MicroRNA-18a-5p functions as an oncogene by directly targeting IRF2 in lung cancer.

Lung cancer is the major form of cancer resulting in cancer-related mortality around the world. MicroRNAs are endogenous small non-coding single-stranded RNAs, which can engage in the regulation of gene expression. In this study, miR-18a-5p significantly upregulated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues and NSCLC cell lines, suggesting an oncogenic function in lung cancer. Additionally, miR-18a-5p can promote carcinogenesis by directly targeting interferon regulatory factor 2 (IRF2). Further experiments indicated that IRF2 can increase cell apoptosis, inhibit cell proliferation and migration ability. Our study demonstrates that miR-18a-5p promotes autophagy in NSCLC. Collectively, these results indicate that miR-18a-5p can not only promote NSCLC by suppressing IRF2, but also will be a promising target in the near future.

Effect of carbonate on anaerobic acidogenesis and fermentative hydrogen production from glucose using leachate as supplementary culture under alkaline conditions.

Carbonate was added into a co-culture of glucose and fresh leachate under alkaline condition to enhance batched acidogenesis and fermentative hydrogen production simultaneously. Results indicated carbonate has positive effect on both H(2) production and acetic acid generation. The highest hydrogen yield (about 1.40 mol/mol glucose) was obtained at [CO(3)(2-)] = 280 mg/L with pH 8.0 and [CO(3)(2-)] = 560 mg/L with pH 9. The dominant liquid metabolites were ethanol, acetic and butyric acid. The highest total volatile fatty acid yield (0.38 g/g glucose) was achieved at [CO(3)(2-)] = 560 mg/L with pH 9. In this case, the acetic acid yield reached 0.13 g/g glucose. Verification tests using simulated wastewater as substrate were also carried out at pH 9. Results demonstrated calcium ions inhibit hydrogenogens activity while carbonate addition can alleviate the suppression effect caused by Ca(2+).

Flash fixation of heavy metals from two industrial wastes into ferrite by microwave hydrothermal co-treatment.

Flash fixation of heavy metals from electroplating wastewater (EPW) and pickling waste liquor (PWL) into ferrite lattice can be investigated by microwave hydrothermal process. The toxicity of wastewater may be reduced by the redox reaction between Cr(VI) in electroplating wastewater and Fe(II) in pickling waste liquor. Box-Behnken design (BBD) experiment gives optimal process condition of ferrite formation as follows: wastewater volume ratio (V(PWL):V(EPW) = 0.20), pH value 11 and retention time 15 min, on which formed ferrite has a soft magnetic property with high saturation magnetization (M(s)) 47.4 emu/g. The rapid ferrite process has lower activation energy 7.01 kJ/mol according to grain growth kinetics. Concerning the environmental and economy, we introduced a new and interesting method for water remediation simultaneously synthesizing ferrite by using microwave mediated hydrothermal processes.

Effective self-purification of polynary metal electroplating wastewaters through formation of layered double hydroxides.

Heavy metal ions (Ni(2+), Zn(2+), and Cr(3+)) can be effectively removed from real polynary metal ions-bearing electroplating wastewaters by a carbonation process, with ∼99% of metal ions removed in most cases. The synchronous formation of layered double hydroxide (LDH) precipitates containing these metal ions was responsible for the self-purification of wastewaters. The constituents of formed polynary metals-LDHs mainly depended on the Ni(2+):Zn(2+):Cr(3+) molar ratio in wastewaters. LDH was formed at pH of 6.0-8.0 when the Ni(2+)/Zn(2+) molar ratio ≥ 1 where molar fraction of trivalent metal in the wastewaters was 0.2-0.4, otherwise ZnO, hydrozincite, or amorphous precipitate was observed. In the case of LDH formation, the residual concentration of Ni(2+), Zn(2+), and Cr(3+) in the treated wastewaters was very low, about 2-3, ∼2, and ∼1 mg/L, respectively, at 20-80 °C and pH of 6.0-8.0, indicating the effective incorporation of heavy metal ions into the LDH matrix. Furthermore, the obtained LDH materials were used to adsorb azoic dye GR, with the maximum adsorption amount of 129-134 mg/g. We also found that the obtained LDHs catalyzed more than 65% toluene to decompose at 350 °C under ambient pressure. Thus the current research has not only shown effective recovery of heavy metal ions from the electroplating wastewaters in an environmentally friendly process but also demonstrated the potential utilization of recovered materials.

[Start-up of EGSB for biohydrogen production from compost leachate].

An expanded granular sludge bed reactor (EGSB) was employed to evaluate the start-up process of fermentative biohydrogen production from compost leachate. The removal performance of COD, total nitrogen, total phosphorus in leachate as well as the hydrogen production ability of EGSB was investigated. The results showed that at 35 degrees C +/- 1 degrees C, organic loading rate of 1.4-16.7 g/(L x d), the main pH of 5.0 to 5.5, the continuous hydrogen production by EGSB reactor using the compost leachate as substrate could be achieved after 20d's acclimatization. Under conditions of HRT of 30 h and liquid flow rate of 3.0 m/h, the COD removal rate of between 50% to 70%, the content of hydrogen in the biogas of between 19%-33%, the maximal hydrogen production rate of 1 460 mL/(L x d), total phosphorus and total nitrogen removal rate of between 40%-70% and 32%-65% respectively, were achieved.The total ethanol and acetic acid content was more than 80% in liquid end products (VFAs), suggesting the main fermentation is ethanol fermentation type.

[Distribution character of synthetic musks in urban sewage sludges].

The characteristics of occurrence and distribution of 8 synthetic musks in 15 sewage sludges in Shanghai were studied. The results indicated that HHCB and AHTN were the two main components in all sludges, with the mean concentration of 2.92 mg x kg(-1) (0.81-6.39 mg x kg(-1)) and 1.96 mg x kg(-1) (0.35-3.11 mg x kg(-1)), respectively; and the concentrations of ADBI, AHMI, MK were less. The distributions detected in sludges are in accordance with the usage patterns in China. Total concentrations of 8 synthetic musks were ranged from 1.16-9.57 mg x kg(-1), which were lower than the results in previous studies. Concentrations in sludges are influenced by ratio of domestic wastewater in influent, sewage load and sewage treatment methods. The good linear relationships among HHCB, AHTN and ADBI indicate that these components have the same source: domestic wastewater. The consumption rates of HHCB and AHTN connected to per inhabitant in Shanghai region were estimated, which are low compared with those found in European. The potential impacts on agricultural soil were also assessed.

[Removal of odors from fermentation process of MSW biological mechanical treatment using compost biofilter].

For the odour from fermentation processing of municipal solid waste biological mechanical treatment, a compost biofilter was established to investigate its performance and the characteristics change of compost. The component and TVOC concentration in odors, removal efficiency of biofilter, and total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), organic matter (OM), pH value and bacterial colony in compost media were measured respectively. SPME-GC-MS analysis showed that the main components of odors were BTEX, terpenes and alkane. The range of TVOC concentrations in odors during a fermentation process period and removal efficiencies of biofilter were 68.3 x 10(-6) -3.3 x 10(-6) (volume fraction), 31.5%-84.8% respectively. After about 4 months operation, TN, TC, TP and OM in compost were kept almost stably, but the dissolved N experienced an increase of 53.7%, and the dissolved P decreased 19.6%. The pH value experienced an increase in the former period and kept stable finally at about 7.8, which excursion was from 7.49 to 7.86. Analytical results for bacterial colony in packing material indicated that bacteria and mould colony counts increased, but yeasts and actinomyces decreased along with biofilter operation, which were 3.1, 3.4, 0.04, 0.07 times of their initial values respectively.

[Modification of MSWI fly ash by using anionic chelating surfactant].

This paper aims at the reutilization and stabilization of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash to produce a high value added product. The effects of anionic chelating surfactants on the surface modification and fixing capacity of MSWI fly ash were primarily explored. Based on the indexes of active ratio and analysis of IR-spectrometer, the active ratio of ACS1 modified fly ash can be found higher than 95% under the condition of surfactant dosage at 7.0mL/100g fly ash, modification time at 15min and temperature at 75 degrees C . Moreover, Anionic chelating surfactant shows a strong fixing capacity for heavy metals by the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP).