Up-Regulation of mRNA Ventricular PRNP Prion Protein Gene Expression in Air Pollution Highly Exposed Young Urbanites: Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress,Glucose Regulated Protein 78, and Nanosized Particles

Mexico City Metropolitan Area children and young adults exposed to high concentrations of air pollutants including fine and ultrafine particulate matter (PM) vs. clean air controls, exhibit myocardial inflammation and inflammasome activation with a differential right and left ventricular expression of key inflammatory genes and inflammasomes. We investigated the mRNA expression levels of the prion protein gene PRNP, which plays an important role in the protection against oxidative stress and metal toxicity, and the glucose regulated protein 78, a key protein in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signaling, in ventricular autopsy samples from 30 children and young adults age 19.97 ± 6.8 years with a lifetime of low (n:4) vs. high (n:26) air pollution exposures. Light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy studies were carried out in human ventricles, and electron microscopy studies were also done in 5 young, highly exposed Mexico City dogs. There was significant left ventricular PRNP and bi-ventricular GRP78 mRNA up-regulation in Mexico City young urbanites vs. controls. PRNP up-regulation in the left ventricle was significantly different from the right, p < 0.0001, and there was a strong left ventricular PRNP and GRP78 correlation (p = 0.0005). Marked abnormalities in capillary endothelial cells, numerous nanosized particles in myocardial ER and in abnormal mitochondria characterized the highly exposed ventricles. Early and sustained cardiac ER stress could result in detrimental irreversible consequences in urban children, and while highly complex systems maintain myocardial homeostasis, failure to compensate for chronic myocardial inflammation, oxidative and ER stress, and particles damaging myocardial organelles may prime the development of pathophysiological cardiovascular states in young urbanites. Nanosized PM could play a key cardiac myocyte toxicity role.     

高铁车轴用34CrNiMo6钢的热处理工艺

对高铁车轴用34CrNiMo6钢的热处理工艺进行了试验研究。结果表明,34CrNiMo6钢试样经850℃油淬、680℃回火后,其抗拉强度为829.7 MPa,屈服强度为730.0 MPa,断后伸长率为23.3%,达到高铁车轴要求的力学性能指标,且常温冲击吸收能量为141.7 J,-20℃冲击吸收能量为128.3 J,-40℃冲击吸收能量为121.3 J。     

Ionic liquid effects on the reaction of β-enaminones and tert-butylhydrazine and applications for the synthesis of pyrazoles

In order to evaluate the effect of a series of 10 different ionic liquids ([BMIM][BF₄], [BMIM][Br], [OMIM][BF₄], [BMIM][PF₆], [DBMIM][Br], [DBMIM][BF₄], [BMIM][OH], [BMIM][SCN], [HMIM][HSO₄] and [HMIM][CF₃CO₂]) the cyclocondensation reaction between 4-dimethylamino-1-phenyl-3-alken-2-ones (RC(O)CHCHNMe₂, where R = Ph, 4-Me-Ph, 4-F-Ph, 4-Cl-Ph, 4-Br-Ph, 4-NO₂-Ph, thien-2-yl, fur-2-yl, pyrrol-2-yl, pyrid-2-yl, hexyl, dimethoxymethyl) and tert-butylhydrazine was performed. The effects of each ionic liquid are discussed and the best yields for the cyclocondensation reaction studied were obtained using [BMIM][BF₄].     

Release to the gas phase of metals, S and Cl during combustion of dedicated waste fractions

The release to the gas phase of inorganic elements such as alkali metals, Cl, S, and heavy metals in Waste-to-Energy (WtE) boilers is a challenge. Besides the risk of harmful emissions to the environment, inorganic elements released from the grate may cause severe ash deposition and corrosion problems in the boiler, subsequently leading to decreased overall efficiency and costly, unscheduled shut-downs. The objective of this study was to obtain quantitative data on the release of inorganic elements from dedicated, well-characterized waste fractions; in order to understand the release pattern and the link to the formation of fly ash and aerosols in full-scale waste incinerators. The release of metals, S and Cl from four dedicated waste fractions was quantified as a function of temperature in a lab-scale fixed-bed reactor. The waste fractions comprised chromated copper arsenate (CCA) impregnated wood, shoes, automotive shredder waste and PVC (poly-vinyl-chloride). The waste fractions were characterized by use of wet chemical analysis, and, based on the chemical composition of the initial fuel sample and the ash residue after the experiments; the release of inorganic elements was quantified. The lab-scale release results were then compared with results from a related, full-scale partitioning study, in which test runs with the addition of similar, dedicated waste fractions to a base-load waste had been performed in a grate-fired WtE boiler. In general, the elements Al, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Si and Ti were not released, in consistency with the non-volatile nature of these elements. The elements Pb, Zn, Cl, S, Na, K and As, on the other hand, were released to a significant extent, and the release pattern was found to be both temperature dependent and fuel specific. Possible release mechanisms were discussed in relation to the chemical characteristics of each fuel, and some of the same release mechanisms as previously suggested for e.g. biomass-based fuels in the literature also seemed to apply for the present waste fractions.     

Optimizing physical parameters affecting coagulation of turbid water with Morninga oleifera seeds

Moringa oleifera is a plant coagulant and coagulant aid which has potential for use on a large scale for treatment of turbid waters in tropical developing countries. This paper presents results of optimization studies on physical factors including rapid mix velocity gradient and time, slow mix velocity gradient and time, and dosage of M. oleifera for low, medium and high raw water turbidities (50–750 NTU). Regression analysis was also carried out to study the effect of multiple factor interaction in the coagulation of turbid water with M. oleifera. This was carried out using the results of experimental runs involving varying initial turbidity, M. oleifera dosage, rapid mix velocity gradient, slow mix velocity gradient, and slow mix time.     

Effect of phosphate binders on oxidative stress and inflammation markers in hemodialysis patients

It has been suggested that phosphate binders may reduce the inflammatory state of hemodialysis (HD) patients. However, it is not clear whether it has any effect on oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of sevelamer hydrochloride (SH) and calcium acetate (CA) on oxidative stress and inflammation markers in HD patients. Hemodialysis patients were randomly assigned to therapy with SH (n=17) or CA (n=14) for 1 year. Before the initiation of therapy (baseline) and at 12 months, we measured in vitro reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by stimulated and unstimulated polymorphonuclear neutrophils and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-10, C-reactive protein, and albumin. There was a significant reduction of spontaneous ROS production in both groups after 12 months of therapy. There was a significant decrease of Staphylococcus aureus stimulated ROS production in the SH group. There was a significant increase in albumin serum levels only in the SH group. In the SH group, there was also a decrease in the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor α and C-reactive protein. Our results suggest that compared with CA treatment, SH may lead to a reduction in oxidative stress and inflammation. Therefore, it is possible that phosphate binders exert pleiotropic effects on oxidative stress and inflammation, which could contribute toward decreasing endothelial injury in patients in HD.     

Stability of quinoa flour proteins (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) during storage

The amino acid composition and the physicochemical and functional properties of quinoa flour proteins (QFP) were evaluated during storage (at 20, 30 and 40 °C). Quinoa flour showed a protein content of 14.2 ± 0.1 g 100 g⁻¹ and high levels of essential amino acids as lysine. SDS–PAGE of the QFP presented ten major band, and native-PAGE of the QFP showed similar banding; there was a little variation due to time-temperature. TCA-protein solubility variation (%) was small and the values of water activity were low, a non-significant endogenous hydrolysis was observed. Differential scanning calorimetry flour analysis allowed determining two endotherms, starch and protein. Important structural changes of protein soluble fractions were not detected by UV and fluorescence spectroscopy due to temperature and time of storage. It was found during storage time loss of protein solubility and water absorption. These changes could be to influence in the manufacture of quinoa flour based products. For avoid changes in these functional properties (solubility and water holding capacity), quinoa flour can be stored at ambient temperature (between 20 and 30 °C) and packed in double kraft paper bags (2 months).     

A study of the ice crystal sizes of red muscle of pre-rigor Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fillets during superchilled storage

Pre-rigor salmon fillets were superchilled in an impingement freezer and stored at −1.7 ± 0.3 °C for 29 days. The objective of this work was to study the ice crystal sizes in red muscle of pre-rigor salmon fillets that were partially frozen at fast (−30 °C, 227 W/m² K, 2.1 min) which is referred to as process F and slow (−20 °C, 153 W/m² K, 4.2 min) which is referred to as process S during superchilled storage. It was observed that the size of intracellular ice crystals in pre-rigor muscles at faster superchilling rate was significantly (p < 0.05) smaller than that at slower superchilling rate. The size of ice crystals formed in pre-rigor muscle was significant (p < 0.05) smaller than that formed in post-rigor muscle. It was also observed that the size of intracellular ice crystals formed in pre-rigor red muscles was significant smaller than that in white muscle. In addition, a large number of small ice crystals are formed within the muscle during partial freezing of pre-rigor muscle compared to post-rigor muscle. Future research should focus on tests of the quality parameters separately in red and white muscles (pre- and post-rigor) during superchilled storage of food products in order to understand more about their characteristics (quality and shelf life).