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Objectives: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of chloral hydrate in auditory brainstem response (ABR) tests. Setting and Design: In this study, the authors systematically searched both English (Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science) and Chinese (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, and VIP Chinese Science) databases. Two authors independently performed data extraction and quality assessment. The pooled sedation failure rate and the pooled incidence of adverse events were calculated via a random‐effects model. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were performed to explore the sources of heterogeneity, and the PRISMA guideline was followed. Participants: Patients with ABR tests receiving chloral hydrate sedation. Main outcome measures: The pooled sedation failure rate and the pooled incidence of adverse events. Results: A total of 23 clinical studies were included in the final analysis. The pooled sedation failure rate of patients who received chloral hydrate sedation before ABR examination was 10.0% [95% confidence interval (CI) (6.7%, 15.0%), I2 = 95%, p <.01]. There were significant differences in the prevalence of sedation failure between sample sizes greater than 200 and those less than or equal to 200 (5.6% vs. 19.6%, p <.01) and between the studies that reported sleep deprivation and those that did not report sleep deprivation (7.1% vs. 18.9%, p <.01). The pooled incidence of adverse events was 10.32% [95% CI (5.83%, 14.82%), I2 = 98.1%, p <.01]. Conclusions: Chloral hydrate has a high rate of sedation failure, adverse events, and potential carcinogenicity. Therefore, replacing its use in ABR tests with safer and more effective sedatives is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of teachers and equipment is a major obstacle to the implementation of Computational Thinking (CT) in education, particularly for rural schools. Although CT education has been investigated for many years, less attention has been paid to lower primary schools in rural areas. This study contributes to filling this gap by investigating the impact of three different learning approaches on the CT of grade-two primary school students in a rural area in China. Seventy-seven students were randomly assigned to three learning approaches, namely traditional lectures, Game-Based Learning (GBL) using a newly designed board game in classrooms, and GBL with parental involvement. The findings showed that both GBL approaches (i.e., with and without parents) significantly enhanced the students' CT skills compared to the traditional approach. The findings also showed that the GBL approach with parental involvement significantly enhanced students' attitudes toward learning CT compared with the other two approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • 3D triple-twill warp-lining woven composites (3DTTWLWC) are prepared • Uniaxial tensile, uniaxial torsion and biaxial tests are performed for 3DTTWLWC. • Multiaxial damage behavior and failure mechanism of 3DTTWLWC are revealed. • The effect of biaxial stress ratio on the properties of 3DTTWLWC is illustrated. 3D triple-twill warp-lining woven composites (3DTTWLWC) has promising applications in many fields, but their multiaxial behavior is not clear. Herein, biaxial specimens of 3DTTWLWC are prepared and different experiments are performed. The results show that as the biaxial stress ratios (r bs) increases, the tensile/torsional stiffnesses and strengths decrease/increase and increase/decrease, respectively. Furthermore, under multiaxial-loading, the dominant damage pattern changed gradually from weft yarn breakage in the crack initiation zone to warp and binder yarn pullout in the failure zone. This work provides a reference for the structural design of 3DTTWLWC with significant engineering implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) as highly operable nanomaterials in terms of chemical composition, structural morphology, and energy band gaps, demonstrating excellent absorption-photocatalytic synergism in achieving in-situ degradation of pollutants in the aqueous environment. However, the current research on the adsorption-photocatalytic process of LDHs is still limited. To promote the development and application of LDHs in the adsorption-photocatalysis process, this work reviews the structural characteristics and directional regulation strategies of LDHs with different dimensions. It introduces the removal performance of LDHs-based nanocomposites for various pollutants in aqueous environment, and analyzes the degradation mechanism and crucial processes from three aspects: adsorption, photocatalytic, and adsorption-photocatalytic synergy. Moreover, the review focuses on modification strategies for targeted enhancement of the absorption and photocatalytic properties of LDHs, future development challenges, and application prospects. This review aims to provide basic insights for the design of LDHs-based nanocomposites and their in-depth research and development applications in the water treatment field based on the adsorption-photocatalysis integration effect. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the adsorption performance of Cd(II) by maifanite in constructed rapid infiltration systems (CRIS), Mg-layered double hydroxides (MgAl-LDHs, MgFe-LDHs) are prepared by a co-precipitation method and in-situ coated on the surface of original maifanite. Characterization of the successful LDHs-coating modification is realized by the following: scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET). In the purification experiments, the average removal rates of Cd(II) were 97.66% for maifanite/MgAl-LDHs and 97.54% for maifanite/MgFe-LDHs, approximately 11% greater than for the original maifanite. Isothermal adsorption experiments and adsorption kinetic experiments were conducted to explore the Cd(II) adsorption mechanism. The modified maifanite demonstrated a higher Langmuir adsorption capacity and stronger surface bond energies compared to the original maifanite. The adsorption type of Cd(II) by maifanite/Mg-LDHs and original maifanite was monolayer adsorption based mainly on chemical adsorption. Furthermore, the extracellular polymeric substances and dehydrogenase activities of the microorganisms were measured and analyzed to study the effect of microorganisms on the removal of Cd(II) in the test columns. High-throughput sequencing technology was also applied to analyze the composition and diversity of bacterial communities. Based on a simple estimation, the synthesis cost of maifanite/MgAl-LDHs was only ¥ 0.33/Kg. In brief, maifanite/Mg-LDHs is an efficient and economical substrate for a CRIS for Cd(II) removal. Unlabelled Image • Maifanite/Mg-LDHs efficiently enhanced the removal performance of Cd(II). • Adsorption capacity and microbial effect were enhanced after Mg-LDHs modification. • The richness and diversity of bacterial community were improved after modification. • Maifanite/Mg-LDHs can be a cost-effective substrate for Cd(II) removal in CRIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to evaluate the performance underlying the removal of hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) associated with Zn-layered double hydroxides (Zn-LDHs)-modified substrates utilized in simulated constructed wetlands (CWs) from a microbial perspective. To accomplish this, Zn-LDHs-modified substrates (zeolite and quartz sand (QS)) were synthesized at various Zn2+/Al3+ and Fe3+ molar ratios by co-precipitation under alkaline conditions. The experimental group was then compared with a control group to determine the microbial action responsible for Cr(VI) removal during the Cr(VI) removal experiments. The removal experiment revealed that the average Cr(VI) removal rates of the Zn-LDHs-modified substrates were superior to those of natural substrates. Subsequent evaluation of the microbial structure by Illumina high-throughput sequencing revealed that the relative abundance of Novosphingobium , Brevundimonas , Methylophilus , and Acidovorax related to Cr(VI) removal was relatively high in Zn-LDHs-modified substrates. Moreover, the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) content was significantly influenced by the Zn-LDHs coating according to the relative microbial experiments. Similar trends were observed in enzyme activity. Taken together, these findings illustrated that the Zn-LDHs coating had a significant impact on microbial action, and the Cr(VI) removal efficiency of the Zn-LDHs-modified QS (zeolite) substrate was better than that of the natural substrate because of intracellular and extracellular removal mechanisms. Briefly, the microbial action of Zn-LDHs-modified QS played an important role in Cr(VI) removal, since the EPS content possessed the appropriate concentrations. Moreover, the microbial activity of ZnAl-LDHs-modified QS (zeolite) may have been higher than that of ZnFe-LDHs-modified QS (zeolite) because Al had a stronger promoting effect on Cr(VI) bio-removal than Fe. Therefore, the microbial Cr(VI) removal supported by ZnAl-LDHs-modified QS is a better choice for CWs. Image 1 • Microbial performance for Cr(VI) removal by Zn-LDHs-modified substrates was studied. • Zn-LDHs coating played an important role on microbial action for Cr(VI) removal. • The relative abundance of Novosphingobium was extremely promoted by Zn-LDHs coating. • ZnAl-LDHs-modified substrates showed best removal rates caused by microbial action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computer self-efficacy (CSE) continues to be an important construct in research and application. Two measures of CSE, the Brief Inventory of Technology Self-Efficacy (BITS) and the Brief Inventory of Technology Self-Efficacy – Short Form (BITS-SF) were recently developed to correct for issues in other available measures. The BITS and BITS-SF were originally written in English, and their psychometric properties assessed in samples from the United States. The current two studies translated the BITS and BITS-SF into simplified Chinese (Mainland China) and traditional Chinese (Taiwan) and assessed their psychometric properties. In Study 1, 207 adults in Mainland China completed the simplified Chinese BITS and BITS-SF, as well as measures given to assess convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity. In Study 2, 273 adults in Taiwan did the same, except that they completed the traditional Chinese BITS and BITS-SF. In both studies, the translated BITS showed evidence of a three-factor correlated structure, and the translated BITS-SF yielded several underlying classes consistent with theory and scoring interpretation. Additionally, the translated measures' scores showed solid evidence of convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity. The results replicate the findings using the original BITS and BITS-SF and extend them to simplified Chinese and traditional Chinese translated versions. These versions are recommended for use in research and applied settings to assess CSE and are available for use. Both the original and translated measures are available for download at www.bitssurvey.com. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • MZA was successfully synthesized by co-precipitation method. • Increased specific surface area with rougher surface structure was observed in MZA. • High q m of 850.93 mg/g for MG and 279.09 mg/g for CR when using MZA. • Physical adsorption played a dominant role in MG and CR adsorption process. Excessive dye effluent has contaminated the ecosystem, and it is challenging to effectively remove dye from the aqueous system. In the present work, magnetic Zn-Al layered double hydroxides (MZA) was synthesized via co-precipitation method for the adsorption of malachite green (MG) and Congo red (CR) in the aqueous solution. The successful synthesis of MZA was characterized by SEM-EDS, XRD, FT-IR BET and VSM. The batch experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of various adsorption parameters on the adsorption capacity of MG and CR by MZA, such as MZA dosage, solution pH, etc. Further adsorption studies, kinetics, isotherm, and thermodynamic were performed to explore the adsorption behavior of MG and CR on MZA. The maximum adsorption capacity at 298 K for MG and CR on MZA were 850.93 and 279.09 mg/g, respectively. Adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model. Adsorption thermodynamics showed spontaneous, endothermic for MG and CR adsorption on MZA. The electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding, and molecular intercalation mainly occurred during adsorption process. In addition, MZA exhibited higher adsorption capacity after 4 cycles of continuous adsorption–desorption. In conclusion, MZA might be a potential adsorbent for purifying wastewater containing MG and CR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Powdered layer double hydroxides are small with low density, which results in problems when they are applied to constructed wetlands. The removal efficiency of many original substrate materials tends to decrease with nitrogenous saturation. To overcome these defects, a co-precipitation method was used to prepare modified bio-ceramic coated with ZnFe-layer double hydroxides (Zn:Fe = 1:1, 2:1, 3:1) and ZnAl-layer double hydroxides (Zn:Al = 1:1, 2:1, 3:1) under alkaline conditions. Different molar ratios were firstly considered in bio-ceramic/Zn-layer double hydroxides to screen for the best modification methods. Fourteen simulated columns were produced to treat the nitrogen-containing domestic wastewater, and these columns were filled with different modified bio-ceramics and original bio-ceramics. The nitrogen removal rates of modified bio-ceramic improved. Group A was the experimental group, and group B was the control group. Group B had chloroform added to influent wastewater to retard the microbial growth. The NH 4 + -N removal rates in group A were higher than group B. Nitrates accumulated and fluctuated throughout the purification experiments due to the dominance of dissolved oxygen in the vertical-flow simulated columns. Isothermal adsorption tests were subsequently performed. The nitrogen adsorption capacity and microbial action were measured to verify the best-modified coating method for bio-ceramics and to explore the mechanisms of nitrogen removal. Bio-ceramic/ZnFe (2:1)-layer double hydroxides were the best coating for the bio-ceramics. The treated water met Class 1A level for Chinese discharge standards from municipal wastewater treatment plant (GB18918-2002) in the aspect of the NH 4 + -N concentration. The reagent cost of the bio-ceramic/ZnFe (2:1)-layer double hydroxides was RMB ¥0.07/kg. Within an assumed service cycle of one year, bio-ceramic/Zn-layer double hydroxides could increase the cost to ¥0.3500/m 3 wastewater, while the NH 4 + -N removal rates improved 15.11%. In summary, the layer double hydroxides-coating modification of the original bio-ceramic is an economical and promising strategy for new types of highly efficient, durable, and stable substrates. It enhances the adsorption capacity and improves the microbial effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructed rapid infiltration systems (CRIS) are a reasonable option for treating wastewater, owing to their simplicity, low cost and low energy consumption. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs), novel materials with high surface area and anion exchange capacity, faced the problem of the application in CRIS due to the powdered form. To overcome this shortcoming, Zn-LDHs (FeZn-LDHs, CoZn-LDHs, AlZn-LDHs) were prepared by co-precipitation method and in-situ coated on the surface of the natural bio-ceramic to synthesize the core-shell bio-ceramic/Zn-LDHs composites. Characterization by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (XRFS) indicated that the Zn-LDHs were successful loaded on the natural bio-ceramic. Column tests experiments indicated that the bio-ceramic/Zn-LDHs efficiently enhanced the removal performance of phosphorus. The efficiently removal rates of bio-ceramic/FeZn-LDHs were 71.58% for total phosphorous (TP), 74.91% for total dissolved phosphorous (TDP), 82.31% for soluble reactive phosphorous (SRP) and 67.58% for particulate phosphorus (PP). Compared with the natural bio-ceramic, the average removal rates were enhanced by 32.20% (TP), 41.33% (TDP), 49.06% (SRP) and 10.50% (PP), respectively. Adsorption data of phosphate were better described by the Freundlich model for the bio-ceramic/Zn-LDHs and natural bio-ceramic, except for the bio-ceramic/CoZn-LDHs. The maximum adsorption capacity of bio-ceramic/AlZn-LDHs (769.23 mg/kg) was 1.77 times of the natural bio-ceramic (434.78 mg/kg). The effective desorption of phosphate could achieve by using a mixed solution of 5 M NaCl + 0.1 M NaOH, it outperformed the natural bio-ceramic of 18.95% for FeZn-LDHs, 7.59% for CoZn-LDHs and 12.66% for AlZn-LDHs. The kinetic data of the bio-ceramic/Zn-LDHs were better described by the pseudo-second-order equation. Compared the removal amount of phosphate by the natural bio-ceramic, the physical effects were improved little, but the chemical effects were enhanced for 112.49% for FeZn-LDHs, 111.89% for CoZn-LDHs and 122.67% for AlZn-LDHs. Therefore, the way of coating Zn-LDHs on the bio-ceramic efficiently improved the chemical effects in phosphate removal, supporting that it can use as potential substrates for the removal of phosphorus in CRIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the 7th most hazardous heavy metal contaminant, chromium has attracted extensive attention due to its ecotoxicity and persistence in the environment. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are recognized as high-efficiency adsorbent for capturing Cr(VI). In this study, LDHs-modified zeolites (zeolites/ZnAl-LDHs and zeolites/MgAl-LDHs) were synthesized by a co-precipitation method of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) using zeolites as a template, and the morphology and microstructure of LDHs-modified zeolites were investigated through SEM, XRD, EDS and FTIR. Subsequently, the adsorption process was systematically studied. The isothermal sorption results showed that zeolites/ZnAl-LDHs exhibited a higher removal capacity Cr(VI),which was 2 times that of zeolites/MgAl-LDHs and 4 times that of original zeolites; the adsorption kinetic process of LDHs-modified zeolites were in line with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and zeolites/ZnAl-LDHs had higher adsorption rate than zeolites/MgAl-LDHs; the adsorption of Cr(VI) by LDHs-modified zeolites was a spontaneous endothermic process. Additionally, the high-efficiency pH range for Cr(VI) removal was 4.0–7.0. The existence of the coexisting cations promoted the adsorption of Cr(VI),while the anions showed the inhibiting effect. The results demonstrated that electrostatic adsorption and ion exchange were the dominant Cr(VI) removal mechanisms. Furthermore, LDHs-modified zeolites showed a significantly higher removal efficiency and superior reusability. The results of the present study showed that LDHs could be applied in practical engineering, and zeolites/ZnAl-LDHs was the more effective adsorbent for purifying chromium-containing waste water through the research of adsorption performance and mechanism. [Display omitted] • CO 3 -LDHs modification effectively improved the adsorption property of zeolites. • The adsorption type and process of zeolites to Cr(VI) were changed by coating LDHs. • LDHs-modified zeolites adsorbed Cr(VI) via anion exchange and surface adsorption. • Zeolites/ZnAl-LDHs showed greater potential for Cr(VI) removal from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Maifanite/ZnAl-LDHs induced low richness but high evenness of microbial community. • Enzymatic activities were enhanced by ZnAl-LDHs and contributed to Cr(VI) removal. • Novosphingobium and Dongia were discovered to be promoted by ZnAl-LDHs. Biological mechanisms for Cr(VI) removing induced by ZnAl-LDHs coated on maifanite substrate were explored in constructed rapid infiltration systems (CRIS). Characteristics of maifanite/ZnAl-LDHs and natural maifanite by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF) confirmed the feasibility of the LDHs coating way. The purification experiments showed that the CRIS with maifanite/ZnAl-LDHs substrate displayed higher Cr(VI) removal performance induced by microorganism than that with natural maifanite. High throughput sequencing results of microorganism immobilized on the two substrates revealed that Methyloversatilis , Novosphingobium , Dongia and Paludibaculum were more abundant in maifanite/ZnAl-LDHs. We conclude that maifanite/ZnAl-LDHs adsorbed more Cr(VI) than natural maifanite, ZnAl-LDHs and the high Cr(VI) concentration ambient of maifanite/ZnAl-LDHs enhanced enzymatic activities and altered microbial community, which leading to higher Cr(VI) removal performance in turn. The present study may provide essential information for exploring whether the LDHs coated on natural substrate will affect the microorganism in CRIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cd(II) adsorption capacities were effectively enhanced by coating Zn-LDHs. • Zn-LDHs coating had altered the adsorption process and types of zeolites. • Cd(II) removal efficiency by ZnFe-LDHs coating was better than that of ZnAl-LDHs. • Zn-LDHs coating is economically meaningful for enhancing Cd(II) removal. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have been applied as one of the most efficient adsorbents. As the most common natural filtering substrates, zeolites and sands were coated with Zn-layered double hydroxides (Zn-LDHs) and studied in this research. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) images confirmed LDHs coating on substrates. From isothermal adsorption tests, the modified substrates exhibited significant enhancements for the Cd(II) adsorption capacity than original substrates, especially for ZnFe-LDHs-modified sands whose maximum theoretical Cd(II) adsorption capacities (1103.70 mg·kg−1) were nearly three times as high as that of the original sands (400.00 mg·kg−1). And the desorption efficiencies of original and modified substrates were over 67%. Additionally, the Cd(II) adsorption capacities were higher under the circumstance of co-existence ions including K+, NH 4 +, NO 3 −, HPO 4 2−, while the appearance of Mg2+ would affect the Cd(II) adsorption negatively. The adsorption dynamic data were well described by pseudo-second-order model. Cd(II) adsorption by original and modified zeolites, original and modified sands were a spontaneous reaction. The Cd(II) adsorption process of LDHs-modified zeolites was a actually endothermic process, while for original zeolites, it was a exothermic process. The Cd(II) adsorption process of sands before and after modification was an endothermic process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of Open Educational Resources (OER) can, on the one hand, increase access and quality in higher education, but on the other hand it is raising concerns among universities and researchers about its economic sustainability. This is mainly because, unlike traditional online learning, in OER-based approaches learners do not have to pay to access learning resources, however the institution incurs costs for the production, maintenance and dissemination of OER. In this context, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has urgently called for more research on OER sustainability models in its 2019 OER recommendation. To contribute to a better understanding of this issue, this paper used the triangulation method to investigate the potential OER sustainability models that are currently implemented by universities, along with their challenges and possible developments. Through a comprehensive literature review and a 2-round Delphi method with thirty OER experts, ten OER sustainability models have been identified and analysed, where public and internal funding are the most established ones. The findings of this study could support organisations in developing their own OER sustainability strategy, facilitating OER adoption worldwide and therefore contributing to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a typical endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) used worldwide. Considering its adverse effects, BPA has been banned or strictly restricted in some nations, and many analogs have been introduced to the market. In this study, we selected three representative substitutes, BPS, BPF, and BPAF, along with BPA, to assess the developmental and reproductive effects on Daphnia magna. The F0 generation was exposed to bisphenols (BPs) at an environmentally relevant concentration (100 μg/L) for 21 d; then the embryo spawn at day 21 was collected. Behavior traits, the activity of antioxidant enzymes, and gene transcription were evaluated at three developmental stages (days 7, 14, and 21). Notably, body length, heart rate, and thoracic limb beating were significantly decreased, and D. magna behaved more sluggishly in the exposed group. Moreover, exposure to BPs significantly increased the antioxidant enzymatic activities, which indicated that BPs activated the antioxidant defense system. Additionally, gene expression indicated intergenerational effects in larvae, particularly in the BPAF group. In conclusion, BPA analogs such as BPF and BPAF showed similar or stronger reproductive and developmental toxicity than BPA in D. magna. These findings collectively deepen our understanding of the toxicity of BPA analogs and provide empirical evidence for screening safe alternatives to BPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have become a serious threat to human health and ecological security due to their persistence and high toxicity. Lake sediments are in a relatively closed environment, so PAHs and other pollutants can be preserved for a long time. Accurate analysis of the sources of PAHs in sediments is an important prerequisite for PAH pollution control. However, the existing PAHs source resolution receptor model (the absolute principal component analysis - multilinear regression (APCA-MLR) and positive matrix factorization (PMF)) has many defects, such as great uncertainty in the process of matrix rotation. In this study, we collected sediment samples from Taihu Lake and tested their PAH content, and the existing receptor model was improved. High PAH contents were distributed in Meiliang Bay, Zhushan Bay, Gonghu Bay and areas close to the shore. "High-High" areas were distributed in Meiliang Bay, Gonghu Bay and areas close to the shore. "Low-Low" areas appeared in the central and southern parts of Taihu Lake. The results show that the improved positive matrix factorization partition computing (PMF-PC) model is significantly better than the APCA-MLR and PMF models in terms of both numerical simulation accuracy and the spatial distribution consistency of PAHs. The correlations (R2) between the measured and simulated values of low-molecular-weight PAHs (L-PAHs), high-molecular-weight PAHs (H-PAHs) and PAHs were 0.992, 0.989 and 0.993, respectively. The contributions of biomass sources, coal combustion sources and petroleum sources to PAHs in Taihu Lake sediments reached 16.7%, 31.7% and 51.6%, respectively. Fossil fuel sources were mainly concentrated in areas near the shore, and the contribution was lower in areas far from the shore. Although the algorithm still needs to be improved, the PMF-PC model may become a useful tool for the source apportionment of PAHs in sediments. • The PAHs content in Taihu Lake Sediments showed a strong spatial autocorrelation. • The improved PMF-PC model is significantly better than existing models in both numerical. • Spatial quantitative analysis of PAHs sources in sediments of Taihu Lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined pollution of antibiotics and heavy metals (HMs) has a serious impact on the water ecological environment. Previous researches mainly focused on the removal of antibiotics or HMs as single pollutants, with limited investigation into the treatment efficiencies and underlying mechanisms associated with their co-occurring pollution. In this study, 16 micro vertical flow constructed wetlands (MVFCWs) were constructed to treat composite wastewater consisting of sulfamethoxazole (SMX), copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd), involving two different inoculation treatments (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculated and uninoculated) and eight kinds of pollutant exposure (Control Check (CK), SMX, Cu, Cd, SMX + Cu, SMX + Cd, Cu + Cd, SMX + Cu + Cd). The findings of this study demonstrated that the inoculation of AMF in MVFCWs resulted in removal efficiencies of SMX, Cu, and Cd ranging from 18.70% to 80.52%, 75.18% to 96.61%, and 40.50% to 89.23%, respectively. Cu and CuCd promoted the degradation of SMX in the early stage and inhibited the degradation of SMX in the later stage. Cd did not demonstrate a comparable promotive impact on SMX degradation, and its addition hindered Cu removal. However, comparatively, the presence of Cu exerted a more pronounced inhibitory effect on Cd removal. Furthermore, the addition of Cu augmented the abundances of Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes (at the phylum level) and Rhodobacter , Lacunisphaera and Flavobacterium (at the genus level), and Cu exposure showed a substantially stronger influence on the microbial community than that of Cd and SMX. AMF might confer protection to plants against HMs and antibiotics by enriching Nakamurella and Lacunisphaera. These findings proved that AMF- C. indica MVFCW was a promising system, and the inoculation of AMF effectively enhanced the simultaneous removal of compound pollution. [Display omitted] • MVFCWs with AMF facilitated the simultaneous removal of SMX, Cu, and Cd. • Cu promoted the degradation of SMX in the early stage but inhibited it later. • The introduction of SMX resulted in decreased removal efficiencies of Cu and Cd. • AMF significantly influenced the microbial flora in the presence of Cu pollution. • Elevated Cu concentration might exert a toxic effect on the Patescibacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic (As) is a toxic metalloid that poses a potential risk to the environment and human health. In this study, drinking water treatment residue (DWTR) and ceramsite-based vertical flow constructed wetlands (VFCWs) were built to purify As-containing wastewater. As a method of bioaugmentation, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) was inoculated to Pteris vittata roots to enhance the As removal of the VFCWs. The results showed that the As removal rates reached 87.82–94.29% (DWTR) and 33.28–58.66% (ceramsite). DWTR and P. vittata contributed 64.33–72.07% and 7.57–29% to the removal of As, while AMF inoculation intensified the As accumulation effect of P. vittata. Proteobacteria, the main As3+ oxidizing bacteria in the aquatic systems, dominated the microbial community, occupying 72.41 ± 7.76%. AMF inoculation increased As-related functional genes abundance in DWTR-based wetlands and provided a reliable means of arsenic resistance in wetlands. These findings indicated that the DWTR-based VFCWs with AMF inoculated P. vittata had a great purification effect on As-containing wastewater, providing a theoretical basis for the application of DWTR and AMF for As removal in constructed wetlands. [Display omitted] • DWTR-based VFCWs with AMF inoculated P. vittata could efficiently treat wastewater containing As. • DWTR has high As adsorption capability and favorable microbial effect. • Plant growth and AMF colonization were improved under 1 mg/L and 5 mg/L As stress. • AMF significantly enhances the expression of As functional genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance the hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) removal performance of simulated constructed rapid infiltration systems (CRIS) with quartz sand (QS) substrate, QS coated with Al-layered double hydroxides (Al-LDHs@QS) was prepared by the co-precipitation method under alkaline conditions. A scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) were used to characterize QS before and after modification. The result showed that the Al-LDHs were successfully coated on the surface of the QS. The isotherm adsorption experiment indicated that compared with the original QS, the adsorption property of the modified QS changed from monolayered chemical adsorption to multilayered physical adsorption, perhaps because of different types of adsorption forces. Moreover, the adsorption capacity of modified QS was significantly enhanced and ZnAl-LDHs@QS had a maximum adsorption capacity (1428.57 mg·kg−1) nearly 6 times greater than that of the original QS (232.56 mg·kg−1). Adsorption experiments at different pH showed that the adsorption capacity of ZnAl-LDHs@QS gradually increased as acidity decreased. High-throughput sequencing revealed that the relative abundance of chrome-tolerant microorganisms at the phylum and family levels were increased in modified QS compared with original QS. Hemocytometer counting revealed enhanced microbial quantity on the surface of QS after modification. The content of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and the enzymatic activity of the microorganisms adhered to the surface of modified and original QS were detected, results showed that Al-LDHs had an obvious influence on the promotion of EPS secretion and enhanced the enzymatic activity of microorganisms. These changes indicated that the modified QS created better conditions for microorganism growth, and the improved microbial effect caused strong biosorption, resulting in greatly enhanced Cr(VI) removal. Thus, ZnAl-LDHs@QS is a better choice for CRIS to remove Cr(VI). Unlabelled Image • Co-precipitation was utilized to combine quartz sand with Al-LDHs as Al-LDHs@QS. • Cr(VI) adsorption type of quartz sand was changed after coating by Al-LDHs. • Adsorption ability of quartz sand was enhanced by Al-LDHs coating. • Al-LDHs coating had improved microbial effect on the surface of quartz sand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Petrochemical wastewater contains inhibitory compounds such as aromatics that are toxic to microorganisms during biological treatment. The compact and layered structure and the high amount of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in aerobic granular sludge (AGS) can contribute to protecting microorganisms from the harsh environment. This study evaluated the changes in the granule properties, pollutants removal, microbial metabolic potential and molecular microbial characteristics of the AGS process for petrochemical wastewater treatment. Granules treating petrochemical wastewater had a higher SVI 30 /SVI 5 value (0.94) than that treating synthetic wastewater. An increase in bioactivity and EPS secretion with higher bio-polymer composition, specifically the functional groups such as hydroxyl, alkoxy and amino in protein, was observed, which promoted biomass aggregation. The granules also had more than 2-fold higher specific oxygen utilization rate. The AGS-SBR process obtained an average COD removal of 93% during petrochemical wastewater treatment and an effluent bCOD of below 1 mg L−1. No obvious inhibition of nitrification and denitrification activity was observed in the processes attributed to the layered structure of AGS. The average effluent NH 4 +-N of 5.0 mg L−1 was obtained and TN removal efficiencies of over 80.0% was achieved. Molecular microbial analysis showed that abundant functional genera Stenotrophomonas and Pseudoxanthomonas contributed to the degradation of aromatics and other petroleum organic pollutants. They were enriched with the variation of group behavior while metabolisms of amino acids and carboxylic acids by the relevant functional genera (e.g., Cytophagia) were significantly inhibited. The enrichment of Flavobacterium and Thermomonas promoted nitrification and denitrification, respectively. This research revealed the rapid start-up, enhanced granule structural strength, high inhibition resistance and considerable performance of AGS-SBR for petrochemical wastewater treatment. [Display omitted] • AGS kept stability and high efficiency in petrochemical wastewater treatment. • Average COD removal of 93% and TN removal of over 80% were achieved. • High SVI 30 /SVI 5 and bioactivity with increased EPS secretion were observed. • Stenotrophomonas and Pseudoxanthomonas contributed to petroleum organic degradation. • AGS process showed significant potential for petrochemical wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Biofilter with sponge iron/copper and corn cobs achieved advanced N and P removal. • Effluent concentrations of NO 3 –-N and PO 4 3−-P were below 1.0 and 0.1 mg/L. • Phosphate was removed through precipitation of FePO 4 and Fe 4 (OH) 2 PO 4. • Copper coating facilitated lignocellulose degradation for improved denitrification. • Copper modification increased the abundance of nitrogen cycle-related genes. Sponge iron (SI) is a potential material for removing nitrate and phosphate from water. We decorated the SI with copper (Cu) to enhance its removal performance. To gain insight into the nitrate and phosphate removal utilizing SI/Cu and microbial coupling systems, three biofilters filled with corn cob (CC), corn cob + sponge iron (CS) and corn cob + sponge iron/copper (CSCu) were constructed. The results showed that the effluent NO 3 –-N and PO 4 3−-P concentrations of CSCu remained consistently below 1 and 0.1 mg/L. The introduction of SI/Cu led to the enrichment of the Dechloromonas genus, making it the dominant microbial group, occupying 42.65% of the effective sequences. Modification of SI with Cu increased nitrogen cycle-related functional genes abundance in CSCu, with a 634% increase in nirS compared to CS. These findings proved that SI/Cu was a promising material, providing an approach to concomitantly removing nitrate and phosphate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N‐doped graphene (NG) incorporated Cu‐ZnO‐Al2O3 (CZA) catalysts were prepared by co‐precipitation method and their catalytic performances for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol were evaluated under the reaction conditions of 200 ○C and 3.0 MPa. The results indicate that NG promotes effectively the dispersion of CZA and changes the electron structure of CZA, which could provide synergistic effect for methanol synthesis. When NG content is 10 wt.%, the CO2 conversion and methanol selectivity can achieve the highest values of 8.2% and 84%, respectively, which are much higher than those of traditional CZA catalyst. NG incorporated Cu‐ZnO‐Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by co‐precipitation method and their catalytic performances for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol were evaluated. The results indicate that NG promotes the dispersion of CZA and changes the electron structure of CZA, which could improve the catalytic performance for methanol synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last three decades, the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in wetland habitats had received increased attention, however, their distribution and functions have not been studied intensively. Using Illumina sequencing technology, we examined the AM fungal communities in roots of Phragmites australis living in 3 heavy metals (HMs) polluted wetlands located in Hubei Province, China. A total of 258 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) from 235,213 sequences affiliated with 6 Glomeromycota families (Glomeraceae, Paraglomeraceae, Claroideoglomeraceae, Ambisporaceae, Archaeosporaceae, and Diversisporaceae) were obtained, with Glomeraceae and Paraglomeraceae being the most and second-most dominant family, respectively. P . australis living in the HMs polluted wetlands harbored diverse AM fungi, including many non-recorded species in upland habitats, and the OTU number which we obtained in this study was higher than most of the records of upland habitats. Dry and waterlogged samples had common OTUs, however, AM fungal communities at different levels in dry and corresponding waterlogged P . australis roots were significant different. In addition, results from this study suggested that a preemption (geometric model) species abundance distributions (SAD), which might due to the distinctive features, e . g . heavy overdominance and difference in the most dominant taxon of each sample, was observed across AM fugal taxa in P . australis roots of the 3 HMs polluted wetlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widely used SiO 2 and TiO 2 nanoparticles (NPs) can accumulate in industrial wastewaters, thereby posing challenge to biological wastewater treatment processes. In this work, the performance of aerobic granular sludge (AGS) reactors fed with wastewater containing 50 mg L−1 SiO 2 and TiO 2 NPs were investigated. The results showed that the granules could resist the NPs in wastewater (no disintegration of granules was observed). SiO 2 NPs had a negative effect on the settleability of granules, with the SVI 30 increased by 64.5% and protein secretion decreased by 29.9%. To the contrary, the settleability of granules was improved in the presence of TiO 2 NPs due to the increase of the protein secretion. Possibly because of the compact and layered structure of granules, in the presence of both types of NPs, no obvious reduction of the overall removal efficiency of organics was found, and nanoparticle-resistant strains were enriched. The overall nitrification and denitrification efficiencies were hardly affected by SiO 2 NPs while significantly inhibited by TiO 2 NPs. Some functional genera, such as Hyphomicrobium and Acidovorax , showed growth inhibition with TiO 2 NPs, which might be responsible for the reduction of nitrification and denitrification efficiencies. [Display omitted] • EPS secretion of granules was enhanced with TiO 2 NPs while reduced with SiO 2 NPs. • High overall removal efficiency of COD was kept after the exposure to the NPs. • TiO 2 NPs had a more significant negative effect on nitrogen removal than SiO 2 NPs. • Compared with SiO 2 NPs, TiO 2 NPs had a higher inhibition to some functional strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Semaphorin 5A, a member of the semaphorin family, was originally identified as an axonal guidance factor functioning during neuronal development. Previously, we showed that the expression of semaphorin 5A might contribute to the metastasis of gastric cancer. However, less information is currently available as to the involvement of uPA in the semaphorin 5A-induced metastasis and invasion of gastric cancer cells. Aim: The present study was designed to test whether semaphorin 5A mediates the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer via PI3K/Akt/uPA signaling. Methods: The semaphorin 5A-overexpressing cell was established from the gastric cancer cell line AGS. The effect of semaphorin 5A on the expression of uPA was evaluated by ELISA and Western blotting as well as RT-PCR assays, respectively. Synthetic or natural inhibitors and dominant-negative mutants were used to determine the hierarchical relationship between semaphorin 5A, PI3K/Akt and uPA in the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer. Results: Overpression of semaphorin 5A enhanced the expression of uPA, and synthetic or natural inhibitors of uPA abolished semaphorin 5A-induced cell migration and invasion. Semaphorin 5A overexpression promoted the phosphorylation of Akt. Blocking effects of PI3K/Akt using pharmacologic inhibitors, dominant-negative mutants abolished the ability of semaphorin 5A to induce uPA expression and cell invasion and migration. Conclusion: Semaphorin 5A could promote invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer through the PI3K/Akt/uPA signal transduction pathway. Semaphorin 5A and its regulated molecules could be the potential targets for cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Nitrate removal mainly occurred near the bottom of the packed column. • Nitrate was mainly removed by the traditional denitrification and DNRA. • Both DNRA and microbial lysis contributed to ammonium accumulation. • Top-packed PCL hydrolyzed much faster than the bottom-packed one did. • JGI_0000069-P22 and Gracilibacteria might contribute to denitrification. In this study, the fluctuating profiles of physicochemical and microbial characterizations along different filling heights of continuously up-flow solid-phase denitrification (SPD) columns packed with polycaprolactone (PCL) were investigated. It was found both the PCL filling area and non-filling area made significant contributions to treatment performance and denitrification mainly occurred near the bottom of the filling column. Nitrate displayed a high proportional removal (≥98.7%) among all the cases except the one with the lowest filling ratio (FR30) and highest NLR (3.99 ± 0.12 gN/(L·d)), while nitrite and ammonium displayed a weak accumulation in final effluents (nitrite ≤ 0.40 mg/L; ammonium ≤ 0.98 mg/L). The intensity of PCL hydrolysis in the top substrate was stronger than those in the middle or bottom. Both dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) and microbial lysis contributed to ammonium accumulation, and nitrate was mainly removed via traditional denitrification and DNRA. JGI_0000069-P22_unclassified and Gracilibacteria_unclassified might contribute to denitrification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]