Epiphytic bacterial community composition on four submerged macrophytes in different regions of Taihu Lake.

The epiphytic bacteria in aquatic ecosystems, inhabiting a unique ecological niche with significant ecological function, have long been the subject of attention. Habitat characteristics and plant species are believed to be important in controlling the assembly of epiphytic bacteria. However, the underlying principle governing the assembly of the epiphytic bacterial community on macrophytes is far from clear. In this study, we systematically compared the diversity and community composition of epiphytic bacteria both in different habitats and on different species of macrophytes where they were attached. Results suggested that neither the plant species nor the habitat had a significant effect on the diversity and community of epiphytic bacteria independently, indicating that the epiphytic bacterial community composition was correlated to both geographical distance and individual species of macrophytes. Furthermore, almost all of the abundant taxa were shared between different lake regions or macrophyte species, and the most abundant bacteria belonged to Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. Our results demonstrated that the competitive lottery model may explain the pattern of epiphytic bacterial colonization of submerged macrophyte surfaces. This research could provide a new perspective for exploring plant-microbe interaction in aquatic systems and new evidence for the lottery model as the mechanism best explaining the assembly of epiphytic bacteria.

Improved Measurement of the Differential Polarizability Using Co-Trapped Ions.

We present a novel approach for measuring the differential static scalar polarizability of a target ion utilizing a "polarizability scale" scheme with a reference ion co-trapped in a linear Paul trap. The differential static scalar polarizability of the target ion can be precisely extracted by measuring the ratio of the ac Stark shifts induced by an add-on infrared laser shed on both ions. This method circumvents the need for the calibration of the intensity of the add-on laser, which is usually the bottleneck for measurements of the polarizability of trapped ions. As a demonstration, ^{27}Al^{+} (the target ion) and ^{40}Ca^{+} (the reference ion) are used in this work, with an add-on laser at 1068 nm injected into the ion trap along the trap axis. The differential static scalar polarizability of ^{27}Al^{+} is extracted to be 0.416(14) a.u. by measuring the ratio of the ac Stark shifts of both ions. Compared to the most recent result [Phys. Rev. Lett. 123, 033201 (2019)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.123.033201], the relative uncertainty of the differential static scalar polarizability of ^{27}Al^{+} is reduced by approximately a factor of 4, to 3.4%. This improvement is expected to be further enhanced by using an add-on laser with a longer wavelength.

Emergence of Interfacial Magnetism in Strongly-Correlated Nickelate-Titanate Superlattices.

Strongly-correlated transition-metal oxides are widely known for their various exotic phenomena. This is exemplified by rare-earth nickelates such as LaNiO3, which possess intimate interconnections between their electronic, spin, and lattice degrees of freedom. Their properties can be further enhanced by pairing them in hybrid heterostructures, which can lead to hidden phases and emergent phenomena. An important example is the LaNiO3/LaTiO3 superlattice, where an interlayer electron transfer has been observed from LaTiO3 into LaNiO3 leading to a high-spin state. However, macroscopic emergence of magnetic order associated with this high-spin state has so far not been observed. Here, by using muon spin rotation, x-ray absorption, and resonant inelastic x-ray scattering, direct evidence of an emergent antiferromagnetic order with high magnon energy and exchange interactions at the LaNiO3/LaTiO3 interface is presented. As the magnetism is purely interfacial, a single LaNiO3/LaTiO3 interface can essentially behave as an atomically thin strongly-correlated quasi-2D antiferromagnet, potentially allowing its technological utilization in advanced spintronic devices. Furthermore, its strong quasi-2D magnetic correlations, orbitally-polarized planar ligand holes, and layered superlattice design make its electronic, magnetic, and lattice configurations resemble the precursor states of superconducting cuprates and nickelates, but with an S→1 spin state instead.

Vibrationally-resolved RIXS reveals OH-group formation in oxygen redox active Li-ion battery cathodes.

Vibrationally-resolved resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (VR-RIXS) at the O K-edge is emerging as a powerful tool for identifying embedded molecules in lithium-ion battery cathodes. Here, we investigate two known oxygen redox-active cathode materials: the commercial LixNi0.90Co0.05Al0.05O2 (NCA) used in electric vehicles and the high-capacity cathode material Li1.2Ni0.13Co0.13Mn0.54O2 (LRNMC) for next-generation Li-ion batteries. We report the detection of a novel vibrational RIXS signature for Li-ion battery cathodes appearing in the O K pre-peak above 533 eV that we attribute to OH-groups. We discuss likely locations and pathways for OH-group formation and accumulation throughout the active cathode material. Initial-cycle behaviour for LRNMC shows that OH-signal strength correlates with the cathodes state of charge, though reversibility is incomplete. The OH-group RIXS signal strength in long-term cycled NCA is retained. Thus, VR-RIXS offers a path for gaining new insights to oxygen reactions in battery materials.

[Occurrence and Distribution of Potential Dangerous Biological Agents in Beijing Suburban Rivers].

Dangerous biological agents （DBAs） refer to microorganisms, toxins, and other biological substances that have the potential to cause significant harm to humans, animals, plants, and the environment. They are the primary target of the prevention and response in China's Biosafety Law, and it is of great importance to clarify the characteristics of DBAs in the Beijing suburban rivers for the insurance of the water safety in Beijing. The typical Beijing suburban rivers （Mangniu River, Chaohe River, and Baihe River） were selected, and the occurrence and distribution of DBAs concerning the molecular biology composition as the nucleic acid （antibiotic resistance genes, ARGs）, nucleic acid and proteins （viruses）, and intact cellular structures （pathogens） were determined based on the metagenomics. The results showed that there was a high abundance of multidrug-resistant ARGs in the water and substrates of the urban river； on average, they made up 74.11% ±6.82% of the total, and the abundance of aminoglycoside and MLS （macrolide-lincosamide-streptomycin）-resistant ARGs was the highest, but the predominant subtypes of ARGs were of low risk and had limited transmission potential. The viruses in the tributary mainly belonged to the phages, most of which were Kyanoviridae and Peduoviridae, with averages of 16.98% ±8.44% and 16.19% ±10.79%, respectively. Eukaryotic viral populations consisted mainly of members from the Mimiviridae and Phycodnaviridae families, with averages of 10.37% ±12.68% and 8.34% ±6.97%, respectively, whereas there were few viruses related to human and animal diseases. The pathogenic bacteria mainly contained Neisseria meningitidis, Brucella suis, Salmonella enterica, and Burkholderia pseudomalle, with averages of 19.17% ±3.63%, 12.76% ±2.88%, 11.22% ±1.95%, and 8.26% ±1.84%, respectively. The composition and abundance of pathogenic bacteria varied significantly among different tributaries and locations, possibly owing to water quality, pollution sources, environmental factors, and human activities. These findings can provide data support for the water safety management and biological risk control of Beijing suburban rivers.

Reducing Oxidative Stress-Mediated Alcoholic Liver Injury by Multiplexed RNAi of Cyp2e1, Cyp4a10, and Cyp4a14.

The prevalence of excessive drinking-related alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is rising, yet therapeutic options remain limited. High alcohol consumption and consequent oxidative metabolism by cytochrome P450 (CYP) can lead to extremely high levels of reactive oxygen species, which overwhelm cellular defenses and harm hepatocytes. Our previous investigations showed that inhibiting Cyp2e1 using RNA interference reduced the incidence of ALD. However, compensatory mechanisms other than CYP2E1 contribute to oxidative stress in the liver. Therefore, we coupled triple siRNA lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) targeting Cyp2e1 with two isoenzymes Cyp4a10 and Cyp4a14 to treat ALD mouse models fed with Lieber-Decarli ethanol liquid diet for 12 weeks at the early (1st week), middle (5th week), and late (9th week) stages. The administration of triple siRNA LNPs significantly ameliorated chronic alcoholic liver injury in mice, and early treatment achieved the most profound effects. These effects can be attributed to a reduction in oxidative stress and increased expression of antioxidant genes, including Gsh-Px, Gsh-Rd, and Sod1. Moreover, we observed the alleviation of inflammation, evidenced by the downregulation of Il-1ß, Il-6, Tnf-α, and Tgf-ß, and the prevention of excessive lipid synthesis, evidenced by the restoration of the expression of Srebp1c, Acc, and Fas. Finally, triple siRNA treatment maintained normal metabolism in lipid oxidation. In brief, our research examined the possible targets for clinical intervention in ALD by examining the therapeutic effects of triple siRNA LNPs targeting Cyp2e1, Cyp4a10, and Cyp4a14. The in vivo knockdown of the three genes in this study is suggested as a promising siRNA therapeutic approach for ALD.

Melatonin Rescues Influenza A Virus-Induced Cellular Energy Exhaustion via OMA1-OPA1-S in Acute Exacerbation of COPD.

Although rapid progression and a poor prognosis in influenza A virus (IAV) infection-induced acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are frequently associated with metabolic energy disorders, the underlying mechanisms and rescue strategies remain unknown. We herein demonstrated that the level of resting energy expenditure increased significantly in IAV-induced AECOPD patients and that cellular energy exhaustion emerged earlier and more significantly in IAV-infected primary COPD bronchial epithelial (pDHBE) cells. The differentially expressed genes were enriched in the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway; additionally, we consistently uncovered much earlier ATP exhaustion, more severe mitochondrial structural destruction and dysfunction, and OXPHOS impairment in IAV-inoculated pDHBE cells, and these changes were rescued by melatonin. The level of OMA1-dependent cleavage of OPA1 in the mitochondrial inner membrane and the shift in energy metabolism from OXPHOS to glycolysis were significantly increased in IAV-infected pDHBE cells; however, these changes were rescued by OMA1-siRNA or melatonin further treatment. Collectively, our data revealed that melatonin rescued IAV-induced cellular energy exhaustion via OMA1-OPA1-S to improve the clinical prognosis in COPD. This treatment may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for patients in which AECOPD is induced by IAV.

Evaluation of fetal cerebral microvascular status and its relationship with fetal growth and development using microvascular imaging technique.

The study conducted retrospective analysis design, aiming to explore the use of Microvascular Imaging Technique (MVFI) to assess fetal cerebral microcirculation and analyze the relationship between Microvascular Index (MVI) and fetal growth and development. 100 pregnant women who met the criteria for fetal growth restriction (FGR) provided in the Expert Consensus on Fetal Growth Restriction (2019 Edition) and underwent routine prenatal examinations at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Peking University Third Hospital from January 2021 to June 2023 were selected as the study subjects. A normal fetus with a fetal weight less than 10 % can be classified as FGR, Pregnant women with fetal umbilical artery (UA) systolic and diastolic (S/D) values ≥3 were included in the observation group, while 200 pregnant women with normal fetuses were selected as the control group during the same period. The fetuses' change in both groups were measured using color Doppler ultrasound, including bi-parietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), and femur length (FL). The cerebral microcirculation of the fetuses in both groups was evaluated using MVFI, and the MVI values were compared. The clinical characteristics of FGR fetuses with umbilical artery S/D ratio ≥ 3 were summarized, and the correlation between fetal cerebral microvascular status and fetal growth and development was analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis. The outcomes told that the BPD, HC, AC, and FL values of the fetuses in the control group were lower the other's value (P < 0.05), and the MVI and peak systolic velocity of the middle cerebral artery (MCA-PSV) values were also lower in the control group (P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between fetal growth and development and MVI and MCA-PSV values in FGR fetuses. In conclusion, MVFI can monitor and quantitatively analyze fetal intracranial microcirculation, visualize slow blood flow in microvascular structures, and this study provides preliminary evidence of the close relationship between fetal cerebral microcirculation and intrauterine growth and development.

Metabolic reprogramming and heterogeneity during the decidualization process of endometrial stromal cells.

The human endometrial decidualization is a transformative event in the pregnant uterus that involves the differentiation of stromal cells into decidual cells. While crucial to the establishment of a successful pregnancy, the metabolic characteristics of decidual cells in vivo remain largely unexplored. Here, we integrated the single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets on the endometrium of the menstrual cycle and the maternal-fetal interface in the first trimester to comprehensively decrypt the metabolic characteristics of stromal fibroblast cells. Our results revealed that the differentiation of stromal cells into decidual cells is accompanied by increased amino acid and sphingolipid metabolism. Furthermore, metabolic heterogeneity exists in decidual cells with differentiation maturity disparities. Decidual cells with high metabolism exhibit higher cellular activity and show a strong propensity for signaling. In addition, significant metabolic reprogramming in amino acids and lipids also occurs during the transition from non-pregnancy to pregnancy in the uteri of pigs, cattle, and mice. Our analysis provides comprehensive insights into the dynamic landscape of stromal fibroblast cell metabolism, contributing to our understanding of the metabolism at the molecular dynamics underlying the decidualization process in the human endometrium.

Prenatal Exposure of PFAS in Cohorts of Pregnant Women: Identifying the Critical Windows of Vulnerability and Health Implications.

Cohorts of pregnant women in 2018 and 2020 were selected to explore prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Maternal serum during the whole pregnancy (first to third trimesters) and matched cord serum were collected for the analysis of 50 PFAS. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), and 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS) were the dominant PFAS in both the maternal and cord serum. The median ∑PFAS concentration was 14.18 ng/mL, and the ∑PFAS concentration was observed to decline from the first trimester to the third trimester. The transplacental transfer efficiencies (TTE) of 29 PFAS were comprehensively assessed, and a "U"-shaped trend in TTE values with increasing molecular chain length of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid (PFCA) was observed in this study. Moreover, the maternal concentrations of 9-chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanonane-1-sulfonic acid (6:2 Cl-PFESA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUdA), perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA), PFOS, and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) in the 2020 cohort were significantly lower than those in the 2018 cohort, declining by about 23.85-43.2% from 2018 to 2020 (p < 0.05). Higher proportions of emerging PFAS were observed in fetuses born in 2020. This birth cohort was collected during the COVID-19 epidemic period. The change in the PFAS exposure scene might be in response to the different exposure profiles of the 2018 and 2020 cohorts, which are attributed to the impact of COVID-19 on the social activities and environment of pregnant women. Finally, by application of a multiple informant model, the third trimester was identified as the critical window of vulnerability to PFAS exposure that affects birth weight and birth length.

Gut microbiota-derived acetate attenuates lung injury induced by influenza infection via protecting airway tight junctions.

BACKGROUND: Gut microbiota (GM) have been implicated as important regulators of gastrointestinal symptom which is commonly occurred along with respiratory influenza A virus (IAV) infection, suggesting the involvement of the gut-to-lung axis in a host's response to IAV. IAV primarily destroys airway epithelium tight junctions (TJs) and consequently causes acute respiratory disease syndrome. It is known that GM and their metabolism produce an anti-influenza effect, but their role in IAV-induced airway epithelial integrity remains unknown. METHODS: A mouse model of IAV infection was established. GM were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) levels were measured. GM depletion and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) were conducted to validate the role of GM in IAV infection. A pair-feeding experiment was conducted to reveal whether IAV-induced GM dysbiosis is attributed to impaired food intake. Furthermore, human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells were cocultured with IAV in the presence or absence of acetate. TJs function was analyzed by paracellular permeability and transepithelial electronic resistance (TEER). The mechanism of how acetate affects TJs integrity was evaluated in HBE cells transfected with G protein-coupled receptor 43 (GPR43) short hairpin RNA (shRNA). RESULTS: IAV-infected mice exhibited lower relative abundance of acetate-producing bacteria (Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, and Akkermansia) and decreased acetate levels in gut and serum. These changes were partly caused by a decrease in food consumption (due to anorexia). GM depletion exacerbated and FMT restored IAV-induced lung inflammatory injury. IAV infection suppressed expressions of TJs (occludin, ZO-1) leading to disrupted airway epithelial barrier function as evidenced by decreased TEER and increased permeability. Acetate pretreatment activated GPR43, partially restored IAV-induced airway epithelial barrier function, and reduced inflammatory cytokines levels (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß). Such protective effects of acetate were absent in HBE cells transfected with GPR43 shRNA. Acetate and GPR43 improved TJs in an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Collectively, our results demonstrated that GM protected airway TJs by modulating GPR43-AMPK signaling in IAV-induced lung injury. Therefore, improving GM dysbiosis may be a potential therapeutic target for patients with IAV infection.

Enhancing Cancer Therapy: Boron-Rich Polyboronate Ester Micelles for Synergistic Boron Neutron Capture Therapy and PD-1/PD-L1 Checkpoint Blockade.

Malignant cancers, known for their pronounced heterogeneity, pose substantial challenges to monotherapeutic strategies and contribute to the risk of metastasis. Addressing this, our study explores the synergistic potential of combining boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) with immune checkpoint blockade to enhance cancer treatment efficacy. We synthesized boron-rich block copolymer micelles as a novel boron drug for BNCT. Characterization was conducted using nuclear magnetic resonance, gel-permeation chromatography, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering. These micelles, with an optimal size of 91.3 nm and a polydispersity index of 0.18, are suitable for drug delivery applications. In vitro assessments on B16-F10 melanoma cells showed a 13-fold increase in boron uptake with the micelles compared to borophenyl alanine (BPA), the conventional boron drug for BNCT. This resulted in a substantial increase in BNCT efficacy, reducing cell viability to 77% post-irradiation in micelle-treated cells, in contrast to 90% in BPA-treated cells. In vivo, melanoma-bearing mice treated with these micelles exhibited an 8-fold increase in boron accumulation in tumor tissues versus those treated with BPA, leading to prolonged tumor growth delay (5.4 days with micelles versus 3.3 days with BPA). Moreover, combining BNCT with anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy further extended the tumor growth delay to 6.6 days, and enhanced T-cell infiltration and activation at tumor sites, thereby indicating a boosted immune response. This combination demonstrates a promising approach by enhancing cytotoxic T-cell priming and mitigating the immunosuppressive effects of melanoma tumors.

A Prospective Cohort Study of Antimony Exposure and Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults - China, 2017-2021.

What is already known about this topic?: Antimony (Sb) has been identified as a new neurotoxicant that impacts neurological functions in animal studies. However, its effects on the human population remain unknown. What is added by this report?: The study reveals that there is an association between exposure to Sb and a higher incidence of cognitive impairment in older adults. The dose-response curve demonstrates that the risk of cognitive impairment consistently increased with higher levels of Sb exposure without a discernible threshold. What are the implications for public health practice?: Reducing exposure to Sb may have a beneficial effect in delaying or preventing the onset of cognitive impairment. This intervention has the potential to significantly decrease the disease burden associated with cognitive impairment, ultimately contributing to social development.

Systematic Quantitative Analysis of Fetal Dexamethasone Exposure and Fetal Lung Maturation in Pregnant Animals: Model Informed Dexamethasone Precision Dose Study.

Dexamethasone (DEX) was applied in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome treatment of pregnant women. We established a pharmacokinetics (PK)/pharmacodynamics(PD)/end point model of pregnant animals based on published data and then extrapolated to simulate fetal exposure and lung maturation in pregnant women. We first established the PK/PD/end point model for DEX in pregnant sheep. We considered the competitive effect of cortisol (Cort) and DEX binding with glucocorticoid receptor and then used the indirect response model to describe disaturated-phosphatidylcholine (DSPC) dynamics. Based on that, we established a regression relationship between DSPC and fetal lung volume (V40). We then extrapolated the PD/end point model of pregnant sheep to pregnant monkeys by corrected stages of morphologic lung maturation in two species. Finally, we utilized the interspecies extrapolation strategy to simulate fetal exposure (AUC0-48h) and V40 relationship in pregnant women. The current model could well describe the maternal-fetal PK of DEX in pregnant animals. Simulated DEX AUC0-24h values of the umbilical venous to maternal plasma ratio in pregnant sheep and monkeys were 0.31 and 0.27, respectively. The simulated Cort curve and V40 in pregnant sheep closely matched the observed data within a 2-fold range. For pregnant monkeys, model-simulated V40 were well fitted with external verification data, which showed good interspecies extrapolation performance. Finally, we simulated fetal exposure-response relationship in pregnant women, which indicated that the fetal AUC0-48h of DEX should not be less than 300 and 100 ng/mL·hr at GW28 and GW34 to ensure fetal lung maturity. The current model preliminarily provided support for clinical DEX dose optimization.

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Enhanced by Boronate Ester Polymer Micelles: Synthesis, Stability, and Tumor Inhibition Studies.

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) targets invasive, radioresistant cancers but requires a selective and high B-10 loading boron drug. This manuscript investigates boron-rich poly(ethylene glycol)-block-(poly(4-vinylphenyl boronate ester)) polymer micelles synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization for their potential application in BNCT. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed spherical micelles with a uniform size of 43 ± 10 nm, ideal for drug delivery. Additionally, probe sonication proved effective in maintaining the micelles' size and morphology postlyophilization and reconstitution. In vitro studies with B16-F10 melanoma cells demonstrated a 38-fold increase in boron accumulation compared to the borophenylalanine drug for BNCT. In vivo studies in a B16-F10 tumor-bearing mouse model confirmed enhanced tumor selectivity and accumulation, with a tumor-to-blood (T/B) ratio of 2.5, surpassing BPA's T/B ratio of 1.8. As a result, mice treated with these micelles experienced a significant delay in tumor growth, highlighting their potential for BNCT and warranting further research.

Modulation format recognition in a UVLC system based on an ultra-lightweight model with communication-informed knowledge distillation.

Modulation format recognition (MFR) is a key technology for adaptive optical systems, but it faces significant challenges in underwater visible light communication (UVLC) due to the complex channel environment. Recent advances in deep learning have enabled remarkable achievements in image recognition, owing to the powerful feature extraction of neural networks (NN). However, the high computational complexity of NN limits their practicality in UVLC systems. This paper proposes a communication-informed knowledge distillation (CIKD) method that achieves high-precision and low-latency MFR with an ultra-lightweight student model. The student model consists of only one linear dense layer under a communication-informed auxiliary system and is trained under the guidance of a high-complexity and high-precision teacher model. The MFR task involves eight modulation formats: PAM4, QPSK, 8QAM-CIR, 8QAM-DIA, 16QAM, 16APSK, 32QAM, and 32APSK. Experimental results show that the student model based on CIKD can achieve comparable accuracy to the teacher model. After knowledge transfer, the prediction accuracy of the student model can be increased by up to 87%. Besides, it is worth noting that CIKD's inference accuracy can reach up to 100%. Moreover, the parameters constituting the student model in CIKD correspond to merely 18% of the parameters found in the teacher model, which facilitates the hardware deployment and online data processing of MFR algorithms in UVLC systems.

Understanding the Role of Low-Dose Polystyrene Microplastic in Copper Toxicity to Rice Seed (Oryza sativa L.).

There is still much to learn with respect to the potential for microplastics (MPs) to interact with environmental toxins and biota. In the present study, we investigated the effect of MPs on the toxicity of copper (Cu) to rice seeds (Oryza sativa L.). The 7-day median effective concentration (EC50) value of MPs on rice seed germination was 864 mg/L (95% confidence interval [CI] 839 to 897 mg/L). We found that MPs slightly reduced Cu toxicity to rice seeds. The 7-day EC50 of Cu on rice seed germination increased from 7.29 mg/L (95% CI 7.10-7.52 mg/L) to 7.93 mg/L (95% CI 7.58-8.08 mg/L) in the presence of 20 mg/L MPs. We examined this toxicity reduction phenomenon by investigating the role of MPs in the process of Cu transport, Cu accumulation, and metabolic responses. Further investigation found that the MPs used in the present study hardly adsorbed Cu, but these MPs accumulated on the coats of rice seeds and significantly reduced Cu accumulation in rice seedlings. When Cu concentration was 10 mg/L, the presence of MPs reduced the accumulation of Cu in rice seedlings by 34%. We also found that, compared with only Cu present, the addition of MPs resulted in lower reactive oxygen species accumulation and higher catalase activity and glutathione levels in rice seedlings, which also contributed to Cu toxicity reduction. Collectively, the present study shows that polystyrene MPs have the potential to form associations with plant structures which can ultimately impact heavy metal bioaccessibility and therefore toxicity. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1870-1879. © 2024 SETAC.

Positive Associations of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances With Hypertension May Be Attenuated by Endogenous Sex Hormones: A Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) has endocrine-disrupting properties and may affect blood pressure. Endogenous hormones also play a crucial role in the progression of hypertension. However, their interaction with hypertension remains to be explored. METHODS: This study included 10 794 adults aged ≥18 years from the China National Human Biomonitoring program. Weighted multiple logistic regression and linear regression were used to examine the associations of serum PFAS with hypertension, diastolic blood pressure, and systolic blood pressure. Joint effects of PFAS mixtures on hypertension, diastolic blood pressure, and systolic blood pressure were evaluated using quantile-based g-computation. Additive and multiplicative interactions were used to assess the role of PFAS with testosterone and estradiol on hypertension. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension in Chinese adults was 35.50%. Comparing the fourth quartile with the first quartile, odds ratio (95% CI) of hypertension were 1.53 (1.13-2.09) for perfluorononanoic acid, 1.40 (1.03-1.91) for perfluorodecanoic acid, 1.34 (1.02-1.78) for perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid, and 1.46 (1.07-1.99) for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid. Moreover, PFAS mixtures, with perfluorononanoic acid contributing the most, were positively associated with hypertension, diastolic blood pressure, and systolic blood pressure. PFAS and endogenous hormones had an antagonistic interaction in hypertension. For example, the relative excess risk ratio, attributable proportion, and synergy index for perfluorononanoic acid and estradiol were -3.61 (-4.68 to -2.53), -1.65 (-2.59 to -0.71), and 0.25 (0.13-0.47), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Perfluorononanoic acid, perfluorodecanoic acid, perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, and PFAS mixtures showed positive associations with hypertension, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. Positive associations of PFAS with hypertension might be attenuated by increased levels of endogenous sex hormones.

From Intercalation to External Binding: Ru(II) Complexes with a Spiro Ligand for TAR RNA Selective Binding and HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase Inhibition.

As a typical RNA virus, the genetic information on HIV-1 is entirely stored in RNA. The reverse transcription activity of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) plays a crucial role in the replication and transmission of the virus. Non-nucleoside RT inhibitors (NNRTIs) block the function of RT by binding to the RNA binding site on RT, with very few targeting viral RNA. In this study, by transforming planar conjugated ligands into a spiro structure, we convert classical Ru(II) DNA intercalators into a nonintercalator. This enables selective binding to HIV-1 transactivation response (TAR) RNA on the outer side of nucleic acids through dual interactions involving hydrogen bonds and electrostatic attraction, effectively inhibiting HIV-1 RT and serving as a selective fluorescence probe for TAR RNA.

Development of a non-intercepting weak beam current measurement electronics for Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility in Lanzhou.

Non-destructive measurements of low-intensity charged particle beams are particularly challenging for beam diagnostics. At the Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility in Lanzhou (HIRFL), beams with weak currents below 1 µA are often provided for experiments. The detection of such low beam current is below the threshold of typical standard beam current transformers. Therefore, a low-intensity monitoring system is developed by using a sensitive capacitive pick-up (PU) and low-noise electronics. This device measures beam currents by digitally analyzing the amplitude of the PU signals using a homodyne detection scheme. During lab tests, the amplitude nonlinearity is <0.5% in the operational range of 1 nA-45 µA and the amplitude resolution is 0.94 nA. At present, four measurement systems for low beam currents are installed at HIRFL for the monitoring of standard operating conditions with low beam currents below 1 µA. After an absolute calibration with a Faraday cup, it can be used for accurate beam intensity measurement with a current resolution of about 1 nA.