New mechanism of LncRNA: In addition to act as a ceRNA.

Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are a class of RNA molecules with nucleic acid lengths ranging from 200 bp to 100 kb that cannot code for proteins, which are diverse and widely expressed in both animals and plants. Scholars have found that lncRNAs can regulate human physiological processes at the gene and protein levels, mainly through the regulation of epigenetic, transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels of genes and proteins, as well as in the immune response by regulating the expression of immune cells and inflammatory factors, and thus participate in the occurrence and development of a variety of diseases. From the downstream targets of lncRNAs, we summarize the new research progress of lncRNA mechanisms other than miRNA sponges in recent years, aiming to provide new ideas and directions for the study of lncRNA mechanisms.

Manganese dioxide nanoparticles provoke inflammatory damage in BV2 microglial cells via increasing reactive oxygen species to activate the p38 MAPK pathway.

With the widespread use of manganese dioxide nanoparticles (nano MnO), health hazards have also emerged. The inflammatory damage of brain tissues could result from nano MnO, in which the underlying mechanism is still unclear. During this study, we aimed to investigate the role of ROS-mediated p38 MAPK pathway in nano MnO-induced inflammatory response in BV2 microglial cells.

Increased Methylmercury Accumulation in Rice after Straw Amendment.

Consumption of rice has been shown to be an important route of dietary exposure to methylmercury (MeHg, a neurotoxin) for Asians having a low fish but high rice diet. Therefore, factors that increase MeHg production and bioaccumulation in soil-rice systems, could enhance the risk of MeHg exposure. On the basis of a national-scale survey in China (64 sites in 12 provinces) and rice cultivation experiments, we report that straw amendment, a globally prevalent farming practice, could increase MeHg concentrations in paddy soils (11-1043%) and rice grains (95%).

Combined and Relative Effect Levels of Perceived Risk, Knowledge, Optimism, Pessimism, and Social Trust on Anxiety among Inhabitants Concerning Living on Heavy Metal Contaminated Soil.

This research aims at combined and relative effect levels on anxiety of: (1) perceived risk, knowledge, optimism, pessimism, and social trust; and (2) four sub-variables of social trust among inhabitants concerning living on heavy metal contaminated soil. On the basis of survey data from 499 Chinese respondents, results suggest that perceived risk, pessimism, optimism, and social trust have individual, significant, and direct effects on anxiety, while knowledge does not. Knowledge has significant, combined, and interactive effects on anxiety together with social trust and pessimism, respectively, but does not with perceived risk and optimism.

Incorporating rice residues into paddy soils affects methylmercury accumulation in rice.

Paddy fields are characterized by frequent organic input (e.g., fertilization and rice residue amendment), which may affect mercury biogeochemistry and bioaccumulation.

Incorporation of Decomposed Crop Straw Affects Potential Phytoavailability of Mercury in a Mining-Contaminated Farming Soil.

Recently, incorporation of crop straw into soils is being largely encouraged worldwide. To explore the possible influence of incorporation of decomposed crop straw on the speciation (i.e.

Effects of rice residue incorporation on the speciation, potential bioavailability and risk of mercury in a contaminated paddy soil.

To reduce air pollution, straw return instead of burning is being strongly encouraged in China, including some mercury polluted areas. Nevertheless, the possible influences of straw return on methylation, bioavailability and exposure risk of mercury were relatively unknown. In this study, different amounts of rice straw or root were added into a mercury contaminated soil.