Applicability of electrochemical methods to carwash wastewaters for reuse. Part 1: Anodic oxidation with diamond and lead dioxide anodes

The anodic oxidation of a real carwash wastewater has been comparatively studied using lead dioxide (PbO₂) and boron-doped diamond (BDD) anodes in an electrolytic flow cell. The influence of several operating parameters such as current (from 1A to 3A), liquid flow rate (from 100 to 300 dm³ h⁻¹) and temperature (25 °C and 40 °C) on the performance of both systems with a stainless steel cathode has been studied and the energy consumption has been also evaluated. Surfactants concentration and COD have been monitored during the treatment. Galvanostatic electrolyses always lead to complete COD removal due to the high amounts of effective hydroxyl radicals generated from water oxidation at each anode and the COD removal rate increases with rising applied current and liquid flow rate, while it as almost unaffected by temperature. The performance of the BDD anode is always better than that of PbO₂, requiring shorter electrolysis time to reach overall mineralization, thus leading to remarkably higher current efficiency and lower specific energy consumption, that was 375 kWh m⁻³ and 770 kWh m⁻³ for BDD and PbO₂, respectively.     

Apoptosis is directly related to intracellular amyloid accumulation in a cell line derived from the cerebral cortex of a trisomy 16 mouse,an animal model of Down syndrome

Human Down syndrome (DS) represents the most frequent cause of mental retardation associated to a genetic condition. DS also exhibits a characteristic early onset of neuropathology indistinguishable from that observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD), namely the deposition of the β-amyloid peptide. Early endosomal dysfunction has been described in individuals with DS and AD, suggesting an important role of this subcellular compartment in the onset and progression of the pathology. On the other hand, cholesterol activates the amyloidogenic processing pathway for the amyloid precursor protein, and the lipoprotein receptor-related peptide interacts with the β-amyloid peptide. In the present work, using cell lines derived from the cortex of both normal and trisomy 16 mice (Ts16), an animal model of DS, we showed that the application of exogenous β-amyloid has cytotoxic effects, expressed in decreased viability and increased apoptosis. Supplementation of the culture media with cholesterol associated to lipoprotein increased cell viability in both cell lines, but apoptosis decreased only in the normal cell line. Further, intracellular β-amyloid content was elevated in trisomic cells following cholesterol treatment, with higher values in the trisomic cell line. Immunocytochemical detection showed intracellular accumulation of exogenous β-amyloid in Rab4-positive compartments, which are known to be associated to endosomal recycling. The results suggest that the intracellular β-amyloid pool plays a central role in apoptosis-mediated cell death in the trisomic condition.     

Cell-cell fusion and internalization of the CNS-based,HIV-1 co-receptor,APJ

APJ, a member of the human G protein-coupled seven-transmembrane receptor family, has been shown to serve as a coreceptor for the entry of human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), and it is dramatically expressed in central nervous system (CNS)-based cells. In this study, expression of APJ tagged with the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and a fluorescent peptide, 5-carboxyfluorescein (5-CF) conjugated Apelin-13, were utilized for studying receptor internalization and recycling, in stably expressing indicator cells, human neurons, primary CNS microvascular endothelial cells (MVECs), and astrocytes. Fusion of the C-terminus of APJ to the N-terminus of GFP did not alter receptor ligand binding and functions, including signaling and internalization. Using 293 cells stably expressing APJ-GFP, we demonstrated that rapid internalization of the APJ receptor was induced by stimulation with Apelin-36 and Apelin-13, in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, investigations showed that the internalized APJ was colocalized with transferrin receptors, suggesting that the internalization of APJ induced by Apelin is likely to be via clathrin-coated pits. Interestingly, we found that the internalized APJ molecules were recycled to the cell surface within 60 min after removal of Apelin-13, but most of the internalized APJ still remained in the cytoplasm, even 2 h after washout of Apelin-36. The intact cytoplasmic C-terminal domain was found to be required for ligand-induced APJ internalization. Human neurons were dramatically stained by the APJ-binding fluorescent peptides. Primary human fetal astrocytes were less strongly labeled with 5-CF-Apelin-13, and in primary human CNS MVECs only weak distribution of green fluorescence specific for APJ in the cytoplasm was observed. Apelin-36 blocked cell membrane fusion mostly due to steric interference, with only a very modest effect on receptor internalization. The CNS represents a unique reservoir site for HIV-1. As such, molecular therapeutics and small molecular inhibitors of HIV-1 entry via this unique CNS receptor are now able to be rationally designed.     

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers—plasma levels and thyroid status of workers at an electronic recycling facility

Objectives: Personnel working with electronic dismantling are exposed to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which in animal studies have been shown to alter thyroid homeostasis. The aim of this longitudinal study was to measure plasma level of PBDEs in workers at an electronic recycling facility and to relate these to the workers thyroid status. Methods: PBDEs and three thyroid hormones: triiodothyronine (T₃), thyroxin (T₄) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were repeatedly analysed in plasma from 11 workers during a period of 1.5 years. Results: Plasma levels of PBDEs at start of employment were <0.5–9.1 pmol/g lipid weight (l.w.). The most common congener was PBDE #47 (median 2.8 pmol/g l.w.), followed by PBDE #153 (median 1.7 pmol/g l.w.), and PBDE #183 had a median value of <0.19 pmol/g l.w. After dismantling the corresponding median concentrations were: 3.7, 1.7 and 1.2 pmol/g l.w., respectively. These differences in PBDE levels were not statistically significant. PBDE #28 showed a statistically significantly higher concentration after dismantling than at start of employment (P=0.016), although at low concentrations (start 0.11 pmol/g l.w. and dismantling 0.26 pmol/g l.w.). All measured levels of thyroid hormones (T₃, T₄ and TSH) were within the normal physiological range. Statistically significant positive correlations were found between T₃ and #183 in a worker, between T₄ and both #28 and #100 in another worker and also between TSH and #99 and #154 in two workers. Conclusions: The workers plasma levels of PBDEs fluctuated during the study period. Due to small changes in thyroid hormone levels it was concluded that no relevant changes were present in relation to PBDE exposure within the workers participating in this study.     

以规范管理实现医疗废物无害化、减量化和资源化

从20所医疗机构规范医疗废物管理入手,通过提升全员意识水平、规范分类收集、减少一次性物品使用、加强监管,在医疗废物无害化、减量化、资源化管理方面做了有益的探索。     

应建立统一的过期药品回收处理制度

随着人们生活水平的提高和就医用药条件的改善,许多家庭存有剩余药品,久而久之,其中许多药品过期失效.这些过期失效药品,有的在家庭中长期存放,有的被当作一般垃圾处理,有的甚至被不法分子回收利用,个别对药品效期不了解的人员还有可能使用过期失效药品.这些情况,均形成了用药安全隐患,即使当作一般垃圾处理,也会成为环境污染源.所以对过期失效药品进行统一回收、统一处理是必须做好的一项重要工作.     

建筑垃圾中废木料的资源化途径

介绍国外建筑垃圾中废木料的资源化途径,包括木屑粉碎后进行堆肥,经过防腐处理的废木材可生产木料一水泥的复合材料,粗大木料可重新利用等。     

城市生活废弃物回收体系对策研究--浅谈可回收利用生活废弃物的回收体系

介绍了上海市在4个不同的阶段生活废弃物回收体系的框架及与废旧物资回收的关系,探讨了上海市在2000—2010年,2010—2030年两个阶段生活废弃物的回收体系及不同的管理模式,提出了具体推进措施。     

上海市废轮胎管理现状及对策

调查分析了上海市废轮胎的产生、回收利用及处置现状,结合上海市固体废弃物处理规划、管理现状及处理设施的建设、发展情况,探讨了上海市废轮胎处理和回收利用的技术管理、法规政策和管理措施。     

Metal leaching analysis from a core-shell WEEE plastic synthetic aggregate

Plastic wastes from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEEP) contain an important amount of metals and brominated flame retardants. These contaminants are hazardous for human and environment, therefore the WEEE are considered dangerous wastes by the law. In order to revalue this waste, we developed a cement based stabilization strategy for these contaminants. The WEEEP was covered with a mixture of cement and a very fine aggregate. This strategy takes a core-shell concept to obtain a synthetic aggregate with potential use in the construction industry. To evaluate the concentration of metals in the waste, extractions with hot water followed by acid digestion were carried out in samples of WEEEP, and then we compared these values with the leached of metals from the synthetic aggregate. The quantification was made by atomic absorption technique. The most of the studied metals did not leached in hot water, except for the antimony, which leached in hot water from WEEEP but showed an important decrease in its concentration in the leached of the synthetic arid.