[Early Warning of Regional Groundwater Pollution： A Case Study for Plain Area of Barkol-Yiwu Basin].

Groundwater pollution early warning is an effective means for regional groundwater pollution prevention. The groundwater pollution early warning model coupled with the current situation of groundwater quality, groundwater quality variation trend, and groundwater pollution risk were applied to the plain area of Barkol-Yiwu Basin, and the regional scale groundwater pollution early warning was realized by combining the early warning of groundwater quality status and trend. The TOPSIS method based on comprehensive weight was used to evaluate the current situation of groundwater quality. The variation trend of groundwater quality was analyzed by calculating the trend interpolation results of 18 in-situ groundwater quality monitoring wells. The groundwater vulnerability map, groundwater pollution load map, and groundwater function value map were superimposed using the superposition index method to evaluate groundwater pollution risk. The results showed that the groundwater quality was good and relatively good, and the poor groundwater quality in some areas was mainly affected by the shallow groundwater depth and the large porosity of the vadose zone. Groundwater quality was stable from 2011 to 2022, mainly due to the leakage of wastewater generated by industries and agriculture into groundwater, resulting in the deterioration of groundwater quality in some areas. Groundwater pollution risk was generally low, and the dual effects of high vulnerability and high pollution load of groundwater led to local areas with high pollution risk. The early warning level of groundwater pollution was generally low, and the heavy and highly heavy warning areas accounted for 16.4% and 17.5% of the study area, respectively, mainly distributed in Xiamaya Township of Yiwu County and northern Santanghu Town, Dahongliuxia Township, and Dahe Town of Barkol County. The quaternary sediments exposed were mainly sandy pebbles, with developed pores and strong water permeability. The interception and adsorption capacity of pollutants were weak. Pollutants produced by industries, agriculture, and life easily leaked into groundwater aquifers, resulting in poor groundwater quality and high risk of groundwater pollution, which ultimately led to a high early warning level of groundwater pollution in some areas. The research on early warning of groundwater pollution provided an important theoretical basis for the development of groundwater pollution remediation.

[Prediction Model of Groundwater Sulphate Based on Combined Multi-source Spatio-temporal Data].

The accurate prediction of spatial variation trends in groundwater SO42- is of great significance for improving groundwater quality and regional groundwater management level. The multi-source spatio-temporal data such as land cover data, soil parameter data, digital elevation data, and groundwater pH value in the plain area of the Yarkant River Basin in 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2020 were used as characteristic variables to analyze their correlation with groundwater SO42- concentration. To enhance the prediction accuracy, the Bayesian optimization algorithm (BOA) was used to optimize the random forest regression (RFR). Based on the BOA-RFR model, the importance of the characteristic variables was analyzed, the prediction accuracy of the model was evaluated, and the groundwater SO42- prediction map was generated. The results showed that pH value, ground elevation (GE), and percentage of bare land (BAR) in the contribution area were important parameters influencing groundwater hydrochemical composition, which were significantly negatively correlated with groundwater SO42- concentration, and the importance of impact factors for predicting groundwater SO42- concentration exceeded 25 %. The geostatistical interpolation method was used as an auxiliary tool for the predictive modeling of spatial distribution. After adding auxiliary samples, the R2 of groundwater SO42- concentration prediction of the BOA-RFR model was greater than 0.96, and the maximum values of RMSE and MAE were reduced by 4.7 % and 23.8 %, respectively, compared with the minimum values of the model with fewer samples. The SO42- concentration prediction map showed that high SO42- groundwater was enriched in the northeast of the plain area of the Yarkand River Basin, an area that was expanding.

Research progress on polybenzoxazine aerogels: Preparation, properties, composites and hybrids fabrication, applications.

The unremitting pursuit of high-performance and multifunctional materials has consistently propelled modern industries forward, stimulating research and motivating progress in related fields. In such materials, polybenzoxazine (PBz) aerogel, which combines the virtues of PBz and aerogel, has attracted salient attention recently, emerging as a novel research focus in the realm of advanced materials. In this review, the preparation scheme, microscopic morphology, and fundamental characteristics of PBz aerogels are comprehensively summarized and discussed in anticipation of providing a clear understanding of the correlation between preparation process, structure, and properties. The effective strategies for enhancing the performance of PBz aerogels including composite fabrication and hybridization are highlighted. Moreover, the applications of PBz-based aerogels in various domains such as adsorption (including wastewater treatment, CO2 capture, and microwave adsorption), thermal insulation, energy storage as well as sensors are covered in detail. Furthermore, several obstacles and potential directions for subsequent research are delineated with a view to surmounting the prevailing constraints and achieving a realization of the shift from experimental exploration to practical applications.

Integrated characterization of filler tobacco leaves: HS-SPME-GC-MS, E-nose, and microbiome analysis across different origins.

This study delves into the aroma characteristics and microbial composition of filler tobacco leaves (FTLs) sourced from six distinct cigar-growing regions within Yunnan, China, following standardized fermentation. An integrated approach using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), electronic nose (E-nose), and microbiome analysis was employed for comprehensive profiling. Results derived from Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) using E-nose data confirmed the presence of notable variability in flavor substance profiles among the FTLs from six regions. Additionally, GC-MS was used to discern disparities in volatile organic compound (VOC) distribution across FTLs from these regions, identifying 92, 81, 79, 58, 69, and 92 VOCs within each respective sample set. Significantly, 24 VOCs emerged as pivotal determinants contributing to the heterogeneity of flavor profiles among FTLs from diverse origins, as indicated by Variable Importance for the Projection (VIP) analysis. Furthermore, distinctions in free amino acid content and chemical constituents were observed across FTLs. Of noteworthy significance, solanone, isophorone, durene, (-)-alpha-terpineol, and 2,3'-bipyridine exhibited the strongest correlations with microbiome data, with fungal microorganisms exerting a more pronounced influence on metabolites, as elucidated through two-way orthogonal partial least-squares (O2PLS) modeling. These findings provide a theoretical and technical basis for accurately evaluating the synchronization of FTLs in aromas and fermentation processes, and they will enhance the quality of fermented FTLs and foster the growth of the domestic cigar tobacco industry ultimately.

Dialysis bag-microalgae photobioreactor: Novel strategy for enhanced bioresource production and wastewater purification.

Cultivating microalgae in wastewater offers various advantages, but it still faces limitations such as bacteria and other impurities in wastewater affecting the growth and purity of microalgae, difficulty in microalgae harvesting, and extracellular products of microalgae affecting effluent quality. In this study, a novel dialysis bag-microalgae photobioreactor (Db-PBR) was developed to achieve wastewater purification and purer bioresource recovery by culturing microalgae in a dialysis bag. The dialysis bag in the Db-PBR effectively captured the microalgae cells and promoted their lipid accumulation, leading to higher biomass (1.53 times of the control) and lipid production (2.50 times of the control). During the stable operation stage of Db-PBR, the average soluble microbial products (SMP) content outside the dialysis bag was 25.83 mg L-1, which was significantly lower than that inside the dialysis bag (185.63 mg L-1), indicating that the dialysis bag effectively intercepted the SMP secreted by microalgae. As a result, the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in Db-PBR effluent was significantly lower than that of traditional photobioreactor. Furthermore, benefiting from the dialysis bag in the reactor effectively intercepted the microorganisms in wastewater, significantly improving the purity of the cultured microalgae biomass, which is beneficial for the development of high-value microalgae products.

Enhancing lipid production and sedimentation of Chlorella pyrenoidosa in saline wastewater through the addition of agricultural phytohormones.

In this study, the effect of external agricultural phytohormones (mixed phytohormones) addition (1.0, 5.0, 10.0, and 20.0 mg L-1) on the growth performance, lipid productivity, and sedimentation efficiency of Chlorella pyrenoidosa cultivated in saline wastewater was investigated. Among the different concentrations evaluated, the highest biomass (1.00 g L-1) and lipid productivity (11.11 mg L-1 d-1) of microalgae were obtained at 10.0 mg L-1 agricultural phytohormones addition. Moreover, exogenous agricultural phytohormones also improved the sedimentation performance of C. pyrenoidosa, which was conducive to the harvest of microalgae resources, and the improvement of sedimentation performance was positively correlated with the amount of agricultural phytohormones used. The promotion of extracellular polymeric substances synthesis by phytohormones in microalgal cells could be considered as the reason for its promotion of microalgal sedimentation. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the addition of phytohormones upregulated the expression of genes related to the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-mediated phytohormone signaling pathway and lipid synthesis, thereby improving salinity tolerance and lipid production in C. pyrenoidosa. Overall, agricultural phytohormones provide an effective and inexpensive strategy for increasing the lipid productivity and sedimentation efficiency of microalgae cultured in saline wastewater.

Analyzing microbial community and volatile compound profiles in the fermentation of cigar tobacco leaves.

Variations in industrial fermentation techniques have a significant impact on the fermentation of cigar tobacco leaves (CTLs), consequently influencing the aromatic attributes of the resulting cigars. The entire fermentation process of CTLs can be categorized into three distinct phases: phase 1 (CTLs prior to moisture regain), phase 2 (CTLs post-moisture regain and pile fermentation), and phase 3 (CTLs after fermentation and drying). These phases were determined based on the dynamic changes in microbial community diversity. During phase 2, there was a rapid increase in moisture and total acid content, which facilitated the proliferation of Aerococcus, a bacterial genus capable of utilizing reducing sugars, malic acid, and citric acid present in tobacco leaves. In contrast, fungal microorganisms exhibited a relatively stable response to changes in moisture and total acid, with Aspergillus, Alternaria, and Cladosporium being the dominant fungal groups throughout the fermentation stages. Bacterial genera were found to be more closely associated with variations in volatile compounds during fermentation compared to fungal microorganisms. This association ultimately resulted in higher levels of aroma components in CTLs, thereby improving the overall quality of the cigars. These findings reinforce the significance of industrial fermentation in shaping CTL quality and provide valuable insights for future efforts in the artificial regulation of secondary fermentation in CTLs. KEY POINTS: • Industrial fermentation processes impact CTLs microbial communities. • Moisture and total acid content influence microbial community succession in fermentation. • Bacterial microorganisms strongly influence CTLs' aldehyde and ketone flavors over fungi.

[Controlling Factors of Groundwater Salinization and Pollution in the Oasis Zone of the Cherchen River Basin of Xinjiang].

Groundwater is a vital resource for local human life and production in the oasis zone of the Cherchen River Basin of Xinjiang. Understanding the controlling factors of groundwater salinization and pollution is of great significance for the sustainable utilization of groundwater resources and protection of the ecological environment in desert oasis areas. In light of this, a total of 36 single structure unconfined groundwater samples and 54 multi-layered structure unconfined and confined groundwater samples were collected from the oasis zone of the Cherchen River Basin and evaluated for the distribution characteristics and pollution status of major ions. Hydrogeochemical methods (e.g., Piper diagram, multivariate statistics, Gibbs model, and relationships among ions) were used to determine the main controlling factors of groundwater salinization and pollution. Differences in hydrogeochemical zonation were found from the single structure unconfined aquifers in sloping plains of piedmont areas to the multi-layered structure unconfined and confined aquifers in alluvial-proluvial plain areas, and Cl-Na (87.8%) was the main hydrochemical type in the groundwater of the study area. The quality of single structure unconfined groundwater was starkly better than that of the multi-layered unconfined and confined groundwater, which was mainly caused by Na+ (mean value of 9 969 mg·L-1), Cl- (13 687 mg·L-1), and SO42- (5 840 mg·L-1). Moreover, the natural hydrogeochemical process was the main reason for the deterioration of groundwater quality. The hydrochemistry was mainly controlled by the water-rock interaction and evaporation processes. The mineral dissolution of silicates and evaporites was an important source of chemical ions in the groundwater. Furthermore, the chemical weathering of evaporites combined with the processes of evaporation and cation exchange had a significant influence on the salinization of multi-layered unconfined and confined groundwater in alluvial-proluvial plain areas. In addition, synthetic fertilizers were the main pollution sources of NO3- in groundwater in the intensive agricultural zones.

Safety assessment, whole genome sequence, and metabolome analysis of Streptococcus thermophilus CICC 20372 for bone cement fermentation.

Bone is a kind of meat processing by-product with high nutritional value but low in calorie, which is a typical food in China and parts of East Asian countries. Microbial fermentation by lactic acid bacteria showed remarkable advantages to increase the absorption of nutrients from bone cement by human body. Streptococcus thermophilus CICC 20372 is proven to be a good starter for bone cement fermentation. No genes encoding virulence traits or virulence factors were found in the genome of S. thermophilus CICC 20372 by a thorough genomic analysis. Its notable absence of antibiotic resistance further solidifies the safety. Furthermore, the genomic analysis identified four types of gene clusters responsible for the synthesis of antimicrobial metabolites. A comparative metabolomic analysis was performed by cultivating the strain in bone cement at 37 °C for 72 h, with the culture in de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS) medium as control. Metabolome analysis results highlighted the upregulation of pathways involved in 2-oxocarboxylic acid metabolism, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, amino acid synthesis, and nucleotide metabolism during bone cement fermentation. S. thermophilus CICC 20372 produces several metabolites with health-promoting function during bone cement fermentation, including indole-3-lactic acid, which is demonstrated ameliorative effects on intestinal inflammation, tumor growth, and gut dysbiosis. In addition, lots of nucleotide and organic acids were accumulated at higher levels, which enriched the fermented bone cement with a variety of nutrients. Collectively, these features endow S. thermophilus CICC 20372 a great potential strain for bone food processing.

[Groundwater Pollution Risk Assessment in Plain Area of Barkol-Yiwu Basin].

Groundwater pollution risk assessment is an important part of groundwater pollution prevention and control. Taking groundwater in the plain area of Barkol-Yiwu Basin as the research object, the DRSTIW model was constructed to evaluate groundwater vulnerability. According to the survey data of contaminated sites and land use types, point source and non-point source pollutions were classified, and the groundwater pollution load was evaluated. The primary value, economic value, and ecological value of groundwater were considered to evaluate the functional value of groundwater. The groundwater pollution risk assessment map was generated by using the map algebra function of ArcGIS software. The ROC curve was used to verify the risk assessment results of groundwater pollution. The spatial distribution of cold and hot spots of groundwater pollution risk was obtained by calculating the G index, and the change in hot spots was quantitatively analyzed by combining the center of gravity and standard deviation ellipse. The results showed that the groundwater vulnerability was generally low. The gentle terrain slope, shallow groundwater depth, and strong aquifer permeability made it easy for pollutants to enter the aquifer, resulting in high groundwater vulnerability in the northwest of Santanghu Town, the southeast of Dahongliuxia Township, and Kuisu Town in Barkol County. The groundwater pollution load and groundwater functional value were generally low, whereas the point source and non-point source pollution caused by industrial and agricultural production and life would increase the groundwater pollution load in local areas, and the human economic activities and habitat quality levels would affect the distribution of high groundwater function value areas. Groundwater pollution risk was generally low; very high and high pollution risk areas only accounted for 6.8% of the study area, mainly distributed in Naomaohu Town and Yanchi Town of Yiwu County, Kuisu Town, Shirenzi Township, Huayuan Township of Barkol County, and Hongshan Farm of Corps. The shallow groundwater depth, strong permeability of soil surface and vadose zone media, poor adsorption capacity, and concentrated distribution of pollution sources made it easy for pollutants to migrate and enrich in these areas. Under the dual influence of high vulnerability and high pollution load of groundwater, the risk of groundwater pollution in local areas increased. Affected by human activities, there was a certain spatial agglomeration of groundwater pollution risk, and the overall trend was from northwest to southeast. The results of groundwater pollution risk assessment provided a scientific reference for the division of groundwater pollution prevention and control areas.

[Hydrochemical Characteristics and Pollution Source Identification of Groundwater in Plain Area of Barkol-Yiwu Basin].

Groundwater is an important water supply source for production and life in arid and semi-arid areas. This study revealed the hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater in the Barkol-Yiwu Basin of Xinjiang and analyzed the pollution sources, which is of great significance in the sustainable utilization of local groundwater. Four spring water samples, 20 unconfined groundwater samples, and 11 confined groundwater samples collected in August 2022 were analyzed using mathematical statistics, a graphic method, and the PCA-APCS-MLR model. The results showed that the chemical types of groundwater in the study area were complex and diverse. The spring water was mainly HCO3·SO4-Na·Ca type groundwater, the chemical types of unconfined groundwater were mainly HCO3·SO4-Na·Ca and HCO3·SO4-Ca, and the chemical types of confined groundwater were HCO3·SO4-Na·Ca and HCO3·Cl·SO4-Na·Ca. The hydrochemical type of confined water in unused land was single(Cl·SO4-Na·Ca), and the hydrochemical types of confined groundwater in cultivated land and urban and rural residential land were complex, indicating that groundwater was affected by human activities. The evolution process of groundwater was mainly affected by water-rock interactions and cationic exchange. The cation exchange from spring water to unconfined groundwater to confined groundwater was gradually enhanced, the weathering and dissolution of gypsum and anhydrite was gradually weakened, and the weathering and dissolution of rock salt was gradually strengthened. Leaching-enrichment(mainly the dissolution of evaporite), human activities(industrial, agricultural, and domestic pollution), and the primary geological environment were the main factors affecting groundwater in the study area.

Hydrogeochemical evidence for fluoride sources and enrichment in desert groundwater: A case study of Cherchen River Basin, northwestern China.

The identification of fluoride (F-) sources and enrichment mechanisms is imperative to understand the multiple fluorine (F) pathways, and further, to control regional diffuse F- contamination in groundwater. However, the factors that control high-F- groundwater are not fully understood in desert climate regions. Hence, a sampling campaign was conducted from 71 desert groundwater sites and six river water sites in the Cherchen River Basin (CRB), northwestern China. This study combined hydrochemical compositions with an optimized forward model, with the aim of determining the potential sources and enrichment mechanisms in F--contaminated desert groundwater. Approximately 58.46% of the samples had F- concentrations over the national standard of 1.0 mg/L. More severe F- contamination was found in the multi-layered structured confined aquifer (MCA) of the alluvial plain (1.42 ± 1.11 mg/L). The primary contributors of desert groundwater F- were the dissolution of F-bearing minerals containing evaporite (∼58.80%), silicate (∼15.89%), and carbonate (∼12.94%), followed by the river water input (∼12.08%). In contrast, anthropogenic activities (∼0.16%) and precipitation contributed less to desert groundwater F-. The dissolution equilibrium of CaF2 was important for F- enrichment in desert groundwater. Compared with the piedmont plain, intensive evaporation and salinization were more conducive to F- enrichment in the alluvial plain. Under alkaline condition, the dissolutions of evaporite and fluorite allowed extra F- to release into desert groundwater when Ca2+ and Mg2+ were up to oversaturation. Moreover, the desorption of F- was promoted by competitive adsorption of OH- and HCO3-, and the adsorption capacity of F- was weakened by cation exchange of K++Na+ with Ca2++Mg2+. As a result, desert groundwater had a higher concentration of F- in the alluvial plain. Our study provided a comprehensive understanding of multiple F pathways in desert groundwater. This study also highlights the effect of hydrogeochemical background on high-F- desert groundwater.

[Assessment of Groundwater Contamination Risk in the Plain Area of Southern Turpan Basin].

Groundwater contamination risk assessment is an effective tool for groundwater pollution prevention and control. The evaluation system mainly includes three parts:groundwater contamination source load assessment, groundwater vulnerability assessment, and groundwater function value evaluation. Taking the plain area of southern Turpan Basin as an example, based on the survey data and land use data, point source pollution and non-point source pollution were divided to evaluate the load of groundwater pollution sources, the classical DRASTIC model was selected to evaluate the vulnerability of groundwater, and the functional value of groundwater was evaluated from the point of view of water quality and quantity. The three factors were weighted and superimposed via GIS platform to generate the risk zoning map of groundwater contamination. The results showed that the overall risk of groundwater contamination in the study area was low. The area of high-risk and relatively high-risk areas accounted for 15.5% of the total study area, which were mainly distributed in L1, L2, and L3 of the study area. L1 was mainly affected by high pollution source load and high groundwater vulnerability. L2 was mainly the result of the joint action of high groundwater function value and domestic non-point source pollution. Non-point source pollution dominated by agricultural activities and high functional value of groundwater were the main reasons for the high risk of groundwater pollution in the L3 area. The results of the groundwater contamination risk assessment serve as an important reference for decision-makers to delineate the prevention and control area of groundwater pollution.

Application of magnetic resonance neuroimaging in determining the relationship between tumors and peripheral nerves.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is commonly used to analyze the relationship between tumors and nerves before surgery. However, the application value of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), and post-processing techniques needs further elucidation. PURPOSE: To assess the value of DTI, DWI, and various post-processing techniques in determining the relationship between tumors and nerves. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The participants were 42 patients diagnosed with peripheral nerve-related tumors and 20 healthy controls. DTI and DWI scans were performed before surgery, and then DTI unidirectional maximum intensity projection (MIP) post-processing and DWI subtraction of unidirectionally encoded images for suppression of heavily isotropic objects (DWISUSHI) postprocessing techniques were used to observe the relationship between the mass and the target nerves. The mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of nerves was compared among the target neural origin group, non-target neural origin group, and healthy control group using the paired Wilcoxon rank-sum test. RESULTS: The diagnostic coincidence rates of preoperative DTI and DWI findings with postoperative pathology were 88.1% and 100%, respectively. DTI images were of poor quality when compared to DWISUSHI (P < 0.05). The mean ADC value of the target neural origin group was greater than that of the non-target neural origin group and the healthy control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both DTI and DWISUSHI can stereoscopically display the relationship between peripheral nerves and tumors, but the latter contributes to better quality of the reconstructed images.

Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitor Roflupram Suppresses Inflammatory Responses Using Reducing Inflammasome in Microglia After Spinal Cord Injury.

Context: Neuroinflammation after spinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to long-term damage in neural tissue, which can cause the destruction and dysfunction of the neurological system. Roflupram (ROF), a selective phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, may play a protective role against neuropathological diseases, but the specific role of ROF in SCI treatment is unknown. Objective: The study intended to investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanism and therapeutic effects of ROF to determine if it can attenuate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced microglia that induces neuroinflammation and decrease neural-tissue damage following an SCI. Design: The research team performed an animal study. Setting: The study took place at the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University in Harbin, China. Animals: The animals were female C57BL/6 mice, aged 8 weeks and weighing approximately 20 g. Intervention: For the in-vitro study, the research team divided BV2 microglial cells into three groups: (1) the control group, which received no LPS stimuli and no ROF treatment, (2) the LPS group, which received LPS stimuli but no ROF treatment, and (3) LPS+ROF group, which received both LPS stimuli and ROF treatment. For the in-vivo study, the research team randomly divided the mice into three groups: (1) the sham group, for which the team didn't induce SCI and which received no ROF treatment (2) the SCI group, for which the team induced SCI but which received no ROF treatment, and (3) the SCI+ROF group, for which the team induced SCI and which received the ROF treatment. Outcome Measures: The research team evaluated: (1) the cell viability of the BV2 microglia cells after five doses of ROF and the RNA levels of inflammatory-activation-related factors, the inflammatory pathway; (2) in-vitro inhibition of inflammation in LPS-activated microglia; (3) the anti-neuroinflammatory role of ROF after SCI induction in vitro; and (4) the role of ROF in neural-structure protection and locomotor-function recovery in vitro. Results: In the in-vitro study, the ROF attenuated microglial inflammation through the inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome in vitro, reduced neuroinflammation, and protected against neuronal loss. In the in-vivo study with mice, the ROF: (1) improved the functional recovery of locomotor skills after induction of SCI; (2) acted in an anti-inflammatory role in SCI, restraining microglial inflammation by inhibition of the "nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin domain-containing-3" (NLRP3) inflammasome and reduction of caspase-1-dependent, interleukin-1 beta (IL)-1ß; and (3) reduced neuronal death and protected against tissue loss, improving functional recovery after an SCI. Conclusions: The current study demonstrated that ROF can reduce the levels of inflammation in the tissue after spinal cord injury by modulating the AMPK/NLRP3 signaling pathway, thereby promoting the recovery of motor function in mice. ROF is a promising drug for prevention of neural-tissue damage following neural injury.

[Groundwater Pollution Risk Assessment in Plain Area of the Yarkant River Basin].

Groundwater pollution risk assessment is an effective method to manage groundwater resources and prevent groundwater pollution. The DRSTIW model was used to evaluate the groundwater vulnerability in a plain area of the Yarkant River Basin, and factor analysis was used to identify pollution sources for pollution loading evaluation. The functional value of groundwater was estimated by considering both the mining value and the in-situ value. The entropy weight method and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) were used to determine the comprehensive weight, and a groundwater pollution risk map was generated based on the overlay function of ArcGIS software. The results showed that the natural geological factors such as large groundwater recharge modulus, wide recharge sources, strong permeability of soil surface and unsaturated zone, and shallow groundwater depth facilitated pollutant migration and enrichment, resulting in a higher overall groundwater vulnerability. Very high vulnerability and high vulnerability areas were mainly distributed in Zepu County, Shache County, Maigaiti County, Tumushuke City, and the eastern part of Bachu County. The pollution loading of groundwater was generally low, the main pollution sources were point source pollution caused by water-rock interaction, non-point source pollution caused by pesticides and fertilizers, and point source pollution caused by industry and life. The overall functional value of groundwater was low because of human economic activities, fine water quality, and good habitat quality. Groundwater pollution risk was generally low, and very high and high pollution risk areas accounted for 20.7% of the study area, mainly distributed in Shache County, Zepu County, Maigaiti County, Tumushuke City, and the western part of Bachu County. Natural conditions such as strong aquifer permeability, weak groundwater runoff conditions, large groundwater recharge modulus, low vegetation coverage, and strong water-rock interaction, coupled with frequent human activities such as application of agricultural fertilizers and discharge of industrial and domestic sewage, made the groundwater pollution risk higher in these areas. Groundwater pollution risk assessment provided strong data support for the optimization of the groundwater monitoring network and the prevention of groundwater pollution.

Zileuton Ameliorates Neuronal Ferroptosis and Functional Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury.

Context: Ferroptosis is a novel type of cell-death pattern characterized by iron-dependent, oxidative stress, and lipid peroxidation. Neurological pathology, especially in spinal cord injury (SCI), may involve a trace amount of ferroptosis. However, it's uncertain whether zileuton (ZIL), a selective 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) inhibitor, can inhibit ferroptosis in SCI. Objective: The study intended to investigate the etiology of neuronal ferroptosis and the ameliorative effects of ZIL against it for SCI mice. Design: The research team performed an animal study. Setting: The study took place at the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University in Harbin, China. Animals: The animals were adult, male, C57BL/6 mice, about 20 to 25 g in weight. Intervention: The research team: (1) stimulated HT22 cells, an immortalized mouse hippocampal neuronal cell line treated with erastin, and mice induced spinal cord trauma using a moderate hit, and (2) treated the cells and mice with ZIL. Outcome measures: The research team measured: (1) motor function, (2) neurological damage, (3) iron content, (4) lipid oxidation, and (5) neuroinflammation and glial response. Results: ZIL administration attenuated ferroptosis and lipid peroxidation in the HT22 cells. Moreover, ZIL mitigated the ferroptosis and inflammation in the injured spinal cords. Hence, ZIL can decrease neurological damage and improve recovery of motor function, indicating an ameliorative role for ZIL in SCI. Conclusions: ZIL has anti-ferroptosis and anti-oxidative effects in neurons, which can contribute to recovery of motor function after induction of SCI. ZIL is a promising drug for inhibiting ferroptosis and protecting neurological functions after induction of SCI.

Integrated culture and harvest systems for improved microalgal biomass production and wastewater treatment.

Microalgae cultivation in wastewater has received much attention as an environmentally sustainable approach. However, commercial application of this technique is challenging due to the low biomass output and high harvesting costs. Recently, integrated culture and harvest systems including microalgae biofilm, membrane photobioreactor, microalgae-fungi co-culture, microalgae-activated sludge co-culture, and microalgae auto-flocculation have been explored for efficiently coupling microalgal biomass production with wastewater purification. In such systems, the cultivation of microalgae and the separation of algal cells from wastewater are performed in the same reactor, enabling microalgae grown in the cultivation system to reach higher concentration, thus greatly improving the efficiency of biomass production and wastewater purification. Additionally, the design of such innovative systems also allows for microalgae cells to be harvested more efficiently. This review summarizes the mechanisms, characteristics, applications, and development trends of the various integrated systems and discusses their potential for broad applications, which worth further research.

[Spatial-temporal Variation in Groundwater Quality and the Contamination Source Analysis in Shihezi-Changji Area].

To analyze spatial-temporal variation in groundwater quality and contamination sources in the Shihezi-Changji area in Xinjiang, a Bayesian water quality evaluation model based on Shannon entropy, Spearman rank correlation coefficient, principal component analysis, and an absolute principal component scores-multiple linear regression receptor model (APCS-MLR) were comprehensively used in this study. Groundwater samples in 23 in-situ wells were collected from 2016 to 2021 for quality analysis. The results showed that ① groundwater quality was generally good, with most samples having a phreatic water quality of Class Ⅰ and Class Ⅱ and most confined groundwater quality being of Class Ⅰ. ② Temporally, 2016 and 2017 were the key time nodes of water quality variation in phreatic water and confined groundwater, respectively. Class Ⅳ and Class Ⅴ groundwater was observed only before the key time nodes, whereas after those time nodes the groundwater quality fluctuated within Class Ⅰ to Class Ⅲ. ③ Spatially, the order of phreatic water quality in descending order was Shihezi City, Hutubi county, Manas county, and Changji City, whereas that of confined groundwater quality was:Shihezi City and Changji City, Hutubi county, and Manas county. ④ The spatial-temporal variations in groundwater quality and that in major related indices were basically similar and highly heterogeneous. ⑤ Phreatic water quality was mainly affected by leaching (67.30%), leaching-migration (10.89%), and agricultural-domestic pollution (9.44%); by contrast, unconfined groundwater quality was mainly affected by leaching-enrichment (52.08%), agricultural-domestic pollution (16.06%), and ion exchange under an alkaline environment (12.64%). Although groundwater quality was improved over the years, more attention should be paid to groundwater salinization in the 149 Regiment in northern Manas County.