Search results for " Transition"

Dynamic thermal expansivity near the glass transition

2000

Dielectric techniques were used to investigate the thermal expansivity of polystyrene films. Capacitive scanning dilatometry (CSD) employs temperature ramping in order to monitor the non-linear structural relaxation in the glass transformation range and to quantify liquid fragility. In the linear response regime, the complex thermal expansivity is obtained as a function of the temperature cycling frequency and is observed to reflect the structural relaxation.

Phase diagram of polymer blends in confined geometry

2001

Within self-consistent field theory we study the phase behavior of a symmetrical binary AB polymer blend confined into a thin film. The film surfaces interact with the monomers via short range potentials. One surface attracts the A component and the corresponding smei-infinite system exhibits a first order wetting transition. The surface interaction of the opposite surface is varied as to study the crossover from capillary condensation for symmetric surfaces fields to the interface localization/delocalization transition for antisymmetric surface fields. In the former case the phase diagram has a single critical point close to the bulk critical point. In the latter case the phase diagram exh…

Computer simulation studies of finite-size broadening of solid–liquid interfaces: from hard spheres to nickel

2009

Using Molecular Dynamics (MD) and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations interfacial properties of crystal-fluid interfaces are investigated for the hard sphere system and the one-component metallic system Ni (the latter modeled by a potential of the embedded atom type). Different local order parameters are considered to obtain order parameter profiles for systems where the crystal phase is in coexistence with the fluid phase, separated by interfaces with (100) orientation of the crystal. From these profiles, the mean-squared interfacial width w^2 is extracted as a function of system size. We rationalize the prediction of capillary wave theory that w^2 diverges logarithmically with the lateral size o…

PHASE EQUILIBRIA IN THIN POLYMER FILMS

2001

Within self-consistent field theory and Monte Carlo simulations the phase behavior of a symmetrical binary AB polymer blend confined into a thin film is studied. The film surfaces interact with the monomers via short ranged potentials. One surface attracts the A component and the corresponding semi-infinite system exhibits a first order wetting transition. The surface interaction of the opposite surface is varied as to study the crossover from capillary condensation for symmetric surface fields to interface localization/delocalization transition for antisymmetric surface fields. In the former case the phase diagram has a single critical point close to the bulk critical point. In the latter…

Segmental Ureterectomy Versus Radical Nephroureterectomy in Older Patients Treated for Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma

2022

Introduction: The world population is ageing and surgical procedures for older patients are associated with higher perioperative morbidity and mortality rates than in younger patients. Segmental ureterectomy (SU) has been proposed as an alternative to radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for selected upper tract urothelial carcinomas (UTUC), to reduce post-operative morbidity, and preserve renal function. The aim of this study was to compare RNU and SU in terms of post-operative complications, functional outcomes, and overall survival (OS) in older patients treated for UTUC. Materials and methods: Data of patients aged 75 years or older and treated for UTUC were included. The primary outcome wa…

Time to safely omit bladder cuff removal for low-risk upper tract urothelial carcinoma

2021

Down-regulation of OPA1 alters mouse mitochondrial morphology, PTP function, and cardiac adaptation to pressure overload

2012

AIMS: The optic atrophy 1 (OPA1) protein is an essential protein involved in the fusion of the mitochondrial inner membrane. Despite its high level of expression, the role of OPA1 in the heart is largely unknown. We investigated the role of this protein in Opa1(+/-) mice, having a 50% reduction in OPA1 protein expression in cardiac tissue. METHODS AND RESULTS: In mutant mice, cardiac function assessed by echocardiography was not significantly different from that of the Opa1(+/+). Electron and fluorescence microscopy revealed altered morphology of the Opa1(+/-) mice mitochondrial network; unexpectedly, mitochondria were larger with the presence of clusters of fused mitochondria and altered c…

Induction of apoptosis by arachidonic acid in human retinoblastoma Y79 cells: involvement of oxidative stress

2000

Arachidonic acid administration caused apoptosis in Y79 cells, as shown by typical morphological changes, phosphatidylserine externalization, chromatin condensation, processing and activation of caspase-3 and cleavage of the endogenous caspase substrate poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase. Arachidonic acid also caused lamin B cleavage, suggesting caspase-6 activation. Arachidonic acid treatment was accompanied by increased formation of the lipid peroxidation end products malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, lowering in reduced glutathione content and in mitochondrial membrane potential. Inhibiting glutathione synthesis sensitized Y79 cells to apoptosis-inducing stimuli, whilst replenishing red…

The complex interplay between Notch signaling and Snail1 transcription factor in the regulation of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)

2015

Background The epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a highly coordinated process observed during embryonic development and adult tissue repair. It is characterized by the loss of cell–cell adhesion and apicobasal polarity, and the transition to a cell type with a spindle-like phenotype able to migrate through the basal membranes. Methods This review article includes available date from peer-reviewed publications associated with the role of Notch signaling and Snail1 transcription factor in activation and regulation of EMT. Results Growing evidences in the past few years demonstrated a significant role of Notch in EMT activation. It is not surprising because this pathway is the nexus o…

Subtype-specific kinase dependency regulates growth and metastasis of poor-prognosis mesenchymal colorectal cancer

2023

Abstract Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) can be divided into four consensus molecular subtypes (CMS), each with distinct biological features. CMS4 is associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition and stromal infiltration (Guinney et al., Nat Med 21:1350–6, 2015; Linnekamp et al., Cell Death Differ 25:616–33, 2018), whereas clinically it is characterized by lower responses to adjuvant therapy, higher incidence of metastatic spreading and hence dismal prognosis (Buikhuisen et al., Oncogenesis 9:66, 2020). Methods To understand the biology of the mesenchymal subtype and unveil specific vulnerabilities, a large CRISPR-Cas9 drop-out screen was performed on 14 subtyped CRC cell lines to un…