A Presurgical Study of Curcumin Combined with Anthocyanin Supplements in Patients with Colorectal Adenomatous Polyps

Adenomatous polyps are precancerous lesions associated with a higher risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Curcumin and anthocyanins have shown promising CRC-preventive activity in preclinical and epidemiological studies. The objective of this window-of-opportunity, proof-of principle trial was to evaluate the effect of curcumin combined with anthocyanin supplements on tissue biomarkers of colorectal adenomatous polyps. Eligible patients received either anthocyanin and curcumin supplementation or related matching placebo for 4–6 weeks before polyp removal. Adenomatous polyps and adjacent tissue biopsies were collected at baseline and after supplementation for immunohistochemical assessment of β-catenin, NF-kappa B (NF-κB), Ki-67, P53, and dysplasia. No differences were observed in baseline biomarker expression between normal and dysplastic tissues. The combination of anthocyanins and curcumin resulted in a significant borderline reduction of NF-κB immunohistochemistry (IHC) expression in adenoma tissue (geometric mean ratio (GMR): 0.72; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.51–1.00; p-value: 0.05) and a trend to a reduction of Ki-67 (GMR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.50–1.08; p-value: 0.11). No significant modulation of biomarkers in normal adjacent mucosa was observed. We concluded that the combined supplementation of anthocyanins and curcumin seems to lead to a potentially favorable modulation of tissue biomarkers of inflammation and proliferation in colon adenomas.     

Freeze drying technique to prepare doped nanosized B powder

In this study, we propose a new approach for the large-scale production of doped nanosized boron powder, which is also useful for manufacturing a wide choice of compounds. This work deals with synthesis of B with cryogenic freezing and lyophilization-based technique, evaluation of its structural properties, and study of superconducting properties of MgB₂ wires manufactured with two types of B powder. This new process begins with dissolution of B₂O₃ precursor in hot water together with doping agents, which can be organic macromolecule or nanosized inorganic compound. This hot solution was then cryogenically frozen in liquid N₂ and finally lyophilized. Nanostructured and doped boron powders were produced by magnesiothermic reaction of the lyophilized precursor (B₂O₃). After the structural and morphological characterization, these boron powders were used for preparation of MgB₂ phase and MgB₂-based conductors. Boron and MgB₂ powders were morphologically analyzed by SEM technique to determine grain size distribution. Phase formation was studied and confirmed by XRD analysis. Short pieces (10 m long) of MgB₂ superconducting wires were manufactured by ex situ PIT technique and characterized by magnetic and transport measurements. Results reported in this study confirm the suitability of the proposed method to produce nanostructured and doped boron powder. This nanosized boron can be used also in different fields where doping and nanosizing are fundamental and required characteristics.     

Different human tenascin-C variants in the extracellular matrix of cultured human fibroblasts

Using an immunoadsorbent prepared with a monoclonal antibody specific for the high molecular mass isoform of human tenascin-C, we purified tenascin-C molecules containing at least one large subunit from the extracellular matrix of cultured normal human fibroblasts. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting analyses have shown that both high and low molecular mass subunits are present in these tenascin-C preparations. Because the monoclonal antibody used is able to bind only the high molecular mass isoform, the present data show that part of the tenascin-C present in the fibroblast extracellular matrix is made up of heterohexameric molecules.     

NorshipS: A decision support system for analyses of bulk shipping markets

This paper reports on the design and implementation of NorshipS which is an interactive system for analyses of bulk shipping markets. The purpose is to enhance the knowledge of how interactive model-based systems may increase the effectiveness of decision making in complex and dynamic situations. NorshipS is explicitly designed to enhance shipping managers' understanding of shipping markets and to facilitate analyses of uncertainty. In this paper, we present our design considerations and illustrate how the system can support shipping managers in interpretation of market signals and generation and analysis of scenarios. A preliminary evaluation of the system is given, and directions for further research are proposed.     

基于三次样条的多焦面曲线拟合

在变形雅可比(p=4,q=3)-傅里叶矩的基础上采用三次样条拟合特征空间轨迹,保证了插值函数光滑性,并且通过限定每个三次多项式的一阶和二阶导数,使其在断点处相等,成功地逼近每对断点间的曲线,从而能够更好地对曲线进行拟合,并验证包含图像信息量最大的矩值.     

The Analytic Assessment of Online Portfolios in Undergraduate Technical Communication: A Model

This paper describes an innovative model for assessing the technical communication course by analytically scoring online portfolios, open to the internet, for ten separate (analytic) variables and one overall (holistic) score. The model is a statistically verifiable and sustainable method that strengthens the curriculum and fosters consensus within the teaching community. We achieved construct validity by redefining the elements of the course to incorporate communication in the digital age and then by creating new criteria for evaluation related to that construct. We achieved inter‐reader reliability by beginning each assessment with a calibrated reading and by adjudicating non‐adjacent scores. After using the model successfully for three semesters, we can see increased consistency in teaching among sections and semesters, more communication among instructors, and we are beginning a database with which we can test further change. The theory and method behind this model can be applied to other disciplines as well.     

磁性淀粉微球固定化乙酰乳酸脱羧酶及应用

采用复合技术制备出粒径为 １００～３００ｎｍ的磁性淀粉复合微球。以此为载体采用溴化氰共价结合法、戌二醛交联法、物理吸附法固定化ａ一乙酰乳酸脱羧酶。以戌二醛交联法制备的磁性酶为最佳，其活力为１１３８．８Ｕ／ｇ微球，蛋白载量为８９．７ｍｇ／ｇ微球，比活为１２．６Ｕ／ｍｇ蛋白，活性回收率为５９．６％。并对其理化性质进行了研究：磁性酶最适温度３０℃，最适ｐＨ为５．０，热稳定性及酸碱稳定性均有所提高，磁性酶重复使用１０次，其相对活性仍保持在７７．２％。将磁性固定化ＡＬＤＣ用于啤酒发酵，磁性酶用量为 ８０Ｕ／Ｌ麦芽汁，主发酵温度为 １３℃，保持 １０ｄ，发酵后双乙酰含量降到 ０．１３×１０－６以下。