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The article focuses on the enduring legacy of the American public health diplomacy effort to combat the global Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) pandemic. Topics include the creation and impact of the President's Emergency Plan for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Relief (PEPFAR), the devastating effects of the HIV pandemic, and PEPFAR's significance as a successful example of American leadership in global public health.

The Kagome antiferromagnet Mn 3 Sn has garnered much attention due to the presence of exciting properties such as anomalous Hall and Nernst effects. This paper discusses the synthesis of crystalline Mn 3 Sn thin films, prepared on Al 2 O 3 (0001) substrates at 453 ± 5 ° C using molecular beam epitaxy. The growth is monitored in situ using reflection high energy electron diffraction and measured ex situ using x-ray diffraction, Rutherford back-scattering, and cross-sectional scanning transmission electron microscopy. Our analysis shows the in-plane lattice constants of a 1 , M = 4.117 ± 0.027 Å and a 2 , M = 4.943 ± 0.033 Å, which is a very unexpected result when compared to the bulk a -plane Mn 3 Sn. This indicates a strain in the film and makes it challenging to provide a straightforward explanation. In an effort to explain our results, we discuss two possible orientation relationships between the Mn 3 Sn films and the sapphire substrates. Samples prepared under these conditions appear to have smooth surfaces locally, but overall the film has a 3D island morphology. First-principles calculations provide atomic models of the Mn 3 Sn (11 2 ¯ 0) lattice on Al 2 O 3 (0001) high symmetry sites, indicating that the L3-R90 ° is the most stable configuration. A detailed discussion of the experimental data and theoretical results, as well as strain effects, is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) remains the treatment modality of choice for kidney stones larger than 2 cm, infectious complications are most common, ranging from 5% to 32%. We present here a novel technique for potentially improving collecting system sterility during PCNL and initial postoperative outcomes. Retrospective chart analysis data of our irrigation protocol were collected from our first 56 patients between February and July 2019. Traditional prone PCNL was performed in a standard manner using fluoroscopic guidance. Using a ureteral catheter that was placed cystoscopically, a renal pelvis urine culture was taken and subsequently 10 mL of betadine solution was instilled into the collecting system. Gentamicin in normal saline (80 mg/3 L) was utilized as the irrigant fluid for the first 6 L of irrigation. From this cohort, 57% patients were women and mean age was 60 ± 14 years. About 23% of patients were diabetic and 55% were hypertensive. Seventy percent of patients had stone burden >2 cm and no patients had stone burden <1 cm. Fifteen patients had positive urine cultures treated preoperatively, while four patients had contaminated cultures. All patients were treated with our antibiotic irrigation and betadine protocol regardless of preoperative cultures or antibiotics. Mean baseline creatinine level was 0.95 ± 0.41, with a mean change of 0.18 at postoperative day 1. Of the 15 (26%) of 56 patients with a systemic inflammatory response syndrome response (two of following four criteria: white blood cells <4 or >12; heart rate >90; hypothermia <96.8°F or hyperthermia >100.4°F; and respiratory rate >20), only six patients (11%) were febrile and two patients had positive blood cultures (3%). There were no adverse reactions to the betadine or antibiotic irrigation. We present here our initial experience of a new technique for renal pelvis sterilization and its safety and feasibility using intrarenal instillation of betadine and antibiotic irrigation. No Clinical Trial Registration number applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]