonist but a competitive antagonist. In silico analysis indicated TBBPA can be successfully docked into the binding cavity with similar poses but still have AHR-form-specific interactions. Molecular dynamics simulation proved TBBPA can be more flexible than the coplanar ligand TCDD, especially in ccaAHR1b with greater root-mean-square deviation (RMSD), of which TCDD-induced transactivation seemed not to be blocked by TBBPA. This research increased the understanding of TBBPA toxicity and alteration of the AHR pathway, and pointed out the need to perform additional toxicology evaluation of emerging contaminants, especially on non-model species.

Harnessing the power of natural minerals: A comprehensive review of their application as heterogeneous catalysts in advanced oxidation processes for organic pollutant degradation.

The release of untreated wastewater into water bodies has become a significant environmental concern, resulting in the accumulation of refractory organic pollutants that pose risks to human health and ecosystems. Wastewater treatment methods, including biological, physical, and chemical techniques, have limitations in achieving complete removal of the refractory pollutants. Chemical methods, particularly advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), have gained special attention for their strong oxidation capacity and minimal secondary pollution. Among the various catalysts used in AOPs, natural minerals offer distinct advantages, such as low cost, abundant resources, and environmental friendliness. Currently, the utilization of natural minerals as catalysts in AOPs lacks thorough investigation and review. This work addresses the need for a comprehensive review of natural minerals as catalysts in AOPs. The structural characteristics and catalytic performance of different natural minerals are discussed, emphasizing their specific roles in AOPs. Furthermore, the review analyzes the influence of process factors, including catalyst dosage, oxidant addition, pH value, and temperature, on the catalytic performance of natural minerals. Strategies for enhancing the catalytic efficiency of AOPs mediated by natural minerals are explored, mainly including physical fields, reductant addition, and cocatalyst utilization. The review also examines the practical application prospects and main challenges associated with the use of natural minerals as heterogeneous catalysts in AOPs. This work contributes to the development of sustainable and efficient approaches for organic pollutant degradation in wastewater.

Bioaccumulation and elimination, acute toxicity analysis and risk assessment of diflubenzuron in common carp (Cyprinus carpio).

Diflubenzuron has been applied in agriculture and aquaculture, and its residues in ecological environment and food chain could result in chronic exposure and long-term toxicity effects for human health. However, limited information is available regarding diflubenzuron levels in fish and associated risk assessment. This study performed the analysis for dynamic bioaccumulation and elimination distribution of diflubenzuron in carp tissues. The results indicated that diflubenzuron was absorbed and enriched by fish body along with higher enrichment in lipid-rich tissues of fish. The peak concentration in carp muscle reached 6-fold of diflubenzuron concentration in aquaculture water. The median lethal concentration (LC50) of diflubenzuron at 96 h was 12.29 mg/L, presented low toxicity to carp. Risk assessment results showed that the chronic risk from dietary exposure to diflubenzuron through carp consumption for Chinese residents of children and adolescents, adults and elderly people were acceptable, while posed a certain risk for young children. This study provided the reference for pollution control, risk assessment and scientific management of diflubenzuron.

Human Salivary Histatin-1 Attenuates Osteoarthritis through Promoting M1/M2 Macrophage Transition.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is an inflammation-driven degenerative joint disease. Human salivary peptide histatin-1 (Hst1) shows pro-healing and immunomodulatory properties. but its role in OA treatment is not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of Hst1 in the inflammation modulation-mediated attenuation of bone and cartilage damage in OA. Hst1 was intra-articularly injected into a rat knee joint in a monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced OA model. Micro-CT, histological, and immunohistochemical analyses showed that Hst1 significantly attenuates cartilage and bone deconstruction as well as macrophage infiltration. In the lipopolysaccharide-induced air pouch model, Hst1 significantly reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and inflammation. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), RT-qPCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence staining, flow cytometry (FCM), metabolic energy analysis, and high-throughput gene sequencing showed that Hst1 significantly triggers M1-to-M2 macrophage phenotype switching, during which it significantly downregulated nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathways. Furthermore, cell migration assay, Alcian blue, Safranin O staining, RT-qPCR, Western blot, and FCM showed that Hst1 not only attenuates M1-macrophage-CM-induced apoptosis and matrix metalloproteinase expression in chondrogenic cells, but it also restores their metabolic activity, migration, and chondrogenic differentiation. These findings show the promising potential of Hst1 in treating OA.

Ambient nitrogen dioxide and cardiovascular diseases in rural regions: a time-series analyses using data from the new rural cooperative medical scheme in Fuyang, East China.

Most of studies relating ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exposure to hospital admissions for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) were conducted among urban population. Whether and to what extent these results could be generalizable to rural population remains unknown. We addressed this question using data from the New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme (NRCMS) in Fuyang, Anhui, China. Daily hospital admissions for total CVDs, ischaemic heart disease, heart failure, heart rhythm disturbances, ischaemic stroke, and haemorrhagic stroke in rural regions of Fuyang, China, were extracted from NRCMS between January 2015 and June 2017. A two-stage time-series analysis method was used to assess the associations between NO2 and CVD hospital admissions and the disease burden fractions attributable to NO2. In our study period, the average number (standard deviation) of hospital admissions per day were 488.2 (117.1) for total CVDs, 179.8 (45.6) for ischaemic heart disease, 7.0 (3.3) for heart rhythm disturbances, 13.2 (7.2) for heart failure, 267.9 (67.7) for ischaemic stroke, and 20.2 (6.4) for haemorrhagic stroke. The 10-µg/m3 increase of NO2 was related to an elevated risk of 1.9% (RR: 1.019, 95% CI: 1.005 to 1.032) for hospital admissions of total CVDs at lag0-2 days, 2.1% (1.021, 1.006 to 1.036) for ischaemic heart disease, and 2.1% (1.021, 1.006 to 1.035) for ischaemic stroke, respectively, while no significant association was observed between NO2 and hospital admissions for heart rhythm disturbances, heart failure, and haemorrhagic stroke. The attributable fractions of total CVDs, ischaemic heart disease, and ischaemic stroke to NO2 were 6.52% (1.87 to 10.94%), 7.31% (2.19 to 12.17%), and 7.12% (2.14 to 11.85%), respectively. Our findings suggest that CVD burdens in rural population are also partly attributed to short-term exposure to NO2. More studies across rural regions are required to replicate our findings.

Correlation of patients' demographics and clinical symptoms with temporomandibular disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between basic characteristics and clinical features of patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD). METHODS: The R language statistical tool was used to analyze the clinical information of 500 TMD patients, i.e., age, sex, joint noises, mouth opening pattern, and pain symptoms, as well as the results of the mandibular push-back test. A pairwise correlation analysis of each clinical feature was carried out. RESULTS: The highest incidence of TMD was observed in the age group of 20 to 30 years (240/500). Around 2/3 of the patients showed pain symptoms. Abnormal mouth opening patterns, joint noises, and temporomandibular joint synovitis (TMJS) were observed in 48.4, 65.4, and 34% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: Joint click and the corrected deviation of the mouth opening pattern are signs of early-stage TMD, whereas limited mouth opening and TMJS are indicators of progressive stage and complicated TMD.

Influencing factors in the simulation of airflow and particle transportation in aircraft cabins by CFD.

To control the transport of particles such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus in airliner cabins, which is a significant concern for the flying public, effective ventilation systems are essential. Validated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models are frequently and effectively used to investigate air distribution and contaminant transportation. The complex geometry and airflow characteristics in airliner cabins pose a challenge to numerical CFD validation. The objective of this investigation was to identify accurate and affordable validation processes for studying the airflow field and particulate contaminant distribution in airliner cabins during the design process for different ventilation systems. This study quantitatively evaluated the effects of ventilation system, turbulence model, particle simulation method, geometry simplification, and boundary condition assignment on airflow and particulate distributions in airliner cabins with either a mixing ventilation (MV) system or a displacement ventilation (DV) system calculated by CFD. The results showed that among four turbulence models, the standard k-ε, RNG k-ε, realizable k-ε and SST k-ω models, the prediction by the realizable k-ε model agreed most closely with the experimental data. Meanwhile, the steady Eulerian method provided a reasonable prediction of the particle concentration field with low computing cost. The computational domain should be simplified differently for the DV system and the MV system with consideration of the simulation accuracy and computing cost. For more accurate modeling results, the boundary conditions should be assigned in greater detail, taking into account the uniformity on the boundary.

Gait Recognition Based on the Plantar Pressure Data of Ice and Snow Athletes.

The study of plantar pressure has become a research consensus in the field of biomechanics. The purpose of this paper is to study some lower limb movements in the daily activities of ice and snow athletes to obtain relevant data so as to carry out gait recognition analysis research. This paper selects the average foot pressure, forefoot foot pressure, front and rear foot pressure, foot pressure, toe pressure, 2-5 toe pressure, standing with eyes closed, x- and y-axes speed, foot length, foot width, and other actions of ice and snow athletes. Therefore, correlation analysis, work analysis, and curve fitting analysis were carried out on the joint motion in a single gait cycle. The collection and application of foot pressure and foot posture information are also analyzed. According to the plantar structure, the sole is divided into four parts. The maximum pressure point and coordinates of each part, the pressure center point, the ratio of the width and height of the sole of the foot, and so on are extracted as the haptic features of the gait. The experimental data shows that it can be seen that if the plantar area is divided in advance and the weight of each area is marked, whether standing, walking, or standing with one leg closed eyes can achieve better recognition results, and the accuracy rate is all more than 90 percent. The average recognition accuracy rate using the method of dividing four regions is only about 80%, and the accuracy rate of recognition using the method of dividing eight regions is 82%. It can be seen that the features extracted by the FCM model proposed in this paper contain more information of the plantar pressure image, and the accuracy rate is higher in the classification and recognition.

Dicalcium silicate-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and autophagy-mediated macrophagic inflammation promotes osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.

Dicalcium silicate (Ca2SiO4, C2S) has osteogenic potential but induces macrophagic inflammation. Mitochondrial function plays a vital role in macrophage polarization and macrophagic inflammation. The mitochondrial function of C2S-treated macrophages is still unclear. This study hypothesized: (i) the C2S modulates mitochondrial function and autophagy in macrophages to regulate macrophagic inflammation, and (ii) C2S-induced macrophagic inflammation regulates osteogenesis. We used RAW264.7 cells as a model of macrophage. The C2S (75-150 µg/ml) extract was used to analyze the macrophagic mitochondrial function and macrophage-mediated effect on osteogenic differentiation of mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). The results showed that C2S extract (150 µg/ml) induced TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6 production in macrophages. C2S extract (150 µg/ml) enhanced reactive oxygen species level and intracellular calcium level but reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP production. TEM images showed reduced mitochondrial abundance and altered the mitochondrial morphology in C2S (150 µg/ml)-treated macrophages. Protein level expression of PINK1, Parkin, Beclin1 and LC3 was upregulated but TOMM20 was downregulated. mRNA sequencing and KEGG analysis showed that C2S-induced differentially expressed mRNAs in macrophages were mainly distributed in the essential signaling pathways involved in mitochondrial function and autophagy. The conditioned medium from C2S-treated macrophage robustly promoted osteogenic differentiation in BMSCs. In conclusion, our results indicate mitochondrial dysfunction and autophagy as the possible mechanism of C2S-induced macrophagic inflammation. The promotion of osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs by the C2S-induced macrophagic inflammation suggests the potential application of C2S in developing immunomodulatory bone grafts.

Corrigendum to "Evaluation of different air distribution systems in a commercial airliner cabin in terms of comfort and COVID-19 infection risk" Build. Environ., Volume 208, January 2022, 108590.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.108590.].

Correlation of clinical manifestations and condylar morphology of patients with temporomandibular degenerative joint diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation between condylar morphology and clinical manifestations in patients with degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). METHODS: A total of 175 joints of 131 patients with DJD were included. Data on patients' basic information and symptoms were collected and analyzed. Condylar morphology was evaluated using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). The correlation between the condylar morphology and clinical manifestations was analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalence of joint noises, clicks, and crepitus was 93/175 (53%), 73/175 (42%), and 20/175 (11%), respectively. Condylar anteroposterior diameter and condylar height were correlated with pain. There was a correlation between the shape of the condyle in the sagittal plane and joint noise. CONCLUSION: Condylar morphology and clinical features of DJD were correlated to some extent.

Evaluation of different air distribution systems in a commercial airliner cabin in terms of comfort and COVID-19 infection risk.

The air distribution system in an airliner plays a key role in maintaining a comfortable and healthy environment in the aircraft cabin. To evaluate the performance of a novel displacement ventilation (DV) system and a traditional mixing ventilation (MV) system in an airliner cabin, this study conducted experiments and simulations in a seven-row cabin mockup. This investigation used ultrasonic anemometers and T-thermocouples to measure the air velocity, temperature and distribution of 1 µm and 5 µm particles. Simulation verifications were performed for these operating conditions, and additional scenarios with different occurrence source locations were also simulated. This study combined the Wells-Riley equation with a real case based on a COVID-19 outbreak among passengers on a long-distance bus to obtain the COVID-19 quanta value. Through an evaluation of the airflow organization, thermal comfort, and risk of COVID-19 infection, the two ventilation systems were compared. This investigation found that polydisperse particles should be used to calculate the risk of infection in airliner cabins. In addition, at the beginning of the pandemic, the infection risk with DV was lower than that with MV. In the middle and late stages of the epidemic, the infection risk with MV can be reduced when passengers wear masks, leading to an infection risk approximately equal to that of DV.

Biodegradation and metabolic pathway of sulfamethoxazole by Sphingobacterium mizutaii.

Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) is the most commonly used antibiotic in worldwide for inhibiting aquatic animal diseases. However, the residues of SMX are difficult to eliminate and may enter the food chain, leading to considerable threats on human health. The bacterial strain Sphingobacterium mizutaii LLE5 was isolated from activated sludge. This strain could utilize SMX as its sole carbon source and degrade it efficiently. Under optimal degradation conditions (30.8 °C, pH 7.2, and inoculum amount of 3.5 × 107 cfu/mL), S. mizutaii LLE5 could degrade 93.87% of 50 mg/L SMX within 7 days. Four intermediate products from the degradation of SMX were identified and a possible degradation pathway based on these findings was proposed. Furthermore, S. mizutaii LLE5 could also degrade other sulfonamides. This study is the first report on (1) degradation of SMX and other sulfonamides by S. mizutaii, (2) optimization of biodegradation conditions via response surface methodology, and (3) identification of sulfanilamide, 4-aminothiophenol, 5-amino-3-methylisoxazole, and aniline as metabolites in the degradation pathway of SMX in a microorganism. This strain might be useful for the bioremediation of SMX-contaminated environment.

Experimental evaluation of particle exposure at different seats in a single-aisle aircraft cabin.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, exposure to particles exhaled by infected passengers in commercial aircraft cabins has been a great concern. Currently, aircraft cabins adopt mixing ventilation. However, complete mixing may not be achieved, and thus the particle concentration in the respiratory zone may vary from seat to seat in a cabin. To evaluate the particle exposure in a typical single-aisle aircraft cabin, this investigation constructed an aircraft cabin mockup for experimental tests. Particles were released from a single source or dual sources at different seats to represent particles exhaled by infected passengers. The particle concentrations in the respiratory zones at various seats were measured and compared. The particle exposure was evaluated in both a cross section and a longitudinal section. Leaving the middle seat vacant to reduce particle exposure was also addressed. In addition, the velocity fields and air temperatures were measured to provide a better understanding of particle transport. It was found that the particle exposure at the window seat is always the lowest, regardless of the particle release locations. If the passenger seated in the middle does not release particles, his/her presence enhances the particle dispersion and thereby reduces the particle exposure for adjacent passengers. In the cabin mockup, the released particles can be transported across at least four rows of seats in the longitudinal direction.

Identification of an N6-methyladenosine-mediated positive feedback loop that promotes Epstein-Barr virus infection.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is among the most abundant mRNA modifications, particularly in eukaryotes, and is found in mammals, plants, and even some viruses. Although essential for the regulation of many biological processes, the exact role of m6A modification in virus-host interaction remains largely unknown. Here, using m6A -immunoprecipitation and sequencing, we find that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection decreases the m6A modification of transcriptional factor KLF4 mRNA and subsequently increases its protein level. Mechanistically, EBV immediate-early protein BZLF1 interacts with the promoter of m6A methyltransferase METTL3, inhibiting its expression. Subsequently, the decrease of METTL3 reduces the level of KLF4 mRNA m6A modification, preventing its decay by the m6A reader protein YTHDF2. As a result, KLF4 protein level is upregulated and, in turn, promotes EBV infection of nasopharyngeal epithelial cells. Thus, our results suggest the existence of a positive feedback loop formed between EBV and host molecules via cellular mRNA m6A levels, and this feedback loop acts to facilitate viral infection. This mechanism contains multiple potential targets for controlling viral infectious diseases.