Feasibility and solidification mechanism study of self-sustaining smoldering remediation for copper and lead-contaminated soil

Soil heavy metal pollution is an important issue that affects human health and ecological well-being. In-situ thermal treatment techniques, such as self-sustaining smoldering combustion (SSS), have been widely studied for the treatment of organic pollutants. However, the lack of fuel in heavy metal-contaminated soil has hindered its application. In this study, we used corn straw as fuel to investigate the feasibility of SSS remediation for copper and lead in heavy metal-contaminated soil, as well as to explore the remediation mechanism. The results of the study showed that SSS increased soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TK), rapidly available phosphorus (AP), and available potassium (AK), while decreasing total nitrogen (TN), alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen (AN), and cation exchange capacity (CEC). The oxidation state of copper (Cu) increased from 10% to 21%-40%, and the residual state of lead (Pb) increased from 18% to 51%-73%. The Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) of Cu decreased by a maximum of 81.08%, and the extracted state of Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) decreased by 67.63%; the TCLP of Pb decreased by a maximum of 81.87%, and DTPA decreased by a maximum of 85.68%. The study indicates that SSS using corn straw as fuel successfully achieved remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil. However, SSS does not reduce the content of copper and lead; it only changes their forms in the soil. The main reasons for the fixation of copper and lead during the SSS process are the adsorption of biochar, complexation with -OH functional groups, binding with π electrons, and the formation of crystalline compounds. This research provides a reference for the application of SSS in heavy metal-contaminated soil and has potential practical implications.

Improving the Rechargeable Li-CO2 Battery Performances by Tailoring Oxygen Defects on Li-Ni-Co-Mn Multi-Metal Oxide Catalysts Recycled from Spent Ternary Lithium-Ion Batteries

Rechargeable Li-CO2 batteries are considered as a promising carbon-neutral energy storage technology owing to their ultra-high energy density and efficient CO2 capture capability. However, the sluggish CO2 reduction/evolution kinetics impedes their practical application, which leads to huge overpotentials and poor cyclability. Multi-element transit metal oxides (TMOs) are demonstrated as effective cathodic catalysts for Li-CO2 batteries. But there are no reports on the integration of defect engineering on multi-element TMOs. Herein, the oxygen vacancy-bearing Li-Ni-Co-Mn multi-oxide (Re-NCM-H3) catalyst with the α-NaFeO2-type structure is first fabricated by annealing the NiCoMn precursor that derived from spent ternary LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cathode, in H2 at 300 °C. As demonstrated by experimental results and theory calculations, the introduction of moderate oxygen vacancy has optimized electronic state near the Fermi level (Ef), eventually improving CO2 adsorption and charge transfer. Therefore, the Li-CO2 batteries with Re-NCM-H3 catalyst deliver a high capacity (11808.9 mAh g-1), a lower overpotential (1.54 V), as well as excellent stability over 216 cycles at 100 mA g-1 and 165 cycles at 400 mA g-1. This study not only opens up a sustainable application of spent ternary cathode, but also validates the potential of multi-element TMO catalysts with oxygen defects for high-efficiency Li-CO2 batteries.

Mechanical insights into desulfurization by peroxymonosulfate oxidation via a non-reactive oxygen species pathway

Air pollution by sulfur dioxide (SO2) remains a pressing concern for both the environment and human health. Desulfurization enhanced by persulfate based advanced oxidation processes (PS-AOPs) has been proven to be a feasible method. However, the inherent contradiction between the rapid diffusion mass transfer of SO2 in the "gas-liquid-gas" phase and the limited lifespan of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can not be ignored. Excessive investment in PS is required to sustainably generate ROS to achieve continuous desulfurization performance, which may lead to excessive PS consumption. To address this issue, whether PS can achieve the oxidation absorption of SO2 via a non-reactive oxygen species pathway was investigated. Experimental and computational results demonstrated that peroxymonosulfate (PMS) instead of peroxydisulfate (PDS) had a great SO2 removal performance, the utilization of PS could be effectively achieved by maintaining a 1:1 molar ratio of PMS and removed SO2. The presence of HOO bonds in the PMS introduced a partial positive charge to the oxygen atom, making the PMS polar and more susceptible to be attacked by the nucleophile HSO3-. So SO2 underwent a series of processes including dissolution, dissociation, one-oxygen atom transfer, and ionization before ultimately being converted into SO42- ions, effectively achieving its removal from flue gas. This study may presents a novel approach for achieving high-efficiency flue gas desulfurization.

[Clinical efficacy of induction chemoimmunotherapy for locally advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma: a prospective phase Ⅱ study]

Objective: To evaluate the objective response rate (ORR) of induction chemoimmunotherapy with camrelizumab plus TPF (docetaxel, cisplatin, and capecitabine) for locally advanced hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LA HSCC) and potential predictive factors for ORR. Methods: A single-center, prospective, phase 2 and single-arm trial was conducted for evaluating antitumor activity of camrelizumab+TPF(docetaxel+cisplatin+capecitabine) for LA HSCC between May 21, 2021 and April 15, 2023, patients admitted to the Eye & ENT Hospital affiliated with Fudan University. The primary endpoint was ORR, and enrolled patients with LA HSCC at T3-4N0-3M0 received induction chemoimmunotherapy for three cycles: camrelizumab 200 mg day 1, docetaxel 75 mg/m2 day 1, cisplatin 25 mg/m2 days 1-3, and capecitabine 800 mg/m2 days 1-14. Patients were assigned to radioimmunotherapy when they had complete response or partial response (PR)>70% (Group A), or assigned to surgery plus adjuvant radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy when they had PR≤70% (Group B), and the responses were defined by using tumor volume evaluation system. Tumor diameter was also used to assess the treatment responses by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1. Use SPSS 23.0 software was used to analyze the data. Results: A total of 51 patients were enrolled who underwent the induced chemoimmunotherapy for three cycles, and all were males, aged 35-69 years old. After three cycles of induction immunochemotherapy, 42 (82.4%) patients existed in Group A (complete response or PR>70%) and 9 patients (17.6%) in Group B (PR≤70%), the ORR was 82.4%. The primary endpoint achieved expected main research objectives. Compared to the patients of Group A, the patients of Group B showed the higher T stage and the larger volume of primary tumor before induced immunochemotherapy, and also had the less regression of tumor volume after induced immunochemotherapy (all P<0.05). The optimal cutoff value of pre-treatment tumor volume for predicting ORR was 39 cm3. The T stage (OR=12.71, 95%CI: 1.4-112.5, P=0.022) and the volume (OR=7.1, 95%CI: 1.4-36.8, P=0.018) of primary tumor were the two main factors affecting ORR rate of induction chemoimmunotherapy. Conclusion: The induction chemoimmunotherapy with camrelizumab plus TPF shows an encouraging antitumor efficacy in LA HSCC.

Interactions between inhalable aged microplastics and lung surfactant: Potential pulmonary health risks

The relationship between microplastics (MPs) and human respiratory health has garnered significant attention since inhalation constitutes the primary pathway for atmospheric MP exposure. While recent studies have revealed respiratory risks associated with MPs, virgin MPs used as plastic surrogates in these experiments did not represent the MPs that occur naturally and that undergo aging effects. Thus, the effects of aged MPs on respiratory health remain unknown. We herein analyzed the interaction between inhalable aged MPs with lung surfactant (LS) extracted from porcine lungs vis-à-vis interfacial chemistry employing in-vitro experiments, and explored oxidative damage induced by aged MPs in simulated lung fluid (SLF) and the underlying mechanisms of action. Our results showed that aged MPs significantly increased the surface tension of the LS, accompanied by a diminution in its foaming ability. The stronger adsorptive capacity of the aged MPs toward the phospholipids of LS appeared to produce increased surface tension, while the change in foaming ability might have resulted from a variation in the protein secondary structure and the adsorption of proteins onto MPs. The adsorption of phospholipid and protein components then led to the aggregation of MPs in SLF, where the aged MPs exhibited smaller hydrodynamic diameters in comparison with the unaged MPs, likely interacting with biomolecules in bodily fluids to exacerbate health hazards. Persistent free radicals were also formed on aged MPs, inducing the formation of reactive oxygen species such as superoxide radicals (O2•-), hydrogen peroxide (HOOH), and hydroxyl radicals (•OH); this would lead to LS lipid peroxidation and protein damage and increase the risk of respiratory disease. Our investigation was the first-ever to reveal a potential toxic effect of aged MPs and their actions on the human respiratory system, of great significance in understanding the risk of inhaled MPs on lung health.

Particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in rural households burning solid fuels in Xuanwei County, Southwest China: occurrence, size distribution, and health risks

The study is about the size distribution and health risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in indoor environment of Xuanwei, Southwest China particle samples were collected by Anderson 8-stage impactor which was used to gather particle samples to nine size ranges. Size-segregated samples were collected in indoor from a rural village in Xuanwei during the non-heating and heating seasons. The results showed that the total concentrations of the indoor particulate matter (PM) were 757 ± 60 and 990 ± 78 μg/m3 in non-heating and heating seasons, respectively. The total concentration of indoor PAHs reached to 8.42 ± 0.53 μg/m3 in the heating season, which was considerably greater than the concentration in the non-heating season (2.85 ± 1.72 μg/m3). The size distribution of PAHs showed that PAHs were mainly enriched in PMs with the diameter <1.1 μm. The diagnostic ratios (DR) and principal component analysis (PCA) showed that coal and wood for residential heating and cooking were the main sources of indoor PAHs. The results of the health risk showed that the total deposition concentration (DC) in the alveolar region (AR) was 0.25 and 0.68 μg/m3 in the non-heating and heating seasons respectively. Throughout the entire sampling periods, the lifetime cancer risk (R) based on DC of children and adults varied between 3.53 ×10-5 to 1.79 ×10-4. During the heating season, the potential cancer risk of PAHs in adults was significant, exceeding 10-4, with a rate of 96%.

Hydrogen cyanide catalytic hydrolysis mechanism by Al-doped graphene: A density functional theory study

CONTEXT

The hydrogen cyanide (HCN) hydrolysis reaction mechanism over Al-doped graphene was investigated through the density functional theory method. HCN preferentially adsorbed vertically on the Al top site to form a stable adsorption configuration. H2O preferentially adsorbed parallel on the Al top site to form a stable adsorption configuration. The competitive adsorption of HCN and H2O weakened the adsorption stability of each molecule over Al-doped graphene. The break of C-N and H-O bonds was the key process in the preferential fracture pathway of the C-H bond. The break of C-N and C-H bonds was the key process in the preferential fracture pathway of the H-O bond. HCN played the role of bridge in the joint adsorption process. H atom transfer and C-N bond cleavage promoted the generation of CO and NH3. The change in the order of H atom transfer determined the reaction energy barrier. NH2CHO was more likely to act as an intermediate to promote the hydrolysis process.

METHODS

The calculation work was achieved from the Dmol3 program in Material Studio 2017 using the GGA/PBE method with DNP basis, including the geometric structure and reaction pathway optimization, and adsorption energy calculation. All calculations were performed using a spin-polarized set and the TS method was used for DFT-D correction.

Insight into the kinetic analysis of acid mine drainage treated by carbonate rock

Acid mine drainage (AMD) has caused a great impact on soil, surface water, groundwater, plants or other organisms in the mining environment because of its high acidity, high sulphate content, and contains a variety of heavy metals. AMD treated by carbonate rocks have been regarded as a feasible technology for pollution control and applied widely in mine area. However, to date, the kinetics of the reaction between carbonate rock and AMD have not been investigated, resulting in the lack of systematic theoretical guidance for the implementation of this technology. In this study, effects of carbonate particle sizes and reaction temperature on AMD treatment were investigated. The dissolution efficiency of Ca2+ was used to quantitatively reflect extent of reaction, and the leaching kinetics was analysed based on the shrinking core model. The results showed that carbonate rocks with a particle size of 0.5-1.0 mm had the best pH-enhancing performance for AMD and highest removal efficiency for Fe3+ (>98.00%), while the Mn2+ and SO42- were temperature sensitive. The diffusion of solid product layer was the controlling step of the leaching reaction, and the apparent activation energy of the reaction was 12.63 kJ·mol-1.

China Alzheimer's Disease and Neurodegenerative Disorder Research (CANDOR) -A Prospective Cohort Study for Alzheimer's Disease and Vascular Cognitive Impairment

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) are the two main causes of dementia. AD and VCI share similar symptoms of cognitive decline and may be attributable to similar risk factors. Establishing a prospective cohort to compare VCI and AD would help to understand vascular risk factors related to dementia.

OBJECTIVES

China Alzheimer's disease and Neurodegenerative Disorder Research (CANDOR) study is a prospective multicenter cohort study. It aims to study the similarities and differences between AD and post stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) in neuroimaging changes, disease progression, and multiple omics studies.

DESIGN

This is an ongoing study. From July 31, 2019, to August 1, 2022, we recruited 1449 participants with ages between 40 and 100 years. The cohort included three groups: AD group, PSCI group, and normal cognitive (NC) group. Data were collected in face-to-face interviews at baseline, and will be followed up every year for 4 years. The PSCI group had additional follow-ups at 3-month and 6-month after enrollment. Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) included high-resolution sequences for intracranial arteries. Cognitive assessments and follow-up information will be prospectively collected. Biological specimens including blood and urine at baseline were collected and tested.

PARTICIPANTS

The targeted sample size of PSCI group was 500, AD group with 600 and NC group with 2000. There were 1449 participants enrolled. Include 508 participants were in NC group, 387 in AD group and 554 in PSCI group.

MEASUREMENTS

Demographics, clinical parameters, and medical examinations were collected and performed. Cognitive assessment was performed to assess all cognitive domains including memory, language, executive function, and orientation function.

CONCLUSIONS

The CANDOR study is a prospective cohort study. Data from this cohort provide us an opportunity to investigate the contribution of vascular factors to dementia pathogenesis.

Persulfate-based remediation of organic-contaminated soil: Insight into the impacts of natural iron ions and humic acids with complexation/redox functionality

The use of persulfate (PDS) for in-situ chemical oxidation of organic contaminants in soils has garnered significant interest. However, the presence of naturally occurring iron-containing substances and humic acid (HA) in environmental compartments can potentially influence the effectiveness of soil remediation. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the role of key functional groups (adjacent phenolic hydroxyl (Ar-OH) and carboxyl groups (-COOH)) in HA that interact with iron. Modified HAs were used to confirm the significance of these moieties in iron interaction. Additionally, the mechanism by which specific functional groups affect Fe complexation and redox was explored through contaminant degradation experiments, pH-dependent investigations, HA by-products analysis, and theoretical calculations using six specific hydroxybenzoic acids as HA model compounds. The results showed a strong positive correlation between accessible Ar-OH and -COOH groups and Fe3+/Fe2+ redox. This was attributed to HA undergoing a conversion process to a semiquinone-containing radical form, followed by a quinone-containing intermediate, while Fe3+ acted as an electron shuttle between HA and PDS, with Fe3+ leaching facilitated by generated H+ ions. Although the stability of HA-Fe3+ complexes with -COOH as the primary binding sites was slightly higher at neutral/alkaline conditions compared to acidic conditions, the buffering properties of the soil and acidification of the PDS solution played a greater role in determining the Ar-OH groups as the primary binding site in most cases. Therefore, the availability of Ar-OH groups on HA created a trade-off between accelerated Fe3+/Fe2+ redox and quenching reactions. Appropriate HA and iron contents were found to favor PDS activation, while excessive HA could lead to intense competition for reactive oxygen species (ROS), inhibiting pollutant degradation in soil. The findings provide valuable insights into the interaction of HA and Fe-containing substances in persulfate oxidation, offering useful information for the development of in-situ remediation strategies for organic-contaminated soil.

Interactions between CuO NPs and PS: The release of copper ions and oxidative damage

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) can adversely affect lung health possibly by inducing oxidative damage through the release of copper ions. However, the migration and transformation processes of CuO NPs in lung lining fluid is still unclear, and there are still conflicting reports of redox reactions involving copper ions. To address this, we examined the release of copper ions from CuO NPs in simulated lung fluid supplemented with pulmonary surfactant (PS), and further analyzed the mechanisms of PS-CuO NPs interactions and the health hazards. The results showed that the phospholipid of PS was adsorbed on the particle surface, which not only induced aggregation of the particles but also provided a reaction environment for the interaction of PS with CuO NPs. PS was able to promote the release of ions from CuO NPs, of which the protein was a key component. Lipid peroxidation, protein destabilization, and disruption of the interfacial chemistry also occurred in the PS-CuO NPs interactions, during which copper ions were present only as divalent cations. Meanwhile, the contribution of the particle surface cannot be neglected in the oxidative damage to the lung caused by CuO NPs. Through reacting with biomolecules, CuO NPs accomplished ion release and induced oxidative damage associated with PS. This research was the first to reveal the mechanism of CuO NPs releasing copper ions and inducing lipid oxidative damage in the presence of PS, which provides a new idea of transition metal-induced health risk in human body.

Advancing application of satellite remote sensing technologies for linking atmospheric and built environment to health

Background

The intricate interplay between human well-being and the surrounding environment underscores contemporary discourse. Within this paradigm, comprehensive environmental monitoring holds the key to unraveling the intricate connections linking population health to environmental exposures. The advent of satellite remote sensing monitoring (SRSM) has revolutionized traditional monitoring constraints, particularly limited spatial coverage and resolution. This innovation finds profound utility in quantifying land covers and air pollution data, casting new light on epidemiological and geographical investigations. This dynamic application reveals the intricate web connecting public health, environmental pollution, and the built environment.

Objective

This comprehensive review navigates the evolving trajectory of SRSM technology, casting light on its role in addressing environmental and geographic health issues. The discussion hones in on how SRSM has recently magnified our understanding of the relationship between air pollutant exposure and population health. Additionally, this discourse delves into public health challenges stemming from shifts in urban morphology.

Methods

Utilizing the strategic keywords "SRSM," "air pollutant health risk," and "built environment," an exhaustive search unfolded across prestigious databases including the China National Knowledge Network (CNKI), PubMed and Web of Science. The Citespace tool further unveiled interconnections among resultant articles and research trends.

Results

Synthesizing insights from a myriad of articles spanning 1988 to 2023, our findings unveil how SRMS bridges gaps in ground-based monitoring through continuous spatial observations, empowering global air quality surveillance. High-resolution SRSM advances data precision, capturing multiple built environment impact factors. Its application to epidemiological health exposure holds promise as a pioneering tool for contemporary health research.

Conclusion

This review underscores SRSM's pivotal role in enriching geographic health studies, particularly in atmospheric pollution domains. The study illuminates how SRSM overcomes spatial resolution and data loss hurdles, enriching environmental monitoring tools and datasets. The path forward envisions the integration of cutting-edge remote sensing technologies, novel explorations of urban-public health associations, and an enriched assessment of built environment characteristics on public well-being.

Red mud with enhanced dealkalization performance by supercritical water technology for efficient SO2 capture

The total de-alkalization treatment of industrial solid waste red mud (RM) has been a worldwide challenge. Removing the insoluble structural alkali fraction from RM is the key to enhancing the sustainable utilization of RM resources. In this paper, supercritical water (SCW) and leaching agents were used for the first time to de-alkalize the Bayer RM and to remove sulfur dioxide (SO2) from flue gas with the de-alkalized RM slurry. The results showed that the optimum alkali removal and Fe leaching rates of RM-CaO-SW slurry were 97.90 ± 0.88% and 82.70 ± 0.95%, respectively. Results confirmed that the SCW technique accelerated the disruption of (Al-O) and (Si-O) bonds and the structural disintegration of aluminosilicate minerals, facilitating the conversion of insoluble structural alkalis to soluble chemical alkalis. The exchangeable Ca2+ displaced Na+ in the remaining insoluble base, producing soluble sodium salts or alkalis. CaO consumed SiO2, which was tightly bound to Fe2O3 in RM, and released Fe2O3, which promoted Fe leaching. RM-SCW showed the best desulfurization performance, which maintained 88.99 ± 0.0020% at 450 min, followed by RM-CaO-SW (450 min, 60.75 ± 6.00%) and RM (180 min, 88.52% ± 0.00068). The neutralization of alkaline components, the redox of metal oxides, and the liquid-phase catalytic oxidation of Fe contributed to the excellent desulfurization performance of the RM-SCW slurry. A promising approach shown in this study is beneficial to RM waste use, SO2 pollution control, and sustainable growth of the aluminum industry.

A Multicenter Study on Deep Learning for Glioblastoma Auto-Segmentation with Prior Knowledge in Multimodal Imaging

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

A precise radiotherapy plan is required to ensure accurate delineation of gross tumor volumes (GTV) and clinical target volumes (CTV1 and CTV2) of glioblastomas (GBMs). However, traditional manual delineation is labor intensive and highly dependent on oncologists' experience. To construct and evaluate a deep learning-based automatic delineation method using prior knowledge in multimodal medical imaging to automate precise GTV, CTV1 and CTV2 contouring in GBM patients.

MATERIALS/METHODS

We retrospectively collected the CT and MRI scans of 55 eligible patients with histologically proven high-grade glioma (HGG) from an institute, these scans were performed with non-enhanced CT (CT), contrast-enhanced T1-weighted (T1C) and T2-FLAIR (T2F) sequences. We proposed a two-stage automatic segmentation framework (PKMI-Net) for GTV, CTV1 and CTV2 based on deep learning using prior knowledge in multimodal medical imaging, and its segmentation performance was evaluated with dice similarity coefficient (DSC), 95% Harsdorff distance (HD95), average surface distance (ASD) and relative volume difference (RVD). To further investigate the generalizability of our method, we designed and conducted two evaluation strategies (Mix and Cross) on four multicenter datasets (including 55 patients, 37 patients, 21 patients and 35 patients).

RESULTS

The evaluation results with an 11-patient test set from the single institute were summarized in Table 1, the proposed method demonstrated the best accuracy in segmenting, respectively, GTV, CTV1 and CTV, achieving a DSC of 0.94, 0.95 and 0.92; HD95 of 2.07 mm, 1.18 mm and 3.80 mm; ASD of 0.69 mm, 0.39 mm and 1.13 mm and RVE of 5.50%, 3.97% and 9.68%. In the multicenter evaluation, the segmentation performance of our method implemented with the Cross strategy was comparable to that with the Mix strategy, demonstrating that our method had high and stable generalizability across multicenter datasets in automatically segmenting GTV, CTV1 and CTV2.

CONCLUSION

Our proposed method achieved promising results in automatically segmenting gliomas across various datasets, which could improve the quality and efficiency of glioblastoma radiotherapy.

Treatment of Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma with Proton Beam Therapy: Outcomes from the Proton Collaborative Group Prospective Registry

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Given the generally long natural history of thymic malignancies, proton beam therapy (PBT) is advocated to minimize the risk of long-term toxicities to mediastinal organs. Adverse events (AE) and long-term clinical outcomes for this population have not been well-characterized.

MATERIALS/METHODS

The Proton Collaborative Group registry (NCT01255748), a multi-institutional prospective database of academic and community proton centers in the US, was queried for patients with thymomas and thymic carcinomas treated with PBT. Patients with recurrent/metastatic disease, non-thymic histology, received either prior or palliative radiotherapy (dose < 40 Gy RBE) were excluded. Overall survival (OS) and local control (LC) were estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods.

RESULTS

A total of 97 patients were identified in the PCG registry. After applying relevant exclusion criteria, 70 patients from 12 proton centers treated from 2011-2021 were included for analysis. Median follow-up length was 16 months. Median age was 58.5 years (IQR 46-63), and 60% were female. 81.4% had a diagnosis of thymoma, and 18.6% thymic carcinoma. 59 patients underwent surgical resection. 11 were treated with definitive PBT, of which 5 received concurrent chemotherapy. Median dose was 54 Gy RBE (range 41.4 - 70 Gy RBE), median number of fractions was 30 (range 21 - 38). 73.4% received pencil beam scanning and 23% uniform scanning PBT. Treatment was overall well-tolerated: a single patient developed grade 4 pneumonitis. Grade 3 AEs were seen in 3 patients - dyspnea, anorexia, and heart failure. Highest grade toxicity experienced was grade 2 for 47.1% and grade 1 for 42.9% of patients. 3-year overall survival (OS) was 82.6% for the entire cohort. 3-year OS was 94% for resected/adjuvant cohort and 35.6% in the non-surgical/definitive cohort. 3-year local control (LC) was 91.7% for the entire cohort. By surgery/margin status, 3-year LC was 96.8% in patients with close or negative margins (a single failure in a patient with close margins), whereas 3-year LC was 55.1% for patients with positive margins/unresectable disease.

CONCLUSION

Thymic malignancies treated with PBT appear to have favorable outcomes, especially in the adjuvant setting, in this cohort representing the largest series of such patients.

Combined Analysis of a Phase III Randomized Trial and Phase II Prospective Trial with Blind Control Matching of Patients Receiving Whole-Lung, Low-Dose Radiation for COVID-19: Full Results and Immunologic Correlates of the RESCUE 1-19 Trial

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Whole-lung, low-dose radiation (LD-RT) for COVID-19 requires randomization and biologic correlates to determine causality and mechanism.

MATERIALS/METHODS

A phase III trial randomized COVID-19 patients to physician's choice of drug therapy with or without LD-RT. Primary endpoint was intubation-free survival (IFS). The trial was designed with 80% power (two-sided log rank, alpha 0.05) to detect a hazard ratio of 0.3 after 12 intubation events. Estimating a 25% event rate, the planned sample size was 84 patients plus 25 to account for declining intubation rates and screen failures. Due to hospitalization declines and other barriers, the trial closed prematurely. Available randomized data were analyzed by intention-to-treat and combined with phase II results and immunologic correlates, using one-sided significance and an alpha of 0.1 to inform future trial design.

RESULTS

From Jun 2020-Jun 2022, 14 patients were randomized on a phase III trial. From Apr 2020-Dec 2020, 42 patients were enrolled on a phase II trial and blindly matched to 40 controls from contemporaneous trials. 96 total patients and 193 blood samples were available for analysis. Mean hospital duration with LD-RT was 12.9 vs 15.4 days in controls (p = 0.12). Oxygen flow rate >15 L/min (26% vs 38%, p = .27), high-flow oxygen >30 L/min (24% vs 38%, p = 0.18), non-invasive positive-pressure >60 L/min (9% vs 27%, p = 0.03), and mechanical ventilation (9% vs 24%, p = 0.05) reduced with LD-RT. Mean supplemented oxygen volume was 171,759 vs 547,626 liters in controls, with daily means of 10 vs 23 L/min (p = 0.03). Radiographs worsened in 43% vs 71% of controls (p = 0.03). Arterial blood gas mean P/F ratios improved 22% after LD-RT vs declined 8% in controls (p = 0.12). Mean days febrile were 1.8 vs 2.9 in controls (p = 0.10). Rate of myocardial injury was 47% vs 40% in controls (p = 0.77). Flow cytometry revealed 4-fold and 30-fold larger expansions, respectively, in CD8- and CD4-positive CD3+PD1+Ki67-high proliferating cytotoxic T-cells (300% vs 75% expansion, p = 0.07) and helper T-cells (200% expansion vs 6% contraction, p = 0.03) at day 7. In the randomized cohort, mean oxygen volume fell 75% with LD-RT to 78,336 vs 316,786 liters in controls (p = 0.13), mean flow rates were 5.1 vs 18.4 L/min (p = 0.13), radiographs worsened in 50% vs 100% (p = .17), P/F ratios improved 31% vs declined 68% in controls (p = 0.03), hospital duration was 8.9 vs 11.5 days (p = 0.22), and zero LD-RT patients vs one control intubated.

CONCLUSION

Combined analysis of a phase II/III randomized trial suggests that LD-RT prevents ventilation, reduces supplemental oxygen need, improves clinical course, and enhances immune response. LD-RT may have both immediate direct effects and delayed enhanced immunity in COVID-19. Larger multi-institutional trials are justified.

[Effects of rapid drug sensitivity testing for multidrug-resistant bacteria on the prognosis of patients with severe intra-abdominal infection]

Objective: To examine the clinical value of rapid detection of drug-resistant bacteria by immunochromatography and the effects of rapid detection on the prognosis of patients with severe intra-abdominal infection complicated by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) bloodstream infection. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. We analyzed clinical data of 73 patients with severe abdominal infections with sepsis or septic shock complicated by CRE bloodstream infection admitted to the general surgery department of Jinling Hospital between February 2022 and February 2023. Patients were divided into a colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay (GICA) group (17 patients) and conventional testing group (56 patients) based on whether a GICA for CRE had been performed on the patients' first blood culture sample during the diagnosis and treatment process. There were no statistically significant differences between the GICA and conventional testing groups in age ([55.9±17.3] vs. [47.6±16.4] years), sex ([16 men vs. one woman ] vs. [41 men vs. 15 women]), median Charlson comorbidity index (3.0[2.0,4.0] vs. 3.0[2.0, 4.8]), septic shock (10 vs. 39), or acute kidney injury (8 vs. 40) (all P>0.05). Both groups routinely underwent traditional bacterial identification and drug susceptibility testing. Additionally, patients in the GICA group were tested directly for positive blood cultures using a GICA carbapenemase test kit. The main outcomes were mortality rates on Days 28 and 90 after the first identification of CRE bloodstream infection in both groups. We also compared the microbial clearance rate, duration of hospitalization and intensive care unit stay, and time from onset of CRE bloodstream infection to initiation of targeted and appropriate antibiotics between the two groups. Results: The rate of microbial clearance of bloodstream infection was significantly greater in the GICA group than in the conventional testing group (15/17 vs. 34/56 [60.7%], χ2=4.476, P=0.034), whereas the 28-day mortality tended to be lower in the GICA than conventional testing group [5/17 vs. 44.6% [25/56], χ2=1.250, P=0.264). The 90-day mortality (8/17 vs. 53.6% [30/56], χ2=0.222, P=0.638), median duration of hospitalization (37.0 [18.0, 46.5] days vs. 45.5 [32.2, 64.8] days, Z=-1.867, P=0.062), and median duration of intensive care unit stay (18.0 [6.5, 35.0] days vs. 32.0 [5.0, 51.8] days, Z=-1.251, P=0.209). The median time between the onset of bloodstream infection and administration of antibiotics was 49.0 (38.0, 69.0) hours in the GICA group, which is significantly shorter than the 163.0 (111.8, 190.0) hours in the conventional testing group (Z=-5.731, P<0.001). The median time between the onset of bloodstream infection and administration of appropriate antibiotics was 40.0 (34.0, 80.0) hours in the GICA group, which is shorter than in the conventional testing group (68.0 [38.2, 118.8]) hours; however, this difference is not statistically significant (Z=-1.686, P=0.093). Conclusions: GICA can provide information on carbapenemase- producing pathogens faster than traditional drug sensitivity testing, enabling early administration of the optimal antibiotics. The strategy of 'carbapenemase detection first' for managing bacterial infection has the potential to improve prognosis of patients and reduce mortality rate.

Inhibiting mechanisms of metal ion complexation on photogenerated reactive intermediates derived from dissolved black carbon

Dissolved black carbon (DBC), an important photosensitizer in surface waters, can influence the photodegradation of various organic micropollutants. In natural water systems, DBC often co-occurs with metal ions as DBC-metal ion complexes; however, the influence of metal ion complexation on the photochemical activity of DBC is still unclear. Herein, the effects of metal ion complexation were investigated using common metal ions (Mn²⁺, Cr³⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, Zn²⁺, Al³⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺). Complexation constants (logK_M) derived from three-dimensional fluorescence spectra revealed that Mn²⁺, Cr³⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, Zn²⁺, and Al³⁺ quenched the fluorescence components of DBC via static quenching. The steady-state radical experiment suggested that in the complex systems of DBC with various metal ions, Mn²⁺, Cr³⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, Zn²⁺ and Al³⁺ inhibited the photogeneration of ³DBC* via dynamic quenching, which reduced the yields of ³DBC*-derived ¹O₂ and O₂·^-. Moreover, ³DBC* quenching by metal ions was associated with the complexation constant. A strong positive linear relationship existed between logK_M and the dynamic quenching rate constant of metal ions. These results indicate that the strong complexation ability of metal ions enabled ³DBC quenching, which highlights the photochemical activity of DBC in natural aquatic environments enriched with metal ions.

Remediation of Cr(VI)-contaminated soil using self-sustaining smoldering

Self-sustaining smoldering is an emerging technology for nonaqueous-phase liquid remediation; however, it is rarely applied for Cr(VI)-contaminated soil treatment. In this study, self-sustaining smoldering using rice straw (RS) as a surrogate fuel was applied to remediate Cr(VI)-contaminated soil for the first time. Thirteen one-dimensional vertical smoldering experiments were conducted to investigate the effectiveness of the smoldering method and the effects of key experimental parameters on smoldering remediation performance. Smoldering was observed to be self-sustaining within the range of RS particle size from <0.16 to 2.00-4.00 mm, airflow from 0.2 to 1 m³/h, and Cr(VI)-impacted soil/RS ratios from 2:1 to 6:1. The Cr(VI)-contaminated soil was effectively remediated, which was confirmed by lowered Cr(VI) contents in the treated samples (decreased by 52.22-86.57%) and the elevated fraction of Cr oxidizable and residual form (increased by 1.14-3.30 and 2.97-4.00 times, respectively), compared to the control. The reducing gases (CO and C_xH_y) generated during the smoldering played a crucial role in the remediation process. The contents of available P and K in the remediated soil containing the remaining biochar and ash increased, thus improving soil reusability. Hence, this study shows that smoldering with RS as supplemental fuel is a promising Cr(VI)-contaminated soil management technique without supplying substantial external energy.

Risk prediction of second primary malignancies in primary colorectal neuroendocrine neoplasms patients: a population-based study

PURPOSE

In this study, we aimed to identify risk factors for developing second primary malignancies (SPMs) in colorectal neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) patients and develop a competing-risk nomogram to predict SPMs' probabilities quantitatively.

METHODS

Patients with colorectal NENs were retrospectively collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database during 2000-2013. Potential risk factors for SPMs' occurrence in colorectal NENs' patients were identified by the Fine and Gray's proportional sub-distribution hazards model. Then, a competing-risk nomogram was constructed to quantify SPMs' probabilities. The discriminative abilities and calibrations of this competing-risk nomogram were assessed by the area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves (AUC) and calibration curves.

RESULTS

We identified 11,017 colorectal NENs' patients, and randomly divided them into training (n = 7711 patients) and validation (n = 3306 patients) cohorts. In the whole cohort, 12.4% patients (n = 1369) had developed SPMs during the maximum follow-up of approximately 19 years (median 8.9 years). Sex, age, race, primary tumor location, and chemotherapy were identified as risk factors for SPMs' occurrence in colorectal NENs' patients. Such factors were selected to develop a competing-risk nomogram and showed excellent predictive ability for SPMs' occurrence (the 3-, 5-, and 10-year AUC values were 0.631, 0.632, and 0.629 in the training cohort and 0.665, 0.639, 0.624 in the validation cohort, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

This research identified risk factors for SPMs' occurrence in colorectal NENs' patients. Competing-risk nomogram was constructed and proved to have good performance.

A Deeper Insight into the Interfacial Behavior and Structural Properties of Mixed DPPC/POPC Monolayers: Implications for Respiratory Health

1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphorcholine (POPC) are important components in pulmonary surfactants (PSs), of which the relative content is related to lung compliance. Herein, the phase behavior and thermodynamic structure of mixed DPPC/POPC monolayers were studied to elucidate the intermolecular interaction between DPPC and POPC molecules. Surface pressure-molecular area isotherms demonstrated that POPC significantly affected the phase behavior of the lipid domain structure as a function of its concentration. The compression modulus of the mixed monolayers reduced with the increase in POPC proportion, which can be attributed to the intermolecular repulsion between DPPC and POPC. Brewster angle microscopy analysis showed that the ordered structure of the monolayers trended toward fluidization in the presence of POPC. Raman spectroscopy results revealed that the change in C-C skeleton stretching vibration was the main cause of the decrease in the monolayer packing density. These findings provide new insights into the role of different phospholipid components in the function of PS film at a molecular level, which can help us to understand the synergy effects of the proportional relationship between DPPC and POPC on the formation and progression of lung disease and provide some references for the synthesis of lung surfactants.

Recent Advances and Future Prospects on the Tailing Covering Technology for Oxidation Prevention of Sulfide Tailings

Acid mine drainage, produced from sulfur-containing mine waste exposed to air, water, and bacteria, is considered as a serious environmental pollutant because of its extremely low pH and excessive heavy metals. In order to solve the ecological environment problems caused by the acid mine drainage, treatment methods such as neutralization, adsorption, passivation, bio-inhibition, and physical coverage have been developed. Nevertheless, these methods are terminal treatment methods, which are unable to prevent the generation of acid mine drainage at the source. Recently, it is noteworthy that the tailing covering technology is particularly emphasized, owing to its superior source control capability. By reducing the contact with air, water, and bacteria, the oxidation of sulfide tailings is significantly reduced, thus avoiding the production of acid mine drainage. To date, massive research has been studied and parts of technologies have been applied, but the review on the principles, processes, and applications of these technologies are still lacking. Thus, the present review aims to increase the knowledge related to the most relevant application of tailing covering technology with the following aspects: (i) the background, concepts, and performance of tailing covering technology; (ii) the applicable conditions for each tailings coverage system and their advantages and limitations; and (iii) the future perspective of this technology.

Qualitative determination of volatile substances in different flavored cigarette paper by using headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) combined with chemometrics

In order to investigate the difference of volatile substances among flavored cigarette paper, which are supplied by several manufacturers with different batches, the stability of the complex system of scented cigarette paper was analyzed and evaluated. In this study, Headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) was used to detect the aroma compounds of 23 flavored cigarette paper samples. Based on fingerprint analysis, the differences and changes of aroma compounds of different samples were studied in the form of data visualization. Principal component analysis, partial least squares regression analysis, cluster heatmap analysis and artificial neural network analysis were used to evaluate the stability of different cigarette paper. The results show that: A total of 29 volatile substances were identified from different scented cigarette paper. Fingerprint analysis revealed that the volatile substances of different cigarette paper samples were roughly the same, but not the content. The results of chemometrics analysis showed that there were significant differences in the characteristic aroma compounds of cigarette paper from different manufacturers. HS-GC-IMS technology combined with chemometrics method could be applied to determine the difference of volatile substances among different flavored cigarette paper, which theoretically and technically supported the quality stability maintenance and identification of flavored cigarette paper processed in different places.

An evaluation of the population characteristics, semen quality, and utilization status of autologous sperm cryopreservation and fertility preservation in for 662 patients: a 6-year monocentric retrospective study

Background

Sperm cryopreservation is an effective method of fertility preservation for disease-related and social sperm freezing. In total, 662 subjects (range: 15–65 years-of-age; mean: 33.49 ± 8.79 years-of-age) were included in this study to investigate the population characteristics, semen quality, and usage of autologous sperm preservation patients in Beijing. Of these, 351 were cancer patients (53.02%, 31.14 ± 7.32 years-of-age) and 311 were non-cancer patients (46.98%, 36.14 ± 9.54 years-of-age).

Results

We found that the number of preservation cases increased steadily from 2015 to 2019; 89.73% of these had a bachelor's degree or above; 54.83%, 41.54%, and 3.63% were single, married, and divorced, respectively. The cases of cancers and oligozoospermia accounted for 71.30% of all patients; therefore, most patients required fertility preservation due to disease. The cancer group had a significantly lower sperm concentration, rate of progressive sperm after the frozen-thawed test, total progressive motility sperm count after the frozen-thawed test, and recovery rate of progressive motile sperm (RRPM) than the non-cancer group (all P < 0.05). Sperm count-related parameters were significantly affected by testicular cancer, while sperm motility-related parameters and RRPM were significantly affected by leukemia. The utilization rate of preserved sperm was 6.34% after 6 to 78 months of follow-up. In terms of fresh or frozen embryo transfer, the clinical pregnancy rate was 56.76% or 50.00%, and the live birth rate was 24.32% or 21.43%, respectively.

Conclusion

The need for autologous sperm preservation was dominated by patients with diseases, followed by the need for social sperm freezing. Tumors had a major negative impact on semen quality, and the usage rates of stored semen were at lower level compared to the number of sperm cryopreservation. Medical staff and patients should pay attention to both cognition-action consistency and cost-effectiveness in fertility preservation.

Enhancive and inhibitory effects of copper complexation on triplet dissolved black carbon-sensitized photodegradation of organic micropollutants

Excited-triplet dissolved black carbon (DBC) was deemed as a significant reactive intermediate in the phototransformation of environmental micropollutants, but the impacts of concomitant metal ions on photochemical behavior of excited-triplet DBC (³DBC*) are poorly understood. Here, the photolytic kinetics of sulfadiazine and carbamazepine induced by ³DBC* involving Cu²⁺ was explored. The presence of Cu²⁺ reduced the ³DBC*-induced photodegradation rate of sulfadiazine; whereas for carbamazepine, Cu²⁺ enhanced ³DBC*-induced photodegradation. Cu(II)-DBC complex was formed due to the decreasing fluorescence intensities of DBC in the presence of Cu²⁺. Cu²⁺ complexation caused the decrease of ³DBC* steady-state concentrations, which markedly reduced ³DBC*-induced photodegradation rate of sulfadiazine due to its high triplet reactivity. Kinetic model showed that ³DBC* quenching rate by Cu²⁺ was 7.98 × 10⁹ M^-1 s^-1. Cu²⁺ complexation can also enhance the electron transfer ability, thereby producing more ∙OH in Cu(II)-DBC complex, which explains the promoting effect of Cu²⁺ complexation on carbamazepine photodegradation in view of its low triplet reaction rate. These indicate that ³DBC* reactivity differences of organic micropollutants may explain their photodegradation kinetics differences in DBC system with/without Cu²⁺, which was supported by the linearized relationship between the photodegradation rate ratios of ten micropollutants with/without Cu²⁺ and their triplet reaction activity.

Proteome Analysis of Temporomandibular Joint with Disc Displacement

Disc displacement without reduction is a common disorder of the temporomandibular joint, causing clinical symptoms and sometimes condylar degeneration. In some cases, bone regeneration is detected following disc-repositioning procedures. Until now, however, systems-wide knowledge of the protein levels for condylar outcome with disc position is still lacking. Here, we performed comprehensive expression profiling of synovial fluid from 109 patients with disc displacement without reduction using high-resolution data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry and characterized differences in 1,714 proteins. Based on magnetic resonance imaging, samples were divided into groups with versus without condylar absorption and subgroups with versus without new bone. For the proteomic analysis, 32 proteins in groups presented with statistical significance (>2-fold, P < 0.05). Pathways such as response to inorganic substances, blood coagulation, and estrogen signaling were significantly expressed in the group with bone absorption as compared with pathways such as regulation of body fluid levels, vesicle-mediated transport, and focal adhesion, which were enriched in the group without bone absorption. In subgroup analysis, 45 proteins of significant importance (>2-fold, P < 0.05) were associated with pathways including would healing, glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, and amino acid metabolism. Combined with clinical examination, molecules such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase beta (ACACB) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1) were related to features such as visual analog scale and maximum interincisal opening (P < 0.05). In addition, 7 proteins were examined by Western blotting, including progesterone immunomodulatory binding factor 1 (PIBF1), histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG), and protein kinase C and casein kinase substrate in neurons 2 (PACSIN2). In conclusion, this study provides the first proteome analysis of condylar absorption at disc displacement without reduction and postoperative new bone formation after disc reposition. Integrated with clinical data, this analysis provides an important insight into the proteomics of condylar modification at disc position.

[Nur77 promotes invasion and migration of gastric cancer cells through the NF-κB/IL-6 pathway]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the association of Nur77 with overall survival of gastric cancer patients and investigate the role of Nur77 in invasion and migration of gastric cancer cells.

METHODS

Oncomine database was used to analyze the expression of Nur77 in gastric cancer and gastric mucosa tissues, and the distribution characteristics of Nur77 protein between gastric cancer and normal tissues were compared using Human Protein Atlas. GEPIA2 was used to analyze the relationship of Nur77 expression and the patients' survival. The expression of Nur77 in gastric cancer cell lines GES-1, AGS and MKN-45 were detected by Western blotting. The regulatory interactions between IL-6 and Nur77 were verified by transfecting the cells with specific Nur-77 siRNA and Nur-77-overexpressing plasmid. The changes in migration ability of the cells following Nur-77 knockdown were assessed with scratch assay. The effect of Nur-77 overexpression or IL-6 knockdown, or their combination, on migration and invasion of the gastric cancer cells were examined using Transwell assay. The effect of Nur77 expression level on NF-κB/IL-6 pathway activation was analyzed using Western blotting.

RESULTS

Oncomine database showed that gastric cancer tissues expressed a significantly higher level of Nur77 mRNA than normal tissues (P < 0.05). Nur77 expression was detected mostly in the nucleus, and a high Nur77 expression was associated with a poor survival outcome of the patients (P < 0.05). In gastric cancer cells, the high expression of Nur77 participated in the regulation of IL-6. Nur77 silencing significantly lowered the migration ability of the cells (P < 0.05), and IL-6 silencing significantly attenuated the enhanced migration caused by Nur77 overexpression (P < 0.05). Nur77 participates in the activation of NF-κB/IL-6 signaling pathway by regulating the expression of p-p65, p65, p-Stat3 and Stat3.

CONCLUSION

A high Nur77 expression is strongly correlated with a poor prognosis of gastric cancer patients. Nur77 promotes the invasion and migration of gastric cancer cells possibly by regulating the NF-κB/IL-6 signaling pathway.

Potential health risks of the interaction of microplastics and lung surfactant

Microplastics (MPs), as pollutants of environmental concern, are correlated with increased risk of various respiratory diseases. Nevertheless, whether or not MPs have adverse influences on the interfacial properties of lung surfactant (LS), and its effect on the generation of reactive oxygen species are poorly understood. In the present study, natural LS extracted from porcine lungs was used to investigate the interaction with polystyrene as a representative MPs. The results showed that the phase behavior, surface tension, and membrane structure of the LS were altered in the presence of polystyrene. Adsorption experiments demonstrated that in the mixed system of polystyrene and LS (the main active ingredients are phospholipids and proteins), adsorption of phospholipid components by polystyrene was notably higher than that of proteins. Moreover, polystyrene can accelerate the conversion between ascorbic acid and deoxyascorbic acid, thereby producing hydrogen peroxide (HOOH) in simulated lung fluid (containing LS) and further giving rise to an increase in the content of hydroxyl radicals (•OH). This work provides new insight into the potential hazard of MPs in human respiratory system, which is helpful for deeply understanding the unfavorable physicochemical effects of MPs exposure and the role of inhaled MPs on lung health.

Association Between Natural/Built Campus Environment and Depression Among Chinese Undergraduates: Multiscale Evidence for the Moderating Role of Socioeconomic Factors After Controlling for Residential Self-Selection

Aim

Evidence on the association between natural-built environments and depression is largely derived from the general population and prone to residential self-selection bias because of the nature of cross-sectional research design. Despite emerging adulthood, which includes the university years, is a critical stage for forming life-long health habits, studies on this topic focusing on undergraduate students are limited. The current study aims to illustrate the underlying mechanisms for how the campus-based environments affect depression in undergraduate students.

Methods

Based on a nationwide representative analytical sample of 22,009 Chinese undergraduates in 2018, we examined participants' reports of depression and campus-centered natural/built environments within multiple buffer sizes including 0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 km. After disentangling residential self-selection, we explored the moderating role of the socioeconomic attributes of undergraduates. The depression outcome was measured by the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9). Indicators of exposure to green and blue space, transportation infrastructure, and food environments were objectively assessed using different circular buffers around each campus address.

Results

Modeling results indicated that campus neighborhoods with more scattered trees (0.5 km), water (0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 km), and street intersections (1.0 and 2.5 km) were protective against depression. In contrast, those living near denser distributions of outlets serving take-away sweets and fast food (0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 km) were susceptible to depression. These associations were modified by undergraduates' socioeconomic attributes (e.g., grade, Hukou status, and ethnicity) and varied according to geographical scales and exposure metrics.

Conclusion

To deliver effective environmental interventions to curb the prevalence of depression among undergraduate students, further planning policies should focus on the careful conception of the campus-based environment, especially regarding different spatial scales.

Dual roles of Cu2+ complexation with dissolved organic matter on the photodegradation of trace organic pollutants: Triplet- and OH-induced reactions

The triplet excited state of dissolved organic matter (³DOM^⁎) is highly effective in the photodegradation of a broad spectrum of trace organic pollutants (TOPs), and its photoactivity is affected by concomitant metal ions in surface waters. However, the impact of environmental metal ions on the ³DOM^⁎-induced photodegradation of TOPs has not been systemically explored. Herein, we investigated the effect of environmental Cu²⁺ on the ³DOM^⁎-induced photodegradation kinetics of 16 TOPs. A fluorescence quenching experiment showed that a Cu(II)-DOM complex was formed. For the TOPs with stronger electron-donating groups (triplet-labile moieties, e.g., phenols and anilines), Cu²⁺ complexation notably inhibited ³DOM^⁎-induced photodegradation. This may be ascribed to the decrease of ³DOM^⁎ steady-state concentration because Cu²⁺ complexation reduces its formation rates and enhances scavenging rates tested by sorbic acid isomerization experiment. Meanwhile, it was found that Cu²⁺ complexation facilitated the photolysis of refractory TOPs (lower triplet reactivity) because of enhanced electron transfer between DOM and Cu(II), causing photoinduced OH formation. These findings implied that ³DOM^⁎ reactivity differences in TOPs could affect the photodegradation rates in the complex system, which was confirmed via a linear correlation of photodegradation rate ratios for 16 TOPs induced by ³DOM^⁎ in the presence/absence of Cu²⁺ with their ³DOM^⁎ reactivity. These findings helped to improve our understanding of the photochemical reactivity of ³DOM^⁎ in natural waters, especially the effects of environmentally concomitant metal ions.

Radical chemistry of dissolved black carbon under sunlight irradiation: quantum yield prediction and effects on sulfadiazine photodegradation

Dissolved black carbon (DBC) is regarded as an important part of the natural organic matter pool. However, it is unclear about DBC's photochemical activity and the relationships between reactive intermediates (RIs) and the molecular structure of DBC remain unclear. In this study, we investigate the photochemical formation ability of RIs and spectral parameters (E₂/E₃, S_275-295) of DBC made from five types of plants at five pyrolysis temperatures. The results showed that there were good linear regressions between the RI quantum yields and the spectral parameters (E₂/E₃, S_275-295), and this was indicative of the RI generation prediction from DBC under solar irradiation. The DBC-mediated photochemical experiment of sulfadiazine revealed that ³DBC^* was the primary active species for the indirect photodegradation of sulfadiazine. Further studies indicated that a linear relationship was observed between the indirect photodegradation ability of sulfadiazine induced directly by ³DBC^* at different pyrolysis temperatures and the ³DBC^* quantum yields or E₂/E₃. These findings indicate that the simple models of the RI quantum yield as a function of spectral parameters can be used to evaluate the degradation of pollutants with known DBC spectral parameters.

Evaluation of the permeability and potential toxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to pulmonary surfactant membrane by the parallel artificial membrane permeability assay model

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can penetrate and accumulate in the pulmonary surfactant (PS) membranes, leading to abnormalities of biological macromolecules and the destruction of membrane structure and properties. In the present study, the bioavailability, apparent permeability, effective permeability and residual coefficient of 10 PAHs on PS membrane was assessed by the parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA). The influence of various forces on permeability is obtained by analyzing the correlation between parameters and physicochemical properties. Research shows that octanol-water partition coefficient (K_ow) cannot directly predict permeability, and permeability has no significant relationship with polarity. Dispersion, induction, coupling/polarization promote permeation, while hydrogen bonded acid and n-n electron pair inhibit permeation. Further surface pressure-area (π-A) isotherms test and Brewster angle microscope observation manifested that there are huge differences in the transmembrane ability and effects on the membrane of PAHs with different structures. This work has considerable significance that will help to evaluate the bioavailability and human health risk of PAHs.

Potential hazards associated with interactions between diesel exhaust particulate matter and pulmonary surfactant

Long term exposure to diesel exhaust particulate matter (DEPM) can induce numerous adverse health effects to the respiratory system. Understanding the interaction between DEPM and pulmonary surfactant (PS) can be an essential step toward preliminary evaluation of the impact of DEPM on pulmonary health. Herein, DEPM was explored for its interaction with 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), the major component of PS. The results indicated that the surface pressure-area (π-A) isotherms of DPPC monolayers shifted toward lower molecular areas and the compression modulus (C_S^-1) reduced in the presence of DEPM. Atomic force microscopy image showed that DEPM can disrupt the ultrastructure of DPPC monolayers along with the direction of lateral compression. In addition, DPPC can in turn condition the surface properties of DEPM, permitting its agglomeration in aqueous media, which was attributed to the adsorption of DEPM to DPPC. Furthermore, the particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) could be desorbed from DEPM by the solubilization of DPPC and it was positively correlated with the hydrophobicity of PAHs. These findings revealed the toxicity of DEPM-associated PAHs and the role of DPPC in facilitating the removal of the inhaled particles, which can provide a new insight into the potential hazards of airborne particles on lung health.

Study on the Role of Quartz in the Bio-Oxidation of Sulfide Minerals From Mine Solid Waste

Sulfide-containing mine waste was oxidized to produce acid mine drainage, which lead to acidification of surrounding soil and downstream rivers and posed a threat to the surrounding environment. Quartz often coexists with sulfide minerals and affects the oxidation of sulfide minerals. In order to explore the role of quartz in the bio-oxidation of sulfide minerals in mine solid waste, the mixed minerals of quartz and sulfide minerals were bio-oxidized by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. The results showed that quartz could improve the microbial activity and increase the acid production of sulfide minerals. The larger the proportion of quartz in bio-oxidation of sulfide minerals, the less the production of secondary minerals such as jarosite, and the larger the leaching amount of iron and sulfate. This research provides new ideas for speeding up the bio-oxidation of sulfide mineral to remove iron and sulfate. It provides a new way to solve acid pollution caused by oxidation of sulfide minerals.

Formation Process of Silicate-Iron Oxyhydroxide Complex and Its Influence on the Distribution of Heavy Metals in Mining Area

Silicate-iron oxyhydroxide complex formed by mineral weathering has an important influence on the geochemical reactions of heavy metals in mining areas. In this work, tailings were collected from an abandoned iron tailings pond, and the physicochemical properties and distribution of heavy metals were studied under natural weathering and hydraulic processes. The results showed that Fe²⁺ in the iron tailings were transported to the surface during the weathering process, and then the iron oxyhydroxide formed by mineralization adsorbed Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺. Silicic acid and exchangeable acid were released during the formation of binary agglomerates between hydroxy iron oxide and kaolin, then they migrated to the lower area of a tailing pond via surface runoff. Finally, silicate-iron oxyhydroxide complex were formed. The heavy metals were replaced by H⁺ and penetrated to the bottom layer with water. This research provides an important scientific basis for the prevention and control of heavy metal pollution in mining areas.

Study on Tailings Covering System Constructed by Geological Polymerization of Mine Waste, Part 1: Material Characterization and Cover Construction

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a serious and persistent environmental pollution problem. At present, many studies have focused on the tailings pond's cover systems. This paper introduced the research results of using tin tailings from Laili mountain to make the covering layer of tailings pond. The first part included a detailed description of tailings characterization and acid production potential. On this basis, the hard layer (HL) was prepared and its feasibility as oxidation barrier was evaluated. It was found that when the proportion of tailings waste was 70%, the immobilization efficiency of heavy metals can reach more than 99.45%, and the pH of leaching solution was about 10.8. Moreover, the beneficial effect of solid waste addition on the HL was also verified. This suggests that HL as a post-mining restorative strategy has strong positive influence on pollution control.