Inorganic PM reduction in Kanto, Japan: The role of ammonia and its emission sources control strategies.

Ammonia (NH) is attracting attention as a carbon-free energy source and a significant precursor to inorganic PM (hereafter PM), aside from NO and SO. Since the emission of NH has often been overlooked compared to NO and SO this study aims to reveal the role of NH and its emission control on PM in Kanto, Japan. With the aid of gas ratio (GR) quantitatively defining the stoichiometry between the three precursors to PM, and the aid of atmospheric modeling software ADMER-PRO, coupled with thermodynamics calculations, the spatiotemporal distribution along with PM reduction under different NH emission cutoff strategies in Kanto had been revealed for the first time.

The presence of vacuoles in blastocysts is negatively associated with euploidy and live birth rates.

Objective: To investigate whether the presence of vacuoles in biopsied blastocysts is associated with the likelihood of aneuploidy and clinical outcomes.

Design: Retrospective observational study.

Setting: A single reproductive center.

Design and Synthesis of Novel HIV-1 NNRTIs with Bicyclic Cores and with Improved Physicochemical Properties.

Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) represent cornerstones of current regimens for treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infections. However, NNRTIs usually suffer from low aqueous solubility and the emergence of resistant viral strains. In the present work, novel bicyclic NNRTIs derived from etravirine (ETV) and rilpivirine (RPV), bearing modified purine, tetrahydropteridine, and pyrimidodiazepine cores, were designed and prepared.

Ammonia/ammonium removal/recovery from wastewaters using bioelectrochemical systems (BES): A review.

This review updates the current research efforts on using BES to recover NH/NH, highlighting the novel configurations and introducing the working principles and the applications of microbial fuel cell (MFC), microbial electrolysis cell (MEC), microbial desalination cell (MDC), and microbial electrosynthesis cell (MESC) for NH/NH removal/recovery. However, commonly studied BES processes for NH/NH removal/recovery are energy intensive with external aeration needed for NH stripping being the largest energy input. In such a process bipolar membranes used for yielding a local alkaline pool recovering NH is not cost-effective.

A review on recovery of extracellular biopolymers from flocculent and granular activated sludges: Cognition, key influencing factors, applications, and challenges.

A reasonable recovery of excess sludge may shift the waste into wealth. Recently an increasing attention has been paid to the recycling of extracellular biopolymers from conventional and advanced biological wastewater treatment systems such as flocculent activated sludge (AS), bacterial aerobic granular sludge (AGS), and algal-bacterial AGS processes. This review provides the first overview of current research developments and future directions in the recovery and utilization of high value-added biopolymers from the three types of sludge.

Nitrous oxide emission mitigation from biological wastewater treatment - A review.

Nitrous oxide (NO) emitted from wastewater treatment processes has emerged as a focal point for academic and practical research amidst pressing environmental issues. This review presents an updated view on the biological pathways for NO production and consumption in addition to the critical process factors affecting NO emission. The current research trends including the strain and reactor aspects were then outlined with discussions.

Amorphous mesoporous matrix from metal-organic framework UiO-66 template with strong nucleophile substitution.

The metal-organic framework (MOF) UiO-66 is made of zirconium clusters coordinated with 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate linkers that is stable in water and is highly tolerant to extremely acidic or basic environments. Conversely, the zirconium clusters are affine to nucleophiles so the crystalline structures of UiO-66 can be converted into amorphous derivatives. In a mineral acid solution both protons and coordinating nucleophile are present.

Long-wave infrared absorption measurement of undoped germanium using photothermal common-path interferometry.

Germanium is one of the most commonly used materials in the longwave infrared ($\lambda \sim{8 {-} 12}\;\unicode{x00B5}{\rm m}$λ∼8-12µm), but ironically, its absorption coefficient is poorly known in this range. An infrared photothermal common-path interferometry system with a tunable quantum cascade pump laser is used to measure the absorption coefficient of ${ \gt }{99.999}\% $>99.

Alternative 3' splice site selection of intron 5 within the prmt8 gene results in a novel variant widely distributed in vertebrates and specifically abundant in Aves.

PRMT8 is a neuron-specific protein arginine methyltransferase in vertebrates. From data mining, we found a novel prmt8e6+43 splicing variant with a 43-nucleotide (nt) extension at the 5' of exon 6 in chicken. RT-PCR analyses confirmed the existence of two splicing variants but also detected a third upper signal.

High-Q diamond microresonators in the long-wave infrared.

High quality factor (Q) photonic devices in the room temperature thermal infrared region, corresponding to deeper long-wave infrared with wavelengths beyond 9 microns, have been demonstrated for the first time. Whispering gallery mode diamond microresonators were fabricated using single crystal diamond substrates and oxygen-based inductively coupled plasma (ICP) reactive ion etching (RIE) at high angles. The spectral characteristics of the devices were probed at room temperature using a tunable quantum cascade laser that was free space-coupled into the resonators.

Impact of adding metal nanoparticles on anaerobic digestion performance - A review.

Anaerobic digestion is the most widely adopted biological waste treatment processes with renewable energy production. The effects of adding metal nanoparticles (NPs) on improving digestion performance are well noted. This paper reviewed the traditional view on the cytotoxicity of NPs to living organisms and the contemporary view of mechanisms for enhancement in anaerobic digestion performance in the presence of metal NPs.

Adsorption of hydrogen arsenate and dihydrogen arsenate ions from neutral water by UiO-66-NH.

The metal-organic framework (MOF) UiO-66-NH was synthesized with different substrate to solvent ratios and its morphology, surface area, pore distributions, and NMR, XRD, and TGA-FTIR patterns were obtained. Adsorption tests at pH 7 and 25 °C showed that the produced UiO-66-NH has a hydrogen arsenate adsorption capacity of 76.9 mg/g.

Discovery of velpatasvir (GS-5816): A potent pan-genotypic HCV NS5A inhibitor in the single-tablet regimens Vosevi and Epclusa.

Direct-acting antiviral inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients. Herein is described the discovery of velpatasvir (VEL, GS-5816), a potent pan-genotypic HCV NS5A inhibitor that is a component of the only approved pan-genotypic single-tablet regimens (STRs) for the cure of HCV infection. VEL combined with sofosbuvir (SOF) is Epclusa, an STR with 98% cure-rates for genotype 1-6 HCV infected patients.

Downregulation of PRMT1 promotes the senescence and migration of a non-MYCN amplified neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells.

Protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) catalyzing the formation of asymmetric dimethylarginines has been implicated in cancer development, metastasis, and prognosis. In this study, we investigated the effects of low PRMT1 levels on a non-MYCN amplified neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cell line. Stable PRMT1-knockdown (PRMT1-KD) cells showed reduced growth rates and cell cycle arrest at G/M.

Discovery of a Potent and Orally Bioavailable Cyclophilin Inhibitor Derived from the Sanglifehrin Macrocycle.

Cyclophilins are a family of peptidyl-prolyl isomerases that are implicated in a wide range of diseases including hepatitis C. Our aim was to discover through total synthesis an orally bioavailable, non-immunosuppressive cyclophilin (Cyp) inhibitor with potent anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) activity that could serve as part of an all oral antiviral combination therapy. An initial lead 2 derived from the sanglifehrin A macrocycle was optimized using structure based design to produce a potent and orally bioavailable inhibitor 3.

Identification, chromosomal arrangements and expression analyses of the evolutionarily conserved prmt1 gene in chicken in comparison with its vertebrate paralogue prmt8.

Nine protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) are conserved in mammals and fish. Among these, PRMT1 is the major type I PRMT for asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) formation and is the most conserved and widely distributed one. Two chicken prmt1 splicing variants were assembled and confirmed by RT-PCR experiments.

Sludge treatment: Current research trends.

Sludge is produced during wastewater treatment as a residue containing most insoluble and adsorbed soluble impurities in wastewaters. This paper summarized the currently available review papers on sludge treatments and proposed the research trends based on the points raised therein. On partition aspect, sludge production rate and the reduction of production rate and the fate and transformation of involved emergent contaminants including endocrine disrupting chemicals and pharmaceuticals and personal care products are widely studied.

PRMT1 expression is elevated in head and neck cancer and inhibition of protein arginine methylation by adenosine dialdehyde or PRMT1 knockdown downregulates proliferation and migration of oral cancer cells.

Protein arginine methylation is a post-translational modification that has been implicated in signal transduction, gene transcription, DNA repair and RNA processing. Overexpression or deregulation of protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) have been reported to be associated with various cancers but have not been studied in head and neck cancer (HNC). We investigated the involvement of the modification in HNC using oral cancer cell lines (SAS, OECM-1 and HSC-3) and an immortalized normal oral cells (S-G).

Photo-fermentative hydrogen production in a 4m baffled reactor: Effects of hydraulic retention time.

A 4m pilot-scale baffled continuous-flow photoreactor with four sequential chambers (#1-#4) was established and tested to evaluate its photo-fermentative hydrogen production from wastewater that contains (10g/L glucose using a functional consortium at 30°C, under light with an intensity of 3000±200lux with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 24-72h. The hydrogen production rate and the broth characteristics varied significantly in the flow direction. The hydrogen production rate was highest in chamber #1, and lower in chambers #2-#4 at an HRT of 72h, while the peak production rate shifted to the latter chambers as the HRT was shortened.

Discovery of Potent Cyclophilin Inhibitors Based on the Structural Simplification of Sanglifehrin A.

Cyclophilin inhibition has been a target for the treatment of hepatitis C and other diseases, but the generation of potent, drug-like molecules through chemical synthesis has been challenging. In this study, a set of macrocyclic cyclophilin inhibitors was synthesized based on the core structure of the natural product sanglifehrin A. Initial compound optimization identified the valine-m-tyrosine-piperazic acid tripeptide (Val-m-Tyr-Pip) in the sanglifehrin core, stereocenters at C14 and C15, and the hydroxyl group of the m-tyrosine (m-Tyr) residue as key contributors to compound potency.

In Vitro Antiviral Activity and Resistance Profile Characterization of the Hepatitis C Virus NS5A Inhibitor Ledipasvir.

Ledipasvir (LDV; GS-5885), a component of Harvoni (a fixed-dose combination of LDV with sofosbuvir [SOF]), is approved to treat chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Here, we report key preclinical antiviral properties of LDV, including in vitro potency, in vitro resistance profile, and activity in combination with other anti-HCV agents. LDV has picomolar antiviral activity against genotype 1a and genotype 1b replicons with 50% effective concentration (EC50) values of 0.

Synthesis and biological properties of prodrugs of (S)-3-(adenin-9-yl)-2-(phosphonomethoxy)propanoic acid.

The lack of antiviral activity of recently described (S)-3-(adenin-9-yl)-2-(phosphonomethoxy)propanoic acid, or (S)-CPMEA in brief, has been speculated to possibly be due to the increased hydrophilicity of the molecule and, thus, by its limited cellular permeability. Efficient syntheses of novel lipophilic prodrugs of (S)-CPMEA masking either the carboxylic group or preferably both the phosphonate and carboxylic moieties, have been developed in order to increase bioavailability of the parent compound. Two prodrugs of (S)-CPMEA, namely phosphonate bis-amidate 15 and phenyloxy amidate 16, exhibited pan-genotypic anti-HCV activity at submicromolar concentrations.

A higher order visual neuron tuned to the spatial amplitude spectra of natural scenes.

Animal sensory systems are optimally adapted to those features typically encountered in natural surrounds, thus allowing neurons with limited bandwidth to encode challengingly large input ranges. Natural scenes are not random, and peripheral visual systems in vertebrates and insects have evolved to respond efficiently to their typical spatial statistics. The mammalian visual cortex is also tuned to natural spatial statistics, but less is known about coding in higher order neurons in insects.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of conformationally restricted adenine bicycloribonucleosides.

We prepared a novel series of conformationally restricted bicyclonucleosides and nucleotides. The synthetic approach employed a ring closing metathesis to provide access to both 6 and 7 membered saturated and unsaturated rings linking the 3' to 5' methylene groups of the sugar. The bicyclonucleosides were also transformed to the corresponding phosphoramidate prodrugs by an innovative one-pot protocol of boronate ester protection, coupling of the phosphoryl chloridate and deprotection of the boronate.