[Removal of Cr(â ¥) via a Nickel Ferrite@Activated Carbon Composite Under Batch Experiments: Study of Characterization, Performance, and Mechanism].

A magnetic activated carbon adsorbent named NiFe2O4@AC was synthesized by modifying activated carbon with NiFe2O4 and used for the adsorption of Cr(Ⅵ) ions from waste water. The influencing factors, adsorption kinetics, and adsorption isotherms of Cr(Ⅵ) adsorption by the adsorbent were investigated. The results showed that the removal rate of Cr(Ⅵ) adsorption by NiFe2O4@AC reached 96.92%, and the adsorption amount reached 72.62 mg·g-1 at the adsorption conditions of temperature (298 K), pH 2, Cr(Ⅵ) initial concentration (150 mg·L-1), adsorbent dosage (0.1 g), and contact time (720 min). The experimental data were best described by the proposed secondary kinetics and Langmuir model, indicating that the adsorption process was a monolayer chemisorption process. The increase in temperature favored the adsorption of Cr(Ⅵ) on NiFe2O4@AC because the adsorption process was a spontaneous, heat-absorbing reaction. The adsorption mechanism of NiFe2O4@AC was mainly through complexation and electrostatic attraction to adsorb Cr(Ⅵ); meanwhile, the applied magnetic field could be separated from the solution, which has good application prospects.

Quantitative transcriptomic and proteomic analyses reveal the potential maintenance mechanism of female adult reproductive diapause in Chrysoperla nipponensis.

BACKGROUND: The green lacewing Chrysoperla nipponensis is an important natural enemy of many insect pests and exhibits reproductive diapause to overwinter. Our previous studies showed that adult C. nipponensis enters reproductive diapause under a short-day photoperiod. However, the molecular mechanism underlying diapause maintenance in C. nipponensis is still unknown. RESULTS: The total lipid and triglyceride content showed the reservation and degradation of energy during diapause in C. nipponensis. Thus, we performed combined transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of female reproductive diapause in C. nipponensis at three ecophysiological phases (initiation, maintenance and termination). A total of 64 388 unigenes and 5532 proteins were identified from the transcriptome and proteome. In-depth dissection of the gene-expression dynamics revealed that differentially expressed genes and proteins were predominately involved in the lipid and carbohydrate metabolic pathways, in particular fatty acid metabolism, metabolic pathways and the citrate cycle. Among of these genes, TIM, CLK, JHAMT2, PMK, HMGS, HMGR, FKBP39, Kr-h1, Phm, ECR, IR1, ILP3, ILP4, mTOR, ACC, LSD1 and LSD2 were differentially expressed in diapause and non-diapause female adults of C. nipponensis. The expression patterns of these genes were consistent with the occurrence of vitellogenesis and expression of either Vg or VgR. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated that diapause adult C. nipponensis accumulate energy resources to overwinter. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses suggested candidate key genes involved in the maintenance of C. nipponensis during adult reproductive diapause. Taken together, these results provide in-depth knowledge to understand the maintenance mechanism of C. nipponensis during adult reproductive diapause. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

A comparative study of mud-like and coralliform calcium carbonate gallbladder stones.

To gain insight to underlying mechanism of the formation of calcium carbonate (CaCO3 ) gallbladder stones, we did comparative study of stones with mud appearance and those with coralliform appearance. A total of 93 gallbladder stones with mud appearance and 50 stones with coralliform appearance were analyzed. The appearance, color, texture, and the detection of Clonorchis sinensis eggs by microscopic examination were compared between the two groups. Then, the material compositions of stones were analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy and the spectrogram characteristics were compared. Moreover, microstructure characteristics of the two kinds of stones were observed and compared with Scanning Electron Microscopy. Mud-like gallbladder stones were mainly earthy yellow or brown with brittle or soft texture, while coralliform stones were mainly black with extremely hard texture, the differences between the two groups was significant (p < .05). The analytic results of FTIR spectroscopy showed that 95.7% (89/93) of the mud-like gallbladder stones were CaCO3 stones, and mainly aragonite; while all of the coralliform stones were CaCO3 stones, and mainly calcite (p < .05). Meanwhile, microscopic examination indicated that the detection rate of Clonorchis sinensis eggs in mud-like CaCO3 stones was lower than that in coralliform CaCO3 stones (p < .05), and that in aragonite CaCO3 stones was lower than that in calcite CaCO3 stones(p < .05). Mud-like CaCO3 stones mainly happened to patients with cystic duct obstruction. Clonorchis sinensis infection was mainly associated with coralliform (calcite) CaCO3 stones. Cystic duct obstruction was mainly associated with mud-like (aragonite) CaCO3 stones.