Design and performance optimization of a lattice-based radial flow field in proton exchange membrane fuel cells.

The design of the flow field structure in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) plays a pivotal role in determining their electrochemical performance. This study presents a lattice-based radial flow field configuration designed to improve PEMFC efficiency. The difference between the flow field and the traditional flow field is that the flow field is segmented by a small cylindrical rib instead of a longer rib.

Rapid identification and quantification of diquat in biological fluids within 30 s using a portable Raman spectrometer.

Rapid detection of diquat (DQ) is essential in clinical diagnosis and rescue. Here, we developed a fast, simple-yet-practical detection strategy for the reliable identification and quantification of DQ in biological fluids. Based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), point-of-care detection was realized under the acidic condition with gold nanoparticles as the substrate.

Crotonaldehyde exposure induces liver dysfunction and mitochondrial energy metabolism disorder in rats.

Crotonaldehyde is a highly toxic pollutant, widely present in tobacco smoke and automobile exhaust. Exposure to crotonaldehyde can cause hepatotoxicity and induce liver tumors in rats; however, the underlying mechanism is unclear. Liver cells contain many mitochondria, which serve to maintain energy levels in the body.

Ambient particulate matter compositions and increased oxidative stress: Exposure-response analysis among high-level exposed population.

Background: Oxidative stress has been suggested to be one of the key drivers of health impact of particulate matter (PM). More studies on the oxidative potential of PM alone, but fewer studies have comprehensively evaluated the effects of external and internal exposure to PM compositions on oxidative stress in population.

Objective: To comprehensively investigate the exposure-response relationship between PM and its main compositions with oxidative stress indicators.

Apoptosis of lung cells regulated by mitochondrial signal pathway in crotonaldehyde-induced lung injury.

Crotonaldehyde, a highly toxic α, β-unsaturated aldehyde, is a ubiquitous hazardous pollutant. Because of its extreme toxicity and ubiquity in all types of smoke, most current research focuses on the lung toxicity of such air pollutants. However, the specific mechanism of pulmonary toxicity caused by crotonaldehyde remains unclear, especially after long-term exposure to crotonaldehyde at low dose.

Behavioral Responses of Scolytus schevyrewi (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) to Volatiles From Apricot Tree (Rosales: Rosaceae).

Scolytus schevyrewi Semenov (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is native to China and Central Asia. Damage by the adults and larvae weakens local apricot trees (Armeniaca spp.), often causing death to many host trees.

Crotonaldehyde-induced alterations in testicular enzyme function and hormone levels, and apoptosis in the testes of male Wistar rats are associated with oxidative damage.

Crotonaldehyde is a hazardous pollutant present in cigarette smoke and automobile exhausts that is generated by lipid peroxidation, and harmful to reproductive organs. Although we are often exposed to low doses of crotonaldehyde daily, its adverse effects on the reproductive organs have not been fully elucidated. To elucidate them, we administered crotonaldehyde (0, 2.

Derlin1 functions as an oncogene in cervical cancer via AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) ranks third in the morbidity and mortality of female cancer around the world. Derlin1 has been found to be overexpressed in several human cancers. However, it is still unclear about its roles in CC.

Long-term exposure to crotonaldehyde causes heart and kidney dysfunction through induction of inflammatory and oxidative damage in male Wistar rats.

Crotonaldehyde is a ubiquitous hazardous pollutant, present in cigarette smoke and automobile exhaust and is endogenously generated by lipid peroxidation. Most of the current studies focus on its lung toxicity. However, there have been few investigations on the cardiac and renal toxicity caused by crotonaldehyde exposure.

Declining Pulmonary Function in Populations with Long-term Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons-Enriched PM.

This study assesses the effects of long-term exposure to ambient air pollutants on inflammatory response and lung function. We selected 390 male coke oven workers with exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and fine particulate matter (PM) and 115 control workers. The average duration in the exposed group was 9.

Reduced serum club cell protein as a pulmonary damage marker for chronic fine particulate matter exposure in Chinese population.

Background: Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) pollution is associated with increased morbidity and mortality from respiratory diseases. However, few population-based studies have been conducted to assess the alterations in circulating pulmonary proteins due to long-term PM exposure.

Methods: We designed a two-stage study.

A genetic variant of miR-335 binding site in the ERBB4 3'-UTR is associated with prognosis of ovary cancer.

Ovarian cancer is one of the leading gynecologic malignancies globally, the 5-year survival rate for patients with advanced stage ovarian cancer is very low. Our objective was to test the hypothesis that miR-335 was associated with the survival of patients with ovarian cancer. Bioinformatics tools and luciferase report assay were used to select the target of miR-335, and real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of miR-335 and ERBB4 in different genotype groups.

Inhibition of gap junction intercellular communication is involved in silica nanoparticles-induced H9c2 cardiomyocytes apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway.

Gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) between cardiomyocytes is essential for synchronous heart contraction and relies on connexin-containing channels. Connexin 43 (Cx43) is a major component involved in GJIC in heart tissue, and its abnormal expression is closely associated with various cardiac diseases. Silica nanoparticles (SNPs) are known to induce cardiovascular toxicity.

Analysis of Blood Concentrations of Zinc, Germanium, and Lead and Relevant Environmental Factors in a Population Sample from Shandong Province, China.

Trace elements, including zinc (Zn) and germanium (Ge), are essential for health; deficiency or excess levels of trace elements results is harmful. As a result of industrial and agricultural production, Pb widely exists in people's living environment. It is absorbed mainly through the respiratory and digestive tracts, producing systemic harm.

[Expression of heat shock protein 70 and its mRNA in career exposure to manganese].

Objective: To analyze the expression levels of heat shock protein70 (HSPs70) and HSPs70 mRNA in different exposure to manganese, and research the neuroprotective effect on the career exposure to manganese.

Methods: From 2008 to 2009, with cross-sectional study design, and in a locomotive and rolling stock works, by stratified random sampling method, the exposed sample consisted of 180 welders from different welding shops and 100 unexposed in the last three years, non-welder controls with age-matched workers of similar socioeconomic status from the same industry. The control workers had not been exposed to neurotoxic chemicals.

Evaluation of prognostic factors for secondary cytoreductive surgery in Chinese patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

Objective: Secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCS) is reported to be beneficial for patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC). The current study is to evaluate risk factors that would affect the surgical optimal resection rate and prognosis of recurrent EOC after SCS in Chinese patients.

Methods: In our study, 44 patients with recurrent EOC treated with SCS at Shandong Cancer Hospital were retrospectively reviewed.

Malathion-induced testicular toxicity is associated with spermatogenic apoptosis and alterations in testicular enzymes and hormone levels in male Wistar rats.

Malathion has a broad range of toxicities while its reproductive effects have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we treated animals with malathion by gavage at doses of 0, 33.75, 54, and 108 mg/kg for 60 days and evaluated the alterations in histology, biochemistry and serology.

Effects of formaldehyde on lymphocyte subsets and cytokines in the peripheral blood of exposed workers.

Formaldehyde (FA) is a well-known irritant, and it is suggested to increase the risk of immune diseases and cancer. The present study aimed to evaluate the distribution of major lymphocyte subsets and cytokine expression profiles in the peripheral blood of FA-exposed workers. A total of 118 FA-exposed workers and 79 controls were enrolled in the study.

[Influence of genetic polymorphisms of epoxide hydrolase 1 on metabolism of styrene in body].

Objective: To investigate the role of genetic polymorphisms of epoxide hydrolase 1 (EPHX1) in the metabolism of styrene in vivo.

Methods: Fifty-six styrene-exposed workers, who worked in the painting workshop of an enterprise for manufacturing glass fiber-reinforced plastic yachts in Shandong Province, China for over one year and were protected in approximately the same way, were selected as study subjects. The 8-hour time-weighted average concentration (8 h-TWA) of styrene and the concentrations of mandelic acid (MA) and phenyl glyoxylic acid (PGA) as urinary metabolites were measured.

Occupational exposure to formaldehyde and genetic damage in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of plywood workers.

Objectives: We sought to clarify the association of occupational formaldehyde exposure with DNA strand breaks, chromosome damage and DNA-protein crosslinks (DPCs) in the peripheral blood (PB) lymphocytes of plywood workers.

Methods: We determined Olive tail moment (OTM) values, micronucleus (MN) frequencies and DPC rates of the PB lymphocytes in 178 workers divided into control and lower and higher exposure groups according to their current formaldehyde exposure levels and examined the association of each end point with formaldehyde exposure levels and with the number of work years. We also examined each end point in an additional 62 workers before and after an 8-hour formaldehyde exposure for validating the association.

[Meta-analysis of association of tumor necrosis factor alpha and transforming growth factor beta gene polymorphisms with pneumoconiosis].

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between tumor necrosis factor-alpha-238, transforming growth factor beta (509 and 869) gene polymorphisms and pneumoconiosis susceptibility.

Methods: We searched published full-text from foreign language databases including Elsevier, PubMed, Wiley Online Library, EMCC, Web of Science, chinese databases containing CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, CBM and Cochrane library to collect case-control or cohort study on gene gene polymorphisms said above with pneumoconiosis susceptibility from the year January1988 to August 2011. 28 relevant articles were selected and 20 of them met the criteria.

[The increase of micronuclei frequencies of peripheral blood lymphocyte in plywood workers exposed accumulatively to formaldehyde].

Objective: To investigate the effects of occupational exposure to formaldehyde on the micronuclei frequencies in peripheral blood lymphocytes of workers.

Methods: Two hundred thirty six plywood workers were divided into 3 exposure groups (low, middle and high) according to internal exposure biomarker (formaldehyde human serum albumin conjugate, FA-HSA), which was detected by ELISA. The concentrations of formaldehyde (FA) in air of two workshops were measure using the high performance liquid chromatography.