Metabolic switch and epithelial-mesenchymal transition cooperate to regulate pluripotency.

Both metabolic switch from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis (OGS) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) promote cellular reprogramming at early stages. However, their connections have not been elucidated. Here, when a chemically defined medium was used to induce early EMT during mouse reprogramming, a facilitated OGS was also observed at the same time. Additional investigations suggested that the two events formed a positive feedback loop via transcriptional activation, cooperated to upregulate epigenetic factors such as Bmi1, Ctcf, Ezh2, Kdm2b, and Wdr5, and accelerated pluripotency induction at the early stage. However, at late stages, by over-inducing glycolysis and preventing the necessary mesenchymal-epithelial transition, the two events trapped the cells at a new pluripotency state between naïve and primed states and inhibited further reprogramming toward the naïve state. In addition, the pluripotent stem cells at the new state have high similarity to epiblasts from E4.5 and E5.5 embryos, and have distinct characteristics from the previously reported epiblast-like or formative states. Therefore, the time-dependent cooperation between OGS and EMT in regulating pluripotency should extend our understanding of related fields.

High-Entropy Configuration Strategy to Build High Performance Na-Ion Layered Oxide Cathodes Derived from Simple Techniques.

Layered transition metal oxides are commonly used as the cathode materials in sodium-ion batteries due to their low cost and easy manufacturing. However, the application is hindered by poor rate performance and complex phase transitions. To address these challenges, a new seven-component high-entropy layered oxide cathode material, O3-NaNi0.25Fe0.15Mn0.3Ti0.1Sn0.05Co0.05Li0.1O2 (HEO) has been developed. The entropy stabilization effect plays a crucial role in improving the performance of electrochemical systems and the stability of structures. The HEO exhibits a specific discharge capacity of 154.1 mA h g-1 at 0.1 C and 94.5 mA h g-1 at 7 C. In-situ and ex-situ XRD results demonstrate that the HEO effectively retards complex phase transitions. This work provides a high-entropy design for the storage materials with a high energy density. Meanwhile, it eliminates industry doubts about the performance of sodium ion layered oxide cathode materials.

Characterization of Fusarium solani associated with tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) root rot in Henan, China.

The aim of this study was to characterize the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) population obtained from tobacco roots with root rot symptoms using morphological characteristics, molecular tests, and assessment of pathogenicity. Cultures isolated from roots were white to cream with sparse mycelium on PDA with colony growth of 21.5 ± 0.5 to 29.5 ± 0.5 mm after 3 days. Sporodochia were cream on carnation leaf agar (CLA) and spezieller nährstoffarmer agar (SNA), and macroconidia formed in sporodochia were 3- to 6-septate, straight to slightly curved, with wide central cells, a slightly short blunt apical cell, and a straight to almost cylindrical basal cell with a distinct foot shape, ranging in size from 20.92 to 64.37 µm × 3.91 to 6.57 µm. Microconidia formed on CLA were reniform and fusiform with 0 or 1 to occasionally 2 septa, that formed on long monophialidic conidiogenous cells, with a size range of 5.99 to 32.32 µm × 1.76 to 5.84 µm. Globose to oval chlamydospores were smooth to rough-walled, 6.5 to 13.3 ± 0.37 µm in diameter, terminal or intercalary, single or in pairs, occasionally in short chains on SNA. Molecular tests consisted of sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the translation elongation factor-1 alpha (EF-1α), RNA polymerase II largest subunit (RPB1), and second largest subunit (RPB2) regions. All the obtained sequences revealed 98.14%~100% identity to Fusarium solani in both Fusarium ID and Fusarium MLST databases. Phylogenetic trees of the EF-1α gene and concatenated three-loci data showed that isolates from tobacco in Henan grouped in the proposed group 5, which is nested within FSSC clade 3 (FSSC 5). Twenty-seven of the 28 isolates caused a root rot of artificially inoculated tobacco seedlings, with a disease index ranging from 15.00 ± 1.67 to 91.11 ± 2.22. Cross pathogenicity tests showed that three representative isolates were virulent to six species of Solanaceae and two of Poaceae, with disease indexes ranging from 6.12 ± 0.56 to 84.44 ± 0.00, indicating that these isolates have a wide host range. The results may inform control of tobacco root rot through improved crop rotations.

Construction of a Preoxidation and Cation Doping Regeneration Strategy to Improve Rate Performance Recycling Spent LiFePO4 Materials.

Efficient recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is significant for solving environmental problems and promoting resource conservation. Economical recycling of LiFePO4 (LFP) batteries is extremely challenging due to the inexpensive production of LFP. Herein, we report a preoxidation combine with cation doping regeneration strategy to regenerate spent LiFePO4 (SLFP) with severely deteriorated. The binder, conductive agent, and residual carbon in SLFP are effectively removed through preoxidation treatment, which lays the foundation for the uniform and stable regeneration of LFP. Mg2+ doping is adopted to promote the diffusion efficiency of lithium ions, reduces the charge-transfer impedance, and further improves the electrochemical performance of the regenerated LFP. The discharge capacity of SLFP with severe deterioration recovers successfully from 43.2 to 136.9 mA h g-1 at 0.5 C. Compared with traditional methods, this technology is simple, economical, and environment-friendly. It provided an efficient way for recycling SLFP materials.

Matrix complete dissolution concatenated biochar magnetic solid-phase extraction of benzotriazole ultraviolet stabilizers in polyester fibers prior to UPLC-MS/MS analysis.

Matrix complete dissolution combined with magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) was applied to extract four benzotriazole ultraviolet stabilizers (BUVSs) from polyester curtains. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was coupled to perform the content of trace BUVSs. The procedure was being developed in two steps. The polymer matrix was initially thoroughly dissolved by 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) followed by the addition of precipitant to separate the target from the dissolved polymer matrix. Next, triiron tetraoxide/biochar magnetic material was prepared and utilized as the sorbent for purification of the extract. Ultrasonic extraction coupled with the MSPE method and the proposed method was compared. Better extraction recovery of four BUVSs was acquired by the novel developed extraction method. The purification effect of the new extraction method was established by comparing the matrix effect of the polymer complete dissolution method and the polymer complete dissolution combined with the MSPE method. The extraction parameters were investigated. Under the optimized conditions, correlation coefficient (r) ranging from 0.9969 to 0.9997, limit of detection of 0.2 to 0.8 ng·g-1, and the recovery varied from 81.5 to 102.7% with RSD smaller than 10.7% were obtained for four BUVSs, respectively. This study provides a potential strategy for the efficient extraction and sensitive determination of BUVSs in polyester fibers samples.

A Single-Component Dual Donor Enables Ultrasound-Triggered Co-release of Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen Sulfide.

The development of dual gasotransmitter donors can not only provide robust tools to investigate their subtle interplay under pathophysiological conditions but also optimize therapeutic efficacy. While conventional strategies are heavily dependent on multicomponent donors, we herein report an ultrasound-responsive water-soluble copolymer (PSHF) capable of releasing carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) based on single-component sulfur-substituted 3-hydroxyflavone (SHF) derivatives. Interestingly, sulfur substitution can not only greatly improve the ultrasound sensitivity but also enable the co-release of CO/H2 S under mild ultrasound irradiation. The co-release of CO/H2 S gasotransmitters exerts a bactericidal effect against Staphylococcus aureus and demonstrates anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide-challenged macrophages. Moreover, the excellent tissue penetration of ultrasound irradiation enables the local release of CO/H2 S in the joints of septic arthritis rats, exhibiting superior therapeutic efficacy without the need for any antibiotics.

Naloxone regulates the differentiation of neural stem cells via a receptor-independent pathway.

The abilities of opioids to activate downstream signaling pathways normally depend on the binding between opioids and their receptors. However, opioids may also function in a receptor-independent manner, especially in neural stem cells (NSCs) in which the expression of opioid receptors and endogenous opioid agonists is low. When two opioids, morphine and naloxone, were used during the early stage of NSC differentiation, increased neurogenesis was observed. However, naloxone methiodide, a membrane impenetrable analog of naloxone, did not affect the NSC differentiation. The abilities of morphine and naloxone to facilitate neurogenesis were also observed in opioid receptor-knockout NSCs. Therefore, morphine and naloxone promote neurogenesis in a receptor-independent manner at least during the early stage. In addition, the receptor-independent functions of opioids were not observed in methylcytosine dioxygenase ten-eleven translocation 1 (Tet1) knockout NSCs. When the expression of opioid receptors increased and the expression of Tet1 decreased during the late stage of NSC differentiation, morphine, but not naloxone, inhibited neurogenesis via traditional receptor-dependent and miR181a-Prox1-Notch-related pathway. In summary, the current results demonstrated the time-dependent effects of opioids during the differentiation of NSCs and provided additional insight on the complex functions of opioids.

Photoresponsive Vesicles Enabling Sequential Release of Nitric Oxide (NO) and Gentamicin for Efficient Biofilm Eradication.

The development of new antibacterial agents that can efficiently eradicate biofilms is of crucial importance to combat persistent and chronic bacterial infections. Herein, the fabrication of photoresponsive vesicles capable of the sequential release of nitric oxide (NO) and gentamicin sulfate (GS) is reported, which can not only efficiently disperse Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) PAO1 biofilm but also kill the planktonic bacteria. Well-defined amphiphilic diblockcopolymers of poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(4-((2-nitrobenzyl)(nitroso)amino)benzyl methacrylate) (PNO) is first synthesized through atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The PNO diblock copolymer self-assembled into vesicles in aqueous solution, and a hydrophilic antibiotic of GS is subsequently encapsulated into the aqueous lumens of vesicles. The vesicles undergo visible light-mediated N-NO cleavage, releasing NO and disintegrating the vesicles with the release of the GS payload. The sequential release of NO and GS efficiently eradicate P. aeruginosa PAO1 biofilm and kill the liberated bacteria, showing a better antibiofilm effect than that of NO or GS alone.

Screening and evaluating of long non-coding RNAs in prenatal and postnatal pituitary gland of sheep.

Long non-coding RNAs are transcribed into RNA molecules that are >200 nucleotides in length. However, the expression and function analysis of lncRNAs in the sheep pituitary gland are still lacking. In this study, we identified 1755 lncRNAs (545 annotated lncRNAs and 1210 novel lncRNAs) from RNA-seq data in the pituitary gland of embryonic and adult sheep. A total of 235 lncRNAs were differentially expressed between embryonic and adult group. We verified the presence of some lncRNAs using RT-PCR and DNA sequencing, and identified some differentially expressed lncRNAs using qPCR. We also investigated the role of cis-acting lncRNAs on target genes. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the target genes of lncRNAs were involved in the regulation of hormones secretion and some signaling pathways in the sheep pituitary gland. Our study provides comprehensive expression profiles of lncRNAs and valuable resource for understanding their function in the pituitary gland.

Gases emission during the continuous thermophilic composting of dairy manure amended with activated oil shale semicoke.

NH3 and greenhouse gases emission are big problems during composting, which can cause great nitrogen nutrient loss and environmental pollution. This study investigated effects of the porous bulking agent of oil shale semicoke and its activated material on the gases emission during the continuous thermophilic composting. Results showed addition of semicoke could significantly reduce the NH3 emission by 74.65% due to its great adsorption capacity to NH4+-N and NH3, further the effect could be enhanced to 85.92% when utilizing the activated semicoke with larger pore volume and specific surface area. In addition, the CH4 emission in the semicoke and activated semicoke group was also greatly mitigated, with a reduction of 67.23% and 87.62% respectively, while the N2O emission was significantly increased by 93.14% and 100.82%. Quantification analysis of the functional genes found the abundance of mcrA was high at the massive CH4-producing stage and the archaeal amoA was dominant at the N2O-producing stage in all the composting groups. Correlation and redundancy analysis suggested there was a positive correlation between the CH4 emission and mcrA. Addition of semicoke especially activated semicoke could reduce the CH4 production by inhibiting the methanogens. For the NH3 and N2O, it was closely related with the nitrification process conducted by archaeal amoA. Addition of semicoke especially activated semicoke was beneficial for the growth of ammonia-oxidizing archaea, causing the less NH4+-N transformation to NH3 but more N2O emission.

Analysis of pituitary transcriptomics indicates that lncRNAs are involved in the regulation of sheep estrus.

Seasonal estrus is a key factor limiting animal fertility, and understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate animal estrus is important for improving animal fertility. The pituitary gland, which is the most important endocrine gland in mammals, plays an important role in regulating the physiological processes such as growth, development, and reproduction of animals. Here, we used RNA-seq technology to study the expression profile of lncRNAs in the anterior pituitary of sheep during estrus and anestrus. In this study, we identified a total of 995 lncRNAs, of which 335 lncRNAs were differentially expressed in two states (including 38 up-regulated and 297 down-regulated lncRNAs). RT-qPCR verified the expression levels of several lncRNAs. Target predictive analysis revealed that these lncRNAs can act in cis or trans and regulate the expression of genes involved in the regulation of sheep estrus. Target gene enrichment analysis of differentially expressed lncRNAs indicates that these lncRNAs can regulate sheep estrus by regulating hormone metabolism and energy metabolism. Through our research, we provide the expression profile of lncRNAs in the pituitary of sheep, which provides a valuable resource for further understanding of the genetic regulation of seasonal estrus in sheep from the perspective of lncRNAs.

Identification and characterization of long non-coding RNA in prenatal and postnatal skeletal muscle of sheep.

lncRNAs are a class of transcriptional RNA molecules of >200 nucleotides in length. However, the overall expression pattern and function of lncRNAs in sheep muscle is not clear. Here, we identified 1566 lncRNAs and 404 differentially expressed lncRNAs in sheep muscle from prenatal (110 days of fetus) and postnatal (2 to 3 years old of adult sheep) developmental stages by using RNA-seq technology. Several lncRNAs were identified by using RT-PCR and DNA sequencing. The expression levels of several lncRNAs were confirmed by qRT-PCR. We analyzed the effect of lncRNAs that act cis to the target genes. lncRNA targeting genes were involved in signaling pathways associated with growth and development of muscle by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. Through our study, we provide a comprehensive expression profile of muscle lncRNAs in sheep, which provides valuable resources for further understanding genetic regulation of muscle growth and development from the perspective of lncRNA.

Passive DNA demethylation preferentially up-regulates pluripotency-related genes and facilitates the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells.

A high proliferation rate has been observed to facilitate somatic cell reprogramming, but the pathways that connect proliferation and reprogramming have not been reported. DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) methylates hemimethylated CpG sites produced during S phase and maintains stable inheritance of DNA methylation. Impairing this process results in passive DNA demethylation. In this study, we show that the cell proliferation rate positively correlated with the expression of Dnmt1 in G1 phase. In addition, as determined by whole-genome bisulfate sequencing and high-performance liquid chromatography, global DNA methylation of mouse embryonic fibroblasts was significantly higher in G1 phase than in G2/M phase. Thus, we suspected that high cellular proliferation requires more Dnmt1 expression in G1 phase to prevent passive DNA demethylation. The methylation differences of individual CpG sites between G1 and G2/M phase were related to the methylation status and the positions of their surrounding CpG sites. In addition, larger methylation differences were observed on the promoters of pluripotency-related genes; for example, Oct4, Nanog, Sox2, Esrrb, Cdh1, and Epcam When such methylation differences or passive DNA demethylation accumulated with Dnmt1 suppression and proliferation acceleration, DNA methylation on pluripotency-related genes was decreased, and their expression was up-regulated, which subsequently promoted pluripotency and mesenchymal-epithelial transition, a necessary step for reprogramming. We infer that high cellular proliferation rates promote generation of induced pluripotent stem cells at least partially by inducing passive DNA demethylation and up-regulating pluripotency-related genes. Therefore, these results uncover a connection between cell reprogramming and DNA methylation.

Selenium-Rich Yeast protects against aluminum-induced peroxidation of lipide and inflammation in mice liver.

To investigate the effect of Selenium Rich Yeast (SeY) on hepatotoxicity of Aluminium (Al), SeY (0.1 mg/kg) was orally administrated to aluminium-exposed mice (10 mg/kg) for 28 days. The risk of oxidative stress was assessed by detecting the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), catalase activity, H2O2 content, and mRNA levels of the Keap1/Nrf-2/HO-1 pathway. Inflammatory reactions were assessed by detecting the mRNA levels of inflammatory biomarkers. Our results showed that SeY protected against the liver histological changes induce by Al. The body weight gain of mice treated with SeY + Al restore to normal compare with mice exposed to Al alone. Al treatment significantly decreased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, reduced T-AOC levels, and up-regulated the mRNA level of Nrf2 and HO-1, thereby ultimately leading to peroxidation. SeY shown a significant protective effect against oxidative stress caused by Al. In addition, Al exposure induced inflammatory responses in rat liver by promoting the release of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-a, NF-kB, TNF-R1, IL-1, IL-6, and COX-2). SeY protected against changes in liver by regulating the mRNA expression levels of inflammatory factors. These results suggested that Se protected the liver from the Al-induced hepatotoxicity by regulating the mRNA level of Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1, and inhibited inflammatory responses by down-regulating the expression level of inflammatory cytokine.

High Selenium Yeast mitigates aluminum-induced cerebral inflammation by increasing oxidative stress and blocking NO production.

High Selenium Yeast (SeY) serves many important roles with respect to the maintenance of normal nervous system functioning. Studies have reported the nerve inflammation induced by Aluminum (Al) was associated with the increase of mortality. However, in-depth studies are required to verify the hypothesized neuro-protective efficacy of SeY against Al-induced cerebral damage through modulation of the inflammatory response. Here, mice were treated with SeY (0.1 mg/kg) and/or Al (10 mg/kg) by oral gavage for 28 days. Inflammation was assessed by histopathological examination and expression of biomarkers for inflammation. Furthermore, the oxidation-reduction levels and the NO production were assessed using diagnostic kits and RT-PCR. The data indicated that SeY significantly protected cerebrum against Al-induced pathological changes, in addition to the disordered expression of biomarkers of inflammation, the imbalance of oxidation-reduction, and the increase of NO production. Therefore, the chemoprotective potential of SeY against Al-induced cerebral inflammation via restore the levels of oxidation-reduction and the generation of NO was demonstrated.

Liguzinediol Enhances the Inotropic Effect of Rat Hearts via Inhibition of Protein Phosphatase (PP1 and PP2A) Activities.

It has been demonstrated that liguzinediol (2,5-dihydroxymethyl-3,6-dimethylpyrazine, LZDO), a derivative of ligustrazine from Ligusticum wallichii Franch, exerts positive inotropy in isolated rat heart mediated by the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase (SERCA2a). Here, we further explore the underlying mechanism of the positive inotropic effect of LZDO in rat hearts. In vivo and ex vivo rat heart experiments, biochemistry, and Western blot techniques were used to analyze the rat heart contractility, and SERCA2a activity, phospholamban (PLB) phosphorylation, and protein phosphatase (PP1 and PP2A) activities in rat left ventricular myocytes, respectively. LZDO (20 mg/kg) significantly increased the inotropy of rat heart in vivo. In isolated rat heart experiments, LZDO (100 µM) restored the decreased inotropy induced by caffeine (0.5 mM); however, calyculin A (4 nM), an inhibitor of PP1 and PP2A, eliminated the inotropic effect of LZDO (100 µM). Moreover, LZDO (1, 10, and 100 µM) significantly enhanced SERCA2a activity and increased the levels of phosphorylated PLB on both serine-16 (Ser-16) and threonine-17 (Thr-17). In addition, LZDO (100 µM) significantly inhibited the activities of PP1 and PP2A. The positive inotropic effects of LZDO on in vivo and ex vivo rat hearts seem to be mediated through inhibition of PP1/PP2A, which may suppress dephosphorylated PLB and enhance SERCA2a activity. LZDO may prove effective in treating heart failure in clinical settings based on its unique biological mechanism.

Red light-triggered release of ROS and carbon monoxide for combinational antibacterial application.

The abuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of a wide range of drug-resistant bacteria. To address the challenge of drug-resistant bacterial infections and related infectious diseases, several effective antibacterial strategies have been developed. To achieve enhanced therapeutic effects, combinational treatment approaches should be employed. With this in mind, a metal-organic framework (MOF) based nanoreactor with integrated photodynamic therapy (PDT) and gas therapy which can release reactive oxygen species (ROS) and carbon monoxide (CO) under red light irradiation has been developed. The release of ROS and CO under red light irradiation exerts a preferential antibacterial effect on Gram-positive/Gram-negative bacteria. The bactericidal effects of ROS and CO on Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) are better than ROS only, showing a combinational antibacterial effect. Furthermore, the fluorescence emission properties of porphyrin moieties can be leveraged for real-time tracking and imaging of the nanoreactors. The simple preparation procedures of this material further enhance its potential as a versatile and effective antibacterial candidate, thereby presenting a new strategy for PDT and gas combinational treatment.

Electrical Stimulations Generated by P(VDF-TrFE) Films Enhance Adhesion Forces and Odontogenic Differentiation of Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSCs).

Biophysical and biochemical cues of biomaterials can regulate cell behaviors. Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in pulp tissues can differentiate to odontoblast-like cells and secrete reparative dentin to form a barrier to protect the underlying pulp tissues and enable complete pulp healing. Promotion of the odontogenic differentiation of DPSCs is essential for dentin regeneration. The effects of the surface potentials of biomaterials on the adhesion and odontogenic differentiation of DPSCs remain unclear. Here, poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoro ethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) films with different surface potentials were prepared by the spin-coating technique and the contact poling method. The cytoskeletal organization of DPSCs grown on P(VDF-TrFE) films was studied by immunofluorescence staining. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM), the lateral detachment forces of DPSCs from P(VDF-TrFE) films were quantified. The effects of electrical stimulation generated from P(VDF-TrFE) films on odontogenic differentiation of DPSCs were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The unpolarized, positively polarized, and negatively polarized films had surface potentials of -52.9, +902.4, and -502.2 mV, respectively. DPSCs on both negatively and positively polarized P(VDF-TrFE) films had larger cell areas and length-to-width ratios than those on the unpolarized films (P < 0.05). During the detachment of DPSCs from P(VDF-TrFE) films, the average magnitudes of the maximum detachment forces were 29.4, 72.1, and 53.9 nN for unpolarized, positively polarized, and negatively polarized groups, respectively (P < 0.05). The polarized films enhanced the mineralization activities and increased the expression levels of the odontogenic-related proteins of DPSCs compared to the unpolarized films (P < 0.05). The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway was involved in the odontogenic differentiation of DPSCs as induced by surface charge. In vivo, the polarized P(VDF-TrFE) films enhanced adhesion of DPSCs and promoted the odontogenic differentiation of DPSCs by electrical stimulation, demonstrating a potential application of electroactive biomaterials for reparative dentin formation in direct pulp capping.

Leaching potentials of microplastic fibers and UV stabilizers from coastal-littered face masks.

Synthetic fibrous textiles are ubiquitous plastic commodities in everyday existence. Nevertheless, there exists a dearth of understanding regarding their environmental occurrence and the releasing capacities of associated additives. In this study, ten additives were determined in twenty-eight kinds of daily used plastic products including face masks, synthetic clothing, and food containers. Our results revealed that a typical kind of fibrous plastic, face masks, contained a greater variety of additives with UV stabilizers in particular, when compared to other plastic commodities. The above phenomena triggered our field investigation for the occurrence and release potentials of face mask fibers and the co-existing UV stabilizers into the environment. We further collected 114 disposed masks from coastal areas and analyzed their UV stabilizer concentrations. Results showed that the abundance of littered face masks ranged from 40-1846 items/km2 along the Yangtze Estuary, China; and UV stabilizers were of 0.3 ± 0.7 ng/g and 0.7 ± 1.7 ng/g in main bodies and ear ropes, respectively. The UV stabilizer concentrations in the field collected masks were only ∼7 % of their new counterparts, implying their potential leaching after disposal. By simulating the weathering scenario, we predict that a substantial amount of microplastics, with 1.1 × 1010 polypropylene fibers and 3.7 × 1010 polyester fibers, are probably be released daily into the coastal environment after face masks disposal; whereas the accompanied leaching amount of UV stabilizers was relatively modest under the current scenario.