Hanging drop: An in vitro air toxic exposure model using human lung cells in 2D and 3D structures

Using benzene as a candidate air toxicant and A549 cells as an in vitro cell model, we have developed and validated a hanging drop (HD) air exposure system that mimics an air liquid interface exposure to the lung for periods of 1 h to over 20 days. Dose response curves were highly reproducible for 2D cultures but more variable for 3D cultures. By comparing the HD exposure method with other classically used air exposure systems, we found that the HD exposure method is more sensitive, more reliable and cheaper to run than medium diffusion methods and the CULTEX (R) system. The concentration causing 50% of reduction of cell viability (EC50) for benzene, toluene, p-xylene, m-xylene and o-xylene to A549 cells for 1 h exposure in the HD system were similar to previous in vitro static air exposure. Not only cell viability could be assessed but also sub lethal biological endpoints such as DNA damage and interleukin expressions. An advantage of the HD exposure system is that bioavailability and cell concentrations can be derived from published physicochemical properties using a four compartment mass balance model. The modelled cellular effect concentrations EC50(cell) for 1 h exposure were very similar for benzene, toluene and three xylenes and ranged from 5 to 15 mmol/kg(dry weight) which corresponds to the intracellular concentration of narcotic chemicals in many aquatic species, confirming the high sensitivity of this exposure method. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Human health risk of toxic chemical pollutants generated from traffic and land use activities

The research project developed a quantitative approach to assess the risk to human health from heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban stormwater based on traffic and land use factors. The research outcomes are expected to strengthen the scientifically robust management and reuse of urban stormwater. The innovative methodology developed can be applied to evaluate human health risk in relation to toxic chemical pollutants in urban stormwater runoff and for the development of effective risk mitigation strategies.

New light on the optical equivalence theorem and a new type of discrete diagonal coherent state representation

In many instances we find it advantageous to display a quantum optical density matrix as a generalized statistical ensemble of coherent wave fields. The weight functions involved in these constructions turn out to belong to a family of distributions, not always smooth functions. In this paper we investigate this question anew and show how it is related to the problem of expanding an arbitrary state in terms of an overcomplete subfamily of the overcomplete set of coherent states. This provides a relatively transparent derivation of the optical equivalence theorem. An interesting by-product is the discovery of a new class of discrete diagonal representations.

Build-up of toxic metals on the impervious surfaces of a commercial seaport

In the context of increasing threats to the sensitive marine ecosystem by toxic metals, this study investigated the metal build-up on impervious surfaces specific to commercial seaports. The knowledge generated in this study will contribute to managing toxic metal pollution of the marine ecosystem. The study found that inter-modal operations and main access roadway had the highest loads followed by container storage and vehicle marshalling sites, while the quay line and short term storage areas had the lowest. Additionally, it was found that Cr, Al, Pb, Cu and Zn were predominantly attached to solids, while significant amount of Cu, Pb and Zn were found as nutrient complexes. As such, treatment options based on solids retention can be effective for some metal species, while ineffective for other species. Furthermore, Cu and Zn are more likely to become bioavailable in seawater due to their strong association with nutrients. Mathematical models to replicate the metal build-up process were also developed using experimental design approach and partial least square regression. The models for Cr and Pb were found to be reliable, while those for Al, Zn and Cu were relatively less reliable, but could be employed for preliminary investigations.

Synthesis and Cytotoxic Evaluation of Novel 2-(4-(2,2,2-Trifluoroethoxy)-3-methylpyridin-2-ylthio)-1H-benzo[d]imid azole Derivatives

The present work deals with the anticancer effect of benzimidazole derivatives associated with the pyridine framework. By varying the functional group at N-terminal of the benzimidazole by different L-amino acids, several 2-(4-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)-3-methylpyridin-2-ylthio)-1H-benzo[d]imid azole derivatives 9(a-j) were synthesized. Their chemical structures were confirmed by H-1 NMR, IR and mass spectroscopic techniques. The synthesized compounds were examined for their antiproliferative effects against human leukemia cell lines, K562 and CEM. The preliminary results showed most of the derivatives had moderate antitumor activity. Compound 9j containing cysteine residue exhibited good inhibition compared to other amino acid resides. In addition DNA fragmentation results suggest that 9j is more cytotoxic and able to induce apoptosis.

Equivalence conditions for classes of linear and non-linear distributed parameter systems

Equivalence of certain classes of second-order non-linear distributed parameter systems and corresponding linear third-order systems is established through a differential transformation technique. As linear systems are amenable to analysis through existing techniques, this study is expected to offer a method of tackling certain classes of non-linear problems which may otherwise prove to be formidable in nature.

Chemicals risk modeling : toxic effect risks imposed on aquatic organisms by industrial activity

Yhteenveto: Kemikaalien teollisesta käsittelystä vesieliöille aiheutuvien riskien arviointi mallin avulla.

A note on the equivalence of shock manifold equations

The shock manifold equation is a first order nonlinear partial differential equation, which describes the kinematics of a shockfront in an ideal gas with constant specific heats. However, it was found that there was more than one of these shock manifold equations, and the shock surface could be embedded in a one parameter family of surfaces, obtained as a solution of any of these shock manifold equations. Associated with each shock manifold equation is a set of characteristic curves called lsquoshock raysrsquo. This paper investigates the nature of various associated shock ray equations.

On the alleged equivalence of certain field theories

Abstract. We critically examine some recent claims that certain field theories with and without boson kinetic energy terms are equivalent. We point out that the crucial element in these claims is the finiteness or otherwise of the boson wavefunction renormalisation constant. We show that when this constant is finite, the equivalence proof offered in the literature fails in a direct way. When the constant is divergent, the claimed equivalence is only a consequence of improper use of divergent quantities.

The intramolecular external heavy atom effect in bromo-, benzo-, and naphthonorbornenes

A theoretical analysis of the external heavy atom effect of a halogen atom on the radiative rate constant of phosphorescence is examined as a function of position of a bromine atom or atoms relative to a naphthalene or a benzene chromophore for a series of mono- and dibromo-, naphtho-, and benzonorbornenes. The theoretical results are then compared to experimentaldata and lead to the conclusion that the enhancement of the phosphorescence process takes place through the second-ordermixing of the triplet states of the chromophore with the singlet charge transfer states arising primarily from an electron transferfrom the orbitals of the heavy atom perturber to the unfilled x* orbitals of the chromophore.

Poly propyl ether imine (PETIM) dendrimer: A novel non-toxic dendrimer for sustained drug delivery

In the present study, an attempt was made to study the acute and sub-acute toxicity profile of G3-COOH Poly (propyl ether imine) PETIM] dendrimer and its use as a carrier for sustained delivery of model drug ketoprofen. Drug-dendrimer complex was prepared and characterized by FTIR, solubility and in vitro drug release study. PETIM dendrimer was found to have significantly less toxicity in A541 cells compared to Poly amido amine (PAMAM) dendrimer. Further, acute and 28 days sub-acute toxicity measurement in mice showed no mortality, hematological, biochemical or histopathological changes up to 80 mg/kg dose of PETIM dendrimer. The results of study demonstrated that G3-COOH PETIM dendrimer can be used as a safe and efficient vehicle for sustained drug delivery. (C) 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.