DataSheet1_Identification of regional industrial priority pollutants in surface water: A field study in Taihu Lake Basin.docx

The current water environment management of China has gradually shifted from reaching water quality standards to preserving water ecological health, and the control focus has extended from traditional nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants to micropollutants, such as heavy metals and emerging pollutants. However, the precise traceability and regulatory system of micropollutants in different regions’ watersheds was not yet mature. A five-step strategy of risk assessment and management was proposed this study to successfully construct a list of industrial priority pollutants and a list of 376 priority control discharge enterprises in 13 administrative regions of China’s Taihu Lake Basin. Firstly, a preliminary list of 78 pollutants was determined with reference to the emission standards of major regional industrial pollution sources, relevant national environmental regulations and literature reports. Secondly, 22 types of priority control pollutants were re-screened based on the analytical results of surface water samples obtained from 26 monitoring sites in the study area. Then the environmental risk values of the re-screened pollutants were calculated referring to the Chemical Hazard Evaluation for Management Strategy (CHEMS-1) method. Next, the regional environmental risk baseline value was determined and the risk value equivalent (EY) for each pollutant was calculated. Finally, according to the EY results, the regional priority control pollutants were identified, and the priority control discharge enterprises were confirmed retroactively. The results of this study can provide methodological support and a scientific basis for the precise control of micropollutants in surface water from differentiated regions.</p

High-Quality CuInS₂/ZnS Quantum Dots for In vitro and In vivo Bioimaging

The exploration of biocompatible quantum dots (QDs) for biomedical imaging is currently one of the fastest growing fields of nanotechnology. This strategy overcomes the intrinsic toxicity of well-developed II–VI and other semiconductor QDs (Cd, Hg, Pb, Se, Te, As, etc.) that remains a major obstacle to their clinical use. In this report, we synthesized high-quality CuInS₂/ZnS (CIS/ZnS) QDs without using conventional toxic heavy metals. These QDs exhibited improved photoluminescence (PL) properties, with tunable emission peaks ranging from 550 to 800 nm and a maximum PL quantum yield (QY) up to 80%. Next, we explored the effective loading of the prepared oil-soluble CIS/ZnS QDs using biodegradable folate-modified N-succinyl-N′-octyl chitosan (FA-SOC) micelles. Targeting efficacy of the resulting QDs-loaded micelles to tumors using in vitro and in vivo optical imaging techniques was also investigated. The results show that the micelle platform allowed successful formulation of these oil-soluble QDs in water, while retaining the morphology, crystal structure, and PL of the initial CIS/ZnS QDs. This study demonstrates the versatility of using the biocompatible CIS/ZnS QDs across different spatial scales (in vitro cell imaging and in vivo small animal imaging) for multicolor biological imaging applications

<i>In Vivo</i> Targeted Deep-Tissue Photodynamic Therapy Based on Near-Infrared Light Triggered Upconversion Nanoconstruct

Two major challenges of current photodynamic therapy (PDT) are the limited tissue penetration of excitation light and poor tumor-selectivity of the photosensitizer (PS). To address these issues, we developed a multifunctional nanoconstruct consisting of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) that transform near-infrared (NIR) light to visible light and a photosensitizer zinc(II) phthalocyanine (ZnPc). Folate-modified amphiphilic chitosan (FASOC) was coated on the surface of UCNPs to anchor the ZnPc close to the UCNPs, thereby facilitating resonance energy transfer from UCNPs to ZnPc. Confocal microscopy and NIR small animal imaging demonstrated the enhanced tumor-selectivity of the nanoconstructs to cancer cells that overexpressed folate receptor. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in cancer cells under a 1-cm tissue was higher upon excitation of UCNPs with the 980 nm light than that with 660 nm irradiation. <i>In vivo</i> PDT treatments for deep-seated tumors demonstrated that NIR light-triggered PDT based on the nanoconstructs possessed remarkable therapeutic efficacy with tumor inhibition ratio up to 50% compared with conventional visible light-activated PDT with a noticeable reduced tumor inhibition ratio of 18%. These results indicate that the multifunctional nanoconstruct is a promising PDT agent for deep-seated tumor treatment and demonstrate a new paradigm for enhancing PDT efficacy

Additional file 1: Figure S1. of Agonist-induced activation of human FFA1 receptor signals to extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 through Gq- and Gi-coupled signaling cascades

Forskolin did not mimic the effect of PTX. A. Serum-starved FFA1-HEK293 cells were pretreated with DMSO or Forskolin (10μM) for 1h, and the cells were then stimulated with 10μM LA for the indicated time. ERK1/2 phosphorylation was assessed by Western blot as described in the Experimental Procedures and corresponding immunoblots were quantified by Bio-Rad Quantity One Imaging system. B. FFA1-HEK293 and HEK293 cells were exposed to PTX(100ng/ml) for indicated time, and than cell viabilities were evaluated by CCK8 assay at OD450nm. Error bars represent the SEM for three replicates. The data shown are representative of at least three replicate independent experiments. Data were analyzed using Student’s t-test (* p<0.001). (DOC 2835 kb

Logistic regression analysis of anxiety and depressive symptoms with mutually adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

a<p>Ref is reference.</p><p>*P<0.05;</p><p>**P<0.01;</p><p>***P<0.0001 (two-tailed test).</p

Descriptive statistics for the characteristics and associations with anxiety and depressive symptoms of the participants.

<p>Note: <i>P</i> values are associated with Chi-square tests.</p>a<p>SD is standard deviation.</p>b<p><i>P</i> value is associated with analysis of variance.</p>c<p><i>P</i> value is associated with Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel statistics.</p

Simultaneous and Sensitive Detection of Multisite 5‑Methylcytosine Including Non-CpG Sites at Single-5mC-Resolution

The methylation status of multiplexed methylcytosine sites can be simultaneously monitored by ligation-depended PCR assay. The ability of quantitative detection of multiplexed sites in one PCR reaction makes it a good choice for detecting methylation at both CpG and non-CpG sites for research and diagnosis of disease compared with others. The assay can determine as low as 20 aM methylated DNA and has been successfully applied to the genomic DNA sample derived from cancer cell lines

Fluorescent Strategy Based on Cationic Conjugated Polymer Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer for the Quantification of 5‑(Hydroxymethyl)cytosine in Genomic DNA

DNA methylation is dynamically reprogrammed during early embryonic development in mammals. It can be explained partially by the discovery of 5-(hydroxymethyl)­cytosine (5-hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5-fC), and 5-carboxylcytosine (5-caC), which are identified as key players involved in both active and passive demethylation pathways. As one of the ten–eleven translocation oxidation products, 5-hmC was found relatively abundant in neuron cells and embryonic stem cells. Herein we report a new method for 5-hmC quantification in genomic DNA based on CCP-FRET (cationic conjugated polymers act as the energy donor and induce fluorescence resonance energy transfer) assay combined with KRuO₄ oxidation. 5-hmC in genomic DNA can be selectively transformed into 5-fC by the oxidation of KRuO₄ and then labeled with hydroxylamine-BODIPY (BODIPY = 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-<i>s</i>-indacene) fluorophore through the reaction between 5-fC and hydroxylamine-BODIPY. After the fluorescently labeled DNA was captured by CCP through electrostatic interactions, a significant FRET between CCP and hydroxylamine-BODIPY fluorophore was observed. This CCP-FRET-based assay benefits from light-harvesting, large Stokes shift, and optical signal amplification properties of the CCP. Furthermore, this CCP-FRET-based assay was quite successfully demonstrated for the 5-hmC quantification in three types of cells (mESc, HeLa, HEK 293T), providing a much more convenient choice for 5-hmC quantification in genomic DNA

Biofouling Promotes Higher Concentration of Heavy Metal on Disposable Face Masks than Microplastic Films and Particles in Seawater: Mechanisms and Potential Ecological Risks

The insufficient control of waste associated with personal protective equipment (PPE) resulted in a large influx of disposable face masks (DFMs) in marine environments. Herein, we investigated the biofilm colonization on three types of polypropylene microplastics (MPs, i.e., DFMs, films, and particles) as well as the potential risks of MP-associated heavy metals (HMs) in seawater. Compared to conventional MP particles and films, DFMs were conducive to colonization by microorganisms and minerals, resulting in the formation of a typical spatial network biofilm structure. This triggered more HM adsorption by the biofilm-developed DFMs through surface complexation with the organic components in the biofilm. By BCR sequential extraction analysis, we found that organic and mineral components comprised 70.2–85.6% and 14.4–29.8% of the HM concentration in the biofilm-developed DFMs, respectively. In an in vitro gastrointestinal tract model, biofilm-developed DFMs had a much higher desorption capacity for HMs than MP particles and films. Moreover, the ecological risk index of biofilm-developed DFMs was significantly higher than that of biofilm-developed films and particles. Considering the potential ecological risk of biofilm-developed DFMs, we advocate that the reasonable recycling and environmentally friendly treatment of PPE MP pollutants should be considered as a bursting challenge for sustainable coastal development

“We (Tong) Chinese”: Contemporary identity positioning through health management among Cantonese Chinese Americans

<p>This paper explores discursive ways Chinese American older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) take ownership of their health management. Fifteen patient stakeholders with T2DM took part in four focus group interviews. We used qualitiative discourse analysis to examine how participants used the phrase, “We (Tong) Chinese,” and variants, to index models of Chinese-living-in-the-U.S. personhoods, to incorporate “Chinese” and “western” ways of doing health management, to be Chinese American, and to interact with medical practitioners. We show how terms like “Tong” distinguish transnational boundaries and position participants in claiming “Chinese-in-America-ness” in relevant ways. Findings have implications for healthcare providers, health education, and intercultural communication.</p