Reduced Claudin-12 Expression Predicts Poor Prognosis in Cervical Cancer

Background: Within the claudin (CLDN) family, CLDN12 mRNA expression is altered in various types of cancer, but its clinicopathological relevance has yet to be established due to the absence of specific antibodies (Abs) with broad applications. Methods: We generated a monoclonal Ab (mAb) against human/mouse CLDN12 and verified its specificity. By performing immunohistochemical staining and semiquantification, we evaluated the relationship between CLDN12 expression and clinicopathological parameters in tissues from 138 cases of cervical cancer. Results: Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that the established mAb selectively recognized the CLDN12 protein. Twenty six of the 138 cases (18.8%) showed low CLDN12 expression, and the disease-specific survival (DSS) and recurrence-free survival rates were significantly decreased compared with those in the high CLDN12 expression group. We also demonstrated, via univariable and multivariable analyses, that the low CLDN12 expression represents a significant prognostic factor for the DSS of cervical cancer patients (HR 3.412, p = 0.002 and HR 2.615, p = 0.029, respectively). Conclusions: It can be concluded that a reduced CLDN12 expression predicts a poor outcome for cervical cancer. The novel anti-CLDN12 mAb could be a valuable tool to evaluate the biological relevance of the CLDN12 expression in diverse cancer types and other diseases.     

Liquid Marble Patchwork on Super-Repellent Surface

Liquid marble (LM) is a droplet that is wrapped by hydrophobic solid particles, which behave as a non-wetting soft solid. Based on these properties, LM can be applied in fluidics and soft device applications. A wide variety of functional particles have been synthesized to form functional LMs. However, the formation of multifunctional LMs by integrating several types of functional particles is challenging. Here, a general strategy for the flexible patterning of functional particles on droplet surfaces in a patchwork-like design is reported. It is shown that LMs can switch their macroscopic behavior between a stable and active state on super-repellent surfaces in situ by jamming/unjamming the surface particles. Active LMs hydrostatically coalesce to form a self-sorted particle pattern on the droplet surface. With the support of LM handling robotics, on-demand cyclic activation–manipulation–coalescence–stabilization protocols by LMs with different sizes and particle types result in the reliable design of multi-faced LMs. Based on this concept, a single bi-functional LM is designed from two mono-functional LMs as an advanced droplet carrier.     

Metabolism of tetramethrin isomers in rat: II. Identification and quantitation of metabolites

1. To examine the metabolic fate of (1RS, trans)- or (1RS, cis)-tetramethrin [3, 4, 5, 6-tetrahydrophthalimidomethyl (1RS, trans)- or (1RS, cis)-chrysanthemate], rat was administered a single oral dose of trans- or cis-[alcohol-14C]tetramethrin at dose levels of 2 or 250 mg/kg. 2. The radiocarbon was almost completely eliminated from rat within 7 days after administration in all groups. 14C-recoveries (expressed as percentages relative to the dosed 14C) in faeces and urine were 38-58 and 42-58% respectively in rat administrated trans-[alcohol-14C]tetramethrin, and in faeces and urine were 66-91 and 9-31% respectively in rat administered cis-[alcohol-14C]tetramethrin. 3. Fourteen metabolites found in excreta were purified by using several chromatographic techniques and identified by spectroanalyses (nmr and MS). Five sulphonate derivatives and three dicarboxylic acid derivatives were found. 4. The main metabolites were sulphonate derivatives in the faeces, and in the urine, alcohols, dicarboxylic acid and reduced metabolites derived from the 3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalimide moiety.     

Au/Pt/Ti/Ni ohmic contacts to p-ZnTe

Ohmic contacts of Au/Pd/Ti/Ni to p-ZnTe show a minimum specific contact resistance of 10^-6 Ωcm² for a p-type doping level of 3×10¹⁹ cm^-3 and at an annealing temperature of 300°C. The Ni and Ti layers are very effective in improving the electrical properties of these contact     

Metabolism of tetramethrin isomers in rat: IV. Tissues responsible for formation of reduced and hydrated metabolites

1. To identify the sites of formation of the reduced metabolites, 3-hydroxy-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboximide (3-OH-HPI-1 and -2), 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid (TCDA) and 1-hydroxy-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid (1-OH-HPA), in rat treated with 14C-labelled (1RS, trans)-tetramethrin, [3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalimidomethyl (1RS, trans)-chrysanthemate], bile-duct cannulated animals were orally or intravenously administered 14C-labelled 3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalimide (TPI) or 3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalic acid (THPA), precursors of these metabolites, and bile, urine and faeces were collected for analysis. 2. 3-OH-HPI-1 and 3-OH-HPI-2, which are cis-form reduced metabolites, and 1-OH-HPA were detected in bile and urine samples of the bile-cannulated rat treated intravenously and orally with 14C-labelled TPI, indicating their formation in tissues or blood. TCDA, a trans-form reduced metabolite, was not detected in bile, urine or faeces of the bile-cannulated rat treated intravenously with 14C-THPA, but was found in the faeces after oral application, indicating formation in the gastrointestinal tract. 3. To clarify whether 1-OH-HPA is produced from THPA via TCDA (hydroxylation via reduction) or by direct addition of H2O to its double bond (hydration), rats were orally administered 14C-labelled TCDA, and metabolites in urine and faeces were analysed. The observed lack of 1-OH-HPA indicated formation by direct addition of H2O to the double-bond of THPA. 4. To specify which tissues form reduced and hydrated metabolites, in vitro metabolism studies were carried out. Reduction to the cis-form was found to take place in blood cells, reduction to the trans-form took place in the gastrointestinal tract contents, and hydration took place in the liver and the intestinal tract contents.     

Adsorption of urea,creatinine, and uric acid from three solution types using spherical activated carbon and its recyclability

In this paper, we propose that the urinary toxins from the wastewater be adsorbed on an adsorbent such as spherical activated carbon and the latter be regenerated by subjecting it to high temperatures to recycle activated carbon and also to recycle the water used in dialysis. We studied the adsorption of artificial waste dialysate, which is a mixed solution of urea, creatinine, and uric acid, and the separate solutions for each of these and found that their extents of adsorption onto the spherical activated carbon material were nearly identical. The amount of adsorption was approximately 1.4 mg·g^-1 for urea, 18 mg·g^-1 for creatinine, and 20 mg·g^-1 for uric acid. The urea, creatinine, and uric acid adsorbed onto the spherical activated carbon decomposed on heat treatment at 500℃, and the adsorption capacity of the spherical activated carbon was regenerated. Our study successfully demonstrated that the spherical activated carbon can be recycled in the waste dialysate treatment process.     

A carboxyalkanethiol monolayer modified electrode for blocking of ascorbic acid oxidation and its application to a biosensor

Upon the application of amperometric biosensor to the biological fluid, ascorbic acid interferes the amperometric determination of analytes, because the oxidative potential of ascorbic acid is lower than that of electro active substances such as H₂O₂ produced by the enzymatic reaction. In this study we propose a method to block ascorbic acid based on the electrostatic interaction with self-assembled monolayer (SAM) and its application of the surface modified electrode to biosensor. In order to form SAM on the gold electrode with carboxyl group, 7-carboxy-heptanethiol (7-CHT) was used. The 7-CHT modified electrode did not show anodic response to ascorbic acid, but oxidized phenanthroline cobalt complex [Co(phen)₃²⁺], which can be used as a mediator of biosensor. Thus, the 7CHT-modified electrode was applied to biosensor mediated with Co(phen)₃²⁺. Fructose dehydrogenase (FDH) was immobilized to the 7-CHT modified electrode. Fructose was determined selectively with the FDH/7-CHT modified electrode at the range of 0.2-2 mM.     

Interfacial shear strength of C/C composites

Fiber-bundle push-out, single-fiber push-in, and single-fiber push-out tests were conducted in order to examine the applicability of these methods for determining the interfacial shear strength of carbon-carbon composites. The fiber-bundle push-out test resulted mostly in fractures along the fiber/matrix interface but created a small amount of fractures in the matrix. Hence, the evaluated strength was regarded as an approximate value. In order to precisely evaluate the interfacial strength, push-in and push-out tests for a single fiber were performed using a micro-Vickers indentation tester. In these tests, the load has to be placed within a target fiber, and the indentation should not extend to the matrix. This condition restricted the load that could be applied to a carbon fiber. Within this limit, a single carbon fiber could not be pushed-in. For the sake of load reduction, single-fiber push-out tests were conducted using thin specimens. The thickness appropriate for a single-fiber push-out specimen was estimated based on the interfacial shear strength obtained by the bundle push-out tests. Below this thickness, single-fiber push-out tests could be successfully performed.     

Catalytic activity and solid acidity of vanadium oxide thin layer loaded on TiO2, ZrO2, and SnO2

Vanadium oxide spread highly on TiO₂ (anatase, A) and SnO₂, and rather densely on TiO₂ (rutile, R) and ZrO₂ to make the monolayer in less than 4–5 V nm⁻². Profile of acid site of the monolayer was measured by temperature programmed desorption of ammonia, and its relation with the surface oxidation state was studied. The acid site density was high on the V₂O₅/TiO₂ (A) independent of the degree of oxidation. On the other hand, that of V₂O₅/TiO₂ (R) and V₂O₅/ZrO₂ depended on the oxidation state, and the high value of the concentration was observed on the oxidized one. The strength of acid site generated on the V₂O₅ monolayer on TiO₂ was as high as on the HZSM-5 zeolite. Turnover frequency (TOF) of propane conversion, and product selectivity were measured in propane oxidation. Among tested oxides, the V₂O₅/TiO₂ (A) showed the high TOF and selectivity to form propylene, while those loaded on TiO₂ (R) and ZrO₂ the small TOF and poor selectivity. Therefore, the reaction profile of activity and selectivity could be related with the extent of spreading and solid acidity. An idea of limit of the acid site density ca. 1.5 nm⁻² on the monolayer was elucidated.     

The relationship between the molecular weight and the critical miscibility composition of a solvent-nonsolvent-terpolymer system

A theoretical equation for the dependence of the apparent molecular weight measured by light scattering on the solvent used has been derived with regard to the composition heterogeneity. Terpolymers corresponding to a partial azeotrope were synthesized from styrene, acrylonitrile, and methyl methacrylate with mole fractions of 0.55, 0.16, and 0.29, respectively. The molecular weight measured by light scattering was found to be independent of the solvent used. Therefore the terpolymer was concluded to be apparently homogeneous in composition. The relationship between the molecular weight M of the terpolymer and the volume fraction of the nonsolvent γ in the solvent mixture at the precipitation point in a butanone-methanol-terpolymer system was experimentally proved to follow the equation where γ₀ and b′ are constants. Between the molecular weight and the limiting viscosity number [η] of the terpolymer the following relationships are valid at 35°C: and