Effectiveness

Quorum sensing (QS)-based manipulations emerge as a promising solution for biofilm reactors to overcome challenges from inefficient biofilm formation and lengthy start-ups. However, the ecological mechanisms underlying how QS regulates microbial behaviors and community assembly remain elusive. Herein, by introducing different levels of N-acyl-homoserine lactones, we manipulated the strength of QS during the start-up of moving bed biofilm reactors and compared the dynamics of bacterial communities. We found that enhanced QS elevated the fitness of fast-growing bacteria with high ribosomal RNA operon (rrn) copy numbers in their genomes in both the sludge and biofilm communities...

Tire wear particles (TWPs) are considered a significant contributor of microplastics (MPs) in the sludge during heavy rainfall events. Numerous studies have shown that hydrothermal treatment (HT) of sludge can accelerate the leaching of MP-derived compound into hydrothermal liquid, thus impairing the performance of subsequent anaerobic digestion and the quality of the hydrothermal liquid fertilizer. However, the leaching behavior of TWPs in the HT of sludge remains inadequately explored. This study examined the molecular composition of TWP-derived compounds and transformation pathways of representative tire-related additives under different hydrothermal temperatures using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) combined with mass difference analysis...

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) are becoming increasingly common in aquatic ecosystems worldwide. However, their heterogeneous distributions make it difficult to accurately estimate the total algae biomass and forecast the occurrence of surface cyanoHABs by using traditional monitoring methods. Although various optical instruments and remote sensing methods have been employed to monitor the dynamics of cyanoHABs at the water surface (i.e., bloom area, chlorophyll a), there is no effective in-situ methodology to monitor the dynamic change of cell density and integrated biovolume of algae throughout the water column...

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are typical covers in arid and semiarid regions. The dissolved organic matter (DOM) of BSCs can be transported to various aquatic ecosystems by rainfall-runoff processes. However, the spatiotemporal variation in quality and quantity of DOM in runoff remains unclear. Herein, four kinds of runoff plots covered by four successional stages of BSCs were set up on slopes, including bare runoff plot (BR), cyanobacteria crust covered runoff plot (CR), mixed crust covered runoff plot (MIR), and moss crust covered runoff plot (MOR)...

High-valent metal-oxo species (HMOS) have been extensively recognized in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) owing to their high selectivity and high chemical utilization efficiency. However, the interactions between HMOS and halide ions in sewage wastewater are complicated, leading to ongoing debates on the intrinsic reactive species and impacts on remediation. Herein, we prepared three typical HMOS, including Fe(IV), Mn(V)-nitrilotriacetic acid complex (Mn(V)NTA) and Co(IV) through peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation and comparatively studied their interactions with Cl- to reveal different reactive chlorine species (RCS) and the effects of HMOS types on RCS generation pathways...

The coupling between anammox and nitrate/nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (n-DAMO) has been considered a sustainable technology for nitrogen removal from sidestream wastewater and can be implemented in both membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) and granular bioreactor. However, the potential influence of the accompanying hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) in the anaerobic digestion (AD)-related methane-containing mixture on anammox/n-DAMO remains unknown. To fill this gap, this work first constructed a model incorporating the C/N/S-related bioprocesses and evaluated/calibrated/validated the model using experimental data...

Photochemical processes are typically not incorporated in screening-level substance risk assessments due to the complexity of modeling sunlight co-exposures and resulting interactions on environmental fate and effects. However, for many substances, sunlight exerts a profound influence on environmental degradation rates and ecotoxicities. Recent modeling advances provide an improved technical basis for estimating the effect of sunlight in modulating both substance exposure and toxicity in the aquatic environment...

In this study, a conjunctive water management model based on interval stochastic bi-level programming method (CM-ISBP) is proposed for planning water trading program as well as quantifying mutual effects of water trading and systematic water saving. CM-ISBP incorporates water resources assessment with soil and water assessment tool (SWAT), systematic water-saving simulation combined with water trading, and interval stochastic bi-level programming (ISBP) within a general framework. Systematic water saving involves irrigation water-saving technologies (sprinkler irrigation, micro-irrigation, low-pressure pipe irrigation), enterprise water-saving potential and water-saving subsidy...

Effective deep-dewatering is crucial for wastewater sludge management. Currently, the dominant methods focus on promoting cell lysis to release intracellular water, but these techniques often lead to secondary pollution and require stringent conditions, limiting their practical use. This study explores an innovative method using a commercially available complex quaternary ammonium salt surfactant, known as G-agent. This agent remarkably reduces the sludge water content from 98.6 % to 56.8 % with a low dosage (50 mg/g DS) and under neutral pH conditions...

Water disinfection is undoubtedly regarded as a critical step in ensuring the water safety for human consumption, and ozone is widely used as a highly effective disinfectant for the control of pathogenic microorganisms in water. Although the diminished ozone efficiencies in complex water matrices have been widely reported, the specific extent to which individual components of matrix act on the virus inactivation by ozone remains unclear, and effective methodologies to predict the comprehensive effects of various factors are needed...

The increasing volume of garment waste underscores the need for advanced sorting and recycling strategies. As a critical procedure in the secondary usage of waste clothes, qualitative classification of garments categorizes post-consumer clothes based on types and styles. However, this process currently relies on manual labor, which is inefficient, labor-intensive, and poses risks to workers. Despite efforts to implement automatic clothes classification systems, challenges persist due to visual complexities such as similar colors, deformations, and occlusions...

OBJECTIVE: Despite widespread use, there is limited evidence to support postsurgical rehabilitation to enhance neurological recovery after surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). Outcomes research for DCM seldom accounts for the effect of postsurgical rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to quantify the impact of postsurgical rehabilitation on outcomes after surgery for DCM. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from a single center...

OBJECTIVE: The insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) is a common neurosurgical procedure, but the optimal entry site of the ventricular catheter is still under debate. In this study, the authors compare the parietal (Keen's) and frontal (Kocher's) entry sites in terms of the rate of revision surgery due to ventricular catheter misplacement, VPS dysfunction, and VPS infection. METHODS: The authors retrospectively analyzed the data on consecutive adults (age ≥ 18 years) who had undergone primary VPS insertion between 2010 and 2020 at two neurosurgical centers...

OBJECTIVE: The role of interbodies in lumbar arthrodesis has been insufficiently supported by evidence, impacting clinical decision-making and occasionally insurance coverage. This study aimed to compare clinical and radiological outcomes between lumbar arthrodesis with a synthetic interbody spacer (cage) versus structural bone graft alone (autograft or allograft) in patients with degenerative spine disease. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed to identify studies directly comparing outcomes of lumbar interbody arthrodesis with and without interbody cage use...

OBJECTIVE: Accounting for approximately 15% of primary liver cancers and 3% of gastrointestinal malignancies, cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) poses a serious health concern given its high mortality rate. Managing brain metastases (BMs) from CCA is challenging because of their rarity and poor prognosis, with little guidance on treatment from the literature. In this study, the authors aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in managing BMs from CCA. METHODS: This multicenter retrospective study included 13 CCA patients with 41 BMs treated with SRS from October 2006 to April 2022 at eight institutions affiliated with the International Radiosurgery Research Foundation...

OBJECTIVE: Preoperative stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is emerging as a viable alternative to standard postoperative SRS. Studies have suggested that preoperative SRS provides comparable tumor control and overall survival (OS) and may reduce the incidence of leptomeningeal disease (LMD) and adverse radiation effects (AREs). It is unknown, however, if preoperative SRS remains effective in cohorts including large brain metastases (> 14 cm3) or if preoperative SRS affects steroid taper/immunotherapy...

OBJECTIVE: The recent introduction of the Woven EndoBridge (WEB) has presented an alternative treatment modality for intracranial bifurcation and wide-neck aneurysms with a growing body of literature evaluating its efficacy. However, no previous systematic review has focused on comparing WEB with previously using endovascular approaches, specifically primary coiling (PC) and stent-assisted coiling (SAC). Herein, the authors present the first systematic review summarizing available literature to reach a consensus regarding the safety and effectiveness of WEB...

OBJECTIVE: Spin is characterized as a misinterpretation of results that, whether deliberate or unintentional, culminates in misleading conclusions and steers readers toward an excessively optimistic perspective of the data. The primary objective of this systematic review was to estimate the prevalence and nature of spin within the traumatic brain injury (TBI) literature. Additionally, the identification of associated factors is intended to provide guidance for future research practices...

OBJECTIVE: Neurosurgery subinternships are a critical portion of the medical student application to neurosurgery residency programs, allowing programs to assess the student's clinical knowledge, interpersonal skills, work ethic, and character. Despite how critical these auditions are, many students have a poor understanding of expectations prior to beginning these subinternships. Thomas Jefferson University hosted a combined in-person and virtual boot camp session open to all medical students interested in neurosurgery...

OBJECTIVE: Increased adolescent sports participation has raised concerns about higher rates of concussions, a prevalent injury among young athletes with potential long-term effects. Discrepancies in concussion recovery and management protocols across various sports underscore a critical issue in youth athletics. This study aimed to examine the relationship between sport type and the number of games missed following a concussion to inform targeted management strategies. METHODS: Data from 7445 postinjury ImPACT tests for athletes aged 12-22 years, collected from 2009 to 2019, were analyzed across different sports: baseball, basketball, cheerleading, football, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling...