Protective effect of rubber seed oil on human endothelial cells.

Objective: This study was conducted to characterize the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Rubber Seed Oil (RSO) against atherosclerosis (AS) through the study of the protective effects and mechanisms on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) injury induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL).

Methods: HUVECs were treated with RSO, ox-LDL, RSO + ox-LDL, respectively, followed by cell activity testing, levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, ROS, NO, the mRNA expression of eNOS and protein expression of MCP-1, VCAM-1, eNOS, TLR4, NF-κB p65、p-NF-κB p65.

Results: Compared with the ox-LDL group, cell viability, NO level and the expression of eNOS mRNA significantly increased.

The application portfolio empowerment method and ELECTRE-I for optimising the control of ammonia release during the aerobic fermentation process.

Aerobic fermentation composting can transform solid organic waste into biological organic fertiliser, while reducing resource wastage and ecological damage. However, in the composting process, a serious loss of nitrogen occurs, primarily in the form of the release of ammonia gas. The release of ammonia gas not only pollutes the environment, but also diminishes the presence of nutrient elements, resulting in compost products that are lower in quality.

Effect of fipronil on biogas production performance during anaerobic digestion of chicken manure and corn straw.

Fipronil is a broad-spectrum insecticide that has a good control effect on pests of commercial poultry. Although many studies have reported the environmental fate of fipronil, the influence of residual fipronil in poultry waste on biogas production has not been further explored yet. In this article, an experimental comparative study on anaerobic digestion (AD) of chicken manure (CM) and corn straw (CS) with different fipronil concentrations (FCs) was carried at 8% of total solid (TS) and mid-temperature (35 ± 1)°C.

Graphene/Ionic liquid composite films and ion exchange.

Wettability of graphene is adjusted by the formation of various ionic surfaces combining ionic liquid (IL) self-assembly with ion exchange. The functionalized ILs were designed and synthesized with the goal of obtaining adjustable wettability. The wettability of the graphene surface bearing various anions was measured systematically.

Preparation and mechanics of nanotextures on adapting a low adhesive surface using local oxidation nanolithography.

This paper describes an application for atomic force microscopy to the fabrication of nanotextures with various features on a GaAs surface by local oxidation nanolithography (LON). By controlling the geometrical shapes and surface coverage of the nanotexture, the surface adhesion can be adjusted to a low adhesive surface. The influence of environmental conditions, such as relative humidity and temperature on adhesion behavior, was studied.

Field evaluation of measuring indoor noise exposure in workplace with task-based active RFID technology.

This paper describes the research using RFEMS (Radio Frequency Identification Exposure Monitoring System), which is designed by applying the task-based active RFID (radio frequency identification) technology, to measure the indoor noise exposure dose in a workplace. The RFEMS and sound level meter are mounted on the vests of eight workers to carry out on-site field test by monitoring the time activity pattern (TAP), and the noise dose level exposed by the workers. The data are recorded and instantaneously transmitted to a computer to be saved in the server and later compared to those obtained using the standard method.

Time location analysis for exposure assessment studies of indoor workers based on active RFID technology.

In this article, we describe the development of a radio frequency identification exposure monitoring system (RFEMS) suitable for tracking and identifying workers' locations in indoor workplaces. Five workers in southern Taiwan wore the RFEMS integrated into their equipment vests. Location and exposure data were transferred to data analysis software for visualization and tabular analysis in real-time.