Key Mechanism Research Articles

Cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide-modified magnetic biochar-integrated sand filter for microplastics removal from secondary-treated sewage effluents: Performance evaluation and mechanistic insights

Microplastics (MPs) discharge from effluent of sewage treatment plants (STPs) has prompted the need for effective treatment techniques. In this context, the present study provides insights on the preparation and use of cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB)-modified magnetic biochar (MBC-CTAB) as an adsorbent and integrated it in a sand filter for improved MPs removal from aqueous matrices. Rice husk biochars were synthesized, surface modified with FeCl3 and CTAB, and assessed for their MPs removal efficiency. Effects of various factors were analyzed from synthetic water spiked with 1 μm sized polystyrene MPs during batch and fixed-bed column studies. Optimal conditions yielded a maximum MPs removal of >97 % with MBC-CTAB at 7 mg/50 mL, pH 4, mixing speed of 180 rpm for 3 min during batch studies. Adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model (R2 = 0.91), and the Langmuir model (R2 = 0.94) described the adsorption isotherm with a maximum capacity of 247 mg/g. Column studies removed ∼98 % MPs in real-time secondary sewage effluents using MBC-CTAB-integrated sand filter at flow rate: 5 mL/min, bed height: 4 cm, and MPs concentration: 7 mg/L. Electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and pore-filling were the key MPs removal mechanisms. The application of the developed technique in efficient MPs removal highlights its practical relevance as sustainable approach for removing MPs from sewage effluents, which is a shared global concern.

Molecular Aspects of the Functioning of Pathogenic Bacteria Biofilm Based on Quorum Sensing (QS) Signal-Response System and Innovative Non-Antibiotic Strategies for Their Elimination.

One of the key mechanisms enabling bacterial cells to create biofilms and regulate crucial life functions in a global and highly synchronized way is a bacterial communication system called quorum sensing (QS). QS is a bacterial cell-to-cell communication process that depends on the bacterial population density and is mediated by small signalling molecules called autoinducers (AIs). In bacteria, QS controls the biofilm formation through the global regulation of gene expression involved in the extracellular polymeric matrix (EPS) synthesis, virulence factor production, stress tolerance and metabolic adaptation. Forming biofilm is one of the crucial mechanisms of bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR). A common feature of human pathogens is the ability to form biofilm, which poses a serious medical issue due to their high susceptibility to traditional antibiotics. Because QS is associated with virulence and biofilm formation, there is a belief that inhibition of QS activity called quorum quenching (QQ) may provide alternative therapeutic methods for treating microbial infections. This review summarises recent progress in biofilm research, focusing on the mechanisms by which biofilms, especially those formed by pathogenic bacteria, become resistant to antibiotic treatment. Subsequently, a potential alternative approach to QS inhibition highlighting innovative non-antibiotic strategies to control AMR and biofilm formation of pathogenic bacteria has been discussed.

CD8+ T and NK cells characterized by upregulation of NPEPPS and ABHD17A are associated with the co-occurrence of type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are closely related. The function of immunocytes in the pathogenesis of CAD and T2DM has not been extensively studied. The quantitative bioinformatics analysis of the public RNA sequencing database was applied to study the key genes that mediate both CAD and T2DM. The biological characteristics of associated key genes and mechanism of CD8+ T and NK cells in CAD and T2DM are our research focus. With expression profiles of GSE66360 and GSE78721 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, we identified core modules associated with gene co-expression relationships and up-regulated genes in CAD and T2DM using Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) and the 'limma' software package. The enriched pathways of the candidate hub genes were then explored using GO, KEGG and GSEA in conjunction with the immune gene set (from the MSigDB database). A diagnostic model was constructed using logistic regression analysis composed of candidate hub genes in CAD and T2DM. Univariate Cox regression analysis revealed hazard ratios (HRs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and p-values for candidate hub genes in diagnostic model, while CIBERSORT and immune infiltration were used to assess the immune microenvironment. Finally, monocytes from peripheral blood samples and their immune cell ratios were analyzed by flow cytometry to validate our findings. Sixteen candidate hub genes were identified as being correlated with immune infiltration. Univariate Cox regression analysis revealed that NPEPPS and ABHD17A were highly correlated with the diagnosis of CAD and T2DM. The results indicate that CD8+ T cells (p = 0.04) and NKbright cells (p = 3.7e-3) are significantly higher in healthy controls than in individuals with CAD or CAD combined with T2DM. The bioinformatics results on immune infiltration were well validated by flow cytometry. A series of bioinformatics studies have shown ABHD17A and NPEPPS as key genes for the co-occurrence of CAD and T2DM. Our study highlights the important effect of CD8+ T and NK cells in the pathogenesis of both diseases, indicating that they may serve as viable targets for diagnosis and therapeutic intervention.

Mechanism of coupling corrosion caused by flue gas and deposits in municipal solid waste incinerator: Roles of H2O(g), HCl, and SO2

The key corrosive media and coupling corrosion mechanism in waste incinerators were investigated. The presence of H2O(g) and the fluctuation of HCl/SO2 concentration significantly affect corrosion by affecting chemical reactions rather than molten phase formation·H2O(g) had higher adsorption energy (−40.67 kJ/mol) on NaCl (100) surface than O2 (−7.95 kJ/mol), generating more HCl than Cl2 and inhibiting corrosion. Oxidation of HCl was catalyzed by alkali salts in waste incineration ash, enhancing the production of Cl2 by 110% and accelerating corrosion. SO2 participated in the sulfidation of NaCl/KCl to form Cl2 and increased the corrosion weight gain by about 1–2.5 times.

Design and Parameter Optimization of Conveying and Baling Devices for Ramie Cutting and Baling Machine

Conveying and baling are two important links in the mechanized harvesting of ramie, in the face of ramie cutting and baling harvesting technology research gaps, low stalk conveying rate, high breaking rate and other problems. In this paper, according to the technical requirements of ramie harvesting, we designed a conveying and baling device, the hand-held ramie cutter. First, the key mechanism of the conveying and baling device of the equipment was designed. Then, we analyzed the location of stem clogging and the reasons for the breaking problem during the conveying and baling process. The field harvesting experiments were carried out according to the principles of Box–Behnken experimental design. Taking the machine travelling speed, conveying speed and ramie raking frequency as the test factors and using the Design-Expert V8.0.6.1 to process the data, we established a regression model for each experimental factor on the conveying rate and breaking rate. The order of influence of several factors on the breaking rate is: X2 > X1 > X3; and the effects of the three factors on the conveying rate were X3 > X2 > X1. Through response surface analysis (RSA), the effects of the factors on the indicators were explained, as was the impact of the factors on the indicators. Finally, the parameter optimization was carried out with the delivery rate as the core index. The best combination of motion parameters was obtained as follows: the travelling speed was 0.37 m/s, the chain conveying speed was 1.1 m/s, and the raking frequency was 144 times/min. With the combination of parameters under the field test verification, the results show that compared with the original work quality, the stalk delivery rate increased from 85.2% to 93% (an increase of 7.8%), the stalk breaking rate fell from 31.1% to 20.4% (a decrease of 10.7%). The performance of ramie harvesting and baling was greatly improved, and we achieved relatively satisfactory results.

Isolation of Lactobacillus acidophilus strain and its anti-obesity effect in a diet induced obese murine model.

Intestinal microbiota is a potential determinant of obesity, with probiotic bile salt hydrolase (BSH) as one of the key mechanisms in the anti-obesity effects. In this study, we present a Lactobacillus acidophilus GOLDGUT-LA100 (LA100) with high BSH activity, good gastric acid and bile salt tolerance, and a potential anti-obesity effect. LA100's anti-obesity effects were evaluated in a high-fat diet-induced, obese mouse model. LA100 administration alleviates high-fat diet-induced pathophysiological symptoms, such as body weight gain, high serum glucose and cholesterol level, hepatic lipid accumulation, and adipose inflammation. These results demonstrate concrete anti-obesity benefit in animal models and show promising applications in future clinical studies.

Inhibiting centrosome clustering reduces cystogenesis and improves kidney function in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a monogenic disorder accounting for approximately 5% of patients with renal failure, yet therapeutics for the treatment of ADPKD remain limited. ADPKD tissues display abnormalities in the biogenesis of the centrosome, a defect that can cause genome instability, aberrant ciliary signaling, and secretion of pro-inflammatory factors. Cystic cells form excess centrosomes via a process termed centrosome amplification (CA), which causes abnormal multipolar spindle configurations, mitotic catastrophe, and reduced cell viability. However, cells with CA can suppress multipolarity via "centrosome clustering," a key mechanism by which cells circumvent apoptosis. Here, we demonstrate that inhibiting centrosome clustering can counteract the proliferation of renal cystic cells with high incidences of CA. Using ADPKD human cells and mouse models, we show that preventing centrosome clustering with 2 inhibitors, CCB02 and PJ34, blocks cyst initiation and growth in vitro and in vivo. Inhibiting centrosome clustering activates a p53-mediated surveillance mechanism leading to apoptosis, reduced cyst expansion, decreased interstitial fibrosis, and improved kidney function. Transcriptional analysis of kidneys from treated mice identified pro-inflammatory signaling pathways implicated in CA-mediated cystogenesis and fibrosis. Our results demonstrate that centrosome clustering is a cyst-selective target for the improvement of renal morphology and function in ADPKD.

Reduced Identification as a Mother Mediates the Effect of Prenatal Risk Factors on Mother and Infant Socio-Emotional Functioning

AbstractTo support good outcomes for mothers and babies, it is essential to understand the prenatal factors that place both at risk, such as birth trauma, the mother’s attachment history, and unplanned motherhood. However, for health professionals supporting mothers, interventions must target malleable intervening factors. One of these, we propose, is social identification as a mother. Among women who had become mothers in past 12 months (N = 317), we assessed prenatal risk factors, social identification as a mother, and three socio-emotional outcomes: mother’s depression, infant temperament, and mother-infant attachment. Consistent with hypotheses, all prenatal risk factors negatively predicted social identification as a mother, which was itself positively associated with socio-emotional functioning. Model fit was excellent. Reduced social identification as a mother may be a key mechanism through which prenatal risk factors produce poorer outcomes for mothers and babies. Interventions may be enhanced by supporting the development of strong and positive social identities.

Involvement of peptidylarginine deiminase 4 in eosinophil extracellular trap formation and contribution to citrullinated histone signal in thrombi

BackgroundExtracellular traps formed by neutrophils (NETs) and eosinophils (EETs) have been described in coronary thrombi, contributing to thrombus stability. A key mechanism during NET formation is histone modification by the enzyme PAD4. Citrullinated histones, the product of PAD4 activity, are often attributed to neutrophils. Eosinophils also express high levels of PAD4. ObjectivesWe aimed to explore the contribution of PAD4 to EET formation. MethodsWe performed immunohistological analyses on thrombi, including a large, intact, and eosinophil-containing thrombus retrieved from the right coronary artery using an aspiration catheter and stroke thrombi from thrombectomy retrieval. We studied eosinophils for their capability to form PAD4-dependent EETs in response to strong ET-inducing agonists as well as activated platelets and bacteria. ResultsHistopathology and immunofluorescence microscopy identified a coronary thrombus rich in platelets and neutrophils, with distinct areas containing von Willebrand factor and citrullinated histone H3 (H3Cit). Eosinophils were also identified in leukocyte-rich areas. The majority of the H3Cit+ signal colocalized with myeloperoxidase, but some colocalized with eosinophil peroxidase, indicating EETs. Eosinophils isolated from healthy volunteers produced H3Cit+ EETs, indicating an involvement of PAD4 activity. The selective PAD4 inhibitor GSK484 blocked this process, supporting PAD4 dependence of H3Cit+ EET release. Citrullinated histones were also present in EETs produced in response to live Staphylococci. However, limited evidence for EETs was found in mouse models of venous thrombosis or infective endocarditis. ConclusionAs in NETosis, PAD4 can catalyze the formation of EETs. Inhibition of PAD4 decreases EET formation, supporting the future utility of PAD4 inhibitors as possible antithrombotic agents.

Calcium Signaling in Airway Epithelial Cells: Current Understanding and Implications for Inflammatory Airway Disease.

Airway epithelial cells play an indispensable role in protecting the lung from inhaled pathogens and allergens by releasing an array of mediators that orchestrate inflammatory and immune responses when confronted with harmful environmental triggers. While this process is undoubtedly important for containing the effects of various harmful insults, dysregulation of the inflammatory response can cause lung diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pulmonary fibrosis. A key cellular mechanism that underlies the inflammatory responses in the airway is calcium signaling, which stimulates the production and release of chemokines, cytokines, and prostaglandins from the airway epithelium. In this review, we discuss the role of major Ca2+ signaling pathways found in airway epithelial cells and their contributions to airway inflammation, mucociliary clearance, and surfactant production. We highlight the importance of store-operated Ca2+ entry as a major signaling hub in these processes and discuss therapeutic implications of targeting Ca2+ signaling for airway inflammation.

Conditional Proxy Re-Encryption-Based Key Sharing Mechanism for Clustered Federated Learning

The need of data owners for privacy protection has given rise to collaborative learning, and data-related issues heterogeneity faced by federated learning has further given rise to clustered federated learning; whereas the traditional privacy-preserving scheme of federated learning using homomorphic encryption alone fails to fulfill the privacy protection demands of clustered federated learning. To address these issues, this research provides an effective and safeguarded answer for sharing homomorphic encryption keys among clusters in clustered federated learning grounded in conditional representative broadcast re-encryption. This method constructs a key sharing mechanism. By combining the functions of the bilinear pairwise accumulator and specific conditional proxy broadcast re-ciphering, the mechanism can verify the integrity of homomorphic encryption keys stored on cloud servers. In addition, the solution enables key management centers to grant secure and controlled access to re-encrypted homomorphic encryption keys to third parties without disclosing the sensitive information contained therein. The scheme achieves this by implementing a sophisticated access tree-based mechanism that enables the cloud server to convert forwarded ciphertexts into completely new ciphertexts customized specifically for a given group of users. By effectively utilizing conditional restrictions, the scheme achieves fine-grained access control to protect the privacy of shared content. Finally, this paper showcases the scheme’s security against selective ciphertext attacks without relying on random prediction.

Persistent warm and cold spells in the Northern Hemisphere extratropics: regionalisation, synoptic-scale dynamics and temperature budget

Abstract. Persistent warm and cold spells are often high-impact events that may lead to significant increases in mortality and crop damage and can put substantial pressure on the power grid. Taking their spatial dependence into account is critical to understand the associated risks, whether in present-day or future climates. Here, we present a novel regionalisation approach of 3-week warm and cold spells in winter and summer across the Northern Hemisphere extratropics based on the association of the warm and cold spells with large-scale circulation. We identify spatially coherent but not necessarily connected regions where spells tend to co-occur over 3-week timescales and are associated with similar large-scale circulation patterns. We discuss the physical drivers responsible for persistent extreme temperature anomalies. Cold spells systematically result from northerly cold advection, whereas warm spells are caused by either adiabatic warming (in summer) or warm advection (in winter). We also discuss some key mechanisms contributing to the persistence of temperature extremes. Blocks are important upper-level features associated with such events – co-localised blocks for persistent summer warm spells in the northern latitudes; downstream blocks for winter cold spells in the eastern edges of continental landmasses; and upstream blocks for winter cold spells in Europe, northwestern North America and east Asia. Recurrent Rossby wave patterns are also relevant for cold and warm spell persistence in many mid-latitude regions, in particular in central and southern Europe. Additionally, summer warm spells are often accompanied by negative precipitation anomalies that likely play an important role through land–atmosphere feedbacks.

MAVS Ubiquitylation: Function, Mechanism, and Beyond.

The mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS), a core adaptor protein in the retinoic-acid-inducible gene-I-like receptors (RLRs)-MAVS pathway, has been demonstrated to play an important role in antiviral immune response and tumor immunology. Previous studies revealed that ubiquitylation is a key mechanism in the regulation of the RLRs-MAVS axis and immune response. Multiple E3 ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitinating enzymes control MAVS ubiquitylation and changes in MAVS function. In this review, we summarize the biological function of ubiquitylation in MAVS-related signaling and provide new insight into immunotherapy approaches that target MAVS.

God is not back: the long-term effects of Soviet secularism

ABSTRACT How effective was Soviet secularization and what is its long-term legacy? This paper investigates the lasting effects of Khrushchev’s Virgin Lands Campaign (1950s) on the current level of Orthodox religiosity in eastern Russia using an original district (raion)-level dataset that combines historical and contemporary evidence. By employing various matching techniques and an instrumental variable approach, I identify significant effects of the Virgin Lands cultivation on diminishing the role of religion even 60 years later. Moreover, I demonstrate that the resettlement of Communist Youth League (Komsomol) members and the destruction of traditional social relations may have worked as key mechanisms that contributed to the legacy effects. This study offers one of the first micro-level empirical investigations into the impact of Communism-driven secularization, and contributes to the emerging inquiry into the historical legacy of communism.

Mito-metformin protects against mitochondrial dysfunction and dopaminergic neuronal degeneration by activating upstream PKD1 signaling in cell culture and MitoPark animal models of Parkinson's disease.

Impaired mitochondrial function and biogenesis have strongly been implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Thus, identifying the key signaling mechanisms regulating mitochondrial biogenesis is crucial to developing new treatment strategies for PD. We previously reported that protein kinase D1 (PKD1) activation protects against neuronal cell death in PD models by regulating mitochondrial biogenesis. To further harness the translational drug discovery potential of targeting PKD1-mediated neuroprotective signaling, we synthesized mito-metformin (Mito-Met), a mitochondria-targeted analog derived from conjugating the anti-diabetic drug metformin with a triphenylphosphonium functional group, and then evaluated the preclinical efficacy of Mito-Met in cell culture and MitoPark animal models of PD. Mito-Met (100-300 nM) significantly activated PKD1 phosphorylation, as well as downstream Akt and AMPKα phosphorylation, more potently than metformin, in N27 dopaminergic neuronal cells. Furthermore, treatment with Mito-Met upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) implying that Mito-Met can promote mitochondrial biogenesis. Interestingly, Mito-Met significantly increased mitochondrial bioenergetics capacity in N27 dopaminergic cells. Mito-Met also reduced mitochondrial fragmentation induced by the Parkinsonian neurotoxicant MPP+ in N27 cells and protected against MPP+-induced TH-positive neurite loss in primary neurons. More importantly, Mito-Met treatment (10 mg/kg, oral gavage for 8 week) significantly improved motor deficits and reduced striatal dopamine depletion in MitoPark mice. Taken together, our results demonstrate that Mito-Met possesses profound neuroprotective effects in both in vitro and in vivo models of PD, suggesting that pharmacological activation of PKD1 signaling could be a novel neuroprotective translational strategy in PD and other related neurocognitive diseases.

Characterization of adaptation mechanisms in sorghum using a multireference back-cross nested association mapping design and envirotyping.

Identifying the genetic factors impacting the adaptation of crops to environmental conditions is of key interest for conservation and selection purposes. It can be achieved using population genomics, and evolutionary or quantitative genetics. Here we present a sorghum multireference back-cross nested association mapping population composed of 3,901 lines produced by crossing 24 diverse parents to 3 elite parents from West and Central Africa-back-cross nested association mapping. The population was phenotyped in environments characterized by differences in photoperiod, rainfall pattern, temperature levels, and soil fertility. To integrate the multiparental and multi-environmental dimension of our data we proposed a new approach for quantitative trait loci (QTL) detection and parental effect estimation. We extended our model to estimate QTL effect sensitivity to environmental covariates, which facilitated the integration of envirotyping data. Our models allowed spatial projections of the QTL effects in agro-ecologies of interest. We utilized this strategy to analyze the genetic architecture of flowering time and plant height, which represents key adaptation mechanisms in environments like West Africa. Our results allowed a better characterization of well-known genomic regions influencing flowering time concerning their response to photoperiod with Ma6 and Ma1 being photoperiod-sensitive and the region of possible candidate gene Elf3 being photoperiod-insensitive. We also accessed a better understanding of plant height genetic determinism with the combined effects of phenology-dependent (Ma6) and independent (qHT7.1 and Dw3) genomic regions. Therefore, we argue that the West and Central Africa-back-cross nested association mapping and the presented analytical approach constitute unique resources to better understand adaptation in sorghum with direct application to develop climate-smart varieties.

Nonmetal Atom Doping Induced Orbital Shifts and Charge Modulation at the Edge of Two-Dimensional Boron Carbonitride Leading to Enhanced Photocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction.

Electronic structure, particularly charge state analysis, plays a crucial role in comprehending catalytic mechanisms. This study focuses on metal-free boron carbonitride (BCN) nanosheets as a case study to investigate the impact of heteroatom doping on the charge state of active sites at the edge of two-dimensional (2D) metal-free nanomaterials. Our observations revealed that the doping induces a shift in the frontier py orbital near the Fermi level, accompanied by alterations in its charge state. These changes provide insights into the nitrogen adsorption descriptors and the critical hydrogenation step, ultimately leading to the proposal of a competitive charge transfer mechanism. Additionally, this exploration has led to the screening of five BCN-type structures (P@T1-C1, S@T1-B1, O@T1-B1, P@T1-B1C2, and P@T1-B1C3) with promising nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) performances. The BCN structure (S@T1-B1) exhibited the lowest NRR overpotential reaching -0.2 V, which is associated with the proposed charge competition mechanism. Furthermore, the investigation delves into the key step hydrogenation mechanism, descriptors, and volcano diagrams of the conformational relationships. In addition, the proposed doping strategy endows the 2D-BCN with more sensitivity toward the solar spectrum, suggesting its application as a potential photocatalyst. Overall, this study establishes a strong foundation for the advancement of nonmetal-atom-doped BCN nanosheets in nitrogen reduction applications, while also providing a versatile framework for fine-tuning edge-site activity within the broader context of two-dimensional photo/electrocatalytic materials.

Study on formula and mechanism of chemical admixtures for slurry-like mud treated by physicochemical combined method

To achieve value-added recycling of slurry-like mud (MS) and resolve the shortage issue of construction fill materials, physicochemical combined methods (PCCMs), which integrate flocculation, solidification, and vacuum preloading (optional), have been proposed to enhance the engineering properties of MS. The optimization of chemical admixtures, which consist of solidification and flocculation components, is crucial in ensuring the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of PCCM in practical application. In this study, a number of solidification model tests are performed to optimize the solidification components for PCCM via determining the optimal mixing ratio in each of the two GGBS-based binders. Subsequently, surcharge preloading deposition tests and vacuum preloading model tests, with different types/dosages of flocculant, are conducted to determine the appropriate flocculation components. The results indicate that OPC-GGBS exhibits remarkable effectiveness in strength improvement, and the use of a combination of organic and inorganic flocculant, particularly CaO-PAM, can significantly enhance the efficiency of PCCM. Moreover, increasing the dosage of the composite flocculants enhances the dewatering process, but the benefit becomes less significant when the dosage exceeds a threshold value of 0.16%. Additionally, this study provides a preliminary understanding of the key mechanism involved in synergizing flocculation, solidification and preloading to enhance the performance of MS. These findings contribute to the optimal design and application of PCCM for the treatment of MS.

Nitrogen-reliant degradation behaviors of characteristic NHCs by UV-based advanced oxidation processes: Kinetics, pathways and toxicity assessment

In recent decades, nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds (NHCs) have been widely synthesized and applied due to their excellent coordination capability of heterocyclic N atoms. However, their high toxicity and poor biodegradability pose significant hazards to aquatic ecosystems. Three characteristic NHCs (cNHCs) with similar molecular structures but minor differences in the number and position of N atoms, namely benzotriazole (BTA), benzimidazole (BMZ), and indazole (IDZ), were selected to evaluate impacts of these differences on their degradation behaviors during UV/H2O2 treatments. It was found that the key mechanism for the removal of BTA, BMZ, and IDZ in the UV/H2O2 processes was the generation of ∙OH through UV-excited H2O2 decomposition. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the variation in the number and position of heterocyclic ring N atoms significantly affected the electron cloud distribution of the cNHCs, thereby resulting in different reactivities. Mineralization results and N evolution experiments indicated that N elements were initially released in the form of ammonia nitrogen during UV/H2O2 treatments, which then underwent oxidation to form nitrite and nitrate. The two ortho-N atoms were most easily mineralized and release inorganic nitrogen, followed by the two meta-N atoms. However, the BTA compound containing three N atoms, exhibited inertness towards radicals after hydroxylation, thereby hindering mineralization. A dual-directional transformation products (TPs) identification protocol was employed to identify 30 TPs of the cNHCs and propose recommended degradation pathways. Furthermore, Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence inhibition bioassay and QSAR prediction models were used to preliminarily screen and identify 13 toxic TPs with potential ecological risks.

State-dependent alteration of respiration in a rat model of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most frequent neurodegenerative disorder. Besides major deficits in motor coordination, patients may also display sensory and cognitive impairments, which are often overlooked despite being inherently part of the PD symptomatology. Amongst those symptoms, respiration, a key mechanism involved in the regulation of multiple physiological and neuronal processes, appears to be altered. Importantly, breathing patterns are highly correlated with the animal's behavioral states. This raises the question of the potential impact of behavioral state on respiration deficits in PD. To answer this question, we first characterized the respiratory parameters in a neurotoxin-induced rat model of PD (6-OHDA) across three different vigilance states: sleep, quiet waking and exploration. We noted a significantly higher respiratory frequency in 6-OHDA rats during quiet waking compared to Sham rats. A higher respiratory amplitude was also observed in 6-OHDA rats during both quiet waking and exploration. No effect of the treatment was noted during sleep. Given the relation between respiration and olfaction and the presence of olfactory deficits in PD patients, we then investigated the odor-evoked sniffing response in PD rats, using an odor habituation/cross-habituation paradigm. No substantial differences were observed in olfactory abilities between the two groups, as assessed through sniffing frequency. These results corroborate the hypothesis that respiratory impairments in 6-OHDA rats are vigilance-dependent. Our results also shed light on the importance of considering the behavioral state as an impacting factor when analyzing respiration.