Phase Behavior and Structure of Poloxamer Block Copolymers in Protic and Aprotic Ionic Liquids.

Ionic liquids are promising media for self-assembling block copolymers in applications such as energy storage. A robust design of block copolymer formulations in ionic liquids requires fundamental knowledge of their self-organization at the nanoscale. To this end, here, we focus on modeling two-component systems comprising a Poly(ethylene oxide)-poly (propylene oxide)-Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) block copolymer (Pluronic P105: EOPOEO) and room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs): protic ethylammonium nitrate (EAN), aprotic ionic liquids (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIMPF), or 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIMBF).

Effect of Cobalt and Chromium Content on Microstructure and Properties of WC-Co-Cr Coatings Prepared by High-Velocity Oxy-Fuel Spraying.

To explore the Co/Cr ratio impact on the high-velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF)-sprayed WC-Co-Cr coatings microstructure and performances, three kinds of WC-Co-Cr coatings, namely WC-4Co-10Cr, WC-7Co-7Cr, and WC-10Co-4Cr, were prepared by using a high-velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) spraying process. The three coatings' phase composition, microstructure, basic mechanical properties, abrasive wear, and corrosion resistance were investigated. The results show that all three WC-Co-Cr coatings comprise the main phase WC, minor WC, and amorphous W-Co-Cr phase, besides the WC-4Co-10Cr coating containing a small amount of CrC phase.

Model-based estimates of chikungunya epidemiological parameters and outbreak risk from varied data types.

Assessing the factors responsible for differences in outbreak severity for the same pathogen is a challenging task, since outbreak data are often incomplete and may vary in type across outbreaks (e.g., daily case counts, serology, cases per household).

Conformationally Restricted Glycopeptide Backbone Inhibits Gas-Phase H/D Scrambling between Glycan and Peptide Moieties.

Protein glycosylation is a common post-translational modification on extracellular proteins. The conformational dynamics of several glycoproteins have been characterized by hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS). However, it is, in most cases, not possible to extract information about glycan conformation and dynamics due to the general difficulty of separating the deuterium content of the glycan from that of the peptide (in particular, for O-linked glycans).

Balance Recovery Strategy in Children With and Without Hearing or Visual Impairments.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the balance recovery strategy in children with hearing (HI) and visual impairments (VI) compared with those without these disorders.

Materials And Methods: This study featured a cross-sectional design with subjects (N = 45) placed within one of three equally stratified purposive groups (HI, VI, and comparison) within the age range of 9-13 years (mean = 11.43, SD = 1.

Cellular Lipidome Changes during Retinoic Acid (RA)-Induced Differentiation in SH-SY5Y Cells: A Comprehensive Model for Assessing Neurotoxicity of Contaminants.

The SH-SY5Y, neuroblastoma cell line, is a common model used to study physiological neuronal function and the neuronal response to different stimuli, including exposure to toxic chemicals. These cells can be differentiated to neuron-like cells by administration of various reagents, including retinoic acid or phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate. Despite their common use, there is an incomplete understanding of the molecular changes that occur during differentiation.

Structure of Cellulose Ether Affected by Ionic Surfactant and Solvent: A Small-Angle Neutron Scattering Investigation.

Polysaccharides and their derivatives are commonly used in pharmaceutical and agricultural formulations as rheology modifiers. Their performance is related to their conformation in solution, which in turn is affected by other ingredients present in the formulation. This study focuses on modulating the conformation of relatively rigid cellulose chains in aqueous solutions.

A Rare Case of a Panic Attack Inducing a Junctional Escape Rhythm on ECG.

We present a unique and rare case of a young female patient who presented with complaints typical of her prior panic attacks and was found to have a junctional escape rhythm on ECG. Upon resolution of her symptoms, a repeat ECG demonstrated a return to normal sinus rhythm. Given that alternative etiologies had been ruled out, it was postulated that her panic attack induced a transient junctional escape rhythm.

Retrospective analysis of vertical Hepatitis C exposure and infection in children in Western New York.

Background: Vertical transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the primary cause of hepatitis C in the pediatric population. Nonetheless, only a small proportion of HCV-exposed children are tested. This study aimed to measure the proportion of HCV-exposed children tested and infected in Western New York and to identify factors influencing the odds of testing and infection in this population.

SREBP activation contributes to fatty acid accumulations in necroptosis.

Necroptosis is a type of programmed cell death. It is characterized by membrane permeabilization and is associated with the release of intracellular components due to compromised membrane integrity which induces a strong inflammatory response. We recently showed that the accumulation of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) contributes to membrane permeabilization during necroptosis.

Elephants as an animal model for self-domestication.

Humans are unique in their sophisticated culture and societal structures, their complex languages, and their extensive tool use. According to the human self-domestication hypothesis, this unique set of traits may be the result of an evolutionary process of self-induced domestication, in which humans evolved to be less aggressive and more cooperative. However, the only other species that has been argued to be self-domesticated besides humans so far is bonobos, resulting in a narrow scope for investigating this theory limited to the primate order.

Dust emission response to precipitation and temperature anomalies under different climatic conditions.

The dust-drought nexus has received more attention in recent years, particularly in light of global warming. This study aims to better understand the interacting role of temperature and precipitation climatology on global dust emission. Simulated global arid regions' dust emissions from 11 CMIP6 Earth System Models (ESMs) (65 years from 1950 to 2014) and MERRA2 reanalysis (41 years from 1980 to 2020) are analyzed.

Additively Manufactured NdFeB Polyphenylene Sulfide Halbach Magnets to Generate Variable Magnetic Fields for Neutron Reflectometry.

Halbach arrays are the most efficient closed structures for generating directed magnetic fields and gradients, and are widely used in various electric machines. We utilized fused deposition modeling-based Big Area Additive Manufacturing technology to print customized, compensated concentric Halbach array rings, using polyphenylene sulfide-bonded NdFeB permanent magnets for polarized neutron reflectometry. The Halbach rings could generate a 0 ≤  0.

DFT computations combined with semiempirical modeling of variations with temperature of spectroscopic and magnetic properties of Gd-doped PbTiO.

The rare-earth or 3d transition metal dopants in perovskites have potential to induce interesting features, thus opening opportunities for investigations and applications. Hence, understanding some features, , defect structure, site of incorporation, valence state, and mechanism of charge compensation, in a wide range of temperature is crucial for their technological applications. A comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of structural changes in PbTiO doped with trivalent rare-earths is significant for their potential applications in photonics.

The 5-factor modified Frailty Index (mFI-5) predicts adverse outcomes after elective Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF).

Background: The 5-factor modified frailty index (mFI-5) has been shown to be a concise and effective tool for predicting adverse events following various spine procedures. However, there have been no studies assessing its utility in patients undergoing anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF). Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the predictive capabilities of the mFI-5 for 30-day postoperative adverse events following elective ALIF.

The regulation of a pigmentation gene in the formation of complex color patterns in Drosophila abdomens.

Changes in the control of developmental gene expression patterns have been implicated in the evolution of animal morphology. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying complex morphological traits remain largely unknown. Here we investigated the molecular mechanisms that induce the pigmentation gene yellow in a complex color pattern on the abdomen of Drosophila guttifera.

Molecular Organization in Exponentially Growing Multilayer Thin Films Assembled with Polyelectrolytes and Clay.

Multilayer thin film assembly by the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique offers an inexpensive and versatile route for the synthesis of functional nanomaterials. In the case of polymer-clay systems, however, the technique faces the challenges of low clay loading and lack of tunability of the film characteristics. This is addressed in the present work that achieves exponential growth in clay-containing polyelectrolyte films having high clay loading and tailored properties.

Emerging Roles of Ceramides in Breast Cancer Biology and Therapy.

One of the classic hallmarks of cancer is the imbalance between elevated cell proliferation and reduced cell death. Ceramide, a bioactive sphingolipid that can regulate this balance, has long been implicated in cancer. While the effects of ceramide on cell death and therapeutic efficacy are well established, emerging evidence indicates that ceramide turnover to downstream sphingolipids, such as sphingomyelin, hexosylceramides, sphingosine-1-phosphate, and ceramide-1-phosphate, is equally important in driving pro-tumorigenic phenotypes, such as proliferation, survival, migration, stemness, and therapy resistance.

Rhamnolipid Micellization and Adsorption Properties.

Biosurfactants are naturally occurring amphiphiles that are being actively pursued as alternatives to synthetic surfactants in cleaning, personal care, and cosmetic products. On the basis of their ability to mobilize and disperse hydrocarbons, biosurfactants are also involved in the bioremediation of oil spills. Rhamnolipids are low molecular weight glycolipid biosurfactants that consist of a mono- or di-rhamnose head group and a hydrocarbon fatty acid chain.

Engineering Nanofiber Scaffolds with Biomimetic Cues for Differentiation of Skin-Derived Neural Crest-like Stem Cells to Schwann Cells.

Our laboratory reported the derivation of neural crest stem cell (NCSC)-like cells from the interfollicular epidermis of the neonatal and adult epidermis. These keratinocyte (KC)-derived Neural Crest (NC)-like cells (KC-NC) could differentiate into functional neurons, Schwann cells (SC), melanocytes, and smooth muscle cells in vitro. Most notably, KC-NC migrated along stereotypical pathways and gave rise to multiple NC derivatives upon transplantation into chicken embryos, corroborating their NC phenotype.

The 5-factor modified frailty index (mFI-5) is predictive of 30-day postoperative complications and readmission in patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD).

Background: There is limited research regarding the association between the mFI-5 and postoperative complications among adult spinal deformity (ASD) patients.

Methods: Using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (NSQIP) database, patients with Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for > 7-level fusion or < 7-level fusion with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes for ASD were identified between 2008 and 2016. Univariate analyses with post-hoc Bonferroni correction for demographics and preoperative factors were performed.

The role of minimally invasive gynecologic surgeons in the era of subspecialties: when to refer and consult.

Purpose Of Review: Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery (MIGS) is a subspecialty focus of obstetrics and gynecology with focused expertise on complex benign gynecologic disorders. To date, no formal recommendations have been made in defining a referral system for MIGS. This article reviews the evidence regarding common disorders and procedures and their outcomes, and posits a basis for MIGS referral.

Understanding the effect of structural changes on slow magnetic relaxation in mononuclear octahedral copper(II) complexes.

Current advances in molecular magnetism are aimed at the construction of molecular nanomagnets and spin qubits for their utilization as high-density data storage materials and quantum computers. Mononuclear coordination compounds with low spin values of = ½ are excellent candidates for this endeavour, but knowledge of their construction rational design is limited. This particularly applies to the single copper(II) spin center, having been only recently demonstrated to exhibit slow relaxation of magnetisation in the appropriate octahedral environment.