Oscillating Cellulase Adsorption and Enhanced Lignocellulose Hydrolysis upon Ultrasound Treatment

We investigated the effects of ultrasound treatment on cellulase adsorption and lignocellulose hydrolysis. The activity of cellulase remained constant upon low-power ultrasound treatment (280 W). Oscillating cellulase adsorption occurred upon ultrasound treatment with any intensity. The maxima for desorption and adsorption were 41.9 and 83.1%, respectively, during 1 h of 90 W ultrasound treatment at 50 °C. A comparison between the short-time with long-time ultrasound experiments indicated that ultrasound treatment tended to desorb cellulase from substrate. However, ultrasound treatment also led to further surface erosion of biomass, which increased cellulase accessibility. These joint actions of ultrasound treatment induced the oscillating adsorption of cellulase. The increase in cellulase accessibility caused by ultrasound treatment led to a significant enhancement in lignocellulose hydrolysis. © 2016, Tianjin University and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Developmental toxicity assessment of neonicotinoids and organophosphate esters with a human embryonic stem cell-and metabolism-based fast-screening model

In recent years,neonicotinoids(NEOs)and organophosphate esters(OPEs)have been widely used as substitutes for traditional pesticides and brominated fame-retardants,respectively.Previous studies have shown that those compounds can be frequently detected in environmental and human samples,are able to penetrate the placental barrier,and are toxic to animals.Thus,it is reasonable to speculate that NEOs and OPEs may have potential adverse effects in humans,especially during development.We employed a human embryonic stem cell differentiation-and liver S9 fraction metabolism-based fast screening model to assess the potential embryonic toxicity of those two types of chemicals.We show that four NEO and five OPE prototypes targeted mostly ectoderm specification,as neural ectoderm and neural crest genes were down-regulated,and surface ectoderm and placode markers up-regulated.Human liver S9 fraction's treatment could generally reduce the effects of the chemicals,except in a few specific instances,indicating the liver may detoxify NEOs and OPEs.Our findings suggest that NEOs and OPEs interfere with human early embryonic development.

Design and implementation of a beam-synchronized data acquisition system for CSNS accelerator

Purpose China spallation neutron source(CSNS)operates as a pulsed neutron source with a 25 Hz repetition rate.Precise data synchronization with the beam cycle is essential for analyzing abnormal beam status and diagnosing faults at CSNS.This study aims to develop a beam-synchronized data acquisition system(BSDAQ)for the CSNS accelerator,which will be used to improve the understanding and optimization of accelerator performance.Methods To tackle the network bandwidth and data storage limitations caused by continuous full-cycle data storage,this paper introduces a BSDAQ(beamline scientific data acquisition system)that employs a time window,trigger-based data collection approach.The system can be operated in two modes:periodic trigger for regular data collection intervals and random trigger for event-driven scenarios,providing a flexible triggering mechanism for comprehensive data acquisition.Upon receiving a trigger,the system is designed to capture high-precision timestamped data segments from front-end device caches,align them precisely with the beam pulse cycle,and store the processed data in the database.Furthermore,the system provides the data access interface to facilitate subsequent offline analysis.Results and conclusion The prototype of the beam-synchronized BSDAQ has been implemented and tested at the CSNS accelerator.Some fast processes,such as intra-pulse beam chopping and the automatic recovery of the beam following the activation of the fast protection system,were documented and illustrated.These results are instrumental for refining beam control and improving the reliability of the accelerator's operation.

Advancing Environmental Toxicology In Vitro:From Immortalized Cancer Cell Lines to 3D Models Derived from Stem Cells

In recent years,rapid industrial development has resulted in the production and exposure of a substantial number of compounds to the human body.This has created an urgent need in environmental toxicology for models that are efficient,accurate,and cost-effective in evaluating the health impacts of these compounds on humans.Over the past seven decades,various cancer cell lines and immortalized cell lines have made significant contributions to the advancement of research on organ toxicity.Pluripotent stem cell technology,especially toxicological models derived from pluripotent stem cells,presents modern environmental toxicologists with high-throughput,species-relevant,and predictive options.In this comprehensive review,we assess the characteristics of representative human cancer cell lines and immortalized cell lines in environmental toxicology,as well as introduce two distinct human pluripotent stem cell types and their innovative toxicological models.We explore their applications and prospects in the field of environmental toxicology,while also addressing the readiness of in vitro models to confront the emerging challenges of the future.

Environmental Toxicology:The Importance of Disease-Specific In Vitro Models

Environmental toxicology focuses on the effects of environmental chemicals on human health.To ensure a comprehensive assessment of exposure risks,it is crucial to consider populations that are already affected by preexisting medical conditions,as they may exhibit increased sensitivity to environmental contaminants.Various disease-specific animal models have been developed to simulate a range of diseases such as cancer,diabetes,and neurodevelopmental disorders.However,a significant limitation of these models is the presence of species variations.

The short-chain perfluorinated compounds PFBS,PFHxS, PFBA and PFHxA, disrupt human mesenchymal stem cell self-renewal and adipogenic differentiation

Per-and polyfluorinated alkyl substances(PFASs) are commonly used in industrial processes and daily life products.Because they are persistent, they accumulate in the environment, wildlife and humans.Although many studies have focused on two of the most representative PFASs, PFOS and PFOA, the potential toxicity of short-chain PFASs has not yet been given sufficient attention.We used a battery of assays to evaluate the toxicity of several four-carbon and six-carbon perfluorinated sulfonates and carboxyl acids(PFBS,PFHxS, PFBA and PFHxA), with a human mesenchymal stem cell(hMSC) system.Our results demonstrate significant cyto-and potential developmental toxicity for all the compounds analyzed, with shared but also distinct mechanisms of toxicity.Moreover, the effects of PFBS and PFHxS were stronger than those of PFBA and PFHxA, but occurred at higher doses compared to PFOS or PFOA.