2-IPMA Ameliorates PM2.5-Induced Inflammation by Promoting Primary Ciliogenesis in RPE Cells

Primary cilia mediate the interactions between cells and external stresses. Thus, dysregulation of primary cilia is implicated in various ciliopathies, e.g., degeneration of the retina caused by dysregulation of the photoreceptor primary cilium. Particulate matter (PM) can cause epithelium injury and endothelial dysfunction by increasing oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Previously, we showed that PM disrupts the formation of primary cilia in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. In the present study, we identified 2-isopropylmalic acid (2-IPMA) as a novel inducer of primary ciliogenesis from a metabolite library screening. Both ciliated cells and primary cilium length were increased in 2-IPMA-treated RPE cells. Notably, 2-IPMA strongly promoted primary ciliogenesis and restored PM2.5-induced dysgenesis of primary cilia in RPE cells. Both excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and activation of a stress kinase, JNK, by PM2.5 were reduced by 2-IPMA. Moreover, 2-IPMA inhibited proinflammatory cytokine production, i.e., IL-6 and TNF-α, induced by PM2.5 in RPE cells. Taken together, our data suggest that 2-IPMA ameliorates PM2.5-induced inflammation by promoting primary ciliogenesis in RPE cells.     

A new approach for determination of crustal and trace elements in airborne particulate matter

An ICP-OES procedure was developed for fast and accurate determination of various crustal (Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, Si) and trace elements (Ba, Cu, Mn, Na, K, Sr, Ti, Zn) in airborne particulate matter. The method is based on a preliminary treatment of the aerosol samples with a mixture of nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide at elevated temperature leading to a mineralization of the organic sampling substrate, dissolution of soluble material and homogeneous suspension of the remaining non-soluble fraction. After dilution the derived slurry solutions were measured using ICP-OES. The reproducibility of analysis given as the relative standard deviation (% RSD) varied between 3.2 and 6.8% for bulk constituents such as Al, Ca, Fe, Mg and Si whereas values ranging from 3.5 to 9.1% were obtained for trace metals present with distinctly lower abundance in PM10 (e.g. Ba, Cu, Mn, Sr, Zn). The limits of detection (LOD) calculated as three times the standard deviation (3σ) of the signal derived from filter blank samples ranged from approximately 1?ng?m^?3 (Sr) to 71?ng?m^?3(Ca). The developed procedure was evaluated by comparing the obtained results with the findings derived for the same set of aerosol samples analyzed using a microwave procedure for sample dissolution with subsequent ICP-OES analysis. Finally the developed procedure was applied for the analysis of crustal and trace elements in PM10 samples collected at an urban site (Getreidemarkt, Vienna) and a rural site (Hartberg, Styria), in Austria. The concentrations of the investigated crustal elements varied between some hundred ng?m^?3 and few µg?m^?3 with highest concentrations for Fe and Si, distinctly reduced concentrations ranging from some ng?m^?3 (Sr) to more than hundred ng?m^?3 (K) were found for trace elements. Observed PM10 concentrations were found to be in accordance to literature findings from urban sites in central Europe.     

Application of an Electrostatic Precipitator for Instrumental Sampling of Sulfuric Acid

Abstract

A means of separating gaseous sulfuric acid from flue gas particles has been evaluated. Previous attempts to achieve this separation by filtration resulted in retention of the acid by the particulate buildup on the filter surface. By conducting a laboratory study of a prototype electrostatic precipitator, followed by actual flue gas sampling, it was found that the precipitator may eliminate the need for a filter without affecting the measurement results. It was also found that the precipitator could be used prior to a prototype acid monitor for the successful continual monitoring of H₂S0₄ in combustion gases.     

Determination of Benzo(a)Pyrene and other Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Airborne Particulate Material by Ultrasonic Extraction and Reverse Phase High Pressure Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

Ultrasonic extraction of airborne particulate material on Hi-Vol filters is described. Almost all of the polar compounds are removed during the extraction by adsorption on the surface of the shredded glass fibers and controlled pore glass powder (CPG). The non-polar polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the extract are separated at room temperature by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) on reverse phase Vydac using acetonitrile:water (70:30 v/v) as the chromatographic solvent. There is baseline separation of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), benzo(k)fluoranthene (BkFt) and of benzo(e)pyrene (BeP), benzo(b)fluoranthene and perylene, the latter three present in one band. Extracts of airborne particulates show the same peaks. BaP elutes in approximately 14 minutes. Precision and accuracy measurements indicate full recovery of PAH and good extraction reproducibility. The detection limit of BaP at F 290/389 is less than 10 pg. Total analysis time is approximately 1 1/2 hr, most of which is waiting time.     

The Organic Particulate Thermal Analysis (OPTA) of Amine Arenesulfonates,Malonic Acids,and Metal Acetylacetonates

Abstract

The new technique of organoparticulate thermal analysis (OPTA) has been used to investigate the thermal decomposition reactions of various types of organic compounds (i.e., malonic acids, metal acetylacetonates, arenesulfonic acids and their amine salts). With a few exceptions, most of the compounds in these classes exhibit strong organoparticulation characteristics at temperatures below 200°C as indicated by their influence on the output current of an ion chamber detector.

In general, no direct correlation between the melting and decomposition temperatures and their organoparticulation temperature ranges (OPTR) was evident. In several instances, the OPTR values lay well above or well beneath the known melting point and decomposition temperatures of the compounds.

To explain the organoparticulating properties of these compounds, vapor phase association of polar molecules (such as amines, carboxylic acids, etc.) would appear to be necessary to give organoparticulate sizes detectable with the present instrumentation. Alternatively, the formation of an “aerosol” suspension of organic molecules in gases, such as SO₂, CO₂, might be occurring with some of these compounds     

Deformation and long-term damage of particulate composites with stress-rupture microstrength described by a fractional-power function

The theory of long-term damage of homogeneous materials is generalized to particulate composite materials. The damage of the composite components is modeled by randomly dispersed micropores. The damage criterion for a microvolume is characterized by its stress-rupture strength. It is determined by the dependence of the time to brittle failure on the difference between the equivalent stress and its limit, which is the tensile strength, according to the Huber-Mises criterion, and assumed to be a random function of coordinates. An equation of damage (porosity) balance in the composite components at an arbitrary time is formulated. Algorithms of calculating the time dependence of microdamage and macrostresses or macrostrains are developed and corresponding curves are plotted in the case of limited microdurability Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika, Vol. 44, No. 10, pp. 3–12, October 2008.     

A review of research on cylindrical particulate flows

The study of cylindrical particulate flows has wide industrial applicability hence received much attention. The purpose of the present paper is to provide a review on our research over the last few years. The research is related to the motion of cylindrical particles in mixing layer, pipe flow, channel flow, converging channel flow; the sedimentation of cylindrical particles in a Newtonian fluid; the structural feature and rheological property of cylindrical particulate suspensions; and the hydrodynamic instability of cylindrical particulate suspensions.     

与非平衡问题相关的尺度效应:场与微粒

纳米技术的出现,使我们有必要更好地了解,在原子水平上材料微结构的变化是如何影响和控制着材料的宏观性能.这一挑战涉及到许多以前不曾考虑和不曾了解的现象.其中,位错理论的基础现在知道是有问题的.宏观尺度下采用的简化假设,也许不能用于微观和纳米尺度.尺度效应的含义,涉及到物理系统的非均质和非平衡特性.宏观尺度下的均匀与平衡特性,在材料的物理尺度减少到微米量级时就不再保持了.这些基本观点不能够为了方便而随意到处使用,因为这会改变预测的结果.更令人不满的是在建立物理模型时缺乏一致性.由此产生的问题是在确定制造过程中的有关参数时无能为力,导致由于成本过高而不切实际的终端产品.先进的复合材料和陶瓷材料就存在这样的问题.本文将要讨论的是在原子尺度与连续介质尺度下应用理论模型时存在的潜在问题,而不是去揭示自然的真相.主要讨论微粒,均匀连续介质或者两者的结合.尺度效应问题当前的发展趋势,趋向于在有或者没有时间效应的情况下寻找材料微结构的不同特征尺寸.从原子模拟模型中将了解到许多情况,原子模拟计算将揭示计算结果如何随着边界条件和尺度变化而不同.量子力学,连续介质力学和宇宙模型证明,没有普遍适用的方法.当前的主要兴趣也许是针对多尺度物理问题在技术上建立更高的精度,以得到一个更好的表达结果.      

Preparation of Fucoxanthin Nanoemulsion Stabilized by Natural Emulsifiers: Fucoidan,Sodium Caseinate,and Gum Arabic

This study was proposed to investigate the possibility of O/W nanoemulsion stabilization via natural emulsifiers as a delivery system for fucoxanthin. Nanoemulsions were prepared using ultrasonic treatment (150 W, amplitude 80%, 10 min) with different levels (0.5%, 1%, and 2% wt) of fucoidan, gum Arabic, and sodium caseinate as natural emulsifires and they were compared with tween 80. Then, the creaming index, stability, encapsulation efficacy, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and in vitro release were evaluated. The best stability and lowest creaming index were observed at 2% wt of emulsifiers. Nanoemulsions with droplet sizes (113.27–127.50 nm) and zeta potentials (−32.27 to −58.87 mV) were prepared. The droplet size of nanoemulsions was reduced by increasing the emulsifier concentration, and the best nanoemulsion stability after 15 days of storage was in the following order: tween 80 > sodium caseinate > fucoidan > gum Arabic. The encapsulation efficacy of nanoemulsions stabilized by sodium caseinate, fucoidan, and gum Arabic were 88.51 ± 0.11%, 79.32 ± 0.09%, and 60.34 ± 0.13%, respectively. The in vitro gastrointestinal fucoxanthin release of nanoemulsion stabilized with tween 80, sodium caseinate, fucoidan, and gum Arabic were 85.14 ± 0.16%, 76.91 ± 0.34%, 71.41 ± 0.14%, and 68.98 ± 0.36%, respectively. The release of fucoxanthin from nanoemulsions followed Fickian diffusion. The FTIR also confirmed the encapsulation of fucoxanthin.