福建省灰水足迹时空变化及驱动因素

灰水足迹是稀释水污染物至达标需要的淡水体积,是评价水污染程度与水环境质量的重要方法,对灰水足迹进行核算与分析,可以促进福建省提高水环境质量,构建可持续的水生态环境。借鉴Hoekstra等提出的灰水足迹核算方法,对福建省及各地市2001-2017年的灰水足迹进行核算,对其时空变化特征进行评价并使用对数平均迪式指数分解法（Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index Method,LMDI）模型对灰水足迹变动的驱动因素进行分解。结果表明：a）总氮是决定灰水足迹总量的主要污染物,非点源污染是灰水足迹的最主要来源但占比由68.25%降至63.35%;b）福建省灰水足迹总量降低了9.58%,且各项指标都呈下降趋势,在空间上,灰水足迹总量及剩余灰水足迹东南多西北少,人均灰水足迹及灰水足迹强度东少西多;c）福建省灰水足迹变动的驱动因素中,经济因素是最大正向驱动因素,产生2932.96亿m³的贡献量,技术因素是最大负向驱动因素,产生-2630.31亿m³的贡献量。最后,针对福建省水污染问题提出建议：a）开展非点源污染防治专项;b）加快速度提高城镇生活污水处理水平;c）优化产业结构,提高灰水足迹效率;d）切实落实生态补偿制度,调动各市水环境保护积极性;e）加强环境监管力度,加大技术投入。     

野生藏酋猴冬季食物组成及营养成分

觅食是获取营养物质和能量的重要途经。对于栖息在四季分明地区的灵长类动物而言,低温以及食物资源相对匮乏的冬季是其生存和生长发育的瓶颈期。本研究以安徽黄山的野生藏酋猴（Macaca thibetana）天湖山群为对象,于2019年11月至2020年1月采用瞬时扫描取样法（Instantaneous scan sampling）采集猴群觅食行为数据,并分析其冬季食物组成及食物中各化学成分含量对取食的影响。结果显示,野生藏酋猴在冬季共取食23科31属34种植物,主要包括壳斗科（Fagaceae,21.62%）、樟科（Lauraceae,17.57%）、蔷薇科（Rosaceae,8.11%）的植物,取食部位以叶片（66.22%）和果实（种子）（24.32%）为主。不同取食部位的水分、总糖、淀粉、脂肪、单宁等成分存在显著差异。其中,叶片的水分含量高于果实（种子）、茎和芽,茎和果实（种子）含有较高的总糖,果实（种子）的淀粉和脂肪含量最高,芽的单宁含量最高。此外,取食植物中的总糖含量高于非取食植物。结果表明,野生藏酋猴适应寒冷冬季与食物匮乏的觅食策略是对植物种类、植物部位及其主要营养成分的综合结果。     

Bone morphogenetic protein 9 overexpression reduces osteosarcoma cell migration and invasion

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is known to promote tumor migration and invasion. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are members of the TGF-β family expressed in a variety of human carcinoma cell lines. The role of bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9), the most powerful osteogenic factor, in osteosarcoma (OS) progression has not been fully clarified. The expression of BMP9 and its receptors in OS cell lines was analyzed by RT-PCR. We found that BMP9 and its receptors were expressed in OS cell lines. We further investigated the influence of BMP9 on the biological behaviors of OS cells. BMP9 overexpression in the OS cell lines 143B and MG63 inhibited in vitro cell migration and invasion. We further investigated the expression of a panel of cancer-related genes and found that BMP9 overexpression increased the phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8 proteins, increased the expression of ID1, and reduced the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) in OS cells. BMP9 silencing induced the opposite effects. We also found that BMP9 may not affect the chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12 (CXCL12)/C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) axis to regulate the invasiveness and metastatic capacity of OS cells. Interestingly, CXCR4 was expressed in both 143B and MG63 cells, while CXCL12 was only detected in MG63 cells. Taken together, we hypothesize that BMP9 inhibits the migration and invasiveness of OS cells through a Smad-dependent pathway by downregulating the expression and activity of MMP9.     

Plasmonic Biosensor Based on Triangular Au/Ag and Au/Ag/Au Core/Shell Nanoprisms onto Indium Tin Oxide Glass

Gold–silver core–shell triangular nanoprisms (Au/AgTNPs) were grown onto transparent indium tin oxide (ITO) thin film-coated glass substrate through a seed-mediated growth method without using peculiar binder molecules. The resulting Au/AgTNPs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV–vis spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammograms. The peak of dipolar plasmonic resonance was located at near infrared region of ～700 nm, which showed the refractive index (RI) sensitivity of 248 nm/RIU. Moreover, thin gold shells were electrodeposited onto the surface of Au/AgTNPs in order to stabilize nanoparticles. Compared with the Au/AgTNPs, this peak of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) was a little red-shift and decreased slightly in intensity. The refractive index sensitivity was estimated to be 287 nm/RIU, which showed high sensitivity as a LSPR sensing platform. Those triangular nanoprisms deposited on the ITO substrate could be further functionalized to fabricate LSPR biosensors. Results of this research show a possibility of improving LSPR sensor by using core–shell nanostructures.     

Whole-Genome Sequencing for the Investigation of a Hospital Outbreak of MRSA in China

Staphylococcus aureus is a globally disseminated drug-resistant bacterial species. It remains a leading cause of hospital-acquired infection, primarily among immunocompromised patients. In 2012, the Affiliated People’s Hospital of Jiangsu University experienced a putative outbreak of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) that affected 12 patients in the Neurosurgery Department. In this study, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used to gain insight into the epidemiology of the outbreak caused by MRSA, and traditional bacterial genotyping approaches were also applied to provide supportive evidence for WGS. We sequenced the DNA from 6 isolates associated with the outbreak. Phylogenetic analysis was constructed by comparing single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the core genome of 6 isolates in the present study and another 3 referenced isolates from GenBank. Of the 6 MRSA sequences in the current study, 5 belonged to the same group, clustering with T0131, while the other one clustered closely with TW20. All of the isolates were identified as ST239-SCCmecIII clones. Whole-genome analysis revealed that four of the outbreak isolates were more tightly clustered into a group and SA13002 together with SA13009 were distinct from the outbreak strains, which were considered non-outbreak strains. Based on the sequencing results, the antibiotic-resistance gene status (present or absent) was almost perfectly concordant with the results of phenotypic susceptibility testing. Various toxin genes were also analyzed successfully. Our analysis demonstrates that using traditional molecular methods and WGS can facilitate the identification of outbreaks and help to control nosocomial transmission.