ALBERT

Description: In this study, the corrosion behavior of rare earth (RE) microalloyed steels was first evaluated through potentiodynamic polarization tests and corrosion weight loss experiments, and then the corrosion morphologies were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). After immersion in a NaCl solution, the sulfides (or oxygen sulfides) dissolved preferentially, followed by corrosion at the boundary between the Fe matrix and oxides. Afterwards, the inclusions fell off as a whole, which promoted pitting nucleation. The first principle modeling demonstrated that the work functions of various kinds of inclusions descended in the following order: La2Zr2O7 〉 LaAlO3 〉 (La2O3 ≈ Fe ≈ La2O2S) 〉 La2S3, which provided a theoretical explanation to the dissolution behaviors of inclusions. That is, inclusions containing sulfur tend to dissolve preferentially, whereas the oxides do not dissolve easily. Subsequently, the surface current distributions were detected by the scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET), which provided more microscopic insight into the role of inclusions in the corrosion propagation. Results showed that the active sites of pitting nucleation accelerated the transverse propagation of corrosion. Finally, local corrosion spread to the whole surface as uniform corrosion.

Description: Although it has been reported that fluorescent quantum dots (QDs) have obvious acute toxic effects in vitro, their toxic effects at low doses or threshold doses are still unknown. Therefore, we evaluated the biological histocompatibility and in vitro toxicity of three types of QDs at threshold doses. Also, we compared the toxic effects of QDs with different raw chemical compositions and sizes. The results showed that low concentrations of QDs (≤7 μg/mL) had no obvious effect on cell viability and cell membrane damage, oxidative damage, cell apoptosis or DNA damage. However, QD exposure led to a significant cytotoxicity at higher doses (≥14 μg/mL) and induced abnormal cellular morphology. In addition, when comparing the three types of QDs, 2.2 nm CdTe QDs exposure showed a significantly increased proportion of apoptotic cells and significant DNA damage, suggesting that size and composition contribute to the toxic effects of QDs. Based on these discussions, it was concluded that the concentration (7 μg/mL) may serve as a threshold level for these three types of QDs only in L929 fibroblasts, whereas high concentrations (above 14 μg/mL) may be toxic, resulting in inhibition of proliferation, induction of apoptosis and DNA damage in L929 fibroblasts.

Description: ABSTRACT Nickel nanoparticles (Ni NPs) are associated with reproductive toxicity. However, the mechanisms of reproductive toxicity are unclear. Our goal was to explore further reproductive toxicity induced by nickel nanoparticle and mechanisms involved in this process, including the role of oxidative stress and apoptosis. According to the one-generation reproductive toxicity standard, rats were exposed to nickel nanoparticles by gavage and we selected indicators including ultrastructural, reactive oxygen species (ROS), oxidant and antioxidant enzymes, and cell apoptosis-related factors. Ultrastructural results of ovaries showed mitochondrion swelling, disappearance of mitochondrial cristae, and enlargement of the endoplasmic reticulum in the exposure groups. NiNPs had significantly decreased the activity of SOD and CAT, and had increased the levels of ROS, MDA, and NO in comparison with the control groups. The mRNA expressions of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 and the expressions of Fas, Cyt c, Bax, and Bid protein on the ovaries significantly increased. At the same time, the expressions of Bcl-2 protein were significantly decreased. Based on these results, oxidative stress and cell apoptosis may play the important roles in inducing reproductive toxicity after NiNPs treatment. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2016.

Description: IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 1728: Risk Reduction Behaviors Regarding PM2.5 Exposure among Outdoor Exercisers in the Nanjing Metropolitan Area, China International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15081728 Authors: Lilin Xiong Jie Li Ting Xia Xinyue Hu Yan Wang Maonan Sun Meng Tang Aims: This study aimed to describe risk reduction behaviors regarding ambient particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5) among outdoor exercisers and to explore potential factors influencing those behaviors in the urban area of Nanjing, China. Method: A cross-sectional convenience sample survey was conducted among 302 outdoor exercisers in May 2015. Descriptive analysis was used to describe demographics, outdoor physical activity patterns, knowledge of PM2.5 and risk reduction behaviors. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was then used to explore factors that influence the adoption of risk reduction behaviors. Results: The most common behavior to reduce PM2.5 exposure was minimizing the times for opening windows on hazy days (75.5%), and the least common one was using air purifiers (19.3%). Two thirds of respondents indicated that they wore face masks when going outside in the haze (59.5%), but only 13.6% of them would wear professional antismog face masks. Participants adopting risk reduction behaviors regarding PM2.5 exposure tended to be females, 50–60 year-olds, those with higher levels of knowledge about PM2.5 and those who had children. Conclusions: These findings indicate the importance of improving knowledge about PM2.5 among outdoor exercisers. Educational interventions should also be necessary to guide the public to take appropriate precautionary measures when undertaking outdoor exercise in high PM2.5 pollution areas.

Description: IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 1256: Impact of Indoor Physical Environment on Learning Efficiency in Different Types of Tasks: A 3 × 4 × 3 Full Factorial Design Analysis International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15061256 Authors: Lilin Xiong Xiao Huang Jie Li Peng Mao Xiang Wang Rubing Wang Meng Tang Indoor physical environments appear to influence learning efficiency nowadays. For improvement in learning efficiency, environmental scenarios need to be designed when occupants engage in different learning tasks. However, how learning efficiency is affected by indoor physical environment based on task types are still not well understood. The present study aims to explore the impacts of three physical environmental factors (i.e., temperature, noise, and illuminance) on learning efficiency according to different types of tasks, including perception, memory, problem-solving, and attention-oriented tasks. A 3 × 4 × 3 full factorial design experiment was employed in a university classroom with 10 subjects recruited. Environmental scenarios were generated based on different levels of temperature (17 °C, 22 °C, and 27 °C), noise (40 dB(A), 50 dB(A), 60 dB(A), and 70 dB(A)) and illuminance (60 lx, 300 lx, and 2200 lx). Accuracy rate (AC), reaction time (RT), and the final performance indicator (PI) were used to quantify learning efficiency. The results showed ambient temperature, noise, and illuminance exerted significant main effect on learning efficiency based on four task types. Significant concurrent effects of the three factors on final learning efficiency was found in all tasks except problem-solving-oriented task. The optimal environmental scenarios for top learning efficiency were further identified under different environmental interactions. The highest learning efficiency came in thermoneutral, relatively quiet, and bright conditions in perception-oriented task. Subjects performed best under warm, relatively quiet, and moderately light exposure when recalling images in the memory-oriented task. Learning efficiency peaked to maxima in thermoneutral, fairly quiet, and moderately light environment in problem-solving process while in cool, fairly quiet and bright environment with regard to attention-oriented task. The study provides guidance for building users to conduct effective environmental intervention with simultaneous controls of ambient temperature, noise, and illuminance. It contributes to creating the most suitable indoor physical environment for improving occupants learning efficiency according to different task types. The findings could further supplement the present indoor environment-related standards or norms with providing empirical reference on environmental interactions.

Description: GWAS follow-up study of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma identifies potential genetic loci associated with family history of upper gastrointestinal cancer Scientific Reports, Published online: 5 July 2017; doi:10.1038/s41598-017-04822-2

Description: ABSTRACT To investigate the reproductive toxicity and underlying mechanism of nickel nanoparticles (Ni NPs), Caenorhabditis elegans ( C. elegans ) were treated with/without 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0 μg cm −2 of Ni NPs or nickel microparticles (Ni MPs). Generation time, fertilized egg numbers, spermatide activation and motility were detected. Results indicated, under the same treatment doses, that Ni NPs induced higher reproductive toxicity to C. elegans than Ni MPs. Reproductive toxicities observed in C. elegans included a decrease in brood size, fertilized egg and spermatide activation, but an increase in generation time and out-of-round spermatids. The reproductive toxicity of Ni NPs on C. elegans may be induced by oxidative stress. The reproductive toxicity in C. elegans induced by Ni NPs is consistent with our previous results in the rats. Therefore, C. elegans can be used as an alternative model to detect the early reproductive toxicity of Ni NPs exposure. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2016.

Description: Crystal Growth & Design DOI: 10.1021/acs.cgd.6b00991

Description: Background: Children are very curious. They like to play games but lack reading fluency. Conventional interfaces for information-seeking in digital libraries are unsuitable for children because they are rigid, text-based, and task-oriented. Thus, this study developed a customized interface for a digital library. To facilitate children in online searches, the design concepts included user-friendly target icons, icon recognition, and way-finding in a two-dimensional visualized environment. Methods: In this study, the criteria used to develop visualization tools that children can use for information retrieval were based on theories of human perception related to graphical interfaces for information visualization systems, including iconic representations and information density on visualized displays. Databases widely used by children in the National Library of Public Information were linked to the suggested database frame. The database frame was classified into five major subject categories: Natural Sciences, Fine Arts and Music, Health and Athletics, History and Culture, and Treasure of Knowledge. The web interface was designed according to way-finding concepts and map-structure hierarchies. Information searches in the main frame, sub-frames, and linked database were designed to be simple and intuitive for use by children. Results: Information search efficiency was measured in 104 children assigned to search the virtual environment for icons (databases) that adequately supported their studies. Statistical analyses showed that, compared to the text-lined interface, the graphical interface improved the success and speed of searches by children. Conclusions: Incorporating theories of spatial memory and representative icons in designs for visualized retrieval systems helps children to recognize different categories of knowledge content and improves their efficiency in information retrieval. To improve database search efficiency in children, information recommendation issues require further study. However, further research is also needed to identify factors that affect patterns of information-seeking behavior in children.