Enhancing arsenate metabolism in Microcystis aeruginosa and relieving risks of arsenite and microcystins by nano-Fe2O3 under dissolved organic phosphorus conditions.

Little information is available on how nano-Fe2O3 substituted iron ions as a possible iron source impacting on algal growth and arsenate (As(V)) metabolism under dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) (D-glucose-6-phosphate (GP)) conditions. We investigated the growth of Microcystis aeruginosa and As(V) metabolism together with their metabolites in As(V) aquatic environments with nano-Fe2O3 and GP as the sole iron and P sources, respectively. Results showed that nano-Fe2O3 showed inhibitory effects on M. aeruginosa growth and microcystin (MCs) release under GP conditions in As(V) polluted water. There was little influence on As species changes in GP media under different nano-Fe2O3 concentrations except for obvious total As (TAs) removal in 100.0 mg L-1 nano-Fe2O3 levels. As(V) metabolism dominated with As(V) biotransformation in algal cells was facilitated and arsenite (As(III)) releasing risk was relieved clearly by nano-Fe2O3 under GP conditions. The dissolved organic matter (DOM) in media exhibited more fatty acid analogs containing -CO, -CH2 =CH2, and -CH functional groups with increasing nano-Fe2O3 concentrations, but the fluorescent analogs were relatively reduced especially for the fluorescent DOM dominated by aromatic protein-like tryptophan which was significantly inhibited by nano-Fe2O3. Thus, As methylation that was facilitated in M. aeruginosa by nano-Fe2O3 in GP environments also caused more organic substances to release that absorb infrared spectra while reducing the release risks of As(III) and MCs as well as protein-containing tryptophan fractions. From 1H-NMR analysis, this might be caused by the increased metabolites of aromatic compounds, organic acid/amino acid, and carbohydrates/glucose in algal cells. The findings are vital for a better understanding of nano-Fe2O3 role-playing in As bioremediation by microalgae and the subsequent potential aquatic ecological risks.

Target Metabolome and Transcriptome Analysis Reveal Molecular Mechanism Associated with Changes of Tea Quality at Different Development Stages.

This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the differential quality of tea made from leaves at different development stages. Fresh Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze "Sichuan Colonial" leaves of various development stages, from buds to old leaves, were subjected to transcriptome sequencing and metabolome analysis, and the DESeq package was used for differential expression analysis, followed by functional enrichment analyses and protein interaction analysis. Target metabolome analysis indicated that the contents of most compounds, including theobromine and epicatechin gallate, were lowest in old leaves, and transcriptome analysis revealed that DEGs were significantly involved in extracellular regions and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, photosynthesis-related pathways, and the oleuropein steroid biosynthesis pathway. Protein-protein interaction analysis identified LOC114256852 as a hub gene. Caffeine, theobromine, L-theanine, and catechins were the main metabolites of the tea leaves, and the contents of all four main metabolites were the lowest in old leaves. Phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, photosynthesis, and brassinosteroid biosynthesis may be important targets for breeding efforts to improve tea quality.

Insights into the conversion of dissolved organic phosphorus favors algal bloom, arsenate biotransformation and microcystins release of Microcystis aeruginosa.

Little information is available on influences of the conversion of dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) to inorganic phosphorus (IP) on algal growth and subsequent behaviors of arsenate (As(V)) in Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa). In this study, the influences factors on the conversion of three typical DOP types including adenosine-5-triphosphate disodium salt (ATP), ß-glycerophosphate sodium (ßP) and D-glucose-6-phosphate disodium salt (GP) were investigated under different extracellular polymeric secretions (EPS) ratios from M. aeruginosa, and As(V) levels. Thus, algal growth, As(V) biotransformation and microcystins (MCs) release of M. aeruginosa were explored in the different converted DOP conditions compared with IP. Results showed that the three DOP to IP without EPS addition became in favor of algal growth during their conversion. Compared with IP, M. aeruginosa growth was thus facilitated in the three converted DOP conditions, subsequently resulting in potential algal bloom particularly at arsenic (As) contaminated water environment. Additionally, DOP after conversion could inhibit As accumulation in M. aeruginosa, thus intracellular As accumulation was lower in the converted DOP conditions than that in IP condition. As(V) biotransformation and MCs release in M. aeruginosa was impacted by different converted DOP with their different types. Specifically, DMA concentrations in media and As(III) ratios in algal cells were promoted in converted ßP condition, indicating that the observed dissolved organic compositions from ßP conversion could enhance As(V) reduction in M. aeruginosa and then accelerate DMA release. The obtained findings can provide better understanding of cyanobacteria blooms and As biotransformation in different DOP as the main phosphorus source.

New insights into toxic effects of arsenate on four Microcystis species under different phosphorus regimes.

Very little information is available on the stressed growth of Microcystis imposed by arsenate (As(V)) under different phosphorus (P) regimes. In this study, we examined the growth characteristics and arsenic transformation of four Microcystis species exposed under As(V) with two P sources involving dissolved inorganic phosphorus (IP) and organophosphate (D-glucose-6-phosphate disodium salt, GP). Results showed that all the four chosen Microcystis species could grow and reproduce with GP as the only P source, and the difference was insignificant when compared with IP. From optical density (OD), chlorophyll a (Chla), and actual quantum yield (Yield), the tolerance to As(V) of the chosen species was following as FACHB 905 > FACHB 1028 > FACHB 1334 > FACHB 912. Specifically, the 96 h EC50 of As(V) for FACHB 905 in IP was approx. 4 orders of magnitude higher than that in GP, but for other three algal species, the 96 h EC50 values were similar under the two given different P conditions. Furthermore, all antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxide dismutase (POD), glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), and metalloproteinase (MTs) in algal cells were significantly increased in GP conditions. Moreover, the enzyme activities of AKP, GSTs, and MTs were inhibited with increasing As(V) levels under both IP and GP conditions. In addition, arsenite (As(III)) and methylated As of monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylthioarsinic acid (DMA) were found in FACHB 912 and FACHB 1334 media, indicating that these Microcystis could detoxify As(V) by As biotransformation under IP and GP conditions. Specifically, As(V) reduction was elevated in media of FACHB 1334 and FACHB 905, but was decreased in media of FACHB 912 under GP conditions. Our results highlight the different P sources that impact the toxic effects of arsenate exposure on Microcystis and subsequent As biotransformation.

The modality effect of ego depletion: Auditory task modality reduces ego depletion.

An initial act of self-control that impairs subsequent acts of self-control is called ego depletion. The ego depletion phenomenon has been observed consistently. The modality effect refers to the effect of the presentation modality on the processing of stimuli. The modality effect was also robustly found in a large body of research. However, no study to date has examined the modality effects of ego depletion. This issue was addressed in the current study. In Experiment 1, after all participants completed a handgrip task, one group's participants completed a visual attention regulation task and the other group's participants completed an auditory attention regulation task, and then all participants again completed a handgrip task. The ego depletion phenomenon was observed in both the visual and the auditory attention regulation task. Moreover, participants who completed the visual task performed worse on the handgrip task than participants who completed the auditory task, which indicated that there was high ego depletion in the visual task condition. In Experiment 2, participants completed an initial task that either did or did not deplete self-control resources, and then they completed a second visual or auditory attention control task. The results indicated that depleted participants performed better on the auditory attention control task than the visual attention control task. These findings suggest that altering task modality may reduce ego depletion.

[Response of Microcystis aeruginosa Growth to Arsenate Under Different Phosphorus Regimes].

To better understand and then to predict the ecological risk of arsenic influenced by phosphorus regimes in freshwater environment, the growth differences of Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) as well as its responses to the toxic stress of arsenate [As(Ⅴ)]were investigated under orthophosphate (DIP) and dissolved organic phosphorous (DOP) [adenosine triphosphate (ATP-P) and ß-sodium glycerophosphate (ß-P)] culture conditions. The results showed that M. aeruginosa grew and proliferated without any differences under DOP and DIP conditions during the first 5 days, while slower growth rates were observed in DOP conditions. Herein, the cell optical density (D) of M. aeruginosa in ß-P and ATP-P conditions was 78.0% and 75.4% of that under DIP condition respectively on the 7th day. The negative correlations between actual quantum yield (Yield) and Chlorophyll a (Chl-a) and D indicated that Yield should not be used as a stable index to reflect the nutrition conditions of algae. However, Yield was a sensitive index to exactly represent the responses of M. aeruginosa to As(Ⅴ) toxicity, which showed significant differences under different phosphorus regimes. Obtained by D, Yield and Chl-a, the 96h EC50 was in the order of DIP > ß-P > ATP-P. The similar toxic tolerant abilities to As(Ⅴ) of M. aeruginosa under ß-P and ATP-P conditions were lower than that of EC50 under DIP conditions by one to five orders of magnitude.

Effects of engineered nano-titanium dioxide on pore surface properties and phosphorus adsorption of sediment: its environmental implications.

Understanding the environmental safety and human health implications of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) is of worldwide importance. As an important ENPs, engineered nano-TiO(2) (Enano-TiO(2)) may have been substantially deposited in aquatic sediments because of its widely uses. Sediment pore surface properties would be thus significantly influenced due to the large surface area of Enano-TiO(2). In this study, Enano-TiO(2) was found to greatly impact on sediment pore surface properties. The attachment of Enano-TiO(2) particles to sediment surfaces enhanced markedly BET specific surface area and t-Plot external specific surface area, and thereby increased sediment phosphorus (P) adsorption maximum (S(max)). Contrarily, the fill of Enano-TiO(2) particles into the micropores of sediments could significantly reduce t-Plot micropore specific surface area, and cause slight decrease in sediment P binding energy (K). Clearly, P sorbed in sediment would be easily released because of the decreasing P binding energy of the sediment with elevated Enano-TiO(2). Enano-TiO(2) would thus cause aggravated endogenous pollution in water if such sediment was re-suspended on disturbance. The results obtained in this study contribute to our increasing knowledge of how to regulate physicochemical behavior of pollutants in sediments under the influences of Enano-TiO(2) and/or similar ENPs.

Effects of titania nanoparticles on phosphorus fractions and its release in resuspended sediments under UV irradiation.

Little is known about the effects of nano-TiO(2) on the transformation and transport of phosphorus (P) in resuspended sediments. Chemical sequential extraction was used to investigate P fractions and its release in resuspended sediments under the influence of nano-TiO(2) and UV irradiation. The results showed that the contents of sediment P in all fractions decreased with increasing nano-TiO(2) concentration in UV irradiation, while increased in the dark controls. Furthermore, P release from all fractions was greater in UV irradiation than in the controls. Elevated concentrations (10-50 mg L(-1)) of nano-TiO(2) in UV irradiation significantly facilitated the release of P from organic and Fe oxide fractions, possibly resulting from the partial photo-degradation of organic matter and photochemical transformation of Fe oxides. Apparently, nano-TiO(2) in UV irradiation did not immobilize the loosely sorbed P and reductant soluble P release from the resuspended sediments, possible because (1) some of P released from those fractions were refurnished by the P released from OM; (2) photocatalysis of nano-TiO(2) reduced binding capacity of the resuspended sediments. Our results suggest that the photocatalysis of nano-TiO(2) may offer the potential to regulate the transformation and transport of sediment P in the aquatic environment.

[Development of acupuncture manipulator and its application in animal shock model].

We have developed a mini acupuncture manipulator, which can simulate the traditional needling therapy and can inquired about the acu-related physical parameters which could not be quantitatively studied in the past. For example, we can control the depth, velocity, angle, angular velocity, frequency and interval time of acupuncture. The experimental study on Sprague-Dawley rat's acute hemorrhagic shock model was conducted to compare the curative effect of acupuncture manipulator versus that of electroacupuncture. This experiment demonstrated that the acupuncture manipulator can imitate hand acupuncture in security and can produce the effect similar to that of electroacupuncture. So this mini acupuncture manipulator can be of applications in research, teaching and clinical treatment.

Protective effects of electroacupuncture and Salviae Miltiorrhizae on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion in rabbits.

The aim of present study was to observe the protective effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and Salviae Miltiorrhizae (SM) on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion in rabbits. Acute ischemia/reperfusion of myocardium was set up by ligating left anterior descending branch of coronary artery in 24 rabbits which were divided randomly into control, EA, SM, and EA+SM group. Changes of plasma myocardial zymogram were found after ischemia in these groups. EA and SM were observed to decrease plasma IL-8 and epinephrine concentration and to increase 99mTc-MIBI intake ratio of myocardial mitochondrial, but enhancing or antagonistic effect between EA and SM was negligible. There was positive correlation between concentrations of plasma epinephrine and IL-8. The results indicated that EA and SM could reduce myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and protect myocardial mitochondrial by reducing concentrations of plasma epinephrine and IL-8. EA and SM could reduce the release of endogenic epinephrine, which was one of the mechanisms of lowering plasma IL-8.