Acid-Resistant Near-Infrared II Ag2Se Quantum Dots for Gastrointestinal Imaging.

With the development of near-infrared II (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging, Ag2Se quantum dots (QDs) have become promising label candidates due to their negligible toxicity and narrow band gap. Despite their potential for gastrointestinal (GI) imaging, the application of Ag2Se QDs still presents significant challenges due to issues such as fluorescence extinction or poor stability in the complex digestive microenvironment. Herein, we have proposed a novel approach to the continuous production of Se precursors using glutathione (GSH) as the reductant under acidic conditions, realizing the continuous growth of water-dispersible Ag2Se QDs. The Ag2Se QDs emitting at 600-1100 nm have been successfully synthesized. Meanwhile, the silver-rich surface of the synthesized NIR-II Ag2Se QDs has been passivated well with the dense GSH, resulting in exceptional colloidal stability and photostability and endowing them with acid resistance. As a result, the obtained NIR-II Ag2Se QDs have exhibited remarkable stability in gastric acid, thus enabling their utilization for long-term real-time monitoring of GI peristalsis via NIR-II fluorescence imaging. Moreover, in contrast to conventional barium meal-based X-ray imaging, NIR-II fluorescence imaging with as-prepared NIR-II Ag2Se QDs can offer clearer visualization of fine intestinal structures, with a width as small as 1.07 mm. The developed strategy has offered a new opportunity for the synthesis of acid-resistant nanocrystals, and the acid-resistant, low-toxicity, and biocompatible NIR-II Ag2Se QDs synthesized in this work show a great promise for GI imaging and diagnosis of GI diseases in vivo.

[Co-occurrence of Tetracycline Antibiotic Resistance Genes and Microbial Communities in Plateau Wetlands Under the Influence of Human Activities].

The widespread use of antibiotics has led to a large number of antibiotics entering the environment, to which microorganisms have become resistant. In recent years, with the intensification of human activities in the plateau region, the occurrence and migration of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in plateau wetlands have attracted considerable attention. Here, we selected the Caohai National Wetland Park, located in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, as our study area. The contents of tetracyclines, sulfonamides, quinolones, and macrolides in sediments from the upstream (the pristine habitat near the spring eye) and downstream (the sewage discharge outlet of residents) areas of the river in the park were analyzed. Among them, the detection content of tetracycline antibiotics was 103.65-2185 µg·kg-1, which was the highest antibiotic detection content. To further investigate the occurrence characteristics and influencing factors of tetracycline resistance genes, the influence of environmental factors, bacterial community structure, and pathogenic bacteria on tetracycline ARGs under the influence of human activities were revealed via correlation analysis and network analysis. The results showed that a total of 15 tetracycline resistance genes were detected in the upstream and downstream sediments. Among them, seven resistance genes including tetPA, tetD, and tetPB were detected in the upstream, and 13 resistance genes such as tetPA, tetE, tetM, and tetX were detected in the downstream. The abundance of eight new resistance genes in the downstream accounted for 43.44% of the downstream genes. The tetracycline-like antibiotics and soil physicochemical indicators (i.e., available phosphorus, total organic carbon, nitrate nitrogen, and total phosphorus) were the main environmental factors affecting the distribution of tetracycline ARGs. Additionally, the bacteria detected in the upstream and downstream sediments belonged to 64 bacterial phyla, among which Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidota were the main phyla affecting the abundance of tetracycline ARGs; meanwhile, 27 pathogenic bacteria were detected in the upstream and downstream sediments. Network analysis showed that the correlation between the eight new resistance genes and pathogens in the downstream area accounted for 70% of the network connectivity, and Listeria monocytogenes, Enterococcus faecalis, and Bacteroides vulgatus were identified as potential hosts for the transmission of tetracycline ARGs. Compared to the pristine habitat, the discharge of domestic sewage introduced large amounts of antibiotics and also changed the microenvironment and microbial community structure of the river wetland. Additionally, it increased the species of ARGs in sediments, which promoted the spread and transmission of ARGs among microorganisms and even pathogens.

Quantum Dots with a Compact Amphiphilic Zwitterionic Coating.

Generally speaking, it is difficult to keep nanomaterials encapsulated in amphiphilic polymers like octylamine-grafted poly(acrylic acid) (OPA) compact in coating-layer, with a small hydrodynamic size. Here, we prepared stable hydrophilic quantum dots (QDs) via encapsulation in ∼3 nm-long amphiphilic and zwitterionic (AZ) molecules. After encapsulation with AZ molecules, the coated QDs are only 2.1 nm thicker in coating, instead of 5.4 nm with OPA. Meanwhile, the hydrodynamic sizes of CdSe/CdS, ZnCdSeS, ZnCdSe/ZnS, and CdSe/ZnS QDs encapsulated in AZ molecules (AZ-QDs) are less than 15 nm, and 6-7 nm smaller than those of QDs in OPA (OPA-QDs). Notably, both extracellular and intracellular nonspecific binding of AZ-QDs is approximately 100-folds lower than that of OPA-QDs.

Breaking through the Size Control Dilemma of Silver Chalcogenide Quantum Dots via Trialkylphosphine-Induced Ripening: Leading to Ag2Te Emitting from 950 to 2100 nm.

Ag2Te is one of the most promising semiconductors with a narrow band gap and low toxicity; however, it remains a challenge to tune the emission of Ag2Te quantum dots (QDs) precisely and continuously in a wide range. Herein, Ag2Te QDs emitting from 950 to 2100 nm have been synthesized via trialkylphosphine-controlled growth. Trialkylphosphine has been found to induce the dissolution of small-sized Ag2Te QDs due to its stronger ability to coordinate to the Ag ion than that of 1-octanethiol, predicated by the density functional theory. By controlling this dissolution effect, the monomer supply kinetics can be regulated, achieving precise size control of Ag2Te QDs. This synthetic strategy results in state-of-the-art silver-based QDs with emission tunability. Only by taking advantage of such an ultrawide emission has the sizing curve of Ag2Te been obtained. Moreover, the absolute photoluminescence quantum yield of Ag2Te QDs can reach 12.0% due to their well-passivated Ag-enriched surface with a density of 5.0 ligands/nm2, facilitating noninvasive in vivo fluorescence imaging. The high brightness in the long-wavelength near-infrared (NIR) region makes the cerebral vasculature and the tiny vessel with a width of only 60 µm clearly discriminable. This work reveals a nonclassical growth mechanism of Ag2Te QDs, providing new insight into precisely controlling the size and corresponding photoluminescence properties of semiconductor nanocrystals. The ultrasmall, low-toxicity, emission-tunable, and bright NIR-II Ag2Te QDs synthesized in this work offer a tremendous promise for multicolor and deep-tissue in vivo fluorescence imaging.

A near-infrared-II fluorescence anisotropy strategy for separation-free detection of adenosine triphosphate in complex media.

Fluorescence anisotropy (FA) has been widely applied for detecting and monitoring special targets in life sciences. However, matrix autofluorescence restricted its further application in complex biological samples. Herein, we report a near-infrared-II (NIR-II) FA strategy for detecting adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in human serum samples and breast cancer cell lysate, which employed NIR-II fluorescent Ag2Se quantum dots (QDs) as tags to reduce matrix autofluorescence effect and applied graphene oxide (GO) to enhance fluorescence anisotropy signals. In the presence of ATP, the recognition between NIR-II Ag2Se QDs labeled aptamer (QD-pDNA) and ATP led to the release of QD-pDNA from GO, resulting in the obvious decrease of FA values. ATP could be quantitatively detected in concentrations ranged from 3 nM to 2500 nM, with a detection limit down to 1.01 nM. This study showed that the developed NIR-II FA strategy could be applied for detecting targets in complex biological samples and had great potential for monitoring interactions between biomolecules in biomedical research.

Evolutionary correlation of water-related traits between different structures of Dendrobium plants.

BACKGROUND: Leaf water conservation and pseudobulb water storage are two of the strategies commonly employed by epiphytic plants to adapt to dry environments. During the flowering period, a great deal of water transpires through the flowers, which then influences water-related processes. However, there is little research on the coordinated relationship between the different structures of epiphytes. Our study explored the phylogenetic conservation and evolutionary correlations between structural traits of 8 species in the genus Dendrobium by using phylogenetic independent contrast (PIC) analysis. RESULTS: Leaf dry mass, leaf water content, leaf dry matter content, specific leaf area, stomatal density, stomatal area index, pseudobulb length, pseudobulb width, and flower dry mass show strong phylogenetic signals. Pseudobulb length is significantly positively correlated with stomatal volume but significantly negatively correlated with mesophyll thickness according to both species mean values and PIC values. Pseudobulb internode length is also positively correlated with stomatal volume but negatively correlated with stomatal density according to PIC values. Pseudobulb width is significantly positively correlated with leaf dry mass, stomatal density, stomatal area index, flower petal vein number and flower dry mass but negatively correlated with specific leaf area according to species mean values. However, these correlations are insignificant when PIC values are analyzed. Stomatal volume is positively correlated with flower dry mass, and after phylogeny is considered, this correlation is still significant. Leaf dry mass is positively correlated with flower petal vein number according to species values. Flower number per pseudobulb is negatively correlated with upper epidermal cell size according to species values but negatively correlated with stomatal area index according to PIC values. There are no correlations between pseudobulb and flower water-related traits according to PIC values. CONCLUSIONS: A trade-off should exist in epiphytic plants between the two drought-tolerant strategies of pseudobulb storage and leaf water retention. Plants possessing thick blades with a few large stomata tend to use the pseudobulb water storage strategy to adapt to drought. Small flowers and low flower dry mass should be associated with the leaf water retention strategy. In addition, flowers and leaves exhibit an obvious water balance and should share common selection pressures. The present study provides a case with which to understand the coordinated adaptation of different structures in epiphytic plants.

[Soil Degradation-Associated Microbial Community Structure Changes in an Alpine Meadow Under Tibetan Pig Herding].

Anthropic activities lead to a high risk of peatland degradation in the alpine regions. Along with the declined plant productivity and the impaired functioning of the soil carbon sink, the diversity and structure of soil microbial communities are also affected in a degraded peatland ecosystem. Tibetan pig herding is a unique peatland management strategy, which can significantly affect the peatland ecosystem, but it has been rarely studied. The changes in the microbial community structure and its responses to disturbances were studied using a 16S rRNA high throughput sequencing technique in an alpine meadow peatland under Tibetan pig herding disturbance and under control (without Tibetan pig herding) in the Northwestern Yunnan province. The results showed that Tibetan pig herding significantly reduced the α diversity of soil microbes, and the soil microbial community structures were significantly changed by pig herding. The soil microbial communities in the peatland soils were dominated by Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Chloroflexi. Compared with those at the phylum level, the changes at the genus level under pig disturbance were more obvious. It was seen that the relative abundances of Sphingomonas and Hymenobacter significantly increased, while the abundances of Nitrospira and Rhodoplanes significantly decreased under pig herding. Venn diagram analysis revealed that there were 71 and 136 core OTUs in the soil under pig herding and in the control group soil, respectively. Burkholderiales, Pseudomonadales, and Sphingomonadales were the main taxa exclusively found under Tibetan pig herding, and could serve as indicators of soil disturbance. CCA ordination further showed that the distribution of Nitrospira and Rhodoplanes were mainly controlled by soil moisture, available phosphorus, and organic matter contents. Our findings provide an insight into the linkages between the soil microbial communities and the degradation of peatlands in alpine regions.

[Response of seed reproduction of two dominant lakeside species to experimental warming in a typical plateau wetland in Northwestern Yunnan Plateau, China]. / æ»‡è¥¿åŒ—é«˜åŽŸå ¸åž‹æ¹¿åœ°æ¹–æ»¨å¸¦ä¼˜åŠ¿æ¤ç‰©ç§å­ç¹æ®–å¯¹å¢žæ¸©çš„å“åº”.

Based on the forecasted warming scenarios by IPCC, we studied the impacts of warming (increased by 2.0 and 3.5 ℃) on seed reproduction of two lakeside dominant species (Schoeno-plectus tabernaemontani and Sparganium stoloniferum) in a typical plateau wetland (Napahai) in Northwestern Yunnan, by using "open-top chamber" technique. The results showed that warming had significant effects on the seed setting rate of both species, though with interspecific variation. The seed setting rate of S. tabernaemontani was significantly increased under two warming treatments, while that of S. stoloniferum was significantly decreased under the 2.0 ℃ warming treatment and had no variation under the 3.5 ℃ warming treatment. Warming promoted the spike growth of both species. For S. tabernaemontani, under the warming of 2.0 and 3.5 ℃ treatments, the spike length was increased by 82.9% and 89.0%, the spikelet number was increased by 133.3% and 150.0%, the biomass of each individual was increased by 10.1% and 89.6%, and the rate between biomass of per plant panicle and total biomass was increased by 79.5% and 409.3%, respectively. For S. stoloniferum, under the warming of 2.0 and 3.5 ℃ treatments, the spike length was increased by 66.1% and 95.2%, and the rate between biomass of per plant panicle and total biomass was increased by 878.8% and 1052.6%, respectively. Warming significantly increased seed yield of both species. Under the warming of 2.0 and 3.5 ℃ treatments, the seed yield per panicle of S. tabernaemontani was increased by 33.7% and 58.3%, respectively. For S. stoloniferum, the seed yield was increased by 3.4% and 69.5%, respectively. Under the warming of 2.0 and 3.5 ℃ treatments, the seed length of S. tabernaemontani was increased by 5.4% and 6.9%, and the seed length/width was increased by 9.1% and 5.3%, respectively. Warming had no significant effects on the seed shape of S. stoloniferum. The maximum and minimum temperatures were dominant factors affecting seed reproductions of both species. The advance of growing season, the prolonging of nutrition growing period, and accumulation of organic matter induced by warming would provide sufficient nutrient and energy accumulation for the reproduction and development of plants, which would promote seed reproduction capability of both species under the warming conditions.

[The relative contributions of plant quality, simulated rising temperature, and habitat to litter decomposition.] / 植物质量、模拟增温及生境对凋落物分解的相对贡献.

With litter bag methods, we examined mass loss rates and different chemical fractions of litters from two wetland plant species, Zizania caduciflora and Hippuris vulgaris. Those two species examined here varied significantly in their initial litter chemical traits. Experiment was performed under simulated rising temperature (1.5-2.0 ℃), and under three different habitats (air, air-water interface and water-soil interface). The results showed that, during one-year decomposition period, the mass resi-dual rates exhibited distinct seasonal dynamics, and there were strong interactive effects between seasonal dynamics and environmental factors. Different factors contributed differently for the variation of litter decomposition, 28.8% of which being explained by litter quality, 6.3% of which being explained by rising temperature, and 34.9% being explained by habitat. Along with the decomposition, the contents of different chemical fractions (easy or hard to decompose) varied greatly. Among them, nitrogen contents in H. vulgaris decreased by 53.1%, while the lignin contents increased by 45.4%. Overall, habitat was the most important factor driving litter decomposition, the second was litter quality, and rising temperature had minor effect.