Development of an Integrated Disposable Device for SARSCoV-2 Nucleic Acid Extraction and Detection

Objective To develop a highly sensitive and rapid nucleic acid detection method for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2).Methods We designed,developed,and manufactured an integrated disposable device for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid extraction and detection.The precision of the liquid transfer and temperature control was tested.A comparison between our device and a commercial kit for SARS-Cov-2 nucleic acid extraction was performed using real-time fluorescence reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).The entire process,from SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid extraction to amplification,was evaluated.Results The precision of the syringe transfer volume was 19.2±1.9μL(set value was 20),32.2±1.6(set value was 30),and 57.2±3.5(set value was 60).Temperature control in the amplification tube was measured at 60.0±0.0℃(set value was 60)and 95.1±0.2℃(set value was 95)respectively.SARS-Cov-2 nucleic acid extraction yield through the device was 7.10×10^(6) copies/mL,while a commercial kit yielded 2.98×10^(6) copies/mL.The mean time to complete the entire assay,from SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid extraction to amplification detection,was 36 min and 45 s.The detection limit for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid was 250 copies/mL.Conclusion The integrated disposable devices may be used for SARS-CoV-2 Point-of-Care test(POCT).

Clay mineral distribution characteristics of surface sediments in the South Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Clay minerals are usually considered as important indicators to identify sources in both terrigenous and marine sediments.In particular,clay minerals in metalliferous sediments(MS)have long been studied in global oceans except in South Mid-Atlantic Ridge(SMAR)due to limited explorations.Thus,32 MS and 34 non-MS(NMS)samples were analyzed to clarify the distribution characteristics and mineral compositions of clay minerals.All the sediments were collected along the SMAR between 12°S and 27°S.After removal of organic matter and carbonate,clay fractions(<2μm)were investigated by Xray diffraction(XRD)analysis.Results show that clay mineral assemblages of surface MS consist dominantly of smectite,less abundant illite,chlorite,and kaolinite in average weight percentage of 30%,21%,18%,and 16%,respectively.On the other hand,clay mineral assemblages in the NMS consist mainly of illite,less abundant kaolinite,chlorite,and very scarce smectite in average weight percentage of 47%,29%,24%,and 0.2%,respectively.The clay fractions in MS are mainly composed of amorphous or poorly crystallized Fe/Mn oxyhydroxides,clay mineral,quartz,and plagioclase.However,the counterparts in the NMS are mainly composed of well-crystallized clay minerals,quartz,and plagioclase without the presence of Fe/Mn oxyhydroxides.It is suggested that most of the illite,kaolinite,and chlorite in both MS and NMS are likely aeolian dust in origin from South Africa continent.In addition,the abundance of kaolinite dominates the clay mineral assemblage at low latitudes,where the intensive chemical weathering of continental source rocks facilitating the formation of kaolinite.In terms of smectite,it is indicated of authigenic origin in consideration of only smectite is available in several MS and the absence in NMS.Moreover,the MS samples with only smectite available are always accompanied by goethite.Therefore,it is assumed that most of smectite occurred in studied area is the results of interaction between hydrothermal Fe-oxyhydroxide,silica,and seawater.

Early diagenesis of redox-sensitive trace metals in the northern Okinawa Trough

The early diagenesis processes of several redox-sensitive trace metals(RSMs)(Mo, U and V) were studied with several short sediment cores(~25 cm) collected in the northern Okinawa Trough(OT). Pore water vertical profiles indicated that the sedimentary environments in all cores were between oxic and suboxic, not yet reaching anoxic sulfidic conditions. The recycling process of Mo in sediments was clearly associated with Mn and yielded little authigenic accumulation, while U showed a downcore increase in sediment and its authigenic mass accumulation rate(MAR) was estimated to be ~23% of the Changjiang(Yangtze) and Huanghe(Yellow) riverine flux. Benthic diffusive fluxes and MAR were calculated and the comparison of them showed that U and V fluxes matched relatively well both in direction and in magnitude, implying that diffusion processes at the sedimentwater interface is the dominant process controlling the remobilization or burial of V and U in northern OT. This work provided a systematic study(both in pore water and solid phase) on the RSMs geochemical behaviors during early diagenesis process, yielding a quantitative assessment of the remobilization or burial fluxes of the RSMs in northern OT. Such studies are in general lacking in the coastal margin of Northwest Pacific Ocean.

Copper and zinc isotope variations in ferromanganese crusts and their isotopic fractionation mechanism

Ferromanganese(Fe-Mn)crusts are potential archives of the Cu and Zn isotope compositions of seawater through time.In this study,the Cu and Zn isotopes of the top surface of 28 Fe-Mn crusts and 2 Fe-Mn nodules were analysed by MC-ICP-MS using combined sample-standard bracketing for mass bias correction.The Zn isotope compositions of the top surface of Fe-Mn crusts are in the range of 0.71‰to 1.08‰,with a mean δ^(66)Zn value of 0.94‰±0.21‰(2 SD,n=28).The δ^(65)Cu values of the top surface of Fe-Mn crusts range from 0.33‰to0.73‰,with a mean value of 0.58‰±0.20‰(2 SD,n=28).The Cu isotope compositions of Fe-Mn crusts are isotopically lighter than that of dissolved Cu in deep seawater(0.58‰vs.0.9‰).In contrast,the δ^(66)Zn values of Fe-Mn crusts appear to be isotopically heavy compared to deep seawater(0.94‰±0.21‰vs.0.51‰±0.14‰).The isotope fractionation between Fe-Mn crusts and seawater is attributed to equilibrium partitioning between the sorption to crusts and the organic-ligand-bound Cu and Zn in seawater.The Cu and Zn isotopes in the top surface of Fe-Mn crusts are not a direct reflection of the Cu and Zn isotopes,but a function of Cu and Zn isotopes in modern seawater.This study proposes that Fe-Mn crusts have the potential to be archives for paleoceanography through Cu and Zn isotope analysis.

Adaptive strategies of high and low nucleic acid prokaryotes in response to declining resource availability and selective grazing by protozoa

Prokaryotes play a fundamental role in global ocean biogeochemical cycles.However,how the abundance and metabolic activity of ecologically distinct subgroups(i.e.,high nucleic acid(HNA)and low nucleic acid(LNA)cells),and their regulating factors,change in response to changing marine environmental conditions remains poorly understood.Here,we delved into the time-evolving dynamic responses of the HNA and LNA prokaryotic subgroups to declining resource availability and selective grazing by protozoa by conducting a 73-day incubation experiment in a large-volume(117,000 L)macrocosm that facilitates community-level exploration.We found that the metabolic activity of the HNA subgroup was higher than that of the LNA subgroup when the macrocosm was resource replete but that the HNA subgroup declined more rapidly than the LNA subgroup as the resources became increasingly scarce,leading to a steadily increasing contribution of LNA cells to prokaryotic activity.Meanwhile,as resources in the macrocosm became limited,protozoan grazing preference shifted from the HNA to the LNA subgroup and the contributions of the LNA subgroup to the carbon flow within the macrocosm increased.The findings highlight the resilience of LNA cells in resource-limited environments,illuminate the critical role of selective grazing by protozoa in balancing distinct prokaryotic subgroups under changing resource conditions,and demonstrate the complex and adaptive interactions between protozoa and prokaryotes across diverse environmental contexts.

互花米草有利于我国海岸带蓝碳功能提升

Spartina alterniflora has rapidly and extensively encroached on China's coastline over the past decades.Among the coastal areas invaded by S.alterniflora,at most 93%are mudflats.However,the effect of S.alterniflora invasion on soil organic carbon(SOC)stocks of coastal mudflats has not been systematically studied on a national scale.Here,we quantified the nationwide changes in SOC stocks in coastal mudflats associated with S.alterniflora invasion between 1990 and 2020.We found that S.alterniflora invasion significantly enhanced SOC stocks in coastal China.Nonetheless,the benefit of S.alterniflora invasion of coastal SOC stock may be weakened by continuing human intervention.We found that S.alterniflora invading mudflats added 2.3 Tg SOC stocks to China's coastal blue carbon,while 1.78 Tg SOC stocks were lost mainly due to human activities,resulted in a net SOC stock gain of 0.52 Tg C.These findings overturned the traditionally thought that S.alterniflora invasion would reduce ecosystem services by highlighting that the historical invasion of S.alterniflora has broadly and consistently enhanced blue carbon stock in coastal China.

Bacterial outer membrane vesicles-based therapeutic platform eradicates triple-negative breast tumor by combinational photodynamic/chemo-/immunotherapy

Bacterial outer membrane vesicles(OMVs)are potent immuno-stimulating agents and have the potentials to be bioengineered as platforms for antitumor nanomedicine.In this study,OMVs are demonstrated as promising antitumor therapeutics.OMVs can lead to beneficial M2-to-M1 polarization of macrophages and induce pyroptosis to enhance antitumor immunity,but the therapeutic window of OMVs is narrow for its toxicity.We propose a bioengineering strategy to enhance the tumor-targeting ability of OMVs by macrophage-mediated delivery and improve the antitumor efficacy by co-loading of photosensitizer chlorin e6(Ce6)and chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin(DOX)into OMVs as a therapeutic platform.We demonstrate that systemic injection of the DOX/Ce6-OMVs@M therapeutic platform,providing combinational photodynamic/chemo-/immunotherapy,eradicates triple-negative breast tumors in mice without side effects.Importantly,this strategy also effectively prevents tumor metastasis to the lung.This OMVs-based strategy with bioengineering may serve as a powerful therapeutic platform for a synergic antitumor therapy.

Coastal blue carbon in China as a nature-based solution toward carbon neutrality

To achieve the Paris Agreement,China pledged to become“Carbon Neutral”by the 2060s.In addition to massive decarbonization,this would require significant changes in ecosystems toward negative CO_(2)emissions.The ability of coastal blue carbon ecosystems(BCEs),including mangrove,salt marsh,and seagrass meadows,to sequester large amounts of CO_(2)makes their conservation and restoration an important“nature-based solution(NbS)”for climate adaptation and mitigation.In this review,we examine how BCEs in China can contribute to climate mitigation.On the national scale,the BCEs in China store up to 118 Tg C across a total area of 1,440,377 ha,including over 75%as unvegetated tidal flats.The annual sedimental C burial of these BCEs reaches up to 2.06 Tg C year^(−1),of which most occurs in salt marshes and tidal flats.The lateral C flux of mangroves and salt marshes contributes to 1.17 Tg C year^(−1)along the Chinese coastline.Conservation and restoration of BCEs benefit climate change mitigation and provide other ecological services with a value of$32,000 ha^(−1)year^(−1).The potential practices and technologies that can be implemented in China to improve BCE C sequestration,including their constraints and feasibility,are also outlined.Future directions are suggested to improve blue carbon estimates on aerial extent,carbon stocks,sequestration,and mitigation potential.Restoring and preserving BCEs would be a cost-effective step to achieve Carbon Neutral by 2060 in China despite various barriers that should be removed.

The diversity and ecological significance of microbial traits potentially involved in B_(12) biosynthesis in the global ocean

Cobalamin(B_(12)),an essential nutrient and growth cofactor for many living organisms on Earth,can be fully synthesized only by selected prokaryotes in nature.Therefore,microbial communities related to B_(12) biosynthesis could serve as an example subsystem to disentangle the underlying ecological mechanisms balancing the function and taxonomic make-up of complex functional assemblages.By anchoring microbial traits potentially involved in B_(12) biosynthesis,we depict the biogeographic patterns of B_(12) biosynthesis genes and the taxa harboring them in the global ocean,despite the limitations of detecting de novo B_(12) synthesizers via metagenomes alone.Both the taxonomic and functional composition of B_(12) biosynthesis genes were strongly shaped by depth,differentiating the epipelagic zones from the mesopelagic layers.Functional genes related to B_(12) biosynthesis were relatively stably distributed across different oceans,but the taxa harboring them varied considerably,showing clear functional redundancy among microbial systems.Microbial taxa carrying B_(12) biosynthesis genes in the surface water were influenced by environmental factors such as temperature,oxygen,and nitrate.However,the composition of functional genes was only weakly associated with these environmental factors.Null model analyses demonstrated that determinism governed the variations in B_(12) biosynthesis genes,whereas a higher degree of stochasticity was associated with taxonomic variations.Significant associations were observed between the chlorophyll a concentration and B_(12) biosynthesis,confirming its importance in primary production in the global ocean.The results of this study reveal an essential ecological mechanism governing the assembly of microbes in nature:the environment selects for function rather than taxonomy;functional redundancy underlies stochastic community assembly.

Environmental selection and evolutionary process jointly shape genomic and functional profiles of mangrove rhizosphere microbiomes

Mangrove reforestation with introduced species has been an important strategy to restore mangrove ecosystem functioning.However,how such activities affect microbially driven methane(CH4),nitrogen(N),and sulfur(S)cycling of rhizosphere microbiomes remains unclear.To understand the effect of environmental selection and the evolutionary process on microbially driven biogeochemical cycles in native and introduced mangrove rhizospheres,we analyzed key genomic and functional profiles of rhizosphere microbiomes from native and introduced mangrove species by metagenome sequencing technologies.Compared with the native mangrove(Kandelia obovata,KO),the introduced mangrove(Sonneratia apetala,SA)rhizosphere microbiome had significantly(p<0.05)higher average genome size(AGS)(5.8 vs.5.5 Mb),average 16S ribosomal RNA gene copy number(3.5 vs.3.1),relative abundances of mobile genetic elements,and functional diversity in terms of the Shannon index(7.88 vs.7.84)but lower functional potentials involved in CH4 cycling(e.g.,mcrABCDG and pmoABC),N2 fixation(nifHDK),and inorganic S cycling(dsrAB,dsrC,dsrMKJOP,soxB,sqr,and fccAB).Similar results were also observed from the recovered Proteobacterial metagenome-assembled genomes with a higher AGS and distinct functions in the introduced mangrove rhizosphere.Additionally,salinity and ammonium were identified as the main environmental drivers of functional profiles of mangrove rhizosphere microbiomes through deterministic processes.This study advances our understanding of microbially mediated biogeochemical cycling of CH_(4),N,and S in the mangrove rhizosphere and provides novel insights into the influence of environmental selection and evolutionary processes on ecosystem functions,which has important implications for future mangrove reforestation.

Strengthening and toughening bulk Ni_(2)CoFeV_(0.5) medium-entropy alloy via thermo-mechanical treatment

Single-phase face-centered cubic(fcc)medium-and high-entropy alloys(MEAs/HEAs)have high ductility but low yield strength.In this work,the microstructures of single-phase fcc Ni_(2)CoFeV_(0.5) MEAs were tailored by cold-rolling and subsequent annealing and typical heterogeneous lamella(HL)structures composed of recrystallized micro-grain lamellae(with an averaged grain size of∼4μm)and nonrecrystallized nano-/ultrafine-grain lamellae were obtained.Tensile tests revealed that most HL samples exhibited excellent strength and ductility synergy.The HL sample with∼23 vol%recrystallized grains annealed at 590℃ for 1 h had a high yield strength of 1120 MPa and a good fracture elongation of 12.3%,which increased by 5%and 46%,respectively compared with those of as-rolled sample.Annealing-induced yield strength increase is attributed to high-density annealing twin boundaries(TBs)in the recrystallized grains,the annihilation of mobile dislocations inside the non-recrystallized grains,and extra heterodeformation-induced strengthening produced by the HL structure.Hall-Petch relationship of Ni_(2)CoFeV_(0.5) MEA can be reasonably described by counting both TBs and grain boundaries,with lattice friction stress of 87.3 MPa and coefficient of 722.8 MPaμm1/2.Our work provides optional and controllable solutions for preparing MEAs/HEAs with excellent mechanical properties by low-cost and high-efficiency thermomechanical treatments.

Carbon pools and fluxes in the China Seas and adjacent oceans

The China Seas include the South China Sea, East China Sea, Yellow Sea, and Bohai Sea. Located off the Northwestern Pacific margin, covering 4700000 km^2 from tropical to northern temperate zones, and including a variety of continental margins/basins and depths, the China Seas provide typical cases for carbon budget studies. The South China Sea being a deep basin and part of the Western Pacific Warm Pool is characterized by oceanic features; the East China Sea with a wide continental shelf, enormous terrestrial discharges and open margins to the West Pacific, is featured by strong cross-shelf materials transport; the Yellow Sea is featured by the confluence of cold and warm waters; and the Bohai Sea is a shallow semiclosed gulf with strong impacts of human activities. Three large rivers, the Yangtze River, Yellow River, and Pearl River, flow into the East China Sea, the Bohai Sea, and the South China Sea, respectively. The Kuroshio Current at the outer margin of the Chinese continental shelf is one of the two major western boundary currents of the world oceans and its strength and position directly affect the regional climate of China. These characteristics make the China Seas a typical case of marginal seas to study carbon storage and fluxes. This paper systematically analyzes the literature data on the carbon pools and fluxes of the Bohai Sea,Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea, including different interfaces(land-sea, sea-air, sediment-water, and marginal sea-open ocean) and different ecosystems(mangroves, wetland, seagrass beds, macroalgae mariculture, coral reefs, euphotic zones, and water column). Among the four seas, the Bohai Sea and South China Sea are acting as CO_2 sources, releasing about0.22 and 13.86–33.60 Tg C yr^(-1) into the atmosphere, respectively, whereas the Yellow Sea and East China Sea are acting as carbon sinks, absorbing about 1.15 and 6.92–23.30 Tg C yr^(-1) of atmospheric CO_2, respectively. Overall, if only the CO_2 exchange at the sea-air interface is considered, the Chinese marginal seas appear to be a source of atmospheric CO_2, with a net release of 6.01–9.33 Tg C yr^(-1), mainly from the inputs of rivers and adjacent oceans. The riverine dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) input into the Bohai Sea and Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea are 5.04, 14.60, and 40.14 Tg C yr^(-1),respectively. The DIC input from adjacent oceans is as high as 144.81 Tg C yr^(-1), significantly exceeding the carbon released from the seas to the atmosphere. In terms of output, the depositional fluxes of organic carbon in the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea are 2.00, 3.60, 7.40, and 5.92 Tg C yr^(-1), respectively. The fluxes of organic carbon from the East China Sea and South China Sea to the adjacent oceans are 15.25–36.70 and 43.93 Tg C yr^(-1), respectively. The annual carbon storage of mangroves, wetlands, and seagrass in Chinese coastal waters is 0.36–1.75 Tg C yr^(-1), with a dissolved organic carbon(DOC) output from seagrass beds of up to 0.59 Tg C yr^(-1). Removable organic carbon flux by Chinese macroalgae mariculture account for 0.68 Tg C yr^(-1) and the associated POC depositional and DOC releasing fluxes are 0.14 and 0.82 Tg C yr^(-1), respectively. Thus, in total, the annual output of organic carbon, which is mainly DOC, in the China Seas is 81.72–104.56 Tg C yr^(-1). The DOC efflux from the East China Sea to the adjacent oceans is 15.00–35.00 Tg C yr^(-1). The DOC efflux from the South China Sea is 31.39 Tg C yr^(-1). Although the marginal China Seas seem to be a source of atmospheric CO_2 based on the CO_2 flux at the sea-air interface, the combined effects of the riverine input in the area, oceanic input, depositional export,and microbial carbon pump(DOC conversion and output) indicate that the China Seas represent an important carbon storage area.

海洋负排放的生态工程方案

在未来30~40年内实现“碳中和”目标已成世界范围内共识,但亟需全人类共同努力以应对日益严重的气候变化威胁.实现这一宏伟目标的基本途径,一是减少人为向大气排放的二氧化碳,二是增加碳汇或负排放,即从大气中去除二氧化碳.本文提出海洋负排放的生态工程方案,旨在呼吁加强利用海洋环境中的碳汇潜力,同时倡议建立一个多国共同参与的国际大科学计划,以促进海洋负排放相关技术途径与实施方案的研发,综合考虑驱动不同形式碳汇(无机/有机、生物/非生物、颗粒态/溶解态)的生态与生物地球化学过程和机制.本文重点关注旨在揭示生物泵(BP)、微型生物碳泵(MCP)、微生物诱导碳酸盐沉积(MICP)之间相互作用的变革性机制研究,特别是提高富营养化河口、低氧和缺氧水域、珊瑚礁生态系统以及水产养殖区的碳汇潜能.海洋负排放生态工程对实现碳汇并减轻环境压力具有重要意义.

Sulfur metabolism by marine heterotrophic bacteria involved in sulfur cycling in the ocean

Sulfur cycling in the biosphere is tightly interwoven with the cycling of carbon and nitrogen,through various biological and geochemical processes.Marine microorganisms,due to their high abundance,diverse metabolic activities,and tremendous adaptation potential,play an essential role in the functioning of global biogeochemical cycles and linking sulfur transformation to the cycling of carbon and nitrogen.Currently many coastal regions are severely stressed by hypoxic or anoxic conditions,leading to the accumulation of toxic sulfide.A number of recent studies have demonstrated that dissimilatory sulfur oxidation by heterotrophic bacteria can protect marine ecosystems from sulfide toxicity.Sulfur-oxidizing bacteria have evolved diverse phylogenetic and metabolic characteristics to fill an array of ecological niches in various marine habitats.Here,we review the recent findings on the microbial communities that are involved in the oxidation of inorganic sulfur compounds and address how the two elements of sulfur and carbon are interlinked and influence the ecology and biogeochemistry in the ocean.Delineating the metabolic enzymes and pathways of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria not only provides an insight into the microbial sulfur metabolism,but also helps us understand the effects of changing environmental conditions on marine sulfur cycling and reinforces the close connection between sulfur and carbon cycling in the ocean.

Ocean negative carbon emissions: A new UN Decade program

The Paris Agreement sets the target to limit increases in mean global temperature to well below 2
C,preferably to 1.5
C,compared with preindustrial levels.Carbon neutrality is the preferred route to reach this target.1 This requires primarily a reduction of CO_(2) emissions to the atmosphere but also an increase of carbon sinks or negative emissions(absorption of atmospheric CO_(2)).The ocean is the largest active carbon pool on Earth,acting as the key regulator to global climate change,and thus has great potential for carbon negative emission.2,3 Recent research demonstrates that the ocean has already absorbed approximately 28%of anthropogenic CO_(2) since the Industrial Revolution,4,5 which indicates that ocean negative carbon emissions could potentially have an important role in achieving the 1.5
C or 2.0
C goal.Given the urgency and seriousness of the ongoing climate change,it is therefore imperative to explore the potential of enhancing ocean carbon sinks.

Variation of satellite transponder delay

For precise orbit determination of geosynchronous earth orbit(GEO)satellites using transfer ranging observations,it is generally assumed that the variation of the satellite transponder delay is very small and that it can be solved as a constant parameter together with satellite orbit parameters.However,this assumption is too general and it reduces the accuracy of orbit determination for GEO satellites.To study and analyse the impact of the satellite transponder delay on GEO satellites orbit determination,two schemes were proposed.First,the satellite transponder delay was eliminated by forming single-difference observations between two ground stations;second,the satellite transponder delay was described as a constant parameter.The preliminary results demonstrate a difference of about1–2 m between the two schemes when used for precise orbit determination of GEO satellites.By fixing the GEO satellite orbit and other relevant parameters estimated by single-difference model,we inversed the instantaneous transponder delay from non-difference observation.It was found that the satellite transponder delay has a distinct diurnal variation,with an amplitude of 3–4 m.The findings of this paper are helpful in establishing an accurate model of satellite transponder delay and in improving the accuracy of GEO satellites orbit determinations and predictions.