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The association between breast cancer patients with a TP53 pathogenic variant and risk of local recurrence and contralateral breast cancer remains largely unknown. The study population of 11093 patients was derived from two cohorts at the Breast Center of Peking University Cancer Hospital in China from November 2003, to March 2018. TP53 germline variants were determined for all patients. In the study, forty-one (0.37%) carried a TP53 germline pathogenic variant, and 11052 were non-carriers (99.63%). Nineteen TP53 carriers (46.3%) and 4173 non-carriers (37.8%) were treated with breast-conserving therapy (BCT), while the remaining were treated with mastectomy. After a median follow-up of 6.7 years, the rate of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) in TP53 carriers was significantly higher than that in non-carriers when treated with BCT (21.1% vs 3.8%, P = 0.006). No difference in the rate of IBTR was found between TP53 carriers and non-carriers when treated with mastectomy (0.0% vs 2.6%, P = 1.0). Furthermore, the rate of IBTR in TP53 carriers treated with BCT was significantly higher than that in those treated with mastectomy (21.1% vs 0.0%, P = 0.038). The 10-year cumulative risk of contralateral breast cancer in TP53 carriers was significantly higher than that in non-carriers (17.9% vs 3.6%, hazard ratio (HR) = 7.0, 95% CI: 3.3–14.9, P < 0.001). Patients with TP53 variants have a high risk of IBTR when treated with BCT, and exhibit a very high risk of contralateral breast cancer. TP53 carriers may not be suitable for BCT and prophylactic contralateral mastectomy might be considered. • Patients with a TP53 variant have a high risk of IBTR when treated with BCT. • TP53 carriers exhibit a very high risk of contralateral breast cancer. • TP53 carriers may not be suitable for BCT. • Prophylactic contralateral mastectomy may be considered for TP53 carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Four different NBWs were added to the sludge anaerobic digestion. • The hydrolysis of sludge anaerobic digestion can be enhanced by the addition of NBW. • Addition of NBW increased methane production by 9.0–27.8% compared with control. • Addition of NBW (Air, CO 2 , He, and N 2) improved the dewaterability of digestate. • Air-NBW was the most cost-effective additive for sludge anaerobic digestion. The subsequence anaerobic digestion (AD) of dewatered sludge (DWS) from wastewater treatment plants necessitates an emphasis on enhancing methane production and dewaterability. The effect of different nanobubble water (NBW) on AD of DWS was investigated under mesophilic conditions. Cumulative methane production was improved by 9.0–27.8% with the addition of different NBW (Air, CO 2 , He, and N 2). NBW improved methanogenic performance by significantly enhancing the hydrolysis of sludge AD. Results from the digestate, the capillary suction time, specific resistance to filtration, and moisture content could be decreased by 14.6–18.2%, 18.8–29.6%, and 13.6–19.5%, respectively. The addition of NBW can improve the dewaterability of digestate by reducing the digestate particle size and increasing the zeta potential of digestate. The addition of NBW significantly increased methane production and improved dewaterability in AD; Air-NBW showed the best improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Microbial electrolysis cell was integrated in different phases of different TPAD. • Thermophilic conditions enhanced hydrolysis more than microbial electrolysis cell. • TPAD integrated microbial electrolysis cell improved the methane yield. • Microbial electrolysis cell was more effective in mesophilic-mesophilic TPAD. Temperature-phased anaerobic digestion (TPAD) and microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) are both able to improve hydrolysis and methane yield during anaerobic digestion (AD) of dewatered sludge. However, the effect of TPAD and MEC integration at different temperatures and different phases is unclear. This study investigated the effect of the integration of intermittent energization MEC in different phases of TPAD on the digestion of dewatered sludge. Thermophilic and MEC hydrolysis could release higher total ammonia nitrogen of 186.0% and 10.3% than control, mesophilic methanogenesis phase integrated with MEC relieved the ammonia inhibition and accelerated the acid utilization leading to the relief of acid accumulation. The ultimate methane yield of the TPAD integrated with MEC was increased by 118.9%, in which the relative abundance of Methanothermobacteria and Methanosarcina was increased. Therefore, intermittent energization MEC integrated TPAD synchronously improved the hydrolysis and methane yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the extreme values of wind loads is crucial for wind-resistant design of structures. The Hermite polynomial model (HPM)- based translation method, which uses the first four moments of wind load, is the most recognized and widely used method for extreme wind load estimations. In this study, a quartic HPM-based translation method for estimating extreme wind loads is proposed. A strategy for solving the shape coefficients is suggested for better practical use. The monotonic increasing condition required for the translation between non-Gaussian wind load and standard Gaussian process is discussed, based on which the constraint of shape coefficients governing the applicability of the quartic HPM is derived. From the validation study, it is found that the applicability of the quartic HPM is satisfactory. Compared with the cubic and improved HPMs, the quartic HPM stands out for yielding more accurate estimates of extreme wind loads. Comparative analysis with the XIMIS, an observed-maxima method, reveals the quartic HPM's consistency in estimating extreme wind loads from data with shorter periods, while the performance of XIMIS deteriorates with decreasing periods. Furthermore, the quartic HPM exhibits robustness in addressing strong non-Gaussian wind loads, outperforming the other methods under such conditions. • A quartic HPM-based translation method for estimating extreme values of wind loads is proposed. • Constraint of shape coefficients in quartic HPM that governs requirement of monotonic increasing condition is derived. • Intensity of non-Gaussianity is quantitatively defined and successfully associated to tail characteristic of parent distribution of wind loads. • Quartic HPM outperforms cubic and improved HPMs, as well as XIMIS, in estimating extreme values of wind loads with strong non-Gaussianity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaerobic digestion of nitrogen-rich sludge is limited by hydrolysis and threatened by high ammonia nitrogen. Anaerobic digestion of microbial electrolysis cell-assisted (AD-MEC) can effectively improve hydrolysis and system stability. However, prolonged energisation can exacerbate energy consumption and lead to a reduction in economic benefits. The effects of AD-MEC on the anaerobic digestion performance of nitrogen-rich sludge under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions with different energization times (0 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h per day) were investigated. AD-MEC enhances the concentration of anaerobically digested soluble chemical oxygen demand and volatile fatty acids. The AD-MEC digester in 12 h-ON/12 h-OFF energization mode under mesophilic conditions had a methane yield of 133.3 ± 6.1 mL g−1-VS added , which was enhanced by 23.7% compared with the control. The AD-MEC digester in 12 h-ON/12 h-OFF energized mode under thermophilic conditions promoted the recovery of the destabilized digester with a methane yield of 43.9 ± 2.1 mL g−1-VS added , which was 14.5% higher compared with the control. Microbial communities showed that mesophilic AD-MEC enriched hydrogenotrophic methanogens dominated by Methanosarcina , and thermophilic AD-MEC enriched Coprothermobacterota phylum bacteria and hydrogenotrophic methanogens promoted recovery of the destabilized digester. Therefore intermittent energization of the AD-MEC using the 12 h-ON/12 h-OFF mode can enhance methane yield and save energy. [Display omitted] • AD-MEC promotes hydrolysis of dewatered sludge. • 12 h-ON/OFF intermittent energisation promoted methane yield. • AD-MEC restored methane yield from destabilised thermophilic digesters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies on Bacillus inoculation have been reported for lignocellulose degradation and composts fertility during composting. This research explored the enhanced lignocellulose degradation and composts fertility of cattle manure and wheat straw composting by Bacillus inoculation. Bacillus methylotrophicus F-6, Bacillus velezensis T-B, and Bacillus haynesii R-1 were used in this research. The results indicated that Bacillus inoculation (1) prolonged the thermophilic phase by 1–2 days, (2) decreased the NH+ 4 -N/NO- 3 -N value, E4/E6, and respiration activity for four days (RA 4) of final composts, (3) increased the cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin degradation rate by 17.1%− 46.4%, 16.9%− 34.5%, and 30.6%− 69.4%, and (4) increased biomass of plant growth by 8.6%− 42.5% (based on final dry matter) and 16.4%− 42.4% (based on final organic matter). Pearson correlation analysis indicated that total nitrogen, total phosphorous, total potassium, and relative abundance of Atopostipes , Proteiniphilum and Thermobifida of final compost were positively correlated to the plant growth. Bacillus is a genus of thermophilic bacteria that can improve microbial biodiversity and population, further altering the physical and chemical properties of compost. The results showed Bacillus inoculation is beneficial to improve compost maturity, promote lignocellulose degradation, and improve composts fertility. [Display omitted] • Bacillus inoculation improved maturity of cattle manure and wheat straw composting. • Bacillus inoculation increased lignocellulose degradation rate by 18.1%− 42.1%. • Atopostipes , Proteiniphilum , and Thermobifida promoted plant growth. • The aboveground biomass and chlorophyll increased by 8.4%− 54.4% and 47.0%− 55.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of total solids (TS) content on sludge mesophilic anaerobic digestion (AD) was investigated in batch reactors. A range of TS below 10% was evaluated with two replicates. The volumetric biogas production rate (VBPR) increased with increasing initial TS. On day 5, VBPR increased from 133.2 ± 11.2 mL L −1 d −1 at TS 2% to 1111.7 ± 58.1 mL L −1 d −1 at TS 10%. The ultimate biogas yield ( P ) firstly increased and then decreased with the increasing TS. The greatest P was 246.8 mL g −1 -VS added at TS 8%. The corresponding free ammonia nitrogen (FAN) and total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) were 84.0 ± 16.1 and 1163.0 ± 108.6 mg L −1 , respectively. Normalized capillary suction time (NCST) and solid content of thickened sludge obtained by centrifuging sludge increased with increasing TS. On day 49, NCST were 1.2 ± 0.2 (TS = 2%) and 13.2 ± 1.1 (TS = 10%) s g −1 -TS. Meanwhile, solid content of thickened sludge was 7.5 ± 0.5 (TS = 2%) and 15.4 ± 0.0% (TS = 10%). In summary, high VBPR and dewatering effects were obtained after TS content optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of total solids content on sludge thermophilic anaerobic digestion was investigated in batch reactors. A range of total solids content from 2% to 10% was evaluated with two replicates. The lowest inhibitory concentration for free ammonia and total ammonia of sludge thermophilic anaerobic digestion was 110.9–171.4 mg/L and 1313.1–1806.7 mg/L, respectively. The volumetric biogas production rate increased with increasing of total solids content, but the corresponding biogas yield per gram volatile solid decreased. The result of normalized capillary suction time indicated that the dewaterability of digested sludge at high total solids content was poor, while solid content of sediment obtained by centrifuging sludge at 2000 g for 10 min increased with increasing of total solids content of sludge. The results suggest that thickened sludge mixed with dewatered sludge at an appropriate ratio could get high organic loading rate, high biogas yield and adequate dewatering effort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Methane yield of thermophilic digester is greater than that of mesophilic digester. • Bacterial and archaeal diversity of mesophilic digesters is more abundant. • Plant growth promotion of mesophilic biogas slurry is more prominent. • Potassium in biogas slurry is the key factor to promote plant growth. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of mixing ratios of Chinese cabbage waste (CCW) and cow manure (CM) on methane yields, microbial community, and biogas slurry fertility during anaerobic co-digestion. Batch experiments were conducted at mesophilic and thermophilic temperatures with five different CCW/CM mixing ratios. Methane yields at mesophilic and thermophilic temperatures were 4.2–184.4 mL g−1 Volatile solids added (mL g−1 VS added) and 11.8–321.7 mL g−1 VS added , respectively. The richness and diversity of bacteria and archaea at mesophilic temperatures were higher than those at thermophilic temperatures. Compared with the unfertilized control, the dry weight of corn seedlings with the follow-up application of mesophilic or thermophilic biogas slurry increased by 12.3 %-73.4 % or 16.8 %-43.3 %, respectively. This study demonstrates that thermophilic temperatures are conducive to increasing methane yields, but mesophilic temperatures are conducive to improving the biogas slurry fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enrichment of the microbial mass is critical to enhance the performance of anaerobic digestion, especially under adverse conditions. In this study, microbial electrolysis cells combined with anaerobic digesters were used for anaerobic digestion of ammonia rich synthetic substrates and sludge. For the synthetic substrate, with the increasing of applied voltage, the methane yield presented earlier increase and later decrease trend. The methane yield was the highest at an applied voltage of 0.7 V. For the sludge, the amounts of ammonia nitrogen and free ammonia nitrogen at an applied voltage of 0.7 V were higher than that at 0 V, and the maximum methane yield at voltages of 0 V and 0.7 V were 52.6 and 97.8 mL g−1-VSS added , respectively. Methanosarcina and Methanothermobacter were the predominant archaea. Archaea species at an applied voltage of 0.7 V were more diverse than those at an applied voltage of 0 V. The results indicated that microbial electrolysis cells could increase the number and mass of microbial species in the thermophilic anaerobic digesters under ammonia inhibition. This study might provide a feasible method to operate sludge thermophilic anaerobic digestion at higher organic loading rates. [Display omitted] • The performance of thermophilic AD-MEC were affected by applied voltage. • AD-MEC (0.7 V) improved the sludge hydrolysis and biofilm biomass. • AD-MEC (0.7 V) enriched the diversity bacteria and archaea. • AD-MEC (0.7 V) enhanced the methane yield at higher ammonia and FAN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Filler enhance conversion rates of sludge digestion. [•] Pre-incubated filler improve dewaterability of digested sludge. [•] Filler alone do not improve dewaterability of digested sludge. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: To investigate the incidence, associated factors and prognosis of level III node involvement for breast cancer with positive axillary lymph nodes after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: A consecutive series of 521 node positive T0–2 invasive breast cancer cases were included in this retrospective study. Axillary node metastases were proved by ultrasound guided needle biopsy (NB) if ultrasonographic abnormal node was detected or by sentinel node biopsy (SNB) if no abnormal node was detected. After 4 to 8 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT）, axillary lymph nodes dissection included level III lymph nodes were completed for each case. Results: The pathologic complete response rate of axillary nodes was 31.1% (90/289) in NB positive subgroup. The incidence of residual positive level III lymph nodes were 9.0% (47/521). Multivariate analysis showed that node NB positivity (OR = 2.212, 95% CI: 1.022–4.787, P = 0.044), clinical tumor size >2 cm before NCT (OR = 2.672, 95% CI: 1.170–6.098, P = 0.020), and primary tumor non-response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (OR = 1.718, 95% CI: 1.232–2.396, P = 0.001) were independent predictors of level III lymph nodes positivity. At median follow-up time of 30 months, the distant disease-free survival (DDFS) rate of level III node positive group was much lower than that of level III negative group (p = 0.011). Conclusions: About 9% of node positive T0–2 breast cancer will have residual positive node in level III region after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Node positivity proved by NB, large tumor size, and primary tumor non-response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy are independent predictors of level III lymph nodes positivity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Protein degradation mainly limited by hydrolysis under aerobic condition. [•] Protein degradation limited by hydrolysis and metabolism under anaerobic condition. [•] Humification degree of aerobic digested sludge was greater than anaerobic one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In anaerobic digestion (AD) of sludge, AD efficiency and digested sludge (DS) dewaterability are critical factors. In this study, polyester non-woven fabric fillers were integrated into a sludge digester. The effect of such fillers on digestion was investigated in thermophilic temperature range in semi-continuous mode. Methane production of filler system and control reactor were significantly different ( P < 0.05, paired t -test). At hydraulic retention times of 18 days and 12 days, the corresponding methane yields from filler system were 140% and 161%, respectively, of the yields from control digester without filler. Improvement of DS dewaterability was uncertain during 110 days of operation. While after a longer period of digestion, filler system resulted in a lower normalized capillary suction time of DS (76.5 ± 21.6 s L/g total suspended solids) than control reactor (118.7 ± 32.9 s L/g total suspended solids). The results showed that the filler could improve thermophilic AD performance, except at too short hydraulic retention times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance the dewaterability of anaerobic digested sludge and to make full use of the biogas slurry. This study set up five sludge conditioning methods: polymeric ferric sulfate, polymeric aluminum chloride, cationic polyacrylamide, chitosan, and chitosan combined with rice husk powder. Their effects on the dewaterability of thermal hydrolysis-anaerobic digested sludge, bacterial community, and biogas slurry fertility were studied to find a non-toxic and non-risk dewatering technology for the environment and biogas slurry. Compared with that of the control group, moisture content, normalization capillary suction time, and specific resistance to filtration were reduced by 12.8%, 97.7%, and 82.9%, respectively. Chitosan enlarges the sludge flocs and forms complexes with proteins, disrupting the structure of the extracellular polymeric substances, thereby exposing more hydrophobic groups and reducing the hydrophilicity of the sludge. The subsequent addition of rice husk powder enhances the adsorption of hydrophilic substances and provides a stronger drainage channel for the sludge. In addition, the biogas slurry obtained by this conditioning method used as a fertilizer increased the dry weight and fresh weight of corn seedlings by 59.3% and 91.0%, respectively. And the total chlorophyll content increased by 84.6%. Pearson's correlation analysis showed that chitosan and rice husk meal had no toxic effect on the biogas slurry compared to the other three flocculants. The results showed that the combined treatment of chitosan and rice husk powder resulted in the best dewaterability. Overall, chitosan combined with rice husk powder is a green dewatering technology with great potential for anaerobic digested sludge dewatering and biogas slurry recycling. [Display omitted] • Compared with control, CS+RHP reduced SRF and NCST of sludge by 82.9% and 97.7%. • Compared with PFS, PAC, and CPAM, CS is better for plant growth promotion. • Compared with control, dry weight of corn seedling in CS+RHP increased by 59.3%. • Compared with control, total chlorophyll of seedling in CS+RHP increased by 84.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The prevalence of BRCA1 somatic mutations status in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has not been well documented. The aims of this study were to determine the frequency of BRCA1 somatic mutations and to investigate the association between BRCA1 deleterious somatic mutation status and response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in women with TNBC. Methods Two hundred and five TNBC patients without BRCA1 germline mutations were enrolled in this study. Fresh tumor tissues were available for this cohort of 205 patients, including 112 patients with fresh core needle biopsy tumor tissues before treatment and 93 patients with fresh tumor tissues procured after surgery. BRCA1 somatic mutations were determined in the tumor samples using PCR-direct sequencing assay. Among the 112 patients with core needle biopsy samples, 97 patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Results Eight patients (3.9%) carried a BRCA1 pathogenic somatic mutation in this cohort of 205 TNBC patients. These eight BRCA1 deleterious somatic mutations included five frameshift or nonsense mutations (c.191_212del22, c.1664delA, c.4674_4675 + 17del, c.3671_3672insTTCC, c.1162A > T), one splicing site mutation (c.134 + 2T > G) and two missense mutations (c.5511G > C and c.286G > A). No significant differences in tumor characteristics between BRCA1 deleterious somatic mutation carriers and non-carriers were observed. The pCR (pathologic complete response) rate was 32.0% in the 97 patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. BRCA1 deleterious somatic mutation carriers (n = 5) had a higher pCR rate than did non-carriers (n = 92) ( BRCA1 carriers vs non-carriers, 60.0% vs 30.4%, P = 0.32), although it did not reach a significance due to a small sample size. Conclusions A small subset of TNBC patients carried a BRCA1 deleterious somatic mutation; BRCA1 somatic mutation carriers are likely to respond to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Co-digestion improved methane yield 31.3%-68.0% at thermophilic temperature. • Co-digestion improved methane yield 83.0%-136.5% at mesophilic temperature. • The highest methane yield of anaerobic co-digestion obtained at P/S = 2:1. • NCST and TS of sediment increased with increasing initial TS of substrate. • NCST has a strong negative correlation with the water removal efficiency. The objective of this study is to assess the effects of the mixing ratio on the methane production and digestate dewaterability of co-digestion of pig manure (P) and sludge (S). Batch experiments were carried out at five different P/S mixing ratios at mesophilic and thermophilic temperatures. Compared to sludge anaerobic digestion, co-digestion of pig manure with sludge increased methane yield 83.0%-136.5% at mesophilic temperature and 31.3%-68.0% at thermophilic temperature. The normalized capillary suction time (NCST) and total solids (TS) of sediment (centrifugal dewatering) increased when pig manure proportion of substrate increased. The NCST at thermophilic temperatures (4.87–17.58 s g−1-TSS) was higher than that at mesophilic temperatures (1.89–10.95 s g−1-TSS). However, the TS of sediment was close at thermophilic and mesophilic temperatures. The results indicated that anaerobic co-digestion of pig manure and sludge at a proper mixing ratio (P/S = 2:1) provides a good choice for energy recovery and land utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]