Benzene is known to have toxic effects on the blood and bone marrow, but its impact at levels below the U.S. occupational standard of 1 part per million (ppm) remains uncertain. In a study of 250 workers exposed to benzene, white blood cell and platelet counts were significantly lower than in 140 controls, even for exposure below 1 ppm in air. Progenitor cell colony formation significantly declined with increasing benzene exposure and was more sensitive to the effects of benzene than was the number of mature blood cells. Two genetic variants in key metabolizing enzymes, myeloperoxidase and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase, influenced susceptibility to benzene hematotoxicity. Thus, hematotoxicity from exposure to benzene occurred at air levels of 1 ppm or less and may be particularly evident among genetically susceptible subpopulations.

Since the prototype of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) was reported in 1991 by O'Regan and Grätzel, [1] it has aroused intensive interest over the past decade due to its low cost and simple preparation procedure. [1,2] Based on liquid electrolytes, a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 11 % for DSSC has been achieved. [3,4] However, the potential problems caused by the liquid electrolytes, such as the leakage and volatilization of liquid, is considered as some of the critical factors limiting the long-term performance and practical use of the DSSCs. Thus, solid-state and quasi-solid-state electrolytes, such as polymer gel electrolytes, organic hole conductors and inorganic p-type semiconductors, [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] were attempted to replace the liquid electrolytes. However, due to low ionic conductivity, imperfect soakage of porous TiO 2 film and poor contact with counter electrode, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of DSSCs based on the solid-state electrolytes were less than 5 %. If an electrolyte can avoid the leakage and volatilization of liquid electrolyte and keep a high ionic conductivity and good interface contact with porous TiO 2 film and counter electrode, it is possible to accelerate the practical application of DSSCs. Gel electrolyte is one kind of electrolyte according with the above prerequisites, especially these thermo-irreversible (Thermosetting) gel electrolytes, which show high ionic conductivity, perfect interface contact, excellent chemical stability and temperature tolerance. [6,8,[18][19][20][21] Here, we report a novel thermosetting gel electrolyte (TSGE) based on poly (acrylic acid)-(ethylene glycol) (PAA-PEG) hybrid absorbing liquid electrolyte. It is known that poly (acrylic acid) (PAA) is a superabsorbent with 3D networks structure and hydrophilic groups, it can absorb large amount of liquid and the absorbed liquid is hard to be released even under some pressure. [22,23] However, pure PAA is not a good absorbent for conventional organic solvents used in liquid electrolytes. By modifying with amphiphilic poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG), the PAA-PEG hybrid shows a high absorbent ability for liquid electrolytes and the absorbed liquid electrolytes are hard to be leaked and volatilized for a long time. On the other hand, due to large amount of liquid is contained in the PAA-PEG hybrid, the ionic conductivity and interface soakage ability of the PAA-PEG hybrid is superior to that of solid-state electrolyte or other polymer gel electrolyte. The absorbed liquid electrolyte is kept in the networks of the hybrid due to hydrogen bonding between carboxylic groups and ether groups in the hybrid. Moreover, through reaction between Lewis basic organic solvents and the polyacid hybrid (PAA-PAG), a part of solvents is hanging on the polymer chains. Consequently, an electrolyte with thermosetting character and good stability, and with advantages for both liquid electrolyte and solid state electrolyte can be expected. Based on the TSGE, the DSSC shows a high photoel...

The morphology-controlled synthesis and near-infrared (NIR) absorption properties of W(18)O(49) were systematically investigated for the application of innovative energy-saving windows. Various morphologies of W(18)O(49), such as nanorods, nanofibers, nanograins, nanoassembles, nanoplates, and nanoparticles, with various sizes were successfully synthesized by solvothermal reactions using organic alcohols as reaction media and WCl(6), W(EtO)(6), and WO(3) solids as the tungsten source. W(18)O(49) nanorods of less than 50 nm in length showed the best optical performance as an effective solar filter, which realized high transmittance in the visible region as well as excellent shielding properties of NIR light. Meanwhile, the W(18)O(49) nanorods also exhibited strong absorption of NIR light and instantaneous conversion of the absorbed photoenergy to the local heat.

Although the toxicity of benzene has been linked to its metabolism, the dose-related production of metabolites is not well understood in humans, particularly at low levels of exposure. We investigated unmetabolized benzene in urine (UBz) and all major urinary metabolites [phenol (PH), E,E-muconic acid (MA), hydroquinone (HQ) and catechol (CA)] as well as the minor metabolite, S-phenylmercapturic acid (SPMA), in 250 benzene-exposed workers and 139 control workers in Tianjin, China. Median levels of benzene exposure were approximately 1.2 p.p.m. for exposed workers (interquartile range: 0.53-3.34 p.p.m.) and 0.004 p.p.m. for control workers (interquartile range: 0.002-0.007 p.p.m.). (Exposures of control workers to benzene were predicted from levels of benzene in their urine.) Metabolite production was investigated among groups of 30 workers aggregated by their benzene exposures. We found that the urine concentration of each metabolite was consistently elevated when the group's median benzene exposure was at or above the following air concentrations: 0.2 p.p.m. for MA and SPMA, 0.5 p.p.m. for PH and HQ, and 2 p.p.m. for CA. Dose-related production of the four major metabolites and total metabolites (micromol/l/p.p.m. benzene) declined between 2.5 and 26-fold as group median benzene exposures increased between 0.027 and 15.4 p.p.m. Reductions in metabolite production were most pronounced for CA and PH<1 p.p.m., indicating that metabolism favored production of the toxic metabolites, HQ and MA, at low exposures.

The results of this study suggest that benzene exposure is associated with a spectrum of hematologic neoplasms and related disorders in humans. Risks for these conditions are elevated at average benzene-exposure levels of less than 10 ppm and show a tendency, although not a strong one, to rise with increasing levels of exposure. The temporal pattern of benzene exposure appears to be important in determining the risk of developing specific diseases.

BiOI uniform flowerlike hollow microspheres with a hole in its surface structures have been successfully synthesized through an EG-assisted solvothermal process in the presence of ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium iodine ([Bmim]I). The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), nitrogen sorption, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). A possible formation mechanism for the growth of hollow microspheres was discussed. During the reactive process, ionic liquid not only acted as solvents and templates but also as an I source for the fabrication of BiOI hollow microspheres and was vital for the structure of hollow microspheres. Additionally, we evaluated the photocatalytic activities of BiOI on the degradation of methyl orange (MO) under visible light irradiation and found that as-prepared BiOI hollow microspheres exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than BiOI nanoplates and TiO2 (Degussa, P25) did. On the basis of such analysis, it can be assumed that the enhanced photocatalytic activities of BiOI hollow microspheres could be ascribed to its energy band structure, high BET surface area, high surface-to-volume ratios, and light absorbance.

Plasmonic photocatalyst Ag/AgCl was prepared by in situ hydrothermal method with the contribution of 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Omim]Cl), in which the [Omim]Cl ionic liquid acted not only as a precursor but also as a reducing reagent in the process of formation of Ag⁰. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC). The photocatalytic activity of the composites were evaluated by degradation of methyl orange (MO) under visible light irradiation. The experimental results showed that the high activity and stability of Ag/AgCl photocatalysts under visible-light irradiation were due to their localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). Based on the characterization of the structure and photocatalytic performance, the LSPR was determined by synergetic effect of many factors, such as particle size of metallic Ag, contents of the Ag⁰ nanoparticles, and the extent of metallic Ag dispersing. A photocatalytic mechanism of the Ag/AgCl photocatalyst was also proposed.

BackgroundBenzene, an established cause of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), may also cause one or more lymphoid malignancies in humans. Previously, we identified genes and pathways associated with exposure to high (> 10 ppm) levels of benzene through transcriptomic analyses of blood cells from a small number of occupationally exposed workers.ObjectivesThe goals of this study were to identify potential biomarkers of benzene exposure and/or early effects and to elucidate mechanisms relevant to risk of hematotoxicity, leukemia, and lymphoid malignancy in occupationally exposed individuals, many of whom were exposed to benzene levels < 1 ppm, the current U.S. occupational standard.MethodsWe analyzed global gene expression in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 125 workers exposed to benzene levels ranging from < 1 ppm to > 10 ppm. Study design and analysis with a mixed-effects model minimized potential confounding and experimental variability.ResultsWe observed highly significant widespread perturbation of gene expression at all exposure levels. The AML pathway was among the pathways most significantly associated with benzene exposure. Immune response pathways were associated with most exposure levels, potentially providing biological plausibility for an association between lymphoma and benzene exposure. We identified a 16-gene expression signature associated with all levels of benzene exposure.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that chronic benzene exposure, even at levels below the current U.S. occupational standard, perturbs many genes, biological processes, and pathways. These findings expand our understanding of the mechanisms by which benzene may induce hematotoxicity, leukemia, and lymphoma and reveal relevant potential biomarkers associated with a range of exposures.