A study on properties of concrete with dry fly ash and fly ash slurry stored with stirring

In the evaluation of concrete sustainability, what constitutes "sustainable" to one region may vary from another. This often leads to methodological forms of uncertainties that makes the evaluation process more complex. As such, this paper aims to quantify the effect of uncertainties in the regional context on the sustainability evaluation of concrete materials. This is carried out by quantifying the regional context through establishing a weighting scheme and then integrating the obtained weights into the sustainability analysis of concrete materials in tandem with uncertainty analysis. Japan is used as a case study because although it relatively appears as a homogeneous country, its prefectures possess unique characteristics that may make the sustainability evaluation of concrete materials vary across prefectures. Cluster analysis is carried out in the 47 prefectures of Japan using a set of regional context indicators. Five clusters are identified with varying characteristics and these are translated into different weighting schemes. The established weights are used in the sustainability evaluation of concrete materials using multi-criteria decision-making analysis. The results showed that one mix is the most sustainable for four of the clusters and a different mix is the most sustainable for the remaining cluster. When uncertainty analysis is conducted, the effect of the weights in the sustainability evaluation is explained by examining the average scores of the concrete mixes and the variance of the scores across the five clusters. This investigation facilitated the understanding of how regional differences and the uncertainties associated with it impact the evaluation of concrete sustainability

Correlation of porosity and properties of recycled fine aggregate concrete with fly ash

In this paper, we presented the experimental discussion of samples of recycled aggregate concrete with replacement of natural fine aggregate by recycled fine aggregate. Three mix kinds were produced and, for each of these three kinds, two levels of water to blinder ratio were used with 0%, 10% and 20% of FA. The result of the tests of drying shrinkage and compressive strength of recycled concrete were used for comparison with tests of mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), in which the cumulative pore volume and different intervals of pore volume were studied at ages of 28 and 91 days. Correlation graph of compressive strength and cumulative pore volume might be predicted with given W/B, days and FA of the concrete or none given and drying shrinkage might be predicted with given FA

Optical resolution via catalytic generation of chiral auxiliary

A new catalytic method for separating enantiomers of racemic compounds is proposed. Catalytic asymmetric addition of chiral trans-2-substituted cyclohexanols to imines provided diastereomeric mixtures of aminals, and the subsequent separation of the enantiomers by silicagel column chromatography and the hydrolysis of the aminals produced the alcohols in an optically active form

Desymmetrization of acid anhydride with asymmetric esterification catalyzed by chiral phosphoric acid

Asymmetric desymmetrization of σ-symmetric acid anhydrides was achieved with chiral phosphoric acid as a Brønsted acid catalyst. The key of success was finding of benzhydrol and 2,2-diphenylethanol as the nucleophiles of choice. The corresponding half esters were obtained in good yields with high selectivity

LAT1 expression in IHCC

Background : Amino acid transporters, such as L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1), have an effect on tumor growth, metastasis, and survival of various solid tumors. However, the role of LAT1 in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC) remains unknown. Methods : Forty-six patients who had undergone initial hepatic resection for IHCC at Tokushima University Hospital were enrolled in this study. Immunohistochemical analysis of LAT1 and phosphorylated Akt (p-AKT) was performed using resected specimens. Clinicopathological factors, including prognosis, were analyzed between LAT1-high and LAT1-low groups. Results : The LAT1-high group showed a higher proportion of periductal infiltrating type and higher carcinoembryonic antigen/carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels compared with the LAT1-low group. Multivariate analysis revealed that LAT1-high expression was an independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival. Furthermore, the proportion of p-AKT positivity was higher in the LAT1-high group than in the LAT1-low group. Conclusions : LAT1 expression was associated with poor prognosis of IHCC and higher p-Akt expression

Catalytic Chiral Leaving Group Strategy for Asymmetric Substitutions at sp3-Hybridized Carbon Atoms : Kinetic Resolution of β-Amino Alcohols by p-Methoxybenzylation

We developed a catalytic strategy for asymmetric substitution reactions at sp3-hybridized carbon atoms using a chiral alkylating agent generated in situ from trichloroacetimidate and a chiral phosphoric acid. The resulting chiral p-methoxybenzyl phosphate selectively reacted with β-amino alcohols rather than those without the β-NH functionality. An electronically and sterically tuned chiral phosphoric acid was developed to enable the kinetic resolution of amino alcohols, with good enantioselectivity, through p-methoxybenzylation

大腸癌肝転移におけるThrombospondin-1発現の役割とその分子メカニズム

Background/Purpose Thrombospondin-1 (THBS-1), a glycoprotein, is an endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis and tumor growth. In this study, we investigated the clinical role and mechanism of THBS-1 expression in colorectal liver metastases, focusing on the relationships between its expression and tumor growth, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), and expression of other relevant molecules. Methods Ninety-four patients who initially underwent curative hepatic resection were enrolled in this study and correlations between expression of THBS-1 (THBS-1 high [n=35] and THBS-1 low [n=59]) and tumor growth, Ki-67 labelling index (Ki-67 LI), expression of other relevant molecules, and microvessel density (MVD) investigated. Results THBS1 low expression correlated with more advanced grade of liver and lymph node metastases and significantly worse overall survival than strong THBS1 expression (3-year survival: 96.7% vs. 65.4%, p<0.01). Multivariate analysis identified THBS1 low expression as an independent prognostic factor (HR=2.82, 95% CI=1.21–7.71, p=0.01). THBS-1 low expression correlated positively with high Ki-67 LI (p<0.05) and inversely with E-cadherin (p<0.05) and hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) expression (p<0.05); THBS-1 expression and MVD were not significantly correlated. Conclusions Low THBS-1 expression may be an independent poor prognostic factor that affects tumor growth and EMT acquisition. Additionally, THBS-1 may be regulated by the HIF-1 pathway

Hepatectomy using EOB-MRI

Background and aim Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (EOB-MRI) can be used not only to detect liver tumors but also to estimate liver function. The aim of this study was to establish a new EOB-MRI-based formula to determine the resection limit in patients undergoing hepatectomy. Methods Twenty-eight patients with a normal liver (NL group) and five with an unresectable cirrhotic liver (UL group) who underwent EOB-MRI were included. Standardized liver function (SLF) was calculated based on the signal intensity (SI), the volume of each subsegment (S1–S8), and body surface area. A formula defining the resection limit was devised based on the difference in the SLF values of patients in the NL and UL groups. The formula was validated in 50 patients who underwent EOB-MRI and hepatectomy. Results The average SLF value in the NL and UL groups was 2038 and 962 FV/m2, respectively. The difference (1076 FV/m2) was consistent with a 70% in resection volume. Thus, the resection limit for hepatectomy was calculated as a proportion of 70%: 70×(SLF−962)/1076 (%). The one patient who underwent hepatectomy over the resection limit died due to liver failure. In other 49 patients, in whom the resection volume was less than the resection limit, procedures were safely performed. Conclusions Our formula for resection limit based on EOB-MRI can improve the safety of hepatectomy

Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein-1発現低下は肝内胆管癌において予後不良と関係している

Aims: Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein-1 (SFRP1) is a well-known negative regulator of the wingless type (Wnt)-β-catenin pathway and its inactivation plays an important role in the development and progression of many cancers. In this study, we aimed to determine the clinical significance of SFRP1 expression in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC) and to define the relationship to Wnt-β-catenin pathway. Methods: Fifty IHCC patients who had liver resection were enrolled in this study. SFRP1 protein expression was examined by immunohistochemistry in tumor tissues. The patients were divided into two groups: SFRP1 positive (n=30) and negative (n=20). Clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed. Results: SFRP1 significantly correlated with curability (Cur A, B vs. C, p=0.029); and recurrent pattern (intrahepatic vs. extrahepatic, p=0.010). The negative SFRP1 group had significantly poorer prognosis, and 5-year survival rates were 8.1% of the negative SFRP1 group and 44.6% of the positive SFRP1 group, respectively. Moreover, the disease-free survival rate in the negative SFRP1 group was significantly poorer ( p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that loss of SFRP1served as an independent prognostic factor in IHCC for both overall (HR, 2.923; 95% CI, 1.30-6.56; p=0.009) and disease-free (HR, 2.631; 95% CI, 1.31-5.27; p＝0.006) survival. In addition, SFRP1 expression negatively correlated to β-catenin expression ( p=0.005). Conclusions: Those results suggested that the loss of SFRP1 could be a poor prognostic factor for IHCC, through the Wnt-β-catenin pathway

Elevated Preoperative Serum CEA Level Is with Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Poor Prognosis Through the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Background: Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is used as an indicator of tumor progression in a variety of carcinomas. A subset of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) exhibit increased serum CEA level, but the significance of this is unclear. In this study, we investigated the prognosis of patients with HCC with increased serum CEA, and explored the correlations with expression of carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1) and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tumor angiogenesis. Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty-three patients with HCC who underwent radical resection were divided into two groups according to a cut-off value of 5.0 ng/ml for serum CEA: high (n=24) and normal (n=99) groups. We compared the clinicopathological factors with serum CEA levels and its correlations with CEACAM1 expression, EMT-related factors and microvessel density (MVD) of tumor tissues by immunohistochemistry. Results: In the high CEA group, the disease-free survival (DFS) rate was significantly worse than in the normal CEA group. Multivariate analysis revealed that a high CEA level was an independent factor predictive of recurrence. Furthermore, increased serum CEA levels were positively correlated with CEACAM1 expression. Moreover, CEACAM1 expression was positively correlated with expression of EMT-related factors and MVD of tumor tissues. Conclusion: Increased serum CEA level reflected CEACAM1 expression and was an independent factor predictive of recurrence in HCC through EMT and tumor angiogenesis