Bi2O3/Gd2O3 Meta-Aerogel with Leaf-Inspired Nanotrap Array Enables Efficient X-Ray Absorption.

The increasing utilization of X-rays has generated a growing need for efficient shielding materials. However, the existing Pb-based materials suffer from a narrow X-ray absorbing range, high weight, and rigidity. Inspired by the natural leaf, which can efficiently absorb light through chlorophyll and carotenoids in confined cells, we engineer ultralight and superelastic nanofibrous Bi2O3/Gd2O3 meta-aerogels (BGAs) with X-ray nanotrap arrays by manipulating the 3D confined assembly of 1D Bi2O3 and Gd2O3 nanofibers. The BGAs can synergistically absorb X-ray photons from complementary energy ranges into the nanotraps and induce cyclic collisions with Bi2O3 and Gd2O3 nanofibers, maximizing the effective X-ray attenuation. The meta-aerogel exhibits the integrated performance of efficient X-ray shielding efficiency (60-83%, 16-90 keV), ultralow density (10 mg cm-3), and superelasticity. The production of these meta-aerogels presents an avenue for the development of next-generation X-ray protective materials and the resolution of X-ray imaging systems.

Janus Dual Self-Strengthening Structure of Bi2 O3 /Gd2 O3 Nanofibrous Membranes for Superior X-Ray Shielding.

Bi2 O3 /rare earth oxide biphasic absorbers are attractive for high-efficiency X-ray shielding due to the complementary X-ray absorption effects. However, its application is severely hindered by poor interphasic contact. Here, a new Janus interface engineering strategy is reported for the construction of continuous and flexible Bi2 O3 /Gd2 O3 crystal nanofibrous membranes (FJNMs) with micro/nano dual self-strengthening interphasic adhesion. This strategy facilitates online micro-interlocking between Bi2 O3 /Gd2 O3 nanofibers and in situ nano-grain fusion between Bi2 O3 /Gd2 O3 crystals, significantly enhancing the adhesive strength at the Bi2 O3 /Gd2 O3 interface. Additionally, the synergistic shielding effect from Bi2 O3 /Gd2 O3 absorption and multiple reflections in Bi2 O3 and Gd2 O3 crystal lattices make the nanofibrous membranes a superior X-ray radiation barrier. The FJNMs demonstrate integrated features of exceptional X-ray shielding efficiency (91%-100%), robust interfacial adhesion (lap-shear strength >3.8 MPa), prominent flexibility, lightweight, and outstanding breathability. The design concepts of fibrosing biphasic absorber assemblies pave the way for asymmetrically assembling biphasic materials, setting the stage for a fundamental shift in next-generation radiation shielding materials.

Highly Elastic and Strain Sensing Corn Protein Electrospun Fibers for Monitoring of Wound Healing.

Due to the lack of sufficient elasticity and strain sensing capability, protein-based ultrafine fibrous tissue engineering scaffolds, though favorable for skin repair, can hardly fulfill on-spot wound monitoring during healing. Herein, we designed highly elastic corn protein ultrafine fibrous smart scaffolds with a three-layer structure for motion tracking at an unpackaged state. The densely cross-linked protein networks were efficiently established by introducing a highly reactive epoxy and provided the fiber substrates with wide-range stretchability (360% stretching range) and ultrahigh elasticity (99.91% recovery rate) at a wet state. With the assistance of the polydopamine bonding layer, a silver conductive sensing layer was built on the protein fibers and endowed the scaffolds with wide strain sensing range (264%), high sensitivity (gauge factor up to 210.55), short response time (<70 ms), reliable cycling stability, and long-lasting duration (up to 30 days). The unpackaged smart scaffolds could not only support cell growth and accelerate wound closure but also track motions on skin and in vivo and trigger alarms once excessive wound deformations occurred. These features not only confirmed the great potential of these smart scaffolds for applications in tissue reconstruction and wound monitoring but also proved the possibility of employing various plant protein ultrafine fibers as flexible bioelectronics.

Ultralight and Superelastic Gd2O3/Bi2O3 Nanofibrous Aerogels with Nacre-Mimetic Brick-Mortar Structure for Superior X-ray Shielding.

The widespread use of X-rays has prompted a surge in demand for effective and wearable shielding materials. However, the Pb-containing materials currently used to shield X-rays are commonly bulky, hard, and biotoxic, severely limiting their applications in wearable scenarios. Inspired by the nacre, we report on ultralight, superelastic, and nontoxic X-ray shielding nanofibrous aerogels with microarch-engineered brick/mortar structure by combining polyurethane/Bi2O3 nanofibers (brick) and Gd2O3 nanosheets (mortar). The synergistic attenuation effect toward X-rays from the reflection of microarches and absorption of Bi/Gd elements significantly enhances the shielding efficiency of aerogels, and microarches/robust nanofibrous networks endow the materials with superelasticity. The resultant materials exhibit integrated properties of superior X-ray shielding efficiency (91-100%), ultralow density (52 mg cm-3), large stretchability of 800% reversible elongation, and high water vapor permeability (8.8 kg m-2 day-1). The fabrication of such novel aerogels paves the way for developing next-generation effective and wearable X-ray shielding materials.

[Comparison of different obesity indicators with dyslipidemia and hypertension in adults of Guangxi Yao ethnic group].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between obesity indicators and dyslipidemia and hypertension in the Yao population of Guangxi. METHODS: In 2015, we examined the body composition data of 784 Yao residents aged 18 years or older in Guangxi using a multi-stage whole-group random sampling method, analyzed the association between 10 indicators responding to the degree of obesity and dyslipidemia and hypertension, and analyzed the predictive value of each obesity indicator for dyslipidemia and hypertension by receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curves. RESULTS: There were 58.80% of Yao adults with dyslipidemia, with no difference between men and women(χ~2=0.24, P>0.05); 15.94% of Yao adults had hypertension, with a higher prevalence in men than in women(χ~2=4.76, P<0.05). ROC curves plotted with dyslipidemia as the dependent variable showed that the best predictor of risk of dyslipidemia prevalence in the Yao adult population was waist-to-hip ratio(WHR)(AUC=0.62, 95% CI 0.56-0.68) with a cut point of 0.86 in men and waist circumference(AUC=0.64, 95% CI 0.59-0.69) with a cut point of 75.50 cm in women. The ROC curves were plotted with hypertension as the dependent variable, and the result showed that the best predictor of risk of hypertension in the Yao adult population was: visceral fat content(AUC=0.62, 95% CI 0.56-0.68) with a cut point of 0.65 kg in men and WHR(AUC=0.67, 95% CI 0.62-0.72) with a cut point of 0.82 in women. CONCLUSION: Compared with indicators reflecting general obesity such as body mass index and percentage of body fat, indicators reflecting abdominal obesity such as waist circumference, WHR and visceral fat content are more closely related to two metabolic diseases such as dyslipidemia and hypertension in the Yao population.

Bioamplification and Biomagnification of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Halogenated Organic Pollutants in Moths from an Electronic Waste Recycling Site.

Samples of Asota caricae (larvae, pupae, and adults) and its host plant leaf (Ficus hispida), larvae of Aloa lactinea, and mixed adult moths were collected from an electronic waste (e-waste) recycling site in south China. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers were found to exhibit concentrations of 420-1300, 100-860, and 7.6-49 ng/g dry weight, respectively. The different chemical compositions among the samples of the three groups indicated that at least two exposure scenarios occurred among the moths in the study area. A complex relationship between bioamplification factors and the octanol-water partition coefficient (log KOW ) was observed during metamorphosis, in which a positive relationship was evident for 5 < log KOW < 7, whereas an inverse relationship occurred for log KOW values outside of this range. The biomagnification factors (BMFs) calculated from the larvae of Asota caricae to the host plant were negatively correlated with log KOW for all chemicals, differing completely from those obtained in previous studies. However, after metamorphosis, the correlation between BMF and log KOW was found to coincide with that in previous studies. These results indicate that the biotransformation of pollutants in organisms played a key role in determining whether or not biomagnification occurred in organisms and highlight the potential application of the metabolic rate of chemicals in screening-level risk assessments of new chemicals. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:2395-2403. © 2022 SETAC.

Mussel-inspired multifunctional hydrogel dressing with hemostasis, hypoglycemic, photothermal antibacterial properties on diabetic wounds.

To meticulously establish an efficient photothermal multifunctional hydrogel dressing is a prospective strategy for the treatment of diabetic chronic wounds. Herein, glucose oxidase (GOx) was added to polydopamine/acrylamide (PDA/AM) hydrogels to reduce hyperglycemia to a normal level (3.9-6.1 mmol L-1) and enhance compressive properties (55 kPa) and adhesive properties (32.69 kPa), which are capable of hemostasis in the wound. Then, MnO2 nanoparticles were encapsulated into a polydopamine/acrylamide (PDA/AM) hydrogel, endowing it with excellent antibacterial properties (E. coli and S. aureus were 97.87% and 99.99%) under the irradiation of 808 nm NIR; meanwhile, the biofilm was eliminated completely. Besides, O2 was generated (18 mg mL-1) by the decomposition of H2O2 under the catalysis of MnO2, which could accelerate the formation of angiogenesis and promote the crawling and proliferation of cells. Furthermore, the diabetic wound in vivo treated with the PDA/AM/GOx/MnO2 hydrogel had a less inflammatory response and faster healing speed, which was completely healed in 14 days. Therefore, the multifunctional hydrogels with the capability of high compressible, hemostasis, antibacterial, hyperglycemia manipulation, and O2 generation, demonstrate promise in diabetic chronic wound dressing.

Multifunctional hydrogel platform for biofilm scavenging and O2 generating with photothermal effect on diabetic chronic wound healing.

Diabetic wound treatment remains a major challenge due to the difficulties of eliminating bacterial biofilm and relieving wound hypoxia. To address these issues simultaneously, a multifunctional Dex-SA-AEMA/MnO2/PDA (DSAMP) hydrogel platform was developed with excellent biocompatibility and porous structure. The hydrogel could absorb the exudate, maintain humidity and permeate oxygen, which was prepared by encapsulating polydopamine (PDA) and manganese dioxide (MnO2) into Dex-SA-AEMA (DSA) hydrogel by UV irradiation. With the addition of PDA, the DSAMP hydrogel was proved to eliminate the biofilm after NIR photodynamic therapy (PTT, 808 nm) irradiation at 54 °C. Furthermore, in order to mitigate hypoxia wound microenvironment, MnO2 nanoparticles were added to convert the endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into oxygen (O2, 16 mg L-1). The diabetic wound in vivo treated by DSAMP hydrogel was completely healed on 14 days. It was revealed that the DSAMP hydrogel possessed a great potential as dressing for diabetic chronic wound healing.

Effect of muscle distribution on lung function in young adults.

BACKGROUND: At present, available research on the relationship between muscle distribution and respiratory function in healthy people is limited. OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between muscle distribution and lung function in healthy young adults. METHODS: A total of 612 male and 1561 Female Chinese college students were recruited. visceral fat tissue (VAT), subcutaneous fat tissue (SAT), total body muscle mass (TMM), trunk muscle mass (TKMM), upper limb muscle mass (ULMM) and lower limb muscle mass (LLMM) was measured by body composition. Vital capacity (VC) was measured by spirometry instrument. Obesity classification was defined by muscle mass ratio (MMR), body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BFP), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). RESULTS: Among these positive correlation parameters, male VC had a high positive correlation with TMM and LLMM, while female VC had a high positive correlation with TMM and TKMM. After the population was divided into MMR, BMI, BFP, and WHR, further analysis showed that VC was positively correlated with TMM for males with MMR-low muscle (r = 0.483; p < 0.05), BMI-underweight (r = 0.265; p < 0.05), BMI-overweight + obesity (r = 0.272; p < 0.05), BFP-low fat (r = 0.306; p < 0.05), and WHR-normal subgroups (r = 0.316; p < 0.05), while LLMM was positively correlated with VC in the MMR-normal muscle (r = 0.285; p < 0.05), BMI-normal (r = 0.305; p < 0.05), BFP-normal fat (r = 0.304; p < 0.05), and WHR obesity subgroups (r = 0.266; p < 0.05). VC was positively correlated with TMM for females with MMR-low muscle (r = 0.169; p < 0.05), MMR-normal muscle (r = 0.241; p < 0.05), BMI-underweight (r = 0.241; p < 0.05), BMI-normal (r = 0.288; p < 0.05), WHR normal (r = 0.275; p < 0.05), and BFP-low fat subgroups (r = 0.255; p < 0.05), while TKMM was positively correlated with VC in the BMI-overweight + obesity (r = 0.342; p < 0.05), WHR-obesity (r = 0.227; p < 0.05), and BFP-normal subgroups (r = 0.256; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Muscle distribution in young adults is highly correlated with VC, and this relationship is affected by gender and body types. In general, for thin, VC is more positively correlated with TMM, and for normal weight or obese, VC is more positively correlated with LLMM for males but with TKMM for females, respectively, in comparison with other tested indices. Further studies will be required to evaluate the relationship between muscle distribution and vital capacity in young adults.

Body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio misclassification of overweight and obesity in Chinese military personnel.

BACKGROUND: The rising prevalence of obesity in military personnel has raised great concerns. Previous studies suggest that body mass index (BMI)- and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)-based obesity classifications in US military personnel and firefighters have high false negative and subsequently cause obesity misclassification. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether BMI and WHR could reflect the fat mass of Chinese military personnel. METHODS: Three hundred fifty-three male Chinese military personnel and 380 age-matched male adults were recruited. Obesity classification was defined by BMI, WHR, and body fat percentage (BFP). RESULTS: Chinese military personnel had extremely low obesity rate determined by either BFP (0.3%) or BMI (0.6%). By combining overweight and obese individuals, BMI- and WHR-determined prevalence of overweight/obesity was 22.4% and 17.0% compared to BFP-based standard (4.0%) (P < 0.05). In reference to BFP, BMI and WHR have high false-positive rate compared to the control group. Further analysis showed that Chinese military personnel consisted of high percentage of BFPlowBMIhigh and/or BFPlowWHRhigh subpopulations. Eighty-one percent of BMIhigh and 78.3% of WHRhigh of them were BFP low. CONCLUSIONS: Chinese military personnel has extremely low obesity rate. BMI and WHR have high false-positive rates in reference to BFP, which cannot accurately reflect the mass of adipose tissue and leads to obesity misclassification.

Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Sequential Structure and Crystallization Properties for Hydrophilic Modified Polyester.

The hydrophilic copolyester polyethylene terephthalate (PET) (ENCDP-X) was successfully synthesized by chemical modification consisting of copolymerization and blending and the comonomers, including sodium isophthalate-5-sulfonate (SIPE), polyethylene glycol (PEG), 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol (NPG) and matting agent TiO2 with different content. Moreover, the structural characterization of sequential structure, crystallization and thermal properties were studied. The results showed that the comonomers were successfully embedded in the copolyester, the actual molar ratio in the copolyester was consistent with the relative feed ratio and the degree of randomness was calculated to be 0.99, showing that the random copolymers synthesized during the melt polycondensation process and the chemical structure was roughly consistent with the expected molecular chain sequence structure. The thermal parameters of the modified copolyester, containing the glass transition temperature (Tg), melting point (Tm), crystallinity (Xc) and thermal degradation temperature, were decreased, and the cold crystallization temperature (Tc) was increased. In addition, with the increasing of the TiO2 content, it improves the thermal performance of the copolyester and it is beneficial to processing and application. The above conclusion is further verified by non-isothermal kinetic analysis. In addition, the copolyester exhibited the better hydrophilicity than pure PET.

Biomimetic and Superelastic Silica Nanofibrous Aerogels with Rechargeable Bactericidal Function for Antifouling Water Disinfection.

Disinfecting drinking water in a reliable, sustainable, and affordable manner is a great challenge, especially for water contaminated with pathogenic microbes, and traditional water disinfection strategies still suffer from biofouling, irreversible depletion of disinfectants, and energy consumption. In this study, we developed biomimetic and superelastic skeletal-structured silica nanofibrous aerogels (SNAs) with rechargeable bactericidal and antifouling property via the combination of electrospun silica nanofibers and a functional Si-O-Si bonding network. The premise for our design is that the Si-O-Si network comprising rechargeable N-halamine moieties can provide the aerogels with structural stability yet durable bactericidal activity. The resulting aerogels exhibit intriguing properties of high porosity, superhydrophilicity, superelasticity, rechargeable chlorination capability (>4800 ppm), and exceptional bactericidal activity (99.9999%), enabling the aerogels to effectively disinfect the bacteria-contaminated water with ultrahigh flux (57 600 L m-2 h-1) and antifouling function. The synthesis of the SNAs opens pathways for exploring antibacterial and antifouling materials in a renewable and nanofibrous form.

Sex-Specific Bioamplification of Halogenated Organic Pollutants during Silkworm (Bombyx mori) Metamorphosis and Their Adverse Effects on Silkworm Development.

A partial life cycle test was performed with silkworms (Bombyx mori) exposed to different levels of halogenated organic pollutants (HOPs). The aims were to investigate the fate of HOPs during metamorphosis and the adverse effects of HOP exposures on silkworm development. Contaminant exposures resulted in decreased body weights, increased development times, and reductions of fecundity in silkworms. Assimilation efficiencies of HOPs decreased with an increasing octanol-water partition coefficient (log KOW). From the larvae to the pupae stage, bioamplification factors (BAmFs) exhibited concentration-dependent results, in which there was a positive correlation with the log KOW at the high concentrations but no correlation at the low concentrations. From the pupae to the moth stage, BAmFs were linearly negatively correlated with the log KOW for males, but a parabolic correlation with the log KOW was more suitable for females. Regarding reproductive activities, female moths selectively transferred low log KOW HOPs to eggs by the oviposition except for highly halogenated lipophilic pollutants. However, BAmFs of male moths during mating showed no correlation with the log KOW, although highly halogenated lipophilic pollutants had the highest BAmF values. The sex-specific bioamplification processes and special behaviors of highly halogenated lipophilic pollutants deserve further research.

In situ Synthesis of Biomimetic Silica Nanofibrous Aerogels with Temperature-Invariant Superelasticity over One Million Compressions.

Resilient and compressible three-dimensional nanomaterials comprising polymers, carbon, and metals have been prepared in diverse forms. However, the creation of thermostable elastic ceramic aerogels remains an enormous challenge. We demonstrate an in situ synthesis strategy to develop biomimetic silica nanofibrous (SNF) aerogels with superelasticity by integrating flexible electrospun silica nanofibers and rubber-like Si-O-Si bonding networks. The stable bonding structure among nanofibers is in situ constructed along with a fibrous freeze-shaping process. The resultant SNF aerogels exhibit integrated properties of ultralow density (>0.25 mg cm-3 ), temperature-invariant superelasticity up to 1100 °C, and robust fatigue resistance over one million compressions. The ceramic nature also endows the aerogels with fire resistance and ultralow thermal conductivity. The successful synthesis of the SNF aerogels opens new pathways for the design of superelastic ceramic aerogels in a structurally adaptive and scalable form.

Effects of fat distribution on lung function in young adults.

AIMS: To study the associations between fat distribution and lung functions in healthy subjects of young adults and to explore potential gender difference in these correlations. METHODS: A total of 2101 adult participants were recruited. Height, weight, and vital capacity index (VCI) were measured and recorded according to the national physical fitness test standard. Body compositions, including body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BFP), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), fat-free mass (FFM), trunk muscle mass (TMM), fat mass (FM), visceral fat area (VFA), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), were conducted using body composition analyzer. Data were analyzed by SPSS 20.0 software. RESULTS: We found that male participants showed significantly higher BMI, WHR, FFM, TMM, VFA, and VCI, but lower FM, BFP, and SAT in comparison with women. However, there was no significant difference in VAT between the male and female. Lung functions represented by VCI were negatively correlated with FM, VAT, SAT, and VFA for both men and women (r < 0; P < 0.05). Among these negative correlations, VCI was more inversely correlated with VFA for men but with SAT for women, respectively. After dividing the whole populations by BMI, BFP, and WHR, further correlation analysis showed VCI was still more negatively correlated with VFA for all male subgroups (r < 0; P < 0.05). On the contrary, VCI was more negatively correlated with SAT in BMI-underweight, BMI-normal, BFP-low fat, BFP-normal fat, WHR-normal, and WHR-obese subgroups (r < 0; P < 0.05), while VFA and VAT was more inversely correlated with VCI in BMI- and BFP-overweight+obese subgroups (r < 0; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Fat accumulation is highly associated with the vital capacity index in young adults. In general, VCI was more negatively correlated with VFA for men but with SAT for women, respectively, in comparison with other tested indices.

Structures, Single-Molecule Magnets, and Fluorescent Properties of Four Dinuclear Lanthanide Complexes Based on 4-Azotriazolyl-3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic Acid.

Four isostructural dinuclear lanthanide complexes based on 4-azotriazolyl-3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (H3ATNA) and 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (H2NA) ligands, {[Ln2(HATNA)2(HNA)2(H2O)4]·6DMF} (Ln = Dy (1), Tb (2), Sm (3), Eu (4); DMF = N, N-dimethylformamide) have been prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction crystallography, dc/ac magnetic characterization, and fluorescent spectrometry. The crystallographic data reveal dinuclear lanthanide cores of complexes 1-4, bridged by phenoxo and µ1,3 carboxyl groups. Each nine-coordinated Ln(III) ion is located in a slightly distorted monocapped square antiprism. The ligand of H3ATNA displays a unique antenna effect in complex 4. Complexes 1-3 display only two ligand-centered fluorescent emissive peaks around 450 and 600 nm, and complex 4 shows four characteristic Eu(III)-centered emission bands at 593, 618, 653, and 698 nm under excitation at 348 nm. Complex 1 exhibits single-molecule magnet behavior that is rationalized through ab initio calculations.

Organophosphorus flame retardants in fish from Rivers in the Pearl River Delta, South China.

Twelve organophosphorus flame retardants (PFRs) were detected in the muscle of 3 species of fish, mud carp (Cirrhinus molitorella), tilapia (Tilapia nilotica), and plecostomus (Hypostomus plecostomus), from rivers in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region. The total concentrations of PFRs in the mud carp, tilapia, and plecostomus ranged from 2.3 to 16, 3.4 to 16, and 3.5 to 30 ng/g wet weight (ww), respectively. Generally, tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP), tris (2-chloro-isopropyl) phosphate (TCPP), tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), and tri-n-butyl phosphate (TnBP) were the dominant compounds of the PFRs, collectively accounting for up to 90% of the total PFR levels. Concentrations of PFRs were significantly higher in the plecostomus than in the mud carp and tilapia (p < 0.05), which could be explained by differences in habitat and feeding habits of the fish species. High concentrations of PFRs were found mainly in the Guangzhou section of the Pearl River (site P1, P2, and P3) and site B3, which was similar to our previous study of PFRs in sediment from the Pearl River Delta, indicating a relatively high level of PFRs pollution in these regions. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of total PFRs from consumption of fish was 17 ng/kg bw/day to 98 ng/kg bw/day for adults and children, which was three to four orders of magnitude lower than reference dose values.

Rechargeable Antibacterial Polysulfonamide-Based N-Halamine Nanofibrous Membranes for Bioprotective Applications.

Bioprotective materials with bactericidal activity could largely protect healthcare workers from being infected by emerging infectious diseases; however, creating such materials has turned out to be extremely challenging. Here, we fabricate a novel polysulfonamide (PSA) N-halamine electrospun nanofibrous membrane with rechargeable and rapid bactericidal properties by a Lewis acid-assisted chlorination process. The hydrogen bonds between PSA molecular chains can be weakened through Lewis acid-base complexation during chlorination, enabling more available amide groups to be chlorinated into N-halamine biocidal groups. The resulting nanofibrous membranes render intriguing features such as rechargeable chlorination capability (>4500 ppm), rapid bactericidal activity (6 log reduction of bacteria in 1 min), high particle removal efficiency (>99.8%), long-term durability, and ease of scalable production, which can be perceived as a functional layer of protective equipment that is capable of not only intercepting but also inactivating the pathogens effectively. The successful synthesis of the PSA N-halamine antibacterial nanomaterials opens new ways toward the development of bioprotective materials in a multifunctional and rechargeable form.

Halogenated organic pollutants in aquatic, amphibious, and terrestrial organisms from an e-waste site: Habitat-dependent accumulation and maternal transfer in watersnake.

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) were measured in aquatic, amphibious, and terrestrial wildlife collected from an e-waste contaminated pond and its surrounding region. The species-specific bioaccumulation and maternal transfer of chemicals in the watersnake were investigated. Total concentrations of target chemicals ranged from 1.3 × 103 to 4.8 × 105 ng g-1 lipid weight. PCBs were the predominant (72-95%) contaminants, followed by polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs, 4-27%). The concentrations of PCBs and HFRs except decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) were higher in aquatic organisms and terrestrial birds than in amphibians and lizards. Relatively high DDT levels were observed in the terrestrial birds and toads, but high DBDPE was found in the aquatic species except for waterbird eggs. Species-specific congeners profiles for PCB and PBDE and isomeric composition for dechlorane plus were observed. These results indicated a habitat-dependent accumulation among different species. Maternal transfer examined by the ratio of egg to carcass for watersnakes indicated multi-linear correlations between maternal transfer potential and octanol-water partition coefficient (log KOW) of chemicals. The same maternal transfer efficiencies were found for chemicals with log KOW between 6 and 8, then the maternal transfer potential rapidly decreased with increasing of log KOW.

Bioaccumulation of Persistent Halogenated Organic Pollutants in Insects: Common Alterations to the Pollutant Pattern for Different Insects during Metamorphosis.

Few studies have examined the accumulation and fate of persistent halogenated organic pollutants (HOPs) in insects. We measured HOPs, including dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), polychlorinated biphenyls, and halogenated flame retardants, in insects from four taxonomic groups collected from an e-waste site. Dragonfly larvae collected from a pond contained the highest concentrations of all chemicals except DDTs, while the litchi stinkbugs contained the lowest. Different insect taxa exhibited different contaminant patterns which could be attributed to their habitats and feeding strategies. Bioaccumulation factors for dragonfly larvae and biomagnification factors for moth and grasshopper larvae were significantly positively correlated with the octanol-water partition coefficient of the chemicals (log KOW < 8). Common nonlinear correlations between the ratio of larval to adult concentrations and log KOW were observed for all taxa studied. The ratio of concentrations decreased with increasing values of log KOW (log KOW < 6-6.5), then increased (6 < log KOW < 8) and decreased again (log KOW > 8). This result implies that the mechanism that regulates organic pollutants in insects during metamorphosis is common to all the taxa studied.