Maysbraswell2326

Pollution of the marine environment by litter composed of plastics is a growing concern. Chemical additives such as organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), which are added to plastics to improve their qualities, are in focus because they allegedly cause adverse effects on marine fauna. Here we analyse OPFR levels in the muscle of fin whales because, as a mysticete, this cetacean obtains its food by filter-feeding and is thus highly vulnerable to marine litter. Moreover, the fin whale performs long-range migrations from low-latitude areas in winter to high-latitude areas in summer, a trait that makes it a potentially good large-scale biomonitor of pollution. We also analyse OPFR levels in its main prey, the krill Meganyctiphanes norvegica, to assess transfer through diet. The samples analysed consisted of muscle tissue from 20 fin whales and whole-body homogenates of 10 krill samples, all collected off West Iceland. From the 19 OPFRs analysed, we detected 7 in the fin whale and 5 in the krill samples. Tri-n-butyl phosphate (TNBP), Isopropylated triphenyl phosphate (IPPP) and Triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO) were the most abundant compounds found in both species. learn more Mean ∑OPFR concentration, expressed on a lipid weight basis, was 985 (SD = 2239) ng g-1 in fin whale muscle, and 949 (SD = 1090) ng g-1 in krill homogenates. These results constitute the first evidence of the presence of OPFRs in the tissues of fin whales. Furthermore, they seem to support the non-significance of bioaccumulation of OPFRs through lifespan and of biomagnification trough the food web. SO2 concentration decreased rapidly in recent years in China due to the implementation of strict control policies by the government. Particulate sulfate (pSO42-) and gaseous H2SO4 (SA) are two major products of SO2 and they play important roles in the haze formation and new particle formation (NPF), respectively. We examined the change in pSO42- and SA concentrations in response to reduced SO2 concentration using long-term measurement data in Beijing. Simulations from the Community Multiscale Air Quality model with a 2-D Volatility Basis Set (CMAQ/2D-VBS) were used for comparison. From 2013 to 2018, SO2 concentration in Beijing decreased by ~81% (from 9.1 ppb to 1.7 ppb). pSO42- concentration in submicrometer particles decreased by ~60% from 2012-2013 (monthly average of ~10 μg·m-3) to 2018-2019 (monthly average of ~4 μg·m-3). Accordingly, the fraction of pSO42- in these particles decreased from 20-30% to less then 10%. Increased sulfur oxidation ratio was observed both in the measurements and the CMAQ/2D-VBS simulations. Despite the reduction in SO2 concentration, there was no obvious decrease in SA concentration based on data from several measuring periods from 2008 to 2019. This was supported by the increased SASO2 ratio with reduced SO2 concentration and condensation sink. NPF frequency in Beijing between 2004 and 2019 remains relatively constant. This constant NPF frequency is consistent with the relatively stable SA concentration in Beijing, while different from some other cities where NPF frequency was reported to decrease with decreased SO2 concentrations. Recently, haze pollution has emerged as a regional characteristic that needs to be monitored and mitigated sensibly in China, particularly in the North China Plain (NCP). Clarifying the distribution and source characteristics of haze is necessary to better understand its formation mechanism on a regional scale. In this study, a comprehensive study of regional haze using synergistic measurement from multiple mobile vehicle-based lidars, a ground-based lidar network, and in suit instruments is presented. To investigate the distribution and source characteristics of regional haze in the NCP during the winter of 2017, simultaneous measurements of aerosol under different wind conditions are conducted. The regional distribution characteristics of the aerosol were observed using three sets of mobile vehicle-based lidars, and the source characteristics were achieved using an analysis of transport flux (with the ground-based lidar network and the WRF-Chem model). High aerosol extinction was observed on the southwest pathway under a southern wind. Backward trajectories also indicated that the air masses at 500 m were primarily from the southwest. The transport flux at the boundary of Beijing (BJ) and Baoding (BD) on the southwest pathway was calculated. Below 500 m, the transport flux from BD to BJ was positive under a southern wind and negative under a northern wind. In addition to the transport layer below 500 m, an upper transport layer was observed both on November 6, 2017 and January 15, 2018. The upper transport layer from 500 m to 1500 m on November 6, 2017 was obviously noticeable, which decreased dramatically with a maximum transport flux of 539.53 μg m2 s. The significant transport layer at 1250 m with a maximum flux of 614.93 μg m2 s was observed on January 15, 2018, while it had no impact on the ground because it had not yet fallen. BACKGROUND Familial hypercholesterolemia is characterized by an elevated level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and an increased risk of premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Monoclonal antibodies directed against proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (PCSK9) have been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol levels by more than 50% but require administration every 2 to 4 weeks. In a phase 2 trial, a twice-yearly injection of inclisiran, a small interfering RNA, was shown to inhibit hepatic synthesis of PCSK9 in adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. METHODS In this phase 3, double-blind trial, we randomly assigned, in a 11 ratio, 482 adults who had heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia to receive subcutaneous injections of inclisiran sodium (at a dose of 300 mg) or matching placebo on days 1, 90, 270, and 450. The two primary end points were the percent change from baseline in the LDL cholesterol level on day 510 and the time-adjusted percent change from baseline two groups. CONCLUSIONS Among adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, those who received inclisiran had significantly lower levels of LDL cholesterol than those who received placebo, with an infrequent dosing regimen and an acceptable safety profile. (Funded by the Medicines Company; ORION-9 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03397121.). Copyright © 2020 Massachusetts Medical Society.