[Epidemiological investigation of iron deficiency among preschool children in 10 provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities in China]

Objective: To understand the current status of anemia, iron deficiency, and iron-deficiency anemia among preschool children in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a multi-stage stratified sampling method to select 150 streets or townships from 10 Chinese provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities (East: Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, and Hainan; Central: Henan; West: Chongqing, Shaanxi, Guizhou, and Xinjiang; Northeast: Liaoning). From May 2022 to April 2023, a total of 21 470 children, including community-based children aged 0.5 to<3.0 years receiving child health care and kindergarten-based children aged 3.0 to<7.0 years, were surveyed. They were divided into 3 age groups: infants (0.5 to<1.0 year), toddlers (1.0 to<3.0 years), and preschoolers (3.0 to<7.0 years). Basic information such as sex and date of birth of the children was collected, and peripheral blood samples were obtained for routine blood tests and serum ferritin measurement. The prevalence rates of anemia, iron deficiency, and iron-deficiency anemia were analyzed, and the prevalence rate differences were compared among different ages, sex, urban and rural areas, and regions using the chi-square test. Results: A total of 21 460 valid responses were collected, including 10 780 boys (50.2%). The number of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers were 2 645 (12.3%), 6 244 (29.1%), and 12 571 (58.6%), respectively. The hemoglobin level was (126.7±14.8) g/L, and the serum ferritin level was 32.3 (18.5, 50.1) μg/L. The overall rates of anemia, iron deficiency, and iron-deficiency anemia were 10.4% (2 230/21 460), 28.3% (6 070/21 460), and 3.9% (845/21 460), respectively. The prevalence rate of anemia was higher for boys than for girls (10.9% (1 173/10 780) vs. 9.9% (1 057/10 680), χ2=5.58, P=0.018), with statistically significant differences in the rates for infants, toddlers and preschoolers (18.0% (475/2 645), 10.6% (662/6 244), and 8.7% (1 093/12 571), respectively, χ2=201.81, P<0.01), and the rate was significantly higher for children in rural than that in urban area (11.8% (1 516/12 883) vs. 8.3% (714/8 577), χ2=65.54, P<0.01), with statistically significant differences in the rates by region (χ2=126.60, P<0.01), with the highest rate of 15.8% (343/2 173) for children in Central region, and the lowest rate of 5.3% (108/2 053) in Northeastern region. The prevalence rates of iron deficiency were 33.8% (895/2 645), 32.2% (2 011/6 244), and 25.2% (3 164/12 571) in infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, respectively, and 30.0% (3 229/10 780) in boys vs. 26.6% (2 841/10 680) in girls, 21.7% (1 913/8 821), 40.0% (870/2 173), 27.1% (2 283/8 413), 48.9% (1 004/2 053) in Eastern, Central, Western, and Northeastern regions, respectively, and each between-group showed a significant statistical difference (χ2=147.71, 29.73, 773.02, all P<0.01). The prevalence rate of iron-deficiency anemia showed a significant statistical difference between urban and rural areas, 2.9% (251/8 577) vs. 4.6% (594/12 883) (χ2=38.62, P<0.01), while the difference in iron deficiency prevalence was not significant (χ2=0.51, P=0.476). Conclusions: There has been a notable improvement in iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia among preschool children in China, but the situation remains concerning. Particular attention should be paid to the prevention and control of iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia, especially among infants and children in the Central, Western, and Northeastern regions of China.

Biochar leachate reduces primary nitrogen assimilation by inhibiting nitrogen fixation and microbial nitrate assimilation

Biochar contains biotoxic aromatic compounds, and their influence on nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria, the critical nitrogen fixer in paddy soil, has never been tested. Here, the physiological, metabolomic, and transcriptomic analyses of Nostoc sp. PCC7120 in response to biochar leachate were performed. The results suggested that biochar leachate inhibited the efficiency of photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation, and nitrate assimilation activities of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria. Biochar leachate containing aromatic compounds and odd- and long-chain saturated fatty acids impaired the membrane structure and antenna pigments, damaged the D1 protein of the oxygen evolution complex, and eventually decreased the electron transfer chain activity of photosystem II. Moreover, the nitrogen fixation and nitrate assimilation abilities of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria were inhibited by a decrease in photosynthetic productivity. A decrease in iron absorption was another factor limiting nitrogen fixation efficiency. Our study highlights that biochar with relatively high contents of dissolved organic matter poses a risk to primary nitrogen assimilation reduction and ecosystem nitrogen loss. Further evidence of the potential negative effects of biochar leachates on the fixation and assimilation capacity of nitrogen by soil microbes is needed to evaluate the impact of biochar on soil multifunctionality prior to large-scale application.

[The method of determination for 2, 3-Butanedione in the air of workplace by high performance liquid chromatography with derivatization]

Objective: To establish a method for the determination of 2, 3-Butanedione (BUT) in the air of workplace, which including the process of collection by absorption in phosphoric acid aqueous solution and the process of analysis and detection by high performance liquid chromatography with derivatization. Methods: In October 2022, a porous glass plate absorption tube containing 10 ml of 0.01% phosphoric acid solution was used to collect BUT in the air of the workplace at a flow rate of 0.2 L/min. The absorption solution was derived by 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine for 75 min and separated on a SB-C18 column (250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm) . At the column temperature of 30 ℃, the mixture of acetonitrile-water (V∶V, 1∶1) was eluted at the flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. It was detected by UV detector (λ=365 nm) , qualitatived by retention time and quantitatived by external standard. Results: It showed that BUT in phosphoric acid aqueous solution could be stored for at least 7 d at 4 ℃. There was a linear relationship within the determination range of 0.05-6.00 μg/ml, the linear regression equation was y=89.610x+0.133, r=0.9999. The sampling absorption efficiencies were 98.33%-100.00%, the detection limit of the method was 0.005 μg/ml, the minimum detection concentration was 0.016 mg/m(3) (based on V(0)=3.0 L) . The recovery rates were 95.96%-102.44%, the intra batch precision were 4.36%-7.78%, and the inter batch precision were 4.96%-6.06%. Conclusion: The method has the advantages of simple operation, high sensitivity and good accuracy. It can prevent the loss and degradation of BUT. It can be used for the determination of BUT in the air of workplace.

Biochar amendment reduces biological nitrogen fixation and nitrogen use efficiency in cadmium-contaminated paddy fields

Cadmium (Cd) contamination poses a considerable threat to human health through grain enrichment and limits biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in paddy fields. Biochar has shown great potential for agricultural soil remediation because it inactivates Cd, but uncertainties remain as to how biochar amendments affect BNF and grain N use efficiency in paddies. To elucidate these issues, we investigated the effects of biochar amendment on the structure and function of diazotrophic bacterial communities in different rice growth stages in Cd-contaminated paddy fields, and evaluated the contribution of BNF to grain N use efficiency under biochar amendment. The results showed that biochar amendment significantly increased the abundance of diazotrophic bacteria in the tillering and jointing stages. Furthermore, the community structure of soil diazotrophic bacteria markedly changed with biochar amendment, with a significant reduction in the abundances of Euryarchaeota, Desulfobacterales (Proteobacteria), and Sphingomonadales (Bacteroidetes) in the tillering stage. Changes in the soil carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio was the main factor driving diazotrophic microbial community characteristics caused by the release of available C from biochar at the tillering stage, rather than the Cd. Moreover, biochar amendment increased the efficiency of BNF (especially for autotrophic N2 fixation) in the vegetative phase of rice growth. Notably, biochar amendment significantly decreased BNF efficiency during the filling stage and reduced grain N use efficiency. The limited available nutrients in biochar and the toxicity of polycyclic aromatics and phenols in biochar-derived dissolved organic matter were responsible for the varied impacts of biochar on BNF in different rice growth stages. For the first time, we report that biochar amendment in paddy soils reduces Cd toxicity but also inhibits BNF and thereby decreases N use efficiency. Therefore, before applying biochar to inactivate Cd in paddy fields, there should be a trade-off between agricultural production and ecological safety to achieve sustainable agriculture.

Co-Mn-Fe spinel-carbon composite catalysts enhanced persulfate activation for degradation of neonicotinoid insecticides: (Non) radical path identification, degradation pathway and toxicity analysis

The extensive utilization of neonicotinoid insecticides (NNIs) in agricultural practices ultimately poses a significant threat to both the environment and human health. This work focuses on the efficient degradation and detoxification of the representative NNI, thiamethoxam (THX), and explores the underlying mechanism using a Co-Fe-Mn mixed spinel doped carbon composite catalyst activated persulfate. The findings demonstrate that the composite effectively degrades THX, achieving a degradation rate of 95% in 30 mins, while requiring only a fraction (one-sixteenth) of the oxidant dosage compared to pure carbon. The study aimed to examine the negative impact of reactive halogens on reactive oxygen species within a saline environment. The degradation byproducts were linked to the presence of two common electron-withdrawing groups, namely halogens and nitro in the THX molecule. It was hypothesized that the degradation process was primarily influenced by C-N bond breaking and hydroxylation occurring between the diazine oxide and 2-chlorothiazole rings. Consequently, dehalogenation and carbonylation processes facilitated the elimination of halogenated components and pharmacophores from the THX, leading to detoxification. In addition to the identified free radical pathway including SO4•-, •OH and O2•- contributed to THX degradation, the participation of non-radical pathways (1O2 and electron transfer) were also confirmed. The efficacy of detoxification was further validated through toxicity assessment, employing quantitative conformation relationship prediction and microbial culture utilizing Bacillus subtilis.

[Application of entropy weight TOPSIS comprehensive method in the evaluation of students' physical health level]

Objective: To comprehensively evaluate the physical health level of students of different school-age segments in four regions of Anhui province using the entropy weight approximation ideal solution ranking method (TOPSIS), and to provide a scientific method and basis for conducting school health work evaluation. Methods: Using the physical fitness survey data of four regions in Anhui province, the entropy weight method was used to draw the weights of various indicators for different school-age segments of men and women. Then, the TOPSIS method was used to evaluate the school-age segments of men and women in the four regions. Finally, the physical health level of students in four regions was classified according to the results of entropy weight TOPSIS and the rank sum ratio method. Results: A total of 10 127 students were included in this study, with an average age of (11.85±3.82) years, including 5 050 males (49.8%) and 5 072 urban students (50.1%). The results of the entropy weight method showed that the weight of body mass index of boys was similar to that of girls in each school-age segment. According to the TOPSIS and rank sum ratio analysis, the physical health level of students in the four regions of Anhui province was different. The physical health score of Suzhou was 0.617 4 points, which was classified as the best grade. The scores of Hefei and Wuhu were 0.556 3 and 0.411 2, which were classified as middle. Jiju City scored 0.381 9 points, which was classified as poor. Conclusion: TOPSIS combined with rank sum ratio can reflect the level of students' physical health, which can be applied to the evaluation of students' physical health and provide a basis for monitoring students' physical health.

[Characteristics of serum bile acids among healthy children in Zhejiang province]

Objective: To characterize the serum bile acid profiles of healthy children in Zhejiang Province. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 245 healthy children who underwent imaging and laboratory biochemical tests during routine physical examinations at the Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from January 2020 to July 2022. Overnight fasting venous blood samples were collected, and the concentrations of 18 individual bile acids in the serum were accurately quantitated using tandem mass spectrometry. The concentration difference of bile acid were compared between different genders and to explore the correlation between age and bile acid levels. Used the Mann-Whitney U test for intergroup comparison and Spearman test to correlation analysis. Results: A total of 245 health children with a age of 10 (8, 12) years including 125 boys and 120 girls. There were no significant differences in levels of total bile acids, primary and secondary bile acids, free and conjugated bile acids between the two gender groups (all P>0.05). The serum concentrations of ursodeoxycholic acid and glycoursodeoxycholic acid in girls were significantly higher than those in boys (199.0 (66.9, 276.5) vs. 154.7 (49.3, 205.0) nmol/L, 274.0 (64.8, 308.0) vs. 181.0 (43.8, 209.3) nmol/L, Z=2.06, 2.71, both P<0.05). The serum taurolithocholic acid in both boys and girls were positively correlated with age (r=0.31, 0.32, both P<0.05). The serum chenodeoxycholic acid and glycochenodeoxycholic acid in the boys group were positively correlated with age (r=0.20, 0.23, both P<0.05), whereas the serum tauroursodeoxycholic acid in the girls group was negatively correlated with age (r=-0.27, P<0.05), and the serum cholic acid was positively correlated with age (r=0.34, P<0.05). Conclusions: The total bile acid levels are relatively stable in healthy children in Zhejiang province. However, individual bile acids showed gender differences and were correlated with age.

Remediation of Cr(VI) contaminated soil by chitosan stabilized FeS composite and the changes in microorganism community

In-suit immobilization is one of the major strategies to remediate heavy metals contaminated soil with the effectiveness largely depends on the characteristics of the added chemical reagents/materials. In this study, chitosan stabilized FeS composite (CS-FeS) was prepared to evaluate the performance of remediating the high and toxic hexavalent chromium contaminated soil from the effectiveness and microbial response aspects. The characterization analysis confirmed the successful preparation of composite, and the introduction of chitosan successfully stabilized FeS to protect it from rapid oxidation as compared to bare FeS particles. With the addition dosage at 0.1%, about 85.6% and 81.3% of Cr(VI) was reduced in 3 d based on toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) and CaCl₂ extraction, and the reduction efficiency increased to 96.6% and 94.8% in 7 d, respectively. The Cr(VI) was non-detected in the TCLP leachates with increase the CS-FeS composites to 0.5%. The percentages of HOAc-extractable Cr decreased from 25.17% to 6.12% accompanied with the increase in the residual Cr from 4.26% to 13.77% and improvement of soil enzyme activity under CS-FeS composites addition. Cr(VI) contamination reduced the diversity of microbial community in soil. Three dominate prokaryotic microorganisms, namely Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Firmicutes, were observed in Cr-contaminated soil. The addition of CS-FeS composites increased the microbial diversity especially for that in relative lower abundance. The relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Firmicute related to Cr-tolerance and reduction increased in CS-FeS composites added soils. Taking together, these results demonstrated the potential and promising of using the CS-FeS composites for Cr(VI) polluted soil remediation.

Porphyromonas gingivalis Evades Immune Clearance by Regulating Lysosome Efflux

Porphyromonas gingivalis, a major periodontal pathogen, invades autophagosomes of cells, including gingival epithelial cells, endothelial cells, gingival fibroblasts, macrophages, and dendritic cells, to escape antimicrobial autophagy and lysosome fusion. However, it is not known how P. gingivalis resists autophagic immunity, survives within cells, and induces inflammation. Thus, we investigated whether P. gingivalis could escape antimicrobial autophagy by promoting lysosome efflux to block autophagic maturation, leading to intracellular survival, and whether the growth of P. gingivalis within cells results in cellular oxidative stress, causing mitochondrial damage and inflammatory responses. P. gingivalis invaded human immortalized oral epithelial cells in vitro and mouse oral epithelial cells of gingival tissues in vivo. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) increased upon bacterial invasion, as well as mitochondrial dysfunction-related parameters with downregulated mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP), upregulated mitochondrial membrane permeability, intracellular Ca2+ influx, mitochondrial DNA expression, and extracellular ATP. Lysosome excretion was elevated, the number of intracellular lysosomes was diminished, and lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2 was downregulated. Expression of autophagy-related proteins, microtubule-associated protein light chain 3, sequestosome-1, the NLRP3 inflammasome, and interleukin-1β increased with P. gingivalis infection. P. gingivalis may survive in vivo by promoting lysosome efflux, blocking autophagosome-lysosome fusion, and destroying autophagic flux. As a result, ROS and damaged mitochondria accumulated and activated the NLRP3 inflammasome, which recruited the adaptor protein ASC and caspase 1, leading to the production of proinflammatory factor interleukin-1β and inflammation.

A238 BILE ACID COMPOSITION AND DIETARY FAT: IMPLICATIONS FOR CROHN’S DISEASE IN A COHORT OF HEALTHY FIRST-DEGREE RELATIVES

Background

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. The etiology of CD may arise from complex interactions including host genetics, diet, and the intestinal microbiome. Increased consumption of saturated fats, characteristic of the Western diet, is a known risk factor for CD. Dietary fat (DF) is absorbed by the host through the release of primary bile acids (PBAs) and bio-transformed by the microbiome into secondary bile acids (SBAs). Altogether, bile acids (BAs) can act as signaling molecules involved in host immune regulation and potentially in CD onset.

Purpose

To investigate the relationship between CD risk, BAs, and DF, and evaluate the predictive performance of CD onset of these factors by developing machine learning models.

Method

We used samples healthy first-degree relatives (FDRs) recruited as part of the Crohn’s Colitis Canada- Genes, Environment, Microbial (GEM) project. Those who developed CD (n=87) were matched 1:4 by age, sex, follow-up time, and geographic location with control FDRs remaining healthy (n=347).

Serum, urine, and stool BA were measured using ultrahigh Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectroscopy. DF types were derived from food frequency questionnaire data. We used conditional logistic regressions to identify associations between CD onset, BAs (n=93), and DFs (n=9). We further explored the relationships of significant CD-related BAs and DF via Generalized Estimation Equations. Finally, we used a tree-based machine-learning algorithm (XGBoost) with 5-fold cross-validation to assess the prediction performance of CD onset using BA from all sources as well as DF. Two-sided p<0.05 was considered significant.

Result(s)

In total, 10 of 93 BAs, and two of nine DFs were significantly associated with increased odds of CD onset (p<0.05). Additionally, five BAs were significantly associated with DF (p<0.05). Serum-derived BAs had the best predictive performance for CD, with a mean AUC of 0.70 [95% CI: 0.63;0.76], followed by stool derived BAs with a mean AUC= 0.65 [0.55;0.75], and followed by urine derived Bas with a mean AUC= 0.57 [0.48;0.66]. Lastly DF was not a predictive marker of CD onset with a mean AUC= 0.50 [0.41;0.60].

Conclusion(s)

This study suggests that BAs are associated with the pathogenesis of CD and the effects may be influenced by DF. Serum-derived BAs may be able to better predict the risk of CD than other stool or urine derived BA, while DF is not directly implicated in CD risk.

Submitted on behalf of the CCC-GEM consortium.

Funding

Crohn’s and Colitis Canada Genetics Environment Microbial (CCC-GEM) III

The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust

Kenneth Croitoru is the recipient of the Canada Research Chair in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

The International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IOIBD)

Jingcheng Shao is the recipient of a Data Science Institute Summer Undergraduate Data Science award

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Fabrication of THz corrugated wakefield structure and its high power test

We present overall process for developing terahertz (THz) corrugated structure and its beam-based measurement results. 0.2-THz corrugated structures were fabricated by die stamping method as the first step demonstration towards GW THz radiation source and GV/m THz wakefield accelerator. 150-[Formula: see text]m thick disks were produced from an OFHC (C10100) foil by stamping. Two types of disks were stacked alternately to form 46 mm structure with [Formula: see text] 170 corrugations. Custom assembly was designed to provide diffusion bonding with a high precision alignment of disks. The compliance of the fabricated structure have been verified through beam-based wakefield measurement at Argonne Wakefield Accelerator Facility. Both measured longitudinal and transverse wakefield showed good agreement with simulated wakefields. Measured peak gradients, 9.4 MV/m/nC for a long single bunch and 35.4 MV/m/nC for a four bunch trains, showed good agreement with the simulation.

Response of microbial community to the remediation of neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid contaminated wetland soil by Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Imidacloprid (IMI), a typic neonicotinoid insecticide, is widely used and persist in soils with long half-time causing serious threat to ecosystem and human health. It is urgent to develop suitable and effective methods to accelerate it degradation and alleviate its negative impacts in soil. In this study, the introduction of functional microbe white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium to remediate IMI contaminated wetland soil was carried out. The remediation performance and the response of the soil microbial community were examined. The results showed that P. chrysosporium could improve the degradation of IMI in soil no matter the soil was sterilized or not. The bioaugmentation was especially observed in non-sterilized soil under the inoculation patterns of FE and SP with the maximum IMI degradation rate of 91% and 93% in 7 days, respectively. The invertase activity in soil was also enhanced with P. chrysosporium inoculation. Microbial community analysis revealed that P. chrysosporium inoculation could increase the diversity and richness of bacterial community, and stimulate some IMI degraders genera including Ochrobactrum, Leifsonia, Achromobacter, and Bacillus. Moreover, the xenobiotic degradation and metabolism pathway was generally enhanced with P. chrysosporium inoculation based on PICRUSt analysis. These obtained results demonstrated that the introduction of white-rot fungus is of great potentially enabling the remediation of neonicotinoids contaminated soil.

Physiological Responses of a Diazotrophic Cyanobacterium to Acidification of Paddy Floodwater: N2 Fixation, Photosynthesis, and Oxidative-Antioxidative Characteristics

Long-term of excessive fertilization using nitrogen (N) chemical fertilizer caused the acidification of paddy soils. Presently, the impacts of soil acidification on physiological characteristics of diazotrophic cyanobacteria remain unknown. In order to elucidate this issue, the effects of paddy floodwater acidification on activities of respiration, photosynthetic oxygen evolution, and N₂ fixation of a paddy diazotrophic cyanobacterium Aliinostoc sp. YYLX235 were investigated in this study. In addition, the origination and quenching of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were analyzed. The acidification of paddy floodwater decreased intracellular pH and interfered in energy flux from light-harvesting chlorophyll antenna to the reaction center of photosystem II (PS II). Activities of respiration, photosynthetic oxygen evolution, and N₂ fixation were decreased by the acidification of paddy floodwater. Accompanied with an increase in ROS, the level of antioxidative system increased. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were the main enzymatic ROS scavengers in the cells of YYLX235; reduced glutathione (GSH) was the main non-enzymatic antioxidant. Antioxidants and oxidants in the cells of YYLX235 lost balance when the pH of paddy floodwater fell to 5.0 and 4.0, and lipid oxidative damage happened. The results presented in this study suggest that the acidification of paddy soil severely interfered in the photosynthesis of diazotrophic cyanobacteria and induced the production of ROS, which in turn resulted in oxidative damage on diazotrophic cyanobacteria and a decrease in cell vitality.

Introduction of acid mine drainage in the direct production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural from raw biomass and expanding the use of biomass conversion residue

Direct production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) through biomass always needs the addition of exogenous catalysts and causes extra costs. Herein, acid mine drainage (AMD), one of the traditional wastewaters, was introduced as a natural catalyst to produce HMF directly from lignocellulosic biomass. Key factors in the biomass conversion were optimized and investigated by the response surface methodology (RSM), and the HMF yield reached 13.51 wt% under optimal conditions. The metal elements and the acidic environment in AMD activated the Fenton reaction to effectively destroy the lignocellulose structure and synergistically promote the formation of HMF. Furthermore, the biomass substrate in the biomass conversion was indirectly modified by the AMD during this process. The biomass conversion residue could be prepared by pyrolysis to obtain a functional metal-loaded carbon material with good adsorption of thiamethoxam (THX), which provides a sustainable solution for the disposal of biomass conversion residue.

Toxicity of zero-valent iron nanoparticles to soil organisms and the associated defense mechanisms: a review

Nanoscale zero-valent iron particles (NZVI) are widely used in a variety of industries owing to their advantageous mechanical, physical, and chemical properties. These particles can be released into environmental media, including water, soil, and air, through several pathways. NZVI in the ecosystem can be taken up, excreted and distributed within organisms, which is harmful to plants, animals and humans. Plants play a significant role as producers in the ecological circle and can both positively and negatively affect the ecological behavior of NZVI. Therefore, understanding the relationship between plants and NZVI is likely to be of great value for the assessment of NZVI-associated risks and future research directions. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the uptake, distribution, and accumulation of NZVI in plants; the phytotoxicity triggered by NZVI exposure at the physiological, biochemical, and molecular levels; and the defense mechanism used by plants to defend against NZVI-induced insults. We further discuss the toxic effects of NZVI on soil animals and microorganisms as well as the risk posed by the presence of NZVI in the food chain.

[Meta-analysis on the contents of trace elements in workers with occupational exposure to lead]

Objective: To quantitatively evaluate the content differences of trace elements in workers with occupational exposure to lead. Methods: In January 2021, relevant literatures on the contents of trace elements in workers with occupational exposure to lead published from 1990 to 2020 were searched through CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, PubMed, web of science and Embase. Screened and extracted the literatures, and evaluated the quality of the included literatures with Newcastle Ottawa Scale. Meta analysis was performed with Review Manager 5.3 software, and standardized mean difference (SMD) and its 95% confidence interval were used as effect indicators. Results: A total of 20 literatures were included, and the quality scores were 5-7. The results of Meta-analysis showed that compared with the control group, the contents of blood zinc (SMD=-1.01, 95%CI: -1.53, -0.49) , hair zinc (SMD=-0.17, 95%CI: -0.33, -0.01) , hair copper (SMD=-0.50, 95%CI: -1.01, 0) , hair iron (SMD=-3.91, 95%CI: -5.80, -2.03) and hair manganese (SMD=-1.09, 95%CI: -2.02, -0.15) in occupational lead exposure group were significantly lower (P<0.05) . Compared with the control group, the content of cobalt in hair of occupational lead exposure group (SMD=1.41, 95%CI: 0.72, 2.10) was higher, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05) . There was no significant difference in the contents of blood chromium, blood copper, blood iron, blood manganese, blood selenium and hair nickel between the two groups (P>0.05) . Conclusion: Workers with occupational exposure to lead have abnormal trace elements.

Thermochemical conversion of heavy metal contaminated biomass: Fate of the metals and their impact on products

With the rapid depletion of fossil energy and increasingly severe environmental pollution, the development of biomass resources for biorefineries has become a new research focus. However, heavy metals may be released during the thermochemical treatment when the biomass materials used in biomass conversion are contaminated by heavy metals. This can cause secondary environmental pollution or transference to the target products, reducing product quality. Therefore, having a systematic understanding of the fate of heavy metals in biomass conversion is necessary for alleviating potential risks. This study presents the current status of contaminated biomass and conversion products involving thermochemical processes, the migration, transformation, and impact of heavy metals in biomass conversion was investigated, and the utilization of heavy metals in contaminated biomass was briefly outlined. This review aims to link biomass conversion to the fate of heavy metals, avoid existing risks as much as possible to produce cleaner products efficiently, and promote the sustainable development of heavy metal contaminated biomass resources.

Application of a newly recorded diazotrophic cyanobacterium in acidified and Cd contaminated paddy soil: Promotes rice yield and decreases Cd accumulation

Acidification caused by excessive fertilization and heavy metals contamination are two prominent problems of agricultural soils. Diazotrophic cyanobacteria play important role in nitrogen (N) input in agricultural ecosystem. However, the effects of diazotrophic cyanobacteria on the growth of rice and heavy metal uptake by rice grain in acidified and heavy metal contaminated paddy soil remain unknown. In this study, a newly recorded diazotrophic cyanobacterium Aliinostoc sp. YYLX235 was isolated from acidified paddy soil. The results of pot experiment and in situ field plot experiment demonstrated that Aliinostoc sp. YYLX235 could promote rice grain yield and decrease cadmium (Cd) accumulation in rice grain. Nitrogen input by N₂-fixation and increase of bio-available phosphorus (P) by promotion of activity of soil phosphatase may be the main mechanisms for growth-promoting effects of Aliinostoc sp. YYLX235 on rice. Binding and immobilization of Cd through hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amino groups may be the reason for decrease of Cd accumulation in rice grain by Aliinostoc sp. YYLX235 inoculation. The results presented in this study suggest that diazotrophic cyanobacteria have great potential in safe cropping in acidified and Cd contaminated paddy soils.

The relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D level and sweat function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

AIMS

The objective of this study is to explore the relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D(25-(OH)₂D₃) level and sweat function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of 1021 patients with T2DM who underwent 25-(OH)₂D₃ level detections and sweat function tests was carried out. These individuals were divided into deficient groups (n = 154 cases), insufficient groups (n = 593 cases) and sufficient groups (n = 274 cases). Spearman correlation analysis and multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis were implemented to determine the association of 25-(OH)2D3 level and sweat function.

RESULTS

The total presence of sweating dysfunction was 38.59%. Patients with a lower level of serum 25-(OH)₂D₃ had more severe sweat secretion impairment (P < 0.05). As the decrease of serum 25-(OH)₂D₃ level, the presence of sweating dysfunction increased (P < 0.05). 25-(OH)₂D₃ level was positively correlated with sweat function parameters, age and duration of T2DM were negatively correlated with sweat function parameter (P < 0.05). Multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis explored a significant association between serum 25-(OH)₂D₃ level with sweat function (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Serum 25-(OH)₂D₃ level was positively correlated with sweat function in patients with T2DM.

[Determination of methyl isobutyl ketone in urine by headspace coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry]

Objective: To establish a method for the determination of methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) in urine samples by headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Methods: Automatic headspace sampling technique was adopted to optimize the headspace conditions (headspace bottle heating temperature and equilibration time) and gas chromatographic conditions. A total of 5 ml samples were taken and added with 3.0 g ammonium sulfate into a 20 ml headspace bottle. After heated at 60 ℃ for 30 mins, gas from the upper part of headspace bottle was injected into gas chromatography with an injection volume of 100 μl. The target was separated by HP-5MS UI (30 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm) capillary column and then detected by mass spectrometry detector. The retention time and external standard method were used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of MIBK in samples, respectively. Results: The standard curve of MIBK showed significant linearity between 20.0-1 000.0 μg/L. The standard curve was y=62.9x-652.5, and the correlation coefficient r=0.9998. The detection limit of MIBK was 5.0 μg/L and the quantification limit of MIBK was 16.0 μg/L. The average recovery rate was 95.3%~100.2% at three spiked concentrations of low (50.0 μg/L) , medium (200.0 μg/L) and high (500.0 μg/L) . The intra-day and inter-day precisions were 1.7%~3.8% (n=6) and 1.2%~4.0% (n=6) respectively. This method was stable for the determination of MIBK, and the urine could be kept 14 d at -20 ℃ without significantly loss. Conclusion: This method is proved to be simple, practical and highly sensitive. It can satisfy the request for the determination of urine samples of workers exposed to MIBK.

Multiple roles of extracellular polymeric substance in nitrobenzene reduction by nano-sized zero-valent iron in water and their mechanism

Extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) is secreted by many organisms and makes up a significant constituent of natural organic matter in the environment. However, nothing is known about EPS's role in the reduction of pollutants by nano-sized zero-valent iron (NZVI). This research showed that the degradation kinetics of nitrobenzene (NB) by NZVI with EPS (0.0272 ± 0.006 min^-1) were 2.27 times lower than that without EPS (0.0618 ± 0.006 min^-1) in the first cycle, mainly due to competition for reactive sites on the NZVI surface and the complexation of EPS with Fe(II) and Fe(III). In the second and third cycle, the degradation kinetics of NB by NZVI alone decreased obviously, while those in the presence of EPS were preserved or accelerated. Comparative studies with a quinine model compound indicated that EPS did not function as the electron shuttle to transmit electrons effectively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction results suggested that EPS could prevent the oxidation of NZVI and even expose more effective sites on the NZVI surface, thus leading to the preservation or enhancement of NZVI reactivity in the second and third NB degradation cycles. Moreover, we found that EPS also provided colloidal stability to NZVI particles, either by steric mechanisms or electrostatic repulsion. These results indicate that EPS can play an important role in the prolongation of NZVI reactivity during standing application.

Effects of different carbon sources on the removal of ciprofloxacin and pollutants by activated sludge: Mechanism and biodegradation

This research investigated the effects of ciprofloxacin (CIP) (0.5, 5, and 20 mg/L) on SBR systems under different carbon source conditions. Microbial community abundance and structure were determined by quantitative PCR and high-throughput sequencing, respectively. The biodegradation production of CIP and possible degradation mechanism were also studied. Results showed that CIP had adverse effects on the nutrient removal from wastewater. Compared with sodium acetate, glucose could be more effectively used by microorganisms, thus eliminating the negative effects of CIP. Glucose stimulated the microbial abundance and increased the removal rate of CIP by 18%-24%. The mechanism research indicated that Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria had a high tolerance for CIP. With sodium acetate as a carbon source, the abundance of nitrite-oxidizing bacterial communities decreased under CIP, resulting in the accumulation of nitrite and nitrate. Rhodanobacter and Microbacterium played a major role in nitrification and denitrification when using sodium acetate and glucose as carbon sources. Dyella and Microbacterium played positive roles in the degradation process of CIP and eliminated the negative effect of CIP on SBR, which was consistent with the improved removal efficiency of pollutants.

[Studies of the norm of Karitane Parenting Confidence Scale(KPCS)among parents of infants in urban areas of China]

Objective: To establish the norm of the Chinese version of Karitane Parenting Confidence Scale (KPCS) in urban areas of China. Methods: From August to December 2017, the parents of 2 216 children (<36 months old) were selected from 15 cities (Beijing, Lianyungang, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Xi'an, Guangzhou, Changsha, Jinan, Guiyang, Ningbo, Dalian, Qinhuangdao, Maanshan, Chongqing and Wuhan) in 14 provinces by stratified random sampling. The general demographic characteristics and parents' parenting confidence were collected by a self-made questionnaire and KPCS Chinese version. The percentile norm was established. P₃, P₁₀ and P₂₅ were used as the criteria to define the degree of lack of parenting confidence. Results: The age of mothers was (30.67±4.29). The age of the father was (32.50±4.99) years old. There were 726 (32.76%), 759 (34.25%) and 731 (32.99%) infants in 6-12, 12-23 and 24-35 months old groups. The total scores of P₅₀, P₂₅, P₁₀ and P₃ of KPCS (Chinese version) of infant parents in urban areas in China were 41, 38, 33, and 29 respectively. When the scores of parents were 34-37, 30-33, and ≤ 29, they were judged as mild, moderate, and severe lack of parenting confidence. There was no significant difference in the Chinese version of KPCS between parents of different age groups and parents of different gender (χ²=3.53, P=0.171; χ²=1.41, P=0.236). Each factor score≤P₃ is defined as the boundary score, and the corresponding boundary scores of "parenting" "support" and "competence" were 13, 9, and 5 respectively. Conclusion: The Chinese version of KPCS can be used to assess the parenting confidence of infants in urban areas of China. It can used as one of the bases for scientific and objective evaluation of the parenting status of families.

Associations between gut microbiota and thyroidal function status in Chinese patients with Graves' disease

OBJECTIVE

The imbalance of gut microbiota has been linked to manifold endocrine diseases, but the association with Graves' disease (GD) is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between human gut microbiota and clinical characteristics and thyroidal functional status of GD.

METHODS

14 healthy volunteers (CG) and 15 patients with primary GD (HG) were recruited as subjects. 16SrDNA high-throughput sequencing was performed on IlluminaMiSeq platform to analyze the characteristics of gut microbiota in patients with GD. Among them, the thyroid function of 13 patients basically recovered after treatment with anti-thyroid drugs (oral administration of Methimazole for 3-5 months). The fecal samples of patients after treatment (TG) were sequenced again, to further explore and investigate the potential relationship between dysbacteriosis and GD.

RESULTS

In terms of alpha diversity index, the observed OTUs, Simpson and Shannon indices of gut microbiota in patients with GD were significantly lower than those in healthy volunteers (P < 0.05).The difference of bacteria species was mainly reflected in the genus level, in which the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Veillonella and Streptococcus increased significantly in GD. After the improvement of thyroid function, a significant reduction at the genus level were Blautia, Corynebacter, Ruminococcus and Streptococcus, while Phascolarctobacterium increased significantly (P < 0.05). According to Spearman correlation analysis, the correlation between the level of thyrotropin receptor antibody (TRAb) and the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Ruminococcus was positive, while Synergistetes and Phascolarctobacterium showed a negative correlation with TRAb. Besides, there were highly significant negative correlation between Synergistetes and clinical variables of TRAb, TPOAb and TGAb (P < 0.05, R <  - 0.6).

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed that functional status and TRAb level in GD were associated with composition and biological function in the gut microbiota, with Synergistetes and Phascolarctobacterium protecting the thyroid probably, while Ruminococcus and Lactobacillus may be novel biomarkers of GD.

[Endovascular treatment strategies for distal entry tear of Stanford type B aortic dissection]

Currently, thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is the first-line treatment for patients with complicated Stanford type B aortic dissections. However, TEVAR does not occlude the distal entry tear of dissections, and blood flow persists in the false lumen. Dissections might progress in some patients. Studies showed that distal entry tear increased the possibility of late aortic events during follow-up. Thus, treatment of distal entry tear is necessary in some high-risk patients after TEVAR. In this article, the current treatment strategies of distal entry tear are summarized, which include PETTICOAT, STABILISE, covered stent, fenestrated and branched stent-grafts, false lumen embolization, vascular occluder, and Knickerbocker. However, the number of the cases of most approaches is so limited that the indications and effectiveness need to be further studied. Selecting the right treatment for the right patient is of great importance.

Gamma-Ray Observation of the Cygnus Region in the 100-TeV Energy Region

We report observations of gamma-ray emissions with energies in the 100-TeV energy region from the Cygnus region in our Galaxy. Two sources are significantly detected in the directions of the Cygnus OB1 and OB2 associations. Based on their positional coincidences, we associate one with a pulsar PSR J2032+4127 and the other mainly with a pulsar wind nebula PWN G75.2+0.1, with the pulsar moving away from its original birthplace situated around the centroid of the observed gamma-ray emission. This work would stimulate further studies of particle acceleration mechanisms at these gamma-ray sources.

First Detection of sub-PeV Diffuse Gamma Rays from the Galactic Disk: Evidence for Ubiquitous Galactic Cosmic Rays beyond PeV Energies

We report, for the first time, the long-awaited detection of diffuse gamma rays with energies between 100 TeV and 1 PeV in the Galactic disk. Particularly, all gamma rays above 398 TeV are observed apart from known TeV gamma-ray sources and compatible with expectations from the hadronic emission scenario in which gamma rays originate from the decay of π^{0}'s produced through the interaction of protons with the interstellar medium in the Galaxy. This is strong evidence that cosmic rays are accelerated beyond PeV energies in our Galaxy and spread over the Galactic disk.

LncRNA SND1-IT1 accelerates the proliferation and migration of osteosarcoma via sponging miRNA-665 to upregulate POU2F1

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) SND1-IT1 in accelerating the proliferative and migratory abilities of osteosarcoma (OS) via sponging miRNA-665 to upregulate POU2F1.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The relative level of SND1-IT1 in OS tissues was determined by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). The target gene of SND1-IT1 was predicted by bioinformatics and verified by Dual-Luciferase reporter gene assay. Similarly, the target gene of miRNA-665 was identified. Correlation among SND1-IT1, miRNA-665 and POU2F1 was evaluated through linear regression test. Regulatory effects of SND1-IT1/miRNA-665/POU2F1 on cellular behaviors of MG63 and U2OS cells were evaluated.

RESULTS

SND1-IT1 was upregulated in OS, knockdown of which attenuated proliferative and migratory abilities of OS cells. MiRNA-665 was the target gene of SND1-IT1, which was negatively correlated to SND1-IT1 in OS. POU2F1 was the target gene of miRNA-665. Its level was negatively regulated by miRNA-665 and positively regulated by SND1-IT1. Inhibited proliferative and migratory abilities of OS cells with SND1-IT1 knockdown were partially elevated by transfection of miRNA-665 inhibitor, and further downregulated by POU2F1 knockdown.

CONCLUSIONS

LncRNA SND1-IT1 accelerates proliferative and migratory abilities of OS via sponging miRNA-665 to upregulate POU2F1, thus stimulating the progression of OS.

Effects and possible mechanisms of sanguinarine on the competition between Raphidiopsis raciborskii (Cyanophyta) and Scenedesmus obliquus (Chlorophyta): A comparative toxicological study

The phytogenic algicide sanguinarine shows strong inhibitory effects on some bloom-forming cyanobacteria and exhibits great potential in cyanobacterial bloom mitigation. To evaluate the possible ecological effects of sanguinarine on microalgae, the effects and possible mechanisms of sanguinarine on the competition between bloom-forming cyanobacterium Raphidiopsis raciborskii (formerly named Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii) and green alga Scenedesmus obliquus were investigated through co-culture competition test and comparative toxicological study including growth characteristics, chlorophyll fluorescence transients, activities of antioxidant enzymes, and lipid peroxidation. The results of Raphidiopsis-Scenedesmus co-culture competition test showed that sanguinarine decreased the competition ability of R. raciborskii, which benefitted S. obliquus in winning the competition. Toxicological studies have shown that sanguinarine exhibited high inhibitory effects on the growth and photosynthesis of R. raciborskii but no obvious toxicity on S. obliquus at concentrations of no more than 80 μg L^-1. Oxidative damage partially contributed but was not the primary mechanism for the toxicity of sanguinarine on R. raciborskii. The results presented in this study indicate that sanguinarine may be a good algicidal candidate in mitigation of Raphidiopsis-based water bloom.

Effects of zero-valent iron nanoparticles and quinclorac coexposure on the growth and antioxidant system of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Quinclorac (3,7-dichloroquinoline-8-carboxylic acid, QNC) is a highly selective auxin herbicide that is typically applied to paddy rice fields. Its residue is a serious problem in crop rotations. In this study, Oryza sativa L. seedlings was used as a model plant to explore its biochemical response to abiotic stress caused by QNC and nZVI coexposure, as well as the interactions between QNC and nZVI treatments. Exposure to 5 and 10 mg/L QNC reduced the fresh biomass by 26.6% and 33.9%, respectively, compared to the control. The presence of 50 and 250 mg/L nZVI alleviated the QNC toxicity, but the nZVI toxicity was aggravated by the coexist of QNC. Root length was enhanced upon exposure to low or medium doses of both QNC and nZVI, whereas root length was inhibited under high-dose coexposure. Both nZVI and QNC, either alone or in combination, significantly inhibited the biosynthesis of chlorophyll, and the inhibition rate increased with elevated nZVI and QNC concentration. It was indicated that nZVI or QNC can affect the plant photosynthesis, and there was a significant interaction between the two treatments. Effects of QNC on the antioxidant response of Oryza sativa L. differed in the shoots and roots; generally, the introduction of 50 and 250 mg/L nZVI alleviated the oxidative stress (POD in shoots, SOD and MDA in roots) induced by QNC. However, 750 mg/kg nZVI seriously damaged Oryza sativa L. seedlings, which likely resulted from active iron deficiency. QNC could be removed from the culture solution by nZVI; as a result, nZVI suppressed QNC uptake by 20%-30%.

Synthesis of g-C₃N₄/CuS Heterojunction with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity Under Visible-Light

Novel g-C₃N₄/CuS hybrid photocatalysts were synthesized successfully via a facile hydrothermal method. Characterization results of the photocatalysts showed that especial heterostructure had formed between g-C₃N₄ and CuS, and possess suitable matched band potential. The composite photocatalysts displayed strong UV-visible light absorption ability in the range from 200 to 800 nm. Photocatalytic performance of the photocatalysts were evaluated via photooxidation of methyl orange (MO) under visible-light irradiation. Hybrid photocatalysts showed better photocatalytic properties than that of pure g-C₃N₄ or CuS. The 60% g-C₃N₄/CuS sample proved the supreme photocatalytic property. The integrated g-C₃N₄ and CuS heterojunction elevated the separation efficiency of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, and increased the photo-decoloration efficiency of MO under visible-light irradiation. A four-cycle repeatability experiment was carried out to investigate the stability of hybrid photocatalysts in the photocatalyst reaction. Radical capture experiments proved that photogenerated e^-, h⁺ and .OH were responsible for MO photo-decoloration. In addition, the potential mechanism of the photocatalytic system g-C₃N₄/CuS+H₂O₂+vis are presented.

MiR-21 inhibitor improves locomotor function recovery by inhibiting IL-6R/JAK-STAT pathway-mediated inflammation after spinal cord injury in model of rat

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the function of miRNA-21 and interleukin-6 receptor/Janus Kinase-Signal transducer and activator of transcription (IL-6R/JAK-STAT) pathway in microglia on inflammatory responses after spinal cord injury (SCI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study first detected respectively the protein level of inflammatory factor inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) by Western blotting after transfection of miR-21 or administration of miR-21 inhibitor in activated microglia cells of rat in vitro. The quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was utilized to detect the expression of IL-6R under two different interventions. Next, we established a model of spinal cord injury in rat and inspected miR-21 and IL-6R in SCI rat by qRT-PCR. In addition, the protein levels of iNOS and TNF-α in SCI rat were detected by Western blotting. MiR-21 inhibitor was injected into the injured area of SCI rat to delve into the function of miR-21 down-expression on iNOS and TNF-α expression by Western blot as well as the RNA levels of IL-6R, JAK and STAT3 by qRT-PCR. Furthermore, the SCI rat with movement and coordination of hindlimbs was observed by Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan locomotor rating scale (BBB scale) after miR-21 down-expression.

RESULTS

Compared with the microglia transfected with miR-21, the execution of inhibitor in microglia effectively relieved the expression of IL-6R and the breakout of iNOS and TNF-α. Meanwhile, the increase of miR-21 was significantly observed in SCI rat along with significant improvement of inflammatory response-related factors including iNOS and TNF-α. After that, we injected SCI rat with miR-21 inhibitor into the spinal cord injury area and found the inhibition of miR-21 decreased the protein levels of iNOS and TNF-α. Simultaneously, down-expression of miR-21 evidently declined the RNA levels of IL-6R, JAK, and STAT3 in SCI rat. Compared with the sham-operated rat, the movement and coordination of hindlimbs of the SCI group displayed dramatic dysfunction. However, miR-21 down-expression elevated the movement and coordination of hindlimbs of the SCI rat than those of the only injury group.

CONCLUSIONS

Inhibition of miR-21 can promote the recovery of spinal cord injury by down-regulating IL-6R/JAK-STAT signaling pathway and inhibiting inflammation.

Intussusception in 2 Children With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 Infection

We note that intussusception was likely associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection in 2 infants in Wuhan and London. The intussusception was reduced by enemas in Wuhan; the outcome was fatal. The intussusception was not reduced by enemas in London and required surgery; the outcome was favorable.

[Predictive values of routine blood test results for iron deficiency in children]

Objective: To explore the predictive values of routine blood test results for iron deficiency (ID) screening in children. Methods: Routine blood test results and serum ferritin (SF) levels from 1 443 healthy children (862 boys, 581 girls) aged 6 months to 18 years, who were seen for well-child visits between June 2017 and May 2019 in Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, were retrospectively analyzed. ID was defined as SF<20 μg/L, iron deficiency anemia (IDA) as ID with anemia (hemoglobin(Hb)<110 g/L at 6 months-5 years of age, Hb<120 g/L at 6-18 years of age), non-anemia ID as ID without anemia, non-ID anemia as SF≥20 μg/L with anemia, and healthy control subjects as those with SF≥20 μg/L but without anemia. The blood test results including Hb, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red blood cell distribution width (RDW), and the percentage of low hemoglobin density (LHD) of healthy control, non-anemia ID, non-ID anemia, and IDA groups were compared by analysis of variance (ANOVA) or non-parametric test, quantitative data were described as x±s or M(interquartile range), and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was applied to assess predictive values of routine blood test results and LHD for detecting IDA and ID. Results: Among 1 443 children with median age of 2.1(3.3) years, 1 061 children were in healthy control group, 292 in non-anemia ID group, 43 in non-ID anemia group and 47 in IDA group. The prevalence of ID was much higher than that of anemia (23.5% (339/1 443) vs. 6.2% (90/1 443) , χ(2)=169.76, P<0.01). Compared with control group, non-anemia ID group showed higher LHD (0.088 (0.093) vs.0.073 (0.068), P<0.01) and RDW (0.131±0.013 vs. 0.126±0.008, P<0.01), lower MCV ((80±4) vs. (83±4) fl, P<0.01) and MCHC values ((326±9) vs. (329±8) g/L, P<0.01). IDA group showed higher LHD (0.322(0.544)) and RDW (0.151±0.018), lower MCV ((73±6) fl) and MCHC values((309±14) g/L) than non-anemia ID group (all P<0.01). The area under curve (AUC) values of MCHC, LHD, RDW and MCV for detecting ID were 0.63 (95%CI: 0.60-0.67), 0.63 (95%CI:0.60-0.67), 0.67 (95%CI: 0.63-0.70) and 0.73 (95%CI: 0.69-0.76) respectively. With cutoff limits (MCV<80.2 fl, RDW>0.131 or MCHC<322 g/L), MCV, RDW and MCHC showed higher sensitivity for screening ID than hemoglobin (0.540, 0.469 and 0.336 vs. 0.139, χ(2)=121.70, 87.47, 35.56, all P<0.01). Conclusion: MCV, RDW and MCHC can be used to screen ID in primary health care settings.

Bioremediation of water containing pesticides by microalgae: Mechanisms, methods, and prospects for future research

The application of pesticides reduces the loss of crops while simultaneously increasing crop productivity. However, the frequent use of pesticides can cause serious environmental problems due to their high accumulative and persistent nature. Recently, microalgae technology has received considerable success in the efficient treatment of pesticides pollution. In this review, the metabolic mechanisms responsible for the removal of pesticides are summarized based on previous studies. Different methods used to enhance the ability of microalgae to remove pesticides are critically evaluated. The recycling of microalgae biomass after wastewater treatment for biochar preparation and biodiesel production using the biorefinery approach is also introduced. Furthermore, we present potential future research directions to highlight the prospects of microalgae research in the removal of pesticides along with the production of value-added products.

Screening the main factors affecting phthalate esters adsorption on soils, humic acid, and clay organo-mineral complexes

Phthalate esters (PAEs) are one of the most frequently detected organic pollutants in soils. In this work, the adsorption behaviors of di-ethyl phthalate (DEP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) on soils, humins (HM) and Clay organo-mineral complexes (Clay-OM) from four regions in China, Changchun (CC), Cangzhou (CZ), Yinchuan (YC), and Changsha (CS) were studied. The surface and structural properties of these sorbents were characterized using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller specific surface area, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance methods. The results showed that the CC soil has the largest pore volume (PV) and specific surface area (SSA). PV, SSA, and aliphatic carbon content of the samples ranked as Clay-OM > HM > soil. Adsorption experiments indicated that the Clay-OM exhibited the strongest adsorption affinity for both DBP and DEP, followed by HM, and then the soil samples. Furthermore, DEP and DBP adsorption amounts on the samples declined as follows: CC > CS > CZ > YC. To illustrate the dominant mechanisms for PAEs adsorption onto soil, the soil organic carbon content normalized adsorption coefficient (LogK_oc) was correlated with several possible parameters using multiple parameter linear regression and significance testing. The R² values of the DBP and DEP in multi-regression equations were 0.825 and 0.741 respectively, and the significance test suggested that pore structure and specific surface area had crucial influences on the adsorption progress.

Nano-TiO2 enhances the adsorption of Cd(II) on biological soil crusts under mildly acidic conditions

Biological soil crusts (BSCs), which are ubiquitous in paddy fields, are known to remove pollutants from paddy fields systems. The Nano-TiO₂ enhanced the removal of Cd(II) by BSC under acidic irrigation water was found, and its mechanism was investigated. After the addition of nano-TiO₂, the Cd(II) removal efficiency of BSC_S increased by 26.70% than that of pure BSCs, and the Nano-TiO₂ induced faster removal velocity as well. Zeta potential and potentiometric titration results revealed that BSCs generated more negative charges and sites concentration after addition of Nano-TiO₂ at acidic environment. The carboxyl and amino/hydroxyl groups were the main functional groups on BSC and the BSC + TiO₂. The higher concentration of amino/hydroxyl groups in BSC + TiO₂ (0.33 ± 0.08 mmol/g) was present than that of pristine BSCs (0.62 ± 0.02 mmol/g), and they were with similar concentration of phosphate groups and carboxyl groups. This result was attributed to the Nano-TiO₂ stimulated the BSCs to produce more extracellular polysaccharides and proteins. Our findings would provide novel strategy for the removal of cadmium from acidic irrigation water.

Enhanced adsorption of Cd(II) using a composite of poly(acrylamide-co-sodium acrylate) incorporated LDH@MoS24

The Mg/Al layered double hydroxide (Mg/Al-LDH) intercalated with the [Formula: see text] (MoS₄-LDH) impregnated into poly(acrylamide-co-sodium acrylate) (PP) was synthesized as layered double hydroxides-PP (LDHS-PP), whose characterization, adsorption properties and mechanisms were investigated. The maximum adsorption capacity (q_m) for Cd(II) was ∼2789.58 mg/g by 1% LDHS-PP, while it was ∼1893.09 mg/g by PP, which indicated that the MoS₄-LDH greatly improved the Cd(II) uptake for PP in aqueous solution. In strongly acidic conditions (∼pH 3.0), there was still a good removal efficiency of about 45.65% by the 1% LDHS-PP, while that of PP was almost zero. At pH 5.0 the removal efficiency increased to 85.17% by the 1% LDHS-PP. The sorption kinetics for the 1% LDHS-PP was described well by a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS) and elemental distribution maps further confirmed the presence of MoS₄-LDH in the PP and most of the Cd(II) chemisorption based on the Cd-S bonding. Due to its high removal efficiency and acid resistance, LDHS-PP is a promising in-situ fixation agent for the remediation of agricultural soil polluted with Cd(II) at low pH.

Metal distribution and biological diversity of crusts in paddy fields polluted with different levels of cadmium

The paddy-crusts (PCs) play an important pole in the transformation and transfer of heavy metal in paddy. Different PCs were collected from paddy fields whose soils contained cadmium (Cd) at four concentration levels (0.61, 0.71, 1.53, and 7.08 mg/kg) in Hunan Province, China P.R. at Sep 2017. This metal's distribution among and biological community structures of PCs were both measured. Our results indicated that PCs were able to accumulate Cd from irrigation water and soil. With greater Cd levels in paddy fields, the weak EPS-binding Cd fraction decreased whereas the non-EDTA-exchangeable Cd fraction increased. The sorbed Cd fraction was initially enhanced at low-to mid-level Cd concentrations, but then gradually declined. Biomineralization was shown to function as the dominant Cd accumulation mechanism in non-EDTA-exchangeable fractions. The biological diversity of soil microbes decreased with more Cd in soil, and the Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Cyanobacteria were the dominant phyla in all the sampled PCs. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) between the composition of microbial communities and soil chemical variables in the PCs clustered all samples based on the Cd-contaminated level, and demonstrated that Cd, Mn, and Fe all significantly influenced the microbial communities. In particular, the Alphaproteobacteria and Chloroplast classes of bacteria may play a significant role in Cd accumulation via the bio-mineralization process. Taken together, our results provide basic empirical information to better understand the heavy metal speciation transformation mechanisms of PCs upon Cd-contaminated paddy fields.

Physiological characteristics and toxin production of Microcystis aeruginosa (Cyanobacterium) in response to DOM in anaerobic digestion effluent

The ecological implications of livestock production intensification have received sustained attention across the globe. Anaerobic digestion is the main process for livestock waste treatment. However, the ecological consequences of dissolved organic matter originating from anaerobic digestion (AD-DOM) in eutrophic water bodies remain elusive. In this study, the physiological responses of a bloom-forming cyanobacterium, Microcystis aeruginosa, to AD-DOM were investigated. Moreover, the composition of AD-DOM was identified by using thermochemolysis followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The growth of M. aeruginosa FACHB905 was not sensitive to low levels (0.625-1.25%, V/V) of AD-DOM but was inhibited by high levels (2.5-5%, V/V) of AD-DOM, resulting from photoinhibition damage to photosystem II (PSII). The main target of AD-DOM in PSII was the electron accepting side (ψ₀) or the electron donor side (φ P₀), depending on time variables. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) level showed a positive correlation with AD-DOM addition; however, it was higher than that of the control for 3.75-5% AD-DOM on the 6th day. The intracellular microcystin contents (including MC-LR and Dha⁷-MC-LR) decreased in response to AD-DOM addition, but extracellular microcystin increased after 6 days of exposure. In addition, GC-MS detection showed that AD-DOM is mainly composed of lignin-derived aromatic compounds, alkanes/alkene, nitrogen-containing compounds, and sterols. The results presented in this study suggested that AD-DOM released from the livestock industry may play a subtle role in affecting harmful algal blooms through level-dependent variables. In addition, the ecological consequences of microcystin released by toxin-producing species under AD-DOM stress are still worth considering.

Cyanobacterial bloom mitigation by sanguinarine and its effects on aquatic microbial community structure

Sanguinarine has strong inhibitory effects against the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. However, previous studies were mainly limited to laboratory tests. The efficacy of sanguinarine for mitigation of cyanobacterial blooms under field conditions, and its effects on aquatic microbial community structure remain unknown. To elucidate these issues, we carried out in situ cyanobacterial bloom mitigation tests. Our results showed that sanguinarine decreased population densities of the harmful cyanobacteria Microcystis and Anabaena. The inhibitory effects of sanguinarine on these cyanobacteria lasted 17 days, after which the harmful cyanobacteria recovered and again became the dominant species. Concentrations of microcystins in the sanguinarine treatments were lower than those of the untreated control except during the early stage of the field test. The results of community DNA pyrosequencing showed that sanguinarine decreased the relative abundance of the prokaryotic microorganisms Cyanobacteria, Actinobacteria, Planctomycetes and eukaryotic microorganisms of Cryptophyta, but increased the abundance of the prokaryotic phylum Proteobacteria and eukaryotic microorganisms within Ciliophora and Choanozoa. The shifting of prokaryotic microbial community in water column was directly related to the toxicity of sanguinarine, whereas eukaryotic microbial community structure was influenced by factors other than direct toxicity. Harmful cyanobacteria mitigation efficacy and microbial ecological effects of sanguinarine presented in this study will inform the broad application of sanguinarine in cyanobacteria mitigation.

Ageing affects the proliferation and mineralization of rat dental pulp stem cells under inflammatory conditions

AIM

To comparatively evaluate changes in the proliferation and mineralization abilities of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) from juvenile and adult rats in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory microenvironment to provide a theoretical basis for the age-related differences observed in DPSCs during repair of inflammatory injuries.

METHODOLOGY

DPSCs were isolated from juvenile (JDPSCs) and adult rats (ADPSCs), and senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining was used to compare senescence between JDPSCs and ADPSCs. Effects of LPS on JDPSCs and ADPSCs proliferation were investigated by cell counting kit-8 assays and flow cytometry. Alizarin red staining, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot assay were used to examine the effects of LPS on mineralization-related genes and proteins in JDPSCs and ADPSCs. Immunohistochemistry was used to compare interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and osteocalcin (OCN) expression in the pulpitis model. Unpaired Student's t-tests and one-way anova were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

DPSCs were isolated from juvenile and adult rat dental pulp tissues. At low concentrations (0.1-1 μg mL^-1 ), LPS significantly promoted the proliferation of JDPSCs (P < 0.01) and ADPSCs (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), with the effect being stronger in JDPSCs than in ADPSCs. In addition, mineralized nodules and the expression of mineralization-related genes (OCN, DSPP, ALP, BSP) increased significantly after stimulation with LPS (0.5 μg mL^-1 ) in JDPSCs and ADPSCs (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), and JDPSCs displayed a more obvious increase than ADPSCs. Western blots revealed OCN and ALP expression levels in JDPSCs treated with LPS were significantly upregulated (P < 0.05); meanwhile, ALP expression in ADPSCs increased slightly but significantly (P < 0.05), and OCN expression was not affected. Finally, IL-1β expression was significantly higher (P < 0.05) and OCN expression was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the inflamed dental pulp of adult rats than in juvenile rats.

CONCLUSIONS

A certain degree of inflammatory stimulation promoted the proliferation and mineralization of DPSCs; however, this effect declined with age. The DPSCs of adult donors in an inflammatory microenvironment have a weaker repair ability than that of juvenile donors, who are better candidates for tissues damage repair.

First Detection of Photons with Energy beyond 100 TeV from an Astrophysical Source

We report on the highest energy photons from the Crab Nebula observed by the Tibet air shower array with the underground water-Cherenkov-type muon detector array. Based on the criterion of a muon number measured in an air shower, we successfully suppress 99.92% of the cosmic-ray background events with energies E>100  TeV. As a result, we observed 24 photonlike events with E>100  TeV against 5.5 background events, which corresponds to a 5.6σ statistical significance. This is the first detection of photons with E>100  TeV from an astrophysical source.