Yield stress Measurement of municipal sludge: A comprehensive evaluation of testing methods and concentration effects using a rotational rheometer.

Accurate prediction and measurement of yield stress are crucial for optimizing sludge treatment and disposal. However, the differences and applicability of various methods for measuring yield stress are subjects of ongoing debate. Meanwhile, literature on measuring sludge yield stress is limited to low solid concentrations (TS <10%), understanding and studying the yield stress of medium to high solid concentration sludge is crucial due to increasingly stringent standards for sludge treatment and disposal. So, this study employed a rotational rheometer to measure sludge yield stress across a wide range of TS (4-50%) using steady shear, dynamic oscillatory shear, and transient shear. The study derived significant conclusions by comparing and summarizing the applicability and limitations of each testing method: Dynamic oscillatory shear methods, including G'-σ curve method, γ-σ curve method, and G**γc method can measure sludge yield stress ranging from 4% to 40% TS, while other methods are restricted to low or limited solid concentrations; The G' = G″ method, utilizing the intersection of G' and G″ curves, consistently yields the highest value for yield stress when 4%≤ TS ≤ 12%; The rotational rheometer cannot measure sludge yield stress when the solid concentration exceeds 40% TS; The relationship between sludge yield stress and solid concentration is stronger as a power-law for TS ≤ 25%, transitioning to linear for higher concentrations (28%≤ TS <40%). This study systematically explores the applicability and limitations of various measurement methods for characterizing sludge yield stress across a wide range of solid concentrations, providing valuable guidance for scientific measurement and highlighting challenging research issues.

HHV-6B- and HHV-7-associated choroiditis secondary to acute myelogenous leukemia: a case report.

We report a case of human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6)- and human herpes virus 7 (HHV-7)-associated choroiditis in an immunocompromised woman. A 42-year-old Chinese woman with a history of acute myelogenous leukemia presented with blurred vision and black floaters in her right eye. Anterior segment examination findings were normal. Ophthalmoscopic examination revealed a subretinal lesion in the superonasal peripapillary region with several punctate hemorrhages. Optical coherence tomography showed a crater-like choroidal protuberance, associated with retinal pigment epithelium rupture and full-thickness retinal edema in the involved area. Indocyanine green angiography demonstrated a broad hypofluorescent lesion in the choroid. The patient was diagnosed with choroiditis. Subsequently, metagenomic next-generation sequencing revealed HHV-6B and HHV-7 DNA in the aqueous humor. Therefore, antiviral therapy was initiated. The patient experienced resolution of all symptoms and signs after treatment with intravenous foscarnet and oral acyclovir. The findings in this case indicate that HHV-6 and HHV-7 can cause ocular infection, particularly in immunocompromised patients.

Enhancing data reliability in quantitative characterization of moisture distribution in sludge using DSC: Impact of sample attributes and test parameters.

Exploring moisture distribution, especially bound water content, is vital for studying and applying sludge dewatering. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) method has been extensively utilized for the quantitative characterization of moisture distribution in sludge. However, this method has certain limitations, such as low reproducibility of results, leading to controversial parameter values in different papers and hindering result comparison. In this study, we investigated the influence of key sample attributes on measuring sludge bound water using the DSC method.The findings demonstrated that the moisture content and mass of sludge samples substantially influenced the reproducibility and stability of DSC test results. To ensure data reliability, the moisture content of the sludge sample should be minimized and kept below 84%, with the mass not exceeding 10 mg. Compared to the influence of sludge moisture content and sample mass, the heating rate (1⁓5 °C/min) minimally affected DSC test results. This study offers a comprehensive insight into how sample attributes and test parameters affect the quantitative characterization of bound water in sludge using the DSC method. Furthermore, practical strategies are presented to enhance the method's applicability in sludge bound water characterization.

Kaempferol alleviates corneal transplantation rejection by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation and macrophage M1 polarization via promoting autophagy.

Corneal transplantation rejection remains a major threat to the success rate of high-risk patients. Given the many side effects presented by traditional immunosuppressants, there is an urgency to clarify the mechanism of corneal transplantation rejection and to identify new therapeutic targets. Kaempferol is a natural flavonoid that has been proven in various studies to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and neuroprotective properties. However, the effect of Ka on corneal transplantation remains largely unexplored. To address this, both at the in vivo and in vitro levels, we established a model of corneal allograft transplantation in Wistar rats and an LPS-induced inflammatory model using human THP-1-derived macrophages. In the transplantation experiments, we observed an enhancement of mRNA and protein level in the NLRP3/IL-1 ß axis and in M1 macrophage polarization post-operation. In groups to which kaempferol intraperitoneal injections were administered, this response was effectively reduced. However, the effect of kaempferol was reversed after the application of autophagy inhibitors. Similarly, in the inflammatory model, we found that different concentrations of kaempferol reduced the LPS-induced M1 polarization and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Moreover, we confirmed that kaempferol induced autophagy and that autophagy inhibitors reversed this effect in macrophages. In conclusion, we found that kaempferol can inhibit the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes by inducing autophagy, thus inhibiting macrophage polarization, and ultimately alleviating corneal transplantation rejection. Thus, our study suggests that kaempferol is a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of allograft rejection.