A comparative understanding of effluent quality of decentralized on-site wastewater treatment systems, particularly for contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), remains less understood than effluent ...quality from centralized municipal wastewater treatment plants. Using a novel experimental facility with common influent wastewater, effluent water quality from a decentralized advanced aerobic treatment system (ATS) and a typical septic treatment system (STS) coupled to a subsurface flow constructed wetland (WET) were compared to effluent from a centralized municipal treatment plant (MTP). The STS did not include soil treatment, which may represent a system not functioning properly. Occurrence and discharge of a range of CECs were examined using isotope dilution liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry during fall and winter seasons. Conventional parameters, including total suspended solids, carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand and nutrients were also evaluated from each treatment system. Water quality of these effluents was further examined using a therapeutic hazard modeling approach. Of 19 CECs targeted for study, the benzodiazepine pharmaceutical diazepam was the only CEC not detected in all wastewater influent and effluent samples over two sampling seasons. Diphenhydramine, codeine, diltiazem, atenolol, and diclofenac exhibited significant (p<0.05) seasonal differences in wastewater influent concentrations. Removal of CECs by these wastewater treatment systems was generally not influenced by season. However, significant differences (p<0.05) for a range of water quality indicators were observed among the various treatment technologies. For example, removal of most CECs by ATS was generally comparable to MTP. Lowest removal of most CECs was observed for STS; however, removal was improved when coupling the STS to a WET. Across the treatment systems examined, the majority of pharmaceuticals observed in on-site and municipal effluent discharges were predicted to potentially present therapeutic hazards to fish.
•An analysis of effluents from wastewater systems receiving a common influent was performed.•Seasonal differences of select pharmaceuticals were identified in influent wastewater.•Removal of pharmaceuticals by an advanced aerobic onsite system compared to a centralized system•Various pharmaceuticals in effluents were predicted to present therapeutic hazards to fish.
Abstract
Background
Tumorigenic phenotype of M2 tumor-associated macrophages promote tumor progression in response to exosomes cues imposed by tumor cells. However, the effect and underlying ...mechanisms of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC)-derived exosomes (ccRCC-exo) on instructing macrophages phenotype remains unclear.
Methods
Macrophages were cocultured with ccRCC-exo and then evaluate the polarization of macrophages and migration of ccRCC cells. The effect and mechanism of lncRNA AP000439.2 overexpressed or deleted exosomes on macrophages M2 polarization were examined. Xenograft tumor mice model was used for in vivo validation.
Results
The ccRCC-exo significantly activated macrophages to M2 phenotype presented by increased expression of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) at mRNA and protein levels, and these M2 macrophages in turn facilitating the migration of ccRCC cells. LncRNA AP000439.2 was highly enriched in the ccRCC-exo. Overexpression of exosomal AP000439.2 promoted M2 macrophage polarization whereas AP000439.2-deficient exosome had the opposite effects. Nuclear-localized AP000439.2 directly interacted with signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) proteins and phosphorylated STAT3 in macrophages. RNA-Seq results showed overexpression of AP000439.2 activated NF-κB signaling pathway. Silencing of STAT3 suppressed overexpression of AP000439.2-induced up-regulation of TGF-β and IL-10 expression, and p65 phosphorylation. AP000439.2-deleted exosome inhibited tumor growth in vivo.
Conclusion
Exosomes from ccRCC deliver AP000439.2 to promote M2 macrophage polarization via STAT3, thus enhancing ccRCC progression, indicating exosomal AP000439.2 might be a novel therapeutic target in ccRCC.
Current evidence relating birthweight and gestational age to cardiovascular risk is conflicting. Whether these factors have independent or interactive impacts on cardiovascular parameters during ...early childhood remains unclear. The goal of this study was to explore whether there were any independent and interactive effects of gestational age and birthweight on blood pressure, left ventricle (LV) structure, and function in 4 years old.
This study included 1194 children in the Shanghai Birth Cohort from 2013 to 2016. Information about the mothers and children was recorded at time of birth using a questionnaire. Follow-up measurements, including anthropometric, blood pressure, and echocardiography, were taken between 2018 and 2021, when the children were 4 years old. Multiple linear or logistic regressions and restricted cubic spline were used to explore the association of birthweight and gestational age with cardiovascular measurements.
Gestational age had a significant negative correlation with both systolic blood pressure β = - 0.41, 95% CI: (- 0.76, - 0.07) and mean arterial pressure β = - 0.36, 95%CI: (- 0.66, - 0.07). The risk of prehypertension decreased with increased gestational age OR = 0.54, 95% CI: (0.32, 0.93). The relationship between birthweight with blood pressure was U-shape (P for non-linear < 0.001). The wall thickness, volume, mass, and cardiac output of LV increased with birthweight, though the ejection fraction β = - 1.02, 95% CI: (- 1.76, - 0.27) and shorten fraction β = 0.72, 95% CI: (- 1.31, - 0.14) decreased with birthweight. The risk of LV hypertrophy was not associated with birthweight OR = 1.59, 95% CI: (0.68, 3.73).
In this study, we found different associations of birthweight and gestational age with cardiovascular measurements in the offspring at 4 years old. Gestational age influenced blood pressure independent of birthweight. Heart size and function at 4 years old was influenced mostly by birthweight and not by gestational age.
Anchor bolt corrosion is a complex and dynamic system, and the prediction and identification of its corrosion degree are of significant importance for engineering safety. Currently, non-destructive ...testing using ultrasonic guided waves can be employed for its detection. Building upon the analysis of anchor bolt corrosion mechanisms, this paper proposes a method for evaluating the corrosion degree of anchor bolts based on multi-scale convolutional neural networks (MS-CNNs) that address the multi-mode propagation and dispersion effects of ultrasonic guided wave signals in non-destructive testing. Electrochemical experiments were conducted to simulate anchor bolt corrosion, and ultrasonic guided wave non-destructive testing was performed every 12 h to obtain waveform data. An MS-CNN was then utilized to accurately diagnose the corrosion degree of the anchor bolts. The test results demonstrate that this method effectively detects and diagnoses the extent of anchor bolt corrosion, facilitating timely troubleshooting and preventing potential safety accidents.
Ultrasonic essential oil diffusers (EODs) are a popular type of indoor scenting source. We performed a chamber study in which we measured the emissions from EODs used with lemon, lavender, ...eucalyptus, and grapeseed oils. Over the course of 15 min, the most abundant VOCs released from lemon, lavender, eucalyptus, and grapeseed oils were 2.6 ± 0.7 mg of d‐limonene, 3.5 ± 0.4 mg of eucalyptol, 1.0 ± 0.1 mg of linalyl acetate, and 0.2 ± 0.02 mg of linalyl acetate, respectively. Each oil had a unique particulate matter (PM) emission profile in terms of size, number density, and rate. The dominant size ranges of the PM were 10–100 nm for lemon oil, 50–100 nm for lavender oil, 10–50 nm for lemon oil, and above 200 nm for grapeseed oil. PM1 emission rates of approximately 2 mg/h, 0.1 mg/h, and 3 mg/h, were observed for lemon, lavender/eucalyptus, and grapeseed oils, respectively. A fivefold increase in PM1 emission was measured when the EOD with eucalyptus oil was filled with tap water as opposed to deionized water. Modeling suggests that reasonable use cases of EODs can contribute substantially to primary and secondary PM in indoor environments, but this potential varies depending on the oil and water types used.
The impact of Artificial Intelligence(AI) on industrial change has transformed the practice of enterprise management, and impacted the traditional management theory born in the industrial era. This ...paper discusses the impact of AI on the practice and theory of enterprise management, including the transparency of human beings and the employ ability of AI. Based on the characteristics of the AI technology development team. In this study, 102 AI technology team leaders and 697 team members from AI companies in China were used as subjects both to investigate the influence mechanism of AL at both the individual and team levels and to explore the cross-level relationship between the two levels. The results show that at the individual level, the psychological safety plays a mediating role between individual-oriented AL behavior and an individual's performance. At the team level, the team's atmosphere plays a mediating role between team-oriented AL behavior and the individual's performance. This study has important implications for the theory of leadership behavior and leadership practice. AI belongs to a new type of technology, and the pressure of technology development work is great. It will display a kind of authentic leadership and can effectively promote the technology of the subordinates.
China Railway Track System (CRTS)-II-slab ballastless track is a new type of track structure, and its interlayer connection state is considerably important for the operation safety and ride comfort ...of high-speed trains. However, the location and multiple influencing factors of interlayer debonding lead to difficulties in monitoring and identification. Here, the research on the design and application of a monitoring scheme that facilitates interlayer debonding detection of ballastless track and an effective indicator for debonding identification and assessment is proposed. The results show that on-site monitoring can effectively capture the vibration signals caused by train vibration and interlayer debonding. The features of the data acquired in the situations with and without interlayer debonding are compared after instantaneous baseline validation. Some significant features capable of obviously differentiating a debonding state from the normal state are identified. Furthermore, a new indicator, combining multiple debonding-sensitive features by similarity-based weights normalizing the initial difference between mutual instantaneous baselines, is developed to support rational and comprehensive assessment quantitatively. The contribution of this study includes the development and application of an interlay-debonding monitoring scheme, the establishment of an effective-feature pool, and the proposal of the similarity-based indicator, thereby laying a good foundation for debonding identification of ballastless track.
Upcycling of waste polyolefin plastics still meets with economic and technological challenges in practice. In this work, the catalytic hydrogenolysis‐isomerization of nondegradable polyolefin plastic ...waste to high‐value gasoline, diesel, and light lubricants with highly branched chain is achieved over a bifunctional Rh/Nb2O5 catalyst under relatively mild conditions. Owing to the high efficiency of metallic Rh active sites, the dehydrogenation/hydrogenation of long carbon chains of polyolefins is enhanced. With the assistance of strong Brønsted acidity of Nb2O5, the cleavage of C−C bonds, skeletal rearrangements, as well as the β‐scission of alkylcarbenium ions occurs, which boosts the one‐step solvent‐free catalytic hydrogenolysis and isomerization of polyolefins. In addition, the preliminary economic analysis shows that this technology is economical, feasible, and has great potential in accelerating the transition to a circular plastics economy for sustainable development.
Break it down: Catalytic hydrogenolysis‐isomerization of nondegradable polyolefin plastics to high‐value gasoline, diesel, and light lubricants with highly branched chains is achieved over Rh/Nb2O5 bifunctional catalyst under relatively mild conditions. Preliminary economic analysis shows that this technology is economically feasible and has great potential in accelerating the transition to a circular plastics economy.
Abstract
Background
Humans are widely exposed to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which have been found to be associated with various adverse birth outcomes. As blood pressure (BP) is an important ...parameter reflecting cardiovascular health in early life, it is necessary to investigate the association of PFAS exposure during early lifetime and BP in childhood. Therefore, we investigated the potential association between PFAS levels in umbilical cord blood and BP of the offspring at 4 years of age in a prospective cohort study.
Methods
PFAS in umbilical cord blood samples after birth were measured with high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry in the Shanghai Birth Cohort. BP was measured at 4 years of age in the offspring. Multiple linear regression model was used to investigate the association between individual PFAS level and BP of the offspring. Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) was used to analyze the relationship between the PFAS mixture and BP of the offspring, while weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression was utilized for sensitivity analysis.
Results
A total of 129 mother-child pairs were included in our analysis. In multiple linear regressions, we observed that long-chain PFAS, mainly including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUA), was negatively associated with systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP). BKMR showed that an increase in umbilical cord blood PFAS mixture levels was significantly associated with a decrease in SBP, DBP and MAP Estimated differences (SD): -0.433 (0.161); -0.437 (0.176); -0.382 (0.179), respectively. The most important component in the association with SBP, DBP, and MAP was PFUA. PFDoA was found to be positively associated with SBP, DBP and MAP in both models. Sensitivity analysis with WQS regression showed consistent results.
Conclusion
Our findings suggested that umbilical blood PFAS exposure was negatively associated with BP in offspring at 4 years of age, including SBP, DBP, and MAP.
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