Background and aim:Previous studies indicate unrestrained cell cycle progression in liver lesions from hepatocarcinogenesis-susceptible Fisher 344 (F344) rats and a block of G1–S transition in ...corresponding lesions from resistant Brown Norway (BN) rats. Here, the role of the Forkhead box M1B (FOXM1) gene during hepatocarcinogenesis in both rat models and human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was assessed.Methods and results:Levels of FOXM1 and its targets were determined by immunoprecipitation and real-time PCR analyses in rat and human samples. FOXM1 function was investigated by either FOXM1 silencing or overexpression in human HCC cell lines. Activation of FOXM1 and its targets (Aurora Kinose A, Cdc2, cyclin B1, Nek2) occurred earlier and was most pronounced in liver lesions from F344 than BN rats, leading to the highest number of Cdc2–cyclin B1 complexes (implying the highest G2–M transition) in F344 rats. In human HCC, the level of FOXM1 progressively increased from surrounding non-tumorous livers to HCC, reaching the highest levels in tumours with poorer prognosis (as defined by patients’ length of survival). Furthermore, expression levels of FOXM1 directly correlated with the proliferation index, genomic instability rate and microvessel density, and inversely with apoptosis. FOXM1 upregulation was due to extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and glioblastoma-associated oncogene 1 (GLI1) combined activity, and its overexpression resulted in increased proliferation and angiogenesis and reduced apoptosis in human HCC cell lines. Conversely, FOXM1 suppression led to decreased ERK activity, reduced proliferation and angiogenesis, and massive apoptosis of human HCC cell lines.Conclusions:FOXM1 upregulation is associated with the acquisition of a susceptible phenotype in rats and influences human HCC development and prognosis.
The most promising probe to establish the Majorana or Dirac nature of the neutrino is the neutrinoless double beta decay and the effective neutrino mass would be evaluated by the knowledge of the ...corresponding nuclear matrix elements. Also measurements of the Double Charge Exchange (DCE) interactions of heavy ion beams can get information on them. The NUMEN experiment based on the pre-existing large acceptance MAGNEX spectrometer and integrated with new challenging components aims at measuring DCE cross sections using ion beams of unprecedented intensity (10
13
pps) on specific isotopes at INFN-LNS in Catania. Expected rate on the sensitive area of about 0.15 m
2
reaches up to about 5 Mpps, demanding for adequate detectors in measuring position, direction, energy, mass and charge of the ions produced by interactions. Gamma detectors surround a scattering chamber containing the target.
This paper reports a complex analysis of structural, optical and electrical properties of Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) films, prepared by spin-coating of a sol-gel based on the low-cost and environmentally ...friendly solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and synthesized in low vacuum (0.1Pa). The effect of a short-term low-temperature treatment in air and final annealing under low vacuum (0.1Pa) on the synthesis of CZTS films was tested and analyzed. XRD and Raman spectra have shown the polycrystalline nature of obtained CZTS films with almost a pure kesterite phase content. The average size of crystallites D~60nm in the films was estimated. The value of the band gap Eg≈1.53eV was determined from the analysis of optical characteristics. The analysis of electrical characteristics was carried out in the scope of the model of current transport in polycrystalline materials with electrically active grain boundaries. The determined values of the specific resistance ρ≈2.38Ωcm, the hole density p0≈4.2×1018cm−3 and the effective mobility μp≈0.63cm2/(Vs) demonstrate that the CZTS films under investigation are prospective for the fabrication of highly efficient solar cells.
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•Non-toxic DMSO solvent and high temperature synthesis of CZTS films in low vacuum.•The average size of crystallites in the single phase CZTS films was about 60nm.•Current transport in the CZTS films is governed by the thermionic emission over potential barriers at grain boundaries.
Abstract
This work is part of the NUMEN Project (NUclear Matrix Elements for Neutrinoless double beta decay), which, among other goals, aims to measure cross-section of double charge exchange ...reactions (DCE). In the experiments to be carried out at the Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, in Catania, Italy, a target deposited on a carefully chosen backing (substrate) will be irradiated with a high energy ion beam and, importantly, neither the target nor the substrate will be allowed to overheat as this would affect their structures and its properties, which are special for the experiment. Within this context, highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) was chosen as a substrate for the deposition of target elements that will be irradiated by ions such as
12
C,
18
O and
20
Ne, with energies ranging from 15 MeV/u to 60 MeV/u. HOPG is considered a semimetal structured in layers, being composed of a stack of graphene sheets with a small and very subtle disorientation (less than 1°), which makes it to approach to a single crystal. With its specific flat hexagonal molecular structure, consisting only of carbon atoms, HOPG has good thermal conductivity in these sheets, making it an excellent candidate as a heat sink. However, for the HOPG to act with thermal energy dissipation functionality during the experiments proposed by the NUMEN project, it is necessary to verify whether possible changes caused by exposure to the radiation beam have a direct or indirect influence on its mechanical and thermal properties. Regarding the thermal conductivity, vacancies produced during irradiation is one of the factors that considerably decrease such property. As the production of vacancies during irradiation is one of the factors that considerably decrease thermal conductivity, in this work it was used the SRIM/TRIM code simulations to investigate the mechanisms of vacancy production in the target plus HOPG backing system. In the simulations, it was considered different types and doses of incident ion beams as well as different target thickness. From the results it was possible to estimated how long a target-HOPG system can be irradiated before the HOPG high heat conductivity property is lost.
Crohn’s disease is a chronic intestinal inflammatory process. In modern therapy, TNF-α inhibition is the main goal. The aim here is to characterize the effects of Celastrol, a pentacyclic-triterpene, ...on the secretion of inflammatory cytokines by LPS-activated human cells. Celastrol dose-dependently inhibited the secretion of all tested pro-inflammatory cytokines with IC
50 in the nanomolar range. Effect not related to glucocorticoid receptor activity is shown by competition experiments with the steroid antagonist RU486. Celastrol inhibited the pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion from mucosal inflammatory biopsies from Crohn’s disease patients. Cytometry emphasized that for all tested pro-inflammatory cytokines, CD33
+ cells are the most sensitive. Quantitative-PCR and confocal analysis on a human monocytic cell line indicated that Celastrol acts at the transcriptional level by inhibiting LPS-induced NF-κB translocation. Celastrol might be a putative anti-inflammatory drug in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, given its inhibition of cytokine production by intestinal biopsies from Crohn’s disease patients.
Abstract The present study sought to assess nasal respiratory function in adult patients with maxillary constriction who underwent surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME) and to ...determine correlations between orthodontic measurements and changes in nasal area, volume, resistance, and airflow. Twenty-seven patients were assessed by acoustic rhinometry, rhinomanometry, orthodontic measurements, and use of a visual analogue scale at three time points: before surgery; after activation of a preoperatively applied palatal expander; and 4 months post-SARME. Results showed a statistically significant increase ( p < 0.001) in all orthodontic measurements. The overall area of the nasal cavity increased after surgery ( p < 0.036). The mean volume increased between assessments, but not significantly. Expiratory and inspiratory flow increased over time ( p < 0.001). Airway resistance decreased between assessments ( p < 0.004). Subjective analysis of the feeling of breathing exclusively through the nose increased significantly from one point in time to the next ( p < 0.05). There was a statistical correlation between increased arch perimeter and decreased airway resistance. Respiratory flow was the only variable to behave differently between sides. The authors conclude that the SARME procedure produces major changes in the oral and nasal cavity; when combined, these changes improve patients’ quality of breathing.
The structural, optical, and electrical properties of
p
-type Cu
2
SnS
3
thin films produced by the deposition of a dimethylsulfoxide-based sol gel solution using the centrifugation on substrates ...with subsequent heat treatment of the layers formed have been studied. The conditions of formation of the films using low-temperature short-time treatments in open atmosphere and a final annealing in a low vacuum (0.1 Pa) have been analyzed. The crystallite sizes
D
~ 42 nm in the polycrystalline films have been found using X-ray phase analysis. Their compositions have been confirmed using the Raman spectra and the energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The optical forbidden band width of direct allowed (
E
g
d
~ 1.25 eV) and direct forbidden (
E
g
df
≈ 0.95 eV) optical transitions have been determined as a result of the light transmission and absorption. Based on the study of the electrical properties using a model of polycrystalline materials, the validity of the produced films with resistivity ρ ≈ 0.21 Ω cm, the hole concentration
p
0
≈ 1.75 × 10
19
cm
–3
, and the effective mobility μ
p
≈ 1.67 cm
2
/(V s) for manufacturing solar cells.
Mono- and bimetallic palladium–gold catalysts supported on zirconia and ceria, both sulfated and non-sulfated, are tested for the direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide under very mild (1 bar and 20 ...°C) and non-explosive conditions. Catalysts are characterized by N
2 physisorption, sulfur content analysis, temperature programmed reduction (TPR), Fourier transmission infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Catalytic tests are carried out with different gas mixtures and after various pretreatments. Best catalytic results are observed using sulfate doped zirconia samples and H
2/O
2 mixtures containing a large excess of oxygen. Monometallic gold catalysts are completely inactive, while the addition of gold to palladium improves both the productivity and the selectivity of the process. Surface oxidized Pd and Pd–Au catalysts pretreated with hydrogen and oxygen show higher activity and selectivity with respect to non-pretreated samples. A mechanistic explanation is proposed.
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