Efficient Recovery of Phosphate from Water Media by Iron-Magnesium Functionalized Lignite: Adsorption Evaluation, Mechanism Revelation and Potential Application Exploration.

Selective phosphorus removal from aquatic media has become an ideal strategy to mitigate eutrophication and meet increasingly stringent discharge requirements. To achieve phosphorus control and resource utilization of low-calorific-value lignite, iron and magnesium salts were used to functionalize lignite, and iron-magnesium functionalized lignite (called IM@BC) was prepared for phosphate recovery from water media. The adsorption properties of IM@BC were systematically evaluated, especially the influence of ambient pH and co-existing ions. The kinetic, isothermal, and thermodynamic adsorption behaviors of IM@BC were analyzed. The adsorption mechanism was revealed by microscopic characterization. The potential application of phosphate-containing IM@BC (P-IM@BC) was explored. The results show that IM@BC has a strong phosphate adsorption capacity, and the maximum adsorption capacity is 226.22 mgP/g at pH = 3. Co-existing CO32- inhibits phosphate adsorption, while coexisting Ca2+ and Mg2+ enhance the effect. At the initial adsorption stage, the amount of phosphate adsorbed by IM@BC continues to increase, and the adsorption equilibrium state is gradually reached after 24 h. The adsorption process conforms to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (PSO) and Langmuir isothermal adsorption model, and the adsorption process is mainly chemical adsorption. The phosphate absorption capacity is positively correlated with temperature (283.15 K~313.15 K), and the adsorption process is spontaneous, endothermic, and entropy-increasing. Its adsorption mechanism includes electrostatic attraction, ion exchange, surface precipitation, and coordination exchange. IM@BC can efficiently recover phosphate from actual phosphorus-containing wastewater with a recovery efficiency of up to 90%. P-IM@BC slowly releases phosphate from pH 3 to 11. Plant growth experiments showed that P-IM@BC could be used as a slow-release fertilizer to promote the root growth of cowpeas. The novelty of this work lies in the development of a highly efficient phosphate recovery adsorbent, which provides a feasible method of phosphorus control in water media and resource utilization of lignite.

[Ligusticum cycloprolactam inhibits IL-1ß-induced apoptosis and inflammation of rat chondrocytes via HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway].

Chondrocytes are unique resident cells in the articular cartilage, and the pathological changes of them can lead to the occurrence of osteoarthritis(OA). Ligusticum cycloprolactam(LIGc) are derivatives of Z-ligustilide(LIG), a pharmacodynamic marker of Angelica sinensis, which has various biological functions such as anti-inflammation and inhibition of cell apoptosis. However, its protective effect on chondrocytes in the case of OA and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. This study conducted in vitro experiments to explore the molecular mechanism of LIGc in protecting chondrocytes from OA. The inflammation model of rat OA chondrocyte model was established by using interleukin-1ß(IL-1ß) to induce. LIGc alone and combined with glycyrrhizic acid(GA), a blocker of the high mobility group box-1 protein(HMGB1)/Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB) signaling pathway, were used to intervene in the model, and the therapeutic effects were systematically evaluated. The viability of chondrocytes treated with different concentrations of LIGc was measured by the cell counting kit-8(CCK-8), and the optimal LIGc concentration was screened out. Annexin V-FITC/PI apoptosis detection kit was employed to examine the apoptosis of chondrocytes in each group. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was employed to measure the expression of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2), prostaglandin-2(PGE2), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) in the supernatant of chondrocytes in each group. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax), caspase-3, HMGB1, TLR4, and NF-κB p65. The mRNA levels of HMGB1, TLR4, NF-κB p65, and myeloid differentiation factor 88(MyD88) in chondrocytes were determined by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR). The safe concentration range of LIGc on chondrocytes was determined by CCK-8, and then the optimal concentration of LIGc for exerting the effect was clarified. Under the intervention of IL-1ß, the rat chondrocyte model of OA was successfully established. The modeled chondrocytes showed increased apoptosis rate, promoted expression of COX-2, PGE2, and TNF-α, up-regulated protein levels of Bax, caspase-3, HMGB1, TLR4, and NF-κB p65 and mRNA levels of HMGB1, TLR4, NF-κB p65, and MyD88, and down-regulated protein level of Bcl-2. However, LIGc reversed the IL-1ß-induced changes of the above factors. Moreover, LIGc combined with GA showed more significant reversal effect than LIGc alone. These fin-dings indicate that LIGc extracted and derived from the traditional Chinese medicine A. sinensis can inhibit the inflammatory response of chondrocytes and reduce the apoptosis of chondrocytes, and this effect may be related to the HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. The pharmacological effect of LIGc on protecting chondrocytes has potential value in delaying the progression of OA and improving the clinical symptoms of patients, and deserves further study.

Recovery of ammonia nitrogen and phosphate from livestock farm wastewater by iron-magnesium oxide coupled lignite and its potential for resource utilization.

A new adsorbent called iron-magnesium oxide coupled lignite (CIMBC) was developed to address the challenges of recovering high concentrations of ammonia nitrogen and phosphate in livestock farm wastewater and improving the inefficient use of lignite (BC) with low calorific value. CIMBC was synthesized using the modified ferromagnesium salt double-coating method. The experiments demonstrated that Fe2O3 and MgO could be effectively loaded onto the surface of BC at a Fe/Mg molar ratio of 1:2 and pyrolysis temperature of 500 °C. The optimal conditions for adsorption were determined to be an N/P concentration ratio of 2:1, adsorbent dosage of 1 g/L, and pH of 7. The presence of coexisting cations (Ca2+ and Mg2+) inhibited the removal of ammonia nitrogen but enhanced the removal of phosphate. Likewise, the presence of coexisting anions (CO32- and SO42-) hindered the removal of both ammonia nitrogen and phosphate. The adsorption behavior followed the pseudo-second-order model and the Langmuir model, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 95.69 mg N/g for ammonia nitrogen and 101.32 mg P/g for phosphate. The adsorption process was a spontaneous endothermic process controlled by multiple levels. The main mechanisms of adsorption involved electrostatic attraction, intra-particle diffusion, ion exchange, chemical precipitation, and coordination exchange. After 5 times of adsorption-desorption, the recovery rate of CIMBC is less than 50%, and the removal rate of phosphate is less than 40%. Although the RCIMBC exhibited low reusability, but also it showed potential in removing heavy metals (Pb) from wastewater and for use as a slow-release fertilizer. CIMBC is a promising new adsorbent, which can realize resource utilization of lignite with low calorific value while removing nitrogen and phosphorus.

Adsorption properties of Pb(II) and Cd(II) in acid mine drainage by oyster shell loaded lignite composite in different morphologies.

A new idea to alleviate environmental pollution is the development of low-cost adsorbents using natural minerals and fishery wastes to treat high concentrations of heavy metal pollutants in acid mine drainage (AMD). Adsorbent morphology, adsorptive and regenerative capacity, and application potential are limiting factors for their large-scale use. Oyster shells capable of releasing alkalinity were loaded on the surface of lignite to develop two composite adsorbents with different morphologies (powdery and globular) for the treatment of AMD containing Pb(II) and Cd(II). The results show that the ability of the adsorbent to treat AMD is closely related to its morphologies. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir model are suitable to describe the adsorption process of OS-M(P), and the maximum adsorption saturation capacities of Pb(II) and Cd(II) are 332.6219 mg/g and 318.9854 mg/g, respectively. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Freundlich model are suitable to describe the adsorption process of OS-M(G). A synergistic result of electrostatic adsorption, neutralization precipitation, ion exchange and complex reaction is achieved in the removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) by two morphologies of adsorbents. The regeneration times (5 times) and recovery rate (75.75%) of OS-M(G) are higher than those of OS-M(P) (3 times) and recovery rate (20%). The ability of OS-M(G) to treat actual AMD wastewater is still better than that of OS-M(P). OS-M(G) can be used as a promising environmentally friendly adsorbent for the long-term remediation of AMD. This study provides a comprehensive picture of resource management and reuse opportunities for natural mineral and fishery wastes.

Experimental study on the treatment of AMD by SRB immobilized particles containing "active iron" system.

The inhibition and toxicity of high acidity and heavy metals on sulfate-reducing bacteria in acid mine drainage (AMD) were targeted. Highly active SRB immobilized particles were prepared using SRB, warm sticker wastes (iron powders), corncobs, and Maifan stones as the main matrix materials, employing microbial immobilization technology. The repair ability and reusability of highly active immobilized particles for AMD were explored. The results indicate that the adaptability of immobilized particles to AMD varied under different initial conditions, such as pH, Mn2+, and SO42-. The adsorption process of immobilized particles on Mn2+ follows the quasi-second-order kinetic model, suggesting that it involves both physical and chemical adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacity of immobilized particles for Mn2+ is 3.878 mg/g at a concentration of 2.0 mg/L and pH 6. On the other hand, the reduction process of immobilized particles on SO42- adheres to the first-order reaction kinetics, indicating that the reduction of SO42- is primarily driven by the dissimilation reduction of SRB. The maximum reduction rate of SO42- by immobilized particles is 94.23% at a concentration of 800 mg/L and pH 6. A layered structure with a flocculent appearance formed on the surface of the immobilized particles. The structure's characteristics were found to be consistent with sulfate green rust (FeII4FeIII2(OH)12SO4·8H2O). The chemisorption, ion exchange, dissimilation reduction, and surface complexation occurring between the matrices in the immobilized particles can enhance the alkalinity of AMD and decrease the concentration of heavy metals and sulfates. These results are expected to offer novel insights and materials for the treatment of AMD using biological immobilization technology, as well as improve our understanding of the mechanisms behind biological and abiotic enhanced synergistic decontamination.

Exploring the Active Ingredients and Mechanism of Action of Huanglian Huazhuo Capsule for the Treatment of Obese Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus Based on Using Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking.

Background: Obese type 2 diabetes mellitus (obese T2DM) is one of the prime diseases that endangers human health. Clinical studies have confirmed the ability of the Huanglian Huazhuo capsule to treat obese T2DM; however, its mechanism of action is still unclear. In this study, effects and mechanisms of the Huanglian Huazhuo capsule in obese T2DM were systematically investigated using network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques. Methods: The active ingredients and targets of the Huanglian Huazhuo capsule were extracted from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP). Obese T2DM diabetes-related targets were retrieved from a geographic dataset combined with a gene card database. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to screen core targets. The Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted using Database for Annotation Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID). Interactions between potential targets and active compounds were assessed using molecular docking. Molecular docking was performed on the best core protein complexes obtained using molecular docking. Results: A total of 89 and 108 active ingredients and targets, respectively, were identified. Seven core targets were obtained using a topological analysis of the PPI network. The GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses showed that the effects of the Huanglian Huazhuo capsules were mediated by inflammation, lipid response, oxidative stress-related genes, and HIF-1 and IL-17 signaling pathways. Good binding ability was observed between the active compounds and screened targets using molecular docking. Conclusions: The active ingredients, potential targets, and pathways of the Huanglian Huazhuo capsule for the treatment of obese T2DM were successfully predicted, providing a new strategy for further investigation of its molecular mechanisms. In addition, the potential active ingredients provide a reliable source for drug screening in obese T2DM.

Clinical Evaluation of Unilateral Vertebroplasty for OVCF.

Objective: To investigate the clinical evaluation of unilateral vertebroplasty for OVCF. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 60 patients treated with PVP from January 2020 to December 2021. Patients were divided into two groups according to the treatment method, 30 patients in the PVP group received PVP and 30 patients in the PCVP group received PCVP. The VAS score, ODI score, bone cement dosage, and leakage were compared between the two groups preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, and 7 and 30 days postoperatively. Results: VAS scores in the PCVP and PVP groups before, immediately after, and 7 days after surgery were P > 0.05, and the difference was not statistically significant; ODI score in group 1 before surgery was not statistically significant (P > 0.05); bone cement injection volume in the PVP group was significantly higher than that in the PCVP group (P < 0.05), and the difference was statistically significant; the difference in bone cement leakage between the two groups was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Under the same puncture conditions, the PCVP group used the method of injection while retreating to achieve a better bone cement dispersion effect by using less bone cement and achieving uniform dispersion of bone cement. It can relieve the patients' back pain and improve the back function.

Mex-3 RNA binding MEX3A promotes the proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells via regulating RhoA/ROCK1/LIMK1 signaling pathway.

Breast cancer has been known as cancer with high mortality rates. It has been studied that MEX3A (Mex-3 RNA Binding Family Member A) is involved in carcinogenesis by accelerating cancer proliferation and migration. Therefore, this research aimed to study how MEX3A regulates the biological behaviors of breast cancer. Firstly, we used GEPIA and KM-plotter databases to evaluate MEX3A expression in human breast cancer tissue compared to adjacent normal tissue. Immunohistochemistry was employed to assess MEX3A protein expression in clinical specimens. MEX3A mRNA expression level was assessed through quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). Western blotting was used to detect protein expression. Moreover, Cell Count Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, wound healing assay and transwell invasion assay were used to determine the proliferation, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells, respectively. Our study found that MEX3A expression level was much higher in human breast cancer tissues as compared to adjacent normal tissues. Similarly, breast cancer cell lines showed higher expression of MEX3A as compared to the normal breast cells. This higher expression of MEX3A was linked with the poor survival of breast cancer. Moreover, we found that overexpression of MEX3A stimulated proliferation and migration in the breast cancer cells. However, inhibition of MEX3A significantly reduced the proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells. In addition, we determined that MEX3A could activate RhoA/ROCK1/LIMK1 signaling in the breast cancer cells. Overall, our study concluded that MEX3A promotes its migration and proliferation in breast cancer cells via modulating RhoA/ROCK1/LIMK1 signaling pathway.

[Effects of different slow/controlled release fertilizers on yield, quality of fresh maize and ammonia emissions]. / 不同缓控释肥对鲜食玉米产量、品质及氨挥发的影响.

A field experiment with five treatments, control (CK, no fertilizer), conventional fertilization (U), double-effect inhibitor synergistic urea (DU), coated urea (CU) and slow/controlled release urea mixture (CDU), was conducted to investigate the effects of conventional fertilization (240 kg N·hm-2) and one-off application of different slow/controlled release fertilizers (180 kg N·hm-2) on the yield and quality of fresh maize, soil inorganic nitrogen (N), and ammonia (NH3) emissions. The results showed that the total amount of ammonia volatilization was the highest in treatment of conventional fertilization (U), with N topdressing being an important source of NH3 emission. Compared with U treatment, the NH3 volatilization in the DU, CU, and CDU treatments was reduced by 78%-81%. At harvest stage, the soil layer of 80-100 cm in the U treatment had the highest nitrate concentration (51.6 mg·kg-1), resulting in a high risk of N leaching. In contrast, the nitrate concentrations in the same soil layer in the slow/controlled release fertilizer treatments were much lower, reducing the risk of leaching. In comparison with U, three slow/controlled release fertilizer treatments with 25% lower N application did not decrease yield but increased seed Vc, soluble sugar and protein contents. The agronomic efficiency and economic benefit of DU treatment were the highest among three slow/controlled release fertilizers treatments. In conclusion, the application of new type of slow/controlled release fertilizer could improve the yield and quality of fresh maize, and significantly reduce the risk of ammonia loss and N leaching. Considering the higher cost of the polymer coated urea, the double-effect inhibitor urea has lower cost and is more convenient to make. It is therefore a better choice to fresh maize planting.