[en] Highlights: • The solubility of α-D-glucose in binary mixtures has been obtained in this work. • The solubility decreases with the increase of volume fraction of water in the solvents. • The solubility of α-D-glucose increases with the increase of temperature. • The results show that the three models agree well with the experimental data. • The Apelblat equation was more accurate than the λh model and ideal model. -- Abstract: Using dynamic method and the laser monitoring observation technique, the solubility of α-D-glucose in {water + (acetic acid or propionic acid)} was measured over the temperature range (297.55 to 331.45) K at atmospheric pressure. Its corresponding (solid + liquid) equilibrium data will provide essential support for industrial design and further theoretical studies. The solubility of α-D-glucose in the mixtures of (water + acetic acid), and (water + propionic acid) was found to increase with increasing temperature and decrease with increasing volume fractions of acetic acid, and propionic acid in aqueous solution. The experimental data were correlated by using the Apelblat equation, the λh equation and the ideal solution equation. The results showed that these three models agreed well with the experimental values, and the Apelblat equation was found to regress the solubility data better than the other two models

[en] Graphical abstract: The limiting partial molar volume V_ϕ⁰ of cefepime hydrochloride in water are positive and increase with increasing temperature. The positive values of V_ϕ⁰ indicate that the solute–solvent interaction decreases as temperature increases. Highlights: • Density and viscosity of cefepime hydrochloride in water and normal saline has been obtained. • The results show that the model agrees well with the experimental data. • The nature of solute–solute and solute–solvent interactions has been probed. -- Abstract: Density (ρ) and viscosity (η) measurements were carried out for cefepime hydrochloride in water and 0.9 mass % normal saline from (278.15 to 313.15) K. The dependence of density and viscosity on temperature and concentration has been correlated. Apparent molar volumes, standard partial molar volumes, and the viscosity B-coefficient of cefepime hydrochloride were calculated from the experimental measurements. The results are used to establish the nature of solute–solute. Solute–solvent interactions and structure breaking effect of cefepime hydrochloride have been discussed using the Helper equation and the Jones–Dole equation. The relationship between relative changes in viscosity and solute-mixed solvent interaction has been probed

[en] Thermoacoustic imaging with current injection (TAI-CI) is a novel imaging technology that couples with electromagnetic and acoustic research, which combines the advantages of high contrast of the electrical impedance tomography and the high spatial resolution of sonography, and therefore has the potential for early diagnosis. To verify the feasibility of TAI-CI for complex bone-containing biological tissues, the principle of TAI-CI and the coupling characteristics of fluid and solid were analyzed. Meanwhile, thermoacoustic (TA) effects for fluid model and fluid–solid coupling model were analyzed by numerical simulations. Moreover, we conducted experiments on animal cartilage, hard bone and biological soft tissue phantom with low conductivity (0.5 S/m). By injecting a current into the phantom, the thermoacoustic signal was detected by the ultrasonic transducer with a center frequency of 1 MHz, thereby the B-scan image of the objects was obtained. The B-scan image of the cartilage experiment accurately reflects the distribution of cartilage and gel, and the hard bone has a certain attenuation effect on the acoustic signal. However, compared with the ultrasonic imaging, the thermoacoustic signal is only attenuated during the outward propagation. Even in this case, a clear image can still be obtained and the images can reflect the change of the conductivity of the gel. This study confirmed the feasibility of TAI-CI for the imaging of biological tissue under the presence of cartilage and the bone. The novel TAI-CI method provides further evidence that it can be used in the diagnosis of human diseases. (paper)

[en] A new method for generating hydrogen by the reaction of Al powder with water using iodine as additive is developed. I₂ can penetrate through the surface oxide layer on aluminium to form AlI₃. High solubility of AlI₃ in water is benefited to activate Al surface. It is found that the production of hydrogen becomes significant above 60° C and obeys a logarithm rule. The pH value varies from 5 to 3 then back to 4.5 during the reaction, which is determined mainly by the kinetics of hydration reaction of AlI₃ and the reaction of Al and HI produced spontaneously. (cross-disciplinary physics and related areas of science and technology)

[en] Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the second-most common form of leukemia in children. Aberrant DNA methylation patterns are a characteristic feature of AML. GATA4 has been suggested to be a tumor suppressor gene regulated by promoter hypermethylation in various types of human cancers although the expression and promoter methylation of GATA4 in pediatric AML is still unclear. Transcriptional expression levels of GATA4 were evaluated by semi-quantitative and real-time PCR. Methylation status was investigated by methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and bisulfate genomic sequencing (BGS). The prognostic significance of GATA4 expression and promoter methylation was assessed in 105 cases of Chinese pediatric acute myeloid leukemia patients with clinical follow-up records. MSP and BGS analysis showed that the GATA4 gene promoter is hypermethylated in AML cells, such as the HL-60 and MV4-11 human myeloid leukemia cell lines. 5-Aza treatment significantly upregulated GATA4 expression in HL-60 and MV4-11 cells. Aberrant methylation of GATA4 was observed in 15.0 % (3/20) of the normal bone marrow control samples compared to 56.2 % (59/105) of the pediatric AML samples. GATA4 transcript levels were significantly decreased in AML patients (33.06 ± 70.94; P = 0.011) compared to normal bone marrow/idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura controls (116.76 ± 105.39). GATA4 promoter methylation was correlated with patient leukocyte counts (WBC, white blood cells) (P = 0.035) and minimal residual disease MRD (P = 0.031). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed significantly shorter overall survival time in patients with GATA4 promoter methylation (P = 0.014). Epigenetic inactivation of GATA4 by promoter hypermethylation was observed in both AML cell lines and pediatric AML samples; our study implicates GATA4 as a putative tumor suppressor gene in pediatric AML. In addition, our findings imply that GATA4 promoter methylation is correlated with WBC and MRD. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed significantly shorter overall survival in pediatric AML with GATA4 promoter methylation but multivariate analysis shows that it is not an independent factor. However, further research focusing on the mechanism of GATA4 in pediatric leukemia is required. The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12885-015-1760-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

[en] Survivin, a member of the family of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins, functions as a key regulator of mitosis and programmed cell death. YM155, a novel molecular targeted agent, suppresses survivin, which is overexpressed in many tumor types. The aim of this study was to determine the antitumor activity of YM155 in SK-NEP-1 cells. SK-NEP-1 cell growth in vitro and in vivo was assessed by MTT and nude mice experiments. Annexin V/propidium iodide staining followed by flow cytometric analysis was used to detect apoptosis in cell culture. Then gene expression profile of tumor cells treated with YM155 was analyzed with real-time PCR arrays. We then analyzed the expression data with MEV (Multi Experiment View) cluster software. Datasets representing genes with altered expression profile derived from cluster analyses were imported into the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis tool. YM155 treatment resulted in inhibition of cell proliferation of SK-NEP-1cells in a dose-dependent manner. Annexin V assay, cell cycle, and activation of caspase-3 demonstrates that YM155 induced apoptosis in SK-NEP-1 cells. YM155 significantly inhibited growth of SK-NEP-1 xenografts (YM155 5 mg/kg: 1.45 ± 0.77 cm³; YM155 10 mg/kg: 0.95 ± 0.55 cm³) compared to DMSO group (DMSO: 3.70 ± 2.4 cm³) or PBS group cells (PBS: 3.78 ± 2.20 cm³, ANOVA P < 0.01). YM155 treatment decreased weight of tumors (YM155 5 mg/kg: 1.05 ± 0.24 g; YM155 10 mg/kg: 0.72 ± 0.17 g) compared to DMSO group (DMSO: 2.06 ± 0.38 g) or PBS group cells (PBS: 2.36 ± 0.43 g, ANOVA P < 0.01). Real-time PCR array analysis showed between Test group and control group there are 32 genes significantly up-regulated and 54 genes were significantly down-regulated after YM155 treatment. Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) showed cell death was the highest rated network with 65 focus molecules and the significance score of 44. The IPA analysis also groups the differentially expressed genes into biological mechanisms that are related to cell death, cellular function maintenance, cell morphology, carbohydrate metabolism and cellular growth and proliferation. Death receptor signaling (3.87E-19), TNFR1 signaling, induction of apoptosis by HIV1, apoptosis signaling and molecular mechanisms of cancer came out to be the top four most significant pathways. IPA analysis also showed top molecules up-regulated were BBC3, BIRC3, BIRC8, BNIP1, CASP7, CASP9, CD5, CDKN1A, CEBPG and COL4A3, top molecules down-regulated were ZNF443, UTP11L, TP73, TNFSF10, TNFRSF1B, TNFRSF25, TIAF1, STK17A, SST and SPP1, upstream regulator were NR3C1, TP53, dexamethasone , TNF and Akt. The present study demonstrates that YM155 treatment resulted in apoptosis and inhibition of cell proliferation of SK-NEP-1cells. YM155 had significant role and little side effect in the treatment of SK-NEP-1 xenograft tumors. Real-time PCR array analysis firstly showed expression profile of genes dyes-regulated after YM155 treatment. IPA analysis also represents new molecule mechanism of YM155 treatment, such as NR3C1 and dexamethasone may be new target of YM155. And our results may provide new clues of molecular mechanism of apoptosis induced by YM155

[en] Highlights: • Aging and minerals can affect the compositions and structures of the HLA. • Macromolecular HLA were dissociated to smaller ones, separated from minerals. • The HLA molecules started to polymerize aromatic macromolecules during aging. • Demineralization and aging increased the ETC of the landfill-derived HLA. • Demineralization and aging facilitated the microbial-mediated PCP dechlorination. -- Abstract: Electron transfer capacities (ETC) of humic-like acids (HLA) and their effects on dechlorination are dependent on their redox-active properties. Aging and minerals can affect the chemical compositions and structures of HLA. However, the underlying mechanism and the impacts on the dechlorination capacities of HLA are poorly understood. We investigated how redox properties change in association with the intrinsic chemical natures and exterior minerals of the HLA extracted from landfilled solid wastes. Furthermore, the ETC of the landfill-derived HLA could be strengthened by increasing landfill age and demineralization, thereby facilitating the dechlorination of pentachlorophenol (PCP). The HLA molecules started to polymerize aromatic macromolecules during landfilling, leading to an increase in ETC and dechlorination capacities. Macromolecular HLA were dissociated to smaller molecules and exposed more aromatic and carboxyl groups when separated from minerals, which enhanced the ETC and the dechlorination abilities of the HLA. Microbial-mediated dechlorination was an effective way to degrade PCP, and almost 80% of the PCP was transformed after 40 days of demineralized HLA and Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 incubation. The demineralization and aging further facilitated the microbial-mediated PCP dechlorination. The findings provide a scientific base for improving in-situ bioremediation of chlorinated compound-contaminated soils using freshly synthesized HLA.