This thesis focuses on methods for quantification by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) of specific biomarkers for internal dose of chemicals which induce toxicity through their electrophilic reactivity. In vivo such compounds are short-lived, and could feasibly be measured as their reaction products (adducts) with biomacromolecules. Analysis by MS methods of stable adducts offers the specificity and accuracy required to generate data on internal dose useful in risk estimation. The primary aim was to develop a method for quantification by LC/MS of bulky adducts to serum albumin (SA) from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, using the genotoxic diolepoxide (DE) of benzo[a]pyrene (BP) as a model. A method for analysis of the BPDE adducts to His146 in SA was developed which is robust, easy-to-use, has good reproducibility and which reached a high sensitivity. A method for quantification of BPDE adducts to N2-deoxyguanosine (dG) in DNA by LC/MS was also established. In mice exposed to BP, adducts to SA and DNA from stereoisomers of BPDE were identified and quantified. The adduct level was shown to be &gt;400 times higher in DNA than in SA, which from an in vitro study could be concluded to mainly depend on a large difference in the rates of adduct formation to His in SA and to dG in DNA. BPDE adduct levels to SA and DNA, and a biomarker of genotoxic effect (frequency of micronuclei), were compared in BP-exposed mice. The results were used to evaluate how these methods could be used in procedures for cancer risk estimation. An LC/MS method for analysis of valine hydantoins (VH) formed as adducts from isocyanates to N-termini in haemoglobin was established. VH, formed from urea/isocyanic acid, was investigated in mice as a potential biomarker of renal failure and for dose adjustment during treatment with a radioactive cytostatic drug. The kidney dysfunction was not severe enough to give a significant increase of VH in the experiment. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 3: Manuscript.</p>

During the Fall of 2009, a pilot study was conducted at the McCormick and Baxter (M&B) Superfund Site to evaluate polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) profilers as a method for sediment cap performance monitoring. The profilers are shielded solid phase microextraction fibers, silica rods coated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as the sorbent. The deployment explored whether profiling PDMS could be used as a low impact, highly sensitive, long term monitoring strategy at M&B since the sediment operable unit will be transitioning to the “Operable & Maintenance” phase of Superfund cleanup. To evaluate sediment cap performance, a good understanding of the flux of contaminants from the sediment is required. While surface waters can illustrate this flux, they can also contain contaminants originating from upstream sources. The existing sampling plan at M&B uses a conventional porewater pumping sampling technique that measures both dissolved and particulate fractions. PDMS profilers measure only the freely dissolved fraction which has been shown to be a good indicator of bioavailability. These profilers also have lower detection limits (ng/L) and the ability to measure vertical concentration gradients which can help identify sources and mechanisms of the contamination. Each sampler was analyzed at three depths for the USEPA Priority Pollutant List of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PDMS measurements showed clear vertical profiling with large reductions in PAH concentrations through the sediment cap offshore. Nearshore, uniform concentration profiles were observed indicating increased vertical mixing as a result of tidal smearing. Further, ANOVA and Tukey-Kramer HSD analysis of sample variability revealed PAH concentrations were statistically different at two locations compared to the remainder of the sampling locations- indicating areas requiring closer attention. PDMS profilers were co-located at 13 of the 22 conventional porewater extraction sampling locations. The correlation of PDMS and conventional porewater extraction techniques was limited due to the low detection frequency by conventional porewater extraction methods as a result of the higher detection limits by that method. The correlation was good for light molecular weight PAHs with most measurements of the same order of magnitude and improved with increasing depth (due to the greater number of detections). 72% of the direct comparisons between PDMS-derived and conventionally-derived porewater concentrations were of the same order of magnitude. Any comparison between the two datasets is necessarily limited especially for the higher molecular weight PAHs, however, due to the large number of non-detects in the conventionally collected data. / text

No description available.

Uma classe de compostos presente no material particulado atmosférico que desperta particular interesse e constitui-se em motivo de preocupação são os chamados hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos (HPA). Estes caracterizam-se por possuir dois ou mais anéis aromáticos condensados e são formados pela queima de combustíveis orgânicos na presença de quantidade limitada de oxigênio. Além dos próprios HPA, são importantes, sob o ponto de vista ambiental, seus derivados nitrados e oxigenados. Sua identificação e quantificação são passos importantes no processo de se esclarecer os mecanismos que conduzem à formação desses derivados. Neste trabalho, estudou-se reações fotoquímicas de HPA e nitro-HPA adsorvidos sobre o fotocatalisador dióxido de titânio (TiO2) ou sobre sílica (SiO2) através de técnicas de espectroscopia Raman. Foram conduzidos também estudos espectroeletroquímicos dos HPA através de espectroscopia eletrônica e Raman intensificada (efeito SERS) visando a caracterização vibracional dos produtos de processos faradáicos desses compostos sobre eletrodos, para comparação com os produtos de fotodegradação. Os HPA estudados foram: antraceno, 9-nitroantraceno, fenantreno, fluoreno, fluoranteno, pireno e criseno. Para o estudo das reações fotoquímicas foi feita uma pré-adsorção dos diversos HPA e nitro-HPA sobre TiO2 ou SiO2, que foram então irradiados em 254 nm em intervalos de tempo pré-determinados. Verificou-se mudanças nas estruturas das moléculas em função da exposição à luz ultravioleta. Os resultados obtidos revelaram a formação de intermediários oxidados, com grupamentos C=O. A combinação de dados da fotodegradação de HPA com seu estudo via eletroquímica - utilizando técnicas espectroscópicas para a identificação e caracterização de produtos - trouxe correlações importantes para esclarecer as transformações envolvidas nas etapas iniciais da fotodegradação dessas substâncias. A comparação das estruturas dos intermediários de fotodegradação e dos produtos de oxidação eletroquímica de HPA mostra que o início do processo fotocatalítico de HPA envolve uma etapa de oxidação de maneira análoga ao processo eletroquímico. / One class of chemicals that is present in the particulate matter in the atmosphere is of the so-called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). They are object of special interest and concern due to their mutagenic properties and carcinogenic effects. PAH are characterized by the presence of two or more aromatic rings in their structure, and they are produced by the burning of organic fuels in a limited amount of oxygen. The study of the photochemical behavior of PAHs is relevant for clarifying some aspects of these complex systems. In this work, we perform experiments that include the UV irradiation of PAH, to observe which species are produced in such condition. Such investigations include the use of a photocatalysts, titanium dioxide – TiO2 – and that will allow the comparison between degradation products in the absence and in the presence of catalysts. Spectroscopic techniques were employed to monitorate the intermediates formed in the photoinduced degradation of PAH and their nitro derivates adsorbed or not on the photocatalyst TiO2. To perform the study of the photochemical reactions, the several PAH and nitro PAH were pre-adsorbed on TiO2 or SiO2, and then irradiated in 254 nm, in pre-determined time intervals. Changes in the structure of the molecules were observed after the exposure to the ultraviolet radiation. Results thus obtained revealed the production of oxidized intermediates bearing the C=O group. The joint analysis of the photodegradation data with those produced by electrochemical means - using spectroscopic techniques to the identification and characterization of the products - lead to important correlations that helped to clarify the transformations that take place in the initial steps of the photodegradation of PAH. By comparing the structures of the intermediates formed both in the photodegradation processes and in the electrochemical oxidation of PAH, it was possible to conclude that the first part of the photocatalytical degradation of those PAH include an oxidation step that is analogous to the electrochemical process.

The purpose of this study was to determine if any amount of PAH (Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) was leaching from the paved road surface of road 805 in Jokkmokk municipality. The study was also meant to determine which factors affected the leaching of PAH in the studied area.The surveyed road was divided into eight sections. Groundwater pipes were inserted into drilled holes, three in each section. Samples from soil, water and asphalt were collected from each section and analyzed for its content of PAH. The groundwater level was measured before each sampling. Some soil samples were analyzed for TOC (total organic carbon) and all the water samples for DOC (dissolved organic carbon). The results showed that PAH was leaching in very different amounts. There was a similarity in the amount of coal tar in the road surface and the amount of PAH in most sections. Although in one section the asphalt sample showed low amount of coal tar but high amount of PAH in the soil- and water samples. This anomaly could not be explained - the assumption was that the sampling had been incorrectly handled. The pollution in the surveyed area is assumed to be caused by the road surface and tire wear. Further studies are necessary to determine with certainty how PAH is leaching in different conditions and with different road pavements.

No description available.

Microfluidic technology is a rapidly progressing tool in biomedical engineering. Microfluidic devices are appreciated for their simplicity and production efficiency potential. Our research focuses on developing a microfluidic device capable of transfecting cells by applying shear stress to cause temporary membrane damage. The advantage of this physical method of transfection is the possibility of incorporating large molecules that cannot be inserted with more traditional chemical transfection methods, while avoiding the large fall in viability seen with other physical methods such as electroporation. Unlike previous groups, our device incorporates the use of microfluidic valves to allow tunability, and impedance sensing for cell membrane damage analysis. We achieve (95±5)% cell viability and up to (68±5)% efficiency in transfecting 3T3 cells with DNA-sized molecules. In future stages, we intend to add the device onto an existing cell-encapsulation device that is tasked with preparing therapeutic cells to be used in regenerative medicine applications.

Cette thèse, intitulée « L’exploration fonctionnelle de repos et à l’exercice dans l'hypertension pulmonaire », est le résultat de différents travaux de physiologie clinique effectués dans le cadre des maladies vasculaires pulmonaires (MVP).La première partie de cette thèse est consacrée à l’étude de la diffusion des gaz dans l’hypertension artérielle pulmonaire (HTAP), l’hypertension pulmonaire thromboembolique chronique (HTP-TEC) et la maladie veino-occlusive pulmonaire (MVOP). Nous nous sommes particulièrement intéressé à l’étude de la double diffusion du monoxyde de carbone (DLCO) et d’azote (DLNO), permettant notamment la mesure du volume capillaire (Vc) et de la diffusion membranaire (Dm). Nous avons mis en évidence une diminution significative de ces paramètres dans les trois maladies et plus particulièrement dans la MVOP. Cette pathologie a la particularité de présenter un rapport DLNO/DLCO significativement plus élevé, évocateur de l’hémangiomatose capillaire associée à l’atteinte veinulaire. De plus, nous avons mis en évidence que le volume capillaire et la diffusion membranaire sont corrélés aux paramètres de capacités à l’exercice, dont la consommation en oxygène (VO2), dans un groupe de patients avec HTAP indemnes de toute comorbidité. Enfin, nous avons mis en évidence une corrélation significative entre la Dm et la survie dans l’HTAP.La deuxième partie de cette thèse fait référence a l’étude du cathétérisme cardiaque droit durant l’exercice. Dans un premier travail, nous avons collaboré à la proposition d’une nouvelle définition de l’hypertension pulmonaire à l’exercice (HTPe). Dans une cohorte rétrospective de patients investigués au Centre National de référence de l’Hypertension Pulmonaire, nous avons montré que l’association de résistances pulmonaires totales supérieures à 3 UW au pic de l’effort avec une pression artérielle pulmonaire moyenne (PAPm) supérieure à 30 mmHg présentent des valeurs de sensibilités et de spécificités élevées pour le diagnostic de patients avec MVP ou cardiopathie gauche sans hypertension pulmonaire de repos. Nous avons confronté ces résultats à une cohorte historique de sujets sains et trouvé des valeurs similaires. Dans un autre travail, nous avons analysé la concordance entre trois différentes définitions utilisées jusqu’à présent dans la littérature concernant l’HTPe, en montrant qu’elles ne sont pas équivalentes. Enfin, nous avons collaboré à une étude hémodynamique des sujets présentant une PAPm au repos comprise en 21 et 24 mmHg. Nous avons démontré que ces sujets présentent une hémodynamique d’effort anormale et qu’il existe une association entre la PAPm de repos et la fréquence de l’ HTPe.Dans la troisième partie de la thèse, nous avons contribué à l’étude de la distensibilité vasculaire dans les MVP. Dans une première étude rétrospective, nous avons collaboré à la validation du modèle alpha de distensibilité vasculaire. Nous avons démontré dans une cohorte de sujets avec maladies vasculaires pulmonaires que le coefficient alpha permet de détecter précocement des anomalies de la circulation pulmonaire chez des sujets présentant une PAPm de repos inférieure à 25 mmHg. De plus, dans une étude prospective, nous avons également étudié une nouvelle technique diagnostic : le signal Doppler pulmonaire, basé sur la pulsatilité de la paroi vasculaire, et donc reflétant la distensibilité des vaisseaux. Nous avons démontré que la performance diagnostique de cette technique était tout à fait acceptable en comparaison avec le cathétérisme cardiaque droit.Enfin, dans la dernière partie, nous avons exploré les différences de réponses à l’effort entre un groupe de patients avec HTAP et un groupe de patients avec une forme distale d’HTP-TEC. Nous avons observé une réponse ventilatoire différente, notamment avec une inefficience ventilatoire plus importante liée à un effet espace mort, expliquant une partie de la limitation fonctionnelle. / This thesis, entitled « Rest and exercice functional investigation in pulmonary hypertension » is the sum of several physiological and clinical works in the field of pulmonary vascular diseases (PVD).The first part of this thesis is focused on the study of gas diffusion in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD). We have a special interest in the study of combined nitric oxide diffusion (DLNO) and carbon monoxide diffusion (DLCO) technic, which allows the measurement of capillary blood volume (Vc) and membrane diffusion (Dm). We have demonstrated a significant decrease of those parameters in the three forms of PH, specifically emphasized in PVOD. Furthermore, DLNO/DLCO ratio was remarkably increased in PVOD, suggesting a component of capillary hemangiomatosis associated to venular remodeling. Moreover, we have demonstrated that Vc and Dm were correlated to exercice capacity, such as peak VO2, in a group of PAH patients without confunding factors. Finally, we have found a significant correlation between Dm and survival in PAH.The second part of this thesis was about right heart catheterization during exercice. In this work, we have collaborated to the proposition of a new definition of exercice pulmonary hypertension (ePH). In a retrospective cohort of patients investigated in the French National Center for Pulmonary Hypertension, we have shown that total pulmonary resistance above 3 WU during exercise associated with a mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) above 30 mmHg displayed high sensitiviy and specificity for diagnosis of patients with PVD or left heart disease without resting pulmonary hypertension. We have compared these results with an historical cohort of healthy subjects and found similar results. In an other work, we have analyzed the concordance between three different definitions of ePH recently used in the litterature. We have demonstrated that they were not equivalent. Finally, we have collaborated to an haemodynamic study of subjects with resting mPAP between 21 and 24 mmHg. We have demonstrated that these subjects displayed abnormal haemodynamics during exercice. We have also demonstated that a progressive rise of resting mPAP was associated with an increase of the frequence of ePH.The third part of this manuscript is consacrated to the study of pulmonary vascular ditensibility in PVD. In a retrospective study, we have collaborated to the validation of the alpha model which allow the estimation of a distensibility coefficient. We have demonstrated in a cohort of patients with PVD that alpha allowed the early detection of abnormal pulmonary circulation in subjects with normal mPAP. In a prospective study, we have used a new technic called the lung Doppler signal (LDS) to diagnose PH, which investigates the pulsatile distensibility of pulmonary vascular walls. We have demonstated that LDS diagnostic performance was acceptable in comparison with the gold standard right heart catheterization.Finally, in the last part of the thesis, we have investigated differences of exercice profile between patients with PAH and distal CTEPH. We have demonstated an abnormal ventilatory pattern, with hyperventilation and marked ventilatory inefficiency in distal CTEPH. This is related to the increased physiological deadspace, which explained a part of fonctional limitation in distal CTEPH.

Petroleum hydrocarbons are organic pollutants of major concern due to their wide distribution, persistence, complex composition, and toxicity. They can bioaccumulate in food chains where they disrupt biochemical or physiological activities and can affect genetic integrity of many organisms, resulting in carcinogenesis, mutagenesis and impairment of reproductive capacity. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been recognized as priority pollutants due to their carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic properties. Bioremediation, which utilizes the metabolic versatility of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi to degrade or detoxify hazardous wastes into harmless substances has been recognized as a sustainable, economic, environmentally friendly and versatile alternative for the remediation of many contaminated environments; however its effectiveness is limited by low bioavailability of nonaquous phase and soil-bound PAHs and petroleum hydrocarbons due to their low aqueous solubility, high hydrophobicity and strong sorption to soil. The purpose of this study was to investigate the PAHs and petroleum hydrocarbons bioavailability and subsequent biodegradation enhancement potential of biosurfactants. Biosurfactants have steadily gained increased significance in environmental applications such as bioremediation dueto several advantages over surfactants of chemical origin, such as biodegradability, environmental compatibility, low toxicity, high selectivity and specific activity at extreme temperature, pH and salinity. A series of experiments was designed to investigate the bioavailability and subsequent biodegradation enhancement potential of the biosurfactants produced by the bacterial strains Bacillus subtilis CN2, Ochrobactrum intermedium CN3, Paenibacillus dendritiformis CN5 and Bacillus cereus SPL_4 in liquid culture and soil microcosms with PAH-enriched microbial consortium from chronically contaminated sites. The biosurfactants exhibited a high level of thermal stability, tolerance to extreme levels of salinity and a positive effect for increasing pH. They were identified after Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry, Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC MS/MS) analyses. The biosurfactants physicochemical characterization displayed vast structural diversity and potent surface active properties of surface tension reduction and emulsion formation with a range of hydrocarbons. The lipopeptide biosurfactants produced by CN3 and CN2 enhanced degradations of used motor oil and petroleum sludge in liquid culture. In a shake flask pyrene degradation study, lipopeptide supplementations at 600 and 300 mg L-1 enhanced pyrene degradation to 83.5% and 67% respectively in 24 days compared to 16% degradation in its absence. However, degradation of pyrene was reduced to 57% as the lipopeptide supplementation was raised to 900 mg L 1. This demonstrates that the biodegradation of pyrene was found to increase with an increase in the lipopeptide concentration up to a threshold level. In a soil bioremedial study, microcosms supplemented with 0.2 and 0.6% (w/w) lipopeptide, 51.2% of 4-ring and 55% of 5- and 6-ring PAHs, 64.1% of 4-ring and 79% of 5- and 6-ring PAHs were removed respectively, compared to, 29% of 4-ring and 25.5% of 5- and 6-ring PAHs removal in the surfactant free control after 64 days of incubation. However, there was no statistically significant change in the degradation rates of low molecular weight PAHs in surfactant amended and surfactant free controls. The degradation of 5 and 6 ring PAHs was significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) in the higher surfactant dosage compared to the lower dosage. The results of this work demonstrated that the use of biosurfactants is a viable option to reduce clean-up time and for effective remediation of soil and aqueous media contaminated with polycyclic aromatic and petroleum hydrocarbons. The study demonstrated potential applications of microbial surfactants and provided an insight for further investigation of their large scale production for commercial applications. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Chemical Engineering / PhD / Unrestricted

Ammonia and hydrogen are two alternative fuels that can help decarbonization as they can be produced using renewable energy. Ammonia has transportation, handling, and storage advantages over hydrogen even though its combustion characteristics are worse. One intermediate strategy to use ammonia or hydrogen as a fuel is to co-fire it with hydrocarbons. However, co-firing with hydrocarbons may emit harmful pollutants such as NOx and soot. This study investigates the effects of ammonia and hydrogen addition on soot formation in laminar coflow nitrogen-diluted-ethylene normal diffusion flames using experimental techniques. Ammonia and hydrogen were added separately to the fuel flow. Flame conditions from 0 to 50 vol% of the added species (ammonia or hydrogen) were tested. Laser diagnostics for measuring the distributions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and soot volume fraction (SVF), and intrusive measurements (using a thermocouple and probe sampling) were performed. Based on the results, ammonia addition suppressed soot formation while hydrogen addition enhanced it. In conditions with ammonia addition, the temperature measurements with a Type S thermocouple and adiabatic flame temperature simulations using CHEMKIN PRO showed similar temperature profiles and negligible adiabatic flame temperature differences respectively. The qualitative PAH measurements using planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF) showed that the concentration of PAHs of four or larger rings reduced with ammonia addition. Soot volume fraction (SVF) measurements using planar laser induced incandescence (PLII) showed that the peak SVF decreased exponentially with ammonia addition. Particle size distributions showed that the incipient particles were formed, however growth to mature primary particles was limited with 25% or higher ammonia addition in the flame. Based on similar temperature profiles and decreasing trends in the distribution of PAHs and SVF, soot suppression with ammonia addition was linked to chemical effects. PLIF measurements with hydrogen addition could be affected by the temperature difference between the flames, therefore further investigation is needed. PLII measurements, however, showed that the soot volume fraction increased linearly with hydrogen addition.