This was also demonstrated from the finding of a decrease in methyl coenzyme M reductase (mcrA) gene, an increase in particulate methane monooxygenase (pmoA) gene and the absorption of 13C-labeled from algae biomass by submerged macrophytes at the end of incubation. Therefore, the bio-pump established in the present study can improve DO in algal blooms water and turn algal-derived organic matter into the plant biomass, which supplied a sustainable method for algae removal and GHG reduction.The main aim of the present study was to assess the technical feasibility of nutrients removal from the wastewater from the date processing industries in sequencing batch reactor. Heterotrophic nitrifying and aerobic denitrifying bacteria were isolated from the soil sediment samples. The bacterial strain Al-Dhabi-17 effectively removed nutrients than other isolates from the wastewater and characterized as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Al-Dhabi-17. The nutrient removal efficacy was improved by optimizing process parameters. Removal of NH4+ from the medium reached 42% within 60 h of cultivation and the nitrification rate was 111 ± 3.1 mg after 24 h. After 96 h, NO3- reached 6 ± 0.4 mg/mL concentration. The strain S. maltophilia Al-Dhabi-17 showed the ability to utilize NH4+ ranged between 100 and 300 mg/L. The supplemented sucrose, glucose and date molasses reached maximum nitrification process after 72 h (p less then 0.05). Reduction of NH4+ -N reached 73.4% within 48 h time in the medium supplemented with date molasses. Nutrient removal was observed in the broad pH range (6.0-8.5) and maximum nutrient removal achieved at alkaline range (p less then 0.05). Sequencing batch reactor was fed with wastewater and nutrient removal was analyzed under optimized condition. The associated chemical oxygen demand, phosphate and total nitrogen removal efficiencies for the suspended growth sequencing batch reactor were 96.5%, 97.9% and 88.4%, respectively. The sequencing batch reactor inoculated with S. maltophilia Al-Dhabi-17 showed promising for nitrogen removal.Laboratory and epidemiologic studies suggested that exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) could affect lipid metabolisms, but data remain limited for pregnant women. A total of 436 pregnant women were selected in Tangshan City, North China. Serum levels of 11 PFASs were determined in the early term of pregnancy. Four lipids (total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)) were measured in the late term of pregnancy. Of 11 PFASs, seven had a detection rate of greater than 70%. After adjusting for potential confounders, natural log-transformed perfluororohexanesulfonic acid (ln PFHxS) was positively associated with TC (β 0.184, 95% CI 0.045-0.321), HDL (β 0.040, 95% CI 0.001-0.083), and LDL (β 0.091, 95% CI 0.001-0.185). Ln perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUdA) was positively associated with HDL (β 0.021, 95% CI 0.001-0.044), while Ln perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) was negatively associated with LDL (β -0.053, 95% CI -0.098∼-0.009) and ln perfluorootanoic acid (PFOA) was negatively associated with LDL/HDL (β -0.042, 95% CI -0.075∼-0.009). In principal component analysis, the component with a large loading of 31.3% for PFOA, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), PFDA and PFUdA showed a negative association with LDL/HDL. After serum concentrations of PFASs were categorized into quartiles, a higher level of TC was seen in the second quartile of PFOA or PFNA than the first quartile, but a lower LDL/HDL ratio was seen in the fourth quartile of PFOA, PFUdA or PFDA. These results suggested that exposure to PFASs has a potential to influence lipid metabolisms in pregnant women.In an attempt to maximize yields of food crops, smallholder farmers have, over the years, increasingly employed agricultural practices such as slash-and-burn and slash-and-mulch on Chromolaena odorata dominated fallow farmlands. However, owing to recently introduced „Horizontal Natural Product Transfer” concept, concerns have been raised over how these common agricultural practices could potentially lead to toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), from decaying or burnt C. odorata residues, taken up by food crops and subsequently accumulate in the food chain. A field experiment was therefore conducted to analyze the PA contents in the tissues of maize (Zea mays L.) plants grown on slash-and-burn and slash-and-mulch plots, previously dominated with Chromolaena odorata, using liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy (LC-ESI-MS/MS). The results revealed, in general, trace amounts of PAs in the maize tissues (i.e. roots, leaves and grains) at maturity while significantly higher levels were detected in the surface soils sampled before sowing (for both plots), 45 days after sowing (slash-and-burn plot) and 90 days after sowing (slash-and-mulch plot). These findings demonstrate, for the first time, the leaching out of PAs from C. odorata residues (e.g. mulch and ash particles) and taken up by maize tissues. In spite of its air polluting and farmland degrading effects, slash-and-burn agricultural practices could lead, in the long term, to relatively lower accumulation of PAs in maize cultivated on PA-plant dominated fallow farmlands, hence smallholder farmers are encouraged to frequently employ this farming system.Term neonatal bowel obstruction is common, and absence of treatment is potentially catastrophic. There is a relatively narrow differential diagnosis, with causes categorised as either low or high bowel obstruction. The commonest causes of low bowel obstruction include anorectal malformations (ARM), Hirschsprung’s disease, ileal atresia, meconium ileus, meconium plug, and colonic atresia. The commonest causes of high bowel obstruction include duodenal atresia, duodenal stenosis/web, jejunal atresia, and malrotation with volvulus (and hypertrophic pyloric stenosis usually presenting in slightly older infants). Diagnosis can be decided using a step-wise binary decision tool that includes the appropriate imaging steps and evaluation of bowel calibre. This paper presents the decision-making tool from the presenting features, through plain radiographic findings and, where necessary, the additional radiological investigations to assist the general radiologist, novice paediatric radiologist and paediatric surgeon. The tool is pictorial, with the radiological findings accompanied by eight schematics, serving as a simplified visual aid for memorizing the imaging patterns of the differential diagnosis. The imaging and decision-making steps allow for a rapid, simplified diagnosis that can benefit patients by recommending when to perform surgery, when to perform further imaging, and when imaging can act in a therapeutic manner.

The synergic interaction of risk genes and environmental factors has been thought to play a critical role in mediating emotion-related brain circuitry function and dysfunction in depression and anxiety disorders. Little, however, is known regarding neurodevelopmental bases underlying how maternal negative parenting affects emotion-related brain circuitry linking to adolescent internalizing symptoms and whether this neurobehavioral association is heritable during adolescence.

The effects of maternal parenting on amygdala-based emotional circuitry and internalizing symptoms were examined by using longitudinal functional magnetic resonance imaging among 100 monozygotic twins and 78 dizygotic twins from early adolescence (age 13 years) to mid-adolescence (age 16 years). The mediation effects among variables of interest and their heritability were assessed by structural equation modeling and quantitative genetic analysis, respectively.

Exposure to maternal negative parenting was positively predictive of stronger functional connectivity of the amygdala with the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex. This neural pathway mediated the association between negative parenting and adolescent depressive symptoms and exhibited moderate heritability (21%).

These findings highlight that maternal negative parenting in early adolescence is associated with the development of atypical amygdala-prefrontal connectivity in relation to internalizing depressive symptoms in mid-adolescence. Such abnormality of emotion-related brain circuitry is heritable to a moderate degree.

These findings highlight that maternal negative parenting in early adolescence is associated with the development of atypical amygdala-prefrontal connectivity in relation to internalizing depressive symptoms in mid-adolescence. Such abnormality of emotion-related brain circuitry is heritable to a moderate degree.Registered nurses are an essential workforce group across the globe. They use their expertise and skill sets every day in clinical practice to protect, promote, and advocate on behalf of patients and families under their care. In this article we discuss the physical, emotional, and moral stresses that nurses are experiencing in their day-to-day practice settings created by the novel coronavirus. We consider the demands placed on nurses by unexpected patient surges within hospital environments and inadequate personal protective equipment and other critical resources, challenging nurses’ ability to meet their professional and ethical obligations. We also share our thoughts on supporting nurses and others now, and ideas for needed healing for both individuals and organizations as we move forward. Finally, we argue for the need for substantive reform of institutional processes and systems that can deliver quality care in the future when faced with another devastating humanitarian and public health crises.Poly(ionic liquid) membranes (PILMs) can be potentially applied as polyelectrolyte materials in the separation of ampholytes such as amino acids. Therefore, poly(amino acid ionic liquid) membranes (PAAILMs) were prepared by blending poly(amino acid ionic liquids) (PAAILs) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) in this study. These PAAILMs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Moreover, their mechanical properties, antibacterial and antifouling properties were evaluated. The zeta potential, pore size distribution, porosity, and specific surface area of these membranes were also measured. The membranes were used to separate the amino acid mixture of l-phenylalanine and l-aspartic acid, which are essential for the synthesis of aspartame. The PAAILMs can be used for the selective separation of l-phenylalanine and l-aspartic acid through the Donnan effect. A maximum selectivity of 65% was obtained for the mixed amino acids via one-step separation. These PAAILMs have the advantages of low operating pressure, high water flux, good antibacterial and antifouling properties, and excellent reusability, thereby indicating their potential for industrial application in the separation of l-phenylalanine and l-aspartic acid.Understanding the stability evolution of the silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) in colloid has great benefits for its controllable preparation, storage and application. Herein, uncapped Ag NPs with diameter of 1.66 ± 0.37 nm are obtained by laser ablation of Ag target in deionized water, corresponding surface plasma resonance (SPR) bands, ζ potential and particle size distribution are monitored to investigate uncapped Ag NPs’ stability evolution. Due to negatively charged surface, uncapped Ag NPs show an excellent dispersion stability in 70 days without any external disturbance. But its dispersion stability and structure stability are destroyed easily by an oscillation treatment, resulting in a tardy growth and the formation of one-dimensional Ag nanochain. In addition, the chemical stability of uncapped Ag NPs is dramatically varied by a displacement reaction with an inserted copper wire. As comparison, two typical cationic and anionic surfactant molecules, N-hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (CTAC) and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) are severally used to prepare surface capped Ag NPs.