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Common detection methods in practice for diagnosing colorectal cancer (CRC) are painful and invasive leading to less participation of individuals for CRC diagnosis. Whereas, improved or enhanced imaging systems and other minimally invasive techniques with shorter detection times deliver greater detail and less discomfort in individuals. Thus, this review is a summary of the diagnostic tests, ranging from the simple potential use in developing a flexible CRC treatment to the patient's potential benefits in receiving less invasive procedures and the advanced treatments that might provide a better assessment for the diagnosis of CRC and reduce the mortality related to CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The promotion and application of autonomous vehicles (AVs) will bring huge benefits to society in economic and environmental aspects, and the public acceptance degree is a crucial influencing factor. Based on technology acceptance model (TAM) and information system success (ISS) model, this research develops a new framework from the perspective of AVs information system to explain public acceptance. The framework explores the relationship between variables such as system quality, information quality, service quality, perceived usefulness, perceived ease-of-use and AVS acceptance, and it also examines the mediating role of perceived ease-of-use and perceived usefulness. Based on a survey of 323 respondents, the results indicate that system quality, information quality, and service quality are key factors affecting AVS acceptance. Additionally, compared to perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use manifested a greater mediation on explanatory variables with AVs acceptance. Moreover, the research also makes recommendations for AVs manufacturers to focus on system quality and information interaction mode in the design and development process of AVs. And thus, making AVs easier to use without cognitive load could improve the AVs acceptance and adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, nanoparticles are being used extensively in personal healthcare products such as cosmetics, sunscreens, soaps, and shampoos. Particularly, metal oxide nanoparticles are gaining competence as key industrial constituents, progressing toward a remarkable rise in their applications. Zinc oxide and titanium oxide nanoparticles are the most commonly employed metal oxide nanoparticles in sunscreens, ointments, foot care, and over the counter topical products. Dermal exposure to these metal oxides predominantly occurs through explicit use of cosmetic products and airway exposure to nanoparticle dusts is primarily mediated via occupational exposure. There is a compelling need to understand the toxicity effects of nanoparticles which can easily enter the cells and induce oxidative stress. Consequently, these products have become a direct source of pollution in the environment and thereby greatly impact our ecosystem. A complete understanding of the toxicity mechanism of nano-ZnO is intended to resolve whether and to what extent such nanoparticles may pose a threat to the environment and to human beings. In this review article, we have discussed the characteristics of metal oxide nanoparticles and its applications in the cosmetic industry. We have also highlighted about their toxicity effects and their impact on human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To demonstrate the radiation responses of tafazzin (TAZ) protein in colon cancer. Methods: TAZ expression was examined in colon cancer cell lines SW480, KM12C, SW620 and KM12L4a. KM12C and KM12L4a cell lines were used for this experiment with exposure to X- and UV rays (mW/cm2). HCT15 cell line was used to test the expression of TAZ by using an anti-TAZ drug, namely 9-fluorenone, which is a Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling inhibitor. The experimentation also involved exposing HCT15 cell line, to UV radiation. Cell proliferation and apoptosis studies were carried out. TAZ interactions with oncoproteins were screened and the oncoproteins Livin, MAC30 and FXYD-3 were considered for in silico protein-protein interaction studies. Results: TAZ protein was significantly downregulated after 2 Gy radiations. 9-Fluorenone inhibited the expression of TAZ. Action of 9-fluorenone along with radiation, decreased the percentage of proliferation and increased apoptosis. Computational studies predicted that TAZ interacts with the oncoproteins Livin, MAC30 and FXYD-3. Conclusions: Our results suggest that TAZ plays a significant role in non-metastatic KM12C cells and is predominantly seen in the colon cancer cells isolated from primary stages of cancer. Thus, use of TAZ protein as a biomarker will be an efficient way to detect tumors in the early stages and treatment may be modulated with radiation before surgery/therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbonaceous solid acid (CSA) catalysts with –SO3H, –COOH, and phenolic –OH functional groups were prepared by hydrothermal carbonization and sulfuric acid impregnation methods. A maximum furfural (FF) yield of 19.66% from corncob degradation remained stable at 10 runs at 180°C for 170 min while the concentration of sulfuric acid was employed from 2.0 to 0.5 mol/L. The sulfur in CSA catalyst exists in two forms, namely SO42−and –SO3H. The free sulfuric acid and carbon together with –SO3H created good physical contact between the lignocellulose substrate and the solid catalyst in the reaction, and drastically improved the depolymerization rate of hemicelluloses and cellulose to soluble polysaccharide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. An insertion/deletion polymorphism (-94ins/delATTG) in the promoter region of the NFKB1 gene correlates to an increased risk of ulcerative colitis, a known risk factor for colorectal cancer, but this polymorphism has not been studied in colorectal cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether this polymorphism is related to colorectal cancer risk and clinicopathological variables. Material and methods. Case samples were taken from four groups of Swedish patients: 193 unselected patients, 90 patients with ≥3 affected 1st-degree relatives, 85 patients with 2 affected 1st-degree relatives, and 109 sporadic cancer patients, and one group of 193 unselected Chinese patients. Controls included 439 Swedish and 458 Chinese healthy individuals. Genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results. The deletion increased the risk of colorectal cancer among Swedish unselected patients (OR=3.81, 95% CI: 2.17-6.69, p<0.0001 for heterozygote deletion, and OR=4.65, 95% CI: 2.43-8.89, p<0.0001 for homozygote deletion) and sporadic cancer patients (OR=7.73, 95% CI: 3.06-19.57, p<0.0001 for heterozygote deletion, and OR=6.58, 95% CI: 2.35-18.43, p<0.0001 for homozygote deletion) compared to homozygote insertion (wild-type), but not among the other Swedish or Chinese patients (p>0.05). Similar evidence was seen in age-adjusted analyses (p<0.0001). The polymorphism did not correlate to clinicopathological variables (p>0.05). Conclusions. Deletion of the polymorphism was associated with increased susceptibility to sporadic colorectal cancers in the Swedish population, but not in the Swedish patients with a family history of colorectal cancer or in Chinese patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The inhibitory proteins, IκBs, regulate the activity of nuclear factor kappa-beta (NF-κB), which is implicated in tumorigenesis by regulating expression of a variety of genes involved in cellular transformation, proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis. Variants in the genes encoding IκBs may be involved in cancer development through the activation of NF-κB. The objective of this study was to investigate the susceptibility of an A to G variation (rs696) in the 3′ UTR of NFKBIA (encoding IκBα) to colorectal cancer (CRC) and the association of this polymorphism with clinicopathologic variables in CRC patients. Material and methods. A case-control study was carried out on a Swedish (155 CRCs, 438 controls) and a Chinese population (199 CRCs, 577 controls). The genotype of NFKBIA was determined by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results. The frequency of the AG genotype was increased in the Chinese patients ≥50 years of age compared with the Chinese controls (odds ratio (OR) = 3.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.55–6.02, p=0.001), even when adjusted for age (OR = 3.20, 95% CI = 1.61–6.38, p=0.001). The GG genotype of NFKBIA was related to a poorer survival rate in the Swedish patients, independent of gender, age, tumour location, Dukes’ stage and differentiation (hazard ratio = 3.10, 95% Cl = 1.28–7.60, p=0.01). Conclusions. Chinese individuals ≥50 years of age carrying the AG genotype of NFKBIA may be at an increased risk of developing CRC, and the GG genotype of NFKBIA may be considered as a prognostic factor for Swedish CRC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice straw was separated into two lignin fractions and two hemicellulosic preparations through a two-stage treatment. Pre-treatment with ethanol–H2O (60/40, v/v) under acid catalyst (0.2 N HCl) at 70°C for 4 hr degraded 48.8, 24.9, and 23.3% of the original lignin, hemicelluloses, and cellulose, respectively. Following treatment with 2% H2O2 at pH 11.5 for 16 hr at 45°C resulted in a dissolution or degradation of 44.7, 55.2, and 12.1% of the original lignin, hemicelluloses, and cellulose, respectively. By this two-stage process, 93.5% of the original lignin and 88.2% of the original hemicelluloses were separated from rice straw. In comparison, the isolated two lignin fractions and two hemicellulosic preparations were characterized for their chemical composition, physico-chemical properties, structural features, and thermal stability. Both of the lignin fractions contained higher amounts of noncondensed guaiacyl units than those of noncondensed syringyl units, together with small amounts of p-hydroxyphenyl units. Pre-treatment with acidic organosolv, under the condition used, favored solubilization of the small molecular size of hemicelluloses, which were mainly composed of α-glucan, while the post-treatment with alkaline peroxide, under the condition given, enhanced dissolution of large molecular size of hemicelluloses, which comprised l-arabino-(d-glucurono)-d-xylan as the major constituent. The thermal analysis showed that the two hemicellulosic fractions were substantially decomposed between 200 and 330°C, while the lignin decomposition process covered a large temperature range, between 200 and 600°C, indicating more thermal stability of the lignin polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barley straw was extracted with toluene-ethanol (2:1, vol/vol), chloroform, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), hexane-acetone (2:1, vol/vol), and dichloromethane for 12 hours in a Soxhlet. The 51 individual compounds in 5 lipophilic extracts were separated by gas chromatography. Free fatty acids (15.18–38.20%), sterols (1.41–10.42%), waxes (3.45–11.87%), steryl esters (5.04–24.70%), and triglycerides (1.16–10.03%) were identified as the major 5 classes of lipids in the barley straw extracts. Minor components such as diglycerides (0.07–0.89%) and resin acids (0.12–0.57%) were also verified from the straw lipophilic extracts. Nonlipids detected from the barley straw extracts were composed of minor amounts of phenolic compounds (0.17–2.05%), noticeable amounts of azelaic and maleic acids (0.48–15.06%), and some quantities of co-extracted polysaccharides, ash, or salts. Of the individual compounds in each group, 16 free fatty acids, 5 steryl esters, 3 sterols, 3 triglycerides, and 2 waxes were quantitatively determined. Extraction with MTBE gave the lowest yield of total extracts (1.19%) but contained the highest amounts of lipophilic extracts (81.04%), which were enriched with steryl esters (24.70%), free fatty acids (23.60%), waxes (11.22%), sterols (10.42%), and triglycerides (10.03%). In contrast, extraction with 2:1 toluene-ethanol produced the highest quantities of total extracts (3.92%) but of the lowest purity of the lipid substances (49.69%) and were comprised mainly of free fatty acids (38.20%) and nonlipid substances such as maleic and azelaic acids (15.06%), phenolic compounds (1.89%), and noticeable amounts of released polysaccharides, ash, or salts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]