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Weak positive correlations were observed between age and Mn in female urine samples, and negative correlations were observed between age and Se, As, Co, and Cu in male urine samples and between age and Co in female urine samples, respectively. Significant positive correlation was observed in As between drinking water and the whole human urine. In the same family, female seemed to show higher proportions of urinary As levels than male. This study will provide elementary information regarding trace element levels in drinking water and human urine in residents in plateau region of China and is helpful to provide reference for dietary nutrient trace element intake and effective control for local resident.Tobacco smoking is considered the most common reason of death and infertility around the world. This study was designed to assess the impact of tobacco heavy smoking on sperm DNA methylation patterns and to determine whether the transcription level of ALDH3B2, PTGIR, PRICKLE2, and ALS2CR12 genes is different in heavy smokers compared to non-smokers. As a screening study, the 450 K array was used to assess the alteration in DNA methylation patterns between heavy smokers (n = 15) and non-smokers (n = 15). Then, four CpGs that have the highest difference in methylation level (cg16338278, cg08408433, cg05799088, and cg07227024) were selected for validation using deep bisulfite sequencing in an independent cohort of heavy smokers (n = 200) and non-smokers (n = 100). A significant variation was found between heavy smokers and non-smokers in the methylation level at all CpGs within the PRICKLE2 and ALS2CR12 gene amplicon (P  less then  0.001). Similarly, a significant variation was found in the methylation level at nine out of thirteen CpGs within the ALDH3B2 gene amplicon (P  less then  0.01). Additionally, eighteen CpGs out of the twenty-six within the PTGIR gene amplicon have a significant difference in the methylation level between heavy smokers and non-smokers (P  less then  0.01). The study showed a significant difference in sperm global DNA methylation, chromatin non-condensation, and DNA fragmentation (P  less then  0.001) between heavy smokers and non-smokers. A significant decline was shown in the transcription level of ALDH3B2, PTGIR, PRICKLE2, and ALS2CR12 genes (P  less then  0.001) in heavy smokers. In conclusion, heavy smoking influences DNA methylation at several CpGs, sperm global DNA methylation, and transcription level of the PRICKLE2, ALS2CR12, ALDH3B2, and PTGIR genes, which affects negatively the semen parameters of heavy smokers.The consumption of hazardous antineoplastic drugs (ADs) used in anticancer chemotherapies is steadily increasing representing thus risks to both human health and the environment. Hospitals may serve as a contamination source, and pharmacists preparing the antineoplastic drugs (ADs) as well as nurses administering chemotherapy and caring for oncology patients are among the healthcare professionals being highly exposed. Here, we present the results of systematic monitoring (2018-2020) of surface contamination by 13 ADs in the pharmacies and hospitals in the Czech Republic (CZ; large-scale monitoring, 20 workplaces) and Slovak Republic (SK; pilot study at 4 workplaces). The study evaluated contamination by three commonly monitored ADs, i.e., 5-fluorouracil (FU), cyclophosphamide (CP), and platinum (total Pt representing cis-, carbo-, and oxaliplatin) together with ten less explored ADs, i.e., gemcitabine (GEM), ifosfamide (IF), paclitaxel (PX), irinotecan (IRI), docetaxel (DOC), methotrexate (MET), etoposide (ETOP), capecitabine (CAP), imatinib (IMAT), and doxorubicin (DOX). Floors and desktop surfaces in hospitals (chemotherapy application rooms, nurse working areas) were found to be more contaminated, namely with CP and Pt, in both countries when compared to pharmacies. Comparison between the countries showed that hospital surfaces in SK are generally more contaminated (e.g., CP median was 20 times higher in SK), while some pharmacy areas in the CZ were more contamined in comparison with SK. The newly studied ADs were detected at lower concentrations in comparison to FU, CP, and Pt, but some markers (GEM, IF, PX, and IRI) were frequently observed, and adding these compounds to routine monitoring is recommended.Exposure to air pollution during physical exercise is a health issue because fine particulate matter (dimension 40 μg/m3), pre-session and post-session urinary concentrations of Be, Cd, Cu, and Tl were significantly higher (p less then 0.05) in more polluted days, whereas V concentrations were lower (p less then 0.001). All the remaining metals were unaffected. We first showed that PM10 levels modulate urinary excretion of some toxic metals suggesting an effect of air pollution. The effects of toxic metals inhaled by athletes exercising in polluted air need further studies.The recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is both essential to sustainable resource utilization and environmental conservation. While spent batteries possess a resource value, they pose an environmental hazard at the same time. Since the start of development to recycle spent LIBs in 1990s, important contributions have been made and a number of achievements have been accomplished by scholars globally. Therefore, it is valuable to summarize the developments on spent LIB recycling and to analyze the characteristics and trends comprehensively. A review of the progress in this field will provide guidance for future development. In this study, recycling characteristics and developing trends including the research foundation, milestone, research hotspot, key technologies, and emerging trends were identified based on visual scientometric analysis followed by a discussion on future research directions in this area. For the analysis, 1041 publications in English were collected, summarized, and categorized. The distribution of scientific publications on spent LIB recycling from 1995 to 2020 displayed an increasing trend in numbers. China made the biggest contribution with 528 publications and basically cooperated with all other countries. The research fields with the highest contributions were "engineering", "chemistry", and "environmental science and technology". The keywords recovery, lithium ion battery, and cobalt appeared in high frequency. "Metal value" was identified as the most frequently used keyword which began to burst in 2005 and ended in 2013.To explore the migration law of magnesium ions (Mg2+) during freezing and melting processes, laboratory simulation experiments involving freezing and melting were carried out to investigate the influence of ice thickness, freezing temperature, initial concentration, and initial pH on the distribution of Mg2+ in the ice-water system. The distribution coefficient "K" (the ratio of the Mg2+ concentration in the ice layer to the Mg2+ concentration in the water layer under ice) was used to characterize the migration ability of Mg2+. The results showed that during the freezing process, the concentration distribution of Mg2+ in the ice and water two-phase system was as follows ice layer  less then  water before freezing  less then  water layer under ice; in other words, it migrated from ice layer to the water layer under ice. "K" decreased with increasing ice thickness, freezing temperature, initial concentration, and initial pH; the higher the ice thickness, freezing temperature, initial concentration, and initial pH were, the higher the migration efficiency of Mg2+ into the water layer under ice was. During the melting process, Mg2+ was released in large amounts (50-60%) at the initial stage (0-25%) and in small amounts (25-100%) uniformly in the middle and later periods. According to the change of Mg2+ concentration in ice melt water, an exponential model was established to predict Mg2+ concentration in ice melt period. The migration law of Mg2+during the freezing and melting process was explained by using first principles. Graphical abstract.The self-compacting concrete (SCC) mix design is much more complex than that of ordinary concrete. Increased testing on fresh concrete and a substantial volume of materials is consequently needed. The concrete equivalent mortar (CEM) method proposes an approach that simplifies and speeds up the experimental testing programmes. This paper seeks to establish the relationships between the rheological properties of SCC and the corresponding CEM mixes. Another aim is to validate the unconventional tools used to test the flow properties of CEM relative to the procedures applied for SCC. Different series of SCC and CEM mixes, based on natural and recycled aggregates, with various superplasticizer contents were tested. The flow behaviour of SCC was tested in line with procedures recommended by EFNARC; that of self-compacting concrete equivalent mortar (SC-CEM) was carried out with unconventional tools (mini-slump cone, slump flow time T250, mini L-Box, 2.5-mm sieve, and mini LCPC Box), described in detail in this paper. A rheometer equipped with vane geometry was also used to show the close relationship between SCC and the SC-CEM yield stress. The experimental results indicate that the fresh properties of the mixture series are congruent with the acceptance criteria of SCC, but they are affected when increasing the superplasticizer dosage and further impacted when recycled coarse aggregates (RCAs) replace natural coarse aggregates (NCAs). NPS-2143 order The slump flow test appears to be a good practical means for predicting the yield stress of SC-CEM. The cross-referencing results reveal significant relationships between SCC and the corresponding SC-CEM, particularly for filling ability and passing properties. Reasonable correlation coefficients from 0.70 to 0.85 were found.Land use and land cover changes associated with urbanization have had a significant influence on ecosystem services (ESs), but previous studies have insufficiently focused on the relationships between ES supply and demand; these relationships are seldom considered in the science-policy frameworks of land use planning. In this study, a specific supply-demand indicator was constructed to measure ES supply and demand and their disparity across multiple scales in Jiangsu Province from 2000 to 2018. High spatial heterogeneity and mismatches of ES supply and demand were found in water yield, grain production, carbon sequestration, soil conservation, heat regulation, and recreation services. At provincial scale, the supplies of carbon sequestration and heat regulation services were smaller than their demands. At the 1-km2 grid scale, the ES supply and demand mismatches in urban areas were more serious than those in surrounding areas, especially for carbon sequestration and recreation services. Five ES supply-demand risk zones were identified based on the current status and trends of all ES supply and demand. Southern Jiangsu generally had high risks of ES mismatch, which should be reduced by strategic planning. Constructing the ES supply-demand indicator is a novel practice that assists in evaluating environmental issues and integrating them into further development decisions. This paper suggests that governments should reduce ES mismatches with reference to local conditions (economic development, industrial type, and ecological carrying capacity) and the actual situation of ES supply and demand.