Adsorption of thallium(I) on rutile nano-titanium dioxide and environmental implications

Rutile nano-titanium dioxide (RNTD) characterized by loose particles with diameter in 20–50 nm has a very large surface area for adsorption of Tl, a typical trace metal that has severe toxicity. The increasing application of RNTD and widespread discharge of Tl-bearing effluents from various industrial activities would increase the risk of their co-exposure in aquatic environments. The adsorption behavior of Tl(I) (a prevalent form of Tl in nature) on RNTD was studied as a function of solution pH, temperature, and ion strength. Adsorption isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics for Tl(I) were also investigated. The adsorption of Tl(I) on RNTD started at very low pH values and increased abruptly, then maintained at high level with increasing pH >9. Uptake of Tl(I) was very fast on RNTD in the first 15 min then slowed down. The adsorption of Tl(I) on RNTD was an exothermic process; and the adsorption isotherm of Tl(I) followed the Langmuir model, with the maximum adsorption amount of 51.2 mg/g at room temperature. The kinetics of Tl adsorption can be described by a pseudo-second-order equation. FT-IR spectroscopy revealed that -OH and -TiOO-H play an important role in the adsorption. All these results indicate that RNTD has a fast adsorption rate and excellent adsorption amount for Tl(I), which can thus alter the transport, bioavailability and fate of Tl(I) in aqueous environment

Abnormal phospholipids distribution in the prefrontal cortex from a patient with schizophrenia revealed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry

Schizophrenia is one of the major psychiatric disorders, and lipids have focused on the important roles in this disorder. In fact, lipids related to various functions in the brain. Previous studies have indicated that phospholipids, particularly ones containing polyunsaturated fatty acyl residues, are deficient in postmortem brains from patients with schizophrenia. However, due to the difficulties in handling human postmortem brains, particularly the large size and complex structures of the human brain, there is little agreement regarding the qualitative and quantitative abnormalities of phospholipids in brains from patients with schizophrenia, particularly if corresponding brain regions are not used. In this study, to overcome these problems, we employed matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry (IMS), enabling direct microregion analysis of phospholipids in the postmortem brain of a patient with schizophrenia via brain sections prepared on glass slides. With integration of traditional histochemical examination, we could analyze regions of interest in the brain at the micrometric level. We found abnormal phospholipid distributions within internal brain structures, namely, the frontal cortex and occipital cortex. IMS revealed abnormal distributions of phosphatidylcholine molecular species particularly in the cortical layer of frontal cortex region. In addition, the combined use of liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry strengthened the capability for identification of numerous lipid molecular species. Our results are expected to further elucidate various metabolic processes in the neural system

An electron microscopy investigation of a novel secretion system responsible for the surface presentation of virulence factors in Porphyromonas gingivalis

© 2011 Qiaohui YangA novel secretion system in the bacterial pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis is involved in the cell surface secretion and attachment of its major virulence factors, gingipains. Using cryo-electron microscopy, a non-capsule related electron dense surface layer (EDSL) was observed on the cell surface and was altered (diminished/abolished) by certain gene disruptions affecting gingipain secretion. Immuno-cryo-electron microscopy elucidated the co-localisation of cell surface gingipains with the EDSL, further establishing a crucial link between the EDSL, gingipain maturation and the novel secretory system

The forerunner of modern collective residence in Hankou: the study on Panoffs’ Mansion

Collective residence is the choice of urban residents for residential buildings in the context of urban intensification and population densification in modern times. Starting from the modern collective residence in the former concession area of Hankou, this paper, with the focus on Panoffs’ Mansion in the former Russian Concession, through field investigation and literature, original spatial pattern was deduced according to the current situation. Through the diagram analysis of its spatial sequence and organization, and comparative analysis with other collective residence in Hankou, to discuss the similarities and differences between the mansion and other modern Hankou collective residence in form, layout, internal space pattern and living mode. The urban texture of concession completely different form Hankou Old Town, but regional elements are integrated. Panoffs’ Mansion has these common characteristics. Moreover, its volume occupies a single block, and it is the earliest unit residence in Hankou. Panoffs’ Mansion is the earliest practice of unit housing in Hankou, which plays a leading role in modern housing in Hankou. The study of its spatial organization and architectural form is of great significance to the study of modern housing in Hankou concession

Intestinal Microbes and Hematological Malignancies

Hematological malignancies are diverse, with high malignancy characteristics, poor prognoses, and high mortality rates. The development of hematological malignancies is driven by genetic factors, tumor microenvironment factors, or metabolic factors; however, even when considering all of these factors, one still cannot fully estimate the risk of hematological malignancies. Several recent studies have demonstrated an intimate connection between intestinal microbes and the progression of hematological malignancies, and gut microbes play a primary role in the initiation and progression of hematological tumors through direct and indirect mechanisms. Thus, we summarize the correlation between intestinal microbes and hematological malignancies’ onset, progression, and therapeutic effect in order to better understand how intestinal microbes affect their initiation and progression, especially in leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, which may provide potential therapeutic targets for improving the survival of patients with hematological malignancies

Structural Characterization and Functional Analysis of Mevalonate Kinase from <i>Tribolium castaneum</i> (Red Flour Beetle)

Mevalonate kinase (MevK) is an important enzyme in the mevalonate pathway that catalyzes the phosphorylation of mevalonate into phosphomevalonate and is involved in juvenile hormone biosynthesis. Herein, we present a structure model of MevK from the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (TcMevK), which adopts a compact α/β conformation that can be divided into two parts: an N-terminal domain and a C-terminal domain. A narrow, deep cavity accommodating the substrate and cofactor was observed at the junction between the two domains of TcMevK. Computational simulation combined with site-directed mutagenesis and biochemical analyses allowed us to define the binding mode of TcMevK to cofactors and substrates. Moreover, TcMevK showed optimal enzyme activity at pH 8.0 and an optimal temperature of 40 °C for mevalonate as the substrate. The expression profiles and RNA interference of TcMevK indicated its critical role in controlling juvenile hormone biosynthesis, as well as its participation in the production of other terpenoids in T. castaneum. These findings improve our understanding of the structural and biochemical features of insect Mevk and provide a structural basis for the design of MevK inhibitors

Suppression of Banana <i>Fusarium</i> Wilt Disease with Soil Microbial Mechanisms via Pineapple Rotation and Residue Amendment

The large outbreak of banana Fusarium wilt has become a bottleneck limiting the industry’s development, and crop rotation is a cost-effective and essential measure to overcome the obstacles of banana crop monoculture. The present work was carried out to explore the mechanisms of how changes in soil chemical properties and the reestablishment of soil microorganisms in high-incidence soils are affected by crop rotation and plant residue. In this study, pineapple–banana crop rotation and pineapple residue amendment were carried out to alleviate banana Fusarium wilt, and their effects on bacterial and fungal communities were analyzed using the MiSeq Illumina sequencing platform. Both pineapple–banana rotation and residue addition significantly reduced disease incidence. Moreover, pineapple rotation and residue amendment altered the bacterial and fungal community composition. The taxonomic and phylogenetic alpha diversity of bacteria and fungi significantly increased against disease suppression and nutrition competition. The relative abundances of the Burkholderia, Pseudomonas, Elaphocordyceps, Penicillium, and Talaromyces genera were higher, and the number of Fusarium was significantly lower in rotational soil than in banana monoculture soil. Finally, linear models (LM) showed that the Burkholderia and Talaromyces in crop rotation, and Aspergillus in residue amendment had a significantly negative relationship to disease incidence, which plays a key role in Fusarium reduction. To consider the economic benefits and protect the vitality of the soil, this study suggested that pineapple–banana rotation and pineapple residue amendment both could be considered for the sustainable management of banana wilt

The hierarchical model of la-la-la role in campus culture construction

La-la-la operating in the construction of colleges and universities has a great value, can promote the students’ physical and mental health, colleagues to promote the construction of campus culture, different ways of la-la-la operating organization implement and carry out on all aspects of the role is not the same. Solutions are mainly in the colleges and universities to build operation association, organization propaganda, carry out la-la-la operating activities to promote and enhance the campus spiritual civilization construction and strengthen students’ self-confidence and moral quality. Based on the AHP method to study la-la-la hold different organization form for the role of the campus culture construction, and to quantify value, said the results. The school should take the classroom education is complementary, held mainly operating activities stimulate la-la-la fuck role in campus culture construction

Tennis balls judgment model based on numerical simulation

According to the principle of “eagle eye”, assuming that in the absence of the wind and air density uniform, tennis because of deformation produced by hitting, accurate to tennis in flight by gravity, air resistance, the tennis movement into the vertical direction and horizontal direction. Solution can be obtained using the ideas of calculus, thus draws the tennis range, fall to the ground, placement time and location. Increase the rotation of the tennis, according to the formula of sports biomechanics, the pressure difference to produce in vertical direction of the velocity and angular velocity magnus force, solving the stead yunus force coefficient, through the best tennis in the vertical direction of the time needed for higher level computation, model are described in detail in tennis trajectories of the rotating cases and placement, and intuitive simulation diagram of the flying track

Visual Tracking of Label-Free Microplastics In Wheat Seedlings and Their Effects on Crop Growth and Physiology

The effects of microplastics on crop plants have attracted growing attention. However, little is known about the effects of microplastics and their extracts on the growth and physiology of wheat seedlings. In this study, hyperspectral-enhanced dark field microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to accurately track the accumulation of 200 nm label-free polystyrene microplastics (PS) in wheat seedlings. The PS accumulated along the root xylem cell wall and in the xylem vessel member and then moved toward to the shoots. In addition, lower concentration (≤ 5 mg/L) of microplastics increased root hydraulic conductivity by 80.6%-117.0%. While higher PS treatment (200 mg·L-1) considerably decreased plant pigments content (chlorophyll a, b, and total chlorophyll decreased by 14.8%, 19.9%, 17.2%) and root hydraulic conductivity (decreased by 50.7%). Similarly, catalase activity was reduced by 17.7% in root and 36.8% in shoot. However, extracts from the PS solution showed no physiological effect on wheat. The result confirmed that it was the plastic particle, rather than the chemical reagents added in the microplastics, contributed to the physiological variation. These data will benefit to better understanding on the behavior of microplastics in soil plants, and to providing of convincing evidence for the effects of terrestrial microplastics. © 2023, The Authors. All rights reserved