Transient resonance Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory investigation of iso-polyhalomethanes containing bromine and/or iodine atoms

Transient resonance Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory were used to investigate iso-polyhalomethanes containing bromine and/or iodine atoms. The iso-polyhalomethane species were found to have an intense electronic band in the range 350-470 nm. It was found that iso-polyhalomethane species is most likely the methylene transfer agent in the cyclopropanation reactions of olefins.published_or_final_versio

Transient resonance Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory investigation of iso-CHBr 2Cl and iso-CCl 3Br photoproducts produced following ultraviolet excitation of CHBr 2Cl and CCl 3Br

Two polyhalomethanes that contain bromine and chlorine atoms (CHBr 2Cl and CCl 2Br) were studied. Transient resonance Raman spectra were obtained for the photoproducts produced after ultraviolet excitation of CHBr 2Cl and CCl 3Br in room temperature solutions and density functional theory calculations for species proposed to be products of the photodissociation reactions in the solution phase. It was found that the iso-CHBrCl-Br and iso-CHClBr-Br species are formed following ultraviolet excitation of CHBr 2Cl and the iso-CCl 2Cl-Br species formed following ultraviolet excitation of CCl 3Br in the solution phase.published_or_final_versio

Factors determining the survival of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with lung metastasis alone: does combined modality treatment benefit?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) with lung metastasis alone has been reported as a relatively favorable prognostic group, and combined modality treatment might be indicated for selected cases. However, the prognostic factors determining survival of this group and the indication of combined therapy have not been thoroughly studied.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We retrospectively reviewed 246 patients of NPC with lung metastasis(es) alone presented at diagnosis or as the first failure after primary treatment from 1993 to 2008 in an academic tertiary hospital. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses of post-metastasis survival (PMS) and overall survival (OS) were carried out to determine the prognostic factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year of PMS and OS for the whole cohort were 34.3%, 17.0%, 8.6% and 67.8%, 45.4%, 18.5%, respectively. The median PMS (45.6 months <it>vs</it>. 23.7 months) and OS (73.7 months <it>vs</it>. 46.2 months) of patients treated with combined therapy was significantly longer than that of those treated with chemotherapy alone (<it>P </it>< 0.001). Age, disease-free interval (DFI) and treatment modality were evaluated as independent prognostic factors of OS, while only age and treatment modality retain their independent significance in PMS analysis. In stratified survival analysis, compared to chemotherapy alone, combined therapy could benefit the patients with DFI > 1 year, but not those with DFI ≤ 1 year.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Age ≤ 45 years, DFI > 1 year, and the combined therapy were good prognostic factors for NPC patients with lung metastasis(es) alone. The combination of local therapy and the basic chemotherapy should be considered for these patients with DFI > 1 year.</p

pCRP-mCRP dissociation mechanisms as potential targets for the development of small-molecule anti-inflammatory chemotherapeutics

© 2018 Caprio, Badimon, Di Napoli, Fang, Ferris, Guo, Iemma, Liu, Zeinolabediny and Slevin. Circulating C-reactive protein (CRP) is a key acute-phase protein and one of the main clinical biomarkers for inflammation and infection. CRP is an important upstream mediator of inflammation and is associated with the onset of a number of important disease states including cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. This pentraxin exerts pro-inflammatory properties via dissociation of the pentamer (pCRP) to a monomeric form (mCRP). This dissociation is induced by binding of pCRP to cell surface phosphocholine residues exposed by the action of phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ). Given the association of CRP with the onset of a range of serious disease states this CRP dissociation process is a tempting drug target for the development of novel small-molecule therapeutics. This review will discuss potential targets for chemotherapeutic intervention elucidated during studies of CRP-mediated inflammation and provide an up-to-date summary of the development of small molecules, not only targeted directly at inhibiting conversion of pCRP to mCRP, but also those developed for activity against PLA 2 , given the key role of this enzyme in the activation of CRP

Experimental review of oxygen content at mixing layer in cone calorimeter

This work aims to elucidate whether the hypothesis of zero oxygen at the mixture layer when flame takes place is assumable for every kind of material. For that purpose, we investigated the oxygen concentration there by cone calorimeter tests. A modified holder was developed in order to collect oxygen in this mixture layer. In addition, thermogravimetric tests were carried out so as to relate the possible effects of the presence of oxygen in the atmosphere where the pyrolysis process takes place, since the cone calorimeter does not allow to control the oxygen level of the atmosphere during the experiment. The reaction rates and per cent of residue in the cone calorimetric tests were measured and compared with the results from thermogravimetric tests. Six products were analysed which can be classified in three main groups: lignocellulosic, thermoplastic polymers and thermoset polymers. Cone calorimetric results showed that for some of the materials analysed (PET, Nylon and PUR foam) the oxygen level at mixture layer decreased until values close to zero. The comparison of reaction rates between cone calorimetric and thermogravimetric tests revealed the char layer created in cone calorimetric tests over the exposed face for brushed fir, Nylon and PET established an important heat barrier that modifies the thermal behaviour of these materials.Authors would like to thank to the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness for the PYRODESIGN Project grant, Ref.: BIA2012-37890, financed jointly by FEDER funds

Over-expression of lysophosphatidic acid receptor-2 in human invasive ductal carcinoma

INTRODUCTION: Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a bioactive phospholipid with diverse effects on various cells. It interacts with at least three G-protein-coupled transmembrane receptors, namely LPA1, LPA2 and LPA3, whose expression in various tumours has not been fully characterized. In the present study we characterized the expression profile of LPA receptors in human breast cancer tissue and assessed the possible roles of each receptor. METHODS: The relative expression levels of each receptor's mRNA against β-actin mRNA was examined in surgically resected invasive ductal carcinomas and normal gland tissue using real-time RT-PCR. LPA2 expression was also examined immunohistochemically using a rat anti-LPA2 monoclonal antibody. RESULTS: In 25 cases normal and cancer tissue contained LPA1 mRNA at similar levels, whereas the expression level of LPA2 mRNA was significantly increased in cancer tissue as compared with its normal counterpart (3479.0 ± 426.6 versus 1287.3 ± 466.8; P < 0.05). LPA3 was weakly expressed in both cancer and normal gland tissue. In 48 (57%) out of 84 cases, enhanced expression of LPA2 protein was confirmed in carcinoma cells as compared with normal mammary epithelium by immunohistochemistry. Over-expression of LPA2 was detected in 17 (45%) out of 38 premenopausal women, as compared with 31 (67%) out of 46 postmenopausal women, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that upregulation of LPA2 may play a role in carcinogenesis, particularly in postmenopausal breast cancer

Crowding by Invisible Flankers

BACKGROUND: Human object recognition degrades sharply as the target object moves from central vision into peripheral vision. In particular, one's ability to recognize a peripheral target is severely impaired by the presence of flanking objects, a phenomenon known as visual crowding. Recent studies on how visual awareness of flanker existence influences crowding had shown mixed results. More importantly, it is not known whether conscious awareness of the existence of both the target and flankers are necessary for crowding to occur. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here we show that crowding persists even when people are completely unaware of the flankers, which are rendered invisible through the continuous flash suppression technique. Contrast threshold for identifying the orientation of a grating pattern was elevated in the flanked condition, even when the subjects reported that they were unaware of the perceptually suppressed flankers. Moreover, we find that orientation-specific adaptation is attenuated by flankers even when both the target and flankers are invisible. CONCLUSIONS: These findings complement the suggested correlation between crowding and visual awareness. What's more, our results demonstrate that conscious awareness and attention are not prerequisite for crowding

How do MNC R&amp;D laboratory roles affect employee international assignments?

Research and development (R&#38;D) employees are important human resources for multinational corporations (MNCs) as they are the driving force behind the advancement of innovative ideas and products. International assignments of these employees can be a unique way to upgrade their expertise; allowing them to effectively recombine their unique human resources to progress existing knowledge and advance new ones. This study aims to investigate the effect of the roles of R&#38;D laboratories in which these employees work on the international assignments they undertake. We categorise R&#38;D laboratory roles into those of the support laboratory, the locally integrated laboratory and the internationally interdependent laboratory. Based on the theory of resource recombinations, we hypothesise that R&#38;D employees in support laboratories are not likely to assume international assignments, whereas those in locally integrated and internationally interdependent laboratories are likely to assume international assignments. The empirical evidence, which draws from research conducted on 559 professionals in 66 MNC subsidiaries based in Greece, provides support to our hypotheses. The resource recombinations theory that extends the resource based view can effectively illuminate the international assignment field. Also, research may provide more emphasis on the close work context of R&#38;D scientists rather than analyse their demographic characteristics, the latter being the focus of scholarly practice hitherto