Scalable Dry Process for Fabricating a Na Superionic Conductor-Type Solid Electrolyte Sheet

The cost reduction and mass production of oxide-based solid electrolytes are critical for the commercialization of all-solid-state batteries. In this study, an environmentally friendly, low-cost, and high-density oxide-based Na superionic conductor-type solid electrolyte sheet was fabricated via a dry process without the use of any solvent. The polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), used as a binder, was transformed into thin thread-like structures via shear force, resulting in a flexible solid electrolyte sheet. The solid electrolyte powder quantity was limited to 50 wt % for fabricating a uniform green sheet via the wet process. However, when the dry process was employed for green sheet fabrication, the solid electrolyte powder quantity could be increased to values exceeding 95 wt %. Therefore, the green sheets produced by using the dry process demonstrated a higher density than those fabricated by using the wet process. The binder content and particle size affected the ionic conductivity of a solid electrolyte sheet fabricated via a dry process. The sheet obtained via the blending of 3 wt % PTFE binder with a solid electrolyte powder, finely ground using a planetary ball mill, which exhibited the highest total ionic conductivity of 1.03 mS cm-1.

Patient-Specific Deep Learning Model for Clinical Target Volume Delineation on Daily CBCT of Breast Cancer Patients based on Intentional Deep Overfit Learning (IDOL) Framework

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Increasingly complex target volumes and the use of modern irradiation techniques emphasize the importance of daily image guidance more than ever. Significant progress has been made in adjuvant breast cancer radiotherapy (RT) and the need for optimized image guidance is growing. Furthermore, the position of the breast during RT after breast-conserving surgery is highly variable than expected. In this context, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a very effective tool enabling prompt and accurate adaptive radiation therapy (ART). In this study, we aim to develop a deep learning (DL)-based algorithm to segment clinical target volume (CTV) from daily CBCT scans. Also, we validate the optimization of further learning when applying the Intentional Deep Overfit Learning (IDOL) framework.

MATERIALS/METHODS

A total of 240 different CBCT scans obtained from 100 breast cancer patients were used for this study. CTV was defined as whole breast plus margin in all patients. The workflow consists of two training stages: (1) training a novel 'generalized' DL model (Swin_UNETR) to identify and delineate breast CTV on CBCT scans using 90 breast cancer patient cases (2) applying an 'intentional overfitting' to the 'generalized' DL model to generate a 'patient-specific' model using the remaining 10 breast cancer patients. In this study, for the intentionally overfitting stage, we additionally trained with CBCT scans from the patient's 1st fraction to the 14th fractions cases. The results of the proposed method were compared quantitatively with the expert's contours on 1st-15th fractions CBCT scans using Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC).

RESULTS

The average DSC between the 'generalized' DL model-based breast CTV contours and reference contours for the patient's 15th fraction was 0.9672. When implementing the IDOL framework with the CBCT scan obtained during the patient's 1st treatment, the average DSC was improved to 0.9809. When additional CBCT scans taken during each of the 1st to 6th fractions were used for training, the average DSC could be most effectively raised to 0.9835. The p-value comparison between the 'generalized' DL model and the 1st fraction was found to be 3.62E-04, while the comparison with the 6th fractions resulted in a p-value of 8.36E-05. The average time required for IDOL training using one CBCT scan and six CBCT scans was 107 seconds and 127 seconds, respectively.

CONCLUSION

In this study, we developed a patient-specific DL-based training algorithm to segment CTV in CBCT scans for breast cancer patients. The performance improvement was relatively significant and was confirmed that using continual DL with additional CBCT scans, which are taken every day, can be more accurate and efficient than drawing breast CTV using a general model. Our novel patient-specific model can be effectively applied to various ARTs by not only reducing labor and time but also increasing accuracy.

Molecular Dipoles as a Surface Flattening and Interface Stabilizing Agent for Lithium-Metal Batteries

Reaching the border of the capable energy limit in existing battery technology has turned research attention away from the rebirth of unstable Li-metal anode chemistry in order to achieve exceptional performance. Strict regulation of the dendritic Li surface reaction, which results in a short circuit and safety issues, should be achieved to realize Li-metal batteries. Herein, this study reports a surface-flattening and interface product stabilizing agent employing methyl pyrrolidone (MP) molecular dipoles in the electrolyte for cyclable Li-metal batteries. The excellent stability of the Li-metal electrode over 600 cycles at a high current density of 5 mA cm-2 has been demonstrated using an optimal concentration of the MP additive. This study has identified the flattening surface reconstruction and crystal rearrangement behavior along the stable (110) plane assisted by the MP molecular dipoles. The stabilization of the Li-metal anodes using molecular dipole agents has helped develop next-generation energy storage devices using Li-metal anodes, such as Li-air, Li-S, and semi-solid-state batteries.

A Novel High-Performance TiO2-x /TiO1-y Ny Coating Material for Silicon Anode in Lithium-Ion Batteries

Protective surface coatings on Si anodes are promising for improving the electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Nevertheless, most coating materials have severe issues, including low initial coulombic efficiency, structural fracture, morphology control, and complicated synthetic processing. In this study, a multifunctional TiO_{2- x} /TiO_{1- y} N_y (TTN) formed via a facile and scalable synthetic process is applied as a coating material for Si anodes. A thin layer of amorphous TiO₂ is uniformly coated onto Si nanoparticles by a simple sol-gel method and then converted into a two phase TiO_{2- x} /TiO_{1- y} N_y via nitridation. The lithiated TiO_2-x provides high ionic and electrical conductivity, while TiO_1-y N_y can improve mechanical strength that alleviates volume change of Si to address capacity fading issue. Owing to these synergetic advantages, TiO_{2- x} /TiO_{1- y} N_y -coated Si (Si@TTN) exhibits excellent electrochemical properties, including a high charge capacity of 1650 mA h g^-1 at 0.1 A g^-1 and 84% capacity retention after 100 cycles at 1 A g^-1 . Moreover, a significantly enhanced rate performance can be achieved at a high current density. This investigation presents a facile and effective coating material to use as the high-capacity silicon anode in the emerging Si anode technology in LIBs.

Eco-friendly and facile synthesis of size-controlled spherical silica particles from rice husk

The valorization of inorganic silica components from rice husk has been considered an important research topic over the last few decades. However, owing to various problems, such as the difficulty in controlling precise morphological properties, complex extraction and manufacturing processes, and the use of hazardous acids, the technology for producing high value-added silica for industrial applications is still insufficient. In this study, we developed a method for obtaining size-controlled spherical silica from rice husk using an eco-friendly and simplified process that overcomes the above-mentioned limitations. Silica particles were obtained by extraction from rice husk in alkaline media under mild conditions (80 °C) followed by pH adjustment with acetic acid. Therefore, the use of strong acids was excluded, no special equipment was required for the process, and the overall synthetic process was significantly simplified. The silica particles obtained through this method were uniformly spherical in shape, with a surface area of more than 200 m² g^-1. Our results indicate that the preparation of silicate solution under appropriate conditions and the use of polyethylene glycol (PEG) additives during the precipitation step are important for obtaining spherical silica. Moreover, by adjusting the temperature in the precipitation step, the size of the spherical silica particles can be controlled in the range of ∼250 nm to ∼1.4 μm. Our study contributes to the development of rice husk-derived silica that can be applied to practical industrial applications.

The use of instant messaging in clinical data sharing: the EHRA SMS survey

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Nowadays, instant messaging (IM) provides fast and widespread communication. These platforms and apps enable the physicians to quickly share and send clinical data to their peers, to send information to their patients regarding their illnesses and to be reached for counselling and advise. Nevertheless, the use of IM has never been assessed in the cardiology community up until now.

Purpose

To assess the habits of cardiologists related to modern communication tools, their primary and secondary uses in clinical practice and the potential differences and preferences between different media in terms of ease of access, usefulness and trustworthiness.

Methods

An online survey was promoted by the EHRA e-Communication Committee and the EHRA Scientific Initiative Committee during the ESC Digital Health Week. All cardiologists were invited to participate via Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and other dedicated channels. The survey consisted of 22 questions and was made anonymous. The questions were made on an individual-basis and collected on SurveyMonkey.

Results

287 physicians from 33 countries responded to the survey. The mean age of the respondents was 43.4 ± 11.5 years, and 74.8% of them were male. 88.3% of all respondents routinely sends and 90.3% receives clinical data through IM. IM is used at least once a week (36.4%) or even once or more a day (40.4%) for sharing clinical data. WhatsApp is the most used IM app to share clinical data (79.4%). On a scale of 1 to 5, IM was second only to face-to-face contact (average 4.46) as the preferred method for sharing clinical data (average 3.69) and was considered better than phone calls (average 3.34) and e-mails (average 3.21). Twelve-lead ECGs (88.6%), medical history (61.4%) and echo loops (55.7%) are the data shared most often. Among potential pros of IM, the respondents listed being a fast way of communication (82.0%) and making it easy to contact colleagues (76.7%), while privacy issues regarding IM apps providers (62.7%) and other colleagues (45.6%) were commonly perceived as drawbacks. Only 57.4% of all respondents anonymize clinical data before sharing them through IM, and only 44.0% of the data received are reported to be anonymized. Of note, 29.3% of the respondents were not aware of the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on data protection at the time of the survey, and 29.8% do not know if their institution has a specific policy regarding the use of IM for professional use.

Conclusions

IM apps are used by cardiologists worldwide to share and discuss clinical data and are preferred to many other methods of data sharing, being second only to face-to-face contact. IM are often used and to share many different types of clinical data, being perceived as a fast and easy way of communication. Cardiologists should be sensitised to appropriate use of IM in accordance to GDPR and local policies in order to prevent legal and privacy issues.

Synthesis of Sodium Cobalt Fluoride/Reduced Graphene Oxide (NaCoF3/rGO) Nanocomposites and Investigation of Their Electrochemical Properties as Cathodes for Li-Ion Batteries

In this study, sodium cobalt fluoride (NaCoF3)/reduced graphene oxide (NCF/rGO) nanocomposites were fabricated through a simple one-pot solvothermal process and their electrochemical performance as cathodes for Li-ion batteries (LIBs) was investigated. The NCF nanoclusters (NCs) on the composites (300-500 nm in size) were formed by the assembly of primary nanoparticles (~20 nm), which were then incorporated on the surface of rGO. This morphology provided NCF NCs with a large surface area for efficient ion diffusion and also allowed for close contact with the conductive matrix to promote rapid electron transfer. As a cathode for LIBs, the NCF/rGO electrode achieved a high reversible capacity of 465 mAh·g-1 at 20 mA·g-1 via the conversion reaction, and this enhancement represented more than five times the reversible capacity of the bare NCF electrode. Additionally, the NCF/rGO electrode exhibited both better specific capacity and cyclability within the current density testing range (from 20 to 200 mA·g-1), compared with those of the bare NCF electrode.

ON/OFF Switchable Nanocomposite Membranes for Separations

Although water, air, and other resources are abundant on earth, they have been subjected to strict environmental regulations. This is because of their limitation of availability for human consumption. In the separation industry, the membrane system was introduced to increase the amount of resources available to mankind. Experts used an easy-to-use polymeric material to design several membranes with porous structures for wastewater treatment, gas separation, and chemical removal; consequently, they succeeded in obtaining positive results. However, past polymeric membranes exhibited a chronic drawback such that it was difficult to simultaneously augment the permeate flux and improve its selectivity toward certain substances. Because of the trade-off relationship that existed between permeability and selectivity, the membrane efficiency was not very good; consequently, the cost-effectiveness was significantly hindered because there was no other alternative than to replace the membrane in order to maintain its initial characteristics steadily. This review begins with the introduction of a polymer nanocomposite (PNC) membrane that has been designed to solve the chronic problem of polymeric membranes; subsequently, the stimuli-responsive PNC membrane is elucidated, which has established itself as a popular topic among researchers in the separation industry for several decades. Furthermore, we have listed the different types and examples of stimuli-responsive PNC membranes, which can be switched by external stimuli, while discussing the future direction of the membrane separation industry.

Connecting particle interactions to agglomerate morphology and rheology of boehmite nanocrystal suspensions

HYPOTHESIS

The rheology of complex suspensions, such as nuclear waste slurries at the Hanford and Savannah River sites, imposes significant challenges on industrial-scale processing. Investigating the rheology and connecting it to the agglomerate morphology and underlying particle interactions in slurries will provide important fundamental knowledge, as well as prescriptive data for practical applications. Here, we use suspensions of nano-scale aluminum oxyhydroxide minerals in the form of boehmite as an analog of the radioactive waste slurry to investigate the correlation between particle interactions, agglomerate morphology, and slurry rheology.

EXPERIMENTS

A combination of Couette rheometry and small-angle scattering techniques (independently and simultaneously) were used to understand how agglomerate structure of slurry changes under flow and how these structural changes manifest themselves in the bulk rheology of the suspensions.

FINDINGS

Our experiments show that the boehmite slurries are thixotropic, with the rheology and structure of the suspensions changing with increasing exposure to flow. In the slurries, particle agglomerates begin as loose, system-spanning clusters, but exposure to moderate shear rates causes the agglomerates to irreversibly consolidate into denser clusters of finite size. The structural changes directly influence the rheological properties of the slurries such as viscosity and viscoelasticity. Our study shows that solution pH affects the amount of structural rearrangement and the kinetics of the rearrangement process, with an increase in pH leading to faster and more dramatic changes in bulk rheology, which can be understood via correlations between particle interactions and the strength of particle network. Nearly identical structural changes were also observed in Poiseuille flow geometries, implying that the observed changes are relevant in pipe flow as well.

Mesoporous carbon host material for stable lithium metal anode

Lithium (Li) metal is a promising anode material for next-generation batteries because of its low standard reduction potential (-3.04 V vs. SHE) and high specific capacity (3860 mA h g-1). However, it is still challenging to directly use Li metal as anode material in commercial batteries because of unstable Li dendrite formation and accumulated solid-electrolyte interphase. Possible methods that can suppress the unwanted formation of Li dendrites are (i) by increasing the electrode surface area and (ii) formation of porosity for confining Li. Here, we tested microporous (<2 nm) carbon and mesoporous (2-50 nm) carbon as host materials for the Li metal anode to avoid their degradation during cycling of lithium metal batteries (LMBs). Mesoporous carbon was more effective than microporous carbon as a host material to confine the Li metal and the lifetime of mesoporous carbon was more than twice as long as those of the Cu foil and microporous carbon. After confirmed better anode performance of mesoporous carbon host material, we applied Li-plated mesoporous carbon as an anode in a lithium-sulfur battery (Li-S) full cell. This research work suggests that mesopores, in spite of their low specific surface area, are better than micropores in stabilizing the Li metal and that a mesoporous host material can be applied to Li metal anodes for use in next-generation battery applications.

In situ liquid SEM imaging analysis revealing particle dispersity in aqueous solutions

A quantitative description on dispersity of boehmite (γ-AlOOH) particles, a key component for waste slurry at Hanford sites, can provide useful knowledge for understanding various physicochemical nature of the waste. In situ liquid scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to evaluate the dispersity of particles in aqueous conditions using a microfluidic sample holder, System for Analysis at Liquid Vacuum Interface (SALVI). Secondary electron (SE) images and image analyses were performed to determine particle centroid locations and the distance to the nearest neighbour particle centroid, providing reliable rescaled interparticle distances as a function of ionic strength in acidic and basic conditions. Our finding of the particle dispersity is consistent with physical insights from corresponding particle interactions under physicochemical conditions, demonstrating delicate changes in dispersity of boehmite particles based on novel in situ liquid SEM imaging and analysis. LAY DESCRIPTION: In situ liquid scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to determine the interparticle distance of boehmite (γ-AlOOH) particles, a key component for waste slurry at Hanford sites. This type of quantitative measurement is important to understand various physicochemical nature of the radiological waste containing boehmite. In situ liquid SEM was enabled by a unique vacuum compatible microfluidic cell, System for Analysis at Liquid Vacuum Interface (SALVI). We collected secondary electron (SE) images and performed image analyses to determine particle centroid locations and the distance to the nearest neighbour particle centroid to arrive at the interparticle distances in acidic and basic conditions. Our results show that delicate changes occur among boehmite particles under different pH conditions using novel in situ SEM imaging.

Roles of notch signaling pathway and endothelial-mesenchymal transition in vascular endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of the Notch signaling pathway on the endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) during vascular endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC) were treated with the exogenous Notch homolog 1 (Notch1) factor to activate the Notch1 pathway, and cells were then observed under the microscope for morphologic changes. Changes in the expression of related proteins were detected by Western blot. In vivo experiments were performed using 18 Sprague Dawley® (SD) rats, and GSI factor was used to specifically inhibit Notch pathway activation. Rats were used and randomly divided into three groups: normal diet (ND) group, high-fat diet (HFD) group, and high-fat diet + GSI (HFD+GSI) group, 6 rats in each group. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to examine the cardiac aortic morphology of the rats in each treatment group. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot were used to detect the expression of Notch1, Hes1, VE-cadherin and α-SMA in the aortic tissues of rats in each group at mRNA and protein levels, respectively.

RESULTS

After HCAECs were treated with Notch1, endothelial protein levels of VE-cadherin were significantly decreased and levels of the interstitial protein α-SMA were significantly increased. In the animal model, the rats fed with high-fat diet for two months presented obvious atherosclerosis spots in their aorta, but those fed with the same diet and treated with GSI inhibitor of Notch pathway showed significantly fewer atherosclerosis signs. Compared with ND group, mRNA and protein expression levels of Notch1, Hes1 and α-SMA were significantly increased, and the expression levels of endothelial marker VE-cadherin were significantly decreased in aortas of rats in HFD group. Compared with the rats in HFD group, the rats in HFD+GSI group showed significantly reduced expression levels of Notch1, Hes1 and α-SMA.

CONCLUSIONS

The activation of Notch signaling pathway can induce the EndMT progression and promote the development of atherosclerotic lesions.

Abstract P4-10-11: Pregnancy-associated breast cancer in a contemporary cohort of newly diagnosed women

Introduction: Pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) refers to breast cancer (BC) diagnosed during pregnancy, lactation, or in the postpartum period. There is evidence that PABC is associated with a poorer prognosis, and that the development of the disease is influenced by the unique hormonal milieu of pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinicopathologic characteristics associated with PABC in a contemporary cohort of women with newly diagnosed BC.

Methods: Our institutional Breast Cancer Database was queried for women diagnosed with breast cancer between 2010-17 who had at least one full term pregnancy (FTP). Variables of interest included patient demographics and clinical and tumor characteristics. PABC was defined as breast cancer diagnosed within 24 months of delivery. Statistical analyses included Pearson's chi-square and logistic regression.

Results: Out of a total of 1934 women, 42 (2.2%) had PABC. Median follow up in the total cohort was 4.5 years. After adjusting for age at diagnosis, PABC was associated with older age at first FTP, ethnic minority status, BRCA mutation carriers, presentation with a palpable mass, higher histologic grade, and ER-negative and triple negative receptor status. Variables that were not significantly different between PABC and non-PABC cases included tumor histology, multifocality, presence of lymphovascular invasion, and family history of breast cancer.

Table:Selected Characteristics of Women with PABCVariableNon-PABC (n=1892)PABC (n=42)P-value*Age at first full term pregnancy  &lt;0.001&lt;35 years1610 (85%)28 (66.7%) ≥35 years277 (15%)14 (33.3%) Race  0.001White1397 (73.8%)23 (54.8%) Black181 (9.6%)8 (19%) Asian175 (9.2%)10 (23.8%) Hispanic131 (6.9%)1 (2.4%) Other8 (0.4%)0 (0%) BRCA 1,2 Positive56 (3%)9 (21.4%)&lt;0.001Method of Presentation  0.002Breast Exam579 (30.6%)30 (71.4%) Mammography1137 (60.1%)10 (23.8%) Ultrasound87 (1.6%)2 (4.8%) MRI67 (3.5%)0 (0%) Other22 (1.2%)0 (0%) Invasive Grade  0.014Low213 (15%)0 (0%) Intermediate763 (53.8%)12 (37.5%) High442 (31.2%)20 (62.5%) Estrogen Receptor  0.034Positive1572 (83.9%)29 (69%) Negative301 (16.1%)13 (31%) Triple Negative135 (7.1%)7 (16.7%)0.041*P-values are age-adjusted.

Conclusions: The association of PABC with ethnic minority status in our cohort is interesting and may be reflected in the increased proportion of triple negative breast cancers in the PABC group. In our contemporary cohort, PABC was associated with older age at first FTP. As more women delay childbearing, risk for PABC may increase. Our findings suggest that women who become pregnant at older ages should be followed carefully during pregnancy and in the postpartum period, especially if they are BRCA mutation carriers. The optimal approach for monitoring older women during pregnancy and the postpartum period is unclear. Clinical breast exam may play an important role, especially for those women known to be at increased risk for breast cancer.

Citation Format: Gooch JC, Chun J, Jubas T, Guth A, Schnabel F. Pregnancy-associated breast cancer in a contemporary cohort of newly diagnosed women [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-10-11.

Abstract P4-10-07: Breastfeeding experience among breast cancer patients in the modern era

Introduction: In recent years, the uptake of breastfeeding has become more common as it is regarded as healthy and beneficial for both mother and infant. The process of parturition and lactation plays a role in the normal differentiation and development of breast tissue, and multiparity has been associated with a decreased risk for breast cancer. The current study sought to describe the breastfeeding experience of a modern cohort of women with newly diagnosed BC, and to examine the clinicopathologic characteristics of their disease.

Methods: A retrospective review of our institutional Breast Cancer Database from 2009-2017 was performed to identify women with at least one full term pregnancy (FTP). Clinicopathologic and demographic information was recorded, including breastfeeding experience and cumulative duration of nursing. Women were grouped by self-reported breastfeeding experience and duration of breastfeeding for analysis. Pearson's chi-square tests were performed.

Results: Of 1919 patients, 1053 (54.9%) reporting breastfeeding. Breastfeeding increased from a low of 30.4% among women with first FTP (FFTP) in the 1950's to 84.6% with FFTP in the 2010's. There were no significant differences between those who did and did not breast feed with regards to race, family history, BRCA status, pathologic stage, grade, tumor histology, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), multifocality, tumor size or receptor status. When stratified by duration of breastfeeding, the most striking finding was that women who breastfed for &gt;12 months were more likely to have tumors associated with LVI (p = 0.028).

Table– Breastfeeding Experience Among Parous Women with Breast CancerVariableNo Breastfeeding (n=866)Breastfeeding (n=1053)p-valueRace  0.432White648 (74.8%)767 (72.8%) Black73 (8.5%)112 (10.6%) Asian78 (9%)102 (9.7%) Hispanic64 (7.4%)67 (6.4%) Other3 (0.3%)5 (0.5%) Family history272 (31.4%)311 (29.6%)0.397BRCA 1,2 positive23 (2.7%)42 (4.0%)0.108Final Pathology Stage  0.2240190 (21.9%)222 (21.1%) I426 (49.2%)507 (48.1%) II197 (22.8%)229 (21.7%) III40 (4.6%)63 (6.0%) IV1 (0.1%)3 (0.3%) No residual (neoadjuvant)12 (1.4%)29 (34.1%) Invasive Grade  0.127Low92 (14.1%)120 (15.3%) Intermediate371 (56.7%)398 (50.6%) High191 (29.2%)268 (34.1%) Histology  0.130DCIS189 (21.8%)223 (21.2%) IDC531 (61.3%)688 (65.3%) ILC113 (13.1%)99 (9.4%) Other33 (3.8%)43 (4.1%) LVI127 (14.7%)174 (16.5%) Multifocality147 (17%)183 (17.4%) Median tumor size (cm; range)1.4 (0-9.5)1.3 (0-12.5)0.489Estrogen Receptor  0.206Positive726 (84.7%)861 (82.6%) Negative131 (15.3%)182 (17.4%) Progesterone Receptor  0.275Positive621 (72.5%)732 (70.2%) Negative236 (27.5%)311 (29.8%) HER2/neu Receptor  0.068Positive78 (12%)121 (15.4%) Negative571 (88%)667 (84.6%) 

Conclusions: Breastfeeding experience was not generally associated with significant differences in tumor or patient characteristics. However, breastfeeding for longer than 12 months was associated with LVI. It is possible that changes in the breast tissue that occur during the process of pregnancy and prolonged lactation may influence future tumor development. These findings are hypothesis generating and suggest that the relationship of prolonged breastfeeding and breast cancer development should be investigated further.

Citation Format: Gooch JC, Chun J, Jubas T, Guth A, Schnabel F. Breastfeeding experience among breast cancer patients in the modern era [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-10-07.

Abstract P5-02-01: The relationship of breast density in mammography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in women with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC)

Introduction:

TNBC represent 10%–20% of invasive breast cancers. Previous studies showed that TNBC usually present with benign features on mammography, ultrasound and MRI. However, there is a dearth of information on the relationship of mammographic breast density (MBD), background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) and fibroglandular tissue (FGT) on MRI with TNBC. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between BD, BPE, and FGT in women with TNBC compared to non-TNBC in a contemporary cohort of women with breast cancer.

Methods:

The Institutional Breast Cancer Database was queried for women who had invasive breast cancer and underwent mammography and MRI between (2010-2017). Variables of interest included clinical, pathologic, and imaging characteristics. Statistical analyses included Pearson's Chi Square and logistic regression.

Results:

Of 2224 women, 210 (9%) had TNBC. The median age was 59 years (22-95) and median follow up was 4 years. When we looked at the clinical characteristics of women with TNBC compared to non-TNBC, race, BRCA1,2 status, method of presentation, palpability, histology, grade, and Ki67 were statistically different (Table 1). When we looked at the correlation of MBD, FGT, and BPE for women with TNBC, MBD was correlated with FGT (r=0.64) but weakly correlated with BPE (r=0.22). We found a significant association of low BPE and TNBC compared to the non-TNBCs (p=0.021) (Table 1). In a short period of time, only 8 women with TNBC had a recurrence with no significant association with MBD, BPE, or FGT (Table 1).

Table 1.Imaging Characteristics among TNBC compared to non-TNBCVariableTNBC (N=210)%Non-TNBC (N=2014)%P-valueRace    0.001White13665153376 Black35171749 Hispanic1261156 Asian23111739 Other42191 BRCA1/2    &lt;0.001Positive3025425 Negative897579195 Method of Presentation    &lt;0.001Breast exam1125475738 Mammography7737105753 Ultrasound731106 MRI126553 Palpable    &lt;0.001Yes1185783342 No9144115258 Histology    &lt;0.001DCIS with Microinvasion21382 IDC19693159079 ILC5226913 Invasive Other731176 Invasive Grade    &lt;0.001Grade 11131016 Grade 22714111858 Grade 31688650126 ER    &lt;0.001Positive00189194 Negative2101001226 PR    &lt;0.001Positive00160080 Negative21010041221 Ki67    &lt;0.001Median (range)60 (0-99) 10 (0-99)  Mammographic Density    0.165Less dense82417846 More dense11959103454 MRI BPE    0.021Low BPE707655564 High BPE222431236 MRI FGT    0.370Less dense475440449 More dense404642151 

Conclusions:

In our study population, MBD and FGT did not differ between patients with TNBC compared to non-TNBC. Interestingly, we found a higher proportion of women with lower BPE in the TNBC compared to the non-TNBC group. BPE refers to the amount of enhancing fibroglandular tissue and has been demonstrated to reflect variations in estrogen-mediated vascular permeability. Lower BPE in TNBC may reflect the fact that these tumors are not hormonally sensitive. This may also have implications for radiogenomics, which aims to correlate imaging characteristics with gene expression and genome-related characteristics in tumor biology. Further studies are warranted in looking at these imaging biomarkers and TNBC.

Citation Format: Chun J, Schnabel F, Gooch J, Lee J, Jubas T, Goodgal J, Guth A, Moy L. The relationship of breast density in mammography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in women with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-02-01.

Effects of Ionic Strength, Salt, and pH on Aggregation of Boehmite Nanocrystals: Tumbler Small-Angle Neutron and X-ray Scattering and Imaging Analysis

The US government currently spends significant resources managing the legacies of the Cold War, including 300 million liters of highly radioactive wastes stored in hundreds of tanks at the Hanford (WA) and Savannah River (SC) sites. The materials in these tanks consist of highly radioactive slurries and sludges at very high pH and salt concentrations. The solid particles primarily consist of aluminum hydroxides and oxyhydroxides (gibbsite and boehmite), although many other materials are present. These form complex aggregates that dramatically affect the rheology of the solutions and, therefore, efforts to recover and treat these wastes. In this paper, we have used a combination of transmission and cryo-transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and X-ray and neutron small and ultrasmall-angle scattering to study the aggregation of synthetic nanoboehmite particles at pH 9 (approximately the point of zero charge) and 12, and sodium nitrate and calcium nitrate concentrations up to 1 m. Although the initial particles form individual rhombohedral platelets, once placed in solution they quickly form well-bonded stacks, primary aggregates, up to ∼1500 Å long. These are more prevalent at pH = 12. Addition of calcium nitrate or sodium nitrate has a similar effect as lowering pH, but approximately 100 times less calcium than sodium is needed to observe this effect. These aggregates have fractal dimension between 2.5 and 2.6 that are relatively unaffected by salt concentration for calcium nitrate at high pH. Larger aggregates (>∼4000 Å) are also formed, but their size distributions are discrete rather than continuous. The fractal dimensions of these aggregates are strongly pH-dependent, but only become dependent on solute at high concentrations.

Abstract P5-23-03: Gene expression profiling in male breast cancer

Background:

Tumor gene expression profiling tests are widely used to quantify risk of recurrence of breast cancer and guide systemic therapy in early stage breast cancer. These assays have not been well validated in a male cohort. The purpose of this study was to determine the current rates of genomic testing in male breast cancer (MBC), the distribution of risk of recurrence scores (RRS) in early stage MBC, and the effect of RRS on systemic treatment patterns.

Methods:

The National Cancer Database was queried and found to include 6,227 cases of pathologic T1/T2 and N0/N1 MBC from 2008-2014 with known genomic testing status. Of the 1478 (23.74%) male patients who had gene expression profiling performed, variables of interest included age at diagnosis, stage, estrogen receptor status (ER), RRS, and treatment. We compared the treatment patterns of the 1,343 patients who had RRS available and the 4,527 patients who were not tested. A similar analysis was performed in female breast cancer (FBC) patients to serve as a point of reference. Statistical analysis included multivariate logistic regression and Pearson's chi-square test.

Results:

Of the 1,478 (23.74%) cases of MBC who had gene expression profiling, the most significant variables included: younger age, non-Black race, diagnosis after 2010, tumor Grade II, Estrogen Receptor (ER) positivity, and N0 or N1mi disease. Of those who had results, the distribution of RRS was 59.3% low, 27.4% intermediate, and 13.3% high. A similar distribution was found in 154,705 women who were tested during the same study period. Risk scores in men were significantly associated with tumor grade and size, but not nodal status. 83.4% of men with a low RRS were treated with hormone therapy alone, with an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 7.18 (CI 5.78-8.91, p&lt;0.001). Also, 61.8% of men with a high RRS received combination chemotherapy and hormone therapy, with an AOR of 5.16 (CI 3.60-740, p&lt;0.001).

Conclusion:

Although there is limited literature supporting the use of genomic assays in MBC, our study found similar rates of testing in men and women with early stage breast cancer. Treatment patterns varied significantly based on risk stratification, implying that physicians are using gene profiling assays to help guide treatment in MBC. Understanding the role for genomic profiling in MBC is particularly important as these results will be incorporated into the new AJCC 8th edition staging system. Long term follow up is needed to determine whether these tests accurately predict prognosis and recurrence in a male cohort.

Citation Format: Dubrovsky E, Raymond S, Chun J, Schnabel F. Gene expression profiling in male breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-23-03.

Dysregulation of lysophosphatidic acids in multiple sclerosis and autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Abstract

Bioactive lipids contribute to the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis. Here, we show that lysophosphatidic acids (LPAs) are dysregulated in multiple sclerosis (MS) and are functionally relevant in this disease. LPAs and autotaxin, the major enzyme producing extracellular LPAs, were analyzed in serum and cerebrospinal fluid in a cross-sectional population of MS patients and were compared with respective data from mice in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model, spontaneous EAE in TCR¹⁶⁴⁰ mice, and EAE in Lpar2^-/- mice. Serum LPAs were reduced in MS and EAE whereas spinal cord LPAs in TCR¹⁶⁴⁰ mice increased during the ‘symptom-free’ intervals, i.e. on resolution of inflammation during recovery hence possibly pointing to positive effects of brain LPAs during remyelination as suggested in previous studies. Peripheral LPAs mildly re-raised during relapses but further dropped in refractory relapses. The peripheral loss led to a redistribution of immune cells from the spleen to the spinal cord, suggesting defects of lymphocyte homing. In support, LPAR2 positive T-cells were reduced in EAE and the disease was intensified in Lpar2 deficient mice. Further, treatment with an LPAR2 agonist reduced clinical signs of relapsing-remitting EAE suggesting that the LPAR2 agonist partially compensated the endogenous loss of LPAs and implicating LPA signaling as a novel treatment approach.

Graphical abstract

Graphical summary of lysophosphatidic signaling in multiple sclerosis

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40478-017-0446-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Abstract P5-16-26: National trends in neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer

Purpose:Neoadjuvant therapy has been widely integrated in the treatment of locally advanced breast cancer. Over time, this strategy has been extended to include patients with earlier stage disease to allow for assessment of in vivo response to treatment. The aim of this study was to describe the national trends in neoadjuvant therapy for all invasive breast cancers with a particular focus on triple negative disease and HER2 status.

Methods: The National Cancer Database (NCDB), an oncology outcomes database that collects data from more than 1500 Commission on Cancer (CoC) accredited cancer programs, was queried for all women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer from 2006-2013. Patients with unknown systemic therapy sequence were excluded. Women were classified by whether or not they received neoadjuvant systemic, chemo and/or endocrine, therapy.

Results: We identified 1,221,976 cases that were eligible for this analysis. Of these, 29.7% were HER2 negative, 18.4% were classified as triple negative, and 8.9% received neoadjuvant systemic therapy. The percentage of patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy increased from 7.5% in 2006 to 9.8% in 2012 with a slight decrease to 9.5% in 2013. This increase in the use of neoadjuvant therapy over the time period was statistically significant (p&lt;0.0001). There was a small increase in the percent of patients with HER2 positive status who received neoadjuvant therapy, from 5.7% in 2006 to 6.5% in 2013. During this time period, there was a 9% increase in the percent of triple negative patients who received neoadjuvant therapy (13.1% in 2016 to 22.1% in 2013).

Number and percent of patients who received/did not receive neoadjuvant therapy by year2006 (N=136117)2007 (N=143033)2008 (N=148888)2009 (N=154713)2010 (N=154040)2011 (N=162333)2012 (N=163395)2013 (N=159457)No Neoadjuvant Therapy | 125908 (92.5)131559 (91.98)136593 (91.74)141364 (91.37)139459 (90.53)146500 (90.25)147401 (90.21)144306 (90.5)Neoadjuvant Therapy | 10209 (7.5)11474 (8.02)12295 (8.26)13349 (8.63)14581 (9.47)15833 (9.75)15994 (9.79)15151 (9.5)

Conclusions: Over the time period from 2006-2013, there has been an apparent increase in the percentage of patients who received neoadjuvant therapy. This trend is accompanied by increases in the percentage of TNBC patients and in Her2 positive patients who received neoadjuvant therapy. Other factors and the joint effects of these factors on the observed increase in the use of neoadjuvant therapy are under evaluation to elucidate the basis for this observation in the NCDB data.

Citation Format: Schnabel F, Schwartz S, Hochman T, Chun J, Goldberg J. National trends in neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-16-26.

Ammonium Fluoride Mediated Synthesis of Anhydrous Metal Fluoride-Mesoporous Carbon Nanocomposites for High-Performance Lithium Ion Battery Cathodes

Metal fluorides (MF_x) are one of the most attractive cathode candidates for Li ion batteries (LIBs) due to their high conversion potentials with large capacities. However, only a limited number of synthetic methods, generally involving highly toxic or inaccessible reagents, currently exist, which has made it difficult to produce well-designed nanostructures suitable for cathodes; consequently, harnessing their potential cathodic properties has been a challenge. Herein, we report a new bottom-up synthetic method utilizing ammonium fluoride (NH₄F) for the preparation of anhydrous MF_x (CuF₂, FeF₃, and CoF₂)/mesoporous carbon (MSU-F-C) nanocomposites, whereby a series of metal precursor nanoparticles preconfined in mesoporous carbon were readily converted to anhydrous MF_x through simple heat treatment with NH₄F under solventless conditions. We demonstrate the versatility, lower toxicity, and efficiency of this synthetic method and, using XRD analysis, propose a mechanism for the reaction. All MF_x/MSU-F-C prepared in this study exhibited superior electrochemical performances, through conversion reactions, as the cathode for LIBs. In particular, FeF₃/MSU-F-C maintained a capacity of 650 mAh g^-1_FeF3 across 50 cycles, which is ∼90% of its initial capacity. We expect that this facile synthesis method will trigger further research into the development of various nanostructured MF_x for use in energy storage and other applications.

NLRP3 regulates a non-canonical platform for caspase-8 activation during epithelial cell apoptosis

Nod-like receptor, pyrin containing 3 (NLRP3) is characterized primarily as a canonical caspase-1 activating inflammasome in macrophages. NLRP3 is also expressed in the epithelium of the kidney and gut; however, its function remains largely undefined. Primary mouse tubular epithelial cells (TEC) lacking Nlrp3 displayed reduced apoptosis downstream of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor and CD95. TECs were identified as type II apoptotic cells that activated caspase-8, tBid and mitochondrial apoptosis via caspase-9, responses that were reduced in Nlrp3-/- cells. The activation of caspase-8 during extrinsic apoptosis induced by TNFα/cycloheximide (TNFα/CHX) was dependent on adaptor protein apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC) and completely independent of caspase-1 or caspase-11. TECs and primary human proximal tubular epithelial cells (HPTC) did not activate a canonical inflammasome, caspase-1, or IL-1β secretion in response to TNFα/CHX or NLRP3-dependent triggers, such as ATP or nigericin. In cell fractionation studies and by confocal microscopy, NLRP3 colocalized with ASC and caspase-8 in speck-like complexes at the mitochondria during apoptosis. The formation of NLRP3/ASC/caspase-8 specks in response to TNFα/CHX was downstream of TNFR signaling and dependent on potassium efflux. Epithelial ASC specks were present in enteroids undergoing apoptosis and in the injured tubules of wild-type but not Nlrp3-/- or ASC-/- mice following ureteric unilateral obstruction in vivo. These data show that NLRP3 and ASC form a conserved non-canonical platform for caspase-8 activation, independent of the inflammasome that regulates apoptosis within epithelial cells.

Abstract P6-09-13: Multi-institutional evaluation of women at high-risk for developing breast cancer

Background

Well-established risk factors for breast cancer (BC) include family history, BRCA mutations and biopsies with atypical hyperplasia (AH) or lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). Several institutions have registries of these high-risk women but outcomes from these registries require large numbers and long follow-up. We sought to compare characteristics between high-risk populations and evaluate early outcomes.

Methods

Women enrolled in IRB-approved high risk registries at NYU Langone Medical Center (NYU) and University of Vermont (UVM) were evaluated for risk category, uptake of prevention and development of breast cancer. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data and Pearson's Chi-Square and Fisher's Exact Tests were performed to compare the variables of interest among the two high risk registries.

Results

Between 2003-14, 1035 women enrolled in these high risk registries. There were significant differences in age and risk characteristics but we found a 99% concordance of variables collected between both high risk registries. Among all risk groups there was a low uptake of prevention opportunities, with 8% taking chemoprevention and 7% undergoing risk-reducing surgeries. Women with AH/LCIS accounted for 66% of those choosing chemoprevention while women with BRCA mutations accounted for 76% of those undergoing risk-reducing surgeries. To date, 43 women (4%) have been diagnosed with breast cancer. 86% were diagnosed with stage 0-1 disease and 70% had moderate or poorly differentiated cancers. There was no significant difference in background risk characteristics when comparing those with breast cancer to those who have not yet developed breast cancer.

Table 1. Clinicopathologic Characteristics between UVM and NYUVARIABLESUVM (N=496, 48%)%NYU (N=539, 52%)%P-valueMEDIAN AGE (years)46 (20-75)50 (20-87)p&lt;0.001RISK FACTORSOne or more 1° relative with BC4428928653p&lt;0.001BRCA positive2559217p&lt;0.001AH631324545p&lt;0.001LCIS22411221p&lt;0.001UPTAKE OF BC PREVENTION METHODSChemoprevention2755410p&lt;0.01Prophylactic bilateral mastectomy10.2458p&lt;0.001Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy10.2428p&lt;0.001DEVELOPED BC316122p&lt;0.01STAGE OF BC000542p&lt;0.01I2684650 IIA, IIB2618 IIIA, IIIB, IIIC31000 

Conclusions

Despite the low uptake of chemoprevention and risk reducing surgery, only 4% of patients went on to develop breast cancer in the study period. The majority of cancers involved moderate or high-grade lesions and were early stage, suggesting a benefit to participation in surveillance programs. We have demonstrated a high degree of concordance between high risk registries, suggesting no barriers to multi-institutional collaboration. High risk registries represent an important resource for studies into methods to prevent breast cancer and improve outcomes from this disease.

Citation Format: Wood M, Schnabel F, Chun J, Schwartz S, Rounds T, Cuke M. Multi-institutional evaluation of women at high-risk for developing breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-09-13.

Abstract P2-12-12: MarginProbe device use and re-excision rates for breast conservation surgeries

Background: Current methods of intraoperative assessment of lumpectomy margins are limited. Previous studies have found a lower rate of re-excisions with the adjunctive use of the MarginProbe device (Dune Medical Devices Ltd, Israel). The purpose of this study was to compare the tumor characteristics and re-excision rates before and after the use of MarginProbe for patients who had breast conservation surgery (BCS) at our institution.

Methods: The Breast Cancer Database of our medical center was queried for patients who underwent BCS from 1/2010-3/2015 by three breast surgeons. 2 surgeons used the MarginProbe to direct excision of additional margins at the time of primary lumpectomy surgery and 1 surgeon performed routine 6-surface cavity shavings. We compared our historical data (1/2010-12/2014) to MarginProbe data (1/2015-4/2015). The following variables were included: age, mammographic breast density, tumor characteristics, and re-excision rates. Statistical analyses were performed using Pearson's Chi-Square and Fisher's Exact Tests.

Results: We had a total of 1201 women who had BCS among the 3 breast surgeons. The median age was 61 years. The median invasive size was 1.2 cm. Majority of cancers were early stage (stage 0, I), invasive ductal carcinoma (61%), ER-positive (86%), PR-positive (74%), and Her2Neu-negative (88%). These tumor characteristics were not statistically different in the pre- and post-MarginProbe groups. The majority of patients had dense breasts (51%) and density did not differ among the pre- and post-MarginProbe groups (p=0.86). For the surgeons who used the MarginProbe for margin assessment at the time of surgery, the re-excision rate fell from 17% to 0% and 35% to 20% during the 4-month period. In contrast, the surgeon who routinely performed 6-surface shavings had a re-excision rate that fell from 13% to 12% in the same time period. 88% of MarginProbe readings were false positive. There was one false negative reading.

Table 1. Tumor CharacteristicsVARIABLESTotal N=1201%No MarginProbe (N=1144, 95%)%MarginProbe (N=57, 5%)%P-valueTUMOR STAGE0292242782414240.95I64454614543053 IIA, IIB22319211191221 IIIA, IIIB, IIIC39338312 IV30.330.300 HISTOLOGYDuctal carcinoma in situ305252892516280.75Invasive ductal carcinoma73061695613561 Invasive lobular carcinoma1129107959 Invasive other54553512 ESTROGEN RECEPTOR STATUSNegative16314157146110.46Positive101486963865189 PROGESTERONE RECEPTOR STATUSNegative307262942613230.56Positive86774823744477 HER2-NEU STATUSNegative788887538835810.22Positive92108610614 Equivocal19217225 

Conclusions: Routine use of the MarginProbe device was associated with lower re-excision rates compared to historical data and concurrent 6-cavity shaving approach. Better intraoperative margin assessment and lower re-excision rates will decrease the burden of breast cancer on patients and the health care system and support the practice of breast conserving surgery.

Citation Format: Schnabel F, Guth A, Axelrod D, Chun J, Schwartz S, Shapiro R. MarginProbe device use and re-excision rates for breast conservation surgeries. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-12-12.

Impaired motor performance in adolescents at familial high-risk for schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

The Harvard Adolescent Family High Risk (FHR) Study examined multiple domains of function in young relatives of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia to identify precursors of the illness. One such area is motor performance, which is deviant in people with schizophrenia and in children at risk for schizophrenia, usually offspring. The present study assessed accuracy of motor performance and degree of lateralization in FHR adolescents and young adults.

METHODS

Subjects were 33 non-psychotic, first-degree relatives of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, and 30 non-psychotic comparison subjects (NpC), ranging in age from 13 to 25 who were compared using a line-drawing task.

RESULTS

FHR individuals exhibited less precise and coordinated line drawing but greater degree of lateralization than controls. Performance on the linedrawing task was correlated with degree of genetic loading, a possible predictor of higher risk for schizophrenia in the pedigree.

CONCLUSIONS

The observation of increased motor deviance and increased lateralization in FHR can be utilized in identification and initiation of the treatment in those at high risk in order to prevent or delay the full manifestation of this devastating condition. The use of a rigorously quantified measure is likely to add to the sensitivity of measuring motor performance, especially when impairments may be subtle.

Facile Synthesis of Nb2O5@Carbon Core-Shell Nanocrystals with Controlled Crystalline Structure for High-Power Anodes in Hybrid Supercapacitors

Hybrid supercapacitors (battery-supercapacitor hybrid devices, HSCs) deliver high energy within seconds (excellent rate capability) with stable cyclability. One of the key limitations in developing high-performance HSCs is imbalance in power capability between the sluggish Faradaic lithium-intercalation anode and rapid non-Faradaic capacitive cathode. To solve this problem, we synthesize Nb2O5@carbon core-shell nanocyrstals (Nb2O5@C NCs) as high-power anode materials with controlled crystalline phases (orthorhombic (T) and pseudohexagonal (TT)) via a facile one-pot synthesis method based on a water-in-oil microemulsion system. The synthesis of ideal T-Nb2O5 for fast Li(+) diffusion is simply achieved by controlling the microemulsion parameter (e.g., pH control). The T-Nb2O5@C NCs shows a reversible specific capacity of ∼180 mA h g(-1) at 0.05 A g(-1) (1.1-3.0 V vs Li/Li(+)) with rapid rate capability compared to that of TT-Nb2O5@C and carbon shell-free Nb2O5 NCs, mainly due to synergistic effects of (i) the structural merit of T-Nb2O5 and (ii) the conductive carbon shell for high electron mobility. The highest energy (∼63 W h kg(-1)) and power (16 528 W kg(-1) achieved at ∼5 W h kg(-1)) densities within the voltage range of 1.0-3.5 V of the HSC using T-Nb2O5@C anode and MSP-20 cathode are remarkable.

Mesoporous Ge/GeO2/Carbon Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes with High Capacity and High Reversibility

We report mesoporous composite materials (m-GeO2, m-GeO2/C, and m-Ge-GeO2/C) with large pore size which are synthesized by a simple block copolymer directed self-assembly. m-Ge/GeO2/C shows greatly enhanced Coulombic efficiency, high reversible capacity (1631 mA h g(-1)), and stable cycle life compared with the other mesoporous and bulk GeO2 electrodes. m-Ge/GeO2/C exhibits one of the highest areal capacities (1.65 mA h cm(-2)) among previously reported Ge- and GeO2-based anodes. The superior electrochemical performance in m-Ge/GeO2/C arises from the highly improved kinetics of conversion reaction due to the synergistic effects of the mesoporous structures and the conductive carbon and metallic Ge.

Pyrosequencing Analysis of Subgingival Microbiota in Distinct Periodontal Conditions

Subgingival microorganisms are potentially associated with periodontal diseases. However, changes in the subgingival microbiota during the progress of periodontal diseases are poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed bacterial communities in the subgingival paper point samples from 32 Korean individuals with no sign of disease, gingivitis, or periodontitis using 454 FLX Titanium pyrosequencing. A total of 256,113 reads representing 26 phyla, 433 genera, and 1,016 species were detected. Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, Synergistetes, and Spirochaetes were the abundant phyla in periodontitis subjects, whereas Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were identified as the dominant phyla in the gingivitis and healthy subjects, respectively. Although high levels of Porphyromonas, Fusobacterium, Fretibacterium, Rothia, Filifactor, and Treponema genera were observed in the periodontitis subjects, Streptococcus, Capnocytophaga, Leptotrichia, and Haemophilus genera were found at high frequency in the gingivitis subjects. Species including Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Fretibacterium fastidiosum were significantly increased in periodontitis subjects. On the other hand, Streptococcus pseudopneumoniae, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, and Leptotrichia hongkongensis were preferentially observed in the gingivitis subjects. Intriguingly, the halophile Halomonas hamiltonii was revealed as a predominant species in the healthy subjects. Based on Fast UniFrac analysis, distinctive bacterial clusters were classified for the healthy, gingivitis, and periodontitis state. The current findings might be useful for understanding the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal diseases.

LPA signaling initiates schizophrenia-like brain and behavioral changes in a mouse model of prenatal brain hemorrhage

Genetic, environmental and neurodevelopmental factors are thought to underlie the onset of neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. How these risk factors collectively contribute to pathology is unclear. Here, we present a mouse model of prenatal intracerebral hemorrhage--an identified risk factor for schizophrenia--using a serum-exposure paradigm. This model exhibits behavioral, neurochemical and schizophrenia-related gene expression alterations in adult females. Behavioral alterations in amphetamine-induced locomotion, prepulse inhibition, thigmotaxis and social interaction--in addition to increases in tyrosine hydroxylase-positive dopaminergic cells in the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area and decreases in parvalbumin-positive cells in the prefrontal cortex--were induced upon prenatal serum exposure. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a lipid component of serum, was identified as a key molecular initiator of schizophrenia-like sequelae induced by serum. Prenatal exposure to LPA alone phenocopied many of the schizophrenia-like alterations seen in the serum model, whereas pretreatment with an antagonist against the LPA receptor subtype LPA1 prevented many of the behavioral and neurochemical alterations. In addition, both prenatal serum and LPA exposure altered the expression of many genes and pathways related to schizophrenia, including the expression of Grin2b, Slc17a7 and Grid1. These findings demonstrate that aberrant LPA receptor signaling associated with fetal brain hemorrhage may contribute to the development of some neuropsychiatric disorders.

Spinal cord compression injury in lysophosphatidic acid 1 receptor-null mice promotes maladaptive pronociceptive descending control

BACKGROUND

Although activation of the lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 (LPA1) is known to mediate pronociceptive effects in peripheral pain models, the role of this receptor in the modulation of spinal nociception following spinal cord injury (SCI) is unknown.

AIM

In this study, LPA1 regulation of spinal excitability mediated by supraspinal descending antinociceptive control systems was assessed following SCI in both wild-type (WT) and maLPA1-null receptor mice.

METHODS

The effect of a T8 spinal compression in WT and maLPA1-null mice was assessed up to 1 month after SCI using histological, immunohistochemical and behavioural techniques analysis including electrophysiological recording of noxious toes-Tibialis Anterior (TA) stimulus-response reflex activity. The effect of a T3 paraspinal transcutaneous electrical conditioning stimulus on TA noxious reflex temporal summation was also assessed.

RESULTS

Histological analysis demonstrated greater dorsolateral funiculus damage after SCI in maLPA1-null mice, without a change in the stimulus-response function of the TA noxious reflex when compared to WT mice. While T3 conditioning stimulation in the WT group inhibited noxious TA reflex temporal summation after SCI, this stimulus strongly excited TA reflex temporal summation in maLPA1-null mice. The functional switch from descending inhibition to maladaptive facilitation of central excitability of spinal nociception demonstrated in maLPA1-null mice after SCI was unrelated to a general change in reflex activity.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that the LPA1 receptor is necessary for inhibition of temporal summation of noxious reflex activity, partly mediated via long-tract descending modulatory systems acting at the spinal level.

One pot synthesis of mesoporous boron nitride using polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymer

We report a successful synthesis of Mesoporous Boron Nitride (MBN) powder through a facile one-pot synthesis strategy.

Cloning and characterization of a SnRK2 gene from Jatropha curcas L

Although the SnRK2 class of Ser/Thr protein kinases is critical for signal transduction and abiotic stress resistance in plants, there have been no studies to examine SnRK2 in Jatropha curcas L. In the present study, JcSnRK2 was cloned from J. curcas using the rapid amplification of cDNA end technique and characterized. The JcSnRK2 genomic sequence is 2578 base pairs (bp), includes 10 exons and 9 introns, and the 1017-bp open reading frame encodes 338 amino acids. JcSnRK2 was transcribed in all examined tissues, with the highest transcription rate observed in the roots, followed by the leaves and stalks; the lowest rate was observed in flowers and seeds. JcSnRK2 expression increased following abscisic acid treatment, salinity, and drought stress. During a 48-h stress period, the expression of JcSnRK2 showed 2 peaks and periodic up- and downregulation. JcSnRK2 was rapidly activated within 1 h under salt and drought stress, but not under cold stress. Because of the gene sequence and expression similarity of JcSnRK2 to AtSnRK2.8, primarily in the roots, an eukaryotic expression vector containing the JcSnRK2 gene (pBI121-JcSnRK2) was constructed and introduced to the Arabidopsis AtSnRK2.8 mutant snf2.8. JcSnRK2-overexpressing plants exhibited higher salt and drought tolerance, further demonstrating the function of JcSnRK2 in the osmotic stress response. J. curcas is highly resistant to extreme salt and drought conditions and JcSnRK2 was found to be activated under these conditions. Thus, JcSnRK2 is potential candidate for improving crop tolerance to salt and drought stress.