Crystal growth, structure and thermal properties of noncentrosymmetric single crystals PrCa4O(BO3)3+

Noncentrosymmetric praseodymium calcium oxyborate single crystals, PrCa4O(BO3)3 (PrCOB), were grown by the Czochralski technique. The monoclinic unit cell parameters were found to be a = 8.177 Å, b = 16.157 Å, c = 3.629 Å and Z = 2 with space group Cm. Crystal density was measured using the Archimedes method, being on the order of 3.47 g cm-3. Thermal properties of PrCOB were investigated, where the specific heat was found to be 0.63 J g-1 °C-1 at room temperature, increasing to 0.85 J g-1°C-1 at 700°C. The thermal expansion coefficients were measured to be α11 = 7.99, α22 = 4.90 and α33 = 9.46 (10-6/°C), respectively. In addition, thermal diffusivity λ22 and thermal conductivity κ22 as a function of temperature were studied, where λ22 was observed to decrease from 0.89 to 0.58 mm2 s-1, while κ22 was found to maintain the same value, being ∼1.90 W m-1°C-1 over the temperature range of 20-700°C. 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry

Vasculogenic mimicry contributes to lymph node metastasis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Survival of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) patients has remained unchanged over recent years due to its uncontrolled recurrence and local lymph node metastasis. Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is an alternative type of blood supplement related to more aggressive tumor biology and increased tumor-related mortality. This study aimed to investigate the unique role of VM in the progression of LSCC.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We reviewed clinical pathological data of 203 cases of LSCC both prospectively and retrospectively. VM and endothelium-dependent vessel (EDV) were detected by immunohistochemistry and double staining to compare their different clinical pathological significance in LSCC. Survival analyses were performed to assess their prognostic significance as well.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Both VM and EDV existed in LSCC type of blood supply. VM is related to pTNM stage, lymph node metastasis and pathology grade. In contrust, EDV related to location, pTNM stage, T stage and distant metastasis. Univariate analysis showed VM, pTNM stage, T classification, nodal status, histopathological grade, tumor size, and radiotherapy to be related to overall survival (OS). While, VM, location, tumor size and radiotherapy were found to relate to disease free survival (DFS). Multivariate analysis indicated that VM, but not EDV, was an adverse predictor for both OS and DFS.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>VM existed in LSCC. It contributed to the progression of LSCC by promoting lymph node metastasis. It is an independent predictors of a poor prognosis of LSCC.</p

Quasiparticle Swarm Optimization for Cross-Section Linear Profile Error Evaluation of Variation Elliptical Piston Skirt

Variation elliptical piston skirt has better mechanical and thermodynamic properties and it is widely applied in internal combustion engine in recent years. Because of its complex form, its geometrical precision evaluation is a difficult problem. In this paper, quasi-particle swarm optimization (QPSO) is proposed to calculate the minimum zone error and ellipticity of cross-section linear profile, where initial positions and initial velocities of all particles are generated by using quasi-random Halton sequences which sample points have good distribution properties and the particles’ velocities are modified by constriction factor approach. Then, the design formula and mathematical model of the cross-section linear profile of variation elliptical piston skirt are set up and its objective function calculation approach using QPSO to solve the minimum zone cross-section linear profile error is developed which conforms to the ISO/1101 standard. Finally, the experimental results evaluated by QPSO, particle swarm optimization (PSO), improved genetic algorithm (IGA) and the least square method (LSM) confirm the effectiveness of the proposed QPSO and it improves the linear profile error evaluation accuracy and efficiency. This method can be extended to other complex curve form error evaluation such as cam curve profile

Theabrownin ameliorates liver inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis in MCD diet-fed C57BL/6J mice

IntroductionNonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), also known as metabolic steatohepatitis, is a clinical syndrome with pathological changes like alcoholic hepatitis but without a history of excessive alcohol consumption. NASH is closely related to metabolic disorders such as obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia. Its main characteristics are hepatocyte steatosis with hepatocyte injury and inflammation. In severe cases, it can develop into liver cirrhosis. At present, there is no special treatment for NASH. Theabrownin (TB) is the main pigment substance in fermented tea. Theabrownin has beneficial effects on lipid metabolism and intestinal flora. However, the effect of theabrownin on NASH has not been studied. MethodsThis study was aimed at exploring the effects of theabrownin from Fuzhuan brick tea on NASH. 8-week-old mice were randomly assigned to three groups and fed with chow diet (CD), methionine and choline sufficient (MCS) diet (MCS Ctrl), which is a Methionine/choline deficient (MCD) control diet, and MCD diet. After 5 weeks of feeding, the MCD group mice were randomly divided into two groups and were gavaged with double distilled water (MCD Ctrl) or theabrownin (MCD TB) (200mg/kg body weight, dissolved in double distilled water) every day for another 4 weeks respectively, while continuing MCD diet feeding.ResultsWe found that theabrownin treatment could not improve liver mass loss and steatosis. However, theabrownin ameliorated liver injury and decreased liver inflammatory response. Theabrownin also alleviated liver oxidative stress and fibrosis. Furthermore, our results showed that theabrownin increased hepatic level of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and reduced the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase p38 in MCD diet-fed mice

Two Novel AGXT Mutations Cause the Infantile Form of Primary Hyperoxaluria Type I in a Chinese Family: Research on Missed Mutation

Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) is a rare metabolic disorder characterized by a defect in the liver-specific peroxisomal enzyme alanine-glyoxylate and serine-pyruvate aminotransferase (AGT). This disorder results in hyperoxaluria, recurrent urolithiasis, and nephrocalcinosis. Three forms of PH1 have been reported. Data on the infantile form of PH1 are currently limited in literature. Despite the fact that China is the most populated country in the world, only a few AGXT mutations have been reported in several Chinese PH1 patients. In the present study, we investigated a Chinese family in which two siblings are affected by the infantile form of PH1. Sanger sequencing was carried out on the proband, but the results were misleading. Two novel missense mutations (c.517T &gt; C/p.Cys173Arg and c.667A &gt; C/p.Ser223Arg) of the AGXT gene were successfully detected through whole-exome sequencing. These two mutations occurred in the highly conserved residues of the AGT. Four software programs predicted both mutations as the cause of the disease. A postmortem examination was performed and revealed the occurrence of global nephrocalcinosis on both kidneys. The crystals were collected and analyzed as calcium oxalate monohydrate. This study extends the knowledge on the clinical phenotype–genotype correlation of the AGXT mutation. That is, (i) two novel missense mutations were identified for the infantile form of PH1 and (ii) the same AGXT genotype caused the same infantile form of PH1 within the family