Tunable Surface Nanoporosity by Electropolymerization of N‐Alkyl‐3,4‐ethylenedioxypyrroles With Different Alkyl Chain Lengths

The tuning of the surface morphology is crucial in the development of superhydrophobic surfaces with various wetting properties. Here, we report the synthesis and electrodeposition of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxypyrrole) (PEDOP) derivatives containing hydrocarbon chains (ethyl to tetradecyl). Surprisingly, the alkyl chain length has a very important influence on the surface morphology and as a consequence on the water‐repellency properties. The amount of the nanoporosity and the water‐repellency properties can be controlled with alkyl chain length. Moreover, it seems the presence of surface nanoporosity is in correlation with the steric hindrances induced by the alkyl chains during the electrodeposition. This paper uses bioinspired approaches (fluorocarbon free) to reach superhydrophobic surfaces.     

Impact of Environmental Modifications to Enhance Day-Night Orientation on Behavior of Nursing Home Residents With Dementia

Objectives

To determine whether environmental rearrangements of the long-term care nursing home can affect disruptive behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in residents with dementia.

Frequent expression of PD‐L1 on circulating breast cancer cells

Immune checkpoint regulators such as PD‐L1 have become exciting new therapeutic targets leading to long lasting remissions in patients with advanced malignancies. However, in view of the remarkable costs and the toxicity profiles of these therapies, predictive biomarkers able to discriminate responders from non‐responders are urgently needed. In the present paper, we provide evidence that PD‐L1 is frequently expressed on metastatic cells circulating in the blood of hormone receptor‐positive, HER2‐negative breast cancer patients. We performed western blot, flow cytometry and immunocytochemical analyses to demonstrate the specificity of the PDL1 antibody used in our study and established immunoscores for PDL1 expression on single tumor cells. We then selected sixteen patients with circulating tumor cells (CTCs) using the CellSearch® system and found PD‐L1(+) CTCs in 11 patients (68.8%). The fraction of PD‐L1(+) CTCs varied from 0.2 to 100% in individual patients. This is the first report demonstrating the expression of PD‐L1 on CTCs. The established CTC/PD‐L1 assay can be used for liquid biopsy in future clinical trials for stratification and monitoring of cancer patients undergoing immune checkpoint blockade.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Holmium-Doped Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

Rare earth atoms exhibit several interesting properties, for example, large magnetic moments and luminescence. Introducing these atoms into a different matrix can lead to a material that shows multiple interesting effects. Holmium atoms were incorporated into an iron oxide nanoparticle and the concentration of the dopant atom was changed in order to determine its influence on the host crystal. Its magnetic and magneto-optical properties were investigated by vibrating sample magnetometry and Faraday rotation measurements. The luminescent characteristics of the material, in solution and incorporated in a polymer thin film, were probed by fluorescence experiments.