Pulmonary inflammation induced by office dust and the relation to 1 → 3-β-glucan using different extraction techniques

It is observed that 1?→?3-β-glucan, a major cell wall component of fungi, induces pulmonary inflammation. There is inconsistency in determining the correlation between the levels of glucan measured by current extraction methods and the respiratory inflammation observed in individuals or lab animals exposed to environmental dust samples. The glucan-specific limulus amebocyte lysate (G-LAL) method was used after extraction with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to analyze the glucan content of office dust samples collected from a water-damaged building. C3HeB/FeJ mice, an endotoxin-sensitive strain, were treated with different dust samples (2.5?mg?kg^?1 body weight) or saline (vehicle control) by pharyngeal aspiration. At 1?day after aspiration, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed, and lung inflammation and injury were assessed by measuring: (1) neutrophil (PMN) infiltration, (2) inflammatory cytokine (IL-6, IL-10, MCP-1, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL12-p70) levels, and (3) albumin and lactate dehydrogenase in recovered BAL fluid. Both DMSO and NaOH extraction increased the detection of glucan by approximately 20-fold compared to water extraction. However, only the DMSO extraction method showed a statistically significant positive correlation between 1?→?3-β-glucan and albumin levels, total numbers of BAL, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) cells recovered, levels of TNF-α, MCP-1, and IL-6. In conclusion, 1?→?3-β-glucan is a potent inflammatory agent in dust samples and DMSO extraction for glucan analysis may prove useful in understanding the impact of environmental contamination by glucans on lung disease.     

Hepatoprotective activity of 1-(4-(Dimethylamino)Benzylidene)-5-(2-Oxoindolin-3-ylidene) Thiocarbohydrazone in rats

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of 1-(4-(dimethylamino)benzylidene)-5-(2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene) thiocarbohydrazone, a novel isatin derivative against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Hepatic damage was induced by administration of CCl₄ (1 ml/kg, b.w., p.o.) in combination with liquid paraffin (1:1) as a single dose. The hepatotoxic rats were treated with test compound at doses of 50 or 100 mg/kg for three days and liver damage biomarkers, including activities of serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and levels of total serum bilirubin (TB) measured in blood samples. Results demonstrated that treatment with test compound at doses of 50 or 100 mg/kg to hepatotoxic rats produced a significant dose-dependent reduction of elevated SGOT, SGPT, ALP activities and TB levels indicating a hepatoprotective effect that was confirmed by histopathological examination of liver tissues. The study results confirmed the hepatoprotective activity of 1-(4-(dimethylamino)benzylidene)-5-(2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene) thiocarbohydrazone in rats.     

Cytotoxicity of benalaxyl,metalaxyl, and triadimefon on Chinese hamster ovary cells

The cytotoxicity of the fungicides benalaxyl, metalaxyl, and triadimefon was evaluated in vitro using the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cell line. The midpoint cytotoxicity values of neutral red (NR) incorporation (NRI₅₀), total cellular protein content (TCP₅₀), and the methyl tetrazolium assay (MTT₅₀) were estimated. Benalaxyl was the most cytotoxic fungicide, followed by metalaxyl and triadimefon. Fetal calf serum (10%) caused a reduction in benalaxyl, metalaxyl, and triadimefon cytotoxicity by factors of 1.8, 1.3, and 1.3. The effects of sublethal concentrations (NRI₂₅) of the three fungicides on the glutathione redox cycle components glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and total glutathione content were studied. The ameliorative effects of extracellular glutathione (1 mmol L^?1), vitamin C (70 µmol L^?1), and vitamin E (30 µmol L^?1) were also investigated. The three antioxidants led to significant effects on the glutathione redox cycle components.     

Degradation kinetics of terephthalic acid wastewater with the hybrid strains constructed with Phanerochaete chrysosporium

The degradation kinetic parameters in terephthalic acid (TPA) wastewater for the hybrid strains of Fhh and Fhhh obtained through the protoplast fusion of the fungi Phanerochaete chrysosporium (PC) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae Y99, and the native bacteria YZ1 were measured in this research. The highest level of the specific degradation rate for Fhhh and Fhh during 20h reaction were 0.2238 and 0.2163 h^‐1, which were higher than that of their three parental strains and that of the anaerobic bacteria reported. It suggested that the abilities of growth and degradation for Fhh and Fhhh in TPA wastewater were better than their three parental strains. They could create potentials for the purification of TPA wastewater with higher efficiency.     

ELISA determination of Aflatoxin M1 in milk and dairy products in Pakistan

A highly sensitive competitive ELISA was standardized to determine aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁) in milk and dairy samples randomly collected from Faisalabad city, using Riedel-de-Haen, Aflatoxin M₁ ELISA Systems, (Art–No. 45169). Standards of 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 ng L^?1 AFM₁ in sample/standard buffer were used in optimizing anti-AFM₁ antibodies and peroxidase–AFM₁ conjugate. Linear standard curve showed increase in concentration (log C) accompanied by decrease in maximal absorbance (%B/B₀) values (%B/B₀ = 124.3 ? 45.0 log C) with highly significant negative correlation (?0.973). The middle of the test (50% B/B₀) was at 30 ng L^?1 with 6.7 ng L^?1 the lowest detection limit (90% B/B₀). Duplicate analysis of 41 samples showed AFM₁ levels below EC permissible limits (50 ng L^?1) with maximums of 40, 13, and 7.4 ng L^?1 in milk, yogurt and butter, respectively. However, possibility of exceeding limits cannot be excluded, and demands regular monitoring.     

Multicriteria analysis applied to the sustainable agriculture problem

SUMMARY

The aim of this paper is to present an operational approach to compare the relative sustainability of existing farming systems. Sustainability rests on the assumption that an equilibrium must exist among three domains: social, economic and ecological. If we are to look for a solution to the problem, we must face a multi-dimensional approach. We propose that multicriteria analysis, a multi-dimensional method, is an appropriate methodology to study the issue. As sustainability cannot be measured directly, the way out is to use indicators. We have performed a thorough analysis of four farming systems existing in Guaíra, SP, Brazil to validate the methodology. Thirty indicators of sustainability (ten ecological, ten social, and ten economic) were defined and used to perform the analysis. The results of the multicriteria analysis proved useful because of its capability of reducing the dimensionality of the problem. From the three dimensions of sustainability, a final score was derived that can easily compare the relative sustainability of each farming system.     

响应面法优化O_3/H_2O_2/UV工艺降解1,2,4-三氯苯

研究了O3/H2O2/UV臭氧光催化工艺对水中TCB的降解效果,考察了TCB初始浓度、O3转化率、H2O2投加量及pH值对TCB降解效果的影响及其动力学分析,并通过响应面分析法对实验条件进行了优化组合.结果表明,O3/H2O2/UV对TCB的降解均遵循准一级反应动力学,其中条件优化组合后的反应动力学方程为y=0.0219x-0.0127,准一级反应速率常数为0.0219 min-1,所得线性相关系数为0.983.响应面分析结果表明,在TCB初始浓度0.3 mg.L-1、pH=10.1、H2O2投加量0.33 mmol.L-1、O3转化率99.75%的最优工艺组合条件下,TCB的3次平均去除率为94.2%,与预测值95.0%吻合度较高.     

D201树脂对双组分萘系化合物的吸附分离

用D201强碱性阴离子交换树脂自双组分水溶液中选择吸附分离1-氨基-2-萘酚-4-磺酸(1,2,4-酸)和2-萘酚,考察了溶液pH值、浓度、温度、树脂床高及流速等因素对吸附和分离系数的影响.结果表明,在pH 3—6时,树脂对1,2,4-酸有较高的吸附量及吸附选择性,利于1,2,4-酸与2-萘酚的选择性吸附分离.温度对吸附的影响较小,等温吸附规律符合Freundlich模型.动态吸附表明,至1,2,4-酸的泄漏点时,吸附流出液中几乎只含2-萘酚,1,2,4-酸被吸附于树脂上.随着树脂床层的增长或初始浓度和流速的减小,都使泄漏点推迟及分离系数提高.载酚酸的树脂柱可用15%质量比的NH4Cl和20%体积比的乙醇混合液定量洗脱1,2,4-酸.     

恒河猴piwil1基因的表达

为了解人类近亲恒河猴piwil1基因的结构、表达和功能差异,利用RT-PCR方法克隆了恒河猴piwil1基因,并对其编码产物进行了相应的生物信息学分析,随后检测了piwil1 mRNA在成年恒河猴10种组织中的表达情况,最后利用免疫组化方法比较了PIWIL1蛋白在成人、成年恒河猴和幼年恒河猴睾丸组织中表达的异同.结果表明,恒河猴piwil1基因全长2 586 bp,编码861个氨基酸,氨基酸数目与人类piwil1基因相同.恒河猴PIWIL1蛋白与人的PIWIL1蛋白序列同源性达99%,均含有PAZ结构域和Piwi结构域.在成人和成年恒河猴的睾丸组织中,PIWIL1蛋白均在精母细胞和精细胞的胞浆中表达,而在幼年恒河猴睾丸组织中,PIWIL1表达与成年恒河猴相比存在差异,表达量相对较低,且主要表达于生精小管的细胞的细胞核上.上述结果提示,PIWIL1蛋白在成人和成年恒河猴可能具有相同作用,但是在不同的发育阶段中PIWIL1蛋白的功能不同.     

Effects of climate and exurban development on nest predation and predator presence in the southern Appalachian Mountains (USA)

In the eastern United States, land-use and climate change have likely contributed to declines in the abundance of Neotropical migrant birds that occupy forest interiors, but the mechanisms are not well understood. We conducted a nest-predation experiment in southern Appalachian Mountain forests (North Carolina, U.S.A.) during the 2009 and 2010 breeding seasons to determine the effects of exurban development and temperature on predator presence and the average number of days until eggs in an artificial nest were disturbed by predators. We baited artificial nests with quail (Excalfactoria chinensi) eggs and monitored them for 18 days. We used clay eggs, track plates, and motion-triggered cameras to detect and identify nest predators. The average number of days a nest was undisturbed decreased as mean temperature increased and, to a lesser extent, as the density of buildings increased. Nests on the ground were more often depredated than those in trees, likely due to increased predation by opossum (Didelphis virginiana) and other carnivores. Raccoons (Procyon lotor), opossums, corvids (Corvus brachyrhynchos and Cyanocitta cristata), chipmunks (Tamias striatus), black bears (Ursus americanus), and domestic cats (Felis catus) were the most commonly detected predators. Presence of these predators did not vary as a function of mean temperature. Domestic cats and corvids were detected more frequently in plots with high rather than low densities of buildings. Forest-interior specialists and Neotropical migrants often nest in cool, high-elevation areas with low housing density. These bird species, especially those that nest on the ground, may be most vulnerable to increased nest predation if temperature and exurban development increase at higher elevations as anticipated.