The effects of a nurse-led integrative medicine-based structured education program on self-management behaviors among individuals with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: International guidelines advocate providing prompt structured education to individuals with diabetes at diagnosis. However, among the few eligible structured education programs, heterogeneous intervention regimens and inconsistent findings were reported. Eligible programs for Chinese individuals with diabetes are lacking. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a nurse-led integrative medicine-based structured education program on self-management behaviors, glycemic control and self-efficacy among individuals with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Employing a randomized controlled trial, 128 individuals with type 2 diabetes diagnosed in the preceding three to nine months were recruited from four university-affiliated tertiary hospitals in Xi'an City, Northwest China, and randomly allocated to the intervention or control groups after baseline assessments. Participants in the intervention group received a 4-week nurse-led integrative medicine-based structured education program, which is theoretically based on the Health Belief Model and Self-Efficacy Theory, in line with updated diabetes management guidelines, and informed by relevant systematic reviews. Participants in the control group received routine care. Self-management behaviors and self-efficacy were measured with the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities and the Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy Scale at baseline, immediate post-intervention and 12 weeks following the intervention while Glycated Hemoglobin A was measured at baseline and the 12th-week follow-up. The intervention effects were estimated using the generalized estimating equation models. RESULTS: Participants in the intervention group exhibited significantly better self-management performance in specific diet regarding intake of fruits and vegetables at both follow-ups (ß = 1.02, p = 0.011 and ß = 0.98, p = 0.016, respectively), specific diet regarding intake of high-fat foods at the immediate post-intervention follow-up (ß = 0.83, p = 0.023), blood glucose monitoring at the 12th-week follow-up (ß = 0.64, p = 0.004), foot care at both follow-ups (ß = 1.80, p <  0.001 and ß = 2.02, p <  0.001, respectively), and medication management at both follow-ups (ß = 0.83, p = 0.005 and ß = 0.95, p = 0.003, respectively). The intervention also introduced significant improvements in Glycated Hemoglobin A (ß = - 0.32%, p <  0.001), and self-efficacy at both follow-ups (ß = 8.73, p <  0.001 and ß = 9.71, p <  0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The nurse-led integrative medicine-based structured education program could produce beneficial effects on multiple diabetes self-management behaviors, glycemic control and self-efficacy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was retrospectively registered in the ClinicalTrials.gov . on 25/08/2017; registration number: NCT03261895 .

The effect of methyltestosterone (MT) on sex differentiation and growth in juvenile yellow perch (Perca flavescens).

A study was conducted to evaluate the gonad differentiation of juvenile yellow perch (YP, Perca flavencens) and determine the latest labile period related to hormone treatment. Juvenile fish were subjected to two dietary concentrations of methyltestosterone (MT; 20 and 50 mg/kg feed) for 60 days in three (3) age groups of 38-, 46-, and 67-days post-hatching (dph), where control group were fed with standard commercial feed. Following a 10-month on-growing period, sex phenotypes were determined by gross and histological gonad morphology. Results showed the juvenile YP responded to the exogenous hormone when it was applied at 38 dph for both 20 and 50 mg/kg feed resulting in 100% males. At 46 dph, only 50 mg/kg feed resulted in 100% males. Both MT-treated at 38 and 46 dph significantly differed (P < 0.01) from the expected normal population of male:female (1:1). MT-treated at 67 dph resulted in 37% and 25% intersex fish for both 20 and 50 mg/kg feed dosage groups, respectively. MT-treated at 38 and 46 dph promoted growth and showed significantly heavier mean body weight (P < 0.05) compared to control. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) of MT-treated at 38 and 46 dph was significantly lower than that in control. This study provides the first evidence that juvenile YP can be successfully masculinized when the treatment is initiated at the age of up to 46 dph. The result is important for sex control in aquaculture.

Targeting BAX ubiquitin-binding sites reveals that BAX activation is essential for its ubiquitin-dependent degradation.

BAX is an important proapoptotic protein of the BCL-2 family, and its stability is essential for the regulation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. A previous study revealed that BAX could undergo degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. In this study, we identified two lysine sites, K21 and K123, that were critical ubiquitin-binding sites in BAX. Mutation of these two sites prolonged the half-life of BAX and also affected its proapoptotic ability. Intriguingly, we found that ABT-737, a BCL-2 inhibitor, significantly enhanced TRAIL-induced BAX degradation in HCT116 cells and increased TRAIL-induced apoptosis in the HCT116 only with the BAX K21R/K123R mutant, not other BAX mutants. In addition, overexpression of PARKIN, an E3 ubiquitin ligase targeting BAX, dramatically decreased BAX protein level when only treated with ABT-737 in HCT116 cells. Therefore, we speculated that BAX activation is essential for its ubiquitin-dependent degradation.

Perceptions of ecosystem services, disservices and willingness-to-pay for urban green space conservation.

While planning and management of urban green space (UGS) remain primarily driven by policymakers and expert knowledge, increasing attention has been paid to the general public's perception of and demand for UGS. This study was conducted to provide price-related outcomes to support UGS-related decision making and achieve an improved understanding of the causal relationships underpinning the residents' willingness-to-pay (WTP) for UGS conservation. An extensive survey with 3000 urban residents from three provincial capital cities in central China (i.e., Wuhan, Changsha and Nanchang) was conducted. We applied structural equation modelling to examine a range of hypothetical causal relationships among residents' perceptions about ecosystem services/disservices provided by UGS, frequency of UGS visits, socioeconomic status (SES) and WTP for the conservation of five different types of UGS. We found that residents had an average WTP of 202.4 CNY or 30.6 USD per year cross UGS types, with the attached green space having the greatest WTP (223.0 CNY or 33.7 USD per year), followed by park (215.4 CNY or 32.6 USD year), square (201.7 CNY or 30.5 USD year), suburban ecological (190.1 CNY or 28.7 USD year) and protective (182.0 CNY or 27.5 USD year) green spaces. Perceptions of UGS's ecosystem services had a positive causal impact on WTP, while perceptions of ecosystem disservices would have a negative impact. The frequency of UGS visits was found to amplify WTP at a limited level. It could further heighten and diminish the perceptions of ecosystem services and disservices. Participants with higher SES typically had greater perceptions of UGS's ecosystem services and WTP. Finally, we found that the structure of the causal relationships on WTP varied between cities, highlighting the importance of considering the fine-level impacts of biophysical environment jointly. Our results could help urban planners to understand better the ways urban green space was perceived and anticipate the likely effects of changing spatial patterns of UGS on the benefits and nuisances experienced by the general public.

Ginsenoside regulates Treg/Th17 cell ratio and inhibits inflammation to treat COPD.

Objective: Several studies have suggested an involvement of the immune system in the occurrence and development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but the mechanism is still unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the mechanism of ginsenoside in inhibiting inflammation by regulating FOXP3 in COPD. Methods: Eighty COPD patients were selected and 35 healthy people were enrolled in the study to determine clinical efficacy, observation index, and SGRQ scores. Percentage of Treg and Th17 cells were detected by flow cytometry; HE staining was used to detect the effect of ginsenoside therapy on pathological changes of COPD in mice. Additionally, we transfected FOXP3 inhibitor; RT-PCR and western blot were used to detect the inflammation related genes and proteins. Results: The basic information of the patients were comparable. The clinical outcome in the treatment group was better than that in the control group, which indicated that ginsenoside has a certain therapeutic effect on COPD patients. The lung function and 6MWT distance results indicated that ginsenoside could stabilize the clinical symptoms of COPD patients and improve their quality of life. Flow cytometry results showed that ginsenoside can increase Treg expression while reducing Th17 cell expression. RT-PCR and western blot results showed that the expression of TNF-α and IL-17 in the model group was significantly increased after treatment, obviously caused by an increased expression of FOXP3. Conclusion: Ginsenoside can inhibit inflammation in COPD by up-regulating FOXP3.

Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Influences Epidermal Homeostasis of Living Skin Equivalents through Affecting Fibroblast Phenotypes and Functions.

AIMS: To elucidate the possible mechanisms of how basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) influences epidermal homeostasis in a living skin equivalent (LSE) model. METHODS: Several wound healing-related growth factors were analyzed at protein and mRNA levels for dermal fibroblasts of induced alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)-positive or α-SMA-negative phenotypes. During culturing an LSE model by seeding normal human keratinocytes on a fibroblast-populated type I collagen gel, bFGF or neutralizing antibody for keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) was added to investigate its effects on fibroblast phenotypes and, subsequently, epidermal homeostasis by histology and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The α-SMA-positive phenotype of fibroblasts induced by transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-ß1) markedly suppressed the expression of KGF and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and slightly upregulated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and TGF-ß1 at mRNA and protein levels, compared with α-SMA-negative fibroblasts treated with bFGF. α-SMA expression of fibroblasts at the epidermal-mesenchymal junction of the LSEs was suppressed by the addition of bFGF, and a better-differentiated epidermis was presented. The abrogation of KGF from fibroblasts by the addition of the KGF neutralizing antibody disenabled the LSE culturing system to develop an epidermis. CONCLUSIONS: bFGF, through affecting the phenotypes and functions of fibroblasts, especially KGF expression, influenced epidermal homeostasis in an LSE model.

Bisphenol A exposure at an environmentally relevant dose induces meiotic abnormalities in adult male rats.

Whether environmental exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) may induce reproductive disorders is still controversial but certain studies have reported that BPA may cause meiotic abnormalities in C. elegans and female mice. However, little is known about the effect of BPA on meiosis in adult males. To determine whether BPA exposure at an environmentally relevant dose could induce meiotic abnormalities in adult male rats, we exposed 9-week-old male Wistar rats to BPA by gavage at 20 µg/kg body weight (bw)/day for 60 consecutive days. We found that BPA significantly increased the proportion of stage VII seminiferous epithelium and decreased the proportion of stage VIII. Consequently, spermiation was inhibited and spermatogenesis was disrupted. Further investigation revealed that BPA exposure delayed meiosis initiation in the early meiotic stage and induced the accumulation of chromosomal abnormalities and meiotic DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in the late meiotic stage. The latter event subsequently activated the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-related protein kinase (ATM). Our results suggest that long-term exposure to BPA may lead to continuous meiotic abnormalities and ultimately put mammalian reproductive health at risk.

Effects of exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields on spermatogenesis in adult rats.

The constant exposure of modern society to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) has raised considerable concerns about the potential risks to male reproduction. However, the epidemiological and experimental data remain contradictory and inconclusive. In the present study, we investigated the effects of 50 Hz ELF-MF of 500 µT applied 4 h/day, 7 days/week for 4 and 8 weeks on male reproduction, focusing on changes in spermatogenesis. Several biological endpoints related to testicular function and spermatogenesis were measured, including the following: body mass, masses of testes and epididymis, sperm count and abnormal sperm ratio in the caudal epididymis, serum testosterone level, testicular histology, frequency of 14 stages of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium and of four stages of meiosis I, germ cell apoptosis and testicular oxidative status. No significant differences were found in the biological endpoints between the sham control and the exposed rats in either the 4- or 8-week exposure period. These negative results may result from the lack of change in serum testosterone. In conclusion, our study indicates that exposure to low intensity ELF-MF may have no adverse effects on spermatogenesis.

Molecular cloning and mRNA expression of the peptidoglycan recognition protein gene HcPGRP1 and its isoform HcPGRP1a from the freshwater mussel Hyriopsis cumingi.

Peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) are innate immune molecules that have been structurally conserved throughout evolution in invertebrates and vertebrates. In this study, peptidoglycan recognition protein HcPGRP1 and its isoform HcPGRP1a were identified in the freshwater mussel Hyriopsis cumingii. The full-length cDNAs of HcPGRP1 (973 bp) and HcPGRP1a (537 bp) encoded polypeptides with 218 and 151 amino acids, respectively. Sequence analysis showed that HcPGRP1 had one C-terminal PGRP domain that was conserved throughout evolution. Phylogenetic analysis showed that HcPGRP1 clustered closely with EsPGRP4 of Euprymna scolopes. Real-time PCR showed that the mRNA transcripts of HcPGRP1 and HcPGRP1a were constitutively expressed in various tissues, with the highest level in hepatopancreas. Stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and peptidoglycan (PGN) significantly up-regulated HcPGRP1 mRNA expression in hepatopancreas and foot, but not in gill, whereas HcPGRP1a expression was significantly up-regulated in all three tissues. Our results indicate that HcPGRP1 is both a constitutive and inducible protein that may be involved in immune responses (recognition and defense) against invaders.

Melatonin ameliorates bisphenol A-induced DNA damage in the germ cells of adult male rats.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a well-known endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) that has received particular attention because of its widespread distribution in humans. Due to its chemical similarity to diethylstilbestrol, which is carcinogenic to mammals, the possible genotoxicity of BPA has already largely been evaluated. However, the results are still inconclusive and controversial. To investigate the genotoxic effects of BPA in rat germ cells and the potential protective action of melatonin against these effects, adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administered BPA at a dose of 200mg/kg body weight per day for ten consecutive days with or without melatonin pretreatment. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the testes were evaluated. Subsequently, their spermatocytes were isolated, and DNA damage was assessed using an alkaline comet assay and the meiotic spread method. BPA administration did not significantly affect the weights of rats and their reproductive organs, and no alteration in sperm count was found. However, we demonstrated that BPA administration induced a significant increase in TBARS levels and a decrease in SOD activity that were concomitant with an increase in DNA migration within male germ cells and γH2AX foci formation on the autosomes of pachytene spermatocytes. Furthermore, a decrease in the proportion of 4C-cells was observed. These BPA effects were significantly alleviated by melatonin pretreatment. Nevertheless, the genotoxic effects of BPA were not accompanied by apoptosis in germ cells and morphological changes in the testes. These results indicate that BPA exposure may induce DNA damage accumulation in germ cells via oxidative stress. Moreover, melatonin may be a promising pharmacological candidate for preventing the potential genotoxicity of BPA following occupational or environmental exposure.

Incorporating carbon sequestration into lake management: A potential perspective on climate change.

Exploring the carbon sequestration capacity of water ecosystems would contribute to coping with climate change. This study conducted an integrated method framework to achieve an improved understanding of the relationship between carbon sequestration and lake ecosystem components, as well as provide a new perspective on climate change for policymakers. The vertically generalized production model revealed the carbon sequestration capacity of lakes. The hierarchical linear model identified the cross-scale factors affecting phytoplankton. Then a developed multi-agents-based model with scenario analysis provided adaptive management strategies for carbon sequestration. Furthermore, we applied the integrated framework in the 63 polluted lakes of Wuhan. The results showed that the average carbon sequestration per unit area was at 0.87 kgC·m-2·a-1, which was greater than that of the ocean and forest ecosystems, indicating that the lakes had a potential capacity for carbon sequestration. Total phosphorus had the strongest effect on the Chl-a (chlorophyll a) concentration (fixed effect (γ) =6.82, P < 0.1), followed by total nitrogen (γ = 6.38, P < 0.05), Rotifer biomass (γ = 1.95, P < 0.01) and water temperature (γ = 1.27, P < 0.05). These results indicated that the bottom-up effect of chemical factors on phytoplankton was greater than the top-down effect of zooplankton. The proportion of grassland at the whole-lakes level would have a negative synergistic impact on the Chl-a with changing the micro water temperature at the part-lakes level (γ = -46.64, P < 0.05). There was no significant interaction effect between land cover change and total nitrogen (phosphorus) on the Chl-a. Therefore, we could indirectly confirm that point source pollution emissions would synergistically affect the Chl-a and carbon sequestration along with the effects of physical-chemical conditions. The coordinated proportional control of nitrogen and phosphorus and the artificial controlling biomass of zooplankton-feeding fish were proposed to improve carbon sequestration and water quality for lake management.

Study on the damage resistance and deterioration behavior of GO concrete under the harsh environment.

To exploretheeffects of physical, mechanical, anti-deterioration properties of graphene oxide (GO) on cement-based cementitious materials, GO sheet dispersions areprepared by the improved Hummers method and ultrasonic dispersion method. The influence of theGO content on the compressive and flexural strengths of cement paste is investigated, and the penetration process of chloride ions in graphene oxide concrete is discussed by the electric accelerated erosion method. Combined with the rapid freeze-thaw test, the deterioration of graphene oxide concrete ismethodically analyzed. Theobtained results reveal that an appropriate amount of GO improves both the compressive and flexural strengths of cement pastev. In the chloride environment, the chloride diffusion coefficient of 0.03% GO concrete is 18.75% less than that of ordinary concrete.Under the action of freeze-thaw cycles, with the increase of salt freezing times, the deterioration mode of GO concrete is a combination of mortar shedding, micro-crack expansion, denudation, and block shedding; The stress-strain curve of the specimen tends to be flat with the growth of salt freezing times. The peak stress gradually lessens, the peak strain gradually grows, and the elastic modulus remarkably reduces. Compared with ordinary cement paste, theGO is capable of promoting the growth of cement paste hydration crystals, changing the size and shape of crystals, and realizingthe regulation of cement paste microstructure. Incorporating an appropriate amount of theGO could promote the cement hydration process and enhance the chemical water-binding amount in the cement paste. The optimal GO content is reported to be 0.03% of the cement mass.

A graphene oxide-loaded processed pyritum composite hydrogel for accelerated bone regeneration via mediation of M2 macrophage polarization.

A coordinated interaction between osteogenesis and the osteoimmune microenvironment plays a vital role in regulating bone healing. However, disturbances in the pro- and anti-inflammatory balance hinder the therapeutic advantages of biomaterials. In this study, a novel composite hydrogel was successfully fabricated using graphene oxide (GO)-loaded processed pyritum (PP) in combination with poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC). Subsequently, the immunomodulatory effects and bone regenerative potential of PP/GO@PEGDA/CMC were investigated. The results demonstrated that the PP/GO@PEGDA/CMC hydrogel possessed excellent mechanical properties, swelling capacity, and stability. Moreover, PP/GO@PEGDA/CMC prominently promoted M2 polarization and increased the levels of anti-inflammatory factors (interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, and transforming growth factor-ß). These beneficial effects facilitated the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in vitro. Additionally, the in vivo results further verified that the implantation of PP/GO@PEGDA/CMC markedly reduced local inflammation while enhancing bone regeneration at 8 weeks post-implantation. Therefore, the results of this study provide potential therapeutic strategies for bone tissue repair and regeneration by modulating the immune microenvironment.

Toxic effect on tissues and differentially expressed genes in hepatopancreas identified by suppression subtractive hybridization of freshwater pearl mussel (Hyriopsis cumingii) following microcystin-LR challenge.

Microcystins are a family of potent hepatotoxins produced by freshwater cyanobacteria and can cause animal intoxications and human diseases. In this study, the effect of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) on the tissues of freshwater pearl mussel (Hyriopsis cumingii) was evaluated and differentially expressed genes in the hepatopancreas of the mussel exposed to MC-LR were identified. HPLC analysis of cell extracts from various tissues of the mussel indicated that the hepatopancreas had the highest MC-LR levels (55.78 ± 6.73 µg g⁻¹ DW) after 15-day exposure. The MC-LR concentration in gill or muscle was an order of magnitude less than in hepatopancreas or gonad. Subtractive cDNA library was constructed by suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH), and ∼400 positive clones were sequenced, from which 98 high quality sequences were obtained by BLAST analysis. The screening identified numerous genes involved in apoptosis, signal transduction, cytoskeletal remodel, innate immunity, material and energy metabolism, translation and transcription which were extensively discussed. The results of this study add large amount of information to the mussel genome data, and for the first time present the basic data on toxicity effect of MC-LR on mussel.

Pollution from animal husbandry in China: a case study of the Han River Basin.

Animal husbandry is one of the major agricultural pollution sources in China. The Xiangyang Reach of the Han River Basin was used as a case study to identify pollutants from animal rearing. The gross amount of pollutants from livestock and poultry rearing in the Xiangyang Reach was estimated using two empirical models with different data sets. The pig, cattle, sheep, and poultry population in 2009 amounted to 2.6, 0.6, 0.5, and 39.2 million head, respectively. The total annual pollutant loads generated from the feces and urine of livestock and poultry were 270,400 t of chemical oxygen demand; 228,900 t of biochemical oxygen demand; 26,500 t of ammonia nitrogen; 16,500 t of total phosphorus; and 63,900 t of total nitrogen. Approximately 12% of these pollutant loads were estimated to enter the Han River through the watershed outlet. Animal breeding has been one of the main pollution sources in this area, followed by domestic sewage and industrial wastewater. Cattle produced the most pollution, with the heaviest pollution load in downtown Xiangyang City. Several recommendations are presented to control the pollution caused by livestock and poultry breeding.

Constrained hybrid control for parametric uncertainty systems via step-function method.

In this paper, considering that sometimes signal transmission may be interrupted, or signal input errors may occur, we establish a novel class of parametric uncertainty hybrid control system models including the impulsive control signals under saturated inputs, which can reflect the signal transmission process more realistically. Based on the step-function method, improved polytopic representation approach and Schur complement, we find the stability conditions, which are less conservative than those with the traditional Lyapunov method, of the considered control system. In addition, we investigate the design of the control gains and the auxiliary control gains for easily finding the suitable control signals, the auxiliary signals and the estimation of the attraction domain. Moreover, our proposed methods are applied to the fixed time impulse problems of uncertain systems with or without Zeno behavior. Simulation results for the uncertain neural network systems are presented to show the feasibility and effectiveness of our stabilization methods using the step-function.

Stabilization of nonlinear dynamical systems via intermittent control with non-instantaneous impulses and actuator saturation.

In many actual discontinuous control systems, the state might undergo some abrupt changes when the impulsive effects appear and the impulsive effect will stay active for a period of time which cannot be ignored. Obviously, the traditional instantaneous impulsive system models cannot describe the above process. Then in this paper, considering the actuator saturation and non-instantaneous impulse existing in the real environment, we formulate the new models to describe the nonlinear intermittent control system subject to actuator saturation with non-instantaneous impulsive effects occurring at the moments of system switching. Some exponential stability criteria of this considered intermittent control systems in the form of matrix inequalities are first put forward. Meanwhile, some LMI optimization problems are also proposed to design the control gain for estimating the attraction domain with a fixed decay rate. Finally, simulation results demonstrate the feasibility of the obtained theoretical results.

Evaluation of the Quality and Effect of 360° Safe Indwelling Infusion of Peripheral Venous Indwelling Needle in Pediatric Clinic.

To evaluate the application effect of the 360° safe indwelling infusion program of peripheral venous indwelling needle in the infusion room of pediatric outpatient clinic. A total of 1,000 children who received indwelling needle infusion were randomly divided into experimental group (n = 500; 360° safe indwelling needle) and control group (n = 500; a routine indwelling needle). The incidence of indwelling needle-related complications and adverse events in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group, and the number of indwelling days, indwelling needle usage rate, and parent satisfaction were significantly higher than those in the control group. The 360° safe indwelling infusion program can significantly reduce the incidence of complications and adverse events, and improve the quality of the indwelling needle infusion. The 360° safe indwelling infusion can effectively improve the comprehensive quality and safety of nursing care in the outpatient infusion room.

A dataset of distribution of antibiotic occurrence in solid environmental matrices in China.

While there is growing global concern about the impact of antibiotic residues on emergence and enhancement bacteria's resistance, toxicity to natural organisms, and, ultimately, public health, a concise picture of measured environmental concentrations of antibiotic occurrence in multiple environmental matrices, particularly in solid matrices (e.g., sludge, soil, and sediments) is still elusive, especially for China. In this paper, we present an up-to-date dataset of the distribution of antibiotic occurrence in solid environmental matrices in China, derived from 210 peer-reviewed literature published between 2000 and 2020. We extracted geographical sampling locations and measured concentration associated with antibiotic occurrence reported in English and Chinese original publications, and applied quality-control procedures to remove duplicates and ensure accuracy. The dataset contains 6929 records of geo-referenced occurrences for 135 antibiotics distributed over 391 locations distinguished at four levels of scale i.e., provincial, prefectural, county, and township or finer. The geographical dataset provides an updated map of antibiotic occurrence in solid environmental matrices in China and can be used for further environmental health risk assessment.

Synthesis of zinc hydroxystannate/reduced graphene oxide composites using chitosan to improve poly(vinyl chloride) performance.

Chitosan-modified zinc hydroxystannate (ZHS-CS) was synthesized using the cations of the biomaterial chitosan (CS) and ion replacement strategy. A ZHS-CS and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) hybrid flame retardant (ZHS-CS/rGO) was synthesized for use in flexible poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC). Scanning electron microscopy images indicated that ZHS-CS and rGO were evenly dispersed in ZHS-CS/rGO without agglomeration. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results showed that rGO was fully reduced. The flame-retardant and mechanical properties of PVC composites were investigated using the limiting oxygen index (LOI), a cone calorimeter, and mechanical equipment. By replacing one-fifth of the zinc ions in ZHS by chitosan cations to obtain Sn-4Zn-1CS/rGO, the ZHS-CS/rGO was found to improve PVC composite performance. The total heat release and total smoke release of PVC/Sn-4Zn-1CS/rGO were reduced by 24.2 and 40.0 %, respectively, from those of pure PVC.