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Relations between US and Chinese corporations are increasingly strained. We examine how differences in the key domains of corporate governance, underlying corporate philosophy, innovation, and dispute resolution contribute to this strained relationship. We illustrate these differences by examining the relations between Skyworks Solutions (US) and ZTE (China). We discuss the three broad strategies available to US managers in engaging with Chinese corporations, depending on the extent of their involvement and comfort with discord: playing ball, straddling the middle ground, or decoupling.

Failure to rescue (FTR) is defined as death after a major complication. We evaluated FTR after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with and without hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).The ACS NSQIP database 2005-2018 was reviewed for all cases of CRS. Propensity score matching was used to compare outcomes between those undergoing CRS alone and those undergoing CRS/HIPEC. Patients were matched on age, sex, ascites, diabetes, hypertension and resection of liver, pancreas, colon/rectum, diaphragm, stomach, small bowel, and/or spleen.Thirty nine thousand one hundred and twenty-six patients underwent CRS; 38,387 underwent CRS alone; 739 underwent CRS/HIPEC. After matching there were 726 patients in each arm. Patients undergoing CRS/HIPEC had higher risk of reintubation (25 [3.4%] vs. 13 [1.8%] p = 0.049), urinary tract infection UTI (44 [6.1%] vs. 25 [3.4%] p = 0.019) and sepsis (73 [10.1%] vs. 44 [6.1%] p = 0.005). Patients in the CRS arm required more transfusions (229 [31.5%] vs. 176 [24.2%] p = 0.002). There was no significant difference in FTR between the CRS and CRS/HIPEC groups (11 [4.0%] vs. 6 [2.3%] p = 0.258), nor in the pooled incidence of major complications (275 [37.9%] vs. 262 [36.1%] p = 0.48).CRS/HIPEC is associated with increased rates of reintubation, UTI, and sepsis while CRS alone was associated with increased transfusion. However, the addition HIPEC to CRS did not increase the risk of pooled major complication or FTR.

Electrochemical reduction of atmospheric oxygen provides carbon emission-free pathways for the generation of electricity from chemical fuels and for the distributed production of green chemical oxidants like hydrogen peroxide. Recently, organic mixed ionic-electronic conducting polymers (OMIECs) have been reported as a new class of active electrode materials for the oxygen reduction reaction. This work sets out to identify the operative oxygen reduction mechanism of OMIECs through a multi-faceted experimental and theoretical approach. Using a combination of pH-dependent electrochemical characterization, operando UV-Vis and Raman spectroscopy, and ab initio calculations, we find that the n-type OMIEC, p(NDI-T2 P75), displays pH-dependent activity for the selective reduction of oxygen to the 2-electron hydrogen peroxide product. We use microkinetic simulations of the electrochemical behavior to rationalize our experimental observations through a polaron-mediated pathway involving chemical reduction of oxygen to the 1-electron superoxide intermediate followed by pH-dependent catalytic disproportionation to hydrogen peroxide. Finally, this pathway is applied to understand the experimental oxygen reduction reactivity of an expanded set of n- and p-type OMIECs.

OMIECs undergo structural rearrangements to accommodate ions and electronic charge carriers during which percolating networks are formed for efficient electronic charge transport.

Climate change is projected to have profound impacts on the resilience and sustainability of built infrastructure. This study aims to understand the impacts of climate change on water supply systems and to facilitate adaptive actions. A premium database maintained by the Cleveland Water Division, Cleveland, Ohio, USA is analyzed. It contains 29,621 pipe failure records of 51,832 pipes over the past 30 years, representing one of the largest dataset in current literature. From the database, pipe failure rate models have been developed for water pipes made of different types of materials at different ages. The influence of climate (temperature and precipitation) on fragility of water pipes are obtained. Based on the developed climate-fragility failure rate models, the impacts of climate change on the water systems located in different geographic regions are evaluated by predicting the failure rate and number of failures in the water systems in the next 80 years (2020 to 2100). Climate models are used to predict weather under different climate change scenerios. The results demonstrate that the impacts of climate change on water supply system are likely complicated and are dependent upon factors such as the geographic location, pipe material, pipe age, and maintenance strategies. Water pipes in the cold regions may experience less number breaks due to the warmer weather and less servere winter, whereas those located in the hot regions may experience more failures associated with more corrosion. Different pipe replacement strategies are compared, which demonstrate the importance of considering the aging of water supply system in future maintenance decisions. This study enriches current understandings on the impacts of climate change on the water systems. The results will help water utilities to design climate change adaptation strategies.

BACKGROUND: Severe combined immunodeficiency due to adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency (ADA-SCID) is a rare and life-threatening primary immunodeficiency. METHODS: We treated 50 patients with ADA-SCID (30 in the United States and 20 in the United Kingdom) with an investigational gene therapy composed of autologous CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) transduced ex vivo with a self-inactivating lentiviral vector encoding human ADA. Data from the two U.S. studies (in which fresh and cryopreserved formulations were used) at 24 months of follow-up were analyzed alongside data from the U.K. study (in which a fresh formulation was used) at 36 months of follow-up. RESULTS: Overall survival was 100% in all studies up to 24 and 36 months. Event-free survival (in the absence of reinitiation of enzyme-replacement therapy or rescue allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation) was 97% (U.S. studies) and 100% (U.K. study) at 12 months; 97% and 95%, respectively, at 24 months; and 95% (U.K. study) at 36 months. Engraftment of genetically modified HSPCs persisted in 29 of 30 patients in the U.S. studies and in 19 of 20 patients in the U.K. study. Patients had sustained metabolic detoxification and normalization of ADA activity levels. Immune reconstitution was robust, with 90% of the patients in the U.S. studies and 100% of those in the U.K. study discontinuing immunoglobulin-replacement therapy by 24 months and 36 months, respectively. No evidence of monoclonal expansion, leukoproliferative complications, or emergence of replication-competent lentivirus was noted, and no events of autoimmunity or graft-versus-host disease occurred. Most adverse events were of low grade. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of ADA-SCID with ex vivo lentiviral HSPC gene therapy resulted in high overall and event-free survival with sustained ADA expression, metabolic correction, and functional immune reconstitution. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health and others; ClinicalTrials.gov numbers, NCT01852071, NCT02999984, and NCT01380990.)

Nature materials 20, 674–682 (2021). doi:10.1038/s41563-020-00877-1, Published by Nature Publishing Group, Basingstoke

Background & Aims\ud Metabolic syndrome can lead to the clinical manifestation of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as part of the natural history of NAFLD. Despite a strong causative link, NAFLD-HCC is often underrepresented in systematic genome explorations.\ud Methods\ud Here, tumor-normal pairs from 100 subjects diagnosed with NAFLD-HCC were subject to next generation sequencings. Bioinformatic analyses were performed to identify key genomic, epigenomic and transcriptomic events associated with the pathogenesis of NAFLD to NAFLD-HCC. Establishment of primary patient-derived NAFLD-HCC culture was used as a representative human model for downstream in vitro investigations of underlying CTNNB1 S45P driver mutation. Syngeneic immunocompetent mouse model was used to further test the involvement of CTNNB1mut and TNFRSF19 in reshaping the tumor microenvironment.\ud Results\ud Mutational process operative in NAFLD-liver inferred susceptibility to tumor formation through defective DNA repair pathways. Dense promoter mutations and dysregulated transcription factors accentuated activated transcriptional regulation in NAFLD-HCC, in particular the enrichment of MAZ-MYC activities. Somatic events common in HCCs arising from NAFLD and viral hepatitis B infection underscore similar driver pathways, although an incidence shift highlights CTNNB1mut dominance in NAFLD-HCC (33%). Immune exclusion correlated evidently with CTNNB1mut. ChIP-seq integrated with transcriptome and immune profiling showed for the first time a transcriptional axis of CTNNB1mut/TNFRSF19/repressed senescence-associated secretory phenotype-like (SASP-like) cytokines (including IL6 and CXCL8). This phenomenon could be reverted by Wnt-modulator ICG001.\ud Conclusions\ud The unique mutational processes in NAFLD-liver and NAFLD-HCC alludes to a “field effect”. Whereby, distinct aberrations and shift in driver events reveal a gain-of-function role of CTNNB1 mutations in immune exclusion via TNFRSF19 inhibition of SASP-like features.\ud LAY SUMMARY\ud The increasing prevalence of metabolic syndrome in adult populations poised NAFLD-induced HCC to be the major type of liver cancer of the 21st century. We showed a strong “field effect” in NAFLD-liver from mutational signatures detected and a mechanistic path of activated β-catenin in reshaping the tumor-immune microenvironment.

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is commonly used to investigate the kinetics of mixed ionic–electronic conductor (MIEC) electrodes. Across various applications, MIECs exhibit ionic (e.g., insertion) and/or electronic (e.g., electrocatalytic) charge transfer reactions at the electrode/electrolyte interface. Bulk storage and transport of charge carriers also couple with these interfacial reactions. Here, we build a generalized, physics-based impedance model for MIECs with an ion-blocking current collector and explore how bulk and interfacial resistance, chemical capacitance, and DC polarization affect the impedance response. Using transition metal hydroxides as a case study, we provide guidance on extracting reaction kinetics or bulk resistance from the Nyquist plots in interface- or bulk-controlled conditions, respectively. Generalizing our EIS analysis enables a robust analysis of MIEC kinetics for a diverse set of systems.

Journal of materials chemistry / A (2021). doi:10.1039/D1TA03205D, Published by Royal Society of Chemistry, London [u.a.]

In order to model a pick and place machine, a graphical based programming approach is preferred as it will be easy for user to visualize the structure of system and relationship between different components and coordinates in the system. GraphScript is a new graphical modeling and planning tool developed by our team to model the geometrical relationships inside a machine and to set up the operational tasks for the machine. To demonstrate the effectiveness of GraphScript tool, we developed an experimental single gantry machine using GraphScript for pick and place of components. In order to achieve better accuracy of the placement, we also introduce the error map of the robot based on computer vision to reduce the placement offset of the robot arm. The calibration of the nozzles and robot arms makes use of error map to achieve better result in pick and place process. Finally, error map mask is introduced to provide the flexibility of the error map in different configuration of machine such as dual gantry pick and place machine.

Patients often refer to bowel preparation and associated dietary restrictions as the greatest deterrents to having a colonoscopy completed or performed. Large studies comparing a low-residue diet (LRD) and a clear liquid diet (CLD) are still limited. The aim of this study is to compare LRD and CLD with regard to bowel preparation quality, tolerance, and satisfaction among a diverse patient population.This study is a dual-center, randomized, single-blinded, prospective trial involving adult patients undergoing outpatient colonoscopy at the University of California Irvine Medical Center and an affiliated Veterans Administration hospital. Patients were randomized to consume either a CLD or a planned LRD for the full day prior to colonoscopy. Both groups consumed 4L split-dosed PEG-ELS. The adequacy of bowel preparation was evaluated using the Boston Bowel Preparation Score (BBPS). Adequate preparation was defined as a BBPS ≥ 6 with no individual segment less than a score of 2. Hunger and fatigue pre - and post-procedure were graded on a ten-point scale. Nausea, vomiting, bloating, abdominal cramping, overall discomfort, satisfaction with the diet, willingness to repeat the same preparation and overall experience were assessed.A total of 195 subjects who underwent colonoscopy from October 2014 to October 2017 were included. The mean BBPS for the LRD and CLD groups was 8.38 and 7.93, respectively (p = 0.1). There was a significantly higher number of adequate preparations in the LRD group compared to CLD (p = 0.05). Evening hunger scores just before starting the bowel preparation were significantly lower in the LRD than the CLD group, 2.81 versus 5.97, respectively (p = 0.006). Subjects in the LRD group showed significantly less nausea (p = 0.047) and bloating (p = 0.04). Symptom scores for vomiting, abdominal cramping, and overall discomfort were similar between the groups. Satisfaction with diet was significantly higher in the LRD group than CLD, 72% versus 37.66%, respectively (p 0.001). The overall colonoscopy experience and the satisfaction with the preparation itself were also better reported in the LRD group (p 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively).This study, which included a diverse group of patients, demonstrated that patients using a LRD before colonoscopy achieve a bowel preparation quality that is superior to patients on a CLD restriction. This study shows that a low-residue diet improves patient satisfaction and results in significantly better tolerability of bowel preparation. As a less restrictive dietary regimen, the low-residue diet may help improve patient participation in colorectal cancer screening programs.

Structure-activity relationships built on descriptors of bulk and bulk-terminated surfaces are the basis for the rational design of electrocatalysts. However, electrochemically driven surface transformations complicate the identification of such descriptors. Here we demonstrate how the as-prepared surface composition of (001)-terminated LaNiO

Background Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) of gene-modified cells is an alternative to enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) and allogeneic HSCT that has shown clinical benefit for adenosine deaminase-deficient (ADA-deficient) SCID when combined with reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) and ERT cessation. Clinical safety and therapeutic efficacy were evaluated in a phase II study. Methods Ten subjects with confirmed ADA-deficient SCID and no available matched sibling or family donor were enrolled between 2009 and 2012 and received transplantation with autologous hematopoietic CD34+ cells that were modified with the human ADA cDNA (MND-ADA) γ-retroviral vector after conditioning with busulfan (90 mg/m2) and ERT cessation. Subjects were followed from 33 to 84 months at the time of data analysis. Safety of the procedure was assessed by recording the number of adverse events. Efficacy was assessed by measuring engraftment of gene-modified hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, ADA gene expression, and immune reconstitution. Results With the exception of the oldest subject (15 years old at enrollment), all subjects remained off ERT with normalized peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) ADA activity, improved lymphocyte numbers, and normal proliferative responses to mitogens. Three of nine subjects were able to discontinue intravenous immunoglobulin replacement therapy. The MND-ADA vector was persistently detected in PBMCs (vector copy number [VCN] = 0.1-2.6) and granulocytes (VCN = 0.01-0.3) through the most recent visits at the time of this writing. No patient has developed a leukoproliferative disorder or other vector-related clinical complication since transplant. Conclusion These results demonstrate clinical therapeutic efficacy from gene therapy for ADA-deficient SCID, with an excellent clinical safety profile. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00794508. Funding Food and Drug Administration Office of Orphan Product Development award, RO1 FD003005; NHLBI awards, PO1 HL73104 and Z01 HG000122; UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute awards, UL1RR033176 and UL1TR000124.

Rapid worldwide growth in public policy education now offers excellent opportunities to assess the development of the field from a comparative perspective. Our analysis, which examines recent trends in public policy education by comparing public policy analysis courses taught in professional degree programs in China and in the United States, reveals considerable disparities in these curricula as taught in the two countries. Surprisingly, these differences have emerged primarily through disciplinary foci, expertise in policy analysis, and practical experience among instructors, rather than through the distinctive social, political, institutional, and historical characteristics of the two countries. Our findings also suggest that a positivist approach to policy analysis continues to dominate classroom discussions in US programs, despite intense debates in the literature regarding the utility of that approach in guiding actual practice.

Introduction: Big Data technologies instilled an informational perspective to our understanding of the world. However, fundamental issues such as the management and storage of data can create privacy concerns. Heterogeneous types of data pose challenges in reproducibility and standardization. It is now an opportunity for us to help the health-care professionals, educators, and policy-makers understand the impact of Big Data, and steer the development roadmap to positively impact the molecular diagnostic industry. Area covered: In this review, we discuss the latest trends in applying Big Data to several key areas of molecular diagnostics: metagenomics, Mendelian disease screening, personalized medicine, and metabolomics. The limitations of utilizing bioinformatics and Big Data analytic tools are also summarized. We further propose an action plan on how to prepare a new generation of health-care professionals to step into the age of Big Data through a tailor-made bioinformatics training program. Expert opinion: In order to cope with the development of these powerful technologies, issues of ethics, regulations, and data format standardization are urgently needed. Besides, a long-term planning to train medical scientists, pathologists, and specialists on bioinformatics is necessary. It is an appropriate time to review all these issues before implementing these tests for patients' diagnosis, prognosis and treatment efficacy.

Climate change alters global food systems, especially agriculture and fisheries—significant aspects of the livelihoods and food security of populations. The 2014 IPCC Fifth Assessment Report identified Southeast Asia as the most vulnerable coastal region in the world, and highlighted the potential distribution of impacts and risks of climate change in the region. While climate hazards may differ across geographical regions, the impact of climate extremes on food production will affect marginal farmers, fishers and poor urban consumers disproportionately, as they have limited capacities to adapt to and recover from extreme weather events. Governments and other stakeholders need to respond to climate extremes and incorporate adaptation into national development plans. Unfortunately, there is still limited peer-review publication on the subject matter. This paper presents some findings from research on observed and projected loss and damage inflicted by climate extremes on agricultural crops in Southeast Asia.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity represent two of the biggest global health challenges of this century and are associated with significant comorbidities and healthcare costs. Although multiple factors undoubtedly contribute to the development and progression of DM and obesity, research over the last decade has demonstrated that the microbes that colonize the human gut may play key contributory roles. Gut microbes are now known to codevelop with the human host and are strongly influenced by mode of birth and early diet and nutrition, as well as environmental and other factors including antibiotic exposure. Gut microbes contribute to human health through roles in polysaccharide breakdown, nutrient absorption, inflammatory responses, gut permeability, and bile acid modification. Numerous studies have suggested that disruptions in the relative proportions of gut microbial populations may contribute to weight gain and insulin resistance, including alterations in Gammaproteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia and the ratios of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes in weight gain and possible alterations in butyrate-producing bacteria such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in DM. In addition, it has been shown that the methanogenic Archaea may contribute to altered metabolism and weight gain in the host. However, the majority of studies are performed with stool or colonic samples and may not be representative of the metabolically active small intestine. Studies predominantly in rodent models are beginning to elucidate the mechanisms by which gut microbes contribute to DM and obesity, but much remains to be learned before we can begin to approach targeted treatments.