In vitro analysis of inflammatory responses following environmental exposure to pharmaceuticals and inland waters

Pharmaceuticals are regularly released into the environment; in particular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antibiotics. Erythromycin, naproxen, furosemide and atenolol are reported to be stable for up to 1 year in the environment, which increases the risk for accumulation. In the present study we have measured the occurrence and concentration of pharmaceuticals in river Viskan (Jössabron) downstream of a sewage treatment plant in Borås, Sweden. Pharmaceuticals and water samples were tested for potential human risk by evaluating inflammatory responses (NF-κB and AP-1) using human T24 bladder epithelial cells and Jurkat T-cells. NF-κB activity in T24 cells was significantly reduced by all NSAIDs analysed (diclofenac, ketoprofen, naproxen, ibuprophen and dextropropoxyphene), but also by trimethoprim, using environmentally relevant concentrations. NF-κB and AP-1 activation was further analysed in response to water samples collected from different locations in Sweden. Dose-dependent down-regulation of AP-1 activity in Jurkat cells was observed at all locations. At two locations (Jössabron and Almenäs) down-regulation of NF-κB was observed. In contrast, the NF-κB response was potentiated by exposure to water from both locations following activation of NF-κB by treatment with heat-killed Escherichia coli. To determine the involvement of pharmaceuticals in the responses, T24 cells were exposed to the pharmaceutical mixture, based on the determined levels at Jössabron. This resulted in reduction of the NF-κB response following exposure to the pharmaceutical mixture alone while no potentiation was observed when cells were co-exposed to heat killed E. coli and pharmaceuticals. The obtained results demonstrate that the identified pharmaceuticals affect the inflammatory responses and furthermore indicate the presence of unknown substance(s) with the ability to potentiate inflammatory responses.     

Hydrogen embrittlement of nodular cast iron

Ferritic nodular cast iron, intended for use as the material for inserts of canisters for long-term geological disposal of spent nuclear fuel, was studied for hydrogen sensitivity. In the canisters, the insert provides the mechanical strength against external loads. Hydrogen was charged from 0.1 N H₂SO₄ solution in free-corrosion tests and under controlled cathodic potential. Hydrogen uptake and trapping were then measured using thermal desorption spectroscopy. The hydrogen desorption rate after hydrogen charging manifests two distinct peaks. Plastic deformation during hydrogen charging increases the hydrogen uptake considerably. Hydrogen reduces the elongation to fracture and time to fracture in slow strain rate testing and constant load testing (CLT), respectively. Especially, the strain rate in CLT is dramatically increased. The appearance of hydrogen-induced cracking in the ferrite phase changes from ductile dimple fracture to brittle cleavage fracture due to hydrogen charging, which initiates from the interphases of the graphite nodules. The results are discussed in terms of the role of hydrogen and the graphite nodules in hydrogen embrittlement of ductile cast iron.     

Physical-Chemical Characterization and Polymorphism Determination of Two Nimodipine Samples Deriving from Distinct Laboratories

Knowing the characteristics of raw materials in pharmaceutical practice is both important and useful. Firstly, evaluating the physical-chemical properties of the substances that will be used must be the primary step for quality control in the pharmacy industry. This work aims at analyzing the physical-chemical characteristics of two nimodipine samples I and II derived from distinct laboratories through thermal analysis (DSC and TG/DTG), HPLC, crystallography, and microscopy. Thermal analysis showed that sample II was more unstable than I. Morphological differences concerning shape, size, and crystallinity of particles were visualized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray powder diffraction. To sum up, the techniques used in this study can be said to have been efficient in the characterization and evaluation of quality control of the raw material.     

Synthesis and growth mechanism of differently shaped C60 nano/microcrystals produced by evaporation of various aromatic C60 solutions

We present a detailed study of the synthesis of C₆₀ nano- and microrods as well as crystals with normal shapes by the evaporation of C₆₀ solutions based on different aromatic solvents. C₆₀ nano- and microrods are grown with high yield by vaporizing C₆₀ solutions in meta-isomers of aromatic solvents on different substrates while para-isomers give a different type of growth leading to highly crystalline two- and three-dimensional nano- and microcrystals with fcc structure. The role of solvent properties was investigated by using positional isomers containing different halogen radicals. The as-grown crystal rods form hexagonal structures but transform into fcc structure on annealing in vacuum. IR and EDX analysis indicate that solvents remain in the hexagonal nano- and microrods, while it is hard to detect any trace of solvents in the two- or three-dimensional nano- and microcrystals. Furthermore, we present direct proof of the nucleation-growth mechanism for C₆₀ rods. By the vaporization method, the solubility of C₆₀ in the studied halogen aromatic solvents is found to correlate with the diameter distribution of the C₆₀ rods and we suggest that the chemical affinity of the aromatic solvent molecules to C₆₀ may determine its ability to force C₆₀ to form rod-shaped crystals.     

The Manufacture of Resorbable Suture Material from Magnesium

Magnesium alloys present an alternative to medical cases in which polymeric sutures may not be ideal. To date, no efficient and low‐cost manufacturing process for the fabrication of magnesium‐based sutures can be found. To obtain an alternative, the previously characterised magnesium alloys ZEK100 (98% Mg), AX30 (96.2% Mg), AL36 (91% Mg) and MgCa0.8 (99.2% Mg) were cast, extruded into 30 mm diameter bars and extruded into 0.5 mm diameter wires. To determine the mechanical properties of the wires, grain size measurements, tensile tests as well as qualitative bending tests were carried out. The ZEK100 alloy's wires showed the finest microstructure having grains of 1.2 µm in diameter. Coarser microstructures were observed for MgCa0.8, AX30 and AL36. The alloy ZEK100 had the highest tensile stress (367 MPa) also revealing a brittle behaviour due to its fine microstructure. The tensile test, carried out for AX30 as well as AL36, resulted in comparable high fracture strains (10.6%) and tensile stresses (300 MPa). However, MgCa0.8 showed a tensile strength of 315 MPa and a low strain of 1.6%. Within the qualitative bending test wires made of the alloy AL36 were able to form tight knots, which is a key feature for suture applications. The comparison of the magnesium sutures with commercially available polymeric sutures revealed lower strength and elongation for the magnesium alloys. Yet, the wires exhibited mechanical properties that can meet the requirements of a suture material.     

Almost Stable Matchings by Truncating the Gale–Shapley Algorithm

We show that the ratio of matched individuals to blocking pairs grows linearly with the number of propose–accept rounds executed by the Gale–Shapley algorithm for the stable marriage problem. Consequently, the participants can arrive at an almost stable matching even without full information about the problem instance; for each participant, knowing only its local neighbourhood is enough. In distributed-systems parlance, this means that if each person has only a constant number of acceptable partners, an almost stable matching emerges after a constant number of synchronous communication rounds.     

Don't Waste Your Time in the Countryside

With the countryside becoming ever more sparsely populated as fewer people are needed to keep rural enterprises running, is there any point in engaging architects there? Patrik Schumacher , partner at Zaha Hadid Architects, argues that their time and skills are put to better use in cities, where buildings impact a far greater number of individuals and their social and cultural functionality is more important. Engineers, meanwhile, are perfectly equipped to devise generic solutions for the rural realm.     

大连足球场

这一体育场的设计灵感来源于中国古代蹴鞠的色彩层次和叠加的构造。设计将观众的集体精神、建筑的公共领域和城市内涵交织在一起。主体育场将观众席、广播电视中心、管理区、贵宾休息室、运动员设施和公共大厅安置在一个分层次的空间中,这一空间延伸到地表层,在双层停车设施上部提供户外的公共空间。     

The First Joint European Partial-G Parabolic Flight Campaign at Moon and Mars Gravity Levels for Science and Exploration

Aircraft parabolic flights provide repetitively short periods of reduced gravity and are used to conduct scientific and technology microgravity investigations, to test instrumentation prior to space flights and to train astronauts before a space mission. Since 1997, ESA, CNES and DLR use the Airbus A300 ZERO-G, currently the largest airplane in the world for this type of experimental research flight. This mean is managed by the French company Novespace. Since 2010, Novespace offers the possibility of flying reduced gravity levels equivalent to those on the Moon and Mars achieved repetitively for periods of more than 20?s. ESA, CNES and DLR issued an international call for experiments inviting European Scientists to submit experiment proposals to be conducted at these partial gravity levels. The scientific objectives are on one hand to obtain results at intermediate levels of gravity (between 0 and 1?g) allowing a better study of the influence of gravity, and on the other hand to give them some elements to prepare for research and exploration during space flights and future planetary exploration missions. ESA, CNES and DLR jointly organised in June 2011 the first Joint European Partial-G Parabolic Flight campaign with 13 experiments selected among 42 received proposals. Parabolas were flown during three flights providing micro-, Moon and Mars gravity levels with duration typically of 20?s, 25?s and 32?s with a mixed complement of investigations in physical and life sciences and in technology. The paper presents the approach taken to organise this campaign and the 13 selected experiments with some preliminary results are presented to show the interest of this unique research tool for microgravity and partial gravity investigations.