Facile one-pot synthesis of dual-cation incorporated titanosilicate and its deposition to membrane surfaces for simultaneous removal of Cs⁺ and Sr²⁺

Selective removal of 137Cs and 90Sr from aqueous environments is essential for the volume reduction and ultimate safe storage of nuclear waste. This study introduces a facile one-pot hydrothermal synthesis of Dual-cation form of TitanoSilicate (DTS, M3HTi4O4(SiO4)3, M = Na+ and K+) for the effective and simultaneous removal of Cs+ and Sr2+. DTS showed enhanced adsorption capacities (469 mg/g for Cs+ and 179 mg/g for Sr2+) and the adsorption kinetics were extremely fast with around 98% and >99% removal achieved within 1 min from a dilute Cs+ and Sr2+ solution, respectively. Moreover, DTS indicated the superior selectivity for both Cs+ and Sr2+ due to the dual-cation incorporation in the structure. In groundwater, the distribution coefficients (Kd at V/m = 1000 mL/g) for DTS were high for both Cs+ (1 ppm, 2.9 × 105 mL/g) and Sr2+ (1 ppm, 1.0 × 105 mL/g), and even in seawater DTS maintained a Cs+ (1 ppm) Kd value as high as 4.9 × 104 mL/g. Remarkably, DTS is synthesized as a membrane with graphene oxide for continuous removal of the radionuclides, which is extremely beneficial to purifying a large volume of contaminated water

Night ventilation strategies in Korean apartment units: Ventilated apartment and solar chimney

This paper is aimed at estimating the effect of various factors on the heating energy consumption and introducing night ventilation strategies to reduce cooling load in Korean apartment using TAS Modeller, TAS Ambiens and QuickSTREAM. The factor considered this paper type of remodelling, insulation level, window type and reset an internal temperature. The natural ventilation strategies considered here night ventilation, night flush cooling and solar chimney. Base on some assumption, an actual apartment unit is simplified into a model that is used for heating load in winter and looking into internal condition in summer night. The simplified model is validated by showing a good agreement with the actual one in heating load result. Refurbished balcony has a benefit in reducing heating load by 15%. Remodelled apartment is sharply increased in thermal load which must be avoided in view of energy conservation as well as structural problem. The most efficient and the easiest way of reducing heating load in current apartment are to set the internal temperature at 20 C. In second part of the simulation, we confirmed that it is possible to use natural ventilation for physiological cooling, night flush cooling to cooled structure and cooperating with solar chimney during the summer night time to reduce PAC's operating hours. The best case exceeds the bench mark temperature which is based on all windows being open all day. The CFD and Psychrometric chart results support to use of natural ventilation strategies in Korean apartments and shows that when Korean apartments adapt the night ventilation strategies, the occupants does not feel turning on the PAC system during cooling period time

Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Gram-Negative Bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, Induce Emphysema Mainly via IL-17A-Mediated Neutrophilic Inflammation

Recent evidence indicates that Gram-negative bacteria-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) in indoor dust can evoke neutrophilic pulmonary inflammation, which is a key pathology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Escherichia coli is a ubiquitous bacterium present in indoor dust and secretes nanometer-sized vesicles into the extracellular milieu. In the current study, we evaluated the role of E. coli-derived EVs on the development of COPD, such as emphysema. E. coli EVs were prepared by sequential ultrafiltration and ultracentrifugation. COPD phenotypes and immune responses were evaluated in C57BL/6 wild-type (WT), IFN-gamma-deficient, or IL-17A-deficient mice after airway exposure to E. coli EVs. The present study showed that indoor dust from a bed mattress harbors E. coli EVs. Airway exposure to E. coli EVs increased the production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-alpha and IL-6. In addition, the repeated inhalation of E. coli EVs for 4 wk induced neutrophilic inflammation and emphysema, which are associated with enhanced elastase activity. Emphysema and elastase activity enhanced by E. coli EVs were reversed by the absence of IFN-gamma or IL-17A genes. In addition, during the early period, lung inflammation is dependent on IL-17A and TNF-alpha, but not on IFN-gamma, and also on TLR4. Moreover, the production of IFN-gamma is eliminated by the absence of IL-17A, whereas IL-17A production is not abolished by IFN-gamma absence. Taken together, the present data suggest that E. coli-derived EVs induce IL-17A-dependent neutrophilic inflammation and thereby emphysema, possibly via upregulation of elastase activity.X111613Ysciescopu

The enhanced expression of IL-17-secreting T cells during the early progression of atherosclerosis in ApoE-deficient mice fed on a western-type diet

Atherosclerosis is a chronic progressive inflammatory disorder and the leading cause of cardiovascular mortality. Here we assessed the dynamic changes of T-cell-derived cytokines, such as inteferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-4, during the progression of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-null (ApoE(-/-)) mice, to understand the role of immune responses in different stages of atherosclerosis. Male ApoE(-/-) mice were fed a high-fat, western-type diet (WD: 21% lipid, 1.5% cholesterol) after 5 weeks of age and were compared with C57BL/6 wild-type control mice fed a standard chow diet. Atherosclerotic lesions appeared in the aortic sinus of ApoE(-/-) mice 4 weeks after WD and the lesions progressed and occupied > 50% of the total sinus area 16 weeks after WD. Aortic IL-17 mRNA and protein expression started to increase in ApoE(-/-) mice after 4 weeks on the WD and peaked at around 8-12 weeks on the WD. In terms of systemic expression of T-cell-derived cytokines, IL-17 production from splenocytes after anti-CD3/CD28 stimuli increased from 4 weeks on the WD, peaked at 12 weeks and returned to control levels at 16 weeks. The production of IFN-gamma and IL-4 (Th1 and Th2 cytokines, respectively) from splenocytes was delayed compared with IL-17. Taken together, the present data indicate that Th17 cell response may be involved at an early stage in the development of atherosclerosis.11911Ysciescopu

Effects of Rosiglitazone on the Expression of PPAR-&#947 and on the Production of IL-6 and IL-8 in Acute Lung Injury Model Using Human Pulmonary Epithelial Cells

Purpose: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ ligand is known to repress the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators. However, it is unclear how it affects PPAR-γ expression and the inflammatory response in the human lung. We investigated the effects of rosiglitazone (synthetic PPAR-γ ligand) on the PPAR-γ expression and on the IL-6 and IL-8 production in acute lung injury model using human lung epithelial cells.Methods: A549 and Beas-2B cells were pre-treated with rosiglitazone and/or BADGE (selective PPAR-γ antagonist) and then treated with media control or cytokine mixture including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IFN-γ. PPAR-γ expression was analyzed in cell lysates by Western blot. IL-6 and IL-8 production was measured in the culture supernatants by ELISA.Results: PPAR-γ expression was identified in all experimental groups except for the control. The cytokine mixture-induced IL-6 and IL-8 production was significantly inhibited by pre-treatment with rosiglitazone (P<0.01). However, this inhibitory effect of rosiglitazone was not reversed by BADGE. Conclusion: These suggest that rosiglitazone induces the PPAR-γ expression and it may inhibit the cytokine mixture-induced IL-6 and IL-8 production through the PPAR-γ independent pathway. The inhibitory mechanisms of rosiglitazone on the cytokine mixture-induced IL-6 and IL-8 production in human alveolar, and bronchial epithelial cells remain to be further investigated.Keywords: Rosiglitazone, PPAR-γ expression, IL-6, IL-8, Acute lung injur

Antipruritic Effect of Acupuncture in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis: Feasibility Study Protocol for a Randomised, Sham-Controlled Trial

© 2017 Yu-Kang Kim et al. This study aims to test the feasibility of a randomised clinical trial to evaluate how acupuncture affects atopic dermatitis (AD) symptoms and quality of life and to explore potential biomarkers that may be associated with AD. It is a sham-controlled trial in which 30 eligible patients will be randomly allocated in a 1: 1: 1 ratio to one of three groups: Verum acupuncture (VA) group 1 (3 times weekly for 4 weeks); VA group 2 (twice weekly for 4 weeks); or sham acupuncture group (SA; twice weekly for 4 weeks). SA will consist of nonpenetrating acupuncture. Outcome measures will include the Visual Analogue Scale for itch, SCORing Atopic Dermatitis, and Eczema Area and Severity Index to evaluate AD symptoms improvement along with the Patient Oriented Eczema Measure and Dermatology Life Quality Index to assess quality of life. Measures will be collected at baseline, once weekly during the treatment period, and after a 4-week follow-up period. Blood collection will be at baseline and 4 and 8 weeks after treatment and compared with healthy controls. Illumina sequencing will be used to profile microRNA expression in each group to explore candidate microRNA biomarkers for specific effects of acupuncture in patients with AD. This trial is registered via US National Institutes of Health Clinical Trials registry (ClinicalTrials.gov) on 15 July 2016, identifier: NCT02844452