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Pesticides play a crucial role in securing global food production to meet increasing demands. However, because of their pervasive use, they are now ubiquitous environmental pollutants that have adverse effects on both ecosystems and human health. In this study, the environmental occurrence and fate of 16 current-use pesticides (CUPs) were investigated in 93 forest soil samples obtained from 11 distinct mountains in China. The concentrations of the target pesticides ranged from 0.36 to 55 ng/g dry weight. Cypermethrin, dicofol, chlorpyrifos, chlorothalonil, and trifluralin were the most frequently detected CUPs. The CUP concentrations were generally higher in the O-horizon than in the A-horizon. Chlorpyrifos, chlorothalonil, and dicofol were detected in most deep layers in soil profiles from three mountains selected to represent distinct climate zones. No clear altitudinal trend in organic carbon-normalized concentrations of CUPs was observed in the O- or A-horizons within individual mountains. A negative correlation was noted between the CUP concentrations and the altitudes across all sampling sites. This indicated that proximity to emission sources was a key factor affecting the spatial distribution of CUPs in mountain forest soil on a national scale. The ecological risk assessment showed that dicofol and cypermethrin pose potential risks to earthworms. This study emphasizes the importance of source control when setting management strategies for CUPs. [Display omitted] • This study provides the first national picture of current-use pesticides (CUPs) in the mountain forest soil of China. • Cypermethrin, dicofol, chlorpyrifos, chlorothalonil, and trifluralin are the most frequently detected compounds. • There is no distinct altitudinal trend in organic carbon-normalized concentrations of CUPs within individual mountains. • Proximity to emission sources was identified as a pivotal factor influencing the spatial distributions of CUPs on nationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In consideration of recycling solid waste to achieve high value-added products, glass-ceramics have been fabricated from municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash, pickling sludge (PS), and waste glass (WG) by melting at 1450 °C firstly to achieve parent glass and then crystallizing at 850 °C. Results demonstrated that heavy metals have been well solidified in the prepared glass-ceramics, and relatively/extremely low leaching concentrations of heavy metals have been detected. The synthetic toxicity index of heavy metals has been greatly reduced from 7-18 to <3.2 after crystallization treatment, and the leaching concentrations of Cr, Ni, Zn, Cu, and Pb are 0.15, 0.05, 0.26, 0.12, 0.19 mg L-1 respectively. Chemical morphology analysis, principal component analysis, TEM and EPMA were utilized to clarify the migration, transformation, and solidification mechanism of heavy metals from the as-received solid wastes. The major heavy metals, Cr and Ni which is responsible for the most toxicity, mainly exist in form of the oxidation state and residual state in parent glass, while the residual state in the glass-ceramics. The solidification performance was mostly positively correlated with the form of residue state, which the stability of heavy metals in glass-ceramics is improved. The solidification mechanism of heavy metals in glass-ceramics could be explained by the combination of chemical solidification/stabilization and physical coating. The TEM and EPMA confirmed that Cr and Ni mainly exist in the spinel crystalline (NiCr 2 O 4 , Fe 0.99 Ni 0.01 Fe 1.97 Cr 0.03 O 4) by solid solution or chemical substitution, and a small amount of Cr in the diopside phase. Pb, Cu, and Zn are homogenously dispersed in the glass-ceramics, which is considered as physical coating solidification. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 22 new compounds with biphenyl imidazole scaffolds were designed and synthesized. • Compound 12m showed better antifungal activity than fluconazole. • The structure-activity relationships of compounds were discussed. • Compound 12m exhibited low inhibition profiles for human cytochrome P450 isoforms. To further explore the structure activity relationships (SARs) of our previously discovered antifungal lead compound (1), a series of biphenyl imidazole analogues were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro antifungal activity. Many of the synthesized compounds showed excellent activity against Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis. Among these compounds, 2-F substituted analogue 12m displayed the most remarkable in vitro activity against C. albicans , C. neoformans , A. fumigatus and fluconazole-resistant C. alb. strains, which is superior or comparable to the activity of the reference drugs fluconazole and itraconazole. Notably, the compound 12m exhibited low inhibition profiles for various human cytochrome P450 isoforms and showed low toxicity to mammalian A549 cells and U87 cells. The SARs and binding mode established in this study will be useful for further lead optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To further enhance the anti- Aspergillus efficacy of our previously discovered antifungal lead compound 1 , a series of benzoheterocycle analogues were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro antifungal activity. The most promising compounds 13s and 14a exhibited excellent antifungal activity against C. albicans , C. neoformans , A. fumigatus and fluconazole-resistant C. albicans strains, that was superior or comparable to those of the reference drugs fluconazole and voriconazole. GC–MS analyses suggested that the novel compound 13s might have a similar mechanism to fluconazole by inhibiting fungal lanosterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51). Furthermore, compounds 13s and 14a exhibited low inhibition profiles for various human cytochrome P450 isoforms as well as excellent blood plasma stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To further enhance the anti- Aspergillus efficacy of our previously discovered antifungal lead compounds ( 1 ), a series of aromatic heterocyclic derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated for in vitro antifungal activity. Many of the target compounds showed good inhibitory activity against Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans . In particular, the isoxazole nuclei were more suited for improving the activity against Aspergillus spp . Among these compounds, 2-F substituted analogues 23g and 23h displayed the most remarkable in vitro activity against Candida spp. , C. neoformans , A. fumigatus and fluconazole-resistant C.alb. strains, which is superior or comparable to the activity of the reference drugs fluconazole and voriconazole. Notably, the compounds 23g and 23h exhibited low inhibition profiles for various isoforms of human cytochrome P450 and excellent blood plasma stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs. are industrial organic contaminants identified as persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic (PBT), and subject to long-range transport (LRT) with global scale significance. This study focuses on a reconstruction and prediction for China of long-term emission trends of intentionally and unintentionally produced (UP) ∑7PCBs (UP-PCBs, from the manufacture of steel, cement and sinter iron) and their re-emissions from secondary sources (e.g., soils and vegetation) using a dynamic fate model (BETR-Global). Contemporary emission estimates combined with predictions from the multimedia fate model suggest that primary sources still dominate, although unintentional sources are predicted to become a main contributor from 2035 for PCB-28. Imported e-waste is predicted to play an increasing role until 2020-2030 on a national scale due to the decline of intentionally produced (IP) emissions. Hypothetical emission scenarios suggest that China could become a potential source to neighboring regions with a net output of ~0.4 t year-1 by around 2050. However, future emission scenarios and hence model results will be dictated by the efficiency of control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal infections have became a serious medical problem due to their high incidence and mortality. We describe the discovery and structure-activity relationships studies (SARs) of a series of novel biphenyl imidazole derivatives with excellent antifungal activities against Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans . The most promising compounds 12f – g and 19a – b exhibited excellent activity with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values in the range of 0.03125–2 μg/mL. Preliminary mechanism studies showed that the potent antifungal activity of compound 12g stemed from inhibition of CYP51 in Candida albicans . Furthermore, compounds 12g and 19b exhibited low inhibition profiles for various human cytochrome P450 isoforms. The SARs and binding mode established in this study will be useful for further lead optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wearing of vehicle parts could release many chemical additives into the environment, such as benzotriazoles (BTRs), benzothiazoles (BTHs), and p -phenylenediamines (PPDs), which are potentially toxic to wildlife and humans. This study investigated the occurrence, source, and risks of BTRs, BTHs, and PPDs in a source catchment providing water to Guangzhou, a megacity in South China, covering groundwater, surface water, and stormwater. The results showed that BTRs and BTHs were predominant in surface water and groundwater. Unexpectedly, the BTR and BTH concentrations were lower in surface water than groundwater in a third of the paired samples. For the first time, 6PPD-quinone, a toxic ozonation product of N -(1,3-dimethylbutyl)- N′ -phenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine (6PPD), was extensively detected in source waters. Stormwater decreased the BTR concentrations but increased the 6PPD-quinone concentrations in surface water owing to their affiliation to suspended particles. From natural to urban segments of Liuxi river, a downstream increasing trend in BTR and BTH concentrations was observed, confirming that they are indicative of urban anthropogenic activities. Strong correlations between industrial activities and BTR or BTH concentrations in surface water indicated that industrial activities were their main sources. Six compounds were prioritized as potentially persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT) chemicals, combing our monitoring results and REACH criterion. This study improves our understanding of the environmental fates and risks of water-soluble tire-wear chemicals, which provides important information for chemical management, and indicates attention should be paid to the risk posed by 6PPD-quinone in the source water. [Display omitted] • For the first time, 6PPD-Q was widely detected in source water, and could pose high risks via drinking water. • Six compounds, including 6PPD-quinone, were identified as potentially persistent, mobile and toxic (PMT) substances. • BTRs and BTHs are demonstrated to be indicators of urban anthropogenic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of compounds with benzothiazole and amide-imidazole scaffolds were designed and synthesized to combat the increasing incidence of drug-resistant fungal infections. The antifungal activity of these compounds was evaluated in vitro , and their structure-activity relationships (SARs) were evaluated. The synthesized compounds showed excellent inhibitory activity against Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans . The most potent compounds 14o , 14p , and 14r exhibited potent activity, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values in the range of 0.125–2 μg/mL. Preliminary mechanism studies revealed that the compound 14p might act by inhibiting the CYP51 of Candida albicans . The SARs and binding mode established in this study are useful for further lead optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A range of exposure models, which have been developed in Europe and North America, are playing an increasingly important role in priority setting and the risk assessment of chemicals. However, the applicability of these tools, which are based on Western dietary exposure pathways, to estimate chemical exposure to the Chinese population to support the development of a risk-based environment and exposure assessment, is unclear. Three frequently used modelling tools, EUSES, RAIDAR and ACC-HUMANsteady, have been evaluated in terms of human dietary exposure estimation by application to a range of chemicals with different physicochemical properties under both model default and Chinese dietary scenarios. Hence, the modelling approaches were assessed by considering dietary pattern differences only. The predicted dietary exposure pathways were compared under both scenarios using a range of hypothetical and current emerging contaminants. Although the differences across models are greater than those between dietary scenarios, model predictions indicated that dietary preference can have a significant impact on human exposure, with the relatively high consumption of vegetables and cereals resulting in higher exposure via plants-based foodstuffs under Chinese consumption patterns compared to Western diets. The selected models demonstrated a good ability to identify key dietary exposure pathways which can be used for screening purposes and an evaluative risk assessment. However, some model adaptations will be required to cover a number of important Chinese exposure pathways, such as freshwater farmed-fish, grains and pork. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The continuous copper films have been deposited on the surfaces of polyacrylonitrile fibers prepared by electrospinning process. Then the monoclinic-phase Cu2S thorny rods were obtained under the mixed gas of H2S and O2 by using the copper-coated fibrous mats as substrate. The silver could be deposited conveniently on the surface of copper-coated fibrous mats by using sacrificial method. When the silver-gilt copper-coated fibrous mats were used as substrates and treated under the same atmosphere, the monoclinic-phase Cu7S4 with bottle- and thorny rod-shape could be obtained. The results revealed the fact that whether silver was present or not, the amount of the copper deposited on the fibrous mats could affect the component and morphology of the formed copper sulfide microstructure. The growing process of these special microstructures of copper sulfide was investigated and the possible mechanism was also suggested. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Electrospinning as a versatile method for preparation of nanofibers has been used to fabricate the polyvinylalcohol nanofibers containing equal molar of aluminum nitrate and copper acetate. After pretreated at 400°C, the composite fibrous mats were annealed at 1100°C in air for 5h and then the delafossite-structured p-type CuAlO2 ceramics fibrous mats were obtained. The obtained CuAlO2 ceramics fibrous mats were characterized by scanning electrical microscope, X-ray diffraction and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The direct energy gap of the prepared CuAlO2 ceramics fibrous mats was measured to be about 3.38eV. The CuAlO2 behaved like semiconductors and the thermally activated energy was about 0.25eV. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The carbon fibrous mats (CFMs) formed by carbon nanofibers whose average diameter is about 150nm have been fabricated by thermally treating the electrospun polyacrylonitrile fibrous mats. The electrocatalytic activity of commercial Pt/C supported on the CFMs for methanol oxidation in a sulfuric acid solution has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, quasi-steady state polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) methods. The results show that the commercial Pt/C supported on the CFMs exhibits higher electrocatalytic activity, more stability, larger exchange current and smaller charge transfer resistance than that on commercial carbon papers (CPs), which reveals that the CFMs could be developed as suitably-supporting materials for Pt/C catalyst due to their special porous and continuous fibrous structures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The AgNO3/polyacrylonitrile hybrid nanofibers were prepared by using electrospinning technique, then the hybrid fibers of AgNO3/polyacrylonitrile were treated with pyrrole in the boiling toluene medium, finally, the silver/polypyrrole/polyacrylonitrile composite fibrous mats were obtained. The scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectra were used to characterize the obtained silver/polypyrrole/polyacrylonitrile composite fibrous mats. And the results indicated that the morphologies of the composite fibers were influenced by the content of AgNO3 in the AgNO3/polyacrylonitrile fibers. The silver/polypyrrole composite dispersed in the fibrous mats exhibited core-shell structure, and the conductivity of the optimum silver/polypyrrole/polyacrylonitrile composite fibrous mats is relatively high. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Polyacrylonitrile nanofibers containing different amounts of gold nanoparticles have been prepared by electrospinning technique. By using the gold nanoparticles as seeds, thin continuous gold films have been deposited on the surface of polyacrylonitrile fibers through self-catalyzed reduction of chloroauric acid in solution. The conductivities of the fibrous mats increase with the amount of gold deposited on the fibers increase. The smooth continuous thin gold films tend to form on the fibers surface when the organic fibers contain more gold seeds, while coarse films tended to form on the fibers containing less gold seeds. The electrocatalytic activity of the fibrous mats electrodes towards the methanol oxidation in alkaline medium has been investigated, indicating that these electrodes exhibit higher electrocatalytic activity than pure gold electrode because of their three-dimensional structures. The results also indicate that the mats with smooth gold coating exhibit higher electrocatalytic activity than that with coarse gold coating. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Eva-1 homolog A (EVA1A) is regarded as TMEM166 (transmembrane protein 166) or FAM176A (family with sequence similarity 176) and a lysosome and endoplasmic reticulum-associated protein involved in regulating autophagy and apoptosis. EVA1A regulates embryonic neurogenesis, cardiac remodeling, islet alpha-cell functions, acute liver failure, and hepatitis B virus replication. However, the related mechanisms are not fully clear. Autophagy is a process in which cells transfer pathogens, abnormal proteins and organelles to lysosomes for degradation. It plays an important role in various physiological and pathological processes, including cancer, aging, neurodegeneration, infection, heart disease, development, cell differentiation and nutritional starvation. Recently, there are many studies on the important role of EVA1A in many physiological and pathological processes by regulating autophagy. However, the related molecular mechanisms need further study. Therefore, we summarize the above-mentioned researches about the role of EVA1A in physiological and pathological processes through regulating autophagy in order to provide theoretical basis for future researches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The novel TGR5 agonists were designed and synthesized. • Compounds 19d and 19e showed excellent agonistic activities against hTGR5. • Compounds 19d and 19e exhibited high selectivity against FXR. • Compounds 19d and 19e suppressed the excursion of glucose levels. • Compound 19d could stimulate GLP-1 secretion by activation of TGR5. TGR5 is emerging as an important and promising target for the treatment of diabetes, obesity and other metabolic syndromes. A series of novel 1-benzyl-1 H -imidazole-5-carboxamide derivatives was designed, synthesized and evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The most potent compounds 19d and 19e exhibited excellent agonistic activities against hTGR5, which was superior to those of the reference drugs INT-777 and LCA. In addition, compounds 19d and 19e exhibited good selectivity against FXR and presented significant glucose-lowering effects in vivo. Compound 19d could stimulate GLP-1 secretion by activating of TGR5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Municipal solid waste incinerated (MSWI) fly ash and pickling sludge contain heavy metals such as Cr, Pb, Ni, etc., which are harmful to the environment but also suitable to be the nucleating agents in glass-ceramics preparation. In this paper, MSWI fly ash, pickling sludge, and waste glass were melted at 1400 °C for 3 h, and the obtained parent glass was nucleated and crystallized at 800 °C for 0.5 h. Glass-ceramics was successfully prepared by the one-step process. The effects of the content of pickling sludge on crystalline properties of parent glass and the physicochemical properties of glass-ceramics have been systematically discussed. The gap between nucleation temperature (T n) and crystallization temperature (T c) can be narrowed with higher content of pickling sludge, which caused fracture of the glass network (Si-O) and generation of the nonbridging oxygen (NBO), promoting the formation of diopside phase. As a result, nucleation and crystallization can be finished at the same temperature, called one-step process. The sample PS22 with 22 wt% pickling sludge added performed the best crystallization ability for having the narrowest gap (ΔT = 177 °C) between T c and glass transition temperature (T g) and the highest ratio of NBO to total oxygen (T) (NBO/T = 1.72). The Vickers' hardness and bending resistance of the products are 13.11 GPa and 135.84 MPa, respectively. The glass-ceramics are composed of homogeneously distributed diopside, donathite-spinel and glass phase. The toxic heavy metals are effectively stabilized by glass-ceramics. This study provides insights into more efficient and cleaner utilization of MSWI fly ash, pickling sludge and waste glass as glass-ceramic materials. Image 1 • Glass-ceramics were made from MSWI fly ash and pickling sludge and waste glass. • Properties of glass-ceramics by one-step were satisfied with the industrial standard. • Pickling sludge is an efficient nucleating agent in terms of glass crystallization. • Pickling sludge depolymerizes the glass network and decreases the thermal stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Sub-micrometer fibers of polyacrylonitrile were prepared by using electrospinning technique, and thin continuous gold films were coated on the polyacrylonitrile fibers surface through self-catalyzed reduction of chloroauric acid in solution. The conductivities of the metallized fibrous mats were relatively high and increased with the increase of deposited gold amount. When the metallized fibrous mats were thermally treated at higher temperature, the morphology of the gold films on fibers surface changed, and the morphology changes depended on not only the temperature but also the amount of gold deposited on the fibers surface. Porous carbon fibers were obtained when the thermal treated gold-coated fibers were treated with dilute aqua regia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Secondary aluminum dross (SAD) is a solid waste of aluminum dross after it is extracted aluminum. Soda-lime-aluminosilicate (SLAS) glass-ceramics with high alumina contents (over 30 wt%) were successfully manufactured from SAD using pyrometallurgy without additional nucleation agents. The nucleation process of SLAS glass was studied, and 670 °C was selected as the nucleation temperature according to differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction results. Field-emission transmission electron microscopy was applied to study the microstructure of the specimens thermally treated at 670 °C for 3 and 12 h. Nucleation consisted of two parts: iron oxide nucleation and jadeite nucleation. During iron oxide nucleation, when the thermal treatment time increased from 3 to 12 h, the iron oxides first congregated in an amorphous phase and a small amount of metastable crystal; then, the congregated iron oxides crystallized into hematite and magnetite, which acted as crystal nuclei. During jadeite nucleation, the jadeite spontaneously crystallized from the glass matrix after thermal treatment at 670 °C. When the thermal treatment time increased from 3 to 12 h, the size of the jadeite crystals increased from approximately 6 to 12 nm. Jadeite crystals with a diameter of 12 nm acted as crystal nuclei. For glass-ceramics with a high content of aluminum and sodium, jadeite crystals can act as crystal nuclei without additional nucleation agents. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile activity recognition is significant to the development of human-centric pervasive applications including elderly care, personalized recommendations, etc. Nevertheless, the distribution of inertial sensor data can be influenced to a great extent by varying users. This means that the performance of an activity recognition classifier trained by one user’s dataset will degenerate when transferred to others. In this study, we focus on building a personalized classifier to detect four categories of human activities: light intensity activity, moderate intensity activity, vigorous intensity activity, and fall. In order to solve the problem caused by different distributions of inertial sensor signals, a user-adaptive algorithm based on K-Means clustering, local outlier factor (LOF), and multivariate Gaussian distribution (MGD) is proposed. To automatically cluster and annotate a specific user’s activity data, an improved K-Means algorithm with a novel initialization method is designed. By quantifying the samples’ informative degree in a labeled individual dataset, the most profitable samples can be selected for activity recognition model adaption. Through experiments, we conclude that our proposed models can adapt to new users with good recognition performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Room-temperature and robust C-N coupling methodology. • Discovered the promoting effect of alkane solvents. • Synthesis of morpholine and pirazine heterocycle derivatives. • Prepared amines showing in vitro antiproliferative activities. Polar solvents are often chosen for transition metal catalyzed C-N coupling reactions. In this work, it was found that the use of alkane solvents (e.g. cyclohexane, heptane) allows for highly efficient Ni-catalyzed C-N coupling of aryl pseudohalides with different types of amines in the presence of NHC ligands. Excellent functional group tolerance was achieved. Stronger hydrogen bonding effect between amine NH moiety and polar OTs/OTf in alkane solvents might be responsible for the high activity. Meanwhile, some of the obtained products showed in vitro antiproliferative activities. In this work, it was found that the use of alkane solvents allows for highly efficient Ni-catalyzed C-N coupling of aryl pseudohalides with different types of amines in the presence of NHC ligands. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface modification of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were performed by grafting of hydroxyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (HPDMS) covalently. The results of dissolution experiments revealed that long-time stable dispersions of HPDMS-functionalized CNTs (CNTs-HPDMS) were achieved in a range of solvents including ethanol, ethyl acetate, dimethylbenzene and cyclohexane, even after being placed for 3 months. Subsequently, CNTs-HPDMS were incorporated into poly(methylphenylsiloxane) (PMPS) matrix to prepare composites. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that CNTs-HPDMS had homogeneous dispersion and strong interfacial adhesion in PMPS, which led to much better mechanical properties of composites compared to those filled with untreated CNTs. Furthermore, the incorporation of CNTs-HPDMS significantly enhanced the thermal stability of PMPS composites both under nitrogen and air. The improved barrier effect of CNTs-HPDMS resulted from the better filler dispersion was considered to play a crucial role, which on the one hand suppressed the depolymerization of PMPS under nitrogen and on the other hand inhibited the oxygen diffusion in matrix under air. Besides, the hydroxyl groups of HPDMS could react with PMPS to form additional crosslinking during heating, and thus delayed the degradation of PMPS to some extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wide range of studies have characterized different types of biosorbent, with regard to their interactions with chemicals. This has resulted in the development of poly-parameter linear free energy relationships (pp-LFERs) for the estimation of partitioning of neutral organic compounds to biological phases (e.g., storage lipids, phospholipids and serum albumins). The aims of this study were to explore and evaluate the influence of implementing pp-LFERs both into a one-compartment fish model and a multi-compartment physiologically based toxicokinetic (PBTK) fish model and the associated implications for chemical risk assessment. For this purpose, fish was used as reference biota, due to their important role in aquatic food chains and dietary exposure to humans. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) was utilized as the evaluation metric. Overall, our results indicated that models incorporating pp-LFERs (R 2 = 0.75) slightly outperformed the single parameter (sp) LFERs approach in the one-compartmental fish model (R 2 = 0.72). A pronounced enhancement was achieved for compounds with log K OW between 4 and 5 with increased R 2 from 0.52 to 0.71. The minimal improvement was caused by the overestimation of lipid contribution and underestimation of protein contribution by the sp-approach, which cancelled each other out. Meanwhile, a greater improvement was observed for multi-compartmental PBTK models with consideration of metabolism, making all predictions fall within a factor of 10 compared with measured data. For screening purposes, the K OW -based (sp-LFERs) approach should be sufficient to quantify the main partitioning characteristics. Further developments are required for the consideration of ionization and more accurate quantification of biotransformation in biota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bangladesh is one of the most populated countries in the world. Rapid industrialization and urbanization in the last decades have caused emission of pollutants in the environment. The aim of the study was to assess atmospheric 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Σ 16 PAH) in Bangladesh using PUF-PASs deployed in 5 metropolitan cities and one large non-metropolitan city from December 2017 to September 2018. Spatial distribution of Σ 16 PAH ranged from 3.6 ± 1.1 to 22.4 ± 6.9 ng/m3. The maximum concentration of 22.4 ± 6.69 ng/m3 was found on the site-23 (urban), a newly established metropolitan city. Reasonably, the lowest concentration (3.6 ± 1.1 ng/m3) was recorded at the rural site (site-7). Seasonal variation of ∑ 16 PAH was found to be 4.8–28.4, 2.2–12.0 and 2.7–30.5 ng/m3 in the winter, pre-monsoon and monsoon, respectively. Among the PAH isomers, phenanthrene, fluoranthene and pyrene significantly contributed to the total concentrations of PAHs with 30.4, 27.8 and 20.1% in the winter, 18.9, 29.4 and 21.9% in pre-monsoon and 14.2, 29.9 and 21.9% in monsoon, respectively. Seasonal variation of PAHs followed the decreasing order: winter > monsoon > pre-monsoon. Molecular weight-based results revealed that 4- and 3-rings PAHs (4-rings: 53–60%; 3-rings: 23–37%) mostly contributed to the total concentration of PAHs. Diagnostic ratios, PMF model and PCA results suggested that combustion of coal, petroleum, and incineration of biomass/plastics and municipal solid waste are the primary sources of PAHs in Bangladesh. Calculated BaP TEQ and BaP MEQ and ICR values were higher for the children than that of the adults. The higher values of the BaP TEQ and BaP MEQ and ICR compared to those suggested by the WHO and USEPA, imply that population of Bangladesh, particularly children, may be at high risk for health problems from PAHs. [Display omitted] • Monitoring of atmospheric PAHs using PUF-PASs in 6 metropolitan cities in Bangladesh. • High-way, urban, biomass-based combustion, dumping sites were highly contaminated. • Seasonal variation of PAHs follows decreasing order: winter > monsoon > pre-monsoon. • Combustion of coal, petroleum, biomass and municipal waste possible sources of PAHs. • Risk assessment shows high potential health risk caused by PAHs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black carbon (BC) is ubiquitous in the environment and is a significant component of the refractory carbon pool. However, its sources, biogeochemical processes, and environmental residence times are poorly understood. One important reason is that the technical protocols for isolating/analyzing BC vary across different matrices, thereby bringing inconsistency among studies on BC in different environment media. Benzene polycarboxylic acids (BPCA), produced by nitric acid oxidation of the condensed aromatic structure that is common in BC and BC-like substances, has been proven to be a useful molecular proxy for tracking BC in the Earth's surface. Here, we introduce a new technical approach for the compound-specific dual-carbon isotope (δ13C and Δ14C) analysis of BPCA. The BPCA compounds are isolated using preparative liquid chromatography, in which trifluoroacetic acid is used in the mobile phase instead of phosphoric acid. This allows complete removal of solvent from the isolated BPCA fraction, so that conversion of BPCA isolates into CO 2 can be done by conventional oxidation methods for off-line Δ14C analysis with accelerator mass spectrometry. Liquid chromatography (void column)-stable carbon isotope ratio mass spectrometry is employed to measure δ13C of the isolated BPCA, leaving as much BPCA carbon amount as possible for 14C analysis. Blockage of oxidation chamber due to incomplete oxidation of other organic acids in the samples is avoided thanks to preliminary isolation of BPCA. We tested the approach by applying it to solid and dissolved BC species in a suite of environmental reference materials, including maize char, coal, riverine natural organic matter (NOM 2R101N), marine sediment (SRM 1941b), urban dust (SRM 1649b), and coke-polluted soils. We assessed the offsets of BPCA-δ13C and BPCA-Δ14C values caused by procedural carbon contaminations to correct measured carbon isotopic values. Paired δ13C-Δ14C data of individual BPCA were plotted to validate and demonstrate the ability of this dual carbon isotope technique in tracking BC across different environmental matrices. We observed slightly different δ13C-Δ14C signatures among individual BPCA, indicating that the less condensed BC may have younger apparent radiocarbon ages. [Display omitted] • We outline a new approach for compound-specific δ13C-Δ14C analysis of BPCA. • Mobile phases of BPCA fractions isolated with HPLC are totally removed. • Validation using BC reference materials of various environmental media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total suspended particles (TSP) and gaseous samples were collected by using a high-volume sampler from March 2012 to March 2013 and January 2018 to January 2019 at a background site (Jinsha, JSH) in central China to study the chemical characteristics, seasonal variations, and potential sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The average concentrations of ∑ 15 PAHs were 24.55 ± 9.19 ng m−3 in 2012/2013 and 20.98 ± 9.77 ng m−3 in 2018/2019. Low-ring PAHs were more concentrated in gas phase while high-ring PAHs were prone into particle phase. The concentrations of PAHs in the two sampling years were high in winter but low in summer and autumn. The relationships between the gas concentrations of PAHs and temperature indicated that most PAHs were influenced by long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT) in 2012/2013 and in 2018/2019, excluding anthracene (Ant) and pyrene (Pyr) were partially affected by air-surface re-volatilization in 2012/2013. The source of atmospheric PAHs at JSH was similar in 2012/2013 and 2018/2019,which was mainly due to the LRAT of PAHs emitted from biomass/fossil fuel combustion in the northern area of JSH. From 2012/2013 to 2018/2019, there was no significant difference between the concentrations of PAHs in spring and winter, whereas the concentrations of PAHs decreased from 2012/2013 to 2018/2019 in summer. In all, the control of PAHs at the source region was partially effective from 2012/2013 to 2018/2019. [Display omitted] • Atmospheric concentrations of PAHs at JSH in the two sampling years were both high in winter. • Mixture sources mainly contributed in 2012/2013, while combustion sources were dominant in 2018/2019. • Atmospheric PAHs at JSH were largely influenced by LRAT from the northern area of JSH in both 2012/2013 and 2018/2019. • The control of PAHs at source region was partly effective from 2012/2013 to 2018/2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Glass ceramic foams with high strength is developed by multiple solid wastes. • Secondary aluminum ash as self-foaming material is proposed to prepare glass ceramic foams. • The self-foaming mechanism relies on the oxidation reaction of AlN. • The degree of polymerization in glass with different alkalinity is analyzed. Glass ceramic foam with high strength was developed using municipal waste incineration bottom ash, fly ash, pickling sludge and secondary aluminum ash as raw materials without foaming agent. The effect of the secondary aluminum ash content and alkalinity on the pore morphology, porosity, water absorption, compression strength and bulk density of glass ceramic foams has been evaluated. The results showed that the increase of secondary aluminum ash content is beneficial to gas generation, but it will reduce the formation of liquid phase, resulting in the variation of pore morphology. In the process of alkalinity adjustment, the degree of polymerization of glass decreased first and then increased, which is similar to the change of max pore size, providing guidance for quantitative analysis of pore formation. The optimized sample reached porosities up to 63.02%, bulk density of ~1.42 g/cm3, and excellent compressive strength ~41.93 MPa. The analysis of self-foaming mechanism proved that secondary aluminum ash can be used as a self-foaming waste results from the oxidation reaction of AlN. In this work, a clean and sustainable utilization method has been proposed for recycling multiple solid wastes by preparing glass ceramic foams with a potential application for construction insulation materials with load-bearing. Moreover, an innovative exploration of secondary aluminum ash as the self-foaming waste in high temperature environmental was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To discover broad spectrum antifungal agents, two strategies were applied, and a novel class of l -amino alcohol derivatives were designed and synthesized. 3-F substituted compounds 14i , 14n , 14s and 14v exhibited excellent antifungal activities with broad antifungal spectra against C. albicans and C. tropicalis , with MIC values in the range of 0.03–0.06 μg/mL, and against A. fumigatus and C. neoformans , with MIC values in the range of 1–2 μg/mL. Notably, Compounds 14i , 14n, 14s and 14v also displayed moderate activities against fluconazole-resistance strains 17# and CaR that were isolated from AIDS patients. Moreover, only compounds in the S -configuration showed antifungal activity. Preliminary mechanistic studies showed that the potent antifungal activity of compound 14v stemmed from inhibition of C. albicans CYP51. Compounds 14n and 14v were almost nontoxic to mammalian A549 cells, and their stability in human plasma was excellent. Image 1 • Compounds 14i , 14n, 14s and 14v exhibited excellent antifungal activities with broad antifungal spectra. • Compounds 14i , 14n, 14s and 14v showed moderate antifungal activities against fluconazole-resisitent Candida albicans. • l Compound 14v reduced the content of ergosterol in a dose-dependent manner. • l Compounds 14n and 14v were almost nontoxic to mammalian A549 cells. • Compound 14v showed excellent stability in human plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abscisic acid (ABA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) act as key signaling molecules in the plant response to salt stress; however, how these signals are transduced and amplified remains unclear. Here, a soybean (Glycine max) salinity-induced NAM/ATAF1/2/CUC2 (NAC) transcription factor encoded by SALT INDUCED NAC1 (GmSIN1) was shown to be a key component of this process. Overexpression of GmSIN1 in soybean promoted root growth and salt tolerance and increased yield under salt stress; RNA interference–mediated knockdown of GmSIN1 had the opposite effect. The rapid induction of GmSIN1 in response to salinity required ABA and ROS, and the effect of GmSIN1 on root elongation and salt tolerance was achieved by boosting cellular ABA and ROS contents. GmSIN1 upregulated 9- cis -epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase coding genes in soybean (GmNCED3s , associated with ABA synthesis) and Respiratory burst oxidase homolog B genes in soybean (GmRbohBs , associated with ROS generation) by binding to their promoters at a site that has not been described to date. Together, GmSIN1 , GmNCED3s , and GmRbohBs constitute a positive feed-forward system that enables the rapid accumulation of ABA and ROS, effectively amplifying the initial salt stress signal. These findings suggest that the combined modulation of ABA and ROS contents enhances soybean salt tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytochromes P450 (CYPs) play an important role in the metabolism of endogenic and xenobiotic substances, especially drugs. In addition, many CYPs may serve as targets for disease treatment. However, due to the presence of a common heme, the hydrophobicity of the CYP binding cavity, and the high homology within the binding pocket, most CYP inhibitors lack selectivity, which often leads to drug-drug interactions. Therefore, it is meaningful to develop highly selective CYP inhibitors. In this review, we summarize some of the strategies that have been used to develop highly selective CYP inhibitors, such as the weakening of the heme-binding group interaction, reduction of molecular lipophilicity and introduction of small structural changes within compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyaromatic organic matter (POM) is an important group of pollutants and light absorbers in ambient aerosols, which consists of a wide range of chemicals with fused benzene rings. POM in ambient aerosols is mainly derived from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuel and biomass. Source apportionment of POM is crucial for advising efficient mitigation of anthropogenic emissions, but that is a challenge due to the complicated composition of POM and ambient aerosols. Benzene polycarboxylic acids (BPCAs) have recently been introduced as molecular markers of atmospheric POM. Compound-specific radiocarbon analysis of BPCAs is expected to be a powerful tool for apportioning fossil sources and contemporary (i.e., biomass burning) sources of POM in ambient aerosols, yet this application is still lacking. We developed a method for radiocarbon analysis of BPCAs substituted with 3–6 carboxylic groups (B6CA, B5CA, B4CAs and B3CAs). BPCAs were isolated with preparative liquid chromatography with high recoveries (≥85%). The method is validated with reference materials with fossil and contemporary radiocarbon signatures. Successful radiocarbon analysis of BPCAs was achieved for these reference materials after correcting for the presence of average blanks (B6CA: 1.2 ± 0.2 μg, B5CA: 2.3 ± 0.6 μg, individual B4CAs: 2.7 ± 0.2 μg and individual B3CAs: 6.9 ± 0.7 μg). Source apportionment of POM based on radiocarbon analysis of BPCAs was performed for an urban dust reference material, as well as bulk aerosols and water-soluble, methanol-soluble fractions of ambient aerosols from a megacity of southern China. The results show varied contributions of fossil and contemporary sources among different POM fractions. [Display omitted] • Benzene polycarboxylic acids (BPCAs) are used to track polyaromatic organic matter (POM). • A method of compound-specific radiocarbon analysis (CSRA) of BPCAs is developed. • Successful CSRA of BPCAs is achieved for reference and ambient materials. • Sources of POM in ambient aerosols are apportioned by CSRA of BPCAs. • Fossil-contemporary source patterns vary between different POM fractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of exogenous phosphate (P, 200 mg⋅kg −1 soil) on the lability and phytoavailability of arsenic (As) was studied using the diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique. Lettuce were grown on the As-amended soils following the stabilization of soil labile As after 90 days incubation. Phosphate (P) application generally facilitated plant growth except one grown on P-sufficient soil. Soil labile As concentration increased in all the soils after P application due to a competition effect. Plant As concentration increased in red soils collected from Hunan Province, while decreases were observed in the other soils. Even though, an overall trend of decrease was obtained in As phytoavailability along with the increase of DGT-measured soil labile P/As molar ratio. The functional equation between P/As and As phytoavailability provided a critical value of 1.7, which could be used as a guidance for rational P fertilization, thus avoiding overfertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, novel three-dimensional (3D) CuO precursor was synthesized under the ice water bath. The flower-like micellar polyp-phenylenediamine (PpPD) was synthesized when the p-phenylenediamine-salicylic acid ([SA]/PPD) ratio was 1:1. The two amino groups of PpPD interacted with Cu by the coordination interactions. After calcination in the air, dandelion-like CuO nanoflowers were successfully prepared. The physicochemical properties of the as-prepared CuO were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectrometer (FT-IR), UV-vis absorption spectra (UV-vis), and energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS). In the participation of HO, the as-obtained CuO nanoflowers exhibited high efficiency on the decolorization of rhodamine B (RhB) by the synergy of ·OH and ·O . The novel dandelion-like CuO also provided more active sites to improve the photocatalytic effect. It can be applied to the degradation of dyes, such as RhB, and plays a role in environmental pollution control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black carbon (BC) is an important component of the brown clouds, contributing to climate and health effects of air pollution. In this work, we developed a new method for measuring BC concentrations and its radiocarbon isotope (14C) using quartz wool disk passive air samplers (Pas-QW). A field calibration study was conducted at two sampling sites (Guangzhou and Yantai), using an improved thermal/optical method to measure BC. Uptake profiles of Pas-QW were linear over the 77 days that the samplers were deployed, and the average sampling rate of BC measured was 1.1 ± 0.2 m3/day. The method was found to be reproducible with coefficients of variation as low as 17% for BC measured in ambient passive samples. Furthermore, passive sampling was carried out at six sites in the Indo-China Peninsula (ICP) from January to April and June to September of 2016. The high BC concentrations and the high fraction of modern carbon (f M) values emphasizes that ICP is still dominated by biomass burning emissions (residential cooking and agricultural burning), both in dry and wet seasons. This study provides a proof concept and methodology for the application of Pas-QW to cost-effectively expand measurements of BC at the global scale. [Display omitted] • A new method for measuring BC and its 14C using quartz wool disk passive samplers. • The method requires no sample processing and have good reproducibility for BC. • The relative contribution of biomass burning to BC can reach 67 ± 13% in ICP, with obvious spatiotemporal heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is a potential target for cardiovascular disease therapy as inhibition of CETP leads to increased HDL-C in humans. Based on the structure of Merck's biphenyl CETP inhibitor, we designed novel N , N -substituted-cycloalkenyl-methylamine scaffold derivatives by utilizing core replacement and conformational restriction strategies. Consequently, twenty-eight compounds were synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory activity against CETP. Their preliminary structure-activity relationships (SARs) studies indicate that polar substituents were tolerated in moiety A and hydrophobic alkyl groups at the 5-position of cyclohexene were critical for potency. Among them, compound 17a , bearing an N -(5-pyrazolyl-pyrimidin-2-yl)-cycloalkenyl- methylamine scaffold, exhibited excellent CETP inhibitory activity (IC 50 = 0.07 μM) in vitro . Furthermore, it showed an acceptable pharmacokinetic profile in S-D rats and efficient HDL-C increase in high-fat fed hamsters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Field-based sampling can provide more accurate evaluation than MODIS in regional biomass burning (BB) emissions given the limitations of MODIS on unresolved fires. Polyurethane foam-based passive air samplers (PUF-PASs) are a promising tool for collecting atmospheric monosaccharides. Here, we deployed PUF-PASs to monitor monosaccharides and other BB-related biomarkers and presented a dataset of 31 atmospheric BB-related biomarkers in the Indo-China Peninsula (ICP) and Southwest China. The peak concentrations of monosaccharides in the ICP occurred before monsoon season. The highest concentrations were in the eastern Mekong plain, while the lowest were along the eastern coast. BB-related biomarkers displayed elevated concentrations after April, particularly in the monsoon season; however, fewer active fires were recorded by MODIS. This revealed the importance of MODIS unresolved fires (e.g., indoor biofuel combustion, small-scale BB incidents, and charcoal fires) to the regional atmosphere. The PAS derived levoglucosan concentrations indicated that, with the inclusion of MODIS unresolved fires, the estimated top-down emissions of PM (4194–4974 Gg/yr), OC (1234–1719 Gg/yr) and EC (52–384 Gg/yr) would be higher than previous bottom-up estimations in the ICP. Future studies on these MODIS unresolved fires and regional monitoring data of BB are vital for improving the modeling of regional BB emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of N , N -3-phenyl-3-benzylaminopropanamide derivatives were identified as novel CETP (cholesteryl ester transfer protein) inhibitors. In our previous study, lead compound L10 was discovered by pharmacophore-based virtual screening (Dong-Mei Zhao et al., 2014). Based on L10 (IC 50 8.06 μM), compound HL6 (IC 50 10.7 μM) was discovered following systematic structure variation and biological tests. Further optimization of the structure–activity relationship (SAR) resulted in N , N -3-phenyl-3-benzylaminopro panamides derivatives as novel CETP inhibitors. They were synthesized and evaluated against CETP by BODIPY-CE fluorescence assay. Among them, HL16 (IC 50 0.69 μM) was a highly potent CETP inhibitor in vitro. In addition, HL16 exhibited favorable HDL-C enhancement and LDL-C reduction in vivo by hamster. The molecular docking of HL16 into the CETP was performed. The binding mode demonstrated that HL16 occupied the CETP binding site and formed interactions with the key amino acid residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we demonstrated a fluorescent o-phenylenediamine–m-phenylenediamine copolymer sensing system, which was synthesized by a facile and one-step hydrothermal method. The copolymer was first used as fluorescent probe for the detection of Chromium(VI) ion (Cr 6+ ) and showed high selectivity and sensitivity. The detection limit was 1×10 −11 M. It showed excellent linear relationships in wide range of 7×10 −11 –6×10 −10 M. Moreover, the addition of ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) to the detection system could successfully combine with Cr 6+ to form metal chelates, making the fluorescence recovery of o-phenylenediamine–m-phenylenediamine copolymer. What is important, the prepared process had no addition of initiating agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • BS atmospheric Σ 10 OPEs level was 7.65 ± 6.42 ng m−3 with rising trend in 2014–2019. • volatilization of TCEP and TCPP from seawater dominated atmospheric concentrations. • volatilization of TCEP and TCPP deriving from coastal seawater accounting for 73% • river input was the main source of TCEP and TCPP for the BS seawater. Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are still produced and used in large quantities in the world-wide, and the environmental burden and behavior have generated widespread concern, especially in some large-scale waterbodies. This study conducted a comprehensive assessment on the temporal and spatial variabilities and budget of OPEs to trace the source for the Bohai Sea (BS), based on a 5-year seasonal monitoring campaign (June 2014 to May 2019) of 12 atmospheric sites around the BS and our previous studies. The average concentration of Σ 10 OPEs in atmosphere during the sampling period was 7.65 ± 6.42 ng m−3, and chlorinated OPEs were the major compounds. The Seasonal-Trend decomposition procedure based on Loess (STL) analyzed that during the 5-year sampling period, the atmospheric concentrations of Σ 10 OPEs had a slightly increasing trend with a rate of + 0.092 ng m−3 yr−1, and the seasonal concentrations had a distinct seasonal distribution. The highest concentration of Σ 10 OPEs was observed at the sampling site of Dalian, followed by Tianjin, Yantai, and Beihuangcheng. The estimation of the fugacity ratios and air–water gas exchange fluxes established that the concentration levels of two major components of chlorinated OPEs (tris-(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) and tris-(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP)) in the atmosphere were dominated by their volatilization from BS's seawater (1.24 ± 0.46 t yr−1 for TCEP and 5.15 ± 2.15 t yr−1 for TCPP), with 73% deriving from the coastal seawater. The budget assessment suggested that the volatile fluxes of TCEP and TCPP accounted for 8% and 29% of their storages (15.6 ± 5.32 t for TCEP and 17.6 ± 6.70 t for TCPP) in the BS seawater, which were mainly contributed by continental river input (20% for TCEP and 42% for TCPP). The efforts indicated that river inputs of TCEP and TCPP needed to be paid more attention for the improvement of environmental quality of the BS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To discover antifungal compounds with broad-spectrum and stable metabolism, a series of 2-(benzo[ b ]thiophen-2-yl)-4-phenyl-4,5-dihydrooxazole derivatives was designed and synthesized. Compounds A30-A34 exhibited excellent broad-spectrum antifungal activity against Candida albicans with MIC values in the range of 0.03–0.5 μ g/mL, and against Cryptococcus neoformans and Aspergillus fumigatus with MIC values in the range of 0.25–2 μ g/mL. In addition, compounds A31 and A33 showed high metabolic stability in human liver microsomes in vitro , with the half-life of 80.5 min and 69.4 min, respectively. Moreover, compounds A31 and A33 showed weak or almost no inhibitory effect on the CYP3A4 and CYP2D6. The pharmacokinetic evaluation in SD rats showed that compound A31 had suitable pharmacokinetic properties and was worthy of further study. [Display omitted] • A novel class of 2-(benzo[ b ]thiophen-2-yl)-4-phenyl-4,5-dihydrooxazole derivatives was designed and synthesized. • Compounds A30 - A34 exhibited excellent broad-spectrum antifungal activities. • Compounds A31 and A33 showed weak inhibitory effect on CYP3A4 and CYP2D6. • Compound A31 showed high metabolic stability in vitro and in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Airborne particulate matter (PM), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals (HMs) are significant contributors leading to many human health issues. Thus, this study was designed to perform chemical analysis and biological impact of airborne particulate matter 10 (PM 10) in the World heritage City of Kandy City in Sri Lanka. 12 priority PAHs and 34 metals, including 10 highly toxic HMs were quantified. The biological effects of organic extracts were assayed using an in vitro primary porcine airway epithelial cell culture model. Cytotoxicity, DNA damage, and gene expressions of selected inflammatory and cancer-related genes were also assessed. Results showed that the total PAHs ranged from 3.062 to 36.887 ng/m3. The metals were dominated by Na > Ca > Mg > Al > K > Fe > Ti, while a few toxic HMs were much higher in the air than the existing ambient air quality standards. In the bioassays, a significant cytotoxicity (p < 0.05) was observed at 300 μg/mL treatment, and significant (p < 0.05) DNA damages were noted in all treatment groups. All genes assessed were found to be significantly up-regulated (p < 0.05) after 24 h of exposure and after 48 h, only TGF-β1 and p53 did not significantly up-regulate (p < 0.05). These findings confirm that the Kandy city air contains potential carcinogenic and mutagenic compounds and thus, exposure to Kandy air may increase the health risks and respiratory tract-related anomalies. • First comprehensive analysis and exposure assessment supported by bioassays for airborne PAHs and heavy metals in Sri Lanka. • Few PAH and heavy metal levels in the Kandy city air are above maximum permissible levels. • The compounds in the Kandy city air have inflammatory, carcinogenic and mutagenic potentials. • Immediate attention is required to establish emission control and safeguard the quality of air in Kandy city, Sri Lanka. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The ultrafine polymethylmethacrylate fibers containing gold nanoparticles have been prepared by using the electrospinning technique. Then the continuously coarse gold films formed by fractal-like thorny gold particles were deposited on the organic eletrospun fiber surface by an electroless process. The morphology of coarse gold films was characterized by scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy. The results revealed that the morphology of the gold particles was affected not only by the amount of gold seeds embedded in the organic fibers but also by the amount of gold deposited on the fiber''s surfaces. The surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect of the fibrous mats coated with gold films was evaluated by using Rhodamine B as an adsorbate. The results indicated that this kind of fibrous mat exhibited high and reproducible SERS activity and could be developed as highly sensitive SERS substrate. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]