Antimicrobial polymer-based zeolite imidazolate framework composite membranes for uranium extraction from wastewater and seawater.

Extraction uranium (VI) (U(VI)) from wastewater and seawater is highly important for environmental protection and life safety, but it remains a great challenge. In this work, the growth of the zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanoparticles on the tannic acid (TA)-3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) modified PVDF (TAP) membrane was designed to obtain an excellent U(VI) adsorbent. The zeolite imidazolate framework composite membrane (TAPP-ZIF-60) was prepared through polyethyleneimine (PEI) bridging strategy and temperature regulation strategy in solvothermal method. The coordination bond between PEI and ZIF-8 and the covalent bond between PEI and TAP are essential in forming stable composite membrane. TAPP-ZIF with different properties was synthesized through a temperature regulation process and the TAPP-ZIF prepared at 60 °C has the uniform morphology and good performance. The adsorption capacity of TAPP-ZIF-60 is 153.68 mg/g (C0 = 95.01 mg/L and pH = 8.0) and water permeability is 5459 L m-2 h-1 bar-1. After ten adsorption-desorption cycles, it is proved that TAPP-ZIF-60 has good repeatability and stability. In addition, the TAPP-ZIF-60 composites membrane has a good inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and density functional theory (DFT) analysis reveal that the coordination between TAPP-ZIF-60 and uranyl ions is the primary factor contributing to the high adsorption capacity.

Complexing agent-assisted Cr(VI) removal in a continuous fixed-bed system with nanoscale Fe0/NaA molecular sieve membrane supported on nickel foam.

Complexing agents (CAs) can be used for the removal of Cr(VI) via nanoscale Fe0 (nZVI) reduction in cost-effective manner. However, nZVI is prone to aggregation and passivation, and some conventional CAs are toxic and difficult to biodegrade, potentially causing secondary pollution. Therefore, selecting an environmentally friendly CA for assisting in the removal of Cr(VI) via supported nZVI is imperative. Herein, NaA molecular sieve membrane-supported nZVI (nZVI/NaA-NF) was prepared via the secondary growth and liquid-phase reduction method using nickel foam (NF) as the carrier. The physicochemical characteristics of nZVI/NaA-NF before and after reaction were analysed via SEM, EDS, and XPS. A CA-improved nZVI/NaA-NF was used for the effective removal of Cr(VI) in a continuous fixed-bed system. Furthermore, the influences of various experimental factors including the CA type, CA concentration, solution pH, space velocity, and inlet Cr(VI) concentration on Cr(VI) removal were systematically investigated. The results demonstrated that nZVI particles were homogeneously immobilized on the NaA molecular sieve membrane/NF for fresh nZVI/NaA-NF, and tetrasodium iminidisuccinate (IDS-4Na) inhibited the aggregation of Cr(III)/Fe(III) (hydr)oxide precipitates during the reaction. IDS-4Na demonstrated excellent promotive effect on Cr(VI) removal via nZVI/NaA-NF. The breakthrough time for Cr(VI) in the addition of IDS-4Na was considerably longer than that of nZVI/NaA-NF alone. The breakthrough concentration of Cr(VI) only reached 1.1% and 9.9% of the inlet concentration at 220 and 240 min, with an IDS-4Na concentration of 4 mM, a pH of 2.5, and a space velocity of 0.265 min-1. The Bohart-Adams model was appropriate to predict the initial part of Cr(VI) breakthrough curves in the nZVI/NaA-NF fixed bed. The saturated concentration (N0) increased with an increase in inlet Cr(VI) concentration. The Yoon-Nelson model afforded good fitting results for all breakthrough curves of Cr(VI). The k´ value increased with an increase in space velocity, and the τ value decreased.

Efficient removal of Cr (VI) by Bifunction zinc porphyrin COF: Coupling adsorption with Photocatalysis, performance Evaluation, and mechanism analysis.

HYPOTHESIS: Hexavalent chromium, recognized as one of the most toxic heavy metals, demands the development of advanced materials capable of both adsorption and photocatalysis for effective Cr (VI) removal. EXPERIMENTS: This study successfully synthesized a two-dimensional zinc porphyrin covalent organic framework (ZnPor-COF) via a solvent-based method. Performance evaluations have demonstrated that the ZnPor-COF possesses outstanding capabilities for the adsorptive and/or photocatalytic elimination of Cr (VI). Particularly noteworthy is the observation that when adsorption and photocatalysis are coupled, the ZnPor-COF attains an exceptional 99.7 % removal rate for a Cr (VI) concentration of 30 mg/L within just 60 min, with minimal susceptibility to coexisting ions. After five consecutive cycles, the material sustains a removal efficiency of 90 %, indicative of its robust cyclability. FINDINGS: Theoretical calculations, as well as experimental validations, have indicated that the integration of Zn ions into the porphyrin COF not only results in an expanded specific surface area and an increased count of adsorption sites but also significantly improves the COF's photosensitivity and the capability for charge carrier separation. Furthermore, the core of the synergistic effect between adsorption and photocatalysis lies in the ability of photocatalysis to substantially augment the adsorption process.

TFEB controls sensitivity to chemotherapy and immuno-killing in non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) the efficacy of chemo-immunotherapy is affected by the high expression of drug efflux transporters as ABCC1 and by the low expression of ABCA1, mediating the isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP)-dependent anti-tumor activation of Vγ9Vδ2 T-lymphocytes. In endothelial cells ABCA1 is a predicted target of the transcription factor EB (TFEB), but no data exists on the correlation between TFEB and ABC transporters involved in the chemo-immuno-resistance in NSCLC. METHODS: The impact of TFEB/ABCC1/ABCA1 expression on NSCLC patients' survival was analyzed in the TCGA-LUAD cohort and in a retrospective cohort of our institution. Human NSCLC cells silenced for TFEB (shTFEB) were analyzed for ABC transporter expression, chemosensitivity and immuno-killing. The chemo-immuno-sensitizing effects of nanoparticles encapsulating zoledronic acid (NZ) on shTFEB tumors and on tumor immune-microenvironment were evaluated in Hu-CD34+ mice by single-cell RNA-sequencing. RESULTS: TFEBlowABCA1lowABCC1high and TFEBhighABCA1highABCC1low NSCLC patients had the worst and the best prognosis, respectively, in the TCGA-LUAD cohort and in a retrospective cohort of patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy or immunotherapy as first-line treatment. By silencing shTFEB in NSCLC cells, we demonstrated that TFEB was a transcriptional inducer of ABCA1 and a repressor of ABCC1. shTFEB cells had also a decreased activity of ERK1/2/SREBP2 axis, implying reduced synthesis and efflux via ABCA1 of cholesterol and its intermediate IPP. Moreover, TFEB silencing reduced cholesterol incorporation in mitochondria: this event increased the efficiency of OXPHOS and the fueling of ABCC1 by mitochondrial ATP. Accordingly, shTFEB cells were less immuno-killed by the Vγ9Vδ2 T-lymphocytes activated by IPP and more resistant to cisplatin. NZ, which increased IPP efflux but not OXPHOS and ATP production, sensitized shTFEB immuno-xenografts, by reducing intratumor proliferation and increasing apoptosis in response to cisplatin, and by increasing the variety of anti-tumor infiltrating cells (Vγ9Vδ2 T-lymphocytes, CD8+T-lymphocytes, NK cells). CONCLUSIONS: This work suggests that TFEB is a gatekeeper of the sensitivity to chemotherapy and immuno-killing in NSCLC, and that the TFEBlowABCA1lowABCC1high phenotype can be predictive of poor response to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. By reshaping both cancer metabolism and tumor immune-microenvironment, zoledronic acid can re-sensitize TFEBlow NSCLCs, highly resistant to chemo- and immunotherapy.

Development of a continuous electrochemical reactor incorporated with waste-derived activated carbon electrode for the effective removal of hexavalent chromium from industrial effluent.

Being a recognized carcinogen, hexavalent chromium is hazardous to both human and environmental health. Thus, it is imperative to regulate and oversee their levels in a variety of industries, including textiles, dyes, pigments, and metal finishing. This study strives to reduce Cr(VI) in wastewater by using capacitive deionization in conjunction with an activated carbon-based electrode and a continuous electrochemical reactor (CER). Activated carbon derived from rubberwood sawdust demonstrated excellent properties, including a high surface area of 1157 m2 g-1. The electrical conductivity and mechanical stability of the electrode were enhanced by the incorporation of synthesized expanded graphite (EG) into the AC. Key parameters were optimized via systematic batch electroreduction experiments with an optimal response surface design. The efficacy of the fabricated CER was proved when it successfully reduced Cr(VI) in a 5 mg L-1 solution within 15 min under optimized conditions, in contrast to the considerably longer durations anticipated by conventional methods. Validation of these findings was done by treating industrial wastewater of 30 mg L-1 in the CER. The electroreduction of Cr(VI) followed the Langmuir isotherm with a maximum capacity of 13.491 mg g-1 and pseudo-second-order kinetics. These results indicate that the combined use of the modified AC electrode and CER holds potential as a sustainable and economical approach to effectively eliminate Cr(VI) from wastewater.

Novel Ag@NH2-UiO-66(Zr) photocatalyst with controllable charge transfer pathways for efficient Cr(VI) remediation.

Rational fabrication of core-shell photocatalysts to hamper the charge recombination is extraordinarily essential to enhance photocatalytic activity. In this work, core-shell Ag@NH2-UiO-66 (Ag@NU) Schottky heterojunctions with low Ag content (1 wt%) were constructed by a two-step solvothermal method and adopted for Cr(VI) reduction under LED light. Typically, the one with the Ag: NH2-UiO-66 mass ratio (1 : 100) led to 100% Cr(VI) removal within 1 h, superior to bare NH2-UiO-66 and Ag/NH2-UiO-66 (Ag was directly decorated on NH2-UiO-66 surface). The enhanced photocatalytic activity was related to the migration of the electrons on the CB of NH2-UiO-66 to Ag NPs through a Schottky barrier, and thus the undesired charge carriers recombination was avoided. This result was also evidenced by Density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The computational simulations indicate that the introduction of Ag effectively narrowed the band gap of NH2-UiO-66, facilitating the transfer of photo-generated electrons, expanding the light absorption area, and significantly enhancing photocatalytic efficiency. Most importantly, such a core-shell structure can inhibit the formation of •O2-, letting the direct Cr(VI) reduction by photo-excited e-. In addition, this structure can also protect Ag from being oxidized by O2. Ten cyclic tests evidenced the Ag@NU had excellent chemical and structural stability. This research offers a novel strategy for regulating the Cr(VI) reduction by establishing core-shell photocatalytic materials.

Collagen VI: Role in synaptic transmission and seizure-related excitability.

Collagen VI (Col-VI) is an extracellular matrix protein primarily known for its bridging role in connective tissues that has been suggested to play a neuroprotective role. In the present study we report increased mRNA and protein expression of Col-VI in the hippocampus and cortex at a late stage of epileptogenesis in a post-status epilepticus (SE) model of epilepsy and in brain tissue from patients with epilepsy. We further present a novel finding that exposure of mouse hippocampal slices to Col-VI augments paired-pulse facilitation in Schaffer collateral-CA1 excitatory synapses indicating decreased release probability of glutamate. In line with this finding, lack of Col-VI expression in the knock-out mice show paired-pulse depression in these synapses, suggesting increased release probability of glutamate. In addition, we observed dynamic changes in Col-VI blood plasma levels in rats after Kainate-induced SE, and increased levels of Col-VI mRNA and protein in autopsy or postmortem brain of humans suffering from epilepsy. Thus, our data indicate that elevated levels of ColVI following seizures leads to attenuated glutamatergic transmission, ultimately resulting in less overall network excitability. Presumably, increased Col-VI may act as part of endogenous compensatory mechanism against enhanced excitability during epileptogenic processes in the hippocampus, and could be further investigated as a potential functional biomarker of epileptogenesis, and/or a novel target for therapeutic intervention.

Efficient removal of Chromium(VI) from wastewater based on magnetic multiwalled carbon nanotubes coupled with deep eutectic solvents.

Industrial wastewater containing heavy metal Cr(VI) seriously affects the health of organisms and may even lead to cancer. Developing efficient adsorbents that can quickly separate heavy metals is crucial for treating wastewater. In this study, magnetic multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MMWCNTs) with moderate particle size and abundant surface active sites were prepared by coating multiwalled carbon nanotubes with magnetic nanoparticles. The results of FTIR, XRD, TG, VSM, BET, and EDS showed MWCNTs completely encapsulated on the surface of the magnetic nanoparticles, with a particle size of approximately 30 nm. Oxygenated groups provided abundant surface active sites and formed numerous mesopores. The response surface methodology was used to optimize the adsorbent dose, adsorption contact time and adsorption temperature, and the removal rate of Cr(VI) was more than 95%. The quasi-second order kinetics and Freundlich adsorption isotherm model explained the adsorption process to Cr(VI). MMWCNTs interacted with Cr(VI) through electrostatic attraction, reduction reactions, complexation, and other means. The extensive hydrogen bonding of the green solvent deep eutectic solvent (DES) was employed to desorb the MMWCNTs and desorption rate exceed 90%. Even after five adsorption-regeneration cycles, the adsorbent maintained a high capacity. In conclusion, these novel MMWCNTs, as efficient adsorbents paired with DES desorption, hold broad potential for application in the treatment of Cr(VI)-contaminated wastewater.

Uncovering an effecient binary system as a chemosensor for visual and fluorescence detection of chromium (VI) in water samples.

There is an urgent requirement for the development of sensitive and quick sensors to monitor chromium (VI) due to its substantial carcinogenic and mutagenic properties. A coexisting system of coumarin 334 and diphenylcarbazide (C334/DPC) was used in this study as a fluorescent chemosensor to detect Cr(VI) ions. Upon the addition of Cr(VI), a purple chelate complex (Cr(III)-diphenylcarbazone) was produced, which resulted from the quantitative reaction between Cr(VI) ions and diphenylcarbazide (DPC), whereas no interaction between Cr(VI) and coumarin 334 took place. More interestingly, the absorption spectra of purple (Cr(III)-diphenylcarbazone) complex (λmax = 540 nm) were overlapped with emission and excitation spectra of coumarin 334 (λex/em = 453/492), resulting in the efficient quenching of coumarin 334 (C334) via the inner filter effect. Furthermore, the semi-quantitative estimation of Cr(VI) ion concentration may be achieved by visually watching the progressive color transformation of the probe from yellow to red after the addition different concentration of Cr(VI). The calibration plot for determination of Cr(VI) by this method is ranging from 0.048 to 268 µM. DFT calculations were conducted to enrich our understanding about the mechanism of action. This approach demonstrates an excellent selectivity and sensitivity for Cr(VI) including a detection limit of 48 nM. The new sensor was successfully applied to water samples (tap, mineral, and waste waters). The accuracy was confirmed by the atomic absorption spectroscopy.

Desulfovibrio-induced gauzy FeS for efficient hexavalent chromium removal: The influence of SRB metabolism regulated by carbon source and electron carriers.

Biosynthetic metal sulfides showed great application prospects in the environmental treatment against high-valence metal pollutants. However, the efficiency of biosynthesis, agglomeration during the reaction process, and the formation of the passivation layer during the reduction process were always the important factors restricting its development. This study explored the composition of the culture medium to promote the growth of highly corrosive sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and its metabolism to produce FeS nanoparticles (NPs). The results showed that reducing the carbon source (CS) and adding electron carriers in the culture medium effectively promoted the production of small, dispersed, and loose FeS NPs in cells. At pH = 7, 24 °C and 10 min reaction time, 0.1 g/L FeS NPs produced by SRB under the conditions of 10 % CS with 10 ppm cytochrome c medium could achieve 100 % removal efficiency of 1 mM hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)). Under this condition, FeS NPs could be produced by intracellular metabolism in SRB cells, and environmental factors such as pH, metal cations, and Cl- had little effect on the removal of Cr(VI) by this FeS NPs. The surface proteins of FeS NPs significantly enhanced their antioxidant properties. After 7 days of natural environment exposure, the Cr(VI) removal efficiency of FeS NPs was only reduced by 16 % compared with the initial sample. This work provided an in-depth understanding of Cr(VI) removal by SRB biosynthesis of FeS and contributes to the widespread application of FeS in the future.

An innovative triple interface reinforced photocatalytic system based on BiOCl/BaTiO3@Co-BDC-MOF composite for the simultaneous detoxification of Cr(VI) and sulfamethoxazole.

The development of effective photocatalysts for the reduction of Cr(VI) and the degradation of antibiotics remains a challenge. The present work reports the development of a novel heterojunction composite material, BiOCl/BaTiO3@Co-BDC-MOF (BOC/BTO@Co-MOF), based on solvothermal techniques. To characterize the surface and bulk features of the material, techniques such as FE-SEM, HR-TEM, BET/BJH, XPS, FT-IR, p-XRD, and UV-Vis-DRS were used. Based on the results, the BiOCl/BaTiO3 nanocomposites are uniformly dispersed on the rod-shaped Co-BDC MOF, resulting in a layered texture on the surface. A further advantage of the composite structure is the strong interfacial enhancement facilitating the separation of photoexcited electron-hole pairs. Also, compared to its pristine counterparts, the heterostructure material exhibited excellent surface area and pore properties. The photocatalytic efficiency towards reduction and degradation of Cr(VI)/SMX pollutants were evaluated by optimizing various analytical parameters, such as pH, catalytic loading concentrations, analyte concentration, and scavenger role. The specially designed BOC/BTO@Co-MOF composite achieved a 96.5% Cr(VI) reduction and 98.2% SMX degradation under 60.0-90.0 min of visible light illumination at pH 3.0. This material is highly reusable and has a six-time recycling potential. The findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of the efficient decontamination of inorganic and organic pollutants in water purification systems.

High-efficient nickel-doped lignin carbon dots as a fluorescent and smartphone-assisted sensing platform for sequential detection of Cr(VI) and ascorbic acid.

Using lignin as a raw material to prepare fluorescent nanomaterials represents a significant pathway toward the high-value utilization of waste biomass. In this study, Ni-doped lignin carbon dots (Ni-LCDs) were rapidly synthesized with a yield of 63.22 % and a quantum yield of 8.25 % using a green and simple hydrothermal method. Exploiting the inner filter effect (IFE), Cr(VI) effectively quenched the fluorescence of the Ni-LCDs, while the potent reducing agent ascorbic acid (AA) restored the quenched fluorescence, thus establishing a highly sensitive fluorescence switch sensor platform for the sequential detection of Cr(VI) and AA. Importantly, the integration of a smartphone facilitated the portability of Cr(VI) and AA detection, enabling on-site, in-situ, and real-time monitoring. Ultimately, the developed fluorescence and smartphone-assisted sensing platform was successfully applied to detect Cr(VI) in actual water samples and AA in various fruits. This study not only presents an efficient method for the conversion and utilization of waste lignin but also broadens the application scope of the CDs in the field of smart sensors.

Plant endophyte immobilization technology: A promising approach for chromium-contaminated water and soil remediation.

Microbial immobilization technology is considered an efficient bioremediation method for chromium (Cr) pollution. However, it is currently unclear which strain is more beneficial for the remediation of Cr-contaminated water and soil. Therefore, corn straw biochar was used as a carrier to prepare materials for fixing the endophytes Serratia sp. Y-13 (BSR1), Serratia nematodiphila (BSR2), Lysinibacillus sp. strain SePC-36 (BLB1), Lysinibacillus mangiferihumi strain WK63 (BLB2) and the commercial bacteria Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 (BSW). The results demonstrated that, compared with BSW, endophyte-loaded biochar (especially BSR1) was more effective at remediating Cr pollution in water and soil. Endophyte-loaded biochar reduced the abundance of soil pathogenic bacteria, enhanced the number of beneficial plant endophytes, reduced the soil Cr(VI) concentration, improved soil fertility, reduced the plant Cr concentration and improved the yield of lettuce. Redundancy analysis (RDA) and structural equation modelling (PLS-PM) suggested that soil microbes are closely related to soil Cr(VI), plant fresh weight and soil organic matter, whereas endophyte-loaded biochar directly influences plant cell motility pathways by altering plant microbes. This study represents a pioneering investigation into the efficacy of endophyte-loaded biochar as a remediation strategy for Cr pollution.

Bifidobacterium bifidum SAM-VI Riboswitch Conformation Change Requires Peripheral Helix Formation.

The Bifidobacterium bifidum SAM-VI riboswitch undergoes dynamic conformational changes that modulate downstream gene expression. Traditional structural methods such as crystallography capture the bound conformation at high resolution, and additional efforts would reveal details from the dynamic transition. Here, we revealed a transcription-dependent conformation model for Bifidobacterium bifidum SAM-VI riboswitch. In this study, we combine small-angle X-ray scattering, chemical probing, and isothermal titration calorimetry to unveil the ligand-binding properties and conformational changes of the Bifidobacterium bifidum SAM-VI riboswitch and its variants. Our results suggest that the SAM-VI riboswitch contains a pre-organized ligand-binding pocket and stabilizes into the bound conformation upon binding to SAM. Whether the P1 stem formed and variations in length critically influence the conformational dynamics of the SAM-VI riboswitch. Our study provides the basis for artificially engineering the riboswitch by manipulating its peripheral sequences without modifying the SAM-binding core.

Superior nitrate and chromium reduction synergistically driven by multiple electron donors: Performance and the related biochemical mechanism.

Nitrate and Cr(VI) are the typical and prevalent co-contaminants in the groundwater, how to synchronously and effectively diminish them has received growing attention. The most problem that currently limits the nitrate and Cr(VI) reduction technology for groundwater remediation is with emphasis on exploring the optimal electron donors. This study investigated the feasibility of utilizing the synergistical effect of inorganic electron donors (pyrite, sulfur) and inherently limited organics to promote synchronous nitrate and Cr(VI) removal, which meets the requirement of naturally low-carbon and eco-friendly technologies. The NO3--N and Cr(VI) removal efficiencies in the pyrite and sulfur involved mixotrophic biofilter (PS-BF: approximately 90.8 ± 0.6% and 99.1 ± 2.1%) were substantially higher than that in a volcanic rock supported biofilter (V-BF: about 49.6% ± 2.8% and 50.0% ± 9.3%), which was consistent with the spatial variations of their concentrations. Abiotic and biotic batch tests directly confirmed the decisive role of pyrite and sulfur for NO3--N and Cr(VI) removal via chemical and microbial pathways. A server decline in sulfate production correlated with decreasing COD consumption revealed that there was sulfur disproportionation induced by limited organics. Metagenomic analysis suggested that chemoautotrophic microbes like Sulfuritalea and Thiobacillus were key players responsible for sulfur oxidation, nitrate and Cr(VI) reduction. The metabolic pathway analysis suggested that genes encoding functional enzymes related to complete denitrification, S oxidation, and dissimilatory sulfate reduction were upregulated, however, genes encoding Cr(VI) reduction enzymes (e.g. chrA, chrR, nemA, and azoR) were downregulated in PS-BF, which further explained the synergistical effect of multiple electron donors. These findings provide insights into their potential cooperative interaction of multiple electron donors on greatly promoting nitrate and Cr(VI) removal and have implications for the remediation technology of nitrate and Cr(VI) co-contaminated groundwater.

HIIT at Home: Enhancing Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Older Adults-A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a 6-month home-based high-intensity interval training (HIIT) intervention to improve peak oxygen consumption (V̇O2peak) and lactate threshold (LT) in older adults. METHODS: Two hundred thirty-three healthy older adults (60-84 years; 54% females) were randomly assigned to either 6-month, thrice-weekly home-based HIIT (once-weekly circuit training and twice-weekly interval training) or a passive control group. Exercise sessions were monitored using a Polar watch and a logbook for objective and subjective data, respectively, and guided by a personal coach. The outcomes were assessed using a modified Balke protocol combining V̇O2peak and LT measures. General linear regression models assessed between-group differences in change and within-group changes for each outcome. RESULTS: There was a significant between-group difference in the pre-to-post change in V̇O2peak (difference: 1.8 [1.2; 2.3] mL/kg/min; exercise: +1.4 [1.0; 1.7] mL/kg/min [~5%]; control: -0.4 [-0.8; -0.0] mL/kg/min [approximately -1.5%]; effect size [ES]: 0.35). Compared with controls, the exercise group had lower blood lactate concentration (-0.7 [-0.9; -0.4] mmol/L, ES: 0.61), % of peak heart rate (-4.4 [-5.7; -3.0], ES: 0.64), and % of V̇O2peak (-4.5 [-6.1; -2.9], ES: 0.60) at the intensity corresponding to preintervention LT and achieved a higher treadmill stage (% incline) at LT (0.6 [0.3; 0.8]; ES: 0.47), following the intervention. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the effectiveness of a home-based HIIT intervention as an accessible and equipment-minimal strategy to induce clinically meaningful improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults. Over 6 months, the exercise group showed larger improvements in all outcomes compared with the control group. Notably, the LT outcome exhibited a more pronounced magnitude of change than V̇O2peak.

Strategies to improve the design of gapmer antisense oligonucleotide on allele-specific silencing.

Gapmer antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) hold therapeutic promise for allele-specific silencing, but face challenges in distinguishing between mutant and wild-type transcripts. This study explores new design strategies to enhance ASO specificity, focusing on a common dominant mutation in COL6A3 gene associated with Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy. Initial gapmer ASO design exhibited high efficiency but poor specificity for the mutant allele. We then adopted a mixmer design, incorporating additional RNA bases based on computational predictions of secondary structures for both mutant and wild-type alleles, aiming to enhance ASO accessibility to mutant transcripts. The mixmer ASO design demonstrated up to a 3-fold increase in specificity compared with the classical gapmer design. Further refinement involved introducing a nucleotide mismatch as a structural modification, resulting in a 10-fold enhancement in specificity compared with the gapmer design and a 3-fold over the mixmer design. Additionally, we identified for the first time a potential role of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), alongside RNase H1, in gapmer-mediated silencing, in contrast with what was observed with mixmer ASOs, where only RNase H1 was involved. In conclusion, this study presents a novel design concept for allele-specific ASOs leveraging mRNA secondary structures and nucleotide mismatching and suggests a potential involvement of RISC in gapmer-mediated silencing.

Microbially induced carbonate precipitation with Arthrobacter creatinolyticus: An eco-friendly strategy for mitigation of chromium contamination.

Chromium contamination from abandoned industrial sites and inadequately managed waste disposal areas poses substantial environmental threat. Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) has shown promising, eco-friendly solution to remediate Cr(VI) and divalent heavy metals. In this study, MICP was carried out for chromium immobilization by an ureolytic bacterium Arthrobacter creatinolyticus which is capable of reducing Cr(VI) to less toxic Cr(III) via extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production. The efficacy of EPS driven reduction was confirmed by cellular fraction analysis. MICP carried out in aqueous solution with 100 ppm of Cr(VI) co-precipitated 82.21% of chromium with CaCO3 and the co-precipitation is positively correlated with reduction of Cr(VI). The organism was utilized to remediate chromium spiked sand and found that MICP treatment decreased the exchangeable fraction of chromium to 0.54 ±â€¯0.11% and increased the carbonate bound fraction to 26.1 ±â€¯1.15% compared to control. XRD and SEM analysis revealed that Cr(III) produced during reduction, influenced the polymorph selection of vaterite during precipitation. Evaluation of MICP to remediate Cr polluted soil sample collected from Ranipet, Tamil Nadu also showed effective immobilization of chromium. Thus, A. creatinolyticus proves to be viable option for encapsulating chromium contaminated soil via MICP process, and effectively mitigating the infiltration of Cr(VI) into groundwater and adjacent water bodies.

Genomic and proteomic analyses reveal the reduction mechanism of hexavalent chromium by the culturing supernatant of strain Pediococcus acidilactici 13-7.

This study used lactic acid bacteria with high antioxidative properties to screen for strains capable of reducing hexavalent chromium [Cr (VI)] in their culturing supernatants. The strain Pediococcus acidilactici 13-7 exhibited potent Cr (VI)-reducing capability and remarkable resistance to Cr (VI) even at concentration as high as 24 mM. Comparative genomics analysis revealed a unique gene, ChrR, associated with Cr (VI) reduction in this strain, distinguishing it from four reference strains of P. acidilactici. The proteomic investigation identified proteins linked to the ChrR gene, such as nqo1, frdA, and gshR, indicating significant enrichment in redox-related functions and oxidative phosphorylation pathways. These findings suggest that P. acidilactici 13-7 possesses superior electron transfer capacity compared to other strains, making it more adaptable under highly oxidative conditions by modulating the external environment to mitigate oxidative stress. Collectively, the results demonstrated the potential application of this lactic acid bacterial strain for bioremediation of heavy metals by its ability to reduce Cr (VI), and shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying Cr (VI) reduction of the strain P. acidilactici 13-7.

Ferric citrate enhanced bioreduction of Cr(VI) by Bacillus cereus RCr in aqueous solutions: reduction performance and mechanisms.

The bioreduction characteristics and mechanisms of Cr(VI) onto Bacillus cereus RCr enhanced by ferric citrate were investigated. The optimum conditions were initial pH 9, temperature 40 °C, inoculation amount 4%, and glucose 3 g/L, respectively. The addition of 1.5 g/L ferric citrate increased the average reduction rate from 120.43 to 220.61 mg/(L∙h) compared with the control (without ferric citrate). The binding capacity of Cr(III) on the cell surface increased to 21%, in which the precipitates were mainly CrO(OH), Cr2O3, and FeCr2O4. Cell membrane was the main site of reduction, related important functional groups: - COOH, C-H, - NH2, C = C, and P-O. Fe(III) increased the yield of NADH and cytochrome c by approximately 48.51% and 68.63%, which significantly facilitated the electron generation and electron transfer, thus increasing the amount of electrons in the bioreduction of heavy metals by an average of 110%. Among the electrons obtained by Cr(VI), the proportion of indirect reduction mediated by Fe(III)/Fe(II) shuttle was 62% on average, whereas direct reduction mediated by reductase was 38%. These results may provide insights into the bioreduction process by bacteria enhanced by Fe(III) for detoxification of heavy metals with multiple valences, as an important step towards improving microbial remediation.