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When an axial-flow pump is running, there is a very complex flow inside the runner. Based on the two-way fluid–structure coupling method, this paper simulated the forward and reverse operating conditions of an axial-flow pump and calculated the dynamic stress distribution on the blade surface. The stress load spectrum was loaded onto the blade, and fatigue characteristic analysis was carried out to obtain the fatigue life and damage of the blade. This research shows the following: under different working conditions, the dynamic stress is concentrated at the root of the blade, and its amplitude decreases with the increase in the flow rate; at the same time, the change in stress with time shows a periodic change law. Under the working conditions of the turbine, the main frequency is the rotational frequency, and the secondary frequency is composed of multipliers of the rotational frequency, which is obviously affected by the number of blades; the fatigue damage and stress distribution are consistent, and the damage is the most serious at the stress concentration point. The research results of this paper can provide theoretical guidance for the structural design and safe operation of axial-flow pumps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyroptosis is associated with the biological behavior of the tumor and with tumor immunity. We investigated the effect of pyroptosis on the tumor microenvironment and tumor immunity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). RNA sequencing data and clinical information of HNSCC were downloaded from TCGA. Differentially expressed pyroptosis-related genes in HNSCC were identified between HNSCC and normal tissue. Pyroptosis-related classification of HNSCC was conducted based on consensus clustering analysis. LASSO-Cox regression analysis was used to construct a prognostic risk model-based pyroptosis-related gene. Evaluation of the immune microenvironment was conducted in prognostic risk signature based on pyroptosis-related genes. Total 22 differentially expressed pyroptosis-related genes were identified in HNSCC. Six prognostic-related genes were included to construct a LASSO regression model with a prognostic risk score = (0.133 ∗ GSDME (DFNA5) + 0.084 ∗ NOD1 + 0.039 ∗ IL6 + 0.003 ∗ IL1B + 0.084 ∗ CASP3 + 0.028 ∗ NLRP2). Higher fraction of resting memory CD4+ T cells and macrophages M1 was infiltrated in the high-risk group compared with the low-risk group in HNSCC. Furthermore, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and the IL-17 signaling pathways were identified to be involved in the development of high-risk HNSCC. Our study constructed a prognostic risk signature based on pyroptosis-related genes, which emphasizes the critical importance of pyroptosis in HNSCC and provided a novel perspective of HNSCC therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the effect of adjunctive use of modified cold‐atmospheric pressure plasma (MCAP) to surgically mechanical debridement (MD) on peri‐implantitis (PI) in beagles. Material and Methods: Bilateral mandibles of beagles with PI, which induced by cotton ligature twined with steel in sub‐marginal around the implant, were randomly divided into two groups: MD in conjunction with 2% CHX irrigation (control group) and MD with adjunctive intervention of MCAP (plasma group). Sulcus bleeding index (SBI), probing depth (PD) and bone height (BH) were examined before and after intervention using computed tomography and histological staining. Additionally, interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6 and IL‐17 levels in peri‐implant sulcular fluid (PISF) were measured by ELISA. Results: A significant improvement in SBI, PD and BH was found in the plasma group (p <.05) when compared with the control group after three months of intervention. In addition, IL‐1β and IL‐17, but not IL‐6 levels decreased (p <.05) in the plasma group compared with the control group after intervention. Conclusions: The adjunctive use of MCAP to MD for PI can enhance bone formation around the implant and inhibit the inflammatory response. The application of MCAP could be considered a favourable adjunct to MD for PI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the beginning of data mining technologies, buildings have become not just energy-intensive but also information-centric. Data mining technologies have been widely used to utilize the huge quantities of buildings' operational data to improve their energy systems. Conventional benchmarking of buildings' energy performance reflects a variety of parameters, such as the number of inhabitants, the environment, the energy efficiency of equipment utilized, and the adjustment of internal temperature. These various elements are then assigned weights to generate a single general indicator. This study presents a reasonable benchmark assessment methodology of conventional buildings' energy usage based on a data-mining algorithm for acquiring more specific information, like the energy management efficacy of a building, and aiming at the problem of ineffective use of large amounts of energy consumption in public buildings. A mathematical-statistical approach and a data-mining tool are used to analyse the data. The degree of connection between numerous influencing variables (i.e., characteristic parameters) and building's energy usage is determined using grey correlation analysis. In this work, we have used an enhanced Apriori algorithm to identify the link between the different forms of systems in the same area. In short, the fundamental idea and process of the Apriori algorithm are presented, and preliminary designs of the preprocessing of experimental data as well as the analysis methods are studied to analyse the outcome of the proposed work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Proteomic signature might function as a prognostic tool for HNSCC. • The IPPS in HNSCC showed moderate sensitivity and specificity (AUC:0.779). • Protein functional enrichment indicated an effect of decreased oxygen levels on HNSCC. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the malignant cancers with poor prognosis. However, clinicopathologic and histological criteria were finite to predict the prognosis of HNSCC. We aimed to characterize the proteomic profile of prognosis from HNSCC patients. Reverse phase protein array (RPPA) data in HNSCC were downloaded from The Cancer Proteome Atlas (TCPA). Independent prognostic-related proteins (IPP) were screened by Cox regression model and Kaplan-Meier methods. IPP signature (IPPS) including selected proteins was conducted for prognostic prediction for HNSCC. Protein-protein network analysis and gene ontology (GO) enrichment were used to identify related functional proteins and pathways. Based on the IPP, IPPS for HNSCC was constructed: risk score = (1.541* IRF1) + (1.460 * SMAD4) + (1.396 * LKB1) + (0.746* Cyclin E2) + (0.618* Paxillin) + (0.499* p-PEA-15 (Ser116)). The IPPS in HNSCC showed good predictive performance (area under curve = 0.779) with moderate sensitivity and specificity. Protein-protein network analysis and functional enrichment indicated an implication of response to decreased oxygen levels in HNSCC. The identified proteomic signature might function as a prognostic tool for the management of HNSCC and provide novel target for the treatment of HNSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrate in the effluent of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is the main nitrogen resource in natural water. The excessive nitrogen in natural water causes ecological issues such as aqueous eutrophication. A novel modified NaY zeolite (SMZ‐La) with hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (HDTMA) and lanthanum (La) as modifying agents for NO3-‐N adsorption was investigated in this study. Results showed that SMZ‐La had a higher adsorption capacity (3.82 mg NO3-‐N/g) than zeolite only modified with HDTMA or La (2.75 and 2.23 mg NO3-‐N/g, respectively). Moreover, the adsorption process was endothermic with a maximum theoretic adsorption of 14.49 mg NO3-‐N/g. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis indicated that adsorption rate principally depended on chemisorption between SMZ and NO3-‐N. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that HDTMA was loaded on the surface of NaY zeolite with double layer. Scanning electron microscope and X‐ray spectroscopy analysis illustrated that La was primarily loaded in the pore of NaY zeolite, and the loading of HDTMA and La did not affect the original crystal structure of NaY zeolite. The novel adsorbent provided a promising perspective for nitrogen control in WWTPs and natural water. Practitioner points: A novel modified zeolite (SMZ‐La) was prepared successfully with HDTMA and La.SMZ‐La had an excellent adsorption capacity compared to SMZ and NaY‐La.There were both physical and chemical adsorptions in the adsorption process of SMZ‐La on NO3-‐N. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) is associated with acute and chronic inflammation. However, the role of KLF2 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains unknown. Here, we investigated the expression of KLF2 in mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) to determine whether KLF2 levels correlate with inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) production in vitro. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to assess the synovitis and bone destruction in mice. The concentration of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and nitric oxide (NO) in synovial fluid was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, while western blot (WB) analysis was employed to detect the expression of KLF2 and iNOS in the synovium, heart, and kidneys. The expression of iNOS in MH7A cells was analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and WB. The expression of KLF2 and iNOS was significantly elevated in the synovium, heart, and kidneys of CIA mice. This was correlated to an increase in the severity of arthritis and the concentration of inflammatory mediators including TNF-α, IL-6, and NO in joint fluid. KLF2 and iNOS expression in vitro was induced by TNF-α and KLF2 knockdown significantly reduced the TNF-α-induced iNOS expression. These findings indicate that KLF2 influences synovial inflammation in CIA mice by regulating iNOS production in synoviocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) is associated with acute and chronic inflammation. However, the role of KLF2 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains unknown. Here, we investigated the expression of KLF2 in mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) to determine whether KLF2 levels correlate with inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) production in vitro. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to assess the synovitis and bone destruction in mice. The concentration of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and nitric oxide (NO) in synovial fluid was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, while western blot (WB) analysis was employed to detect the expression of KLF2 and iNOS in the synovium, heart, and kidneys. The expression of iNOS in MH7A cells was analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and WB. The expression of KLF2 and iNOS was significantly elevated in the synovium, heart, and kidneys of CIA mice. This was correlated to an increase in the severity of arthritis and the concentration of inflammatory mediators including TNF-α, IL-6, and NO in joint fluid. KLF2 and iNOS expression in vitro was induced by TNF-α and KLF2 knockdown significantly reduced the TNF-α-induced iNOS expression. These findings indicate that KLF2 influences synovial inflammation in CIA mice by regulating iNOS production in synoviocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Occlusal interference induces oxidative stress in the masseter muscle. • UCP3 regulates redox status in occlusal abnormally related masseter muscle. • Oxidative stress links occlusal interference to masticatory dysfunction. To determine whether occlusal alteration contributes to masticatory muscle damage by inducing oxidative stress. Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups, including occlusal interference groups (3 days, 7 days, 14 days, 21 days, and removal for 3 days) and a sham group. A rat experimental model of occlusal interference was generated by a 0.6-mm unilateral bite-raise. The rats were euthanised for evaluation of histologic changes in the masseter muscles using haematoxylin-eosin staining. To further investigate the role of oxidative stress and uncoupling protein (UCP3) in the development of occlusal dysfunction-induced masseter damage, levels of UCP3 protein were measured by western blot analysis. Compared with the sham group, the connective tissue of the masseter muscle was extended partially and inflammatory cells appeared following the induction of malocclusion. With respect to the oxidative stress markers, there were increases in malondialdehyde (MDA) content but decreases in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities; furthermore, the expression of UCP3 was upregulated. After eliminating the occlusal interference for 3 days, the degree of inflammation was substantially alleviated, the MDA content decreased, and SOD and GPX activities increased. The expression of UCP3 decreased. Occlusal interference induces oxidative stress in the masseter muscle, regulated by UCP3. Overall, these findings have significant implications for the understanding of how occlusal dysfunction causes muscle fatigue and pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To assess the association between interleukin gene polymorphism and recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). Designs Two electronic databases, PubMed and Embase, were utilized to assemble potentially relevant studies meeting the inclusion criteria. A meta-analysis was conducted using Revman 5.3 software (London, UK), and the pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were then used to evaluate the strength of the relationship between the gene polymorphisms of IL-1beta(−511C/T), IL-1beta(+3954C/T), IL-6(−174G/C) and IL-10(−1082G/A) and the risk of RAS. Results Ten studies were included in the final meta-analysis, with 884 cases and 1104 controls participating. The results demonstrated that the polymorphism of IL-1beta(−511C/T) significantly increased the probability of the development of RAS in Europeans. (T vs . C: OR = 1.35, 95%CI = 1.09–1.67; CC vs . CT + TT: OR = 1.77, 95%CI = 1.24–2.53; CC vs . TT: OR = 1.86, 95%CI = 1.18–2.95). Furthermore, the C allele in IL-1beta(+3954C/T) was determined to be related to the risk of RAS in Americans (C vs . T: OR = 1.52, 95%CI = 1.07–2.17) and the presence of the C gene was considered a risk variant (CC + CT vs . TT: OR = 1.46, 95%CI = 1.01–2.11), but no relationship was found between the polymorphism of IL-10(−1082G/A) and the risk of RAS. Conclusions The meta-analysis suggested that the mutation of IL-1beta(−511C/T) in Europe and IL-1beta(+3954C/T) in America tend to increase the risk of RAS, but the polymorphism of IL-10(−1082G/A) appears to have no association with RAS risk in America. Further study is required to confirm the above conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, short-term exposure experiments with different ZVI concentrations were conducted to research the effects of ZVI adding on the anaerobic system for treating swine wastewater. Increasing the ZVI dose had a stimulatory effect on COD removal and CH 4 production possibly due to a higher corrosion-induced H 2 and dissolved ferrous ions, which could stimulate the methanogenesis and thus the biodegradation. In addition, the abiotic corrosion reactions such as flocculation, adsorption and precipitation were inevitable to removal some suspended COD. However, high ZVI doses had a potential risk on microorganism due to the present of large numbers of solid iron species in sludge, which likely encapsulated the cells and even damaged the cellular structure. Taken as a whole, the most enhancing effect induced by ZVI was observed at the r ZVI/VSS of 2.63, and the maximum efficiency of per ZVI adding occurred at the r ZVI/VSS of 0.74. But the ZVI concentration of 50 g/L (the r ZVI/VSS was 5.26) was proved too high to facilitate microorganism activity, considering the higher LDH leakage and lower intracellular ATP level than the only sludge system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although solids retention time (SRT) is the key parameter in wastewater treatment design and operation, this study determined the effect of hydraulic retention time (HRT) on biological nutrient removal in a membrane coupled sequencing batch reactor (MSBR) at the fixed SRT of 10 days. During more than 200 days of operation, the HRT of the MSBR were decreased from 24 to 12 and to 6 h while the volumetric exchange ratio in each operating cycle was fixed at 50%. The decrease of HRT led to a proportional increase in biomass concentration at the fixed SRT. The system demonstrated excellent removal of organic matter with the highest COD removal efficiency (97%) achieved at the shortest HRT of 6 h. As HRT was reduced from 24 to 12 h, the total nitrogen removal efficiency improved from 68 ± 5% to 80 ± 4%, but there was no further improvement when HRT decreased to 6 h. Coincidently, similar and higher abundance of nitrifying bacteria was observed in the MSBR operated at the HRTs of 6 and 12 h than that at the HRT of 24 h. The total phosphorus removal efficiencies were 62 ± 15%, 77 ± 4% and 85 ± 3% at the HRTs of 24, 12 and 6 h, respectively. The maximum P release rates for activated sludge at the HRTs of 24, 12 and 6 h were 3.7 ± 0.5, 6.4 ± 0.2 and 8.7 ± 0.1 mg P/h, respectively, while the maximum P uptake rates were 3.2 ± 0.1, 8.6 ± 0.2 and 15.2 ± 0.2 mg P/h, respectively. Contradictory to the theory that effluent water quality is solely SRT dependent, the results suggest that it is also affected by HRT and resultant biomass concentration possibly due to factors such as change in hydrolysis of particulate organic matter, the unique microenvironment and transition between anaerobic and aerobic metabolism at high biomass concentrations in MSBR operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Effects of NZVI on biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal were investigated. [•] The cytotoxicity of NZVI to activated sludge was measured. [•] The effects of NZVI on sludge microbial activity and biomass were evaluated. [•] High throughput 16S rDNA pyrosequencing was used to study the microbial composition. [•] Sensitive bacteria to NZVI particles were found. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The present study employed ozonation process to treat the bamboo industry wastewater (BIWW). The impact of ozone dosage and initial organic concentration on color, COD and TOC removal rates were studied along with characterization of the major organics in raw and treated wastewater. The results suggested the ozone dosage of 3.15gh−1 (concentration 52.5mgL−1) was suitable for the treatment. After 25min ozonation of 1L raw wastewater, the color, COD and TOC removal efficiencies were 95%, 56% and 40%, respectively, with an influent COD concentration of 835mgL−1. The ratio of kg O3 kg−1 COD at 3.15gh−1 was 2.8 (<3), revealing that ozonation was a cost effective process for tertiary treatment of BIWW. Longer oxidization time was required to achieve similar results for raw wastewater with higher COD concentration. The chromatogram from gel permeation chromatography revealed that ozonation resulted in the breakdown of high molecular weight compounds into lower molecular weight components but could not completely mineralize the organic matter. The majority of these compounds were identified in both raw and ozonated samples via GC–MS analysis. In addition to ester derivatives as the main intermediates of ozonation, 1-chloroctadecane, methyl stearate, benzophenone and α-cyperone were identified as the by-products of ozonation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The toxic effects of Cu (II) present in bamboo industry wastewater (BIWW) upon its anaerobic biodegradability of organic content were investigated. The analysis through the Modified Gompertz model indicated that the optimum chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration for digestion was 22,780mgL−1 with a maximum R m (maximum CH4 production rate) value of 2.8mLh−1, corresponding to a specific methanogenic activity (SMA) of 2.38mLCH4 gVSS−1 h−1. The inhibitory effects of Cu (II) on cumulative methane production depended on its concentration and contact time. Low concentrations (5mgL−1) of Cu (II) showed a stimulating effect on methanogenesis. Methane was not detected when the Cu (II) concentration was increased beyond 300mgL−1. The IC50 value of Cu (II), the Cu (II) concentration that causes a 50% reduction in the cumulative methane production, was 18.32mgL−1 (15.9mgCu(II)gVSS−1). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The bioremediation was employed to treat perchlorate-contaminated water. All enrichments and growth of mixed cultures were performed in anaerobic acetate medium. Enrichment cultures were started with activated sludge obtained from a local wastewater treatment plant where it predominantly treats domestic wastewater. Several parameters affecting perchlorate removal were examined through batch experiments, these include the amount of domesticated sludge, the acetate concentration, pH, the C/N ratio and the reaction temperature. The results indicated that acetate was an effective carbon source and electron donor. Under the selected conditions, namely 1.0g domesticated sludge, an acetate concentration of 1.2gl−1, pH 8.0, a C/N ratio of 20 at 40°C, 50mgl−1 perchlorate could be rapidly reduced to non-detectable levels within 24h. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Rationale: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been demonstrated to contribute to esophageal cancer progression. CircBCAR3 (hsa_circ_0007624) is predicted to be differentially expressed in esophageal cancer by bioinformatics analysis. We investigated the oncogenic roles and biogenesis of circBCAR3 in esophageal carcinogenesis. Methods: Functions of circBCAR3 on cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and ferroptosis were explored using the loss-of-function assays. A xenograft mouse model was used to reveal effects of circBCAR3 on xenograft growth and lung metastasis. The upstream and downstream mechanisms of circBCAR3 were investigated by bioinformatics analysis and confirmed by RNA immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assays. The dysregulated genes in hypoxia-induced esophageal cancer cells were identified using RNA-seq. Results: CircBCAR3 was highly expressed in esophageal cancer tissues and cells and its expression was increased by hypoxia in vitro. Silencing of circBCAR3 repressed the proliferation, migration, invasion, and ferroptosis of esophageal cancer cells in vitro, as well as inhibited the growth and metastasis of esophageal xenograft in mice in vivo. The hypoxia-induced promotive effects on esophageal cancer cell migration and ferroptosis were rescued by circBCAR3 knockdown. Mechanistically, circBCAR3 can interact with miR-27a-3p by the competitive endogenous RNA mechanism to upregulate transportin-1 (TNPO1). Furthermore, our investigation indicated that splicing factor quaking (QKI) is a positive regulator of circBCAR3 via targeting the introns flanking the hsa_circ_0007624-formed exons in BCAR3 pre-mRNA. Hypoxia upregulates E2F7 to transcriptionally activate QKI. Conclusion: Our research demonstrated that splicing factor QKI promotes circBCAR3 biogenesis, which accelerates esophageal cancer tumorigenesis via binding with miR-27a-3p to upregulate TNPO1. These data suggested circBCAR3 as a potential target in the treatment of esophageal cancer. Hypoxia induces the upregulation of E2F7, which transcriptionally activates QKI in esophageal cancer cells. QKI increases the formation of circBCAR3 by juxtaposing the circularized exons. CircBCAR3 binds with miR-27a-3p to promote TNPO1 expression. CircBCAR3 promoted the proliferation, migration, invasion, and ferroptosis of esophageal cancer cells by miR-27a-3p. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity is a fundamental environmental factor in aquaculture, and arginine kinase (AK) plays imperative roles in innate immune feedback and stress resistance in invertebrates. In the current study, we cloned a full-length cDNA of arginine kinase 2 (MnAK2, GenBank number, MN149533) in Macrobrachium nipponense and analyzed its function through a salinity challenge using bioinformatic approaches. MnAK2 was expressed at the highest levels in hepatopancreas and muscle. Changes in the expression levels of MnAK2, enzymes involved in innate immunity, antioxidant enzymes, and antioxidant enzyme-related genes, and the glutathione and malondialdehyde contents were investigated after 6-week salinity treatment. The expression of MnAK2 gradually increased as salinity increased, and western blotting showed that MnAK2 was significantly upregulated in the 14 and 22 ppt salinity-treatment groups relative to the control group. The findings indicate that high salinity produces oxidative stress and that salinity below isotonic salinity might improve the antioxidant response in M. nipponense. MnAK2 may play a crucial role in the response to salinity stress in M. nipponense. • We studied the antioxidant mechanism of M. nipponense under salinity stress. • MnAK2 was successfully cloned from M. nipponense. • MnAK2 expression in the hepatopancreas increased as the salinity increased. • MnAK2 plays a critical role in regulating the response to salinity stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipids play an important role in protecting poikilotherms from cold stress, but relatively little is known about the regulation of lipid metabolism under cold stress, especially in crustaceans. In the present study, red-clawed crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus was employed as a model organism. Animals were divided into four temperature groups (25, 20, 15 and 9 °C) and treated for 4 weeks, with the 25 °C group serving as a control. The total lipid content in the hepatopancreas as well as the triglyceride, cholesterol and free fatty acid levels in the hemolymph were determined. Lipids stored in the hepatopancreas and hemolymph decreased with decreasing temperature, with changes in the 9 °C group most pronounced, indicating that lipids are the main energy source for crayfish at low temperatures. Furthermore, enzyme activity of lipase, fatty acid synthase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and lipoprotein esterase, and gene expression analysis of fatty acid synthase gene, acetyl-CoA carboxylase gene and carnitine palmitoyltransferase gene showed that the digestion, synthesis and oxidation of lipids in the hepatopancreas were inhibited under low temperature stress, but expression of sphingolipid delta-4 desaturase (DEGS) was increased, indicating an increase in the demand for highly unsaturated fatty acids at low temperatures. Analysis of the expression of genes related to the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signalling pathway revealed that the adiponectin receptor gene was rapidly upregulated at low temperatures, which may in turn activate the expression of the downstream AMPKα gene, thereby inhibiting lipid anabolism. • Lipid metabolism slows down under chronic cold stress. • Expression of the desaturase DEGS mRNA upregulated after 4 weeks of cold stress. • The stock of lipid in both hepatopancreas and hemolymph decreased after 4 weeks of cold stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • 55.60% (free radicals) and 44.40% (nonradical) contributions without sulfoxides probe. • 39.09% (free radicals) and 60.91% (nonradical) contributions with sulfoxides probe. • PMSO transformed the mechanism from free radical dominated to nonradical dominated. • PMSO improve the utilization efficiency of Fe(II) and redox reaction between Fe(Ⅱ) and PS. • Sulfoxides selectively enhanced degradation pollutants with an IP lower than 8.66 eV. Sulfoxides are widely recognized as probes for identifying and evaluating the generation and contribution of high-valent metals in advanced oxidation processes. However, this paper was surprising to find that the presence of sulfoxides selectively enhanced the degradation of specific pollutants in the Fe(II)/PS system. Represented by methyl phenyl sulfoxide (PMSO), scavenging experiments for active species showed that the presence of PMSO transformed the mechanism from radical dominated (55.60 %) to nonradical dominated (60.91 %), greatly improving the anti-interference ability of the system. Determining the concentration of Fe(Ⅱ) and total iron (Fe tot) in solution revealed that the presence of PMSO improved the utilization efficiency of Fe(II) and PS by enhancing the redox reaction between Fe(II) and PS, and resulted in the generation of Fe(IV) more favorably than the generation of SO 4 ·− and ·OH. Additionally, comparing the proven high-valent iron dominated Fe(II)/PI system with the free radical dominated Fe(II)/PS system of this paper, it was revealed that the selectively enhanced oxidation of PMSO specifically targets the free radical dominated system. Experiments have shown that the degradation of acetaminophen, ibuprofen, phenol, and p-chlorophenol was enhanced by PMSO, while the degradation of norfloxacin, primidone, chloramphenicol, sulfamethoxazole, p-nitrophenol, benzoic acid, and nitrobenzene was inhibited. Based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations, PMSO has a selectively enhanced degradation effect for organic pollutants with ionization potential (IP) below 8.66 eV, and vice versa, it has an inhibitory effect. The present study provides new insights into the contribution of sulfoxide to the assessment of high-valent metals and sheds new light on the mechanism of active species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• DpCYP370B and DpCYP4 were found to have all features of the CYP family. • Expression of DpCYP370B and three CYP4s were inhibited by high doses of nanoplastics. • Cytochrome P450 played a positive protective role against nanoplastics. Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes are one of the largest protein families, and they metabolise a wide range of lipophilic organic endogenous and exogenous compounds. Many cytochrome P450 genes have been cloned and characterised, and they are frequently used as biomarkers in environmental toxicology studies because of their sensitivity and inducibility. In the present study, the full-length cDNAs of DpCYP370B and DpCYP4 were cloned from Daphnia pulex for the first time. The sequence of DpCYP370B consisted of an ORF of 1515 bp that encoded a 504 amino acid polypeptide, while the sequence of DpCYP4 comprised an ORF of 1527 bp that encoded a 508 amino acid polypeptide. Homologous alignments revealed the presence of a conserved cysteine haeme-iron ligand signature, FxxGxxxCxG, located in the C-terminal portion. Both the proteins contained a sequence for a transmembrane region that was deduced to be located in the endoplasmic reticulum. Subsequently, the expression levels of DpCYP370B and DpCYP4, as well as those of CYP4AN1, CYP4C33, and CYP4C34, were investigated using quantitative real-time PCR after exposure to five polystyrene nanoplastic concentrations: 0 (control), 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/L for 21 days. Except for DpCYP4, the highest mRNA expression was observed at 0.5 mg/L nanoplastics; next, the expression of three of the enzymes (DpCYP370B, CYP4AN1, CYP4C34,) decreased to that of the control level at 1 and 2 mg/L doses of nanoplastics. The expression of DpCYP4 did not significantly change compared with that of the control group. These results indicated that CYP genes might play an important role in protecting D. pulex against nanoplastic pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The red claw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus , is an economically important freshwater crustacean that cannot tolerate low temperature, which diminishes survival via unknown mechanisms. Herein, physiological regulation of C. quadricarinatus was investigated following exposure to low temperature stress at 9 ± 2 °C for 4 weeks. Hepatopancreas tissue was tested for nonspecific enzyme activity, histological structure, and transcriptome sequencing analyses. The results showed that the activities of nonspecific enzymes were inhibited following low temperature stress. Ultrastructural observation revealed that the hepatopancreas structure was oxidatively damaged at low temperature, with numerous autophagic vesicles visible. Apoptosis in the hepatopancreas was significantly increased in the cold stress group, indicating diminished function. Transcriptome sequencing identified 2615 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) following low temperature stress, of which 1147 and 1468 were up- and down-regulated, respectively. Functional analysis of DEGs indicated involvement in substance metabolism, antioxidant defences, signal transduction, and immune responses. Therefore, chronic cold stress can suppress metabolism and cause oxidative damage and immune deficiency in crayfish. The findings provide fundamental molecular information for further study of the regulatory mechanisms of cold tolerance in red claw crayfish. • Activities of non-specific immunity enzymes were inhibited following low temperature stress. • Hepatopancreas structure was damaged and the percentage of apoptosis cells increased. • Genes involvement in substance metabolism, antioxidant defences, immune responses etc. were differentially expressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a widespread and ubiquitous pollutant of marine ecosystems, microplastic has the potential to become an emerging global threat for aquatic organisms. The present study aims to elucidate the effects of microplastics on the growth, accumulation and oxidative stress response in the liver of Eriocheir sinensis . Fluorescent microplastic particles (diameter = 0.5 μm) accumulated in the gill, liver and gut tissues of E. sinensis were investigated when crabs were exposed to a concentration of 40000 μg/L for 7 days. A 21 day toxicity test suggested that the rate of weight gain, specific growth rate, and hepatosomatic index of E. sinensis decreased with increasing microplastic concentration (0 μg/L, 40 μg/L, 400 μg/L, 4000 μg/L and 40000 μg/L). The activities of AChE and GPT in crabs exposed to microplastics were lower than those in control group. GOT activity increased significantly after exposure to a low concentration of microplastics and then decreased continuously with increasing microplastic concentrations. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), aspartate transaminase (GOT), glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) increased in specimens exposed to low concentrations of microplastics (40 and 400 μg/L) compared to the control and decreased in organisms exposed to high concentrations (4000 and 40000 μg/L). In contrast, the activities of acetylcholinesterase, catalase (CAT), and alanine aminotransferase were significantly lower in the organisms exposed to microplastics compared to control animals. Upon exposure to increasing microplastic concentrations, the expression of genes encoding the antioxidants SOD, CAT, GPx and glutathione S-transferase in the liver decreased after first increasing. Exposure to microplastics increased the expression of the gene encoding p38 in the MAPK signaling pathway and significantly decreased the expressions of genes encoding ERK, AKT, and MEK. The results of this study demonstrate that microplastics can accumulate in the tissues of E. sinensis and negatively affect growth. In addition, exposure to microplastics causes damage and induces oxidative stress in the hepatopancreas of E. sinensis . The findings provide basic biological data for environmental and human risk assessments of microplastics of high concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of new diagnostic methods is essential for disease diagnosis and treatment. In this work, we present a stimuli-responsive incremental DNA machine auto-catalyzed CRISPR-Cas12a (SRI-DNA machine/CRISPR-Cas12a) feedback amplification for ultrasensitive molecular detection of miRNA-21, which is an important biomarker related closely to the initiation and development of cancers, such as esophageal cancer. Strategically, the powerful SRI-DNA machine and efficient trans -cleavage activity of the CRISPR-Cas12a system are ingeniously integrated via a rationally designed probe termed as stem-elongated functional hairpin probe (SEF-HP). The SRI-DNA machine begins with the target miRNA, the trigger of the reaction, binding complementarily to the SEF-HP, followed by autonomously performed mechanical strand replication, cleavage, and displacement circuit at multiple sites. This conversion process led to the amplified generation of numerous DNA activators that are complementary with CRISPR RNA (CrRNA). Once formed the DNA activator/CrRNA heteroduplex, the trans -cleavage activity of the CRISPR-Cas12a was activated to nonspecific cleavage of single-stranded areas of a reporter probe for fluorescence emission. Under optimal conditions, the target miRNA can be detected with a wide linear range and an excellent specificity. As a proof-of-concept, this SRI-DNA machine/CRISPR-Cas12a feedback amplification system is adaptable and scalable to higher-order artificial amplification circuits for biomarkers detection, highlighting its promising potential in early diagnosis and disease treatment. [Display omitted] • Innovative SRI-DNA machine/CRISPR-Cas12a system for ultrasensitive miRNA-21 detection. • Autonomous mechanical processes enable exceptional sensitivity and specificity. • Potential implications for early diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer. • Superior performance compared to existing miRNA detection methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • MOFs act as dual-functional adsorbents and electrocatalysts for the removal of PPCPs. • Real active sites of MOFs are pinpointed using in-situ electrochemical methods. • Fe-MOFs exhibit high efficacy and stability in practical wastewater treatment. Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) pose a significant wastewater pollution concern. While electrochemical oxidation is promising, it struggles with slow mass transfer. To address this, we propose a novel strategy utilizing bifunctional metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) that couple an adsorbent with an electrocatalyst. The real active sites within iron-based MOFs responsible for the adsorption of PPCPs are MIL-101(Fe) molecules, while the in-situ formed active sites, α -FeOOH, accelerate the charge transfer under bias, contributing to the electrooxidation of PPCPs. The rapid destruction of adsorbed organics on the dual-functional electrode surface enables to release adsorption sites. This, in turn, paves the way for fast and efficient re-adsorption of PPCPs molecules, consequently promoting mass transfer. Iron-based MOFs exhibit excellent adsorption capacity (∼60 mg g−1 for sulfosalicylic acid, ∼15 mg g−1 for acetaminophen) and electrooxidation ability (94 % removal in 2 h, 31.2 kWh kg−1 COD) with good stability in realistic pharmaceutical wastewater treatment. This study offers a novel strategy for removing PPCPs using molecular electrocatalysts and provides new insights for designing and constructing MOFs for refractory wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of microplastic exposure on the non-specific immune responses and intestinal microflora remain unclear. In this study, juveniles of the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) were exposed to different concentrations of microplastics (0, 0.04, 0.4, 4, and 40 mg/L) for 7, 14, and 21 days to explore their effects. Under microplastic-induced stress, the contents or activities of most immune-related factors [haemocyanin (Hc), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), phenoloxidase (PO), lysozyme (LSZ), and acid phosphatase (ACP)] decreased after an initial increase in the low-dose or short exposure times in the haemolymph and hepatopancreas. The trends in Hc and LSZ gene expression were consistent with the corresponding changes in enzyme activities. Moreover, the haemocyte expression of caspase and MyD88 in the groups with microplastic-induced stress was higher than that in the control group, whereas the expression levels in the hepatopancreas were first increased and then decreased. Furthermore, the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes decreased following exposure to 40 mg/L microplastics, whereas that of Fusobacteria and Proteobacteria increased. These results indicate that microplastics affect immune enzyme activity and immune-related gene expression and change the diversity and composition of the intestinal microflora in E. sinensis. Unlabelled Image • The effect of microplastics on enzyme activity and gene expression were evaluated in crab • Microplastics provokes different levels of immune inhibition in the hemolymph and hepatopancreas E. sinensis • Microplastic exposure altered the intestinal microbiota profile of E. sinensis [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A cocatalyst loading strategy is proposed for wastewater electrochemical treatment. • The cocatalyst NiOOH accelerates the charge transfer, thus promoting water oxidation. • The increased reactive oxygen species promote the electrooxidation of organics. • The electrode shows great promise for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment. Acetaminophen (APAP), a common pharmaceutical and personal care product, is highly toxic and resistant to conventional wastewater treatment. Electrochemical oxidation is a promising technique for removing pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), and the Ti-doped α -Fe 2 O 3 electrode is a low-cost alternative to noble-metal electrocatalysts. Herein, we present a novel cocatalyst loading strategy to enhance the electrocatalytic ability of the electrodes by loading a cocatalyst, NiOOH, by electrodeposition. The cocatalyst leads to a higher potential drop (97.7%) on the Helmholtz layer than the bare one (80.5%) and accelerates the charge transfer by ten. The increased production of reactive oxygen species during water activation further facilitates the electrooxidation of APAP, resulting in a threefold increase in removal rate and a twofold increase in Faraday efficiency. Additionally, the obtained NiOOH/Ti-Fe 2 O 3 electrode shows excellent ability (100% APAP removal in 2 h) and stability (removal efficiency greater than 94% after ten cycles) for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment containing APAP. These findings provide a novel and generalized strategy for enhancing the electrocatalytic ability of Ti-doped α -Fe 2 O 3 electrodes and offer valuable guidelines for exploring efficient and economic electrocatalysts for refractory wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the electrolytic process conditions for the electrochemical oxidation (EO) of composting leachate biochemical effluent (CLBE) were optimized via the response surface methodology (RSM). Meanwhile, a comparative study had been done on the failure characteristics of Ti/RuO 2 –IrO 2 anodes in a single electrolyte solution system (H 2 SO 4 and NaCl) and real wastewater (CLBE) by accelerated life tests, respectively. The RSM optimization results showed that the COD, NH 3 –N and TN removal rates were 50.53%, 100% and 95.61% at 30 min, respectively, with a desirability value of 0.993. In parallel, the electrochemical and material characterizations were carried out on the electrodes before and after failure, by which the failure mechanism of Ti/RuO 2 –IrO 2 anodes was clarified. On the whole, the true failure in the H 2 SO 4 solution was attributed to coating dissolution and Ti substrate oxidation. In contrast, the electrode exhibited "apparent failure" due to the "bubble effect" in both NaCl and CLBE solutions, and the "effective roughness" formed compensated for the loss of activity caused by the absence of the coating. Besides, additional dissolution of the Ti substrate occurred in the CLBE solution due to the current edge effect and the presence of organic matter. This paper takes the actual wastewater as the research object and reveals its electrode failure mechanism, which provides a theoretical basis and reference for the subsequent optimization of the actual electrode service life. [Display omitted] • ANOVA indicating that the model equations were well matched with the actual results. • The order of influence of the variables was current density > Cl− concentration > pH. • NH 3 –N and TN removal 100% and 95.61% at 30 min, COD removal 100% after 40 min. • Ti/RuO 2 –IrO 2 electrode exhibited "apparent failure" in actual wastewater (CLBE). • Current edge effect and organic matter led to the dissolution of Ti substrate in CLBE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Contribution of volatile compounds (VC) to odor from different waste treatments compared. • Sulfur compounds were the main odor in the majority of MSW disposal facilities. • Sorting system was an important emission site of VCs in MSW disposal plant. • Breaks in HDPE cover and gas extraction wells resulted in emissions of VCs from landfill. • MSW disposal facilities presented potential health risks for on-site workers. Gaseous emissions from municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal plants pose serious odor pollution and health risks. In this study, the emission of volatile organic compounds and carbon disulfide was compared in the main processing units of three disposal methods, i.e., landfilling, eco-mechanical biological treatment (EMBT) and anaerobic fermentation in a MSW disposal plant. Among the detected volatile compounds (VCs), the top ten odor compounds were methanethiol, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, carbon disulfide, styrene, m-xylene, 4-ethyltoluene, ethylbenzene, 2-hexyl ketone and n-hexane in the MSW disposal plant. Sulfur compounds were the main source of odor at the majority of sampling sites, and aromatic compounds were the dominant odor substrates at the tipping unit and sorting system of EMBT, while 2-hexanone was the major odor substrate at the tipping unit (AT) and sorting system (AS) of anaerobic fermentation and the landfill working surface. At AS and AT, the lifetime cancer risk values for 1,2-dichloroethane and trichloroethylene exceeded the carcinogenic risk value (>1.0E-04), and the hazard index values of naphthalene, trichloroethylene and acrolein all exceeded the acceptable level (>1). Therefore, special attention should be paid to VC emissions from MSW disposal facilities, and protection measures should be adopted for on-site workers to minimize health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA) and carbonic anhydrase (CA) are ion transporters that play important roles in osmotic pressure balance in crustaceans. Oriental river prawn (Macrobrachium nipponense) is one of the most economically important shrimps in China. This species can live in freshwater and low-salt water, but the molecular mechanism of salinity regulation is unclear. In this study, full-length cDNAs of M. nipponense α-NKA and CA were obtained by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE)-PCR (GenBank accession numbers MH378774 and MH827971, respectively), and characterised. Full-length cDNAs of Mnα-NKA (3778 bp) and MnCA (1407 bp) contain open reading frames of 3030 bp and 930 bp, respectively, encoding polypeptides of 1009 and 930 amino acids. Bioinformatic analysis showed that Mnα-NKA and MnCA harbour the representative features of NKAs and CAs, and share high homology with orthologs in other crustaceans. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that Mnα-NKA and MnCA were expressed in various tissues, with highest expression in posterior gills and hepatopancreas. Both Mnα-NKA and MnCA were up-regulated in response to salinity acclimation, but expression patterns differed. Our results provide a theoretical basis for the mechanism regulating salinity acclimation in M. nipponense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The widespread occurrence and accumulation of plastic waste have been globally recognized as a critical issue. However, there is limited information on the adverse effects of nanoplastics on freshwater invertebrates. In this study, the effects of a polystyrene nanoplastic on physiological changes (e.g., survival, growth, and reproduction) and expression levels of stress defense genes (oxidative stress-mediated and heat shock proteins) in the freshwater flea Daphnia pulex were measured. The results showed that the digestive organs of D. pulex were strongly fluorescent after exposure to the nanoplastic particles, and the 48-h median lethal concentration (LC 50) of the nanoplastic was determined to be 76.69 mg/L. In the 21-day chronic toxicity test, dose- and time-dependent relationships were observed for body length, and the time to first eggs was significantly prolonged in the 0.5 and 1 mg/L groups. The time to clutch was delayed, and total offspring per female and number of clutches were decreased in all the treatment groups. In addition, the offspring per clutch were significantly decreased in the 0.1 mg/L group. As the nanoplastic concentration increased, expression of stress defense genes (SOD , GST , GPx , and CAT) was first induced and then inhibited. The gene expressions of heat shock proteins (HSP70 and HSP90) were induced in all the treatment groups. Our results suggest that nanoplastics can be ingested by the freshwater cladoceran D. pulex and affect its growth and reproduction as well as induce stress defense. Highlights • 75-nm nanoplastic was ingested by Daphnia pulex , resulting in immobilization. • LC50 of the nanoplastic in D. pulex was 76.69 mg/L after 48 h. • Adverse effects were observed on the growth, development, and reproduction of D. pulex. • Nanoplastic can affect the stress-defense gene expression in D. pulex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the effects of dietary vitamin E on the reproductive performance and antioxidant capacity of Macrobrachium nipponense female shrimp. Prawns were fed 0, 40, 80, 160, 320 or 640 mg vitamin E/kg diet for 60 days. The 80 mg/kg group had the highest weight gain and lowest feed conversion rates. And the highest spawning rates were observed in the 80 mg/kg group with no significant differences among the groups. The highest activities of lysozyme, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase in hepatopancreas were obtained in the 160 mg/kg group. The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase showed a decreasing trend in the hepatopancreas. The lowest content of malondialdehyde was obtained with 80 and 160 mg/kg vitamin E. Histological results showed that the number of restzellen cells in hepatopancreas and a number of follicular cells in ovaries increased with 160 mg/kg vitamin E. However, 640 mg/kg vitamin E resulted in damaged hepatopancreas tubules and oocytes. The highest vitellogenin and vitellogenin receptor gene expressions were observed with 160 mg/kg vitamin E. These results provide evidence that dietary vitamin E with 80 and 160 mg/kg plays a positive impact on reproductive performance and antioxidant capacity of female shrimp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The LC50 values of different D. pulex age groups exposed to nanoplastics varied. • Nanoplastic induced significant differences in the energy status of all age groups. • Besides the neonatal life stage, the senescent life stage exhibits the highest sensitivity. Abstract The widespread occurrence and accumulation of micro- and nanoplastics in aquatic environments has become a growing global concern. Generally, natural aquatic populations are characterized by a variety of multi-structured age groups, for which physiological and biochemical responses typically differ. The freshwater cladoceran, Daphnia pulex , is a model species used extensively in environmental monitoring studies and ecotoxicology testing. Here, the effects of a polystyrene nanoplastic on the physiological changes (i.e., survival) and expression levels of stress defense genes (i.e., those encoding antioxidant-mediated and heat shock proteins) in this freshwater flea were measured. Results from acute bioassays were used to determine the respective nanoplastic LC50 values for five age groups (1-, 4-, 7-, 14- and 21-day-old individuals): the obtained values for the 1- and 21-day-old D. pulex groups were similar (i.e., not significantly different). The expression levels of genes encoding key stress defense enzymes and proteins— SOD , CAT , GST , GPx , HSP70 , and HSP90 —were influenced by the nanoplastic in all the age groups, but not in the same way for each. Significant differences were observed among all age groups in their expression of the gene encoding the energy-sensing enzyme AMPK (adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase) α , β , and γ following exposure to the nanoplastic. Moreover, the expression of AMPK α was significantly increased in the 1-, 7-, and 21-day-old individuals exposed to nanoplastic relative to the control group. Together, these results indicate that age in D. pulex affects the sensitivity of its individuals to pollution from this nanoplastic, primarily via alterations to vital physiological and biochemical processes, such as cellular energy homeostasis and oxidation, which were demonstrated in vivo. We speculate that such age-related effects may extend to other nanoplastics and forms of pollution in D. pulex and perhaps similar marine organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) has high removal efficiency and strong reductive ability to organic and inorganic contaminants, but concerns over its stability and dispersity limit its application. In this study, nZVI was modified with sulfide to enhance Cd(II) removal from aqueous solutions. TEM and SEM analyses showed that sulfide-modified nZVI (S-nZVI) had a core-shell structure of nano-sized spherical particles, and BET results proved that sulfide modification doubled the specific surface area from 26.04 to 50.34 m 2  g −1 and inhibited the aggregation of nZVI. Mechanism analysis indicated that Cd(II) was immobilized through complexation and precipitation. Cd(II) removal rate on nZVI was only 32% in 2 h, while complete immobilization could be achieved in 15 min on S-nZVI, and S-nZVI with an optimal S/Fe molar ratio of 0.3 offered a cadmium removal capacity of about 150 mg g −1 at pH 7 and 303 K. The process of Cd(II) immobilization on S-nZVI was fitted well with pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and the increase of temperature favored Cd(II) immobilization, suggesting an endothermic process. The presence of Mg 2+ and Ca 2+ hindered Cd(II) removal while Cu 2+ did the opposite, which led to the order as Cu 2+  > control > Mg 2+  > Ca 2+ . The removal rate of 20 mg L −1 Cd(II) maintained a high level with the fluctuation of environmental conditions such as pH, ion strength and presence of HA. This study demonstrated that S-nZVI could be a promising adsorbent for Cd(II) immobilization from cadmium-contaminated water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) is an efficient technology to treat high concentration wastewater, however membrane fouling is the major limiting factor for its widely application. This study brought the electric field into AnMBR system to couple microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) with AnMBR thus built a new type of MEC-AnMBR reactor. We explored the degradation effect of organic pollutants and membrane fouling in the reactor under different conditions. Results indicated that the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rate reached maximum when applied voltage was 0.6 V, and it was almost 1.2 times higher than that without applied voltage (0 V). On the other hand, the membrane fouling rate of MEC-AnMBR reactor gradually slowed down with the increase of applied voltage. The cycle of membrane fouling could be extended from 60 to 98 h. Experimental results suggested that the major reason was the decrease of extracellular polymeric substance-protein (EPSp)/extracellular polymeric substance- polysaccharide (EPSc) ratio of sludge while along with the increase of applied voltage. The increased applied voltage would result in increase of absolute value of zeta potential of sludge particles and decrease of sludge viscosity. The development of MEC-AnMBR has significant effects on high-concentration organic wastewater treatment and the improvement of AnMBR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfosalicylic acid is a typical pharmaceutical and personal care product with high toxicity, environmental persistence, and low biodegradability. Electrochemical oxidation has been demonstrated to be a promising way for hazardous organics treatment, but it is severely limited by the high cost and resource shortage of electrode materials. Base-metal oxide semiconductor anodes have the merits of low cost, diversity, and tunable energy levels for charge transfer, and thus may be alternatives to the electrodes for wastewater treatment. Herein, we found that Ti-doped α -Fe 2 O 3 , as an example, could be efficient for sulfosalicylic acid oxidation, reaching comparable faraday efficiency of sulfosalicylic acid to that of the boron-doped diamond electrode. Ti-doped electrodes exhibited both higher removal rates and current efficiency compared to the undoped. This could be mainly ascribed to the enhanced charge transfer rate constant. Kinetic analysis shows that the apparent reaction order, in terms of sulfosalicylic acid in bulk solution, depended on applied potential and pollutant concentration. Mechanism study shows that the oxidation of sulfosalicylic acid was mainly through indirect pathway. Moreover, the oxidation products were determined and the oxidation mechanism was proposed. This study may open a door to employ base-metal oxide semiconductor anodes for the efficient treatment of organic wastewater. [Display omitted] • Ti doped α -Fe 2 O 3 semiconductor electrodes are efficient for PPCP treatment. • The oxidation of sulfosalicylic acid is mainly through indirect pathway. • Adjusting Ti doping levels could accelerate the charge transfer kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of low-cost electrocatalysts is a challenging task and has been the focus in the field of advanced water oxidation in comparison to ruthenium and iridium oxide-based electrodes. The current research focused on Ti doped α -Fe 2 O 3 electrodes for water oxidation. The water oxidation rate initially enhanced and then decreased as Ti doping levels increase. The enhanced activity can be ascribed to the increased surface area and charge transfer rate constant k ct. The increase in k ct results from a greater potential drop on the Helmholtz layer, which is mainly attributed to an increased surface state density. The decreased performance for the electrodes with high Ti levels is due to the formation of a TiO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 mixture where TiO 2 shows poor activity. Moreover, the mechanism of charge transfer is discussed. This study may provide an alternative hematite semiconductor anode for water dark oxidation, environmental pollution control, and may even be helpful for better understanding the photoelectrochemical oxidation of water under the weak light illumination and high bias potential. [Display omitted] • Charge transfer mechanism of Ti-Doped α -Fe 2 O 3 electrode is studied. • Adjusting Ti doping levels could accelerate the charge transfer kinetics. • The enhanced water oxidation results from more potential drop of Helmholtz layer. • The interfacial charge transfer is most likely through bandgap states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daphnia carinata are unique freshwater crustaceans that undergo both sexual and asexual reproduction, depending on environmental factors. While the molecular mechanism behind the reproductive transformation has been unknown, chemosensory proteins (CSPs) may be involved. We have cloned the cDNA sequences of two CSP genes from D. carinata using primers based on homologous sequences and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The full-length cDNA of DacaCSP2 (GenBank accession no: KM624608 ) was 632 bp, with an ORF (open reading frame) of 330 bp encoding a 12.02 kDa protein; and the full-length cDNA of DacaCSP3 (GenBank accession no: KM624609 ) was 935 bp, with an ORF of 342 bp encoding a 12.78 kDa protein. Both CSPs encoded an N-terminal signal peptide, four conserved cysteines, an OS-D superfamily domain, a 2Fe–2S ferredoxin domain, an anaphylatoxin domain and an EGF-like domain. DaCaCSP2 and DaCaCSP3 proteins were most closely related to CSPs from Daphnia pulex and were more distantly related to CSPs from other insects. Using quantitative PCR, we found expression levels of DaCaCSP2 and DaCaCSP3 mRNA were highest in sexual females, followed by parthenogenetic females, and lowest in males. The expression levels of DaCaCSP2 and DaCaCSP3 mRNA also increased at lower temperatures, which suggested they could respond to environmental cues. Whole mount in situ hybridization (ISH) showed that DaCaCSP2 and DaCaCSP3 were expressed mainly in the ovaries, summer eggs, thoracic limbs, rectum and second antennae in sexual females; while they were expressed mainly in the ovaries, thoracic limbs, rectum and second antennae in parthenogenetic females. Together, these results suggest that DacaCSP2 and DacaCSP3 may respond to environmental cues and control the reproductive switch from sexual to asexual reproduction in D. carinata . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) is a promising technology for anaerobic wastewater treatment and energy recovery. Applied voltage affects the activities of microorganisms in MEC and further impacts methane generation. Therefore, we explored the effects of applied voltages on the performance of MEC and the microbial activities under anaerobic conditions. With COD concentration of 2–3 g/L in influent, COD removal efficiency and methane yield increased when the applied voltage was lower than 0.8 V and decreased when the applied voltage was 1.0 and 2.0 V. Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), as an indicator for cell rupture, its activity increased 14% and 10% under 1.0 and 2.0 V in anode and increased 35% and 41% in cathode, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), as an indicator for metabolism, its activity decreased sharply, 27% and 55% in anode while 46% and 66% in cathode, under the two voltages respectively, comparing to the control. Results indicated that the higher voltage led to the greater plasmatorrhexis, lower growth rate and lower metabolic activity. The destroyed cell membrance resulted in slower growth and metabolism rate, which meant the decrease of COD removal efficiency and methane yield, when the voltage higher than 0.8 V conditions. In conclusion, the optimal applied voltage for wastewater treatment was 0.8 V. Information provided will be useful to design reactor and maintain industry practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, one of Doublesex genes from the common freshwater cladoceran Daphnia carinata , designated DapcaDsx1 , was cloned using primers based on homologous sequences and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). qPCR was employed to quantify differences in DapcaDsx1 expression between the different sexual phases, with expression levels being higher in sexual females. The role of DapcaDsx1 in the reproductive transformation was further investigated in parthenogenetic-phase females and sexual-phase females using whole-mount in situ hybridization. This cellular localization study showed specific expression of DapcaDsx1 in the thoracic segments, second antenna and part of the ventral carapace. Higher expression levels were exhibited in sexual females compared to parthenogenetic females. This suggests that the DapcaDsx1 gene plays significant roles in switching modes of reproduction and during sexual differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Nano-Ni/Fe were synthesized in the presence of ultrasonic irradiation. [•] Ultrasonic irradiation can improve nano-Ni/Fe′ disparity and avoid agglomeration. [•] 2,4-DCP was first adsorbed by nano-Ni/Fe, then was quickly dechlorinated. [•] Factors of reductive dechlorination by nano-Ni/Fe were studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese food waste (FW) production is enormous which brings many economic and environmental benefits. There is an urgent need for proper and efficient treatment technology. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a popular technology for centralized large-scale treatment of FW. Composting technologies including static composting (SC), forced aerated composting (FC), and machine composting (MC) have been applied in rural areas owing to their low cost and simplicity. The characteristics of products in different FW treatment are still unclear, preventing agricultural use of the products. In order to elucidate the properties of different samples and to realize the resource utilization of products, compost samples (FC, SC and MC) and AD biogas residue samples were collected on site. By analyzing the physicochemical properties (pH, moisture content, maturity, salinity, lignocellulose, etc.) and phytotoxicity, the quality of different products was evaluated to determine the most appropriate rural FW treatment technology. MC products showed poor performance in maturity, salt concentration and plant toxicity. SC products cannot be used due to phytotoxicity. High moisture content limited the prospects of AD products utilization. FC products were of good quality with 32.91% in organic matter loss, good performance in lignocellulose degradation, 6.76% in water-soluble salts, and 79.61% in germination index. FC technology is worth promoting in rural areas of China. • Forced aerated composting showed a superior performance among four technologies. • Machine composting poorly degraded lignocellulose, resulting in strong phytotoxicity. • The correlation between phytotoxicity and physicochemical properties was analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cladoceran Daphnia carinata undergoes an unusual transition from asexual to sexual reproduction in response to environmental stimuli. Previously, a D. carinata cuticular protein (CP) was identified in an EST library. In this study, the full-length CP cDNA was cloned and sequenced (GenBank accession number: KF551931), and the expression levels in different reproductive states were assessed. Parthenogenetic and sexual female D. carinata were isolated, and CP expression was investigated using semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). CP was expressed during both reproductive stages, but expression was higher in sexual females. Cellular localization was also investigated using digoxin-labeled RNA probes in RNA whole-mount in situ hybridization assays, and CP was mainly expressed in the first pair of thoracic appendages, the surface of the head, shell spines, and other parts of the epidermis in parthenogenetic organisms. In contrast, CP expression was restricted to the thoracic appendages in sexual females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cladoceran Daphnia carinata undergoes an unusual transition from asexual to sexual reproduction in response to environmental stimuli. Previously, a D. carinata cuticular protein (CP) was identified in an EST library. In this study, the full-length CP cDNA was cloned and sequenced (GenBank accession number: KF551931), and the expression levels in different reproductive states were assessed. Parthenogenetic and sexual female D. carinata were isolated, and CP expression was investigated using semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). CP was expressed during both reproductive stages, but expression was higher in sexual females. Cellular localization was also investigated using digoxin-labeled RNA probes in RNA whole-mount in situ hybridization assays, and CP was mainly expressed in the first pair of thoracic appendages, the surface of the head, shell spines, and other parts of the epidermis in parthenogenetic organisms. In contrast, CP expression was restricted to the thoracic appendages in sexual females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] nZVI assembled on magnetic Fe3O4/graphene nanocomposites is synthesized. [•] Better dispersion and stability of nZVI are achieved. [•] These nanocomposites exhibit high removal efficiency on Cr(VI). [•] Cr(VI) adsorption and reduction via nZVI-graphene/Fe3O4 battery work synergically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Daphnia (water fleas) are small crustaceans that undergo an unusual switch from asexual to sexual reproduction that is dependent on environmental conditions. In this study, a senescence-associated protein (SAP) from the common freshwater species Daphnia pulex was cloned using primers based on homologous sequences and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). Real-time PCR was employed to quantify the expression of D. pulex SAP (DpSAP) in individual organisms. The role of DpSAP in the reproductive transformation was further investigated in both parthenogenetic and sexual females by using digoxin-labeled SAP RNA probes and RNA whole-mount in situ hybridization. DpSAP was more highly expressed in sexual females, indicating a role in growth and reproduction. Cellular localization studies using RNA whole-mount in situ hybridization showed specific expression in the second tentacle joints. These expression patterns suggest an important role for DpSAP in the reproductive transformation of D. pulex. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Anaerobic membrane bioreactor was applied to treat bamboo industry wastewater. [•] N2 flushing was employed as the membrane fouling control method. [•] Influence of HRT on the system performance and membrane cleaning was evaluated. [•] Major organic compounds in raw and treated wastewater were analyzed by GC–MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Fe0-Fe3O4 nanocomposites are embedded in polyvinyl alcohol/sodium alginate beads;. [•] Acidification and reduction after bead molding greatly improve beads performance;. [•] High stability, Cr(VI) removal efficiency and reusability of these beads;. [•] Easy and complete separation after reaction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]