The Study on the Chinese Environmental Audit Tool (C-EAT) for Long-Term Care Facilities.

Objective: The aim of this study was to translate the Australian Environmental Assessment Tool (EAT) into Chinese and identify culturally specific characteristics in the Chinese context for adaptation. Background: In the context of dementia-specific care, the design of the environment is considered an influential factor in supporting and maintaining skills. However, despite the increasing number of individuals with dementia in China, there is currently no valid instrument available to systematically assess the quality of the physical environment in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). Methods: This study utilized a mixed-method procedure consisting of seven steps, including translation and adaptation. The study involved focus groups comprising an expert panel (n = 17) and potential users (n = 64) of the newly developed tool. Cross-cultural adaptation was performed through Chinese literature review and literature quality appraisal, field study, and expert committee review. Results: The final version of the China Environmental Assessment Tool (C-EAT) consisted of 10 key design principles and 64 items. The C-EAT was tested in four LTCFs in China and underwent two rounds of review by an expert panel. Conclusions: The C-EAT was deemed a suitable tool for assessing the environment and enhancing the living environments for individuals with dementia in LTCFs in China. In future research, field tests will be conducted to validate the C-EAT scale and modify the EAT-HC to enhance its applicability in China.

Molecular mechanisms of growth promotion and selenium enrichment in tomato plants by novel selenium-doped carbon quantum dots.

Selenium (Se)-doped nanoparticles as novel Se fertilizers have a promising potential in the agricultural application. Here, the effects of two novel Se-doped carbon quantum dots (Se-CQDs1 and Se-CQDs2, prepared using co-cracking and adsorption-reduction methods, respectively) on the growth and Se enrichment of tomato plants were studied, where the promoting molecular mechanisms were explored in terms of the related genes expression and soil microbial composition. The results indicated that the soil application of 2.5 mg kg-1 Se-CQDs1 more significantly increased the root growth, plant biomass, and fruit yield than that of Se-CQDs2 and Na2SeO3 treatments (control). Specifically, Se-CQDs1 treatment was more effective to up-regulate the expressions of aquaporin gene (i.e., PIP) and growth hormone synthesis gene (i.e., NIT) than Se-CQDs1 and Na2SeO3 treatments. The expressions of Se methyltransferase gene (smt) and methionine methyltransferase gene (mmt) induced by Se-CQDs1 were 1.45 and 1.18 times higher than that by Se-CQDs2 as well as 1.82 and 2.17 times higher than that by Na2SeO3. Also, Se-CQDs1 more greatly increased the diversity and relative abundance of soil bacterial communities, especially the Actinobacteria phylum, which was beneficial to increase plant growth-promoting substances. These outstanding promoting effects of Se-CQDs1 were mainly ascribed to its higher hydrophilicity and content of the stable doped-Se. The overall results demonstrated that Se-CQDs would be a promising candidate for nano-fertilizer to increase crop growth and development (e.g., tomato plants), where the synthesis modes of Se-CQDs play a critical role in regulating the utilization efficiency of Se.

From Bulk to Nano: Formation, Features, and Functions of Nano-Black Carbon in Biogeochemical Processes.

Globally increasing wildfires and widespread applications of biochar have led to a growing amount of black carbon (BC) entering terrestrial ecosystems. The significance of BC in carbon sequestration, environmental remediation, and the agricultural industry has long been recognized. However, the formation, features, and environmental functions of nanosized BC, which is one of the most active fractions in the BC continuum during global climate change, are poorly understood. This review highlights the formation, surface reactivity (sorption, redox, and heteroaggregation), biotic, and abiotic transformations of nano-BC, and its major differences compared to other fractions of BC and engineered carbon nanomaterials. Potential applications of nano-BC including suspending agent, soil amendment, and nanofertilizer are elucidated based on its unique properties and functions. Future studies are suggested to develop more reliable detection techniques to provide multidimensional information on nano-BC in environmental samples, explore the critical role of nano-BC in promoting soil and planetary health from a one health perspective, and extend the multifield applications of nano-BC with a lower environmental footprint but higher efficiency.

A novel cobalt-iron bimetallic hydrochar for the degradation of triclosan in the aqueous solution: performance, reusability, and synergistic degradation mechanism.

Low activation performance is a critical issue limiting the practical application of low-cost biochar in the advanced oxidation. Given the high potential of transition metals in the persulfate activation process and abundant oxygen-containing groups of hydrochar, hydrochar derived from cobalt (Co)-modified iron (Fe)-enriched sludge was synthesized and its performance and activation mechanism for the degradation of triclosan were investigated. Co modification significantly altered the morphology of hydrochar, and the increased Co-Fe mass ratios transformed hydrochar from granular to rose-shaped lamellar and then to helical sheet structures. Specific surface area, defect degree, and oxygen-containing groups of hydrochar increased with increasing cobalt-iron mass ratios. The highest removal of triclosan was up to 98% in the hydrochar/peroxymonosulfate (PMS) system under a wide range of pHs (3-10) and still remained higher than 90% after four cycles. Both Radical (mainly hydroxyl radical) and nonradical pathways (singlet oxygen and electron transfer) were evidenced to play roles in the triclosan removal. Fe3+ promoted the regeneration of Co2+ and realized the efficient circulation of Co3+/Co2+. A ternary system consisting of electron donor (triclosan)-electron mediator (hydrochar)-electron acceptor (PMS) provided channels for electron transfer. No measurable Co and Fe were released during the reaction, and the toxicity of degradation intermediates was lower than that of triclosan. Beside triclosan, rhodamine B, bisphenol A, sulfamethoxazole, and phenol were also almost degraded completely in this oxidation system. This study provides a promising way for the enhancement of catalytic activity of carbonaceous material.

Targeting HSP47 for cancer treatment.

Heat shock protein 47 (HSP47) serves as an endoplasmic reticulum residing collagen-specific chaperone and plays an important role in collagen biosynthesis and structural assembly. HSP47 is encoded by the SERPINH1 gene, which is located on chromosome 11q13.5, one of the most frequently amplified regions in human cancers. The expression of HSP47 is regulated by multiple cellular factors, including cytokines, transcription factors, microRNAs, and circular RNAs. HSP47 is frequently upregulated in a variety of cancers and plays an important role in tumor progression. HSP47 promotes tumor stemness, angiogenesis, growth, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and metastatic capacity. HSP47 also regulates the efficacy of tumor therapies, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Inhibition of HSP47 expression has antitumor effects, suggesting that targeting HSP47 is a feasible strategy for cancer treatment. In this review, we highlight the function and expression of regulatory mechanisms of HSP47 in cancer progression and point out the potential development of therapeutic strategies in targeting HSP47 in the future.

When transition-metal catalysis meets electrosynthesis: a recent update.

While aiming at sustainable synthesis, organic electrosynthesis has attracted increasing attention in the past few years. In parallel, with a deeper understanding of catalyst and ligand design, 3d transition-metal catalysis allows the conception of more straightforward synthetic routes in a cost-effective fashion. Owing to their intrinsic advantages, the merger of organic electrosynthesis with 3d transition-metal catalysis has offered huge opportunities for conceptually novel transformations while limiting ecological footprint. This review summarizes the key advancements in this direction published in the recent two years, with specific focus placed on strategy design and mechanistic aspects.

Exposure Order to Photoaging and Humic Acids Significantly Modifies the Aggregation and Transformation of Nanoplastics in Aqueous Solutions.

The colloidal stability of nanoplastics in aqueous solutions is greatly regulated by photoaging and dissolved organic matter (DOM). However, how the exposure order to sunlight and DOM modifies the environmental behavior of nanoplastics is seldomly determined. Here, with two different exposure orders, we investigated the impact of molecular-weight (MW)-fractionated humic acids (HAs) derived from biochar and the Suwannee River, respectively, on the aggregation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) nanoplastics (PET-NPs) in mono- and divalent electrolyte solutions. For exposure pattern (i) (photoaging followed by HA coating), photoaged PET-NPs had more oxidized surfaces and exhibited 22-320% higher binding affinity to HAs (especially the higher MW fractions) than the pristine counterparts, which greatly improved the dispersion of PET-NPs. For exposure pattern (ii) (HA coating followed by photoaging), HA-PET assemblies were formed, the dispersion of which increased with increasing irradiation time and was significantly higher than that of the samples in the exposure pattern (i) at the end of the experiment. This high dispersion of photoaged HA-PET assemblies was ascribed to the extra oxidation of PET by reactive oxygen species generated in the PET-HA interfaces during photoaging. These findings highlight the "active nature" of HA-PET assemblies, which provide new insight into the reaction of HA with nanoplastics beyond adsorption in the natural environment.

Unraveling the critical role of iron-enriched sludge hydrochar in mediating the Fenton-like oxidation of triclosan.

The traditional Fenton system is subject to the low efficiency of the Fe(III)/Fe(II) conversion cycle, with significant attempts made to improve the oxidation efficiency by overcoming this hurdle. In support of this goal, iron-enriched sludge-derived hydrochar was prepared as a high-efficiency catalyst by one-step hydrothermal carbonization and its performance and mechanisms in mediating the oxidation of triclosan were explored in the present study. The hydrochar prepared at 240 °C for 4 h (HC240-4) had the highest removal of triclosan (97.0%). The removal of triclosan in the HC240-4/H2O2 system was greater than 90% in both acidic and near-neutral environments and remained as high as 83.5% after three cycles, indicating the broad pH applicability and great recycling stability of sludge-derived hydrochar in Fenton-like systems. H2O2 was activated by both persistent free radicals (PFRs; 19.7%) and iron (80.3%). The binding of Fe(III) to carboxyl decreased the electron transfer energy from H2O2 to Fe(III), making its degradation efficiency 2.6 times greater than that of the conventional Fenton reaction. The study provides a way for iron-enriched sludge utilization and reveals a role for hydrochar in promoting iron cycling and electron transfer in the Fenton reaction.

Particle size of biochar significantly regulates the chemical speciation, transformation, and ecotoxicity of cadmium in biochar.

The pyrolysis of biomass containing excessive heavy metals is likely to produce heavy metal contaminated biochar (BC). Although multiple lines of evidence indicate that higher charring temperature leads to enhanced immobilization of heavy metals in BC, we find that particle size could also play a critical role in the content of heavy metals in BC and BC ecotoxicity. Here, BC derived from cadmium (Cd) enriched rice straw was prepared at different temperatures (300-600 °C) and divided into macro-, colloidal-, and nano-sized fractions, respectively. The content and chemical forms of Cd in BC fractions as well as related algal toxicity were examined. The results show that for the same temperature BC the content of Cd followed an order of colloidal-BC > macro-BC > nano-BC; and the residual fractions of Cd significantly decreased (3.47-16.08%) while that of acid soluble and reducible fractions significantly increased (4.13-16.51% and 0.24-1.71%, respectively) with decreasing particle size of BC. Consistently, colloidal-BC exhibited the highest ecotoxicity for Scenedesmus obliquus. The acid soluble fractions of Cd in macro- and colloidal-BC played a dominating role in their algal toxicity (p < 0.05). However, the ecotoxicity of nano-BC was more dependent on the total content of Cd than specific fractions probably due to the phagocytosis by algal cells. These results indicate that the chemical forms and ecotoxicity of Cd in BC could be remarkably modified by its particle size, which has profound implications for understanding the behavior and potential risk of heavy metal contaminated BC in the environment.

Pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema secondary to dental extraction: Two case reports.

BACKGROUND: Dental extraction is a common operation in oral surgery and is usually accompanied by pain, swelling, and local infection. The application of high-speed air turbines increases the comfort of alveolar surgery and makes it more minimally-invasive. However, high-speed gas can enter the subcutaneous tissue of the face and neck or even the chest and mediastinum, which is a serious iatrogenic complication. CASE SUMMARY: We describe two cases of severe subcutaneous and mediastinal emphysema caused by high-speed turbine splitting during dental extraction. The first case involved a 34-year-old man who complained of swelling of the face, mild chest tightness, and chest pain after dental extraction. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed a large amount of gas in the neck, chest wall, and mediastinum. The second case involved a 54-year-old woman who complained of swelling and pain of the neck after dental extraction. CT showed a large amount of gas collected in the neck and mediastinum. Both of them used high-speed turbine splitting during dental extraction. CONCLUSION: High-speed turbine splitting during dental extraction may lead to severe subcutaneous and mediastinal emphysema. Dentists should carefully operate to avoid emphysema. If emphysema occurs, CT can be used to improve the diagnosis. The patient should be informed, and the complications dealt with carefully.

Nanoscale Iron trioxide catalyzes the synthesis of auxins analogs in artificial humic acids to enhance rice growth.

Humic acids (HAs), kinds of valuable active carbon, are critical for improving soil fertility. However, the majority of soils are poor in HAs, arousing the development of artificial HAs. In this study, two iron-based catalysts (nanoscale iron trioxide (nFe2O3) and FeCl3) were used to catalyze the hydrothermal humification of waste corn straw. With the help of ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, we proposed the specific humification process with the action of catalysis for the first time, which is of great significance for the design, synthesis and application of artificial HAs in the future. Moreover, the growth-promoting effect and mechanisms of the artificial HAs were determined by rice planting in a greenhouse. Results showed that compared to no catalyst treatment, the FeCl3 and nFe2O3 catalysts increased the decomposition rate of macromolecular biomass by 39 and 14 %, respectively, increasing the yield of artificial HAs. During the humification process, nFe2O3 catalysts benefit the formation of many aromatic structure monomers including furfural and hydroxycaproic acids. These monomers were condensed into growth hormone analogs such as vanillin and methionine sulfoxide and were further built in the artificial HAs. Therefore, the artificial HAs from nFe2O3 catalytic treatment promoted the rice growth the best, showing that the resultant germination rate, root activity, and photosynthetic rate of rice increased by 50, 167, and 72 %, respectively; moreover, the uptake and accumulation of water and nutrient by roots as well as the contents of soluble protein and sugar of rice are also significantly increased. This could be ascribed to the upregulated expression of functional genes including OsRHL1, OsZPT5-07, OsSHR2 and OsDCL. Considering both the economic and environmental benefits, we suggested that the artificial HAs, especially that produced with the action of nFe2O3 catalysis, are promising in alleviating environmental stress from waste biomass and sustainably improving agricultural production.

Effect of root exudates on the release, surface property, colloidal stability, and phytotoxicity of dissolved black carbon.

In this study, the release of dissolved black carbon (DBC) from bulk-BC, its surface properties, colloidal stability, and oxidative stress to rice seedlings in the presence and absence of rice root exudates were compared. The bulk-BCs were prepared at 550 °C and derived from wood chips and pig manure, respectively. The release of DBC from bulk-BC was significantly enhanced (20.19-23.63%) by the introduction of root exudates, where low molecular weight organic acids played a dominating role in the dissociation of DBC from carbon skeleton. The surface properties of DBC were greatly modified by root exudates including decreases in the surface area (18.13%) and mineral contents (43.90-69.57%). The O-containing groups and graphitization were also enhanced by 11.46% and 18.65%, respectively. Meanwhile, the presence of root exudates not only reduced the colloidal stability of DBC but also lowered the intensity of free radicals (19.44-22.22%) in DBC. Consequently, the oxidative stress of DBC to rice seedlings was significantly (p < 0.05) alleviated, evidenced by reduced antioxidative enzyme activities (5.67-29.25%) and soluble protein content (15.75-46.79%) in rice plants. These results indicate that the interaction between DBC and root exudates could remarkably modify the surface properties and reactivity of DBC, which has profound implications for understanding the behavior and functions of DBC in the environment.

Novel Insights into the Impact of Nano-Biochar on Composition and Structural Transformation of Mineral/Nano-Biochar Heteroaggregates in the Presence of Root Exudates.

Multiple lines of existing evidence indicate that natural organic matter (NOM) could protect poorly crystalline Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxides from Fe(II)-catalyzed mineral transformation. Conversely, we find that nano-sized biochar (nano-BC), a pyrogenic form of NOM, promotes the phase transformation of ferrihydrite (Fh) in nano-BC/Fh heteroaggregates in the presence of aqueous Fe(II) and rice root exudates. The nano-BC/Fh heteroaggregates are composed of a core-shell like structure where the inner-layered nano-BC is more compacted and plays the dominant role in accelerating the phase transformation of Fh relative to that in the outer sphere. The extent of phase transformation is more regulated by the reversible redox reactions between quinone and hydroquinone in nano-BC than the electron transfer via its condensed aromatic structures. Furthermore, the reductive organic acids in root exudates contribute to the mineral transformation of nano-BC/Fh associations by donating electrons to Fe(III) through nano-BC. Our results suggest that heteroaggregates between nano-BC and Fe minerals are subjected to partial dissociation during their co-transport, and the stably attached nano-BC is favorable to the phase transformation of poorly crystalline Fe minerals (e.g., Fh), which might have profound implications on biogeochemical cycles of carbon and Fe in the prevailing redox environments.

Early-phase insulin hypersecretion associated with weight loss outcome after LSG: a prospective cohort study in Asian patients with BMI ≥28 kg/m2.

BACKGROUND: Obesity has become a global problem that poses a serious threat to human health. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is an effective long-term treatment. However, the weight loss of some patients after LSG is still insufficient. It is necessary to investigate the factors associated with inadequate weight loss after LSG. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to explore whether preoperative insulin secretion could be associated with weight loss after LSG in patients with obesity. SETTING: This is a single-center prospective cohort study conducted in a university hospital. METHODS: Patients from a prospective database who underwent LSG were analyzed. All 178 participants underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to assess preoperative insulin and c-peptide secretion before LSG. The areas under the curve (AUCs) for glucose, insulin, and c-peptide were determined in the OGTT. The percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) and the percentage of total weight loss (%TWL) were used to estimate the effect of weight loss after LSG. Regression models were used to assess the correlation between preoperative insulin and c-peptide secretion with %EWL ≥75% and TWL ≥35% at 12 months after LSG. RESULTS: The AUCs of insulin and c-peptide were significantly lower in the %EWL ≥75% and %TWL ≥35% groups at 0-30 minutes, 0-60 minutes, and 0-120 minutes during the OGTT. At 30, 60, and 120 minutes during the OGTT, c-peptide levels were significantly lower in the %EWL ≥75% group and %TWL ≥35% group. The preoperative c-peptide level at 30 minutes during the OGTT (C30) was significantly negatively correlated with %EWL (ß = -.37, P < .001) and %TWL (ß = -.28, P = .011). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative C30 was associated with %EWL ≥75% and %TWL ≥35% after LSG. According to multiple logistic regression analysis, patients with a low preoperative C30 had an 8-fold higher %TWL ≥35% after LSG than those with a high C30 (odds ratio: 8.41 [95% confidence interval: 1.46-48.58], P = .017). Similarly, patients with a low preoperative C30 had a 7-fold higher EWL% ≥75% after LSG than patients with a high C30 (odds ratio: 7.25 [95% confidence interval: 1.11-47.50], P = .039). CONCLUSIONS: The rate of weight loss after LSG is low among patients with preoperative hyperinsulinemia. The preoperative c-peptide level at 30 minutes during the OGTT is associated with weight loss after LSG.

Systematic Research on the Transport of Ball-Milled Biochar in Saturated Porous Media: Effect of Humic Acid, Ionic Strength, and Cation Types.

Ball-milled biochar (BMBC) is a typical engineering material that has promising application prospects in remediating contaminated soil and water. It is fundamental to rate the transport behaviors of BMBC in the underground environment before extensive use. In this study, the effects of the ubiquitous cations (Na+, Mg2+, and Al3+) and model organic matter (humic acid) on the transport of BMBC were investigated using laboratory column experiments. The results demonstrated the facilitated effect of HA on the transport of BMBC due to the negatively charged surface and steric effect under neutral conditions. HA and ionic strength manifested an antagonistic effect on the transport of BMBC, where the presence of one could weaken the effect from the other. We also found the charge reversal of the BMBC surface in the presence of Mg2+, thus enhancing the deposition of BMBC onto the medium surface. On the other hand, the charge reversal from Al3+-coupled acid conditions led to the restabilization and transport of BMBC in porous media. Therefore, the rational usage of BMBC is indispensable and more attention should be paid to the composition and change in underground water that might facilitate the transport of BMBC and thus lead to negative environmental implications.

Potential toxicity of nanoplastics to fish and aquatic invertebrates: Current understanding, mechanistic interpretation, and meta-analysis.

Nanoplastics (NPs) are widely detected in aquatic ecosystems and attracting considerable attention. Although ecotoxicological impacts of NPs on aquatic biota are increasingly identified, the extent and magnitude of these detrimental effects on fish and aquatic invertebrates still lack systematic quantification and mechanistic interpretation. Here, the toxicity, influencing factors, and related mechanisms of NPs to fish and aquatic invertebrates are critically reviewed and summarized based on a total of 634 biological endpoints through a meta-analysis, where five vital response categories including growth, consumption, reproduction, survival, and behavior were emphasized to elucidate the negative impacts of NPs to fish and aquatic invertebrates from physiological to molecular levels. Our results revealed that NPs significantly decreased the survival, behavior, and reproduction of fish and/or aquatic invertebrates by 56.1%, 24.2%, and 36.0%, respectively. NPs exposure increased the oxidative stress and oxidative damage by 72.0% and 9.6%, respectively; while significantly decreased antioxidant prevention system and neurotransmission by 24.4% and 15.9%, respectively. Also, the effects of particle size, functional group, and concentration range of NPs on the physiological and biochemical reactions in the living organisms were discussed. This information is helpful to more accurately understanding the underlying toxic mechanisms of NPs to aquatic biota and guiding future studies.

PAI-1 induction during kidney injury promotes fibrotic epithelial dysfunction via deregulation of klotho, p53, and TGF-ß1-receptor signaling.

Renal fibrosis leads to chronic kidney disease, which affects over 15% of the U.S. population. PAI-1 is highly upregulated in the tubulointerstitial compartment in several common nephropathies and PAI-1 global ablation affords protection from fibrogenesis in mice. The precise contribution of renal tubular PAI-1 induction to disease progression, however, is unknown and surprisingly, appears to be independent of uPA inhibition. Human renal epithelial (HK-2) cells engineered to stably overexpress PAI-1 underwent dedifferentiation (E-cadherin loss, gain of vimentin), G2/M growth arrest (increased p-Histone3, p21), and robust induction of fibronectin, collagen-1, and CCN2. These cells are also susceptible to apoptosis (elevated cleaved caspase-3, annexin-V positivity) compared to vector controls, demonstrating a previously unknown role for PAI-1 in tubular dysfunction. Persistent PAI-1 expression results in a loss of klotho expression, p53 upregulation, and increases in TGF-ßRI/II levels and SMAD3 phosphorylation. Ectopic restoration of klotho in PAI-1-transductants attenuated fibrogenesis and reversed the proliferative defects, implicating PAI-1 in klotho loss in renal disease. Genetic suppression of p53 reversed the PA1-1-driven maladaptive repair, moreover, confirming a pathogenic role for p53 upregulation in this context and uncovering a novel role for PAI-1 in promoting renal p53 signaling. TGF-ßRI inhibition also attenuated PAI-1-initiated epithelial dysfunction, independent of TGF-ß1 ligand synthesis. Thus, PAI-1 promotes tubular dysfunction via klotho reduction, p53 upregulation, and activation of the TGF-ßRI-SMAD3 axis. Since klotho is an upstream regulator of both PAI-1-mediated p53 induction and SMAD3 signaling, targeting tubular PAI-1 expression may provide a novel, multi-level approach to the therapy of CKD.

Photochemical Transformation and Catalytic Activity of Dissolved Black Nitrogen Released from Environmental Black Carbon.

Biomass combustion results in the formation and wide distribution of black carbon (BC) in soils, wherein the dissolved fractions are among the most active components. Although the presence of dissolved black nitrogen (DBN) in BC has been identified, its environmental behavior and implication are not understood. This study investigated the photochemical transformation and catalytic activity of DBN under simulated solar irradiation. DBN is more easily transformed than dissolved BC due to its photoactive heteroaromatic N structure, and the half-life of DBN produced at 500 °C (8.6 h) is two times shorter than that of the dissolved BC counterpart (23 h). Meanwhile, solar irradiation is favorable for the homoaggregation of DBN. During irradiation, DBN generates not only reactive oxygen species (e.g., 1O2, O2-, and •OH) but also reactive nitrogen species (mainly •ON), which account for its higher photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A than dissolved BC. These findings shed new light on the impact of heteroatoms on the phototransformation and activity of BC as well as cycling of N in terrestrial systems.

Indirect Electrosynthesis with Halogen Ions as Mediators.

Organic electrosynthesis has gained increasing research interest as it harvests electric current as redox regents, thereby providing a sustainable alternative to conventional approaches. Compared with direct electrosynthesis, indirect electrosynthesis employs mediator(s) to lower the overpotentials for substrate activation, and enhance the reaction efficiency and functional group compatibility by shifting the heterogenous electron transfer process to be homogenous. As one of the most versatile and cost-efficient mediators, halogen mediators are always combined with an irreversible halogenation reaction. Thus, the electrochemical reaction between halogen mediators and substrates doesn't directly controlled by the two standard potentials difference. In this account, our recent developments in the area of halogen-mediated indirect electrosynthesis are summarized. The anodically generated halogen species from halogenide salts have the abilities to undergo electron-transfer (ET) or hydrogen-atom- transfer (HAT) processes. The reaction features, scopes, limitations, and mechanistic rationalisations are discussed in this account. We hope our studies will contribute to the future developments to broaden the scope of halogen-mediated electrosynthesis.

Silicon combined with foliar melatonin for reducing the absorption and translocation of Cd and As by Oryza sativa L. in two contaminated soils.

Potentially toxic elements (PTE) toxicity has serious effects for human health. Si has been tested to investigate their ability to mitigate Cd and As contamination of rice. In this study, the combined effect of Si and melatonin (MT) on Cd and As uptake and transport in rice plants is tested in two contaminated soils via controlled pot experiments. Results showed that a combined Si and MT treatment (Si + MT) was more effective at reducing Cd and As uptake and transport than Si alone. The treatment had the strongest effect on Cd concentrations in rice grains from high-polluted soil (HP) when treated at the flowering stage (81.8% reduction) and from low-polluted soil (LP) at the tillering stage (TS, 64.9%). The greatest reduction of grain As was found when treated at TS in both soils, by 58.2% and 39.2% in HP and LP soil, respectively. The significant upregulation of CAT, SOD, and POD activities, and downregulation of MDA by Si + MT was more effective than that of Si alone; Si + MT significantly decreased expressions of Nramp1, HMA2, and IRT2 in roots in both soils, and also Nramp5, HMA3, and IRT1 in LP soil, which might result in Si+MT effect on Cd and As accumulation. However, Si + MT had little effect on the amino acid content of grains compared to Si alone. Overall, the combination of Si and MT was substantially more effective at reducing Cd and As uptake and transport than Si alone, especially in HP soil. This effect might result from the regulation of antioxidant potential and gene expression relating Cd uptake and transport.