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Journal of Microbiology and... May 2024This study analyzed the effects of Ca metal ions among culture medium components on the strain DSCG150 strain cell growth. The strain DSCG150 strain grew based on a...
This study analyzed the effects of Ca metal ions among culture medium components on the strain DSCG150 strain cell growth. The strain DSCG150 strain grew based on a multiple fission cell cycle and growth became stagnant in the absence of metal ions in the medium, particularly Ca. Flow cytometry and confocal microscopic image analysis results showed that in the absence of Ca, cell growth became stagnant as the cells accumulated into four autospores and could not transform into daughter cells. Genetic analysis showed that the absence of Ca caused upregulation of calmodulin () and cell division control protein 2 () genes, and downregulation of origin of replication complex subunit 6 () and dual specificity protein phosphatase CDC14A () genes. Analysis of gene expression patterns by qRT-PCR showed that the absence of Ca did not affect cell cycle progression up to 4n autospore, but it inhibited cell fission (liberation of autospores). The addition of Ca to cells cultivated in the absence of Ca resulted in an increase in n cell population, leading to the resumption of growth. These findings suggest that Ca plays a crucial role in the fission process in
PubMed: 38955803
DOI: 10.4014/jmb.2403.03018 -
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in... Jul 2024Graphite (Gr)-based lithium-ion batteries with admirable electrochemical performance below -20 °C are desired but are hindered by sluggish interfacial charge transport...
Graphite (Gr)-based lithium-ion batteries with admirable electrochemical performance below -20 °C are desired but are hindered by sluggish interfacial charge transport and desolvation process. Li salt dissociation via Li+-solvent interaction enables mobile Li+ liberation and contributes to bulk ion transport, while is contradictory to fast interfacial desolvation. Designing kinetically-stable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) without compromising strong Li+-solvent interaction is expected to compatibly improve interfacial charge transport and desolvation kinetics. However, the relationship between physicochemical features and temperature-dependent kinetics properties of SEI remains vague. Herein, we propose four key thermodynamics parameters of SEI potentially influencing low-temperature electrochemistry, including electron work function, Li+ transfer barrier, surface energy, and desolvation energy. Based on the above parameters, we further define a novel descriptor, separation factor of SEI (SSEI), to quantitatively depict charge (Li+/e-) transport and solvent deprivation processes at Gr/electrolyte interface. A Li3PO4-based, inorganics-enriched SEI derived by Li difluorophosphate (LiDFP) additive exhibits the highest SSEI (4.89×103) to enable efficient Li+ conduction, e- blocking and rapid desolvation, and as a result, much suppressed Li-metal precipitation, electrolyte decomposition and Gr sheets exfoliation, thus improving low-temperature battery performances. Overall, our work originally provides visualized guides to improve low-temperature reaction kinetics/thermodynamics by constructing desirable SEI chemistry.
PubMed: 38955769
DOI: 10.1002/anie.202411029 -
Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi [Chinese... Jun 2024To investigate the association of urinary cadmium levels with peripheral leukocyte classification counts among middle-aged and older adults aged 40 to 89 years in...
To investigate the association of urinary cadmium levels with peripheral leukocyte classification counts among middle-aged and older adults aged 40 to 89 years in selected areas of China. The research was based on the survey of the impact of soil quality of agricultural land on human health in typical areas conducted in 2019-2020. A total of 5 600 middle-aged and older adults aged 40 to 89 years were included by using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method. Baseline characteristics of the subjects were collected and physical examinations were performed. Random midstream urine was collected to measure urinary cadmium and urinary creatinine and fasting venous blood was collected to measure the leukocyte count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, monocyte count and eosinophil count. The linear mixed effect model was used to analyse the association of urinary cadmium levels with leukocyte classification counts, and the dose-response relationship between them was analyzed by using the restricted cubic spline (RCS) function. The age of the subjects was (63.17±12.02) years; 2 851 (50.91%) were males; and the (, ) of urinary creatinine-corrected urinary cadmium levels was 2.69 (1.52, 4.69) μg/g·creatinine. After adjusting for confounding factors, the results of linear mixed effects model analysis showed that for each 1-unit increase in urinary creatinine-corrected urinary cadmium level, the percentage change [% (95%)] of leukocyte count and lymphocyte count was -1.70% (-2.61%, -0.79%) and -1.57% (-2.86%, -0.26%), respectively. RCS function showed a negative linear relationship between urinary creatinine-corrected urinary cadmium levels and leukocyte counts and lymphocyte counts, respectively (all >0.05). Urinary cadmium levels are negatively associated with leukocyte count and lymphocyte count among middle-aged and older adults aged 40 to 89 years in selected areas of China.
Topics: Humans; Cadmium; Middle Aged; China; Aged; Male; Leukocyte Count; Female; Adult; Aged, 80 and over; Creatinine
PubMed: 38955731
DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112150-20240222-00137 -
Environmental Technology Jul 2024Pyrolysis is an effective process for disposing of municipal sewage sludge (SS). Plastics can affect the SS pyrolysis behaviour and pyrolysis products due to their low...
Pyrolysis is an effective process for disposing of municipal sewage sludge (SS). Plastics can affect the SS pyrolysis behaviour and pyrolysis products due to their low ash and high hydrocarbon ratio. The secondary pollutants from the pyrolysis process may also be affected. Therefore, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a typical plastic, was chosen to investigate the release characteristics of pollutants containing nitrogen, sulphur, and chlorine via SS pyrolysis, and the changes of biochar to adsorb two typical heavy metals, Pb and Cu. The pyrolysis of PET plastics facilitates the migration of N toward solid and liquid-phase products, S and Cl to the gas-phase products via pyrolysis. Oxygenated compounds of pyrolytic volatiles decreased from 38.18% to 28.43%, concurrently promoting the formation of phenolic compounds. The co-pyrolysis improved the quality of biochar and the ability to adsorb Pb and Cu. This systematic study can provide some support for the further improvement of SS pyrolysis technology, and will also be beneficial for subsequent applications.
PubMed: 38955513
DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2024.2371079 -
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Jul 2024While wavelength-dependent photodegradation of organic solar cells (OSCs) under visible light is typically discussed in terms of UV/blue light-activated phenomena, we...
While wavelength-dependent photodegradation of organic solar cells (OSCs) under visible light is typically discussed in terms of UV/blue light-activated phenomena, we recently demonstrated wavelength-dependent degradation rates up to 660 nm for PM6:Y6. In this study, we systematically investigated this phenomenon for a broad variety of devices based on different donor:acceptor combinations. We found that the spectral composition of the light used for degradation, tuned in a spectral range from 457 to 740 nm and under high irradiances of up to 30 suns, has a crucial influence on the device stability of almost all tested semiconductors. The relevance of this phenomenon was investigated in the context of simulated AM1.5 illumination with metal halide lamps and white LEDs. It is concluded that the current stability testing protocols in OSC research have to be adjusted to account for this effect to reveal the underlying physics of this still poorly understood mechanism.
PubMed: 38955357
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c03446 -
Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter :... Jul 2024Ab-initio crystal structure searches have played a pivotal role in recent discovery of high-Tc hydride superconductors under high pressure. Using evolutionary crystal...
Ab-initio crystal structure searches have played a pivotal role in recent discovery of high-Tc hydride superconductors under high pressure. Using evolutionary crystal searches, we predict novel ground state structures of N-doped LuH3 at ambient conditions. We find an insulating ground state structure for LuN0.125H2.875 (~1.0 wt.% N), contrary to earlier studies where assumed structures were all metallic. This insulating behavior of ground state was found to persist up to ~45 GPa. However our crystal structure search revealed a metallic state for an H-deficient variant of LuN0.125H2.875. We study bonding characteristics of important structures by calculating electronic density of states, electronic-localization functions and Bader charges. Our Bader charge analysis shows that insulators have both H+ and H- ions whereas metals have only H- ions. We find that H+ ions are bonded to N atoms via a very short covalent bond. Thus we identify a clear relationship between formation of N-H bonds and insulating behavior of materials. Besides this, we perform crystal structure searches for three more compositions with higher N-content (> 1.0 wt.%). Analysis of electronic properties shows that the ground states of these compositions are insulator.
PubMed: 38955341
DOI: 10.1088/1361-648X/ad5e52 -
Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter :... Jul 2024Stabilized and metallic light elements hydrides have provided a potential route to achieve the goal of room-temperature superconductors at moderate or ambient pressures....
Stabilized and metallic light elements hydrides have provided a potential route to achieve the goal of room-temperature superconductors at moderate or ambient pressures. Here, we have performed systematic DFT theoretical calculations to examine the effects of different light elements C and N atoms doped in cubic KBHhydrides on the superconductivity at low pressures. As a result of various atoms substituting, we have found that metallic KBMH(M = C, N) hydrides are dynamically stable at 50 GPa, band structures and density of states indicate that sizeablecorrelates with a high B-H density of states at the Fermi level. With the increasing of B atoms in KBMHhydrides, the density of states values at Fermi level have been improved due to the delocalized electrons in B-H bonds, which result in strong electron-phonon coupling (EPC) interaction and increase thefrom 19.04 to 77.07 K for KCHand KBHat 50 GPa. The NHunit in stable KBNHhydrides has weakened the EPC and led to low Tc value of 21.47 K. Our results suggest the light elements hydrides KBHand KBCHcould estimate highvalues at 50 GPa, and the boron hydrides would be potential candidates to design or modulate hydrides superconductors with highat moderate or ambient pressures.
PubMed: 38955332
DOI: 10.1088/1361-648X/ad5e2d -
Toxicology Jun 2024During the manufacture and use of aluminium (aluminum), inhalation exposure may occur. We reviewed the pulmonary toxicity of this metal including its toxicokinetics. The... (Review)
Review
During the manufacture and use of aluminium (aluminum), inhalation exposure may occur. We reviewed the pulmonary toxicity of this metal including its toxicokinetics. The normal serum/plasma level based on 17 studies was 5.7 ± 7.7µg Al/L (mean ± SD). The normal urine level based on 15 studies was 7.7 ± 5.3µg/L. Bodily fluid and tissue levels during occupational exposure are also provided, and the urine level was increased in aluminium welders (43 ± 33µg/L) based on 7 studies. Some studies demonstrated that aluminium from occupational exposure can remain in the body for years. Excretion pathways include urine and faeces. Toxicity studies were mostly on aluminium flakes, aluminium oxide and aluminium chlorohydrate as well as on mixed exposure, e.g. in aluminium smelters. Endpoints affected by pulmonary aluminium exposure include body weight, lung function, lung fibrosis, pulmonary inflammation and neurotoxicity. In men exposed to aluminium oxide particles (3.2µm) for two hours, lowest observed adverse effect concentration (LOAEC) was 4mg AlO/m (= 2.1mg Al/m), based on increased neutrophils in sputum. With the note that a similar but not statistically significant increase was seen during control exposure. In animal studies LOAECs start at 0.3mg Al/m. In intratracheal instillation studies, all done with aluminium oxide and mainly nanomaterials, lowest observed adverse effect levels (LOAELs) started at 1.3mg Al/kg body weight (bw) (except one study with a LOAEL of ~0.1mg Al/kg bw). The collected data provide information regarding hazard identification and characterisation of pulmonary exposure to aluminium.
PubMed: 38955312
DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2024.153874 -
International Journal of Biological... Jun 2024This research uses a novel [email protected] composite sponge was created by encasing TiO nanoparticles in the natural polymers alginate and chitosan, resulting in a...
Synthesis and characterization of a novel TiO@chitosan/alginate nanocomposite sponge for highly efficient removal of As(V) ions from aqueous solutions: Adsorption isotherm, kinetics, experiment and adsorption mechanism optimization using Box-Behnken design.
This research uses a novel [email protected] composite sponge was created by encasing TiO nanoparticles in the natural polymers alginate and chitosan, resulting in a nanocomposite that is both ecologically friendly and biocompatible. Using the generated nanocomposite as a new environmentally friendly adsorbent, As(V) heavy metal ions were effectively removed from aqueous media. The following techniques were used to analyse the physicochemical properties of the obtained materials: pH, FTIR, XRD, BET, SEM, and XPS. Utilizing nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms, the [email protected] composite sponge's textural properties were identified. This revealed a BET surface area of 168.42 m/g and a total pore volume of 1.18 cc/g, indicating its porous nature and potential for high adsorption capacity. Examine the effects of temperature, pH, dose, and beginning concentration on adsorption. The adsorption characteristics were determined based on equilibrium and adsorption kinetics measurements. The adsorption process was both pseudo-second-order (PSOE) and Langmuir isothermally fit. Chemisorption was the adsorption method since the adsorption energy was 25.45 kJ·mol. An endothermic and spontaneous adsorption process was indicated by more metal being absorbed as the temperature increased. The optimal conditions for adsorption were optimized via Box-Behnken design software to be pH of 5 in the solution, a dosage of 0.02 g of the [email protected] composite sponge per 25 mL, and an arsenate (As(V)) solution the adsorption capacity was 202.27 mg/g are ideal for efficient adsorption. These parameters are critical in achieving the maximum adsorption capacity of the composite sponge for arsenate, which could be beneficial for water purification applications. Utilizing Design-Expert software's response surface methodology (RSM) and Box-Behnken design (BBD), the adsorption process was optimized with the fewest planned tests. After six successive cycles of adsorption and desorption, the adsorbent stability was confirmed by the adsorbent reusability test without any noticeable decrease in removal efficacy. Additionally, it displayed good efficiency, the same XRD and XPS data before and after reuse, and no change in chemical composition.
PubMed: 38955292
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133513 -
The Science of the Total Environment Jun 2024Several steps in the abattoir can influence the presence of microbes and associated resistance genes (ARGs) on the animal carcasses used for further meat processing. We...
Several steps in the abattoir can influence the presence of microbes and associated resistance genes (ARGs) on the animal carcasses used for further meat processing. We investigated how these processes influence the resistome-microbiome of groups of pigs with different on-farm antimicrobial exposure status, from the moment they entered the abattoir until the end of carcass processing. Using a targeted enrichment metagenomic approach, we identified 672 unique ARGs conferring resistance to 43 distinct AMR classes from pooled skin (N = 42) and carcass swabs (N = 63) collected sequentially before, during, and after the slaughter process and food safety interventions. We observed significant variations in the resistome and microbial profiles of pigs before and after slaughter, as well as a significant decline in ARG counts, diversity, and microbial DNA load during slaughter and carcass processing, irrespective of prior antimicrobial treatments on the farm. These results suggest that existing interventions in the abattoir are effective in reducing not only the pathogen load but also the overall bacterial burden, including ARGs on pork carcasses. Concomitant with reductions in microbial and ARG counts, we observed an increase in the relative abundance of non-drug-specific ARGs, such as those conferring resistance to metals and biocides, and in particular mercury. Using a strict colocalization procedure, we found that most mercury ARGs were associated with genomes from the Pseudomonadaceae and Enterobacteriaceae families. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that slaughter and processing practices within the abattoir can shape the microbial and ARG profiles of pork carcasses during the transition from living muscle to meat.
PubMed: 38955276
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174394