Search

BACKGROUND This article investigated whether robotic-assisted liver surgery versus laparoscopic liver surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has similar or different short- and long-term clinical outcomes. METHODS A total of 3049 patients from the National Cancer Database who received minimally invasive surgery (ie, robotic or laparoscopic surgery) for stage I HCC cancers between 2010 to 2015, of which 123 had robotic and 2926 had laparoscopic surgeries performed, were identified. Logistic regression was applied to evaluate short-term outcomes. Cox proportional hazards models were applied to estimate all-cause mortality at 1-year, 3-years, and 5-years after surgery, adjusting for potential confounders. Propensity score-matched analyses were conducted to compare long-term outcomes between robotic and laparoscopic surgeries. RESULTS Robotic surgery was associated with improved overall survival, with 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates (SRs) of 0.92, 0.75, and 0.63 compared with laparoscopic surgery SRs of 0.86, 0.60, and 0.45, respectively (P value

Introduction: Considering the need for information regarding approaches to prevention and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), we sought to determine publication lag times of COVID19-related original research articles published in top general medicine and emergency medicine (EM) journals. We further sought to characterize the types of COVID-19 publications within these journals. Methods: We reviewed 125 top-ranked general medicine journals and 20 top-ranked EM-specific journals for COVID-19-related publications. We abstracted article titles and manuscript details for each COVID-19-related article published between January 1–June 30, 2020, and categorized articles as one of the following: original research;case report;review;or commentary. We abstracted data for preprint publications over the same time period and determined whether articles from the general medicine and EM journals had been previously published as preprint articles. Our primary outcomes were the following: 1) lag time (days) between global cumulative World Health Organization (WHO)-confirmed cases of COVID-19 and publications;2) lag times between preprint article publication and peerreviewed journal publication;and 3) lag times between submission and publication in peer-reviewed journals. Our secondary outcome was to characterize COVID-19-related publications. Results: The first original research publications appeared in a general medicine journal 20 days and in an EM journal 58 days after the first WHO-confirmed case of COVID-19. We found median and mean lag times between preprint publications and journal publications of 32 days (19, 49) and 36 days (22) for general medicine journals, and 26 days (16, 36) and 25 days (13) for EM journals. Median and mean lag times between submission and publication were 30 days (19, 45) and 35 days (13) for general medicine journals, and 23 days (11, 39) and 27 days (19) for EM journals. Of 2530 general medicine journal articles and 351 EM journal articles, 28% and 23.6% were original research. We noted substantial closing of the preprint to peer-reviewed publication (160 days pre-pandemic) and peer-reviewed journal submission to publication (194 days pre-pandemic) lag times for COVID-19 manuscripts. Conclusion: We found a rapid and robust response with shortened publication lag times to meet the need for the publication of original research and other vital medical information related to COVID-19 during the first six months of 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Western Journal of Emergency Medicine: Integrating Emergency Care with Population Health is the property of Western Journal of Emergency Medicine: Integrating Emergency Care with Population Health and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Over 60 million tons of aluminium are produced annually, requiring sustainable and eco-friendly recycling methods of aluminium waste. In this work, aluminium metal waste is utilized in the fabrication of aluminium hydroxide aerogels using a cost-effective and environmental-friendly process. The developed aerogels with varying contents of aluminium and poly(vinyl alcohol) as a binder exhibit a low density (0.060–0.108 g/cm3), a high porosity (92.3–95.5%) and a low electrical conductivity ([1.8–5.2] × 10–8 S/m). The results indicated that aluminium hydroxide aerogels have an ultra-low thermal conductivity of 0.028–0.032 W/m K and are able to withstand high temperature of 800 °C with less than 50% decomposition. It is suggested that the synthesized aerogels can be a promising candidate for high-value engineering applications such as thermal insulation of pipes and buildings to expand the usage of recycled aluminium.

Carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers are currently seen as very promising candidates for many applications within the area of smart textiles and e-textiles. However, up to now many of the practical aspects of their implementation in textiles have received little attention, these including the everyday treatments of textiles (i.e., washing) as well as the industrial processes of coloring or texturing. The following paper shows that these integration issues may be overcome by coating the nanotube fibers with a thin uniform sheath of textile polymer. Such a coating will enable repeated washing, dyeing and texturing of the fibers, whilst simultaneously providing very effective electrical insulation and separation from the human body. From the user’s perspective, the hybrid fibers will appear similar to traditional textile threads, while maintaining the original light weight, electrical conductivity and mechanical strength of the bare nanotube fibers. The work presents methods that can be utilized in the preparation of hybrid CNT fibers. These methods have been tested on both dry- and wet-spun nanotube fibers. The work includes extensive mechanical, electrical and laundry tests as well as the scanning electron microscopy characterization of bare, straight hybrid and textured fibers. Finally, examples of applications for coated fibers are presented.

For the first time, hydrophobic polymer-based aerogels have been developed from polypropylene fibers for heat insulation and oil spill treatments. By physically cross-linking polypropylene fibers with non-toxic polyvinyl alcohol and carboxymethyl cellulose, followed by eco-friendly freeze–drying method, the fabricated aerogels exhibit an extremely low density of 0.024–0.054 g/cm3 and a high porosity of 94.71–97.82%. The developed polypropylene aerogels express excellent flexibility and good heat insulation with remarkably low compressive modulus and thermal conductivity of 27.54–58.58 kPa and 0.036–0.039 W/m.K, respectively. Experimental results have demonstrated that methyltrimethoxysilane-coated PP aerogels have great water repellency with a water contact angle of 123.5–133.8°. Therefore, they show a good maximum absorption capacity of 12.9–27.3 g/g for fuel oil, 10.2–24.5 g/g for 5w30 motor oil, and 10.2–23.5 g/g for diesel oil; these good characteristics are attributed to their porous hollow structure. Moreover, the oil absorption of polypropylene aerogels in this work is 5 times better than that of the previous one and equivalent to that of commercial absorbents and other polymer aerogels from plastics.

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiovascular complication affecting patients with cancer, but management strategies are not well established. Objectives The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate cross-sectional patterns of anticoagulation (AC) use in patients with cancer with AF or atrial flutter (AFL) on the basis of their risk for stroke and bleeding. Methods Patients with cancer and electrocardiograms showing AF or AFL performed at Moffitt Cancer Center in either the inpatient or outpatient setting were included in this retrospective analysis. We described percentages of AC prescription by stroke and bleeding risk, as determined by individual CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression evaluated clinical variables independently associated with anticoagulant prescription. Results The prevalence of electrocardiography-documented AF or AFL was 4.8% (n = 472). The mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 2.8 ± 1.4. Among patients with CHA2DS2-VASc scores ≥2 and HAS-BLED scores, Central Illustration

Pineapple leaf and cotton waste fibers known as abundant by-products in the agriculture and textile industry are combined for the first time to produce thermal insulating and flexible cellulose-based aerogel composites via an environmentally friendly and cost-effective freeze-drying process. The effect of total fiber content and the ratio of pineapple leaf fibers (PF) to cotton waste fibers (CF) on the density, porosity, morphology, durability, and thermal properties of aerogel composites are comprehensively investigated. The as-fabricated aerogel composites show an exceedingly low density of 0.019–0.046 g cm−3 with high porosity of more than 96%. Because of the porous structure inside, our aerogel composites exhibit outstanding heat insulation with extraordinarily low thermal conductivity of 0.039–0.043 W m−1 K−1 that is comparable to commercial insulation materials (mineral wool, fiberglass, polystyrene) and previous cellulose-based aerogels from recycled cellulose fibers, sugarcane bagasse, and rice straw. Interestingly, the combination of those fibers has remarkably improved the flexibility of our previous aerogels from pineapple leaf fibers only, in particular, the compressive modulus of aerogel composites (11.33–44.63 kPa) is 6 times higher than that of PF aerogels (5.73 kPa). The sheet of aerogel composite with a dimension of 28 × 28 cm which is rolled up shows no crack on its surface, demonstrating its excellent mechanical strength. The research results increase the possibility of applying the developed aerogel composites from biomass into practical insulation.

Cerebral atherosclerosis contributes to dementia via unclear processes. We performed proteomic sequencing of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in 438 older individuals and found associations between cerebral atherosclerosis and reduced synaptic signaling and between RNA splicing and increased oligodendrocyte development and myelination. Consistently, single-cell RNA sequencing showed cerebral atherosclerosis associated with higher oligodendrocyte abundance. A subset of proteins and modules associated with cerebral atherosclerosis was also associated with Alzheimer's disease, suggesting shared mechanisms.

International audience; No abstract available

Background Health literacy is a determinant of health. Few studies characterize its association with surgical outcomes. Methods Retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery 2015-2020. Health literacy assessed using Brief Health Literacy Screening Tool. Outcomes were postoperative complications, LOS, readmissions, mortality. Results Of 552 patients, 46 (8.3%) had limited health literacy, 506 (91.7%) non-limited. Median age 57.7 years, 305 (55.1%) patients were female, 148 (26.8%) were Black. Limited patients had higher rates of overall complications (43.5% vs. 24.3%, p = 0.004), especially surgical site infections (21.7% vs. 11.3%, p = 0.04). Limited patients had longer LOS (5 vs 3.5 days, p = 0.006). Readmissions and mortality did not differ. On multivariable analysis, limited health literacy was independently associated with increased risk of complications (OR 2.03, p = 0.046), not LOS (IRR 1.05, p = 0.67). Conclusion Limited health literacy is associated with increased likelihood of complications after colorectal surgery. Opportunities exist for health literate surgical care to improve outcomes for limited health literacy patients.

Millions of tons of plastic are produced annually, but less than 10% are reported to be recycled. This work sets out to transform environmental plastic (polyethylene terephthalate – PET) waste into aerogels for high-value engineering applications, primarily to enhance the monetary incentive in recycling plastics. Coating techniques, using silicone ceramic (SCC) and (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APS, or APTES) solutions, are successfully devised to enhance the thermal stability and CO2 adsorption capability of rPET aerogel. The rPET/SCC aerogel exhibits improved thermal stability (up to 600 °C), enhanced thermal insulation (thermal conductivity Kavg = [31.8–34.9] mW/m·K), hydrophobic characteristics (up to 144.7° in contact angle) and enhanced rigidity (Young modulus Eavg = [4.5–124.8] kPa), while maintaining an ultra-low density (ρa = [14–62] g/cm3) and a high porosity (Φavg = [95.6–99.0]%). Moreover, the amine-functionalised rPET aerogel achieves a CO2 adsorption capacity of up to 0.44 mmol CO2/g, superior to several commercial physio-sorbents. These promising results obtained demonstrate that the rPET aerogel is a versatile material suitable for a wide variety of high-value engineering applications, including thermal insulation and direct CO2 capture applications.

For the first time, recycled car tire fibers (RCTF) shredded from car tire waste are developed successfully into a novel material, a rubber aerogel, using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and glutaraldehyde (GA) as crosslinkers through a cost-effective freeze-drying method. Its structure and main physical properties are investigated comprehensively for high-value applications, such as heat and sound insulation of buildings and oil spill spilling clean up. The rubber aerogel has ultra-low density (ρa = 0.035 – 0.145 g/cm3) and high porosity (Φavg = 84.31–96.20 %). With a simple but effective coating method with methoxytrimethylsilane (MTMS), both the interior and exterior of the whole rubber aerogel surface can be well coated, and the coated aerogel exhibits a super-hydrophobicity with a water contact angle of up to 134.4°. The rubber aerogel exhibits excellent heat insulation properties (Kavg = 0.035 – 0.047 W/m.K), very good thermal stability up to 500 °C, and significantly-enhanced rigidity up to a Young modulus of Eavg = 458.12 kPa, much larger than that of commercial Styrofoam. The rubber aerogel shows very good durability as it springs back to its original shape after compression tests. The rubber aerogel has a noise reduction coefficient (NRC) of 0.41 and performs approximately 10% better than commercial sound foam absorber at 2000–3000 Hz. The maximum oil absorbtion capacity of the rubber aerogel in this work is 19.3 g/g, very competitive to commercial sorbents. The fabrication method can also be scaled up for several other industrial applications, not limited to sound, heat and sorbent applications.

Background Baby boomers are at increased risk for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and related cancer; therefore, one‐time HCV screening is recommended. Methods To assess prevalence of, and factors associated with providers ordering HCV screening, we examined a retrospective cohort of electronic medical records for patient visits from 01 August 2015 until 31 July 2017 in a large health system. HCV screening ordered was examined by patient age, gender, race/ethnicity, provider specialty, and number of clinical visits, stratified by birth cohort: born ≤1945, 1945‐1965 (baby boomers), 1966‐1985, and ≥1985. Multivariable regression identified factors independently associated with HCV screening ordered among average risk baby boomers. Results A total of 65 114 patients ages ≥18 years were evaluated. Among baby boomers HCV screening test order increased threefold between the two study years (4.0%‐12.9%). Odds of screening test ordered were significantly higher for non‐Hispanic Blacks (multivariable adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=1.36; 95% CI = 1.19‐1.55), males (aOR = 1.44; 95% CI = 1.33‐1.57), and having a clinic visit with a primary care provider alone or with specialty care (aOR = 3.25‐4.16). Medicare (aOR = 0.89; 95% CI = 0.80‐0.99), Medicaid (aOR 0.89; 95% CI 0.80‐0.99), and an unknown provider type (aOR = 0.16; 95% CI = 0.08‐0.33), were associated with lower odds of screening tests ordered. Conclusions While the proportion of baby boomers with an HCV screening test ordered increased during the study, the rate of screening remains far below national goals. Data from this study indicate that providers are not ordering HCV screening universally for all of their baby boomer patients. Continued efforts to increase HCV screening are needed to reduce the incidence of HCV‐related morbidity and mortality.

BACKGROUND: 50% of liver cancer is caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). Baby boomers are at increased risk and are recommended for one-time HCV screening. However

The locus coeruleus is the initial site of Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology, with hyperphosphorylated Tau appearing in early adulthood followed by neurodegeneration in dementia. Locus coeruleus dysfunction contributes to Alzheimer’s pathobiology in experimental models, which can be rescued by increasing norepinephrine transmission. To test norepinephrine augmentation as a potential disease-modifying therapy, we performed a biomarker-driven phase II trial of atomoxetine, a clinically-approved norepinephrine transporter inhibitor, in subjects with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease. The design was a single-centre, 12-month double-blind crossover trial. Thirty-nine participants with mild cognitive impairment and biomarker evidence of Alzheimer’s disease were randomized to atomoxetine or placebo treatment. Assessments were collected at baseline, 6- (crossover) and 12-months (completer). Target engagement was assessed by CSF and plasma measures of norepinephrine and metabolites. Prespecified primary outcomes were CSF levels of IL1α and TECK. Secondary/exploratory outcomes included clinical measures, CSF analyses of amyloid-β42, Tau, and pTau181, mass spectrometry proteomics and immune-based targeted inflammation-related cytokines, as well as brain imaging with MRI and fluorodeoxyglucose-PET. Baseline demographic and clinical measures were similar across trial arms. Dropout rates were 5.1% for atomoxetine and 2.7% for placebo, with no significant differences in adverse events. Atomoxetine robustly increased plasma and CSF norepinephrine levels. IL-1α and TECK were not measurable in most samples. There were no significant treatment effects on cognition and clinical outcomes, as expected given the short trial duration. Atomoxetine was associated with a significant reduction in CSF Tau and pTau181 compared to placebo, but not associated with change in amyloid-β42. Atomoxetine treatment also significantly altered CSF abundances of protein panels linked to brain pathophysiologies, including synaptic, metabolism and glial immunity, as well as inflammation-related CDCP1, CD244, TWEAK and osteoprotegerin proteins. Treatment was also associated with significantly increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor and reduced triglycerides in plasma. Resting state functional MRI showed significantly increased inter-network connectivity due to atomoxetine between the insula and the hippocampus. Fluorodeoxyglucose-PET showed atomoxetine-associated increased uptake in hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, middle temporal pole, inferior temporal gyrus and fusiform gyrus, with carry-over effects 6 months after treatment. In summary, atomoxetine treatment was safe, well tolerated and achieved target engagement in prodromal Alzheimer’s disease. Atomoxetine significantly reduced CSF Tau and pTau, normalized CSF protein biomarker panels linked to synaptic function, brain metabolism and glial immunity, and increased brain activity and metabolism in key temporal lobe circuits. Further study of atomoxetine is warranted for repurposing the drug to slow Alzheimer’s disease progression.

Graphic Abstract Tons of waste from residential, commercial and manufacturing activities are generated due to the growing population, urbanization and economic development, prompting the need for sustainable measures. Numerous ways of converting waste to aerogels, a novel class of ultra-light and ultra-porous materials, have been researched to tackle the issues of waste. This review provides an overview of the status of aerogels made from agricultural waste, municipal solid, and industrial waste focusing on the fabrication, properties, and applications of such aerogels. The review first introduced common methods to synthesize the aerogels from waste, including dispersion and drying techniques. Following that, numerous works related to aerogels from waste are summarized and compared, mainly focusing on the sustainability aspect of the processes involved and their contributions for environmental applications such as thermal insulation and oil absorption. Next, advantages, and disadvantages of the current approaches are analyzed. Finally, some prospective waste aerogels and its applications are proposed.

Tauopathies are a group of more than twenty known disorders that involve progressive neurodegeneration, cognitive decline and pathological tau accumulation. Current therapeutic strategies provide only limited, late-stage symptomatic treatment. This is partly due to lack of understanding of the molecular mechanisms linking tau and cellular dysfunction, especially during the early stages of disease progression. In this study, we treated early stage tau transgenic mice with a multi-target kinase inhibitor to identify novel substrates that contribute to cognitive impairment and exhibit therapeutic potential. Drug treatment significantly ameliorated brain atrophy and cognitive function as determined by behavioral testing and a sensitive imaging technique called manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI) with quantitative R1 mapping. Surprisingly, these benefits occurred despite unchanged hyperphosphorylated tau levels. To elucidate the mechanism behind these improved cognitive outcomes, we performed quantitative proteomics to determine the altered protein network during this early stage in tauopathy and compare this model with the human Alzheimer&rsquo, s disease (AD) proteome. We identified a cluster of preserved pathways shared with human tauopathy with striking potential for broad multi-target kinase intervention. We further report high confidence candidate proteins as novel therapeutically relevant targets for the treatment of tauopathy. Proteomics data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD023562.

The most derived method and realistic way to predict the current stock price is via media resource and trusted new. In this paper, we will apply the current classifier text technique (Based LSTM) and pre-trained model from transfer learning to gain more intuition in financial news and precisely predict stock price. Finally, after using the latest pre-trained word embedding and a classification layer. We have achieved the robust success, and the experiment result shows that our method is able to outperform in accuracy than the previous one and have some advantage in the adaptive dataset.

Integrative proteomic analysis identifies CSF biomarker panels linked to brain-based pathophysiologies in Alzheimer’s disease., Alzheimer’s disease (AD) lacks protein biomarkers reflective of its diverse underlying pathophysiology, hindering diagnostic and therapeutic advancements. Here, we used integrative proteomics to identify cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers representing a wide spectrum of AD pathophysiology. Multiplex mass spectrometry identified ~3500 and ~12,000 proteins in AD CSF and brain, respectively. Network analysis of the brain proteome resolved 44 biologically diverse modules, 15 of which overlapped with the CSF proteome. CSF AD markers in these overlapping modules were collapsed into five protein panels representing distinct pathophysiological processes. Synaptic and metabolic panels were decreased in AD brain but increased in CSF, while glial-enriched myelination and immunity panels were increased in brain and CSF. The consistency and disease specificity of panel changes were confirmed in >500 additional CSF samples. These panels also identified biological subpopulations within asymptomatic AD. Overall, these results are a promising step toward a network-based biomarker tool for AD clinical applications.

Background It is unclear whether HIV infection affects the long‐term prognosis after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The objective of the current study was to compare rates of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events after a first ACS between people living with HIV (PLHIV) and HIV‐uninfected (HIV−) patients, and to identify determinants of cardiovascular prognosis. Methods and Results Consecutive PLHIV and matched HIV− patients with a first episode of ACS were enrolled in 23 coronary intensive care units in France. Patients were matched for age, sex, and ACS type. The primary end point was major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (cardiac death, recurrent ACS, recurrent coronary revascularization, and stroke) at 36‐month follow‐up. A total of 103 PLHIV and 195 HIV− patients (mean age, 49 years [SD, 9 years]; 94.0% men) were included. After a mean of 36.6 months (SD, 6.1 months) of follow‐up, the risk of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events was not statistically significant between PLHIV and HIV− patients (17.8% and 15.1%, P =0.22; multivariable hazard ratio [HR], 1.60; 95% CI, 0.67–3.82 [ P =0.29]). Recurrence of ACS was more frequent among PLHIV (multivariable HR, 6.31; 95% CI, 1.32–30.21 [ P =0.02]). Stratified multivariable Cox models showed that HIV infection was the only independent predictor for ACS recurrence. PLHIV were less likely to stop smoking (47% versus 75%; P =0.01) and had smaller total cholesterol decreases (–22.3 versus –35.0 mg/dL; P =0.04). Conclusions Although the overall risk of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events was not statistically significant between PLHIV and HIV− individuals, PLHIV had a higher rate of recurrent ACS. Registration URL: https://www.clini​caltr​ials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT00139958.

Tauopathies are a group of more than twenty known disorders that involve progressive neurodegeneration, cognitive decline, and pathological tau accumulation. Current therapeutic strategies provide only limited, late-stage symptomatic treatment. This is partly due to lack of understanding of the molecular mechanisms linking tau and cellular dysfunction, especially during the early stages of disease progression. In this study, we treated early stage tau transgenic mice with a multi-target kinase inhibitor to identify novel substrates that contribute to cognitive impairment and exhibit therapeutic potential. Drug treatment significantly ameliorated brain atrophy and cognitive function as determined by behavioral testing and a sensitive imaging technique called manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI) with quantitative R1 mapping. Surprisingly, these benefits occurred despite unchanged hyperphosphorylated tau levels. To elucidate the mechanism behind these improved cognitive outcomes, we performed quantitative proteomics to determine the altered protein network during this early stage in tauopathy and compare this model with the human AD proteome. We identified a cluster of preserved pathways shared with human tauopathy with striking potential for broad multi-target kinase intervention. We further report high confidence candidate proteins as novel therapeutically relevant targets for the treatment of tauopathy.One Sentence SummaryMulti-target kinase inhibition rescues cognitive function in early stage tauopathy mice and reverses proteomic shifts common to Alzheimer’s disease in humans.

Introduction Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, characterized by progressive cognitive decline. Protein biomarkers of AD brain pathology, including β-amyloid and Tau, are reflected in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), yet the identification of additional biomarkers linked to other brain pathophysiologies remains elusive. We recently reported a multiplex tandem-mass tag (TMT) CSF proteomic analysis of nearly 3000 proteins, following depletion of highly abundant proteins and off-line fractionation, across control and AD cases. Of these, over 500 proteins were significantly increased or decreased in AD, including markers reflecting diverse biological functions in brain. Here, we use a targeted mass spectrometry (MS) approach, termed parallel reaction monitoring (PRM), to quantify select CSF biomarkers without pre-depletion or fractionation to assess the reproducibility of our findings and the specificity of changes for AD versus other causes of cognitive impairment. Method We nominated 41 proteins (94 peptides) from the TMT CSF discovery dataset, representing a variety of brain cell-types and biological functions, for label-free PRM analysis in a replication cohort of 88 individuals that included 20 normal controls, 37 clinically diagnosed AD cases and 31 cases with non-AD cognitive impairment. To control for technical variables, isotopically labeled synthetic heavy peptide standards were added into each of the 88 CSF tryptic digests. Furthermore, a peptide pool, representing an equivalent amount of peptide from all samples, was analyzed (n = 10) across each batch. Together, this approach enabled us to assess both the intra- and inter-sample differences in peptide signal response and retention time. Results Despite differences in sample preparation, quantitative MS approaches and patient samples, 25 proteins, including Tau, had a consistent and significant change in AD in both the discovery and replication cohorts. Validated CSF markers with low coefficient of variation included the protein products for neuronal/synaptic (GDA, GAP43, SYN1, BASP1, YWHAB, YWHAZ, UCHL1, STMN1 and MAP1B), glial/inflammation (SMOC1, ITGAM, CHI3L1, SPP1, and CHIT1) and metabolic (PKM, ALDOA and FABP3) related genes. Logistical regression analyses revealed several proteins with high sensitivity and specificity for classifying AD cases from controls and other non-AD dementias. SMOC1, YWHAZ, ALDOA and MAP1B emerged as biomarker candidates that could best discriminate between individuals with AD and non-AD cognitive impairment as well as Tau/β-amyloid ratio. Notably, SMOC1 levels in postmortem brain are highly correlated with AD pathology even in the preclinical stage of disease, indicating that CSF SMOC1 levels reflect underlying brain pathology specific for AD. Conclusion Collectively these findings highlight the utility of targeted MS approaches to quantify biomarkers associated with AD that could be used for monitoring disease progression, stratifying patients for clinical trials and measuring therapeutic response.

The use of photogrammetry and terrestrial laser scanning for building information modelling (BIM) in the documentation and conservation of Cultural Heritage (CH) is now well established. By combining BIM with the latest visualization technologies, powerful, semi-immersive experiences can be developed to enhance the dissemination of CH. In semi-immersive experiences such as Augmented Reality (AR), digital content can be overlapped on to physical spaces, providing a new way to interact with both the physical space and the digital content. This paper discusses the translation of a digital object created using BIM, into a physical object and the utilisation of this physical object as a trigger for an AR experience. The case study looks at one of the neo- Gothic window frames from the House of Commons in the Centre Block of the Parliament Hill National Historic Site, in Ottawa, Canada. The window frame is one in a series that represents a Canadian province or territory with a stained glass feature that includes floral emblems and heraldic symbols from the respective provincial or territorial shield. The frame in this case study corresponds to the stained glass window of five provinces. Using the replica frame as a target, the user can select which stained glass windows they would like to view in the AR application. Through these combined technologies, we argue that CH can be revealed in a more interactive way and therefore more engaging manner – making even inaccessible architectural details readily available to the public.

Highlights • Total nasal defect after chemoradiation was complex and difficult to rebuild. • The surgery was divided into 3 stages with each stage to prepare for the next stage. • With the multiple facial unit defects, reconstruction is based on aesthetic unit. • After using multiple local flaps to reconstruct the defect, the result was improved., Introduction Nasal-type extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphomas are a rare type of clinical condition. Reconstruction of the complex nasal defect after chemoradiation is extremely challenging for plastic surgeons. Presentation of case Here we present the case of a 56-year old female with the condition of a nasal-type NK/T-cell lymphoma which had caused complex nasal disfigurement. The patient had undergone chemoradiotherapy. Lesions after treatment were present all over the nasal defect (nasal septum, mucosa, support frame and skin) and the left cheek medial subunit. The surgery was subdivided into 3 stages. First, we removed the infectious tissue and restored the wall of nasal cavity by the left forehead – scalp flap. Second, we used the pedicle of the left forehead flap to rebuild the nasal mucosa defect, the rotational flap to rebuild the cheek defect, and the right forehead flap to recovered skin defect of the nose. Finally, we divided the pedicle of right forehead flap. Discussion The complex nasal defect is difficult to reconstruct and has a higher risk of failure in patient who received chemoradiotherapy. It is crucial to choose the right materials and have a confident plan in order to achieve successful results for the sake of the patient. Conclusion Our case report shows that the nasal defect caused by a nasal-type NK/T-cell lymphoma is complex. After our 3 stages plan for the surgery, as well as using multiple flaps for reconstruction from the forehead skin, the result was significant reduction in the disfiguration of the patient’s nose.

Massive quantities of fly ash are produced worldwide from thermal power plants, posing a serious environmental threat due to their storage and disposal problems. In this study, for the first time, fly ash is converted into an advanced and novel aerogel through a green and eco-friendly process. The developed aerogel has a low density of 0.10–0.19 g cm−3, a high porosity of up to 90%, a low thermal conductivity of 0.042–0.050 W/mK, and a good sound absorption coefficient (noise reduction coefficient [NRC] value of 0.20–0.30). It also shows a high compressive Young’s modulus of up to 150 kPa. Therefore, the newly developed fly ash aerogel is a potential material for thermal and acoustic insulation applications, along with lightweight composites in automotive and aerospace applications.

Recycled polyethylene tetraphalate (rPET) fiber–silica aerogels are successfully developed from rPET fibers obtained from PET plastic bottle waste and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). The rPET – silica aerogels are prepared through a direct gelation of silica on PET. rPET fibers are treated with dichloromethane to partially dissolve the fibers. The fibers are then dipped and allow to swell in TEOS/ethanol mixture, with the pH controlled to 2.5 using HCl to promote hydrolysis. After the acid hydrolysis, the pH was controlled to 7 with an ammonium hydroxide solution (NH4OH) to promote condensation. The surface modification is carried out in a trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS)/n-hexane solution and washed with n-hexane to dry at room temperature to prevent shrinkage. The developed rPET – silica aerogels exhibit super-hydrophobicity with an average water contact angle of 149.9°. Their thermal conductivity is approximately 0.037 W/m K. They have a very low compressive Young’s Modulus (0.95–4.19 kPa) and hence very soft. By utilizing rPET fibers, this work provides an alternative method of recycling PET plastic wastes which ultimately helps in reducing its detrimental impact to the environment. The developed aerogels can be used in several industrial applications such as heat insulation, filtering, sound insulation and absorption.

Large scale production of H2, a clean fuel, can be realized with just water and solar light energy by employing a viable energy conversion device called artificial leaf. In this tutorial review, we discuss on advances achieved recently and technical challenges remained toward the creation of such a leaf. Development of key components like catalysts for water electrolysis process and light harvester for harvesting solar energy as well as strategies being developed for assembling these components to create a complete artificial leaf will be highlighted.

Background Aortic graft infection (AGI) is a rare complication following reconstructive aortic surgery, yet it represents a significant source of morbidity and mortality. There is no consensus regarding the optimal surgical management, due in part to the small cohorts of patient reports. Pedicled muscle or omental flap coverage of AGI has been shown to improve outcomes, making them a valuable consideration in the treatment algorithm. Thus, we aim to compile and evaluate cases of autologous vascularized tissue (AVT) in the treatment of infected aortic grafts, summarizing location specific trends, treatments, and outcomes. Methods A comprehensive review of peer-reviewed literature regarding the management of AGI was performed. Data collected included patient characteristics, original procedure, pathogen, infection location, tissue utilized, technique of tissue isolation and delivery, staging, outcome, length of follow-up, and level of evidence. Results Ninety-four cases of AGI managed with AVT transfer were identified. Infection of ascending aorta grafts accounted for 59% of cases, followed by a combination of ascending aorta and aortic arch (21%), the descending thoracic aorta (18%), and the thoracoabdominal aorta (2%). The infected graft was preserved in 81% of cases, followed by debridement and AVT coverage. The omentum was the most commonly applied flap (69%) for all divisions of the aorta followed by the pectoralis major (19%), the rectus abdominis (5%), and latissimus dorsi (4%). Mortality was limited, and the Powered by Editorial Manager and ProduXion Manager from Aries Systems Corporation overall survival was 93% (7 deaths), with a mean follow-up of 33.5 months. Conclusions Autologous vascularized tissue coverage has proven to be a successful approach for treatment of infected aortic grafts. Although the incidence of AGI is rare, it represents an area of scarce evidence-based literature that warrants increased attention and surgical refinement. These results, which show a remarkably low infection-related mortality rate (3%), should encourage interdisciplinary collaboration with the plastic surgeon, cardiothoracic surgeon, and infectious disease specialists with the goal of improving outcomes in the treatment of infected aortic grafts.

International audience; No abstract available

Objective. To identify factors associated with increased proportion of early gastric cancer to total detected gastric cancer among patients undergoing diagnostic esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Methods. A nationwide survey was conducted across 6 central-type and 6 municipal-type Vietnamese hospitals. A questionnaire regarding annual esophagogastroduodenoscopy volume, esophagogastroduodenoscopy preparation, the use of image-enhanced endoscopy, and number of gastric cancer diagnosed in 2018 was sent to each hospital. Results. The total proportion of early gastric cancer was 4.0% (115/2857). Routine preparation with simethicone and the use of image-enhanced endoscopy were associated with higher proportion of early gastric cancer (OR 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1–3.2, p=0.016; OR 2.7, 95% CI: 1.8–4.0, p<0.001, respectively). Esophagogastroduodenoscopies performed at central-type hospitals were associated with higher proportion of early gastric cancer (OR 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1–3.2, p=0.017). Esophagogastroduodenoscopies performed at hospitals with an annual volume of 30.000–60.000 were associated with higher proportion of early gastric cancer than those performed at hospitals with an annual volume of 10.000-p<0.001) and with a volume of >60.000–100.000 (OR 2.7, 95% CI: 1.7–4.2, p<0.001). Only four (33.3%) hospitals reported all endoscopic types of early gastric cancer. Conclusions. The detection of early gastric cancer is still challenging even for endoscopists working in regions with relatively high prevalence. The real-world evidence showed that endoscopic detection of early gastric cancer could potentially improve with simple adjustments of esophagogastroduodenoscopy protocols.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) features a complex web of pathological processes beyond amyloid accumulation and tau-mediated neuronal death. To meaningfully advance AD therapeutics, there is an urgent need for novel biomarkers that comprehensively reflect these disease mechanisms. Here we applied an integrative proteomics approach to identify cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers linked to a diverse set of pathophysiological processes in the diseased brain. Using multiplex proteomics, we identified >3,500 proteins across 40 CSF samples from control and AD patients and >12,000 proteins across 48 postmortem brain tissues from control, asymptomatic AD (AsymAD), AD, and other neurodegenerative cases. Co-expression network analysis of the brain tissues resolved 44 protein modules, nearly half of which significantly correlated with AD neuropathology. Fifteen modules robustly overlapped with proteins quantified in the CSF, including 271 CSF markers highly altered in AD. These 15 overlapping modules were collapsed into five panels of brain-linked fluid markers representing a variety of cortical functions. Neuron-enriched synaptic and metabolic panels demonstrated decreased levels in the AD brain but increased levels in diseased CSF. Conversely, glial-enriched myelination and immunity panels were highly increased in both the brain and CSF. Using high-throughput proteomic analysis, proteins from these panels were validated in an independent CSF cohort of control, AsymAD, and AD samples. Remarkably, several validated markers were significantly altered in AsymAD CSF and appeared to stratify subpopulations within this cohort. Overall, these brain-linked CSF biomarker panels represent a promising step toward a physiologically comprehensive tool that could meaningfully enhance the prognostic and therapeutic management of AD.

AIM This study aimed to measure sound exposure during neonatal retrieval, determine whether this varied with mode of transport, and compare noise exposure to recommended levels in neonatal intensive care units. We also aimed to assess the acceptability of using a smartphone application to measure sound. SETTING Neonatal retrieval service in Brisbane, Australia. METHODS The Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite application was installed on a Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone and calibrated for sound measurement. Data were collected during outbound, non-patient legs of 45 retrievals - 25 road, 11 fixed wing aircraft and 9 rotary aircraft journeys. Data were saved to cloud storage, then analysed using PostgreSQL database. RESULTS The median sound level was 83 dB (interquartile range 66-91; range 27-≥97 dB). Continuous equivalent sound (Leq ) was 90 dB across all journeys. Rotary transport was loudest (Leq 94 dB). Fixed wing (Leq 89 dB) and road (Leq 87 dB) journeys also resulted in significant sound exposure. Sound exceeded recommended levels (45 dB) for 99% of all journey time, regardless of the mode of transport. CONCLUSIONS Neonates encounter harmful sound levels during retrieval - louder than recommended levels for 99% of all retrieval time. Sounds levels were highest in rotary aircraft transport compared to fixed wing or road transport. It is feasible to use a calibrated smartphone application instead of a sound metre.

Cerebral atherosclerosis is a leading cause of stroke and an important contributor to dementia. However, little is known about its molecular effects on the human brain and how these alterations may contribute to dementia. Here, we investigated these questions using large-scale quantification of over 8300 proteins from 438 post-mortem brains from a discovery and replication cohort. A proteome-wide association study and protein network analysis of cerebral atherosclerosis found 114 proteins and 5 protein co-expression modules associated with cerebral atherosclerosis. Enrichment analysis of these proteins and modules revealed that cerebral atherosclerosis was associated with reductions in synaptic signaling and RNA splicing and increases in oligodendrocyte development and myelination. A subset of these proteins (n=23) and protein modules (n=2) were also associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia, implicating a shared mechanism with AD through decreased synaptic signaling and regulation and increased myelination. Notably, neurofilament light (NEFL) and medium (NEFM) chain proteins were among these 23 proteins, and our data suggest they contribute to AD dementia through cerebral atherosclerosis. Together, our findings offer insights into effects of cerebral atherosclerosis on the human brain proteome, and how cerebral atherosclerosis contributes to dementia risk.

Exercising in a tropical climate with constant high temperatures and high humidity increases the risk of heatstroke for active people who frequently train outdoors. For these active persons, a cooling source of water nearby can be essential, and this is usually carried in canteen bottles. However, commercially available water canteen bottles have limited thermal insulation capability to keep the liquid content cooled for the required period. This work proposed an engineering solution to enhance the heat insulation performance of water canteen bottles, using recycled cellulose aerogels made from paper waste for the first time as an insulating layer. Recycled cellulose aerogels wrapped around the water canteen bottle provides excellent thermal insulation performance, while not adding significant weight to the bottle. The temperature of the ice slurry in the canteen bottle was measured periodically over four hours with a mercury thermometer. The effects of the static and dynamic conditions on the temperature rate were also quantified. A 1.5 cm thickness of 1.0 wt.% recycled cellulose aerogel wrapped around the canteen bottle can provide an excellent thermal insulation performance with the lowest rise in temperature, achieving a low final temperature of the ice slurry content of 3.5 &deg, C after 4 h. This result is much better than that provided by available commercial bottles under the same conditions.

A promising and economic material for various applications, such as thermal insulation in construction building and oil clean-up in marine ecosystems, is successfully developed from the by-product of the sugarcane industry. Biodegradable sugarcane bagasse aerogels are produced using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) binder, followed by a freeze-drying method. This environmental-friendly recycled aerogel has an ultra-low density ([0.016-0.112] g/cm3), a high porosity ([91.9–98.9]%), and a very low thermal conductivity ([0.031-0.042] W/mK). Its superhydrophobicity properties and its maximum oil absorption capacity (up to 25 g/g) are measured after coating aerogel samples with methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS). The biodegradable aerogel has a Young's modulus of 88 K Pa and can be bent without breaking, demonstrating its high flexibility.

Background: Basic and clinical scientific research at the University of South Florida (USF) have intersected to support a multi-faceted approach around a common focus on rare iron-related diseases. We proposed a modified version of the National Center for Biotechnology Information’s (NCBI) Hackathon-model to take full advantage of local expertise in building “Iron Hack”, a rare disease-focused hackathon. As the collaborative, problem-solving nature of hackathons tends to attract participants of highly-diverse backgrounds, organizers facilitated a symposium on rare iron-related diseases, specifically porphyrias and Friedreich’s ataxia, pitched at general audiences. Methods: The hackathon was structured to begin each day with presentations by expert clinicians, genetic counselors, researchers focused on molecular and cellular biology, public health/global health, genetics/genomics, computational biology, bioinformatics, biomolecular science, bioengineering, and computer science, as well as guest speakers from the American Porphyria Foundation (APF) and Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA) to inform participants as to the human impact of these diseases. Results: As a result of this hackathon, we developed resources that are relevant not only to these specific disease-models, but also to other rare diseases and general bioinformatics problems. Within two and a half days, “Iron Hack” participants successfully built collaborative projects to visualize data, build databases, improve rare disease diagnosis, and study rare-disease inheritance. Conclusions: The purpose of this manuscript is to demonstrate the utility of a hackathon model to generate prototypes of generalizable tools for a given disease and train clinicians and data scientists to interact more effectively.

Objective This study aimed to measure the light levels neonates would be exposed to during retrieval, determine whether this varied with transport mode, and compare them with recommended light exposure in neonatal intensive care units. We also aimed to determine the ease of use and acceptability of using the smartphone application. Setting A neonatal retrieval service in Brisbane, Australia. Methods This prospective study used the calibrated smartphone application Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite (Vieyra Software, Washington, DC). Data were collected during the outbound, nonpatient leg of 45 retrievals (25 road, 11 fixed wing aircraft, and 9 rotary aircraft journeys). Data were saved to Cloud storage and then analyzed using the PostgreSQL database. Results The median illuminance was 6 lux (interquartile range [IQR], 1-58). The maximum recorded was 93,842 lux. The median illuminance during daytime journeys was 15 lux (IQR, 2-77). The median light level for night journeys was 1 lux (IQR, 0.5-8). Illuminance exceeded the recommended level (600 lux) for 2.1% of all journey time. Conclusion Retrieved neonates can be exposed to light in excess of recommended neonatal intensive care unit levels, including extremely bright light. It is feasible, with good staff acceptability, for a calibrated smartphone application to be used in place of a light meter.

International audience; Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are reversible inhibitors of cyclo-oxygenase (COX), mainly used for the symptomatic relief of pain, whether traumatic, infectious, episodic or rheumatologic. Use for the long-term relief of inflammation is waning with the emergence of specific biotherapies. Their effects are related to potency, dosage, and pharmacokinetic or galenic considerations. Adverse reactions are mostly related to COX inhibition, and to the relative COX1 and COX2 inhibition. Over the years have resulted in the withdrawal of some NSAIDs. The most common adverse reactions are: gastrointestinal (COX1) which have declined over time with the emergence of more COX1 sparing drugs and gastroprotection; renal, with an impact on renal function and sodium extraction that is associated with hypertension, heart failure exacerbation, and stress-related renal failure; allergic skin reactions; increased transaminases and acute liver injury which may be idiosyncratic or immunoallergic; increased risk of acute coronary syndromes, initially associated with high-dose long-term use of COX2 specific inhibitors in controlled clinical trials, though more recently there have been indications from poorly controlled observational studies that they could occur with most NSAIDs. Event rates in patients with no overt coronary heart disease are vanishingly low, and the real magnitude of the issue in the treatment of common pain is still unknown. Considering their purely symptomatic effects, they should be used at the lowest possible dose for the shortest possible time, based on the symptomatic relief of pain or fever.

Silica⿿cellulose aerogels were successfully developed from recycled cellulose fibres and methoxytrimethylsilane (MTMS) silica precursor for the first time. The developed silica⿿cellulose aerogels showed the super-hydrophobicity with an average water contact angle of 151°. Their thermal conductivity was approximately 0.04 W/mK. Moreover, the thermal degradation temperature for the cellulose component of the silica⿿cellulose aerogels showed a 25 °C improvement over those for cellulose aerogels. The sound absorption coefficients of the silica⿿cellulose aerogels with a 10 mm thickness were 0.39⿿0.50, better than those of cellulose aerogels (0.30⿿0.40) and commercial polystyrene foams. When the cellulose fibre concentration increases from 1.0 to 4.0 wt.%, the compressive Young⿿s modulus of the silica⿿cellulose aerogels can be enhanced 160%, up to 139 KPa. This work provides a facile approach to fabricate cost-effective and promising silica⿿cellulose aerogels with industrial dimensions for thermal and acoustic insulation applications.

Background: The overall survival (OS) analysis of the icon7 trial demonstrated that frontline ovarian cancer patients with a high risk of progression (stage III suboptimally debulked, and stage III or IV with unresectable disease) benefited from the addition of bevacizumab to standard chemotherapy compared with standard chemotherapy alone. The objective of the present study was to investigate the cost-effectiveness, from a Canadian publicly funded perspective, of adding bevacizumab to frontline treatment of ovarian cancer at high risk of progression. Methods: An area-under-the-curve, Markov-structured model was used to estimate the cost-effectiveness of the treatments. Long-term progression-free survival (PFS) and os were extracted from the icon7 trial (subgroup at high risk of relapse) and extrapolated by parametric time-to-event functions over a time horizon of 10 years. Canadian PFS health state utility values were obtained from the EQ-5D (EuroQoL Group, Rotterdam, Netherlands) questionnaires in the icon7 high-risk patient population. Canadian post-progression utility values were consistent with those for other gynecologic cancers. Cost inputs were informed by public sources. An annual 5% efficacy and cost discount rate was applied. A probabilistic sensitivity analysis and one-way sensitivity analyses were conducted. Results: Ovarian cancer patients at high risk of progression receiving bevacizumab plus standard chemotherapy experienced a mean incremental quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gain of 0.374 years. At an additional cost of $35,901.54, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for the addition of bevacizumab to standard chemotherapy, relative to standard chemotherapy alone, was $95,942 per QALY. Conclusions: No formal health technology assessment willingness-to-pay threshold exists in Canada. However, at a threshold of $100,000 per QALY, bevacizumab in addition to chemotherapy is a cost-effective alternative for ovarian cancer patients who are at high risk of progression (stage III suboptimally debulked, and stage III or IV with unresectable disease). Using the $100,000 per qaly threshold in a probabilistic sensitivity analysis, it was determined that, compared with standard chemotherapy, the addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy is cost-effective in 56% of tested scenarios.

Aims The aim of the present study was to describe the real-life usage patterns of paracetamol. Methods The Echantillon Generaliste de Beneficiaires (EGB) database, the permanent 1/97 representative sample from the French national healthcare insurance system, was searched in 2011 to identify usage patterns, concomitant chronic diseases and use of cardiovascular medication in users prescribed single-ingredient (SP) and combination (CP) paracetamol, representing 85% of all sales. Results Of 526 108 subjects aged ≥15 years in the EGB, 268 725 (51%) had paracetamol dispensed on ≥1 occasion; of these, 207 707 (77%) were dispensed only SP and 61 018 (23%) received CP with or without SP. SP users were younger (48.3 years vs. 50.5 years), and 57% of SP users vs. 58% of CP users were female. Chronic comorbidities were more common in CP than SP users. SP users had, on average, 3.4 dispensings per year vs. 5.0 for CP users, for 36 defined daily doses (DDD, 3 g) of SP vs. 53 DDD per year for CP; 49% SP users bought 14 DDD or fewer; 15% bought >60 DDD. Use of paracetamol increased with age from about 16 DDD per year in 15–30-year-olds to over 90 DDD per year in patients above the age of 75; 53% of patients ≤60 years bought fewer than 14 DDD per year, whereas 55% of those >60 bought more than 30 DDD per year. More than half the dispensings exceeded the legal per-box limit of 8 g. Conclusions Over 50% of the French adult population were dispensed paracetamol at least once over the course of a year, generally for short-term use. Considering recent misgivings on the real efficacy and safety of paracetamol, such widespread use might have important public health consequences.

Microbiome data are undergoing exponential growth powered by rapid technological advancement. As the scope and depth of microbiome research increases, cross-disciplinary research is urgently needed for interpreting and harnessing the unprecedented data output. However, conventional research settings pose challenges to much-needed interdisciplinary research efforts due to barriers in scientific terminologies, methodology and research-culture. To breach these barriers, our University of South Florida OneHealth Codeathon was designed to be an interactive, hands-on event that solves real-world data problems. The format brought together students, postdocs, faculty, researchers, and clinicians in a uniquely cross-disciplinary, team-focused setting. Teams were formed to encourage equitable distribution of diverse domain-experts and proficient programmers, with beginners to experts on each team. To unify the intellectual framework, we set the focus on the topics of microbiome interactions at different scales from clinical to environmental sciences, leveraging local expertise in the fields of genetics, genomics, clinical data, and social and geospatial sciences. As a result, teams developed working methods and pipelines to face major challenges in current microbiome research, including data integration, experimental power calculations, geospatial mapping, and machine-learning classifiers. This broad, transdisciplinary and efficient workflow will be an example for future workshops to deliver useful data-science products.

IMPORTANCE: Identifying genes and proteins for cognitive resilience (ie, targets that may be associated with slowing or preventing cognitive decline regardless of the presence, number, or combination of common neuropathologic conditions) provides a complementary approach to developing novel therapeutics for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer disease and related dementias. OBJECTIVE: To identify proteins associated with cognitive resilience via a proteome-wide association study of the human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This study used data from 391 community-dwelling older persons who participated in the Religious Orders Study and the Rush Memory and Aging Project. The Religious Orders Study began enrollment January 1, 1994, and the Rush Memory and Aging Project began enrollment September 1, 1997, and data were collected and analyzed through October 23, 2019. EXPOSURES: Participants had undergone annual detailed clinical examinations, postmortem evaluations, and tandem mass tag proteomics analyses. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The outcome of cognitive resilience was defined as a longitudinal change in cognition over time after controlling for common age-related neuropathologic indices, including Alzheimer disease, Lewy bodies, transactive response DNA-binding protein 43, hippocampal sclerosis, infarcts, and vessel diseases. More than 8000 high abundance proteins were quantified from frozen dorsolateral prefrontal cortex tissue using tandem mass tag and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: There were 391 participants (273 women); their mean (SD) age was 79.7 (6.7) years at baseline and 89.2 (6.5) years at death. Eight cortical proteins were identified in association with cognitive resilience: a higher level of NRN1 (estimate, 0.140; SE, 0.024; P = 7.35 × 10(−9)), ACTN4 (estimate, 0.321; SE, 0.065; P = 9.94 × 10(−7)), EPHX4 (estimate, 0.198; SE, 0.042; P = 2.13 × 10(−6)), RPH3A (estimate, 0.148; SE, 0.031; P = 2.58 × 10(−6)), SGTB (estimate, 0.211; SE, 0.045; P = 3.28 × 10(−6)), CPLX1 (estimate, 0.136; SE, 0.029; P = 4.06 × 10(−6)), and SH3GL1 (estimate, 0.179; SE, 0.039; P = 4.21 × 10(−6)) and a lower level of UBA1 (estimate, −0.366; SE, 0.076; P = 1.43 × 10(−6)) were associated with greater resilience. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: These protein signals may represent novel targets for the maintenance of cognition in old age.

According to the European Waste Codes EWC 19.12.08, fibers from used tires are known as special wastes that must be burned or buried. However, these activities would pose additional risks including soil pollution, and groundwater contamination. Scientists are continually discovering more new ways to recycle these wastes in order to minimize their ecological consequences. Our effort has been also directed into this direction, and we have been able to convert rubber fibers from tire waste into aerogels, an ideal candidate for a wide range of advanced applications due to their low density, high porosity, low thermal conductivity and high sound absorption coefficient. A novel but simple and time-saving strategy to fabricate rubber aerogel from waste tire fibers, derived from car tire wastes, is reported using a freeze-drying process. The obtained rubber aerogel with a robust mechanical performance, exhibiting a Young’s modulus up to 965.6 kPa and density 91 mg cm−3, can withstand a large elastic deformation without fracture. In addition, with a highly porous structure (porosity > 90 %) and an ultralight light density (20−91 mg cm−3), our rubber aerogels have a high sound absorption efficiency (noise reduction coefficient, or NRC of 0.56), and a low thermal conductivity (0.035−0.049 W m-1 K-1). These advanced rubber aerogels can be a promising candidate for thermal and acoustic insulation in cabins, vehicles, buildings, and aerospace.