Load-carrying capacity prediction of single rods glued into cross-laminated timber

European Journal of Wood and Wood Products - Timber engineering is currently crossing new frontiers in terms of performance, as illustrated by the increasing number of high-rise buildings. This has...     

Energy Efficient Shortest Path Routing Protocol for Underwater Acoustic Wireless Sensor Network

Wireless Personal Communications - While several protocols are proposed in performing sub aquatic communication, routing and issues related to efficiency of energy are considered as important for...     

BH3 Mimetic Sensitivity of Colorectal Cancer Cell Lines in Correlation with Molecular Features Identifies Predictors of Response

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a heterogeneous disease, which in part explains the differential response to chemotherapy observed in the clinic. BH3 mimetics, which target anti-apoptotic BCL-2 family members, have shown potential in the treatment of hematological malignancies and offer promise for the treatment of solid tumors as well. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the response to BH3 mimetics in CRC and the underlying molecular factors predicting sensitivity, we screened a panel of CRC cell lines with four BH3 mimetics targeting distinct anti-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins. Treatment with compounds alone and in combination revealed potent efficacy of combined MCL-1 and BCL-XL inhibition in inducing CRC cell death, irrespective of molecular features. Importantly, expression of the anti-apoptotic protein target of BH3 mimetics on its own did not predict sensitivity. However, the analysis did identify consensus molecular subtype (CMS) specific response patterns, such as higher resistance to single and combined BCL-2 and MCL-1 inhibition in CMS2 cell lines. Furthermore, analysis of mutation status revealed that KRAS mutant cell lines were more resistant to MCL-1 inhibition. Conclusively, we find that CRC cell lines presented with distinct responses to BH3 mimetics that can in part be predicted by their CMS profile and KRAS/BRAF mutations. Overall, almost all CRC lines share sensitivity in the nanomolar range to combined MCL-1 and BCL-XL targeting suggesting that this would be the preferred approach to target these cancers.     

Synthesis of composite material of cobalt oxide (Co3O4) with hydroxide functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for electrochemical determination of uric acid

The gout is mainly found due to accumulation of uric acid crystals into the joints which produces the inflammatory symptoms. Thus, it is highly demanded to detect uric acid from our body. Herein, we prepare a composite material of cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) with hydroxide functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by hydrothermal method. The composite material is used for the modification of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and investigated for the electrochemical determination of uric acid (UA). The analytical techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and Fourier Infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) are used to characterize the composite material. The Co₃O₄ exhibits a dendrite morphology and very well chemically coupled with MWCNTs. The elemental analysis confirms the presence of cobalt (Co), oxygen (O) and carbon (C) as main constituent of the composite material. The Co₃O₄ exhibitsa cubic unit cell crystallography in the composite system. The FTIR study reveals the characteristic bands of Co–O bands in the composite material. The cyclic voltammetry isused to study the electrochemical properties of prepared materials. The composite sample with highest percentage of MWCNTs shows an excellent electrochemical activity towards the oxidation of uric acid in phosphate buffer solution pH 7.3. The enzyme free uric acid sensor possesses a linear range of 0.1 mM to 3 mM with a quantified limit of detection of 0.005?±?0.0023 mM. The modified electrode is stable, selective, and very sensitive towards uric acid, therefore it may be used for the monitoring of uric acid from clinical samples. The proposed composite material can be of great interest for energy and biomedical fields.

     

Structural,vibrational and magnetic properties of Cu-substituted Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - Nanoparticles of quaternary Mn0.5?xCuxZn0.5Fe2O4 ferrite (x?=?0.05, 0.15, 0.25, and 0.35) have been investigated to...