Showing papers by "Bing Zhang published in 2012"
TL;DR: Wang et al. as mentioned in this paper used fuzzy membership analysis and multivariate statistics to assess the water quality, surface water and groundwater were sampled and analyzed by fuzzy membership and multiivariate statistics, and the water samples were grouped into four categories according to irrigation water quality assessment diagrams of USDA.
287 citations
TL;DR: This work established an in vivo system to elucidate the mechanisms of exosomal release in the nervous system and identified two proteins, Rab11 and Syntaxin 1A (Syx1A), that were required for Evi vesicle release.
246 citations
TL;DR: In this article, two alternative approaches, decentralization of the nation's planning regime and participatory governance with public involvement, were proposed to improve China's environmental governance system, which led to a redefined responsibility of environmental protection from local Environmental Protection Bureaus (EPBs) to local government leaders.
91 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a field monitoring was conducted to update and develop unintentional persistent organic pollutant (unintentional POP) emission inventories for the copper metallurgy industry in China.
74 citations
TL;DR: The studies reveal that Drosophila Neto is a novel, essential component of the iGluR complexes and is required for iGLUR clustering, organization of PSDs, and synapse functionality.
Abstract: Neurotransmitter receptor recruitment at postsynaptic specializations is key in synaptogenesis, since this step confers functionality to the nascent synapse. The Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a glutamatergic synapse, similar in composition and function to mammalian central synapses. Various mechanisms regulating the extent of postsynaptic ionotropic glutamate receptor (iGluR) clustering have been described, but none are known to be essential for the initial localization and clustering of iGluRs at postsynaptic densities (PSDs). We identified and characterized the Drosophila neto (neuropilin and tolloid-like) as an essential gene required for clustering of iGluRs at the NMJ. Neto colocalizes with the iGluRs at the PSDs in puncta juxtaposing the active zones. neto loss-of-function phenotypes parallel the loss-of-function defects described for iGluRs. The defects in neto mutants are effectively rescued by muscle-specific expression of neto transgenes. Neto clustering at the Drosophila NMJ coincides with and is dependent on iGluRs. Our studies reveal that Drosophila Neto is a novel, essential component of the iGluR complexes and is required for iGluR clustering, organization of PSDs, and synapse functionality.
58 citations
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors used oxygen-18 to determine the three fluxes in the summer corn and winter wheat field under existing irrigation pattern in Shanxi Province, China, and supported by hydrological observations.
50 citations
TL;DR: Emissions characteristics of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) from nine sintering plants operating on different industrial scales were measured and the ratios of several characteristic PCN congeners were compared with those from other sources to provide useful information for identifying the sources of PCNs produced by iron ore sintered processes.
50 citations
TL;DR: Although thermalwire reclamation in incinerators has been proposed as an alternative to open burning, there are still considerable environmental risks associated with regulated incinerators, and unintentional POP emissions from thermal wire reclamation sites need to be controlled by local government agencies.
50 citations
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors presented a summary of the local efforts in China's ecological industrial parks (EIPs) to assess GHG emissions and identify potential mitigation measures, including the development industrial symbiosis (IS) and on-site renewable energy projects.
41 citations
TL;DR: Air, soils and sediments surrounding an abandoned pentachlorophenol factory were sampled to determine the levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, unintentionally formed during PCP production, indicating PCDD/Fs in the historical contaminated site pose a long-term impact on surrounding environment.
40 citations
TL;DR: Wang et al. as mentioned in this paper examined joint research and development between Chinese wind-turbine manufacturing companies and foreign design firms, assessing the performance of joint R&D activities in China using the structureconduct-performance (SCP) framework.
TL;DR: It is suggested that only sRAGE and BACE1 changed ahead of cognitive impairment after stroke, not NEP or APOE genotypes, may be biomarkers diagnosing post-stroke cognitive impairment.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate whether some biomarkers could predict cognitive impairment after stroke. One hundred fifty-two first-ever stroke patients were recruited within 6–72 h after the onset of symptoms. Blood was drawn within 1 h after admission for determining biomarkers. Cognitive function was assayed 2 weeks after stroke. The patients were divided into four groups: stroke, vascular cognitive impairment with no dementia (VCIND), vascular dementia (VaD), and mixed dementia (MD). Forty healthy subjects were used as controls. The results indicated that lower soluble receptor levels for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) and higher β-secretase enzyme (BACE1) and neprilysin (NEP) levels were found in the VCIND, VaD, and MD groups. In addition, the percentages of e3/e4 genotypes and e4 alleles in the VCIND, VaD, and MD groups were higher than in the stroke group. Correlation analysis determined that sRAGE, BACE1, and NEP were significantly related to the results of neuropsychological assessments. Logistic regression analysis, however, suggested that only sRAGE and BACE1 changed ahead of cognitive impairment after stroke. In conclusion, only BACE1 and sRAGE, not NEP or APOE genotypes, may be biomarkers diagnosing post-stroke cognitive impairment.
TL;DR: EAFs were identified to be an important PCN source, and the obtained data are useful for developing a PCN inventory and might provide helpful information for identifying the specific sources of PCNs emitted from EAFs.
Abstract: Electric arc furnaces (EAF) are well recognized as significant sources of dioxins. EAFs have also been speculated to be sources of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) due to the close correlation between dioxin and PCN formation. However, assessment on PCN emissions from EAFs has not been carried out. The primary aim of this preliminary study is to identify and characterize the atmospheric emission of PCNs from EAFs. In this preliminary study, stack gas samples from two typical EAFs with different scales (EAF-1, 160 t batch(-1); and EAF-2, 60 t batch(-1)) were collected by automatic isokinetic sampling technique, and PCN congeners in samples were analyzed by isotope dilution high-resolution gas chromatography combined with high-resolution mass spectrometry method. Emission concentrations of PCNs were 458 and 1,099 ng m(-3) for EAF-1 and EAF-2, respectively. The emission factors of PCNs to air were 21.6 and 30.1 ng toxic equivalent t(-1) for EAF-1 and EAF-2, respectively, which suggested that EAF is an important source of PCN release. With regard to the characteristics of PCNs from EAFs, lower chlorinated homologues were dominant. The PCN congeners comprised of CN27/30, CN52/60, CN66/67, and CN73 were the most abundant congeners for tetra-, penta-, hexa-, and hepta-chlorinated homologues, respectively. EAFs were identified to be an important PCN source, and the obtained data are useful for developing a PCN inventory. The congener profiles of PCNs presented here might provide helpful information for identifying the specific sources of PCNs emitted from EAFs.
TL;DR: In this paper, an artificial market for SO2 emission trading was constructed by applying an agent-based model and the performance of the Jiangsu SO2 market was examined under different allowance allocation methods and transaction costs.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors developed an equity-based optimisation for a regional water pollutant discharge allowance allocation method, which is based on the Gini coefficient of considering socio-economic and environmental factors.
Abstract: Regional allowance allocation not only matters for regional economic efficiency but also for fairness between regions or companies It is important to work out a fair and reasonable allocation method to achieve China's goal of the gross control of pollutant discharge This research developed an equity-based optimisation for a regional water pollutant discharge allowance allocation method, which is based on the Gini coefficient of considering socio-economic and environmental factors Taking the Tai Lake Basin in Jiangsu Province as an example, this paper optimised the present state of distribution on the basis of an assessment of fairness of the current discharge allowance allocation status The optimised allowance allocation results of the Tai Lake Basin were distinct from other allocation methods, and reduced the inequity of regional allowance allocation However, the stress of equity cannot give full consideration to both environmental and economic efficiency targets Connecting the allocation of discha
TL;DR: Water pollution trading (WPT) is considered a cost-effective policy instrument for controlling water pollution as mentioned in this paper, and since the late 1990s the Chinese government has piloted WPT programs at different lev...
Abstract: Water pollution trading (WPT) is considered a cost-effective policy instrument for controlling water pollution. Since the late 1990s the Chinese government has piloted WPT programs at different lev...
TL;DR: This work investigated the usefulness of diffusion tensor tractography for differentiating between histological pathologies and evaluating white matter damage resulting from brain tumors and sought to categorize the appearance of brain tumor–related WM tract changes.
Abstract: Summary
Aims
We investigated the usefulness of diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) for differentiating between histological pathologies and evaluating white matter (WM) damage resulting from brain tumors. We also sought to categorize the appearance of brain tumor–related WM tract changes.
Methods
A total of 18 inpatients with intracranial neoplasms were enrolled. MRI examinations were performed at 3 T using an 8-channel phased array coil. DTT was reconstruction from the raw data of diffusion tensor imaging. WM tract–based analysis of the mean diffusivity (MD), eigenvalues (λ1, λ2, λ3), and fractional anisotropy (FA) was performed by the manual placement of regions of interest (ROIs) on the color-coded FA maps using DTIStudio software. The axial diffusivity (DA, namely λ1) and the tensor shape (Cl, namely (λ1 − λ2)/3 (λ)) were also compared between groups. P values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.
Results
In cases of low-grade glioma (LGG), the tracts adjacent to the tumors displayed the highest levels of invasion. Tract disruption was mainly observed in cases of high-grade glioma (HGG). We found significant differences regarding the FA, MD, DA, and radial diffusivity between ROIs in patients with LGG or HGG. There were also significant differences in DA and tensor shape (Cl) between patients with LGG and HGG.
Conclusion
Axial diffusivity and Cl may be useful early markers for differentiating between LGG and HGG.
TL;DR: The fast SENSE-BTFE-SPIR sequence is capable of demonstrating the location and position of the appendix, the presence of acute appendicitis and its complications, and the clinical stages.
Abstract: Background: A lack of typical symptoms in acute appendicitis may delay the appropriate therapy. We hypothesized that a superfast MRI sequence with fat suppression could assist in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of MRI in the diagnosis of suspected acute appendicitis especially in the early stages and before surgery. Methods: Subject images were acquired with a 1.5-T clinical MRI scanner (Achieva Nova Dual, Philips, Netherlands) with a four-element phased array abdominal coil with a SENSE factor of 1.8. A total of 41 cases with suspected acute appendicitis were recruited. SENSE-BTFE-SPIR sequence, sensitivity encoding (SENSE) with balanced turbo field echo (BTFE) and spectral presaturation and inversion recovery (SPIR), was adopted in this study. Results: The sensitivity and specificity were 91.7% and 100%, respectively, in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis by SENSE-BTFE-SPIR in this series. Cases with simple acute appendicitis showed a higher T2 signal in the appendiceal wall, with local fluid surrounding appendix. Cases with purulent appendicitis showed an increased T2 signal within the cavity of the appendix, along with appendiceal wall thickening, or increased T2 signals around effusions in cases with gangrenous appendicitis. A periappendiceal abscess showed a localized, high-signal fluid collection that may have had extensive effects on the adjacent bowel loops, into which the entire appendix may disappear. Conclusions: The fast SENSE-BTFE-SPIR sequence is capable of demonstrating the location and position of the appendix, the presence of acute appendicitis and its complications, and the clinical stages.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used transgenic fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) to explore the interaction between mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and chemicals such as s-N-methylamino L-alanine (BMAA), the herbicide agent paraquat, and superoxide species.
Abstract: Environmental factors have been implicated in the etiology of a number of neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, the role of environmental agents in ALS remains poorly understood. To this end, we used transgenic fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) to explore the interaction between mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and chemicals such as s-N-methylamino L-alanine (BMAA), the herbicide agent paraquat, and superoxide species. We expressed ALS-linked human SOD1 (hSOD1A4V, and hSOD1G85R), hSOD1wt as well as the Drosophila native SOD1 (dSOD1) in motoneurons (MNs) or in glial cells alone and simultaneously in both types of cells. We then examined the effect of BMAA (3 mM), paraquat (20 mM), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, 1%) on the lifespan of SOD1-expressing flies. Our data show that glial expression of mutant and wild type hSOD1s reduces the ability of flies to climb. Further, we show that while all three chemicals significantly shorten the lifespan of flies, mutant SOD1 does not have a significant additional effect on the lifespan of flies fed on paraquat, but further shortens the lifespan of flies fed on H2O2. Finally, we show that BMAA shows a dramatic cell-type specific effect with mutant SOD1. Flies with expression of mutant hSOD1 in MNs survived longer on BMAA compared to control flies. In contrast, BMAA significantly shortened the lifespan of flies expressing mutant hSOD1 in glia. Consistent with a neuronal protection role, flies expressing these mutant hSOD1s in both MNs and glia also lived longer. Hence, our studies reveal a synergistic effect of mutant SOD1 with H2O2 and novel roles for mutant hSOD1s in neurons to reduce BMAA toxicity and in glia to enhance the toxicity of BMAA in flies.
TL;DR: In this article, the mean rate and historical variance of direct recharge derived from precipitation, unsaturated zone profiles of chloride and d18O in the dry river bed of the Beiyishui River were employed.
Abstract: Quantifying of direct recharge derived from precipitation is crucial for assessing sustainability of well-irrigated agriculture. In the North China Plain, the land use is dominated by groundwater-irrigated farmland where the direct recharge derived from precipitation and irrigation. To characterize the mean rate and historical variance of direct recharge derived from precipitation, unsaturated zone profiles of chloride and d18O in the dry river bed of the Beiyishui River were employed. The results show that archival time scale of the profile covers the duration from 1980 to 2002 (corresponding to depths from 5 to 2 m) which is indicated by matching the d18O peaks in the isotope profile with the aridity indexes gained by instrumental records of annual precipitation and annual potential evaporation. Using the chloride mass balance method, the mean rate of the direct recharge corresponding to the archival time scale is estimated to be 3.8 +/- 0.8 mm year-1, which accounts for about 0.7% of the long-term average annual precipitation. Further, the direct recharge rates vary from 2.1 to 6.8 mm year-1 since 1980. Despite the subhumid climate, the estimate of recharge rates is in line with other findings in semiarid regions. The low rate of direct recharge is considered as a result of the relative dry climate in recent decades. In dry river bed, unsaturated zone profiles of chloride and d18O combined with instrumental records could offer valuable information about the direct recharge derived from precipitation during droughts. Copyright (c) 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
TL;DR: In this article, the influence of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in the waste gas from an incinerator on the surrounding environment was investigated.
Abstract: This study investigated the influence of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in the waste gas from an incinerator on the surrounding environment. A series of air and soil samples were collected at distances from 1.35 to 4.72 km from a typical municipal solid waste incineration plant along the prevailing north wind direction. Concentrations of PCDD/Fs in the ambient air samples ranged from 0.23 to 1.66 pg I-toxic equivalent (TEQ)/m3, with an average of 0.82 pg I-TEQ/m3; while concentrations in the soil samples varied from 0.54 to 1.96 pg I-TEQ/g, with an average of 1.33 pg I-TEQ/g. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis showed that the municipal solid waste incinerator has a potential influence on the environmental level of PCDD/Fs, and that emissions from traffic also play an important role.
TL;DR: Wang et al. as mentioned in this paper showed that public environmental awareness, as one of the crucial driving forces for environmental improvement, relies on a well-informed so-called informed public.
Abstract: 10.1080/00139157.2012.673455-F0001 Beijing, China. The city in smog. Public environmental awareness, as one of the crucial driving forces for environmental improvement, relies on a well-informed so...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyzed the differences in the responses, both from short-term and long-term perspectives, of the 497 target firms in Jiangsu Province that continuously participated in the GreenWatch Program for five years.
TL;DR: Wang et al. as mentioned in this paper conducted a survey of taxi drivers in Nanjing City in China, and presented empirical evidence on the determinants of taxis' fuel choice, which showed that the drivers' fuel choices are, to some extent, locked-in by the vehicle models or original fuel types.
TL;DR: DWIBS might be a compensation sequence for detecting breast lesions in pre-contrast sequences and had the best specificity index, and the two subtypes in the T2*-PWI curve were helpful in the differential diagnosis of carcinomas from benign lesions.
Abstract: BackgroundIn recent years, breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used to evaluate the morphology and functional markers of breast lesions, which might influence local staging and surgica...
TL;DR: In this article, the decomposition of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) on high surface area γ-alumina was comprehensively studied using in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-M...
Abstract: Decomposition of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) on high surface area γ-alumina was comprehensively studied using in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-M...