Jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum) Flower Extracts Ameliorate Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate Induced Ear Edema in Mice

Published data from in vitro assays support the anti-inflammatory effects of jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum Linn.) but limited studies are reported in animal models. Herein, the anti-inflammatory effects of jasmine flower extracts (JFEs) including ethanol extract (JF-EE), petroleum ether extract (JF-PEE), ethyl acetate extract (JF-EAE), and n-butanol extract (JF-BE) were evaluated in a mouse ear edema model. Acute mouse ear skin inflammation was induced by tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA; 125 µg/mL) and then treated with JFEs (100 mg/mL) or dexamethasone (DEX; 6.25 mg/mL; as a positive control). Jasmine flower extracts alleviated ear edema by reducing TPA-increased ear thickness and ear weight by 30.8% to 64.1% and 24.0% to 47.1%, respectively, whereas DEX showed comparable activity (by 71.8% and 49.1%, respectively). Their anti-inflammatory effects were supported by data from the immunohistochemical assays. Jasmine flower extracts reduced the inflammatory cells (from 5.5- to 9.5-fold) and the expressions of inflammation related enzymes including cyclooxygenase-2 and inhibitor of kappa-B kinase (from 1.9- to 2.8-fold and from 7.1- to 11.0-fold, respectively). Findings from this study showed that JFEs were able to ameliorate TPA-induced mouse skin inflammation. However, future studies on the underlying mechanisms of jasmine flower’s anti-inflammatory effects are warranted

Transport evidence of superlattice Dirac cones in graphene monolayer on twisted boron nitride substrate

Strong band engineering in two-dimensional (2D) materials can be achieved by introducing moir\'e superlattices, leading to the emergence of various novel quantum phases with promising potential for future applications. Presented works to create moir\'e patterns have been focused on a twist embedded inside channel materials or between channel and substrate. However, the effects of a twist inside the substrate materials on the unaligned channel materials are much less explored. In this work, we report the realization of superlattice multi-Dirac cones with the coexistence of the main Dirac cone in a monolayer graphene (MLG) on a ~0.14{\deg} twisted double-layer boron nitride (tBN) substrate. Transport measurements reveal the emergence of three pairs of superlattice Dirac points around the pristine Dirac cone, featuring multiple metallic or insulating states surrounding the charge neutrality point (CNP). Displacement field tunable and electron-hole asymmetric Fermi velocities are indicated from temperature dependent measurements, along with the gapless dispersion of superlattice Dirac cones. The experimental observation of multiple Dirac cones in MLG/tBN heterostructure is supported by band structure calculations employing periodic moir\'e potential. Our results unveil the potential of using twisted substrate as a universal band engineering technique for 2D materials regardless of lattice matching and crystal orientations, which might pave the way for a new branch of twistronics.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figure

A Dinucleotide Deletion in CD24 Confers Protection against Autoimmune Diseases

It is generally believed that susceptibility to both organ-specific and systemic autoimmune diseases is under polygenic control. Although multiple genes have been implicated in each type of autoimmune disease, few are known to have a significant impact on both. Here, we investigated the significance of polymorphisms in the human gene CD24 and the susceptibility to multiple sclerosis (MS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We used cases/control studies to determine the association between CD24 polymorphism and the risk of MS and SLE. In addition, we also considered transmission disequilibrium tests using family data from two cohorts consisting of a total of 150 pedigrees of MS families and 187 pedigrees of SLE families. Our analyses revealed that a dinucleotide deletion at position 1527∼1528 (P1527(del)) from the CD24 mRNA translation start site is associated with a significantly reduced risk (odds ratio = 0.54 with 95% confidence interval = 0.34–0.82) and delayed progression (p = 0.0188) of MS. Among the SLE cohort, we found a similar reduction of risk with the same polymorphism (odds ratio = 0.38, confidence interval = 0.22–0.62). More importantly, using 150 pedigrees of MS families from two independent cohorts and the TRANSMIT software, we found that the P1527(del) allele was preferentially transmitted to unaffected individuals (p = 0.002). Likewise, an analysis of 187 SLE families revealed the dinucleotide-deleted allele was preferentially transmitted to unaffected individuals (p = 0.002). The mRNA levels for the dinucleotide-deletion allele were 2.5-fold less than that of the wild-type allele. The dinucleotide deletion significantly reduced the stability of CD24 mRNA. Our results demonstrate that a destabilizing dinucleotide deletion in the 3′ UTR of CD24 mRNA conveys significant protection against both MS and SLE

Energy-Economical Heuristically Based Control of Compass Gait Walking on Stochastically Varying Terrain

Investigation uses simulation to explore the inherent tradeoffs ofcontrolling high-speed and highly robust walking robots while minimizing energy consumption. Using a novel controller which optimizes robustness, energy economy, and speed of a simulated robot on rough terrain, the user can adjust their priorities between these three outcome measures and systematically generate a performance curveassessing the tradeoffs associated with these metrics

J. Chem. Eng. Data

Phase equilibria of the system KOH-K2CrO4-K2CO3-Al2O3-H2O and its subsystems were investigated at 150 degrees C in the high alkali concentrated region. In the concentrated alkali region of the system and its subsystems KOH-K2CrO4-Al2O3-H2O and KOH-K2CO3-H2O, the equilibrium solid-phase K2CO3 center dot 1.5H(2)O was found. In the concentrated alkali region of the complex system, potassium aluminate and K2CO3 play an evident salting-out role to potassium chromate, respectively, and their combined operation lowers the solubility of K2CrO4. The solubilizing effect of K2CrO4 on Al2O3 in the system KOH-K2CrO4-Al2O3-H2O is similar to that of Na2CrO4 on Al2O3 in the system NaOH-Na2CrO4-Al2O3-H2O. These findings can provide a significant and precious database for the production of K2CrO4 and K2CO3 and the recovery of alumina from a concentrated alkali solution.Phase equilibria of the system KOH-K2CrO4-K2CO3-Al2O3-H2O and its subsystems were investigated at 150 degrees C in the high alkali concentrated region. In the concentrated alkali region of the system and its subsystems KOH-K2CrO4-Al2O3-H2O and KOH-K2CO3-H2O, the equilibrium solid-phase K2CO3 center dot 1.5H(2)O was found. In the concentrated alkali region of the complex system, potassium aluminate and K2CO3 play an evident salting-out role to potassium chromate, respectively, and their combined operation lowers the solubility of K2CrO4. The solubilizing effect of K2CrO4 on Al2O3 in the system KOH-K2CrO4-Al2O3-H2O is similar to that of Na2CrO4 on Al2O3 in the system NaOH-Na2CrO4-Al2O3-H2O. These findings can provide a significant and precious database for the production of K2CrO4 and K2CO3 and the recovery of alumina from a concentrated alkali solution

Hydrometallurgy

In the novel clean chromate production process, the alkali liquor recycled to decompose the chromite ore mainly consists of KOH and K2CO3 which accumulates aluminium impurity and affects the quality of the product greatly. Aluminium impurity can be removed by adding CaO to precipitate as 3CaO center dot Al2O3 center dot 6H(2)O (C(3)AH(6)). A study of the effects of various parameters, such as KOH concentration, K2CO3 concentration and temperature on the behaviour Of C(3)AH(6) show that C(3)AH(6) is decomposed to 3CaO center dot Al2O3 center dot CaCO3 center dot 11H(2)O and CaCO3 below 150 g L-1 KOH, and decomposed to Ca(OH)(2) above 150 g L-1 KOH. With K2CO3 concentration increasing, C(3)AH(6) decomposes significantly, which results in more CaCO3 or 3CaO center dot Al2O3 center dot CaCO3 center dot 11H(2)O produced. Temperature has a large positive effect on the decomposition of C(3)AH(6) at 45 g L-1 KOH but has no significant effect at 150 g L-1 KOH. The optimal condition for removing aluminium impurity in the KOH + K2CO3+ H2O system is 150 g L-1 KOH, 50 g L-1 K2CO3 and 80 degrees C. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.In the novel clean chromate production process, the alkali liquor recycled to decompose the chromite ore mainly consists of KOH and K2CO3 which accumulates aluminium impurity and affects the quality of the product greatly. Aluminium impurity can be removed by adding CaO to precipitate as 3CaO center dot Al2O3 center dot 6H(2)O (C(3)AH(6)). A study of the effects of various parameters, such as KOH concentration, K2CO3 concentration and temperature on the behaviour Of C(3)AH(6) show that C(3)AH(6) is decomposed to 3CaO center dot Al2O3 center dot CaCO3 center dot 11H(2)O and CaCO3 below 150 g L-1 KOH, and decomposed to Ca(OH)(2) above 150 g L-1 KOH. With K2CO3 concentration increasing, C(3)AH(6) decomposes significantly, which results in more CaCO3 or 3CaO center dot Al2O3 center dot CaCO3 center dot 11H(2)O produced. Temperature has a large positive effect on the decomposition of C(3)AH(6) at 45 g L-1 KOH but has no significant effect at 150 g L-1 KOH. The optimal condition for removing aluminium impurity in the KOH + K2CO3+ H2O system is 150 g L-1 KOH, 50 g L-1 K2CO3 and 80 degrees C. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Mater. Lett.

Ultrafine single phase potassium tantallate (KTaO3) powders were successfully synthesized through the reaction of Ta2O5 and concentrated KOH solution under atmospheric pressure at the temperature of 150 and 200 degrees C. The samples were characterized by XRD and FESEM. It is shown that the concentration of KOH has a great effect on the morphology and particle size of KTaO3 powders. The morphology of KTaO3 powders changed from cubic particles to spherical particles and the particle size decreased from 200-250 nm to 30-50 nm as the KOH concentration increased from 55 to 75 wt.%. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Ultrafine single phase potassium tantallate (KTaO3) powders were successfully synthesized through the reaction of Ta2O5 and concentrated KOH solution under atmospheric pressure at the temperature of 150 and 200 degrees C. The samples were characterized by XRD and FESEM. It is shown that the concentration of KOH has a great effect on the morphology and particle size of KTaO3 powders. The morphology of KTaO3 powders changed from cubic particles to spherical particles and the particle size decreased from 200-250 nm to 30-50 nm as the KOH concentration increased from 55 to 75 wt.%. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

kineticinvestigationsontheleachingofniobiumfromalowgradeniobiumtantalumorebyconcentratedkohsolution

The leaching kinetics of niobium from a low-gr~te niobium-tantalum ore by concentrated KOH solution under atmospheric pressure has been studied. Significant effects of reaction temperature, KOH concentration,stirring speed, particle size and mass ratio of alkali-to-ore on the dissolution rate of niobium were examined. The experimental data of the leaching rates and the observed effects of the relevant operating variables were well interpreted with a shrinking core model under diffusion control. By using the Arrhenius expression, the apparent activation energy for the dissolution of niobium was evaluated. Finally, on the base of the shrinking core model, the rate equation was established

Controlled Electrodeposition of Uniform Copper Powder from Hydrochloric Acid Solutions

Recovery of copper from hydrochloric acid solution is of significant importance for the heavy-metal pollution protection and valuable metal resources utilization. In order to overcome the drawbacks of low current efficiency and contaminated deposits in conventional electrochemical recovery, a controlled electrodeposition process was first developed using low-cost stainless steel cathodes. It has been demonstrated that mass transport has a facilitating effect for the copper electrodeposition in HCl media, thus a cylinder turbulent cell equipped larger surface area cathode was used. 93.6% copper was successfully extracted with a current efficiency of 89.4%, and the impurity of CuCl was completely eliminated. This indicated the low efficiency chloride-mediated pathway was avoided and the regular 2e reduction to metallic copper was greatly improved. Besides, more uniform and fine powder was obtained, which could be readily flushed and collected from the cell with water. This controlled electrodeposition may serve as a promising alternative to overcome the disadvantages of existing metal recovery and water purification. (C) 2017 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.</p

Leaching of niobium and tantalum from a low-grade ore using a KOH roast-water leach system

A new process is proposed for the leaching and recovery of niobium and tantalum from a low-grade refractory niobium-tantalum ore after adding pure Nb(2)O(5) to adjust the niobium to tantalum ratio. The ore was roasted and decomposed with KOH then leached with water. Experiments were carried out to study the effect of the Nb(2)O(5)-to-Ta(2)O(5) mass ratio, decomposition temperature, alkali-to-ore mass ratio and decomposition time on the leaching of niobium and tantalum, as well as the associated impurity elements, such as titanium, iron, manganese, silicon and tin. The optimal conditions were determined to be: Nb(2)O(5)-to-Ta(2)O(5) mass ratio 2.33:1; KOH-to-ore mass ratio 2:11; reacting for 60 min at 400 degrees C. Leaching with water extracted -95% Nb and 94% Ta together with about 80% Si and Sn. 50% Ti and <20% Fe and Mn. The niobium and tantalum was recovered as high purity (Nb,Ta)205 (99.3%) through evaporation, crystallization and phase transformation processes. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved