Resource Recycling and Mineral Processing in Korea

In the past few decades the major research activities in mineral processing has shifted from the traditional indust-rialized countries to various mineral producing countries such as India, South Africa, Australia, Chile, and China. The mineral processing research communities in Kbrea have faced a unique problem. The country is small (220,000 km2) and highly populated (70 million). For its sustained economic growth, the tenth world largest economy in the South Korea alone has imported virtually all of its requi-rements in mineral and energy resources. With the improv-ement of the living standard of the people, massive const-ruction of housing, roads, subways, and other social overhead capitals has helped the booming economic cycle. As one of the Tokyo Protocol countries, the reduction in CO2 production has become a big concern for the nation

Possible association of norepinephrine transporter -3081(A/T) polymorphism with methylphenidate response in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Background Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a heritable disorder characterized by symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity. Methylphenidate (MPH) has been shown to block the norepinephrine transporter (NET), and genetic investigations have demonstrated that the norepinephrine transporter gene (SLC6A2) is associated with ADHD. The aims of this study were to examine the association of the SLC6A2 -3081(A/T) and G1287A polymorphisms with MPH response in ADHD. Methods This study enrolled 112 children and adolescents with ADHD. A response criterion was defined based on the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) score, and the ADHD Rating Scale-IV (ARS) score was also assessed at baseline and 8 weeks after MPH treatment. Results We found that the subjects who had the T allele as one of the alleles (A/T or T/T genotypes) at the -3081(A/T) polymorphism showed a better response to MPH treatment than those with the A/A genotype as measured by the CGI-I. We also found a trend towards a difference in the change of the total ARS scores and hyperactivity/impulsivity subscores between subjects with and without the T allele. No significant association was found between the genotypes of the SLC6A2 G1287A polymorphism and response to ADHD treatment. Conclusion Our findings provide evidence for the involvement of the -3081(A/T) polymorphism of SLC6A2 in the modulation of the effectiveness of MPH treatment in ADHD

anti-9,10-Di(1-naphth­yl)anthracene pyridine disolvate

In the title compound, C34H22·2C5H5N, there is a crystallographic inversion center in the middle of the anthracene ring system. The dihedral angle between the mean planes of the anthracene and naphthalene ring systems is 83.96 (4)°. The crystal structure is stabilized by weak inter­molecular C—H⋯N and C—H⋯π inter­actions

Violet-light spontaneous and stimulated emission from ultrathin In-rich InGaN/GaN multiple quantum wells grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition

We investigated the spontaneous and stimulated emission properties of violet-light-emitting ultrathin In-rich InGaN/GaN multiple quantum wells (MQWs) with indium content of 60%-70%. The Stokes shift was smaller than that of In-poor InGaN MQWs, and the emission peak position at 3.196 eV was kept constant with increasing pumping power, indicating negligible quantum confined Stark effect in ultrathin In-rich InGaN MQWs despite of high indium content. Optically pumped stimulated emission performed at room temperature was observed at 3.21 eV, the high-energy side of spontaneous emission, when the pumping power density exceeds ???31 kW/ cm2.open6

Kaempferol inhibits IL‑1β‑induced proliferation of rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts and the production of COX‑2, PGE2 and MMPs

Inflammatory cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and cyclooxygenase (COX)‑2 released from rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts (RASFs) are involved in the destruction of both articular bone and cartilage. Kaempferol has been reported to act as an antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory agent by inhibiting nitric oxide synthase and COX enzymes. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of kaempferol on the interleukin‑1β (IL‑1β)‑induced proliferation of RASFs and the production of MMPs, COX and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by RASFs. The proliferation of the RASFs stimulated with IL‑1β and treated with/without kaempferol was evaluated by CCK‑8 assay. The expression of MMPs, TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor‑1 (TIMP‑1), COXs, PGE2 and that of intracellular MAPK signaling molecules, including p‑ERK, p‑p38, p‑JNK and nuclear factor‑κB (NF‑κB) was examined by immunoblotting or semi‑quantitative reverse transcription‑polymerase chain reaction (RT‑PCR) and ELISA under the conditions described above. Kaempferol inhibited the proliferation of both unstimulated and IL‑1β‑stimulated RASFs, as well as the mRNA and protein expression of MMP‑1, MMP-3, COX‑2 and PGE2 induced by IL‑1β. Kaempferol also inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK‑1/2, p38 and JNK, as well as the activation of NF‑κB induced by IL‑1β. These results indicate that kaempferol inhibits synovial fibroblast proliferation, as well as the production of and MMPs, COX‑2 and PGE2, which is involved in articular inflammation and destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Our data suggest that kaempferol may be a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of RA