a b s t r a c tPollutant washoff from road-deposited sediment (RDS) is an increasing problem associated with the rapid urbanization of China that results in urban non-point source pollution. Here, we analyzed the RDS grain size distribution and its potential impact on heavy metal pollution in urban runoff from impervious surfaces of urban villages, colleges and residences, and main traffic roads in the Haidian District, Beijing, China. RDS with smaller grain size had a higher metal concentration. Specifically, particles with the smallest grain size (<44 m) had the highest metal concentration in most areas (unit: mg/kg): Cd 0.28-1.31, Cr 57.9-154, Cu 68.1-142, Ni 25.8-78.0, Pb 73.1-222 and Zn 264-664. Particles with smaller grain size (<250 m) contributed more than 80% of the total metal loads in RDS washoff, while suspended solids with a grain size <44 m in runoff water accounted for greater than 70% of the metal mass in the total suspended solids (TSS). The heavy metal content in the TSS was 2.21-6.52% of that in the RDS. These findings will facilitate our understanding of the importance of RDS grain size distribution in heavy metal pollution caused by urban storm runoff.

Understanding the contribution of road-deposited sediment (RDS) and its washoff process is essential for controlling urban runoff pollution. Ninety-seven RDS samples were collected along the urban–suburban–rural gradient from areas of five administrative units in the Beijing metropolitan region, including central urban (UCA), urban village (UVA), central suburban county (CSA), rural town (RTA), and rural village (RVA) areas. RDS washoff was evaluated with different particle sizes using a rainfall simulator. Heavy metal elements (i.e., Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were estimated in both RDS and runoff samples. The RDS mass per unit area increased in the order UCA (21 ± 24 g/m2) ≈ CSA (20 ± 16 g/m2) < RTA (59 ± 63 g/m2) < RVA (147 ± 112 g/m2) ≈ UVA (147 ± 198 g/m2). Compared to RDS from the other administrative units, RDS from the UCA and CSA had higher metal concentrations and higher proportions of smaller particles, whereas that from the RVA and UVA had larger quantities of metals per unit area. UCA and CSA had lower potential runoff pollution contributions per unit area. Our findings imply that controlling the first flush in the UCA and CSA, and improving existing street cleaning methods and road surface conditions in the TRA, UVA, and RVA will be appropriate strategies for controlling runoff pollution from RDS.

a b s t r a c tWe applied the traditional risk assessment methods originally designed for soils and river sediments to evaluation of risk associated with metals in road-deposited sediment (RDS) along an urbanerural gradient that included central urban (UCA), urban village (UVA), central suburban county (CSA), rural town (RTA), and rural village (RVA) areas in the Beijing metropolitan region. A new indicator RI RDS was developed which integrated the RDS characteristics of mobility, grain size and amount with the potential ecological risk index. The risk associated with metals in RDS in urban areas was generally higher than that in rural areas based on the assessment using traditional methods, but the risk was higher in urban and rural village areas than the areas with higher administration units based on the indicator RI RDS . These findings implied that RDS characteristics variation with the urbanerural gradient must be considered in metal risk assessment and RDS washoff pollution control.

Key Words Liraglutide • 3T3-L1 preadipocytes • Adipogenesis • FASN AbstractBackground/Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the direct role of liraglutide (LG) in adipogenesis and lipid metabolism. Methods: Lipid accumulation was evaluated by oil red O staining, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was performed to determine glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R), fatty acid synthase (FASN) and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) expression in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, differentiated adipocytes and in adipose tissues from mice. The effects of LG on 3T3-L1 adipogenesis and lipid metabolism were analyzed with qPCR, Western Blotting, oil red O staining, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF). All measurements were performed at least three times. Results: LG increased the expression of differentiation marker genes and lipid accumulation during preadipocyte differentiation. In differentiated adipocytes, LG decreased FASN expression, and simultaneously led to CREB phosphorylation and ERK1/2 activation which were abolished by a GLP-1R antagonist, exendin (9-39).LG induced-FASN down-regulation was partially reversed by PKA and ERK1/2 inhibitors. Consistent with above in vitro findings, LG treatment significantly reduced FASN expression in visceral adipose tissues of ob/ob mice, and reduced body weight gain. Conclusion: LG promotes preadipocytes differentiation, and inhibits FASN expression in adipocytes.LG induced down-regulation of FASN is at least partially mediated by PKA and MAPK signaling pathways.

No abstract

No abstract

Pandemic COVID-19 has become a seriously public health priority worldwide. Comprehensive strategies including travel restrictions and mask-wearing have been implemented to mitigate the virus circulation. However, detail information on community transmission is unavailable yet. Methods: From January 23 to March 1, 2020, 127 patients (median age: 46 years; range: 11-80) with 71 male and 56 female, were confirmed to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 in Taizhou, Zhejiang, China. Epidemiological trajectory and clinical features of these COVID-19 cases were retrospectively retrieved from electronic medical records and valid individual questionnaire. Results: The disease onset was between January 9 to February 14, 2020. Among them, 64 patients are local residents, and 63 patients were back home from Wuhan from January 10 to 24, 2020 before travel restriction. 197 local residents had definite close-contact with 41 pre-symptomatic patients back from Wuhan. 123 and 74 of them contact with mask-wearing or with no mask-wearing pre-symptomatic patients back from Wuhan, respectively. Data showed that incidence of COVID-19 was significantly higher for local residents close-contact with no mask-wearing Wuhan returned pre-symptomatic patients (19.0% vs. 8.1%, p < 0.001). Among 57 closecontact individuals, 21 sequential local COVID-19 patients originated from a pre-symptomatic Wuhan returned couple, indicated dense gathering in congested spaces is a high risk for SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Conclusions: Our findings provided valuable details of pre-symptomatic patient mask-wearing and restriction of mass gathering in congested spaces particularly, are important interventions to mitigate the SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

No abstract