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CuO nanocrystals in thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate
Stabilization, structural characterization and catalytic activities
Abstract
CuO nanocrystals of different surface areas were prepared. All samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transition electron microscope, thermogravimetry, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller technique, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. CuO nanocrystals showed a stable monoclinic structure. With increasing surface areas, the surface hydration became significant, which is followed by shifts in infrared frequencies and Raman phonon modes. CuO nanocrystals were explored as an additive to catalytic decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP). AP decomposition underwent a two-stage process. Addition of CuO nanocrystals led to a downshift of high-temperature stage towards lower temperatures.
Small-scale vegetation patterns are frequently the results of plant-plant interactions such as facilitation and competition. Facilitation should be particularly pronounced when both abiotic and biotic stresses are high, but few studies were conducted in such habitats. In heavily-grazed pastures on the eastern Tibetan Plateau, an area with both high abiotic stress and strong biotic disturbance, we made relevés of herb species both beneath and outside canopies of three shrub species (Spiraea alpina, Sibiraea angustata and Potentilla fruticosa) differing in palatability and canopy structure. Herb species richness (S), pooled cover (PC) of all species, number of flowering species (FS) and number of inflorescences of all species (IN) were greater outside than beneath the shrub canopies. Evenness (J), in contrast, was smaller outside, while Shannon’s diversity index (H) was the same. Differences in S and J between plots beneath and outside the shrub canopies were greater in the case of P. fruticosa than in the cases of S. angustata and S. alpina, but differences in PC, FS or IN did not depend on the shrub species. Among the common species (frequency ≥6), 47–85% were equally frequent beneath and outside the shrubs, 13–39% were more frequent outside and 3–13% were more frequent beneath the shrubs. For the rarest species (frequency < 6), however, more species occurred beneath than outside the shrubs. The ordination diagram showed a clear separation between the relevés outside and beneath the shrubs and a gradient from P. fruticosa via S. alpina to S. angustata, accompanied by a distinct decrease in the extent of the difference between the vegetation beneath and outside the shrub canopies. In conclusion, the three shrub species facilitated some species in the herb layer and each shrub species had a specific impact, related to its canopy structure and palatability but also to the grazing pressure, which was greater around the P. fruticosa shrubs than around S. alpina and S. angustata.
Abstract
Nano-ZnO flakes were synthesized by calcination of the precursor of Zn(OH)2 obtained via the reactive ion exchange method between an ion exchange resin and ZnSO4 solution at room temperature. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscope, UV-Vis diffuse reflection spectrum and Na2EDTA titration were used to characterize the structure features and chemical compositions of the as-prepared ZnO. The results show that the as-prepared ZnO flakes have uniform structure and high purity. Heat capacities in the temperature range of 83 to 396 K were measured. The measured heat capacities values were compared with those of coarse crystal powders and the difference between this two heat capacity curves was analyzed.
Abstract
Kudzu root (Pueraria lobata), known for its dual role as a medicinal herb and food ingredient, has proven anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study explored the effects of P. lobata extract (PLE) on D-galactose/lipopolysaccharide (D-GalN/LPS)-induced liver inflammation and oxidative stress in mice, along with its impact on gut microbiota. The in vivo studies indicated that PLE significantly reduced hepatic levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6) and increased the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10. It also lowered serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities, indicating reduced liver damage, and mitigated oxidative stress by decreasing malondialdehyde levels while restoring superoxide dismutase activity. Western blot analysis revealed that PLE inhibited the phosphorylation of NF-κB pathway proteins (p65 and IκB) and suppressed TLR4 expression, highlighting its role in this inflammatory pathway. Additionally, PLE ameliorated D-GalN/LPS-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis, reducing Proteobacteria abundance and promoting beneficial genera such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Akkermansia. These findings suggest that PLE protects against liver inflammation and oxidative stress, while improving gut microbiota composition, offering potential therapeutic strategies for liver-related diseases.
Abstract
Effects of nano-metal powders (aluminum and nickel) addition on the thermooxidative degradation of binder PEG in air atmosphere from 20 to 350°C were studied by TG/DTA and in-situ FTIR. TG/DTA results showed that the addition of nano-Al slowed down the degradation process of PEG in the early period but accelerated the process in the late period; the addition of nano-Ni made the PEG degradation process begin as soon as melted. The in-situ FTIR results showed that nano-Ni promoted the thermooxidative degradation of PEG in air, and made the degradation process of PEG complete much earlier.
Abstract
A separation procedure of trace platinum from large amounts of mercury and other interfering elements is described. After irradiation, the HgO target was dissolved in concentrated HCl solution. The thallium fraction was removed by solvent extraction with ether. In the aqueous phase after extraction the radioisotope of platinum produced by irradiation was precipitated as (NH4)2PtCl6 by adding a saturated solution of NH4Cl in the presence of H2PtCl6·6H2O as stable carrier. The decontamination factor of mercury, gold and thallium and the recovery of platinum in the process of separation are satisfactory.
Edible black ant ( Polyrhachis vicina Roger) is a traditional edible insect species in China. It has long been used as an important ingredient of health foods. The aim of the present study was to investigate the changes of organic compounds following sun drying of edible black ant. The results showed that fresh and sun dried edible black ant samples have 28 organic components. Nine of them found in the present study have not been reported previously such as 8-heptadecene and (E,E)-6,10,14-trimethyl-5,9,13-pentadecatrien-2-one. Five constituents disappeared and 4 components formed while the ant was sun dried. The major organic compounds of fresh and sun dried edible black ant belong to fatty acids and hydrocarbons. Some compounds such as fatty acids, aldehyde and alkanes appeared during the procedure indicating that sun drying speeds up lipid oxidation and hydrolytic rancidity.
Summary
An efficient method used to separate five bioactive compounds from Gelidium amansii was optimized by the HCI software. The optimum composition of mobile phase for high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) separation was obtained. The elution profiles were calculated by the polynomial theory based on the retention factor ln k = A + BF + CF 2 (F was the volume percentage of acetonitrile with 1.0% acetic acid); then, the theory was applied to calculate the elution profile in both isocratic and gradient modes by modifying different mobile phase conditions with HCI program. The calculated results of mobile phase condition suggested that acetonitrile-water (containing 1.0% acetic acid) with a linear gradient elution of 0∼30 min from 15:85 to 50:50 (v/v) was the optimized component. In the experimental conditions, the agreement between the experimental elution profiles and the calculated values of eluted concentration was relatively good.
Abstract
Liquid crystalline polymer/polyamide 66 (LCP/PA66) and LCP/poly(butyl terephthalate) (LCP/PBT) blends were compounded using a Brabender Plasticorder equipped with a mixing chamber. The LCP employed was a semi-flexible liquid crystalline copolyesteramide based on 30 mol% of p-amino benzoic acid (ABA) and 70 mol% of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). The Flory-Huggins interaction parameters (χ12) of the LCP/ PA66 and LCP/PBT blends are estimated by melting point depression from DSC measurement. The results indicate that c12 values all are negative for LCP/PA66 and LCP/PBT blends, and when the LCP content in these blends is more than 10 mass%, the absolute value of χ12 decreases. Thereby, we can conclude that LCP/PA66 and LCP/PBT blends are fully miscible in the molten state, the molecular interaction between the LCP and PA66 is stronger than that between LCP and PBT. As the LCP content in LCP/PA66 and LCP/PBT blends is more than 10 mass%, the molecular interaction between LCP and matrix polymer decreases.
