Effect of Fiber Length on Carbon Nanotube-Induced Fibrogenesis

Given their extremely small size and light weight, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be readily inhaled by human lungs resulting in increased rates of pulmonary disorders, particularly fibrosis. Although the fibrogenic potential of CNTs is well established, there is a lack of consensus regarding the contribution of physicochemical attributes of CNTs on the underlying fibrotic outcome. We designed an experimentally validated in vitro fibroblast culture model aimed at investigating the effect of fiber length on single-walled CNT (SWCNT)-induced pulmonary fibrosis. The fibrogenic response to short and long SWCNTs was assessed via oxidative stress generation, collagen expression and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) production as potential fibrosis biomarkers. Long SWCNTs were significantly more potent than short SWCNTs in terms of reactive oxygen species (ROS) response, collagen production and TGF-β release. Furthermore, our finding on the length-dependent in vitro fibrogenic response was validated by the in vivo lung fibrosis outcome, thus supporting the predictive value of the in vitro model. Our results also demonstrated the key role of ROS in SWCNT-induced collagen expression and TGF-β activation, indicating the potential mechanisms of length-dependent SWCNT-induced fibrosis. Together, our study provides new evidence for the role of fiber length in SWCNT-induced lung fibrosis and offers a rapid cell-based assay for fibrogenicity testing of nanomaterials with the ability to predict pulmonary fibrogenic response in vivo.     

Bacteria Loads from Point and Nonpoint Sources in an Urban Watershed

A pathogen impaired watershed in Houston, Tex., was studied to assess the spatial and temporal nature of point and nonpoint bacterial load contributions. End-of-pipe sampling at wastewater treatment plant effluent and storm sewers discharging under dry weather conditions was undertaken. Relatively low concentrations of E. coli were found in wastewater treatment effluent, with a geometric mean of 5 MPN/dL, while dry weather storm sewer discharges exhibited a geometric mean concentration of 212 MPN/dL. Loads from both point and nonpoint sources of E. coli were calculated and compared to in-stream bacteria loads. Nonpoint loads were estimated using an event mean concentration approach on an annual basis. Nonpoint source (NPS) loads were the primary source of bacteria loading to the bayou. Wastewater treatment plant and dry weather storm sewer loads, however, dominated in dry weather conditions. While NPS loads remained relatively constant from headwaters to the mouth of the bayou, point source loads exhibited greater spatial variability depending on the distribution of the discharging pipes. The study points to the need for spatial and temporal considerations in managing bacterial pollution in streams.     

Variables influencing judgments of correlational relations.

Investigated the effects of 3 variables on 72 undergraduates' ability to assess correlational relations. These variables were (a) the form in which the stimulus information was presented (i.e., in continuous or binary form), (b) the actual magnitude of the correlation presented in the stimulus information, and (c) the Ss' expectancy concerning the relation in question. Ss judged the correlation between pairs of variables on the basis of serially presented items describing instances of their co-occurrence. Both direct estimates of correlation and phi coefficients derived from frequency estimates were used as measures of perceived covariation. Results indicate that Ss' estimates of correlation were significantly influenced by all 3 factors. Ss' judgments were sensitive to the difference between high and low correlations in the stimulus information, but they reflected this difference to a greater extent when the information was presented in binary, rather than continuous, form. Also, Ss made higher estimates of correlation when they expected the variables to be correlated than when they did not expect them to be correlated. (31 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Injection of seawater and mixtures with produced water into North Sea chalk formation: Impact of fluid–rock interactions on wettability and scale formation

Seawater has been injected into high temperature and natural fractured North Sea chalk reservoirs to improve oil recovery with great success. Previous studies have shown that seawater will improve the water wetness and cause enhanced compaction of the matrix. The composition of the produced water will be quite similar to initial formation water at the start of the water injection. The formation water contains various amounts of divalent cations like Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, and Ba²⁺. Later on, the composition will change due to the interaction between seawater and the chalk formation and some mixing with formation water. The fluid–rock interaction will involve dissolution of CaCO₃, substitution of Ca²⁺ by Mg²⁺ at the chalk surface, precipitation of CaSO₄, SrSO₄ and BaSO₄ depending on the reservoir temperature. Because of environmental reasons, it is desirable to re-inject produced water together with seawater. In the forthcoming research, we will study experimentally the effect of this re-injection on oil recovery and chalk compaction by using mixtures of produced water and seawater as injection fluid. Based on model studies using the OLI software package, the compatibility of mixtures of produced water and seawater has been studied at different temperatures by looking at the precipitation of CaSO₄, SrSO₄ and BaSO₄. Also the impact of changes in the concentrations of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ due to surface substitution is modelled. The results are discussed in terms of possible scale formation in the producer and injector. In addition, actual chemical equilibrium reactions in the chalk matrix are discussed in relation to variation in temperature during continuous injection of seawater. Special focus is made on wettability modification, irreversible thermodynamics, and impact on the mechanical strength of the chalk matrix.     

Reduction‐Sensitive Dextran Nanogels Aimed for Intracellular Delivery of Antigens

Targeting of antigens to dendritic cells (DCs) to induce strong cellular immune response can be established by loading in a nano‐sized carrier and keeping the antigen associated with the particles until they are internalized by DCs. In the present study, a model antigen (ovalbumin, OVA) is immobilized in cationic dextran nanogels via disulfide bonds. These bonds are stable in the extracellular environment but are reduced in the cytosol of DCs due to the presence of glutathione. Reversible immobilization of OVA in the nanogels is demonstrated by the fact that hardly any release of the protein occurred at pH 7 in the absence of glutathione, whereas rapid release of OVA occurs once the nanogels are incubated in buffer with glutathione. Furthermore, these OVA conjugated nanogels show intracellular release of the antigen in DCs and boost the MHC class I antigen presentation, demonstrating the feasibility of this concept for the aimed intracellular antigen delivery.     

Probabilistic analysis of weather data for a hybrid solar/wind energy system

In this paper, a procedure for the probabilistic treatment of solar irradiance and wind speed data is reported as a method of evaluating, at a given site, the electric energy generated by both a photovoltaic system and a wind system. The aim of the proposed approach is twofold: first, to check if the real probability distribution functions (PDFs) of both clearness index and wind speed overlap with Hollands and Huget and Weibull PDFs, respectively; and then to find the parameters of these two distributions that best fit the real data. Further, using goodness‐of‐fit tests, these PDFs are compared with another set of very common PDFs, namely the Gordon and Reddy and Lognormal functions, respectively. The results inform the design of a pre‐processing stage for the input of an algorithm that probabilistically optimizes the design of hybrid solar wind power systems. In this paper, the validity of the proposed procedure was tested using long‐term meteorological data from Acireale (Italy). Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fabrication of layered nanostructures by successive electron beam induced deposition with two precursors: protective capping of metallic iron structures

We report on the stepwise generation of layered nanostructures via electron beam induced deposition (EBID) using organometallic precursor molecules in ultra-high vacuum (UHV). In a first step a metallic iron line structure was produced using iron pentacarbonyl; in a second step this nanostructure was then locally capped with a 2-3 nm thin titanium oxide-containing film fabricated from titanium tetraisopropoxide. The chemical composition of the deposited layers was analyzed by spatially resolved Auger electron spectroscopy. With spatially resolved x-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Fe L? edge, it was demonstrated that the thin capping layer prevents the iron structure from oxidation upon exposure to air.