Optimization of Soft X-Ray Fresnel Zone Plate Fabrication Through Joint Electron Beam Lithography and Cryo-Etching Techniques.

The ability to manufacture complex 3D structures with nanometer-scale resolution, such as Fresnel Zone Plates (FZPs), is crucial to achieve state-of-the-art control in X-ray sources for use in a diverse range of cutting-edge applications. This study demonstrates a novel approach combining Electron Beam Lithography (EBL) and cryoetching to produce silicon-based FZP prototypes as a test bench to assess the strong points and limitations of this fabrication method. Through this method, we obtained FZPs with 100 zones, a diameter of 20 µm, and an outermost zone width of 50 nm, resulting in a high aspect ratio that is suitable for use across a range of photon energies.

Cognitive control in infancy: Attentional predictors using a tablet-based measure.

Cognitive control is a predictor of later-life outcomes and may underpin higher order executive processes. The present study examines the development of early cognitive control during the first 24-month. We evaluated a tablet-based assessment of cognitive control among infants aged 18- and 24-month.

Intrinsic giant magnetoresistance due to exchange-bias-type effects at the surface of single-crystalline NiS nanoflakes.

The coexistence of different properties in the same material often results in exciting physical effects. At low temperatures, the pyrite transition-metal disulphide NiS hosts both antiferromagnetic and weak ferromagnetic orders, along with surface metallicity dominating its electronic transport. The interplay between such a complex magnetic structure and surface-dominated conduction in NiS, however, is still not understood.

Strategies to achieve adherence to prone positioning in awake COVID-19 patients with high-flow nasal oxygen. A case series.

Introduction: The use of high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) is a simple method that can reduce intubation in patients with hypoxemic acute respiratory failure (ARF). Early and prolonged prone position has demonstrated benefits on mortality in mechanically ventilated patients and on intubation in awake patients with ARF. However, strategies to achieve adherence to awake prone positioning (APP) have not been previously described.

Recreation and Alcohol Consumption in Sub-Saharan Africa: Addressing Gender and Age Differences in Urban Areas-Praia, Cabo Verde.

Background: Reducing alcohol consumption and improving urban planning in African cities are public health priorities. The aim of this study was to explore gender and age differences in recreational activity participation and its link with self-reported alcohol consumption in three urban areas of Praia.

Methods: A questionnaire was applied to a probabilistic sample of 1912 adults, with a median age of 35.

A lipoglycopeptide antibiotic for Gram-positive biofilm-related infections.

Drug-resistant Gram-positive bacterial infections are still a substantial burden on the public health system, with two bacteria ( and ) accounting for over 1.5 million drug-resistant infections in the United States alone in 2017. In 2019, 250,000 deaths were attributed to these pathogens globally.

Seroprevalence of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in sows fifteen years after implementation of a control programme for enzootic pneumonia in Switzerland.

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is the etiological agent of enzootic pneumonia (EP), an economically important chronic respiratory disease in pigs. M. hyopneumoniae impacts the mucociliary clearance system by disrupting the cilia and modulates the immune response, resulting in intermittent dry non-productive cough.

The antimicrobial potential of cannabidiol.

Antimicrobial resistance threatens the viability of modern medicine, which is largely dependent on the successful prevention and treatment of bacterial infections. Unfortunately, there are few new therapeutics in the clinical pipeline, particularly for Gram-negative bacteria. We now present a detailed evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of cannabidiol, the main non-psychoactive component of cannabis.

An optimised Cu(0)-RDRP approach for the synthesis of lipidated oligomeric vinyl azlactone: toward a versatile antimicrobial materials screening platform.

This report details the synthesis of lipidated 2-vinyl-4,4-dimethyl-5-oxazolone (VDM) oligomers via an optimised Cu(0)-mediated reversible-deactivation radical polymerisation approach, and the use of these oligomers as a versatile functional platform for the rapid generation of antimicrobial materials. The relative amounts of CuBr and MeTREN were optimised to allow the fast and controlled polymerisation of VDM. These conditions were then used with the initiators ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate, dodecyl 2-bromoisobutyrate, and (R)-3-((2-bromo-2-methylpropanoyl)oxy)propane-1,2-diyl didodecanoate to synthesise a library of oligo(VDM) (degree of polymerisation = 10) with ethyl, dodecyl or diglyceride end-groups.

Quantum nanoconstrictions fabricated by cryo-etching in encapsulated graphene.

We report on a novel implementation of the cryo-etching method, which enabled us to fabricate low-roughness hBN-encapsulated graphene nanoconstrictions with unprecedented control of the structure edges; the typical edge roughness is on the order of a few nanometers. We characterized the system by atomic force microscopy and used the measured parameters of the edge geometry in numerical simulations of the system conductance, which agree quantitatively with our low temperature transport measurements. The quality of our devices is confirmed by the observation of well defined quantized 2e/h conductance steps at zero magnetic field.

Exploiting Macromolecular Design To Optimize the Antibacterial Activity of Alkylated Cationic Oligomers.

There is growing interest in synthetic polymers which co-opt the structural features of naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides. However, our understanding of how macromolecular architecture affects antibacterial activity remains limited. To address this, we investigated whether varying architectures of a series of block and statistical co-oligomers influenced antibacterial and hemolytic activity.

Low potassium and high sodium intakes: a double health threat to Cape Verdeans.

Background: Cape Verde presents a high rate of cardiovascular diseases. Low potassium and high sodium intakes are related to cardiovascular diseases. However, studies regarding these two micronutrients continue to be rare in African urban settings.

Protein-inspired antibiotics active against vancomycin- and daptomycin-resistant bacteria.

The public health threat posed by a looming 'post-antibiotic' era necessitates new approaches to antibiotic discovery. Drug development has typically avoided exploitation of membrane-binding properties, in contrast to nature's control of biological pathways via modulation of membrane-associated proteins and membrane lipid composition. Here, we describe the rejuvenation of the glycopeptide antibiotic vancomycin via selective targeting of bacterial membranes.

Structural properties of thin-film ferromagnetic topological insulators.

We present a comprehensive study of the crystal structure of the thin-film, ferromagnetic topological insulator (Bi, Sb) V Te. The dissipationless quantum anomalous Hall edge states it manifests are of particular interest for spintronics, as a natural spin filter or pure spin source, and as qubits for topological quantum computing. For ranges typically used in experiments, we investigate the effect of doping, substrate choice and film thickness on the (Bi, Sb)Te unit cell using high-resolution X-ray diffractometry.

Does a 1-Year Age Gap Modify the Influence of Age, Maturation, and Anthropometric Parameters as Determinants of Performance Among Youth Elite Soccer Players?

Bidaurrazaga-Letona, I, Lekue, JA, Amado, M, and Gil, SM. Does a 1-year age gap modify the influence of age, maturation, and anthropometric parameters as determinants of performance among youth elite soccer players? J Strength Cond Res 33(9): 2541-2547, 2019-Because age-groups in soccer often comprise children born within a 2-year time frame, characteristics that define the profile of a successful player may not be appropriate for the oldest or youngest players of the same age-group. Therefore, this study aimed to determine to what extent performance was influenced by age, maturation, and body size in elite soccer players with barely 1-year age gap.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus outcomes after laparoscopic gastric bypass in patients with BMI <35 kg/m using strict remission criteria: early outcomes of a prospective study among Mexicans.

Background: Mild obesity (BMI 30-34.9 kg/m) is highly prevalent worldwide and is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The efficacy of bariatric surgery remains unclear, including among Mexicans.

Δ-Myrtoxin-Mp1a is a Helical Heterodimer from the Venom of the Jack Jumper Ant that has Antimicrobial, Membrane-Disrupting, and Nociceptive Activities.

Δ-Myrtoxin-Mp1a (Mp1a), a 49-residue heterodimeric peptide from the venom of Myrmecia pilosula, comprises a 26-mer A chain and a 23-mer B chain connected by two disulfide bonds in an antiparallel arrangement. Combination of the individual synthetic chains through aerial oxidation remarkably resulted in the self-assembly of Mp1a as a homogenous product without the need for directed disulfide-bond formation. NMR analysis revealed a well-defined, unique structure containing an antiparallel α-helix pair.

Magnetically-driven colossal supercurrent enhancement in InAs nanowire Josephson junctions.

The Josephson effect is a fundamental quantum phenomenon where a dissipationless supercurrent is introduced in a weak link between two superconducting electrodes by Andreev reflections. The physical details and topology of the junction drastically modify the properties of the supercurrent and a strong enhancement of the critical supercurrent is expected to occur when the topology of the junction allows an emergence of Majorana bound states. Here we report charge transport measurements in mesoscopic Josephson junctions formed by InAs nanowires and Ti/Al superconducting leads.

Progression in Youth Soccer: Selection and Identification in Youth Soccer Players Aged 13-15 Years.

Bidaurrazaga-Letona, I, Lekue, JA, Amado, M, and Gil, SM. Progression in youth soccer: Selection and identification in youth soccer players aged 13-15 years. J Strength Cond Res 33(9): 2548-2558, 2019-The aim of this study was to identify the factors that are important for the identification and selection of young soccer players.