Hierarchical Morphology of Polymer Blend Films Induced by Convection-Driven Solvent Evaporation

Homogeneous thin films of polymer blends with a desired morphology are necessary because of their applications in the fields such as optoelectronics, sensors, biomedicine, and so on. The frequently employed approach for the thin film preparation, spin coating is only able to achieve a homogeneous film for a small area because of the overwhelming spin-driven solvent evaporation with increased size. Here, a convection-guided morphology formation for polystyrene:poly­(methyl methacrylate) blend films is reported. In situ observation shows that the morphology changed from homogeneous deposition with a scale less than 10 μm to a self-organized cellular pattern with a scale of more than 100 μm after the fluid flow is involved. Selective dissolution of the hierarchical films reveals that the cellular morphology is attributed to the flow-field-guided deposition of sequentially generated precipitates. The coupling of phase separation and fluid convection results in the hierarchical morphology that includes Voronoi cellular division as the primary structure and the detailed heterogeneous inner-cell features as the secondary structure. Isolated modulation of either micro- or mesoscale in the hierarchical morphology could be carried out via adjusting phase interaction or the convection disturbance correspondingly, providing a flexible and straightforward strategy to construct designed hierarchical structures for polymer thin films toward desired function or property

A Universal and Cost-Effective Approach to the Synthesis of Carbon-Supported Noble Metal Nanoparticles with Hollow Interiors

Noble metal nanoparticles with hollow interiors and customizable shell compositions have immense potential for catalysis. Herein, we present a universal and cost-effective approach for the fabrication of carbon-supported Pt-containing noble metal nanoparticles with hollow interiors. This strategy starts with the synthesis of Pt-containing core–shell Ag–noble metal nanoparticles, which are then loaded on the carbon supports and refluxed in acetic acid to remove the original organic surfactant. The carbon-supported Pt-containing core–shell Ag–noble metal nanoparticles are subsequently agitated in saturated Na₂S or NaCl solution to eliminate Ag from the core region, leading to the formation of Pt-containing noble metal nanoparticles with hollow interiors. In particular, the Pt-containing core–shell Ag–noble metal nanoparticles hollowed by NaCl on carbon support exhibit enhanced catalytic activity, whereas the hollowing by Na₂S is a serious detriment to the catalytic activity of the resulting carbon-supported hollow nanoparticles for methanol oxidation

DataSheet_1_The α-RECIST (RECIST 1.1 Combined With Alpha Fetoprotein): A Novel Tool for Identifying Tumor Response of Conversion-Radiotherapy for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma Before Hepatectomy.docx

PurposeTo develop a novel criterion based on the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) 1.1 and alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and evaluate its performance in tumor response for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) receiving conversion-radiotherapy before hepatectomy.MethodFrom June 2012 to December 2020, a total of 39 patients with uHCC, who received intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) before hepatectomy, were retrospectively included in this study. Pre- and post-treatment contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) scans were performed in all patients. Eight modified criteria were developed with the combination of RECIST 1.1, modified RECIST (mRECIST), and the percentage change of AFP, baseline AFP. The endpoint events were recurrence-free survival (RFS).ResultsThe median RFS and OS was 26.5 (IQR, 15.7-43.1), 38.8 (IQR, 18.4-53.6) months. An optimal revised evaluation criterion named α-RECIST (alpha fetoprotein-RECIST 1.1) was developed by combining the RECIST 1.1 with the AFPΔ (cut-off value, 76%). Patients defined as responders by α-RECIST showed significantly better RFS and OS than those defined as non-responders (p = 0.035, 0.048). The other criteria (RECIST 1.1, mRECIST, αΔ-mRECIST, α&Δ-RECIST, α&Δ-mRECIST, αBL-RECIST, αBL-mRECIST, α&BL-RECIST, α&BL-mRECIST) all failed to identify responders from non-responders (p = 0.405, 0.201, 0.773, 0.424, 0.266, 0.060, 0.721, 0.644, 0.910, respectively) when correlated with RFS. Responders according to α-RECIST showed significant better RFS compared to non-responders [HR, 0.31 (95% CI: 0.10, 0.98); p=0.046], but no statistical significance was observed in terms of OS [HR, 0.33 (95% CI: 0.11, 1.05); p = 0.06].ConclusionsPatients identified as responders by α-RECIST provided significant better RFS. The α-RECIST criteria might be a promising tool for identifying tumor response of conversion-radiotherapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma before hepatectomy.</p

According to HPV infection status(HPV positive) stratified analysis of the association between genotypes and risk of cervical carcinoma and CIN.

*<p>CC: PARP-1 Ala762Ala(GCG/GCG); TC: Val762Ala(GTG/GCG); TT: Val762Val(GTG/GTG).</p>**<p>all P-values adjusted for age.</p

According to different sexual or reproductive histories subgroup stratified analyses between the genotypes and CIN risk.

*<p>CC: PARP-1 Ala762Ala(GCG/GCG); TC: Val762Ala(GTG/GCG); TT: Val762Val(GTG/GTG).</p>**<p>all P-values adjusted for age.</p

Frequency distribution of select characteristics by case control status.

<p>Bold values show statistical data with significant difference.</p>a<p>Two-tailed χ² test.</p>b<p>Parities including full-term pregnancy and abortion at or after 28 weeks.</p

Analysis of association between the polymorphisms and risk of cervical carcinoma.

*<p>CC: PARP-1 Ala762Ala(GCG/GCG); TC: Val762Ala(GTG/GCG); TT: Val762Val(GTG/GTG).</p>**<p>all P-values adjusted for age.</p

Association between CC-CT, CT-CC genotypes and the risk for cervical squamous cell carcinoma stratified by various environmental factors.

<p>Bold values show statistical data with significant difference.</p><p>*All P-values are adjusted for age, number of sexual partners, age at first intercourse, parities (including full-term pregnancy and abortion at or after 28 weeks) and age at first full-term pregnancy.</p

Analysis of association between the polymorphisms and risk of CIN.

*<p>CC: PARP-1 Ala762Ala(GCG/GCG); TC: Val762Ala(GTG/GCG); TT: Val762Val(GTG/GTG).</p>**<p>all P-values adjusted for age.</p

Additional file 3 of Transcription factor KLF15 inhibits the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells via regulating the TFAP2A-AS1/NISCH axis

Additional file 3: Fig. S3. (A) QPCR was used to evaluate the expression of potential target mRNAs after the knockdown of TFAP2A-AS1 in AGS and NUGC4 cells. (B) Western blot analysis was used to assess the protein level of NISCH in AGS and NUGC4 cells after the knockdown of TFAP2A-AS1. (C) RNA-pulldown assay was used to verify the interaction between NISCH and miR-3657 in AGS and NUGC4 cells. (D-E) QPCR and western blot analyses was used to detect the level of NISCH in AGS and NUGC4 cells after the transfection of sh-NC, sh-TFAP2A-AS1-1, sh-TFAP2A-AS1-1+inhibitor-NC or sh-TFAP2A-AS1-1+miR-3657 inhibitor. The statistical analysis for Figure S3A, S3C and S3D was one-way ANOVA. GAPDH was used as the internal reference for gene expression analysis. **P < 0.01