Economic and exergoeconomic investigation of 660 MW coal-fired power plant

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Photocatalytically active titania thin films and powders were prepared via sol–gel route from TiCl4 precursor. Organic polymer hydroxypropyl...     

Proanthocyanidins from Grape Seeds Inhibit UV–Radiation‐Induced Immune Suppression in Mice: Detection and Analysis of Molecular and Cellular Targets

Ultraviolet (UV)–radiation‐induced immunosuppression has been linked with the risk of skin carcinogenesis. Approximately, 2 million new cases of skin cancers, including melanoma and nonmelanoma, diagnosed each year in the USA and therefore have a tremendous bad impact on public health. Dietary phytochemicals are promising options for the development of effective strategy for the prevention of photodamaging effects of UV radiation including the risk of skin cancer. Grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSPs) are such phytochemicals. Dietary administration of GSPs with AIN76A control diet significantly inhibits UV‐induced skin tumor development as well as suppression of immune system. UV‐induced suppression of immune system is commonly determined using contact hypersensitivity (CHS) model which is a prototype of T–cell‐mediated immune response. We present evidence that inhibition of UV‐induced suppression of immune system by GSPs is mediated through: (i) the alterations in immunoregulatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)‐10 and IL‐12, (ii) DNA repair, (iii) stimulation of effector T cells and (iv) DNA repair‐dependent functional activation of dendritic cells in mouse model. These information have important implications for the use of GSPs as a dietary supplement in chemoprevention of UV‐induced immunosuppression as well as photocarcinogenesis.     

Interleukin‐17 Mediated Inflammatory Responses Are Required for Ultraviolet Radiation‐Induced Immune Suppression

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) induces immunosuppression and is a major factor for development of skin cancer. Numerous efforts have been made to determine mechanisms for UVR‐induced immunosuppression and to develop strategies for prevention and treatment of UVR‐induced cancers. In the current study, we use IL‐17 receptor (IL‐17R) deficient mice to examine whether IL‐17 mediated responses have a role in UVB (290–320)‐induced immunosuppression of contact hypersensitivity responses. Results demonstrate that IL‐17 mediated responses are required for UVB‐induced immunosuppression of contact hypersensitivity responses. The systemic immune suppression and development of regulatory T cells are inhibited in UVB‐treated IL‐17R deficient mice compared to wild‐type animals. The deficiency in IL‐17R inhibits the infiltration and development of a tolerogenic myeloid cell population in UVB‐treated skin, which expresses CD11b and Gr‐1 and produces reactive oxygen species. We speculate that the development of the tolerogenic myeloid cells is dependent on IL‐17‐induced chemokines and inflammatory mediators in UVB‐treated skin. The inhibition of the tolerogenic myeloid cells may be attributed to the suppression of regulatory T cells in UVR‐treated IL‐17R^?/? mice. The findings may be exploited to new strategies for prevention and treatment of UVR‐induced skin diseases and cancers.     

Highly Emissive Luminogens Based on Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine for Electroluminescent Applications

A search for novel organic luminogens led us to design and synthesize some N‐fused imidazole derivatives based on imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine as the core and arylamine and imidazole as the peripheral groups. The fluorophores were synthesized through a multicomponent cascade reaction (A³ coupling) of a heterocyclic azine with an aldehyde and alkyne, followed by Suzuki coupling and a multicomponent cyclization reaction. All of the compounds exhibited interesting photophysical responses, especially arylamine‐containing derivatives, which displayed strong positive solvatochromism in the emission spectra that indicated a more polar excited state owing to an efficient charge migration from the donor arylamine to the imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine acceptor. The quantum yields ranged from 0.2 to 0.7 and depended on the substitution pattern, most notably that based on the donor group at the C2 position. Moreover, the influence of general and specific solvent effects on the photophysical properties of the fluorophores was discussed with four‐parameter Catalán and Kamlet–Taft solvent scales. The excellent thermal, electrochemical, and morphological stability of the compounds was explored by cyclic voltammetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and AFM methods. Furthermore, to understand the structure, bonding, and band gap of the molecules, DFT calculations were performed. The performance of the electroluminescence behavior of the imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine derivative was investigated by fabricating a multilayer organic light‐emitting diode with a configuration of ITO/NPB (60 nm)/EML (40 nm)/BCP (15 nm)/Alq₃ (20 nm)/LiF (0.5 nm)/Al(100 nm) (ITO=indium tin oxide, EML=emissive layer, BCP=2,9‐dimethyl‐4,7‐diphenyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline, Alq₃=tris(8‐hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum), which exhibited white emission with a turn‐on voltage of 8 V and a brightness of 22 cd m^?2.     

(Ta_2O_5)_(1-x)(TiO_2)_x陶瓷结构相变研究

采用固相反应技术制备了x分别为 0 0 5、0 0 8和 0 1 1的 (Ta2 O5) 1-x(TiO2 ) x 陶瓷 ;在室温至 6 0 0℃范围内 ,测量了这些陶瓷样品的拉曼光谱随温度的变化。随着温度的升高 ,拉曼光谱中位于 35～38cm- 1的最低频移的声子模发生软化 ,并随之发生结构相变。拉曼光谱和实验结果都表明 :组分x分别为0 0 5、0 0 8和 0 1 1的 (Ta2 O5) 1-x(TiO2 ) x 陶瓷分别在 36 0、4 5 0和 5 4 0℃发生了由三斜至单斜相的结构相变。上述结论得到了 (Ta2 O5) 0 92 (TiO2 ) 0 0 8单晶热膨胀系数测量数据的支持。     

Quantitative determination of saroglitazar,a predominantly PPAR alpha agonist,in human plasma by a LC–MS/MS method utilizing electrospray ionization in a positive mode

A sensitive LC–MS/MS method was developed and validated for quantitation of saroglitazar using turboion spray interface with positive ion mode. A liquid–liquid extraction, with a mixture of dichloromethane and diethyl ether, was employed for the extraction of saroglitazar and glimepiride (IS) from human plasma. The chromatographic separation was achieved using an ACE‐5, C₁₈ (4.6 × 100 mm) column with a gradient mobile phase comprising acetonitrile and ammonium acetate buffer with trifluoracetic acid in purified water. Both analytes were separated within 10 min with retention times of 4.52 and 2.57 min for saroglitazar and IS, respectively. Saroglitazar quantitation was achieved by the summation of two MRM transition pairs (m/z 440.2 to m/z 366.0 and m/z 440.2 to m/z 183.1), while that of IS was achieved using transition pair m/z 491.3 to m/z 352.0. The calibration standards of saroglitazar showed linearity from 0.2 to 500 ng/mL, with a lower limit of quantitation of 0.2 ng/mL. The biases for inter‐ and intra‐batch assays were ?7.51–1.15% and ?11.21 to ?3.25%, respectively, while the corresponding precisions were 5.04–8.06% and 1.53–7.68%, respectively. The developed method was used to monitor the plasma concentrations of saroglitazar in clinical samples.     

Optimization of lead adsorption from lead-acid battery recycling unit wastewater using H2SO4 modified activated carbon

During the recycling of exhausted lead-acid battery, large amount of wastewater is discharged, which contains the toxic Pb(II) ions in high concentration. In this study, the granular activated carbon after modification with sulfuric acid has been used to remove the Pb(II) ions from this wastewater. Adsorbents were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared, Scanning Electron Microscope, and X-Ray Diffraction analyzer. Taguchi orthogonal L16 array (4^3) was used for batch adsorption study with four levels of three factors initial pH, adsorbent dose, and contact time. Optimum level of parameters was fourty + nd pH 4.5, time 240 min, and dose 0.05 g/50 mL using signal-to-noise ratio (larger-the-better response). Analysis of variance technique was used to signify the adsorption experiment model. The effect of parameters on uptake capacity of adsorbent has been evaluated. Maximum adsorbent capacity for Pb(II) uptake from wastewater of battery recycling unit was found 8.19 mg/g after modification with sulfuric acid. To further understand the mechanism of adsorption, isotherm and kinetic studies were carried out. Experimental data were well fitted with Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The study suggested that H₂SO₄ modified granular activated carbon can be potentially used to remove Pb(II) from lead-acid battery recycle wastewater.     

Poly l-lactide-layered double hydroxide nanocomposites via in situ polymerization of l-lactide

The use of clay nanofillers offers a potential route to improved barrier properties in polylactide films. Magnesium-aluminium layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are interesting in this respect and we therefore explored synthesis of PLA-LDH nanocomposites by ring-opening polymerization. This method is attractive because it should ensure good dispersion of LDH in the polymer. The effect of adding either LDH carbonate (LDH-CO₃) or laurate-modified LDH (LDH-C₁₂) was investigated. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy revealed that exfoliated nanocomposites were obtained when using LDH-C₁₂ but that LDH-CO₃ gave a partly phase-separated morphology. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that PLA-LDH combinations exhibited higher degradation onset temperatures and differential scanning calorimetry confirmed that LDHs can act as nucleating agents. However, PLA molecular weight was significantly reduced when in-situ polymerization was conducted in the presence of the LDHs and we suggest that chain termination via LDH surface hydroxyl groups and/or metal-catalyzed degradation could be responsible.     

Low frequency Raman scattering from acoustic phonons confined in ZnO nanoparticles

We report here the first observation of the low frequency Raman scattering from acoustic phonons in semiconducting zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles without embedding in any solid matrix. ZnO nanoparticles (size 5-10 nm) with nearly spherical shape have been synthesized using a chemical route. A shift in the phonon peaks toward higher frequencies along with broadening was observed with a decrease in particle size. The size dependence of the acoustic phonons in ZnO nanoparticles is explained using Lamb's theory that predicts the vibrational frequencies of a homogeneous elastic body of spherical shape. Our results show that the observed low frequency Raman scattering originates from the spherical (l = 0) and quadrupolar vibrations (l = 2) of the spheroidal mode due to the confinement of acoustic vibrations in ZnO nanoparticles.