Up-regulation of contractile endothelin receptors by airborne fine particulate matter in rat mesenteric arteries via activation of MAPK pathway

Fine particle matters (PM_2.5) is a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. Vascular hyper-reactivity plays an important roles in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. The present study was designed to investigate a hypothesis that PM_2.5 up-regulated endothelin receptors in mesenteric artery and the potential underlying mechanisms. Rat mesenteric arteries were cultured with PM_2.5. The artery contractile responses were recorded by a sensitive myograph. ET_B and ET_A receptor expressions of mRNA and protein were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Results showed that ET_B receptor agonist, sarafotoxin 6c induced a negligible contraction in fresh artery segments, while ET_A receptor agonist, ET-1 induced an obvious contraction. After organ culture, the contraction curve mediated by ET_B and ET_A receptors were shifted toward the left. PM_2.5 1.0 μg/ml cultured for 16 h further enhanced ET_B and ET_A receptor-mediated contractile responses with a markedly increased maximal contraction. The organ culture enhanced ET_B and ET_A receptor mRNA and protein levels from fresh arteries, which were further increased by PM_2.5. The U0126 (MEK/ERK1/2 inhibitor) and SB203580 (p38 inhibitor) significantly attenuated both organ cultured-induced and PM_2.5-induced up-regulation of ET_B receptor. U0126 also suppressed organ culture-increased and PM_2.5-increased expressions of ET_A receptor. SB203580 only suppressed PM_2.5-induced enhanced expressions of ET_A receptor In conclusion, airborne PM_2.5 up-regulates ET_B and ET_A receptors of mesenteric artery via p38 MAPK and MEK/ERK1/2 MAPK pathways.

     

Effects of fuel types and fuel sulfur content on the characteristics of particulate emissions in marine low-speed diesel engine

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The emission of particulate matter from ships does great harm to human health and atmospheric environment. Sulfur emission regulations also affect...     

Characterizing interactions of socioeconomic development and environmental impact at a watershed scale

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Worldwide socioeconomic development has resulted in huge irretrievable environmental problems in various ecosystems. This study employed seven coastal...     

不同冲击速度下硬煤的力学特性试验研究

为了研究硬煤破坏过程中的动态力学特性，采用Φ50 mm变截面分离式霍普金森压杆（SHPB）试验系统，对45#钢制薄壁套筒施加环向约束的硬煤试件进行不同加载速率的冲击压缩试验，得到被动围压下轴向应力-应变曲线、径向应力-应变曲线及最大被动围压和冲击速度的关系。研究结果表明:峰值应力、峰值应变随着冲击速度的增大而增大，最大被动围压值与冲击速度呈幂次增长的关系；被动围压下的硬煤试件变形受到限制，试件延性、抗压能力显著提高；随着冲击速度的增大，薄壁套筒对试件的约束也逐渐增大，达到峰值后，冲击速度对被动围压的影响减小，筒壁厚度影响着被动围压效果。     

A living mechanical file: the burrowing mechanism of the coral-boring bivalve Lithophaga nigra

The burrowing mechanism of a coral borer, Lithophaga nigra, from Penhu island was studied from 1984–1985. Chemical analysis, behavioral observation, anatomy, functional morphology and electronmicroscopic data revealed that this organism is not a chemical borer, as previously believed, but a mechanical borer with a very specially modified internal organ and an external shell configuration that enables it to function as an extremely efficient regenerative mechanical file.     

长江三角洲的的生产力布局、基础设施与城市发展

随着社会经济的发展，长江三角洲的生产力布局也发生相应的变化，针对其现状特征和发展动向，论述了生产力布局的基本框架以及相关的基础设施、城市发展等问题。     

红壤立体栽培模式中玉米氮、磷、钾配方施肥数学模型的研究

采用氟、磷、钾化肥三因素通用旋转组合设计，通过计算机模拟寻优，建立了湘南砂岩红壤玉米－大豆立体栽培模式中玉米施肥量－产量、玉米施肥量－利润数学模型；优选出玉米产量和利润最高的各10套施肥方案；计算出玉米最高产量的施肥量为：尿素750kg／hm2，过磷酸钙1125kg／hm2，氯化钾332kg／hm2，N∶P2O5∶K2O＝1∶0.39∶0.58；计算出玉米最佳经济效益施肥量为：尿素712.8kg／hm2，过磷酸钙1125kg／hm2，氯化钾285.2kg／hm2，N∶P2O5∶K2O＝1∶0.41∶0.52．玉米与大豆的产量间以及两者的利润间均呈极显著正相关．     

燃烧假人测试系统及其应用前景

燃烧假人测试系统是国际公认的定量评估防护装备阻燃性能的专用设备，本文主要介绍了燃烧假人测试系统的研究现状、系统构成、技术体系及应用前景。     

试剂对微量汞分析的影响及其引起的“干扰异常”的排除

用ＸＧ－冷原子吸收型数字测汞仪对水汞等进行纳克级别以下的极微含量分析。测量中加入的一些试剂影响测量数据的准确性和稳定性。对此笔者进行了一些实验研究。本文分析和介绍了测定中添加试剂的影响情况和一些实测数据分析实例；并提出了一般的解决方法，在地震和其他领域微量汞测量中有使用价值。     

平原集水区城镇化对暴雨洪水影响研究 ——以常州市双桥浜为例

城镇化下土地利用变化影响了流域洪水过程，并可能导致设计洪水发生变化。为进一步辅助城镇化流域防洪设计研究，以常州市双桥浜集水区为例，针对城镇化地区管网资料不全、区域管网河（渠）道排水过程复杂的问题，利用城市河道、道路、集水井等的汇水路径对高度城镇化小区进行子汇水区划分，基于HEC-HMS（Hydrologic Engineering Center-Hydrologic Modeling System）模型建立了适合高度城镇化下平原集水区的降雨-径流模拟模型，以模拟分析城镇化下土地利用转变对暴雨洪水的影响。结果表明，城市绿地向城镇化转变的过程较未利用地向城镇化转变使洪水增加得更大更快，且洪峰的增加幅度小于洪量的增加幅度。同时，随着土地利用转换程度的增大，对洪水影响的差异性也在增大，且低重现期洪水所表现的差异性更为明显。研究结果可为平原河网地区防洪减灾提供一定参考依据。