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Summary The potential advantages for fermentation production of chemicals at high temperatures are attractive, such as promoting the rate of biochemical reactions, reducing the risk of contamination and the energy consumption for fermenter cooling. In this work, we de novo engineered the thermophile Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius to produce riboflavin, since this bacterium can ferment diverse carbohydrates at an optimal temperature of 60°C with a high growth rate. We first introduced a heterogeneous riboflavin biosynthetic gene cluster and enabled the strain to produce detectable riboflavin (28.7 mg l−1). Then, with the aid of an improved gene replacement method, we preformed metabolic engineering in this strain, including replacement of ribCGtg with a mutant allele to weaken the consumption of riboflavin, manipulation of purine pathway to enhance precursor supply, deletion of ccpNGtg to tune central carbon catabolism towards riboflavin production and elimination of the lactate dehydrogenase gene to block the dominating product lactic acid. Finally, the engineered strain could produce riboflavin with the titre of 1034.5 mg l−1 after 12‐h fermentation in a mineral salt medium, indicating G. thermoglucosidasius is a promising host to develop high‐temperature cell factory of riboflavin production. This is the first demonstration of riboflavin production in thermophilic bacteria at an elevated temperature.

In the dynamic panorama of China’s shifting social mobility, characterized by a transition from individual to family mobility, the migration of the first cohort of migrant workers and their families has taken center stage. However, the scholarly discourse on how family migration influences the health of migrant workers remains contentious. This study uses data from the China Migrants Dynamic Survey (CMDS) of 2017 to focus on the first cohort of migrant workers. Drawing on the theories of family stress and life course, the empirical analysis incorporated heterogeneity tests, total effects, robustness tests, mediation effects, and propensity score matching to explore the mechanisms underlying the impact of family migration on migrant workers’ health. Data analysis reveals a substantial negative impact of family migration on the health status of the first cohort of migrant workers. Variations in health outcomes were identified across different family migration patterns. Further analysis indicates that the first cohort of migrant workers, when confronted with family livelihood pressures, tends to prioritize economic resources to support urban family life over their own health. This is because they are influenced by a family-centered culture. Our findings reveal a nuanced landscape. While family migration provides potentially enhances social support systems, it also imposes significant health trade-offs due to increased life stressors. These stressors include economic instability, increased responsibility for family care, and the psychological impacts of adapting to new urban environments. There are the health crowding-out effect of family migration on first cohort migrant workers.

BackgroundThe study aimed to understand the factors affecting the health and healthcare of the first cohort of migrant workers in China using the concept of the cumulative disadvantage framework.MethodsData from the China Migrants Dynamic Survey (2017) were used to analyze the process of cumulative disadvantage of health and healthcare among migrant workers. The study also analyzed the spatial lag problem between localized medical insurance policies and healthcare accessibility.ResultsThe results revealed a significant negative association between the mobility of the first cohort of migrant workers and their health status. Long-term exposure to hazardous work had a greater negative impact on their health. Chinese migrant workers faced significant obstacles in accessing healthcare due to the lack of portability in health insurance.ConclusionThe study emphasizes the urgent need for addressing the structural barriers hindering healthcare access and outcomes for migrant workers. It is crucial to promote a more equitable and sustainable healthcare system in China to ensure migrant workers’ health and well-being.

The efficient recovery of tellurium from aqueous solution is essential from the viewpoint of non-ferrous metal resource exploitation and environmental protection. In this work, Mg–Al LDOs (layered double oxides) was synthesized by a facile biotemplate method, and then loaded with NZVI to realize coupling adsorption and reduction for tellurium recovery. Through the SEM, TEM, XRD, and BET tests, the morphology and crystal structure of this NZVI/LDOs composites were determined, and it was found that NZVI can be distributed on the surface of the LDOs sheet uniformly with large specific surface area of 134.04 m2/g and pore size of 10.15 nm. The prepared NZVI/LDOs composites exhibited excellent tellurium adsorption capacity (the removal rate can reach more than 99%) and pH, adsorption concentration and temperature are controlled to find the optimal adsorption conditions. The XPS analysis confirmed that the reduced tellurium adhered to the LDOs surface in elemental form, demonstrating the feasibility of the method. The combination of NZVI and Mg–Al LDOs solved the defects of bare NZVI and greatly improved the adsorption performance which has a good application prospect in the future recovery of tellurium.

Abstract The removing of fluoride from water is highly desired from the viewpoint of environmental protection and sustainable development due to the adverse impacts on human and ecosystem. In this study, the hierarchical porous layered double hydroxide (LDH)/biomass carbon fiber (BCF) has been successfully fabricated by the combined sol–gel, carbonization and hydrothermal processes using sustainable bamboo fibers as raw material based on the assembly the LDH nanosheets on BCF surfaces. Structural characterization indicates that the LDH nanosheets were attached to the BCF surface via in situ crystal growth. N2 sorption measurements show that the LDH/BCF has relatively uniform accessible mesochannel size of 3.56 nm, and the surface area is as high as 39.89 m2/g. The resulting LDH/BCF exhibit a noticeable enhanced adsorption capacity for fluoride removal compared to that of Al2O3/BCF, accompanied by 15.21 mg/g of the adsorption capacity. The presence of the high negative charge anions had negligible influence on fluoride adsorption. Importantly, recovery adsorption capacity for fluoride was obtained for LDH/BCF for 5 consecutive cycles without a significant decrease in its adsorption properties. Therefore, the current research can offer a green approach to fabricate LDH/BCF with hierarchical structures for efficient removing fluoride from water, and the fabricated LDH/BCF will be an excellent candidate for pollution control based on the synergistic effects of BCF and LDH, high adsorption properties with good reusability.

Background. The functional characteristics of NLRP3 in the pathogenesis of coxsackievirus B3- (CVB3-) induced viral myocarditis (VMC) have not been fully elucidated, and the targeted therapeutic effect of NLRP3 or its related pathway in VMC has not been reported. Method. In this work, the change patterns of NLRP3- and Th17-related factors were detected during the pathological process of CVB3-induced VMC in Balb/c mice. The correlation between NLRP3 and Th17 cells during the VMC process was analyzed by Spearman test. The coculture system of spleen CD4+ T and bone marrow CD11c+ DC cells was set to explore the orchestration of NLRP3 and Th17 in the pathological development of VMC in vitro. Anti-IL-1β antibody or NLRP3-/- Balb/c were used to block the NLRP3 pathway indirectly and directly to analyze the NLRP3-targeting therapeutic value. Results. The change patterns of NLRP3- and Th17-related molecules in the whole pathological process of mouse CVB3-induced VMC were described. Through Spearman correlation analysis, it was confirmed that there was a close correlation between NLRP3 and Th17 cells in the whole pathological process of VMC. And the interaction mode between NLRP3 and Th17 was preliminarily explored in the cell experiment in vitro. Under the intervention of an anti-IL-1β antibody or NLRP3 knockout, the survival rate of the intervention group was significantly improved, the degree of myocardial inflammation and fibrosis was significantly alleviated, and the content of myocardial IL-17 and spleen Th17 was also significantly decreased. Conclusion. Our findings demonstrated a key role of the NLRP3 inflammasome and its close relationship with Th17 in the pathological progression of CVB3-induced VMC and suggested a possible positive feedback-like mutual regulation mechanism between the NLRP3 inflammasome and Th17 in vitro and in the early stage of CVB3 infection. Taking NLRP3 as a new starting point, it provides a new target and idea for the prevention and treatment of CVB3-induced VMC.

Abstract Background Although various treatments for breast cancer related lymphedema exist, there is still a need for a more effective and convenient approach. Pilot studies and our clinical observations suggested that acupuncture may be a potential option. This study aims to verify the effectiveness of acupuncture on BCRL and evaluate its safety using a rigorously designed trial. Methods/Design Women who are clinically diagnosed as unilateral BCRL, with a 10% to 40% increase in volume compared to the unaffected arm, will be recruited. Following baseline assessment, participants will be randomized to either the real acupuncture group or sham-acupuncture group at a ratio of 1:1, and given a standard real acupuncture or sham-acupuncture treatment accordingly on both arms followed by the same usual care of decongestive therapy. Volume measurements of both arms will be performed for every participant after each treatment. Data collected at baseline and the last session will be used to calculate the primary outcome and secondary outcomes. Other data will be exploited for interim analyses and trial monitoring. The primary outcome is the absolute reduced limb volume ratio. Secondary outcomes are incidence of adverse events and change in quality of life. A t test or non-parameter test will be used to compare the difference between two groups, and assess the overall effectiveness of acupuncture using the SPSS software (version 12). Discussion This study will help expand our knowledge about the effectiveness of acupuncture on BCRL, and how acupuncture might be used in the management of this condition. Acupuncture may be a promising complement or alternative to conventional lymphedema treatment methods, if its effectiveness is confirmed. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02803736 (Registered on October 31, 2016).