A Brief Online Mindfulness-Based Group Intervention for Psychological Distress Among Chinese Residents During COVID-19: a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: The coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic has increased psychological distress among the general population. The objective of this study is to evaluate a mindfulness-based intervention for psychological distress among Chinese residents during COVID-19. METHODS: This study used a switching replications design to test the feasibility and efficacy of a brief online mindfulness-based intervention for Chinese residents' psychological distress. Fifty-one residents in the Hubei province were randomly allocated to two groups (experimental group and waitlist control group) with three waves of measurement at time 1, time 2, and time 3 for changes in mindfulness and psychological distress. RESULTS: In addition to significant within-group improvements over time for both groups, OLS linear regression with full information likelihood estimation revealed statistically significant between-group treatment effects across outcome domains, including mindfulness awareness, b = 2.84, p < 0.001, g = 6.92, psychological distress, b = -21.33, p < 0.001, g = 6.62, somatic symptoms, b = -6.22, p < 0.001, g = 4.42, depressive symptoms, b = -7.16, p < 0.001, g = 5.07, and anxiety symptoms, b = -8.09, p < 0.001, g = 6.84. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that a brief online mindfulness-based intervention can be a feasible and promising intervention for improving mindfulness and decreasing psychological distress among Chinese residents staying at home during the COVID-19 outbreak. The study used a small convenience sample which led to a concern of external generalizability and with limited evaluation of long-term change.

Removal and Recovery of Uranium from Groundwater Using Direct Electrochemical Reduction Method: Performance and Implications.

Removal of uranium from groundwater is of great significance as compared to in situ bioimmobilization technology. In this study, a novel direct electro-reductive method has been developed to efficiently remove and recover uranium from carbonate-containing groundwater, where U(VI)O2(CO3)34- and Ca2U(VI)O2(CO3)3 are the dominant U species. The transferred electron calculations and XPS, XRD analyses confirmed that U(VI) was reduced to U(IV)O2 and accumulated on the surface of the Ti electrode (defined as Ti@U(IV)O2 electrode) with high current efficiencies (over 90.0%). Moreover, over 98.0% of the accumulated U(IV)O2 could be recovered by soaking the Ti@U(IV)O2 electrode in the dilute nitric acid. Results demonstrated that the accumulated U(IV)O2 on the surface of the Ti electrode played a key role in the removal of U(VI), which can promote the electro-reduction of U(VI). Therefore, the electrode could be used repeatedly and has a high removal capacity of U(VI) due to the continuous accumulation of active U(IV)O2 on the surface of the electrode. Significantly, the uranium in both real and high salinity groundwater can be efficiently removed. This study implies that the proposed direct electro-reductive method has great potential for the removal and recovery of uranium from groundwater and uranium-containing wastewater.

Ultraselective antibiotic sensing with complementary strand DNA assisted aptamer/MoS2 field-effect transistors.

Although aptamer has been demonstrated as an important probe for antibiotic determination, the selective sensing of different antibiotics is still a challenge due to their structure similarities and wide folding degrees of aptamer. Herein, a field-effect transistor using MoS2 nanosheet as the channel and an aptamer DNA (APT) with its configuration shaped by a complementary strand DNA (CS) is employed for kanamycin (KAN) determination. This probe structure contributes to an enhanced selectivity and reliability with reduced device-to-device variations. This MoS2/APT/CS sensor shows time-dependent performance in antibiotic sensing. Prolonged detection time (20 s-300 s) leads to an enhanced sensitivity (1.85-4.43 M-1) and a lower limit of detection (1.06-0.66 nM), while a shorter detection time leads to a broader linear working range. A new sensing mechanism relying on charge release from probe is proposed, which is based on the "replacement reaction" between KAN and APT-CS. This sensor exhibits an extremely high selectivity (selectivity coefficient of 12.8) to kanamycin over other antibiotics including streptomycin, tobramycin, amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol. This work demonstrates the merits of probe engineering in label-free antibiotic detection with FET sensor, which presents significant promises in sensitive and selective chemical and biological sensing.

Electrocatalytic dechlorination of halogenated antibiotics via synergistic effect of chlorine-cobalt bond and atomic H.

Although noble metal electrocatalysts are highly efficient in the dehalogenation of halogenated antibiotics, the prohibitive cost hinders their practical applications. In this study, a cobalt-phosphorous/oxide (CoP/O) composite prepared via a one-step electrodeposition was for the first time applied in electroreductive dechlorination of halogenated antibiotics (HA), including chloramphenicol (CAP), florfenicol (FLO) and thiamphenicol (TAP). CoP/O had a higher FLO dechlorination efficiency (91%) than Pd/C (69.3%) (t = 60 min, C0 = 20 mg L-1, applied voltage of -1.2 V vs. saturated calomel electrode (SCE)). Furthermore, the dechlorination efficiencies of CoP/O for CAP and TAP reached to 98.7 and 74.2%, respectively. The electron spin resonance and in situ Raman characterizations confirmed that atomic H* was produced via the CoP and the formation of CoCl bonds occurred on the CoO in CoP/O. The CoCl bond formation could trap HA molecules onto CoP/O and weaken the CCl bond strength. The synergistic effect of H* attack and CoCl bond was responsible for the high dechlorination efficiency. This study offers new insights into the interface mechanism of electroreductive dehalogenation process, and shows a great potential for the remediation of halogenated antibiotics contaminated wastewater.

Mutual detoxification of mercury and selenium in unicellular Tetrahymena.

Selenium (Se) is commonly recognized as a protective element with an antagonistic effect against mercury (Hg) toxicity. However, the mechanisms of this Hg-Se antagonism are complex and remain controversial. To gain insight into the Hg-Se antagonism, a type of unicellular eukaryotic protozoa (Tetrahymena malaccensis, T. malaccensis) was selected and individually or jointly exposed to two Hg and three Se species. We found that Se species showed different toxic effects on the proliferation of T. malaccensis with the toxicity following the order: selenite (Se(IV))>selenomethionine (SeMeth)>selenate (Se(VI)). The Hg-Se antagonism in Tetrahymena was observed because the joint toxicity significantly decreased under co-exposure to highly toxic dosages of Hg and Se versus individual toxicity. Unlike Se(IV) and Se(VI), non-toxic dosage of SeMeth significantly decreased the Hg toxicity, revealing the influence of the Se species and dosages on the Hg-Se antagonism. Unexpectedly, inorganic divalent Hg (Hg2+) and monomethylmercury (MeHg) also displayed detoxification towards extremely highly toxic dosages of Se, although their detoxifying efficiency was discrepant. These results suggested mutual Hg-Se detoxification in T. malaccensis, which was highly dependent on the dosages and species of both elements. As compared to other species, SeMeth and MeHg promoted the Hg-Se joint effects to a higher degree. Additionally, the Hg contents decreased for all the Hg-Se co-exposed groups, revealing a sequestering effect of Se towards Hg in T. malaccensis.

New Sesquiterpenoids from Eugenia jambolana Seeds and Their Anti-microbial Activities.

Twenty four sesquiterpenoids, 1-24, including 11 new sesquiterpenoids, jambolanins A-K, and two new norsesquiterpenoids, jambolanes A and B, along with six known triterpenoids, were isolated from the seeds of Eugenia jambolana fruit. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of NMR and MS spectrometry data analysis. Among the isolates, compound 13 possessed a rare 6,7-seco-guaiene skeleton, and compounds 14 and 15 were norsesquiterpenoids containing a spiro[4.4]nonane skeleton. Antimicrobial assay evaluation revealed that sesquiterpenoids, 4, 5/6, 17, 19, 21, 23, and 24 inhibited the growth of the Gram-positive bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus. The current study advances scientific knowledge of E. jambolana phytochemicals and suggests that its sesquiterpenoids may contribute, in part, to the anti-infective effects attributed to the edible fruit of this plant.

Bioremediation of heavy metals by growing hyperaccumulaor endophytic bacterium Bacillus sp. L14.

Heavy metal bioremediation by a multi-metal resistant endophytic bacteria L14 (EB L14) isolated from the cadmium hyperaccumulator Solanum nigrum L. was characterized for its potential application in metal treatment. 16S rDNA analysis revealed that this endophyte belonged to Bacillus sp. The hormesis of EB L14 were observed in presence of divalent heavy metals (Cu (II), Cd (II) and Pb (II)) at a relatively lower concentration (10mg/L). Such hormesis was the side effect of abnormal activities increases of ATPase which was planned to provide energy to help EB L14 reduce the toxicity of heavy metals by exporting the cations. Within 24h incubation, EB L14 could specifically uptake 75.78%, 80.48%, 21.25% of Cd (II), Pb (II) and Cu (II) under the initial concentration of 10mg/L. However, nearly no chromium uptake was observed. The mechanism study indicated that its remediation efficiencies may be greatly promoted through inhibiting the activities of ATPase. The excellent adaptation abilities and promising remediation efficiencies strongly indicated the superiority of this endophyte in heavy metal bioremediation at low concentrations, which could be useful for developing efficient metal removal system.

Adynamic ileus and acute colonic pseudo-obstruction occurring after cesarean section in patients with massive peripartum hemorrhage.

The clinical histories (including radiographs) of 4 patients who suffered from significant adynamic ileus or acute colonic pseudo-obstruction after cesarean section are presented. The main manifestations were vomiting, severe colicky pain, and abdominal distension. These can occur immediately after or within 2 days of the operation. Based on our experience, the risk factors for the development of adynamic ileus are significant peripartum hemorrhage leading to unstable hemodynamic status, severe constipation, use of meperidine for pain relief, and overt bowel manipulation. Mild enema and metoclopramide seem to be helpful in facilitating its resolution. Here, we examine how to differentiate mechanical bowel obstruction from adynamic ileus and look at how to prevent the occurrence of adynamic ileus while minimizing its severity and shortening its clinical course.