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• Required energy for pyrolyzing RSW in different moisture contents was evaluated. • An ERPC index was developed to evaluate the energy and mass flows. • Optimal parameters were proposed to achieve a self-sustaining pyrolysis. • RSW Pyrolysis was analyzed from aspects of energy, pollutants and carbon footprint. Rural solid waste (RSW) is a serious problem which not only causes environmental pollution, but also limits the development of rural areas. Pyrolysis is an alternative since it can efficiently reduce RSW, meanwhile, the treatment capacity is matched for RSW production. However, conventional pyrolysis of RSW faces two important issues: energy cost and pollutant emission. Therefore, in this work, food waste (FW) was taken as the representative of high-moisture and low-heating-value organic waste in RSW, the energy required for pyrolysis, and the heat produced by combusting pyrolytic products were investigated. Based on calculating the Energy Ratio of Production to Consumption (ERPC) index, the self-sustaining pyrolysis-combustion conditions were established, and the carbon footprints in various scenarios were discussed. Additionally, waste paper, plastic, fabric and poplar scraps were selected as the representative organic wastes (OW) in RSW. The pyrolytic behaviors and pollutant emission (NO x and SO 2) of individuals and blended OW were investigated. Compared to direct combustion of OW, the NO x and SO 2 emissions can be reduced by 86 % and 100 %, respectively, during pyrolysis-combustion process. Combined the above aspects, it is proved pyrolysis-combustion can be a feasible approach to treat RSW, due to it can be operated without extra energy supply, and also shows obvious environmental benefits compared to direct combustion technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Castor is a zinc finger transcription factor that controls cell fate within neuroblast cell lineages in Drosophila melanogaster. Here, we describe the cloning and characterization of a human castor gene (CASZ1) that is structurally homologous to Drosophila castor. We find the expression of castor gene is increased when cells of neural origin as well as mesenchymal origin are induced to differentiation. CASZ1 is expressed in a number of normal tissues and exists in at least two mRNA species of 4.4 and 8.0kb. They are named hCasz5 and hCasz11 because the predicted proteins have 5 and 11 zinc fingers, respectively. Deletion analysis of the proximal 5′-flanking sequences delineates sequences sufficient to drive transcription in cells of neural and non-neural origin. Both hCasz5 and hCasz11 localize predominantly in the nucleus, consistent with their role as Zn-finger containing transcription factor. CASZ1 is expressed in a number of human tumors and localizes to a chromosomal region frequently lost in tumors of neuroectodermal origin. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Little is known of the molecular events underlying the genesis of pancreatoblastoma tumors in the pediatric population. Such studies have been limited by the rare nature of the disease, infrequent reports detailing cytogenetic alterations, and the lack of availability of cell lines for biologic studies. We present the isolation of a cell line from a 14-year-old boy with malignant pancreatoblastoma, and its cytogenetic characterization using spectral karyotyping and comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). The cytogenetic analysis revealed an exceedingly complex cytogenetic karyotype, with 33 aberrant chromosomes. CGH revealed multiple regions of chromosomal loss and gain, including a region on 8q gained in adult pancreatic cancers, one that frequently contains the MYC oncogene. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The identification of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily member TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) a few years ago generated considerable enthusiasm for it as a potential cancer therapeutic agent. This is because TRAIL shows potent apoptosis inducing activity in a wide spectrum of transformed cell lines but not in cell lines derived from normal tissue origin. As the details in the signal transduction pathway of TRAIL-induced apoptosis are clarified, various defects of TRAIL pathway have been identified in TRAIL resistant cancer cells. Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children and those with a poor prognosis require more sensitive therapies. Unlike other cancer cells, most neuroblastoma cell lines are resistant to TRAIL induced apoptosis and the resistance correlates with caspase 8 deficiency, which is attributed to the methylation of the gene. Interferon (IFN)-γ induces caspase 8 expression in most neuroblastoma cell lines regardless of the methylation status but fails to sensitize most NB to TRAIL. Further analysis indicates a TRAIL receptor deficiency contributes to TRAIL resistance in NB. Multiple lesions suggest that this path may play an important role in tumorigenesis and/ or evasion from therapies. Furthermore it indicates that the clinical application of TRAIL in NB will require a multi-modality approach. Important questions remain unanswered: How does IFN-γ induce caspase 8 and why is the induction heterogeneous? How to stimulate the caspase 8 induction in cells that fail to respond to IFN-γ? How to target other TRAIL pathway lesions with the clinically feasible approaches? [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Overall photocatalytic synthesis of H 2 O 2 in water over PyCOF-OH under visible light irradiation. [Display omitted] • Upconversion (UC) and Downshifting (DS) luminescence. • Nd3+ → Yb3+ → Ho3+ increased the emission intensity of ∼2000 nm. • Thermal enhancement phenomenon. • Luminescence intensity ratio (LIR) technology. • A better temperature measurement stability. Here, the Sr 2 LaNbO 6 : Yb3+/Nd3+/Ho3+ phosphors are prepared through solid-state route. The upconversion (UC)/downshifting (DS) luminescence and temperature performances of all samples are investigated in detail. Under 808 nm excitation, the infrared emission band (∼2000 nm) of Ho3+ ions is obtained. Especially, the energy transfer process of Nd3+ → Yb3+ → Ho3+ has increased the emission intensity of ∼2000 nm. Moreover, the infrared emission band presents thermal enhancement. Under 980 nm excitation, the UC emission band 500–960 nm is investigated. The green and red light of Ho3+ ion, near infrared light of Nd3+ ions are achieved. In addition, the possible luminescence mechanism of Sr 2 LaNbO 6 : Yb3+/Nd3+/Ho3+ phosphor is discussed. At last, the optical temperature sensing characteristics of the phosphor are studied according to the luminescence intensity ratio (LIR) technology. The maximum relative sensitivity of Sr 2 LaNbO 6 : Yb3+/Nd3+/Ho3+ reaches 5.476 % K−1 at 293 K. These results prove that the Sr 2 LaNbO 6 : Yb3+/Nd3+/Ho3+ phosphor presents the luminescence in infrared and visible range. The Sr 2 LaNbO 6 :Yb3+/Nd3+/Ho3+ phosphor also can be applied to design optical temperature sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (VRd) is a standard therapy for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Carfilzomib, a next-generation proteasome inhibitor, in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone (KRd), has shown promising efficacy in phase 2 trials and might improve outcomes compared with VRd. We aimed to assess whether the KRd regimen is superior to the VRd regimen in the treatment of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma in patients who were not being considered for immediate autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT).Methods: In this multicentre, open-label, phase 3, randomised controlled trial (the ENDURANCE trial; E1A11), we recruited patients aged 18 years or older with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who were ineligible for, or did not intend to have, immediate ASCT. Participants were recruited from 272 community oncology practices or academic medical centres in the USA. Key inclusion criteria were the absence of high-risk multiple myeloma and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-2. Enrolled patients were randomly assigned (1:1) centrally by use of permuted blocks to receive induction therapy with either the VRd regimen or the KRd regimen for 36 weeks. Patients who completed induction therapy were then randomly assigned (1:1) a second time to either indefinite maintenance or 2 years of maintenance with lenalidomide. Randomisation was stratified by intent for ASCT at disease progression for the first randomisation and by the induction therapy received for the second randomisation. Allocation was not masked to investigators or patients. For 12 cycles of 3 weeks, patients in the VRd group received 1·3 mg/m2 of bortezomib subcutaneously or intravenously on days 1, 4, 8, and 11 of cycles 1-8, and day 1 and day 8 of cycles nine to twelve, 25 mg of oral lenalidomide on days 1-14, and 20 mg of oral dexamethasone on days 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, and 12. For nine cycles of 4 weeks, patients in the KRd group received 36 mg/m2 of intravenous carfilzomib on days 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, and 16, 25 mg of oral lenalidomide on days 1-21, and 40 mg of oral dexamethasone on days 1, 8, 15, and 22. The coprimary endpoints were progression-free survival in the induction phase, and overall survival in the maintenance phase. The primary analysis was done in the intention-to-treat population and safety was assessed in patients who received at least one dose of their assigned treatment. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01863550. Study recruitment is complete, and follow-up of the maintenance phase is ongoing.Findings: Between Dec 6, 2013, and Feb 6, 2019, 1087 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to either the VRd regimen (n=542) or the KRd regimen (n=545). At a median follow-up of 9 months (IQR 5-23), at a second planned interim analysis, the median progression-free survival was 34·6 months (95% CI 28·8-37·8) in the KRd group and 34·4 months (30·1-not estimable) in the VRd group (hazard ratio [HR] 1·04, 95% CI 0·83-1·31; p=0·74). Median overall survival has not been reached in either group. The most common grade 3-4 treatment-related non-haematological adverse events included fatigue (34 [6%] of 527 patients in the VRd group vs 29 [6%] of 526 in the KRd group), hyperglycaemia (23 [4%] vs 34 [6%]), diarrhoea (23 [5%] vs 16 [3%]), peripheral neuropathy (44 [8%] vs four [<1%]), dyspnoea (nine [2%] vs 38 [7%]), and thromboembolic events (11 [2%] vs 26 [5%]). Treatment-related deaths occurred in two patients (<1%) in the VRd group (one cardiotoxicity and one secondary cancer) and 11 (2%) in the KRd group (four cardiotoxicity, two acute kidney failure, one liver toxicity, two respiratory failure, one thromboembolic event, and one sudden death).Interpretation: The KRd regimen did not improve progression-free survival compared with the VRd regimen in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, and had more toxicity. The VRd triplet regimen remains the standard of care for induction therapy for patients with standard-risk and intermediate-risk newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, and is a suitable treatment backbone for the development of combinations of four drugs.Funding: US National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, and Amgen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]