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Particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere is a threat to human health. Wetland plants were confirmed to accumulate particles on the leaf surface; at the same time, rainfall could wash-off particles and accelerate the whole removal process, however, the dynamic processes occurring during rainfall events on wetland plants remain unclear. In order to provide sustainable strategies for authorities to take measures, we need to figure out how to reduce PM on leave surface by artificial rainfall efficiently. Four wetland species (Scirpus validus, Typha orientalis, Phragmites australis, and Iris wilsonii) were selected to examine for leave surface accumulation and simulate the experiment. We estimated the wash-off ability of rainfalls with three different intensities (15, 30, and 60 mm h−1) and determined the proportions of different PM size-fractions washed by the rains. The results showed that particles accumulated on the surface could be washed off efficiently (78% ∼ 89%) by the simulated rainfalls. The removal rates were high in the first 30 min and large particles comprised a large proportion of the removed particles. The rainfall with the intensity of 30 mm h−1 removed the most particles among three different rainfall intensities. When the rainfall intensity increased, fine particles (PM 2.5) could be washed off more easily. Moreover, with a thinner wax layer, fine particles on wetland plants' leaf surfaces might be more easily removed by the rains. While wash off the plants, spraying rains with the intensity of 30 mm h−1 for about 30 min every time (high intensity with shorter time) may be particle removal efficiency. Image 1 • Indicated the PM removal process dynamics during rainfall on wetland plants. • Leaf surface PM could be washed off efficiently (78% ∼ 89%) by the simulated rainfalls. • The removal rates were high in the first 30 min during rainfall. • The rainfall with the intensity of 30 mm h−1 removed the most particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead pollution has attracted significant attention over the years. However, research on the transfer of lead between urban atmospheric particles, soils, and plants remains rare. We measured lead concentrations and lead isotope ratios in total suspended particles (TSP), soil, and plants in an urban wetland in Beijing. The study period was September 2016–August 2017- covering all four seasons. The concentrations of lead in the atmospheric particles vary from 3.13 to 6.68 mg/m3. It is significantly higher in autumn than that in spring and summer (P < 0.05). There is also a significant difference between summer and winter (P < 0.05). The soil lead concentrations range from 57 to 114 mg/kg, with the highest concentration in spring, followed by summer, winter and autumn. The lead concentrations are 1.28–7.75 mg/kg in plants. The concentration was highest in spring and significantly higher than in summer. The bioaccumulation factor of Phragmites australis was 0.064 (<0.1), indicating that lead is not easily transferred to plants. Unlike the bioaccumulation factors, translocation factors have much higher values, indicating a higher transfer within the plants. Results also indicate an interesting seasonal pattern with almost 97% of lead in plants during spring being of atmospheric origin, whereas in autumn, soilborne sources contribute almost 94%. The isotopic compositions of lead in the urban atmosphere-soil-plant system show that lead pollution results from the mixing of geogenic and anthropogenic materials. Vehicle exhaust, crustal rocks and ore deposits are likely primary sources of lead pollution within the study domain. [Display omitted] • Lead concentrations in soils are much higher than that in TSP and plant samples. • Contributions of airborne sources of lead vary from 6.5% to 97.3% in four seasons. • Contributions of soilborne sources of lead vary from 2.7% to 93.5% in four seasons. • Vehicle exhaust, crustal rocks and ore deposits are the main sources of lead pollution in Cuihu wetland in Beijing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage is closely related to various neurological disorders, including bacterial meningitis (BM). Determining a reliable strategy to prevent BBB damage in the context of infection would be highly desirable. In the present study, we investigated the implications of the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) in moderating BBB damage. In vitro BBB models were developed by co-culturing hCMEC/D3 cells with glioma cells, whereupon the glioma-exposed endothelial cells (GECs) were treated with a series of mimics, inhibitors, overexpression plasmids, and shRNAs for evaluating whether NEAT1, microRNA-135a (miR-135a) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) mediated BBB integrity and permeability. Furthermore, the in vivo biological function of NEAT1 was validated in a mouse model of BBB damage. NEAT1 and HIF1α were determined to be up-regulated, while miR-135a was under-expressed in GECs. As demonstrated by chromatin immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase reporter assays, NEAT1 could bind to miR-135a, and HIF1α was confirmed as a target of miR-135a. Either overexpression of NEAT1 or depletion of miR-135a impaired the integrity and augmented the permeability of BBB. However, HIF1α silencing could reverse the BBB damage induced by NEAT1 overexpression or by inhibition of miR-135a. In vivo experiments substantiated that knockdown of NEAT1 could alleviate BBB damage in living mice. Hence, NEAT1 knockdown prevents BBB disruption and exerts promise as a potential target for BM treatment. • The study explores the role of NEAT1/miR-135a/HIF1α axis in BBB permeability in BM. • NEAT1 and HIF1α are up-regulated while miR-135a is reduced in the GEC model. • NEAT1 can bind to miR-135a which targets HIF1α. • NEAT1 increases BBB permeability via impairing miR-135a-mediated HIF1α expression. • The study suggests molecular mechanisms of BBB damage and therapeutic targets for BM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, particulate-matter (PM) pollution has become one of the most severe air-pollution problems. As the most commonly used method in daily life, phytoremediation can use plant organs (such as leaves) as biological filters for pollutants to repair the atmosphere. At the same time, rainfall can remove PM from plant-leaf surfaces and enable them to adsorb PM again. By simulating natural rainfall, the rainfall characteristics are quantified as rainfall intensity and rainfall duration, and we use the washout-weighing method to obtain the amount of PM removed from the leaf surface. Then, use a scanner to scan the leaves after rain to get their images, and use Image J software to process the images to obtain leaf area. Finally, the amount of PM removed by rain per unit leaf area can be calculated. It will be used to explore the impact of different rainfall intensity and duration on the removal of PM from the leaf surface of wetland plants. The results showed that under three rainfall intensities used in this experiment, the removal of PM from plant-leaf surfaces all increased with an increase in rainfall duration. When the particle size is 10-100-μm, and the rainfall intensity is 30 mm/h, the removal amount of plant particles tested in this experiment is the largest. With increased rainfall duration, the removal of PM from plant-leaf surfaces increased sharply at first, then slowly, and finally tended to be stable. The removal efficiency of PM on the blade surface is most apparent at the early stage of rainfall, and then gradually weakens. Among the four wetland plants tested in this experiment, in the range of 10-100-μm, the number of PM on the leaf surface of Scirpus validus is the largest, and the optimum rainfall intensity is 30 mm/h; in the range of 2.5–10-μm, the number of PM on the leaf surface of Typha orientalis is the largest, and the optimal rainfall intensity is 30 mm/h; in the range of 0.45–2.5-μm, the number of PM on the leaf surface of Iris wilsonii is the largest, and the optimal rainfall intensity is 15 mm/h. Wetland species with high particle accumulation capacity can provide references for vegetation restoration of degraded wetland plants and plant cultivation in constructed wetlands. At the same time, the best rainfall intensity and duration for removing particulate matter on the surface of plant leaves were obtained through experiments, which provided a reference for the design of automatic plant irrigation systems and dust removers in different scenarios. • Rainfall intensity and duration affect the particulate removal process significantly. • The maximum particle removal amount occurs at 30 mm/h precipitation. • The most easily removal particle size ranges from 10 to 100 μm. • Three stages that change with the duration of rainfall: rapid growth, slow growth and stable period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt marshes are changeable and important ecosystems that currently face various threats, including global climate change and human activities. The influence of these factors can result in the degradation of salt marshes. Tidal creeks, which are an important source of nutrients and other substances for salt marsh vegetation, play an important role in the health of salt marshes. In this study, the morphological characteristics of tidal creeks and the characteristics of two typical plants, Suaeda glauca (SG) and Phragmites communis (PC), in the Yellow River Delta, China were investigated to determine the effect of tidal creeks on these plants. Aerial photography and field measurements of tidal creeks were carried out from May to July 2018 in the study area. At the same time, nine line-intercepts were set in the vertical direction of tidal creeks to investigate plants. The results showed that different grades of tidal creek exerted no significant influence on the growth of either S. glauca or P. communis. However, unlike grade, the size of a creek and the distance from it had marked effects on these plants. The cross-sectional area of a tidal creek had a significant positive impact on the density of S. glauca (r = 0.39, p = 0.02). For P. communis , the depth of a tidal creek had a strong correlation with this species' density (r = 0.51, p = 0.04) and height (r = 0.63, p = 0.01). Meanwhile, there was a negative relationship between the distance from tidal creeks and the height of S. glauca (r = −0.52, p = 0.02). Conversely, the height (r = 0 0.90, p = 0.00) and density (r = 0.62, p = 0.01) of P. communis were positively affected by its vertical distance from tidal creeks. We found that the subtidal zone near a tidal creek was more conducive to the recovery and growth of S. glauca , and that areas further away from a tidal creek, located in the intertidal and subtidal zones, were more conducive to the recovery and growth of P. communis. The parameters associated with tidal creeks in the subtidal zone (cross sectional area 4.55 m2, distance 0–10 m) were beneficial for the growth of S. glauca. For P. communis , relevant features in the intertidal and subtidal zones (depth 0.40–0.45 m, distance 20–60 m) are useful. Our results suggest that attention should be paid to the effects of size and distribution of tidal creeks during the process of salt marsh restoration. This work also provides practical guidance for the restoration of native salt marshes in China. • Depth of a tidal creek had a strong positive correlation with P. communis. • Cross-sectional area of a tidal creek had a significant positive impact on S. glauca. • Both S. glauca and P. communis had obvious correlations with the distance from tidal creeks. • Areas located in the subtidal zone near a tidal creek was more conducive to S. glauca. • Relevant features in the intertidal and subtidal zones are useful for P. communis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]