South China Karst 1 Chuxing, Huang; Gabrovšek, Franci; Zupan Hajna, Nadja ...
1998
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The book is a results of the scientific co-operation between the Karst Research Institute at ZRC SAZU, the Yunnan Institute of Geography and Institute of Geology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. ...The researches were carried out near Liupanshui, the western part of Guizhou, in karst between the mountains in Guizhou and Yunnan Plateau, in the area of Lunan stone forests and in cone-karst at Xichou, Yunnan. General characteristics of the areas, lithological and structural properties, geomorphological, speleological and hydrogeological characteristics are presented, as well as various types of land use and their environmental impacts.
•V(V) removal was accelerated under acetate-S(0) mixotrophic condition.•V(IV) was identified as the final product of V(V) reduction.•Mixotrophic V(V) reduction needed lower organics but reduced ...sulfate production.•Organic metabolites from autotrophic process could compensate electron donors.
Although remediation of toxic vanadium (V) V(V) pollution can be achieved through either heterotrophic or sulfur-based autotrophic microbial reduction, these processes would require a large amount of organic carbons or generate excessive sulfate. This study reported that by using mixotrophic V(V) bio-reduction with acetate and elemental sulfur S(0) as joint electron donors, V(V) removal performance was enhanced due to cooccurrence of heterotrophic and autotrophic activities. Deposited vanadium (IV) was identified as the main reduction product by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Based on 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, qPCR and genus-specific reverse transcription qPCR, it was observed that V(V) was likely detoxified by heterotrophic V(V) reducers (e.g., Syntrophobacter, Spirochaeta and Geobacter). Cytochrome c, intracellular nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and extracellular polymeric substances were involved in V(V) reduction and binding. Organic metabolites synthesized by autotrophs (e.g., Thioclava) with energy from S(0) oxidation might compensate electron donors for heterotrophic V(V) and sulfate reducers. Less sulfate was accumulated presumably due to activities of sulfur-respiring genera (e.g., Desulfurella). This study demonstrates mixotrophic microbial V(V) reduction can save organic dosage and avoid excessive sulfate accumulation, which will be beneficial to bioremediation of V(V) contamination.
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Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly malignant digestive tract tumor with limited clinical treatments. Transforming acidic coiled-coil-containing protein 3 (TACC3) is a component of ...the centrosome axis and a member of the TACC family, which affect mitosis and regulate chromosome stability and are involved in tumor development and progression. However, the role of TACC3 in PDAC remains elusive. In this study, by exploiting the TCGA database, we found that high TACC3 expression in PDAC is associated with poor prognosis. shRNA-mediated TACC3 knockdown caused S phase arrest of the cell cycle and inhibited proliferation in PDAC cell lines. Through RNA sequencing and protein co-immunoprecipitation combined with mass spectrometry, KIF11 was identified as a protein that interacts with TACC3. TACC3 stabilizes and regulates KIF11 protein expression levels in PDAC cells through physical interaction. Knockdown of TACC3 or KIF11 resulted in abnormal spindle formation during cell division both in vitro and in vivo. Pharmacological inhibition of TACC3 or KIF11 can suppress tumor cell proliferation and promote apoptosis. Our studies further demonstrated that high expression of TACC3 and KIF11 mediated the resistance of PDAC to gemcitabine, and deficiency of TACC3 or KIF11 increased the sensitivity of PDAC cells to chemotherapy. In conclusion, our study reveals the fundamental role of TACC3 expression in PDAC cell proliferation and chemoresistance, suggesting that TACC3 can be used as a molecular marker to evaluate the prognosis of PDAC.
Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) is a crucial thioredoxin-binding protein that is recognized as a tumor suppressor in diverse malignancies, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, hepatocellular ...carcinoma, and thyroid cancer. However, the specific role and molecular mechanisms of TXNIP in the pathogenesis and progression of pancreatic cancer cells have not been determined. In this study, we investigate the relationship between TXNIP expression and overall survival prognosis in pancreatic cancer patients. Mechanistic studies are conducted to reveal the role of TXNIP in pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, migration, and regulation during malignancy. Our findings indicate that patients with high TXNIP expression have a more favorable prognosis.
experiments with pancreatic cell lines show that overexpression of TXNIP suppresses the proliferation and migration of pancreatic cancer cells. Furthermore, we find that TXNIP inhibits the activation of the MAPK signaling pathway, thereby decreasing the malignant potential of pancreatic cancer. In conclusion, our study reveals TXNIP as a promising new predictive marker and therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer.
•Up-to-date fundamentals of biological CH4 oxidation are integrated and summarized.•State-of-the-art studies using CH4 to remove oxidized contaminants are evaluated.•Opportunities and unsolved ...questions deserving future explorations are identified.
Being an energetic fuel, methane is able to support microbial growth and drive the reduction of various electron acceptors. These acceptors include a broad range of oxidized contaminants (e.g., nitrate, nitrite, perchlorate, bromate, selenate, chromate, antimonate and vanadate) that are ubiquitously detected in water environments and pose threats to human and ecological health. Using methane as electron donor to biologically reduce these contaminants into nontoxic forms is a promising solution to remediate polluted water, considering that methane is a widely available and inexpensive electron donor. The understanding of methane-based biological reduction processes and the responsible microorganisms has grown in the past decade. This review summarizes the fundamentals of metabolic pathways and microorganisms mediating microbial methane oxidation. Experimental demonstrations of methane as an electron donor to remove oxidized contaminants are summarized, compared, and evaluated. Finally, the review identifies opportunities and unsolved questions that deserve future explorations for broadening understanding of methane oxidation and promoting its practical applications.
A newly synthesized compound, 5-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4- carboxylic acid (MPC) was analyzed for its quantum chemical parameters and theoretical spectrum by computational chemistry. The ...calculated spectrum was in accord with the experimental measurements in a great degree. Then MPC was successfully designed and synthesized to a novel rhodamine B derivative RMPC. The RMPC exhibited about a 4000-fold increase in fluorescence intensity in the presence of Hg2+ ions over most other competitive metal ions. The triazole appended colorless chemodosimeter RMPC turns to pink upon the complex formation only with Hg2+ ions as a 1: 2 M ratio and enables naked-eye detection. The coordination mechanism of turning on/off fluorescence for Hg2+ ions were well proposed by explaining Hg2+ inducing the ring-opened rhodamine B moiety. The fluorescence imaging experiments of Hg2+ in HeLa cell demonstrated that the probe was labeled and it could be used in biological systems.
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•The structural and photophysical properties of a new 1, 2, 3-triazole MPC were computed.•zMPC was synthesised a novel rhodamine based fluorescent chemosensors RMPC.•MPC selectively responds to Hg2+ by off-on fluorescence mechanisms with “naked-eye” detection of Hg2+.
This study leveraged synthesis gas (syngas), a renewable resource attainable through the gasification of biowaste, to achieve efficient chromate removal from water. To enhance syngas transfer ...efficiency, a membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) was employed. Long-term reactor operation showed a stable and high-level chromate removal efficiency > 95%, yielding harmless Cr(III) precipitates, as visualised by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Corresponding to the short hydraulic retention time of 0.25 days, a high chromate removal rate of 80 µmol/L/d was attained. In addition to chromate reduction, in situ production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) by gas fermentation was observed. Three sets of in situ batch tests and two groups of ex situ batch tests jointly unravelled the mechanisms, showing that biological chromate reduction was primarily driven by VFAs produced from in situ syngas fermentation, whereas hydrogen originally present in the syngas played a minor role. 16 S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing has confirmed the enrichment of syngas-fermenting bacteria (such as Sporomusa), who performed in situ gas fermentation leading to the synthesis of VFAs, and organics-utilising bacteria (such as Aquitalea), who utilised VFAs to drive chromate reduction. These findings, combined with batch assays, elucidate the pathways orchestrating synergistic interactions between fermentative microbial cohorts and chromate-reducing microorganisms. The findings facilitate the development of cost-effective strategies for groundwater and drinking water remediation and present an alternative application scenario for syngas.
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•Efficient Cr(VI) reduction is achieved in syngas-based MBfR.•Syngas fermentation produces volatile fatty acids in situ.•Volatile fatty acids drive Cr(VI) reduction primarily and hydrogen plays a minor contribution.
Schools have been suspended nationwide in 188 countries, and classes have shifted to home-based distance learning models to control the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. ...Additional information is needed to determine mental health status among school-aged children and adolescents during this public health crisis and the risk factors associated with psychological distress during the pandemic.
To assess self-reported psychological distress among school-aged children and adolescents associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
This cross-sectional study using data from a survey on the mental health of school-aged children and adolescents in Guangdong province, China, conducted by using a stratified cluster random sampling method between March 8 to 30, 2020. To estimate outcomes associated with location of districts, only data from students with internet protocol addresses and current addresses in Guangdong were included. Data were analyzed from April 5 to July 20, 2020.
Home-based distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The main outcome was self-reported psychological distress, measured using the total score on the 12-item General Health Questionnaire of 3 or greater. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze risk factors associated with mental health status. Odds ratios (ORs) were used to analyze the associations of factors with psychological distress.
Among 1 310 600 students who completed the survey, 1 199 320 students (mean SD age, 12.04 3.01 years; 619 144 51.6% boys) were included in the final analysis. A total of 126 355 students (10.5%) self-reported psychological distress. Compared with students in primary school, high school students had increased risk of psychological distress (OR, 1.19 95% CI, 1.15-1.23). Compared with students who wore a face mask frequently, students who never wore a face mask had increased risk of psychological distress (OR, 2.59 95% CI, 2.41-2.79). Additionally, students who spent less than 0.5 hours exercising had increased odds of self-reported psychological distress compared with students who spent more than 1 hour exercising (OR, 1.64 95% CI, 1.61-1.67).
These findings suggest that the prevalence of self-reported psychological distress among students during the COVID-19 pandemic was relatively high. Frequency of wearing a face mask and time spent exercising were factors associated with mental health. Therefore, it may be necessary for governments, schools, and families to pay attention to the mental health of school-aged children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic and take corresponding countermeasures to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students' mental health.
Healthcare is an important component for poverty alleviation in China, and it requires constant efforts as this sector in the rural areas in China will remain underdeveloped and short of high-quality ...resources for a long time. Moreover, promoting healthy village construction is crucial for consolidating and expanding the key achievements obtained in poverty alleviation and for implementing the rural revitalization strategy in China. This study uses policy research, field research, data analysis, and expert discussion methods. We first summarize the practical needs for promoting healthy village construction and present the achievements and main problems regarding healthcare improvement for poverty alleviation. Subsequently, we explore the development objectives and key tasks for healthy village construction and propose several countermeasures prospectively. To prevent the population that have been lifted out of poverty from returning to it due to illness and better meet their diverse needs for health, we suggest that China should (1) increase government financial investment and scientifically optimize the layout of health resources and human resources; (2) provide health services based on the whole life cycle and the whole process of health; (3) maximize the unique advantages of traditional Chinese medicine to draw a bottom line for epidemic prevention and control in rural areas; (4) ensure drug security based on the healthcare service coordination mechanism within the country region; (5) establish a regional adjustment and balancing mechanism for medical insurance funds to ensure the accuracy and fairness of health policies; and (6) conduct rural doctors training programs.
Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) is a crucial thioredoxin-binding protein that is
recognized as a tumor suppressor in diverse malignancies, such as breast cancer, lung
cancer, hepatocellular ...carcinoma, and thyroid cancer. However, the specific role and
molecular mechanisms of TXNIP in the pathogenesis and progression of pancreatic cancer
cells have not been determined. In this study, we investigate the relationship between
TXNIP expression and overall survival prognosis in pancreatic cancer patients. Mechanistic
studies are conducted to reveal the role of TXNIP in pancreatic cancer cell proliferation,
migration, and regulation during malignancy. Our findings indicate that patients with high
TXNIP expression have a more favorable prognosis.
In vitro
experiments
with pancreatic cell lines show that overexpression of TXNIP suppresses the proliferation
and migration of pancreatic cancer cells. Furthermore, we find that TXNIP inhibits the
activation of the MAPK signaling pathway, thereby decreasing the malignant potential of
pancreatic cancer. In conclusion, our study reveals TXNIP as a promising new predictive
marker and therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer.
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