Submerged macrophyte restoration enhanced microbial carbon utilization in shallow lakes.

Submerged macrophytes are integral to the functioning of shallow lakes through their interaction with microorganisms. However, we have a limited understanding of how microbial communities in shallow lakes respond when macrophytes are restored after being historically extirpated. Here, we explored the interactions between prokaryotic communities and carbon utilization in two lakes where submerged macrophytes were restored. We found restoration reduced total carbon in sediment by 8.9 %-27.9 % and total organic carbon by 16.7 %-36.9 % relative to control treatment, but had no effects on carbon content in the overlying water. Sediment microbial communities were more sensitive to restoration than planktonic microbes and showed enhanced utilization of simple carbon substrates, such as Tween 40, after restoration. The increase in carbon utilization was attributed to declines in the relative abundance of some genera, such as Saccharicenans and Desertimonas, which were found weakly associated with the utilization of different carbon substrates. These genera likely competed with microbes with high carbon utilization in restored areas, such as Lubomirskia. Our findings highlight how restoring submerged macrophytes can enhance microbial carbon utilization and provide guidance to improve the carbon sequestration capacity of restored shallow lakes.

Unraveling the nuclear isotope tapestry: Applications, challenges, and future horizons in a dynamic landscape.

Nuclear isotopes, distinct atoms characterized by varying neutron counts, have profoundly influenced a myriad of sectors, spanning from medical diagnostics and therapeutic interventions to energy production and defense strategies. Their multifaceted applications have been celebrated for catalyzing revolutionary breakthroughs, yet these advancements simultaneously introduce intricate challenges that warrant thorough investigation. These challenges encompass safety protocols, potential environmental detriments, and the complex geopolitical landscape surrounding nuclear proliferation and disarmament. This comprehensive review embarks on a deep exploration of nuclear isotopes, elucidating their nuanced classifications, wide-ranging applications, intricate governing policies, and the multifaceted impacts of their unintended emissions or leaks. Furthermore, the study meticulously examines the cutting-edge remediation techniques currently employed to counteract nuclear contamination while projecting future innovations in this domain. By weaving together historical context, current applications, and forward-looking perspectives, this review offers a panoramic view of the nuclear isotope landscape. In conclusion, the significance of nuclear isotopes cannot be understated. As we stand at the crossroads of technological advancement and ethical responsibility, this review underscores the paramount importance of harnessing nuclear isotopes' potential in a manner that prioritizes safety, sustainability, and the greater good of humanity.

Energy level measurement for organic semiconductors.

Along with the miniaturization and versatility of organic optoelectronic devices, it is desired to achieve a profound comprehension of the charge transport mechanism and even the basic device physics. The basis of these studies is the acquisition of relevant information about energy levels. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of five commonly-used techniques, including cyclic voltammetry, ultraviolet electron spectroscopy, inverse photoemission electron spectroscopy, low energy inverse photoemission spectroscopy and hot electron spectroscopy. According to the advantages and disadvantages, working mechanism, and application conditions, researchers will screen out a reliable and suitable characterization method, quickly and accurately. This should be beneficial for the efficient promotion of organic electronics and save valuable time for the related research studies.

Effects of attapulgite on the growth status of submerged macrophytes Vallisneria spiralis and sediment microenvironment.

The effects of raw attapulgite clay and thermally modified attapulgite clay on the growth status of submerged plant Vallisneria Spiralis (V. spiralis) and the microenvironment of sediment were first explored. The results demonstrated that the attapulgite could effectively promote the development of V. spiralis and improve plant stress resistance by enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes. The 10% addition of attapulgite clay increased the biomass of V. spiralis by 27%∼174%, and the promoted rate of raw attapulgite clay was 2∼5 times of modified attapulgite clay. The attapulgite increased redox potential in sediment (P < 0.05) and provided proper niches for organism propagation, further promoting the degradation of organic matter and nutrient metabolism in sediment. The value of Shannon, Chao, and Ace was 9.98, 4865.15, 5029.08 in the 10% modified attapulgite group, and 10.12, 4856.85, 4947.78 in the 20% raw attapulgite group, respectively, indicating that the attapulgite could increase the microbial diversity and abundance in sediment. Additionally, the nutrient elements, such as Ca, Na, S, Mg, K, Zn, and Mo, that dissolved from attapulgite may also promote the V. spiralis growth. This study provided an environment-friendly approach to facilitating submerged macrophyte restoration in the eutrophic lake ecosystem.

Study on adsorption and recovery utilization of phosphorus using alkali melting-hydrothermal treated oil-based drilling cutting ash.

Oil-based drill cutting ash (OBDCA) was treated by alkali melting-hydrothermal method and used as novel adsorbent (AM-HT-OBDCA) for the recovery of phosphorus (P) in water body. The experiment parameter for preparation of AM-HT-OBDCA was optimized, including alkali melting ratio (MOBDCA: MNaOH), alkali melting temperature and hydrothermal temperature. The adsorption process of phosphorus on AM-HT-OBDCA was fit well with the pseudo-second-order model and the Langmuir model. The calculated theoretic adsorption capacity of phosphorus on AM-HT-OBDCA was 62.9 mg/g. The adsorption behavior was spontaneous and endothermic. The effect of pH value and interfering ions on the adsorption of phosphorus in AM-HT-OBDCA was investigated. The main existing form of adsorbed phosphorus on AM-HT-OBDCA was sodium hydroxide extraction form phosphorus (NaOH-P), including iron form phosphorus (Fe-P) and aluminum form phosphorus (Al-P). Precipitation and ligand exchange were the main mechanisms of phosphorus adsorption on AM-HT-OBDCA. The AM-HT-OBDCA used for phosphorus adsorption (AM-HT-OBDCA-P) could be further utilized as fertilizer to promote plant growth. The results of this study provide fundamental data and evaluation support for resource utilization of OBDCA. These results will also provide a reference for the adsorption and recovery utilization of phosphorus using solid waste-based adsorbent.

Socioeconomic inequalities in cancer incidence and access to health services among children and adolescents in China: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Despite the substantial burden caused by childhood cancer globally, childhood cancer incidence obtained in a nationwide childhood cancer registry and the accessibility of relevant health services are still unknown in China. We comprehensively assessed the most up-to-date cancer incidence in Chinese children and adolescents, nationally, regionally, and in specific population subgroups, and also examined the association between cancer incidence and socioeconomic inequality in access to health services. METHODS: In this national cross-sectional study, we used data from the National Center for Pediatric Cancer Surveillance, the nationwide Hospital Quality Monitoring System, and public databases to cover 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in mainland China. We estimated the incidence of cancer among children (aged 0-14 years) and adolescents (aged 15-19 years) in China through stratified proportional estimation. We classified regions by socioeconomic status using the human development index (HDI). Incidence rates of 12 main groups, 47 subgroups, and 81 subtypes of cancer were reported and compared by sex, age, and socioeconomic status, according to the third edition of the International Classification of Childhood Cancer. We also quantified the geographical and population density of paediatric oncologists, pathology workforce, diagnoses and treatment institutions of paediatric cancer, and paediatric beds. We used the Gini coefficient to assess equality in access to these four health service indicators. We also calculated the proportions of cross-regional patients among new cases in our surveillance system. FINDINGS: We estimated the incidence of cancer among children (aged 0-14 years) and adolescents (aged 15-19 years) in China from Jan 1, 2018, to Dec 31, 2020. An estimated 121 145 cancer cases were diagnosed among children and adolescents in China between 2018 and 2020, with world standard age-standardised incidence rates of 122·86 (95% CI 121·70-124·02) per million for children and 137·64 (136·08-139·20) per million for adolescents. Boys had a higher incidence rate of childhood cancer (133·18 for boys vs 111·21 for girls per million) but a lower incidence of adolescent cancer (133·92 for boys vs 141·79 for girls per million) than girls. Leukaemias (42·33 per million) were the most common cancer group in children, whereas malignant epithelial tumours and melanomas (30·39 per million) surpassed leukaemias (30·08 per million) in adolescents as the cancer with the highest incidence. The overall incidence rates ranged from 101·60 (100·67-102·51) per million in very low HDI regions to 138·21 (137·14-139·29) per million in high HDI regions, indicating a significant positive association between the incidence of childhood and adolescent cancer and regional socioeconomic status (p<0·0001). The incidence in girls showed larger variation (48·45% from the lowest to the highest) than boys (36·71% from lowest to highest) in different socioeconomic regions. The population and geographical densities of most health services also showed a significant positive correlation with HDI levels. In particular, the geographical density distribution (Gini coefficients of 0·32-0·47) had higher inequalities than population density distribution (Gini coefficients of 0·05-0·19). The overall proportion of cross-regional patients of childhood and adolescent cancer was 22·16%, and the highest proportion occurred in retinoblastoma (56·54%) and in low HDI regions (35·14%). INTERPRETATION: Our study showed that the burden of cancer in children and adolescents in China is much higher than previously nationally reported from 2000 to 2015. The distribution of the accessibility of health services, as a social determinant of health, might have a notable role in the socioeconomic inequalities in cancer incidence among Chinese children and adolescents. With regards to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, policy approaches should prioritise increasing the accessibility of health services for early diagnosis to improve outcomes and subsequently reduce disease burdens, as well as narrowing the socioeconomic inequalities of childhood and adolescent cancer. FUNDING: National Major Science and Technology Projects of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Chinese Academy of Engineering Consulting Research Project, Wu Jieping Medical Foundation, Beijing Municipal Administration of Hospitals Incubating Program.

Long-term study of ecological restoration in a typical shallow urban lake.

We investigated the long-term effects (6 years) of sediment improvement and submerged plant restoration of a subtropical shallow urban lake, Hangzhou West Lake China. To reveal the lake ecosystems variations, we analyzed the sediment properties, submerged macrophyte characteristics, sediment microorganisms, and benthic macroinvertebrate communities from 2015 to 2020. The ecological restoration project decreased sediment TP and OM, increased submerged macrophyte biomass and sediment microbial diversity, and improved the benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the restored area. The sediment TP decreased from 2.94 mg/g in 2015 to 1.33 mg/g in 2020. The sediment OM of the restored area decreased from 27.44 % in 2015 to 8.08 % in 2020. Principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed that the restoration improved the sediment conditions, making it suitable for the growth of submerged macrophytes, and then sped up the restoration and reconstruction of the lake ecosystem. These results have significant implications on the ecological management of shallow lakes.

Combined remediation mechanism of bentonite and submerged plants on lake sediments by DGT technique.

The diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique was applied to determine the mechanism by which bentonite improves the eutrophic lake sediment microenvironment and enhances submerged plant growth. The migration dynamics of N, P, S, and other nutrient elements were established for each sediment layer and the remediation effects of bentonite and submerged plants on sediments were evaluated. Submerged plant growth in the bentonite group was superior to that of the Control. At harvest time, the growth of Vallisneria spiralis and Hydrilla verticillata was optimal on a substrate consisting of five parts eutrophic lake sediment to one part modified bentonite (MB5/1). Bentonite addition to the sediment was conducive to rhizosphere microorganism proliferation. Microbial abundance was highest under the MB5/1 treatment whilst microbial diversity was highest under the RB1/1 (equal parts raw bentonite and eutrophic lake sediment) treatment. Bentonite addition to the sediment may facilitate the transformation of nutrients to bioavailable states. The TP content of the bentonite treatment was 22.47%-46.70% lower than that of the Control. Nevertheless, the bentonite treatment had higher bioavailable phosphorus (BIP) content than the control. The results of this study provide theoretical and empirical references for the use of a combination of modified bentonite and submerged plants to remediate eutrophic lake sediment microenvironments.

Effects of vermiculite on the growth process of submerged macrophyte Vallisneria spiralis and sediment microecological environment.

Ecological restoration is one of the hot technologies for the reconstruction of eutrophic lake ecosystems in which the restoration and propagation of submerged plants is the key and difficult step. In this paper, the effect of vermiculite on the growth process of Vallisneria spiralis and sediment microenvironment were investigated, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the application of vermiculite in aquatic ecological restoration. Results of growth indexes demonstrated that 5% and 10% vermiculite treatment groups statistically promote the growth of Vallisneria spiralis compared to the control. Meanwhile, the results of ecophysiological indexes showed that photosynthetic pigment, soluble sugar content, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activity of 5% and 10% group were increased compared with the control while the malondialdehyde (MDA) content exhibited the opposite result (p < 0.05), which illustrated that vermiculite can improve the resistance of plants and delay the aging process of Vallisneria spiralis. In addition, result of PCA (Principal Component Analysis) demonstrated 5% and 10% group has improved the sediment physical conditions and create more ecological niche for microorganisms directly, and then promoted the growth of plants. The dissolution results showed that vermiculite can dissolve the constant and trace elements needed for plant growth. Furthermore, the addition of vermiculite increased the diversity of microorganisms in the sediments, and promoted the increase of plant growth-promoting bacteria and phosphorus-degrading bacteria. This study could provide a technique reference for the further application of vermiculite in the field of ecological restoration.

A novel energy level detector for molecular semiconductors.

The multifunction of molecule-based devices is always achieved by improving their charge transport characteristics. These characteristics depend strongly on the energy levels of molecular semiconductors, which fundamentally govern the working principle and device performance. Therefore, an accurate measurement of these energy levels is crucial for evaluating the availability of the prepared materials and thus optimizing the device performance. Here, an easy-to-operate three-terminal hot electron transistor has been developed, which comprises a molecular optoelectronic device that records the charge transport. It achieves exceptional properties including the lowest unoccupied molecular orbit level, highest occupied molecular orbit level, higher energy states, and higher electronic bandgap. When compared with existing techniques such as cyclic voltammetry, inverse photoemission spectroscopy, and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy, the hot electron transistor provides in-situ characterization and categorizes the measured energy information as intrinsic properties of the molecular semiconductor. Furthermore, we provide an in-depth understanding of the fundamental device-physics, which provides promising guidance for performance optimization.

A novel polymer electrolyte with high elasticity and high performance for lithium metal batteries.

A polymer electrolyte with high elasticity and high performance is prepared by IN SITU polymerization. The polymer electrolyte is amorphous and has a high ionic conductivity of 7.9 × 10-4 S cm-1 and good elasticity. The discharge capacity of Li/LiFePO4 in the 100th cycle is 133.90 mA h g-1 (0.5C, 25 °C).

CBDPS 1.0: A Python GUI Application for Machine Learning Models to Predict Bitter-Tasting Children's Oral Medicines.

Bitter tastes are innately aversive and are thought to help protect animals from consuming poisons. Children are extremely sensitive to drug tastes, and their compliance is especially poor with bitter medicine. Therefore, judging whether a drug is bitter and adopting flavor correction and taste-masking strategies are key to solving the problem of drug compliance in children. Although various machine learning models for bitterness and sweetness prediction have been reported in the literature, no learning model or bitterness database for children's medication has yet been reported. In this study, we trained four different machine learning models to predict bitterness. The goal of this study was to develop and validate a machine learning model called the "Children's Bitter Drug Prediction System" (CBDPS) based on Tkinter, which predicts the bitterness of a medicine based on its chemical structure. Users can enter the Simplified Molecular-Input Line-Entry System (SMILES) formula for a single compound or multiple compounds, and CBDPS will predict the bitterness of children's medicines made from those XGBoost-Molecular ACCess System (XgBoost-MACCS) model yielded an accuracy of 88% under cross-validation.

Changes of microbial community structure during the initial stage of biological clogging in horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands.

The clogging is a universal problem in constructed wetlands, where microorganisms play an essential role. However, the implication of micro-organism variation due to the clogging is not clear. Four horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands (HFCWs) were designed and operated to simulate the process of clogging. The wetland treatment performance and microbial community variation were investigated by regularly monitoring. Results showed the substrate filtration rate and the total phosphorous (TP) removal efficiency consistently decreased and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency were at the range of 50%-85% and 10-20%, respectively. The sequencing results indicated that the clogging could affect the richness of bacterial community. The bacterial variation could be attributed to the dissolved oxygen decreasing and organic matter accumulation in the initial clogging period. These findings are expected to provide some theoretical reference for developing the biological methods to indicate the initial clogging in constructed wetlands.

Integrated Pharmacological Analysis on the Mechanism of Fuyou Formula in Treating Precocious Puberty.

Fu-you formula (FY), a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula composed of 12 herbs, as an in-hospital preparation, has been used treat to precocious puberty (PP) for decades. However, the lack of phytochemical characterization and mechanism of FY remains the main limitation for its spreading. In this study, we analyze the components and mechanisms of FY in PP, based on the integrated pharmacology. Investigated main constituents, targets, pathways of FY by using an integrative pharmacology, and recognized main constituents by HPLC-MS/MS. Then, observed the levels of Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estrogen (E2) in danazol-induced PP in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Lastly, retrospective study analyzed the clinical data of 575 patients who were diagnosed PP, treated by the FY, and followed-up in our hospital from 2014-2020. The result that total of 116 important candidate targets were selected based on pharmacological analysis. Selected the top 10 values key targets such as the estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), were localized and the related gene functions were determined. Gene functions were associated with biological regulation, a cellular process, or signaling pathway, such as the Estrogen signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. By recognizing the five compounds related to the ESR1 and IGF1, which are Quercetin, kaempferol, Luteolin, Apigenin, and Emodin. The results of the molecular docking study further showed that the flavonoids had a strong binding affinity for ESR1 and IGF1 after docking into the crystal structure. The results showed that the FY could effectively reduce E2, LH, and FSH levels in SD rats. Furthermore, the results of the retrospective analysis of medical records showed that the FY could remarkably reduce E2 levels in girls with PP.

Effects of bentonite on the growth process of submerged macrophytes and sediment microenvironment.

The effects of clay mineral bentonite on the growth process of submerged macrophyte V. spiralis and sediment microenvironment were investigated in the study for the first time, aiming to determine whether it is suitable for application in the field of ecological restoration. The growth index, and physiological and biochemical index of V. spiralis in the experiments were measured once a month, and the changes of rhizosphere microorganisms and physicochemical properties of sediments were also studied at the same time. The results demonstrated that bentonite can effectively promote the growth of V. spiralis. The treatment groups of RB1/1 and MB1/5 (the mass ratios of bentonite to sediment were 1/1 and 1/5, respectively.) showed the best V. spiralis growth promotion rates which were 18.78%, and 11.79%, respectively. The highest microbial diversity and abundance existed in group of RB10 (the mass ratio of sediment to bentonite was 10/1), in which the OTUs, Shannon, Chao and Ace were 1521.0, 5.20, 1712.26, and 1686.31, respectively. Bentonite was conducive to the propagation of rhizosphere microorganisms, and further changed the physical and chemical properties of the sediment microenvironment. The nutrient elements dissolved from bentonite may be one of the main reasons that promoted the growth of V. spiralis. The purpose of this result is to prove that bentonite can be further applied as sediment improver and growing media in ecological restoration projects in eutrophic shallow lakes.

Favorable Electrochemical Performance of LiMn2O4/LiFePO4 Composite Electrodes Attributed to Composite Solid Electrolytes for All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries.

Li1.5Al0.5Ge1.5(PO4)3 (LAGP)-PEO composite electrolytes are unstable in LiMn2O4. In addition, the discharge platform potential (2.8 and 4.0 V) difference of LiMn2O4 is relatively large, whereas the discharge platform potential (3.5 V) of LiFePO4 is between 2.8 and 4.0 V. Thus, LiMn2O4 and LiFePO4 can be compounded together to reduce the material platform voltage difference and obtain the advantages of both materials at the same time. Here, LiMn2O4/LiFePO4 composite cathodes were applied in solid-state batteries. LAGP-PEO(LiTFSI) was used as the electrolyte. The Li/composite cathode battery using composite electrolytes has a reversible capacity of 192.8 mAh g-1 at 50 °C and 0.1 C. It possesses favorable rate performance and exhibits very good cycling stability. In addition, the composite electrolytes can prevent the further occurrence of the Jahn-Teller effect. Meanwhile, the charge-transfer resistance slightly decreases in 10 cycles. The excellent capacity retention of the battery is connected with the excellent electrochemical stability and the well-interfaced contacts of the composite electrolytes with electrodes.

Spatial and seasonal variation of water parameters, sediment properties, and submerged macrophytes after ecological restoration in a long-term (6 year) study in Hangzhou west lake in China: Submerged macrophyte distribution influenced by environmental variables.

Submerged macrophyte restoration is the key stage in the reestablishment of an aquatic ecosystem. Previous studies have paid considerable attention to the effect of multiple environmental factors on submerged macrophytes. Meanwhile, few studies have been conducted regarding the spatial and seasonal characteristics of water and sediment properties and their long-term relationship with submerged macrophytes after the implementation of the submerged macrophytes restoration project. On a monthly basis, we monitored the spatial and seasonal variation in water parameters, sediment properties, and the submerged macrophyte characteristics of West Lake in Hangzhou from August 2013 to July 2019. From these measurements, we characterized the relationship between environmental factors and submerged macrophytes. Water nutrient concentrations continuously decreased with time, and the accumulation of sediment nutrients was accelerated as the submerged macrophyte communities developed on a long-term scale. The results indicated that the difference in water parameters was due to seasonal changes and land-use types in the watershed. The differences in the sediment properties were mainly attributed to seasonal changes and changes in the flow field. Redundancy analysis showed that the influence of water nutrients on the submerged macrophyte distribution was greater than that of sediment nutrients. The result also suggested that the developed root system, high stoichiometric homeostasis coefficients of P, and compensation ability of substantial leaf tissue may lead to a large distribution of Vallisneria natans in West Lake in Hangzhou. The correlation of water parameters and sediment properties with submerged macrophytes for a long time was very important as the restoration was achieved. To ensure the stability of the aquatic ecosystem after performing the submerged macrophyte restoration, a greater emphasis must be placed on reestablishing the entire ecosystem, including the restoration of aquatic animals and fish stocks. We expect these findings to serve as a reference for researchers and government agencies in the field of aquatic ecosystem restoration.