Single-Molecule Electrical Conductance in Z-form DNA:RNA.

Nucleic acids have emerged as new materials with promising applications in nanotechnology, molecular electronics, and biosensing, but their electronic properties, especially at the single-molecule level, are largely underexplored. The Z-form is an exotic left-handed helical oligonucleotide conformation that may be involved in critical biological processes such as the regulation of gene expression and epigenetic processes. In this work, the electrical conductance of individual Guanine Cytosine (GC)-rich DNA:RNA molecules is measured in physiological buffer and 2,2,2-Trifluoroethanol (TFE) solvent, corresponding to the natural (right-handed helix) A-form typical in DNA:RNA hybrids and the (left-handed) Z-form conformations, respectively.

Shallow conductance decay along the array of a single tetraheme protein wire.

Multiheme cytochromes (MHCs) are the building blocks of highly conductive micrometre-long supramolecular wires found in so-called electrical bacteria. Recent studies have revealed that these proteins possess a long supramolecular array of closely packed cofactors along the main molecular axis alternating between perpendicular and stacking configurations (TST = T-shaped, stacked, T-shaped). While TST arrays have been identified as the likely electron conduit, the mechanisms of outstanding long-range charge transport observed in these structures remain unknown.

Electrostatic catalysis of a click reaction in a microfluidic cell.

Electric fields have been highlighted as a smart reagent in nature's enzymatic machinery, as they can directly trigger or accelerate chemical processes with stereo- and regio-specificity. In enzymatic catalysis, controlled mass transport of chemical species is also key in facilitating the availability of reactants in the active reaction site. However, recent progress in developing a clean catalysis that profits from oriented electric fields is limited to theoretical and experimental studies at the single molecule level, where both the control over mass transport and scalability cannot be tested.

Controlling piezoresistance in single molecules through the isomerisation of bullvalenes.

Nanoscale electro-mechanical systems (NEMS) displaying piezoresistance offer unique measurement opportunities at the sub-cellular level, in detectors and sensors, and in emerging generations of integrated electronic devices. Here, we show a single-molecule NEMS piezoresistor that operates utilising constitutional and conformational isomerisation of individual diaryl-bullvalene molecules and can be switched at 850 Hz. Observations are made using scanning tunnelling microscopy break junction (STMBJ) techniques to characterise piezoresistance, combined with blinking (current-time) experiments that follow single-molecule reactions in real time.

Terminal Deuterium Atoms Protect Silicon from Oxidation.

In recent years, the hybrid silicon-molecular electronics technology has been gaining significant attention for applications in sensors, photovoltaics, power generation, and molecular electronics devices. However, Si-H surfaces, which are the platforms on which these devices are formed, are prone to oxidation, compromising the mechanical and electronic stability of the devices. Here, we show that when hydrogen is replaced by deuterium, the Si-D surface becomes significantly more resistant to oxidation when either positive or negative voltages are applied to the Si surface.

Perspectives on Human Papilloma Virus Vaccination Barriers, Knowledge and Beliefs, and Practices: Providers Serving Arab-American Populations.

Little is known of HPV vaccination (HPVV) recommendation practices among healthcare providers who treat the Arab American community. Evidence indicates that HPVV patient uptake is low in this population. A survey was administered to healthcare providers (N = 46, 63% response rate) who treated ≥ 5% Arab American patients aged 9-26 years in areas of New York City and New Jersey with large Arab American populations.

Long-term effects on the agroecosystem of using reclaimed water on commercial crops.

The use of reclaimed water for crop irrigation has been proposed as a suitable alternative for farmers in the coastal areas of Mediterranean countries, which suffer from greater water scarcity. In this work we study the impact on the water-soil-plant continuum of using reclaimed water for commercial crops irrigated over a long period, as well as the human risks associated with consuming the vegetables produced. Forty-four CECs were identified in the reclaimed water used for crop irrigation.

Playing with single molecules: mechanistic insights into plasmon-controlled nanogaps.

Single-molecule (SM) detection is essential for investigating processes at the molecular level. Nanogap-based detection approaches have proven to be highly accurate SM capture and detection platforms in the last decade. Unfortunately, these approaches face several inherent drawbacks, such as short detection times and the effects of Brownian motion, that can hinder molecular capture.

An opportunity to increase human papillomavirus vaccination rates: Change the guidelines.

Given the low rates of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination initiation and timely series completion in 11- and 12-year old children, we sought to assess potential opportunities for initiating routine vaccination at a younger age. A cross-sectional study of Latino parents of HPV vaccine-eligible 9- or 10-year-old children in New York City assessed whether there were opportunities to discuss the HPV vaccine during their most recent primary care provider (PCP) visit. Parents were approached between November, 2016 and January, 2018.

Arab American Mothers' HPV Vaccination Knowledge and Beliefs.

Little is known of Arab Americans' human papilloma virus vaccination (HPVV) behaviors. We explored associations between US Arab immigrant mothers' beliefs regarding HPVV for their children with socioeconomic, medical, and religious/cultural factors. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in New York City (August 2019-April 2021) with 162 Arab American immigrant women who had at least one child aged 9 through 26 years.

Comparison of Diplodia Tip Blight Pathogens in Spanish and North American Pine Ecosystems.

Diplodia tip blight is the most ubiquitous and abundant disease in Spanish plantations. The economic losses in forest stands can be very severe because of its abundance in cones and seeds together with the low genetic diversity of the host. is not genetically diverse in North America either, and Diplodia shoot blight is a common disease.

The Impact of Restrictive Policies on Mexican Immigrant Parents and Their Children's Access to Health Care.

This study assessed whether policies that limit Mexican immigrants' access to care affects their children's access to a regular source of care, health insurance, and timely preventive health visits. This was a cross-sectional study among Mexican immigrant parents who attended a health promotion program in Texas, Nevada, New York, and Illinois. A sociodemographic survey, including parental and child variables, was administered.

Room-Temperature Spin-Dependent Transport in Metalloporphyrin-Based Supramolecular Wires.

Here we present room-temperature spin-dependent charge transport measurements in single-molecule junctions made of metalloporphyrin-based supramolecular assemblies. They display large conductance switching for magnetoresistance in a single-molecule junction. The magnetoresistance depends acutely on the probed electron pathway through the supramolecular wire: those involving the metal center showed marked magnetoresistance effects as opposed to those exclusively involving the porphyrin ring which present nearly complete absence of spin-dependent charge transport.

Epidemiology and incidence of HPV-related cancers of the head and neck.

Globally, 4.5% of cancers are due to the human papillomavirus (HPV). In the United States, 80 million people are infected with HPV, and the incidence of HPV oropharyngeal cancer has surpassed HPV cervical cancer.

Disparities in Care Management During Terminal Hospitalization Among Adults With Metastatic Cancer From 2010 to 2017.

Importance: Many patients with metastatic cancer receive high-cost, low-value care near the end of life. Identifying patients with a high likelihood of receiving low-value care is an important step to improve appropriate end-of-life care.

Objective: To analyze patterns of care and interventions during terminal hospitalizations and examine whether care management is associated with sociodemographic status among adult patients with metastatic cancer at the end of life.

COVID-19 Imperils Access to Health and Human Services in El Paso, Texas and New York City: Perspectives from Hispanic Parents.

Low-income Hispanic communities are disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through exacerbated financial vulnerabilities and health challenges. The aim of this study is to assess and compare the self-reported impact and challenges caused by COVID-19 in Mexican-origin parents in New York City (NYC), NY and El Paso, TX. Data is based on routine follow-up calls used to assess uptake of the HPV vaccine and COVID-19 concerns conducted between March and August 2020.

Tuning Single-Molecule Conductance in Metalloporphyrin-Based Wires via Supramolecular Interactions.

Nature has developed supramolecular constructs to deliver outstanding charge-transport capabilities using metalloporphyrin-based supramolecular arrays. Herein we incorporate simple, naturally inspired supramolecular interactions via the axial complexation of metalloporphyrins into the formation of a single-molecule wire in a nanoscale gap. Small structural changes in the axial coordinating linkers result in dramatic changes in the transport properties of the metalloporphyrin-based wire.

Predictors of Health Insurance, Life Insurance, and Retirement Savings Among NYC's Immigrant Taxi and For-Hire Vehicle Drivers.

Taxi and for-hire vehicle (FHV) drivers are a predominantly immigrant population facing a range of occupational stressors, including lack of workplace benefits and increasing financial strain from tumultuous industry changes and now COVID-19's devastating impact. Bilingual research staff surveyed 422 New York City taxi/FHV drivers using a stratified sampling approach in driver-frequented locations to examine drivers' health and financial planning behaviors for the first time. Drivers lacked health insurance at double the NYC rate (20% vs.

PLGA+HA/βTCP Scaffold Incorporating Simvastatin: A Promising Biomaterial for Bone Tissue Engineering.

The aim of this study was to synthesize, characterize, and evaluate degradation and biocompatibility of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) + hydroxyapatite/β-tricalcium phosphate (PLGA+HA/βTCP) scaffolds incorporating simvastatin (SIM) to verify if this biomaterial might be promising for bone tissue engineering. Samples were obtained by the solvent evaporation technique. Biphasic ceramic particles (70% HA, 30% βTCP) were added to PLGA in a ratio of 1:1.

In vitro evaluation of bilayer membranes of PLGA/hydroxyapatite/β-tricalcium phosphate for guided bone regeneration.

Membranes for guided bone regeneration represent valuable resources, preventing fibroblast infiltration and aiding anatomical bone reconstruction. Nonetheless, available membranes lack bone regenerative capacity, suitable mechanical behavior, or adequate degradation profile. Therefore, to overcome these limitations, this study developed bilayer membranes with a dense layer (dry phase inversion) of PLGA (poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)):HAp (hydroxyapatite) - 95:05 (wt%) - and an electrospun layer of PLGA and HAp:β-TCP (β-tricalcium phosphate) with ratios of 60:40, 70:30 and 85:15 (wt%), evaluating its mechanical, morphological and in vitro properties.

Body Composition as a Mediator between Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Bone Mass during Growth.

Introduction And Purpose: To examine the effect of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscle power output (MPO) on bone mass of prepubertal and pubertal children using lean mass (LM) and percentage of fat mass (%FM) as mediator variables. The hypothesis was that both LM and %FM would be independent mediators of the relationships during the sexual maturation period.

Methods: We analyzed 200 children (88 boys and 112 girls [11.

Titanium coated with poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid incorporating simvastatin: Biofunctionalization of dental prosthetic abutments.

Objective: To propose a biofunctionalized prosthetic abutment by analyzing physico-chemical and morphological properties, simvastatin (SIM) release, and biocompatibility of titanium (Ti) disks coated with poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) incorporating SIM.

Methods: Titanium disks (8 × 3 mm) were distributed into four groups: Ti: pure Ti; Ti + PLGA: Ti coated with PLGA; Ti + PLGA + SIM6%: Ti + PLGA with 6% SIM; and Ti + PLGA + SIM0.6%: Ti + PLGA incorporating 0.

Metal-Single-Molecule-Semiconductor Junctions Formed by a Radical Reaction Bridging Gold and Silicon Electrodes.

Here we report molecular films terminated with diazonium salts moieties at both ends which enables single-molecule contacts between gold and silicon electrodes at open circuit via a radical reaction. We show that the kinetics of film grafting is crystal-facet dependent, being more favorable on ⟨111⟩ than on ⟨100⟩, a finding that adds control over surface chemistry during the device fabrication. The impact of this spontaneous chemistry in single-molecule electronics is demonstrated using STM-break junction approaches by forming metal-single-molecule-semiconductor junctions between silicon and gold source and drain, electrodes.

Manufacturing and characterization of plates for fracture fixation of bone with biocomposites of poly (lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) with calcium phosphates bioceramics.

Commercially, there are several plates and screws for bone fracture fixation made with PLA, however, its long degradation time and lack of integration with bone structure, provides interest in research using polymers with faster degradation, such as PLGA, and together with bioceramics, in order to improve bioactivity in bone regeneration. Based on this, in this study, bone fracture fixation plates composed of PLGA polymer matrix and combinations of 5 and 10%wt. of bioceramics were processed by microinjection.

Colorectal Cancer Screening and Access to Healthcare in New York City Taxi Drivers.

This study examined differences in colorectal cancer screening across sociodemographic, migration, occupational, and health-related factors in a sample of male taxi drivers. Male drivers eligible for colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) (≥ 50 years old) were recruited in 55 community-based health fairs conducted during November 2015 to February 2017 in 16 taxi garages or community locations located in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Bronx. Participants completed a survey that included sociodemographic, migration, occupational, health-related, and cancer screening practices.