Microwave radiation as heating method in the synthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles from hexafluorotitanate-organic salts

Nanocrystalline anatase was obtained from ionic liquid-like precursors containing hexafluorotitanate-organic salts and less than 25 wt.% of water, and using boric acid as fluoride scavenger. Two alternative heating methods were explored using either a conventional oven or a domestic microwave apparatus. A significant reduction in the reaction time from 24 h to only few minutes was obtained using the microwave route. The as-prepared materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen sorption analysis, and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transformed infrared, X-ray photoelectronic and Raman spectroscopes. The convenience of using the microwave heating option was a function of the organic cation present in the precursor. Thus, organic ammonium cations containing only hydrocarbon substituents, such as diethylammonium, phenylammonium and benzyltrimethylammonium led to the precipitation of nanocrystalline anatase powder with high specific surface area (up to 120 m² g⁻¹) in a short processing time (1-3 min). Otherwise, alcohol and carboxylate functionalized cations decomposed under microwave treatment. Moreover, the choice of the organic cation allowed tuning several properties of the end material, such as particle size and pore morphology.     

Microstructure characterization of CVI-densified carbon/carbon composites with various fiber distributions

Mechanical behavior of multi-phase composites is crucially influenced by volume fractions, orientation distributions and geometries of microconstituents. In the case of carbon–carbon composites manufactured by chemical vapor infiltration, the microconstituents are carbon fibers, pyrolytic carbon matrix, and pores. The local variable thickness of the pyrolytic carbon coating, distribution of the fibers and porosity are the main factors influencing the properties of these materials. Two types of fiber arrangements are considered in this paper: 2D laminated preform and random felt. The materials are characterized by determining their densities and their fiber distribution functions, by establishing types of pyrolytic carbon matrix present in the composites, and by studying the porosity. A technique utilizing X-ray computed tomography for estimation of the orientation distribution of the fibers and pores with arbitrary shapes is developed. A methodology based on the processing of microstructure images with subsequent numerical simulation of the coating growth around the fibers is proposed for estimation of the local thickness of the coating. The obtained information is appropriate for micromechanical modeling and prediction of the overall thermo-mechanical properties of the studied composites.     

Effects of Combining Biofactors on Bioenergetic Parameters,Aβ Levels and Survival in Alzheimer Model Organisms

Increased amyloid beta (Aβ) levels and mitochondrial dysfunction (MD) in the human brain characterize Alzheimer disease (AD). Folic acid, magnesium and vitamin B6 are essential micro-nutrients that may provide neuroprotection. Bioenergetic parameters and amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing products were investigated in vitro in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y-APP695 cells, expressing neuronal APP, and in vivo, in the invertebrate Caenorhabditis elegans (CL2006 & GMC101) expressing muscular APP. Model organisms were incubated with either folic acid and magnesium-orotate (ID63) or folic acid, magnesium-orotate and vitamin B6 (ID64) in different concentrations. ID63 and ID64 reduced Aβ, soluble alpha APP (sAPPα), and lactate levels in SH-SY5Y-APP695 cells. The latter might be explained by enhanced expression of lactate dehydrogenase (LDHA). Micronutrient combinations had no effects on mitochondrial parameters in SH-SY5Y-APP695 cells. ID64 showed a significant life-prolonging effect in C. elegans CL2006. Incubation of GMC101 with ID63 significantly lowered Aβ aggregation. Both combinations significantly reduced paralysis and thus improved the phenotype in GMC101. Thus, the combinations of the tested biofactors are effective in pre-clinical models of AD by interfering with Aβ related pathways and glycolysis.     

Dimethyl Fumarate Induces Apoptosis via Inhibition of NF-κB and Enhances the Effect of Paclitaxel and Adriamycin in Human TNBC Cells

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has the poorest prognosis of all breast cancer subtypes. Recently, the activation of NF-κB, which is involved in the growth and survival of malignant tumors, has been demonstrated in TNBC, suggesting that NF-κB may serve as a new therapeutic target. In the present study, we examined whether dimethyl fumarate (DMF), an NF-κB inhibitor, induces apoptosis in TNBC cells and enhances the apoptosis-inducing effect of paclitaxel and adriamycin. Cell survival was analyzed by the trypan blue assay and apoptosis assay. Protein detection was examined by immunoblotting. The activation of NF-κB p65 was correlated with poor prognosis in patients with TNBC. DMF induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 and BT-549 cells at concentrations that were non-cytotoxic to the normal mammary cell line MCF-10A. Furthermore, DMF inhibited NF-κB nuclear translocation and Survivin, XIAP, Bcl-xL, and Bcl-2 expression in MDA-MB-231 and BT-549 cells. Moreover, DMF enhanced the apoptosis-inducing effect of paclitaxel and adriamycin in MDA-MB-231 cells. These findings suggest that DMF may be an effective therapeutic agent for the treatment of TNBC, in which NF-κB is constitutively active. DMF may also be useful as an adjuvant therapy to conventional anticancer drugs.     

Genomic Insights of First ermB-Positive ST338-SCCmecVT/CC59 Taiwan Clone of Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Poland

We report the first Polish representative of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA), lukS/F-PV-positive, encoding the ermB gene, as a genetic determinant of constitutive resistance to macrolides, lincosamides, and streptogramin B antibiotics, cMLS-B. This is the first detection of the CA-MRSA strain responsible for nosocomial infection in the Warsaw Clinical Hospital. Resistance to β-lactams associates with a composite genetic element, SCCmec cassette type V_T (5C2&5). We assigned the strain to sequence type ST338 (single-locus variant of ST59), clonal complex CC59, spa-type t437, and agr-type I. Genomic-based comparison was designated SO574/12 as an international Taiwan clone, which has been so far described mainly in the Asia-Pacific region. The ermB gene locates on the chromosome within the 14,690 bp mobile element structure, i.e., the MES_PM1-like structure, which also encodes aminoglycoside- and streptothricin-resistance genes. The MES_PM1-like structure is a composite transposon containing Tn551, flanked by direct repeats of IS1216V insertion sequences, which probably originates from Enterococcus. The ermB is preceded by the 273 bp regulatory region that contains the regulatory 84 bp ermBL ORF, encoding the 27 amino acid leader peptides. The latest research suggests that a new leader peptide, ermBL2, also exists in the ermB regulatory region. Therefore, the detailed function of ermBL2 requires further investigations.     

Flt3 Signaling in B Lymphocyte Development and Humoral Immunity

The Class III receptor tyrosine kinase Flt3 and its ligand, the Flt3-ligand (FL), play an integral role in regulating the proliferation, differentiation, and survival of multipotent hematopoietic and lymphoid progenitors from which B cell precursors derive in bone marrow (BM). More recently, essential roles for Flt3 signaling in the regulation of peripheral B cell development and affinity maturation have come to light. Experimental findings derived from a multitude of mouse models have reinforced the importance of molecular and cellular regulation of Flt3 and FL in lymphohematopoiesis and adaptive immunity. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the current state of the knowledge regarding molecular and cellular regulation of Flt3/FL and the roles of Flt3 signaling in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) activation, lymphoid development, BM B lymphopoiesis, and peripheral B cell development. Cumulatively, the literature has reinforced the importance of Flt3 signaling in B cell development and function. However, it has also identified gaps in the knowledge regarding Flt3-dependent developmental-stage specific gene regulatory circuits essential for steady-state B lymphopoiesis that will be the focus of future studies.     

Synthesis,In Vitro,and Computational Studies of PTP1B Phosphatase Inhibitors Based on Oxovanadium(IV) and Dioxovanadium(V) Complexes

One of the main goals of recent bioinorganic chemistry studies has been to design and synthesize novel substances to treat human diseases. The promising compounds are metal-based and metal ion binding components such as vanadium-based compounds. The potential anticancer action of vanadium-based compounds is one of area of investigation in this field. In this study, we present five oxovanadium(IV) and dioxovanadium(V) complexes as potential PTP1B inhibitors with anticancer activity against the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line, the triple negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line, and the human keratinocyte HaCaT cell line. We observed that all tested compounds were effective inhibitors of PTP1B, which correlates with anticancer activity. [VO(dipic)(dmbipy)]·2 H₂O (Compound 4) and [VOO(dipic)](2-phepyH)·H₂O (Compound 5) possessed the greatest inhibitory effect, with IC₅₀ 185.4 ± 9.8 and 167.2 ± 8.0 nM, respectively. To obtain a better understanding of the relationship between the structure of the examined compounds and their activity, we performed a computer simulation of their binding inside the active site of PTP1B. We observed a stronger binding of complexes containing dipicolinic acid with PTP1B. Based on our simulations, we suggested that the studied complexes exert their activity by stabilizing the WPD-loop in an open position and limiting access to the P-loop.     

Al4B2O9纳米棒改性制备优异综合性能的固体聚合物电解质

随着储能设备和电力驱动产品的激增,特别是电动汽车的大规模推广应用,全固态电池被认为是最有可能解决电动设备日益严峻的安全问题和高能量密度需求的策略之一.本文报道了一种Al4B2O9纳米棒改性的聚环氧乙烷(PEO)基固体聚合物电解质(ASPE),其具有高离子电导率、宽电化学窗口、良好的机械性能和阻燃性能.具体来说,因为Al...     

Webmenthods的设计与实现

为了更好地应用WebMethods,该文提供了一个基于B2B项目的环境,用于对WebMethods的设计,实现,从而大大提高WebMethods的管理和操作以及易用性和可维护性。