Environmental pollution has worsened as a result of antibiotic overuse. Nitrogen doping of biochar increases its ability to adsorb antibiotics and has been widely applied as an adsorbent. In this ...study, we synthesized nitrogen-doped biochar (N-A) from cocoa shell wastes calcined with urea and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) as nitrogen sources and green activators, respectively. An analysis of the biochar morphology, structure, specific surface area, and functional groups provided an understanding of its properties. As indicated by increased surface area, micropores, and surface functional groups, biochar was enhanced in its performance for norfloxacin adsorption when activated using NaHCO3 and nitrogen doped. Adsorption experiments revealed that N-A biochar at 700 and 400 °C had a high adsorption capacity for NOR of 134 mg/g (N-A-CSB700) and 112.31 mg/g (N-A-CSB400) when compared to pristine biochar at 59.27 mg/g (CSB700) and 56.34 mg/g (CSB400), indicating that N-A doped modification on biochar greatly improved adsorption capacity. The Langmuir model demonstrated better NOR adsorption isotherms. The pseudo-second order and Elovich models closely followed the adsorption kinetics. Further investigations were conducted to determine how environmental factors influence biochar interaction with NOR. The results indicated a stable NOR removal efficiency was kept at a wide pH range, whereas the ionic strength inhibited the NOR adsorption process. The investigation into the sorption mechanism revealed that pore filling, H-bonding, π-π EDA interactions, ion exchange, and electrostatic attraction may all be implicated in the NOR adsorption process. Specifically, pore filling played the dominant role for N-A-CSB700, while N-A-CSB400 sorption occurred mainly via H-bonding. Since N-A-CSB700 doped biochar combines high adsorption capacity with a low inhibition effect of environmental factors (Na+/Ca2+), it has a high potential for future practical applications as an environmentally sustainable alternative. It uses low-cost solid waste to produce an adsorbent to cope with emerging contaminants such as antibiotics.
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•Norfloxacin (NOR) was removed by urea/NaHCO3 doped cocoa shell biochar (N-A-CSB).•The biochar N-A-CSB showed a large surface area and high polarity.•The biochar N-A-CSB700 exhibited an excellent adsorption capacity on NOR (134 mg/g).•A stable NOR removal efficiency was kept at a wide pH range and ions inhibition.•Pore filling and hydrogen bonding were major adsorption mechanisms.
H3K27me3 histone marks shape the inhibition of gene transcription. In prostate cancer, the deregulation of H3K27me3 marks might play a role in prostate tumor progression.
We investigated genome-wide ...H3K27me3 histone methylation profile using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and 2X400K promoter microarrays to identify differentially-enriched regions in biopsy samples from prostate cancer patients. H3K27me3 marks were assessed in 34 prostate tumors: 11 with Gleason score > 7 (GS > 7), 10 with Gleason score ≤ 7 (GS ≤ 7), and 13 morphologically normal prostate samples.
Here, H3K27me3 profiling identified an average of 386 enriched-genes on promoter regions in healthy control group versus 545 genes in GS ≤ 7 and 748 genes in GS > 7 group. We then ran a factorial discriminant analysis (FDA) and compared the enriched genes in prostate-tumor biopsies and normal biopsies using ANOVA to identify significantly differentially-enriched genes. The analysis identified ALG5, EXOSC8, CBX1, GRID2, GRIN3B, ING3, MYO1D, NPHP3-AS1, MSH6, FBXO11, SND1, SPATS2, TENM4 and TRA2A genes. These genes are possibly associated with prostate cancer. Notably, the H3K27me3 histone mark emerged as a novel regulatory mechanism in poor-prognosis prostate cancer.
Our findings point to epigenetic mark H3K27me3 as an important event in prostate carcinogenesis and progression. The results reported here provide new molecular insights into the pathogenesis of prostate cancer.
Objective
To explore the utility of artificial intelligence (AI) using the VisioCyt® test (VitaDX International, Rennes, France) to improve diagnosis of bladder carcinoma using voided urine cytology.
...Patients and Methods
A national prospective multicentre trial (14 centres) was conducted on 1360 patients, divided in two groups. The first group included bladder carcinoma diagnosis with different histological grades and stages, and the second group included control patients based on negative cystoscopy and cytology results. The first step of this VISIOCYT1 trial focussed on algorithm development and the second step on validating this algorithm. A total of 598 patients were included in this first step, 449 patients with bladder tumours (219 high‐grade and 230 low‐grade) and 149 as negative controls. The VisioCyt test was compared to voided urine cytology performed by experienced uro‐pathologists from each centre.
Results
Overall sensitivity was highly improved by the VisioCyt test compared to cytology (84.9% vs 43%). For high‐grade tumours the VisioCyt test sensitivity was 92.6% vs 61.1% for the uro‐pathologists. Regarding low‐grade tumours, VisioCyt test sensitivity was 77% vs 26.3% for the uro‐pathologists.
Conclusion
In comparison to routine cytology, the results of the first phase of the VISIOCYT1 trial show very clear progress in terms of sensitivity, which is particularly visible and interesting for low‐grade tumours. If the validation cohort confirms these results, it could lead to the VisioCyt test being considered as a very useful aid for pathologists. Moreover, as this test is in fact software based on AI, it should become more and more efficient as more data are collected.
The slowing-down of the dynamics of a polymer chain near a surface has been observed for many years now. Here we show that the behavior of model nanocomposites can be quantitatively described with a ...gradient of glass-transition temperature. We describe with a single parameter-the range of this gradient-the temperature and solvent effect on the spin relaxation dynamics. Moreover, this parameter allows a quantitative description of the nanocomposite calorimetric response from the one of the bulk polymer.
A series of in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction experiments are performed during the stretching of weakly and highly vulcanized carbon black (CB), silica and grafted silica filled natural rubber ...sample (NR). Conversely to literature, Mullins effect observed after one stretching cycle modifies the strain induced crystallization (SIC) behaviour of the sample. The onset of crystallization is ruled by the strain amplification induced by the filler presence. Moreover, fillers (CB and silica) behave as additional crosslinks into NR network, through filler–rubber interactions that either accelerate or slow down the crystallization rate depending on NR matrix chemical crosslink density. This is consistent with the assumption that effective network density, which is due to chemical crosslinks, entanglements, and filler–rubber interactions, controls the crystallization rate.
Frequency dissemination in phase-stabilized optical fiber networks for metrological frequency comparisons and precision measurements are promising candidates to overcome the limitations imposed by ...satellite techniques. However, in an architecture shared with telecommunication data traffic, network constraints restrict the availability of dedicated channels in the commonly-used C-band . Here, we demonstrate the dissemination of an SI-traceable ultrastable optical frequency in the L-band over a 456 km fiber network with ring topology, in which data traffic occupies the full C-band . We characterize the optical phase noise and evaluate a link instability of 4.7 × 10 -16 at 1 s and 3.8 × 10 -19 at 2000 s integration time, and a link accuracy of 2 × 10 -18 . We demonstrate the application of the disseminated frequency by establishing the SI-traceability of a laser in a remote laboratory. Finally, we show that our metrological frequency does not interfere with data traffic in the telecommunication channels. Our approach combines an unconventional spectral choice in the telecommunication L-band with established frequency-stabilization techniques, providing a novel, cost-effective solution for ultrastable frequency-comparison and dissemination, and may contribute to a foundation of a world-wide metrological network.
Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) belongs to the specialty polymer grade because of its unique properties. Among other applications, it is used for battery separator membranes ...elaboration for automotive applications. These PE separators are porous membranes composed of a blend of UHMW-PE, naphthenic oil and precipitated silica. With the aim of understanding the membrane structuring mechanisms, we studied the influence of silica and oil concentrations on the UHMW-PE crystallization during the elaboration process. Results have shown that the high initial thickness of the UHMW-PE crystals is reduced after the process. Moreover, χc (crystallinity) and Tc (crystallization temperature) are both controlled by the volume fraction of oil. The initial high crystallinity of UHMW-PE (χc ≈ 65%) can be increased in the membrane with a high Oil/PE ratio. Furthermore, silica indirectly contributes to enhance the UHMW-PE crystallinity by acting as a reservoir, hence increasing the possible oil content in the blend.
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•Crystallinity of UHMWPE in different blends with Oil and Silica is analyzed.•Melting behavior is successfully analyzed with the Flory-Huggins theory.•Crystallinity of nascent UHMWPE powder is recovered in the presence of oil.•Silica acts as an oil reservoir thus enhancing the UHMW-PE crystallinity.
The dynamics of the polymer matrix in filled rubbers is modified by the presence of solid particles. We used low-field proton NMR to investigate model filled samples consisting of a dispersion of ...grafted silica particles into an elastomeric matrix. Exploiting magic-sandwich echo experiments, we were able to determine the fraction of polymer with slower dynamics and to correlate it to the silica specific surface. The presence of immobilized polymermost probably due to a gradient of glass transition temperature around the solid particlesis detected whether there is a covalent bond between the filler and the matrix or not. Moreover, the fraction of immobilized polymer decreases in similar ways with either an increase of the temperature or the addition of solvent. In the case of covalent bonds between the silica and the polymer, multiple-quantum experiments reveal that the cross-link density of the elastomer matrix is locally increased in the vicinity of the particles. This is an observation that was not made in any conventional filled elastomer system and it can be attributed to the good particle dispersion and the covalent links in our model samples.
Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) -positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a rare variant of DLBCL that has been described only in small case reports. To shed more light on the clinical and ...pathologic features and outcome of these tumors, we reviewed data from 38 patients.
We retrospectively analyzed 38 patients with ALK-positive DLBCL treated with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone (CHOP) or CHOP-like regimens from different institutions to better define the presenting features, clinical course, and response to treatment.
The histologic findings in all patients were similar. All patients expressed ALK fusion proteins, but virtually all were CD30 and CD20 negative. The median age was 43 years with a 5:1 ratio of males to females. Most patients (60%) followed an aggressive clinical course with advanced stage at diagnosis, frequent marrow infiltration, and poor outcome. Overall survival was 20.3 months (95% CI, 12.2 to 42.6 months). Of note, the median survival was only 12.2 months (95% CI, 9.1 to 32.5 months) in patients with advanced-stage disease.
ALK-positive DLBCLs display clinicopathologic features that distinguish them from common DLBCL. Conventional therapy, as used for typical DLBCL, is of limited efficacy. Recognition of this new entity and the characteristic lack of CD20 expression are paramount. Novel front-line intensive chemotherapy regimens should be evaluated in this group of patients.
Abstract Background The occurrence of positive surgical margins (PSMs) after partial nephrectomy (PN) is rare, and little is known about their natural history. Objective To identify predictive ...factors of cancer recurrence and related death in patients having a PSM following PN. Design, setting, and participants Some 111 patients with a PSM were identified from a multicentre retrospective survey and were compared with 664 negative surgical margin (NSM) patients. A second cohort of NSM patients was created by matching NSM to PSM for indication, tumour size, and tumour grade. Measurements PSM and NSM patients were compared using student t tests and chi-square tests on independent samples. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to test the independent effects of clinical and pathologic variables on survival. Results and limitations Mean age at diagnosis was 61 ± 12.5 yr. Mean tumour size was 3.5 ± 2 cm. Imperative indications accounted for 39% (43 of 111) of the cases. Some 18 patients (16%) underwent a second surgery (partial or total nephrectomy). With a mean follow-up of 37 mo, 11 patients (10%) had recurrences and 12 patients (11%) died, including 6 patients (5.4%) who died of cancer progression. Some 91% (10 of 11) of the patients who had recurrences and 83% of the patients (10 of 12) who died belonged to the group with imperative surgical indications. Rates of recurrence-free survival, of cancer-specific survival, and of overall survival were the same among NSM patients and PSM patients. The multivariable Cox model showed that the two variables that could predict recurrence were the indication ( p = 0.017) and tumour location ( p = 0.02). No other variable, including PSM status, had any effect on recurrence. None of the studied parameters had any effect on the rate of cancer-specific survival. Conclusions PSM status occurs more frequently in cases in which surgery is imperative and is associated with an increased risk of recurrence, but PSM status does not appear to influence cancer-specific survival. Additional follow-up is needed.
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