Optimal biochar selection for cadmium pollution remediation in Chinese agricultural soils via optimized machine learning.

Biochar is effective in mitigating heavy metal pollution, and cadmium (Cd) is the primary pollutant in agricultural fields. However, traditional trial-and-error methods for determining the optimal biochar remediation efficiency are time-consuming and inefficient because of the varied soil, biochar, and Cd pollution conditions. This study employed the machine learning method to predict the Cd immobilization efficiency of biochar in soil.

Selective and efficient immobilization of cadmium in soil by layered double hydroxides intercalated with the mercaptosuccinic acid.

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in cropland poses a significant threat to the quality of agricultural products, but even though in-situ remediation has been extensively applied, non-selective immobilization remains an issue. In order to develop a material that specifically immobilizes Cd in soil, a layered double hydroxide, intercalated with mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA-CFA), was synthesized through co-precipitation. In this case, the MSA-CFA's maximum adsorption capacity was increased from the 513.

Optical-Cavity-Incorporated Colorful All-Solid-State Electrochromic Devices for Dual Anti-Counterfeiting.

The fusion of electrochromic technology with optical resonant cavities presents an intriguing innovation in the electrochromic field. However, this fusion is mainly achieved in liquid electrolyte-based or sol-gel electrolyte-based electrochromic devices, but not in all-solid-state electrochromic devices, which have broader industrial applications. Here, a new all-solid-state electrochromic device is demonstrated with a metal-dielectric-metal (MDM) resonant cavity, which can achieve strong thin-film interference effects through resonance, enabling the device to achieve unique structural colors that have rarely appeared in reported all-solid-state electrochromic devices, such as yellow green, purple, and light red.

Assessment of CuO NPs on soil microbial community structure based on phospholipid fatty acid techniques and phytotoxicity of bok choy seedlings.

In this study, a soil culture and a hydroponic experiment were conducted to assess the toxicology effects of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) on soil microbial community structure and the growth of bok choy. Results showed CuO NPs had an inhibitory effect on soil microbial abundance, diversity, and activity, as well as the bok choy seedling growth, whereas CuO NPs at low concentrations did not significantly affect the soil microbial biomass or plant growth. In soil, CuO NPs at high dose (80 mg kg) significantly reduced the indexes of Simpson diversity, Shannon-Wiener diversity and Pielou evenness by 3.

Comparative effects of copper nanoparticles and copper oxide nanoparticles on physiological characteristics and mineral element accumulation in Brassica chinensis L.

In this study, the short-term toxicity of Cu NPs, CuO NPs, and CuSO on bok choy (Brassica chinensis L.) under hydroponic conditions was evaluated using indicators such as biomass, net photosynthesis rate, root morphology, enzyme activity, and Cu accumulation and subcellular distribution. Results showed that CuO NPs exposure notably increased the biomass, root length, and root tip number by 22.

Derivation and validation of soil cadmium thresholds for the safe farmland production of vegetables in high geological background area.

Excessive dietary intake of cadmium (Cd) poses toxicity risks to human health, and it is therefore essential to establish accurate and regionally appropriate soil Cd thresholds that ensure the safety of agricultural products grown in different areas. This study investigated the differences in the Cd accumulation in 32 vegetable varieties and found that the Cd content ranged from 0.01 to 0.

Yellow-Green Luminescence Due to Polarity-Dependent Incorporation of Carbon Impurities in Self-Assembled GaN Microdisk.

Yellow-green luminescence (YGL) competes with near-bandgap emission (NBE) for carrier recombination channels, thereby reducing device efficiency; yet uncovering the origin of YGL remains a major challenge. In this paper, nearly stress-free and low dislocation density self-assembled GaN microdisks were synthesized by Na-flux method. The YGL of GaN microdisks highly depend on their polar facets.

Recapitulation of dynamic nanoparticle transport around tumors using a triangular multi-chamber tumor-on-a-chip.

3D tumor models are emerging as valuable tools for drug screening and nanoparticle based personalized cancer treatments. The main challenges in building microfluidic chip-based 3D tumor models currently include the development of bioinks with high bioactivity and the reproduction of the key tumor extracellular matrix (ECM) with heterogeneous tumor microenvironments. In this study, we designed a triangular multi-chamber tumor-on-a-chip (TM-CTC) platform, which consisted of three circular chambers at the vertices of a triangle connected by three rectangular chambers; it significantly improved the culture efficiency of 3D tumor tissues.

Phytotoxicity and Accumulation of Copper-Based Nanoparticles in under Cadmium Stress.

The widespread use of copper-based nanoparticles expands the possibility that they enter the soil combined with heavy metals, having a toxic effect and posing a threat to the safety of vegetables. In this study, single and combined treatments of 2 mg/L Cd, 20 mg/L Cu NPs and 20 mg/L CuO NPs were added into Hoagland nutrient solution by hydroponics experiments. The experimental results show that copper-based Nanoparticles (NPs) can increase the photosynthetic rate of plants and increase the biomass of Brassica.

Two-step modification (sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate composites acid-base) of sepiolite (SDBS/ABsep) and its performance for remediation of Cd contaminated water and soil.

To enhance the remediation capability of cadmium (Cd) polluted water and soil, our approach involved two-step modification of sepiolite (Sep) through acid-base compound treatment and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (referring as SDBS/ABsep), and then the batch adsorption and soil culture experiments were conducted to investigate its immobilization potential and mechanisms of Cd. The findings revealed that the SDBS/ABsep had a rougher surface and higher porosity, and the maximum adsorption capacity of Cd onto SDBS/ABsep was 241.39 mg g, which was 5.

Selenate regulates the activity of cell wall enzymes to influence cell wall component concentration and thereby affects the uptake and translocation of Cd in the roots of Brassica rapa L.

Selenium (Se) can be used to counteract cadmium (Cd) toxicity in plants. However, mechanisms underlying the alleviation of Cd toxicity by Se have not been completely elucidated, especially those by which Se reduces Cd translocation. A hydroponic experiment was performed to illustrate the regulatory mechanisms of Cd transport by selenate (Se (VI)) in pakchoi (Brassica rapa L.

In‒situ immobilization remediation, soil aggregate distribution, and microbial community composition in weakly alkaline Cd‒contaminated soils: A field study.

Biochar has advantages of a large specific surface area and micropore structure, which is beneficial for immobilization remediation of heavy metal‒contaminated soils. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of rice husk biochar (BC) (7.5, 15, and 15 t hm) on Cd availability in soils and accumulation in maize (Zea mays L), soil aggregate structure, and microbial community abundance.

Reshaping the murine immunoglobulin heavy chain repertoire with bovine DH genes.

Having a limited number of VH segments, cattle rely on uniquely long DH gene segments to generate CDRH3 length variation (3-70 aa) far greater than that in humans or mice. Bovine antibodies with ultralong CDRH3s (>50 aa) possess unusual structures and abilities to bind to special antigens. In this study, we replaced most murine endogenous DH segments with bovine DH genes, generating a mouse line termed B-DH.

Microstructure characteristics of aggregates and Cd immobilization performance under a 3-year sepiolite amendment: A field study.

Sepiolite is an efficient mineral for the immobilization of Cd in contaminated soils. Here, we conducted a 3-year field experiment to investigate the effect of sepiolite on soil aggregation and porosity, Cd availability, and organic carbon content in the bulk and aggregate soils and Cd accumulation by leafy vegetables. The sepiolite-treated soils showed a 15.

Cd immobilization and soil quality under Fe-modified biochar in weakly alkaline soil.

Cost-effective and environment-friendly implementation techniques are critical to the success of remediation in large-scale cadmium (Cd) contaminated agricultural soil. Field experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of Fe-modified biochar on Cd bioavailability in soils and uptake by maize (Zea mays L.), soil aggregate distribution and stability, and microbial community composition in weakly alkaline Cd-contaminated soil.

Do polystyrene nanoplastics affect the toxicity of cadmium to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)?

There has been an increase on the research of microplastics (<5 mm in diameter) as carriers for toxic chemicals to evaluate their risks for human health and environment, but only few works focused on nanoplastics (1 nm-1000 nm in diameter) interacting with pre-existing contaminants such as heavy metals. It is still unclear whether polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) could affect the toxicity of cadmium to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Phytoexclusion of heavy metals using low heavy metal accumulating cultivars: A green technology.

Heavy metal (HM) pollution of farmland is a serious problem worldwide and consumption of HM-contaminated food products poses significant public health risks. Phytoexclusion using low HM accumulating cultivars (LACs) is a promising and practical technology to mitigate the risk of HM contamination of agricultural products grown in polluted soils, and does not alter cultivation practices, is easy to apply, and is economical. This review provides an overview of the major scientific advances accomplished in the field of LACs worldwide.

[Combined Effect of Weathered Coal Based Amendments and Soil Water Management on Methylmercury Accumulation in Paddy Soil and Rice Grains].

A pot experiment and field experiment were designed to study the changes in the grain methyl mercury content in paddy soil and rice yield by sowing soil amendments that contained weathered coal, CaCO, and NaSeO as the main raw materials, combined with water management in a paddy field (80% field capacity after the heading and flowering periods). The results showed that:① In pot experiment, the content of methylmercury in rice rhizosphere soil decreased by 86.6% and the content of methylmercury in the rice grains decreased by 65.

Performance and mechanisms of immobilization remediation for Cd contaminated water and soil by hydroxy ferric combined acid-base modified sepiolite (HyFe/ABsep).

In order to simultaneously improve the remediation capability of Cd contaminated water and soil, hydroxy iron-ABsep (HyFe/ABsep) was synthesized by a two-step modified (acid-base composite treatment, and hydroxy group was by using NaOH and Fe (NO)·9HO). Results showed that HyFe/ABsep had developed pores and a rougher surface morphology, and the salt-soluble ion content was increased, surface-loaded iron species was mainly composed of FeOOH. Adsorption process of Cd by HyFe/ABsep conformed best to the preudo-second-order model and Redlich-Paterson models, respectively.

Underlying mechanisms responsible for restriction of uptake and translocation of heavy metals (metalloids) by selenium via root application in plants.

Since selenium (Se) was shown to be an essential element for humans in 1957, the biofortification of Se to crops via foliar spraying or soil fertilization has been performed for several decades to satisfy the daily nutritional need of humans. Appropriate doses of Se were found to counteract a number of abiotic and biotic stresses, such as exposure to heavy metals (metalloids) (HMs), via influencing the regulation of antioxidant systems, by stimulation of photosynthesis, by repair of damaged cell structures and functions, by regulating the metabolism of some substances and the rebalancing of essential elements in plant tissues. However, few concerns were paid on why and how Se could reduce the uptake of a variety of HMs.

Genetic removal of the CH1 exon leads to the production of hypofunctional heavy chain-only IgG2a in rats.

Despite great values in many applications, heavy chain-only antibodies (HcAbs) are naturally only produced in camelids and sharks, which are not easy to access and handle. Production of the type of antibodies in small laboratory animals would remarkably facilitate their applications. We previously reported a mouse line in which the CH1 exon of mouse γ1 was deleted that could express heavy chain-only IgG1 antibodies.

Human health risk assessment of heavy metals in soil and food crops in the Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration of China.

Heavy metal contamination is one of the most pressing concerns for food security and human health. Understanding the risk to human health posed by soil pollution that enters the food chain is paramount. Here, we systematically assessed potential risks due to heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Pb, Hg, and As) contamination in soil and crops (2241 pairs of soil and crop (78 species) samples) in the Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration of China.

Interactive effects of multiple heavy metal(loid)s on their bioavailability in cocontaminated paddy soils in a large region.

Heavy metal(loid) pollution in large regions is often highly complex due to the coexistence and interactions of metal(loid)s and complex soil environments. However, the interaction effects of heavy metal(loid)s on their bioavailability in large regions remain obscure. Here, we identified the interaction effects of Pb, Cd and As on their bioavailability in cocontaminated paddy soils of Shaoguan City, China.

Health Assessment of Trace Metal Concentrations in Organic Fertilizer in Northern China.

The application of organic fertilizer could be accompanied by potential hazards to soil and humans caused by trace metals. A wide survey of organic fertilizers was carried out in northern China. A total of 117 organic fertilizer samples were collected to analyze the concentrations of seven trace metals.