Photocatalytic oxidation of nitric oxide from simulated flue gas by wet scrubbing using ultraviolet/TiO_2/H_2O_2 process

Nitric oxide(NO) from flue gas is hard to remove because of low solubility and reactivity. A new technology for photocatalytic oxidation of NO using ultraviolet(UV)/TiO2/H2O2 process is studied in an efficient laboratory-scale reactor. Effects of several key operational parameters on NO removal efficiency are studied, including TiO2 content, H2O2 initial concentration, UV lamp power, NO initial content, oxygen volume fraction and TiO2/H2O2 solution volume. The results illustrate that the NO removal efficiency increases with the increasing of H2O2 initial concentration or UV lamp power. Meanwhile, a lower NO initial content or a higher TiO2/H2O2 solution volume will result in higher NO removal efficiency. In addition, oxygen volume fraction has a little effect.The highest NO removal efficiency is achieved at the TiO2 content of 0.75 g/L, H2O2 initial concentration of 2.5 mol/L, UV lamp power of 36 W, NO initial content of 206×10-6 and TiO2/H2O2 solution volume of 600 m L. It is beneficial for the development and application of NO removal from coal-fired flue gas with UV/TiO2/H2O2 process.

In situ synthesis of Ti^(3+) self-doped mesoporous TiO_2 as a durable photocatalyst for environmental remediation

This study developed a facile approach for in situ synthesis of a Ti3＋ self-doped mesoporous TiO 2photocatalyst by an evaporation-induced self-assembly method using TiC l3,water,and F127 as the titanium precursor,solvent,and soft template agent,respectively. The as-prepared samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction,N2 adsorption-desorption measurements,ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy,electron paramagnetic resonance,and transmission electron microscopy. The influence of different reaction parameters such as the dosage of F127 and calcination temperature on the photocatalytic performance of the resulting products was evaluated. The optimized product exhibited high photocatalytic activity and stability in the oxidation of nitric oxide in air and photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue. The excellent photocatalytic performance of the Ti3＋ self-doped mesoporous TiO 2 photocatalyst is attributed to the cooperation between the mesoporous structure and self-doped Ti3＋ enhancing light absorption and effectively suppressing the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes.

Amentoflavone protects hippocampal neurons: anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and antiapoptotic effects

Amentoflavone is a natural biflavone compound with many biological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and neuroprotective effects. We presumed that amentoflavone exerts a neuroprotective effect in epilepsy models. Prior to model establishment, mice were intragastrically administered 25 mg/kg amentoflavone for 3 consecutive days. Amentoflavone effectively prevented pilocarpine-induced epilepsy in a mouse kindling model, suppressed nuclear factor-κB activation and expression, inhibited excessive discharge of hippocampal neurons resulting in a reduction in epileptic seizures, shortened attack time, and diminished loss and apoptosis of hippocampal neurons. Results suggested that amentoflavone protected hippocampal neurons in epilepsy mice via anti-inflammation, antioxidation, and antiapoptosis, and then effectively prevented the occurrence of seizures.

Influence of moxibustion temperatures on blood lipids, endothelin-1, and nitric oxide in hyperlipidemia patients

OBJECTIVE： To observe the influence of moxibustion temperature on blood lipids, endothelin-1（ET-1）, nitric oxide（NO）, and ET-1/NO in hyperlipidemia patients. METHODS： Forty-two primary hyperlipidemia patients were randomly divided into two groups of 21 and treated with moxibustion at different temperatures. Moxibustion was performed with the moxa roll 2.5-3.0 cm from the skin in the treatment group and 4 cm in the control group, 10 min per point, once every other day. Skin temperature was precisely measured with a thermometer during moxibustion. After a 12-week treatment, seven measurements of blood lipids, ET-1, and NO were recorded. RESULTS： Total cholesterol and triglyceride, were lower in the treatment group than in the control group（P0.05）. Serum ET-1 and ET-1/NO was obvi-ously lowered in the treatment group（P0.001）. Moxibustion regulated NO and ET-1/NO in the treatment group much better than in the control group. CONCLUSION： Moxibustion can regulate blood lipids and clear blood vessels. Moxibustion at 45℃has a better effect than moxibustion at 38℃ on regulating blood lipids and protecting vascular endothelial function, indicating that suitable temperature influences the curative effect of moxibustion.

Impact of dicyandiamide on emissions of nitrous oxide,nitric oxide and ammonia from agricultural field in the North China Plain

Nitrous oxide（N_2O）, nitric oxide（NO） and ammonia（NH_3） emissions from an agricultural field in the North China Plain were compared for three treatments during a whole maize growing period from 26 June to 11 October, 2012. Compared with the control treatment（without fertilization, designated as CK）, remarkable pulse emissions of N_2O, NO and NH_3 were observed from the normal fertilization treatment（designated as NP） just after fertilization, whereas only N_2O and NH_3 pulse emissions were evident from the nitrification inhibitor treatment（designated as ND）. The reduction proportions of N_2O and NO emissions from the ND treatment compared to those from the NP treatment during the whole maize growing period were 31% and 100%, respectively. A measurable increase of NH_3 emission from the ND treatment was found with a cumulative NH_3 emission of 3.8 ± 1.2 kg N/ha,which was 1.4 times greater than that from the NP treatment（2.7 ± 0.7 kg N/ha）.

Gene expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in injured spinal cord tissue

Objective: To investigate gene expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in injured spinal cord tissue of rats. Methods: Thirty-six adult Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into six groups: a normal group and five injury groups, six animals in each group. Animals in the injury groups were killed at 2, 6, 12, 24, 48 hours after injury, respectively. A compression injury model of spinal cord was established according to Nystrom B et al, and gene expression of iNOS in spinal cord tissue was examined by means of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: Gene expression of iNOS was not detectable in normal spinal cord tissue but was seen in the injury groups. The expression was gradually up-regulated, reaching the maximum at 24 hours. The expression at 48 hours began to decrease but was still significantly higher than that at 2 hours. Conclusions: iNOS is not involved in the normal physiological activities of spinal cord. Expression of iNOS is up-regulated in spinal cord tissue in response to injury and the up-regulation exists mainly in the late stage after injury. Over-expression of iNOS may contribute to the late injury of spinal cord.

Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids ameliorates neuronal damage and reduces lesion extent in a mouse model of transient ischemic attack

Flavonoids are a major component in the traditional Chinese medicine Radix Ilicis Pubescentis.Previous studies have shown that the administration of Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids is protective in cerebral ischemia.However,to our knowledge,no studies have examined whether the total flavonoids extracted from Radix Ilicis Pubescentis prevent or ameliorate neuronal damage following transient ischemic attacks.Therefore,Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids question and the potential underlying mechanisms.Thus,beginning 3 days before the induction of a mouse model of transient ischemic attack using tert-butyl hydroperoxide injections,mice were intragastrically administered 0.3,0.15,or 0.075 g/kg of Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids daily for 10 days.The results of spectrophotometric analyses demonstrated that Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids enhanced oxygen free radical scavenging and reduced pathological alterations in the brain.Hematoxylin-eosin staining results showed that Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids reduced hippocampal neuronal damage and cerebral vascular injury in this mouse model of transient ischemic attack.These results suggest that the antioxidant effects of Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids alleviate the damage to brain tissue caused by transient ischemic attack.

Human endogenous retrovirus W env increases nitric oxide production and enhances the migration ability of microglia by regulating the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase

Human endogenous retrovirus W env(HERV-W env) plays a critical role in many neuropsychological diseases such as schizophrenia and multiple sclerosis(MS). These diseases are accompanied by immunological reactions in the central nervous system(CNS). Microglia are important immunocytes in brain inflammation that can produce a gasotransmitter – nitric oxide(NO). NO not only plays a role in the function of neuronal cells but also participates in the pathogenesis of various neuropsychological diseases. In this study, we reported increased NO production in CHME-5 microglia cells after they were transfected with HERV-W env. Moreover, HERV-W env increased the expression and function of human inducible nitric oxide synthase(hi NOS) and enhanced the promoter activity of hi NOS. Microglial migration was also enhanced. These data revealed that HERV-W env might contribute to increase NO production and microglial migration ability in neuropsychological disorders by regulating the expression of inducible NOS. Results from this study might lead to the identification of novel targets for the treatment of neuropsychological diseases, including neuroinflammatory diseases, stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Ameliorating Effect and Potential Mechanism of Camellia Oil on Constipated Mice

Constipation is a global epidemic. To evaluate the ameliorating effect of camellia oil on constipation,two slowtransit costive mice models were established by water deprivation or sucralfate gavage. Administration of camellia oil（ 4. 0 and 8. 0 mL/kg/day） significantly shortened the defecation time,increased defecation mass and fecal water content,with efficacies comparable to that of hemp seed oil. Intestinal propulsion test showed that camellia oil significantly enhanced the propelling rates of the charcoal powder in the intestine. Meanwhile,camellia oil also significantly decreased the serum levels of nitric oxide（ NO）,nitric oxide synthase（ NOS） and vasoactive intestinal peptide（ VIP） and increased serum substance P in costive animals. These results suggested that camellia oil can largely relieve slowtransit constipation and enhance the gastrointestinal motility through modulation of serum gastrointestinal motility key factors such as NO,NOS and VIP and substance P.