DNA polymerase κ participates in early S-phase DNA replication in human cells.

Cycling cells replicate their DNA during the S phase through a defined temporal program known as replication timing. Mutation frequencies, epigenetic chromatin states, and transcriptional activities are different for genomic regions that are replicated early and late in the S phase. Here, we found from ChIP-Seq analysis that DNA polymerase (Pol) κ is enriched in early-replicating genomic regions in HEK293T cells. In addition, by feeding cells with N 2-heptynyl-2'-deoxyguanosine followed by click chemistry-based enrichment and high-throughput sequencing, we observed elevated Pol κ activities in genomic regions that are replicated early in the S phase. On the basis of the established functions of Pol κ in accurate and efficient nucleotide insertion opposite endogenously induced N 2-modified dG lesions, our work suggests that active engagement of Pol κ may contribute to diminished mutation rates observed in early-replicating regions of the human genome, including cancer genomes. Together, our work expands the functions of Pol κ and offered a plausible mechanism underlying replication timing-dependent mutation accrual in the human genome.

Arabidopsis protein S-acyl transferases positively mediate BR signaling through S-acylation of BSK1.

Protein S-acyl transferases (PATs) catalyze S-acylation, a reversible post-translational modification critical for membrane association, trafficking, and stability of substrate proteins. Many plant proteins are potentially S-acylated but few have corresponding PATs identified. By using genomic editing, confocal imaging, pharmacological, genetic, and biochemical assays, we demonstrate that three Arabidopsis class C PATs positively regulate BR signaling through S-acylation of BRASSINOSTEROID-SIGNALING KINASE1 (BSK1). PAT19, PAT20, and PAT22 associate with the plasma membrane (PM) and the trans-Golgi network/early endosome (TGN/EE). Functional loss of all three genes results in a plethora of defects, indicative of reduced BR signaling and rescued by enhanced BR signaling. PAT19, PAT20, and PAT22 interact with BSK1 and are critical for the S-acylation of BSK1, and for BR signaling. The PM abundance of BSK1 was reduced by functional loss of PAT19, PAT20, and PAT22 whereas abolished by its S-acylation-deficient point mutations, suggesting a key role of S-acylation in its PM targeting. Finally, an active BR analog induces vacuolar trafficking and degradation of PAT19, PAT20, or PAT22, suggesting that the S-acylation of BSK1 by the three PATs serves as a negative feedback module in BR signaling.

Artificial Funnel Nanochannel Device Emulates Synaptic Behavior.

Creating artificial synapses that can interact with biological neural systems is critical for developing advanced intelligent systems. However, there are still many difficulties, including device morphology and fluid selection. Based on Micro-Electro-Mechanical System technologies, we utilized two immiscible electrolytes to form a liquid/liquid interface at the tip of a funnel nanochannel, effectively enabling a wafer-level fabrication, interactions between multiple information carriers, and electron-to-chemical signal transitions. The distinctive ionic transport properties successfully achieved a hysteresis in ionic transport, resulting in adjustable multistage conductance gradient and synaptic functions. Notably, the device is similar to biological systems in terms of structure and signal carriers, especially for the low operating voltage (200 mV), which matches the biological neural potential (∼110 mV). This work lays the foundation for realizing the function of iontronics neuromorphic computing at ultralow operating voltages and in-memory computing, which can break the limits of information barriers for brain-machine interfaces.

Enantioselective α-Boryl Carbene Transformations.

Carbenes, recognized as potent intermediates, enable unique chemical transformations, and organoborons are pivotal in diverse chemical applications. As a hybrid of carbene and the boryl group, α-boryl carbenes are promising intermediates for the construction of organoborons; unfortunately, such carbenes are hard to access and have low structural diversity with their asymmetric transformations largely uncharted. In this research, we utilized boryl cyclopropenes as precursors for the swift synthesis of α-boryl metal carbenes, a powerful category of intermediates for chiral organoboron synthesis. These α-boryl carbenes undergo a series of highly enantioselective transfer reactions, including B-H and Si-H insertion, cyclopropanation, and cyclopropanation/Cope rearrangement, catalyzed by a singular chiral copper complex. This approach opens paths to previously unattainable but easily transformable chiral organoborons, expanding both carbene and organoboron chemistry.

Tailoring the Coordination Environment of Fe/Zn-BDC to Boost Peroxidase-like Activity for Highly Selective Detection of PFOS.

Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid potassium salt (PFOS) residues in ecosystems over long periods are of increasing concern and require a selective and stable optical probe for monitoring. Herein, two functional groups (-F and -NH2) with opposite electronic modulation ability were introduced into Fe/Zn-BDC (denoted as Fe/Zn-BDC-F4 and Fe/Zn-BDC-NH2, respectively) to tailor the coordination environment of the Fe metal center, further regulating the nanozyme activity efficiently. Notably, the peroxidase-like activity is related to the coordination environment of the nanozymes and obeys the following order Fe/Zn-BDC-F4 > Fe/Zn-BDC > Fe/Zn-BDC-NH2. Based on the excellent peroxidase-like activity of Fe/Zn-BDC-F4 and the characteristics of being rich in F atoms, a rapid, selective, and visible colorimetric method was developed for detecting PFOS with a detection limit of 100 nM. The detection mechanism was attributed to various interaction forces between Fe/Zn-BDC-F4 and PFOS, including electrostatic interactions, Fe-S interactions, Fe-F bonds, and halogen bonds. This work not only offers new insights into the atomic-scale rational design of highly active nanozymes but also presents a novel approach to detecting PFOS in environmental samples.

Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Cocrystal-Encapsulated Perovskite Nanocrystals as Coreactant-Free Electrochemiluminescent Luminophore for the Detection of Uranium.

Lead halide perovskite nanocrystals with excellent photophysical properties are promising electrochemiluminescence (ECL) candidates, but their poor stability greatly restricts ECL applications. Herein, hydrogen-bonded cocrystal-encapsulated CsPbBr3 perovskite nanocrystals (PeNCs@NHS-M) were synthesized by using PeNCs as nuclei for inducing the crystallization of melamine (M) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). The as-synthesized composite exhibits multiplicative ECL efficiencies (up to 24-fold that of PeNCs) without exogenous coreactants and with excellent stability in the aqueous phase. The enhanced stability can be attributed to the well-designed heterostructure of the PeNCs@NHS-M composite, which benefits from both moiety passivation and protection of the peripheral cocrystal matrix. Moreover, the heterostructure with covalent linkage facilitates charge transfer between PeNCs and NHS-M cocrystals, realizing effective ECL emission. Meanwhile, the NHS and M components act as coreactants for PeNCs, shortening the electron-transport distance and resulting in a significant increase in the ECL signal. Furthermore, by taking advantage of the specific binding effect between NHS-M and uranyl (UO22+), an ECL system with both a low detection limit (1 nM) and high selectivity for monitoring UO22+ in mining wastewater is established. The presence of UO22+ disrupted the charge-transfer effect within PeNCs@NHS-M, weakening the ECL signals. This work provides an efficient design strategy for obtaining stable and efficient ECLs from perovskite nanocrystals, offering a new perspective for the discovery and application of perovskite-based ECL systems.

Europium(III) Functionalized Covalent Organic Framework as Sensitive and Selective Fluorescent Switch for Detection of Uranium.

Uranium poses severe health risks due to its radioactivity and chemical toxicity if released into the environment. Therefore, there is an urgent demand to develop sensing materials in situ monitoring of uranium with high sensitivity and stability. In this work, a fluorescent Eu3+-TFPB-Bpy is synthesized by grafting Eu3+ cation onto TFPB-Bpy covalent organic framework (COF) synthesized through Schiff base condensation of monomers 1,3,5-tris(4-formylphenyl)benzene (TFPB) and 5,5'-diamino-2,2'-bipyridine (Bpy). The fluorescence of Eu3+-TFPB-Bpy is enhanced compared with that of TFPB-Bpy, which is originated from the intramolecular rotations of building blocks limited by the bipyridine units of TFPB-Bpy coordinated with Eu3+. More significantly, Eu3+-TFPB-Bpy is a highly efficient probe for sensing UO22+ in aqueous solution with the luminescence intensity efficiently amplified by complexation of UO22+ with Eu3+. The turn-on sensing capability was derived from the resonance energy transfer occurring from UO22+ to the Eu3+-TFPB-Bpy. The developed probe displayed desirable linear range from 5 nM to 5 µM with good selectivity and rapid response time (2 s) for UO22+ in mining wastewater. This strategy provides a vivid illustration for designing luminescence lanthanide COF hybrid materials with applications in environmental monitoring.

On-Site Ratiometric Analysis of UO22+ with High Selectivity.

Uranyl ions (UO22+) are recognized as important indicators for monitoring sudden nuclear accidents. However, the interferences coexisting in the complicated environmental matrices impart serious constraints on the reliability of current on-site monitoring methods. Herein, a novel ratiometric method for the highly sensitive and selective detection of UO22+ is reported based on a [Eu(diaminoterephthalic acid)] (Eu-DATP) metal-organic framework. Benefiting from the unique chemical structure of Eu-DATP, energy transfer from DATP to UO22+ was enabled, resulting in the up-regulated fluorescence of UO22+ and the simultaneous down-regulated fluorescence of Eu3+. The limit of detection reached as low as 2.7 nM, which was almost 2 orders of magnitude below the restricted limit in drinking water set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (130 nM). The Eu-DATP probe showed excellent specificity to UO22+ over numerous interfering species, as the intrinsic emissions of UO22+ were triggered. This unprecedentedly high selectivity is especially beneficial for monitoring UO22+ in complicated environmental matrices with no need for tedious sample pretreatment, such as filtration and digestion. Then, by facilely equipping a Eu-DATP-based sampler on a drone, remotely controlled sampling and on-site analysis in real water samples were realized. The concentrations of UO22+ were determined to be from 16.5 to 23.5 nM in the river water of the Guangzhou downtown area, which was consistent with the results determined by the gold-standard inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. This study presents a reliable and convenient method for the on-site analysis of UO22+.

Non-targeted GC-MS metabolomics-based differences in Indica rice seeds of different varieties.

Rice seeds of different varieties exhibited distinct metabolic profiles in our study. We analyzed the metabolites in seeds of six rice varieties (CH, HM, NX, YX, HY, and MX) using non-targeted GC-MS. Our findings revealed that amino acids, sugars, and organic acids were predominant in all varieties, with significant differences observed in CH compared to the others. Specifically phenylalanine and glycine content differed notably in NX and YX, respectively. Additionally, 1,5-anhydroglucitol content in NX, and glutamate, aspartate, and lactulose in NX, YX, HM, HY, and MX were up-regulated. Due to the biological functions of these amino acids and sugars, these indicated that compared to CH, rice of NX were more conducive to metabolism of carbohydrate and fat, and healthy growth maintenance in the human body, but mightThese variations suggest that NX rice may be more beneficial for carbohydrate and fat metabolism and overall health maintenance compared to CH. However, it may not be suitable for diabetic patients. YX rice may not be an ideal glycine supplement, rice ofwhile HM, HY, and MX rice could serve as potential lactulose sources. Furthermore, NX and YX rice exhibited higher levels of main storage proteins compared to CH. This study offers valuable insights into the metabolic differences among various rice varieties.

Hydrogen-Bonded Cocrystals Encapsulating CsPbBr3 Perovskite Nanocrystals with Enhancement of Charge Transport for Photocatalytic Reduction of Uranium.

At present, poor stability and carrier transfer efficiency are the main problems that limit the development of perovskite-based photoelectric technologies. In this work, hydrogen-bonded cocrystal-coated perovskite composite (PeNCs@NHS-M) is easily obtained by inducing rapid crystallization of melamine (M) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) with PeNCs as the nuclei. The outer NHS-M cocrystal passivates the undercoordinated lead atoms by forming covalent bonds, thereby greatly reducing the trap density while maintaining good structure stability for perovskite nanocrystals. Moreover, benefiting from the interfacial covalent band linkage and long-range ordered structures of cocrystals, the charge transfer efficiency is effectively enhanced and PeNCs@NHS-M displays superior photoelectric performance. Based on the excellent photoelectric performance and abundant active sites of PeNCs@NHS-M, photocatalytic reduction of uranium is realized. PeNCs@NHS-M exhibits U(VI) reduction removal capability of up to 810.1 mg g-1 in the presence of light. The strategy of cocrystals trapping perovskite nanocrystals provides a simple synthesis method for composites and opens up a new idea for simultaneously improving the stability and photovoltaic performance of perovskite.

Arabidopsis calcineurin B-like-interacting protein kinase 8 and its functional homolog in tomato negatively regulates ABA-mediated stomatal movement and drought tolerance.

Stomatal movement is critical for water transpiration, gas exchange, and responses to biotic stresses. Abscisic acid (ABA) induces stomatal closure to prevent water loss during drought. We report that Arabidopsis CIPK8 negatively regulates ABA-mediated stomatal closure and drought tolerance. CIPK8 is highly enriched in guard cells and transcriptionally induced by ABA. Functional loss of CIPK8 results in hypersensitive stomatal closure to ABA and enhanced drought tolerance. Guard cell-specific downregulation of CIPK8 mimics the phenotype of cipk8 whereas guard cell-specific expression of a constitutive active CIPK8 (CIPK8CA) has an opposite effect, suggesting a cell autonomous activity of CIPK8. CIPK8 physically interacts with CBL1 and CBL9. Functional loss of CBL1 and CBL9 mimics ABA-hypersensitive stomatal closure of cipk8 whereas abolishes the effect of CIPK8CA, indicating that CIPK8 and CBL1/CBL9 form a genetic module in ABA-responsive stomatal movement. SlCIPK7, the functional homolog of CIPK8 in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), plays a similar role in ABA-responsive stomatal movement. Genomic editing of SlCIPK7 results in more drought-tolerant tomato, making it a good candidate for germplasm improvement.

Miniature atom bottle traps enabled by chiral doughnut light.

We highlight what we believe to be a novel optical set-up which enables the confinement of cold atoms in a finite set of sub-wavelength bottle traps. This involves two counter-propagating vortex beams with the same winding number ℓ = ±1 and the same circular polarization ($\sigma =\mp 1)$. Strong focusing generates significant longitudinal field components which become responsible for an on-axis standing wave enabling the axial confinement of far blue-detuned atoms. The off-axis radial confinement is provided by the optical potential due to the transverse components of the light. The trap characteristics are illustrated using experimentally accessible parameters and are tunable by changing the power, focusing and ellipticity of the light. Atoms trapped in such a set-up are useful for applications, including quantum simulation and quantum information processing.

Linking LRP12 CGG repeat expansion to inherited peripheral neuropathy.

BACKGROUND: The causative genes for over 60% of inherited peripheral neuropathy (IPN) remain unidentified. This study endeavours to enhance the genetic diagnostic rate in IPN cases by conducting screenings focused on non-coding repeat expansions. METHODS: We gathered data from 2424 unrelated Japanese patients diagnosed with IPN, among whom 1555 cases with unidentified genetic causes, as determined through comprehensive prescreening analyses, were selected for the study. Screening for CGG non-coding repeat expansions in LRP12, GIPC1 and RILPL1 genes was conducted using PCR and long-read sequencing technologies. RESULTS: We identified CGG repeat expansions in LRP12 from 44 cases, establishing it as the fourth most common aetiology in Japanese IPN. Most cases (29/37) exhibited distal limb weakness, without ptosis, ophthalmoplegia, facial muscle weakness or bulbar palsy. Neurogenic changes were frequently observed in both needle electromyography (97%) and skeletal muscle tissue (100%). In nerve conduction studies, 28 cases primarily showed impairment in motor nerves without concurrent involvement of sensory nerves, consistent with the phenotype of hereditary motor neuropathy. In seven cases, both motor and sensory nerves were affected, resembling the Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) phenotype. Importantly, the mean CGG repeat number detected in the present patients was significantly shorter than that of patients with LRP12-oculopharyngodistal myopathy (p<0.0001). Additionally, GIPC1 and RILPL1 repeat expansions were absent in our IPN cases. CONCLUSION: We initially elucidate LRP12 repeat expansions as a prevalent cause of CMT, highlighting the necessity for an adapted screening strategy in clinical practice, particularly when addressing patients with IPN.

Klotho Stabilizes the Podocyte Actin Cytoskeleton in Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy through Regulating the TRPC6/CatL Pathway.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to explore the renoprotective effects of Klotho on podocyte injury mediated by complement activation and autoantibodies in idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). METHODS: Rat passive Heymann nephritis (PHN) was induced as an IMN model. Urine protein levels, serum biochemistry, kidney histology, and podocyte marker levels were assessed. In vitro, sublytic podocyte injury was induced by C5b-9. The expression of Klotho, transient receptor potential channel 6 (TRPC6), and cathepsin L (CatL); its substrate synaptopodin; and the intracellular Ca2+ concentration were detected via immunofluorescence. RhoA/ROCK pathway activity was measured by an activity quantitative detection kit, and the protein expression of phosphorylated-LIMK1 (p-LIMK1) and p-cofilin in podocytes was detected via Western blotting. Klotho knockdown and overexpression were performed to evaluate its role in regulating the TRPC6/CatL pathway. RESULTS: PHN rats exhibited proteinuria, podocyte foot process effacement, decreased Klotho and Synaptopodin levels, and increased TRPC6 and CatL expression. The RhoA/ROCK pathway was activated by the increased phosphorylation of LIMK1 and cofilin. Similar changes were observed in C5b-9-injured podocytes. Klotho knockdown exacerbated podocyte injury, while Klotho overexpression partially ameliorated podocyte injury. CONCLUSION: Klotho may protect against podocyte injury in IMN patients by inhibiting the TRPC6/CatL pathway. Klotho is a potential target for reducing proteinuria in IMN patients.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with newly diagnosed primary central nervous system lymphoma: a multicentre retrospective analysis.

Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKi) exhibit superior efficacy in relapsed/refractory primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), but few studies have evaluated patients with newly diagnosed PCNSL, and even fewer studies have evaluated differences in efficacy between treatment with BTKi and traditional chemotherapy. This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics of 86 patients with PCNSL and identified predictors of poor prognosis for overall survival (OS). After excluding patients who only received palliative care, 82 patients were evaluated for efficacy and survival. According to the induction regimen, patients were divided into the traditional chemotherapy, BTKi combination therapy, and radiotherapy groups; the objective response rates (ORR) of the three groups were 71.4%, 96.2%, and 71.4% (P = 0.037), respectively. Both median progression-free survival and median duration of remission showed statistically significant differences (P = 0.019 and P = 0.030, respectively). The median OS of the BTKi-containing therapy group was also longer than that of the traditional chemotherapy group (not reached versus 47.8 (32.5-63.1) months, P = 0.038).Seventy-one patients who achieved an ORR were further analyzed, and achieved an ORR after four cycles of treatment and maintenance therapy had prolonged OS (P = 0.003 and P = 0.043, respectively). In conclusion, survival, and prognosis of patients with newly diagnosed PCNSL are influenced by the treatment regimen, with the BTKi-containing regimen showing great potential.

Construction of a Bifunctional Redox-Site Conjugated Covalent-Organic Framework for Photoinduced Precision Trapping of Uranyl Ions.

The performance of covalent-organic frameworks (COFs) for the photocatalytic extraction of uranium is greatly limited by the number of adsorption sites. Herein, inspired by electronegative redox reactions, we designed a nitrogen-oxygen rich pyrazine connected COF (TQY-COF) with multiple redox sites as a platform for extracting uranium via combining superaffinity and enhanced photoinduction. The preorganized bisnitrogen-bisoxygen donor configuration on TQY-COF is entirely matched with the typical geometric coordination of hexavalent uranyl ions, which demonstrates high affinity (tetra-coordination). In addition, the presence of the carbonyl group and pyrazine ring effectively stores and controls electron flow, which efficaciously facilitates the separation of e-/h+ and enhances photocatalytic performance. The experimental results show that TQY-COF removes up to 99.8% of uranyl ions from actual uranium mine wastewater under the light conditions without a sacrificial agent, and the separation coefficient reaches 1.73 × 106 mL g-1 in the presence of multiple metal ions, which realizes the precise separation in the complex environment. Importantly, DFT calculations further elucidate the coordination mechanism of uranium and demonstrate the necessity of the presence of N/O atoms in the photocatalytic adsorption of uranium.

Systematic investigation on the rational design and optimization of bi-based metal oxide semiconductors in photocatalytic applications.

To address the global energy shortage and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions on a massive scale, it is critical to explore novel and efficient photocatalysts for the utilization of renewable resources. Bi-based metal oxide (BixMOy) semiconductors composed of bismuth, transition metal, and oxygen atoms have demonstrated improved photocatalytic activity and product selectivity. The vast number of element combinations available for BixMOymaterials provides a huge compositional space for the rational design and isolation of promising photocatalysts for specific applications. In this study, we have systematically investigated the electronic and optical properties over Bi2O3and a series of selected BixMOygroup materials (BiVO4, BiFeO3, BiCoO3, and BiCrO3) by calculating band structure, basic optical property features, mobility and separation of charge carriers. It is clearly noted that the band gap and band edge position of the BixMOygroup materials can be tuned in a wide range in comparison to Bi2O3. Similarly, the light response of BixMOyalso can be broadened from the ultraviolet to the visible light region by adjusting the selection of transition metals. Additionally, the analysis of the effective mass of charge carriers of these materials further confirms their possibility in photocatalytic reaction applications because of the appropriate separation efficiency and mobility of carriers. A selection of experimental investigations on the crystal structure, composition, and optical properties of Bi2O3, BiVO4, and BiFeO3as well as their catalytic performance in the degradation of methylene blue over was also conducted, which agree well with the theoretical predictions.

Biomonitoring urinary organophosphorus flame retardant metabolites by liquid-liquid extraction and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and their association with oxidative stress.

Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are widely used as substitutes for traditional brominated flame retardants, necessitating a reliable and sensitive method for biomonitoring their urinary metabolites to assess human exposure. This study conducted biomonitoring of 10 metabolites of OPFRs in 152 adults and assessed their association with oxidative stress biomarkers 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine and 8-hydroxyguanosine. Urinary metabolites of OPFRs were released via enzymatic deconjugation. The addition of sodium chloride to the urine samples increases the ionic strength, inducing a salting-out effect that reduces the solubility of these compounds, thereby facilitating their extraction with a mixture of ethyl acetate and acetonitrile. Then, the metabolites of OPFRs were quantified by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and we validated the method for linear range, precision, matrix effect, and method detection limit. The detection limit of the metabolites of OPFRs ranged from 0.01 to 0.2 µg/L, and these metabolites were detected with high frequencies ranging from 25.0 to 98.68% in the urine samples. The concentration of bis (2-chloroethyl) phosphate was significantly higher in males than in females, with the geometric mean concentration of 0.88 µg/L for males and 0.53 µg/L for females, respectively. Spearman correlation analysis revealed weak but statistically significant positive correlations among the urinary metabolites. Bayesian kernel machine regression analysis showed a significant positive association between elevated urinary concentrations of metabolites of OPFRs and increased oxidative stress levels. Di-n-butyl phosphate was identified as the metabolite that significantly contributed to the elevated level of 8-hydroxyguanosine.

Impact of COVID-19 on temporal trends and health risks of urinary metal concentrations among residents of Guangzhou, China.

Long-term biomonitoring of urinary metal ions is an essential tool for the epidemiological assessment of chronic exposure levels, enabling us to track changes in metal exposure over time and better understand its health implications. In this study, we evaluated the temporal trends of urinary metal ions among 1962 residents of Guangzhou, China, from 2018 to 2022. The total metal ion concentrations in the urine of the population did not change significantly between 2018 and 2019. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, urinary total metal ion concentrations began to decline dramatically, reaching their lowest level in 2021. A rebound in concentrations was observed in 2022, which returned to the initial levels observed in 2018. Urine chromium and cadmium concentrations peaked in 2020, while urinary lead levels were the highest in 2021, and urinary nickel concentrations were the highest in 2022. Males consistently displayed higher urinary concentrations of lead and arsenic throughout each year of the study. Furthermore, minors consistently had higher urinary nickel levels than adults, whereas adults consistently had higher urinary cadmium concentrations than minors. Cluster analyses were conducted annually on urinary metal ions to examine the differences in their distribution and to evaluate changes in metal exposure patterns over time. The Monte Carlo simulations indicate that the whole population exhibits a high non-carcinogenic risk from arsenic exposure and significant carcinogenic risks associated with exposure to nickel, arsenic, chromium, and cadmium. The next two years were predicted by a gray prediction model, and the results are tested using mean absolute percentage error which demonstrating high accuracy.