[Natural soil genesis in red mud and underlying microbial mechanism.] / èµ¤æ³¥è‡ªç„¶æˆåœŸè¿‡ç¨‹åŠå ¶å¾®ç”Ÿç‰©é©±åŠ¨æœºåˆ¶.

Soil genesis is important for ecological restoration of red mud disposal area. Soil genesis of red mud and the microbial mechanism were studied by analyzing the change of physicochemical and biochemical characteristics of red mud. We analyzed the microbial community structure in a red mud disposal area without any human-induced restoration through a space for time substitution approach. The results showed that, with the increases of storage time, the physical parameters of porosity, water-stable aggregates content, and mean weight diameter increased, but the bulk density decreased. The chemical parameters, including pH, electrical conductivity, acid neutralizing capacity, and exchangeable sodium percentage, decreased with increasing storage time. The bio-chemical parameters of total organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, microbial biomass carbon and basal respiration increased, but the metabolic quotient decreased. The Shannon diversity index increased, and the dominant microflora in red mud changed from the oxygenic photosynthetic bacteria Cyanobacteria and thanaerobic anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria Chlorobi and Chloroflexi to Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Firmicutes. The ratio between eutrophic and oligotrophic bacteria substantially increased. The micromorphology results showed that the microorga-nism-red mud aggregates were formed through adsorption, linkage, intertwinement and package between red mud particles, microbial cells and their metabolites. The red mud biotope changed spontaneously from extreme and oligotrophic into soil-like under natural stockpiling. The soil genesis process was mediated by microbes through increasing nutrient level, decreasing alkalinity and sali-nity, and improving soil structure.

Deletion of P110δ promotes the development of myocarditis in ApoE­deficient mice by increasing mononuclear cell peritoneal infiltration.

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase catalytic subunit δ isoform (P110δ) is mainly expressed in white blood cells. It is involved in T and B lymphocyte differentiation, maturation and the neutrophil chemotaxis process. Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is an arginine­rich alkaline protein, which is present in plasma chylomicron, low­density lipoprotein and very low­density lipoprotein. The present study aimed to determine the effects of P110δ deletion on myocarditis in ApoE­/­ mice. A mouse model of ApoE and P110δ double deletion was initially constructed; hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was performed to detect the histological alterations in the mouse myocardium. Systolic and diastolic alterations, and alterations in the left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were examined by electrocardiogram. Blood cell of ApoE and P110δ double mice was used to detect changes in white blood cells and monocytes. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of apoptosis­associated proteins, whereas flow cytometry was used to detect the percentage of apoptosis. Morphological alterations in myocardial cells were observed under a microscope. The results of polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that double deletion mice were successfully constructed. H&E staining revealed that cells in the ApoE­/­ mice were spindle­shaped; however, the nuclei were smaller in the double deletion mice. There was no change in cardiac contraction in normal mice; however, in double deletion mice, the systolic and diastolic contractions were markedly reduced. LVFS and LVEF were decreased compared with in the control group. Blood cell analysis indicated that the content of white blood cells and monocytes in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group. Western blotting demonstrated that the expression levels of apoptotic proteins in double deletion mice were significantly higher compared with in the control group. Flow cytometry revealed that the apoptotic ratio was increased in double deletion mice compared with in the control group (42 vs. 21%). These findings suggested that deletion of P110δ may induce monocyte peritoneal infiltration and increase apoptosis, thus promoting the development of myocarditis.

Analysis of a Community-based Intervention to Reduce Heat-related Illness during Heat Waves in Licheng, China: a Quasi-experimental Study.

OBJECTIVE: To reduce health-related threats of heat waves, interventions have been implemented in many parts of the world. However, there is a lack of higher-level evidence concerning the intervention efficacy. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of an intervention to reduce the number of heat-related illnesses. METHODS: A quasi-experimental design was employed by two cross-sectional surveys in the year 2014 and 2015, including 2,240 participants and 2,356 participants, respectively. Each survey was designed to include one control group and one intervention group, which conducted in Licheng, China. A representative sample was selected using a multistage sampling method. Data, collected from questionnaires about heat waves in 2014 and 2015, were analyzed using a difference-in-difference analysis and cost effectiveness analysis. Outcomes included changes in the prevalence of heat-related illnesses and cost-effectiveness variables. RESULTS: Relative to the control participants, the prevalence of heat-related illness in the intervention participants decreased to a greater extent in rural areas than in urban areas (OR=0.495 vs. OR=1.281). Moreover, the cost-effectiveness ratio in the intervention group was less than that in the control group (US$15.06 vs. US$15.69 per participant). Furthermore, to avoid one additional patient, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio showed that an additional US$14.47 would be needed for the intervention compared to when no intervention was applied. CONCLUSION: The intervention program may be considered a worthwhile investment for rural areas that are more likely to experience heat waves. Meanwhile, corresponding improving measures should be presented towards urban areas. Future research should examine whether the intervention strategies could be spread out in other domestic or international regions where heat waves are usually experienced.