Composites containing nanoparticles of amorphous calcium phosphate （NACP） remineralize tooth lesions and inhibit caries. A recent study synthesized quaternary ammonium methacrylates （QAMs） with chain lengths （CLs...Composites containing nanoparticles of amorphous calcium phosphate （NACP） remineralize tooth lesions and inhibit caries. A recent study synthesized quaternary ammonium methacrylates （QAMs） with chain lengths （CLs） of 3-18 and determined their effects on a bonding agent. This study aimed to incorporate these QAMs into NACP nanocomposites for the first time to simultaneously endow the material with antibacterial and remineralizing capabilities and to investigate the effects of the CL on the mechanical and biofilm properties. Five QAMs were synthesized： DMAPM （CL3）, DMAHM （CL6）, DMADDM （CL12）, DMAHDM （CL16）, and DMAODM （CL18）. Each QAM was incorporated into a composite containing 20% NACP and 50% glass fillers. A dental plaque microcosm biofilm model was used to evaluate the antibacterial activity. The flexural strength and elastic modulus of nanocomposites with QAMs matched those of a commercial control composite （n = 6; P 〉 0.1）. Increasing the CL from 3 to 16 greatly enhanced the antibacterial activity of the NACP nanocomposite （P 〈 0.05）; further increasing the CL to 18 decreased the antibacterial potency. The NACP nanocomposite with a CL of 16 exhibited biofilm metabolic activity and acid production that were 10-fold lesser than those of the control composite. The NACP nanocomposite with a CL of 16 produced 2-log decreases in the colony-forming units （CFU） of total microorganisms, total streptococci, and mutans streptococci. In conclusion, QAMs with CLs of 3-18 were synthesized and incorporated into an NACP nanocomposite for the first time to simultaneously endow the material with antibacterial and remineralization capabilities. Increasing the C/reduced the metabolic activity and acid production of biofilms and caused a 2-log decrease in CFU without compromising the mechanical properties. Nanocomposites exhibiting strong anti-biofilm activity, remineralization effects, and mechanical properties are promising materials for tooth restorations that inhibit caries.展开更多
While studies have focused on the use of biochar as soil amendment, little attention has been paid to its effect on soil fauna. The biochar was produced from slow pyrolysis of wheat straw in the present study. Four tr...While studies have focused on the use of biochar as soil amendment, little attention has been paid to its effect on soil fauna. The biochar was produced from slow pyrolysis of wheat straw in the present study. Four treatments, no addition (CK) and three rates of biochar addition at 2 400 (B1), 12 000 (B5) and 48 000 kg ha-1 (B20), were investigated to assess the effect of biochar addition to soil on nematode abundance and diversity in a microcosm trial in China. The B5 and B20 application significantly increased the total organic carbon and the C/N ratio. No significant difference in total nematode abundance was found among the treatments. The biochar addition to the soil significantly increased the abundance of fungivores, and decreased that of plant parasites. The diversity of soil nematodes was significantly increased by B1 compared to CK. Nematode trophic groups were more effectively indicative to biochar addition than total abundance.展开更多
A column microcosm was conducted by amending crude oil into Dagang Oilfield soil to simulate the bioremediation process. The dynamic change of microbial communities and metabolic genes in vertical depth soil from 0 to...A column microcosm was conducted by amending crude oil into Dagang Oilfield soil to simulate the bioremediation process. The dynamic change of microbial communities and metabolic genes in vertical depth soil from 0 to 80 cm were characterized to evaluate the petroleum degradation potential of indigenous microorganism. The influence of environmental variables on the microbial responds to petroleum contamination were analyzed. Degradation extent of 42.45% of n-alkanes(C8–C40) and 34.61% of 16ΣPAH were reached after 22 weeks. Relative abundance of alkB, nah, and phe gene showed about 10-fold increment in different depth of soil layers. Result of HTS profiles demonstrated that Pseudomonas, Marinobacter and Lactococcus were the major petroleum-degrading bacteria in0–30 and 30–60 cm depth of soils. Fusarium and Aspergillus were the dominant oil-degrading fungi in the 0–60 cm depth of soils. In 60–80 cm deep soil, anaerobic bacteria such as Bacteroidetes, Lactococcus, and Alcanivorax played important roles in petroleum degradation.Redundancy analysis(RDA) and correlation analysis demonstrated that petroleum hydrocarbons(PHs) as well as soil salinity, clay content, and anaerobic conditions were the dominant effect factors on microbial community compositions in 0–30, 30–60, and 60–80 cm depth of soils, respectively.展开更多
Aims Litter decomposition is a fundamental process within ecosystem functioning,and it is largely dependent on the biodiversity of ecosystems.We explored the effects of species diversity and genetic diversity of litte...Aims Litter decomposition is a fundamental process within ecosystem functioning,and it is largely dependent on the biodiversity of ecosystems.We explored the effects of species diversity and genetic diversity of litter on the litter decomposition rate.Methods We used laboratory microcosms to determine whether species diversity and genetic diversity and their interaction affect leaf litter decomposition.We set up 8 treatments containing 1,2,4 diversity levels of four broad-leaf species(Alniphyllum fortunei,Idesia polycarpa,Cinnamomum camphora and Daphniphyllum oldhamii)both in species and genetic sense.Totally 246 microcosms containing same amount of soil and litter of prescribed diversity treatment were stored in the dark at 25℃for 12 weeks.Important Findings The effect of litter species diversity on litter decomposition was largely dependent on species composition of the litter mixture in terms of species identity.Overall,the decomposition rate increased linearly with the richness of seed family when the species identity was disregarded.However,no interactive effect of species diversity and genetic diversity on mass loss was detected.The litter decomposition rate was found to be unrelated to the initial carbon(C),whereas it was negatively correlated with the initial total nitrogen(N)and N:P ratio.However,the regression curves of the litter decomposition rate against the total P and C:N ratio displayed quadratic parabolas opening upward and downward,respectively.This study demonstrated how species and/or genetic diversity and the stoichiometry of litter per se affect litter decomposition.Further studies should be performed in the long term to ascertain how such effects operate and how they change during the decomposition process,particularly in response to varying composition and diversity of standing plants in the environments.展开更多
Dental composites are commonly used restorative materials; however, secondary caries due to biofilm acids remains a major problem. The objectives of this study were （1） to develop a composite containing quaternary a...Dental composites are commonly used restorative materials; however, secondary caries due to biofilm acids remains a major problem. The objectives of this study were （1） to develop a composite containing quaternary ammonium dimethacrylate （QADM）, nanoparticles of silver （NAg）, and nanoparticles of amorphous calcium phosphate （NACP）, and （2） to conduct the first investigation of the mechanical properties, biofilm response and acid production vs water-ageing time from 1 day to 12 months. A 4 x 5 design was utilized, with four composites （NACP-QADM composite, NACP-NAg composite, NACP-QADM-NAg composite, and a commercial control composite）, and five water-ageing time periods （1 day, and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months）. After each water- ageing period, the mechanical properties of the resins were measured in a three-point flexure, and antibacterial properties were tested via a dental plaque biofilm model using human saliva as an inoculum. After 12 months of water-ageing, NACP-QADM- NAg had a flexural strength and elastic modulus matching those of the commercial control （P〉 0.1）. Incorporation of QADM or NAg into the NACP composite greatly reduced biofilm viability, metabolic activity and acid production. A composite containing both QADM and NAg possessed a stronger antibacterial capability than one with QADM or NAg alone （P〈0.05）. The anti-biofilm activity was maintained after 12 months of water-ageing and showed no significant decrease with increasing time （P〉0.1）. In conclusion, the NACP-QADM-NAg composite decreased biofilm viability and lactic acid production, while matching the load- bearing capability of a commercial composite. There was no decrease in its antibacterial properties after 1 year of water-ageing. The durable antibacterial and mechanical properties indicate that NACP-QADM-NAg composites may be useful in dental restorations to combat caries.展开更多
文摘细菌在海洋氮循环中起关键作用,而过量氮输入对细菌群落代谢潜力的影响还未被充分阐明.本研究通过构建3组寡营养海水生态微宇宙,包括对照组、一次性输入组(一次性输入硝酸盐使体系中硝氮浓度为1.0 mg·L-1)和连续性输入组(每隔2 d输入一次硝酸盐,使体系中硝氮浓度每次增加0.125 mg·L-1,直至与一次性输入组达到相同水平),利用Biolog-Eco板技术和16S rDNA PICRUSt(Phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states)功能基因预测,研究过量氮输入下细菌群落代谢潜力的动态变化.结果表明,实验第16 d,氮的连续性输入提高了细菌群落的碳源利用能力,对照和连续性输入组中碳源利用特征随采样时间发生了显著变化.此外,预测到的功能基因家族组成随时间明显变化,并与亚硝酸盐、铵盐、磷酸盐、化学需氧量、溶解氧、pH和总磷密切相关,固氮、异化硝酸盐还原、反硝化、异化硝酸盐还原到铵和同化硝酸盐还原相关基因的相对丰度受到了氮输入的影响,而氮连续输入导致的氮代谢相关基因变化较一次性输入更为普遍.本研究初步揭示了过量氮输入对寡营养海水细菌群落代谢潜力的影响,为探明近岸海域过量氮输入的微生态效应提供了基础数据.
基金supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) R01DE17974 (Hockin HK Xu)National Natural Science Foundation of China grant 81400540 (Ke Zhang)a seed fund (Hockin HK Xu) from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry
文摘Composites containing nanoparticles of amorphous calcium phosphate （NACP） remineralize tooth lesions and inhibit caries. A recent study synthesized quaternary ammonium methacrylates （QAMs） with chain lengths （CLs） of 3-18 and determined their effects on a bonding agent. This study aimed to incorporate these QAMs into NACP nanocomposites for the first time to simultaneously endow the material with antibacterial and remineralizing capabilities and to investigate the effects of the CL on the mechanical and biofilm properties. Five QAMs were synthesized： DMAPM （CL3）, DMAHM （CL6）, DMADDM （CL12）, DMAHDM （CL16）, and DMAODM （CL18）. Each QAM was incorporated into a composite containing 20% NACP and 50% glass fillers. A dental plaque microcosm biofilm model was used to evaluate the antibacterial activity. The flexural strength and elastic modulus of nanocomposites with QAMs matched those of a commercial control composite （n = 6; P 〉 0.1）. Increasing the CL from 3 to 16 greatly enhanced the antibacterial activity of the NACP nanocomposite （P 〈 0.05）; further increasing the CL to 18 decreased the antibacterial potency. The NACP nanocomposite with a CL of 16 exhibited biofilm metabolic activity and acid production that were 10-fold lesser than those of the control composite. The NACP nanocomposite with a CL of 16 produced 2-log decreases in the colony-forming units （CFU） of total microorganisms, total streptococci, and mutans streptococci. In conclusion, QAMs with CLs of 3-18 were synthesized and incorporated into an NACP nanocomposite for the first time to simultaneously endow the material with antibacterial and remineralization capabilities. Increasing the C/reduced the metabolic activity and acid production of biofilms and caused a 2-log decrease in CFU without compromising the mechanical properties. Nanocomposites exhibiting strong anti-biofilm activity, remineralization effects, and mechanical properties are promising materials for tooth restorations that inhibit caries.
基金Supported by the National Basic Research Program (973 Program) of China (No. 2011CB100504)the Knowledge Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. KZCX2-YW-Q1-07)the Bluemoon Foundation, USA
文摘While studies have focused on the use of biochar as soil amendment, little attention has been paid to its effect on soil fauna. The biochar was produced from slow pyrolysis of wheat straw in the present study. Four treatments, no addition (CK) and three rates of biochar addition at 2 400 (B1), 12 000 (B5) and 48 000 kg ha-1 (B20), were investigated to assess the effect of biochar addition to soil on nematode abundance and diversity in a microcosm trial in China. The B5 and B20 application significantly increased the total organic carbon and the C/N ratio. No significant difference in total nematode abundance was found among the treatments. The biochar addition to the soil significantly increased the abundance of fungivores, and decreased that of plant parasites. The diversity of soil nematodes was significantly increased by B1 compared to CK. Nematode trophic groups were more effectively indicative to biochar addition than total abundance.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,China(Nos.41473070,U1806216)the Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin,China(No.17JCQNJC07800)+1 种基金Tianjin S&T Program(Nos.17ZXSTSF00050,16YFXTSF00520,17PTGCCX00240)111 Program,Ministry of Education,China(No.T2017002)
文摘A column microcosm was conducted by amending crude oil into Dagang Oilfield soil to simulate the bioremediation process. The dynamic change of microbial communities and metabolic genes in vertical depth soil from 0 to 80 cm were characterized to evaluate the petroleum degradation potential of indigenous microorganism. The influence of environmental variables on the microbial responds to petroleum contamination were analyzed. Degradation extent of 42.45% of n-alkanes(C8–C40) and 34.61% of 16ΣPAH were reached after 22 weeks. Relative abundance of alkB, nah, and phe gene showed about 10-fold increment in different depth of soil layers. Result of HTS profiles demonstrated that Pseudomonas, Marinobacter and Lactococcus were the major petroleum-degrading bacteria in0–30 and 30–60 cm depth of soils. Fusarium and Aspergillus were the dominant oil-degrading fungi in the 0–60 cm depth of soils. In 60–80 cm deep soil, anaerobic bacteria such as Bacteroidetes, Lactococcus, and Alcanivorax played important roles in petroleum degradation.Redundancy analysis(RDA) and correlation analysis demonstrated that petroleum hydrocarbons(PHs) as well as soil salinity, clay content, and anaerobic conditions were the dominant effect factors on microbial community compositions in 0–30, 30–60, and 60–80 cm depth of soils, respectively.
基金funded by NSFC grants(31570530,41371077)German Research Foundation(DFG FOR 891).
文摘Aims Litter decomposition is a fundamental process within ecosystem functioning,and it is largely dependent on the biodiversity of ecosystems.We explored the effects of species diversity and genetic diversity of litter on the litter decomposition rate.Methods We used laboratory microcosms to determine whether species diversity and genetic diversity and their interaction affect leaf litter decomposition.We set up 8 treatments containing 1,2,4 diversity levels of four broad-leaf species(Alniphyllum fortunei,Idesia polycarpa,Cinnamomum camphora and Daphniphyllum oldhamii)both in species and genetic sense.Totally 246 microcosms containing same amount of soil and litter of prescribed diversity treatment were stored in the dark at 25℃for 12 weeks.Important Findings The effect of litter species diversity on litter decomposition was largely dependent on species composition of the litter mixture in terms of species identity.Overall,the decomposition rate increased linearly with the richness of seed family when the species identity was disregarded.However,no interactive effect of species diversity and genetic diversity on mass loss was detected.The litter decomposition rate was found to be unrelated to the initial carbon(C),whereas it was negatively correlated with the initial total nitrogen(N)and N:P ratio.However,the regression curves of the litter decomposition rate against the total P and C:N ratio displayed quadratic parabolas opening upward and downward,respectively.This study demonstrated how species and/or genetic diversity and the stoichiometry of litter per se affect litter decomposition.Further studies should be performed in the long term to ascertain how such effects operate and how they change during the decomposition process,particularly in response to varying composition and diversity of standing plants in the environments.
基金supported by the International Science and Technology Cooperation Program of China (2014DFE30180) (Xue-Dong Zhou)National Natural Science Foundation of China grant 81430011 (Xue-Dong Zhou),81372889 (Lei Cheng),81400540 (Ke Zhang)+1 种基金?nancial support from the School of Stomatology at the Capital Medical University in China (Ke Zhang),NIH R01 DE17974 (Hockin HK Xu)a seed grant from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry (Hockin HK Xu)
文摘Dental composites are commonly used restorative materials; however, secondary caries due to biofilm acids remains a major problem. The objectives of this study were （1） to develop a composite containing quaternary ammonium dimethacrylate （QADM）, nanoparticles of silver （NAg）, and nanoparticles of amorphous calcium phosphate （NACP）, and （2） to conduct the first investigation of the mechanical properties, biofilm response and acid production vs water-ageing time from 1 day to 12 months. A 4 x 5 design was utilized, with four composites （NACP-QADM composite, NACP-NAg composite, NACP-QADM-NAg composite, and a commercial control composite）, and five water-ageing time periods （1 day, and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months）. After each water- ageing period, the mechanical properties of the resins were measured in a three-point flexure, and antibacterial properties were tested via a dental plaque biofilm model using human saliva as an inoculum. After 12 months of water-ageing, NACP-QADM- NAg had a flexural strength and elastic modulus matching those of the commercial control （P〉 0.1）. Incorporation of QADM or NAg into the NACP composite greatly reduced biofilm viability, metabolic activity and acid production. A composite containing both QADM and NAg possessed a stronger antibacterial capability than one with QADM or NAg alone （P〈0.05）. The anti-biofilm activity was maintained after 12 months of water-ageing and showed no significant decrease with increasing time （P〉0.1）. In conclusion, the NACP-QADM-NAg composite decreased biofilm viability and lactic acid production, while matching the load- bearing capability of a commercial composite. There was no decrease in its antibacterial properties after 1 year of water-ageing. The durable antibacterial and mechanical properties indicate that NACP-QADM-NAg composites may be useful in dental restorations to combat caries.
