Investigations on Adsorption of Inorganic Ions in Aqueous Solution to Some Metal Oxides, Hydroxides and a Carbonate by the X-Ray Spectroscopic Method.

Why does the adsorption and concentration of inorganic chemical species proceed at aqueous-solid interfaces? In this review paper, we discuss the use of X-ray chemical state analysis to elucidate the intrinsic adsorption mechanism. Based on the chemical states of the species adsorbed to solids as determined by X-ray chemical state analysis, possible adsorption mechanisms are discussed. The driving forces of adsorption are represented by the Gibbs free energy change (ΔGchem = ΔGchem,1 + ΔGchem,2) resulting from the formation of covalent bonds between metal ions (M) in metal oxides or hydroxides and adsorbed species (X) (M-O-X bond, ΔGchem,1) and the formation of new phases consisting of M and X (ΔGchem,2). The concept of ΔGchem,2 is proposed based on the experimental results from chemical state analyses. As examples, the following investigations are discussed in this review paper: the formation of mullite precursors by the adsorption of monosilicic acid to Al(OH)3, the spontaneous reduction of Au(III) to Au(0) by adsorption of Au(III) to Al(OH)3, MnO2 and Ni(OH)2 and the mechanism of concentration of Co2+, Tl+, Pb2+, Pt2+, Au+, and Pd2+ in marine ferromanganese crusts.

A new and practical Se(IV) removal method using Fe3+ type cation exchange resin.

An effective method for removing selenium (Se) from water is required from the viewpoint of environmental preservation. To establish this method, a cation exchange resin that adsorbed ferric ions was applied as an adsorbent. In this study, the adsorption behavior of Se to the adsorbent was examined by both batch and column methods. The batch experiment confirmed that selenite ions (Se(IV)) are effectively adsorbed but selenate ions (Se(VI)) are hardly adsorbed. To elucidate the adsorption mechanism, the Fe in the adsorbent and the Fe in the adsorbent after the adsorption of Se(IV) were characterized by Fe K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy and 57Fe Mӧssbauer spectroscopy. The analytical result of Se K-edge EXAFS spectra for the Se(IV) adsorbed on the adsorbent suggests that Se(IV) are adsorbed specifically to the adsorbent through the formation of Fe-O-Se bonds. The breakthrough curve obtained by the column experiment showed that Se(IV) in 3 tons of synthetic solution containing 0.1 ppm Se can be efficiently removed using a column in which 12.8 g (10.4 cm3) of the adsorbent was packed.

Voltammetric behavior of 1- and 4-[S2V(V)W17O62]5⁻ in acidified acetonitrile.

Data derived from a voltammetric and spectroscopic study of the V(V/IV) couple associated with the initial reduction of the Wells-Dawson-type mono vanadium-substituted polyoxometalates, 1- and 4-[S2V(V)W17O62](5-) in CH3CN as a function of CF3SO3H acid concentration have been obtained. (51)V NMR (V(V) component) and EPR (V(IV) component) spectra were measured in CH3CN in the presence and absence of an acid. These data showed a small fraction of the 1-isomer in the 4-[S2V(V)W17O62](5-) sample and that protonation could occur at both redox levels for both isomers. On the basis of the mechanism postulated from the voltammetric and spectroscopic data, simulations of cyclic voltammograms were undertaken for the reduction of the isomerically pure 1-[S2V(V)W17O62](5-) isomer over a wide acid concentration range, and the results were compared with experimental data. Cyclic voltammograms of the V(V/IV) couple derived from the reduction of 1- and 4-[X2V(V)W17O62](7-) (X = P, As) were also obtained in CH3CN and the results were compared with those for 1- and 4-[S2V(V)W17O62](5-). Reversible potentials for the V(V/IV) couple are dependent on the anion charge of the polyoxometalate. Analysis of cyclic voltammograms obtained for 1- and 4-[S2V(V)W17O62](5-) in acetonitrile, acetone, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethyl formamide and nitromethane showed that these V(V/IV) reversible potentials are also dependent on the acceptor numbers and the polarity index (E(T)(N)) values of the organic solvents.

Alleviation of behavioral hypersensitivity in mouse models of inflammatory pain with two structurally different casein kinase 1 (CK1) inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: The phylogenetically highly conserved CK1 protein kinases consisting of at least seven isoforms form a distinct family within the eukaryotic protein kinases. CK1 family members play crucial roles in a wide range of signaling activities. However, the functional role of CK1 in somatosensory pain signaling has not yet been fully understood. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of CK1 in the regulation of inflammatory pain in mouse carrageenan and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) models. RESULTS: We have used two structurally different CK1 inhibitors, TG003 and IC261. TG003, which was originally identified as a cdc2-like kinase inhibitor, had potent inhibitory effects on CK1 isoforms in vitro and in cultured cells. Intrathecal injection of either TG003 (1-100 pmol) or IC261 (0.1-1 nmol) dose-dependently decreased mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia induced by carrageenan or CFA. Bath-application of either TG003 (1 µM) or IC261 (1 µM) had only marginal effects on spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) recorded in the substantia gelatinosa neurons of control mice. However, both compounds decreased the frequency of sEPSCs in both inflammatory pain models. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that CK1 plays an important pathophysiological role in spinal inflammatory pain transmission, and that inhibition of the CK1 activity may provide a novel strategy for the treatment of inflammatory pain.

Identification and characterization of two strains of human parechovirus 4 isolated from two clinical cases in Fukuoka City, Japan.

Reverse transcription-PCR targeting the VP0 gene of human parechoviruses (HPeVs) was used to identify two isolates from two Japanese children's stool specimens. Molecular analysis revealed that these isolates belonged to HPeV type 4, and their nucleotide identity in the P1 region was 85.0%.

Linoleic acid-rich fats reduce atherosclerosis development beyond its oxidative and inflammatory stress-increasing effect in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice in comparison with saturated fatty acid-rich fats.

The relative benefit of replacing saturated fatty acid with linoleic acids is still being debated because a linoleic acid-enriched diet increases oxidative and inflammatory stresses, although it is associated with a reduction in serum cholesterol levels. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of linoleic acid-rich (HL) fat, compared with a saturated fatty acid-rich (SF) fat on atherosclerotic lesion areas, serum and liver cholesterol levels, oxidative stress (urinary isoprostanes and serum malondialdehayde) and inflammatory stress (expression of aortic monocyte chemoattractant protein-1; MCP-1) in apo E-deficient mice. Male and female apo E-deficient mice (8 weeks old; seven to eight per group) were fed an AIN-76-based diet containing SF fat (50 g palm oil and 50 g lard/kg) or HL fat (100 g high-linoleic safflower-seed oil/kg) for 9 weeks. Compared with the SF diet, the HL diet lowered atherosclerosis (P<0.05). It reduced serum total cholesterol levels (P<0.05), increased HDL-cholesterol levels (P<0.05) and lowered liver esterified cholesterol levels (P<0.01). The HL diet-fed mice showed increased expression of MCP-1 mRNA (P<0.05), serum levels of malondialdehayde (P<0.05) and urinary excretion of 2,3-dinor-5,6-dihydro-8-iso-prostaglandin F2alpha; P<0.05). These results suggest that having biomarkers in vivo for oxidative stress and inflammatory status of endothelial cells does not necessarily indicate predisposition to an increased lesion area in the aortic root in apo E-deficient mice fed an HL or SF diet.

Differential effect of walnut oil and safflower oil on the serum cholesterol level and lesion area in the aortic root of apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.

Walnut oil (WO) is a good source of alpha-linolenic acid. We compared the effects of WO and high-linoleic safflower oil (HLSO) on the serum lipid level and atherosclerosis development in male and female apolipoprotein (apo) E-deficient mice. The WO diet resulted in a higher level of serum cholesterol than with HLSO. Female mice fed on the WO diet had a greater lesion area in the aortic root than did those on the HLSO diet. There was no diet-dependent difference in the level of cholesterol and its oxidation products in the abdominal and thoracic aorta. These results suggest that the unpleasant effects of the WO diet on apo E-deficient mice may be attributable to alpha-linolenic acid.