Sex-Related Differences in Murine Models of Chemically Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis

We developed two models of chemically induced chronic lung injury and pulmonary fibrosis in mice (intratracheally administered hydrochloric acid (HCl) and intratracheally administered nitrogen mustard (NM)) and investigated male–female differences. Female mice exhibited higher 30-day survival and less weight loss than male mice. Thirty days after the instillation of either HCl or NM, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid displayed a persistent, mild inflammatory response, but with higher white blood cell numbers and total protein content in males vs. females. Furthermore, females exhibited less collagen deposition, milder pulmonary fibrosis, and lower Ashcroft scores. After instillation of either HCl or NM, all animals displayed increased values of phosphorylated (activated) Heat Shock Protein 90, which plays a crucial role in the alveolar wound-healing processes; however, females presented lower activation of both transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathways: ERK and SMAD. We propose that female mice are protected from chronic complications of a single exposure to either HCl or NM through a lesser activation of TGF-β and downstream signaling. The understanding of the molecular mechanisms that confer a protective effect in females could help develop new, gender-specific therapeutics for IPF.     

Kinetics of adsorption of sulfur mustard on Al2O3 nanoparticles with and without impregnants

BACKGROUND: Chemical warfare (CW) agents are highly toxic compounds and have been used in war to produce physical immobilization, so safe and effective ways to detoxify them without endangering human life or the environment is of great concern. One of the important ways to achieve protection against CW agents contaminating air is to utilize suitable adsorbent materials, e.g. activated carbon, nanoparticles, etc. In the present study nanoparticles, synthesized through sol–gel processes and loaded with reactive compounds have been used for the degradation of CW agents and to understand their adsorption kinetics using Fickian and linear driving force models. RESULTS: Nanoparticles of AP‐Al₂O₃ (aerogel‐produced alumina) in the size range 2–30 nm with high surface area (375 m² g^?1) were produced by an alkoxide‐based synthesis, and then characterized using N₂‐Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques. Thereafter, these were impregnated, and finally tested for kinetics of adsorption of sulfur mustard (HD) under static conditions. The kinetics was studied using linear driving force and Fickian diffusion models and the kinetics parameters determined. CONCLUSION: AP‐Al₂O₃ with 10% impregnation of 9‐molybdo‐3‐vanadophosphoric acid (10%, w/w) showed the maximum uptake (640 mg g^?1) of HD. The highest adsorption potential indicated that the adsorption was due not only to physisorption but also involved chemisorption. Values of the diffusional exponent indicated the mechanism to be Fickian and anomalous. Hydrolysis, dehydrochlorination and oxidation reactions (identified using gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC/MS)) were found to be the route of degradation of HD over the prepared nanoparticle based adsorbents. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Energy use efficiency in the Indian manufacturing sector: An interstate analysis

This paper approaches the measurement of energy efficiency from a production theoretic framework and uses Data Envelopment Analysis to measure energy efficiency in the Indian manufacturing sector. Using data from the Annual Survey of Industries for the years 1998–99 through 2003–04, the study compares the energy efficiency in manufacturing across states, based on several models. The results show considerable variation in energy efficiency across states. Comparing the results across our models, we find that the relative pricing of energy does not provide the appropriate incentives for energy conservation. A second-stage regression analysis reveals that states with a larger share of manufacturing output in energy-intensive industries have lower energy efficiency. Also, higher quality labor force associates with higher energy efficiency. Finally, the power sector reforms have not yet had any significant impact on achieving energy efficiency.     

The Mixture of Salvianolic Acids from Salvia miltiorrhiza and Total Flavonoids from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Attenuate Sulfur Mustard-Induced Injury

Sulfur mustard (SM) is a vesicating chemical warfare agent used in numerous military conflicts and remains a potential chemical threat to the present day. Exposure to SM causes the depletion of cellular antioxidant thiols, mainly glutathione (GSH), which may lead to a series of SM-associated toxic responses. MSTF is the mixture of salvianolic acids (SA) of Salvia miltiorrhiza and total flavonoids (TFA) of Anemarrhena asphodeloides. SA is the main water-soluble phenolic compound in Salvia miltiorrhiza. TFA mainly includes mangiferin, isomangiferin and neomangiferin. SA and TFA possess diverse activities, including antioxidant and anti-inflammation activities. In this study, we mainly investigated the therapeutic effects of MSTF on SM toxicity in Sprague Dawley rats. Treatment with MSTF 1 h after subcutaneous injection with 3.5 mg/kg (equivalent to 0.7 LD₅₀) SM significantly increased the survival levels of rats and attenuated the SM-induced morphological changes in the testis, small intestine and liver tissues. Treatment with MSTF at doses of 60 and 120 mg/kg caused a significant (p < 0.05) reversal in SM-induced GSH depletion. Gene expression profiles revealed that treatment with MSTF had a dramatic effect on gene expression changes caused by SM. Treatment with MSTF prevented SM-induced differential expression of 93.8% (973 genes) of 1037 genes. Pathway enrichment analysis indicated that these genes were mainly involved in a total of 36 pathways, such as the MAPK signaling pathway, pathways in cancer, antigen processing and presentation. These data suggest that MSTF attenuates SM-induced injury by increasing GSH and targeting multiple pathways, including the MAPK signaling pathway, as well as antigen processing and presentation. These results suggest that MSTF has the potential to be used as a potential therapeutic agent against SM injuries.     

不同热处理方式对青枣贮藏保鲜效果的影响研究

以西昌地区的青枣为试材,研究不同热处理方式对青枣贮藏保鲜效果的影响.结果表明：适宜条件的热水处理效果较好,其最佳条件为55℃处理10 min,30 d腐烂指数为8.61%,好果率为81.67%,可溶性固形物和酸含量分别为9.4%和4.06%,Vc含量为28.17 mg/100 g.     

马兰和菊花脑真空预冷保鲜技术研究

比较了不同预冷方法和贮藏温度对贮藏期间马兰和菊花脑营养成分和外观的影响。结果表明,真空预冷后低温贮藏效果最好,Vc含量下降少,粗纤维含量增加少,与对照相比可延长保鲜期2d。     

Rheological characteristics of suwari and kamaboko gels made of surimi from Indian major carps

The gel strength, compressibility and folding characteristic of suwari (set) and kamaboko (set and cooked) gels prepared from rohu ( Labeo rohita ), catla ( Catla catla ) and mrigal ( Cirrhinus mrigala ) surimi were examined to understand the occurrence of suwari and modori phenomena in surimi from major freshwater carps. Suwari setting of gels did not take place at lower temperatures. Suwari gels showed good gel strength at 50 °C for rohu and at 60 °C for catla and mrigal after 30 min setting time. Incubation for 60 min decreased the gel strength at 60 °C for rohu and catla. Setting at 25 °C followed by cooking at 90 °C increased the gel strength. Increased setting temperature, however, decreased the gel strength of cooked gels. Gel strength and compressibility data were supported by folding characteristics. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

不同芥菜品种对发酵泡菜品质的影响规律

为探究不同品种芥菜发酵后品质和挥发性物质的差异,该研究通过分析不同品种新鲜芥菜的总糖含量选取12个芥菜品种进行发酵,对发酵后的芥菜进行感官分析、微生物、pH值、总酸、有机酸、亚硝酸盐、抗氧化能力、生物胺和挥发性风味物质的分析。结果表明,发酵竹冲芥菜各项理化指标均优于其它发酵芥菜,其中,感官评价为87.0分,菌落总数和乳酸菌数分别为1.18×107 CFU/g和1.01×107 CFU/g,pH值4.80,总酸1.73 g/kg,亚硝酸盐含量11.82 mg/kg,DPPH自由基清除率84.60%,有机酸含量1543.69 mg/100 g,生物胺含量30.03 mg/kg,其各项理化指标均位于试验品种前列。此外,发酵竹冲芥菜中共检出40类挥发性化合物,总含量达21.0 μg/g,优于平均水平。该研究为芥菜发酵品种的选择提供理论基础。     

臭氧和山梨酸钾对台湾青枣贮藏研究

臭氧是一种强氧化剂,具有广谱、高效的杀菌作用,能降解乙烯、乙醇等有害气体,较常用于果蔬上的保鲜。台湾青枣(ZizyphusmauritianaLam.)经臭氧和山梨酸钾处理后在常温下贮藏保鲜,结果表明处理2用3×10-6的臭氧处理后,台湾青枣果实的贮藏有较好的效果。试验结果显示提高了好果率,第6天处理2有一个峰值为15.34CO2mg/kg·h,呼吸强度高峰比其他处理低;延缓了果实硬度,减缓了Vc含量的下降,提高了超氧化物歧化酶的活性。     

Separation and Purification of Sinigrin and Gluconapin from Defatted Indian Mustard Seed Meals by Macroporous Anion Exchange Resin and Medium Pressure Liquid Chromatography

Defatted seed meals, the byproducts of Indian mustard seed oil industry, which are just used as animal feedstock and nitrogen fertilizers, possess various nutrients and phytochemical compounds, such as sinigrin and gluconapin. The present study demonstrated a novel, low-cost, and efficient method for the co-production of sinigrin and gluconapin from defatted Indian mustard seed meals by D261 strong basic anion-exchange macroporous resin and medium pressure liquid chromatography (MPLC). The adsorption/desorption capacities of eight adsorbents characterized by BET, IR, and EDS were screened. 26.4 g defatted Indian mustard seed meals, which contained about 1210.3 mg sinigrin and 696.6 mg gluconapin, could produce 2059.6 mg of glucosinolate-rich extract of 53.67% sinigrin and 31.30% gluconapin after separation by D261 resin. Then, 949.40 mg of 97% sinigrin and 568.40 mg of 95% gluconapin could be obtained after the extracts were purified by MPLC, with the recovery of 76.03% of sinigrin and 77.38% of gluconapin. The products were assessed by analytical HPLC and characterized by UV, MS, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR. In conclusion, this method is practical and environmentally friendly, and it is a low-cost process to make full use of Indian mustard seeds.