Modelling energy deposition in polymethyl methacrylate with low-energy electron irradiation.

Energy deposition in dielectric materials by electron irradiation is important in evaluating irradiation effects in various applications. Herein, we developed a novel Monte Carlo model to calculate the actual distribution of energy deposition in polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) by simulating low-energy electron transport, including secondary electron cascades. We compared the energy deposition calculated using this model with the distribution of energy loss based on the continuous slowing down approximation (CSDA). The difference in depth distribution between energy deposition and energy loss near the surface is attributed to the secondary electron emission. The characteristics of energy deposition distributions at various incident angles and primary energy were analysed. Energy depositions based on different energy loss mechanisms were classified. Approximately half of the total energy deposition was formed in paths of the secondary cascade at keV-electron irradiation. The temporal properties of energy deposition show that the fast process of energy deposition occurs first near the surface of the dielectric material, then deep inside and 1-keV electrons deposit their energy in 10-14 s.

Ginkgolic acids induce HepG2 cell death via a combination of apoptosis, autophagy and the mitochondrial pathway.

Ginkgolic acids may induce malignant cell death via the B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)-associated X protein (Bax)/Bcl-2 apoptosis pathway. Concurrently, apoptosis, autophagy and mitochondrial dysfunction may also be involved in bringing about this endpoint. The anticancer effect of Ginkgolic acids (GAs) was investigated using the HepG2 cell line. The median lethal dose of the GAs of the HepG2 was measured via an MTT assay, the dose-response curves were evaluated and changes in cell morphology were monitored by microscopy. Autophagy in HepG2 cells was down regulated using 3-methyladenine (3-MA) or Beclin-1-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) and the expression of apoptosis associated proteins caspase-3, Bax/Bcl-2, and the autophagy-associated protein 5 and microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 in the GA-treated HepG2 cells were all measured by western blot analysis. The level of apoptosis in the GA-treated cells was also assessed using terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay, and the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) was detected by immunofluorescence. The results of the MTT and TUNEL assays indicated that the proliferation of HepG2 cells treated with GAs was significantly reduced compared with the control group, and the rate of the inhibition was dose-dependent. Western blot analysis indicated that treatment with the Gas induced apoptosis and autophagy in the HepG2 cells. The Δψm of the GA-treated HepG2 cells was decreased compared with the control, as monitored by immunofluorescence. However, upon the administration of 3-MA or Beclin-1-specific siRNAs (inhibitors of the autophagy), the expression levels of the apoptosis- and autophagy-associated proteins were decreased. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicated that GAs are potent anticancer agents that function through a combination of the apoptosis, autophagy and mitochondrial pathways.

Physiological and biochemical responses of Dosinia corrugata to different thermal and salinity stressors.

Temperature and salinity are major factors affecting geographic distribution, reproduction, and physiological processes of marine and estuarine organisms. In this study, the effects of different temperatures and salinity on the respiratory metabolism and physiological response were evaluated in D. corrugata by measuring oxygen consumption rate (OCR), ammonia excretion rate (AER), and glycolytic enzyme activity. An increase in the OCR of D. corrugata with increasing temperature was observed. No peak of oxygen consumption was observed in D. corrugata over the temperature range evaluated. There was an increase in AERs with increasing temperature and salinity, respectively. With increasing salinity, the enzyme activity increased until it reached a peak at a salinity of 30 ppt, while the highest HK and LDH activity was observed at a salinity of 25 ppt. Our results may be used to optimize the temperature and salinity conditions for optimal growth and survival of D. corrugata and to provide basic information for conservation management and fishing moratorium of this economically important bivalve species. The enzyme activity decreased slightly from 15 to 20°C, but when the temperature exceeded 20°C, enzyme activity increased, reaching a maximum at 30°C (tested range of 10-30°C). With increasing salinity, the enzyme activity increased until it reached a peak at a salinity of 30 ppt, but once the salinity was greater than 30 ppt, the enzyme activity began to decrease up to salinity of 35 ppt.

[Design and experimentation of marine optical buoy].

Marine optical buoy is of important value in terms of calibration and validation of ocean color remote sensing, scientific observation, coastal environment monitoring, etc. A marine optical buoy system was designed which consists of a main and a slave buoy. The system can measure the distribution of irradiance and radiance over the sea surface, in the layer near sea surface and in the euphotic zone synchronously, during which some other parameters are also acquired such as spectral absorption and scattering coefficients of the water column, the velocity and direction of the wind, and so on. The buoy was positioned by GPS. The low-power integrated PC104 computer was used as the control core to collect data automatically. The data and commands were real-timely transmitted by CDMA/GPRS wireless networks or by the maritime satellite. The coastal marine experimentation demonstrated that the buoy has small pitch and roll rates in high sea state conditions and thus can meet the needs of underwater radiometric measurements, the data collection and remote transmission are reliable, and the auto-operated anti-biofouling devices can ensure that the optical sensors work effectively for a period of several months.

[Predicting biodegradability from the electrochemical characteristic of azo dyes].

Experiments were conducted to study some electrochemical factors affecting the bacterial reduction (cleavage) of four azo dyes. And a common mixed culture was used as test organism and the reduction of azo dyes Acid Yellow 4, 11, 17 and Acid Yellow Bis was studied. It was found that the azo dyes were reduced at different rates,which could be correlated with the reduction potential of the azo compounds in cyclic voltammetric experiments. Acid Yellow Bis (Er = -616.75 mV) was reduced at the highest rate of 0.01209 mol x (L x h)(-1), Acid Yellow 11 (Er = -593.25 mV) at 0.01040 mol x (L x h)(-1) and Acid Yellow 4 (Er = - 513 mV) at 0.007575 mol x (L x h)(-1). It is showed that the reduction potential is a preliminary tool to predict the decolorization capacity of oxidative and reductive biocatalysts.

[Accelerating effects of immobilized anthanquinone on the anaerobic biodegradation].

The accelerating effect of anthanquinone as a redox mediator in the bio-decolorization was conducted. Decolorization of azo dyes was carried out experimentally using the salt-tolerant bacteria under immobilized anthanquinone and high salt conditions. Anthnaquinone used as a redox mediator was able to increase the decolorization rate of wastewater containing azo dyes, and was immobilized by entrapment in calcium alginate (CA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-H3BO3, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-calcium alginate (CA) and agar, respectively. The effects of various operating conditions such as anthnaquinone bead number and dissolved oxygen on microbial decolorization were investigated experimentally. At the same time, immobilized anthanquinone was tested to assess the effects on the change of the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) values during the decolorization processes. High decolorization rate was obtained in the presence of 200 anthnaquinone immobilization beads at 30 degrees C, which increased 1.5-2 fold, in comparison with the control of free-anthanquinone. The oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) values stabilized around -260 to approximately -265 mV after 6 hours anoxic conditions, which lowered ORP values around -10 to approximately -15 mV by anthanquinone. The reusability of the anthnaquinone immobilization beads was evaluated with repeated-bacth decolorization experiments. After four repeated experiments, the decolorization rate of calcium alginate (CA) immobilized anthnaquinone retained over 90% of their original activity.