Optimization of Ionic Liquid Based Simultaneous Ultrasonic- and Microwave-Assisted Extraction of Rutin and Quercetin from Leaves of Velvetleaf ( Abutilon theophrasti

An ionic liquids based simultaneous ultrasonic and microwave assisted extraction (ILs-UMAE) method has been proposed for the extraction of rutin (RU), quercetin (QU), from velvetleaf leaves. The influential parameters of the ILs-UMAE were optimized by the single factor and the central composite design (CCD) experiments. A 2.00 M 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C4mim]Br) was used as the experimental ionic liquid, extraction temperature 60°C, extraction time 12 min, liquid-solid ratio 32 mL/g, microwave power of 534 W, and a fixed ultrasonic power of 50 W. Compared to conventional heating reflux extraction (HRE), the RU and QU extraction yields obtained by ILs-UMAE were, respectively, 5.49 mg/g and 0.27 mg/g, which increased, respectively, 2.01-fold and 2.34-fold with the recoveries that were in the range of 97.62–102.36% for RU and 97.33–102.21% for QU with RSDs lower than 3.2% under the optimized UMAE conditions. In addition, the shorter extraction time was used in ILs-UMAE, compared with HRE. Therefore, ILs-UMAE was a rapid and an efficient method for the extraction of RU and QU from the leaves of velvetleaf

Association of reproductive factors with dementia: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analyses of observational studies

Background: Associations between endogenous estrogen exposure indicators and risk of subtypes of dementia have been unclear. Methods: Databases (PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science) were searched electronically on 1st July and updated regularly until 12nd November 2021. Observational studies of English language were selected if reported an effect estimate [e.g., odds ratio (OR), rate ratio (RR) or hazard ratio (HR)] and 95% CI for the association between any exposure (age of menarche, age at menopause, reproductive period, estradiol level) and any endpoint variable [all-cause dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), vascular dementia (VD), cognitive impairment (CI)]. Random-effects models and dose-response meta-analyses were used to calculate estimates and to show the linear/nonlinear relationship. PROSPERO CRD42021274827. Findings: We included 22 studies (475 9764 women) in this analysis. We found no clear relationship between late menarche (≥14 vs <14 years) and dementia, CI in categorical meta-analysis compared to a J-shape relationship in dose-response meta-analyses. Later menopause (≥45 vs <45 years) was consistently associated with a lower risk of all-cause dementia (pooled RR: 0.87, 95%CI: 0.78–0.97, I2=56.0%), AD (0.67, 0.44–0.99, I2=78.3%), VD (0.87, 0.80–0.94) and CI (0.82, 0.71–0.94, I2=19.3%) in categorical meta-analysis, showing similar results in dose-response meta-analyses. An inverse relationship between longer reproductive duration (≥35 vs <35 years) and dementia was observed in dose-response meta-analysis. In addition, estradiol levels after menopause were inversely correlated with the risk of AD and CI. Interpretation: In this study, later menopause and longer reproductive period were associated with a lower risk of dementia, while the relationship for menarchal age was J-shaped. There was an inverse relationship between higher postmenopausal estrogen levels and risk of AD and CI. Longitudinal study are needed to further explore the association between life-time estrogen exposure and risk of subtypes of dementia. Funding: Start-up Foundation for Scientific Research in Shandong University

Coupling Coordination Relationship between Urban Sprawl and Urbanization Quality in the West Taiwan Strait Urban Agglomeration, China: Observation and Analysis from DMSP/OLS Nighttime Light Imagery and Panel Data

Urban sprawl is the most prominent characteristic of urbanization, and increasingly affects local and regional sustainable development. The observation and analysis of urban sprawl dynamics and their relationship with urbanization quality are essential for framing integrative urban planning. In this study, the urban areas of the West Taiwan Strait Urban Agglomeration (WTSUA) were extracted using nighttime light imagery from 1992 to 2013. The spatio-temporal characteristics and pattern of urban sprawl were quantitatively analyzed by combining an urban expansion rate index and a standard deviation ellipse model. The urbanization quality was assessed using an entropy weight model, and its relationship with urban sprawl was calculated by a coupling coordination degree model. The results showed that the urban area in the WTSUA experienced a significant increase, i.e., 18,806.73 km2, during the period 1992–2013. The central cities grew by 11.08% and noncentral cities by 27.43%, with a general uneven city rank-size distribution. The urban sprawl showed a circular expansion pattern, accompanied by a gradual centroid migration of urban areas from the southeast coast to the central-western regions. The coupling coordination level between urban expansion and urbanization quality increased from serious incoordination in 1992 to basic coordination in 2013. Dual driving forces involving state-led policies and market-oriented land reform had a positive influence on the harmonious development of urban sprawl and urbanization quality of the WTSUA. This research offers an effective approach to monitor changes in urban sprawl and explore the coupling coordination relationship between urban sprawl and urbanization quality. The study provides important scientific references for the formulation of future policies and planning for sustainable development in urban agglomerations

Water extract of pilose antler can inhibit breast cancer progression of the mouse through modulating its immune system

Pilose antler (PA) is used to treat many diseases, but its effect on breast cancer is still unclear. Here, we report the effects of PA on the growth of the mouse mammary tumour in vitro and in vivo, and its effects on immune system of the tumor-bearing mice. The 4T1 mouse mammary tumour cells were cultured with media supplemented with water extract of PA (WEPA), and the female BALB/c mice transplanted with 4T1 cells were treated by gavage with WEPA. The results showed that WEPA promoted the proliferation of 4T1 cells in vitro, while inhibited the growth of 4T1 tumour in vivo. In addition, WEPA increased the proportion of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and NK cells and reduced myeloid-derived suppressive cells in mouse peripheral blood. These results suggest that WEPA can inhibit the growth of mouse 4T1 tumours through modulating immune system of the mouse

Facile and Surfactant-Free Synthesis of Hierarchical ZnO Microstructures

Hierarchical ZnO crystals with flower-like microstructures were successfully synthesized via a facile hydrothermal route without using any surfactants. The morphology of these microstructures can be easily controlled by adjusting the pH of the reaction solution. The products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Furthermore, a possible growth mechanism of ZnO hierarchical microstructures was proposed

Numerical simulation of the interactions between three equal-interval parallel bubbles rising in non-Newtonian fluids

International audienceThe motion and interactions of three equal-interval parallel bubbles in non-Newtonian fluids were numerically simulated by volume of fluid method (VOF), in which the continuous surface tension model and the power-law model were adopted to represent surface tension and rheological properties of non-Newtonian fluids, respectively. The computational method was validated by the comparison of the processes of coalescence of two in-line bubbles and rising of two parallel bubbles between experiment and simulation. This method was then applied to study the effect of initial bubble diameter, initial horizontal bubble interval and rheological properties of non-Newtonian fluids on lateral coalescence and rising of three parallel bubbles. The dimensionless critical horizontal interval of bubble coalescence was obtained under different physical property conditions. The critical horizontal interval of bubble coalescence decreases with the increase of initial bubble diameter and flow index of non-Newtonian fluids. When the initial horizontal bubble interval is less than the critical horizontal interval of bubble coalescence, three bubbles will coalesce into a bigger bubble. The coalescing bubble could breakup into two identical daughter bubbles when the initial bubble diameter was increased or the flow index of non-Newtonian fluids was decreased. Three parallel bubbles rising in non-Newtonian fluids will experience repulsive interactions once the initial horizontal bubble interval is greater than the critical horizontal interval of bubble coalescence, the horizontal bubble interval increased gradually owing to the repulsive effect, while the vertical distance between bubbles varied dramatically for spherical bubble and ellipsoidal bubble due to the differences of their flow field structures

Pinch-off mechanism for Taylor bubble formation in a microfluidic flow-focusing device

3rd European Conference on Microfluidics (Mu Flu), Heidelberg, GERMANY, DEC, 2012International audienceThe present work aims at studying the nonlinear breakup mechanism for Taylor bubble formation in a microfluidic flow-focusing device by using a high-speed digital camera. Experiments were carried out in a square microchannel with cross section of 600 x 600 mu m. During the nonlinear collapse process, the variation of the minimum radius of bubble neck (r(0)) with the remaining time until pinch-off (tau) can be scaled by a power-law relationship: r(0) proportional to tau(alpha). Due to the interface rearrangement around the neck, the nonlinear collapse process can be divided into two distinct stages: liquid squeezing collapse stage and free pinch-off stage. In the liquid squeezing collapse stage, the neck collapses under the constriction of the liquid flow and the exponent alpha approaches to 0.33 with the increase in the liquid flow rate Q(1). In the free pinch-off stage, the value of alpha is close to the theoretical value of 0.50 derived from the Rayleigh-Plesset equation and is independent of Q(1)