In this Letter, we reported on the preparation and Li-ion battery anode application of ultrasmall Sn nanoparticles (∼5 nm) embedded in nitrogen-doped porous carbon network (denoted as 5-Sn/C). ...Pyrolysis of Sn(Salen) at 650 °C under Ar atmosphere was carried out to prepare N-doped porous 5-Sn/C with the BET specific surface area of 286.3 m2 g–1. The 5-Sn/C showed an initial discharge capacity of 1014 mAh g–1 and a capacity retention of 722 mAh g–1 after 200 cycles at the current density of 0.2 A g–1. Furthermore, a reversible capacity of ∼480 mAh g–1 was obtained at much higher current density of 5 A g–1. The remarkable electrochemical performance of 5-Sn/C was attributed to the effective combination of ultrasmall Sn nanoparticles, uniform distribution, and porous carbon network structure, which simultaneously solved the major problems of pulverization, loss of electrical contact, and particle aggregation facing Sn anode.
Visible-light-induced specific desulfurization of cysteinyl peptides has been explored. The photocatalytic desulfurization catalyzed by Ru(bpy)3 2+ can proceed efficiently at room temperature in ...aqueous solution or in binary mixtures of aqueous/organic solvent and be compatible with the presence of residues of amino acids, carbohydrates, and various sulfur-containing functional groups. This approach was successfully applied to synthesize linear and cyclic peptides through the ligation–desulfurization protocol.
Currently, there is no strong evidence of the well-established biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Here, we aimed to reveal the heterogeneity of ...tumour microenvironment (TME) through virtual microdissection of gene expression profiles. An immune-enriched subtype was identified in 38% (43/113) of patients, which was characterized by significant enrichment of immune cells or immune responses. The remaining patients were therefore classified as a non-Immune Subtype (non-IS), which exhibited highly proliferative features. Then we identified a tumour immune evasion state within the immune-enriched subtype (18/43, 42%), in which high expression of exclusion- and dysfunction-related signatures was observed. These subgroups were designated the Evaded and Active Immune Subtype (E-IS and A-IS), respectively. We further demonstrated that A-IS predicted favourable survival and improved ICI response as compared to E-IS and non-IS. In summary, this study introduces the novel immune subtypes and demonstrates their feasibility in tailoring immunotherapeutic strategies.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Developing highly efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts is critical to the cost-effective generation of clean fuels. Transition-metal selenides have been proposed to be OER ...catalyst alternatives to noble metal based catalysts, but generally exhibit limited electrocatalytic activity. We here report hierarchical Fe-doped Ni3Se4 ((Ni,Fe)3Se4) ultrathin nanosheets as an efficient electrocatalyst for OER in alkaline electrolytes. The preparation involves a solvothermal synthesis and a topotactic conversion process. The prepared hierarchical (Ni,Fe)3Se4 ultrathin nanosheets show abundant and accessible catalytically active sites, facile charge transfer and a high specific surface area. Relative to the Ni3Se4 nanosheets, the as-prepared (Ni,Fe)3Se4 ultrathin nanosheets show a higher current density and a lower Tafel slope towards the OER. Remarkably, hierarchical (Ni,Fe)3Se4 ultrathin nanosheets supported on Ni foam exhibit an electrocatalytic OER with a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at a low overpotential of 225 mV and a small Tafel slope of about 41 mV dec−1. This study establishes (Ni,Fe)3Se4 ultrathin nanosheets as an efficient electrocatalyst for the OER that can be used in the fields of metal–air batteries and water splitting for hydrogen production.
To provide a complete toxicity profile, toxicity spectrum, and a safety ranking of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) drugs for treatment of cancer.
Systematic review and network meta-analysis.
...Electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science) were systematically searched to include relevant studies published in English between January 2007 and February 2018.
Only head-to-head phase II and III randomised controlled trials comparing any two or three of the following treatments or different doses of the same ICI drug were included: nivolumab, pembrolizumab, ipilimumab, tremelimumab, atezolizumab, conventional therapy (chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and their combinations), two ICI drugs, or one ICI drug with conventional therapy. Eligible studies must have reported site, organ, or system level data on treatment related adverse events. High quality, single arm trials and placebo controlled trials on ICI drugs were selected to establish a validation group.
36 head-to-head phase II and III randomised trials (n=15 370) were included. The general safety of ICI drugs ranked from high to low for all adverse events was as follows: atezolizumab (probability 76%, pooled incidence 66.4%), nivolumab (56%, 71.8%), pembrolizumab (55%, 75.1%), ipilimumab (55%, 86.8%), and tremelimumab (54%, not applicable). The general safety of ICI drugs ranked from high to low for severe or life threatening adverse events was as follows: atezolizumab (49%, 15.1%), nivolumab (46%, 14.1%), pembrolizumab (72%, 19.8%), ipilimumab (51%, 28.6%), and tremelimumab (28%, not applicable). Compared with conventional therapy, treatment-related adverse events for ICI drugs occurred mainly in the skin, endocrine, hepatic, and pulmonary systems. Taking one ICI drug was generally safer than taking two ICI drugs or one ICI drug with conventional therapy. Among the five ICI drugs, atezolizumab had the highest risk of hypothyroidism, nausea, and vomiting. The predominant treatment-related adverse events for pembrolizumab were arthralgia, pneumonitis, and hepatic toxicities. The main treatment-related adverse events for ipilimumab were skin, gastrointestinal, and renal toxicities. Nivolumab had a narrow and mild toxicity spectrum, mainly causing endocrine toxicities. Integrated evidence from the pooled incidences, subgroup, and sensitivity analyses implied that nivolumab is the best option in terms of safety, especially for the treatment of lung cancer.
Compared with other ICI drugs used to treat cancer, atezolizumab had the best safety profile in general, and nivolumab had the best safety profile in lung cancer when taking an integrated approach. The safety ranking of treatments based on ICI drugs is modulated by specific treatment-related adverse events.
PROSPERO CRD42017082553.
Virtual Reality (VR) has attracted increasing attention of the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Facility Management (AEC/FM) industry in recent years, as it shows a great potential to ...improve workflow efficiency through enhanced common understanding. A problem with current VR applications in AEC/FM is that the manual conversation from official design data (e.g., a BIM model) to VR displays is difficult and time consuming. There is a lack of automated and efficient data transfer approach between BIM and VR. In this paper, we will introduce a BIMVR real-time synchronization system called BVRS, which is based on an innovative Cloud-based BIM metadata interpretation and communication method. BVRS allows users to update BIM model changes in VR headsets (such as Oculus Rift DK2) automatically and simultaneously. We tested BVRS in a variety of design change scenarios including changing object dimensions, changing object locations and changing object types. Results confirmed the usability and efficiency of BVRS.
•This study develops and tests a system that transfers BIM data to VR in real time.•This study proposes an innovative metadata transfer protocol for VR.•The proposed system improves collaborative decision-making in AEC.•It contributes to BIM literature with a real-time visualization method.•It also contributes to AEC decision by reducing information latency.
The photocatalytic decolorization of methylene blue dye in aqueous solution using a novel photocatalyst MIL-53(Fe) metal–organic frameworks was investigated under UV–vis light and visible light ...irradiation. The effect of electron acceptor H
2O
2, KBrO
3 and (NH
4)
2S
2O
8 addition on the photocatalytic performance of MIL-53(Fe) was also evaluated. The results show that MIL-53(Fe) photocatalyst exhibited photocatalytic activity for MB decolorization both under UV–vis light and visible light irradiation, and the MB decolorization over MIL-53(Fe) photocatalyst followed the first-order kinetics. The addition of different electron acceptors all enhances the photocatalytic performance of MIL-53(Fe) photocatalyst, and the enhanced rate follows the order of H
2O
2
>
(NH
4)
2S
2O
8
>
KBrO
3 under UV–vis light irradiation, while in the order of (NH
4)
2S
2O
8
>
H
2O
2
>
KBrO
3 under visible light irradiation. Moreover, MIL-53(Fe) did not exhibit any obvious loss of the activity for MB decolorization during five repeated usages. The photocatalytic activities over MIL-53(M) (M
=
Al, Fe), the isostructure to MIL-53(Fe), indicate that the metal centers show nil effect on the photocatalytic activity of MIL-53(M) photocatalysts.
Primary or acquired resistance to cetuximab often occurs during targeted therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. In many cancers, the key role of the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) ...urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 (UCA1) in anticancer drug resistance has been confirmed. Emerging evidence has shown that specific exosomal lncRNAs may serve as meaningful biomarkers. In this study, we hypothesize that exosomal UCA1 might predict the response to cetuximab in CRC patients.
First, acquired cetuximab-resistant cell lines were generated, and UCA1 expressions in these cells and their exosomes were compared. We also systematically evaluate the stability of exosomal UCA1. Thereafter, the predictive value of exosomal UCA1 in CRC patients treated with cetuximab was evaluated. Finally, through cell apoptosis assays and immunofluorescence staining, we analyzed the role of UCA1-containing exosomes in conferring cetuximab resistance.
UCA1 expression was markedly higher in cetuximab-resistant cancer cells and their exosomes. Exosomal UCA1 was shown to be detectable and stable in serum from CRC patients. In addition, circulating UCA1-containing exosomes could predict the clinical outcome of cetuximab therapy in CRC patients, and UCA1 expression was considerably higher in the progressive disease/stable disease patients than in the partial response/complete response patients. Furthermore, exosomes derived from cetuximab-resistant cells could alter UCA1 expression and transmit cetuximab resistance to sensitive cells.
We discovered a novel role of UCA1-containing exosomes, showed their capability to transmit drug resistance and investigated their potential clinical use in predicting cetuximab resistance.
Background
The prognosis of patients who have Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV)‐related nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in which the tumor tissues harbor EBV have a better prognosis than those without ...EBV‐related NPC. Therefore, the eighth edition of the TNM staging system could be modified for EBV‐related NPC by incorporating the measurement of plasma EBV DNA.
Methods
In total, 979 patients with NPC who received intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) were retrospectively reviewed. Recursive partitioning analysis was conducted based on tumor (T) classification, lymph node (N) classification, and EBV DNA measurement to derive objectively the proposed stage groupings. The validity of the proposed stage groupings was confirmed in a prospective cohort of 550 consecutive patients who also received with IMRT.
Results
The pretreatment plasma EBV DNA level was identified as a significant, negative prognostic factor for progression‐free survival and overall survival in univariate analysis (all P < .001) and multivariate analysis (all P < .05). Recursive partitioning analysis of the primary cohort to incorporate EBV DNA generated the following proposed stage groupings: stage RI (T1N0), RIIA (T2‐T3N0 or T1‐T3N1, EBV DNA ≤2000 copies/mL), stage RIIB (T2‐T3N0 or T1‐T3N1, EBV DNA >2000 copies/mL; T1‐T3N2, EBV DNA ≤2000 copies/mL), stage RIII (T1‐T3N2, EBV DNA >2000 copies/mL; T4N0‐N2), and stage RIVA (any T and N3). In the validation cohort, the 5‐year progression‐free survival rate was 100%, 87.9%, 76.7%, 68.7%, and 50.4% for proposed stage RI, RIIA, RIIB, RIII, and RIV NPC, respectively (P < .001). Compared with the eighth edition TNM stage groupings, the proposed stage groupings incorporating EBV DNA provided better hazard consistency, hazard discrimination, outcome prediction, and sample size balance.
Conclusions
The proposed stage groupings have better prognostic performance than the eighth edition of the TNM staging system. EBV DNA titers should be included in the TNM staging system to assess patients who have EBV‐related NPC.
The proposed stage groupings incorporating Epstein‐Barr virus DNA by Recursive partitioning analysis have better prognostic performance than the eighth edition American Joint Committee on Cancer/Union for International Cancer Control TNM staging system. Compared with the eighth edition, the proposed stage groupings incorporating Epstein‐Barr virus DNA provide better hazard consistency, hazard discrimination, outcome prediction, and sample size balance
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