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• An SIA-LSTM is developed for quality variables in irregular sampled time sequence. • An attention neural network is first designed to adaptively learn the dynamics between two consecutive samples. • Then, the sample interval is transferred into a SIA weight. • The SIA weight is multiplied to the corresponding hidden state to serve into LSTM unit. In industrial processes, there are usually strongly dynamic temporal relationship between process data sequence. Hence, dynamic modeling methods are popular for soft sensing of key quality variables. For the real-life industrial processes, the data series are usually sampled with different intervals for the samples. However, most of the mainstream dynamic models, represented by long short-term memory (LSTM), is difficult to directly handle the time series with irregularly sampled data. Hence, a sampling-interval-attention LSTM (SIA-LSTM) is developed to deal with it, in which an attention network is introduced to adaptively learn the dynamics between two consecutive samples and transfer it into an attention weight of the sampling interval. Next, the previous hidden state and the attention weight are multiplied. The weighted previous hidden state is further sent to the control gates to compute the current hidden state in LSTM unit. Hence, the dynamic relationship is calculated adaptively according to the sampling interval. The effectiveness of SIA-LSTM is evaluated for quality prediction on a refining hydrocracking process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many estuaries have undergone severe saltwater intrusion in addition to simultaneously experiencing serious heavy metal pollution. To explore the effect of water density stratification associated with saltwater intrusion on the behaviour of heavy metals (Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Pb, and Cd) in water and sediments, a field survey was conducted in a typical estuary (Modaomen). The content, distribution, and mobility of heavy metals were investigated, as well as the influence of environmental factors on their future. The results showed that Modaomen estuary was characterised by a notable variation in salinity along the estuary, presenting total freshwater upstream, high salinity stratification water in the mouth, and saltwater offshore. Dissolved metals presented a prominent gradient vertically, with 1.2–2.1 times higher in bottom water than in surface water and the highest contents in the highly–stratified bottom water. Elevated salinity and restricted mixing induced by water stratification were likely the causes of this outcome. The distribution of heavy metals in sediments was greatly governed by grain size, Fe/Mn (hydr)oxides, total organic carbon, salinity, and dissolved oxygen. Comprehensive evaluation, combined with total contents and chemical fractions of heavy metals, indicated that internal release from sediments contributed a considerable part to the higher levels of heavy metals in bottom water, particularly for Zn and Pb, which was fully consistent with their status in water body, and elevated salinity and lack of oxygen were likely the primary driving factors. During the phase-partition processes between bottom water and sediments, partitioning coefficients were markedly lower in the highly stratified zone, implying that saltwater intrusion facilitated the mobility and repartitioning processes of metals. Because of increased levels and toxicity of heavy metals in water and extended residence time during saltwater intrusion, the potential damage to the estuarine ecosystem should receive more attention. [Display omitted] • Internal release from sediments is a considerable part for metals in bottom water. • Water stratification restricts vertical mixing of metals in water column. • The exchange and partitioning process of metals is governed by saltwater intrusion. • Fe/Mn oxides, salinity and DO regulate the mobility of metals in sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• TaWRKY70 increased Cd tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis. • Expression of TaWRKY70 in Arabidopsis suppress Cd transfer coefficient. • TaWRKY70 binds to the promoter of TaCAT5 as well as regulating the transcription of TaCAT5. The WRKY transcription factors (TFs) are involved in plant responses to multiple biotic and abiotic stressors; however, the role of WRKY TFs in the regulation of Cd stress in wheat remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of the wheat TaWRKY70 TF in Cd stress. TaWRKY70 expression in Arabidopsis was used for the functional analysis. TaWRKY70 regulated Cd tolerance with Cd accumulating in roots but not in the leaf tissues of transgenic Arabidopsis. The net Cd2+ influx into Arabidopsis roots decreased when TaWRKY70 was expressed. The quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) results showed that the expression levels of heavy metal ATPase (AtHMA3), natural resistance-associated macrophage protein (AtNRAMP5) , yellow stripe1-like (AtYSL3), and iron transport protein (AtIRT1) decreased under Cd-stress condition. Electrolyte leakage, as well as malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide contents, were lower in transgenic Arabidopsis than those in the wild-type (WT), whereas antioxidant enzyme activities were higher. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) assay, and transient transactivation assay confrmed that TaWRKY70 could directly bind to the TaCAT5 promoter. Our findings provide a novel understanding of the WRKY TFs involved in the response to heavy metal stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disease-associated nucleic acids, such as DNAs and miRNAs, are important biomarkers for the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment guidance of human diseases. Therefore, the accurate and sensitive detection of nucleic acid is of great significance for the early diagnosis of diseases. DNA-scaffolded silver nanocluster (DNA-Ag NC) is a new type of probe with good photostability and low toxicity that has been widely used in biomedical analysis. In this work, a new universal sensing platform based on target triggered labeling luminescent DNA-Ag NC for disease-related nucleic acids detection was constructed. The assembled split DNA fragment pair (C 4 AC 4 T and C 3 GT 4) could be used as a template to develop a bright green fluorescent Ag NC. According to this phenomenon, we devised two probe sequences DNA 1 and DNA 2, which could hybridize to the same one target and contained a different split fragment of Ag NC' scaffold. The target compelled the split fragments close to each other through base pairing with DNA 1 and DNA 2, thus quantification of the target could be achieved through measuring green fluorescence of Ag NC that produced by assembled scaffold in ternary hybrid products. We applied this platform successfully for miR-362, a potential biomarker of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), or HIV-related DNA (hDNA) detection, achieving the detection limits of 6.5 nM and 1.7 nM, respectively. Both of the assays showed excellent reproducibility, selectivity and potential applications in human serum samples. In summary, an economic and convenient universal platform was developed for disease-associated nucleic acid detection. A general nucleic acid detection method based on target triggered assembly of fluorescent C 4 AC 4 T/C 3 GT 4 /Ag NC complex was proposed. The method had been applied successfully to the detection of miR-362 or hDNA with good sensitivity, selectivity, and practicability in human serum. This convenient one-step assay method will be a potential alternative for disease-associated nucleic acids detection in clinic. [Display omitted] • Disease-associated nucleic acids detection based on split DNA scaffold-Ag NC was proposed. • The methods for miR-362 or hDNA detection showed good sensitivity, selectivity, and practicability. • This one-step assay method has advantages of rapid, economy and easy to operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organic-inorganic hybrid coating was fabricated for anti-corrosion application using bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) epoxy resin with inorganic silica nanoparticles prepared by sol-gel method. The precursor, tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) formed via hydrolytic condensation the silica dispersed in the protective coating on the metal substrate that could prevent the permeation of corrosive media. In order to increase the functionality of the coating, the photocatalyst zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were added to bestow the light degradation on the coating. The as-fabricated nanoparticles and coatings were analyzed using Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV–vis spectrum (UV–vis) analysis. The anti-corrosion performance of the organic-inorganic hybrid coating was investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and salt spray tests. Noteworthily, EIS results showed that the epoxy-silica organic-inorganic coating was109Ωcm2,which could increase the impedance modulus (at 0.01 Hz) of Q215 steel by about 7 orders of magnitude after immersion in 3.5 wt% NaCl aqueous solution for 96 h. The salt spray test results showed that metal substrate was still not completely corroded after 68 days. In addition, the addition of ZnO to the coating has photo-degradation effect on methyl orange and the photo-degradation efficiency can reach 55%. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both antibiotics and surfactants commonly exist in natural environment and have generated great concerns due to their biological influence on the ecosystem. A major concern lies in the capacity of antibiotics to induce bacterial filaments formation, which has potential health risks. However, their joint effect is not clear so far. Here, we studied the joint effect of cephalexin (Cex), a typical antibiotic, and differently charged surfactants on the formation of E. coli filaments. Three kinds of surfactants characterized by different charges were used: cationic surfactant (CTAB), anionic surfactant (SDS) and nonionic surfactant (Tween). Data showed that Cex alone caused the formation of E. coli filaments, elongating their maximum profile from ca. 2 μm (a single E. coli cell) to tens of micrometers (an E. coli filament). A joint use of surfactants with Cex could produce even longer E. coli filaments, elongating the maximum length of the bacteria to larger than 100 μm. The capacity order of different surfactants under their optimum concentrations to produce elongated E. coli filaments was Tween > SDS > CTAB. The E. coli filaments were characterized with a normal DNA distribution and a good cell membrane integrity. We measured the stiffness of bacterial cell wall by atomic force microscopy and correlated the elongation capacity of the E. coli filaments to the stiffness of cell wall. Zeta potential measurement indicated that inserting into or being bound to the cell surface in a large quantity was tested not to be the major way that surfactants interacted with bacteria. Image 1 • Cex alone causes formation of E. coli filaments, which has potential health risk. • A combination use of surfactants with Cex produces even longer E. coli filament. • The capacity order of surfactants to produce E. coli filaments is Tween > SDS > CTAB. • The stiffness of cell wall is correlated with the elongation of E. coli filaments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the catalytic properties of Fe3O4 nanoparticles in wastewater treatment, the Cu-doped Fe3O4/graphene oxide (Fe3−xCuxO4/GO) nanocomposites were prepared by a modified co-precipitation method and used as heterogeneous catalyst for p-Nitrophenol (p-NP) degradation. The effect of the GO and Cu contents in the nanocomposites was investigated. Compared with the unsupported Fe3O4 nanoparticles, the Fe3O4/GO nanocomposites have obviously improved catalytic performance, especially for the nanocomposite with 6.25 wt.% of the GO content. Furthermore, the catalytic efficiency is greatly improved by doping Cu in the nanocomposite. The Fe3−xCuxO4/GO nanocomposite achieves the best catalytic property in our catalyst system when the x value is about 0.075. Under the optimal reaction condition (0.8 g L−1 of catalyst dosage, 15 mmol L−1 of initial H2O2 concentration, 3.0 of pH value, and 30 °C of temperature), the p-NP conversion and chemical oxygen demand removal efficiencies in 120 min for the Fe2.925Cu0.075O4/GO nanocomposite are about 98.4% and 74.7%, respectively. And the p-NP conversion efficiency is still as high as 96.2% after four recycles under the optimum condition. The results clearly show that the Fe2.925Cu0.075O4/GO nanocomposite has outstanding catalytic properties for the p-NP degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skin aging is caused by a combination of endogenous and exogenous factors. The dryness, roughness, and pigmentation can be improved by chemical peeling and laser irradiation, while skin sagging mainly relies on dermal fillers. Although collagen fillers and microspheres fillers can fill the skin, neither of them can provide a sustained filling effect. Herein, a kind of dermal filler composed of collagen, poly(l -lactic acid) (PLLA) and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) (PLLA/PLGA microspheres/collagen) is developed to make up for the above shortcomings. PLLA/PLGA microspheres/collagen has good injectability and biocompatibility. In vitro studies indicate that PLGA microspheres of Col-50%PLLA/PLGA and Col-25%PLLA/PLGA show massive degradation on day 1 of complete collagen degradation, meeting the study objectives of continuous improvement of skin sagging. Furthermore, injecting composites into SD rats, 50%PLLA/PLGA and Col-25%PLLA/PLGA are proven with macrophage infiltration, TGF-β expression, and endogenous collagen regeneration. The developed PLLA/PLGA microspheres/collagen composites with good biocompatibility and sustained filling property hold great promise for improved treatment of skin sagging as well as other soft tissue augmentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The risk of human exposure to nanoplastics (NPs) is increasing due to the incomplete decomposition and accumulation of plastic debris in the environment. Dietary intake is the most common way for human body to ingest NPs. NPs cannot degrade in vivo and will accumulate in multiple tissues, which result in various tissue damages. Although numerous studies have focused on evaluating the influences of exposure to NPs, the exposure amounts investigated were much higher than the actual exposure level in human daily life. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the hazards of exposure to low-dose NPs. Intestinal flora is a generally recognized sensitive indicator for NPs exposure, so determining a safe threshold to intestinal flora can represent the maximal no-effective dose for the human body of NPs exposure. Based on these information, mice were exposed to NPs at concentrations of 0, 0.001, 0.005, 0.01 and 0.1 mg kg−1·BW, respectively. The composition changes of the intestinal flora were investigated after exposing 28 days. The obtained consequences indicated that 0.01 mg kg−1·BW was the maximal no-effective dose to intestinal flora. This study provided a clear safe threshold for investigating the potential adverse effects of low-dose NPs exposures on human health. [Display omitted] • The no observable effect level of nanoplastics on intestinal flora was investigated. • The no observable effect level of nanoplastics on intestinal flora was 0.01 mg kg−1·BW. • Our investigation identified the threshold of potential adverse effects of low-dose NPs exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NAC transcription factors are widely distributed in the plant kingdom and play an important role in the response to various abiotic stresses in plant species. Tritipyrum, an octoploid derived from hybridization of Triticum aestivum (AABBDD) and Thinopyrum elongatum (EE), is an important genetic resource for integrating the desirable traits of Th. elongatum into wheat. In this study, we investigated the tissue distribution and expression of Tritipyrum NAC genes in the whole genomes of T. aestivum and Th. elongatum after obtaining their complete genome sequences. Based on phylogenetic relationships, conserved motifs, gene synthesis, evolutionary analysis, and expression patterns, we identified and characterized 732 Tritipyrum NAC genes. These genes were divided into six main groups (A, B, C, D, E, and G) based on phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary studies, with members of these groups sharing the same motif composition. The 732 TtNAC genes are widely distributed across 28 chromosomes and include 110 duplicated genes. Gene synthesis analysis indicated that the NAC gene family may have a common ancestor. Transcriptome data and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) expression profiles showed 68 TtNAC genes to be highly expressed in response to various salt stress and recovery treatments. Tel3E01T644900 (TtNAC477) was particularly sensitive to salt stress and belongs to the same clade as the salt tolerance genes ANAC019 and ANAC055 in Arabidopsis. Pearson correlation analysis identified 751 genes that correlated positively with expression of TtNAC477, and these genes are enriched in metabolic activities, cellular processes, stimulus responses, and biological regulation. TtNAC477 was found to be highly expressed in roots, stems, and leaves in response to salt stress, as confirmed by real-time PCR. These findings suggest that TtNAC477 is associated with salt tolerance in plants and might serve as a valuable exogenous gene for enhancing salt tolerance in wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Porous P and Mo co-doped g-C 3 N 4 with feeble N vacancies photocatalyst is successfully fabricated. • The light harvesting ability and the separation efficiency of charge carriers for (P, Mo)-g-C 3 N x are both enhanced. • It exhibits the improvement of photocatalytic ability in H 2 production and Cr(VI) Reduction for (P, Mo)-g-C 3 N x. • The possible photocatalytic mechanisms for H 2 production and Cr(VI) Reduction are proposed. Abstract Developing highly efficient and inexpensive photocatalysts without noble metals, yet remarkably enhancing hydrogen production and Cr(VI) reduction activity, is highly needed. Here, the effective photocatalytic H 2 evolution under visible light from an Eosin Y (EY)-sensitized (P, Mo)-g-C 3 N x system by avoiding any noble metal co-catalyst is reported by the first time. Meanwhile, the optimized sample also displays the excellent performance in photocatalytic hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) reduction. In addition, this composite exhibits delectable stability for photocatalytic activities, no significant decay of activity is being observed after 16h reaction for photocatalytic H 2 evolution (8h for Cr(VI) reduction). It is believed that this work will open up a new route for fabricating high-performance and inexpensive photocatalysts for hydrogen production and Cr(VI) reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Figuring out the mining-crack-evolution characteristics of overburden strata is very important to roof control, gas drainage, disaster prevention and high efficient mining. In order to obtain the mining-crack-evolution characteristics of overburden strata in deep coal mining with large dip, in this study, No.1221 coal mining face of Zhao coal mine is chosen as the research object to establish an in-house experiment system of similarity simulation. The experiments could measure the stress and displacement of overburden strata, which can provide useful information to investigate the mining-crack-evolution characteristics, displacement variations and movement characteristics of overburden strata associated the coal mining face. Experimental results show that with the advancing of coal mining face, the scope of gob increases gradually, and formation of the false roof of overburden strata basically reflects the evolution process of collapsing. The overburden strata weight is constantly transferred to the front and rear of coal mining face, which forms the supporting pressures on both sides of coal pillars, and causes the gangue's collapsing in gob. The large dip of coal seam results in pressure disequilibrium in stress-increasing zone. Thus, the stress on the underside of gob becomes larger and larger, while the stress on upper side of gob decreases. The strata separation appears in the overburden strata of roof. Pressure-relief zone is mainly concentrated in the side of outlet roadway. Along the inclination direction of coal mining face, the crack development and strata separation are obvious, which create the passages for gas flow and migration. The similarity simulation results provide fundamental information for better understanding those mining-crack-evolution characteristics of overburden strata, which has become more and more important to control the roadway stability in coal mining and optimize the layout of gas drainage boreholes for improving mining safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current toxicology research on nanoplastics (NPs) generally uses commercial spherical NPs. However, the physicochemical characteristics of commercial NPs are significantly different from those of NPs formed under natural conditions, possibly affecting the validity of the results. In analytical chemistry, a reference sample is selected such that its physicochemical properties are as similar as possible to the target. Therefore, a simulated "natural" NP synthesized in the laboratory that closely resembles naturally derived NPs would be used as an authentic standard. Here, we established the assay of scanning electron microscope (SEM)-particle size distribution analyzer (PSDA)-surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) to detect NPs and prepared simulated "natural" NPs from polypropylene food packaging material using a method that mimics natural conditions. Nanofiltration was used to isolate three sets of simulated NPs with particle sizes ranging from 50–100 nm, 100–200 nm, and 200–400 nm. These simulated "natural" NPs were more similar to naturally occurring counterparts when compared with commercial NPs. These new standard NPs, which should be scalable for large-scale use, will improve the accuracy, reliability, and translatability of toxicological studies of NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional villages have received widespread attention from all walks of life based on important carriers of Chinese rural culture. The mutual superposition of natural and cultural factors may exacerbate the evolution of traditional village geographical patterns. To understand such relationships and effects, factors and degrees influencing traditional villages need to be determined. Here, we analysed the data of 724 traditional villages in Guizhou recognised by relevant national ministries and commissions in China using average nearest neighbour analysis, Tyson polygon analysis, nuclear density analysis and Geodector. The geographic pattern feature revealed that traditional villages, in general, are highly clustered regionally and have significant edge effects on administrative units. Different substrate environments result in significant spatial heterogeneity in village spatial density, clustering, surface undulation, sun exposure, and waterfront. The geographic pattern of traditional villages is mostly affected by the closest distance to river valleys, the types and number of intangible cultural heritage resources in the county, river gorge density, edge effect index, degree of county ethnic language use, and proportion of paddy fields to the regional area; and their combined effects influence and control the community structure. The results highlight the impact of nature and culture on the distribution of traditional villages, which helps traditional village conservation and scientific exploration of human-land relationship issues in the mountainous areas of Southwest China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The AP2/ERF transcription factor is widely distributed across the plant kingdom and plays a crucial role in various abiotic stress responses in plants. Tritipyrum, an octoploid resulting from an intergeneric cross between Triticum aestivum (AABBDD) and Thinopyrum elongatum (EE), is a valuable source of germplasm for incorporating superior traits of Th. elongatum into T. aestivum. With the recent availability of whole -genome sequences for T. aestivum and Th. elongatum, we explored the organization and expression profiling of Tritipyrum AP2/ERF genes across the entire genome. Our investigation identified 543 Tritipyrum AP2/ERF genes, which evolutionary analysis categorized into four major groups (AP2, DREB, ERF, and RAV), whose members share a conserved motif composition. These 543 TtAP2/ERF genes were distributed throughout 28 chromosomes, with 132 duplications. Synteny analysis suggests that the AP2/ERF gene family may have a common ancestor. Transcriptome data and Real-Time PCR expression profiles revealed 43 TtAP2/ERF genes with high expression levels in response to various salt stressors and recovery regimens. Tel2E01T236300 (TtERF_B2-50) was particularly salt stress-sensitive and evolutionarily related to the salt-tolerant gene AtERF7 in A. thaliana. Pearson correlation analysis identified 689 genes positively correlated (R > 0.9) with TtERF_B2-50 expression, enriched in metabolic activities, cellular processes, stimulus response, and biological regulation. Real-time PCR showed that TtERF_B2-50 was highly expressed in roots, stems, and leaves under salt stress. These findings suggest that TtERF_B2-50 may be associated with salt stress tolerance and may serve as a valuable foreign gene for enhancing salt tolerance in wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Reducing nanoplastic accumulation in edible plants is an important step towards overcoming associated negative environmental impacts. • Brassinosteroids (50 nM) inhibited the accumulation of nanoplastics in tomato fruit and reversed polystyrene nanoplastic-induced phytotoxicity. • Brassinosteroids might inhibit nanoplastic uptake by suppressing aquaporin-related gene expression. • Application of brassinosteroids might be an effective way to minimize nanoplastic-induced phytotoxicity. As emerging pollutants of global concern, absorbed nanoplastics might have negative impacts on plant development and nutrient uptake, thereby decreasing yields. If nanoplastics are transferred to the edible parts of plants, they may pose a threat to human health when large quantities are ingested. While nanoplastic-induced phytotoxicity is attracting increasing attention, little is known about how to inhibit nanoplastic accumulation in plants and reduce the subsequent adverse effects. Here we investigated the absorption and accumulation of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) in different plant species and the role of brassinosteroids in alleviating PS-NP toxicity. Brassinosteroids inhibited accumulation of PS-NPs in tomato fruit and reversed PS-NP-induced phytotoxicity to promote plant growth and increase fresh weight and plant height. Brassinosteroids also reversed the induction of aquaporin-related genes by PS-NPs including TIP2-1 , TIP2-2 , PIP2-6 , PIP2-8 , PIP2-9 , SIP2-1 , and NIP1-2 , providing a potential stress mechanism by which PS-NPs accumulate in the edible parts and targets for inhibition. In transcriptomic analyses, brassinosteroids enhanced fatty acid and amino acid metabolism and synthesis. In conclusion, exogenous application of 50 nM brassinosteroids alleviated the adverse effects of PS-NPs on plants, and exogenous application of brassinosteroids might be an effective means to minimize PS-NP-induced phytotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic nonspecific disease with unknown etiology. Currently, the anti-inflammatory therapeutic approaches have achieved a certain extent of effects in terms of inflammation alleviation. Still, the final pathological outcome of intestinal fibrosis has not been effectively improved yet. Results: In this study, dextran-coated cerium oxide (D-CeO2) nanozyme with superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities was synthesized by chemical precipitation. Our results showed that D-CeO2 could efficiently scavenge reactive oxide species (ROS) as well as downregulate the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and iNOS) to protect cells from H2O2-induced oxidative damage. Moreover, D-CeO2 could suppress the expression of fibrosis-related gene levels, such as α-SMA, and Collagen 1/3, demonstrating the anti-fibrotic effect. In both TBNS- and DSS-induced colitis models, oral administration of D-CeO2 in chitosan/alginate hydrogel alleviated intestinal inflammation, reduced colonic damage by scavenging ROS, and decreased inflammatory factor levels. Notably, our findings also suggested that D-CeO2 reduced fibrosis-related cytokine levels, predicting a contribution to alleviating colonic fibrosis. Meanwhile, D-CeO2 could also be employed as a CT contrast agent for noninvasive gastrointestinal tract (GIT) imaging. Conclusion: We introduced cerium oxide nanozyme as a novel therapeutic approach with computed tomography (CT)-guided anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapy for the management of IBD. Collectively, without appreciable systemic toxicity, D-CeO2 held the promise of integrated applications for diagnosis and therapy, pioneering the exploration of nanozymes with ROS scavenging capacity in the anti-fibrotic treatment of IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Brain imaging studies have shown insula-related functional and structural abnormalities in patients with obesity. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is currently an effective procedure for treating obesity, which promotes acute recovery of brain functional and structural abnormalities in obese patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term impact of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy on insula-related structural and functional connectivity. Methods: Diffusion tensor imaging and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging were employed to investigate laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy-induced changes in insula-related structural connectivity and corresponding resting-state functional connectivity in 25 obese patients prior to (PreLSG) and 12 months post-surgery (PostLSG12). Results: Results showed significant increases in fractional anisotropy and axial diffusivity between the right insula and anterior cingulate cortex, and higher fractional anisotropy of left insula-putamen, left insula-caudate and anterior cingulate cortex-right posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus at PostLSG12 compared with PreLSG. There were significant negative correlations between axial diffusivity of right insula-anterior cingulate cortex and body mass index, and fractional anisotropy of right insula-anterior cingulate cortex with scores on external eating at PostLSG12. Anxiety and depressive status ratings were negatively correlated with fractional anisotropy of left insula-putamen at PostLSG12. In addition, there was a significant decrease in resting-state functional connectivity between left insula and left caudate. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate long-term changes in insula-related structural and functional connectivity abnormalities promoted by laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, which highlight its strong association with long-term weight loss and improvement in eating behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

10-Hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) is a widely used anticancer drug that induces cytotoxicity by triggering the cell apoptotic pathway. Studies have shown that HCPT has harmful effects on normal cells, but whether HCPT affects the development of mouse oocytes in vitro has not been reported. First, this study investigated the development of oocytes exposed to 60 μM HCPT in vitro. In the HCPT-treated group, the first polar body extrusion (PBE) rate of oocytes decreased, spindle morphology was abnormal, DNA double-strand break, oxidative stress level increased, and mitochondrial distribution was abnormal. The apoptosis and autophagy levels of oocytes in the HCPT-treated group were detected by qRT-PCR and western blot. Compared with the control group, the expressions of key regulators of oocyte apoptosis (bax, caspase-3) and autophagy (lc3, beclin, ATG12) pathway were increased in the HCPT-treated group. HCPT treatment induced apoptosis and autophagy in oocytes. Melatonin (MT) can protect cell structure, prevent DNA damage, and reduce the content of peroxides. So we wondered whether MT could ameliorate the harmful effects of mouse oocytes induced by HCPT. Interestingly, the addition of 1 mM MT can protect oocytes from HCPT toxicity to some extent. Compared with the HCPT group, the addition of 1 mM MT increased the PBE ratio of oocytes, decreased ROS levels, and decreased spindle abnormalities and DNA breakage ratio. In summary, these results revealed that HCPT exhibited adverse effects on mouse oocyte maturation and quality, and MT administration alleviated the negative influence of HCPT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases (CCDs) are a group of enzymes that catalyze the selective oxidative cleavage steps from carotenoids to apocarotenoids, which are essential for the synthesis of biologically important molecules such as retinoids, and the phytohormones abscisic acid (ABA) and strigolactones. In addition, CCDs play important roles in plant biotic and abiotic stress responses. Till now, a comprehensive characterization of the CCD gene family in the economically important crop cotton (Gossypium spp.) is still missing. Here, we performed a genome-wide analysis and identified 33, 31, 16 and 15 CCD genes from two allotetraploid Gossypium species, G. hirsutum and G. barbadense, and two diploid Gossypium species, G. arboreum and G. raimondii, respectively. According to the phylogenetic tree analysis, cotton CCDs are classified as six subgroups including CCD1, CCD4, CCD7, CCD8, nine-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) and zaxinone synthase (ZAS) sub-families. Evolutionary analysis shows that purifying selection dominated the evolution of these genes in G. hirsutum and G. barbadense. Predicted cis-acting elements in 2 kb promoters of CCDs in G. hirsutum are mainly involved in light, stress and hormone responses. The transcriptomic analysis of GhCCDs showed that different GhCCDs displayed diverse expression patterns and were ubiquitously expressed in most tissues; moreover, GhCCDs displayed specific inductions by different abiotic stresses. Quantitative reverse-transcriptional PCR (qRT-PCR) confirmed the induction of GhCCDs by heat stress, salinity, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and ABA application. In summary, the bioinformatics and expression analysis of CCD gene family provide evidence for the involvement in regulating abiotic stresses and useful information for in-depth studies of their biological functions in G. hirsutum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitellogenin (VTG) is typically produced by females but when present in males can indicate contamination with estrogenic endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Here we used primary hepatocytes isolated from male crucian carp uncontaminated with estrogenic EDCs as a culture model. Nine EDCs were used for validation, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to quantify VTG production by primary hepatocytes. The lower limit of detection of 17β-E2, DES, and HES using the method was 10−12 M. Fresh pork was roasted, and non-hydrolytic acetonitrile-vortexing was used to extract potential estrogenic EDCs. The extracted substances were separated by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and dimethyl terephthalate present in roast pork was found to induce high VTG concentrations. Therefore, the detection of VTG by ELISA provides a sensitive and reliable method for detecting known and unknown estrogenic EDCs in food products. Image 1 • Estrogenic EDCs can induce VTG expression in primary hepatocytes of male crucian carp. • ELISA was applied to detect VTG after hepatocyte exposure. • Dimethyl terephthalate was detected in a roasted meat product using the new technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Organic-inorganic interactions after oil charging are critical for determining the ongoing evolution of hydrocarbons and rock quality in water-wet siliciclastic reservoirs. It is the conceptual approach of this study to simulate and decipher these interactions by using quantitative analyses of the interrelated changes of minerals, water, hydrocarbons, gases, and organic acids in heated oil-water-rock systems. The experimental results show that organic-inorganic interactions occur between the organic oil and inorganic feldspar in the presence of water. Water promotes the oil degradation by an extra supply of H+ and OH− ions. In the oil-water-rock systems, mutual exchanges of H+ and OH− ions among minerals, water, and hydrocarbons probably result in the mutual interactions between oil degradation and mineral alteration, with water serving as a matrix for the ion exchange. In the oil-water-feldspar system, feldspar alteration does not cease in the oil zone in the presence of some water and, inversely, oil degradation can even accelerate the alterations of the aluminosilicate minerals. The mineral alterations from feldspar to boehmite, illite, and muscovite promote the oil degradation in the oil-deionized water-feldspar systems with the mutual ion exchange. Due to a possible competition between the Brønsted acid sites in the minerals and the halide anions or the direct replacement of K-feldspar by albite, the mineral alterations retard the oil degradation in the oil-NaCl water-feldspar systems. The experimental results also indicate that oil degradation via free radical cross-linking and free radical thermal cracking is extensive in anhydrous oil systems and may lead to blocking of pores and throats by the generated pyrobitumen in the oil zone of a reservoir. In contrast, in the oil-water transition zone of a reservoir, oil degradation via thermal cracking and oxidative decomposition may dominate the oil degradation and may lead to the generation of secondary pores with leaching of minerals by the generated CO 2 and organic acids. This study demonstrates that organic-inorganic interactions are complex and proceed in diverse pathways in different hydrogeochemical systems. Thus, further quantitative investigations of the reaction pathways and reaction kinetics of coupled mineral alteration and oil degradation in oil-water-rock systems are warrented. Meanwhile, the incorporation of such organic-inorganic reactions into geochemical models will improve the prediction of the evolution of organic and inorganic species in petroleum reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dissolution of feldspars and precipitation of secondary minerals (kaolinite, illite and quartz) are significant diagenetic processes in arkosic sandstones. We examined moderately buried sandstones in the Eocene Shahejie Formation from two sags in the Bohai Bay Basin, East China. Three different types of mineral assemblages (MA) were identified: extensively leached feldspars with a large amount of authigenic kaolinite and quartz cement (MA-1), extensively leached feldspars with a large amount of authigenic kaolinite and minor quartz cement (MA-2), and extensively leached feldspars with a small amount of both authigenic kaolinite and quartz cement (MA-3). Numerical simulations at the continuum scale using Geochemist’s Workbench 9.0 were conducted to decipher the origin of the different mineral assemblages. The physicochemical reactions including feldspar dissolution, transport of Al 3+ and SiO 2 (aq), and precipitation of kaolinite and quartz are coupled together in these simulations, with constraints of chemical reactions, kinetic law, dispersion, and advection. Modeling results suggest that a dissolution zone, a transitional zone, and a precipitation zone can be formed in a sandstone unit with suitable constraints of temperature, flow rate, fluid composition and mineral reaction rate. And MA-3, MA-2, and MA-1 assemblages develop in these three zones respectively. The higher SiO 2 (aq) concentration required for the saturation of quartz than for kaolinite and the low Al 3+ concentration needed for the saturation of kaolinite lead to the precipitation of only kaolinite in the transitional zone in a geochemical system with feldspar dissolution serving as the dominant source of SiO 2 (aq) and Al 3+ . Comparisons between modeling results and observations of natural sandstone diagenesis suggest that an MA-1 assemblage is likely to occur in buried sandstones at high temperatures (>70–80 °C) and low flow rates. An MA-2 assemblage may occur in moderately buried sandstones at moderate temperatures (40–70 °C), in deeply buried sandstones with faults and fractures serving as conduits of meteoric freshwater, or in shallow sandstones where meteoric water is not abundant. An MA-3 assemblage tends to occur in shallow sandstones at low temperatures (<40–50 °C) and high flow rates, or in buried sandstones where faults and fractures develop widely and serve as freshwater conduits. These proposals are valid in natural arkosic sandstones and of great significance in deciphering the diagenetic environments where the feldspar dissolution and secondary mineral precipitation have occurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal that is absorbed from the soil through roots and transmitted through the food chain, posing a serious threat to human health and food security. Exogenous NaCl can reduce the uptake of Cd by plants, but the underlying molecular mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we elucidated the molecular mechanism by which exogenous NaCl inhibited Cd absorption in wheat seedlings. Notably, 50 mM NaCl altered the wheat physiological response and reduce the Cd uptake by plants. Overexpression of the NaCl–responsive gene TaNHX2 increased the levels of chlorophyll and proline, enhanced antioxidant enzyme (CAT, POD, and SOD) activity, decreased the MDA content, and improved tolerance to Cd stress in transgenic wheat plants. We further found that TaWRKY13 binds directly to the TaNHX2 promoter to regulate its transcription. Subsequent research found that TaWRKY13 can also bind to the promoter of the heavy metal transporter gene TaHMA2 to activate its expression. TaNHX2 overexpression obviously downregulated the expression of TaHMA2 in the presence of both NaCl and Cd. In vivo and in vitro assays revealed that NaCl inhibited the binding of TaWRKY13 to the TaHMA2 promoter. This work reveals that NaCl and Cd antagonize uptake at the molecular level and provides new insights for future reductions in Cd accumulation in wheat. [Display omitted] • Exogenous NaCl can reduce the uptake of Cd by wheat plants. • Overexpression of TaNHX2 improved tolerance to Cd stress in wheat. • TaWRKY13 binds the promoters of TaNHX2 and TaHMA2. • NaCl promoted the binding of TaWRKY13 to the TaNHX2 promoter. • NaCl inhibited the binding of TaWRKY13 to the TaHMA2 promoter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acquisition of “ground-truth” land surface evapotranspiration (ET) data at the satellite pixel scale over heterogeneous land surfaces is crucial to develop ET estimation models and improve the accuracy of remotely sensed ET values. However, few studies have focused on methods of acquiring ET data at the satellite pixel scale. Based on multi-site eddy covariance (EC) system measurements from the “Multi-Scale Observation Experiment on Evapotranspiration over heterogeneous land surfaces” in the middle reaches of the Heihe River Basin, five upscaling methods were compared and a combined method was developed to acquire “ground-truth” ET data at the satellite pixel scale. First, this study evaluated the performances of three simple upscaling methods (the arithmetic average, area-weighted and footprint-weighted methods). The results showed that the three simple upscaling methods perform well in the relatively homogeneous pixels. For the area-weighted method, the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) for these pixels was 6.1%. However, the accuracy was worse in the relatively heterogeneous pixels, with a MAPE of 10.8% due to the surface heterogeneity significantly affecting the accuracy of the upscaled results. Second, the upscaling of ET results from heterogeneous land surfaces at the satellite pixel scale can be significantly improved by using two upscaling methods introducing auxiliary variables (the integrated Priestley-Taylor equation method and the area-to-area regression kriging method), that can characterize the heterogeneity of the surface water and heat conditions. Finally, a combined method (applied the area-weighted method for relative homogeneous surfaces, otherwise used the method introducing auxiliary variables) was proposed to acquire both instantaneous and daily “ground-truth” ET data at the satellite pixel scale at the time of a MODIS overpass. The uncertainties of the “ground-truth” ET data were evaluated, taking the large aperture scintillometer (LAS) measurements as the satellite pixel reference. The results show that the proposed upscaling method is reasonable and feasible, and therefore could bridge the gap between in situ ET measurements and remote-sensing estimates of ET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Molecular dynamics models of microwave-heated coal were established. • Microwave heating affects the change in the crystallite diameter of coal. • Microwave heating promotes the dilatation and connection of pores. • Simulations were in good accordance with methane desorption experiments. To study the effects of microwave on the methane desorption characteristics of coal, the structural parameters of Pingdingshan coal were obtained through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and mercury intrusion test. Then the coal molecular structure models were established. The adsorption of CH 4 was simulated using Materials Studio. Finally, the combination of methane desorption experiments and molecular simulations were adopted to investigate the effects of microwave on the methane desorption characteristics, and the microscopic mechanism was analyzed. The results show that: the effect of microwave on the structure of coal is mainly reflected in the change of crystallite diameter (L a). For the macro perspective, the average pore diameter, total pore volume, porosity and permeability of the coal increase and the total specific surface area decreases after microwave heating. Microwave heating leads to the decrease in adsorption pores, the increase in percolation pores and microfractures, and the enhancement of inter-pore connectivity. The simulated transport diffusion coefficients were in good accordance with the methane desorption experimental results, indicating that microwave heating helps methane to diffuse out of the coal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The pore structure evolution of coal before and after stimulation was investigated. • Oxidation simplifies pore structure while microwave heating destroys pore space. • Microwave-assisted oxidation promotes the dilatation and connection of pores. • The pore volume of bituminous coal increases by 31.94% after stimulation. Coal reservoir stimulation is a process of enhancing coalbed methane (CBM) production by dilating, opening, and extending the width, length, and connectivity of the natural pore/fracture systems. Novel stimulation techniques including N 2 injection, ultrasonic wave, acidification, and plasma treatment have been proposed, but none is ubiquitously successful. As an alternative stimulation method, oxidation dissolves the organic molecules that plug the pores and fractures resulting in opening and interconnecting passageways to flow gas through the reservoir. However, oxidation has minimal effect on pores and microfractures. Microwave-assisted oxidation may be a potential stimulation strategy. In this study, the influence of microwave-assisted oxidation on pore structure and fractal characteristics of bituminous coal was investigated based on low-temperature nitrogen adsorption. Results show that microwave-irradiated coal has the highest fractal dimension D 2 , implying that microwave heating destroys the pore structure. The microwave-induced fractures are blocked by coal particles and mineral debris. The reduction in the micropore volume, specific surface area, and D 2 of oxidized coal confirms that oxidation simplifies the pore structure. Combined with microwave heating, the oxidizer easily penetrates into the coal matrix. As a result, the total pore volume increases by 31.94% and the isolated pores are connected. This study fills a knowledge gap on microwave-assisted oxidation stimulation and contributes to the decision of selecting appropriate method to enhance the exploitation of CBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA-scaffolded silver nanoclusters (DNA/AgNC) probes are widely used to detect microRNAs (miRNAs) for diagnosing diseases. However, current available DNA/AgNC probes, which primarily based on fluorescence quenching (turn-off) method, suffer from low detection accuracy caused by bio-matrix interferences. Herein, we designed a new DNA/AgNC-cDNA probe to detect miRNA based on a fluorescence enhancing (turn-on) strategy. Using miR-223, a potential biomarker of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), as the target miRNA, we devised the partially hybridized DNA/AgNC-cDNA fluorescent probe. The cDNA was the sequence that completely paired against miR-223 and served as a quencher to the fluorescent DNA/AgNC moiety. Upon the presence of miR-223, which could competitively bind the cDNA, then the DNA/AgNC was set free from the DNA/AgNC-cDNA complex accompanied by an increase in the fluorescence of the DNA/AgNC. Further, by fluorescence decay and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) experiments, we tentatively addressed the probe working mechanism: the restriction of photo-induced electron-transfer from complementary nucleobases to DNA/AgNC. Compared with the traditional fluorescence turn-off approach, our newly designed probe significantly improved the sensitivity (10 times) and demonstrated excellent specificity. This rapid, label-free, and low-cost fluorescence enhancing method can potentially be applied in the diagnosis of miR-223 associated disease, such as IBD. A novel fluorescent enhancing platform based on DNA-scaffolded silver nanoclusters (DNA/AgNC) was established to determination of inflammatory bowel diseases-associated miRNA biomarker. Image 1 • A new DNA/AgNC-based fluorescence enhancing method for miRNA detection was proposed. • The strategy significantly improved sensitivity and exhibited excellent specificity. • The restriction of PET mechanism was involved in this new method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) has been recognized as a prevalent toxic pollutant that poses a significant threat to human health through the food chain. To mitigate this risk, reducing Cd accumulation in crops is an effective strategy. In this work, we observed that the overexpression of TaXIP3 resulted in a substantial reduction in Cd accumulation in wheat. Further investigation revealed that TaJUB1 functions as an upstream regulator of TaXIP3, positively influencing its expression. Transgenic wheat lines overexpressing TaJUB1 were generated and these transgenic plants exhibited lower Cd concentrations compared to the WT. TaMPK4 was found to phosphorylate TaJUB1, thereby enhancing the transcription of TaXIP3. Moreover, five haplotypes for TaJUB1 were identified, with Hap4 and Hap5 demonstrating strong positive associations with reduced Cd absorption. The unique tyrosine residue present in Hap4 and Hap5 serves as a key phosphorylation site for TaMPK4, which exhibited a higher phosphorylation capacity towards these haplotypes. These findings illuminate the TaMPK4-TaJUB1-TaXIP3 pathway, elucidating its association with Cd absorption in wheat and providing a foundation for utilizing molecular technology in breeding low Cd varieties., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Wheat is a crucial food crop, yet its production is continually threatened by abiotic stresses, particularly salt stress. Understanding the molecular mechanisms by which wheat responds to salt stress is essential for developing salt-tolerant varieties. In this study, we investigated the molecular pathway involving the wheat TaDHN7 in response to salt stress. The overexpression of TaDHN7 enhances salt tolerance and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging in wheat, while the knockout of TaDHN7 significantly impairs salt tolerance. Furthermore, we identified that TaWRKY44 promotes the expression of TaDHN7 by binding to the W-box within the TaDHN7 promoter. Additionally, TaWRKY17 interacts with TaWRKY44, and this interaction enhances the protein stability of TaWRKY44 under salt stress, thereby enhancing its transcriptional regulatory capacity on TaDHN7. This study elucidates the TaWRKY17-TaWRKY44-TaDHN7 pathway in response to salt stress in wheat, providing valuable insights for the development of salt-tolerant wheat cultivars., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

A CaMnO 3 /g-C 3 N 4 heterostructure, demonstrating promising photocatalytic performance for tetracycline (TC), was successfully synthesized using a straightforward calcination approach in this study. A series of characterization methods were employed to assess the physicochemical properties and visible-light responsiveness of the synthesized photocatalysts. The photocatalytic degradation rates of TC for the three prepared samples were evaluated. The results indicate that the CaMnO 3 /g-C 3 N 4 composite exhibits the highest photocatalytic activity under visible-light irradiation, surpassing that of the individual components. Specifically, the degradation rate of CaMnO 3 /g-C 3 N 4 is 0.031 min -1 , which is 2.07 and 2.82 times greater than that of the pristine g-C 3 N 4 and CaMnO 3 , respectively. Our findings highlight the significant potential of eco-friendly perovskites in developing visible-light-activated g-C 3 N 4 -based heterostructures for practical photocatalytic applications., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Aims/Background Hematospermia, characterized by blood in the ejaculate, is a common and distressing condition in urology. Identifying the underlying causes, including translucent membranes in the prostatic utricle, is crucial for effective management. Despite advancements in diagnostic techniques, reliable predictive tools are needed to enhance preoperative planning and patient outcomes. This study aimed to develop a novel nomogram to predict the presence of translucent membranes in the prostatic utricle of hematospermia patients. Methods In total, 284 patients were selected from The Second People's Hospital of Hefei database based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The cohort was divided into a training set (198 patients) and a validation set (86 patients). To identify risk factors associated with the prostatic utricle translucent membrane, multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed. The identified risk factors were then used to construct a predictive nomogram model. The performance of the nomogram was evaluated using several statistical tools: receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to assess discriminative ability, calibration curves to evaluate prediction accuracy, and decision curve analysis (DCA) to determine clinical utility. Results The findings revealed that age, duration of disease, history of seminal vesiculitis, and seminal vesicle dimensions (width, length, and thickness) were independent risk factors for the presence of a prostatic utricle translucent membrane in patients with hematospermia. Using these variables, a nomogram was developed. The nomogram demonstrated strong predictive capability, as evidenced by its performance in ROC and calibration curve analyses. Furthermore, the DCA indicated that the nomogram offered significant clinical net benefits in predicting the presence of a translucent membrane. Conclusion Clinical use of the developed nomogram can assist clinicians in identifying patients with hematospermia who have translucent membrane in the prostatic utricle and in developing individualized treatment.

Water hypoxia and metal pollution are commonly co-existed in urbanized estuaries. This study focuses on the effect of an extended dissolved oxygen (DO) full-life dynamics (86 days) on metal behavior across the sediment-water interface through laboratory microcosms from two typical zones in Pearl River Estuary. Combining our time-series results of concentrations and fluxes, it showed that Co, Ni, and Zn consistently presented a release-precipitation-release trajectory with an oxic-hypoxic-anoxic-reoxic transition, characterized with highly variable behavior in the hypoxic-anoxic hotmoments. In parallel, changing DO dynamics significantly activated a repartitioning process of Co, Ni, and Zn among several species and elevated their risk in sediments, promoting the formation of more labile species in the 0-10 mm hotspots, where metals sensitively responded. Over DO transition, metal cycling was tightly co-related with Fe, Mn, and S elements. It was found that Mn was dominated in low oxygen-hypoxic period, but switched to S and Fe in anoxic stage, limiting sustained metal liberation to overlying water. Enlarging this experiment to practice, released Zn fluxes from sediments in hypoxic summer could contribute about ∼2.0% to their stocks in water column, while increase to 20% (1 m bottom water) in highly-stratified zones. This study has certain significance in understanding the long-term metal behavior and fate in estuarine regions, even lakes and reservoirs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Ulcerative colitis is a persistent inflammatory bowel disease characterized by inflammation and ulceration in the colon and gastrointestinal tract. It was indicated that the generation of hypochlorous acid (HClO) through the enzymatic activity of myeloperoxidase is significantly linked to ulcerative colitis. In this study, by assembling two hairpins (Hpa and Hpb) onto a quadrivalent cruciform DNA nanostructure, a novel HClO-activatable fluorescent probe was developed based on DNA nanomaterials (denoted MHDNA), which is sensitive, economic, simple, and stable. In the presence of HClO, the Trigger (T) was liberated from the MHDNA probe through a hydrolysis reaction between HClO and phosphorothioate (PS), which is modified on the MHDNA probe and has proved to exhibit particular susceptibility to the HClO. The liberated T subsequently initiated the opening of Hpa and Hpb to facilitate the catalyzed hairpin assembly (CHA) reaction, resulting in the changes of fluorescence and releasing T for recycled signal amplification to achieve sensitive detection of HClO (with a limit of detection 9.83 nM). Additionally, the MHDNA-based spatial-confinement effect shortens the physical distance between Hpa and Hpb and yields a high local concentration of the two reactive hairpins, achieving more rapid reaction kinetics in comparison to conventional CHA methods. Inspirationally, the MHDNA probe was effectively utilized for imaging HClO in ulcerative colitis mice, yielding valuable diagnostic insights for ulcerative colitis.

The limitations of protein-based hydrogels, including their insufficient mechanical properties and restricted biological functions, arise from the highly specific functions of proteins as natural building blocks. A potential solution to overcome these shortcomings is the development of protein-protein hydrogels, which integrate structural and functional proteins. In this study, a protein-protein hydrogel formed by crosslinking bovine serum albumin (BSA) and a genetically engineered intrinsically disordered collagen-like protein (CLP) through Ag─S bonding is introduced. The approach involves thiolating lysine residues of BSA and crosslinking CLP with Ag + ions, utilizing thiolation of BSA and the free-cysteines of CLP. The resulting protein-protein hydrogels exhibit exceptional properties, including notable plasticity, inherent self-healing capabilities, and gel-sol transition in response to redox conditions. In comparison to standalone BSA hydrogels, these protein-protein hydrogels demonstrate enhanced cellular viability, and improved cellular migration. In vivo experiments provide conclusive evidence of accelerated wound healing, observed not only in murine models with streptozotocin (Step)-induced diabetes but also in zebrafish models subjected to UV-burn injuries. Detailed mechanistic insights, combined with assessments of proinflammatory cytokines and the expression of epidermal differentiation-related proteins, robustly validate the protein-protein hydrogel's effectiveness in promoting wound repair., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Purpose: Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial ocular surface disease with a rising incidence. Therefore, it is urgent to construct a reliable and efficient drug delivery system for DED treatment., Methods: In this work, we loaded C-dots nanozyme into a thermosensitive in situ gel to create C-dots@Gel, presenting a promising composite ocular drug delivery system to manage DED., Results: This composite ocular drug delivery system (C-dots@Gel) demonstrated the ability to enhance adherence to the corneal surface and extend the ocular surface retention time, thereby enhancing bioavailability. Furthermore, no discernible ocular surface irritation or systemic toxicity was observed. In the DED mouse model induced by benzalkonium chloride (BAC), it was verified that C-dots@Gel effectively mitigated DED by stabilizing the tear film, prolonging tear secretion, repairing corneal surface damage, and augmenting the population of conjunctival goblet cells., Conclusion: Compared to conventional dosage forms (C-dots), the C-dots@Gel could prolong exhibited enhanced retention time on the ocular surface and increased bioavailability, resulting in a satisfactory therapeutic outcome for DED., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2024 Wei et al.)

For industrial processes, it is significant to carry out the dynamic modeling of data series for quality prediction. However, there are often different sampling rates between the input and output sequences. For the most traditional data series models, they have to carefully select the labeled sample sequence to build the dynamic prediction model, while the massive unlabeled input sequences between labeled samples are directly discarded. Moreover, the interactions of the variables and samples are usually not fully considered for quality prediction at each labeled step. To handle these problems, a hierarchical self-attention network (HSAN) is designed for adaptive dynamic modeling. In HSAN, a dynamic data augmentation is first designed for each labeled step to include the unlabeled input sequences. Then, a self-attention layer of variable level is proposed to learn the variable interactions and short-interval temporal dependencies. After that, a self-attention layer of sample level is further developed to model the long-interval temporal dependencies. Finally, a long short-term memory network (LSTM) network is constructed to model the new sequence that contains abundant interactions for quality prediction. The experiment on an industrial hydrocracking process shows the effectiveness of HSAN.

In the modern world, green digital financing is believed to be an efficient, resilient, and viable source of funding for crisis conditions and to solve the preceding issues in a timely manner. It is a modern tool of financing mainly introduced by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Following the paths, most economies started considering it to solve their national economic issues. Thus, to fulfill the requirements of the modern world, current research aims to study the driving role of green digital financing on low-carbon energy transition in China. Using the generalized method of moments (GMM) model based on data collected from 2015 to 2020, this research made an effort to determine the empirical nexus between the green digital financing index and the low-carbon energy transition index and to recommend the possible policy implications to the policymakers and other practitioners. Results have shown that a 0.27% rise in green digital financing is observed in the Chinese economy from scratch, and it resulted from a 0.365% efficiency in the low-carbon energy transition in China. Accordingly, the study resulted that the role of green digital finance is clustering in the Chinese renewable energy industry, which impacts both the performance of the Chinese renewable energy industry and the economy. For more resilience, extended efficiency and viable energy transition study suggested the practical implications for the stakeholders to consider for practice. The novelty of the study is its motivation, findings, and solutions., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Genetically encoded collagen-like protein-based hydrogels have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in promoting the healing process in diabetic patients. However, the current methods for preparing these hydrogels pose significant challenges due to harsh reaction conditions and the reliance on chemical crosslinkers. In this study, we present a genetically encoded approach that allows for the creation of protein hydrogels without the need for chemical additives. Our design involves the genetic encoding of paired-cysteine residues at the C- and N-terminals of a meticulously engineered collagen-like recombination protein. The protein-based hydrogel undergoes a gel-sol transition in response to redox stimulation, achieving a gel-sol transition. We provide evidence that the co-incubation of the protein hydrogel with 3T3 cells not only enhances cell viability but also promotes cell migration. Moreover, the application of the protein hydrogel significantly accelerates the healing of diabetic wounds by upregulating the expression of collagen-1α (COL-1α) and Cytokeratin 14 (CK-14), while simultaneously reducing oxidant stress in the wound microenvironment. Our study highlights a straightforward strategy for the preparation of redox-responsive protein hydrogels, removing the need for additional chemical agents. Importantly, our findings underscore the potential of this hydrogel system for effectively treating diabetic wounds, offering a promising avenue for future therapeutic applications.

The question of whether community nucleic acid testing contributes to an increase in infections within residential compounds has not been definitively answered. Shanghai, one of the largest cities in China, conducted city-wide community testing during its lockdown from late March to May 2022. This situation provided a unique opportunity to examine the effect of community testing on infection rates, as the lockdown largely eliminated confounding factors such as citizen mobility. In our study, based on a survey of 208 residential compounds in Shanghai and the daily infection data during the lockdown period, we found a significant correlation between community testing and infection risk in these compounds. However, after addressing potential issues of reverse causality and sampling bias, we found no significant causal link between community testing and infection risk. Furthermore, we discovered that increased awareness of mask-wearing correlated with a decrease in infections within the residential compounds during community testing. This suggests that the perceived correlation between community testing and infection risk may be confounded by residents' adherence to mask-wearing practices. Our findings emphasize the need for public health decision-makers to reinforce the importance of mask-wearing during community testing, as a means to prevent infections among citizens., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Zinc ion, one of the most important transition metal ions in living organisms, plays a crucial role in the homeostasis of the organism. The disorder of zinc is associated with many major diseases. It is highly desirable to develop selective and sensitive methods for the real-time detection of zinc ions. In this work, double-emitting fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) are prepared by a solvothermal method using glutathione, L-aspartic acid, and formamide as the raw materials. The carbon dots specifically recognize zine ions and produce a decrease in fluorescence intensity at 684 nm and an increase at 649 nm, leading to a ratiometric fluorescent sensor for zinc detection. Through surface modification and spectral analysis, the surface groups including carboxyl, carbonyl, hydroxyl, and amino groups, and C=N in heterocycles of CDs are revealed to synergistically coordinate Zn 2+ , inducing the structural changes in the emission site. The CDs can afford a low limit of detection of ~5 nM for Zn 2+ detection with good linearity in the range of 0.02-5 μM, showing good selectivity as well. The results from real samples including fetal bovine serum, milk powder, and zinc gluconate oral solution indicated the good applicability of the CDs in the determination of Zn 2+ .

Introduction: Dopamine is one of the most significant neurotransmitters and plays an important role in the management of cognitive functions such as learning, memory, and behavior. The disorder of dopamine is associated with many major mental diseases. It is necessary to develop selective methods for the detection of dopamine. Methods: In this work, carbon dots (CDs) were synthesized by a solvothermal route using glutathione, L-histidine, and formamide as sources. Results: Under light irradiation, The CDs convert dissolved oxygen to singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 ), which could oxidize TMB. When reduced dopamine was present, it suppressed the catalysis of CDs, then the absorption of the CDs-coupled TMB complex at 652 nm was diminished. Furthermore, it was revealed that the surface groups including hydroxyl, amino, carbonyl, and carboxyl groups of CDs were related to their light-responsive catalytic activity by surface modification. In the range of 0.5-15 μM, the CDs could afford a LOD of 0.25 μM for dopamine detection with fine linearity, also showing good selectivity. Discussion: The results from fetal bovine serum indicated the good applicability of the CDs in the determination of dopamine., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Jia, Liu, Cheng, Deng, Zhang and Tuo.)

The photocatalytic reduction of CO 2 with H 2 O into valuable chemicals is a sustainable carbon-neutral technology for renewable energy; however, the photocatalytic activity and product selectivity remain challenging. Herein, an S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst with superior CO 2 photoreduction performance─porous C 3 N 4 (CN) nanosheets anchored with zinc(II) tetra(4-cyanophenyl)porphyrin (ZnTP) nanoassemblies (denoted as ZnTP/CN)─was designed and prepared via a simple self-assembly process. The constructed ZnTP/CN heterojunction had rich accessible active sites, improved CO 2 absorption capacity, and high charge carrier separation efficiency caused by the S-scheme heterojunction. As a result, the obtained ZnTP/CN catalyst exhibited considerable activity for photocatalytic CO 2 reduction, yielding CO with a generation rate of 19.4 μmol g -1 ·h -1 and a high selectivity of 95.8%, which is much higher than that of pristine CN nanosheets (4.53 μmol g -1 ·h -1 , 57.4%). In addition, theoretical calculations and in situ Fourier transform infrared spectra demonstrated that the Zn sites in the porphyrin unit favor CO 2 activation and *COOH formation as well as CO desorption, thereby affording a high CO selectivity. This work provides insight into the design and fabrication of efficient S-scheme heterostructure photocatalysts for solar energy storage.

Understanding of the potential leaching of plastic particles, particularly nanoplastics (NPs), from food packaging is crucial in assessing the safety of the packaging materials. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate potential exposure risks by simulating the release of NPs from various plastic packaging materials, including polypropylene (PP), general casting polypropylene (GCPP) or metalized casting polypropylene (MCPP), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyphenylene sulfone (PPSU), under corresponding food consumption scenarios. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were utilized to identify and characterize the NPs leached from plastic packaging. The presence of separated NPs was observed in PP groups subjected to 100 °C hot water, GCPP plastic sterilized at a high temperature (121 °C), and PE plastic soaked in 100 °C hot water, exhibited a distorted morphology and susceptibility to aggregation. The findings suggest that the frequent consumption of takeaway food, hot beverages served in disposable paper cups, and foods packaged with GCPP materials may elevate the risk of ingestion of NPs. This reminds us that food packaging can serve as an important avenue for human exposure to NPs, and the results can offer valuable insights for food safety management and the development of food packaging materials.

Achieving sustainable environmental growth and preventing further environmental degradation are challenging goals for policymakers. This study looks at environmental laws and green finance's role in fostering a more sustainable environment. The literature still needs to empirically or theoretically investigate how environmental laws and green financing affect carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, particularly when combined with moderating factors such as social and economic globalization. As a result, this study investigates how environmental laws and green funding can help the N-11 nations cut their CO2 emissions. Our research uses empirical data from a group of the N-11 nations that span the years 2000 to 2019. To handle issues with panel data analysis, such as cross-sectional dependence and slope heterogeneity, we use advanced panel approaches (CIPS and CADF unit root and cointegration test and cross-sectional augmented ARDL). This research demonstrates that green financing (GFI) and environmental laws (ENV) have a negative but significant effect on CO2 emissions. While social globalization moderates the causal relationship between energy consumption and GDP while negatively and significantly causing GFI and ENV with CO2 emissions among the N-11 countries, economic growth has had a positive and significant effect on CO2 emissions in the N-11 countries. According to our research, nations could achieve the SDG-7 and SDG-13 goals if they adopted green financial and environmental policies., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Nanoplastics are the persistent pollutants in a variety of environments, representing a potential threat to human health. Notably, plastic particles have been detected in sample of human bloodstream. It is thus significant to investigate the effects of nanoplastics on the cardiovascular system owing to its ease transfer through the bloodstream to other organs. However, few studies have been performed to evaluate the cardiovascular toxicity of nanoplastics. Herein, we pursued to investigate the adverse cardiovascular impacts of polystyrene (PS), PS-NH 2 and PS-COOH nanoplastics on mice. Experimental results demonstrated that the exposure to these nanoplastics could result in structural damage of vascular endothelial cells and inflammatory response. Moreover, it was found out that the dysfunctions of coagulation and prethrombotic state were caused by nanoplastics, which could be ascribed to the activation of JAK1/STAT3/TF signaling pathway. In summary, results clearly indicated that nanoplastic exposure lead to vascular toxicity to mice, which serves as a basis for future studies about the potential physiological threat of nanoplastics to humans., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)