The synthetic dyes used in the textile industry pollute a large amount of water. Textile dyes do not bind tightly to the fabric and are discharged as effluent into the aquatic environment. As a ...result, the continuous discharge of wastewater from a large number of textile industries without prior treatment has significant negative consequences on the environment and human health. Textile dyes contaminate aquatic habitats and have the potential to be toxic to aquatic organisms, which may enter the food chain. This review will discuss the effects of textile dyes on water bodies, aquatic flora, and human health. Textile dyes degrade the esthetic quality of bodies of water by increasing biochemical and chemical oxygen demand, impairing photosynthesis, inhibiting plant growth, entering the food chain, providing recalcitrance and bioaccumulation, and potentially promoting toxicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity. Therefore, dye-containing wastewater should be effectively treated using eco-friendly technologies to avoid negative effects on the environment, human health, and natural water resources. This review compares the most recent technologies which are commonly used to remove dye from textile wastewater, with a focus on the advantages and drawbacks of these various approaches. This review is expected to spark great interest among the research community who wish to combat the widespread risk of toxic organic pollutants generated by the textile industries.
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•Textile dyes are toxic and discharged as effluent into the aquatic environment.•Non-pretreated effluent has significant negative impacts on living microorganisms.•Dye-containing wastewater should be effectively treated using eco-friendly methods.•Combined approaches and recent technologies are promising for dye removal.•More research is required until an advanced, zero-waste process is established.
Abstract It is becoming increasingly clear that cells exposed to ionizing radiation (IR) and other genotoxic agents (targeted cells) can communicate their DNA damage response (DDR) status to cells ...that have not been directly irradiated (bystander cells). The term radiation-induced bystander effects (RIBE) describes facets of this phenomenon, but its molecular underpinnings are incompletely characterized. Consequences of DDR in bystander cells have been extensively studied and include transformation and mutation induction; micronuclei, chromosome aberration and sister chromatid exchange formation; as well as modulations in gene expression, proliferation and differentiation patterns. A fundamental question arising from such observations is why targeted cells induce DNA damage in non-targeted, bystander cells threatening thus their genomic stability and risking the induction of cancer. Here, we review and synthesize available literature to gather support for a model according to which targeted cells modulate as part of DDR their redox status and use it as a source to generate signals for neighboring cells. Such signals can be either small molecules transported to adjacent non-targeted cells via gap-junction intercellular communication (GJIC), or secreted factors that can reach remote, non-targeted cells by diffusion or through the circulation. We review evidence that such signals can induce in the recipient cell modulations of redox status similar to those seen in the originating targeted cell – occasionally though self-amplifying feedback loops. The resulting increase of oxidative stress in bystander cells induces, often in conjunction with DNA replication, the observed DDR-like responses that are at times strong enough to cause apoptosis. We reason that RIBE reflect the function of intercellular communication mechanisms designed to spread within tissues, or the entire organism, information about DNA damage inflicted to individual, constituent cells. Such responses are thought to protect the organism by enhancing repair in a community of cells and by eliminating severely damaged cells.
The capacitive performances of carbon materials greatly rely on the porous structure and conductive network. However, the compromise of carbon materials with suitable porosity and 3D conductive ...framework still exists difficulty. Herein, a hierarchical porous free-standing carbon nanofiber (CNF) membrane was obtained from electrospun cellulose acetate (CA) nanofiber membrane via one-step carbonization and activation process. The influence of carbonization temperature on microstructure and electrochemical performance of carbons are investigated. The 800 °C carbonized sample CA-CNFs-800 exhibits large specific surface area of 720.8 m2 g−1 and suitable pore size distribution. The micropore dominated structure and three-dimensional conductive carbon networks enable fast electron/ion transport. The specific capacitance reaches 229.4 F g−1 at 0.2 A g−1 with good rate performance of 72.8% capacitance retention at 20 A g−1 for CA-CNFs-800. Moreover, CA-CNFs-800 possess high capacitance retention of 97.3% after 40,000 cycles at 20 A g−1. The CA-CNFs outperform other bio-based carbon materials, highlighting the great promise of CA-based CNFs for improving the capacitive performance of supercapacitors in electronic energy storage devices.
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•The free-standing carbon nanofiber membranes are fabricated via electrospinning, and following one step carbonization/activation process.•The cellulose acetate derived carbon nanofiber membranes display hierarchical porous structure with high specific surface area.•The as-prepared electrode materials with 3D conductive network exhibit high specific capacitance and good cycling stability.•The a single supercapacitor assembled in series is able to easily light red light-emitting diodes and hold for 50 s.
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This review is focused on the sustainable management of harvested water hyacinth (WH) via thermochemical conversion to carbonaceous materials (CMs), biofuels, and chemicals for energy ...and environmental applications. One of the major challenges in thermochemical conversion is to guarantee the phytoremediation performance of biochar and the energy conversion efficiency in biowaste-to-energy processes. Thus, a circular sustainable approach is proposed to improve the biochar and energy production. The co-conversion process can enhance the syngas, heat, and energy productions with high-quality products. The produced biochar should be economically feasible and comparable to available commercial carbon products. The removal and control of heavy and transition metals are essential for the safe implementation and management of WH biochar. CMs derived from biochar are of interest in wastewater treatment, air purification, and construction. It is important to control the size, shape, and chemical compositions of the CM particles for higher-value products like catalyst, adsorbent or conductor.
Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) related long noncoding RNA (ICR) is on the antisense strand of ICAM-1 and regulates ICAM-1 expression. ICAM-1 is involved in renal tubulointerstitial ...injury; however, the expression and clinical implication of ICR are not determined in IgA nephropathy (IgAN). We compared renal ICR levels in 337 IgAN patients with those of 89 biopsy controls, and a markedly increased ICR level was observed in IgAN patients. By Cox proportional hazards models, higher levels of renal ICR were independently associated with disease progression event defined as end-stage renal disease or ≥ 40% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate. Patients in the highest tertile of renal ICR had a 3.5-fold higher risk for disease progression compared with those in the lowest tertile. The addition of renal ICR to a model with traditional risk factors improved risk prediction of disease progression (net reclassification index: 0.31 95% CI 0.01-0.50; integrated discrimination index: 0.10 95% CI 0.04-0.16). Inhibition of ICR by transfection with plasmids containing ICR shRNA significantly reduced expression of collagen I and α-SMA, and phosphorylation of Akt and mTOR in TGF-β1- treated HK-2 cells. Our findings suggest that renal ICR might be an independent predictor of IgAN progression and contribute to renal fibrosis.
Cisplatin is a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug for cancer treatment, but its nephrotoxicity may lead to the deterioration of renal function. Previous work has been focused on cisplatin-induced ...acute kidney disease, whereas the mechanism of chronic kidney disease after cisplatin chemotherapy is largely unknown. In the present study, we have characterized the mouse model of chronic kidney defects induced by repeated low-dose cisplatin treatment. We have also established a relevant cell culture model. In the animal model, C57 mice were given weekly injection of 8 mg/kg cisplatin for 4 wk. This led to a sustained decline of kidney function. These mice showed loss of kidney mass, interstitial fibrosis, continued activation of inflammatory cytokines, and appearance of atubular glomeruli. In the cell model, the BUMPT mouse proximal tubular cell line was treated four times with 1-2 μM cisplatin, resulting in low levels of apoptosis and the expression of fibrosis proteins and profibrotic factors. These data suggest that repeated treatment with low-dose cisplatin causes long-term renal pathologies with characteristics of chronic kidney disease.
The settlement of roadways in permafrost regions is sensitive to the warming of the permafrost under the roadbeds. Various measurements have been proposed to cool the roadbeds for preserving the ...underlying permafrost. One of these measurements is to install shading boards over the side slope of the roadway embankment for sheltering the side slope from solar insolation. Under the board, an air gap with a 30-50 cm thickness is left for draining the heat from the side slope via the stack effect. However, boards over such an air gap are rendering to the risk of wind damages, which have limited the application of the shading boards as a popular roadway-cooling method. Here we investigated if the heat gain of the embankment soil can be curtailed by reducing the emissivity of the board's underside (εu). A group of shading boards with different εu was placed side by side in a permafrost region for testing the temperature of the soils under the boards. It is found that the board with a lower εu retains the solar absorption at the board and curtails the heat radiating to the underlying soils. As a result, soils under shading boards with a lower emissivity at the underside stay cooler. Further studies are called to measure the soil temperature under boards with different εu in a long period and to understand how the condenser and icing on the board's underside influence the temperature of the embankment soils.
•Shading boards with different emissivity at the underside (εu) are set side by side.•Shading boards with lower εu stays hotter under sunlight.•Soils under a shading board with lower εu stay cooler.
During DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair, the ring-shaped Ku70/80 complex becomes trapped on DNA and needs to be actively extracted, but it has remained unclear what provides the required energy. ...By means of reconstitution of DSB repair on beads, we demonstrate here that DNA-locked Ku rings are released by the AAA-ATPase p97. To achieve this, p97 requires ATP hydrolysis, cooperates with the Ufd1-Npl4 ubiquitin-adaptor complex, and specifically targets Ku80 that is modified by K48-linked ubiquitin chains. In U2OS cells, chemical inhibition of p97 or siRNA-mediated depletion of p97 or its adapters impairs Ku80 removal after non-homologous end joining of DSBs. Moreover, this inhibition attenuates early steps in homologous recombination, consistent with p97-driven Ku release also affecting repair pathway choice. Thus, our data answer a central question regarding regulation of Ku in DSB repair and illustrate the ability of p97 to segregate even tightly bound protein complexes for release from DNA.
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•VCP/p97 extracts sterically trapped Ku80 after NHEJ•VCP/p97 targets Ku modified with K48-linked ubiquitin chains•VCP/p97 is also essential for DNA repair pathway choice
During DNA double-strand break repair by non-homologous end joining, the ring-shaped Ku heterodimer becomes sterically trapped on DNA and interferes with chromatin functionality. van den Boom et al. use a combination of in vitro and cell-based approaches to reveal that the AAA+-type ATPase VCP/p97 drives Ku extraction after DNA repair.
The scientific evaluation of trends in China's future energy demands is highly important. Using provincial-level panel data from 1995 to 2015, we studied the relationships between the economic ...aggregate, the development of energy-intensive industries and energy demand from the perspective of changes in the proportion of energy-intensive industries in the national economy. We find that economic aggregate affects energy demand through energy-intensive industries and that changes in the economic structure are the key factor for change in energy demand. This means that China's future energy demand will be much lower than that contained in forecasts that did not consider this factor. Comprehensively promoting green-tech development and strengthening the regulation of energy-extensive industries will be one of the key options for realizing China's objective of controlling total energy consumption.
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common cancer type in China. Targeted therapies have been used to treat NSCLC for two decades, which is only suitable for a subgroup of patients with ...specific genetic variations. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of genetic variations leading to sensitivity or resistance to targeted therapies in NSCLC, and their relationship with clinicopathological characteristics of the patients.
Tumor samples were collected from 404 patients who were diagnosed to have NSCLC and underwent surgery, transthoracic biopsy, bronchoscopy biopsy, or pleural aspiration in Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2019 to March 2020. Commercial amplification-refractory mutation system kits were used to detect targeted therapy-related genetic variations in those tumor samples. The prevalence of genetic variations and their relationship with patient clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed using statistical software, followed by subgroup analysis.
In all, 50.7% of the NSCLC patients had sensitive genetic variations to anti-EGFR therapies, and 4.9% of those patients had co-existing resistant genetic variations. Fusions in ALK, ROS1, or RET were found in 7.7% of the patients, including 2 patients with co-existing EGFR exon 19 deletion or L858R. EGFR exon 19 deletion and L858R were more common in female patients and adenocarcinoma. Further subgroup analysis confirmed the observation in female patients in adenocarcinoma subgroup, and in adenocarcinoma in male patients. In addition, smokers were more likely to have squamous cell carcinoma and KRAS mutation and less likely to have EGFR L858R, which were also confirmed after standardization of gender except KRAS mutations.
Nearly half of the NSCLC patients were eligible for anti-EGFR treatments. In NSCLC, female gender and adenocarcinoma may indicate higher chance of EGFR exon 19 deletion or L858R, and smoking history may indicate squamous cell carcinoma and EGFR L858R.
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