Evaluation of the PSMA-Binding Ligand 212Pb-NG001 in Multicellular Tumour Spheroid and Mouse Models of Prostate Cancer

Radioligand therapy targeting the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is rapidly evolving as a promising treatment for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The PSMA-targeting ligand p-SCN-Bn-TCMC-PSMA (NG001) labelled with ²¹²Pb efficiently targets PSMA-positive cells in vitro and in vivo. The aim of this preclinical study was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of ²¹²Pb-NG001 in multicellular tumour spheroid and mouse models of prostate cancer. The cytotoxic effect of ²¹²Pb-NG001 was tested in human prostate C4-2 spheroids. Biodistribution at various time points and therapeutic effects of different activities of the radioligand were investigated in male athymic nude mice bearing C4-2 tumours, while long-term toxicity was studied in immunocompetent BALB/c mice. The radioligand induced a selective cytotoxic effect in spheroids at activity concentrations of 3–10 kBq/mL. In mice, the radioligand accumulated rapidly in tumours and was retained over 24 h, while it rapidly cleared from nontargeted tissues. Treatment with 0.25, 0.30 or 0.40 MBq of ²¹²Pb-NG001 significantly inhibited tumour growth and improved median survival with therapeutic indexes of 1.5, 2.3 and 2.7, respectively. In BALB/c mice, no signs of long-term radiation toxicity were observed at activities of 0.05 and 0.33 MBq. The obtained results warrant clinical studies to evaluate the biodistribution, therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of ²¹²Pb-NG001.     

Self-organized pattern formation on silicon,stainless steel and zinc coated steel substrates

In this research, a self-organized pattern formation employing polystyrene/aluminum bilayer coatings on three different substrates was studied. Two new substrate materials, stainless steel and zinc coated steel for self-organization application were introduced. Influence of polystyrene molar mass on pattern formation was studied with five different polystyrene samples having molar masses between 27 and 247 × 10³ g/mol. Polystyrene/toluene solutions were applied onto the substrates using the spin coating technique and aluminum layer was created by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Self-organized pattern formation was induced thermally, by heating the layered substrate/polystyrene/aluminum structures above the glass transition temperature of polystyrene. Sub-micron–micron sized wrinkles or island-like surface patterns were achieved on all substrates. The molar mass of polystyrene was found to have effect on the dimensions of the formed structures. It was also observed that the characteristic surface structure of substrates influences self-organization and thereby directs the structure formation.     

Urban qualities and residents’ strategies in compact global south cities: the case of Havana

Research and policy argue for more compact cities to respond to sustainable development challenges. However, what actually needs to be made more compact and how, is under examined, particularly in global South cities where north notions of urban qualities are adopted without being questioned. Informed by a qualitative study in informal and compact neighborhoods in Havana, this paper explores which qualities are important to deliver more just cities, and what strategies are developed by residents to strengthen beneficial qualities and address detrimental qualities in contexts of informal urbanization and compactness. It shows how the street, human capital, neighborhood, housing affordability, citizenship and vibrancy are significant compact city qualities neglected in the literature. Finally, the paper shows how diverse strategies are developed by residents to draw upon these qualities, such as self-help urbanism, learning and innovation, economic entrepreneurship, networks of solidarity, economies of reciprocity, local imaginaries and active citizenship.

     

Photoelectric properties of MISM phthalocyanine structure

Langmuir-Blodgett films have been prepared from copper tetra-4-t-butylphthalocyanine. A voltage dependence of capacitance can be attributed to the presence of a Schottky depletion layer. The barrier potential was determined as l·4eV, and the carrier concentration about 10²⁴m^?3     

Green ideas travelling across organizational boundaries

In the last few decades, environmental commitment has become a powerful discursive means of mobilizing actors and developing distinct organizational identity. However, the prevalent uncertainty in society concerning the interpretation and operationalization of concepts, such as ‘green’, ‘sustainable’, ‘environment’ and ‘ecology’ allows for interpretative flexibility. Accordingly, individual members or groups of members in organizations operationalize the concept green in ways that make sense to their working contexts' specific ontology, epistemology and ideology. Based on a comparative case study of three Swedish municipal housing companies, the paper examines how green ideas are translated as they travel across organizational boundaries, and how these notions become embedded within different organizational processes, and thus set external as well as internal boundaries. The underlying assumption is that the meaning of ‘green’ shifts depending on which organization and sphere of society is in perspective. Therefore, the paper traces spatial shifts in meanings of ‘green’ as these travel across organizational boundaries, from the local governmental authority, via the Parent company, to the three individual companies studied. Comparing the companies' official environmental statements with the organizational members' representations of green shows discrepancies in talk and action, which may have implications for the companies' internal identity as well as for the creation of an external image. Furthermore, these discrepancies are traced to different communities of action and practice, i.e. those who make strategic environmental decisions in the companies are not the same as those who possess environmental expertise.

Au cours de ces dernières années, les préoccupations environnementales sont devenues un puissant moyen discursif de mobilisation des acteurs et de développement d'une identité organisationnelle distincte. Or, l'incertitude qui règne dans la société en ce qui concerne l'interprétation et l'exploitation de concepts tels que «vert», «durable», «environnement» et «écologie» autorise une certaine souplesse. En conséquence, des membres individuels ou des groupes de membres d'organisations exploitent le concept «vert» de manière à donner du sens à l'ontologie, à l'épistémologie et à l'idéologie propres au contexte de travail. S'appuyant sur une étude de cas comparative de trois entreprises suédoises de construction de logements municipaux, l'auteur de cet article examine comment les concepts écologiques se transforment lorsqu'ils traversent des frontières à l'intérieur des organisations et comment ces notions s'inscrivent dans différents processus organisationnels et fixent ainsi des limites externes et internes. L'hypothèse sous-jacente est que la notion de « vert » se déplace en fonction de l'organisation et de la sphère de la société mises en perspective. Cet article retrace donc ces déplacements dans l'espace de la signification du concept «vert» lorsqu'il traverse des limites organisationnelles, de l'administration locale, via la société-mère, jusqu'aux trois entreprises individuelles étudiées. Lorsque l'on compare les déclarations environnementales officielles de ces entreprises au concept de «vert» affiché par les membres des organisations, on voit apparaître des différences dans le discours et dans l'action qui peuvent avoir des incidences sur l'identité interne des entreprises et sur la création d'une image externe. En outre, on fait remonter ces différences jusqu'aux différentes communautés d'action et de pratique, c'est-à-dire que celles qui prennent des décisions environnementales stratégiques ne sont pas les mêmes que celles qui possèdent les compétences en matière d'environnement.

Mots clés: Communauté d'action, communauté de pratiques, bâtiments verts, construction de l'identité, innovation, culture de l'organisation, mise en oeuvre des politiques, donner du sens, déplacement des idées     

Ipriflavone: an important bone-building isoflavone

Ipriflavone, an isoflavone synthesized from the soy isoflavone daidzein, holds great promise in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and other metabolic bone diseases. It has been widely studied in humans and found effective for inhibiting bone resorption and enhancing bone formation, the net result being an increase in bone density and a decrease in fracture rates in osteoporotic women. While ipriflavone appears to enhance estrogen's effect, it does not possess intrinsic estrogenic activity, making it an attractive adjunct or alternative to conventional hormone replacement therapy. Preliminary studies have also found ipriflavone effective in preventing bone loss associated with chronic steroid use, immobility, ovariectomy, renal osteodystrophy, and gonadotrophin hormone-releasing hormone agonists. In addition, it holds promise for the treatment of other metabolic diseases affecting the bones, including Paget's disease of the bone, hyperparathyroidism, and tinnitus caused by otosclerosis.