Effect of Immunosuppressive Regimens on Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Fatty Liver Disease Following Liver Transplantation.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease has been linked to negative outcomes in patients with end-stage liver disease following liver transplantation. However, the influence of immunosuppressive regimens on it has not been explored. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using the preoperative and postoperative data from patients with end-stage liver disease. The study compared three different groups: tacrolimus-based group, sirolimus-based group, and combined tacrolimus- and sirolimus-based regimens. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to identify risk factors for metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease. Results: A total of 171 patients participated in the study, consisting of 127 males and 44 females, with a mean age of 49.6 years. The prevalence of posttransplant metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease was 29.23%. Among the three groups, there were 111 liver transplant recipients in the tacrolimus-based group, 28 in the sirolimus-based group, and 32 in the combination group. A statistically significant difference was observed in the incidence of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (P < 0.05), whereas the other preoperative and postoperative parameters showed no significant differences. Multivariate analysis revealed that a low-calorie diet (95% confidence intervals: 0.15-0.90, P = 0.021) and a combination of tacrolimus- and sirolimus-based immunosuppressive regimen (95% confidence intervals: 1.01-2.77, P = 0.046) were associated with lower risk of posttransplant metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease. Conclusions: Our study indicates that implementing a low-calorie diet and utilizing a combination of tacrolimus- and sirolimus-based immunosuppressive regimen can effectively lower the risk of posttransplant metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease following liver transplantation.

Simultaneous Determination of Methotrexate Concentrations in Human Plasma and Cerebrospinal Fluid Using Two-Dimensional Liquid Chromatography: Applications in Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma.

Background: In this study, we aimed to develop a method for the simultaneous quantification of methotrexate (MTX) samples extracted from human plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), using two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC). Furthermore, we intended to verify whether intravenous mannitol could increase MTX concentration in the CSF of patients. Methods: The mobile phase of PUMP1 consisted of 10.0 mmol/L ammonium acetate and acetonitrile. PUMP2 solution consisted of an aqueous solution of 10.0 mmol/L ammonium acetate. The mobile phase of PUMP3 comprised 50.0 mmol/L ammonium acetate and acetonitrile, with a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Results: The developed method was successfully employed to simultaneously determine drug levels in plasma and CSF from the patients treated with MTX. CSF samples were obtained by lumbar puncture 0.5 - 2 h after starting the high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) infusion (over 4 h) and immediately before the intrathecal (IT) administration of MTX. Venous blood samples were drawn 4 h after the start of infusion. The calibration curve was linear, with a range of 0.07 - 2.38 µmol/L for CSF samples and a range of 0.11 - 5.51 µmol/L for plasma samples. Precision (> 95%) and accuracy (> 97%) were within the acceptance criteria for each quality control (QC) level. Inter- and intra-day accuracy and precision values met the acceptance criteria for each QC level. The correlation between MTX concentrations in the plasma and CSF was moderate (r = 0.502). No significant difference was observed in MTX concentration in CSF between patients using intravenous mannitol and those not using intravenous mannitol (P = 0.682). Conclusion: The developed method was useful for therapeutic drug monitoring of MTX and suitable for assessing the risks and benefits of chemotherapy in patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma. Intravenous mannitol did not increase MTX concentration in the CSF of patients.

Different preferences for inorganic carbon influence CO2 flux under Cyanobacteria or Chlorophyta dominance days.

Algae play critical roles in the carbon dioxide (CO2) exchange between the water bodies and the atmosphere. However, the effects of prokaryotic and eukaryotic algae on carbon utilization, CO2 flux, and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Therefore, this study investigated the differences in carbon preferences and CO2 fluxes under different algal dominance days. Our research revealed that dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentration fluctuations had a limited effect on the relative abundance of algae. However, shifts in dominant algal phyla induced changes in DIC, with Cyanobacteria preferring HCO3- and Chlorophyta preferring CO2. Analysis of the water chemistry balance indicated that the growth of Chlorophyta had a 15.59 times greater effect on CO2 sinks compared with that of Cyanobacteria. During the Cyanobacteria dominance days, the lower DIC concentration did not result in a reduction in CO2 emissions. However, increases in the dissolved organic carbon concentration provided a favorable environment for Cyanobacteria, which promoted CO2 emissions. The CCM model indicated that the growth of Chlorophyta resulted in CO2 uptake rates at least 3.57 times higher and CO2 leakage rates up to 0.97 times lower compared to Cyanobacteria, accelerating CO2 transport into the cell. Overall, CO2 sink was stronger on Chlorophyta dominance days than on Cyanobacteria dominance days. This study emphasized the influence of algal phyla on CO2 fluxes, revealing the significant CO2 sink associated with Chlorophyta. Further research should investigate how to manipulate environmental factors to favor Chlorophyta growth and effectively reduce CO2 emissions.

The association between accelerated biological aging and the risk of osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Biological age (BA) offers an effective assessment of true aging state. The progression of Osteoarthritis (OA) is closely associated with an increase in chronological age, the correlation between BA and OA has not been fully elucidated. Methods: This study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2018. Thirteen commonly used clinical traits were employed to calculate two measures of BA: the Klemera-Doubal method age (KDM-Age) and phenotypic age (Pheno-Age). The residuals of the regression of these ages based on chronological age were calculated as KDM-Age or Pheno-Age acceleration, respectively. OA was determined through self-reported prior diagnoses. The prevalence of OA across different quartiles of BA was compared using weighted chi-square tests and linear trend tests. The association between BA and OA was assessed using weighted multivariate logistic regression models. Results: A total of 30,547 participants aged ≥20 years were included in this study, 3,922 (14%) were diagnosed with OA. Participants with OA exhibited higher chronological age, KDM-Age, Pheno-Age, KDM-Age advance, and Pheno-Age advance compared to those without OA (p < 0.001). The prevalence of OA significantly increased with higher quartiles of KDM-Age advance and Pheno-Age advance (P for trend < 0.001). In the fully adjusted model, compared to the lowest quartile (Q1) of KDM-Age advance, the highest quartile (Q4) was associated with a 36.3% increased risk of OA (OR = 1.363; 95% CI = 1.213 to 1.532, p < 0.001). The highest quartile of Pheno-Age advance (Q4) was associated with a 24.3% increased risk of OA compared to Q1 (OR = 1.243; 95% CI = 1.113 to 1.389, p < 0.001). In males and young people, no statistical differences were found in OA risk between the highest and the lowest quartiles of KDM-Age advance (p = 0.151) and Pheno-Age advance (p = 0.057), respectively. Conclusion: Adults with accelerated biological aging have an increased risk of OA, particularly among females and older adults.

Exploiting Spatial Ionic Dynamics in Solid-State Organic Electrochemical Transistors for Multi-Tactile Sensing and Processing.

The human nervous system inspires the next generation of sensory and communication systems for robotics, human-machine interfaces (HMIs), biomedical applications, and artificial intelligence. Neuromorphic approaches address processing challenges; however, the vast number of sensors and their large-scale distribution complicate analog data manipulation. Conventional digital multiplexers are limited by complex circuit architecture and high supply voltage. Large sensory arrays further complicate wiring. An 'in-electrolyte computing' platform is presented by integrating organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) with a solid-state polymer electrolyte. These devices use synapse-like signal transport and spatially dependent bulk ionic doping, achieving over 400 times modulation in channel conductance, allowing discrimination of locally random-access events without peripheral circuitry or address assignment. It demonstrates information processing from 12 tactile sensors with a single OECT output, showing clear advantages in circuit simplicity over existing all-electronic, all-digital implementations. This self-multiplexer platform offers exciting prospects for circuit-free integration with sensory arrays for high-quality, large-volume analog signal processing.

Spying with a pilot's eye: Using eye tracking to investigate pilots' attention allocation and workload during helicopter autorotative gliding.

Flight safety in helicopters is a critical aspect of overall aircraft operational safety management, particularly during engine failures requiring autorotative glide, which makes it extremely challenging for the pilot to land the helicopter successfully. In this study, we evaluated the workload and attention allocation of helicopter pilots under such circumstances. In the experiment, a helicopter flight simulator was used to simulate level flight followed by autorotative glide, with the two phases divided into time segments for data collection. First, the data were visualized using heat maps and saccade sequence diagrams, while changes in eye movement metrics (such as peak value and standard deviation) were statistically analyzed. Finally, the criteria through the inter-criteria correlation (CRITIC) method was used to calculate the weight coefficient for each area of interest. This evaluation system was further applied to analyze and compare the changes in eye-movement data and attention to areas of interest during the two phases. The results revealed a shorter fixation duration, but a greater fixation number during the autorotative glide phase. Further, the mean pupil diameter changed over a larger range than during level flight (in level flight, the mean was 5.229 mm, while the standard deviation was 0.059 mm; in autorotative glide the corresponding values were 5.326 mm and 0.126 mm, respectively). For the tachometer, the weight coefficient matched the color of the heat map (2.7 % and colorless during level flight, but 23.8 % and red during autorotative glide), while those for the airspeed indicator and forward view differed significantly between the two phases. This discrepancy stemmed from the fact that during autorotative glide, the pilots prioritized monitoring aircraft rotation speed and attitude, with a particular focus on the forward view, rotor speed, and airspeed, resulting in a more concentrated attention distribution compared to that achieved during level flight. These results confirmed a significant increase in pilot workload during autorotative glide landing, while a shift was observed from low-frequency long gaze time during level flight to high-frequency short gaze time during autorotative glide. Furthermore, the pilots allocated 81 % of their attention to the tachometer, airspeed indicator, and forward views. Adopting this strategy can improve pilots' landing success and provide flight students with valuable training advice to prevent landing failures when helicopters lose power.

From detection methods to risk prevention: Control of N-nitrosamines in foods and the role of natural bioactive compounds.

Food processing unavoidably introduces various risky ingredients that threaten food safety. N-Nitrosamines (NAs) constitute a class of food contaminants, which are considered carcinogenic to humans. According to the compiled information, pretreatment methods based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) were widely used before the determination of volatile NAs in foods. The innovation of adsorbents and hybridization of other methods have been confirmed as the future trends of SPE-based pretreatment methods. Moreover, technologies based on liquid chromatography and gas chromatography were popularly applied for the detection of NAs. Recently, sensor-based methods have garnered increasing attention due to their efficiency and flexibility. More portable sensor-based technologies are recommended for on-site monitoring of NAs in the future. The application of artificial intelligence can facilitate data processing during high-throughput detection of NAs. Natural bioactive compounds have been confirmed to be effective in mitigating NAs in foods through antioxidation, scavenging precursors, and regulating microbial activities. Meanwhile, they exhibit strong protective activities against hepatic damage, pancreatic cancer, and other NA injuries. Further supplementation of data on the bioavailability of bioactives can be achieved through encapsulation and clinical trials. The utilization of bioinformatics tools rooted in various omics technologies is suggested for investigating novel mechanisms and finally broadening their applications in targeted therapies.

Insights into Genomic Characteristics and Biogenic Amine Degradation Potential and Mechanisms: A Strain of Pediococcus acidilactici Sourced from Doubanjiang.

The control of excess biogenic amines (BAs) is crucial for the sustainable development of fermented foods. This study aimed to screen endogenous functional strains in Doubanjiang with the capacity to degrade BAs and to elucidate their application potential. Pediococcus acidilactici L-9 (PA), which was confirmed as a safe strain by phenotypic and genotypic analyses, exhibited an efficient degradation ability on BAs, particularly regarding tyramine. Notably, the degradation of tyramine was maintained at 24.03-50.60% at different temperatures (20-40 °C), pH values (4.0-9.0), and NaCl concentrations (3-18%, w/v). Additionally, genomic data revealed the presence of the laccase-coding gene, which was demonstrated to play a pivotal role in BA degradation by heterologous expression. Further, molecular docking results indicated that the degradation of BA by laccase is closely linked to the electron transfer pathway formed by the substrate and key amino acid residues. Finally, the degradation of tyramine by PA remained within the range of 8.19-64.19% under the simulated system with 6-12% salinity. This study provided valuable insights into the safety of PA and its potential degradation capacity on BAs, particularly in mitigating tyramine accumulation, which could improve the quality of Doubanjiang and other fermented foods.

Characterizing flavor development in low-salt Chinese horse bean-chili paste through integrated metabolomics and metagenomics.

This study utilized metabolomics and metagenomics to investigate the microbial composition and functions in low- and high-salt Chinese horse bean-chili pastes (CHCPs). The results showed that 25 key metabolites were identified to distinguish the flavor attributes between the two samples. Leuconostoc was identified as the dominant microbiota in low-salt CHCP, while Pantoea prevailed in the high-salt CHCP. Compared to traditional high-salt fermentation, low-salt and inoculated fermentation promoted the increase in the relative abundances of Companionlactobacillus, Levilactobacillus, Tetragenococcus, Zygosaccharomyces and Wickerhamiella as well as the enrichment of carbohydrate and amino acid metabolic pathways, which contributed to the enhancement of characteristic flavor compounds. Further metabolic pathway reconstruction elucidated 21 potential microbial genera associated with the formation of key metabolites, such as Leuconostoc, Levilactobacillus, Pantoea, and Pectobacterium. This study may provide insights for optimizing the fermentation process and improving the flavor quality of low-salt CHCP and similar fermentation products. KEYWORDS: Low-salt fermentation Hight-salt fermentation Chinese horse-bean chili paste Flavor formation Metabolomics Metagenomics.

The Relationship Between Central Obesity and Osteoarthritis in US Adults: The Mediating Role of Biological Aging Acceleration.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the association between central obesity and the risk of osteoarthritis, and the mediating role of biological age and biological aging advance in this relationship. METHODS: The study is based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the years 2005-2018. Thirteen commonly used clinical traits were used to calculate the Klemera-Doubal method age (KDM-Age) and phenotypic age (Pheno-Age) as two measures of biological aging. Additionally, KDM-Age advance and Pheno-Age advance were calculated as two measures of biological aging advance. Weighted multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the association between central obesity and the risk of osteoarthritis (OA). Mediation analysis was then applied to elucidate the role of biological aging and biological aging advance in this relationship. RESULTS: A total of 31,162 subjects aged ≥20 years were included in this study, of which 3,964 subjects reported having OA (14%). Compared to the Non-OA group, the OA group showed significantly higher proportions of central obesity, KDM-Age, KDM-Age advance, PhenoAge, and PhenoAge advance. Compared to the Non-central obesity group, the central obesity group had higher KDM-Age, KDM-Age advance, PhenoAge, PhenoAge advance, and a higher risk of OA (p < 0.05). Additionally, higher KDM-Age, KDM-Age advance, PhenoAge, and PhenoAge advance were positively correlated with the risk of OA (p < 0.05). Mediation analysis revealed that part of the association between central obesity and the risk of OA was mediated by KDM-Age, KDM-Age advance, PhenoAge, and PhenoAge advance (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Central obesity increases the risk of OA, with part of this association being mediated by biological aging and biological aging advance.

Independent and joint role of inflammatory diet and physical activity with cognitive function in aging: Evidence from a population-based survey.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the independent and joint association of physical activity (PA) and inflammatory diet with cognitive function in aging. METHOD: Data from the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) was used. 2249 NHANES participants with valid data represented a weighted population of 50.5 million American residents aged 60 and older. This study separately analyzed the independent associations of PA (measured by global physical activity questionnaire) and inflammatory diet (measured by energy-adjusted dietary inflammatory index from 24-h dietary recall), and their joints (inactive & pro-inflammatory as reference) with cognitive function (assessed by three cognitive tests), and considered an individual of different status and non-linear effect by sub-group and restricted cubic splines (RCS) analysis, respectively. All analysis was multivariable-adjusted and sample-weighted. RESULTS: The results showed that inflammatory diet was independently associated with lower cognitive function, with a 1.08, 1.29, 2.67, 0.56 lower score in the Registry for Alzheimer's Disease word list learning test (CERAD), the Animal Fluency Test (AFT), the Digit Symbol Substitution test (DSST), Z-scores, and 51 %, 62 %, 63 %, 93 % higher odds ratio (OR) of lower performance in CERAD, AFT, DSST, and p-MCI, respectively. PA was independently associated with higher cognitive function, with a 1.41, 3.37, and 0.52 higher score in AFT, DSST, Z-scores, and 28 %, 51 %, 41 % lower ORs of lower performance in CERAD and DSST and p-MCI, respectively. Active & Anti-inflammatory was always positively associated with cognitive function, with a 1.42, 2.69, 5.47, and 1.04 higher score for CERAD, AFT, DSST, and Z-score, a 58 %, 56 %, 74 %, 76 % lower ORs of lower performance in CERAT, AFT, DSST, and p-MCI, respectively, which elicited the maximum compared to other joints. CONCLUSION: Adhering to both active PA and anti-inflammatory diet is recommended for cognitive management in older adults. Sticking to either active PA or anti-inflammatory diet also shows potential cognitive benefits, with the diet possibly playing more vital role.

A patient report scale research to access the symptom burden in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Patients diagnosed with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) commonly experience a substantial burden of symptoms encompassing both physical and psychological aspects. Presently, there's a dearth of standardized assessment tools to effectively gauge the extent of symptom burden in IgAN patients. Therefore, this study aims to devise an IgAN Symptom Assessment Tool that enables a comprehensive evaluation of patient symptom burden and their self-perceived severity. Employing a prospective observational design, this study conducted a survey among patients diagnosed with IgAN at a hospital in China. The research team formulated an IgAN Symptom Burden Assessment Scale and administered a questionnaire to gauge patient symptom burden. Severity assessment was conducted on a 5-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating a more pronounced burden of symptoms. The finalized scale comprised 14 distinct symptom items, and the questionnaire survey garnered responses from 200 patients, achieving a 100% response rate. Statistical analysis unveiled that nearly all patients regarded these symptoms as prevalent and significantly impactful on their daily lives, resulting in a considerable burden. Notably, mild oliguria, moderate nasal congestion, bitter taste , throat discomfort, alongside severe manifestations such as muscle weakness, fatigue, and foamy urine, were frequently reported by patients. The findings underscore that a substantial proportion of IgAN patients grapple with a significant burden of symptoms, emphasizing the imperative for healthcare providers to prioritize symptom management and implement proactive measures to alleviate these challenges. This study presents an innovative tool tailored for evaluating symptom burden specifically in IgAN patients. Subsequent research should center on validating this tool within larger patient cohorts to optimize the efficacy of symptom management in this demographic.

Hollow spherical nano-traps using pillararene-based polymer for efficient uranium extraction from seawater.

Herein, a hollow spherical pillar[5]arene-based polymer (P5-AO) adsorbent was synthesized. The P5-AO adsorbent was capable of effectively capturing uranium from simulated seawater (139.5 mg g-1) and real seawater (8.1 mg g-1). We also elucidated the uranium adsorption mechanism of P5-AOvia extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). This study provides a novel direction for the development of uranium capture adsorbents.

Association between arteriosclerosis index and lumbar bone mineral density in U.S adults: a cross-sectional study from the NHANES 2011-2018.

Background: The arteriosclerosis index, defined as the ratio of non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol to high density lipoprotein cholesterol (NHHR), has emerged as a novel biomarker for various diseases. The relationship between NHHR and lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) has not been previously examined. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2018. NHHR was calculated as (total cholesterol-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol)/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Lumbar BMD was calculated to Z scores. Weighted multivariate linear regression, subgroup analysis, interaction analysis, generalized additive model, and two-piecewise linear regression were used. Results: A total of 8,602 participants were included. The negative association between NHHR and lumbar BMD was consistent and significant (Model 1: ß = -0.039, 95% CI: -0.055, -0.023, p < 0.001; Model 2: ß = -0.045, 95% CI: -0.062, -0.027, p < 0.001; Model 3: ß = -0.042, 95% CI: -0.061, -0.023, p < 0.001). The linear relationship between NHHR and lumbar BMD was significantly influenced by body mass index (p for interaction = 0.012) and hypertension (p for interaction = 0.047). Non-linear associations between NHHR and lumbar BMD Z scores were observed in specific populations, including U-shaped, reverse U-shaped, L-shaped, reverse L-shaped, and U-shaped relationships among menopausal females, underweight participants, those with impaired glucose tolerance, those with diabetes mellitus and those taking anti-hyperlipidemic drugs, respectively. Conclusions: NHHR exhibited a negative association with lumbar BMD, but varying across specific populations. These findings suggest that NHHR should be tailored to individual levels to mitigate bone loss through a personalized approach. Individuals at heightened risk of cardiovascular disease should focus on their bone health.

Artificial organic afferent nerves enable closed-loop tactile feedback for intelligent robot.

The emulation of tactile sensory nerves to achieve advanced sensory functions in robotics with artificial intelligence is of great interest. However, such devices remain bulky and lack reliable competence to functionalize further synaptic devices with proprioceptive feedback. Here, we report an artificial organic afferent nerve with low operating bias (-0.6 V) achieved by integrating a pressure-activated organic electrochemical synaptic transistor and artificial mechanoreceptors. The dendritic integration function for neurorobotics is achieved to perceive directional movement of object, further reducing the control complexity by exploiting the distributed and parallel networks. An intelligent robot assembled with artificial afferent nerve, coupled with a closed-loop feedback program is demonstrated to rapidly implement slip recognition and prevention actions upon occurrence of object slippage. The spatiotemporal features of tactile patterns are well differentiated with a high recognition accuracy after processing spike-encoded signals with deep learning model. This work represents a breakthrough in mimicking synaptic behaviors, which is essential for next-generation intelligent neurorobotics and low-power biomimetic electronics.

Relationship between systemic immune-inflammation index and osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional study from the NHANES 2005-2018.

Objective: The study aimed to explore the relationship between systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) levels and osteoarthritis (OA) using cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database from 2005 to 2018. Methods: Using cross-sectional data from the NHANES database from 2005 to 2018, we included 11,381 study participants divided into OA (n = 1,437) and non-OA (n = 9,944) groups. Weighted multivariable regression models and subgroup analyses were employed to investigate the relationship between SIRI and OA. Additionally, restricted cubic spline models were used to explore nonlinear relationships. Results: This study enrolled 11,381 participants aged ≥20 years, including 1,437 (14%) with OA. Weighted multivariable regression analysis in the fully adjusted Model 3 indicated a correlation between higher levels of SIRI (log2-transformed) and an increased OA risk (odds ratio: 1.150; 95% confidence interval: 1.000-1.323, p < 0.05). Interaction tests showed that the variables did not significantly affect this correlation (p for interaction all >0.05). Additionally, a restricted cubic spline model revealed a nonlinear relationship between log2(SIRI) and OA risk, with a threshold effect showing 4.757 as the critical value of SIRI. SIRI <4.757 showed almost unchanged OA risk, whereas SIRI >4.757 showed rapidly increasing OA risk. Conclusion: The positive correlation between SIRI and OA risk, with a critical value of 4.757, holds clinical value in practical applications. Additionally, our study indicates that SIRI is a novel, clinically valuable, and convenient inflammatory biomarker that can be used to predict OA risk in adults.

Development and application of an intelligent nitrogen removal diagnosis and optimization framework for WWTPs: Low-carbon and stable operation.

Optimizing nitrogen removal is crucial for ensuring the efficient operation of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), but it is susceptible to variations in influent conditions and operational parameter constraints, and conflicts with the energy-saving and carbon emission reduction goals. To address these issues, this study proposes a hybrid framework integrating process simulation, machine learning, and multi-objective genetic algorithms for nitrogen removal diagnosis and optimization, aiming to predict the total nitrogen in effluent, diagnose nitrogen over-limit risks, and optimize the control strategies. Taking a full-scale WWTP as a case study, a process time-lag simulation-enhanced machine learning model (PTLS-ML) was developed, achieving R2 values of 0.94 and 0.79 for the training and testing sets, respectively. The proposed model successfully identified the potential reasons of nitrogen over-limit risks under different influent conditions and operational parameters, and accordingly provided optimization suggestions. In addition, the multi-objective optimization (MOO) algorithms analysis further demonstrated that maintaining 4-6 mg/L total nitrogen concentration in effluent by adjusting process operational parameters can effectively balance multiple objectives (i.e., effluent water quality, operating costs, and greenhouse gas emissions), achieving coordinated optimization. This framework can serve as a reference for stable operation, energy-saving, and emission reduction in the nitrogen removal of WWTPs.

Nonequilibrium Dynamic Phase Diagram for Transmembrane Transport of Active Particles.

In recent years, there has been considerable push toward the biomedical applications with active particles, which have great potential to revolutionize disease diagnostics and therapy. The direct penetration of active particles through the cell membrane leads to more efficient intracellular delivery than previously considered endocytosis processes but may cause membrane disruption. Understanding fundamental behaviors of cell membranes in response to such extreme impacts by active particles is crucial to develop active particle-based biomedical technologies and manage health and safety issues in this emerging field. Unfortunately, the physical principles underlying the nonequilibrium behaviors from endocytosis to direct penetration remain elusive, and experiments are challenging. Here, we present a computed dynamic phase diagram for transmembrane transport of active particles and identify four characteristic dynamic phases in endocytosis and direct penetration according to the particle activity and membrane tension. The boundaries dividing these phases are analytically obtained with theoretical models, elucidating the nonequilibrium physics and criteria for the transition between different phases. Furthermore, we numerically and experimentally show three distinct dynamic regimes related to the interplay between necking and wrapping during the endocytosis process of active particles, which strikingly contrast the regimes for passive particles. Overall, these findings could be useful for sharpening the understanding of basic principles underlying biological issues related to the safe and efficient biomedical applications of such emerging matters.