Simultaneous nutrient and organic matter removal from wastewater by aerobic granular sludge process

Received: February 1st, 2023 ; Accepted: June 16th, 2023 ; Published: July 2nd, 2023 ; Correspondence: [email protected] granular sludge (AGS) technology offers several benefits, such as simultaneous removal of nutrients and organic matter from wastewater, stronger granule structure, excellent settleability, and high resistance to toxicity. However, the formation of granules can take a long time and needs to be dense and stable. In this study, the formation of aerobic granules in sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) using a granular activated carbon (GAC) and aluminium sulphate coagulant were evaluated for the simultaneous removal of nutrient (phosphorus (TP) and nitrogen (TN)) and organic matter (chemical oxygen demand (COD)) from wastewater. The reactors were continuously operated for 107 days and were fed with synthetic media and real domestic sewage. However, adaptation process with the synthetic wastewater led to relatively slow granulation process (sedimentation rate of sludge flocks was 3 m h-1 ). During the experiments, there was no visible formation of granules in SBRs based on the analysis of the sludge samples, only the formation of aggregate structures similar to flocks. However, the results showed that total phosphorus (TP) removal efficiency was over 90% in SBR operated with aluminium sulphate. However, COD and total nitrogen (TN) removals were higher in GAC SBR, 75% and 10%, respectively. Thus, even if granules are not developed yet, the system is working efficiently. The results of this study could be useful in the development of AGS technology for full-scale wastewater treatment plant

ANTIVIRAL THERAPY IN LIVER CIRRHOSIS

Management of patients with liver cirrhosis due to viral hepatitis is complicated; nevertheless, effective treatment is possible in the majority of diagnosed cases. Etiotropic treatment should be initiated as soon as liver cirrhosis is diagnosed. Antiviral therapy is the only evidence-based and justified treatment approach in such patients. Use of hepatoprotectors with doubtful efficacy significantly reduces chances of recovery and increases likelihood of poor outcomes. During the choice of antiviral regimen, considerations must be given to disease etiology and stage as well as liver functional status. Generally accepted scales for staging of liver cirrhosis (e.g. Child-Turcotte-Pugh and MELD) are helpful in the choice of up-to-date therapy regimen, assessment of the disease prognosis and planning of radical interventions

Результаты трансплантации печени в эпоху современной противовирусной терапии гепатита С

The emergence of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) has become the basis for a new potential treatment for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in patients with decompensated cirrhosis, who previously had no other alternative than liver transplantation (LT). However, optimal timing of antiviral therapy (AVT) remains an issue. Objective: to present a spectrum of clinical outcomes in LT waitlisted patients with HCV-related cirrhosis, who received and did not receive DAA therapy. Materials and methods. Enrolled for the study were 49 waitlisted patients with HCV-related end-stage liver diseases. The patients were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 included 40 patients who received DAA therapy before LT, while Group 2 consisted of 9 patients who did not receive antiviral treatment while on the LT waiting list. Results. The sample was represented in most cases by patients who had MELD/Na score <20. Only six had MELD/Na score >20, but <25. At the time of analysis, 38 patients had reached 12 weeks post AVT. Of these, 35 (92.1%) had sustained virologic response (SVR). Of these, 51.4% (n = 18) of cases showed decreased MELD/Na. There were no changes in 22.9% (n = 8). Increased MELD/Na was noted in 25.7% (n = 9). In 42.8% (n = 15) of cases, sustained elimination of HCV infection led to delisting. Among patients without SVR, increased MELD/Na was observed in all cases (n = 3). In the non-AVT group, one patient showed improved liver function (11.1%); in the rest, MELD/Na either remained stable or continued to increase - 44.5% (n = 4). A comparison of the frequency of deaths depending on AVT showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.001, V = 0.728). Among the non-AVT patients, the likelihood of waitlist death increased 66.5 times (95% CI: 7.99-554). Conclusion: DAA therapy carries significant advantages for waitlisted patients with MELD/Na score <25.Появление препаратов прямого противовирусного действия (ПППД) стало основой для формирования нового потенциала для лечения хронического гепатита С (ХГС) у больных с декомпенсированным циррозом печени, которые ранее не имели иной альтернативы, как трансплантация печени (ТП). Однако открытым остается вопрос оптимальных сроков проведения противовирусной терапии (ПВТ). Цель: представить спектр клинических исходов у пациентов с циррозом печени HCV-этиологии, получавших ПВТ ПППД и без нее, в листе ожидания ТП. Материалы и методы. Для исследования было отобрано 49 пациентов из листа ожидания с терминальной стадией заболевания печени в исходе ХГС. Данные были разделены на 2 группы: 1-я включала 40 пациентов, получавших ПВТ ПППД до ТП, 2-я - 9 пациентов без противовирусного лечения в листе ожидания ТП. Результаты. Выборка представлена в большинстве случаев пациентами с MELD-Na <20 баллов, и лишь у шести MELD-Na был больше 20 баллов, но не превышал 25 баллов. На момент анализа 38 пациентов достигли срока 12 недель после ПВТ. Из них у 35 (92,1%) зарегистрирован устойчивый вирусологический ответ (УВО). Из них в 51,4% (n = 18) случаев наблюдалось снижение MELD-Na. Изменения отсутствовали в 22,9% (n = 8), в то время как у 25,7% (n = 9) отмечено нарастание MELD-Na. В 42,8% (n = 15) случаев стойкая элиминация HCV-инфекции привела к делистингу. Среди пациентов без УВО во всех случаях (n = 3) зарегистрировано увеличение показателя MELD-Na. В группе без ПВТ у одного пациента наблюдалось улучшение функции печени (11,1%), у остальных MELD-Na либо оставался стабильным, либо продолжал расти: такие случаи составили равные доли по 44,5% (n = 4). При сравнении частоты летального исхода в зависимости от проведения ПВТ были получены статистически значимые различия (p < 0,001, V = 0,728). При отсутствии ПВТ шансы погибнуть в листе ожидания увеличивались в 66,5 раза (95% ДИ: 7 ,99-554). Заключение. Результаты нашего исследования продемонстрировали значимые преимущества проведения ПВТ ПППД для пациентов в листе ожидания с уровнем MELD-Na <25 баллов

EXPRESSION OF TLR2, TLR3, TLR4 AND PROINFLAMMATORY TNF AND IL-6 CYTOKINES IN LIVER BIOPSIES OF NONALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE PATIENTS

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a group of conditions closely associated with obesity that are among the most common and socially significant liver diseases in the modern Western world. The emergence and progression of NAFLD from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis with the subsequent development of fibrosis are the leading factors in the pathogenesis of a significant proportion of the most severe liver pathologies, such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as extrahepatic metabolic complications of NAFLD, such as insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The inflammatory component is one of the most important factors in the pathogenesis of NAFLD, particularly in the context of the progression of simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. At the same time, the role of the most important mediators of the inflammatory response, innate immunity receptors and the Toll-like receptors in particular, in the pathogenesis of NAFLD has been poorly studied. In the present work, we first used the bioinformatics analysis of the publicly available gene expression databases to demonstrate that only TLR1, TLR2, TLR3 and TLR4 were significantly expressed in the healthy human liver. We then used the reverse transcription PCR to measure the mRNA expression levels of TLR2, TLR3, and TLR4, as well as those of the important pro-inflammatory mediators tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), in the liver biopsy specimens obtained from 20 patients with NAFLD (simple steatosis, n = 10; non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, n = 10), as well as from 4 obese patients with clinical suspicion for NAFLD but no histological signs of NAFLD in their liver biopsies. We found a significant increase in the expression of TLR2, TLR3 and TLR4 mRNA in liver biopsy samples obtained from patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis as compared to those obtained from controls without histological signs of NAFLD. We were also able to demonstrate the association between the hepatic levels of TLR2, TLR3 and TLR4 mRNAs with the histological degree of liver damage as evidenced by the degree of steatosis and balloon dystrophy of hepatocytes, as well as with the plasma levels of uric acid, the important endogenous stimulator of innate immunity. Our data indicate the possible involvement of innate immunity, particularly the Toll-like receptors, in the pathogenesis of NAFLD

Adaptive Workflow Design Based on Blockchain

Increasingly, organizational processes have become more complex. There is a need for the design of workflows to focus on how organizations adapt to emergent processes while balancing the need for decentralization and centralization goal. The advancement in new technologies especially blockchain provides organizations with the opportunity to achieve the goal. Using blockchain technology (i.e. smart contract and blocks of specified consensus for deferred action), we leverage the theory of deferred action and a coordination framework to conceptually design a workflow management system that addresses organizational emergence (e-WfMS). Our artifact helps managers to predict and store the impact of deferred actions. We evaluated the effectiveness of our system against a complex adaptive system for utility assessment

Apophis planetary defense campaign

We describe results of a planetary defense exercise conducted during the close approach to Earth by the near-Earth asteroid (99942) Apophis during 2020 December–2021 March. The planetary defense community has been conducting observational campaigns since 2017 to test the operational readiness of the global planetary defense capabilities. These community-led global exercises were carried out with the support of NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office and the International Asteroid Warning Network. The Apophis campaign is the third in our series of planetary defense exercises. The goal of this campaign was to recover, track, and characterize Apophis as a potential impactor to exercise the planetary defense system including observations, hypothetical risk assessment and risk prediction, and hazard communication. Based on the campaign results, we present lessons learned about our ability to observe and model a potential impactor. Data products derived from astrometric observations were available for inclusion in our risk assessment model almost immediately, allowing real-time updates to the impact probability calculation and possible impact locations. An early NEOWISE diameter measurement provided a significant improvement in the uncertainty on the range of hypothetical impact outcomes. The availability of different characterization methods such as photometry, spectroscopy, and radar provided robustness to our ability to assess the potential impact risk

Apophis Planetary Defense Campaign

We describe results of a planetary defense exercise conducted during the close approach to Earth by the near-Earth asteroid (99942) Apophis during 2020 December–2021 March. The planetary defense community has been conducting observational campaigns since 2017 to test the operational readiness of the global planetary defense capabilities. These community-led global exercises were carried out with the support of NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office and the International Asteroid Warning Network. The Apophis campaign is the third in our series of planetary defense exercises. The goal of this campaign was to recover, track, and characterize Apophis as a potential impactor to exercise the planetary defense system including observations, hypothetical risk assessment and risk prediction, and hazard communication. Based on the campaign results, we present lessons learned about our ability to observe and model a potential impactor. Data products derived from astrometric observations were available for inclusion in our risk assessment model almost immediately, allowing real-time updates to the impact probability calculation and possible impact locations. An early NEOWISE diameter measurement provided a significant improvement in the uncertainty on the range of hypothetical impact outcomes. The availability of different characterization methods such as photometry, spectroscopy, and radar provided robustness to our ability to assess the potential impact risk. © 2022. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.Brinson Foundation of ChicagoMoscow CenterNASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office, (80NSSC18K0284, 80NSSC18K1575, NN12AR55G)NEOOPlanetary Data SystemNational Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, (80NSSC18K0971)University of Maryland, UMDHorizon 2020 Framework Programme, H2020, (870403)Planetary Science Division, PSDNational Research Foundation, NRFMinistry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Minobrnauka, (075-15-2019-1623)National Research Foundation of Korea, NRFMinistry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, (80NSSC18K0849, FEUZ-2020-0030)Overall, the campaign successfully demonstrated the capability of the planetary defense community to respond in real time to a potentially impacting object and obtain data sufficient to characterize its orbit, brightness, size, spectrum, rotation period, and hazard to Earth. Timely reporting of astrometry and preliminary physical property analyses, with appropriate error bars, significantly improved our knowledge of the potential impact consequences. Human factors, such as the end-of-year holiday season, had a distinct impact on rapidly constraining the rotation period of Apophis and demonstrate the importance of building a broad coalition for planetary defense spanning continents and cultures. Future planetary defense campaigns should focus on targets with less-favorable apparitions that might better simulate a future discovery of a hazardous object. Acknowledgments The Apophis campaign was conducted as part of the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN). IAWN is supported by the Planetary Data System (PDS) Small Bodies Node (SBN) at the University of Maryland College Park. The work at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, was performed under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This material is based in part on work supported by NASA under the Science Mission Directorate Research and Analysis Programs. This publication makes use of data products from NEOWISE, which is a joint project of the University of Arizona and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology, funded by the Planetary Science Division of NASA. Pan-STARRS is supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under Grant No. 80NSSC18K0971 issued through the SSO Near Earth Object Observations Program. Part of this work was supported by the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education via the State Assignment Project FEUZ-2020-0030. Part of the observations performed with the Zeiss-1000 telescope of the Terskol Observatory Shared Research Centre of the Institute of Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences. We are extremely grateful to the IRTF and GTC Observatories’ night and day staff for their overwhelming support and assistance that made the observations possible. D.P. & M.M. are thankful to Richard Binzel and Francesca DeMeo for sharing their experience and wisdom while planning and conducting the measurements. D.P. is grateful to the Israeli Space Agency. M.M. was supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under grant No. 80NSSC18K0849 issued through the Planetary Astronomy Program. J.d.L., J.L., and M.P. acknowledge financial support from the NEOROCKS project, which has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 870403. This work was funded by NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office. Supercomputing resources supporting this work were provided by the NASA High End Computing (HEC) Program through the NASA Advanced Supercomputing (NAS) Division at Ames Research Center. This work has made use of data from the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) project. ATLAS is primarily funded to search for NEAs through NASA grants NN12AR55G, 80NSSC18K0284, and 80NSSC18K1575byproducts of the NEA search include images and catalogs from the survey area. The ATLAS science products have been made possible through the contributions of the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy, the Queen’s University Belfast, the Space Telescope Science Institute, and the South African Astronomical Observatory. This work is partially supported by the South African National Research Foundation (NRF). Spacewatch is supported by NASA/NEOO grants and the Brinson Foundation of Chicago, IL. We thank TUBITAK National Observatory for partial support in using the T100 telescope with project number 20CT100-1743. This work was supported by the Moscow Center of Fundamental and Applied Mathematics, Agreement with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, No. 075-15-2019-1623. This work made extensive use of Python, specifically the NumPy (Harris et al. 2020), Astropy (Astropy Collaboration et al. 2013, 2018), Matplotlib (Hunter 2007), and SciPy (Virtanen et al. 2020b) packages

Severe Clostridium diffi cile infection after liver and kidney transplantation

Recent statistics have shown increased rates of morbidity and mortality from Clostridium difficile infection worldwide. This problem is mainly typical for surgical patients and is associated with an antibiotic therapy and a prolonged hospital stay. Recipients of solid organs are at a high risk of developing severe forms of C. difficile infection due to immunosupression. Existing recommendations for the treatment of C. difficile infection are based on the severity of the disease and do not consider patients after liver transplantation. The aim of this work is to determine an actual tactics for the diagnosis and treatment of C. difficile in organ recipients in clinical practice