Adlay Testa (Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. Ma-yuen Stapf.) Ethanolic Extract and Its Active Components Exert Anti-Proliferative Effects on Endometrial Cancer Cells via Cell Cycle Arrest

Endometrial cancer is the most common malignant tumors of gynecologic neoplasms in Western society. In recent years, the incidence of endometrial cancer has increased, and it has become the third most common female gynecological cancer (after ovarian and cervical cancer) in Taiwan. Adlay (Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. Ma-yuen Stapf.) has been demonstrated to have bioactive polyphenols, flavonoids, phytosterols, and essential nutrients for health benefits, including anticancer effects in humans. However, little is known about the effect of adlay seeds on endometrial cancer. Our study aimed to investigate the potential growth inhibitory effects of several adlay seed fractions, including ethyl acetate (ATE-EA) and its bioactive constituents, separately on endometrial cancer cells—HEC-1A (phosphatase and tensin homolog-positive) and RL95-2 (phosphatase and tensin homolog-negative)—and identify related active ingredients. In addition, the potential active fractions and the phytochemical compounds were elucidated. The results demonstrate superior activity of ATE-EA with significant in vitro cell proliferation inhibitory capacity, particularly its C.D.E.F-subfraction. Moreover, HPLC- and GC/FID-based quantification of ATE-EA subfractions showed that phenolic compounds (caffeic acid, protocatechuic acid, and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde), flavonoids, steroids, and fatty acid compounds exert anti-proliferative effects in the cell model. Finally, it was shown that cell growth and cell cycle arrest most significantly occurred in the in G1 or G2/M phase under ATE-EA treatment. Collectively, our results demonstrate an antiproliferative effect of ATE-EA on endometrial cancer cells that suggest a positive health outcome for women from consumption of these compounds.     

The Separation of Alanine Enatiomer Derivatives by the Proton‐Inhibition Method

Better peak shapes and complete separation of amino‐3,5‐dinitro derivatives by (S)‐N‐(2‐naphthyl)alanine derived chiral stationary phase (CSP) is achieved by adding a trace amount of acetic acid in the mobile phase. This method provides an indication of its broad applicability on direct separation of a series of amino‐containing enantiomers on CSP. In addition, the reversed elution order was obtained on its enatiomeric CSP.     

Synthesis of Polynucleotide Modified Gold Nanoparticles as a High Potent Anti‐Cancer Drug Carrier

Gold nanoparticles have been developed for the photoacoustic imaging, delivery of genes and laser induced photothermal therapy. In this study, we have developed oligonucleotide conjugated gold nanoparticles as the carrier for simultaneous DNA and anti‐cancer nucleoside delivery. The polynucleotidenanoparticle complex presented higher capacity in carrying 5‐FU anti‐cancer compounds than the original gold particles. The hydrodynamic size of the gold nanoparticles increased from 25 to 35 nm with an increase in the negative surface charge from ?9.58 to 21.66 mV after polynucleotide conjugation and drug loading. A positive association between environmental pH and drug release was observed in PBS, which implied their potential use in the controlled localized drug release in the lower GI tract. The MTT assay revealed dose dependent cytotoxicity to colon cancer cell line than free compounds. These results suggest the potential use of this new polynucleotide‐gold nanoparticles complex as the environmental controlled anti‐cancer nanocapsule, especially suitable for per oral colon cancer chemotherapy.     

6-N,N-diphenylaminobenzofuran-derived pyran containing fluorescent dyes: a new class of high-brightness red-light-emitting dopants for OLED

Dye-doped organic light-emitting diode of ITO/alpha-NPB (70 nm)/Bebq(2)-1 (7 nm)/BCP (5 nm)/Bebq(2) (33 nm)/LiF (1 nm)/Al (150 nm) shows red electroluminescence with the efficiency of 2.9 cd/A at 100 cd/m(2) and maximum brightness of 62000 cd/m(2). The physical organic aspects of the current-induced fluorescent quenching effect are discussed. [structure: see text]     

Using FSBT technique with Rough Set Theory for personal investment portfolio analysis

This study proposes a novel Forward Search and Backward Trace (FSBT) technique based on Rough Set Theory to improve data analysis and extend the scope of observations made from sample data to solve personal investment portfolio problems. Rough Set Theory mathematically classifies data into class sets. The class set with the most objects may generate one decision rule. The rules generated from RST are rough and fragmented, that are very difficult to interpret the information. An empirical case is used to generate more than 85 rules by the RST method in comparison with FSBT method which only generated 14 rules. This result can show our proposed method is better than traditional RST method based on class sets that contain the most objects. Much of human knowledge is described in natural language. It is a very important thing to convert information from computer databases into normal human language. Sample data taken from features with the same backgrounds are used to compile different portfolios that investment companies and investment advisors can employ to satisfy the investor’ needs. The method not only can provide decision-making rules, but also can offer alternative strategies for better data analysis. We believe that the FSBT technique can be fully applied in research on investment marketing.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of sydnonyl-substituted imidazoles

3-Aryl-4-formylsydnones 1a-d react with symmetrical 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds, such as benzil (2a), 4,4′-dimethoxybenzil (2b), 4,4′-difluorobenzil (2c), and di-2-thienylethanedione (2d), in glacial acetic acid, using ammonium acetate as the ammonia source, to yield 4,5-diaryl-2-sydnonyl-substituted imidazoles 3a-6d under conventional heating. In a similar treatment, 4,5-diaryl-2-sydnonyl-1-substituted imidazoles 8a-10a can be prepared by the one-pot condensation of 3-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-4-formylsydnone (1d), benzil derivatives, ammonium acetate, and primary amines. However, such reactions, which take 1-3 days at high temperature under classical conditions, are completed successfully within a few minutes under microwave irradiation.     

Crystallization kinetics study of poly(L‐lactic acid)/carbon nanotubes nanocomposites

Effects of carbon nanotubes (CNT) on the isothermal crystallization kinetics of poly(L ‐lactic acid) (PLLA) were quantitatively investigated using the Avrami equation and the secondary nucleation theory of Lauritzen and Hoffman. CNT via grafting modification with PLLA could well disperse in the PLLA matrix and give significantly enhanced crystallization rate and crystallinity of PLLA as analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry and polarized optical microscopy. Analysis of isothermal crystallization kinetics using the Avrami equation demonstrated that CNT significantly enhanced the bulk crystallization of PLLA. Analysis of spherulite growth kinetics using the secondary nucleation theory of Lauritzen and Hoffman found that CNT could expand the temperature range of the crystallization regime III of PLLA. Values of the nucleation constant (K_g) in crystallization regimes III and II of PLLA both increased with increasing CNT contents. The K_g III/K_g II ratios were found to be close to the theoretical value 2 but were not clearly found to depend on the CNT contents. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 983–989, 2010     

Kinetics and mechanism of the cationic polymerization of trioxane. II. Consideration of hydride transfer

The occurrence of hydride-transfer reactions during the cationic polymerization of trioxane was demonstrated, and rate constants were obtained. The donor of hydride ions in the transfer reactions was the monomer. The hydride-transfer reaction was a first-order reaction with respect to the concentration of the monomer, and it was governed, just as polymerization and depolymerization were (Shieh, Y. T.; Chen. S. A. J. Polym. Sci. Part A: Polym. Chem. 1999, 37, 483–492) by morphological changes. The hydride-transfer rate constants were 5 orders of magnitude smaller than those for polymerizations and depolymerizations. The rate constants for the reactions, including the polymerizations, depolymerizations, and hydride transfers, were smaller for the active centers on the solid surface than for those in solution, that is, k^′_p was less than k_p, k^′_d was less than k_d, and k^′_ht was less than k_ht. As a reaction medium, benzene had special effects on the kinetics of the cationic polymerization of trioxane. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 4198–4204, 1999     

A nonviral transfection approach in vitro: the design of a gold nanoparticle vector joint with microelectromechanical systems

Au nanoparticles modified with 21-base thiolated-oligonucleotides have been evaluated as delivery vehicles for the development of a nonviral transfection platform. The electromigration combined with electroporation for DNA delivery in an osteoblast like cell was employed to test on microchips. Electroporation introduces foreign materials into cells by applying impulses of electric field to induce multiple transient pores on the cell membrane through dielectric breakdown of the cell membrane. On the basis of the characteristic surface plasmon of the Au particles, UV-vis absorption was utilized to qualitatively judge the efficiency of delivery. Transmission electron microscopy images and atomic absorption measurements (quantitative analysis) provided evidence of the bare Au and Au/oligonucleotide nanoparticles before and after electroporation and electromigration function.The experiments demonstrated that electrophoretic migration followed by electroporation significantly enhanced the transportation efficiency of the nanoparticle-oligonucleotide complexes as compared with electroporation alone. Most interestingly, Au capped with oligonucleotides led to optimal performance. On the other hand, the bare Au colloidal suspensions resulted in aggregation, which might be an obstacle to the internalization process. In addition, analytical results demonstrated an increase in the local particle concentrations on the cell surface that provided additional support for the mechanism underlying the improved Au nanoparticle transportation into cells in the presence of electromigration function.