N4-acetylation of cytidine in mRNA plays essential roles in plants.

The biological function of RNA can be modulated by base modifications. Here, we unveiled the occurrence of N4-acetylation of cytidine in plant RNA, including mRNA, by employing LC-MS/MS and acRIP-seq. We identified 325 acetylated transcripts from the leaves of 4-week-old Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants and determined that 2 partially redundant N-ACETYLTRANSFERASEs FOR CYTIDINE IN RNA (ACYR1 and ACYR2), which are homologous to mammalian NAT10, are required for acetylating RNA in vivo. A double-null mutant was embryo lethal, while eliminating 3 of the 4 ACYR alleles led to defects in leaf development. These phenotypes could be traced back to the reduced acetylation and concomitant destabilization of the transcript of TOUGH, which is required for miRNA processing. These findings indicate that N4-acetylation of cytidine is a modulator of RNA function with a critical role in plant development and likely many other processes.

Pyrimidine catabolism is required to prevent the accumulation of 5-methyluridine in RNA.

5-Methylated cytosine is a frequent modification in eukaryotic RNA and DNA influencing mRNA stability and gene expression. Here we show that free 5-methylcytidine (5mC) and 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine are generated from nucleic acid turnover in Arabidopsis thaliana, and elucidate how these cytidines are degraded, which is unclear in eukaryotes. First CYTIDINE DEAMINASE produces 5-methyluridine (5mU) and thymidine which are subsequently hydrolyzed by NUCLEOSIDE HYDROLASE 1 (NSH1) to thymine and ribose or deoxyribose. Interestingly, far more thymine is generated from RNA than from DNA turnover, and most 5mU is directly released from RNA without a 5mC intermediate, since 5-methylated uridine (m5U) is an abundant RNA modification (m5U/U ∼1%) in Arabidopsis. We show that m5U is introduced mainly by tRNA-SPECIFIC METHYLTRANSFERASE 2A and 2B. Genetic disruption of 5mU degradation in the NSH1 mutant causes m5U to occur in mRNA and results in reduced seedling growth, which is aggravated by external 5mU supplementation, also leading to more m5U in all RNA species. Given the similarities between pyrimidine catabolism in plants, mammals and other eukaryotes, we hypothesize that the removal of 5mU is an important function of pyrimidine degradation in many organisms, which in plants serves to protect RNA from stochastic m5U modification.

α-FeOOH-Modified Sn/N-Codoped TiO2 Bifunctional Composites for As(III) Removal through Photocatalytic Oxidation and Simultaneous Adsorption.

Photocatalytic oxidation technology is one of the most efficient and green methods to convert highly toxic As(III) into lowly toxic As(V) for arsenic-polluted wastewater. However, the obtained As(V) may be reduced to As(III) again in the environment, causing secondary pollution. In order to resolve these issues, a bifunctional composite consisting of needle-like α-FeOOH-modified Sn/N-codoped TiO2 granules (SNT-FeOOH) has been synthesized. After modifying, the band gap of SNT-FeOOH narrowed from 2.94 eV (SNT) to 2.29 eV. When the composites were applied to As(III) removal, 10 mg of SNT-FeOOH could totally photocatalytically oxidize 40 mL of As(III) solution with a concentration of 10,000 µg/L within 15 min and synchronously achieve complete adsorption of the produced As(V), which is much more efficient than pure Sn/N-codoped TiO2 [21 min for As(III) photocatalytic oxidation and only 20.01% of total arsenic removal efficiency]. Based on the characterizations, α-FeOOH modification plays a significant role in the promoted performances of photocatalytic oxidation and adsorption of SNT-FeOOH, leading to arsenic removal. On one hand, the Fe-O-Ti interfacial chemical interactions formed between α-FeOOH and Sn/N-codoped TiO2 can further boost the separation rate of photogenerated carriers, hence increasing the photocatalytic oxidation efficiency. On the other hand, α-FeOOH surface hydroxyl groups adsorb the generated As(V) by forming Fe-O-As bonds. The SNT-FeOOH bifunctional composites, prepared in this paper, with dual performances of photocatalytic oxidation and adsorption provide a new strategy to achieve arsenic removal from wastewater.

The predictive value of [TIMP-2]*[IGFBP7] in adverse outcomes for acute kidney injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Relevant articles published up to 17 June 2023 were retrieved from five databases (Cochrane Library/Embase/PubMed/SinoMed/Web of Science). The pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria determined the selection of publications. Pooled sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), diagnostic odds ratio, likelihood ratio, and summary receiver operating characteristic curve were employed to assess the predictive value. The presence or potential sources of heterogeneity were investigated via subgroup and SEN analyses. RESULTS: Ten published and eligible studies (1559 cases) were included in the evaluation for the capability of [TIMP-2]*[IGFBP7] to predict the poor prognosis of AKI through the random effect model. Pooled SEN, SPE, diagnostic odds ratio, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were 0.82 (95% CI: 0.77-0.86, I2 = 53.4%), 0.64 (95% CI: 0.61-0.67, I2 = 88.3%), 14.06 (95% CI: 7.31-27.05, I2 = 55.0%), 2.859 (95% CI: 2.15-3.77, I2 = 80.7%), and 0.28 (95% CI: 0.20-0.40, I2 = 35.0%), respectively. The estimated area under the curve was 0.8864 (standard error: 0.0306), and the Q* was 0.7970 (standard error: 0.0299). The endpoints and cutoff values were the main causes of heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: [TIMP-2]*[IGFBP7] is possible in predicting poor prognosis of AKI, but it is better to be applied along with other indicators or clinical risk factors.

Synergistic photocatalytic oxidation and adsorption boost arsenic removal by in-situ carbon-doped TiO2 and nitrogen deficiency C3N4 heterojunction.

The efficient removal of arsenic from wastewater is still a challenge. In this paper, a heterojunction consisting of in-situ carbon-doped TiO2 and nitrogen deficiency g-C3N4 (C/TiO2@ND-C3N4) has been constructed, which can completely oxidize As(III) (10,000 µg/L, 40 mL) to As(V) within 12 min under visible light and simultaneously adsorb total As (95.0%) with the pseudo-secondary kinetic equation, superior than in-situ carbon-doped TiO2 (75.0%) and nitrogen deficiency g-C3N4 (50.5%). The good photocatalytic oxidation and adsorption performances of C/TiO2@ND-C3N4 on As(III) removal can be attributed to the successful synthesis of heterojunction. On one hand, the building of C-O-Ti interfacial chemical bonds enable rapid electron transfer and improve the efficiency of photocatalytic oxidation. On the other hand, the decreased As(V) adsorption energy resulted from the synthesized heterojunction boost the adsorption capability of As(V), which was completed by the generation of O-As bonds with oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface of TiO2 and hydrogen bonds with high content pyrrole nitrogen derived from ND-C3N4, respectively. The results manifest that the preparation of bifunctional materials with both photocatalytic oxidation and adsorption properties provides a new strategy to achieve the removal of As.

The mechanism of antigen-presentation of avian bone marrowed dendritic cells suppressed by infectious bronchitis virus.

Dendritic cells are first guard to defend avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) infection and invasion. While IBV always suppress dendritic cells and escape the degradation and presentation, which might help viruses to transfer and migrant. Initially, we compared two IBV's function in activating avian bone marrow dendritic cells (BMDCs) and found that both IBV (QX and M41) did not significantly increase surface marker of avian BMDCs. Moreover, a significant decrease of m6A modification level in mRNA, but an increased in the ut RNA were observed in avian BMDCs upon the prevalent IBV (QX) infection. Further study found that both non-structural protein 7 (NSP7) and NSP16 inhibited the maturation and cytokines secretion of BMDCs, as well as their antigen-presentation ability. Lastly, we found that gga-miR21, induced by both NSP7 and NSP16, inhibited the antigen presentation of avian BMDCs. Taken together, our results illustrated how IBV inhibited the antigen-presentation of avian DCs.

Mechanism of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived-Extracellular Vesicle in Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are implicated in cerebral ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury process. In this study, after extraction and identification of human umbilical cord MSCs (HMCs)-derived EVs, I/R rat models were established and treated with HMC-EVs to measure pathological damage, apoptosis and inflammation in brain tissues. The differentially expressed microRNAs (miRs) in HMC-EVs and I/R rat tissues were screened. The downstream gene and pathways of miR-24 were analyzed. The gain- and loss-of function of miR-24 in HMC-EVs was performed in I/R rat models and hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) cell models. SH-SY5Y cells were subjected to hypoxia and biological behaviors were detected by MTT assay, colony formation experiment, EdU staining and Transwell assays, and cells were incubated with the inhibitors of downstream pathways. As expected, infarct size, brain tissue apoptosis and inflammation were decreased after HMC-EVs treatment. miR-24 overexpression in HMC-EVs reduced I/R injury, while miR-24 knockdown in HMC-EVs impaired the protective roles of HMC-EVs in I/R injury. HMC-EVs-carried miR-24 could target AQP4 to activate the P38 MAPK/ERK1/2/P13K/AKT pathway, and thus promoted the proliferation and migration of SH-SY5Y cells after H/R injury, which were reversed by LY294002 and PD98095. Taken together, HMC-EVs-carried miR-24 played protective roles in I/R injury, possibly by targeting AQP4 and activating the P38 MAPK/ERK1/2/P13K/AKT pathway. This study may offer novel perspective for I/R injury treatment.

Floridean Starch and Floridoside Metabolic Pathways of Neoporphyra haitanensis and Their Regulatory Mechanism under Continuous Darkness.

Floridean starch and floridoside are the main storage carbohydrates of red algae. However, their complete metabolic pathways and the origin, function, and regulatory mechanism of their pathway genes have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we identified their metabolic pathway genes and analyzed the changes in related gene expression and metabolite content in Neoporphyra haitanensis under continuous dark conditions. Our results showed that genes from different sources, including eukaryotic hosts, cyanobacteria, and bacteria, were combined to construct floridean starch and floridoside metabolic pathways in N. haitanensis. Moreover, compared with those in the control, under continuous dark conditions, floridean starch biosynthesis genes and some degradation genes were significantly upregulated with no significant change in floridean starch content, whereas floridoside degradation genes were significantly upregulated with a significant decrease in floridoside content. This implies that floridean starch content is maintained but floridoside is consumed in N. haitanensis under dark conditions. This study elucidates the "floridean starch-floridoside" metabolic network and its gene origins in N. haitanensis for the first time.

[Molecular mechanism analysis of Erzhi Wan in treatment of aging based on network pharmacology].

This present study aimed to explore the molecular mechanism of Erzhi Wan(a prescription of nourishing Yin and toni-fying liver and kidney) in treatment of aging by network pharmacology. The active constituents and target proteins of Erzhi Wan were searched from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database(TCMSP) and PubChem databases respectively. Aging-related genes were searched from Gene and HAGR databases. Based on the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis(IPA), we analyzed the common molecular network, biological pathway and interaction sites between these two parts, and verified some of them by Western blot. Twelve active constituents of Erzhi Wan were screened by TCMSP databases, 69 protein targets were predicted through PubChem, and 148 aging-related genes were found in Gene and HAGR databases. IPA comparison showed that the molecular networks of these two were complex, with diversity of biological functions. The common pathways involved 292 pathways, mainly related to tumors. They acted on hypoxia inducible factor-1α gene(HIF1α), nuclear factor-E2 related factor(Nrf2/NFE2 L2), tumor necrosis factor(TNF) and other sites. Western blot results suggested that Erzhi Wan could down-regulate the expression of HIF1α, with statistical difference(P<0.05). It was concluded that, Erzhi Wan could intervene aging through improving pseudo-hypoxic microenvironment and inflammation. The molecular mechanism of Erzhi Wan in delaying aging was preliminarily revealed, which laid a foundation for further stu-dying the anti-aging mechanism of Erzhi Wan, and also provided a reference for the compatibility mechanism and extended application of Chinese medicine compounds.

Insight into transketolase of Pyropia haitanensis under desiccation stress based on integrative analysis of omics and transformation.

BACKGROUND: Pyropia haitanensis, distributes in the intertidal zone, can tolerate water losses exceeding 90%. However, the mechanisms enabling P. haitanensis to survive harsh conditions remain uncharacterized. To elucidate the mechanism underlying P. haitanensis desiccation tolerance, we completed an integrated analysis of its transcriptome and proteome as well as transgenic Chlamydomonas reinhardtii carrying a P. haitanensis gene. RESULTS: P. haitanensis rapidly adjusted its physiological activities to compensate for water losses up to 60%, after which, photosynthesis, antioxidant systems, chaperones, and cytoskeleton were activated to response to severe desiccation stress. The integrative analysis suggested that transketolase (TKL) was affected by all desiccation treatments. Transgenic C. reinhardtii cells overexpressed PhTKL grew better than the wild-type cells in response to osmotic stress. CONCLUSION: P. haitanensis quickly establishes acclimatory homeostasis regarding its transcriptome and proteome to ensure its thalli can recover after being rehydrated. Additionally, PhTKL is vital for P. haitanensis desiccation tolerance. The present data may provide new insights for the breeding of algae and plants exhibiting enhanced desiccation tolerance.

The effect of polar auxin transport on adventitious branches formation in Gracilaria lichenoides in vitro.

Seaweed tissue culture (STC) is an important micropropagation tool that has been applied for strain improvement, micropropagation and genetic engineering. Because the mechanisms associated with STC are poorly understood, its application to these organisms lags far behind that of tissue culture propagation of higher plants. Auxin, calcium (Ca2+ ) and hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) fluxes all play key roles during plant growth and development. In this study, we therefore measured indole-3-acetic acid, Ca2+ and H2 O2 fluxes of Gracilaria lichenoides explants during adventitious branches (ABs) formation for the first time using noninvasive micro-test technology. We confirmed that polar auxin transport (PAT) also occurs in the marine red alga G. lichenoides. We additionally found that N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid may suppress auxin efflux via ABCB1 transporters and then inhibit ABs formation from the apical region of G. lichenoides segments. The involvement of Ca2+ and H2 O2 fluxes in PAT-mediated AB formation in G. lichenoides was also investigated. We propose that complex feedback among Ca2+ , H2 O2 and auxin signaling and response systems may occur during ABs polar formation in G. lichenoides explants, similar to that in higher plants. Our results provide innovative insights that should aid future elucidation of mechanisms operative during STC.

TMT-labeled quantitative malonylome analysis on the longissimus dorsi muscle of Laiwu pigs reveals the role of ACOT7 in fat deposition.

The Laiwu pig is an indigenous fatty pig breed distributed in North China, characterized by an extremely high level of intramuscular fat (IMF) content (9% âˆ¼ 12%), but the regulatory mechanism underlying intramuscular fat deposition in skeletal muscle is still unknown. In this study, the TMT-labeled quantitative malonylome of the longissimus dorsi muscle in Laiwu pigs at the fastest IMF deposition stage (240 d vs 120 d) was compared to analyze the molecular mechanism of IMF variation in pigs. In Laiwu pigs aged 240 days/120 days, we identified 291 malonylated lysine sites across 188 proteins in the longissimus dorsi muscle. Among these, 38 sites across 31 proteins exhibited differential malonylation. Annotation analysis and enrichment analysis were performed for differentially malonylated proteins (DMPs). These DMPs were mainly clustered into 12 GO functional categories accounting for 5 biological processes, 4 cellular components and 3 molecular functions, and 2 signaling pathways by KEGG enrichment analysis. The function of differentially malonylated protein ACOT7 in the process of fat deposition was further investigated during the differentiation of 3 T3-L1 cells. The results showed that the protein level of ACOT7 in 3 T3-L1 cells decreased but the malonylated level of ACOT7 increased significantly. The malonyl-CoA that is synthesized by ACSF3 affected the malonylation level of ACOT7 in 3 T3-L1 cells. SIGNIFICANCE: The intramuscular fat (IMF) content, by affecting sensory quality traits of meat, such as tenderness, flavor and juiciness, plays an important role in meat quality. Using TMT-based quantitative malonylated proteome analysis, we identified malonylated proteins in LD muscle samples in two stages (120 d and 240 d) of development and further identified differentially malonylated proteins, such as SLC25A4, ANXA5, TPM3 and ACOT7, that are associated with intramuscular fat deposition and fat metabolism in pigs. These differentially malonylated proteins could serve as candidates for elucidating the molecular mechanism of IMF deposition in pigs. In addition, we found that the malonyl-CoA in 3 T3-L1 cells is mainly synthesized by ACSF3, affecting the malonylated level of ACOT7. The study provides some data concerning the role of protein malonylation in regulating the variation in porcine IMF content.

Interactions between nitrogen and phosphorus modulate the food quality of the marine crop Pyropia haitanensis (T. J. Chang & B. F. Zheng) N. Kikuchi & M. Miyata (Porphyra haitanensis).

The quality of Pyropia haitanensis (T. J. Chang & B. F. Zheng) N. Kikuchi & M. Miyata (Porphyra haitanensis) is directly affected by nutrient availability. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the synergistic regulatory effects of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability on P. haitanensis quality is unknown. Here, we performed physiological and multi-omics analyses to reveal the combined effects of N and P on P. haitanensis quality. The pigments accumulated under high N because of increases in N metabolism and porphyrin metabolism, ultimately resulting in intensely colored thalli. High N also promoted amino acid metabolism and inosine 5'-mononucleotide (IMP) synthesis, but inhibited carbohydrates accumulation. This resulted in increased amino acid, IMP and decreased agaro-carrageenan and cellulose contents, thereby improving the nutritional value and taste. Furthermore, high P promoted carbon metabolism and amino acid metabolism.This study provided the basis for elucidating the mechanism behind N and P regulating the seaweed quality.

Preparation of amino-modified carbon quantum dots-ZnO/cellulose nanofiber multifunctional hydrogel: Enhanced adsorption synergistic photoreduction and reversible fluorescence response visual recognition of Cr(VI).

This work innovatively used cellulose nanofibers as a photocatalyst carrier, which could recycle nano-photocatalysts and minimize nanoparticle aggregation. The morphology, structures, chemical composition, optical-electronic properties and photocatalytic performance of amino-modified carbon quantum dots-ZnO/cellulose nanofiber (N-CQDs-ZnO/CNF: ZCH-2) hydrogel were characterized by SEM, TEM, BET, EDS, XRD, FTIR, UV-vis, XPS, PL and other techniques. The mechanism of Cr(VI) adsorption synergistic photoreduction by ZCH-2 was discussed in detail. The results showed that the prepared ZCH-2 had excellent removal performance for Cr(VI). After 120 min of adsorption and 40 min of photoreduction, the removal efficiency of Cr(VI) was 98.9 %. Compared with ZnO/CNF hydrogel, the adsorption performance of ZCH-2 increased by 268 % and the photoreduction performance increased by 116 %. The adsorption of Cr(VI) by ZCH-2 was controlled by electrostatic attraction and chemical adsorption. The photoreduction kinetic constant of ZCH-2 was 0.106 min-1, which was 8.9 times that of ZnO/CNF hydrogel. The N-CQDs in ZCH-2 could form N-CQDs-metal complexes with Cr(VI), resulting in fluorescence quenching, so Cr(VI) could be visually identified by fluorescence changes. This study provides a new idea for the design and optimization of a new multifunctional hydrogel with efficient adsorption-photoreduction-fluorescence recognition.

PhbZIP2 regulates photosynthesis-related genes in an intertidal macroalgae, Pyropia haitanensis, under stress.

Intertidal macroalgae are important research subjects in stress biology. Basic region-leucine zipper transcription factors (bZIPs) play an important regulatory role in the expression of target genes under abiotic stress. We herein identified a bZIP2 gene PhbZIP2 to regulate abiotic stress tolerance in Pyropia haitanensis, a representative intertidal macroalgal species. Cloning and sequencing of the cDNA characterized a BRLZ structure and an α coiled-coil structure between amino acids and Expression of PhbZIP2 was detected to upregulate under both high temperature and salt stresses. A DAP-seq analysis revealed the PhbZIP2-binding motifs of (T/C)TCCA(C/G) and A (A/G)AAA (G/A), which differed from the conserved motifs in plants. Overexpression of PhbZIP2 was indicative of a high temperature and salt stress tolerances in transgenic Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. It was suggested that PhbZIP2 was probably involved in regulating expression of the photosynthetic-related genes and the response to the abiotic stresses in P. haitanensis, which provide new insights for elucidating efficient adaptation strategies of intertidal macroalgae.

Environmental heterogeneity caused by large-scale cultivation of Pyropia haitanensis shapes multi-group biodiversity distribution in coastal areas.

The response of marine biodiversity to mariculture has long been a research focus in marine ecology. However, the effects of seaweed cultivation on biological community assembly are poorly understood, especially in diverse communities with distinct ecological characteristics. In this study, we used environmental DNA metabarcoding to investigate the spatial distribution patterns of bacterial, protistan, and metazoan diversity, aiming to reveal the mechanisms of community assembly in the Pyropia haitanensis cultivation zone along the Fujian coast, China. We found that, compared with the biological communities in control zones, those in P. haitanensis cultivation zones exhibited stronger geographic distance-decay patterns and displayed more complex and stable network structures. Deterministic processes (environmental selection) played a more important role in the assembly of bacterial, protistan, and metazoan communities in P. haitanensis cultivation zones, especially metazoan communities. Variance partitioning analysis showed that environmental variables made greater contributions to the diversity of the three types of communities within the P. haitanensis cultivation zones than in the control zones. Partial least squares path modeling analysis identified nitrate­nitrogen (NO3-N), pH, particulate organic carbon (POC), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) as the key environmental variables affecting biodiversity. Overall, the environmental heterogeneity caused by the large-scale cultivation of P. haitanensis could be the crucial factor influencing the composition and structure of various biological communities. Our results highlight the importance of the responses of multi-group organisms to the cultivation of seaweed, and provide insights into the coexistence patterns of biodiversity at the spatial scale.

Unlocking the potential of phenolated kraft lignin as a versatile feed additive.

Lignin, a renewable natural antioxidant and bacteriostat, holds promise as a versatile, cost-effective feed additive. However, traditional industrial lignin faces limitations, including low reactivity, poor uniformity, and unstable properties, necessitating chemical modification. Complex modification methods pose economic and toxicity challenges, so this study adopted a relatively simple alkali-catalyzed phenolization approach, using phenol, catechol, and pyrogallol to modify kraft lignin, and characterized the resulting products using various techniques. Subsequently, their antioxidant, antibacterial, adsorption properties for heavy metal ions and mycotoxins, growth-promoting properties, and antiviral abilities were assessed. The phenolation process led to lignin depolymerization and a notable increase in phenolic hydroxyl content, particularly in pyrogallol-phenolated lignin (Py-L), rising from 3.08 to 4.68 mmol/g. These modified lignins exhibited enhanced antioxidant activity, with over 99 % inhibition against E. coli and S. aureus, and remarkable adsorption capacities for heavy metal ions and mycotoxins. Importantly, Py-L improved the growth performance of mice and reduced influenza mortality. Furthermore, density functional theory calculations elucidated the mechanism behind the enhanced antioxidant properties. This study presents a promising avenue for developing versatile feed additives to address challenges related to animal feed antioxidant supplementation, bacterial control, and growth promotion.

Prevalence and relevant factors of depression among adolescents in Xinjiang, China: A cross-sectional survey.

The aim of this study is to elucidate the prevalence of depression and examine the contributing factors to depression among adolescents in Xinjiang, China. A stratified cluster sampling methodology was employed in this study, with the sample size determined through consideration of prior studies on adolescent depression. Employing this approach, 6 schools were chosen from each prefecture-level city, designated as urban areas, and 3 schools were selected from each county. Subsequently, individual classes were treated as units, and a minimum of 80 students from each grade were surveyed within the entire class. The investigation of adolescents involved the administration of a questionnaire assessing the factors influencing depression, along with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Multivariate linear regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of depression. The occurrence rates of depression were 12.17%, 13.05%, 12.32%, and 9.29% in junior middle school, senior middle school, vocational high school, and college, respectively. The corresponding CES-D scores were 10.54 ±â€…8.26, 11.20 ±â€…8.37, 12.17 ±â€…6.94, and 11.33 ±â€…6.28. Significant associations with the CES-D score were observed for gender, smoking, alcohol consumption, and spending more than 4 hours online daily across the educational levels mentioned. The risk of experiencing depressive symptoms was elevated among female junior and senior high school students who spent more than 4 hours daily on the internet, engaged in cigarette smoking, and consumed alcohol. The findings underscore the significance of targeting high-risk groups, particularly through home-school collaborations, to mitigate excessive internet use and consequently reduce the likelihood of depressive symptoms in students.

Occurrence and transport of novel and legacy poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances in coastal rivers along the Laizhou Bay, northern China.

The pollution profiles of 25 legacy and emerging poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the estuaries along the Laizhou Bay, northern China were investigated to better understand the new structure of PFASs under international regulations and to estimate the mass loadings of PFASs in coastal rivers. About 39.87 kg/d of PFASs were discharged into the Laizhou Bay by the Xiaoqing, Mi and Zhimai Rivers. Total PFAS concentrations in the Xiaoqing River decreased notably in recent years, but were still greater than the levels in 2011. Contribution of replacement substances exhibited an increasing trend in recent years. However, the long-chain chemicals were still the larger contributors of PFASs. Perfluoromethoxypropionic acid (PFMPA) was first detected with high concentrations ranging from 165.3 to 586.3 ng/L in the Xiaoqing River. The results of this study provided baseline data for ecological risk assessment, environmental management and corresponding development of pollution treatment technology.

Horizontal gene transfer and symbiotic microorganisms regulate the adaptive evolution of intertidal algae, Porphyra sense lato.

Intertidal algae may adapt to environmental challenges by acquiring genes from other organisms and relying on symbiotic microorganisms. Here, we obtained a symbiont-free and chromosome-level genome of Pyropia haitanensis (47.2 Mb), a type of intertidal algae, by using multiple symbiont screening methods. We identified 286 horizontal gene transfer (HGT) genes, 251 of which harbored transposable elements (TEs), reflecting the importance of TEs for facilitating the transfer of genes into P. haitanensis. Notably, the bulked segregant analysis revealed that two HGT genes, sirohydrochlorin ferrochelatase and peptide-methionine (R)-S-oxide reductase, play a significant role in the adaptation of P. haitanensis to heat stress. Besides, we found Pseudomonas, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes are the major taxa among the symbiotic bacteria of P. haitanensis (nearly 50% of the HGT gene donors). Among of them, a heat-tolerant actinobacterial strain (Saccharothrix sp.) was isolated and revealed to be associated with the heat tolerance of P. haitanensis through its regulatory effects on the genes involved in proline synthesis (proC), redox homeostasis (ggt), and protein folding (HSP20). These findings contribute to our understanding of the adaptive evolution of intertidal algae, expanding our knowledge of the HGT genes and symbiotic microorganisms to enhance their resilience and survival in challenging intertidal environments.