A composted sewage sludge (CSS) was added to the soil of an urban garden at 5%, 10%, and 25% (w/w soil) and stabilised for 180 days. Samples were then collected and analysed for total heavy metal concentrations, chemical fractions, and bioaccessibility, together with some physicochemical properties. The results showed that the total chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) concentrations were increased with CSS addition rate. The CSS addition decreased the residual fractions of these four elements. The exchangeable Cr, Cu, and Pb fractions were very small or not detected, while Zn exhibited an increasing trend in its exchangeable fraction with CSS addition rate. The bioaccessibility of these four elements was increased with the CSS addition rate. Moreover, the Cr, Cu, and Zn bioaccessibility correlated positively with the total concentration, while the bioaccessibility of these four elements exhibited a negative correlation with the residual fraction. The fractionation and bioaccessibility of heavy metals may have also been influenced by pH, cation exchange capacity, and organic matter. The risk assessment code reflected the amended soil showed no or low environmental risks for Cr, Cu, and Pb and a medium risk for Zn. The hazardous index values and cancer risk levels indicated that the heavy metals in the soil amended with 25% CSS posed negligible potential noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks to children and adults via incidental ingestion.
Purpose Neurodevelopmental disabilities are common and genetically heterogeneous. We identified a homozygous variant in the gene encoding UFM1-specific peptidase 2 (UFSP2), which participates in the UFMylation pathway of protein modification. UFSP2 variants are implicated in autosomal dominant skeletal dysplasias, but not neurodevelopmental disorders. Homozygosity for the variant occurred in eight children from four South Asian families with neurodevelopmental delay and epilepsy. We describe the clinical consequences of this variant and its effect on UFMylation. Methods Exome sequencing was used to detect potentially pathogenic variants and identify shared regions of homozygosity. Immunoblotting assessed protein expression and post-translational modifications in patient-derived fibroblasts. Results The variant (c.344T>A; p.V115E) is rare and alters a conserved residue in UFSP2. Immunoblotting in patient-derived fibroblasts revealed reduced UFSP2 abundance and increased abundance of UFMylated targets, indicating the variant may impair de-UFMylation rather than UFMylation. Reconstituting patient-derived fibroblasts with wild-type UFSP2 reduced UFMylation marks. Analysis of UFSP2’s structure indicated that variants observed in skeletal disorders localize to the catalytic domain, whereas V115 resides in an N-terminal domain possibly involved in substrate binding. Conclusion Different UFSP2 variants cause markedly different diseases, with homozygosity for V115E causing a severe syndrome of neurodevelopmental disability and epilepsy.
Anaerobic co-digestion of peanut hulls and swine manure was investigated. The interaction effects of the total solid percentage (TS%), carbon–nitrogen ratio (C/N ratio), and inoculum volume percentage (I%) on the total biogas production and methane content were evaluated using quadratic regression models and response surface methodology (RSM). The results show, with the assistance of the developed quadratic model, that the influence of the three factors on the biogas production and methane content followed the order TS% > I% > C/N ratio. With the assistance of RSM, when the TS%, C/N ratio, and I% were 5.83%, 29.31:1, and 30.00%, respectively, the maximum biogas production (1280.65 mL/g VS) was achieved; when the TS%, C/N ratio, and I% were 5.85%, 34.06:1, and 30.00%, respectively, the highest methane content was obtained (686.06 mL CH4/g VS). The C/N ratio insignificantly affects the biogas production and methane content in this experiment. In the low concentration of anaerobic digestion (AD), the inoculum concentration is positively correlated with the biogas production and methane content. However, in the high-concentration AD, the inoculum concentration is negatively correlated with the biogas production and methane content. To ensure the efficiency of the biogas production and increase the volume utilization of the anaerobic digester, in the case of low I% in anaerobic co-digestion of peanut hulls and swine manure, batch feeding can be adopted by gradually increasing the TS%.
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