Search

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) pose a significant ecological threat and economic detriment to freshwater environments. In order to develop an intelligent early warning system for HABs, big data and deep learning models were harnessed in this study. Data collection was achieved utilizing the vertical aquatic monitoring system (VAMS). Subsequently, the analysis and stratification of the vertical aquatic layer were conducted employing the “DeepDPM-Spectral Clustering” method. This approach drastically reduced the number of predictive models and enhanced the adaptability of the system. The Bloomformer-2 model was developed to conduct both single-step and multistep predictions of Chl-a, integrating the ” Alert Level Framework” issued by the World Health Organization to accomplish early warning for HABs. The case study conducted in Taihu Lake revealed that during the winter of 2018, the water column could be partitioned into four clusters (Groups W1–W4), while in the summer of 2019, the water column could be partitioned into five clusters (Groups S1–S5). Moreover, in a subsequent predictive task, Bloomformer-2 exhibited superiority in performance across all clusters for both the winter of 2018 and the summer of 2019 (MAE: 0.175–0.394, MSE: 0.042–0.305, and MAPE: 0.228–2.279 for single-step prediction; MAE: 0.184–0.505,

Algae are an entry point for mercury (Hg) into the food web. Bioconcentration of Hg by algae is crucial for its biogeochemical cycling and environmental risk. Herein, considering the cell heterogeneity, we investigated the bioconcentration of coexisting isotope-labeled inorganic (199IHg) and methyl Hg (201MeHg) by six typical freshwater and marine algae using dual-mass single-cell inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (scICP-MS). First, a universal pretreatment procedure for the scICP-MS analysis of algae was developed. Using the proposed method, the intra- and interspecies heterogeneities and the kinetics of Hg bioconcentration by algae were revealed at the single-cell level. The heterogeneity in the cellular Hg contents is largely related to cell size. The bioconcentration process reached a dynamic equilibrium involving influx/adsorption and efflux/desorption within hours. Algal density is a key factor affecting the distribution of Hg between algae and ambient water. Cellular Hg contents were negatively correlated with algal density, whereas the volume concentration factors almost remained constant. Accordingly, we developed a model based on single-cell analysis that well describes the density-driven effects of Hg bioconcentration by algae. From a novel single-cell perspective, the findings improve our understanding of algal bioconcentration governed by various biological and environmental factors.

Free available chlorine has been and is being applied in global water treatment and readily reacts with dissolved organic matter (DOM) in aquatic environments, leading to the formation of chlorinated products. Chlorination enhances the photoreactivity of DOM, but the influence of chlorinated compounds on the photogeneration of hydroxyl radicals (•OH) has remained unexplored. In this study, a range of chlorinated carboxylate-substituted phenolic model compounds were employed to assess their •OH photogeneration capabilities. These compounds demonstrated a substantial capacity for •OH production, exhibiting quantum yields of 0.1–5.9 × 10–3through direct photolysis under 305 nm and 0.2–9.5 × 10–3through a triplet sensitizer (4-benzoylbenzoic acid)-inducing reaction under 365 nm LED irradiation. Moreover, the chlorinated compounds exhibited higher light absorption and •OH quantum yields compared to those of their unchlorinated counterparts. The •OH photogeneration capacity of these compounds exhibited a positive correlation with their triplet state one-electron oxidation potentials. Molecular-level compositional analysis revealed that aromatic structures rich in hydroxyl and carboxyl groups (e.g., O/C > 0.5 with H/C < 1.5) within DOM serve as crucial sources of •OH, and chlorination of these compounds significantly enhances their capacity to generate •OH upon irradiation. This study provides novel insights into the enhanced photogeneration of •OH from chlorinated DOM, which is helpful for understanding the fate of trace pollutants in chlorinated waters.

As the ecologically important recipient channels for riverine ecosystems, tributaries provide unique microhabitats for microorganisms, among which zooplankton constitutes the most important heterotrophic organisms. In particular, the reduced water velocity caused by dams is more favorable for zooplankton development; therefore, dammed rivers are expected to support extremely diverse and abundant zooplankton communities and notably different spatiotemporal distribution patterns. So far, however, only very few molecular studies support these assumptions. Using high-throughput sequencing, a high number of 350 operational taxonomic units (OTUs; 97% cutoff) were retrieved from 30 samples collected in the Xiangxi River, the nearest large tributary upstream of the Three Gorges Dam. Zooplankton did not show significant spatial distribution in the channel. Instead, the community structures varied significantly over sampling dates, corroborating the seasonal patterns found in lakes and ponds in the subtropical zone. As expected, the community compositions were deterministically governed by environmental filtering processes (phylogenetic clustering), in which water velocity appeared to be much less important than other investigated environmental factors. Moreover, most of the detected phylotypes (OTUs) had a relatively high (>90%) sequence similarity to previously deposited sequences, suggesting a mediocre degree of genetic novelty within the zooplankton communities in the Xiangxi River.

Accurate and credible identification of the drivers of algal growth is essential for sustainable utilization and scientific management of freshwater. In this study, we developed a deep learning-based Transformer model, named Bloomformer-1, for end-to-end identification of the drivers of algal growth without the needing extensive a priori knowledge or prior experiments. The Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (MRP) was used as the study site to demonstrate that Bloomformer-1 exhibited more robust performance (with the highest R2, 0.80 to 0.94, and the lowest RMSE, 0.22–0.43 ​μg/L) compared to four widely used traditional machine learning models, namely extra trees regression (ETR), gradient boosting regression tree (GBRT), support vector regression (SVR), and multiple linear regression (MLR). In addition, Bloomformer-1 had higher interpretability (including higher transferability and understandability) than the four traditional machine learning models, which meant that it was trustworthy and the results could be directly applied to real scenarios. Finally, it was determined that total phosphorus (TP) was the most important driver for the MRP, especially in Henan section of the canal, although total nitrogen (TN) had the highest effect on algal growth in the Hebei section. Based on these results, phosphorus loading controlling in the whole MRP was proposed as an algal control strategy.

The hyperglycemia-induced enhanced oxidative stress is a key factor of diabetic peripheral neuropathy implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy, and microRNA may be involved, playing promotion or protection roles. In this study, we aimed to investigate the function of miR-25 during the development of oxidative/nitrative stress and in subsequent neurological problems. We detected the oxidative stress effects and expression of miR-25 on sciatic nerves from db/db diabetic model mice and analyzed the expression of related genes by qPCR and Western blotting. Interestingly, we observed increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Nox4 expression in db/db mice accompanied with reduced miR-25. MiR-25 inhibitor treatment increased nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate activity in Schwann cells, whereas miR-25 precursor overexpression led to opposite results. MiR-25 precursor reduced the activation of protein kinase C and decreased Nox4 expression at both mRNA and protein levels. Advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) and the receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) were increased in the serum and in the peripheral nerves obtained from diabetic mice, and miR-25 inhibitor treatment in Schwann cells from wt mice led to the same effect. However, miR-25 precursor transfection reduced AGEs and RAGE, and further reduced inflammatory factors that contribute to the pathological process of peripheral nerves. These findings, for the first time, indicate that miR-25 acts as a protection factor in diabetic neuropathy by downregulating AGE–RAGE and reducing nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase. miR-25 reduced protein kinase C-α phosphorylation to produce less reactive oxygen species in diabetic peripheral nerves, and therefore it played an important role in the regulation of oxidative/nitrative stress and in consequent neurological dysfunction.

The integrated rice-crayfish culture (IRCC) mode has been developed for more than twenty years in China, but little information could be obtained on the microbial communities in paddy soil under this mode. This study used 16SrRNA and ITS Illumina high-throughput sequencing to investigate microbial communities, diversity, and function in paddy soil under different IRCC times (0, 2, 4, 6, and 10 years). With increasing culture time, IRCC mode altered the relative abundance of dominant taxa, showing a significant decrease in the relative abundance of Actinobacteriaand Chytridiomycota, with an increase in Proteobacteriaand Firmicutes. The species richness and diversity of bacteria/fungi in 10-year IRCC paddy soil were significantly lower than in other groups (P < 0.05). Bacterial functional potential prediction by PICRUSt2 and phenotype prediction by BugBase showed that long-term IRCC significantly reduced the relative abundance of carbohydrate metabolism and increased the relative abundance of pathogenic potential and anaerobic phenotype (P < 0.05). Saprotrophs and pathotrophs dominated the fungal communities, and higher relative abundances of the plant pathogens, fungal parasites and lichen pathogens were found in IRCC soil (2- and 4-year) (P < 0.05). Microbial communities were mainly influenced by ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, soil moisture content, and total carbon. Long-term IRCC could significantly change microbial communities and functions, while reducing microbial diversity in paddy soil. A “resting period” is recommended to ensure the sustainable development of ecological agriculture in paddy fields.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were investigated in water, sediments, suspended sediments and biofilms in Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR), China. Results showed that dissolved bioavailable PBDEs in water of TGR collected with semipermeable membrane device (SPMD)-based virtual organisms (VOs) were very low in the range of n.d. to 811 pg/g lipid and the detected compounds were mainly low molecular BDEs such as BDE-15, 17, 28, 47, 49, 66, 99 and 100. The PBDE levels in the sediment core collected near the dam were also very low in the range of 84–300 pg/g dw and the detected compounds were mainly large molecular BDEs such as BDE-196, 197, 206, 207 and 208. In suspended sediments and biofilms, the levels of PBDEs ranged from 298 to 52,843 pg/g dw and the detected compounds were also mainly large molecular BDEs such as BDE- 196, 197, 201, 203, 206, 207, 208 and 209. The dominant compound was BDE-209 which accounted for more than 90% of the total BDEs. Therefore, large molecular BDEs tended to be attached on fine particles. The vertical profile of BDEs on suspended sediments (SS) showed that SSs in the middle depth of water contained high level of BDE-209. The phenomenon indicated that most of BDE-209 did not settle into the sediment in front of the dam, instead transported further to downstream.

Modified Fischer‐Tropsch (MFT) syntheses were carried out to convert synthesis gas to C4hydrocarbons over Fe‐Co/ZrO2(FT) and SO42—/ZrO2(SZ) catalysts in a dual reactor system, keeping the FT to SZ catalysts ratio at 1:1.5. Five Fe‐Co/ZrO2catalysts with different Fe and Co loading, and SZ with 15 wt% SO42—were prepared and extensively characterized using various physico‐chemical methods. The FT synthesis process was initially performed using a Fe‐Co/ZrO2catalyst in a single reactor and the effects of Fe and Co mass ratio, reaction temperature, space velocity on the production of C4hydrocarbons and C2‐C4olefins were investigated. Results indicated that a 3.71% Fe—8.76% Co/ZrO2mixed oxide catalyst alone at 260°C and 5 h—1gave high selectivities of C2‐C4olefins (∼26.1 wt%) and total C4hydrocarbon product (∼16.2 wt%). The MFT process 150°C gave higher C4(∼31.6 wt%), isobutane (∼22.9 wt%) and C2‐C4(31.1 wt%) selectivities.

Ethanol was observed to improve the oxygen mass transfer rate into a well‐mixed bioreactor. The effects of impeller speed and ethanol concentration on the oxygen transfer from air to the water phase and on the average bubble diameter in a stirred tank bioreactor are reported and modelled. The results show that the oxygen mass transfer coefficient (kLa) increases from 0.002 to 0.017 s−1(for distilled water) due to the increase of impeller speed from 135 to 600 rpm. With increasing ethanol concentration from 0 to 8 g/L, the oxygen mass transfer coefficients increase from 0.015 to 0.049 s−1and from 0.017 to 0.076 s−1, for impeller speeds of 450 and 600 rpm, respectively. The average bubble diameter decreased from 7.0 mm to 1.7 mm in pure distilled water as the impeller speed was increased from 135 to 600 rpm. When ethanol was present in the aqueous phase, the bubble diameter fell from 6.0 mm to 0.6 mm as the impeller speed was similarly increased.

Numerous plant secondary metabolites have remarkable impacts on both food supplements and pharmaceuticals for human health improvement. However, higher plants can only generate small amounts of these chemicals with specific temporal and spatial arrangements, which are unable to satisfy the expanding market demands. Cyanobacteria can directly utilize CO2, light energy, and inorganic nutrients to synthesize versatile plant-specific photosynthetic intermediates and organic compounds in large-scale photobioreactors with outstanding economic merit. Thus, they have been rapidly developed as a “green” chassis for the synthesis of bioproducts. Flavonoids, chemical compounds based on aromatic amino acids, are considered to be indispensable components in a variety of nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic applications. In contrast to heterotrophic metabolic engineering pioneers, such as yeast and Escherichia coli, information about the biosynthesis flavonoids and their derivatives is less comprehensive than that of their photosynthetic counterparts. Here, we review both benefits and challenges to promote cyanobacterial cell factories for flavonoid biosynthesis. With increasing concerns about global environmental issues and food security, we are confident that energy self-supporting cyanobacteria will attract increasing attention for the generation of different kinds of bioproducts. We hope that the work presented here will serve as an index and encourage more scientists to join in the relevant research area.

Intensified efforts to curb transmission of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 might lead to an elevated concentration of disinfectants in domestic wastewater and drinking water in China, possibly resulting in the generation of numerous toxic disinfection byproducts (DBPs). In this study, the occurrence and distribution of five categories of DBPs, including six trihalomethanes (THMs), nine haloacetic acids (HAAs), two haloketones, nine nitrosamines, and nine aromatic halogenated DBPs, in domestic wastewater effluent, tap water, and surface water were investigated. The results showed that the total concentration level of measured DBPs in wastewater effluents (78.3 μg/L) was higher than that in tap water (56.0 μg/L, p= 0.05), followed by surface water (8.0 μg/L, p< 0.01). Moreover, HAAs and THMs were the two most dominant categories of DBPs in wastewater effluents, tap water, and surface water, accounting for >90%, respectively. Out of the regulated DBPs, none of the wastewater effluents and tap water samples exceeded the corresponding maximum guideline values of chloroform (300 μg/L), THM4 (80 μg/L), NDMA (100 ng/L), and only 2 of 35 tap water samples (67.6 and 63.3 μg/L) exceeded the HAA5 (60 μg/L) safe limit. HAAs in wastewater effluents showed higher values of risk quotient for green algae. This study illustrates that the elevated use of disinfectants within the guidance ranges during water disinfection did not result in a significant increase in the concentration of DBPs.