Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment-resistant depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies.

The efficacy and safety of deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) in treating treatment-resistant depression (TRD) are unknown. Up to June 21, 2023, we conducted a systematic search for RCTs, and then extracted and synthesized data using random effects models. Five RCTs involving 507 patients with TRD (243 in the active dTMS group and 264 in the control group) were included in the present study. The active dTMS group showed significantly higher study-defined response rate (45.3% versus 24.2%, n = 507, risk ratio [RR] = 1.87, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21-2.91, I2 = 53%; P = 0.005) and study-defined remission rate (38.3% versus 14.4%, n = 507, RR = 2.37, 95%CI: 1.30-4.32, I2 = 58%; P = 0.005) and superiority in improving depressive symptoms (n = 507, standardized mean difference = -0.65, 95%CI: -1.11--0.18, I2 = 82%; P = 0.006) than the control group. In terms of cognitive functions, no significant differences were observed between the two groups. The two groups also showed similar rates of other adverse events and all-cause discontinuations (P > 0.05). dTMS is an effective and safe treatment strategy for the management of patients with TRD.

Recycling Valuable Alkylbenzenes from Polystyrene through Methanol-Assisted Depolymerization.

The vast bulk of polystyrene (PS), a major type of plastic polymers, ends up in landfills, which takes up to thousands of years to decompose in nature. Chemical recycling promises to enable lower-energy pathways and minimal environmental impacts compared with traditional incineration and mechanical recycling. Herein, we demonstrated that methanol as a hydrogen supplier assisted the depolymerization of PS (denoted as PS-MAD) into alkylbenzenes over a heterogeneous catalyst composed of Ru nanoparticles on SiO2. PS-MAD achieved a high yield of liquid products which accounted for 93.2 wt% of virgin PS at 280 oC for 6 h with the production rate of 118.1 mmolcarbon gcatal.-1 h-1. The major components were valuable alkylbenzenes (monocyclic aromatics and diphenyl alkanes), the sum of which occupied 84.3 wt% of liquid products. According to mechanistic studies, methanol decomposition dominates the hydrogen supply during PS-MAD, thereby restraining PS aromatization which generates by-products of fused polycyclic arenes and polyphenylenes.

Competitive adsorption of heavy metals onto xanthate-modified sludge hydrochar and its solidification as secondary minerals.

In this study, a sulfur-modified magnetic hydrochar was synthesized by grafting thiol-containing groups onto the sludge-derived hydrochar. The modified hydrochar exhibited effective adsorption of Cu2+, Pb2+, Zn2+, and Cd2+ over a wide pH range and in the presence of coexisting ions, and showed almost no secondary leaching in three acidic solutions. In the mult-metal ion system, the modified hydrochar exhibited maximum adsorption capacities were 39.38, 105.74, 26.53, and 38.11 mg g-1 for Cu2+, Pb2+, Zn2+, and Cd2+, respectively. However, the binding capacity and adsorption amount of modified hydrochar for metal ions were lower in the mult-metal ion system compared to the unit-metal ion system. Notably, Pb2+ showed a strong inhibitory effect on the adsorption of other heavy metal ions by modified hydrochar due to strong competition for xanthate functional groups. The Pb2+ occupied the xanthate and native functional groups (-OH, -NH2, and Fe-O etc.), leaving only a small amount of adsorption sites for Cu2+, Zn2+ and Cd2+. Simulation results further supported these findings, indicating that Pb2+ had the highest density profiles near the four functional groups, and the density profiles of the four heavy metals near the xanthate functional groups were greater compared to the other three functional groups. Furthermore, the SEM-EDS, TOF-SIMI, and XPS results indicated that modified hydrochar achieved excellent mineral binding mainly through electrostatic interaction, ion exchange, and chelation. Overall, these results highlight the sulfur-modified magnetic hydrochar as a highly efficient adsorbent for heavy metals in environmental applications.

Matching actions to needs: shifting policy responses to the changing health needs of Chinese children and adolescents.

China is home to the second largest population of children and adolescents in the world. Yet demographic shifts mean that the government must manage the challenge of fewer children with the needs of an ageing population, while considering the delicate tension between economic growth and environmental sustainability. We mapped the health problems and risks of contemporary school-aged children and adolescents in China against current national health policies. We involved multidisciplinary experts, including young people, with the aim of identifying actionable strategies and specific recommendations to promote child and adolescent health and wellbeing. Notwithstanding major improvements in their health over the past few decades, contemporary Chinese children and adolescents face distinct social challenges, including high academic pressures and youth unemployment, and new health concerns including obesity, mental health issues, and sexually transmitted infections. Inequality by gender, geography, and ethnicity remains a feature of health risks and outcomes. We identified a mismatch between current health determinants, risks and outcomes, and government policies. To promote the health of children and adolescents in China, we recommend a set of strategies that target government-led initiatives across the health, education, and community sectors, which aim to build supportive and responsive families, safe communities, and engaging and respectful learning environments. TRANSLATION: For the Chinese translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Super-resolution neural networks improve the spatiotemporal resolution of adaptive MRI-guided radiation therapy.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers superb non-invasive, soft tissue imaging of the human body. However, extensive data sampling requirements severely restrict the spatiotemporal resolution achievable with MRI. This limits the modality's utility in real-time guidance applications, particularly for the rapidly growing MRI-guided radiation therapy approach to cancer treatment. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) could reduce the trade-off between the spatial and the temporal resolution of MRI, thus increasing the clinical utility of the imaging modality. METHODS: We trained deep learning-based super-resolution neural networks to increase the spatial resolution of real-time MRI. We developed a framework to integrate neural networks directly onto a 1.0 T MRI-linac enabling real-time super-resolution imaging. We integrated this framework with the targeting system of the MRI-linac to demonstrate real-time beam adaptation with super-resolution-based imaging. We tested the integrated system using large publicly available datasets, healthy volunteer imaging, phantom imaging, and beam tracking experiments using bicubic interpolation as a baseline comparison. RESULTS: Deep learning-based super-resolution increases the spatial resolution of real-time MRI across a variety of experiments, offering measured performance benefits compared to bicubic interpolation. The temporal resolution is not compromised as measured by a real-time adaptation latency experiment. These two effects, an increase in the spatial resolution with a negligible decrease in the temporal resolution, leads to a net increase in the spatiotemporal resolution. CONCLUSIONS: Deployed super-resolution neural networks can increase the spatiotemporal resolution of real-time MRI. This has applications to domains such as MRI-guided radiation therapy and interventional procedures.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging modality that is used to image organs such as the brain, lungs, and liver as well as diseases such as cancer. MRI scans taken at high resolution are of overly long duration. This time constraint limits the accuracy of MRI-guided cancer radiation therapy, where imaging must be fast to adapt treatment to tumour motion. Here, we deployed artificial intelligence (AI) models to achieve fast and high detail MRI. We additionally validated our AI models across various scenarios. These AI-based models could potentially enable people with cancer to be treated with higher accuracy and precision.

Research advancements in the maintenance mechanism of Sporidiobolus pararoseus enhancing the quality of soy sauce during fermentation.

Soy sauce is a traditional condiment that undergoes microbial fermentation of various ingredients to achieve its desired color, scent, and flavor. Sporidiobolus pararoseus, which is a type of Rhodocerevisiae, shows promising potential as a source of lipids, carotenoids, and enzymes that can enrich the taste and color of soy sauce. However, there is currently a lack of systematic and comprehensive studies on the functions and mechanisms of action of S. pararoseus during soy sauce fermentation. In this review, it is well established that S. pararoseus produces lipids that are abundant in unsaturated fatty acids, particularly oleic acid, as well as various carotenoids, such as ß-carotene, torulene, and torularhodin. These pigments are synthesized through the mevalonic acid pathway and possess remarkable antioxidant properties, acting as natural colorants. The synthesis of carotenoids is stimulated by high salt concentrations, which induces oxidative stress caused by NaCl. This stress further activates crucial enzymes involved in carotenoid production, ultimately leading to pigment formation. Moreover, S. pararoseus can produce high-quality enzymes that aid in the efficient utilization of soy sauce substrates during fermentation. Furthermore, this review focused on the impact of S. pararoseus on the color and quality of soy sauce and comprehensively analyzed its characteristics and ingredients. Thus, this review serves as a basis for screening high-quality oleaginous red yeast strains and improving the quality of industrial soy sauce production through the wide application of S. pararoseus.

RNA velocity prediction via neural ordinary differential equation.

RNA velocity is a crucial tool for unraveling the trajectory of cellular responses. Several approaches, including ordinary differential equations and machine learning models, have been proposed to interpret velocity. However, the practicality of these methods is constrained by underlying assumptions. In this study, we introduce SymVelo, a dual-path framework that effectively integrates high- and low-dimensional information. Rigorous benchmarking and extensive studies demonstrate that SymVelo is capable of inferring differentiation trajectories in developing organs, analyzing gene responses to stimulation, and uncovering transcription dynamics. Moreover, the adaptable architecture of SymVelo enables customization to accommodate intricate data and diverse modalities in forthcoming research, thereby providing a promising avenue for advancing our understanding of cellular behavior.

Timing of fractional flow reserve-guided complete revascularization in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with multivessel disease: Rationale and design of the OPTION-STEMI trial.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines recommend complete revascularization (CR) in hemodynamically stable patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and multivessel coronary artery disease (MVD). With regard to the timing of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for non-infarct-related artery (non-IRA), recent randomized clinical trials have revealed that immediate CR was non-inferior to staged CR. However, the optimal timing of CR remains uncertain. The OPTION-STEMI trial compared immediate CR and in-hospital staged CR guided by fractional flow reserve (FFR) for intermediate stenosis of the non-IRA. METHODS: The OPTION-STEMI is a multicenter, investigator-initiated, prospective, open-label, non-inferiority randomized clinical trial. The study included patients with at least one non-IRA lesion with ≥50% stenosis by visual estimation. Patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were randomized into two groups at a 1:1 ratio: immediate CR (i.e., PCI for the non-IRA performed during primary angioplasty) or in-hospital staged CR. In the in-hospital staged CR group, PCI for non-IRA lesions was performed on another day during the index hospitalization. Non-IRA lesions with 50-69% stenosis by visual estimation were evaluated by FFR, whereas those with ≥70% stenosis were revascularized without FFR. The primary endpoint was the composite of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and all unplanned revascularization at 1 year after randomization. Enrolment began in December 2019 and was completed in January 2024. The follow-up for the primary endpoint will be completed in January 2025, and primary results will be available in the middle of 2025. CONCLUSIONS: The OPTION-STEMI is a multicenter, non-inferiority, randomized trial that evaluated the timing of in-hospital CR with the aid of FFR in patients with STEMI and MVD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: https://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov. Unique identifier: NCT04626882; and URL: https://cris.nih.go.kr. Unique identifier: KCT0004457.

Mechanism insights into hydrothermal-activated tannic acid (TA) for simultaneously sewage sludge deep dewatering and antibiotics removal.

Tannic acid (TA) aided hydrothermal treatment (HT) can decrease effective HT temperatures for sludge deep dewatering by chelator protein, but faces notable and economic challenges including the failure to remove antibiotics and the limited protein binding capacity. Herein, hydrothermally activated TA (in situ TA + HT) was conducted to simultaneously improve sludge dewaterability and antibiotic (tetracycline (TC), oxytetracycline (OTC), norfloxacin (NOR), ofloxacin (OFL)) removal. Compared to traditional HT and HT + TA treatment, the in-situ TA + HT process could further strengthen the TA-aided HT efficacy in enhancing sludge and reducing the protein content in the filtrate simultaneously; in which the optimal HT temperature for the dewatering of the sludge was reduced from 180 °C to 140 °C. Furthermore, the total removal efficiency of target antibiotics was achieved at more than 71.0-94.7% for TC and OTC, and 72.0-84.8% for NOR and OFL. The highly reactive species (·OH) generation and the electron transfer efficiency from the hydrothermal-activated TA process were responsible for the elimination of antibiotics and promoted the hydrolyzation and mineralization of HMW protein in sludge during the HT process. Meanwhile, the degradation of HMW proteins and the destruction of the secondary structure of these proteins resulted in improved hydrophobicity and dewaterability of sludge. Hydrothermally activated TA induces covalent binding with the protein. As a result, hydrothermal-activated TA could promote the removal of antibiotics and proteinaceous compounds from the sludge samples, improving the hydrophobicity of sludge and releasing bound water from the sludge flocs during HT. Finally, the cost of hydrothermal-activated TA was 66.51% lower than that of thermal drying treatment. This study not only proposed an effective method to improve traditional HT for sludge thermal dry-free treatment, but also provided new information on the catalysis roles of polyphenols in the hydrothermal conversion of sludge.

In Situ Electrochemical Rapid Induction of Highly Active γ-NiOOH Species for Industrial Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer.

Limited by the strong oxidation environment and sluggish reconstruction process in oxygen evolution reaction (OER), designing rapid self-reconstruction with high activity and stability electrocatalysts is crucial to promoting anion exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolyzer. Herein, trace Fe/S-modified Ni oxyhydroxide (Fe/S-NiOOH/NF) nanowires are constructed via a simple in situ electrochemical oxidation strategy based on precipitation-dissolution equilibrium. In situ characterization techniques reveal that the successful introduction of Fe and S leads to lattice disorder and boosts favorable hydroxyl capture, accelerating the formation of highly active γ-NiOOH. The Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations have also verified that the incorporation of Fe and S optimizes the electrons redistribution and the d-band center, decreasing the energy barrier of the rate-determining step (*O→*OOH). Benefited from the unique electronic structure and intermediate adsorption, the Fe/S-NiOOH/NF catalyst only requires the overpotential of 345 mV to reach the industrial current density of 1000 mA cm-2 for 120 h. Meanwhile, assembled AEM water electrolyzer (Fe/S-NiOOH//Pt/C-60 °C) can deliver 1000 mA cm-2 at a cell voltage of 2.24 V, operating at the average energy efficiency of 71% for 100 h. In summary, this work presents a rapid self-reconstruction strategy for high-performance AEM electrocatalysts for future hydrogen economy.

A Light-Powered Micropump with Dynamic Collective Behavior for Reparation.

Inspired by the collective behaviors of active systems in nature, the collective behavior of micromotors has attracted more and more attention in recent years. However, little attention has been paid to the collective behavior of the immobilized micromotor, i.e., the micropump. In this paper, a unique pentacene-based micropump is reported, which demonstrates dynamic collective behavior activated by white light irradiation. The light irradiation may generate the photochemical reactions between pentacene and water, leading to the electroosmotic flow. As a result, this micropump is capable of pumping the surrounding solution inward along the substrate surface based on the electroosmosis mechanism. Intriguingly, the inward pumping causes the agglomeration of the tracer particles on the surface of the micropump. In addition, the aggregation can migrate following the change in the light irradiation position between two adjacent micropumps. Based on the aggregating and migrating behaviors of this pentacene-based micropump, we have achieved the conductivity restoration of the cracked circuit.

Greenhouse gas emissions of sewage sludge land application in urban green space: A field experiment in a Bermuda grassland.

Sewage sludge land application is recognized as a strategy for recycling resource and replenishing soil nutrients. However, the subsequent greenhouse gas emissions following this practice are not yet fully understood, and the lack of quantitative research and field experiments monitoring these emissions hampers the establishment of reliable emission factors. This study investigated the greenhouse gas emission characteristics of sewage sludge land application through a field experiment that monitoring soil greenhouse gas fluxes. Seven nitrogen input treatments were implemented in a typical Bermuda grassland in China, with D and C representing the amendment of digested and composted sludge, respectively, at the nitrogen input rate of 0, 100, 200, and 300 kg N ha-1. Soil CH4, CO2, and N2O fluxes were measured throughout the entire experimental period, and soil samples from different treatments at various growth stages were analyzed. The results revealed that sewage sludge land application significantly increased soil N2O and CO2 emissions while slightly reducing soil CH4 uptake. The increased CO2 emissions were biogenic and carbon-neutral, mainly due to enhanced plant root respiration. The N2O emissions were the primary greenhouse gas emissions of sewage sludge land application, which were mainly concentrated in two 50-day periods following base and topdressing fertilization, respectively. N2O emissions following base fertilization by rotary tillage were substantially lower than those following topdressing fertilization. A logarithmic response relationship between N input rates and increased soil N2O emissions was observed, suggesting lower N2O emissions from sewage sludge land application compared to conventional N fertilizers at the same N input level. Future field experiments and meta-analysis are necessary to develop reliable greenhouse gas emission factors for sewage sludge land application.

Ultrasmall Ru nanoparticles-decorated nickel/nickel oxide three phase heterojunctions to boost alkaline hydrogen evolution.

The rational design and optimization of heterogeneous interface for low loading noble metal HER eletrocatalysts to facilitate the upscaling of alkaline water/seawater electrolysis is highly challenging. Herein, we present a facile deep corrosion strategy induced by NaBH4 to precisely construct an ultrasmall Ru nanoparticle-decorated Ni/NiO hybrid (r-Ru-Ni/NiO) with highly dispersed triple-phase heterostructures. Remarkably, it exhibits superior activity with only 53 mV and 70 mV at 100 mA cm-2 for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline water and seawater, respectively, surpassing the performance of Pt/C (109.7 mV, 100 mA cm-2, 1 M KOH). It is attributed to collaborative optimization of electroactive interfaces between well-distributed ultrasmall Ru nanoparticles and Ni/NiO hybrid. Moreover, the assembled r-Ru-Ni/NiO system just require 2.03 V at 1000 mA cm-2 in anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzer, outperforming a RuO2/NF || Pt/C system, while exhibiting outstanding stability at high current densities. This study offers a logical design for accurate construction of interfacial engineering, showing promise for large-scale hydrogen production via electrochemical water splitting.

OfBFT genes play an essential role in the proliferate flower formation of Osmanthus fragrans.

Floral organ development is one of the most vital events in flowering plants and is closely related to ornamental properties. The proliferate flower (a new branch or flower occurring in the centre of a flower) in plants is an interesting type, while the specific molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. Osmanthus fragrans 'Tianxiang Taige' has two different flower morphologies: normal flower and proliferate flower. Phenotypic observation suggested that a normal flower was composed of calyx, petal, stamen and pistil (reduced to leaf-like carpel). While in proliferate flower, the leaf-like carpel continued to grow and was replaced by a new branch. Paraffin section indicated that the re-growth of leaf carpels might be the main reason for proliferate flower formation. Transcriptome sequencing of normal and proliferate flower was performed, and the expression levels of related genes were analysed. Among the differentially expressed genes, OfBFT-a and OfBFT-b had differential expression during the proliferate flower formation process. The expression patterns revealed that both OfBFT-a and OfBFT-b were highly accumulated in carpels, and were significantly downregulated during the proliferate flower development process. Subcellular localization indicated that OfBFT-a and OfBFT-b proteins were located in the nucleus. Functional studies in 'Tianxiang Taige' and Arabidopsis showed that OfBFT-a and OfBFT-b had important roles in floral organ development, especially the proliferate flower formation process by downregulating the accumulation of AG and SEP3 homologous genes. These results may shed new light on the study of proliferate flower formation and flower morphology breeding in flowering plants.

Occurrence, fate, and ecological risk of antibiotics in wastewater treatment plants in China: A review.

This review offers a comprehensive overview of the occurrence, fate, and ecological risk associated with six major categories of antibiotics found in influent, effluent, and sludge from urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in China. Further exploration includes examining the correlation between antibiotic residual rates in the effluents and process parameters of urban WWTPs across the country. Lastly, a nationwide and urban cluster-specific evaluation of the ecological risk posed by antibiotics in WWTPs is conducted. The findings reveal that the average concentrations of antibiotics in influent, effluent, and sludge from urban WWTPs in China are 786.2 ng/L, 311.2 ng/L, and 186.8 µg/kg, respectively. Among the detected antibiotics, 42% exhibit moderate to high ecological risk in the effluent, with ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, erythromycin, azithromycin, and tetracycline posing moderate to high ecological risks in sludge. The current biological treatment processes in WWTPs demonstrate inefficacy in removing antibiotics. Hence, there is a pressing need to develop and integrate innovative technologies, such as advanced oxidation processes. This review aims to offer a more comprehensive understanding and identify priority antibiotics for control to effectively manage antibiotic pollution within WWTPs at both national and regional levels.

[Development of an analytical system for dried blood spots for forensic toxicology: a case study of five common drugs and poisons].

Dried blood spot (DBS) technology is a simple and convenient method for collecting, transporting, and storing blood samples on filter paper, and has numerous applications in the clinical, research, and public health settings. This technique is gaining popularity in the field of forensic science because it facilitates the rapid analysis of prohibited drugs in blood samples and offers significant advantages in toxicology scenarios such as drinking-driving screening, drug abuse detection, and doping detection. However, the lack of a standardized system and the fact that its stability and reliability have not been thoroughly researched and demonstrated limit its application in judicial practice in China. DBS samples can be prepared, stored, and analyzed in various ways, all of which may significantly affect the results. In this study, we developed a method based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) that focuses on the preparation, pretreatment, analysis, and storage of DBS samples. A thorough investigation was conducted to examine the optimal preparation conditions, including the blood spot matrix, drying technique, and preprocessing parameters, such as the solvent and extraction method. Moreover, the analytical conditions, such as the mobile phase system and elution gradient, were established to facilitate the quantitative detection of methamphetamine, lidocaine, ketamine, fentanyl, and diazepam in both DBS and whole-blood samples. The impact of storage conditions, such as the temperature, humidity, and sealing, on the analytical results of the DBS and whole-blood samples was also examined. The results showed a strong linear relationship for lidocaine and fentanyl within the range of 0.5-100 ng/mL. Similarly, methamphetamine, ketamine, and diazepam exhibited good linearity within the range of 2-100 ng/mL. The coefficients of determination (r2) ranged from 0.9983 to 0.9997, and the limits of detection ranged from 0.2 to 0.5 ng/mL, indicating a high degree of correlation and sensitivity. Stability tests demonstrated that the five target substances remained stable in the DBS for 60 days, with the measured contents deviating from the nominal values by 15%. Moreover, the measurement results of the DBS samples were highly similar to those of the whole-blood samples, with mean percentage differences of 4.44%, 3.50%, 7.66%, 5.10%, and 5.25% for fentanyl, diazepam, ketamine, lidocaine, and methamphetamine, respectively. Throughout the 60-day storage period, the maintenance of temperatures of -20 and 4 ℃, as well as sealing and dry storage, was not necessary. Room temperature was the most practical storage environment for the DBS samples. The results for each target showed very small concentration differences between the whole-blood and DBS samples, indicating that the DBS samples were suitable for drug and poison analysis in blood. Furthermore, the DBSs exhibited high quantitative consistency with the whole-blood samples, rendering them suitable matrices for preserving blood samples. Because DBS samples are easy to handle and store, they can realize the lightweight preservation of blood samples and provide a novel solution for the analysis and preservation of blood samples in public security practice. We recommend conducting comprehensive validations before utilizing DBS for analysis, particularly in terms of quantification, to ensure the judicial reliability of the results.

Aging and mitigation of microplastics during sewage sludge treatments: An overview.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) receive large quantities of microplastics (MPs) from raw wastewater, but many MPs are trapped in the sludge. Land application of sludge is a significant source of MP pollution. Existing reviews have summarized the analysis methods of MPs in sludge and the effect of MPs on sludge treatments. However, MP aging and mitigation during sludge treatment processes are not fully reviewed. Treatment processes used to remove water, pathogenic microorganisms, and other pollutants in sewage sludge also cause surface changes and degradation in the sludge MPs, affecting the potential risk of MPs. This study integrates MP abundance and distribution in sludge and their aging and mitigation characteristics during sludge treatment processes. The abundance, composition, and distribution of sludge MPs vary significantly with WWTPs. Furthermore, MPs exhibit variable degrees of aging, including rough surfaces, enhanced adsorption potentials for pollutants, and increased leaching behavior. Various sludge treatment processes further intensify these aging characteristics. Some sludge treatments, such as hydrothermal treatment, have efficiently removed MPs from sewage sludge. It is crucial to understand the potential risk of MP aging in sludge and the degradation properties of the MP-derived products from MP degradation in-depth and develop novel MP mitigation strategies in sludge, such as combining hydrothermal treatment and biological processes.

DNA methylome analysis reveals novel insights into active hypomethylated regulatory mechanisms of temperature-dependent flower opening in Osmanthus fragrans.

Short-term ambient low temperature (ALT) stimulation is necessary for Osmanthus fragrans to facilitate continued flower opening after floral bud development reaches maturity. DNA methylation, a vital epigenetic modification, regulates various biological processes in response to temperature fluctuations. However, its role in temperature-driven flower opening remains elusive. In this study, we identified the pivotal timeframe during which O. fragrans promptly detected temperature cues. Using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing, we explored global DNA hypomethylation during this phase, with the most significant changes occurring in CHH sequence contexts. Auxin transport inhibitor (TIBA) application revealed that ALT-induced endogenous auxin accumulation promoted peduncle elongation. In our mRNA-seq analysis, we discovered that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with hypo-differentially methylated regions (hypo-DMRs) were mainly enriched in auxin and temperature response, RNA processing, and carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Transcripts of three DNA demethylase genes (OfROS1a, OfDML3, OfDME) showed upregulation. Furthermore, all DNA methylase genes, except OfCMT2b, also displayed increased expression, specifically with two of them, OfCMT3a and OfCMT1, being associated with hypo-DMRs. Promoter assays showed that OfROS1a, with promoters containing low-temperature- and auxin-responsive elements, were activated by ALT and exogenous IAA at low concentrations but inhibited at high concentrations. Overexpression of OfROS1 reduced endogenous auxin levels but enhanced the expression of genes related to auxin response and spliceosome in petunia. Furthermore, OfROS1 promoted sucrose synthesis in petunia corollas. Our data characterized the rapid response of active DNA hypomethylation to ALT and suggested a possible epiregulation of temperature-dependent flower opening in O. fragrans. This study revealed the pivotal role of DNA hypomethylation in O. fragrans during the ALT-responsive phase before flower opening, involving dynamic DNA demethylation, auxin signaling modulation, and a potential feedback loop between hypomethylation and methylation.

The ecological role of microbiome at community-, taxonomic - and genome-levels in black-odorous waters.

Black-odorous waters (BOWs) are heavily polluted waters where microbial information remains elusive mechanistically. Based on gene amplicon and metagenomics sequencing, a comprehensive study was conducted to investigate the microbial communities in urban and rural BOWs. The results revealed that microbial communities' assembly in urban and rural BOWs was predominantly governed by stochastic factors at the community level. At the taxonomic level, there were 62 core species (58.48%) in water and 207 core species (44.56%) in sediment across urban and rural areas. Notably, significant differences were observed in the functional genetic composition of BOWs between urban and rural areas. Specifically, rural areas exhibited an enhanced abundance of genes involved in nitrogen fixation, Fe2+ transport, and sulfate reduction. Conversely, urban areas showed higher abundances of some genes associated with carbon fixation, nitrification and denitrification. A sulfur-centered ecological model of microbial communities was constructed by integrating data from the three levels of analysis, and 14 near-complete draft genomes were generated, representing a substantial portion of the microbial community (35.04% in rural BOWs and 29.97% in urban BOWs). This research provides significant insights into the sustainable management and preservation of aquatic ecosystems affected by BOWs.

Unleashing Precision and Freedom in Optical Manipulation: Software-Assisted Real-Time Precision Opto-Control of Intracellular Molecular Activities and Cell Functions.

The traditional method in biological science to regulate cell functions often employs chemical interventions, which commonly lack precision in space and time. While optical manipulation offers superior spatial precision, existing technologies are constrained by limitations in flexibility, accuracy, and response time. Here, we present an adaptable and interactive optical manipulation platform that integrates laser scanning, chemical sensing, synchronized multi-laser control, adaptable target selection, flexible decision-making, and real-time monitoring of sample responses. This software-assisted real-time precision opto-control (S-RPOC) platform facilitates automatic target selection driven by optical signals while permitting user-defined manual delineation. It allows the treatment of mobile or stationary targets with varying laser dosages and wavelengths simultaneously at diffraction-limited spatial precision and optimal accuracy. Significantly, S-RPOC showcases versatile capabilities including adaptive photobleaching, comprehensive quantification of protein dynamics, selective organelle perturbation, control of cell division, and manipulation of individual cell behaviors within a population. With its unprecedented spatiotemporal precision and adaptable decision-making, S-RPOC holds the potential for extensive applications in biological science.