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Testosterone is secreted by Leydig cells (LCs), which play an important physiological role in preserving male secondary sex characteristics, protecting male reproductive function, and establishing the blood-testis barrier. Studies have shown that autophagy is particularly active in LCs; however, its involvement in testosterone synthesis in porcine LCs has not been fully explored. Therefore, this experiment aimed to investigate the influence of autophagy on testosterone secretion in porcine LCs and its potential regulatory mechanism. Our results demonstrated that both testicular autophagy and serum testosterone levels increased in piglets during postnatal development from 4 to 18 weeks. In addition, autophagy was found to degrade the Na+/H+ exchange regulatory factor 2 (NHERF2), leading to the up-regulation of scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SRB1). This process resulted in increased cholesterol intake and enhanced testosterone production. The observable level of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) was directly proportional to the level of autophagy. In vitro investigations have shown that SIRT1 can affect the level of autophagy, cholesterol uptake as well as testosterone release. In conclusion, testosterone synthesis during pig development is regulated by SIRT1. SIRT1 mediates the degradation of NHERF2 through autophagy, thereby weakening its negative regulatory effect on the high-density lipoprotein receptor SRB1 in Leydig cells. This process increases cholesterol uptake and enhances testosterone synthesis. • Autophagy levels match testosterone secretion by Leydig cells in piglets from 4 to 18 weeks. • Autophagy facilitates cholesterol uptake in Leydig cells by degrading NHERF2, influencing testosterone production. • SIRT1 activates autophagy by promoting LC3 expression, thereby participating in testosterone synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we used Kandelia obovata to explore the toxicities of three typical MPs in mangroves: polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyvinylchloride. MPs were mixed into soils at 5 % (w/w) for cultivation in mangrove tide-tank system. Plant growth and soil characteristics were determined after 12 months. The results showed that MPs multiply restricted root growth, leaf ionome, chlorophyll concentration, and photosynthetic efficiency, changed leaf photochemical efficiency and excited energy distribution. Polyethylene and polypropylene MPs with 150 μm sizes significantly reduced leaf and root biomass. As for soil properties, all MPs mainly reduced bulk density but improved porosity, with 600 μm polyethylene resulting in 1.4 g cm−3 bulk density and 55.1 % porosity. This study represent the first paper highlighting that MPs negatively affect mangrove plants by affecting plant growth, leaf ionome, and photosynthesis, which may be related with the changed soil properties, especially reduced bulk density and improved porosity. [Display omitted] • The toxicities of typical microplastics were firstly tested on soil-mangrove system. • Microplastics negatively affected plant growth and photosynthesis of K. obovata. • Microplastics reduced rhizosphere soil bulk density and improved soil porosity. • Microplastics was expected to affect K. obovata by influencing rhizosphere soil properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The porous carbon is considered to be one of the most suitable materials for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) adsorption and separation. Revealing the adsorption behavior and molecular interaction mechanism is of great significance for the preparation and synthesis of porous carbon adsorbents. Herein, we investigated detailed mechanistic effects of graphitization degrees and surface oxygen heteroatoms of porous carbon on their benzene and ethanol adsorptive separation performance by combining experiments and theoretical calculations. The results show that graphitized carbon surface has a stronger van der Waals interaction with benzene molecules compared to the disordered carbon surface, and thus exhibit a higher benzene adsorption performance and benzene/ethanol selectivity. While the introduction of oxygen functional groups enhances electrostatic affinity of porous carbon surface, resulting in higher ethanol adsorption capacity and ethanol/benzene selectivity under the entire pressure range. Subsequent theoretical calculations studied the adsorption behaviors of benzene and ethanol molecules in porous carbon models (with different graphitization degrees and oxygen contents) from the perspective of the weak interactions, and found the different molecular configurations of benzene and ethanol is the main leading cause of their different adsorption preferences. This study provided mechanistic insights on how the graphitization degrees and oxygen heteroatoms affected the capture and separation properties of porous carbon, which would further provide a rational alternative strategy in the preparation and synthesis of porous carbons for the effective gas mixture capture and separation. • The vital role of graphitization degrees and surface oxygen heteroatoms on VOCs adsorptive separation is proved. • Provide a molecular perspective on the adsorption behavior of VOCs in porous carbons. • The intrinsic enhancement mechanism in adsorption and separation process was clarified. • Provide a rational alternative strategy in preparation and synthesis of porous carbons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, three mangroves in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area— Qi'ao Island in Zhuhai, Nansha in Guangzhou, and Futian in Shenzhen—were selected for investigating the distribution of microplastics and their characteristics The average microplastic abundance in each descended in the order: Futian (1600 n/kg) > Nansha (1100 n/kg) > Qi'ao Island (440 n/kg), with values from the forest fringe being significantly higher than those in the forest interior. The microplastics were mainly fibers, 1–5 mm in size, and white/black in color; they consisted of polypropylene and polyethylene, with foam and polystyrene accounting for a high proportion in Nansha. The exposure of humans to microplastics in the Futian forest fringe reached 35.95 ng/d·kg; it was one order of magnitude higher than the exposures in Qi'ao Island and Nansha. Furthermore, ingestion accounted for approximately 74% of the total exposure to the human body, dermal contact constitutes 25%, and sediment inhalation accounted for less than 1%. • The average MP abundance in mangrove was Futian > Nansha > Qi'ao Island. • The MP abundance in forest fringe was higher than that in forest interior. • The MPs were featured with fiber shape, 1–5 mm size, white/black color and PP/PE. • The MPs in FT-FR had the highest human exposure of 35.95 ng/d·kg. • Ingestion accounted for most of MP exposure, followed by dermal contact and inhalation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Asian yellow pond turtle (Mauremys mutica) displays temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD), in which incubation temperature during embryonic development determines the sexual fate of the individual. However, the mechanism of the sex determination/differentiation of Mauremys mutica remains a mystery. Here, we first analyzed the temperature-specific gonadal transcriptomes of Mauremys mutica prior to gonad formation and gonads during the thermosensitive period. We uncovered a list of candidates that respond to temperature stimuli enriched in several categories, such as heat shock protein family members dnajb6a , dnaja4 , hspa8 and hsp90aa1 , temperature sensor genes mmp17 and mmp28 , and putative novel temperature-responsive genes tmco6 , gria3 and eif3f. Notably, striking differences were identified in the expression profiles of genes underlying sexual development, such as tex15 , insr , igf1r , cirbp , esr1 , dmrt2 and Serpinh1. Moreover, we analyzed the similarity and divergence of the timecourse of gene expression among Mauremys mutica and two other reported TSD turtles (Trachemys scripta and Chrysemys picta). The shared genes revealed the common gonad-specific regulatory mechanisms existing in these three TSD turtles that initiate their sexual development. Therefore, our findings could provide basic data to elucidate the mechanisms of sex determination/differentiation of M. mutica , even contributing to further understanding of these mechanisms in other TSD turtles. [Display omitted] • A list of candidates genes that respond to temperature stimuli were identified in Mauremys mutica. • Striking differences were identified in the expression profiles of genes underlying sexual development of Mauremys mutica. • Eight shared genes associate with common gonad-specific regulatory mechanisms were identified in the three TSD turtles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crucial roles of miRNAs in regulating animal growth, development, and disease resistance have been extensively reported, but their roles in relation to the reproductive capacity of aquatic animals (numbers of eggs laid and hatchlings), especially reptiles, remain unclear. In this study, high-throughput sequencing technology was used to screen miRNAs related to reproductive capacity based on the construction of a cDNA library of ovaries from higher-fecundity (HF) and lower-fecundity (LF) M. mutica. The results showed that 15,767,494 (93.98%) and 14,137,621 (94.17%) high-quality reads were obtained from the HF and LF groups, respectively. We screened 131 miRNAs that were differentially expressed between the HF and LF groups, of which 78 were upregulated and 53 were downregulated compared with the M. mutica reference genome. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses of the target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs revealed significant differences in the enrichment frequencies of genes associated with ATP binding and proteolysis between the HF and LF groups, while the tricarboxylic acid cycle, glucagon signaling pathway and vitamin B6 metabolic pathway were shown to potentially help determine reproductive capacity. Ten miRNAs were verified by qRT-PCR to confirm the reliability and accuracy of the sequencing results, and a miRNA-mRNA target gene interaction network was constructed. These results will further our understanding of the regulatory mechanism of miRNAs in regards to turtle reproductive capacity. [Display omitted] • 131 differentially expressed miRNAs were detected between higher fecundity group and lower fecundity group. • There were 10 differentially expressed miRNAs validated by using qRT-PCR. • A miRNA-mRNA target gene interaction network was constructed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic investigation into bioaccessible heavy metals in shellfish Crassostrea ariakensis , Chlamys farreri , and Sinonovacula constricta from coastal cities Shenzhen, Zhoushan, Qingdao, and Dandong was carried out to assess the potential health risk to residents in coastal regions in China. The bioaccessible fractions of heavy metals were (μg‧g−1): Zn (0.63–15.01), Cu (0.10–12.91), Cd (0.01–0.64), As (0.11–0.33), Cr (0.07–0.12), Pb (0.01–0.03). The bioaccessibilities of heavy metals were Cr 61.86%, inorganic As (iAs) 60.44%, Pb 55.74%, Cu 46.83%, Zn 28.16%, and Cd 24.99%. As for child and adult, the bioaccessibility-corrected estimated daily intakes were acceptable and the non-carcinogenic risks posed by heavy metals were not obvious. The carcinogenic risks posed by bioaccessible heavy metals at the fifth percentile were 10-fold higher than the acceptable level (10−4), with iAs and Cd to be the major contributors, regardless of child or adult. The probabilistic estimation showed the low risk of shellfish consumption, which was verified by higher values of maximum allowable consumption rate and monthly meals at the 95 percentile; while some control of consumption rate and monthly meals was necessary for reducing heavy metal exposure of most shellfish samples, except for the safe consumption of S. constricta for both child and adult in Qingdao and Shenzhen, China. Image 1 • The bioaccessibility of heavy metals in shellfish ranged from 24.99% to 61.86%. • The NCRs of bioaccessible heavy metals in shellfish were not obvious for child and adult. • The CRs of bioaccessible heavy metals in shellfish were unacceptable for child and adult. • Inorganic As and Cd were major contributors for bioaccessibility-corrected CRs. • The consumption of S. constrict from Qingdao and Shenzhen were safe for heavy metal exposure. Shellfish consumed in coastal areas of China were contaminated with heavy metals to some extent, which posed certain carcinogenic risk to the child and adult populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landscape planning is based on science and the arts. Landscape planning and design appropriate coordination to do the relationship between spatial planning and the earth, and between man and nature. Landscape planning has a fundamental goal of sustainable development, in landscape planning, more technologically advanced planning and design theory to solve the modern field's practical problems. It provides a powerful new way to functional space planning and landscape analysis. Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the importance of planning can improve outcomes. Enable planners to understand the natural landscape and accurately understand and landscape planning and landscape design some new ideas. This is the best practical implications of the simulation and verifies the effectiveness of landscape design and planning. The problem for traditional distribution landscape simulation technology, designed a new distribution pattern of rationality simulation technology based on 3D images and virtual reality technology. This analysis method is based on the first time the three-dimensional image of the garden's rational distribution. 3D image analysis of the distribution landscape's effectiveness results from a three-dimensional image reconstruction completed and based on virtual reality technology. Finally, it will discuss the garden, rational drug delivery technologies, case studies, the advantages, and performance test results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sediments were collected from urban mangroves in Shenzhen, China, including Shajing (SJ) and Xixiang (XX) featured with industrial district; Futian (FT) and Baguang (BG) featured with central business district and ecological preserve, respectively. Distributions, pollution levels and human health risks of Hg were explored. In both surface and vertical sediments, mean Hg concentration was highest in SJ mangrove, which may be due to its proximity to point-source discharge of Maozhou River in Pearl River Estuary, China. Sediment properties (pH, salinity, TOC and particle size) had limited impact on Hg accumulation due to their non-significant correlations. Geo-accumulation index, pollution load index, potential ecological risk index, and the ecological risk assessment code showed the highest ecological risk in SJ mangrove, followed by XX, FT, and BG mangroves. The assessment of human health risks showed that public experience little adverse health risk due to exposure to Hg polluted sediment in urban mangroves. • Hg levels in sediments of urban mangroves were Shajing > Xixiang > Futian > Baguang. • Sediment properties had limited impact on Hg accumulation in mangrove sediments. • The ecological risk of Hg was highest in Shajing, compared with other mangroves. • There was no/low non-cancer risk in terms of exposure to Hg in mangrove sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We present co-skeletons, a new method that computes consistent curve skeletons for 3D shapes from a given family. • We compute co-skeletons in terms of sampling density and semantic relevance, while preserving the desired characteristics of traditional, per-shape curve skeletonization approaches. • Our approach achieves more concise and family-consistent skeletons when compared to traditional per-shape methods. • We show the utility of our method by using co-skeletons for shape segmentation and shape blending on benchmark data. We present co-skeletons, a new method that computes consistent curve skeletons for 3D shapes from a given family. We compute co-skeletons in terms of sampling density and semantic relevance, while preserving the desired characteristics of traditional, per-shape curve skeletonization approaches. We take the curve skeletons extracted by traditional approaches for all shapes from a family as input, and compute semantic correlation information of individual skeleton branches to guide an edge-pruning process via skeleton-based descriptors, clustering, and a voting algorithm. Our approach achieves more concise and family-consistent skeletons when compared to traditional per-shape methods. We show the utility of our method by using co-skeletons for shape segmentation and shape blending on real-world data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Lead is the non-essential trace element in the human body, and it has been confirmed that drinking water is one of the sources of lead in human body. In the research, based on the sensitive colour reaction of lead with I−–EV+–PVA, a simple, sensitive, accurate and portable method for the determination of trace lead in drinking waters was proposed. Chemicals and physicals had been optimized in detail. The apparent molar absorption coefficient was up to 7.4×105 molL−1 cm−1. The developed method provided a linearity range over 5–80μgL−1. The regression deviation was between 0.71% and 2.33%. The 3σ detection limit was 0.9μgL−1. Close to the quantitation limit for the analyte the relative standard deviation was 1.10% (n =10) at 40μgL−1. The method developed here for analysis of lead yielded results that were comparable with those of the GFAAS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the health behaviors of earthquake victims related to gastrointestinal and respiratory infectious diseases in the centralized transitional earthquake resettlement sites in Wenchuan, China; and to identify key factors related to health behaviors that may inform local infectious diseases prevention and control strategies. Methods: Data were collected using a questionnaire that included questions about socio-demographic characteristics and health beliefs and behaviors. In total, 1411 participants were included through a two-stage random sampling strategy. A bivariate multilevel model was used to explore the related factors. Results: Approximately 67% of the participants wash their hands after going to lavatories every time, and 87% felt uncomfortable spitting on the ground. The more the participants perceived their susceptibility to and the severity of infectious diseases, the better their health-related behaviors (P < 0.05). Both health-related behaviors were influenced by communication modes of health education (P = 0.01) and socio-demographic characteristics. There was heterogeneity of health-related behaviors among different resettlement sites (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Health education intervention, based on the Health Belief Model, is one of the main preventative strategies that should be implemented to inspire self-efficacy and to enhance better health-related behaviors among earthquake victims. Appropriate health education communication modes should be considered among different resettlement sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The PtCo 3 nanoparticles were synthesized by the organic phase reduction method. • High toluene catalytic activity and thermal stability were obtained. • Great water and CO 2 resistance for catalytic oxidation of toluene. • The PtCo 3 -C catalyst is easier to adsorb toluene than H 2 O and CO 2 based on the adsorption energy calculation. The PtCo 3 nanoparticles (NPs of 2–5 nm) were synthesized by the organic phase reduction method and the PtCo 3 -C samples were obtained by physically loading the bimetallic NPs on the carbon black. The catalytic activity and stability of PtCo 3 -C for toluene oxidation under different reaction conditions were studied. The PtCo 3 -C can completely oxidize and decompose 1000 ppm toluene at 238 ℃ for at least 120 h, which has excellent low-temperature catalytic activity and thermal stability. In addition, PtCo 3 -C displays a great water and CO 2 resistance when 3.5 to 20 vol% water vapor (at least 110 h) or 3.5 to 10 vol% CO 2 (at least 60 h) is introduced into the reaction gas at 238 ℃. Moreover, the adsorption energy of toluene (−73.68 kJ mol−1) is much higher than that of water (−24.5 kJ mol−1) and CO 2 (−37.56 kJ mol−1), which were calculated by the density functional theory (DFT). Furthermore, catalytic mechanism of the oxidation of toluene over the PtCo 3 -C catalyst was also proposed. This study presents a good catalyst candidate obtaining high catalytic activity and stability with great water and CO 2 resistance for the removal of toluene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel Pixel-Region Relation Network is proposed to exploit pixelwise and region-wise relations for face forgery detection. • A pixel-wise relation module is proposed to represent the relation between every two pixels in feature map to enhance the discriminant ability of local features. • A region-wise relation module is proposed to detect the inconsistency between regions by fusing multiple metrics. • We achieve new state-of-the-art results on three face forgery detection datasets. As advanced facial manipulation technologies develop rapidly, one can easily modify an image by changing the identity or the facial expression of the target person, which threatens social security. To address this problem, face forgery detection becomes an important and challenging task. In this paper, we propose a novel network, called Pixel-Region Relation Network (PRRNet), to capture pixel-wise and region-wise relations respectively for face forgery detection. The main motivation is that a facial manipulated image is composed of two parts from different sources, and the inconsistencies between the two parts is a significant kind of evidence for manipulation detection. Specifically, PRRNet contains two serial relation modules, i.e. the Pixel-Wise Relation (PR) module and the Region-Wise Relation (RR) module. For each pixel in the feature map, the PR module captures its similarities with other pixels to exploit the local relations information. Then, the PR module employs a spatial attention mechanism to represent the manipulated region and the original region separately. With the representations of the two regions, the RR module compares them with multiple metrics to measure the inconsistency between these two regions. In particular, the final predictions are obtained totally based on whether the inconsistencies exist. PRRNet achieves the state-of-the-art detection performance on three recent proposed face forgery detection datasets. Besides, our PRRNet shows the robustness when trained and tested on different image qualities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to understand the endocrine mechanism associated with fecundity of seasonally breeding animals, we investigated the plasma reproductive hormones levels and detected the differences in steroidogenic enzymes and sex hormone receptor mRNA levels in female Mauremys mutica. These turtles were divided into higher fecundity (HF) group than those in lower fecundity (LF) group based on paternity identification in our previous research. The plasma estrogen (E2), testosterone (T) and progesterone (P4) levels were significantly higher in pre-breeding season (PBS) than those in non-breeding season (NBS) and were markedly higher in the HF group than those in LF group. In the hypothalamus, there was significantly higher mRNA abundance of P450-cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450Scc) encoded by Cyp11α1, aromatase (Cyp19α1) and 5-reductase (5α-R), but significantly lower mRNA levels of follicular stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and progesterone receptor (PR) detected in PBS than those in NBS. The pituitary steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cytochrome P450-17alpha-hydroxylase (Cyp17α1), 3-hydroxy-steroid dehydrogenase (3βHSD), 17-hydroxy-steroid dehydrogenase 3 (17βHSD3), Cyp19α1, 5α-R, FSHR, estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), androgen receptor (AR) and PR transcriptional levels in HF group were up-regulated significantly compared with the LF group. In the ovary, Cyp17α1 and 17βHSD3 transcriptional levels were markedly higher in PBS than those in NBS. We detected significantly increased expression levels of all steroidogenic enzymes, but notably lower mRNA levels of FSHR and PR in uterus during the PBS, and the HF group has significantly higher expression levels of StAR, Cyp17α1, 5α-R and AR than LF group. Our work reveals seasonal variations in hormone regulation as well as gene regulation in turtles, providing reliable information to understand the mechanisms underlying the different reproductive capacity of reptiles. [Display omitted] • Plasma T level can be an indicator for screening high-fecundity females. • Steroidogenic enzymes in uterus were significantly higher in PBS than those in NBS. • Pituitary sex hormone receptors expressed significantly more in HF than that in LF. • Uterus plays a critical role in regulating turtle's reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Dietary pro-oxidant improved the textural quality of grass carp muscle. • ROS likely disturbed actin-myosin interaction and collagen turnover in the muscle. • ROS suppressed carbohydrate metabolism and enhanced fatty acid oxidation. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulate metabolism and chemical composition of various tissues. To understand how ROS affect the textural quality of fish muscle, we performed a multi-omics analysis on an established crisp grass carp model fed with a natural pro-oxidant faba bean. ROS levels were systemically and significantly increased up to three-fold in crisp grass carp, improving the muscle texture. Lipid metabolism was significantly enhanced up to five-fold in muscle and liver possibly to compensate the impaired carbohydrate metabolism of these tissues, but this caused further local ROS production. Mitochondrial damage associated with autophagy was evident in crisp grass carp. Proteomics revealed that elevated ROS likely disturbed the actin-myosin interaction and collagen turnover inducing fragmentation of myofibrillar proteins, all of which could have positively impacted the textural quality. The systemic metabolic changes that lead to the partial collapse of redox regulation likely underlie the ROS-induced improvement of textural quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]