Analytic expressions for the isosteric heat of adsorption from adsorption isotherm models and two-dimensional SAFT-VR equation of state

The isosteric heat of adsorption is an important thermodynamic property used to characterize and optimize adsorption processes. In this work, analytic expressions for isosteric heats of adsorption are derived for a collection of commonly used isotherm models and a two-dimensional molecular equation of state based on the SAFT-VR approach. The use of these expressions is presented with an example of adsorption of nitrous oxide, N₂O, on biochar, which is a waste biomass charcoal that exhibits high adsorption potential. The results show that accurate fitting of the adsorption isotherms leads to consistent results obtained with different approaches; however, the predicted isosteric heat of adsorption exhibits strong variations in the regions where experimental data is insufficient such in the region of low pressure/low coverage. Convergence on the prediction of the isosteric heat of adsorption by the different models is only observed in the region where no extrapolation of experimental data is needed.     

MicroRNA-16 Restores Sensitivity to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Outperforms MEK Inhibitors in KRAS-Mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Chemotherapy, the treatment of choice in non-operable cases, achieves a dismal success rate, raising the need for new therapeutic options. In about 25% of NSCLC, the activating mutations of the KRAS oncogene define a subclass that cannot benefit from tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). The tumor suppressor miR-16 is downregulated in many human cancers, including NSCLC. The main objectives of this study were to evaluate miR-16 treatment to restore the TKI sensitivity and compare its efficacy to MEK inhibitors in KRAS-mutated NSCLC. Methods: We performed in vitro and in vivo studies to investigate whether miR-16 could be exploited to overcome TKI resistance in KRAS-mutated NSCLC. We had three goals: first, to identify the KRAS downstream effectors targeted by mir-16, second, to study the effects of miR-16 restoration on TKI resistance in KRAS-mutated NSCLC both in vitro and in vivo, and finally, to compare miR-16 and the MEK inhibitor selumetinib in reducing KRAS-mutated NSCLC growth in vitro and in vivo. Results: We demonstrated that miR-16 directly targets the three KRAS downstream effectors MAPK3, MAP2K1, and CRAF in NSCLC, restoring the sensitivity to erlotinib in KRAS-mutated NSCLC both in vitro and in vivo. We also provided evidence that the miR-16–erlotinib regimen is more effective than the selumetinib–erlotinib combination in KRAS-mutated NSCLC. Conclusions: Our findings support the biological preclinical rationale for using miR-16 in combination with erlotinib in the treatment of NSCLC with KRAS-activating mutations.     

Trastuzumab Deruxtecan: Changing the Destiny of HER2 Expressing Solid Tumors

HER2 targeted therapies have significantly improved prognosis of HER2-positive breast and gastric cancer. HER2 overexpression and mutation is the pathogenic driver in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and colorectal cancer, however, to date, there are no approved HER2-targeted therapies with these indications. Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) is a novel HER2-directed antibody drug conjugate showing significant anti-tumor activity in heavily pre-treated HER2-positive breast and gastric cancer patients. Preliminary data have shown promising objective response rates in patients with HER2-positive NSCLC and colorectal cancer. T-DXd has an acceptable safety profile, however with concerns regarding potentially serious treatment-emergent adverse events. In this review we focus on the pharmacologic characteristics and toxicity profile of T-Dxd, and provide an update on the most recent results of clinical trials of T-DXd in solid tumors. The referenced papers were selected through a PubMed search performed on 16 March 2021 with the following searching terms: T-DXd and breast cancer, or gastric cancer, or non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), or colorectal cancer. Oral presentation, abstracts, and posters presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO, Alexandria, VA, USA) 2020 and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO, Lugano, Switzerland) 2020 annual meetings were retrieved for data on T-DXd. We also overview ongoing research and data of combination therapies currently under investigation, which will impact on future therapeutic strategies. Clinicaltrials.gov was searched to identify ongoing clinical trials of T-DXd alone or in combination in solid tumors.     

Microstructural development during crystallization firing of a dental-grade nanostructured lithia-zirconia glass-ceramic

The microstructural development during crystallization firing of a commercially-available dental-grade nanostructured lithia-zirconia glass-ceramic (Vita Suprinity® PC) was unraveled using a wide battery of ex-situ and in-situ characterization techniques. It was found that the milling blocks are slightly crystallized glass-ceramics, with a complex chemical composition and consisting of partially de-polymerized glass plus lithium silicate (Li₂SiO₃) nanocrystals. It was also found that during crystallization firing the glassy matrix first reacts with part of the Li₂SiO₃ to form lithium disilicate (Li₂Si₂O₅) at ～810?820 °C, and then lithium orthophosphate (Li₃PO₄) precipitates from the glass. This results in glass-ceramics with abundant nanocrystals embedded in a sparse zirconosilicate glass matrix (containing many other cations subsumed) that, due to its high viscosity, inhibited crystal growth. Therefore, these dental glass-ceramics are not reinforced with zirconia (ZrO₂) crystals unless over-fired above ～890 °C and at the expense of its singular nanostructure. Finally, this study opens doors for optimizing the clinical performance of these dental glass-ceramics via microstructural tailoring.     

Kinetic study and modeling of the high temperature CO2 capture by Na2ZrO3 solid absorbent

Hydrogen production through sorption enhanced reforming (SER) use a solid CO₂ absorbent to increase hydrogen purity (98%) and to perform reforming and WGS reactions in one single step, thus producing high methane conversions and important energy savings. Na₂ZrO₃ is as an alternate synthetic CO₂ solid absorbent for SER applications. The present research is aimed to establish CO₂ sorption kinetics parameters; reaction order, rate constant, apparent, intrinsic and diffusional activation energies. Na₂ZrO₃ sorption kinetics was studied through TGA as a function of CO₂ concentration and temperature. A global reaction rate of first order in CO₂ and a strong dependence in temperature was found. The approximate solution to the shrinking core model was used to fit the data. Modeling results indicated the surface reaction as the main resistance to the reaction rate, controlling reaction kinetics with only a minor contribution of the product layer diffusion resistance toward the end of the reaction.     

Empirical study on Game Transfer Phenomena in a location-based augmented reality game

Research on Game Transfer Phenomena (GTP) has demonstrated that playing video games can lead to re-experiencing images, sounds, tactile sensations, spontaneous thoughts and actions, sometimes triggered by physical objects/events associated with the game. Location-based augmented reality games posit interesting questions regarding GTP, particularly because they use physical locations, they overlay digital images in physical contexts and the gameplay shifts between the virtual and the physical world. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of GTP and the role of immersion, augmented reality and sound in a sample of English- (EnS) and Spanish- (SpS) speaking gamers of the game Pokémon Go (PoGo). A total of 1313 gamers (M_age?=?31.47) were recruited online. GTP was less common than in previous studies; however, 82.4% had experienced GTP at least once. The SpS showed higher prevalence of GTP and played more intensively. Automatic mental processes predominated in the EnS, while behaviours and actions were more common in the SpS. The absence or presence of video game features seems important for the way GTP manifests. For instance, tactile hallucinations were more prevalent, while sensations of self-motion were less reported. Playing with augmented reality (AR) and sounds showed significant correlations with various GTP types, but not with re-experiencing images from the game. More gamers who reported the sensation that Pokémon were physically present or looked for Pokémon outside the screen while playing, as connotations of immersion, had experienced GTP. Experiencing GTP while playing may be more common in location-based augmented reality games, compared to other games.     

Data mining and accelerated electronic structure theory as a tool in the search for new functional materials

A highly accelerated electronic structure implementation and data mining algorithms have been combined with structural data from the inorganic crystal structure database to generate materials properties for about 22,000 inorganic compounds. It is shown how data mining algorithms employed on the database can identify new functional materials with desired materials properties, resulting in a prediction of 136 novel materials with potential for use as detector materials for ionizing radiation. The methodology behind the automatized ab initio approach is presented, results are tabulated and a version of the complete database is made available at the internet web site <http://gurka.fysik.uu.se/ESP/> (Ref. [1]).     

Problem identification and construction: What do we know, what is the future?

Many cognitive process theories of creativity include an initial process of problem identification, definition, and construction. Previous research suggests that problem identification and construction is related to creativity, and that creative individuals and experts tend to engage in problem identification and construction. Finally, previous research suggests that inducing active engagement in problem identification and construction, through instructions or training, facilitates creativity. The authors offer views regarding important future direction for researchers in this area. Specifically, issues regarding methodology, the relationship between personality and values and how problems are constructed, and problem identification and construction in teams are suggested as important avenues for future research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)