Search

The karst region in southwest China is one of world's largest continuous karst landforms in the world, renowned for its unique landscapes and abundant biodiversity. This study collected 49 leaf samples (21 herbaceous plants and 28 woody plants) from the typical karst zone in Puding County, China, and determined the content of elements in plant leaves using ICP-OES. The concentration characteristics and discrepancy of trace elements (Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Sr, and Zn) in herbaceous and woody plants were analyzed employing statistical analysis models. The results revealed that there were significant differences in the concentrations of trace elements between herbaceous and woody plants. The median concentrations of trace elements in herbaceous plants and woody plants, ranked from high to low, were: Fe > Sr > Mn > Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb and Fe > Sr > Mn > Cr > Zn > Pb > Cu. The outcomes of the correlation analysis revealed discernible differences in the interactions of trace elements within the leaves of herbaceous and woody plants. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that Cu, Mn and Zn were influenced by different mechanisms from Cr, Fe, Pb and Sr in plant system. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) showed that Pb and Cr had stronger distinguishing capabilities between herbaceous and woody plants compared to other elements. The OPLS-DA model was likely considered an optimized model for tracing element sources from different plant species, which has a greatly applied potential in source identification of plant-derived trace elements in a complex environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Dam construction can impact nitrogen accumulation in reservoir sediments and may potentially lead to internal release due to intricate nitrogen cycling at the sediment–water interface (SWI), exacerbating nitrogen loading in the water body. This study aims to clarify the transformation and transportation processes and key influencing factors of nitrogen species at the SWI in deep reservoirs. Methods: Two consecutive sediment cores were collected from Baihua Reservoir (BHR) and Hongjiadu Reservoir (HJD) in July 2019 and were stratified on-site. Pore water was extracted via centrifugation for water-soluble inorganic nitrogen measurement. Adsorbed inorganic nitrogen was extracted using 2 mol L−1 KCl. Inorganic nitrogen forms were measured by an analytical continuous flow analyzer (SEAL Analytical Limited, Germany). Particulate organic nitrogen (PON) samples were obtained after the removal of inorganic carbon and inorganic nitrogen with 2 mol L−1 KCl and 0.5 mol L−1 HCl. Stable isotopes (δ15N-PON) and the ratios of C/N were measured via a stable isotopic mass spectrometer (MAT-253) and an elemental analyzer (Elementar, Rhine main, Germany). Fick's First Law and Grey correlation analysis (GCA) were employed to estimate the diffusion fluxes and controlling factors. Results: The sediment nitrogen concentrations in BHR were influenced by higher-level anthropogenic activities, as indicated by the comparison of nitrogen concentrations and δ15N-PON values (averaging 9.13‰ and 5.39‰ in BHR and HJD, respectively). Dissolved oxygen (DO) was the key factor affecting nitrogen transformation processes at the SWI. Mineralization and nitrification were dominant in HJD, while BHR exhibited mineralization, denitrification, and potential anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox). Livestock waste and soil organic matter were common sources of PON in both reservoirs. Moreover, the contribution of phytoplankton in BHR was also significant due to high-level eutrophication. Evaluations of diffusion fluxes revealed that both sediments in BHR and HJD acted as sources of water-soluble ammoniacal nitrogen (NH4+-N) for internal release (0.97 and 0.27 mg m−2 day−1 in BHR and HJD, respectively). Additionally, adsorbed NH4+-N exhibited high-level diffusion fluxes in both BHR (15.81 m−2 day−1) and HJD (3.37 m−2 day−1). Furthermore, GCA revealed that pH, T, and DO trigger the desorption of adsorbed nitrogen, leading to an increase in the nitrogen load in the overlying water. Conclusion: Sediments in eutrophic reservoirs experience high-level nitrogen inputs. Complex nitrogen cycling processes at the SWI and environmental factors (pH, DO, and T) may lead to significant internal releases. Further studies on the fate of nitrogen at the SWI in different eutrophic-level reservoirs are still necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The central section of China's South-to-North Water Diversion Project has been designated as a national water conservation area, and the soil ecological security in its associated watersheds is of great importance. A total of 204 soil samples (0–20 cm depth) were obtained from the Laoguanhe River Basin. The concentrations of seven elements (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn, Pb and Hg) were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and atomic fluorescence spectrometry following a near-total acid dissolution. Data analyses (including potential ecological risk, principal component analysis, geostatistical analysis and the positive matrix factorization model) were applied to evaluate the contamination of soil heavy metals and to identify their sources. The research results demonstrated that the mean contents of these seven elements exceeded background values for Henan Province, China, indicating human disturbance. Ecological risk evaluation revealed that Cd was the most frequently detected and the heavy metal causing the most pollution. Principal component analysis indicated that Cr, Ni and Cu stem from natural sources, while Zn and Cd are predominantly influenced by agricultural activities. Additionally, industrial activities and atmospheric deposition were responsible for the excess presence of Pb and Hg. The study suggests taking measures to control Cd sources in agricultural areas, reducing input of heavy metals into the river and providing scientific support for managing water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hexi Corridor is an excellent region for high-quality wines in China, but the characteristic and style of red wine from this region is unclear. To elucidate the regional style of red wines from Hexi Corridor, the aroma properties of red wines made from 16 different varieties/clones of grapes were comprehensively analyzed using HS-SPME-GC-MS, sensory evaluation, odor activity value method, and partial least squares regression analyses. We identified 52 aroma compounds and found that floral and black berry provided a good reference for shaping red wine style and selecting related varieties in Hexi Corridor region. Ethyl caproate, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, ethyl 9-decenoate, and hexyl alcohol, which were the characteristic aroma substances of Hexi Corridor red wines, had positive effects on the floral aroma of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Malbec wines. Hexyl alcohol and (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol also contributed to the black berry and spice aromas, while isobutyl acetate opposed the expression of these aromas of Malbec and Cabernet Franc wines. These results showed that the sensory characteristics of floral and black berry are of vital significance in shaping the red wine style of Hexi Corridor, among which ethyl caproate, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, ethyl 9-decenoate, and hexyl alcohol are important contributors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terrestrial carbon sequestration capacity is an important indicator of ecosystem service function, and the carbon storage value can reflect the climate regulation capacity of the regional ecological environment. The Zoigê alpine grassland is a representative area of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau grassland ecosystem, with carbon sequestration types such as alpine grassland and marsh meadow and also an important water-conserving area in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and the Yellow River. In this study, based on the land use/cover change pattern of the Zoigê alpine grassland region from 2000 to 2020, the carbon density coefficients corrected by the regional average annual precipitation and temperature factors were used to assess the carbon stocks of the Zoigê alpine grassland for three periods from 2000 to 2020 using the InVEST model. The results showed that the carbon stocks of the Zoigê alpine grassland region were 786.19 Tg, 780.02 Tg, and 775.22 Tg in 2000, 2010, and 2020, respectively, with a cumulative loss of 10.97 Tg and carbon densities of 183.70 t/ha, 182.26 t/ha, and 181.14 t/ha, showing a decreasing trend year by year. The carbon stock of the grassland ecosystem is the absolute contributor to the regional carbon stock, and the carbon stock accounts for 75.28% of the total carbon stock. The increase in the cultivated land area with a lower carbon density and the decrease in the grassland area with a higher carbon density are the main factors leading to the decrease in the carbon stock in the regional ecosystem of the Zoigê alpine grassland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kidney stone disease affects people globally, with its prevalence on the rise. Given the importance of elements' function in formation of kidney stones, this study investigated major and trace element content in thirty kidney stone samples from patients in Beijing. The kidney stone samples included inorganic components (calcium oxalate and carbonate apatite) and organic components (uric acid). Results showed that Ca is much higher in inorganic components than organic components. Compared to inorganic components, uric acid has a very low content of elements except for Cu and Se, which may be derived from the liver. Carbonate apatite stones have a higher element content (such as Na, K, Sr, Zn, Rb, Ba, Li, and Ti) than calcium oxalate stones, especially enrichment of Mg. The principal components analysis (PCA) extracted three principal components (PCs) with total variances of 91.91%, including the PC1 (45.08%): Na-Li-Ti-Ba-Sr-Zn, PC2 (30.05%): Rb, K, Mg, and PC3 (16.78%): Cu-Se, indicating that there are co-precipitated processes of these elements by their specific properties. A different distribution of stone types in the three components indicates a significant discrepancy in their element content, which can be an essential reference for patient intake elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The policy‐driven "Grain for Green Programme" (GGP) has resulted in large‐scale land conversion from agricultural land to natural land in the karst area. One research surrounding the GGP is focused on evaluating its ecological implications for total mercury (THg) enrichment in Yinjiang County, Guizhou Province, Southwest China. Results show that 1) THg content in agricultural land (201.85 ± 57.23 µg kg−1) is lower compared to the forest (1048.62 ± 306.19 µg kg−1) and shrub (2582.60 ± 614.76 µg kg−1). 2) The THg content shows a good correlation with Fe (agricultural land: R = 0.75, p < 0.01; shrub: R = 0.88, p < 0.01), pH (shrub: R = 0.87, p < 0.01), and sand proportion (forest: R = −0.65, p < 0.01), rather than soil organic carbon (SOC). In the shrub, the increased pH and iron (Fe) content correspond to THg content between 1804 and 3743 µg kg−1; below the depth of 80 cm of the forest soil, the increased sand proportion correlates to THg content between 1223 and 748 µg kg−1. 3) The risk index of the THg exceeds 320 in the soil and imposes a very high ecological risk to this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare-earth elements (REEs) in soils are influenced by pedogenic processes and anthropogenic activities. To interpret the fractionation and migration of REEs during weathering in (sub-)tropical regions, the distribution, fractionation patterns and environmental effects of REEs in laterites were investigated in this study. Soil samples from two laterite profiles (labelled S1 and S2) were collected and the concentrations of REEs were measured with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. The results suggest that the Σ REEs of S2 (119 ± 10 mg kg–1 to 209 ± 10 mg kg–1) have a higher concentration and a wider variation than those of S1 (114 ± 5 mg kg–1 to 154 ± 8 mg kg–1). The REEs in both laterite profiles are enriched in the order HREEs > LREEs > MREEs. The distribution patterns of laterite profiles show evidence of inheritance from parent granites. The laterites preferentially incorporated HREEs, and secondary Fe2O3 and clay minerals were likely to affect the fractionation of REEs in laterites. The enrichment factor of REEs varied from 11.1 to 18.9 for S1 and 10.0 to 27.6 for S1, indicating potential pollution by REEs. The accumulation of REEs in laterites by mining activity should be a concern of government environmental agencies. Supplementary material: Table S1, Reference values of REEs and Fe2O3 in standard materials (GSS-18 and GSS-20); Table S2, Measurement parameters of ICP-MS; Table S3, Concentrations of REEs and Fe2O3 in laterite profiles from Yunnan province, SW China; Table S4, The enrichment factor for the laterite profiles from Yunnan province, SW China are available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5609234 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zigong City, Sichuan Province, is a typical hilly area, and relatively rough land leveling was carried out in the pre-development of its aviation industrial park, which has caused some damage to the ecological environment. In this study, the Delphi method was used to determine the degree of influence of four ecological factors, namely elevation, slope, woodland and surface water, on the site. Based on the comprehensive scoring of various indexes and the superposition analysis of elements such as current buildings and water systems, the analysis of ecological sensitivity and site suitability was obtained, and a more optimal development and construction plan was proposed accordingly. Based on the GIS model, the area with ecological sensitivity index below 4 is identified as about 167.4 hectares, the valley area along the water system has the highest sensitivity and should be avoided for development and construction, and the mildly sensitive area should be developed and constructed with the principle of minimum interference. The unsuitable construction area is about 65.7 hectares, except for the river mostly for the area where the slope of the site is more than 25 %. Combining the topographic features to determine the low-impact road selection and building layout, different design strategies are proposed for hilltops, ridges, valleys and saddles, and the elevation difference of the site is solved by using staircases to carry out the building layout of a high building on high ground and low building on low ground. This study is a development strategy proposed for the ecological damage caused during the construction of the new area in Zigong City, which has been approved and put into practice by the local government to obtain a better overall urban environment and can provide a reference for other urban developments in hilly areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

River is an important pathway for the biogeochemical cycle of Zn. This study reports Zn concentration and δ66Zn composition for suspended particulate matter (SPM) from Lancang River basin in Southwest China, and explore the impact of natural processes and human activities on Zn cycle. The SPM samples have a much higher average Zn content (162 mg kg−1) than that of the upper crust (67.0 mg kg−1), but it is close to the value of the Pearl River (187 mg kg−1). The enrichment factor (EF) values of Zn in SPM range from 1.08 to 6.88, with an average of 2.15, which does not show significant pollution characteristics. The δ66Zn values in SPM range from −0.67‰ to +0.63‰, with an average of +0.13‰. The δ66Zn values showed positive correlation with Ca/Mg ratios while showed little correlation with Zn contents in SPM. It indicated that anthropogenic sources have limited influence on SPM, and the Zn isotope composition in SPM is more likely to be inherited from the weathered rocks materials and influenced by natural fractionation processes in river water. This result contributes to understanding of the geochemical cycling process of Zn and its environmental effects in water. [Display omitted] • Zn in the suspended particulate matter (SPM) of Lancang River is mainly from natural sources. • During river transportation, Zn isotopes in SPM is fractionated. • Hydrodynamic sorting may be an important influencing factor on the variation of δ66Zn in SPM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The first study about PER and LCM monotherapy in pediatric patients with focal epilepsy. • Evaluating efficacy, tolerability of PER and LCM monotherapy in pediatric patients. • Evaluating the impact on emotion and behavior of PER and LCM monotherapy in pediatric patients. Perampanel (PER) and lacosamide (LCM) are the new third-generation anti-seizure medications (ASMs) that were approved for the monotherapy of focal epilepsy in children over four years of age in China, in 2021. Very few studies have analyzed the application of PER monotherapy among pediatric patients aged ≥four years, and no study compared the efficacy and tolerability of PER monotherapy with LCM monotherapy in pediatric patients with focal epilepsy. The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy, tolerability, and effect on behavior and emotion of PER and LCM as monotherapy in pediatric patients with newly diagnosed focal epilepsy, which is beneficial for clinicians to have more choices to treat pediatric patients with focal epilepsy. This was a prospective, single-center, observational study that involved pediatric patients (disease onset age ≥four years) with newly diagnosed focal epilepsy treated with PER or LCM as primary monotherapy. Outcomes included retention, being responders, and seizure-free rates after 3, 6, and 12 months. Adverse events (AEs) were noticed throughout the follow-up period. Behavioral outcomes were evaluated with Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/4–16) at baseline and after three and six months. Using randomization, 60 patients receiving PER (31 females, 29 males, median age: 7.79 [5.34, 10.16] years, median dose: 3.0 [2.0, 4.0] mg/day) and 60 patients receiving LCM (25 females, 35 males, median age: 7.72 [5.91, 10.72] years, median dose: 150.0 [100.0, 200.0] mg/day) were enrolled in the study. At the 12-month follow-up, the retention rates in the PER and LCM groups, both were 90.4%, and the responder rates were 65.4% and 71.2%, while seizure-free rates were 57.7% and 67.3%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the retention, responder and seizure-free rates between the two groups (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in the responder rates between patients with BECTS, abnormal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or types of seizure in the two groups (P > 0.05). In the PER group, 28.8% (15/52) of patients experienced AEs, of which the most frequently reported were irritability (n = 7; 13.5%), dizziness (n = 5; 9.6%), somnolence (n = 3; 5.8%), ataxia (n = 1; 1.9%), headache (n = 1; 1.9%), and rash (n = 1; 1.9%). In the LCM group, 15.4% (8/52) of the patients had AEs, including headache (n = 4; 7.5%), dizziness (n = 4; 7.5%), nausea (n = 2; 3.8%), somnolence (n = 2; 3.8%), irritability (n = 1; 1.9%), stomach ache (n = 1; 1.9%), and vomiting (n = 1; 1.9%). The incidence of irritability was significantly higher in the PER group than in the LCM group (13.5% vs. 1.9%, P = 0.031), which occurred mainly within eight weeks after drug administration. Patients with irritability were not dangerous to surrounding people by the assessment of parental observation in the life. And the symptoms were relieved spontaneously within a few months. The outcomes of total scores, internalizing scores, and externalizing scores of the CBCL did not show statistically significant differences in the PER and LCM groups between baseline and three and six months. Characteristics of behavior and emotion did not have substantial changes in patients treated with PER and LCM monotherapy. The present study documented similar good effectiveness and good tolerance of PER and LCM as monotherapy in pediatric patients with newly diagnosed focal epilepsy and showed no behavioral or emotional impact, as assessed by the CBCL. Though the incidence of irritability with PER monotherapy may be higher than that with LCM monotherapy soon after medication initiation, this side effect appears to resolve spontaneously within a few months. At present, this study was the first research about PER and LCM monotherapy in pediatric patients with newly diagnosed focal epilepsy evaluating efficacy, tolerability, and behavior in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Traditionally the most common gastric polyps are hyperplastic polyps (HPs). However, in the last two decades, fundic gland polyps (FGPs) have greatly increased in Western countries. We aimed to re-evaluate and compare the distribution of gastric polyps in a northern Chinese population in 2000 and 2010. Methods: Consecutive patients with gastric polyps detected in 2000 and 2010 were analyzed and biopsies were re-evaluated. Data including patients' age, sex, symptoms and the number, size, location, Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori) infection of polyps were recorded. Results: A total of 6784 and 17 337 patients underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy in 2000 and 2010, 68 and 183 patients were diagnosed with gastric polyps, respectively. H. pylori infection decreased from 54.4% to 37.7% ( P = 0.017). Overall, spectrum of gastric polyps changed ( P < 0.001). HPs accounted for 28.3% and decreased from 48.5% to 20.8%, adenoma/carcinoma and inflammatory polyps also decreased. FGPs were present in 50.6% and increased from 8.8% to 66.1%. The location of polyps was also changed with an increase of polyps in gastric corpus. There was a high proportion of FGPs in females, while adenomas/adenocarcinomas were more common in males. The distribution pattern was similar in young and elderly patients. Conclusions: Spectrum change of gastric polyps was observed over the past 10 years in the northern Chinese population most likely due to the higher proportion of FGPs. Further studies are required to investigate the reasons and confirm whether it will lead to a different management strategy in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The profile distributions of soil organic carbon (SOC), soil organic nitrogen (SON), soil pH and soil texture were rarely investigated in the Lancangjiang River Basin. This study aims to present the vertical distributions of these soil properties and provide some insights about how they interact with each other in the two typical soil profiles. A total of 56 soil samples were collected from two soil profiles (LCJ S-1, LCJ S-2) in the Lancangjiang River Basin to analyze the profile distributions of SOC and SON and to determine the effects of soil pH and soil texture. Generally, the contents of SOC and SON decreased with increasing soil depth and SOC contents were higher than SON contents (average SOC vs. SON content: 3.87 g kg−1 vs. 1.92 g kg−1 in LCJ S-1 and 5.19 g kg−1 vs. 0.96 g kg−1 in LCJ S-2). Soil pH ranged from 4.50 to 5.74 in the two soil profiles and generally increased with increasing soil depth. According to the percentages of clay, silt, and sand, most soil samples can be categorized as silty loam. Soil pH values were negatively correlated with C/N ratios (r = −0.66, p < 0.01) and SOC contents (r = −0.52, p < 0.01). Clay contents were positively correlated with C/N ratios (r = 0.43, p < 0.05) and SOC contents (r = 0.42, p < 0.01). The results indicate that soil pH and clay are essential factors influencing the SOC spatial distributions in the two soil profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Urban human activities and sea input significantly impact the rainwater chemistry. • Pollutant emission/content indicators are vital determinants influenced rain ions. • Basic equal contribution of human and sea input to total rain ions was quantified. The coastal urban region is generally considered an atmospheric receptor for terrestrial and marine input materials, and rainfall chemistry can trace the wet scavenging process of these materials. Fast urbanization in China's east coastal areas has greatly altered the rainwater chemistry. However, the chemical variations, determinants, and sources of rainfall are unclear. Therefore, the typical coastal city of Fuzhou was selected for 1-year rainwater sampling and inorganic ions were detected to explore above problems. The findings depicted that rainwater ions in Fuzhou were slightly different from those in other coastal cities. Although NO 3 −, SO 4 2−, Ca2+ and NH 4 + dominated the rainwater ions, the marine input Cl− (22 %) and Na+ (11 %) also contributed a considerable percentage to the rainwater ions. Large differences in ion concentrations (2∼28 times) were found in monthly scale due to the rainfall amount. Both natural and anthropogenic determinants influenced the rainwater ions in coastal cities, such as SO 2 emission, air SO 2 and PM 10 content on rainwater SO 4 2−, NO 3 −, and Ca2+, and soot & dust emission on rainwater SO 4 2−, NO 3 −, indicating the vital contribution of human activities. Stoichiometry and positive matrix factorization-based sources identification indicated that atmospheric dust/particles were the primary contributor of Ca2+ (83.3 %) and F− (83.7 %), and considerable contributor of SO 4 2− (39.5 %), NO 3 − (38.3 %) and K+ (41.5 %). Anthropogenic origins, such as urban waste volatilization and fuel combustion emission, contributed 95 % of NH 4 +, 54.5 % of NO 3 − and 41.9 % of SO 4 2−, and the traffic sources contribution was relatively higher than fixed emission sources. The marine input represented the vital source of Cl− (77.7 %), Na+ (84.9 %), and Mg2+ (55.3 %). This work highlights the significant influence of urban human activities and marine input on rainwater chemicals and provides new insight into the material cycle between the atmosphere and earth-surface in coastal city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the associations between air pollution and male sexual function. A total of 5047 male subjects in China were included in this study. The average air pollution exposure (PM 2.5 , PM 10 , SO 2 , CO, NO 2 , and O 3) for the preceding 1, 3, 6, and 12 months before the participants' response was assessed. Male sexual function was evaluated using the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) and the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT). Generalized linear models were utilized to explore the associations between air pollution and male sexual function. K-prototype algorithm was conducted to identify the association among specific populations. Significant adverse effects on the IIEF-5 score were observed with NO 2 exposure during the preceding 1, 3, and 6 months (1 m: β = −5.26E-05; 3 m: β = −4.83E-05; 6 m: β = −4.23E-05, P < 0.05). PM 2.5 exposure during the preceding 12 months was found to significantly negatively affect the PEDT after adjusting for confounding variables. Our research indicated negative correlations between air pollutant exposures and male sexual function for the first time. Furthermore, these associations were more pronounced among specific participants who maintain a normal BMI, exhibit extroverted traits, and currently engage in smoking and alcohol consumption. [Display omitted] • Average NO 2 exposure was negatively associated with IIEF-5 scores. • PM 2.5 exposure over the preceding 12 months negatively impacted the PEDT. • Reducing air pollution exposure is important for male sexual function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic reactive nitrogen emissions have a significant impact on atmospheric chemical composition and earth surface ecosystem. As one of the most important sinks of atmospheric nitrogen, the wet deposition of nitrate (rainwater NO 3 - ) has been widely concerned. Yet, the sources and transformation processes of wet deposited NO 3 - were not well revealed in megacity during rainy season in the context of global climate change. Here, we investigated the concentrations of nitrogen components and dual isotopes of rainwater nitrate collected in Beijing during July to August 2021 (rainy season). The main findings showed that the concentrations of NH 4 + -N, NO 3 - -N, and NO 2 - -N ranged 0.5- 6.7 mg L -1 , 0.3- 4.5 mg L -1 , and 0.05- 0.18 mg L -1 , respectively, with the average relative percentages of 69 %, 29 %, and 2 %. The stoichiometry analysis of characteristic ion ratios indicated that the contribution of municipal wastes and agricultural sources to rainwater NH 4 + -N is relatively significant, while traffics were the major contributor of NO 3 - -N instead of the fixed emission. Rainwater δ 15 N-NO 3 - and δ 18 O-NO 3 - presented slightly 15 N-depleted characteristic compared to previous studies with the average values of -3.9 ± 3.1 ‰ and 58.7 ± 12.6 ‰. These isotope compositions suggesting an origin of rainwater NO 3 - from the mixing of multi-sources and was mainly generated via the pathway of OH radical oxidization. Further source apportionment of rainwater NO 3 - by Bayesian mixing model evaluated that traffic (30.3 %) and soil (30.3 %) emissions contributed mostly to NO 3 - , while the contribution of biomass burning (18.8 %) and coal combustion (20.6 %) were relatively lower. This study highlighted the important role of dual isotopes in rainwater nitrate source identification and formation processes in megacity., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The weathering and development of laterites can influence trace element cycling in (sub-) tropics. Zinc (Zn) is a ubiquitous trace metal that involves both abiotic and biotic processes in soils. To explore Zn behavior in laterites, Zn cycling in (sub-) tropics, and the environmental impacts, Zn isotope systematics were presented for two laterite profiles from Yunnan province, southwest China. The laterite samples exhibit the δ 66 Zn of 0.02 ‰-0.56 ‰, indicating a light shift of Zn isotope ratios (Δ 66 Zn laterite-parent rock = -0.47 ‰-0.07 ‰) relative to bulk parent granite. This observation is attributed to the preferential preservation of light Zn isotopes on the surface of secondary Fe oxides. As a result, laterites are likely to control the instantaneous riverine δ 66 Zn in (sub-) tropical regions heavier than unweathered rocks. The isotopic signature of different vegetation covered soils show that shrub-covered soils are stronger leached (average τ Zn = -0.61) and have a smaller Δ 66 Zn laterite-parent rock (=-0.15 ‰), relative to forest-covered soils (=-0.20 ‰). Due to the strong loss of Zn (average τ Zn = -0.61 to -0.12) and large amounts of low-bioavailable Zn preserved in oxides, the micronutrient supplies for plant growth are difficult to maintain and need more fertilization. This study is helpful for a better understanding of global Zn cycling and the management of micronutrients in (sub-) tropical soil-plant systems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We declare that we have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that can inappropriately influence our work. There is no professional or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service, and/or company that could be construed as influencing the position presented in, or the review of the manuscript entitled “Zn isotope fractionation in laterites from Yunnan province, southwest China: Implications for the Zn cycles and its environmental impacts in (sub-) tropics”., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To investigate the factors affecting the acceptance of endoscopic thyroidectomy via the oral vestibular approach (ETOVA) in Chinese patients before thyroid surgery., Methods: The enrolled patients were asked to answer a questionnaire postoperatively about their demographics, medical insurance coverage, sources of information, reasons for selection, and safety. The relationship between the collected data and the acceptance of ETOVA was analyzed., Results: Two hundred patients (40 males, 20%; 160 females, 80%) answered the questionnaire. One hundred sixty-two of them (81%) accepted ETOVA. Univariate analysis showed that the patients' age, cosmetic effect, safety, results perception, and recommendations from family, friends, doctors, and nurses are correlated with the acceptance of ETOVA. Multivariate analysis showed that patients' age (OR=0.966, P =0.015), cosmetic effect (OR=12.620, P =0.000), safety (OR=0.295, P =0.016), minimal invasion (OR=4.877, P =0.001), and doctors/nurses' advance (OR=4.485, P =0.017) are statistically significant and were positively correlated with the acceptance of ETOVA. Education level, medical insurance coverage, family support, past surgical history, and operative-related symptoms were not statistically significant ( P >0.05)., Conclusion: Among thyroid surgery candidates in Southwest China, younger patients with cosmetic requirements and minimally invasive procedures desires are more likely to consider ETOVA at the urging of their physicians/nurses. Providing appropriate healthcare education, medical insurance coverage, and information options for surgical treatments is vital to improving patients' acceptance of ETOVA., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Rivers originated from Tibetan Plateau are of great significance due to their environmental sensibility and fragility. However, the pollution of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in these rivers is rarely reported, in particular, the potentially toxic elements (PTEs) contamination. To clarify the status, sources, behavior, and risks of PTEs in SPM, a full investigation was conducted in dams-influenced Lancangjiang River basin. The findings revealed that the PTEs content (mg kg -1 ) ranked Mn (766) > V (151.7) > Zn (131.0) > Cr (94.6) > Ni (44.2) > Pb (36.7) > Cu (29.4) > Co (14.6) > Sb (2.6) > Mo (1.6) > Tl (0.78) > Cd (0.48). The multi-index assessment suggested that Sb and Cd were moderately severe to severe enriched PTEs with the enrichment factor values of 10.0 and 8.8 and the geo-accumulation index values of 2.2 and 2.0, respectively, while the rest of PTEs were minor/no enrichment. In contrast, Cr and Ni were major toxic elements in SPM which contributed 25 ± 10%, 24 ± 8% to the total toxic risk index. The high partition coefficients (e.g., 6.1 for Cr) were observed in most PTEs and resulted in the 96.3% of Cr, 85.2% of Zn, 83.6% of Pb, 77.8% of Ni, and 63.2% of Cu transportation in the SPM form. Natural inputs (e.g., soil erosion) are the main source (53.6%∼61.9%) of V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, and Tl, while fuel burning contributed 40.9% of Zn, 32.5% of Pb, and 37.3% of Cd. Moreover, 51.2% of Sb was attributed to industrial waste source, while porphyry copper/molybdenum deposits related milltailings were the co-source of Mo (54.4%) and Cu (34.8%). Overall, the PTEs geochemistry of SPM showed the potential in tracing regional environmental change., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We report our clinical experience of the effectiveness and tolerability of adjunctive perampanel treatment in a Chinese paediatric population with refractory epilepsy. We also compare the effectiveness and tolerability of perampanel with or without concomitant oxcarbazepine or levetiracetam. This retrospective observational study was conducted from September 2019 to September 2020 in the paediatric neurology clinics of two tertiary hospitals in the Chinese mainland. We reviewed the data obtained from 96 paediatric patients aged 2-14 years whose seizures were pharmacoresistant and who could be followed up for a minimum of six months. The effectiveness was estimated by the perampanel response rate at 6- and 12-month follow-up evaluations. Adverse events were also recorded. Patients were stratified by age (2-7 and 7-14 years), and with/without concomitant oxcarbazepine or levetiracetam. The population comprised 96 patients with refractory epilepsy. The retention rate was 84.4% and 81.0% at 6 and 12 months, respectively. The most common dose used was 4 mg (48.5%). Corresponding 50% responder and seizure freedom rates were as follows: 46.9% and 20.8% at six months, and 51.2% and 27.4% at 12 months, respectively. Adverse effects were reported in 22 patients (22.9%). The most common adverse effects were irritability, somnolence, and dizziness. The 50% and 100% responder rates and adverse effects were greater in patients aged 7-14 years than in those aged 2-7 years. The proportion of responder and seizure-free rates and adverse effects were similar with or without oxcarbazepine. Perampanel was more effective in patients concomitantly treated with levetiracetam, however, this did not result in significantly more adverse events, including aggression. The present study suggests that perampanel, with or without concomitant oxcarbazepine or levetiracetam, is generally safe, well-tolerated, and efficacious in paediatric patients with uncontrolled epilepsy in a clinical setting.

Dissolved heavy metals are not only the essential micronutrients, but also the toxic elements for human bodies. To investigate the heavy metal sources and assess the water quality of the Lancangjiang River, dissolved Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mo, and Pb were detected in this study. The results show that dissolved Ni and Mo, Cr and Pb, and Cu and Zn were similarly distributed within the drainage basin. The correlation analysis exhibited that dissolved Ni and Mo had correlation with water parameter, and dissolved Cu was weakly correlated with Ni, indicating that they might be affected by natural processes. The principal component analysis explained 68.342% of the total variance for three principal components, of which dissolved Ni, Mo, and Cu were controlled by natural inputs; dissolved Cu and Cr were affected by anthropogenic activities; and dissolved Zn was influenced by agricultural activities in the downstream. The water quality showed that the water in upstream was worse than in midstream and downstream, and the whole drainage basin had water of excellent quality. Water within the drainage basin poses no risks to human bodies via daily diets and dermal routes. Dissolved Zn, Cu, and Mo occupied the major proportion of heavy metals transporting into the Mekong River. The agricultural inputs of dissolved Zn might pose potential risks to the Mekong River., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

To identify whether the iron (Fe) mining area in the Jiulongjiang River basin (JRB) has an influence on the mercury in the forest soil, the spatial distribution patterns of mercury's behavior on different controlling factors were analyzed, and a potential ecological risk assessment was done. A total of 107 soil samples were collected from two forest soil profiles, one profile near the Fe mining area and the other far from it. The soil near the mining area had a moderate potential ecological risk with high Fe content rich in the upper layer of soil (<70 cm), whereas soil collected far from the mining area had a low potential ecological risk. These results indicated that the rise of iron content in the soil near the mining area was beneficial to the enrichment of mercury, probably causing damage to the forest ecosystem. Both soil organic carbon (SOC) and Fe content have strong positive correlations with THg content, controlling the mercury behavior in the upper layer (<70 cm) and a lower layer (>70 cm) of soil, respectively. The high Fe content in the upper layer of soil will compete for the adsorption of mercury by SOC, leading to the poor correlation between SOC and THg.

Climate changes and other human activities have substantially altered the hydrological cycle with respect to elevation. In this study, longitudinal patterns in the stable isotopic composition (δ 2 H and δ 18 O) of Lancang River water, originating from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, are presented, and several controlling factors in the wet season are hypothesized. Lancang River water δ 2 H (-145.2‱ to -60.7‱) and δ 18 O (-18.51‱ to -8.49‱) were low but close to those of the Global Meteoric Water Line. In the upper reaches of the river, δ 2 H decreased longitudinally, potentially due to groundwater inputs and melting ground ice in the headwater zone and to an increasing proportion of glacier meltwater with decreasing elevation. In the middle reaches of the river, δ 2 H values increased slowly moving downstream, likely due to shifts in precipitation inputs, as evidenced by the isotopic composition of tributaries to the main stream. In the lower reaches of the river, the isotopic composition was relatively invariant, potentially related to the presence of large artificial reservoirs that increase the water resident time. The results reveal different hydrological patterns along an alpine river in central Asia associated with both natural and anthropogenic processes. Understanding the degree and type of human interference with the water cycle in this region could improve water management and water security., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Background: Sporadic fundic gland polyps (FGPs) are common gastric polyps. Some studies reported that FGPs dramatically increased due to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) use and a decreased prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in Western countries. However, data are still controversial. This study aimed to identify the relationships between these two factors and FGPs in China., Methods: Consecutive patients with FGPs detected were retrospectively analyzed. Data including patients' age, sex, symptoms, H. pylori infection, history of PPIs use, and the polyps were documented. Each patient was compared with two randomly selected age- and sex-matched controls with similar symptoms in the same period., Results: During the period from March 2011 to March 2012, a total of 328 patients were diagnosed as FGPs in 23 047 patients who underwent routine esophagogastroduodenoscopy and 656 patients without FGPs as controls. The mean age was (55.12±12.61) years, and 75.91% were women. The prevalence of H. pylori in patients with FGPs was significantly lower than in those without FGPs (22.30% (64/287) vs. 42.26% (224/530), P < 0.001, OR 0.392, 95% CI 0.283-0.544). Overall, a total of 54 patients with FGPs (54/328, 16.46%) and 136 patients without FGPs (136/656, 20.73%) received PPIs therapy (P = 0.110). According to the different duration of PPIs use, no significant differences of PPIs use were found between the cases and controls among all subgroups. Moreover, the PPIs use was also similar, regardless of age, sex, H. pylori infection, and the number of polyps., Conclusion: Sporadic FGPs may not be induced by PPIs therapy but negatively correlate with H. pylori infection in China, which is not the same with the data in Western countries.

Background: Erythema toxicum neonatorum (ETN) is a very common disease, but its predisposing factors are still unknown., Objective: To determine the predisposing factors of ETN., Methods: Seven hundred and eighty-three neonates born in the same hospital during the same period were investigated, and the factors predisposing to ETN were evaluated in a case-control study., Results: (1) The incidence of ETN is about 43.68%, and it is significantly higher in males than in females (p < 0.001). (2) Term birth (p < 0.05), first-pregnancy birth (p < 0.001), the birth season (summer and autumn, p < 0.005), being fed with milk powder substitute or a mixed diet (p < 0.001) and vaginal delivery (p < 0.001) are the predisposing factors of ETN. (3) The severity of ETN in neonates born by vaginal delivery is significantly correlated with the total length of labor (p < 0.001)., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that environmental factors play an important role in the onset of ETN., (2005 S. Karger AG, Basel)