Higher-order effects and validity of the point-dipole approximation for conjugated extended molecular emitters near plasmonic nanostructures.

Rapid advancements in nanotechnology have allowed for the characterization of single molecules by placing them in the vicinity of nanoplasmonic structures that are known to confine light to sub-molecular scales. In this study, we introduce a theoretical framework that captures higher-order effects, and we explore the limits of the standard description of a molecular emitter as a point-dipole. We particularly focus on the role played by the emitter chain length and electron conjugation.

Our path together: Development of the inclusive parenting goals questionnaire.

Instruments on parenting goals are often outdated and don't consider goals related to capabilities and needs of children with (severe) disabilities. This study aimed to develop an inclusive questionnaire on parenting goals applicable to parents of all children (0-21 years). The iterative development process relied on academic and experiential expertise of parents and professionals; and included consultation of relevant literature, interviews with 6 parents of a child with severe to profound intellectual disabilities, a feedback round with diverse stakeholders, and a pilot study.

Long-Term Results from an Open-Label Extension Study of Atacicept for the Treatment of IgA Nephropathy.

Background: B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) play key roles in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy. Atacicept is a novel fully humanized fusion protein, self-administered at home by subcutaneous injection, that binds and inhibits BAFF and APRIL. By inhibiting BAFF and APRIL, atacicept targets the underlying B-cell–mediated pathogenesis driving disease progression.

Alternative Complement Pathway Inhibition with Iptacopan in IgA Nephropathy.

Background: The alternative complement pathway plays a key role in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy. Iptacopan specifically binds to factor B and inhibits the alternative pathway.

Methods: In this phase 3, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, we enrolled adults with biopsy-confirmed IgA nephropathy and proteinuria (defined as a 24-hour urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio of ≥1 [with protein and creatinine both measured in grams]) despite optimized supportive therapy.

Concurrent photothermal therapy and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging with plasmonic-magnetic nanoparticles: A numerical study.

Background And Objective: Theranostics is the combination of the diagnostic and therapeutic phases. Here we focus on simultaneous use of photothermal therapy and magnetic resonance imaging, employing a contrast-photothermal agent that converts incident light into heat and affects the transverse relaxation time, a key magnetic resonance imaging parameter. Our work considers a gold-magnetite nanoshell platform to gauge the feasibility of magnetic resonance imaging monitoring of the heating associated with phototherapy, by studying the modification of the transverse relaxation rate induced by laser illumination of a solution containing these hybrid nanoparticles.

The Adenosinergic Pathway in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting PD-(L)1 and CTLA-4 have revolutionized the systemic treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), achieving impressive results. However, long-term clinical benefits are only seen in a minority of patients. Extensive research is being conducted on novel potential immune checkpoints and the mechanisms underlying ICI resistance.

Interference between multipolar two-photon transitions in quantum emitters near plasmonic nanostructures.

In the vicinity of plasmonic nanostructures that support highly confined light fields, spontaneous emission processes, such as two-photon spontaneous emission (TPSE), exhibit higher-order multipolar emission pathways beyond the dipolar one. These multipolar emission channels occur simultaneously and can interfere with each other. We develop a novel framework that computes these interference effects for TPSE of a quantum emitter close to an arbitrary nanostructure.

Capturing Staff Perspectives on Quality Interaction With Clients With Intellectual Disability: A Diary Study.

For people with severe or profound intellectual disability (ID), support staff are important interaction partners. The quality of their interactions, a multidimensional construct, is well documented, but the staff perspective remains underexposed. This study aims to capture the behaviors, thoughts, and emotions of staff when interacting with their clients, and their views on what constitutes quality.

Immune checkpoint inhibition in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer.

The introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors significantly advanced outcomes in both metastatic and locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Despite these advancements, the 5-year survival rate remains suboptimal. Even in early-stage disease a significant portion of patients relapse and die from metastatic progression.

Refractive index sensing using quasi-bound states in the continuum in silicon metasurfaces.

This work presents a bulk refractive index sensor based on quasi-bound states in the continuum (BICs) induced by broken symmetries in metasurfaces. The symmetry is broken by detuning the size and position of silicon particles periodically arranged in an array, resulting in multiple quasi-BIC resonances. We investigate the sensing characteristics of each of the resonances by measuring the spectral shift in response to changes in the refractive index of the surrounding medium.

Neoadjuvant nivolumab with or without relatlimab in resectable non-small-cell lung cancer: a randomized phase 2 trial.

Antibodies targeting the immune checkpoint molecules PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4, administered alone or in combination with chemotherapy, are the standard of care in most patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancers. When given before curative surgery, tumor responses and improved event-free survival are achieved. New antibody combinations may be more efficacious and tolerable.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Direct ortho-Arylation of Anilines.

An efficient and broadly applicable rhodium-catalyzed direct ortho-arylation of anilines with aryl iodides relying on readily available aminophosphines as traceless directing groups is reported. Its scope and functional group compatibility were both found to be quite broad as a large variety of both aminophosphines and (hetero)aryl iodides, including complex ones, could be utilized. The ortho-arylated anilines could be obtained in high average yields, without any competing diarylation and with full regioselectivity, which constitutes a major step forward compared to other processes.

Selective C(aryl)-O bond cleavage in biorenewable phenolics.

Biorefining of lignocellulosic biomass a lignin first approach delivers a range of products with high oxygen content. Besides pulp, a lignin oil rich in guaiacols and syringols is obtained bearing multiple C(aryl)-OH and C(aryl)-OMe groups, typically named phenolics. Similarly, technical lignin can be used but is generally more difficult to process providing lower yields of monomers.

A phase 2b, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of atacicept for treatment of IgA nephropathy.

Atacicept is a first-in-class, dual anti-B-cell Activation Factor-A Proliferation-Inducing Ligand fusion protein in clinical evaluation for treatment of IgA nephropathy. To compare efficacy and safety of atacicept versus placebo in patients with IgAN, this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2b clinical trial ORIGIN enrolled 116 individuals with biopsy-proven IgA nephropathy. Participants were randomized to atacicept 150, 75, or 25 mg versus placebo once weekly for up to 36 weeks.

Advancements and Perspectives toward Lignin Valorization via O-Demethylation.

Lignin represents the largest aromatic carbon resource in plants, holding significant promise as a renewable feedstock for bioaromatics and other cyclic hydrocarbons in the context of the circular bioeconomy. However, the methoxy groups of aryl methyl ethers, abundantly found in technical lignins and lignin-derived chemicals, limit their pertinent chemical reactivity and broader applicability. Unlocking the phenolic hydroxyl functionality through O-demethylation (ODM) has emerged as a valuable approach to mitigate this need and enables further applications.

Dearomative Spirocyclization of Tryptamine-Derived Isocyanides via Iron-Catalyzed Carbene Transfer.

Tryptamine-derived isocyanides are valuable building blocks in the construction of spirocyclic indolenines and indolines via dearomatization of the indole moiety. We report the BuN[Fe(CO)NO]-catalyzed carbene transfer of α-diazo esters to 3-(2-isocyanoethyl)indoles, leading to ketenimine intermediates that undergo spontaneous dearomative spirocyclization. The utility of this iron-catalyzed carbene transfer/spirocyclization cascade was demonstrated by its use as a key step in the formal total synthesis of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (±)-aspidofractinine, (±)-limaspermidine, (±)-aspidospermidine, and (±)-17-demethoxy--acetylcylindrocarine.

Adaptive profiles within a broad clinical sample from a transdiagnostic point of view.

Background: Current literature mainly focuses on adaptive profiles from a categorical perspective but yields inconclusive results. The present study puts a transdiagnostic approach next to a "classical" categorical approach.

Methods: In this study, 222 children (5-18 years old) with autism and/or intellectual disability participated.

Novel gene fusion discovery in Spitz tumours and its relevance in diagnostics.

In addition to morphologic analysis, molecular diagnostic work up of Spitz tumours is often of great value for their accurate diagnosis/classification. Nowadays, next-generation sequencing (NGS) is the predominant screening method in molecular diagnostics. Up to 80% of these melanocytic neoplasms comprise gene fusions as genetic anomalies for which the driver codes for a protein harbouring a kinase domain.

Synthesis of Levulinic Acids From Muconic Acids in Hot Water.

Levulinic acid is a key biorenewable platform molecule. Its current chemical production from sugars is plagued by limited yields, char formation and difficult separations. An alternative and selective route starting from muconic acid via simple heating in water at high temperature (180 °C) has been developed.

Reliability of panel-based mutational signatures for immune-checkpoint-inhibition efficacy prediction in non-small cell lung cancer.

Objectives: Mutational signatures (MS) are gaining traction for deriving therapeutic insights for immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI). We asked if MS attributions from comprehensive targeted sequencing assays are reliable enough for predicting ICI efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Somatic mutations of m = 126 patients were assayed using panel-based sequencing of 523 cancer-related genes.