Site-directed mutagenesis identified the key active site residues of alcohol acyltransferase PpAAT1 responsible for aroma biosynthesis in peach fruits

The aroma of peach fruit is predominantly determined by the accumulation of γ-decalactone and ester compounds.A previous study showed that the biosynthesis of these aroma compounds in peach fruit is catalyzed by PpAAT1,an alcohol acyltransferase.In this work,we investigated the key active site residues responsible for γ-decalactone and ester biosynthesis.A total of 14 candidate amino acid residues possibly involved in internal esterification and 9 candidate amino acid residues possibly involved in esterification of PpAAT1 were assessed via site-directed mutagenesis.Analyses of the in vitro enzyme activities of PpAAT1 and its site-directed mutant proteins(PpAAT1-SMs)with different amino acid residue mutations as well as the contents of γ-decalactone in transgenic tobacco leaves and peach fruits transiently expressing PpAAT1 and PpAAT1-SMs revealed that site-directed mutation of H165 in the conserved HxxxD motif led to lost enzymatic activity of PpAAT1 in both internal esterification and its reactions,whereas mutation of the key amino acid residue D376 led to the total loss ofγ-decalactone biosynthesis activity of PpAAT1.Mutations of 9 and 7 other amino acid residues also dramatically affected the enzymatic activity of PpAAT1 in the internal esterification and esterification reactions,respectively.Our findings provide a biochemical foundation for the mechanical biosynthesis ofγ-decalactone and ester compounds catalyzed by PpAAT1 in peach fruits,which could be used to guide the molecular breeding of new peach species with more favorable aromas for consumers.

Effect of integration of mechanical ball milling and flue gas desulfurization gypsum on dealkalization of bauxite residue

The synergistic impact of mechanical ball milling and flue gas desulfurization(FGD)gypsum on the dealkalization of bauxite residue was investigated through integrated analyses of solution chemistry,mineralogy,and microtopography.The results showed a significant decrease in Na_(2)O content(>30 wt.%)of FGD gypsum-treated bauxite residue after 30 min of mechanical ball milling.Mechanical ball milling resulted in differentiation of the elemental distribution,modification of the minerals in crystalline structure,and promotion in the dissolution of alkaline minerals,thus enhancing the acid neutralization capacity of bauxite residue.5 wt.%FGD gypsum combined with 30 min mechanical ball milling was optimal for the dealkalization of bauxite residue.

A Polyvinyl Alcohol/Acrylamide Hydrogel with Enhanced Mechanical Properties Promotes Full-Thickness Skin Defect Healing by Regulating Immunomodulation and Angiogenesis Through Paracrine Secretion

Hydrogel-based tissue-engineered skin has attracted increased attention due to its potential to restore the structural integrity and functionality of skin.However,the mechanical properties of hydrogel scaffolds and natural skin are substantially different.Here,we developed a polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)/acrylamide based interpenetrating network(IPN)hydrogel that was surface modified with polydopamine(PDA)and termed Dopa-gel.The Dopa-gel exhibited mechanical properties similar to native skin tissue and a superior ability to modulate paracrine functions.Furthermore,a tough scaffold with tensile resistance was fabricated using this hydrogel by three-dimensional printing.The results showed that the interpenetration of PVA,alginate,and polyacrylamide networks notably enhanced the mechanical properties of the hydrogel.Surface modification with PDA endowed the hydrogels with increased secretion of immunomodulatory and proangiogenic factors.In an in vivo model,Dopa-gel treatment accelerated wound closure,increased vascularization,and promoted a shift in macrophages from a proinflammatory M1 phenotype to a prohealing and anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype within the wound area.Mechanistically,the focal adhesion kinase(FAK)/extracellular signal-related kinase(ERK)signaling pathway may mediate the promotion of skin defect healing by increasing paracrine secretion via the Dopa-gel.Additionally,proangiogenic factors can be induced through Rho-associated kinase-2(ROCK-2)/vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)-mediated paracrine secretion under tensile stress conditions.Taken together,these findings suggest that the multifunctional Dopa-gel,which has good mechanical properties similar to those of native skin tissue and enhanced immunomodulatory and angiogenic properties,is a promising scaffold for skin tissue regeneration.

Application of solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPE-GC-MS) in resolution of metabolism pattern of higher alcohols in rat plasma

Higher alcohols are key factors affecting sensory quality and post-drinking comfort of alcoholic beverages.A strategy combining solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(SPE-GC-MS)was established to analyze the metabolism pattern of higher alcohols in rat plasma after gavage of 4 common alcoholic beverages including huangjiu,baijiu,wine and brandy.7 mL of dichloromethane was determined as the optimal extraction condition,and 8 higher alcohols were precisely quantified with detection limits of 1.82−11.65μg/L,recoveries of 89.07%−110.89%and fine repeatability.The fastest absorption and elimination rates of plasma total higher alcohols were observed in baijiu and huangjiu group,respectively,and the highest peak concentration was found in brandy group.Additionally,the metabolic rate of plasma isoamyl alcohol in huangjiu group was faster than that in wine group at the same intragastric administration dosage.This study may provide potential insight for evaluation of alcoholic beverage quality.

Effect of Polyvinyl Alcohol in Inner Aqueous Phase on Stability of Millimeter-scale Capsules

The millimeter-scale capsules with controllable morphology,ultra-low permeability and excellent mechanical stability were fabricated by millifluidics.Viscosity of inner phase was adjusted to control the morphology and properties of the capsules.In detail,as the concentration of polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)increased from 0 to 8% in the inner phase of the capsules,the diameter of capsules decreased from 3.33 ± 0.01mm to 2.97 ± 0.01 mm,the shell thickness of capsules decreased from 0.183 ± 0.004 mm to 0.155 ± 0.003 mm.While the capsules had round shape and high sphericity.Notably,the capsules with 2% PVA in the inner phase had remarkably decreased water permeability and good morphological stability.Specifically,the end-time of water losing of the capsules was up to 49 days,while the dehydrated capsules maintained spherical appearance,and crushing force of the capsules was up to 13.73 ± 0.79 N,which ensured stability during processing and transportation.This research provides a new strategy for stable encapsulation of small molecules.

Enhanced bimetallic CuCo nanoparticles on nitrogen-doped carbon for selective hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol through strong electronic interactions

Bimetallic CuCo catalysts with different Cu to Co ratios on N-doped porous carbon materials(N-C)were achieved using impregnation method and applied in the hydrogenation of furfural(FAL)to furfuryl alcohol(FOL).The high hydrogenation activity of FAL over Cu_(1)Co_(1)/N-C was originated from the synergistic interactions of Cu and Co species,where Co^(0)and Cu^(0)simultaneously adsorb and activate H_(2),and Cu^(+) served as Lewis acid sites to activate C]O.Meanwhile,electrons transfer from Cu to Co promoted the formation of Cu^(+).In situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis indicated that Cu_(1)Co_(1)/N-C adsorbed FAL with a tilted η^(1)-(O)configuration.The superior Cu_(1)Co_(1)/N-C showed excellent adsorbed ability towards H_(2) and FAL,but weak adsorption for FOL.Therefore,Cu_(1)Co_(1)/N-C possessed 93.1%FAL conversion and 99.0% FOL selectivity after 5 h reaction,which also exhibited satisfactory reusability in FAL hydrogenation for five cycles.

Corrosion behavior of co-gasification slag of furfural residue and coal on alumina-silica refractories

Gasification of furfural residue with coal can realize its efficient and clean utilization.But the high alkali metal content in furfural slag is easy to cause the corrosion of gasifier refractory.Two gasification coals with different silica alumina ratio and a furfural residue were selected in the study.The effects of furfural residue additions on corrosion of silica brick,corundum brick,high alumina brick and mullite brick were investigated by using XRD,SEM-EDS and Factsage Software,and the corrosion mechanism was analyzed.With increasing furfural residue addition,the permeability of the slags to high-aluminium-bearing refractories first decreases and then increases,while the permeability on silica brick shows a slight decrease trend.Leucite(KAlSi_(2)O_(6))with high-melting temperature is generated from the reaction of K_(2)O and SiO_(2)in slag with Al_(2)O_(3)in refractories after furfural residue is added,which hinders the infiltration of slag in refractories.Kaliophilite(KAlSiO_(4))of low-melting point is formed when K_(2)O content increases,and this contributes to the infiltration of slag in refractories.The acid-base reaction between slag and silica brick is distinctly occurred,more slag reacts with SiO_(2)in the silicon brick,resulting in a decrease in the amount of slag infiltrating into the silicon brick as furfural residue is added.The corrosion of silica brick is mainly caused by the acid-base reaction,while the corrosion of three alumina based refractory bricks of corundum,mullite and high alumina brick is determined by slag infiltration.A linear correlation between the percolation rate and slag viscosity is established,the slag permeability increases with decreasing viscosity,resulting in stronger permeability for the high Si/Al ratio slag with lower viscosity.

Promoting role of Ru species on Ir-Fe/BN catalyst in 1,2-diols hydrogenolysis to secondary alcohols

Noble metal-based-bimetallic catalysts have been highly investigated and applied in wide applications including biomass transformation via regioselective C−O hydrogenolysis while further modification especially with noble metal is highly promising yet still under investigation.Herein,Ru was found as an effective modifier among the screened noble metals(Ru,Pt,Rh,Pd,Au,and Ag)for Ir-Fe/BN(Ir=5 wt%,Fe/Ir=0.25)catalyst in terminal C−O hydrogenolysis of 1,2-butanediol(1,2-BuD)to 2-butanol(2-BuOH).Only trace amount of Ru(up to 0.5 wt%)was effective in terms of high 2-BuOH selectivity(>60%)and activity(about twice).Larger amount of Ru species(3 wt%)highly enhanced the activity but gave low selectivity to 2-BuOH with by-products of terminal C−C bond scission.Optimized catalyst(Ru(0.5)-Ir-Fe/BN)was reusable at least 4 times and gave moderate 2-BuOH yield(47%)in hydrogenolysis of 1,2-BuD.The promoting effect of Ru addition(0.5 wt%)to Ir-Fe/BN on hydrogenolysis of various alcohols was also confirmed.Combining catalytic tests with various characterizations,the promotion mechanism of Ru species in trimetallic catalysts was clarified.The Ru species in Ru(0.5)-Ir-Fe/BN form alloy with Ir and are enriched at the interface with BN surface,and direct interaction between Ru and Fe was not necessary in Ru-Ir-Fe alloy.The interface of Ir and Fe on the surface of Ir-Fe alloy may work as active sites for 1,2-diols to secondary alcohols via direct C−O hydrogenolysis,in which Ru-modified Ir activates H_(2) to form hydride-like species.The activity of Ru species in C−C bond cleavage was highly suppressed due to the direct interaction with Ir species and less exposed to substrate.Larger loading amount of Ru species(3 wt%)led to the formation Ru-rich trimetallic alloy,which further works as active sites for C−C bond scission.

Making waste profitable: Efficient recovery of metallic iron from jarosite residues

To address the hazardous by-product of zinc smelting and resource utilization of jarosite residue,this study applies an electric field-assisted hot acid treatment to completely recycle iron(Fe).This innovative approach aims to enhance the leaching efficiency of Fe from jarosite residue.The introduction of an electric field changes the charge distribution on the surface of the particles to enhance ions and electrons exchange and promotes the collision between particles to strengthen reaction kinetics.Based on the above,the leaching efficiency of Fe in jarosite under sulfuric acid attack has improved observably.The result shows that Fe leaching efficiency reaches 98.83%,which is increased by 28%under the optimal experimental conditions:current density of 30 mA·cm^(-2),H_(2)SO_(4) concentration of 1.5 mol·L^(-1),solid-liquid ratio of 70 g·L^(-1),temperature of 80℃ and time of 12 h.Leaching kinetics calculations show that the apparent activation energy is 16.97 kJ·mol^(-1) and the leaching of jarosite residue is controlled by a mixture of chemical reaction and diffusion,as well as the temperature and concentration of the leaching solution have an influence on leaching.This work provides a feasible idea for the efficient leaching of Fe from jarosite residue.

A short overview of the lead iodide residue impact and regulation strategies in perovskite solar cells

Lead iodide(PbI2) is a vital raw material for preparing perovskite solar cells(PSCs),and it not only takes part in forming the light absorption layer but also remains in the grain boundary as a passivator.In other words,the PbI2 content in the precursor and as formed film will affect the efficiency and stability of the PSCs.With moderate residual PbI2,it passivates the bulk/surface defects of perovskite,reduces the interfacial recombination,promotes the perovskite stability,minimizes the device hysteresis,and so on.Deficient PbI2 residue will reduce the interfacial passivation effect and device performance.In addition to facilitating the non-radiative recombination,over PbI2 residue can also lead to electronic insulation in the grain boundary and deteriorate the device performance.However,the impact and regulation of PbI2 residue on the device performance and stability is still not fully understood.Herein,a comprehensive and detailed review is presented by discussing the PbI2 residue impact and its regulation strategies(i.e., elimination,facilitation and conversion of the residue PbI2) to manipulate the PbI2 content,distribution and forms.Finally,we also show future outlooks in this field,with an aim to help further the progression of high-efficiency and stable PSCs.

Co-pyrolysis of Sewage Sludge with Distillation Residue: Kinetics Analysis via Iso-conversional Methods

This study explored the synergistic interaction of sewage sludge(SS)and distillation residue(DR)during co-pyrolysis for the optimized treatment of sewage sludge in cement kiln systems,utilizing thermogravimetric analysis(TGA)and thermogravimetric analysis with mass spectrometry(TGA-MS).The results reveal the coexisting synergistic and antagonistic effects in the co-pyrolysis of SS/DR.The synergistic effect arises from hydrogen free radicals in SS and catalytic components in ash fractions,while the antagonistic effect is mainly due to the melting of DR on the surface of SS particles during pyrolysis and the reaction of SS ash with alkali metals to form inert substances.SS/DR co-pyrolysis reduces the yielding of coke and gas while increasing tar production.This study will promote the reduction,recycling,and harmless treatment of hazardous solid waste.

A molecular insight into coke formation process of vacuum residue in thermal cracking reaction

Understanding the coking behaviors has been considered to be really essential for developing better vacuum residue processing technologies.A battery of thermal cracking tests of typical vacuum residue at 410℃ with various reaction time were performed to evaluate the coke formation process.The total yields of ideal components including naphtha,atmospheric gas oil(AGO)and vacuum gas oil(VGO)of thermal cracking reactions increased from 10.89%to 40.81%,and the conversion ratios increased from8.05%to 43.33%with increasing the reaction time from 10 to 70 min.The asphaltene content increased from 12.14%to a maximum of 22.39%and then decreased,and this maximum of asphaltene content occurred at the end of the coking induction period.The asphaltenes during the coking induction period,at the end and after coking induction period of those tested thermal cracking reactions were characterized to disclose the structure changing rules for coke formation process,and the coke formation pathways were discussed to reveal the coke formation process at molecular level.

Supplementation of Lycium barbarum residue increases the growth rate of Tan sheep by enhancing their feed intake and regulating their rumen microbiome and metabolome

Lycium barbarum residue(LBR),a by-product of L.barbarum processing,is packed with bioactive components and can be potentially utilized as a feed additive in animal husbandry.However,the fundamental understanding of its effectiveness on livestock animals is still lacking,particularly in ruminants.To explore the effects of LBR on the growth performance,rumen fermentation parameters,ruminal microbes and metabolites of Tan sheep,sixteen fattening rams(aged 4 mon)were fed a basal diet(CON,n=8)or a basal diet supplemented with 5%LBR(LBR,n=8).The experiment lasted for 70 d,with 10 d adaptation period and 60 d treatment period.The results showed that the LBR enhanced the average daily feed intake,average daily gain(P<0.05),and ruminal total volatile fatty acids(P<0.01)while decreasing ammonia-nitrogen concentration and rumen pH value(P<0.05).Additionally,the LBR improved the relative abundances of Prevotella,Succiniclasticum,Ruminococcus,Coprococcus,Selenomonas,and Butyrivibrio(P<0.05)and reduced the relative abundances of Oscillospira and Succinivibrio(P<0.05).The LBR altered the ruminal metabolome(P<0.01)by increasing the abundances of ruminal metabolites involved in amino acids(e.g.,L-proline,L-phenylalanine,L-lysine,and L-tyrosine),pyrimidine metabolism(e.g.,uridine,uracil,and thymidine),and microbial protein synthesis(e.g.,xanthine and hypoxanthine).In conclusion,LBR had positive effects on the growth rate of Tan sheep as well as on rumen fermentation parameters,rumen microbiome and rumen metabolome.

Recycling arsenic-containing bio-leaching residue after thermal treatment in cemented paste backfill:Structure modification,binder properties and environmental assessment

The substantial arsenic(As)content present in arsenic-containing bio-leaching residue(ABR)presents noteworthy environ-mental challenges attributable to its inherent instability and susceptibility to leaching.Given its elevated calcium sulfate content,ABR exhibits considerable promise for industrial applications.This study delved into the feasibility of utilizing ABR as a source of sulfates for producing super sulfated cement(SSC),offering an innovative binder for cemented paste backfill(CPB).Thermal treatment at varying temperatures of 150,350,600,and 800℃ was employed to modify ABR’s performance.The investigation encompassed the examination of phase transformations and alterations in the chemical composition of As within ABR.Subsequently,the hydration characteristics of SSC utilizing ABR,with or without thermal treatment,were studied,encompassing reaction kinetics,setting time,strength development,and microstructure.The findings revealed that thermal treatment changed the calcium sulfate structure in ABR,consequently impacting the resultant sample performance.Notably,calcination at 600℃ demonstrated optimal modification effects on both early and long-term strength attributes.This enhanced performance can be attributed to the augmented formation of reaction products and a densified micro-structure.Furthermore,the thermal treatment elicited modifications in the chemical As fractions within ABR,with limited impact on the As immobilization capacity of the prepared binders.

Increased Mortality Risk in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: A Scoping Review

Objective: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) are common, often undiagnosed, lifelong developmental disorders that result from prenatal alcohol exposure. FASD is present at birth and typically identified around seven years of age. The most severe outcome in cases of FASD is mortality. The purpose of this scoping review is to 1) use a systematic review to provide an estimated mortality proportion for children with FASD, and 2) update a study published in 2014 by reviewing published reports of mortality in individuals diagnosed with FASD. Method: A search of PubMed, CINAHL, and Google Scholar for reports published between 2013 and 2023 on mortality in individuals with FASD. Results: Three population-based studies have reported on all-cause mortality rates, finding a combined mortality rate of 10.9%, a 2.63 fold (95% CI: 2.61 to 2.65) increase in mortality risk over the general population. Since 2016, this review identified only eight new cases meeting the study inclusion criteria. The reported causes of death were five cases of pneumonia, and one case each of failure to thrive and dehydration, intestinal dilatation and asphyxiation caused by overeating due to pica, and acute gastric volvulus. Discussion: While current research suggests a diagnosis of FASD is associated with a 2.6-fold increase in mortality risk, this is likely an underestimation, as most cases of FASD-related mortality go unreported. Globally, about 1 new case is reported every 15 months. However, in the United States alone, between 1752 to 4400 FASD related deaths occur annually. Our review suggests that FASD is rarely identified as a causal or contributing factor in deaths of children and adolescents, resulting in a substantial undercount of FASD-related deaths. Increased attention to the role of FASD in infant and child mortality case reviews, child death review committee reports, and mortality reviews is needed.

Electrospun polyvinyl alcohol fibres incorporating an antimicrobial gel for enzymatically controlled reactive oxygen species release

Wounds pose a risk to the skin,our body's primary defence against infections.The rise of antibiotic resistance has prompted the development of novel therapies.RO-101^(■)is an antimicrobial gel that delivers therapeutic levels of hydrogen peroxide(H_(2)O_(2)),a reactive oxygen species,directly to the wound bed.In this study,electrospinning was used to incorporate RO-101^(■)into a polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)sub-micron fibrous mesh that can act as a delivery agent,achieve a sustained release profile,and provide a barrier against infection.Adequate incorporation of this gel into sub-micron fibres was confirmed via nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.Furthermore,scanning electron microscopy exhibited smooth and uniform meshes with diameters in the 200-500 nm range.PVA/RO-101 electrospun meshes generated H_(2)O_(2) in concentrations exceeding 1 m M/(g·m L)(1 m M=1 mmol/L)after 24 h,and the role of sterilisation on H_(2)O_(2) release was evaluated.PVA/RO-101meshes exhibited antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus)and Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa(P.aeruginosa)bacteria,achieving viable count reductions of up to 1 log unit CFU/mm^(2)(CFU:colony-forming units).Moreover,these meshes were capable of disrupting biofilm formation,even against multidrug-resistant organisms such as methicillin-resistant S.aureus(MRSA).Furthermore,increasing the RO-101^(■)concentration resulted in higher H_(2)O_(2) production and an enhanced antimicrobial effect,while fibroblast cell viability and proliferation tests showed a concentration-dependent response with high cytocompatibility at low RO-101^(■)concentrations.This study therefore demonstrates the potential of highly absorbent PVA/RO-101 meshes as potential antimicrobial wound dressings.

Afforestation with an age-sequence of Mongolian pine plantation promotes soil microbial residue accumulation in the Horqin Sandy Land, China

Land use change affects the balance of organic carbon(C)reserves and the global C cycle.Microbial residues are essential constituents of stable soil organic C(SOC).However,it remains unclear how microbial residue changes over time following afforestation.In this study,16-,23-,52-,and 62-year-old Mongolian pine stands and 16-year-old cropland were studied in the Horqin Sandy Land,China.We analyzed changes in SOC,amino sugar content,and microbial parameters to assess how microbial communities influence soil C transformation and preservation.The results showed that SOC storage increased with stand age in the early stage of afforestation but remained unchanged at about 1.27-1.29 kg/m2 after 52 a.Moreover,there were consistent increases in amino sugars and microbial residues with increasing stand age.As stand age increased from 16 to 62 a,soil pH decreased from 6.84 to 5.71,and the concentration of total amino sugars increased from 178.53 to 509.99 mg/kg.A significant negative correlation between soil pH and the concentration of specific and total amino sugars was observed,indicating that the effects of soil acidification promote amino sugar stabilization during afforestation.In contrast to the Mongolian pine plantation of the same age,the cropland accumulated more SOC and microbial residues because of fertilizer application.Across Mongolian pine plantation with different ages,there was no significant change in calculated contribution of bacterial or fungal residues to SOC,suggesting that fungi were consistently the dominant contributors to SOC with increasing time.Our results indicate that afforestation in the Horqin Sandy Land promotes efficient microbial growth and residue accumulation in SOC stocks and has a consistent positive impact on SOC persistence.

Is a Mini-Screen for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Feasible?

Background: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) are a global public health concern with lifelong consequences for affected individuals. Recent prevalence studies suggest FASD prevalence rates range from 1-5% among school age children. Most people with FASD are not correctly diagnosed and inadequate screening to identify patients with increased risk may contribute to under-diagnosis. This study developed a 10-item screening tool for FASD and examined its feasibility. Methods: The sample consisted of 355 children who had been evaluated at an FASD clinic. Data from the 33-item Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder Behavioral Checklist was used to develop a brief FASD screen by comparing the changes in Cronbach’s alpha for different combinations of items. The validity of the brief scale was then further examined using receiving operating characteristic analyses. Results: The 10-item screen demonstrated acceptable sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy to identify children at high risk for FASD. The percentage correctly classified was 91.3 and the area under the receiving operating characteristic curve was 0.971. Conclusions: This feasibility study demonstrated that a screen for FASD consisting of 10 items with yes or no responses can be completed in 3 - 4 minutes. The tool is brief, with a low administration burden and has acceptable epidemiologic performance characteristics including accuracy. Future research should examine the performance of this tool when used in larger, community-based populations where screening for FASD would be appropriate.

Distinct and Additive Effects of Alcohol and Thiamine Deficiency in the Developing Brain: Relevance to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

Background: Neurodevelopmental abnormalities in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) are linked to brain insulin resistance and oxidative stress. However, the role of thiamine deficiency as a distinct or additive factor in the pathogenesis of the neurodevelopmental and metabolic derangements in FASD has not been determined. Methods: Control and ethanol-exposed human PNET2 cerebellar neuronal cells and rat cerebellar slice cultures were treated with vehicle or pyrithiamine (Pyr) to assess independent and additive effects of thiamine deficiency on ethanol-mediated neurotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, insulin resistance, inhibition of neuronal and glial genes, and oxidative stress. Results: Pyr treatments (0 - 200 µM) caused dose-dependent cell loss (Crystal Violet assay) and reduced mitochondrial function (MTT assay) in PNET2 neuronal cultures. Ethanol alone (100 mM) significantly reduced PNET2 neuronal viability, MTT activity, and ATP production. Over the broad dose range of Pyr treatment, ethanol significantly reduced ATP content and cell number and increased mitochondrial mass (MitoTracker Green). Ex vivo cerebellar slice culture studies revealed ethanol-induced developmental architectural disruption that was substantially worsened by Pyr. The adverse effects of ethanol were linked to increased lipid peroxidation and inhibition of asparatyl-asparaginyl-β-hydroxylase (ASPH) expression. The independent and additive effects of Pyr were associated with increased cytotoxicity, lipid peroxidation, Caspase 3 activation, and Tau accumulation. Conclusions: During development, alcohol exposure and thiamine deficiency exert distinct but overlapping molecular pathologies that ultimately impair the structure and function of cerebellar neurons. While both insults drive cell loss and mitochondrial dysfunction with increased lipid peroxidation, ethanol’s additional inhibitory effects on ASPH reflect impairments in insulin and IGF signaling. In contrast, Pyr’s main adverse effects were likely due to neurotoxicity and the activation of apoptosis cascades. The findings suggest that FASD severity may be reduced by thiamine supplementation, but without additional support for insulin/IGF signaling networks, FASD would not be prevented.

Interaction mechanism of cyanide with pyrite during the cyanidation of pyrite and the decyanation of pyrite cyanide residues by chemical oxidation

The toxic cyanides in cyanide residues produced from cyanidation process for gold extraction are harmful to the environment.Pyrite is one of the main minerals existing in cyanide residues.In this work,the interaction of cyanide with pyrite and the decyanation of pyrite cyanide residue were analyzed.Results revealed that high pH value,high cyanide concentration,and high pyrite dosage promoted the interaction of cyanide with pyrite.The cyanidation of pyrite was pseudo-second-order with respect to cyanide.The decyanation of pyrite cyanide residue by Na_(2)SO_(3)/air oxidation was performed.The cyanide removal efficiency was 83.9% after 1 h of reaction time under the optimal conditions of pH value of 11.2,SO_(3)^(2-) dosage of 22 mg·g^(-1),and air flow rate of 1.46 L·min^(-1).X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis of the pyrite samples showed the formation of Fe(Ⅲ)and FeSO_(4) during the cyanidation process.The cyanide that adsorbed on the pyrite surface after cyanidation mainly existed in the forms of free cyanide(CN^(-))and ferrocyanide(Fe(CN)_(6)^(4-)),which were effectively removed by Na_(2)SO_(3)/air oxidation.During the decyanation process,air intake promoted pyrite oxidation and weakened cyanide adsorption on the pyrite surface.This study has practical significance for gold enterprises aiming to mitigate the environmental impact related to cyanide residues.