Preparation, structural characterization, biological activity, and nutritional applications of oligosaccharides.

Oligosaccharides are low-molecular-weight carbohydrates between monosaccharides and polysaccharides. They can be extracted directly from natural products by physicochemical methods or obtained by chemical synthesis or enzymatic reaction. Oligosaccharides have important physicochemical and physiological properties.

Mixture of Pb, Zn and Cu on root permeability and radial oxygen loss in the mangrove Bruguiera gymnorrhiza.

A short term pot trail was employed to evaluate the exposure of mixed heavy metals (Cu, Pb and Zn) on growth, radial oxygen loss (ROL) and root anatomy in Bruguiera gymnorrhiza. The possible function of BgC4H, a cytochrome P450 gene, on root lignification was also discussed. The exposures of mixed Cu, Pb and Zn directly reduce O leakage at root surface.

The role of social support and emotional exhaustion in the association between work-family conflict and anxiety symptoms among female medical staff: a moderated mediation model.

Background: Limited work has been done to explain how work-family conflict is related to anxiety symptoms and the roles of emotional exhaustion and social support may play.

Methods: Based on a sample of 764 female nurses and physicians, a model was tested in which emotional exhaustion served as a mediator and social support was regarded as a moderator between work-family conflict and anxiety symptoms.

Results: This current study supported a moderated mediation model where the relationship between work-family conflict and anxiety symptoms via emotional exhaustion was weakest for female medical staff who reported high levels of social support.

Anxiety symptoms and burnout among Chinese medical staff of intensive care unit: the moderating effect of social support.

Background: Social support can be a critical resource to help medical staff cope with stressful events; however, the moderating effect of social support on the relationship between burnout and anxiety symptoms has not yet been explored.

Methods: The final sample was comprised of 514 intensive care unit physicians and nurses in this cross-sectional study. Questionnaires were used to collect data.

Impress of intergenerational emotional support on the depression in non-cohabiting parents.

Background: Mental health is one of the important dimensions of health, while depression is an important indicator of mental health evaluation.

Aim: To investigate the association between intergenerational emotional support and depression of non-cohabiting parents (≥ 45 years old) in China.

Methods: We used the fourth wave data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2015).

Rice root exudates affect microbial methylmercury production in paddy soils.

Microbial methylmercury (MeHg) production in contaminated soil-rice systems and its accumulation in rice pose health risks to consumers, especially those in Asia. However, the mechanism responsible for microbial MeHg production in paddy soils is far from clear. While previous studies examined the effect of soil and microbial factors on soil MeHg levels, in this work we explored the impact of rice cultivation itself on microbial MeHg production, focusing on the root exudate organic matter as a potential source of electron donors for microbial methylators.

Factors associated with the attitudes of oncology nurses toward hospice care in China.

Objective: To examine factors that are associated with the apprehension levels of oncology nurses toward hospice care. Factors examined in this study included demographics, nursing experience, education levels, title and post, personal experiences, and attitudes toward end-of-life care.

Methods: Questionnaires were provided to nurses (n=201) from three first-tier hospitals in China.

[Comparative Analysis of Main Morphological Characters and Interrelationship in Blumea balsamifera].

Objective: To investigate the main morphological characters and interrelationship of Blumea bdsamifera, and to provide the guidance for selection and breeding of Blumea balsamifera.

Methods: 19 main morphological characters and their interrelationship were analyzed by using correlation analysis,multiple stepwise regression analysis and factor analysis.

Results: Variation coefficients of the morphological characters were big in Blumea balsamifera.

Can arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi reduce Cd uptake and alleviate Cd toxicity of Lonicera japonica grown in Cd-added soils?

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to study the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi--Glomus versiforme (Gv) and Rhizophagus intraradices (Ri) on the growth, Cd uptake, antioxidant indices [glutathione reductase (GR), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate (ASA), glutathione (GSH) and malonaldehyde (MDA)] and phytochelatins (PCs) production of Lonicera japonica in Cd-amended soils. Gv and Ri significantly increased P acquisition, biomass of shoots and roots at all Cd treatments. Gv significantly decreased Cd concentrations in shoots and roots, and Ri also obviously reduced Cd concentrations in shoots but increased Cd concentrations in roots.

Effect of Inoculation with Glomus versiforme on Cadmium Accumulation, Antioxidant Activities and Phytochelatins of Solanum photeinocarpum.

The plant growth, phosphate acquisition, Cd translocation, phytochelatins (PCs) production and antioxidant parameters [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione (GSH), ascorbate (ASA) and malonaldehyde (MDA)] were investigated in Cd-hyperaccumulator Solanum photeinocarpum inoculated with Glomus versiforme BGC GD01C (Gv) in Cd-added soils (0, 5, 10, 20, 40 mg Cd kg-1 soil). Mycorrhizal colonization rates were generally high (from 77% to 94%), and hardly affected by Cd. Gv colonization significantly enhanced P acquisition, growth and total Cd uptakes in both shoots and roots of S.

Differences in root aeration, iron plaque formation and waterlogging tolerance in six mangroves along a continues tidal gradient.

Mangrove is a special coastal forest along tropical and subtropical intertidal shores. However, how mangroves adapt to tidal flooding and the mechanisms involved in mangrove zonation are still poorly understood. In this study, a pot trial with different tide treatments was conducted to investigate the differences in root anatomy, porosity, radial oxygen loss, iron plaque formation and waterlogging tolerance among six mangroves along a continuous tidal gradient.

Pb uptake and tolerance in the two selected mangroves with different root lignification and suberization.

Metal pollution has been widely reported in mangrove wetlands; however, the mechanisms involved in metal detoxification by mangroves are still poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the possible function of root lignification/suberization on Pb uptake and tolerance in mangroves. Two mangroves, Acanthus ilicifolius and Rhizophora stylosa with different root lignification/suberization were selected as plant materials; the former exhibits a thin exodermis and low lignification/suberization, while the latter possesses a thick exodermis and high lignification/suberization.

Metal (Pb, Zn and Cu) uptake and tolerance by mangroves in relation to root anatomy and lignification/suberization.

Metal pollution has been widely reported in mangrove wetlands; however, the mechanisms involved in metal detoxification by mangroves are still poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the possible function of root anatomy and lignification/suberization on metal uptake and tolerance in seedlings of six species of mangroves. The results revealed that the three rhizophoraceous species (Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.

Accumulation of total mercury and methylmercury in rice plants collected from different mining areas in China.

A total of 155 rice plants were collected from ten mining areas in three provinces of China (Hunan, Guizhou and Guangdong), where most of mercury (Hg) mining takes place in China. During the harvest season, whole rice plants were sampled and divided into root, stalk & leaf, husk and seed (brown rice), together with soil from root zone. Although the degree of Hg contamination varied significantly among different mining areas, rice seed showed the highest ability for methylmercury (MeHg) accumulation.

Phytoextraction of Cd-Contaminated Soils: Current Status and Future Challenges.

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most toxic and widely distributed pollutants in the environment. Cadmium contamination of soils has posed a serious threat to safe food production in many parts of the world. The authors present a comprehensive review of present status of phytoextraction technology for cleaning up Cd-contaminated soils, based primarily on the data resulting from both laboratory and field-scale studies that have been conducted to assess or improve the Cd phytoextraction potential of various plant species in the past decade.

Influence of N deficiency and salinity on metal (Pb, Zn and Cu) accumulation and tolerance by Rhizophora stylosa in relation to root anatomy and permeability.

Effects of N deficiency and salinity on root anatomy, permeability and metal (Pb, Zn and Cu) translocation and tolerance were investigated using mangrove seedlings of Rhizophora stylosa. The results showed that salt could directly reduce radial oxygen loss (ROL) by stimulation of lignification within exodermis. N deficiency, oppositely, would reduce lignification.

Interactions among Fe2+, S2-, and Zn2+ tolerance, root anatomy, and radial oxygen loss in mangrove plants.

Root anatomy, radial oxygen loss (ROL), and tolerances to ferrous (Fe(2+)), sulphide (S(2-)), and zinc (Zn(2+)) ions were investigated in seedlings of eight species of mangrove, including three pioneer species, three rhizophoraceous and two landward semi-mangrove species. The results showed an interesting co-tolerance to Fe(2+), S(2-), and Zn(2+). The three rhizophoraceous species (Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Kandelia obovata and Rhizophora stylosa), which possessed the thickest lignified exodermis and the 'tightest barrier' in ROL spatial pattern, consistently exhibited the highest tolerance to Fe(2+), S(2-), and Zn(2+).

The effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and phosphate amendement on arsenic uptake, accumulation and growth of Pteris vittata in As-contaminated soil.

This study investigated the contributions of mixed arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculum-i.e., mixed populations of indigenous mycorrhiza (Glomus intraradices, Glomus geosporum, Glomus mosseae) (IM) isolated from arsenic (As) contaminated soil and non-indigenous mycorrhiza such as G.

Increase of multi-metal tolerance of three leguminous plants by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonization.

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of the colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Glomus mosseae on the growth and metal uptake of three leguminous plants (Sesbania rostrata, Sesbania cannabina, Medicago sativa) grown in multi-metal contaminated soil. AMF colonization increased the growth of the legumes, indicating that AMF colonization increased the plant's resistance to heavy metals. It also significantly stimulated the formation of root nodules and increased the N and P uptake of all of the tested leguminous plants, which might be one of the tolerance mechanisms conferred by AMF.

Cadmium hyperaccumulation leads to an increase of glutathione rather than phytochelatins in the cadmium hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii.

Sedum alfredii has been reported to be a cadmium (Cd) hyperaccumulator. Phytochelatins (PCs) and other thiol (SH)-containing compounds have been proposed to play an important role in the detoxification and tolerance of some heavy metals, but it is not clear whether PCs are responsible for Cd hyperaccumulation and tolerance in S. alfredii.

Inhibitive effects of anti-oxidative vitamins on mannitol-induced apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells.

Objective: Study blood vessel injury and gene expression indicating vascular endothelial cell apoptosis induced by mannitol with and without administration of anti-oxidative vitamins.

Methods: Healthy rabbits were randomly divided into four groups. Mannitol was injected into the vein of the rabbit ear in each animal.