[Effects of Fly Ash on the Efficiency and Bacterial Community Structure of Urban Multi-source Organic Solid Waste].

To achieve efficient resource utilization of fly ash and multi-source organic waste, a composting experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of fly ash on co-aerobic composting using kitchens, chicken manure, and sawdust (15:5:2). The effects of different application doses (5 % and 10 %, calculated in total wet weight of organic solid waste) of fly ash on physical and chemical properties, nutrient elements, and bacterial community structure during co-composting were evaluated. The results showed that the addition dose of 5 % and 10 % fly ash significantly increased the highest temperature (56.6 ℃ and 56.9 ℃) and extended the thermophilic period to nine days. Compared with that in the control, the total nutrient content of compost products in the treatments of 5 % FA and 10 % FA was increased by 4.09 % and 13.55 %, respectively. The bacterial community structure changed greatly throughout the composting, and the bacterial diversity of all treatments increased obviously. In the initial stage of composting, Proteobacteria was the dominant phylum of bacteria, with a relative abundance ranging from 35.26 % to 39.40 %. In the thermophilic period, Firmicutes dominated; its relative abundance peaked at 52.46 % in the 5 % FA treatment and 67.72 % in the 10 % FA treatment. Bacillus and Thermobifida were the predominant groups in the thermophilic period of composting. The relative abundance of Bacillus and Thermobifida in the 5 % FA and 10 % FA treatments were 33.41 % and 62.89 %(Bacillus) and 33.06 % and 12.23 %(Thermobifida), respectively. The results of the redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that different physicochemical indicators had varying degrees of influence on bacteria, with organic matter, pH, available phosphorus, and available potassium being the main environmental factors influencing bacterial community structure. In summary, the addition of fly ash promoted the harmlessness and maturation of co- aerobic composting of urban multi-source organic waste, while optimizing microbial community structure and improving the quality and efficiency of composting.

Sleep Deprivation and Late Bedtime Impair Sperm Health Through Increasing Antisperm Antibody Production: A Prospective Study of 981 Healthy Men.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sleep duration and bedtime on sperm health, and the possible mechanism involved. MATERIAL AND METHODS We randomly divided 981 healthy Chinese men into groups according to research-set bedtimes (A=8-10 PM, B=after 10 PM, and C=after midnight) and sleep durations: group 1=<6.0 h (short), group 2=7.0-8.0 h (average), and group 3=>9.0 h (long). Sperm morphology, count, survival, and motility were examined according to sleep patterns. Antisperm antibody (ASA) production in semen was determined. RESULTS Sperm counts and their survival rates were lower in the short sleepers as compared to others within each group (all P<0.01). The lower counts and survival rates were observed in different bedtimes, with significant differences found between measurements of C1 vs. A1 and C2 vs. A2 or B2 (all P<0.05 or 0.01). Semen motility was lower in the short sleepers as compared to the average and long sleepers (all P<0.01). There were differences in the bedtime-related results between measurements of C1 vs. A1 or B1 (P<0.05 or 0.01). Additionally, the population proportion for the ASA-positive participates and incidence of the ASA-expressed population obviously increased in the short sleepers as compared to others within each group (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Short and long sleep durations and late bedtime were associated with impaired sperm health in the study cohort, partly through increasing ASA production in the semen.

The impact of umbilical blood flow regulation on fetal development differs in diabetic and non-diabetic pregnancy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Diabetes is well-known to influence endothelial function. Endothelial function and blood flow regulation might be different in diabetic and non-diabetic pregnancy. However, the impact of umbilical blood flow regulation in gestational diabetes on fetal development is unknown so far. METHODS: In a prospective birth cohort study, we analyzed the association of the umbilical artery Doppler indices (pulsatility index, resistance index and systolic/diastolic ratio) and fetal size measures (biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference, femur length and birth weight) in 519 non-gestational diabetes mellitus pregnancies (controls) and 226 gestational diabetes mellitus pregnancies in middle (day 160.32 ±16.29 of gestation) and late (day 268.12 ±13.04 of gestation) pregnancy. RESULTS: Multiple regression analysis considering confounding factors (gestational day of ultrasound examination, offspring sex, maternal body mess index before pregnancy, maternal age at delivery, maternal body weight at delivery and maternal hypertension) showed that umbilical artery Doppler indices (pulsatility index, resistance index and systolic/diastolic ratio) were associated with fetal head circumference and femur length in middle gestational diabetes mellitus pregnancy but not in non-gestational diabetes mellitus pregnancy. Head circumference, biparietal diameter, abdominal circumference and femur length in mid gestation were smaller in fetus of gestational diabetes mellitus pregnancy versus non-gestational diabetes mellitus pregnancy. In contrast to non-gestational diabetes mellitus pregnancy in late gestation, umbilical artery Doppler indices in gestational diabetes mellitus pregnancy were not associated with ultrasound measures of fetal growth. Birth weight was slightly increased in gestational diabetes mellitus pregnancy as compared to non-gestational diabetes mellitus pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of umbilical blood flow on fetal growth is time dependent in human gestational diabetes mellitus and non-gestational diabetes mellitus pregnancy. In gestational diabetes mellitus pregnancy umbilical blood flow is critical for organ development in much earlier stages of pregnancy as compared to non-gestational diabetes mellitus pregnancy. The physiological and molecular pathways why there is a catch up growth in later times of gestational diabetes mellitus pregnancy resulting in larger gestational diabetes mellitus babies at birth needs to be addressed in further studies.

[Study on the interaction of quercetin with beta-glucosidase by fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular docking].

Combined with molecular docking model, a fluorescence method was applied to investigate the interaction between quercetin and beta-glucosidase and the acting mechanism. The interaction between beta-glucosidase and quercetin, as well as the enzyme inhibitor 4-nitrophenyl-beta-D-thioglucoside, was studied by the AutoDock4.2 molecular docking model, respectively. The binding reaction was simultaneously studied using fluorescence quenching method. The results showed that these interactions result in the endogenous fluorescence quenching of beta-glucosidase, which belongs to a static quenching mechanism. The calculated binding constants were 4.36 X 10(4), 4.04 x 10(4) and 3.18 x 10(4) L mol(-1) at 17, 27 and 37 degrees C, respectively. The results revealed that quercetin tended to bind with beta-glucosidase mainly by hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interaction, as well as electrostatic forces. Both fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular docking are complementary to each other for the investigation of the interaction between beta-glucosidase and quercetin from the experimental and theoretical view.

[The interaction between genistein and beta-glucosidase].

The interaction between genistein and beta-glucosidase was studied using fluorescence quenching method and synchronous fluorimetry. The binding reaction was simultaneously studied by the AutoDock 4.2 molecular docking model. Data from fluorescence spectroscopy indicated that these interactions resulted in the endogenous fluorescence quenching of beta-glucosidase, which belongs to a static quenching mechanism. The calculated binding constants were 3.69 x 10(4), 3.06 x 10(4) and 2.36 x 10(4) L x mol(-1) at 17, 27 and 37 degrees C, respectively. The evidences from synchronous fluorescence showed the effect of genistein on the microenvironment around beta-glucosidase in aqueous solution. The inhibition test showed that the activity of beta-glucosidase could be inhibited by genistein. The determined bimolecular rate constant (k(i)) was 1.2 x 10(3) (mol x L(-1)(-1) x min(-1). Molecular docking was performed to reveal the possible binding mode or mechanism and suggested that genistein could bind strongly to beta-glucosidase. The results revealed that genistein tended to bind with beta-glucosidase mainly by hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interaction as well as electrostatic forces.

[Isolation and degradation characteristics of acetochlor-degrading strain A-3].

The strain A-3 which could use acetochlor as the sole nitrogen source was isolated from soils contaminated with acetochlor and the sludge of pesticide factory by enrichment culture. The strain was identified as Ensifer adhaerens according to the results of morphology, physiology,and the phylogenetical analyses of 16S rRNA sequence. It was observed that the degradation rate of acetochlor by strain A-3 was 33.6% after 10 days culture at the concentration of 10 mg/L. The composition of the culture could affect the growth of A-3 and the degradation of acetochlor. The growth and degradation ability of strain A-3 were different with the different carbon sources. The strain had the strangest growth capability with the D600 value of 0.55, but the degradation rate was only 9.4% when using sucrose as carbon source. However, the strain A-3 had the highest degradation rate up to 29.2%, although the D600 value was only 0.3 when using glucose as carbon source. When the NaCl concentration was 0.5%, the strain A-3 grew best and had the highest degradation rate of 35%, but when the NaCl concentration was higher than 7%, the growth of A-3 was inhibited and the degradation rate was reduced to 2.6%. The results showed that the strain A-3 could degrade acetochlor effectively and the growth and degradation process was affected by environmental media, and the degradation of acetochlor could be controlled by changing the composition of the culture.