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Variations in immune cell counts can trigger depressive symptoms, while physical activity effectively reduces the risk and severity of depressive symptoms. This study, based on the NHANES database, analyzes the relationship between neutrophil count and depressive symptoms and explores the moderating effect of physical activity on this relationship. Cross-sectional data from the NHANES database were extracted, including immune cell counts, PHQ-9 scores for self-assessment of depressive symptoms, and Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) scores (PA). The interrelations among physical activity, neutrophil count, and depressive symptoms were analyzed. After controlling for confounding factors, neutrophil count was found to have a significant role in identifying depressive symptoms with an odds ratio (OR) [95% Confidence Interval (CI)] = 1.13 [1.02, 1.251]; the moderating effect of physical activity on the impact of neutrophil count on depressive symptoms was statistically significant (coefficient = -0.0028, P < 0.05). Neutrophil count may be a significant factor in identifying depressive symptoms in adults. As an effective moderating factor, physical activity can mitigate the impact of neutrophil count on depressive symptoms to a certain extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a renewable source, fructose is of great significance in biomass conversion and food industries. Currently, most of the chemo-catalysts studied, with glucose as a substrate, are limited by the thermodynamic equilibrium of the reaction, resulting in the maximum yield of fructose of approximately 30–40%. The similar chemical structures and physical properties of monosaccharides bring another challenge for the separation of fructose from the reaction mixture. In this study, the combination of CaCl2 and Et3N was found to alter the thermodynamic equilibrium and promote fructose separation. The reaction parameters were optimized and up to 78% fructose yield could be obtained. The pathways of the isomerization reaction were found to involve both intramolecular hydride shift and an enediol intermediate mechanism, and the former was major. It could be speculated reasonably that Ca2+ played a key role in glucose conversion and interacted with glucose at its C1 and C2 positions, and Et3N interacted with Cl− while providing an alkaline environment. The formation of the α-fructofuranose' complex, from Et3N, CaCl2 and α-fructofuranose, could shift the equilibrium of glucose isomerization towards fructose formation. According to the diffusion-ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) NMR results, the strong complexation slowed down the diffusion rate of the α-fructofuranose' complex, allowing it to gradually precipitate, and hence drove the reaction equilibrium towards the desired fructose. The precipitate was filtered from the reaction mixture and processed further to obtain high-purity fructose in 45% isolated yield. Moreover, the filtrate containing solvent and reagents obtained in the separation process could be recycled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatigue performance is largely dependent on the machined surface integrity of engineering parts. In this paper, effect of cutting steps and directions on machined surface integrity of aluminum–silicon alloy is investigated. Machining induced surface quality under the forward and reverse finish cutting as well as the step-by-step feed cutting method is contrastively analyzed. The results indicate that the final machined surface integrity can be controlled through adjusting the finish cutting steps, and governing finish cutting directions can also be effective when the finish cutting step is fixed. High-machined surface integrity can be obtained when it adopts reverse finishing in first-step while it employs forward finishing in second-step, where there are little micro-defects on the machined surface, relatively low degree of surface hardening and surface residual stress, along with smaller surface roughness, respectively. Moreover, step-by-step feed cutting method can effectively break chips, avoid surface scratching, chips softening, and forming the built-up edge. It can also reduce the degree of elastic–plastic recovery and thermal expansion on the machined surface, improve surface hardness, and obtain surface compressive residual stress. There are many micro-defects on machined surface by single-step feed cutting. However, when the step-by-step feed cutting method is adopted, the forward finishing surface emerges almost no micro-defects, but that of reverse finishing exhibits severe grain breakage. The proposed adjusting method in cutting steps and forward-reverse cutting directions may be of interest to the engineering practice, and will help improving the machined surface quality and fatigue life of aluminum–silicon alloy engineering parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broussonetia papyrifera, is a promising fast-growing woody plant for the phytoremediation of heavy metal(loid) (HM)-contaminated soil. In this study, a greenhouse experiment was conducted to explore the tolerance capacities of B. papyrifera and its phytoremediation potential in the HM-contaminated soil. The results indicated that B. papyrifera could effectively decrease malondialdehyde (MDA) content by enhancing the antioxidant enzyme activities along with the cultivation in the HM-contaminated soil. Significant (p < 0.05) negative relationships were found between MDA content and superoxide dismutase (r = –0.620) and catalase activities (r = –0.702) in B. papyrifera leaves. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis indicated that the main functional groups in B. papyrifera roots were slightly influenced by HMs, and organic acids, carbohydrates, protein, and amino acids might bind with HMs in plant roots to alleviate the adverse effect of HMs on plants growth. Meanwhile, B. papyrifera had great potential used for the phytoextraction of Cd and Zn in HM-contaminated soil. The maximum total Cd and Zn accumulation amount in B. papyrifera shoots could attach to 2.26 and 66.8 mg·pot−1, respectively. These observations suggested that B. papyrifera has large biomass and high tolerance to HMs, which can be regarded as a promising plant for the eco-remediation of HM-contaminated sites. Novelty statement In this study, a fast-growing woody plant, Broussonetia papyrifera, was used for heavy metal(loid) (HM)-contaminated soil remediation. We found that B. papyrifera can effectively alleviate the adverse effect of HMs on plant growth by enhancing the antioxidant enzyme activities in leaves and binding HMs with organic acids, carbohydrates, protein, and amino acids in roots. Furthermore, the maximum total Cd and Zn accumulation amount in B. papyrifera shoots could attach to 2.26 and 66.8 mg·pot−1, which suggested that B. papyrifera might be regarded as a promising woody plant used for the phytoextraction of Cd and Zn in the contaminated soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the synergistic transformations and interaction effects of inorganic salts with high-content (HS-SAD) and low-content (LS-SAD) and AlN in secondary aluminum dross (SAD) during the roasting process. The results demonstrated that the presence of inorganic salts significantly enhanced the oxidation of AlN in SAD. The removal efficiency of AlN in HS-SAD reached 95.8 % at 800 °C for 120 min, whereas in LS-SAD, it was 69.47 % at 1000 °C. The oxidation of AlN leads to the formation of a 25–45 nm alumina film, which hinders the further progression of the oxidation process. The presence of SO 2 and SiO 2 facilitated the low-temperature volatilization of inorganic salts, thereby limiting the formation of the alumina film. The partial melting of inorganic salts and the reaction of NaF with the alumina film, resulting in the formation of Na 2 O, destroyed the dense alumina film, exposing AlN. Following roasting at 800 °C and 1000 °C, the hazardous components in both HS-SAD and LS-SAD were effectively eliminated, and 92.93 % of the inorganic salts in HS-SAD were successfully recovered. Roasting at a mixing ratio of 1:1 at 900 °C for 120 min resulted in an 86.97 % removal efficiency of AlN. These findings offer valuable insights into the removal of AlN in SAD and the comprehensive utilization of SAD residue. [Display omitted] • The variation in AlN removal efficiency can be attributed to differences in inorganic salts. • SO 2 and SiO 2 promote the low-temperature volatilization of inorganic salts. • The reaction of NaF with α-Al 2 O 3 to form NaAl 11 O 17 , disrupts the dense structure of α-Al 2 O 3. • The mixed roasting of two SADs allows for large-scale environmentally sound disposal and the recovery of inorganic salts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To apply bulk hot-deformed magnets into commercial fields, it is quite necessary to deeply understand the origins and evolution of their inhomogeneous microstructure. In this work, the microstructure of hot-deformed nanocrystalline cylindrical Nd-Fe-B magnets with a dimension of ∼24.8 mm in diameter and ∼7.0 mm in height along the radial direction was investigated in order to correlate them with the inhomogeneous magnetic properties. The remanence was 1.42 T, 1.37 T, and 1.30 T for the samples taken from the center (sample P3), subcenter (sample P2), and edge (sample P1) of the hot-deformed magnet, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy images showed from the P3 to P1 the interval of strip-shaped Nd-rich layers increased. Meanwhile, the perpendicularity between the pressure direction and the Nd-rich layers deteriorated for the samples from the P3 to P1. Well oriented platelet-shaped grains with c-axis parallel to the pressure direction were observed in the P3 sample, and the orientation gradually deteriorated with the position changing from the center to the edge. It was also found that large Nd-rich phase aggregation areas occurred in the edge sample. The maximum value of Henkel plot decreased gradually for the samples from the P3 to P1, which was caused by the thickened grain boundary observed by transmission electron microscopy. The openness of recoil loops increased gradually from the center to the edge due to the aggregation of the Nd-rich phase. The inhomogeneous microstructure shows distinct effects on magnetic properties, therefore changing the magnetization behavior along the radial direction of hot-deformed magnets. • The microstructure of the hot-deformed magnet along radial direction is inhomogeneous. • The inhomogeneous microstructure partly results from the original powder status. • Uneven temperature and effective strain lead to the inhomogeneous microstructure. • Magnetization behavior is changed by the inhomogeneous microstructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Tree-herb intercropping was proposed for use in remediation of metal(loid)-contaminated soil. Changes in the enzymatic activities and microbial communities in contaminated soil during tree-herb intercropping were studied through dynamic sampling in a greenhouse experiment. Two herb plants, Pteris vittata L. (W) and Arundo donax L. (L), and two tree plants, Morus alba L. (S) and Broussonetia papyrifera L. (G), were selected for tree-herb intercropping, namely SL, GL, GW, SW, and GSLW intercropping. The activities of four enzymes, dehydrogenase activity (DHA), urease activity (UA), sucrase activity (SA) and acid phosphatase activity (APA), are involved in N, C, P cycling and were measured colorimetrically, while the bacterial and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal community structures were determined using polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). The results showed that tree-herb intercropping could effectively recover enzymatic activity, and bacterial and AM fungal diversity in metal(loid)-contaminated soil. Compared with treatment without plants, the SA and APA activity after the five tree-herb intercropping treatments were significantly (p < 0.05) increased by 1.64–2.51 times and 2.35–5.70 times after 270 d of cultivation, respectively. Meanwhile, the Shannon-Wiener indexes for bacteria and AM fungi increased by 13.6–17.7% and 20.0–36.9%, respectively. Soil DHA, UA, and SA were slightly affected by tree-herb intercropping; however, APA was further significantly enhanced by SL, GL, and GSLW intercropping when compared to the monoculture treatments after 270 d of cultivation. These results indicated that tree-herb intercropping could effectively mitigate the toxic effects of metal(loid)s on soil enzyme activities and microbial community structures and enhance the potential for ecological remediation of metal(loid)-contaminated soil in mining areas. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Tree-herb intercropping improves the biological quality of polluted soil. • Soil enzyme activity and microbial diversity benefited from tree-herb intercropping. • Acid phosphatase activity was further enhanced by SL, GL, and GSLW intercropping. • Tree-herb intercropping had a significant impact on the AM fungal community in soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Atmospheric As and Cd deposition fluxes in the CZT were higher than other regions. • The influencing factors and sources of deposition of HMs were analyzed. • The atmospheric deposition was major contributor to soil HMs in the CZT. • Atmospheric deposition would greatly increase the concentrations of HMs in soils. The depositions of heavy metal(loid)s (HMs) were measured in an urban agglomeration of China to investigate the fluxes, influencing factors, sources, and potential effects of these HMs. Our results showed that the deposition fluxes of As and Cd were higher in this area than in other regions. In the area, 59.63% of the total deposition fluxes of the Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were observed in the wet season (March to July). Lower total fluxes of HMs were observed at the rural site. Principal component analysis (PCA) results showed that the As, Cd, Pb, and Zn might originate from the same anthropogenic sources, including traffic and industrial sources, and that the Cr, Cu, and Ni might come from natural sources. Correlation analysis and redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that rainfall, wind speed, and PMs were critical factors influencing the atmospheric bulk deposition of HMs. For the paddy soil, the input fluxes of HMs by deposition, accounted for 38.66–84.57% (except for Cr) of the total input fluxes. The prediction indicated that the accumulation of HMs in surface soil will notably increase over the next decades due to the influence of atmospheric deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Tree-herb co-planting is regarded as an ecologically sustainable approach for the remediation of metal(loid)-contaminated soil. In this study, two herb species, Pteris vittata L. and Arundo donax L., and two woody species, Morus alba L. and Broussonetia papyrifera L., were selected for the tree-herb co-planting, and their impacts on the changing of microbial community structure in metal(loid)-contaminated soil were studied by high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that the microbial diversity was stably maintained by the tree-herb interactions, while the composition of the microbial community was clearly affected in metal(loid)-contaminated soil. According to the Venn and flower diagrams, heat map and principal coordinate analysis, both plant monocultures and co-planting had specific microbial community structures, which suggested that the composition and abundance of bacterial communities varied between plant monoculture and tree-herb co-planting treatments. In particular, A. donax L. played a vital role in increasing the abundances of Cyanobacteria (>1%) in metal(loid)-contaminated soil when co-planted with woody plants. Furthermore, some specific microorganisms combined with plants played a key role in improving enzyme activity in the contaminated soil. Correspondingly, sucrase and acid phosphatase activities in monoculture and co-planting treatments significantly (p < 0.05) increased by 1.05–3.37 and 7.24–20.3 times. These results indicated that the rhizospheric interactions in the tree-herb co-planting system positively affected the soil microbes and had stronger impacts on the composition of soil microorganisms, which was closely related to the improvement of the biological quality in the metal(loid)-contaminated soil. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Tree-herb co-planting changed the soil microbial community structure. • Morus alba L. co-planting with A. donax L. can facilitate the bacterial diversity. • Growth of A. donax L. in the co-planting increased the abundance of Cyanobacteria. • Tree-herb co-planting can increase the interaction of soil microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the phytoextraction potential of a hyperaccumulator co-planted with a large biomass of woody plant in metal(loid)-contaminated soil. A pot experiment was conducted for 270 days (d) to study the growth, physiological responses, and metal(loid)s accumulation characteristics of plants, which included a shade-requiring, As-hyperaccumulator perennial herb, Pteris vittata L., co-planted with a woody tree, namely Morus alba L. or Broussonetia papyrifera L., for soil contaminated with arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn). The results showed that the biomass, photosynthetic pigment contents, antioxidant enzyme activity, and uptake of As in P. vittata L. were significantly enhanced by co-planting with M. alba L. or B. papyrifera L. Especially, the uptake of As by P. vittata L. was significantly (p < 0.05) increased by 80.0% and 64.2% when it was co-planted with M. alba L. or B. papyrifera L., respectively, while the As, Cd, Pb, and Zn contents of both M. alba L. and B. papyrifera L. were not significantly promoted by the co-planting. The comprehensive phytoextraction of metal(loid)s could be optimized by the co-planting of P. vittata L. with M. alba L. or B. papyrifera L. The total amount of As in the shoots from co-planting species was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of the monoculture with M. alba L. or B. papyrifera L., and that of Cd and Zn in the shoots was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of the monoculture with P. vittata L. The results showed that the co-planting of P. vittata L. with M. alba L. or B. papyrifera L. can alleviate the toxic effects of metal(loid)s on plant growth and improve the comprehensive phytoextraction amounts of metal(loid)s, and is a promising strategy for remediation of metal(loid)-contaminated soil. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Co-planting with woody species can further enhance the resistance of P. vittata L. • Photosynthesis of woody species was improved by co-planting with P. vittata L. • Growth and uptake of As by P. vittata L. was promoted by co-planting. • Total extraction of As, Cd, and Zn was strengthened by co-planting. • Tree-fern co-planting was a promising approach for metal(loid)-contaminated soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tolerance characteristics and phytostabilization potential of Platycladus orientalis grown in soil contaminated by cadmium (Cd) were studied using a greenhouse experiment. The results showed that the ornamental plant P. orientalis had high tolerance for Cd in contaminated soil at 24.6 mg·kg−1 and its physiological activities were slightly affected after 203 days (d) of cultivation. Moreover, Cd in soil at 9.6 mg·kg−1 was beneficial for P. orientalis growth, and the total biomass after 203 d cultivation was significantly (p < 0.05) increased by 35.03%, while the contents of chlorophyl a, chlorophyl b and carotenoid in leaves also increased by 20.84%, 44.06% and 28.25% compared to the control, respectively. Meanwhile, the Cd content in the tissues of P. orientalis was increased with both plant growth and the Cd content in the soil. The uptake of Cd in P. orientalis roots was greater than in shoots, with the Cd content in roots reaching 41.45 mg·kg−1. P. orientalis, an ornamental plant, that accumulates Cd predominantly in its roots, can be suggested as a promising plant for phytostabilization in Cd-contaminated soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaerobic digestion of the heavy metal-contaminated rice straw inoculated with waste activated sludge was carried out through an orthogonal array. The results indicated that the digestion process was optimized with an inoculum to substrate ratio (I/S) of 0.25, a total solid (TS) content of 5%, and an initial pH of 7.0, with corresponding total biogas and methane yields of 745.4 and 285.2 mL/g VS, respectively. Under the optimized conditions, the bioleaching percentages of Cd and As in the biomass were 13.13% and 42.90%, respectively. According to range analysis, the biogas yield, methane yield, and bioleaching percentages of Cd and As in the biomass significantly decreased with an increase in TS content from 5% to 15%. The results suggested that anaerobic digestion with waste activated sludge was feasible for achieving both biogas production and bioleaching of heavy metals from contaminated rice straw. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doxorubicin (DOX), a potent and widely used anticancer agent, can give rise to severe cardiotoxicity that limits its clinical use by inducing oxidative stress. Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is the central regulator of cellular responses to electrophilic/oxidative stress, which serves a critical role in maintenance of normal cardiac function. Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) has previously been reported to protect against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether Nrf2 signaling serves a role in the underlying mechanism. In the animal model, DOX induced acute cardiotoxicity, whereas Tan IIA pretreatment reduced the activity of myocardial enzymes, and increased activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione (GSH). Furthermore, Tan IIA pretreatment (3-10 µM) significantly increased the cell viability and markedly restored morphological changes in DOX-injured H9c2 cells, decreased the generation of reactive oxygen species, and increased the level of intracellular GSH. Additionally, Tan IIA pretreatment also induced the nuclear accumulation of Nrf2 and its downstream genes heme oxygenase-1, NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (quinone) 1, and glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit in both the mice cardiac tissues and H9c2 cells. Nrf2 knockdown by small interfering RNA downregulated Tan IIA-induced Nrf2 activation and reversed the effect of Tan IIA on the DOX-induced inhibition of cell viability. These results suggest that the Nrf2-dependent antioxidant response mediates the protective effect of Tan IIA on DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnetic properties, microstructure and orientation degrees of hot pressing magnet and hot deformation Nd-Fe-B magnets with different deformation ratios have been investigated in this paper. The remanence (Br) and maximum magnetic energy product ((BH)max) were enhanced gradually with the deformation ratio increasing from 0% to 70%, whereas the coercivity (HCj) decreased. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of fractured surfaces parallel to the pressure direction during hot deformation show that the grains tend to extend perpendicularly to the c-axes of Nd2Fe14B grains under the pressure, and the aspect ratios of the grains increase with the increase of deformation ratio. Besides, the compression stress induces the long axis of grains to rotate and the angle (θ) between c-axis and pressure direction decreases. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns reveal that orientation degree improves with the increase of deformation ratio, agreeing well with the SEM results. The hot deformation magnet with a deformation ratio of 70% has the best Br and (BH)max, and the magnetic properties are as followed: Br=1.40 T, HCj=10.73 kOe, (BH)max=42.30 MGOe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a greenhouse experiment, five ornamental plants, Osmanthus fragrans (OF), Ligustrum vicaryi L. (LV), Cinnamomum camphora (CC), Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum (LC), and Euonymus japonicas cv. Aureo-mar (EJ), were studied for the ability to phytostabilization for Cd-contaminated soil. The results showed that these five ornamental plants can grow normally when the soil Cd content is less than 24.6 mg·kg−1. Cd was mainly deposited in the roots of OF, LV, LC and EJ which have grown in Cd-contaminated soils, and the maximum Cd contents reached 15.76, 19.09, 20.59 and 32.91 mg·kg−1, respectively. For CC, Cd was mainly distributed in the shoots and the maximum Cd content in stems and leaves were 12.5 and 10.71 mg·kg−1, however, the total amount of Cd in stems and leaves was similar with the other ornamental plants. The enzymatic activities in Cd-contaminated soil were benefited from the five tested ornamental plants remediation. Soil urease and sucrase activities were improved, while dehydrogenase activity was depressed. Meanwhile, the soil microbial community was slightly influenced when soil Cd content is less than 24.6 mg·kg−1 under five ornamental plants remediation. The results further suggested that ornamental plants could be promising candidates for phytostabilization of Cd-contaminated soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary aluminium dross has been widely generated due to the extensive development of the secondary aluminium industry. In this study, reutilization of secondary aluminium dross and the effect of rare earth oxides (REO) doping on the MgAl 2 O 4 were studied. The results showed that secondary aluminium dross can be used to produce MgAl 2 O 4 spinel, and that the densification behaviour of the spinel can be improved by doping with Y 2 O 3 , Eu 2 O 3 , La 2 O 3 , and CeO 2 . The densification of doped MgAl 2 O 4 was higher than that of MgAl 2 O 4 without REO in the temperature ranged from 1473 to 1773 K. Especially, the density of the spinel with 3 wt% La 2 O 3 at 1673 K for 3 h was 2.13 g cm −3 . The improvement of the spinel densification was attributed to the solubility of rare earth ion and the formation of liquid phases such as YAlO 3 , Y 2 Ti 2 O 7 , Ca 2 Eu 8 (SiO 4 ) 6 O 2 , Al 2 Ca 0.5 La 0.5 , and CeO 2 . The results suggested that the secondary aluminium dross doping with REO for the MgAl 2 O 4 spinel can be broadened its reutilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using NMR technology with the aid of ESI-mass spectroscopy to investigate the reaction of the dehydration of GlcNAc into 3A5AF and propose the reasonable mechanism. [Display omitted] • [AMim]Cl and B(OH) 3 synergistically catalyze GlcNAc to produce 3A5AF. • The interaction between the catalysts and GlcNAc was explored by 1H, 13C &35Cl chemical shift titration. • The reaction intermediates Chromogen I and Chromogen III were detected by NMR and ESI-MS. • The reaction mechanism and path were proposed through NMR results and DFT calculations. This study proposed that the preparation of 3-acetamido-5-acetylfuran (3A5AF), a versatile platform molecule, from N -acetyl- d -glucosamine (GlcNAc) catalyzed by boric acid (B(OH) 3) and 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([AMim]Cl). Herein, the mechanism was investigated by primary nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology. The catalytic interactions between [AMim]Cl/B(OH) 3 and GlcNAc were investigated by 1H, 13C &35Cl chemical shift titration. In addition, 13C 1 -labelled GlcNAc and various NMR techniques were exploited to characterize the reaction at the molecular level and detect the reaction intermediates. The results revealed that the chloride ion and the boron complex of GlcNAc with B(OH) 3 probably play crucial roles and are responsible for a synergic catalytic effect in the process. The intermediates, 2-acetamido-2,3-dideoxy- d - erythro -hex-2-enofuranose (Chromogen I) and 3-acetamido-5-(1′,2′-dihydroxyethyl)furan (Chromogen III), were recognized by NMR and further confirmed with the aid of ESI-mass spectroscopy. On the basis of these studies a reaction pathway could be proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal smelting have brought severe metal(loid)s contamination to the soil. Spatial distribution and pollution source analysis for soil metal(loid)s in an abandoned lead/zinc smelter were studied. The results showed that soil was contaminated heavily with metal(loid)s. The mean of lead (Pb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and antimony (Sb) content in topsoil is 9.7, 8.2, 5.0, 2.3, and 1.2 times higher than the risk screening value for soil contamination of development land of China (GB36600-2018), respectively. Cd is mainly enriched in the 0–6 m depth of site soil while As and Pb mainly deposited in the 0–4 m layer. The spatial distribution of soil metal(loid)s is significantly correlated with the pollution source in the different functional areas of smelter. As, Hg, Sb, Pb and copper (Cu) were mainly distributed in pyrometallurgical area, while Cd, thallium (Tl) and zinc (Zn) was mainly existed in both hydrometallurgical area and raw material storage area. Soil metal(loid)s pollution sources in the abandoned smelter are mainly contributed to the anthropogenic sources, accounting for 84.5%. Specifically, Pb, Tl, As, Hg, Sb and Cu mainly from atmospheric deposition (55.9%), Cd and Zn mainly from surface runoff (28.6%), While nickel (Ni) mainly comes from parent material (15.5%). The results clarified the spatial distribution and their sources in different functional areas of the smelter, providing a new thought for the risk prevention and control of metal(loid)s in polluted site soil. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree-herb intercropping is a prospective approach for the ecological remediation of soil contaminated with potentially toxic metals (PTMs). In this study, the facilitation and microbial community response of woody plant Morus alba L. intercropped with Cd/Zn hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii H. and pioneer plant Arundo donax L. were carried out in the PTM-contaminated soil. The results indicated that the intercropping system can improve M. alba L. growth, as well as increase its PTMs uptake. The dried biomass of M. alba L. in the intercropping system was increased observably (p < 0.05) by 55.1%. Meanwhile, the contents of chlorophyll in M. alba L. leaves, PTMs contents in M. alba L. roots, and the relative abundance of Rhizobiaceae , Singulisphaera , Isosphaeraceae , and Arthrobacter in the M. alba L. rhizosphere were also notably (p < 0.05) enhanced. Meanwhile, the interactions of microorganisms in the intercropped plants rhizosphere might contribute to improving the biological quality of the contaminated soil. Soil sucrase and acid phosphatase activities in the intercropping system were significantly (p < 0.05) increased by 97.03% and 34.91% relative to the control. Furthermore, in the intercropping system, 93.61%, 61.30%, and 79.18% of Cd, Pb, and Zn were extracted by S. alfredii H., 72.16% of Cu was extracted by A. donax L., and 46.38% of Mn was extracted by M. alba L., which indicated that the extraction amounts of PTMs among the intercropped plants were relatively compensated. The results suggested that the tree-herb intercropping might increase the coexistence of plants and facilitate the adaptability for ecological remediation of PTM-contaminated soils. [Display omitted] • Growth and photosynthesis of M. alba L. was improved by the intercropping. • Uptake of PTMs in M. alba L. roots was significantly enhanced by the intercropping. • Overall PTMs accumulation amounts were relatively complemented by the intercropped plants. • The intercropping system can enhance the interactions of microorganisms. • The change of microbial community might facilitate the coexistence of intercropped plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A series of bioleaching experiments were designed to elucidate the effect of pH, pulp density and particle size on solubilization of heavy metals, such as As, Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb and Mn, from a Pb/Zn smelting slag using indigenous moderate thermophilic bacteria, and the surface morphological characteristics of the residues were observed by SEM. The results showed that the solubilization of heavy metals from the slag was significantly influenced by pH and pulp density in bioleaching, however, it was slightly influenced by particle size of the slag when the particle size is less than 0.83mm. Under the optimum condition (pH 1.5, pulp density 10%, and particle size of the slag less than 0.83mm, respectively), about 86%–91% of As, 90%–93% of Cu, 90%–94% of Mn and 81%–87% of Zn from the slag have been bioleached after 6days. The surface morphological characteristics of the residues after 6days bioleaching analyzed by SEM showed that metal solubilization can be improved by acid leaching but significantly contributed to the activities of the ingenious bacteria. Consequently, metals in the slag can be extracted by bacteria according to the corrosive holes on the surface of the bioleached residues. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The metals contamination in surface soils and their accumulation in wild plants from the abandoned Burra and Kapunda copper mines located in South Australia were assessed, and the predominant bacterial diversity in the contaminated surface soils from these two abandoned copper mine sites were evaluated through polymerase chain reaction–denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) analysis. The results showed the average concentration of Cu in soils was 3821.59mg/kg while wild plants accumulated up to 173.44mg/kg. The concentration of Cu in shoots of spear grass (Stipa uitida) and berry saltbush (Afriplex semibaccata) was higher than that of roots. The concentration of total and extractable As, Cd, Cu and Pb in soils slightly correlated with of these elements in the corresponding wild plants. The toxicity of Cu in heavily contaminated soils impacted on the quantities of specific microbial populations and no significant change in the microbial diversity of highly contaminated soils. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The feasibility of recovering metal values and removing hazardous elements from the Pb/Zn smelting slag using bioleaching technique were studied through a flask experiment, and the community characteristics of the indigenous moderate-thermophilic bacteria in this bioleaching system were also analyzed through a culture-independent restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of 16S rRNA genes approach. The results show that more than 80% of Al, As, Cu, Mn, Fe and Zn in the Pb/Zn smelting slag were leached at 65 oC, pH 1.5, pulp density 5%, but only about 5% of Pb. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the bacteria in the bioleaching system mainly fell among Firmicutes, Gammaproteobacteria and Betaproteobacteria, and the dominant bacteria are affiliated with Bacillus spp., Sporosarcina spp. and Pseudomonas spp. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The dissociation of water molecule on molybdenum (Mo) doped fullerene is studied by using the density-functional theory. It is shown that C20 with Mo dopant are very effective in the dissociation of water molecule. Calculations indicate that the dissociated barriers of 0.207 eV between the transition state (TS) and reactant are much lower than the value for the dissociation of bulk water. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Chemical washing has been carried out to remediate soil contaminated with heavy metals. In this study, the appropriate washing conditions for N , N -bis(carboxymethyl)-L-glutamic acid (GLDA) combined with ascorbic acid were determined to remove As, Cd, and Pb in the soil from the smelting site. The mechanism of heavy metal removal by the washing agent was also clarified. The results showed that heavy metals in the soil from the smelting site can be effectively removed. The removal percentages of As, Cd, and Pb in the soil from the smelting site were found to be 34.49%, 63.26%, and 62.93%, respectively, under optimal conditions (GLDA and ascorbic acid concentration ratio of 5:20, pH of 3, washing for 60 min, and the liquid-to-solid ratio of 10). GLDA combined with ascorbic acid efficiently removes As, Cd, and Pb from the soil through synergistic proton obstruction, chelation, and reduction. GLDA can chelate with iron and aluminum oxides while directly chelate with Cd and Pb. Ascorbic acid can reduce both Fe(III) to Fe(II) and As(III) to As0. The dissolution of As was promoted by indirectly preempting the binding sites of iron and aluminum in the soil while those of Cd and Pb were improved by directly interrupting the binding sites. This study suggested that GLDA combined with ascorbic acid is an effective cleanup technology to remove As, Cd, and Pb simultaneously from contaminated smelting site soils. [Display omitted] • Soil from Pb/Zn smelting site was used to cleanup As, Cd, and Pb. • GLDA combined with ascorbic acid was provided to remove As, Cd, and Pb in the soil from a Pb/Zn smelting site. • Optimal conditions for the cleanup of As, Cd, and Pb using GLDA combined with ascorbic acid were optimized. • This research validates the removal mechanism of As, Cd, and Pb by GLDA combined with ascorbic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An FEC (Forward Error Correction) assignment scheme for Motion JPEG2000 is proposed, which is dedicated to video transmission over wireless network. While most existing unequal error protection code assignment schemes are based on trial-and-error iterations, which are computationally intensive and thus unsuitable for real-time applications, the proposed scheme uses the slope of the Rate-Distortion curve to choose a code for each quality layer. The FEC code for the first layer is chosen so that the probability of error in the layer is limited to a given permissible range. Comparison with conventional schemes demonstrates that the proposed scheme can provide the PSNR performance similar to that of conventional schemes, while its execution time is much lower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In 1985, a tailing dam collapsed in Hunan province (southern China) leading to soil contamination by heavy metals from the tailings waste. Moreover, acid deposition becomes more and more serious in this area. In this context, two forest soils (a red soil and a yellow red soil, typically and commonly found in southern China) were collected from Hunan. The objectives are (i) to determine releases and changes in speciation fractions of heavy metals (especially Cd, Cu, and Zn) when the soils are contaminated with heavy metals and affected by simulated acid deposition, and (ii) to study effects of soil heavy metals and acid deposition on releases of soil Ca2+, Mg2+, and Al3+. The soil samples were soaked in the solutions of CdCl2, CuCl2, and ZnCl2 for 15 days to make contaminated soils containing 200 mg kg−1 of Cd, Cu, and Zn. Then the contaminated soils and the original soils were extracted with five simulated acid deposition solutions (pH ranged from 5.6 to 3.0 and total dissolved salts increased). The experimental results indicate that acid deposition leads to great releases of soil heavy metals due to complicated soil chemical processes, mostly cation exchange and partly dissolution of minerals at pH lower than 4.2. These released heavy metals come mainly from soil exchangeable pools and other labile fractions. Releases of heavy metals are closely controlled by pH values or, in some cases, total cation contents in acid deposition; meanwhile, concentrations of heavy metals are negatively related to the relevant pH values in soil equilibrium solutions when pH values are in a range of 4.2–5.1. From the point of view of heavy metal releases, Zn is the most sensitive to acid deposition, followed by Cd and Cu. Compared with the original soils, the contaminated soils could probably release more base cations Ca2+ and Mg2+ and less Al3+. Greater amounts of Cd, Cu, Zn, and Al released from Soil B show that this soil is more sensitive to acid deposition, and we could expect serious environmental contamination in Soil B area if mining activities and acid deposition are not under control in the future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Mining activities can result in serious contamination of soil by heavy metal(loid)s. In this study, the sources and spatial distribution of metal(loid)s, and the risks to public health from these metal(loid)s at an abandoned arsenic mine site were explored. The mean concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), strontium (Sr), and thallium (Tl) in the soil in the mining area were higher than the mean background values. The main pollutants from the mining activities were As, Hg, and Sb. Five pollutant sources were identified using an approach that combined statistical methods, a positive matrix factorization model, and historical information analysis. As, Hg, Sb, and Tl were associated with the mining resources and related activities (37.29%); Mn (15.57%) and Sr (15.96%) were mainly from crustal origin and pedogenesis, respectively; Pb, Sb, and Tl were mainly from industrial sources (17.57%), and Cd was mainly from the production and application of phosphorous fertilizer (13.60%). Using incremental spatial autocorrelation crystallized that As, Hg, and Sb were mainly contained within 500 m of their source. There were formed existing non-carcinogenic hazards and carcinogenic risks from As, and potential carcinogenic risks from Cd, in the soil for those living locally. [Display omitted] • As, Hg, Sb and Tl pollution deserve special attention in arsenic-containing mine. • Integration of GIS, PCA, ISA, PMF model and field study. • Five anthropogenic sources were identified and quantified by PMF. • The soil metal(loid)s distribution, source and diffusion range were quantified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brevibacillus brevis is one of the most common biocontrol strains with broad applications in the prevention and control of plant diseases and insect pests. In order to deepen our understanding of B. brevis genomes, describe their characteristics comprehensively, and mine secondary metabolites, we retrieved the genomic sequences of nine B. brevis strains that had been assembled into complete genomes from the NCBI database. These genomic sequences were analyzed using phylogenetic analysis software, pan-genome analysis software, and secondary metabolite mining software. Results revealed that the genome size of B. brevis strains ranged from 6.16 to 6.73 Mb, with GC content ranging from 47.0% to 54.0%. Phylogenetic analysis classified the nine B. brevis strains into three branches. The analyses of ANI and dDDH showed that B. brevis NEB573 had the potential to become a new species of Brevibacillus and needed further research in the future. The pan-genome analysis identified 10032 gene families, including 3257 core gene families, 3112 accessory gene families, and 3663 unique gene families. In addition, 123 secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters of 20 classes were identified in the genomes of nine B. brevis strains. The major types of biosynthetic gene clusters were non-ribosomal peptide synthase (NRPS) and transAT polyketide synthase (transAT-PKS). Furthermore, a large number of untapped secondary metabolites were identified in B. brevis. In summary, this study elucidated the pan-genome characteristics of the biocontrol bacterium B. brevis and identified its secondary metabolites, providing valuable insights for its further development and utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cd was able to accumulate inside and on the surface of the strain. • Sulfate reduction to sulfide to form CdS via bacteria. • The functional groups might participate in the Cd2+ biosorption process. • Strain could immobilize soil Cd to decrease plant uptake. Microbial remediation is a promising technique to remediate heavy metals contaminated soils. In this study, the cadmium (Cd)- resistant Citrobacter sp. XT1-2-2, isolated from heavy metals contaminated paddy soils, was investigated to evaluate the effect of this strain on soil Cd speciation, cellular Cd distribution, tissue Cd accumulation and rice biomass. The percentage of Cd2+ removal by Citrobacter sp. XT1-2-2 was up to 82.3 ± 2.1% within 240 min in the solution. The average content of soil soluble plus exchangeable and carbonate-bound fractions of Cd decreased, whereas Fe/Mn oxide-bound, organic matter-bound and residual fractions increased with bacteria inoculation. For the paddy soil inoculated with the XT1-2-2 strain, Cd concentrations of roots, culms, leaves and grains were significantly reduced by 24.1%, 46.9%, 41.5% and 66.7%, respectively. In addition, inoculation bacteria significantly increased the biomass of the roots, above-ground tissues and the rice grains. All results indicated that the XT1-2-2 strain had the ability to immobilize soil Cd and decrease Cd accumulation in rice grains. Therefore, the XT1-2-2 strain has potential for application to remediate Cd-contaminated paddy soils. It is possible to exploit a new bacterial-assisted technique for the remediation in Cd-contaminated paddy soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, it is extremely important to reuse the harvested biomass from contaminated soils. In this study, the effect of inorganic potassium compounds, such as K 2 SO 4 , KCl, KOH, and K 2 CO 3 , on the hydrothermal carbonization of heavy metal-contaminated rice straw as well as the distribution of heavy metals in the corresponding hydrochars were examined. In the presence of K 2 SO 4 , the higher heating value, carbon recovery, and energy recovery of the resulting hydrochar significantly increased from 23.34 MJ kg−1, 42.74%, and 42.99% to 24.46 MJ kg−1, 44.20%, and 45.03%, respectively. Concomitantly, the enhanced decarboxylation and dehydration process led to a decrease in the oxygen content of the resulting hydrochar. In the presence of KOH, the Cd and Cu content of the corresponding hydrochar significantly increased (p < 0.05) from 70.72% to 79.09%–89.96% and 93.73%, respectively, while only slightly changing upon the addition of K 2 SO 4 or KCl, which was attributed to the morphology and microstructure of the different hydrochars. These results suggest that hydrothermal carbonization is a viable method to reuse contaminated biomass for solid fuel, while K 2 SO 4 is a suitable additive to improve the energy recovery of hydrochars. • The mechanism of potassium compounds on characteristic of rice straw hydrochar was revealed. • The trend of Cd and Cu was changed by potassium compounds. • K 2 SO 4 was a suitable additive for recovering bioenergy from rice straw. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen loss is an unavoidable problem during organic waste composting, while exogenous microbial inoculation is a promising strategy for reducing nitrogen loss and improving compost quality. This study was designed to probe available nitrogen levels, bacterial community composition, and the levels of nitrogen functional genes present when composting cattle manure with or without the addition of Bacillus coagulans X3. Bacterial supplementation was associated with the prolongation of the thermophilic stage and improved maturity of the resultant compost. At the maturity stage, samples to which B. coagulans X3 had been added exhibited significant increases in ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and total nitrogen levels. The dominant bacterial phyla observed in these composting samples were Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteriota, and Chloroflexi. B. coagulans X3 addition resulted in significant increases in relative Firmicutes abundance during the thermophilic and cooling stages while also increasing amoA and nosZ gene abundance and reducing nirS gene levels over the course of composting. Together, these data suggest that B. coagulans X3 supplementation provides an effective means of enhancing nitrogen content in the context of cattle manure composting through the regulation of nitrification and denitrification activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Z-scheme heterostructured NiO-CuO containing abundant oxygen vacancies was developed. • Interfacial charge transfer led to the formation of dual active sites in V O -NiO-CuO. • The roles of oxygen vacancies and visible light in AB hydrolysis were clarified. • The length of the O H bond under visible light irradiation became longer. The design and fabrication of cheap and high-efficiency catalysts for ammonia borane (AB) hydrolysis for hydrogen production is crucial for its commercial applications. Improvement of the catalytic performance of the catalysts with the assistance of sunlight, a costless resource, is extremely attractive. Herein, we have constructed Z-scheme heterostructured V O -NiO-CuO catalysts with strong interfacial electronic interactions and abundant oxygen vacancies to enhance hydrogen production from NH 3 BH 3 solution under visible light illumination. The as-prepared V O -NiO-CuO catalysts exhibit excellent catalytic activity with a high turnover frequency (TOF) of 35.3 mol H2 mol cat. -1 min−1 toward AB hydrolysis under visible light. It is demonstrated that excellent catalytic performance is highly related to the effective separation and migration of charge on the catalyst surface. As a result, dual active sites were created, making it easier for various reactants to be adsorbed and activated on the catalyst surface. Furthermore, the density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that the adsorption and activation of H 2 O occurred mainly at the Ni site of V O -NiO-CuO. When the V O -NiO-CuO is irradiated with visible light, the photogenerated electrons assembled on the conduction band were transferred to the O atom through the Ni-O bond, which made the bond length of H 2 O molecules longer and O H bonds more prone to breaking, thus facilitating AB hydrolysis under illumination. The findings in this work pave the way to design novel and efficient heterostructured catalysts for fast hydrogen release from NH 3 BH 3 under visible light irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sand hydroponic experiment with different concentrations of 0, 5, 10, 20, 40 mg L−1 Cd was used to study the growth and physiological response of Hylotelephium spectabile (Boreau) H. Ohba. and its phytoextraction potential for Cd. The results showed that total plant biomass under 5 mg L−1 Cd treatment was slightly affected. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in leaf exposed to Cd was higher, and the POD and CAT activity exhibited a positive response to the low level of Cd addition (5 mg·L−1). The photosynthesis pigments were slightly inhibited, and the ultrastructure of chloroplast remained intact after treatment with 10 mg L−1 Cd. The maximum leaf Cd content (603 mg·kg−1) was found in 5 mg L−1 Cd treatment, then decreased with the Cd level increased. The maximum Cd content in the shoots far exceeds the threshold level (100 mg kg−1) for a Cd-hyperaccumulator plant with the value of translocation factor (TFshoot/root) for Cd reaching up to 5.62. In conclusion, H. spectabile showed normal growth and physiological response and high shoot Cd accumulation under 5 mg L−1 Cd stress, which made it to be a good candidate for phytoextraction of low-level Cd polluted environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using biodegradable chelators to assist in phytoextraction may be an effective approach to enhance the heavy-metal remediation efficiencies of plants. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of ethylenediamine disuccinic acid (EDDS), citric acid (CA), and oxalic acid (OA) on the growth of the arsenic (As) hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata L., its arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) uptake and accumulation, and soil microbial responses in multi-metal(loid)-contaminated soil. The addition of 2.5-mmol kg−1 OA (OA-2.5) produced 26.7 and 14.9% more rhizoid and shoot biomass, respectively compared with the control, while EDDS and CA treatments significantly inhibited plant growth. The As accumulation in plants after the OA-2.5 treatment increased by 44.2% and the Cd and Pb accumulation in plants after a 1-mmol kg−1 EDDS treatment increased by 24.5 and 19.6%, respectively. Soil urease enzyme activities in OA-2.5 treatment were significantly greater than those in the control and other chelator treatments (p < 0.05). A PCR–denatured gradient gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that with the addition of EDDS, CA and OA enhanced soil microbial diversity. It was concluded that the addition of OA-2.5 was suitable for facilitating phytoremediation of soil As and did not have negative effects on the microbial community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The tautomer distributions of d ‑fructose, a popular model compound for biorefinery, in various lower alcohols and DMSO‑ d 6 (ROHs/DMSO‑ d 6) mixtures at 298 K were investigated by quantitative 13C NMR. The tautomer distributions of d ‑fructose in ethanol/DMSO‑ d 6 and methanol/DMSO‑ d 6 with different volume ratios of alcohols to DMSO‑ d 6 were also examined. For these normal alcohols (methanol, ethanol, n ‑propanol and n ‑butanol)/DMSO‑ d 6 , the tautomer distribution of d ‑fructose in methanol/DMSO‑ d 6 exhibited the shortest equilibration time (46 h) and the lowest concentration of β‑furanose (39.0%) at equilibrium. The fraction of fructofuranose (α‑furanose and β‑furanose) at equilibrium and time needed to reach equilibrium in branched chain alcohols/DMSO‑ d 6 obey the following order: 2‑propanol/DMSO‑ d 6 (62.2%, 320 h) > tert ‑butanol/DMSO‑ d 6 (61.6%, 307 h) > 2‑butanol/DMSO‑ d 6 (60.6%, 216 h) > isobutanol/DMSO‑ d 6 (57.8%, 134 h). For the diols/DMSO‑ d 6 , the time for the tautomer distribution of d ‑fructose to reach the equilibrium was found to be: 1,4‑butanediol/DMSO‑ d 6 (113 h) > 1,2‑propanediol/DMSO‑ d 6 (38 h) > ethylene glycol/DMSO‑ d 6 (36 h). For ethanol/DMSO‑ d 6 and methanol/DMSO‑ d 6 with respectively different volume ratios, the experimental results showed that the high concentration of ethanol or methanol increases the conversion rate of tautomers. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Tautomer distributions of d ‑fructose in ROHs/DMSO‑ d 6 were investigated by 13C qNMR. • The effects of volumetric ratios between ethanol or methanol and DMSO‑ d 6 on tautomerization of d ‑fructose were examined. • Significant differences in the tautomer distributions of d ‑fructose in lower alcohols/DMSO‑ d 6 have been observed. • High concentration of ethanol or methanol increases the conversion rate of tautomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge on adsorption behaviour of vanadium (V) on natural clay minerals is critical to understand V mobility in soil and aqueous systems. In this study, the characteristics and mechanisms of V(V) adsorption on two abundant soil clay minerals, namely, natural kaolinite and montmorillonite, as well as the effects of solution pH and ionic strength on the adsorption process were investigated. The results showed that the kinetics of V(V) adsorption on kaolinite and montmorillonite conformed to pseudo second-order, and reached equilibrium within 240 min and 360 min respectively. The adsorption isotherms of V(V) on kaolinite were better fit with the Freundlich model, while the Langmuir model was a better fit for montmorillonite. The Langmuir model indicated that natural montmorillonite and kaolinite have low affinity for V(V) anions with maximum adsorption capacity of 0.98 mg·g −1 and 0.78 mg·g −1 , respectively. The higher capacity was found at pH 4–10 due to the mass formation of deprotonated hydroxyl groups for V adsorption. The V adsorption capacity on montmorillonite increased with the increasing ionic strength of NaNO 3 . The results of pH and ionic-strength effect showed that surface complexation and electrostatic interaction may be the V(V) adsorption mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the association between depression and anxiety symptoms among college students and the relationship between the two and physical activity. A cross-sectional study design was used to survey 1790 enrolled university students using the Depression Self-Rating Scale, Anxiety Self-Rating Scale and Physical Activity Rating Scale. 37.75% of male students and 39.73% of female students detected depressive symptoms, 17.65% of male students and 17.86% of female students detected anxiety symptoms, 11.89% of male students and 11.75% of female students detected both depressive and anxiety symptoms. Canonical correlation between depression and anxiety symptoms of college students were significant. The depression and anxiety score of college students in the high level group was significantly lower than that in the low and medium level groups, and no significant difference was found between the low and medium level groups. Affective disorder and anxious mood of male students correlated most closely with intensity, while somatic disorder, psychomotor disorder and depressive psychological disorder correlated most closely with duration. Affective disorder of female students correlated most closely with frequency, depressive psychological disorder and anxious mood correlated most closely with intensity, while premonition of misfortune and frequent urination correlated most closely with duration. Depression and anxiety symptoms of college students were closely related and co-occurrence was common. Students with high level of physical activity had milder symptoms. Different exercise interventions are recommended for different symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection of uracil-DNA glycosylase (UDG) activity is pivotal for its biochemical studies and the development of drugs for UDG-related diseases. Here, we explored an integrated DNA structure switch for high sensitive detection of UDG activity. The DNA structure switch containing two branched hairpins was employed to recognize UDG enzyme and generate fluorescent signal. Under the action of UDG, one branched hairpin was impelled folding into a close conformation after the excision of the single uracil. This reconfigured hairpin could immediately initiate the polymerization/nicking amplification reaction of another branched hairpin accompanying with the release of numerous G-quadruplexes (G4s). In the absence of UDG, the DNA structure switch kept its original configuration, and thus the subsequent polymerization/nicking reaction was inhibited, resulting in the release of few G4 strands. In this work, Thioflavin T was used as signal reporter to target G4s. By integrating the DNA structure switch, the quick response and high sensitivity for UDG determination was achieved and a low detection limit of 0.0001 U/mL was obtained, which was superior to the most fluorescent methods for UDG assay. The repeatability of the as-proposed strategy was demonstrated under the concentration of 0.02 U/mL and 0.002 U/mL, the relative standard deviation obtained from 5 successive samples were 1.7% and 2.8%, respectively. The integrated DNA structure switch strategy proposed here has the potential application for the study of mechanism and function of UDG enzyme and the screening the inhibitors as potential drugs and biochemical tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In our previous study, Citrobacter sp. XT1-2-2 was isolated from high cadmium-contaminated soils, and demonstrated an excellent ability to decrease the bioavailability of cadmium in the soil and inhibit cadmium uptake in rice. In addition, the strain XT1-2-2 could significantly promote rice growth and increase rice biomass. Therefore, the strain XT1-2-2 shows great potential for remediation of cadmium -contaminated soils. However, the genome sequence of this organism has not been reported so far. Results: Here the basic characteristics and genetic diversity of the strain XT1-2-2 were described, together with the draft genome and comparative genomic results. The strain XT1-2-2 is 5040459 bp long with an average G + C content of 52.09%, and contains a total of 4801 genes. Putative genomic islands were predicted in the genome of Citrobacter sp. XT1-2-2. All genes of a complete set of sulfate reduction pathway and various putative heavy metal resistance genes in the genome were identified and analyzed. Conclusions: These analytical results provide insights into the genomic basis of microbial immobilization of heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese herbal slices (CHSs) are closely associated to microorganisms, whether they are endophytic or epiphytic in plants, or introduced during processing. In this study, the structures and predicted functions of microbial communities in 150 batches of samples from five types of CHSs were investigated by combining pure culture and 16 S rDNA amplicon sequencing. Bile-salt-tolerant gram-negative bacteria were detected in 56.0% of samples, and Salmonella was detected in two batches of Glycyrrhiza slices and in one batch of Rheum slices. The main genera from the Enterobacteriaceae, Bacillaceae, Fibrobacteraceae, and Pseudomonadaceae families were assessed in typical colonies. Amplicon sequencing identified 1200 bacterial genera, including some pharmacopeial-controlled bacteria and many beneficial endophytes of medicinal plants. Around 65% of the genera co-occurred in all five CHSs. In clustering based on different algorithms, the samples from each CHS type were relatively clustered, with some overlap. Ranked from highest to lowest diversity, the CHSs were Rheum, Angelica, Astragalus, Codonopsis, and Glycyrrhiza. Each CHS had its indicator species. Functional annotations suggest that potential microbial transformation uses CHSs as substrates and microbial communities as transformants. Overall, it was demonstrated that, based on their complementary advantages, high-throughput sequencing technology and traditional pure-culture technology together can fully assess the microbial load of CHSs and reduce the misdetection rate. We observed large microbial communities in typical CHSs, demonstrating differences and similarities among different CHS types. These results provide a reference for establishing new microbial limit criteria for CHSs and highlight the importance of further correlating CHS microbial community structure and function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]