Variability in Immunohistochemical Detection of Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) in Cancer Tissue Types

In normal cell physiology, programmed death 1 (PD-1) and its ligand, PD-L1, play an immunoregulatory role in T-cell activation, tolerance, and immune-mediated tissue damage. The PD-1/PD-L1 pathway also plays a critical role in immune escape of tumor cells and has been demonstrated to correlate with a poor prognosis of patients with several types of cancer. However, recent reports have revealed that the immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of the PD-L1 in tumor cells is not uniform for the use of different antibodies clones, with variable specificity, often doubtful topographical localization, and with a score not uniquely defined. The purpose of this study was to analyze the IHC expression of PD-L1 on a large series of several human tumors to correctly define its staining in different tumor tissues.     

On the Role of Extensional Flow in Morphology and Property Modifications of MWCNT/Polyamide‐Based Fibers

Unfilled and MWCNT‐filled PA fibers are prepared and the effect of the extensional flow on their mechanical performance and morphological variations is investigated. Morphological analyses using SEM, TEM, and SAXS suggest a stronger orientation of the MWCNTs along the fiber direction with increasing extensional flow. A particular MWCNT bundle formation in the PA drawn nanocomposite fibers is observed for the first time, and a pull‐out of the central nanotube in some bundles is noted. The maintenance of the “shish‐kebab” structure upon extensional flow is responsible for the mechanical improvements and dimensional stability in MWCNT‐filled PA fibers.

     

From raw material to dish: pasta quality step by step

Pasta is a traditional Italian cereal‐based food that is popular worldwide because of its convenience, versatility, sensory and nutritional value. The aim of this review is to present a step‐by‐step guide to facilitate the understanding of the most important events that can affect pasta characteristics, directing the reader to the appropriate production steps. Owing to its unique flavor, color, composition and rheological properties, durum wheat semolina is the best raw material for pasta production. Although pasta is traditionally made from only two ingredients, sensory quality and chemical/physical characteristics of the final product may vary greatly. Starting from the same ingredients, there are a lot of different events in each step of pasta production that can result in the development of varieties of pasta with different characteristics. In particular, numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of temperature and humidity conditions of the pasta drying operation as well as the significance of the choice of raw material and operating conditions on pasta quality. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry     

Photosensitive acrylates containing bio-based epoxy-acrylate soybean oil for 3D printing application

Stereolithography is a 3D-printing process that is rapidly shifting from being an expensive and limited technology to an affordable, precise, and fast method of mass production. However, most of the current resins are petroleum-based, which makes them toxic, non-degradable and with poor biocompatibility. In this study, a standard petroleum-based resin containing urethane acrylate and acrylic monomers was combined with epoxy-acrylate soybean oil (EASO), aiming to reduce its impact on the environment. Ratios varying from 10 to 50 wt% of EASO were incorporated into the commercial resin while maintaining the viscosity low, between 0.27 and 1.06 Pa s. The printed samples showed good quality and complete integration between the layers. The addition of 50 wt% of EASO increased the samples elongation at break by 108% (from 2.3% to 4.8%) and decreased the contact angle by 26.4% (from 72 to 53°). Moreover, the mixture showed good thermal and swelling stability and tensile strength in the range of other commercial cured systems. The addition of EASO may significantly contribute to the exploitation of greener materials, which well matches today's circular economy concept.     

Advanced ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene/antioxidant‐functionalized carbon nanotubes nanocomposites with improved thermo‐oxidative resistance

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) functionalized with hindered phenol moieties are dispersed in ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), and the stabilizing action of the antioxidant (AO) functionalized CNTs (AO‐f‐CNTs) is studied through a combination of rheological and spectroscopic (FT‐IR) analyses. The effectiveness of two alternative compounding methods, namely hot compaction (HC) and melt mixing (MM), is compared. The combination of high temperature and mechanical stress experienced during MM brings about noticeable degradation phenomena of the matrix already in the course of the compounding step. Differently, the milder conditions of the HC process preserve the stability of the polymer, making this method preferable when dealing with highly viscous matrices. In addition, HC guarantees a better CNT dispersion, allowing for the maximization of the stabilizing action of the AO grafted on the nanotubes. As a result, the HC samples exhibit improved thermo‐oxidative resistance despite the very low amount of AO grafted onto the CNTs. Besides demonstrating the effectiveness of our AO‐f‐CNTs as stabilizers for polymer matrices, our results prove that CNTs can serve as a support on which grafting specific functional molecules to be dispersed in a host polymer matrix. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42420.     

Exploring free-energy profiles through ion channels: Comparison on a test case

The calculation of free-energy profiles in proteins, and, more specifically, in ion channels, is a challenge for modern numerical simulations due both to the convergence problems associated with the electrostatics of the environment and to the difficulties in modeling the fields acting on the permeating ions. The present study is aims at comparing three different simulation techniques available in the literature on a nanometric channel protein chosen as a test case, with the purpose of establishing their real predictivity and limits.     

Reorganization of Thalamic Inputs to Lesioned Cortex Following Experimental Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) disrupts thalamic and cortical integrity. The effect of post-injury reorganization and plasticity in thalamocortical pathways on the functional outcome remains unclear. We evaluated whether TBI causes structural changes in the thalamocortical axonal projection terminals in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) that lead to hyperexcitability. TBI was induced in adult male Sprague Dawley rats with lateral fluid-percussion injury. A virus carrying the fluorescent-tagged opsin channel rhodopsin 2 transgene was injected into the ventroposterior thalamus. We then traced the thalamocortical pathways and analyzed the reorganization of their axonal terminals in S1. Next, we optogenetically stimulated the thalamocortical relays from the ventral posterior lateral and medial nuclei to assess the post-TBI functionality of the pathway. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that TBI did not alter the spatial distribution or lamina-specific targeting of projection terminals in S1. TBI reduced the axon terminal density in the motor cortex by 44% and in S1 by 30%. A nematic tensor-based analysis revealed that in control rats, the axon terminals in layer V were orientated perpendicular to the pial surface (60.3°). In TBI rats their orientation was more parallel to the pial surface (5.43°, difference between the groups p < 0.05). Moreover, the level of anisotropy of the axon terminals was high in controls (0.063) compared with TBI rats (0.045, p < 0.05). Optical stimulation of the sensory thalamus increased alpha activity in electroencephalography by 312% in controls (p > 0.05) and 237% (p > 0.05) in TBI rats compared with the baseline. However, only TBI rats showed increased beta activity (33%) with harmonics at 5 Hz. Our findings indicate that TBI induces reorganization of thalamocortical axonal terminals in the perilesional cortex, which alters responses to thalamic stimulation.     

Total reducing capacity of fresh sweet peppers and five different Italian pepper recipes

Processing and preparation methods are generally believed to result in a depletion of naturally occurring antioxidants in food. To evaluate the antioxidant properties of fresh sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum) and five different Italian recipes based on sweet peppers (pickled; “peperonata”; grilled; in sour–sweet condiment; salted), water- and lipid-soluble extracts from fresh and processed peppers were analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with an electrochemical detector. Total reducing capacity (TRC) and contributions of hydrophilic reducing capacity (HRC) and lipophilic reducing capacity (LRC) to the TRC were determined in all the samples. Three important antioxidant compounds were measured: ascorbic acid, β-carotene and lycopene. The contribution of these individual compounds to TRC was estimated.