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Here, we present findings on the effect of nanometer-sized silica-based pores on the glass transition of aqueous solutions of Lithium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide (LiTFSI) and Lithium difluorosulfimide (LiFSI), respectively. Our experimental results demonstrate a clear dependence of the confinement effect on the anion type, particularly for water-rich solutions, in which the precipitation of crystalized ice under cooling process induces the formation of freeze-concentrated phase confined between pore wall and core ice. As this liquid layer becomes thinner, the freeze-concentrated phase experiences glass transition at increasingly higher temperatures in solutions of LiTFSI. However, differently, for solutions of LiFSI and LiCl, this secondary confinement has a negligible effect on the glass transition of solutions confined wherein. These different behaviors emphasize the obvious difference in the dynamic properties’ response of LiTFSI and LiFSI solutions to spatial confinement and particularly to the presence of the hydrophilic pore wall.

Soil erosion is an important global environmental issue that severely affects regional ecological environment and socio-economic development. The Yellow River (YR) is China’s second largest river and the fifth largest one worldwide. Its watershed is key to China’s economic growth and environmental security. In this study, six impact factors, including rainfall erosivity (R), soil erosivity (K), slope length (L), slope steepness (S), cover management (C), and protective measures (P), were used. Based on the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) model, and combined with a geographic information system (GIS), the temporal and spatial distribution of soil erosion (SE) in the YR from 2000 to 2020 was estimated. The patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) model was used to simulate the land-use and land-cover change (LUCC) under two scenarios (natural development and ecological protection) in 2040; the RUSLE factor P was found to be associated with LUCC in 2040, and soil erosion in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) in 2040 under the two scenarios were predicted and evaluated. This method has great advantages in land-use simulation, but soil erosion is greatly affected by rainfall and slope, and it only focuses on the link between land-usage alteration and SE. Therefore, this method has certain limitations in assessing soil erosion by simulating and predicting land-use change. We found that there is generally slight soil erosivity in the YRB, with the most serious soil erosion occurring in 2000. Areas with serious SE are predominantly situated in the upper reaches (URs), followed by the middle reaches (MRs), and soil erosion is less severe in the lower reaches. Soil erosion in the YRB decreased 11.92% from 2000 to 2020; thus, soil erosion has gradually reduced in this area over time. Based on the GIS statistics, land-use change strongly influences SE, while an increase in woodland area has an important positive effect in reducing soil erosion. By predicting land-use changes in 2040, compared to the natural development scenario, woodland and grassland under the ecological protection scenario can be increased by 1978 km2 and 2407 km2, respectively. Soil erosion can be decreased by 6.24%, indicating the implementation of woodland and grassland protection will help reduce soil erosion. Policies such as forest protection and grassland restoration should be further developed and implemented on the MRs and URs of the YR. Our research results possess important trend-setting significance for soil erosion control protocols and ecological environmental protection in other large river basins worldwide.

Background The age-distribution of men who have sex with men (MSM) continues to change in the ‘Treat-All’ era as effective test-and-treat programs target key-populations. However, the nature of these changes and potential racial heterogeneities remain uncertain. Methods The PEARL model is an agent-based simulation of MSM in HIV care in the US, calibrated to data from the North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design (NA-ACCORD). Results PEARL projects a gradual decrease in median age of MSM at ART initiation from 36 to 31 years during 2010–2030, accompanied by changes in mortality among Black, White, and Hispanic MSM on ART by -8.4%, 42.4% and -19.6%. The median age of all MSM on ART is projected to increase from 45 to 47 years from 2010–2030, with the proportion of ART-users age ≥60y increasing from 6.7% to 28.0%. Almost half (49.7%) of White MSM ART-users are projected to age ≥60y by 2030, compared to 19.5% of Black and 17.2% of Hispanic MSM. Conclusions The overall age of US MSM in HIV care is expected to increase over the next decade, and differentially by race/ethnicity. As this population age, HIV programs should expand care for age-related causes of morbidity and mortality.

Here, we report a new state-diagram for aqueous solutions based on concentration-dependent glass-transition temperatures of concentrated and ice freeze-concentrated solutions. Different from the equilibrium phase diagram, this new state-diagram can provide comprehensive information about the hydration numbers of solutes, nonequilibrium vitrification/cold-crystallization, and vitrification/devitrification processes of aqueous solutions in three distinct concentration zones separated by two critical water-content points of only functions of the hydration number. Based on this new state-diagram, we observe the comparable hydration ability of LiTFSI to LiCl and an atypical concentration-dependent cold-crystallization behavior of the LiTFSI-H2O system. These results unveil the negligible hydration ability of TFSI- in a water-rich solution, characterize the antiplasticizing effect of water induced by the strengthened Li+-TFSI--H2O interaction when only hydration water and confined water are present, and confirm the increasing fraction of water-rich domains with the decrease in water content when the cation and anion become incompletely hydrated on average. These results highlight the novel water-content-mediated interactions among the anion, cation, and H2O for LiTFSI-H2O.

OBJECTIVE To project the future age distribution of people with HIV using antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the US, under expected trends in HIV diagnosis and survival (baseline scenario) and achieving the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) goals of a 75% reduction in HIV diagnoses from 2020-25 and sustaining levels to 2030 (EHE75% scenario). DESIGN An agent-based simulation model with mathematical functions estimated from North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design data and parameters from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's annual HIV surveillance reports. METHODS The PEARL (ProjEcting Age, multimoRbidity, and poLypharmacy in adults with HIV) model simulated individuals in 15 subgroups of sex-and-HIV acquisition risk and race/ethnicity. Simulation outcomes from the baseline scenario are compared with outcomes from the EHE75% scenario. RESULTS Under the baseline scenario, PEARL projects a substantial increase in number of ART-users over time, reaching a population of 909,638 [95%uncertaintyrange(UR):878,449-946,513] by 2030. The overall median age increased from 50 years (y) in 2020 to 52y in 2030, with 23% of ART-users age ≥65y in 2030. Under the EHE75% scenario, the projected number of ART-users was 718,348 [703,044-737,817] (median age=56y) in 2030, with a 70% relative reduction in ART-users

Gd2O3 nanoparticles modified g-C3N4 photocatalytic composites were synthesized by a simple one-step hydrothermal method. The structure, morphology, optical properties of the prepared photocatalyst were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), field emission transmission electron microscopy (FETEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The result demonstrates that gadolinium is mainly dispersed on the surface of g-C3N4 in the form of Gd2O3, and does not destroy the lattice structure of g-C3N4. Besides, the gadolinium can cause the red shift of the absorption edge of light, narrow the band gap, and increase the separation efficiency of the photogenerated electron and hole of g-C3N4. Especially, the specific surface area of g-C3N4 can be significantly increased. Furthermore, g-C3N4/Gd-0.05 displays the highest photodegradation performance when it is used for degradation of methyl orange (MO), methylene blue (MB) and Rhodamine B (RhB). The photodegradation rate of g-C3N4/Gd-0.05 composites is 72.4% for MO, 95.5% for RhB, 100% for MB after 120 min under visible light (λ > 420 nm) irradiation. Narrow band gap promotes the separation of photogenerated electron and hole, which enhances the photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4. It is noted that g-C3N4/Gd-0.05 exhibits excellent photocatalytic stability by the photocurrent and the cyclic photodegradation of MO.

The combination processes of metal-assisted chemical etching (AgNO3 + HF + H2O2) and rounding etching (HNO3 + HF + H2O) were used for the texturization of diamond wire sawn (DWS) multi-crystalline silicon (mc-Si) wafers. The evolution of texture structure on the DWS mc-Si wafers was investigated in detail. The chemically microsurface-sphericizing (CMS) textures, which were nearly smooth spherical structure with a size of approximately 2–3 μm, were fabricated successfully on the DWS mc-Si wafers with the combination processes. Compared with the conventional metal-assisted chemical etching (MACE) textures, the CMS textures were improved on surface recombination and the filling of electrode, thereby boosting the electrical performance of the solar cells and the cell-to-module (CTM) loss at the module end. These CMS textures resulted in an increase in the output power of the photovoltaic module by 0.047 W per cell. The fabrication of these CMS textures may be easily scaled up in the photovoltaic production line.

We characterized trends in statin eligibility and subsequent statin initiation among people with HIV (PWH) from 2001 to 2017 and identified predictors of statin initiation between 2014 and 2017.PWH participating in the North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design (NA-ACCORD) enrolled in 12 US cohorts collecting data on statin eligibility criteria/prescriptions from 2001 to 2017.We determined the annual proportion eligible for statins, initiating statins, and median waiting time (from statin eligibility to initiation). Eligibility was defined using ATP III guidelines (2001-2013) and ACC/AHA guidelines (2014-2017). We assessed initiation predictors in 2014-2017 among statin-eligible PWH using Poisson regression, estimating adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).Among 16,409 PWH, 7386 (45%) met statin eligibility criteria per guidelines (2001-2017). From 2001 to 2013, statin eligibility ranged from 22% to 25%. Initiation increased from 13% to 45%. In 2014, 51% were statin-eligible, among whom 25% initiated statins, which increased to 32% by 2017. Median waiting time to initiation among those we observed declined over time. Per 10-year increase in age, initiation increased 46% (aPR 1.46, 95% CI: 1.29 to 1.67). Per 1-year increase in calendar year from 2014 to 2017, there was a 41% increase in the likelihood of statin initiation (aPR 1.41, 95% CI: 1.25 to 1.58).There is a substantial statin treatment gap, amplified by the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines. Measures are warranted to clarify reasons we observe this gap, and if necessary, increase statin use consistent with guidelines including efforts to help providers identify appropriate candidates.

The oxygen adsorption can drastically alter the electronic properties of the 2D materials, which is usually difficult to be removed. In this work, we report the UV illumination induced desorption of the O2 molecules from the monolayer MoS2 surface by using the atmosphere dependent transport measurement, Kelvin probe microscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Obvious increasing of the conductivity, rising of the Fermi level, and red shift of the photoluminescence peaks of the MoS2 were observed after the UV illumination in vacuum, indicating the elimination of the depletion effect from the oxygen adsorption. Such parameter changes can be reversibly recovered by the subsequent O2 exposure. Furthermore, obvious decreasing of the oxygen concentration after the UV illumination was also observed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Thus the UV induced O2 photodesorption effect is evidenced. The photo-excited charge transfer mechanism is proposed to account for the photodesorption effect. These results provide a nondestructive way to clean the MoS2 surface and manipulate the performance of the MoS2 based devices.

Climate is a dominant factor affecting the potential geographical distribution of species. Understanding the impact of climate change on the potential geographic distribution of species, which is of great significance to the exploitation, utilization, and protection of resources, as well as ecologically sustainable development. Betula platyphylla Suk. is one of the most widely distributed temperate deciduous tree species in East Asia and has important economic and ecological value. Based on 231 species distribution data points of Betula platyphylla Suk. in China and 37 bioclimatic, soil, and topography variables (with correlation coefficients < 0.75), the potential geographical distribution pattern of Betula platyphylla Suk. under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) climate change scenarios at present and in the 2050s and 2070s was predicted using the MaxEnt model. We analyzed the main environmental variables affecting the distribution and change of suitable areas and compared the scope and change of suitable areas under different climate scenarios. This study found: (1) At present, the main suitable area for Betula platyphylla Suk. extends from northeastern to southwestern China, with the periphery area showing fragmented distribution. (2) Annual precipitation, precipitation of the warmest quarter, mean temperature of the warmest quarter, annual mean temperature, and precipitation of the driest month are the dominant environmental variables that affect the potential geographical distribution of Betula platyphylla Suk. (3) The suitable area for Betula platyphylla Suk. is expected to expand under global warming scenarios. In recent years, due to the impact of diseases and insect infestation, and environmental damage, the natural Betula platyphylla Suk. forest in China has gradually narrowed. This study accurately predicted the potential geographical distribution of Betula platyphylla Suk. under current and future climate change scenarios, which can provide the scientific basis for the cultivation, management, and sustainable utilization of Betula platyphylla Suk. resources.

Guanosine deaminase (GSDA) in plants specifically deaminates (de)guanosine to produce xanthosine with high specificity, which is further converted to xanthine, a key intermediate in purine metabolism and nitrogen recycling. We solved GSDA's structures from

Polished silicon wafers were used for the present study to remove the effect from surface mechanical damages. It was shown that conventional HF-HNO3-H2O bath wet etching cannot generate any texture on the polished silicon, while the micro-droplet etching (MDE) imposed by vapor from the similar bath can do. By examining the attack of millimeter-sized single droplet of the acidic solution to polished silicon, it was found that preferential attack at edge of the droplet occurred. When large amounts of micro-droplets were condensed on polished silicon, such preferential attack will generate the roughness required by a texture. W-shaped micro-pits were found on the MDE etched polished silicon, confirming the edge-attack mechanism. It agrees with the general phenomenon of preferential corrosion of a solid at gas-liquid-solid triple phase boundary zone.

BACKGROUND: Use of electronic health records (EHRs) in health research may lead to the false assumption of complete event ascertainment. We present a systematic approach to estimate “observation windows” (OWs), defined as time periods within which the assumption of complete ascertainment of events is more likely to hold, as a quality control approach to reducing the likelihood of this false assumption. We demonstrate the impact of observation windows on estimating the rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus (diabetes) using EHR diagnosis, medication, and laboratory data from HIV clinical cohorts. METHODS: Data contributed by 16 HIV clinical cohorts to the North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design (NA-ACCORD) were used to identify and evaluate OWs for an operationalized definition of diabetes occurrence as a case study. Procedures included: 1) gathering cohort-level data; 2) visualizing and summarizing gaps in observations; 3) systematically establishing start and stop dates during which complete ascertainment of diabetes events was reasonable; and 4) visualizing the diabetes OWs relative to the cohort open and close dates to identify periods of time during which immortal person time was accumulated and events were not fully ascertained. We estimated diabetes occurrence event rates and 95% confidence intervals ([,]) in the most recent decade that data were available (Jan 1, 2007 to Dec 31, 2016). RESULTS: The number of diabetes events decreased by 17% with the use of the diabetes OWs; immortal person-time was removed decreasing total person-years by 23%. Consequently, the diabetes rate increased from 1.23 (95% confidence interval [1.20, 1.25]) per 100 person-years to 1.32 ([1.29, 1.35] per 100 person-years with the use of diabetes OWs. CONCLUSIONS: As the use of EHR-curated data for event-driven health research continues to expand, OWs have utility as a quality control approach to complete event ascertainment, helping to improve accuracy of estimates by removing immortal person-time when ascertainment is incomplete.

As a new and emerging technology, photocatalytic oxidation is widely used in the fields of sewage treatment and organic pollution control. In this study, CdS nanoparticles were prepared at room temperature by an innovative preparation method, then TiO2 nanorod&ndash, CdS nanoparticle heterojunction photocatalysts were prepared using the solvothermal method, with TiCl3 used as the precursor for TiO2 nanorods. This study mainly took advantage of the small size of the CdS nanoparticles in combination with TiO2 nanorods, and the resultant heterojunctions had large specific surface areas, thereby increasing the contact area between the catalysts and the contaminants. In addition, due to the lower band gap energy (2.4 eV) of CdS, the photo response range of the heterojunction photocatalysts was also increased. In an experimental study, through photocatalytic performance tests of the catalysts with different weight ratios, it was found that the TiO2(40%)@CdS composite had the best photocatalytic performance and the highest catalytic rate. BET, SEM, and other tests showed that the specific surface area of the TiO2(40%)@CdS composite was the largest. TiO2 nanorods and CdS particles were uniformly distributed in the composite, and the optical response range was extended to the visible light region.

Background People living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; PLWH) have a markedly elevated anal cancer risk, largely due to loss of immunoregulatory control of oncogenic human papillomavirus infection. To better understand anal cancer development and prevention, we determined whether recent, past, cumulative, or nadir/peak CD4+ T-cell count (CD4) and/or HIV-1 RNA level (HIV RNA) best predict anal cancer risk. Methods We studied 102 777 PLWH during 1996–2014 from 21 cohorts participating in the North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design. Using demographics-adjusted, cohort-stratified Cox models, we assessed associations between anal cancer risk and various time-updated CD4 and HIV RNA measures, including cumulative and nadir/peak measures during prespecified moving time windows. We compared models using the Akaike information criterion. Results Cumulative and nadir/peak CD4 or HIV RNA measures from approximately 8.5 to 4.5 years in the past were generally better predictors for anal cancer risk than their corresponding more recent measures. However, the best model included CD4 nadir (ie, the lowest CD4) from approximately 8.5 years to 6 months in the past (hazard ratio [HR] for Conclusions Our results are consistent with anal cancer promotion by severe, prolonged HIV-induced immunosuppression. Nadir and cumulative CD4 may represent useful markers for identifying PLWH at higher anal cancer risk.

Ultrasonication vibration as the pretreatment process, combined with wet acid etching, was utilized for the texture of diamond wire sawn (DWS) multi-crystalline silicon wafers. The SiC particles in the ultrasonic device were imposed for cavitation-generating blasting action on the DWS wafers surfaces. The blasting action exceeding 5 min can remove saw marks and smooth zones on the DWS wafer surfaces by producing new pits. After wet acid etching，the texture morphology of ultrasonically pretreated DWS mc-silicon wafers was quite uniform as compared to wet-textured as-cut DWS mc-silicon wafers, similar to wet-textured slurry wire saw(SWS) mc-silicon wafers. Light reflectivity tests confirmed the beneficial effect of the ultrasonic pretreatment of DWS mc-silicon wafers. This technique could be a potential solution to the texturization problem of DWS mc-silicon wafers.

BackgroundResearch is needed to better understand relations between immunosuppression and HIV viraemia and risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a common cancer in people living with HIV. We aimed to identify key CD4 count and HIV RNA (viral load) predictors of risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, overall and by subtype.MethodsWe studied people living with HIV during 1996-2014 from 21 Canadian and US cohorts participating in the North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design. To determine key independent predictors of risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, we assessed associations with time-updated recent, past, cumulative, and nadir or peak measures of CD4 count and viral load, using demographics-adjusted, cohort-stratified Cox models, and we compared models using Akaike's information criterion.FindingsOf 102 131 people living with HIV during the study period, 712 people developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The key independent predictors of risk for overall non-Hodgkin lymphoma were recent CD4 count (ie, lagged by 6 months

Grinding as a pre-treatment method for HF-HNO3-H2O solution etching of diamond wire sawn (DWS) multi-crystalline (multi-Si) silicon wafers was proposed and researched. Significant improvement in morphological uniformity and decrease in light reflectivity of the wet acid etched surface textures were achieved with the pre-treatment. The photoelectric-conversion efficiency gain of solar cells fabricated with the pretreated DWS multi-Si wafers was 0.32%, compared to solar cells fabricated with the same batch of untreated wafers in an identical production line. The grinding pre-treatment was observed to restructure the superficial layer of DWS multi-Si wafers. The surface modification layer was believed to be more easily reacted with the wet acid etching solution, proving responsible for the improvement of photoelectric-conversion efficiency of solar cells. This method could provide a new research idea for the wet acid texturization of DWS multi-Si wafers.

In this study, we investigated the dynamic characteristics of bubbles in a vibrated airflow force field and the mechanism under which the vibration energy restrains the bubble motion in the bubble fluidization state using digital image processing and signal analysis. Through a comparative analysis of the pressure drop signal and the bubble characteristic images, the results show that the bubble coalescence causes a sudden peak value of the pressure drop signal, and fracturing causes a decrease of the pressure drop signal. When the bed is fully fluidized, the high-amplitude pressure drop signal is mainly distributed in the range of 0–12 Hz, and the amplitude range is 480–1354 Pa. During the violent bubbling of bed, the amplitude of pressure drop signal in the frequency range of 0–12 Hz decreases, and the frequency band of the high-amplitude pressure drop signal shifts to a high-frequency band. The introduction of vibration energy significantly influences on the dynamic behavior of bubbles, and when the vibration frequency is f = 20 Hz, v = 0.32 m/s, and A = 2 mm, the shape of bubbles at the bottom of the bed is mostly a flat strip and the number of bubbles is less evenly distributed, the size of the bubbles are small, the bed voidage and its standard deviation are low, and the fluidization quality of the bed is uniform and stable.

Transport properties and the associated structural heterogeneity of room temperature aqueous ionic liquids and especially of super-concentrated electrolyte aqueous solutions have received increasing attention, due to their potential application in ionic battery. This paper briefly reviews the results reported mainly since 2010 about the liquid–liquid separation, aggregation of polar and apolar domains in neat RTILs, and solvent clusters and 3D networks chiefly constructed by anions in super-concentrated electrolyte solutions. At the same time, the dominating effect of desolvation process of metal ions at electrode/electrolyte interface upon the transport of metal ions is stressed. This paper also presents the current understanding of how water affects the anion–cation interaction, structural heterogeneities, the structure of primary coordination sheath of metal ions and consequently their transport properties in free water-poor electrolytes.

Background: There is persistent confusion as to whether abacavir (ABC) increases the risk of myocardial infarction (MI), and whether such risk differs by type 1 (T1MI) or 2 (T2MI) MI in adults with HIV. Methods: Incident MIs in North American Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design participants were identified from 2001 to 2013. Discrete time marginal structural models addressed channeling biases and time-dependent confounding to estimate crude hazard ratio (HR) and adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) and 95% confidence intervals; analyses were performed for T1MI and T2MI separately. A sensitivity analysis evaluated whether Framingham risk score (FRS) modified the effect of ABC on MI occurrence. Results: Eight thousand two hundred sixty-five adults who initiated antiretroviral therapy contributed 29,077 person-years and 123 MI events (65 T1MI and 58 T2MI). Median follow-up time was 2.9 (interquartile range 1.4-5.1) years. ABC initiators were more likely to have a history of injection drug use, hepatitis C virus infection, hypertension, diabetes, impaired kidney function, hyperlipidemia, low (,200 cells/mm3) CD4 counts, and a history of AIDS. The risk of the combined MI outcome was greater for persons who used ABC in the previous 6 months [aHR = 1.84 (1.17-2.91)]; and persisted for T1MI (aHR = 1.62 [1.01]) and T2MI [aHR = 2.11 (1.08-4.29)]. FRS did not modify the effect of ABC on MI (P = 0.14) and inclusion of FRS in the MSM did not diminish the effect of recent ABC use on the combined outcome. Conclusions: Recent ABC use was associated with MI after adjustment for known risk factors and for FRS. However, screening for T1MI risks may not identify all or even most persons at risk of ABC use-associated MIs.

A subset of HIV-infected individuals termed elite controllers (ECs) maintain CD4 + T cell counts and control viral replication in the absence of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Systemic cytokine responses may differentiate ECs from subjects with uncontrolled viral replication or from those who require ART to suppress viral replication. We measured 87 cytokines in four groups of women: 73 ECs, 42 with pharmacologically suppressed viremia (ART), 42 with uncontrolled viral replication (noncontrollers [NCs]), and 48 HIV-uninfected (NEG) subjects. Four cytokines were elevated in ECs but not NCs or ART subjects: CCL14, CCL21, CCL27, and XCL1. In addition, median stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) levels were 43% higher in ECs than in NCs. The combination of the five cytokines suppressed R5 and X4 virus replication in resting CD4 + T cells, and individually SDF-1β, CCL14, and CCL27 suppressed R5 virus replication, while SDF-1β, CCL21, and CCL14 suppressed X4 virus replication. Functional studies revealed that the combination of the five cytokines upregulated CD69 and CCR5 and downregulated CXCR4 and CCR7 on CD4 + T cells. The CD69 and CXCR4 effects were driven by SDF-1, while CCL21 downregulated CCR7. The combination of the EC-associated cytokines induced expression of the anti-HIV host restriction factors IFITM1 and IFITM2 and suppressed expression of RNase L and SAMHD1. These results identify a set of cytokines that are elevated in ECs and define their effects on cellular activation, HIV coreceptor expression, and innate restriction factor expression. This cytokine pattern may be a signature characteristic of HIV-1 elite control, potentially important for HIV therapeutic and curative strategies. IMPORTANCE Approximately 1% of people infected with HIV control virus replication without taking antiviral medications. These subjects, termed elite controllers (ECs), are known to have stronger immune responses targeting HIV than the typical HIV-infected subject, but the exact mechanisms of how their immune responses control infection are not known. In this study, we identified five soluble immune signaling molecules (cytokines) in the blood that were higher in ECs than in subjects with typical chronic HIV infection. We demonstrated that these cytokines can activate CD4 + T cells, the target cells for HIV infection. Furthermore, these five EC-associated cytokines could change expression levels of intrinsic resistance factors, or molecules inside the target cell that fight HIV infection. This study is significant in that it identified cytokines elevated in subjects with a good immune response against HIV and defined potential mechanisms as to how these cytokines could induce resistance to the virus in target cells.

Author(s): Drozd, Daniel R; Kitahata, Mari M; Althoff, Keri N; Zhang, Jinbing; Gange, Stephen J; Napravnik, Sonia; Burkholder, Greer A; Mathews, William C; Silverberg, Michael J; Sterling, Timothy R; Heckbert, Susan R; Budoff, Matthew J; Van Rompaey, Stephen; Delaney, Joseph AC; Wong, Cherise; Tong, Weiqun; Palella, Frank J; Elion, Richard A; Martin, Jeffrey N; Brooks, John T; Jacobson, Lisa P; Eron, Joseph J; Justice, Amy C; Freiberg, Matthew S; Klein, Daniel B; Post, Wendy S; Saag, Michael S; Moore, Richard D; Crane, Heidi M | Abstract: BackgroundPrevious studies of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among HIV-infected individuals have been limited by the inability to validate and differentiate atherosclerotic type 1 myocardial infarctions (T1MIs) from other events. We sought to define the incidence of T1MIs and risk attributable to traditional and HIV-specific factors among participants in the North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design (NA-ACCORD) and compare adjusted incidence rates (IRs) to the general population Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) cohort.MethodsWe ascertained and adjudicated incident MIs among individuals enrolled in 7 NA-ACCORD cohorts between 1995 and 2014. We calculated IRs, adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRRs), and 95% confidence intervals of risk factors for T1MI using Poisson regression. We compared aIRRs of T1MIs in NA-ACCORD with those from ARIC.ResultsAmong 29,169 HIV-infected individuals, the IR for T1MIs was 2.57 (2.30 to 2.86) per 1000 person-years, and the aIRR was significantly higher compared with participants in ARIC [1.30 (1.09 to 1.56)]. In multivariable analysis restricted to HIV-infected individuals and including traditional CVD risk factors, the rate of T1MI increased with decreasing CD4 count [≥500 cells/μL: ref; 350-499 cells/μL: aIRR = 1.32 (0.98 to 1.77); 200-349 cells/μL: aIRR = 1.37 (1.01 to 1.86); 100-199 cells/μL: aIRR = 1.60 (1.09 to 2.34); l100 cells/μL: aIRR = 2.19 (1.44 to 3.33)]. Risk associated with detectable HIV RNA [l400 copies/mL: ref; ≥400 copies/mL: aIRR = 1.36 (1.06 to 1.75)] was significantly increased only when CD4 was excluded.ConclusionsThe higher incidence of T1MI in HIV-infected individuals and increased risk associated with lower CD4 count and detectable HIV RNA suggest that early suppressive antiretroviral treatment and aggressive management of traditional CVD risk factors are necessary to maximally reduce MI risk.

A subset of HIV-infected individuals termed elite controllers (ECs) maintain CD4+ T cell counts and control viral replication in the absence of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Systemic cytokine responses may differentiate ECs from subjects with uncontrolled viral replication or from those who require ART to suppress viral replication. We measured 87 cytokines in four groups of women: 73 ECs, 42 with pharmacologically suppressed viremia (ART), 42 with uncontrolled viral replication (noncontrollers [NCs]), and 48 HIV-uninfected (NEG) subjects. Four cytokines were elevated in ECs but not NCs or ART subjects: CCL14, CCL21, CCL27, and XCL1. In addition, median stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) levels were 43% higher in ECs than in NCs. The combination of the five cytokines suppressed R5 and X4 virus replication in resting CD4+ T cells, and individually SDF-1β, CCL14, and CCL27 suppressed R5 virus replication, while SDF-1β, CCL21, and CCL14 suppressed X4 virus replication. Functional studies revealed that the combination of the five cytokines upregulated CD69 and CCR5 and downregulated CXCR4 and CCR7 on CD4+ T cells. The CD69 and CXCR4 effects were driven by SDF-1, while CCL21 downregulated CCR7. The combination of the EC-associated cytokines induced expression of the anti-HIV host restriction factors IFITM1 and IFITM2 and suppressed expression of RNase L and SAMHD1. These results identify a set of cytokines that are elevated in ECs and define their effects on cellular activation, HIV coreceptor expression, and innate restriction factor expression. This cytokine pattern may be a signature characteristic of HIV-1 elite control, potentially important for HIV therapeutic and curative strategies.

Biodegradable poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL)/thermally reduced graphene (TRG) nanocomposites were prepared via a solution mixing method at low TRG loadings in this work. Transmission electron microscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy observations reveal that a fine dispersion of TRG has been achieved throughout the PCL matrix. Scanning electron microscopy observation shows not only a nice dispersion of TRG but also a strong interfacial adhesion between TRG and the matrix, as evidenced by the presence of some TRG nanosheets embedded in the matrix. Nonisothermal melt crystallization behavior, isothermal melt crystallization kinetics, spherulitic morphology, and crystal structure of neat PCL and the PCL/TRG nanocomposites were studied in detail with various techniques. The experimental results indicate that both nonisothermal and isothermal melt crystallization of PCL have been enhanced significantly by the presence of TRG in the nanocomposites due to the heterogeneous nucleation effect; ho...

HIV causes inflammation that can be at least partially corrected by HAART. To determine the qualitative and quantitative nature of cytokine perturbation, we compared cytokine patterns in three HIV clinical groups, including HAART responders (HAART), untreated HIV noncontrollers, and HIV-uninfected (NEG).Multiplex assays were used to measure 32 cytokines in a cross-sectional study of participants in the Women's Interagency HIV Study. Participants from three groups were included: HAART (n = 17), noncontrollers (n = 14), and HIV NEG (n = 17).Several cytokines and chemokines showed significant differences between noncontrollers and NEG participants, including elevated interferon gamma-induced 10 (IP-10) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and decreased interleukin-12(p40) [IL-12(p40)], IL-15, and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) in noncontroller participants. Biomarker levels among HAART women more closely resembled the NEG, with the exception of TNF-α and FGF-2. Secondary analyses of the combined HAART and noncontroller groups revealed that IP-10 showed a strong, positive correlation with viral load and negative correlation with CD4(+) T-cell counts. The growth factors vascular endothelial growth factor, epidermal growth factor, and FGF-2 all showed a positive correlation with increased CD4(+) T-cell counts.Untreated, progressive HIV infection was associated with decreased serum levels of cytokines important in T-cell homeostasis (IL-15) and T-cell phenotype determination (IL-12), and increased levels of innate inflammatory mediators such as IP-10 and TNF-α. HAART was associated with cytokine profiles that more closely resembled those of HIV-uninfected women. The distinctive pattern of cytokine levels in the three study groups may provide insights into HIV pathogenesis, and responses to therapy.

The influence of UV illumination on passivity and pitting susceptibility on ×70 pipeline steel in a borate buffer (pH = 8.4) solution containing NaCl is described. It is observed that illumination of the sample leads to a decrease in its pitting susceptibility as indicated by pitting potential and incubation time measurements in chloride containing electrolytes. This effect is strongly dependent on the applied potential during passivation. The electronic properties of the passive films on ×70 steel were studied by Mott-Schottky analysis and photocurrent transient measurements. The results indicated that illumination during passivation led to modifications in the electronic properties of the passive films, mainly to a decrease of the bulk doping and an increase in the surface state density. The cause for the decrease in the pitting susceptibility is preliminary explained in terms of such modifications of the passive film.