Water treatment with silicofluorides and lead toxicity

Toxic metals like lead, manganese, copper and cadmium damage neurons and deregulate neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine (which are essential to normal impulse control and learning). Earlier studies show that — controlling for socio‐economic and demographic factors — environmental pollution with lead is a highly significant risk factor in predicting higher rates of crime, attention deficit disorder or hyperactivity, and learning disabilities. Exposure and uptake of lead has been associated with industrial pollution, leaded paint and plumbing systems in old housing, lead residues in soil, dietary habits (such as shortages of calcium and iron), and demographic factors (such as poverty, stress, and minority ethnicity). We report here on an additional “risk co‐factor” making lead and other toxic metals in the environment more dangerous to local residents: the use of silicofluorides as agents in water treatment. The two chemicals in question — fluosilicic acid and sodium silicofluoride — are toxins that, despite claims to the contrary, do not dissociate completely and change water chemistry when used under normal water treatment practices. As a result, water treatment with siliconfluorides apparently functions to increase the cellular uptake of lead. Data from lead screening of over 280,000 children in Massachusetts indicates that silicofluoride usage is associated with significant increases in average lead in children's blood as well as percentage of children with blood lead in excess of 10μg/dL. Consistent with the hypothesized role of silicofluorides as enhancing uptake of lead whatever the source of exposure, children are especially at risk for higher blood lead in those communities with more old housing or lead in excess of 15 ppb in first draw water samples where silicofluorides are also in use. Preliminary findings from county‐level data in Georgia confirm that silicofluoride usage is associated with higher levels of lead in children's blood. In both Massachusetts and Georgia, moreover, behaviors associated with lead nurotoxicity are more frequent in communities using silicofluorides than in comparable localities that do not use these chemicals. Because there has been insufficient animal or human testing of silicofluoride treated water, further study of the effect of silicofluorides is needed to clarify the extent to which these chemicals are risk co‐factors for lead uptake and the hazardous effects it produces.     

老树开出时代新花——对旧建筑立面改造的探讨和思考

随着我国城镇化过程进行到中期,城市主城区的建设已基本完成,虽然有了数量但质量还不高,一些建于20世纪80、90年代的建筑面临着改造,对这部分项目的改造将会是今后城市建设的一个主要内容。论文对改造中涉及立面的部分进行了分析,找出改造的原因和方式,并沿着这一思路对现在的建筑立面设计进行思考和探索。     

GO纳米片层对水泥水化晶体及胶砂力学性能的影响

通过控制氧化反应时间和超声波处理,制备了含氧量(质量分数,下同)分别为19.15％,25.43％和32.30％的氧化石墨烯(GO)纳米片层分散液,研究了不同含氧量GO纳米片层对水泥水化晶体和胶砂力学性能的影响.结果表明:含氧量为25.43％的GO纳米片层能够促使水泥水化反应形成规整的花状晶体,同时使得胶砂的拉伸强度和抗折强度显著提高.阐述了GO纳米片层调控水泥水化晶体的作用机理,认为GO纳米片层对水泥水化晶体的形成具有模板作用.     

分子结构对玻璃离子交换强化效果的影响

以普通钠钙硅玻璃为原片,通过微量调整玻璃中Al2O3、Ca O、Si O2、Mg O的质量分数,研究原料配比的变化所引起玻璃内部分子结构的变化对离子交换强化效果的影响,并研究了不同的热处理工艺对玻璃离子交换强化效果的影响。     

Sterols from Mytilidae Show Anti-Aging and Neuroprotective Effects via Anti-Oxidative Activity

For screening anti-aging samples from marine natural products, K6001 yeast strain was employed as a bioassay system. The active mussel extract was separated to give an active sterol fraction (SF). SF was further purified, and four sterol compounds were obtained. Their structures were determined to be cholesterol (CHOL), brassicasterol, crinosterol, and 24-methylenecholesterol. All compounds showed similar anti-aging activity. To understand the action mechanism involved, anti-oxidative experiments, reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays, and malondialdehyde (MDA) tests were performed on the most abundant compound, CHOL. Results indicated that treatment with CHOL increases the survival rate of yeast under oxidative stress and decreases ROS and MDA levels. In addition, mutations of uth1, skn7, sod1, and sod2, which feature a K6001 background, were employed and the lifespans of the mutations were not affected by CHOL. These results demonstrate that CHOL exerts anti-aging effects via anti-oxidative stress. Based on the connection between neuroprotection and anti-aging, neuroprotective experiments were performed in PC12 cells. Paraquat was used to induce oxidative stress and the results showed that the CHOL and SF protect the PC12 cells from the injury induced by paraquat. In addition, these substance exhibited nerve growth factor (NGF) mimic activities again confirmed their neuroprotective function.     

Laser Zone Melting and microstructure of waveguide coatings obtained on soda-lime glass

This study presents a Laser Zone Melting method with potential for producing planar waveguides at large scale, based on the surface coupling of two chemically compatible glass layers which exhibit distinct indices of refraction. The method is based on a recent patent, particularly applicable to process glass and ceramics with low thermal shock resistance. Glass coatings containing 76.24% by weight PbO are thus here reported, as obtained by this method on commercial soda-lime planar glass substrates. Their higher indices of refraction (1.58 vs 1.52 for commercial soda-lime glass) result in attractive waveguiding potential, as demonstrated with measurements using focused light from a He-Ne laser beam. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy studies reveal excellent integration and compatibility between the observed coatings and substrates, where diffusion in the proximity of the interface was studied by EDS analysis. Crystalline phases have not been found within the coating, or within the substrate, as concluded from the absence of Bragg-peaks in XRD experiments.     

Sn含量对轧制Mg-6Bi-Sn合金组织演变和腐蚀性能的影响

研究了轧制态Mg-6Bi-xSn (x=0,1,2,3,%,质量分数) 4种合金的组织演变和腐蚀性能。结果表明：研究合金均表现出等轴晶组织和少量的孪晶组织,随着Sn含量的增加,平均晶粒尺寸分别为 (15.63±1.37),(13.71±1.15),(10.86±1.39) 和 (12.29±1.15) μm;第二相体积分数分别为 (3.56±0.06)%,(3.67±0.09)%,(3.76±0.36)%和 (9.58±0.69)%。另外,随着Sn含量的增加,腐蚀速率先减小再增大,这是因为晶粒细化和第二相颗粒增加竞争机制的结果,Mg-6Bi-2Sn合金由于其均匀的微观组织而表现出最佳的耐腐蚀性能。     

基于动力显式算法的热成形数值模拟预测

考虑金属热处理相变动力学模型,建立了适用于高强度钢板热成形的热、力、相变多场耦合本构方程。基于大变形动力显式有限元算法及上述多场耦合本构方程,建立了热成形动力显式有限元方程。并将板料相变潜热释放引入到热成形温度场分析过程中。在自主开发的商业化金属成形CAE软件KMAS(King Mesh Analysis System)基础上开发了热成形动力显式分析模块,可用于预测热成形过程中零件的厚度变化、温度变化、微观组织各相的体积分数以及硬度分布。随后采用该模块对一款汽车B柱的热成形过程及最终力学性能进行数值模拟预测,并与试验结果进行对比,对比的一致性证明了所建立的多场耦合本构方程及KMAS热成形动力显式分析模块的正确性。     

麦克斯韦方程时域无网格算法及其应用研究

发展了用于求解麦克斯韦方程的时域无网格算法. 该法计算区域直接快速布点构成点云离散;基于点云结构,引入二次极小曲面逼近确定空间导数,构造近似黎曼解处理算法涉及的通量运算;空间离散后的半离散方程则按照四步Runge-Kutta格式推进求解. 基于发展的算法,数值模拟了二维典型目标的电磁散射场,计算结果与文献结果或理论解一致. 还给出了主体带外挂和飞机模型算例,表明该发展的算法适合处理多体及多部件干扰等复杂情形.     

The STIM1/2-Regulated Calcium Homeostasis Is Impaired in Hippocampal Neurons of the 5xFAD Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of age-related dementia. Neuronal calcium homeostasis impairment may contribute to AD. Here we demonstrated that voltage-gated calcium (VGC) entry and store-operated calcium (SOC) entry regulated by calcium sensors of intracellular calcium stores STIM proteins are affected in hippocampal neurons of the 5xFAD transgenic mouse model. We observed excessive SOC entry in 5xFAD mouse neurons, mediated by STIM1 and STIM2 proteins with increased STIM1 contribution. There were no significant changes in cytoplasmic calcium level, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) bulk calcium levels, or expression levels of STIM1 or STIM2 proteins. The potent inhibitor BTP-2 and the FDA-approved drug leflunomide reduced SOC entry in 5xFAD neurons. In turn, excessive voltage-gated calcium entry was sensitive to the inhibitor of L-type calcium channels nifedipine but not to the T-type channels inhibitor ML218. Interestingly, the depolarization-induced calcium entry mediated by VGC channels in 5xFAD neurons was dependent on STIM2 but not STIM1 protein in cells with replete Ca²⁺ stores. The result gives new evidence on the VGC channel modulation by STIM2. Overall, the data demonstrate the changes in calcium signaling of hippocampal neurons of the AD mouse model, which precede amyloid plaque accumulation or other signs of pathology manifestation.