Enhancing microbial superoxide generation and conversion to hydroxyl radicals for enhanced bioremediation using iron-binding ligands.

Harnessing bacteria for superoxide production in bioremediation holds immense promise, yet its practical application is hindered by slow production rates and the relatively weak redox potential of superoxide. This study delves into a cost-effective approach to amplify superoxide production using an Arthrobacter strain, a prevalent soil bacterial genus. Our research reveals that introducing a carbon source along with specific iron-binding ligands, including deferoxamine (DFO), diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (DTPA), citrate, and oxalate, robustly augments microbial superoxide generation. Moreover, our findings suggest that these iron-binding ligands play a pivotal role in converting superoxide into hydroxyl radicals by modulating the electron transfer rate between Fe(III)/Fe(II) and superoxide. Remarkably, among the tested ligands, only DTPA emerges as a potent promoter of this conversion process when complexed with Fe(III). We identify an optimal Fe(III) to DTPA ratio of approximately 1:1 for enhancing hydroxyl radical production within the Arthrobacter culture. This research underscores the efficacy of simultaneously introducing carbon sources and DTPA in facilitating superoxide production and its subsequent conversion to hydroxyl radicals, significantly elevating bioremediation performance. Furthermore, our study reveals that DTPA augments superoxide production in cultures of diverse soils, with various soil microorganisms beyond Arthrobacter identified as contributors to superoxide generation. This emphasizes the universal applicability of DTPA across multiple bacterial genera. In conclusion, our study introduces a promising methodology for enhancing microbial superoxide production and its conversion into hydroxyl radicals. These findings hold substantial implications for the deployment of microbial reactive oxygen species in bioremediation, offering innovative solutions for addressing environmental contamination challenges.

Nonlocal meta-lens with Huygens' bound states in the continuum.

Meta-lenses composed of artificial meta-atoms have stimulated substantial interest due to their compact and flexible wavefront shaping capabilities, outperforming bulk optical devices. The operating bandwidth is a critical factor determining the meta-lens' performance across various wavelengths. Meta-lenses that operate in a narrowband manner relying on nonlocal effects can effectively reduce disturbance and crosstalk from non-resonant wavelengths, making them well-suitable for specialized applications such as nonlinear generation and augmented reality/virtual reality display. However, nonlocal meta-lenses require striking a balance between local phase manipulation and nonlocal resonance excitation, which involves trade-offs among factors like quality-factor, efficiency, manipulation dimensions, and footprint. In this work, we experimentally demonstrate the nonlocal meta-lens featuring Huygens' bound states in the continuum (BICs) and its near-infrared imaging application. All-dielectric integrated-resonant unit is particularly optimized to efficiently induce both the quasi-BIC and generalized Kerker effect, while ensuring the rotation-angle robustness for generating geometric phase. The experimental results show that the single-layer nonlocal Huygens' meta-lens possesses a high quality-factor of 104 and achieves a transmission polarization conversion efficiency of 55%, exceeding the theoretical limit of 25%. The wavelength-selective two-dimensional focusing and imaging are demonstrated as well. This work will pave the way for efficient nonlocal wavefront shaping and meta-devices.

Fungal community determines soil multifunctionality during vegetation restoration in metallic tailing reservoir.

Microorganisms are pivotal in sustaining soil functions, yet the specific contributions of bacterial and fungal succession on the functions during vegetation restoration in metallic tailing reservoirs remains elusive. Here, we explored bacterial and fungal succession and their impacts on soil multifunctionality along a ∼50-year vegetation restoration chronosequence in China's largest vanadium titano-magnetite tailing reservoir. We found a significant increase in soil multifunctionality, an index comprising factors pertinent to soil fertility and microbially mediated nutrient cycling, along the chronosequence. Despite increasing heavy metal levels, both bacterial and fungal communities exhibited significant increase in richness and network complexity over time. However, fungi demonstrated a slower succession rate and more consistent composition than bacteria, indicating their relatively higher resilience to environmental changes. Soil multifunctionality was intimately linked to bacterial and fungal richness or complexity. Nevertheless, when scrutinizing both richness and complexity concurrently, the correlations disappeared for bacteria but remained robust for fungi. This persistence reveals the critical role of the fungal community resilience in sustaining soil multifunctionality, particularly through their stable interactions with powerful core taxa. Our findings highlight the importance of fungal succession in enhancing soil multifunctionality during vegetation restoration in metallic tailing reservoirs, and manipulating fungal community may expedite ecological recovery of areas polluted with heavy metals.

Auditory entrainment coordinates cortical-BNST-NAc triple time locking to alleviate the depressive disorder.

Listening to music is a promising and accessible intervention for alleviating symptoms of major depressive disorder. However, the neural mechanisms underlying its antidepressant effects remain unclear. In this study on patients with depression, we used auditory entrainment to evaluate intracranial recordings in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) and nucleus accumbens (NAc), along with temporal scalp electroencephalogram (EEG). We highlight music-induced synchronization across this circuit. The synchronization initiates with temporal theta oscillations, subsequently inducing local gamma oscillations in the BNST-NAc circuit. Critically, the incorporated external entrainment induced a modulatory effect from the auditory cortex to the BNST-NAc circuit, activating the antidepressant response and highlighting the causal role of physiological entrainment in enhancing the antidepressant response. Our study explores the pivotal role of the auditory cortex and proposes a neural oscillation triple time-locking model, emphasizing the capacity of the auditory cortex to access the BNST-NAc circuit.

Data Collection and Management of mHealth, Wearables, and Internet of Things in Digital Behavioral Health Interventions With the Awesome Data Acquisition Method (ADAM): Development of a Novel Informatics Architecture.

Unlabelled: The integration of health and activity data from various wearable devices into research studies presents technical and operational challenges. The Awesome Data Acquisition Method (ADAM) is a versatile, web-based system that was designed for integrating data from various sources and managing a large-scale multiphase research study. As a data collecting system, ADAM allows real-time data collection from wearable devices through the device's application programmable interface and the mobile app's adaptive real-time questionnaires. As a clinical trial management system, ADAM integrates clinical trial management processes and efficiently supports recruitment, screening, randomization, data tracking, data reporting, and data analysis during the entire research study process. We used a behavioral weight-loss intervention study (SMARTER trial) as a test case to evaluate the ADAM system. SMARTER was a randomized controlled trial that screened 1741 participants and enrolled 502 adults. As a result, the ADAM system was efficiently and successfully deployed to organize and manage the SMARTER trial. Moreover, with its versatile integration capability, the ADAM system made the necessary switch to fully remote assessments and tracking that are performed seamlessly and promptly when the COVID-19 pandemic ceased in-person contact. The remote-native features afforded by the ADAM system minimized the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on the SMARTER trial. The success of SMARTER proved the comprehensiveness and efficiency of the ADAM system. Moreover, ADAM was designed to be generalizable and scalable to fit other studies with minimal editing, redevelopment, and customization. The ADAM system can benefit various behavioral interventions and different populations.

Synergism of Light-Induced [4 + 4] Cycloaddition and Electron Transfer Toward Switchable Photoluminescence and Single-Molecule Magnet Behavior in a Dy4 Cubane.

Molecular materials possessing switchable magneto-optical properties are of great interest due to their potential applications in spintronics and molecular devices. However, switching their photoluminescence (PL) and single-molecule magnet (SMM) behavior via light-induced structural changes still constitutes a formidable challenge. Here, a series of cubane structures were synthesized via self-assembly of 9-anthracene carboxylic acid (HAC) and rare-earth ions. All complexes exhibited obvious photochromic phenomena and complete PL quenching upon Xe lamp irradiation, which were realized via the synergistic effect of photogenerated radicals and [4 + 4] photocycloaddition of the AC components. The quenched PL showed the largest fluorescence intensity change (99.72%) in electron-transfer photochromic materials. A reversible decoloration process was realized via mechanical grinding, which is unexpectedly in the electron-transfer photochromic materials. Importantly, an SMM behavior of the Dy analog was observed after room-temperature irradiation due to the photocycloaddition of AC ligands and the photogenerated stable radicals changed the electrostatic ligand field and magnetic coupling. Moreover, based on the remarkably photochromic and photoluminescent properties of these compounds, 2 demos were applied to support their application in information anti-counterfeiting and inkless printing. This work, for the first time utilizing the simultaneous modulation of photocycloaddition and photogenerated radicals in one system, realizes complete PL quenching and light-induced SMM behavior, providing a dynamical switch for the construction of multifunctional polymorphic materials with optical response and optical storage devices.

Occurrence and Flow Behavior for Oil Transport in Mixed Wetting Nanoscale Shale Bedding Fractures.

Shale reservoirs are characterized by an abundance of nanoscale porosities and microfractures. The states of fluid occurrence and flow behaviors within nanoconfined spaces necessitate novel research approaches, as traditional percolation mathematical models are inadequate for accurately depicting these phenomena. This study takes the Gulong shale reservoir in China as the subject of its research. Initially, the unique mixed wetting characteristics of the Gulong shale reservoir are examined and characterized using actual micropore images. Subsequently, the occurrence and flow behavior of oil within the nanoscale bedding fractures under various wettability scenarios are described through a combination of microscopic pore image and molecular dynamics simulations. Ultimately, a mathematical model is established that depicts the velocity distribution of oil and its apparent permeability. This study findings indicate that when the scale of the shale bedding fractures is less than 100 nm, the impact of the nanoconfinement effect is significant and cannot be overlooked. In this scenario, the state of oil occurrence and its flow behavior are influenced by the initial oil-wet surface area on the mixed wetting walls. The study quantifies the velocity and density distribution of oil in mixed wetting nanoscale shale bedding fractures through a mathematical model, providing a crucial theoretical basis for upscaling from the nanoscale to the macroscale.

Single-cell RNA Sequencing Identifies a Novel Subtype of Microglia with High Cd74 Expression that Facilitates White Matter Inflammation During Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion.

Vascular dementia (VaD) causes progressive cognitive decline in the elderly population, but there is short of available therapeutic measures. Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation is vigorously involved in the pathogenesis of VaD, but the traditional classification of microglial M1/M2 phenotypes remains restrictive and controversial. This study aims to investigate whether microglia transform into novel subtypes in VaD. Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) rat model was constructed to mimic VaD. Microglia were isolated via magnetic-activated cell sorting and analyzed by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bioinformatics. The findings inferred from scRNA-seq and bioinformatics were further validated through in vivo experiments. In this study, microglia were divided into eight clusters. The proportion of MG5 cluster was significantly increased in the white matter of the CCH group compared with the Sham group and was named chronic ischemia-associated microglia (CIAM). Immunity- and inflammation-related genes, including RT1-Db1, RT1-Da, RT1-Ba, Cd74, Spp1, C3, and Cd68, were markedly upregulated in CIAM. Enrichment analysis illustrated that CIAM possessed the function of evoking neuroinflammation. Further studies unveiled that Cd74 is associated with the most abundant GO terms involved in inflammation as well as cell proliferation and differentiation. In addition, microglia-specific Cd74 knockdown mediated by adeno-associated virus decreased the abundance of CIAM in the white matter, thereby mitigating inflammatory cytokine levels, alleviating white matter lesions, and improving cognitive impairment for CCH rats. These findings indicate that Cd74 is the core molecule of CIAM to trigger neuroinflammation and induce microglial differentiation to CIAM, suggesting that Cd74 may be a potential therapeutic target for VaD.

Comparative efficacy and safety of SGLT2is and ns-MRAs in patients with diabetic kidney disease: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of non-steroid mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (ns-MRAs) and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) in patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Methods: Systematic literature searches were performed using PubMed, Embase and Web of Science encompassing inception until January 20, 2024. Randomized control trials (RCTs) comparing ns-MRAs and SGLT2is in DKD were selected. The efficacy outcomes of interest included kidney-specific composite outcome, cardiovascular (CV)-specific composite outcome, end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), and overall mortality. We also investigated safety outcomes, including acute kidney injury (AKI) and hyperkalemia. Results: A total of 10 randomized clinical trials with 35,786 patients applying various treatments were included. SGLT2is (SUCRA 99.84%) have potential superiority in kidney protection. SGLT2is (RR 1.41, 95%CI 1.26 to 1.57) and ns-MRAs (RR 1.17, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.27) were associated with significantly lower kidney-specific composite outcome than the placebo. Regarding the reduction in CV-specific composite outcome and ESKD, SGLT2is (SUCRA 91.61%; 91.38%) have potential superiority in playing cardiorenal protection. Concerning the CV-specific composite outcome (RR 1.27, 95%CI 1.09 to 1.43) and ESKD (RR 1.43, 95%CI 1.20 to 1.72), SGLT2is significantly reduced the risks compared to placebo. Regarding the reduction in overall mortality, SGLT2is (SUCRA 83.03%) have potential superiority in postponing mortality. Concerning the overall mortality, SGLT2is have comparable effects (RR 1.27, 95%CI 1.09 to 1.43) with placebo to reduce the risk of overall mortality compared to placebo. For AKI reduction, ns-MRAs (SUCRA 63.58%) have potential superiority. SGLT2is have comparable effects (RR 1.24, 95%CI 1.05 to 1.46) with placebo to reduce the risk of AKI. For hyperkalemia reduction, SGLT2is (SUCRA 93.12%) have potential superiority. SGLT2is have comparable effects (RR 1.24, 95%CI 1.05 to 1.46) with placebo to reduce the risk of AKI. Concerning hyperkalemia reduction, nsMRAs (RR 1.24 95%CI 0.39 to 3.72) and SGLT2is (RR 1.01 95%CI 0.40 to 3.02) did not show significant benefit compared to placebo. Conclusion: Concerning the efficacy and safety outcomes, SGLT2is may be recommended as a treatment regimen for maximizing kidney and cardiovascular protection, with a minimal risk of hyperkalemia in DKD. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023458613.

Nano zero valent iron stimulated acetaldehyde oxidation, electron transfer, and RBO pathway for enhanced medium-chain carboxylic acids production.

Nano zero-valent iron (NZVI) has been shown to effectively enhance the chain elongation (CE) process, addressing the issue of limited yield of medium-chain carboxylic acids (MCCA) from organic wastewater. However, the specific impact of NZVI on the metabolism of CE bacteria (CEB) is not well understood. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the mechanism by which an optimal concentration of NZVI influences CE metabolism, particularly in relation to ethanol oxidation, electron transfer, and MCCA synthesis. This was achieved through single-factor influence experiments and metagenomic analysis. The results showed that the addition of 1 g/gVSS NZVI achieved the highest MCCA yield (n-caproic acid + n-octanoic acid) at 2.02 g COD/L, which was 4.9 times higher than the control. This improvement in MCCA production induced by NZVI was attributed to several factors. Firstly, NZVI facilitated the oxidation of acetaldehyde, leading to its reduced accumulation in the system (from 18.4 % to 5.8 %), due to the optimized chemical environment created by NZVI corrosion, including near-neutral pH and a more reductive oxidation-reduction potential (ORP). Additionally, the inherent conductivity property of NZVI and the additional Fe ions released during corrosion improved the electron transfer efficiency between CEB. Lastly, both the composition of microbial communities and the abundance of unique enzyme genes confirmed the selective stimulation of NZVI on the reverse ß-oxidation (RBO) pathway. These findings provide valuable insights into the role of NZVI in CEB metabolism and its potential application for enhancing MCCA production in CE bioreactors.

Analysis of Biodistribution and in vivo Toxicity of Varying Sized Polystyrene Micro and Nanoplastics in Mice.

Introduction: Studies have shown that microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) could accumulate in the human body and pose a potential threat to human health. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the biodistribution and toxicity of MPs/NPs with different particle sizes comprehensively and thoroughly. Methods: The purpose of this study was to investigate the biodistribution and in vivo toxicity of polystyrene (PS) MPs/NPs with different sizes (50 nm, 100 nm, and 500 nm). The BALB/c mice were given 100 µL of PS50, PS100 and PS500 at the dosage of 1 mg/kg BW or 10 mg/kg BW, respectively, by gavage once a day. After 28 consecutive days of treatment, the biodistribution of differently sized PS MPs/NPs was determined through cryosection fluorescence microscopy and fluorescent microplate reader analysis, and the subsequent effects of differently sized PS MPs/NPs on histopathology, hematology and blood biochemistry were also evaluated. Results: The results showed that the three different sizes of PS MPs/NPs were distributed in the organs of mice, mainly in the liver, spleen, and intestine. At the same time, the smaller the particle size, the more they accumulate in the body and more easily penetrate the tissue. During the whole observation period, no abnormal behavior and weight change were observed. The results of H&E staining showed that no severe histopathological abnormalities were observed in the main organs in the low-dose exposure group, while. Exposure of three sizes of PS MPs/NPs could cause some changes in hematological parameters or biochemical parameters related to heart, liver, and kidney function; meanwhile, there were size- and dose-dependencies. Conclusion: The biological distribution and toxicity of plastic particles in mice were more obvious with the decrease of particle size and the increase of concentration of plastic particles. Compared with MPs, NPs were easier to enter the tissues and produce changes in liver, kidney, and heart functions. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the toxicity of NPs.

Elucidating the formation of the uniform "glass-like" texture in dried-bonito during processing based on microstructure and protein properties.

Dried-bonito (Katsuobushi) exhibits a unique uniform "glass-like" texture after traditional smoke-drying. Herein, we developed a novel processing method for dried-bonito and elucidated the mechanism of transformation of loose muscle into a "glass-like" texture in terms of texture, microstructure, and protein properties. Our findings showed that the unfolding and aggregation of proteins after thermal induction was a key factor in shaping the "glass-like" texture in bonito muscle. During processing, myofibrils aggregated, the originally alternating thick and thin filaments contracted laterally and aligned into a straight line, and protein cross-linking increased. Secondary structural analysis revealed a reduction in unstable ß-turn content from 26.28% to 15.06%. Additionally, an increase in the content of SS bonds was observed, and the conformation changed from g-g-t to a stable g-g-g conformation, enhanced protein conformational stability. Taken together, our findings provide a theoretical basis for understanding the mechanism of formation of the uniform "glass-like" texture in dried-bonito.

Changes in stresses sensitivity of ohmic heating-induced sublethally injured Staphylococcus aureus during repair: Potential mechanisms at the cellular and molecular levels.

Ohmic heating (OH), an emerging food processing technology employed in the food processing industry, raises potential food safety concerns due to the recovery of sublethally injured pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). In the present study, sensitivity to various stress conditions and the changes in cellular-related factors of OH-injured S. aureus during repair were investigated. The results indicated that liquid media differences (nutrient broth (NB), phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), milk, and cucumber juice) affected the recovery process of injured cells. Nutrient enrichment determines the bacterial repair rate, and the rates of repair for these media were milk > NB > cucumber juice > PBS. The sensitivity of injured cells to various stressors, including different acids, temperature, nisin, simulated gastric fluid, and bile salt, increased during the injury phase and subsequently diminished upon repair. Additionally, the intracellular ATP content, enzyme activities (Na+/K+-ATPase, Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase, and T-ATPase) and ion concentrations (Mg2+, K+, and Ca2+) gradually increased during repair. After 5 h of repair, the intracellular substances content of cell's was significantly higher than that of the injured bacteria without repair, while some indicators (e.g., Na+/K+-ATPase, K+, and Ca2+) were not restored to the untreated level. The results of this study indicated that OH-injured S. aureus exhibited strengthened resistance post-recovery, potentially due to the restoration of cellular structures. These findings have implications for optimizing food storage conditions and advancing OH processes in the food industry.

Point-of-Care Testing of Whole Blood for Liver Injury Auxiliary Diagnosis with Biothiols Activable Chemiluminescent Probe.

Liver injury significantly affects a patient's health and quality of life. However, timely and convenient diagnosis of this disease via whole blood detection remains challenging due to the lack of user-friendly and fast readout blood test methods. Herein, we developed such a method for the swift auxiliary diagnosis of liver injury via whole blood detection using a customed point-of-care testing (POCT) system consisting of a biothiols-activatable chemiluminescent probe and a hand-held POCT device. Biothiols served as the target to build the activable chemiluminescence probe due to their abnormal level in liver injury. Compared with fluorescent and electrical POCTs, this method is more convenient and has strong universality. By incorporating cyclodextrin via host-guest chemistry, we intensified chemiluminescence while mitigating chemical hemolysis caused by the dissolution of organic molecules, making this system suitable for whole blood analysis. Preliminary assessments in aqueous solutions, living cells, and mouse models confirmed its sensitivity, reliability, and feasibility. Simply mixing blood with the probe for 30 min yielded a clear signal readout within 15 s on the POCT device. Utilizing this portable detector, the reduced biothiol level was tested in 18 liver injury patient blood samples, and the results were similar to those measured by a commercial kit and in vivo imaging system. Thus, this work provides a universal platform for the fast and convenient detection of other biomarkers in whole blood samples and opens up possibilities for the rapid clinical diagnosis of diseases, enabling patients to conduct home self-examinations with ease.

Ascorbate insufficiency disrupts glutamatergic signaling and alters electroencephalogram phenotypes in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Clinical studies have reported that increased epileptiform and subclinical epileptiform activity can be detected in many patients with an Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis using electroencephalogram (EEG) and this may correlate with poorer cognition. Ascorbate may have a specific role as a neuromodulator in AD as it is released concomitantly with glutamate reuptake following excitatory neurotransmission. Insufficiency may therefore result in an exacerbated excitatory/inhibitory imbalance in neuronal signaling. Using a mouse model of AD that requires dietary ascorbate (Gulo-/-APPswe/PSEN1dE9), EEG was recorded at baseline and during 4 weeks of ascorbate depletion in young (5-month-old) and aged (20-month-old) animals. Data were scored for changes in quantity of spike trains, individual spikes, sleep-wake rhythms, sleep fragmentation, and brainwave power bands during light periods each week. We found an early increase in neuronal spike discharges with age and following ascorbate depletion in AD model mice and not controls, which did not correlate with brain amyloid load. Our data also show more sleep fragmentation with age and with ascorbate depletion. Additionally, changes in brain wave activity were observed within different vigilance states in both young and aged mice, where Gulo-/-APPswe/PSEN1dE9 mice had shifts towards higher frequency bands (alpha, beta, and gamma) and ascorbate depletion resulted in shifts towards lower frequency bands (delta and theta). Microarray data supported ascorbate insufficiency altering glutamatergic transmission through the decreased expression of glutamate related genes, however no changes in protein expression of glutamate reuptake transporters were observed. These data suggest that maintaining optimal brain ascorbate levels may support normal brain electrical activity and sleep patterns, particularly in AD patient populations where disruptions are observed.

Permethrin exposure impacts zebrafish lipid metabolism via the KRAS-PPAR-GLUT signaling pathway, which is mediated by oxidative stress.

Permethrin (Per) is a widely used and frequently detected pyrethroid pesticide in agricultural products and the environment. It may pose potential toxicity to non-target organisms. Per has been reported to affect lipid homeostasis, although the mechanism is undefined. This study aims to explore the characteristic transcriptomic profiles and clarify the underlying signaling pathways of Per-induced lipid metabolism disorder in zebrafish liver. The results showed that environmental exposure to Per caused changes in the liver index, histopathology, and oxidative stress in zebrafish. Moreover, transcriptome results showed that Per heavily altered the pathways involved in metabolism, the immune system, and the endocrine system. We conducted a more in-depth analysis of the genes associated with lipid metabolism. Our findings revealed that exposure to Per led to a disruption in lipid metabolism by activating the KRAS-PPAR-GLUT signaling pathways through oxidative stress. The disruption of lipid homeostasis caused by exposure to Per may also contribute to obesity, hepatitis, and other diseases. The results may provide new insights for the risk of Permethrin to aquatic organisms and new horizons for the pathogenesis of hepatotoxicity.