Laser treatment of cutaneous vascular lesions

Methods for treating maladies such as cutaneous vascular lesions. A patient in need of vascular lesion treatment is identified. A hyperosmotic agent is administered to a region adjacent the lesion. Blood flow velocity is slowed within the region using the hyperosmotic agent, and the lesion is exposed to laser radiation.Board of Regents, University of Texas Syste

Growth of plasmonic nanoparticles for aging cask-matured whisky

The maturation of spirit in wooden casks is key to the production of whisky, a hugely popular and valuable product, with the transfer and reaction of molecules from the wooden cask with the alcoholic spirit imparting color and flavor. However, time in the cask adds significant cost to the final product, requiring expensive barrels and decades of careful storage. Thus, many producers are concerned with what “age” means in terms of the chemistry and flavor profiles of whisky. We demonstrate here a colorimetric test for spirit “agedness” based on the formation of gold nanoparticles (NPs) by whisky. Gold salts were reduced by barrel-aged spirit and produce colored gold NPs with distinct optical properties. Information from an extinction profile, such as peak position, growth rate, or profile shape, was analyzed, and our assay output was correlated with measurements of the whisky sample makeup, assays for key functional groups, and spiking experiments to explore the mechanism in more detail. We conclude that age is not just a number, that the chemical fingerprint of key flavor compounds is a useful marker for determining whisky “age”, and that our simple reduction assay could assist in defining the aged character of a whisky and become a useful future tool on the warehouse floor

Supramolecular Click Chemistry for Surface Modification of Quantum Dots Mediated by Cucurbit[7]uril

Cucurbiturils (CBs), barrel-shaped macrocyclic molecules, are capable of self-assembling at the surface of nanomaterials in their native state, via their carbonyl-ringed portals. However, the symmetrical two-portal structure typically leads to aggregated nanomaterials. We demonstrate that fluorescent quantum dot (QD) aggregates linked with CBs can be broken-up, retaining CBs adsorbed at their surface, via inclusion of guests in the CB cavity. Simultaneously, the QD surface is modified by a functional tail on the guest, thus the high affinity host-guest binding (logKa > 9) enables a non-covalent, click-like modification of the nanoparticles in aqueous solution. We achieved excellent modification efficiency in several functional QD conjugates as protein labels. Inclusion of weaker-binding guests (logKa = 4-6) enables subsequent displacement with stronger binders, realising modular switchable surface chemistries. Our general "hook-and-eye" approach to host-guest chemistry at nanomaterial interfaces will lead to divergent routes for nano-architectures with rich functionalities for theranostics and photonics in aqueous systems

Supramolecular Click Chemistry for Surface Modification of Quantum Dots Mediated by Cucurbit[7]uril

Cucurbiturils (CBs), barrel-shaped macrocyclic molecules, are capable of self-assembling at the surface of nanomaterials in their native state, via their carbonyl-ringed portals. However, the symmetrical two-portal structure typically leads to aggregated nanomaterials. We demonstrate that fluorescent quantum dot (QD) aggregates linked with CBs can be broken-up, retaining CBs adsorbed at their surface, via inclusion of guests in the CB cavity. Simultaneously, the QD surface is modified by a functional tail on the guest, thus the high affinity host-guest binding (logKa > 9) enables a non-covalent, click-like modification of the nanoparticles in aqueous solution. We achieved excellent modification efficiency in several functional QD conjugates as protein labels. Inclusion of weaker-binding guests (logKa = 4-6) enables subsequent displacement with stronger binders, realising modular switchable surface chemistries. Our general “hook-and-eye” approach to host-guest chemistry at nanomaterial interfaces will lead to divergent routes for nano-architectures with rich functionalities for theranostics and photonics in aqueous systems

Data Drives Nebraska: Technology Advancements Impact Agriculture and Natural Resources

Strategic Discussions for Nebraska 2023 Data Drives Nebraska: Technology Advancements Impact Agriculture and Natural Resource

Miscellany

Art Writinghttps://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/miscell/1000/thumbnail.jp

Sepsis: when a simple infection becomes deadly

The immune system plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy body by working around the clock to recognize and respond to infection. Inflammation is part of the immune system’s protective response to an infection. The inflammatory response is incredibly powerful, so much so that it can damage the body’s cells if it is not tightly controlled. Sometimes, inflammation affects the whole body—this is called sepsis. The powerful and complex mechanisms in place to wipe out the infection can cause serious damage to healthy cells and tissues. Uncontrolled inflammation can cause irreversible damage to the body’s organs, such as the kidneys, eventually causing organs to shut down. If sepsis is not treated rapidly, it can lead to death. In this article, we describe the symptoms and diagnosis of sepsis and some of the current research being performed to better understand this dangerous process

Tobacco Smoke Mediated Induction of Sinonasal Microbial Biofilms

Cigarette smokers and those exposed to second hand smoke are more susceptible to life threatening infection than non-smokers. While much is known about the devastating effect tobacco exposure has on the human body, less is known about the effect of tobacco smoke on the commensal and commonly found pathogenic bacteria of the human respiratory tract, or human respiratory tract microbiome. Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common medical complaint, affecting 16% of the US population with an estimated aggregated cost of $6 billion annually. Epidemiologic studies demonstrate a correlation between tobacco smoke exposure and rhinosinusitis. Although a common cause of CRS has not been defined, bacterial presence within the nasal and paranasal sinuses is assumed to be contributory. Here we demonstrate that repetitive tobacco smoke exposure induces biofilm formation in a diverse set of bacteria isolated from the sinonasal cavities of patients with CRS. Additionally, bacteria isolated from patients with tobacco smoke exposure demonstrate robust in vitro biofilm formation when challenged with tobacco smoke compared to those isolated from smoke naïve patients. Lastly, bacteria from smoke exposed patients can revert to a non-biofilm phenotype when grown in the absence of tobacco smoke. These observations support the hypothesis that tobacco exposure induces sinonasal biofilm formation, thereby contributing to the conversion of a transient and medically treatable infection to a persistent and therapeutically recalcitrant condition

New Introductions, Spread of Existing Matrilines, and High Rates of Pyrethroid Resistance Result in Chronic Infestations of Bed Bugs (Cimex lectularius L.) in Lower-Income Housing

Infestations of the common bed bug (Cimex lectularius L.) have increased substantially in the United States in the past 10-15 years. The housing authority in Harrisonburg, Virginia, conducts heat-treatments after bed bugs are detected in a lower-income housing complex, by treating each infested unit at 60°C for 4-6 hours. However, a high frequency of recurrent infestations called into question the efficacy of this strategy. Genetic analysis using Bayesian clustering of polymorphic microsatellite loci from 123 bed bugs collected from 23 units from May 2012 to April 2013 in one building indicated that (a) 16/21 (73%) infestations were genetically similar, suggesting ineffective heat-treatments or reintroductions from within the building or from a common external source, followed by local spread of existing populations; and (b) up to 5 of the infestations represented new genotypes, indicating that 5 new populations were introduced into this building in one year, assuming they were not missed in earlier screens. There was little to no gene flow among the 8 genetic clusters identified in the building. Bed bugs in the U.S. often possess one or both point mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel, termed knockdown resistance (kdr), from valine to leucine (V419L) and leucine to isoleucine (L925I) that confer target-site resistance against pyrethroid insecticides. We found that 48/121 (40%) bed bugs were homozygous for both kdr mutations (L419/I925), and a further 59% possessed at least one of the kdr mutations. We conclude that ineffective heat treatments, new introductions, reintroductions and local spread, and an exceptionally high frequency of pyrethroid resistance are responsible for chronic infestations in lower-income housing. Because heat treatments fail to protect from reintroductions, and pesticide use has not decreased the frequency of infestations, preventing new introductions and early detection are the most effective strategies to avoid bed bug infestations in multistory apartment buildings