RESUMEN
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is an oncogenic virus associated with tumorigenesis. Our previous study revealed that the HCMV US31 gene interacted with NF-κB2 and mediated inflammation through macrophages. However, there are few reports on the role of US31 in gastric cancer (GC). The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the US31 gene in GC tissue and assess its role in the occurrence and development of GC. US31 expression in 573 cancer tissues was analyzed using immunohistochemistry. Results showed that US31 was significantly associated with tumor size (P = 0.005) and distant metastasis (P < 0.001). Higher US31 expression indicated better overall survival in GC patients. Overexpression of US31 significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of GC cells in vitro (P < 0.05). Furthermore, expression levels of CD4, CD66b, and CD166 were positively correlated with US31, suggesting that it was involved in regulating the tumor immune microenvironment of GC. RNA sequencing, along with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, confirmed that the expression of US31 promoted immune activation and secretion of inflammatory cytokines. Overall, US31 inhibited the malignant phenotype and regulated tumor immune cell infiltration in GC; these results suggest that US31 could be a potential prognostic factor for GC and may open the door for a new immunotherapy strategy.
RESUMEN
To optimize the interface of the catalyst layer (CL) and gas diffusion layer (GDL) in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), microporous layers (MPLs) with different decorative patterns were prepared. Carbon paper treated with polytetrafluoroethylene was used as a substrate for the coating of MPLs. To accelerate water removal and gas permeation, ammonium chloride was utilized to improve the porous structure of MPLs. Owing to the recrystallization and pyrolysis of ammonium chloride with different contents, the surface of MPLs exhibited point-, line-, and flowerlike patterns. Membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) were assembled to evaluate the performance of MPLs with different decorative patterns. From measurements, an MEA containing a porosity-graded MPL (MPL-G) with a flowerlike pattern exhibited the best electrochemical performance. It is because that graded porosity accelerates the removal of excessive water. The flowerlike pattern facilitates the diffusion of the reactant gas at the interface of the catalyst layer and MPL. With the measurement of segmented cell technology, such MEAs revealed an improved redispersion of reactant gases. Furthermore, the produced water was compressed to the gas outlet, providing a larger active region for reaction. These results indicate that pattern design of MPLs is a promising strategy to improve the mass-transfer efficiency at the interface of the catalyst layer and gas diffusion layer.
RESUMEN
Noncovalent molecular interactions, such as hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces, play an important role in self-assembling to supramolecular structures. To study these forces, we chose monolayers at the air/water interface to limit the possible arrangements of the interacting molecules. Furthermore, monolayers provide useful tools to understand and study interactions between molecules in a controlled and fundamental way. The phase behavior and molecular packing of the phenols 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-octadecane (5a), 1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-octadecane (6), and 1-(2,3,4-trihydroxyphenyl)-octadecane (3) and their methyl ethers in monolayers at the air/water interface have been examined by π/A isotherms, Brewster angle microscopy (BAM), grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD) measurements, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The phenols are synthesized by Friedel-Crafts acylation of methoxybenzenes, hydrogenation of the resulting aryl ketones, and cleavage of the aryl methyl ethers. In the π/A isotherms and in BAM, the phenols show patches of the solid condensed phase at large molecular areas and the monolayers collapse at high pressures. Furthermore, the dimensions of the unit cell obtained by GIXD measurements are compatible with an arrangement of the phenyl rings that allows one aryl ring to interact with four adjacent phenyl rings in an edge-to-face arrangement, which leads to a significant binding energy. The experimental data are in good agreement with DFT calculations of 2D crystalline benzene and p-cresol arrangements. The enhanced monolayer stability of phenol 5a can be explained by hydrogen bonds of the hydroxyl group with water and van der Waals forces between the alkyl chains and aryl-aryl interactions.
