Mechanism research on arsenic removal from arsenopyrite ore during a sintering process

The mechanism of arsenic removal during a sintering process was investigated through experiments with a sintering pot and arsenic-bearing iron ore containing arsenopyrite; the corresponding chemical properties of the sinter were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The experimental results revealed that the reaction of arsenic removal is mainly related to the oxygen atmosphere and temperature. During the sintering process, arsenic could be removed in the ignition layer, the sinter layer, and the combustion zone. A portion of FeAsS reacted with excess oxygen to generate FeAsO4, and the rest of the FeAsS reacted with oxygen to generate As2O3(g) and SO2(g). A portion of As2O3(g) mixed with Al2O3or CaO, which resulted in the formation of arsenates such as AlAsO4and Ca3(AsO4)2, leading to arsenic residues in sintering products. The FeAsS component in the blending ore was difficult to decompose in the preliminary heating zone, the dry zone, or the bottom layer because of the relatively low temperatures; however, As2O3(g) that originated from the high-temperature zone could react with metal oxides, resulting in the formation of arsenate residues. © 2017, University of Science and Technology Beijing and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Norlichexanthone purified from plant endophyte prevents postmenopausal osteoporosis by targeting ERa to inhibit RANKL signaling

Although different types of drugs are available for postmenopausal osteoporosis,the limitations of the current therapies including drug resistances and adverse effects require identification of novel anti-osteoporosis agents.Here,we defined that norlichexanthone(NOR),a natural product,is a ligand of estrogen receptor-alpha(ERα)and revealed its therapeutic potential for postmenopausal osteoporosis.We used mammalian-one hybrid assay to screen for ERαmodulators from crude extracts of several plant endophytes.As a result,NOR purified from the extract of endophyte ARL-13 was identified as a selective ERαmodulator.NOR directly bound to ERαwith an affinity in nanomolar range,revealing that it is a natural ligand of ERα.NOR induced osteoblast formation in MC3T3-E1 precursor cells.Conversely,NOR inhibited receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand(RANKL)-induced osteoclast formation in both RAW264.7 macrophages and mouse primary monocytes.Mechanistically,NOR inhibited RANKL-induced association of ERαand TRAF6 to prevent ERα-mediated TRAF6 activation via Lys63-linked ubiquitination.Importantly,NOR exhibited potent anti-osteoporosis efficacy in an ovariectomized mouse model.Comparing to estrogen,NOR was of much less capability in stimulating endometrial hyperplasia and promoting mammalian cancer cell proliferation.Taken together,our study identified NOR as a natural and high affinity ligand of ERαwith substantial anti-osteoporosis but less estrogenic activity.

Increasing ionic conductivity in Li_(0.33)La_(0.56)TiO_(3)thin-films via optimization of processing atmosphere and temperature

As a promising solid electrolyte for thin-film lithium batteries,the amorphous Li_(0.33)La_(0.56)TiO_(3)(LLTO)thin film has gained great interest.However,enhancing ionic conductivity remains challenging in the field.Here,a systematical study was performed to improve the ionic conductivity of sputter-deposited LLTO thin films via the optimization of processing atmosphere and temperature.By combining the optimized oxygen partial pressure(30%),annealing temperature(300℃),and annealing atmosphere(air),an amorphous LLTO thin film with an ionic conductivity of 5.32910^(-5)·S·cm^(-1) at room temperature and activation energy of 0.26 eV was achieved.The results showed that,first,the oxygen partial pressure should be high enough to compensate for the oxygen loss,but low enough to avoid the abusive oxygen scattering effect on lithium precursors that results in a lithium-poor composition.The oxygen partial pressure needs to achieve a balance between lithium loss and oxygen defects to improve the ionic conductivity.Second,a proper annealing temperature reduces the oxygen defects of LLTO thin films while maintaining its amorphous state,which improves the ionic conductivity.Third,the highest ionic conductivity for the LLTO thin films that were annealed in air(a static space without a gas stream)occurs because of the decreased lithium loss and oxygen defects during annealing.These findings show that the lithium-ion concentration and oxygen defects affect the ionic conductivity for amorphous LLTO thin films,which provides insight into the optimization of LLTO thin-film solid electrolytes,and generates new opportunities for their application in thinfilm lithium batteries.

Meroterpenthiazole A, a unique meroterpenoid from the deep-sea-derived Penicillium allii-sativi, significantly inhibited retinoid X receptor (RXR)-α transcriptional effect

A novel meroterpenoid,named meroterpenthiazole A(1),was isolated from the deep-sea-derived Penicillium allii-sativi.Its structure was established by extensive spectroscopic and computational methods.Meroterpenthiazole A bears a rare benzothiazole moiety in nature.Compound 1 significantly inhibited retinoid X receptor(RXR)-α transcriptional effect(K_(D)=12.3 μmol/L) through a novel binding mechanism.

NSC-640358 acts as RXRa ligand to promote TNFa-mediated apoptosis of cancer cell

Retinoid X receptor a （RXRα） and its N-terminally trun- cated version tRXRα play important roles in tumorige. nesis, while some RXRg ligands possess potent anti- cancer activities by targeting and modulating the tumorigenic effects of RXRo and tRXRa. Here we describe NSC-640358 （N-6）, a thiazolyl-pyrazole derived compound, acts as a selective RXRα ligand to promote TNFα-mediated apoptosis of cancer cell. N-6 binds to RXRa and inhibits the transactivation of RXRα homod- imer and RXRa/TR3 heterodimer. Using mutational analysis and computational study, we determine that Arg316 in RXRa, essential for 9-cis-retinoic acid binding and activating RXRg transactivation, is not required for antagonist effects of N-6, whereas Trp305 and Phe313 are crucial for N-6 binding to RXRα by forming extra w-w stacking interactions with N-6, indicating a distinct RXRα binding mode of N-6. N-6 inhibits TR3-stimulated transactivation of Gal4-DBD-RXRα-LBD by binding to the ligand binding pocket of RXRa-LBD, suggesting a strategy to regulate TR3 activity indirectly by using small molecules to target its interacting partner RXRα. For its physiological activities, we show that N-6 strongly inhibits tumor necrosis factor a （TNFα）-induced AKT activation and stimulates TNFa-mediated apoptosis in cancer cells in an RXRa/tRXRo dependent manner.The inhibition of TNFα-induced tRXRα/p85α complex formation by N-6 implies that N-6 targets tRXRa to inhibit TNFα-induced AKT activation and to induce cancer cell apoptosis. Together, our data illustrate a new RXRa ligand with a unique RXRα binding mode and the abilities to regulate TR3 activity indirectly and to induce TNFa-mediated cancer cell apoptosis by targeting RXRα/tRXRα.