Growing meat on autoclaved vegetables with biomimetic stiffness and micro-patterns.

Cultured meat needs edible bio-scaffolds that provide not only a growth milieu for muscle and adipose cells, but also biomimetic stiffness and tissue-sculpting topography. Current meat-engineering technologies struggle to achieve scalable cell production, efficient cell differentiation, and tissue maturation in one single culture system. Here we propose an autoclaving strategy to transform common vegetables into muscle- and adipose-engineering scaffolds, without undergoing conventional plant decellularization.

Monitoring Epoxidized Soybean Oil Degradation Using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and Spectral Libraries.

Epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) is routinely used as a bioderived plasticizer and stabilizer in polyvinyl chloride (PVC), as it prolongs material integrity during dehydrochlorination. During this process, the epoxide moieties of ESO are progressively converted to chlorohydrins, which amplify ESO's inherent structural complexity. Past characterization efforts utilized separation-mass spectrometry (MS) analysis of the hydrolyzed acyl chains to simplify the complexity.

Role of antenatal anxiety in the relationship between maternal exposure to nitrogen dioxide and small for gestational age: A birth cohort study.

Background: Both Nitrogen dioxide (NO) exposure and antenatal anxiety have individually been associated with small for gestational age (SGA). Little is known, however, about whether there is effect modification of antenatal anxiety on NO-related SGA.

Methods: The prospective birth cohort study included 1823 mother-newborn pairs in Guangzhou, China, from January 2017 to April 2020.

The effects of prenatal PM oxidative potential exposure on feto-placental vascular resistance and fetal weight: A repeated-measures study.

Background: Feto-placental hemodynamic deterioration is a critical contributing factor to fetal growth restriction. Whether PM oxidative potential (OP) affects feto-placental hemodynamics and what impact is on estimated fetal weight (EFW) have not been fully elucidated. We sought to evaluate the association of PM OP with EFW and to explore whether feto-placental vascular impedance hemodynamic change is a possible mediator in this association.

Universal linker-free assembly of core-satellite hetero-superstructures.

Colloidal superstructures comprising hetero-building blocks often show unanticipated physical and chemical properties. Here, we present a universal assembly methodology to prepare hetero-superstructures. This straightforward methodology allows the assembly of building block materials varying from inorganic nanoparticles to living cells to form superstructures.

The formation of tonalitic and granodioritic melt from Venusian basalt.

The crust of Venus is composed of the low lying volcanic planitiae and the elevated, deformed tesserae. It is thought that the tesserae may be composed of silicic igneous rocks and that it may resemble proto-continental crust. The initial development of terrestrial continental crust is likely due to melting and deformation of primitive mafic crust via mantle-plume upwelling and collisional plate processes.

Growth and thermal maturation of the Toba magma reservoir.

The Toba volcanic system in Indonesia has produced two of the largest eruptions (>2,000 km dense-rock equivalent [DRE] each) on Earth since the Quaternary. U-Pb crystallization ages of zircon span a period of ∼600 ky before each eruptive event, and in the run-up to each eruption, the mean and variance of the zircons' U content decrease. To quantify the process of accumulation of eruptible magma underneath the Toba caldera, we integrated these observations with thermal and geochemical modeling.

The Association of Social Support and Symptomatic Remission among Community-Dwelling Schizophrenia Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Schizophrenia is a mental disease that often leads to chronicity. Social support could reduce the severity of psychotic symptoms; therefore, its influence on remission should be examined. This study investigated the remission rates in community-dwelling schizophrenia patients and examined the association between social support and remission status.

Stability Assessment of a Polymeric Brominated Flame Retardant in Polystyrene Foams under Application-Relevant Conditions.

The flame retardant (FR) BLUEDGE polymeric flame retardant (PFR) has been in use since 2011 and was developed as a replacement FR for hexabromocyclododecane in polystyrene (PS)-based insulation foams. To better understand the degradation behavior of the PFR used within PS foams, we examined the degradation of PFR under application-relevant conditions. Thermo-oxidative and photolytic pathways represent the most relevant degradation pathways.

Perceptions, clinical characteristics, and other factors associated with prolonged and high daily dose of benzodiazepine use among patients with anxiety or depressive disorders.

Background: Benzodiazepines (BZDs) have been widely used to treat anxiety; however, the risk of adverse health effects caused by their long-term use is high. This study examined the factors associated with the duration and higher daily dose of BZDs use among a population with anxiety or depressive disorders.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used.

The changes of quality of life and their correlations with psychosocial factors following surgery among women with breast cancer from the post-surgery to post-treatment survivorship.

Objectives: This 14-month study aimed to examine the changes of quality of life following breast cancer surgery and associations of such changes with depression and anxiety levels, and protective factors (attachment styles in close relationship, and meaning in life) based on positive psychology theory.

Materials And Methods: Women with breast cancer were recruited within one week of completion of breast cancer surgery. They were asked to complete several questionnaires to measure the generic and breast cancer specific quality of life, depression and anxiety levels, attachment styles in close relationship, and meaning in life.

Rapid and sensitive SERS detection of the cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (tnf-α) in a magnetic bead pull-down assay with purified and highly Raman-active gold nanoparticle clusters.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is a cytokine with significance in early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases, obesity and insulin resistance. We demonstrate the proof of concept for a rapid and sensitive detection of TNF-α using a magnetic bead pull-down assay in combination with surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The use of purified and highly SERS-active small clusters of gold nanoparticles (AuNP) provides the high sensitivity of the assay with a limit of detection of ca.

A longitudinal study of diurnal cortisol patterns and associated factors in breast cancer patients from the transition stage of the end of active cancer treatment to post-treatment survivorship.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the changes in diurnal cortisol patterns and its associated factors among breast cancer patients over a 14-month follow up period.

Materials And Methods: A total of 85 breast cancer patients were recruited to participate in this study. Assessments were performed at baseline (T0), T1 (the 2nd month), T2 (the 5th month), T3 (the 8th month), and T4 (the 14th month).

Assay of fluoride by a novel organic-inorganic mesoporous nano-sized sensor.

In this report, we prepared a novel mesoporous silica nanostructure for selective detection of fluoride through ultraviolet absorption and emission changes. In the sensing system, a silica coupling reagent (3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl isocyanate) linked 1-naphthylamine has been covalently grafted onto the mesopores of inorganic network. These specially designed nanospheres can recognize fluoride from other anions based on hydrogen bond interactions.

Flexible, High-Speed CdSe Nanocrystal Integrated Circuits.

We report large-area, flexible, high-speed analog and digital colloidal CdSe nanocrystal integrated circuits operating at low voltages. Using photolithography and a newly developed process to fabricate vertical interconnect access holes, we scale down device dimensions, reducing parasitic capacitances and increasing the frequency of circuit operation, and scale up device fabrication over 4 in. flexible substrates.

Habitual sleep-wake behaviors and lifestyle as predictors of diurnal cortisol patterns in young breast cancer survivors: a longitudinal study.

Objective: This study aimed to identify predictors of changes in diurnal cortisol patterns during the 8-month follow up period for young breast cancer survivors. Among the potential predictors were tumor size, lymph node metastasis, changes in sleep problems, habitual time of awakening and bedtime, physical activity levels, body mass index (BMI), and depressive levels across 8 months.

Methods: The participants were 62 breast cancer women who were aged 40 years and below, and had completed active breast cancer treatment.

Engineering charge injection and charge transport for high performance PbSe nanocrystal thin film devices and circuits.

We study charge injection and transport in PbSe nanocrystal thin films. By engineering the contact metallurgy and nanocrystal ligand exchange chemistry and surface passivation, we demonstrate partial Fermi-level pinning at the metal-nanocrystal interface and an insulator-to-metal transition with increased coupling and doping, allowing us to design high conductivity and mobility PbSe nanocrystal films. We construct complementary nanocrystal circuits from n-type and p-type transistors realized from a single nanocrystal material by selecting the contact metallurgy.

Low-frequency (1/f) noise in nanocrystal field-effect transistors.

We investigate the origins and magnitude of low-frequency noise in high-mobility nanocrystal field-effect transistors and show the noise is of 1/f-type. Sub-band gap states, in particular, those introduced by nanocrystal surfaces, have a significant influence on the 1/f noise. By engineering the device geometry and passivating nanocrystal surfaces, we show that in the linear and saturation regimes the 1/f noise obeys Hooge's model of mobility fluctuations, consistent with transport of a high density of accumulated carriers in extended electronic states of the NC thin films.

The partner's insecure attachment, depression and psychological well-being as predictors of diurnal cortisol patterns for breast cancer survivors and their spouses.

The purpose of this study was to explore whether stress from individual's and partner's depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, insecure attachment and meaning in life were predictors of diurnal cortisol patterns in breast cancer survivors and their spouses. Thirty-four couple dyads participated in this eight-month follow-up study. The breast cancer survivors and their spouses completed the Medical Outcomes Study Sleep scale, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, the State Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised scale and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, and they collected salivary cortisol at home at the time of awakening, 30 and 45 min after waking and at 1200 h, 1700 h and 2100 h.

In situ repair of high-performance, flexible nanocrystal electronics for large-area fabrication and operation in air.

Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystal (NC) thin films have been integrated in light-emitting diodes, solar cells, field-effect transistors (FETs), and flexible, electronic circuits. However, NC devices are typically fabricated and operated in an inert environment since the reactive surface and high surface-to-volume ratio of NC materials render them sensitive to oxygen, water, and many solvents. This sensitivity has limited device scaling and large-scale device integration achievable by conventional fabrication technologies, which generally require ambient air and wet-chemical processing.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering from magneto-metal nanoparticle assemblies.

Binary nanoparticles composed of a superparamagnetic Fe(3)O(4) core and an Au nanoshell (Fe(3)O(4)@Au) were prepared via a simple co-precipitation method followed by seed-mediated growth process. The nanoparticles exhibited functions of both fast magnetic response and local surface plasmon resonance. The Fe(3)O(4)@Au nanoparticles were used as probes for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) using p-thiocresol (p-TC) as reporter molecule.

Flexible and low-voltage integrated circuits constructed from high-performance nanocrystal transistors.

Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals are emerging as a new class of solution-processable materials for low-cost, flexible, thin-film electronics. Although these colloidal inks have been shown to form single, thin-film field-effect transistors with impressive characteristics, the use of multiple high-performance nanocrystal field-effect transistors in large-area integrated circuits has not been shown. This is needed to understand and demonstrate the applicability of these discrete nanocrystal field-effect transistors for advanced electronic technologies.

Ultrasensitive and selective detection of copper (II) and mercury (II) ions by dye-coded silver nanoparticle-based SERS probes.

A simple and distinctive method for the ultrasensitive detection of Cu(2+) and Hg(2+) based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) using cysteine-functionalized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) attached with Raman-labeling molecules was developed. The glycine residue in a silver nanoparticle-bound cysteine can selectively bind with Cu(2+) and Hg(2+) and form a stable inner complex. Silver nanoparticles co-functionalized with cysteine and 3,5-Dimethoxy-4-(6'-azobenzotriazolyl)phenol (AgNP conjugates) can be used to detect Cu(2+) and Hg(2+) based on aggregation-induced SERS of the Raman tags.

A longitudinal study of cortisol responses, sleep problems, and psychological well-being as the predictors of changes in depressive symptoms among breast cancer survivors.

Objective: This study examined whether the changes in sleep problems, attachment styles, meaning in life, and salivary cortisol over the course of 14 months were the predictors of changes in depressive symptoms in women with breast cancer at post-treatment stage.

Methods: The study included 76 participants who completed active breast cancer treatment with longitudinal data collected at five points, including baseline assessment (T0) and the four follow-ups after baseline: T1 (in the 2nd month), T2 (in the 5th month), T3 (in the 8th month), and T4 (in the 14th month). The self-reported questionnaires included the Medical Outcomes Study Sleep (MOS-Sleep) scale; the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II); the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) scale for measuring anxiety and avoidance dimensions of attachment style; and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), consisting of the MLQ-Presence scale and the MLQ-Search scale.