Risk assessment and seasonal variation of heavy metals in settling particulate matter (SPM) from a typical southern Chinese mariculture base.

Settling particulate matter (SPM) samples were collected monthly during a 21-month-long (April 2014 to December 2015) monitoring program from a fish cage and a large seaweed (Gracilaria lemaneiformis) cultivation in a typical mariculture base in eastern coast of Guangdong Province, South China. The concentrations of eight heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Co, V and Mn) showed a clear seasonality with relatively higher levels in the rainy season for most metals. In addition, five metals (Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu and Zn) showed slightly higher concentrations in the fish cage than in the large seaweed cultivation. A principal component analysis (PCA) further revealed that Ni, Cu and Zn were influenced by human activities, whereas the rest of the metals mainly by a combination of natural and anthropogenic factors. SPM in the two different mariculture areas had a 21% probability of toxicity based on the mean effects range-median quotient.

Tuning the Geometrical Structures and Optical Properties of Blue-Emitting Iridium(III) Complexes through Dimethylamine Substitutions: A Theoretical Study.

The geometrical structures and photophysical properties of Ir(4,6-dFppy)2(pic) (FIrpic) and its derivative (o-FIr, m-FIr, p-FIr) with dimethylamine substituted at the picolinic acid (N∧O) ligand were fully investigated by density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory. The simulated electronic structure, as well as absorption and emission spectra of FIrpic are in good agreement with the experimental observations. The introduction of dimethylamine at the N∧O ligand at different positions is beneficial to extend the π-electron delocalization, increase HOMO energy levels, and hence improve the hole injection and transfer ability compared with those of FIrpic. Furthermore, o-FIr, m-FIr, and p-FIr have large absorption intensity and participation of metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) contribution in the main absorption spectra, which would be useful to improve the intersystem crossing (ISC) from the singlet to triplet excited state. More importantly, the high quantum yield of o-FIr (which is explained based on the detailed analysis of triplet energy, ET1), participation of ³MLCT contribution in the phosphorescent spectra, and energy difference between ³MLCT and triplet metal centered (³MC) d-d excited state compared with m-FIr and p-FIr indicate that o-FIr is expected to be an excellent blue phosphorescence emitter with high efficiency.

Synchronous dynamic research on respiratory and intestinal microflora of chronic bronchitis rat model.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the mechanism of the Chinese medicine theory that Fei (Lung) and Dachang (Large Intestine) are exteriorly and interiorly related via synchronous observation on the dynamic changes of the respiratory and intestinal microflora. METHODS: Forty specific pathogen free Sprague-Dawley rats were selected and randomly divided into blank (10 rats) and chronic bronchitis model groups (30 rats). The blank group rats were put into the smoke-free environment and the model group rats were put into the smoke environment in order to establish pulmonary disease (chronic bronchitis) model. Then the corresponding changes of the respiratory and intestinal microflflora of the model on 20th, 50th and 70th days were synchronously observed. RESULTS: The respiratory tract microflflora showed an increase in the total aerobic and Staphylococcus aureus and reduced anaerobic amount signifificantly on 20th day in the respiratory tract microflflora (P<0.05 or 0.01). On 50th day, total aerobic, total anaerobic amount and bififidobacterium signifificantly increased (P<0.05). On 70th day, Staphylococcus aureus reduced and lactobacillus increased signifificantly (P<0.01). The intestinal microflflora showed an increase in the total aerobic, Clostridium perfringens, enterobacter and enterococcus significantly increased on 20th day (P<0.05 or 0.01). Staphylococcus aureus on 50th day increased significantly (P<0.05). Total aerobic and enterococcus increased, total anaerobic and Clostridium perfringens reduced signifificantly on 70th day (P<0.05 or 0.01). CONCLUSION: The microecosystem of respiratory tract and intestine of rat model during the pathological process showed a dynamic disorder, indicating an interaction between the lung and large intestine which may be one of the connotations as they exteriorly and interiorly related.

The immature stages of Polypedilum (Pentapedilum) nodosum (Johannsen) and Polypedilum (Tripodura) masudai (Tokunaga) (Diptera, Chironomidae, Chironominae).

Based on associated material collected from Macau and Guangxi, the pupae and larvae of Polypedilum (Pentapedilum) nodosum Johannsen and P. (Tripodura) masudai Tokunaga are described completely for the first time. Both species are newly recorded from China. Characters for distinguishing the immature stage of these species from other allied Polypedilum species are noted. The previously recorded Polypedilum (Pentapedilum) 'K1' of Cranston  (1996) is shown to be P. nodosum. Information is provided on distribution and ecological tolerances. 

[Changes of CCK-8, CGRP, SP, and VIP in the colon and the lung tissue of allergic asthma model rats: an experimental observation].

OBJECTIVE: To observe changes of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8), calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in each tissue of the digestive system of allergic asthma (AA) model rats. METHODS: The pulmonary disease (AA) rat model was duplicated by 1% ovalbumin. Its effect on the pathological morphology of the six main parts of the digestive system (stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon and rectum) and related regulating factors such as CCK8, CGRP, SP, and VIP were observed. RESULTS: The pathological morphology of the lung was synchronously changed as that of the colon of model rats. But there was no obvious change in the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, or rectum. Significant changes occurred in CCK8 (79 961.4 +/- 12 577.9, 48 519.5 +/- 12 240.7), CGRP (41 950.1 +/- 12 600.1, 38 059.8 +/- 11 942.4), and SP (88 243.9 +/- 32 177.2, 47 417.8 +/- 16 462.4), and VIP (20 711.4 +/- 7 334.6, 43 208.1 +/- 13 433.8) of the lung tissue and the colon tissue of model rats (P < 0. 05, P < 0.01). But there was no significant change in the aforesaid substances of the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum and rectum (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary disease might affect the colon, inducing pathological changes of the colon tissue and changes of related regulating factors such as CCK8, CGRP, SP, and VIP. It showed no significant effect on the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum and rectum.