Fiber laser operating property at 1.55-μm band in a newly developed Ce,Er:ZBLAN fiber by a continuous-wave laser diode pumping at 980 nm is presented. The output characteristics of the Ce,Er:ZBLAN ...fiber laser system are analyzed in detail based on the rate equations model by taking into account the energy transfer between Ce/sup 3+/ and Er/sup 3+/ ions, as well as the upconversion mechanisms. The promotion role of the Ce in the erbium-doped ZBLAN for the 1.55-μm band fiber laser operation has been realized.
Context: Cathepsin S (CTSS) activity is elevated in Sjögren's Syndrome (SS) patient tears.
Objective: To evaluate longitudinal expression of tear and tissue CTSS activity relative to other disease ...indicators in Non-Obese Diabetic (NOD) mice.
Methods: CTSS activity was measured in tears and lacrimal glands (LG) from male 1-6 month (M) NOD and 1 and 6 M BALB/c mice. Lymphocytic infiltration was quantified by histopathology, while disease-related proteins (Rab3D, CTSS, collagen 1) were quantified using q-PCR and immunofluorescence.
Results: In NOD LG, lymphocytic infiltration was noted by 2 M and established by 3 M (p < 0.01). IFN-ɣ, TNF-α, and MHC II expression were increased by 2 M (p < 0.01). Tear CTSS activity was significantly elevated at 2 M (p < 0.001) to a maximum of 10.1-fold by 6 M (p < 0.001). CTSS activity in LG lysates was significantly elevated by 2 M (p < 0.001) to a maximum of 14-fold by 3 M (p < 0.001). CTSS and Rab3D immunofluorescence were significantly increased and decreased maximally in LG acini by 3 M and 2 M, respectively. Comparable changes were not detected between 1 and 6 M BALB/c mouse LG, although Collagen 1 was decreased by 6 M in LG of both strains.
Conclusion: Tear CTSS activity is elevated with other early disease indicators, suggesting potential as an early stage biomarker for SS.
The temporal and spatial distribution of PAHs in surface-water from the typical rivers of North China was investigated. PAHs in typical rivers ranged from n.d. to 1.98 ng/L. LMW PAHs (2 and 3-ring) ...were abundant in surface water with high detection frequencies in Beisanhe River, while HMW PAHs (4 and 6-ring) were abundant in Luanhe River. Specific PAHs with its ratios were measured in order to deduce the possible sources of PAHs contaminant. The results indicate that the PAHs were from combustion processes in Beisanhe River, while PAHs were from petroleum products in Luanhe River.
Simultaneous occurrence of hypertension and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is very common in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), although no study has specifically addressed this issue. The ...present study explored the risk factors for co-occurrence of OSAS-related EDS and hypertension.
A total of 161 OSAS patients were studied after undergoing an eight-hour in-laboratory polysomnography for one night. The OSAS severity assessment depends on the number of breathing disturbances per hour of sleep. EDS was defined using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores of ≥13. Hypertension was defined according to direct cuff blood pressure (BP) measurements. Beat-to-beat R-R interval data were incorporated in polysomnography for heart rate variability analysis. The low-frequency/high-frequency band ratio was used to reflect sympathovagal balance. The study participants were divided into four groups based on the presence of EDS and/or hypertension: EDS with hypertension (n = 53), EDS without hypertension (n = 27), no EDS with hypertension (n = 38), and no EDS or hypertension (n = 43). Clinical, polysomnographic and heart rate data were compared and studied among the four groups. Plasma acetylcholine (ACh) levels were assessed to explore the effects of the non-neuronal cholinergic system and the co-occurrence of EDS and hypertension.
Patients with EDS and hypertension had more severe OSAS severity indices compared to control patients. Increased cardiac sympathovagal imbalance and nocturnal hypoxemia regulated the presence of EDS and hypertension. Further plasma biomarker analysis revealed that both ESS scores and BP levels were associated with significantly elevated plasma norepinephrine, interleukin-6 and superoxide dismutase levels and significantly decreased ACh levels. Logistic regression analyses showed that ACh was the only factor significantly associated with co-occurrence of EDS and hypertension after controlling for confounders using odds ratio of 0.932, with a 95% confidence interval of 0.868 to 1.000 (
= 0.049).
The results suggested that OSAS coupled with both EDS and hypertension is a more severe phenotype of the respiratory disorder. The presence of EDS and hypertension was accompanied by sympathovagal imbalance, and co-occurrence of these two conditions may be related to decreased plasma ACh levels.
Surface modification is an effective way to enhance adsorption of pollutants by soil. In this study, we investigated the individual adsorption of cadmium ion (Cd
2+) and phenol and also in ...combination by the clay layer of a loessial soil treated with the amphoteric modifier, duodalkylbetaine (BS-12). Three levels of BS-12 modification were compared in this experiment: (1) unmodified soil (CK), (2) modification with an amount of BS-12 equivalent to 50% of the soil's CEC (50BS) and (3) modification with an amount of BS-12 equivalent to 100% of the soil's CEC (100BS). Cd
2+ adsorption was 0.92–1.70 times higher in the amphoteric modified soil compared to unmodified soil. Adsorption isotherms for Cd
2+ displayed a L1-type shape. Phenol adsorption was 1.25–4.35 times higher in the amphoteric modified soil compared to the unmodified control. The adsorption isotherms of phenol on amphoteric modified soils were generally linear, but changed to L1-type isotherms for modified soil in the Cd
2+
+
phenol treatment at 40
°C. The results clearly showed that amphoteric modified soil had the ability to simultaneously adsorb Cd
2+ and phenol. Cd
2+ adsorption by the amphoteric modified soil was related to the initial concentration of Cd
2+ in the supernatant. Cd
2+ adsorption in the 100BS treatment exceeded adsorption in the 50BS treatment when Cd
2+ initial concentrations were higher than approximate 200
μg
mL
−1. Phenol adsorption by modified soils decreased in the order: 100BS
>
50BS
>
CK and was primarily determined by the surface hydrophobicity of the soil. For the unmodified soil, total adsorption in the Cd
2+
+
phenol treatment was slightly lower compared to treatments that contained only Cd
2+ or phenol. This indicated an antagonistic effect between the adsorption of Cd
2+ and phenol, which was reduced after amphoteric modification. A comparison of temperature effects on Cd
2+ and phenol adsorption indicated that Cd
2+ was both physically and chemically adsorbed by the amphoteric modified soil, but phenol was primarily adsorbed physically.
In this study, an original gradient coating method was employed to prepare a superhydrophobic composite coating, using no. 107 silicone rubber/fluorinated polysiloxane mixture as basal glue and ...modified composite particles as reinforcement. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results indicate that the compound particles are successfully modified by hexamethyl disilazane (HMDS) and C-F group is introduced into the basal glue. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and contact angle measuring instrument were applied to investigate the micro-morphology and hydrophobic property of the composite coating. SEM result indicates that micro/nano multistage structure is formed which is similar with papillae of lotus leaf. Hydrophobic test result shows that the average and maximum static contact angles are 157·5 and 161·9° respectively. The sliding angle is only 2°. Compared with conventional hydrophobic materials and methods, the low cost and simple production process of this coating make it expected to be applied in many industrialised superhydrophobic fields.
This study investigated the effects of sulfur dioxide (SO2) inhalation and protection by sea buckthorn seed oil from oxidative damage caused by SO2 in male Kunming-strain mice. One approach was set ...up to study the effects of SO2 inhalation on changes of the mice antioxidant defense system. SO2 at different concentrations (22 +/- 2, 64 +/- 3, and 148 +/- 23 mg/m3) was administered to animals in treatment groups for 7 days, 6 h per day, while control groups were exposed to filtered air under the same condition. The activities of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and the contents of reduced glutathione (GSH) in brain, lung, heart, liver, and kidney of mice were measured. In the case of inhalation of a SO2 concentration of 148 +/- 23 mg/m3, the activities of GST and G6PD and contents of GSH in the brain, lung, heart, liver, and kidney were significantly decreased. Dose-dependent relations were found between various SO2-exposed concentrations and the activities of GST and G6PD and the content of GSH. Meanwhile another approach was taken to determine whether sea buckthorn seed oil could maintain the glutathione redox system and prevent the oxidative damage of lung induced by SO2. In groups given a high dosage (6 or 8 ml/kg) intraperitoneally, the level of TBARS (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances) was decreased significantly (p < 0.05) by the injection of sea buckthorn seed oil, and the activity of GST was increased significantly (p < 0.05). Overall GST activity and TBARS level exhibited a significant negative correlation (r = 0.891, p < 0.05). The observations showed that SO2 inhalation resulted in a significant change in the glutathione redox system and indicated that sea buckthorn seed oil could contribute to the antioxidant effects in the case of SO2 exposure.
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