Search

Three metastable compounds predicted to be kinetically stable using an "island" approach were successfully synthesized from designed modulated elemental reactants. Fe0.8V0.2Se2 was synthesized by depositing ultrathin elemental layers in a V|Fe|Se sequence to control the local composition. An alloyed rock salt structured Pb3Mn2Se5 constituent layer, which does not exist as a bulk compound, was synthesized in the heterostructure (Pb3Mn2Se5)0.6VSe2 by depositing a precursor with a V|Se|Pb|Se|Mn|Se|Pb|Se|Mn|Se|Pb|Se sequence of elemental layers that mimicked the compositional profile of the targeted heterostructure. The heterostructure (PbSe)1+δ(FeSe2)2 was prepared by depositing a precursor with a repeating layering sequence of Fe|Pb|Fe|Se, where each sequence contains the number of atoms required to form a single unit cell. In all three systems, the local compositions in the layer sequence kinetically favored the nucleation and growth of the targeted products during the deposition. The diffusion lengths to form the targeted compounds were short, and the diffusion was limited by postdeposition low temperature annealing to favor the growth of the targeted compounds and avoid the decomposition into a mixture of thermodynamically stable compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic properties arising at interfaces of perovskite oxides such as La0.7Sr0.3CoO3 (LSCO) and La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO) depend sensitively on the fine details of their structural properties. In this work, we use high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and spectroscopy to examine the structural and electronic phenomena at the interfaces in two LSCO/LSMO bilayers with reversed growth order. Two different strain mechanisms are at work in these films: compressive or tensile epitaxial strain, and distortion of the octahedral tilt pattern to maintain a network of corner-sharing octahedra. While the epitaxial strain is constant regardless of the growth order, the modification of the octahedral tilt pattern depends on whether the film is grown directly on the substrate or as the second sublayer. As a consequence, exchange spring behavior is observed only when the LSCO sublayer is grown first. The different mechanisms of strain accommodation within the oxygen octahedra network in each material proved to be of critical importance in determining the interfacial structure and thus magnetic and electronic properties of the bilayers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) rely on transport of virus particles in neuronal axons to spread from sites of viral latency in sensory ganglia to peripheral tissues then on to other hosts. This process of anterograde axonal transport involves kinesin motors that move virus particles rapidly along microtubules. α-herpesvirus anterograde transport has been extensively studied by characterizing the porcine pseudorabies virus (PRV) and HSV, with most studies focused on two membrane proteins: gE/gI and US9. It was reported that PRV and HSV US9 proteins bind to kinesin motors, promoting tethering of virus particles on the motors, and furthering anterograde transport within axons. Alternatively, other models have argued that HSV and PRV US9 and gE/gI function in the cytoplasm and not in neuronal axons. Specifically, HSV gE/gI and US9 mutants are defective in the assembly of virus particles in the cytoplasm of neurons and the subsequent sorting of virus particles to cell surfaces and into axons. However, PRV US9 and gE/gI mutants have not been characterized for these cytoplasmic defects. We examined neurons infected with PRV mutants, one lacking both gE/gI and US9 and the other lacking just US9, by electron microscopy. Both PRV mutants exhibited similar defects in virus assembly and cytoplasmic sorting of virus particles to cell surfaces. As well, the mutants exhibited reduced quantities of infectious virus in neurons and in cell culture supernatants. We concluded that PRV US9 primarily functions in neurons to promote cytoplasmic steps in anterograde transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead selenide (PbSe) has extensively been investigated due to its thermoelectric and photoconductive properties. More recently, predictions of emergent properties have focused synthetic efforts on preparing ultra‐smooth layers of crystallographically aligned PbSe layers with a thickness equal to an integer number of monolayers. While rough films are typically formed through Volmer‐Weber growth on heated substrates, the data presented herein indicates that a crystallographically aligned, ultrathin layer with a defined number of PbSe layers forms on mostly amorphous Mo−Se and V−Se coated Si substrates during nominally room temperature deposition. Since the films are uniform in thickness, the number of PbSe bilayers formed depends on the amount of Pb (or Se) deposited. If the amount of Pb deposited is close to that required for an integral number of unit cells and there is sufficient Se, Laue oscillations are present in the as‐deposited samples. The Laue oscillations reflect the quality and uniformity of the crystalline PbSe domains. This study demonstrates that the substrate does not need to be crystalline to form uniform, crystallographically aligned, integer monolayer thick PbSe films. These results suggest that tuning the strength of interactions between substrate and growing film is necessary to form smooth, crystallographically aligned layers. The substrate does not need to be crystalline for these interactions to be strong enough to enable growth of crystallographically aligned films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Measurement of two grazing management's influence on pasture productivity, soil food web structure, soil organic carbon and soil microbial respiration efficiency was conducted on five southeastern US, across-the-fence ranch pairs to compare adaptive multi-paddock grazing (AMP) management, using short grazing events with planned, adaptive recovery periods, to conventional grazing (CG) management, with continuous grazing at low stock density. Methodology. A point-in-time experimental field analysis was conducted to compare five AMP or CG ranch pairs to better understand the influence of grazing management on (a) standing crop biomass productivity; (b) soil food web community population, structure and functionality; (c) soil organic carbon accrual; and d) soil-C (CO2) respiration kinetics. Results. AMP grazing systems outperformed CG systems by generating: (a) 92.68 g. m. more standing crop biomass (SCB), promoting 46% higher pasture photosynthetic capacity (Two sample Mann-Whitney; Z D 6.1836; no DF in MW; pD6:261010; Effect size D 0.35) (b) a strong positive linear relationship of SCB with fungal biomass (R D 0.9915; F(1,3) D 175.35; p D 0:015); fungal to bacterial (F:B) biomass ratio (R D 0.9616; F(1,3) D 36.75; p D 0:009) and a soil food web proxy (R D 0.9616; F(1,3) D 36.75; p D 0:009) and a concurrent very strong inverse relationship with bacteria biomass (R D 0.946; F(1,3) D 25.56; pD0:015); (c) significant predator/prey interactions with an inverse relationship with bacterial population biomass (R D 0:946; F(1,3) D 25.56; p D 0:015) and a positive relationship with total protozoa enumeration (R D 0.9826; F(1,3) D 83.68; pD0:003) when compared to SCB; (d) a 19.52% reduction in soil C (CO2) respiration rates (Two sample t -test; T D 2.3581; DF D 52.3541; pD0:0221; Effect size D 0.59); and (e) a 20.6% increase in soil organic carbon (SOC) in the top 10 cm of soil profile (Two sample Mann≥Whitney; ZD2.6507; no DF in MW; p D 0:008; Effect size D 0.24). Rancher conversion to AMP grazing strategies would appear to regenerate soil food web population, structure, diversity and biological functionality helping to improve: carbon flow into plant biomass, buildup of soil carbon, predator/prey nutrient cycling and soil microbial respiration efficiency while offering improved climate resilience and a strategy to increase the capture and storage of atmospheric CO2 in soils of the world's rangeland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing the ability to reproducibly prepare materials drives the advancement of human technology. Trends in historical advances and extrapolation of current technologies suggest that the next logical step is developing the ability to control structure and composition at near atomic scales in device manufacturing to take advantage of emergent properties discovered in 2D materials and heterostructures. This article reviews a subset of synthetic approaches used to prepare heterostructures, outlining key reaction steps, and how experimental parameters are used to control which product forms. The positive attributes of each synthesis approach are discussed along with some of their limitations. The elemental reactant (MER) approach is discussed in more depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We illustrate how the interaction between reflectivity and diffraction effects cause the asymmetry in Laue intensities around the central Bragg reflection and use simulations to show the impact of structural imperfections on the intensities of Laue oscillations. Asymmetry caused by interference of the Kiessig and Laue effects is most likely to be observed for Bragg reflections at smaller 2 I i values due to the decay of Kiessig fringe intensities as 2 I i increases. The Laue interference function predicts a symmetric distribution of satellite reflections centered on each Bragg maximum, as shown in Figure 5a (blue trace), but experimentally the intensity of the Laue oscillations is often different on either side of the Bragg reflection. [Extracted from the article]

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) entry involves trimer (gH/gL/gO) that interacts with PDGFRα in fibroblasts. Entry into epithelial and endothelial cells requires trimer, which binds unidentified receptors, and pentamer (gH/gL/UL128-131), which binds neuropilin-2. To identify functionally important domains in trimer, we screened an overlapping 20-mer gO peptide library and identified two sets of peptides: 19/20 (a.a. 235–267) and 32/33 (a.a. 404–436) that could block virus entry. Soluble trimer containing wild type gO blocked HCMV entry, whereas soluble trimers with the 19/20 or 32/33 sequences mutated did not block entry. Interestingly, the mutant trimers retained the capacity to bind to cellular receptors including PDGFRα. Peptide 19/20 and 32/33 sequences formed a lobe extending from the surface of gO and an adjacent concave structure, respectively. Neither of these sets of sequences contacted PDGFRα. Instead, our data support a model in which the 19/20 and 32/33 trimer sequences function downstream of receptor binding, e.g. trafficking of HCMV into endosomes or binding to gB for entry fusion. We also screened for peptides that bound antibodies (Abs) in human sera, observing that peptides 20 and 26 bound Abs. These peptides engendered neutralizing Abs (NAbs) after immunization of rabbits and could pull out NAbs from human sera. Peptides 20 and 26 sequences represent the first NAb epitopes identified in trimer. These studies describe two important surfaces on gO defined by: i) peptides 19/20 and 32/33, which apparently act downstream of receptor binding and ii) peptide 26 that interacts with PDGFRα. Both these surfaces are targets of NAbs. Author summary: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infects 80% of the world population, causing severe morbidity and mortality in transplant patients and can be transmitted to the developing fetus leading to severe neurological defects. The current anti-viral agents used to treat HCMV are not very effective as viruses can develop resistance and there is no licensed HCMV vaccine available. Recently, there has been intense interest in the HCMV envelope glycoproteins involved in entry as a component of vaccines. One glycoprotein complex, the gH/gL/gO trimer is especially intriguing as it is required for infection of extracellular virus in all cell types. Here, we identify domains in the trimer that have an essential function in entry downstream of receptor binding and are also epitopes recognized by naturally induced neutralizing antibodies. These results will have implications for advancing the efforts to develop novel HCMV therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unusual specular X-ray diffraction patterns have been observed from certain thin film intergrowths of metal monochalcogenide (MX) and transition metal dichalcogenide (TX2) structures. These patterns exhibit selective "splitting" or broadening of selected (00l) diffraction peaks, while other (00l) reflections remain relatively unaffected [Atkins et al., Chem. Mater. 24, 4594 (2012)]. Using a simplified optical model in the kinematic approximation, we illustrate that these peculiar and somewhat counterintuitive diffraction features can be understood in terms of additional layers of one of the intergrowth components, MX or TX2, interleaved between otherwise "ideal" regions of MX-TX2 intergrowth. The interpretation is in agreement with scanning transmission electron microscope imaging, which reveals the presence of such stacking "defects" in films prepared from non-ideal precursors. In principle, the effect can be employed as a simple, non-destructive laboratory probe to detect and characterize ultrathin layers of one material, e.g., 2-dimensional crystals, embedded between two slabs of a second material, effectively using the two slabs as a highly sensitive interferometer of their separation distance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin films of (Ge1–xSnx)8Sb2Te11 are prepared to study the impact of Sn‐substitution on properties relevant for application in phase‐change memory, a next‐generation electronic data storage technology. It is expected that substitution decreases the crystallization temperature, but it is not known how the maximum crystallization rate is affected. Ge8Sb2Te11 is chosen from the (GeTe)y(Sb2Te3)1–y system of phase‐change materials as a starting point due to its higher crystallization temperature as compared to the common material Ge2Sb2Te5. In situ X‐ray diffraction at 5 K min−1 heating rate is performed to determine the crystallization temperature and the resulting structure. To measure the maximum crystallization rate, femtosecond optical pulses that heat the material repetitively and monitor the resulting increase of optical reflectance are used. Glasses over the entire composition range are prepared using a melt‐quenching process. While at x = 0, 97, subsequent pulses are required for crystallization, one single pulse is enough to achieve the same effect at x = 0.5. The samples are further characterized by optical ellipsometry and calorimetry. The combined electrical and optical contrast and the ability to cycle between states with single femtosecond pulses renders Ge4Sn4Sb2Te11 promising for photonics applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the impact of N-methylnaltrexone, a peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist, on the post-operative recovery of patients undergoing robotic-assisted radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients undergoing robotic-assisted radical cystectomy by a single surgeon (KC) prior to (control group) and after (treatment group) the routine use of N-methylnaltrexone. Kaplan–Meier curves and the log-rank test were used to quantify time to flatus, bowel movement, and discharge. Daily mean opioid use, daily pain assessment rating, and episodes of severe pain (7–10/10) were compared. Gastrointestinal-related complications, including ileus, emesis, and/or need for post-op nasogastric tube placement, and 30-day readmissions were also compared between groups. Charge capture data were compared between groups to analyze cost impact. Results: 29 patients each in the control and treatment group met inclusion criteria. Patients receiving N-methylnaltrexone had reduced length of stay compared with no N-methylnaltrexone (median 4 vs. 7 days, p < 0.01). Time to flatus and bowel movement, however, were similar. In a multivariable analysis controlling for possible confounders, however, the improvement in length of stay associated with N-methylnaltrexone use did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.11). Episodes of severe pain and composite gastrointestinal-related complications were reduced in the N-methylnaltrexone group (44.8% vs. 10.3%, p < 0.01). The reduction in length of stay was associated with approximately $10,500 in cost savings per patient. Conclusions: In this study, N-methylnaltrexone was associated with reduced length of stay, fewer episodes of severe pain, and reduced costs. These results provide the impetus for further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While a linear growth behavior is one of the fingerprints of textbook atomic layer deposition processes, the growth often deviates from that behavior in the initial regime, i.e., the first few cycles of a process. To properly understand the growth behavior in the initial regime is particularly important for applications that rely on the exact thickness of very thin films. The determination of the thicknesses of the initial regime, however, often requires special equipment and techniques that are not always available. We propose a thickness determination method that is based on X-ray reflectivity (XRR) measurements on double layer structures, i.e., substrate/base layer/top layer. XRR is a standard thin film characterization method. Utilizing the inherent properties of fast Fourier transformation in combination with a multi-Gaussian fitting routine permits the determination of thicknesses down to t ≈ 2 nm. We evaluate the boundaries of our model, which are given by the separation and full width at half maximum of the individual Gaussians. Finally, we compare our results with data from x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, which is a standard method for measuring ultra-thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Firearm-related violence is a leading cause of mortality in the United States (US). Prior research suggests that public policy plays a role in firearm mortality, but the role of healthcare resources (physicians, insurance coverage) within the US policy context has not yet been studied.Objective: To examine how healthcare resources and social/firearm policy affect firearm-related suicide and homicide rates in the US.Design: Longitudinal, ecological study.Setting: US.Participants: US states from 2012 to 2016 (N = 242).Measurement: The outcome variables were age-adjusted, firearm-related suicide and homicide rates. Predictor variables were healthcare resources (physicians, Medicaid benefits generosity) and policy context (social policy, firearm policy) with covariates for sociodemographic factors.Results: Healthcare provider variables did not have significant associations to firearm-related suicide or homicide. In fully saturated models, more worker protection laws, greater average population density, more alcohol regulation, and more firearm prohibition policies were associated with fewer firearm-related suicides. Higher generosity of Medicaid benefits was associated with fewer firearm-related homicides. Poverty rate was a predictor of both outcomes.Limitations: This state-level study cannot make individual-level inferences. Only proxy variables were available for measuring gun ownership and actual gun ownership rates may not have been ideally captured at the state level.Conclusions: At the state level, there are protective associations of certain social, healthcare, and firearm policies to firearm-related suicide and homicide rates. Healthcare resources play a role in population-level firearm outcomes but alone are not sufficient to decrease firearm-related homicide or suicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modulation doping has recently emerged as a method for improving the thermoelectric figure of merit using composite materials. By spatially decoupling charge carriers from their dopant impurities, the average carrier mobility can be improved by reducing the influence of ionized impurity scattering. However, as we show in the present work using a simple parabolic band model and effective medium approach, enhancement in such composites is effective only if ionized impurities dominate the scattering of the charge carriers, which is often not the case in many materials. For example, the enhancement is more significant at lower temperatures (T < 300 K for our model material) where acoustic phonon scattering begins to freeze out. Furthermore, for large dielectric constant, which is common for good thermoelectric materials, the ionized impurities are largely screened, and formation of the modulation-doped composite is likely to have little to no benefit, or possibly even degrade the thermoelectric performance of the material. The effective mass of the charge carriers also plays an important role in the relative strength of the scattering mechanism and the possibility for thermoelectric enhancement through modulation doping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To create reliable predictive metrics of unilateral disease using spatial tracking from a fusion device, thereby improving patient selection for hemi‐gland ablation of prostate cancer. Patients and Methods: We identified patients who received magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/ultrasound‐guided biopsy and radical prostatectomy at a single institution between 2011 and 2018. In addition to standard clinical features, we extracted quantitative features related to biopsy core and MRI target locations predictive of tumour unilaterality. Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis was used to create a decision tree (DT) for identifying cancer laterality. We evaluated concordance of model‐determined laterality with final surgical pathology. Results: A total of 173 patients were identified with biopsy coordinates and surgical pathology available. Based on CART analysis, in addition to biopsy‐ and MRI‐confirmed disease unilaterality, patients should be further screened for cancer detected within 7 mm of midline in a 40 mL prostate, which equates to the central third of any‐sized prostate by radius. The area under the curve for this DT was 0.82. Standard diagnostics and the DT correctly identified disease laterality in 73% and 80% of patients, respectively (P = 0.13). Of the patients identified as unilateral by standard diagnostics, 47% had undetected contralateral disease or were otherwise incorrectly identified. This error rate was reduced to 17% (P = 0.01) with the DT. Conclusion: Using spatial tracking from fusion devices, a DT was more reliable for identifying laterality of prostate cancer compared to standard diagnostics. Patients with cancer detected within the central third of the prostate by radius are poor hemi‐gland ablation candidates due to the risk of midline extension of tumour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied the first phase nucleation behavior of a series of equiatomic Ni-Si multilayers with ultrathin repeating subunits (λ=1.7-5.8 nm) using x-ray reflectivity and x-ray diffraction. The variation in first nucleated phase is understood in terms of the model of Gösele and Tu, who predicted three length-scale dependent reaction routes in thin film diffusion couples: (i) For multilayers with λ>5.0 nm, interfacial nucleation of Ni[SUB2]Si is observed, consistent with studies of bulk diffusion couples. (ii) For multilayers with 3.8< λ<5.0 nm, interfacial nucleation tends towards phases richer in Si due to a waning supply of Ni within the multilayer. (iii) For multilayers with λ<2.0 nm complete mixing of the Ni-Si multilayers prefigures first phase nucleation of NiSi. In this regime the composition of the first nucleation phase is determined by the amorphous precursor, which in turn is dictated by the relative ratios of Ni and Si in the initial multilayer. A fourth scenario, between (ii) and (iii), in which Ni[SUB2]Si is the first nucleated phase is also observed. A possible mechanism for this unexpected result is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The examination of anisotropic nanostructures, such as wires, platelets or spikes, inside a transmission electron microscope is normally performed only in plan view. However, intrinsic defects such as growth twin interfaces could occasionally be concealed from direct observation for geometric reasons, leading to superposition. This article presents the shadow‐focused ion‐beam technique to prepare multiple electron‐beam‐transparent cross‐section specimens of ZnO nanospikes, via a procedure which could be readily extended to other anisotropic structures. In contrast with plan‐view data of the same nanospikes, here the viewing direction allows the examination of defects without superposition. By this method, the coexistence of two twin configurations inside the wurtzite‐type structure is observed, namely and , which were not identified during the plan‐view observations owing to superposition of the domains. The defect arrangement could be the result of coalescence twinning of crystalline nuclei formed on the partially molten Zn substrate during the flame‐transport synthesis. Three‐dimensional defect models of the twin interface structures have been derived and are correlated with the plan‐view investigations by simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hemiablation is a less morbid treatment alternative for appropriately selected patients with unilateral prostate cancer (PCa). However, to the authors' knowledge, traditional diagnostic techniques inadequately identify appropriate candidates. In the current study, the authors quantified the accuracy for identifying hemiablation candidates using contemporary diagnostic techniques, including multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and MRI‐fusion with complete systematic template biopsy. Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing MRI and MRI‐fusion prostate biopsy, including full systematic template biopsy, prior to radical prostatectomy in a single tertiary academic institution between June 2010 and February 2018 was performed. Hemiablation candidates had unilateral intermediate‐risk PCa (Gleason score [GS] of 3+4 or 4+3, clinical T classification ≤T2, and prostate‐specific antigen level <20 ng/dL) on MRI‐fusion biopsy and 2) no contralateral highly or very highly suspicious Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2 (PI‐RADSv2) MRI lesions. Hemiablation candidates were inappropriately selected if pathologists identified contralateral GS ≥3+4 or high‐risk ipsilateral PCa on prostatectomy. The authors tested a range of hemiablation inclusion criteria and performed multivariable analysis of preoperative predictors of undetected contralateral disease. Results: Of 665 patients, 92 met primary hemiablation criteria. Of these 92 patients, 44 (48%) were incorrectly identified due to ipsilateral GS ≥3+4 tumors crossing the midline (21 patients), undetected distinct contralateral GS ≥3+4 tumors (20 patients), and/or ipsilateral high‐risk PCa (3 patients) on prostatectomy. The rate of undetected contralateral disease ranged from 41% to 48% depending on inclusion criteria. On multivariable analysis, men with anterior index tumors were found to be 2.4 times more likely to harbor undetected contralateral GS ≥3+4 PCa compared with men with posterior lesions (P < .05). Conclusions: Clinicians and patients must weigh the risk of inadequate oncologic treatment against the functional benefits of hemiablation. Further investigation into methods for improving patient selection for hemiablation is necessary. Even with contemporary diagnostic techniques, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), MRI‐fusion biopsy, and systematic template biopsy, appropriately identifying unilateral prostate cancer remains difficult. Nearly one‐half of hemiablation candidates based on preoperative radiographic, clinical, and pathologic factors harbored pathology, making them inappropriate for hemiablation in their radical prostatectomy specimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genomic regions of homozygosity (ROH), detectable in outbred populations, have been implicated as determinants of inherited risk. To examine whether ROH is associated with risk of multiple myeloma (MM), we performed whole‐genome homozygosity analysis using single‐nucleotide polymorphism genotype data from 2,282 MM cases and 5,197 controls, with replication in an additional 878 MM cases and 7,083 controls. Globally, the distribution of ROH between cases and controls was not significantly different. However, one ROH at chromosome 9q21, harboring the B‐cell transcription factor gene KLF9, showed evidence of a consistent association and may therefore warrant further investigation as a candidate risk factor for MM. Overall, our analysis provides little support for a homozygosity signature being a significant factor in MM risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: While radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) is the gold standard treatment for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), select patients may benefit from endoscopic treatment (ET). European Association of Urology guidelines recommend ET for patients with low-risk (LR) disease: unifocal, < 2 cm, low-grade lesions without local invasion. To inform the utility of ET, we compare the overall survival (OS) of patients receiving ET and RNU using current and previous guidelines of LR disease. Materials and methods: Patients with non-metastatic, cT1 or less UTUC diagnosed in 2004–2012 were collected from the National Cancer Database. OS was analyzed with inverse probability of treatment weighted Cox proportional hazard regression. Analyses were conducted for LR disease under updated (size < 2 cm) and previous guidelines (size < 1 cm). Results: Patients who were older, healthier, and treated at an academic facility had higher odds of receiving ET. In 851 identified patients with LR disease, RNU was associated with increased OS compared with ET (p = 0.006); however, there was no difference between ET and RNU (p = 0.79, n = 202) under the previous guidelines (size < 1 cm). In, otherwise, LR patients, the largest tumor size with no difference between ET and RNU was ≤ 1.5 cm (p = 0.07). Conclusions: RNU is associated with improved survival when compared with ET in the management of LR UTUC using current guidelines with a size threshold of < 2 cm. In appropriately selected LR patients, we find no difference between RNU and ET up to a tumor size of ≤ 1.5 cm. However, in the absence of prospective studies, the usage of ET is best left up to clinician discretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) causes substantial disease in transplant patients and harms the development of the nervous system in babies infected in utero. Thus, there is a major focus on developing safe and effective HCMV vaccines. Evidence has been presented that a major target of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) is the HCMV pentamer glycoprotein gH/gL/UL128-131. In some studies, most of the NAbs in animal or human sera were found to recognize the pentamer, which mediates HCMV entry into endothelial and epithelial cells. It was also reported that pentamer-specific antibodies correlate with protection against transmission from mothers to babies. One problem with the studies on pentamer-specific NAbs to date has been that the studies did not compare the pentamer to the other major form of gH/gL, the gH/gL/gO trimer, which is essential for entry into all cell types. Here, we demonstrate that both trimer and pentamer NAbs are frequently found in human transplant patients' and pregnant mothers' sera. Depletion of human sera with trimer caused reductions in NAbs similar to that observed following depletion with the pentamer. The trimer- and pentamer-specific antibodies acted in a synergistic fashion to neutralize HCMV and also to prevent virus cell-to-cell spread. Importantly, there was no correlation between the titers of trimer- and pentamer-specific NAbs and transmission of HCMV from mothers to babies. Therefore, both the trimer and pentamer are important targets of NAbs. Nevertheless, these antibodies do not protect against transmission of HCMV from mothers to babies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism of the reaction between Mn and Se is shown to depend on the composition and the thickness of Mn and Se layers. Samples were prepared by modulated elemental reactants (MER) method. The elements were evaporated using either electron beam guns or effusion cells and the total amount of each element was controlled using quartz crystal monitors. Different ratios of the elements and different total amounts of the elements per repeating unit were experimentally explored. Near a one to one ratio of Mn and Se, α‐MnSe crystallizes upon deposition. Compositions near a one to two ratio of Mn to Se proceed through an amorphous intermediate for the layer thicknesses investigated, with MnSe2 crystallizing at 150 °C. Between these compositions, the two bilayer thicknesses explored evolve differently, with films with bilayer thicknesses near 0.5 nm nucleating MnSe, whereas films with bilayer thicknesses around 1 nm nucleating a mixture of MnSe and MnSe2. Samples around 80 % Se formed a previously unreported compound with a small monoclinic unit cell with lattice parameters a = 4.942(2) Å, b = 4.32(3) Å, c = 3.779(1) Å, and β = 90.13(3)°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents an examination of the effect of structural incoherence on the low-angle diffraction pattern of synthetic multilayer materials. Experiment conducted; Results; Data analysis.

Results of combined synchrotron X-ray diffraction and pair distribution function experiments performed on the layered compound CrTe3 provide evidence for a short range structural distortion of one of the two crystallographically independent CrTe6 octahedra. The distortion is caused by higher mobility of one crystallographically distinct Te ion, leading to an unusual large Debye Waller factor. In situ high temperature X-ray diffraction investigations show an initial crystallization of a minor amount of elemental Te followed by decomposition of CrTe3 into Cr5Te8 and Te. Additional experiments provide evidence that the Te impurity (<1%) cannot be avoided. Analyses of structural changes in the temperature range 100–754 K show a pronounced anisotropic expansion of the lattice parameters. The differing behavior of the crystal axes is explained on the basis of structural distortions of the Cr4Te16 structural building units. An abrupt distortion of the structure occurs at T≈250 K, which then remains nearly constant down to 100 K. The structural distortion affects the spin exchange interactions between Cr3+ cations. A significant splitting between field-cooled (fc) and zero-field-cooled (zfc) magnetic susceptibility is observed below about 200 K. Applying a small external magnetic field results in a substantial spontaneous magnetization, reminiscent of ferro- or ferrimagnet exchange interactions below ~240 K. A Debye temperature of ~150 K was extracted from heat capacity measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess how trends in urinary diversion (UD) type following radical cystectomy (RC) have changed in recent years and investigate pre-operative predictors of UD type. Methods: Data were abstracted from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) from 2011 to 2015. We quantified the percentages of continent diversions (CD) versus incontinent diversions (ID) completed over this time frame. Using univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses, we compared UD type across year of operation as well as predictors of type of diversion. Results: We identified 4790 patients in the cohort, of which 81% underwent an incontinent diversion. Patients undergoing incontinent diversions were older (p < 0.001), more likely to be female (p < 0.001), had higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification (p < 0.001) and had more comorbidities with worse preoperative lab values. On multivariable analysis, the odds of incontinent diversion increased per year (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.06-1.26; p = 0.001). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) was associated with lower odds of receiving an ID (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.17-0.64; p = 0.001). Being male, healthy and young were associated with higher odds of CD. Conclusion: We demonstrate that there has been a decrease in continent diversion use in recent years. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy, proxies of life expectancy and gender are significant predictors of continent diversion. Further investigation to determine the underlying cause of decreased utilization of CD is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of emergent phenomena in 2D materials has sparked substantial research efforts in the materials community. A significant experimental challenge for this field is exerting atomistic control over the structure and composition of the constituent 2D layers and understanding how the interactions between layers drive both structure and properties. While no segregation for single bilayers was observed, segregation of Pb to the surface of three bilayer thick PbSe-SnSe alloy layers was discovered within [(Pb xSn1− xSe)1+δ] n(TiSe2)1 heterostructures using electron microscopy. This segregation is thermodynamically favored to occur when Pb xSn1− xSe layers are interdigitated with TiSe2 monolayers. DFT calculations indicate that the observed segregation depends on what is adjacent to the Pb xSn1− xSe layers. The interplay between interface- and volume-free energies controls both the structure and composition of the constituent layers, which can be tuned using layer thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of emergent phenomena in 2D materials has sparked substantial research efforts in the materials community. A significant experimental challenge for this field is exerting atomistic control over the structure and composition of the constituent 2D layers and understanding how the interactions between layers drive both structure and properties. While no segregation for single bilayers was observed, segregation of Pb to the surface of three bilayer thick PbSe-SnSe alloy layers was discovered within [(Pb xSn1− xSe)1+δ] n(TiSe2)1 heterostructures using electron microscopy. This segregation is thermodynamically favored to occur when Pb xSn1− xSe layers are interdigitated with TiSe2 monolayers. DFT calculations indicate that the observed segregation depends on what is adjacent to the Pb xSn1− xSe layers. The interplay between interface- and volume-free energies controls both the structure and composition of the constituent layers, which can be tuned using layer thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of the ferecrystalline compound (SnSe)1.15VSe2 is studied utilizing complementary X-ray diffraction techniques, differential scanning calorimetry, compositional analysis, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. A careful analysis unravels the formation mechanism, where a simultaneous crystallization of the individual constituents goes hand in hand with the formation of the superlattice structure. SnSe2 monolayers form along with SnSe and VSe2 units in the superlattice during the formation of (SnSe)1.15VSe2, with the SnSe2 monolayers coexisting up to 300°C. An annealing temperature of 400°C is required to fully self-assemble the ferecrystalline compound (SnSe)1.15VSe2, composed of alternating rocksalt-like SnSe bilayers and VSe2 trilayers. These results demonstrate a complex pathway along a multi-valley energy landscape for these metastable compounds, which in turn offers a rich platform to synthesize targeted layering sequences by precisely controlling the composition of the precursors as well as the annealing conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction and scanning transmission electron microscopy images prove the structurally independent two-dimensional layers of precisely m tin selenide bilayers and a single niobium diselenide trilayer in heterostructure thin films with a rotational disorder between them. The superconducting critical temperatures decrease systematically as m, the number of tin selenide layers, increases. However, all are lower than that known for isolated single niobium diselenide layers. This indicates a decoupling of these layers. A possible mechanism is a decrease in the density of states due to charge donation from the tin selenide layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignancy of plasma cells. Genome-wide association studies have shown that variation at 5q15 influences MM risk. Here, we have sought to decipher the causal variant at 5q15 and the mechanism by which it influences tumorigenesis. We show that rs6877329 G > C resides in a predicted enhancer element that physically interacts with the transcription start site of ELL2 . The rs6877329-C risk allele is associated with reduced enhancer activity and lowered ELL2 expression. Since ELL2 is critical to the B cell differentiation process, reduced ELL2 expression is consistent with inherited genetic variation contributing to arrest of plasma cell development, facilitating MM clonal expansion. These data provide evidence for a biological mechanism underlying a hereditary risk of MM at 5q15. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Hennepin County partnered with schools to implement lunchroom strategies to encourage fruit and vegetable consumption. An in-depth evaluation measured changes in consumption following implementation of encouragement strategies including slicing apples and attractive labels. METHODS A pre-post prospective evaluation measured changes in average fruit and vegetable consumption at 2 elementary schools. The plate waste method was used to weigh individual waste. To measure consumption, 373 students were matched pre/post. Additional measures included change in fruit and vegetable selection, change in whole servings consumed and apple consumption. RESULTS Average fruit consumption increased by 3.0 g (p = .09), average vegetable consumption increased by 1.1 g (p = .27), neither significantly. The number of students selecting fruit significantly increased (p = .02), while the number taking vegetables increased, but not significantly (p = .28). The number of students consuming an entire serving of fruit (p = .15) or vegetables (p = .45) both increased but not significantly. Apple consumption more than doubled at one school. CONCLUSIONS Implementing lunchroom changes can increase the number of students selecting fruit, and changes including slicing can increase consumption of apples. Additional strategies are needed to increase vegetable selection and fruit and vegetable consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterostructures of alloyed BixSn1–xSe layers, 0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0, interleaved with NbSe2 monolayers, were prepared by using the modulated elemental reactants technique to investigate the occurrence of antiphase boundaries as a function of Bi concentration. A Rietveld refinement of the c-axis structure of the x = 0.50 compound revealed a reduced gap distance between the Bi plane in the BixSn1–xSe layers and the Se plane in the NbSe2 layers and an increased internal Se–Se plane spacing within the BixSn1–xSe layers relative to the end member compounds, suggesting increased interaction between the layers at this composition. High-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF STEM) images showed no antiphase boundary formation in the BixSn1–xSe layers for x = 0.24, some antiphase boundary formation when x = 0.50, and increased antiphase boundary formation for x = 0.73. Correlated with the absence of antiphase boundary formation for values of x < 0.50 and the increasing presence of antiphase boundaries for x ≥ 0.5, electrical transport measurements showed interlayer charge transfer initially increased with x, then decreased as x was increased to 0.50 and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The binary compound V3Sb (V2.64Sb, V3Sb and V3.24Sb) was synthesized as thin multilayered films with varying V:Sb ratios. The V-content determines the crystallization temperature and it is highest for the film with the lowest amount of V. Ternary chromium-vanadium-antimony (Cr-V-Sb) films were prepared containing Cr from 10 to 51 at-% with the Sb content fixed to yield M3Sb (M=Cr, V). In the as-deposited state the layers are already interdiffused which is most likely caused by the very low repeating unit thickness between 0.29 and 0.68 nm investigated by X-ray diffraction experiments. All ternary compounds crystallized from the amorphous state with crystallization temperatures depending more on the repeating unit thickness than on chemical composition. For most samples the simultaneous crystallization of the two phases M3Sb (A15 structure type) and MSb is observed. The crystalline A15 compounds are only stable in a limited temperature range and decompose at elevated temperatures. Compared to the binary Cr-Sb system crystallization of the hexagonal phase MSb (M=Cr, V) occurs at remarkably higher temperatures, i.e. in the ternary system nucleation and crystallization of this phase is hindered. The chemical composition requires short-range composition fluctuations to nucleate the binary phase. The first principles total energy calculations using the spin-polarized relativistic Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker (SPR-KKR) method confirm the experimental observations concerning the concentration-dependent stability of different phases of the Cr-V-Sb system. For the ratio M:Sb=3:1 the system is preferably stabilized in the A15 crystal structure for all possible Cr and V concentrations, while an increase of Sb content up to M:Sb=2:1 results in the stabilization of the Ni2In structure for almost all Cr concentrations. Only in the V-rich regime of the system the Heusler Ni2MnAl-type structure was found to be energetically more preferable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study that produced an amorphous material with semiconducting properties by annealing of a multilayer composite consisting of alternating layers. Temperature dependence of conduction for the multilayers; Discussion on ultrathin molybdenum-selenium multilayer composites.

Reducing the accelerating voltage used to pattern a high-resolution inorganic thin film electron beam resist, HafSOx dramatically decreases the dose required to pattern sub-10 nm lines. Ellipsometry measurements of dose curves created for HafSOx show a dramatic increase in sensitivity without any loss in contrast. High resolution patterning at 10 keV show no decrease in obtainable feature size, producing 9 nm wide lines with half the dose required previously and no increase in line edge roughness. Monte Carlo simulations of the incident electron beam into a 22 nm thick HafSOx film predict that even lower primary beam energies, down to 5 keV, could enable patterning of sub-20 nm features with significantly enhanced throughput. This improved film sensitivity at lower beam energies enables increased throughput without loss of patterning resolution and should be extendable to other inorganic photoresists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The [(BiSe)1+δ]1(VSe2)1 heterostructure was characterized structurally and electrically to determine the effects of interlayer interaction on the charge density wave (CDW) found in VSe2 and compared to previously reported [(SnSe)1.15]1(VSe2)1. Out-of-plane x-ray diffraction scans contain reflections that can be indexed as 00l reflections of a BiSe-VSe2 supercell. Structure refinement indicates that the VSe2 layer is very similar structurally to that found in [(SnSe)1.15]1(VSe2)1. Scanning transmission electron microscopy images show a turbostratically disordered layer structure and the formation of anti-phase boundaries in the BiSe bilayer. The [(BiSe)1+δ]1(VSe2)1 heterostructure is metallic with a negative Hall coefficient, in contrast to the positive Hall coefficient found for [(SnSe)1.15]1(VSe2)1. The CDW found [(SnSe)1.15]1(VSe2)1 is not present in [(BiSe)1+δ]1(VSe2)1. This work illustrates the importance of inter constituent interactions in determining the transport properties of single layer films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous virus that is a major pathogen in newborns and immunocompromised or immunosuppressed patients. HCMV infects a wide variety of cell types using distinct entry pathways that involve different forms of the gH/gL glycoprotein: gH/gL/gO and gH/gL/UL128-131 as well as the viral fusion glycoprotein, gB. However, the minimal or core fusion machinery (sufficient for cell-cell fusion) is just gH/gL and gB. Here, we demonstrate that HCMV gB and gH/gL form a stable complex early after their synthesis and in the absence of other viral proteins. gH/gL can interact with gB mutants that are unable to mediate cell-cell fusion. gB-gH/gL complexes included as much as 16–50% of the total gH/gL in HCMV virus particles. In contrast, only small amounts of gH/gL/gO and gH/gL/UL128-131 complexes were found associated with gB. All herpesviruses express gB and gH/gL molecules and most models describing herpesvirus entry suggest that gH/gL interacts with gB to mediate membrane fusion, although there is no direct evidence for this. For herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) it has been suggested that after receptor binding gH/gL binds to gB either just before, or coincident with membrane fusion. Therefore, our results have major implications for these models, demonstrating that HCMV gB and gH/gL forms stable gB-gH/gL complexes that are incorporated virions without receptor binding or membrane fusion. Moreover, our data is the best support to date for the proposal that gH/gL interacts with gB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]