Historical construction, quantitative source identification and risk assessment of heavy metals contamination in sediments from the Pearl River Estuary, South China.

Historical reconstruction of heavy metals (HMs) contamination in sediments is a key for understanding the effects of anthropogenic stresses on water bodies and predicting the variation trends of environmental state. In this work, eighteen sediment cores from the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) were collected to determine concentrations and geochemical fractions of HMs. Then, their potential sources and the relative contributions during different time periods were quantitatively identified by integrating lead-210 (210Pb) radioisotope dating technique into positive matrix factorisation (PMF) method. Pollution levels and potential ecological risks (PERs) caused by HMs were accurately assessed by enrichment factors (EF) based on establishment of their geochemical baselines (GCBs) and multiparameter evaluation index (MPE). HMs concentrations generally showed a particle size- and organic matter-dependent distribution pattern. During the period of 1958-1978, HMs concentrations remained at low levels with agricultural activities and natural processes being identified as the predominant sources and averagely contributing >60%. Since the reform and opening-up in 1978, industrial and traffic factors become the primary anthropogenic sources of HMs (such as Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cr, and Ni), averagely increasing from 22.1% to 28.1% and from 11.6% to 23.4%, respectively. Conversely, the contributions of agricultural and natural factors decreased from 37.0% to 28.5% and from 29.3% to 20.0%, respectively. Subsequently, implementation of environmental preservation policies was mainly responsible for the declining trend of HMs after 2010. Little enrichment of sediment Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr and Ni with EFs (0.15-1.43) was found in the PRE, whereas EFs of Cd (1.16-2.70) demonstrated a slight to moderate enrichment. MPE indices of Cu (50.7-252), Pb (52.0-147), Zn (35.5-130), Ni (19.6-71.5), Cr (14.2-68.8) and Cd (0-9.90) highlighted their potential ecological hazards due to their non-residual fractions and anthropogenic sources.

A New Mouse Model for Usher Syndrome Crossing Kunming Mice with CBA/J Mice.

BACKGROUND: Previously, we discovered a strain of Kunming mice, referred to as the KMush/ush strain, that exhibited notably abnormal electroretinogram (ERG) readings and elevated thresholds for auditory brainstem responses (ABRs), which resembled the characteristics of Usher Syndrome (USH). We successfully identified the pathogenic genes, Pde6b and Adgrv1, after KMush/ush crossbred with CBA/CaJ mice, referred to as CBA-1ush/ush, CBA-2ush/ush or CBA-2ush/ush. In this investigation, we crossbred KMush/ush and CBA/J mice to establish novel recombinant inbred lines and analysed their phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. METHODS: ERG readings, ABR testing, fundus morphology, histological examination of the retina and inner ear, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis, western blotting, DNA sequence analysis and behavioural experiments were performed to assess the phenotypes and genotypes of the progeny lines. RESULTS: No obvious waveforms in the ERG were detected in F1 hybrid mice while normal ABR results were recorded. The F2 hybrids, which were called J1ush/ush or J2ush/ush, exhibited segregated hearing-loss phenotypes. J1ush/ush mice had a retinitis pigmentosa (RP) phenotype with elevated ABR thresholds, whereas J2ush/ush mice exhibited only the RP phenotype. Interestingly, J1ush/ush mice showed significantly higher ABR thresholds than wild-type mice at 28 days post born (P28), and RT-qPCR and DNA-sequencing analysis showed that Adgrv1 gene expression was significantly altered in J1ush/ush mice, but histological analysis showed no significant structural changes in the organ of Corti or spiral ganglia. Further elevation of ABR-related hearing thresholds by P56 manifested only as a reduced density of spiral ganglion cells, which differed significantly from the previous pattern of cochlear alterations in CBA-2ush/ush mice. CONCLUSIONS: We successfully introduced the hearing-loss phenotype of inbred mice with USH into CBA/J mice, which provides a good animal model for future studies on the important physiological roles of the Adgrv1 gene in inner-ear structure and for therapeutic studies targeting Adgrv1-mutated USH.

Estimation of water quality variables based on machine learning model and cluster analysis-based empirical model using multi-source remote sensing data in inland reservoirs, South China.

Reservoirs play important roles in the drinking water supply for urban residents, agricultural water provision, and the maintenance of ecosystem health. Satellite optical remote sensing of water quality variables in medium and micro-sized inland waters under oligotrophic and mesotrophic status is challenging in terms of the spatio-temporal resolution, weather conditions and frequent nutrient status changes in reservoirs, etc., especially when quantifying non-optically active components (non-OACs). This study was based on the surface reflectance products of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) multispectral images, Sentinel-2B Multispectral instrument (MSI) images and Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) by utilizing fuzzy C-means (FCM) clustering algorithm was combined with band combination (BC) model to construct the FCM-BC empirical model, and used mixed density network (MDN), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), deep neural network (DNN) and support vector regression (SVR) machine learning (ML) models to invert 12 kinds of optically active components (OACs) and non-OACs. Compared with the unclustered BC (UC) model, the mean coefficient of determination (MR) of the FCM-BC models was improved by at least 46.9%. MDN model showed best accuracy (R2 in the range of 0.60-0.98) and stability (R2 decreased by up to 13.2%). The accuracy of UAV was relatively higher in both empirical methods and machine learning methods. Additionally, the spatio-temporal distribution maps of four water quality variables were mapped based on the MDN model and UAV images, all platforms showed good consistency. An inversion strategy of water quality variables in various monitoring frequencies and weather conditions were proposed finally. The purpose of introducing the UAV platform was to cooperate with the satellite to improve the monitoring response ability of OACs and non-OACs in small and micro-sized oligotrophic and mesotrophic water bodies.

Aspect Ratio Modulation of Sucralose through {002}/{011} Preferred Orientation in Antisolvent Crystallization.

The aspect ratio modulation in the alcoholysis process is highly significant for the production of high-quality sucralose. In this work, antisolvent crystallization (ASC) accompanied by preferred orientation was first adopted in the sucralose separation, based on which simultaneous modulations on aspect ratio, solubility, and stability have been realized. In detail, after the alcoholysis process in methanol, four antisolvents bearing different functional groups were used in ASC, i.e., isopentanol (IPN), isovaleraldehyde (IVD), isovaleric acid (IVA), and isobutyl propionate (IBP). To our interest, when IVA was used as the antisolvent, the highest separation efficiency (49.33%), fastest crystallizing rate (5.64%/h), lowest aspect ratio (1.55), and solubility (9.28 wt %) and good thermal stability (131.65 °C) of sucralose were achieved. Single crystal structures of sucralose using different antisolvents have been determined. Sucralose using IVA as the antisolvent exhibits the greatest molecular distortion and strongest intermolecular C-H···Cl hydrogen bonds; thus, the preferred growth along {002}/{011} directions has occurred and accounted for its lower aspect ratio, worse solubility, and better stability. The strongest methanol···IVA interactions due to the presence of a carboxyl group can accelerate the formation of the emulsion, resulting in the fastest crystallizing rate. The antisolvent screening and the discovery about relative mechanisms will provide a theoretical guide for the production of high-quality sucralose.

Spatial and temporal dynamics and fluxes estimation of manganese fractions in sediments from the Pearl River Estuary, southern China.

Sequential extraction was used to study the historical dynamics and fluxes of the chemical fractions of manganese (Mn) in sediments collected from the Pearl River Estuary (PRE), southern China. Results revealed that the proportion of Mn associated with different fractions decreased in the order of acid-soluble fraction (F1) > reducible fraction (F2) > residual fraction (F4) > oxidizable fraction (F3). F1 (47%) was the dominant Mn fraction, indicating the strong bioavailability of Mn to aquatic organisms in the PRE. In addition, the Mn fraction F2 was present at an average rate of 27.93 % in surface sediments, indicating that it could be mobilized when environmental conditions become increasingly reducing or oxidizing. The decline in Mn fraction fluxes after 2006 indicated that the region has partially decreased due to the removal of heavily polluting industries and effective control of sewage discharge.

Optimizing self-interference digital holography for single-molecule localization.

Self-interference digital holography (SIDH) can image incoherently emitting objects over large axial ranges from three two-dimensional images. By combining SIDH with single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM), incoherently emitting objects can be localized with nanometer precision over a wide axial range without mechanical refocusing. However, background light substantially degrades the performance of SIDH due to the relatively large size of the hologram. To optimize the performance of SIDH, we performed simulations to study the optimal hologram radius (Rh) for different levels of background photons. The results show that by reducing the size of the hologram, we can achieve a localization precision of better than 60 nm laterally and 80 nm axially over a 10 µm axial range under the conditions of low signal level (6000 photons) with 10 photons/pixel of background noise. We then performed experiments to demonstrate our optimized SIDH system. The results show that point sources emitting as few as 2120 photons can be successfully detected. We further demonstrated that we can successfully reconstruct point-like sources emitting 4200 photons over a 10 µm axial range by light-sheet SIDH.

Choroidal circulation disturbance is an initial factor in outer retinal degeneration in rats under simulated weightlessness.

Objective: Microgravity contributes to ocular injury yet the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the mechanism behind choroidal circulation disorder and outer retinal degeneration in rats with simulated weightlessness. Methods: Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) was used to evaluate choroidal circulation and retinal morphological alterations in rats with weightlessness simulation. Electroretinogram and transmission electron microscopy were used to examine the ultrastructure and function of the choroid and outer retina. Furthermore, histological and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining was used to monitor retinal morphology. Western blotting was performed to analyze the expressions of blood-retinal outer barrier function-related proteins (Cx43, ZO-1, and occludin). Results: The choroidal thickening was observed from the fourth week of simulated weightlessness (p < 0.05), and choroidal capillary density started to decline by the fifth week (p < 0.05). Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the choroidal vessels were open and operating well by the fourth week. However, most of the mitochondria within the vascular endothelium underwent mild swelling, and by the fifth week, the choroidal vessels had various degrees of erythrocyte aggregation, mitochondrial swelling, and apoptosis. Additionally, ERG demonstrated a decline in retinal function beginning in the fifth week (p < 0.05). TUNEL staining revealed a significantly higher apoptotic index in the outer nuclear layer of the retina (p < 0.05). At the sixth week weeks of simulated weightlessness, OCTA and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining of retinal sections revealed that the outer nuclear layer of the retina started to become thin (p < 0.05). Results from western blotting revealed that Cx43, ZO-1, and occludin exhibited decreased expression (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Based on our findings in a rat model of simulated weightlessness, choroidal circulation disturbance induced by choroidal congestion is the initial cause of outer retinal degeneration. Blood-retinal barrier disruption is significant in this process.

Spatial and Temporal Variations and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal Fractions in Sediments of the Pearl River Estuary, Southern China.

Sequential extraction was used to study the mobility and ecological risk of chemical fractions of six heavy metals in sediments collected from the Pearl River Delta (PRE) in China. Results revealed that residual fractions (F4) were the dominant forms for Cr and Ni in surface sediments, indicating that they were primarily stable in nature and had low bioavailability and ecotoxicity. Cd had a high environmental risk owing to its higher availability in acid-soluble fraction (F1), whereas Pb occurred predominantly in the reducible fraction (F2) in surface sediments. The profile variations of bioavailable fractions were generally consistent with socioeconomic development in the Pearl River Delta (PRD). A decreasing trend after 2006 suggested a reduction in heavy metal bioavailable fractions owing to the removal of heavy polluting industries and the effective control of sewage discharge. The risk assessment code suggested that the high mobility of Cd posed an extremely high risk and a threat to the aquatic environment.

Topological mechanism in the nonlinear power-law relaxation of cell cortex.

Different types of cells exhibit a universal power-law rheology, but the mechanism underneath is still unclear. Based on the exponential distribution of actin filament length, we treat the cell cortex as a collection of chains of crosslinkers with exponentially distributed binding energy, and show that the power-law exponent of its stress relaxation should scale with the chain length. Through this model, we are able to explain how the exponent can be regulated by the crosslinker number and imposed strain during cortex relaxation. Network statistics show that the average length of filament-crosslinker chains decreases with the crosslinker number, which endows a denser network with lower exponent. Due to gradual molecular alignment with the stretch direction, the number of effectively stretched crosslinkers in the network is found to increase with the imposed strain. This effective growth in network density diminishes the exponent under large strain. By incorporating the inclined angle of crosslinkers into the model without in-series structure, we show that the exponent cannot be altered by crosslinker rotation directly, refining our previous conjectures. This work may help to understand cellular mechanics from the molecular perspective.

Network dynamics of the nonlinear power-law relaxation of cell cortex.

Living cells are known to exhibit universal power-law rheological behaviors, but their underlying biomechanical principles are still not fully understood. Here, we present a network dynamics picture to decipher the nonlinear power-law relaxation of cortical cytoskeleton. Under step strains, we present a scaling relation between instantaneous differential stiffness and external stress as a result of chain reorientation. Then, during the relaxation, we show how the scaling law theoretically originates from an exponential form of cortical disorder, with the scaling exponent decreased by the imposed strain or crosslinker density in the nonlinear regime. We attribute this exponent variation to the molecular realignment along the stretch direction or the transition of network structure from in-series to in-parallel modes, both solidifying the network toward our one-dimensional theoretical limit. In addition, the rebinding of crosslinkers is found to be crucial for moderating the relaxation speed under small strains. Together with the disorder nature, we demonstrate that the structural effects of networks provide a unified interpretation for the nonlinear power-law relaxation of cell cortex, and may help to understand cell mechanics from the molecular scale.

Influence of perinatal deltamethrin exposure at distinct developmental stages on motor activity, learning and memory.

BACKGROUND: Perinatal exposure to deltamethrin (DM) causes attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder-like behaviors. However, the vulnerable time window to DM exposure and the possible mechanism are obscure. We aimed to identify the critical window(s) at perinatal stages for DM exposure and the possible mechanism. METHOD: Pregnant mice were exposed to DM (0.5 mg/kg) at three different prenatal stages [gestational day (GD) 0-5, 6-15 and 16-birth (16-B)] and early postnatal stage (PD 0-10). Locomotor activity, learning and memory were evaluated using open field and Y-maze test, respectively. Nissl staining and western blots were used to examine the neuronal loss and the protein expression, respectively. RESULTS: Perinatal exposures to DM had no effect on reproductive and growth index of offspring. However, mice receiving DM exposure during GD 16-B displayed significantly higher mortality suggesting GD 16-B is the most vulnerable time window to DM exposure. Prenatal but not early postnatal DM exposure impaired locomotor activity, learning and memory, and caused neuron loss in the dentate gyrus of male offspring. However, neither prenatal nor postnatal DM exposure affected mouse behavior of female offspring. Prenatal DM exposures decreased the protein levels of NR2A and NR2B in both hippocampi and cerebral cortices of male offspring. However, female mice receiving DM exposure at GD 16-B but not other stages displayed increased expression levels of NR2A and NR2B in hippocampi. CONCLUSION: Prenatal but not early postnatal DM exposure impairs the neuron development in male but not female mice. Altered NMDA receptor expression may correlate to DM-induced behavioral deficits.

Histamine Sensitization of the Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Nav1.7 Contributes to Histaminergic Itch in Mice.

Itch, a common clinical symptom of many skin diseases, severely impairs the life quality of patients. Nav1.7, a subtype of voltage-gated sodium channels mainly expressed in primary sensory neurons, is responsible for the amplification of threshold currents that trigger action potential (AP) generation. Gain-of-function mutation of Nav1.7 leads to paroxysmal itch, while pharmacological inhibition of Nav1.7 alleviates histamine-dependent itch. However, the crosstalk between histamine and Nav1.7 that leads to itch is unclear. In the present study, we demonstrated that in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons from histamine-dependent itch model mice induced by compound 48/80, tetrodotoxin-sensitive (TTX-S) but not TTX-resistant Na+ currents were activated at more hyperpolarized membrane potentials compared to those on DRG neurons from vehicle-treated mice. Meanwhile, bath application of histamine shifted the activation voltages of TTX-S Na+ currents to the hyperpolarized direction, increased the AP frequency, and reduced the current threshold required to elicit APs. Further mechanistic studies demonstrated that selective activation of H1 but not H2 and H4 receptors mimicked histamine effect on TTX-S Na+ channels in DRG neurons. The protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor GO 8963, but not the PKA inhibitor H89, normalized histamine-sensitized TTX-S Na+ channels. We also demonstrated that histamine shifted the activation voltages of Na+ currents to the hyperpolarized direction in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing Nav1.7. Importantly, selective inhibition of Nav1.7 by PF-05089771 significantly relieved the scratching frequency in a histamine-dependent itch model induced by compound 48/80. Taken together, these data suggest that activation of H1 receptors by histamine sensitizes Nav1.7 channels through the PKC pathway in DRG neurons that contributes to histamine-dependent itch.

A novel benzotriazole derivate with Twisted intramolecular charge transfer and Aggregation Induced emission features for proton determination.

Molecules with Aggregation-Induced Emission (AIE) effects could show strong emission in solid or aggregate form, thus they are suitable for applications in the field of solid luminescent materials. According to former reporting, AIE molecules are always J-aggregates. In this study, a new benzotriazole derivate with electron donor-acceptor structure was synthesized. (E)-4-(2-(1H-benzo[d] [1,2,3] triazol-1-yl) vinyl)-N, N-dimethylaniline (BTADA) has both TICT and AIE effect, even though it is H-aggregate. Furthermore, BTADA could respond to proton in solution and solid form. Due to its multiple binging sites, proton would bind to benzotriazole and dimethylaniline moiety successively when BTADA was exposed to acid, and the fluorescent color changed from green to yellow then blue as the concentration of proton increased. Such phenomena indicate BTADA has potential usage in proton detection.

Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ -ATPase (SERCA2b) mediates oxidation-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress to regulate neuropathic pain.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Neuropathic pain is a widespread health problem with limited curative treatment. Decreased sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ -ATPase (SERCA) expression has been reported in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of animals suffering from neuropathic pain. We aimed to establish the relationship between SERCA expression and the pain responses and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Neuropathic pain was modelled using rat chronic constriction injury (CCI). Ca2+ imaging and current clamp patch-clamp were used to determine cytosolic Ca2+ levels and action potential firing, respectively. Western blots, immunofluorescence staining and qRT-PCR were used to quantitatively assess protein and mRNA expression, respectively. H&E staining and coupled enzyme assays were used to evaluate the nerve injury and SERCA2b activity, respectively. KEY RESULTS: SERCA2b is the predominant SERCA isoform in rat DRG and its expression is decreased after CCI at mRNA, protein and activity levels. Whereas inhibiting SERCA with thapsigargin causes neuronal hyperexcitation, nerve injury, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, satellite glial cell activation and mechanical allodynia, activating SERCA by CDN1163 or overexpressing SERCA2b in DRG after CCI produces long-term relief of mechanical and thermal allodynia accompanied by morphological and functional restoration through alleviation of ER stress. Furthermore, the down-regulation of DRG SERCA2b in CCI rats is caused by increased production of ROS through Sp1-dependent transcriptional inhibition. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Our findings reveal a novel pathway centring around SERCA2b as the key molecule underlying the mechanism of development and maintenance of neuropathic pain, and SERCA2b activators have the potential for therapeutic treatment of neuropathic pain.

Microbial community structure characteristics among different karst aquifer systems, and its potential role in modifying hydraulic properties of karst aquifers.

Little is known about how microbial activity affects the hydraulic properties of karst aquifers. To explore the potential impacts of microbial activity on the hydraulic properties of karst aquifers, microbiological analysis, heat tracer, isotope (dissolved inorganic carbon isotope, δ13CDIC) and aqueous geochemical analyses were conducted at six monitoring wells in Northern Guangdong Province, China. Greater hydraulic conductivity corresponded to a low temperature gradient to an extent; the temperature gradient in karst groundwater aquifers can reflect the degree of dissolution. Higher HCO3 - concentrations coupled with lower d-excess and pH values at B2 and B6 reflect potential microbial activity (e.g., Sulfuricurvum kujiense) causing carbonate dissolution. Microbial activity or the input of anthropogenic acids, as evidenced by significantly more positive δ13CDIC values, potentially affect carbonate dissolution in deep karst aquifers, which eventually alters hydraulic properties of karst aquifer. However, more direct evidence is needed to quantify the effects of microbial activity on carbonate dissolution in karst aquifers.

Therapeutic effect of a traditional Chinese medicine formulation on experimental choroidal neovascularization in mouse.

AIM: To investigate therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicine formulations, Hexuemingmu (HXMM) on laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and follow-up effect in mice. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice of 8-week-old were used and CNV was induced with 577 nm laser photocoagulation. Animals were randomly divided into groups and different doses of HXMM were administered daily. One, four, and eight weeks after the intervention, the electroretinogram (ERG), fundus fluorescence angiography, choroidal flat mount and immunofluorescence staining were preformed to evaluate the function and CNV formation. The expression levels of angiogenic proteins were determined by Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. An analysis of variance and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to test the differences among the groups. RESULTS: The results showed that HXMM effectively increased amplitude of ERG of mice (P<0.05), alleviated fundus CNV leakage (P<0.05), and reduced the area of neovascularization and the expression of angiogenic proteins (P<0.05) after laser-induced CNV. CONCLUSION: HXMM can protect the retinal function of mice after laser-induced CNV, and inhibit the CNV development.

Imaging of In Vitro and In Vivo Neurons in Drosophila Using Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy.

The Drosophila melanogaster brain comprises different neuronal cell types that interconnect with precise patterns of synaptic connections. These patterns are essential for the normal function of the brain. To understand the connectivity patterns requires characterizing them at single-cell resolution, for which a fluorescence microscope becomes an indispensable tool. Additionally, because the neurons connect at the nanoscale, the investigation often demands super-resolution microscopy. Here, we adopt one super-resolution microscopy technique, called stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM), improving the lateral and axial resolution to ∼20 nm. This article extensively describes our methods along with considerations for sample preparation of neurons in vitro and in vivo, conjugation of dyes to antibodies, immunofluorescence labeling, and acquisition and processing of STORM data. With these tools and techniques, we open up the potential to investigate cell-cell interactions using STORM in the Drosophila nervous system. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Preparation of Drosophila primary neuronal culture and embryonic fillets Basic Protocol 2: Immunofluorescence labeling of samples Basic Protocol 3: Single-molecule fluorescence imaging Basic Protocol 4: Localization and visualization of single-molecule data Supporting Protocol: Conjugation of antibodies with STORM-compatible dyes.

Geometrical nonlinear elasticity of axon under tension: A coarse-grained computational study.

Axon bundles cross-linked by microtubule (MT) associate proteins and bounded by a shell skeleton are critical for normal function of neurons. Understanding effects of the complexly geometrical parameters on their mechanical properties can help gain a biomechanical perspective on the neurological functions of axons and thus brain disorders caused by the structural failure of axons. Here, the tensile mechanical properties of MT bundles cross-linked by tau proteins are investigated by systematically tuning MT length, axonal cross-section radius, and tau protein spacing in a bead-spring coarse-grained model. Our results indicate that the stress-strain curves of axons can be divided into two regimes, a nonlinear elastic regime dominated by rigid-body like inter-MT sliding, and a linear elastic regime dominated by affine deformation of both tau proteins and MTs. From the energetic analyses, first, the tau proteins dominate the mechanical performance of axons under tension. In the nonlinear regime, tau proteins undergo a rigid-body like rotating motion rather than elongating, whereas in the nonlinear elastic regime, tau proteins undergo a flexible elongating deformation along the MT axis. Second, as the average spacing between adjacent tau proteins along the MT axial direction increases from 25 to 125 nm, the Young's modulus of axon experiences a linear decrease whereas with the average space varying from 125 to 175 nm, and later reaches a plateau value with a stable fluctuation. Third, the increment of the cross-section radius of the MT bundle leads to a decrease in Young's modulus of axon, which is possibly attributed to the decrease in MT numbers per cross section. Overall, our research findings offer a new perspective into understanding the effects of geometrical parameters on the mechanics of MT bundles as well as serving as a theoretical basis for the development of artificial MT complexes potentially toward medical applications.

BmK NSPK, a Potent Potassium Channel Inhibitor from Scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch, Promotes Neurite Outgrowth via NGF/TrkA Signaling Pathway.

Scorpion toxins represent a variety of tools to explore molecular mechanisms and cellular signaling pathways of many biological functions. These toxins are also promising lead compounds for developing treatments for many neurological diseases. In the current study, we purified a new scorpion toxin designated as BmK NSPK (Buthus martensii Karsch neurite-stimulating peptide targeting Kv channels) from the BmK venom. The primary structure was determined using Edman degradation. BmK NSPK directly inhibited outward K+ current without affecting sodium channel activities, depolarized membrane, and increased spontaneous calcium oscillation in spinal cord neurons (SCNs) at low nanomolar concentrations. BmK NSPK produced a nonmonotonic increase on the neurite extension that peaked at ~10 nM. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that BmK NSPK increased the release of nerve growth factor (NGF). The tyrosine kinases A (TrkA) receptor inhibitor, GW 441756, eliminated the BmK NSPK-induced neurite outgrowth. BmK NSPK also increased phosphorylation levels of protein kinase B (Akt) that is the downstream regulator of TrkA receptors. These data demonstrate that BmK NSPK is a new voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channel inhibitor that augments neurite extension via NGF/TrkA signaling pathway. Kv channels may represent molecular targets to modulate SCN development and regeneration and to develop the treatments for spinal cord injury.

Quantifying the impacts of anthropogenic activity on chemical weathering based on source identification of hydrochemistry: the Liuxi river basin, southern China.

The impact of anthropogenic activity on chemical weathering is still an open and significant topic that requires clarification to improve the understanding of watershed evolution. We analyzed river water and rainwater samples to characterize the variation in hydrochemical characteristics and influencing factors. Samples were taken from the Liuxi River Basin (LRB), the only local drinking water supply for Guangzhou, and we studied geochemical parameters, major ions, and Si concentrations. Moreover, elemental ratios of end-members were determined and a modified-forward model was constructed to identify ion sources and estimate the chemical weathering rate (CWR) and anthropogenic input rate (AIR). Finally, we quantified the impacts of anthropogenic activity on the chemical weathering process. The results showed that the dominant hydrochemical type of river water was identified as HCO3-Ca, and rock weathering was the main contributor to river Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+ and HCO3-, whereas anthropogenic activity contributed the most to K+, Cl-, SO42-, and NO3-. The relatively high silicate weathering rate (SWR) (17.8-18.4 t per km2 per year) and AIR (37.8-60.3 t per km2 per year) were mainly attributed to erosion by nitric and sulfuric acid. The contribution rate of these acids to CWR could be regarded as a proxy quantifying the impact of anthropogenic activity on the chemical weathering process. This accounted for approximately 30% of the total SWR in the LRB. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of hydrochemical source identification for quantifying the impacts of anthropogenic activity on chemical weathering.