Exploring the maximum nitrite production rate through the granular sludge-type reactor to match the needs of anammox process realizing efficient nitrogen removal.

The reliable and efficient nitrite production rate (NPR) through nitritation process is the prerequisite for the efficient running of subsequent processes, like the anammox process and the nitrite shunt. However, there has been scant research on stable and productive nitritation process in recent years. In this study, at a stable hydraulic retention time of 12.0 h and with precise and strict DO control, the upper limit of the NPR was initially investigated using a continuous-flow granular sludge reactor. The NPR of 1.69 kg/m3/d with a nitrite production efficiency of 81.97% was finally achieved, which set a record until now in similar research. The median sludge particle size of 270.0 µm confirmed the development of clearly defined granular sludge. The genus Nitrosomonas was the major ammonium oxidizing bacteria. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights for the practical application of the effective nitritation process driving subsequent nitrogen removal processes.

Is online shopping addiction still a depressive illness? -- the induced consumption and traffic trap in live E-commerce.

While immersive shopping has injected new vitality into China's e-commerce, it has also resulted in consumers' over-reliance on online shopping. Psychological studies have linked online shopping addiction with depression, but business practices challenge this conclusion. This study, grounded in addiction theory, developed a theoretical model, and conducted an online survey with 214 live-streaming shoppers using structural equation modeling for validation. The primary focus was on determining whether consumers truly become addicted to online shopping in the four stages of the addiction model. The study unveils the process of consumers becoming addicted to online shopping. It explores the moderating role of perceived risk in the relationship between utilitarian and hedonic purchases and online shopping addiction. The findings suggest that through tactics such as traffic promotion, traffic trapping, anchor feature utilization, and incorporation of consumer aesthetics, merchants may induce utilitarian and hedonic purchases, leading to addiction to live-streaming shopping among consumers. Furthermore, perceived risk significantly and negatively moderates the relationship between utilitarian purchases and online shopping addiction. Our research indicates that merchants intentionally create external stimuli, enticing consumers to indulge in online shopping, suggesting that online shopping addiction is not merely a simple psychological state but may be influenced by external factors. This study provides novel insights into the phenomenon of online shopping addiction while offering valuable recommendations for consumers seeking to avoid succumbing to its allure.

Cigarette Smoke Extract-Treated Mouse Airway Epithelial Cells-Derived Exosomal LncRNA MEG3 Promotes M1 Macrophage Polarization and Pyroptosis in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease by Upregulating TREM-1 via m6A Methylation.

Cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-treated mouse airway epithelial cells (MAECs)-derived exosomes accelerate the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by upregulating triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1 (TREM-1); however, the specific mechanism remains unclear. We aimed to explore the potential mechanisms of CSE-treated MAECs-derived exosomes on M1 macrophage polarization and pyroptosis in COPD. In vitro, exosomes were extracted from CSE-treated MAECs, followed by co-culture with macrophages. In vivo, mice exposed to cigarette smoke (CS) to induce COPD, followed by injection or/and intranasal instillation with oe-TREM-1 lentivirus. Lung function and pathological changes were evaluated. CD68+ cell number and the levels of iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1ß (M1 macrophage marker), and pyroptosis-related proteins (NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase-1 recruitment domain, caspase-1, cleaved-caspase-1, gasdermin D [GSDMD], and GSDMD-N) were examined. The expression of maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3), spleen focus forming virus proviral integration oncogene (SPI1), methyltransferase 3 (METTL3), and TREM-1 was detected and the binding relationships among them were verified. MEG3 increased N6-methyladenosine methylation of TREM-1 by recruiting SPI1 to activate METTL3. Overexpression of TREM-1 or METTL3 negated the alleviative effects of MEG3 inhibition on M1 polarization and pyroptosis. In mice exposed to CS, EXO-CSE further aggravated lung injury, M1 polarization, and pyroptosis, which were reversed by MEG3 inhibition. TREM-1 overexpression negated the palliative effects of MEG3 inhibition on COPD mouse lung injury. Collectively, CSE-treated MAECs-derived exosomal long non-coding RNA MEG3 may expedite M1 macrophage polarization and pyroptosis in COPD via the SPI1/METTL3/TREM-1 axis.

Identification and characterization of novel genetic variants in the first Chinese family of mucopolysaccharidosis IIIC (Sanfilippo C syndrome).

Mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIC (MPS IIIC) is one of inherited lysosomal storage disorders, caused by deficiencies in lysosomal hydrolases degrading acidic mucopolysaccharides. The gene responsible for MPS IIIC is HGSNAT, which encodes an enzyme that catalyses the acetylation of the terminal glucosamine residues of heparan sulfate. So far, few studies have focused on the genetic landscape of MPS IIIC in China, where IIIA and IIIB were the major subtypes. In this study, we utilized whole-exome sequencing (WES) to identify novel compound heterozygous variants in the HGSNAT gene from a Chinese patient with typical MPS IIIC symptoms: c.743G>A; p.Gly248Glu and c.1030C>T; p.Arg344Cys. We performed in silico analysis and experimental validation, which confirmed the deleterious pathogenic nature of both variants, as evidenced by the loss of HGSNAT activity and failure of lysosomal localization. To the best of our knowledge, the MPS IIIC is first confirmed by clinical, biochemical and molecular genetic findings in China. Our study thus expands the spectrum of MPS IIIC pathogenic variants, which is of importance to dissect the pathogenesis and to carry out clinical diagnosis of MPS IIIC. Moreover, this study helps to depict the natural history of Chinese MPS IIIC populations.

Aberrant H3K4me3 modification of immune response genes in CD4+ T cells of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence has highlighted the significant role of histone modifications in pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, few studies have comprehensively analyzed trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4me3) features at specific immune gene loci in SLE patients. METHODS: We conducted H3K4me3 chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) on CD4+ T cells from SLE patients and healthy controls (HC). Differential H3K4me3 peaks were identified, followed by enrichment analysis. We integrated online RNA-seq and DNA methylation datasets to explore the relationship between H3K4me3 modification, DNA methylation and gene expression. We validated several upregulated peak regions by ChIP-qPCR and confirmed their impact on gene expression using RT-qPCR. Finally, we investigated the impact of H3K4 methyltransferases KMT2A on the expression of immune response genes. RESULTS: we identified 147 downregulated and 2701 upregulated H3K4me3 peaks in CD4+ T cells of SLE. The upregulated peaks primarily classified as gained peaks and enriched in immune response genes such as FCGR2A, C5AR1, SERPING1 and OASL. Genes with upregulated H3K4me3 and downregulated DNA methylations in the promoter were highly expressed in SLE patients. These genes, including OAS1, IFI27 and IFI44L, were enriched in immune response pathways. The IFI44L locus also showed increased H3K27ac modification, chromatin accessibility and chromatin interactions in SLE. Moreover, knockdown of KMT2A can downregulate the expression of immune response genes in T cells. CONCLUSION: Our study uncovers dysregulated H3K4me3 modification patterns in immune response genes loci, which also exhibit downregulated DNA methylation and higher mRNA expression in CD4+ T cells of SLE patients.

Bioconversion of α-Chitin by a Lytic Polysaccharide Monooxygenase OsLPMO10A Coupled with Chitinases and the Synergistic Mechanism Analysis.

The whole enzymatic conversion of chitin is a green and promising alternative to current strategies, which are based on lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) and chitinases. However, the lack of LPMOs with high activity toward α-chitin limits the efficient bioconversion of α-chitin. Herein, we characterized a high chitin-active LPMO from Oceanobacillus sp. J11TS1 (OsLPMO10A), which could promote the decrystallization of the α-chitin surface. Furthermore, when coupled with OsLPMO10A, the conversion rate of α-chitin to N-acetyl chitobiose [(GlcNAc)2] by three chitinases (Serratia marcescens, ChiA, -B, and -C) reached 30.86%, which was 2.03-folds that without the addition of OsLPMO10A. Moreover, the results of synergistic reactions indicated that OsLPMO10A and chitinases promoted the degradation of α-chitin each other mainly on the surface. To the best of our knowledge, this study achieved the highest yield of N-acetyl chitooligosaccharides (N-acetyl COSs) among reported LPMOs-driven bioconversion systems, which could be regarded as a promising candidate for α-chitin bioconversion.

A new proposal for phenotypic classification and outcome assessment of dermatomyositis based on clinical manifestations and serological testing.

BACKGROUND: Dermatomyositis (DM) is an infrequent disease subgroup of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies characterized by distinct skin lesions. However, high heterogeneity makes clinical diagnosis and treatment of DM very challenging. OBJECTIVES: Unsupervised classification in DM patients and analysis of key factors related to clinical outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted between 2017 and 2022 at the Department of Rheumatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University. 162 DM patients were enrolled for unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis. In addition, we divided the clinical outcomes of DM patients into four subgroups: withdrawal, stabilization, aggravation, and death, and compared the clinical profiles amongst the subgroups. RESULTS: Out of 162 DM patients, three clusters were defined. Cluster 1 (n = 40) was mainly grouped by patients with prominent muscular involvement and mild Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD). Cluster 2 (n = 72) grouped patients with skin rash, anti-Melanoma Differentiation Associated protein 5 positive (anti-MDA5+), and Rapid Progressive Interstitial Lung Disease (RP-ILD). Cluster 3 (n = 50) grouped patients with the mildest symptoms. The proportion of death increased across the three clusters (cluster 3 < cluster 1 < cluster 2). STUDY LIMITATIONS: The number of cases was limited for the subsequent construction and validation of predictive models. We did not review all skin symptoms or pathological changes in detail. CONCLUSIONS: We reclassified DM into three clusters with different risks for poor outcome based on diverse clinical profiles. Clinical serological testing and cluster analysis are necessary to help clinicians evaluate patients during follow-up and conduct phenotype-based personalized care in DM.

Genome-wide DNA methylation dynamics and RNA-seq analysis during grape (cv. 'Cabernet Franc') skin coloration.

This study generated whole genome DNA methylation maps to characterize DNA methylomes of grape (cv. 'Cabernet Franc') skins and examine their functional significance during grape skin coloration. We sampled grape skin tissues at three key stages (the early stage of grape berry swelling, the late stage of grape berry swelling and the veraison) during which the color of grape berries changed from green to red. DNA methylation levels of grape skins at the three stages were higher in transposable element regions than in the genic regions, and the CG and CHG DNA methylation levels of the genic region were higher than the CHH DNA methylation levels. We identified differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in S2_vs_S1 and S3_vs_S1. The results indicated that DMRs predominantly occurred within the CHH context during grape skin coloration. Many gene ontology (GO)-enriched DMR-related genes were involved in "nucleotide binding," "catalytic activity" and "ribonucleotide binding" terms; however, many KEGG-enriched DMR-related genes were involved in the "flavonoid biosynthesis" pathway. Our results could provide an important foundation for future research on the development mechanism of grape berries.

Stabilization of heavy metals in municipal solid waste incineration fly ash using organic chelating agents: Insight into risk assessment and function mechanism.

Landfill treatment of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWI FA) after stabilization is the primary disposal technology. However, only few studies have assessed the stability of MSWI-FA-chelated products in different landfill scenarios. In this study, three commonly used dithiocarbamate (DTC)-based organic chelating agents (CAs) (TS-300, SDD, and PD) were selected to stabilize heavy metals (HMs) in MSWI FA. In addition, the leaching toxicity and environmental risks of the chelated products were assessed in different disposal environments. The results demonstrate that the HM leaching concentrations of the chelated products met the concentration limits of the sanitary landfill standard (GB16889-2008; mixed Landfill Scenario) for the three CAs at a low additive level (0.3 %). However, in the compartmentalized landfill scenario (the leaching agent was acid rain), the leaching of HMs from the chelated products met the standard when TS-300, SDD, and PD were added at 1.5 %, 6.0 %, and 8.0 %, respectively. Additionally, Pb, Zn, and Cd in the chelated products from the 1.5 %-TS-300 and 6.0 %-SDD groups met the leaching limits within the pH ranges 6-12 and 7-12, 6-12 and 7-12, and 8-12 and 8-12, respectively. This was primarily due of TS-300's multiple DTC groups forming stable chain-like macromolecular chelates with Pb. However, although the environmental risks associated with Pb, Zn, and Cd in the initial (0-d) chelated products of the 1.5 %-TS-300 and 6.0 %-SDD groups were minimized to low and negligible levels, there was a significant increase in the leaching of the three HMs after 28 d of storage. Therefore, with appropriate CA addition, although the leaching concentration of HMs in the chelated product may comply with the GB16889-2008 standards, it remains essential to consider its environmental risk, particularly in highly acidic or alkaline environments and during prolonged storage of the product.

Intestinal microbiota promoted NiONPs-induced liver fibrosis via effecting serum metabolism.

Nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiONPs) are toxic heavy metal compounds that induce liver fibrosis and metabolic disorders. Current research shows that the intestinal microbiota regulates liver metabolism through the gut-liver axis. However, it is unclear whether NiONPs affect the intestinal microbiota and the relationship between microbiota and liver metabolic disorders. Therefore, in this study, we established liver fibrosis model by administering 0.015, 0.06 and 0.24 mg/mL NiONPs through tracheal instillation twice a week for 9 weeks in rats, then we collected serum and fecal sample for whole metabolomics and metagenomic sequencing. As the result of sequencing, we screened out seven metabolites (beta-D-glucuronide, methylmalonic acid, linoleic acid, phosphotidylcholine, lysophosphatidylinositol, docosapentaenoic acid and progesterone) that related to functional alterations (p < 0.05), and obtained a decrease of probiotics abundances (p < 0.05) as well as a variation of the microbiota enzyme activity (p < 0.05), indicating that NiONPs inhibited the proliferation of probiotics. As the result of correlation analysis, we found a positive correlation between differential metabolites and probiotics, such as lysophosphatidylinositol was positively correlated with Desulfuribacillus, Jeotgallibacillus and Rummeliibacillus (p < 0.05). We also found that differential metabolites had correlations with differential proteins and enzymes of intestinal microbiota, such as glucarate dehydratase, dihydroorotate dehydrogenase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (p < 0.05). Finally, we screened six metabolic pathways with both differential intestinal microbiota enzymes and metabolites were involved, such as pentose and glucuronate interconversions, and linoleic acid metabolism. In vitro experiments showed that NiONPs increased the transcriptional expression of Col1A1 in LX-2 cells, while reducing the mRNA expression of serine/threonine activators, acetyl coenzyme carboxylase, and lysophosphatidylinositol synthase, and short chain fatty acid sodium butyrate can alleviate these variation trends. The results proved that the intestinal microbiota enzyme systems were associated with serum metabolites, suggesting that the disturbance of intestinal microbiota and reduction of probiotics promoted the occurrence and development of NiONPs-induced liver fibrosis by affecting metabolic pathways.

Tuning microscopic structure of La-MOFs via ligand engineering effect towards enhancing phosphate adsorption.

The selection of different organic ligands when synthesizing metal organic framework (MOFs) can change their effects on the adsorption performance. Here, four La-MOFs adsorbents (La-SA, La-FA, La-TA and La-OA) with different organic ligands and structures were synthesized by solvothermal method for phosphate adsorption, and the relationship between their adsorption properties and structures was established. Among four La-MOFs, their phosphate adsorption capacities and adsorption rates followed La-SA > La-FA > La-TA > La-OA. The results indicated that average pore diameter played a key role in phosphate adsorption and there was a positive correlation between average pore diameter and adsorption capacity (R2 = 0.86). Coexisting ion experiments showed that phosphate adsorptions on three La-MOFs (La-SA, La-FA and La-TA) were inhibited in the presence of CO32- and HCO3-. The inhibition of CO32- was the most pronounced and the results of redundancy analysis pointed out that it was mainly due to the change of pH value. In contrast, La-OA showed enhanced phosphate adsorption in the presence of CO32- and HCO3-, and the combination of pH experiments showed that phosphate adsorption by La-OA was increased under alkaline conditions. Further combined with FT-IR, XRD, high resolution energy spectra of XPS (La 3d, P 2p and O 1s) and XANES, the adsorption mechanisms were derived electrostatic attraction, chemical precipitation and inner sphere complexation, and the last two were identified as the main mechanisms. Moreover, it can be identified from XPS 2p that the phosphate adsorption on La-FA and La-OA were mainly in the LaPO4 state, while La-SA and La-TA mainly existed in the form of LaPO4·xH2O crystals and inner sphere complexes. From the perspective of material morphology, this work provides a thought for the rational design of MOFs with adjustable properties for phosphate adsorption.

A lissencephaly-associated BAIAP2 variant causes defects in neuronal migration during brain development.

Lissencephaly is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a loss of brain surface convolutions caused by genetic variants that disrupt neuronal migration. However, the genetic origins of the disorder remain unidentified in nearly one-fifth of people with lissencephaly. Using whole-exome sequencing, we identified a de novo BAIAP2 variant, p.Arg29Trp, in an individual with lissencephaly with a posterior more severe than anterior (P>A) gradient, implicating BAIAP2 as a potential lissencephaly gene. Spatial transcriptome analysis in the developing mouse cortex revealed that Baiap2 is expressed in the cortical plate and intermediate zone in an anterior low to posterior high gradient. We next used in utero electroporation to explore the effects of the Baiap2 variant in the developing mouse cortex. We found that Baiap2 knockdown caused abnormalities in neuronal migration, morphogenesis and differentiation. Expression of the p.Arg29Trp variant failed to rescue the migration defect, suggesting a loss-of-function effect. Mechanistically, the variant interfered with the ability of BAIAP2 to localize to the cell membrane. These results suggest that the functions of BAIAP2 in the cytoskeleton, cell morphogenesis and migration are important for cortical development and for the pathogenesis of lissencephaly in humans.

Case report: 177Lu DOTA-TATE: a new scheme for the treatment of prostate neuroendocrine cancer.

Background: Most instances of small cell carcinoma originate from the lungs, while the gastrointestinal tract serves as a secondary site. Only a minuscule proportion of cases manifest within the urogenital system. Prostate small cell carcinoma (SCCP) represents an exceedingly uncommon pathological subtype within the realm of prostate cancer, displaying significant rarity in clinical settings. This scarcity has resulted in a paucity of adequate foundational and clinical research for SCCP treatment. While investigations have unveiled a certain therapeutic efficacy of radiotherapy and chemotherapy for SCCP, clinical practice has revealed suboptimal treatment outcomes. We hereby present a case report detailing the utilization of 177Lu-DOTA-TATE in the treatment of SCCP, aiming to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of 177Lu-DOTA-TATE for SCCP. Case presentation: A male patient in his 80s presented with elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and underwent a biopsy that revealed prostate adenocarcinoma. The patient received CAB (bicalutamide + goserelin) therapy. One year later, disease progression was detected, and a second biopsy confirmed the presence of prostate small cell carcinoma. Following the diagnosis of prostate small cell carcinoma, the patient underwent two cycles of 177Lu-DOTA-TATE treatment. Subsequent to the treatment, the original lesions showed shrinkage, metastatic lesions disappeared, and there was significant improvement, approaching complete remission. Conclusion: SCCP exhibits a high degree of malignancy and aggressive invasiveness, currently lacking effective therapeutic modalities. The treatment course of this patient serves as compelling evidence for the efficacy of 177Lu-DOTA-TATE in managing SCCP, thereby opening new avenues for future SCCP treatments.

An investigation of the risk factors of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in natural population-based cohorts in China - a nested case-control study.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has become one of the most significant chronic diseases in China. According to conventional wisdom, smoking is the pathogenic factor. However, current research indicates that the pathophysiology of COPD may be associated with prior respiratory system events (e.g., childhood hospitalization for pneumonia, chronic bronchitis) and environmental exposure (e.g., dust from workplace, indoor combustion particles). Dyspnea, persistent wheezing, and other respiratory symptoms further point to the need for pulmonary function tests in this population. Reducing the burden of chronic diseases in China requires a thorough understanding of the various factors that influence the occurrence of COPD. Methods: Using a cohort from the natural population, this study used nested case-control analysis. We carried out a number of researches, including questionnaire surveys and pulmonary function testing, in the Northwest and Southeast cohorts of China between 2014 and 2021. After removing any variations in the baseline data between patients and control subjects using propensity score matching analysis, the risk factors were examined using univariate or multivariate regression. Result: It was discovered that prior history of chronic bronchitis, long-term wheezing symptoms, and environmental exposure-including smoking and biofuel combustion-were risk factors for COPD. Dyspnea, symptoms of mobility limitation, organic matter, and a history of hospitalization for pneumonia at an early age were not significant in the clinical model but their incidence in COPD group is higher than that in healthy population. Discussion: COPD screening effectiveness can be increased by looking for individuals with chronic respiratory symptoms. Smokers should give up as soon as they can, and families that have been exposed to biofuels for a long time should convert to clean energy or upgrade their ventilation. Individuals who have previously been diagnosed with emphysema and chronic bronchitis ought to be extra mindful of the prevention or advancement of COPD.

The associations of alcoholic liver disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease with bone mineral density and the mediation of serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D: A bidirectional and two-step Mendelian randomization.

BACKGROUND: Reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporosis are common in chronic liver diseases. However, the causal effect of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) on BMD remains uncertain. OBJECTIVES: This study uses a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) design to evaluate the genetically predicted effect of ALD and NAFLD on BMDs using summary data from publically available genome-wide association studies (GWASs). METHODS: The GWAS summary statistics of ALD (1416 cases and 213,592 controls) and NAFLD (894 cases and 217,898 controls) were obtained from the FinnGen consortium. BMDs of four sites (total body, n = 56,284; femoral neck, n = 32,735; lumbar spine, n = 28,498; forearm, n = 8143) were from the GEnetic Factors for OSteoporosis Consortium. Data for alcohol consumption (n = 112,117) and smoking (n = 33,299) and serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) level (n = 417,580) were from UK-biobank. We first performed univariate MR analysis with the Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) method as the primary analysis to investigate the genetically predicted effect of ALD or NAFLD on BMD. Then, multivariate MR and mediation analysis were performed to identify whether the effect was mediated by alcohol consumption, smoking, or serum 25-OHD level. RESULTS: The MR results suggested a robust genetically predicted effect of ALD on reduced BMD in the femoral neck (FN-BMD) (IVW beta = -0.0288; 95% CI: -0.0488, -0.00871; P = 0.00494) but not the other three sites. Serum 25-OHD level exhibited a significant mediating effect on the association between ALD and reduced FN-BMD albeit the proportion of mediation was mild (2.21%). No significant effects of NAFLD, alcohol consumption, or smoking on BMD in four sites, or reverse effect of BMD on ALD or NAFLD were detected. CONCLUSION: Our findings confirm the genetically predicted effect of ALD on reduced FN-BMD, and highlight the importance of periodic BMD and serum 25-OHD monitoring and vitamin D supplementation as needed in patients with ALD. Future research is required to validate our results and investigate the probable underlying mechanisms.

Dynamic characteristics of net anthropogenic phosphorus input to the upper Yangtze River Basin from 1989 to 2019: Focus on the phosphate ore rich area in China.

Phosphorus (P), a non-renewable essential resource, faces heavy exploitation and contributes to eutrophication in aquatic environments. Assessing P input is vital for a healthier P cycle in the Upper Yangtze River (UYR), a phosphate ore rich basin, where P mining and P chemical enterprises have prominent pollution problems. This study modified the net anthropogenic phosphorus input (NAPI) model to include ore mining P input (Pore). We analyzed the evolutionary characteristics of P input in five sub-basins of UYR from 1989 to 2019 using prefecture-level data, and assessed the uncertainty of the data. NAPI in all sub-basins exhibited an upward and then downward trend during 1989-2019, with the inflection point occurring in 2015 or 2016, showing a net increase of about 1.1 times (568-1162 kg P km-2 yr-1) in the whole UYR basin. Among the components of NAPI, P fertilizer inputs (Pfer) and food/non-food and feed P inputs (Pf/nf&feed) contributed comparably, though the growth rate of Pfer was most notable basin-wide. Pore proportion increased significantly (about 3-fold), with a peak of 20%, especially in Wujiang sub-basin. The multi-year (1989-2019) average NAPI in UYR rose sequentially from west to east, with hotspot areas mainly concentrated in the Sichuan-Chongqing urban agglomeration and cities of Hubei province. The regional P input closely related to the population density and the level of agricultural development, certainly the phosphate mining was also unignorable. This study emphasizes that based on current status of NAPI development in UYR, targeted management for different regions should focus on improving agricultural P use efficiency and rational exploitation of P mineral resources.

The stable operation of nitritation process with the continuous granular sludge-type reactor and microbial community analysis.

The nitritation step is the fundament for the biological nitrogen removal regardless of the traditional nitrification and denitrification process, the nitrite shunt process or the anammox process. Thus, exploring the effective nitritation performance is an important aspect of biological nitrogen removal. This study explored the upper limit of nitritation rate by increasing hydraulic residence time with the well-mixed and continuous granular sludge-type reactor characterized with low complexity and easy operation. The results showed that with the nitrogen loading rate of 1.0 kg/m3/d, the nitrite production rate could reach up to 0.65 kg/m3/d with the nitrite production efficiency of 63.49%, which is remarkable compared to that in the previously similar research. The microbial analysis indicated that ammonia-oxidizing bacteria was successfully enriched (13.27%) and genus Nitrosomonas was the dominant bacteria type. Besides, the activity of ammonium oxidizing bacteria in the continuous flow reactor was higher than that of other reactor types. The growth of vorticella on the sludge was also found in the reactor. The test of specific sludge activity and the microbe analysis both indicated that the nitrite-oxidizing bacteria was well inhibited during the whole experiment, which indicated the strategy of simply adjusting the dissolved oxygen is effective for running of nitritation process. The phosphorus removal performance was also achieved with a removal efficiency of 23.53%. The functional composition of the microbial community in the samples was predicted and finally transformation mechanism of nitrogen in sludge was drawn. In sum, this study indicated the superior performance of the granule sludge-type nitritation process and give a reference for the application of biological nitrogen removal technology.

Genome-wide DNA methylation and transcriptome expression profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with systemic sclerosis with interstitial lung disease. / ç³»ç»Ÿæ€§ç¡¬åŒ–ç—‡åˆå¹¶è‚ºé—´è´¨ç— å˜æ‚£è€ å¤–å‘¨è¡€å•ä¸ªæ ¸ç»†èƒžå ¨åŸºå› ç»„DNA甲基化和转录组表达谱.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the genome-wide DNA methylation and transcriptome expression profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) with interstitial lung disease (ILD), and to analyze the effects of DNA methylation on Wnt/ß-catenin and chemokine signaling pathways. METHODS: PBMCs were collected from 19 patients with SSc (SSc group) and 18 healthy persons (control group). Among SSc patients, there were 10 patients with ILD (SSc with ILD subgroup) and 9 patients without ILD (SSc without ILD subgroup). The genome-wide DNA methylation and gene expression level were analyzed by using Illumina 450K methylation chip and Illumina HT-12 v4.0 gene expression profiling chip. The effect of DNA methylation on Wnt/ß-catenin and chemokine signal pathways was investigated. RESULTS: Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis identified 71 hypermethylated CpG sites and 98 hypomethylated CpG sites in the SSc with ILD subgroup compared with the SSc without ILD subgroup. Transcriptome analysis distinguished 164 upregulated genes and 191 downregulated genes in the SSc with ILD subgroup as compared with the SSc without ILD subgroup. In PBMCs of the SSc group, 35 genes in Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway were hypomethylated, while frizzled-1 (FZD1), mitogen-activated protein kinase 9 (MAPK9), mothers against DPP homolog 2 (SMAD2), transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2), and wingless-type MMTV integration site family, member 5B (WNT5B) mRNA expressions were upregulated as compared with the control group (all P<0.05). Compared with the SSc without ILD subgroup, the mRNA expressions of dickkopf homolog 2 (DKK2), FZD1, MAPK9 were upregulated in the SSc with ILD subgroup, but the differences were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). In PBMCs of the SSc group, 38 genes in chemokine signaling pathway were hypomethylated, while ß-arrestin 1 (ARRB1), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 16 (CXCL16), FGR, and neutrophil cytosolic factor 1C (NCF1C) mRNA expressions were upregulated as compared with the control group (all P<0.05). Compared with the SSc without ILD subgroup, the mRNA expressions of ARRB1, CXCL10, CXCL16 were upregulated in the SSc with ILD subgroup, but the differences were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There are differences in DNA methylation and transcriptome profiles between SSc with ILD and SSc without ILD. The expression levels of multiple genes in Wnt/ß- catenin and chemokine signaling pathways are upregulated, which might be associatea with the pathogenesis of SSc.

Cardiovascular mortality by cancer risk stratification in patients with localized prostate cancer: a SEER-based study.

Purpose: The risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in patients with localized prostate cancer (PCa) by risk stratification remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the risk of CVD death in patients with localized PCa by risk stratification. Patients and methods: Population-based study of 340,806 cases in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database diagnosed with localized PCa between 2004 and 2016. The proportion of deaths identifies the primary cause of death, the competing risk model identifies the interaction between CVD and PCa, and the standardized mortality rate (SMR) quantifies the risk of CVD death in patients with PCa. Results: CVD-related death was the leading cause of death in patients with localized PCa, and cumulative CVD-related death also surpassed PCa almost as soon as PCa was diagnosed in the low- and intermediate-risk groups. However, in the high-risk group, CVD surpassed PCa approximately 90 months later. Patients with localized PCa have a higher risk of CVD-related death compared to the general population and the risk increases steadily with survival (SMR = 4.8, 95% CI 4.6-5.1 to SMR = 13.6, 95% CI 12.8-14.5). Conclusions: CVD-related death is a major competing risk in patients with localized PCa, and cumulative CVD mortality increases steadily with survival time and exceeds PCa in all three stratifications (low, intermediate, and high risk). Patients with localized PCa have a higher CVD-related death than the general population. Management of patients with localized PCa requires attention to both the primary cancer and CVD.