Molecular level toxicological evaluation of a dental composite implanted in albino rats

Dental composite (DC) resins are synthetic resins which are used as restorative material or adhesives in dentistry. Monomers and other components released into the oral environment from the DC material even after polymerization might affect the surrounding tissues and even the whole body gradually. Biocompatibility of DC has to be stringently evaluated since the fillings are in close contact with mucosa, tooth, and pulp. Common difficulties with various current dental materials include allergies, chemical leakage from the material, and pulpal irritation which are due to the byproducts of chemical reactions during different stages of material hardening. Dental Products Laboratory of Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology developed a new BIS-GMA-based DC. In this study the oxidative stress induced by this DC material in vivo was tested for a period of 1, 4, 8, 26, or 52 weeks in albino rats. Dental materials were implanted intramuscularly into the gluteus muscle and oxidative biomarkers such as lipid peroxidation, 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) concentration, and total glutathione content analyzed. Data showed no significant changes in antioxidant defense system and 8-OHdG levels in nuclear DNA of the tissue. Serum biochemical results confirmed that animals were in normal functioning physiological state.     

Assessment of DNA damage and cytotoxicity of palmatine on human skin epithelial carcinoma cells

The present investigation was carried out to examine the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of a Tinospora cordifolia crude methanolic extract (palmatine) on human skin epithelial carcinoma cells (A431). T. cordifolia is one of the indispensable medicinal plants used in Ayurvedic medicine for treatment of various diseases and recommended for improving the immune system. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity evaluation was carried out using A431 cells treated with different concentrations of palmatine. The duration of the treatment was 24 and 48 hr. A cellular proliferative capacity test showed that palmatine produced cytotoxicity in concentration- and time-dependent manner. Further, palmatine induced significant intracellular reactive oxygen species generation and elevated lipid peroxidation, as well as activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase. DNA fragmentation analysis using the comet assay showed that palmatine induced genotoxicity in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Evidence indicates palmatine is capable of induction of oxidative stress resulting in cell death and genomic instability.     

Effect of electronic waste on E. coli genomic integrity: a possible role for metal induced carcinogenesis

Electronic waste (e-waste) poses a major public health threat for developing countries’ populations. The hazards of e-waste are exacerbated by crude recycling methods. In this study, the presence of metals in e-waste samples obtained from Lagos, Nigeria, was assessed using atomic absorption spectrometry. The effect of e-waste on Escherichia coli (E. coli) PQ-37 genomic integrity was evaluated using the SOS chromotest. The means of metal concentrations in the evaluated samples were 16 (cadmium), 7.3 (nickel), 11 (chromium), 20 (lead), 3100 (iron), 90 (zinc), and 2000 (copper) μg_L^?1. Damage to E. coli deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) increased proportionally to the metal concentrations. Significant amounts of DNA damaging agents from inadequately processed e-waste are present in the studied environment, which will have implications for adverse effects on public and ecological health. Existing policies against dumping of toxic materials in susceptible communities should be enforced.     

Cytotoxic activity of spark‐decomposed sulfur hexafluoride and analysis of cytotoxic contributions of individual spark decomposition products†

Sulfur hexafluoride decomposed by electrical sparks has been found to by cytotoxic to hamster cells when tested in an in vitro cell survival assay, while SF₆ shows no cytotoxic activity. Chemical analysis of spark‐decomposed SF₆ has identified and quantified the following compounds: SOF₂, SO₂F₂, SF₄, SOF₄, SiF₄, SO₂ and HF. Each of these gases, at concentration ranges expected in spark‐decomposed SF₆, were tested for cytotoxic activity toward hamster cells. Of the gases showing cytotoxic activity, SO₂F₂ and SOF₄ were similar in activity, as were SOF₂ and SF₄, while the behavior of SiF₄ was different from the rest. None of these individual gases, at concentrations expected in spark‐decomposed SF₆, has sufficient cytotoxic activity to account for the cytotoxic effect of spark‐decomposed SF₆ observed in our assay system. A four‐component mixture of some of the gases enumerated above (at concentrations overestimating their abundance in spark‐decomposed SF₆) was much less cytotoxic than the spark‐decomposed SF₆ gas. A mathematical simulation of the cytotoxic activity of a mixture of gases at concentrations found in spark‐decomposed SF₆ was made, assuming independent cytotoxic effects from each component. The simulated cytotoxic effect thus computed was less than that seen in spark‐decomposed SF₆. Since individual components or mixtures of the major decomposition products do not account for the observed biological activity of spark‐decomposed SF₆, this suggests there may be one or more components, present in the spark‐decomposed gas at very low concentrations, which may have a very strong cytotoxic activity.     

基于光纤光栅和小波包分析的结构损伤探测

以光纤光栅为传感元件、小波包分析为信号提取工具,获取了智能材料四边简支板损伤前、后的动态应变信号检测方法,并采用耦合神经网络方法对智能材料四边简支板结构进行了损伤识别分析。结果表明,光纤光栅可非常灵敏地检测出智能材料内部的动态应变信号,小波包信号处理方法可获得大量反映结构损伤特征的有效信号;随着损伤孔径的增大,耦合神经网络损伤识别的精度提高,可得到损伤的位置和大小的信息。研究结果在大型工程结构的健康监测中具有重要的潜在应用价值。     

混凝土单轴动态强度理论的探讨

在分析相关试验结果的基础上,系统地对混凝土在单轴动态加载下的强度特征进行了研究分析。结果表明,不仅加载速率对动态强度有着重要的影响,加载速率对材料弹性参数的影响也很大。结果显示:①混凝土在加载初始阶段,应力—应变表现为线性关系,可认为混凝土处于弹性阶段;随着压力的增加,混凝土产生非线性变形,并出现峰后应力下降;②混凝土的抗压极限强度随着加载速率的增加而增加;③混凝土的弹性模量随着加载速率的增加而提高,而泊松比保持不变。最终提出了一种改进的弹性损伤动态强度的本构理论。     

基于细观尺度的岩体开挖渐进破坏模拟研究

岩土渐进式地质灾害是当前岩土工程领域的重要研究课题。基于颗粒离散元法导出颗粒连接损伤模型,建立岩石细观离散模型,进行不同颗粒参数条件下的岩石单轴受压数值模拟。结果表明,岩石细观颗粒间相互黏结力是影响颗粒黏结破坏的主要因素;颗粒间摩擦系数是影响宏观强度的敏感参数,单轴受压试验形成接近45°剪切带,数值模拟与试验结果较好吻合,验证了该模型的合理性。建立岩体开挖细观离散模型,模拟不同地层条件下的开挖过程,对比分析了开挖未支护和支护情况下检测点的沉降差异。研究发现,未支护支撑下,深层开挖时,检测点的位移沉降较浅层开挖时明显;支护可以有效降低围岩变形,防止拉应力产生。本文从细观上揭示岩体开挖条件下渐进式破坏过程形成机制,为更深入研究岩土力学特性和滑动断裂的形成与发展等渐进破坏过程提供了理论和技术支撑。     

隧道爆破震动对新喷混凝土的累积损伤计算

为减少隧道爆破震动对初衬喷射混凝土的损伤,通过现场质点震速监测和信号分析,根据爆破动力学理论,探讨混凝土龄期对累积损伤的影响。综合考虑质点震速、初始损伤、混凝土强度和龄期等因素,提出单次爆破对混凝土的损伤增量及多次爆破对混凝土的累积损伤的计算方法。研究结果表明:混凝土的破坏是一个损伤的累积过程,单次爆破的损伤增量超过增量阈值并不一定造成材料的破坏;在混凝土中掺入早强剂有显著减震效果。将该方法应用于工程实例,提出新喷混凝土的爆破安全准则。     

海洋延寿平台随机冰激响应与损伤评估

直立结构上冰力作用是国际海洋石油工程界研究的一个热点,尽管很多学者建立了各种冰力破碎模型,但是这些理论模型实现对冰与直立结构交互作用过程的量化模拟还存有较多困难.针对胜利油田大量海上平台超期服役现状,选择渤海现场实测的随机冰力时程曲线,考虑腐蚀减薄、桩基冲刷、海生物附着等服役损伤,建立海洋延寿平台结构有限元模型,研究随机冰力作用下海洋延寿平台构件的时程响应,采用疲劳等效应力幅来描述随机冰激疲劳应力过程产生的疲劳效应,最后基于Miner线性累积疲劳损伤模型采用S-N曲线法评估平台构件的疲劳损伤,该方法为进行可适合工程应用的渤海延寿平台疲劳评估提供了思路.     

建筑火灾坍塌危险性的评估

从建筑火灾坍塌事故的特点及危害入手,分析了火灾中影响建筑坍塌时间的因素,阐述了建筑火灾坍塌前兆,得出建筑火灾坍塌危险性评估结论:在无爆炸发生情况下,无先天质量问题的钢筋混凝土建筑,一般在火灾持续5、6个小时内不会发生整体坍塌;我国北方建筑比南方的建筑普遍抗烧塌性相对较强;按防震设计的震区建筑,其火灾抗塌性明显增强;灭火冷却及时的建筑不易坍塌。