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Polyhalogenated carbazoles (PHCZs) are a group of emerging organic pollutants attracting increasing concern. In this study, 32 sediment samples were collected from the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) and adjacent Daya Bay (DYB) in China and were investigated for the occurrence and distribution of PHCZs. Total concentration of sedimentary PHCZs (∑PHCZs) ranged from 0.79 to 3.08 ng/g in PRE and 0.89 to 1.95 ng/g in DYB, both containing 3,6-dichlorocarbazole as the main component. Higher concentrations of ∑PHCZs were found in the rivers-mouth and inner part of the PRE indicating their main origins from anthropogenic activities. Notably, concentrations of brominated carbazoles (BCZs) gradually increased offshore, which suggests the potential bio-transformation of BCZs under a saline environment. The toxic equivalent of PHCZs was estimated at 0.13–0.34 pg TEQ/g suggesting limited dioxin-like effects on local organisms. [Display omitted] • Polyhalogenated carbazoles are ubiquity in the Pearl River Estuary and Daya Bay. • The 3,6-dichlorocarbazole was predominant component in sediment. • Polyhalogenated carbazoles originated mainly from terrigenous sources. • The results suggest potential biotransformation of low-halogenated carbazoles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The volatile compounds of three Ulva spp. were investigated by HS-GC-IMS. • A total of 101 volatile compounds had been detected in three Ulva samples. • Ulva samples could be distinguished clearly by HS-GC-IMS coupled with PCA. • The in vitro antioxidant capacity of different Ulva spp. extracts was evaluated. • TFC and TPC were correlated to the antioxidant capacity of Ulva spp. In this study, the volatile compounds fingerprinting as well as the relationship between phytochemical composition and antioxidant bioactivity of U. prolifera , U. linza and U. clathrata were investigated. The significant differences of volatile compounds in three dehydrated seaweeds were observed by headspace gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry (HS–GC–IMS), and the type of volatile compounds in U. clathrata (83 compounds) was highest, followed by U. linza (75 compounds) and U. prolifera (57 compounds). Furthermore, a variety of polarity solvents were used to extract Ulva spp. in order to determine the influence of total phenolics (TPC), flavonoids (TFC) and carbohydrates content (TCC) on antioxidant activities. The results showed that ethyl acetate extracts of U. prolifera had the highest antioxidant activity (IC 50 = 143.18 μg/mL) in ABTS assay, and methanol extracts of U. clathrata revealed the highest scavenging activity (IC 50 = 95.32 μg/mL) against OH radicals as well as the aqueous extracts of U. prolifera exhibited the strongest radical scavenging capacity (IC 50 = 527.75 μg/mL) against DPPH radicals. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that the antioxidant capacity of Ulva spp. was significantly impacted by TFC and TPC. The findings presented in this thesis add to our understanding of volatilization characteristics and biological properties in edible marine green seaweeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High feed utilization efficiency can reduce agricultural costs and pollution. However, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of local sheep breeds is low in China, so improving FCR of sheep is an important economic and environmental issue. However, the molecular mechanism affecting feed utilization remains unclear. In this study, transcriptome sequencing was used to compare the differences between small intestinal tissues from sheep with high and low feed conversion. The results identified 145 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the high and low FCR groups, of which 80 were upregulated and 65 were downregulated. Gene Ontology annotation (GO) and KEGG pathway analysis showed that DEGs were mainly enriched in metabolic processes and lipid metabolism pathways. Glucagon-like peptide 2 receptor (GLP2R) showed a significant negative correlation with feed intake (FI), whereas Lysophosphatidate acyltransferase (AGPAT1) was positively correlated with FCR. Adiponectin receptor2 (ADIPOR2) was negatively correlated with FCR. They may be considered as candidate genes that play a crucial role in feed utilization. Our data provided many valuable candidate genes that will help to study the molecular mechanisms of feed utilization in sheep. • The study identified 145 DEGs between the high- and low-feed conversion rate sheep. • DEGs were mainly enriched in metabolic processes and lipid metabolism pathways. • GLP2R was negatively correlated with FI. • AGPAT1 was positively correlated with FCR. ADIPOR2 was negatively correlated with FCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is prevalent in southern China, northern Africa, and Alaska. The prognosis for NPC patients at early stage is good, while it is poor for patients at late stages. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been proposed to be associated with tumor initiation, relapse and metastasis, and the poor prognosis of NPC likely results from residual CSCs after therapy. Study on the therapy targeting CSCs in NPC remains poor, though it received intensive attentions in other cancers. Here, we used NPC cell lines with high and low proportion of CSCs as models to explore the effect of nigericin, an antibiotic, on CSCs. We found that nigericin could selectively target CSCs and sensitize CSCs in NPC to the widely used clinical drug cisplatin both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, downregulation of the polycomb group protein Bmi-1 may contribute to the inhibitory effect of nigericin on CSCs. Furthermore, by using the in vitro NPC cell models, we found that nigericin could significantly decrease the migration and invasion abilities, which are known to be associated with CSCs. Taken together, our results suggest that nigericin can selectively target CSCs in NPC, which could be a candidate CSCs targeting drug for clinical evaluation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The present study was carried out to investigate chemical components and therapeutic effects on hepatic fibrosis of Danggui Buxue Decoction (DBD) in rabbits. The chemical components of DBD were analyzed by LC-DAD-MS. Schistosomiasis hepatic fibrosis was employed as models of hepatic fibrosis. The rabbits were divided into treatment and control groups. DBD was orally administered at a dose of 50g/kg rabbit's weight in treatment group. We evaluated the therapeutic effects of DBD on hepatic fibrosis in rabbits using B-ultrasound images, histopathologic examination, and hyaluronic acid content in serum. The results indicated that DBD had good therapeutic effects for hepatic fibrosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Magnesium (Mg) is one of essential plant nutrients needed for optimal growth, yield and quality formation. Also, soil application of Mg fertilizer has been shown to be an effective approach to improve vegetable Mg nutrition. Leafy vegetables can accumulate relatively high levels of heavy metals in the above-ground plant parts. However, it remains unclear as to whether soil-applied Mg affects the vegetable nutritional quality and human health risk of heavy metals from field-grown Chinese cabbage. Here we conducted a two-year, two-crop cycle field experiment in south-western China to evaluate crop yield, vegetable nutrition and heavy metal accumulation in Chinese cabbage supplied with varying levels of Mg (0–90 kg ha−1). Soil application of Mg did not increase the cabbage yield. However, it did increase the vegetable vitamin C and water-soluble protein content by 20.0 % and 57.9 % with 45 and 22.5 kg Mg ha−1 application, respectively, compared to control. The nitrate content of Mg-supplied (45 kg ha−1) cabbages was significantly lower, by about 14 %, than the control. Further, it also significantly decreased the accumulation of cadmium and nickel in the above-ground tissues by reducing their uptake from soil to root or their translocation from root to shoot. Magnesium application, however, increased chromium uptake. A human health risks assessment nonetheless showed that the contribution of chromium from Mg-supplied plants to threshold hazard quotient and threshold carcinogenic risk were indeed much lower than that of cadmium and nickel, proving the value of crop Mg supplementation for ameliorating non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks to humans with the consumption of Chinese cabbage. Here we show that soil application of Mg in the range of 22.5–45 kg ha−1 to Chinese cabbage will significantly improve its nutritional qualities and alleviate the potential human health risks of heavy metals associated with Chinese cabbage consumption. [Display omitted] • Optimal soil Mg increased Mg, vitamin C and protein content in Chinese cabbage. • Mg application attenuated nitrate, Cd and Ni build-up, but increased Cr uptake. • Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of Cr were increased by Mg application. • Mg application alleviated human health risks of Cd and Ni from Chinese cabbage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A review to summarize the studies of chemical constituents, pharmacological activities and clinical studies et al. of Ixeris sonchifolia. • Traditional uses of IS, covering 19 TCM classics and 19 traditional uses containing IS, were presented in the form of Table. • All known chemical constituents isolated from IS and their chemical structures were enumerated in this review. • So far there are 11 methods used for analysis of IS, but the development of more advanced analysis methods is indispensable. • The assistant therapy action and curative effect evaluation of IS were discussed in detail. The assistant therapy action and curative effect evaluation of IS were discussed in detail. Ixeris sonchifolia (IS), principally its dried form, is widely used as traditional and folk medicines in some Asian countries, especially China. In this review, we summarized its traditional uses, chemical constituents, quality control measures, pharmacological activities, therapeutic evaluation, toxicity evaluation and clinical applications. 130 chemical constituents isolated from IS have been reported, including flavones, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, phenylpropanoids, organic acids and others. They showed various pharmacological activities, such as protecting cardiocerebral vascular system, anticancer effect and antiviral etc. The quality control evaluation studies, clinical applications, other possible applications and suggestions for future research also were discussed. The aim of this review is to critically appraise the available literature and suggest directions for further development of IS to improve its medical value and use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An emerging source of MPs in China is artificial turf applied as hedge walls (ATHWs), which have been increasingly used mainly in enclosing construction sites as well as beautifying the municipal landscape. However, the specific ecological risks caused by MPs released from ATHWs (ATHW-MPs) are still unknown. In the present study, we investigated the amount and aging-induced properties of green fibers (GMPs) and the backing materials (BMPs), released from the ATHWs; as well as their potential uptake by animals. Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus), mussels (Mytilus edulis) and earthworms (Eisenia fetida) were used as animal test species. Outdoor exposure for 180 days made ATHWs more prone to embrittlement and disintegration, leading to 4.58 ± 1.96 % weight loss of the grass panels. More and finer particles and fibers were released by an external shear force from the outdoor exposed panels than from panels exposed to artificial UV-light. The aging process altered the surface properties of both GMP and BMP such as zeta potential, surface roughness, specific surface area and chemical groups, which may change their interaction with chemicals and species in the environment. All the studied species tended to ingest more fine particles (<40 µm) of BMPs. As a kind of microfibers, GMP were ingested by some grass carp and mussels but not by earthworms. Ingestion of MPs increased at higher MP-exposure concentrations. Although most of BMPs were partly egested by animal species after 3 d intestinal cleansing; 10 %, 44 % and 22 % of ingested BMPs remained in grass carp, mussels and earthworms, respectively. Aging of ATHW cause more and finer shed MPs, therefore, the sources and quality of the raw materials and producing process must be strictly controlled. We suggest that industry should develop or pay attention to the materials that are more resistant to aging; assess and inform the life cycle of the ATHWs in the instructions, and remind users to avoid free exposure of the backing material during installation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The affiliation of fossil pollen grains of Hamamelidaceae with extant genera is still a challenge for palynologists, probably due to the scarcity of pollen morphological documentation and comparison of Hamamelidaceae genera and species and their fossil counterparts. Parrotia once had a much wider geographical range during geological time according to fossil records, including macrofossils (e.g., plant leaves, and flowers) and microfossils (e.g., pollen). However, assigning fossil pollen of Parrotia is yet difficult regardless of some previous work available on pollen morphology. In this study, we present new results after intensive re-examination on the pollen morphology of Parrotia using light microscope (LM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM), aiming to assess pollen diagnostic features as a guide for fossil pollen recognition. We also compared the reticulum sculptures and nanoscale ornamentations on the muri around lumina for six genera in the tribes Fothergilleae with the representative genera from the neighboring tribes Hamamelideae and Eustigmatea. Hamamelidaceae fossil pollen types from Miocene sediments in southeastern China were examined and identified. We found that 1) pollen grains of Parrotia persica and P. subaequalis have significantly different dimensions of the length of lumen and density of lumina (numbers/10 μm2) under SEM, and the lengths of polar axis, equatorial axis, colpus, bottom side of polar view and height of polar view under LM, respectively; 2) the peculiarities of reticulum, microechinae on the muri and arrangement pattern under SEM are useful diagnostic features to differentiate pollen types of Fothergilleae groups down to genus level from two neighboring tribes; 3) two sister species of Parrotia show identifiable characteristics of reticulum and microechinae based on high resolution imaging with SEM, however, it should be noted that assigning fossil pollen to Fothergilleae still need caution, because of some similar looking close genera under LM; 4) inter- and intraspecific pollen variations need to be carefully considered, when identifying dispersed or fossil pollen grains of Parrotia under low resolution of LM imaging; 5) nanoscale structures based on high resolution imaging for pollen surface sculptures are important keys to distinguishing different fossil pollen types of Hamamelidaceae, including Parrotia. Most of fossil sites of Parrotia are concentrated in Europe-Eurasia and Japan in East Asia, but there are relatively fewer in China and America. To have an insight into the historical biogeography of Parrotia , the global fossil records of Parrotia were comprehensively reviewed and visualized in three large regions (northern American, Europe-Eurasia and East Asia). The palaeophytogeography of Parrotia in light of fossil pollen in East Asia is also generally discussed. Further investigations of the fossil record of Parrotia are expected prior to fully picturing its past phytogeography and species diversity through time, particularly some missing links during Pliocene and Quaternary in China. • Pollen morphology of two sister species of Parrotia were re-examined. • Nanoscale structures and density of lumina are useful diagnostic features. • Hamamelidaceae pollen types from Miocene sediments in SE China were identified. • A global fossil record of Parrotia was reviewed and visualized in three regions. • The historical biogeography of Parrotia is generally discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim of the study: H.pengxianensi is a native plant in China. Dihydrocucurbitacin F-25-O-acetate is one of the major chemical components in H.pengxianensis. In this investigation, we attempted to quantify the content of dihydrocucurbitacin F-25-O-acetate in H.pengxianensis and find the possible antibacterial mode of dihydrocucurbitacin F-25-O-acetate and H.pengxianensis. Material and methods: First, the content of dihydrocucurbitacin F-25-O-acetate was quantified by HPLC. Then, metabolic profiles of Staphylococcus aureus treated by dihydrocucurbitacin F-25-O-acetate, extract of H.pengxianensis and nine antibacterial substances with the known modes of action were acquired by HPLC/DAD/ESI-MS. Principal component analysis was carried out upon all metabolic profiles to classify those drugs according to their mechanisms. Results and conclusion: The HPLC result show the content of dihydrocucurbitacin F-25-O-acetate in H.pengxianensis (5.3±0.4mg/g). From the result obtained by principal component analysis, dihydrocucurbitacin F-25-O-acetate was found to be the component playing the main antimicrobial roles on Staphylococcus aureus in H.pengxianensis and the possible antibacterial mode of dihydrocucurbitacin F-25-O-acetate and H.pengxianensis may be to inhibit cell wall synthesis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • The Pianyanzi area in western Sichuan hosts a rare sellaite-bearing orogenic gold deposit. • Gold is mostly present as visible native gold formed in two stages. • Gold precipitation was forced by interaction between auriferous fluids and wall rocks. • Metasomatized mantle lithosphere served a potential source of ore fluids. The Pianyanzi gold deposit is situated at the western margin of the Yangtze Craton, and represents a rare sellaite-bearing orogenic gold deposit. This deposit belongs to the Dauduhe gold belt of southwestern China and remains poorly documented. In this paper we present first petrographic and in-situ geochemistrical and sulfur isotope data from pyrite as well as results of multielement mapping. The deposit is dominated by native gold (average gold fineness = 980.8) filling fractures in minerals (e.g., pyrite, quartz, sellaite and hematite) or also emplaced along the contact interface between mineral grains. Pyrite is the most abundant sulfide mineral of this deposit. We identified five generations of pyrite: Py1, Py2a, Py2b, Py3, and Py4. Gold occurs in sellaite- and hematite-bearing mineral assemblages formed simultaneous with the formation of Py2a&b and Py4, respectively. Py1 formed in the Au-poor ore stage, while Py3 formed during the late galena-dominated sulfide stage. All generations of pyrite exhibit low concentrations of gold with an average value of less than 2 ppm. Py2a&b possess distinctive textures and chemical zonation, with trace elements displaying greater variations compared to Py1, Py3 and Py4. The δ34S values vary from −0.52 ‰ to 7.08 ‰, which is consistent with those of orogenic deposits of the Daduhe gold belt. The deep metasomatized mantle lithosphere acted as a potential source of ore fluids. We conclude that the co-precipitation of native gold and sellaite was triggered by the interaction between auriferous fluids and dolomite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Household sector is the end consumer in the socio-economic water cycle and consumes a large amount of water in both physical and virtual ways. The life cycle water consumption by households, also denoted as Blue Water Footprint (BWF), is mostly affected by consumption expenditure and varies among different household groups. This study assessed the household BWF in China by integrating the input-output model with a national survey of household consumption expenditure. The logarithmic mean divisia index method was employed to examine the influencing factors in BWF disparity among the different household groups. We found that 1) per capita BWF, on national average, increased from 157 m3 in 2012 to 176 m3 in 2018; 2) in 2012, urban households, on average, consumed 185 m3 of water per capita annually, while rural households consumed 126 m3 per capita; there is a significant difference in dietary between rural and urban households, e.g., starchy foods predominate in rural dietary while animal-based foods are more preferred in urban regions; 3) BWF shows distinctive regional characteristics, e.g., more water was consumed on clothes in cold regions and on aquatic products in coastal regions; 4) income disparity is a key factor in causing the BWF difference. Although BWF has a positive correlation with income, its marginal growth diminishes, because of the fading consumption propensity and the switch of consumption pattern from water-consuming to water-saving, e.g., rich households are inclined to spend most of the money on education and recreation rather than food. This study is of significance in understanding how the BWF varies among different households, and how the BWF is affected by the influencing factors, including income, propensity to consume, consumption pattern, and virtual water intensity. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The head and neck regions are frequent sites of burns, but few studies have analysed and reported the epidemiology of facial burns. As the face is the centre of one's identity and persona, facial injuries often result in physical and psychological morbidity. The aim of this article is to describe the epidemiology and outcome of facial burns in China and to suggest future preventive strategies.Methods: This retrospective analysis included all patients with facial burns in a database at eight institutions from 2011-2015. The data collected included sex, age, month distribution, aetiology, location, presence of inhalation injury, total burn surface area, burn surface area with full-thickness and outcome including Post-traumatic stress disorder Checklist-Civilian Version scores and mortality. SPSS 19.0 software was used to analyse the data.Results: A total of 1126 patients were included; 65.63% (739) had facial burns, of which 546 (73.88%) were male patients and 193 (26.12%) were female patients. Predictors of facial burns were being of male sex, working-related place, flame burns, total body surface area, and full-thickness burns. In addition, total body surface area and full-thickness burns increased the risk of poor prognosis for post-traumatic stress disorder and mortality.Conclusions: Facial burns benefit not only the healing of wound, but also the prevention of their incidence and PTSD symptom. This study may contribute to the elaboration of strategies to prevent facial burns and the establishment of a nationwide burn database in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• QuEChERS extraction greatly reduce sample preparation time and solvent depletion. • LCCPs was online purified by 2DLC system before instrumental analysis. • Suspect screening strategy was adopted for LCCPs identification in sediments. In this study, a method was established for the analysis of long-chain chlorinated paraffins (LCCPs) in sediment based on quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) extraction and two-dimensional liquid chromatography-Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry (2DLC Orbitrap HRMS). Compared with other reported methods, this method greatly reduces sample preparation time (2 h) and solvent consumption. The QuEChERS extraction method presented satisfactory recoveries, 90.5–95.2, 84.7–86.6, and 81.4–83.4% of 5, 50, and 200 ng/g LCCPs with 49% Cl spiked into sediments. Meanwhile, no matrix effects were found in the LCCPs analysis after online purification by the 2DLC system. With the current commercial LCCP standards and a mixture of three chlorinated paraffins (CPs) industrial products, a suspect screening strategy was established and accurate identification of LCCPs (including vLCCPs, which carbon chain length greater than 20) under the plight that the reference standards for vLCCPs are currently unavailable. A total of 21 C 18–20 -LCCP and 22 vLCCP congeners were identified in sediment samples collected from Dongting Lake, China. The total concentrations of LCCPs in six sediment samples ranged from 1.69 to 18.0 ng/g (median 6.66 ng/g) and was dominated by C 18 groups (mean, 28.8%), C 19 groups (mean, 19.1%) and C 21 groups (mean, 16.9%). Taken together, the successful application of this method to analyze sediment samples shows great potential for the analysis of LCCPs in environmental samples in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) of Chinese loess is considered to be an effective tool for determining paleowind direction. However, the relationship between AMS and the paleowind direction is still a matter of debate. This study reports the results of AMS measurements of Chinese loess deposited during the last glacial period on slopes of varying slope angles and orientations. The sites are located on the Chinese Loess Plateau, in West Qinling, and on the eastern margin of Qilian Mountain. The results show that within the same region, magnetic lineations are clustered along similar orientations despite differences in slope exposure and slope angle, but that different regions exhibit different directions of magnetic lineation. These results suggest that the alignment of the magnetic grains during deposition of the eolian deposits was determined by air circulation rather than by water flow on the surface of the slopes, and therefore that the AMS of Chinese loess can be used to determine paleowind directions. In addition, our results indicate that the AMS of Chinese loess is determined mainly by the patterns of regional surface wind flow that occurred during dust accumulation rather than by the uniform pattern of large-scale atmospheric circulation. In addition, since wind direction is influenced significantly by regional topography, the AMS of Chinese loess may have the potential to detect significant changes in past regional topography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine whether China can achieve the commitment of reducing carbon emission intensity in 2030, a general regression neural network (GRNN) forecasting model based on improved fireworks algorithm (IFWA) optimization is constructed to forecast total carbon emissions (TCE) and carbon emissions intensity (CEI) in 2016–2040. Random forests (RF) method is used to select the important carbon emissions influencing factors to reduce data redundancy. The superiority of IFWA-GRNN forecasting model is verified by historical data from 1990 to 2015. The basic as usual (BAU), policy tightening (PT) and market allocation (ML) scenarios are set to forecast the TCE and CEI. The results show that under the BAU scenario, China's CEI reduction commitments in 2020 (40%–45%) can be achieved, but the commitment in 2030 (60%–65%) cannot be achieved. Under the PT and ML scenarios, China can achieve its CEI commitments in 2030, and the TCE will decrease gradually after reaching its peak in 2030. Under the existing macro development planning and policy intensity in China, there are still certain pressures to achieve CEI reduction targets. It is necessary to implement policy adjustment and market mechanism incentives for both energy supply and consumption, optimize power supply structure, promote electric energy substitution, and accelerate the construction of a unified national electricity market, carbon market, etc. Image 10939 • A hybrid carbon emissions forecasting model based on improved general regression neural network is proposed. • The influencing factors of carbon emissions is selected by random forests. • Basic as usual, policy tightening and market allocation scenarios are set, the carbon emission intensity will decrease by 54.7%, 63.4% and 60.8% in 2030 compared to 2005. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]