Application of modified seagull optimization algorithm with archives in urban water distribution networks: Dealing with the consequences of sudden pollution load.

This study focuses on the optimization of consequence management actions in the urban water distribution network. The EPANET simulation model is employed in combination with the multi-objective modified seagull optimization algorithm (MOMSOA) based on archives for a more efficient optimization process. Two objective functions are developed: minimizing reactive activities (cost reduction) and minimizing consumed pollution mass. The utilization of shut-off valves and hydrants for isolating the network and discharging pollution is explored. Without consequence management, 84.5 kg of pollution is consumed. With 18 reactive activities, pollution consumption was reduced to 59.8 kg. Also, to compare the proposed method with other algorithms, the interaction curve between reactive activities and the amount of pollutant mass consumed was obtained using other methods, including MOSOA, NSGA-II, MOPSO, and MOSMA. According to the obtained curve, the proposed method performed better in reducing the mass of consumed pollution. Extracting optimal activities using MOMSOA and a maximum of 18 activities takes about 80 min. The MOMSOA with archive technique significantly shortens this time for real-time consequence management. The proposed approach demonstrates that increasing the archive population decreases the extraction time of interaction curves between objectives by up to 60 %. A small archive capacity slightly increases the time required to extract optimal activities due to searching for similar solutions. However, utilizing the archive capacity enables real-time optimization and consequence management in the network.

Enhancement strategies of aerobic denitrification for efficient nitrogen removal from low carbon-to-nitrogen ratio shale oil wastewater.

The strategy of high reflux ratio and long solids retention time was adopted to realize efficient nitrogen removal from real shale oil wastewater. This was undertaken with a low chemical oxygen demand to total nitrogen (COD/TN) ratio by strengthening aerobic denitrification in an anoxic/aerobic membrane bioreactor (A/O-MBR). The TN removal load climbed from 22 to 25 g N/(kg MLSS·d) as the COD/TN ratio declined from 8 to 3. The abundance of heterotrophic nitrifying and aerobic denitrifying (HNAD) bacteria increased by 13.8 times to 42.5%, displacing anoxic denitrifying bacteria as the predominant bacteria. The abundance of genes involved in denitrification (napAB, narGHI, norBC, nosZ) increased, however the genes related to assimilatory nitrate reduction (nirA, narB, nasC) decreased. The capacity of the dominant HNAD bacteria in an A/O-MBR to efficiently utilize a carbon source is the key to efficient nitrogen removal from shale oil wastewater with a low COD/TN ratio.

Performance of anammox enchanced by pulsed electric fields under added organic carbon sources using integrated network and metagenomics analyses.

This paper aims to investigate the function of a pulsed electric field (PEF) in the anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox) process after adding certain chemical oxygen demand (COD) through integrated network and metagenomics analyses. The findings showed that the presence of COD was detrimental to anammox, but PEF could significantly reduce the adverse effect. The total nitrogen removal in the reactor for applying PEF was 16.99% higher on average than the reactor for only dosing COD. Additionally, PEF upgraded the abundance of anammox bacteria subordinate to the phylum Planctomycetes by 9.64%. The analysis of molecular ecological networks promulgated that PEF resulted in an increase in network scale and topology complexity, thereby boosting the potential collaboration of the communities. Metagenomics analyses demonstrated that PEF dramatically promoted anammox central metabolism in the presence of COD, specifically enhancing pivotal N functional genes (hzs, hdh, amo, hao, nas, nor and nos).

Value of CNRIP1 promoter methylation in colorectal cancer screening and prognosis assessment and its influence on the activity of cancer cells.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of CNRIP1 promoter methylation on the proliferative, invasive and migration potential of colorectal cancer cells, including its potential use for the early detection and prognostic assessment of colorectal cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Quantitative methylation-specific PCR (qMSP) was used to detect the methylation status of the CNRIP1 promoter region in peripheral blood samples drawn from patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma, benign colorectal adenoma, and matched healthy controls. Putative CpG methylation sites were then pyrosequenced. We subsequently suppressed CNRIP1 methylation within colon cancer cells via treatment with 5-azacytidine and overexpressed colon cancer cells by transfection with a CNRIP1-overexpression pcDNA3.0 plasmid. Thereafter, the CNRIP1 methylation status and mRNA and protein expressions levels were determined. Finally, the proliferative, invasive and migration abilities of cell lines were determined with the CCK-8 and Transwell cell assays. RESULTS: There were differences in the methylation status at loci 2216, 2226, 2231, 2245, and 2254 within the promoter region of CNRIP1 between patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma, colorectal adenoma, and healthy volunteers. The methylation status of CpG sequence 2245 significantly correlated with tumor diameter, invasion depth, TNM stage, grade, and lymph node metastasis (p < 0.05). The proliferative, invasive and migration abilities of colon cancer cells treated with 5-azaC or transfected with a CNRIP1-overexpression plasmid were significantly impaired relative to negative controls (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The methylation status at locus 2245 within the CNRIP1 promoter region has potential value for the early detection and prognostic evaluation of colorectal cancers. Demethylation of the CNRIP1 promoter or overexpression of CNRIP1 can reduce the proliferative and migration abilities of colon cancer cells.

Non-Obese Diabetes and Its Associated Factors in an Underdeveloped Area of South China, Guangxi.

BACKGROUND: Little research has been conducted on the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in underdeveloped areas in China, especially stratified into obesity and non-obese diabetes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of non-obese diabetes in an underdeveloped area in South China, Guangxi. METHODS: Data derived from the Chinese Health and Nutrition Survey 2010-2012 involved a sample of 3874 adults from Guangxi. Questionnaires and oral glucose-tolerance tests were conducted, and fasting and 2-h glucose levels and serum lipids were measured. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess associated factors for non-obese diabetes. RESULTS: 68.2% and 62.2% of instances of newly detected diabetes were those of non-obese diabetes based on BMI (NODB) and based on WC (NODW), respectively. The male sex, an age older than 50 years, lower education, hypertension, and hypertriglyceridemia were significantly associated with a higher risk of both NODB and NODW, while some associated factors for NODB were found different from those associated with NODW, and an interaction effect was found to increase the risk of NODW. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicated that non-obese diabetes was highly prevalent in an underdeveloped area of South China. Non-obese diabetes should be considered for increased public attention in these areas.

Inhibition of Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer Cell Migration by Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 1-small Hairpin RNA Through Inhibiting Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition, Extracellular Matrix Degradation, and Src Phosphorylation In Vitro.

BACKGROUND: Protein arginine methyltransferases 1 (PRMT1) is over-expressed in a variety of cancers, including lung cancer, and is correlated with a poor prognosis of tumor development. This study aimed to investigate the role of PRMT1 in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) migration in vitro. METHODS: In this study, PRMT1 expression in the NSCLC cell line A549 was silenced using lentiviral vector-mediated short hairpin RNAs. Cell migration was measured using both scratch wound healing and transwell cell migration assays. The mRNA expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1, 2 (TIMP1, 2) were measured using quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The expression levels of protein markers for epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) (E-cadherin, N-cadherin), focal adhesion kinase (FAK), Src, AKT, and their corresponding phosphorylated states were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Cell migration was significantly inhibited in the PRMT1 silenced group compared to the control group. The mRNA expression of MMP-2 decreased while TIMP1 and TIMP2 increased significantly. E-cadherin mRNA expression also increased while N-cadherin decreased. Only phosphorylated Src levels decreased in the silenced group while FAK or AKT remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: PRMT1-small hairpin RNA inhibits the migration abilities of NSCLC A549 cells by inhibiting EMT, extracellular matrix degradation, and Src phosphorylation in vitro.

[Study on the changes in endogenous oxidation agents and levels of anti-oxidation agents in patients with cerebral vascular disease].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate serum levels of endogenous oxidation agents, anti-oxidation agents and clinical significance in the patients with cerebral vascular disease (CVD). METHODS: Using biochemical methods, the levels of serum nitric oxide (NO), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and anti-oxidants vitamin E (VitE), vitamin C (VitC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) in 49 patients with cerebral hemorrhage (CH), 65 patients with cerebral infarction(CI) and 35 patients with other nervous system diseases and 34 healthy controls were determined. RESULTS: In CH and CI groups, the levels of serum NO and MDA and the activity of serum NOS were significantly higher than that of the two other groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). On the other hand, the patients with CH and CI had lower VitE, VitC levels and SOD activity than that of the two control groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest NO and NOS plays an important role in pathogenesis of cerebral damage after CH and CI. Determination of the concentrations of NO, VitE, VitC, MDA level, and NOS and SOD activity in serum can also help judge the seriousness and the course of the disease.