Vitamin D Compounds PRI-2191 and PRI-2205 Enhance Anastrozole Activity in Human Breast Cancer Models

1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol, the hormonally active vitamin D₃ metabolite, is known to exhibit therapeutic effects against breast cancer, mainly by lowering the expression of estrogen receptors and aromatase activity. Previously, the safety of the vitamin D active metabolite (24R)-1,24-dihydroxycholecalciferol (PRI-2191) and 1,25(OH)₂D₃ analog PRI-2205 was tested, and the in vitro activity of these analogs against different cancer cell lines was studied. We determined the effect of the two vitamin D compounds on anastrozole (An) activity against breast cancer based on antiproliferative activity, ELISA, flow cytometry, enzyme inhibition potency, PCR, and xenograft study. Both the vitamin D active metabolite and synthetic analog regulated the growth of not only estrogen receptor-positive cells (T47D and MCF-7, in vitro and in vivo), but also hormone-independent cancer cells such as SKBR-3 (HER-2-positive) and MDA-MB-231 (triple-negative), despite their relatively low VDR expression. Combined with An, PRI-2191 and PRI-2205 significantly inhibited the tumor growth of MCF-7 cells. Potentiation of the antitumor activity in combined treatment of MCF-7 tumor-bearing mice is related to the reduced activity of aromatase by both An (enzyme inhibition) and vitamin D compounds (switched off/decreased aromatase gene expression, decreased expression of other genes related to estrogen signaling) and by regulation of the expression of the estrogen receptor ERα and VDR.     

Flux Jumps and H-T Diagram of Instability for MgB2

We present a study of magneto-thermal instabilities in polycrystalline MgB₂ superconductor, by magnetic hysteresis loop measurements and by investigations of magnetic flux dynamics with a miniature Hall probe. Temperature and magnetic field ranges where the flux jumps may be observed have been determined. On the basis of measurements of the magnetic flux dynamics, an average magnetic diffusivity describing the process of the flux jump is estimated. This parameter is compared with the thermal and magnetic diffusivities calculated on the basis of available data for thermal conductivity, heat capacity and resistivity. It is shown that the estimated value of the field of the first flux jump is influenced significantly by the field dependence of specific heat. In order to explain the observed phenomenon, the temperature reached by the sample during the flux jump at different magnetic fields is calculated.     

Magnetotransport Properties and Mechanism of the A-Site Ordering in the Nd–Ba Optimal-Doped Manganites

The crystal structure and magnetotransport properties of the Nd_0.70Ba_0.30-MnO_3.00−δ manganites have been investigated. The stoichiometric A-site ionic disordered Nd_0.70Ba_0.30MnO_3.00 sample is orthorhombic (SG=Imma) ferromagnet below T _C ≈151 K. It has metal-insulator transition at T _MI ≈140 K and peak of magnetoresistance ∼50% in field of 9 kOe. The anion-deficient partly A-site ionic ordered Nd_0.70Ba_0.30MnO_2.60 sample is ferrimagnet with T _N ≈130 K and has nanometric ∼440 nm grains. The oxygen annealed stoichiometric partly A-site ordered Nd_0.70Ba_0.30MnO_3.00 sample consists of two perovskite phases: (i) A-site ionic completely ordered tetragonal (SG=P4/mmm) NdBaMn_2.00O_6.00 with a Curie point of ∼310 K and (ii) superstoichiometric orthorhombic (SG=Pnma) NdMnO_3.00+γ with a Curie point of ∼120 K. The magnetoresistance of this sample at the room temperature is about 7% in a field of 9 kOe. Considerable changes of the magnetic properties are interpreted as due to the ordering of Nd³⁺ and Ba²⁺ cations as well as the formation of nanometric grains.      

Morse set classification and hierarchical refinement using Conley index

Morse decomposition provides a numerically stable topological representation of vector fields that is crucial for their rigorous interpretation. However, Morse decomposition is not unique, and its granularity directly impacts its computational cost. In this paper, we propose an automatic refinement scheme to construct the Morse Connection Graph (MCG) of a given vector field in a hierarchical fashion. Our framework allows a Morse set to be refined through a local update of the flow combinatorialization graph, as well as the connection regions between Morse sets. The computation is fast because the most expensive computation is concentrated on a small portion of the domain. Furthermore, the present work allows the generation of a topologically consistent hierarchy of MCGs, which cannot be obtained using a global method. The classification of the extracted Morse sets is a crucial step for the construction of the MCG, for which the Poincare′ index is inadequate. We make use of an upper bound for the Conley index, provided by the Betti numbers of an index pair for a translation along the flow, to classify the Morse sets. This upper bound is sufficiently accurate for Morse set classification and provides supportive information for the automatic refinement process. An improved visualization technique for MCG is developed to incorporate the Conley indices. Finally, we apply the proposed techniques to a number of synthetic and realworld simulation data to demonstrate their utility.     

Current Diagnosis and Treatment Options for Cutaneous Adnexal Neoplasms with Follicular Differentiation

Neoplasms derived from follicular tissue are extremely rare. Clinically, they are reported as non-symptomatic, slow-growing nodules. These lesions are mainly benign, but the malignant type can occur. Mainly middle-aged people (50–60 years of age) are affected. These carcinomas are mainly localized on the head and neck or torso. They can be locally aggressive and infiltrate surrounding tissue and metastasize to regional lymph nodes. In the minority of cases, distant metastases are diagnosed. Quick and relevant diagnosis is the basis of a treatment for all types of tumors. The patient’s life expectancy depends on multiple prognostic factors, including the primary tumor size and its mitotic count. Patients should be referred to a specialized skin cancer center to receive optimal multidisciplinary treatment. This article tries to summarize all the information that is currently available about pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment methods of follicular tumors.     

Solubility and Aggregation of Selected Proteins Interpreted on the Basis of Hydrophobicity Distribution

Protein solubility is based on the compatibility of the specific protein surface with the polar aquatic environment. The exposure of polar residues to the protein surface promotes the protein’s solubility in the polar environment. The aquatic environment also influences the folding process by favoring the centralization of hydrophobic residues with the simultaneous exposure to polar residues. The degree of compatibility of the residue distribution, with the model of the concentration of hydrophobic residues in the center of the molecule, with the simultaneous exposure of polar residues is determined by the sequence of amino acids in the chain. The fuzzy oil drop model enables the quantification of the degree of compatibility of the hydrophobicity distribution observed in the protein to a form fully consistent with the Gaussian 3D function, which expresses an idealized distribution that meets the preferences of the polar water environment. The varied degrees of compatibility of the distribution observed with the idealized one allow the prediction of preferences to interactions with molecules of different polarity, including water molecules in particular. This paper analyzes a set of proteins with different levels of hydrophobicity distribution in the context of the solubility of a given protein and the possibility of complex formation.     

Magnetic Ordering of Dy3+ Ions in RbDy(WO4)2 Single Crystal

The specific heat C(T) of the monoclinic RbDy(WO ₄ ) ₂ crystal has been studied at very low temperatures 0.2T1.9 K and in magnetic fields 0H0.38 T. The Neel temperature was shown to be equal to T_N = 0.818 ± 0.005 K. The experimental value of the effective exchange parameter was obtained to be equal to J/k = – 0.798 K. The C T) dependence below Neel temperature 0.5T_N0.99T_N ) is well described by 2D Ising model, whereas in the temperature region close above T_N (1.01 T_N2T_N) it can be described by neither 2D, nor 3D Ising model. The experimental and theoretical H-T_N diagrams for field H a are in a reasonable agreement for simple quadratic lattice.     

Energy Absorption by a Single Abrikosov’s Vortex in NbTi and YBaCuO Superconductors

The calculations of the absorption energy and the Q-factor of vibration of a vortex line under the effect of an external uniform harmonic force have been presented. The line tension of the vortex line and its effective mass, Magnus force, pinning force, and viscosity force were included in the equation of the dynamics. Two peaks of absorption in accordance with two modes of the oscillation spectrum were observed. The first peak of absorption is a result of flux pinning, which coincides with the De Gennes–Matricon solution in some limits. The second (high-frequency) peak is a result of a novel mode related to the effective mass of a vortex line. Temperature dependencies of absorption peaks were calculated for the NbTi and YBaCuO superconductors for orientations H∥c and H⊥c. The resonant frequency of the resonance peaks of absorption decreases with an increase in temperature. Some other peculiarities of the oscillating dynamics of the vortex line were discussed.     

Utilization of linseed cake as a postagricultural functional filler for poly(lactic acid) green composites

Linseed cake (LC), a byproduct of linseed oil extraction, is used as a functional filler for production of biodegradable composites. To determine the influence of residual linseed crude oil contained in lignocellulosic filler on the properties of the poly(lactic acid) (PLA)-based composites with 5–30% filler content, two types of LC were analyzed: a defatted and an unmodified one. Complex analysis of the composites' properties change was conducted in relation to their structure modification caused by the addition of a waste filler. It was found that the addition of LC resulted in simultaneous plasticization and improved crystallization of PLA. Lignocellulosic particles and crude linseed oil contained in the LC powder provided a modifying effect, influencing the level of crystallinity and mechanical and thermomechanical properties. Using LC may thus overcome one of the main drawbacks of PLA, which is brittleness and low crystallinity. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47152.