Angiotensin II type-1 receptor autoantibody positively correlates with the rate of metaphase I oocytes in infertility with ovulatory disorder.

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays an important role in reproductive function. Our previous study identified that angiotensin II type-1 receptor autoantibody (AT1-AA), an autoantibody that activates RAS, was closely associated with infertility. However, its distribution in different types of infertility remained unclear. This study was designed to explore the distribution of AT1-AA in infertile patients and the connections between AT1-AA and oocyte development and pregnancy outcome. A total of 184 infertile women participated, with samples collected from peripheral venous blood. ELISA was used to detect AT1-AA levels in their sera. It was observed that the proportion of ovulation-disorder factors in AT1-AA-positive group was significantly higher than that in negative group (P=0.001). In 59 infertile women with ovulatory disorders, compared with negative group, AT1-AA-positive group had lower rate of retrieval (P=0.032) and metaphase II (MII) oocytes (P=0.011) but higher proportion of metaphase I (MI) oocytes (P=0.019). A negative correlation was found between the levels of AT1-AA and rate of retrieval and MII oocytes (P=0.027; P=0.043), whereas a positive correlation was observed with the proportion of MI oocytes (P=0.002). Moreover, a specific predictive value for proportion of reaching MII and MI oocytes was exhibited by AT1-AA (P < 0.01; P < 0.05). But no significant difference in embryonic parameters or pregnancy outcomes between two groups was observed (P > 0.05). This study revealed that serum AT1-AA levels were significantly increased in infertile women with ovulatory disorders and positively correlated with proportion of MI oocytes, but not associated with outcomes of assisted reproduction.

Lactate ameliorates palmitate-induced impairment of differentiative capacity in C2C12 cells through the activation of voltage-gated calcium channels.

Palmitic acid (PA), a saturated fatty acid enriched in high-fat diet, has been implicated in the development of skeletal muscle regeneration dysfunction. This study aimed to examine the effects and mechanisms of lactate (Lac) treatment on PA-induced impairment of C2C12 cell differentiation capacity. Furthermore, the involvement of voltage-gated calcium channels in this context was examined. In this study, Lac could improve the PA-induced impairment of differentiative capacity in C2C12 cells by affecting Myf5, MyoD and MyoG. In addition, Lac increases the inward flow of Ca2+, and promotes the depolarization of the cell membrane potential, thereby activating voltage-gated calcium channels during C2C12 cell differentiation. The enchancement of Lac on myoblast differentiative capacity was abolished after the addition of efonidipine (voltage-gated calcium channel inhibitors). Therefore, voltage-gated calcium channels play an important role in improving PA-induced skeletal muscle regeneration disorders by exercising blood Lac. Our study showed that Lac could rescue the PA-induced impairment of differentiative capacity in C2C12 cells by affecting Myf5, MyoD and MyoG through the activation of voltage-gated calcium channels.

[Role of NLRP3 inflammasomes in musculoskeletal disorders].

Inflammasomes are innate immune sensors and receptors that play key pathological roles in the development and progression of numerous diseases. Recent studies have shown that NLRP3 inflammasomes are critical in the pathology of diseases with a high impact on public health, such as musculoskeletal disorders. Musculoskeletal disorders, mainly caused or aggravated by work and the surrounding environment, are locomotor system disorders such as muscles, joints, bones, as well as diseases associated with neurological and circulatory system injuries. Activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes can induce inflammation and pyroptosis, leading to further bodily harm. Therefore, investigating the mechanism and function of NLRP3 inflammasomes, holds great significance and importance for the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. This review provides a summary of the activation pathway and mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasomes, and analyzes the role in musculoskeletal disorders such as sarcopenia, osteoporosis and arthritis, with the aim to facilitate the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.

Expression and electrophysiological characteristics of VGSC during mouse myoblasts differentiation.

Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSC) are essential for triggering and relaying action potentials (AP), which perform critical functions in a variety of physiological processes, such as controlling muscle contractions and facilitating the release of neurotransmitters. In this study, we used a mouse C2C12 cell differentiation model to study the molecular expression and channel dynamics of VGSC and to investigate the exact role of VGSC in the development of muscle regeneration. Immunofluorescence, Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and whole-cell patch clamp were employed for this purpose in mouse myoblasts. The findings revealed an increase in intracellular sodium concentration, NaV1.4 gene expression, and protein expression with the progress of differentiation (days 0, 1, 3, 5 and 7). Furthermore, VGSC dynamics exhibit the following characteristics: ① The increase of sodium current (INa); ② The decrease in the activation threshold and the voltage trigger maximum of INa; ③ A positive shift in the steady-state inactivation curve; ④ The recovery of INa during repolarization is delayed, the activity-dependent decay rate of INa was accelerated, and the proportionate amount of the fraction of activated channels was reduced. Based on these results, it is postulated that the activation threshold of AP could be decreased, and the refractory period could be extended with the extension of differentiation duration, which may contribute to muscle contraction. Taken together, VGSC provides a theoretical and empirical basis for exploring potential targets for neuromuscular diseases and other therapeutic muscle regeneration dysfunctions.

A Classification System for the Sustainable Management of Contaminated Sites Coupled with Risk Identification and Value Accounting.

Currently, site contamination is considered to be a sustained, international environmental challenge, and there is an urgent practical need to build a core theoretical system and technical methodology for the sustainable risk management of soil contamination, together with its prevention and control. We aim to improve the risk management of contaminated sites in the post-remediation era, in line with the current trend of sustainable development. The work is based on the theory of sustainability science and the eco-environmental zoning system., In this study, we build a conceptual model that can be used to classify the sustainable performance of contaminated sites in terms of risk management in line with the existing environmental management system for contaminated sites in China. To provide a scientific decision-making basis and technical support for the refined classification management of soil environments in China during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, five typical contaminated sites were selected for a quantitative evaluation by applying multi-technical approaches, including sociological, economic and statistical methods. The results showed that the sustainable performance of contaminated sites with regard to management was affected not only by pollution risk factors but also by potential utility benefits. Specified management strategies should be developed according to different levels of sustainability so as to achieve the goals of improving land use efficiency and enhancing urban functions.

Effects of musical expertise on line section and line extension.

Background: This study investigated whether music training led to better length estimation and/or rightward bias by comparing the performance of musicians (pianists) and non-musicians on performance of line sections and line extensions. Methods: One hundred and sixteen participants, among them 62 musicians and 54 non-musicians, participated in the present study, completed line section and line extension task under three conditions: 1/2, 1/3 and 2/3. Results: The mixed repeated measures ANOVA analysis revealed a significant group × condition interaction, that the musicians were more accurate than non-musicians in all the line section tasks and showed no obvious pseudoneglect, while their overall performance on the line extension tasks was comparable to the non-musicians, and only performed more accurately in the 1/2 line extension condition. Conclusion: These findings indicated that there was a dissociation between the effects of music training on line section and line extension. This dissociation does not support the view that music training has a general beneficial effect on line estimation, and provides insight into a potentially important limit on the effects of music training on spatial cognition.

Systematic and bibliographic review of sustainability indicators for contaminated site remediation: Comparison between China and western nations.

Sustainable remediation, which promotes the use of more sustainable practices during environmental clean-up activities, is an area of intense international development. While numerous indicators related to sustainable remediation assessment have been utilized and published in related academic literature, they are difficult to unify and vary in emphasis between countries. Following literature retrieval from CNKI, Springer, ScienceDirect, and Wiley Online databases, we present a systematic and bibliometric analysis of relevant national and international literature to define the most frequently considered indicators of sustainability, which play important roles in selecting remediation technologies or site management methods from a sustainability perspective. Following the application of co-occurrence analysis and social network analysis, the results indicate that 1) environmental criteria are most commonly used in evaluating remediation technologies, with significantly less emphasis on social criteria in Chinese publications in particular; 2) with an increasing number of publications in the last 20 years, sustainable remediation has gone through an initial stage, rising stage, and burst or wider adoption stage, characterized by a transformation of the research theme from a predominantly risk-based management approach to a sustainability-based one, with risk management as an underpinning principle; 3) health, resource, cost, and time are the most widely used indicators in terms of social, environmental, economic, and technical criteria, respectively; 4) clear differences exist between China and other nations, particularly in the frequency of usage of each indicator, the application of social criteria, and preferred stakeholders. Nevertheless, China has made significant progress and now makes increasing contributions to sustainable remediation at an international level.

[Construction and Application of Early Warning System for Soil Environmental Quality].

Early warning of soil environmental quality is an important basis for implementing classified and graded soil risk management measures. To quickly understand the regional soil environmental quality and take effective measures in time to prevent continuous soil pollution before deterioration of soil environmental quality, a simple, effective, and quantifiable early warning system for soil environmental quality of agricultural land and development land was respectively established based on environmental capacity and pollutant input-output flux theory. Furthermore, corresponding method and mechanism for early warning were defined based on soil environmental quality standards, food safety standards, and carcinogenic risk coefficients. The agricultural land in Youxian county and the development area within the fifth-ring in Beijing were chosen to assess the soil environmental quality and predict risks of heavy metals exceeding standards in different scenarios. The results show that the soil environmental quality of the agricultural land in Wangling and Taoshui Town both can be classified to the fifth early warning level. Compared with other remediation measures, the Cd contents of soil can be lowered to risk screening levels in the short term by the scenario of "paddy straw not returned to the field". The soil quality in the development area within the fifth-ring in Beijing belongs to the first early warning level under both the "no intervention" and the "decreased input" scenarios, which means that Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn all need more than 50 years to reach their threshold values to pose potential health risks.

[Construction and Application of an Evaluation System for Soil Environmental Carrying Capacity].

To understand the effect of soil environmental carrying capacity on pollutants and human activities, as well as to effectively prevent the aggravation of soil pollution and control soil environmental risks, a comprehensive indicator system for soil environmental carrying capacity is developed by analyzing the input-output flux and risk characteristics of soil pollutants. Furthermore, an evaluation method for soil environmental carrying capacity is proposed by defining safety coefficients related to evaluation indicators. Based on evaluation of soil environmental quality, the system reflects soil properties, pollution evolution trends, and risk characteristics, focusing on the soil buffering function. Further, a quantitative evaluation is carried out to assess the regional soil environmental carrying capacity of heavy metals on development land in Beijing. The results show that the soil environmental carrying capacity of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd in Beijing varies widely. The soil environmental carrying capacity of Cd is much lower than that of other elements. Four policy recommendations are proposed as significant for effective soil pollution prevention and control:clarifying concepts for soil environmental carrying capacity, improving the evaluation framework, constructing an information database, and implementing demonstration pilots.

Using a conceptual site model for assessing the sustainability of brownfield regeneration for a soft reuse: A case study of Port Sunlight River Park (U.K.).

Brownfield regeneration to soft reuse such as recreation and amenity has become increasingly common due to the demand for the potential environmental, social and economic benefits that it can deliver. This has led in turn to an increased demand for improved tools to support decision-making for this style of regeneration: tools which are simple to use, based on robust scientific principles and preferably which can ultimately link to quantitative or semi-quantitative cost-benefit analyses. This work presents an approach to assessing and comparing different scenarios for brownfield regeneration to soft reuse and other end-points. A "sustainability linkages" approach, based on sustainability assessment criteria produced by the UK Sustainable Remediation Forum (SuRF-UK), is developed and used in a refined qualitative sustainability assessment, and applied to develop a conceptual site model of sustainability, for a specific case study site (Port Sunlight River Park, U.K., a public leisure park established and maintained on a capped and managed former landfill site). Ranking, on an ex post basis, highlighted the clear sustainability advantages that the establishment of the Port Sunlight River Park has compared with a hypothetical non-development scenario. The conceptual site model provides a clearer basis for understanding cause and effect for benefits and disbenefits and a rationale for grouping individual effects based on their ease of valuation, providing a road map for cost-benefit assessments by (1) being able to match specific linkages to the most appropriate means of valuation, and (2) transparently connecting the sustainability assessment and cost benefit assessment processes.

Analysis of influencing factors on public perception in contaminated site management: Simulation by structural equation modeling at four sites in China.

Public perception towards contaminated site management, a not readily quantifiable latent parameter, was linked through structural equation modeling in this paper to 22 measurable/observable manifest variables associated with the extent of information dissemination and public knowledge of soil pollution, attitude towards remediation policies, and participation in risk mitigation processes. Data obtained through a survey of 412 community residents at four remediation sites in China were employed in the model validation. The outcomes showed that public perception towards contaminated site management might be explained through selected measurable parameters in five categories, namely information disclosure, knowledge of soil pollution, expectations of remediation and redevelopment outcomes, public participation, and site policy, along with their interactions. Among these, information dissemination and attitude towards management policies exhibited significant influence in promoting positive public perception. Based on these examples, responsible agencies therefore should focus on public accessibility to reliable information, and encourage public inputs into policies for contaminated site management, in order to gain public confidence during remediation and regeneration projects.

Regional Variations of Public Perception on Contaminated Industrial Sites in China and Its Influencing Factors.

Public involvement is critical in sustainable contaminated site management. It is important for China to improve public knowledge and participation, foster dialogue between urban managers and laypeople, and accelerate the remediation and redevelopment processes in contaminated site management. In this study, we collected 1812 questionnaires from nine cities around China through face-to-face interviews and statistically analyzed the perception of residents concerning contaminated sites. The results show that respondents' concern about soil pollution was lower than for other environmental issues and their knowledge of soil contamination was limited. The risks posed by contaminated industrial sites were well recognized by respondents, but they were unsatisfied with the performance of local agencies regarding information disclosure, publicity and education and public participation. Respondents believed that local governments and polluters should take the primary responsibility for contaminated site remediation. Most of them were unwilling to pay for contaminated site remediation and preferred recreational or public service redevelopment. Moreover, our research indicated that public perception varied among different cities. This variation was mainly determined by implementations of policy instruments and additionally affected by remediation technology, pollutant type, regional policy response and living distance.

[Comparative life cycle environmental assessment between electric taxi and gasoline taxi in Beijing].

Tailpipe emission of internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) is one of the main sources leading to atmospheric environmental problems such as haze. Substituting electric vehicles for conventional gasoline vehicles is an important solution for reducing urban air pollution. In 2011, as a pilot city of electric vehicle, Beijing launched a promotion plan of electric vehicle. In order to compare the environmental impacts between Midi electric vehicle (Midi EV) and Hyundai gasoline taxi (ICEV), this study created an inventory with local data and well-reasoned assumptions, and contributed a life cycle assessment (LCA) model with GaBi4.4 software and comparative life cycle environmental assessment by Life cycle impact analysis models of CML2001(Problem oriented) and EI99 (Damage oriented), which included the environmental impacts of full life cycle, manufacture phase, use phase and end of life. The sensitivity analysis of lifetime mileage and power structure was also provided. The results indicated that the full life cycle environmental impact of Midi EV was smaller than Hyundai ICEV, which was mainly due to the lower fossil fuel consumption. On the contrary, Midi EV exhibited the potential of increasing the environmental impacts of ecosystem quality influence and Human health influence. By CML2001 model, the results indicated that Midi EV might decrease the impact of Abiotic Depletion Potential, Global Warming Potential, Ozone Layer Depletion Potential and so on. However, in the production phase, the impact of Abiotic Depletion Potential, Acidification Potential, Eutrophication Potential, Global Warming Potential, Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential, Ozone Layer Depletion Potential, Marine Aquatic Ecotoxicity Potential, Terrestric Ecotoxicity Potential, Human Toxicity Potential of Midi EV were increased relative to Hyundai ICEV because of emissions impacts from its power system especially the battery production. Besides, in the use phase, electricity production was the main process leading to the impact of Abiotic Depletion Potential, Acidification Potential, Eutrophication Potential, Global Warming Potential, Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential, Marine Aquatic Ecotoxicity Potential, Freshwater Aquatic Ecotoxicity Potential, Human Toxicity Potential. While for Hyundai ICEV, gasoline production and tailpipe emission were the primary sources of environmental impact in the use phase. Tailpipe emission was a significant cause for increase in Eutrophication Potential and Global Warming Potential, and so forth. On the basis of inventory data analysis and 2010 Beijing electricity mix, the comparative results of haze-induced pollutants emissions showed that the full life cycle emissions of PM2.5, NO(x), SO(x), VOCs of Midi EV were higher than those of Hyundai ICEV, but the emission of NH3 was lower than that of Hyundai ICEV. Different emissions in use phase were the chief reason leading to this trend. In addition, by sensitivity analysis the results indicated that with the increase of lifetime mileage and proportion of cleaning energy, the rate of GHG( Green House Gas) emission reduction per kilometer of Midi EV became higher with respect to Hyundai ICEV. Haze-induced pollutants emission from EV could be significantly reduced using cleaner power energy. According to the assessment results, some management strategies aiming at electric car promotion were proposed.

Absolute pitch among students at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music: a large-scale direct-test study.

This paper reports a large-scale direct-test study of absolute pitch (AP) in students at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Overall note-naming scores were very high, with high scores correlating positively with early onset of musical training. Students who had begun training at age ≤5 yr scored 83% correct not allowing for semitone errors and 90% correct allowing for semitone errors. Performance levels were higher for white key pitches than for black key pitches. This effect was greater for orchestral performers than for pianists, indicating that it cannot be attributed to early training on the piano. Rather, accuracy in identifying notes of different names (C, C#, D, etc.) correlated with their frequency of occurrence in a large sample of music taken from the Western tonal repertoire. There was also an effect of pitch range, so that performance on tones in the two-octave range beginning on Middle C was higher than on tones in the octave below Middle C. In addition, semitone errors tended to be on the sharp side. The evidence also ran counter to the hypothesis, previously advanced by others, that the note A plays a special role in pitch identification judgments.

[Research on carbon reduction potential of electric vehicles for low-carbon transportation and its influencing factors].

Transportation is the key industry of urban energy consumption and carbon emissions. The transformation of conventional gasoline vehicles to new energy vehicles is an important initiative to realize the goal of developing low-carbon city through energy saving and emissions reduction, while electric vehicles (EV) will play an important role in this transition due to their advantage in energy saving and lower carbon emissions. After reviewing the existing researches on energy saving and emissions reduction of electric vehicles, this paper analyzed the factors affecting carbon emissions reduction. Combining with electric vehicles promotion program in Beijing, the paper analyzed carbon emissions and reduction potential of electric vehicles in six scenarios using the optimized energy consumption related carbon emissions model from the perspective of fuel life cycle. The scenarios included power energy structure, fuel type (energy consumption per 100 km), car type (CO2 emission factor of fuel), urban traffic conditions (speed), coal-power technologies and battery type (weight, energy efficiency). The results showed that the optimized model was able to estimate carbon emissions caused by fuel consumption more reasonably; electric vehicles had an obvious restrictive carbon reduction potential with the fluctuation of 57%-81.2% in the analysis of six influencing factors, while power energy structure and coal-power technologies play decisive roles in life-cycle carbon emissions of electric vehicles with the reduction potential of 78.1% and 81.2%, respectively. Finally, some optimized measures were proposed to reduce transport energy consumption and carbon emissions during electric vehicles promotion including improving energy structure and coal technology, popularizing energy saving technologies and electric vehicles, accelerating the battery R&D and so on. The research provides scientific basis and methods for the policy development for the transition of new energy vehicles in low-carbon transport.