Template-Directed Synthesis of Strained meso-meso-Linked Porphyrin Nanorings

Strained macrocycles display interesting properties, such as conformational rigidity, often resulting in enhanced π-conjugation or enhanced affinity for non-covalent guest binding, yet they can be difficult to synthesize. Here we use computational modeling to design a template to direct the formation of an 18-porphyrin nanoring with direct meso-meso bonds between the porphyrin units. Coupling of a linear 18-porphyrin oligomer in the presence of this template gives the target nanoring, together with an unexpected 36-porphyrin ring by-product. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) revealed the elliptical conformations and flexibility of these nanorings on a Au(111) surface.

Trichome-Like Biomimetic Air Filters via Templated Silicone Nanofilaments

Air pollution threats to human health have increased awareness of the role of filter units in air cleaning applications. As an ideal energy-saving strategy for air filters, the slip effect on nanofiber surfaces can potentially overcome the trade-off between filtration efficiency and pressure drop. However, the potential of the slip effect in nanofibrous structures is significantly limited by the tight nanofiber stacks. In this study, trichome-like biomimetic (TLB) air filters with 3D-templated silicone nanofilaments (average diameter: ≈74 nm) are prepared based on an in situ chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method inspired by plant purification. Theoretical modeling and experimental results indicate that TLB air filters make significant use of the slip effect to overcome the efficiency-resistance tradeoff. The selectable filter class (up to U15, ≈99.9995%) allows TLB air filters to meet various requirements, and their integral filtration performance surpasses that of most commodity air filters, including melt-blown cloth, ePTFE membranes, electrospun mats, and glass fiber paper. The proposed strategy directly transforms commercial filter media and filters into TLB air filters using a bottom-up, one-step approach. As a proof-of-concept, reusable N95 respirators and air purifiers equipped with TLB air filters are fabricated, overcoming the limitations of existing filter designs and fabrication methods.

Nanoparticle Assembly: From Self-Organization to Controlled Micropatterning for Enhanced Functionalities

Nanoparticles form long-range micropatterns via self-assembly or directed self-assembly with superior mechanical, electrical, optical, magnetic, chemical, and other functional properties for broad applications, such as structural supports, thermal exchangers, optoelectronics, microelectronics, and robotics. The precisely defined particle assembly at the nanoscale with simultaneously scalable patterning at the microscale is indispensable for enabling functionality and improving the performance of devices. This article provides a comprehensive review of nanoparticle assembly formed primarily via the balance of forces at the nanoscale (e.g., van der Waals, colloidal, capillary, convection, and chemical forces) and nanoparticle-template interactions (e.g., physical confinement, chemical functionalization, additive layer-upon-layer). The review commences with a general overview of nanoparticle self-assembly, with the state-of-the-art literature review and motivation. It subsequently reviews the recent progress in nanoparticle assembly without the presence of surface templates. Manufacturing techniques for surface template fabrication and their influence on nanoparticle assembly efficiency and effectiveness are then explored. The primary focus is the spatial organization and orientational preference of nanoparticles on non-templated and pre-templated surfaces in a controlled manner. Moreover, the article discusses broad applications of micropatterned surfaces, encompassing various fields. Finally, the review concludes with a summary of manufacturing methods, their limitations, and future trends in nanoparticle assembly.

How to plan and manage an individual participant data meta-analysis. An illustrative toolkit

Individual participant data meta-analyses (IPD-MAs) have several benefits over standard aggregate data meta-analyses, including the consideration of additional participants, follow-up time, and the joint consideration of study- and participant-level heterogeneity for improved diagnostic and prognostic model development and evaluation. However, IPD-MAs are resource-intensive and require careful budgeting of time from data contributing groups, a dedicated management team, diversity of expertise, clearly documented data sharing and authorship agreements, and consistent and clear communication. We present a toolkit to facilitate the implementation and management of IPD-MAs, from study recruitment to retrospective harmonization. The toolkit was developed and refined over our work on multiple multinational IPD-MA projects over the last 13 years. The toolkit's budget and email templates, agreements, project management spreadsheets, and standard operating procedures are meant to facilitate routine IPD-MA tasks to expedite implementing and managing future IPD-MA projects.

The Use of Templates for Documenting Advance Care Planning Conversations: A Descriptive Analysis

CONTEXT

While professional societies and expert panels have recommended quality indicators related to advance care planning (ACP) documentation, including using structured documentation templates, it is unclear how clinicians document these conversations.

OBJECTIVE

To explore how clinicians document ACP, specifically, which components of these conversations are documented.

METHODS

A codebook was developed based on existing frameworks for ACP conversations and documentation. ACP documentation from a hospital medicine quality improvement project conducted from November 2019 to April 2021 were included and assessed. Documentation was examined for the presence or absence of each component within the coding schema. Clinician documented ACP using three different note types: template (only template prompts were used), template plus (authors added additional text to the template), and free text only. ACP note components were analyzed by note type and author department.

RESULTS

A total of 182 ACP notes were identified and reviewed. The most common note type was template plus (58%), followed by free text (28%) and template (14%). The most frequent components across all note types were: important relationships to patient (92%), and discussion of life-sustaining treatment preferences (87%). There was considerable heterogeneity in the components across note types. The presence of components focused on treatment decisions and legal paperwork differed significantly between note types (P < 0.05). Components on preference for medical information, emotional state, or spiritual support were rarely included across all note types.

CONCLUSION

This study provides a preliminary exploration of ACP documentation and found that templates may influence what information is documented after an ACP conversation.

Molecular Engineering of Colloidal Atoms

Creation of architectures with exquisite hierarchies actuates the germination of revolutionized functions and applications across a wide range of fields. Hierarchical self-assembly of colloidal particles holds the promise for materialized realization of structural programing and customizing. This review outlines the general approaches to organize atom-like micro- and nanoparticles into prescribed colloidal analogs of molecules by exploiting diverse interparticle driving motifs involving confining templates, interactive surface ligands, and flexible shape/surface anisotropy. Furthermore, the self-regulated/adaptive co-assembly of simple unvarnished building blocks is discussed to inspire new designs of colloidal assembly strategies.

Synthesis and evaluation of ginsenosides imprinted polymer-based chromatographic stationary phase

The molecular imprinting technique has aroused great interest in preparing novel stationary phases, and the resulting materials named molecularly imprinted polymers coated silica packing materials exhibit good performance in separating diverse analytes based on their good characteristics (including high selectivity, simple synthesis, and good chemical stability). To date, mono-template is commonly used in synthesizing molecularly imprinted polymers-based stationary phases. The resulting materials always own the disadvantages of low column efficiency and restricted analytes, and the price of ginsenosides with high purity was very high. In this study, to overcome the weaknesses of molecularly imprinted polymers-based stationary phases mentioned above, the multi-templates (total saponins of folium ginseng) strategy was used to prepare ginsenosides imprinted polymer-based stationary phase. The resulting ginsenosides imprinted polymer-coated silica stationary phase has a good spherical shape and suitable pore structures. Additionally, the total saponins of folium ginseng were cheaper than other kinds of ginsenosides. Moreover, the ginsenosides imprinted polymer-coated silica stationary phase-packed column performed well in the separation of ginsenosides, nucleosides, and sulfonamides. The ginsenosides imprinted polymer-coated silica stationary phase possesses good reproducibility, repeatability, and stability for seven days. Therefore, a multi-templates strategy for synthesizing the ginsenosides imprinted polymer-coated silica stationary phase is considered in the future.

Dual/Triple Template-Induced Evolved Emulsion for Controllable Construction of Anisotropic Carbon Nanoparticles from Concave to Convex

Anisotropic mesoporous carbon (AMC) nanoparticles with asymmetric external morphologies, topological internal structure, and superior performance of carbon species are attracting great attention because of their seductive features differentiating them from symmetric nanoparticles. However, a bewildering challenge but crucial desire remains to endow them with flexibly tunable morphology and pore structure. Herein, a dual/triple-templating evolved emulsion strategy for tunable fabrication of AMC nanoparticles with distinctive defined structure by interface-energy-induced self-assembly is first reported based on a brand-new mechanism. It describes the possible formation process of the concave-cavity structure and allows for manipulation of the longitudinal and lateral sizes systematically by adjusting emulsion polarity and sodium oleate dosage, respectively. Interestingly, the internal pore structure can be rearranged into radial channels and the external morphology can realize structural transformation from concave to convex by innovatively introducing the third template n-hexanol, which is unprecedented at nanoscale. Remarkably, due to the excellent properties of carbon species and unique structural characteristics, AMC nanoparticles not only demonstrate good biocompatibility but also exhibit splendid performance in improving the dissolution and release rates of insoluble drug and enhancing the enzyme catalytic efficiency. Generally, this approach provides new inspiration and insights for expanding exquisite anisotropic nanomaterials for many potential applications.

Clinical Application of Individualized 3D-Printed Templates in the Treatment of Condylar Osteochondroma

BACKGROUND

Osteochondroma (OC) is one of the most common benign tumors of the long bones, but it rarely occurs in the maxillofacial skeleton. However, mandibular condylar OC often leads to severe facial deformity in affected patients, including facial asymmetry, deviation of the chin, and malocclusion. This study aimed to explore the clinical application of individualized 3D-printed templates to accurately and effectively treat condylar OC.

METHODS

A total of 8 patients with mandibular condylar OC were treated from July 2015 to August 2021. The enrolled patients (5 women and 3 men) had a median age of 27 years (range: 21-32 years). All patients exhibited symptoms of facial asymmetry and occlusal disorders preoperatively. The digital software used to virtually design the process consisted of three-dimensional reconstruction, 3D-cephalometry analysis, virtual surgery, individualized templates, and postoperative facial soft-tissue prediction. A set of 3D-printed templates (DOS and DOT) were used in all cases to stabilize the occlusion and guide the osteotomy. Then, pre- and post-operative complications, mouth opening, clinical signs, and the accuracy of the CT imaging analysis were all evaluated. All the measurement data were presented as means ± SD; Bonferroni and Tamhane T2 multiple comparison tests were used to examine the differences between the groups.

RESULTS

All patients healed uneventfully. None of the patients exhibited facial nerve injury at follow-up. In comparing the condylar segments with T0p and T1, the average deviation of the condylar segments was 0.5796 mm, indicating that the post-operative reconstructed condyles showed a high degree of similarity to the reconstruction results of the virtual surgical plan.

CONCLUSIONS

Individualized 3D-printed templates simplified surgical procedures and improved surgical accuracy, proving to be an effective method for the treatment of patients with slight asymmetric deformities secondary to condylar OC.

Understanding the Effect of Pore Size on Electrochemical Capacitive Performance of MXene Foams

Wearable electronics demand energy storage devices with high energy density and fast charging-discharging rates. Although various porous electrodes have been constructed, the effect of pore size on the capacitive performance of 2D nanomaterials has been rarely studied. Herein, flexible MXene foams with significantly different pore structures are fabricated using varying diameter polystyrene (PS) spheres (80, 310, and 570 nm), which shows uniform pores and interconnected pores providing enough active sites and a good electrical connection for electron transfer. Noteworthy, when MXene flakes and templates (310 nm) have a similar size, the foam delivers the highest gravimetric capacitance of 474 ± 12 F g^-1 at 2 mV s^-1 than others. Additionally, the mass ratio between MXene and PS controls the packing density of foams influencing the inner resistance of foam electrodes. A carbon nanotube is introduced to further improve the electrical conductivity of foams to achieve a capacitance of 462 ± 8 F g^-1 at 2 mV s^-1 and retains 205 ± 10 F g^-1 at 1000 mV s^-1 , demonstrating promises in energy storage applications and providing an insightful guidance for designing 2D nanomaterials-based porous electrodes for supercapacitors.

Drawing at the Nanoscale through Macroscopic Movement

Nanopatterns are important for applications in various nanodevice fields. Existing nanopatterning techniques mainly directly manufacture the nanopatterns through various lithographic methods, which usually are laborious, time-consuming, and need expensive equipment. Here, an extremely simple drawing at the nanoscale (DAN) concept to indirectly fabricate rational nanopatterns through controlling the macroscopic movement of the substrate , is demonstrated. The structure of the nanopatterns is completely determined by and can be shrunk by millions of times from the moving track of the substrate. Multiple surface nanopatterns of different materials with accurately tailorable relative positions can be simply stacked together by moving the substrate by macroscopic distances during different DAN processes. In combination with sophisticated lithographic methods, the DAN method is anticipated to enable substantial advances in nanofabrication.

Accuracy of patient-specific drill guide template for bilateral C1-C2 laminar screw placement: a cadaveric study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the accuracy of using patient-specific drill guides to place bilateral laminar screws in C1 and C2.

METHODS

Nine cervical specimens (8 male; mean age: 66.6 (56-73)) with the occiput attached (C0-C3) were used in this study. Pre-operative CT scans were used to create digital anatomic models for templating and guide creation. A total of 36 screws were placed with the aid of 3D printed patient-specific guides (2 screws at C1 and C2). Post-operative CT scans were performed following screw insertion. The planned and actual trajectories were compared using pre- and post-operative imaging based on the angular and entry point deviation. After screw placement and post-operative imaging, each specimen was dissected and performed a visual inspection for breaches.

RESULTS

No breaches or violations were observed on post-procedure CT and visual inspection. The average variation of the entry point in the X, Y, and Z-axis was 0.3±0.28, 0.41±0.38, and 0.29±0.24, respectively. No statistically significant difference (p>0.05) was observed between the planned and obtained entry points. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the deviation analysis between the planned and obtained angles in the axial and coronal planes.

CONCLUSION

The study demonstrates that patient-specific drill guides allow for accurate C1 and C2 bilateral laminar screw placement, with a low risk of cortical breach.

Surfaces Decorated with Enantiomorphically Pure Polymer Nanohelices via Hierarchical Chirality Transfer across Multiple Length Scales

Mesoscale chiral materials are prepared by lithographic methods, assembly of chiral building blocks, and through syntheses in the presence of polarized light. Typically, these processes result in micrometer-sized structures, require complex top-down manipulation, or rely on tedious asymmetric separation. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) polymerization of chiral precursors into supported films of liquid crystals (LCs) are discovered to result in superhierarchical arrangements of enantiomorphically pure nanofibers. Depending on the molecular chirality of the 1-hydroxyethyl [2.2]paracyclophane precursor, extended arrays of enantiomorphic nanohelices are formed from achiral nematic templates. Arrays of chiral nanohelices extend over hundreds of micrometers and consistently display enantiomorphic micropatterns. The pitch of individual nanohelices depends on the enantiomeric excess and the purity of the chiral precursor, consistent with the theoretical model of a doubly twisted LC director configuration. During CVD of chiral precursors into cholesteric LC films, aspects of molecular and mesoscale asymmetry combine constructively to form regularly twisted nanohelices. Enantiomorphic surfaces permit the tailoring of a wide range of functional properties, such as the asymmetric induction of weak chiral systems.

Small-Angle X-ray Scattering Analysis of Colloidal Crystals and Replica Materials Made from l-Arginine-Stabilized Silica Nanoparticles

Colloidal crystals made from sub-100 nm silica nanoparticles have provided a versatile platform for the template-assisted synthesis of three-dimensionally interconnected semiconducting, metallic, and magnetic replicas. However, the detailed structure of these materials has not yet been characterized. In this study, we investigated the structures of colloidal crystalline films and germanium replicas by scanning electron microscopy and small angle X-ray scattering. The structures of colloidal crystals made by evaporative assembly depends on the size of l-arginine-capped silica nanoparticles. Particles smaller than ∼31 nm diameter assemble into non-close-packed arrangements (bcc) whereas particles larger than 31 nm assemble into random close-packed structures with disordered hexagonal phase. Polycrystalline films of these materials retain their structures and long-range order upon infiltration at high temperature and pressure, and the structure is preserved in Ge replicas. The shear force during deposition and dispersity of silica nanoparticles contributes to the size-based variation in the structure and to the size of crystal domains in the colloidal crystal films.

Synthesis and Characterization of Polymeric Microspheres Template for a Homogeneous and Porous Monolith

Monolith is an emerging technology applicable for separation, filtration, and chromatography due to its interconnected pore structure. However, the current templates used to form monolith pores are associated with poor heat dissipation, uneven pore size distribution, and relatively low mechanical strength during monolith scale-up. Templates made from polymeric microsphere particles were synthesized via a solvent evaporation technique using different types of polymer (polystyrene, polycaprolactone, polypropylene, polyethylene, and poly (vinyl-alcohol) at varied polymer (10-40 wt%) and surfactant (5-10%) concentrations. The resulting microsphere particles were tested as a monolith template for the formation of homogenous pores. Among the tested polymers, polystyrene at 10 wt% concentration demonstrated good particle morphology determined to around 1.94-3.45 µm. The addition of surfactant at a concentration of 7-10 wt% during microsphere synthesis resulted in the formation of well-shaped and non-aggregating microsphere particles. In addition, the template has contributed to the production of porous monoliths with enhanced thermal stability. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated monolith degradation between 230 °C and 450 °C, implying the material excellent mechanical strength. The findings of the study provide insightful knowledge on the feasibility of polymeric microsphere particles as a pore-directing template to fabricate monoliths with desired pore structures.

Strength and Biocompatibility of Heparin-Based Calcium Phosphate Cement Grafted with Ferulic Acid

The biomimetic synthesis of carbonated apatites by biomolecule-based templates is a promising way for broadening apatite applications in bone tissue regeneration. In this work, heparin was used as an organic template to prepare uniform carbonate-based apatite nanorods (CHA) and graft ferulic acid (F-CHA) for enhanced bone mineralization. Next, by combining calcium phosphate cement (CPC) with different F-CHA/CPC ratios, a new type of injectable bone cement combined with F-CHA bioactive apatite was developed (CPC + F-CHA). The physicochemical properties, biocompatibility, and mineralization potential of the CPC + F-CHA composites were determined in vitro. The experimental results confirmed the preparation of highly biocompatible CHA and the compatibility of F-CHA with CPC. Although CPC + F-CHA composites with F-CHA (2.5 wt%, 5 wt%, and 10 wt%) showed a significant reduction in compressive strength (CS), compositing CPC with 10 wt% F-CHA yielded a CS suitable for orthopedic repair (CS still larger than 30 MPa). Spectroscopic and phase analyses revealed that the phase of the hydrothermally synthesized CHA product was not modified by the heparin template. Injection and disintegration tests indicated that the CPC + F-CHA composites have good biocompatibility even at 10 wt% F-CHA. D1 osteoprogenitor cells were cultured with the composites for 7 days in vitro, and the CPC + 10%F-CHA group demonstrated significantly promoted cell mineralization compared with other groups. Given these results, the use of over 10% F-CHA in CPC composites should be avoided if the latter is to be applied to load-bearing areas. A stress-shielding device may also be recommended to stabilize these areas. These newly developed biocompatible CPC + F-CHA have great potential as osteoconductive bone fillers for bone tissue engineering.

Construction of Inorganic Crown Ethers by s-Block-Metal-Templated Si-O Bond Activation

We herein report the synthesis, structures, coordination ability, and mechanism of formation of silicon analogs of crown ethers. An oligomerization of 2 D2 (I) (2 Dn ,=(Me4 Si2 O)n ) was achieved by the reaction with GaI3 and MIx (M=Li, Na, Mg, Ca, Sr). In these reactions the metal cations serve as template and the anions (I- /[GaI4 ]- ) are required as nucleophiles. In case of MIx =LiI, [Li(2 D3 )GaI4 ] (1) is formed. In case of MIx =NaI, MgI2 , CaI2 , and SrI2 the compounds [M(2 D4 )(GaI4 )x ] (M=Mg2+ (3), Ca2+ (4), Sr2+ (5) are obtained. Furthermore the proton complex [H(2 D3 )][Ga2 I7 ] (6) was isolated and structurally characterized. All complexes were characterized by means of multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, DOSY experiments and, except for compound 3, also by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Quantum chemical calculations were carried out to compare the affinity of M+ to 2 Dn and other ligands and to shed light on the formation of larger rings from smaller ones.

Impact of Organic Templates on the Selective Formation of Zeolite Oligomers

Zeolites are essential materials to industry due to their adsorption and catalytic properties. The best current approach to prepare a targeted zeolite still relies on trial and error's synthetic procedures since a rational understanding of the impact of synthesis variables on the final structures is still missing. To discern the role of a variety of organic templates, we perform simulations of the early stages of condensation of silica oligomers by combining DFT, Brønsted-Evans-Polanyi relationships and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. We investigate an extended reaction path mechanism including 258 equilibrium reactions and 242 chemical species up to silica octamers, comparing the computed concentrations of Si oligomers with ²⁹ SI NMR experimental data. The effect of the templating agent is linked to the modification of the intramolecular H-bond network in the growing oligomer, which produces higher concentration of 4-membered ring intermediates, precursors of the key double-four ring building blocks present on more than 39 known zeolite topologies.

Metal-Protein Hybrid Materials with Desired Functions and Potential Applications

Metal nanohybrids are fast emerging functional nanomaterials with advanced structures, intriguing physicochemical properties, and a broad range of important applications in current nanoscience research. Significant efforts have been devoted toward design and develop versatile metal nanohybrid systems. Among numerous biological components, diverse proteins offer avenues for making advanced multifunctional systems with unusual properties, desired functions, and potential applications. This review discusses the rational design, properties, and applications of metal-protein nanohybrid materials fabricated from proteins and inorganic components. The construction of functional biomimetic nanohybrid materials is first briefly introduced. The properties and functions of these hybrid materials are then discussed. After that, an overview of promising application of biomimetic metal-protein nanohybrid materials is provided. Finally, the key challenges and outlooks related to this fascinating research area are also outlined.

Recent Advances in Nanoporous Anodic Alumina: Principles, Engineering, and Applications

The development of aluminum anodization technology features many stages. With the story stretching for almost a century, rather straightforward-from current perspective-technology, raised into an iconic nanofabrication technique. The intrinsic properties of alumina porous structures constitute the vast utility in distinct fields. Nanoporous anodic alumina can be a starting point for: Templates, photonic structures, membranes, drug delivery platforms or nanoparticles, and more. Current state of the art would not be possible without decades of consecutive findings, during which, step by step, the technique was more understood. This review aims at providing an update regarding recent discoveries-improvements in the fabrication technology, a deeper understanding of the process, and a practical application of the material-providing a narrative supported with a proper background.

Accuracy of Patient-Specific 3D-Printed Drill Guides for Pedicle and Lateral Mass Screw Insertion: An Analysis of 76 Cervical and Thoracic Screw Trajectories

STUDY DESIGN

Single-center retrospective case series.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and accuracy of three-dimensional (3D)-printed individualized drill guides for pedicle and lateral mass screw insertion in the cervical and upper-thoracic region, by comparing the preoperative 3D surgical plan with the postoperative results.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Posterior spinal fusion surgery can provide rigid intervertebral fixation but screw misplacement involves a high risk of neurovascular injury. However, modern spine surgeons now have tools such as virtual surgical planning and 3D-printed drill guides to facilitate spinal screw insertion.

METHODS

A total of 15 patients who underwent posterior spinal fusion surgery involving patient-specific 3D-printed drill guides were included in this study. After segmentation of bone and screws, the postoperative models were superimposed onto the preoperative surgical plan. The accuracy of the realized screw trajectories was quantified by measuring the entry point and angular deviation.

RESULTS

The 3D deviation analysis showed that the entry point and angular deviation over all 76 screw trajectories were 1.40 ± 0.81 mm and 6.70 ± 3.77°, respectively. Angular deviation was significantly higher in the sagittal plane than in the axial plane (P = 0.02). All screw positions were classified as "safe" (100%), showing no neurovascular injury, facet joint violation, or violation of the pedicle wall.

CONCLUSIONS

3D virtual planning and 3D-printed patient-specific drill guides appear to be safe and accurate for pedicle and lateral mass screw insertion in the cervical and upper-thoracic spine. The quantitative 3D deviation analyses confirmed that screw positions were accurate with respect to the 3D-surgical plan.Level of Evidence: 4.

A Review on Recent Technologies and Patents on Silica Nanoparticles for Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis

BACKGROUND

Cancer is a condition in which some cells in the body grow uncontrollably and can also spread in other parts of the body. Among males, oral and lung cancers account for 25 % cancer deaths, while in females, breast and oral cancers cause 25% death. Breast and cervical cancers are the underlying cause of the high mortality rate among women. Owing to limitations of conventional cancer therapy like low drug specificity, less solubility, multidrug resistance, poor access to tumor cells and low bioavailability development of environmentally sensitive and target specific nanocarriers are imperative.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to review advancements made in techniques to synthesize Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles (MSN's) as well as strategies to functionalize its silanol group for site-specific drug release in the tumor environment and to review recent patents published regarding it. To describe rationale for selection of MSN's for cancer theranostics amidst other nanocarriers developed.

METHODS

In the first section of this review, the physical and chemical properties of MSNs making it an ideal delivery system for cancer therapy and diagnostics are discussed. In the next section, various techniques involved in synthesizing and loading MSNs, including the influence of basic components of MSNs and reaction conditions on its properties are reviewed. Then the wide application of MSNs and various exogenous and endogenous stimuli harnessed for site-specific delivery of cargo and recent patents on modifying environmental conditions for large scale synthesis of MSNs and its active targeting for cancer treatment and bioimaging are discussed.

RESULTS

Physico-chemical properties and synthetic protocols of MSNs justifying them to be a promising nanovector to overcome the ill effects of traditional chemotherapy. The superlative attributes of MSNs including, tunable size, morphology, high load volume, stability, ease of modifying external and internal surface leverage applications in various dimensions of therapeutics, diagnostics, and combinatorial drug delivery. MSNs surface functionalization can be harnessed for passive and active targeting by either coating the surface with polymers or attaching various ligands.

CONCLUSION

An ideal nano-carrier must have high loading efficiency, easily detectable, and must have stimuli's sensitive, site-specific drug release. The patent study explores new dimensions on MSNs synthesis by claiming new cost-effective templates and silica source, a more safe environment for synthesis, reducing synthesis steps, duration of reaction, effective loading of low solubility drugs by magnetized nanocarriers, pathogen-specific release and development of novel photoluminescent rechargeable MSNs under mild conditions. It's a challenging task for researchers to successfully translate their prototypes to industries and make it feasible for commercialization. We can further work on excellent targeting concepts and architecture of MSNs for the increased opportunity in cancer theranostics.

Ring-Patterned Perovskite Single Crystals Fabricated by the Combination of Rigid and Flexible Templates

Regular microstructures can improve the electrical and optical characteristics of perovskite single crystals because of the removal of defects and grain boundaries. Microstructured single crystals are commonly fabricated by either rigid or flexible templates. However, rigid templates usually need surface treatment before crystal fabrication to create an antiadhesion layer, while flexible templates encounter difficulties in achieving a large area of uniform single crystals without any deformation. In this work, we present a facile and robust method to fabricate perovskite single crystals using rigid silicon pillars coated with flexible polymer solutions, in which surface treatment is avoided in the preparation process, and deformation is absent in the formed crystals. The method realized the fabrication of colorful concentric-ring patterns composed of nanoscale single crystals for the first time. In order to concisely control the preparation of the template, the Newton's ring phenomenon was used to value the droplet height because the number of rings changed with the optical path difference. A related digital simulation was performed to find the correlation of the Newton's ring pattern with the shape of the droplets. The simulated results were consistent with the experimental observations generally, indicating that the pattern could be controlled mechanically. Concomitantly, the resulting perovskite nanoscale single crystals formed a regular colorful concentric-ring pattern. By changing the design of the rigid templates, the parameters of the fabrication process, or the selection of the coating polymer solution, different ring-patterned single crystals were successfully prepared without surface treatment and deformation. The crystals have potential applications in lasers or photodetectors.

A Simple, Reliable, and Inexpensive Solution for Contact Color Measurement in Small Plant Samples

Correct color measurement by contact-type color measuring devices requires that the sample surface fully covers the head of the device, so their use on small samples remains a challenge. Here, we propose to use cardboard adaptors on the two aperture masks (3 and 8 mm diameter measuring area) of a broadly used portable spectrophotometer. Adaptors in black and white to reduce the measuring area by 50% and 70% were applied in this study. Representatives of the family Campanulaceae have been used to test the methodology, given the occurrence of small leaves. Our results show that, following colorimetric criteria, the only setting providing indistinguishable colors according to the perception of the human eye is the use of a 50%-reducing adaptor on the 3-mm aperture. In addition, statistical analysis suggests the use of the white adaptor. Our contribution offers a sound measurement technique to gather ecological information from the color of leaves, petals, and other small samples.

Effect of a Report Template-Enabled Quality Improvement Initiative on Use of Preferred Phrases for Communicating Normal Findings in Structured Abdominal CT and MRI Reports

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study was to assess impact of a report template quality improvement (QI) initiative on use of preferred phrases for communicating normal findings in structured abdominal CT and MRI reports. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. This prospective QI initiative, designed to decrease use of equivocal phrases and increase use of preferred and acceptable phrases (defined by multidisciplinary experts including patient advocates) in radiology reports, was performed in an academic medical center with over 800,000 annual radiologic examinations and was exempt from institutional review board approval. The intervention populated the preferred term "normal" (default) and acceptable specified pertinent negative phrases (pick-list option) when describing abdominal organ subheadings (liver, pancreas, spleen, adrenal glands, kidneys) within the "Findings" heading of abdominal CT and MRI report templates. We tabulated frequencies of the term "normal", specified pertinent negatives, and equivocal phrases in 21,629 reports before (June 1, 2017, to February 28, 2018) and 23,051 reports after (April 1, 2018, to December 31, 2018) the intervention using natural language processing and recorded trainee participation in report generation. We assessed intervention impact using statistical process control (SPC) charts and the Fisher exact test. RESULTS. Equivocal phrases were used less frequently in abdominal CT and MRI reports for both attending radiologists and trainees after the intervention (p < 0.05, SPC). Use of the term "normal" increased for reports generated by attending radiologists alone but decreased for reports created with trainee participation (p < 0.05, SPC). Frequency of pertinent negatives increased for reports with trainee participation (p < 0.05, SPC). CONCLUSION. A QI intervention decreased use of equivocal terms and increased use of preferred and acceptable phrases when communicating normal findings in abdominal CT and MRI reports.

Demonstration of Electrically Injected Semipolar Laser Diodes Grown on Low-Cost and Scalable Sapphire Substrates

The last two decades have shown an increasing need for GaN-based laser diodes (LDs), which are currently only grown on bulk GaN substrates, which remain to date very expensive and/or only available in small sizes. The ever growing laser market will expand in the coming years, thanks to the development of automotive laser lighting, high-speed Li-Fi optical data transmission, LiDAR sensing for autonomous vehicles and smart cities, head-up displays, and AR/VR systems, in addition to biomedical and further industrial applications. These emerging technologies demand for mass-production of GaN-based lasers to be produced on large-size, low-cost, and industrially compatible substrates. To address this issue, we demonstrate the first electrically injected semipolar 440 nm LD on high-quality and low-defect-density (11-22) GaN templates grown on scalable and low-cost sapphire substrates. The LDs exhibit a threshold current density of 17 kA/cm², a single facet output power of more than 200 mW at 2 A with a slope efficiency of 0.85 W/A, and a TE polarization having a ratio of 97.6%. These results enable the advancement of ultra-low-cost LDs while benefiting from the inherent advantages of semipolar GaN properties.

Histidinium-Driven Chirality Control of Self-Assembled Hybrid Molybdenum Oxyfluorides

Exploring macroscopic chiral materials with extended structures has become an important and fundamental topic in chemistry. To systematically control the chirality of novel organic-inorganic frameworks, histidinium-based cationic structure-directing agents containing specific chiral information are introduced. In this way, two chiral compounds, [(l-hisH₂ )MoO₂ F₄ ]₃ ⋅H₂ O (L) and [(d-hisH₂ )MoO₂ F₄ ]₃ ⋅H₂ O (D), and an achiral oxyfluoride, (l/d-hisH₂ )MoO₂ F₄ (LD) (his=histidine, C₆ H₉ N₃ O₂ ) have been successfully self-assembled by a slow evaporation method. The structures of these compounds are composed of histidinium cations and distorted [MoO₂ F₄ ]^2- octahedra. Surprisingly, the histidinium cations not only control macroscopic chirality, but also induce O/F ordering in MoO₂ F₄ octahedra through hydrogen-bonding interactions. Compounds L and D crystallize in the extremely rare polar space group P1, and exhibit positive second harmonic generation (SHG) signals attributable to a net moment originating from the MoO₂ F₄ groups. Solid-state circular dichroism (CD) spectra indicate that the MoO₂ F₄ units templated by histidinium cations are chirally aligned through ionic interactions. Crystallization processes influenced by the chirality of the reported materials are also discussed herein.

Nanowire Genome: A Magic Toolbox for 1D Nanostructures

1D nanomaterials with high aspect ratio, i.e., nanowires and nanotubes, have inspired considerable research interest thanks to the fact that exotic physical and chemical properties emerge as their diameters approach or fall into certain length scales, such as the wavelength of light, the mean free path of phonons, the exciton Bohr radius, the critical size of magnetic domains, and the exciton diffusion length. On the basis of their components, aspect ratio, and properties, there may be imperceptible connections among hundreds of nanowires prepared by different strategies. Inspired by the heredity system in life, a new concept termed the "nanowire genome" is introduced here to clarify the relationships between hundreds of nanowires reported previously. As such, this approach will not only improve the tools incorporating the prior nanowires but also help to precisely synthesize new nanowires and even assist in the prediction on the properties of nanowires. Although the road from start-ups to maturity is long and fraught with challenges, the genetical syntheses of more than 200 kinds of nanostructures stemming from three mother nanowires (Te, Ag, and Cu) are summarized here to demonstrate the nanowire genome as a versatile toolbox. A summary and outlook on future challenges in this field are also presented.

Field-Effect Transistors Based on 2D Organic Semiconductors Developed by a Hybrid Deposition Method

Solution-processed 2D organic semiconductors (OSCs) have drawn considerable attention because of their novel applications from flexible optoelectronics to biosensors. However, obtaining well-oriented sheets of 2D organic materials with low defect density still poses a challenge. Here, a highly crystallized 2,9-didecyldinaphtho[2,3-b:2',3'-f]thieno[3,2-b]thiophene (C10-DNTT) monolayer crystal with large-area uniformity is obtained by an ultraslow shearing (USS) method and its growth pattern shows a kinetic Wulff's construction supported by theoretical calculations of surface energies. The resulting seamless and highly crystalline monolayers are then used as templates for thermally depositing another C10-DNTT ultrathin top-up film. The organic thin films deposited by this hybrid approach show an interesting coherence structure with a copied molecular orientation of the templating crystal. The organic field-effect transistors developed by these hybrid C10-DNTT films exhibit improved carrier mobility of 14.7 cm2 V-1 s-1 as compared with 7.3 cm2 V-1 s-1 achieved by pure thermal evaporation (100% improvement) and 2.8 cm2 V-1 s-1 achieved by solution sheared monolayer C10-DNTT. This work establishes a simple yet effective approach for fabricating high-performance and low-cost electronics on a large scale.

Physician Integrity, Templates, and the 'F' Word

The medical profession is increasingly dependent upon electronic health records. Along with documented benefits, a number of potential ethical abuses have been outlined. Herein, we describe an ethical abuse that has received almost no attention, namely falsified medical records. We present three cases in which the medical record cited facts from history that were not elicited and findings from physical examination that was not performed. This is fraud. Prepopulated templates were almost certainly responsible. If a template is used, it must begin free of results-a skeleton onto which flesh is placed. If coders and third-party payers insist on having information than health care providers think relevant, then we, as a profession should "push back," but a template that has been prepopulated puts fraudulent data into electronic health record, seriously damaging physician integrity.

Templated Growth of Crystalline Mesoporous Materials: From Soft/Hard Templates to Colloidal Templates

Mesoporous non-siliceous materials, in particular mesoporous transition metal oxides (m-TMOs), are of interest due to their fascinating electronic, redox, and magnetic properties for a wide range of applications in catalysis and energy storage. Control of the porosity (e.g., pore size, wall thickness, and surface area) and the crystalline degree (e.g., phase composition, crystallinity, and crystal grain size) of m-TMOs are critical for those applications. To crystallize TMOs, high temperature annealing is often needed to remove the amorphous defects and/or tune the compositions of different crystalline phases. This has brought many challenges to surfactant or block copolymer templates used in the process of evaporation-induced-self-assembly to prepare m-TMOs. In this review, we summarize the most recent achievements including the findings in our own laboratory on the use of organosilicate-containing colloids for the templated growth of mesoporous materials. We review a few key examples of preparing crystalline mesoporous oxides using different templating methods. The colloidal templating method by which mesoporous nanostructures can be stabilized up to 1,000°C is highlighted. The applications of m-TMOs and meso metal-oxide hybrids synthesized using organosilicate-containing colloidal templates in photocatalysis and high-temperature catalysis are also discussed.

Templates of Lymph Node Dissection for Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Background: The role of lymph node dissection (LND) for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is controversial. Notably, the conflicting evidence on the benefits and harms of LND is inherently linked to the lack of consensus on both anatomic templates and extent of lymphadenectomy. Herein, we provide a detailed overview of the most commonly dissected templates of LND for RCC, focusing on key anatomic landmarks and patterns of lymphatic drainage.

Methods: A systematic review of the English-language literature was performed without time filters in July 2018 in accordance to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement recommendations. The primary endpoint was to summarize the most commonly dissected templates of LND according to the side of RCC.

Results: Overall, 25 studies were selected for qualitative analysis. Of these, most were retrospective. The LND template was heterogeneous across studies. Indications and extent of LND were either not reported or not standardized in most series. The most commonly dissected template for right-sided tumors included hilar, paracaval, and precaval nodes, with few authors extending the dissection to the inter-aortocaval, retrocaval, common iliac or pre/paraaortic nodes. Similarly, the most commonly dissected template for left-sided tumors encompassed the renal hilar, preaortic and paraaortic nodes, with few authors reporting a systematic dissection of inter-aortocaval, retro-aortic, common iliac, or para-caval nodes.

Conclusions: In light of the unpredictable renal lymphatic anatomy and the evidence from available prospective mapping studies, the extent of the most commonly dissected templates might be insufficient to catch the overall anatomic pattern of lymphatic drainage from RCC.

Mesoporogen-Free Synthesis of Hierarchical SAPO-34 with Low Template Consumption and Excellent Methanol-to-Olefin Conversion

Significant interest has emerged in the development of nanometer-sized and hierarchical silicoaluminophosphate zeolites (SAPO-34) because of their enhanced accessibility and improved catalytic activity for methanol-to-olefin (MTO) conversion. A series of nanometer-sized SAPO-34 catalysts with tunable hierarchical structures was synthesized in a Al₂ O₃ /H₃ PO₄ /SiO₂ /triethylamine(TEA)/H₂ O system by using a mesoporogen-free nanoseed-assisted method. The nanometer-sized hierarchical S_H -3.0 catalyst (TEA/Al₂ O₃ =3.0) possessed the highest crystallinity, highest abundance of intracrystalline meso-/macropores, and the most suitable acidity among all obtained catalysts, showing the highest ethylene and propylene selectivity of 85.4 %. This is the highest reported selectivity for MTO reactions under similar conditions. Detailed analysis of the coke produced during the reaction revealed that the small-sized methyl-substituted benzene and bulky methyl-substituted pyrene were mainly located inside the crystals instead of on the surface of the crystals, which provided further insight into understanding the deactivation of the SAPO-34 catalyst during MTO reaction. Significantly, the simple and cost-effective synthetic process and superb catalytic performance of the nanometer-sized hierarchical SAPO-34 is promising for their practical large-scale application for MTO conversion.

A Nanosized Phenylene-Ethynylene-Butadiynylene [2]Catenane

In a convergent, template-directed synthesis, an efficient route to a phenylene-ethynylene-butadiynylene based [2]catenane is described. The key step is performed by the aminolysis of the corresponding precatenane, which is obtained by a sequence of metal-catalyzed cross-coupling and desilylation reactions. The cyclization reaction leads besides the [2]precatenane to a variety of larger precatenanes and offers an attractive approach to mechanically interlocked structures of different size.

In vivo multiphoton kinetic imaging of the toxic effect of carbon tetrachloride on hepatobiliary metabolism

We used intravital multiphoton microscopy to study the recovery of hepatobiliary metabolism following carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatotoxicity in mice. The acquired images were processed by a first order kinetic model to generate rate constant resolved images of the mouse liver. We found that with progression of hepatotoxicity, the spatial gradient of hepatic function disappeared. A CCl4-induced damage mechanism involves the compromise of membrane functions, resulting in accumulation of processed 6-carboxyfluorescein molecules. At day 14 following induction, a restoration of the mouse hepatobiliary function was found. Our approach allows the study of the response of hepatic functions to chemical agents in real time and is useful for studying pharmacokinetics of drug molecules through optical microscopic imaging.

Research Institutions

We performed a content analysis of reliance agreement templates from 73 of the top U.S. research institutions ranked by research funding. 67.1% of institutions in our sample use the Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP) template and 8.2% use the SMART IRB template. Although a significant percentage of institutions (45.2%) use their own custom template, many of these also use the OHRP template or the SMART IRB template. 21.9% of institutional templates have only the OHRP minimum 10 contractual provisions (or elements), 27.4% have 11 elements, 26% have 12-19 elements, and 24.7% have 20 or more elements. 5.5% of institutional templates require the relied-upon institution to indemnify the relying institution, 6.8% require the relying institution to indemnify the relied-upon institution, 8.2% require the relied-upon institution to have liability insurance, 15.1% require the relying institution to have liability insurance, 2.7% require the relied-upon institution to have accreditation, and none require the relying institution to have accreditation. The number of elements in the template was positively associated with total research funding and private institutional control. Our data indicate that institutions which are seeking reliance agreements for cooperative research involving human subjects are not likely to encounter many difficulties because most are using commonly employed templates and are not imposing potentially disputable requirements on parties to the agreement.

Rapid, High Affinity Binding by a Fluorescein Templated Copolymer Combining Covalent, Hydrophobic, and Acid⁻Base Noncovalent Crosslinks

A new type of biomimetic templated copolymer has been prepared by reverse addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) in dioxane. The initial formulation includes the template fluorescein, N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM, 84 mol %), methacrylic acid (MAA, 5-mol %), 4-vinylpyridine (4-VP, 9 mmol %), and N,N′-methylenebis(acrylamide) (MBA, 2 mol %). PolyNIPAM is a thermosensitive polymer that comes out of aqueous solution above its lower critical solution temperature forming hydrophobic ‘crosslinks’. MAA and 4-VP interact in dioxane forming acid⁻base crosslinks. The excess 4-VP serves as a recognition monomer organizing around the template fluorescein to form a binding site that is held in place by the noncovalent and covalent crosslinks. The MBA is a covalent crosslinker. The RAFT agent in the resulting copolylmer was reduced to a thiol and attached to gold nanoparticles. The gold nanoparticle bound copolymer binds fluorescein completely in less than two seconds with an affinity constant greater than 10⁸ M−1. A reference copolymer prepared with the same monomers by the same procedure binds fluorescein much more weakly.

Development of Self-Assembled Nanoribbon Bound Peptide-Polyaniline Composite Scaffolds and Their Interactions with Neural Cortical Cells

Degenerative neurological disorders and traumatic brain injuries cause significant damage to quality of life and often impact survival. As a result, novel treatments are necessary that can allow for the regeneration of neural tissue. In this work, a new biomimetic scaffold was designed with potential for applications in neural tissue regeneration. To develop the scaffold, we first prepared a new bolaamphiphile that was capable of undergoing self-assembly into nanoribbons at pH 7. Those nanoribbons were then utilized as templates for conjugation with specific proteins known to play a critical role in neural tissue growth. The template (Ile-TMG-Ile) was prepared by conjugating tetramethyleneglutaric acid with isoleucine and the ability of the bolaamphiphile to self-assemble was probed at a pH range of 4 through 9. The nanoribbons formed under neutral conditions were then functionalized step-wise with the basement membrane protein laminin, the neurotropic factor artemin and Type IV collagen. The conductive polymer polyaniline (PANI) was then incorporated through electrostatic and π–π stacking interactions to the scaffold to impart electrical properties. Distinct morphology changes were observed upon conjugation with each layer, which was also accompanied by an increase in Young’s Modulus as well as surface roughness. The Young’s Modulus of the dried PANI-bound biocomposite scaffolds was found to be 5.5 GPa, indicating the mechanical strength of the scaffold. Thermal phase changes studied indicated broad endothermic peaks upon incorporation of the proteins which were diminished upon binding with PANI. The scaffolds also exhibited in vitro biodegradable behavior over a period of three weeks. Furthermore, we observed cell proliferation and short neurite outgrowths in the presence of rat neural cortical cells, confirming that the scaffolds may be applicable in neural tissue regeneration. The electrochemical properties of the scaffolds were also studied by generating I-V curves by conducting cyclic voltammetry. Thus, we have developed a new biomimetic composite scaffold that may have potential applications in neural tissue regeneration.

Hollow MXene Spheres and 3D Macroporous MXene Frameworks for Na-Ion Storage

2D transition metal carbides and nitrides, named MXenes, are attracting increasing attentions and showing competitive performance in energy storage devices including electrochemical capacitors, lithium- and sodium-ion batteries, and lithium-sulfur batteries. However, similar to other 2D materials, MXene nanosheets are inclined to stack together, limiting the device performance. In order to fully utilize MXenes' electrochemical energy storage capability, here, processing of 2D MXene flakes into hollow spheres and 3D architectures via a template method is reported. The MXene hollow spheres are stable and can be easily dispersed in solvents such as water and ethanol, demonstrating their potential applications in environmental and biomedical fields as well. The 3D macroporous MXene films are free-standing, flexible, and highly conductive due to good contacts between spheres and metallic conductivity of MXenes. When used as anodes for sodium-ion storage, these 3D MXene films exhibit much improved performances compared to multilayer MXenes and MXene/carbon nanotube hybrid architectures in terms of capacity, rate capability, and cycling stability. This work demonstrates the importance of MXene electrode architecture on the electrochemical performance and can guide future work on designing high-performance MXene-based materials for energy storage, catalysis, environmental, and biomedical applications.

Phonological patterns (templates) in 5p deletion syndrome

Whole word phonological patterns (templates) in utterances produced by children with 5p deletion syndrome are analysed, addressing four questions: (1) Are children with 5p deletion syndrome able to generalise over words? (2) How does the template score of children with 5p deletion syndrome relate to those of typically developing children and of the target language? (3) How do the template scores relate to other phonological measures, PCC and consonant variegation? (4) What can the relationship between template scores and phonological measures tell us about templates? Children with 5p deletion syndrome are able to generalise over words, some to a target like extent, others generalise more than expected for their age. The template scores relate to other phonological measures, with two exceptions. The exceptions indicate that the template score of a child with articulatory difficulties may reflect more detailed representations of the words in memory than she is able to express.

Performance of a Web-based Method for Generating Synoptic Reports

CONTEXT

The College of American Pathologists (CAP) requires synoptic reporting of all tumor excisions.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the performance of different methods of generating synoptic reports.

METHODS

Completeness, amendment rates, rate of timely ordering of ancillary studies (KRAS in T4/N1 colon carcinoma), and structured data file extraction were compared for four different synoptic report generating methods.

RESULTS

Use of the printed tumor protocols directly from the CAP website had the lowest completeness (84%) and highest amendment (1.8%) rates. Reformatting these protocols was associated with higher completeness (94%, P < 0.001) and reduced amendment (1%, P = 0.20) rates. Extraction into a structured data file was successful 93% of the time. Word-based macros improved completeness (98% vs. 94%, P < 0.001) but not amendment rates (1.5%). KRAS was ordered before sign out 89% of the time. In contrast, a web-based product with a reminder flag when items were missing, an embedded flag for data extraction, and a reminder to order KRAS when appropriate resulted in improved completeness (100%, P = 0.005), amendment rates (0.3%, P = 0.03), KRAS ordering before sign out (100%, P = 0.23), and structured data extraction (100%, P < 0.001) without reducing the speed (P = 0.34) or accuracy (P = 1.00) of data extraction by the reader.

CONCLUSION

Completeness, amendment rates, ancillary test ordering rates, and data extraction rates vary significantly with the method used to construct the synoptic report. A web-based method compares favorably with all other methods examined and does not reduce reader usability.

Electrospun Template Architecture and Composition Regulate Neutrophil NETosis In Vitro and In Vivo<sup/>

Mounting evidence indicates that neutrophils, first responders to an implanted biomaterial, prime the microenvironment for recruited immune cells by secreting factors and releasing neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) through NETosis. In this study, we investigated the role of electrospun template architecture and composition in regulating NETosis. Electrospun polydioxanone (PDO), collagen type I (COL), and blended PDO-COL templates (PC) were fabricated with small-diameter (0.25-0.35 μm) and large-diameter (1.0-2.00 μm) fibers. Neutrophil-template interactions were evaluated in vitro for 3 and 24 h with human neutrophils, and the PDO templates were studied in vivo (rat subcutaneous model) for 1 and 7 days. Template-bound NETs were quantified by fluorescent microscopy and an On-cell Western assay. The in vitro results indicate that larger fiber diameters reduced NETosis on PDO templates, whereas the incorporation of COL attenuated NETosis independent of fiber diameter. The in vivo results similarly revealed a lower degree of NETs on large-diameter PDO templates at 1 day, resulting in marginal tissue integration of the templates at 7 days. In contrast, the small-diameter PDO templates, which were coated in a large amount of NETs at 24 h in vivo, were surrounded by capsule-like tissue at 7 days. These preliminary in vivo results validate the in vitro model and signify NETosis as a potentially significant physiological response and a critical preconditioning event for the innate immune response to templates. In conclusion, these results demonstrate the importance of characterizing the neutrophil's acute confrontation with biomaterials to engineer templates capable of promoting in situ regeneration.

Control of Periodic Zigzag Structures of DNA by a Simple Shearing Method

A periodic zigzag structure of DNA material is successfully fabricated by a simple shearing method. The periodicity of the pattern can be finely controlled by combining the mechanical shearing method with topographic patterns of microchannels. The resultant zigzag patterns can be used as a template to control the alignment of rod-like liquid crystals due to its highly regular periodicity.

Comparison of Grouping Methods for Template Extraction from VA Medical Record Text

We investigate options for grouping templates for the purpose of template identification and extraction from electronic medical records. We sampled a corpus of 1000 documents originating from Veterans Health Administration (VA) electronic medical record. We grouped documents through hashing and binning tokens (Hashed) as well as by the top 5% of tokens identified as important through the term frequency inverse document frequency metric (TF-IDF). We then compared the approaches on the number of groups with 3 or more and the resulting longest common subsequences (LCSs) common to all documents in the group. We found that the Hashed method had a higher success rate for finding LCSs, and longer LCSs than the TF-IDF method, however the TF-IDF approach found more groups than the Hashed and subsequently more long sequences, however the average length of LCSs were lower. In conclusion, each algorithm appears to have areas where it appears to be superior.

Reporting Gleason grade/score in synoptic reports of radical prostatectomies

Context:

The format of a synoptic report can significantly affect the accuracy, speed, and preference with which a reader can retrieve information.

Objective:

The objective of this study is to compare different formats of Gleason grading/score in synoptic reports of radical prostatectomies.

Methods:

The performance of 16 nonpathologists (cancer registrars, MDs, medical non-MDs, and nonmedical) at identifying specific information in various formatted synoptic reports using a computerized quiz that measured both accuracy and speed.

Results:

Compared to the standard format (primary, secondary, tertiary grades, and total score on separate lines), omitting tertiary grade when Not applicable reduced accuracy (72 vs. 97%, P < 0.001) and increased time to retrieve information 63% (P < 0.001). No user preferred to have tertiary grade omitted. Both the biopsy format (primary + secondary = total score, tertiary on a separate line) and the single line format (primary + secondary + (tertiary) -> total score) were associated with increased speed of data extraction (18 and 24%, respectively, P < 0.001). The single line format was more accurate (100% vs. 97%, P = 0.02). No user preferred the biopsy format, and only 7/16 users preferred the single line format.

Conclusions

Different report formats for Gleason grading significantly affect users speed, accuracy, and preference; users do not always prefer either speed or accuracy.

Control of CH3 NH3 PbI3 Perovskite Nanostructure Formation through the Use of Silicon Nanotube Templates

A new route to formation of methylammonium lead iodide perovskite nanostructures is reported whose dimensions are controlled by the use of porous silicon nanotube templates. Optical absorption and photoluminescence properties for perovskite nanostructures of 70 and 200 nm in width are evaluated, along with comparisons with larger 1D microwires of the same composition.

Freestanding Boron Nitride Nanosheet Films for Ultrafast Oil/Water Separation

Freestanding boron nitride nanosheet (BNNS) films with designed structures are first fabricated by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods. As-prepared freestanding BNNS films exhibit outstanding hydrophobicity and lipophilicity properties. Such brilliant behaviors make them applicable in oil/water separation with very high fluxes up to 1 200 000 L m^-2 h^-1 bar^-1 and excellent separation efficiencies (ppm level in terms of the water content in the filtrate).

Construction of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Microspheres by Using Helical Substituted Polyacetylene and Application in Enantio-Differentiating Release and Adsorption

Chiral molecularly imprinted polymer microspheres (MIPMs) reported so far are majorly limited to being constructed by using achiral polymer together with chiral template. The present contribution reports on a unique type of chiral MIPMs consisting of chirally helical substituted polyacetylene, which are prepared through suspension polymerization by using (a)chiral acetylenics as monomer and chiral Boc-d/l-proline as template. The resulting MIPMs after removing the template show optical activity that is derived from the chirally helical structures of substituted polyacetylene. The microspheres demonstrate enantio-differentiating ability in releasing the enantiopure templates. A complete release of the template provides the chiral MIPMs. Worthy to mention is that the two chiral sources (chirally helical conformation and chiral template configuration) work in a synergistic way, obviously increasing the MIPMs' enantiodiscrimination ability. The present study develops a strategy for preparing chiral MIPMs, which are expected to find significant applications in chiral separation, enantioselective release of chiral drugs, etc.

Computers in the clinical encounter: a scoping review and thematic analysis

OBJECTIVE

Patient-clinician communication has been associated with increased patient satisfaction, trust in the clinician, adherence to prescribed therapy, and various health outcomes. The impact of health information technology (HIT) on the clinical encounter in general and patient-clinician communication in particular is a growing concern. The purpose of this study was to review the current literature on HIT use during the clinical encounter to update best practices and inform the continuous development of HIT policies and educational interventions.

METHODS

We conducted a literature search of four databases. After removing duplicates, reviewing titles and abstracts, performing a full-text review, and snowballing from references and citations, 51 articles were included in the analysis. We employed a qualitative thematic analysis to compare and contrast the findings across studies.

RESULTS

Our analysis revealed that the use of HIT affects consultations in complex ways, impacting eye contact and gaze, information sharing, building relationships, and pauses in the conversation. Whether these impacts are positive or negative largely depends on the combination of consultation room layout, patient and clinician styles of interaction with HIT as well as each other, and the strategies and techniques employed by clinicians to integrate HIT into consultations.

DISCUSSION

The in-depth insights into the impact of HIT on the clinical encounter, especially the strategies and techniques employed by clinicians to adapt to using HIT in consultations, can inform policies, educational interventions, and research.

CONCLUSION

In contrast to the common negative views of HIT, it affects the clinical encounter in multiple ways. By applying identified strategies and best practices, HIT can support patient-clinician interactions rather than interfering with them.