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[Display omitted] • Microalgal-bacterial granular sludge (MBGS) was applied for lake restoration. • Organics and the C/N ratios crucially influenced the N removal pathways in MBGS. • Proteobacteria played a versatile role in various nitrate reduction pathways in MBGS. • Bacteroidota increased activity in response to lower organic content in lake water. • Low COD and C/N ratios disrupted the balance between ANR and denitrification. This study investigated the performance of microalgal-bacterial granular sludge (MBGS) in the restoration of Qingling Lake and Huangjia Lake, focusing on nitrogen removal under varying water quality conditions. Significant color changes in MBGS and differences in granule characteristics were observed, with Qingling Lake demonstrating superior removal efficiencies for ammonia nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and total nitrogen compared to Huangjia Lake. Stoichiometric analysis revealed that when the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratios were less than 20 mg/L and 20, respectively, assimilatory nitrate reduction was positively correlated with both, whereas denitrification was negatively correlated. Gene function analysis showed that Qingling Lake had a more active microbial community supporting efficient nitrogen metabolism. The findings highlighted the enormous potential of MBGS in lake restoration, demonstrating its ability to adapt to different COD concentrations and C/N ratios by altering its nitrogen removal pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analyses for temporal variation pollution sources of Qijiawan treatment pond show that in non-livestock and poultry breeding area, total phosphorus (TP) pollution mainly happens during the period from June to August with both farmland and domestic sewage as the main pollution source and during the Spring Festival with domestic sewage as the source. Total nitrogen (TN) pollution mainly occurs during the rainy season from July to September taking domestic sewage and nitrogen fertilizer as main sources, besides the Spring Festival with domestic sewage as the main pollution source. As for ammonia nitrogen pollution, it is similar to TN pollution, and domestic sewage is the first pollution source. The emphasis of pollution control should be put on the phosphorus especially particle phosphorus (PP) in the domestic sewage and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in the sewage and farmland fertilizer. In addition, nitrate‑nitrogen (NO 3 −-N) is mainly from the impervious land surface and transfers into the treatment pond with rainfall. COD into the pond in the rainy season was greater than that in the dry season, but anyhow, it firstly comes from domestic sewage, especially in the Spring Festival. Research on the purification performance of Myriophyllum spicatum treatment pond shows that it is relatively difficult for Myriophyllum spicatum to absorb COD and TN with DON as the main form, but it is very easy to absorb TP and NH 3 -N before October. Therefore, Myriophyllum spicatum should be harvested in this month in order to realize effective removal. The removal of COD and TN mainly depends on microbial degradation, and so it should be enhanced in order to improve water quality of treatment pond. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing need for rapid and on-site detection of emerging drugs of abuse. In this work, we developed a method using a miniature dual-LIT (linear ion trap) mass spectrometer recently developed with comprehensive tandem mass spectrometry analysis capability, for qualitative and quantitative analysis of multiple drugs of abuse. Paper-capillary spray cartridges were used with related workflow established to simplify overall analysis procedure. Quantitation of ketamine and methamphetamine was achieved by beam-type collision-induced dissociation on the miniature dual-LIT mass spectrometer and a linear concentration range of 100–5000 ng/mL was obtained. The system has been applied in analysis of real urine samples from individuals addicted to morphine and methamphetamine use. The changes of the ratio of cocaine to its metabolite benzoylecgonine were also explored to estimate the time of cocaine intaking. Image 1 • Miniature dual-LIT mass spectrometry system was developed for quantitative analysis. • On-site testing of drugs of abuse in urine samples. • Testing of real urine samples from morphine and methamphetamine users. • Exploration of the time of cocaine intaking by the changes of cocaine/benzoylecgonine ratios in urine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies and the leading cause of women's death, most of breast cancers are estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer which can develop into advanced stage from early stage with treatment resistance. The purpose of this study was to investigate anti-ER+ breast cancer effects of 1,2,3,4,6-penta- O -galloyl-β- d -glucose (PGG) and its possible mechanisms. Cell viability was analyzed by MTT assay. The cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were detected by Flow cytometry. The expressions of cell proliferation- and apoptosis-related proteins were determined by western blot and immunofluorescence staining. The results showed PGG induced cytotoxicity and decreased viability of ER+ breast cancer T-47D and BT-474 cells. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that cell cycle was blocked in S phase at lower dose (25 μM PGG), and G1 phase at higher dose (50 or 75 μM PGG). One of the underlying mechanisms of the anti-cancer effect exerted by PGG was owed to inhibition of the expression of HURP, an up-regulated protein in human hepatocellular carcinoma which is closely related to tumor proliferation, invasion and metastasis. PGG affected cell cycle- or apoptosis-related proteins such as cyclin D1, Bcl-2 and Bax. These data suggest that PGG exerts anti-ER+ breast cancer effects. In this sense, our study provides new alternative therapies to treat breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) associated with impaired endometrial receptivity and other factors. Disease-specific therapy has yet to be developed due to the lack of understanding of underlying mechanism(s). Herein we investigated the key factors of endometrial receptivity in RIF patients by transcriptomic sequencing. In vitro cellular model was used to delineate the molecular mechanism of key factors on proliferation, invasion and migration of trophoblast cells. SEMA4D was identified as the key factors of endometrial receptivity with significantly lower expression in the mid-secretory endometrium of RIF patients compared with those from normal fertile women. The binding of SEMA4D to its receptor Plexin-B1 on human trophoblast cells HTR-8/SVneo resulted in the activation of Met/PI3K/Akt signaling, which promotes trophoblast cell invasion and migration by enhancing MMP-2 expression. Moreover, the effect of SEMA4D on HTR-8/SVneo could be blocked by knocking down Met with specific siRNA or treating with LY294002. Collectively, our data indicate that decreased expression of SEMA4D in endometrium impair the process of trophoblast invasion and migration through Met/PI3K/Akt pathway, which provides insights into this essential physiological process in the development of RIF. • SEMA4D is a potential novel factor of the mid-luteal endometrium in the RIF patients. • SEMA4D promoted HTR-8/SVneo cells invasion and migration via Met/PI3K/Akt pathway. • SEMA4D promoted MMP-2 expression in HTR-8/SVneo cells. • Knockdown of Met could block SEMA4D mediated effects on trophoblast behavior. • Inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway abrogated SEMA4D mediated effects on trophoblast behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]