Extraction of protactinium from acid media using Aliquat 336

Solvent extraction studies on protactinium were carried out from hydrofluoric acid, hydrochloric acid, and a mixture of hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids using Aliquat 336 and ²³¹Pa. The extraction of protactinium from hydrofluoric acid (0.025–10 M) decreased with increasing acid concentration and was less than 10% above 5 M. The extraction from hydrochloric acid (0.5–8 M) started only above 4 M and increased with increasing acid concentration. The extraction of protactinium from a mixture containing hydrochloric acid (0.5–8 M) and 0.03 M hydrofluoric acid decreased with increasing acid concentration reached to a minimum at about 2 M and then increased with increasing acid concentration. At low acidity, extraction of protactinium from hydrofluoric acid was higher compared to hydrochloric acid and the mixture of hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids. Nitric acid (10 M) and hydrofluoric acid (10 M) were suitable for quantitative recovery of protactinium from organic phase. The extraction of ²³¹Pa from real thorium lean raffinate of thorium–uranium extraction process was studied using optimized extraction conditions.     

Influence of pH and salt concentration on protein solubility,emulsifying and foaming properties of sesame protein concentrate

The effects of pH and NaCl concentration on protein solubility, emulsification, and foamability of sesame protein concentrate from dehulled seeds were investigated. The protein content of the concentrate was 70.7%. Protein solubility, emulsion, and foaming capacities varied with pH and ionic strength. Protein solubility, which was least at pH 4, (2.1%) ranged from 6.6% at pH 2 to 13.1% at pH 10. The solubility increased with increase in ionic strength, ranging from 9.8% at 0.0 M to 16.1% at 1.0 M concentration. The emulsion capacity ranged from 6.2 mL oil/g sample at pH 2 to 19.4 mL oil/g sample at pH 10. The emulsion capacity increased from 11.5 mL oil/g sample at 0.0 M to 20.9 mL oil/g sample at 1.0 M salt concentration. Stability of the emulsion increased with increase in NaCl concentration, ranging from 42% at 0.0 M concentration to 70% at 1.0 M concentration, but 0.5 M NaCl produced the most stable foam after 120 min of whipping while the least stable was at 1.0 M.     

Studies of sorption of Pd(II) microquantities on strongly basic polyacrylate anion exchangers

The sorption of palladium(II) microquantities from a chloride and chloride-nitrate (V) model 0.1-6.0 M HCl, 0.1-0.9 M HCl-0.9-0.1 M HNO₃, 1.0 M ZnCl₂-0.1 M HCl and 1.0 M AlCl₃-0.1 M HCl systems on strongly basic polyacrylate anion exchangers was studied. The research was carried out by means of dynamic and static methods. The recovery factors of Pd(II) were determined from the static studies. The working ion-exchange capacities as well as weight and bed distribution coefficients of Pd(II) were calculated from the breakthrough curves. The commercial strongly basic anion exchangers of the functional quaternary ammonium groups — Purolite A-850 and Amberlite IRA-958 — can be used in recovery technologies of Pd(II) from anodic slime, wastewaters and spent catalysts due to their high selectivity.     

A TEM study of microstructure of carbon fiber/polycarbosilane-derived SiC composites

The structures of two types of mesophase pitch-based carbon fibers (M30 and M70) reinforced SiC composites, prepared by the polycarbosilane impregnation-pyrolysis process, were investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that M70 possessed a highly-ordered graphite structure despite occasional misorientation of some crystallites. However, the skin of M70 was less ordered than the interior of M70. The structure of M30 was uniform throughout, and was less ordered than that of M70. The fiber and matrix in M70/SiC bonded weakly, whereas the fiber and matrix in M30/SiC bonded tightly and locked together. This difference in the interface feature originates from the difference of the surface crystalline structures of M30 and M70, and is formed during the first impregnation-pyrolysis cycle of polycarbosilane.     

Gloss evaluation and prediction of achromatic low‐gloss textured surfaces from the automotive industry

In this article, we investigate the benefit of including texture information in models of gloss perception of low‐gloss textured achromatic plastic surfaces from the automotive industry. 4 models are compared: two gloss prediction models including texture information, one using data from reflectometry (M1) and one using data from goniophotometry (M2), and two models using data from reflectometry (M3) or goniophotometry (M4) alone. Both texture‐corrected models (M1‐M2) outclass the uncorrected intensity‐based models, mainly because they are made texture invariant. Although the texture‐corrected reflectometer‐based prediction (M1) correlates rather well with sensory data, a more consistent fit is obtained by mixing textural to goniophotometric data (M2). This can be explained by the fact that contrast gloss is better than multiangle specular gloss at reflecting the observer's gloss evaluation strategy. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 41, 154–164, 2016     

Combustion Behavior and Thermochemical Properties of RDX-Based Solid Propellants

The combustion behavior and thermochemical properties of two types of RDX-based composite propellants, XM39 and M43, are studied and compared in order to investigate the effect introduced by an energetic ingredient in the M43 propellant formulation. Due to the enhanced rate of heat release on the burning surface caused by the energetic material of M43 propellants, the burning rate of M43 propellants is found to be higher than that of XM39 propellants. The presence of the energetic material in the M43 propellant formulation also increases the burning surface temperature and thermal diffusivity of M43 propellants; it does not, however, introduce any observed changes in the flame structure and the heat feedback from the gas phase to the condensed phase. Based upon SEM pictures, burning-surface structures of the recovered XM39 and M43 propellant samples are found to be significantly different, indicating the strong effect of the energetic material on the surface reaction. A set of important thermochemical properties of XM39 and M43 propellants is deduced from the experimental data.     

戊型肝炎病毒抗体检测试剂的比较

目的比较国内外戊型肝炎病毒(HEV)抗体检测试剂的差异。方法用4种抗-HEVIgM试剂和5种抗-HEVIgG试剂分别检测66份急性肝炎患者血清及77份采自17名急性肝炎患者的系列血清,比较各试剂检测结果之间的差异。结果检测66份急性肝炎患者血清样本时,M1、M2、M3和M4试剂检出的IgM抗体阳性率分别为47.0%、71.2%、42.4%和40.9%;G1、G2、G3、G4和G5试剂检出的IgG抗体阳性率分别为77.3%、87.9%、66.7%、81.8%和66.7%。检测77份系列血清样本时,M1、M2、M3和M4试剂检出的IgM抗体阳性率分别为64.9%、84.4%、31.2%和32.5%;G1、G2、G3、G4和G5试剂检出的IgG抗体阳性率分别为94.8%、98.7%、83.1%、96.1%和88.3%。结论抗-HEV抗体检测试剂,尤其是抗-HEVIgM抗体检测试剂之间存在较明显的差异,临床上应结合检测HEV其他标志物对HEV感染进行综合判断。     

Polymorphism of tricalcium silicate, the major compound of Portland cement clinker: 2. Modelling alite for Rietveld analysis, an industrial challenge

A comprehensive quantification of the various phases of clinkers by X-ray diffraction with a Rietveld-like analysis is an important industrial challenge. Various available structural models are used for the most frequent M1 and M3 polymorphs of alite usually found in industrial clinkers, referred to as M1- or M3-based clinkers. In this paper, the effect of C₃S structural model is investigated. Four models are tested and compared using either synthetic M1 and M3 alites or M1- and M3-based clinkers. The comparison validates the available models for M1 and M3 alites and an average model, given here, derived from our recently proposed M1 structure as a catch-all model when the nature of the clinker is unknown. The latter model is meant to be used for industrial on-line quantification.     

头孢曲松母液中回收2-巯基苯并噻唑新工艺

研究从头孢曲松生产母液中回收2 巯基苯并噻唑(以下简称M),提出了蒸发结晶 加碱联合处理回收M的新工艺。采用失重法首次研究了M在不同溶剂体系中的溶解度,采用HPLC法测定母液蒸发浓缩结晶和加碱处理回收得到的M的质量分数。结果表明,M在丙酮中溶解度为15 g(常温),在乙醇中溶解度为2.5 g(常温),水的存在会使M在溶媒中的溶解度大幅降低,1.3 g［m(乙醇)∶m(水)=0.4∶0.6,75 ℃］;母液蒸发浓缩至85%时,M的收率可达98.6%,蒸发结晶和加碱处理回收得到的M的质量分数分别为98.2%和98.7%。该工艺不需要大量水的加入,降低了溶剂回收系统的能耗,酸碱用量少,无二次污染,不堵塞管道,已成功用于工业化生产。     

Photoreactions of the Photointermediates of Bacteriorhodopsin

The photochemical reactions of the intermediates of the photochemical cycle of bacteriorhodopsin (bR) are reviewed. These reactions constitute photochemical control of the cycle and provide an independent approach for the investigation of the mechanism of light energy transduction in the purple membrane. The absorption of a light quantum by the K, L, or M intermediates converts them back to bR. These transformations interrupt the photocycle so that no proton transfer occurs after absorption of the second quantum. The action of blue light on the M intermediate causes structural changes of the chromophore, as a result of which the Schiff base is reprotonated from Asp-85, not from Asp-96 as in the usual thermal transition of M. The photoreactions of the L, M, N, and O intermediates lead to the formation of new photoproducts. Studies of the photoconversion of the intermediates can serve as an additional source of information on the nature of photoprocesses in bR: they reveal several conformers of K and bR at 90 K, different M states, two N intermediates, and provide direct evidence for the existence of a thermal back reaction from N to M. The study of the photoreactions of the J, K, L, M, N, and O intermediates is a promising method for elucidating the structures and roles of these states. Reversible photoconversions of bR and its photointermediates provide a basis for potential applications of bR in optical registration of information.     

Evaluation of intermodel agreement using ISO 13655 M0, M1, and M2 measurement modes in commercial spectrophotometers

Spectrophotometers are routinely used for color measurement and color management in many commercial printing and proofing workflows. In the case of media containing optical brightening agents, ultraviolet (UV)‐induced fluorescence has led to poor levels of agreement between models from different manufacturers, and different models from the same manufacturer. A relevant standard, ISO 13655, has been revised and now clearly defines measurement modes and conditions for the UV component in spectrophotometers. ISO 13655:2009—Graphic Technology—Spectral Measurement and Colorimetric Computation for Graphic Arts Images now defines four measurement modes: M0, M1, M2, and M3. The intermodel difference between 10 commercially available spectrophotometers is evaluated for different substrate types in measurement modes (M0, M1, and M2) as allowed by each instrument. In particular, the authors compare devices using M0 legacy mode versus newer instruments that are compliant with the new M1 and M2 (UV‐included and UV‐excluded) measurement modes. A finding with significant practical applications is that there is greatly improved intermodel agreement between the new generation of ISO 13655‐compliant instruments in M1 (D50) mode when compared with the previous generation of hand‐held spectrophotometers. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 42, 27–37, 2017     

Sorption of palladium (II) chloride complexes on weakly, intermediate and strongly basic anion exchangers

The precious metals and their alloys are extensively applied in refineries and the chemical and electronic industries as well as in medicine. Their small amounts in nature and extensive exploitation from natural resources are a serious obstacle as far as their application is concerned. High prices of palladium favour its recovery from recyclable materials and industrial wastes. Ion-exchange chromatography is one of the physicochemical methods of noble metal ion recovery. A study was done on the possibility of selective removal of palladium (II) microquantities from the model 0.1-6.0 M HCl, 0.1-0.9 M HCl-0.9 - 0.1 M HNO₃, 1.0 M ZnCl₂ - 0.1 M HCl and 1.0 M AlCl₃-0.1 M HCl systems on weakly, intermediate and strongly basic anion exchangers. The sorption research of Pd (II) on various types of anion exchangers was carried out by means of dynamic and static methods. The working ion-exchange capacities, weight and bed distribution coefficients were calculated from the breakthrough curves of palladium (II) ions. From the static studies the recovery factors of Pd (II) depending on the anion exchanger-solution contact time in the model systems under discussion were determined.     

Transport of thorium from nitric acid solution by non-dispersive solvent extraction using a hollow fibre contactor

Membrane based non-dispersive solvent extraction (NDSX) of Th(IV) from aqueous nitric acid medium was carried out using di-n-hexyl octanamide (DHOA) in normal paraffin hydrocarbon (NPH) using a commercial hollow fiber module containing microporous hydrophobic polypropylene capillaries. The NDSX operation was carried out with pumping various concentrations of nitric acid (1–6 M) containing Th(IV) through the tube side and organic extractant (usually 1.1 M DHOA in NPH) through the shell side of the hollow fibre capillaries at aqueous and organic phase flow rates of 3.5 mL/s and 4.5 mL/s, respectively. Extraction studies were performed under different hydrodynamics conditions and the overall mass transfer was evaluated under cuonter-current flow condition. The percentage NDSX of Th(IV) increased with the increase in the extractant concentration (from 0.1 M DHOA to 1.1 M DHOA) as well as with nitric acid concentration (from 1 M to 6 M). Stripping studies were carried out using both distilled water as well as oxalic acid as the strippant. The possibility of the separation of U from Th was also evaluated.     

Separation and Recovery of Uranium,Neptunium, and Plutonium from High Level Waste Using Tributyl Phosphate: Countercurrent Studies with Simulated Waste Solution

ABSTRACT

The present work deals with countercurrent extraction studies on the partitioning of uranium, neptunium, and plutonium using 30% tributyl phosphate (TBP) from simulated high level waste solution generated during reprocessing of spent uranium fuel from pressurized heavy water reactors. The oxidation states of neptunium and plutonium were adjusted either by 0.01 M potassium dichromate or 0.01 M dioxovanadium ion. Neptunium and plutonium, extracted in the TBP phase, were stripped together using a mixture containing 0.05 M ascorbic acid and 0.25 M hydrogen peroxide in 2.0 M nitric acid solution. Although dioxovanadium ion is more effective for proper adjustment of the oxidation states of plutonium and neptunium, subsequent recovery of these actinides from loaded TBP is better if potassium dichromate is used for the valency adjustment. Results of the stagewise analysis of extraction and stripping of actinides using mixer-settlers are presented.     

Biochemical Screening of Potent Zika Virus Protease Inhibitors

As the Zika virus protease is an essential and well-established target for the development of antiviral agents, we biochemically screened for inhibitors using a purified recombinantly expressed form of this enzyme. As a result, we were able to identify 10 new Zika virus protease inhibitors. These compounds are natural products and showed strong inhibition in the biochemical assays. Inhibitory constants values for the compounds ranged from 5 nM to 8 μM. Among the most potent inhibitors are flavonoids like irigenol hexa-acetate (K_i=0.28 μM), katacine (K_i=0.26 μM), theaflavin gallate (K_i=0.40 μM) and hematein (K_i=0.33 μM). Inhibitors from other groups of natural products include sennoside A (K_i=0.19 μM) and gossypol (K_i=0.70 μM). Several of the obtained compounds are known for their beneficial health effects and have acceptable pharmacokinetic characteristics. Thus, they could be of interest as lead compounds for the development of important and essential Zika antiviral drugs.     

Individual and Geographic Variation of Skin Alkaloids in Three Species of Madagascan Poison Frogs (Mantella)

Alkaloid profiles for 81 individual mantellid frogs, Mantella baroni (Boulenger 1988) (N = 19), M. bernhardi (N = 51), and M. madagascariensis (Grandidier 1877) (N = 11), from six different populations from Madagascar were examined. Marked individual differences in alkaloid composition (number, type, and amount) were observed between different species and between populations of the same species. Disjunct populations of each of the three species differed significantly in alkaloid composition. Sympatric populations of M. baroni and M. madagascariensis also differed significantly in alkaloid composition. In M. bernhardi, differences in alkaloid composition were marginally associated with different sexes. A total of 111 alkaloids, including isomers, were detected in analysis of the individuals from the three species. The majority (47%) appear likely to be obtained from dietary mites, whereas many of the others (18%) are presumed to be from ants, and a few (4%) are from millipedes. Putative dietary sources for the remaining alkaloids are generally unknown, but beetles are probably the source of at least some of the tricyclic alkaloids (6%). In addition, alkaloid compositions from extracts of groups of individuals from five additional populations of M. baroni and from one population of M. bernhardi (Vences et al. 1994) and one population of M. cowanii (Boulenger 1882) were examined. An additional 50 alkaloids, including isomers, were detected in the combined samples, bringing the total number of alkaloids identified from these four species of mantellid frogs to 161. Alkaloid compositions in mantellid poison frogs are diverse and highly dependent on geographic location that appear to be largely determined by the nature and availability of alkaloid-containing prey items. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi: ) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Iron oxide induced bagasse nanoparticles for the sequestration of Cr6+ ions from tannery effluent using a modified batch reactor

The emphasis of the present study is to investigate the potential of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized using bagasse from sugarcane (M‐NIOB). M‐NIOB was infused onto the modified batch reactor (M‐BR) stirrers using mesh structures for the adsorption of Cr⁶⁺ contained in effluent from the leather industry. M‐NIOB exhibited supermagnetic properties under an external magnetic field with a saturation magnetization value of 9.192 emu/g at room temperature. M‐NIOB nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometer, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis. The size of the M‐NIOB particles ranged from 50 to 200 nm. The most favorable time, pH, and temperature for the application of M‐NIOB to Cr⁶⁺ removal from tannery effluent was found to be 180 min, 5, and 318 K, respectively. M‐NIOB adsorbent performed its best at an adsorbent dosage of 800 mg/150 mL with a particle size of 150 nm. Kinetic and thermodynamic studies have been conducted. The applicability of various adsorption models for the Cr⁶⁺ adsorption data was tested. Moreover, the desorption studies carried out at 60 °C proved the capability of M‐NIOB for regeneration and reuse. Hence, M‐NIOB could be potentially applied for the treatment of effluent that has Cr⁶⁺ as a major constituent. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46683.     

Formation of dish-like holes and a channel structure in electrodeposition of copper under hydrogen co-deposition

Copper electrodeposition from acid sulfate solutions at an overpotential of 1000 mV, which is about 250 mV outside the plateau of the limiting diffusion current density, was examined by the determination of the average current efficiency of hydrogen evolution and by the scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis of the morphology of the formed copper deposits. Craters or holes formed due to the attachment hydrogen bubbles were the dominant morphological forms of copper deposits obtained at this overpotential. In dependence of the concentration of Cu (II) ions in the plating solution, the two types of holes or craters were formed. One type of holes is obtained by electrodeposition from a solution with a concentration of Cu (II) ions of 0.075 M CuSO₄ in 0.50 M H₂SO₄, and a honeycomb-like structure was formed from these holes. The other types of holes are formed from a solution with a higher concentration of Cu (II) ions (0.60 M CuSO₄ in 0.50 M H₂SO₄) and the formed holes were dish-like. A mixture of both types of holes was obtained by electrodeposition from 0.30 M CuSO₄ in 0.50 M H₂SO₄. The obtained morphologies of copper deposits are discussed in terms of the effect of hydrogen evolution on the hydrodynamic conditions in the plating solution.     

Therapeutic Effect of Melittin–dKLA Targeting Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Melanoma

Melanoma is an immunogenic tumor and a serious type of skin cancer. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) express an M2-like phenotype and are involved in all stages of melanomagenesis; it is hence a promising target for cancer immunotherapy. We herein investigated whether melittin–dKLA inhibits the growth of melanoma by inducing apoptosis of M2-like macrophages. For the in vitro study, a conditioned medium of macrophages was prepared from M0, M1, or M2-differentiated THP-1 cells with and without melittin–dKLA. The affinity of melittin for M2 macrophages was studied with FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate)-conjugated melittin. For the in vivo study, murine melanoma cells were inoculated subcutaneously in the right flank of mice, melittin–dKLA was intraperitoneally injected at 200 nmol/kg every three days, and flow cytometry analysis of TAMs was performed. Since melittin binds preferentially to M2-like macrophages, melittin–dKLA induced more caspase 3 expression and cell death in M2 macrophages compared with M0 and M1 macrophages and melanoma cells. Melittin–dKLA significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of M2 macrophages, resulting in a decrease in melanoma tumor growth in vivo. The CD206⁺ M2-like TAMs were reduced, while the CD86⁺ M1-like TAMs were not affected. Melittin–dKLA is therapeutically effective against melanoma by inducing the apoptosis of M2-like TAMs.