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Cadmium (Cd) pollution is a serious threat to food safety and human health. Minimization of Cd uptake and enhancing Cd tolerance in plants are vital to improve crop yield and reduce hazardous effects to humans. In this study, we investigate the effect of a synergistic system with phytohormone (24-Epibrassinolide, EBL) and silicon (Si) on Cd toxicity and accumulation of rice plants. The results revealed that Si, EBL and their combination rescued Cd-induced growth inhibition, as evidenced by the increased dry weight of root and shoot. The chlorophyll content and photosynthetic performance were improved. The activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD and CAT) was increased and oxidative stress was alleviated. More importantly, Cd content in root was decreased by 20.25%, 17.72% and 27.84%, while Cd content in shoot decreased by 21.17%, 16.47% and 25.88%, respectively. Moreover, Si, EBL and Si + EBL treatment enriched cell wall-bound Cd and reduced Cd toxicity to functional organelles. Meanwhile, the residual form of Cd was enriched and the highly toxic forms of Cd (inorganic and water-soluble Cd) were decreased. The joint application showed better effects than applying Si and EBL alone. Collectively, this study provides an effective way for Cd toxicity mitigation in rice plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodontitis, the second most common oral disease, is primarily initiated by inflammatory responses and osteoclast differentiation, in which the MAPK signaling pathway and mitochondrial function play important roles. 3‐methyl‐1H‐indol‐1‐yl dimethylcarbamodithioate (3o), a hybrid of indole and dithiocarbamate, was first synthesized by our group. It has shown anti‐inflammatory activity against lipopolysaccharide‐induced acute lung injury. However, it is not known if 3o can exert effects in periodontitis. In vitro study: LPS‐induced macrophage inflammation initiation and a receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand‐stimulated osteoclast differentiation model were established. Cell viability, inflammatory cytokines, osteoclast differentiation, the MAPK signaling pathway, and mitochondrial function before and after treatment with 3o were investigated. In vivo study: Alveolar bone resorption, inflammatory cytokine expression, osteoclast differentiation, and the underlying mechanisms were assessed in mice with periodontitis. Inflammatory cytokine expression and osteoclast differentiation appeared downregulated after 3o treatment. 3o inhibited the MAPK signaling pathway and restored mitochondrial function, including mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial membrane potential, and ATP production. Meanwhile, 3o reduced inflammation activation and bone resorption in mice with periodontitis, reflected by the decreased expression of inflammatory cytokines and osteoclasts, implying that 3o inhibited the MAPK signaling pathway and the mitochondrial oxidative DNA damage marker 8‐OHdG. These results highlight the protective role of 3o in periodontitis in mice and reveal an important strategy for preventing periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For difficult rock burst monitoring and early-warning for thick coal seam in deep mining, a rock burst early-warning model based on Logistic regression was established by use of conventional indexes (support resistance, borehole stress and gas concentration) as well as the one by use of comprehensive indexes including the conventional indexes (support resistance, borehole stress and gas concentration) and geophysical indexes (average focal distance, daily pulses and daily energy of microseism, and intensity of electromagnetic radiation). Quantitative expression between probability of rock burst occurrence and comprehensive indexes was obtained. Finally, the rock burst early-warning models were tested by use of measured data in Qianqiu Coal Mine. The research results show that forecasting accuracy rate of the rock burst early-warning model based on Logistic regression by use of comprehensive indexes achieves 89.2%, whose goodness of fit and forecasting accuracy rate is higher than the ones of the model by use of the conventional indexes.