Culture Condition Effect on Bioflocculant Production and Actual Wastewater Treatment Application by Different Types of Bioflocculants

The effect of culture condition on different types of bioflocculant production and its application on actual wastewater treatment were studied in this chapter. The advantages of mixed strain HXJ-1 were as follows: directly using acidic wine wastewater, adapting to wastewater at high concentrations and the presence of less nitrogen. HXJ-1 achieved good flocculating rate when the chemical oxygen demand (COD) was 12,000 mg/L, C/N 20:1. Three kinds of bioflocculants had some good treatment results on starch wastewater, printing and dyeing wastewater and landfill leachate. The treatment effect of XJBF-1 (produced by mixed strain HXJ-1) on the starch wastewater was better than that of traditional polyacrylamide and other bioflocculants produced by a single bacterial (X15BF-1) and yeast strain (J1BF-1). XJBF-1 had better treatment results on three types of wastewater. It also had good removal rate of chromaticity, especially on the starch wastewater , the printing and dyeing wastewater; the removal rate was up to 88%, and the starch wastewater COD removal rate was up to 86%

Biomedical applications of artificial exosomes for intranasal drug delivery

Intranasal administration offers a feasible, non-invasive method of delivering therapeutic drugs to the brain, allowing therapeutic pharmaceuticals to be administered directly to the central nervous system by bypassing the blood-brain barrier. Furthermore, exosomes are naturally occurring cell-derived nanovesicles that can serve as carriers for a variety of chemical compounds. Many studies have focused on artificial exosomes as innovative medication delivery methods. As a result, trans-nasal delivery of artificial exosomes might be employed to treat brain illnesses in a novel method. This review will outline the drug delivery mechanism of artificial extracellular vesicles, emphasize its advantages as a nasal drug carrier, particularly its application as a novel nanocarriers in brain diseases, and focus on its prospective application in chronic inflammatory nose disorders. Finally, artificial exosomes may become a unique drug delivery mode for clinical therapeutic usage

Development and validation of a predictive nomogram for lower extremity deep vein thrombosis dislodgement in orthopedic patients

ObjectiveTo analyze the risk factors of lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT) detachment in orthopedic patients, and to establish a risk nomogram prediction model.MethodsThe clinical data of 334 patients with orthopedic DVT admitted to the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2020 to July 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. General statistics included gender, age, BMI, thrombus detachment, inferior vena cava filter window type, filter implantation time, medical history, trauma history, operation, use of tourniquet, thrombectomy, anesthesia mode, anesthesia grade, operative position, blood loss during operation, blood transfusion, immobilization, use of anticoagulants, thrombus side, thrombus range, D-dimer content before filter implantation and during removal of inferior vena cava filter. Logistic regression was used to perform univariate and multivariate analysis on the possible factors of thrombosis detachment, screen out independent risk factors, establish a risk nomogram prediction model by variables, and internally verify the predictability and accuracy of the model.ResultsBinary logistic regression analysis showed that Short time window filter (OR = 5.401, 95% CI = 2.338–12.478), lower extremity operation (OR = 3.565, 95% CI = 1.553–8.184), use of tourniquet (OR = 3.871, 95% CI = 1.733–8.651), non-strict immobilization (OR = 3.207, 95% CI = 1.387–7.413), non-standardized anticoagulation (OR = 4.406, 95% CI = 1.868–10.390), distal deep vein thrombosis (OR = 2.212, 95% CI = 1.047–4.671) were independent risk factors for lower extremity DVT detachment in orthopedic patients (P < 0.05). Based on these six factors, a prediction model for the risk of lower extremity DVT detachment in orthopedic patients was established, and the risk prediction ability of the model was verified. The C-index of the nomogram model was 0.870 (95% CI: 0.822–0.919). The results indicate that the risk nomogram model has good accuracy in predicting the loss of deep venous thrombosis in orthopedic patients.ConclusionThe nomogram risk prediction model based on six clinical factors, including filter window type, operation condition, tourniquet use, braking condition, anticoagulation condition, and thrombosis range, has good predictive performance

Comparative study of the gasification of coal and its macerals and prediction of the synergistic effects under typical entrained-bed pulverized coal gasification Conditions

This research is focused on the gasification performance of coal and its corresponding macerals as well as on the interactions among macerals under typical gasification conditions by Aspen Plus modeling. The synergistic coefficient was employed to show the degree of interactions, while the performance indicators including specific oxygen consumption (SOC), specific coal consumption (SCC), cold gas efficiency (CGE), and effective syngas (CO + H2) content were used to evaluate the gasification process. Sensitivity analyses showed that the parent coal and its macerals exhibited different gasification behaviors at the same operating conditions, such as the SOC and SCC decreased in the order of inertinite > vitrinite > liptinite, whereas CGE changed in the order of liptinite > vitrinite > inertinite. The synergistic coefficients of SOC and SCC for the simulated coals were in the range of 0.94–0.97, whereas the synergistic coefficient of CGE was 1.05–1.13. Moreover, it was found that synergistic coefficients of gasification indicators correlated well with maceral contents. In addition, the increase in temperature was found to promote the synergistic coefficients slightly, whilst at an oxygen to coal mass ratio of 0.8 and a steam to coal mass ratio of 0.8, the highest synergistic coefficient was obtained

TMEM16A-Mediated mucin secretion in IL-13-induced nasal epithelial cells from chronic rhinosinusitis patients

Purpose: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), a mainly Th2 cytokine-mediated disease, often involves mucus secretion. Recent evidence suggests that transmembrane protein 16A (TMEM16A), a calcium-activated or channel (CaCC), can regulate mucus secretion from airway epithelium by transepithelial electrolyte transport and hydration. However, the role of TMEM16A in mucin production/secretion in the airway epitheliurn is not clear. This study was conducted to determine the role of TMEM16A in mediating mucin secretion in human nasal polyp epithelial cells (HNPECs) induced by IL-13. Methods: Human sinonasal mucosa tissue and dissociated sinonasal epithelium from control subjects and patients with CRSwNP were assessed for the expression of TMEM16A and the secretion of human mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) by immunohistochemistry, Western blot analysis, and enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA). A model of the Th2 inflammatory environment was created by exposure of primary air-liquid interface (ALI)-cultured HNPECs to interleukin-13 (IL-13) for 14 days, with subsequent assessment of TMEM16A expression in cell lysates by Western blotting and MUC5AC secretion in apical washings of cells by ELISA. Results: The expressions of TMEM16A and MUC5AC were increased in human nasal polyp tissue and dissociated nasal polyp epithelium. TMEM16A was detected in IL-13-treated HNPECs, specifically in MUC5AC-positive cells but not in ciliated cells. IL-13 treatment increased percentages of TMEM16A-positive cells, MUC5AC-positive cells, and cells coexpressing TMEM16A/MUC5AC, the expression of TMEM16A protein, and the secretion of MUC5AC. T16Ainh-A01, a TMEM16A inhibitor, attenuated these IL-13-induced effects. Conclusions: The expression of TMEM16A and MUC5AC are increased in CRSwNP, which might be a direct effect of Th2 cytokines present in the sinonasal mucosa in CRSwNP. Down-regulation of TMEM16A expression and MUC5AC secretion in HNPECs by T16Ainh-A01 indicates that TMEM16A might play an important role in mucin secretion in upper airway inflammatory diseases

Phloretin Modulates Human Th17/Treg Cell Differentiation In Vitro via AMPK Signaling

Context. The imbalance between T helper 17 (Th17) cell and regulatory T (Treg) cell is involved in many immune disorders and diseases. Phloretin, a dihydrochalcone structural flavonoid compound, possesses many bioactive properties. However, whether phloretin could impact on the differentiation of T cells is not completely clear. Objective. We conducted studies to explore the effect of phloretin on glucose uptake, proliferation, and differentiation of human peripheral blood CD4+ T cells and investigated the mechanism of phloretin on inducing Th17/Treg development. Methods. Naïve CD4+ T cells were purified from peripheral blood of healthy volunteers, stimulated with anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies, and polarized in vitro to generate Th17 or Treg cells. Glucose uptake, proliferation, cell cycle, protein expression (phospho-Stat3, phospho-Stat5), and Th17 and Treg cell numbers were analyzed by flow cytometry. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling was analyzed by western blot. Results and Discussion. Phloretin could inhibit the glucose uptake and proliferation of activated CD4+ T cells. The proliferation inhibition was due to the G0/G1 phase arrest. Phloretin decreased Th17 cell generation and phospho-Stat3 expression as well as increased Treg cell generation and phospho-Stat5 expression in the process of inducing Th17/Treg differentiation. The phosphorylation level of AMPK was significantly enhanced, while the phosphorylation level of mTOR was significantly decreased in activated CD4+ T cells under phloretin treatment. The AMPK signaling inhibitor compound C (Com C) could neutralize the effect of phloretin, while the agonist 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR) could impact the Th17/Treg balance similar to phloretin during Th17/Treg induction. Conclusion. Our results suggest that phloretin can mediate the Th17/Treg balance by regulating metabolism via the AMPK signal pathway

Formation of multiple microstructures during the reduction of ironsand

Ironsand is a type of titanic-ferrous solution ore. As most ironsands come from rapidly cooled lava, raw ironsand particles consist of complicated distributions of elements and a variety of Ti–Fe solid solution phases. In this study, samples of raw and pre-oxidized ironsands were reduced by hydrogen at 900°C for different time intervals. The formation of multiple microstructures of ironsand during the reduction process were investigated. For raw ironsand, a three-layer core structure, an incompletely reduced core structure, and a lump/net structure appeared in order with the reduction procedure. However, for pre-oxidized ironsand, the unit cells of major phases of ironsand shrink, leading to the formation of microcracks during the oxidation pretreatment. These cracks in turn trigger unordered reduction structures, significantly accelerating the reaction kinetics

Research status of seam tracking methods for orbital pipe welding robots

This paper first outlines the worldwide oil and gas pipeline laying situation by 2013 and industrial applications, the working characteristics and advantages of orbital pipe welding robots using the gas metal arc metal(GMAW). Then the classifications of commonly used welding seam tracking sensors are comprehensively introduced. The sensor working principles, advantages and disadvantages and the application situation in pipeline welding are analysed in details. The studies show that arc sensors and visual sensors have many advantages such as good real-time characteristic, informativeness and high tracking precision, and are most widely used in pipeline welding. Using single sensor in different process can limit the tracking precision easily, but a system with multiple sensors will greatly improve the tracking precision in oil and gas pipeline welding. A system using visual sensor and arc sensor has been used in the gas field pipeline welding in Japan and a good effect has been achieved. Finally the conclusion is drawn that suitable seam tracking sensor should be chosen according to the process features and methods, and using a variety of sensors can improve the welding seam tracking precision, which will become the focus of future researches

Research progress in toxicological effects and mechanism of aflatoxin B1 toxin

Fungal contamination of animal feed can severely affect the health of farm animals, and result in considerable economic losses. Certain filamentous fungi or molds produce toxic secondary metabolites known as mycotoxins, of which aflatoxins (AFTs) are considered the most critical dietary risk factor for both humans and animals. AFTs are ubiquitous in the environment, soil, and food crops, and aflatoxin B1(AFB1) has been identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the most potent natural group 1A carcinogen. We reviewed the literature on the toxic effects of AFB1 in humans and animals along with its toxicokinetic properties. The damage induced by AFB1 in cells and tissues is mainly achieved through cell cycle arrest and inhibition of cell proliferation, and the induction of apoptosis, oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and autophagy. In addition, numerous coding genes and non-coding RNAs have been identified that regulate AFB1 toxicity. This review is a summary of the current research on the complexity of AFB1 toxicity, and provides insights into the molecular mechanisms as well as the phenotypic characteristics