Management of biofilm by an innovative layer-structured membrane for membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) to efficient methane oxidation coupled to denitrification (AME-D).

Aerobic methane oxidation coupled with denitrification (AME-D) has garnered significant attention as a promising technology for nitrogen removal from water. Effective biofilm management on the membrane surface is essential to enhance the efficiency of nitrate removal in AME-D systems. In this study, we introduce a novel and scalable layer-structured membrane (LSM) developed using a meticulously designed polyurethane sponge. The application of the LSM in advanced biofilm management for AME-D resulted in a substantial enhancement of denitrification performance. Our experimental results demonstrated remarkable improvements in nitrate-removal flux (92.8 mmol-N m-2 d-1) and methane-oxidation rate (325.6 mmol m-2 d-1) when using an LSM in a membrane biofilm reactor (L-MBfR) compared with a conventional membrane reactor (C-MBfR). The l-MBfR exhibited 12.4-, 6.8- and 3.4-fold increases in nitrate-removal rate, biomass-retention capacity, and methane-oxidation rate, respectively, relative to the control C-MBfR. Notably, the l-MBfR demonstrated a 3.5-fold higher abundance of denitrifying bacteria, including Xanthomonadaceae, Rhodocyclaceae, and Methylophilaceae. In addition, the denitrification-related enzyme activity was twice as high in the l-MBfR than in the C-MBfR. These findings underscore the LSM's ability to create anoxic/anaerobic microenvironments conducive to biofilm formation and denitrification. Furthermore, the LSM exhibited a unique advantage in shaping microbial community structures and facilitating cross-feeding interactions between denitrifying bacteria and aerobic methanotrophs. The results of this study hold great promise for advancing the application of MBfRs in achieving efficient and reliable nitrate removal through the AME-D pathway, facilitated by effective biofilm management.

Ultrasound elastography for evaluating stiffness of the human lens nucleus with aging: a feasibility study.

AIM: To investigate the significance of ultrasound elastography for evaluating stiffness of the human lens nucleus in volunteers with different ages. METHODS: A total of 90 volunteers (lens transparency, uncorrected visual acuity ≥0.5, intraocular pressure: 14-19 mm Hg) were divided into 3 groups according to age: Group A (30 people, median age: 82±3.5y, mean axial lengths 23.7±0.5 mm); Group B (30 people, median age: 46±2.1y, mean axial lengths 23.9±0.4 mm); and Group C (30 people, median age: 22±3.5y, mean axial lengths 24.0±0.4 mm). Lens nuclear stiffness was measured by Free-hand qualitative elastography by independent operators. Strain gray scale and color-coded elastography maps were recorded. In each case, three consecutive detections were performed and strain ratio was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Elastography analysis showed excellent diagnostic performance for lens sclerosis. Lens strain ratio was lowest (0.03±0.01)% in Group A and highest (2.03±0.43)% in Group C. Lens strain ratio was moderate (0.64±0.10)% in Group B. There were significant differences between these three groups (P<0.05). The lens nucleus strain rate changes with age. With aging, the lens nucleus strain rate and resilience decrease, demonstrating harder texture. CONCLUSION: The relationship between human lens stiffness and age is demonstrated by ultrasound elastography. Older age is associated with lower strain ratio and less resilience of the lens.

Simultaneous enhancement of nitrate removal flux and methane utilization efficiency in MBfR for aerobic methane oxidation coupled to denitrification by using an innovative scalable double-layer membrane.

Endevours on the enhancement of nitrate removal efficiency during methane oxidation coupled with denitrification (AME-D) has always overlooked the role of membrane employed. It would be highly beneficial to enrich the biomass content and to manage biofilm on the membrane, in the utilization of methane and denitrification. In this study, an innovative and scalable double-layer membrane (DLM) was designed and prepared for a membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR), to simultaneously enhance nitrate removal flux and methane utilization efficiency during aerobic methane oxidation coupled with the denitrification (AME-D) process. The DLM allowed quick bacterial attachment and biomass accumulation for biofilm growth, which would be then self-regulated for well distribution of functional microbes on/within the DLM. Upon a high biofilm density of over 70 g-VSS m-2 achieved on the DLM, the methane utilization efficiency of the MBfR was enhanced significantly to over 1.3 times than the control MBfR with conventional polypropylene membrane. The MBfR employed DLM also demonstrated the maximum nitrate removal flux of 740 mg-NO3--N m-2 d-1 that was approximately 1.64 times of that in control MBfR at continuous-mode operation. This DLM indeed favored the enrichment of Type II aerobic methanotrophs of Methylocystaceae, and methanol-utilization denitrifiers of Rhodocyclaceae that preferentially utilize methanol as the cross-feeding intermediates to promote the methane utilization efficiency, and thus to enhance the nitrate removal flux. These results raised from new designed DLM confirmed the importance of membrane surface properties on the effectiveness of MBfR, and offered great potential to address challenging problems of MBfRs during engineering application.

Characterization of and advanced diagnostic methods for ocular tuberculosis and tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis that usually affects the lungs. Timely treatment of active TB, diagnosis and prevention of latent TB are very important. However, extrapulmonary TB affects almost any tissues around the eye and orbit, and it then requires a high degree of suspicion to accurately diagnose. Diagnostic delays are common and may lead to morbidity. For ophthalmologists and infectious disease specialists, it is important to work together to accurately diagnose and treat ocular tuberculosis (OTB) to prevent vision loss. This review reports the latest advanced diagnostic methods for active TB and latent TB as well as various known manifestations of OTB. Important elements of diagnosis and treatment are also reviewed.

Noninvasive stiffness assessment of the human lens nucleus in patients with anisometropia using an ultrasound elastography system.

AIM: To investigate the significance of ultrasound elastography for evaluating stiffness of the human lens nucleus in patients with anisometropia. METHODS: A total of 14 patients (28 eyes) with anisometropia were enrolled. The difference in refractive status between two eyes ≥-4.0 diopters (D) and the difference in axial length (AL) of the eyes was ≥3 mm. There were 5 males and 9 females with an average age of 62±3.3y. The test data of the long AL eye of each patient was included in group A (14 eyes), and test data of the eye with relative short AL was included in group B. Lens nuclear stiffness was measured with free-hand qualitative elastography by independent operators. Strain gray scale and color-coded elastography maps were recorded. In each case, three consecutive measurements were performed and strain ratio was used for statistical analysis. Photograph and sectional view of the lens were analyzed and archived by anterior segment image. RESULTS: In the long AL group, the strain rate in the nucleus of the lens was 0.16%±0.08%; in the short AL group, the strain rate in the nucleus of the lens was 0.54%±0.16%. Independent sample t-test analyses showed that the long AL group lens had a significantly smaller nuclear strain rate than the relatively short AL group, P<0.05. CONCLUSION: The relationship between human lens stiffness and different AL is demonstrated by ultrasound elastography. The long AL is associated with lower strain ratio and less resilience of the lens.

Comparison of lens oxidative damage induced by vitrectomy and/or hyperoxia in rabbits.

AIM: To compare of lens oxidative damage induced by vitrectomy and/or hyperoxia in rabbit. METHODS: Sixteen New Zealand rabbits (2.4-2.5 kg) were randomly divided into two groups (Group A, n=12; Group B, n=4). In Group A, the right eyes were treated with vitrectomy and systemic hyperoxia (oxygen concentration: 80%-85%, 1 ATA, 4h/d) (Group A-right), and the left eyes were treated with hyperoxia without vitrectomy surgery (Group A-left). Four rabbits in group B (eight eyes) were untreated as the controls. Lens transparency was monitored with a slit lamp and recorded before and after vitrectomy. After hyperoxic treatment for 6mo, the eyeballs were removed and the lens cortices (containing the capsules) and nuclei were separated for further morphological and biochemical evaluation. RESULTS: Six months after treatments, there were no significant morphological changes in the lenses in any experimental group when observed with a slit lamp. However, the levels of water-soluble proteins and ascorbate, and the activities of catalase and Na+-K+-ATPase were significantly reduced, whereas the levels of malondialdehyde and transforming growth factor ß2 (TGF-ß2) were significantly elevated, in both the cortices and nuclei of eyes treated with vitrectomy and hyperoxia. The increase in protein-glutathione mixed disulfides and the reduction in water-soluble proteins were more obvious in the lens nuclei. The levels of ascorbate in the vitreous fluid were also reduced after vitrectomy, whereas TGF-ß2 increased after vitrectomy and hyperoxia. Systemic hyperoxia exposure increased these effects. CONCLUSION: Removal of the intact vitreous gel with vitrectomy and exposing the lens to increased oxygen from the retina induce lens oxidation and aggregation. Thus, an intact vitreous gel structure may protect the lens from oxidative insult and maintain lens transparency.

Quantitative proteomics analysis by iTRAQ in human nuclear cataracts of different ages and normal lens nuclei.

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to quantitatively identify the differentially expressed proteins in nuclear cataracts of different ages and normal lens nuclei in humans. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Forty-eight human lens nucleus samples with hardness grades III, IV were obtained during cataract surgery by extracapsular cataract extraction. Seven normal transparent human lens nuclei were obtained from fresh normal cadaver eyes during corneal transplantation surgery. Lens nuclei were divided into seven groups according to age and optic axis: Group A (average age 80.8 ± 1.2 years), Group B (average age 57.0 ± 4.0 years), Group C average age 80.3 ± 4.5 years), Group D (average age 56.9 ± 4.2 years), Group E (average age 78.1 ± 2.5 years), Group F (average age 57.6 ± 3.3 years) and Group G (seven normal transparent human lenses from normal cadaver eyes, average age 34.7 ± 4.2 years). Water-soluble, water-insoluble, and water-insoluble-urea-soluble protein fractions were extracted from samples. The three-part protein fractions from the individual lenses were combined to form the total proteins of each sample. The proteomic profiles of each group were further analyzed using 8-plex iTRAQ labeling combined with 2D-LC-MS/MS. The data were analyzed with the ProteinPilot software for peptide matching, protein identification, and quantification. Differentially expressed proteins were validated by Western blotting. RESULTS: We employed biological and technical replicates and selected the intersection of the two results, which included 80 proteins. Nine proteins were differentially expressed among the 80 proteins identified using proteomic techniques. In age-related nuclear cataracts (ARNC), the expression levels of fatty acid-binding protein and pterin-4-alpha-carbinolamine dehydratase were upregulated, whereas the levels of alpha-crystallin B chain (CRYAB), GSH synthetase, phakinin, gamma-crystallin C, phosphoglycerate kinase 1, betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase 1 (BHMT1), and spectrin beta chain were downregulated. These proteins may be associated with abnormal protein aggregation and oxidative stress. GSH synthetase and CRYAB expression levels in the nuclear cataract decreased with age. The mass spectrometric analysis results were consistent with the Western blot validation. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The results indicate that CRYAB and GSH synthetase may be involved in ARNC pathogenesis. iTRAQ combined with 2D-LC-MS/MS provides new methods for future studies of pathological mechanisms and protective drug development for ARNC.