Ultra-fast switching memristors based on two-dimensional materials.

The ability to scale two-dimensional (2D) material thickness down to a single monolayer presents a promising opportunity to realize high-speed energy-efficient memristors. Here, we report an ultra-fast memristor fabricated using atomically thin sheets of 2D hexagonal Boron Nitride, exhibiting the shortest observed switching speed (120 ps) among 2D memristors and low switching energy (2pJ). Furthermore, we study the switching dynamics of these memristors using ultra-short (120ps-3ns) voltage pulses, a frequency range that is highly relevant in the context of modern complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuits.

Self-Compliant Threshold Switching Devices with High On/Off ratio by Control of Quantized Conductance in Ag Filaments.

Threshold switches based on conductive metal bridge devices are useful as selectors to block sneak leakage paths in memristor arrays used in neuromorphic computing and emerging nonvolatile memory. We demonstrate that control of Ag-cation concentration in AlO electrolyte and Ag filament size and density play an important role in the high on/off ratio and self-compliance of metal-ion-based volatile threshold switching devices. To control Ag-cation diffusion, we inserted an engineered defective graphene monolayer between the Ag electrode and the AlO electrolyte.

Update on the Financial Well-Being of Surgical Residents in New England.

Background: Poor personal financial health has been linked to key components of health including burnout, substance abuse, and worsening personal relationships. Understanding the state of resident financial health is key to improving their overall well-being.

Study Design: A secondary analysis of a survey of New England general surgery residents was performed to understand their financial well-being.

Update on the Personal and Professional Well-Being of Surgical Residents in New England.

Background: Surgical culture has shifted to recognize the importance of resident well-being. This is the first study to longitudinally track regional surgical resident well-being over 5 years.

Study Design: An anonymous cross-sectional, multi-institutional survey of New England general surgery residents using novel and published instruments to create three domains: health maintenance, burnout, and work environment.

Multiphysics Modeling of Plasmonic Photothermal Heating Effects in Gold Nanoparticles and Nanoparticle Arrays.

Induced hyperthermia has been demonstrated as an effective oncological treatment due to the reduced heat tolerance of most malignant tissues; however, most techniques for heat generation within a target volume are insufficiently selective, inducing heating and unintended damage to surrounding healthy tissues. Plasmonic photothermal therapy (PPTT) utilizes light in the near-infrared (NIR) region to induce highly localized heating in gold nanoparticles, acting as exogenous chromophores, while minimizing heat generation in nearby tissues. However, optimization of treatment parameters requires extensive and studies for each new type of pathology and tissue targeted for treatment, a process that can be substantially reduced by implementing computational modeling.

Esophageal Cancer: An Updated Review.

The incidence of esophageal cancer (EC) is on the rise. With the distinct subtypes of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma comes specific risk factors, and as a result, people of certain regions of the world can be more prone to a subtype. For example, squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus has the highest incidence in eastern Africa and eastern Asia, with smoking being a major risk factor, whereas adenocarcinoma is more prevalent in North America and western Europe, with gastroesophageal reflux disease being a leading risk factor.

Characterization of Mucosal Dysbiosis of Early Colonic Neoplasia.

Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) are the earliest morphologically identifiable lesions in the colon that can be detected by high-definition chromoendoscopy with contrast dye spray. Although frequently associated with synchronous adenomas, their role in colorectal tumor development, particularly in the proximal colon, is still not clear. The goal of this study was to evaluate the profile of colon-adherent bacteria associated with proximal ACF and to investigate their relationship to the presence and subtype of synchronous polyps present throughout the colon.

Diverticular Disease: The Old, the New, and the Ever-Changing View.

Our understanding of diverticular disease has evolved significantly during the last 25 years, and as such, a reexamination is in order. We performed a literature search for the years 1960-2017 of PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar for updates regarding the epidemiology, risk factors, and therapies for traditional diverticulitis as well as the recently described subtypes of diverticular disease, segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis, and symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease. Although the prevalence of diverticulosis is still extremely common in the general population, the literature suggests that the incidence of diverticulitis is much less than previously believed and occurrences do not necessarily increase with age.

Selective organ preservation in operable locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinomas guided by primary site restaging biopsy: long-term results of two sequential brown university oncology group chemoradiotherapy studies.

Objectives: The long-term outcomes of selective organ preservation in operable, locally advanced head and neck cancers in two sequential chemoradiotherapy (CRT) protocols (HN-53, HN-67) are reported.

Methods: A total of 65 patients were treated with CRT consisting of carboplatin (AUC=1/week) and paclitaxel (60 or 40 mg/m2/week) with radiation (1.8 Gy/day).

Isolated chemotherapeutic perfusion of pelvis as neoadjuvant or palliative therapy for advanced cancer of the rectum.

Introduction: Previously irradiated recurrent rectal cancer is a formidable patient threat with limited treatment options. Isolated pelvic perfusion (IPP) by the balloon-occlusion technique provides high-dose regional chemotherapy that may facilitate resection if appropriate or palliate pain and fungating tumor mass in the symptomatic patient. We currently report our results in 49 recurrent rectal cancer patients (26 had neoadjuvant IPP with intent to resect and 23 had IPP for palliation).

Circumferential mucosectomy with stapled proctopexy is a safe, effective outpatient alternative for the treatment of symptomatic prolapsing hemorrhoids in the elderly.

Background: Circumferential mucosectomy with stapled proctopexy (CMSP) was first introduced in 1993 as a less painful and highly effective alternative to traditional operative hemorrhoidectomy. Although CMSP has many advantages over traditional hemorrhoidectomy, some authorities and insurers continue to regard it as an inpatient procedure and others have been slow to adopt this progressive technique. This study documents the safe and effective outpatient nature of this procedure.

Cryoanalgesic ablation for the treatment of chronic postherniorrhaphy neuropathic pain.

Background: Chronic postoperative pain has been reported in as many as 62.9% of patients after inguinal herniorrhaphy. Moderate to severe neuropathic pain requiring intervention develops in 2.

Factor V Leiden and pulmonary embolism in a young woman taking an oral contraceptive.

A 34-year-old woman with a history of asthma and oral contraceptive use died suddenly. Autopsy examination showed chronic pulmonary emboli with an acute pulmonary saddle embolus. An underlying congenital thrombophilic disorder was considered.