Extracellular Vesicles Tune the Immune System in Renal Disease: A Focus on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus,Antiphospholipid Syndrome,Thrombotic Microangiopathy and ANCA-Vasculitis

Extracellular vesicles (EV) are microparticles released in biological fluids by different cell types, both in physiological and pathological conditions. Owing to their ability to carry and transfer biomolecules, EV are mediators of cell-to-cell communication and are involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases. The ability of EV to modulate the immune system, the coagulation cascade, the angiogenetic process, and to drive endothelial dysfunction plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of both autoimmune and renal diseases. Recent studies have demonstrated the involvement of EV in the control of renal homeostasis by acting as intercellular signaling molecules, mediators of inflammation and tissue regeneration. Moreover, circulating EV and urinary EV secreted by renal cells have been investigated as potential early biomarkers of renal injury. In the present review, we discuss the recent findings on the involvement of EV in autoimmunity and in renal intercellular communication. We focused on EV-mediated interaction between the immune system and the kidney in autoimmune diseases displaying common renal damage, such as antiphospholipid syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, thrombotic microangiopathy, and vasculitis. Although further studies are needed to extend our knowledge on EV in renal pathology, a deeper investigation of the impact of EV in kidney autoimmune diseases may also provide insight into renal biological processes. Furthermore, EV may represent promising biomarkers of renal diseases with potential future applications as diagnostic and therapeutic tools.     

The Effects of Insulin-Like Growth Factor I and BTP-2 on Acute Lung Injury

Acute lung injury (ALI) afflicts approximately 200,000 patients annually and has a 40% mortality rate. The COVID-19 pandemic has massively increased the rate of ALI incidence. The pathogenesis of ALI involves tissue damage from invading microbes and, in severe cases, the overexpression of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). This study aimed to develop a therapy to normalize the excess production of inflammatory cytokines and promote tissue repair in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI. Based on our previous studies, we tested the insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and BTP-2 therapies. IGF-I was selected, because we and others have shown that elevated inflammatory cytokines suppress the expression of growth hormone receptors in the liver, leading to a decrease in the circulating IGF-I. IGF-I is a growth factor that increases vascular protection, enhances tissue repair, and decreases pro-inflammatory cytokines. It is also required to produce anti-inflammatory 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. BTP-2, an inhibitor of cytosolic calcium, was used to suppress the LPS-induced increase in cytosolic calcium, which otherwise leads to an increase in proinflammatory cytokines. We showed that LPS increased the expression of the primary inflammatory mediators such as toll like receptor-4 (TLR-4), IL-1β, interleukin-17 (IL-17), TNF-α, and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), which were normalized by the IGF-I + BTP-2 dual therapy in the lungs, along with improved vascular gene expression markers. The histologic lung injury score was markedly elevated by LPS and reduced to normal by the combination therapy. In conclusion, the LPS-induced increases in inflammatory cytokines, vascular injuries, and lung injuries were all improved by IGF-I + BTP-2 combination therapy.     

No Direct Postconditioning Effect of Poloxamer 188 on Mitochondrial Function after Ischemia Reperfusion Injury in Rat Isolated Hearts

Myocardial infarction is a leading cause for morbidity and mortality worldwide. The only viable treatment for the ischemic insult is timely reperfusion, which further exacerbates myocardial injury. Maintaining mitochondrial function is crucial in preserving cardiomyocyte function in ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury. Poloxamer (P) 188 has been shown to improve cardiac IR injury by improving cellular and mitochondrial function. The aim of this study was to show if P188 postconditioning has direct protective effects on mitochondrial function in the heart. Langendorff prepared rat hearts were subjected to IR injury ex-vivo and reperfused for 10 min with 1 mM P188 vs. vehicle. Cardiac mitochondria were isolated with 1 mM P188 vs. 1 mM polyethylene glycol (PEG) vs. vehicle by differential centrifugation. Mitochondrial function was assessed by adenosine triphosphate synthesis, oxygen consumption, and calcium retention capacity. Mitochondrial function decreased significantly after ischemia and showed mild improvement with reperfusion. P188 did not improve mitochondrial function in the ex-vivo heart, and neither further P188 nor PEG induced direct mitochondrial protection after IR injury in this model.     

Micron-Scale Soft Actuators Fabricated from Multi-Shell Polystyrene Particle-Gold Nanoparticle Nanohybrids

Actuators made of soft matter are needed for a variety of fields ranging from biomedical devices to soft robotics to microelectromechanical systems. While there are a variety of excellent methods of soft actuation known, the field is still an area of intense research activity as new niches and needs emerge with new technology development. Here, a soft actuation system is described, based on a core-multi-shell particle, which moves via photothermal expansion. The system consists of a novel polystyrene-based thermally expandable microsphere, with a secondary shell of a silicate-silane graft copolymer, to which gold nanoparticles are covalently linked. The gold nanoparticles act as photothermal nano-transducers, converting light energy into the thermal energy necessary for microsphere expansion, which in turn results in material movement. Actuation is shown in isolated particles in thermal and photothermal regimes using metal ceramic heaters or 520 nm laser illumination, respectively. Macroscale actuation is demonstrated by making a composite material of particles suspended in the transparent elastomer polydimethylsiloxane. The sample demonstrates an inchworm-like movement by starting from an arched geometry. Overall, this work describes a new particle-based actuation method for soft materials, and demonstrates its utility in driving the movement of a composite elastomer.     

高镍三元正极材料表面碱性物质研究进展

高镍三元正极材料表面形成的碱性物质容易导致电池容量衰减加快、寿命缩短,因而调控三元材料表面碱性物质对于提高锂离子二次电池的功能和安全性至关重要。综述了高镍锂离子电池三元正极材料表面碱性物质的形成机理及处理手段,从不同角度阐述了环境中的水、二氧化碳对表面碱性物质形成的影响。探讨了表面碱性物质形成过程中,由于锂离子和过渡金属的迁移与固化引发的表面结构的相变现象,造成了三元正极材料的加工储存性能的恶化。还对降碱工艺中的洗涤、干燥、低温烧结等过程进行了重点说明,阐述了洗涤工艺对三元材料表面碱性物质降低及对材料性质的影响,指出需选择合适的洗涤、干燥条件,减小材料表面发生的变异。最后结合目前降碱工艺对后续研究方向提出了建议。     

磷石膏提质降杂实验研究

磷石膏的综合利用对保护环境、促进企业可持续健康发展具有重要意义,但是磷石膏中的磷、氟、二氧化硅等杂质影响其利用。针对云南磷石膏中二氧化硅含量高的问题,采用正浮选工艺开展了磷石膏提质降杂的实验研究。通过单因素条件实验获得了合适的工艺参数：浮选温度为15 ℃、矿浆pH为2、十二胺用量为300 g/t。在此条件下,进行了“一粗二精”的正浮选开路流程实验,获得了二水石膏（CaSO₄·2H₂O）质量分数为97.5%、二氧化硅质量分数为1.17%的精矿,所得精矿达到了GB/T 23456—2018《磷石膏》一级品指标的要求;二水石膏回收率为98.58%、二氧化硅去除率为92.23%。通过正浮选不仅成功实现了二水石膏和二氧化硅的有效分离,而且磷石膏中的水溶磷和水溶氟也得到了有效去除,从而提高了磷石膏的品质。     

碳酸锂在水和NaCl-KCl溶液体系中溶解度的在线测定

碳酸锂溶解度在工业结晶生产中是十分重要的基础数据。采用浸入式红外探头和拉曼探头在线监测溶液体系中CO₃^2-和碳酸锂的特征峰峰强的变化,依据Lambert-Beer定律得出溶液体系中实时在线测定碳酸锂的溶解度。通过在线测定,测得碳酸锂在氯化钠-氯化钾溶液（c_NaCl=0.446 6 mol/L,c_KCl=0.015 8 mol/L）中的溶解度高于在水中的溶解度值。实验测试出的水中碳酸锂的溶解度数据还能与Van′t Hoff方程较好地关联,进一步测算碳酸锂在其他温度下水中的溶解度值。此外,该方法测定的碳酸锂在水中的溶解度数据比文献值中采用重量分析法测试出的溶解度数据偏小,是因为测试装置不同造成的。     

等速升温流态化下CaO/生物质焦的SO2/NO联合脱除特性

燃煤锅炉污染物超低排放标准对电厂脱硫和脱硝系统提出了更高的要求。CaO作为脱硫剂可以实现循环流化床锅炉烟气中SO₂的高效脱除,焦炭作为还原剂直接还原NO,同时CaO的存在对焦炭还原NO起催化作用,可以实现燃煤烟气中SO₂/NO的联合脱除。为了探究连续温度变化对CaO/生物质焦联合脱硫脱硝性能的影响,在钙循环捕集CO₂技术背景下,研究了等速升温流态化下CaO/生物质焦的SO₂/NO联合脱除特性。探究了烟气中O₂和CO₂对CaO/椰壳焦脱除SO₂/NO的影响。结果表明,O₂通过对椰壳焦表面碳原子的活化作用降低了异相还原NO温度,在300~950℃等速升温过程中CaO/椰壳焦的NO脱除效率逐渐增加,780℃以上能实现100%脱硝。O₂也提高了CaO/椰壳焦的脱硫效率。CO₂与CaO的碳酸化反应以及与椰壳焦的气化反应对同时脱除SO₂/NO有明显抑制作用。O₂和CO₂共同作用下,在500~800℃内CaO/椰壳焦的脱硝效率随温度升高而增加,脱硫效率先降低后升高。NO促进了CaO/椰壳焦脱除SO₂,而SO₂对脱硝有抑制作用。800℃时CaO/椰壳焦同时脱除SO₂和NO的效率分别为97.7%和93.9%。     

新型干法生产线热生料脱硫技术改造调试

我公司在生产过程中面临立磨停机以后窑尾废气SO2排放值较高的问题,给生产造成了很大的影响。为了解决这个问题,我公司引入热生料脱硫技术。通过不断优化调试方案,掌握了热生料脱硫技术的应用方法,并且解决了在应用过程中衍生的一系列问题。     

含钼废渣冶炼钼铁的优化试验

利用含钼废料钼酸钙为原料,采用碳还原法冶炼钼铁,通过单因素分析试验及正交试验优化得出最佳的试验条件,钼酸钙加入量应低于10%,熔炼温度为1 525 ℃,保温时间为25 min,碱度为1.3。通过XRD、SEM、EDS分析得出用此方法生产得到的钼铁合金中,钼以Mo₂C、Fe₃Mo以及Fe₃Mo₃C的形式存在,渣系为二元玻璃渣系,具有与普通玻璃相似的成分系统。经测定合金中钼的回收率大于99%,钼资源回收效益可观。