Prognostic Value of Immunohistochemical Markers for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

The aim of this study is to reveal the potential roles of apoptosis markers (Bcl2 and p53), proliferation markers (Ki-67 and CyclD1), and the neuroendocrine marker Chromogranin A as markers for the radioresistance of rectal cancer. Statistically significant differences were found in the expression of p53, Ki-67, and Chromogranin A in groups of patients with and without a favorable prognosis after radiotherapy. The survival analysis revealed that the marker of neuroendocrine differentiation, Chromogranin A, also demonstrated a high prognostic significance, indicating a poor prognosis. Markers of proliferation and apoptosis had no prognostic value for patients who received preoperative radiotherapy. Higher Chromogranin A values were predictors of poor prognosis. The results obtained from studying the Chromogranin A expression suggest that the secretion of biologically active substances by neuroendocrine cells causes an increase in tumor aggressiveness.     

Pilot Quality-Assurance Study of a Third-Generation Batch-Mode Clinical-Scale Automated Xenon-129 Hyperpolarizer

We present a pilot quality assurance (QA) study of a clinical-scale, automated, third-generation (GEN-3) ¹²⁹Xe hyperpolarizer employing batch-mode spin-exchange optical pumping (SEOP) with high-Xe densities (50% natural abundance Xe and 50% N₂ in ~2.6 atm total pressure sourced from Nova Gas Technologies) and rapid temperature ramping enabled by an aluminum heating jacket surrounding the 0.5 L SEOP cell. ¹²⁹Xe hyperpolarization was performed over the course of 700 gas loading cycles of the SEOP cell, simulating long-term hyperpolarized contrast agent production in a clinical lung imaging setting. High levels of ¹²⁹Xe polarization (avg. %P_Xe = 51.0% with standard deviation σ_PXe = 3.0%) were recorded with fast ¹²⁹Xe polarization build-up time constants (avg. T_b = 25.1 min with standard deviation σ_Tb = 3.1 min) across the first 500 SEOP cell refills, using moderate temperatures of 75 °C. These results demonstrate a more than 2-fold increase in build-up rate relative to previously demonstrated results in a comparable QA study on a second-generation (GEN-2) ¹²⁹Xe hyperpolarizer device, with only a minor reduction in maximum achievable %P_Xe and with greater consistency over a larger number of SEOP cell refill processes at a similar polarization lifetime duration (avg. T₁ = 82.4 min, standard deviation σ_T1 = 10.8 min). Additionally, the effects of varying SEOP jacket temperatures, distribution of Rb metal, and preparation and operation of the fluid path are quantified in the context of device installation, performance optimization and maintenance to consistently produce high ¹²⁹Xe polarization values, build-up rates (T_b as low as 6 min) and lifetimes over the course of a typical high-throughput ¹²⁹Xe polarization SEOP cell life cycle. The results presented further demonstrate the significant potential for hyperpolarized ¹²⁹Xe contrast agent in imaging and bio-sensing applications on a clinical scale.     

Crystallization of Methylammonium Lead Halide Perovskites by Optical Trapping

Single crystals of organolead halide perovskites attract much attention to electrooptical and photovoltaic applications. They are usually prepared in precursor solutions incubated at controlled temperatures or under optimized vapor atmosphere conditions, and thus, multiple perovskite crystals are nucleated all over the solution. Multiple nucleation of crystals prevents efficient use of precursors in the preferential growth of large single crystals. An innovative approach is presented for spatiotemporally controlled, selective nucleation and growth of single crystals of lead halide perovskites by optical trapping with a focused laser beam. Upon such trapping in unsaturated precursor solutions, nucleation of MAPbX₃ (MA=CH₃NH₃⁺; X=Cl^?, Br^?, or I^?) is induced at the focal spot through increase in the concentration of perovskite precursors in the focal volume. The rate at which the nucleated crystal grows depends upon whether the perovskite absorbs the trapping laser or not. These findings suggest that optical trapping would be useful to prepare various perovskite single crystals and modify their optical and electronic properties; thereby, offering new methods for engineering of perovskite crystals.     

Genetic algorithmic approach to find the maximum weight independent set of a graph

In this paper, Genetic Algorithm (GA) is used to find the Maximum Weight Independent Set (MWIS) of a graph. First, MWIS problem is formulated as a 0-1 integer programming optimization problem with linear objective function and a single quadratic constraint. Then GA is implemented with the help of this formulation. Since GA is a heuristic search method, exact solution is not reached in every run. Though the suboptimal solution obtained is very near to the exact one. Computational result comprising an average performance is also presented here.     

Deposition and characterization of carbon nitride films from hexamethylenetetramine/N2 by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition

Carbon nitride thin films were deposited on Si(1 0 0) substrate by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). Hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) was used as carbon and nitrogen source while N₂ gas was used as both nitrogen source and carrier gas. The sp³-bonded C---N structure in HMTA was considered significantly in the precursor selection. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the film was a mixture of crystalline - and β-C₃N₄ as well as graphitic-C₃N₄ and β-Si₃N₄ which were not easily distinguished. Raman spectroscopy also suggested the existence of - and β-C₃N₄ in the films. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study indicated the presence of sp²- and sp³-bonded C---N structures in the films while sp³C---N bonding structure predominated to the sp² C---N bonding structure in the bulk composition of the films. N was also found to be bound to Si atoms in the films. The product was, therefore, described as CN_x:Si, where x depends on the film depth, with some evidences of crystalline C₃N₄ formation.     

A simple in situ visual and tristimulus colorimetric method for the determination of trace arsenic in environmental water after its collection on a mercury(II)-impregnated paper.

A simple in situ visual and tristimulus colorimetric method for the determination of trace arsenic in environmental water after collecting arsenic on a test paper impregnated with mercury(II) bromide and rosaniline chloride by its reduction aeration has been developed. The color development on the test paper is based on the formations of AsH(HgBr)2 (yellow) and/or As(HgBr)3 (brownish yellow) by a reaction between mercury(II) bromide and arsine (AsH3), which is produced through the reduction of As(III) (arsenite ion) and/or As(V) (arsenate ion) in a sample solution. To a sample solution, potassium iodide, tin(II) chloride, zinc sand and 4 ml of 6 M hydrochloric acid solution were added successively. The liberated arsine was collected on the test paper. The yellow or brownish-yellow color intensity on the test paper was measured by a tristimulus colorimeter and also by a visual method. The established method is applicable to the determination of arsenic in environmental water sample such as river, brackish, and seawater types.     

Construction of traveling wave solutions of the (2 + 1)-dimensional modified KdV-KP equation

Traveling wave solutions have played a vital role in demonstrating the wave character of nonlinear problems emerging in the field of mathematical sciences and engineering. To depict the nature of propagation of the nonlinear waves in nature, a range of nonlinear evolution equations has been proposed and investigated in the existing literature. In this article, solitary and traveling periodic wave solutions for the (2 + 1)-dimensional modified KdV-KP equation are derived by employing an ansatz method, named the enhanced (G′/G)-expansion method. For this continued equation, abundant solitary wave solutions and nonlinear periodic wave solutions, along with some free parameters, are obtained. We have derived the exact expressions for the solitary waves that arise in the continuum-modified KdV-KP model. We study the significance of parameters numerically that arise in the obtained solutions. These parameters play an important role in the physical structure and propagation directions of the wave that characterizes the wave pattern. We discuss the relation between velocity and parameters and illustrate them graphically. Our numerical analysis suggests that the taller solitons are narrower than shorter waves and can travel faster. In addition, graphical representations of some obtained solutions along with their contour plot and wave train profiles are presented. The speed, as well as the profile of these solitary waves, is highly sensitive to the free parameters. Our results establish that the continuum-modified KdV-KP system supports solitary waves having different shapes and speeds for different values of the parameters.     

Parametric investigation of nonlinear fluctuations in a dc glow discharge plasma

Glow discharge plasmas exhibit various types of self-excited oscillations for different initial conditions like discharge voltages and filling pressures. The behavior of such oscillations associated with the anode glow has been investigated using nonlinear techniques like correlation dimension, largest Lyapunov exponent, etc. It is seen that these oscillations go to an ordered state from a chaotic state with an increase in input energy, i.e., with discharge voltages implying occurrence of inverse bifurcations. These results are different from the other observations wherein the fluctuations have been observed to go from ordered to chaotic state.