Influence of cage culture on methylmercury in water column of reservoir

To understand the influence of cage culture on the methylmercury production and distribution in water column of reservoir, water samples were collected from four cage culture sites in Wujiangdu Reservoir in September (warm season), 2010 and in March (cool season), 2011, taking the sites with a distance of 100-200 m from the culture sites and at the center of the reservoir as the reference sites. In warm season, the total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in cage culture sites were 2.04 ±0.53 ng·L-1 and 0.146 ±0.231 ng·L-1, and those in reference sites were 3.33±2.39 ng·L-1 and 0.380±0.577 ng·L-1, respectively; in cool season, the corresponding values were 3.04±1.53 ng·L-1 and 0.047±0.028 ng·L-1, and 3.24±1.23 ng·L-1 and 0.046±0.013 ng·L-1, respectively. No significant differences were observed in the concentrations of THg and MeHg (for THg, n = 35, P =0.875, and for MeHg, n =35, P =0.091) between cage culture sites and corresponding reference sites. The analysis on the water parameters total phosphorus, total nitrogen, dissolved organic carbon, temperature, and chlorophyll-a at the cage culture sites and reference sites showed that the MeHg production and distribution in the water column were affected by the water discharge and water exchange activities in the reservoir rather than by the cage culture activities, whereas the anaerobic condition of bottom water and the variation of water temperature caused by the seasonal stratification of water column could be the main factors affecting the methylmercury production and distribution

Deltaproteobacteria and Spirochaetes-Like Bacteria Are Abundant Putative Mercury Methylators in Oxygen-Deficient Water and Marine Particles in the Baltic Sea

Methylmercury (MeHg), a neurotoxic compound biomagnifying in aquatic food webs, can be a threat to human health via fish consumption. However, the composition and distribution of the microbial communities mediating the methylation of mercury (Hg) to MeHg in marine systems remain largely unknown. In order to fill this knowledge gap, we used the Baltic Sea Reference Metagenome (BARM) dataset to study the abundance and distribution of the genes involved in Hg methylation (thehgcABgene cluster). We determined the relative abundance of thehgcABgenes and their taxonomic identity in 81 brackish metagenomes that cover spatial, seasonal and redox variability in the Baltic Sea water column. ThehgcABgenes were predominantly detected in anoxic water, but somehgcABgenes were also detected in hypoxic and normoxic waters. Phylogenetic analysis identified putative Hg methylators within Deltaproteobacteria, in oxygen-deficient water layers, but also Spirochaetes-like and Kiritimatiellaeota-like bacteria. Higher relative quantities ofhgcABgenes were found in metagenomes from marine particles compared to free-living communities in anoxic water, suggesting that such particles are hotspot habitats for Hg methylators in oxygen-depleted seawater. Altogether, our work unveils the diversity of the microorganisms with the potential to mediate MeHg production in the Baltic Sea and pinpoint the important ecological niches for these microorganisms within the marine water column

Microglia: The breakthrough to treat neovascularization and repair blood-retinal barrier in retinopathy

Microglia are the primary resident retinal macrophages that monitor neuronal activity in real-time and facilitate angiogenesis during retinal development. In certain retinal diseases, the activated microglia promote retinal angiogenesis in hypoxia stress through neurovascular coupling and guide neovascularization to avascular areas (e.g., the outer nuclear layer and macula lutea). Furthermore, continuously activated microglia secrete inflammatory factors and expedite the loss of the blood-retinal barrier which causes irreversible damage to the secondary death of neurons. In this review, we support microglia can be a potential cellular therapeutic target in retinopathy. We briefly describe the relevance of microglia to the retinal vasculature and blood-retinal barrier. Then we discuss the signaling pathway related to how microglia move to their destinations and regulate vascular regeneration. We summarize the properties of microglia in different retinal disease models and propose that reducing the number of pro-inflammatory microglial death and conversing microglial phenotypes from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory are feasible for treating retinal neovascularization and the damaged blood-retinal barrier (BRB). Finally, we suppose that the unique properties of microglia may aid in the vascularization of retinal organoids

Mercury speciation and isotopic composition to study Hg bio-environmental contamination pathways

Le mercure (Hg) est un polluant global et ses effets écotoxicologiques sont fortement dépendants de sa forme chimique principalement sous forme de méthylmercure (MeHg). En raison de la forte bioaccumulation et bioamplification du MeHg dans les réseaux trophiques, l'exposition humaine est associée à la consommation de poissons, mais aussi du riz produit à proximité des régions minières riches en Hg (Chine). La composition isotopique du Hg est un outil potentiellement puissant qui a été récemment utilisé pour le traçage de la contamination par mercure et les processus biogéochimiques dans l'environnement et les organismes vivants. Dans ce travail, la spéciation et la composition isotopique du mercure d'échantillons bio-environnementaux ont été étudiées afin d'élucider les voies de contamination par Hg entre les milieux contaminés et certains organismes vivants cibles, tels que le système sol-riz dans une région minière (Hg) et le biote aquatique dans une rivière polluée par une usine de production chlore/soude. Une étude écotoxicologique a également démontré que la composition isotopique de Hg dans les différents organes des poissons permet de mieux comprendre les voies métaboliques du Hg et la réponse toxicologique induite.Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant and its ecotoxicological effects are strongly dependent on its chemical form mainly as methylmercury (MeHg). Due to the high bioaccumulation and biomagnification of MeHg in food webs, human exposure occurs through the consumption of fish, but also rice nearby Hg mining area (China). Hg isotopes composition is a potentials powerful tool and has been recently used to trace Hg contamination and biogeochemical processes in environment and living organisms. In this work, Hg speciation and isotopic composition of bio-environmental samples has been investigated in order to elucidate Hg contamination pathways between contaminated sites and target living organisms such as soil-rice plant system in a Hg mining region and aquatic biota in a river impacted by a chlor-alkali plant. An ecotoxicological study has also demonstrated how Hg isotopic composition in different fish organs allows to better understand Hg metabolic pathways and induced toxicological response

Using features of mercury and methylmercury to discriminate contamination profiles between sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, populations

Despite many efforts consented in the last decades, Mercury (Hg) emissions have kept rising worldwide. Currently, anthropogenic inputs dominate Hg emissions to the atmosphere by far, natural releases accounting only for a 4th of the total. Because Hg has a stable gaseous form (Hg0) with a long residence time in the atmosphere (~1year), both natural and industrially produced Hg can be transported far from point sources. Therefore, many uncertainties remain in our knowledge about Hg biogeochemistry. Our study aims at identifying the different Hg forms found in marine predators in order to discriminate different polluted areas and potential pollution sources. More specifically, we seek to discriminate contaminations of local origins versus contamination of global origins. To achieve this, we are currently studying different sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, populations from the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean. In muscle, liver, kidney and brain tissues, we analyze total Mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg). We are also testing the discrimination power of Hg's stable isotopes (199Hg, 201Hg and 202Hg). Indeed, recent findings show that Hg isotopes can exhibit both mass-dependent (MDF) and mass-independent fractionation (MIF). This means that Hg isotopes provide two different types of information at once, both on biological cycling of Hg, including bioaccumulation (MDF), and on chemical pathways such as photochemical transformations (MIF). Eventually, we are planning to extend our results with compound specific isotope analysis (CSIA) on the carbon of methylmercury. Preliminary analysis performed on 14 juvenile specimens from the North Sea and the Aegean Sea indicate that THg concentrations are higher in individuals from the North Sea than from Greece. The lack of correlation with size and weight indicate that it is likely linked to a difference in contamination levels between the two areas. MeHg is the predominant form of Hg in muscle, while the same cannot be asserted for liver. Mass dependent isotopic values (δ202Hg), were always higher in muscle than in liver and, for each tissue, values were similar between the two areas. This is probably related to the species distribution and to some internal Hg metabolism. For mass independent isotopic signature (MIF), sea bass from the Aegean Sea had a systematically higher Δ201Hg value than individuals from the North Sea. Thus, mass independent values seem definitely site dependent and might be in agreement with differences in both mercury sources and cycling in the North and Aegean Seas. These preliminary results consequently indicate that Hg isotopes may help to discriminate fish from different areas. This promising outcome must be further confirmed by extending our sampling and will be coupled to other results obtained through CSIA.Discrimination des sources de contamination en mercure chez Dicentrarchus labra

New Method to Identify Field Joint Coating Failures Based on MFL In-Line Inspection Signals

Above ground indirect detections and random excavations that have applied the past years for buried long distance oil and gas pipelines can only identify some damaged coating locations. Hence, large number of field joint coating (FJC) failures happen unconsciously until they lead to failures of the pipelines. Based on the analysis of magnetic flux leakage (MFL) in-line inspection (ILI) signals, combined with the statistical results of 414 excavations from two different pipeline sections, a new method to identify the failed FJC is established. Though it can only identify FJC failures when there are signs of corrosion on pipe body, it is much more efficient and cost-saving. The concluded identification rule still needs more validations and improvements to be more applicable and accuracy

Solid-state NMR Investigation of the Host-guest Interactions in Gas Adsorption and Chemical Separation Using MOFs as Adsorbents

Due to its sensitivity to the local geometries and chemical environments, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is widely applied to investigate the host-guest interactions between metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and guest molecules in the studies of gas adsorption and chemical separation. Multi-nuclear, multi-dimensional and variable temperature solid-state NMR is employed to investigate the adsorption behavior, primary adsorption sites, dynamic property, and self-diffusion coefficients of light hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide inside the MOFs channels. Moreover, solid-state NMR spectroscopy is utilized to determine the adsorption selectivity, visualize the preferential adsorption and uncover the separation mechanism of light alkane/alkene mixtures inside MOFs. Furthermore, solid-state NMR is used to explore the detailed host-guest interaction mechanism between common chemicals and MOFs adsorbents. All these findings provide insights into deep understanding of the structure-property relationship for the application of functional MOFs in gas adsorption and chemical separation

Transcriptomic Responses of Fall Armyworms (Spodoptera frugiperda) Feeding on a Resistant Maize Inbred Line Xi502 with High Benzoxazinoid Content

The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is a devastating invasive insect herbivore. Its success on its preferred host plant, maize (Zea mays), is supported by numerous specialized detoxification mechanisms that suppress the defense responses of maize. In this study, we used a resistant Chinese maize cultivar, Xi502, which showed slower growth and lower yield-related phenotypes compare with maize inbred line B73. Comparative transcriptomic analyses demonstrated that B73-fed fall armyworm larvae have a significantly faster transcriptomic re-configuration toward maturation compared to their siblings fed with Xi502 leaves, whereas a number of putative aromatic breakdown -related DEGs were specifically induced when feeding on Xi502. Targeted metabolomic quantification demonstrated that Xi502 contains significantly higher levels of various benzoxazinoid compounds. Artificial feeding with the structural analog of a benzoxazinoid compound preferentially accumulated in Xi502 demonstrated a significant growth inhibition effect on FAW larvae. These results provide important genetic material and preliminary evidence for further dissection of the FAW-resistance mechanism in maize

Copper-Phenylacetylide Nanobelt/Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Composites: Mechanochromic Luminescence Phenomenon and Thermoelectric Performance

We report flexible films of organic–inorganic thermoelectric (TE) composites based on organometallic coordination compound [copper-phenylacetylide (PhC₂Cu)] nanobelts and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Interestingly, an unusual mechanochromic luminescence phenomenon from bright green to dark red is clearly observed after grinding the PhC₂Cu crystalline nanobelts. The PhC₂Cu/SWCNT composites display high mechanical flexibility and excellent TE performance. The maximum power factor at room temperature can reach as high as 200.2 ± 10.9 μW m^–1 K^–2. The present study opens an avenue to fabricate novel organic–inorganic TE composite materials using organometallic coordination compounds such as PhC₂Cu