Tapping into alcohol use during COVID: Drinking correlates among bartenders and servers.

The COVID pandemic placed a spotlight on alcohol use and the hardships of working within the food and beverage industry, with millions left jobless. Following previous studies that have found elevated rates of alcohol problems among bartenders and servers, here we studied the alcohol use of bartenders and servers who were employed during COVID. From February 12-June 16, 2021, in the midst of the U.S. COVID national emergency declaration, survey data from 1,010 employed bartender and servers were analyzed to quantify rates of excessive or hazardous drinking along with regression predictors of alcohol use as assessed by the 10-item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Findings indicate that more than 2 out of 5 (44%) people surveyed reported moderate or high rates of alcohol problem severity (i.e., AUDIT scores of 8 or higher)-a rate 4 to 6 times that of the heavy alcohol use rate reported pre- or mid-pandemic by adults within and outside the industry. Person-level factors (gender, substance use, mood) along with the drinking habits of one's core social group were significantly associated with alcohol use. Bartenders and servers reported surprisingly high rates of alcohol problem severity and experienced risk factors for hazardous drinking at multiple ecological levels. Being a highly vulnerable and understudied population, more studies on bartenders and servers are needed to assess and manage the true toll of alcohol consumption for industry employees.

Trauma Isn't One Size Fits All: How Online Support Communities Point to Different Diagnostic Criteria for C-PTSD and PTSD.

Reddit has provided rich data on mental health discourse. The present study uses 40,335 online posts from Reddit communities to investigate how language can contribute to the understanding of PTSD and C-PTSD. The results showed distinct language patterns in the use of first-person pronouns, cognitive processing, and emotion words, suggesting that they are separate disorders with different effects on survivors. Further, while some social media studies have differentiated submissions and comments, few have investigated the language changes between these contexts. Post-hoc results showed a clear distinction between two contexts across several linguistic markers. Discussion and future directions are explored.

Identification of genes and key pathways underlying the pathophysiological association between sarcopenia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

PURPOSE: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients are likely to develop sarcopenia, while the exact mechanism underlying the association between sarcopenia and COPD is still not clear. This cohort study aims to explore the genes, signaling pathways, and transcription factors (TFs) that are related to the molecular pathogenesis of sarcopenia and COPD. METHODS: According to the strict inclusion criteria, two gene sets (GSE8479 for sarcopenia and GSE76925 for COPD) were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) platform. Overlapping differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in sarcopenia and COPD were detected, and comprehensive bioinformatics analysis was conducted, including functional annotation, enrichment analysis of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), construction of a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, co-expression analysis, identification and validation of hub genes, and TFs prediction and verification. RESULTS: In total, 118 downregulated and 92 upregulated common DEGs were detected. Functional analysis revealed that potential pathogenesis involves oxidoreductase activity and ferroptosis. Thirty hub genes were detected, and ATP metabolic process and oxidative phosphorylation were identified to be closely related to the hub genes. Validation analysis revealed that SAA1, C3, and ACSS2 were significantly upregulated, whereas ATF4, PPARGC1A, and MCTS1 were markedly downregulated in both sarcopenia and COPD. In addition, six TFs (NFKB1, RELA, IRF7, SP1, MYC, and JUN) were identified to regulate the expression of these genes, and SAA1 was found to be coregulated by NFKB1 and RELA. CONCLUSION: This study uncovers potential common mechanisms of COPD complicated by sarcopenia. The hub gene SAA1 and the NF-κB signaling pathway could be involved, and oxidative phosphorylation and ferroptosis might be important contributors to this comorbidity.

Analysis of railway accessibility in Fujian Province and the influence of economic development on its spatial differentiation.

Understanding railway accessibility supports railway regulation and development, but few studies consider different perspectives. We study the spatial distribution of accessibility indicators at the county (city) scale in Fujian Province by spatiotemporal syntax and weighted average travel time using railway timetable data. Export trade, rich commercial activities, and high-speed rail had a significant positive effect on objective accessibility. Fuzhou, Sanming, and Longyan were main transfer centers. The most accessible nodes based on weighted average travel time formed a "U"-shaped corridor along the coast. The county-wide average accessibility was 1.72 h. According to spatiotemporal syntax, local general public budget expenditure (0.758993) and export volume of goods-total retail sales of consumer goods (0.956257) had the most interactive impact, while according to weighted average accessibility, import volume of goods (0.618447) and per capita gross regional product-import volume of goods (0.878573) did. These results provide reference for transportation planning and regional development in Fujian Province.

Toxic elements pollution risk as affected by various input sources in soils of greenhouses, kiwifruit orchards, cereal fields, and forest/grassland.

Increasing food demand has led to more intensive farming, which threatens our ecosystem and human health due to toxic elements accumulation. This study aimed to estimate the vulnerability of different agricultural systems with unequal high fertilizer input practices regarding toxic element pollution in the greenhouse, kiwifruit orchard, cereal field, and forest/grassland. Soil samples were collected from 181 sites across Shaanxi Province, China, and analyzed for selected characteristics and toxic elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn). The contamination factor (CFx) represents the ratio of the measured value of the toxic element in the soil over the soil background values. The CFx values of all the toxic elements were above background values, while Cd and Hg contamination levels were more severe than those of Zn, Cu, As, Cr, and Pb. Kiwifruit orchards and greenhouse soils were contaminated with Cd, Hg, Cu, and Zn, but cereal fields and forest/grassland soils were contaminated with As, Cd, Hg, and Hg. Overall, the cumulative pollution load (PLI) of toxic elements indicated moderate contamination. The cumulative ecological risk (RI) results indicated that greenhouse (178.81) and forest/grassland (156.25) soils were at moderate ecological risks, whereas kiwifruit orchards (120.97) and cereal field (139.72) soils were at low ecological risks. According to a Pearson correlation analysis, Cd, Hg, Cu, and Zn were substantially linked with soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorous (TP), and total potassium (TK). The primary sources of toxic elements were phosphate and potash fertilizers, manure, composts, and pesticides in a greenhouse, kiwifruit orchards, and cereal fields, whereas, in forest/grassland soils parent material and atmospheric deposition were the sources identified by positive matrix factorization (PMF). Furthermore, the partial least square structural equation model (PLS-SEM) demonstrated that agriculture inputs largely influenced toxic elements accumulation. We conclude that high fertilizer inputs in greenhouse soils should be considered carefully so that toxic element pollution may be minimized.

Emerging proteins involved in castration­resistant prostate cancer via the AR­dependent and AR­independent pathways (Review).

Despite achieving optimal initial responses to androgen deprivation therapy, most patients with prostate cancer eventually progress to a poor prognosis state known as castration­resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Currently, there is a notable absence of reliable early warning biomarkers and effective treatment strategies for these patients. Although androgen receptor (AR)­independent pathways have been discovered and acknowledged in recent years, the AR signaling pathway continues to play a pivotal role in the progression of CRPC. The present review focuses on newly identified proteins within human CRPC tissues. These proteins encompass both those involved in AR­dependent and AR­independent pathways. Specifically, the present review provides an in­depth summary and analysis of the emerging proteins within AR bypass pathways. Furthermore, the significance of these proteins as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for treating CRPC is discussed. Therefore, the present review offers valuable theoretical insights and clinical perspectives to comprehensively enhance the understanding of CRPC.

Exosomal miR-222-3p contributes to castration-resistant prostate cancer by activating mTOR signaling.

Despite the clinical benefits of androgen deprivation therapy, most patients with advanced androgen-dependent prostate cancer (ADPC) eventually relapse and progress to lethal androgen-independent prostate cancer (AIPC), also termed castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). MiRNAs can be packaged into exosomes (Exos) and shuttled between cells. However, the roles and mechanisms of exosomal miRNAs involved in CRPC progression have not yet been fully elucidated. Here, we find that miR-222-3p is elevated in AIPC cells, which results in remarkable enhancement of cell proliferation, migration, and invasion ability. Furthermore, Exos released by AIPC cells can be uptaken by ADPC cells, thus acclimating ADPC cells to progressing to more aggressive cell types in vitro and in vivo through exosomal transfer of miR-222-3p. Mechanistically, Exos-miR-222-3p promoted ADPC cells transformed to AIPC-like cells, at least in part, by activating mTOR signaling through targeting MIDN. Our results show that AIPC cells secrete Exos containing miRNA cargo. These cargos can be transferred to ADPC cells through paracrine mechanisms that have a strong impact on cellular functional remodeling. The current work underscores the great therapeutic potential of targeting Exo miRNAs, either as a single agent or combined with androgen receptor pathway inhibitors for CRPC treatment.

Evolution of Cu-In Catalyst Nanoparticles under Hydrogen Plasma Treatment and Silicon Nanowire Growth Conditions.

We report silicon nanowire (SiNW) growth with a novel Cu-In bimetallic catalyst using a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method. We study the structure of the catalyst nanoparticles (NPs) throughout a two-step process that includes a hydrogen plasma pre-treatment at 200 °C and the SiNW growth itself in a hydrogen-silane plasma at 420 °C. We show that the H2-plasma induces a coalescence of the Cu-rich cores of as-deposited thermally evaporated NPs that does not occur when the same annealing is applied without plasma. The SiNW growth process at 420 °C induces a phase transformation of the catalyst cores to Cu7In3; while a hydrogen plasma treatment at 420 °C without silane can lead to the formation of the Cu11In9 phase. In situ transmission electron microscopy experiments show that the SiNWs synthesis with Cu-In bimetallic catalyst NPs follows an essentially vapor-solid-solid process. By adjusting the catalyst composition, we manage to obtain small-diameter SiNWs-below 10 nm-among which we observe the metastable hexagonal diamond phase of Si, which is predicted to have a direct bandgap.

Spatiotemporal evolution and characteristics of worldwide life expectancy.

Exploring global differences in life expectancy can facilitate the development of strategies to narrow regional disparities. However, few researchers have systematically examined patterns in the evolution of worldwide life expectancy over a long time period. Spatial differences among 181 countries in 4 types of worldwide life expectancy patterns from 1990 to 2019 were investigated via geographic information system (GIS) analysis. The aggregation characteristics of the spatiotemporal evolution of life expectancy were revealed by local indicators of spatial association. The analysis employed spatiotemporal sequence-based kernel density estimation and explored the differences in life expectancy among regions with the Theil index. We found that the global life expectancy progress rate shows upward then downward patterns over the last 30 years. Female have higher rates of spatiotemporal progression in life expectancy than male, with less internal variation and a wider spatial aggregation. The global spatial and temporal autocorrelation of life expectancy shows a weakening trend. The difference in life expectancy between male and female is reflected in both intrinsic causes of biological differences and extrinsic causes such as environment and lifestyle habits. Investment in education pulls apart differences in life expectancy over long time series. These results provide scientific guidelines for obtaining the highest possible level of health in countries around the world.

New insights into lipid metabolism and prostate cancer (Review).

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common malignant tumor of the male urological system and poses a severe threat to the survival of middle­aged and elderly males worldwide. The development and progression of PCa are affected by a variety of biological processes, including proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion and the maintenance of membrane homeostasis of PCa cells. The present review summarizes recent research advances in lipid (fatty acid, cholesterol and phospholipid) metabolic pathways in PCa. In the first section, the metabolism of fatty acids is highlighted, from formation to catabolism and associated proteins. Subsequently, the role of cholesterol in the pathogenesis and evolution of PCa is described in detail. Finally, the different types of phospholipids and their association with PCa progression is also discussed. In addition to the impact of key proteins of lipid metabolism on PCa growth, metastasis and drug resistance, the present review also summarizes the clinical value of fatty acids, cholesterol and phospholipids, as diagnostic and prognostic indicators and therapeutic targets in PCa.

Identification of a ferroptosis-related long noncoding RNA signature with a prognostic value in adrenocortical carcinoma.

Background: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is an uncommon endocrine malignancy associated with poor clinical outcome. As a novel form of cell death, ferroptosis is reliant on the accumulation of iron and reactive oxygen species and is involved in the pathogenesis of various tumors, including ACC. Our study aimed to identify and characterize the prognostic ferroptosis-related lncRNA signature (FerRLSig) in ACC. Methods: A regulatory network of ferroptosis-related lncRNAs (FerRLs) and mRNAs was constructed based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression assays were performed to construct the FerRLSig. Results: Twenty-four FerRLs were identified in the prognostic model, and the high-risk FerRLSig was related to the worse overall survival (OS) in ACC [hazard ratio (HR): 1.936 (1.484-2.526), p < 0.001]. The area under the curve (AUC) value of the FerRLSig was 0.936 according to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses, superior to other traditional clinicopathological features, further supported the utility in prognosis prediction of ACC. We further established a prognostic nomogram combining clinical factors with the FerRLSig, which showed favorable efficacy for survival prediction. Next, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed that gene sets were involved in many immune regulatory biological processes related to malignancies. T-cell function of type II INF response and the immune checkpoints, including CD40, CD276, IDO2, NRP1, and CD80, were expressed with a significant difference between the low- and high-risk groups. Conclusion: This study offered new insights into the pathogenesis of ACC. The novel FerRLSig could be useful in predicting survival and may provide information of immunological research and treatment for ACC patients.

An integrated cognitive framework for understanding modern cities.

Modern urban development urgently requires a new management concept and operational mechanism to encourage the exploration of frameworks for cognizing and studying urban characteristics. In the present study, modern cities are first understood from the perspective of their basic theoretical evolution. Each modern city is seen as a complex system of organic life forms. Urban information science propels modern urban research in the direction of rationality. This paper also presents the new characteristics of modern cities (and how they have changed) in relation to external structure and internal functions. It examines the generation of urban problems and governance adaptability. On this basis, this paper proposes a cognitive model for studying modern cities, integrating basic theoretical, methodological support, and governance systems. It discusses the basic rationale and core idea for constructing each of these three systems. The research aims to guide and implement modern urban construction and sustainable development in a more effective way.

Integration of transcriptomics and metabolomics reveals pathways involved in MDSC supernatant attenuation of TGF-ß1-induced myofibroblastic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.

Overexposure to transforming growth factor b1 (TGF-ß1) induces myofibroblastic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which could be attenuated by myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) supernatant. However, the promyofibroblastic effects of TGF-ß1 and the antimyofibroblastic effects of MDSC supernatant in MSCs have not been fully elucidated. To further clarify the latent mechanism and identify underlying therapeutic targets, we used an integrative strategy combining transcriptomics and metabolomics. Bone marrow MSCs were collected 24 h following TGF-ß1 and MDSC supernatant treatment for RNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomic analysis. The integrated data were then analyzed to identify significant gene-metabolite correlations. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were assessed by Gene Ontology (GO) functional annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses for exploring the mechanisms of myofibroblastic differentiation of MSCs. The integration of transcriptomic and metabolomic data highlighted significantly coordinated changes in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and purine metabolism following TGF-ß1 and MDSC supernatant treatment. By combining transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, this study showed that glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and purine metabolism were essential for the myofibroblastic differentiation of MSCs and may serve as promising targets for mechanistic research and clinical practice in the treatment of fibrosis by MDSC supernatant.

Primary pulmonary synovial sarcoma.

Objective: Primary pulmonary synovial sarcoma (PPSS) is extremely rare. This study aims to identify the clinicopathologic and therapeutic factors determining survival in PPSS. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 121 patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Database as well as 12 patients from our own institution diagnosed with PPSS. Patient survival was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: The median survival time for 12 PPSS patients in our institution was 78 months. Postoperative chemotherapy (P = .027 for overall survival and P = .035 for disease-specific survival) was associated with superior survival, whereas pneumonectomy (P = .011 for overall survival and P = .006 for disease-specific survival) was associated with worse survival. Single lobe involvement (P = .022) and the absence of lymph node involvement (P = .045) were associated with improved disease-specific survival and overall survival, respectively. In the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Database, the median survival time was 23 months. Significantly superior survival was observed in patients with earlier American Joint Committee on Cancer stage (Ⅰ-Ⅱ) (P < .001 for both overall survival and disease-specific survival). Patients who were diagnosed within the recent decade did not achieve a better survival (P = .599 for overall survival and P = .596 for disease-specific survival). Conclusions: PPSS was aggressive with a very poor prognosis. The seventh American Joint Committee on Cancer stage might aid in predicting survival. Pneumonectomy and lymph node involvement might be associated with worse survival, whereas single lobe involvement and postoperative chemotherapy might be associated with improved survival.

Grab regulates transferrin receptor recycling and iron uptake in developing erythroblasts.

Developing erythroblasts acquire massive amounts of iron through the transferrin (Tf) cycle, which involves endocytosis, sorting, and recycling of the Tf-Tf receptor (Tfrc) complex. Previous studies on the hemoglobin-deficit (hbd) mouse have shown that the exocyst complex is indispensable for the Tfrc recycling; however, the precise mechanism underlying the efficient exocytosis and recycling of Tfrc in erythroblasts remains unclear. Here, we identify the guanine nucleotide exchange factor Grab as a critical regulator of the Tf cycle and iron metabolism during erythropoiesis. Grab is highly expressed in differentiating erythroblasts. Loss of Grab diminishes the Tfrc recycling and iron uptake, leading to hemoglobinization defects in mouse primary erythroblasts, mammalian erythroleukemia cells, and zebrafish embryos. These defects can be alleviated by supplementing iron together with hinokitiol, a small-molecule natural compound that can mediate iron transport independent of the Tf cycle. Mechanistically, Grab regulates the exocytosis of Tfrc-associated vesicles by activating the GTPase Rab8, which subsequently promotes the recruitment of the exocyst complex and vesicle exocytosis. Our results reveal a critical role for Grab in regulating the Tf cycle and provide new insights into iron homeostasis and erythropoiesis.

A diagrammatic method for the identification and resolution of urban spatial conflicts.

Spatial conflicts are formed in the process of urbanization and become the primary drivers of urban ecological and environmental problems. The defining trait of a spatial conflict is the occupation of ecological or agricultural spaces by construction spaces. This work presents a classification scheme for spatial conflicts in China, including source-area conflicts, corridor conflicts, safety conflicts, and farmland conflicts. Also, it constructs a model for the determination of spatial conflicts and conflict intensity using diagrammatic method. Based on a case study performed using our methods on Shenzhen, we proposed a timeline and policy roadmap for the resolution of spatial conflicts in Shenzhen according to the severity and characteristics of spatial conflicts in the city. The results show that the total spatially conflicted area of Shenzhen is 10.57 km2, and the percentage of construction land-use in these areas is 1.37%. The spatial conflicts are mainly source-area or corridor conflicts, and minor conflicts account for approximately 60% of the total conflicted area. Most of the spatial conflicts are either "easy to resolve" or "moderately easy to resolve". Overall, in terms of the severity of spatial conflict, Shenzhen remains at the "stable and under control" level. Considering the primary aim of spatial conflict resolution is to revert built-up lands into urban green spaces, we proposed a timeline for the resolution of spatial conflicts in Shenzhen over the next 15 years, as well as a system of supporting policies. The results of this study shall serve as a guide for the optimization of urban spatial structures and the promotion of sustainable urban development.

Alveolar macrophage-derived exosomal tRF-22-8BWS7K092 activates Hippo signaling pathway to induce ferroptosis in acute lung injury.

BACKGROUND: Alveolar macrophages (AMs) play a demonstrative role in acute lung injury (ALI). Exosomes act as signaling molecules to regulate cell-to-cell communication by releasing RNAs. Transfer RNA-derived fragments (tRFs) possess potential functions in multiple diseases through ferroptosis. The present study aims to reveal the role of AM-derived exosomal tRFs in ALI and to identify the relationship to ferroptosis. METHODS: ALI mice model was established by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induction. RNA sequencing was performed to identify the tRFs profile in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) exosomes of ALI mice. After interfering with the expression of candidate tRFs in AMs or alveolar epithelial cells (MLE-12), the effect of oxidative stress and expression of ferroptosis-related proteins were detected. RESULTS: Exosomes isolated from BALF of ALI mice were dominated by a macrophage immunophenotype. RNA-sequencing identified 4 up- and 10 down-regulated differentially expressed tRFs (DEtRFs), among which tRF-22-8BWS7K092 expression was significantly increased in LPS-induced macrophage-derived exosomes (LPS-exo). Hippo signaling pathway was the most significantly enriched KEGG pathways for DEtRFs. LPS-exo inhibited cell viability and the expression of GPX4 and FTH1, and enhanced oxidative stress in MLE-12 cells. Ferroptosis inhibitor reversed the inhibition of LPS-exo on cell viability and tRF-22-8BWS7K092 inhibitor rescued above effect of LPS-exo on MLE-12 cells. Besides, tRF-22-8BWS7K092 could activate Hippo signaling pathway by binding Wnt5B, inducing ferroptosis in MLE-12 cells. CONCLUSION: BALF exosomes of ALI mice were mainly derived from AMs. AM-derived exosomal tRF-22-8BWS7K092 activates the Hippo signaling pathway to induce ferroptosis, thus contributing to the pathogenesis of ALI.

Nomograms for Individualized Evaluation of Prognosis in Adrenocortical Carcinomas for the Elderly: A Population-Based Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is extremely rare in elderly patients. Thus, this study aimed to identify the incidence rate and develop nomogram models for predicting survival in elderly ACC patients. METHODS: Data of ACC patients aged >60 years from 1975 to 2016 were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results dataset. The national incidence rate was estimated, and survival was subjected to Kaplan-Meier analysis. A multivariate Cox regression model was used to identify predictors of survival. Nomograms were generated to predict survival, calibrated and internally validated. RESULTS: We identified 583 cases. Univariate analysis showed that patients with younger age (≤67 years), female sex, lower tumor grade, surgical treatment performed, and earlier European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors (ENSAT) stage had a better survival (P < 0.05). In the Cox regression analysis, no surgery performed (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.544, 95% CI: 1.142-10.995, P = 0.029 for overall survival [OS]; HR: 3.230, 95% CI: 1.040-10.034, P = 0.043 for disease-specific survival [DSS]) and advanced ENSAT stage (HR: 3.328, 95% CI: 1.628-6.801, P = 0.001 for OS; HR: 3.701, 95% CI: 1.682-8.141, P = 0.001 for DSS) were associated with worse outcomes. Age, sex, histologic grade, surgical resection, radiotherapy, and ENSAT stage were included in the nomograms, with a C-index of 0.692 for OS and 0.694 for DSS, demonstrating a good accuracy in predicting survival. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the largest review of ACC in elderly patients. We present nomograms to predict survival in elderly ACC patients using clinicopathologic data, which could aid in accurate clinical decision-making.

High Density of Quantum-Sized Silicon Nanowires with Different Polytypes Grown with Bimetallic Catalysts.

When Si nanowires (NWs) have diameters below about 10 nm, their band gap increases as their diameter decreases; moreover, it can be direct if the material adopts the metastable diamond hexagonal structure. To prepare such wires, we have developed an original variant of the vapor-liquid-solid process based on the use of a bimetallic Cu-Sn catalyst in a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition reactor, which allows us to prevent droplets from coalescing and favors the growth of a high density of NWs with a narrow diameter distribution. Controlling the deposited thickness of the catalyst materials at the sub-nanometer level allows us to get dense arrays (up to 6 × 1010 cm-2) of very-small-diameter NWs of 6 nm on average (standard deviation of 1.6 nm) with crystalline cores of about 4 nm. The transmission electron microscopy analysis shows that both 3C and 2H polytypes are present, with the 2H hexagonal diamond structure appearing in 5-13% of the analyzed NWs per sample.

Urinary phthalate metabolites among workers in plastic greenhouses in western China.

Agricultural plastic greenhouse (PG) production can extend the growing season of crops to satisfy domestic consumption in countries such as China. Workers in PGs have potential higher phthalate exposure risks than the general population as phthalate accumulation has been observed in greenhouse soil, air, and crops. To date, biomonitoring tests of phthalates for the working population have not been carried out. To address this shortage, we conducted a pilot study in Shaanxi Province, China, among 35 healthy PG workers by follow-up recording their seasonal dietary habits and work activities and urine sample collection and measurement between 2018 and 2019. The objectives were to uncover the association between phthalate metabolites and the population characteristics, seasonal and diurnal variations and causes, and to estimate exposure risks and contributions of exposure pathways from PG production systems. A total of 13 phthalate metabolite concentrations (Σ13 phthalate metabolites) ranged from 102 to 781 (5th-95th) ng/mL (median: 300 ng/mL). Mono-n-butyl phthalate (MNBP) made up 51.3% of Σ13 phthalate metabolites, followed by the sum of four di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) metabolites (24.2%), mono-2-isobutyl phthalate (MIBP) (13.4%), and mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP) (9.8%). The concentrations of MNBP and MIBP in summer were significantly higher than the levels in winter (p < 0.0001). A total of 62.3% of the PG worker population was shown to have exposure risks, and the proportion was as high as 79.4% in summer. Phthalate exposure of the workers from PG production systems constituted over 20% of the total creatinine-based daily intake, and consuming vegetables and fruit planted in PGs and inhalation in PGs were the two largest exposure pathways. Our findings demonstrate that it is important to protect workers in PGs from phthalate exposure risks, and phasing out the use of plastic materials containing phthalates in PGs is imperative, to guarantee food safety in PGs.