For incompletely reduced graphene oxides (RGOs), an effect of oxygen functional groups such as carboxyl, phenol, carbonyl, and quinone on electrochemical capacitive behavior was studied. To prepare ...RGO thin-film electrodes, a simple fabrication process by (i) dropping and evaporating the graphene oxide (GO) solution, (ii) irradiating pulsed light, and (iii) heat-treating at 200 ∼ 360°C was applied. It was notable that the pulsed light irradiation was effective to prevent the disfiguring of deposited GO thin-film during the thermal reduction. From XRD analyses, interlayer distances of the RGOs were gradually decreased from 0.379 to 0.354nm. As increasing the thermal reduction temperature from 200 to 360°C, XPS O 1s spectra analyses showed that the atomic percentages of carboxyl and phenol of the RGOs were sustained as 5.40±0.36 and 4.77±0.41 at% respectively. Meanwhile, those of carbonyl and quinone of the RGOs were gradually declined from 3.10 to 1.81 and from 1.32 to 0.65 at% with different thermal reduction temperature respectively. For all RGO thin-film electrodes, the specific capacitance from the CV measurement in 6M KOH was sustained as ca. 220 F g−1 at the scan of 5mV s−1. However, in 1M H2SO4, the specific capacitance was gradually decreased from 171 to 136 F g−1. After 100,000 cycles in 6M KOH, 1M H2SO4, and 0.5M Na2SO4, the RGO (200°C) electrodes showed ca. 92, 54, and 104% of the initial capacitances respectively. The atomic percentages of the oxygen functional groups involved in the pseudocapacitive Faradaic reaction were decreased after the cycle test. Especially in 1M H2SO4, quinone group was decreased to ca. 48% of initial atomic percentage, which seems to be a main reason for the drastic reduction of capacitance. The specific pseudocapacitance per unit atomic percentage for either carboxyl or phenol group in 6M KOH was obtained as 12.59 F g−1 at%−1. For carbonyl group in 1M H2SO4, it was a slightly deviated value as 13.55 F g−1 at%−1. For quinone group in 1M H2SO4, it was 27.09 F g−1at%−1.
The genotoxicity, development toxicity, carcinogenicity, and acute or chronic toxic effects of glutaraldehyde (GA), particularly during occupational exposure through its use as a fixative, ...disinfectant, and preservative, are well-documented but its effects on neurotoxicity have not been investigated. We performed in vitro and in vivo studies to examine the developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) of GA. Neurite outgrowth was examined in an in vitro co-culture model consisting of SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells and human astrocytes. Cell Counting Kit-8, lactate dehydrogenase assay, and high-content screening revealed that GA significantly inhibited neurite outgrowth at non-cytotoxic concentration. Further studies showed that GA upregulated the mRNA expression of the astrocyte markers GFAP and S100β and downregulated the expression of the neurodevelopmental genes Nestin, βIII-tubulin, GAP43, and MAP2. Furthermore, in vivo zebrafish embryo toxicity tests explored the effects of GA on neural morphogenesis. GA adversely affected the early development of zebrafish embryos, resulting in decreased survival, irregular hatching, and reduced heart rate in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, the width of the brain and spinal cord was reduced, and the myelination of Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes was decreased by GA in transgenic zebrafish lines. These data suggest that GAs have potential DNT in vitro and in vivo, highlighting the need for caution regarding the neurotoxicity of GA.
•Developmental neurotoxicity induced by GA was assessed on SH-SY5Y/Astrocyte co-cultured cells and zebrafish.•GA induced developmental neurotoxicity at non-cytotoxic concentrations.•The expression of genes related to neurodevelopment was altered.•GA had a significant impact on brain development in zebrafish.•Provides new insights into the developmental neurotoxicity of GA.
We investigated whether various inflammatory and immune proteins in plasma predict intra-amniotic infection and imminent preterm delivery in women with preterm labor and compared their predictive ...ability with that of amniotic fluid (AF) interleukin (IL)-6 and serum C-reactive protein (CRP).
This retrospective cohort study included 173 consecutive women with preterm labor who underwent amniocentesis for diagnosis of infection and/or inflammation in the AF. The AF was cultured, and assayed for IL-6. CRP levels and cervical length by transvaginal ultrasound were measured at the time of amniocentesis. The stored maternal plasma was assayed for IL-6, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, and complements C3a and C5a using ELISA kits. The primary and secondary outcome criteria were positive AF cultures and spontaneous preterm delivery (SPTD) within 48 h, respectively. Univariate, multivariate, and receiver operating characteristic analysis were used for the statistical analysis.
In bivariate analyses, elevated plasma IL-6 level was significantly associated with intra-amniotic infection and imminent preterm delivery, whereas elevated plasma levels of MMP-9, C3a, and C5a were not associated with these two outcomes. On multivariate analyses, an elevated plasma IL-6 level was significantly associated with intra-amniotic infection and imminent preterm delivery after adjusting for confounders, including high serum CRP levels and short cervical length. In predicting intra-amniotic infection, the area under the curve (AUC) was significantly lower for plasma IL-6 than for AF IL-6 but was similar to that for serum CRP. Differences in the AUCs between plasma IL-6, AF IL-6, and serum CRP were not statistically significant in predicting imminent preterm delivery.
Maternal plasma IL-6 independently predicts intra-amniotic infection in women with preterm labor; however, it has worse diagnostic performance than that of AF IL-6 and similar performance to that of serum CRP. To predict imminent preterm delivery, plasma IL-6 had an overall diagnostic performance similar to that of AF IL-6 and serum CRP. Plasma MMP-9, C3a, and C5a levels could not predict intra-amniotic infection or imminent preterm delivery.
•Comparative combustion performance of waste sewage sludge in air and oxy-fuel conditions.•Pressure drop and temperature distribution in air and oxy-fuel combustion.•Comparison of ash composition in ...air and oxy-fuel combustion.•Comparison of flue-gas composition in air and oxy-fuel combustion.
Oxy-fuel combustion and circulating fluidized bed (CFB) technologies were applied to waste sewage sludge using a cold-bed and a 30kWth CFB pilot test bed. In the cold-bed tests, the minimum fluidization velocity (umf) and the superficial velocity were determined as 0.120m/s and 2.5m/s, respectively. In pilot tests, the combustion characteristics of waste sewage sludge in oxy-fuel condition were very distinctive compared with that in air condition in terms of operation parameters such as the distribution of pressure drop and temperature, flue-gas temperature, and the composition of ash and flue-gas. Based on cold-bed and pilot bed tests, the oxygen injection rate was optimized in the range from 21% to 25% in oxy-fuel condition for waste sludge combustion to apply oxy-fuel combustion and CFB technologies with considering technologies for stable and economic operation.
Comparative tests in air and oxy-fuel combustion were conducted in a 30 kWth circulating fluidized bed (CFB) pilot plant for waste sludge combustion. General combustion characteristics of the CFB, ...such as pressure profiles, temperatures along the bed, and flue gas composition, were different under the air and oxy-fuel conditions. At the bottom and in the fly ash, alkali and heavy metals had different distributions under the air and oxy-fuel combustion conditions. The particle size distribution in fly ash from air combustion was dominated by coarse particles, over 2.5 μm in size, whereas with oxy-fuel combustion, most particles were submicron in size, approximately 0.1 μm, and a smaller quantity of coarse particles, over 2.5 μm in size, formed than with air combustion. Mass fractions of Al, Ca, and K, below 2.5 μm in size, were found in the ashes from oxy-fuel combustion and in higher quantity than those found in air combustion. Submicron particle formation from Cr, Ni, Cu, and Zn in the fly ash occurred more during oxy-fuel combustion than it did in air combustion.
The current study examined the role of child temperament, parenting, and their interactions in 2‐ to 6‐year‐olds’ (n = 112; Mage = 3.82 years, SD = 1.01) moral and social‐conventional understanding. ...Children's judgments regarding hypothetical moral and conventional transgressions were assessed in a semi‐structured interview administered on an iPad. Parents reported on their child's temperamental self‐regulation (i.e., effortful control) and negative affect, as well as their own parenting practices (hostility and positive affect); children's self‐regulatory behavior was assessed during a snack delay task. Parent‐rated child effortful control was associated with greater distinctions between moral and conventional judgments, as estimated using latent difference score modeling, but only when parents were high in positive affect. Parental hostility was associated negatively with moral‐conventional domain distinctions, but only for children with poorer behavioral self‐regulation. Finally, children high in negative affect differentiated moral and social‐conventional transgressions more only when they were rated as high in effortful control by parents. The results demonstrated that an interplay between child temperament and parenting was associated with the development of young children's moral and social‐conventional understanding.
Poly(hexamethylenebicyanoguanide-hexamethylenediamine) hydrochloride (PHMB) is a biocide with a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity. Its use as a disinfectant and preservative in consumer ...products results in human exposure to PHMB. Toxicity studies on PHMB mainly focus on systemic toxicity or skin irritation; however, its effects on developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) and the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study, the DNT effects of PHMB were evaluated using IMR-32 and SH-SY5Y cell lines and zebrafish. In both cell lines, PHMB concentrations ≥ 10 µM reduced neurite outgrowth, and cytotoxicity was observed at concentrations up to 40 µM. PHMB regulated expression of neurodevelopmental genes and induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and mitochondrial dysfunction. Treatment with N-acetylcysteine reversed the toxic effects of PHMB. Toxicity tests on zebrafish embryos showed that PHMB reduced viability and heart rate and caused irregular hatching. PHMB concentrations of 1–4 µM reduced the width of the brain and spinal cord of transgenic zebrafish and attenuated myelination processes. Furthermore, PHMB modulated expression of neurodevelopmental genes in zebrafish and induced ROS accumulation. These results suggested that PHMB exerted DNT effects in vitro and in vivo through a ROS-dependent mechanism, highlighting the risk of PHMB exposure.
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•Developmental neurotoxic effects of PHMB were tested using neuronal cells and zebrafish models.•PHMB attenuated the differentiation of neuron in neuronal cell lines.•PHMB reduced embryo viability, hatching, and neuronal development in zebrafish.•Expression of neurodevelopmental genes and ROS accumulation were regulated by PHMB.•N-acetylcysteine reversed the observed toxic effects of PHMB.
Bilateral symmetry is assumed to contribute to the evolution of eye color, with the left and right eye being the same color in most vertebrates; yet, few studies tested this assumption. Here, we ...compared the amount of iris flecking (black spots presented on the iris) between the left and right eye of 76 adult common cuckoos Cuculus canorus. We found considerable variation in the total amount of iris flecking among individuals, with variation being associated with body size and sex. We also found that the amount of iris flecking differed between the left and right eye and that this left-right asymmetry was not random, with the left eye almost always being darker than the right eye. Furthermore, this asymmetry was negatively associated with wing length; however, this effect was limited to individuals with dark eyes. Overall, the asymmetric, but non-random, distribution of iris flecking between the left and right eye may indicate that selection pressures driving asymmetry (such as visual lateralization) act on the development of iris colors, even though this effect might be limited, due to the role of bilateral symmetry.
To determine whether various proteins in the cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) known to be involved in immune regulation, alone or in combination with clinical risk factors, can predict spontaneous preterm ...delivery (SPTD) in women with cervical insufficiency or a short cervix (≤25 mm).
This retrospective cohort study included 62 asymptomatic women with cervical insufficiency (n = 27) or an asymptomatic short cervix (n = 35) at 18-27 weeks. CVF swab samples were taken for assays of vitamin D binding protein (VDBP), interleukin (IL)-8, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1, and Dickkopf-related protein 3 (DKK3) before cervical examination, and maternal blood was collected for the determination of the C-reactive protein (CRP) level. The primary outcome measurement was SPTD at <32 weeks of gestation. Logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic curves were used for the statistical analyses.
The rate of SPTD at <32 weeks was 40.3% (25/62). The CVF levels of VDBP, TIMP-1, and DKK3, but not IL-8 and MMP-9, were significantly higher in the women who had SPTD at <32 weeks than in those who did not deliver spontaneously at <32 weeks. The women who had SPTD at <32 weeks had a significantly more advanced cervical dilatation at presentation and a higher level of serum CRP. Using the stepwise regression analysis, a prediction model was developed by combining various proteins in the CVF and clinical factors, resulting in the inclusion of cervical dilatation, CVF VDBP, and use of corticosteroids (area under curve, 0.909).
In women with cervical insufficiency or a short cervix, VDBP, TIMP-1, and DKK3 in the CVF may be useful as non-invasive predictors of SPTD at <32 weeks. A combination of these markers and clinical factors appears to improve the predictability of SPTD compared with the markers alone.
The quantity of waste from end-of-life vehicles is increasing with an increase in the number of scrapped internal combustion engine vehicles owing to international trends such as carbon neutrality ...and particulate matter reduction. The recycling rate must be ≥95%; however, the average recycling rate remains at approximately 89%. Therefore, the improvement of the recycling of automobile shredder residues (ASR) is gaining attention. In this study, four types of products (interlocking, clay, and lightweight swelled ceramic (LSC) bricks, and asphalt paving aggregate (APA)) were manufactured using ASR melting slag (ASRMS). Environmental performance, quality standards, and technology were evaluated to assess the recyclability of the manufactured bricks. The interlocking brick substituted melting slag for sand and stone powder as an aggregate. As melting slag content increased, absorption decreased and bending strength increased. Clay brick was manufactured by replacing kaolin and feldspar with melting slag that substituted for 20%. The quality of clay bricks mixed with over 15% melting slag was not better than standard. Asphalt paving aggregate was used to investigate the optimum condition of slag content in mixed asphalt; the mixture ratio showed that 61% broken stone of 13 mm, 6% screenings, 10% melting slag, 15% sand and 8% filler was most effective. A lightweight swelled ceramic brick was manufactured by using melting slag, front glass, and so on. Specific gravity and compressive strength ranged from 0.38 to 0.51 and from 339.7 to 373.6 N/cm
. ASRMS exhibited an environmental performance suitable for recycling and the manufactured bricks satisfied the quality standards. The recyclability of ASR was also assessed in terms of waste usage, conformance to quality standards, market size, and demand prediction. APA showed the best results followed by interlocking, clay, and LSC bricks.
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