Antibacterial functionalization of an experimental self-etching primer by inorganic agents: microbiological and biocompatibility evaluations

Antibacterial activities have been demonstrated on oral bacteria with inorganic antibacterial agents (ABAs) after their incorporations into an experimental self-etching primer (ESP) before curing. This study was to assess their biocompatibility and antibacterial activity after curing. Six ABAs were incorporated respectively into ESP for treating specimens. After curing, their bactericidal activities on Streptococcus mutans and influences to the early bacterial colonization were assessed by direct contact and viable count. Systemic toxicity in rats after short-term oral exposure and direct contact cytotoxicity with NIH3T3 fibroblasts were tested. Incorporation of ZnOw AT-83, Longbei antibiotic, Antim-AMS2 or IONPURE-H significantly enhanced the antibacterial effect of ESP after curing, even after 1 month aging. Specimens treated by ESP with ZnOw AT-83, Longbei antibiotic or Antim-AMS2 showed slightly less bacterial adhesion than control. Animal experiments revealed neither toxic signs nor significant differences in body weight gain between control and other groups. Cell vitality or proliferation rates were ranged from 76% to 100% with respect to controls. Basic magnesium hypochlorite, ZnOw AT-83 and ZnOw AT-88 were less toxic. Toxicity only observed in areas beneath the specimens and/or in the direct vicinity of the specimen edge. From microbiological and biocompatibility aspects, the tested ABAs can be effectively incorporated in ESP to provide antibacterial activity against S. mutans. ZnOw AT-83 was the most promising one.     

Effect of Microwave Radiation on Immobilization of Heavy Metals in Sediment Sludge

In order to evaluate the effect of microwave radiation on immobilization of heavy metals (Cu ^{2 +} , Cr ^{6 +} , Zn ^{2 +} and Pb ^{2 +} ) in sediment sludge, leaching tests were run under different test conditions to compare microwave radiation with conventional blast heating and drying process for their effectiveness in immobilizing heavy metals within sediment sludge. Experimental results indicate that microwave radiation can decrease the concentration of heavy metals in leachate by 63% ～ 70% more than conventional blast heating and drying process in an aclinic shake leaching test. Under the same simulated natural water conditions, the concentration of heavy metals in the leachate using microwave radiation is well below the concentration of heavy metals in leachate using conventional blast heating and drying process. It is therefore concluded that microwave radiation is much more effective than conventional blast heating and drying process in immobilizing heavy metals in sediment sludge.     

Elevational plumage divergence in the Rufous-capped Babbler (Cyanoderma ruficeps) on a mountainous island

Environment plays an important role in the evolution of plumage coloration in birds and may also lead to sexual dichromatism if males and females face different selection pressures. Mountains exhibit varying ecological conditions along their elevation gradient that may impose divergent selection on elevationally widespread species, causing intraspecific plumage divergence. For example, UV light environments often vary between montane and lowland habitats, which could potentially cause differences in plumage UV reflection between birds occurring in the two types of habitats. However, few studies have examined the effects of elevation on plumage evolution. In this study, we quantified the plumage coloration of the Rufous-capped Babbler Cyanoderma ruficeps from montane and lowland habitats on a mountainous island, Taiwan. We aimed to examine whether their plumage showed differences associated with changing ecological environments across the elevational gradient. The results supported that the plumage of babblers occupying montane habitats had higher UV-reflectance and brightness than that of lowland birds, corresponding to the higher UV intensity in montane than lowland background light environments. The elevational differences were mainly found across the ventral parts of babblers that had relatively higher levels of UV reflectance compared with their dorsal parts. Alternatively, the brighter plumage, with higher UV-reflectance in montane than lowland birds, might be mediated by physiological adaptation to other ecological factors, such as parasite pressures. The elevational differences in plumage UV-reflectance and brightness were more dramatic in males than in females. However, we found significant sexual dichromatism in different body parts between montane and lowland babblers in which females had brighter or stronger UV-associated coloration than males, suggesting that sexual selection has little impact on babbler plumage. Our study suggests the importance of elevational divergent selection associated with UV light or other ecological environments on avian plumage evolution.     

Effects of High-Temperature Stress on Photosynthetic Characteristics and Antioxidant Enzyme System of <i>Paeonia ostii</i>

Paeonia ostii is an economically important oil crop, which has been widely cultivated in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China in recent years. Although P. ostii is highly adaptable to the environment, the prolonged high summer temperature in this region severely inhibits its growth, which adversely affects seed yield and quality. In this study, P. ostii plants were subjected to 20°C/15°C (day/night) and 40°C/35°C (day/night) temperatures for 15 days. The changes in physiological and biochemical indicators of P. ostii under high-temperature stress were initially investigated. The results showed that with the deepening of leaf etiolation, chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b concentration, carotenoid concentration, Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) values and leaf relative water content decreased significantly, while both relative electrical conductivity (REC) and free proline concentration showed an upward trend. Meanwhile, the continuous accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in P. ostii plants, led to an increased activity of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Moreover, with the extension of the high-temperature treatment, the anatomical structures of P. ostii were destroyed, resulting in a decreased photochemical efficiency of the photosystem II (PSII) reaction center and photosynthesis was inhibited. Taken together, these results provide reference values for understanding the physiological response of P. ostii to high-temperature stress and establish a foundation for further research on the relevant underlying molecular mechanisms.

     

Temporal shifts in the relative importance of climate and leaf litter traits in driving litter decomposition dynamics in a Chinese transitional mixed forest

Plant and Soil - To assess the direction and strength of climate and leaf litter trait effects on decomposition dynamics throughout the litter decomposition process. We performed a three-year-long...     

Plant Hormone Metabolome and Transcriptome Analysis of Dwarf and Wild-type Banana

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Gibberellin (GA), auxin (IAA) and brassinosteroid (BR) are indispensable in the process of plant growth and development. Currently, research on the regulatory...     

miR-211-3p enhances induction chemotherapy insensitivity by upregulating CSF2/CCL20/TNF signaling in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Molecular Biology Reports - To investigate the potential mechanisms of miR-211-3p on induction chemotherapy (IC) sensitivity in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC). qRT-PCR was assessed...     

Electroacupuncture Ameliorates Cognitive Impairment Through the Inhibition of NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation by Regulating Melatonin-Mediated Mitophagy in Stroke Rats

Neurochemical Research - Previous studies found that electroacupuncture (EA) at the Shenting (DU24) and Baihui (DU20) acupoints alleviates cognitive impairment in cerebral...     

Alteration of Glycerophospholipid Metabolism in Hippocampus of Post-stroke Depression Rats

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is the most common mental disorder in stroke survivors. However, its specific pathophysiology remains largely unknown. Previous studies suggested a role of hippocampus in PSD. Therefore, we conducted this study to investigate the lipid metabolic signatures in hippocampus of PSD rats. Here, the liquid chromatography mass spectrometry was used to identify the lipid metabolic signatures in the hippocampus of PSD, control and stroke rats. Then, correlations between behavior indices and differential lipid metabolites in PSD rats were explored. Pathway and enrichment analysis were further conducted to uncover the crucial metabolic pathways related to PSD. Finally, we found that the lipid metabolic phenotype in hippocampus of PSD rats was substantially different from that in control and stroke rats, and identified 50 key lipid metabolites that were significantly decreased in PSD rats. These differential metabolites were mainly involved in glycerophospholipid metabolism. Meanwhile, the sucrose preference and immobility time were found to be significantly positively and negatively, respectively, correlated with glycerophospholipid metabolites. The pathway and enrichment analysis showed that the glycerophospholipid metabolism, especially cardiolipin metabolism, was significantly disturbed in PSD rats. These results suggested that the down-regulated glycerophospholipids in hippocampus, especially cardiolipin, might participate in the pathophysiology of PSD. Our findings would be helpful for future exploring the pathophysiology of PSD.