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Supplementary Fig. S2 from Adenoviral endoplasmic reticulum–targeted mda-7/interleukin-24 vector enhances human cancer cell killing

We developed several adenoviral vectors designed to target MDA-7 expression to different subcellular compartments [endoplasmic reticulum (ER), mitochondria, nucleus, and cytosol] and evaluated their ability to enhance apoptosis. Adenoviral ER-targeted mda-7/interleukin-24 vector (Ad-ER-mda7) selectively and effectively inhibited the growth and proliferation of lung (A549 and H1299) and esophageal (Seg1 and Bic1) cancer cells by enhancing cell killing. Both Ad-mda7 and Ad-ER-mda7 activated a novel pathway of ER stress-induced apoptosis characterized by unregulated expression of phosphorylated JNK, phosphorylated c-Jun, and phosphorylated RNA-dependent protein kinase. Caspase-4 activation mediated Ad-mda7- and Ad-ER-mda7-induced cell death. In addition, Ad-mda7- and Ad-ER-mda7-mediated growth inhibition correlated with activation of ER molecular markers RNA-dependent protein kinase and JNK both in vitro (in Ad-mda7- or Ad-ER-mda7-treated lung cancer cells) and in vivo. These findings suggest that vectors targeting the ER (Ad-ER-mda7) may be more effective in cancer gene therapy possibly through more effective induction or ER stress pathways. [Mol Cancer Ther 2008;7(8):2528–35]

Supplementary Fig. S1 from Adenoviral endoplasmic reticulum–targeted mda-7/interleukin-24 vector enhances human cancer cell killing

Methylated 2-methyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)chromans are salinity-sensitive biomarkers that have been detected in immature – early mature petroleum and sediments. In this study, the occurrence and distribution patterns of 2-methyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)chromans were investigated in a set of lacustrine sediments from Nördlinger Ries of southern Germany and marine sediments from the South China Sea. Among all of the 2-methyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)chroman isomers detected, 8-Me-2-methyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)chroman presented with high abundance in sediments deposited in hypersaline environments, while absent in samples from normal marine environments. In contrast, 5,7,8-triMe-2-methyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)chroman was more enriched in sediments from marine environments. This study also showed that the ratio of 5,7,8-triMe-/5,8-diMe-2-methyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)chroman can be applied as a potential salinity indicator on account of a positive correlation with other 2-methyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)chroman salinity indicators. This ratio can be an alternative indicator of paleosalinity when 8-Me-2-methyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)chroman is absent or present in quite low abundance. The content of 2-methyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)chroman isomers may be affected by freshwater supply and lithology. Molecular simulations showed that 5,8-diMe-2-methyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)chroman has a higher thermal dynamic stability than 7,8-diMe-2-methyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)chroman. Thus, the ratio of 5,8-diMe-2-methyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)chroman/7,8-diMe-2-methyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)chroman may be a potential maturity parameter for sediments at a low thermal mature stage.

As one of the high-value and environmentally friendly chemical products, cellulose-based adhesive substance has been widely developed recently due to its extraordinary adhesion, interfacial flowability and high stability, along with low-impact side effects, outstanding degradability and biocompatibility. Also, microcrystalline-shaped cellulose has been fully exploited in functinalizing modification engineering. To eliminate the gap in application of cellulose-ether-based adhesion, we fabricated a new category of optimized cellulose sulfate product based on a system of analysis of key experimental factors: solvent pretreatment, degree of esterification, type and morphology of cellulose. Additionally, we focused on an all-round family of performance test of our product, containing characterization of structural and morphological features, test of water-based properties and inspection of adhesion behaviour. Within, the effect of adhesive strength in various solvents and under various conditions have been highlighted. The whole result shows a generally feasible synthetic approach and splendid performance as a novel green adhesive. The optimal design and synthesis of cellulose sulfate is verified to be eco-friendly, easy for optimization and greatly reproducible. Also, the product is shown to have tiptop viscosity, great adhesive strength, and colloidal potential like film forming due to the cross-linking network in the water-based environment. Finally, the product are demonstrated to be outstanding and widely applicable in mechanical strength. Specifically, it shows strong adhesion on different materials (metal, timber and glass) and tunability related to the kinds of additives. The addition of metallic salts and polymeric amine can evidently boost its adhesive strength. Overall, optimal analysis of cellulose sulfate adhesive on a microscale has forecasted great potential in low-carbon, fine-tunable, adhesive-related industry.

OBJECTIVE/METHOD A series of 4H-chromen-4-one derivatives (A1-A16) have been designed and synthesized, and they were screened for BRAF kinase inhibitory activity. Furthermore, their biological activities were evaluated in vitro. RESULT Compounds A03 and A10 displayed the most potent antiproliferative activity against human osteosarcoma cell line (U2OS) and A16 displayed the most potent antiproliferative activity against human melanoma cancer cell line (A375) in vitro, which was valuable to study further.

The autogenous volume deformations of concrete with MgO expansive materials and fly ash cured in different ages were measured, and the morphologies of it were observed through scanning electron microscope. The results showed that the autogenous volume deformation of the concrete increased with the curing ages and the content of MgO expansive materials. The expansions of concrete with MgO became less in later ages and unlimited expansion did not appear. Fly ash may inhibit the autogenous volume expansion of concrete with MgO expansive materials, and the effect became more significant with the dosage increase of fly ash. The micro-expansion caused by the additive MgO expansive materials filled the pores of paste and made the structure denser, and might compensate the shrinkage of concrete, decrease the cracking of concrete works and improve the durability of concrete.

We developed several adenoviral vectors designed to target MDA-7 expression to different subcellular compartments [endoplasmic reticulum (ER), mitochondria, nucleus, and cytosol] and evaluated their ability to enhance apoptosis. Adenoviral ER-targeted mda-7/interleukin-24 vector (Ad-ER-mda7) selectively and effectively inhibited the growth and proliferation of lung (A549 and H1299) and esophageal (Seg1 and Bic1) cancer cells by enhancing cell killing. Both Ad-mda7 and Ad-ER-mda7 activated a novel pathway of ER stress-induced apoptosis characterized by unregulated expression of phosphorylated JNK, phosphorylated c-Jun, and phosphorylated RNA-dependent protein kinase. Caspase-4 activation mediated Ad-mda7- and Ad-ER-mda7-induced cell death. In addition, Ad-mda7- and Ad-ER-mda7-mediated growth inhibition correlated with activation of ER molecular markers RNA-dependent protein kinase and JNK both in vitro (in Ad-mda7- or Ad-ER-mda7-treated lung cancer cells) and in vivo. These findings suggest that vectors targeting the ER (Ad-ER-mda7) may be more effective in cancer gene therapy possibly through more effective induction or ER stress pathways. [Mol Cancer Ther 2008;7(8):2528–35]

The utilization of a solid waste – fly ash (FA) in the construction of concrete dams was investigated in this paper, which contained its effects on the strength, shrinkage and expansion strain of dam concrete with and without 8% of a novel MgO-bearing expansive agent. The results are shown a relationship between the content of fly ash replacing cement and the above properties of dam concrete. The compressive strengths of dam concrete with 50% fly ash in 90 d are higher than that of dam concrete with 30% fly ash or without fly ash slightly. Fly ash may decrease the deformation of dam concrete in that with 50% fly ash, and the shrinkage and expansive strain was reduced significantly – about 33% and 40% less than that of the specimens without fly ash respectively.

The advent of technology has changed the course of marketing in both the academic and the business field. Given the increasing number of mobile transactions, hotel companies have launched mobile applications (apps) as an alternative e-relationship marketing (e-RM) channel. This study modified a progressive five-level e-relationship building model. The model was employed to evaluate e-RM features of the top 10 hotel companies' mobile apps. The results indicated that these hotel companies maintained e-RM feature sophistication at the lower levels (Basic and Reactive), but relatively speaking, they did not utilize e-RM features extensively at the higher levels (Accountable, Proactive and Partnership). The findings implied that hotel companies employed mobile apps as a communication channel to provide basic information and allow for transaction rather than to deliver better customer values and strengthen long-term relationships.

This paper presents the microstructures and mechanical and absorbing properties of double and triple layer, cement-based, composite panels. The results obtained show that the frequency range in 2-18GHz had less than −10dB effective bandwidth, which correlates with 3.7and 10.8GHz in double and triple layer cement-based composite panels. Furthermore, the double layer panel's compressive strength at 7 and 28 days was 40.2 and 61.2MPa, respectively. For the triple layer panel, the strength values were 35.6MPa and 49.2MPa. The triple layer panel's electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorbing properties were superior compared to the properties of the double layer panel. However, the triple layer panel's mechanical performance was inferior to that of the double layer panel. This study proposes that carbon nanotubes can effectively improve the compressive strength and interface structure of cement-based composite panels.

A series of 2-(1H-imidazol-2-yl) pyridine derivatives (CLW01-CLW31) have been designed and synthesized, and they were screened for BRAF kinase inhibitory activity. Besides, their biological activities were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. All the compounds were reported for the first time, and compounds CLW14 and CLW27 displayed the most potent antiproliferative activity against cell line A375 in vitro, with IC50 values of 4.26 and 2.93 μM, respectively, which were comparable with the positive control Sorafenib. Those two compounds were further evaluated for the in vivo efficacy using an A375 xenograft nude mice model. The results showed that the growth of A375 cancer cells xenografts was suppressed by factors of 35.68% and 42.50% (percent tumor growth inhibition values) after intragastric (ig) administration of compound CLW14 and CLW27 at concentration of 50 mg/kg. Thus they may be promising lead compounds to be developed as an alternative for current Sorafenib therapy.

Using minerals of dolomite, serpentine and magnesite produce a new composite material which provides an expansive stress to decrease deformation and fracture of hydraulic concrete. The compositions of the expansive material are mainly MgO, CaO and C 2 S by X-ray techniques. Adding the expansive material to concrete, the shrinkage of concrete may be compensated by the hydration of CaO to Ca(OH) 2 in early ages and the hydration of MgO to Mg(OH) 2 in later ages respectively, so decrease deformation and fracture of concrete.

This thesis investigates a prestack seismic inversion scheme implemented in the ray parameter domain. Conventionally, most prestack seismic inversion methods are performed in the incidence angle domain. However, inversion using the concept of ray impedance, as it honours ray path variation following the elastic parameter variation according to Snell’s law, shows the capacity to discriminate different lithologies if compared to conventional elastic impedance inversion. The procedure starts with data transformation into the ray-parameter domain and then implements the ray impedance inversion along constant ray-parameter profiles. With different constant-ray-parameter profiles, mixed-phase wavelets are initially estimated based on the high-order statistics of the data and further refined after a proper well-to-seismic tie. With the estimated wavelets ready, a Cauchy inversion method is used to invert for seismic reflectivity sequences, aiming at recovering seismic reflectivity sequences for blocky impedance inversion. The impedance inversion from reflectivity sequences adopts a standard generalised linear inversion scheme, whose results are utilised to identify rock properties and facilitate quantitative interpretation. It has also been demonstrated that we can further invert elastic parameters from ray impedance values, without eliminating an extra density term or introducing a Gardner’s relation to absorb this term. Ray impedance inversion is extended to P-S converted waves by introducing the definition of converted-wave ray impedance. This quantity shows some advantages in connecting prestack converted wave data with well logs, if compared with the shearwave elastic impedance derived from the Aki and Richards approximation to the Zoeppritz equations. An analysis of P-P and P-S wave data under the framework of ray impedance is conducted through a real multicomponent dataset, which can reduce the uncertainty in lithology identification.Inversion is the key method in generating those examples throughout the entire thesis as we believe it can render robust solutions to geophysical problems. Apart from the reflectivity sequence, ray impedance and elastic parameter inversion mentioned above, inversion methods are also adopted in transforming the prestack data from the offset domain to the ray-parameter domain, mixed-phase wavelet estimation, as well as the registration of P-P and P-S waves for the joint analysis. The ray impedance inversion methods are successfully applied to different types of datasets. In each individual step to achieving the ray impedance inversion, advantages, disadvantages as well as limitations of the algorithms adopted are detailed. As a conclusion, the ray impedance related analyses demonstrated in this thesis are highly competent compared with the classical elastic impedance methods and the author would like to recommend it for a wider application.