Behavioral and Physiological Reactions to a Sudden Novel Object in the Weanling Horse: Quantitative Phenotypes for Future GWAS.

The startle response can be defined as a reflexive reaction to the sudden appearance of a novel stimulus that influences the survival and resilience of animals. In domesticated species, the behavioral component of the startle response can, in some cases, cause serious injury to the animal or human handlers if inappropriately expressed. Here, we describe a longitudinal study in a population of stock-type horses that quantified behavioral startle responses elicited by the presentation of a sudden novel object (rapidly opening umbrella).

First Responder Assertive Linkage Programs: A Scoping Review of Interventions to Improve Linkage to Care for People Who Use Drugs.

Context: In response to the drug overdose crisis, first responders, in partnership with public health, provide new pathways to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and other services for individuals they encounter in their day-to-day work.

Objective: This scoping review synthesizes available evidence on first responder programs that take an assertive approach to making linkages to care.

Results: Seven databases were searched for studies published in English in peer-reviewed journals between January 2000 and December 2019.

Chemical Vapor Deposition Mechanism of Graphene-Encapsulated Au Nanoparticle Heterostructures and Their Plasmonics.

Direct encapsulation of graphene shells on noble metal nanoparticles via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) has been recently reported as a unique way to design and fabricate new plasmonic heterostructures. But currently, the fundamental nature of the growth mechanism of graphene layers on metal nanostructures is still unknown. Herein, we report a systematic investigation on the CVD growth of graphene-encapsulated Au nanoparticles (Au@G) by combining an experimental parameter study and theoretical modeling.

Unique somatic variants in DNA from urine exosomes of individuals with bladder cancer.

Bladder cancer (BC), a heterogeneous disease characterized by high recurrence rates, is diagnosed and monitored by cystoscopy. Accurate clinical staging based on biopsy remains a challenge, and additional, objective diagnostic tools are needed urgently. We used exosomal DNA (exoDNA) as an analyte to examine cancer-associated mutations and compared the diagnostic utility of exoDNA from urine and serum of individuals with BC.

Reversal of obesity-driven aggressiveness of endometrial cancer by metformin.

Background: Obesity and diabetes are associated with increased risk and worse outcomes for endometrial cancer. Metformin is a widely prescribed generic drug for the treatment of type II diabetes and metabolic syndrome and may also have anti-tumorigenic effects. Thus, we assessed the metabolic anti-tumorigenic effects of metformin in (1) human endometrial cancer cell lines under varying glucose concentrations, and (2) a novel genetically engineered mouse model of endometrioid endometrial cancer under obese and lean conditions.