Distribution, Ecological Risk, and Source Identification of Heavy Metal(loid)s in Sediments of a Headwater of Beijiang River Affected by Mining in Southern China.

In this study, the contents of eight heavy metal(loid)s (As, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, Cu, Sb and Tl) in 50 sediment samples from a headwater of Beijiang River were studied to understand their pollution, ecological risk and potential sources. Evaluation indexes including sediment quality guidelines (SDGs), enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), risk assessment code (RAC) and bioavailable metal index (BMI) were used to evaluate the heavy metal(loid)s pollution and ecological risk in the sediments. Pearson's correlation analysis and principal component analysis were used to identify the sources of heavy metal(loid)s. The results showed that the average concentration of heavy metal(loid)s obviously exceeded the background values, except Cr. Metal(loid)s speciation analysis indicated that Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn were dominated by non-residual fractions, which presented higher bioavailability. The S content in sediments could significantly influence the geochemical fractions of heavy metal(loid)s. As was expected, it had the most adverse biological effect to local aquatic organism, followed by Pb. The EF results demonstrated that As was the most enriched, while Cr showed no enrichment in the sediments. The assessment of Igeo suggested that Cd and As were the most serious threats to the river system, while Cr showed almost no contamination in the sediments. Heavy metal(loid)s in sediments in the mining- and smelting-affected area showed higher bioavailability. According to the results of the above research, the mining activities caused heavier heavy metal(loid)s pollution in the river sediment. Three potential sources of heavy metal(loid)s in sediment were distinguished based on the Pearson's correlation analysis and PCA, of which Cd, Pb, As, Zn, Sb and Cu were mainly derived from mining activities, Cr was mainly derived from natural sources, Tl was mainly derived from smelting activities.

Small Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Altered Peptide Ligand-Loaded Dendritic Cell Act as A Therapeutic Vaccine for Spinal Cord Injury Through Eliciting CD4+ T cell-Mediated Neuroprotective Immunity.

The balance among different CD4+ T cell subsets is crucial for repairing the injured spinal cord. Dendritic cell (DC)-derived small extracellular vesicles (DsEVs) effectively activate T-cell immunity. Altered peptide ligands (APLs), derived from myelin basic protein (MBP), have been shown to affect CD4+ T cell subsets and reduce neuroinflammation levels. However, the application of APLs is challenging because of their poor stability and associated side effects. Herein, it is demonstrate that DsEVs can act as carriers for APL MBP87-99 A91 (A91-DsEVs) to induce the activation of 2 helper T (Th2) and regulatory T (Treg) cells for spinal cord injury (SCI) in mice. These stimulated CD4+ T cells can efficiently "home" to the lesion area and establish a beneficial microenvironment through inducing the activation of M2 macrophages/microglia, inhibiting the expression of inflammatory cytokines, and increasing the release of neurotrophic factors. The microenvironment mediated by A91-DsEVs may enhance axon regrowth, protect neurons, and promote remyelination, which may support the recovery of motor function in the SCI model mice. In conclusion, using A91-DsEVs as a therapeutic vaccine may help induce neuroprotective immunity in the treatment of SCI.

Designing dynamic groundwater management strategies through a composite groundwater vulnerability model: Integrating human-related parameters into the DRASTIC model using LightGBM regression and SHAP analysis.

Groundwater nitrate contamination has emerged as a pressing global concern. Given its potential for long-term impacts on aquifers, protective measures should primarily focus on prevention. Drawing on the theory of groundwater vulnerability (GV), the original DRASTIC model and parameters related to human activities are employed as inputs and integrated with the LightGBM regression algorithm to facilitate nitrate index (NI) prediction tasks. The SHAP analysis is conducted to effectively examine the contribution of parameters to the NI prediction and interpret the issue of parameter interactions. In addition, to mitigate the limitations of the intrinsic GV model, a composite nitrate index (CNI) is developed by linearly combining the DRASTIC index with the NI. The framework presented in this study provides adaptive strategies for managing groundwater resources over different time periods. A representative region for arid and semiarid climates, the Yinchuan region, is studied using the framework. As compared to 2012, the intrinsic GV index has changed spatially in 2022. Human activities have increased the influence of the nitrate concentration as shown by the Pearson correlation coefficient of -0.082 between the DRASTIC index and nitrate concentration. A significant increase in pollution levels was predicted by NI, ranging from -0.116 to 0.968. According to SHAP analysis, the significant increase in NI levels in 2022 was mainly due to high-value industrial and agricultural production. In 2022, 12.02% of the areas had an increase of at least 0.549 in the CNI. 42.1% of the areas were classified as moderate or high CNI levels. The farm was identified as a high-contributing source to nitrate pollution. The small-scale agricultural and livestock activities in non-urban areas also contribute to groundwater pollution. Dynamic groundwater management strategies need to be implemented in high-growth and high-level CNI areas.

Single-cell analysis of spinal cord injury reveals functional heterogeneity of oligodendrocyte lineage cells.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a traumatic condition that causes myelin destruction and neuronal death, making it challenging to reverse. In spinal cord tissue, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells and oligodendrocytes are essential for maintaining myelin morphology and axon regeneration. The decrease in oligodendrocyte lineage cells after SCI is a major factor contributing to the difficulty in restoring spinal cord function. However, there is still a lack of research on the status and intercellular communication between oligodendrocyte lineage cells after injury. The development of single-cell sequencing technology has enabled researchers to obtain highly accurate cellular transcriptional information, facilitating detailed studies of cellular subpopulations. This study delved into the cellular heterogeneity of oligodendrocyte lineage cells using a single-cell transcriptomic approach to uncover functional changes and cellular interactions during different time points after SCI. Our findings highlighted the critical roles of Psap (Prosaposin)/Gpr37l1 and Psap/Gpr37 ligand-receptor pairs among oligodendrocyte lineage cells. Furthermore, we predicted the transcription factors that may play a key regulatory role. We demonstrated for the first time that Junb acts almost exclusively in mature oligodendrocytes, which provides a potential target for the study of oligodendrocyte transcriptional mechanisms.

Assessment of groundwater vulnerability by applying the improved DRASTIC model: a case in Guyuan City, Ningxia, China.

Groundwater is the main source of production and living in most arid and semi-arid areas, and it plays an increasingly critical role in achieving local urban development. There is a serious issue regarding the contradiction between urban development and groundwater protection. In this study, we used three different models to assess the groundwater vulnerability of Guyuan City, including DRASTIC model, analytical hierarchy process-DRASTIC model (AHP-DRASTIC) and variable weight theory-DRASTIC model (VW-DRASTIC). The groundwater vulnerability index (GVI) of the study area was calculated in ArcGIS. Based on the magnitude of GVI, the groundwater vulnerability was classified into five classes: very high, high, medium, low, and very low using the natural breakpoint method, and the groundwater vulnerability map (GVM) of the study area was drawn. In order to validate the accuracy of groundwater vulnerability, the Spearman correlation coefficient was used, and the results showed that the VW-DRASTIC model performed best among the three models (ρ=0.83). The improved VW-DRASTIC model shows that the variable weight model effectively improves the accuracy of the DRASTIC model, which is more suitable for the study area. Finally, based on the results of GVM combined with the distribution of F- and urban development planning, suggestions were proposed for further sustainable groundwater management. This study provides a scientific basis for groundwater management in Guyuan City, which can be an example for similar areas, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas.

An ecological remediation model combining optimal substrate amelioration and native hyperaccumulator colonization in non-ferrous metal tailings pond.

The vegetation deterioration and pollution expansion from non-ferrous metal tailings pond have been found in many countries leading to water soil erosion and human health risk. Conventional ecological remediation technologies of mine tailings such as capping were costly and elusive. This study provided an economic and effective model as an alternative by substrate amelioration and vegetation restoration. A field experiment was carried out on a silver tailings pond in southwest China. Tailings substrate was ameliorated by adding organic matter (decomposed chicken manure, DCM), structural conditioner (polyacrylamide, PAM), water-retaining agent (acrylic acid-bentonite water-retaining agent, AAB), and heavy metal immobilizer (biofuel ash, BFA), which were optimized by laboratory experiment. Native heavy metal hyperaccumulator, Bidens pilosa, was colonized. Vegetation coverage and plant height of Bidens pilosa reached about 80% and over 30 cm respectively after 3 months, and the turbidity of tailings leaching solution decreased by 60%. The practice showed that the proportion of available heavy metals in tailings substrate was significantly lower than that in the soil surrounding mining area. Immobilization didn't have stabilization effect on Cd, Zn, and Pb, and As was only 0.002%, phytoremediation had stabilization effect of Cd, Zn, As, and Pb were 2.5-3.5%, 1-2%, 0.25-0.5%, and 0.25-0.75%. Phytoremediation was more effective significantly in controlling heavy metal pollution risk of tailings than immobilization. These results provided a new ecological remediation OSA-NHC model, meaning a combination of optimal substrate amelioration and native hyperaccumulator colonization, which could achieve vegetation restoration and augment heavy metal pollution control in non-ferrous metal tailings pond.

Moderating Effects of Self-Efficacy and Time Pressure on the Relationship Between Employee Aging and Work Performance.

Purpose: The relationships among employee aging, working memory capacity, and task performance in the context of information technology were studied, and these investigations in turn provide insight into improving employee task performance and mitigating the negative effects of employee aging. Participants and Methods: Based on the limited resource theory and the inhibitory deficit theory, a total of 296 valid questionnaires were collected and the relationships among the variables were examined using cascaded linear regression via SPSS 22.0. Results: Aging negatively affects working memory capacity and task performance. Working memory capacity partially mediates the relationship between age and task performance. Time pressure can exacerbate the negative effects of age on task performance, and self-efficacy mitigates the negative effects of age on task performance. Discussion: Employee information system learning and training can be enhanced to ameliorate the negative impact of aging on task performance. IT-related work can be limited to a manageable level to reduce the negative effects of reduced working memory capacity. Employees' internal motivation can be gradually cultivated, and employees can be guided toward the improvement of their IT self-efficacy.

Correction to: Spatial distribution of heavy metals and their potential sources in the soil of Yellow River Delta: a traditional oil field in China.

In the original publication of the article, the sixth author name "Zhouqing Xie" has been misspelt. The correct name is given in this correction. The original version of this article was revised.

Spatial distribution of heavy metals and their potential sources in the soil of Yellow River Delta: a traditional oil field in China.

In this study, soil samples were collected from different layers throughout the whole Yellow River Delta (YERD), in north China. The total concentration of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) was determined to demonstrate their spatial distribution and pollution status in different layers of soils throughout the whole YERD. The obtained results suggested a relatively low contamination of heavy metals as observed through the evaluation of CF and RI. The potential ecological risk of Hg is not so severe. Also, the maximum potential threat could be noted only from Cd instead of Hg based on the widespread degree of pollution, which breaks traditional concept that oil production escalates mercury in the soil. The obtained value of EF proves a higher enrichment of heavy metals in the surface soil than in the layer of deep soil induced by human activities. Human activities only slightly elevate As, Cd and Pb. As has the strongest ability downward to lower layer, followed by Cd and Pb in YERD. The source of heavy metals predominantly stems from natural deposits, and their concentrations are controlled by the nature of their association with the mineral. Overall, it shows that the petroleum industry instead of agriculture could be treated as an important source to bring anthropogenic heavy metals in the soils. The human influence only elevated the concentration of heavy metals in the soil of the areas corresponding to the intensive production of oil. In this study some of the measures have also been proposed to avoid and control soil pollution as well as the health risk caused by heavy metals.

Clay minerals affect the stability of surfactant-facilitated carbon nanotube suspensions.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), because of their wide application, will inevitably enter aquatic systems, but the fate and transport of their suspensions in the environment are largely unknown. Clay minerals are expected to interact with CNT suspensions, affecting their fate and bioavailability. This study investigated the influence of clay minerals (kaolinite and montmorillonite) on the stability of surfactant (SDBS, CTAB, and TX100) facilitated multiwalled CNT (MWCNT) suspensions. Adsorption of the surfactants by MWCNTs and clay minerals was also examined. This is a first study on the interaction between clay minerals and surfactant-CNT suspensions. Sorption of SDBS by clay minerals and MWCNTs followed the order MWCNTs >> montmorillonite approximately kaolinite; but sorption of CTAB and TX100 followed the order montmorillonite > MWCNTs > kaolinite. For SDBS suspended MWCNTs, introduction of montmorillonite and kaolinite could not change their stability; for CTAB suspended MWCNTs, both montmorillonite and kaolinite greatly deposited the suspended MWCNTs; for TX100 suspended MWCNTs, montmorillonite could partially deposit the suspended MWCNTs, whereas kaolinite showed minimal effect. Two mechanisms of clay minerals affecting MWCNT suspensions are (1) removal of surfactants by clay minerals from solution and MWCNT surface and (2) bridging between clay mineral and MWCNTs by surfactant.