In this study pillar[5]arene (P5) and a quinoline-functionalized pillar[5]arene (P5-6Q) which is used for detecting radioactive element, gas adsorption and toxic ions were synthesized. These materials were characterized by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), elemental analysis, melting point, Mass Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Zeta Potential. The cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of P5 and P5-6Q at distinct concentrations of 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 μg/mL were also investigated by Allium ana-telophase and comet assays on Allium cepa roots and Drosophila melanogaster haemocytes. P5 and P5-6Q showed dose dependent cytotoxic effect by decreasing mitotic index (MI) and genotoxic effect by increasing chromosomal aberrations (CAs such as disturbed anaphase-telophase, polyploidy, stickiness, chromosome laggards and bridges) and DNA damage at the exposed concentrations. These changes in P5-6Q were lower than P5. Further research is necessary to clarify the cytotoxic and genotoxic action mechanisms of P5 and P5-6Q at molecular levels. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was a risk factor for neurological disorders when emerging studies revealed that PM2.5 affected the bacterial community structure of gut in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of PM2.5 on intestinal and brain injury and on bacterial community structure in the intestine and feces of APP/PS1 transgenic mice exposed to PM2.5 for eight weeks with a real-world whole-body inhalation exposure system in Taiyuan, China. The brain and intestinal tissues were collected to evaluate histopathological changes by HE staining. TNF-α and IL-6 levels in intestines, brains, and serums, and Aβ-42 levels in brains were detected. Intestinal and fecal samples were subjected to 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results showed that PM2.5 significantly aggravated the pathological injury in intestines and brains in AD mice with elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. The estimators of Shannon, Simpson, Chao1, and ACE indexes reflected the diversity and richness of the bacterial community. Compared with the FA-WT group, the FA-AD group had lower diversity and richness when the PM2.5-AD group had the highest ones. PCA and NMDS revealed the specific influence of PM2.5 on the bacterial community of intestine and feces because that the PM2.5-FA and PM2.5-AD group clumped visibly closer than the other groups in both bacterial communities of intestine and feces. The KEGG pathway analysis predicted the vital functional genes and metabolic pathways in the bacterial community of PM2.5-AD mice. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/pd-1-pd-l1-inhibitor-2.html This study indicated the histopathological changes and inflammation in the intestine and brain were seriously caused in PM2.5-AD mice when the α-diversity of the bacterial community in intestine and feces was visibly changed. Soil freeze-thaw cycles (FTCs) change the physical and chemical properties of soils; however, information is limited about the consequences for heavy metal sorption and desorption. Lead (Pb) sorption isotherms and successive desorption tests were measured for three soils from North China (Chestnut, Lou and Black), following multiple freeze-thaw cycles (0, 1, 3, 6 and 9 FTCs) of -5 °C for 12 h and then +5 °C for 12 h. Lead adsorption dominated the sorption processes for all soils, and sorption capacity increased with additional FTCs. The Freundlich affinity parameter of soils for Pb sorption (i.e. A; Lβ mmol1-β kg-1), was linearly correlated with carbonate content for soils with multiple FTCs. The effects of FTCs on lead adsorption may be more dependent on carbonate and clay contents than organic matter (OM), cation exchange capacity (CEC) and amorphous iron content. Repeated FTCs increased the pH of soil solutions at applied Pb concentrations >1.4 mmol L-1, which could facilitate formation of inner-sphere complexes of Pb in studied soils. Cation exchange, a weak association, could occupy specific adsorption sites with increasing Pb doses in soils and it can also be facilitated by FTCs. Our results demonstrate the great potential for increasing Pb immobilization with repeated FTCs, by facilitating the formation of both inner-sphere and outer-sphere complexes. Hence, these findings provide useful information on Pb immobilization in contaminated soils that undergo frequent FTCs and offer an additional insight into predicting Pb behavior in cold and freezing environments like the polar regions. OBJECTIVE Persistent physical symptoms (PPS) associated with indoor air without an adequate pathophysiological- or environmental-related explanation may lead to work disability and decreased health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We attempted to assess the effect of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for PPS and also psychoeducation (PE) on these symptoms involving disability. METHOD The intention-to-treat (ITT) sample included 52 employees recruited from an occupational healthcare service randomised as either controls undergoing treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU enhanced with CBT or PE. The primary outcome was HRQoL measuring the severity of symptoms and restrictions in everyday life caused by them. Secondary outcomes included depressive, anxiety and insomnia symptoms, and intolerance to environmental factors, assessed at baseline and at 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-ups. RESULTS At the 12-month follow-up assessment point, no statistically significant differences between treatments emerged following adjustment for gender, age, and HRQoL before the waiting period in the ITT analysis [F(2,46)=2.89, p=.07]. The secondary analysis revealed a significant improvement in HRQoL in the combined intervention group as compared with controls [F(1,47)=5.06, p=.03, g=0.41]. In total, 15% of participants dropped out during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that CBT for PPS or PE might not have a robust effect on HRQoL in PPS associated with indoor air, but the study did not achieve the planned power. Despite difficulties during the recruitment process, the final dropout rates remained low, and participants positively evaluated CBT, suggesting that it represents an acceptable treatment to them. Trial status This study was registered at the ClinicalTrials.gov registry (NCT02069002).