Occurrence, potential sources, and ecological risk assessment of microplastics in the inland river basins in Northern China.

Microplastics (MPs) are the pollutants, found widely across various environmental media. However, studies on the MP pollution in urban rivers and the necessary risk assessments remain limited. In this study, the abundance and characteristics of microplastics in a typical urban river were examined to evaluate their distribution, sources, and ecological risks. It was observed that the abundance of MPs in sediments (220-2840 items·kg-1 dry weight (DW)) was much higher than that in surface water (2.9-10.3 items·L-1), indicating that the sediment is the "sink" of river MPs. Surface water and sediment were dominated by small particle size MPs (< 0.5 mm). Fiber and debris were common shapes of MPs in rivers and sediments. The microplastics in river water and sediments were primarily white and transparent, respectively. Polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) were the major polymers found.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells-induced exhaustion of CD8 + T-cell participates in rejection after liver transplantation.

Liver transplantation (LT) rejection remains the most pervasive problem associated with this procedure, while the mechanism involved is still complicated and undefined. One promising solution may involve the use of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). However, the immunological mechanisms underlying the effects of MDSC after LT remain unclear. This study is meant to clarify the role MDSCs play after liver transplantation. In this study, we collected liver tissue and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from LT patients showing varying degrees of rejection, as well as liver and spleen tissue samples from mice LT models. These samples were then analyzed using flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry and multiple immunofluorescence. M-MDSCs and CD8 + T-cells extracted from C57/BL6 mice were enriched and cocultured for in vitro experiments. Results, as obtained in both LT patients and LT mice model, revealed that the proportion and frequency of M-MDSC and PD-1 + T-cells increased significantly under conditions associated with a high degree of LT rejection. Within the LT rejection group, our immunofluorescence results showed that a close spatial contiguity was present between PD-1 + T-cells and M-MDSCs in these liver tissue samples and the proportion of CD84/PD-L1 double-positive M-MDSC was greater than that of G-MDSC. There was a positive correlation between the activity of CD84 and immunosuppressive function of M-MDSCs including PD-L1 expression and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, as demonstrated in our in vitro model. M-MDSCs treated with CD84 protein were able to induce co-cultured CD8 + T-cells to express high levels of exhaustion markers. We found that CD84 regulated M-MDSC function via expression of PD-L1 through activation of the Akt/Stat3 pathway. These results suggest that the capacity for CD84 to regulate M-MDSC induction of CD8 + T-cell exhaustion may play a key role in LT rejection. Such findings provide important, new insights into the mechanisms of tolerance induction in LT.

Biodegradable Microembolics with Nanografted Polyanions Enable High-Efficiency Drug Loading and Sustained Deep-Tumor Drug Penetration for Locoregional Chemoembolization Treatment.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), the mainstay treatment of unresectable primary liver cancer that primarily employs nondegradable drug-loaded embolic agents to achieve synergistic vascular embolization and locoregional chemotherapy effects, suffers from an inferior drug burst behavior lacking long-term drug release controllability that severely limits the TACE efficacy. Here we developed gelatin-based drug-eluting microembolics grafted with nanosized poly(acrylic acid) serving as a biodegradable ion-exchange platform that leverages a counterion condensation effect to achieve high-efficiency electrostatic drug loading with electropositive drugs such as doxorubicin (i.e., drug loading capacity >34 mg/mL, encapsulation efficiency >98%, and loading time <10 min) and an enzymatic surface-erosion degradation pattern (∼2 months) to offer sustained locoregional pharmacokinetics with long-lasting deep-tumor retention capability for TACE treatment. The microembolics demonstrated facile microcatheter deliverability in a healthy porcine liver embolization model, superior tumor-killing capacity in a rabbit VX2 liver cancer embolization model, and stabilized extravascular drug penetration depth (>3 mm for 3 months) in a rabbit ear embolization model. Importantly, the microembolics finally exhibited vessel remodeling-induced permanent embolization with minimal inflammation responses after complete degradation. Such a biodegradable ion-exchange drug carrier provides an effective and versatile strategy for enhancing long-term therapeutic responses of various local chemotherapy treatments.

Microbial communities mediate the effect of cover cropping on soil ecosystem functions under precipitation reduction in an agroecosystem.

Cover cropping is a sustainable agricultural practice that profoundly influences soil microbial communities and ecosystem functions. However, the responses of soil ecosystem functions and microbial communities to cover cropping under the projected changes in precipitation, remain largely unexplored. To address this gap, a field experiment with cover cropping (control, hairy vetch, ryegrass, and hairy vetch plus ryegrass) and precipitation reduction (ambient precipitation and 50 % reduction in ambient precipitation) treatments was conducted from 2018 to 2020 in an agroecosystem located in the Guanzhong Plain of China. Soil ecosystem functions related to nutrient storage, nutrient cycling, and organic matter decomposition were measured to assess the soil multifunctionality index and bacterial and fungal communities were determined by Illumina NovaSeq sequencing. The results indicated that cover cropping enhanced soil multifunctionality index, and reduced precipitation strengthened this effect. Microbial community composition, rather than microbial diversity, was significantly altered by cover cropping regardless of precipitation reduction. Cover cropping increased the microbial network complexity and stability, but this effect was dampened by reduced precipitation. The microbial community composition and network complexity significantly and positively correlated with soil multifunctionality index under ambient and reduced precipitation conditions. Linear regression analyses and structural equation models collectively demonstrated that the increase in soil multifunctionality index was attributed to cover cropping-induced changes in microbial community composition and network complexity, irrespective of precipitation reduction. This study highlights the crucial role of microbial communities in driving the response of soil multifunctionality to cover cropping in the context of reduced precipitation, which has important implications for agricultural management and sustainability under future climate change scenarios.

Deciphering the Temporal-Spatial Interactive Heterogeneity of Long Non-Coding RNAs and RNA-Binding Proteins in Living Cells at Single-Cell Resolution.

The investigation of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and RNA binding proteins (RBPs) interactions in living cell holds great significance for elucidating their critical roles in a variety of biological activities, but limited techniques are available to profile the temporal-spatial dynamic heterogeneity. Here, we introduced a molecular beacon-functionalized nanoneedle array designed for spatially resolved profiling of lncRNA-RBP interactions (Nano-SpatiaLR). A nanoneedle array modified with a molecular beacon is employed to selectively isolate specific intracellular lncRNAs and their associated RBPs without affecting cell viability. The RBPs are then in situ analyzed with a fluorescent labeled antibody and colocalized with lncRNA signals to get a quantitative measurement of their dynamic interactions. Additionally, leveraging the spatial distribution and nanoscale modality of the nanoneedle array, this technique provides the spatial heterogeneity information on cellular lncRNA-RBPs interaction at single cell resolution. In this study, we tracked the temporal-spatial interactive heterogeneity dynamics of lncRNA-RBPs interaction within living cells across different biological progresses. Our findings demonstrated that the interactions between lncRNA HOTAIR and RBPs EZH2 and LSD1 undergo significant changes in response to drug treatments, particularly in tumor cells. Moreover, these interactions become more intensified as tumor cells aggregate during the proliferation process.

Research progress of ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like signaling in Toxoplasma gondii.

Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), is prevalent worldwide. The fact should be emphasized that a considerable proportion of individuals infected with T. gondii may remain asymptomatic; nevertheless, the condition can have severe implications for pregnant women or immunocompromised individuals. The current treatment of toxoplasmosis primarily relies on medication; however, traditional anti-toxoplasmosis drugs exhibit significant limitations in terms of efficacy, side effects, and drug resistance. The life cycles of T. gondii are characterized by distinct stages and its body morphology goes through dynamic alterations during the growth cycle that are intricately governed by a wide array of post-translational modifications (PTMs). Ubiquitin (Ub) signaling and ubiquitin-like (Ubl) signaling are two crucial post-translational modification pathways within cells, regulating protein function, localization, stability, or interactions by attaching Ub or ubiquitin-like proteins (Ubls) to target proteins. While these signaling mechanisms share some functional similarities, they have distinct regulatory mechanisms and effects. T. gondii possesses both Ub and Ubls and plays a significant role in regulating the parasite's life cycle and maintaining its morphology through PTMs of substrate proteins. Investigating the role and mechanism of protein ubiquitination in T. gondii will provide valuable insights for preventing and treating toxoplasmosis. This review explores the distinctive characteristics of Ub and Ubl signaling in T. gondii, with the aim of inspiring research ideas for the identification of safer and more effective drug targets against toxoplasmosis.

LncRNA FEZF1-AS1 facilitates cisplatin resistance in non-small cell lung cancer through modulating the miR-32-5p-glutaminase axis.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the prevalent malignancies. Cisplatin (CDDP) is a conventional chemotherapeutic agent against NSCLC. However, inherent and acquired chemoresistance limited the effectiveness of cisplatin in treatment of NSCLC. This study aimed to investigate the roles and underlying mechanisms of lncRNA-FEZF1-AS1 in mediating cisplatin sensitivity in NSCLC. We found that FEZF1-AS1 levels were significantly higher in lung cancer patients and cell lines. Blocking FEZF1-AS1 sensitized lung cancer cells to cisplatin. Additionally, both glutamine metabolism and FEZF1-AS1 were significantly elevated in cisplatin resistant NSCLC cell lines, A549/CDDP R and SK-MES-1 CDDP/R. Analysis using bioinformatics, RNA pull-down assay and luciferase assay demonstrated that FEZF1-AS1 sponged miR-32-5p, which acted as a tumor suppressor in NSCLC. Glutaminase (GLS), a key enzyme in the glutamine metabolism, was predicted and validated as the direct target of miR-32-5p in NSCLC cells. Inhibiting glutamine metabolism or reducing glutamine supply effectively resensitized cisplatin-resistant cells. Furthermore, restoring miR-32-5p in FEZF1-AS1-overexpressing cisplatin resistant cells successfully overcame FEZF1-AS1-mediated cisplatin resistance by targeting GLS. These findings were further supported by in vivo xenograft mice experiments. This study uncovered the roles and molecular mechanisms of lncRNA FEZF1-AS1 in mediating cisplatin resistance in NSCLC, specifically through modulating the miR-32-5p-GLS axis, providing support for the development of new therapeutic approaches against chemoresistant lung cancer.

Fifteen acute retrobulbar optic neuritis associated with COVID-19: A case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: A subtype of the Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is suggested to be responsible for the outbreak in Northern China since the quarantine was lifted in December 2022. The coronavirus disease 2019 virus is primarily responsible for the development of respiratory illnesses, however, it can present a plethora of symptoms affecting a myriad of body organs. This virus has been theorized to be linked to demyelinating lesions of the peripheral and central nervous system including transverse myelitis and acute retrobulbar optic neuritis (ARON). For example, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the orbit and brain showed enlargement of the retrobulbar intraorbital segments of the optic nerve with high T2 signal, and no abnormalities were seen in the brain tissue. In this case series, we analyzed the connection between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the onset of ARON. CASE SUMMARY: Fifteen patients, and a teenage boy who did not have any pre-existing ocular or demyelinating diseases suddenly experienced a loss of vision after SARS-CoV-2 infection. The patients expressed a central scotoma and a fever as the primary concern. The results of the fundus photography were found to be normal. However, the automated perimetry and MRI scans showed evidence of some typical signs. Out of the 15 patients diagnosed with ARON after SARS-CoV-2 infection, only one individual tested positive for the aquaporin-4 antibody. CONCLUSION: Direct viral invasion of the central nervous system and an immune-related process are the two primary causes of SARS-CoV-2-related ARON.

Different concentrations of hyaluronic acid eye drops for dry eye syndrome: a systematic review and Meta-analysis.

AIM: To compare high or low concentration of hyaluronic acid eye drops (HY) for dry eye syndromes (DES). METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing various concentrations of HY were searched in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, SinoMed, CNKI, Wanfang Database, CQVIP, and Chinese journals databases between inception and July 2023. Pooled standardized mean differences (SMD) or weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) from RCTs evaluating Schirmer's I test (SIT), corneal fluorescein staining score (CFS), tear breakup time (TBUT), DES score (DESS), and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) were calculated. Sensitivity analysis, Egger's test and Meta-regression analysis were performed for all indicators. RESULTS: We conducted a Meta-analysis of 10 RCTs that met the inclusion criteria, involving 1796 cases. High-concentrations group significantly improved the outcome of CFS according to random effects modelling (SMD, -3.37; 95%CI, -5.25 to -1.48; P=0.0005). The rest of the results were not statistically significant, including indicators such as SIT, TBUT, DESS and OSDI. CONCLUSION: For dry eyes with positive corneal staining, a high concentration of HY is recommended, whereas in other cases, a high concentration of HY does not offer a more pronounced advantage over a low concentration of HY in the treatment of dry eyes.

CircRNA_0044556 affects the sensitivity of triple-negative breast cancer cells to paclitaxel by regulating miR-665.

CircRNAs have been implicated in the development of resistance in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, the association between circRNA_0044556 and paclitaxel (PTX) resistance in TNBC is still limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of circRNA_0044556 on biological function and PTX resistance in TNBC cells. PTX-resistant TNBC cells (MDA-MB-231/PTX) were obtained by continuously exposing MDA-MB-231 cells to increasing paclitaxel levels. The expression levels of circRNA_0044556 and miR-665 were measured by qRT-PCR. The regulatory relationship between miR-665 and circRNA_0044556 was verified by biological information website analysis and double-luciferase reporter gene detection experiments. MTT assay, clone assay, flow cytometry and Western blot analysis were used to evaluate the influence of cell biological function. Elevated circRNA_0044556 was observed in TNBC, and paclitaxel increased the expression of circRNA_0044556 in TNBC cells. In TNBC, circRNA_0044556 acted as a ceRNA for miR-665. In addition, low expression of circRNA_0044556 combined with miR-665 inhibited the proliferation of TNBC cells and paclitaxel-resistant TNBC cells while inducing cell death. Our study demonstrated that the downregulation of circRNA_0044556 inhibits the malignant progression of TNBC cells and paclitaxel resistance via miR-665. Thus, circRNA_0044556 may be a potential therapeutic target for PTX-resistance TNBC.

Containment control for fractional-order networked system with intermittent sampled position communication.

This paper investigates containment control for fractional-order networked systems. Two novel intermittent sampled position communication protocols, where controllers only need to keep working during communication width of every sampling period under the past sampled position communication of neighbors' agents. Then, some necessary and sufficient conditions are derived to guarantee containment about the differential order, sampling period, communication width, coupling strengths, and networked structure. Taking into account of the delay, a detailed discussion to guarantee containment is given with respect to the delay, sampling period, and communication width. Interestingly, it is discovered that containment control cannot be guaranteed without delay or past sampled position communication under the proposed protocols. Finally, the effectiveness of theoretical results is demonstrated by some numerical simulations.

Plasma proteome mediate the impact of PM2.5 on stroke: A 2-step Mendelian randomization study.

The objectives of this study were to measure the mediation effect of plasma proteins and to clarify their mediating role in the relationship between stroke risk and particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) exposure. The possible mediating role of plasma proteins on the causative link between PM2.5 exposure and stroke incidence were examined using a two-step Mendelian randomization (MR) approach based on two-sample Mendelian randomization (TSMR). The findings revealed a significant positive causal relationship between PM2.5 exposure and stroke, with an inverse variance weighted odds ratio of 1.219 (95 % CI: 1.002 - 1.482, P < 0.05). Additionally, a positive causal association was identified between PM2.5 exposure and several plasma proteins, including FAM134B, SAP, ITGB7, Elafin, and DCLK3. Among these, FAM134B, ITGB7, Elafin, and DCLK3 also demonstrated a positive causal association with stroke, whereas only SAP was found to be negatively causally associated with stroke. Remarkably, four plasma proteins, namely DCLK3, FAM134B, Elafin, and ITGB7, were identified as mediators, accounting for substantial proportions (14.5 %, 13.6 %, 11.1 %, and 9.9 %) of the causal association between PM2.5 and stroke. These results remained robust across various sensitivity analyses. Consequently, the study highlights the significant and independent impact of PM2.5 on stroke risk and identifies specific plasma proteins as potential targets for preventive interventions against PM2.5-induced stroke.

FLT3+ DC inhibits immune rejection via interaction with Treg in liver transplantation.

Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) is a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) primarily expressed in hematopoietic stem cells and dendritic cells (DCs). While FLT3 plays a critical role in the proliferation, development and maintenance of DCs, thus influencing immune responses under both normal and pathological conditions, there also exists some evidence that FLT3+DC may be involved with immune responses in liver transplantation (LT). In this study, results from single-cell sequencing data analysis revealed a clear relationship between FLT3+DCs and Regulatory T cells (Tregs) in liver tissue of LT recipients. In peripheral blood samples of LT patients, levels of FLT3+DCs were decreased post-LT-surgery, while Tregs were increased. In a LT mouse model, levels of FLT3+DCs in the liver and bone marrow exhibited an initial time-dependent decrease followed by an increase after LT surgery. Results as obtained with co-culture experiments using mature BMDCs and CD4+ T cells revealed fluctuations in Tregs in response to FLT3 inhibitors and the FLT3 ligand. These findings suggest that FLT3+DCs could emerge as a novel target for mitigating immune rejection in LT.

Comparison of chlorine and chlorine dioxide disinfection in drinking water: Evaluation of disinfection byproduct formation under equal disinfection efficiency.

Disinfection efficiency and disinfection byproduct (DBP) formation are two important aspects deserving careful consideration when evaluating different disinfection protocols. However, most of the previous studies on the selection of disinfection methods by comparing DBP formation were carried out under the same initial/residual dose and contact time of different disinfectants, and such a practice may cause overdose or underdose of a certain disinfectant, leading to the inaccurate evaluation of disinfection. In this study, a comprehensive and quantitative comparison of chlorine (Cl2) and chlorine dioxide (ClO2) disinfection was conducted with regard to their DBP formation under equal disinfection efficiency. The microbial inactivation models as well as the Cl2 and ClO2 demand models were developed. On such basis, the integral CT (ICT) values were determined and used as a bridge to connect disinfection efficiency and DBP formation. For 3-log10 and 4-log10 reductions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, ClO2 had 1.5 and 5.8 times higher inactivation ability than Cl2, respectively. In the premise of equal disinfection efficiency (i.e., the ICT ratios of Cl2 to ClO2 = 1.5 and 5.8), the levels of total organic chlorine, total organic bromine, and total organic halogen formed in the Cl2 disinfection were significantly higher than those formed in the ClO2 disinfection. Among the 35 target aliphatic DBPs, trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) were the dominant species formed in both Cl2 and ClO2 disinfection. The total THM levels formed in Cl2 disinfection were 14.6 and 30.3 times higher than those in ClO2 disinfection, respectively. The total HAA levels formed in Cl2 disinfection were 3.5 and 5.4 times higher than those in ClO2 disinfection, respectively. Formation of the target 48 aromatic DBPs was much favored in Cl2 disinfection than that in ClO2 disinfection, and the formation levels was dominated by contact time. This study demonstrated that ClO2 had significant advantages over Cl2, especially at higher microorganism inactivation and lower DBP formation requirements.

Transdermal microarrayed electroporation for enhanced cancer immunotherapy based on DNA vaccination.

Despite the tremendous clinical potential of nucleic acid-based vaccines, their efficacy to induce therapeutic immune response has been limited by the lack of efficient local gene delivery techniques in the human body. In this study, we develop a hydrogel-based organic electronic device (µEPO) for both transdermal delivery of nucleic acids and in vivo microarrayed cell electroporation, which is specifically oriented toward one-step transfection of DNAs in subcutaneous antigen-presenting cells (APCs) for cancer immunotherapy. The µEPO device contains an array of microneedle-shaped electrodes with pre-encapsulated dry DNAs. Upon a pressurized contact with skin tissue, the electrodes are rehydrated, electrically triggered to release DNAs, and then electroporate nearby cells, which can achieve in vivo transfection of more than 50% of the cells in the epidermal and upper dermal layer. As a proof-of-concept, the µEPO technique is employed to facilitate transdermal delivery of neoantigen genes to activate antigen-specific immune response for enhanced cancer immunotherapy based on a DNA vaccination strategy. In an ovalbumin (OVA) cancer vaccine model, we show that high-efficiency transdermal transfection of APCs with OVA-DNAs induces robust cellular and humoral immune responses, including antigen presentation and generation of IFN-γ+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes with a more than 10-fold dose sparing over existing intramuscular injection (IM) approach, and effectively inhibits tumor growth in rodent animals.

Synergistic Construction of Sub-Nanometer Channel Membranes through MOF-Polymer Composites: Strategies and Nanofiltration Applications.

The selective separation of small molecules at the sub-nanometer scale has broad application prospects in the field, such as energy, catalysis, and separation. Conventional polymeric membrane materials (e.g., nanofiltration membranes) for sub-nanometer scale separations face challenges, such as inhomogeneous channel sizes and unstable pore structures. Combining polymers with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which possess uniform and intrinsic pore structures, may overcome this limitation. This combination has resulted in three distinct types of membranes: MOF polycrystalline membranes, mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs), and thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes. However, their effectiveness is hindered by the limited regulation of the surface properties and growth of MOFs and their poor interfacial compatibility. The main issues in preparing MOF polycrystalline membranes are the uncontrollable growth of MOFs and the poor adhesion between MOFs and the substrate. Here, polymers could serve as a simple and precise tool for regulating the growth and surface functionalities of MOFs while enhancing their adhesion to the substrate. For MOF mixed-matrix membranes, the primary challenge is the poor interfacial compatibility between polymers and MOFs. Strategies for the mutual modification of MOFs and polymers to enhance their interfacial compatibility are introduced. For TFN membranes, the challenges include the difficulty in controlling the growth of the polymer selective layer and the performance limitations caused by the "trade-off" effect. MOFs can modulate the formation process of the polymer selective layer and establish transport channels within the polymer matrix to overcome the "trade-off" effect limitations. This review focuses on the mechanisms of synergistic construction of polymer-MOF membranes and their structure-nanofiltration performance relationships, which have not been sufficiently addressed in the past.

Numerical simulation research on thermal insulation performance of composite heat-insulation zone structure in hydrothermal high-temperature mine.

In hydrothermal high-temperature abnormal mines, the composite heat-insulation zone structure, formed through a combination of guniting and grouting, serves to mitigate heat dissipation from the surrounding rock into the airflow. To comprehensively understand the thermal insulation performance of the composite heat-insulation zone structure, this study employs numerical simulation to analyze the following aspects: the variation in the temperature field within the surrounding rock of the roadway without insulation, the influence of structural parameters of the composite heat-insulation zone on temperature distribution in the surrounding rock of the roadway, and the thermal insulation effectiveness of the composite heat-insulation zone with varying structures. The findings indicate that the temperature distribution within the surrounding rock of the roadway lacking a heat-insulation zone is relatively uniform. However, as ventilation time extends, the heat regulation zone within the surrounding rock gradually extends deeper, ultimately forming an elliptical cooling area. The composite heat-insulation zone structure effectively mitigates heat transfer from deeper surrounding rock to the roadway wall, consequently altering the scope of the roadway's heat regulation zone. Enhancing the thermal insulation performance of the composite heat-insulation zone structure can be achieved by increasing the thickness of the thermal insulation layer, adjusting grouting rate and depth, and reducing the thermal conductivity of insulation materials. The thermal insulation effectiveness of the thermal insulation layer surpasses that of the grouting layer, with its performance primarily influenced by the thermal conductivity of the materials used. Simulation results demonstrate that the composite heat-insulation zone structure reduces the maximum heat flux on the roadway wall from 47.4 to 37.7 W/m2, resulting in a 20% reduction in heat transfer from deeper surrounding rock. These findings offer valuable insights for implementing thermal insulation techniques in hydrothermal high-temperature anomaly mines.

Vertebrates on a Chip: Noninvasive Electrical and Optical Mapping of Whole Brain Activity Associated with Pharmacological Treatments.

Mapping brain activities is necessary for understanding brain physiology and discovering new treatments for neurological disorders. Such efforts have greatly benefited from the advancement in technologies for analyzing neural activity with improving temporal or spatial resolution. Here, we constructed a multielectrode array based brain activity mapping (BAM) system capable of stabilizing and orienting zebrafish larvae for recording electroencephalogram (EEG) like local field potential (LFP) signals and brain-wide calcium dynamics in awake zebrafish. Particularly, we designed a zebrafish trap chip that integrates with an eight-by-eight surface electrode array, so that brain electrophysiology can be noninvasively recorded in an agarose-free and anesthetic-free format with a high temporal resolution of 40 µs, matching the capability typically achieved by invasive LFP recording. Benefiting from the specially designed hybrid system, we can also conduct calcium imaging directly on immobilized awake larval zebrafish, which further supplies us with high spatial resolution brain-wide activity data. All of these innovations reconcile the limitations of sole LFP recording or calcium imaging, emphasizing a synergy of combining electrical and optical modalities within one unified device for activity mapping across a whole vertebrate brain with both improved spatial and temporal resolutions. The compatibility with in vivo drug treatment further makes it suitable for pharmacology studies based on multimodal measurement of brain-wide physiology.

Occurrence, distribution and potential environmental risks of pollutants in aquaculture ponds during pond cleaning in Taihu Lake Basin, China.

During the process of cleaning aquaculture ponds, the drainage contributes significantly to antibiotic pollution in the surrounding water environment. Therefore, we conducted a study on the distribution of 26 antibiotics in 57 ponds within the Taihu Lake basin. The results revealed that the detection frequency of antibiotics ranged from 1.75 % to 80.7 %, with the overall detection concentrations ranging from 3.27 to 708.72 ng/L. Among them, the detection rate of 8 antibiotics exceeded 50 %. Regarding the spatial distribution, the concentration of antibiotics was relatively high in aquaculture ponds located in the Changzhou area, with the highest concentration reaching 708.72 ng/L. This observation is likely due to the large size and intensive breeding practices in Changzhou. Fish ponds exhibited a significantly higher total antibiotic concentration of 3.27 to 445.57 ng/L compared to crab ponds (13.01 to 206.30 ng/L) and shrimp ponds (23.17 to 107.40 ng/L). Quinolones and sulfonamides were the predominant antibiotic classes found in fish ponds, accounting for 51.49 % of the total antibiotic concentration. Notably, sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and enrofloxacin (ENR) exhibited the highest antibiotic concentrations. Risk assessments demonstrated that SMX, ENR, and ofloxacin (OFX) contributed significantly to ecological risks. Furthermore, the study found that the tertiary constructed wetland treatment process achieved a remarkable removal rate of 92.44 % for antibiotics in aquaculture wastewater, while other treatment processes displayed limited effectiveness in removing antibiotics. This study addresses the knowledge gap concerning antibiotic pollution during the cleaning process of aquaculture ponds within the Taihu Lake basin.