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The production of ethylbenzene from dry gas is a representative of an energy-intensive process in oil refineries, and the distillation process accounts for the major energy consumption and carbon emissions. Due to the increasing energy and environmental challenges, there is a strong demand for new technologies or intensified process designs that enable us to have energy-efficient and sustainable process operations. In this work, an ionic liquid (IL)-based energy-efficient extractive distillation (ED) process with low carbon emission is proposed for the distillation process of ethylbenzene production from dry gas. First, the structure of task-specific ILs is optimized through the computer-aided IL design (CAILD) method with a novel design objective. An ammonium-based IL ethylammonium trifluoromethanesulfonate ([C2H8N][TfO]), that has the best objective performance, is identified by solving a mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problem. The energy, environmental (carbon emission), and economic performance of this [C2H8N][TfO]-based ED process in the ethylbenzene production is then thoroughly evaluated on the basis of optimized process operations in Aspen Plus. For demonstration purposes, a case study for the separation process of an industrial-scale ethylbenzene production in a Chinese refining industry is performed. When compared to the conventional process that is currently used in the petrochemical industry, our proposed [C2H8N][TfO]-based ED separation process has 40% energy (hot utility) savings and a 11% cost reduction. Notably, the IL-based ED separation process has 40% lower carbon emissions versus the conventional process, indicating its great potential for sustainable operation in the production of ethylbenzene from dry gas.

Xue H, Yu Z, Liu Y, et al. Int J Nanomedicine.2017;12:5271–5287. The authors of this paper have advised that Figure 8E is incorrect. Because of the similar label of groups LHD/miR-375 and LH/miR-375, the authors uploaded the wrong figure by mistake. The authors have confirmed this correction will not make any change to the conclusion of their original research.   Read the original article

Xue H, Yu Z, Liu Y, et al. Int J Nanomedicine.2017;12:5271–5287. The authors of this paper have advised that Figure 8E is incorrect. Because of the similar label of groups LHD/miR-375 and LH/miR-375, the authors uploaded the wrong figure by mistake. The authors have confirmed this correction will not make any change to the conclusion of their original research.   Read the original article

The spectral flux density of stars can indicate their atmospheric physical properties. A detector can obtain any band flux density at the design stage. However, the band flux density is confirmed and fixed in the process of operation because of the restriction of filters. Other band flux densities cannot be obtained through the same detector. In this study, a computational model of stellar spectral flux density is established based on basic physical parameters which are effective temperature and angular parameter. The stochastic particle swarm optimization algorithm is adopted to address this issue with appropriately chosen values of the algorithm parameters. Four star catalogues are studied and consist of the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fibre Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST), Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX), and Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS). The given flux densities from catalogues are input parameters. Stellar effective temperatures and angular parameters are inversed using the given flux densities according to SPSO algorithm. Then the flux density is calculated according to Planck's law on the basis of stellar effective temperatures and angular parameters. The calculated flux density is compared with the given value from catalogues. It is found that the inversion results are in good agreement for all bands of the MSX and 2MASS catalogues, whereas they do not agree well in some bands of the LAMOST and WISE catalogues. Based on the results, data from the MSX and 2MASS catalogues can be used to calculate the spectral flux density at different wavelengths of given wavelength ranges. The stellar flux density is obtained and can provide data support and an effective reference for detection and recognition of stars., Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures

The spectral flux density of stars can indicate their atmospheric physical properties. A detector can obtain any band flux density at the design stage. However, the band flux density is confirmed and fixed in the process of operation because of the restriction of filters. Other band flux densities cannot be obtained through the same detector. In this study, a computational model of stellar spectral flux density is established based on basic physical parameters which are effective temperature and angular parameter. The stochastic particle swarm optimization algorithm is adopted to address this issue with appropriately chosen values of the algorithm parameters. Four star catalogues are studied and consist of the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fibre Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST), Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX), and Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS). The given flux densities from catalogues are input parameters. Stellar effective temperatures and angular parameters are inversed using the given flux densities according to SPSO algorithm. Then the flux density is calculated according to Planck's law on the basis of stellar effective temperatures and angular parameters. The calculated flux density is compared with the given value from catalogues. It is found that the inversion results are in good agreement for all bands of the MSX and 2MASS catalogues, whereas they do not agree well in some bands of the LAMOST and WISE catalogues. Based on the results, data from the MSX and 2MASS catalogues can be used to calculate the spectral flux density at different wavelengths of given wavelength ranges. The stellar flux density is obtained and can provide data support and an effective reference for detection and recognition of stars., Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures

Huiying Xue,1 Zhaoyang Yu,1 Yong Liu,1 Weigang Yuan,1 Tan Yang,1 Jia You,1 Xingxing He,2 Robert J Lee,3 Lei Li,1 Chuanrui Xu1 1School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 2Institute of Liver Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; 3Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA Abstract: Multidrug resistance (MDR) due to overexpression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is a major obstacle that hinders the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It has been shown that miR-375 inhibits P-gp expression via inhibition of astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) expression in HCC, and induces apoptosis in HCC cells by targeting AEG-1 and YAP1. In this study, we prepared lipid-coated hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (LH) containing doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) and miR-375 (LHD/miR-375) to deliver the two agents into MDR HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. We found that LHD/miR-375 overcame drug efflux and delivered miR-375 and DOX into MDR HepG2/ADR cells or HCC tissues. MiR-375 delivered by LHD/miR-375 was taken up through phagocytosis and clathrin- and caveolae-mediated endocytosis. Following release from late endosomes, it repressed the expression of P-gp in HepG2/ADR cells. The synergistic effects of miR-375 and hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSN) resulted in a profound increase in the uptake of DOX by the HCC cells and prevented HCC cell growth. Enhanced antitumor effects of LHD/miR-375 were also validated in HCC xenografts and primary tumors; however, no significant toxicity was observed. Mechanistic studies also revealed that miR-375 and DOX exerted a synergistic antitumor effect by promoting apoptosis. Our study illustrates that delivery of miR-375 using HMSN is a feasible approach to circumvent MDR in the management of HCC. It, therefore, merits further development f

Huiying Xue,1 Zhaoyang Yu,1 Yong Liu,1 Weigang Yuan,1 Tan Yang,1 Jia You,1 Xingxing He,2 Robert J Lee,3 Lei Li,1 Chuanrui Xu1 1School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 2Institute of Liver Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; 3Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA Abstract: Multidrug resistance (MDR) due to overexpression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is a major obstacle that hinders the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It has been shown that miR-375 inhibits P-gp expression via inhibition of astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) expression in HCC, and induces apoptosis in HCC cells by targeting AEG-1 and YAP1. In this study, we prepared lipid-coated hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (LH) containing doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) and miR-375 (LHD/miR-375) to deliver the two agents into MDR HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. We found that LHD/miR-375 overcame drug efflux and delivered miR-375 and DOX into MDR HepG2/ADR cells or HCC tissues. MiR-375 delivered by LHD/miR-375 was taken up through phagocytosis and clathrin- and caveolae-mediated endocytosis. Following release from late endosomes, it repressed the expression of P-gp in HepG2/ADR cells. The synergistic effects of miR-375 and hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSN) resulted in a profound increase in the uptake of DOX by the HCC cells and prevented HCC cell growth. Enhanced antitumor effects of LHD/miR-375 were also validated in HCC xenografts and primary tumors; however, no significant toxicity was observed. Mechanistic studies also revealed that miR-375 and DOX exerted a synergistic antitumor effect by promoting apoptosis. Our study illustrates that delivery of miR-375 using HMSN is a feasible approach to circumvent MDR in the management of HCC. It, therefore, merits further development f