Very low thermal conductivity in lanthanum phosphate-zirconia ceramic nanocomposites processed using a precipitation-peptization synthetic approach

A wet chemical synthetic approach involving precipitation-peptization mechanisms was successfully adopted for the development of LaPO4-ZrO2 nanocomposites with the ZrO2 content varying in the 5-20 wt% range. Stoichiometric lanthanum phosphate, formed as nanofibrils during the precipitation reaction with orthophosphoric acid, was subsequently transformed into nanorods of ~10 nm width and <100 nm length upon peptization at pH 2. Zirconia dispersions were homogeneously incorporated as ultrafine particulates through zirconium oxychloride hydrolysis using ammonia. The nanocomposite precursor thus obtained could be densified to >98% TD for the LaPO4-10 wt% ZrO2 composition upon sintering at 1600 °C. The addition of ZrO2 to LaPO4 impeded densification and grain growth inhibition of up to 50% was obtained for LaPO4-20 wt% ZrO2 nanocomposites. Furthermore, the nanocomposites indicated very low thermal conductivity values (1 W m-1 K-1) compared to single phase LaPO4. The non-reactivity of LaPO4 and ZrO2 at high temperatures and the low thermal conductivity values of LaPO4-ZrO2 render them effective for high temperature thermal insulation applications. © 2016 The Royal Society of Chemistry and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

Stable isotopic signatures in precipitation of 2006 southwest monsoon of Tamil Nadu

Southwest monsoon (SWM) controls the majority ofthe agricultural activities in Tamil Nadu (TN), though the amount of rainfall received due to this is relatively less. The nature and behaviour of water vapour over TN reveal the other dynamic processes that are in operation during this period of the year. Hence, the stable isotope signatures of d 18O and dD obtained here were used to derive the first local meteoric water line for the State with SWM precipitation. The d-excess parameter was also used in conjunction and it was found that three dominant processes were in operation during this period: (i) vapours from southeast Arabian Sea, (ii) local evaporating vapours from inland tanks and (iii) vapours from the Indian Ocean

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated enhanced anti-candidal activity of ZnS-ZnO nanocomposites with low inhibitory concentrations

Enhanced antifungal activity against the yeast species Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae was displayed by ZnS-ZnO nanocomposites prepared by a simple precipitation technique. The antifungal activity was significantly more in the presence of indoor light than under dark conditions and was a clear confirmation of the inhibitory role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in situ by the photocatalytic nanocomposites. The generation of ROS was further evidenced by flow cytometry results and membrane permeabilisation studies. Time kill assay and growth curve analysis indicated diminished antifungal activity under dark conditions due primarily to Zn2+ efflux in solution. © 2015 The Royal Society of Chemistry

Experimental and Theoretical Investigations of Fe-Doped Hexagonal MnNiGe

We report a comprehensive investigation of MnNi0.7Fe0.3Ge Heusler alloy to explore its magnetic, caloric, and electrical transport properties. The alloy undergoes a ferromagnetic transition across TC∼212 K and a weak-antiferromagnetic transition across Tt∼180 K followed by a spin-glass transition below Tf∼51.85 K. A second-order phase transition across TCwith mixed short and long-range magnetic interactions is confirmed through the critical exponent study and universal scaling of magnetic entropy and magnetoresistance. A weak first-order phase transition is evident across Ttfrom magnetization and specific heat data. The frequency dependent cusp in χAC(T) along with the absence of a clear magnetic transition in specific heat C(T) and resistivity ρ(T) establish the spin glass behavior below Tf. Mixed ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions with dominant ferromagnetic coupling, as revealed by density functional calculations, are experimentally evident from the large positive Weiss temperature, magnetic saturation, and negative magnetic-entropy and magnetoresistance. © 2022 American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.CSR-IC-256/2017-18/1337; Department of Physics, Harvard University; Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India, CSIR: 09/926(0011)2K18, DST/INT/RFBR/IDIR/P-01/2016; Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Minobrnauka: AAAA-A18-118020190098-5; Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, IITB; Russian Science Foundation, RSF: 22-42-02021; UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research, University Grants Commission, UGC-DAE CSR; Industrial Research and Consultancy Centre, IRCCS.S.S., A.K.P., and K.G.S. thank IRCC and the Department of Physics, IIT Bombay, for X-ray diffraction and magnetization facilities. S.S.S. acknowledges UGC-DAE CSR, Indore, for financial support under the Collaborative Research Scheme (CSR-IC-256/2017-18/1337). V.G. acknowledges UGC-DAE CSR, Indore, for the support. A.K.M. thanks CSIR India, for SRF [File No.: 09/926(0011)2K18]. K.G.S. acknowledges financial support through Indo-Russian project: DST/INT/RFBR/IDIR/P-01/2016. The theoretical studies are supported by the Russian Science Foundation (Project No. 22-42-02021) for the electronic structure calculations and Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation for the exchange parameters calculations (theme "Electron" No. AAAA-A18-118020190098-5).S.S.S., A.K.P., and K.G.S. thank IRCC and the Department of Physics, IIT Bombay, for X-ray diffraction and magnetization facilities. S.S.S. acknowledges UGC-DAE CSR, Indore, for financial support under the Collaborative Research Scheme (CSR-IC-256/2017-18/1337). V.G. acknowledges UGC-DAE CSR, Indore, for the support. A.K.M. thanks CSIR, India, for SRF [File No.: 09/926(0011)2K18]. K.G.S. acknowledges financial support through Indo-Russian project: DST/INT/RFBR/IDIR/P-01/2016. The theoretical studies are supported by the Russian Science Foundation (Project No. 22-42-02021) for the electronic structure calculations and Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation for the exchange parameters calculations (theme “Electron” No. AAAA-A18-118020190098-5)

Cancer stem-like cells from head and neck cancers are chemosensitized by the Wnt antagonist, sFRP4, by inducing apoptosis, decreasing stemness, drug resistance and epithelial to mesenchymal transition

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are defined by high self-renewal and drug refractory potential. Involvement of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling has been implicated in rapidly cycling cells such as CSCs, and inhibition of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway is a novel approach to target CSCs from HNSCC. In this study, we found that an antagonist of FrzB/Wnt, the secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (sFRP4), inhibited the growth of CSCs from two HNSCC cell lines, Hep2 and KB. We enriched the CD44+ CSC population, and grew them in spheroid cultures. sFRP4 decreased the proliferation and increased the sensitivity of spheroids to a commonly used drug in HNSCC, namely cisplatin. Self-renewal in sphere formation assays decreased upon sFRP4 treatment, and the effect was reverted by the addition of Wnt3a. sFRP4 treatment of spheroids also decreased ß-catenin, confirming its action through the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Quantitative PCR demonstrated a clear decrease of the stemness markers CD44 and ALDH, and an increase in CD24 and drug-resistance markers ABCG2 and ABCC4. Furthermore, we found that after sFRP4 treatment, there was a reversal in the expression of epithelial to mesenchymal (EMT) markers with the restoration of the epithelial marker E-cadherin, and depletion of EMT-specific markers twist, snail and N-cadherin. This is the first report demonstrating that the naturally occurring Wnt inhibitor, sFRP4, can be a potential drug to destroy CSC-enriched spheroids from HNSCCs. The repression of EMT and the decrease in stemness profile further strengthen the use of sFRP4 as a potent therapeutic against CSC

Teaching Medical Students to Help Patients Manage Their Weight: Outcomes of an Eight-School Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Given the rising rates of obesity there is a pressing need for medical schools to better prepare students for intervening with patients who have overweight or obesity and for prevention efforts. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of a multi-modal weight management curriculum on counseling skills for health behavior change. DESIGN: A pair-matched, group-randomized controlled trial (2015-2020) included students enrolled in eight U.S. medical schools randomized to receive either multi-modal weight management education (MME) or traditional weight management education (TE). SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Students from the class of 2020 (N=1305) were asked to participate in an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) focused on weight management counseling and complete pre and post surveys. A total of 70.1% of eligible students (N=915) completed the OSCE and 69.3% (N=904) completed both surveys. INTERVENTIONS: The MME implemented over three years included a web-based course, a role-play classroom exercise, a web-patient encounter with feedback, and an enhanced clerkship experience with preceptors trained in weight management counseling (WMC). Counseling focused on the 5As (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange) and patient-centeredness. MEASUREMENTS: The outcome was student 5As WMC skills assessed using an objective measure, an OSCE, scored using a behavior checklist, and a subjective measure, student self-reported skills for performing the 5As. RESULTS: Among MME students who completed two of three WMC components compared to those who completed none, exposure was significantly associated with higher OSCE scores and self-reported 5A skills. LIMITATIONS: Variability in medical schools requiring participation in the WMC curriculum. CONCLUSIONS: This trial revealed that medical students struggle with delivering weight management counseling to their patients who have overweight or obesity. Medical schools, though restrained in adding curricula, should incorporate should incorporate multiple WMC curricula components early in medical student education to provide knowledge and build confidence for supporting patients in developing individualized plans for weight management. NIH TRIAL REGISTRY NUMBER: R01-194787

Anti-HMGCR Autoantibodies in Juvenile Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies Identify a Rare but Clinically Important Subset of Patients

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to establish the prevalence and clinical associations of anti-HMG-CoA-reductase (anti-HMGCR) in a large UK cohort with juvenile myositis. METHODS: There were 381 patients investigated for anti-HMGCR using ELISA. RESULTS: Anti-HMGCR autoantibodies were detected in 4 patients (1%). These children had no or minimal rash and significant muscle disease. Muscle biopsies were considered distinctive, with widespread variation in fiber size, necrotic fibers, and chronic inflammatory cell infiltrates; all had prolonged elevation of creatine kinase and all ultimately received biologic therapies. CONCLUSION: Anti-HMGCR in UK children with myositis are associated with severe disease that is poorly responsive to standard treatment

Large-scale associations between the leukocyte transcriptome and BOLD responses to speech differ in autism early language outcome subtypes.

Heterogeneity in early language development in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is clinically important and may reflect neurobiologically distinct subtypes. Here, we identified a large-scale association between multiple coordinated blood leukocyte gene coexpression modules and the multivariate functional neuroimaging (fMRI) response to speech. Gene coexpression modules associated with the multivariate fMRI response to speech were different for all pairwise comparisons between typically developing toddlers and toddlers with ASD and poor versus good early language outcome. Associated coexpression modules were enriched in genes that are broadly expressed in the brain and many other tissues. These coexpression modules were also enriched in ASD-associated, prenatal, human-specific, and language-relevant genes. This work highlights distinctive neurobiology in ASD subtypes with different early language outcomes that is present well before such outcomes are known. Associations between neuroimaging measures and gene expression levels in blood leukocytes may offer a unique in vivo window into identifying brain-relevant molecular mechanisms in ASD

Sebomic identification of sex- and ethnicity-specific variations in residual skin surface components (RSSC) for bio-monitoring or forensic applications

Background: “Residual skin surface components” (RSSC) is the collective term used for the superficial layer of sebum, residue of sweat, small quantities of intercellular lipids and components of natural moisturising factor present on the skin surface. Potential applications of RSSC include use as a sampling matrix for identifying biomarkers of disease, environmental exposure monitoring, and forensics (retrospective identification of exposure to toxic chemicals). However, it is essential to first define the composition of “normal” RSSC. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to characterise RSSC to determine commonalities and differences in RSSC composition in relation to sex and ethnicity. Methods: Samples of RSSC were acquired from volunteers using a previously validated method and analysed by high-pressure liquid chromatography–atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation–mass spectrometry (HPLC-APCI-MS). The resulting data underwent sebomic analysis. Results: The composition and abundance of RSSC components varied according to sex and ethnicity. The normalised abundance of free fatty acids, wax esters, diglycerides and triglycerides was significantly higher in males than females. Ethnicity-specific differences were observed in free fatty acids and a diglyceride. Conclusions: The HPLC-APCI-MS method developed in this study was successfully used to analyse the normal composition of RSSC. Compositional differences in the RSSC can be attributed to sex and ethnicity and may reflect underlying factors such as diet, hormonal levels and enzyme expression.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio