Improving neural network prediction of effluent from biological wastewater treatment plant of industrial park using fuzzy learning approach

Three types of adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) in which the online monitoring parameters served as the input variable were employed to predict suspended solids (SS_eff), chemical oxygen demand (COD_eff), and pH_eff in the effluent from a biological wastewater treatment plant in industrial park. Artificial neural network (ANN) was also used for comparison. The results indicated that ANFIS statistically outperforms ANN in terms of effluent prediction. When predicting, the minimum mean absolute percentage errors of 2.90, 2.54 and 0.36% for SS_eff, COD_eff and pH_eff could be achieved using ANFIS. The maximum values of correlation coefficient for SS_eff, COD_eff, and pH_eff were 0.97, 0.95, and 0.98, respectively. The minimum mean square errors of 0.21, 1.41 and 0.00, and the minimum root mean square errors of 0.46, 1.19 and 0.04 for SS_eff, COD_eff, and pH_eff could also be achieved.     

Variation of biomass and kinetic parameters for nitrifying species in the TNCU3 process at different aerobic hydraulic retention times

In this study, the variation of biomass, kinetic parameters, and stoichiometric parameters for ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) in TNCU3 process were explored at different aerobic hydraulic retention time (AHRT). The results indicated that the growth rate constants of AOB were 0.92, 0.88, and 0.95 days^?1, respectively, meanwhile, those of NOB were 2.58 1.41, and 1.40 days^?1, respectively, when AHRT was 5, 6, and 7 h. The lysis rate constants for AOB and NOB were 0.13 and 0.17 days^?1, respectively. When AHRT was 5, 6, and 7 h, the yield coefficients of AOB were 0.20, 0.23, and 0.28 g COD g^?1 N, respectively, meanwhile those of NOB were 0.23, 0.19, and 0.22 g COD g^?1 N, respectively. The average percentage of AOB was 0.44, 0.61, and 0.64%, respectively, while that of NOB was 0.46, 0.61, and 0.74%, respectively. The relation between the biomass percentage of AOB and AHRT was in a good agreement with first type hyperbolic curve. The relation between the biomass percentage of NOB and AHRT was in a good agreement with seven types of curve including simple exponential curve, power exponential curve, and first type hyperbolic curve etc. When the AHRT increased from 5 to 7 h, the removal efficiency of NH₄ ⁺–N increased from 80.2 to 94.8%, or by 14.6%. Meanwhile, the removal efficiency of total nitrogen increased from 63.6 to 70.9%, or by 7.3%.     

A Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) Method to Detect Bcr-Abl Kinase Activity in CML Using a Peptide Biosensor

The protein kinase Bcr-Abl plays a major role in the pathogenesis of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), and is the target of the breakthrough drug imatinib (Gleevec™). While most patients respond well to imatinib, approximately 30% never achieve remission or develop resistance within 1–5 years of starting imatinib treatment. Evidence from clinical studies suggests that achieving at least 50% inhibition of a patient’s Bcr-Abl kinase activity (relative to their level at diagnosis) is associated with improved patient outcomes, including reduced occurrence of resistance and longer maintenance of remission. Accordingly, sensitive assays for detecting Bcr-Abl kinase activity compatible with small amounts of patient material are desirable as potential companion diagnostics for imatinib. Here we report the detection of Bcr-Abl activity and inhibition by imatinib in the human CML cell line K562 using a cell-penetrating peptide biosensor and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. MRM enabled reproducible, selective detection of the peptide biosensor at fmol levels from aliquots of cell lysate equivalent to ∼15,000 cells. This degree of sensitivity will facilitate the miniaturization of the entire assay procedure down to cell numbers approaching 15,000, making it practical for translational applications in patient cells in which the limited amount of available patient material often presents a major challenge.     

Vitamin D3 decreases TNF-α-induced inflammation in lung epithelial cells through a reduction in mitochondrial fission and mitophagy

Cell Biology and Toxicology - Previous work has shown an association between vitamin D3 deficiency and an increased risk for acquiring various inflammatory diseases. Vitamin D3 can reduce morbidity...     

Effect of cadmium on composition and diversity of bacterial communities in activated sludges

Microbial communities of two kinds of activated sludge for removing carbon, nitrogen and phosphate (nutrient removal sludge) were identified and compared by combining cloning–denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis methods. The sludges were sampled in an anaerobic–anoxic–oxic system operating under the same conditions, except for one without the addition of cadmium (Cd0) and the other with addition of 5 mg cadmium l⁻¹ (Cd5). Bacteria in the phylum Proteobacteria were predominant in both Cd0 and Cd5 sludges (39.6% and 35.1% of total bacteria, respectively). However, bacteria in the class Betaproteobacteria were significantly more abundant in Cd0 than in Cd5 sludge (30.7% and 2.1%, respectively). Species related to nutrient removal, such as nitrifying bacteria (Nitrosomonas communis), floc-forming bacteria (Zoogloea ramigera) and phosphate-accumulating organisms (Rubrivivax gelatinosus), were the predominant species in Cd0 sludge, but were not found in Cd5 sludge. Cadmium was significantly toxic to the bacterial community in nutrient removal sludge, especially to the bacteria in the Betaproteobacteria. The comparison of microbial communities between these two kinds of sludge was further discussed in the paper.     

Application of cattle placental stem cells for treating ovarian follicular cyst

BACKGROUNDHigh humidity and temperature in Taiwan have significant effects on the reproductivity of Holstein cattle, resulting in the occurrence of bovine ovarian follicular cyst (OFC). Because of economic loss from OFC, manual rupture and hormone injection have been advocated for the management of OFC. However, these incomplete treatments increase hormone resistance in cattle. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from placental stem cells (PSCs) demonstrate potential properties for the treatment of several diseases via promoting angiogenesis and immune modulation. AIMTo establish the possibility of cattle placental stem cells (CPSCs) as a treatment modality for OFC of cows in Taiwan. METHODSThe cows with OFC were divided into three groups: control (BC1 and BC2), hormone (H1 and H2), and CPSC (PS1 and PS2) treatment groups. In the hormone treatment group, the cows were given gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-prostaglandin-GnRH intramuscular injection with or without drainage of follicular fluid. In the CPSC treatment group, CPSCs were isolated from the placenta after labor. With the identification of surface antigen on stem cells, the cows were administered ovarian injection of 1 × 10⁶ or 6 × 10⁶ CPSCs with drainage. In all groups, OFC was scanned by ultrasound once a week for a total of seven times. The concentrations of estradiol and progesterone in serum were tested in the same period. The estrus cycle was analyzed by food intake and activity. If estrus was detected, artificial insemination was conducted. Then the cow was monitored by ultrasound for confirmation of pregnancy.RESULTSAfter 7 d of culture, CPSCs were successfully isolated from placental pieces. CPSCs significantly proliferated every 24 h and had high expression of MSC markers such as cluster of differentiation 44, as determined by flow cytometry. Ultrasound showed lower numbers of OFCs with drainage of follicular fluid. We achieved recovery rates of 0%, 50%, 50%, 75%, 75% and 75% in BC1, BC2, H1, H2, PS1, and PS2, respectively. Higher concentrations of progesterone were detected in the CPSC treatment groups. However, both hormone and CPSC treatment groups had no significant difference in the concentration of estradiol. The estrus rate was 0%, 100%, 25%, 75%, 75% and 75% in BC1, BC2, H1, H2, PS1, and PS2, respectively. The two fetuses were born in H2 and PS1. In brief, cows with CPSC injection achieved higher recovery, estrus, and inseminated conception rates.CONCLUSIONCPSCs have efficacy in treating cows with OFC, and thus, may serve as an alternative treatment for reproductive disorders.