A comprehensive approach for quantifying source-specific ecological and health risks of potentially toxic elements in agricultural soil.

Given the pollution prevalence of potentially hazardous elements (PTEs) in agricultural soils worldwide, it is crucial to establish a comprehensive approach to accurately assess soil contamination, and quantitatively allocate sources and source-specific risks. In the study, soil contamination was assessed through environmental capacity based on the local geochemical baseline established using PTE contents of the subsoil. The sources of PTEs were quantified through positive matrix factorization (PMF) and GIS mapping. Ecological risk (ER) and human health risk (HHR) models based on PMF were used to evaluate source-specific ER and HHR. Taking Jieyang City as an example, obvious contamination of As, Pb, Cd, Zn and Hg was observed in agricultural soils, and 94.40% of sites had high-to-medium capacity for local PTE contamination. Four sources were apportioned including agricultural activities (17.36%), industrial activities (20.49%), natural sources (34.60%) and traffic emissions (27.55%). The study area was at moderate ER level (121.21) with industrial activities contributing the most (41.26%). The carcinogenic risks (3.21E-05 for children and 1.42E-05 for adults) were within the tolerable range, and non-carcinogenic risks (7.08E-01 for children and 7.70E-02 for adults) were not significant. Agricultural activities were the largest source to the carcinogenic (47.17% for children and 46.31% for adults) and non carcinogenic risks (53.55% for children and 53.03% for adults). Therefore, industrial activities and agricultural activities were the priority control sources to reduce ecological risk and protect human health, respectively.

A comprehensive approach to quantify the source identification and human health risk assessment of toxic elements in park dust.

In this research, enrichment factor (EF) and pollution load index were utilized to explore the contamination characteristics of toxic elements (TEs) in park dust. The results exhibited that park dust in the study area was mainly moderately polluted, and the EF values of dust Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu and Sb were all > 1. The concentrations of Cr, Cu, Zn and Pb increased with the decrease of dust particle size. The investigation results of chemical speciation and bioavailability of TEs showed that Zn had the highest bioavailability. Three sources of TEs were determined by positive matrix factorization model, Pearson correlation analysis and geostatistical analysis, comprising factor 1 mixed sources of industrial and transportation activities (46.62%), factor 2 natural source (25.56%) and factor 3 mixed source of agricultural activities and the aging of park infrastructures (27.82%). Potential ecological risk (PER) and human health risk (HHR) models based on source apportionment were exploited to estimate PER and HHR of TEs from different sources. The mean PER value of TEs in the park dust was 114, indicating that ecological risk in the study area was relatively high. Factor 1 contributed the most to PER, and the pollution of Cd was the most serious. There were no significant carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks for children and adults in the study area. And factor 3 was the biggest source of non-carcinogenic risk, and As, Cr and Pb were the chief contributor to non-carcinogenic risk. The primary source of carcinogenic risk was factor 2, and Cr was the cardinal cancer risk element.

Baculoviruses hijack the visual perception of their caterpillar hosts to induce climbing behaviour thus promoting virus dispersal.

Baculoviruses can induce climbing behaviour in their caterpillar hosts to ensure they die at elevated positions to enhance virus transmission, providing an excellent model to study parasitic manipulation of host behaviour. Here, we demonstrate that climbing behaviour occurred mostly during daylight hours, and that the height at death of Helicoverpa armigera single nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV)-infected larvae increases with the height of the light source. Phototaxic and electroretinogram (ERG) responses were enhanced after HearNPV-infection in host larvae, and ablation of stemmata in infected larvae prevented both phototaxis and climbing behaviour. Through transcriptome and quantitative PCR, we confirmed that two opsin genes (a blue light-sensitive gene, HaBL; and a long wave-sensitive gene, HaLW) as well as the TRPL (transient receptor potential-like channel protein) gene, all integral to the host's visual perception pathway, were significantly upregulated after HearNPV infection. Knockout of HaBL, HaLW, or TRPL genes using the CRISPR/Cas9 system resulted in significantly reduced ERG responses, phototaxis, and climbing behaviour in HearNPV-infected larvae. These results reveal that HearNPV alters the expression of specific genes to hijack host visual perception at fundamental levels-photoreception and phototransduction-in order to induce climbing behaviour in host larvae.

FoxO-promoted peroxiredoxin1 expression induced by Helicoverpa armigera single nucleopolyhedrovirus infection mediates host development and defensive responses.

Helicoverpa armigera single nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) has a long coevolutionary history with its host, exerting profound effects on larval development, physiology and immune responses, although the mechanisms mediating these effects remain unclear. We demonstrate that HearNPV infection constrains the growth and development of larvae by inducing high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which increase the expression of forkhead box O transcription factor (FoxO). FoxO upregulates the expression of peroxiredoxin 1 (Prx1) which serves to regulate larval development and immune responses following HearNPV infection. Collectively, our results provide novel insights into the role of Prx1 in larval development and immunity subsequent to HearNPV infection. Further investigation of the oxidative stress induced by HearNPV in H. armigera and its interactions with host immunity could yield novel insights useful in agricultural pest control.

A comprehensive exploration on the health risk quantification assessment of soil potentially toxic elements from different sources around large-scale smelting area.

Non-ferrous metal smelting activities have always been considered as one of the foremost anthropogenic sources of potentially toxic elements (PTEs). The enrichment factor (EF) and pollution load index (PLI) were used to evaluate the pollution level of soil PTEs; positive matrix factorization (PMF), correlation analysis, and geostatistics were utilized to quantify the sources of soil PTEs; and potential ecological risk (PER) and human health risk (HHR) of different sources from farmland, construction land, and natural land were quantifiably determined via combined PTE sources with PER and HHR assessment models. Taking the smelting area of Daye City as an example, the evaluation results of EF and PLI showed that the soil PTE pollution in the study area was serious, especially Cd and Cu. And four sources were quantitatively allocated as agricultural practices (12.14%), traffic emissions (23.07%), natural sources (33.46%), and industrial activities (31.33%). For PER, industrial activities were the largest contributor to PER, accounting for 55.66%, 56.30%, and 55.36% of farmland, construction land, and natural land, respectively, and Cd was the most dangerous element. In terms of HHR, industrial activities were also the cardinal contributors under the three land use types. Children were exposed to serious non-carcinogenic risks under three land use patterns and slight carcinogenic risk in construction land (1.06E - 04). Significantly, the carcinogenic risk of children in farmland (9.06 × 10-5) was very close to the threshold (1 × 10-4), which requires attention. Both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk for adults were all at acceptable levels. The health risks (carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks) of children from four different sources were distinctly higher than those of adults. Consequently, strict management and control of industrial activities should be given priority, and the management of agricultural practices should not be ignored.

An integrated exploration on health risk assessment quantification of potentially hazardous elements in soils from the perspective of sources.

To make pollution evaluation of potentially hazardous elements in the soil more accurately, the regional geochemical baseline concentrations of eight potentially hazardous elements (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Hg, and Pb) were established in Huilai County using cumulative frequency distribution curves. Then, the pollution load index and enrichment factor were applied to estimate the contamination levels, based on these geochemical baseline concentrations. The results suggested that topsoil was moderately polluted by potentially hazardous elements, while Cd pollution in the construction land and As pollution in the farmland was relatively severe. The possible sources of eight potentially hazardous elements were analyzed by correlation analysis, geostatistics and positive matrix factorization. Four sources have been determined and apportioned, namely industrial activities, natural sources, agricultural practices, and traffic emissions. Combining the health risk assessment with the source profiles, the health risks quantified from four sources were estimated under farmland, construction land, and woodland. The results showed that agricultural practices were the most main source of non-cancer and cancer risks under woodland and farmland for adults; industrial activities were the most main source of non-cancer and cancer risks under construction land for adults. Children's health risks, both carcinogenic risk and non-carcinogenic risk, were greater than adults, and the health risk trends of adults and children showed similarities. Therefore, agricultural practices under woodland and farmland should be controlled and managed as a priority, while industrial activities should be given priority to control and management under construction land.

Heavy metals in agricultural soils from a typical township in Guangdong Province, China: Occurrences and spatial distribution.

To investigate contamination level, origins and spatial distribution characteristics of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Hg, Ni, Cd, As, and Cr) in agricultural soils of Gaogang Town, a typical industrial transfer-undertaking region of the Pearl River Delta (PRD), China, a total of 162 surface soil samples were collected in August 2016 and determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and atomic fluorescence spectrometry. Moreover, heavy metals contents were systematically analyzed by pollution index, enrichment factor, multivariate statistical approaches and geostatistical analysis. The results showed that the mean concentrations of Cd, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cu and Hg were higher than the soil background values of Guangdong Province, and the relatively high values of pollution index and enrichment factor indicated that these elements (Cd, Pb, Zn and Hg) had cumulative trends in soil. All results of multivariate statistical approaches and geostatistical analysis showed that pollution were heavily distributed in areas of industries, river and dense road network. The eight heavy metals in agricultural soils of Gaogang Town came from three different sources. Arsenic, Cr, Cu and Ni arose mainly from parent materials. Agricultural practices and traffic activities were the main sources of Cd, Pb and Zn. Mercury mainly came from industrial practices.

Mercury-Organic Matter Interactions in Soils and Sediments: Angel or Devil?

Many studies have suggested that organic matter (OM) substantially reduces the bioavailability and risks of mercury (Hg) in soils and sediments; however, recent reports have supported that OM greatly accelerates Hg methylation and increases the risks of Hg exposure. This study aims to summarize the interactions between Hg and OM in soils and sediments and improve our understanding of the effects of OM on Hg methylation. The results show that OM characteristics, promotion of the activity of Hg-methylating microbial communities, and the microbial availability of Hg accounted for the acceleration of Hg methylation which increases the risk of Hg exposure. These three key aspects were driven by multiple factors, including the types and content of OM, Hg speciation, desorption and dissolution kinetics and environmental conditions.

Influence of direct and alternating current electric fields on efficiency promotion and leaching risk alleviation of chelator assisted phytoremediation.

Direct and alternating current electric fields with various voltages were used to improve the decontamination efficiency of chelator assisted phytoremediation for multi-metal polluted soil. The alleviation effect of electric field on leaching risk caused by chelator application during phytoremediation process was also evaluated. Biomass yield, pollutant uptake and metal leaching retardation under alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) electric fields were compared. The biomass yield of Eucalyptus globulus under AC fields with various voltages (2, 4 and 10 V) were 3.91, 4.16 and 3.67kg, respectively, significantly higher than the chelator treatment without electric field (2.71kg). Besides growth stimulation, AC fields increased the metal concentrations of plant tissues especially in aerial parts manifested by the raised translocation factor of different metals. Direct current electric fields with low and moderate voltages increased the biomass production of the species to 3.45 and 3.12kg, respectively, while high voltage on the contrary suppressed the growth of the plants (2.66kg). Under DC fields, metal concentrations elevated obviously with increasing voltages and the metal translocation factors were similar under all voltages. Metal extraction per plant achieved the maximum value under moderate voltage due to the greatest biomass production. DC field with high voltage (10V) decreased the volume of leachate from the chelator treatment without electric field from 1224 to 56mL, while the leachate gathered from AC field treatments raised from 512 to 670mL. DC field can retard the downward movement of metals caused by chelator application more effectively relative to AC field due to the constant water flow and electroosmosis direction. Alternating current field had more promotive effect on chelator assisted phytoremediation efficiency than DC field illustrated by more metal accumulation in the species. However, with the consideration of leaching risk, DC field with moderate voltage was the optimal supplementary technique for phytoremediation.

A multi-technique phytoremediation approach to purify metals contaminated soil from e-waste recycling site.

Multiple techniques for soil decontamination were combined to enhance the phytoremediation efficiency of Eucalyptus globulese and alleviate the corresponding environmental risks. The approach constituted of chelating agent using, electrokinetic remediation, plant hormone foliar application and phytoremediation was designed to remediate multi-metal contaminated soils from a notorious e-waste recycling town. The decontamination ability of E. globulese increased from 1.35, 58.47 and 119.18 mg per plant for Cd, Pb and Cu in planting controls to 7.57, 198.68 and 174.34 mg per plant in individual EDTA treatments, respectively, but simultaneously, 0.9-11.5 times more metals leached from chelator treatments relative to controls. Low (2 V) and moderate (4 V) voltage electric fields provoked the growth of the species while high voltage (10 V) had an opposite effect and metal concentrations of the plants elevated with the increment of voltage. Volumes of the leachate decreased from 1224 to 134 mL with voltage increasing from 0 to 10 V due to electroosmosis and electrolysis. Comparing with individual phytoremediation, foliar cytokinin treatments produced 56% more biomass and intercepted 2.5 times more leachate attributed to the enhanced transpiration rate. The synergistic combination of the individuals resulted in the most biomass production and metal accumulation of the species under the stress condition relative to other methods. Time required for the multi-technique approach to decontaminate Cd, Pb and Cu from soil was 2.1-10.4 times less than individual chelator addition, electric field application or plant hormone utilization. It's especially important that nearly no leachate (60 mL in total) was collected from the multi-technique system. This approach is a suitable method to remediate metal polluted site considering its decontamination efficiency and associated environmental negligible risk.

Polysaccharide hydrogels for skin wound healing.

Advances in the development and utilization of polysaccharide materials are highly promising, offering prominent applications in the field of tissue engineering for addressing diverse clinical needs, including wound healing, bone regeneration, cartilage repair, and treatment of conditions such as arthritis. Novel polysaccharide materials are popular owing to their inherent stability, biocompatibility, and repeatability. This review presents an overview of the biomedical applications of natural polysaccharide hydrogels and their derivatives. Herein, we discuss the latest advancements in the fabrication, physicochemical properties, and biomedical applications of polysaccharide-based hydrogels, including chitosan, hyaluronic acid, alginate, and cellulose. Various processing techniques applicable to polysaccharide materials are explored, such as the transformation of polysaccharide hydrogels into electrospun nanofibers, microneedles, microspheres, and nanogels. Furthermore, the use of polysaccharide hydrogels in the context of wound-healing applications, including hemostatic effects, antimicrobial activities, anti-inflammatory properties, and promotion of angiogenesis, is presented. Finally, we address the challenges encountered in the development of polysaccharide hydrogels and outline the potential prospects in this evolving field.

Residual distribution and risk assessment of neonicotinoids in urban green space soils of the pearl river delta, South China: A socioeconomic analysis.

Urban green spaces are the soil component in cities that interacts most closely with humans. This study investigated the residues of seven neonicotinoids (NEOs) in soils from urban green spaces within the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region and analyzed the correlation between the residue characteristics and the region's economic development. Notably, we introduced the Nemerow Index method, a comprehensive approach, to quantify the overall pollution level of NEOs in the soil of urban park green spaces and utilized this to assess the cumulative exposure probability risks for different populations in this scenario. We found that: (1) The soil of urban park green spaces exhibited varying degrees of NEOs contamination (Σ7NEOs: N.D.-137.31; 6.25 µg/kg), with imidacloprid and clothianidin constituting the highest proportions (89.46 % and 83.60 %); (2) The residual levels of NEOs in Children's Park were significantly higher than those in community parks within Guangzhou, with an average value of 13.30 µg/kg compared to 3.30 µg/kg; (3) The residual characteristics of NEOs exhibited a positive correlation with regional economic development; specifically, the per capita GDP well correlated with IMIRPF, a summation of seven NEOs in imidacloprid equivalents via relative potency factors (R2 =0.86). Regions with higher economic development typically exhibited elevated IMIRPF levels; (4) The fitted cumulative probability distributions for average daily exposure doses revealed that children's exposure was an order of magnitude higher than adults'. Despite this, the exposure risks for both groups remained within acceptable limits.

Adjudicative efficacy of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BLa80 in treating acute diarrhea in children: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study.

The goal of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BLa80, as an adjunct treatment for diarrhea in children with a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study design. Eligible diarrheal children, aged 0-3 years without the need for antibiotic treatment based on clinical diagnosis when recruited, were randomized into the intervention group (IG, n = 58, with probiotic) or the control group (CG, n = 53, placebo). The primary assessment was the duration of diarrhea. Fecal samples were collected for biochemical index measurement, analysis of gut microbiome composition, and prediction of gene family abundances. The total duration of diarrhea in the IG (122.6 ± 13.1 h) was significantly shorter than in the CG (148.4 ± 17.6 h, p < 0.001). More children in the IG showed improvements in diarrhea compared to the CG, both in intention-to-treat analysis (81.7% vs. 40.0%, p < 0.001) and per protocol analysis (84.4% vs 45.3%, p < 0.001). Cathelicidin level in the IG was significantly higher than that in the CG after the intervention (4415.00 ± 1036.93 pg/g vs. 3679.49 ± 871.18 pg/g, p = 0.0175). The intervention led to an increased abundance of Bifidobacterium breve and Collinsella aerofaciens species, higher alpha-diversity (p < 0.05), and enrichment of functional genes in the gut microbiota related to immunity regulation. Administration of BLa80 at a dose of 5 × 109 CFU/day resulted in a shorter duration of diarrhea and alterations in gut microbiome composition and gene functions.

[Potential Ecological Risk Characteristics and Source Apportionment of Heavy Metals in Farmland Soils around Typical Factories in Hunan Province Based on Monte-Carlo Simulation].

In order to explore the pollution characteristics， ecological risks， and pollution sources of heavy metals in farmland soils around typical factories in Hunan Province， the content characteristics of eight heavy metals in farmland soils around fluoride factories， leather factories， and plating plants were analyzed. The geo-accumulation index and potential ecological risk index were used to evaluate the pollution and environmental risk of heavy metals. The correlation analysis， hierarchical cluster analysis， and principal component analysis were used to analyze the sources of heavy metals. The Monte-Carlo model was used to evaluate the probability risk of regional ecological risk. The results showed that the main pollution elements in the soil were Cd and Zn， and their mean values were 4.46 and 2.73 times the background values， respectively. Zn was at a mild pollution level in the soil of the three typical factories， and Cd was at a moderate pollution level in the whole fluoride factory. The pollution sources of heavy metals in the typical factories were mainly natural sources， industrial activity sources （industrial waste discharge， mineral mining， and smelting activities）， traffic sources， etc. The results of potential ecological risk assessment showed that the ecological risk of the fluoride factory was at a high risk level， and the ecological risk of the leather factory and plating plants was at a high risk level. Cd was the main contributing element. The results of Monte-Carlo probabilistic ecological risk assessment reduced the uncertainty of deterministic assessment， which could provide scientific basis for accurate risk management and control in the regions.

Characteristics of Soil Heavy Metal Pollution and Health Risk Assessment in Urban Parks at a Megacity of Central China.

In this study, we compared the concentrations of the heavy metals Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, Ni, and Pb in the surface soils of urban parks in Wuhan, Hubei Province, with those in the surface soils of urban parks worldwide. The soil contamination data were assessed using enrichment factors and spatial analysis of heavy metals using inverse distance weighting and quantitative analysis of heavy metal sources with a positive definite matrix factor (PMF) receptor model. Further, a probabilistic health risk assessment of children and adults using Monte Carlo simulation was performed. The average Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, Ni, and Pb concentrations in the surface soils of urban parks were 2.52, 58.74, 31.39, 186.28, 27.00, and 34.89 mg·kg-1, respectively, which exceeded the average soil background values in Hubei. From the inverse distance spatial interpolation map, heavy metal contamination was primarily observed to be present to the southwest of the main urban area. The PMF model resolved four sources: mixed traffic and industrial emission, natural, agricultural, and traffic sources, with relative contributions of 23.9%, 19.3%, 23.4%, and 33.4%, respectively. The Monte Carlo health risk evaluation model demonstrated negligible noncancer risks for both adult and child populations, whereas the health effects of Cd and Cr on children were a concern for cancer risks.

Mutation of the clock gene timeless disturbs diapause induction and adult emergence rhythm in Helicoverpa armigera.

BACKGROUND: Circadian rhythms are physical and behavioral changes that follow the 24-h cycle of Earth's light and temperature and are regulated by clock genes. Timeless (Tim) has been identified as a canonical clock gene in some insects, however, its functions have been little studied in lepidopteran pests. RESULTS: To investigate Tim (HaTim) gene function in Helicoverpa armigera, an important lepidopteran pest, we obtained the HaTim mutant using the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system. Our results showed that the transcript levels of HaTim rhythmically peaked at night in heads of the wild larvae and adult, and the diel expression of HaTim was sensitive to photoperiod and temperature. The expression rhythms of other clock genes, such as HaPer, HaCry1, HaCry2 and HaCwo, were disturbed in the HaTim mutant larvae, as that stage is a sensitivity period for diapause induction. Fifth-instar wild-type larvae could be induced to pupate in diapause under a short-day photoperiod and low temperature, however, fifth-instar HaTim mutant larvae could not be induced under the same conditions. In addition, the emergence of wild-type adults peaked early at night, but the rhythm was disturbed in the HaTim mutant with arrhythmic expression of some clock genes, such as HaPer, HaCry1 and HaCwo in adults. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the clock gene Tim is involved in diapause induction and adult emergence in H. armigera, and is a potential target gene for controlling pest. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

[Source Analysis and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Soil of County Scale Based on PMF Model].

This study explores the pollution characteristics, risks, and sources of heavy metals in small-scale areas. Rongcheng District, Jieyang City, Guangdong Province was considered as the study area and enrichment factor (EF), pollution load index (PLI), potential ecological risk index (RI), and US EPA health risk assessment model were used to evaluate its environmental risk. Moreover, the source apportionment of heavy metals was analyzed through correlation analysis, the characteristic of spatial distribution, and a PMF model. The results showed that the mean concentrations of ω(Cr), ω(Hg), ω(As), ω(Pb), ω(Ni), ω(Cd), ω(Cu), and ω(Zn) were 54.87, 0.25, 8.35, 56.00, 15.38, 0.35, 30.56, and 124.23 mg·kg-1, respectively. The mean concentrations of all elements exceeded the local soil background value. In terms of EF level, Cr, As, Pb, and Ni showed negligible accumulation; Zn and Cu showed minor accumulation; and Hg and Cd showed moderate accumulation. The mean value of the pollution load index was 2.37, with a severe pollution level, and the eight elements were in different pollution levels. In total, the study region suffered severe ecological risk, Hg and Cd presented strong ecological risk, and other elements presented slight ecological risk. The non-carcinogenic risks under the three exposure paths were within the acceptable level. The carcinogenic risks (CR) of adults and children were 9.81E-05 and 5.59E-04, respectively, and Cr and As were the main contributors of CR. The results showed that the four sources of heavy metals were transportation sources (37.02%), parent material sources (18.53%), atmospheric deposition sources (26.49%), and industrial sources (17.96%).

Adjunctive efficacy of Lactis XLTG11 for Acute diarrhea in children: A randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of Bifidobacterium animalis sp. Lactis XLTG11, as an adjunctive treatment for acute watery diarrhea in children, using a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study design. METHOD: Eligible children with diarrhea were randomly assigned into one of two groups: an intervention group (IG, n = 35), which received conventional treatment plus the probiotic, and a control group (CG, n = 35), which received only conventional treatment. Fecal samples were collected from all children before and after the intervention to measure biochemical indices and analyze gut microbiome (GM) composition. RESULT: The duration of diarrhea (121.3 ± 11.5 h) and hospital length of stay (3.4 ± 1.1 d) in the IG were significantly shorter than those in the CG (133.4 ± 14.1 h and 4 ± 1.3 d, respectively; P < 0.001 and P = 0.041, respectively). A higher percentage of children in the IG showed improvements compared with the CG (57.1% versus 25.7%, P < 0.001). The calprotectin level in the IG was significantly lower than that in the CG after the intervention (928.91 ± 158.90 ng/g versus 1029.86 ± 133.25 ng/g, P = 0.028). XLTG11 administration led to a higher abundance of species B. longum and < breve, increased α-diversity of the GM (P < 0.05), and upregulated the functional genes of the GM related to immunity and nutrient absorption. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of XLTG11 at a dose of 1 × 1010 CFU/d was effective in reducing the duration of diarrhea, inducing beneficial changes in GM composition and gene functions.

Development of a solubility parameter calculation-based method as a complementary tool to traditional techniques for indoor dust microplastic determination and risk assessment.

Herein, a method based on solubility parameter calculation was first used to analyze microplastics in indoor dust. The limit of quantification (LOQ) reached 0.2 mg/g, and the result of reference material SRM 2585 (n = 3) was 14.8 mg/g ± 1.8 %, suggesting satisfying sensitivity and precision. Recoveries of spiking experiments were > 80 % with no obvious matrix interferences observed, except ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) MPs. Further, 69 indoor dust samples were analyzed to verify the method and to assess exposure scenarios for graduate students in Tianjin, China. EPDM was identified in an indoor environment for the first time as the second most widely detected type after PET in this work. The mass-based result is complementary to the outcomes from thermogravimetric analysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and laser direct infrared imaging. Significant correlations were found between total organic carbon (TOC), microplastics, and BDE-209 concentrations, indicating microplastics important contaminant vectors in indoor dust. Dormitory stays and PET contributed the most to health risks among the three exposure scenarios and detected four polymers, respectively. This work provides an approach with the potential for the standardized determination of microplastics in complex environmental matrices and reveals exposure characteristics of indoor dust microplastics.

Source identification of eight hazardous heavy metals in agricultural soils of Huizhou, Guangdong Province, China.

One hundred and four surface samples and 40 profiles samples in agricultural soils collected from Huizhou in south-east China were monitored for total contents of 8 heavy metals, and analyzed by multivariate statistical techniques and enrichment factor (EF), in order to investigate their origins. The results indicate that the concentrations of Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, Pb, Cd, As and Hg in soils are 16.74, 57.21, 14.89, 27.61, 44.66, 0.10, 10.19 and 0.22 mg/kg, respectively. Compared to the soil background contents in Guangdong Province, the mean concentrations of Hg, Cd, Zn, Pb and As in soil of Huizhou are higher, especially Hg and Cd, which are 2.82 and 1.79 times the background values, respectively. Cr, Ni, Cu, partially, Zn and Pb mainly originate from a natural source. Cd, As, partially, Zn mainly come from agricultural practices. However, Hg, partially, Pb originate mainly from industry and traffic sources.