The paper addresses the design of compact and maximally permissive decentralized supervisors for Petri nets, based on generalized mutual exclusion constraints. Decentralization constraints are ...formulated with respect to the net transitions, instructing each local supervisor to detect and disable transitions of its own control site only. A solution is characterized in terms of the states it allows and its feasibility is assessed by means of two separate tests, one checking the required behavioral properties (e.g., liveness, reversibility and controllability) of the induced reachability subgraph and the other ensuring the existence of a decentralized supervisor enforcing exactly the considered set of allowed states. The second test employs an integer linear programming formulation. Maximal permissivity is ensured by efficiently exploring the solution space using a branch and bound method that operates on the reachable states. Particular emphasis is posed on the obtainment of the controllability property, both in the structural and the behavioral interpretation.
There is wide evidence that CRC could be prevented by regular physical activity, keeping a healthy body weight, and following a healthy and balanced diet. Many sporadic CRCs develop via the ...traditional adenoma-carcinoma pathway, starting as premalignant lesions represented by conventional, tubular or tubulovillous adenomas. The gut bacteria play a crucial role in regulating the host metabolism and also contribute to preserve intestinal barrier function and an effective immune response against pathogen colonization. The microbiota composition is different among people, and is conditioned by many environmental factors, such as diet, chemical exposure, and the use of antibiotic or other medication. The gut microbiota could be directly involved in the development of colorectal adenomas and the subsequent progression to CRC. Specific gut bacteria, such as
,
and enterotoxigenic
could be involved in colorectal carcinogenesis. Potential mechanisms of CRC progression may include DNA damage, promotion of chronic inflammation, and release of bioactive carcinogenic metabolites. The aim of this review was to summarize the current knowledge on the role of the gut microbiota in the development of CRC, and discuss major mechanisms of microbiota-related progression of the adenoma-carcinoma sequence.
In this study, new nanostructured CuMgAl Layered Double Hydroxide (LDH) based materials are synthesized on a 4 cm2 sized carbonaceous gas diffusion membrane. By means of microscopic and spectroscopic ...techniques, the catalysts are thoroughly investigated, revealing the presence of several species within the same material. By a one‐step, reproducible potentiodynamic deposition it is possible to obtain a composite with an intimate contact between a ternary CuMgAl LDH and Cu0/Cu2O species. The catalyst compositions are investigated by varying: the molar ratio between the total amount of bivalent cations and Al3+, the amount of loading, and the molar ratios among the three cations in the electrolyte. Each electrocatalyst has been evaluated based on the catalytic performances toward the electrochemical CO2 reduction to CH3COOH at −0.4 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode in liquid phase. The optimized catalyst, that is, CuMgAl 2:1:1 LDH exhibits a productivity of 2.0 mmolCH3COOH gcat−1 h−1. This result shows the beneficial effects of combining a material like the LDHs, alkaline in nature, and thus with a great affinity to CO2, with Cu0/Cu+ species, which couples the increase of carbon sources availability at the electrode with a redox mediator capable to convert CO2 into a C2 product.
New CuMgAl Layered Double Hydroxides are obtained by a one‐step electrodeposition over a carbonaceous gas diffusion membrane and are characterized by intimate contact with Cu0/Cu+ species. The optimized nanostructured material shows unprecedented electrocatalytic activity toward the CO2 conversion to CH3COOH (2.0 mmol gcat−1 h−1 productivity and 100% selectivity) at low cathodic potential (−0.4 V versus Reversible Hydrogen Electrode).
Currently, there is a crucial need for novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers with high specificity and sensitivity in patients with colorectal cancer. A “liquid biopsy” is characterized by the ...isolation of cancer-derived components, such as circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA, microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and proteins, from peripheral blood or other body fluids and their genomic or proteomic assessment. The liquid biopsy is a minimally invasive and repeatable technique that could play a significant role in screening and diagnosis, and predict relapse and metastasis, as well as monitoring minimal residual disease and chemotherapy resistance in colorectal cancer patients. However, there are still some practical issues that need to be addressed before liquid biopsy can be widely used in clinical practice. Potential challenges may include low amounts of circulating tumor cells and circulating tumor DNA in samples, lack of pre-analytical and analytical consensus, clinical validation, and regulatory endorsement. The aim of this review was to summarize the current knowledge of the role of liquid biopsy in the management of colorectal cancer.
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) contribute to the onset of many neoplasias through RNA-RNA competitive interactions; in addition, they could be secreted by cancer cells ...into biological fluids, suggesting their potential diagnostic application. By analyzing the expression of 17 lncRNAs and 31 circRNAs in biopsies and serum exosomes from colorectal cancer (CRC) patients through qRT-PCR, we detected CCAT1, CCAT2, HOTAIR, and UCA1 upregulation and CDR1AS, MALAT1, and TUG1 downregulation in biopsies. In serum exosomes, UCA1 was downregulated, while circHIPK3 and TUG1 were upregulated. Combined receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of TUG1:UCA1 and circHIPK3:UCA1 showed high values of sensitivity and specificity. Through in vitro (i.e., RNA silencing and mitogen-activated protein kinase MAPK inhibition) and in silico analyses (i.e., expression correlation and RNA-RNA-binding prediction), we found that UCA1 could (1) be controlled by MAPKs through CEBPB; (2) sequester miR-135a, miR-143, miR-214, and miR-1271, protecting ANLN, BIRC5, IPO7, KIF2A, and KIF23 from microRNA (miRNA)-induced degradation; and (3) interact with mRNA 3′-UTRs, preventing miRNA binding. UCA1 and its co-regulated antisense LINC01764 could interact and reciprocally mask their own miRNA-binding sites. Functional enrichment analysis of the RNA-RNA network controlled by UCA1 suggested its potential involvement in cellular migration. The UCA1 regulatory axis would represent a promising target to develop innovative RNA-based therapeutics against CRC.
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In this study, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) oxidation was carried out via both the catalytic and the photocatalytic approach. Special attention was devoted to the preparation of the TiO₂-based ...catalysts, since this oxide has been widely used for catalytic and photocatalytic application in alcohol oxidation reactions. Thus, in the catalytic process, the colloidal heterocoagulation of very stable sols, followed by the spray-freeze-drying (SFD) approach, was successfully applied for the preparation of nanostructured porous TiO₂-SiO₂ mixed-oxides with high surface areas. The versatility of the process made it possible to encapsulate Pt particles and use this material in the liquid-phase oxidation of HMF. The photocatalytic activity of a commercial titania and a homemade oxide prepared with the microemulsion technique was then compared. The influence of gold, base addition, and oxygen content on product distribution in the photocatalytic process was evaluated.
Olive Oil Effects on Colorectal Cancer Borzì, Antonio Maria; Biondi, Antonio; Basile, Francesco ...
Nutrients,
12/2018, Letnik:
11, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Colorectal cancer is the fourth cause of cancer-related death worldwide. A Mediterranean diet showed protective action against colorectal cancer due to the intake of different substances. Olive oil ...is a fundamental component of the Mediterranean diet. Olive oil is rich in high-value health compounds (such as monounsaturated free fatty acids, squalene, phytosterols, and phenols). Phenolic compounds exert favourable effects on free radicals, inflammation, gut microbiota, and carcinogenesis. The interaction between gut microbiota and olive oil consumption could modulate colonic microbial composition or activity, with a possible role in cancer prevention. Gut microbiota is able to degrade some substances found in olive oil, producing active metabolites with chemopreventive action. Further clinical research is needed to clarify the beneficial effects of olive oil and its components. A better knowledge of the compounds found in olive oil could lead to the development of nutritional supplements or chemotherapeutic agents with a potential in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer represents the most common malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract. Owing to differences in dietary habits and lifestyle, this neoplasm is more common in industrialized countries ...than in developing ones. Evidence from a wide range of sources supports the assumption that the link between diet and colorectal cancer may be due to an imbalance of the intestinal microflora.
Probiotic bacteria are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a healthy benefit on the host, and they have been investigated for their protective anti-tumor effects. In vivo and molecular studies have displayed encouraging findings that support a role of probiotics in colorectal cancer prevention.
Several mechanisms could explain the preventive action of probiotics against colorectal cancer onset. They include: alteration of the intestinal microflora; inactivation of cancerogenic compounds; competition with putrefactive and pathogenic microbiota; improvement of the host's immune response; anti-proliferative effects via regulation of apoptosis and cell differentiation; fermentation of undigested food; inhibition of tyrosine kinase signaling pathways.
The photocatalytic oxidation of biomass-derived building blocks such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is a promising reaction for obtaining valuable chemicals and the efficient long-term storage of ...solar radiation. In this work, we developed innovative TiO2-based materials capable of base-free HMF photo-oxidation in water using simulated solar irradiation. The materials were prepared by combining microemulsion and spray-freeze drying (SFD), resulting in highly porous systems with a large surface area. The effect of titania/silica composition and the presence of gold-copper alloy nanoparticles on the properties of materials as well as photocatalytic performance were evaluated. Among the lab-synthesized photocatalysts, Ti15Si85 SFD and Au3Cu1/Ti15Si85 SFD achieved the higher conversions, while the best selectivity was observed for Au3Cu1/Ti15Si85 SFD. The tests with radical scavengers for both TiO2-m and Au3Cu1/Ti15Si85 SFD suggested that primary species responsible for the selective photo-oxidation of HMF are photo-generated electrons and/or superoxide radicals.
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