Extraction of Electron Self-Energy and Gap Function in the Superconducting State of Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_8 Superconductor via Laser-Based Angle-Resolved Photoemission

Super-high resolution laser-based angle-resolved photoemission measurements have been performed on a high temperature superconductor Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_8. The band back-bending characteristic of the Bogoliubov-like quasiparticle dispersion is clearly revealed at low temperature in the superconducting state. This makes it possible for the first time to experimentally extract the complex electron self-energy and the complex gap function in the superconducting state. The resultant electron self-energy and gap function exhibit features at ~54 meV and ~40 meV, in addition to the superconducting gap-induced structure at lower binding energy and a broad featureless structure at higher binding energy. These information will provide key insight and constraints on the origin of electron pairing in high temperature superconductors.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

A Patternable and In Situ Formed Polymeric Zinc Blanket for a Reversible Zinc Anode in a Skin-Mountable Microbattery

Owing to their high safety and reversibility, aqueous microbatteries using zinc anodes and an acid electrolyte have emerged as promising candidates for wearable electronics. However, a critical limitation that prevents implementing zinc chemistry at the microscale lies in its spontaneous corrosion in an acidic electrolyte that causes a capacity loss of 40% after a ten-hour rest. Widespread anti-corrosion techniques, such as polymer coating, often retard the kinetics of zinc plating/stripping and lack spatial control at the microscale. Here, a polyimide coating that resolves this dilemma is reported. The coating prevents corrosion and hence reduces the capacity loss of a standby microbattery to 10%. The coordination of carbonyl oxygen in the polyimide with zinc ions builds up over cycling, creating a zinc blanket that minimizes the concentration gradient through the electrode/electrolyte interface and thus allows for fast kinetics and low plating/stripping overpotential. The polyimide's patternable feature energizes microbatteries in both aqueous and hydrogel electrolytes, delivering a supercapacitor-level rate performance and 400 stable cycles in the hydrogel electrolyte. Moreover, the microbattery is able to be attached to human skin and offers strong resistance to deformations, splashing, and external shock. The skin-mountable microbattery demonstrates an excellent combination of anti-corrosion, reversibility, and durability in wearables. © 2021 The Authors. Advanced Materials published by Wiley-VCH Gmb

Organ-specific metabolic profiles of the liver and kidney during brain death and afterwards during normothermic machine perfusion of the kidney

We investigated metabolic changes during brain death (BD) using hyperpolarized magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy and ex vivo graft glucose metabolism during normothermic isolated perfused kidney (IPK) machine perfusion. BD was induced in mechanically ventilated rats by inflation of an epidurally placed catheter; sham-operated rats served as controls. Hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate MR spectroscopy was performed to quantify pyruvate metabolism in the liver and kidneys at 3 time points during BD, preceded by injecting hyperpolarized[1-13C]pyruvate. Following BD, glucose oxidation was measured using tritium-labeled glucose (d-6-3H-glucose) during IPK reperfusion. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and biochemistry were performed on tissue/plasma. Immediately following BD induction, lactate increased in both organs (liver: eµd0.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] [−0.27, −0.15]; kidney: eµd0.26, 95% CI [−0.40, −0.12]. After 4 hours of BD, alanine production decreased in the kidney (eµd0.14, 95% CI [0.03, 0.25], P <.05). Hepatic lactate and alanine profiles were significantly different throughout the experiment between groups (P <.01). During IPK perfusion, renal glucose oxidation was reduced following BD vs sham animals (eµd0.012, 95% CI [0.004, 0.03], P <.001). No differences in enzyme activities were found. Renal gene expression of lactate-transporter MCT4 increased following BD (P <.01). In conclusion, metabolic processes during BD can be visualized in vivo using hyperpolarized magnetic resonance imaging and with glucose oxidation during ex vivo renal machine perfusion. These techniques can detect differences in the metabolic profiles of the liver and kidney following BD

Integrated efficacy and safety analysis of abrocitinib in adolescents with moderate‐to‐severe atopic dermatitis

Background Abrocitinib has demonstrated long-term efficacy (48 weeks) and safety (~4 years) in adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD). This analysis evaluated abrocitinib efficacy in adolescents through 112 weeks, and safety of up to 4.6 years of exposure. Methods Data were from adolescents in JADE MONO-1 (NCT03349060), MONO-2 (NCT03575871), TEEN (NCT03796676), REGIMEN (NCT03627767; safety analysis only), and the ongoing phase 3 extension trial, EXTEND (NCT03422822; data cutoff: September 5, 2022). Efficacy assessments included proportions of patients achieving an Investigator's Global Assessment score of 0 or 1 (IGA 0/1) and ≥ 75%/≥ 90% improvement in Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI-75/-90). Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and AEs of special interest were reported as incidence rate/100 patient-years. A substudy of JADE TEEN assessed immune response to vaccination. Results Efficacy was assessed in 170 and 187 patients in the abrocitinib 200-mg and 100-mg arms, respectively; median exposure was 971.0 and 899.0 days. At Week 112, comparable proportions of patients treated with abrocitinib (200, 100 mg) achieved EASI-75 (85%, 83%), EASI-90 (62%, 60%), and IGA 0/1 (57%, 57%). Safety was assessed in 289 and 201 patients in the abrocitinib 200- and 100-mg arms, respectively; median exposure was 882.0 and 863.0 days. Incidence rates were numerically higher with abrocitinib 200 mg versus 100 mg, with overlapping confidence intervals for serious TEAEs (IR [95% CI]; 5.47 [3.69–7.80] vs. 3.45 [1.89–5.80]) and TEAEs leading to discontinuation (6.78 [4.80–9.31] vs. 5.39 [3.38–8.16]). Conclusions Efficacy and safety results support long-term abrocitinib use in adolescent patients. Trail Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers NCT03349060, NCT03575871, NCT03796676, NCT03627767, NCT03422822

Magnetic resonance imaging as a non-invasive adjunct to conventional assessment of functional differences between kidneys in vivo and during ex vivo normothermic machine perfusion

INTRODUCTION: Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) is increasingly considered for pre-transplant kidney quality assessment. However, fundamental questions about differences between in vivo and ex vivo renal function, as well as the impact of ischemic injury on ex vivo physiology, remain unanswered. This study utilized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), alongside conventional parameters to explore differences between in vivo and ex vivo renal function and the impact of warm ischemia on a kidney's behavior ex vivo.METHODS: Renal MRI scans and samples were obtained from living pigs (n=30) in vivo. Next, kidney pairs were procured and exposed to minimal, or 75 min of warm ischemia, followed by 6 hours of hypothermic machine perfusion. Both kidneys simultaneously underwent 6-hour ex vivo perfusion in MRI-compatible NMP circuits to obtain multiparametric MRI data.RESULTS: Ischemically injured ex vivo kidneys showed a significantly altered regional blood flow distribution compared to in vivo and to minimally damaged organs. Both ex vivo groups showed diffusion restriction relative to in vivo.CONCLUSION: Our findings underscore the differences between in vivo and ex vivo MRI-based renal characteristics. Therefore, when assessing organ viability during NMP, it should be considered to incorporate parameters beyond the conventional functional markers that are common in vivo.</p

Ficaria verna Huds. extracts and their β-cyclodextrin supramolecular systems

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Obtaining new pharmaceutical materials with enhanced properties by using natural compounds and environment-friendly methods is a continuous goal for scientists. <it>Ficaria verna </it>Huds. is a widespread perennial plant with applications in the treat of haemorrhoids and to cure piles; it has also anti-inflammatory, astringent, and antibiotic properties. The goal of the present study is the obtaining and characterization of new <it>F. verna </it>extract/β-cyclodextrin complexes by using only natural compounds, solvents, and environment-friendly methods in order to increase the quality and acceptability versus toxicity indicator. Thus, the flavonoid content (as quercetin) of <it>Ficaria verna </it>Huds. flowers and leaves from the West side of Romania was determined and correlated with their antioxidant activity. Further, the possibility of obtaining β-cyclodextrin supramolecular systems was studied.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>F. verna </it>flowers and leaves extracts were obtained by semi-continuous solid-liquid extraction. The raw concentrated extract was spectrophotometrically analyzed in order to quantify the flavonoids from plant parts and to evaluate the antioxidant activity of these extracts. The <it>F. verna </it>extracts were used for obtaining β-cyclodextrin complexes; these were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and Karl Fischer water titration; spectrophotometry was used in order to quantifying the flavonoids and evaluates the antioxidant activity. A higher concentration of flavonoids of 0.5% was determined in complexes obtained by crystallisation method, while only a half of this value was calculated for kneading method. The antioxidant activity of these complexes was correlated with the flavonoid content and this parameter reveals possible controlled release properties.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The flavonoid content of <it>F. verna </it>Huds. from the West side of Romania (Banat county) is approximately the same in flowers and leaves, being situated at a medium value among other studies. β-Cyclodextrin complexes of <it>F. verna </it>extracts are obtained with lower yields by crystallisation than kneading methods, but the flavonoids (as quercetin) are better encapsulated in the first case most probably due to the possibility to attain the <it>host</it>-<it>guest </it>equilibrium in the slower crystallisation process. <it>F. verna </it>extracts and their β-cyclodextrin complexes have antioxidant activity even at very low concentrations and could be used in proper and valuable pharmaceutical formulations with enhanced bioactivity.</p