Impact of Oncogenic Targets by Tumor-Suppressive miR-139-5p and miR-139-3p Regulation in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

We newly generated an RNA-sequencing-based microRNA (miRNA) expression signature of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Analysis of the signature revealed that both strands of some miRNAs, including miR-139-5p (the guide strand) and miR-139-3p (the passenger strand) of miR-139, were downregulated in HNSCC tissues. Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas confirmed the low expression levels of miR-139 in HNSCC. Ectopic expression of these miRNAs attenuated the characteristics of cancer cell aggressiveness (e.g., cell proliferation, migration, and invasion). Our in silico analyses revealed a total of 28 putative targets regulated by pre-miR-139 (miR-139-5p and miR-139-3p) in HNSCC cells. Of these, the GNA12 (guanine nucleotide-binding protein subunit alpha-12) and OLR1 (oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1) expression levels were identified as independent factors that predicted patient survival according to multivariate Cox regression analyses (p = 0.0018 and p = 0.0104, respectively). Direct regulation of GNA12 and OLR1 by miR-139-3p in HNSCC cells was confirmed through luciferase reporter assays. Moreover, overexpression of GNA12 and OLR1 was detected in clinical specimens of HNSCC through immunostaining. The involvement of miR-139-3p (the passenger strand) in the oncogenesis of HNSCC is a new concept in cancer biology. Our miRNA-based strategy will increase knowledge on the molecular pathogenesis of HNSCC.     

Effect of chemical compositional distribution on solid-state structures and properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)

Solid-state structures and crystallization kinetics were compared between poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) [PHB-HV] and PHB/PHB-HV blends exhibiting the cocrystallization. As cocrystallizable blends, both the blends showing complete cocrystallization, i.e. the PHB content in the crystalline phase is the same as that of the whole blends, and the blends forming a PHB-rich crystalline phase were used. The PHB and HV content in the cocrystalline phase were determined by high-resolution solid-state ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. In order to determine these contents with a minimum experimental error, site-specific ¹³C-labeled PHB/PHB-HV blends and PHB-HV copolymers were used. The crystallinity, lamellar structures, spherulite growth rate, and melting behavior were analyzed by wide-angle X-ray diffraction, small-angle X-ray scattering, polarized microscope, and differential scanning calorimetry, respectively. In these data, no difference was observed between the complete-cocrystallizable PHB/PHB-HV blends and the PHB-HV copolymers with the same overall HV content. On the other hand, the PHB/PHB-HV blends forming a PHB-rich crystalline phase has the amorphous layers thicker than that of the PHB-HV copolymers with the same overall HV content. Based on the collected data, the similarity and differences in the solid-state structures and properties between PHB-HV copolymers and cocrystallizable PHB/PHB-HV blends were discussed.     

Using bottom surface reflectance to map coastal marine areas: a new application method for Lyzenga's model

Remote sensing is widely used in coastal management. Lyzenga's model has been traditionally used to explain the relationship between bottom surface reflectance and the radiance level measured by satellite. Due to its central assumption, this model lacks accuracy compared with the other radiative transfer models. Nonetheless, it enables, with a single and simple equation, representation of the multiple optical processes taking place in coastal areas. Mapping processes associated with this model may include radiometric correction, a technique previously pointed out as a major driver of mapping accuracy. Radiometric correction is generally based on a depth-invariant index, efficient for clear waters (Jerlov water type I to II) but largely unsuitable when transparency decreases (Jerlov water type II to III). In order to overcome this problem, we developed a new index for radiometric correction, which combines bathymetry data with attenuation coefficients. The improved efficiency of our model with regard to the traditional depth invariant index was demonstrated through two case studies: Funakoshi Bay (Japan; Jerlov water type II) and the Gabes Gulf part located off Mahares (Tunisia; Jerlov water type II to III).     

Bottom-up pyramid cellular acceptors with three-dimensional layers

In 1997, C.R. Dyer and A. Rosenfeld introduced an acceptor on a two-dimensional pattern (or tape), called the pyramid cellular acceptor, and demonstrated that many useful recognition tasks are executed by pyramid cellular acceptors in time proportional to the logarithm of the diameter of the input. They also introduced a bottom-up pyramid cellular acceptor which is a restricted version of the pyramid cellular acceptor, and proposed some interesting open problems of the bottom-up pyramid cellular acceptors. On the other hand, we think that the study of threedimensional automata has been meaningful as the computational model of three-dimensional information processing such as computer vision, robotics, and so forth. In this paper, we investigate about bottom-up pyramid cellular acceptors with three-dimensional layers, and show their some accepting powers. This work was presented in part at the 13th International Symposium on Artificial Life and Robotics, Oita, Japan, January 31–February 2, 2008     

Formation Conditions of Clathrates Between HFC Alternative Refrigerants and Water

There are two promising candidates as alternative refrigerants for air-conditioners and heat pumps. The first is R407C, which is composed of HFC-32 (23 mass%), HFC-125 (25 mass%), and HFC-134a (52 mass%). The second is R410A, which is composed of HFC-32 (50 mass%) and HFC-125 (50 mass%). In this study, formation conditions of clathrate compounds between water and HFC alternative refrigerants such as HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a, and their mixtures, R407C and R410A, were investigated. Phase diagrams of clathrates of these HFC alternative refrigerants and their mixtures were determined. From the phase diagrams, the critical decomposition temperature and the critical decomposition pressure were determined. The relationship between the critical decomposition points for the clathrates of HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a, R410A, and R407C were studied. It is found that R407C and R410A form clathrate compounds with water under the evaporating temperature condition in the refrigeration cycle of air-conditioners and heat pumps.     

Influence of tungsten–carbon mixed layer and irradiation defects on deuterium retention behavior in tungsten

The D₂⁺ fluence dependence on deuterium (D) retention was studied to clarify the D retention mechanism in tungsten. The additional D desorption stage was observed around 660 K in the TDS spectrum for a sample implanted with D₂⁺ up to the fluence of 10²³ D⁺ m^?2, which desorption stage was not observed the D₂⁺ implanted sample with the fluence less than 10²² D⁺ m^?2. The TEM observation showed that the highly dense voids were formed in tungsten by D₂⁺ implantation with the fluence of 10²³ D⁺ m^?2, considering that the D would be trapped by voids. To understand the D trapping by voids in C⁺ implanted tungsten, C⁺–D₂⁺ sequential implantation experiments at various C⁺ implantation temperatures were performed. It was found that the amount of D desorbed around 560 K was increased by increasing the C⁺ implantation temperature. The formation of the voids was observed with increasing the C⁺ implantation temperature by TEM, indicating that the increase of D desorption around 560 K was caused by the formation of voids. However, the desorption temperature of D trapped by voids in C⁺ implanted sample was lower than that in D₂⁺ implanted one. TEM observation and XPS measurement indicated that this difference was caused by the increase of void size and/or the presence of implanted carbon.     

Shaping futures: A dialogue on chemical engineering education

Engineering as a discipline, profession, practice, and area of study continues to add substantial value in an increasingly complex world. With continually evolving complexity around the planet, such as the need for massive energy transition, global health technologies, or sustainable food systems, how might engineering education practices and theory be considered within these rapid and necessary changes? This paper presents an experiment of co-creation through experiential reflection about the state of chemical engineering education. Four chemical engineering professors engaged in a dialogue, facilitated by a researcher in education, through collaborative and actionable research. This dialogue uncovered innovative possibilities, educational themes, experiences, and opportunities for others in the profession to consider. The process of dialogue also encouraged the development of an imaginative future sense-making, known as futuring, through a collective experience. The findings reveal instructive perspectives on the shape of chemical engineering education that should be of value not only to engineers, but also other professionals, practitioners, or those in various science, technology, and math fields.     

Improvement in the remaining activity of freeze-dried xanthine oxidase with the addition of a disaccharide–polymer mixture

In order to improve the remaining activity of a practically important freeze-dried enzyme, xanthine oxidase (XOD), the effects of disaccharide (sucrose and trehalose), polymer (bovine serum albumin: BSA and dextran) and a mixture of them on the loss of XOD activity during freeze-drying and subsequent storage were investigated. All samples were amorphous solids and their glass transition temperatures (T_g) were evaluated by using differential scanning calorimetry. Although dextran showed no stabilizing effect on the freeze-dried XOD, the others protected XOD from the activity loss during freeze-drying to a certain extent. It was found that the mixture of disaccharide (sucrose or trehalose) and BSA improved the XOD activity synergistically. The XOD activity of the samples decreased gradually during storage at a temperature range of between 25 and 60 °C. Samples stored at temperatures below the T_g showed a lower loss of XOD activity than those stored at just the T_g.     

Effects of inhibitors on anaerobic microbial consortium with enhanced dechlorination activity in polychlorinated biphenyl mixture

Characterization was carried out on the anaerobic microbial consortium with enhanced degradation activity toward polychlorinated biphenyls in Kanechlor-300 and Kanechlor-400 mixtures in a burnt soil (BS) culture. The addition of molybdate to the BS culture resulted in the accumulation of less-chlorinated biphenyls such as 4,4'-dichlorinated biphenyl and 2,3',4-trichlorinated biphenyl; however, no such accumulation occurred without molybdate supplementation. No significant effect was observed in individual congeners in the BS culture supplemented with 2-bromoethane sulfonic acid. Analyses involving both the polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of partial 16S rRNA genes and respiratory quinones showed that the predominant microorganisms in the BS culture were anaerobic Firmicutes, while sulfate reducers of the phyla Deltaproteobacteria, Firmicutes and Chloroflexi were absent in the culture amended with the inhibitors. No positive correlation was observed between the dechlorination activity and a PCR-based detection of gene fragments of known dechlorinating bacteria. These results suggest that sulfate reducers played an important role in the enhanced anaerobic dechlorination of PCBs in the BS culture.