Involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction in nanosized lead oxide induced cellular damage in human lung alveolar epithelial cells

High levels of industrial lead (Pb) exposure have decreased in the last 10 years as an outcome of removal of the metal from gasoline and paints. However, environmental Pb exposures remain extensive and may be correlated with adverse human health outcomes. The present study was designed to examine molecular mechanisms underlying cytotoxicity of lead oxide nanoparticles (PbONPs) on human lung alveolar epithelial (A549) cells. When A549 cells were incubated with PbONPs, the production of reactive oxygen species was enhanced as observed by 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate. PbONPs significantly reduced proliferation of A549 cells and increased caspase3 activity. In addition, exposure of PbONPs decreased levels of glutathione, and increased lipid peroxide levels and activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase. Exposure of PbONPs enhanced DNA damage as evidenced by tail DNA (%) and olive tail moment. Taken together, these finding indicated that PbONPs diminished cell proliferation and increased apoptotic cell death of A549 cells.     

石墨烯类纳米材料作为药物载体的研究进展及其潜在风险

石墨烯作为一种新兴的二维碳纳米材料,近年来受到了医学领域科学家的高度关注。由于石墨烯类纳米材料具有较大的比表面积,易于表面修饰等优点,目前在药物载体方面的研究发展迅速。随着纳米技术的发展,除了氧化石墨烯外,进一步将还原氧化石墨烯、石墨烯量子点、石墨烯纳米带等石墨烯类纳米材料作为药物载体应用到医学领域。本文综述了石墨烯类纳米材料作为药物载体在医学领域的研究进展,并从石墨烯类纳米材料的相关毒性研究角度,提醒了人们负载药物前后石墨烯类纳米材料的迁移规律对其潜在风险研究的重要性。     

Solidification/stabilisation of electric arc furnace waste using low grade MgO

This study aims to evaluate the potential of low grade MgO (LGMgO) for the stabilisation/solidification (S/S) of heavy metals in steel electric arc furnace wastes. Relevant characteristics such as setting time, unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and leaching behaviour assessed by acid neutralisation capacity (ANC), monolithic and granular leaching tests were examined in light of the UK landfill Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) for disposal. The results demonstrated that all studied mix designs with Portland cement type 1 (CEM1) and LGMgO, CEM1-LGMgO 1:2 and 1:4 at 40% and 70% waste addition met the WAC requirements by means of UCS, initial and final setting times and consistence. Most of the ANC results met the WAC limits where the threshold pH values without acid additions were stable and between 11.9 and 12.2 at 28 d.Granular leaching results indicate fixation of most of the metals at all mix ratios. An optimum ratio was obtained at CEM1-LGMgO 1:4 at 40% waste additions where none of the metals leaching exceeded the WAC limits and hence may be considered for landfill disposal.The monolithic leaching test results showed that LGMgO performed satisfactorily with respect to S/S of Zn, as the metal component present at the highest concentration level in the waste exhibited very little leaching and passed the leaching test requirement at all mix ratios studied. However, its performance with respect to Pb, Cd and Cr was less effective in reducing their leaching suggesting a higher cumulative rate under those leaching regimes.     

Responses of CH(4), CO(2) and N(2)O fluxes to increasing nitrogen deposition in alpine grassland of the Tianshan Mountains

To assess the effects of nitrogen (N) deposition on greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes in alpine grassland of the Tianshan Mountains in central Asia, CH₄, CO₂ and N₂O fluxes were measured from June 2010 to May 2011. Nitrogen deposition tended to significantly increase CH₄ uptake, CO₂ and N₂O emissions at sites receiving N addition compared with those at site without N addition during the growing season, but no significant differences were found for all sites outside the growing season. Air temperature, soil temperature and water content were the important factors that influence CO₂ and N₂O emissions at year-round scale, indicating that increased temperature and precipitation in the future will exert greater impacts on CO₂ and N₂O emissions in the alpine grassland. In addition, plant coverage in July was also positively correlated with CO₂ and N₂O emissions under elevated N deposition rates. The present study will deepen our understanding of N deposition impacts on GHG balance in the alpine grassland ecosystem, and help us assess the global N effects, parameterize Earth System models and inform decision makers.     

模拟室内环境下掺杂TiO_2纳米晶体的光催化性能

采用环境测试舱模拟可见光下的室内环境,以甲醛气体的光催化降解为探针反应,评价了通过溶胶-凝胶法分别制备的8种（银Ag、铜Cu、铁Fe、钨W、铈Ce、镧La、硫S和氯C l）掺杂TiO2纳米晶体的光催化活性及对甲醛气体的去除效果。用X射线衍射、激光粒度分析和紫外-可见分光光谱表征了掺杂钠米TiO2的微晶尺寸、晶体结构与光学性能。结果表明,Cu掺杂可以提高TiO2对氧的吸附能力,减少纳米粒子表面光生电子与光生空穴的复合,使TiO2的光吸收带边发生红移且有利于对可见光的吸收,从而使Cu掺杂TiO2在模拟室内环境下光催化甲醛气体的能力得到明显提高。     

煅烧温度和添加剂对提高煤矸石中氧化铝溶出率的实验研究

煤矸石是煤炭在开采、洗选过程中产生的固体废弃物,其中二氧化硅、氧化铝和碳占到矸石总量的90%以上,又是一种可以利用的资源。实验以山西潞安煤矿的洗矸为原料,采用SEM、IR和XRD等分析测试手段对不同煅烧温度下的煤矸石进行微观形貌、化学键变化和矿物组成的分析研究,确定氧化铝的活化温度区间;并根据煤矸石的活化机理,选择提高氧化铝溶出率的添加剂。实验结果为：煤矸石中氧化铝的活化温度区间为600～850℃;酸浸过程中添加氟化钠可以打开煤矸石中的SiO₂—Al₂O₃,使氧化铝溶出率达到90%以上,和通常条件下氧化铝的溶出率相比提高20%左右。本研究为煤矸石高值利用提取氧化铝提供了技术基础,也为粉煤灰等低铝含量矿物的开发利用提供借鉴。     

模拟室内环境下掺杂TiO2纳米晶体的光催化性能

采用环境测试舱模拟可见光下的室内环境,以甲醛气体的光催化降解为探针反应,评价了通过溶胶-凝胶法分别制备的8种(银Ag、铜Cu、铁Fe、钨W、铈Ce、镧La、硫S和氯C1)掺杂TiO2纳米晶体的光催化活性及对甲醛气体的去除效果.用X射线衍射、激光粒度分析和紫外-可见分光光谱表征了掺杂钠米TiO2的微晶尺寸、晶体结构与光学性能.结果表明,Cu掺杂可以提高TiO2对氧的吸附能力,减少纳米粒子表面光生电子与光生空穴的复合,使TiO2的光吸收带边发生红移且有利于对可见光的吸收,从而使Cu掺杂TiO2在模拟室内环境下光催化甲醛气体的能力得到明显提高.     

Responses of herbaceous plants to urban air pollution: Effects on growth, phenology and leaf surface characteristics

Vehicle exhaust emissions are a dominant feature of urban environments and are widely believed to have detrimental effects on plants. The effects of diesel exhaust emissions on 12 herbaceous species were studied with respect to growth, flower development, leaf senescence and leaf surface wax characteristics. A diesel generator was used to produce concentrations of nitrogen oxides (NO_x) representative of urban conditions, in solardome chambers. Annual mean NO_x concentrations ranged from 77 nl l^−l to 98 nl l⁻¹, with NO:NO₂ ratios of 1.4-2.2, providing a good experimental simulation of polluted roadside environments. Pollutant exposure resulted in species-specific changes in growth and phenology, with a consistent trend for accelerated senescence and delayed flowering. Leaf surface characteristics were also affected; contact angle measurements indicated changes in surface wax structure following pollutant exposure. The study demonstrated clearly the potential for realistic levels of vehicle exhaust pollution to have direct adverse effects on urban vegetation.     

Solid fuels in chemical-looping combustion

The feasibility of using a number of different solid fuels in chemical-looping combustion (CLC) has been investigated. A laboratory fluidized bed reactor system for solid fuel, simulating a chemical-looping combustion system by exposing the sample to alternating reducing and oxidizing conditions, was used. In each reducing phase 0.2 g of fuel in the size range 180–250 μm was added to the reactor containing 40 g oxygen carrier of size 125–180 μm. Two different oxygen carriers were tested, a synthetic particle of 60% active material of Fe₂O₃ and 40% MgAl₂O₄ and a particle consisting of the natural mineral ilmenite. Effect of steam content in the fluidizing gas of the reactor was investigated as well as effect of temperature. A number of experiments were also made to investigate the rate of conversion of the different fuels in a CLC system. A high dependency on steam content in the fluidizing gas as well as temperature was shown. The fraction of volatiles in the fuel was also found to be important. Furthermore the presence of an oxygen carrier was shown to enhance the conversion rate of the intermediate gasification reaction. At 950 °C and with 50% steam the time needed to achieve 95% conversion of fuel particles with a diameter of 0.125–0.18 mm ranged between 4 and 15 min depending on the fuel, while 80% conversion was reached within 2–10 min. In almost all cases the synthetic Fe₂O₃ particle with 40% MgAl₂O₄ and the mineral ilmenite showed similar results with the different fuels.