[On-line Measurement of Trace Elements in PM2.5 in Winter in Urban Taiyuan, China: Levels and Source Apportionment].

In order to better identify the sources of PM2.5 in Taiyuan, hourly concentrations of 13 trace elements (K, Ca, Ba, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Ni, Zn, As, Se, Pb, and Sr) in PM2.5 were monitored at an urban site in Taiyuan from January 1 to 29, 2022. The pollution characteristics of trace elements were analyzed and sources were apportioned using positive matrix factorization (PMF). The results showed that the average concentration of 13 total trace elements was (3901.6±2611.2) ng·m-3, which accounted for (7.1±7.7)% of PM2.5. The three dominant elements were Fe[(1319.5±1003.5 ng·m-3)], Ca[(1181.0±1241.6 ng·m-3)], and K[(883.3±357.3 ng·m-3)]. The average concentrations of Cr(Ⅵ) (4.6 ng·m-3) and As (11.2 ng·m-3) exceeded the guideline values of the Chinese National Ambient Air Quality Standard (GB 3095-2012) and the World Health Organization. Fugitive dust, vehicle emissions, industry, stainless-steel production, biomass burning and waste incineration, residential coal combustion, and industrial coal combustion were identified by the PMF model, which accounted for 45.5%, 1.4%, 15.8%, 23.7%, 5.5%, and 8.1%, respectively, of the total elements.Compared with those during the stages of pollution development and dissipation, the contributions of industrial coal combustion, residential coal combustion, and biomass burning and waste incineration to the total elements during the pollution maintenance stage of the PM2.5 pollution episode increased significantly, contributing 11.8%, 7.1%, and 28.1%, respectively, of the total elements. These results could provide scientific references for the refined source apportionment of PM2.5 in other areas.

Observational Insights into Isoprene Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation through the Epoxide Pathway at Three Urban Sites from Northern to Southern China.

Isoprene is the most abundant precursor of global secondary organic aerosol (SOA). The epoxide pathway plays a critical role in isoprene SOA (iSOA) formation, in which isoprene epoxydiols (IEPOX) and/or hydroxymethyl-methyl-α-lactone (HMML) can react with nucleophilic sulfate and water producing isoprene-derived organosulfates (iOSs) and oxygen-containing tracers (iOTs), respectively. This process is complicated and highly influenced by anthropogenic emissions, especially in the polluted urban atmospheres. In this study, we took a 1-year measurement of the paired iOSs and iOTs formed through the IEPOX and HMML pathways at the three urban sites from northern to southern China. The annual average concentrations of iSOA products at the three sites ranged from 14.6 to 36.5 ng m-3. We found that the nucleophilic-addition reaction of isoprene epoxides with water dominated over that with sulfate in the polluted urban air. A simple set of reaction rate constant could not fully describe iOS and iOT formation everywhere. We also found that the IEPOX pathway was dominant over the HMML pathway over urban regions. Using the kinetic data of IEPOX to estimate the reaction parameters of HMML will cause significant underestimation in the importance of HMML pathway. All these findings provide insights into iSOA formation over polluted areas.

Serum IL-27 predicts the severity and prognosis in patients with community-acquired pneumonia: a prospective cohort study.

Background: The previous studies have revealed that IL-27 was involved in the pathophysiology of pulmonary inflammatory diseases. However, the role of IL-27 in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) was unclear. The goal of this research was to explore the associations of serum IL-27 with the severity and prognosis among CAP patients through a prospective cohort study. Methods: The whole of 239 healthy population and 239 CAP patients were enrolled. Fasting blood samples were collected. Inflammatory cytokines were detected using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Demographic characteristics and clinical information were analyzed. Results: Serum IL-27 on admission was significantly risen in CAP patients compared with control subjects. Besides, serum IL-27 was gradually increased in line with CAP severity scores. Correlative analysis suggested that serum IL-27 was associated with blood routine indices, renal function, liver function, myocardial function and inflammatory cytokines. Linear and logistic regression analyses revealed that serum IL-27 was positively correlated with CAP severity scores. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that serum higher IL-27 on admission elevated the risks of vasoactive agent usage and longer hospital stay during hospitalization among CAP patients. Conclusions: Serum IL-27 is markedly and positively associated with the severity and poor prognosis among CAP patients, indicating that IL-27 may involve in the pathophysiological process of CAP. Serum IL-27 may be used as a biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis in CAP patients.

Serum 8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine Is a Potential Indicator for the Severity and Prognosis in Patients with Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Previous studies have demonstrated that 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) exerted key roles in various pulmonary diseases, but the evidence for its role in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) was lacking. The goal of this research was to evaluate the correlations of serum 8-OHdG with the severity and prognosis among patients with CAP through a prospective cohort study. A total of 239 patients with CAP and 239 healthy participants were enrolled. Fasting blood samples were collected. 8-OHdG and inflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA. On admission, serum 8-OHdG was significantly increased in patients with CAP compared with control subjects. Besides, serum 8-OHdG was incrementally increased in line with CAP severity scores. Pearson correlative analysis found that serum 8-OHdG was correlated with clinical characteristics and inflammatory cytokines in patients with CAP. Linear and logistic regression analysis showed that serum 8-OHdG was positively associated with CAP severity scores. Furthermore, the prognostic outcomes were tracked. Higher serum 8-OHdG on admission increased the risks for intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, vasoactive agent usage, death, and longer hospital stay among patients with CAP. Serum 8-OHdG combination with confusion, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and age ≥65 y or pneumonia severity index had stronger predictive powers for death than single 8-OHdG, CAP severity scores, or several inflammatory cytokines in patients with CAP. These results indicated that serum 8-OHdG is positively associated with the severity and poor prognosis in patients with CAP, demonstrating that 8-OHdG may be involved in the pathophysiology process of CAP.

Serum interleukin-17 predicts severity and prognosis in patients with community acquired pneumonia: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Some studies previously demonstrated that interleukin-17 (IL-17) involves in pulmonary diseases progression. Nevertheless, the role of IL-17 in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains unknown. This study aims to examine the correlations between serum IL-17 with the severity and prognosis in CAP patients through a prospective cohort study. METHODS: All 239 CAP patients were recruited. Serum IL-17 was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The CAP severity was evaluated through CAP severity scores, including CURB-65, CRB-65, PSI, SMART-COP, CURXO and APACHE II. RESULTS: Serum IL-17 was gradually increased consistent with the severity of CAP. Correlative analysis suggested that serum IL-17 was associated with clinical physiologic indicators among CAP patients. Logistic regression indicated that serum IL-17 was positively related to CAP severity scores. Additionally, the prognostic outcomes were tracked among CAP patients. The levels of IL-17 on admission were significantly increased in CAP patients with ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, vasoactive agent, death and longer hospitalization days. Logistic regression analyses revealed serum higher IL-17 on admission elevated the risks of vasoactive agent usage and longer hospital stays in CAP patients. The cut-off concentrations of serum IL-17 for death, ICU admission, mechanical ventilation and ≥ 14 hospital stays were 86.80 ng/mL, 84.92 ng/mL, 84.92 ng/mL and 60.29 ng/mL respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Serum IL-17 on admission is positively associated with the severity and poor prognosis among CAP patients, revealing that IL-17 may implicate in the pathological process of CAP. Therefore, serum IL-17 may become an effective biomarker for diagnosis, prognosis and therapy for CAP patients.

Associations of Serum S100A12 With Severity and Prognosis in Patients With Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Previous studies indicated the calcium-binding protein S100A12 to be involved in the pathophysiology of pulmonary inflammatory diseases. However, the role of S100A12 has remained elusive in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Therefore, the purpose of this prospective cohort study was to evaluate the association between serum S100A12 with severity and prognosis in CAP patients. Methods: Two groups with either 239 CAP patients or 239 healthy controls were enrolled in our study. Fasting blood and clinical characteristics were collected. On admission, serum S100A12 was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Serum S100A12 was increased in CAP patients compared to control subjects. Furthermore, serum S100A12 was elevated according to the severity of CAP. Correlative analysis suggested that the level of serum S100A12 was associated with blood routine indices, renal function markers, inflammatory cytokines and other clinical parameters among CAP patients. Additionally, linear and logistical regression analyses indicated that serum S100A12 was positively associated with CAP severity scores in CAP patients. In addition, the association of high serum S100A12 and prognosis was accessed using a follow-up research. Elevated serum S100A12 on admission increased the risk of death and hospital stay in CAP patients during hospitalization. Conclusions: Elevated serum S100A12 on admission is positively associated with the severity and adverse prognosis in CAP patients, suggesting that S100A12 may involve in the pathophysiological process of CAP. The titre of serum S100A12 may be used as a biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis among CAP patients.

Corrigendum: Associations of Serum S100A12 With Severity and Prognosis in Patients With Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A Prospective Cohort Study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.714026.].

The characteristics and sources of roadside VOCs in Hong Kong: Effect of the LPG catalytic converter replacement programme.

In order to improve local air quality of Hong Kong, more than 99% taxies and public light buses were changed from diesel to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuel type in the early 2000s. In addition to the catalytic converters wear and tear, it is necessary to control air pollutants emitted from LPG vehicles. Therefore, an LPG catalytic converter replacement programme (CCRP) was fulfilled from October 2013 to April 2014 by the Hong Kong government. Roadside volatile compounds (VOCs) were measured by on-line measurement techniques before and after the programme to evaluate the effectiveness of the LPG CCRP. The mixing ratios of total measured VOCs were found decreased from 69.3 ± 12.6 ppbv to 43.9 ± 6.5 ppbv after the LPG CCRP with the decreasing percentage of 36.7%. In addition, the total mixing ratio of LPG tracers, namely propane, i-butane, and n-butane, accounted for 49% of total measured VOCs before the LPG CCRP and the weighting percentage decreased to 34% after the programme. Moreover, the source apportionment of roadside VOCs also reflects the large decreasing trend of LPG vehicular emissions after the air pollution control measure. Due to the application of PTR-MS on measuring real-time VOCs and oxygenated volatile compounds (OVOCs) in this study, the emission ratios of individual OVOCs were investigated and being utilized to differentiate primary and secondary/biogenic sources of roadside OVOCs in Hong Kong. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the intervention programme, and are helpful to further implementation of air pollution control strategies in Hong Kong.

A Fluorogenic and Chromogenic Probe Distinguishes Fluoride Anions and Thiols: Implications for Discrimination of Fluoride-Containing G Series and Sulfur-Containing V Series Nerve Agents.

A coumarin-based probe, FP2, was designed for the differential detection of fluoride anions and thiols, i.e., the corresponding nucleophilic substitution products from fluorine-containing G agents and sulfur-containing V agents, thus having the potential to discriminate between these two nerve agents. FP2 with two functional reaction groups, α, ß-unsaturated ketone and silyl groups, can react selectively with fluoride anions and thiols at the µM level respectively. Intriguingly, in the THF solution, FP2 reacts with the fluoride anion but not with the thiol, whereas in the EtOH/HEPES solution, FP2 reacts with the thiol but not with the fluoride anion. As a result, FP2 can produce different fluorophores in the two detection solutions, thus displaying significant fluorescence changes. In addition, the FP2 detection system can show a significant color change from colorless to yellow within seconds when detecting fluoride anions in THF detection solutions, and from yellow to light blue when detecting thiols in EtOH/HEPES solutions, which will facilitate visual detection by emergency responders at the scene of an incident involving a nerve agent.

[Effect of Liquid Water Content of Particles and Acidity of Particulate Matter on the Formation of Secondary Inorganic Components in Xinjiang Petrochemical Industrial Area].

Secondary species are dominant components of PM2.5 in Dushanzi, Xinjiang. It is crucial to investigate the conversion process of secondary components in the atmosphere for regional air pollution control. The water-soluble components were analyzed for samples collected from Dushanzi District of Xinjiang from September 2015 to July 2016. The results showed that the total water-soluble ions (TWSIs) showed a seasonal variation consistent with PM2.5, and the seasonal variation of the ions was in the order-winter (67.86 µg·m-3) > autumn (13.77 µg·m-3) > spring (10.09 µg·m-3) > summer (4.85 µg·m-3); secondary ions (NH4+, SO42-, and NO3-)-accounting for 98% of TWSIs in winter. The results of the aerosol thermodynamic model (E-AIM) that explores the particle liquid water and acidity in Dushanzi District showed that the particles in Dushanzi are acidic with an annual in-situ pH of 0.81, and the pH value of the winter samples was the highest (2.93). The seasonal variation of particles in water was of the order: winter (331.32 µg·m-3) > autumn (5.91 µg·m-3) > spring (5.46 µg·m-3) > summer (1.62 µg·m-3). The annual average nitrogen oxidation rate and sulfur oxidation rate were 0.13 and 0.47, respectively, indicating a secondary conversion of regional pollutants. Further analysis showed that the concentration of sulfate in the particle phase was significantly affected by liquid water content of particles and in-situ pH. The formation of nitrate was mainly caused by heterogeneous reactions under high water content of particle.

Identification of a novel coronavirus causing severe pneumonia in human: a descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: Human infections with zoonotic coronaviruses (CoVs), including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-CoV, have raised great public health concern globally. Here, we report a novel bat-origin CoV causing severe and fatal pneumonia in humans. METHODS: We collected clinical data and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens from five patients with severe pneumonia from Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital, Hubei province, China. Nucleic acids of the BAL were extracted and subjected to next-generation sequencing. Virus isolation was carried out, and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic trees were constructed. RESULTS: Five patients hospitalized from December 18 to December 29, 2019 presented with fever, cough, and dyspnea accompanied by complications of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Chest radiography revealed diffuse opacities and consolidation. One of these patients died. Sequence results revealed the presence of a previously unknown ß-CoV strain in all five patients, with 99.8% to 99.9% nucleotide identities among the isolates. These isolates showed 79.0% nucleotide identity with the sequence of SARS-CoV (GenBank NC_004718) and 51.8% identity with the sequence of MERS-CoV (GenBank NC_019843). The virus is phylogenetically closest to a bat SARS-like CoV (SL-ZC45, GenBank MG772933) with 87.6% to 87.7% nucleotide identity, but is in a separate clade. Moreover, these viruses have a single intact open reading frame gene 8, as a further indicator of bat-origin CoVs. However, the amino acid sequence of the tentative receptor-binding domain resembles that of SARS-CoV, indicating that these viruses might use the same receptor. CONCLUSION: A novel bat-borne CoV was identified that is associated with severe and fatal respiratory disease in humans.

CP-25 inhibits PGE2-induced angiogenesis by down-regulating EP4/AC/cAMP/PKA-mediated GRK2 translocation.

G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2), a type of cytosolic enzyme, transiently translocates to the plasma membrane upon G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) activation, and it also binds to extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) to inhibit the activation of ERK. GRK2 deficiency in endothelial cells (ECs) leads to increased pro-inflammatory signaling and promotes recruitment of leukocytes to activated ECs. However, the role of GRK2 in regulating angiogenesis remains unclear. Here, we show that GRK2 is a novel regulatory molecule on migration and tube formation of ECs, vessel sprouting ex vivo and angiogenesis in vivo. We identify that EP4/AC/cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA)-mediated GRK2 translocation to cells membrane decreases the binding of GRK2 and ERK1/2 to inhibit ERK1/2 activation, which promotes prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)-induced angiogenesis. GRK2 small interfering RNA (siRNA) inhibits the increase in PGE2-induced HUVECs migration and tube formation. In vivo, PGE2 increases ECs sprouting from normal murine aortic segments and angiogenesis in mice, but not from GRK2-deficient ones, on Matrigel. Further research found that Lys220 and Ser685 of GRK2 play an important role in angiogenesis by regulating GRK2 translocation. Paeoniflorin-6'-O-benzene sulfonate (CP-25), as a novel ester derivative of paeoniflorin (pae), has therapeutic potential for the treatment of adjuvant arthritis (AA) and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), but the underlying mechanism of CP-25 on angiogenesis has not been elucidated. In our study, CP-25 inhibits the migration and tube formation of HUVECs, and angiogenesis in mice by down-regulating GRK2 translocation activation without affecting GRK2 total expression. Taken together, the present results revealed that CP-25 down-regulates EP4/AC/cAMP/PKA-mediated GRK2 translocation, restoring the inhibition of GRK2 for ERK1/2, thereby inhibiting PGE2-stimulated angiogenesis.

Transition metal complex dye-sensitized 3D iodoplumbates: syntheses, structures and photoelectric properties.

Here, we prepared the first series of 3D hybrid iodoplumbates with novel porous frameworks of [Pb8I21]5- directed by transition metal complex (TMC) cationic dyes of [TM(2.2-bipy)3]2+. The microporous materials exhibit outstanding visible light-driven photoelectric properties due to the effective photosensitization of the TMC dyes. The coexistence of stronger face- and weaker corner-shared connecting manners affords the feasibility of tailoring the 3D framework into low-dimensional skeletons, which provide a new structural prototype to modify the semiconducting properties similar to those of classic perovskites.

[Characteristics and Sources of Dissolved Heavy Metals in Summer Precipitation of Taiyuan City, China].

To investigate the characteristics and sources of dissolved heavy metals in precipitation of Taiyuan, 61 precipitation samples were collected using an automated dry and wet sampler from 2013 to 2015 during summertime. The concentrations of 12 dissolved heavy metals were detected using ICP-MS, and wet deposition fluxes and sources were analyzed. The results showed that the pH ranged from 4.34 to 7.95, with a volume-weighted mean of 5.37. The mean concentration of the dissolved heavy metals was 236.931 µg·L-1, with a range of 66.324 to 1029.212 µg·L-1. Zn and Fe were the major components, together accounting for 53.39% of the total concentrations. The wet deposition fluxes of the 12 dissolved heavy metals reached 1.735 mg·(m2·d)-1. The enrichment factors of Ba, Cu, Sr, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb were all in excess of 100, suggesting that these metals were seriously influenced by anthropogenic activities. Results from positive matrix factorization (PMF) indicated that steel smelting emissions, coal combustion, vehicle emissions, and crustal dusts were the major sources of heavy metals in the precipitation of Taiyuan City, with average contributions of 38.34%, 23.06%, 20.45%, and 18.15%, respectively. According to backward trajectory analysis, air masses from the southwest and southeast directions contributed the most to precipitation during summer in Taiyuan, with percentages of 38 and 35, respectively. The southern industrial areas located in the Yuncheng-Linfen-Jinzhong and Jincheng-Changzhi-Jinzhong regions should be paid more attention.

Semivolatile Organic Compounds (SOCs) in Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) during Clear, Fog, and Haze Episodes in Winter in Beijing, China.

Few efforts have been made to elucidate the influence of weather conditions on the fate of semivolatile organic compounds (SOCs). Here, daily fine particulate matter (PM2.5) during clear, haze, and fog episodes collected in the winter in Beijing, China was analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), brominated flame retardants (BFRs), and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs). The total concentrations of PAHs, OPFRs, and BFRs had medians of 45.1 ng/m3 and 1347 and 46.7 pg/m3, respectively. The temporal pattern for PAH concentrations was largely dependent on coal combustion for residential heating. OPFR compositions that change during colder period were related to enhanced indoor emissions due to heating. The mean concentrations of SOCs during haze and fog days were 2-10 times higher than those during clear days. We found that BFRs with lower octanol and air partition coefficients tended to increase during haze and fog episodes, be removed from PM2.5 during clear episodes, or both. For PAHs and OPFRs, pollutants that are more recalcitrant to degradation were prone to accumulate during haze and fog days. The potential source contribution function (PSCF) model indicated that southern and eastern cities were major source regions of SOCs at this site.

[Source Profiles and Chemical Reactivity of Volatile Organic Compounds from Surface Coating of Aluminum Products in Foshan, China].

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) samples were collected and analyzed for the surface coating processes of aluminum products in Foshan. The concentration levels of VOCs from solvent-based coating (63.90-149.67 mg·m-3) are much higher than that from water-based, electrophoretic, and powder coating (2.99-21.93 mg·m-3). With respect to the VOC composition, aromatics are the main VOC group of solvent-based coating emission, ranging from 52.32%-71.55%. Typical species include toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and ethyl acetate. The VOCs emitted from water-based coating are mainly oxygenated VOCs, such as ethyl acetate (48.59%) and tetrahydrofuran (8.43%), while the percentage of aromatics (11.32%) is lower than that of solvent-based coating. Isopropanol is the most abundant species of electrophoretic coating emissions, accounting for up to 81.19% of the VOCs. The major VOC compounds of powder coating processes are acetone (30.25%), propane (15.48%), ethylene (12.15%), ethane (9.35%), and n-butane (5.16%). The calculation of the ozone formation potential (OFP) shows that the solvent-based coating has the highest OFP (3.89 g·g-1), followed by powder coating (2.53 g·g-1), while water-based and electrophoretic coating have lower OFPs (1.31 and 0.85 g·g-1, respectively). The most important contributor to OFP of solvent-based coating are aromatics, especially C7-C10 aromatics. The major contributors of water-based coating are ethyl acetate, m/p-xylenes, and toluene, with contributions of 23.24%, 21.76%, and 17.07%, respectively. The key reactive components of powder coating are ethylene, propene, and 1-butene; the sum of alkenes accounts for 71.11% of the OFP. With respect to the contribution of VOCs emitted from electrophoretic coating to the OFP, the percentage of isopropanol (65.08%) is significantly larger than that of other species (<6%).

Significant Increase of Aromatics-Derived Secondary Organic Aerosol during Fall to Winter in China.

Human activities release large amounts of anthropogenic pollutants into the air, and thereby produce substantial secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Aromatic hydrocarbons (AHs) that mainly emitted from coal combustion, transportation, solvent use and biofuel/biomass burning, are a major class of anthropogenic SOA precursors. At present, there are few field studies focusing on AH-derived SOA (SOAA) on a continental scale, especially in polluted regions of the world. In this study, a one-year concurrent observation of the SOAA tracer, 2,3-dihydroxy-4-oxopentanoic acid (C5H8O5, DHOPA) was carried out at 12 sites across six regions of China for the first time. The annual averages of DHOPA among the 12 sites ranged from 1.23 to 8.83 ng m-3 with a mean of 3.48 ± 1.96 ng m-3. At all observation sites, the concentrations of DHOPA from fall to spring were significantly higher than those in summertime, and positive correlations were observed between DHOPA and the biomass burning tracer (levoglucosan). This indicated that such a nationwide increase of SOAA during the cold period was highly associated with the enhancement of biomass burning emission. In the northern China, the highest levels of DHOPA were observed in the coldest months during winter, probably due to the enhancement of biofuel and coal consumption for household heating. In the southern China, the highest levels of DHOPA were mostly observed in fall and spring, which were associated with the enhancement of open biomass burning. The apparent increases of DHOPA and levoglucosan levels during the cold period and the negative correlations of visibility with DHOPA and levoglucosan imply that the reduction of SOAA amount and biomass burning emission is an efficient way to reduce haze pollution during fall to winter in China.

[Emission Factors and Preliminary Emission Estimates of Air Pollutants from Ships at Berth in the Guangzhou Port].

Three large container vessels over a tonnage of 40×103 t at berth in the Guangzhou Port were selected for determination of air pollutants in exhausts from auxiliary engines to obtain fuel-based emission factors (EFs). The fuel-based EFs for vessels A, B, and C at berth were 3096, 3031, and 3028 g·kg-1, respectively, for CO2; 61.8, 19.9, and 27.0 g·kg-1 for NOx; 8.0, 4.0, and 5.3 g·kg-1 for CO; 31.4, 41.9, and 56.7 g·kg-1 for SO2; 2.4, 1.1, and 1.5 g·kg-1 for PM2.5; and 0.13, 0.09, and 0.17 g·kg-1 for VOCs. With the basic information about ship types, arrival times, and berthing times, the emissions of NOx, CO, SO2, PM2.5, and NH3 from a ship at berth in the Guangzhou Port in 2014 were roughly estimated to be 1231, 226, 1229, 47.6 and 0.04 t, respectively, with ships with a tonnage of 10×103-50×103 t sharing the largest burdens, followed by ships over a tonnage of 50×103 t. Estimated emission of VOCs from ships at berth in the Guangzhou Port was about 33.6 t, with vessels below a tonnage of 3×103 t contributing the most.

Cellular and molecular perspectives of macrophage in rheumatoid arthritis / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic, inflammatory autoimmune disease, which is still a significant unmet medical need despite significant therapeutic advances. The pathogenesis of RA involves many types of immune cells, such as T cells, B cells, macrophages and so on. It's known that the synovial membrane contains two layers, the outer layer, or subintima and the inner layer, or intima. The intimal cells mainly include two types of cells, fibroblasts synoviocyte and macrophage-like synoviocyte. In the inflamed rheumatoid synovial tissues, there is a large number of macrophage-like synoviocytes. These cells can produce key pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and growth factors and their signaling pathways, including nuclear factor κB, Janus kinase-signal transducer, are highly activated. It will trigger cartilage destruction and perpetuate inflammation. This review attempts to high?light some aberrations of macrophage in immunoreaction including the roles of genetic and environ?mental factors, cellular alterations, especially signaling pathways that are implicated in the pathogenesis of RA.

Thermally-induced single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformations from a 2D two-fold interpenetrating square lattice layer to a 3D four-fold interpenetrating diamond framework and its application in dye-sensitized solar cells.

In this work, a rare 2D → 3D single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformation (SCSC) is observed in metal-organic coordination complexes, which is triggered by thermal treatment. The 2D two-fold interpenetrating square lattice layer [Cd(IBA)2]n (1) is irreversibly converted into a 3D four-fold interpenetrating diamond framework {[Cd(IBA)2(H2O)]·2.5H2O}n (2) (HIBA = 4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)benzoic acid). Consideration is given to these two complexes with different interpenetrating structures and dimensionality, and their influence on photovoltaic properties are studied. Encouraged by the UV-visible absorption and HOMO-LUMO energy states matched for sensitizing TiO2, the two complexes are employed in combination with N719 in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) to compensate absorption in the ultraviolet and blue-violet region, offset competitive visible light absorption of I3(-) and reducing charge the recombination of injected electrons. After co-sensitization with 1 and 2, the device co-sensitized by 1/N719 and 2/N719 to yield overall efficiencies of 7.82% and 8.39%, which are 19.94% and 28.68% higher than that of the device sensitized only by N719 (6.52%). Consequently, high dimensional interpenetrating complexes could serve as excellent co-sensitizers and have application in DSSCs.