Template-based fabrication of SrTiO3 and BaTiO3 nanotubes.

In response to the growing need for metal oxide nanotubes and nanowires for nanoelectronic applications, polycrystalline titanate nanotubes are synthesized in this work at near-ambient conditions without the application of an external electric field or pre-existing solids. Nanotubes of complicated metal oxides including strontium titanate and barium titanate are fabricated inside anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates from aqueous solutions using a simple, inexpensive, reproducible, and environmentally friendly procedure. The deposition solution is prepared by dissolving ammonium hexafluorotitanate and strontium nitrate in a boric acid solution at a pH of 2.5. The typical lengths of SrTiO(3) nanotubes are 5-30 microm, with an average diameter of approximately 250 nm, which is defined by the pore diameter of the AAO template. After annealing at 800 degrees C in air, the resulting nanotubes are polycrystalline cubic SrTiO(3). The Sr:Ti ratio in the nanotube is controlled by the hydrolysis of TiF(6)(2-) ions, and the concentration of Sr(2+) and stoichiometric SrTiO(3) nanotubes can be obtained. As an additional controlling factor, the surface properties of the AAO can be modified by (octadecyl)trichlorosilane. Barium titanate is also prepared in a similar manner with barium nitrate and ammonium hexafluorotitanate as precursors. The polycrystalline cubic BaTiO(3) nanotubes are 12-30 microm long and approximately 250 nm in diameter.

Synthesis and molecular structure of 6-amino-3-benzylmercapto-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-f][1,2,4]triazin-8(7H)-one.

The title compound 6-amino-3-benzylmercapto-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-f][1,2,4]-triazin-8(7H)-one (4), molecular formula C(11)H(10)N(6)OS, was obtained by the reaction of 3-amino-2-benzyl-6-hydrazino-1,2,4-triazin-5(2H)-one (3) with carbon disulfide in a water/pyridine mixture. Compound 4 can also be synthesized by reacting 6-amino-3(2H)mercapto-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-f][1,2,4]triazin-8(7H)-one (7) with benzyl bromide in methanolic ammonia water. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with a = 7.2926(15), b = 14.456(2), c = 11.436(2) A, beta = 105.30(2) degrees , V= 1162.9(4) A(3) and Z = 4, resulting in a density Dcalc of 1.567 g/cm(3). Molecules of 4 are linked by extensive intermolecular N-H...N and N-H...O hydrogen bonding [graph set R(2)(2 )(9)]. The structure is further stabilized by pi-pi stacking interactions.

Butyrate regulates the expression of c-Src and focal adhesion kinase and inhibits cell invasion of human colon cancer cells.

Epidemiological studies indicate that dietary fiber-derived fermentation products such as butyrate can prevent colon cancer development. To further dissect the role of butyrate in anticarcinogenesis, its effect on cellular growth and invasion as well as the expression of c-Src and FAK, two mutually interactive nonreceptor tyrosine kinases, in three different human colon cancer cell lines (Caco-2, SW480, and SW620) were investigated. In addition to growth inhibition, butyrate treatment results in a significant downregulation of c-Src and FAK in human colon cancer cells, which can be attributable to their reduced transcripts and implicates the participation of a butyrate-sensitive pathway in modulating their expression. Concurrent to butyrate-reduced c-Src and FAK expression is the decrease of FAK Tyr-decrease 397 phosphorylation. Besides, butyrate also abolished the secretion of MMP-2 and MMP-9. And these butyrate-mediated effects severely impaired invasion of SW620 cells through Matrigel in vitro. Interestingly, in situ parallel enhancement of c-Src and FAK was also observed in human colorectal tumor specimens. These results imply that by virtue of suppression of c-Src and FAK along with other butyrate targets in colonocytes, butyrate could effectively inhibit tumor growth and invasion.