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PET rigid closed-cell foam is widely used as a sandwich material in wind turbine blades, in order to further improve the large-scale utilization of retired blades and realize the green and sustainable development of wind turbine blade materials, the effective utilization of PET materials has attracted increasing attention. In this paper, the dynamic rheological properties of PET foam recycled powder (Re-fPET) were studied by rotational rheometer, and the composite viscosity of Re-fPET recycled material was sensitive to temperature, showing obvious shear thinning behavior, and the composite viscosity decreased more obviously above 270 °C. The zero shear viscosity η0 was obtained by extrapolation by the Cross method, the activation energy of viscosity was further calculated according to Arrhenius, and the ΔEη0 was 241.29 kJ/mol, which had a significant effect on the untangling of the segments. The rheological characteristics of Re-fPET recycled powder were studied using a torque rheometer. The torque value of Re-fPET resin decreased rapidly and the equilibrium time was shorter above 270 °C. The torque value after equilibrium was smaller, the melt characteristic viscosity decreased significantly, and the material was significantly degraded, which was not conducive to processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the extractability of cadmium (Cd) and Cd uptake by rice after applying soil amendments of lime (Ca(OH)2) and sepiolite. A rice (Oryza sativa) cultivation experiment was conducted in a Cd-contaminated paddy field. After applying lime, sepiolite, and a mixture of the two as soil amendments, soil pH showed a significant increase (p<0.05), and Cd in soil extracted with NaNO3, CaCl2, and DTPA, was reduced by 61-100%, 52-98%, and 12-15%, respectively (p<0.05). The amount of exchangeable Cd showed a significant decrease in all treatments (p<0.05), and we found increases in the proportion of forms of carbonate-bound, Fe/Mn oxide-bound, and residual Cd in the soils, as measured by a sequential extraction method. The grain or rice straw biomass was neither significantly influenced by any amendment in the experiment, while the uptake of Cd by rice significantly decreased in all treatments (p<0.05). The results reveal no advantage in applying a mixture of sepiolite and lime compared with applying sepiolite alone in immobilizing Cd in the soil. The use of sepiolite or sepiolite mixed with lime was more effective than the use of lime alone in the immobilization of Cd in the soil. We therefore recommend sepiolite as a soil amendment to remediate Cd-contaminated paddy soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction:Renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) is a significant cause of end-stage renal failure. The goal of this study was to characterize the distribution of transplanted induced autologous stem cells in a rabbit model of renal interstitial fibrosis and evaluate its therapeutic efficacy for treatment of renal interstitial fibrosis. Methods:A rabbit model of renal interstitial fibrosis was established. Autologous fibroblasts were cultured, induced and labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP). These labeled stem cells were transplanted into the renal artery of model animals at 8 weeks. Results:Eight weeks following transplantation of induced autologous stem cells, significant reductions (P < 0.05) were observed in serum creatinine (SCr) (14.8 ± 1.9 mmol/L to 10.1 ± 2.1 mmol/L) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (119 ± 22 µmol/L to 97 ± 13 µmol/L), indicating improvement in renal function. Conclusions:We successfully established a rabbit model of renal interstitial fibrosis and demonstrated that transplantation of induced autologous stem cells can repair kidney damage within 8 weeks. The repair occurred by both inhibition of further development of renal interstitial fibrosis and partial reversal of pre-existing renal interstitial fibrosis. These beneficial effects lead to the development of normal tissue structure and improved renal function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In field conditions, a micro-aerobic layer with 1 cm thickness exists on the surface layer of paddy soil owing to the diffusion of dissolved oxygen via flooding water. However, the particularity of carbon and nitrogen transformation in this specific soil layer is not clear. A typical subtropical paddy soil was collected and incubated with 13 C-labelled rice straw for 100 days. The responses of exogenous fresh organic carbon( 13 C-rice straw) and original soil organic carbon mineralization to nitrogen fertilizer addition[(NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 ]in the micro-aerobic layer(0-1 cm) and anaerobic layer(1-5 cm) of paddy soil and their microbial processes were analyzed based on the analysis of 13 C incorporation into phospholipid fatty acid( 13 C-PLFAs). Nitrogen addition promoted the total CO 2 and 13 C-CO 2 emission from paddy soil by 11.4% and 12.3%, respectively. At the end of incubation, with the addition of nitrogen, the total soil organic carbon (SOC) and 13 C-recovery rate from rice straw in the anaerobic layer were 2.4% and 9.2% lower than those in the corresponding micro-aerobic layer, respectively. At the early stage(5 days), nitrogen addition increased the total microbial PLFAs in the anaerobic layer with a consistent response of bacterial and fungal PLFAs. However, there was no significant effect from nitrogen on microbial abundance in the micro-aerobic layer. Nitrogen addition had no significant impact on the abundance of total 13 C-PLFAs in the micro-aerobic and anaerobic layers, but the abundance of 13 C-PLFAs for bacteria and fungi in the micro-aerobic layer was decreased dramatically. At the late stage(100 days), the effect of nitrogen addition on microbial PLFAs was consistent with that at the early stage. The abundances of total, bacterial, and fungal 13 C-PLFAs were remarkably increased in the anaerobic layer. However, the abundance of 13 C-PLFAs in the micro-aerobic layer showed no significant response to nitrogen addition. During the incubation, the content of NH 4 + -N in the anaerobic soil layer was higher than that in the micro-aerobic soil layer. This indicates that nitrogen addition increased microbial activity in the anaerobic soil layer caused by the higher NH 4 + -N concentration, as majority of microorganisms preferred to use NH 4 + -N. Consequently, the microbial utilization and decomposition of organic carbon in the anaerobic soil layer were accelerated. By contrast, richer available N existed in the form of NO 3 - -N in the micro-aerobic soil layer owing to the ammoxidation process. Thus, the shortage of NO 3 - -N preference microorganisms in the paddy soil environment prohibited the microbial metabolism of organic carbon in the micro-aerobic layer. As a whole, nitrogen fertilization enhanced organic carbon loss via microbial mineralization in paddy soil with a weaker effect in the micro-aerobic layer than that in the anaerobic layer, indicating the limited microbial metabolic activity in the surface micro-aerobic layer could protect the organic carbon stabilization in paddy soil. This study emphasizes the heterogeneity of paddy soil and its significant particularity of carbon and nitrogen transformation in micro-aerobic layers. Consequently, this study has implications for optimizing the forms and method for the application of nitrogen fertilizer in paddy cropping systems.

Field investigation on the content of heavy metals in soils and three types of widely distributing compositae plants( Artemisia lavandulaefolia, Ageratum conyzoides L. , Crassocephalum crepidioides ) in lead-zinc tailings farmland of Yangshuo, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region was carried out, and the differential centrifugation technique and sequential chemical extraction method were used to study the subcellular distribution and chemical forms of heavy metals in these plants. The results indicated that the soil in the tailings farmland was highly contaminated by Cd, Pb and Zn, and their concentrations were 37.7, 5.7 and 8.9 times higher than their respective values of national standard for soil environment quality(GradeⅡ). The contents of Cd, Pb and Zn in the analyzed plants exceeded the normal ranges. Ageratum conyzoides L. and Crassocephalum crepidioides showed strong capability in tolerance, accumulation and transport of Cd, and they could be used as pioneer plants for Cd-phytoremediation in study area and some related areas. In addition, Cd concentrations in the stem and leave of Crassocephalum crepidioides were 159.6 mg·kg -1 and 219.5 mg·kg -1 , respectively, which exceeded the threshold of Cd hyperaccumulator. Thus, Crassocephalum crepidioides can be regarded as a Cd-hyperaccumulator. Majority of total Cd, Pb and Zn were found in soluble fraction and cell wall in the plants, while only a small quantity were distributed in organelles. As for chemical forms distribution, Cd, Zn and Pb predominated NaCl-, HAC-, and HCl-extractable forms both in roots and shoots of the plants. Therefore, cell wall binding, vacuolar compartmentalization and distribution mainly in lower active chemical forms were supposed to be the main mechanisms for tolerance to heavy metals in the study plants. A difference of Cd subcellular distribution and its chemical forms in the three Compositae plants was observed. Compared with the shoot of Artemisia lavandulaefolia , more Cd was located in the vacuolus and cellular soluble parts in Ageratum conyzoides L. and Crassocephalum crepidioides . Moreover, the proportion of active chemical Cd in the shoots was lower than that in the roots. These results showed that the subcellular distribution and chemical forms of Cd were related to the plant species,and also indicated Ageratum conyzoides L. and Crassocephalum crepidioides were likely to possess a higher tolerance and accumulation of Cd.

Soil samples were collected from compound polluted tailings to analyze the contents of total heavy metals and their speciation in the soil. Laboratory batch tests were conducted to examine the effects of distilled water and different concentrations of oxalic acid, citric acid, acetic acid, HNO3 and EDTA on the removal of heavy metals from the polluted soils. The suitable eluent and its optimal conditions including liquid to soil ratio, reaction time and washing number were also optimized, and the total toxicity reduction index was proposed to evaluate the effect of the eluent on the remediation of polluted soil. The results showed that Cd and Pb were the most abundant heavy metals in the soil, reaching 52.2 mg x kg(-1) and 4836.5 m x kg(-1), respectively. There was significant difference in the removal efficiency for different heavy metals. Cr had a maximum removal efficiency of 2.7%, while the maximum Cd and Pb removal efficiency was both about 60%. Distilled water had little removal efficiency for heavy metals, with less than 0.1% removal rate; the heavy metal removal efficiency of oxalic acid and acetic acid was also quite low; EDTA in 0.1 mol x L(-1) was selected as the suitable eluent for the polluted soil. Evaluation of the total toxicity reduction index and the cost suggested that EDTA should be used with a liquid to soil ratio of 6:1, a reaction time of 3 h and 2 washings.

This study has taken advantage of the characteristics of concentration of soil organic matter (SOC) and delta13 C(SOC) values to provide proofs for environment quality assessment and to know more about polluted sources, sizes and processes in Beijing steel company area. delta13C values of SOC is good for tracing sources and documenting shifts in community composition and distribution. Two sections (Beijing steel company area and Yongledian, Tongzhou) which belong to two different soil types collected in Beijing, and organic carbon isotopic composition and total soil organic carbon were analyzed. These results shows that SOC of soil samples from Beijing steel company area are quite high, and even 9.7% at the surface sample, however SOC from unpolluted area (Yongledian area) is lower than those of industrial area. delta13 C(SOC) from soils of Beijing steel company area and Yongledian area respectively vary from -24.8 per thousand to -23.1 per thousand and -26.4 per thousand to -20.5 per thousand, the results are quite different. The results reflect that there are different organic carbon sources in different types' soil: Organic carbon from Beijing steel company area has been mainly affected by coal burning, soil organic carbon concentrations are quite high, and pollution can affect on soils 70 cm deep underground; and soils from Yongledian area, have been not polluted, and organic matter is from natural litter (C3 plants). Although there are different soil organic carbon concentrations and isotope compositions, two soil sections have similar variation trends. This study provides proofs for environment quality assessment and know more about polluted and natural sources, sizes in Beijing.

Objective: To investigate the effect of sirolimus on differentiation, proliferation, adhesion and migration of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) in vitro., Methods: (1) Mononuclear cells (MNC) were isolated from rat bone marrow by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation and cultured on fibronectin-coated culture dishes with or without sirolimus (0.01 - 100 ng/ml) for 12 days. (2) After 8 days cultured, attached cells were treated with sirolimus (0.1 - 200 ng/ml) or vehicle for various time points (12 h, 24 h, 48 h and 96 h). EPC were identified as adherent cells double positive stained for FITC-UEA-I and DiI-acLDL under laser confocal immunofluence microscope. EPC proliferation, migration were assayed with MTT assay and modified Boyden chamber assay respectively., Results: EPC number differentiated from MNC at 12 days was significantly lower in sirolimus treated cells in a dose-dependent manner than that of vehicle-treated cells. Sirolimus also significantly inhibited the proliferative, migratory and adhesive capacity of EPC in a time and dose dependent manner., Conclusion: Present results suggested that sirolimus could inhibit EPC differentiation from MNC and reduce the proliferation, migration and adhesion capacities of EPC.

Aim: To explore the effects of hypoxia on Caspases activation in cardiomyocyte and role of intracellular calcium in this event in cardiomyocytes., Methods: After hypoxia 0 min, 30 min, 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, apoptotic cell percentage was determined with Hoechst 33342 straining. Expressions of Caspases-3 mRNA and release of mitochondrial cytochrome c in primary culture of cardiomyocytes were determined by using RT-PCR and Western blotting respectively., Results: Elevation of Cyt c in cytosol was in accordance with the decline in mitochondrial Cyt c content. Significant increase in Cyt c in cytosol appeared at 12 h post hypoxia and peaked at 24 h while Cyt c in mitochondria could not be detected at 24 h post hypoxia. Hypoxia up-regulated Caspases-3 mRNA expressions beginning at 3 h post hypoxia. Intracellular calcium overload occurred earlier than release of mitochondrial Cyt c and the activation of Caspase-3 during the hypoxic insult. Inhibition of Caspase-3 activation and pretreatment with calcium chelator BAPTA/AM offered a marked protective effect on hypoxia induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis., Conclusion: Hypoxia can induce mitochondrion-dependent Caspase-3 activation in cardiomyocytes and therefore leads to cell apoptosis. Increase of intracellular Ca2+ plays an important role in the activation of Caspase-3 and the induction of apoptosis in cardiomyocytes.

Aim: In order to explore the neurobiological mechanism of morphine addiction and treatment methods, the acute and chronic effects of morphine on the intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in cultured hippocampal neurons were investigated., Methods: Changes of [Ca2+]i induced by morphine in primarily cultured hippocampal neurons were measured by confocal laser scanning microscopy using Ca(2+) -sensitive dye fluo-4 as the calcium fluorescent probe., Results: Morphine actually induced the increase in [Ca2+]i of hippocampal neurons. This process could be blocked by naltrindole (delta opioid receptor antagonist) pretreatment, but not by CTOP (micro opioid receptor antagonist) pretreatment. Pretreatment of the cells with thapsigargin almost completely blocked morphine-evoked response; while pretreatment of the cells with verapamil partially inhibited this response. After exposure to 100 micromol/L morphine for 24 h, intracellular [Ca2+]i increased and the increase could be intensified after adding 10 micromol/L naloxone to the medium., Conclusion: Morphine induced the release of Ca2+ is mainly from inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate (IP3) sensitive stores in hippocampal neuron of rats through activation of delta2 subtype opioid receptor.