Phorbol 12-Myristate 13-Acetate Induced Toxicity Study and the Role of Tangeretin in Abrogating HIF-1α-NF-κB Crosstalk In Vitro and In Vivo

Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) is a potent tumor promoter and highly inflammatory in nature. Here, we investigated the toxic effects of PMA on different model system. PMA (10 μg) caused chromosomal aberrations on the Allium cepa root tip and induced mitotic dysfunction. Similarly, PMA caused embryonic and larval deformities and a plummeted survivability rate on zebrafish embryo in a dose-dependent manner. Persistently, PMA treatment on immortalized human keratinocyte human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells caused massive inflammatory rush at 4 h and a drop in cell survivability at 24 h. Concomitantly, we replicated a cutaneous inflammation similar to human psoriasis induced by PMA. Herein, we used tangeretin (TAN), as an antagonist to counteract the inflammatory response. Results from an in vivo experiment indicated that TAN (10 and 30 mg/kg) significantly inhibited PMA stimulated epidermal hyperplasia and intra-epidermal neutrophilic abscesses. In addition, its treatment effectively neutralized PMA induced elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation on in vitro and in vivo systems, promoting antioxidant response. The association of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α)-nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated b cells (NF-κB) crosstalk triggered by PMA enhanced PKCα-ERK1/2-NF-κB pathway; its activation was also significantly counteracted after TAN treatment. Conclusively, we demonstrated TAN inhibited the nuclear translocation of HIF-1α and NF-κB p65. Collectively, TAN treatment ameliorated PMA incited malignant inflammatory response by remodeling the cutaneous microenvironment.     

Tungsten Nitride,Well‐Dispersed on Porous Carbon: Remarkable Catalyst,Produced without Addition of Ammonia,for the Oxidative Desulfurization of Liquid Fuel

Polyanilines (pANIs), loaded with phosphotungstic acid (PTA), are pyrolyzed to get WO₃ or W₂N (≈6 and ≈7 nm, respectively), which is well‐dispersed on pANI‐derived porous carbons (pDCs). Depending on the pyrolysis temperature, WO₃/pDC, W₂N/pDC, or W₂N‐W/pDCs could be obtained selectively. pANI acts as both the precursor of pDC and the nitrogen source for the nitridation of WO₃ into W₂N during the pyrolysis. Importantly, W₂N could be obtained from the pyrolysis without ammonia feeding. The obtained W₂N/pDC is applied as a heterogeneous catalyst for the oxidative desulfurization (ODS) of liquid fuel for the first time, and the results are compared with WO₃/pDC and WO₃/ZrO₂. The W₂N/pDC is very efficient in ODS with remarkable performance compared with WO₃/pDC or WO₃/ZrO₂, which is applied as a representative ODS catalyst. For example, W₂N/pDC shows around 3.4 and 2.7 times of kinetic constant and turnover frequency (based on 5 min of reaction), respectively, compared to that of WO₃/ZrO₂. Moreover, the catalysts could be regenerated in a facile way. Therefore, W₂N/pDC could be produced facilely from pyrolysis (without ammonia feeding) of PTA/pANI, and W₂N, well‐dispersed on pDC, can be suggested as a very efficient oxidation catalyst for the desulfurization of liquid fuel.     

Biomimetic Engineering of a Scavenger‐Free Nitric Oxide‐Generating/Delivering System to Enhance Radiation Therapy

Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent tumor‐cell radiosensitizer but it can be readily scavenged by hemoglobin (Hb) in vivo. A biomimetic incubator that can generate and deliver NO in a scavenger (Hb)‐free environment to enhance its radiosensitizing effect to maximize its efficacy in radiotherapy is proposed. This NO incubator comprises a poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) hollow microsphere (HM) that contains an NO donor (NONOate) and a surfactant molecule (sodium caprate, SC) in its aqueous core. In acidic tumorous environments, the PLGA shell of the HM allows the penetration of protons from the outside, activating the hydrolytic cleavage of NONOate, spontaneously generating NO bubbles, which are immediately trapped/stabilized by SC. The SC‐stabilized NO bubbles in the HM are then squeezed through the spaces of its PLGA matrices by the elevated internal pressure. Upon leaving the HM, the entrapped NO molecules may passively diffuse through their SC‐stabilized/protected layer gradually to the tumor site, having a long‐lasting radiosensitizing effect and inhibiting tumor growth. The entire process of NO generation and delivery is conducted in a scavenger (Hb)‐free environment, mimicking the development of young ovoviviparous fish inside their mothers' bodies in the absence of predators before birth.     

山西某斑岩型金矿工艺矿物学特性

为高效充分利用山西某斑岩型金矿资源,采用矿物定量分析仪(MLA)、光学显微镜、电子显微镜(电镜)等测试手段进行工艺矿物学特性研究。主要开展原矿矿块和-0.074 mm含量占60%细度浮选给矿的详尽矿物学研究。结果表明,金矿物产出形式主要为含银自然金、银金矿、自然金,主要金属矿物为黄铁矿、闪锌矿、方铅矿和微量黄铜矿,金属矿物总量少,达不到可回收边界工业品位,脉石矿物主要为长石、石英、白云母等硅酸盐矿物。对金的化学物相、金在矿样中的嵌布特征和嵌布粒度的配分测试,并评价重选、浸出、浮选三种选冶方法的可回收性,确定采用浮选的工艺回收效果较佳,金浮选理论回收率约93.78%。     

Enhancing the intergranular corrosion resistance of high Mg-alloyed Al–Mg alloy by Y addition

Microalloying is thought to improve the performance of Al–Mg alloys commonly used in transport applications. The effect of Y addition (0–0.4%) on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance of Al–9.2Mg–0.7Mn alloy is investigated for potential use in engineering applications. The generation of the β-Al₃Mg₂ phase along the grain boundaries is suppressed in the as-cast alloy due to the formation of the AlMgY ternary phase. The average intergranular corrosion mass loss of the alloy with 0.1% Y addition decreases about 53.1% almost at no expense of mechanical performance in the as-rolled alloy after annealing. Moreover, the alloy with 0.1% Y addition shows the corrosion mass loss about 30.2% lower than the Y-free alloy in the sensitized state. The enhanced corrosion resistance of the alloy can be ascribed to the reduced β-Al₃Mg₂ precipitation along the grain boundaries associated with Y addition.     

Particle Size Control and Crystal Habit Modification of Phenacetin Using Ultrasonic Crystallization

Power ultrasound is applied for cooling crystallization to control and modify the particle size and crystal habit of an active pharmaceutical ingredient, phenacetin. Operating parameters including sonication intensity and duration, solution concentration, and cooling rate are studied and compared. With respect to mean particle size, the effect of sonication intensity is most significant. In addition, the crystal habit of recrystallized phenacetin is modified substantially and shows an elliptic shape. Recrystallized phenacetin also provides an enhanced dissolution rate compared with the original sample. These results prove that ultrasonic crystallization is an efficient tool for controlling the solid‐state properties of an active pharmaceutical ingredient.     

Lecture capture with real‐time rearrangement of visual elements: impact on student performance

The primary goal of this study is to create and test a lecture‐capture system that can rearrange visual elements while recording is still taking place, in such a way that student performance can be positively influenced. The system we have devised is capable of integrating and rearranging multimedia sources, including learning content, the instructor and students' images, into lecture videos that are embedded in a website for students to review after school. The present study employed a two‐group experimental design, with 153 participants (145 females and 8 males) making up an experimental group in which lecture courses were recorded using the new lecture‐capture system, and 149 participants (140 females and 9 males) forming a control group whose lectures were recorded by traditional means. All participants were in the freshman college and studying Introduction to Computer and Information Science in one of six classes, and were randomly assigned to one of the two groups. The participants' midterm examination and final examination scores were collected as indicators of their academic performance, with their mathematics entrance scores used as a pre‐test. The findings obtained from analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) suggest that appropriate rearrangement of visual elements in lecture videos can significantly impact students' learning performance.