Time-dependent redistribution of soil arsenic induced by transformation of iron species during zero-valent iron biochar composites amendment: Effects on the bioaccessibility of As in soils.

Zero-valent iron biochar composites (ZVI/BC) are considered as effective amendments for arsenic (As)-contaminated soils. However, the mechanisms of transformation of various soil As species during ZVI/BC amendments remain unclear. This study investigated As transformation in four soils (namely, GX, ZJ, HB, and HN) treated with ZVI/BC for 65 days under two soil moisture conditions, unsaturated and oversaturated. Results showed that the 65-day treatment was divided into two stages based on the variation of labile As content. Within 2 days (stage 1), ZVI/BC addition quickly reduced labile As content by 5.91-90.3 % in soils under unsaturated conditions. During days 2-65 (stage 2), labile As ultimately decreased by 0.06-0.31 mg/kg in GX, ZJ, and HB while increasing by 22.1 mg/kg in HN soil, due to its lower pH value and Fe content. The variations of labile As were attributed to changes in multiple Fe minerals and associated As species. In stage 1, the corrosion of ZVI/BC generated amorphous Fe oxides to immobilize labile As, resulting in the accumulation of meta-stable As. In stage 2, amorphous Fe oxides were transformed into crystalline Fe oxides, resulting in the release and re-precipitation of As along with transformation, thus redistributing immobilized As into labile and stable As, which was evidenced by multiple methods, including chemical extraction, XRD, and TEM-EDX. The elevated soil moisture condition would enhance the corrosion of ZVI/BC in stage 1, further forming a reductive environment to facilitate the transformation of Fe minerals in stage 2. Besides, As bioaccessibility in soils was reduced by 10.8-38.7 % after ZVI/BC treatment in in-vitro gastrointestinal simulations. Overall, our study revealed the time-dependent transformation mechanism of soil As species and associated Fe minerals under different soil moisture with ZVI/BC treatments, and highlighted the effectiveness of ZVI/BC as a long-term amendment for As-contaminated soils.

Two-Dimensional Layered Nano-MoS2 Induces Earthworm Immune Cell Apoptosis by Regulating Lysosomal Maintenance and Function: Toward Unbiased Screening and Validation of Suspicious Pathways.

Molybdenum-based nanosheets (NSMoS2) are increasingly applied in various fields and undergoing relevant risk evaluations on subjectively hypothesized toxicity pathways. However, risk assessment should be unbiased and focus on appropriate end points to avoid biased prescreening. Here, we developed an adverse biological outcome screening strategy based on nontargeted functional protein profiles in earthworm (Eisenia fetida) immune cells exposed to NSMoS2 and their ionic counterpart (Na2MoO4). Through this framework, the apoptosis-related processes with distinct mechanisms were rapidly identified and thoroughly validated phenotypically. Specifically, upon exposure to 50 µg Mo/mL Na2MoO4, cellular signaling and energy homeostasis were disrupted within the transcription-translation biological chain. The autophagic pathway was activated, which, together with energy deprivation, phenotypically induced significant autophagy that ultimately led to apoptosis. In contrast, NSMoS2, tested at the same concentration, caused a reprogramming of apoptotic gene and protein expressions. Transcriptome plasticity facilitated the endocytic-adaptive transcriptional profile characterized by cytoskeleton remodeling and lysosome organization/movement under NSMoS2 exposure. Subcellular dynamics further revealed NSMoS2-induced lysosomal damage with a time-sensitive physiological window, ultimately mediating apoptosis. These findings provide a mechanistic and visual understanding of the distinct risk profile of NSMoS2 compared to molybdate, highlighting the importance of integrating nontargeted screening and phenotypic validation in early risk warning.

Differential interaction modes of As(III)/As(V) with microbial cell membrane induces opposite effects on organic contaminant biodegradation in groundwater.

Arsenic, a widespread toxic metalloid in groundwater, derives both from natural geological environment and industrial discharge, is extensively detected to be coexisting with organic contaminants, such as 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP), a prior concerned pollutant. During biological remediation of groundwater, arsenic potentially intervenes microbial behaviors. This study found an opposite interference of arsenic in its two different valences (III and V) on the degradation of TCP by the functional bacteria, Sphingomonas fennica K101. As(III) inhibited TCP degradation in a concentration-dependent manner (from 0.1-10 mg/L), with a maximum inhibition rate of 35.5%, whereas As(V) exhibited promoting effects by 13.8% and 33.2% at 1 mg/L and 10 mg/L, respectively. Employing field emission transmission electron microscopy, quantum chemical calculations, fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry and metabolomic analysis, we unveil distinct interactions between cell membranes and arsenic in two valence states. Exposure to As(III) led to significant accumulation of As(III) in the cytoplasm, followed by interaction with intracellular ferritin (ferritin heavy chain 1), releasing iron ions and generating ROS. Subsequently, it induced ferroptosis and disrupted bacterial basal metabolism, thereby inhibiting TCP biodegradation. Oppositely, As(V) bound to a critical component sphingosine and triggered sphingosine polymerization, increasing membrane permeability, which was evidenced by measuring lactate dehydrogenase release. This process facilitated TCP transmembrane permeation by reducing membrane or extracellular secretion resistance. As(V) concurrently upregulated energy metabolism and accelerated TCP degradation. Our study elucidates the influence of prevalent arsenic on biodegradation efficacy, particularly amidst changing redox conditions associated with varying arsenic valences.

Chiral resolution of furofuran lignans and their derivatives from the stems of Dendrobium 'Sonia'.

Five new furofuran lignans and their derivatives, (-)-glaberide I 4-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (1a), (+)-glaberide I 4-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (1b), (+)-glaberide I 7'-ethoxy-4-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (2a), (-)-glaberide I 7'-ethoxy-4-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (2b), and (-)-isoeucommin A (3b), along with fifteen known analogs were isolated from the stems of Dendrobium 'Sonia'. These compounds were classified into ten pairs of enantiomers or diastereoisomers via chiral resolution, and their structures were determined based on extensive spectroscopic data. Their absolute configurations were determined by hydrolysis, comparison of experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The isolates were evaluated for their ability to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 cells. Among them, syringaresinol (5) exhibited prominent inhibition activity, with an IC50 value of 28.4 ± 3.0 µmol·L-1, and there was a slight difference between 5a, 5b and the racemic mixture 5.

Matcha alleviates obesity by modulating gut microbiota and its metabolites.

Matcha shows promise for diabetes, obesity, and gut microbiota disorders. Studies suggest a significant link between gut microbiota, metabolites, and obesity. Thus, matcha may have a positive impact on obesity by modulating gut microbiota and metabolites. This study used 16S rDNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics to examine the cecal contents in mice. By correlation analysis, we explored the potential mechanisms responsible for the positive effects of matcha on obesity. The results indicated that matcha had a mitigating effect on the detrimental impacts of a high-fat diet (HFD) on multiple physiological indicators in mice, including body weight, adipose tissue weight, serum total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, as well as glucose tolerance. Moreover, it was observed that matcha had an impact on the structural composition of gut microbiota and gut metabolites. Specifically, matcha was able to reverse the alterations in the abundance of certain obesity-improving bacteria, such as Alloprevotella, Ileibacterium, and Rikenella, as well as the abundance of obesity-promoting bacteria Romboutsia, induced by a HFD. Furthermore, matcha can influence the levels of metabolites, including formononetin, glutamic acid, pyroglutamic acid, and taurochenodeoxycholate, within the gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, matcha enhances caffeine metabolism and the HIF-1 signaling pathway in the KEGG pathway. The results of the correlation analysis suggest that formononetin, theobromine, 1,3,7-trimethyluric acid, and Vitamin C displayed negative correlation with both the obesity phenotype and microbiota known to exacerbate obesity, while demonstrating positive correlations with microbiota that alleviated obesity. However, glutamic acid, pyroglutamic acid, and taurochenodeoxycholate had the opposite effect. In conclusion, the impact of matcha on gut metabolites may be attributed to its modulation of the abundance of Alloprevotella, Ileibacterium, Rikenella, and Romboutsia within the gastrointestinal tract, thereby potentially contributing to the amelioration of obesity.

Intergenerational neurotoxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics in offspring mice is mediated by dysfunctional microbe-gut-brain axis.

Nanoplastics (NPs) are ubiquitous in daily life, posing potential risks to the environment and human. While their negative effects on parental organisms have been extensively studied, intergenerational effects are still in the early stages of investigation. Here, we aimed to investigate the impact of maternal exposure to an environmentally relevant level of polystyrene NPs (PSNPs, 100 nm) during gestation and lactation (∼32 days, 50 µg/mouse/day) on neurotoxicity mediated by the microbe-gut-brain axis in offspring mice. Maternal PSNPs exposure significantly increased brain TNF-α level and microglia by 1.43 and 1.48 folds respectively, compared to control, accompanied by nuclear pyknosis and cell vacuolization in cortex and hippocampus. Targeted neurotransmitter metabolomics analysis revealed dysregulation in dopamine and serotonin metabolism. Specifically, dopamine levels increased significantly from 0.007 ng/L to 0.015 ng/L, while N-acetylseroton and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid decreased significantly from 0.002 and 0.929 ng/L to 0.001 and 0.680 ng/L, respectively. Through a combination of 16S rRNA sequencing and biochemical analysis, we discovered that maternal PSNPs exposure led to a depletion of anti-inflammatory bacteria and an enrichment of pro-inflammatory bacteria resulting in intestinal barrier damage, elevated levels of lipopolysaccharide in blood, and subsequent activation of neuroinflammation. Meanwhile, gut bacteria dysbiosis interfered with communication between gut and brain by dysregulating neurotransmitter synthesis, as evidenced by significant associations between neurotransmitter-related bacteria (Akkermansia, Family_XIII_AD3011_group, Lachnoclostridium) and dopamine/serotonin related metabolites. Furthermore, transcriptional alterations in dopamine and serotonin related pathways were observed in the enteric nervous system, suggesting abnormal signal transduction from gut to brain contributes to neurotoxicity. This study provides new insights into NPs-induced neurotoxicity within the context of microbe-gut-brain axis and highlights the risk of cerebral dysfunction in offspring with maternal NPs exposure.

Multiple Non-Destructive Approaches to Analysis of the Early Silurian Chain Coral Halysites from South China.

Cnidarians are among the most important diploblastic organisms, elucidating many of the early stages of Metazoan evolution. However, Cnidarian fossils from Cambrian deposits have been rarely documented, mainly due to difficulties in identifying early Cnidarian representatives. Halysites, a tabulate coral from Silurian reef systems, serves as a crucial taxon for interpreting Cambrian cnidarians. Traditionally, the biological characteristics of Halysites have been analyzed using methods limited by pretreatment requirements (destructive testing) and the chamber size capacity of relevant analytical instruments. These constraints often lead to irreversible information loss and inadequate data extraction. This means that, to date, there has been no high-resolution three-dimensional mineralization analysis of Halysites. This study aims to introduce novel, non-destructive techniques to analyze the internal structure and chemical composition of Halysites. Furthermore, it seeks to elucidate the relationship between coral organisms and biomineralization in reef settings and to compare Silurian Tabulata with putative Cambrian cnidarians. Techniques such as micro-X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (micro-XRF), micro-X-ray computed tomography (micro-CT), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed in this research. With the help of high-resolution micro-CT scanning, we identify the growth pattern of Halysites, showing both lateral and vertical development. The lateral multiple-branching growth pattern of Halysites corals is first established herein. The flaggy corallite at the initial stage of branching is also observed. The micro-XRF mapping results reveal the occurrence of septa spines for Halysites, a trait previously thought rare or absent. Additionally, the ratio of coral volume to the surrounding rock was assessed, revealing that Halysites reefs were relatively sparse (volume ratio = ~30%). The cavities between Halysites likely provided more space for other organisms (e.g., rugose corals and bryozoans) when compared to other coral reef types. Additionally, we provide a comparative analysis of post-Cambrian colonial calcareous skeletons, offering insights into the structural features and growth patterns of early skeletal metazoans across the Ediacaran-Cambrian boundary.

Temporal Dynamics of Copper-Based Nanopesticide Transfer and Subsequent Modulation of the Interplay Between Host and Microbiota Across Trophic Levels.

During agricultural production, significant quantities of copper-based nanopesticides (CBNPs) may be released into terrestrial ecosystems through foliar spraying, thereby posing a potential risk of biological transmission via food chains. Consequently, we investigated the trophic transfer of two commonly available commercial CBNPs, Reap2000 (RP) and HolyCu (HC), in a plant-caterpillar terrestrial food chain and evaluated impacts on host microbiota. Upon foliar exposure (with 4 rounds of spraying, totaling 6.0 mg CBNPs per plant), leaf Cu accumulation levels were 726 ± 180 and 571 ± 121 mg kg-1 for RP and HC, respectively. HC exhibited less penetration through the cuticle compared to RP (RP: 55.5%; HC: 32.8%), possibly due to size exclusion limitations. While caterpillars accumulated higher amounts of RP, HC exhibited a slightly higher trophic transfer factor (TTF; RP: 0.69 ± 0.20; HC: 0.74 ± 0.17, p > 0.05) and was more likely to be transferred through the food chain. The application of RP promoted the dispersal of phyllosphere microbes and perturbed the original host intestinal microbiota, whereas the HC group was largely host-modulated (control: 65%; RP: 94%; HC: 34%). Integrating multiomics analyses and modeling approaches, we elucidated two pathways by which plants exert bottom-up control over caterpillar health. Beyond the direct transmission of phyllosphere microbes, the leaf microbiome recruited upon exposure to CBNPs further influenced the ingestion behavior and intestinal microbiota of caterpillars via altered leaf metabolites. Elevated Proteobacteria abundance benefited caterpillar growth with RP, while the reduction of Proteobacteria with HC increased the risk of lipid metabolism issues and gut disease. The recruited Bacteroidota in the RP phyllosphere proliferated more extensively into the caterpillar gut to enhance stress resistance. Overall, the gut microbes reshaped in RP caterpillars exerted a strong regulatory effect on host health. These findings expand our understanding of the dynamic transmission of host-microbiota interactions with foliar CBNPs exposure, and provide critical insight necessary to ensure the safety and sustainability of nanoenabled agricultural strategies.

Konjac supplementation can alleviate obesity induced by high-fat diet in mice by modulating gut microbiota and its metabolites.

As a multi-factorial disease, obesity has become one of the major health problems in the world, and it is still increasing rapidly. Konjac supplementation, as a convenient dietary therapy, has been shown to be able to regulate gut microbiota and improve obesity. However, the specific mechanism by which konjac improves obesity through gut microbiota remains to be studied. In this study, a high-fat diet (HFD) was used to induce a mouse obesity model, and 16S rDNA sequencing and an untargeted metabolomics were used to investigate the impact of konjac on gut microbiota and gut metabolites in HFD-induced obese mice. The results show that konjac can reduce the body weight, adipose tissue weight, and lipid level of high-fat diet induced obese mice by changing the gut microbiota structure and gut metabolic profile. Association analysis revealed that konjac supplementation induced changes in gut microbiota, resulting in the up-regulation of 7-dehydrocholesterol and trehalose 6-phosphate, as well as the down-regulation of glycocholic acid and ursocholic acid within the Secondary bile acid biosynthesis pathway, ultimately leading to improvements in obesity. Among them, g_Acinetobacter (Greengene ID: 911888) can promote the synthesis of 7-dehydrocholesterol by synthesizing ERG3. g_Allobaculum (Greengene ID: 271516) and g_Allobaculum (Greengene ID: 259370) can promote the breakdown of trehalose 6-phosphate by synthesizing glvA. Additionally, the down-regulation of glycocholic acid and ursocholic acid may be influenced by the up-regulation of Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group. In conclusion, konjac exerts an influence on gut metabolites through the regulation of gut microbiota, thereby playing a pivotal role in alleviating obesity induced by a high-fat diet.

Association between metabolic obesity phenotypes and the risk of developing prostate cancer: a propensity score matching study based on Xinjiang.

Background: Obesity-induced metabolic dysfunction increases the risk of developing tumors, however, the relationship between metabolic obesity phenotypes and prostate cancer (PCa) remains unclear. Methods: The term metabolic obesity phenotypes was introduced based on metabolic status and BMI categories. Participants were categorized into four groups: metabolically healthy nonobesity (MHNO), metabolically healthy obesity (MHO), metabolically unhealthy nonobesity (MUNO), and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO). Propensity score matching was conducted based on age, ethnicity, marriage, etc. Univariate and multivariate conditional logistic regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between metabolic obesity phenotypes, metabolic risk factors, and PCa. Sensitivity analysis was performed to verify the robustness of the results. Results: After propensity score matching among 564 PCa patients and 1418 healthy individuals, 209 were selected for each of the case and control groups. There were no statistically significant differences in the basic characteristics between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate conditional logistic regression suggested that the risk of developing PCa in both MHO and MUO individuals was higher than in MHNO individuals. Specifically, the risk of developing PCa in MHO individuals was 2.166 times higher than in MHNO individuals (OR=2.166, 95%CI: 1.133-4.139), and the risk in MUO individuals was is 2.398 times higher than in MHNO individuals(OR=2.398, 95%CI:1.271-4.523). Individuals with hyperglycemia and elevated triglycerides also had a higher risk of developing PCa (hyperglycemia:OR=1.488, 95%CI: 1.001-2.210; elevated triglycerides: OR=2.292, 95%CI: 1.419-3.702). Those with more than or equal to three metabolic risk factors had an increased risk of PCa (OR=1.990, 95%CI: 1.166-3.396). Sensitivity analysis indicated an increased risk of PCa in MUO individuals compared to MHNO individuals. Conclusion: In this retrospective study, individuals with MHO and MUO had a higher risk of developing PCa.

Foliar Exposure of Deuterium Stable Isotope-Labeled Nanoplastics to Lettuce: Quantitative Determination of Foliar Uptake, Transport, and Trophic Transfer in a Terrestrial Food Chain.

Nanoplastics (NPs) are widely detected in the atmosphere and are likely to be deposited on plant leaves. However, our understanding of their foliar uptake, translocation, and trophic transfer profiles is limited due to a lack of quantitative analytical tools to effectively probe mechanisms of action. Here, using synthesized deuterium (2H) stable isotope-labeled polystyrene nanoplastics (2H-PSNPs), the foliar accumulation and translocation of NPs in lettuce and the dynamics of NP transfer along a lettuce-snail terrestrial food chain were investigated. Raman imaging and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that foliar-applied NPs aggregated on the leaf surface, entered the mesophyll tissue via the stomatal pathway, and eventually translocated to root tissues. Quantitative analysis showed that increasing levels of foliar exposure to 2H-PSNPs (0.1, 1, and 5 mg/L in spray solutions, equivalent to receiving 0.15, 1.5, and 7.5 µg/d of NPs per plant) enhanced NP accumulation in leaves, with concentrations ranging from 0.73 to 15.6 µg/g (dw), but only limited translocation (<5%) to roots. After feeding on 5 mg/L 2H-PSNP-contaminated lettuce leaves for 14 days, snails accumulated NPs at 0.33 to 10.7 µg/kg (dw), with an overall kinetic trophic transfer factor of 0.45, demonstrating trophic dilution in this food chain. The reduced ingestion rate of 3.18 mg/g/day in exposed snails compared to 6.43 mg/g/day can be attributed to the accumulation of 2H-PSNPs and elevated levels of chemical defense metabolites in the lettuce leaves, which decreased the palatability for snails and disrupted their digestive function. This study provides critical quantitative information on the characteristics of airborne NP bioaccumulation and the associated risks to terrestrial food chains.

Novel mRNA adjuvant ImmunER enhances prostate cancer tumor-associated antigen mRNA therapy via augmenting T cell activity.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is characterized as a "cold tumor" with limited immune responses, rendering the tumor resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Therapeutic messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines have emerged as a promising strategy to overcome this challenge by enhancing immune reactivity and significantly boosting anti-tumor efficacy. In our study, we synthesized Tetra, an mRNA vaccine mixed with multiple tumor-associated antigens, and ImmunER, an immune-enhancing adjuvant, aiming to induce potent anti-tumor immunity. ImmunER exhibited the capacity to promote dendritic cells (DCs) maturation, enhance DCs migration, and improve antigen presentation at both cellular and animal levels. Moreover, Tetra, in combination with ImmunER, induced a transformation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) to cDC1-CCL22 and up-regulated the JAK-STAT1 pathway, promoting the release of IL-12, TNF-α, and other cytokines. This cascade led to enhanced proliferation and activation of T cells, resulting in effective killing of tumor cells. In vivo experiments further revealed that Tetra + ImmunER increased CD8+T cell infiltration and activation in RM-1-PSMA tumor tissues. In summary, our findings underscore the promising potential of the integrated Tetra and ImmunER mRNA-LNP therapy for robust anti-tumor immunity in PCa.

SGK-Net: A Novel Navigation Scene Graph Generation Network.

Scene graphs can enhance the understanding capability of intelligent ships in navigation scenes. However, the complex entity relationships and the presence of significant noise in contextual information within navigation scenes pose challenges for navigation scene graph generation (NSGG). To address these issues, this paper proposes a novel NSGG network named SGK-Net. This network comprises three innovative modules. The Semantic-Guided Multimodal Fusion (SGMF) module utilizes prior information on relationship semantics to fuse multimodal information and construct relationship features, thereby elucidating the relationships between entities and reducing semantic ambiguity caused by complex relationships. The Graph Structure Learning-based Structure Evolution (GSLSE) module, based on graph structure learning, reduces redundancy in relationship features and optimizes the computational complexity in subsequent contextual message passing. The Key Entity Message Passing (KEMP) module takes full advantage of contextual information to refine relationship features, thereby reducing noise interference from non-key nodes. Furthermore, this paper constructs the first Ship Navigation Scene Graph Simulation dataset, named SNSG-Sim, which provides a foundational dataset for the research on ship navigation SGG. Experimental results on the SNSG-sim dataset demonstrate that our method achieves an improvement of 8.31% (R@50) in the PredCls task and 7.94% (R@50) in the SGCls task compared to the baseline method, validating the effectiveness of our method in navigation scene graph generation.

Natural Attenuation of 2,4-Dichlorophenol in Fe-Rich Soil during Redox Oscillations: Anoxic-Oxic Coupling Mechanism.

Natural attenuation of organic contaminants can occur under anoxic or oxic conditions. However, the effect of the coupling anoxic-oxic process, which often happens in subsurface soil, on contaminant transformation remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) transformation in Fe-rich soil under anoxic-oxic alternation. The anoxic and oxic periods in the alternating system showed faster 2,4-DCP transformation than the corresponding control single anoxic and oxic systems; therefore, a higher transformation rate (63.4%) was obtained in the alternating system relative to control systems (27.9-42.4%). Compared to stable pH in the alternating system, the control systems presented clear OH- accumulation, caused by more Fe(II) regeneration in the control anoxic system and longer oxygenation in the control oxic system. Since 2,4-DCP was transformed by ion exchangeable Fe(II) in soil via direct reduction in the anoxic process and induced ·OH oxidation in the oxic process, OH- accumulation was unbeneficial because it competed for proton with direct reduction and inhibited •OH generation via complexing with Fe(II). However, the alternating system exhibited OH--buffering capacity via anoxic-oxic coupling processes because the subsequent oxic periods intercepted Fe(II) regeneration in anoxic periods, while shorter exposure to O2 in oxic periods avoided excessive OH- generation. These findings highlight the significant role of anoxic-oxic alternation in contaminant attenuation persistently.

The colloidal stability of molybdenum disulfide nanosheets in different natural surface waters: Combined effects of water chemistry and light irradiation.

With the increasing production and application, more molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets could be released into environment. The aggregation and dispersion of MoS2 nanosheets profoundly impact their transport and transformation in the aquatic environment. However, the colloidal stability of MoS2 remains largely unknown in natural surface waters. This study investigated the colloidal stability of MoS2 nanosheets in six natural surface waters affected by both light irradiation and water chemistry. Compared to that of the pristine MoS2 nanosheets, the colloidal stability of MoS2 photoaged in ultrapure water declined. Light irradiation induced the formation of Mo-O bonds, the release of SO42- species, and the decrease in 1T/2H ratio, which reduced negative charge and enhanced hydrophobicity. However, the colloidal stability of MoS2 photoaged in natural surface waters was increased relative to that in ultrapure water not only for the smaller extent of photochemical transformation but more importantly the surface modification by water chemistry. Furthermore, the colloidal stability of MoS2 photoaged in natural surface waters followed the order of sea water > lake water > river water. The abundant cations (e.g., Ca2+ and Mg2+) in sea water facilitated the covalent grafting (S-C bonds) of more dissolved organic matter (DOM) on MoS2 via charge screening and cation bridging, thus inducing stronger electrostatic repulsion and steric effect to stabilize nanosheets. The crucial role of the covalent grafting of DOM was further confirmed by the positive correlation between the critical coagulation concentration values and S-C ratios (R2 = 0.82, p < 0.05). Our results highlighted the dominant role of water chemistry than light irradiation in dictating the colloidal stability of MoS2 photoaged in natural surface waters, which provided new insight into the environmental behavior of MoS2 in aquatic environment.

Long-term polystyrene nanoparticles exposure reduces electroretinal responses and exacerbates retinal degeneration induced by light exposure.

The impact of plastic pollution on living organisms have gained significant research attention. However, the effects of nanoplastics (NPs) on retina remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of long-term polystyrene nanoparticles (PS-NPs) exposure on mouse retina. Eight weeks old C57BL/6 J mice were exposed to PS-NPs at the diameter of 100 nm and concentration of 10 mg/L in drinking water for 3 months. PS-NPs were able to penetrate the blood-retina barrier, accumulated at retinal tissue, caused increased oxidative stress level and reduced scotopic electroretinal responses without remarkable structural damage. PS-NPs exposure caused cytotoxicity and reactive oxygen species accumulation in cultured photoreceptor cell. PS-NPs exposure increased oxidative stress level in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, leading to changes of gene and protein expression indicative of compromised phagocytic activity and cell junction formation. Long-term PS-NPs exposure also aggravated light-induced photoreceptor cell degeneration and retinal inflammation. The transcriptomic profile of PS-NPs-exposed, light-challenged retinal tissue shared similar features with those of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients in the activation of complement-mediated phagocytic and proinflammatory responses. Collectively, these findings demonstrated the oxidative stress- and inflammation-mediated detrimental effect of PS-NPs on retinal function, suggested that long-term PS-NPs exposure could be an environmental risk factor contributing to retinal degeneration.

Morphological, Microstructural, and In Situ Chemical Characteristics of Siderite Produced by Iron-Reducing Bacteria.

Dissimilatory iron-reducing bacteria (DIRB) oxidize organic matter or hydrogen and reduce ferric iron to form Fe(II)-bearing minerals, such as magnetite and siderite. However, compared with magnetite, which was extensively studied, the mineralization process and mechanisms of siderite remain unclear. Here, with the combination of advanced electron microscopy and synchrotron-based scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) approaches, we studied in detail the morphological, structural, and chemical features of biogenic siderite via a growth experiment with Shewanella oneidensis MR-4. Results showed that along with the growth of cells, Fe(II) ions were increasingly released into solution and reacted with CO32- to form micrometer-sized siderite minerals with spindle, rod, peanut, dumbbell, and sphere shapes. They are composed of many single-crystal siderite plates that are fanned out from the center of the particles. Additionally, STXM revealed Fh and organic molecules inside siderite. This suggests that the siderite crystals might assemble around a Fh-organic molecule core and then continue to grow radially. This study illustrates the biomineralization and assembly of siderite by a successive multistep growth process induced by DIRB, also provides evidences that the distinctive shapes and the presence of organic molecules inside might be morphological and chemical features for biogenic siderite.

Emerging contaminants: A One Health perspective.

Environmental pollution is escalating due to rapid global development that often prioritizes human needs over planetary health. Despite global efforts to mitigate legacy pollutants, the continuous introduction of new substances remains a major threat to both people and the planet. In response, global initiatives are focusing on risk assessment and regulation of emerging contaminants, as demonstrated by the ongoing efforts to establish the UN's Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution Prevention. This review identifies the sources and impacts of emerging contaminants on planetary health, emphasizing the importance of adopting a One Health approach. Strategies for monitoring and addressing these pollutants are discussed, underscoring the need for robust and socially equitable environmental policies at both regional and international levels. Urgent actions are needed to transition toward sustainable pollution management practices to safeguard our planet for future generations.

Pioneer plants enhance soil multifunctionality by reshaping underground multitrophic community during natural succession of an abandoned rare earth mine tailing.

Spontaneous natural succession in metal mine tailings is fundamental to the rehabilitation of bare tailing. Here, an abandoned rare earth element (REE) mine tailing with spontaneous colonisation by pioneer plants with different functional traits was selected. Soil nutrient cycling, fertility, organic matter decomposition as well as underground organismal communities and their multitrophic networks were investigated. Compared with the bare tailing, the colonisation with Lycopodium japonicum, Miscanthus sinensis, and Dicranopteris dichotoma increased soil multifunction by 222%, 293%, and 525%, respectively. This was accompanied by significant changes in soil bacterial and protistan community composition and increased soil multitrophic network complexity. Rhizospheres of different plant species showed distinct microbial community composition compared to that of bare tailing. Some WPS-2, Chloroflexi, and Chlorophyta were mainly present in the bare tailing, while some Proteobacteria and Cercozoa were predominantly seen in the rhizosphere. Pearson correlation and Random Forest revealed the biotic factors driving soil multifunction. Structural equation modelling further revealed that pioneer plants improved soil multifunction primarily by decreasing the microbial biodiversity and increasing the multitrophic network complexity. Overall, this highlights the importance of subterrestrial organisms in accelerating soil rehabilitation during natural succession and provides options for the ecological restoration of degraded REE mining areas.

FBXO11 variants are associated with intellectual disability and variable clinical manifestation in Chinese affected individuals.

F-box protein 11 (FBXO11) is a member of F-Box protein family, which has recently been proved to be associated with intellectual developmental disorder with dysmorphic facies and behavioral abnormalities (IDDFBA, OMIM: 618089). In this study, 12 intellectual disability individuals from 5 Chinese ID families were collected, and whole exome sequencing (WES), sanger sequencing, and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) were conducted. Almost all the affected individuals presented with mild to severe intellectual disability (12/12), global developmental delay (10/12), speech and language development delay (8/12) associated with a range of alternate features including increased body weight (7/12), short stature (6/12), seizures (3/12), reduced visual acuity (4/12), hypotonia (1/12), and auditory hallucinations and hallucinations (1/12). Distinguishingly, malformation was not observed in all the affected individuals. WES analysis showed 5 novel FBXO11 variants, which include an inframe deletion variant, a missense variant, two frameshift variants, and a partial deletion of FBXO11 (exon 22-23). RNA-seq indicated that exon 22-23 deletion of FBXO11 results in a new mRNA structure. Conservation and protein structure prediction demonstrated deleterious effect of these variants. The DEGs analysis revealed 148 differentially expressed genes shared among 6 affected individuals, which were mainly associated with genes of muscle and immune system. Our research is the first report of FBXO11-associated IDDFBA in Chinese individuals, which expands the genetic and clinical spectrum of this newly identified NDD/ID syndrome.