ALBERT

Description: ABSTRACT Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), as typical environmental estrogen disruptors, are a structurally-related group of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons that are composed of 209 isomers and present as a mixture in the environment. PCBs congener with different numbers and positions of chlorine atoms substituted on the biphenyl moiety. Aroclor-1254 is a mixture of more than 60 PCB congeners. Previous studies have provided the evidence that PCBs have severe negative effects on reproductive functions, but the effects of PCBs on spindle assembly during mouse oocyte maturation in vitro have not been reported. In the present study, female ICR mouse immature oocytes were cultured in M2 medium with 1 and 10 μg mL −1 Aroclor-1254 separately in vitro . The percentage of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and the first polar body extrusion were recorded. The results showed no significant difference in the percentage of GVBD or the first polar body extrusion between control oocytes and Aroclor-1254-treated oocytes. Further studies showed that the normal localization of γ-tubulin and Aurora-A kinase was interfered and α-tubulin assembling into spindle was affected when mouse oocytes were exposed to Aroclor-1254. The length of spindle from 10 μg mL −1 Aroclor-1254-treated oocytes was longer than that from control oocytes, and the spindle area in the Aroclor-1254-treated groups were decreased. Furthermore, the percentage of DNA damage in cumulus cells revealed an increase after exposed to Aroclor-1254. These results will provide the important reference for the prevention of reproductive disorders caused by PCBs. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2015.

Description: Stable isotopic ( δ D VSMOW and δ 18 O VSMOW ) and geochemical signatures were employed to constrain the geochemical evolution and sources of groundwater recharge in the arid Shule River Basin, Northwestern China, where extensive groundwater extraction occurs for agricultural and domestic supply. Springs in the mountain front of the Qilian Mountains, the Yumen-Tashi groundwater (YTG), and the Guazhou groundwater (GZG) were Ca-HCO 3 , Ca-Mg-HCO 3 -SO 4 and Na-Mg-SO 4 -Cl type waters, respectively. Total dissolved solids (TDS) and major ion (Mg 2+ , Na + , Ca 2+ , K + , SO 4 2- , Cl - , and NO 3 - ) concentrations of groundwater gradually increases from the mountain front to the lower reaches of the Guazhou Basin. Geochemical evolution in groundwater was possibly due to a combination of mineral dissolution, mixing processes and evapotranspiration along groundwater flow paths. The isotopic and geochemical variations in melt water, springs, river water, YTG and GZG, together with the end-member mixing analysis (EMMA) indicate that the springs in the mountain front mainly originate from precipitation, the infiltration of melt water and river in the upper reaches; the lateral groundwater from the mountain front and river water in the middle reaches are probably effective recharge sources for the YTG, while contribution of precipitation to YTG is extremely limited; the GZG is mainly recharged by lateral groundwater flow from the Yumen-Tashi Basin and irrigation return flow. The general characteristics of groundwater in the Shule River Basin have been initially identified, and the results should facilitate integrated management of groundwater and surface water resources in the study area. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Description: Room-temperature ionic liquids serve as alternative solvents for volatile organic compounds in liquid-liquid extraction and liquid membrane separation. 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Bmim][BF 4 ]) was applied for extraction and supported ionic liquid membranes (SILMs) to separate toluene and n -heptane. A high separation factor of toluene was achieved due to the strong interaction between ionic liquid cations and toluene. The mass transfer performance of the SILM process was enhanced by higher operating temperature. With the increase of initial toluene concentration in the feed phase, the mass transfer flux and removal efficiency of the SILM process were improved, while the separation factor decreased. The mass transfer flux was growing with the increase of flow rate at both sides. The SILM process was stable over a long time period due to the high viscosity and low volatility of [Bmim][BF 4 ]. The unique properties of ionic liquids can be exploited to improve the stability of supported liquid membranes. Selective separation of toluene/ n -heptane is conducted by such a supported ionic liquid membrane with 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Bmim][BF 4 ]) as the membrane liquid. The calculation of molecular interaction validated the experimental results.

Description: The zinc(II) coordination polymer Zn 2 (L) 2 (bix) 2 · 2H 2 O ( 1 ) [H 2 L = 4,4′-methylenebis(oxy)dibenzoic acid, bix = 1,4-bis(imidazole-1-yl-methylene)-benzene] was synthesized by hydrothermal reaction. The title compound was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, IR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The crystal structure determination reveals that compound 1 displays a twofold interpenetrated 3D framework, in which the Zn atoms are connected by the H 2 L ligands into interesting right and left-handed helical chains. Topological analysis reveals that the title compound displays a (3,4)-connected (6 3 ) (6 5 · 8) topology. The solid-state luminescent spectra was studied. Furthermore, the dispersed solution of compound 1 in DMF exhibits strong fluorescent emission, which could be quenched by trace amount of nitrobenzene.

Description: The study aims to explore the roles of common polymorphisms of TNF-α (-238 A/G and -308 A/G) and IL-10 (-819 T/C and -1082 G/A) genes in the risk of non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (NONFH). One-hundred and forty-seven NONFH patients and 135 healthy individuals were selected as the case and control groups. qRT-PCR and Western blotting techniques detected mRNA as well as protein expressions of TNF-α and IL-10 of each genotype in both the case and control groups. The GA genotype and the A allele of TNF-α -238 A/G were higher in the case group than in the control group. Compared with the control group, AA, GA and AG + AA genotypes as well as the A allele of IL-10 -1082 G/A were all lower in the case group. In the case groups increased levels of TNF-α as well as decreased levels of IL-10 expression when compared with the control group. TNF-α expression of TNF-α -238 GA genotype was significantly higher than that in patients with GG genotype, while the IL-10 expression of GA and AA genotypes of IL-10-1082 was significantly lower than in that of patients with the GG genotype. TNF-α protein expression in the GA genotype was significantly higher than in the GG genotype. In relation to TNF-α -238, TNF-α protein expression of GA and AA genotypes had significantly reduced more so than the GG genotype in IL-10 -1082. TNF-α -238 A/G and IL-10 -1082 G/A may be involved as risk factors of NONFH. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Description: Soil erosion hinders the recovery and development of ecosystems in semiarid regions. Rainstorms, coupled with the absence of vegetation and improper land management, are important causes of soil erosion in such areas. Greater effort should be made to quantify the initial erosion processes and try to find better solutions for soil and water conservation. In this research, 54 rainfall simulations were performed to assess the impacts of vegetation patterns on soil erosion in a semiarid area of the Loess Plateau, China. Three rainfall intensities (15 mm/h, 30 mm/h and 60 mm/h) and six vegetation patterns (arbors-shrubs-grass -A-S-G-, arbors-grass-shrubs -A-G-S-, shrubs-arbors-grass -S-A-G-, shrubs-grass-arbors -S-G-A-, grass-shrubs-arbors -G-S-A- and grass-arbors-shrubs -G-A-S-) were examined at different slope positions (summits, backslopes and footslopes) in the plots (33.3%- 33.3%- 33.3%), respectively. Results showed that the response of soil erosion to rainfall intensity differed under different vegetation patterns. On average, increasing rainfall intensity by 2 to 4 times induced increases of 3.1 to 12.5 times in total runoff and 6.9 to 46.4 times in total sediment yield, respectively. Moreover, if total biomass was held constant across the slope, the patterns of A-G-S and A-S-G (planting arbor at the summit position) had the highest runoff (18.34 l·m -2 ·h -1 ) and soil losses (197.98 g·m -2 ·h -1 ), while S-A-G had the lowest runoff (5.51 l·m -2 ·h -1 ) and soil loss (21.77 g·m -2 ·h -1 ). As indicated by redundancy analysis (RDA) and Pearson correlation results, a greater volume of vegetation located on the back- and footslopes acted as effective buffers to prevent runoff generation and sediment yield. Our findings indicated that adjusting vegetation position along slopes can be a crucial tool to control water erosion and benefit ecosystem restoration on the Loess Plateau and other similar regions of the world.

Description: The Chinese Materia Medica, Tiepishihu, used as a tonic for over one thousand years, is a well-known precious medicine in China. According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, its source is the species Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo, which is distinguished from other species in Dendrobium genus. However, these species from the same genus are similar with Tiepishihu and caused confusion in the market. To find a quick and simple method to distinguish Tiepishihu from other similar species, histologic and microscopic methods were combined together to investigate the transverse section of stem of Tiepishihu and other similar species. Phloroglucinol test solution with hydrochloric acid was used to reveal the lignified tissue by staining the transverse section of Tiepishihu and similar species. Results revealed the unique identification characteristics to distinguish Tiepishihu from similar species, which were difficult to distinguish by other methods. The identification characteristics of Tiepishihu include the cells of vascular bundle sheath were stained red, parenchyma cells were not stained red. What's more, other species can be distinguished from each other with microscopic and histological characteristics. These characteristics proved stable and can be easily observed by normal light microscopic examination. This method is rapid, accurate, stable, and inexpensive. Establish a quick and simple method to distinguish Tiepishihu from other 11 species by combining histologic and microscopic methods together. Eleven species in the same genus can be distinguished from each other with microscopic and histological characteristics.

Description: Abstract Quantifying how tides evolve with coupling between future sea level rise (SLR) and different coastline configurations is imperative for proposing appropriate coastal defense strategies. By using numerical models, we investigated tidal changes and determined a realistic trend of SLR on the Jiangsu coastal area and adjacent sea on the Yellow Sea shelf. A notable decrease in tidal range occurs in the northern shelf and the tide increases mainly in the southern shelf. Tidal changes are of both signs, while the increase in sea level is unidirectional. Thus, the SLR effect on tide is not additive in all locations. We also explored the nonlinearity and spatial similarity in tidal range in response to the SLR considering uniform SLR scenarios with multiple levels and allowing inundation of the natural coastline. The patterns of change in tide evolution on the study domain remain linear until the SLR exceeds 2.0 m. Simulations and comparisons are further conducted between the responses of hardened and natural shoreline configurations to SLR. Hardened shoreline introduces both local and remote spatial variability in tidal responses. On the regional scale, SLR induces a shift in the tidal system in the offshore region, which controls the net energy flux into the embayment upon the coast. On the local scale, tidal dynamics are mainly a competition between net energy flux and tidal dissipation and are plausibly influenced by tidal reflection, which depends on whether a basin is tidally reflective.