Abstract  The International Agency for Research on Cancer recently classified outdoor air pollution and airborne particulate matter as carcinogenic to humans. However, there are gaps in the epidemiologic literature, including assessment of possible joint effects of cigarette smoking and fine particulate matter (particulate matter less than or equal to 2.5 µm in diameter) on lung cancer risk. We present estimates of interaction on the additive scale between these risk factors from Cancer Prevention Study II, a large prospective US cohort study of nearly 1.2 million participants recruited in 1982. Estimates of the relative excess risk of lung cancer mortality due to interaction, the attributable proportion due to interaction, and the synergy index were 2.19 (95% confidence interval (CI): -0.10, 4.83), 0.14 (95% CI: 0.00, 0.25), and 1.17 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.37), respectively, using the 25th and 75th percentiles as cutpoints for fine particulate matter. This suggests small increases in lung cancer risk among persons with both exposures beyond what would be expected from the sum of the effects of the individual exposures alone. Although reductions in cigarette smoking will achieve the greatest impact on lung cancer rates, these results suggest that attempted reductions in lung cancer risk through both tobacco control and air quality management may exceed expectations based on reducing exposure to either risk factor alone.

Abstract  OBJECTIVES: While several studies have reported associations of daily exposures to PM2.5 (particles less than 2.5 µm) with mortality, few studies have examined the impact of its constituents such as black carbon (BC), which is also a significant contributor to global climate change.

METHODS: We assessed the association between daily concentrations of BC and total, cardiovascular and respiratory mortality in two southern Mediterranean cities. Daily averages of BC were collected for 2 years in Barcelona, Spain and Athens, Greece. We used case-crossover analysis and examined single and cumulative lags up to 3 days.

RESULTS: We observed associations between BC and all mortality measures. For a 3-day moving average, cardiovascular mortality increased by 4.5% (95% CI 0.7 to 8.5) and 2.0% (95% CI 0 to 4.0) for an interquartile change in BC in Athens and Barcelona, respectively. Considerably higher effects for respiratory mortality and for those above age 65 were observed. In addition, BC exhibited much greater toxicity per microgram than generic PM2.5.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that BC, derived in western industrialised nations primarily from diesel engines and biomass burning, poses a significant burden to public health, particularly in European cities with high-traffic density.

Abstract  Air pollution health studies often use outdoor concentrations as exposure surrogates. Failure to account for variability of residential infiltration of outdoor pollutants can induce exposure errors and lead to bias and incorrect confidence intervals in health effect estimates. The residential air exchange rate (AER), which is the rate of exchange of indoor air with outdoor air, is an important determinant for house-to-house (spatial) and temporal variations of air pollution infiltration. Our goal was to evaluate and apply mechanistic models to predict AERs for 213 homes in the Near-Road Exposures and Effects of Urban Air Pollutants Study (NEXUS), a cohort study of traffic-related air pollution exposures and respiratory effects in asthmatic children living near major roads in Detroit, Michigan. We used a previously developed model (LBL), which predicts AER from meteorology and questionnaire data on building characteristics related to air leakage, and an extended version of this model (LBLX) that includes natural ventilation from open windows. As a critical and novel aspect of our AER modeling approach, we performed a cross validation, which included both parameter estimation (i.e., model calibration) and model evaluation, based on daily AER measurements from a subset of 24 study homes on five consecutive days during two seasons. The measured AER varied between 0.09 and 3.48 h-1 with a median of 0.64 h-1. For the individual model-predicted and measured AER, the median absolute difference was 29% (0.19 h‑1) for both the LBL and LBLX models. The LBL and LBLX models predicted 59% and 61% of the variance in the AER, respectively. Daily AER predictions for all 213 homes during the three year study (2010-2012) showed considerable house-to-house variations from building leakage differences, and temporal variations from outdoor temperature and wind speed fluctuations. Using this novel approach, NEXUS will be one of the first epidemiology studies to apply calibrated and home-specific AER models, and to include the spatial and temporal variations of AER for over 200 individual homes across multiple years into an exposure assessment in support of improving risk estimates.

Abstract  To investigate the vehicle induced air pollution situations both inside and outside the tunnel, the field measurement of the pollutants concentrations and its diurnal variations was performed inside and outside the Xiangyin tunnel in Shanghai from 13:00 on April 24th to 13:00 on April 25th, 2013. The highest hourly average concentrations of pollutants were quantified that CO, NO, NO2 and NOX inside the tunnel were 13.223 mg/m3, 1.829 mg/m3, 0.291 mg/m3 and 3.029 mg/m3, respectively, while the lowest ones were 3.086 mg/m3, 0.344 mg/m3, 0.080 mg/m3 and 0.619 mg/m3. Moreover, the concentrations of pollutants were higher during the daytime, and lower at night, which is relevant to the traffic conditions inside the tunnel. Pollutants concentrations inside the tunnel were much higher than those outside the tunnel. Then in a case of slow wind, the effect of wind is much smaller than the impact of pollution sources. Additionally, the PM2.5 concentrations climbed to the peak sharply (468.45 µg/m3) during the morning rush hours. The concentrations of organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) in PM2.5 inside the tunnel were 37.09-99.06 µg/m3 and 22.69-137.99 µg/m3, respectively. Besides, the OC/EC ratio ranged from 0.72 to 2.19 with an average value of 1.34. Compared with the results of other tunnel experiments in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, China, it could be inferred that the proportion of HDVs through the Xiangyin tunnel is relatively lower.

Abstract  BACKGROUND: House dust contains mite allergens as well as bacterial products like lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Asthma exacerbations are associated with the level of exposure to allergens and LPS. LPS can potentiate allergen effects in steroid-naïve patients. Long-acting β2-agonists (LABA) were shown to inhibit LPS-induced bronchial inflammation in healthy volunteers. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of LPS on the allergen-induced eosinophilic inflammation (primary endpoints: eosinophil counts and eosinophilic cationic protein ECP) induced by bronchial instillation of house dust mite (HDM) in asthmatic patients on maintenance treatment with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS).

METHODS: Thirty-two non-smoking asthmatics with HDM-allergy were treated with run-in medication (fluticasone propionate 100 μg bid) during 2 weeks before the study day. All patients underwent bronchial challenge with HDM and half of them were randomized to receive additional LPS. Both groups were randomized to receive pre-treatment with a single inhalation of 100 μg salmeterol 30 minutes before bronchial segmental challenge. Six hours later, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was collected for leukocyte cell count, differentials and cellular activation markers.

RESULTS: Challenge with HDM/LPS induced a significant increase in eosinophil cationic protein (p = 0.036) and a trend towards an increase in BALF eosinophils in BAL as compared to HDM challenge.

CONCLUSION: LPS promotes eosinophilic airway inflammation in patients with asthma despite being on maintenance treatment with ICS. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Abstract  UV radiation is an essential driver for the formation of photochemical smog, which includes ground-level ozone and particulate matter (PM). Recent analyses support earlier work showing that poor outdoor air quality is a major environmental hazard as well as quantifying health effects on regional and global scales more accurately. Greater exposure to these pollutants has been linked to increased risks of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in humans and is associated globally with several million premature deaths per year. Ozone also has adverse effects on yields of crops, leading to loss of billions of US dollars each year. These detrimental effects also may alter biological diversity and affect the function of natural ecosystems. Future air quality will depend mostly on changes in emission of pollutants and their precursors, but changes in UV radiation and climate will contribute as well. Significant reductions in emissions, mainly from the energy and transportation sectors, have already led to improved air quality in many locations. Air quality will continue to improve in those cities/states that can afford controls, and worsen where the regulatory infrastructure is not available. Future changes in UV radiation and climate will alter the rates of formation of ground-level ozone and photochemically-generated particulate matter and must be considered in predictions of air quality. The decrease in UV radiation associated with recovery of stratospheric ozone will, according to recent global atmospheric model simulations, lead to increases in ground-level ozone at most locations. If correct, this will add significantly to future ground-level ozone trends. However, the spatial resolution of these global models is insufficient to inform policy at this time, especially for urban areas. UV radiation affects the atmospheric concentration of hydroxyl radicals, ˙OH, which are responsible for the self-cleaning of the atmosphere. Recent measurements confirm that, on a local scale, ˙OH radicals respond rapidly to changes in UV radiation. However, on large (global) scales, models differ in their predictions by nearly a factor of two, with consequent uncertainties for estimating the atmospheric lifetime and concentrations of key greenhouse gases and air pollutants. Projections of future climate need to consider these uncertainties. No new negative environmental effects of substitutes for ozone depleting substances or their breakdown-products have been identified. However, some substitutes for the ozone depleting substances will continue to contribute to global climate change if concentrations rise above current levels.

Abstract  Relatively few studies have characterized differences in intra- and inter-neighborhood traffic-related air pollutant (TRAP) concentrations and distance-decay gradients in along an urban highway for the purposes of exposure assessment. The goal of this work was to determine the extent to which intra- and inter-neighborhood differences in TRAP concentrations can be explained by traffic and meteorology in three pairs of neighborhoods along Interstate 93 (I-93) in the metropolitan Boston area (USA). We measured distance-decay gradients of seven TRAPs (PNC, pPAH, NO, NOX, BC, CO, PM2.5) in near-highway (<400 m) and background areas (>1 km) in Somerville, Dorchester/South Boston, Chinatown and Malden to determine whether (1) spatial patterns in concentrations and inter-pollutant correlations differ between neighborhoods, and (2) variation within and between neighborhoods can be explained by traffic and meteorology. The neighborhoods ranged in area from 0.5 to 2.3 km(2). Mobile monitoring was performed over the course of one year in each pair of neighborhoods (one pair of neighborhoods per year in three successive years; 35-47 days of monitoring in each neighborhood). Pollutant levels generally increased with highway proximity, consistent with I-93 being a major source of TRAP; however, the slope and extent of the distance-decay gradients varied by neighborhood as well as by pollutant, season and time of day. Correlations among pollutants differed between neighborhoods (e.g., ρ = 0.35-0.80 between PNC and NOX and ρ = 0.11-0.60 between PNC and BC) and were generally lower in Dorchester/South Boston than in the other neighborhoods. We found that the generalizability of near-road gradients and near-highway/urban background contrasts was limited for near-highway neighborhoods in a metropolitan area with substantial local street traffic. Our findings illustrate the importance of measuring gradients of multiple pollutants under different ambient conditions in individual near-highway neighborhoods for health studies involving inter-neighborhood comparisons.

Abstract  Simulation is performed to analyze the characteristics of different modes of low temperature combustion (LTC), by ultra-high exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) (UHE) and modulated kinetics (MM) in a CI engine. The physical models and numerical methods in KIVA-CMC are validated against measured pressure traces and NOx, CO and PM emissions for selected test cases. It is shown that the two LTC modes involve different fuel evaporation histories and turbulent flame structures in the tested ranges of EGR rates and injection timings. LTC is confirmed with simultaneous reduction of NOx and PM above the critical EGR rate and SOI timing in the UHE and the MK mode respectively. The UHE mode at the EGR rate 68% shows conditional temperature between 1000 K and 1600 K, while the MK mode at the EGR rate 48% shows conditional temperature distribution between 1000 K and 2200 K. It is shown that the temperature is the most sensitive parameter to suppress NOx in the UHE mode, while a longer ignition delay leads to more homogeneous mixture to result in reduced CO and PM in the MK mode. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract  Industrial accidents have been a serious environmental and public health issue for the last decades. Although the development of atmospheric dispersion models was largely motivated by the notorious nuclear catastrophes, simulations are now mostly used in cases of chemical accidents that regularly occur in all parts of the world. In an accidental situation, the accuracy of the results is primarily important for risk management and decision making strategies. However, it largely depends on the meteorological conditions and the quality of input data. A chemical accident happened in a factory in Rouen, France on January 21, 2013. The emitted methyl mercaptan gas caused odor and sickness in densely populated areas, including Paris. The meteorological conditions were rapidly changing in both space and time during the release period, thus the case is particularly challenging for dispersion models and provides a good basis for testing them.

Dispersion of the released methyl mercaptan gas was estimated using the PyTREX trajectory model, developed at the Eotvos Lorand University, and NOAA's HYSPLIT model. The simulation results are in a good agreement with media reports of the polluted areas, and lead to a better understanding of the complex synoptic situation at the time of the accident. Comparison of the results of two models also provided information about the uncertainty of the predictions and pointed out the most important directions for further development of the PyTREX model.

Abstract  Etch rates of Ni-InGaAs metallic film and Ni in HCl, HNO3, HF and SPM etch chemistries were determined using sheet resistance method, step height measurements, and cross sectional TEM characterization. HCl and HNO3 based chemistries were studied in detail. The etch selectivity of Ni over Ni-InGaAs in various etchants was studied. Concentrated HCl was found to have the highest selectivity of approximately 15.6. HNO3 (1:10) and HNO3 (1:20) solutions provides good selectivities of 4.3 and 4.5 respectively. The results of this work could be useful for the formation of Ni-InGaAs self-aligned source and drain in InGaAs N-MOSFETs. (C) 2011 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/2.020201jes]

Abstract  Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were ultrasonicated in concentrated H2SO4/HNO3 for 4 h, and then used to construct a novel immunosensor. After functionalization, the length of the carbon tubes clearly decreased and the arrangement on the electrode surface tended to be more uniform, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy measurements. Infrared spectroscopy revealed that carboxyl groups were introduced on the surface of the MWNTs after ultrasonication in mixed acid. Moreover, the functionalized MWNTs exhibited a larger electrochemical response area compared with MWNTs alone. As a result, functionalized MWNTs were successfully used to immobilize the antibodies to CD8+ T-cells. The interaction of antigen and antibody on the electrode interface made a barrier for electrons and inhibited electron transfer, resulting in decreased current signals of the probe K-3[Fe(CN)(6)]. Using this strategy, a convenient, low-cost and rapid electrochemical immunosensor was developed for the counting of CD8+ T-cells.

Abstract  WO3 nano-films were deposited on Al2O3 substrate by dc reactive magnetron sputtering method. The effects of preparing conditions, such as the discharge gas ratio (Ar:O-2), working pressure, sputtering time and annealing temperature on microstructure, crystalline state and NO2-sensing properties of WO3 nano-films were investigated by orthogonal trial experiment method. The optimum technological conditions were determined by orthogonal test and extreme difference analysis. The crystallization, morphology and composition of WO3 thin film obtained at the optimal parameters were studied by XRD, SEM and XPS. The gas sensing mechanism was also studied. WO3 nano-film shows high sensitivity, fast response, good selectivity at the best operating temperature 200 degrees C.

Abstract  The effects of manganese salts including Mn(NO(3))(2) and MnCO(3) on CO(2) capture performance of calcium-based sorbent during cyclic calcination/carbonation reactions were investigated. Mn(NO(3))(2) and MnCO(3) were added by wet impregnation method. The cyclic CO(2) capture capacities of Mn(NO(3))(2)-doped CaCO(3), MnCO(3)-doped CaCO(3) and original CaCO(3) were studied in a twin fixed-bed reactor and a thermo-gravimetric analyzer (TGA), respectively. The results show that the addition of manganese salts improves the cyclic carbonation conversions of CaCO(3) except the previous cycles. When the Mn/Ca molar ratios are 1/100 for Mn(NO(3))(2)-doped CaCO(3) and 1.5/100 for MnCO(3)-doped CaCO(3), the highest carbonation conversions are achieved respectively. The carbonation temperature of 700-720 degrees C is beneficial to CO(2) capture of Mn-doped CaCO(3). The residual carbonation conversions of Mn(NO(3))(2)-doped and MnCO(3)-doped CaCO(3) are 0.27 and 0.24 respectively after 100 cycles, compared with the conversion of 0.16 for original one after the same number of cycles. Compared with calcined original CaCO(3). better pore structure is kept for calcined Mn-doped CaCO(3) during calcium looping cycle. The pore volume of calcined MnCO(3)-doped CaCO(3) is 2.4 times as high as that of calcined original CaCO(3) after 20 cycles. The pores of calcined MnCO(3)-doped CaCO(3) in the pore size range of 27-142 nm are more abundant relative to clacined original one. That is why modification by manganese salts can improve cyclic CO(2) capture capacity of CaCO(3). (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract  An ozone prediction model based on a supervised hidden Markov model (HMM) and generalized linear models (GLMs) has been developed and tested on data from Livermore Valley, CA. Hidden states in the supervised HMM are assigned to represent different ozone concentration ranges which make the parameters of the supervised HMM easy to be explained. Using the Viterbi algorithm (VA), not only the most likely state of 8 h-average ozone concentrations but also the relative probabilities of different concentration ranges can be obtained. Then, GLMs corresponding to different ozone concentration ranges are used to quantitatively predict surface ozone levels. Using the relative probabilities and ozone levels predicted by GLMs, an ozone concentration value in the most likely concentration range can be finally determined. In this paper, data from 8 ozone seasons spanning 2000 to 2007 are used to build the prediction model and data from 2008 to 2009 are used for validation. The results show that this model can be used to predict all ozone exceedance days correctly. Compared to the generalized linear mixed effects model (GLMM), which is also used to model grouped data, the true prediction rate (TPR) of the proposed model is higher by 27%. Compared to the prediction results using the supervised HMM alone, the mean absolute error (MAE) of ozone exceedance days predicted by the proposed model is reduced by 72%. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract  Background Exhaled nitric oxide (NO) is a noninvasive biomarker of airway inflammation in pulmonary diseases. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), as the third member of the gasotransmitter family, is involved in the pathophysiological process in lung diseases. H2S also exists in exhaled breath and can be sampled non-invasively. The study investigated the level of exhaled H2S in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its correlation with exhaled NO. Methods Levels of exhaled NO and H2S, lung function, and cell differential counts in induced sputum were studied in 19 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD), 19 patients with stable COPD and seven healthy smoke controls. Results Exhaled H2S levels were similar in patients with AECOPD (10.0 parts per billion (ppb), 8.0-13.0 ppb), stable COPD (10.0 ppb, 9.0-12.0 ppb), and healthy controls (9.0 ppb, 8.0-16.0 ppb) (P >0.05). Exhaled NO levels were similar in patients with AECOPD (155.0 ppb, 129.0-190.0 ppb), stable COPD (154.0 ppb, 133.0-175.0 ppb) and healthy controls (165.0 ppb, 112.0-188.0 ppb) (P >0.05). Exhaled H2S levels correlated positively with exhaled NO in all healthy controls and patients with COPD (r=0.467, P <0.01). No significant correlation was found between the exhaled H2S level and percentage of predicted FEV1 (P >0.05) and proportion of different cell types in induced sputum (P >0.05). Conclusions There is a correlation between exhaled H2S and exhaled NO. The role of exhaled H2S in airway inflammation in COPD still needs further investigation.

Abstract  Low-dose and long-term administration of 14-membered macrolide antibiotics is well-known to be effective in the treatment of chronic airway diseases. Although there is much evidence that the anti-inflammatory action, but not the anti-microbial action of macrolides, is responsible for the clinical efficacy of these agents on chronic airway inflammatory diseases, the precise therapeutic mechanisms are not well-understood. Since thioredoxin (TRX) has now attracted attention as an endogenous peptide with immunomodulatory effects, the present study was undertaken to examine whether macrolide antibiotics could favorably modulate the clinical status of such diseases via the production of TRX from nasal epithelial cells in vitro. Nasal epithelial cells (5x10(5) cells/ml) obtained from five patients were stimulated with 50 mu M H2O2 in the presence of different concentrations of macrolide antibiotics for 24 h. TRX levels in culture supernatants were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We also examined the influence of macrolide antibiotics on TRX mRNA expression and mRNA translation by RT-PCR and a wheat germ cell-free protein synthesis technique, respectively. The addition of clarithromycin (CAM) to cell cultures caused an increase in the ability of cells to produce TRX in response to H2O2 stimulation, and the minimum concentration that caused a significant increase was 0.5 mu g/ml. On the other hand, josamycin, a 16-membered macrolide antibiotic, did not increase TRX production induced by H2O2 stimulation. Although the treatment of cells with CAM inhibits TRX mRNA transcription, the agent might increase translation of mRNA to produce specific proteins. The ability of CAM to increase TRX production may account, at least in part, for the clinical efficacy of this agent on chronic airway inflammatory diseases, including chronic rhinosinositis.

Abstract  Propentofylline, a phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor; increases the intracellular level of cyclic nucleotides (cAMP and cGMP) and, in consequence, can change the activity of many cells, including immune cells. The studies were conducted on female Balb/c mice (8 weeks of age). Propentofylline was administered orally once or six times at 12 h intervals at a therapeutic dose of 3 mg/kg. The production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and nitric oxide (NO) by resident peritoneal murine macrophages stimulated in vitro with lipopolisaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli and the phagocytic activity of granulocytes and monocytes from peripheral blood were determined 12 h and 24 h after a single dose or after the last of six doses of propentofylline administration. A temporary decrease in TNF-alpha synthesis and an increase in IL-1 beta production were noted 12 h following a single administration of propentofylline. No effect on the TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta release was observed after six doses of the drug applied. Propentofylline, irrespective of the number of subsequent doses applied, did not change the synthesis and release of NO by peritoneal murine macrophages stimulated in vitro with LPS. No effect on the percentage of phagocytosing granulocytes and monocytes was observed after a single administration of propentofylline. However, an increase in the fluorescence intensity of the granulocytes was observed 12 h and 24 h after a single dose of the drug administered. Propentofylline administered six times did not change the fluorescence intensity of granulocytes and monocytes, but an increase in the percentage of phagocytosing monocytes was noted. The results obtained in the present study showed that propentofylline administered in vivo did not exhibit an immunosuppressive influence on the activity of phagocytic cells. The changes after propentofylline administration were short-lived and were balanced during the treatment.

Abstract  Reaction of Gd(NO3)(3) center dot 6H(2)O with 4,4,5,5,6,6,6-heptafluoro-1-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,3-hexanedione in aqueous ethanol solution in the presence of NaOH at ambient temperature was found to give rise to complex GdL3[O(H)Et](2) in 64% yield. The prepared complex was characterized by X-ray crystallography, its luminescent properties were studied, and the energy of ligand triplet level was determined experimentally.

Abstract  We report on our second-year campaign of X-ray follow-up observations of unidentified Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) gamma-ray sources at high Galactic latitudes (vertical bar b vertical bar > 10 degrees) using the X-ray Imaging Spectrometer on board the Suzaku X-ray Observatory. In this second year of the project, seven new targets were selected from the First Fermi-LAT Catalog, and studied with 20-40 ks effective Suzaku exposures. We detected an X-ray point source coincident with the position of the recently discovered millisecond pulsar (MSP) PSR J2302+4442 within the 95% confidence error circle of 1FGL J2302.8+4443. The X-ray spectrum of the detected counterpart was well fit by a blackbody model with temperature of kT similar or equal to 0.3 keV, consistent with an origin of the observed X-ray photons from the surface of a rotating magnetized neutron star. For four other targets that were also recently identified with a normal pulsar (1FGL J0106.7+4853) and MSPs (1FGL J1312.6+0048, J1902.0-5110, and J2043.2+1709), only upper limits in the 0.5-10 keV band were obtained at the flux levels of similar or equal to 10(-14) erg cm(-2) s(-1). A weak X-ray source was found in the field of 1FGL J1739.4+8717, but its association with the variable gamma-ray emitter could not be confirmed with the available Suzaku data alone. For the remaining Fermi-LAT object 1FGL J1743.8-7620 no X-ray source was detected within the LAT 95% error ellipse. We briefly discuss the general properties of the observed high Galactic-latitude Fermi-LAT objects by comparing their multiwavelength properties with those of known blazars and MSPs.

Abstract  S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) is a key denitrosylase and critically important for protecting immune and other cells from nitrosative stress. Pharmacological inhibition of GSNOR is being actively pursued as a therapeutic approach to increase S-nitrosoglutathione levels for the treatment of asthma and cystic fibrosis. In the present study, we employed GSNOR-deficient (GSNOR(-/-)) mice to investigate whether inactivation of GSNOR may increase susceptibility to pulmonary infection by Klebsiella pneumoniae, a common cause of nosocomial pneumonia. We found that compared to wild-type mice, bacterial colony forming units 48 h after intranasal infection with K. pneumoniae were increased over 4-folds in lung and spleen and strikingly, over a 1000-folds in blood of GSNOR(-/-) mice. Lung injury was comparable between infected wild-type and GSNOR(-/-) mice, but inflammation and injury was significantly elevated in spleen of GSNOR(-/-) mice. Whereas all wild-type mice survived 48 h after infection, 10 of 23 GSNOR(-/-) mice died. Thus, GSNOR appears to play a crucial role in controlling pulmonary and systemic infection by K. pneumoniae. Our results suggest that patients treated in clinical trials with inhibitors of GSNOR should be carefully monitored for signs of infection. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Abstract  Dimethyl Ether (DME) is an alternative liquid fuel developed mainly from coal and natural gas that can be used in compression ignition (CI) engines without major modifications to the diesel configuration. One of the advantages of DME combustion is the low emission levels of nitrous oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) when compared to diesel combustion. Research so far were largely focused on tackling issues due to less viscosity and low heating capacity of DME as compared to diesel and in developing DME specific fuel system to overcome its incompatibility with rubber seals. In this paper, the body of experimental and numerical research on gaseous and PM emissions from DME combustion is reviewed, with the objective being to identify promising methods for emission control in DME engines. Gaseous emissions from DME combustion is a well-researched topic, while PM emissions has not yet been explored in detail. PM emissions, especially ultra-fine particulate matter (UFPM), are expected to become a major concern with the implementation of future emission norms. This review paper critically evaluates some of the novel methods of emission control in Cl engines to meet future emission regulations using fuel injection strategies, combustion after-treatment and suggests future direction for DME research. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract  Objective: The study investigated the relationship between arterial stiffness calculated using the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes-related cardiovascular complications, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (type 2 diabetes) and nondiabetic patients. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in patients with type 2 diabetes and age-matched nondiabetic patients. CAVI was measured using an automatic vascular screening system. Parameters associated with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular complications were also measured. Results: A total of 51 patients with type 2 diabetes and 59 nondiabetic patients were enrolled in the study. Significantly higher CAVI scores were observed in patients with type 2 diabetes compared with nondiabetic patients (mean +/- SD: 9.55 +/- 1.13 versus 8.54 +/- 0.94, respectively). Multivariate linear regression analyses demonstrated that age was the only significant factor influencing the CAVI score, in patients with type 2 diabetes. Conclusion: Patients with type 2 diabetes had an increased risk of arterial stiffness, based on the CAVI score, compared with nondiabetic patients; this, in turn, could increase their risk of developing other cardiovascular complications.

Abstract  Dual fuel compression ignition engine has been proposed as one approach to reduce diesel engine regulated emissions (NOX and Soot) and to also allow the utilisation of other non-traditional fuels in transportation, in order to improve fuel security and CO2 emissions. In an attempt to improve the combustion characteristics of the LPG-diesel dual fuelled engine the influence of the (a) hydrogen and reformate (H-2 and CO) additions and (b) properties of the in-cylinder injected diesel fuel, in this case diesel, biodiesel and synthetic diesel fuel were investigated. Improvements on engine thermal efficiency and HC (including particular HC species) emissions with the reformate and further improvements on CO, soot and particulate matter with hydrogen with respect to LPG-diesel dual fuel combustion were obtained. However, an increase in NOX was obtained due to the high in-cylinder temperature as a result of the shorter advanced premixed combustion. Moreover, the RME's oxygen content, different injection (i.e. different high bulk modulus) and combustion characteristics as a result of its properties modified the combustion process and hence produced even lower HC, CO, soot and PM emissions. On the other hand, the lower density of GTL has changed the diesel fuel injection and combustion characteristics in dual fuelling mode which resulted in the increased regulated (HC and CO) and unregulated emissions. However, LPG-GTL dual fuelling with reformate and H-2 addition showed better smoke-NOX trade-off compared to that of ULSD and RME. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.