Vortex coagulation treatment of oilfield wastewater

In this study, the traditional coagulation process was optimized and a method of vortex coagulation for wastewater treatment was proposed for the first time. The process discards the sedimentation method used in traditional coagulation and uses agitation to bring flocs up. These flocs can then be stuck by the filter cotton fixed in wastewater, and the filter cotton and flocs can act as net capturing several times under the action of agitation. It is worth noting that the filter cotton and flocs can synergistically adsorb the suspended and organic pollutants from wastewater. The results showed that the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of vortex coagulation could reach 82%, which was 10% higher than that of the traditional coagulation under the same coagulant dosing. In addition, the flocs in conventional coagulation and vortex coagulation were analyzed by IR spectroscopy and XRD, which showed that the mixing process did not destroy the chemical structure of the flocs. Compared with the conventional method, this process does not require a sedimentation tank, which can avoid the investment of equipment construction in this area. The effects of coagulant dosage, pH, stirring speed, and stirring time on the wastewater treatment effects were explored in the experiment.

Characteristics and Mechanisms of Phosphorous Adsorption by Peanut Shell-Derived Biochar Modified with Magnesium Chloride by Ultrasonic-Assisted Impregnation

Recovery of phosphate (P) from sludge, domestic wastewater, and industrial wastewater is beneficial for overcoming the problem of shortage of P rock resources. In this study, Mg-functionalized peanut shell-derived biochar was prepared by ultrasound-assisted impregnation. The obtained Mg-laden biochar had a higher content of Mg, a larger specific surface area, and more porosity. The prepared Mg-modified biochar exhibited excellent adsorption properties of phosphorus. Modified biochar has a higher amount of adsorbed P than raw biochar. The capacity of P adsorption by modified biochar was 30.48-114.24% higher than that by raw biochar. Moreover, the Mg-laden biochar can be applied in a wide working environment (pH: 2-10; temperature range: 15-40 °C). This study not only develops a new strategy for the preparation of high-capacity P adsorbents but also provides a new green use for agricultural peanut shells.

[Impact of late sodium current inhibition on cardiac electrophysiology parameters and ventricular arrhythmias in isolated Langendorff perfused rabbit hearts with short QT interval]

Objective: To determine the electrophysiological effects and related mechanisms of late sodium current inhibitors on hearts with short QT intervals. Methods: The electrophysiological study was performed on isolated Langendorff perfused rabbit hearts. A total of 80 New Zealand White rabbits were used and 34 hearts without drug treatment were defined as control group A, these hearts were then treated with I_KATP opener pinacidil, defined as pinacidil group A. Then, 27 hearts from pinacidil group A were selected to receive combined perfusion with sodium channel inhibitors or quinidine, a traditional drug used to treat short QT syndrome, including ranolazine combined group (n=9), mexiletine combined group (n=9), and quinidine combined group (n=9). Nineteen out of the remaining 46 New Zealand rabbits were selected as control group B (no drug treatments, n=19), and then treated with pinacidil, defined as pinacidil group B (n=19). The remaining 27 rabbits were treated with sodium inhibitors or quinidine alone, including ranolazine alone group (n=9), mexiletine alone group (n=9), and quinidine alone group (n=9). Electrocardiogram (ECG) physiological parameters of control group A and pinacidil group A were collected. In control group B and pinacidil group B, programmed electrical stimulation was used to induce ventricular arrhythmias and ECG was collected. ECG physiological parameters and ventricular arrhythmia status of various groups were analyzed. The concentrations of pinacidil, ranolazine, mexiletine and quinidine used in this study were 30, 10, 30 and 1 μmol/L, respectively. Results: Compared with control group A, the QT interval, 90% of the repolarization in epicardial and endocardial monophasic action potential duration (MAPD₉₀-Epi, MAPD₉₀-Endo) was shortened, the transmural dispersion of repolarization (TDR) was increased, and the effective refractor period (ERP) and post-repolarization refractoriness (PRR) were reduced in pinacidil group A (all P<0.05). Compared with the pinacidil group A, MAPD₉₀-Epi, MAPD₉₀-Endo, QT interval changes were reversed in quinidine combined group and mexiletine combined group (all P<0.05), but not in ranolazine combined group. All these three drugs reversed the pinacidil-induced increases of TDR and the decreases of ERP and PRR. The induced ventricular arrhythmia rate was 0 in control group B, and increased to 10/19 (χ²=13.6, P<0.05) in pinacidil group B during programmed electrical stimulation. Compared with the pinacidil group B, incidences of ventricular arrhythmia decreased to 11% (1/9), 11% (1/9) and 0 (0/9) (χ²=4.5, 4.5, 7.4, P<0.05) respectively in ranolazine group, mexiletine group and quinidine group. Conclusions: Inhibition of late sodium current does not increase but even decreases the risk of malignant arrhythmia in hearts with a shortened QT interval. The antiarrhythmic mechanism might be associated with the reversal of the increase of TDR and the decrease of refractoriness (including both ERP and PRR) of hearts with shortened QT interval.

Highly Chemoselective Synthesis of Azaarene-Equipped CF3-Tertiary Alcohols under Metal-Free Conditions and Their Fungicidal Activities

A highly chemoselective reaction between α,β-unsaturated trifluoromethyl ketones with azaarenes under metal-free conditions was carried out, affording a range of valuable azaarene-equipped CF₃-tertiary alcohols in moderate to excellent yields (up to 95% yield) with good tolerance of functional groups, and their structures were confirmed by NMR, HRMS, and X-ray diffraction for validation. This method features simple reaction conditions (only solvent), high atom- and step-economy, and broad substrate scope. Moreover, most of the target products exhibited promising fungicidal activities, and compound 3al exhibited 91.65% fungicidal activity against R. solani, with an EC₅₀ value of 0.18 mg/mL.

Impact of surgical left atrial appendage closure during coronary bypass on clinical outcomes and readmissions

Background

Whether surgical left atrial appendage closure (sLAAC) during coronary artery bypass (CABG)surgery improves post-operative outcome including stroke and atrial fibrillation (AF) occurrence is largely unknown.

Objective

To analyze the impact of concomitant sLAAC during CABG in terms of outcomes and readmissions over the following year.

Methods

We analyzed the Nationwide Readmissions Database (2016–2019) using ICD-10 codes to identify hospitalizations for CABG. Patients were subcategorized based on whether sLAAC was performed or not. Among patients who survived their index admission, we employed propensity matching (1:3) to adjust for age, sex, comorbidities, CHA2DS2-VASc scores, previous AF history, heart failure and hospital characteristics. Primary outcomes included unplanned AF and stroke-related readmissions at 1 year.

Results

A total of 58,311 patients with CABG and sLAAC were identified with 175,940 propensity matched controls. Patients undergoing sLAAC were older with higher CHA2DS2-VASc scores and comorbidity burdens. Confounders were well balanced following propensity matching. Over a mean follow-up of 152 days, sLAAC was associated with higher risk of readmission due to AF at one year (HR 1.71 [1.49–1.96] p&lt;0.001). This association is independent of previous AF history. Lower rates of stroke-related readmission was associated with perfomance of sLAAC (HR 0.80 (0.65–0.97) p=0.026), however the association was not observed when accounting for AF history.

Conclusion

CABG with concomitant sLAAC is maybe associated with lower stroke risk at the cost of higher risk of AF readmissions.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Bio-distribution and longevity of mesenchymal stromal cell derived membrane particles

Vesicle-based medicines hold great promise for therapy development but essential knowledge on the bio-distribution and longevity of vesicles after administration is lacking. We generated vesicles from the membranes of human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) and we demonstrated earlier that these so-called membrane particles (MP) mediate immunomodulatory and regenerative responses in target cells. In the present study we examined the bio-distribution and longevity of MP after intravenous administration in mice. While most vesicle tracking methods are based on imaging techniques, which require labeling of vesicles and can only detect dense accumulations of vesicles, we used proteomics analysis to detect the presence of MP-derived proteins in multiple organs and tissues. MP proteins were mainly present in plasma and leukocytes at 1 h after injection, indicating that MP - in contrast to whole MSC - do not accumulate in the lungs upon first passage but remain in circulation. After 24 h, MP proteins were still present in plasma but were most abundant in the liver. RNA sequencing of livers demonstrated that MP impact liver function and in particular induce metabolic pathways. These data provide a clear view of the bio-distribution and longevity of MP, which is likely extrapolatable to other types of vesicles, and demonstrate that MP circulate for up to 24 h and may be a tool for targeting the liver.

JS09.5.A Is Radiation Dose to Sleep-relevant Brain Structures Associated with Lower Sleep Quality in Adults with Primary Brain Tumors?

Background

Sleep plays a central role in optimal brain health and daily functioning, and poor sleep is associated with impaired cognitive functioning and reduced quality of life. Despite improved precision of modern radiotherapy (RT) for brain tumors, radiation to healthy tissue, including brain structures relevant for sleep/wake regulation, is often inevitable. In the present study, we investigate whether radiation dose to sleep/wake-relevant brain structures is associated with poorer patient-reported sleep quality in primary brain tumor patients.

Material and Methods

Patients who had received RT for non-glioblastoma primary brain tumors between 2006 and 2016 were included. They completed the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and mean radiation doses to sleep/wake-relevant structures (i.e., brainstem, thalamus, hypothalamus, and the pituitary and pineal glands) were calculated based on planning CTs and contrast-enhanced MR-images. Mean radiation dose (Dmean) to brain structures were compared between patients with and without impaired sleep outcomes using bootstrapped independent t-tests. Differences with effect sizes (ES, Cohen’s d) exceeding ± 0.3 are reported.

Results

A total of 78 patients (glioma, grade 1-3 = 28; meningioma = 22, pituitary = 16, other = 12) were included. Median time since RT was 4.6 years (range = 8.4 years). Mean global PSQI score was 5.13 (SD = 3.1). No differences were observed between tumor types, F (3,74) = 0.37, η 2= .02. Clinical sleep disturbance (PSQI &gt; 5) was reported by 37.2% (n=29). Compared with patients without sleep disturbance, those with sleep disturbance had received a higher radiation dose to the pituitary gland, Dmean = 26.11 Gy, SE = 2.59, versus 34.57 Gy, SE = 3.43, ES(d) = - 0.46, 95% CI [-0.93, 0.003]. Furthermore, compared with patients reporting normal sleep latency (SL), those with poor SL had received a higher radiation dose to the pituitary gland, Dmean = 24.55 Gy, SE = 3.71, versus 32.60 Gy, SE = 2.48, ES(d) = - 0.44, 95% CI [-0.90, 0.03], and the brain stem, Dmean = 15.32 Gy, SE = 2.71, versus 20.20 Gy, SE = 2.01, ES(d) = -3.44, 95% CI [-0.80, 0.12]. Finally, compared with patients with a high sleep efficiency (&gt;85%), those with a low sleep efficiency had received a higher radiation dose to the thalamus, Dmean = 18.11 Gy, SE = 2.36, versus 24.55 Gy, SE = 4.43, ES(d) = -0.35, 95% CI [-0.83, 0.15], and the pineal gland, Dmean = 16.20 Gy, SE = 2.48, versus 23.10 Gy, SE = 4.25, ES(d) = -0.36, 95% CI [-0.85, 0.13].

Conclusion

The prevalence of clinical sleep disturbances in patients with primary brain tumors was high (37%). Our results indicated that higher radiation doses to the pituitary gland, brain stem, thalamus, and pineal gland may be risk factors for poor sleep quality in patients with a primary brain tumor.