Energy saving in WWTP: Daily benchmarking under uncertainty and data availability limitations

Efficient management of Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTPs) can produce significant environmental and economic benefits. Energy benchmarking can be used to compare WWTPs, identify targets and use these to improve their performance. Different authors have performed benchmark analysis on monthly or yearly basis but their approaches suffer from a time lag between an event, its detection, interpretation and potential actions. The availability of on-line measurement data on many WWTPs should theoretically enable the decrease of the management response time by daily benchmarking. Unfortunately this approach is often impossible because of limited data availability. This paper proposes a methodology to perform a daily benchmark analysis under database limitations. The methodology has been applied to the Energy Online System (EOS) developed in the framework of the project "INNERS" (INNovative Energy Recovery Strategies in the urban water cycle). EOS calculates a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the evaluation of energy and process performances. In EOS, the energy KPIs take in consideration the pollutant load in order to enable the comparison between different plants. For example, EOS does not analyse the energy consumption but the energy consumption on pollutant load. This approach enables the comparison of performances for plants with different loads or for a single plant under different load conditions. The energy consumption is measured by on-line sensors, while the pollutant load is measured in the laboratory approximately every 14 days. Consequently, the unavailability of the water quality parameters is the limiting factor in calculating energy KPIs. In this paper, in order to overcome this limitation, the authors have developed a methodology to estimate the required parameters and manage the uncertainty in the estimation. By coupling the parameter estimation with an interval based benchmark approach, the authors propose an effective, fast and reproducible way to manage infrequent inlet measurements. Its use enables benchmarking on a daily basis and prepares the ground for further investigation.

Parameter estimation for uncertain systems based on fault diagnosis using Takagi-Sugeno model

The paper addresses a systematic procedure to deal with state and parameter uncertainty estimation for nonlinear time-varying systems. A robust observer with respect to states, inputs and perturbations is designed, using a Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) approach with unknown premise variables. Tools of the linear automatic to the nonlinear systems are applied, using the Linear Matrix Inequalities optimization. The observer estimates the uncertainties, the states and minimizes the effect of external disturbances on the estimation error. The uncertainties are modelled in a polynomial way which allows considering the uncertainty estimation as a fault detection problem. The residual sensitivity to faults while maintaining robustness according to a noise signal is handled by H∞/H- approach. The method performance is illustrated using the three-tank system.

CREB regulates hepatic gluconeogenesis through the coactivator PGC-1

When mammals fast, glucose homeostasis is achieved by triggering expression of gluconeogenic genes in response to glucagon and glucocorticoids. The pathways act synergistically to induce gluconeogenesis (glucose synthesis), although the underlying mechanism has not been determined. Here we show that mice carrying a targeted disruption of the cyclic AMP (cAMP) response element binding (CREB) protein gene, or overexpressing a dominant-negative CREB inhibitor, exhibit fasting hypoglycaemia [corrected] and reduced expression of gluconeogenic enzymes. CREB was found to induce expression of the gluconeogenic programme through the nuclear receptor coactivator PGC-1, which is shown here to be a direct target for CREB regulation in vivo. Overexpression of PGC-1 in CREB-deficient mice restored glucose homeostasis and rescued expression of gluconeogenic genes. In transient assays, PGC-1 potentiated glucocorticoid induction of the gene for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), the rate-limiting enzyme in gluconeogenesis. PGC-1 promotes cooperativity between cyclic AMP and glucocorticoid signalling pathways during hepatic gluconeogenesis. Fasting hyperglycaemia is strongly correlated with type II diabetes, so our results suggest that the activation of PGC-1 by CREB in liver contributes importantly to the pathogenesis of this disease.

Reboxetine add on therapy to haloperidol in the treatment of schizophrenia: a preliminary double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study

The negative symptoms of schizophrenia remain a major clinical challenge. Reboxetine is an antidepressant whose major mechanism of action is as a noradrenergic reuptake inhibitor. This study was a 6-week randomized placebo-controlled trial of reboxetine or placebo add on to haloperidol 5 mg in the treatment of 30 patients with DSM-IV schizophrenia. The trial failed to demonstrate any significant difference between the placebo and reboxetine groups on any of the outcome measures. This trial does not suggest that increased noradreneregic drive mediated by reuptake inhibition in patients taking dopamine antagonists is of therapeutic value in schizophrenia.

The glucocorticoid receptor is essential for induction of cytochrome P-4502B by steroids but not for drug or steroid induction of CYP3A or P-450 reductase in mouse liver

Cytochrome P-4503A, CYP2B, and P-450 reductase are induced by glucocorticoids, antiglucocorticoids such as pregnenolone 16alpha-carbonitrile, and drugs such as rifampin and phenobarbital. Although the pregnane X receptor is reported to mediate steroid and drug activation of CYP3A via a conserved cis-element in CYP3A genes, discrepancies exist between the induction of the endogenous CYP3A genes and the activation of the pregnane X receptor. It is a formal possibility that the glucocorticoid receptor may account for some of these discrepancies. To determine the requirement in vivo of the glucocorticoid receptor in expression of CYP3A and CYP2B, we compared the induction of these proteins in the livers of normal mice and mice with a targeted mutation in the glucocorticoid receptor. Mice lacking the glucocorticoid receptor show no difference in constitutive hepatic expression of CYP3A but show a decrease in the level of CYP2B. Glucocorticoid receptor-deficient mice challenged with either dexamethasone or pregnenolone 16alpha-carbonitrile failed to induce CYP2B proteins, whereas CYP2B was readily induced in (+/+) mice. In contrast, CYP3A and P-450 reductase proteins were induced by either inducer in wild-type and glucocorticoid receptor-null mice. Similarly, rifampin induced CYP3A in either wild-type or glucocorticoid receptor-null mice. Despite reports that rifampin is a nonsteroidal ligand for the human glucocorticoid receptor, rifampin failed to induce tyrosine aminotransferase in mice regardless of glucocorticoid receptor genotype, and rifampin did not compete for ligand binding to either mouse or human glucocorticoid receptor. Phenobarbital induced CYP3A, CYP2B, and P-450 reductase in all mice, but the amplitude of induction was diminished 37% in glucocorticoid receptor-null mice. Thus, there are distinctly different essential requirements of CYP3A, CYP2B, and P-450 reductase genes for the glucocorticoid receptor in their induction by steroids and drugs.

[In Process Citation]

Twenty-seven patients presenting with complete rectal prolapse were treated by extracorporal resection using a stapling device. The mean age of the female patients was 74 +/- 15 years, the mean operation time 61 +/- 17 min, the mean length of hospital stay 17 +/- 8 days. 96% of the patients suffered from at least one concurrent disease necessitating treatment. Perioperative mortality was 3.7%, postoperative complications occurred in 18% of our patients. After surgery 19% of the patients were incontinent. Extracorporal resection using a stapling device proves to be a secure and technically easy-to-perform procedure in the treatment of complete rectal prolapse. Due to several advantages compared with transabdominal procedures, the indication for perineal repair of a complete rectal prolapse by extracorporal resection should not be confined to high-risk patients.

Targeting of the CREB gene leads to up-regulation of a novel CREB mRNA isoform

To define the role of cAMP signaling in gene control, we have generated mice with a mutation in the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) gene. Mice carrying this mutation are viable but show an impairment in memory consolidation. In further analysis of these mice, we have found an up-regulation of a CREB isoform that has not been described previously . The new isoform, termed CREB beta, has nearly the same transactivation potential as the other CREB isoforms and is expressed ubiquitously. The up-regulation appears to be due to an increase in alternative splicing or mRNA stability, but not to an increase in transcriptional rate. Due to the relatively low levels of expression in all tissues, the role of this isoform is likely to be minor in the wild-type mouse. However, its dramatic up-regulation in the mutant mouse, together with the specific deficiencies recently observed in these mice, suggest that it has a very specific role in compensating for CREB alpha and delta in some, but not all, areas where CREB function has been implicated. Together with the up-regulation of the cAMP response element modulator protein (CREM) mRNA and protein levels demonstrated previously in CREB mutant mice, we suggest that the up-regulation of CREB beta may also contribute to compensation within the CREB/ATF family of transcription factors, when CREB delta and CREB alpha are absent.

Deficient long-term memory in mice with a targeted mutation of the cAMP-responsive element-binding protein

The cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) has been implicated in the activation of protein synthesis required for long-term facilitation, a cellular model of memory in Aplysia. Our studies with fear conditioning and with the water maze show that mice with a targeted disruption of the alpha and delta isoforms of CREB are profoundly deficient in long-term memory. In contrast, short-term memory, lasting between 30 and 60 min, is normal. Consistent with models claiming a role for long-term potentiation (LTP) in memory, LTP in hippocampal slices from CREB mutants decayed to baseline 90 min after tetanic stimulation. However, paired-pulse facilitation and posttetanic potentiation are normal. These results implicate CREB-dependent transcription in mammalian long-term memory.

Isolation of the gene for murine glucose-6-phosphatase, the enzyme deficient in glycogen storage disease type 1A

Glycogen storage disease (GSD) type 1a (von Gierke disease) is caused by a deficiency in glucose-6-phosphatase, the key enzyme in glucose homeostasis catalyzing the terminal step in gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis. Despite its clinical importance, this membrane-bound enzyme has eluded molecular characterization. Here we report the cloning and characterization of a murine glucose-6-phosphatase cDNA by screening a mouse liver cDNA library differentially with mRNA populations representing the normal and the albino deletion mouse known to express markedly reduced glucose-6-phosphatase activity. Additionally, we identified the gene that consists of 5 exons. Biochemical analyses indicate that the in vitro expressed enzyme is indistinguishable from mouse liver microsomal glucose-6-phosphatase exhibiting essentially identical kinetic constants, latency, thermal lability, and vanadate sensitivity. The characterization of the murine glucose-6-phosphatase gene opens the way for studying the molecular basis of GSD type 1a in humans and its etiology in an animal model.

Cloning and expression of murine S-adenosylmethionine synthetase

Mice homozygous for chromosomal deletions at or around the albino locus on chromosome 7 express reduced levels of a group of liver genes. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of cDNA and genomic clones encoding one of the affected genes, the mouse adult liver S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) synthetase. This enzyme catalyzes the synthesis of AdoMet, which functions in transmethylation and transsulfuration. Mouse AdoMet synthetase cDNA is 3232 base pairs (bp) in length and contains an open reading frame that encodes an enzymatically active polypeptide of 396 amino acids. The mouse AdoMet synthetase shares 98 and 96% amino acid sequence identity with the adult liver enzyme in the rat and human, respectively. AdoMet synthetases possess the consensus ATP-binding motif Gly-X-Gly-X-X-Gly and a putative ATP-binding Lys residue at conserved locations. As an initial step toward understanding the control of AdoMet synthetase gene expression, we characterized the complete transcription unit of this gene. The AdoMet synthetase gene spans approximately 18 kilobases and consists of nine exons ranging from 78 to 1920 bp. The transcription initiation site was demonstrated by rapid amplification of cDNA ends and confirmed by primer extension studies. A putative TATA box is located at -28 to -23 bp upstream of the transcription start site. The cis-acting DNA elements in the 5'-flanking region of the AdoMet synthetase gene that drive chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene expression in mouse hepatocytes were identified by transient expression assays. The -365 to -2-bp DNA region upstream of the transcription start site of the AdoMet synthetase gene contains promoter elements, and the -518 to -366-bp DNA region might be involved in negative gene regulation.

Isolation of specific messenger RNA by adsorption of polysomes to matrix-bound antibody

A procedure is presented for the purification of specific mRNAs, which exploits the ability of antibodies prepared against a native protein to bind to the nascent polypeptide on the polysome. Rather than precipitating these soluble antibody-polysome complexes with anti-antibody, which can lead to nonspecific trapping of polysomes, we have linked the anti-antibody to an insoluble matrix. Thus, the antibody-polysome complex binds to the anti-antibody support and nonspecific polysomes can easily be removed by several washes. We have found para-aminobenzyl cellulose (PAB cellulose), to be a suitable matrix for this purpose. This support can bind large quantities of anti-antibody and it displayed no detectable nonspecific affinity for polysomes or RNA. Using this procedure, we have obtained an apparently homogeneous preparation of ovalbumin mRNA.

In vitro repair of radiation-induced strand breaks in DNA

DNA, gamma-irradiated in vitro or in isolated thymocytes was treated with several enzymes to achieve repair of the radiation-induced single strand braks. Whereas an incubation with polynucleotide ligase can join only 25% of the single strand breaks, a combined treatemnt with exonuclease III (EC 3.1.4.1), DNA polymerase I (EC 2.7.7.7), and polynucleotide ligase leads to repair of 80% of the breaks. For this in vitro repair the exonuclease III has to remove several, probably damaged, nucleotides from the 3'-terminal producing a single-stranded gap, which will be filled in by DNA polymerase I and joined by ligase. Tests for successful rejoining of the strand breaks were performed by showing the loss of primer 3'-OH sites for DNA polymerase I, by the resistance of incorporated nucleotides in the gap to removal by a second exonuclease III treatment, and by strand break determination in the analytical ultracentrifuge. 20% of the radiation-induced strand breaks will not be repaired by this combined treatment possibly due to an incomplete binding of the ligase on the 5'-terminals and/or an incomplete removal of the damaged 3'-terminals by exonuclease III.

RNA synthesis in isolated hen oviduct nuclei

Nuclei have been prepared from the oviduct of the adult laying hen which are capable of synthesizing large amounts of RNA for long periods of time. The time course of RNA synthesis is linear through 3 h of incubation after an initial burst of activity and is inhibited 60-70% by alpha-amanitin. Maximum synthetic activity requires the presence of serum albumin to stabilize the nuclei, high concentrations of the four ribonucleoside triphosphates, and an incubation temperature of 25 degrees C for continued linear synthesis beyond 30 min. The RNA synthesized in vitro is predominantly 10-20 S with a small proportion of higher molecular weight product. Much of the 10-20S RNA is probably transcribed by RNA polymerase II and is of a size comparable to ovalbumin mRNA. A fraction of this RNA appears to contain poly(A) sequences suggesting that there is some processing of the newly synthesized RNA. These nuclei may provide a useful system for studying the control of the transcription and maturation of ovalbumin mRNA in vitro.

Analysis of the complexity and diversity of mRNA from chicken liver and oviduct

We have analyzed the sequence complexity and diversity of poly(A)-containing mRNA derived from two highly differentiated chicken tissues. Two independent approaches were used in our analyses. The first involves the annealing of cDNA copies of mRNA to a vast excess of the template RNA; the second procedure uses hybridization between highly radioactive single-copy genomic DNA and mRNA. The results obtained using these two experimental approaches are in good accord and reveal the presence of 12,000-15,000 diverse mRNA species in both chicken liver and oviduct. In both cell types, the kinetics of annealing of cDNA to its template mRNA demonstrate discrete frequency classes with most of the different mRNA species present in fewer than 10 copies per cell. 70% of oviduct mRNA, however, consists of about 10 abundant RNA species, which probably are responsible for the synthesis of the egg white proteins. The diversity of mRNA species in chicken liver and oviduct was further studied by heterologous annealing reactions between cDNA or singlecopy genomic DNA and a vast excess of mRNA. These studies demonstrate that 85% of the different mRNA sequences detected are present in both liver and oviduct, and suggest that the vast majority of the information expressed as mRNA is required for the maintenance of cellular functions common to all tissues.

Functional level of rat liver tryptophan 2,3-dixoygenase messenger RNA during superinduction of enzyme with actinomycin D

Tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase [EC 1.13.11.11; L-tryptophan:oxygen 2,3-oxidoreductase (decyclizing)] activity is induced by glucocorticoid hormones and superinduced by actinomycin D. Previous experiments had shown that hormonal induction of the enzyme activity is accompanied by parallel increases in tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase mRNA level. In this study, we measured the tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase mRNA levels during superinduction as well as hormonal induction, to determine whether superinduction of the enzyme activity is also mediated through changes in mRNA concentration. Tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase mRNA was measured in a Krebs ascites cell-free protein synthesizing system supplemented with rabbit reticulocyte initiation factors. We found that during superinduction of the enzyme activity by actinomycin D, the mRNA level is identical to that of the actinomycin D-free controls. Our results do not, therefore, support the hypothesis that hormonal induction and/or superinduction of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase mRNA are regulated by a rapidly turning over repressor.

Control of the mRNA for hepatic tryptophan oxygenase during hormonal and substrate induction

Glucocorticoid hormones increase the level of hepatic tryptophan oxygenase (EC 1.13.11.11; L-tryptophan:oxygen 2,3-oxidoreductase (decyclizing) by increasing its rate of synthesis. Studies were performed to determine whether this induction is mediated by controlling the level of the mRNA for tryptophan oxygenase of by changing the translational efficiency of a fixed level of mRNA. Activity of tryptophan oxygenase mRNA was quantitated in a Krebs ascites cell-free, protein-synthesizing system, supplemented with tRNA and rabbit reticulocyte initiation factors. De novo synthesis of the protomeric unit(s) of the enzyme was a linear function of the amount of mRNA added. Time course and dose-response studies in which the enzyme level and mRNA activity in livers from rats injected with inducing doses of hydrocortisone were compared indicate that the induction of this enzyme is accompanied by a proportional increase in the level of its mRNA. This was true for mRNA isolated from total liver as well as from cytoplasmic polysomes. Induction of the enzyme by its substrate, tryptophan, however, was not accompanied by a parallel increase in mRNA activity.

Translational properties of rabbit globin mRNA after specific removal of poly(A) with ribonuclease H

Highly purified RNase H (RNA.DNA hybrid ribonucleotidohydrolase, EC 3.1.4.34) from calf thymus was used to specifically remove the poly(A) sequences of purified rabbit globin mRNA after its hybridization with poly(dT). The deadenylylated globin mRNA was repurified by a one-step procedure including a nitrocellulose column. The poly(A) size and the content of unmodified mRNA were determined by hybridization with [(3)H]-poly(U), and it could be shown that the RNase H digestion method effectively removes this terminal poly(A) sequence. No difference in activity was found between mRNAs with and without poly(A) to initiate, elongate, terminate, and release newly synthesized globin chains in exogenous-mRNA-dependent, cell-free, protein-synthesizing systems from wheat embryo, ascites Krebs II cells, and rat liver. Furthermore, poly(A)-free globin mRNA competed with the same efficiency as authentic globin mRNA against chick ovalbumin mRNA when translated under total mRNA saturation conditions. It is apparent that the 3'-terminal poly(A) sequence is not necessary to maintain the translationally active secondary and tertiary configuration of the globin mRNA molecule. Preincubation of intact and deadenylylated globin mRNA in the Krebs II ascites translational system indicates that the presence of the poly(A) sequence may stabilize the translationally active mRNA molecule.

Cell-free translation of the globin message within polydisperse high-molecular-weight ribonucleic acid of avian erythrocytes

Polydisperse high-molecular-weight RNA of nucleated avian erythrocytes includes sequences coding for globin chains. The RNA was extracted from immature erythrocytes of ducks and fractionated under denaturing conditions by sucrose density gradient centrifugation in 99% dimethylsulfoxide. The RNA sedimenting faster than 45 S was able to direct the synthesis of duck globins in the Krebs II ascites cell-free protein-synthesizing system. The newly synthesized globin molecules have been identified by their characteristic electrophoretic properties in polyacrylamide gels containing either urea or sodium dodecyl sulfate, and by immunoprecipitation of the released globin chains by rabbit antibodies against duck hemoglobin. In order to rule out the possibility of a contamination of the high-molecular-weight RNA with duck-globin messenger RNA tailing from the 9-10S region, rabbit-globin messenger RNA was added to duck RNA as an internal control. No rabbit-globin messenger RNA activity could be detected in the RNA fractions sedimenting faster than 45 S. It is concluded that high-molecular-weight RNAs in the nucleated erythroid cell contain sequences of globin messenger RNAs covalently attached to larger polynucleotide chains. These results support the view that polydisperse nuclear RNA is the precursor of the cytoplasmic messenger RNA fraction.

Messenger RNA for hepatic tryptophan oxygenase: its partial purification, its translation in a heterologous cell-free system, and its control by glucocorticoid hormones

Messenger RNA from rat liver was partially purified by chromatography on cellulose on the basis of its poly(A) content. Microgram amounts of this RNA stimulate protein synthesis manyfold in a heterologous cell-free system, derived from Krebs ascites cells supplemented with reticulocyte initiation factors. The messenger RNA directs the initiation, synthesis, and release of a product that was identified as complete subunits of hepatic tryptophan oxygenase (EC 1.13.1.12) by immunoprecipitation with monovalent antibodies prepared against homogeneous tryptophan oxygenase and subsequent sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide electrophoresis of the solubilized immunoprecipitate. This may represent the first complete translation in a heterologous system of a mammalian messenger RNA coding for an enzyme protein. Analysis of the messenger RNA content of the liver after glucocorticoid administration demonstrates that the hormonally enhanced rate of synthesis of tryptophan oxygenase is accompanied by an increased quantity of its corresponding messenger RNA.