A Novel Combination Cancer Therapy with Iron Chelator Targeting Cancer Stem Cells via Suppressing Stemness

Excess iron causes cancer and is thought to be related to carcinogenesis and cancer progression including stemness, but the details remain unclear. Here, we hypothesized that stemness in cancer is related to iron metabolism and that regulating iron metabolism in cancer stem cells (CSCs) may be a novel therapy. In this study, we used murine induced pluripotent stem cells that expressed specific stem cell genes such as Nanog, Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc, and two human cancer cell lines with similar stem cell gene expression. Deferasirox, an orally available iron chelator, suppressed expression of stemness markers and spherogenesis of cells with high stemness status in vitro. Combination therapy had a marked antitumor effect compared with deferasirox or cisplatin alone. Iron metabolism appears important for maintenance of stemness in CSCs. An iron chelator combined with chemotherapy may be a novel approach via suppressing stemness for CSC targeted therapy

Project price modeling by optimal fixed price incentive contract

The project fixed price incentive (FPI) contract imposes either penalty or incentive for cost excess or cost savings. However, problems arise with target price and refunding rate of the project, which are determined by negotiation and often require compromise with an unavoidable, unfair contract. In this paper we propose an analytical model that can resolve the unfair contract dealing of FPI. Our objective is to find an optimal solution to maximize total profit and to determine a target price in the FPI approach. We use cooperative game theory and compare results with Firm Fixed Price (FFP) approach to demonstrate the significance of using the proposed model for price negotiation

格子流体状態方程式を用いた高圧高分子多成分系の物性推算法の確立

東京理科大学201

Editorial: Current research issues in production economics

Abstract not available

Phase Behavior of a Carbon Dioxide/Methyl Trimethoxy Silane/Polystyrene Ternary System

Recently, polymeric foams filled with a silica aerogel have been developed. The phase behavior of CO2/silicon alkoxide binary systems and CO2/silicon alkoxide/polymer ternary systems is an important factor that affects the design of novel processes. The phase behavior of a carbon dioxide (CO2)/methyl trimethoxy silane (MTMS)/polystyrene (PS) ternary system was measured using a synthetic method involving the observation of the bubble and cloud point. The phase boundaries were measured at temperatures ranging from 313.2 to 393.2 K and CO2 weight fractions between 0.01 and 0.08. The CO2/MTMS/PS system showed a similar CO2 mass fraction dependence of the phase behavior to that observed for the CO2/tetramethyl orthosilicate (TMOS)/PS system. When the phase boundaries of these systems were compared, the vapor-liquid (VL) and vapor-liquid-liquid (VLL) lines were found to be nearly identical, while the liquid-liquid (LL) lines were different. These results indicate that the affinity between the silicon alkoxide and polymer greatly influences the liquid-liquid phase separation

Pressure-volume-temperature relationships of trimethoxymethylsilane and tetramethyl orthosilicate at temperatures ranging from 303.2 to 363.2 K and pressures up to 160 MPa

The pressure-volume-temperature (PVT) relationships for trimethoxymethylsilane (MTMS, CH3(CH3O)3Si) and tetramethyl orthosilicate (TMOS, (CH3O)4Si) were measured at temperatures ranging from 303.2 to 363.2 K and pressures up to 160 MPa. Density measurements were carried out with an experimental apparatus based on the variable volume method. The standard uncertainties u(T) = 0.17 K and u(P) = 0.14 MPa, and the relative combined expanded uncertainty Ur (0.95 level of confidence) were Ur(ρ) = (0.0016 and 0.0022) for MTMS and TMOS, respectively. The obtained PVT relationships were correlated using the Tait equation and the Sanchez-Lacombe equation of state to determine the characteristic parameters