Characteristics and Health Risks of Particulate Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Nitro-polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons at Urban and Suburban Elementary Schools in Shanghai, China

Lulu Zhang,Takahiro Tokuda,Lu Yang,Quanyu Zhou,Xuan Zhang,Wanli Xing,Qing Wu,Zhijun Zhou,Renjie Chen,Takayuki Kameda,Akira Toriba,Kazuichi Hayakawa,Ning Tang 한국대기환경학회 2019 Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment (AJAE) Vol.13 No.4

PM2.1 was collected at urban and suburban elementary schools in Shanghai during two sampling periods in cold and warm seasons in 2007. Nine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and ten nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs) in PM2.1 were determined. During both seasons, the concentrations of PAHs and NPAHs at urban and suburban schools were not significantly different (p>0.05) and were higher in the cold period than in the warm period. According to the diagnostic ratios, PAHs and NPAHs at both schools were subject to the mixed effects of vehicle emission and coal combustion during both periods. Moreover, the results of the backward trajectory showed that PAHs and NPAHs were more susceptible to external polluted air masses in the cold period. At both urban and suburban schools, the inhalation cancer risk of PAHs and NPAHs in PM2.1 for children during elementary period was dozens of times of the acceptable risk level regulated by the U.S.EPA, highlighting the adverse impact of exposure to PAHs and NPAHs on the healthy development of children.

Numerical simulation and analysis of flow characteristics in the front chamber of a centrifugal pump

Yang Wu,Xiaoping Chen,Hua-Shu Dou,Lulu Zheng,ZuChao Zhu,BaoLing Cui,Boo Cheong Khoo 대한기계학회 2017 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.31 No.11

We performed numerical simulations to study the flow characteristic in a centrifugal pump based on the RANS equations and the RNG k-ε turbulent model. The flow field, including the front and back pump chambers, the impeller wear-ring, the impeller passage, the volute casing, the inlet section and outlet section was calculated to obtain accurate numerical results of fluid flow in a centrifugal pump. The flow characteristic was studied from the internal flow structure in pump chambers, the radial velocity at impeller outlet as well as the pressure inside of the pump, the circumferential velocity and the radial velocity in front pump chamber. The variation of flow parameters in internal flow versus flow rate in the centrifugal pump was analyzed. The results show that the overall performance of the pump is in good agreement with the experimental data. The simulation results show that the distribution of flow field in the front pump chamber is axial asymmetry. The energy dissipation at the impeller outlet is larger than other areas. The distribution of the circumferential velocity and that of radial velocity are similar along the axial direction in the front pump chamber, but the distribution of flow is different along the circumferential and the radial directions. It was also found that the vorticity is large at the impeller inlet compared with other areas.

Preparation and deposition mechanism of pyrolytic carbon by CVI using 3D Ni/wood-carbon catalyst

Lulu Han,Xiaohong Shi,Xu Han,Li Yang,Kun Li,Tian Xinfa,Mu Jierui,Wang Guoqing 한국탄소학회 2022 Carbon Letters Vol.32 No.1

To improve the pyrolytic carbon (PyC) deposition rate of Carbon/Carbon (C/C) composites prepared by the traditional chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) method, the 3D Ni/wood-carbon (3D Ni/C) catalyst was introduced into the CVI process. The effects of catalyst on the density of C/C composites were studied, and the deposition rate and morphologies of PyC were investigated after catalytic CVI. The morphologies of catalyst and PyC were characterized by scanning electron microscope and polarized light microscopy. The catalytic deposition mechanism of PyC was studied by density functional theory. The experimental results show that the initial carbon deposition efficiency of the catalytic pyrolysis process was 3–4 times that of the noncatalytic process. The catalyst reduced the energy barrier in the first step of deposition reaction from 382.55 to 171.67 kJ/mol according to simulation results. The pyrolysis reaction energy with Ni catalyst is reduced by 54% than that without the catalyst.

Oxygen vacancies assisted LaFeO3 derived from metal organic frameworks endows a practical HCHO sensor with excellent sensing characteristics

Lulu Guo,Shushu Zhao,Guimao Yang,Lifeng Gao,Yanhong Wu,Xuguang Zhang 한국공업화학회 2023 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.126 No.-

Perovskite oxide semiconductors have attracted tremendous interest in gas sensing due to their promisingproperties of tunable active sites, excellent catalytic ability and good structural stability. Nevertheless, the rapid synthesis of perovskite oxides and controlled regulation of their surface oxygenvacancies remains a great challenge. Herein, we report a novel metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) selftemplatestrategy for the rapid and large-scale preparation of LaFeO3 nanoparticles (MLaFeO3) withabundant oxygen vacancies. Benefit from the introduction of oxygen vacancies, the resultantMLaFeO3 gas sensor exhibit excellent formaldehyde (HCHO) sensing performance at a low operatingtemperature of 160 C, including high sensitivity (Rg/Ra = 8.9 @ 100 ppm), fast response/recovery rate(53 s/32 s), low detection limit (1 ppm) and excellent selectivity. Comprehensive density functional theory(DFT) calculation and spectral characterizations reveal that oxygen vacancies play a vital role in promotingthe adsorption and activation of O2 and HCHO molecules, and accelerate the chemical reaction onthe sensing materials surface. Most importantly, it proves the promising application of MLaFeO3 sensorin food safety assessment. This work not only provides a simple strategy for constructing oxygen vacanciesenriched LaFeO3, but also demonstrates the application potential of LaFeO3-based gas sensors in thefield of formaldehyde detection.

Severe choline deficiency induces alternative splicing aberrance in optimized duck primary hepatocyte cultures

Zhao Lulu,Cai Hongying,Wu Yongbao,Tian Changfu,Wen Zhiguo,Yang Peilong 아세아·태평양축산학회 2022 Animal Bioscience Vol.35 No.11

Objective: Choline deficiency, one main trigger for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is closely related to lipid metabolism disorder. Previous study in a choline-deficient model has largely focused on gene expression rather than gene structure, especially sparse are studies regarding to alternative splicing (AS). In modern life science research, primary hepatocytes culture technology facilitates such studies, which can accurately imitate liver activity in vitro and show unique superiority. Whereas limitations to traditional hepatocytes culture technology exist in terms of efficiency and operability. This study pursued an optimization culture method for duck primary hepatocytes to explore AS in choline-deficient model. Methods: We performed an optimization culture method for duck primary hepatocytes with multi-step digestion procedure from Pekin duck embryos. Subsequently a NAFLD model was constructed with choline-free medium. RNA-seq and further analysis by rMATS were performed to identify AS events alterations in choline-deficency duck primary hepatocytes. Results: The results showed E13 (embryonic day 13) to E15 is suitable to obtain hepatocytes, and the viability reached over 95% by trypan blue exclusion assay. Primary hepatocyte retained their biological function as well identified by Periodic Acid-Schiff staining method and Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity assay, respectively. Meanwhile, genes of alb and afp and specific protein of albumin were detected to verify cultured hepatocytes. Immunofluorescence was used to evaluate purity of hepatocytes, presenting up to 90%. On this base, choline-deficient model was constructed and displayed significantly increase of intracellular triglyceride and cholesterol as reported previously. Intriguingly, our data suggested that AS events in choline-deficient model were implicated in pivotal biological processes as an aberrant transcriptional regulator, of which 16 genes were involved in lipid metabolism and highly enriched in glycerophospholipid metabolism. Conclusion: An effective and rapid protocol for obtaining duck primary hepatocytes was established, by which our findings manifested choline deficiency could induce the accumulation of lipid and result in aberrant AS events in hepatocytes, providing a novel insight into various AS in the metabolism role of choline. Objective: Choline deficiency, one main trigger for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is closely related to lipid metabolism disorder. Previous study in a choline-deficient model has largely focused on gene expression rather than gene structure, especially sparse are studies regarding to alternative splicing (AS). In modern life science research, primary hepatocytes culture technology facilitates such studies, which can accurately imitate liver activity <i>in vitro</i> and show unique superiority. Whereas limitations to traditional hepatocytes culture technology exist in terms of efficiency and operability. This study pursued an optimization culture method for duck primary hepatocytes to explore AS in choline-deficient model.Methods: We performed an optimization culture method for duck primary hepatocytes with multi-step digestion procedure from Pekin duck embryos. Subsequently a NAFLD model was constructed with choline-free medium. RNA-seq and further analysis by rMATS were performed to identify AS events alterations in choline-deficency duck primary hepatocytes.Results: The results showed E13 (embryonic day 13) to E15 is suitable to obtain hepatocytes, and the viability reached over 95% by trypan blue exclusion assay. Primary hepatocyte retained their biological function as well identified by Periodic Acid-Schiff staining method and Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity assay, respectively. Meanwhile, genes of <i>alb</i> and <i>afp</i> and specific protein of albumin were detected to verify cultured hepatocytes. Immunofluorescence was used to evaluate purity of hepatocytes, presenting up to 90%. On this base, choline-deficient model was constructed and displayed significantly increase of intracellular triglyceride and cholesterol as reported previously. Intriguingly, our data suggested that AS events in choline-deficient model were implicated in pivotal biological processes as an aberrant transcriptional regulator, of which 16 genes were involved in lipid metabolism and highly enriched in glycerophospholipid metabolism.Conclusion: An effective and rapid protocol for obtaining duck primary hepatocytes was established, by which our findings manifested choline deficiency could induce the accumulation of lipid and result in aberrant AS events in hepatocytes, providing a novel insight into various AS in the metabolism role of choline.

Purification and Identification of a Natural Antioxidant Protein from Fertilized Eggs

Shaohua Yang,Lulu Wang,Ying Wang,Xiaoqian Ou,Zhaoyuan Shi,Chongchong Lu,Wei Wang,Guoqing Liu 한국축산식품학회 2017 한국축산식품학회지 Vol.37 No.5

Fertilized hen eggs are rich in a variety of bioactive ingredients. In this study, we aimed to obtain an antioxidant protein from fertilized eggs and the radical scavenging abilities on 1, 1- diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl radical (•OH), superoxide anion (O2-•) were used to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the purified protein. During 20 d of incubation, the radical scavenging ability of protein extracted from fertilized eggs exhibited significantly differences and the protein on day 16 showed higher antioxidant capacity. Based on this, the antioxidant protein of the samples on day 16 were isolated for the follow-up study. With a molecular weight 43.22 kDa, the antioxidant protein was purified by Diethylaminoethyl cellulose -52 (DEAE-52) column and Sephadex G-100. The LC-MS analysis showed that the purified protein molecular weight was 43.22 kDa, named D2-S. The sequence of amino acids was highly similar to ovalbumin and the coverage reached to 84%. The purified protein showed a radical scavenging rate of 52.34±3.27% on DPPH and 63.49±0.25% on •OH, respectively. Furthermore, the C-terminal amino acid sequence was NAVLFFGRCVSP, which was consistent with the sequence of ovabumin. These results here indicated that purified protein may be a potential resource as a natural antioxidant.

Purification and Characterization of an Antioxidant Protein from Fertilized Eggs

Shaohua Yang,Zhengjiang Tang,ShanShan Tang,Tingfang Zhang,Fei Tang,Yu Wu,Ying Wang,Lulu Wang,Guoqing Liu 한국축산식품학회 2016 한국축산식품학회지 Vol.36 No.6

Free radicals may attack cells or tissue, leading to chronic diseases, and antioxidant consumption is potentially useful for removing free radicals. Egg proteins may be used as potential sources of antioxidant considering their ability of scavenging free radicals to apply for food or cosmetics industry. In this study, we obtained a natural antioxidant protein from fertilized eggs, which was a dietary supplement in some Asian countries. Meanwhile, antioxidant activities of these proteins were evaluated using different oxidation systems. With increasing incubation time, the antioxidant activity of these proteins increased during 15 d of incubation. The samples on day 15 were performed for isolation of antioxidant protein. The protein, named P4-1 (MW, 45 kDa), was isolated and purified by consecutive chromatographic methods. P4-1 contained 17 amino acids, which was determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and Amino Acid Analyzer. Moreover, the amino acid sequence was highly similar to that of ovalbumin. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that the denaturation temperature of P4-1 was 57.16ºC. Furthermore, P4-1 suggested high oxygen radical-absorbance activity in ·OH assays, and its antioxidant activity was stable at 30-50ºC in acidic and neutral pH. Thus, these results revealed that P4-1 may be a potential resource as a natural antioxidant.

Preparation of magnetic carbon spheres derived form 8-quinoliolato Fe (III) complexe and its application in water treatment

Zhigang Jia,Lulu Yang,Jianhong Liu,Qiuze Wang,Rongsun Zhu 한국공업화학회 2015 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.21 No.1

Magnetic carbon spheres have been successfully prepared by the synchronous carbonation and activationof the 8-quinoliolato Fe(III) complexe with sphere morphology, which has been synthesized bysolovthermal method. The obtained composite possesses relatively even pore diameter of 3.8 nm, highsurface area of 335.59m2/g with 52.67 wt.% Fe3O4 coated, and a saturation magnetization (Ms) of35.27 emu/g. Dye separationperformance of the magnetic carbon spheres is investigated using methyleneorange and methylene blue as modle. The resluts show that the maxium adsorption capacity formethylene orange and methylene blue is 128.70mgg 1 and 151.29mgg 1, respectively, and the processcan rapidly reach adsorption equilibrium within 5 min, which is important for the application of the aspreparedmagnetic carbon spheres.

Stem-leaf saponins from Panax notoginseng counteract aberrant autophagy and apoptosis in hippocampal neurons of mice with cognitive impairment induced by sleep deprivation

Cao, Yin,Yang, Yingbo,Wu, Hui,Lu, Yi,Wu, Shuang,Liu, Lulu,Wang, Changhong,Huang, Fei,Shi, Hailian,Zhang, Beibei,Wu, Xiaojun,Wang, Zhengtao The Korean Society of Ginseng 2020 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.44 No.3

Backgroud: Sleep deprivation (SD) impairs learning and memory by inhibiting hippocampal functioning at molecular and cellular levels. Abnormal autophagy and apoptosis are closely associated with neurodegeneration in the central nervous system. This study is aimed to explore the alleviative effect and the underlying molecular mechanism of stem-leaf saponins of Panax notoginseng (SLSP) on the abnormal neuronal autophagy and apoptosis in hippocampus of mice with impaired learning and memory induced by SD. Methods: Mouse spatial learning and memory were assessed by Morris water maze test. Neuronal morphological changes were observed by Nissl staining. Autophagosome formation was examined by transmission electron microscopy, immunofluorescent staining, acridine orange staining, and transient transfection of the tf-LC3 plasmid. Apoptotic event was analyzed by flow cytometry after PI/annexin V staining. The expression or activation of autophagy and apoptosis-related proteins were detected by Western blotting assay. Results: SLSP was shown to improve the spatial learning and memory of mice after SD for 48 h, accomanied with restrained excessive autophage and apoptosis, whereas enhanced activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway in hippocampal neurons. Meanwhile, it improved the aberrant autophagy and apoptosis induced by rapamycin and re-activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling transduction in HT-22 cells, a hippocampal neuronal cell line. Conclusion: SLSP could alleviate cognitive impairment induced by SD, which was achieved probably through suppressing the abnormal autophagy and apoptosis of hippocampal neurons. The findings may contribute to the clinical application of SLSP in the prevention or therapy of neurological disorders associated with SD.

Impact of NR1I2, adenosine triphosphateebinding cassette transporters genetic polymorphisms on the pharmacokinetics of ginsenoside compound K in healthy Chinese volunteers

Luping Zhou,Lulu Chen,Yaqin Wang,Jie Huang,Guo Ping Yang,Zhi-Rong Tang,Yicheng Wang,Jianwei Liao,Gan Zhou,Kai-hua Wei,Zhenyu Li,Dongsheng Ouyang 고려인삼학회 2019 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.43 No.3

Background: Ginsenoside compound K (CK) is a promising drug candidate for rheumatoid arthritis. Thisstudy examined the impact of polymorphisms in NR1I2, adenosine triphosphateebinding cassette (ABC)transporter genes on the pharmacokinetics of CK in healthy Chinese individuals. Methods: Forty-two targeted variants in seven genes were genotyped in 54 participants using SequenomMassARRAY system to investigate their association with major pharmacokinetic parameters of CK and itsmetabolite 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD). Subsequently, molecular docking was simulated using theAutoDock Vina program. Results: ABCC4 rs1751034 TT and rs1189437 TT were associated with increased exposure of CK anddecreased exposure of 20(S)-PPD, whereas CFTR rs4148688 heterozygous carriers had the lowestmaximum concentration (Cmax) of CK. The area under the curve from zero to the time of the lastquantifiable concentration (AUClast) of CK was decreased in NR1I2 rs1464602 and rs2472682 homozygouscarriers, while Cmax was significantly reduced only in rs2472682. ABCC4 rs1151471 and CFTR rs2283054influenced the pharmacokinetics of 20(S)-PPD. In addition, several variations in ABCC2, ABCC4, CFTR, andNR1I2 had minor effects on the pharmacokinetics of CK. Quality of the best homology model of multidrugresistance protein 4 (MRP4) was assessed, and the ligand interaction plot showed the mode of interactionof CK with different MRP4 residues. Conlusion: ABCC4 rs1751034 and rs1189437 affected the pharmacokinetics of both CK and 20(S)-PPD. NR1I2 rs1464602 and rs2472682 were only associated with the pharmacokinetics of CK. Thus, thesehereditary variances could partly explain the interindividual differences in the pharmacokinetics of CK.