Kindlin-2 Mediates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury Partially via Pyroptosis in Mice.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is characteristic of the wholesale destruction of the lung endothelial barrier, which results in protein-rich lung edema, influx of pro-inflammatory leukocytes, and intractable hypoxemia, contributing to high mortality. Kindlin-2 is involved in the process of tumor- and wound healing-associated inflammation. However, the effects of kindlin-2 on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI and its mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we found that the concentration of kindlin-2 was elevated in the lungs of ALI mice. The specific deletion of kindlin-2 by kindlin-2 siRNA attenuated the severity of lung injury, which was demonstrated by the reduced number of pro-inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung wet/dry weight ratio, and ameliorated pathologic changes in the lungs of ALI mice. Furthermore, kindlin-2 siRNA decreased the mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α) and the protein levels of pyroptosis-related proteins. In vitro studies confirmed that LPS + ATP promoted the expressions of pro-inflammatory factors and pyroptosis-related proteins, which was prevented by kindlin-2 siRNA pretreatment in endothelial cells (ECs). In conclusion, inhibition of kindlin-2 developes protective effects against LPS-induced ALI and the cytotoxicity of ECs, which may depend on blocking pyroptosis.

[Effect of Recycled Water Irrieation on Heavy Metal Pollution in Irrigation Soil].

With acceleration of urbanization, water shortages will become a serious problem. Usage of reclaimed water for flushing and watering of the green areas will be common in the future. To study the heavy metal contamination of soils after green area irrigation using recycled wastewater from special industries, we selected sewage and laboratory wastewater as water source for integrated oxidation ditch treatment, and the effluent was used as irrigation water of the green area. The irrigation units included broad-leaved forest, bush and lawn. Six samples sites were selected, and 0-20 cm soil of them were collected. Analysis of the heavy metals including Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb in the soil showed no significant differences with heavy metals concentration in soil irrigated with tap water. The heavy metals in the soil irrigated with recycled water were mainly enriched in the surface layer, among which the contents of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb were below the soil background values of Beijing. A slight pollution of As and Cd was found in the soil irrigated by recycled water, which needs to be noticed.

Bas-Relief Generation and Shape Editing through Gradient-Based Mesh Deformation.

In this paper, we introduce a novel approach to bas-relief generation and shape editing that uses gradient-based mesh deformation as the theoretical foundation. Our approach differs from image-based methods in that it operates directly on the triangular mesh, and ensures that the mesh topology remains unchanged during geometric processing. By implicitly deforming the input mesh through gradient manipulation, our approach is applicable to both plane surface bas-relief generation and curved surface bas-relief generation. We propose a series of gradient-based algorithms, such as height field deformation, high slope optimization, fine detail preservation, curved surface flattening and relief mapping. Additionally, we present two types of shape editing tools that allow the user to interactively modify the bas-relief to exhibit a desired shape. Experimental results indicate that the proposed approach is effective in producing plausible and impressive bas-reliefs.

[Occurrence and fate of phthalates in wastewater treatment plants in Beijing, China].

Three waste water treatment plants (WWTPs) in Beijing were selected as cases to study the occurrence and fate of phthalates. Contents of di-methyl phthalate (DMP), di-ethyl phthalate (DEP), di-butyl phthalate (DBP), butyl-benzyl phthalate (BBP), di-octyl phthalate (DOP) and di-(2-ehtylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in influent, effluent of secondary setting tank and excess sludge in those WWTPs were determined. The mean concentration of DMP, DEP, DBP and DEHP are 0.98, 0.21 x 10(2), 0.27 x 10(2) and 0.15 x 10(2) microg x L(-1) respectively. BBP and DOP were not found in those WWTPs. Only DBP and DEHP were detected in dewatered sludge with mean concentration of 0.37 microg x kg(-1) and 0.31 x 10(3) microg x kg(-1) DW. The removal efficiency of DMP, DEP, DBP and DEHP varied from 68.3% -82.6%, 94.5% - 98.2%, 74.7% -95.0% and 90.5% -90.7% respectively. The main removal mechanism should be biodegradation and volatilization to the air. Higher concentration of DBP and DEHP in effluent and dewatered sludge should be concerned.

[Investigation of heavy metal contamination in four kinds of fishes from the different farmer markets in Beijing].

To understand the contamination level and the exposure risk of heavy metals in aquatic products in Beijing, an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was applied to determine nine heavy metals including Pb, Cd, Cr, As and so on in crucian carp, carp, grass carp and chub from the different farmer markets in Beijing city. All of 96 samples were collected in this study. In them, the concentration of Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Mn, Zn, Fe, As are < 0.2 microg x kg(-1) -2.856 mg x kg(-1), < 0.2 microg x kg(-1) 1.965 mg x kg(-1), 0.207-1.965 mg x kg(-1), 0.025-10.506 mg x kg(-1), < 0.2 microg x kg(-1) -1.971 mg x kg(-1), 0.020-3.034 mg x kg(-1), 0.630-33.260 mg x kg(-1), 9.308-26.308 mg x kg(-1), < 0.2 microg x kg(-1) -5.266 mg x kg(-1) respectively. The fishes living at the bottom of the water body were with higher heavy metal level than those living at the middle and the top of the water body. The heavy metal concentration correlation with fish species may be due to the food chain and the age of the fishes. In 96 samples, 80 percent of them meet the requirement of China national standard with 14.6%, 5.2% and 10.4% of Pb, Cd and As excess limit values. Considering different consumer's habits and the toxicology difference for different form of heavy metal, further research is needed to assess the risk of heavy metal intake for resident in Beijing.

Formation of multiple trimethylsilyl derivatives in the derivatization of 17alpha-ethinylestradiol with BSTFA or MSTFA followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry determination.

N,O-bis(trimethylsily)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) and N-methyl-N(trimethylsily) trifluoroacetamide (MSTFA) are common derivatization reagents used in the GC-MS analysis of estrogen steroids such as estrone (El) and 17alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2). In this study, three trimethylsilyl (TMS) steroid derivatives, mono- and di-trimethylsilyl EE2 and mono-trimethylsilyl E1, were observed during the derivatization of EE2 with BSTFA or MSTFA and/or GC separation. Factors influencing the production of multiple TMS derivatives and their relative abundance were examined. It was found that both methanol and bisphenol A competed with estrogenic esteroids when reacting with silylation reagents, and thus affected the formation of TMS derivatives and their relative abundance in the derivatization products. Methanol was found to be more reactive than bisphenol A with the BSTFA reagent. None of the three solvents tested in this study could prevent the generation of multiple TMS derivatives during the derivatization of EE2 with BSTFA, followed by GC analysis. A similar result was observed using MSTFA as the derivative reagent followed by GC analysis. Thus, the suitability of BSTFA or MSTFA as the derivatization reagent for the determination of E1 and EE2 by GC-MS, under the conditions reported here, is questionable. This problem can be solved by adding trimethylsilylimidaz (TMSI) in the BSTFA reagent as recommended, and the performance of the method has been proved in this study.