Effects of Exogenous Organic Acids on the Growth and Antioxidant System of Cosmos bipinnatus under Cadmium Stress

Jiani Hu,Xinyi Gao,Yajie Yue,Xiaoyu Ming,Linjie Yue,Lijuan Yang,Xue Xiao,Xiaofang Yu 한국원예학회 2022 원예과학기술지 Vol.40 No.5

Cadmium pollution in China’s urban green spaces is extremely severe, causing a significant increase in the risk of urban environmental pollution. Applying organic acids under Cd stress conditions improves the activity of the major antioxidant enzymes in the AsA-GSH cycle signi- ficantly. In this study, Cosmos bipinnatus seedlings were cultured in a nutritive medium containing 40 µmol·L-1 Cd. They were subsequently supplemented with different concentrations of citric acid and malic acid (0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mmol L-1 ) to analyze the roles of the organic acids in regulating the AsA-GSH cycle involved in plant resistance to Cd stress. Exogenous organic acids inhibited the growth of C. bipinnatus in a dose-dependent manner. AsA, GSH, and GR in the leaves decreased dramatically at high malic acid concentrations (2 mol L-1 ). The contents of GSH and GR and the APX activities showed a downward trend when the seedlings were treated with 0.5–2 mmol·L-1 of citric acid. However, AsA exhibited contrasting results under these conditions. Notably, both the antioxidant and enzyme activities were reduced considerably to a minimum when the citric acid concentration was 2 mmol·L-1 . Low concentrations of exogenous acids increased the activities of APX and GR in the leaves of C. bipinnatus, thus increasing the contents of ASA and GSH. Such increases boost the efficiency of the ASA-GSH cycle in relieving the toxic effect of cadmium on C. bipinnatus. Cadmium pollution in China’s urban green spaces is extremely severe, causing a significant increase in the risk of urban environmental pollution. Applying organic acids under Cd stress conditions improves the activity of the major antioxidant enzymes in the AsA-GSH cycle signi- ficantly. In this study, Cosmos bipinnatus seedlings were cultured in a nutritive medium containing -1 40 µmol·L Cd. They were subsequently supplemented with different concentrations of citric acid -1 and malic acid (0,0.5,1.0,2.0 mmol L ) to analyze the roles of the organic acids in regulating the AsA-GSH cycle involved in plant resistance to Cd stress. Exogenous organic acids inhibited the growth of C. bipinnatus in a dose-dependent manner. AsA, GSH, and GR in the leaves decreased -1 dramatically at high malic acid concentrations (2 mol L ). The contents of GSH and GR and the -1 APX activities showed a downward trend when the seedlings were treated with 0.5–2 mmol·L of citric acid. However, AsA exhibited contrasting results under these conditions. Notably, both the antioxidant and enzyme activities were reduced considerably to a minimum when the citric acid -1 concentration was 2 mmol·L . Low concentrations of exogenous acids increased the activities of APX and GR in the leaves of C. bipinnatus, thus increasing the contents of ASA and GSH. Such increases boost the efficiency of the ASA-GSH cycle in relieving the toxic effect of cadmium on C. bipinnatus.

Mechanical behavior of composite gel periodic structures with the pattern transformation

Jianying Hu,Yuhao He,Jincheng Lei,Zishun Liu,Somsak Swaddiwudhipong 국제구조공학회 2014 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.50 No.5

When the periodic cellular structure is loaded or swelling beyond the critical value, the structure may undergo a pattern transformation owing to the local elastic instabilities, thus leading to structural collapse and the structure changing to a new configuration. Based on this deformation-triggered pattern, we have proposed the novel composite gel materials. This designed material is a type of architectural material possessing special mechanical properties. In this study, the mechanical behavior of the composite gel periodic structure with various gel inclusions is studied further through numerical simulations. When pattern transformation occurs, it results in a different elastic relationship compared with the material at untransformed state. Based on the obtained nominal stress versus nominal strain behavior, the Poisson‟s ratio and corresponding deformed structure patterns, we investigate the performance of designed composite materials and the effects of the uniformly distributed gel inclusions on composite materials. A better understanding of the characteristics of these composite gel materials is a key to develop its potential applications on new soft machines.

Mechanical behavior of composite gel periodic structures with the pattern transformation

Hu, Jianying,He, Yuhao,Lei, Jincheng,Liu, Zishun,Swaddiwudhipong, Somsak Techno-Press 2014 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.50 No.5

When the periodic cellular structure is loaded or swelling beyond the critical value, the structure may undergo a pattern transformation owing to the local elastic instabilities, thus leading to structural collapse and the structure changing to a new configuration. Based on this deformation-triggered pattern, we have proposed the novel composite gel materials. This designed material is a type of architectural material possessing special mechanical properties. In this study, the mechanical behavior of the composite gel periodic structure with various gel inclusions is studied further through numerical simulations. When pattern transformation occurs, it results in a different elastic relationship compared with the material at untransformed state. Based on the obtained nominal stress versus nominal strain behavior, the Poisson's ratio and corresponding deformed structure patterns, we investigate the performance of designed composite materials and the effects of the uniformly distributed gel inclusions on composite materials. A better understanding of the characteristics of these composite gel materials is a key to develop its potential applications on new soft machines.

Naphthenic Acids in Coastal Sediments after the <i>Hebei Spirit</i> Oil Spill: A Potential Indicator for Oil Contamination

Wan, Yi,Wang, Beili,Khim, Jong Seong,Hong, Seongjin,Shim, Won Joon,Hu, Jianying American Chemical Society 2014 Environmental science & technology Vol.48 No.7

<P>Naphthenic acids (NAs) as toxic components in most petroleum sources are suspected to be one of the major pollutants in the aquatic environment following oil spills, and the polarity and persistence of NAs make it a potential indicator for oil contamination. However, the contamination and potential effects of pollutants in oil spill affected areas remain unknown. To investigate NAs in oil spill affected areas, a sensitive method was first established for analysis of NAs, together with oxy-NAs in sediment samples by UPLC-QTOF-MS. Then the method was applied to determine the NA mixtures in crude oil, weathered oil, and sediments from the spilled sites after the <I>Hebei Spirit</I> oil spill, Taean, South Korea (Dec. 2007). Concentrations of NAs, O<SUB>3</SUB>–NAs, and O<SUB>4</SUB>–NAs were found to be 7.8–130, 3.6–44, and 0.8–20 mg kg<SUP>–1</SUP> dw in sediments from the Taean area, respectively, which were much greater than those measured in the reference sites of Manlipo and Anmyundo beaches. Concentrations of NAs were 50–100 times greater than those (0.077–2.5 mg kg<SUP>–1</SUP> dw) of PAHs in the same sediment samples, thus the ecological risk of NAs in oil spill affected areas deserves more attention. The sedimentary profiles of oil-derived NAs and background NAs centered around compounds with 21–35 and 12–21 carbons, respectively, indicating that the crude-derived NA mixtures originating from the 2007 oil spill were persistent. Acyclic NAs<SUB><I>n</I>=5–20</SUB> were easily degraded compared to cyclic NAs<SUB><I>n</I>=21–41</SUB> during the oil weathering processes, and the ratio of oxy-NAs<SUB><I>n</I>=21–41</SUB> relative to NAs<SUB><I>n</I>=21–41</SUB> could be a novel index to estimate the degree of oil weathering in sediments. Altogether, the persistent oil-derived NAs<SUB><I>n</I>=21–41</SUB> could be used as a potential indicator for oil-specific contamination, as such compounds would not be much affected by the properties of coastal sediments possibly due to the high sorption of the negatively charged compounds (NAs) in sediment.</P><P><B>Graphic Abstract</B> <IMG SRC='http://pubs.acs.org/appl/literatum/publisher/achs/journals/content/esthag/2014/esthag.2014.48.issue-7/es405034y/production/images/medium/es-2013-05034y_0005.gif'></P><P><A href='http://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/es405034y'>ACS Electronic Supporting Info</A></P>

Correlation between Vitamin B12 and Mental Health in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Yongjun Tan,Li Zhou,Kaiqi Gu,Caihong Xie,Yuhan Wang,Lijun Cha,Youlin Wu,Jiani Wang,Xiaosong Song,Xia Chen,Hua Hu,Qin Yang 대한정신약물학회 2023 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.21 No.4

To conduct the association between vitamin B12 and mental health in children and adolescents. Five databases were searched for observational studies in any language reporting on mental health and vitamin B12 levels or intake in children and adolescents from inception to March 18, 2022. Two authors independently extracted data and assessed study quality. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of data were performed. The review was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42022345476). Fifty six studies containing 37,932 participants were identified in the review. Vitamin B12 levels were lower in participants with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) (standardized mean difference [SMD], −1.61; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], −2.44 to −0.79; p < 0.001), attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (SMD, −0.39; 95% CI, −0.78 to −0.00; p = 0.049) compared with control group. Vitamin B12 intake were lower in participants with ASDs (SMD, −0.86; 95% CI, −1.48 to −0.24; p = 0.006) compared with control group, but showed no difference between depression group (SMD, −0.06; 95% CI, −0.15 to 0.03; p = 0.17) and the control group. Higher vitamin B12 intake were associated with lower risk of depression (odds ratio [OR], 0.79; 95% CI, 0.63−0.98; p = 0.034) and behavioral problems (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.69−0.99; p = 0.04). The vast majority of included studies supported potential positive influence of vitamin B12 on mental health, and vitamin B12 deficiency may be a reversible cause for some mental health disorders in children and adolescents.

The Blood Oxygenation T2* Values of Resectable Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinomas as Measured by 3T Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Association with Tumor Stage

Yu-lian Tang,Xiao-ming Zhang,Zhi-gang Yang,Yu-cheng Huang,Tian-wu Chen,Yan-li Chen,Fan Chen,Nan-lin Zeng,Rui Li,Jiani Hu 대한영상의학회 2017 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.18 No.4

Objective: To explore the association between the blood oxygenation T2* values of resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs) and tumor stages. Materials and Methods: This study included 48 ESCC patients and 20 healthy participants who had undergone esophageal T2*-weighted imaging to obtain T2* values of the tumors and normal esophagi. ESCC patients underwent surgical resections less than one week after imaging. Statistical analyses were performed to identify the association between T2* values of ESCCs and tumor stages. Results: One-way ANOVA and Student-Newman-Keuls tests revealed that the T2* value could differentiate stage T1 ESCCs (17.7 ± 3.3 ms) from stage T2 and T3 tumors (24.6 ± 2.7 ms and 27.8 ± 5.6 ms, respectively; all ps < 0.001). Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis showed the suitable cutoff T2* value of 21.3 ms for either differentiation. The former statistical tests demonstrated that the T2* value could not differentiate between stages T2 and T3 (24.6 ± 2.7 ms vs. 27.8 ± 5.6 ms, respectively, p > 0.05) or between N stages (N1 vs. N2 vs. N3: 24.7 ± 6.9 ms vs. 25.4 ± 4.5 ms vs. 26.8 ± 3.9 ms, respectively; all ps > 0.05). The former tests illustrated that the T2* value could differentiate anatomic stages I and II (18.8 ± 4.8 ms and 26.9 ± 5.9 ms, respectively) or stages I and III (27.3 ± 3.6 ms). ROC analysis depicted the same cutoff T2* value of 21.3 ms for either differentiation. In addition, the Student’s t test revealed that the T2* value could determine grouped T stages (T0 vs. T1–3: 17.0 ± 2.9 ms vs. 25.2 ± 6.2 ms; T0–1 vs. T2–3: 17.3 ± 3.0 ms vs. 27.1 ± 5.3 ms; and T0–2 vs. T3: 18.8 ± 4.2 ms vs. 27.8 ± 5.6 ms, all ps < 0.001). ROC analysis indicated that the T2* value could detect ESCCs (cutoff, 20 ms), and discriminate between stages T0–1 and T2–3 (cutoff, 21.3 ms) and between T0–2 and T3 (cutoff, 20.4 ms). Conclusion: The T2* value can be an additional quantitative indicator for detecting ESCC except for stage T1 cancer, and can preoperatively discriminate between some T stages and between anatomic stages of this tumor.