Dental pulp mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes inhibit neuroinflammation and microglial pyroptosis in subarachnoid hemorrhage via the miRNA-197-3p/FOXO3 axis.

BACKGROUND: Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a severe stroke subtype that lacks effective treatment. Exosomes derived from human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are a promising acellular therapeutic strategy for neurological diseases. However, the therapeutic effects of DPSC-derived exosomes (DPSC-Exos) on SAH remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of action of DPSC-Exos in SAH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SAH was established using 120 male Sprague-Dawley rats. One hour after SAH induction, DPSC-Exos were administered via tail vein injection. To investigate the effect of DPSC-Exos, SAH grading, short-term and long-term neurobehavioral assessments, brain water content, western blot (WB), immunofluorescence staining, Nissl staining, and HE staining were performed. The role of miR-197-3p/FOXO3 in regulating pyroptosis was demonstrated through miRNA sequencing, bioinformatics analysis, and rescue experiments. The SAH model in vitro was established by stimulating BV2 cells with hemoglobin (Hb) and the underlying mechanism of DPSC-Exos was investigated through WB and Hoechst/PI staining. RESULTS: The expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α) were increased after SAH. DPSC-Exos alleviated brain edema and neuroinflammation by inhibiting the expression of FOXO3 and reducing NLRP3 inflammasome activation, leading to improved neurobehavioral functions at 24 h after SAH. In vitro, the expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome components (NLRP3 and caspase1-p20), GSDMD-N, and IL-18 was inhibited in BV2 cells pretreated with DPSC-Exos. Importantly, DPSC-Exos overexpressing miR-197-3p had a more obvious protective effect than those from NC-transfected DPSCs, while those from DPSCs transfected with the miR-197-3p inhibitor had a weaker protective effect. Functional studies indicated that miR-197-3p bound to the 3'-untranslated region of FOXO3, inhibiting its transcription. Furthermore, the overexpression of FOXO3 reversed the protective effects of miR-197-3p. CONCLUSIONS: DPSC-Exos inhibited activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and related cytokine release via the miR-197-3p/FOXO3 pathway, alleviated neuroinflammation, and inhibited microglial pyroptosis. These findings suggest that using DPSC-Exos is a promising therapeutic strategy for SAH.

Clinical Efficacy of Minocycline Hydrochloride for the Treatment of Peri-Implant Disease: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

This systematic review aimed to assess the clinical efficacy of the local application of minocycline hydrochloride for treating peri-implantitis. Four databases-PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure-were searched from their inception through December 2020. English and Chinese randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared minocycline hydrochloride with control regimes, including negative control, iodine solution or glycerin, and chlorhexidine, for patients with peri-implant diseases were retrieved. Three outcomes-plaque index (PLI), probing depth (PD), and sulcus bleeding index (SBI)-were assessed using meta-analysis based on the random-effects model. Fifteen RCTs were included in the present meta-analysis, and results suggested that minocycline hydrochloride significantly affected PLI, PD, or SBI reduction regardless of the type of comparator regime. However, subgroup analyses suggested that minocycline hydrochloride was not superior to chlorhexidine in terms of reduction of PLI (1 week: MD = -0.18, 95% CI = -0.55 to 0.20, P = .36; 4 weeks: MD = -0.08, 95% CI = -0.23 to 0.07, P = .28; 8 weeks: MD = -0.01, 95% CI = -0.18 to 0.16, P = .91) and PD (1 week: MD = 0.07, 95% CI = -0.27 to 0.41, P = .68; 4 weeks: MD = -0.10, 95% CI = -0.43 to 0.24, P = .58; 8 weeks: MD = -0.30, 95% CI = -0.68 to 0.08, P = .12), and minocycline hydrochloride was also not better than chlorhexidine regarding reduction of SBI at 1 week after treatment (MD = -0.10; 95% CI = -0.21 to 0.01; P = .08). This study concludes that minocycline hydrochloride as adjuvant therapy of nonsurgical treatment enhances the clinical results when compared to control regimes. However, the difference between minocycline hydrochloride and chlorhexidine should be further investigated by designing additional high-quality studies with large sample sizes.

MXene Composite Membranes with Enhanced Ion Transport and Regulated Ion Selectivity.

Two-dimensional (2D) material-based membranes are promising candidates for various separation applications. However, the further enhancement of membrane ion conductance is difficult, and the regulation of membrane ion selectivity remains a challenge. Here, we demonstrate the facile fabrication of MXene composite membranes by incorporating spacing agents that contain SO3H groups into the MXene interlayers. The synthesized membrane shows enhanced ion conductance and ion selectivity. Subsequently, the membranes are utilized for salinity gradient power (SGP) generation and lithium-ion (Li+) recovery. The membrane containing poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) as the spacing agent shows a much higher power density for SGP generation as compared to the pristine MXene membrane. Using artificial seawater and river water, the power density reaches 1.57 W/m2 with a testing area of 0.24 mm2. Also, the same membrane shows Li+/Na+ and Li+/K+ selectivities of 2.5 and 3.2, respectively. The incorporation of PSS increases both the size and charge density of the nanochannels inside the membrane, which is beneficial for ion conduction. In addition, the density functional theory (DFT) calculation shows that the binding energy between Li+ and the SO3H group is lower than other alkali ion metals, and this might be one major reason why the membrane possesses high Li+ selectivity. This study demonstrates that incorporating spacing agents into the 2D material matrix is a viable strategy to enhance the performance of the 2D material-based membranes. The results from this study can inspire new membrane designs for emerging applications including energy harvesting and monovalent ion recovery.

Capillary-Assisted Fabrication of Thin-Film Nanocomposite Membranes for Improved Solute-Solute Separation.

Efficient separation of harmful contaminants (e.g., per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFASs) from valuable components (water and nutrients) is essential to the resource recovery from domestic wastewater for agricultural purposes. Such selective recovery requires precise separation at the angstrom scale. Although nanofiltration (NF) has the potential to achieve solute-solute separation, the state-of-the-art polyamide (PA) membranes are typically constrained by limited precision of solute-solute selectivity and their well-documented permeability-selectivity trade-off. Herein, we present a novel capillary-assisted interfacial polymerization (CAIP) approach to generate metal-organic framework (MOF)-PA nanocomposite membranes with reduced surface charges and more uniform pore sizes that favor solute selectivity by enhanced size exclusion. By uniquely regulating the PA-MOF interactions using the capillary force, CAIP results in effective exposure of MOF nanochannels on the membrane surface and a PA matrix with a high cross-linking gradient in the vertical direction, both of which contribute to an exceptional water permeance of ∼18.7 LMH/bar and an unprecedentedly high selectivity between nutrient ions and PFASs. Our CAIP approach breaks new ground for utilizing nanoparticles with nanochannels in fabricating the next-generation, fit-for-purpose NF membranes for improved solute-solute separations.

Traumatic mating increases anchorage of mating male and reduces female remating duration and fecundity in a scorpionfly species.

Traumatic mating is the male wounding his mate during mating using specialized anatomy. However, why males have evolved to injure their mates during mating remains poorly understood. We studied traumatic mating in Dicerapanorpa magna to determine its effects on male and female fitness. The sharp teeth on male gonostyli penetrate the female genitalia and cause copulatory wounds, and the number of scars on the female genitals is positively related to the number of times females mated. When the injurious teeth were encased with low-temperature wax, preventing their penetration of the female's genitalia during mating, male mating success and copulation duration were reduced significantly, indicating the importance of the teeth in allowing the male to secure copulation, remain in copula and effectively inseminate his mate. The remating experiments showed that traumatic mating had little effect on the female mating refractory period, but significantly reduced female remating duration with subsequent males, probably benefiting the first-mating male with longer copulation duration and transferring more sperm into the female's spermatheca. The copulatory wounds reduced female fecundity, but did not accelerate the timing of egg deposition. This is probably the first report that traumatic mating reduces female remating duration through successive remating experiments in animals. Overall, our results provide evidence that traumatic mating in the scorpionfly helps increase the male's anchoring control during mating and provides him advantage in sperm competition, but at the expense of lowering female fecundity.

Simple, rapidly electroassembled thiolated PEG-based sensor interfaces enable rapid interrogation of antibody titer and glycosylation.

Process conditions established during the development and manufacture of recombinant protein therapeutics dramatically impacts their quality and clinical efficacy. Technologies that enable rapid assessment of product quality are critically important. Here, we describe the development of sensor interfaces that directly connect to electronics and enable near real-time assessment of antibody titer and N-linked galactosylation. We make use of a spatially resolved electroassembled thiolated polyethylene glycol hydrogel that enables electroactivated disulfide linkages. For titer assessment, we constructed a cysteinylated protein G that can be linked to the thiolated hydrogel allowing for robust capture and assessment of antibody concentration. For detecting galactosylation, the hydrogel is linked with thiolated sugars and their corresponding lectins, which enables antibody capture based on glycan pattern. Importantly, we demonstrate linear assessment of total antibody concentration over an industrially relevant range and the selective capture and quantification of antibodies with terminal ß-galactose glycans. We also show that the interfaces can be reused after surface regeneration using a low pH buffer. Our functionalized interfaces offer advantages in their simplicity, rapid assembly, connectivity to electronics, and reusability. As they assemble directly onto electrodes that also serve as I/O registers, we envision incorporation into diagnostic platforms including those in manufacturing settings.

Forward Solute Transport in Forward Osmosis Using a Freestanding Graphene Oxide Membrane.

A graphene oxide membrane (GOM) has the potential to be used in forward osmosis (FO) because it has a high water permeability and low reverse salt flux. To explore suitable applications, we initiated the investigation of the forward solute transport through a freestanding GOM in FO. Both uncharged solutes (PEG 200 and PEG 1000) and charged solutes (NaCl, MgSO4, and MgCl2) were investigated, and the forward solute flux in FO was tested. The Donnan steric pore model (DSPM) was utilized to calculate the forward solute flux of the freestanding GOM in FO when discussing diffusion, convection, and electromigration. Our results showed that the freestanding GOM has a better separation performance for multivalent ions than the monovalent ions in the FO mode. We found an information gap between the calculated and experimental forward solute flux values, especially when charged solutes were used in the feed solution and the electrical double layer (EDL) was thick. We propose that the EDL inside the GOM has a screening effect on the forward ion transport during FO, even in the presence of relatively high water flux. According to our analysis, the forward solute transport for charged solutes is governed by steric exclusion and interfacial Donnan exclusion as well as EDL screening along the nanochannels inside the membrane. Our study provides guidance for the future use of the freestanding GOM during FO for water and wastewater treatment.

Fit-for-Purpose Design of Nanofiltration Membranes for Simultaneous Nutrient Recovery and Micropollutant Removal.

Domestic wastewater is a valuable reservoir of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. However, the presence of emerging micropollutants (EMPs) hinders its applications in resource recovery. In this study, we designed and fabricated a novel thin-film composite polyamide membrane, which enables highly selective nanofiltration (NF) that removes EMPs effectively while preserving valuable nutrients in the permeate. By incorporating polyethylenimine as an additional monomer to piperazine and surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate in interfacial polymerization, we precisely tuned membrane pore size, pore size distribution, and surface charge. The resultant NF membrane achieved desirable solute-solute selectivity between EMPs (rejection rate > 75%) and nutrient N and P ions (rejection rate < 25%). By applying a modified Donnan steric pore model with dielectric exclusion, which takes membrane pore size distribution into consideration, we demonstrate the synergistic effect of membrane pore size, pore size distribution, and surface charge in regulating membrane solute-solute selectivity. Designing solute-solute selective NF membranes for fit-for-purpose wastewater treatment has great potential to improve the flexibility of membrane technologies that can convert wastewater streams to valuable water and nutrient resources.

Two-Dimensional Ti3C2Tx MXene/GO Hybrid Membranes for Highly Efficient Osmotic Power Generation.

Osmotic power has emerged as one of the promising candidates for clean and renewable energy. However, the advancement of present osmotic power-harvesting technologies, specifically pressure-retarded osmosis (PRO) in this work, is hindered by the unsatisfactory membrane transport properties. Herein, we demonstrate the freestanding transition-metal carbides and graphene oxide hybrid membranes as high-performance PRO membranes. Due to the elimination of internal concentration polarization, the freestanding hybrid membrane can achieve a record-high power density up to approximately 56.4 W m-2 with 2.0 M NaCl as the draw solution and river water (0.017 M) as the feed water at an applied hydraulic pressure difference of 9.66 bar. In addition, the hybrid membranes exhibit enhanced antifouling potential and antibacterial activity. The facile fabrication of the hybrid membranes shed light on a new membrane development platform for the highly anticipated osmotic power-harvesting technologies.

Study on the Transport Mechanism of a Freestanding Graphene Oxide Membrane for Forward Osmosis.

Graphene oxide membranes (GOMs) are promising separation technologies. In forward osmosis (FO), we found that the water flux from the feed solution to the draw solution can prevent ions from diffusing to the feed solution in a highly tortuous and porous GOM. In reverse osmosis (RO), we found that the salt rejection is low compared to that in commercially available RO membranes. While this prohibits the use of GOMs for RO and FO water desalination, we believe that such membranes could be used for other water treatment applications and energy production. To examine the transport mechanism, we characterized the physical and chemical properties of GOMs and derived mass transfer models to analyze water and salt transport inside freestanding GOMs. The experimental reverse salt flux was between the largest and smallest theoretical values, which corresponds to the lowest and highest tortuosity, respectively, in FO. Furthermore, the concentration profile for the reverse salt flux shortened as the NaCl draw concentration increased because the water flux increased and the electrical double layer (EDL) decreased with increasing NaCl in the draw solution. We provide insights into the transport mechanisms in GOMs and provide guidance for future exploration of GOMs in efficient water treatment and energy production processes.

Effects of Cusp Inclination and Light-curing Time on Microshear Bond Strength of a Dual-cure, Self-adhesive Composite Cement to Zirconia.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of cusp inclination and light-curing time on the microshear bond strength (µSBS) between zirconia and a dual-cure self-adhesive composite cement and zirconia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty U-shaped specimens with angled surfaces, simulating different cusp inclinations (0 degrees, 20 degrees, and 30 degrees), were fabricated from zirconia blocks (Zenostar, Wieland). The specimens were randomly divided into two groups (n = 20) according to different light-curing times of the adhesive composite cements (20 s and 40 s). Three polyethylene tubes filled with a dual-curing self-adhesive composite cement (Multilink Speed, Ivoclar Vivadent) were bonded to the surfaces of each specimen with light-curing times of 20 s and 40 s. The µSBS was tested using a universal testing machine with a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. Failure analysis was performed. Two-way ANOVA (cusp inclination and light-curing time) followed by two independent samples t-test were used for statistical analyses (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The composite cement showed various bond strengths to angled zirconia surfaces (7.07 ± 1.69 to 13.91 ± 3.11 MPa). The µSBS between composite cement and 0-degree zirconia surfaces was statistically higher than that of 20- and 30-degree zirconia surfaces. The composite cement light cured for 40 s showed nonsignificantly higher µSBS than did the composite cement cured for 20 s. Adhesive failure was the most common failure mode. CONCLUSIONS: Cusp inclination affected bond strength between the dual-curing self-adhesive composite cement and zirconia.

Clinical Manifestations and Genetic Analysis of 17 Patients with Autosomal Dominant Hyper-IgE Syndrome in Mainland China: New Reports and a Literature Review.

PURPOSE: Autosomal dominant hyper-IgE syndrome (AD-HIES) is a rare complicated primary immunodeficiency disease (PID). Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) gene mutation is found to cause AD-HIES. The distribution of AD-HIES patients with STAT3 deficiency in the Chinese population is not clear. Herein, we retrospectively report 17 AD-HIES patients with STAT3 deficiency and demonstrate their clinical, immunological, and genetic features. METHODS: Patients' clinical data were collected from their medical records. Routine laboratory testing results included lymphocyte subset analysis and immunoglobulin quantification. STAT3 mutations were investigated by sequencing of genomic DNA. RESULTS: Among 575 patients with PID, 28 (4.87%) were clinically diagnosed as HIES. Among them, 17 (2.96%) were confirmed as STAT3 mutant AD-HIES. The ratio of male to female patients was 8:9. All of the 17 patients had NIH scores over 40 points. The mean ages at onset and diagnosis were 1.05 and 10.35 years, respectively. Three patients (17.65%, 3/17) died with a mean age of 13.33 years. Eczema, recurrent skin infection, and respiratory tract infection were the most common clinical symptoms and are present in all of the 17 patients in this study. Six patients (37.5%, 6/16) suffered complication from BCG vaccination. Noninfection symptoms are characteristic facial features in 17 patients (100%, 17/17), retention of primary teeth in 10 patients (90.91%, 10/11), and abnormal bone fractures in 7 patients (41.18%, 7/17). Eleven types of STAT3 mutations were identified in 17 patients, including 1 novel mutation. CONCLUSIONS: We here retrospectively report the largest Chinese cohort of AD-HIES patients with STAT3 mutation. Unique features, when compared to existing literature reports, include (1) later age of diagnosis, (2) significantly higher rate of BCG complications, and (3) lower rate of candidiasis and chronic otitis media.

Multi-functional polyvinyl alcohol/tannin acid composite films incorporated with lignin nanoparticles loaded by potassium sorbate.

The biocompatible, biodegradable and strong polyvinyl alcohol-based films have been widely investigated and used in the field of active packaging. To endow with diverse function, this paper firstly prepared lignin nanoparticles loaded with potassium sorbate (LNP@PS) as additives to exploit additional antibacterial, UV blocking, oxygen barrier, and water barrier properties. Besides, tannin acid (TA) was incorporated for compensating and further enhancing mechanical properties. Results showed that the PVA-based composite films containing 3 % LNP@PS and 5 % TA could achieve the optimal tensile strength at 74.51 MPa, water vapor permeability at 7.015·10-13·g·cm/cm2·s·Pa and oxygen permeability at 1.93 cm3/m2·24 h MPa, which was an 165 % of increase, 47 % and 112 % of reduction respectively compared to pure PVA films. Additionally, the composite films exhibited apparently superior bacteria and oxygen resistance properties evidenced by microbial infection and free radical scavenging performance. In addition, the slow-release effect of PS assisted the strawberry preservation with an extension of 3 days, which provided a promising novel route to prepare active food packaging material.

Activation of wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway down regulated osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived stem cells in an anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia patient with EDA/EDAR/EDARADD mutation.

Objective: To explore the mechanism by which the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway induces osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) in anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (AED) with an Ectodysplasin A (EDA)/EDA receptor (EDAR)/EDARADD mutation. Methods: An AED patient served as the AED group, whereas the other patients without AED were included in the normal group. Peripheral venous blood collected from the AED patient was subjected to whole-genome resequencing. BMSCs from the mandible of patients with AED and normal individuals were isolated and cultured in vitro. Cell proliferation assay was performed to compare the growth speed of BMSCs between the AED and normal groups. CHIR-99021, an activator of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway and XAV-939, an inhibitor, was used to manage BMSCs in an osteogenic environment in both groups. The expression of ß-catenin was detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, while that of RUNX2 was detected by western blotting. Alizarin red was used for staining. Results: A novel mutation (c.152T > A in EDA) and two known mutations (c.1109T > C in EDAR and c.27G > A in EDARADD) were identified. The growth rate in the normal group was higher than that in the AED group. In the normal group, the number and size of calcified nodes and the expression of RUNX-2 increased with CHIR-99021 treatment, which could be inhibited by XAV-939. In contrast, CHIR-99021 inhibited osteogenesis in the AED group and this effect was promoted by XAV-939. Conclusion: Activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway downregulates osteogenesis of BMSCs in AED patients with EDA/EDAR/EDARADD gene mutations. Further investigation in more AED patients is required, given the wide range of mutations involved in AED.

Surface energy-induced anti-wetting and anti-fouling enhancement of Janus membrane for membrane distillation.

Membrane distillation (MD) presents a promising alternative to conventional desalination systems, particularly for the treatment of hypersaline wastewater. However, the large-scale application of MD is hindered by challenges such as membrane wetting, membrane fouling, and low permeate flux. Herein, we proposed an air/liquid interface deposition method to fabricate a Janus membrane, termed the PVDF-PDA/PEI-Si membrane. The membrane featured a nanosieving, superhydrophilic polydopamine/polyethylenimine (PDA/PEI) layer decorated with silica nanoparticles, coupled with a microporous, hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) layer. The introduction of a dense PDA/PEI-Si layer featuring high surface energy significantly enhanced the wetting and fouling resistance of the membrane, with a minor effect on the permeate flux. The performance enhancement was particularly evident when hypersaline water containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and oily contaminants was used as the feed. The interactions between the membrane and contaminants were calculated using the XDLVO theory and molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the enhanced anti-wetting and anti-fouling properties, respectively. According to the XDLVO theory, a large energy barrier must be overcome for the SDS to attach onto the PDA/PEI-Si surface. Meanwhile, molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the weak interaction energy between the oily foulants and the PVDF-PDA/PEI-Si membrane due to its high surface energy. This study presents a promising approach for the fabrication of high-performance MD membranes and provides new insights into the mechanisms underlying the enhanced anti-wetting and anti-fouling properties.

Lignin: A multi-faceted role/function in 3D printing inks.

3D printing technology demonstrates significant potential for the rapid fabrication of tailored geometric structures. Nevertheless, the prevalent use of fossil-derived compositions in printable inks within the realm of 3D printing results in considerable environmental pollution and ecological consequences. Lignin, the second most abundant biomass source on earth, possesses attributes such as cost-effectiveness, renewability, biodegradability, and non-toxicity. Enriched with active functional groups including hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, and methyl, coupled with its rigid aromatic ring structure and inherent anti-oxidative and thermoplastic properties, lignin emerges as a promising candidate for formulating printable inks. This comprehensive review presents the utilization of lignin, either in conjunction with functional materials or through the modification of lignin derivatives, as the primary constituent (≥50 wt%) for formulating printable inks across photo-curing-based (SLA/DLP) and extrusion-based (DIW/FDM) printing technologies. Furthermore, lignin as an additive with multi-faceted roles/functions in 3D printing inks is explored. The effects of lignin on the properties of printing inks and printed objects are evaluated. Finally, this review outlines future perspectives, emphasizing key obstacles and potential opportunities for facilitating the high-value utilization of lignin in the realm of 3D printing.

Effects of micro-nano plastics on the environmental biogeochemical cycle of nitrogen: A comprehensive review.

Micro-nano plastics (MNPs; size <5 mm), ubiquitous and emerging pollutants, accumulated in the natural environment through various sources, and are likely to interact with nutrients, thereby influencing their biogeochemical cycle. Increasing scientific evidences reveal that MNPs can affect nitrogen (N) cycle processes by affecting biotopes and organisms in the environmental matrix and MNPs biofilms, thus plays a crucial role in nitrous oxide (N2O) and ammonia (NH3) emission. Yet, the mechanism and key processes behind this have not been systematically reviewed in natural environments. In this review, we systematically summarize the effects of MNPs on N transformation in terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric ecosystems. The effects of MNPs properties on N content, composition, and function of the microbial community, enzyme activity, gene abundance and plant N uptake in different environmental conditions has been briefly discussed. The review highlights the significant potential of MNPs to alter the properties of the environmental matrix, microbes and plant or animal physiology, resulting in changes in N uptake and metabolic efficiency in plants, thereby inhibiting organic nitrogen (ON) formation and reducing N bioavailability, or altering NH3 emissions from animal sources. The faster the decomposition of plastics, the more intense the perturbation of MNPs to organisms in the natural ecosystem. Findings of this provide a more comprehensive analysis and research directions to the environmentalists, policy makers, water resources planners & managers, biologists, and biotechnologists to do integrate approaches to reach the practical engineering solutions which will further diminish the long-term ecological and climatic risks.

Functional morphology of the mouthparts of longhorn beetle adult Psacothea hilaris (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) and sensilla comparisons between the sexes.

Psacothea hilaris is an important wood boring beetle that causes significant ecological and economic damage. The mouthparts of P. hilaris contain feeding and sensory structures that play important roles in many behaviors. The study of their functional morphologies provides insight into feeding and sensory mechanisms. The fine structures of the mouthparts and the sensilla of both sexes were observed by scanning electron microscopy, with special attention to quantitative comparisons. The general structures of the mouthparts are similar in males and females. However, the maxillary and labial palps of females are more well-developed than those of males. Six types of sensilla were found in both sexes: sensilla basiconca, sensilla trichodea, sensilla chaetica, sensilla digitiformia, sensilla coeloconica, and sensilla palmata. This was the first attempt to describe the sensilla on the epipharynx and ligula of Cerambycidae. There were differences in the number of sensilla of males and females, especially on the mandibles, maxillary and labial palps. However, not all types of sensilla have a greater number in females compared to males. The results provide basic information on the gustatory sensation mechanism of Cerambycidae.

Enzymatic treatment processes for the production of cellulose nanomaterials: A review.

Cellulose nanomaterials have attracted much attention in recent years because of their unique properties. Commercial or semi-commercial production of nanocellulose has been reported in recent years. Mechanical treatments for nanocellulose production are viable but highly energy-intensive. Chemical processes are well reported; however, these chemical processes are not only costly, but also cause environmental concerns and end-use related challenges. This review summarizes recent researches on enzymatic treatment of cellulose fibers for the production of cellulose nanomaterials, with focus on novel enzymatic processes with xylanase and lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMO) to enhance the efficacy of cellulase. Different enzymes are discussed, including endoglucanase, exoglucanase and xylanase, as well as LPMO, with emphasis on the accessibility and hydrolytic specificity of LPMO enzymes to cellulose fiber structures. LPMO acts in a synergistic way with cellulase to cause significant physical and chemical changes to the cellulose fiber cell-wall structures, which facilitate the nano-fibrillation of the fibers.

Phytotoxicity assessment of dandelion exposed to microplastics using membership function value and integrated biological response index.

Microplastic (MP) pollution is a critical environmental issue. Dandelions could be used as a biomonitor of environmental pollution. However, the ecotoxicology of MPs in dandelions remains unclear. Therefore, the toxic effects of polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polypropylene (PP) at concentrations of 0, 10, 100, and 1000 mg L-1 on the germination and early seedling growth of dandelion were investigated. PS and PP inhibited seed germination and decreased root length and biomass while promoting membrane lipid peroxidation, increasing O2•-, H2O2, SP, and proline contents, and enhancing the activities of SOD, POD, and CAT. Principal component analysis (PCA) and membership function value (MFV) analysis indicated that PS and PP could be more harmful than PE in dandelion, especially at 1000 mg L-1. In addition, according to the integrated biological response (IBRv2) index analysis, O2•-, CAT, and proline were sensitive biomarkers of dandelion contamination by MPs. Here we provide evidence that dandelion has the potential to be a biomonitor to assess the phytotoxicity of MPs pollution, especially PS with high toxicity. Meanwhile, we believe that if dandelion is to be used as a biomonitor for MPs, attention should also be paid to the practical safety of dandelion.