Changes in wintering Hooded Cranes and their habitats at Chongming Dongtan over the past 20 years

The Hooded Crane(Grus monacha)is listed as a Vulnerable species in the IUCN red list.Tidal wetland(tideland),the major habitat for wintering Hooded Cranes at East China’s Chongming Dongtan,has dramatically changed in the past two decades,but there is limited knowledge about the population and habitat changes of the Hooded Cranes.This study investigated the population size and distribution of wintering Hooded Cranes at Chongming Dongtan from 2000 to 2021.We used remote sensing images combined with a vegetation classification algorithm to analyse the distribution of saltmarsh vegetation.The quadrat method was used to investigate the density and weight of the underground corms of Sea Bulrush(Scirpus mariquter),the main food on tideland for the Hooded Cranes.From 2000 to 2021,the population number of wintering Hooded Cranes at Chongming Dongtan remained stable at approximately 100.In 2000,the area of Scirpus spp.and Common Reed(Phragmites australis)accounted for approximately half of the total saltmarsh area at Chongming Dongtan,respectively.The invasive Smooth Cordgrass(Spartina alterniflora)rapidly expanded on tideland in the 2000s while the Scirpus spp.was competed out and thus significantly reduced in area.After the implementation of an ecological project to control Smooth Cordgrass and to restore Scirpus spp.in the 2010s,the area of the Smooth Cordgrass decreased considerably while the area of Scirpus spp.increased.The corms of Sea Bulrush decreased on the southeastern tideland during the study period,which might be the cause of the northward movement of the foraging Hooded Cranes on tideland.We also found Hooded Cranes foraged crops in the nearby farmland in mid-winter,causing human-bird conflicts in the recent decade.Our results found that changes in habitat and food conditions on tideland impacted wintering Hooded Cranes.Foraging in farmland with human disturbance in the recent decade might be related to insufficient food on tideland.We suggest active intervention to accelerate the restoration of Sea Bulrush on tideland and reduce human disturbance in farmland to improve the habitat quality of the wintering Hooded Crane at Chongming Dongtan.

Facile synthesis of polyaniline nanorods to simultaneously enhance the mechanical properties and wear resistance of epoxy composites

To enhance the mechanical properties and wear resistance of epoxy resin,polyaniline nanorods were first synthesized using a facile route,and then introduced into the epoxy matrix to yield composites via solution mixing.Several measurements were conducted to investigate the phase structures and compositions of polyaniline nanorods,and their positive influences on the mechanical and tribological properties of epoxy resin were also characterized.The results confirmed that the as-synthesized polyaniline exhibited representative rod-like morphologies and dispersed well in the epoxy matrix,leading to significant enhancements in the tensile strength and elastic modulus of epoxy composites.The highest values of 110.33 MPa and 2.04 GPa were obtained by adding 5%-7%polyaniline nanorods,which were 43%and 62%higher than the pure sample,respectively.The wear rate was increased first and then decreased along with polyaniline nanorods,presenting the lowest value of 2.12×10^(−5) mm^(3)·Nm^(−1) by adding 5%filler,which was markedly reduced by ca.70%compared to the control sample.Finally,the possible wear mechanism was proposed and discussed in detail.This study tried to broaden the applications of polyaniline nanorods in the field of tribology.

Self-sacrificial templating synthesis of flower-like nickel phyllosilicates and its application as high-performance reinforcements in epoxy nanocomposites

The nanocomposites of flower-like nickel phyllosilicate particles incorporated into epoxy resin were fabricated via an in-situ mixing process.The flower-like nickel phyllosilicate particles were firstly synthesized using a mild self-sacrificial templating method,and the morphology and lamellar structure were examined carefully.Several properties of mechanical,thermal and tribological responses of epoxy nanocomposites were performed.It was demonstrated that adequate flower-like nickel phyllosilicate particles dispersed well in the matrix,and the nanocomposites displayed enhanced tensile strength and elastic modulus but decreased elongation at break as expected.In addition,friction coefficient and wear rate were increased first and then decreased along with the particle content,and showed the lowest values at a mass fraction of 5%.Nevertheless,the incorporated flower-like nickel phyllosilicate particles resulted in the continuously increasing thermal stability of epoxy resin(EP)nanocomposites.This study revealed the giant potential of flower-like particles in preparing high-quality EP nanocomposites.

Erratum to:Self-sacrificial templating synthesis of flower-like nickel phyllosilicates and its application as high-performance reinforcements in epoxy nanocomposites

Fig.3(a)on page 488 and Fig.7(a,a′)on page 493:It has come to our attention that the SEM pictures of Fig.3(a)and Fig.7(a,a′)for the fractured and worn surfaces of pure EP,respectively,are misused,because they have been reported in our previous work and were chosen accidentally to denote as the same control sample prepared using the exactly same procedure.The corrected Fig.3(a)and Fig.7(a,a′)are shown below.The data analysis,descriptions and conclusions are not affected by these unintentional errors.

Risk Identification and Protection during High-Risk Forensic Autopsy

"High-risk"autopsies are those in which the anatomical examination of a corpse entails a substantial risk of contracting a serious infectious disease.Herein,we discuss the risks of infection associated with high-risk autopsies and factors pertaining to risk identification in high-risk autopsies,and we suggest potentially preventative measures focused on anatomy room protection and virtual imaging.

Multiple characteristic structure fragments scans coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry strategy for discovering unknown structural analogs of mycotoxins in food

The cereals and their products,which have been easily infected by fungi and contaminated with mycotoxins,are serious threat to both human and animals alike.And yet,detection of these unknown fungal infection and mycotoxins contaminates remains a great challenge.In this work,a holistic approach based on multiple characteristic structure fragments scans and high-resolution mass spectrometry(HRMS)was proposed for discovering unknown structural analogues of mycotoxins.The structural similarity of the same class of compounds provides a direction for the discovery and identification of unknown structural analogues of mycotoxins.The following steps were carried out:the fragmentation pathways of four types of mycotoxins were elucidated through comprehensive fragment analysis.By the combination of fragmentation pathways,the multiple characteristic structure fragments were screened out,with the common fragments were obtained by Veen diagram.Finally multiple characteristic structure fragments scans were carried out to find the unknown structural analogues of mycotoxins.The approach,first proposed by us,was proved to be effective in discovering and identifying 5 structural analogues of mycotoxins in real samples.It was proved to be a simple,fast and accurate method for early detection of fungal infection and mycotoxin contaminants,even for trace amounts of chemicals in complex matrix,and is of great significance to prevent hazardous substances infection from the food supply chains worldwide.