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2,4,5-Trichloro-6-((2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)amino)isophthalonitrile (SYD007) is a small molecule compound that was synthesized according to the structure of diarylamine. In this study, we evaluated the anti-bladder activities of SYD007, and determined its cytotoxic mechanism. We found that SYD007 exerted cytotoxicity to bladder cancer cells. Furthermore, SYD007 induced bladder cancer cell early apoptosis and arrested cell cycle. Mechanistically, SYD007 suppressed phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3) (Tyr705) level in parallel with increases of p-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p-AKT. SYD007 significantly inhibited insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)-induced STAT3 activation through down-regulation of total IGF-1R level. No dramatic changes in IGF-1R mRNA levels were observed in SYD007-treated cells, suggesting that SYD007 acted primarily at a posttranscriptional level. Using molecular docking analysis, SYD007 was identified as an IGF-1R inhibitor. In summary, we reported that SYD007 exerted anti-bladder activities, and these effects were partially due to inhibition of IGF-1R/STAT3 signaling.

Here, we present the rational design of a pinwheel-shaped three-dimensional microfluidic paper-based analytical device (3D-μPAD) for specific, sensitive and multiplexed detection of heavy metals in coastal waters. A more homogeneous permeation of fluids along the chip than common design, even under unskilled performance, has been achieved by the elaborate chip design of the hydrostatic balancing inlet port and uniformly stressed reversible sealing. With the combination of ion imprinted polymer grafted CdTe quantum-dots and fluid accumulation pad, 4 metals (Cu2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, and Hg2+) in 1 analysis and 25-fold enrichment for each metal can be simultaneously performed within 20 min, with detection limits of 0.007–0.015 μg/L. It has the ability to selectively recognize these 4 metals in mixtures and immunizing to interferences from components found in coastal waters, which provided results that were in agreement with values gained from atomic absorption. The inexpensive and portable nature as well as the highly sensitive and flexible performance of the new developed 3D-μPAD could make it attractive as an on-site testing approach for marine environmental monitoring.

Algae are the promising feedstock of biofuel. The screening of competent species and proper fertilizer supply is of the most important tasks. To accelerate this rather slow and laborious step, we developed an integrated high-throughput digital microfluidic (DMF) system that uses a discrete droplet to serve as a microbioreactor, encapsulating microalgal cells. On the basis of fundamental understanding of various droplet hydrodynamics induced by the existence of different sorts of ions and biological species, incorporation of capacitance-based position estimator, electrode-saving-based compensation, and deterministic splitting approach, was performed to optimize the DMF bioreactor. Thus, it enables all processes (e.g., nutrient gradient generation, algae culturing, and analyzing of growth and lipid accumulation) occurring automatically on-chip especially in a high-fidelity way. The ability of the system to compare different microalgal strains on-chip was investigated. Also, the Chlorella sp. were stressed by various conditions and then growth and oil accumulation were analyzed and compared, which demonstrated its potential as a powerful tool to investigate microalgal lipid accumulation at significantly lower laborites and reduced time.

Introduction: Mitogen-inducible gene 6 ( MIG6) holds a special position in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance. As MIG6 regulates the activity of EGFR signal pathway negatively, high level of MIG6 can increase the EGFR TKI resistance of cancer cells, and limit the therapeutic action of EGFR TKI, such as gefitinib or erlotinib. Therefore, better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of EGFR TKI resistance holds great value in cancer therapy. Methods: In our study, we mainly explored the function of transcription activator, myocyte enhancer factor 2C (MEF2C), on MIG6 expression as well as gefitinib-resistant ability of hepatic cancer cells. Results: Our results indicated that both MEF2C and MIG6 could be upregulated in gefitinib-resistant cancer tissues and cancer cell lines compared with gefitinib-sensitive ones. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay and dual luciferase assay showed that MEF2C could bind to the MEF2C element in the promoter sequence of MIG6 and promote the transcription of MIG6. This effect increased the gefitinib-resistant ability of cancer cells. Therefore, MEF2C knockdown inhibited the gefitinib resistance and limited the proliferation of hepatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, while overexpression of MEF2C showed opposite effect on cancer cell proliferation. Conclusion: Our study provides novel insight into the regulation mechanism of MIG6 and suggests potential implications for the therapeutic strategies of gefitinib resistance through inhibiting MEF2C in hepatic cancer cells.

Sir2 family proteins are highly conserved and catalyze Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD(+))-dependent protein deacetylation reaction that regulates multiple cellular processes. Little is known about Sir2 family proteins in Giardia. In this research, Sir2 homologs of Giardia were Phylogenetically analyzed. GL50803_10707 (GlSIR2.2) showed strong homology to SIRT1 and was the only parasite SIRT1 homolog being reported to date. Recombinant GlSIR2.2 (rGlSIR2.2) was expressed and purified. The renaturied recombinant protein showed a typical NAD-dependent protein deacetylase activity that could be inhibited by nicotinamide, with IC50 of 4.47 mM rGlSIR2.2 displayed deacetylase activity under varied NAD(+), with Km, kcat and kcat/Km values of 31.71 μM, 1.4 × 10(-3) s(-1), and 4.42 × 10(-5) μM(-1) s(-1). Similarly, the steady-state kinetic parameters with varied ZMAL, yielded Km, kcat and kcat/Km values of 96.89 μM, 4.7 × 10(-3) s(-1), and 4.85 × 10(-5) μM(-1) s(-1). Anti-rGlSIR2.2 serum was used to probe subcellular localization of GlSIR2.2 and strong staining was found predominantly in the nucleus. So we demonstrated that GlSIR2.2 was a SIRT1-like, nuclear-located, NAD(+)-dependent deacetylase. This is the first report of deacetylase activity of Sir2 family protein in Giardia.

We present an automatic design process for microfluidic dilution network towards marine ecological toxicity assessment on microalgae. Based on the hydraulic–electric circuit analogy, we defined an abstract specification using computer-aided designing system. Several approaches, especially circuit partition, were applied to minimize design effort. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation was exploited to convert the electrics specification to fabrication model. We automatically designed the combinational-mixing-serial dilution microfluidics to generate parallel stepwise gradients for mixing chemicals (binary/ternary/quaternary mixture) using the present algorithm. We critically discussed design rules and evaluated the microfluidic performance by colorimetric analysis. To examine whether these microfluidic chips can be used for toxicity test on microalgae, single and joint toxic effects of heavy metals (copper, mercury, zinc, and cadmium) were examined on line. In all cases, dose-related toxic responses were successfully detected. These results provided a solution for designing resistive network using circuit partition and CFD-based optimization and a route to develop a promising user-friendly alternative for microalgae bioassays as well as cell-based screening experiments in risk assessment.

Because of the crucial ecological significance of microalgae, microalgal bioassays have become one of the most demanding tests from all classic aquatic toxicity tests in regulatory frameworks. However, conventional algal tests tend to be lab-intensive and time- and space-consuming, and they have not been utilized to their full potential for routine toxicity assessments. Microfluidics should be a user-friendly alternative. Particularly, dilution to generate gradients that are appropriate for screening experiments can be precisely attained by microfluidic network in a simple and cost-/time-/space-saving way. Here, we demonstrate a microfluidics series toward routine microalgal bioassays, including pretest, single, and joint toxicity test. The chip mainly consists of upstream dilution network (single serial dilution module (logarithmic/linear gradient generator) or multiple (binary/ternary/quaternary) mixing serial dilution module) and downstream diffusible culturing module. It allows the processes of chemical liquid dilution and diffusion, microscale microalgal culture, cell stimulation, and online screening to be integrated into a single device. Electric theorems with the aid of EDA (electronic design automation) simulation were innovatively introduced to minimize design effort for such systems. Using the device, microalgae were successfully cultured and stressed on-chip. The simple assay provides multibiological trait assessments of cell division rate, autofluorescence, esterase activity, and mobile capacity. This work showed promise in developing a high-throughput microfluidic platform for microalgal bioassays as well as lab-on-a-chip screening experiments in the cell-based quantitative assessment of environmental health risks.

An aqueous two-phase microfluidics (ATPM) method suitable for selective extraction of bisphenol A (BPA) in aqueous samples was developed, and a functional ionic liquid of N, N, N-trioctyl ammonium propionate (TOAP) was specially employed for the formation of a parallel flow system. Based on the analytical model, we optimized the chip design into branch-connection length pattern to achieve maximum extraction efficiency (φ max) and ensure phase separation. In combining the design flexibility and ideal reaction activity of extractant (TOAP), the developed ATPM enabled a selective and effective extraction of BPA (φ max of 95% within 2 s) from phenol derivatives. Meanwhile, the total operation time and ionic liquid consumption of the microfluidic extraction were only 2.5 min and 5 μl, respectively. The ATPM can be run at normal pH and room temperature and showed no interferences from components found in tap or beach water. To be noted, this specific extraction system was applied in real water samples; the recoveries of standard addition for all water samples spiked with BPA were from 96 to 110%. Finally, successful reuse of the chip was also realized. In all cases, the developed microfluidic chip was proven to be useful as an effective and low consumption approach in extracting BPA and should be expanded as a "green" preparative method for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis.

With cationic and anionic surfactants cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecylsulfonate (SDS) as modifiers, Ca-montmorillonites (Ca-Mt), artificial Na-montmorillonites (R-Na-Mt) and natural Na-montmorillonites (Na-Mt) with different cation exchange capacity (CEC) were modified by solution intercalation method, respectively. Then cation–anion organo-montmorillonites (OMt) were prepared. The influence of CEC on the basal spacing of cation–anion OMt and the influence mechanism were discussed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and zeta potential testing. The results indicate that the basal spacing of cation–anion OMt is related to CEC. For the same type montmorillonites, the basal spacing of cation–anion OMt decreases with the increase of CEC and it is easier to get cation–anion OMt with greater basal spacing when CEC is lower. Moreover, the CEC of Na-Mt has the greatest influence on the basal spacing of cation–anion OMt.

The mechanisms how Giardias attach to the intestinal epithelium remain unclear. None of the methods currently being used to measure the attachment force could provide a continuous nutrition supply and a micro-aerobic atmosphere to the Giardia. Besides, they are all labor-intensive. In the present research, a microfluidic method based on electric circuit analogy was developed. The input fluid flowed through the inlet channel with different lengths and was distributed in four assay chambers. Shear force gradients were generated in chambers, too. This allowed an easy control of fluids and the shear forces. Most importantly, the shear stress large enough to detach Giardia could be generated in laminar flow regime. Moreover, analysis could be accomplished in one single test. By applying inlet flow rates of 30, 60, and 120 μL ml–1, shear force gradients ranging from 19.47 to 60.50 Pa were generated. The adhesion forces of trophozoites were analyzed and the EC50 of the force that caused 50% trophozoites detachment was calculated as 36.60 Pa. This paper presents a novel method for measurement of Giardia adhesion force.

We report the use of microalgal swimming behavior as a sensor signal integrated into microfluidics for a rapid and high-throughput determination of pollutant toxicity. There are two types of chip. A poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) 12-well chip, used for optimization of experimental conditions (i.e. light level, temperature, initial cellular density and exposure time), can perform twelve parallel tests simultaneously. In a concentration gradient generator (CGG) chip, a CGG connected with diffusible chambers enables a large number of dose–response bioassays to be performed in a simple way. Microalgal swimming was set as a microfluidic bioassay signal and was evaluated as swimming manner, motile percentage (%MOT), curvilinear velocity (VCL), average path velocity (VAP) and straight line velocity (VSL). Under optimized physical conditions, the toxicities of Cu, Pb, phenol and nonylphenol (NP) towards four mobile marine microalgae, Platymonas subcordiformis, Platymonas helgolandica var. tsingtaoensis, Isochrysis galbana and Isochrysis zhanjiangensis sp. nov, were investigated. In all cases, a toxic response (i.e. a dose-related inhibition of swimming) was detected, and a time of only 2 h was needed to predict EC50 values. The 2h-EC50s showed that I. galbana was the most tolerant and that P. subcordiformis was one of the most sensitive. Based on the relative motile percentage data, the EC50 values for Cu of I. galbana and P. subcordiformis were 6.04 and 1.67 μM, respectively, while for Pb the EC50 values were 15.30 and 3.87 μM, for phenol the EC50 values were 8.69 and 6.08 mM, and for NP the EC50 values were 29.65 and 14.47 μM, respectively. Taking into account all the swimming inhibition parameters, MOT provided more sensitive EC results. The sensitivity differences between the velocity parameters (VCL, VAP and VSL) were ascribed to differences in swimming manner of the different classes of microalgae.

A polydimethylsiloxane microfluidic chip has been developed for the estimation of toxic heavy metals based on measurement of mobility of marine microalgae. The chip is mainly composed of an upstream concentration gradient generator and a downstream perfusion-based chemotatic module. The processes of toxic liquid dilution and diffusion, microalgal culturing, cell stimulation, and online screening can be integrated in this chip, which makes it an attractive approach to simplify toxicity testing procedures. The microalgal motility was adopted as a microfluidic bioassay signal and was evaluated as the percentage of motile cells, curvilinear velocity, average path velocity, and straight line velocity. Two mobile marine microalgae, Platymonas subcordiformis and Platymonas helgolandica var. tsingtaoensis, were confined in the chemotatic module and stimulated by the eight concentration gradients of Cu and Cd generated by the concentration gradient generator. In all cases, a toxic response was detected (i.e., a dose-related inhibition of motility was observed). Only 1.5 h was needed to predict EC(50) values. Thus, the microfluidic chip developed was proved to be useful as a simple and rapid approach in heavy metal detection and might be expanded as a conventional test method in environmental toxicity assessment.

Boron (B) deficiency is widespread and serious in navel orange orchards in southern Jiangxi in China and has been considered an important soil constraint to citrus yield and quality. It has been observed that there was great variation in responses to different B supply levels between “Newhall” navel orange grafted on citrange and trifoliate orange. The aim of this work was to compare the different responses of the two scion-rootstock combinations under different B stresses (low and high) in young citrus trees. “Newhall” navel orange grafted on citrange or trifoliate orange were incubated in nutrient solution containing different levels of B (0, 0.5 and 5.0 mg L−1), of which 0 and 5.0 mg L−1 were considered as deficient and excessive B and 0.5 mg L−1 was considered as an appropriate level of B. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse for 117 days. The results showed that, under low B or high B conditions, better growth performance was observed in “Newhall” plants grafted on citrange than in those gr...

An attempt was made to investigate the catalytic role of manganese in enhancing the reaction rate with respect to autoclave oxidation of germanium-rich sphalerite concentrates. A series of batch experiments was performed in different conditions to investigate the variables such as temperature and oxygen pressure. Experimental results obtained show that as a catalyst, aqueous divalent manganese can accelerate the leaching of sphalerite concentrates significantly. On a tente d'etudier le role catalytique du manganese pour ameliorer la vitesse de reaction de l'oxydation en autoclave de concentres de sphalerite riche en germanium. Une serie d'experiences discontinues ont ete menees dans differentes conditions afin d'etudier les variables telles que la temperature et la pression d'oxygene. Les resultats experimentaux obtenus montrent qu'en tant que catalyseur, le manganese divalent aqueux peut significativement accelerer la lixiviation des concentres de sphalerite.

Rich silver-bearing low-grade complex sulfide ores can be found in great supply in China's Yunnan Province. The beneficiation experiment showed that it would be very difficult to separate Ag (Zn or Pb) minerals with traditional ore beneficiation methods. In the present work, acid pressure oxidative leaching of such complex sulfide ores in sulfate medium added sodium iodine and at the temperature ranging from 90 to 170 °C was studied to search for silver recovery alternatives. The Lab-scale experiments were conducted in a 2-L autoclave to investigate the influences of temperature, acidity, sodium iodide addition, oxygen pressure, oxygen flow rate on recovery of silver and zinc. The experimental results obtained show that under optimum conditions, recovery yield of silver and zinc reaches 71.5% and 41.29%, respectively.

The wetlands in Lake Liangzi in the middle reaches of Yangtse River were investigaged in autumn, after late rice harvest in 2003. Five typical paddy soil were identified, i. e. submergic, hgdroaric, bleached, gleyed and swamp paddy soils. Soil profiles as well as samples from different horizons were collected for measuring organic matter, TN,TP, TK and available N, P,K etc. It was found that the content of organic matter, TN, TP, TK were 24.203-56. 815 g/kg, 1.385-2.911 g/kg,0.406-0.523 g/ kg and 14.68 -26.77 g/kg, respectively. The organic matter, TN,TP,TK were increased in paddy soils with the drop of topographical location and the ascending of ground-water level in the plow layer. The organic matter, TN, TP and TK were decreased form plow layer to subsoil in five paddy soil profile except that TK was increased from plow layer to subsoil in submergic paddy soil profile. In addition, available N of plow layer in swamp paddy soil was lower than gleyed paddy soil, but higher than other three paddy soils. Available N of plow layer has similar variation with TN in other four paddy soils whereas available P of plow layer was lowest in swamp paddy soil. Correlation analysis revealed that the organic matter, TN,TP,TK have significant correlation in plow layer with correlation coefficient of 0.957, 0.953 and 0. 825,respectively. At swamp paddy soil profile, the correlations between organic matter with TK, and between TN with TK were also significant, with correlation coefficients of 0.772 and 0. 674,respectively. However, at sumergic paddy soil profile the TP with TK were negatively correlated(R = -0.675).

A 3D paper-based microfluidic device has been developed for colorimetric determination of selected heavy metals in water samples by stacking layers of wax patterned paper and double-sided adhesive tape. It has the capability of wicking fluids and distributing microliter volumes of samples from single inlet into affrays of detection zones without external pumps, thus a range of metal assays can be simply and inexpensively performed. We demonstrate a prototype of four sample inlets for up to four heavy metal assays each, with detection limits as follows: Cu (II) = 0.29 ppm, Ni(II) = 0.33 ppm, Cd (II) = 0.19 ppm, and Cr (VI) = 0.35 ppm, which provided quantitative data that were in agreement with values gained from atomic absorption. It has the ability to identify these four metals in mixtures and is immune to interferences from either nontoxic metal ions such as Na(I) and K(I) or components found in reservoir or beach water. With the incorporation of a portable detector, a camera mobile phone, this 3D paper-based microfluidic device should be useful as a simple, rapid, and on-site screening approach of heavy metals in aquatic environments.

The intensification of the world economic integration and the expansion of the domestic exchanges with foreign countries skyrocket the demand of interpreters in China, which is unlikely to be fully satisfied at present just because the training of interpreters is mainly included under the MTI programs. For this reason, it is of great significance to explore the feasibility of training interpreters at undergraduate level. Based on the review of the current domestic demands of interpreters in China, this paper sets out to introduce the “Stage-featured, Teacher and Expert-operated Multidimensional (STEM, for short) Interpreting Teaching Model" that was developed during the research and experiment in the undergraduate interpreting program in Sias International College, with the hope of providing experience for other similar study in this field.

In order to enhance the effect of sulfur passivation, the influence of solution polarity on the passivation was investigated; With the following conclusion: the smaller polarity of the solution, the better effect of the passivation. A novel passivation solution made up of (NH 4 ) 2 S+Se+t-C 4 H 9 OH has been prepared. The PL spectrum intensity of the samples treated by (NH 4 ) 2 S+Se+t-C 4 H 9 OH is 23 times stronger than that of non-passivated samples and more efficient than (NH 4 ) 2 S passivation alone. This result indicates that (NH 4 ) 2 S+Se+t-C 4 H 9 OH solution has a better passivation effect on GaAs(110) surface.

In this paper, ZnO films were deposited on GaAs (100) substrate as the protective-coating and antireflection coating of semiconductor laser facets, in order to improve the lifetime and reliability. This study investigated the microstructure of ZnO films deposited on GaAs (100) substrate with different sputtering conditions containing RF power, pressure, etc. The optical thickness(nm) of ZnO films was λ/4=96nm, the transmittance was up to 90% at the wavelength of 808nm, and the refractive index n is 1.9. The surface morphology of ZnO films was uniform and smooth; it may be desirable for semiconductor facet film application.

Amorphous GaAs1−xNx (a-GaAs1−xNx) thin films have been deposited at room temperature by a reactive magnetron sputtering technique on glass substrates with different sputtering pressures. The thickness, nitrogen content, carrier concentration and transmittance of the as-deposited films were determined experimentally. The influence of sputtering pressure on the optical band gap, refractive index and dispersion parameters (Eo, Ed) has been investigated. An analysis of the absorption coefficient revealed a direct optical transition characterizing the as-deposited films. The refractive index dispersions of the as-deposited a-GaAs1−xNx films fitted well to the Cauchy dispersion relation and the Wemple model.

Based on multi-step predictive index function, a fast neural network PID control algorithm is proposed. The algorithm uses multi-step predictive index function to train the weights of neural network PID controller, thereby, the system has the character of predictive control, and has faster dynamic speed than general neural network PID control.

Novel TiO2-modified macroporous materials (Ti-MOSF, see figure) have been synthesized with high surface area, large pore volume, and functional surfaces that are rich in coordinatively unsaturated TiIV species, which can be applied in the specific extraction of phosphopeptides and which show a preferential capture of multi-phosphorylated peptides with low detection limits and high selectivity.