C‐dots on hand: Luminescent carbon nanodots were synthesized and were shown to be biocompatible, have low toxicity, and distinctive photoluminescence properties. These C‐dots are inexpensive to ...synthesize and could potentially be used for versatile applications, such as anticounterfeiting, information encryption, and information storage.
A facile in situ polymerization was developed for grafting renewable cardanol onto the carbon fiber (CF) surfaces to strengthen the fiber-matrix interface. CFs were chemically modified with hydroxyl ...groups by using an aryl diazonium reaction, and then copolymerized in situ with hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene (HCCP) and cardanol to build cardanol-modified fibers (CF-cardanol). The cardanol molecules were successfully introduced, as confirmed using Raman spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS); the cardanol molecules were found to increase the surface roughness, energy, interfacial wettability, and activity with the matrix resin. As a result, the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of CF-cardanol composites increased from 48.2 to 68.13 MPa. In addition, the anti-hydrothermal ageing properties of the modified composites were significantly increased. The reinforcing mechanisms of the fiber-matrix interface were also studied.
Fractional vegetation cover (FVC) is an important parameter in studies of ecosystem balance, soil erosion, and climate change. Remote-sensing inversion is a common approach to estimating FVC. ...However, there is an important gap between ground-based surveys (quadrat level) and remote-sensing imagery (satellite image pixel scale) from satellites. In this study we evaluated that gap with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) aerial images of alpine grassland on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP). The results showed that: (1) the most accurate estimations of FVC came from UAV (FVC UAV) at the satellite image pixel scale, and when FVC was estimated using ground-based surveys (FVC gᵣₒᵤₙd), the accuracy increased as the number of quadrats used increased and was inversely proportional to the heterogeneity of the underlying surface condition; (2) the UAV method was more efficient than conventional ground-based survey methods at the satellite image pixel scale; and (3) the coefficient of determination (R ²) between FVC UAV and vegetation indices (VIs) was significantly greater than that between FVC gᵣₒᵤₙd and VIs (p < 0.05, n = 5). Our results suggest that the use of UAV to estimate FVC at the satellite image pixel scale provides more accurate results and is more efficient than conventional ground-based survey methods.
Objective
To compare mental distress and COVID‐19‐related family environment changes among pregnant women before and during the pandemic.
Methods
In a survey‐based study in Lishui City, Zhejiang, ...China, pregnant women were recruited before (March–December, 2019; n = 2657) and during (January–August, 2020; n = 689) the COVID‐19 pandemic. They completed the Symptom Check List‐90 Revised (SCL90‐R) questionnaire and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and were asked about their families via the Family Environment Scale (FES).
Results
Higher SCL90‐R scores of somatization (P = 0.003), depression (P = 0.043), anxiety (P = 0.041), hostility (P = 0.009), and others (P = 0.025) were reported by women during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Sleep disorder also occurred more frequently among pregnant women during the pandemic (P = 0.002). Social environmental characteristics of families showed impaired family cohesion, and increased levels of conflict and independence during the pandemic (all P < 0.05). The FES score for family cohesion was negatively related with obsessive–compulsive, depression, anxiety, and hostility symptoms, whereas that for conflict was positively related with these symptoms (all P < 0.001).
Conclusion
The mental health, sleep, and family environment of pregnant women was impaired during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Potential protective factors including increased social support might help to mitigate long‐lasting negative consequences.
The mental health and sleep of pregnant women was impaired during the COVID‐19 pandemic, and they experienced more stressful family events over the crisis.
Vegetation phenology in temperate grasslands is highly sensitive to climate change. However, it is still unclear how the timing of vegetation phenology events (especially for autumn phenology) is ...altered in response to climate change across different grassland types. In this study, we investigated variations of the growing season start (SOS) and end (EOS), derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data (2000–2016), for meadow steppe, typical steppe, and desert steppe in the Inner Mongolian grassland of Northern China. Using gridded climate data (2000–2015), we further analyzed correlations between SOS/EOS and pre-season average air temperature and total precipitation (defined as 90-day period prior to SOS/EOS, i.e., pre-SOS/EOS) in each grid. The results showed that both SOS and EOS occurred later in desert steppe (day of year (doy) 114 and 312) than in meadow steppe (doy 109 and 305) and typical steppe (doy 111 and 307); namely, desert steppe has a relatively late growing season than meadow steppe and typical steppe. For all three grasslands, SOS was mainly controlled by pre-SOS precipitation with the sensitivity being largest in desert steppe. EOS was closely connected with pre-EOS air temperature in meadow steppe and typical steppe, but more closely related to pre-EOS precipitation in desert steppe. During 2000–2015, SOS in typical steppe and desert steppe has significantly advanced by 2.2 days and 10.6 days due to a significant increase of pre-SOS precipitation. In addition, EOS of desert steppe has also significantly advanced by 6.8 days, likely as a result from the combined effects of elevated preseason temperature and precipitation. Our study highlights the diverse responses in the timing of spring and autumn phenology to preceding temperature and precipitation in different grassland types. Results from this study can help to guide grazing systems and to develop policy frameworks for grasslands protection.
Display omitted
•Heavy metal concentrations were declined significantly.•Vermicomposting could alleviate the availability and toxicity of heavy metal.•The speciation of heavy metal bioaccumulated in ...EF was different.•Earthworms had a significant effect on the microbial community.•Twelve genera with species having heavy metal resistance/tolerance were found.
This work was conducted to evaluate the total concentration and speciation of heavy metals (Cd, Pb and Cr) in vermicompost product (EFCD) by Eisenia fetida (EF) with cow dung (FCD). Meanwhile, the bacterial community and diversity of the three were compared by high-throughput sequencing. Results showed that heavy metal concentrations were declined significantly in EFCD. Sequential extraction indicated that the exchangeable fraction of Cd and Pb decreased markedly and the residual fractions increased in EFCD. Though the exchangeable fraction of Cr increased, the total concentration reduced greatly. Furthermore, the speciation of Cd, Pb and Cr bioaccumulated in EF were different. Besides, the bacterial diversity was highest in EFCD, and twelve genera with species having heavy metal resistance/tolerance were found from the genus of different abundance of the three. Vermicomposting effectively reduced the total concentration and toxicity for heavy metals, and the bacterial composition and diversity were changed greatly during vermicomposting.
Soil temperature and soil water are two important factors controlling vegetation growth. Climate warming and associated permafrost degradation might change these soil conditions and affect alpine ...grassland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. However, our current understanding of the role of soil temperature and water at the plateau scale is inadequate. In this study, we used plateau scale soil water content, frozen soil type, vegetation index and land surface temperature datasets to investigate the spatial distribution, limiting factors of vegetation growth and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) changing trends in two major alpine grasslands, alpine meadow and alpine steppe, in relation to soil temperature and soil water conditions. Our results showed that: 1) alpine meadow is mainly distributed in seasonal frozen soil areas (55.90% of alpine meadow) with a soil water content between 0.15 and 0.25m3/m3 and alpine steppe is mainly found in seasonal frozen and sub-stable permafrost areas (69.38% of alpine steppe) with a soil water content between 0.05 and 0.20m3/m3; 2) at the plateau scale, there were 35.6% (more in colder regions) of alpine meadow pixels and 33.6% (more in wetter regions) of alpine steppe pixels having increase NDVI changing trends during 1982–2012, respectively; and the values having decrease NDVI changing trends are 7.3% and 9.7%, respectively; and 3) the vegetation growth of alpine meadow is mainly limited by soil temperature, while that of alpine steppe is limited by both soil temperature and soil water. We also find the limiting factors of temperature or water can only explain <50% variation of vegetation growth trends in alpine grasslands. Our findings warrant the use of process-based ecosystem models to consider other factors, such as grazing, erosion and soil texture, among others, in addition to soil temperature and water to make proper projections when simulating the responses of vegetation growth to climate warming in alpine grasslands with different hydro-thermal conditions.
•The NDVI trend and distribution of alpine grassland at plateau scale were studied.•They were analyzed in relation to permafrost, soil moisture and LST-NDVI.•Permafrost and soil moisture were important for grassland distribution and change.•The LST-NDVI relationship only explained <50% variation of vegetation changing trend.•Other factors may overwhelm hydro-thermal conditions in affecting vegetation growth.
Anoikis emerges when a cell finds itself extricated from the appropriate extracellular matrix, leading to an interruption in integrin ligation and thus triggering programmed cellular demise. The ...cardinal role of Anoikis in the realms of tumor invasion and metastasis is undeniable, although our grasp on its precise influence within the convoluted landscape of cancer biology remains somewhat circumscribed. Notably, both the immune milieu of the tumor and its inherent aggression are correlated with the fluctuating variables of Anoikis. We conducted a thorough evaluation of the genes associated with anoikis and studied the regulatory patterns of these genes as well as the prognostic impact of anoikis in 33 different types of tumors. We provided functional annotations for the regulatory patterns linked to Anoikis. Additionally, we described the associations between immunological factors and genes associated with Anoikis. By applying gene set variation analysis (GSVA), we utilized the inherent abilities of 34 basic genes to calculate the Anoikis index. The Anoikis index is closely related to prognosis, immune microenvironment, immunotherapy, and other aspects. Our functional research revealed a correlation between immune cell infiltration, EMT, and a regulatory gene that is synonymous with adverse survival outcomes. In addition, our observations revealed a direct relationship between the expression of CEACAM5 and CEACAM6,the amplification of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenomenon, and a decrease in survival outcomes.The potential therapeutic utility of anoikis-related genes was highlighted by the possible links between TME, clinical samples, genetic mutations, drug resistance, and immunotherapy.
Eukaryotic transfer RNAs (tRNA) contain on average 13 modifications that perform a wide range of roles in translation and in the generation of tRNA fragments that regulate gene expression. Queuosine ...(Q) modification occurs in the wobble anticodon position of tRNAs for amino acids His, Asn, Tyr, and Asp. In eukaryotes, Q modification is fully dependent on diet or on gut microbiome in multicellular organisms. Despite decades of study, cellular roles of Q modification remain to be fully elucidated. Here we show that in human cells, Q modification specifically protects its cognate tRNA
and tRNA
against cleavage by ribonucleases. We generated cell lines that contain completely depleted or fully Q-modified tRNAs. Using these resources, we found that Q modification significantly reduces angiogenin cleavage of its cognate tRNAs in vitro. Q modification does not change the cellular abundance of the cognate full-length tRNAs, but alters the cellular content of their fragments in vivo in the absence and presence of stress. Our results provide a new biological aspect of Q modification and a mechanism of how Q modification alters small RNA pools in human cells.
The adsorption experiments of Th(IV) on illite as a function of time, pH, ionic strength, temperature and humic acid (HA) were investigated using batch experiments. The results showed that adsorption ...of Th(IV) on illite was strongly dependent on contact time, pH, and temperature and independent on humic acid(HA). The Th(IV) adsorption on illite increases with increasing pH (pH<4.5) and temperature, but decreases with increasing ionic strength at pH<4.5. Th(IV) adsorption data were successfully described by the pseudo second-order kinetic model and the intraparticle diffusion equation. Langmuir adsorption isotherm model simulated the adsorption process better than Freundlich model. The thermodynamic parameters of enthalpy, entropy and free energy change were calculated and thermodynamic parameters revealed the spontaneity and exothermic nature of adsorption Th(IV) on illite. Th(IV) of adsorption mechanism on illite is outer-sphere surface complexation and ion exchange with Na+/H+ on illite at low pH, whereas inner-sphere surface complexation was the main adsorption mechanism at high pH.
•Adsorption mean free energy indicated the adsorption process to be chemisorptions.•The humic acid (HA) studied did not affect Th(IV) adsorption on illite.•Th(IV) adsorption on illite is reversible at low concentration, whereas it is irreversible at high concentration.•The adsorption mechanism is outer-sphere surface complexation and ion exchange with Na+/H+ at low pH.
PDF
