Sphingosine kinase 1 aggravates liver fibrosis by mediating macrophage recruitment and polarization.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) has distinct roles in the activation of Kupffer cells (KCs) and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in liver fibrosis. Here, we aim to investigate the roles of SphK1 on hepatic macrophage recruitment and polarization in liver fibrosis. METHODS: Liver fibrosis was induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in wild-type and SphK1-/- mice to study the recruitment and polarization of macrophages. The effects of SphK1 originated from macrophages or other liver cell types on liver fibrosis were further strengthened by bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The direct effects of SphK1 on macrophage polarization were also investigated in vitro. Expression analysis of SphK1 and macrophage polarization index was conducted with human liver samples. RESULTS: SphK1 deletion attenuated the recruitment of hepatic macrophages along with reduced M1 and M2 polarization in mice induced by CCl4. SphK1 deficiency in endogenous liver cells attenuated macrophage recruitment via CCL2. Macrophage SphK1 activated the ASK1-JNK1/2-p38 signaling pathway to promote M1 polarization. Furthermore, macrophage SphK1 downregulated small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) specific peptidase1 (SENP1) to decrease de-SUMOylation of Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) to promote M2 polarization. Finally, we confirmed that SphK1 expression was elevated and positively correlated with macrophage M1 and M2 polarization in human fibrosis livers. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrated that SphK1 aggravated liver fibrosis by promoting macrophage recruitment and M1/M2 polarization. SphK1 in macrophages is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of liver fibrosis.

Characterization of the Bax Inhibitor-1 Family in Cauliflower and Functional Analysis of BobBIL4.

The Bax inhibitor-1 (BI-1) gene family, which is important for plant growth, development, and stress tolerance, remains largely unexplored in cauliflower. In this study, we identified and characterized cauliflower BI-1 family genes. Based on aligned homologous sequences and collinearity with Arabidopsis genes, we identified nine cauliflower BI-1 genes, which encode proteins that varied in length, molecular weight, isoelectric point, and predicted subcellular localization, including the Golgi apparatus, plasma membrane, and various compartments within the chloroplast. Phylogenetic analyses detected evolutionary conservation and divergence among these genes. Ten structural motifs were identified, with Motif 5 found to be crucial for inhibiting apoptosis. According to the cis-regulatory elements in their promoters, these genes likely influence hormone signaling and stress responses. Expression profiles among tissues highlighted the functional diversity of these genes, with particularly high expression levels observed in the silique and root. Focusing on BobBIL4, we investigated its role in brassinosteroid (BR)-mediated root development and salt stress tolerance. BobBIL4 expression levels increased in response to BR and salt treatments. The functional characterization of this gene in Arabidopsis revealed that it enhances root growth and salinity tolerance. These findings provide insights into BI-1 gene functions in cauliflower while also highlighting the potential utility of BobBIL4 for improving crop stress resistance.

Differences in salivary microbiome among children with tonsillar hypertrophy and/or adenoid hypertrophy.

Children diagnosed with severe tonsillar hypertrophy display discernible craniofacial features distinct from those with adenoid hypertrophy, prompting illuminating considerations regarding microbiota regulation in this non-inflammatory condition. The present study aimed to characterize the salivary microbial profile in children with tonsillar hypertrophy and explore the potential functionality therein. A total of 112 children, with a mean age of 7.79 ± 2.41 years, were enrolled and divided into the tonsillar hypertrophy (TH) group (n = 46, 8.4 ± 2.5 years old), adenoid hypertrophy (AH) group (n = 21, 7.6 ± 2.8 years old), adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) group (n = 23, 7.2 ± 2.1 years old), and control group (n = 22, 8.6 ± 2.1 years old). Unstimulated saliva samples were collected, and microbial profiles were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing of V3-V4 regions. Diversity and composition of salivary microbiome and the correlation with parameters of overnight polysomnography and complete blood count were investigated. As a result, children with tonsillar hypertrophy had significantly higher α-diversity indices (P＜0.05). ß-diversity based on Bray-Curtis distance revealed that the salivary microbiome of the tonsillar hypertrophy group had a slight separation from the other three groups (P＜0.05). The linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis indicated that Gemella was most closely related to tonsillar hypertrophy, and higher abundance of Gemella, Parvimonas, Dialister, and Lactobacillus may reflect an active state of immune regulation. Meanwhile, children with different degrees of tonsillar hypertrophy shared similar salivary microbiome diversity. This study demonstrated that the salivary microbiome in pediatric tonsillar hypertrophy patients had different signatures, highlighting that the site of upper airway obstruction primarily influences the salivary microbiome rather than hypertrophy severity.IMPORTANCETonsillar hypertrophy is the most frequent cause of upper airway obstruction and one of the primary risk factors for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Studies have discovered that children with isolated tonsillar hypertrophy exhibit different craniofacial morphology features compared with those with isolated adenoid hypertrophy or adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Furthermore, characteristic salivary microbiota from children with OSA compared with healthy children has been identified in our previous research. However, few studies provided insight into the relationship between the different sites of upper airway obstruction resulting from the enlargement of pharyngeal lymphoid tissue at different sites and the alterations in the microbiome. Here, to investigate the differences in the salivary microbiome of children with tonsillar hypertrophy and/or adenoid hypertrophy, we conducted a cross-sectional study and depicted the unique microbiome profile of pediatric tonsillar hypertrophy, which was mainly characterized by a significantly higher abundance of genera belonging to phyla Firmicutes and certain bacteria involving in the immune response in tonsillar hypertrophy, offering novel perspectives for future related research.

Process Optimization and Characterization of Polysaccharides with Potential Antioxidant and Hypoglycemic Activity from Cissus repens.

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of Cissus repens polysaccharides (CRPs) was optimized through response surface methodology (RSM) based on Box-Behnken design (BBD). The maximum CRPs yield (16.18%) was achieved under the optimum extraction conditions: extraction time 72 min, extraction temperature 74 ℃, extraction power 240 W. Then three-phase partitioning (TPP) method combined with gradient alcohol precipitation was used to obtained CRP20, CRP40, CRP60 and CRP80 from CRPs, and CRP80 has a higher purity than others. The primary chemical and structural characteristics of CRP80 were investigated by UV, FT-IR, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and high-performance gel-permeation chromatography (HPGPC). CRP80 is mainly composed of glucose, galactose, arabinose and mannose, with a molecular weights of approximately 2.95 kDa. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity and hypoglyceamic activity of CRP80 in vitro were evaluated. The results showed that CRP80 had strong scavenging activities on ABTS, hydroxyl and DPPH radicals, as well as high scavenging activities on α-glucosidase and α-amylase. Our research provided an efficient method for the extraction of polysaccharides from C. repens and CRP80 has potential as a promising source of natural antioxidants and hypoglycemic agent for the functional food and medicinal industries.

ß-N-methylamino-L-alanine production, photosynthesis and transcriptional expression in a possible mutation strain and a wild strain of Thalassiosira minima.

The neurotoxin ß-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) produced by marine diatoms has been implicated as an important environmental trigger of neurodegenerative diseases in humans. However, the biosynthesis mechanism of BMAA in marine diatoms is still unknown. In the present study, the strain of diatom Thalassiosira minima almost lost the biosynthesis ability for BMAA after a long-term subculture in our laboratory. The production of BMAA-containing proteins in the mutant strain of T. minima reduced to 18.2 % of that in the wild strain, meanwhile the cell size decreased but pigment content increased in the mutant strain. Take consideration of our previous transcriptional data on the mixed diatom and cyanobacterium cultures, the current transcriptome analysis showed four identical and highly correlated KEGG pathways associated with the accumulation of misfolded proteins in diatom, including ribosome, proteasome, SNARE interactions in vesicle transport, and protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum. Analysis of amino acids and transcriptional information suggested that amino acid synthesis and degradation are associated with the biosynthesis of BMAA-containing proteins. In addition, a reduction in the precision of ubiquitination-mediated protein hydrolysis and vesicular transport by the COPII system will exacerbate the accumulation of BMAA-containing proteins in diatoms.

Role of Gut Microecology in the Pathogenesis of Drug-Induced Liver Injury and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies.

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a common clinical pharmacogenic disease. In the United States and Europe, DILI is the most common cause of acute liver failure. Drugs can cause hepatic damage either directly through inherent hepatotoxic properties or indirectly by inducing oxidative stress, immune responses, and inflammatory processes. These pathways can culminate in hepatocyte necrosis. The role of the gut microecology in human health and diseases is well recognized. Recent studies have revealed that the imbalance in the gut microecology is closely related to the occurrence and development of DILI. The gut microecology plays an important role in liver injury caused by different drugs. Recent research has revealed significant changes in the composition, relative abundance, and distribution of gut microbiota in both patients and animal models with DILI. Imbalance in the gut microecology causes intestinal barrier destruction and microorganism translocation; the alteration in microbial metabolites may initiate or aggravate DILI, and regulation and control of intestinal microbiota can effectively mitigate drug-induced liver injury. In this paper, we provide an overview on the present knowledge of the mechanisms by which DILI occurs, the common drugs that cause DILI, the gut microbiota and gut barrier composition, and the effects of the gut microbiota and gut barrier on DILI, emphasizing the contribution of the gut microecology to DILI.

Physical activity on the mental health of children and adolescents during COVID-19 pandemic-induced school closures-A systematic review.

PROPOSE: To review published Physical Activity (PA) on the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents aged 5 to 18 years during COVID-19 pandemic-induced school closures. METHODS: From the database creation to April 2022, 10 databases are retrieved, with 4427 records filtered, 14 included in this research. The research takes Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) evaluation standards. RESULTS: The thesis selects 14 studies from 6 countries, involving 400009 children and adolescents. These studies happened during the lockdown of COVID-19 (from December 2019 to April 2021). During the lockdown of COVID-19, schools were closed, which was considered part of a more extensive lockdown. Schools were closed for 1 to 4 weeks. There were 10 high quality studies (71.4%) and 4 medium quality studies (28.6%). 4 studies report that the pandemic reduces the time of PA but increases the time of watching screen and sitting. 10 studies (71.4%) identify that PA is positive for the mental health, because it helps reduce mental symptoms to a certain extent, especially anxiety, depression, and emotional disorders. 5 studies show that PA may not improve the mental health of children and adolescents under 12 during the pandemic. 4 studies indicate that the influence of PA on mental health of children and adolescents is determined by the amount of activity, including the extent, intensity, frequency, and duration, etc. CONCLUSIONS: In this narrative synthesis of reports from the class suspension period, reports that PA has a improve on the mental health of children and adolescents to a certain extent. it is found that PA may be helpful in reducing mental health symptoms of children and adolescents who are influenced by class suspension because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, stakeholders of the mental health of children and adolescents around the world should recommend PA because it is a practicable and beneficial way for long-term mental support.

[The relationship between birth weight and obstructive sleep apnea in children].

Objective:To study the relationship between children's birth weight and obstructive sleep apnea（OSA）. Methods:The sleep data and birth information of children who underwent polysomnography in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of Henan Children's Hospital from October 2020 to July 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The data of OSA detection rate, OSA severity, sleep structure and respiratory parameters in different birth weight groups were analyzed. Results:A total of 2 778 children met the inclusion criteria, including 1 833 males and 945 females. According to birth weight, the selected children were divided into three groups: 122 small for gestational age（SGA） group, 2 313 appropriate for gestational age（AGA）, and 343 large for gestational age（LGA） group. There was no significant difference in age between different groups（P=0.061）. In each group, boys are significantly more numerous than girls（P=0.001）. The difference in current body mass index（BMI） between groups was statistically significant: the current BMI was higher in the LGA group（17.51±4.01, P<0.001）. The severity of OSA was different in different birth weight groups（P=0.037）. There was a strong positive correlation between the severity of OSA and birth weight（r=0.992）. Children in the SGA group had shorter rapid eye movement（REM） sleep period（19.00[15.18, 23.33], P=0.012）, higher obstructive apnea-hypopnea index（OAHI） values（1.75[0.60, 5.13], P=0.019）, and had lower central apnea hypopnea index（CAHI） values（0.10[0.00, 0.50], P=0.020）. There were no significant differences in sleep structure and respiratory parameters between the LGA group and the AGA group. Multiple regression analysis of the factors affecting the OAHI index showed that the OAHI index of boys was higher than that of girls（95%CI 1.311-2.096, P<0.001）, and age was negatively correlated with the OAHI index（r=-0.105, 95%CI 0.856-0.946, P<0.001）, current BMI and OAHI index were positively correlated（r=0.037, 95%CI 1.010-1.065, P=0.007）. LGA was positively correlated with OAHI index（r=0.346, 95%CI 1.039-1.921, P=0.027）, and the correlation between LGA and OAHI（r=0.346） was higher than that between SGA and OAHI（r=0.340）. Conclusion:There was no significant difference in the incidence of OSA in children with different birth weight groups, but the OSA severity of LGA group was higher. Gender, age, BMI index and large for gestational age were the influencing factors for the occurrence of OSA in children, which should be paid more attention to in clinical practice.

Impact of Graphitization Degree on the Electrochemical and Thermal Properties of Coal.

Coal-based cryptocrystalline graphite is an intermediate phase formed during the transformation of highly metamorphic anthracite into crystalline graphite. In order to explore the relationship between the graphitization degree of coal-based cryptocrystalline graphite and its physical properties from macromolecular structure to provide a theoretical basis for industrial application, samples were tested by X-ray diffraction, electrochemistry, and thermal conductivity and compared with standard graphite (SG) and artificial thermal simulation graphitized samples. The results show that with the increase of graphitization degree and the growth of microcrystalline structure, the electrical impedance of cryptocrystalline graphite decreases, the conductivity increases, the specific capacity of initial discharge increases, and the thermal conductivity increases, which gradually approach the electrical and thermal properties of crystalline graphite. The linear equations between impedance and La and Lc are y = -0.42x + 70.44 and y = -1.87x + 70.62, and the correlation coefficients are 0.93 and 0.88. The linear equations between thermal conductivity and the horizontal extension length (La) and vertical stacking thickness (Lc) are y = 0.09x + 1.36 and y = 0.4x + 0.76, the correlation coefficients are 0.82 and 0.84., and the reduction of microcrystalline parameters d002 and the increase of La and Lc lead to a direct improvement of physical properties. Artificial thermal simulation samples also show the same regularity, but their physical properties are lower than those of natural evolution samples. Short-term high-temperature simulation is different from long-term magma heat and pressure, and the growth of graphite microcrystals is more complete under long-term geological conditions, resulting in better physical properties.

A graph-based pan-genome of Brassica oleracea provides new insights into its domestication and morphotype diversification.

The domestication of Brassica oleracea has resulted in diverse morphological types with distinct patterns of organ development. Here we report a graph-based pan-genome of B. oleracea constructed from high-quality genome assemblies of different morphotypes. The pan-genome harbors over 200 structural variant hotspot regions enriched in auxin- and flowering-related genes. Population genomic analyses revealed that early domestication of B. oleracea focused on leaf or stem development. Gene flows resulting from agricultural practices and variety improvement were detected among different morphotypes. Selective-sweep and pan-genome analyses identified an auxin-responsive small auxin up-regulated RNA gene and a CLAVATA3/ESR-RELATED family gene as crucial players in leaf-stem differentiation during the early stage of B. oleracea domestication and the BoKAN1 gene as instrumental in shaping the leafy heads of cabbage and Brussels sprouts. Our pan-genome and functional analyses further revealed that variations in the BoFLC2 gene play key roles in the divergence of vernalization and flowering characteristics among different morphotypes, and variations in the first intron of BoFLC3 are involved in fine-tuning the flowering process in cauliflower. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the pan-genome of B. oleracea and sheds light on the domestication and differential organ development of this globally important crop species.

Animal study: Basic mechanism of vocal cord paralysis caused by button battery ingestion in children.

PURPOSE: Vocal cord paralysis has been reported as a common complication of button battery (BB) ingestion, and there is a need to confirm the mechanism of vocal cord paralysis for the development of a standardized treatment. METHODS: A new CR2032 BB and artificial saliva were placed in a fresh pig esophagus with the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN); the negative electrode faced the nerve in the experimental group, while the positive electrode faced the nerve in the control group. The pH values of the intra- and extraesophageal walls were measured simultaneously. Pathological examination was performed after the esophagus and nerves were damaged. RESULTS: After BB ingestion, the pH near the intraesophageal negative electrode increased rapidly, reaching 11.5 at 30 min and over 14 at 6 h, while the extraesophageal pH did not change at 1 h and began to accelerate after 2 h, reaching 10 at 6 h. After 6 h of exposure, the pathological section showed that the structure of the mucosa, submucosa, and muscle layer were destroyed; chromatin in the nucleus faded, and part of the nerve bundle in the adventitia had liquefaction necrosis. CONCLUSION: The basic mechanism of vocal cord paralysis caused by BB ingestion is that the OH- generated by the electrolytic reaction of the negative electrode penetrates the esophageal wall and corrodes the RLN, which may be the cause of vocal cord paralysis caused by BB ingestion without esophageal perforation.

Regioselective modification at the 2,3- and 6-positions of chitosan with phenylcarbamates for chromatographic enantioseparation.

Chitosan derivatives with two different phenylcarbamate pendants at the 6-position and 2,3-positions of the glucosamine unit were synthesized by triphenylmethyl as a protective group. The regioselective chitosan derivatives were prepared corresponding to coated-type chiral packed materials (CPMs), which were evaluated with thirteen chiral compounds by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The regioselective chitosan derivatives (4aⅠ/4aⅡ, 4bⅠ/4bⅡ) bearing electron-withdrawing 3,5­chloro or 4­chloro at the 6-position can recognize 7 or 8 of the 13 enantiomers and achieve baseline separation for enantiomers 5 and 7. They exhibited better chiral recognition abilities than the other derivatives with different substituents at the 6-position and the same 3,5-dimethylphenyl substituent at the 2,3-postion. In comparison to Chit-1 featuring a 3,5-dimethylphenyl substituent at the 2,3- and 6-positions, it was observed that the combination of both an electron-withdrawing and an electron-donating substituent of the regioselective chitosan derivatives (4aⅠ/4aⅡ, 4bⅠ/4bⅡ) showed better or similar enantioseparation abilities for racemic Compounds 7 and 6, respectively. The molecular weight-performance relationship of the regioselective chitosan derivatives was investigated in detail. It was found that with increasing molecular weight, the derivatives 4aⅡ and 4bⅡ all possessed greater enantioseparation power for 4 enantiomers, such as enantiomers 4, 7, 11, and 15, than the corresponding derivatives with low molecular weights. The molecular docking simulation results showed that excellent enantioseparation power significantly depended on the combination and interaction of multiple factors, such as steric hindrance, and polarity of the substituents on the CPMs and enantiomers.

Application an internet facilitation in a community-based cervical cancer screening project.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of an internet-facilitated community model for cervical cancer screening using self-collected HPV testing as primary screening. METHOD: A population-based cervical cancer screening program was conducted in the suburb of Shenzhen, China, from September 2014 to July 2017. Women with 25-60 years of age and no pregnancy were eligible for participation. Participants could register for screening by logging in a website by themselves or with the aids of local community workers. A unique barcode was issued to each applicant upon successful registration. After registration, women could get sampling kits from community screening site/study clinic, collect vaginal samples privately or in group, and provide their sample for Hr-HPV tests on Cobas4800 and SeqHPV assays. Testing reports were checkable through personal account for all participant and phone calls were given to all women positive of Hr-HPV. Participants positive of both or either the 2 assays were identified as the positives. The positives could return the study clinic for triage or search medical care in other clinics. Colposcopy directed or ramdom biopsies were performed on all positives who returned to the study clinics. RESULTS: A total of 10,792 community women registered for screening, among whom, 10,010 provided their vaginal samples for tests. 99.5% of the participants were confirmed to have correct personal identifiable information and samples, and 98.9% of them got HPV testing results from both or either assays. No adverse event was reported. CONCLUSION: When self-collected HPV testing is used as the primary testing, the internet-based data platform facilitates the screening in registration, data collection, and data tracking, and increases the screening coverage. Internet-facilitated community model is promising to cervical cancer control and applicable in regions with variety of resources.

Construction and Application of an F1-Derived Doubled-Haploid Population and High-Density Genetic Map for Ornamental Kale Breeding.

Ornamental kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) is an attractive ornamental plant with a range of leaf colors and shapes. Breeding new varieties of ornamental kale has proven challenging due to its lengthy breeding cycle and the limited availability of genetic markers. In this study, a F1DH ornamental kale population comprising 300 DH lines was constructed using microspore culture. A high-density genetic map was developed by conducting whole-genome sequencing on 150 individuals from the F1DH population. The genetic map contained 1696 bin markers with 982,642 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) spanning a total distance of 775.81 cM on all nine chromosomes with an average distance between markers of 0.46 cM. The ornamental kale genetic map contained substantially more SNP markers compared with published genetic maps for other B. oleracea crops. Furthermore, utilizing this high-density genetic map, we identified seven quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that significantly influence the leaf shape of ornamental kale. These findings are valuable for understanding the genetic basis of key agronomic traits in ornamental kale. The F1DH progenies provide an excellent resource for germplasm innovation and breeding new varieties of ornamental kale. Additionally, the high-density genetic map provides crucial insights for gene mapping and unraveling the molecular mechanisms behind important agronomic traits in ornamental kale.

Comprehensive Genome-Wide Identification of the RNA-Binding Glycine-Rich Gene Family and Expression Profiling under Abiotic Stress in Brassica oleracea.

The RNA-binding glycine-rich proteins (RBGs) of the glycine-rich protein family play vital roles in regulating gene expression both at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. However, the members and functions in response to abiotic stresses of the RBG gene family remain unclear in Brassica oleracea. In this study, a total of 19 BoiRBG genes were identified through genome-wide analysis in broccoli. The characteristics of BoiRBG sequences and their evolution were examined. An analysis of synteny indicated that the expansion of the BoiRBG gene family was primarily driven by whole-genome duplication and tandem duplication events. The BoiRBG expression patterns revealed that these genes are involved in reaction to diverse abiotic stress conditions (i.e., simulated drought, salinity, heat, cold, and abscisic acid) and different organs. In the present research, the up-regulation of BoiRBGA13 expression was observed when subjected to both NaCl-induced and cold stress conditions in broccoli. Moreover, the overexpression of BoiRBGA13 resulted in a noteworthy reduction in taproot lengths under NaCl stress, as well as the inhibition of seed germination under cold stress in broccoli, indicating that RBGs play different roles under various stresses. This study provides insights into the evolution and functions of BoiRBG genes in Brassica oleracea and other Brassicaceae family plants.

Apoptosis and oxidative stress of mouse breast carcinoma 4T1 and human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cell lines caused by the phycotoxin gymnodimine-A.

Gymnodimine-A (GYM-A) is a cyclic imine phycotoxin produced by some marine dinoflagellates. It can cause rapid death of mice via intraperitoneal administration and frequently accumulate in shellfish potentially threatening human health. In this study, four different cell lines were exposed to GYM-A for the viability assessment. Results showed that GYM-A was cytotoxic with concentration-dependent pattern to each cell type, with mean IC50 values ranging from 1.39 to 2.79 µmol L-1. Results suggested that the loss of cell viability of 4T1 and Caco-2 cells was attributed to apoptosis. Furthermore, the collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential and caspases activation were observed in the GYM-A-treated cells. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxides (LPO) levels were markedly increased in 4T1 and Caco-2 cells exposed to GYM-A at 2 µmol L-1, and the oxidative stress in 4T1 cells was more obvious than that in Caco-2 cells. Additionally, unusual ultrastructure impairment on mitochondria and mitophagosomes occurred in the GYM-A-treated cells. These results suggested that an ROS-mediated mitochondrial pathway for apoptosis and mitophagy was implicated in the cytotoxic effects induced by GYM-A. This is the first report to explore the cytotoxic mechanisms of GYM-A through apoptosis and oxidative stress, and it will provide theoretical foundations for the potential therapeutic applications of GYM-A.

Effects of marine phycotoxin dinophysistoxin-1 on the growth and cell cycle of Isochrysis galbana.

The phycotoxin dinophysistoxins are widely distributed in the global marine environments and potentially threaten marine organisms and human health. The mechanism of the dinophysistoxin toxicity in inhibiting the growth of microalgae is less well understood. In this study, effects of the dissolved dinophysistoxin-1 (DTX1) on the growth, pigment contents, PSII photosynthetic efficiency, oxidative stress response and cell cycle of the marine microalga Isochrysis galbana were investigated. Growth of I. galbana was significantly inhibited by DTX1 with 0.6-1.5 µmol L-1 in a 96-h batch culture, corresponding the 96 h-EC50 of DTX1 at 0.835 µmol L-1. The maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm), and light utilization efficiency (α) were obviously reduced by DTX1 at 1.5 µmol L-1 during 96-h exposure. Contents of most of pigments were generally reduced by DTX1 with a dose-depend pattern in microalgal cells except for diatoxanthin. The ROS levels were increased by DTX1 with 0.6-1.5 µmol L-1 after 72-h exposure, while the contents or activities of MDA, GSH, SOD and CAT were significantly increased by DTX1 at 1.5 µmol L-1 at 96 h. The inhibitory effect of DTX1 on the growth of I. galbana was mainly caused by the production of ROS in the cells. Cell cycle analysis showed that the I. galbana cell cycle was arrested by DTX1 at G2/M phase. This study enhances the understanding of the chemical ecology effects of DTX1 on marine microalgae and also provides fundamental data for deriving water quality criteria of DSTs for marine organisms.

Effect of I-Phase on Microstructure and Corrosion Resistance of Mg-8.5Li-6.5Zn-1.2Y Alloy.

The effects of solid solution treatment duration on the corrosion behavior and microstructure behavior of the cast Mg-8.5Li-6.5Zn-1.2Y (wt.%) alloy were investigated. This study revealed that with the treatment time for solid solutions increasing from 2 h to 6 h, the amount of α-Mg phase gradually decreases, and the alloy presents a needle-like shape after solid solution treatment for 6 h. Meanwhile, when the solid solution treatment time increases, the I-phase content drops. Exceptionally, under 4 h of solid solution treatment, the I-phase content has increased, and it is dispersed uniformly over the matrix. What we found in our hydrogen evolution experiments is that the hydrogen evolution rate of the as-cast Mg-8.5Li-6.5Zn-1.2Y alloy following solid solution processing for 4 h is 14.31 mL·cm-2·h-1, which is the highest rate. In the electrochemical measurement, the corrosion current density (icorr) value of as-cast Mg-8.5Li-6.5Zn-1.2Y alloy following solid solution processing for 4 h is 1.98 × 10-5, which is the lowest density. These results indicate that solid solution treatment can significantly improve the corrosion resistance of the Mg-8.5Li-6.5Zn-1.2Y alloy. The I-phase and the α-Mg phase are the primary elements influencing the corrosion resistance of the Mg-8.5Li-6.5Zn-1.2Y alloy. The existence of the I-phase and the border dividing the α-Mg phase and ß-Li phase easily form galvanic corrosion. Although the I-phase and the boundary between the α-Mg phase and ß-Li phase will be corrosion breeding sites, they are more effective in inhibiting corrosion.

Decontamination of uranium-containing radioactive waste from stainless steel surfaces using NaOH-based molten salts.

Herein, we report a new strategy for the rapid removal of uranium-containing contaminants from metal surfaces, and it relies on decontaminants made of NaOH-based molten salts. The addition of Na2CO3 and NaCl to NaOH exhibited superior decontamination performance, with a decontamination rate of 93.8% within 12 min, outdoing the performance of the single NaOH molten salt. The experimental results demonstrated that the synergistic effects between CO32- and Cl- promoted the corrosion efficiency of the molten salt on the substrate, which accelerated the decontamination rate. Additionally, benefiting from the optimization of the experimental conditions by the response surface method (RSM), the decontamination efficiency was improved to 94.9%. Notably, it also showed remarkable results in the decontamination of specimens containing different uranium oxides at low and high levels of radioactivity. This technology is promising for broadening the path in rapid decontamination of radioactive contaminants on metal surfaces.