Hybrid Bilayer Interfaces within Reversed-Phase Chromatographic Silica Formed by Self-Assembly of Long-Chain Primary Alcohols.

Modification of silica interfaces by covalent attachment of functional ligands is a primary means of controlling the interfacial chemistry of porous silicas used in separations, environmental cleanup, and biosensing. Recently, modification of hydrophobic, -alkyl-silane-functionalized interfaces has been achieved through self-assembly of zwitterionic phospholipids or mixed-charged surfactants to form "hybrid bilayers", producing interfaces that mimic lipid-bilayer partitioning and provide shape-selective partitioning of aromatic hydrocarbons. Charged headgroups, however, introduce electrostatic interactions that strongly influence the retention of ionizable solutes and require careful control over pH and ionic strength in the solution phase.

Symptom appraisal and help-seeking before a cancer diagnosis during pregnancy: a qualitative study.

Background Estimated incidence of cancer diagnosis during or shortly after pregnancy is 1 in 1,000 women. Pregnancy can impact symptom appraisal and help-seeking for symptoms subsequently diagnosed as cancer. Little is known about the pathway to cancer diagnosis in pregnancy or delays that women can encounter.

Confocal Raman Microscopy for Measuring In Situ Temperature-Dependent Structural Changes in Poly(Ethylene Oxide) Thin Films.

Crystallization from the melt is a critical process governing the properties of semi-crystalline polymeric materials. While structural analyses of melting and crystallization transitions in bulk polymers have been widely reported, in contrast, those in thin polymer films on solid supports have been underexplored. Herein, in situ Raman microscopy and self-modeling curve resolution (SMCR) analysis are applied to investigate the temperature-dependent structural changes in poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) films during melting and crystallization phase transitions.

Recent clinical and mechanistic insights into vitiligo offer new treatment options for cell-specific autoimmunity.

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease that has been recognized, stigmatized, and treated for millennia. Recent translational research has revealed key mechanisms of disease, including cellular stress, innate immune activation, T cell-mediated elimination of melanocytes from the skin resulting in clinically apparent white spots, as well as stem cell regeneration that reverses established lesions. Many of these pathways have been targeted therapeutically, leading to the first FDA-approved medication to reverse the disease, with many more in clinical trials.