Research progress on the anticarcinogenic actions and mechanisms of ellagic acid

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Cancer treatments by chemotherapeutic agents, surgery, and radiation have not been highly effective in reducing the incidence of cancers and increasing the survival rate of cancer patients. In recent years, plant-derived compounds have attracted considerable attention as alternative cancer remedies for enhancing cancer prevention and treatment because of their low toxicities, low costs, and low side effects. Ellagic acid(EA) is a natural phenolic constituent. Recent in vitro and in vivo experiments have revealed that EA elicits anticarcinogenic effects by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, inducing apoptosis, breaking DNA binding to carcinogens, blocking virus infection, and disturbing inflammation, angiogenesis, and drug-resistance processes required for tumor growth and metastasis. This review enumerates the anticarcinogenic actions and mechanisms of EA. It also discusses future directions on the applications of EA.

Adsorption Behaviors and Mechanism of Macroporous PhosphonicAcid Resin for Gadolinium

The adsorption behaviors and mechanism of a novel chelate resin, macroporous phosphonic acid resin(PAR)for Gd(Ⅲ)were investigated. The statically and dynamically saturated adsorption capacity is respectively 308 mg·g^(-1)resin and 296 mg·g^(-1)resin at 298 K in HAc-NaAc medium at pH 5.6. Gd(Ⅲ)adsorbed on PAR can be reductively eluted by 0.5～5.0 mol·L^(-1) HCl used as eluant and the elution percentage is up to 94.7% in 1.0 mol·L^(-1) HCl. The resin can be regenerated and reused without apparent decrease in adsorption capacity. The apparent adsorption rate constant is k_(298)=3.96×10^(-5) s^(-1). The adsorption behavior of PAR for Gd(Ⅲ) conforms to the Freundlich isotherm. The thermodynamic adsorption parameter, enthalpy change △H of PAR for Gd(Ⅲ)is 22.6kJ·mol^(-1). The apparent adsorption activation energy(Ea)of PAR for Gd(Ⅲ)is 5.0 kJ·mol^(-1). The molar coordination ratio of the functional group of PAR to Gd(Ⅲ)is about 3∶1. The adsorption mechanism of PAR for Gd(Ⅲ)was examined by using chemical method and IR spectrometry.

Theoretical Research on the Multi-channel Reaction Mechanism of CHF Radical with HNCO by Density Functional Theory

The reaction mechanism of CHF radical with HNCO was investigated by the B3LYP method of density functional theory （DFT）, while the geometries and harmonic vibration frequencies of reactants, intermediates, transition states and products were calculated at the B3LYP/6-311＋＋G＊＊ level. In the temperature range of 100-2600 K, the statistical thermody- namics and Eyring transition state theory with Winger correction were used to study the thermodynamic and kinetic characters of the channel with low energy barrier. In addition, the analysis on the combining interaction between CHF radical and HNCO was performed by atom-in-molecules theory （AIM） and natural bond orbitals （NBO） analysis. The calculation results indicated that the reaction of CHF radical with HNCO had ten channels, and the channel of NH direct extraction （CHF ＋ HNCO→IM6→TS7→IM7→CHFNH ＋ CO） in singlet state was the main channel with low potential energy and high equilibrium constant and reaction rate constant. CHFNH and CO were the main products.

Role of Bridge-bonded Formate in Formic Acid Dehydration to CO at Pt Electrode： Electrochemial in-situ Infrared Spectroscopic Study

Formic acid （HCOOH） decomposition at Pt film electrode has been studied by electrochem- ical in situ FTIR spectroscopy under attenuated-total-reflection configuration, in order to clarify whether bridge-bonded formate （HCOOD） is the reactive intermediate for COad for-mation from HCOOH molecules. When switching from HCOOH-free solution to HCOOH- containing solution at constant potential （E=0.4 V vs. RHE）, we found that immediately upon solution switch COad formation rate is the highest, while surface coverage of formate is zero, then after COad formation rate decreases, while formate coverage reaches a steady state coverage quickly within ca. 1 s. Potential step experiment from E=0.75 V to 0.35 V, reveals that formate band intensity drops immediately right after the potential step, while the COad signal develops slowly with time. Both facts indicate that formate is not the reactive intermediate for formic acid dehydration to CO.

Mechanism for ginkgolic acid(15：1)-induced MDCK cell necrosis： Mitochondria and lysosomes damages and cell cycle arrest

Ginkgolic acids(GAs), primarily found in the leaves, nuts, and testa of ginkgo biloba, have been identified with suspected allergenic, genotoxic and cytotoxic properties. However, little information is available about GAs toxicity in kidneys and the underlying mechanism has not been thoroughly elucidated so far. Instead of GAs extract, the renal cytotoxicity of GA(15 : 1), which was isolated from the testa of Ginkgo biloba, was assessed in vitro by using MDCK cells. The action of GA(15 : 1) on cell viability was evaluated by the MTT and neutral red uptake assays. Compared with the control, the cytotoxicity of GA(15 : 1) on MDCK cells displayed a time-and dose-dependent manner, suggesting the cells mitochondria and lysosomes were damaged. It was confirmed that GA(15 : 1) resulted in the loss of cells mitochondrial trans-membrane potential(ΔΨm). In propidium iodide(PI) staining analysis, GA(15 : 1) induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 and G2/M phases, influencing on the DNA synthesis and cell mitosis. Characteristics of necrotic cell death were observed in MDCK cells at the experimental conditions, as a result of DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and morphological observation of MDCK cells. In conclusion, these findings might provide useful information for a better understanding of the GA(15 : 1) induced renal toxicity.

Flexural and Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Alkali-Treated Coir/Pineapple Leaf Fibres Reinforced Polylactic Acid Hybrid Biocomposites

Polylactic acid(PLA)possesses good mechanical and biodegradability properties which make it a suitable material for polymer composites whereas brittleness and high costs limit its utilization in various applications.The reinforcement of natural fibres with biopolymers has been formed to be an efficient technique to develop composites having the ability to be fully biodegradable.This study concerns with the incorporation of various percentages of untreated and alkali-treated Coir Fibres(CF)and pineapple leaf fibres(PALF)in PLA biocomposites and characterizations of flexural,morphological and dynamic mechanical properties.Flexural properties showed that the treated C1P1 hybrid composites(C1P1A)displayed highest flexural strength(35.81 MPa)and modulus(5.28 GPa)among all hybrid biocomposites.Scanning Electron Microscopy(SEM)revealed a behaviour of fibre-matrix adhesion in untreated treated biocomposites.SEM observation revealed good dispersion of the fillers in PLA.Dynamic mechanical analysis revealed that C1P1A showed highest glass transition temperature(Tg)and storage modulus(E')while untreated C3P7 displayed the least Tg and E'.Overall findings showed that alkali-treated hybrid biocomposites(CF/PALF/PLA)especially C1P1A have improved flexural properties,dynamic and morphological properties over untreated biocomposites.Success of these findings will provide attracting consideration of these hybrid biocomposites for various lightweight uses in a broad selection of industrial applications such as biomedical sectors,automobile,construction,electronics equipment,and hardware tools.

Thermal,physical and mechanical properties of hydrogenated dimer acid-based Nylon 636/Nylon 66 copolymers

Hydrogenated dimer acid-based Nylon 636/Nylon 66 copolymers were synthesized by in situ polymerization. The effects of Nylon 66 contents on the copolymers were characterized by intrinsic viscosity measurements, attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis and mechanical tests. The results showed that incorporation of Nylon 66 into hydrogenated dimer acid-based Nylon had no significant effect on the glass transition or melting temperatures. However, the crystallization temperature, crystallinity degree and the maximum rate of decomposition temperature from derivative thermogravimetry measurements vary. Mechanical testing data revealed that with increasing Nylon 66 concentrations, the tensile strength of copolymers increased, while the elongation at break point and notched izod impact strength decreased. The physical and mechanical properties of HN-40, HN-50 and HN-60 are similar to those of the current PAl 1, PAl212, and PAlll 1 Nylon products.

Multiple transformation pathways of p-arsanilic acid to inorganic arsenic species in water during UV disinfection

p-Arsanilic acid（p-ASA） is widely used in China as livestock and poultry feed additive for promoting animal growth.The use of organoarsenics poses a potential threat to the environment because it is mostly excreted by animals in its original form and can be transformed by UV–Vis light excitation.This work examined the initial rate and efficiency of p-ASA phototransformation under UV-C disinfection lamp.Several factors influencing p-ASA phototransformation,namely,p H,initial concentration,temperature,as well as the presence of Na Cl,NH4＋,and humic acid,were investigated.Quenching experiments and LC–MS were performed to investigate the mechanism of p-ASA phototransformation.Results show that p-ASA was decomposed to inorganic arsenic（including As（Ⅲ） and As（V））and aromatic products by UV-C light through direct photolysis and indirect oxidation.The oxidation efficency of p-ASA by direct photosis was about 32%,and those by HOU and1O2 were 19% and 49%,respectively.Cleavage of the arsenic–benzene bond through direct photolysis,HOU oxidation or1O2 oxidation results in simultaneous formation of inorganic As（Ⅲ）,As（IV）,and As（V）.Inorganic As（Ⅲ） is oxidized to As（IV） and then to As（V） by1O2 or HOU.As（IV） can undergo dismutation or simply react with oxygen to produce As（V） as well.Reactions of the organic moieties of p-ASA produce aniline,aminophenol and azobenzene derivatives as main products.The photoconvertible property of p-ASA implies that UV disinfection of wastewaters from poultry and swine farms containing p-ASA poses a potential threat to the ecosystem,especially agricultural environments.

Glycidyl methacrylate-compatibilized poly(lactic acid)/hemp hurd biocomposites： Processing, crystallization, and thermo-mechanical response

Poly（lactic acid）-based biocomposites were developed with hemp hurd （Cannabis sativa L.） with grafting-based interfacial compatibilization. Poly（lactic acid） was extruded with hemp hurd and glycidyl methacrylate as the polymer/hurd interfacial compatibilizer, and injection molded. Interfacial compatibility between poly（lactic acid） and hemp hurd increased with grafted glycidyl methacrylate in comparison to the non-compatibilized control, as corroborated by scanning electron microscopy fractog- raphy and mechanical analysis, which showed increases in the glycidyl methacrylate-grafted 20% （w/w） hemp hurd/poly（lactic acid） biocomposite, retaining 94% of the neat polymer strength, with increases in crystallinity, and showing a range of thermo-mechanical properties desirable for rigid biocomposite aoolications.

Positive direction of polarization-induced electric field improves formic acid electrooxidation on Pd

Adjusting the adsorption energy of adsorbates on catalyst can directly regulate the catalytic performance and reaction pathways of heterogeneous catalysis.Herein,we report a novel strategy,introducing polarization-induced electric field(PIEF)with different directions,to manipulate the adsorption energy of intermediates and reaction pathway of formic acid electrooxidation on Pd.Tourmaline nanoparticles are applied as the PIEF provider,of which the direction is successfully controlled via aligning the dipoles in tourmaline in a strong external electric field.Experimental and theoretical results systematically reveal that positive PIEF leads to an electron-deficient state of Pd,reduced adsorption energy of COad,enhanced adsorption energy of*HCOOH and*OH,and promoted formate pathway of formic acid electrooxidation.Pd/TNP+/FTO,with the aid of positive PIEF,shows three-fold enhancement in the formic acid electrooxidation(4.74 mA·cm^(−2))with high durability and anti-poisoning ability compared with pristine Pd.This study leads a new route to design formic acid electrocatalysts and provides an understanding on how to control the adsorption energy of adsorbates on electrocatalysts by an internal electric field.