Causal Analysis Between Rice Growth and Cadmium Accumulation and Transfer under Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Inoculation

Cadmium(Cd)contamination in rice has been a serious threat to human health.To investigate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF)on the Cd translocation in rice,a controlled pot experiment was conducted.The results indicated that AMF significantly increased rice biomass,with an increase of up to 40.0%,particularly in root biomass by up to 68.4%.Notably,the number of prominent rice individuals also increased,and their plasticity was enhanced following AMF inoculation.AMF led to an increase in the net photosynthetic rate and antioxidant enzyme activity of rice.In the AMF treatment group,the Cd concentration in the rice roots was significantly higher(19.1%‒68.0%)compared with that in the control group.Conversely,the Cd concentration in the rice seeds was lower in the AMF treatment group,indicating that AMF facilitated the sequestration of Cd in rice roots and reduced Cd accumulation in the seeds.Path coefficients varied across different treatments,suggesting that AMF inoculation reduced the direct impact of soil Cd concentration on the total Cd accumulation in seeds.The translocation of Cd was consistently associated with simultaneous growth dilution and compensatory accumulation as a result of mycorrhizal effects.Our study quantitatively analyzed this process through path analysis and clarified the causal relationship between rice growth and Cd transfer under the influence of AMF.

Fabrication of immobilized nickel nanoclusters decorated by CxNy species for cellulose conversion to C2,3 oxygenated compounds:Rational design via typical C-and N-sources

Production of chemicals and fuels from microcrystalline cellulose has inspired scholars’ attention. Deactivation of metallic catalysts including acid leaching and hydrothermal aggregation is still one of the core issues in these systems. To address these problems, we designed and fabricated a series of Ni-W/SiO2 catalysts, which were decorated by CxNy species using C-and N- sources and applied in cellulose conversion to C2,3 oxygenated compounds. The Ni-W/SiO2@CxNy catalysts, underwent complexing and selfassembling process, exhibited special heterojunctions, accompanying strong interactions mainly among Ni phase and CxNy layers. Catalytic results showed that the heterojunctions and outer CxNy layers extensively enhanced productions of hydroxyacetone(HDA) and ethylene glycol(EG) and promoted the hydrothermal stability through prospering in concentration of Lewis pairs from Ni–N—N structure and immobilizing the metallic nanoclusters. 48.25% of EG was yielded under 5.0 MPa H2 pressurized 240 ℃ water for 2.0 h. The Lewis pair further improved the formation of HDA with 20.92% yield. High hydrothermal stability of NiW/SiO2@CxNy catalyst was proved according to the recycling results and trace leaching concentration of Ni and W. This construction of metallic catalysts exploited a new strategy to manufacture extraordinary durability of metallic nanoclusters for cellulose conversion under harsh reaction conditions.

Ca^(2+)-亚氨二醋酸金属离子亲和色谱法吸附内毒素(英文)

Endotoxins(also known as lipopolysaccharides(LPS)) are undesirable by-products of recombinant proteins,purified from Escherichia coli.LPS can be considered stable under a wide range of temperature and pH,making their removal one of the most difficult tasks in downstream processes during protein purification.The inherent toxicity of LPS makes their removal an important step for the application of these proteins in several biological assays and for a safe parenteral administration.Immobilized metal affinity chromatography(IMAC) enables the affinity interactions between the metal ions(immobilized on the support through the chelating compound) and the target molecules,thus enabling high-efficiency separation of the target molecules from other components present in a mixture.Affinity chromatography is applied with Ca2+-iminodiacetic acid(IDA) to remove most of the LPS contaminants from the end product(more than90%).In this study,the adsorption of LPS on an IDA-Ca2+ was investigated.The adsorption Freundlich isotherm of LPS-IDA-Ca2+ provides a theoretical basis for LPS removal.It was found that LPS is bound mainly by interactions between the phosphate group in LPS and Ca2+ ligands on the beads.The factors such as pH(4.0 or 5.5) and ionic strength(1.0 mol/L) are essential to obtain effective removal of LPS for contaminant levels between endotoxin' concentration values less than100 EU/mL and 100 000 EU/mL.This new protocol represents a substantial advantage in time,effort,and production costs.

Purification and Refolding of a Novel β-Agarase from Inclusion Body of E. coli

β-agarase AgaB appears to represent a new family of glycoside hydrolase; it is structurally and functionally different from other known agarases. In the present study, AgaB was expressed with a temperature-inducible expression system in E. coli BL21 (DE3) as a fusion protein bearing a C-terminal hexahistidine tag. The protein existed mainly in the form of inclusion body. After being washed and solubilized, AgaB in inclusion body was denatured and purified to electrophoretic purity by immobilized metal affinity chromatography. The purified AgaB was then refolded using a simple pulse dilution method, and the refolded AgaB showed a high specific hydrolysis activity of about 1600 units /mg protein. Forty milligrams of refolded pure protein were obtained from 1L of culture.

Probing region-resolved heterogeneity of phosphoproteome in human lens by hybrid metal organic frameworks

Phosphorylation plays crucial parts in lenticular biological function.Getting knowledge of region-resolved phosphoproteome contributes to better comprehending the pathogenesis.Here,we prepared the hybrid metal organic frameworks(HMOFs)for probing the region-resolved heterogeneity of phosphoproteome in human lens.1334 phosphosites corresponding to 564 phosphoproteins,1160 phosphosites corresponding to 316 phosphoproteins and 517 phosphosites corresponding to 205 phosphoproteins were identified in capsule,cortex and nucleus,respectively,providing the relatively extensive distribution mapping of phosphorylation in human lens for the first time.The label-free quantification experiments and principal component analysis presented differential expression of phopshoproteins in three subregions.For instance,α-crystallin,β-crystallin and fibrillin-1 closely associated with cataract and Marfan syndrome showed disparate spatial distribution.The preferential phosphoproteins in capsule,cortex and nucleus were involved in cytoskeleton organization,metabolic process and lens development in camera-type eye,respectively.This work first provided a general overview of region-resolved phosphoproteome of human lens.

Mine tailings as a raw material in alkali activation: A review

The mining industry produces billions of tons of mine tailings annually.However,because of their lack of economic value,most of the tailings are discarded near the mining sites,typically under water.The primary environmental concerns of mine tailings are related to their heavy metal and sulfidic mineral content.Oxidation of sulfidic minerals can produce acid mine drainage that leaches heavy metals into the surrounding water.The management of tailing dams requires expensive construction and careful control,and there is the need for stable,sustainable,and economically viable management technologies.Alkali activation as a solidification/stabilization technology offers an attractive way to deal with mine tailings.Alkali activated materials are hardened,concrete-like structures that can be formed from raw materials that are rich in aluminum and silicon,which fortunately,are the main elements in mining residues.Furthermore,alkali activation can immobilize harmful heavy metals within the structure.This review describes the research on alkali activated mine tailings.The reactivity and chemistry of different minerals are discussed.Since many mine tailings are poorly reactive under alkaline conditions,different pretreatment methods and their effects on the mineralogy are reviewed.Possible applications for these materials are also discussed.

Hardening Properties of Foamed Concrete with Circulating Fluidized Bed Boiler Ash, Blast Furnace Slag, and Desulfurization Gypsum as the Binder

Recently, a large amount of circulating fluidized bed boiler ash (CFBA) and desulfurization gypsum (DSG) has been produced, and it is essential to develop technology to utilize them. These materials have CaO and SO3, which are considered to be a stimulant for blast furnace slag (BFS). This study presents an experimental investigation of the compressive strength and heavy metal ions immobilization properties of cement-free materials comprising CFBA, BFS, and DSG. The feasibility of manufacturing foamed concrete using these materials was examined, and field test of foamed concrete was conducted. Experimentally, the flow, compressive strength, and heavy metal ions concentration were evaluated via inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) of the paste and foamed concrete. The experimental investigation revealed the self-healing hardening ability of fluidized bed boiler ash. In addition, the compressive strength was increased with the increasing replacement rates of BFS and DSG in the CFBA paste, and the compressive strength of 14.6 - 17.2 MPa was recorded over 28 days of curing. From the result obtained, the feasibility of manufacturing foamed concrete with a foam volume of 120 L, incorporating the aforementioned materials, is confirmed. It was also found that after 28 days of age, a 7.9-MPa compressive strength of the foamed concrete was attained, and heavy metal ions elution in this foamed concrete was also significantly reduced. Therefore, CFBA, BFS, and DSG could be used as a binder for the foamed concrete.

Biogeochemical cycling of metals impacting by microbial mobilization and immobilization

Microbial mobilization and immobilization processes can affect the bioavailability and mobility of metals thereby influencing their toxicity and can therefore be utilized to treat solid and liquid wastes contaminated by metals. However, the microbial mobilization and immobilization of metals depends on the microbial metabolism, the environment conditions. In this review, mobilization and immobilization of metals are discussed with regard to the presence and function of involved microorganisms and in relation to applications such as bioleaching. Furthermore, the biosorption process is evaluated as a possible approach for microbial immobilization of metal on the basis of four mechanisms：（1） physical adsorption,（2） ion exchange,（3） complexation, and（4） microprecipitation. In addition, sulfide precipitation by sulfate reducing bacteria was included as an example of an application of microbial immobilization. Based on the evaluation and recommendations in this paper, bioremediation strategies for metals can be improved thus increasing the opportunity for field applications.

Evaluation of immobilizing agents as soil quality conditioners in addition to their metal(loid) immobilizing effect

In trace metal (TM)-contaminated agricultural soils,management of TM availability is important for safe crop production.In addition,maintenance or improvement of soil quality is vital for sustainable crop cultivation.Decreased TM phytoavailability and increased soil quality can be achieved by the application of various immobilizing agents to soil,which can supply both macronutrients and organic matter.This study investigated the long-term influences of four common immobilizing agents on soil biogeochemical properties and the phytoavailability of TMs in mixed metal-contaminated soil from a cultivated upland near an abandoned mining site.Lime (L),gypsum (G),fly ash (F),and animal manure-based compost (C) were applied to pots containing contaminated soil,either individually or in combination.After incubation for three years under sequential cultivation of two crops and fallow,soil biogeochemical properties were determined,and Brassica rapa plant bioassay was performed.The phytoavailability of all TMs (both cationic metals and anionic metalloids) remained significantly lower in soils treated with immobilizing agents even after three years,when compared with the no-agent control (CK) soil.In addition,the soil quality was significantly improved by treatment with immobilizing agents.For instance,the C and L+C treatments were the most effective in improving soil physical (bulk density,porosity,and water-resistant aggregate stability),chemical (pH,organic matter,total nitrogen,cation exchange capacity,and plant-available phosphorus,magnesium,and potassium),and biological (microbial biomass carbon and dehydrogenase activity) properties.The improvement of soil properties and lowering of TM bioavailability were also consistent with the most significant increase in B.rapa biomass production observed in the C treatment,followed by the L+C,G+F,L,G,F,and L+G treatments,as compared with that in CK.These results indicate that the function of the TM-immobilizing agent as a soil quality conditioner,in addition to its TM immobilizing effect,should be considered when selecting such agents for agricultural or ecological applications.

Copper(Ⅱ) ions-immobilized virus-like hollow covalent organic frameworks for highly efficient capture and sensitive analysis of amyloid beta-peptide 1–42 by MALDI-MS

Amyloid beta-peptide 1-42(Aβ1-42)is one of the biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease,and its selective capture and quantitative detection are important for diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.Herein,copper(Ⅱ)ions-immobilized virus-like hollow covalent organic frameworks(V-HCOFs@Cu^(2+))were synthesized by a facile approach.The as-prepared V-HCOFs@Cu^(2+)showed unique morphology,ultra-high specific surface(2552 m^(2)/g),uniform mesoporous structure(3.2 nm),superior chemical stability and abundant binding sites.Based on these excellent properties,the V-HCOFs@Cu^(2+)could be adopted as an ideal enrichment probe for highly efficient capture of Aβ1-42,exhibiting high adsorption capacity(320 mg/g),and fast adsorption equilibration time(3 min).In addition,an attractive approach of the V-HCOFs@Cu^(2+)-based matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry(MALDI-MS)was developed for the rapid screening and quantitative analysis of Aβ1-42 in human serum by using C-peptide as an internal standard,which exhibited low limit of detection(LOD,0.2 fmol/μL),and satisfactory recovery.This work provides an alternative solution for enrichment of biomarkers and also offers the potential applications of COFs in clinical analysis.

The preparation of paddy soil amendment using granite and marble waste: Performance and mechanisms

The wastes generated from themining and processing of granite and marble stone are generally regarded as useless.However,these waste materials were used as the soil amendments for the first time.The functional groups,crystalline structure andmicro-morphology of granite and marble wastes amendments(GMWA)were different from the original wastes demonstrated by X-ray diffractometer(XRD),Fourier transform infrared spectrometer(FTIR)and Scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectrometer(SEM-EDS)analyses.With the addition of the amendments,the cation exchange capacity,electrical conductivity and nutrient availability of the soil increased,and the extractable heavy metals of the soil reduced significantly.Under the condition of the addition of 3%amendments,7.0%,99.9%,99.7%and 70.5%of Cu,Pb,Zn and Cd in exchangeable fractions in soil were transformed to the more stable Fe-Mn oxides-or carbonates-bounded fractions.Tessier method and correlation analysis showed that the reduction of extractable metals in the acidic paddy soil can be attributed to the adsorption of available SiO_(2),the co-precipitation induced by the elevated pH value,the complexation induced by Fe-Mn oxides and the cation exchange induced by mineral nutrients.This study provides a new strategy for resource recovery of waste stones and remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil.

Identification of zinc-binding peptides in ADAM17-inhibiting whey protein hydrolysates using IMAC-Zn^(2+) coupled with shotgun peptidomics

Food components possessing zinc ligands can be used to inhibit zinc-dependent enzymes.In this study,zinc-binding peptides were derived from whey protein hydrolysates,and their ultrafiltration(>1 and<1 kDa)fractions,produced with Esperase(WPH-Esp),Everlase and Savinase.Immobilized metal affinity chromatography(IMAC-Zn^(2+))increased the zinc-binding capacity of the peptide fraction(83%)when compared to WPH-Esp(23%)and its<1 kDa fraction(40%).The increased zinc-binding capacity of the sample increased the inhibitory activity against the zinc-dependent“a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17”.LC-MS/MS analysis using a shotgun peptidomics approach resulted in the identification of 24 peptides originating from bovineβ-lactoglobulin,α-lactalbumin,serum albumin,β-casein,κ-casein,osteopontin-k,and folate receptor-αin the fraction.The identified peptides contained different combinations of the strong zinc-binding group of residues,His+Cys,Asp+Glu and Phe+Tyr,although Cys residues were absent in the sequences.In silico predictions showed that the IMAC-Zn^(2+)peptides were non-toxins.However,the peptides possessed poor drug-like and pharmacokinetic properties;this was possibly due to their long chain lengths(5–19 residues).Taken together,this work provided an array of food peptide-based zinc ligands for further investigation of structure-function relationships and development of nutraceuticals against inflammatory and other zinc-related diseases.

Combined effects of adsorption and photocatalysis by hybrid TiO_2/ZnO-calcium alginate beads for the removal of copper

The use of nanosized titanium dioxide（TiO2） and zinc oxide（ZnO） in the suspension form during treatment makes the recovering and recycling of photocatalysts difficult.Hence,supported photocatalysts are preferred for practical water treatment applications.This study was conducted to investigate the efficiency of calcium alginate（CaAlg） beads that were immobilized with hybrid photocatalysts,TiO2/ZnO to form TiO2/ZnO-CaAlg.These immobilized beads,with three different mass ratios of TiO2：ZnO（1：1,1：2,and 2：1） were used to remove Cu（Ⅱ） in aqueous solutions in the presence of ultraviolet light.These beads were subjected to three cycles of photocatalytic treatment with different initial Cu（Ⅱ） concentrations（10-80 ppm）.EDX spectra have confirmed the inclusion of Ti and Zn on the surface of the CaAlg beads.Meanwhile,the surface morphology of the beads as determined using SEM,has indicated differences of before and after the photocatalytic treatment of Cu（Ⅱ）.Among all three,the equivalent mass ratio TiO2/ZnO-CaAlg beads have shown the best performance in removing Cu（Ⅱ） during all three recycling experiments.Those TiO2/ZnO-CaAlg beads have also shown consistent removal of Cu,ranging from 7.14-52.0 ppm（first cycle） for initial concentrations of10-80 ppm.In comparison,bare CaAlg was only able to remove 6.9-48 ppm of similar initial Cu concentrations.Thus,the potential use of TiO2/ZnO-CaAlg beads as environmentally friendly composite material can be further extended for heavy metal removal from contaminated water.