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Fifty-one surface sediment samples from Dongshan Bay, China, were analyzed for heavy metals to evaluate their distribution, pollution status, and controlling factors. The enrichment factor is suggestive of the potential pollution status, ranging from minimal to moderate enrichment, for Pb, As, Zn, and Hg, with one site showing significant enrichment in As. A principal component analysis and the geochemical characteristics indicate that heavy metal concentrations are mainly influenced by clay minerals and Fe oxides, while Pb and Hg levels are also closely linked to the absorption of Mn oxides. Potential pollution is primarily from aquaculture (Cd, Zn, Cu, Pb) and industrial and domestic discharges. Approximately 270 tons of heavy metals were estimated to have been deposited in Dongshan Bay in 2021, highlighting the potential impact of human activities on coastal sediment quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we analyzed seven wooden bows and 13 arrows excavated from the cemeteries of Subeixi Culture (13th century BCE–AD second century) in the Turpan Basin, northwest China. A total of six taxa, viz. Morus sp., Salix sp., Picea sp., Lonicera sp., Betula sp., and Tamarix sp. were identified. Some of these taxa have been generally accepted to be suitable for bow‐and‐arrow production. All these taxa were local in origin but distributed in different ecotonal zones, including oases, saline‐alkali lands, and mountain areas. Previous archaeological studies have confirmed that the Subeixi populations lived an agro‐pastoral life. By analyzing the possible provenance of these wood samples, it can be hypothesized that these ancient agro‐pastoralists moved between the Turpan Basin and the Tianshan Mountains on a seasonal basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the importance of pastoralism, as an alternative or adjunct to farming in China's long history, a clear understanding of the spreading routes and mechanisms of pastoralism in China is lacking. Fungal spores can be a useful addition to zooarchaeological evidence and have been widely used to explore the origins and development of pastoralism in different regions of the globe. The northern Loess Plateau is one of the most important areas for the emergence and development of pastoralism in early China. The aim of this paper was to take the fungal spores in the Baihemiao (BHM) core that we extracted from a site in the Yulin region, combine them with the zooarchaeological records to explore their relationship with climate and environmental changes, and reconstruct the evolution of animal husbandry in the northern Loess Plateau since the mid-Holocene. The results indicate that the climatic conditions in the northern Loess Plateau during the first period of 6–4.2 ka were relatively humid, the number of domesticated herbivores was small, animal husbandry was not developed, and the spores of coprophilous fungi in the sediments mainly originated from wild herbivores. Fungal spores as well as zooarchaeological evidence reveal that cattle and sheep grazing developed rapidly in the region during the second period, c. 4.2–3 ka. We suggest that the arid climatic conditions during this period facilitated the development of pastoral activities in the northern Loess Plateau. However, this pastoral economy gradually weakened after 1.2 ka. • Sporormiella suggests a high volume of herbivore activities in the Baihemiao area in 6–4.2 ka. • Fungal spores and zooarchaeological record from the archaeological sites indicate that grazing activity was strong in 4.2-3 ka. • Arid climatic conditions facilitated the development of pastoral activities in the northern Loess Plateau in 4.2–3 ka. • Pastoralism weakened and declined during the period from 3 ka to 1.2 ka. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The history and mechanisms of dust storms in northern China remain unclear owing to the paucity of reliable long-term, high-resolution geological records. In this study, we reconstructed the dust storm history of the last ~500 years in northern China, based on sedimentary coarse fraction (>63 µm) of a well-dated core from Lake Daihai, Inner Mongolia. The high-resolution data reveal three intervals of frequent dust storms: AD 1520–1580, AD 1610–1720, and AD 1870–2000. The dust storm events in the Lake Daihai area were broadly synchronous with those inferred from other historical or geological records and generally occurred during cold intervals. Changes in the intensity of Siberian High and the westerlies modulated by temperature variations are the likely major factors controlling dust storm dynamics. An interesting feature is that although the intensities of dust storms have been systematically increased during the recent warming period, a clear decreasing trend within this period is evident. The recent increase in average dust storm intensity may be ascribed to an increase in particle supply resulting from a rapid increase in human activity, whereas the weakening trend was likely caused by decreases in average wind speed resulting from the recent global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To meet the harsh water plugging conditions for a crack fracture-type rock reservoir of Tahe oilfield in China, which are high temperature, high salinity and above 4000 m underground, a novel delay-expansion water-swelling rubber/OMMT (DWSR) with silty-resistant and lower hydrophilic resin migration behavior was developed. HNBR, semi-HEMA@PU, polyacrylamide (PAM), OMMT and other rubber additives were mechanically blended in an open mill mixer. The semi-HEMA@PU blocked by double bond and isocyanate group was prepared by the reaction of NCO group (50% mole fraction) with hydroxyethyl methacrylate. The semi-HEMA@PU reacted with the amino group from PAM and the unsaturated double bond of HNBR, respectively. A crosslink network constructed among PU, PAM and HNBR matrix made the DWSR/OMMT composite exhibit high salinity resistance and low hydrophilic resin migration features. With an increase of PU content, the crosslinking density of DWSR increases gradually. When the semi-HEMA@PU content was 10 phr, the tensile strength reached a maximum of 13.6 MPa. The influences of OMMT content on swelling behavior were investigated. When the mass content for OMMT was about 1phr, the delayed expansion time was more than 50 h. The presence of OMMT significantly improved the delayed expansion property of DWSR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, rapidly increasing trade and travel across the China–Kazakhstan border has increased the potential risk of the introduction and exportation of vectors and their related diseases. The Ebinur Lake Nature Reserve is located in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, near the China–Kazakhstan border, with a suitable ecosystem for mosquito breeding. In our previous work, a novel Orthobunyavirus species named Ebinur Lake virus (EBIV) was isolated in the reserve. To gain insights into the potential risk of EBIV in this region, we conducted a study that aimed to clearly outline EBIV's biological characteristics and its human seroprevalence in this region. Phylogenetically, the analysis of all three segments of EBIV demonstrated that it belongs to the genus Orthobunyavirus , which is clustered in the Bunyamwera serogroup. EBIV replicated efficiently and caused cytopathic effects (CPEs) in vertebrate cells. The survival rates of the EBIV-challenged mice were 0 and 20% when inoculated with viral concentrations ≥104 or 102 plaque-forming units, respectively. For EBIV-infected mice, internal bleeding and pathological changes were observed. In addition, the overall immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody [1:4 by immunofluorescence assay (IFA)], immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody (1:10 by IFA), and neutralizing antibody [90% plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT)] prevalence was 8.05, 12.3, and 0.95%, respectively, in the studied residents. In summary, EBIV is a new member of the Bunyamwera serogroup and is able to competently infect cells derived from mosquitoes, rodents, monkeys, or humans. Furthermore, EBIV caused severe disease and even death in challenged Kunming mice, and the antibodies against EBIV have been detected in local residents, indicating that the virus is a potential animal or human pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "Injectable hydrogel loaded with lysed OK-432 and doxorubicin for residual liver cancer after incomplete radiofrequency ablation" published in the Journal of Nanobiotechnology. The correction addresses an error in the affiliation of one of the authors. The correct affiliation should be "Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China" instead of "Department of Radiology, Tongji Medical College, Union Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China." The correction has been made to the original article. The publisher, Springer Nature, remains neutral regarding jurisdictional claims and institutional affiliations. [Extracted from the article]

The morphology, microstructure, and chemical composition of a variety of particles emitted from coal-fired power plants, steel plants, and vehicle exhausts, which are possible sources of particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere, were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and compared with particle samples collected from urban atmosphere to identify the best footprint or the suitable indicator relating the existence of studied particles and their possible emitters by the morphology, microstructure, and chemical composition of the particles. The investigation indicated that the particles from these three sources are different in morphology, microstructure, and chemical composition. Sphere aggregates were generally the most abundant components, with silicon and aluminum as major elements. The urban air particulate contained particles similar to those observed in the power plant, steel plant, and vehicle exhaust samples suggesting that all three sources are contributing to the pollution in the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recent discoveries of well-preserved Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous salamander fossils from China are helping to resolve highly controversial aspects of caudate phylogeny. Here we report on a new Early Cretaceous salamander, Regalerpeton weichangensis gen. et sp. nov., from the Huajiying Formation in Hebei Province, China. This specimen is characterized by long, arched vomerine tooth rows running parallel to the maxillary arcade; a long and tapered anterior ramus of the pterygoid that curves anteromedially; an ossified hyobranchium with one pair of hypobranchials and two pairs of ceratobranchials; and scapulocoracoids with greatly expanded, approximately rectangular coracoid components. Phylogenic analysis places Regalerpeton as the sister group to a Cryptobranchidae clade including Chunerpeton, with Jeholotriton and Pangerpeton as successive sister taxa. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: PM2.5 samples were collected simultaneously at three representative areas (central city, industrial area and clean air suburban) of Shanghai city. Their morphologies and elemental compositions were determined by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy analysis (SEM-EDX). The particles were classified into four groups based on morphology and elemental composition. Soot aggregates and spherical fly ash particles were the two dominant types and they were identified as originating from automobile exhaust, metallurgical industry and coal combustion. The size distribution of the particles showed that most had diameters in the range of 0.2–1.4 μm. Individual particles were measured by synchrotron radiation micro-beam X-ray fluorescence (micro-SXRF) and the micro-SXRF spectra were obtained. Pattern recognition techniques, which took the micro-SXRF spectrum of a single aerosol particle as its fingerprint, were used to identify the origins of the particles. Seven source types were identified. They were: metallurgical industry, vehicle exhaust, soil dust, coal combustion, diesel exhaust, oil combustion and motorcycle exhaust. Metallurgical industry, automobile exhaust, and coal combustion were recognized to be the main pollution sources of PM2.5 in the air of Shanghai city. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Until the recent emergence/re-emergence of human-pathogenic viruses in ticks, tick-borne viruses have been neglected as causative agents of human disease (particularly in China). To gain insight into the diversity of tick-borne viruses in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (northwestern China), we conducted illumina deep sequencing-based screening for virus-derived small RNAs in field-collected Ixodes persulcatus ticks. We found 32, 631 unique virus-matched reads. In particular, 77 reads mapped to the tick-borne group within the genus of Flavivirus, and covered 3.8%-2.4% viral genomes. In addition, 32 unique reads were specific to the Siberian subtype of tick-borne encephalitis viruses (TBEV-Sib) which have never been reported in Chinese TBE loci. We confirmed the potential existence of TBEV-Sib by amplification (using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) of genomic fragments from the envelope gene or 3' genomic terminus from the pools of examined ticks. Both sequences demonstrated high homology to TBEV-Sib strains attached geographically to southern Siberia with nucleotide identity of 97.2%-95.5% and aminoacid identity of 99.4%-98.3%, respectively. In conclusion, we report, for the first time, detection of TBEV-Sib in the natural TBE loci of China. These novel data may provide genetic information for further isolation and epidemiologic investigation of TBEV-Sib.

Objective: To detect potential mutations in genes related with non-syndromic oculocutaneous albinism I-IV and ocular albinism type I in two couples who had given births to children with albinism., Methods: All exons of the non-syndromic albinism related genes TYR, OCA2, TYRP-1, MITF, SLC45A2 and GPR143 were subjected to deep sequencing. The results were verified with Sanger sequencing., Results: For the two female carriers, the coding region of the TYR gene was found to harbor a frameshift mutation c.925_926insC, which was also suspected to have been pathogenic. In one of the male partners, a nonsense mutations c.832C>T was found, which was also known to be pathogenic. Another male partner was found to harbor a TYR gene mutation c.346C>T, which was also known to be a pathogenic nonsense mutation., Conclusion: The coding region of the TYR gene c.925_926insC (p.Thr309ThrfsX9) probably underlies the OCA1 disease phenotype.

Objective: To monitor and discover medically important mosquito-borne viruses circulating in Xinjiang, China., Methods: Mosquitoes were collected from Abbey Lake wetland in Bortala, in Northern Xinjiang. Viral isolates were obtained through inoculating and serial passaging into susceptible mammalian host cells (BHK-21), identified by cytopathogenic effect (CPE) observation and plague forming assay. Genetic identification of viral isolates was conducted by RT-PCR, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis., Results: A virus strain which causing CPE on BHK-21 cells, was isolated from the predominant Culex modestus (36.6%) and tentatively designated as Abbey Lake virus. Information on molecular identification revealed that Abbey Lake virus belonged to Orthobunyavirus genus within Bunyaviridae. Partial sequences (651 bp and 980 bp) of viral genomic S and M segment showed that Abbey Lake virus was phylogenetically related to Germiston virus that uniquely found in South Africa with 90.6% nucleotides and 95.0% amino acids similarities in S segment. However, viral M segment displayed much variability with 78.6% nucleotides and 86.1% amino acid similarities, suggesting a new member of Orthobunyavirus genus was discovered in the area., Conclusion: In this study, Abbey Lake virus was isolated and characterized indicating its potential circulation nature of this newly-emerged mosquito-borne virus.

Lead (Pb) is a highly toxic element to the human body. After phasing out of leaded gasoline we find that the blood lead level of children strongly correlates with the lead concentration in atmospheric particles, and the latter correlates with the coal consumption instead of leaded gasoline. Combined with the (207)Pb/(206)Pb ratio measurements, we find that the coal consumption fly ash is a dominate source of Pb exposure to children in Shanghai, rather than vehicle exhaust, metallurgic dust, paint dust, and drinking water. Those particles are absorbed to children's blood via breathing and digesting their deposition on ground by hand-to-mouth activities. Probably the same situation occurs in other large cities of developing countries where the structure of energy supply is mainly based on coal-combustion.

Although the need for policy development on arsenic (As) in rice has been recognized and a legally enforceable maximum contaminant level (MCL) for inorganic arsenic (As(i)) in rice has been established in China, evidence reported in this article indicates that the risk of exposure to As for the Chinese population through rice is still underestimated. Polished rice from various production regions of China was analyzed for total As and arsenic species using HPLC-ICPMS. Total As concentration ranged 65.3-274.2 ng g(-1), with an average value of 114.4 ng g(-1). Four arsenic species, including arsenite (As(III)), arsenate (As(V)), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) and monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), were detected in most rice samples. The As(i) (As(III) + As(V)) species was predominant, accounting for approximately 72% of the total As in rice, with a mean concentration of 82.0 ng g(-1). In assessing the risk from As in rice, we found that As intake for the Chinese population through rice is higher than from drinking water, with a 37.6% contribution to the maximum tolerable daily intake (MTDI) of As recommended by World Health Organization (WHO), compared with 1.5% from drinking water. Compared to other countries, the risk for the Chinese from exposure to As through rice is more severe due to the large rice consumption in China. Therefore, not only the scientific community but also local authorities should take this risk seriously. Furthermore, more stringent legislation of the MCL for rice should be enacted to protect the Chinese consumer from a high intake of As.

A source apportionment method based on individual particle analysis carried out using a synchrotron X-ray fluorescence microprobe was developed for source apportionment of lead in fine particulate matter. Mass contributions of every emission source were obtained by intensity ratios of the characteristic X-ray spectrum of lead in individual airborne particles. The validity of the method was evaluated. The uncertainty of the source apportionment was estimated, which was within 10% in this work. The method was applied to the apportionment of lead in fine airborne particles of Shanghai, indicating that the method has a finer performance for source apportionment.

The Pb-monitoring program was extended for 6 years from 2002 to 2007 at 17 representative urban sites (6 traffic, 5 industrial, and 6 residential sites), and 3 suburban sites to assess the lead pollution in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) after phasing out leaded gasoline in Shanghai. Compared with Pb levels reported in other places, the Pb pollution in Shanghai is still serious after phasing out leaded gasoline, which remains at high concentration range (213-176 ng/m3) in PM2.5 in winter. Significant spatial variation of Pb concentrations and strong seasonal variation of higher Pb concentration in winter than that in summer were detected. The size distribution of Pb in particulate matter has a unimodal mode that peaks at approximately 0.154-1.59 microm particle diameter, indicating that Pb is mainly concentrated in fine fraction. Lead in the fine fraction is enriched by a factor of 10(3)-10(4) relative to Pb abundance in crust. Eight categories of Pb pollution sources were identified in the PM2.5 in the winter of 2007 in Shanghai. The important emission sources among them are vehicle exhaust derived from combustion of unleaded gasoline, metallurgic industry emission, and coal combustion emission.

PM(2.5) samples were collected in Shanghai at four sites with different typical land-uses. The sampling was done concurrently once per month from April 2004 to April 2005, and the ambient mass concentration, the elemental composition and the stable lead isotope ratios in these PM(2.5) samples were determined. The annual average concentrations of PM(2.5) samples at each site were 84+/-30, 65+/-20, 55+/-18, and 41+/-10 microg m(-3), respectively, indicating there were severe air pollution levels in Shanghai. The enrichment factor was calculated for each element and the comparison and discussion of elements with significant anthropogenic contributions between Shanghai and Tokyo suggested that the major source of PM(2.5) in Shanghai was not traffic-derived emissions, but the stationary industrial contribution emitted from coal use. Moreover, the analysis of stable lead isotope ratios revealed only a slight difference within the samples at the four sites which fell well within the scope of coal composition difference, further confirming that the contribution from stationary industrial emissions to atmospheric lead pollution of PM(2.5) was very substantial in Shanghai.

Synchrotron radiation microbeam X-ray fluorescence (micro-SXRF) was used to analyze individual aerosol particles collected at a height of 2 m above a heavy-traffic roadside in a heavy-industrial area of Shanghai. A pattern recognition technique, which took micro-SXRF spectra of single aerosol particles as its fingerprint, was used to identify the origins of the particles. The particles collected from the environmental monitoring site are mainly from metallurgic industry (26%), unleaded gasoline automobile exhaust (15%), coal combustion (10%), cement dust (10%) and motorcycle exhaust (8%).

Diabetes mellitus is characterized by hyperglycemia and is closely related to trace elements. Quite a few pregnant women suffer from impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Investigation of the changes of elemental contents in serum of the pregnant women with IGT and GDM is significant in the etiological research and cure of the diseases. In the present work, the elements Cu, Zn, Ca, Sr, Mg, P, Fe, and Al in the serum of pregnant women were determined. The elemental contents in different experimental groups were compared. Also, the correlation between elemental contents and gestational period was observed. The results showed that compared with normal pregnant women, the Cu contents in serum of pregnant women with GDM increased, but Zn contents had a decreasing trend. In addition, for all pregnant women, the Ca contents in serum had an obvious inverse correlation with gestational period.

More than 30 aerosol samples were collected from 1 place near Zaojiaban Road (downtown of Shanghai) and 1 village near Jiading country (suburb) by a stacked-filter air sampler. The coarse particulates (>2.5 microm) and the fine particulates (PM2.5) and their unsoluble parts were analyzed by proton-induced X-ray emission. The cytotoxicity of particulates from the two places was evaluated by malondialdehyde (MDA) and thiazolyl blue (MTT) methods. The results show that the transition metal Fe, Cr, and Mn compounds from downtown are more easily soluble than those from the suburb, both in coarse and fine particulates, and the S content is much higher in particulates from downtown than that from the suburb. The cytotoxicity of the particulates from downtown is higher than that from the suburb and the cytotoxicity of acidified particulates is significantly higher than that of the controls. Because there are higher-soluble transition metal compounds that can induce free radicals in acidified particulates, the soluble transition metals may be one of the main factors for cytotoxicity.