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In order to improve the desulfurization efficiency, an ionic liquid (IL) was used as the solvent for the desulfurization of diesel fuel with nickel boride. The nickel boride prepared in IL-H2O showed high specific surface area. The desulfurization efficiency of model organosulfur compounds in this work was higher than that in the previous studies. The desulfurization reactivity of model organosulfur compounds followed the order of BT (DBT) > 3-MBT > 4,6-DMDBT. Furthermore, the products of model organosulfur compounds after desulfurization were analyzed by GC/MS and their corresponding reaction routes were proposed. The effectiveness of nickel salts followed the order of NiCl2 (Ni(OAc)2) > NiSO4 > Ni(NO3)2. The desulfurization efficiency of model diesel fuels reached 90.6% under the conditions of B/S molar ratio = 9, Ni(OAc)2/S molar ratio = 3, oil/IL volume ratio = 3, water content in IL = 5%, and reaction time = 50 min. ILs maintained their original structures after regeneration. Finally, the desulfurization of real diesel fuel was carried out and a desulfurization efficiency of 88.6% was obtained in 50 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal recovery is a promising way to reduce the pollution from electroplating wastewater (EPW), and magnetite photocatalysts of mixed-ferrite (M-Fe3O4)@SiO2/metal oxides have been prepared to reuse heavy metals from simulated-EPW (S-EPW) and real-EPW (R-EPW). In this work, four pure magnetite photocatalysts M-Fe3O4)@SiO2/ZnO, M-Fe3O4)@SiO2/CuO, M-Fe3O4)@SiO2/Fe2O3, and M-Fe3O4)@SiO2/NiO were synthesized via a simple precipitation reaction, where the M-Fe3O4)@SiO2 core- shell nanoparticles served as the magnetic cores and supports for the metal oxides. The structures, morphologies, and magnetic properties of these magnetite photocatalysts were characterized, and then the photocatalytic performances of the pure and complex magnetite photocatalysts (M-Fe3O4)@SiO2 supported single and mixed-metal oxides) were tested and compared using methyl orange (MO) degradation experiments. It was found that M-Fe3O4)@SiO2/ZnO had the best photocatalytic performance of the pure magnetite photocatalysts, with a MO removal rate of 91.5%, followed by 37.4% for M-Fe3O4)@SiO2/NiO, 19.0% for M-Fe3O4)@SiO2/Fe2O3, and 17.6% for M-Fe3O4)@SiO2/CuO. The removal rates were 17.4% and 13.2% for the complex magnetite photocatalysts prepared from S-EPW and R-EPW, respectively. More than 98% of the heavy metals can be recovered from EPW through the simultaneous synthesis of the magnetite photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resina draconis (bright red resin isolated from Dracaena cochinchinensis, RD) has been clinically used for treatment of myocardial ischemia (MI) for many years. However, the mechanisms of its pharmacological action on MI are still poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize the plasma metabolic profiles of MI and investigate the mechanisms of RD on MI using ultraperformance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry-based metabolomics combined with pattern recognition methods and metabolic pathway analysis. Twenty metabolite markers characterizing metabolic profile of MI were revealed, which were mainly involved in aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis, vascular smooth muscle contraction, sphingolipid metabolism, and so forth. After RD treatment, however, levels of seven MI metabolite markers, including phytosphingosine, sphinganine, acetylcarnitine, cGMP, cAMP, L-tyrosine, and L-valine, were turned over, indicating that RD is likely to alleviate MI through regulating the disturbed vascular smooth muscle contraction, sphingolipid metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, and BCAA metabolism. To our best knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study to investigate the mechanisms of RD for treating MI, from a metabolomics point of view. Our findings are very valuable to gain a better understanding of MI metabolic profiles and provide novel insights for exploring the mechanisms of RD on MI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In spite of great advances in target-oriented Western medicine for treating myocardial infarction (MI), it is still a leading cause of death in a worldwide epidemic. In contrast to Western medicine, Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) uses a holistic and synergistic approach to restore the balance of Yin-Yang of body energy so the body's normal function can be restored. Sini decoction (SND) is a well-known formula of TCM which has been used to treat MI for many years. However, its holistic activity evaluation and mechanistic understanding are still lacking due to its complex components. Methodology/Principal Findings: A urinary metabonomic method based on nuclear magnetic resonance and ultra highperformance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry was developed to characterize MI-related metabolic profiles and delineate the effect of SND on MI. With Elastic Net for classification and selection of biomarkers, nineteen potential biomarkers in rat urine were screened out, primarily related to myocardial energy metabolism, including the glycolysis, citrate cycle, amino acid metabolism, purine metabolism and pyrimidine metabolism. With the altered metabolism pathways as possible drug targets, we systematically analyze the therapeutic effect of SND, which demonstrated that SND administration could provide satisfactory effect on MI through partially regulating the perturbed myocardial energy metabolism. Conclusions/Significance: Our results showed that metabonomic approach offers a useful tool to identify MI-related biomarkers and provides a new methodological cue for systematically dissecting the underlying efficacies and mechanisms of TCM in treating MI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Doxorubicin (DOX) is one of the most potent antitumor agents available; however, its clinical use is limited because of the risk of severe cardiotoxicity. Though numerous studies have ascribed DOX cardiomyopathy to specific cellular pathways, the precise mechanism remains obscure. Sini decoction (SND) is a well-known formula of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is considered as efficient agents against DOX-induced cardiomyopathy. However, its action mechanisms are not well known due to its complex components. Methodology/Principal Findings: A tissue-targeted metabonomic method using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was developed to characterize the metabolic profile of DOX-induced cardiomyopathy in mice. With Elastic Net for classification and selection of biomarkers, twenty-four metabolites corresponding to DOX-induced cardiomyopathy were screened out, primarily involving glycolysis, lipid metabolism, citrate cycle, and some amino acids metabolism. With these altered metabolic pathways as possible drug targets, we systematically analyzed the protective effect of TCM SND, which showed that SND administration could provide satisfactory effect on DOX-induced cardiomyopathy through partially regulating the perturbed metabolic pathways. Conclusions/Significance: The results of the present study not only gave rise to a systematic view of the development of DOX-induced cardiomyopathy but also provided the theoretical basis to prevent or modify expected damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landfill stabilization was investigated with nutrient change in aged refuse excavated from 3- to 15-year-old capped cell compartments at Shanghai Laogang Refuse Landfill, China. Field samples were characterized by total nitrogen (TN), available nitrogen (AN), total phosphate (TP), available phosphate (AP), total potassium (TK), available potassium (AK), total organic matter (TOC), and heavy metals (HM). Concentrations of TN, TP, TK, and organic matter contents in aged refuse ranged between 2.30 and 5.50, 2.13 and 7.43, 23.07 and 38.75 mg·g−1, and 6.32 and 11.57%, respectively, and these values apparently declined with disposal time. Physical properties of the composition in aged refuse indicated that the percentage of larger fractions, that is, stone/tile, fiber/fabric/paper, and wood/bamboo/bone, decreased slightly over time, whereas the proportions of finer fractions ( Y) (≤40 mm) increased as refuse age increased, following a logarithmic equation: Y = 33.345*Ln ( t, years) − 20.406 ( R2 = 0.9738). It was predicted that aged refuse in landfill would be stabilized after 8–10 years in the humid and warm southern areas of China, and it would be useful for the landfill operators to assess the safety of landfills and landfill reclamation plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]