Voltage And Waveform Control For Improved Selectivity In Electrodeposition In Low Background Species

Project required design, fabrication, and evaluation of a custom pulse power supply, developed under a Phase I DOE SBIR, in an electroforming laboratory to attempt to produce ultra-high purity copper

A Phosphatidylinositol-3-Kinase-Dependent Signal Transition Regulates ARF1 and ARF6 during Fcγ Receptor-Mediated Phagocytosis

Fcγ receptor (FcγR)–mediated phagocytosis of IgG-coated particles is regulated by 3′-phosphoinositides (3′PIs) and several classes of small GTPases, including ARF6 from the ADP Ribosylation Factor subfamily. The insensitivity of phagocytosis to brefeldin A (BFA), an inhibitor of certain ARF guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), previously indicated that ARF1 did not participate in phagocytosis. In this study, we show that ARF1 was activated during FcγR-mediated phagocytosis and that blocking normal ARF1 cycling inhibited phagosome closure. We examined the distributions and activation patterns of ARF6 and ARF1 during FcγR-mediated phagocytosis using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) stoichiometric microscopy of macrophages expressing CFP- or YFP-chimeras of ARF1, ARF6, and a GTP-ARF-binding protein domain. Both GTPases were activated by BFA-insensitive factors at sites of phagocytosis. ARF6 activation was restricted to the leading edge of the phagocytic cup, while ARF1 activation was delayed and delocalized over the phagosome. Phagocytic cups formed after inhibition of PI 3-kinase (PI-3K) contained persistently activated ARF6 and minimally activated ARF1. This indicates that a PI-3K-dependent signal transition defines the sequence of ARF GTPase activation during phagocytosis and that ARF6 and ARF1 coordinate different functions at the forming phagosome

Majorana Electroformed Copper Mechanical Analysis

The MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR is a large array of ultra-low background high-purity germanium detectors, enriched in 76Ge, designed to search for zero-neutrino double-beta decay. The DEMONSTRATOR will utilize ultra high purity electroformed copper for a variety of detector components and shielding. A preliminary mechanical evaluation was performed on the Majorana prototype electroformed copper material. Several samples were removed from a variety of positions on the mandrel. Tensile testing, optical metallography, scanning electron microscopy, and hardness testing were conducted to evaluate mechanical response. Analyses carried out on the Majorana prototype copper to this point show consistent mechanical response from a variety of test locations. Evaluation shows the copper meets or exceeds the design specifications

Volumetric modulated arc therapy total body irradiation improves toxicity outcomes compared to 2D total body irradiation.

INTRODUCTION: Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) total body irradiation (TBI) allows for greater organ sparing with improved target coverage compared to 2D-TBI. However, there is limited evidence of whether improved organ sparing translates to decreases in toxicities and how its toxicities compare to those of the 2D technique. We aimed to compare differences in toxicities among patients treated with TBI utilizing VMAT and 2D techniques. METHODS/MATERIALS: A matched-pair single-institution retrospective analysis of 200 patients treated with TBI from 2014 to 2023 was performed. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using log-rank tests. Differences in characteristics and toxicities between the VMAT and 2D cohorts were compared using Fishers exact test. RESULTS: Of the 200 patients analyzed, 100 underwent VMAT-TBI, and 100 underwent 2D-TBI. The median age for VMAT-TBI and 2D-TBI patients was 13.7 years and 16.2 years, respectively (p = 0.25). In each cohort, 53 patients were treated with myeloablative regimens (8-13.76 Gy), and 47 were treated with non-myeloablative regimens (2-4 Gy). For the entire VMAT-TBI cohort, lung Dmean, kidney Dmean, and lens Dmax were spared to 60.6% ± 5.0%, 71.0% ± 8.5%, and 90.1% ± 3.5% of prescription, respectively. For the non-myeloablative VMAT-TBI cohort, testis/ovary Dmax, brain, and thyroid Dmean were spared to 33.4% ± 7.3%, 75.4% ± 7.0%, and 76.1% ± 10.5%, respectively. For 2D-TBI, lungs were spared using partial-transmission lung blocks for myeloablative regimens. The VMAT-TBI cohort experienced significantly lower rates of any grade of pneumonitis (2% vs. 12%), nephrotoxicity (7% vs. 34%), nausea (68% vs. 81%), skin (16% vs. 35%), and graft versus host disease (GVHD) (42% vs. 62%) compared to 2D-TBI patients. For myeloablative regimen patients, rates of pneumonitis (0% vs. 17%) and nephrotoxicity (9% vs. 36%) were significantly lower with VMAT-TBI versus 2D-TBI (p < 0.01). Median follow-up was 14.3 months, and neither median OS nor PFS for the entire cohort was reached. In the VMAT versus 2D-TBI cohort, the 1-year OS was 86.0% versus 83.0% (p = 0.26), and the 1-year PFS was 86.6% and 80.0% (p = 0.36), respectively. CONCLUSION: Normal tissue sparing with VMAT-TBI compared to the 2D-TBI translated to significantly lower rates of pneumonitis, renal toxicity, nausea, skin toxicity, and GVHD in patients, while maintaining excellent disease control

Disulfides – Effective radical generators for flame retardancy of polypropylene

The potential of thirteen aliphatic, aromatic, thiuram and heterocyclic substituted organic disulfide derivatives of the general formula R-S-S-R’ as a new group of halogen-free flame retardants (FR) for polypropylene films have been investigated. According to DIN 4102-1 standard ignitibility test, for the first time it has been demonstrated that many of the disulfides alone can effectively provide flame retardancy and self-extinguishing properties to polypropylene (PP) films at already very low concentrations of 0.5 wt%. In an effort to elucidate the mechanism of the thermal decomposition of disulfide derivatives the fragmentation patterns of the evolved gases from a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) have been analyzed by simultaneous mass spectrometry (MS) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR). The main decomposition products initiated by homolytic scission of the S-S bond and/or scission of the C-S bond were identified as thiols, aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, isothiocyanates (depending on the disulfide structures) with further evolution of elemental sulfur and sulfur dioxide at temperatures of above 300 oC and 450 oC, respectively. Based on this preliminary study, we have shown that disulfides represented by e.g. diphenyl disulfide (1), 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (2), bis(1-phenyl-1H-tetrazol-5yl)-disulfide (4), 2-bisbenzothiazole-2,2′-disulfide (6) and N,N-dithiobis-(phtalimide) (10) constitute a new halogen-free family of additives for flame retarding of polypropylene

Maternal milk consumption, fetal growth, and the risks of neonatal complications: The Generation R Study

Background: Maternal cow-milk consumption may increase birth weight. Previous studies did not assess the association of maternal milk consumption with trimester-specific fetal growth. Objective: The objective was to assess associations of first-trimester maternal milk consumption with fetal growth characteristics in different trimesters and the risk of neonatal complications. Design: In total, 3405 mothers participating in a prospective cohort study completed a 293-item semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire to obtain information about dairy consumption during the first trimester of pregnancy. Fetal head circumference, femur length, and weight were estimated in the second and third trimesters by ultrasonography. Results: Maternal milk consumption of >3 glasses/d was associated with greater fetal weight gain in the third trimester of pregnancy, which led to an 88-g (95% CI: 39, 135 g) higher birth weight than that with milk consumption of 0 to 1 glass/d. In addition, head circumference tended to be 2.3 cm (95% CI: -0.0, 4.6 cm) larger when mothers consumed >3 glasses/d. Maternal milk consumption was not associated with length growth. Maternal protein intake (P for trend = 0.01), but not fat or carbohydrate intake, from dairy products was associated with higher birth weight. This association appeared to be limited to milk (P for trend < 0.01), whereas protein intake from nondairy food or cheese was not associated with birth weight. Conclusions: Maternal milk consumption is associated with greater fetal weight gain. The association seems to be due to milk protein, or milk components closely associated with protein, rather than to the fat or carbohydrate fraction of milk

Consensus recommendations on the treatment of opioid use disorder in the emergency department

The treatment of opioid use disorder with buprenorphine and methadone reduces morbidity and mortality in patients with opioid use disorder. The initiation of buprenorphine in the emergency department (ED) has been associated with increased rates of outpatient treatment linkage and decreased drug use when compared to patients randomized to receive standard ED referral. As such, the ED has been increasingly recognized as a venue for the identification and initiation of treatment for opioid use disorder, but no formal American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) recommendations on the topic have previously been published. The ACEP convened a group of emergency physicians with expertise in clinical research, addiction, toxicology, and administration to review literature and develop consensus recommendations on the treatment of opioid use disorder in the ED. Based on literature review, clinical experience, and expert consensus, the group recommends that emergency physicians offer to initiate opioid use disorder treatment with buprenorphine in appropriate patients and provide direct linkage to ongoing treatment for patients with untreated opioid use disorder. These consensus recommendations include strategies for opioid use disorder treatment initiation and ED program implementation. They were approved by the ACEP board of directors in January 2021