Concern about metals and metalloids, especially heavy metals in seaweeds has risen due to potential health risk. This study investigated the distribution of 10 metals and metalloids in 295 dried ...seaweeds (brown and red) and estimated the possible health risk via hazard index (HI). Elements in seaweeds can be sequenced in descending order by mean values: Al > Mn > As > Cu > Cr > Ni > Cd > Se > Pb > Hg. The levels of Cd, Cu, Mn and Ni in red seaweeds were significantly higher than those in brown seaweeds (P < 0.01). Correlation analysis showed contents of Ni-Cr (r = 0.59, P < 0.01) in seaweeds had moderate positive correlations. Seaweeds from different geographical origins had diverse element distribution. Risk assessment showed that HI at mean level was less than the threshold of 1. It indicates that for the general people there is low health risk to these elements by the intake of seaweeds. Furthermore, in terms of the confirmative toxicity of some metals, such as Cd, Pb and Hg, surveillance of metals in seaweeds should be performed continuously.
Visitor safety is an important topic in adventure tourism but remains underexplored. Using a psychological approach, this study applies and extends Rimal and Real's risk perception attitude framework ...to include personality traits and emotions to understand adventure tourists' safety behaviours on site. Focusing on tidal-bore watching activities in China, this study consists of two phases: interviews with nine local stakeholders followed by a field survey involving 302 visitors. Cluster analyses were conducted and three visitors' groups were identified that varied in risk perception attitudes and safety behaviours. Mediation analyses were conducted to explore the role played by worry during visitors' decision-making related to safety behaviours. Based on the findings, this study provided managerial insight for developing risk communication strategies to engage visitors in self-protective behavior. This study also provided recommendations on how to improve visitors' safety and to protect their lives in adventure-tourism sites in China.
•Examines visitor safety in mass adventure tourism from a consumer perspective.•Extends the risk perception attitude framework (RPAF) to include emotions and personal traits.•Segments mass adventure tourists based on the extended RPAF.•Finds that emotions varied by segments and significantly influenced decision-making related to safety behaviours.•Provides managerial insight to better engage visitors in self-protective behaviours in adventure tourism sites.
Recently, the emergence of photoactive metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) has given great prospects for their applications as photocatalytic materials in visible‐light‐driven hydrogen evolution. Herein, ...a highly photoactive visible‐light‐driven material for H2 evolution was prepared by introducing methylthio terephthalate into a MOF lattice via solvent‐assisted ligand‐exchange method. Accordingly, a first methylthio‐functionalized porous MOF decorated with Pt co‐catalyst for efficient photocatalytic H2 evolution was achieved, which exhibited a high quantum yield (8.90 %) at 420 nm by use sacrificial triethanolamine. This hybrid material exhibited perfect H2 production rate as high as 3814.0 μmol g−1 h−1, which even is one order of magnitude higher than that of the state‐of‐the‐art Pt/MOF photocatalyst derived from aminoterephthalate.
The in visible MOF: A high performance for visible‐light‐driven H2‐evolution is obtained with a new methylthio‐functionalized metal–organic framework (MOF) photocatalyst that is rationally designed and facilely prepared. This approach opens up a new way to achieve photocatalysis based on MOF materials with high quantum efficiency value (up to 8.9 %) and excellent photoactivity.
Environmental pollution with toxic metals can lead to the possible contamination of the marine fish. We investigated the levels of As, Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb in 652 marine fish samples (15 species) ...collected from coastal areas of Zhejiang, China and estimated their health risk. Mean concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb were 0.783, 0.009, 0.114, 0.031, 0.043 mg/kg wet weight. The average estimated daily intakes (EDIs) for As, Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb were 1.214, 0.014, 0.177, 0.048 and 0.067 μg/kg bw/day. The risk assessment at mean exposure level showed that there was no health risk associated with these elements through consumption of marine fish. However, potential health risk may exist for high exposure consumers considering the possible contamination of As and Hg. Given that the different levels of certain elements in marine fish in China, this study provides a scientific basis for food safety assessment and suggestions for risk management.
Depression is a heterogeneous disorder, with the exact neuronal mechanisms causing the disease yet to be discovered. Recent work suggests it is accompanied by neuro-inflammation, characterized, in ...particular, by microglial activation. However, microglial activation and its involvement in neuro-inflammation and stress-related depressive disorders are far from understood.
We utilized multiple detection methods to detect the neuro-inflammation in the hippocampus of rats after exposure to chronic mild stress (CMS). Male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were subjected to chronic mild stressors for 12 weeks. Microglial activation and hippocampal neuro-inflammation were detected by using a combinatory approach of in vivo 18F DPA-714 positron emission computed tomography (PET) imaging, ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 and translocator protein (TSPO) immunohistochemistry, and detection of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and some inflammatory mediators. Then, the rats were treated with minocycline during the last 4 weeks to observe its effect on hippocampal neuro-inflammation and depressive-like behavior induced by chronic mild stress.
The results show that 12 weeks of chronic mild stress induced remarkable depressive- and anxiety-like behavior, simultaneously causing hippocampal microglial activation detected by PET, immunofluorescence staining, and western blotting. Likewise, activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and upregulation of inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and IL-18, were also observed in the hippocampus after exposure to chronic stress. Interestingly, the anti-inflammatory mediators, such as IL-4 and IL-10, were also increased in the hippocampus following chronic mild stress, which may hint that chronic stress activates different types of microglia, which produce pro-inflammatory cytokines or anti-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, chronic minocycline treatment alleviated the depressive-like behavior induced by chronic stress and significantly inhibited microglial activation. Similarly, the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and the increase of inflammatory mediators were not exhibited or significantly less marked in the minocycline treatment group.
These results together indicate that microglial activation mediates the chronic mild stress-induced depressive- and anxiety-like behavior and hippocampal neuro-inflammation.
Upconversion (UC) luminescent lanthanide nanoparticles (LNPs) are expected to play an important role in imaging and photodynamic therapy (PDT) in vitro and in vivo. However, with the absorption of UC ...emissions by photosensitizers (PSs) to generate singlet oxygen (1O2) for PDT, the imaging signals from LNPs are significantly weakened. It is important to activate another imaging route to track the location of the LNPs during PDT process. In this work, Nd3+-sensitized LNPs with dual-band visible and near-infrared (NIR) emissions under single 808 nm excitation were reported to address this issue. The UC emissions in green could trigger covalently linked rose bengal (RB) molecules for efficient PDT, and NIR emissions deriving from Yb3+ and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used for imaging simultaneously. Notably, the designed therapeutic platform could further effectively avoid the overheating effect induced by the laser irradiation, due to the minimized absorption of biological media at around 808 nm. TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay showed serious cell apoptosis in the tumor after PDT for 2 weeks, leading to an effective tumor inhibition rate of 67%. Benefit from the PDT, the tumor growth-induced liver and spleen burdens were largely attenuated, and the liver injury was also alleviated. More importantly, pulmonary and hepatic tumor metastases were significantly reduced after PDT. The Nd3+-sensitized LNPs provide a multifunctional nanoplatform for NIR light-assisted PDT with minimized heating effect and an effective inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis.
Schistosomiasis, a parasite infectious disease caused by Schistosoma japonicum, often leads to egg granuloma and fibrosis due to the inflammatory reaction triggered by egg antigens released in the ...host liver. This study focuses on the role of the egg antigens CP1412 protein of S. japonicum (SjCP1412) with RNase activity in promoting liver fibrosis. In this study, the recombinant egg ribonuclease SjCP1412, which had RNase activity, was successfully prepared. By analysing the serum of the population, it has been proven that the anti-SjCP1412 IgG in the serum of patients with advanced schistosomiasis was moderately correlated with liver fibrosis, and SjCP1412 may be an important antigen associated with liver fibrosis in schistosomiasis. In vitro, the rSjCP1412 protein induced the human liver cancer cell line Hep G2 and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells apoptosis and necrosis and the release of proinflammatory damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). In mice infected with schistosomes, rSjCP1412 immunization or antibody neutralization of SjCP1412 activity significantly reduced cell apoptosis and necroptosis in liver tissue, thereby reducing inflammation and liver fibrosis. In summary, the SjCP1412 protein plays a crucial role in promoting liver fibrosis during schistosomiasis through mediating the liver cells apoptosis and necroptosis to release DAMPs inducing an inflammatory reaction. Blocking SjCP1412 activity could inhibit its proapoptotic and necrotic effects and alleviate hepatic fibrosis. These findings suggest that SjCP1412 may be served as a promising drug target for managing liver fibrosis in schistosomiasis japonica.
Phytoalexins play a crucial role in plant immunity. However, the mechanism of how phytoalexin is primed by beneficial microorganisms against broad‐spectrum pathogens remains elusive. This study ...showed that Bacillus cereus AR156 could trigger ISR against broad‐spectrum disease. RNA‐sequencing and camalexin content assays showed that AR156‐triggered ISR can prime the accumulation of camalexin synthesis and secretion‐related genes. Moreover, it was found that AR156‐triggered ISR elevates camalexin accumulation by increasing the expression of camalexin synthesis genes upon pathogen infection. We observed that the priming of camalexin accumulation by AR156 was abolished in cyp71a13 and pad3 mutants. Further investigations reveal that in the wrky33 mutant, the ability of AR156 to prime camalexin accumulation is abolished, and the mediated ISR against the three pathogens is significantly compromised. Furthermore, PEN3 and PDR12, acting as camalexin transporters, participate in AR156‐induced ISR against broad‐spectrum pathogens differently. In addition, salicylic acid and JA/ET signalling pathways participate in AR156‐primed camalexin synthesis to resist pathogens in different forms depending on the pathogen. In summary, B. cereus AR156 triggers ISR against Botrytis cinerea, Pst DC3000 and Phytophthora capsici by priming camalexin synthesis. Our study provides deeper insights into the significant role of camalexin for AR156‐induced ISR against broad‐spectrum pathogens.
Summary statement
Beneficial rhizobacterium AR156 triggered ISR by enhancing camalexin accumulation in Arabidopsis, with WRKY33 acting as a positive regulator. PEN3 and PDR12 are involved in AR156‐induced ISR. Salicylic acid and JA/ET signalling pathways participate in AR156‐primed camalexin synthesis to resist various pathogens.
The effect of working memory training (WM-T) has been found to transfer to emotional wellbeing, despite some debate on whether an affective component in training is necessary to achieve specific ...emotion-related benefits. These novel cognitive trainings have not yet been tested in highly anxious individuals, who have deficits in implicit and explicit emotional regulation and should be the potential beneficiaries of these trainings.
We designed two types of mobile phone-based training applications: (1) WMT and (2) an emotional working memory training (EWM-T) that comprised negative face distraction. Ninety-eight participants (33, WM-T; 35, EWM-T; 30, Control group) with high trait anxiety completed the 21-day intervention or placebo program and conducted pre- and post-test procedures, including questionnaires, emotional regulation and emotional Stroop tasks alongside electroencephalogram recording. Late positive potential (LPP) in emotion regulation task and P3 in the emotional Stroop task were adopted as neutral indicators for the explicit and implicit affective regulation/control processing.
Those who had received training (WM-T and EWM-T) showed enhanced explicit regulation (indexed by reduced LPP during reappraisal) compared with the control. Besides, individuals in EWM-T showed reduced behavioral attention bias and a decline of P3 in response to negative faces in an emotional Stroop task. The altered neural indicators were correlated with corresponding behavior indexes that contributed to the anxiety alleviation.
The general WM-T was effective in enhancing explicit emotional regulation, while training with emotional add-in further improved implicit emotional control. (E)WM-T shows potential as a beneficial intervention for the anxiety population.
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