The metabolomics analysis of cecal contents elucidates significant metabolites involved in the therapeutic effects of total flavonoids derived from Sonchus arvensis L. in male C57BL/6 mice with ulcerative colitis.

Ulcerative colitis (UC), an inflammatory disease affecting the colon and rectal mucosa, is characterized by chronic and heterogeneous behavior of unknown origin. The primary cause of UC is chronic inflammation, which is closely linked to the development of colorectal cancer. Sonchus arvensis L. (SAL), a plant consumed worldwide for its nutritional and medicinal properties, holds significance in this context. In this study, we employed the total flavone in SAL as a treatment for male C57BL/6 mice with UC. The cecal contents metabolic profile of C57BL/6 mice in different groups, including UC (group ML; n = 5), UC treated with aspirin (group AN; n = 5), UC treated with the total flavone in SAL (group FE; n = 5), and healthy male C57BL/6 mice (group CL; n = 5), was examined using UHPLC-Triple-TOF-MS. Through the identification of variations in key metabolites associated with UC and the exploration of their underlying biological mechanisms, our understanding of the pathological processes underlying this condition has been enhanced. This study identified a total of seventy-three metabolites that have a significant impact on UC. Notably, the composition of total flavone in SAL, a medication used for UC treatment, differs from that of aspirin due to the presence of four distinct metabolites (13,14-Dihydro-15-keto-PGE2, Prostaglandin I2 (PGI2), (20R,22R)-20,22-dihydroxycholesterol, and PS (18:1(9Z)/0:0)). These metabolites possess unique characteristics that set them apart. Moreover, the study identified a total of eleven pathways that were significantly enriched in mice with UC, including Aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, Valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis, Linoleic acid metabolism, PPAR signaling pathway, mTOR signaling pathway, Valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation, Lysine degradation, VEGF signaling pathway, Melanogenesis, Endocrine and other factor-regulated calcium reabsorption, and Cocaine addiction. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the metabolic variations in UC following total flavonoids of SAL therapy and provide valuable insights for the treatment of UC.Keywords: Ulcerative colitis; Total flavonoids of Sonchus arvensis L.; Key metabolites; Metabonomics; Cecal contents of male C57BL/6 mice.

Acetamide-Caprolactam Deep Eutectic Solvent-Based Electrolyte for Stable Zn-Metal Batteries.

Aqueous Zn-ion batteries (AZIBs) are promising for grid-scale energy storage. However, conventional AZIBs face challenges including hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), leading to high local pH, and by-product formation on the anode. Hereby the hydrogen bonds in the aqueous electrolyte are reconstructed by using a deep eutectic co-solvent (DES) made of acetamide (H-bond donor) and caprolactam (H-bond acceptor), which effectively suppresses the reactivity of water and broadens the electrochemical voltage stability window. The coordination between Zn2+ and acetamide-caprolactam in DES-based electrolytes produces a unique solvation structure that promotes the preferential growth of Zn crystals along the (002) plane. This will inhibit the formation of Zn dendrites and ensure the uniform deposition of Zn-ions on the anode surface. In addition, it is found that this DES-based electrolyte can form a protective membrane on the anode surface, reducing the risks of Zn corrosion. Compared to conventional electrolytes, the DES-based electrolyte shows a long-term stable plating/stripping performance with a significantly improved Coulombic efficiency from 78.18% to 98.37%. It is further demonstrated that a Zn||VS2 full-cell with the DES-based electrolyte exhibits enhanced stability after 500 cycles with 85.4% capacity retention at 0.5 A g-1 .

Multi-Ring Disk Resonator with Elliptic Spokes for Frequency-Modulated Gyroscope.

In this paper, we report a multi-ring disk resonator with elliptic spokes for compensating the aniso-elasticity of (100) single crystal silicon. The structural coupling between each ring segments can be controlled by replacing the straight beam spokes with the elliptic spokes. The degeneration of two n = 2 wineglass modes could be realized by optimizing the design parameters of the elliptic spokes. The mode-matched resonator could be obtained when the design parameter, aspect ratio of the elliptic spokes was 25/27. The proposed principle was demonstrated by both numerical simulation and experiment. A frequency mismatch as small as 1330 ± 900 ppm could be experimentally demonstrated, which was much smaller than that of the conventional disk resonator, which achieved as high as 30,000 ppm.

Facile synthesis of BTA@NiCo2O4 hollow structure for excellent microwave absorption and anticorrosion performance.

A three-dimensional hollow NiCo2O4 structure was successfully prepared with a precipitation-hydrothermal method. A balance between magnetic and dielectric losses was achieved by using a hollow NiCo2O4 structure loaded with benzotriazole (BTA), and thus the performance of electromagnetic waves was attenuated. The minimum reflection loss value of BTA@NiCo2O4 at 16.01 GHz was -35.39 dB when the absorber thickness was 2 mm, at which the absorption bandwidth for an RL of less than -10 dB is as high as 4.64 GHz. The absorption mechanism was characterized by the synergy among interfacial polarization, multiple reflection, and dipole polarization enhancement between NiCo2O4 and BTA. Interestingly, the epoxy/BTA@NiCo2O4 coating not only exhibited an outstanding microwave absorption (MA) performance but also has excellent anticorrosion and self-healing properties, as shown by the results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. This work would be very helpful to the development of novel coatings with excellent MA performance and anticorrosion and self-healing properties.

[Characteristics and contribution of the strengthening units of composite constructed wetland for treating urban sewage].

There are some defects in constructed wetland, including the uneven distribution of flow, easily blocked, lack of oxygen supply systems and the unsatisfactory phosphorus adsorption capacity of the substrates, etc. The research mainly studied the function and contribution of the pool of hydrolysis acidification, the natural reoxygenation/sinking device and strengthen slot for reducing nitrogen and phosphorus. The results showed the removal efficiency of COD and SS in hydrolysis-acidification pool accounted for 38.05% and 34.82% of the total removal efficiency of system. The SS removal efficiency of the natural reoxygenation/sinking device accounted for 22.01% of the total removal efficiency of system, and the concentration of DO kept above 2.5 mg.L-1. The two strengthen slots can ensure the TP, TN, COD up to the standard of the level 1 of GB 18918-2002.

Impacts of operating parameters on oxidation-reduction potential and pretreatment efficacy in the pretreatment of printing and dyeing wastewater by Fenton process.

An experiment was conducted in a batch reactor for a real printing and dyeing wastewater pretreatment using Fenton process in this study. The results showed that original pH, hydrogen peroxide concentration and ferrous sulfate concentration affected ORP value and pretreatment efficacy greatly. Under experimental conditions, the optimal original pH was 6.61, and the optimal hydrogen peroxide and ferrous sulfate concentrations were 1.50 and 0.75 gL(-1), respectively. The relationship among ORP, original pH, hydrogen peroxide concentration, ferrous sulfate concentration, and color (COD or BOD(5)/COD) was established, which would be instructive in on-line monitoring and control of Fenton process using ORP. In addition, the effects of wastewater temperature and oxidation time on pretreatment efficacy were also investigated. With an increase of temperature, color and COD removal efficiencies and BOD(5)/COD ratio increased, and they were in proportion to the exponent of temperature reciprocal. Similarly, color and COD removal efficiencies increased with increasing oxidation time, and both color and COD removal obeyed the first-order kinetics. The BOD(5)/COD ratio could be expressed by a second-degree polynomial with respect to oxidation time, and the best biodegradability of wastewater was present at the oxidation time of 6.10h.

Vitellogenin induction by a mixture of steroidal estrogens in freshwater fishes and relevant risk assessment.

The study method on combined effects of environmental contaminant mixture and ecological risk assessment was discussed. Batch tests were conducted to assess the in vivo potency of binary mixtures of estrogens using plasma vitellogenin concentrations in male crucian carp as the endpoint. The estrogenic potencies of 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) and 17alpha-ethynylestradiol (EE(2)) were determined following 14 day exposure to the individual chemicals and equipotent binary mixtures. A Nonlinear regression was obtained and 95% confidence limits of effect concentration were achieved using the bootstrap method. Concentration-response curve for fixed ratio binary mixtures of E(2) and EE(2) was compared with those for individual chemicals, using the biomathematical models of concentration addition (CA) and independent action (IA). A complete overlap was found for the CA predictions with the 95% confidence interval of the best-fit regression line of the observed responses, and the IA predictions was shown lower than the observations. The observed mixture effects were considerably higher than those of the hormone alone and far exceeded the 95% confidence interval of the estrogen regression lines. The predicted effects of binary mixtures at different mixture ratios indicated that the potential impact of components on mixture would depend predominantly on its concentration, the mixture ratio and its relative potency. Results suggested that E(2) and EE(2) acted together in an additive manner and the combined effects can be accurately predicted in whole range of exposure concentration by the models of CA and IA, the model of CA might be realistic, but more useful for ecological risk assessment.

[Mixture effects to vitellogenin induction by four environmental estrogens in freshwater fish].

Combined effects of estrogenic compounds to high risk life-form were demonstrated, and the study method on combined effects of environmental contaminant mixture and environmental risk assessment were also discussed. A nonlinear aggression was determined on the changes of plasma vitellogenin concentration in crucian carp via the environmental pollutant exposure concentration, and the concentration-response relationship was determined for the single chemical of estradiol, ethynylestradiol, bisphenol A, and octylphenol, and that of the mixed compounds at equipotent concentrations. The combined effects of the four xenoestrogens were tested using indices of mixture toxicity and the biomathematical models of concentration addition or independent action. Weibull function was indicated as the best-fit function (R2 > or = 0.92) with curve estimation, the 95% confidence limits of effect concentration was achieved using the bootstrap method, the media effective concentration (EC50) with 95% confidence interval was 0.007 9 (0.006 8-0.010 0), 0.098 7 (0.090 0-0.111 0), 63.50 (56.58-70.62) and 250.59 (228.46-271.99) Mg x L(-1) respectively. Results suggested that estrogenic chemicals acted together in an additive manner and the combined effects can be accurately predicted in whole range of exposure concentration by the concept of similar joint action or concentration addition.It is proved as a scientific and feasible method to apply the model of joint action whereas the outcome of indices with a great deal of indetermination.

[Clogging characteristics of the subsurface flow wetland].

In order to resolve clogging problem of constructed wetlands caused by improper design or imperfect management and reveal the clogging mechanism, clogging characteristics of the horizontal flow reed wetland and vertical flow reed wetland were studied. Operation stabilities of two types of wetlands were compared. It shows that organic matter accumulates in medium and the concentration is 1.5% - 5%. It mostly occurs in the fore section of top layer in wetland and the concentration is 4% - 5%. The negative correlation between the organic matter content and the subsurface depth was demonstrated. The clogging mechanisms in the horizontal flow wetland and the vertical flow wetland are different. The hydraulic retention time of the horizontal flow wetland is 3.5154 d which is shortened by 21.88%. While the hydraulic retention time of the vertical flow wetland is 5.4648 d and extended by 21.44%. The results indicate that clogging decreases the treatment capacity and running stability conspicuously. The clogging phenomenon of the vertical flow wetland is worse comparatively.

Zero-broadening SBS slow light propagation in an optical fiber using two broadband pump beams.

A new method of tailoring stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) gain spectrum for slow light propagation is proposed by use of two Gaussian-shaped broadband pump beams with different powers and spectral widths. The central frequency interval between the two pump beams are carefully set to be two inherent Brillouin frequency shift, ensuring that the gain spectrum of one pump has the same central frequency with the loss spectrum of the other one. Different gain profiles are obtained and analyzed. Among them a special gain profile is found that ensures a zero-broadening of the signal pulse independent of the Brillouin gain. This is owing to the compensation between the positive gain-dependent broadening and the negative GVD (group velocity dispersion) dependent broadening. The relationship of two pump beams is also found for constructing such a gain profile. It provides us a new idea of managing the broadening of SBS-based slow pulse by artificially constructing and optimizing the profile of gain spectrum.

[Intensity of nitrification and denitrification in subsurface-flow constructed wetlands].

To reveal the nitrogen purification mechanism in subsurface-flow constructed wetlands, nitrification and denitrification intensities were studied in reed, canna and unplanted wetlands respectively. The results show that nitrification intensity in subsurface-flow wetlands is remarkably influenced by temperature and closely correlative with total and ammonia nitrogen removal efficiency. It appears in upright direction that nitrification and denitrification intensities in upper layer are higher than that in the lower. For the reed wetland, nitrification intensity is low in both ends but high in the middle of upper layer, while it decreases gradually along distance in lower layer. The change of denitrification intensity along distance is not obvious. Average nitrification intensity is higher in vertical-flow wetland than that in horizontal-flow wetlands, higher in planted wetlands than that in unplanted wetland and higher in reed wetland than that in canna wetland. The secretion from plant roots directly results in the gradual decrease of nitrification intensity in plant rhizosphere. Results also show that intensity of denitrification is obviously higher than that of nitrification. Thereby, subsurface-flow wetland has strong denitrification potential.

[Study on running characteristics of aerating subsurface flow wetlands].

Aim at the low dissolved oxygen concentration and nitrogen removing efficiency in constructed wetlands, the running parameters of aeration measure, influence on plants and bacteria, the dissolved oxygen concentration and purifying efficiency after aeration were studied. The results show that aeration should be run in the forepart of wetland. The best gas-flow ratio is 6. Continuous aeration is adopted. The influence of aeration on plants in wetlands is inconspicuous. The quantity of nitrifying bacteria and denitrifying bacteria are increased. Aeration improves the oxygen condition, which is under 0.6 mg/L before aeration but over 1 mg/L after aeration. The purifying efficiency of wetlands is improved, removing efficiency of organic matter increases 10%, and removing efficiency of total nitrogen is higher than 60%. So aeration has the value of research and application.

Performance of combined process of anoxic baffled reactor-biological contact oxidation treating printing and dyeing wastewater.

A study of the treatment of printing and dyeing wastewater was carried out using the combined process of anoxic baffled reactor-biological contact oxidation. The results showed the pH ascended continuously and the oxidation-reduction potential dropped gradually from compartment 1-6 in ABR. When hydraulic retention time was 12h, color removal efficiency was 92% and the color of effluent of ABR could satisfy the professional emission standard (grade-1) of textile and dyeing industry of China. The total COD removal efficiency of the combined process was 86.6% and the COD of effluent could satisfy the professional emission standard (grade-2) of textile and dyeing industry of China.

Determination of bulk mass transfer coefficient of biosorption on sludge granule based on liquid membrane mass transfer mechanism.

A bulk mass transfer coefficient (BMTC) equation was derived from the mechanism of mass transfer in surface liquid membrane in this study, which was based on the analysis of biosorption process, conservation of mass in sludge granule and the unification of the dimension. A biosorption experiment was carried out in which anoxic sludge from an anoxic baffled reactor for printing and dyeing wastewater treatment was used to adsorb Acid Red GR dye. The results showed that there was a linear regression curve between ln[qe/(qe-q)] (qe and q were the amount adsorbed at equilibrium and at time t, respectively.) and time t. There was also a good agreement between the adsorbate amount measured and that predicted by the equation of BMTC. The BMTC of Acid Red GR dye adsorbed by anoxic sludge was 6.816 kgm(-3)min(-1). Experimental results indicated that the BMTC determined by a simple adsorptive experiment using this equation was credible. It could be a feasible and effective way to determine BMTC of activated sludge for biosorption performance.

[Environmental behavior in wetland soil of organic chlorine from pulp bleaching wastewater].

The adsorption equilibrium and leaching characteristics of organic chlorine on soils were studied by mean of soil column method using bleaching water in laboratory condition. Soil samples were also collected from the wetland that irrigated with pulp wastewater from one to three years, and analyzed for the distributing characteristics of organic chlorine in soils. The results showed that measured equilibrium isotherms for absorbable organic chlorine (AOCl) in the soils were of Freundlich type with the adsorption constant 7.3410 in the soils without irrigated and 4.9501 irrigated for 2 years. The nonlinear constants were 0.5024 and 0.6108, respectively. The AOCl was detected in the leachate, it was found that most of the AOCl was adsorbed by the soils, especially topsoil. The average contents of extractable organic chlorine (EOCl) were 4.48 microg/g, 10.35 microg/g and 10.07 microg/g in the topsoil irrigated for la, 2a and 3a respectively, which had increased distinctly compared with the background value.

[Study on the oxygen condition in subsurface flow wetlands in operation].

Horizontal flow wetlands with various kinds of plants grown were studied on their operation characteristics and oxygen condition in treating the sewage out from the primary sedimentary basin. The rules of oxygen condition changed with space and time were studied. Researches showed the oxygen concentration was low in wetlands, and it appeared as a rule that low in both ends, but high in middle of beds. It descended in upright direction. The oxygen concentration changed with seasons as summer > spring > autumn > winter. In one day, the highest oxygen concentration appeared on 14:00, and the concentration was higher in forenoon than afternoon. Reed > canna > camellia > dracaena sanderiana > ipomoea aquatica forsk by comparison of ability of oxygen supply. Experiments demonstrate that the study of oxygen condition in constructed wetlands is propitious to reveal the purifying mechanism of wetlands and improve the purifying efficiency.