Aristolochic acids (AAs) are a toxic substance present in certain natural plants. Direct human exposure to these plants containing AAs leads to a severe and irreversible condition known as ...aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN). Additionally, AAs accumulation in the food chain through environmental mediators can trigger Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN), an environmental variant of AAN. This paper presents a concise overview of the oncogenic pathways associated with AAs and explores the various routes of environmental exposure to AAs. The detection and removal of AAs in natural plants, drugs, and environmental and biological samples were classified and summarized, and the advantages and disadvantages of the various methods were analyzed. It is hoped that this review can provide effective insights into the detection and removal of AAs in the future.
We reported a special type of lamination formed in the sediments of Lake Xiaolongwan, northeastern China. The lamination consists of light- and brown-colored laminate couplets in the thin sections. ...The brown-colored layer is composed mainly of dinoflagellate cysts. The grey-colored layer consists of other organic and siliceous matter (plant detritus, diatoms, chrysophyte cysts) and clastics. Preliminary sediment trap results show that a distinct peak of dinocyst flux occurred in November. The dinocyst flux maximum also corresponds to the peaks of diatom flux and chrysophyte stomatocyst flux. These suggest that "red tide blooms" occur in this freshwater lake. We speculate that the dinocyst flux maximum could be related to autumn overturn due to increased nutrients, and the availability of cysts for germination from the lake bottom. Additionally, it may also reflect increasing dissolved organic matter after leaf fall. An independent chronology derived from
137
Cs and
210
Pb shows a good agreement with counted laminations. From the sediment trap data and the independent chronology data, the dinocyst microlaminae appear to be annually laminated, and probably could be called dinocyst varves. Although vegetative (thecate stage) cells of
Peridinium volzii
and
Ceratium furcoides
are found in the water samples, it is not possible to relate the dinocysts to these two dinoflagellate species. Based on morphological and ecological analyses, we suggested that they have affinities with species of
Peridinium
(
sensu lato
), most probably to
P. inconspicuum
. Detailed investigations should be carried out to understand the red tide history in this freshwater lake. Annually laminated dinocyst microlayers in freshwater and marine sediments not only provide an uncommon archive for understanding the history of red tides and harmful algal blooms, and why and how certain species periodically bloom over several thousands years, but also provide important records of paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic changes at seasonal to annual resolution.
A Bi2WO6/BiVO4 composite photocatalytic material was synthesized by the hydrothermal method, and achieved the effective degradation of oxytetracycline (OTC) and tetracycline (TC) under visible light. ...The compositions, structures, chemical states and optoelectronic properties of Bi2WO6, BiVO4 and Bi2WO6/BiVO4 composites were characterized by systematic characterization. The results show that the existence of the heterojunction interface facilitates the separation of photogenerated carriers. Compared with the pure catalyst of Bi2WO6 and BiVO4, the Bi2WO6/BiVO4 composite material significantly improves the degradation efficiency of OTC and TC. The degradation rate is 6.22 and 3.02 times higher than that of Bi2WO6 and BiVO4, respectively. Through the free radical quenching experiments, it is known that photogenerated holes (h+) and superoxide anion free radicals (·O2−) are the main active substances in the degradation of OTC. By analyzing the process of photocatalytic degradation of OTC, there are mainly six intermediates during the process. Their possible degradation pathways are also inferred in this paper.
A Bi
WO
/BiVO
composite photocatalytic material was synthesized by the hydrothermal method, and achieved the effective degradation of oxytetracycline (OTC) and tetracycline (TC) under visible light. ...The compositions, structures, chemical states and optoelectronic properties of Bi
WO
, BiVO
and Bi
WO
/BiVO
composites were characterized by systematic characterization. The results show that the existence of the heterojunction interface facilitates the separation of photogenerated carriers. Compared with the pure catalyst of Bi
WO
and BiVO
, the Bi
WO
/BiVO
composite material significantly improves the degradation efficiency of OTC and TC. The degradation rate is 6.22 and 3.02 times higher than that of Bi
WO
and BiVO
, respectively. Through the free radical quenching experiments, it is known that photogenerated holes (h
) and superoxide anion free radicals (·O
) are the main active substances in the degradation of OTC. By analyzing the process of photocatalytic degradation of OTC, there are mainly six intermediates during the process. Their possible degradation pathways are also inferred in this paper.
A Bi
2
WO
6
/BiVO
4
composite photocatalytic material was synthesized by the hydrothermal method, and achieved the effective degradation of oxytetracycline (OTC) and tetracycline (TC) under visible ...light. The compositions, structures, chemical states and optoelectronic properties of Bi
2
WO
6
, BiVO
4
and Bi
2
WO
6
/BiVO
4
composites were characterized by systematic characterization. The results show that the existence of the heterojunction interface facilitates the separation of photogenerated carriers. Compared with the pure catalyst of Bi
2
WO
6
and BiVO
4
, the Bi
2
WO
6
/BiVO
4
composite material significantly improves the degradation efficiency of OTC and TC. The degradation rate is 6.22 and 3.02 times higher than that of Bi
2
WO
6
and BiVO
4
, respectively. Through the free radical quenching experiments, it is known that photogenerated holes (h
+
) and superoxide anion free radicals (·O
2
−
) are the main active substances in the degradation of OTC. By analyzing the process of photocatalytic degradation of OTC, there are mainly six intermediates during the process. Their possible degradation pathways are also inferred in this paper.
A Bi
2
WO
6
/BiVO
4
composite photocatalyst was synthesized that can promote the separation and transfer of photogenerated carriers and effectively degrade organic pollutants under visible light.
Abstract The loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra is a hallmark of pathology in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase-1 (DDAH-1) is the critical enzyme ...responsible for the degradation of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) which inhibits nitric oxide (NO) synthase and has been implicated in neurodegeneration. Mitochondrial dysfunction, particularly in the mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membrane (MAM), plays a critical role in this process, although the specific molecular target has not yet been determined. This study aims to examine the involvement of DDAH-1 in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway and PD pathogenesis. The distribution of DDAH-1 in the brain and its colocalization with dopaminergic neurons were observed. The loss of dopaminergic neurons and aggravated locomotor disability after rotenone (ROT) injection were showed in the DDAH-1 knockout rat. l -arginine (ARG) and NO donors were employed to elucidate the role of NO respectively. In vitro, we investigated the effects of DDAH-1 knockdown or overexpression on cell viability and mitochondrial functions, as well as modulation of ADMA/NO levels using ADMA or ARG. MAM formation was assessed by the Mitofusin2 oligomerization and the mitochondrial ubiquitin ligase (MITOL) phosphorylation. We found that DDAH-1 downregulation resulted in enhanced cell death and mitochondrial dysfunctions, accompanied by elevated ADMA and reduced NO levels. However, the recovered NO level after the ARG supplement failed to exhibit a protective effect on mitochondrial functions and partially restored cell viability. DDAH-1 overexpression prevented ROT toxicity, while ADMA treatment attenuated these protective effects. The declines of MAM formation in ROT-treated cells were exacerbated by DDAH-1 downregulation via reduced MITOL phosphorylation, which was reversed by DDAH-1 overexpression. Together, the abundant expression of DDAH-1 in nigral dopaminergic neurons may exert neuroprotective effects by maintaining MAM formation and mitochondrial function probably via ADMA, indicating the therapeutic potential of targeting DDAH-1 for PD.
This paper presents a study on the idle vibration reduction of a diesel sport utility vehicle (SUV). To reduce idle vibration, the transmission paths of vibration from the engine to the driver seat ...floor were investigated with the vehicle components related to idle vibration. Furthermore, operational deflection shape (ODS) tests were conducted to visualize the vibration shapes during engine idling. Experimental modal analyses were performed to obtain the natural frequencies and mode shapes. Through the ODS and modal tests, the vibration characteristics of the diesel SUV during idling were identified. Considering these vibration characteristics, a multi-body dynamic model for the diesel SUV described by differential equations of motion was established to evaluate the idle vibration. To implement the dynamic model effectively, the equivalent stiffnesses and damping coefficients included in the model were determined experimentally or analytically. The established dynamic model was verified by comparing the natural frequencies and idle vibration levels between simulations. Using this dynamic model, we analyzed the effects of various design variables on idle vibration and obtained an optimal design for reducing the idle vibration level. Finally, we present a design guide to reduce the idle vibration for diesel SUVs.
Paroxysmal dyskinesias are a group of neurological diseases characterized by intermittent episodes of involuntary movements with different causes. Paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) is the most ...common type of paroxysmal dyskinesia and can be divided into primary and secondary types based on the etiology. Clinically, PKD is characterized by recurrent and transient attacks of involuntary movements precipitated by a sudden voluntary action. The major cause of primary PKD is genetic abnormalities, and the inheritance pattern of PKD is mainly autosomal-dominant with incomplete penetrance. The proline-rich transmembrane protein 2 (PRRT2) was the first identified causative gene of PKD, accounting for the majority of PKD cases worldwide. An increasing number of studies has revealed the clinical and genetic characteristics, as well as the underlying mechanisms of PKD. By seeking the views of domestic experts, we propose an expert consensus regarding the diagnosis and treatment of PKD to help establish standardized clinical evaluation and therapies for PKD. In this consensus, we review the clinical manifestations, etiology, clinical diagnostic criteria and therapeutic recommendations for PKD, and results of genetic analyses in PKD patients performed in domestic hospitals.
PDF
