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.     

Characterization of anisotropic gas permeability and thermomechanical properties of highly textured porous alumina

Porous alumina with a highly textured microstructure was fabricated by pulse electric current sintering (PECS) using alumina platelets. Highly oriented porous alumina with a porosity of 3%–50% was obtained by a pressure-controlled method of PECS. The properties of the highly textured porous alumina were measured in two directions. The nitrogen gas permeance and thermal conductivity at room temperature were higher in the direction along the platelet length due to the higher continuity of pores and the connectivity of alumina platelets, respectively. The anisotropy of the thermal conductivity at room temperature was investigated and explained by the effect of grain size of platelets as well as morphology and orientation of pores. The bending strength was higher with the loading direction along the platelet thickness. The thermal shock strength was clearly different in the two directions. The difference in the thermal shock strength was investigated by the measurement of properties and thermal stress analysis.     

Supramolecular Zn(II)-Dipicolylamine-Azobenzene-Aminocyclodextrin-ATP Complex: Design and ATP Recognition in Water

Cyclodextrins (CyDs) are water-soluble host molecules possessing a nanosized hydrophobic cavity. In the realm of molecular recognition, this cavity is used not only as a recognition site but also as a reaction medium, where a hydrophobic sensor recognizes a guest molecule. Based on the latter concept, we have designed a novel supramolecular sensing system composed of Zn(II)-dipicolylamine metal complex-based azobenzene (1-Zn) and 3A-amino-3A-deoxy-(2AS,3AS)-γ-cyclodextrin (3-NH₂-γ-CyD) for sensing adenosine-5′-triphosphate (ATP). 1-Zn showed redshifts in the UV-Vis spectra and induced circular dichroism (ICD) only when both ATP and 3-NH₂-γ-CyD were present. Calculations of equilibrium constants indicated that the amino group of 3-NH₂-γ-CyD was involved in the formation of supramolecular 1-Zn/3-NH₂-γ-CyD/ATP. The Job plot of the ICD spectral response revealed that the stoichiometry of 1-Zn/3-NH₂-γ-CyD/ATP was 2:1:1. The pH effect was examined and 1-Zn/3-NH₂-γ-CyD/ATP was most stable in the neutral condition. The NOESY spectrum suggested the localization of 1-Zn in the 3-NH₂-γ-CyD cavity. Based on the obtained results, the metal coordination interaction of 1-Zn and the electrostatic interaction of 3-NH₂-γ-CyD were found to take place for ATP recognition. The “reaction medium approach” enabled us to develop a supramolecular sensing system that undergoes multi-point interactions in water. This study is the first step in the design of a selective sensing system based on a good understanding of supramolecular structures.     

Matrix influence on the piezoelectric properties of piezoelectric ceramic/polymer composite exhibiting particle alignment

This study was addressed to the influence of an electric field strength applied at fabrication process and matrix properties, such as the dielectric constant and the Young's modulus, on “pseudo‐1‐3 piezoelectric ceramic/polymer composite” in order to further enhance the piezoelectricity of that. The pseudo‐1‐3 piezoelectric ceramic/polymer composite consists of linearly ordered piezoelectric ceramic particles in polymer material. Silicone gel, silicone rubber, urethane rubber, and poly‐methyl‐methacrylate, which exhibit different dielectric constants and Young's modulus, were used as matrices to evaluate the matrix influence. The piezoelectricity of the pseudo‐1‐3 piezoelectric ceramic/polymer composite was evaluated using the piezoelectric strain constant d₃₃. The d₃₃ is one of the indices of the piezoelectric properties for piezoelectric materials. As a result, it was confirmed that d₃₃ of the pseudo‐1‐3 piezoelectric ceramic/polymer composite increased with the increase of the electric filed strength applied at fabrication process, though, it reached a constant value at a certain strength value. Further it was confirmed that dielectric constant of the matrix had a small influence on d₃₃ of the pseudo‐1‐3 piezoelectric ceramic/polymer composite, however, in case of matrix of lower Young's modulus, d₃₃ was increase. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41817.     

Anatase Sol Prepared from Peroxotitanium Complex Aqueous Solution Containing Niobium or Vanadium

Niobium- or vanadium-doped anatase sols were prepared by hydrothermal treatment of 0.1 mol/dm³ peroxotitanium complex aqueous solutions dissolving 0–10 mol% niobium or vanadium at 100°C for 8 h. Niobium-doping caused the increase of lattice constants of anatase and the shape change of anatase crystal from spindle-like to cubic-like structure, but no change of the optical absorbance. Vanadium-doping caused the decrease of lattice constant of c -axis, the miniaturization of anatase crystal and the increase of optical absorbance at the wavelength from 350–700 nm.     

The effect of ionic cross-links on the deformation behavior of homoblends made of poly(styrene-co-styrenesulfonic acid) and poly(styrene-co-4-vinylpyridine)

Deformation behavior of stoichiometric blends made from poly(styrene-co-styrenesulfonic acid) (SPS) and poly(styrene-co-4-vinylpyridine) (SVP) was investigated by TEM observation of strained thin films. An FTIR investigation revealed that ionic cross-links were formed between the component polymers upon blending due to intermolecular ion-ion interactions, which arose from proton transfer from sulfonic acid groups to pyridine groups. TEM observations indicate that the deformation mode of the blends changed from crazing only to crazing plus shear deformation, with the shear contribution becoming larger, as the ion content in the blends increased. Such changes in deformation mode can be understood as arising from an increase in the ‘effective’ strand density due to the formation of ionic cross-links upon blending. It was also found that the ionic cross-links via pyridinium cation/sulfonate anion ion pairs were more effective in inducing the transition of deformation mode than ionic cross-links via -SO₃⁻/Na⁺ or -SO₃⁻/Ca²⁺ ion pairs.     

Characterization of localized states in thin PrBa2Cu3O7−x tunnel barriers

Characteristic power-law dependence of junction conductance on temperature was confirmed at low temperatures fora,b-axis oriented Au/PrBa₂Cu₃O_7−x /YBa₂Cu₃O_7−y junctions with a PrBa₂Cu₃O_7−x layer thinner than 30 nm, indicating that current transport via a small number of localized states was predominant. The radius and the density of the localized states were estimated to be 1.1 nm and 5.0x10¹⁹ eV⁻¹ cm⁻³, respectively. Transport measurement at 1.7 K in a magnetic field of up to 6 T revealed no indication of on-site Coulomb repulsion of electrons in the localized states. These results support the possibility of resonant tunneling of Cooper pairs in superconductor-insulator-superconductor junctions with a thin PrBa₂Cu₃O_7−x tunnel barrier.     

Chemical potentials of oxygen for three-phase assemblages of CaSiO3(s) + Ca3Si2O7(s) + {CaO + SiO2 + FexO} melt and Ca3Si2O7(s) + Ca2SiO4(s) + {CaO + SiO2 + FexO} melt

By employing an electrochemical technique involving stabilized zirconia as solid electrolyte and Mo + MoO₂ mixture as reference electrode, the equilibrium oxygen partial pressures for three-phase assemblages of CaSiO₃(s) + Ca₃Si₂O₇(s) + {CaO + SiO₂ + Fe_xO} melt and Ca₃Si₂O₇(s) + Ca₂SiO₄(s) + {CaO + SiO₂ + Fe_xO} melt were determined as: - log {P_O2 (CS + C₃S₂ + L)/bar} = - 3.22 13000/(T/K) ± 0.05 - log {P_O2 (C₃S₂ + C₂S + L)/bar} = - 0.92 16400/ (T/K) ± 0.04. respectively, where CS, C₃S₂ and C₂S indicate CaSiO₃(s), Ca₃Si₂O₇(s). and Ca₂SiO₄(s), respectively.     

Computation of mutual entropy in quantum markov chains

There are several damping phenomena in quantum optics. Such phenomena have been usually explained by open systems. In statistical physics, open system dynamics have been used to study the irreversibility and the approach to equilibrium. In this paper, the dynamical change of the mutual entropy for an open system, frequently studied in the quantum optics literature, is rigorously computed through a model of quantum Markov chain. In particular, the concrete formula of Stinespring expression for such a model is obtained and applied to the derivation of the mutual entropy, and some computational results are presented.     

Alteration of GABAA receptor alpha 1-subunit mRNA in mouse brain following continuous ethanol inhalation

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate what nursing home medical directors actually do, what they and other nursing home personnel believe would be desirable to do, and what problems and deficiencies are perceived. DESIGN: Mail survey with follow-up telephone interview when necessary. SETTING: Forty-five nursing facilities in upstate New York. PARTICIPANTS: The medical directors, administrators, and directors of nursing of the 45 facilities. MEASUREMENTS: Inventory of what medical directors reported as to their actual activities and time spent, and of what they, the administrators, and the directors of nursing felt should be their responsibilities and activities under ideal circumstances. RESULTS: For part-time medical directors, self-reported time spent on medical directorship activities averaged 12 hours per month; of all directors, 45% spent 8 hours or less per month. Proportion of time spent on various specific activities varied widely. There was general agreement that substantially more time should be spent, in particular, on evaluating and addressing problems of adequacy and quality of care, communicating with attending physicians about problems, and assisting with inservice training programs. CONCLUSIONS: To fill the role adequately, more time should be spent by many part-time medical directors, which will require greater financial commitment by facilities and reimbursement systems. Efforts need to made to better coordinate the expectations of medical directors and facility staff.