Gut microbiota. Antimicrobial peptide resistance mediates resilience of prominent gut commensals during inflammation.

Resilience to host inflammation and other perturbations is a fundamental property of gut microbial communities, yet the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. We have found that human gut microbes from all dominant phyla are resistant to high levels of inflammation-associated antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and have identified a mechanism for lipopolysaccharide (LPS) modification in the phylum Bacteroidetes that increases AMP resistance by four orders of magnitude. Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron mutants that fail to remove a single phosphate group from their LPS were displaced from the microbiota during inflammation triggered by pathogen infection. These findings establish a mechanism that determines the stability of prominent members of a healthy microbiota during perturbation.

Tailoring the density of surface-tethered bottlebrushes.

Surface-tethered bottlebrushes have been prepared by ATRP grafting of the macroinitiator brush backbone onto plasmachemical-deposited poly(vinylbenzyl chloride) initiator nanofilms followed by ATRP growth of the side chains (bristles). The surface density of bottlebrushes can be precisely tailored by varying the plasmachemical deposition parameters employed for producing the poly(vinylbenzyl chloride) initiator nanolayers. Lateral force scanning probe microscopy has shown that poly(glycidyl methacrylate)-graft-poly(sodium styrene sulfonate) bottlebrush-decorated surfaces give rise to an enhancement in lubrication.

Impact of picoliter droplets on superhydrophobic surfaces with ultralow spreading ratios.

The impact of picoliter-sized water droplets on superhydrophobic CF(4) plasma fluorinated polybutadiene surfaces is investigated with high-speed imaging. Variation of the surface topography by plasmachemical modification enables the dynamics of wetting to be precisely controlled. Final spreading ratios as low as 0.63 can be achieved. A comparison of the maximum spreading ratio and droplet oscillation frequencies to models described in the literature shows that both are found to be much lower than theoretically predicted.

Controlled fragrant molecule release from surface-tethered cyclodextrin host-guest inclusion complexes.

ß-cyclodextrin barrels can be tethered to solid surfaces using the Williamson ether synthesis reaction via an intermediate pulsed plasma deposited poly(4-vinylbenzyl chloride) linker layer. The loading and release of perfume molecules through host-guest inclusion complex formation with surface tethered ß-cyclodextrin has been followed by infrared spectroscopy and quartz crystal microbalance measurements. Fragrance release lasts for several months and can be easily recharged.

Three-dimensional hierarchical structures for fog harvesting.

Conventional fog-harvesting mechanisms are effectively pseudo-2D surface phenomena in terms of water droplet-plant interactions. In the case of the Cotula fallax plant, a unique hierarchical 3D arrangement formed by its leaves and the fine hairs covering them has been found to underpin the collection and retention of water droplets on the foliage for extended periods of time. The mechanisms of water capture and release as a function of the surface 3D structure and chemistry have been identified. Of particular note is that water is retained throughout the entirety of the plant and held within the foliage itself (rather than in localized regions). Individual plant hairs form matlike structures capable of supporting water droplets; these hairs wrap around water droplets in a 3D fashion to secure them via a fine nanoscale groove structure that prevents them from easily falling to the ground.

A substrate-independent lift-off approach for patterning functional surfaces.

A lift-off method for creating multifunctional patterned surfaces has been devised. It entails consecutive pulsed plasmachemical deposition of a reactive bottom layer and a protective top release layer. By way of example, a bottom/top layer combination comprising pulsed plasma deposited poly(glycidyl methacrylate)/poly(pentafluorostyrene) has been shown to display selective adhesive lift-off of the latter. Application of a prepatterned adhesive template yields well-defined arrays of reactive epoxide functionality surrounded by a passive fluoropolymer background or vice versa.

Surface actuation of smart nanoshutters.

Patterned polymer brush surfaces have been fabricated using the molecular scratchcard lithography technique, where a functional top nanolayer (acting also as a resist) is selectively removed using a scanning probe tip to expose underlying atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiator sites. The lateral spreading of grafted polymer brush patterns across the adjacent functional resist surface can be reversibly actuated via solvent exposure. Effectively, this methodology provides a means for hiding/unveiling functional surfaces on the nanoscale.

Rewritable glycochips.

We describe microarraying of carbohydrates for protein screening using either disulfide bridge or Schiff base imine immobilization chemistries on plasmachemical deposited functional nanolayers. The commonly observed issue of nonspecific background binding of proteins is overcome by spotting carbohydrates through a protein-resistant overlayer yielding spatially localized interaction with a reactive functional underlayer.

A substrate-independent approach for bactericidal surfaces.

Existing methods for imparting antibacterial performance to solid surfaces tend to either be substrate-specific or rely upon leaching modes of action that cause ecological damage. An alternative approach is outlined comprising plasmachemical functionalization of solid surfaces with poly(4-vinyl pyridine) moieties and their subsequent activation (quaternization) with bromobutane to yield bactericidal activity. These bioactive surfaces can be applied to a host of different substrate materials and are easily regenerated by rinsing in water.

Use of acupuncture in equine reproduction.

The goal of this review is to provide evidence supporting the physiologic basis for the use of acupuncture as a treatment in equine reproduction, and to discuss current uses of acupuncture for the treatment of anestrus, urine pooling, uterine infection and/or fluid, infertility, maintenance of pregnancy, cryptorchidism, musculoskeletal pain, and poor libido in stallions. The benefits achieved through acupuncture treatment are thought to be a result of hormonal regulation, altered smooth muscle motility, and general stress and/or pain relief from musculoskeletal or environmental conditions.

Mimicking a Stenocara beetle's back for microcondensation using plasmachemical patterned superhydrophobic-superhydrophilic surfaces.

A simple two-step plasmachemical methodology is outlined for the fabrication of microcondensor surfaces. This comprises the creation of a superhydrophobic background followed by pulsed plasma deposition of a hydrophilic polymer array. Microcondensation efficiency has been explored in terms of the chemical nature of the hydrophilic pixels and their dimensions. These results are compared to the hydrophilic-hydrophobic pattern present on the Stenocara beetle's back, which is used by the insect to collect water in the desert. Potential applications include fog harvesting, microfluidics, and biomolecule immobilization.

Electroless metallization onto pulsed plasma deposited poly(4-vinylpyridine) surfaces.

Pulsed plasma-chemical deposition of poly(4-vinylpyridine) is found to be a highly effective way of functionalizing solid surfaces with pyridine ring centers. These surfaces can be metallized via complexation to Pd2+ ions from solution, followed by autocatalytic electroless deposition of either copper or nickel films.

A substrate-independent approach for cyclodextrin functionalized surfaces.

6-Amino-6-deoxy-beta-cyclodextrin can be immobilized onto a range of solid surfaces via reaction with a predeposited pulsed plasma poly(glycidyl methacrylate) layer. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and quartz crystal microbalance measurements have been employed to monitor guest-host interactions between N,N-dimethylformamide or cholic acid and surface-tethered 6-amino-6-deoxy-beta-cyclodextrin barrels.

Circumferential mural bands in the small intestine causing simple obstructive colic: a case series.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Circumferential mural band (CMB) in the small intestine is an emerging condition in Ireland. The clinical presentation is a simple obstruction of the small intestine of unknown aetiology. HYPOTHESIS: Horses affected with CMB in the small intestine have a good prognosis following surgical decompression into the caecum. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out and 28 cases identified from 559 colic surgeries performed over a 5.5 year period. An exploratory celiotomy was performed in every case. A simple obstruction at the mid or distal jejunum was identified caused by a CMB, which was multiple in some cases. All of the horses except 2 had undergone a regular anthelmintic programme. RESULTS: Manual decompression of the small intestine into the caecum resulted in resolution of the simple jejunal obstruction. A constricted segment of small intestine was resected in one case, as the degree of constriction was severe. A full thickness biopsy was taken from another case. Histopathology was performed on both samples. All horses recovered from surgery and were discharged from the hospital 7-32 days post operatively. Short-term complications were observed. Survival rate was 100% at long-term follow-up. Histopathology showed inflammatory infiltration in the submucosa, muscularis and serosa with eosinophils predominating. Parasites were not detected. CONCLUSION AND POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Small intestine circumferential mural bands have a good prognosis after surgical decompression of the small intestine into the caecum.

A prospective cohort study of health outcomes following whiplash associated disorders in an Australian population.

OBJECTIVE: To define health outcomes of whiplash associated disorders (WAD) at three months, six months, and two years after injury and to examine predictors of these outcomes. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: New South Wales, Australia. SUBJECTS: People with compensable motor crash injuries who reported whiplash as one of their injuries. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Functional Rating Index (FRI), Short Form 36 (SF-36) at three months, six months, and two years after injury, ascertained by telephone interview. RESULTS: At three months, 33.6% of the cohort was recovered (as defined by FRI

Rewritable DNA microarrays.

Thiol-terminated single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acids (ssDNA) can be immobilized onto pulsed plasma deposited poly(allylmercaptan) surfaces via disulfide bridge chemistry and are found to readily undergo nucleic acid hybridization. Unlike other methods for oligonucleotide attachment to solid surfaces, this approach is shown to be independent of substrate material or geometry, and amenable to highly efficient rewriting.

Rapid polymer brush growth by TEMPO-mediated controlled free-radical polymerization from swollen plasma deposited poly(maleic anhydride) initiator surfaces.

Pulsed plasma-chemical deposition of poly(maleic anhydride) is shown to be a substrate-independent method for functionalizing solid surfaces with initiator sites for nitroxide-mediated controlled free-radical graft polymerization. Swelling of the initiator film via aminolysis can lead to grafted polymer brushes that are 1 order of magnitude thicker than those obtained by existing methods on solid surfaces.

Substrate-independent approach for polymer brush growth by surface atom transfer radical polymerization.

A simple method for growing polymer brushes by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) off solid surfaces has been devised. This entails pulsed plasmachemical deposition of a halogen-containing initiator layer, followed by either organic or aqueous phase controlled surface polymerization. The wide-scale applicability of this approach is exemplified by functionalizing flat substrates, microbeads, and nonwoven textiles.

Poly(N-acryloylsarcosine methyl ester) protein-resistant surfaces.

A new class of protein-resistant film based on N-substituted glycine derivatives is described. Pulsed plasma deposited poly(N-acryloylsarcosine methyl ester) coatings are shown to be resistant toward the adsorption of fibrinogen and lysozyme. Deposition and UV irradiation of the polymer through a masked grid are found to be effective ways for generating negative and positive image protein arrays, respectively, onto a range of different substrate materials.

Functionalization of solid surfaces with thermoresponsive protein-resistant films.

Pulsed plasma polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide leads to the deposition of thermoresponsive films. The reversible (switching) behavior of these poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) surfaces has been exemplified by screening the adsorption of fibrinogen and fluorescein isothiocyanate labeled bovine serum albumin proteins by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and fluorescence microscopy at low and elevated temperatures.