Spatiotemporal variation, fluxes and risk evaluation of neonicotinoid insecticides within the midsection of Yangtze River, China: An exploration as ecological protection threshold

Neonicotinoid insecticides (NNIs) have attracted global concern due to its extensive use in agricultural activities and their potential risks to the animal and human health, however, there is limited knowledge on the regional traits and ecological risks of NNIs in the aquatic environments. We herein investigated the occurrence of NNIs within the midsection of Yangtze River in China, offering the inaugural comprehensive report on NNIs within this region. In this study, eleven NNIs were analyzed in 108 river water and sediment samples from three seasons (normal, dry and wet season). We detected a minimum of seven NNIs in the water and four NNIs in the sediment, with total concentrations ranging from 12.33 to 100.5 ng/L in water and 0.08-5.68 ng/g in sediment. The levels of NNIs in both river water and sediment were primarily influenced by the extent of agricultural activities. The estimated annual load of NNIs within the midsection of Yangtze River totaled 40.27 tons, April was a critical contamination period. Relative potency factor (RPF) analysis of the human exposure risk revealed that infants faced the greatest exposure risk, with an estimated daily intake of 11.27 ng kg-1∙bw∙d-1. We established the acute and chronic thresholds for aquatic organisms by employing the Species Sensitive Distribution (SSD) method (acute: 384.1 ng/L; chronic: 168.9 ng/L). Based on the findings from this study, 33% of the river water samples exceeded the chronic ecological risks thresholds, indicating the urgent need for intervention programs to guarantee the safety of the river for aquatic life in the Yangtze River Basin.

A critical review of biochar as an environmental functional material in soil ecosystems for migration and transformation mechanisms and ecological risk assessment

At present, biochar has a large application potential in soil amelioration, pollution remediation, carbon sequestration and emission reduction, and research on the effect of biochar on soil ecology and environment has made positive progress. However, under natural and anthropogenic perturbations, biochar may undergo a series of environmental behaviors such as migratory transformation, mineralization and decomposition, and synergistic transport, thus posing certain potential risks. This paper outlines the multi-interfacial migration pathway of biochar in "air-soil-plant-animal-water", and analyzes the migration process and mechanism at different interfaces during the preparation, transportation and application of biochar. The two stages of the biochar mineralization process (mineralization of easily degradable aliphatic carbon components in the early stage and mineralization of relatively stable aromatic carbon components in the later stage) were described, the self-influencing factors and external environmental factors of biochar mineralization were analyzed, and the mineral stabilization mechanism and positive/negative excitation effects of biochar into the soil were elucidated. The proximity between field natural and artificially simulated aging of biochar were analyzed, and the change of its properties showed a trend of biological aging > chemical aging > physical aging > natural aging, and in order to improve the simulation and prediction, the artificially simulated aging party needs to be changed from a qualitative method to a quantitative method. The technical advantages, application scope and potential drawbacks of different biochar modification methods were compared, and biological modification can create new materials with enhanced environmental application. The stability performance of modified biochar was compared, indicating that raw materials, pyrolysis temperature and modification method were the key factors affecting the stability of biochar. The potential risks to the soil environment from different pollutants carried by biochar were summarized, the levels of pollutants released from biochar in the soil environment were highlighted, and a comprehensive selection of ecological risk assessment methods was suggested in terms of evaluation requirements, data acquisition and operation difficulty. Dynamic tracing of migration decomposition behavior, long-term assessment of pollution remediation effects, and directional design of modified composite biochar materials were proposed as scientific issues worthy of focused attention. The results can provide a certain reference basis for the theoretical research and technological development of biochar.

Neonicotinoid insecticides in paddy fields: Dissipation dynamics, migration, and dietary risk

Neonicotinoid insecticides (NNIs) have caused widespread contamination of multiple environmental media and posed a serious threat to ecosystem health by accidentally injuring non-target species. This study collected samples of water, soil, and rice plant tissues in a water-soil-plant system of paddy fields after spaying imidacloprid (IMI), thiamethoxam (THM), and clothianidin (CLO) to analyze their distribution characteristics and migration procedures and to assess related dietary risks of rice consumption. In the paddy water, the concentrations of NNIs showed a dynamic change of increasing and then decreasing during about a month period, and the initial deposition of NNIs showed a trend of CLO (3.08 μg/L) > THM (2.74 μg/L) > IMI (0.97 μg/L). In paddy soil, the concentrations of the three NNIs ranged from 0.57 to 68.3 ng/g, with the highest residual concentration at 2 h after application, and the concentration trend was opposite to that in paddy water. The initial deposition amounts of IMI, THM, and CLO in the root system were 5.19, 3.02, and 5.24 μg/g, respectively, showing a gradual decrease over time. In the plant, the initial deposition amounts were 19.3, 9.36, and 52.6 μg/g for IMI, THM, and CLO, respectively, exhibiting concentration trends similar to those in the roots. Except for IMI in soil, the dissipation of the NNIs conformed to the first-order kinetic equation in paddy water, soil, and plant. The results of bioconcentration factors (BCFs) and translocation factor (TF) indicated that NNIs can be bi-directionally transported in plants through leaf absorption and root uptake. The risk of NNIs intake through rice consumption was low for all age groups, with a slightly higher risk of exposure in males than in females.

Shear Field-Controlled Synthesis of Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanochains Forest with High-Density sp3 Defects for Efficient CO2 Electroreduction Reaction

Defect engineering and nitrogen doping being effective strategies for modulating the surface chemical state of the carbon matrix have been widely explored to promote the catalytic activity in the territory of electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices. However, the controllable synthesis of carbon material with high-density specific defects and high nitrogen doping is still full of challenges. Here, we first synthesize one-dimensional necklace-like nitrogen-doped carbon nanochains (N-CNCs) with abundant defects on carbon fiber paper (CFP) by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. The resultant nanostructures are a bunch of interconnected carbon spheres with a hollow structure at the internode and present the complete one-dimensional nanochain configuration. Specifically, the N-CNCs with a corrugated surface possesses high content of sp3 defects (31.2%) and nitrogen (23.6 at %). Combining finite element analysis and experimental results, it reveals that the robust shear field generated by etching gas releasing from thermal decomposition of melamine in situ modulates the CVD process via changing the size and force environment of the metal catalyst droplets for formation of N-CNCs. Benefiting from the high ratio of sp3/sp2 and nitrogen doped on the surface, the N-CNCs@CFP displays a superior electrocatalytic performance for CO2RR, delivering CO Faradaic efficiency of 95.9% and a current density of 23.2 mA cm-2 at -0.86 V vs RHE. This work provides promising synthesis strategy and some inspirations for construction of ultradense and specific defects coupling with nitrogen doping sites into carbon materials to achieve high-efficiency electrocatalysis applications.

Unveiling the muscle-brain axis: A bidirectional mendelian randomization study investigating the causal relationship between sarcopenia-related traits and brain aging

BACKGROUND

Observational studies suggest an association between sarcopenia-related traits and brain aging, but whether this association reflects a causal relationship remains unclear. This study aims to employ Mendelian randomization (MR) methods to investigate the causal impact of sarcopenia-related traits on brain aging.

METHODS

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data associated with sarcopenia-related traits. The data were derived from a large-scale cohort, encompassing measures such as grip strength, lean body mass, and walking pace. Measurements of brain aging were obtained from neuroimaging genetics, utilizing meta-analysis (ENIGMA) to combine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from 33,992 participants. The primary methodology employed in this analysis was the inverse-variance-weighted method (IVW). Additionally, sensitivity analyses were conducted, to assess heterogeneity and pleiotropy.

RESULT

Appendicular lean mass(ALM) is negatively correlated with Pallidum aging; Whole body fat-free mass shows a negative correlation with Amygdala aging; Leg fat-free mass (left) and Leg fat-free mass (right) are negatively correlated with Pallidum aging; Usual walking pace is positively correlated with Nucleus Accumbens aging. Cerebellum WM aging is negatively correlated with Leg fat-free mass (left) and Leg fat-free mass (right); Hippocampus aging is negatively correlated with Hand grip strength (left) and Hand grip strength (right). Ventricles aging is positively correlated with Usual walking pace; Nucleus Accumbens aging is positively correlated with Leg fat-free mass (left) and Leg fat-free mass (right); Putamen aging is positively correlated with ALM.

CONCLUSION

Our study confirms that reduced muscle mass speeds up brain aging. Walking too fast raises the risk of brain aging, while maintaining or increasing appendicular lean mass, overall muscle mass, and muscle mass in both legs lowers the risk of brain aging.

Neurodevelopmental disorders as a risk factor for temporomandibular disorder: evidence from Mendelian randomization studies

Objective: This study aims to clarify the incidence rate of temporomandibular joint disease in patients with mental disorders. Methods: Data extracted from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium and FinnGen databases employed the Mendelian Randomization (MR) method to assess the associations of three neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs)-Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and Tourette's Disorder (TD)-as exposure factors with Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD). The analysis used a two-sample MR design, employing the Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) method to evaluate the relationships between these disorders and Temporomandibular Disorder. Sensitivity analysis and heterogeneity assessments were conducted. Potential confounding factors like low birth weight, childhood obesity, and body mass index were controlled for. Results: The study found that ADHD significantly increased the risks for TMD (OR = 1.2342, 95%CI (1.1448-1.3307), p < 0.00001), TMD (including avohilmo) (OR = 1.1244, 95%CI (1.0643-1.1880), p = 0.00003), TMD-related pain (OR = 1.1590, 95%CI (1.0964-1.2252), p < 0.00001), and TMD-related muscular pain associated with fibromyalgia (OR = 1.1815, 95%CI (1.1133-1.2538), p < 0.00001), while other disorders did not show significant causal relationships. Conclusion: This study reveals the elevated risk of various TMD aspects due to ADHD. Furthermore, we discuss the link between low vitamin D levels ADHD and TMD. Future research should address these limitations and delve further into the complex interactions between ADHD, ASD, TD, and TMD.

Fine-tuning rice heading date through multiplex editing of the regulatory regions of key genes by CRISPR-Cas9

Heading date (or flowering time) is a key agronomic trait that affects seasonal and regional adaption of rice cultivars. An unoptimized heading date can either not achieve a high yield or has a high risk of encountering abiotic stresses. There is a strong demand on the mild to moderate adjusting the heading date in breeding practice. Genome editing is a promising method which allows more precise and faster changing the heading date of rice. However, direct knock out of major genes involved in regulating heading date will not always achieve a new germplasm with expected heading date. It is still challenging to quantitatively adjust the heading date of elite cultivars with best adaption for broader region. In this study, we used a CRISPR-Cas9 based genome editing strategy called high-efficiency multiplex promoter-targeting (HMP) to generate novel alleles at cis-regulatory regions of three major heading date genes: Hd1, Ghd7 and DTH8. We achieved a series of germplasm with quantitative variations of heading date by editing promoter regions and adjusting the expression levels of these genes. We performed field trials to screen for the best adapted lines for different regions. We successfully expanded an elite cultivar Ningjing8 (NJ8) to a higher latitude region by selecting a line with a mild early heading phenotype that escaped from cold stress and achieved high yield potential. Our study demonstrates that HMP is a powerful tool for quantitatively regulating rice heading date and expanding elite cultivars to broader regions.

Chemical characteristics, distribution patterns, and source apportionment of particulate elements and inorganic ions in snowpack in Harbin, China

Snowpack, which serves as a natural archive of atmospheric deposition of multiple pollutants, is a practical environmental media that can be used for assessing atmospheric records and input of the pollutants to the surface environments and ecosystems. A total of 29 snowpack samples were collected at 20 sampling sites covering three different functional areas of a major city (Harbin) in Northeast China. Two samples at the "snow layer" and one or two samples at the "particulate layer" were collected at each sampling site in the industrial areas characterized by multi-layer snowpack, and only one sample at the "snow layer" was collected at each sampling site in the cultural and recreational as well as agricultural areas. The snow contents of 31 elements (Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Y, Cd, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and Pb) and six major water-soluble inorganic ions (WSIIs, NH4+, K+, Ca2+, NO2-, NO3-, and SO42-) were analyzed. The total mass of the measured elements is dominated (95.8%-99.2%) by crustal elements. Heavy metals only account for 0.77%-4.07% of the total mass of the elements, but are occasionally close to or even above the standard limit in the "Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water" of China (GB3838-2002). SO42- and Ca2+ are the main anion and cation, accounting for 34.9%-81.1% and 1.43%-29.9%, respectively, of the measured total ions. Total atmospheric deposition of crustal elements and heavy metals is dominated by wet deposition in areas near the petrochemical plant and by dry deposition in areas near the cement plant. Coal combustion, industrial emissions, and traffic-related activities lead to the enrichment of heavy metals in the snowpacks of urban and suburban areas, while coal combustion and biomass burning contribute to pollution in rural areas. The cities and regions situated in the western, northwestern, northern, and northeastern directions from Harbin are potential source regions of these pollutant species.

Calculation and analysis of agricultural carbon emission efficiency considering water-energy-food pressure: Modeling and application

Agricultural carbon emission efficiency (ACEE) measurement, a tool for effectively achieving sustainable development goals, has garnered much attention. However, the impacts of resource pressures such as water, energy and food on ACEE have been overlooked, and the high dimensionality of the measurement model and insufficient sample data can easily distort the measurement results. Therefore, from a green development perspective, we established a new ACEE measurement framework considering the water-energy-food pressure index and a new integrated ACEE measurement model (CSMA-PPE-USSBM) that includes chaotic maps, the slime mould algorithm (SMA), projection pursuit evaluation (PPE) and the undesirable super slack-based measure (USSBM). The model was used to calculate ACEE in 13 prefecture-level municipalities in Heilongjiang Province, China, and analyze its spatiotemporal evolution and possible causes. The results showed that this model avoids the above problems. The reliability coefficient and stability coefficient reached 0.962 and 0.971, respectively; ACEE in Heilongjiang Province has much room for improvement, but there are obvious differences in carbon emission efficiency in different carbon emission type regions. The key driving forces of ACEE variation can generate significant scale effects. Provincial driving factors can affect ACEE variation in prefecture municipalities, where the influence range is limited or the influence of driving factors gradually emerges. The research results provide a theoretical reference for accurately measuring the regional ACEE and analyzing the driving mechanism of ACEE and green agricultural development.

[Impacts of Extreme Climate Events at Different Altitudinal Gradients on Vegetation NPP in Songhua River Basin]

Vegetation net primary production (NPP) is an essential index for determining the quality of terrestrial ecosystems and their potential carbon storage ability. The impacts of extreme climate events on vegetation NPP are different under different altitude gradients. However, the research on the impact of extreme climate events on the spatial variation in vegetation NPP and the coupling effects under different altitude conditions remain insufficient. Using the MOD17A3HGF remote sensing data set and RClimDex 1.9 software, the vegetation NPP and 10 extreme climate indices in the Songhua River Basin from 2001 to 2020 were calculated, respectively. The spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of vegetation NPP and its response mechanism to extreme climate events in the Songhua River Basin under different altitude gradients were analyzed by means of trend analysis, correlation analysis, regression analysis, GeoDetector, and relative importance analysis. The results showed that:① the vegetation NPP (calculated by C) in the Songhua River Basin increased significantly at the rate of 4.13 g·(m2·a)-1 from 2001 to 2020 (P < 0.01), and the rates of 3.65, 4.04, 4.70, 5.09, and 4.57 g·(m2·a)-1 at the altitude gradients of 29-255, 255-440, 440-658, 658-935, and 935-2 589 m, respectively (P < 0.01). ② The spatial distribution pattern of vegetation NPP presented "high around and low in the middle," and the fluctuation of vegetation NPP in high altitude areas was more obvious than that in low altitude areas; for example, the average value of vegetation NPP at an altitude gradient from 29 to 255 m had a lower value, whereas the other altitude gradients had higher mean values than the mean value of the basin. ③ The extreme precipitation events in the Songhua River Basin were the main influencing factors of vegetation NPP, i.e., the vegetation NPP in low-altitude areas was mainly affected by extreme precipitation events, whereas the values in high-altitude areas were affected by both extreme precipitation events and extreme temperature events. The results of this research can provide a scientific basis for improving the carbon cycle model of the terrestrial ecosystem in the Songhua River Basin, quantifying the ability of carbon storage of vegetation and formulating policies to deal with climate change.

Bioaccumulation of novel brominated flame retardants in crucian carp (Carassius auratus): Implications for electronic waste recycling area monitoring

Bioaccumulation factor (BAF) of pollutants is an important parameter for evaluating their bioaccumulation potential and an important indicator for evaluating their environmental risks. However, little study exits on the BAF of novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs). The present study determined 17 NBFRs in 24 water samples in dissolved phase and 93 crucian carp samples collected from an electronic waste recycling site in northern China, in order to examine their contamination, distribution and bioaccumulation. The results showed that the targeted NBFRs were widely detectable in the dissolved phase and crucian carps. In dissolved phase, allyl 2,4,6-tribromophenyl ether (ATE) had the highest detectable rate (100%) and concentration (mean: 1.3 ± 0.62 ng/L), but in crucian carp, hexachlorocyclopentenyl-dibromocyclooctane (HCDBCO) was the one with the highest detectable rate (89%) and concentration (mean: 16 ± 9.2 ng/g wet weight (ww)) among all 17 NBFRs. The discharge and water solubility of NBFRs determined their concentration in the dissolved phase, while the concentration of NBFRs in crucian carp was the results of their discharge and food exposure. The estimated BAFs exceeded 5000 L/kg for petabromoethylbenzene (PBEB), pentabromotoluene (PBT), HCDBCO, pentabromobenzyl acrylate (PBBA), 1,2,3,4,5-pentabromobenzene (PBBZ), 2,3-dibromopropyl-2,4,6-tribromophenyl ether (DPTE), hexabromobenzene (HBBZ), and α-1,2,5,6-tetrabromocyclooctane (α-TBCO), suggesting that these compounds were above the hazard standard of bioaccumulation. Although the BAFs of 2,3,5,6-tetrabromo-p-xylene (p-TBX), 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)-ethane (BTBPE), α-/β-tetrabromoethylcyclohexane (α-/β-TBECH) and ATE were less than 5000, the potential of bioaccumulation cannot be ignored. The log BAF of tested NBFRs showed a pattern of first increasing and then decreasing with the increase of log KOW, the water solubility of NBFRs, the exposure to fish, the uptake and depuration of fish were the key factor to this pattern. To our knowledge, the BAF values of the most of NBFRs calculated in this study were not reported in the published work previously.

Prenatal exome sequencing analysis in fetuses with central nervous system anomalies

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the utility of prenatal exome sequencing (pES) in fetuses with central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of fetuses identified to have CNS abnormality on prenatal ultrasound and/or magnetic resonance imaging. All fetuses were first analyzed by chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA). Fetuses with a confirmed aneuploidy or causal pathogenic copy-number variant (CNV) on CMA did not undergo pES analysis and were excluded, while those with a negative CMA result were offered pES testing.

RESULTS

Of the 167 pregnancies included in the study, 42 (25.1%) were identified to have a pathogenic or likely pathogenic (P/LP) variant. The diagnostic rate was significantly higher in fetuses with a non-isolated CNS abnormality than in those with a single CNS abnormality (35.7% (20/56) vs 14.5% (8/55); P = 0.010). Moreover, when a fetus had three or more CNS abnormalities, the positive diagnostic rate increased to 42.9%. A total of 25/42 (59.5%) cases had de-novo mutations, while, in the remaining cases, mutations were inherited and carried a significant risk of recurrence. Families whose fetus carried a P/LP mutation were more likely to choose advanced pregnancy termination than those with a variant of uncertain significance, secondary/incidental finding or negative pES result (83.3% (25/30) vs 41.3% (38/92); P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

pES improved the identification of genetic disorders in fetuses with CNS anomalies without a chromosomal abnormality or CNV identified on CMA, regardless of the number of CNS anomalies and presence of extracranial abnormality. We also demonstrated that pES findings can significantly impact parental decision-making. © 2023 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Predicting Local Control with Dosimetric Parameters in Patients Receiving Individualized Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy for Lung Tumors

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) is an effective treatment option for lung tumors. The individualized lung tumor SABR (iSABR) trial was a phase II single-arm study that personalized lung tumor SABR dose and fractionation based on tumor size, location, and histology with very low rates of local recurrence (LR). A secondary analysis of this trial was conducted to assess for potential dosimetric predictors of LR, in order to help guide future clinical treatment planning.

MATERIALS/METHODS

From 2011 to 2018, local, regional and distant recurrence data were prospectively collected from 204 patients (261 lung SABR treatments) enrolled in a prospective trial. Baseline characteristics and treatment details were evaluated. Dosimetric and treatment plan parameters were evaluated for their potential to predict LR, using logistic regression and chi-squared analyses.

RESULTS

The majority of treated tumors were peripheral (71%, vs 29% central), primary lesions (76%, versus 24% metastatic), and of adenocarcinoma histology (67%, versus 13% squamous cell carcinoma and 19% other). The median follow-up was 24 months (range 2-95). Twenty-seven (10.3%) LRs occurred, with a median time to LR of 15 months (range 6-81 months). There were no significant associations between the overall cohort and the dosimetric parameters. However, for the multi-fraction cohort, an increased proportion of the PTV receiving 110% and 115% of the prescription dose were associated with lower LR (p = 0.01 and p = 0.01 respectively). Specifically for the 50 Gy in 4 fraction cohort, an increased D1cc, D0.03cc, as well as the proportion of the PTV receiving 110%, 115%, and 120% of the prescription dose were associated with lower LR (p < 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.003, p < 0.001, p = 0.004, respectively). There was no association of LR with prescription dose expressed as biologically effective dose using an alpha/beta of 10 Gy (BED10), D99%, or single- versus multi-fraction regimens.

CONCLUSION

SABR for lung tumors using the individualized protocol on this trial showed excellent LR rates. We identified dosimetric parameters that were associated with LR, including V110% and V115% within the multi-fraction cohort, as well as the 50 Gy in 4 fraction cohort the D1cc, D0.03cc, and proportions of the PTV receiving 110%, 115%, and 120% of the prescription dose in the 50 Gy in 4 fraction cohort. Optimal thresholds for these parameters will be identified in further analyses. There did not appear to be an association with LR and BED10, D99%, or comparing single- vs multi-fraction regimens.

Transport of neonicotinoid insecticides in a wetland ecosystem: Has the cultivation of different crops become the major sources?

Extensive application of neonicotinoid insecticides (NNIs) in agricultural production has resulted in widespread contamination of multiple environmental media. To investigate the occurrence and fate of NNIs in the largest marsh distribution area in Northeast China, an integrated ecosystem covering farmlands, rivers, and marshes, referred to as the farmland-river-marsh continuum in this study, was chosen for soil, water, and sediment sampling. Five NNIs were detected, with imidacloprid (IMI), thiamethoxam (THM), and clothianidin (CLO) being the most frequently detected ones in different samples. Concentrations of target NNIs in soil, surface water, and sediment samples were 2.23-136 ng/g dry weight (dw), 3.20-51.7 ng/L, and 1.53-8.40 ng/g dw, respectively. In soils, NNIs were detected more often and at higher concentrations in upland fields, while the concentration of NNIs in the soybean-growing soils (71.5 ng/g dw) was significantly higher than in the rice-growing soils (18.5 ng/g dw) (p < 0.05). Total concentration of NNIs in surface water was lower in the Qixing River channel than inside the marsh, while that in sediments showed an opposite trend. Total migration mass of IMI from approximately 157,000 ha of farmland soil by surface runoff was estimated to be 2636-3402 kg from the application time to the sampling period. The storage of NNIs in sediments was estimated to range from 45.9 to 252 ng/cm². The estimated environmental risks, calculated as the risk quotients (RQs), revealed low risks to aquatic organisms (RQs <0.1) from the residual concentrations of NNIs in water.

Influence on the levels of PAHs and methylated PAHs in surface soil from pollution control in China: Evidence in 2019 data compared with 2005 and 2012 data

To comprehensively clarify the pollution characteristics of persistent toxic substances, the Soil and Air Monitoring Program Phase III (SAMP-III) was conducted in 2019 in China. In total, 154 surface soil samples were collected across China, and 30 unsubstituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (U-PAHs) and 49 methylated PAHs (Me-PAHs) were analyzed in this study. The mean concentrations of total U-PAHs and Me-PAHs were 540 ± 778 and 82.0 ± 132 ng/g dw, respectively. Northeastern China and Eastern China are the two regions of concern with high PAH and BaP equivalency levels. Compared with SAMP-I (2005) and SAMP-II (2012), an obvious upward temporal trend followed by a downward trend of PAH levels was observed in the past 14 years for the first time. The mean concentrations of 16 U-PAHs were 377 ± 716, 780 ± 1010, and 419 ± 611 ng/g dw in surface soil across China for the three phases, respectively. Considering rapid economic growth and energy consumption, an increasing trend from 2005 to 2012 was expected. From 2012 to 2019, the PAH levels in soils across China decreased by 50 %, which was consistent with the decline in PAH emissions. The period of reduction of PAHs in surface soil coincided with the implementation of Air and Soil Pollution Control Actions in China after 2013 and 2016, respectively. Along with the pollution control actions in China, the pollution control of PAHs and the increase in soil quality can be expected in the near future.

A CT-based radiomics nomogram for differentiating ovarian cystadenomas and endometriotic cysts

AIM

To construct and validate a computed tomography (CT)-based radiomics nomogram integrating radiomics signature and clinical factors to distinguish ovarian cystadenomas and endometriotic cysts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 287 patients with ovarian cystadenomas (n=196) or endometriotic cysts (n=91) were divided randomly into a training cohort (n=200) and a validation cohort (n=87). Radiomics features based on the portal venous phase of CT images were extracted by PyRadiomics. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operation regression was applied to select the significant features and develop the radiomics signature. A radiomics score (rad-score) was calculated. The clinical model was built by the significant clinical factors. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to construct the radiomics nomogram based on significant clinical factors and rad-score. The diagnostic performances of the radiomics nomogram, radiomics signature, and clinical model were evaluated and compared in the training and validation cohorts. Diagnostic confusion matrices of these models were calculated for the validation cohort and compared with those of the radiologists.

RESULTS

Seventeen radiomics features from CT images were used to build the radiomics signature. The radiomics nomogram incorporating cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) level and rad-score showed the best performance in both the training and validation cohorts with AUCs of 0.925 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.885-0.965), and 0.942 (95% CI: 0.891-0.993), respectively. The accuracy of radiomics nomogram in the confusion matrix outperformed the radiologists.

CONCLUSIONS

The radiomics nomogram performed well for differentiating ovarian cystadenomas and endometriotic cysts, and may help in clinical decision-making process.

Effect of combined aging treatment on biochar adsorption and speciation distribution for Cd(II)

As a passivation material for heavy metals in-situ remediation, biochar (BC) has often been expected to maintain long-term adsorption performance for target pollutants. There is still lack of consensus about the impact of aging processes on biochar properties, particularly with respect to its long-term sorption performance. In this study, the changes to immobilization mechanisms as well as the speciation distribution of Cd(II) triggered by combined aging simulation (dry-wet, freeze-thaw cycle and oxidation treatment) on BC prepared under three levels of pyrolysis temperatures (300, 500 and 700 °C) were investigated. The results showed significant inhibition of aging on adsorption performance with the adsorptive capacity of BC300, BC500 and BC700 for Cd(II) decreased by 31.12 %, 50.63 % and 14.94 %, respectively. However, sequential extraction results indicated little influence of the aging process on the relative fractionation of Cd(II) speciation. The distribution of readily bioavailable, potentially bioavailable and non-bioavailable fractions of Cd(II) on BC showed only minimal changes post-aging. Overall, there was less Cd(II) sorption following aging, but the fractional availability (in relative terms) remained the same. Compared with 300 and 700 °C, the biochar prepared under 500 °C accounted the highest fraction of non-bioavailable Cd(II) (67.23 % of BC500, 59.17 % of Aged-500), and thus showed most promising for Cd(II) immobilization. This study has important practical significance for the long-term application of biochar in real environment.

The N6-methyladenosine binding proteins YTH03/05/10 coordinately regulate rice plant height

N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is the most widely distributed and most abundant type of mRNA modification in eukaryotic. It provides a posttranscriptional level regulation of gene expression by regulating pre-mRNA splicing, mRNA degradation, or mRNA translational efficiency etc. The function of m⁶A modification is decoded by binding proteins that can specially bind to m⁶A. YT521-B homology (YTH) family proteins are the most important m⁶A-binding proteins in mammals and Arabidopsis. However, their roles in growth and development remain unknown. Here, we demonstrated that the YTH family proteins YTH03, YTH05 and YTH10 specifically bind to m⁶A-containing RNAs. Knockout of YTH03, YTH05 or YTH10 causes reduced plant height. Further research showed that simultaneously knockout of YTH03, YTH05 and YTH10 shows severe dwarf phenotype, suggesting these three genes regulate rice plant height in a functionally redundant manner. Additional transcriptome study showed that the reduced plant height of the yth03/05/10 triple mutant may be due to the blocked of diterpenoid and brassinolide synthesis pathway. Overall, we demonstrate that YTH03, YTH05 and YTH10 are all the m⁶A readers in rice and redundantly regulate rice plant height through the hormonal related pathway.

Estimating Sources, Fluxes, and Ecological Risks of Antibiotics in the Wuhan Section of the Yangtze River, China: A Year-Long Investigation

To our knowledge, ours is the first study to investigate the annual fluxes, environmental fate, and ecological risks of five categories of antibiotics from the Wuhan section of the Yangtze River (China). All the 24 antibiotics we tested for were detected in water, with total concentrations of 17.11-867.2 ng/L (mean: 63.69 ng/L), and 19 antibiotics were detected in sediment, at 0.02-287.7 ng/g (mean: 16.54 ng/g). Sulfonamides, amphenicols, and macrolides were the three most prominent antibiotic classes in water, and fluoroquinolones were the most prominent in sediment. Farming activities (animal husbandry and aquaculture) are proposed as the largest contributors to antibiotic pollution in the Wuhan section of the Yangtze River according to the Unmix model, followed by municipal wastewater and mixed sources. Higher pollution levels were observed downstream (combined discharge of these sources). Monthly monitoring data (12 months) were used to estimate antibiotic annual fluxes, with 101.5 t (uncertainty: 5.6%) in the Wuhan section of the Yangtze River. Risk assessments showed that erythromycin, clarithromycin, and azithromycin posed medium and high ecological risks and were found in 9%-35% and 1.8%-3.7% of all water samples, respectively; enrofloxacin, clarithromycin, azithromycin, florfenicol, and thiamphenicol posed medium resistance risks in 1.9%-16.7% of waters in the Wuhan section of the Yangtze River. Our results have filled data gaps on antibiotic sources, annual fluxes, and resistance risk in the Wuhan section of the Yangtze River and demonstrated the importance of further management of antibiotic use in the studied areas. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:605-619. © 2022 SETAC.

Development of TaqMan-based real-time PCR assay based on the E1 genefor the quantitative detection of the Getah virus

To develop a sensitive, specific, and rapid approach for the detection Getah virus (GETV), a set of primers targeting the conserved region of the E1 gene was created. The TaqMan-based real-time PCR method for GETV detection was developed by optimizing the reaction conditions. The method demonstrated excellent specificity, and amplification did not occur with the causative agents of all prevalent swine viral infections (CSFV, PRRSV, PRV, PEDV, PTV, and JEV), except GETV. Additionally, upon assessing the sensitivity of the method, the minimum detection limit for GETV was found to be 5.94 copies/μL, which is 10 times higher than that of the traditional PCR approach. Further, the intra- and inter-assay variation coefficients were less than 1%, demonstrating good repeatability. Moreover, GETV was found in 10 of the 20 field serum samples using real-time PCR but only in three of the samples using traditional PCR. Consequently, the first GETV TaqMan-based real-time PCR approach based on the E1 gene was developed for GETV pathogenic diagnoses, and this exhibited high specificity, sensitivity, and repeatability. This assay is practical for the pathogenic diagnosis and epidemiology of GETV.

Fe-Al bimetallic oxides functionalized-biochar via ball milling for enhanced adsorption of tetracycline in water

The clusters formed by modified materials on its surface makes the application of functionalized biochars in adsorption face a great challenge. Here, a facile ball milling technology was innovatively proposed to tailor Fe-Al oxides-laden bagasse biochar to fabricate a novel adsorbent (BMFA-BC). Benefited from the increased exposure of Fe-Al oxides and, more importantly, enhanced functional groups by ball milling, the adsorption capacity of BMFA-BC for aqueous tetracycline reached up to 116.6 mg g^-1 at 298 K. And the adsorption performance was temperature-dependent. Characterization analysis, batch sorption (thermodynamics, kinetics, isotherms, chemical factors) as well as data modeling illustrated that this superior adsorption ability could be attributed to π-π conjugation, H-bonding, complexation as well as pore filling. BMFA-BC displayed good adsorption capacity in multiple aqueous environments. The excellent regeneration ability, magnetic susceptibility ensured its viability for sustainable pollutants removal. These superiorities revealed that BMFA-BC was a suitable sorbent for antibiotics elimination.

ESCRT-III component OsSNF7.2 modulates leaf rolling by trafficking and endosomal degradation of auxin biosynthetic enzyme OsYUC8 in rice

The endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) is highly conserved in eukaryotic cells and plays an essential role in the biogenesis of multivesicular bodies and cargo degradation to the plant vacuole or lysosomes. Although ESCRT components affect a variety of plant growth and development processes, their impact on leaf development is rarely reported. Here, we found that OsSNF7.2, an ESCRT-III component, controls leaf rolling in rice (Oryza sativa). The Ossnf7.2 mutant rolled leaf 17 (rl17) has adaxially rolled leaves due to the decreased number and size of the bulliform cells. OsSNF7.2 is expressed ubiquitously in all tissues, and its protein is localized in the endosomal compartments. OsSNF7.2 homologs, including OsSNF7, OsSNF7.3, and OsSNF7.4, can physically interact with OsSNF7.2, but their single mutation did not result in leaf rolling. Other ESCRT complex subunits, namely OsVPS20, OsVPS24, and OsBRO1, also interact with OsSNF7.2. Further assays revealed that OsSNF7.2 interacts with OsYUC8 and aids its vacuolar degradation. Both Osyuc8 and rl17 Osyuc8 showed rolled leaves, indicating that OsYUC8 and OsSNF7.2 function in the same pathway, conferring leaf development. This study reveals a new biological function for the ESCRT-III components, and provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying leaf rolling.

Efficacy and safety of ciprofol for agitation and delirium in the ICU: A multicenter, single-blind, 3-arm parallel randomized controlled trial study protocol

Background

Agitation is very common in the intensive care unit (ICU). The causes include pain, delirium, underlying disease, withdrawal syndrome, and some drug treatments. The practical goal of ICU treatment is to find an appropriate sedation regimen to reduce pain, restlessness, and delirium. Previous trials have examined the use of dexmedetomidine, but no trials have evaluated the efficacy and safety of ciprofol, a new sedative drug.

Methods

This study was a multicenter, single-blind, 3-arm parallel randomized controlled trial. ICU patients aged ≥ 18 years with agitation and delirium who met the eligibility criteria were included. The main outcome was the proportion of patients who needed additional study medication or midazolam due to agitation within 4 h after the first intravenous injection of the study medication. The secondary outcomes included the pass rate as indicated by a Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) score < +1, the effectiveness rate of improving delirium symptoms, the number of recurrences of agitation within 24 h, the incidence of rescue treatment, the dose and cost of analgesic and sedative drugs, the length and cost of ICU stay, and the 30-day survival period. The safety evaluation included the incidence of adverse events (hypotension, bradycardia, hypoxia, etc.) and the rate of endotracheal intubation. The subjects were randomly assigned to receive ciprofol, dexmedetomidine, or normal saline at a ratio of 1:1:1. The rates of additional drug administration within 4 h after the first injection of the study drug in the three groups were 40, 50, and 90%, respectively. A total sample size of 81 subjects was required to reach 90% power and an α of 0.05. Considering a 20% loss rate, 102 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to the three groups in equal proportions.

Ethics and communication

This trial was approved by the Ethics Committee of Dalian Municipal Central Hospital. The communication plan includes presentations at scientific conferences, scientific publications, and presentations to the public through non-professional media.

Clinical trial registration

www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier ChiCTR220006 2799.

Properties of curcumin-loaded zein-tea saponin nanoparticles prepared by antisolvent co-precipitation and precipitation

The properties of nutraceutical-loaded biopolymer nanoparticles fabricated by antisolvent co-precipitation (ASCP) and precipitation (ASP) were compared. Curcumin-loaded zein-tea saponin nanoparticles were fabricated using both methods and then their structural and physicochemical properties were characterized. The diameter of the nanoparticles prepared by ASCP were smaller (120-130 nm) than those prepared by ASP (140-160 nm). The encapsulation efficiency of the ASCP-nanoparticles (80.0%) was higher than the ASP-ones (71.0%) at a zein-to-curcumin mass ratio of 3:1, which was also higher than previous studies. The storage and light stability of curcumin was higher in zein-saponin nanoparticles than in zein nanoparticles. All nanoparticles had good water dispersibility after freeze-drying and rehydration. This study shows that nanoparticles produced by antisolvent co-precipitation have superior properties to those produced by antisolvent precipitation. The co-precipitation method leads to a higher encapsulation efficiency, smaller particle size, and greater storage stability, which may be advantageous for some applications.

Utility of in vivo zebrafish cardiac assay to predict the functional impact of KCNQ1 variants

Background

Genetic testing for inherited arrhythmias and discriminating pathogenic from benign variants are integral for the gene-based medicine. However, the high throughput in vivo functional analysis for the rare variants of the KCNQ1 potassium channel is scarce.

Purpose

We tested the utility of the in vivo zebrafish cardiac assay for determining the pathogenicity of the KCNQ1 variants identified in patients with long QT syndrome (LQTS) and atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods

We generated a knock-out zebrafish with CRISPR-mediated insertions or deletions of the KCNQ1 homolog in zebrafish (kcnq1+/+). To test the utility of the cardiac assay, we used five KCNQ1 variants identified in patients with LQTS or familial AF. Human wild-type or mutant KCNQ1 cRNA (Q1) was co-injected with human KCNE1 cRNA (E1) into the F3 generation embryos with homozygous deletions. We dissected the hearts from the thorax at 72 hour-post-fertilization and measured transmembrane potential in zebrafish heart using the disrupted patch technique. Action potential duration was calculated as the time interval between the peak maximum upstroke velocity and 90% of repolarization (APD90). We compared the APD90s with patients' clinical phenotype and IKs density measured by patch-clamp technique in heterologous system.

Results

The mean APD90 of embryos with kcnq1del/del was 279±48 ms, which was restored by injecting Q1 WT and E1 (159±29 ms) to that with kcnq1+/+ (167±28 ms). We tested if the mean APD90 of embryos with kcnq1del/del was restored (shortened) by injecting the KCNQ1 variants. First we tested the dominant negative variant p.S277L and the trafficking deficient variant p.T587M. Patients with these variants showed significant prolonged QT intervals, and patch clamp study showed both variants caused the non-functional channels. Zebrafish cardiac assay showed the mean APD90 of embryos with kcnq1del/del+ Q1 S277L+E1 or Q1 T587M+E1 was significantly longer than that with kcnq1del/del+Q1 WT+E1 (Table). Next we tested in-frame variant c.1472_1473 ins GGACCT, which was identified from a patient with AF and normal QT interval. Patch clamp study showed the current density of the mutant KCNQ1 channel with KCNE1 was comparable to that of wild-type KCNQ1 channel with KCNE1. Zebrafish assay showed the mean APD90 of embryos with kcnq1del/del shortened by injecting Q1 insACCTGG +E1 (Table). Finally we tested a missense variant p.R451Q, which was identified from a patient with LQTS. Patch clamp study showed the currents in the cells transfected with R451Q+KCNE1 were similar to those with WT+KCNE1. Zebrafish assay showed the mean APD90 of embryos with kcnq1del/del+Q1 R451Q+E1 was longer than that with kcnq1del/del+Q1 WT+E1 (Table).

Conclusions

Functional analysis of in vivo zebrafish cardiac assay might be useful for determining the pathogenicity of rare variants in patients with LQTS.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): The Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Insights on ball milling enhanced iron magnesium layered double oxides bagasse biochar composite for ciprofloxacin adsorptive removal from water

Both ciprofloxacin (CIP) and sugarcane bagasse have brought enormous pressure on environmental safety. Here, an innovative technique combining Fe-Mg-layered double oxides and ball milling was presented for the first time to convert bagasse-waste into a new biochar adsorbent (BM-LDOs-BC) for aqueous CIP removal. The maximum theoretical adsorption capacity of BM-LDOs-BC reached up to 213.1 mg g^-1 due to abundant adsorption sites provided by well-developed pores characteristics and enhanced functional groups. The results of characterization, data fitting and environmental parameter revealed that pore filling, electrostatic interactions, H-bonding, complexation and π-π conjugation were the key mechanisms for CIP adsorptive removal. BM-LDOs-BC exhibited satisfactory environmental safety and outstanding adsorption capacity under various environmental situations (pH, inorganic salts, humic acid). Moreover, BM-LDOs-BC possessed excellent reusability. These superiorities illustrated that BM-LDOs-BC was a promising adsorbent and created a new avenue for rational placement of biowaste and high-efficiency synthesis of biochar for antibiotic removal.

YTH Domain Proteins Play an Essential Role in Rice Growth and Stress Response

As the most prevalent epi-transcriptional modification, m6A modifications play essential roles in regulating RNA fate. The molecular functions of YTH521-B homology (YTH) domain proteins, the most known READER proteins of m6A modifications, have been well-studied in animals. Although plants contain more YTH domain proteins than other eukaryotes, little is known about their biological importance. In dicot species Arabidopsis thaliana, the YTHDFA clade members ECT2/3/4 and CPSF30-L are well-studied and important for cell proliferation, plant organogenesis, and nitrate transport. More emphasis is needed on the biological functions of plant YTH proteins, especially monocot YTHs. Here we presented a detailed phylogenetic relationship of eukaryotic YTH proteins and clustered plant YTHDFC clade into three subclades. To determine the importance of monocot YTH proteins, YTH knockout mutants and RNAi-induced knockdown plants were constructed and used for phenotyping, transcriptomic analysis, and stress treatments. Knocking out or knocking down OsYTHs led to the downregulation of multicellular organismal regulation genes and resulted in growth defects. In addition, loss-of-function ythdfa mutants led to better salinity tolerance whereas ythdfc mutants were more sensitive to abiotic stress. Overall, our study establishes the functional relevance of rice YTH genes in plant growth regulation and stress response.

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Deep-Rooting and Shallow-Rooting Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Genotypes under Drought Stress

The selection and breeding of deep rooting and drought-tolerant varieties has become a promising approach for improving the yield and adaptability of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in arid and semiarid areas. Therefore, the discovery of root-development-related genes and drought tolerance signaling pathways in potato is important. In this study, we used deep-rooting (C119) and shallow-rooting (C16) potato genotypes, with different levels of drought tolerance, to achieve this objective. Both genotypes were treated with 150 mM mannitol for 0 h (T0), 2 h (T2), 6 h (T6), 12 h (T12), and 24 h (T24), and their root tissues were subjected to comparative transcriptome analysis. A total of 531, 1571, 1247, and 3540 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in C16 and 1531, 1108, 674, and 4850 DEGs in C119 were identified in T2 vs. T0, T6 vs. T2, T12 vs. T6, and T24 vs. T12 comparisons, respectively. Gene expression analysis indicated that a delay in the onset of drought-induced transcriptional changes in C16 compared with C119. Functional enrichment analysis revealed genotype-specific biological processes involved in drought stress tolerance. The metabolic pathways of plant hormone transduction and MAPK signaling were heavily involved in the resistance of C16 and C119 to drought, while abscisic acid (ABA), ethylene, and salicylic acid signal transduction pathways likely played more important roles in C119 stress responses. Furthermore, genes involved in root cell elongation and division showed differential expression between the two genotypes under drought stress. Overall, this study provides important information for the marker-assisted selection and breeding of drought-tolerant potato genotypes.

A review of spatiotemporal patterns of neonicotinoid insecticides in water, sediment, and soil across China

Neonicotinoid insecticides (NNIs) have been widely used to control insect pests, while their environmental residues and associated hazardous impacts on human and ecosystem health have attracted increasing attention worldwide. In this study, we examined the current levels and associated spatial and temporal patterns of NNIs in multiple environmental media across China. Concentrations of NNIs in surface water, sediment, and soil were in the range of 9.94-755 ng·L^-1, 0.07-8.30 ng·g^-1 DW, and 0.009-356 ng·g^-1 DW, respectively. The high levels of NNIs in surface water, such as in Yangtze River (755 ng·L^-1), North River (539 ng·L^-1), Nandu River (519 ng·L^-1), and Minjiang River (514 ng·L^-1), were dominated by imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and acetamiprid due to their extensive use. The levels of NNIs in sediments were relatively low, and the highest concentration (8.30 ng·g^-1 DW) was observed in Dongguan ditch. Sediment-water exchange calculated from fugacity fraction indicated that NNIs in sediment can be released back into the water due to their high solubility and low K_OW. Soils from agricultural zones contained the largest residual NNIs, with imidacloprid concentrations in cultivated soil reaching 119 ng·g^-1 DW. The calculated leaching potential showed that clothianidin has the highest migration potential to deep soil or groundwater. The monitored data of NNIs presented a decreasing trend from 2016 to 2018, which might be caused by the implementation of relevant control policies for NNI applications. The high levels of NNIs mainly occurred in southern China due to frequent agricultural activities and warm and humid meteorological conditions. The results from this study improve our understanding of the pollution levels and environmental behavior of NNIs in different environmental media across China and provide new knowledge that is needed for making future control policies for NNIs production and application.

Optimizing Wheat Yield, Water, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency With Water and Nitrogen Inputs in China: A Synthesis and Life Cycle Assessment

To meet the demand of the fast increasing population, enhancing the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and resource use efficiency by optimizing water and nitrogen (N) management can greatly improve agricultural sustainability and enhance regenerative farming in developing countries such as China. Based on 126 studies conducted in China between 1996 and 2018, using meta-analysis in combination with decision regression tree modeling and life cycle assessment (LCA), this study aimed to (1) quantify the effect of water and N input on wheat yield, water productivity (WP c ), and N use efficiency (NUE f ), and evaluate the subsequent environmental impact in different regions using LCA; and (2) evaluate, model, and rank the roles of environmental (e.g., soil nutrient status and climatic factors) and agronomic factors (e.g., water and N management practices) affecting wheat yield, WP c , and NUE f . The results showed that irrigation and N addition increased the average yield and WP c by 40 and 15%, respectively, relative to control treatments with no irrigation or fertilizer application. The mean water saving potential (WSP) and N saving potential (NSP) in China were estimated at 11 and 10%, respectively. Soil nutrient status [e.g., initial soil phosphorus (P) and potassium (K)] and soil organic carbon content affected the wheat yield, WP c , and NUE f more significantly than climatic factors [mean annual temperature (MAT)] or water and N management practices. The structural equation-based modeling indicated that initial soil nutrient condition impacted productivity and resource use efficiency more at the below optimal water and N levels than above. The risk-factor-based feature ranking indicated that site-specific environmental and soil condition was highly informative toward model construction but split input of N or water had less impact on yield and input use efficiency. LCA demonstrated that to further mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, water- or N-saving management should be promoted in China. Collectively, our research implies that long-term soil health and nutrient enhancement should be more beneficial for increasing yield and resource use efficiency in wheat production.

Effects of pyrolysis temperature and aging treatment on the adsorption of Cd2+ and Zn2+ by coffee grounds biochar

As an in-situ immobilization material for heavy metals, biochar can exist in the environment for thousands of years, while whether the natural aging would affect its heavy metals adsorption performance still remains unclear. Therefore, the coffee grounds biochar (CGB) was prepared under different pyrolysis temperatures (300, 500 and 700 °C) in this study, and the simulated artificial aging treatment was carried out to investigate the effects of pyrolysis temperature and aging treatment on Cd²⁺ and Zn²⁺ (both separate and combined conditions) adsorption performance of CGB. The result revealed that Fresh-CGB adsorption performance increased with increasing pyrolysis temperature, while the relationship was not so clear with Aged-CGB where adsorption performance peaked at medium pyrolysis temperature (500 °C) but reduced again as pyrolysis temperature increased to 700 °C. The changes of Aged-CGB adsorption performance for Cd²⁺ and Zn²⁺ represented the long-term performance of naturally aging biochar in environment, and a mid-range pyrolysis temperature would seem most appropriate for long-term application of biochar. The X-ray Diffraction (XRD) result revealed that the degree of graphitization of CGB increased with increasing pyrolysis temperature, which represents a stronger environmental stability as the weight loss of CGB300, CGB500 and CGB700 after aging treatment was 2.38%, 0.66%, and 0%, respectively. The EDS and FTIR results suggested that ion-exchange and complexation between CGB/Aged-CGB with Cd²⁺/Zn²⁺ played a dominant role in adsorption processes. In addition, the selectivity for Cd²⁺ was significantly improved after the aging treatment. This is desirable given the stronger toxicity of Cd²⁺ relative to Zn²⁺. In general, this study provides new insights into the practical application of biochar from the perspective of long-term effects.

Efficient adsorptive removal of fluoroquinolone antibiotics from water by alkali and bimetallic salts co-hydrothermally modified sludge biochar

Fluoroquinolones are one of most commonly used antibiotics for preventing and treating bacterial infections and their unsatisfactory removal by conventional wastewater treatment technology have aroused widespread attention. A novel adsorbent of KMSBC was the first time synthesized and tested to adsorb three typical fluoroquinolone antibiotics of CIP, NOR and OFL from water. The characterization analysis showed that KMSBC possessed the superior porous structure, abundant functional groups and greater graphitic degree. Together with kinetics, isotherms, thermodynamics and critical factors (e.g., biochar dose, reaction time/temperature, fluoroquinolone antibiotics concentration, pH, co-existing ionic strength and HA concentration) analysis suggested that pore filling, π-π conjugation, H-bonding and electrostatic interaction were the key mechanisms for fluoroquinolone antibiotics adsorption by KMSBC. KMSBC exhibited the optimum adsorption performance at pH = 5 despite the adsorbates. The maximum adsorption capacity of KMSBC for CIP, NOR and OFL were 49.9, 55.7 and 47.4 mg/g at 25 °C, respectively. Also, KMSBC exhibited the good magnetic sensitivity and stability with the leaching concentrations of Fe were far below than environmental limit (GB5749-2006) at various pH (from 3 to 12), ionic strength and HA concentrations. Additionally, KMSBC performed a stable sustainable adsorption performance in recycles by NaOH regeneration. Thus, KMSBC had the potential to be a promising adsorbent for fluoroquinolone antibiotics removal with favorable adsorption capacity, environmental security and easy regeneration performance.

The effect of biochar on the water-soil environmental system in freezing-thawing farmland soil: The perspective of complexity

The moisture content of farmland soils is closely related to the farmland soil environment. Although biochar has been widely studied for farmland soil amelioration in tropical and temperate farmland soils, its application in areas of seasonally frozen soil is rare. In this study, field experiments were conducted to explore the effect of biochar on soil temperature and soil liquid moisture content in seasonally frozen soils and its corresponding mechanism. Biochar was applied to the soil at different rates (3 kg·m^-2, 6 kg·m^-2, 9 kg·m^-2, and 12 kg·m^-2) in autumn and spring. Daily monitoring data from the 20 cm soil-layer recorded for one year from the biochar application date were analyzed. The approximate entropy was introduced to explore the complex changes in soil temperature and soil liquid moisture content under biochar application in seasonally frozen soils. According to the calculation of approximate entropy, the application of biochar increased the complexity for most treatments. In the case of ignoring the heterogeneity of snowfall and uneven land tillage to the soil, we infer that this change was caused by changes in properties of the biochar due to the freeze-thaw cycle. The treatment under mixed biochar application in spring and autumn of 9 kg·m^-2 had the smallest change in water and heat complexity. And the approximate entropy of this treatment is the smallest. Moreover, in the freezing period, the soil liquid moisture content is positively correlated with the biochar amount applied and negatively correlated with the biochar and soil mixing time. In the melting period, the opposite correlations occur. The changes in soil moisture conditions caused by freezing and thawing restrict the affinity of biochar for water. Therefore, the effect of biochar addition on the soil liquid moisture content varies among different freezing and thawing periods.

Exploring source footprint of Organophosphate esters in the Bohai Sea, China: Insight from temporal and spatial variabilities in the atmosphere from June 2014 to May 2019

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are still produced and used in large quantities in the world-wide, and the environmental burden and behavior have generated widespread concern, especially in some large-scale waterbodies. This study conducted a comprehensive assessment on the temporal and spatial variabilities and budget of OPEs to trace the source for the Bohai Sea (BS), based on a 5-year seasonal monitoring campaign (June 2014 to May 2019) of 12 atmospheric sites around the BS and our previous studies. The average concentration of Σ₁₀OPEs in atmosphere during the sampling period was 7.65 ± 6.42 ng m^-3, and chlorinated OPEs were the major compounds. The Seasonal-Trend decomposition procedure based on Loess (STL) analyzed that during the 5-year sampling period, the atmospheric concentrations of Σ₁₀OPEs had a slightly increasing trend with a rate of + 0.092 ng m^-3 yr^-1, and the seasonal concentrations had a distinct seasonal distribution. The highest concentration of Σ₁₀OPEs was observed at the sampling site of Dalian, followed by Tianjin, Yantai, and Beihuangcheng. The estimation of the fugacity ratios and air-water gas exchange fluxes established that the concentration levels of two major components of chlorinated OPEs (tris-(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) and tris-(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP)) in the atmosphere were dominated by their volatilization from BS's seawater (1.24 ± 0.46 t yr^-1 for TCEP and 5.15 ± 2.15 t yr^-1 for TCPP), with 73% deriving from the coastal seawater. The budget assessment suggested that the volatile fluxes of TCEP and TCPP accounted for 8% and 29% of their storages (15.6 ± 5.32 t for TCEP and 17.6 ± 6.70 t for TCPP) in the BS seawater, which were mainly contributed by continental river input (20% for TCEP and 42% for TCPP). The efforts indicated that river inputs of TCEP and TCPP needed to be paid more attention for the improvement of environmental quality of the BS.

Measurement and analysis of regional flood disaster resilience based on a support vector regression model refined by the selfish herd optimizer with elite opposition-based learning

Flood disasters are sudden, frequent, uncertain and highly hazardous natural disasters. The precise identification of the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics, key driving factors and influencing mechanisms of resilience has become a hot spot in disaster risk reduction research. Therefore, the cumulative information contribution rate-Pearson correlation coefficient (CICR- PCC) model is used in this paper to construct a flood disaster resilience index system by quantitative methods, and a support vector regression model refined by the selfish herd optimizer with elite opposition-based learning (EO-SHO-SVR) is built to improve the accuracy of flood disaster resilience evaluation. On this basis, the EO-SHO-SVR model is used to analyze the spatiotemporal evolution of flood disaster resilience in the Jiansanjiang branch of China Beidahuang Agricultural Reclamation Group Co., Ltd. over the past 22 years. In addition, to verify the comprehensive performance of the EO-SHO-SVR model, support vector regression (SVR), imperial competition algorithm-improved support vector regression (ICA-SVR), and unimproved selfish herd optimizer support vector regression (SHO-SVR) models were selected for comparative analysis. The results show that during the study period, the resilience levels reached a plateau of high levels from 1997 to 2018 after experiencing a state of steady low levels followed by increased volatility. Among the investigated factors, land-average flood prevention investment, GDP per capita, agricultural machinery power per unit of arable land, water conservancy project investment as a percentage of GDP, and rainfall are the main driving factors that cause spatiotemporal differences in flood disaster resilience in the study area. Spatially, the resilience levels in the Jiansanjiang branch are ordered as northern farms > southern farms > central farms, and the comprehensive index of resilience shows an increasing trend from west to east. In the model comparison, the EO-SHO-SVR model has outstanding advantages in fitting performance, reliability, rationality and stability, which fully demonstrates that the EO-SHO-SVR model is highly advanced and practical in the measurement of flood disaster resilience. These research results can provide a more accurate evaluation model of regional flood disaster resilience. In addition, they can also provide valuable information for regional flood resilience improvement and flood risk avoidance.

Cultivation and Genomic Characterization of the Bile Bacterial Species From Cholecystitis Patients

The microbes in human bile are closely related to gallbladder health and other potential disorders. Although the bile microbial community has been investigated by recent studies using amplicon or metagenomic sequencing technologies, the genomic information of the microbial species resident in bile is rarely reported. Herein, we isolated 138 bacterial colonies from the fresh bile specimens of four cholecystitis patients using a culturome approach and genomically characterized 35 non-redundant strains using whole-genome shotgun sequencing. The bile bacterial isolates spanned 3 classes, 6 orders, 10 families, and 14 genera, of which the members of Enterococcus, Escherichia-Shigella, Lysinibacillus, and Enterobacter frequently appeared. Genomic analysis identified three species, including Providencia sp. D135, Psychrobacter sp. D093, and Vibrio sp. D074, which are not represented in existing reference genome databases. Based on the genome data, the functional capacity between bile and gut isolates was compared. The bile strains encoded 5,488 KEGG orthologs, of which 4.9% were specific to the gut strains, including the enzymes involved in biofilm formation, two-component systems, and quorum-sensing pathways. A total of 472 antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were identified from the bile genomes including multidrug resistance proteins (42.6%), fluoroquinolone resistance proteins (12.3%), aminoglycoside resistance proteins (9.1%), and β-lactamase (7.2%). Moreover, in vitro experiments showed that some bile bacteria have the capabilities for bile salt deconjugation or biotransformation (of primary bile acids into secondary bile acids). Although the physiological or pathological significance of these bacteria needs further exploration, our works expanded knowledge about the genome, diversity, and function of human bile bacteria.

PSXI-11 Assessing in situ rumen degradability of late season kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata)

Kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata) is an invasive weed species native to eastern Asia affecting much of the southeastern United States. Its broad leaves and viny growth allow it to outcompete native plant species for sunlight and nutrients. Kudzu, however, is a leguminous plant, making it a potential feedstock for ruminant species. Browsing ruminants in areas affected by kudzu could benefit animal productivity while serving to ameliorate rapid plant growth. This study specifically sought to assess the overall rumen degradability, rate of digestion, digestible fraction, and indigestible fraction using an in situ methodology. In situ rumen degradability was analyzed using four ruminally fistulated steers as individual experimental units over two repeated trials. Samples were incubated at 1, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 h. Kudzu used in these trials was collected during September, making analysis in this study a reflection of degradability toward the end of the growing season. Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design with repeated measures showing no significant differences between steers or trials (P &gt; 0.05). Overall degradability across all steers and times was 69.79%. Significant changes in dry matter disappearance across all steers were observed at 1, 12, and 24 h (P &lt; 0.05) with values of 33.86, 64.78, and 74.26%, respectively, and highest observed degradability at 72 h (79.55%). Incubation times between 24 and 72 h were not used in determining rate of digestion as dry matter disappearances throughout these times were not significantly different (P &gt; 0.05). Rate of digestion (kd) was determined, using linear regression, to be 1.68% ∙ h-1 along with a digestible fraction (Do) of 28.29% and indigestible fraction (U) of 22.03%. The results of this study reflect that kudzu maintains a relatively high level of rumen degradability toward seasonal senescence, making it a functional feedstock even into the cooler months.

Single molecule real-time sequencing revealing novel insights on the response to estrogen and androgen exposure in freshwater snails

The molecular mode of action underpinning the response of mollusks exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) remains unclear due to a lack of available information regarding their genome. Single molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing makes it possible to reveal molecular mechanisms by direct sequencing of full-length transcripts. In the present study, the transcriptome profile of the freshwater snail Parafossarulus striatulus after exposure to 17β-estradiol (E2) or 17α-methyltestosterone (MT) was evaluated using SMRT sequencing strategy. In total, 216,598 non-redundant and full-length gene isoforms were generated and 106,266 isoforms were predicted with a complete open reading frame (ORF). Moreover, 60.36% of the isoforms were matched to known proteins in at least one of six databases. Differential gene expression analyses showed significantly different patterns in paired samples with different treatments. The expression levels of several membrane receptor isoforms of P. striatulus including dopamine receptor (DR), FMRFamide receptor (FMRFaR), neuropeptide Y receptor (NYR) and neuropeptide FF receptor (NFFR), but not estrogen receptor (ER) or estrogen-related receptor (ERR), were significantly affected by E2 and MT. These findings suggest that activation of membrane receptors, as well as other signaling pathways, might be critical for mediating the effects of endocrine disruption in mollusks. The transcriptome information obtained from the SMRT sequencing provides a significant contribution to the investigation of the molecular mode of action of endocrine disrupting chemicals on P. striatulus.

Occurrence, variations, and risk assessment of neonicotinoid insecticides in Harbin section of the Songhua River, northeast China

Neonicotinoid insecticides (NNIs) have been intensively used and exploited, resulting in their presence and accumulation in multiple environmental media. We herein investigated the current levels of eight major NNIs in the Harbin section of the Songhua River in northeast China, providing the first systematic report on NNIs in this region. At least four NNIs in water and three in sediment were detected, with total concentrations ranging from 30.8 to 135 ng L^-1 and from 0.61 to 14.7 ng g^-1 dw, respectively. Larger spatial variations in surface water NNIs concentrations were observed in tributary than mainstream (p < 0.05) due to the intensive human activities (e.g., horticulture, urban landscaping, and household pet flea control) and the discharge of wastewater from many treatment plants. There was a significant positive correlation (p < 0.05) between the concentrations of residual imidacloprid (IMI), clothianidin (CLO), and Σ₄NNIs in the sediment and total organic carbon (TOC). Due to its high solubility and low octanol-water partition coefficient (K _ow), the sediment-water exchange behavior shows that NNIs in sediments can re-enter into the water body. Human exposure risk was assessed using the relative potency factor (RPF), which showed that infants have the highest exposure risk (estimated daily intake (ΣIMI_eq EDI): 31.9 ng kg^-1 bw·d^-1). The concentration thresholds of NNIs for aquatic organisms in the Harbin section of the Songhua River were determined using the species sensitivity distribution (SSD) approach, resulting in a value of 355 ng L^-1 for acute hazardous concentration for 5% of species (HC₅) and 165 ng L^-1 for chronic HC₅. Aquatic organisms at low trophic levels were more vulnerable to potential harm from NNIs.

High urinary excretion rate of glucose attenuates serum uric acid level in type 2 diabetes with normal renal function

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

The relationship between urinary excretion rate of glucose (UEGL) and uric acid (UA) metabolism in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains unclear to date. This study aimed to investigate the relationships of UEGL with serum UA (SUA), urinary excretion rate of uric acid (UEUA), and renal clearance of uric acid (CLUA) in adults with T2D. We hypothesised that high UEGL increases UA excretion, which in turn leads to lower SUA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study of 635 inpatients with T2D recruited between 2018 and 2019. The relationships of UEGL with UEUA, CLUA, and hyperuricaemia were assessed using analysis of covariance and multivariate regression analysis.

RESULTS

Patients in the higher quartile of UEGL tended to have lower SUA levels than those in the lower quartile. In contrast, patients in the higher quartile of UEGL tended to have higher CLUA (p for trend < 0.0001), and a similar trend was observed for UEUA. In adjusted multivariable linear regression model, UEGL was negatively correlated with SUA (β = - 0.023, 95% CI - 0.034 to - 0.013, p < 0.0001). However, positive correlations of UEGL with UEUA (β = 0.046, 95% CI 0.018-0.074, p = 0.001) and CLUA (β = 0.063, 95% CI 0.042-0.085, p < 0.0001) were found. Furthermore, consistent significant inverse associations were observed between quartiles of UEGL and hyperuricaemia in the adjusted multivariate logistic regression model.

CONCLUSIONS

A high UEGL level was positively correlated with UEUA and CLUA. Moreover, it was inversely associated with SUA level, and a consistently increased UEGL level reduced the risk of hyperuricaemia in patients with T2D.

[The enlightenment of foreign MD-MPH double degree program to the cultivation of high-level applied public health talents in China]

Objective: To understand the current status of foreign dual-degree programs of Medical Doctor (MD) and Master of Public Health (MPH) and provide evidence-based decision-making reference for promoting the education of high-level applied public health talents in China. Methods: The list of involved institutions and information of foreign MD-MPH dual-degree programs was collected through literature retrieval, online information searching, and additional survey of key figures. We extracted the details of each project regarding professional fields, core competence, length of schooling, teaching and learning arrangement, internship eligibility, and graduation assessment. Python 3.8.0 was used for data cleaning, and the occurrence frequency of related items in each dimension was calculated. Results: A total of 99 MD-MPH programs from 104 foreign institutions were included, among which 97.1% of them were implemented in universities from the United States. The School of Public Health provided 42.4% (42/99) of the programs. Epidemiology was the major discipline set up among most programs, accounting for 12.0% (29/241) of all the specialties involved. Epidemiological research methods, health policy management and practice, and public health practice were the top 3 core competencies to be mastered. Of the 99 programs, 87 gave information on the length of the program, of which 74.7% (65/87) were five years, 6.9% (6/87) were four years, and 18.4% (16/87) included both 4-year and 5-year programs. Conclusions: The international MD-MPH programs were sophisticated and mainly organized by the School of Public Health alone or in conjunction with the School of Medicine. Epidemiology is the core course and competence objective, with a length of 4-5 years. Through learning experience from international MD-MPH programs and the Chinese unique medical development background, China should optimize its medical education system to develop a suitable talent training strategy for MD-MPH dual-degree programs in the new era.