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Owing to the high morbidity and mortality, novel biomarkers in the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer (CRC) are needed nowadays. In this study, the CRC-related datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. After screening the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in R software, a total of 238 upregulated and 199 downregulated DEGs were revealed simultaneously. Then the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression analysis were used to reveal the prognostic function of these DEGs. Neurexophilin and PC-esterase domain family member 4 (NXPE4) and prostate androgen-regulated mucin-like protein 1 (PARM1) were two outstanding independent overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) prognostic genes of CRC in TCGA database. We next verified the expression of NXPE4 and PARM1 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were significantly lower in CRC tumor tissue than in the adjacent noncancerous tissue in our clinical samples, and NXPE4 mRNA expression level was related to the tumor location and tumor size, while PARM1 was related to tumor location, lymph nodes metastasis, and tumor size. This study demonstrated that NXPE4 and PARM1 might be two potential novel prognostic biomarkers for CRC.

The resonance Raman spectroscopy in conjunction with the density functional theory calculations were used to study the excited state structural dynamics of 2-mercapto-1-methylimidazole (MMI). The experimental UV absorption bands were assigned according to the time-dependent density functional calculations. The vibrational assignments were done for the A-band resonance Raman spectra of MMI in water and acetonitrile on the basis of the Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and FT-Raman measurements in solid, in water and in acetonitrile and the corresponding B3LYP/6-311+G(d, p) computations. The dynamic structures of MMI were obtained by analysis of the resonance Raman intensity pattern and normal mode analysis. The differences in the dynamic structures of MMI and thiourea were revealed and explained. The structural dynamic of MMI was found to be similar to that of 2-thiopyrimidone in terms of major reaction coordinates and thus favored the intra-molecular proton transfer reaction. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of pulsatile flow on cerebral blood flow (CBF) in infants with the use of a mild hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Thirty infants scheduled for open heart surgery were randomized to the pulsatile group (Group P, n = 15) and nonpulsatile group (Group NP, n = 15). In Group P, pulsatile perfusion was applied during the aortic cross-clamping period, whereas nonpulsatile perfusion was used in Group NP. The systolic peak velocity (Vs), the end of diastolic velocity (Vd), the mean velocity (Vm), and the pulsatility index (PI) and the resistance index (RI) of the middle cerebral artery were measured by a transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound after anesthesia (T1; baseline), at the beginning of CPB (T2), 10 min after aortic cross-clamping (T3), 3 min after declamping (T4), at the cessation of CPB (T5), and at the end of the operation (T6). During T3 and T4, the Vs in Group P was significantly higher than in Group NP. However, there were no statistically significant differences between Vd and Vm. The PI and RI in Group P were also higher than those in Group NP (both P < 0.05). During T5, Vd and Vm were higher in Group P (P < 0.05), whereas there was no difference in Vs. Additionally, PI and RI in Group P were significantly lower than those in Group NP (P < 0.05). However, there was no difference during T6. Pulsatile perfusion may increase CBF and decrease cerebral vascular resistance in the early period after mild hypothermic CPB.

Scope The oral absorption, distribution, excretion, and bioavailability of zinc sulfate (ZnS), zinc gluconate (ZnG), and zinc-enriched yeast (ZnY) in rats are fully and systemically compared for the first time. Methods and results After zinc compounds were orally administered to rats at a single dose of 4 mg Zn kg-1 , blood, tissues, urine, and feces at different time points were collected for the quantification of zinc concentration. Blood was also harvested for the zinc assay in the multiple-dose administration. Plasma zinc levels among three zinc compounds showed no difference, and zinc was widely distributed in various tissues with the level sequence of bone > liver > pancreas > testes. The net Zn balance was 2.993, 5.125, and 7.482% for ZnS, ZnG, and ZnY, respectively. Conclusion ZnS, ZnG, and ZnY show equivalent bioavailability based on plasma and tissues zinc levels, although ZnY was statistically more absorbed and retained than ZnS and ZnG based on the excretion amount.

In the present investigation, a macromonomer of polyurethane acrylate (PUA) was synthesized, and novel netlike nanocomposite materials were prepared through in situ polymerization of polyurethane acrylate macromonomers in the presence of organically modified montmorillonite (oMMT). The structure of oMMT was compared with untreated MMT by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) studies showed that the silicate layers of oMMT were dispersed homogeneously in the polymer matrix. Tensile test, impact test, and thermal gravity analysis proved that the mechanical and thermal properties of the nanocomposites are superior to those of the pure system, and the mechanical properties of the cured hybrid reach maximum while the content of oMMT is 1.5 wt%. Surprisingly, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) displayed that the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the nanocomposites decreased with increasing the oMMT contents. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers

Mono- and diaryl-substituted 1,4-quinones were synthesized by the In(OTf) 3 -catalyzed conjugate addition of aromatic C-nucleophiles to 1,4-quinone derivatives followed by in situ dehydrogenation in water. Water was found to be beneficial to the reaction. The regioselectivity of the addition reaction in water was also examined.

Modification of nanoparticles through graft polymerization is able to change the chemical nature of the particles' surfaces and provides an effective means for the preparation of nano-fillers specified for composites manufacturing. The present work focuses on the mechanical role of grafted nano-SiO 2 particles in high density polyethylene composites prepared by melt compounding. The experimental results show that at a content of 0.75 vol%, the modified nano-silica results in a rise in tensile stiffness, tensile strength and impact strength of the composites. The grafted nanoparticles can improve the mechanical performance of the matrix polymer more effectively than the untreated version. In addition, a further enhancement of the composites stiffness and strength can be achieved by crosslinking the concentrated masterbatches, which has not yet been revealed in the authors' previous works on grafted nano-SiO 2 particles/polypropylene composites. It is thus revealed that the introduction of the grafting polymers onto the nanoparticles increases the tailorability of the composites.

Electrical conductivity and positive temperature coefficient (PTC) behavior of carbon black (CB) filled incompatible polyblends of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer/low density polyethylene (EVA/LDPE) were investigated. In comparison with single polymer systems, more possibilities for tailoring composite performance were brought about with the employment of polymer blends as matrix resins in conductive composites. Based on the concepts of double percolation and two-step percolation, PTC-type composites with balanced performance, improved processability, and reproducibility can be made. Thermodynamical and kinetic factors including interfacial energy, melt viscosity, blending ratio, melt mixing time, sequence of blending as well as CB concentration were shown to be closely related to the ultimate properties obtained.

Polyblends prove to be able to provide more possibilities for tailoring conductive polymer composites in comparison with individual polymer systems. Accordingly, ethylene–vinyl acetate—low-density polyethylene (EVA–LDPE) filled with carbon black (CB) was prepared in this study as a candidate for positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material. In consideration of the fact that CB distribution plays the leading role in controlling a composite's conduction behavior, chemical treatment of CB was applied to reveal its influence on percolation and the PTC effect. It was found that titanate coupling agent treatment facilitated sufficient distribution of CB in LDPE phase, leading to lower resistivity and a squarer PTC curve. Composites filled with nitric-acid-treated CB exhibited specific temperature dependence of resistivity as a result of the heterogeneous dispersion of CB at the interface of EVA–LDPE, which might provide the materials with a new function. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 73: 489–494, 1999

The new nortriterpenoid, 20-hydroxymicrandilactone D (I), and the novel lignan glycoside, lancilignanside A (II) are isolated from the leaves and stems of Schisandra lancifolia along with three known nortriterpenoids and nine known phenolics.

The Michael reactions of indole and pyrrole compounds to α,β‐unsaturated ketones catalyzed by triflic acid (HOTf, 0.1–1 mol%) were performed in water to give alkylated indoles (3a–m) and dialkylsubstituted pyrroles (6a–b) in good to excellent yields.

Solvent- and catalyst-free Friedel–Crafts alkylation reactions of aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds with methyl trifluoropyruvate ( 2 ) were carried out at room temperature and finished in several minutes with good to excellent yields of the addition products (69→99%), which provided a rapid and convenient method to synthesize aryl- and heteroaryl-α-hydroxy-α-triflouromethyl acetates.

A highly efficient direct coupling of indole compounds with 1,4-benzoquinones was developed “on water” in the absence of any catalyst, organic co-solvent, or additives. The “on-water” conditions provided the best yields of the corresponding products and the only system to produce bis(coupling) products. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006)

Solvent-free and catalyst-free three-component reactions of indoles, amines, and ethyl glyoxylate gave alkylation products in good to high yields (61-93%), providing a convenient synthesis of (3-indolyl)glycine derivatives.

In the presence of In(OTf) 3 as a catalyst, aniline derivatives la-c, 1e-h and anisole derivatives 2a-c, 2e reacted with methyl trifluoropyruvate 3 in water at room temperature to give the corresponding Friedel-Crafts reaction products 4a-g and 5a-d in good yields, respectively.