Background The Lethrinidae (emperors) include many important food fish species. Accurate determination of species and stocks is important for fisheries management. The taxonomy of the genus Lethrinus is problematic, for example with regards to the identification of the thumbprint emperor Lethrinus harak. Little research has been done on L. harak diversity in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. This study aimed to evaluate the morphometric and genetic characters of the thumbprint emperor, L. harak (Forsskål, 1775) in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Methods This research was conducted in the Marine Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Hasanuddin University, and Division of Fisheries Science, University of Miyazaki. Morphometric character measurements were based on holotype character data, while genetic analysis was performed on cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequence data. Morphometric data were analysed using principal component analysis (PCA) statistical tests in MINITAB, and genetic data were analysed in MEGA 6. Results Statistical test results based on morphometric characters revealed groupings largely representative of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The Seychelles was separated from other Indian Ocean sites and Australian populations were closer to the Pacific than the Indian Ocean group. The genetic distance between the groups was in the low category (0.000 - 0.042). The phylogenetic topology reconstruction accorded well with the morphometric character analysis, with two main L. harak clades representing Indian and Pacific Ocean, and Australia in the Pacific Ocean clade. Conclusions These results indicate that the morphological character size of L. harak from Makassar and the holotype from Saudi Arabia have changed. Genetic distance and phylogeny reconstruction are closely related to low genetic distance.Background Healthcare services, in many countries, are increasingly being provided by cadres not trained as physicians, and these substitute health workers are referred to as mid-level health providers (MLHPs). The objective of this study was to rapidly synthesise evidence on the effectiveness of MLHPs involved in the delivery of healthcare, with a perspective on low- and middle-income countries. Methods The review team performed an overview of systematic reviews assessing various outcomes for participants receiving care from MLHPs. The team evaluated systematic reviews for methodological quality and certainty of the evidence. Also, the review team consulted relevant stakeholders in India. Results The final report included seven systematic reviews, with six assessed as moderate to high methodological quality. Mortality outcomes concerning pregnancy and childbirth care services showed no significant differences in care provided by MLHPs when compared with doctors. Pregnancy care provided by midwives was found erent care domains.Background Despite the potential benefits, the effects of Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) gait training on changes in neuromuscular activation that accompany functional gains in individuals with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type III is not well known. In this article, we quantify the effects of HAL gait training on spatial muscle activity patterns in a patient with SMA type III using multi-channel surface electromyography (SEMG). Methods A 21-years old male (168 cm, 47.8 kg) with spinal muscular atrophy type III, when diagnosed at 18-years old by genetic screening, participated in this case study. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/PLX-4032.html Although he presented with forearm distal muscle weakness, atrophy of the intrinsic muscles of the hand, and neuromuscular fatigue, his activities of daily living is independent. The patient underwent a separate, single 33-minute session of both HAL and treadmill gait training. To evaluate the coefficient of variation (CoV) of force and alterations in the SEMG spatial distribution patterns, modified entropy and CoV of root mean square (RMS) were calculated from the vastus lateralis (VL) muscle before and after the intervention of HAL and treadmill gait training. Each training session was separated by a period of one month to avoid cross-over effects. Results There was a greater decrease in the ΔCoV of force and an increase in the magnitude of whole VL muscle activation from pre-intervention to post-intervention with the HAL gait training as compared to the treadmill gait training. In response to only HAL gait training, the CoV of RMS was higher, and the modified entropy was lower post-intervention than pre-intervention. Conclusions Our results support the notion that HAL gait training has a positive benefit on motor output not only in the magnitude of SEMG generated but also the patterns of neural activation.Background Zuotai (mainly β-HgS)-containing 70 Wei-Zhen-Zhu-Wan (70W, Rannasangpei) is a famous Tibetan medicine for treating cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases. We have shown that 70W protected against CCl 4 hepatotoxicity. CCl 4 is metabolized via cytochrome P450 (CYP) to produce reactive metabolites. Whether 70W has any effect on CYPs is unknown and such effects should be compared with mercury compounds for safety evaluation. Methods Mice were given clinical doses of 70W (0.15-1.5 g/kg, po), Zuotai (30 mg/kg, po), and compared to HgCl 2 (33.6 mg/kg, po) and MeHg (3.1 mg/kg, po) for seven days. Liver RNA and protein were isolated for qPCR and Western-blot analysis. Results 70W and Zuotai had no effects on hepatic mRNA expression of Cyp1a2, Cyp2b10, Cyp3a11, Cyp4a10 and Cyp7a1, and corresponding nuclear receptors [aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), pregnane X receptor (PXR), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα); farnesoid X receptor (FXR)]. In comparison, HgCl 2 and MeHg increased mRNA expression of Cyp1a2, Cyp2b10, Cyp4a10 and Cyp7a1 except for Cyp3a11, and corresponding nuclear receptors except for PXR. Western-blot confirmed mRNA results, showing increases in CYP1A2, CYP2B1, CYP2E1, CYP4A and CYP7A1 by HgCl 2 and MeHg only, and all treatments had no effects on CYP3A. Conclusions Zuotai and Zuotai-containing 70W at clinical doses had minimal influence on hepatic CYPs and corresponding nuclear receptors, while HgCl 2 and MeHg produced significant effects. Thus, the use of total Hg content to evaluate the safety of HgS-containing 70W is inappropriate.

The process achieved UV light dosing for sanitation while maintaining the functional and structural integrity of the N95 respirators, with a daily potential throughput capacity of ˜12,000 masks. This process has supported our health system to provide respiratory PPE to all frontline team members.

This novel method of N95 respirator sanitation can safely enable re-use of the N95 respirator essential for healthcare workers caring for patients with COVID-19. Our high-throughput process can extend local supplies of this critical PPE until the national supply is replenished.
This novel method of N95 respirator sanitation can safely enable re-use of the N95 respirator essential for healthcare workers caring for patients with COVID-19. Our high-throughput process can extend local supplies of this critical PPE until the national supply is replenished.Optimal maternal long-chain PUFA (LCPUFA) status is essential for the developing fetus. The fatty acid desaturase (FADS) genes are involved in the endogenous synthesis of LCPUFA. The minor allele of various FADS SNP have been associated with increased maternal concentrations of the precursors linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA), and lower concentrations of arachidonic acid (AA) and DHA. There is limited research on the influence of FADS genotype on cord PUFA status. The current study investigated the influence of maternal and child genetic variation in FADS genotype on cord blood PUFA status in a high fish-eating cohort. Cord blood samples (n 1088) collected from the Seychelles Child Development Study (SCDS) Nutrition Cohort 2 (NC2) were analysed for total serum PUFA. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/hsp990-nvp-hsp990.html Of those with cord PUFA data available, maternal (n 1062) and child (n 916), FADS1 (rs174537 and rs174561), FADS2 (rs174575), and FADS1-FADS2 (rs3834458) were determined. Regression analysis determined that maternal minor allele homozygosity was associated with lower cord blood concentrations of DHA and the sum of EPA + DHA. Lower cord blood AA concentrations were observed in children who were minor allele homozygous for rs3834458 (β = 0·075; P = 0·037). Children who were minor allele carriers for rs174537, rs174561, rs174575 and rs3834458 had a lower cord blood AALA ratio (P less then 0·05 for all). Both maternal and child FADS genotype were associated with cord LCPUFA concentrations, and therefore, the influence of FADS genotype was observed despite the high intake of preformed dietary LCPUFA from fish in this population.
The aim of this study is to test the psychometric properties of the Spanish validation of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) in a Paraguayan population.

Participants were recruited through an Internet-based survey. All participants whose scores in the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and The Fear Questionnaire (FQ) were greater than zero were included. 1245 subjects responded voluntarily 1077 subjects, scoring >0, were considered.

To establish construct validity of the FCV-19S, an exploratory factor analysis was performed using the KMO test, which was adequate, and the Bartlett sphericity test, which was significant (p <.0001). The CFI, NFI, GFI, TLI and RMSEA indices were used to evaluate the model and showed good adjustment. Cronbach's α showed valid internal consistency (α = 0.86). This validation was supported by significant correlation (p <.001) with the HADS scale for anxiety and depression and with the FQ scale for specific phobia.

The Spanish version of the FCV-19S is a 7-item scale with two dimensions, psychological symptoms and physiological symptoms, which demonstrated robust psychometric properties in a Paraguayan population.
The Spanish version of the FCV-19S is a 7-item scale with two dimensions, psychological symptoms and physiological symptoms, which demonstrated robust psychometric properties in a Paraguayan population.The present study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of rumen-protected folic acid (RPFA) on slaughter performance, visceral organ and gastrointestinal tract coefficients, and meat quality in lambs. Sixty-six lambs from 120 Hu ewes were selected based on body weight and maternal diets and then assigned to six groups using a randomised block experimental design in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement. The first factor was folic acid (FA) as RPFA in the maternal diet (0 mg/kg (M0F), 16 mg/kg (M16F) or 32 mg/kg (M32F) on DM basis). The second factor was FA in the lambs' diet from weaning until slaughter (0 mg/kg (OC) or 4·0 mg/kg (OF)). The results indicated that the addition of 16 mg/kg FA to the maternal diet increased pre-slaughter weight (PSW), dressing and meat percentage, the reticulum and omasum coefficients, length of the jejunum and ileum, tail fat and perirenal fat coefficient and a* value of the meat colour. The addition of RPFA to the lambs' diet increased PSW, dressing and meat percentage, eye muscle area, abomasum weight, weight and length of the small intestine, but reduced the coefficients of tail fat. An M × O interaction was observed for the weights of heart, lungs, rumen and total stomach, weight and coefficient of omental fat and the girth rib value. Collectively, RPFA in the maternal and lambs' diet improved slaughter performance and meat quality by stimulating the morphological development of the gastrointestinal tract and the distribution of fat in the body.With the onset of the demographic transition in sub-Saharan Africa, couples' desired number of children and the sex composition of offspring may become conflicted, with potential effects on future fertility. While intuitively expected, this effect has not been observed in studies in sub-Saharan Africa, where the level of fertility is higher than in other African regions. In this study, the hypothesis of a conflicted situation was examined by assessing the effect of sex composition of offspring on women's intentions regarding additional children and their use of modern contraceptives. A mixed-method analysis was performed using quantitative data regarding 2567 women aged 35-49 years drawn from a 2012 Demtrend retrospective longitudinal population survey, supplemented by qualitative data collected through 23 in-depth interviews of men and women in Ouagadougou. Results showed that the absence of one sex (boy or girl) in the existing offspring was associated with additional demand for children and lower contraceptive use.

ventris and S. vespertilio Kabata, 1979 are described for the first time. A key to the females of the 31 species of lernanthropids found in Australian waters is provided.The 34 species of Australian Psilota are revised, with 26 new species described (Psilota aislinnae Young sp. nov., Psilota alexanderi Young sp. nov., Psilota apiformis Thompson and Young sp. nov., Psilota auripila Young and van Steenis sp. nov., Psilota azurea Thompson and Young sp. nov., Psilota bicolor Young and Ferguson sp. nov., Psilota brunnipennis Young sp. nov., Psilota calva Young sp. nov., Psilota darwini Young sp. nov., Psilota flavoorta Young and van Steenis sp. nov., Psilota fuscifrons Young sp. nov., Psilota livida Young and van Steenis sp. nov., Psilota longipila Thompson and Young sp. nov., Psilota mcqueeni Young sp. nov., Psilota metallica Thompson and Young sp. nov., Psilota nigripila Young sp. nov., Psilota occidua Young sp. nov., Psilota pollinosa Young and van Steenis sp. nov., Psilota purpurea Thompson and Young sp. nov., Psilota smaragdina Young sp. nov., Psilota solata Young and van Steenis sp. nov., Psilota spathistyla Young and van Steenis sp. nov., Psilota spinifemur Young sp. nov., is Walker, 1858, Psilota coerulea Macquart, 1846, and Psilota viridis Macquart, 1847.Indian taxa of the genus Cyana Walker, 1854 are reviewed. Five new species and three new subspecies are described C. rudloffi Volynkin N. Singh, sp. nov., C. atlanteia N. Singh et al., sp. nov., C. chrysopeleia N. Singh et al., sp. nov., C. dohertyi eirene Volynkin N. Singh, ssp. nov., C. britomartis N. Singh Volynkin, sp. nov., C. arama metis Volynkin N. Singh, ssp. nov., C. dryope Volynkin N. Singh, sp. nov. and C. conclusa nicobara N. Singh et al., ssp. nov. The replacement name for C. tripunctata Rothschild, 1936 nec. Reich, 1935 is introduced C. arorai Volynkin et al., nom. nov. Cyana linatula (Swinhoe, 1891), stat. rev. and Cyana watsoni Hampson, 1897, stat. rev. are restored to species rank from the synonymy with Cyana subornata (Walker, 1854) and Cyana moelleri (Elwes, 1890), respectively. Cyana paeninsulana Černý, 2009 is downgraded to a subspecies of C. selangorica (Hampson, 1903) C. selangorica paeninsulana Černý, 2009, stat. nov. Cyana flavotincta (Draudt, 1914) is downgraded to a subspecies of C.ri Elwes, 1890, Cyana watsoni Hampson, 1897, Bizone gazella Moore, 1872, Bizone dohertyi Elwes, 1890, Bizone sikkimensis Elwes, 1890, Cyana khasiana Hampson, 1897, Bizone bellissima Moore, 1878, Bizone arama Moore, 1859, Bizone triguttata Walker, 1869, Bizone adita Moore, 1859, Bizone bifasciata Poujade, 1886, Bizone signa Walker, 1854, Bizone fasciculata Walker, 1856, Bizone perornata Walker, 1854 and Bizone conclusa Walker, 1862.Leocrates Kinberg, 1866 and Leocratides Ehlers, 1908 are two genera of hesionid errant annelids (Hesionidae, Hesioninae) whose species have 16 chaetigers (21 segments). Leocrates species are free living in rocky or mixed bottoms, whereas Leocratides species are usually symbiotic with hexactinellid sponges. Marian Pettibone revised both genera as part of the R/V Siboga Expedition monographs 50 years ago, and most of her ideas have remained unchallenged regarding synonymy for genera and species. For example, she included three genera as junior synonyms of Leocrates Lamprophaes Grube, 1867, Tyrrhena Claparède, 1868, and Dalhousia McIntosh, 1885, and from 21 nominal species, she regarded only eight as valid. In this revision, all material available was studied, and different morphological patterns were noted in nuchal organs lobes, pharynx armature, and chaetal features. Leocratides species belong to a single pattern; however, in Leocrates several patterns were detected. Three patterns are present for nuchal orga18 from different World localities are described as new. The new species are Lamprophaea cornuta n. sp. from the French Polynesia, L. ockeri n. sp. from the Hawaiian Islands, L. paulayi n. sp. from the Red Sea, L. pettiboneae n. sp. from the Marshall Islands, L. pleijeli n. sp. from La Réunion, L. poupini n. sp. from the French Polynesia, Leocrates ahlfeldae n. sp. from India, L. harrisae n. sp. from the Revillagigedo Islands, L. mooreae n. sp. from New Caledonia, L. reishi n. sp. from the Marshall Islands, L. rizzoae n. sp. from the Seychelles Islands, L. rousei n. sp. from Papua New Guinea, L. seidae n. sp. from the French Polynesia, Leocratides jimii n. sp. from Madagascar, Paralamprophaea bemisae n. sp. from the Maldives, P. crosnieri n. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/at-406.html sp. from Madagascar, P. leslieae n. sp. from Kiribati, and P. meyeri n. sp. from the French Polynesia. However, Leocrates japonicus Gustafson, 1930 is a nomen nudum. Keys are included for identifying all hesioninae genera, and for all species in all the included genera.The leaf beetle subfamily Chrysomelinae is reviewed for New Zealand. The native fauna consists of six genera, three new, all of which are described Aphilon Sharp, 1876; Caccomolpus Sharp, 1886; Chalcolampra Blanchard, 1853; Mauroda gen. nov.; Nanomela gen. nov.; Zeaphilon gen. nov.. Chalcolampra is the senior synonym of Cyrtonogetus Broun, 1915 (comb. nov.). These genera include 51 species, nine newly described and eight in new combinations, as follows Caccomolpus laticollis (Broun, 1893) comb. nov., from Aphilon; C. pretiosus (Broun, 1880) comb. nov., from Aphilon; Chalcolampra crassa (Broun, 1915) comb. nov., from Cyrtonogetus; Maurodus arcus sp. nov.; M. cinctiger (Broun, 1921) comb. nov., from Caccomolpus; M. impressus (Broun, 1914) comb. nov., from Aphilon; M. lepidus sp. nov.; M. maculatus (Broun, 1893) comb. nov., from Caccomolpus; M. nunni sp. nov.; M. occiduus sp. nov.; M. ornatus (Broun, 1910) comb. nov., from Caccomolpus; M. owenensis sp. nov.; M. plagiatus (Sharp, 1886) comb. nov., from Caccomolpus; M. supernus sp. nov.; Nanomela tiniheke sp. nov.; Zeaphilon marskeae sp. nov.; Z. mirandum sp. nov.. All 11 species in the genus Maurodus are described and a key given for their identification. Type material of the New Zealand species of Aphilon (10 species), Caccomolpus (14 species) and Chalcolampra (13 species) is reviewed and lectotypes designated for 16 species, as well as M. cinctiger. A type species is designated for Caccomolpus C. globosus Sharp, 1886. Holotypes are confirmed for 26 species. Seven genera and 13 species of exotic Chrysomelinae also occur in New Zealand and their presence is briefly reviewed. One of these exotics has been misnamed as Paropsisterna variicollis (Chapuis, 1877), a junior synonym of P. cloelia (Stål, 1860) (syn. nov.). A key to all genera of Chrysomelinae in New Zealand is provided.

37, P = 0.022) and body weight (β = -2.92, P = 0.005) at 4-6 years. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report of associations between key placental protein activity measures and longitudinal child outcomes at various life stages. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/upadacitinib.html Our data indicate that AMPK and mTOR signaling are linked to cardiometabolic measures at birth and 4-6 years, providing novel insight into potential mechanisms underpinning how metabolic signaling in the placenta is associated with future risk of cardiovascular disease.BACKGROUND Bariatric surgery leads to a substantial weight loss (WL), however, a subset of patients undergoing surgery fails to achieve adequate WL. The reason for the individual variation in WL remains unexplained. Using an exploratory cross-disciplinary approach, we aimed to identify preoperative and early postoperative factors explaining the variation in WL after bariatric surgery. METHODS Sixty-one subjects were recruited. Eighteen subjects did not receive surgery and three subjects dropped out, leaving a total sample of 40 subjects. Physiological, social, and psychological data were collected before and 6 months after surgery. All variables were analyzed in combination using a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression to explain the variation in WL 18 months after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (n = 30) and sleeve gastrectomy (n = 10). RESULTS Mean WL was 31% (range 10-52%). The following preoperative factors predicted 59% of the variation in WL type of surgery (14%), diabetes status (dualized postoperative support to optimize WL outcome.Bats provide key ecosystem services such as crop pest regulation, pollination, seed dispersal, and soil fertilization. Bats are also major hosts for biological agents responsible for zoonoses, such as coronaviruses (CoVs). The islands of the Western Indian Ocean are identified as a major biodiversity hotspot, with more than 50 bat species. In this study, we tested 1,013 bats belonging to 36 species from Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Reunion Island and Seychelles, based on molecular screening and partial sequencing of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene. In total, 88 bats (8.7%) tested positive for coronaviruses, with higher prevalence in Mozambican bats (20.5% ± 4.9%) as compared to those sampled on islands (4.5% ± 1.5%). Phylogenetic analyses revealed a large diversity of α- and β-CoVs and a strong signal of co-evolution between CoVs and their bat host species, with limited evidence for host-switching, except for bat species sharing day roost sites. These results highlight that strong variation between islands does exist and is associated with the composition of the bat species community on each island. Future studies should investigate whether CoVs detected in these bats have a potential for spillover in other hosts.An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.People in the Solomon Islands today are considered to have derived from Asian- and Papuan-related ancestors. Papuan-related ancestors colonized Near Oceania about 47,000 years ago, and Asian-related ancestors were Austronesian (AN)-speaking population, called Lapita, who migrated from Southeast Asia about 3,500 years ago. These two ancestral populations admixed in Near Oceania before the expansion of Lapita people into Remote Oceania. To understand the impact of the admixture on the adaptation of AN-speaking Melanesians in Near Oceania, we performed the genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis of 21 individuals from Munda, the main town of the New Georgia Islands in the western Solomon Islands. Population samples from Munda were genetically similar to other Solomon Island population samples. The analysis of genetic contribution from the two different ancestries to the Munda genome revealed significantly higher proportions of Asian- and Papuan-related ancestries in the region containing the annexin A1 (ANXA1) gene (Asian component > 82.6%) and in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II region (Papuan component > 85.4%), respectively. These regions were suspected to have undergone natural selection since the time of admixture. Our results suggest that admixture had affected adaptation of AN-speaking Melanesians in the Solomon Islands.Fibroblasts are an essential cell population for human skin architecture and function. While fibroblast heterogeneity is well established, this phenomenon has not been analyzed systematically yet. We have used single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze the transcriptomes of more than 5,000 fibroblasts from a sun-protected area in healthy human donors. Our results define four main subpopulations that can be spatially localized and show differential secretory, mesenchymal and pro-inflammatory functional annotations. Importantly, we found that this fibroblast 'priming' becomes reduced with age. We also show that aging causes a substantial reduction in the predicted interactions between dermal fibroblasts and other skin cells, including undifferentiated keratinocytes at the dermal-epidermal junction. Our work thus provides evidence for a functional specialization of human dermal fibroblasts and identifies the partial loss of cellular identity as an important age-related change in the human dermis. These findings have important implications for understanding human skin aging and its associated phenotypes.ErbB2 overexpression identifies a subclass of breast cancer as ErbB2-positive that is frequently associated with poor prognosis. Current ErbB2-targeted therapies have profoundly improved patient outcomes, but mutations occurring in ErbB2 have been shown to confer drug resistance. Induction of ErbB2 degradation was proposed as an intriguing strategy to battle with ErbB2-positive breast cancer and reduced mutation-incurred drug resistance. Although multiple HSP90 inhibitors have been demonstrated to effectively trigger ErbB2 degradation, none succeeded in the clinical evaluations. To develop novel ErbB2-targeting strategies, we investigated the endocytic degradation and reversible ubiquitylation of ErbB2 in breast cancer. In this study, we reveal that HSP90 inhibition leads to efficient ubiquitylation and endocytic degradation of ErbB2 through the canonical endo-lysosomal route. USP2 associates with internalized ErbB2 and prevents its lysosomal sorting and degradation via exerting deubiquitylase activity. Accordingly, the USP2 inhibitor ML364 is capable of inducing ErbB2 ubiquitylation and accelerating its turnover.

In this study, Acid-Volatile Sulfur (AVS), trace metals Cu, Cd and Zn and their chemical speciation based on BCR-sequential and simultaneous extraction (SEMs) in Antarctic lake sediments (Y2-1 and YO) were analyzed to investigate the restriction of sulfate reduction on the bioavailability and toxicity of trace metals. Much higher trace metals in Y2-1 indicating a primary source from penguin guano. The main chemical speciation of Cu and Cd in Y2-1 was their oxidizable fraction in contrast to those of weak-acid extraction in YO. Lower ratio of ΣSEM/AVS in Y2-1 indicating less toxicity of the trace metals. The main chemical speciation of Cd in Y2-1 was their oxidizable fraction in contrast to that exchangeable fraction in penguin guano, indicating that although amounts of Cd was transported from marine to lake by penguins, strong sulfate reduction in ornithogenic sediments restricts the bioavailability and toxicity of Cd through the formation of insoluble sulfide. PCBs and PBDEs in microplastics and zooplankton collected in surface water at 27 locations in the Pacific Ocean and around the coast of Japan were investigated. Both PCBs and PBDEs were observed in buoyant microplastics, even in smaller particles of 0.315-1 mm. Concentrations of Σ13 PCBs were 0.04-124 ng/g, and were higher in urban bay areas such as Tokyo Bay. Sporadic moderate to high concentrations of PBDEs were observed in both urban-offshore and rural-offshore locations, consisting mostly of higher-brominated congeners. From the latter, BDE 209 ranged from not detected to 2158 ng/g. The microplastic-to-zooplankton abundance ratio threshold was 0.6 for PCBs and 0.08 for PBDEs, above which exposure would be greater from microplastics than from zooplankton. Here, we report results from a 15-day mesocosm experiment examining changes in estimated oil equivalents (EOEs), n-alkanes (n-C10 to n-C35), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and petroleum biomarkers. Water accommodated fractions (WAF) of oil and diluted chemically enhanced WAF (DCEWAF) were prepared and concentrations of oil residues determined on day 0, 3 and 15, respectively. Significant removals of n-alkane and PAHs were observed starting from day 3. The n-C17/pristane and n-C18/phytane ratios suggested that the n-alkane removal was due to biodegradation in the mesocosms. The ratios of C2-dibenzothiophenes/C2-phenanthrenes (D2/P2) and C3-dibenzothiophenes/C3-phenanthrenes (D3/P3) were found to be stable through the experiment. DCEWAF treatment had longer half-lives for most n-alkanes but shorter half-lives for most PAHs than the WAF treatment. Most petroleum biomarkers were stable throughout the experiment. However, depletion of TAS (tricyclic aromatic steroids) was observed on day 15 of DCEWAF treatment. The daily accumulation rates, composition, sizes and potential sources of marine litter collected on a remote island within the Western Indian Ocean were investigated. In total, 9119 items of marine litter were collected during 40 surveys, which equated to 0.0082 items·m-1·d-1. Between 2003 and 2019 there was a significant increase in the amount of litter deposited, with the highest daily accumulation rate recorded in 2019 (0.0255 items·m-1·year-1). All specific litter types increased over time and also differed significantly in their accumulation rates, with polystyrene fragments/pieces (0.00249 items·m-1·d-1), plastic items (0.00135 items·m-1·d-1) and plastic bottles (0.0011 items·m-1·d-1) being the most commonly encountered during this study. The majority of the litter found was ≤5 cm in size. Nearly all (>80%) litter collected was made of or contained some form of plastic. Recommendations for improved management of litter and the importance of establishing regular beach clean-ups within the Seychelles are briefly discussed. In assessing the overall status of individual water bodies the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires member states to assess both ecological and chemical status. The ecological status of transitional and coastal (TraC) waters is based on the assessment of specific biological elements as well as supporting chemical, physico-chemical and hydromorphological elements. Hydromorphology of TraC waters is one of the basic features of marine and coastal ecosystems controlling the presence of biota. Human induced hydromorphological alterations and pressures can damage the ecology and functioning of aquatic ecosystems. Thirteen metrics were developed and combined to form a hydromorphological index, the Hydromorphological Quality Index (HQI). The index categorises a water body into 5 classes. Semi-qualitative and quantitative criteria were used to assign a morphological classification directly related to that of the WFD, i.e., high, good, moderate, poor and bad. Thirty-three transitional and coastal water bodies were assessed using HQI. We investigated the growth and nutrient uptake of Myriophyllum spicatum under different nutrient conditions and evaluated its implications for ecosystem services in an enclosed area of Jinshan. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/filanesib.html The specific growth rate ranged from 1.29%-4.37%/day, and the dissolved inorganic carbon and nitrogen, and phosphorus uptake rates were 1.30-1.62, 0.040-0.453, and 0.003-0.027 mg/(g∙day), respectively, under different nutrient conditions. The O2-production and carbon-sequestration efficiencies in the field were 154.30 and 1.25 mg/(g DW∙h), respectively. The average removal efficiencies of NH4+-N, NO3--N, NO2--N, and PO43--P were 43.05%, 97.03%, 64.26%, and 59.24%, respectively, in M. spicatum-cultivated areas compared with in the open sea. Harvesting of M. spicatum removed 12,936.87, 1289.97 and 114.81 kg of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, respectively, from seawater in Jinshan in Nov, 2018. In conclusion, M. spicatum is a good candidate for integrated macrophyte/animal multi-trophic aquaculture in terms of nutrient extraction and economic diversification in low-salinity environments. Few investigations of iron speciation exist in intertidal conditions with little attention given to understanding the geochemical behavior of Fe3+-Fe2+ and its biogeochemical processes. Here, one sediment core was collected in Yunxiao mangrove forests, Zhangjiang estuary, China and iron mineralogy was determined by magnetic methods and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Changes in magnetic susceptibility, susceptibility of anhysteretic remanent magnetization, and saturation isothermal remanent magnetization were linked to changes of pseudo-single domain soft coercive components with minor antiferromagnetic fractions and the presence of minimal concentrations of superparamagnetic particles was confirmed by the no frequency dependent of AC magnetization. A positive correlation between L-ratio and hard isothermal remanent magnetization is congruent with the distribution of high-coercivity antiferromagnetic minerals. At 295 K, the Mössbauer spectrum of specimens was well fitted with a single magnetic sextet, hematite and two magnetic doublets, paramagnetic Fe2+ and paramagnetic Fe3+.