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Saline wastewater is a big challenge for the application of anammox processes. Although the feasibility of freshwater anammox bacteria for saline wastewater treatment was revealed, its metabolic acclimation to different saline concentrations is still elusive. Here, one low-strength-fed anammox reactor was operated with the shift of saline concentrations. The results showed that one Ca. Brocadia genome with a relative abundance of 31.5% was recovered. Meta-Omics analyses showed that salinity (around 12.5 g L−1 NaCl) could promote the nitrogen transformation in Ca. Brocadia through the driven of dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA). Specific sodium translocations pump (Na+-NADH:quinone oxidoreductase), as well as more genes associated with H+- dependent membrane-bound ATP formation and Na+-dependent membrane-bound ATP formation, was highly expressed in Ca. Brocadia under saline conditions than that under fresh conditions. This implied that such Na + transduction was likely associated with the NADPH/NADH via the hydrazine oxidation pathway. Notably, sodium extrusion was also associated with energy exploitation from the hydrolysis of pyrophosphatase (PPi) through K+-stimulated pyrophosphate-energized sodium pump. This study shed light on the metabolic acclimation, such as nitrogen transformation and cation-induced energy transduction (i.e., Na+ , K+, and Ca2+) in Ca. Brocadia, illustrating their feasibility for saline and freshwater wastewater treatment. [Display omitted] • Ca. Brocadia AMX1 with low similar (<81.8%) to published strains was enriched. • Salinity of 12.5 g L−1 NaCl promoted nitrogen transformation in Ca. Brocadia AMX1. • The cation-induced energy transductions are verified in Ca. Brocadia AMX1. • The hydrolysis of pyrophosphatase (PPi) can provide energy for sodium extrusion. • Metabolic linkage of nitrogen conversion and cations transductions were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A new in vivo rabbit model was developed to investigate the effects of shear force on intervertebral disc (IVD). Methods: Japanese white rabbits ( n = 38) were used for this study. The L4/5 discs in Group A ( n = 10) were subjected to a constant shear force (50 N) using a custom-made external loading device for 1 month; in Group B ( n = 10) for 2 months; whereas in Group C ( n = 10), loading device was attached to the spine but the discs remained unloaded. Group D ( n = 8) was a non-operated intact control group. After loading, the loading devices were taken out and the animals were given X-ray and MRI examination. After X-ray and MRI examination, the animals were euthanized for histological analysis. Results: After 1 and 2 months of loading, radiographic findings showed significant disc height narrowing in L4/5 discs of the animals in loading groups, and slight lumbar spondylolisthesis in some animals of Group B. MRI showed a significant decrease in nucleus pulposus (NP) area and signal intensity from T2-weighted images. Histologically, loss of normal NP cells and disorganization of the architecture of the annulus occurred, and proteoglycan stain decreased. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that disc degeneration can be induced by hyper-physiological shear loading in the rabbit IVD. Long-term shear loading may result in structural disc failure inducing lumbar spondylolisthesis and progressive disc degeneration, which, however, has to be proven by further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is used to simulate the long-term effect of urbanization on regional climate, especially the East Asian monsoon. Besides land use change from urbanization, anthropogenic heat release is an important factor for the urban climate and environment, so these two factors are included in the simulation. Two experiments were designed and executed for the 10-year period. Urbanization is not considered in one experiment, and in the other, urban land use and anthropogenic heat release are comprehensively investigated. Comparison of the two runs shows that urbanization mainly decreases low-cloud cover across most of East China, and nearly all surface energy fluxes increase except those of latent heat and upward shortwave. Based on a multiyear average, the urbanization reduced summer precipitation in urban agglomerations, but the interannual variability is very large. Local upwelling airflow is strengthened by urbanization; however, additional precipitation was not produced because of a decline of surface moisture in urban agglomeration areas. From 850 hPa circulation change and the East Asian monsoon index, the summer monsoon is strengthened slightly and the winter monsoon is always weakened by large-scale urbanization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the testing ability comparative test for software testing laboratories, it is hard to estimate the results of every laboratory quantitatively. To solve the intractable conundrum, this paper advances the "Weight and Evaluation Model" (the WE model), an evaluating model for software testing ability comparison, based on weighting evaluation, curve fitting and trending. The WE model takes the extent and depth of every software testing activities synthetically and synchronously, and can evaluate each lab's testing results quantitatively according to the same criteria, This paper also indicates the crucial actualizing means and method for organizing and actualizing the WE model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]