Predicting Risks of Cadmium Toxicity in Salinity-Fluctuating Estuarine Waters Using the Toxicokinetic-Toxicodynamic Model.

In estuaries, salinity fluctuates rapidly and continuously, greatly affecting the bioavailability and thus toxicity of contaminants, especially metals, causing difficulties in deriving site-specific water quality criteria. We developed a method for predicting the toxicity of the metal cadmium (Cd) in estuarine waters of any salinity fluctuation scenario. Cd bioaccumulation and toxicity were measured in an estuarine clam under stable salinities (salinity = 5, 15, 25) and fluctuating salinities (5-25), using the toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic (TK-TD) framework.

Making Acute Tests More Ecologically Relevant: Cadmium Bioaccumulation and Toxicity in an Estuarine Clam under Various Salinities Modeled in a Toxicokinetic-Toxicodynamic Framework.

Salinity has considerable effects on the toxicity of metals in estuarine waters. The effects of salinity are manifold, making it difficult to summarize for risk assessments. In this study, we separated and quantified the multiple effects of salinity on cadmium (Cd) in a toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic framework.

Estimation of stature by using the dimensions of the right hand and right foot in Han Chinese adults.

The Han Chinese people are the main ethnic group in China and the largest ethnic group in the world. The dimensions of the hands and feet have been successfully used for the estimation of stature. A total of 26,927 healthy adult subjects, comprising 13,221 men and 13,706 women, were recruited.

Physical characteristics of Chinese Hakka.

Using standard and internationally validated methods, 86 anthropologic characteristics were determined in 650 male (305 from urban areas and 345 from rural areas) and 704 female (331 from urban areas, 373 from rural areas) Chinese Hakka adults living in Guangdong and Jiangxi. The data were used to calculate 24 anthropologic indices, which were analyzed statistically. The physical characteristics of Hakka subjects were analyzed and compared with reference ethnic data.

Brazilin isolated from Caesalpinia sappan L. acts as a novel collagen receptor agonist in human platelets.

Background: Brazilin, isolated from the heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan L., has been shown to possess multiple pharmacological properties.

Methods: In this study, platelet aggregation, flow cytometry, immunoblotting analysis, and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry were used to investigate the effects of brazilin on platelet activation ex vivo.

[Age variations of head-face morphological traits of Hakka in Guangdong province].

Objective: To investigate the age variations of head-face morphological traits of Hakka in Guangdong Province.

Methods: Thirty-eight physical indices of head and face of 671 Hakka adults (151 urban males, 181 urban females, 162 rural males and 177 rural females) from Meizhou city of Guangdong were investigated. Twelve physical indices of head and face were calculated and counted its indices distributions.

[Genetic study on somatotype of child and adolescent twins in Han nationality].

Objective: To assess the genetic and environmental influences on the somatotype of children and adolescents, and the effects of sex and age.

Methods: The components of somatotype were calculated by using Heather-Cater method in a total of 376 twin pairs of Han nationality, including 245 monozygotic (MZ) and 131 like-sex dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs aged 6 to 18 years. Model-fitting method by Mx package was performed to evaluate the proportion of variance components and to analyze the effects of sex and age on each component of somatotype using the adjusted data for other two somatotype components.

[Genetic effects on physical growth items of child twins in Han nationality].

Objective: To analyse the heritabilities of physical growth items of body and its related factors.

Methods: An 116 twin pairs of Han nationality, 67 monozygotic (MZ) and 49 like-sex dizygotic (DZ) aged 6 to 12 years, were investigated from June to October in 2004. The measurements included height, weight, sitting height, chest circumference, biacromial breadth and biiliac breadth, and BMI index calculated by the former two measurements.

[Study of hereditary mode on handedness, preferential foot and hand-clasping].

The data of 21 families were analyzed by the method of Slater's calculating model to differentiate between single-gene and multi-gene heredity and by the method of non-deviation analysis. The results showed that the hereditary mode of handedness or preferential foot or hand-clasping is the dominant heredity of single gene of autosome, and the right type of all of them is the dominant character. In a way, although environmental factors affected the phenotypes of these characters,hereditary factors were also the decisive ones.

[Gene frequency of 12 characters in 5 nationalities in inner mongolia].

The gene frequency of 12 characters was reported in Ewenki, Oroqen, Daur, Mongol and Han nationalities in Inner Mongolia, and compared among these nationalities. The result indicated that the difference of Mongoloid fold among nationalities was significant, followed by the Folding tongue, while the difference of Handedness and Nasal profile was relatively insignificant.

[Studies of hereditary mode on three tongue moving types].

The data of 72 families were analyzed by the method of proband's sib and the method of segregation analysis. The results showed that the hereditary mode of rolling tongue or pointed tongue is the dominant heredity of single gene of autosome, and the positive type of them is the dominant character. Twisting tongue is the recessive heredity of single gene of autosome,while the positive type is the recessive character.

[Study on 4 human population genetic characters of Mongol and Han in Western inner Mongolia].

From 1998 to 2001, a sample of 2760 Mongol and Han individuals was investigated in 3 areas (Eerduosi city, Xilinguole and Bayannaoer leagues) from Inner Mongolia. Each individual was studied on 4 genetic characters (thumb type, palmar digital formular, fingernail type and plantar digital formular). The result is as follows: (1) The frequencies of the straight thumb were over 60%, and there were no significant sexual differences in all of 6 groups.

Morphological traits in peoples of Mongolian nationality of the Hulunbuir league, Inner Mongolia, China.

A sample of 947 Mongolians of Bargud, Elute and Buriat was investigated on 9 indexes (hair form, forehead hair-ledge point, eyefold of the upper eyelid, Mongoloid fold, ear lobe type, nasal profile, nostril type, front teeth type, and chin projection) in the Hulunbuir league, Inner Mongolia in September 1997. The results are as follows: 1. Most of the Mongolians in Hulunbuir league are characterised by straight hair, forehead hair-ledge point absence, eyefold eyelid, Mongoloid fold appearance, shovel-shaped front teeth, straight nose, wide nostril, free ear lobe, non-projecting chin.