Assembly of Abundant and Rare Bacterial and Fungal Communities in Different Typical Forest Types in the Zhongtiao Mountains.

Soil microorganisms play an important role in maintaining the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. Soil microbial communities usually contain both abundant and rare microorganisms. However, in forest ecosystems, the differences in the functions and assembly processes of abundant and rare microbial taxa in soils between planted pure and mixed forests are currently unknown.

Coupled In Silico Toxicology Models Reveal Equivalent Ecological Risks from BPA and Its Alternatives in Chinese Surface Waters.

As bisphenol A (BPA) has gradually become restricted in production scenarios, the ecological risk level of its main replacement chemicals, i.e., bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF), should be noted.

Acute Toxicities of Bromophenols to Alga and Daphina: Comparative Species Sensitivity Distribution Between Standard and Dietary Supplementation Tests.

Bromophenols are synthesized chemicals that are widely used in various industrial activities and are also naturally produced by marine algae as secondary metabolites, including 2,4-dibromophenol (2,4-DBP), 2,6-dibromophenol (2,6-DBP), and 2,4,6-tribromophenol (2,4,6-TBP). However, the toxicological profiles and toxicity data of these bromophenols remain largely unreported, necessitating further investigation. Acute toxicity tests of 2,4-DBP, 2,6-DBP, and 2,4,6-TBP were conducted in this study using and (standard tests).

Increasing the Proportion of Broadleaf Species in Mixed Conifer-Broadleaf Forests Improves Understory Plant Composition and Promotes Soil Carbon Fixation.

Understory vegetation is an important component of forest ecosystems, and the supply of nutrients in the soil is related to the growth and development of soil microorganisms and understory plants. The effects of different tree species composition ratios in the forest on the process of soil microbial community assembly are not clear in the existing studies, and the factors influencing the differences in the abundance of understory plants under different forest canopy compositions and their mechanisms of action have not yet been clearly explained. In this study, two types of pure forests (PFP and PFQ) and two types of mixed forests (MF and MPQ) were selected from the Zhongcun Forestry, and the soil characteristics, soil microbial community assembly process, and understory plant community abundance, composition, and β-diversity were analyzed for the different forest types.

A Highly Active Molybdenum Carbide Catalyst with Dynamic Carbon Flux for Reverse Water-Gas Shift Reaction.

Molybdenum carbide has been reported as an efficient and stable catalyst for reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) reaction. The conventional understanding of the mechanism suggests domination of the surface phenomena, with only surface or subsurface layers partaking in the catalytic cycle. In this study, we presented a highly active MoC catalyst from carburization process, which showed a mass-specific reaction rate over 260 μm with dynamic carbon flux in the bulk phase of the catalyst.

Cell-free hemoglobin and hemin catalyzing triclosan oxidative coupling in plasma: A novel exogenous phenolic pollutants coupling pathway.

Previous studies reported that hemoprotein CYP450 catalyzed triclosan coupling is an "uncommon" metabolic pathway that may enhance toxicity, raising concerns about its environmental and health impacts. Hemoglobin, a notable hemoprotein, can catalyze endogenous phenolic amino acid tyrosine coupling reactions. Our study explored the feasibility of these coupling reactions for exogenous phenolic pollutants in plasma.

Exploring the biosynthetic possibilities of hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers from bromophenols in Prorocentrum donghaiense: Implications for bioremediation.

Bromophenols has been proven to synthesize hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-PBDEs), which may pose additional environmental and health risks in the process of bioremediation. In this study, the removal of 2,4-dibromophenol (2,4-DBP) and 2,4,6-tribromophenol (2,4,6-TBP) and the biosynthetic of OH-PBDEs by Prorocentrum donghaiense were explored. The removal efficiencies of 2,4-DBP and 2,4,6-TBP ranged from 32.

Developmental toxicity and mechanism of dibutyl phthalate and alternative diisobutyl phthalate in the early life stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), is widely chemical replacement for Dibutyl phthalate (DBP). Although DBP and DiBP have been detected in surface water worldwide, few studies to date have systematically assessed the risks of DBP and its alternatives to aquatic organisms. The present study compared DBP and DiBP for their individual and joint toxicity as well as thyroid hormone levels in zebrafish embryo.

Development of nanoparticle vaccines utilizing designed Fc-binding homo-oligomers and RBD-Fc of SARS-CoV-2.

The Fc-fused receptor binding domain (RBD-Fc) vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 has garnered significant attention for its capacity to provide effective and specific immune protection. However, its immunogenicity is limited, highlighting the need for improvement in clinical application. Nanoparticle delivery has been shown to be an effective method for enhancing antigen immunogenicity.

Thyroid Hormone Receptor Agonistic and Antagonistic Activity of Newly Synthesized Dihydroxylated Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers: An In Vitro and In Silico Coactivator Recruitment Study.

Dihydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (DiOH-PBDEs) could be the metabolites of PBDEs of some organisms or the natural products of certain marine bacteria and algae. OH-PBDEs may demonstrate binding affinity to thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) and can disrupt the functioning of the systems modulated by TRs. However, the thyroid hormone disruption mechanism of diOH-PBDEs remains elusive due to the absence of diOH-PBDEs standards.

Deriving aquatic PNECs of endocrine disruption effects for PFOS and PFOA by combining species sensitivity weighted distributions and adverse outcome pathway networks.

Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), as emerging endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), pose adverse effects on aquatic organisms. Conventional ecological risk assessment (ERA) not fully considering the mode of toxicity action of PFOS and PFOA, may result in an underestimation of risks and confuse decision-makers. In the study, we developed species sensitivity weighted distribution (SSWD) models based on adverse outcome pathway (AOP) networks for deriving predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs).

Occurrence and ecological risk assessment of 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether and decabromodiphenyl ether in surface waters across China.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are efficient brominated flame retardants and are released into various environmental media via usage, recycling and disposal. This study investigated the concentrations and ecological risks of two typical PBDEs, 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) and decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209), in surface waters across China from 2011 to 2018. The results showed that the concentration of BDE-209 (8.

Assessment of heavy metal contamination of an electrolytic manganese metal industrial estate in northern China from an integrated chemical and magnetic investigation.

Heavy metal concentrations (Al, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb) and the magnetic properties of soil and sediment samples in/around an electrolytic manganese metal (EMM) industrial estate in northern China were investigated. Potential enrichment of Mn, Zn, and Pb was found in/around the core area of the EMM industrial estate; however, the pollution load index (PLI) values did not indicate severely polluted levels. For adults, all hazard index (HI) values of noncarcinogenic risks in the soil samples were below the safe level of 1.

A tiered probabilistic approach to assess antibiotic ecological and resistance development risks in the fresh surface waters of China.

Exposure to antibiotics can result in not only ecotoxicity on aquatic organisms but also the development of antibiotic resistance. In the study, the ecotoxicity data and minimum inhibitory concentrations of the antibiotics were screened to derive predicted no-effect concentrations of ecological (PNEC) and resistance development risks (PNEC) for 36 antibiotics in fresh surface waters of China. The derived PNEC and PNEC values were ranged from 0.

Spatial distribution pattern of dominant tree species in different disturbance plots in the Changbai Mountain.

The effects of disturbance on spatial patterns and species interactions provide critical information on community structure and species coexistence. Two standard plots of 1-ha were set, one of them was a sample plot with retrograde succession after disturbance, and the other one was undisturbed. Spatial indices and Spatial patterns statistics were used to analyze the spatial pattern and inter-specific correlation of main tree species in two plots.

Development of ecological risk assessment for Diisobutyl phthalate and di-n-octyl phthalate in surface water of China based on species sensitivity distribution model.

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are commonly used as plasticizer and are emerging concern worldwide for potent adverse effects of aquatic organisms. Certain PAEs were often detected in different environmental matrices but related toxicity data were still lacking to support their risk assessment. The study investigated the acute toxicity of Diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP) and Di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP) using 6 Chinese resident aquatic organisms from 3 phyla and 6 species and constructed the species sensitivity distribution (SSD) models for ecological risk assessment.

[Role and mechanism of Cortex Moutan components in inhibiting production of toxic advanced glycation end products (AGEs)].

Advanced glycation end products(AGEs) can lead to many diseases such as diabetes and its complications. In this study, an in vitro non-enzymatic glycosylation reaction model-bovine serum albumin/methylglyoxal(BSA/MGO) reaction system was constructed and incubated with Cortex Moutan extract. High performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) were used to detect and identify the active components that inhibited the formation of AGEs in the co-incubation solution of Cortex Moutan extract and MGO, and differential components such as salvianan, paeoniside, benzoylpaeoniflorin, mudanpioside J, galloyloxypaeoniflorin, benzoyloxy-paeoniflorin, 5-hydroxy-3 s-hydroxymethyl-6-methyl-2,3-dihydro benzofuran, and galloylpaeoniflorin were screened out, which were inferred to be the potential active components of Cortex Moutan extract to capture MGO.

Tiered ecological risk assessment of nonylphenol and tetrabromobisphenol A in the surface waters of China based on the augmented species sensitivity distribution models.

The ecological risks of nonylphenol (NP) and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) have received continued attention owing to their large consumption, frequently detection, adverse effects on the reproductive fitness, and lack of risk assessment technical systems. The geometric mean of the median concentrations of NP in the 22 surface waters was 0.278 μg/L, and TBBPA in the seven surface waters was 0.

A QSAR-ICE-SSD Model Prediction of the PNECs for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Their Ecological Risks in an Area of Electroplating Factories.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a class of highly fluorinated aliphatic compounds that are persistent and bioaccumulate, posing a potential threat to the aquatic environment. The electroplating industry is considered to be an important source of PFASs. Due to emerging PFASs and many alternatives, the acute toxicity data for PFASs and their alternatives are relatively limited.

[Spatial pattern and interspecific association of tree species in coniferous and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest under different disturbance intensities].

We explored the effects of disturbance densities on the spatial pattern and the association of tree species in the coniferous broadleaved mixed forest in Pangquangou Nature Reserve of Guandi Mountain. Using three factors including canopy density, stand density and number of stumps, we classified the disturbance intensities of different forest stands into three levels, non-disturbance, moderate disturbance, and severe disturbance. The spatial distribution pattern and the association of different tree species were analyzed by spatial point pattern K2 function.

A stable low-temperature H-production catalyst by crowding Pt on α-MoC.

The water-gas shift (WGS) reaction is an industrially important source of pure hydrogen (H) at the expense of carbon monoxide and water. This reaction is of interest for fuel-cell applications, but requires WGS catalysts that are durable and highly active at low temperatures. Here we demonstrate that the structure (Pt-Pt)/α-MoC, where isolated platinum atoms (Pt) and subnanometre platinum clusters (Pt) are stabilized on α-molybdenum carbide (α-MoC), catalyses the WGS reaction even at 313 kelvin, with a hydrogen-production pathway involving direct carbon monoxide dissociation identified.

Maximizing the Synergistic Effect of CoNi Catalyst on α-MoC for Robust Hydrogen Production.

We report the syntheses of highly dispersed CoNi bimetallic catalysts on the surface of α-MoC based on the strong metal support interaction (SMSI) effect. The interaction between the nearly atomically dispersed Co and Ni atoms was observed for the first time by the real-space chemical mapping at the atomic level. Combined with the ability of α-MoC to split water at low temperatures, the as-synthesized CoNi/α-MoC catalysts exhibited robust and synergistic performance for the hydrogen production from hydrolysis of ammonia borane.

Occurrence and emission of phthalates, bisphenol A, and oestrogenic compounds in concentrated animal feeding operations in Southern China.

Phthalates (PAEs), bisphenol A (BPA), and oestrogenic compounds have become major concerns due to their endocrine-disrupting effect. However, few studies related to the occurrence of PAEs, BPA, and oestrogen in food and compost from different growth age livestock have been conducted. In this study, faeces, urine and food samples were collected from a typical livestock (cow) and a special livestock (pigeon) from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).

Toxicity and accumulation of 6-OH-BDE-47 and newly synthesized 6,6'-diOH-BDE-47 in early life-stages of Zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Dihydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (diOH-PBDEs) appear to be natural products or metabolites of PBDEs in some marine organisms, yet its toxicity is still largely unknown. With a newly lab-synthesized diOH-PBDE, 6,6'-dihydroxy-2,2',4'4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (6,6'-diOH-BDE-47) in hand, the present study has provided the first data set to compare 6-hydroxy-2,2',4'4'- tetrabromodiphenyl ether (6-OH-BDE-47) and 6,6'-diOH-BDE-47 for their acute toxicity and accumulation, and thyroid hormone levels in treated zebrafish larvae. By real time-PCR technique, transcripts of hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis associated genes were also investigated in developing larvae at 96 h post fertilization (96 hpf).