Periodic Modulation of Extraordinary Optical Transmission through Subwavelength Hole Arrays using Surrounding Bragg Mirrors

The enhanced light transmission through an array of subwavelength holes surrounded by Bragg mirrors is studied, showing that the mirrors act to confine the surface plasmons associated with the Extraordinary Optical Transmission effect, forming a surface resonant cavity. The overall effect is increased light transmission intensity by more than a factor of three beyond the already enhanced transmission, independent of whether the Bragg mirrors are on the input or the output side of the incident light. The geometry of the Bragg mirror structures controls the enhancement, and can even reduce the transmission in half. By varying these geometric parameters, we were able to periodically modulate the transmission of light for specific wavelengths, consistent with the propagation and interference of surface plasmon waves in a resonant cavity. FDTD simulations and a wave propagation model verify this effect.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure

Reconstituting ring-rafts in bud-mimicking topography of model membranes.

During vesicular trafficking and release of enveloped viruses, the budding and fission processes dynamically remodel the donor cell membrane in a protein- or a lipid-mediated manner. In all cases, in addition to the generation or relief of the curvature stress, the buds recruit specific lipids and proteins from the donor membrane through restricted diffusion for the development of a ring-type raft domain of closed topology. Here, by reconstituting the bud topography in a model membrane, we demonstrate the preferential localization of cholesterol- and sphingomyelin-enriched microdomains in the collar band of the bud-neck interfaced with the donor membrane. The geometrical approach to the recapitulation of the dynamic membrane reorganization, resulting from the local radii of curvatures from nanometre-to-micrometre scales, offers important clues for understanding the active roles of the bud topography in the sorting and migration machinery of key signalling proteins involved in membrane budding

Cost-effectiveness of a medication event monitoring system for tuberculosis management in Morocco

BACKGROUND: Digital health technologies have been used to enhance adherence to TB medication, but the cost-effectiveness remains unclear. METHODS: We used the real data from the study conducted from April 2014 to December 2020 in Morocco using a smart pillbox with a web-based medication monitoring system, called Medication Event Monitoring Systems (MEMS). Cost-effectiveness was evaluated using a decision analysis model including Markov model for Multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB from the health system perspective. The primary outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) per disability adjusted life-year (DALY) averted. Two-way sensitive analysis was done for the treatment success rate between MEMS and standard of care. RESULTS: The average total per-patient health system costs for treating a new TB patient under MEMS versus standard of care were $398.70 and$155.70, respectively. The MEMS strategy would reduce the number of drug-susceptible TB cases by 0.17 and MDR-TB cases by 0.01 per patient over five years. The ICER of MEMS was $434/DALY averted relative to standard of care, and was most susceptible to the TB treatment success rate of both strategies followed by the managing cost of MEMS. CONCLUSION: MEMS is considered cost-effective for managing infectious active TB in Morocco

Chemical Science Membrane protein biosensing with plasmonic nanopore arrays and pore-spanning lipid membranes †

Integration of solid-state biosensors and lipid bilayer membranes is important for membrane protein research and drug discovery. In these sensors, it is critical that the solid-state sensing material does not have adverse effects on the conformation or functionality of membrane-bound molecules. In this work, pore-spanning lipid membranes are formed over an array of periodic nanopores in free-standing gold films for surface plasmon resonance (SPR) kinetic binding assays. The ability to perform kinetic assays with a transmembrane protein is demonstrated with a-hemolysin (a-HL). The incorporation of a-HL into the membrane followed by specific antibody binding (anti-a-HL) red-shifts the plasmon resonance of the gold nanopore array, which is optically monitored in real time. Subsequent fluorescence imaging reveals that the antibodies primarily bind in nanopore regions, indicating that a-HL incorporation preferentially occurs into areas of pore-spanning lipid membranes

Oxidative stress predicts depressive symptom changes with omega-3 fatty acid treatment in coronary artery disease patients

AbstractBackgroundAntidepressant efficacy of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) treatment in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients remains unpredictable. N-3 PUFA can mitigate oxidative stress, which is common in CAD and may contribute to depressive symptoms. This study investigated whether greater pre-treatment oxidative stress, measured by the ratios of late-stage lipid peroxidation markers (malondialdehyde [MDA], 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal [4-HNE], and 8-isoprostane [8-ISO]) to an early-stage marker (lipid hydroperoxides [LPH]), predicted n-3 PUFA antidepressant benefits in CAD.MethodsThis was a secondary analysis of CAROTID (CAD Randomized Omega-3 Trial in Depression, NCT00981383). Patient demographics and medical characteristics were collected. Depressive symptoms were measured using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). Patients were then randomized to receive either 1.9g/day n-3 PUFA or placebo for 12weeks, after which HAM-D scores were reassessed. Baseline LPH, 4-HNE, 8-ISO, MDA and n-3 PUFA concentrations were analysed from fasting blood.ResultsSeventy-nine patients (age=61.1±8.5, 76% male, HAM-D=7.5±6.1) were included (n=45 placebo, n=34 n-3 PUFA). In the n-3 PUFA group, higher baseline ratios of MDA/LPH (primary analysis: F1,33=6.20, beta=−0.35, p=0.018), 4-HNE/LPH (exploratory analysis: F1,33=5.35, beta=−0.32, p=0.027), and 8-ISO/LPH (exploratory analysis: F1,33=6.10, beta=−0.33, p=0.019), indicating higher oxidative stress, were associated with greater depressive symptom improvement. In each model, higher baseline EPA+DHA concentrations independently predicted depressive symptom improvement with n-3 PUFA (MDA/LPH: F1,33=11.05, p=0.002; 4-HNE/LPH: F1,33=11.36, p=0.002; 8-ISO/LPH: F1,33=13.15, p=0.001). No associations were observed in the placebo group.Conclusionsn-3 PUFA may be more likely to improve depressive symptoms in CAD patients with pre-treatment evidence of oxidative stress

Randomized, Double-Blind, Phase II Trial Comparing Gemcitabine-Cisplatin plus the LTB4 Antagonist LY293111 versus Gemcitabine-Cisplatin plus Placebo in First-Line Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Introduction:In this phase II study, patients with stage IIIB/IV non–small-cell lung cancer were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive LY293111 (200 mg twice daily [200 LY293111] or 600 mg twice daily [600 LY293111]) or placebo for 7 days, followed by concurrent cisplatin (75 mg/m2; day 1) and gemcitabine (1250 mg/m2; days 1 and 8), every 21 days.The primary endpoint was progression-free survival, (PFS), with 75% power to detect 33% improvement compared with placebo (5 months).Methods:Of 200 randomized patients, 195 were treated. Demographics were well balanced across treatment arms: 65% of the patients were men; median age was 62 years; 85% had stage IV disease; and patients had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 (36%) or 1 (64%).Results:The most frequent study drug–related toxicities were nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. Response rates were similar across treatment arms (200 LY293111: 20%; 600 LY293111: 25%; placebo: 31%).Conclusions:Median PFS (95% confidence interval) was not significantly different across treatment arms (200 LY293111: 4.6 months [3.2–5.0]; 600 LY293111: 5.6 months [4.1–6.8]; placebo: 6.0 months [5.2–7.5]). LY293111 combined with gemcitabine-cisplatin did not increase median PFS compared with placebo plus gemcitabine-cisplatin in patients with non–small-cell lung cancer

Biological predictors of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN): MASCC neurological complications working group overview.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common and debilitating condition associated with a number of chemotherapeutic agents. Drugs commonly implicated in the development of CIPN include platinum agents, taxanes, vinca alkaloids, bortezomib, and thalidomide analogues. As a drug response can vary between individuals, it is hypothesized that an individual's specific genetic variants could impact the regulation of genes involved in drug pharmacokinetics, ion channel functioning, neurotoxicity, and DNA repair, which in turn affect CIPN development and severity. Variations of other molecular markers may also affect the incidence and severity of CIPN. Hence, the objective of this review was to summarize the known biological (molecular and genomic) predictors of CIPN and discuss the means to facilitate progress in this field

The Student Movement Volume 106 Issue 6: Cold Weather, Hot Dogs: Students Feast at Fall Festival

HUMANS New Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Interview with Matias Soto, Interviewed by: Grace No Our AUSA President: An Interview with Dongchan Kim, Interviewed by: Irina Gagiu The People Who Inspire Us, Taylor Uphus ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Creative Spotlight: Matthew Jackson (aka Mateo Banks), Interviewed by: Adoniah Simon Current Favorites: November 2021, Kaela McFadden Dune : Ushering in an Era of Sci-Fi Majesty, Solana Campbell NEWS For Sure On This Shining Night : It Was a Concert to Remember, Andrew Pak Fall Festival 2021: Autumnal Celebrations at Andrews University, Abigail Lee How to Call to (Flu) Shots at Andrews University, Nathan Mathieu The Water Crisis in Benton Harbor, Brendan Syto IDEAS Abandoning the Earth, Nathan Cheng The Drug Decriminalization Conversation, Qualyn Robinson The Legacy of Colin Powell, Angelina Nesmith PULSE College on a Budget, Gloria Oh Spreading Kindness Daily, Wambui Karanja Starting the Conversation: The LGBTQ+ Community & the Adventist Church, Karenna Lee THE LAST WORD Politics and Humanity: Our First Steps Toward Resolution, Alyssa Henriquezhttps://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/sm-106/1005/thumbnail.jp