Sr-Nd isotopic geochemistry of Holocene sediments from the South Yellow Sea: Implications for provenance and monsoon variability

Elemental geochemical and Sr-Nd isotopic signatures are used to decipher terrigenous sediments provenances and transport mechanisms in the South Yellow Sea during the Holocene. Sr-87/Sr-86 ratios in the Chinese and Korean riverine sediments overlap each other, whereas epsilon Nd values of Korean riverine sediments are generally less radiogenic in comparison to the Changjiang and Huanghe. Moreover, eNd values of these two large rivers appear unaffected by mineral sorting and are relative stable during the Holocene. We propose a three end-members (i.e., the Changjiang, the Huanghe, and Korean rivers) mixing model to explain sediment provenances in the Central Yellow Sea Mud (CYSM). Mixing calculations show that the Huanghe is the major sediment contributor to the CYSM before similar to 8 ka (thousand years before 1950 CE), whereas the Changjiang has become the predominant sediment source after similar to 8 ka. Holocene changes in riverine sediment supplies to the CYSM are closely related to the oceanic circulation, monsoon climate, and drainage changes. After examining several hypotheses to explain the variations in Sr-87/Sr-86 ratios of Core YSC-1 during the past similar to 8 kyr, we tentatively attribute that to changes in the erosion patterns of the Changjiang Basin. This in turn is associated with the asynchronous evolution of monsoon precipitation in the upper (Indian Summer Monsoon) and middle-lower Changjiang (East Asian Summer Monsoon). Therefore, our results highlight significant influences of monsoon climate on erosion patterns within the Changjiang catchment at millennial timescales

Bifidobacterium longum suppresses colorectal cancer through the modulation of intestinal microbes and immune function

Colorectal cancer (CRC), one of the most common malignancies in the world, urgently requires more treatment strategies. Although there has been much research on probiotics, limited research has been done in treating cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum) in the prevention and treatment of CRC. Through Cell Counting Kit-8 and Colony Formation Assays, 8 h and a B. longum count of 1 × 108 CFU/ml were chosen as the best cocultivation conditions with CRC cells. The role of B. longum in inhibiting the progression of CRC cells was verified by a series of functional and immunofluorescence assays. For instance, in vivo assays have verified that B. longum could alleviate CRC progression. In addition, according to the results of in vivo assays and clinical statistical analysis, B. longum could reduce diarrhea symptoms. Mechanistically, by 16S and RNA sequencing, it was found that B. longum could affect the development of CRC by regulating the composition of gut microbes and enhancing immune function. The B. longum might inhibit the occurrence and development of CRC and relieve diarrhea symptoms by regulating intestinal microbes and immune function

A Systematic Analysis on DNA Methylation and the Expression of Both mRNA and microRNA in Bladder Cancer

Background: DNA methylation aberration and microRNA (miRNA) deregulation have been observed in many types of cancers. A systematic study of methylome and transcriptome in bladder urothelial carcinoma has never been reported. Methodology/Principal Findings: The DNA methylation was profiled by modified methylation-specific digital karyotyping (MMSDK) and the expression of mRNAs and miRNAs was analyzed by digital gene expression (DGE) sequencing in tumors and matched normal adjacent tissues obtained from 9 bladder urothelial carcinoma patients. We found that a set of significantly enriched pathways disrupted in bladder urothelial carcinoma primarily related to "neurogenesis" and "cell differentiation" by integrated analysis of -omics data. Furthermore, we identified an intriguing collection of cancer-related genes that were deregulated at the levels of DNA methylation and mRNA expression, and we validated several of these genes (HIC1, SLIT2, RASAL1, and KRT17) by Bisulfite Sequencing PCR and Reverse Transcription qPCR in a panel of 33 bladder cancer samples. Conclusions/Significance: We characterized the profiles between methylome and transcriptome in bladder urothelial carcinoma, identified a set of significantly enriched key pathways, and screened four aberrantly methylated and expressed genes. Conclusively, our findings shed light on a new avenue for basic bladder cancer research

Geochemical character and material source of sediments in the eastern Philippine Sea

Based upon analyses of grain-size, rare earth element (REE) compositions, elemental occurrence phases of REE, and U-series isotopic dating, the sediment characteristics and material sources of the study area were examined for the recently formed deep-sea clays in the eastern Philippine Sea. The analytical results are summarized as follows. (1) Low accumulation rate, poor sorting and roundness, and high contents of grains coarser than fine silt indicate relatively low sediment input, with localized material source without long distance transport. (2) The REE Contents are relatively high. Shale-normalized patterns of REE indicate weak enrichment in heavy REE (HREE), Ce-passive anomaly, and Eu-positive anomaly. (3) Elemental occurrence phases of REE between the sediments with and without crust are similar. REE mainly concentrate in residual phase and then in ferromanganese oxide phase. The light REE (LREE) enrichment, Ce-positive anomaly, and Eu-positive anomaly occur in residual phase. Ferromanganese oxide phase shows the characteristics of relatively high HREE content and Ce-passive anomaly. (4) There are differences in each above mentioned aspect between the sediments with and without ferromanganese crust. (5) Synthesizing the above characteristics and source discriminant analysis, the study sediments are deduced to mainly result from the alteration of local and nearby volcanic materials. Continental materials transported by wind and/or river (ocean) flows also have minor contributions

Comparison and Calibration of Elemental Measurements in Sediments Using X-Ray Fluorescence Core Scanning with ICP Methods: A Case Study of the South China Sea Deep Basin

The X-ray fluorescence (XRF) core scanning method is widely applied in studies of sedimentary paleoenvironments due to its convenient pretreatment, nondestructive characteristics, fast execution, continuous scanning, and high resolution. XRF core scanning for sediments is commonly used in the studies on the South China Sea. This study compares XRF-scanned intensities and measured inductively coupled plasma (ICP) elemental contents of core CS11 in the northeast South China Sea deep basin. The results show that the analyzed elements can be separated into three classes. Class I includes elements with high correlation coefficients, such as Ca, Sr, and Zr; Class II contains elements with average correlation coefficients, such as Fe, Mn, Ti, and Cu; and Class III comprises elements with low correlation coefficients, such as K, Ni, Zn, Rb, and Al. In the South China Sea deep basin, pore water, compaction, and grain size have weak effects on the elemental intensities and contents of short core sediments. Hence, for elements with high correlation coefficients, a linear relationship model can be established by the least-squares method, in which the converted XRF intensities are approximately equal to the measured ICP contents. Based on the established log-ratio calibration model, the resulting ln(K/Ca), ln(Ti/Ca), ln(Fe/Ca), and ln(Zr/Ca) values generally display the same variation trends as the measured curves. The elemental contents and ratios produced by the linear model via the least-squares method and the log-ratio calibration model are expected to provide high-resolution data support for future paleoenvironmental research on the South China Sea deep basin

Provenance and weathering of sediments in the deep basin of the northern South China Sea during the last 38 kyr

Deep-sea sediments are ideal recorders for studying the provenances and relevant chemical and physical weathering of adjacent lands. Major, trace (Fe, K, Al, Ti, V, Rb, Th, and Cr), and rare earth elements (REEs), grain size, and AMS C-14 ages were studied on a 4-m-long core CS11 collected from a deep basin in the northern South China Sea (SCS). Core CS11 sediments were mainly derived from southwestern Taiwan Island and transported by the southward bottom current during most of the study periods, except from 37 to 35 kyr BP, when northern Luzon inputs temporarily had influence. For the past 35 kyr, the stacked chemical weathering index (SCWI) correlated well with the worldwide Younger Dryas (YD), Heinrich 1 (H1), Heinrich 2 (H2), and Heinrich 3 (H3) events, indicating global climate control on weathering intensity in this area. However, the SCWI showed the strongest chemical weathering intensity during the low sea level at the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) when Taiwan-derived sediments were subaerially exposed on the shelf, chemically weathered and increasingly transported to the deep basin of the SCS. The major factors influencing chemical weathering intensities for sediments in the deep basin of the northern SCS varied on different geological time scales, with climate changes on millennial scales and sea-level changes on orbital scales