Background:Long-term exposure to toxic substances increases the risk of their accumulation and triggering endocrine disruption.The ill-planned irrigation systems in Uzbekistan led to severe environmental disasters,res...Background:Long-term exposure to toxic substances increases the risk of their accumulation and triggering endocrine disruption.The ill-planned irrigation systems in Uzbekistan led to severe environmental disasters,resulting in aridization and the spread of organochlorine pesticides and toxic metals across the region.Objective:We investigate the influence of negative environmental factors on hormonal activities such as sex steroids,gonadotropic hormones,and growth factors,in addition to potential disruptions in growth rate and anthropometric indicators in prepubertal adolescents living in this region.Methods:This study included 405 prepubertal boys aged 11 to 13 years,residing in the cities of Muynak(unfavorable region)and Nukus(favorable region)of Uzbekistan.We measured 20 anthropometric parameters and assessed somatotype by the Heath-Carter method,peak height velocity(PHV),and maturity offset based on Mirwald's equation.In addition,the endocrine profile of 8 hormonal parameters was assessed,which includes growth factors,gonadotropins,sex steroids,and thyroid status.Results:We observed a positive dependence of physique,rate of maturation,and level of androgens,stimulated by gonadotropin hormones.Children living in unfavorable environmental regions show a decrease in folliclestimulating hormone,luteinizing hormone,total testosterone(the best predictor),and anthropometric signs of androgen deficiency.These resulted in an increase in maturity offset and PHV,combined with lower skeletal density and ectomorphic somatotype compared to their peers living in favorable environmental regions.Conclusion:Regional differences in stature,body weight,and anthropometric parameters of adipose tissue,growth factor axis,and thyroid hormones are the influencing indices in the regulation of growth in prepubertal children.We hypothesize that the inhibition of the gonadotropin-testosterone axis may result from endocrine disruption due to higher levels of toxic metals and pesticide exposure.展开更多
Jellyfish outbreaks have become a new type of marine ecological disasters,and have great influence on the structure and function balance of marine ecosystems,fishery resources,production safety of coastal power plants...Jellyfish outbreaks have become a new type of marine ecological disasters,and have great influence on the structure and function balance of marine ecosystems,fishery resources,production safety of coastal power plants,marine landscape and tourism.In recent years,the Yellow Sea and the northern East China Sea are the high risk areas of jellyfish outbreaks.In this paper,the research results of jellyfish outbreaks in the Yellow Sea and the northern East China Sea are summarized,and the species composition,distribution,life-history characteristics and hazards of jellyfish outbreaks are described.Meanwhile,the possible causes of jellyfish outbreaks are analyzed,and the monitoring and control technology of jellyfish disasters are discussed.It will provide a scientific basis for the monitoring,management,and emergency disposal of jellyfish disasters.展开更多
There are many branches of the Miao people in China, one of which is the Mashan Miao, who have been living in karst mountainous areas in southwest Guizhou Province. The Mashan Miao have adopted various measures for th...There are many branches of the Miao people in China, one of which is the Mashan Miao, who have been living in karst mountainous areas in southwest Guizhou Province. The Mashan Miao have adopted various measures for the conservation and effective utilization of the local ecological system and have made great achievements in this area. From the 1950s, their social environment has changed a lot due to political and economic movements. The rocky desertification in the Mashan area has gradually expanded. After the 1990s, relief work was carried out to address the desertification problem, but it was not very effective. We have been doing fieldwork in this area for more than 20 years and from our fieldwork records, we have found that the local Miao people have traditional ecological knowledge and skills that are of irreplaceable valuable for finding a solution for rocky desertification. Using the Miao knowledge we think a feasible way to control this disaster can be found.展开更多
文摘Background:Long-term exposure to toxic substances increases the risk of their accumulation and triggering endocrine disruption.The ill-planned irrigation systems in Uzbekistan led to severe environmental disasters,resulting in aridization and the spread of organochlorine pesticides and toxic metals across the region.Objective:We investigate the influence of negative environmental factors on hormonal activities such as sex steroids,gonadotropic hormones,and growth factors,in addition to potential disruptions in growth rate and anthropometric indicators in prepubertal adolescents living in this region.Methods:This study included 405 prepubertal boys aged 11 to 13 years,residing in the cities of Muynak(unfavorable region)and Nukus(favorable region)of Uzbekistan.We measured 20 anthropometric parameters and assessed somatotype by the Heath-Carter method,peak height velocity(PHV),and maturity offset based on Mirwald's equation.In addition,the endocrine profile of 8 hormonal parameters was assessed,which includes growth factors,gonadotropins,sex steroids,and thyroid status.Results:We observed a positive dependence of physique,rate of maturation,and level of androgens,stimulated by gonadotropin hormones.Children living in unfavorable environmental regions show a decrease in folliclestimulating hormone,luteinizing hormone,total testosterone(the best predictor),and anthropometric signs of androgen deficiency.These resulted in an increase in maturity offset and PHV,combined with lower skeletal density and ectomorphic somatotype compared to their peers living in favorable environmental regions.Conclusion:Regional differences in stature,body weight,and anthropometric parameters of adipose tissue,growth factor axis,and thyroid hormones are the influencing indices in the regulation of growth in prepubertal children.We hypothesize that the inhibition of the gonadotropin-testosterone axis may result from endocrine disruption due to higher levels of toxic metals and pesticide exposure.
基金Supported by Special Project of National Key Research and Development Program of China(2016YFC1402201).
文摘Jellyfish outbreaks have become a new type of marine ecological disasters,and have great influence on the structure and function balance of marine ecosystems,fishery resources,production safety of coastal power plants,marine landscape and tourism.In recent years,the Yellow Sea and the northern East China Sea are the high risk areas of jellyfish outbreaks.In this paper,the research results of jellyfish outbreaks in the Yellow Sea and the northern East China Sea are summarized,and the species composition,distribution,life-history characteristics and hazards of jellyfish outbreaks are described.Meanwhile,the possible causes of jellyfish outbreaks are analyzed,and the monitoring and control technology of jellyfish disasters are discussed.It will provide a scientific basis for the monitoring,management,and emergency disposal of jellyfish disasters.
基金Ministry of Education for New Century Excellent Talents Program (NCET-10-0146) National Social Science Foundation of China (08AJY025)
文摘There are many branches of the Miao people in China, one of which is the Mashan Miao, who have been living in karst mountainous areas in southwest Guizhou Province. The Mashan Miao have adopted various measures for the conservation and effective utilization of the local ecological system and have made great achievements in this area. From the 1950s, their social environment has changed a lot due to political and economic movements. The rocky desertification in the Mashan area has gradually expanded. After the 1990s, relief work was carried out to address the desertification problem, but it was not very effective. We have been doing fieldwork in this area for more than 20 years and from our fieldwork records, we have found that the local Miao people have traditional ecological knowledge and skills that are of irreplaceable valuable for finding a solution for rocky desertification. Using the Miao knowledge we think a feasible way to control this disaster can be found.
