Coaxial Direct Ink Writing of Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Elastomers in 3D Architectures.

Cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers (CLCEs) hold great promise for mechanochromic applications in anti-counterfeiting, smart textiles, and soft robotics, thanks to the structural color and elasticity. While CLCEs are printed via direct ink writing (DIW) to fabricate free-standing films, complex 3D structures are not fabricated due to the opposing rheological properties necessary for cholesteric alignment and multilayer stacking. Here, 3D CLCE structures are realized by utilizing coaxial DIW to print a CLC ink within a silicone ink.

Nation-wide surveillance of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on dogs and cats in Singapore.

Companion animals are major reservoirs of zoonotic parasites and pathogens. Among these, ticks and tick-borne pathogens are of particular concern. Efforts to study the zoonotic risks associated with companion animals in Singapore have been hampered by a poor understanding of the ticks of local dogs and cats.

External delay and dispersion correction of automatically sampled arterial blood with dual flow rates.

Objective: Arterial sampling for PET imaging often involves continuously measuring the radiotracer activity concentration in blood using an automatic blood sampling system (ABSS). We proposed and validated an external delay and dispersion correction procedure needed when a change in flow rate occurs during data acquisition. We also measured the external dispersion constant of [11C]CURB, [18F]FDG, [18F]FEPPA, and [18F]SynVesT-1.

Osteopontin as a Biomarker for Coronary Artery Disease.

Osteopontin (OPN) is a sialylated phosphoprotein highly expressed in atherosclerosis and upregulated in settings of both acute and chronic inflammation. It is hypothesised that plasma levels of OPN may correlate with the presence of coronary artery disease, "CAD". This offers potential as a point-of-care testing biomarker for early diagnosis, disease monitoring, and prognosis.

Age-stratified trends and outcomes of inpatient cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis in the United States.

Background: The elderly population in the United States is rapidly expanding. Older patients over age 65 with acute cholecystitis may face greater perioperative risk compared to younger patients undergoing urgent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We aimed to characterize trends in utilization and outcomes of inpatient cholecystectomy across the United States stratified by age.