Association between house dust endotoxin and kidney injury: findings from the national health and nutrition examination survey (NHANES) 2005-2006.

BACKGROUND: House dust endotoxin is thought to be associated with systemic inflammatory responses and respiratory diseases. Previous studies have indicated that lung injury and systemic inflammation could lead to kidney damage. However, the potential link between house dust endotoxin and the increased risk of kidney injury remains unexplored. OBJECTIVES: This cross-sectional study and retrospective study aim to investigate the relationship between house dust endotoxin levels and renal markers, specifically the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), utilizing data from the NHANES 2005-2006 survey cycle. RESULTS: Proteinuria was assessed using the UACR, with values categorized into negative (UACR ≤ 30 mg/g) and positive (UACR > 30 mg/g) groups. Significant differences in house dust endotoxin levels were observed between these groups (p value = 0.003). Weighted logistic regression analysis indicated that higher levels of house dust endotoxin were associated with an increased rate of positive UACR (OR [95% CI]: 1.57 [1.20, 2.05]; p value = 0.003). This association remained significant after adjusting for covariates such as age, gender, race, poverty income ratio (PIR), Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), and hypertension (OR [95% CI]: 1.46 [1.08, 1.97]; p-Value = 0.021). However, no significant correlation was found between house dust endotoxin levels and eGFR (Estimate [95% CI]: 1.19 [-1.28, 3.66]; p value = 0.32). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest a significant association between house dust endotoxin levels and proteinuria, based on data from the NHANES 2005-2006 survey cycle. This association indicates that elevated levels of house dust endotoxin may be linked to kidney damage. Further research is necessary to elucidate the specific relationship between exposure to house dust endotoxin and the risk of developing kidney disease.

IFIH1 variants are associated with generalised epilepsy preceded by febrile seizures.

BACKGROUND: IFIH1 variants have been reported to be associated with immune-related disorders with/without seizures. It is unknown whether IFIH1 variants are associated with common epilepsy without acquired causes and the mechanism underlying phenotypic variation remains elusive. METHODS: Trio-based whole-exome sequencing was performed on patients with febrile seizures or epilepsy with antecedent febrile seizures. Previously reported variants were systematically reviewed to investigate genotype-phenotype associations. RESULTS: Two de novo heterozygous and three biallelic missense variants were identified in five patients with generalised epilepsy with antecedent febrile seizures. The variants were predicted to be damaging by in silico tools and were associated with hydrogen bonding changes to neighbouring amino acids or decreased protein stability. Patients exhibited an early onset age and became seizure-free with favourable outcome. Further analysis revealed that de novo missense variants located in the Hel region resulted in seizures with multiple neurological abnormalities, while those in the pincer domain or C-terminal domain led to seizures with normal neurodevelopment, suggesting a sub-molecular effect. Biallelic missense variants, which were inherited from unaffected parents and presented low allele frequencies in general populations, were associated with seizures without neurological abnormalities. Truncation variants were related to refractory epilepsy and severe developmental delay, suggesting a genotype-phenotype correlation. IFIH1 is predominantly expressed in the neonatal stage and decreases dramatically in the adulthood, which is consistent with the early onset age and favourable outcome of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: IFIH1 variants are potentially associated with generalised epilepsy with antecedent febrile seizures. The sub-molecular implication and genotype-phenotype association help explain phenotype variations of IFIH1 variants.

DSN signal amplification strategy based nanochannels biosensor for the detection of miRNAs.

MiRNA-21 is recognized as an important biological marker for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of breast cancer. Here, we have created a nanochannel biosensor utilizing the duplex-specific nuclease (DSN) signal amplification strategy to achieve the detection of miRNAs. In this system, DNA as the capture probe was covalently immobilized on the surface of nanochannels, which hybridized with the target miRNA and forms RNA/DNA duplexes. DSN could cleave the probe DNA in RNA/DNA duplexes, recycling target miRNA, which may again hybridized with other DNA probes. After N cycles, most of the DNA probes had been cleaved, and the content of miRNA could be quantified by detecting changes in surface charge density. This biosensor can distinguish miR-21 from non-complementary miRNAs and one-base mismatched miRNAs, with reliable detection limits as low as 1 fM in PBS. In addition, we had successfully applied this method to analysis of total RNA samples in MCF-7 cells and HeLa cells, and the nanochannels had also shown excellent responsiveness and strong anti-interference ability. This new method is expected to contribute to miRNA detection in clinical diagnostics, providing a unique approach to detecting and distinguishing disease-associated molecules.

Revealing the dynamic whole transcriptome landscape of Clonorchis sinensis: Insights into the regulatory roles of noncoding RNAs and microtubule-related genes in development.

Clonorchis sinensis is a significant zoonotic food-borne parasite that causes a range of hepatobiliary diseases, which in severe cases can even lead to cholangiocarcinoma. To explore new diagnostic and treatment strategies, the dynamic RNA regulatory processes across different developmental stages of C. sinensis were analyzed by using whole-transcriptome sequencing. The chromosomal-level genome of C. sinensis was used for sequence alignment and annotation. In this study, we identified a total of 59,103 RNAs in the whole genome, including 2,384 miRNAs, 25,459 mRNAs, 27,564 lncRNAs and 3,696 circRNAs. Differential expression analysis identified 6,556 differentially expressed mRNAs, 2,231 lncRNAs, 877 miRNAs and 20 circRNAs at different developmental stages. Functional enrichment analysis highlighted the critical role of microtubule-related biological processes in the growth and development of C. sinensis. And coexpression analysis revealed 97 lncRNAs and 85 circRNAs that were coexpressed with 42 differentially expressed mRNAs that associated with microtubules at different developmental stages of C. sinensis. The expression of the microtubule-related genes dynein light chain 2 (DLC2) and dynein light chain 4 (DLC4) increased with C. sinensis development, and DLC2/4 could be inhibited by albendazole. Finally, by constructing competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks, the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA and circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory relationships were constructed, and the ceRNA networks of MSTRG.14258.5-novel_miR_2287-newGene_28215 and MSTRG.14258.5-novel_miR_2216-CSKR_109340 were verified. This study suggests, through whole transcriptome sequencing, that the context of microtubule regulation may play an essential role in the development and growth of C. sinensis.

Surface bioactivation of Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) by magnesium chondroitin sulfate (MgCS) as orthopedic implants for reconstruction of skeletal defects.

Polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) is clinically used as a bio-implant for the healing of skeletal defects. However, the osseointegration of clinical-sized bone grafts remains limited. In this study, surface-porous PEEK was created by using a sulfonation method and a metal-polysaccharide complex MgCS was introduced on the surface of sulfonated PEEK to form MgCS@SPEEK. The as-prepared MgCS@SPEEK was found to have a porous surface with good hydrophilicity and bioactivity. This was followed by an investigation into whether MgCS loaded onto sulfonated PEEK surfaces could promote osseointegration and angiogenesis. The in vitro results showed that MgCS@SPEEK had a positive effect on reducing the expression levels of inflammatory genes and promoting osteogenesis and angiogenesis-related genes expression levels. Furthermore, porous MgCS@SPEEK was implanted in critical-sized rat tibial defects for in vivo evaluation of osseointegration. The micro-computed tomography evaluation results revealed substantial bone formation at 4 and 8 weeks. Collectively, these findings indicate that MgCS@SPEEK could provide improved osseointegration and an attractive strategy for orthopaedic applications.

Multiomics integration-based immunological characterizations of adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma in relation to keratinization.

Although adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma (ACP) is a tumour with low histological malignancy, there are very few therapeutic options other than surgery. ACP has high histological complexity, and the unique features of the immunological microenvironment within ACP remain elusive. Further elucidation of the tumour microenvironment is particularly important to expand our knowledge of potential therapeutic targets. Here, we performed integrative analysis of 58,081 nuclei through single-nucleus RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics on ACP specimens to characterize the features and intercellular network within the microenvironment. The ACP environment is highly immunosuppressive with low levels of T-cell infiltration/cytotoxicity. Moreover, tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs), which originate from distinct sources, highly infiltrate the microenvironment. Using spatial transcriptomic data, we observed one kind of non-microglial derived TAM that highly expressed GPNMB close to the terminally differentiated epithelial cell characterized by RHCG, and this colocalization was verified by asmFISH. We also found the positive correlation of infiltration between these two cell types in datasets with larger cohort. According to intercellular communication analysis, we report a regulatory network that could facilitate the keratinization of RHCG+ epithelial cells, eventually causing tumour progression. Our findings provide a comprehensive analysis of the ACP immune microenvironment and reveal a potential therapeutic strategy base on interfering with these two types of cells.

PANI/GO and Sm co-modified Ti/PbO2 dimensionally stable anode for highly efficient amoxicillin degradation: Performance assessment, impact parameters and degradation mechanism.

The abuse and uncontrolled discharge of antibiotics present a severe threat to environment and human health, necessitating the development of efficient and sustainable treatment technology. In this work, we employ a facile one-step electrodeposition method to prepare polyaniline/graphite oxide (PANI/GO) and samarium (Sm) co-modified Ti/PbO2 (Ti/PbO2-PANI/GO-Sm) electrode for the degradation of amoxicillin (AMX). Compared with traditional Ti/PbO2 electrode, Ti/PbO2-PANI/GO-Sm electrode exhibits more excellent oxygen evolution potential (2.63 V) and longer service life (56 h). In degradation experiment, under optimized conditions (50 mg L-1 AMX, 20 mA cm-2, pH 3, 0.050 M Na2SO4, 25 °C), Ti/PbO2-PANI/GO-Sm electrode achieves remarkable removal efficiencies of 88.76% for AMX and 79.92% for chemical oxygen demand at 90 min. In addition, trapping experiment confirms that ·OH plays a major role in the degradation process. Based on theoretical calculation and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer results, the heterocyclic portion of AMX molecule is more susceptible to ·OH attacks. Thus, this novel electrode offers a sustainable and efficient solution to address environmental challenges posed by antibiotic-contaminated wastewater.

A 9-10-Bit Adjustable and Energy-Efficient Switching Scheme for Successive Approximation Register Analog-to-Digital Converter with One Least Significant Bit Common-Mode Voltage Variation.

A 9-10-bit adjustable and energy-efficient switching scheme for SAR ADC with one-LSB common-mode voltage variation is proposed. Based on capacitor-splitting technology and common-mode conversion techniques, the proposed switching scheme reduces the DAC switching energy by 96.41% compared to the conventional scheme. The low complexity and the one-LSB common-mode voltage offset of this scheme benefit from the simultaneous switching of the reference voltages of the capacitors corresponding to the positive array and the negative array throughout the entire reference voltage switching process, and the reference voltage of each capacitor in the scheme does not change more than two voltages. The post-layout result shows that the ADC achieves the 54.96 dB SNDR, the 61.73 dB SFDR, and the 0.67 µw power consumption with the 10-bit mode and the 48.33 dB SNDR, the 54.17 dB SFDR, and the 0.47 µw power consumption with the 9-bit mode in a 180 nm process with a 100 kS/s sampling frequency.

Strategically constructed AlGaN doping barriers for efficient deep ultraviolet light-emitting diodes: erratum.

We present an erratum to our Letter [Opt. Lett.49, 2049 (2024)10.1364/OL.522212]. There is a careless omission of some references because our Letter is longer than the maximum allowed four pages. The missing references and their specific quote location are listed in the following. These corrections do not affect the data plotted in figures, discussion, or conclusion of the original Letter.

Combined treatment of All-trans retinoic acid with Tamoxifen suppresses ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer is a malignant tumor of the female reproductive system, and its mortality rate is as high as 70%. Estrogen receptor α (ERα)-positive ovarian cancer accounted for most of all ovarian cancer patients. ERα can promote the growth and proliferation of tumors. METHODS: The combined effect of All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and tamoxifen was obtained by the combination screening of tamoxifen and compound library by MTS. In addition, colony formation assay, flow cytometry analysis, immunofluorescence staining, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), western blot, and tumor xenotransplantation models were used to further evaluate the efficacy of tamoxifen and ATRA in vitro and in vivo for ER-α-positive ovarian cancer. RESULTS: In our study, we found that All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) can cooperate with tamoxifen to cause cell cycle arrest and apoptosis and inhibit ERα-positive ovarian cancer in vivo and in vitro. Further exploration of the mechanism found that ATRA can Inhibit genes related to the ERα signaling pathway, enhance the sensitivity of ERα-positive ovarian cancer cells to tamoxifen, and ascertain the effectiveness of tamoxifen and ATRA as treatments for ovarian cancer with an ERα-positive status. CONCLUSION: Combination of ATRA and tamoxifen is a new way for the treatment of ERα-positive ovarian cancer.

Extended Endoscopic Endonasal Approach for Giant Pediatric Craniopharyngiomas: Technical Note and Case Series.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Giant pediatric craniopharyngiomas are rare tumors whose clinical and surgical management is extremely challenging. A variety of open transcranial approaches has been used to resect these lesions. Although there has been an increasing acceptance of the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) for the resection of pediatric craniopharyngiomas in recent years, many surgeons continue to recommend against the use of the EEA for giant pediatric craniopharyngiomas. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of extended EEA for giant craniopharyngiomas in the pediatric population. METHODS: All consecutive pediatric patients with giant craniopharyngiomas (diameter >4 cm) who underwent endoscopic endonasal surgery at our institution were retrospectively reviewed. Data on demographic information, preoperative assessment, imaging features, surgical results, complications, and recurrences were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 16 pediatric patients with an average age of 12 years were identified. The mean maximum diameter and volume of the tumors were 4.35 cm and 24.1 cm3, respectively. Gross total resection was achieved in 13 patients (81.3%) and subtotal resection in 3 patients (18.7%). Postoperatively, partial or complete anterior pituitary insufficiency occurred in 100% of patients, and 62.5% developed new-onset diabetes insipidus. Visual function improved in 9 patients (56.3%) and remained stable in 7 patients (43.7%). Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in 2 patients and was successfully repaired through the EEA. During a mean follow-up of 44.3 months, 18.8% of patients had a >9% increase in body mass index, and 93.8% of patients successfully returned to school or work. Two patients (12.5%) suffered a recurrence. Disease control was achieved in 16 patients (100%) at final follow-up. CONCLUSION: The extended EEA allows adequate access to this challenging tumor and enables complete resection and visual improvement with a reasonable approach-related complication rate.

Design and performance of an epithermal neutron detector based on PFN.

In this paper, an epithermal neutron detector suitable for the Prompt Fission Neutron (PFN) uranium logging method is designed by Monte Carlo simulation. According to the simulation results, the epithermal neutron detector composed of a 1 mm cadmium (Cd) layer, a 5 mm high-density polyethylene (HDPE) layer, and a 3He tube is sensitive to epithermal neutrons. Through the simulation test of Monte Carlo in formations with different uranium content, the results show that the uranium content in the formation has an obvious linear relationship with E/T, and the detection limit can meet the minimum standard for uranium ore detection. It meets the design expectation and provides a basis for the optimal design of an epithermal neutron detector.

System optimization study of hybrid K-edge/XRF densitometer for uranium-plutonium solution measurement.

In this paper, a comprehensive hybrid K-edge/XRF densitometer (HKED) device model is constructed using MCNP simulation. After the modeling process, a systematic simulation study is conducted to analyze the physical parameters and material selection of KED and XRF. The simulation results reveal that the optimal parameters for the X-ray tube are an X-ray source voltage of 160 kV and a 1 mm Fe filter. The sample should be placed in a vial with an inner diameter of 1.4 cm and an outer diameter of 2 cm. For the KED technique, the determined main parameters are a 1.9 cm Fe filter rod and an inner diameter of 0.08 cm for the collimator. For the XRF technique, the determined main parameters are a 0.01 cm Gd filter and an inner diameter of 0.3 cm for the collimator, with a detector angle of 150°. After selecting appropriate parameters, the average calibration factor Δµ of the KED technique was found to be 3.301 cm2 g-1, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 3.36%. Additionally, the comparison between the simulated and calculated values of uranium concentration revealed a minimum measurement error of 0.4%. The minimum detection concentration of KED for uranium solutions is approximately 1 g/L. For plutonium solutions ranging from 0.5 to 20 g/L, linear fitting of the Ka1 net peak area and plutonium concentration showed a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.999. The detection limit of XRF for plutonium measurement was 2.33✕10-4 g/L. The linear fitting coefficients (R2) of uranium concentration versus K-edge transmission rate and plutonium concentration versus Ka1 net peak area for the hybrid technique in measuring uranium-plutonium mixed solutions are determined as 0.999 and 0.996, respectively, demonstrating the response relationship of the HKED device to uranium and plutonium under different concentrations.

Bioaccumulation and transferreing for impacts on Cd and Pb by aphid consumption of the broad bean, Vicia faba L, in soil heavy metal pollution.

Heavy metal pollution threatens human and ecological health. Heavy metals can exist in the soil for a long time and migrate to organisms along the food chain. However, only a few studies have investigated the effects of a single stress on broad beans. Here, we aimed to characterize Cd and Pb bioaccumulation, at varying concentrations, in the broad bean, Vicia faba L. We also determined how the bioaccumulated metals are impacted by aphids that consume the plant. No significant difference was noted in the germination rates of broad beans at the early stage of planting (after 8 days), but eventually, the germination rates of broad beans at all time points first decreased and then increased, and the highest inhibition efficiency was observed in the T3 group (12.5 mg/L Cd2+ + 50 mg/L Pb2+). Fourteen days after planting, there was no significant difference in seedling height between the T5 (50 mg/L Cd2+ + 200 mg/L Pb2+) and control groups; however, that in the other groups decreased significantly and there was no dependence between stress concentration and inhibition efficiency. In addition, both Cd and Pb in the soil could be transferred to broad beans, and the concentration of Pb in the roots of broad beans was greater than that of Cd, whereas the opposite was observed in the stems and leaves. Notably, under mixed stress, aphids could significantly reduce the content of Cd in broad beans; similarly, the Pb content in the roots and stems of broad beans decreased significantly after being infested with aphids but increased significantly in the leaves. Further, the aphid infestation decreased the Pb content in the soil and the soil Cd content in the highest concentration group (T5 group) (50 mg/L Cd2+ + 200 mg/L Pb2+). These results highlight the necessity of focusing on the effect of insects on heavy metal remediation in plants and provide a new perspective for reducing plant Cd toxicity.

Cu-Tremella fuciformis polysaccharide-based tumor microenvironment-responsive injectable gels for cuproptosis-based synergistic osteosarcoma therapy.

Cuproptosis affects osteosarcoma locally, and the exploitation of cuproptosis-related biomaterials for osteosarcoma treatment is still in its infancy. We designed and synthesized a novel injectable gel of Cu ion-coordinated Tremella fuciformis polysaccharide (TFP-Cu) for antiosteosarcoma therapy. This material has antitumor effects, the ability to stimulate immunity and promote bone formation, and a controlled Cu2+ release profile in smart response to tumor microenvironment stimulation. TFP-Cu can selectively inhibit the proliferation of K7M2 tumor cells by arresting the cell cycle and promoting cell apoptosis and cuproptosis. TFP-Cu also promoted the M1 polarization of RAW264.7 cells and regulated the immune microenvironment. These effects increased osteogenic gene and protein expression in MC3T3-E1 cells. TFP-Cu could significantly limit tumor growth in tumor-bearing mice by inducing tumor cell apoptosis and improving the activation of anti-CD8 T cell-mediated immune responses. Therefore, TFP-Cu could be a potential candidate for treating osteosarcoma and bioactive drug carrier for further cancer-related applications.

The competition of heavy metals between hyporheic sediments and microplastics of driving factors in the Beiluo River Basin.

Both sediments and microplastics (MPs) are medias of heavy metals (HMs) in river ecosystems. This study investigated HMs (Mn, Cr, V, As, Cu, Co, Cd, Pb, and Ni) concentration and driving factors for competitive enrichment between hyporheic sediments versus MPs. The medias basic characteristics indicated that the sediments were mostly sand and rich in Fe2O3; three polymer types were identified, with blue, fragment, less than 500 µm being the main types of MPs. The results have shown that the average content of extracted HMs in MPs was much higher than that of the same metals accumulated in sediments. HMs in sediments and MPs reached heavily polluted at some points, among which As and Cd were ecological risks. Electrostatic adsorption and surface complexation, and biofilm-mediated and organic matter complexation were the interaction mechanism of HMs with sediments and MPs. Further, the driving factors affecting the distribution of HMs in the two carriers were analyzed by multivariate statistical analysis. The results demonstrated that carrier characteristics, hydrochemical factors, and the inherent metal load of MPs were the main causes of the high HMs content. These findings improved our understanding of HMs fate and environmental risks across multiple medias.

The impact of family residence structure on adolescents' non-cognitive abilities: evidence from China.

Purpose: The family residence structure serves as a crucial pathway through which the family environment influences adolescents' development. Methods: Drawing on nationally representative data, this study employs multiple linear regression models and propensity score matching to examine the impact of various family residence structures on adolescents' non-cognitive abilities. Causal identification is achieved through propensity score matching, while robustness is assessed using methods such as augmented inverse probability weighting and placebo tests. Heterogeneity analysis is conducted based on gender and household registration, aiming to explore the mechanisms by which family residence structure affects adolescents' non-cognitive abilities. Results: The findings indicate that compared to two-parent co-residence households, three-generation co-residence families have significantly positive effects on emotional stability, conscientiousness, and agreeableness among adolescents. In contrast, skip-generation coresidence families exhibit significant negative effects on emotional stability and agreeableness in adolescents. Further investigation into the underlying mechanisms reveals that parental involvement and family socioeconomic status within three-generation co-residence families positively influence adolescents' non-cognitive abilities. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of considering grandparents' role in adolescent growth and advocates for policy recommendations focusing on enhancing non-cognitive abilities in adolescents from skip-generation co-residence families.

Endoscopic Endonasal Internal Carotid Artery Transposition Technique in Tumor With Parasellar Extension: A Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Lateralization or mobilization of the internal carotid artery (ICA) during a midline approach is required to expose lesions behind or lateral to the ICA. However, there have been no published data regarding the surgical outcomes of the endoscopic endonasal internal carotid transposition technique (EEITT). This study aimed to analyze the relevant surgical anatomy around the ICA and propose a grading scheme of EEITT. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients who underwent EEITT at a single institution was performed. Based on structures that limited the ICA and intraoperative findings, an anatomically surgical grading scheme of EEITT was proposed. RESULTS: Forty-two patients (mean age 45.6 years, 57.1% female patients) were included. Of them, 29 cases (69.0%) were Knosp grade 4 pituitary adenoma, 6 cases (14.3%) were chordoma, 6 cases (14.3%) were meningioma, and a single case (2.4%) was meningeal IgG4-related disease. The EEITT was categorized into Grades 1, 2 and 3, which was used in 24 (57.1%), 12 (28.6%), and 6 (14.3%) cases, respectively. The most common symptom was visual disturbance (45.2%). The gross total resection rate in Grade 1 (79.2%) and Grade 2 (83.3%) was much higher than that in Grade 3 (66.6%). The overall rate of visual function improvement, preoperative cranial nerve (CN) palsy improvement, and postoperative hormonal remission was 89.4%, 85.7%, and 88.9%, respectively. The rate for the following morbidities was cerebrospinal fluid leakage, 2.4%; permanent diabetes insipidus, 4.8%; new transient CN palsy, 9.5%; permanent CN palsy, 4.7%; panhypopituitarism, 7.1%; and ICA injury, 2.4%. CONCLUSION: The EEITT is technically feasible and could be graded according to the extent of disconnection of limiting structures. For complex tumor with parasellar extensions, the distinction into Grades 1, 2, and 3 will be of benefit to clinicians in predicting risks, avoiding complications, and generating tailored individualized surgical strategies.

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans enhances tolerance to landfill leachate stress by increasing trehalose synthesis.

The burgeoning issue of landfill leachate, exacerbated by urbanization, necessitates evaluating its biological impact, traditionally overshadowed by physical and chemical assessments. This study harnesses Caenorhabditis elegans, a model organism, to elucidate the physiological toxicity of landfill leachate subjected to different treatment processes: nanofiltration reverse osmosis tail water (NFRO), membrane bioreactor (MBR), and raw leachate (RAW). Our investigation focuses on the modulation of sugar metabolism, particularly trehalose-a disaccharide serving dual functions as an energy source and an anti-adversity molecule in invertebrates. Upon exposure, C. elegans showcased a 60-70% reduction in glucose and glycogen levels alongside a significant trehalose increase, highlighting an adaptive response to environmental stress by augmenting trehalose synthesis. Notably, trehalose-related genes in the NFRO group were up-regulated, contrasting with the MBR and RAW groups, where trehalose synthesis genes outpaced decomposition genes by 20-30 times. These findings suggest that C. elegans predominantly counters landfill leachate-induced stress through trehalose accumulation. This research not only provides insights into the differential impact of leachate treatment methods on C. elegans but also proposes a molecular framework for assessing the environmental repercussions of landfill leachate, contributing to the development of novel strategies for pollution mitigation and environmental preservation.

Concentration effects on the local structures and electronic properties of ErxBaY2-xF8: a first-principles study.

Er3+doped barium yttrium fluoride (BaY2F8) crystal has gained long-term attention due to its great potential in laser and medical device applications. However, the local structures of Er3+doped BaY2F8system (Er:BYF) remain uncertain, and the effect of doping concentration on structures and properties is unknown. Therefore, in this study, the first-principles study of the structural evolution of ErxBaY2-xF8(x= 0.125, 0.25) crystals was carried out. By means of density functional theory and particle swarm optimization algorithm, the stable structures of Er:BYF crystals with two different concentrations are shown as standard monoclinic structures withP2 symmetry for the first time. The impurity Er3+ions successfully enter the main lattice, replacing the Y3+ions, and forming a [ErF8]5-polyhedron withC2point group symmetry. By calculating the electronic properties, the band gap values of the two structures are significantly reduced compared with that of pure BaY2F8crystal. However, the conduction band does not break through the Fermi level, and the crystals still maintain the insulation characteristic. According to the calculation of the electron local density function, we conclude that Er-F and Y-F in Er:BYF are connected by ionic bonds. These results fill a theoretical gap in the study of Er:BYF crystals and provide inspiration for structural evolution and material design at different doping concentrations.