Low-molecular weight organic acids can enhance the microbial reduction of iron oxide nanoparticles and pollutants by improving electrons transfer.

The combined application of dissimilatory iron-reducing bacteria (DIRB) and Fe(III) nanoparticles has garnered widespread interest in the contaminants transformation and removal. The efficiency of this composite system relies on the extracellular electron transfer (EET) process between DIRB and Fe(III) nanoparticles. While modifications to Fe(III) nanoparticles have demonstrated improvements in EET, enhancing DIRB activity also shows potential for further EET enhancement, meriting further investigation.

Heating-Induced Redox Property Dynamics of Peat Soil Dissolved Organic Matter in a Simulated Peat Fire: Electron Exchange Capacity and Molecular Characteristics.

Peatlands store one-third of the world's soil organic carbon. Globally increased fires altered peat soil organic matter chemistry, yet the redox property and molecular dynamics of peat-dissolved organic matter (PDOM) during fires remain poorly characterized, limiting our understanding of postfire biogeochemical processes. Clarifying these dynamic changes is essential for effective peatland fire management.

Reduction and amalgamation of mercury in silver nanoparticle suspensions under dark conditions.

Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant of concern, and its transport and transformation are controlled by various environmental factors, with aquatic particles being an important driver. Understanding the interactions between silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and Hg under dark condition is a prerequisite for studying the extent of AgNPs interaction with light and its participation in Hg biogeochemical cycling. Herein, under laboratory experimental setting, it was found that the reduction of divalent Hg (Hg(II)) to gaseous elemental Hg (Hg) by AgNPs readily occurred.

Accuracy of breast ultrasound image analysis software in feature analysis: a comparative study with sonographers.

Breast ultrasound is recommended for early breast cancer detection in China, but the rapid increase in imaging data burdens sonographers. This study evaluated the agreement between artificial intelligence (AI) software and sonographers in analyzing breast nodule features. Breast ultrasound images from two hospitals in Shanghai were analyzed by both the software and the sonographers for features including echotexture, echo pattern, orientation, shape, margin, calcification, and posterior echo attenuation.

Probing methylmercury photodegradation by different fractions of natural organic matter in water: Degradation kinetics and mercury isotope fractionation characteristics.

Recent advancements in mercury (Hg) isotopic fractionation research have evolved from conceptual demonstrations to practical applications. However, few studies have focused on revealing fractionation fingerprinting for aqueous methylmercury (MeHg) photodegradation due to its sensitivity to natural organic matter (NOM). Here, the impact of NOM fractions with varying chemical properties on MeHg photodegradation kinetics and Hg isotope fractionation characteristics was investigated.

Comprehensive Multidimensional Analysis of Metal(loid)-Containing Dust in Plastic Sports Facilities: Insights into the Potential Sources and Health Risks.

Dust released from widely established plastic sports courts and synthetic turf poses potential environmental and health risks. Herein, we systematically investigate the metal(loid) characteristics, potential sources, and health risks of 162 dust samples from 17 campuses in Beijing, using complementary analytical techniques. Bulk analysis revealed higher levels of Zn, Pb, Cu, Sb, Cd, and Cr than background values, suggesting excessive anthropogenic contamination.

Novel arsenate-respiring bacteria drive arsenic biogeochemical cycling in Tibetan geothermal springs revealed by DNA-SIP based metagenomics.

Arsenic (As) is a toxic element posing health risks globally, with geothermal environment as one of the hotspots. Arsenic biotransformation is mainly mediated by microorganisms which often employ diverse metabolic strategies for survival. However, the microorganisms responsible for As cycling and their survival strategies in geothermal environment in Tibet, the Third Pole, remain unclear.

Atmospheric Hg(0) dry deposition over environmental surfaces: Insights from mercury isotope fractionation.

Atmospheric Hg(0) dry deposition is a vital process that significantly affects the global distribution and cycling of Hg. However, significant knowledge gaps and challenges remain in understanding atmospheric Hg(0) deposition and its subsequent post-deposition processes. Hg isotope fractionation has emerged as the most powerful tool for evaluating the impact of atmospheric Hg(0) deposition and unraveling key processes associated with it.

Risk factors and treatment strategies for adjacent segment disease following spinal fusion (Review).

Adjacent segment disease (ASD) is a significant clinical complication following cervical and lumbar spinal fusion surgery, characterized by the degeneration of spinal segments adjacent to the fused area. The present literature review aimed to elucidate the risk factors contributing to ASD and to evaluate current and emerging treatment strategies. Epidemiological data indicate that patient‑related factors such as age, pre‑existing spinal degeneration and comorbidities, along with surgical factors including the type of fusion, instrumentation and alignment correction, play pivotal roles in ASD development.

The FERONIA-RESPONSIVE TO DESICCATION 26 module regulates vascular immunity to Ralstonia solanacearum.

Some pathogens colonize plant leaves, but others invade the roots, including the vasculature, causing severe disease symptoms. Plant innate immunity has been extensively studied in leaf pathosystems; however, the precise regulation of immunity against vascular pathogens remains largely unexplored. We previously demonstrated that loss of function of the receptor kinase FERONIA (FER) increases plant resistance to the typical vascular bacterial pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum.

Fire-Induced Multiple Changes in Electron Transfer Properties of Peat Soil Organic Matter: The Role of Functional Groups, Graphitic Carbon, and Iron.

Peatland fires induced changes in electron transfer properties and relevant electroactive structures of peat soil organic matter (PSOM) remain ambiguous, impeding comprehension of postfire biogeochemical processes. Here, we revealed temperature-dependent electron exchange capacity (EEC) of PSOM dynamics through simulated peat soil burning (150-500 °C), which extremely changed postfire microbial Fe-nanoparticles reduction and methanogenesis. EEC diminished significantly (60-75% loss) due to phenolic-quinone moieties depletion with increasing temperature, regardless of oxygen availability.

Effects of major air pollutants on cognitive function in middle-aged and elderly adults: Panel data evidence from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study.

Background: Although numerous studies have discussed about the impact of air pollution on cognitive function, a consensus has yet to be reached, necessitating further exploration of their relationship. The aim of this study is to reveal the effects of major air pollutants on cognitive function in Chinese middle-aged and older adults, while considering the lagged effects of pollution.

Methods: Panel data were constructed by integrating the air pollutants concentration (particulate matter diameter ≤1 µm (μm) (PM), PM, PM, nitrogen dioxide (NO), and ozone (O)) among 28 provinces in China and the personal characteristics from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study participants during the period of 2011-2015.

Phonons reveal coupled cholesterol-lipid dynamics in ternary membranes.

Experimental studies of collective dynamics in lipid bilayers have been challenging due to the energy resolution required to observe these low-energy phonon-like modes. However, inelastic x-ray scattering (IXS) measurements-a technique for probing vibrations in soft and biological materials-are now possible with sub-meV resolution, permitting direct observation of low-energy, phonon-like modes in lipid membranes. Here, IXS measurements with sub-meV energy resolution reveal a low-energy optic-like phonon mode at roughly 3 meV in the liquid-ordered (L) and liquid-disordered phases of a ternary lipid mixture.

Fast Speciation and High Spatial Resolution Imaging of Labile Arsenic in Freshwater and Sediment Using the DGT-SERS Sensor.

Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique is renowned for passive sampling but not for rapid analysis, whereas surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) excels in ultrasensitive detection but is limited by substrate contamination from complex matrices. Here, a hierarchical nanostructure of silver (Ag) mirror-supported large Ag nanoparticles (∼120 nm) was grown in polyacrylamide hydrogel with a restricted pore size (PAM/Ag mirror/AgNPs) to serve as both the DGT binding phase and the SERS substrate. The substrate exhibited a maximum electric field enhancement factor of 9.

Outcomes and failure patterns after chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer with positive lateral pelvic lymph nodes: a propensity score-matched analysis.

Purpose: This study aimed to use propensity score matching (PSM) to explore the long-term outcomes and failure patterns in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients with positive versus negative lateral pelvic lymph node (LPLN).

Materials And Methods: Patients with LARC were retrospectively divided into LPLN-positive and LPLN-negative groups. Clinical characteristics were compared between the groups using the chi-square test.

The Mpox Vaccine Hesitancy Scale for Mpox: Links with Vaccination Intention among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Six Cities of China.

Background: Vaccine hesitancy is a significant barrier to achieving high vaccination rates, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM), a group at increased risk for Mpox. This study aimed to develop and validate a Mpox vaccine hesitancy scale specifically tailored for Chinese MSM, grounded in the protection motivation theory (PMT).

Methods: An online survey through snowball sampling was conducted from October 2023 to March 2024, collecting 2403 valid responses across six representative regions in China.

MOF-mediated acetylation of CDK9 promotes global transcription by modulating P-TEFb complex formation.

Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9), a catalytic subunit of the positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) complex, is a global transcriptional elongation factor associated with cell proliferation. CDK9 activity is regulated by certain histone acetyltransferases, such as p300, GCN5 and P/CAF. However, the impact of males absent on the first (MOF) (also known as KAT8 or MYST1) on CDK9 activity has not been reported.