Remarkable Effect of PEG-1000-based Dicationic Ionic Liquid for N-hydroxyphthalimide-catalyzed Aerobic Selective Oxidation of Alkylaromatics

PEG 1000–based functional dicationic acidic ionic liquid (PEG1000 –DAIL) was used for the first time as the reaction solvent for the N-Hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI)-cobalt acetate(Co(OAc)2) catalyzed aerobic oxidations of alkylaromatics to the corresponding acids. It enhanced the efficient catalytic ability of NHPI: 99.9 % conversion of toluene with 99.5 % selectivity for benzoic acid could be obtained at 80 °C in 10 h and ethylbenzene was selectively oxidized to benzoic acid. Several alkylaromatics were efficiently oxidized to their corresponding acids under mild conditions. For substituted toluene, the conversions of substrates and the selectivity of products was affected by the position and kind of substituted groups, respectively. Both the catalyst and PEG1000 –DAIL could be reused at least eight times without significantly decreasing the catalytic activity.(doi: 10.5562/cca2051

New Intersections for Student Engagement in Libraries: A Qualitative Exploration of Collaborative Learning with Multimedia Technologies

Objective – The purpose of this study was to explore new ways librarians can provide meaningful learning experiences for students beyond the traditional classroom assignment and the one-hour library instruction session. Methods – The study was done within a qualitative framework using participative, interpretive, and personal experience methods. The research team consisted of two librarians and a graduate student. Data collected included transcripts of audio-recorded team meetings and interviews, field notes, and a post-project survey, where students described their experiences negotiating the conceptual and technical processes of authoring a multimedia story. The instructional layer was built upon a constructivist approach allowing for a collaborative learning setting to foster learner control and self-efficacy. Results – Findings illustrate the benefits of collaborative approaches for enhancing the learning experiences of students in the library, in this case with multimedia. The data also suggest promising new ways for librarians to facilitate learning and to engage students in the library. Conclusion – Through a multimedia project that involves both librarian-guided exploration and collaborative learning processes, libraries can offer students formal and structured opportunities to explore their own interests or underlying curiosities beyond the classroom assignment and the one-hour library instruction session

Statistical distribution of HI 21cm intervening absorbers as potential cosmic acceleration probes

Damped Lyman-$\alpha$ Absorber (DLA), or HI 21cm Absorber (H21A), is an important probe to model-independently measure the acceleration of spectroscopic velocity ($v_\mathrm{S}$) via the Sandage-Loeb (SL) effect. Confined by the shortage of DLAs and Background Radio Sources (BRSs) with adequate information, the detectable amount of DLAs is ambiguous in the bulk of previous work. After differing the acceleration of scale factor ($\ddot{a}$) from the first order time derivative of spectroscopic velocity ($\dot{v}_\mathrm{S}$), we make a statistical investigation of the amount of potential DLAs in the most of this paper. Using Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) to depict general redshift distributions of BRSs, observed DLAs and a DLA detection rate with different limitations (1.4GHz flux, HI column density and spin temperature), we provide fitted multi-Gaussian expressions of the three components and their 1$\sigma$ regions by bootstrap, with a proportional constant of H21As in detected DLAs, leading to the measurable number predictions of H21As for FAST, ASKAP and SKA1-Mid in HI absorption blind survey. In our most optimistic condition ($F_\mathrm{1.4GHz}$>10mJy, $N_\mathrm{HI}>2\times10^{20}\mathrm{cm^{-2}}$ and $T_\mathrm{S}$>500K), the FAST, AKSAP and SKA1-Mid would probe about 80, 500 and 600 H21As respectively.Comment: Accepted by MNRAS, 11 pages(without references), 20 figures, 6 table

KLF8 enhances acute myeloid leukemia cell growth and glycolysis via AKT/mTOR pathway

Purpose: To determine the role and mechanisms of Krüppel-like transcription factor 8 (KLF8) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML).Methods: The transcriptional and translational levels of KLF8 in AML cell lines were determined by quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting. Two RNAs targeting KLF8 were transfected into KG-1 and HL-60 cells. The growth and apoptosis of AML cells were determined using CCK-8, 5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine (EdU), flow cytometry, and western blot assays. Glycolysis was evaluated by relative glucose consumption, lactate generation, ATP levels, and hexokinase II (HK2), while glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) protein expression levels. AKT, phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and p-mTOR expression levels were assessed by western blot.Results: KLF8 mRNA and protein expression levels were elevated in AML cells (p < 0.01). KLF8 knockdown in AML cells decreased cell viability, EdU-positivity, relative glucose consumption, lactate generation, ATP levels, and HK2 and GLUT1 protein levels (p < 0.01). Apoptosis increased in KG-1 and HL-60 cells, with enhanced Bax and reduced Bcl-2 protein levels, after transfection with sh-KLF8. The relative expression levels of p-AKT/AKT and p-mTOR/mTOR were reduced in KG-1 and HL-60 cells transfected with sh-KLF8.Conclusion: Downregulation of KLF8 inhibits proliferation and glycolysis, and also promotes apoptosis in AML cells via AKT/mTOR pathway