Bisphenol A Exposure Interferes with Reproductive Hormones and Decreases Sperm Counts: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Epidemiological Studies

Bisphenol A (BPA), an acknowledged endocrine disrupter, is easily exposed to humans via food packaging and container. However, a consensus has not been reached on the extent to which BPA exposure affects the reproductive system. We therefore conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to elucidate the relationship between BPA exposure and male reproduction-related indicators. Up to October 2023, a comprehensive search was carried out in the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane and Web of Science, and 18 studies were ultimately included. β coefficients from multivariate linear regression analyses were pooled using a random effects model. The results showed that the urinary BPA concentration was negatively correlated with the sperm concentration (β coefficient = -0.03; 95% CI: -0.06 to -0.01; I2 = 0.0%, p = 0.003) and total sperm count (β coefficient = -0.05; 95% CI: -0.08 to -0.02; I2 = 0.0%, p < 0.001). In addition, BPA concentrations were associated with increased sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels, increased estradiol (E2) levels, and reduced biologically active androgen levels. However, the relationship between an increased risk of below-reference sperm quality and BPA exposure was not robust. This systematic review revealed that BPA exposure disrupts reproductive hormones, reduces sperm counts and may ultimately adversely affect male reproduction.

Alkalized MXene/carbon nanotube composite for stable Na metal anodes

Ti3C2 MXenes are emerging 2D materials and have attracted increasing attention in sodium metal anode fabrication because of their high conductivity, multifunctional groups and excellent mechanical performances. However, the severe self-restacking of Ti3C2 MXenes is not conducive to dispersing Na+ and limits the function of regulating sodium deposition. Herein, an alkalized MXene/carbon nanotube (CNT) composite (named A-M-C) is introduced to regulate Na deposition behavior, which consists of Na3Ti5O12 microspheres, Ti3C2 MXene nanosheets and CNTs. Ti3C2 MXene nanosheets with large interlayer spaces and "sodiophilic" functional groups can provide abundant active sites for uniform nucleation and deposition of Na. Plenty of nanosheets are grown on the surface of the microsphere, thereby reducing the local current density, which can guide initial Na nucleation and promote Na dendrite-free growth. Furthermore, CNTs increase the electrical conductivity of the composite and achieve fast Na+ transport, improving the cycling stability of Na metal batteries. As a result, at a capacity of 1 mA h cm-2, the A-M-C electrode achieves a high average coulombic efficiency (CE) of 99.9% after 300 cycles at 2 mA cm-2. The symmetric cells of A-M-C/Na provide a long cycling life of more than 1400 h at 1 mA cm-2 with a minimal overpotential of 19 mV at an areal capacity of 1 mA h cm-2. The A-M-C/Na//NVP@C full cell presents a high coulombic efficiency of 98% with 100 mA g-1 in the first cycle. The strategy in this work provides new insights into fabricating novel MXene-based anode materials for dendrite-free sodium deposition.

Solubility, Thermodynamic Parameters, and Dissolution Properties of 17-α Hydroxyprogesterone in 13 Pure Solvents

The static gravimetric method was used to measure the solubility of 17-α hydroxyprogesterone (OHP) in 13 pure solvents ranging from 278.15 to 323.15 K. The results indicate that the experimental solubility of OHP increases with increasing temperature. The experimental solubility data were correlated by the selected van't Hoff model, λh model, modified Apelblat model, Yaws model, and nonrandom two-liquid (NRTL) model. The fitting results show that the Yaws model can give better correlation results by fitting 13 different pure solvent systems. Based on the NRTL equation, the thermodynamic analysis of solubility data showed that the mixing process was spontaneous. The Hansen solubility parameters (HSPs) and solvent effect were applied to explore these solubility characteristics. Finally, the thermodynamic properties ΔsolH°, ΔsolS°, ΔsolG°, %ξH, and %ξTS were calculated by the van't Hoff model equation. The results showed that ΔsolH°, ΔsolS°, and ΔsolG° are all positive values, indicating that the dissolution of OHP in the selected solvent is an endothermic reaction with increasing entropy.

The mechanism of NOx removal in the sintering process based on source reduction of carbon emissions

This study systematically investigates the mechanism of NOx emissions during the sintering process, with a focus on the utilization of biochar as an auxiliary fuel to replace a portion of the coke traditionally used in iron ore sintering. The research involved the simulation of sintering raw material ratios using iron ore, biochar, and coke powder. Substitution levels of biochar for coke were set at 0%, 20%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 80%, and 100%. NOx emissions during the sintering process were monitored using a sintering flue gas detection system. Simultaneously, a comprehensive analysis of the sintered ore was conducted with the aim of producing samples that meet sintered ore requirements while reducing NOx emissions. Experimental results revealed that when biomass charcoal substitution for coke reached 50%, the lowest NO emissions were observed during the sintering process, with a reduction of over 90% in accumulated NO emissions in the exhaust gas. In this process, due to the participation of biochar, CO2 emissions were reduced by approximately 50% compared to traditional sintering processes. The study also analyzed the physicochemical properties of the sintered ore using methods such as XRD, Raman, FTIR, and Vickers hardness testing. The results indicated that the hardness fluctuated within the range of 610 to 710N for sintered products with different levels of biochar substitution, and there were minimal changes in Fe element content and crystal phase transformations.

The adsorption properties and mechanisms of magnetic carbon-silicon composites in situ prepared from coal gasification fine slag

A novel magnetic carbon-silicon composite (Fe-HH-CGFS) was prepared from solid waste coal gasification fine slag (CGFS) by a two-step acid leaching and one-step chemical co-precipitation process, which was optimized using a 3-factor, 3-level Box-Behnken design and then analyzed for correlation. Fe-HH-CGFS was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) measurements. The results demonstrated that Fe-HH-CGFS had a reverse spinel structure with an average particle size of 5.14 nm, exhibiting a microporous/mesoporous structure with a specific surface area (SSA) of 196.84 m2 g-1 and pore volume of 0.346 cm3 g-1. Furthermore, Fe-HH-CGFS could achieve 97.59% removal efficiency of rhodamine B (RhB) under the optimal conditions: an initial concentration of RhB of 100 mg L-1, an adsorption time of 60 min, and a dosage of Fe-HH-CGFS of 1.0 g L-1. The pseudo-second-order model and the Langmuir isotherm satisfactorily described the adsorption behavior. The results indicated that the RhB removal process was a single-molecule layer endothermic adsorption, which is dominated by chemical adsorption reactions. This work is expected to provide an alternative route for the high-value utilization of CGFS and offer a valuable insight for the recycling of other solid wastes, aligning with the green development concept of "treating wastes with wastes".

Coal gasification crude slag based complex flocculants by two-step acid leaching process: synthesis, flocculation and mechanisms

Coal gasification crude slag (CGCS) is the side-product of the coal gasification process, and its effective utilization has attracted great attention. A novel flocculant of poly-aluminum-ferric-acetate-chloride (PAFAC) was synthesized based on the recovery of CGCS by a two-step acid leaching process, namely HCl-acid leaching and HAc-acid leaching, which was optimized by an acid leaching liquor volume ratio of HCl to HAc of 3 : 2, polymerization pH of 3.5, and reaction temperature and time of 70 °C and 3.0 h, respectively. The performance of PAFAC was further evaluated by kaolin simulated wastewater, domestic sewage, river water, and aquaculture wastewater. The results revealed that PAFAC was feasible for the removal of turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total phosphorus (TP). Moreover, PAFAC was characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which proved that PAFAC was a kind of amorphous polyionic composite. Additionally, the acid leaching kinetics and flocculation mechanisms were further investigated. It was found that the acid leaching process was followed by the unreacted shrinkage core model, and the flocculation process was dominated by charge neutralization, adsorption bridging and precipitation net trapping. The work is expected to develop a new method for the safe disposal of CGCS and provide a novel way for the preparation of Fe-Al composite flocculants, especially, offering a potential strategy for the promotion of the additional value of the coal chemical industry.

Synthesizing a Water-Soluble Polymeric Nitrification Inhibitor with Novel Soil-Loosening Ability

Nitrification inhibitor is essential for increasing the nitrogen utilization efficiency of agricultural plants, thus reducing environmental pollution and increasing crop yield. However, the easy volatilization and limited functional property is still the bottleneck of nitrification inhibitors. Herein, a novel water-soluble polymeric nitrification inhibitor was synthesized through the copolymerization of acrylamide and bio-based acrylic acid, which was synthesized from biomass-derived furfural, and the complexation of carboxyl groups and 3,4-dimethylpyrazole. The results showed that the nitrification inhibitor was an amorphous polymer product with a glass transition temperature of 146 °C and a thermal decomposition temperature of 176 °C, and the content of 3,4-dimethylpyrazole reached 2.81 wt%, which was 115% higher than our earlier product (1.31 wt%). The polymeric nitrification inhibitor can inhibit the activity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria effectively, thus inhibiting the conversion of ammonium nitrogen to nitrate nitrogen and converting the insoluble phosphate into soluble and absorbable phosphate. By introducing a copolymer structure with a strong flocculation capacity, the polymeric nitrification inhibitor is further endowed with a soil-loosening function, which can increase the porosity of soil to improve the soil environment. Therefore, the nitrification inhibitor can be used in water-soluble and liquid fertilizers, as well as in high tower melting granulated compound fertilizers.

Detection and Removal of Aristolochic Acid in Natural Plants, Pharmaceuticals, and Environmental and Biological Samples: A Review

Aristolochic acids (AAs) are a toxic substance present in certain natural plants. Direct human exposure to these plants containing AAs leads to a severe and irreversible condition known as aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN). Additionally, AAs accumulation in the food chain through environmental mediators can trigger Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN), an environmental variant of AAN. This paper presents a concise overview of the oncogenic pathways associated with AAs and explores the various routes of environmental exposure to AAs. The detection and removal of AAs in natural plants, drugs, and environmental and biological samples were classified and summarized, and the advantages and disadvantages of the various methods were analyzed. It is hoped that this review can provide effective insights into the detection and removal of AAs in the future.

Determination and Correlation of Solubility of N-Acetylglucosamine in Four Aqueous Binary Solvents from 283.15 to 323.15 K

N-Acetylglucosamine (NAG) is a significant novel functional monosaccharide with a wide range of potential applications, such as in the medical and cosmetic fields. A gravimetric technique was used to assess the solubility of NAG in water, methanol, N,N-dimethylformamide, water + methanol, water + n-propanol, water + N,N-dimethylformamide, and water + acetonitrile at temperatures ranging from 283.15 to 323.15 K. The outcomes of the experiment demonstrated that the temperature and water content were positively correlated with the solubility of NAG in four experimental binary solvents. The order of solubility in the four aqueous solvent mixtures is water + DMF > water + methanol > water + n-propanol > water + acetonitrile. The solubility data was well correlated using the modified Apelblat model, the CNIBS/R-K model, and the Apelblat-Jouyban-Acree model. Experimental data from NAG will help guide the design of cooling and dissolution in crystallization processes.

Functional Study of cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase A in Penicillium oxalicum

Signaling pathways play a crucial role in regulating cellulase production. The pathway mediated by signaling proteins plays a crucial role in understanding how cellulase expression is regulated. In this study, using affinity purification of ClrB, we have identified sixteen proteins that potentially interact with ClrB. One of the proteins, the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PoPKA-C), is an important component of the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway. Knocking out PoPKA-C resulted in significant decreases in the growth, glucose utilization, and cellulose hydrolysis ability of the mutant strain. Furthermore, the cellulase activity and gene transcription levels were significantly reduced in the ΔPoPKA-C mutant, while the expression activity of CreA, a transcriptional regulator of carbon metabolism repression, was notably increased. Additionally, deletion of PoPKA-C also led to earlier timing of conidia production. The expression levels of key transcription factor genes stuA and brlA, which are involved in the production of the conidia, showed significant enhancement in the ΔPoPKA-C mutant. These findings highlight the involvement of PoPKA-C in mycelial development, conidiation, and the regulation of cellulase expression. The functional analysis of PoPKA-C provides insights into the mechanism of the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway in cellulase expression in filamentous fungi and has significant implications for the development of high-yielding cellulase strains.

Metal-organic framework (UiO-66 and UiO-66-NH2)-based adsorbents for bilirubin removal used in hemoperfusion

Excessive accumulation of bilirubin in patients with hyperbilirubinemia can lead to tissue and organ damage and neurological diseases, and is even life-threatening in severe cases. Hemoperfusion is an effective method for removing bilirubin, but clinically used hemoperfusion adsorbents have unsatisfactory adsorption capacity and kinetics. In order to obtain a safe and efficient bilirubin adsorbent, Zr-based Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) material UiO-66 with high specific surface area and aqueous medium stability was prepared and modified with varying degrees of amination to improve its adsorption capacity. According to adsorption experiments in aqueous solution and simulated plasma, it was confirmed that the unsaturated coordinated zirconium in UiO-66 can effectively induce the aggregation and precipitation of free bilirubin unbound to albumin and the amino group on UiO-66-NH2 has a strong affinity for albumin bound bilirubin. The adsorption effect of UiO-66-NH2 with a high degree of amino modification is significantly stronger than that of UiO-66-NH2 with a low degree of modification. In simulated plasma with a bilirubin concentration of 40 mg dL-1, the adsorption capacities of UiO-66 and UiO-66-NH2-1.9 can reach 69.08 mg g-1 and 81.13 mg g-1. The adsorption isotherm fitting and adsorption kinetics fitting results also show that UiO-66 and UiO-66-NH2 are good adsorbents for bilirubin. In dynamic adsorption, the adsorbents also showed good performance and did not affect the protein in the plasma. The hemolysis test, coagulation time test, and cytotoxicity test confirmed that the bilirubin adsorbents based on UiO-66 and UiO-66-NH2 have good blood compatibility and biocompatibility. This study provides new ideas for the development of a novel bilirubin adsorbent and a theoretical basis for the study of bilirubin adsorption mechanisms.

Urea-Straw-Starch Fertilizer with Tunable Water- and Nutrient-Retaining Properties Assisted by High-Energy Electron-Beam Irradiation

A novel type of water- and nutrient-retaining fertilizer (WNRF) was prepared by mixing, melting, and extruding high-energy electron-beam (HEEB)-irradiated corn straw, urea, and starch. HEEB irradiation technique effectively killed pathogenic microorganisms in straw and further improved the adsorption and binding capacity of straw to urea and water. Compared to nonirradiated HEEB samples, the optimal WNRF improved the water retention rate by 25.63%, the migrate-to-surface loss control rate by 60.2%, and the leaching loss control rate by 34.71%, respectively. Thus, it effectively facilitated the growth of pak choi with a 24% increase in the dry matter weight of the shoot. This work provides a promising approach to improve water and nutrient availability in arid and semi-arid regions and to promote the efficient utilization of straw resources.

A graphene microelectrode array based microfluidic device for in situ continuous monitoring of biofilms

In situ continuous monitoring of bacterial biofilms has been a challenging job so far, but it is fundamental to the screening of novel anti-biofilm reagents. In this work, a microfluidic system utilizing a graphene-modified microelectrode array sensor was proposed to realize the dynamic state of bacterial biofilm monitoring by electrochemical impedance. The results illustrated that the observation window period of the biofilm state is significantly prolonged due to the increment of bacterial cell load on the sensing interface, thereby greatly improving the sensing signal quality. Simulation of anti-biofilm drug screening demonstrated that the performance of this method manifestly exceeded that of its endpoint counterparts.

The growth and lipid accumulation of Scenedesmus quadricauda under nitrogen starvation stress during xylose mixotrophic/heterotrophic cultivation

In order to conquer the block of high cost and low yields which limit to realize the commercialization of microalgal biodiesel, the mixotrophic and heterotrophic cultivation of Scenedesmus quadricauda FACHB-1297 fed on xylose was separately studied employing six forms of media: phosphorus sufficient, phosphorus restricted, and phosphorus starvation were combined with nitrogen sufficient and nitrogen starvation conditions. The maximum lipid content (about 41% of dry weight) was obtained on the 5th day (heterotrophic cultivation) and 8th day (mixotrophic cultivation) under the nitrogen starved and phosphorus sufficient (N0&P) conditions, which was about twofold in comparison to the final lipid content on the sufficient nitrogen condition (control). Under mixotrophic and heterotrophic modes, the highest lipid production was achieved in the N0&P trial, with the value of 274.96 mg/L and 193.77 mg/L, respectively. Xylose utilization rate of 30-96% under heterotrophic modes was apparently higher than that of 20-50% in mixotrophic modes. In contrast, phosphorus uptake rate of 100% under mixotrophic cultivation was significantly more than that of 60-90% in heterotrophic cultivation. Furthermore, under the condition of heterotrophic cultivation using xylose as a carbon source, the phosphorus had a positive impact on microalgae cell synthesis and the lipid content enhanced with the augmentation in phosphorus concentrations. We suggested that sufficient phosphorus should be supplied for obtaining higher microalgal lipid production in the lack of nitrogen under xylose heterotrophic/mixotrophic condition. This was a highly effective way to obtain efficient microalgae lipid production.

Monitoring the Opening of Rapid Palatal Expansion (RPE) in a 3D-Printed Skull Model Using Fiber Optic F-P Sensors

We present a novel method for the online measurement of multi-point opening distances of midpalatal sutures during a rapid palatal expansion (RPE) using fiber optic Fabry-Perot (F-P) sensors. The sensor consists of an optical fiber with a cut flat end face and an optical reflector, which are implanted into the palatal base structure of an expander and is capable of measuring the precise distance between two optical reflective surfaces. As a demonstration, a 3D-printed skull model containing the maxilla and zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) was produced and a miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expander (MARPE) with two guide rods was used to generate the midpalatal suture expansion. The reflected spectrums of the sensors were used to dynamically extract cavity length information for full process monitoring of expansion. The dynamic opening of the midpalatal suture during the gradual activation of the expander was measured, and a displacement resolution of 2.5 μm was demonstrated. The angle of expansion was derived and the results suggested that the midpalatal suture was opened with a slight V-type expansion of 0.03 rad at the first loading and subsequently expanded in parallel. This finding might be useful for understanding the mechanical mechanisms that lead to different types of expansion. The use of a fiber optic sensor for mounting the rapid palatal expander facilitates biomechanical studies and experimental and clinical evaluation of the effects of RPE.

Monoarsine-protected icosahedral cluster [Au13(AsPh3)8Cl4]+: comparative studies on ligand effect and surface reactivity with its stibine analogue

Ligand shells of gold nanoclusters play important roles in regulating their molecular and electronic structures. However, the similar but distinct impacts of the homologous analogues of the protecting ligands remain elusive. The C_2v symmetric monoarsine-protected cluster [Au₁₃(AsPh₃)₈Cl₄]⁺ (Au₁₃As₈) was facilely prepared by direct reduction of (Ph₃As)AuCl with NaBH₄. This cluster is isostructural with its previously reported stibine analogue [Au₁₃(SbPh₃)₈Cl₄]⁺ (Au₁₃Sb₈), enabling a comparative study between them. Au₁₃As₈ exhibits a blue-shifted electronic absorption band, and this is probably related to the stronger π-back donation interactions between the Au₁₃ core and AsPh₃ ligands, which destabilize its superatomic 1P and 1D orbitals. In comparison to the thermodynamically less stable Au₁₃Sb₈, Au₁₃As₈ achieves a better trade-off between catalytic stability and activity, as demonstrated by its excellent catalytic performance towards the aldehyde-alkyne-amine (A³) coupling reaction. Moreover, the ligand exchange reactions between Au₁₃As₈ with phosphines, as exemplified by PPh₃ and Ph₂P(CH₂)₂PPh₂, suggest that Au₁₃As₈ may be a good precursor cluster for further cluster preparation through the "cluster-to-cluster" route.

Ionic modification of graphene nanosheets to improve anti-corrosive properties of organosilicon composite coatings†

Composite coatings with anti-corrosive properties were fabricated using quaternized silicone oil modified graphene oxide and silicone polymer. Quaternized silicone oil was successfully synthesized through copolymerization of octamethyl cyclotetrasiloxane (D4), chloropropylsilane and triethylamine. The quaternized silicone oil modified graphene oxide (M-GO) was characterized by using ¹H NMR, FT-IR, Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), Thermogravimetry (TG) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that the M-GO was formed successfully. The M-GO could be dispersed without aggregation in some organic solvents, and the concentration of M-GO could be up to 3 mg ml⁻¹. The M-GO-reinforced silicone composites exhibited obvious improvements in thermal stability, mechanical properties and especially anticorrosive properties with the highest E_corr (−121 mV) and the lowest I_corr (6.058 × 10⁻⁹ A cm⁻²), and the protection efficiency of the matrix could reach 99.97%. The anticorrosive mechanism of the fabricated composite coatings was investigated. This work provides a ready strategy for modification of GO and fabrication of high performance graphene-based silicone composite materials.

Silicone modified graphene oxide (M-GO) was readily and visually prepared. The M-GO-reinforced silicone composite coating exhibited obvious improvements in thermal stability, mechanical properties, especially anticorrosion.

Comparison of Physicochemical and Bioactive Properties of Polysaccharides from Massa Medicata Fermentata and Its Processed Products

Two polysaccharides were separately extracted and purified from different types of medicinal slices of Massa Medicata Fermentata (Sheng Massa Medicata Fermentata and Chao Massa Medicata Fermentata). The physicochemical properties of these polysaccharides were studied, including the molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, and glycosidic linkage. Moreover, inhibition of trypsin, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase by the polysaccharides and their antioxidant activity were investigated. Compared with polysaccharides from Sheng Massa Medicata Fermentata, polysaccharides from Chao Massa Medicata Fermentata had a lower molecular weight, higher uronic acid content, and a lower proportion of side chains. Polysaccharides from Sheng Massa Medicata Fermentata displayed stronger trypsin, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase inhibition activity, whereas the antioxidant activity of the polysaccharides from Chao Massa Medicata Fermentata was higher. These results indicated that stir-frying changes the physicochemical properties of the polysaccharides significantly, leading to reduced enzyme inhibition activity and an increase in antioxidant activity. This research provides a guide for the selective application of Massa Medicata Fermentata.

Solid-Liquid Equilibrium Behavior and Solvent Effect of Gliclazide in Mono- and Binary Solvents

The solubility data of gliclazide in 10 mono-solvents (1,2-dichloroethane, 1,4-dioxane, 2-methoxyethanol, n-propyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, pentyl acetate, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA), and 2-butanone) and one kind of binary solvent (DMA + water) were measured between 278.15 and 323.15 K under atmospheric pressure by the gravimetric method. The Hansen solubility parameters and the KAT-LSER equation were used to investigate the solubility order and the influence of solvent effects on solubility. The experimental data were correlated by six thermodynamic models (the λh model, the Yaws model, the Apelblat model, the Jouyban model, the modified Jouyban-Acree model, and the Sun model). The results show that all of these models can correlate the experimental data well. Among them, the Apelblat model is the most suitable for correlating the solubility data of gliclazide in mono-solvents and binary solvents.

Hydroxyapatite Fabrication for Enhancing Biohydrogen Production from Glucose Dark Fermentation

Hydroxyapatite (HA) had the effect of maintaining the pH balance of the reaction system and promoting enzyme activity. In this work, hydroxyapatite was synthesized by coprecipitation and characterized for biohydrogen (bioH₂) production from glucose. The highest bioH₂ yield obtained was 182.33 ± 2.41 mL/g glucose, amended with an optimal dosage of 400 mg/L HA, which was a 55.80% higher bioH₂ yield compared with the control group without any addition. The results indicated that HA facilitated the deterioration of organic substances and increased the concentration of soluble microbial products (SMPs). Microbial community analysis revealed that HA significantly increased the abundance of Firmicutes from 35.27% (0 mg/L, HA) to 76.41% (400 mg/L, HA), which played an essential role in bioH₂ generation. In particular, the abundance of Clostridium sensu stricto 1 increased from 15.33% (0 mg/L HA) to 45.17% (400 mg/L HA) and became the dominant bacteria. The results also indicated that HA likely improves bioH₂ production from organic wastewater in practice.

Physicochemical Properties of Nanocellulose Isolated from Cotton Stalk Waste

In recent years, nanocellulose has become an attractive and high-value-added product. The cotton stalk is a waste product with a high cellulose content. Therefore, nanocellulose can be isolated from the cotton stalk. Properties of nanocellulose are affected by its nanoscale. In this study, the characteristics of cellulose in nanoscale were investigated. A series of cotton stalk nanocelluloses were prepared by sulfuric acid hydrolysis to study their physicochemical properties and the differences of nanocelluloses on different nanoscales. The obtained nanocelluloses were analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TA), and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). From the morphology analysis, the mean length and width of nanocelluloses were decreased to 90.5 and 7.0 nm, respectively. From the FTIR analysis, with the particle size decreasing, hydrogen bonds were broken and recombined. Acid hydrolysis mainly acted on intramolecular hydrogen bonds of cellulose macromolecules, especially on O(3)H···O(5) bonds. The crystal arrangement model of nanocellulose was investigated. From the TA analysis, the thermal property was decreased with a reduction of nanocellulose particle size. The CrI of the cotton stalk nanocellulose was the highest at up to 87.10%. The differences of cotton stalk nanocelluloses give significant changes to physicochemical behaviors at the nanoscale. The research would provide a theoretical basis for the future application of nanocelluloses.

Nickel Foam Promotes Syntrophic Metabolism of Propionate and Butyrate in Anaerobic Digestion

Enhanced interspecies electron transfer (IET) among symbiotic microorganisms is an effective method to increase the rate of methane (CH₄) production in anaerobic digestion. Direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET), which does not involve dissolved redox media, is considered an alternative and superior method to enhance methane production by interspecific hydrogen (H₂) transfer (IHT). In this study, nickel foam was built into a semicontinuous anaerobic reactor to investigate its effect on the metabolism of propionate and butyrate. Both increased the average yield of CH₄ in anaerobic digestion by 18.1 and 15.9%, respectively. Analysis of bacterial and archaeal communities showed that the addition of nickel foam could increase the relative abundance of microbial communities involved in DIET and could increase the diversity of microorganisms in the reactor. Moreover, the anaerobic digestion performance of the nickel foam reactor was good at high hydrogen partial pressure.

Heat-killed endophytic bacterium induces robust plant defense responses against important pathogens

Stress caused by pathogens strongly damages plants. Developing products to control plant disease is an important challenge in sustainable agriculture. In this study, a heat-killed endophytic bacterium (HKEB), Bacillus aryabhattai, is used to induce plant defense against fungal and bacterial pathogens, and the main defense pathways used by the HKEB to activate plant defense are revealed. The HKEB induced high protection against different pathogens through the salicylic and jasmonic acid pathways. We report the presence of gentisic acid in the HKEB for the first time. These results show that HKEBs may be a useful tool for the management of plant diseases.

Study on the Mechanism of the Danggui-Chuanxiong Herb Pair on Treating Thrombus through Network Pharmacology and Zebrafish Models

Danggui-Chuanxiong (DC) is a commonly used nourishing and activating blood medicine pair in many gynecological prescriptions and modern Chinese medicine. However, its activating blood mechanism has not been clearly elucidated. Our research aimed at investigating the activating blood mechanisms of DC using network pharmacology and zebrafish experiments. Network pharmacology was used to excavate the potential targets and mechanisms of DC in treating thrombus. The antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and vasculogenesis activities of DC and the main components of DC, ferulic acid (DC2), ligustilide (DC7), and levistilide A (DC17), were evaluated by zebrafish models in vivo. A total of 24 compounds were selected as the active ingredients with favorable pharmacological parameters for this herb pair. A total of 89 targets and 18 pathways related to the thrombus process were gathered for active compounds. The genes, TNF, CXCR4, IL2, ESR1, FGF2, HIF1A, CXCL8, AR, FOS, MMP2, MMP9, STAT3, and RHOA, might be the main targets for this herb pair to exert cardiovascular activity from the analysis of protein-protein interaction and KEGG pathway results, which were mainly related to inflammation, vasculogenesis, immunity, hormones, and so forth. The zebrafish experiment results showed that DC had antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and vasculogenesis activities. The main compounds had different effects of zebrafish activities. Especially, the antithrombotic activity of the DC17H group, anti-inflammatory activities of DCH and DC2H groups, antioxidant activities of DCM, DCH, DC2, DC7, and DC17 groups, and vasculogenesis activities of DCM, DCH, and DC2 groups were stronger than those of the positive group. The integrated method coupled zebrafish models with network pharmacology provided the insights into the mechanisms of DC in treating thrombus.