Impacts of oxbow lake evolution on sediment microbial community structure in the Yellow River source region.

Oxbow lake formation and evolution have significant impacts on the fragile Yellow River Basin ecosystem. However, the effects of different oxbow lake evolutionary stages on sediment microbial community structure are not yet understood comprehensively. Therefore, microbial community structure in three stages of oxbow lake succession, namely, lotic lake (early stage), semi-lotic lake (middle stage), and lentic lake (late stage), was investigated in the present study in the Yellow River Basin on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Amplicon sequencing was employed to reveal differences in microbial community diversity and composition. The bacterial and fungal communities in sediment were significantly different among the three succession stages and were driven by different environmental factors. In particular, bacterial community structure was influenced primarily by nitrate-nitrogen (N), microbial biomass phosphorus, and total carbon (C) and organic C in the early, middle, and late stages, respectively. Conversely, fungal community structure was influenced primarily by ammonium-N in the early stage and by moisture content in the middle and late stages. However, the predicted functions of the microbial communities did not exhibit significant differences across the three succession stages. Both bacteria and fungi were influenced significantly by stochastic factors. Homogeneous selection had a high relative contribution to bacteria community assembly in the middle stage, whereas the relative contributions of heterogeneous selection processes to fungal community assembly increased through the three stages. As succession time increased, the total number of keystone species increased gradually, and the late succession stage had high network complexity and the highest network stability. The findings could facilitate further elucidation of the evolution mechanisms of oxbow lake source area, high-altitude river evolution dynamics, in addition to aiding a deeper understanding of the long-term ecological evolution patterns of source river ecosystems.

Coordination analysis of flood-sediment transportation, eco-environment, and socio-economy coupling in the governance of the Yellow River Basin system.

The watershed system has a complex game relationship between the benign operation and coordinated development of various elements of flood-sediment transportation, eco-environment, and socio-economy (FES). With the increasing breadth, depth, and intensity of human activities in watersheds, it is urgent to coordinate the FES. The relationship of water-sediment in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) is complex, with a prominent contradiction in water supply and a fragile ecosystem. This research tries to build a comprehensive evaluation model for FES and explore the complex interaction between FES in the YRB from 2000 to 2020. The results demonstrated that (1) the comprehensive flood-sediment transportation index (CFTI) and comprehensive eco-environment index (CEI) presented fluctuating growth. In contrast, the comprehensive socio-economy index (CSI) revealed a linear growth trend. The CFTI of Sanmenxia, CEI of Toudaokuan, and CSI of Ningxia had the highest growth rates, with 36.03%, 6.48%, and 107.5%, respectively. (2) FES's positive and negative effects were alternating, with heterogeneity in both time and space. (3) The coupling coordination degree (CCD) in the YRB indicated an increasing trend, ranging from 0.53 to 0.87, from reluctantly coordinated development to good coordinated development. The lagging subsystem was CFTI (2000-2001 and 2008-2020) and CSI (2002-2007), and the CEI was not lagging. (4) Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA) demonstrated significant differences in the CCD of the YRB, and areas with similar CCD within the basin tend to be centrally distributed in space. At the same time, there was negative spatial autocorrelation in coordination. The results provide a scientific theoretical and methodological framework for strategic research on the YRB system's governance, protection, and management.

Establishing a quantitative assessment methodology framework of water conservation based on the water balance method under spatiotemporal and different discontinuous ecosystem scales.

Water conservation (WC) is an essential terrestrial ecosystem service that mitigates surface runoff and replenishes groundwater, which has received considerable attention under the dual pressures of climate change and human activity. However, there is insufficient understanding of the trends in WC changes on temporal (annual, monthly, daily), spatial, and ecosystem scales. This study proposed a quantitative assessment methodology framework (QAMF) for analyzing the spatiotemporal variation of WC under different discontinuous ecosystems. The QAMF mainly used models and methods such as the hydrological model (SWAT), calibration and uncertainty program (SWAT-CUP), WC calculation formula (water balance method), and spatial analysis method (empirical orthogonal function and wavelet analysis). It was applied to the source region of the Yellow River (SRYR), where the ecological landscape pattern underwent varying degrees of degradation, and WC capacity decreased. The results show that: Firstly, the constructed SWAT in the SRYR had high accuracy, and the proposed formula for calculating WC was suitable for multi-temporal scale analysis of WC in spatially distributed discontinuous basins. Secondly, the annual and monthly WC were respectively 81.00-184.13 mm and -28.58-107.64 mm, and daily WC was positive during extreme precipitation periods and negative during dry periods. The regulating effect of WC was fully reflected on the daily scale, partially reflected on the monthly scale, and absent on the annual scale. Third, the crucial WC area was mainly distributed in the southeast, and there was a significant primary yearly cycle of WC in the SRYR. Finally, different ecosystems exhibited different WC capabilities, and protecting the diversity of ecosystems played an essential role in maintaining and improving the WC function in the SRYR. This project has great scientific significance and technological support for scientifically evaluating the WC capacity in the SRYR.

Hyaluronic acid/inulin-based nanocrystals with an optimized ratio of indigo and indirubin for combined ulcerative colitis therapy via immune and intestinal flora regulation.

Indigo (IND) and indirubin (INB) have demonstrated a synergistic effect in treating ulcerative colitis at a ratio of 7.5:1. However, the colon mucus layer, a critical physiological barrier against external threats, is also a biological barrier, limiting the potential for effective drug delivery to the lamina propria for regulating inflammatory cells. Inspired by the potential of Hyaluronic acid (HA), to enhance cellular uptake by inflammatory cells, and Pluronic® F127 (F127), known for overcoming the mucus barrier, this study innovatively developed INB/IND nanosuspensions by co-modifying with F127 and HA. Moreover, inulin serves a dual purpose as a spray protective agent and a regulator of intestinal flora. Therefore, it was incorporated into INB/IND nanosuspensions for subsequent spray drying, resulting in the preparation of INB/IND nanocrystals (INB/IND-NC). The mucus penetration of INB/IND-NC was 24.30 times that of the control group. Besides, INB/IND-NC exhibited enhanced cellular uptake properties proximately twice that of Raw INB/IND. Importantly, INB/IND-NC exhibited improved therapeutic efficacy in DSS-induced mice by regulating the expression of cytokines, regulating immune responses via downregulating the expression of macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells and maintaining intestinal flora homeostasis. Our study provides a new perspective for applying natural products for treating inflammatory diseases.

Quantitative assessment methodology framework of the impact of global climate change on the aquatic habitat of warm-water fish species in rivers.

Global climate change (GCC), with global warming as the main characteristic, has become a global issue widely concerned by people. GCC impacts the hydrological regime at the watershed scale and affects the hydrodynamic force and the habitat conditions of freshwater ecosystems at the river scale. The impact of GCC on water resources and the water cycle is a research hotspot. However, there are few studies on water environment ecology related to hydrology and the influence of changes in discharge and water temperature on warm-water fish habitats. This study proposes a quantitative assessment methodology framework for predicting and analyzing the impact of GCC on the warm-water fish habitat. This system integrates GCC, downscaling, hydrological, hydrodynamic, water temperature and habitat models and was applied to the middle and lower reaches of the Hanjiang River (MLHR), where there are four major Chinese carps resource reduction problems. The results showed that the calibration and validation of the statistical downscaling model (SDSM) and the hydrological, hydrodynamic, and water temperature models were carried out using the observed meteorological factors, discharge, water level, flow velocity and water temperature data. The change rule of the simulated value was in good agreement with the observed value, and the models and methods used in the quantitative assessment methodology framework were applicable and accurate. The rise of water temperature caused by GCC will ease the problem of low-temperature water in the MLHR, and the weighted usable area (WUA) for spawning of the four major Chinese carps will appear in advance. Meanwhile, the increase in future annual discharge will play a positive role in WUA. In general, the rise in confluence discharge and water temperature caused by GCC will increase WUA, which is beneficial to the spawning ground of four major Chinese carps.

Combination Therapy with Indigo and Indirubin for Ulcerative Colitis via Reinforcing Intestinal Barrier Function.

Indigo and indirubin, the active molecules of traditional Chinese medicine indigo naturalis, exert therapeutic activity for ulcerative colitis (UC). Indigo and indirubin are isomers and have distinctive profiles in anti-inflammation, immune regulation, intestinal microbiota regulation, oxidative stress regulation, and intestinal mucosal repair for UC treatment. Thus, exploring its combined administration's integrated advantages for UC is critical. This study is aimed at clarifying the effect and mechanisms of the combined administration of indigo and indirubin on colitis mouse models. The results showed that all the treatment groups could improve the disease symptoms, and the combined administration showed the best effect. Additionally, compared with indigo and indirubin alone, the combination group could significantly reinforce intestinal barrier function by increasing the expression of E-cadherin, occludin, ZO-1, and MUC2 and improving intestinal permeability. The treatment groups significantly improved the expression of cytokines, including TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-23, and IL-17A, and indirubin presented the most potent anti-inflammatory effect. Furthermore, all the treatment groups reduced the infiltration of the immune cells in intestinal lamina propria and the production of ROS/RNS. Notably, indigo exhibited a more substantial capacity to regulate natural killer (NK) cells, ILC3, neutrophils, and dendritic cells, followed by the combination group and indirubin alone. Finally, all the treatment groups modulated intestinal microbiota composition, increased the proportion of beneficial microbiota, and decreased the proportion of microbiota. Our results indicated that indigo and indirubin synergistically reinforced the intestinal barrier function, which may be associated with integrating the indirubin anti-inflammatory and intestinal microbiota regulating strength and indigo immune and ROS/RNS regulation advantage.

Dual role of the nasal microbiota in neurological diseases-An unignorable risk factor or a potential therapy carrier.

Recently, comparative studies have rapidly increased with the closer correlation between microbiota and neurological diseases. However, most insights about the association between microbiota and neurological diseases still focus on the gut-brain axis and ignore that nasal microbiota could form a complex and essential link with the nervous system via the nose-to-brain pathway, suggesting the role in modulating the immune system, metabolic system, and nervous system development, which influence the physiopathology of neurological diseases. Due to the complex interactions between nasal microbiota and the brain, the nasal microbiota may have a particular pathogenic effect and therapeutic potential on neurological diseases. Therefore, this review aims to deeply analyze the dual effects of nasal microbiota on neurological diseases, focusing on pathogenic and therapeutic effects to provide a new perspective for preventing and treating neurological diseases by altering nasal microbiota. This review concludes the bidirectional effects of nasal microbiota on neurological diseases, including the pathogenicity and potential treatment on Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Multiple sclerosis, and Stroke. Furthermore, modern medical technology combined with artificial intelligence, including implantable sensors, modeling software, and nanofluid techniques, may further study the complex effects between nasal microbiota and the brain, thereby providing new options for treating neurological diseases.

Fractionation, source, and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in cropland soils across a 100-year reclamation chronosequence in an estuary, South China.

Coastal reclamation for cropland has led to the accumulation of heavy metals in soils, bringing about pervasive and severe risks for environment and human health. However, less is known about the influence of long-term reclamation on heavy metals risk, mobility and bioavailability in cropland soil. In this study, we determined six heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb) and their fractionations in soils from five croplands across a 100-year reclamation chronosequence in the Pearl River estuary. Results showed that across five reclaimed soils, Cd posed seriously ecological risk and bioavailability according to assessments based on both total contents (single-metal pollution index: Cd > Cu > Zn > Ni > Cr > Pb) and fractionations (risk assessment code: Cd > Zn > Cu > Ni > Pb > Cr). Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb posed slightly to moderately ecological risks, and were mainly bound to residual (73.70%) and reducible (15.86%) fractions with lower mobility and bioavailability. With the highest risks level, mobility, toxicity and bioavailability (5.67% exchangeable and 11.75% carbonate fractions bound), Cd was identified as the main pollution factor in study area. Principal component analysis and Pearson's correlation analysis revealed that anthropogenic reclamation activities (including phosphate fertilizers, pesticides and sewage irrigation) were the major sources of these heavy metals. Long-term reclamation activities induced the increases of soil organic matter, clay contents, total concentrations and non-residual fractions of heavy metals by 46.14%, 538.98%, 42.87% and 219.78%, respectively, demonstrating significant promotions in level and mobility of heavy metals due to longer-term agricultural activities, higher soil clay and organic matter content.

River health assessment of the Yellow River source region, Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China, based on tolerance values of macroinvertebrates.

For decades, the river health of the Yellow River source region (YRSR) on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau has been a focal issue owing to its unique geographic location and ecological functions. This study investigated the ecological status of the headwater streams, the main stem, and the tributaries of the Yellow River in the YRSR using the tolerance values of macroinvertebrates and those related to biotic indices. The macroinvertebrate assemblages of the headwater streams were characterized by lower biodiversity than the tributaries downstream, based on comparisons of taxonomical composition, functional feeding group composition, and the pollution-tolerant capacity of taxa. The headwater streams had a lower ratio (16%) of pollution-sensitive macroinvertebrate taxa than that of the tributaries downstream (30%). The biotic indices (family- and genus-level biotic indices) indicated that the ecological health of the headwater streams was comparably poorer than that of the downstream tributaries. The combined effect of vulnerable natural conditions and increasing human disturbance is likely the main cause of eco-environmental degradation in the Yellow River headwater streams.

[Effects of basic orange II on proliferation and differentiation of limb bud cells in rat embryos].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of basic orange II on proliferation and differentiation of limb bud cells. METHODS: Limb bud cell were separated from SD rat embryo at 13-day gestational age, limb bud cell were exposed to basic orange II at concentrations of 0.0, 12.5, 25.0, 50.0, 100.0, 200, 0 and 400.0 mg/L in the culture medium. The effect of basic orange II on limb bud cell proliferation was detected by Cell Counting Kit-8, the effect of basic orange II on limb bud cell differentiation was assessed by Alcian Blue 8GX. RESULTS: With the increasing of basic orange II concentration, the proliferation and differentiation of embryo limb bud cells were poorer and poorer in vitro, and there was the dose-effect relationship. The pID50 and dLD50 of basic orange II on limb bud cells were 240.6 mg/L and 69.3 mg/L respectively. The inhibition of basic orange II on cell differentiation might exceed that on cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: Basic orange II could inhibit proliferation and differentiation of embryo limb bud cells. It might be a potential developmental toxic substance in rat embryo.

[One-step cytometric bead array for rapid detection of Potato Virus A].

OBJECTIVE: Based on immunoassay, we developed a method to detect Potato Virus A (PVA) using one-step cytometric bead array (CBA). METHODS: Using fluorescent beads as carriers, we formed the complexes of bead-capture antibody-PVA-fluoresceinisothiocyanate (FITC) labeled detection antibody by immunoreaction of double antibody sandwich on bead surface. We measured the fluorescent signals produced from beads and from FITC with a multiparameter flow cytometer. RESULTS: By optimization test, capture antibody and detection antibody (from PVA detection kit, Agdia, USA) were finally diluted at 1:50 (4 ug/mL) and 1:25 to be used in one step CBA, respectively. A total CBA reaction time of 2 h was needed. No cross reactivity with other plant virus similar to potato virus Y, lettuce mosaic virus and tomato ring spot virus were found. Detection sensitivity for positive control sample in one-step CBA was 4 folds higher than that in normal plate double antibodies sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA). CONCLUSION: A one-step CBA method for rapid and sensitive detection of PVA is developed.

Accurate Assessment of Wheat and Triticale Cultivar Resistance to Septoria tritici and Stagonospora nodorum Infection by Biotin/Avidin ELISA.

Specific and quantitative biotin/avidin-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (BA-ELISA) were evaluated for their ability to assess resistance of wheat and triticale cultivars to Septoria tritici (leaf blotch) and Stagonospora nodorum (leaf and glume blotch) in field trials. Using BA-ELISAs, the antigen amounts of S. tritici and of Stagonospora nodorum were measured in the flag leaf (F) and the first leaf below it (F-1) of five cultivars of triticale at Zadok's growth stage (GS) 75-80 and in 11 cultivars of wheat at GS 73-75 in 2001 and 2002. The presence of the pathogens was found to be specific to parts of the plants, cultivar, and plant species. Stagonospora nodorum was the dominant leaf blotch pathogen in triticale, while both Septoria tritici and Stagonospora nodorum occurred commonly in wheat. Close correlations were obtained between the pathogen amount measured by BA-ELISA and the percentage of necrotic leaf area in the tested cultivars. The BA-ELISA values for the tested triticale and wheat cultivars were ranked, and they correlated well with the susceptibility ratings given in the cultivar list recommended by Bundessortenamt (German Federal Office of Plant Variety), which is based on visual assessment of the leaf blotch complex caused by S. tritici and Stagonospora nodorum. The relative susceptibilities of individual wheat cultivars to both pathogens were similar. In conclusion, BA-ELISA provided for an accurate diagnosis and quantification of S. tritici and Stagonospora nodorum in infected plant tissue, and therefore can be used to assess resistance to these fungi in a disease complex in both early-stage breeding lines and field trials.