Lipid-Mediated Insertion of Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) Ligands for Facile Immune Cell Engineering.

Cell-based immunotherapies have tremendous potential to treat many diseases, such as activating immunity in cancer or suppressing it in autoimmune diseases. Most cell-based cancer immunotherapies in the clinic provide adjuvant signals through genetic engineering to enhance T cell functions. However, genetically encoded signals have minimal control over dosing and persist for the life of a cell lineage.

Complete genomic sequences of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus subtype IIID isolates from mosquitoes.

Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is an important pathogen of medical and veterinary importance in the Americas. In this report, we present the complete genome sequences of five VEEV isolates obtained from pools of Culex (Melanoconion) gnomatos (4) or Culex (Melanoconion) pedroi (1) from Iquitos, Peru. Genetic and phylogenetic analyses showed that all five isolates grouped within the VEEV complex sister to VEEV IIIC and are members of subtype IIID.

Pre-heating time and exposure duration: Effects on post-irradiation properties of a thermo-viscous resin-composite.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of pre-heating time and exposure duration on the degree of conversion (DC), maximum rate of polymerization (RP), polymerization shrinkage strain (PS) and surface micro-hardness (VHN) of Viscalor.

Methods: Viscalor syringes were pre-heated using a Caps Warmer (VOCO, Germany) in T3 mode (at 68°C) for 30s (T3-30s) and 3min (T3-3min) and then the composite paste was extruded into appropriately sized molds. Light irradiation was applied at zero distance from the upper surface with a LED-LCU of mean irradiance 1200mW/cm for either 20 or 40s.

Premasticated food transfer by wild chimpanzee mothers with their infants: Effects of maternal parity, infant age and sex, and food properties.

Premasticated food transfer, when an individual partially breaks down food through chewing and feeds it to another individual, usually mouth-to-mouth, is described widely across human cultures. This behavior plays an important role in modern humans' strategy of complementary feeding, which involves supplementing maternal milk in infant diets with processed, easily digestible versions of adult foods. The extent to which other primates engage in premasticated food transfer with infants is unclear, as premasticated food transfers have been only occasionally reported in other ape species.

Theoretical risk of genetic reassortment should not impede development of live, attenuated Rift Valley fever (RVF) vaccines commentary on the draft WHO RVF Target Product Profile.

In November 2019, The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a draft set of Target Product Profiles (TPPs) describing optimal and minimally acceptable targets for vaccines against Rift Valley fever (RVF), a Phlebovirus with a three segmented genome, in both humans and ruminants. The TPPs contained rigid requirements to protect against genomic reassortment of live, attenuated vaccines (LAVs) with wild-type RVF virus (RVFV), which place undue constraints on development and regulatory approval of LAVs. We review the current LAVs in use and in development, and conclude that there is no evidence that reassortment between LAVs and wild-type RVFV has occurred during field use, that such a reassortment event if it occurred would have no untoward consequence, and that the TPPs should be revised to provide a more balanced assessment of the benefits versus the theoretical risks of reassortment.

Case series of glans injuries during voluntary medical male circumcision for HIV prevention - eastern and southern Africa, 2015-2018.

Background: Male circumcision confers partial protection against heterosexual HIV acquisition among men. The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has supported > 18,900,000 voluntary medical male circumcisions (VMMC). Glans injuries (GIs) are rare but devastating adverse events (AEs) that can occur during circumcision.

Signatures of the d^{*}(2380) Hexaquark in d(γ,pn[over →]).

We report a measurement of the spin polarization of the recoiling neutron in deuterium photodisintegration, utilizing a new large acceptance polarimeter within the Crystal Ball at MAMI. The measured photon energy range of 300-700 MeV provides the first measurement of recoil neutron polarization at photon energies where the quark substructure of the deuteron plays a role, thereby providing important new constraints on photodisintegration mechanisms. A very high neutron polarization in a narrow structure centered around E_{γ}∼570  MeV is observed, which is inconsistent with current theoretical predictions employing nucleon resonance degrees of freedom.

Biochar Affects Essential Nutrients of Carrot Taproots and Lettuce Leaves.

Essential nutrient concentrations in crops can affect human health. While biochar has the potential as a soil amendment to improve crop yields, it may also affect the concentrations of nutrients such as Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, and Zn in edible portions of crops. To better characterize effects of biochar on important human nutrients in food crops, we evaluated the effects of biochar on lettuce ( L.

Evaluating the fake news problem at the scale of the information ecosystem.

"Fake news," broadly defined as false or misleading information masquerading as legitimate news, is frequently asserted to be pervasive online with serious consequences for democracy. Using a unique multimode dataset that comprises a nationally representative sample of mobile, desktop, and television consumption, we refute this conventional wisdom on three levels. First, news consumption of any sort is heavily outweighed by other forms of media consumption, comprising at most 14.

Beyond Optical Depth: Future Determination of Ionization History from the Cosmic Microwave Background.

We explore the fundamental limits to which reionization histories can be constrained using only large-scale cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy measurements. The redshift distribution of the fractional ionization () affects the angular distribution of CMB polarization. We project constraints on the reionization history of the universe using low-noise full-sky temperature and E-mode measurements of the CMB.

Measuring the predictability of life outcomes with a scientific mass collaboration.

How predictable are life trajectories? We investigated this question with a scientific mass collaboration using the common task method; 160 teams built predictive models for six life outcomes using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a high-quality birth cohort study. Despite using a rich dataset and applying machine-learning methods optimized for prediction, the best predictions were not very accurate and were only slightly better than those from a simple benchmark model. Within each outcome, prediction error was strongly associated with the family being predicted and weakly associated with the technique used to generate the prediction.

Outcomes of ultra-fast (3 s) photo-cure in a RAFT-modified resin-composite.

Objective: This study evaluates critical material properties resulting from ultra-fast (3 s) photo-polymerization at high radiant emittance of a pre-production, novel bulk-fill resin-based composite (RBC) modified for reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization.

Methods: The output characteristics of the associated light curing unit (LCU) were measured on a laboratory-grade spectrometer. Real-time Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and mechanical investigations (depth-sensing indentation with a linear and spatial distribution of the measured properties, and three-point bend tests) were performed using, as reference material, an established bulk-fill RBC of comparable chemical composition.

Key viral immune genes and pathways identify elite athletes with URS.

Purpose: Habitual intense exercise may increase the incidence of upper respiratory symptoms (URS) in elite athletes. This study investigated whether immune gene expression could identify gene markers that discriminate athletes with a higher prevalence of URS.

Methods: This cross-sectional analysis of elite Australian athletes from various sports investigated whether athletes retrospectively reporting URS for two days or more in a month (n=38), had an altered immune gene expression profile compared with asymptomatic athletes (n=33).

Quantifying the Crisis: Opioid-Related Adverse Events in Outpatient Ambulatory Plastic Surgery.

Background: The United States is currently in the midst of an opioid epidemic precipitated, in part, by the excessive outpatient supply of opioid pain medications. Accordingly, this epidemic has necessitated evaluation of practice and prescription patterns among surgical specialties. The purpose of this study was to quantify opioid-related adverse events in ambulatory plastic surgery.

An alternate methodology for studying diffusion and elution kinetics of dimethacrylate monomers through dentinal tubules.

Objective: Ethoxylated bisphenol A dimethacrylate (bisEMA) is a base monomer in several dental resin composites. It was the main aim of the present study to determine if bisEMA can reach the dental pulp by generally passive diffusion through the coronal dentinal tubules stimulated via eluent liquids surrounding the root structures only.

Methods: In 20 human third molar teeth, standard Class-I occlusal cavities were prepared and provided either with an adhesive system alone or additionally with a composite restoration, according to the instructions of the manufacturer.

Bullying and psychotic symptoms in youth with bipolar disorder.

Background: Childhood trauma is associated with psychosis in adults with bipolar disorder (BD). Although bullying represents a widespread form of childhood trauma, no studies thus far have investigated the association of bullying and psychosis in pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD). We aim to examine the association between psychosis in PBD with bullying victimization.

The quest for stable biomimetic repair of teeth: Technology of resin-bonded composites.

The rationale leading to the present generation of resin composites is surveyed. There are many sub-classes such as flowable materials with specialized clinical indications. But a simplistic categorization of resin-composite materials is inappropriate.

Brief Report: Markers of Spontaneous Preterm Delivery in Women Living With HIV: Relationship With Protease Inhibitors and Vitamin D.

Background: Women living with HIV (WLHIV) have increased risk of spontaneous preterm delivery (SPTD). We sought to identify plasma predictors of SPTD and their correlations with factors that increase the risk of SPTD, such as vitamin D deficiency and use of protease inhibitors.

Design: Plasma was obtained from 103 WLHIV with SPTD (≤35 weeks gestation) and 205 controls with term deliveries (TDs; ≥37 weeds) matched to cases 2:1 by race and gestational age at blood draw.

New Trimodal Phenotypic Reporter of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase Activity.

Bacterial resistance to β-lactam antibiotics continues to grow as misadministration presents evolutionary pressure that drives bacteria to develop improved resistance enzymes. Known as extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), these enzymes are capable of hydrolyzing advanced β-lactam antibiotics such as third-generation (and higher) cephalosporins. Phenotypic detection substrates can be used to rapidly identify a cultured patient sample prior to confirmation by more exhaustive but slower means, critically aiding in the antibiotic stewardship essential in maintaining the effectiveness of not only the cephalosporins but also indirectly the carbapenems, our last-resort β-lactams.

Pre-heating effects on extrusion force, stickiness and packability of resin-based composite.

Objectives: To measure temperature effects on stickiness and packability of representative resin-based composites and the effect of pre-heating time on pre-cure properties of Viscalor, including extrusion force.

Methods: Five resin-based composites (RBC) and an additional RBC, Viscalor, used with a Caps Warmer (VOCO, Germany) were studied. The extrusion force (N) and extruded mass (g) were measured from Viscalor compules heated in T3 mode for 30s (T3-30s) and 3min (T3-3min).

Clinical differences between patients with pediatric bipolar disorder with and without a parental history of bipolar disorder.

Pediatric Bipolar Disorder (PBD) is a highly heritable condition responsible for 18% of all pediatric mental health hospitalizations. Despite the heritability of this disorder, few studies have assessed potential differences in the clinical manifestation of PBD among patients with a clear parental history of BD. Additionally, while recent studies suggest that attentional deficits are a potential endophenotypic marker of PBD, it is unclear whether heritability is a relevant contributor to these symptoms.

Adhesive class I restorations in sound molar teeth incorporating combined resin-composite and glass ionomer materials: CAD-FE modeling and analysis.

Objectives: To investigate the influence of different resin composite and glass ionomer cement material combinations in a "bi-layer" versus a "single-layer" adhesive technique for class I cavity restorations in molars using numerical finite element analysis (FEA).

Materials And Methods: Three virtual restored lower molar models with class I cavities 4mm deep were created from a sound molar CAD model. A combination of an adhesive and flowable composite with bulk fill composite (model A), of a glass ionomer cement with bulk fill composite (model B) and of an adhesive with bulk fill composite (model C), were considered.

Exploring the Structure of the Bound Proton with Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering.

In the past two decades, deeply virtual Compton scattering of electrons has been successfully used to advance our knowledge of the partonic structure of the free proton and investigate correlations between the transverse position and the longitudinal momentum of quarks inside the nucleon. Meanwhile, the structure of bound nucleons in nuclei has been studied in inclusive deep-inelastic lepton scattering experiments off nuclear targets, showing a significant difference in longitudinal momentum distribution of quarks inside the bound nucleon, known as the EMC effect. In this Letter, we report the first beam spin asymmetry (BSA) measurement of exclusive deeply virtual Compton scattering off a proton bound in ^{4}He.