Mutation Analysis of Radioresistant Early-Stage Cervical Cancer

Radiotherapy is a definitive treatment for early-stage cervical cancer; however, a subset of this disease recurs locally, necessitating establishment of predictive biomarkers and treatment strategies. To address this issue, we performed gene panel-based sequencing of 18 stage IB cervical cancers treated with definitive radiotherapy, including two cases of local recurrence, followed by in vitro and in silico analyses. Simultaneous mutations in KRAS and SMAD4 (KRAS^mt/SMAD4^mt) were detected only in a local recurrence case, indicating potential association of this mutation signature with radioresistance. In isogenic cell-based experiments, a combination of activating KRAS mutation and SMAD4 deficiency led to X-ray resistance, whereas either of these factors alone did not. Analysis of genomic data from 55,308 cancers showed a significant trend toward co-occurrence of mutations in KRAS and SMAD4. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis of the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia dataset suggested upregulation of the pathways involved in epithelial mesenchymal transition and inflammatory responses in KRAS^mt/SMAD4^mt cancer cells. Notably, irradiation with therapeutic carbon ions led to robust killing of X-ray-resistant KRAS^mt/SMAD4^mt cancer cells. These data indicate that the KRAS^mt/SMAD4^mt signature is a potential predictor of radioresistance, and that carbon ion radiotherapy is a potential option to treat early-stage cervical cancers with the KRAS^mt/SMAD4^mt signature.     

Fracture and acoustic emission characteristics of glass fiber reinforced plastics panels for hot water

This study deals with the fracture process and acoustic emission (AE) characteristics of a randomly oriented E-glass fiber mat reinforcement with a crosslinked polyester. These panels were evaluated after they were immersed in hot water. The fiber volume content of the panel was 19%. Glass fiber reinforced plastics (GFRP) panels wer immersed in water at 81°C. Bending and AE monitoring tests were Performed and after bending, the cross-section of the specimen was observed by an optical microscope and SEM. The influence of degradation, due to water immersion, on the changes of fracture process of GFRP is discussed. The dominant fracture mode of the virgin specimen was matrix cracks, whereas that of the immersed specimen was debondings at the fiber bundle/matrix and fiber/matrix interfaces. This change was caused by reduction of the bonding strength at the interface. The scale of fracture can be estimated by both AE amplitude and AE energy and this estimation method was used to estimate the fracture mode changes of GFRP panels immersed in hot water.     

Solvent- and Light-Sensitive AIEE-Active Azo Dye: From Spherical to 1D and 2D Assemblies

Fluorescent molecular assembly systems provide an exciting platform for creating stimuli-responsive nano- and microstructured materials with optical, electronic, and sensing functions. To understand the relationship between (i) the plausible molecular structures preferentially adopted depending on the solvent polarity (such as N,N-dimethylformamide [DMF], tetrahydrofuran [THF], and toluene), (ii) the resulting spectroscopic features, and (iii) self-assembled nano-, micro-, and macrostructures, we chose a sterically crowded triangular azo dye (3Bu) composed of a polar molecular core and three peripheral biphenyl wings. The chromophore changed the solution color from yellow to pink-red depending on the solvent polarity. In a yellow DMF solution, a considerable amount of the twisted azo form could be kept stable with the help of favorable intermolecular interactions with the solvent molecules. By varying the concentration of the DMF solution, the morphology of self-assembled structures was transformed from nanoparticles to micrometer-sized one-dimensional (1D) structures such as sticks and fibers. In a pink-red toluene solution, the periphery of the central ring became more planar. The resulting significant amount of the keto-hydrazone tautomer grew into micro- and millimeter-sized 1D structures. Interestingly, when THF-H₂O (1:1) mixtures were stored at a low temperature, elongated fibers were stacked sideways and eventually developed into anisotropic two-dimensional (2D) sheets. Notably, subsequent exposure of visible-light-irradiated sphere samples to solvent vapor resulted in reversible fluorescence off↔on switching accompanied by morphological restoration. These findings suggest that rational selection of organic dyes, solvents, and light is important for developing reusable fluorescent materials.     

Preparation of poly(ethylene glycol)-modified poly(amidoamine) dendrimers with a shell of hydrophobic amino acid residues and their function as a nanocontainer

We studied the use of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-modified dendrimers as a nanocapsule with a biocompatible surface. We designed PEG-modified dendrimers having a shell of hydrophobic amino acid residues in the peripheral moiety of the dendrimer to increase their encapsulation ability. Subsequently, l-phenylalanine or γ-benzyl-l-glutamate residues were introduced to all chain ends of the poly(amidoamine) G4 dendrimers. Furthermore, PEG (MW 2000) chains were attached to the amino acid residues. These hydrophobic amino acid residues rendered the PEG-modified dendrimers as more compact. After binding of Rose Bengal (RB) guest molecules to dendrimers, an assay using the Klotz plot showed that the hydrophobic amino acid layer slightly affected the guest site number, but significantly increased intrinsic binding of the dendrimers to guest molecules. The PEG-modified dendrimers with the hydrophobic amino acid layer were better able to retain guest molecules than the dendrimer without the layer: they are therefore useful for drug delivery.     

Dynamic mechanical properties of photopolymerizable poly(vinyl alcohol)–acrylate monomer blends

Dynamic mechanical properties of photopolymerizable poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)–monoacrylate blends were investigated by measuring dynamic shear modulus G′ and loss tangent, tan δ. The dynamic mechanical properties of the blends before being exposed to UV irradiation were governed by the weight percent of the monomers which act as plasticizers. On the other hand, the UV-irradiated blends seemed to be typical two-phase materials since they revealed two tan δ maxima whose positions were independent of the monomer content. Those two maxima were assigned to PVA and photopolymerized acrylates with reference to the dynamic mechanical data of PVA and a PVA-polyacrylamide polyblend. Those dynamic mechanical data suggested that insolubilization of the blend type photopolymers should be caused by a decrease in solubility due to graft polymerization of acrylate monomers onto PVA.     

A Novel Preparation Method for Foamed Silica Ceramics by Sol-Gel Reaction and Mechanical Foaming

A simple method for obtaining silica foam has been developed by combining sol-gel reaction and mechanical foaming without added organic pore formers, in order to reduce generation of CO₂ and harmful gases by decomposition of the organic compounds. The silica foam was prepared by mechanically foaming the silica sol and controlling the viscosity change and gelling. The gelation time of the silica sol can be varied from 10 minutes to 3 hours by changing the pH, temperature and concentration of the surfactant added as a foam stabilizer. The dried silica gel foam was calcined at 600°C then fired at 1000°C to obtain sintered silica foam. The porosity and average pore size of the silica foam was 84% and 140 m, respectively. The bending strength and gas permeability of the sintered silica foam was 2.4 MPa and 9.4 × 10^–11 m², respectively.     

Influence of LiBO2 addition on the microstructure and lithium-ion conductivity of Li1+xAlxTi2−x(PO4)3(x = 0.3) ceramic electrolyte

Concerning the safety problems of conventional Li-ion batteries with liquid electrolytes, it is crucial to develop reliable solid-state electrolytes with high ionic conductivity. Li_1+xAl_xTi_2?x(PO₄)₃ (LATP, x = 0.3) is regarded as one of the most promising solid electrolytes due to its high ionic conductivity and excellent chemical stability to humidity.Herein, a new strategy is proposed for improving the sintering behavior and enhancing the ionic conductivity of LATP by using LiBO₂ as the sintering aid via liquid phase sintering. The as-prepared sample LATP with homogeneous microstructure and high relative density of 97.1% was successfully synthesized, yielding high total ionic conductivity of 3.5 × 10^?4 S cm^?1 and low activation energy of 0.39 eV at room temperature. It was found that the addition of LiBO₂ could effectively enhance the densification and increase the ionic conductivity of LATP electrolyte, proving an effective way to synthesis LATP ceramics by a simple and reliable route.     

Synthesis and Initial Characterization of a Selective,Pseudo-irreversible Inhibitor of Human Butyrylcholinesterase as PET Tracer

The enzyme butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) represents a promising target for imaging probes to potentially enable early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to monitor disease progression in some forms of cancer. In this study, we present the design, facile synthesis, in vitro and preliminary ex vivo and in vivo evaluation of a morpholine-based, selective inhibitor of human BChE as a positron emission tomography (PET) tracer with a pseudo-irreversible binding mode. We demonstrate a novel protecting group strategy for ¹⁸F radiolabeling of carbamate precursors and show that the inhibitory potency as well as kinetic properties of our unlabeled reference compound were retained in comparison to the parent compound. In particular, the prolonged duration of enzyme inhibition of such a morpholinocarbamate motivated us to design a PET tracer, possibly enabling a precise mapping of BChE distribution.     

Anhydrous proton conductor consisting of pectin–inorganic composite material

An organic–inorganic proton conductive composite material consisting of a biopolymer was prepared by mixing the pectin, tetraethyl titanate, and imidazole. Although the pectin material without the composite dissolved in water, the pectin–inorganic composite material did not show water solubility. In addition, in the composite material, the pectin and imidazole formed an acid–base structure by an electrostatic interaction, and as a result, these composite materials showed a thermal stability at intermediate temperatures (100–200°C). Furthermore, these composite materials indicated the proton conductivity of 5.6 × 10^?4 S cm^?1 at 180°C under anhydrous conditions. The activation energy of the proton conduction under anhydrous conditions was 0.32–0.22 eV and these values were one order of magnitude higher than that of the typical humidified perfluorinated membrane, such as Nafion^®. The organic–inorganic composite material consisting of a biocomponent may have the potential to be utilized as a novel proton conductor under anhydrous conditions. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42433.     

Syndiotactic‐specific radical polymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide in toluene at low temperatures in the presence of silyl alcohols

The radical polymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide was carried out in toluene at low temperatures in the presence of silyl alcohols, such as triethylsilanol. Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) with a racemo dyad content of 75% was obtained at ? 80 °C with a 4:1 triethylsilanol to monomer ratio loading. NMR analysis suggests that the mechanism for syndiotactic induction, in the presence of silyl alcohols, may be similar to that observed with alkyl alcohols. In this case, a 1:2 complex formation, via hydrogen bonding interactions, leads to the induction of syndiotactic specificity. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry