Dynamics of Emim+ in [Emim][TFSI]/LiTFSI Solutions as Bulk and under Confinement in a Quasi-liquid Solid Electrolyte.

Quasi-liquid solid electrolytes are a promising alternative for next-generation Li batteries. These systems combine the safety of solid electrolytes with the desired properties of liquids and are typically formed by solutions of Li salts in ionic liquids incorporated into solid matrices. Here, we present a fundamental understanding of the transport properties in solutions of lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([Emim][TFSI]), either in bulk form or incorporated in a boron nitride (BN) matrix. We performed a series of quasi-elastic neutron scattering experiments that, given the high incoherent neutron scattering cross section of hydrogen, allowed us to focus on the Emim+ dynamics. First, [Emim][TFSI]/LiTFSI solutions (0.5 and 2.5 mol·kg-1) were investigated and we show how the increase in the concentration reduces the Emim+ mobility and increases the activation energy of their long-range motions. Then, the 0.5 mol·kg-1 solution was incorporated into the BN matrix and we report that the diffusivities of the Emim+ cations that remain mobile under confinement are highly accelerated in comparison with the bulk sample and the activation energy of these motions is drastically reduced. We present the experimental evidence that this effect is related to the content of the Emim+ cations immobilized near the surfaces of the BN pores.

Nature of Magnetic Excitations in the High-Field Phase of α-RuCl_{3}.

We present comprehensive electron spin resonance (ESR) studies of in-plane oriented single crystals of α-RuCl_{3}, a quasi-two-dimensional material with honeycomb structure, focusing on its high-field spin dynamics. The measurements were performed in magnetic fields up to 16 T, applied along the [110] and [100] directions. Several ESR modes were detected. Combining our findings with recent inelastic neutron- and Raman-scattering data, we identified most of the observed excitations. Most importantly, we show that the low-temperature ESR response beyond the boundary of the magnetically ordered region is dominated by single- and two-particle processes with magnons as elementary excitations. The peculiarities of the excitation spectrum in the vicinity of the critical field are discussed.

Biological variation of serum canine calprotectin concentrations as measured by ELISA in healthy dogs.

Calprotectin is a useful biomarker of inflammation in dogs. However, the biological variation of serum canine calprotectin is unknown. Indices of biological variation were determined in serial serum samples (n=147) from 11 healthy dogs (males/females: 4/7, median age: 5 years): analytical (3.0%), intra-individual (29.9%), and inter-individual variation (33.2%), reciprocal index of individuality (1.1), and index of heterogeneity (4.9). Serum calprotectin concentrations measured by ELISA and by the previous radioimmunoassay were highly correlated, but a constant and proportional bias exists between both assays. A de novo ELISA-reference interval (RI) for serum calprotectin concentration was established (0.6-11.8mg/L). Moderate changes in serum calprotectin (minimum critical difference: 6.4mg/L) between sequential measurements are needed to be considered relevant, and a population-based RI may or may not be appropriate for serum calprotectin.

Effects of parental acclimation and energy limitation in response to high CO2 exposure in Atlantic cod.

Ocean acidification (OA), the dissolution of excess anthropogenic carbon dioxide in ocean waters, is a potential stressor to many marine fish species. Whether species have the potential to acclimate and adapt to changes in the seawater carbonate chemistry is still largely unanswered. Simulation experiments across several generations are challenging for large commercially exploited species because of their long generation times. For Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), we present first data on the effects of parental acclimation to elevated aquatic CO2 on larval survival, a fundamental parameter determining population recruitment. The parental generation in this study was exposed to either ambient or elevated aquatic CO2 levels simulating end-of-century OA levels (~1100 µatm CO2) for six weeks prior to spawning. Upon fully reciprocal exposure of the F1 generation, we quantified larval survival, combined with two larval feeding regimes in order to investigate the potential effect of energy limitation. We found a significant reduction in larval survival at elevated CO2 that was partly compensated by parental acclimation to the same CO2 exposure. Such compensation was only observed in the treatment with high food availability. This complex 3-way interaction indicates that surplus metabolic resources need to be available to allow a transgenerational alleviation response to ocean acidification.

Characterization of Ras k 1 a novel major allergen in Indian mackerel and identification of parvalbumin as the major fish allergen in 33 Asia-Pacific fish species.

BACKGROUND: Fish is a well-recognized cause of food allergy and anaphylaxis. The evolutionary and taxonomic diversity of the various consumed fish species pose a challenge in the identification and characterization of the major fish allergens critical for reliable diagnostics. Globally, fish is a rising cause of food allergy complicated by a large under-investigated variety of species as well as increasing global tourism and trade. This is the first comprehensive study on allergen profiles of heat-processed fish from Vietnam. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the major heat-stable allergens from frequently exported Asia-Pacific freshwater and marine fish and to characterize the major allergen parvalbumin (PV) from one of the most consumed and exported fish species from Asia, the Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta). METHODS: Heated protein extracts from 33 fish species were separated by gel electrophoresis. PV isoforms were identified by immunoblotting utilizing 3 different PV-specific monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies and further characterized by mass spectrometry. IgE reactivity was investigated using sera from 21 patients with confirmed fish allergy. RESULTS: Heat-stable IgE-reactive PVs, with up to 5 isoforms per species, were identified in all 33 analysed fish species. In the Indian mackerel, 7 PV isoforms were identified by 2D-gel electrophoresis combined with mass spectrometric analyses. The amino acid sequence deduced from cDNA of the most expressed isoform showed a high identity (>90%) to PVs from 2 other mackerel species. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Different PVs were identified as the major heat-stable allergens in all 33 analysed freshwater and marine fish species from Vietnam, many of which are exported world-wide and 21 species that have never been investigated before. The Indian mackerel PV represents a novel fish allergen, now officially registered as Ras k 1. Improved diagnostics for fish allergy against Asia-Pacific species should be developed with focus on PV.

Destabilization of Magnetic Order in a Dilute Kitaev Spin Liquid Candidate.

The insulating honeycomb magnet α-RuCl_{3} exhibits fractionalized excitations that signal its proximity to a Kitaev quantum spin liquid state; however, at T=0, fragile long-range magnetic order arises from non-Kitaev terms in the Hamiltonian. Spin vacancies in the form of Ir^{3+} substituted for Ru are found to destabilize this long-range order. Neutron diffraction and bulk characterization of Ru_{1-x}Ir_{x}Cl_{3} show that the magnetic ordering temperature is suppressed with increasing x, and evidence of zizag magnetic order is absent for x>0.3. Inelastic neutron scattering demonstrates that the signature of fractionalized excitations is maintained over the full range of x investigated. The depleted lattice without magnetic order thus hosts a spin-liquid-like ground state that may indicate the relevance of Kitaev physics in the magnetically dilute limit of RuCl_{3}.

Antiferromagnetic Resonance and Terahertz Continuum in α-RuCl_{3}.

We report measurements of optical absorption in the zigzag antiferromagnet α-RuCl_{3} as a function of temperature T, magnetic field B, and photon energy ℏω in the range ∼0.3-8.3 meV, using time-domain terahertz spectroscopy. Polarized measurements show that threefold rotational symmetry is broken in the honeycomb plane from 2 to 300 K. We find a sharp absorption peak at 2.56 meV upon cooling below the Néel temperature of 7 K at B=0 that we identify as the magnetic-dipole excitation of a zero-wave-vector magnon, or antiferromagnetic resonance (AFMR). With the application of B, the AFMR broadens and shifts to a lower frequency as long-range magnetic order is lost in a manner consistent with transitioning to a spin-disordered phase. From a direct, internally calibrated measurement of the AFMR spectral weight, we place an upper bound on the contribution to the dc susceptibility from a magnetic excitation continuum.

Hyperhomocysteinemia in Greyhounds and its Association with Hypofolatemia and Other Clinicopathologic Variables.

BACKGROUND: Folate and cobalamin are essential cofactors for homocysteine (HCY) metabolism. Hyperhomocysteinemia, a multifactorial condition, may reflect B vitamin deficiency and is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, thrombosis, and neurodegenerative and chronic gastrointestinal diseases in humans. Hyperhomocysteinemia has been reported in Greyhounds with suspected chronic enteropathy. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the frequencies of and the association between hypofolatemia and hyperhomocysteinemia in Greyhounds. ANIMALS: Data and serum samples from 559 Greyhounds. METHODS: Nested case-control study. The frequency of hypofolatemia in Greyhounds was determined by a laboratory database search. The relationship between hyperhomocysteinemia (measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) and hypocobalaminemia and hypofolatemia was evaluated, and its frequency compared between healthy Greyhounds and Greyhounds with thrombosis or chronic diarrhea. RESULTS: Hypofolatemia was identified in 172 of 423 (41%) Greyhounds and was more common in hypo- than in normocobalaminemic dogs (49% vs. 35%; P = .0064). Hyperhomocysteinemia was detected in 53 of 78 (68%) of Greyhounds, being more common in hypo- than in normofolatemic dogs (88% vs. 59%; P = .0175). All healthy Greyhounds, 21 of 30 (70%) of dogs with chronic diarrhea and 6 of 8 (75%) of those with thrombosis, were hyperhomocysteinemic. Serum HCY concentrations were inversely correlated with serum folate concentration (ρ = -0.28; P = .0386) and were positively associated with serum albumin concentration (ρ = 0.66; P = .0022). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Hyperhomocysteinemia occurs frequently in the Greyhound population. Its association with hypofolatemia suggests decreased intracellular availability of B vitamins, but the functional implications warrant further investigation. Hyperhomocysteinemia in Greyhounds potentially may serve as a spontaneous canine model to further investigate hyperhomocysteinemia in humans.

Atomic-scale observation of structural and electronic orders in the layered compound α-RuCl3.

A pseudospin-1/2 Mott phase on a honeycomb lattice is proposed to host the celebrated two-dimensional Kitaev model which has an elusive quantum spin liquid ground state, and fascinating physics relevant to the development of future templates towards topological quantum bits. Here we report a comprehensive, atomically resolved real-space study by scanning transmission electron and scanning tunnelling microscopies on a novel layered material displaying Kitaev physics, α-RuCl3. Our local crystallography analysis reveals considerable variations in the geometry of the ligand sublattice in thin films of α-RuCl3 that opens a way to realization of a spatially inhomogeneous magnetic ground state at the nanometre length scale. Using scanning tunnelling techniques, we observe the electronic energy gap of ≈0.25 eV and intra-unit cell symmetry breaking of charge distribution in individual α-RuCl3 surface layer. The corresponding charge-ordered pattern has a fine structure associated with two different types of charge disproportionation at Cl-terminated surface.

Well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor of the stomach: A rare case at an uncommon site.

INTRODUCTION: A 13-year-old African-American female presented to her primary care physician's office with fatigue, syncope, and hematemesis. After initial evaluation, the patient was referred to pediatric gastroenterology clinic for further evaluation. MAIN CONCERNS, IMPORTANT FINDINGS: An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed to evaluate the source of her bleeding. Endoscopy revealed a 3-cm mass in the lesser curvature of the stomach, and a biopsy of the mass revealed a concern for carcinoid (neuroendocrine) features. DIAGNOSIS: She underwent an open gastrectomy. Post-surgical pathology reports confirmed a well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor of the stomach. CONCLUSION: Neuroendocrine tumors of the stomach in children are rare and we presently do not have pediatric-specific diagnostic and treatment guidelines. Although adult-based The North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS) guidelines are helpful, they are clearly not geared toward pediatric patients. To establish pediatric guidelines and to assess effectiveness of treatments, multicenter data collection is essential. In the long run, accumulation of clinically useful treatment information and long-term follow-up guidelines should enable clinicians to improve standard of care given to children with neuroendocrine tumors.

Proximate Kitaev quantum spin liquid behaviour in a honeycomb magnet.

Quantum spin liquids (QSLs) are topological states of matter exhibiting remarkable properties such as the capacity to protect quantum information from decoherence. Whereas their featureless ground states have precluded their straightforward experimental identification, excited states are more revealing and particularly interesting owing to the emergence of fundamentally new excitations such as Majorana fermions. Ideal probes of these excitations are inelastic neutron scattering experiments. These we report here for a ruthenium-based material, α-RuCl3, continuing a major search (so far concentrated on iridium materials) for realizations of the celebrated Kitaev honeycomb topological QSL. Our measurements confirm the requisite strong spin-orbit coupling and low-temperature magnetic order matching predictions proximate to the QSL. We find stacking faults, inherent to the highly two-dimensional nature of the material, resolve an outstanding puzzle. Crucially, dynamical response measurements above interlayer energy scales are naturally accounted for in terms of deconfinement physics expected for QSLs. Comparing these with recent dynamical calculations involving gauge flux excitations and Majorana fermions of the pure Kitaev model, we propose the excitation spectrum of α-RuCl3 as a prime candidate for fractionalized Kitaev physics.

The impact of carbon coating on the synthesis and properties of α''-Fe16N2 powders.

This paper presents the preparation of carbon composite Fe16N2 powders, and the influence of a protective carbon coating on the yield and magnetic properties of Fe16N2. Nanoparticle precursors with and without carbon were reacted under ammonia gas flow to produce Fe16N2. Neutron and X-ray powder diffraction indicate that the powders contain typically 40-60% Fe16N2, with the remaining phases being unreacted iron, Fe4N or Fe3N. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrates that the carbon coating is effective at reducing the level of sintering of Fe nanoparticles during the reduction stage prior to ammonolysis. XPS results support the retention of a carbon coating on the surface after ammonolysis, and that there is Fe-C bonding present at the particle surface. In situ TEM was used to observe loss of ordering in the nitrogen sublattice of carbon composite Fe16N2 powders in the range of 168 °C to 200 °C. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show maximum values for saturation magnetization in the range of 232 emu g(-1), and for coercivity near 930 Oe, for different samples measured up to 2 T applied field at 300 K.

Bochdalek Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia in an Adult Sheep.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a rare condition. The aetiology of CDH is often unclear. In our case, a hollow mass was noted on MRI. Cardiac ejection fraction was diminished (47.0%) compared to 60.5% (average of 10 other normal animals, P < 0.05). The final diagnosis of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (Bochdalek type) was made when the sheep underwent surgery. The hernia was right-sided and contained the abomasum. Lung biopsy demonstrated incomplete development with a low number of bronchopulmonary segments and vessels. The likely cause of this hernia was genetic malformation.

Liquid jet delivery method featuring S100A1 gene therapy in the rodent model following acute myocardial infarction.

The S100A1 gene is a promising target enhancing contractility and survival post myocardial infarction (MI). Achieving sufficient gene delivery within safety limits is a major translational problem. This proof of concept study evaluates viral mediated S100A1 overexpression featuring a novel liquid jet delivery (LJ) method. Twenty-four rats after successful MI were divided into three groups (n = 8 ea.): saline control (SA); ssAAV9.S100A1 (SS) delivery; and scAAV9.S100A1 (SC) delivery (both 1.2 × 10¹¹ viral particles). For each post MI rat, the LJ device fired three separate 100 µl injections into the myocardium. Following 10 weeks, all rats were evaluated with echocardiography, quantitative PCR (qPCR) and overall S100A1 and CD38 immune protein. At 10 weeks all groups demonstrated a functional decline from baseline, but the S100A1 therapy groups displayed preserved left ventricular function with significantly higher ejection fraction %; SS group (60 ± 3) and SC group (57 ± 4) versus saline (46 ± 3), P < 0.05. Heart qPCR testing showed robust S100A1 in the SS (10,147 ± 3993) and SC (35,155 ± 5808) copies per 100 ng DNA, while off-target liver detection was lower in both SS (40 ± 40), SC (34,841 ± 3164), respectively. Cardiac S100A1 protein expression was (4.3 ± 0.2) and (6.1 ± 0.3) fold higher than controls in the SS and SC groups, respectively, P < 0.05.

Expression of vitellogenin receptor gene in the ovary of wild and captive Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus).

The cDNA sequences of vitellogenin receptor proteins (VgR(+) and VgR(-)), containing or lacking the O-linked sugar domain, were determined in Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus L.). VgR(-) gene expression in the ovary was compared in captive-reared and wild Atlantic bluefin tuna during the reproductive cycle. Gonad samples from adult fish were sampled from 2008 to 2010 from stocks reared in captivity at different commercial fattening operations in the Mediterranean Sea and from wild individuals caught either by traditional tuna traps during their migration towards the spawning grounds in the Mediterranean Sea or by the long-line artisanal fishery. In addition, juvenile male and female Atlantic bluefin tuna were sampled from a farming facility, to obtain baseline information and pre-adulthood amounts of VgR(-). The total length of VgR(+) cDNA was 4006 nucleotides (nt) and that of VgR(-) was 3946 nt. Relative amounts of VgR(-) were greater in juvenile females and in those adults having only previtellogenic oocytes (119 ± 55 and 146 ± 26 folds more than juvenile males, respectively). Amounts of VgR(-) were less in individuals with yolked oocytes (ripening stage, May-June) and increased after spawning in July (92 ± 20 and 113 ± 13 folds more than juvenile males in ripening and post-spawning fish, respectively). These data suggest that regulation of VgR(-) is not under oestrogen control. During the ripening period, greater VgR(-) gene expression was observed in wild fish than in fish reared in captivity, possibly because of (a) differences in water temperature exposure and/or energy storage, and/or (b) an inadequate diet in reared Atlantic bluefin tuna.

Gene delivery technologies for cardiac applications.

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) and heart failure (HF) are major causes of morbidity and mortality in the Western society. Advances in understanding the molecular pathology of these diseases, the evolution of vector technology, as well as defining the targets for therapeutic interventions has placed these conditions within the reach of gene-based therapy. One of the cornerstones of limiting the effectiveness of gene therapy is the establishment of clinically relevant methods of genetic transfer. Recently there have been advances in direct and transvascular gene delivery methods with the use of new technologies. Current research efforts in IHD are focused primarily on the stimulation of angiogenesis, modify the coronary vascular environment and improve endothelial function with localized gene-eluting catheters and stents. In contrast to standard IHD treatments, gene therapy in HF primarily targets inhibition of apoptosis, reduction in adverse remodeling and increase in contractility through global cardiomyocyte transduction for maximal efficacy. This article will review a variety of gene-transfer strategies in models of coronary artery disease and HF and discuss the relative success of these strategies in improving the efficiency of vector-mediated cardiac gene delivery.

Positive and negative selection towards tetracycline resistance genes in manure treatment lagoons.

AIMS: To evaluate the role of manure treatment lagoons of swine operations in the fate of faeces- and feed-borne tetracycline-resistant genes (TRG). METHODS AND RESULTS: Samples of feed, faeces, lagoon liquid and lagoon sediment in farm's vicinity were collected at three swine operations varied on their operational practices and analysed on the presence and frequencies of incidence of sixteen TRG in upstream sources (feed, faeces) and downstream receptacles (lagoon liquid and sediments). The highest frequency of TRG incidence was observed in a farm with extensive antibiotic usage and the lowest in the antibiotic-free farm. The study revealed a decrease in TRG richness and diversity in the downstream habitats of each farm. The observed TRG diverged into two groups, the persistent genes that were detected both upstream and downstream, and the transient genes that were detected in the upstream habitats but became nondetectable in the lagoons. Quantitative PCR analysis revealed that upstream concentrations and abundances (determined as TRG/16S rRNA gene ratios) of transient and persistent TRG were similar; however, the former were attenuated in the lagoons to the levels below the detection limit, whereas the latter were ∼ 100-1000 fold amplified in their (mostly) liquid phases and were also detected in farms' vicinities. CONCLUSION: Manure lagoons of swine operations imposed both positive and negative selection towards faeces- and feed-borne TRG that, respectively, caused either their proliferation or attenuation in those environments. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The study reveals that discharge of antibiotic resistance genes from swine farms to the environment is linked to their positive selection (defined as an impact leading to proliferation of those genes) in manure lagoons.

Cooking fuel type, household ventilation, and the risk of acute lower respiratory illness in urban Bangladeshi children: a longitudinal study.

UNLABELLED: Acute lower respiratory illnesses (ALRI) are the leading cause of death among children <5 years. Studies have found that biomass cooking fuels are an important risk factor for ALRI. However, few studies have evaluated the influence of natural household ventilation indicators on ALRI. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between cooking fuel, natural household ventilation, and ALRI. During October 17, 2004-September 30, 2005, children <5 years living in a low-income neighborhood of Dhaka, Bangladesh, were assessed weekly for ALRI and surveyed quarterly about biomass fuel use, electric fan ownership, and natural household ventilation (windows, ventilation grates, and presence of a gap between the wall and ceiling). Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed using generalized estimating equations. Six thousand and seventy-nine children <5 years enrolled during the study period (99% participation) experienced 1291 ALRI. In the multivariate model, ≥2 windows [OR = 0.75, 95% CI = (0.58, 0.96)], ventilation grates [OR = 0.80, 95% CI = (0.65, 0.98)], and not owning an electric fan [OR = 1.50, 95% CI = (1.21, 1.88)] were associated with ALRI; gap presence and using biomass fuels were not associated with ALRI. Structural factors that might improve household air circulation and exchange were associated with decreased ALRI risk. Improved natural ventilation might reduce ALRI among children in low-income families. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The World Health Organization has stated that controlling pneumonia is a priority for achieving the fourth Millennium Development Goal, which calls for a two-third reduction in mortality of children <5 years old compared to the 1990 baseline. Our study represents an important finding of a modifiable risk factor that might decrease the burden of respiratory illness among children living in Bangladesh and other low-income settings similar to our study site. We found that the existence of at least two windows in the child's sleeping room was associated with a 25% decreased ALRI risk. Increasing available natural ventilation within the household in similar settings has the potential to reduce childhood mortality because of acute lower respiratory illnesses.