Differential Expression of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathways in the Human Choroid-Retinal Pigment Epithelial Complex Indicates Regional Predisposition to Disease.

The retina is composed of neuronal layers that include several types of interneurons and photoreceptor cells, and separate underlying retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), Bruch's membrane, and choroid. Different regions of the human retina include the fovea, macula, and periphery, which have unique physiological functions and anatomical features. These regions are also unique in their protein expression, and corresponding cellular and molecular responses to physiological and pathophysiological stimuli.

Immunogenicity of 2 therapeutic mosaic HIV-1 vaccine strategies in individuals with HIV-1 on antiretroviral therapy.

Mosaic HIV-1 vaccines have been shown to elicit robust humoral and cellular immune responses in people living with HIV-1 (PLWH), that had started antiretroviral therapy (ART) during acute infection. We evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of 2 mosaic vaccine regimens in virologically suppressed individuals that had initiated ART during the chronic phase of infection, exemplifying the majority of PLWH. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 1 trial (IPCAVD013/HTX1002) 25 ART-suppressed PLWH were randomized to receive Ad26.

Durability of single-dose HPV vaccination in young Kenyan women: randomized controlled trial 3-year results.

Cervical cancer burden is high where prophylactic vaccination and screening coverage are low. We demonstrated in a multicenter randomized, double-blind, controlled trial that single-dose human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination had high vaccine efficacy (VE) against persistent infection at 18 months in Kenyan women. Here, we report findings of this trial through 3 years of follow-up.

Perspectives on metal induced crystallization of a-Si and a-Ge thin films.

In recent times, the metal induced crystallization (MIC) process in amorphous semiconductors (a-Si and a-Ge) has been extensively investigated by many researchers due to potential applications of crystalline semiconductors in high-density data storage devices, flat panel displays, and high performance solar cells. In this context, we have presented a review on different schemes of MIC in metal/a-Si and metal/a-Ge bilayer films (with stacking change) on various substrates under different annealing conditions. The parameters, which limit crystallization of a-Si and a-Ge have been analyzed and discussed extensively keeping in mind their applications in solar cells and flat panel displays.

Modulation of intrinsic defects in vertically grown ZnO nanorods by ion implantation.

Intrinsic defects created by chemically inert gas (Xe) ion implantation in vertically grown ZnO nanorods are studied by optical and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The surface defects produced due to dynamic sputtering by ion beams control the fraction of O and Zn with ion fluence, which helps in tuning the optoelectronic properties. The forbidden Raman modes related to Zn interstitials and oxygen vacancies are observed because of the weak Fröhlich interaction, which arises due to disruption of the long-range lattice order.

Safety and antiviral activity of triple combination broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibody therapy against HIV-1: a phase 1 clinical trial.

HIV-1 therapy with single or dual broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) has shown viral escape, indicating that at least a triple bNAb therapy may be needed for robust suppression of viremia. We performed a two-part study consisting of a single-center, randomized, double-blind, dose-escalation, placebo-controlled first-in-human trial of the HIV-1 V2-glycan-specific antibody PGDM1400 alone or in combination with the V3-glycan-specific antibody PGT121 in 24 adults without HIV in part 1, as well as a multi-center, open-label trial of the combination of PGDM1400, PGT121 and the CD4-binding-site antibody VRC07-523LS in five viremic adults living with HIV not on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in part 2 ( NCT03205917 ). The primary endpoints were safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics for both parts and antiviral activity among viremic adults living with HIV and not on ART for part 2 of the study.

Safety, pharmacokinetics and antiviral activity of PGT121, a broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibody against HIV-1: a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 1 clinical trial.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-specific broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies are currently under development to treat and prevent HIV-1 infection. We performed a single-center, randomized, double-blind, dose-escalation, placebo-controlled trial of a single administration of the HIV-1 V3-glycan-specific antibody PGT121 at 3, 10 and 30 mg kg in HIV-uninfected adults and HIV-infected adults on antiretroviral therapy (ART), as well as a multicenter, open-label trial of one infusion of PGT121 at 30 mg kg in viremic HIV-infected adults not on ART (no. NCT02960581).

Design and development of a compact ion implanter and plasma diagnosis facility based on a 2.45 GHz microwave ion source.

A project on developing a 2.45 GHz microwave ion source based compact ion implanter and plasma diagnostic facility has been taken up by the Central University of Punjab, Bathinda. It consists of a double-wall ECR plasma cavity, a four-step ridge waveguide, an extraction system, and an experimental beam chamber.

Improved osteogenesis in rat femur segmental defects treated with human allograft and zinc adjuvants.

Bone allograft is widely used to treat large bone defects or complex fractures. However, processing methods can significantly compromise allograft osteogenic activity. Adjuvants that can restore the osteogenic activity of processed allograft should improve clinical outcomes.

Reversible hydrogen control of antiferromagnetic anisotropy in α-FeO.

Antiferromagnetic insulators are a ubiquitous class of magnetic materials, holding the promise of low-dissipation spin-based computing devices that can display ultra-fast switching and are robust against stray fields. However, their imperviousness to magnetic fields also makes them difficult to control in a reversible and scalable manner. Here we demonstrate a novel proof-of-principle ionic approach to control the spin reorientation (Morin) transition reversibly in the common antiferromagnetic insulator α-FeO (haematite) - now an emerging spintronic material that hosts topological antiferromagnetic spin-textures and long magnon-diffusion lengths.

Immunogenicity of the Ad26.COV2.S Vaccine for COVID-19.

Importance: Control of the global COVID-19 pandemic will require the development and deployment of safe and effective vaccines.

Objective: To evaluate the immunogenicity of the Ad26.COV2.

A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Phase 1 Study of Ad26.ZIKV.001, an Ad26-Vectored Anti-Zika Virus Vaccine.

Background: Zika virus (ZIKV) may cause severe congenital disease after maternal-fetal transmission. No vaccine is currently available.

Objective: To assess the safety and immunogenicity of Ad26.

Thermoelectric properties of GaN with carrier concentration modulation: an experimental and theoretical investigation.

The present work investigates the less explored thermoelectric properties of the n-type GaN semiconductor by combining both experimental and computational tools. The Seebeck coefficients of GaN epitaxial thin films were experimentally measured in the wide temperature range from 77 K to 650 K in steps of ∼10 K covering both low and high-temperature regimes as a function of the carrier concentration (2 × 1016, 2 × 1017, 4 × 1017 and 8 × 1017 cm-3). The measured Seebeck coefficient at room temperature was found to be highest (-374 μV K-1) at the lowest concentration of 4 × 1016 cm-3, and decreases in magnitude monotonically (-327.

Naproxen treatment inhibits articular cartilage loss in a rat model of osteoarthritis.

The effects of naproxen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), on articular cartilage degeneration in female Sprague-Dawley rats was examined. Osteoarthritis (OA) was induced by destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) in each knee. Rats were treated with acetaminophen (60 mg/kg), naproxen (8 mg/kg), or 1% carboxymethylcellulose (placebo) by oral gavage twice daily for 3 weeks, beginning 2 weeks after surgery.

Constructivist Grounded Theory to Establish the Relationship Between Technical Error and Adverse Patient Outcome: Modeling Technical Error and Adverse Outcomes.

Background: Preventable intraoperative errors have the potential to lead to adverse events. Our objective was to build a conceptual model of the relationship between minute technical errors performed by the surgeon and adverse patient outcomes.

Materials And Methods: We used constructivist grounded theory methodology to build a model for the avoidance of technical errors.

Safety and immunogenicity of a Zika purified inactivated virus vaccine given via standard, accelerated, or shortened schedules: a single-centre, double-blind, sequential-group, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 1 trial.

Background: The development of an effective vaccine against Zika virus remains a public health priority. A Zika purified inactivated virus (ZPIV) vaccine candidate has been shown to protect animals against Zika virus challenge and to be well tolerated and immunogenic in humans up to 8 weeks of follow-up. We aimed to assess the safety and immunogenicity of ZPIV in humans up to 52 weeks of follow-up when given via standard or accelerated vaccination schedules.

Zinc as a Therapeutic Agent in Bone Regeneration.

Zinc is an essential mineral that is required for normal skeletal growth and bone homeostasis. Furthermore, zinc appears to be able to promote bone regeneration. However, the cellular and molecular pathways through which zinc promotes bone growth, homeostasis, and regeneration are poorly understood.

Comparison of shortened mosaic HIV-1 vaccine schedules: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 1 trial (IPCAVD010/HPX1002) and a preclinical study in rhesus monkeys (NHP 17-22).

Background: Current efficacy studies of a mosaic HIV-1 prophylactic vaccine require four vaccination visits over one year, which is a complex regimen that could prove challenging for vaccine delivery at the community level, both for recipients and clinics. In this study, we evaluated the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of shorter, simpler regimens of trivalent Ad26.Mos.

An assessment on crystallization phenomena of Si in Al/a-Si thin films thermal annealing and ion irradiation.

In the present study, crystallization of amorphous-Si (a-Si) in Al/a-Si bilayer thin films under thermal annealing and ion irradiation has been investigated for future solar energy materials applications. In particular, the effect of thickness ratio ( in Al : a-Si, the ratio of the Al and a-Si layer thickness) and temperature during irradiation on crystallization of the Si films has been explored for the first time. Two sets of samples with thickness ratio 1 : 1 (set-A: 50 nm Al/50 nm a-Si) and thickness ratio 1 : 3 (set-B: 50 nm Al/150 nm a-Si) have been prepared on thermally oxidized Si-substrates.

Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs) and Bone Regeneration.

Many research methods exist to elucidate the role of BMP-2 during bone regeneration. This chapter briefly reviews important animal models used in these studies and provides details on the rat femur defect model. This animal model is frequently utilized to measure the efficacy of osteogenic factors like BMP-2.

A fast response, low heat generating activation method for LHe level sensors.

A superconducting liquid helium (LHe) level sensor of length 300 mm has been fabricated based on the principle of differential heat transfer characteristic in helium gas compared to that in liquid. The sensor wire used has a diameter of 38 μm, and the wire was obtained from a pack of multifilament wires. A full thermo-electrical characterisation of the sensor was carried out in a dedicated setup.

Mechanistic insights into the interaction between energetic oxygen ions and nanosized ZnFeO: XAS-XMCD investigations.

The interactions of energetic ions with multi-cation compounds and their consequences in terms of changes in the local electronic structure, which may facilitate intriguing hybridization between O 2p and metal d orbitals and magnetic ordering, are the subject of debate and require a deep understanding of energy transfer processes and magnetic exchange mechanisms. In this study, nanocrystals of ZnFe2O4 were exposed to O7+ ions with an energy of 100 MeV to understand, qualitatively and quantitatively, the metal-ligand field interactions, cation migration and magnetic exchange interactions by employing X-ray absorption fine structure measurements and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism to get deeper mechanistic insights. Nanosized zinc ferrite nanoparticles (NPs) with a size of ∼16 nm synthesized in the cubic spinel phase exhibited deterioration of the crystalline phase when 100 MeV O7+ ions passed through them.

Work Function Modulation of Molybdenum Disulfide Nanosheets by Introducing Systematic Lattice Strain.

Tuning the surface electronic properties of 2D transition metal dichalcogenides such as Molebdenum disulfide (MoS) nanosheets is worth exploring for their potential applications in strain sensitive flexible electronic devices. Here in, the correlation between tensile strain developed in MoS nanosheets during swift heavy ion irradiation and corresponding modifications in their surface electronic properties is investigated. With prior structural characterization by transmission electron microscopy, chemically exfoliated MoS nanosheets were exposed to 100 MeV Ag ion irradiation at varying fluence for creation of controlled defects.