Pitavastatin induces autophagy-dependent ferroptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells via the mevalonate pathway.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is more prone to recurrence and metastasis relative to other subtypes of breast cancer, leading to an extremely poor prognosis. The increasing potential chemoresistance of TNBC patients is mainly due to that tumor cells escape from apoptosis. In recent years, statins have demonstrated extensive anti-tumor effects. It is worth noting that statins have more effective anti-tumor effects on TNBC cells and drug-resistant breast cancer cells. Therefore, this study examines the superior cytotoxic effects of statins on TNBC cell lines and further explores their potential therapeutic mechanisms. We detected different cell phenotypes and found that statins significantly reduced the cell viability of TNBC cells. Specifically, pitavastatin showed an obvious induction in cell death, cell cycle arrest and oxidative stress in TNBC MDA-MB-231 cells. The reversal effect of iron chelator desferrioxamine (DFO) on the morphological and molecular biological changes induced by pitavastatin has revealed a new mode of cell death induced by pitavastatin: ferroptosis. This ferroptotic effect was strengthened by the decreased expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4) as well as newly discovered ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 (FSP1). The data showed that ferroptotic death of MDA-MB-231 cells is autophagy-dependent and mediated by the mevalonate pathway. Finally, we found that therapeutic oral doses of statins can inhibit the growth of transplanted tumors, which establishes statins as a potential treatment for TNBC patients. In conclusion, we found pitavastatin could induce autophagy-dependent ferroptosis in TNBC cells via the mevalonate pathway which may become a potential adjuvant treatment option for TNBC patients.

Mechanism of organic phosphorus transformation and its impact on the primary production in a deep oligotrophic plateau lake during stratification.

Global warming is leading to extended stratification in deep lakes, which may exacerbate phosphorus (P) limitation in the upper waters. Conversion of labile dissolved organic P (DOP) is a possible adaptive strategy to maintain primary production. To test this, the spatiotemporal distributions of various soluble P fractions and phosphomonesterase (PME)/phosphodiesterase (PDE) activities were investigated in Lake Fuxian during the stratification period and the transition capacity of organic P and its impact on primary productivity were evaluated. The results indicated that the DOP concentration (mean 0.20 ± 0.05 µmol L-1) was significantly higher than that of dissolved inorganic P (DIP) (mean 0.08 ± 0.03 µmol L-1) in the epilimnion and metalimnion, which were predominantly composed of orthophosphate monoester (monoester-P) and orthophosphate diesters (diester-P). The low ratio of diester-P / monoester-P and high activities of PME and PDE indicate DOP mineralization in the epilimnion and metalimnion. We detected a DIP threshold of approximately 0.19 µmol L-1, corresponding to the highest total PME activity in the lake. Meta-analysis further demonstrated that DIP thresholds of PME activities were prevalent in oligotrophic (0.19 µmol L-1) and mesotrophic (0.74 µmol L-1) inland waters. In contrast to the phosphate-sensitive phosphatase PME, dissolved PDE was expressed independent of phosphate availability and its activity invariably correlated with chlorophyll a, suggesting the involvement of phytoplankton in DOP utilization. This study provides important field evidence for the DOP transformation processes and the strategy for maintaining primary productivity in P-deficient scenarios, which contributes to the understanding of P cycles and the mechanisms of system adaptation to future long-term P limitations in stratified waters.

Purification and identification of xanthine oxidase inhibitory peptides from enzymatic hydrolysate of α-lactalbumin and bovine colostrum casein.

The development of food-derived Xanthine Oxidase (XO) inhibitors is critical to the treatment of hyperuricemia and oxidative stress-related disease. Few studies report on milk protein hydrolysates' XO inhibitory activity, with the mechanism of their interaction remaining elusive. Here, different commercial enzymes were used to hydrolyze α-lactalbumin and bovine colostrum casein. The two proteins hydrolyzed by alkaline protease exhibited the most potent XO inhibitory activity (bovine casein: IC50 = 0.13 mg mL-1; α-lactalbumin: IC50 = 0.28 mg mL-1). Eight potential XO inhibitory peptides including VYPFPGPI, GPVRGPFPIIV, VYPFPGPIPN, VYPFPGPIHN, QLKRFSFRSFIWR, LVYPFPGPIHN, AVFPSIVGR, and GFININSLR (IC50 of 4.67-8.02 mM) were purified and identified from alkaline protease hydrolysates by using gel filtration, LC-MS/MS and PeptideRanker. The most important role of inhibiting activity of peptides is linked to hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding based on the results of molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. The enzymatic hydrolysate of α-lactalbumin and bovine colostrum casein could be a competitive candidates for hyperuricemia-resisting functional food.

Comparative Investigation of Raw and Processed Radix Polygoni Multiflori on the Treatment of Vascular Dementia by Liquid Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometry Based Metabolomic Approach.

Radix Polygoni Multiflori (PM) is a well-known nootropic used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Considering the efficacy and application discrepancy between raw (RPM) and processed PM (PPM), the similarities and differences between them in the treatment of vascular dementia (VaD) is intriguing. In this study, a VaD rat model was constructed by 2-vessel occlusion (2-VO). During 28 days of treatment, plasma was collected on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 after the start of dosing and the metabolic profile was analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS-based metabolomics. The Morris Water Maze Test, hematoxylin-eosin and Nissl staining, and biochemical analysis were used to assess cognitive function, pathogenic alterations and oxidative stress, respectively. RPM and PPM effectivelyreducedthe 2VO-induced cognitive impairment and mitigated histological alterations in hippocampus tissue. The 2-VO model significantly elevated MDA level and decreased SOD activity and GSH level, indicating severe oxidative stress, which could also be attenuated by RPM and PPM treatment. RPM outperformed PPM in decreasing MDA levels while PPM outperformed RPM in increasing GSH levels. Differential metabolites were subjected to Metabolite Set Enrichment Analysis (MSEA) and genes corresponding to proteins having interactions with metabolites were further annotated with Gene Ontology (GO). Both RPM and PPM ameliorated VaD-relevant vitamin B6 metabolism, pentose phosphate pathways, and taurine and hypotaurine metabolism. In addition, the metabolism of cysteine and methionine was regulated only by RPM, and riboflavin metabolism was modulated only by PPM. The results suggested that raw and processed PM had comparable efficacy in the treatment of VaD but also with some mechanistic differenece.

Effects of the Probiotic, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, as a Substitute for Antibiotics on the Gastrointestinal Tract Microbiota and Metabolomics Profile of Female Growing-Finishing Pigs.

Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (LDB) is an approved feed additive on the Chinese 'Approved Feed Additives' list. However, the possibility of LDB as an antibiotic replacement remains unclear. Particularly, the effect of LDB on microbiota and metabolites in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) requires further explanation. This study aimed to identify the microbiota and metabolites present in fecal samples and investigate the relationship between the microbiota and metabolites to evaluate the potential of LDB as an antibiotic replacement in pig production. A total of 42 female growing-finishing pigs were randomly allocated into the antibiotic group (basal diet + 75 mg/kg aureomycin) and LDB (basal diet + 3.0 × 109 cfu/kg LDB) groups. Fecal samples were collected on days 0 and 30. Growth performance was recorded and assessed. 16S rRNA sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based non-targeted metabolomics approaches were used to analyze the differences in microbiota and metabolites. Associations between the differences were calculated using Spearman correlations with the Benjamini−Hochberg adjustment. The LDB diet had no adverse effect on feed efficiency but slightly enhanced the average daily weight gain and average daily feed intake (p > 0.05). The diet supplemented with LDB increased Lactobacillus abundance and decreased that of Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group spp. Dietary-supplemented LDB enhanced the concentrations of pyridoxine, tyramine, D-(+)-pyroglutamic acid, hypoxanthine, putrescine and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid and decreased the lithocholic acid concentration. The Lactobacillus networks (Lactobacillus, Peptococcus, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-004, Escherichia-Shigella, acetophenone, tyramine, putrescine, N-methylisopelletierine, N1-acetylspermine) and Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group networks (Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group, Treponema_2, monolaurin, penciclovir, N-(5-acetamidopentyl)acetamide, glycerol 3-phosphate) were the most important in the LDB effect on pig GIT health in our study. These findings indicate that LDB may regulate GIT function through the Lactobacillus and Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group networks. However, our results were restrained to fecal samples of female growing-finishing pigs; gender, growth stages, breeds and other factors should be considered to comprehensively assess LDB as an antibiotic replacement in pig production.

Hyperthermia promotes exosome secretion by regulating Rab7b while increasing drug sensitivity in adriamycin-resistant breast cancer.

PURPOSE: To investigate the mechanism through which hyperthermia promotes exosome secretion and drug sensitivity in adriamycin-resistant breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We first evaluated the effect of hyperthermia on adriamycin-resistant breast cancer viability and used transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and a bicinchoninic acid kit to validate the effect of hyperthermia on exosome secretion. The effective targeting molecules and pathways changed by hyperthermia were explored by RNA microarray and verified in vitro. The adriamycin-resistant MCF-7/ADR cells co-incubated with the exosomes produced by MCF-7/ADR cells after hyperthermia were assessed. The uptake of exosomes by MCF-7/ADR cells after hyperthermia treatment was evaluated by confocal microscopy. Finally, the mechanism through which hyperthermia promotes exosome secretion by hyperthermia was determined. RESULTS: Hyperthermia significantly suppressed the growth of adriamycin-resistant breast cancer cells and increased drug sensitivity by upregulating FOS and CREB5, genes related to longer overall survival in breast cancer patients. Moreover, hyperthermia promoted exosome secretion through Rab7b, a small GTPase that controls endosome transport. The upregulated FOS and CREB5 antioncogenes can be transferred to MCF-7/ADR cells by hyperthermia-treated MCF-7/ADR cell-secreted exosomes. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated a novel function of hyperthermia in promoting exosome secretion in adriamycin-resistant breast cancer cells and revealed the effects of hyperthermia on tumor cell biology. These hyperthermia-triggered exosomes can carry antitumor genes to the residual tumor and tumor microenvironment, which may be more beneficial to the effects of hyperthermia. These results represent an exploration of the relationship between therapeutic strategies and exosome biology.

Speckle Tracking Echocardiography Verified the Efficacy of Qianyangyuyin Granules in Alleviating Left Ventricular Remodeling in a Hypertensive Rat Model.

BACKGROUND: Global longitudinal strain (GLS) can be assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) to express the degree of cardiac fibrosis. Qianyangyuyin (QYYY) granules can effectively improve GLS in hypertensive patients. Using a hypertensive rat model, we carried out speckle tracking echocardiography to validate the effect of QYYY in diminishing LV remodeling. METHODS: We randomly divided 16 spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) into SHR, SHR + valsartan (SHR + V), SHR + low-dose QYYY (SHR + QL), and SHR + high-dose QYYY (SHR + QH) groups, with four rats in each group. Another group of 4 Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were selected into a normal control (WKY) group. At the 8th week, conventional echocardiographic parameters were measured by GE Vivid E95 ultrasound (12S probe, 10-12 MHz) and GLS by speckle tracking echocardiography with EchoPAC (version 203) software. HE and Masson's trichrome staining were performed to detect the cardiomyocyte width and collagen volume fraction after rat sacrifice. Collagen I, α-SMA, S100A4, TGF-ß, Smad 3, MYH6, and MYH7 were further analyzed by Western blot. RESULTS: The absolute values of GLS significantly increased in the SHR + QH group compared to the SHR group, while the CVF and CW values significantly decreased. In addition, Collagen I, α-SMA, S100A4, TGF-ß, Smad3, MYH7, and MYH7/MYH6 ratio remarkably reduced in the SHR + QH group. The value of GLS could be repetitively measured and positively correlated with the collagen volume fraction of the myocardium and the cardiomyocyte width of the left ventricular free wall. CONCLUSIONS: GLS is a reliable indicator to evaluate the therapeutic effect on left ventricular remodeling in hypertension. QYYY granules can inhibit the development of cardiac fibrosis in the hypertensive rat model.

Cloning and characterization of steroid 5ß-reductase from the venom gland of Bufo bufo gargarizans.

Bufadienolides are the main active ingredients of Venenum Bufonis, which is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine secreted from parotoid gland and skin glands of Bufo bufo gargarizans. According to the transcriptome analysis, "cholesterol-bile acid-bufadienolidies pathway" was proposed as animal-derived bufadienolides biosynthesis pathway by us previously. In this pathway 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3ßHSD) and steroid 5ß-reductase (SRD5ß) might be the key enzymes to convert the A/B ring to cis-configuration. Therefore, as the second report of our group, here we report the cloning of the full length of SRD5ß cDNA of B. bufo gargarizans (Bbg-SRD5ß) from the parotoid gland of B. bufo gargarizans for the first time, and site-directed mutagenesis was used to explored the character of Bbg-SRD5ß. Bbg-SRD5ß had an open reading frame of 981 bp and encoded 326 amino acids residues. The expression conditions of the recombinant Bbg-SRD5ß in E. coli BL21 (DE3) harbored with pCold-Bbg-SRD5ß was optimized as induction for 10 h at 15 °C with 0.1 mM IPTG. With NADPH as a cofactor, Bbg-SRD5ß can reduce the Δ4,5 double bonds of progesterone to generate dihydroprogesterone õwithout substrate inhibition effect. The catalytic rate of mutant type Bbg-SRD5ß-Y132G was 1.8 times higher than that of wild type Bbg-SRD5ß. Although Bbg-SRD5ß was almost unable to reduce the progesterone to dihydroprogesterone after mutation of V309, the affinity of enzyme with NADPH changed significantly. Bbg-SRD5ß is the key enzymes to convert the A/B ring of steroid to cis-configuration, and V309 is a key site affecting the binding affinity of enzyme with NADPH, and the mutation of Y132 can adjust the catalytic rate of Bbg-SRD5ß.

Hot-water extract of ripened Pu-erh tea attenuates DSS-induced colitis through modulation of the NF-κB and HIF-1α signaling pathways in mice.

Tea consumption has been found to be associated with low incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in Asian countries. However, there is very limited knowledge of such potential protection and its underlying mechanism. Ripened Pu-erh tea (RPT) belongs to the variety of microbial fermented tea, but its function regarding anti-inflammation remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the effects of RPT on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. The results demonstrated that RPT significantly relieved the loss of body weight, disease severity and shortening of colon length, and remarkably inhibited the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines by lessening the infiltration of inflammatory cells. Furthermore, we found that RPT suppressed the activation of the NF-κB pathway and down-regulated the expression of HIF-1α. Thus, it was concluded that RPT attenuated the progress of colitis via suppressing the HIF-1α/NF-κB signaling pathways thus reducing inflammation. This suggests that RPT may be a potential anti-inflammatory nutraceutical for the prevention and treatment of colonic colitis.

Noninvasive Ultrasonic Neuromodulation in Freely Moving Mice.

Neuromodulation is a fundamental method for obtaining basic information about neuronal circuits for use in treatments for neurological and psychiatric disorders. Ultrasound stimulation has become a promising approach for noninvasively inducing neuromodulation in animals and humans. However, the previous investigations were subject to substantial limitations, due to most of them involving anesthetized and fixed small-animal models. Studies of awake and freely moving animals are needed, but the currently used ultrasound devices are too bulky to be applied to a freely moving animal. This study is the first time to design and fabricate a miniature and lightweight head-mounted ultrasound stimulator for inducing neuromodulation in freely moving mice. The main components of the stimulator include a miniature piezoelectric ceramic, a concave epoxy acoustic lens, and housing and connection components. The device was able to induce action potentials recorded in situ and evoke head-turning behaviors by stimulating the primary somatosensory cortex barrel field of the mouse. These findings indicate that the proposed method can be used to induce noninvasive neuromodulation in freely moving mice. This novel method could potentially lead to the application of ultrasonic neuromodulation in more-extensive neuroscience investigations.

Characterization of phosphorus availability in response to radial oxygen losses in the rhizosphere of Vallisneria spiralis.

The viewpoint that radial oxygen loss (ROL) of submerged macrophytes induces changes in redox conditions and the associated phosphorus (P) availability has been indirectly confirmed at larger spatial scales using conventional, destructive techniques. However, critical information about microniches has largely been overlooked due to the lack of satisfactory in situ mapping technologies. In this study, we deployed a recently developed hybrid sensor in the rhizosphere of Vallisneria spiralis (V. spiralis) during two vegetation periods to provide 2-D imaging of the spatiotemporal co-distribution of oxygen (O2) and P from a fixed observation point. Overall, the images of O2 and P showed a high degree of spatiotemporal heterogeneity throughout the rhizosphere at the sub-mm scale. A clear decrease in the P mobilization corresponded well to the steep O2 enhancement within a 2-mm-thick zone around younger V. spiralis root, indicating a significant coupling relationship between ROL and P availability. Surprisingly, despite significant diurnal shifts in ROL along the older V. spiralis roots, P availability did not fluctuate in a substantial part of the rhizosphere throughout the day; however, ROL increased the P immobilization significantly by changing the redox gradients at the outer rhizosphere. This study clearly demonstrates how continuous ROL of V. spiralis can play a major role in regulating P availability within the rhizosphere. The premise behind this statement is the discovery of how this continuous ROL can lead to the formation of three distinctive redox landscapes in the rooting sediment (oxic, suboxic, or anaerobic layers).

A novel Met-IR-782 near-infrared probe for fluorescent imaging-guided photothermal therapy in breast cancer.

In this work, a novel photothermal agent based on methionine (Met) was synthesized, which shows strong absorbance in the near infrared ray (NIR) region and is available for NIR imaging and in vivo photothermal therapy in a mouse model. Comparing to free IR-782, the obtained Met modified fluorescent dye (Met-IR-782) exhibited excellent fluorescence stability, preferable photothermal conversion efficiency under 780 nm laser irradiation and specific targeting to MCF7 (human breast adenocarcinoma cell line) cells. The fluorescence imaging ability enabled in situ monitoring of the tumor accumulation of Met-IR-782. The photothermal cytotoxicity assays in vitro and photothermal therapy treatments in vivo indicated that Met-IR-782 could efficiently target and suppress the growth of MCF7 xenograft tumors. Hence, Met-IR-782 is a potential fluorescent agent for NIR imaging-guided cancer photothermal therapy in clinical application. This work highlights the prospect of using light absorbing agents for NIR imaging-guided photothermal therapy.

Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharides Protect Retina in rd1 Mice During Photoreceptor Degeneration.

Purpose: As an active component in wolfberry, lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) are capable of protecting retinal neurons in several animal disease models. Here, we asked whether LBP rescues the retinal morphology and function in rd1 mouse, a photoreceptor fast-degenerating animal model of retinitis pigmentosa, and in particular focused on LBP's effects on the function of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) during photoreceptor degeneration. Methods: An equal volume of LBP or control vehicle was daily intraperitoneal (i.p.) injected in rd1 mice from postnatal day 4 (P4) to P14, P20, or P24 when photoreceptors completely degenerate. Immunostaining, electroretinogram (ERG), visual behavior tests and multielectrode array (MEA) recordings were assessed to determine the structure and function of the treated retina. Results: LBP treatment greatly promoted photoreceptor survival, enhanced ERG responses, and improved visual behaviors in rd1 mice. MEA data showed that LBP treatment in general decreased the abnormally high spontaneous spiking that occurs in rd1 mice, and increased the percentage of light-responsive RGCs as well as their light-evoked response, light sensitivity, signal-to-noise ratio, and response speed. Interestingly, LBP treatment affected ON and OFF responses differently. Conclusions: LBP improves retinal morphology and function in rd1 mice, and delays the functional decay of RGCs during photoreceptor degeneration. This is the first study that has examined in detail the effects of LBP on RGC responses. Our data suggest that LBP may help extend the effective time window before more invasive RP therapeutic approaches such as retinoprosthesis are applied.

A novel hybrid sensor for combined imaging of dissolved oxygen and labile phosphorus flux in sediment and water.

A novel sensor assembled by a hybrid film was developed for 2D combined measurements of DO dynamic and labile P flux in sediment and water at sub-millimeter resolution based on PO and DGT techniques. The hybrid film is comprised of a transparent polyester membrane supporting two ultrathin sensing layers, i.e., a P binding layer (PBL) overlying a DO sensing layer (DSL). A robust, straightforward measuring strategy based on the referenced RGB and coloration-computer imaging densitometry (CID) methods was developed. Sensing properties for DO show a considerable homogeneity (RSD < 5%) and rapid response (<24 s) in fluorescent response. Calibration experiments reveal the sensitivity values for the DSL without/with PBL are 2.12/1.95, with an acceptable bias of less than 8%. The optimized PBL possesses a uniform distribution of zirconium-oxide microparticles at a relatively high DGT capacity (10.8 µg P cm-2), in which the distribution of adsorbed-P can be imaged by the coloration-CID method. The performance of the sensor is compared to two conventional PO and DGT sensors. The hybrid sensor was successfully deployed in three types of benthic micro-interface and showed significant small-scale heterogeneity, providing new opportunities for advancing investigations into relevant biogeochemical processes.

[Spatio-temporal Variations in Phytoplankton Community in Shahe Reservoir, Tianmuhu, China].

Monthly investigations of the phytoplankton community and the associated environmental drivers during the past eight years in the Shahe Reservoir, Jiangsu Province, China revealed the spatial and temporal variations of phytoplankton and the associated driving factors in the reservoir. The results show that the concentrations of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorous (TP), turbidity (Turb), suspended solids (SS), and chlorophyll-a (CHL) were the highest in the upstream tributaries and the lowest in the downstream-linked reservoir. In contrast, the highest Secchi disk depth (SDD) was recorded in the Shahe Reservoir and that the lowest in the upstream tributaries. Significant differences in water quality indices were recorded among the upstream tributaries, the transition region, and the downstream-linked reservoir area (ANOVA, P<0.05). The biomass of phytoplankton was the highest in the upstream tributaries and the lowest in the reservoir. The highest biomass of phytoplankton was recorded in the summer and the lowest in the winter. Synedra, Cyclotella, Cryptomonas, and Achnanthes were the dominant genera in the spring; Synedra, Cryptomonas, Raphidiopsis, and Phormidium were dominant in the summer; Cryptomonas, Synedra, Raphidiopsis, and Aphanizomenon were dominant in the autumn; and Cryptomonas, Synedra, Achnanthes, and Cyclotella were dominant in the winter. Synedra and Cryptomonas were the dominant genera throughout the year. The correlation analysis shows that TP, water temperature, and SDD were the most important driving factors for the spatial and temporal variations of phytoplankton. Notable spatial differences were recorded for Cryptomonas, while minimal variations were recorded for the remaining species. A smaller number sampling sites and a higher sampling frequency are needed to characterize the phytoplankton community in the Shahe Reservoir.

[Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Phosphorus in Paddy Fields Under Cyclic Irrigation of Drainage Water].

Considering the potential of cyclic irrigation to increase rainfall use efficiency and reduce agricultural non-point pollution, the experiment of phosphorus transport in paddy fields under cyclic irrigation of drainage water was conducted to address the problem of phosphorus loss pollution and the mismatch between rainfall temporal distribution and crop requirement in the south of China. Lotus pond water and fishpond water were used to irrigate paddy fields for monitoring concentrations of total phosphorus (TP), dissolved phosphorus (DP), and dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) in surface water and leachate, and soil profile total phosphorus and Olsen-P concentrations. The results showed that the concentrations of TP, DP and DRP in surface water and leachate decreased along the field under cyclic irrigation of drainage water, especially the phosphorus concentrations of leachate dropped more obviously. As the phosphorus content of cyclic irrigation water sources varied within a certain range, phosphorus concentrations of surface water and leachate did not increased. The concentrations of TP, DP and DRP in surface water and leachate varied with cyclic irrigation time, and the least phosphorus concentrations were observed in August. Top soil Olsen-P concentration decreased along the field and increased with phosphorus content of cyclic irrigation water sources, and soil profile TP concentration was not influenced by cyclic irrigation. Phosphorus removal ratio of paddy field could be increased by extending field length or cyclic irrigation in August.

Kinetics of phosphorus release from sediments and its relationship with iron speciation influenced by the mussel (Corbicula fluminea) bioturbation.

The effects of bivalve (Corbicula fluminea) bioturbation on the lability of phosphorus (P) in sediments were investigated. The high-resolution dialysis (HR-Peeper) and diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) techniques were employed to obtain soluble and labile P/Fe profiles at a vertical resolution of 2 and 1mm, respectively. The bivalve bioturbation increased the concentrations of soluble reactive P (SRP) in pore water and DGT-labile P up to 116% and 833% of the control within the sediment depths from the sediment water interface (SWI) to -64 mm and -44 mm, respectively. The sediments with bioturbation had a smaller distribution coefficient than the control (1964 vs. 3010 cm(3) g(-1)), reflecting a weaker ability in retaining P. Meanwhile, the sediments with bioturbation had a greater ratio of the concentration of DGT-labile P to that of SRP (0.20 vs. 0.03), demonstrating a stronger ability to resupply pore water SRP by the sediment solids when they are affected by the bioturbation. The DGT-induced fluxes in sediments (DIFS) modeling further showed a much shorter response time (277.9 vs. 18,670 s) and a much higher rate (0.192 vs. 0.002 day(-1)) of the solids in release of P with the bioturbation. Correspondingly, the flux of P to the overlying water from the bioturbation treatment increased up to 157% of the control. The bivalve bioturbation significantly increased the concentrations of soluble Fe(II) and DGT-labile Fe up to 84% and 334% of the control from the SWI to -46 mm, respectively. The SRP and DGT-labile P were highly correlated with respective soluble and DGT-labile Fe. It was concluded that the release of P from the sediments with bioturbation to the pore water and the overlying water was promoted by the reductive dissolution of easily reducible Fe(oxyhydr)oxides due to the depletion of oxygen in the top sediments from bivalve respiration.

Dynamics of phosphorus-iron-sulfur at the sediment-water interface influenced by algae blooms decomposition.

This study addresses the previously unknown effects of algae blooms on the dynamics of phosphorus (P), iron (Fe) and sulfur (S) across a lacustrine sediment-water interface (SWI). A mesocosm experiment was conducted in-situ to investigate these effects based on two recently-developed diffusive gradients in thin-films techniques (DGT). Soluble P, Fe(II), and S(-II) exhibited similar changing trends in a water column subject to the algae addition. Peak concentrations appeared on day 7 of the 16-day experiment. The lowest Eh occurred at the experiment's midway point indicating a strong algae degradation. A maximum increase in DGT-labile S appeared on day 8 near the SWI, while the DGT-labile P and Fe exhibited persistent increases almost to the end of experiment. Significantly positive correlations of labile P were observed switching from between labile Fe and labile S in sediments, suggesting a significant change in original Fe-coupled dynamics of P under algae decomposition. Apparent fluxes were calculated based on DGT profiles where a simultaneous release of P and S occurred from degraded algae, resulting in bidirectional diffusion fluxes from sediment to overlying water. In contrast, sediment acted as a major source of labile Fe due to added depth and apparently positive fluxes.

Iron-coupled inactivation of phosphorus in sediments by macrozoobenthos (chironomid larvae) bioturbation: Evidences from high-resolution dynamic measurements.

The effects of chironomid larvae bioturbation on the lability of phosphorus (P) in sediments were investigated through sediment incubation for 140 days. High-resolution dialysis (HR-Peeper) and diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) techniques were applied to obtain soluble and labile P/Fe profiles at a millimeter resolution, respectively. The larvae bioturbation decreased concentrations of soluble/labile P and Fe by up to over half of the control at the sediment depths of influence up to 70 and 90 mm respectively. These effects continued over 116 days and disappeared on the 140th days due to eclosion of chironomid larvae. Labile P was highly correlated with labile Fe, while a weak correlation was observed between soluble P and soluble Fe. It was concluded that Fe(II) oxidation and its enhanced adsorption were the major mechanisms responsible for the decreases of soluble and labile P.

In situ, high-resolution imaging of labile phosphorus in sediments of a large eutrophic lake.

Understanding the labile status of phosphorus (P) in sediments is crucial for managing a eutrophic lake, but it is hindered by lacking in situ data particularly on a catchment scale. In this study, we for the first time characterized in situ labile P in sediments with the Zr-oxide diffusive gradients in thin films (Zr-oxide DGT) technique at a two-dimensional (2D), submillimeter resolution in a large eutrophic lake (Lake Taihu, China, with an area of 2338 km(2)). The concentration of DGT-labile P in the sediment profiles showed strong variation mostly ranging from 0.01 to 0.35 mg L(-1) with a considerable number of hotspots. The horizontal heterogeneity index of labile P varied from 0.04 to 4.5. High values appeared at the depths of 0-30 mm, likely reflecting an active layer of labile P under the sediment-water interface (SWI). Concentration gradients of labile P were observed from the high-resolution 1D DGT profiles in both the sediment and overlying water layers close to the SWI. The apparent diffusion flux of P across the SWI was calculated between -21 and 65 ng cm(-2) d(-1), which showed that the sediments tended to be a source and sink of overlying water P in the algal- and macrophyte-dominated regions, respectively. The DGT-labile P in the 0-30 mm active layer showed a better correlation with overlying water P than the labile P measured by ex situ chemical extraction methods. It implies that in situ, high-resolution profiling of labile P with DGT is a more reliable approach and will significantly extend our ability in in situ monitoring of the labile status of P in sediments in the field.