In this paper, the performance of hybrid high calcium fly ash (FA) alkali-activated repair material for concrete exposed to sulfate environment was studied. The high calcium fly ash (FA) was replaced ...with ordinary Portland cement (OPC), basalt fiber (BF) and silica fume (SF). The repair mortars were prepared with AAMs and river sand at sand/binder ratio of 1. The mixtures were activated with 14 M sodium hydroxide (NH) and sodium silicate (NS) using NS/NH ratio of 2.0, and liquid/binder ratio of 0.6. Compressive strength and weight losses after immersion in 5% MgSO4 solution of AAM samples were tested. In addition, the slant shear samples were also prepared for the shear bond strength test after immersion in 5% MgSO4 solution. For comparison, two commercial repair non-shrink cement grouts were also tested. The results showed that the AAM hybrid with 10%OPC outperformed the AAM hybrid with BF and SF and the strength and weight loss were comparable to the two tested commercial non-shrink cement grouts.
•The AAM with 10%PC was strength improvement of 40% and shear bond strength improvement of 50%.•AAM can be used as a repair material in sulfate environment.•AAM with 10% PC gave the best performance in the sulfate environment.•The strength loss was due to the deterioration of Si–O–Si bond and formation of ettringite.
The diversity of Xylaria species associated with termite nests in northeast Thailand was investigated. Among the 14 taxa included in this study, 11 species and one variety were described as new, and ...another two species resemble the existing taxa, X. escharoidea and X. nigripes. The newly described taxa are X. chaiyaphumensis, X. conica, X. fulvescens, X. ischnostroma, X. margaretae, X. minima, X. reinkingii var. microspora, X. siamensis, X. sihanonthii, X. subintraflava, X. thienhirunae, and X. vinacea. Their morphological and cultural characteristics are described and illustrated, and their ITS, α-actin and β-tubulin sequences were analysed. A dichotomous key to the 17 species of Xylaria occurring in Thailand is provided.
Ankle-brachial index (ABI) and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) are surrogate measures of atherosclerosis based on the functional performance of vessels, and are highly related to cardiovascular ...events. However, only a few longitudinal studies have been conducted on their associations with long-term air pollution exposure.
This study aimed to examine whether long-term air pollution exposure is associated with ABI and CAVI in workers of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR).
This longitudinal study included 1261 participants (age range, 57–76 years as of 2007) of the EGAT study (2007–2017). ABI and CAVI were measured in 2007, 2012, and 2017. Annual mean concentrations of particulate matter ≤10 μm in diameter (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and carbon monoxide (CO) were estimated by ordinary kriging using data from 22 background and 7 traffic monitoring stations in BMR between 2002 and 2017. Linear mixed-effects models were used to assess associations between air pollution (expressed as 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year average concentration) and ABI and CAVI (expressed as percent changes per interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM10, O3, NO2, SO2, and CO). We also applied the mixed-effect ordinal logistic models to calculate odds ratios (ORs) of having high or moderate CAVI per an IQR increase in air pollution.
After controlling for potential confounders, 1-year average CO was negatively associated with ABI, but not significantly (−0.48%, 95% CI: −1.03, 0.07). Three-year average NO2 was positively associated with CAVI (6.67%, 95% CI: 0.21, 13.1). In contrast, 1-year average PM10 was inversely associated with CAVI although the association was not significant. Although not significantly, 1-year average NO2 and CO were positively associated with prevalence of high or moderate CAVI.
Although not statistically significant, long-term NO2 and CO exposure was associated with ABI and CAVI in the participants of the EGAT study.
•ABI and CAVI are surrogate measures of atherosclerosis.•This is the first study to examine the long-term effects of air pollution on CAVI.•Although not significantly, lower ABI was associated with higher CO.•NO2 was positively associated with CAVI but not significantly.•In contrast, PM10 was inversely associated with CAVI but not significantly.
Our knowledge of microbial biogeography has advanced in recent years, yet we lack knowledge of the global diversity of some important functional groups. Here, we used environmental DNA from 327 ...globally collected soil samples to investigate the biodiversity patterns of nitrogen-fixing bacteria by focusing on the
H gene but also amplifying the general prokaryotic 16S SSU region. Globally, N-fixing prokaryotic communities are driven mainly by climatic conditions, with most groups being positively correlated with stable hot or seasonally humid climates. Among soil parameters, pH, but also soil N content were most often shown to correlate with the diversity of N-fixer groups. However, specific groups of N-fixing prokaryotes show contrasting responses to the same variables, notably in Cyanobacteria that were negatively correlated with stable hot climates, and showed a U-shaped correlation with soil pH, contrary to other N-fixers. Also, the non-N-fixing prokaryotic community composition was differentially correlated with the diversity and abundance of N-fixer groups, showing the often-neglected impact of biotic interactions among bacteria.
Exposure to particulate air pollution may induce hepatotoxic effects via low-grade inflammation. However, only a few longitudinal epidemiological studies have investigated the long-term effects of ...air pollution on liver enzyme levels. The present study examined associations between long-term air pollution exposure and serum liver enzymes alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in employees of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) in Thailand's Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR). We conducted secondary analyses using the data obtained from 2022 subjects (mean age, 41.2 years as of 2009) of the EGAT3 cohort study (2009–2019). The daily mean concentration of each air pollutant (PM10, O3, NO2, SO2, and CO) was estimated at the sub-district level in BMR from 2008 to 2019 using the Kriging approach. Long-term exposure for each subject was defined as the 1-year average concentrations before the date of the physical examination in 2009, 2014, and 2019. We used linear mixed effects models to assess associations between air pollution and serum liver enzymes. Interquartile range increases in PM10 and O3 were related to decreased ALP -2.4% (95%CI: -3.0, −1.9) and −6.6% (−7.3, −5.9), respectively after potential confounders were adjusted. Positive associations between NO2, SO2, and CO with ALP were found 5.7% (4.8, 6.5), 4.5% (4.0, 5.0), and 0.8 (0.3, 1.4), respectively. Elevated AST was also associated with higher PM10 1.7% (0.8, 2.5) and O3 5.7% (4.5, 6.9). However, AST was negatively associated with NO2 -2.9% (−4.0, −1.8) and SO2 -1.7% (−2.3, −1.1). In contrast to other air pollutants, we only observed a positive association between O3 and ALT 3.4% (1.5, 5.3). The alteration in liver enzyme levels was significantly associated with long-term exposure to air pollution, which may raise the possibility of hepatocellular damage.
•We explored the long-term effect of air pollutants on liver function.•Long-term exposure to PM10 and O3 was associated with higher AST.•Higher levels of NO2, SO2, and CO were also associated with increased ALP.•Only O3 was positively associated with ALT.•Long-term exposure to air pollution may affect serum liver enzymes.
The principle of amino acid stretches tagged at the C terminal of Luecrocin I, which is an ultra-short antibacterial peptide, by tryptophan and arginine or lysine has been reported. The choice of ...amino acid type at each stretch position depends on the hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions visualized in the helical wheel pattern of Luecrocin I. Oligopeptide tagging should also consider the properties such as positive charge, hydrophobicity, the content of hydrophobic amino acids, polar angle, the properly hydrophilic and hydrophobic facets. Amidation at C terminal and lysine substitute for arginine can increase selectivity between mammalian cells (hemolytic and MTT assay) and bacterial cells tested. KT2 and RT2 which have 53% hydrophobic residues, 7 positive charges, 160° polar angle, −0.02 (KT2) and −0.04 (RT2) hydrophobicity were effective against S. typhi DMST 22842, S. epidermidis ATCC 12228, E. coli ATCC 25922 and V. cholerae non-O1, non-O139. The SEM images implied that the antibacterial mechanism of RT2 and KT2 may depend on concentration rather than time. Finally, RT2 and KT2 can be new antibacterial agents or may be further developed for alternative antibiotics.
The Xylariaceae and its relatives rank as one of the best-known members of the Ascomycota. They are now well recognized for their diversity, global distribution, ecological activities and their ...outstanding novel metabolites with wide ranging bioactivity.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Ten species of white-rot fungi were evaluated for their ability to decolorization of palm oil mill effluent. The highest decolorization efficiency was found with Trametes elegans (PP17-06), followed ...by Ganoderma sp.2 (PW17-06) and Ganoderma sp.2 (PW17-177), respectively. T. elegans was further evaluated for the long-term performance of decolorization for 24 d. The optimal retention time for the decolorization was 8 d, with a color removal efficiency of 47.7%. Beyond 18 d of incubation, decolorization efficiency was reduced due to the autolysis of enzymes. During the biodegradation process, manganese peroxidase enzyme activities reached a maximum of 36.03 U.L−1. However, no significant laccase and lignin peroxidase activities were observed. T. elegans was also assessed for decolorization performance through biosorption on mycelial biomass. The synthesis of the enzyme was prevented by exposing the mycelium to HgCl2. Within an optimal contact time of 2 d, decolorization efficiency reached 12.5% with ADMI reduction from 4259.0 (±20.1) ADMI to 3727 (±104.04) ADMI. Results indicate that the adsorption capacity was reached at this time, and no significant color removal can be achieved by biomass. Results obtained in this study showed the potential of T. elegans in decolorizing palm oil mill effluent.
A number of previous studies have shown that statistical model with a combination of satellite-derived aerosol optical depth (AOD) and PM
2.5
measured by the monitoring stations could be applied to ...predict spatial ground-level PM
2.5
concentration, but few studies have been conducted in Thailand. This study aimed to estimate ground-level PM
2.5
over the Bangkok Metropolitan Region in 2020 using linear regression model that incorporates the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) AOD measurements and other air pollutants, as well as various meteorological factors and greenness indicators into the model. The 12-fold cross-validation technique was used to examine the accuracy of model performance. The annual mean (standard deviation) concentration of observed PM
2.5
was 22.37 (± 12.55) µg/m
3
and the mean (standard deviation) of PM
2.5
during summer, winter, and rainy season was 18.36 (± 7.14) µg/m
3
, 33.60 (± 14.48) µg/m
3
, and 15.30 (± 4.78) µg/m
3
, respectively. The cross-validation yielded
R
2
of 0.48, 0.55, 0.21, and 0.52 with the average of predicted PM
2.5
concentration of 22.25 (± 9.97) µg/m
3
, 21.68 (± 9.14) µg/m
3
, 29.43 (± 9.45) µg/m
3
, and 15.74 (± 5.68) µg/m
3
for the year round, summer, winter, and rainy season, respectively. We also observed that integrating NO
2
and O
3
into the regression model improved the prediction accuracy significantly for a year round, summer, winter, and rainy season over the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. In conclusion, estimating ground-level PM
2.5
concentration from the MODIS AOD measurement using linear regression model provided the satisfactory model performance when incorporating many possible predictor variables that would affect the association between MODIS AOD and PM
2.5
concentration.
Insulin resistance is a condition in which cells are defective in response to the actions of insulin in tissue glucose uptake. Overstimulation of β-adrenergic receptors (βARs) leads to the ...development of heart failure and is associated with the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in the heart. However, the mechanisms by which sustained βAR stimulation affects insulin resistance in the heart are incompletely understood. In this study, we demonstrate that sustained βAR stimulation resulted in the inhibition of insulin-induced glucose uptake, and a reduction of insulin induced glucose transporter (GLUT)4 expression that were mediated by the β2AR subtype in cardiomyocytes and heart tissue. Overstimulation of β2AR inhibited the insulin-induced translocation of GLUT4 to the plasma membrane of cardiomyocytes. Additionally, βAR mediated cardiac insulin resistance by reducing glucose uptake and GLUT4 expression via the cAMP-dependent and protein kinase A-dependent pathways. Treatment with β-blockers, including propranolol and metoprolol antagonized isoproterenol-mediated insulin resistance in the heart. The data in this present study confirm a critical role for protein kinase A in βAR-mediated insulin resistance.
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