Developmental trajectories of expert perception processing of Chinese characters in primary school children

Previous studies have demonstrated that inversion effect and left-side bias are stable expertise markers in Chinese character processing among adults. However, it is less clear how these markers develop early on (i.e., among primary school students). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the development of the two markers by comparing primary school-aged students of three age groups (Grade 1, Grade 3, and Grade 5) and adults in tests of inversion effect (Experiment 1) and left-sided bias effect (Experiment 2). The results replicated that both effects during Chinese character processing were present among adults. However, more importantly, the effects were different among primary school-aged students in different grades: the inversion effect was found as early as in Grade 1, but the left-side bias effect did not emerge in Grade 1 and as approximated that of adults until Grade 3. The study suggested a potential dissociation in developing different aspects of expertise during Chinese character processing in early childhood

Dendroremediation Potential of Six <i>Quercus</i> Species to Polluted Soil in Historic Copper Mining Sites

Green remediation of severely contaminated soils around mining sites can be achieved using suitable woody plants such as Quercus species, but their phytoremediation potential has not been well evaluated yet. Six Quercus species, which were popular in ecological restoration and landscape application in east China, were selected and evaluated for their phytoremediation potential of metal polluted soil using a pot experiment that lasted for 150 d. The results suggested that Quercus species exhibited high tolerance to multi-metal contamination of Cu (9839 mg·kg−1), Cd (8.5 mg·kg−1), and Zn (562 mg·kg−1) with a tolerance index (TI) ranging from 0.52 to 1.21. Three Quercus (Q. pagoda, Q. acutissima, and Q. nuttallii) showed relatively higher tolerance with TIs of 1.08, 1.09, and 1.21, respectively. Above-ground tissues accounted for most of the total biomass in T1 (mixture of clean and polluted soil, 50%) and T2 (100% polluted soil) treatments for most species. The Cu contents in plant tissues were in the order of root > leaf > stem, whereas Zn exhibited the order of leaf > stem > root, and Cd showed divergent mobility within the Quercus species. All the Quercus species exhibited higher capacity for Zn phytoextraction with translocation factor (TF) over 1 and Cu/Cd phytostabilization with TFs lower than 1. The analytic hierarchy process-entropy weight model indicated that Q. virginiana and Q. acutissima were two excellent species with evident phytoremediation capacity of Cu, Cd, and Zn co-contaminated soil. Taken together, Quercus species showed great potential for phytoremediation of soils severely polluted by Cu, Cd, and Zn around historic mining sites. Application of Quercus species is a green remediation option with low-maintenance cost and prospective economic benefit for phytomanagement of historic mining sites

Probucol Nanostructured Lipid Carrier Ameliorates Elastase-induced Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in Mice: Probucol nanostructured lipid carrier ameliorates abdominal aortic aneurysm

Probucol (PB) is a drug commonly used for the treatment of hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis. In our previous study, we have proved that PB can ameliorate abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) induced by elastase in mice through its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effect. In this study, the water solubility and oral absorption of PB were improved by encapsulating PB into nanostructured lipid carriers (PB-NLC), and the effects of NLC on the anti-AAA effects of PB were evaluated and compared to the PB free drug. AAA mouse model was constructed by incubating the mouse aorta with elastase. Mice in the drug-treated groups were given PB free drug or PB-NLC at a PB dose of either 10 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg daily, and mice in the model group were treated with saline. The arterial wall and the degradation grade of the elastic lamina were investigated by HE staining and aldehyde fuchsine staining of the aortic sections. Infiltration of macrophages and degree of inflammation were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining of CD68 and TNFα, respectively, in the aortic sections. In addition, the absorption improvement of PB by the NLC nano-formulation was evaluated through determining and comparing the steady-state plasma concentration of PB in the PB free drug or PB-NLC treated mice group. When treating the mice with AAA with an equal dose of PB, PB-NLC more significantly inhibited expansion of the abdominal aortas and maintained the integrity of the aortic walls, compared with the PB free drug. The NLC nano-formulation significantly increased the steady-state plasma concentration of PB. PB-NLC significantly increased the absorption and protective effects of PB against elastase-induced AAA in mice

Imbalance of Microbacterial Diversity Is Associated with Functional Prognosis of Stroke

Objectives. There is mounting evidence to suggest that the pathophysiology of stroke is greatly influenced by the microbiota of the gut and its metabolites, in particular short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The primary purpose of the study was to evaluate whether the levels of SCFAs and the gut microbiota are altered in poststroke patients and to examine the relationship between these alterations and the physical condition, intestinal health, pain, or nutritional status of patients. Methods. Twenty stroke patients and twenty healthy controls were enrolled in the current study, and their demographics were matched. Gas chromatography was used to determine the fecal SCFAs, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to evaluate their fecal microbiota. Microbial diversity and richness were examined using the diversity indices alpha and beta, and taxonomic analysis was utilized to determine group differences. The relationships between the gut microbiome and fecal SCFAs, discriminant bacteria, and poststroke clinical outcomes were analyzed. Results. Less community richness (ACE and Chao) was observed in the poststroke patients (P<0.05), but the differences between the poststroke group and the healthy control group in terms of species diversity (Shannon and Simpson) were not statistically significant. The makeup of the poststroke gut microbiota was distinct from that of the control group, as evidenced by beta diversity. Then, the relative abundances of the taxa in the poststroke and control groups were compared in order to identify the specific microbiota changes. At the level of phylum, the poststroke subjects showed a significant increase in the relative abundances of Akkermansiaceae, Fusobacteriota, Desulfobacterota, Ruminococcaceae, and Oscillospirales and a particularly noticeable decrease in the relative abundance of Acidobacteriota compared to the control subjects (P<0.05). In regard to SCFA concentrations, lower levels of fecal acetic acid (P=0.001) and propionic acid (P=0.049) were found in poststroke subjects. Agathobacter was highly correlated with acetic acid level (r=0.473, P=0.002), whereas Fusobacteria (r=−0.371, P=0.018), Flavonifractor (r=−0.334, P=0.034), Desulfovibrio (r=−0.362, P=0.018), and Akkermansia (r=−0.321, P=0.043) were negatively related to acetic acid levels. Additionally, the findings of the correlation analysis revealed that Akkermansia (r=−0.356, P=0.024), Desulfovibrio (r=−0.316, P=0.047), and Alloprevotella (r=−0.366, P=0.020) were significantly negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In addition, the Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction score (r=0.495, P=0.026), Barthel index (r=−0.531, P=0.015), Fugl-Meyer Assessment score (r=−0.565, P=0.009), Visual Analogue Scale score (r=0.605, P=0.005), and Brief Pain Inventory score (r=0.507, P=0.023) were significantly associated with alterations of distinctive gut microbiota. Conclusions. Stroke generates extensive and substantial alterations in the gut microbiota and SCFAs, according to our findings. The differences of intestinal flora and lower fecal SCFA levels are closely related to the physical function, intestinal function, pain, or nutritional status of poststroke patients. Treatment strategies aimed at modulating the gut microbiota and SCFAs may have the potential to enhance the clinical results of patients

Bamboo biochar greater enhanced Cd/Zn accumulation in Salix psammophila under non-flooded soil compared with flooded

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Solar radiation effects on leaf nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry of Chinese fir across subtropical China

Abstract Background Solar radiation (SR) plays critical roles in plant physiological processes and ecosystems functions. However, the exploration of SR influences on the biogeochemical cycles of forest ecosystems is still in a slow progress, and has important implications for the understanding of plant adaption strategy under future environmental changes. Herein, this research was aimed to explore the influences of SR on plant nutrient characteristics, and provided theoretical basis for introducing SR into the establishment of biochemical models of forest ecosystems in the future researches. Methods We measured leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) stoichiometry in 19 Chinese fir plantations across subtropical China by a field investigation. The direct and indirect effects of SR, including global radiation (Global R), direct radiation (Direct R) and diffuse radiation (Diffuse R) on the leaf N and P stoichiometry were investigated. Results The linear regression analysis showed that leaf N concentration had no association with SR, while leaf P concentration and N:P ratio were negatively and positively related to SR, respectively. Partial least squares path model (PLS-PM) demonstrated that SR (e.g. Direct R and Diffuse R), as a latent variable, exhibited direct correlations with leaf N and P stoichiometry as well as the indirect correlation mediated by soil P content. The direct associations (path coefficient = − 0.518) were markedly greater than indirect associations (path coefficient = − 0.087). The covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) indicated that SR had direct effects on leaf P concentration (path coefficient = − 0.481), and weak effects on leaf N concentration. The high SR level elevated two temperature indexes (mean annual temperature, MAT; ≥ 10 °C annual accumulated temperature, ≥ 10 °C AAT) and one hydrological index (mean annual evapotranspiration, MAE), but lowered the soil P content. MAT, MAE and soil P content could affect the leaf P concentration, which cause the indirect effect of SR on leaf P concentration (path coefficient = 0.004). Soil N content had positive effect on the leaf N concentration, which was positively and negatively regulated by MAP and ≥ 10 °C AAT, respectively. Conclusions These results confirmed that SR had negatively direct and indirect impacts on plant nutrient status of Chinese fir based on a regional investigation, and the direct associations were greater than the indirect associations. Such findings shed light on the guideline of taking SR into account for the establishment of global biogeochemical models of forest ecosystems in the future studies

Grape-seed Polyphenols Play a Protective Role in Elastase-induced Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in Mice

Abstract Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a kind of disease characterized by aortic dilation, whose pathogenesis is linked to inflammation. This study aimed to determine whether grape-seed polyphenols (GSP) has anti-AAA effects and what mechanism is involved, thus to find a way to prevent occurrence and inhibit expansion of small AAA. In our study, AAA was induced by incubating the abdominal aorta of the mice with elastase, and GSP was administrated to the mice by gavage at different doses beginning on the day of the AAA inducement. In in vivo experiments, 800 mg/kg GSP could significantly reduce the incidence of AAA, the dilatation of aorta and elastin degradation in media, and dramatically decrease macrophage infiltration and activation and expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) −2 and MMP-9 in the aorta, compared to the AAA model group. Meanwhile, 400 mg/kg GSP could also but not completely inhibit the occurrence and development of AAA. In in vitro experiments, GSP dose-dependently inhibited mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and significantly inhibited expression and activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9, thus prevented elastin from degradation. In conclusion, GSP showed great anti-AAA effects and its mechanisms were related to inhibition of inflammation