Chemical recovery

"October 4, 1971.""The Institute of Paper Chemistry ... T. M. Grace ... N. L. Chang.

Fucosyltransferase 1 and 2 play pivotal roles in breast cancer cells.

FUT1 and FUT2 encode alpha 1, 2-fucosyltransferases which catalyze the addition of alpha 1, 2-linked fucose to glycans. Glycan products of FUT1 and FUT2, such as Globo H and Lewis Y, are highly expressed on malignant tissues, including breast cancer. Herein, we investigated the roles of FUT1 and FUT2 in breast cancer. Silencing of FUT1 or FUT2 by shRNAs inhibited cell proliferation in vitro and tumorigenicity in mice. This was associated with diminished properties of cancer stem cell (CSC), including mammosphere formation and CSC marker both in vitro and in xenografts. Silencing of FUT2, but not FUT1, significantly changed the cuboidal morphology to dense clusters of small and round cells with reduced adhesion to polystyrene and extracellular matrix, including laminin, fibronectin and collagen. Silencing of FUT1 or FUT2 suppressed cell migration in wound healing assay, whereas FUT1 and FUT2 overexpression increased cell migration and invasion in vitro and metastasis of breast cancer in vivo. A decrease in mesenchymal like markers such as fibronectin, vimentin, and twist, along with increased epithelial like marker, E-cadherin, was observed upon FUT1/2 knockdown, while the opposite was noted by overexpression of FUT1 or FUT2. As expected, FUT1 or FUT2 knockdown reduced Globo H, whereas FUT1 or FUT2 overexpression showed contrary effects. Exogenous addition of Globo H-ceramide reversed the suppression of cell migration by FUT1 knockdown but not the inhibition of cell adhesion by FUT2 silencing, suggesting that at least part of the effects of FUT1/2 knockdown were mediated by Globo H. Our results imply that FUT1 and FUT2 play important roles in regulating growth, adhesion, migration and CSC properties of breast cancer, and may serve as therapeutic targets for breast cancer

Nano-Scale Strain-Induced Giant Pseudo-Magnetic Fields and Charging Effects in CVD-Grown Graphene on Copper

Scanning tunneling microscopic and spectroscopic (STM/STS) studies of graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on copper reveal that the monolayer carbon structures remaining on copper are strongly strained and rippled, with different regions exhibiting different lattice structures and local electronic density of states (LDOS). The large and non-uniform strain induces pseudo-magnetic field up to ∼ 50 Tesla, as manifested by the integer and fractional pseudo-magnetic field quantum Hall effects (IQHE and FQHE) in the LDOS of graphene. Additionally, ridges appear along the boundaries of different lattice structures, which exhibit excess charging effects. For graphene transferred from copper to SiO_2 substrates after the CVD growth, the average strain and the corresponding charging effects and pseudo-magnetic fields become much reduced. These findings suggest the feasibility of strain-engineering of graphene-based nano-electronics

Competing Weak Localization and Weak Antilocalization in Ultrathin Topological Insulators

We demonstrate evidence of a surface gap opening in topological insulator (TI) thin films of (Bi_(0.57)Sb_(0.43))_(2)Te_3 below six quintuple layers through transport and scanning tunneling spectroscopy measurements. By effective tuning the Fermi level via gate-voltage control, we unveil a striking competition between weak localization and weak antilocalization at low magnetic fields in nonmagnetic ultrathin films, possibly owing to the change of the net Berry phase. Furthermore, when the Fermi level is swept into the surface gap of ultrathin samples, the overall unitary behaviors are revealed at higher magnetic fields, which are in contrast to the pure WAL signals obtained in thicker films. Our findings show an exotic phenomenon characterizing the gapped TI surface states and point to the future realization of quantum spin Hall effect and dissipationless TI-based applications

Nearly 90% Circularly-Polarized Emission in Monolayer WS₂ Single Crystals by Chemical Vapor Deposition

Monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) in the 2H-phase are semiconductors promising for opto-valleytronic and opto-spintronic applications because of their strong spin-valley coupling. Here we report detailed studies of opto-valleytronic properties of heterogeneous domains in CVD-grown monolayer WS₂ single crystals. By illuminating WS₂ with off-resonance circularly-polarized light and measuring the resulting spatially resolved circularly-polarized emission (P_circ), we find significantly large circular polarization (P_(circ) up to 60% and 45% for α- and β-domains, respectively) already at 300 K, which increases to nearly 90% in the α-domains at 80 K. Studies of spatially resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Kelvin-probe force microscopy (KPFM) and conductive atomic force microscopy (CAFM) reveal direct correlation among the PL intensity, defect densities and chemical potential, with the α-domains showing lower defect densities and a smaller work function by 0.13 eV than the β-domains. This work function difference indicates the occurrence of type-two band alignments between the α- and β-domains. We adapt a classical model to explain how electronically active defects may serve as non-radiative recombination centers, and find good agreement between experiments and the model. Scanning tunneling microscopic/spectroscopic (STM/STS) studies provide further evidences for tungsten vacancies (WVs) being the primary defects responsible for the suppressed PL and circular polarization in WS₂. These results therefore suggest a pathway to control the opto-valleytronic properties of TMDCs via defect engineering

Dietary intakes in people with irritable bowel syndrome

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder characterised by episodes of abdominal pain associated with altered bowel habits. Many IBS sufferers believe that diet may play a role in triggering these episodes and may avoid certain foods. However relatively few studies have undertaken a dietary assessment in IBS sufferers to examine the wider impact of the condition upon diet.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>104 individuals with IBS were recruited and asked to complete a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The data were analysed against Dietary Reference Values for food energy and nutrients for the United Kingdom and observed intakes for the general population and for differences between IBS subtypes and the UK population.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The data show that the dietary intakes of this population of IBS sufferers met the UK Dietary Reference Values. The average energy intake of the population exceeded the Estimated Average Requirements of the UK population and the balance of macronutrients was favourable. Intakes of selected micronutrients significantly exceeded the reference nutrient intakes. There were no differences between IBS subtypes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The IBS subpopulation appear to have an adequate and balanced macronutrient intake with no evidence of inadequate micronutrient intake.</p

Clinical significance of serological biomarkers and neuropsychological performances in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a common form of focal epilepsy. Serum biomarkers to predict cognitive performance in TLE patients without psychiatric comorbidities and the link with gray matter (GM) atrophy have not been fully explored.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Thirty-four patients with TLE and 34 sex - and age-matched controls were enrolled for standardized cognitive tests, neuroimaging studies as well as measurements of serum levels of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), S100ß protein (S100ßP), neuronal specific enolase (NSE), plasma nuclear and mitochondrial DNA levels.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Compared with the controls, the patients with TLE had poorer cognitive performances and higher HSP70 and S100ßP levels (<it>p </it>< 0.01). The patients with higher frequencies of seizures had higher levels of HSP70, NSE and S100ßP (<it>p </it>< 0.01). Serum HSP70 level correlated positively with duration of epilepsy (σ = 0.413, <it>p </it>< 0.01), and inversely with memory scores in the late registration (σ = −0.276, <it>p </it>= 0.01) and early recall score (σ = −0.304, <it>p </it>= 0.007). Compared with the controls, gray matter atrophy in the hippocampal and parahippocampal areas, putamen, thalamus and supplementary motor areas were found in the patient group. The HSP70 levels showed an inverse correlation with hippocampal volume (R square = 0.22, <it>p </it>= 0.007) after controlling for the effect of age.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results suggest that serum biomarkers were predictive of higher frequencies of seizures in the TLE group. HSP70 may be considered to be a stress biomarker in patients with TLE in that it correlated inversely with memory scores and hippocampal volume. In addition, the symmetric extratemporal atrophic patterns may be related to damage of neuronal networks and epileptogenesis in TLE.</p

Ultrasonographic median nerve cross-section areas measured by 8-point "inching test" for idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome: a correlation of nerve conduction study severity and duration of clinical symptoms

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Incremental palmar stimulation of the median nerve sensory conduction at the wrist, the "inching test", provides an assessment with reference to segments proximal and distal to the entrapment. This study used high-resolution ultrasonography (US) to measure the median nerve's cross-section areas (CSAs) like the "inching test" and to correlate with the nerve conduction study (NCS) severity and duration of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Two hundred and twelve (212) "CTS-hands" from 135 CTS patients and 50 asymptomatic hands ("A-hands") from 25 control individuals were enrolled. The median nerve CSAs were measured at the 8-point marked as <it>i</it>4, <it>i</it>3, <it>i</it>2, <it>i</it>1, <it>w</it>, <it>o</it>1, <it>o</it>2, and <it>0</it>3 in inching test. The NCS severities were classified into six groups based on motor and sensory responses (i.e., negative, minimal, mild, moderate, severe, and extreme). Results of US studies were compared in terms of NCS severity and duration of clinical CTS symptoms.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There was significantly larger CSA of the NCS negative group of "CTS-hands" than of "A-hands". The cut-off values of the CSAs of the NCS negative CTS group were 12.5 mm², 11.5 mm²and 10.1 mm²at the inlet, wrist crease, and outlet, respectively. Of the 212 "CTS-hands", 32 were NCS negative while 40 had minimal, 43 mild, 85 moderate, 10 severe, and two extreme NCS severities. The CSAs of "CTS-hands" positively correlated with different NCS severities and with the duration of CTS symptoms. By duration of clinical symptoms, 12 of the 212 "CTS-hands" were in the 1 month group; 82 in >1 month and ≤12 months group, and 118 in >12 months group. In "inching test", segments <it>i</it>4-<it>i</it>3 and <it>i</it>3-<it>i</it>2 were the most common "positive-site". The corresponding CSAs measured at <it>i</it>4 and <it>i</it>3, but not at <it>i</it>2, were significantly larger than those measured at points that were not "positive-site".</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Using the 8-point measurement of the median nerve CSA from inlet to outlet similar to the "inching test" has positive correlations with NCS severity and duration of CTS clinical symptoms, and can provide more information on anatomic changes. Combined NCS and US studies using the 8-point measurement may have a higher positive rate than NCS alone for diagnosing CTS.</p