Microstructure of (Hf-Ta-Zr-Nb)C high-entropy carbide at micro and nano/atomic level

Support from the projects APVV-15-0469, APVV-15-0621, VEGA 2/0163/16, and VEGA 2/0082/17 is acknowledged. MJR and EGC acknowledge the support of EPSRC grant XMAT (EP/K008749/2)

Biotechnological production and application of fructooligosaccharides

Currently, prebiotics are all carbohydrates of relatively short chain length. An important group is the fructooligosaccharides, which are a special kind of prebiotics associated to their selective stimulation of the activity of certain groups of colonic bacteria that have a positive and beneficial effect on intestinal microbiota, reducing incidence of gastrointestinal infections, respiratory and also possessing a recognized bifidogenic effect. Traditionally, these prebiotic compounds have been obtained through extraction processes from some plants, as well as through enzymatic hydrolysis of sucrose. However, different fermentative methods have also been proposed for the production of fructooligosaccharides, such as solid-state fermentation utilizing various agroindustrial by-products. By optimizing the culture parameters, fructooligosaccharides yields and productivity can be improved. The use of immobilized enzymes and cells has also been proposed as being an effective and economic method for large-scale production of fructooligosaccharides. This paper is an overview on the results of recent studies on fructooligosacharides biosynthesis, physicochemical properties, sources, biotechnological production and applications.The authors thank the National Council of Science and Technology of Mexico (CONACYT) for funding this study. D. A. Flores-Maltos thank the CONACYT for the financial support provided for her postgraduate studies in the Food Science and Technology Program, Universidad Autonoma de Coahuila, Mexico

The synthesis and biological evaluation of A-ring substituted steroidal p-quinones

The preparation of A-ring steroidal 1,4-quinones involves m-CPBA/(BzO)(2)O/hv oxidation of estrone (or estradiol 17-acetate), acid rearrangement of the obtained quinol, and oxidation A detailed NMR analysis of 1,4-quinones and their derivatives, as well as the results of preliminary antibacterial and cytotoxicity tests is presented. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd

Downregulation of MTSS1 expression is an independent prognosticator in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung

BACKGROUND: The metastasis suppressor 1 (MTSS1) is a newly discovered protein putatively involved in tumour progression and metastasis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical expression of MTSS1 was analysed in 264 non-small-cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs). RESULTS: The metastasis suppressor 1 was significantly overexpressed in NSCLC compared with normal lung (P=0.01). Within NSCLC, MTSS1 expression was inversely correlated with pT-stage (P=0.019) and histological grading (P<0.001). NSCLC with MTSS1 downregulation (<20%) showed a significantly worse outcome (P=0.007). This proved to be an independent prognostic factor in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs; P=0.041), especially in early cancer stages (P=0.006). CONCLUSION: The metastasis suppressor 1 downregulation could thus serve as a stratifying marker for adjuvant therapy in early-stage SCC of the lung

Transition metal complexes with Girard reagent-based ligands, Part I: Synthesis and crystal structure of the first cobalt(III) complexes with Schiff base derivative of Girard reagent

A new ligand, pyridoxilidene Girard-T hydrazone, [H3L]Cl-2 . 2H(2)O, and its octahedral cobalt(III) complexes [Co(HL) (NO2)(3)] . H2O (1) and [Co(HL)(2)](PF6)(3) (2) were synthesized. The X-ray analysis of (1) showed that the complex has a mer-octahedral configuration formed by coordination of the tridentate ONO neutral Schiff-base molecule and three monodentate N-bonded NO2 groups. Hydrogen bonds and intermolecular interactions for this complex are discussed. Complex (2) also has a mer-octahedral configuration. The ligand and complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, conductometric and magnetochemical measurements, IR and UV-Visible, H-1 and C-13 NMR spectra. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V