Biomimetic ZrO2-modified seaweed residue with excellent fluorine/ bacteria removal and uranium extraction properties for wastewater purification.

Exploring and developing promising biomass composite membranes for the water purification and waste resource utilization is of great significance. The modification of biomass has always been a focus of research in its resource utilization. In this study, we successfully prepare a functional composite membrane, activated graphene oxide/seaweed residue-zirconium dioxide (GOSRZ), with fluoride removal, uranium extraction, and antibacterial activity by biomimetic mineralization of zirconium dioxide nanoparticles (ZrO2 NPs) on seaweed residue (SR) grafted with oxidized graphene (GO). The GOSRZ membrane exhibits highly efficient and specific adsorption of fluoride. For the fluoride concentrations in the range of 100-400 mg/L in water, the removal efficiency can reach over 99 %, even in the presence of interfering ions. Satisfactory extraction rates are also achieved for uranium by the GOSRZ membrane. Additionally, the antibacterial performance studies show that this composite membrane efficiently removes Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The high adsorption of F- and U(VI) to the composite membrane is ascribed to the ionic exchange and coordination interactions, and its antibacterial activity is caused by the destruction of bacterial cell structure. The sustainability of the biomass composite membranes is further evaluated using the Sustainability Footprint method. This study provides a simple preparation method of biomass composite membrane, expands the water purification treatment technology, and offers valuable guidance for the resource utilization of seaweed waste and the removal of pollutants in wastewater.

Whole-Genome Resequencing Reveals the Diversity of Patchouli Germplasm.

As an important medicinal and aromatic plant, patchouli is distributed throughout most of Asia. However, current research on patchouli's genetic diversity is limited and lacks genome-wide studies. Here, we have collected seven representative patchouli accessions from different localities and performed whole-genome resequencing on them. In total, 402,650 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 153,233 insertions/deletions (INDELs) were detected. Based on these abundant genetic variants, patchouli accessions were primarily classified into the Chinese group and the Southeast Asian group. However, the accession SP (Shipai) collected from China formed a distinct subgroup within the Southeast Asian group. As SP has been used as a genuine herb in traditional Chinese medicine, its unique molecular markers have been subsequently screened and verified. For 26,144 specific SNPs and 16,289 specific INDELs in SP, 10 of them were validated using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) following three different approaches. Further, we analyzed the effects of total genetic variants on genes involved in the sesquiterpene synthesis pathway, which produce the primary phytochemical compounds found in patchouli. Eight genes were ultimately investigated and a gene encoding nerolidol synthetase (PatNES) was chosen and confirmed through biochemical assay. In accession YN, genetic variants in PatNES led to a loss of synthetase activity. Our results provide valuable information for understanding the diversity of patchouli germplasm resources.

ß-Cyclodextrin and diatomite immobilized in sodium alginate biosorbent for selective uranium(VI) adsorption in aqueous solution.

The separation and enrichment of uranium from various resources such as seawater is of great significance to the sustainable development of nuclear energy. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop an adsorbent with low cost and easy availability, simple preparation process, and environment friendly. In this work, we used inexpensive natural polymer material (sodium alginate) and natural adsorbents (ß-cyclodextrin and diatomite) to prepare a novel biosorbent ß-cyclodextrin/sodium alginate/diatomite (CSD) hydrogel beads for uranium adsorption by a simple method. The results of FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDX and XPS characterization proved that the CSD were prepared. Static adsorption experiments showed that pH, contact time, initial concentration of U(VI) and temperature has significant impact on the adsorption capacity of CSD. Adsorption fitted the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir model and the adsorption mechanism is chemical adsorption. In the presence of other metal ions (Cu2+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Na+, K+), CSD has obvious selectivity for uranium(VI) adsorption. In addition, the elution and reusability studies show that CSD has excellent reusability. Overall, CSD is an inexpensive, green preparation, efficient, and environment friendly biosorbent with obvious selectivity for U(VI). It has potential application in U(VI) enrichment from seawater or salt lake water.

Effects of Sinapic Acid Combined with Cisplatin on the Apoptosis and Autophagy of the Hepatoma Cells HepG2 and SMMC-7721.

Sinapic acid (Sa) is a small-molecule phenolic acid compound predominant in fruits, vegetables, and grains. This study investigated the antitumor effects of cisplatin (DDP) combined with Sa (Sa/DDP) on the hepatic cancer cells (HCC), HepG2 and SMMC-7721. The HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells were treated with Sa or Sa/DDP, and the cell proliferation and cell cycle were detected using the MTT assay. The cell migration was detected using the transwell and scratch assays, while apoptosis and autophagy were detected using Hoechst, MDC, and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. The protein expression was quantitated using the western blot. Sa/DDP was found to not only inhibit cancer cell proliferation and migration but also induce cell apoptosis. Simultaneously, the Sa/DDP combination was found to activate autophagy, and the HCQ autophagy inhibitor enhanced the apoptosis in the Sa/DDP-induced liver cancer cells. The combined use of Sa and DDP makes it an attractive adjuvant therapy strategy for tumors, establishing the prospect of phenolic acid compounds for the adjuvant treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Response of the characteristics of organic carbon mineralization of soft rock and soil composed of sand to soil depth.

The addition of soft rock to aeolian sandy soil can improve the level of fertility and ability of the soil to sequester carbon, which is of substantial significance to improve the ecological environment of the Mu Us sandy land and supplement newly added cultivated land. S oft rock and sand were combined using the ratio (v/v) of 0:1 (CK), 1:5 (S1), 1:2 (S2), and 1:1 (S3). The process of mineralization of organic carbon at different depths (0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, and 20-30 cm) in the combined soil was studied by 58 days of incubation indoors at a constant temperature. The content of soil nutrient s increased significantly under the S2 and S3 treatments and was higher in the 0-10 cm soil depth. The mineralization of rate of soil organic carbon (SOC) of different combination ratios can be divided into three time periods: the stress mineralization stage (1-7 d), the rapid mineralization stage (7-9 d) and the slow mineralization stage (9-58 d). At the end of incubation, the rates of mineralization of SOC and accumulated mineralization amount (Ct) were relatively large in the 0-10 cm soil depth, followed by the 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm soil layers , indicating that the stability of SOC in the surface layer was poor, which is not conducive to the storage of carbon. The content of potentially mineralizable organic carbon (C0) in the soil was consistent with the trend of change of Ct. Compared with the CK treatment, the cumulative organic carbon mineralization rate (Cr) of the S2 and S3 treatment s decreased by 7.77% and 6.05%, respectively; and the C0/SOC decreased by 22.84% and 15.55%, respectively. Moreover, the Cr and C0/SOC values in the 10-20 cm soil depth were small, which indirectly promoted the storage of organic carbon. With the process of SOC mineralization, the contents of soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) tended to decrease compared with the initial contents, with larger amplitudes in the 20-30 cm and 10-20 cm soil depth s, respectively. SOC, total nitrogen, available potassium, SMBC and DOC were all closely related to the process of mineralization of organic carbon. Therefore, the accumulation of soil carbon could be enhanced when the proportion of soft rock and sand composite soil was between 1:2 and 1:1, and the 10-20 cm soil depth was relatively stable. These results provide a theoretical basis for the improvement of desertified land.

[Effect of moxibustion on prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting caused by cisplatin in lung cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effects between moxibustion combined with 5-hydroxy tryptamine (5-HT) receptor antagonist and simple 5-HT receptor antagonist in the prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting caused by cisplatin chemotherapy in patients with lung cancer. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients with lung cancer who were treated with cisplatin chemotherapy were randomly assigned into an observation group and a control group, 29 cases in each one. The patients in the two groups were applied by 5-HT receptor antagonist to prevent nausea and vomiting on the 1st through 3rd days of chemotherapy. Moxibustion at Baihui (GV 20) and Zhongwan (CV 12) was used in the observation group 1-3 days before chemotherapy for 1 course, 3 days as 1 course, 5 cones each acupoint and once a day. Rhodes's index of nausea and vomiting and retching (INVR) was recorded in 0-24 h, 24-48 h, 48-72 h and 72-96 h of chemotherapy. The rates of nausea and vomiting, as well as fatigue degree were observed in the above 4 time periods. The safety was assessed. RESULTS: After treatment, the scores of nausea and vomiting in 0-24 h, 24-48 h, 48-72 h and 72-96 h of chemotherapy in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (all P<0.01). The nausea rates in the above 4 time periods in the observation group were 37.9% (11/29), 62.1% (18/29), 60.7% (17/28) and 17.4% (4/23), which were lower than 93.1% (27/29), 89.7% (26/29), 89.3% (25/28), 52.0% (13/25) in the control group respectively (all P<0.05). The vomiting rates in the above 4 time periods in the observation group were 10.3% (3/29), 31.0% (9/29), 32.1% (9/28) and 13.0% (3/23), which were better than 37.9% (11/29), 79.3% (23/29), 82.1% (23/28) and 44.0% (11/25) in the control group (all P<0.05). The fatigue scores in the observation group in 0-24 h, 24-48 h, 48-72 h and 72-96 h of chemotherapy were lower than those in the control group (all P<0.01). There was no adverse reactions in the two groups during chemotherapy, such as skin toxicity, diarrhea, fever, allergy, etc. CONCLUSION: Moxibustion combined with 5-HT receptor antagonist can obviously reduce the rates and degrees of nausea and vomiting caused by cisplatin chemotherapy in patients with lung cancer, which are better than simple 5-HT receptor antagonist, without apparent adverse reactions.

[One-step extraction method of phthalate esters in vegetable oils].

In order to develop a fast investigation method for phthalate esters (PAEs) from vegetable oils, a gas-liquid micro-extraction (GLME) technique that combined with GC-MS was established. A vegetable oil sample (0.1 g) was directly added into the GLME device. The integrated process of extraction, clean-up, and concentration of PAEs was completed within 5 min. Internal standard method was applied to ensure the accuracy of the results. Soybean oil, blend oil, olive oil, and sesame oil were spiked with 200 µg/kg of a mixed 15 PAEs standard, and the ranges of the recoveries and RSDs were between 60.0% to 112.3% and 0.9% to 28.4%, respectively. Compared with some traditional sample pretreatment methods such as liquid-liquid extraction, liquid-liquid micro-extraction, gel permeation chromatography, this method is simple and fast, with high accuracy, good repeatability and low matrix effect. This study verified the suitability of the GLME method for field detection of food products in food safety sector and exhibits great significance for the completion of food safety system in China.

Supramolecular formulation of nitidine chloride can alleviate its hepatotoxicity and improve its anticancer activity.

Nitidine chloride (NC) has demonstrated promising anticancer activity. However, NC has also shown non-specific toxicity in various healthy organs such as the liver. In this study, we aimed to develop a supramolecular formulation of NC and investigate the associated benefits of such a supramolecular formulation on modulating its inherent hepatotoxicity and anticancer activity. The formation of NC-cucurbit[7]uil (NC@CB[7]) complexes was characterized by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and powder X-ray diffraction analysis. As a consequence of the supramolecular complexation, NC@CB[7] showed significantly lower toxicity (IC50: 6.87 ± 0.80 µM) on a liver cell line (LO2), and higher cytotoxicity (IC50: 2.94 ± 0.15 µM) on a breast cancer cell line (MCF-7), when compared with the free drug (IC50 of 3.48 ± 0.49 µM and 7.28 ± 0.36 µM, on these two cell lines, respectively). Investigation of cellular uptakes revealed that CB[7]'s capability in modulating the toxicity/activity of NC was mainly attributed to the drug's different cellular uptake behaviors that were influenced by CB[7]'s complexation. Taken together, we have demonstrated that supramolecular formulation of NC by CB[7] significantly alleviated its hepatotoxicity and improved its anticancer activity in vitro.