Objectives
This study aimed to investigate the clinical and prognostic relevance of the Hippo‐YAP transactivators YAP1 and TAZ in oral squamous cell carcinoma, and their possible relationship with ...PI3K/mTOR pathway activation.
Materials and Methods
Immunohistochemical analysis of YAP1, TAZ, PIK3CA (p110α), p‐AKT (Ser473), and p‐S6 (Ser235) was performed in paraffin‐embedded tissue specimens from 165 OSCC patients. Correlations between protein expression and clinical data were further assessed.
Results
YAP1 expression was detected in both cytoplasm and nucleus of tumor cells, whereas TAZ expression was only found in the nucleus. Nuclear YAP1 was significantly associated with tumor size (p = 0.03), neck lymph node metastasis (p = 0.02), TNM stage (p = 0.02), and poor differentiation (p = 0.04). Nuclear TAZ was associated with tobacco (p = 0.03) and alcohol consumption (p = 0.04), and poor tumor differentiation (p = 0.04). There was a positive significant correlation between nuclear and cytoplasmic YAP1, nuclear TAZ, p110α expression, and mTORC1 activation p‐S6 (S235). Combined expression of nuclear and cytoplasmic YAP1 was prognostic in both univariate and multivariate analyses. Active nuclear YAP1 was significantly and independently associated with poor disease‐specific (p = 0.005, HR = 2.520; 95% CI = 1.319–4.816) and overall survival (p = 0.015, HR = 2.126; 95% CI = 1.155–3.916).
Conclusion
Nuclear YAP1 is an independent predictor of poor survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
A sintered 14Cr-5Al-3W oxide dispersion strengthened steel was produced by mechanical alloying and consolidated by field-assisted hot pressing. First, a nanostructured powder was developed thanks to ...the high-energy milling used for introducing 0.4Ti-0.25Y
2
O
3
-0.6ZrO
2
into the prealloyed Fe-Cr-Al-W powder, and then the processed powders were consolidated under a low diffusive technique to better retain the microstructure inherited from milling. The effect of the addition of zirconia and of the pressure applied during sintering on the final bimodal grain microstructure and mechanical properties is assessed. Both parameters are responsible for the refinement of the microstructure by increasing the volume fraction of the ultrafine grains (0 to 400 nm), leading to an enhancement of the mechanical properties, such as the microhardness and tensile strength.
The application of nanomaterials in the fields of medicine and biotechnology is of enormous interest, particularly in the areas where traditional solutions have failed. Unfortunately, there is very ...little information on how to optimize the preparation of nanomaterials for their use in cell culture and on the effects that these can trigger on standard cellular systems. These data are pivotal in nanobiotechnology for the development of different applications and to evaluate/compare the cytotoxicity among the different nanomaterials or studies. The lack of information drives many laboratories to waste resources performing redundant comparative tests that often lead to partial answers due to differences in (i) the nature of the start-up material, (ii) the preparation, (iii) functionalization, (iv) resuspension, (v) the stability/dose of the nanomaterial, etc. These variations in addition to the different analytical systems contribute to the artefactual interpretation of the effects of nanomaterials and to inconsistent conclusions between different laboratories. Here, we present a brief review of a wide range of nanomaterials (nanotubes, various nanoparticles, graphene oxide, and liposomes) with HeLa cells as a reference cellular system. These human cells, widely used as cellular models for many studies, represent a reference system for comparative studies between different nanomaterials or conditions and, in the last term, between different laboratories.
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► We developed two new families of ODS steels for high temperature applications. ► We developed a new concept of microalloyed steels. ► We have developed a reliable processing method ...for two families of PM steels.
High-energy milling is considered to be one of the most efficient techniques for producing materials that have a well-controlled chemical composition and microstructural features that are difficult to obtain using other synthesis routes. In this study, the mechanical alloying technique (MA) was used to develop special powder metallurgy (PM) steels with two different types of properties. The use of this technique is essential for obtaining the target microstructure, which ensures the desired performance of the resulting material. Oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) ferritic steels were produced using MA based on the prealloyed grade Fe–20Cr–5Al and Fe–14Cr–5Al–3W steels with the addition of Ti and Y2O3 as reinforcements. The incorporation of Y2O3 enables a homogeneous dispersion of nano-oxides and nano-clusters in a submicron-grained structure that should enhance the mechanical properties up to 600°C. In addition, the base alloying system, Fe–Cr–Al (Ti), should enable the development of protective oxide layers through high-temperature treatments, which improves the compatibility with the environment, avoids liquid–metal embrittlement and contributes to the increase of the mechanical response up to 600°C. Furthermore, microalloyed powders can be obtained using MA and consolidated with a pressure-assisted sintering process in an attempt to control the final grain size, to achieve microalloyed steels, and to achieve an extraordinary balance of properties.
Cancer survivors (CSs) have needs that can negatively impact their quality of life (QoL). Oncology nurses play a key role in providing comprehensive care in cancer survivorship, although little is ...known about their impact on health outcomes.
The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of nursing interventions to improve QoL and satisfaction with care of CSs.
A systematic review was conducted. PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane databases were searched for experimental studies. The Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist for Randomized Controlled Trials was used to verify the quality of the studies (Prospero reference: CRD42020148294).
Of the 8 clinical trials eligible for inclusion, 5 demonstrated that interventions conducted by nurses improved the overall QoL or some of its domains in CSs. The included studies focused on short-term survival; no studies in long-term CSs were identified. Two studies assessed satisfaction with care of survivors, obtaining positive results.
Nursing interventions seem to improve the QoL of short-term CSs. However, because of the low number of studies identified, the findings of this systematic review should be interpreted with caution.
Further studies are necessary to strengthen the implementation of effective nursing intervention in cancer practice. Research should particularly be conducted with long-term CSs as there is lack of data on this specific stage of cancer.
There are many nanoencapsulation systems available today. Among all these, mesoporous silica particles (MSPs) have received great attention in the last few years. Their large surface-to-volume ratio, ...biocompatibility, and versatility allow the encapsulation of a wide variety of drugs inside their pores. However, their chemical instability in biological fluids is a handicap to program the precise release of the therapeutic compounds. Taking advantage of the dissolving capacity of silica, in this study, we generate hollow capsules using MSPs as transitory sacrificial templates. We show how, upon MSP coating with different polyelectrolytes or proteins, fully customized hollow shells can be produced. These capsules are biocompatible, flexible, and biodegradable, and can be decorated with nanoparticles or carbon nanotubes to endow the systems with supplementary intrinsic properties. We also fill the capsules with a fluorescent dye to demonstrate intracellular compound release. Finally, we document how fluorescent polymeric capsules are engulfed by cells, releasing their encapsulated agent during the first 96 h. In summary, here, we describe how to assemble a highly versatile encapsulation structure based on silica mesoporous cores that are completely removed from the final polymeric capsule system. These drug encapsulation systems are highly customizable and have great versatility as they can be made using silica cores of different sizes and multiple coatings. This provides capsules with unique programmable attributes that are fully customizable according to the specific needs of each disease or target tissue for the development of nanocarriers in personalized medicine.
Several reduced-activation ferritic-martensitic (RAFM) steel grades have been proposed for structural applications in fusion reactors since the 1990s by several countries. The European reference RAFM ...steel EUROFER97 has been produced in four batches since 1998. It is intended for fabrication of Test Blanket Modules (TBM) for ITER as well as the blanket first wall and divertor cassettes of DEMO.
RCC-MRx is the design code developed for high-temperature, research and fusion reactors by AFCEN. Its latest edition contains a provisional section dedicated to EUROFER97, aggregating properties of the first two batches, whereas a full qualification and final inclusion of a material requires three batches minimum. The completion of the code is required for the design assessment of TBM units in the frame of the nuclear licensing process.
The EUROfusion project coordinates efforts to broaden the knowledge of EUROFER97 properties, which will be used for closing the database gaps in RCC-MRx. Low cycle fatigue (LCF) tests are a significant part of the EUROfusion test programme, since the material fatigue properties are indispensable for the component assessment owing to the cyclic nature of a tokamak operation.
In this work we report the results of interlaboratory LCF tests on EUROFER97 batch 3 performed in a temperature range relevant for its application in ITER (RT–550 °C), wide selection of total strain ranges (0.3–1.5 %) and two values of strain ratio Rε (0 and –1). Along with the estimated fatigue life and cyclic behaviour, a fractographic analysis done with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is presented.
Teniendo en cuenta el carácter innovador que, a priori, implica la incorporación de materiales didácticos digitales al proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje, y siendo la educación infantil una de las ...etapas del sistema educativo reglado que debiera destacar también por su carácter innovador, entendemos que es de gran interés conocer el modelo pedagógico que subyace a estos materiales. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de este artículo es analizar el modelo pedagógico de materiales para el segundo ciclo de educación infantil publicados por editoriales gallegas, como parte de la oferta de recursos educativos digitales a disposición del profesorado en esta comunidad. Concretamente, el análisis se centra en el tipo de actividades y recursos complementarios, así como el rol del profesorado y del alumnado de una muestra de ocho materiales de cuatro editoriales diferentes. Para el análisis de los datos se tiene en cuenta el grado de coherencia de lo hallado con lo que establece el currículo oficial para esta comunidad autónoma. Los resultados sugieren que si bien el carácter digital del material no supone cambios significativos en los modelos pedagógicos y no se aprovechan las potencialidades que brindan las tecnologías, el carácter abierto y flexible de esta etapa posibilita la adaptación de los mismos.
An oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) ferritic steel with nominal composition Fe‐14Cr‐5Al‐3W‐0.4Ti‐0.25Y2O3‐0.6ZrO2 was produced by mechanical alloying (MA), based on a prealloyed grade ...Fe‐14Cr‐5Al‐3W steel with the addition of Ti element, Y2O3 and ZrO2, and subsequent consolidation by means of field assisted hot pressing (FAHP). The microstructure and the mechanical properties were analyzed and compared with a reference material with nominal composition Fe‐14Cr‐5Al‐3W‐0.4Ti‐0.25Y2O3. The addition of zirconia increased the volume fraction of the smallest and equiaxed ferritic nano‐grains and decreased the quantity of larger aluminum nano‐oxides within the ferritic matrix, promoting the formation of fine zirconium nano‐oxides and leading to the enhancement of the mechanical properties of the alloy.
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