Translational diffusion, molecular brightness, and energy transfer analysis of mEGFP-linker-mScarlet-I crowding biosensor using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy.

Recently, we have investigated the sensitivity of an mEGFP-linker-mScarlet-I construct (GE2.3) in response to macromolecular crowding using ensemble time-resolved two-photon (2P) fluorescence measurements [Mersch , 2024, (5), 3927-3940] as a point of reference for developing a single-molecule approach for Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). Here, we investigate the fluorescence fluctuations, FRET, molecular brightness, and translational diffusion of GE2.

A pilot study of the pharmacokinetics of continuous magnesium infusion in critically ill patients.

The pharmacokinetics and haemodynamic effect of continuous magnesium infusion in non-cardiac intensive care unit (ICU) patients are poorly understood. We aimed to measure serum and urine magnesium levels during bolus and continuous infusion in critically ill adults, compare serum levels with those of a control population, and assess its haemodynamic effect. Pharmacokinetic study A single tertiary adult ICU.

Reducing Cancer Cell Adhesion using Microtextured Surfaces.

For the past century, trypsin has been the primary method of cell dissociation, largely without any major changes to the process. Enzymatic cell detachment strategies for large-scale cell culturing processes are popular but can be labor-intensive, potentially lead to the accumulation of genetic mutations, and produce large quantities of liquid waste. Therefore, engineering surfaces to lower cell adhesion strength could enable the next generation of cell culture surfaces for delicate primary cells and automated, high-throughput workflows.

Enhancing Protein Crystal Nucleation Using In Situ Templating on Bioconjugate-Functionalized Nanoparticles and Machine Learning.

Although protein crystallization offers a promising alternative to chromatography for lower-cost protein purification, slow nucleation kinetics and high protein concentration requirements are major barriers for using crystallization as a viable strategy in downstream protein purification. Here, we demonstrate that nanoparticles functionalized with bioconjugates can result in an in situ template for inducing rapid crystallization of proteins at low protein concentration conditions. We use a microbatch crystallization setup to show that the range of successful crystallization conditions is expanded by the presence of functionalized nanoparticles.

Effect of Hydrocortisone on Mortality and Organ Support in Patients With Severe COVID-19: The REMAP-CAP COVID-19 Corticosteroid Domain Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Evidence regarding corticosteroid use for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is limited.

Objective: To determine whether hydrocortisone improves outcome for patients with severe COVID-19.

Design, Setting, And Participants: An ongoing adaptive platform trial testing multiple interventions within multiple therapeutic domains, for example, antiviral agents, corticosteroids, or immunoglobulin.

Multimaterial 3D Printing for Microrobotic Mechanisms.

Multimaterial mechanisms are seen throughout natural organisms across all length scales. The different materials in their bodies, from rigid, structural materials to soft, elastic materials, enable mobility in complex environments. As robots leave the lab and begin to move in real environments, including a range of materials in 3D robotics mechanisms can help robots handle uncertainty and lessen control requirements.

An Implantable Micro-Caged Device for Direct Local Delivery of Agents.

Local and controlled delivery of therapeutic agents directly into focally afflicted tissues is the ideal for the treatment of diseases that require direct interventions. However, current options are obtrusive, difficult to implement, and limited in their scope of utilization; the optimal solution requires a method that may be optimized for available therapies and is designed for exact delivery. To address these needs, we propose the Biocage, a customizable implantable local drug delivery platform.

Consensus categorization of cheese based on water activity and pH-A rational approach to systemizing cheese diversity.

Development of science-based interventions in raw milk cheese production is challenging due to the large diversity of production procedures and final products. Without an agreed upon categorization scheme, science-based food safety evaluations and validation of preventive controls would have to be completed separately on each individual cheese product, which is not feasible considering the large diversity of products and the typically small scale of production. Thus, a need exists to systematically group raw milk cheeses into logically agreed upon categories to be used for food safety evaluations.

Highly efficient quantum dot-sensitized TiO2 solar cells based on multilayered semiconductors (ZnSe/CdS/CdSe).

A new approach by inserting a layer of ZnSe QDs was studied to enhance the adsorption of CdS/CdSe QDs resulting in much improved power conversion efficiency. ZnSe, CdS and CdSe QDs were sequentially assembled on a nanocrystalline TiO2 film to prepare a ZnSe/CdS/CdSe sensitized photoelectrode for QD-sensitized solar cell (QDSSC) applications. The results show that the performance of QDSSCs is strongly dependent on the order of the QDs with respect to TiO2.

Allergic rhinitis quality of life in urban children with asthma.

Background: Urban children with asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR) are at risk for experiencing worse AR-related quality of life (QOL). Although AR may be underdiagnosed and undertreated in urban minority children, research has not considered which illness-related indicators (eg, AR control) may contribute to AR QOL in this population.

Objective: To examine associations among AR control, asthma control, allergy symptoms, asthma symptoms, and AR QOL in a sample of 195 urban caregivers and their children with asthma (7-9 years of age) from African American, Latino, and non-Latino white backgrounds.

Asthma indicators and neighborhood and family stressors related to urban living in children.

Objective: To examine differences in asthma outcomes by levels of child-reported neighborhood and family stress related to urban living in a sample of children and their caregivers.

Methods: A total of 208 urban children with asthma, ages 6-12 and their primary caregivers from African-American, Latino, and non-Latino white backgrounds were included in this study.

Results: Children's report of higher levels of stress was related to poorer asthma control.

Cyanolide A, a glycosidic macrolide with potent Molluscicidal activity from the Papua New Guinea cyanobacterium Lyngbya bouillonii.

Over the last 50 years, molluscicides have played a critical role in the control of schistosomiasis transmission. Cyanolide A (2), isolated from extracts of a Papua New Guinea collection of Lyngbya bouillonii, is a new and highly potent molluscicidal agent against the snail vector Biomphalaria glabrata (LC(50) = 1.2 microM).

Using the AACN framework to alleviate moral distress.

In this article the author describes a situation in which the Nurse Executive's values were in direct opposition to those of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). She describes how it took considerable courage on the part of the Nurse Executive to resolve this situation by demonstrating concern and respect for a chemically impaired staff member, rather than by focusing on the situation from a strictly "right versus wrong" perspective. After describing the situation the author emphasizes the importance of the leadership role of the Nurse Executive and shares the perspective of the agency's Chief Executive Officer.

Evaluation results of a 21st birthday card program targeting high-risk drinking.

Unlabelled: The B.R.A.

Effect of prior aortic valve intervention on results of the Ross operation.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Patient-related factors, aortic insufficiency, bicuspid aortic valve, aortic annulus dilatation, ascending aortic dilatation or aneurysm, and aortic valve endocarditis have been suggested as affecting the results of the Ross operation. The study aim was to assess the impact of prior aortic valve intervention on early and late results of a Ross operation.

Methods: A total of 399 patients who underwent surgery between August 1986 and September 2000 were reviewed retrospectively.

Humoral immune response to allograft valve tissue pretreated with an antigen reduction process.

The humoral immune response to allograft heart valves as measured by PRA was absent in 52 of 57 (91%) patients at 1 month and was absent in 43 of 49 (88%) at 3 months in allograft valves treated with the SynerGraft process for antigen reduction. Short-term valve function is satisfactory. This may be associated with improved durability and long-term function.

Ross operation in children: late results.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Although the Ross operation has become the accepted aortic valve replacement in children, the long-term fate of the pulmonary autograft valve remains unknown. To assess mid-term and late results of autograft valve durability, patient survival and valve-related morbidity, a retrospective review of patients (age range: 3 days to 17 years) having a Ross operation between November 1986 and May 2001 were reviewed.

Methods: Medical records and patient contacts with all but two of 167 current survivors of 178 consecutive patients having an aortic valve replacement as a Ross operation have been completed during the past two years.

Aortic valve replacement: comparison of late survival between autografts and homografts.

Background: Autografts (AG) and homografts (HG) are currently considered the best choices for replacement of the diseased aortic valve in young adults, although few data exist comparing their late outcome. Nonhomogeneous populations and evolving operative techniques confound existing comparisons.

Methods: To help clarify these issues, we reviewed our results with 238 hospital survivors (aged 17 to 82 years) undergoing operation between 1986 and 1999.

Ross operation and aneurysm or dilation of the ascending aorta.

Aortic valve disease and aneurysmal dilation of the ascending aorta are managed by prosthetic valve conduit replacement or homograft replacement. Requirement of anticoagulation, risk of thromboembolism or bleeding, and increased risk for homograft degeneration in young patients suggest that a Ross root replacement with replacement or reduction of the ascending aorta could be a preferred alternative. To assess efficacy, the present review was undertaken.

Pulmonary autograft root replacement: mid-term results.

Background And Aims Of The Study: The Ross operation was first performed as a root replacement in 1974, and only limited mid- and long-term results assessing durability and adaptation of the pulmonary root to systemic pressures are available. We reviewed our experience to assess function of the autograft valve and the autograft pulmonary root, and its adaptation to systemic pressures.

Methods: A total of 244 operative survivors (median age 22 years; range: 1 week to 62 years) were reviewed.

Ross procedure for ascending aortic replacement.

Background: Patients with aortic valve disease and aneurysm or dilatation of the ascending aorta require both aortic valve replacement and treatment of their ascending aortic disease. In children and young adults, the Ross operation is preferred when the aortic valve requires replacement, but the efficacy of extending this operation to include replacement of the ascending aorta or reduction of the dilated aorta has not been tested.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 18 (5.