The first introduced malaria case reported from Sri Lanka after elimination: implications for preventing the re-introduction of malaria in recently eliminated countries.

Background: There has been no local transmission of malaria in Sri Lanka for 6 years following elimination of the disease in 2012. Malaria vectors are prevalent in parts of the country, and imported malaria cases continue to be reported. The country is therefore at risk of malaria being re-established.

Modulation of caseinate-stabilized model oil-in-water emulsions with soy lecithin.

Demands for plant-based food and beverage products have escalated in recent years. However, many commercial coffee creamers are still being made using dairy derivatives such as sodium caseinate. Therefore, there is a need to investigate the replacement of dairy based proteins with plant-based alternatives.

Native top-down mass spectrometry provides insights into the copper centers of membrane-bound methane monooxygenase.

Aerobic methane oxidation is catalyzed by particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO), a copper-dependent, membrane metalloenzyme composed of subunits PmoA, PmoB, and PmoC. Characterization of the copper active site has been limited by challenges in spectroscopic analysis stemming from the presence of multiple copper binding sites, effects of detergent solubilization on activity and crystal structures, and the lack of a heterologous expression system. Here we utilize nanodiscs coupled with native top-down mass spectrometry (nTDMS) to determine the copper stoichiometry in each pMMO subunit and to detect post-translational modifications (PTMs).

Precision Interface Engineering of an Atomic Layer in Bulk BiTe Alloys for High Thermoelectric Performance.

Grafting nanotechnology on thermoelectric materials leads to significant advances in their performance. Creation of structural defects including nano-inclusion and interfaces via nanostructuring achieves higher thermoelectric efficiencies. However, it is still challenging to optimize the nanostructure via conventional fabrication techniques.

Shape-Adaptable 2D Titanium Carbide (MXene) Heater.

Prior to the advent of the next-generation heater for wearable/on-body electronic devices, various properties are required, including conductivity, transparency, mechanical reliability, and conformability. Expansion to two-dimensional (2D) structure of metallic nanowires based on network- and mesh-type geometries has been widely exploited for realizing these heaters. However, the routes led to many drawbacks such as the low-density cross-bar linking, self-aggregation of wire, and high junction resistance.

Multi-criteria decision support system of the photovoltaic and solar thermal energy systems using the multi-objective optimization algorithm.

When the photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal energy (STE) systems, which share the rooftop area, are installed in the same building, a trade-off problem occurs in terms of the energy, economic, and environmental aspects, and thus, steps need to solve this problem. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a multi-criteria decision support system of the PV and STE systems using the multi-objective optimization algorithm. This system was developed in the following six steps: (i) database establishment; (ii) designing the variables of the PV and STE systems; (iii) development of the analysis engine of the PV and STE systems; (iv) environmental and economic assessment from the life cycle perspective; (v) integrated multi-objective optimization (iMOO) with a genetic algorithm; and (vi) establishment of a multi-criteria decision support system.

The Effects of Intraoperative Inspired Oxygen Fraction on Postoperative Pulmonary Parameters in Patients with General Anesthesia: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis.

High intraoperative inspired oxygen concentration is applied to prevent desaturation during induction and recovery of anesthesia. However, high oxygen concentration may lead to postoperative pulmonary complications. The purpose of this study is to compare the postoperative pulmonary parameters according to intraoperative inspired oxygen fraction in patients undergoing general anesthesia.

Characteristics of an Implantable Blood Pressure Sensor Packaged by Ultrafast Laser Microwelding.

We propose a new packaging process for an implantable blood pressure sensor using ultrafast laser micro-welding. The sensor is a membrane type, passive device that uses the change in the capacitance caused by the membrane deformation due to applied pressure. Components of the sensor such as inductors and capacitors were fabricated on two glass (quartz) wafers and the two wafers were bonded into a single package.

Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema as a clinicoradiologic entity: Characterization of presenting lung fibrosis and implications for survival.

Background: The prevalence of classifiable and unclassifiable causes of lung fibrosis and its implications for survival are mostly unknown in combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE).

Materials And Methods: Patients with >10% involvement of both emphysema and lung fibrosis seen over 11 years at our institution were reviewed independently by expert radiologists for fibrotic and emphysematous findings and overall fibrotic CT pattern. Underlying interstitial lung disease (ILD) diagnoses and baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were collated and assessed for predictors of comparative survival.

Can MRI contribute to pulmonary nodule analysis?

Background: There is no accurate method distinguishing different types of pulmonary nodules.

Purpose: To investigate whether multiparametric 3T MRI biomarkers can distinguish malignant from benign pulmonary nodules, differentiate different types of neoplasms, and compare MRI-derived measurements with values from commonly used noninvasive imaging modalities.

Study Type: Prospective.

Tspan18 is a novel regulator of the Ca channel Orai1 and von Willebrand factor release in endothelial cells.

Ca entry Orai1 store-operated Ca channels in the plasma membrane is critical to cell function, and Orai1 loss causes severe immunodeficiency and developmental defects. The tetraspanins are a superfamily of transmembrane proteins that interact with specific 'partner proteins' and regulate their trafficking and clustering. The aim of this study was to functionally characterize tetraspanin Tspan18.

Bonding Strength of a Glass Microfluidic Device Fabricated by Femtosecond Laser Micromachining and Direct Welding.

We present a rapid and highly reliable glass (fused silica) microfluidic device fabrication process using various laser processes, including maskless microchannel formation and packaging. Femtosecond laser assisted selective etching was adopted to pattern microfluidic channels on a glass substrate and direct welding was applied for local melting of the glass interface in the vicinity of the microchannels. To pattern channels, a pulse energy of 10 μJ was used with a scanning speed of 100 mm/s at a pulse repetition rate of 500 kHz.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the edible and phytopathogenic fungus .

is one of the most important edible, medicinal, and phytopathogenic basidiomycetes. The complete mitochondrial genome of this species was determined using next-generation sequencing technology. This mitogenome is a circular molecule of 93,439 bp with a GC content of 29.

High-Resolution Chest Computed Tomography Imaging of the Lungs: Impact of 1024 Matrix Reconstruction and Photon-Counting Detector Computed Tomography.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate if a high-resolution photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) system with a 1024×1024 matrix reconstruction can improve the visualization of fine structures in the lungs compared with conventional high-resolution CT (HRCT).

Materials And Methods: Twenty-two adult patients referred for clinical chest HRCT (mean CTDI vol, 13.58 mGy) underwent additional dose-matched PCD-CT (mean volume CT dose index, 13.

Breathe New Life Into Your Chest CT Exams: Using Advanced Acquisition and Postprocessing Techniques.

Objective: Chest computed tomography (CT) imaging enables detailed visualization of the pulmonary structures and diseases. This article reviews how continued innovation and improvements in modern CT system hardware and software now facilitate a wider range of image acquisition options and generate unique qualitative and quantitative information that can benefit patients RESULTS: Dual energy imaging utilizes two x-ray energies to highlight differences in tissue properties and increase iodine signal to improve diagnosis or reduce metal artifacts. Ultra-low dose imaging can be performed by using additional x-ray beam filtration, such as a tin filter, combined with iterative reconstruction algorithms to benefit lung cancer screening or pediatric imaging.

Mechanical Fatigue Resistance of Piezoelectric PVDF Polymers.

The fatigue resistance of piezoelectric PVDF has been under question in recent years. While some report that a significant degradation occurs after 10⁶ cycles of repeated voltage input, others report that the reported degradation originates from the degraded metal electrodes instead of the piezoelectric PVDF itself. Here, we report the piezoelectric response and remnant polarization of PVDF during 10⁷ cycles of repeated compression and tension, with silver paste-based electrodes to eliminate any electrode effect.

Deep vs. Awake Extubation and LMA Removal in Terms of Airway Complications in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Anesthesia: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of airway complications between extubation under deep anesthesia (deep extubation) and extubation when fully awake (awake extubation) in pediatric patients after general anesthesia. A systematic review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses (PRISMA) statement standards. The review protocol was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (registration number: CRD 42018090172).

Highly Selective Transmission Success of Dengue Virus Type 1 Lineages in a Dynamic Virus Population: An Evolutionary and Fitness Perspective.

Arbovirus transmission is modulated by host, vector, virus, and environmental factors. Even though viral fitness plays a salient role in host and vector adaptation, the transmission success of individual strains in a heterogeneous population may be stochastic. Our large-scale molecular epidemiological analyses of a dengue virus type 1 population revealed that only a subset of strains (16.

Modulation of physical properties of microfluidized whey protein fibrils with chitosan.

There is an increasing market for food and beverage products enriched in proteins and dietary fibers due to their potential health benefits. In this study, the effect of heating (85 °C, 20 min), microfluidization (20,000 psi), and pH (2 to 6.5) on the physicochemical properties of aqueous solutions containing mixtures of whey protein fibrils (7.

Construction sites as an important driver of dengue transmission: implications for disease control.

Background: In 2013 and 2014, Singapore experienced its worst dengue outbreak known-to-date. Mosquito breeding in construction sites stood out as a probable risk factor due to its association with major dengue clusters in both years. We, therefore, investigated the contribution of construction sites to dengue transmission in Singapore, highlighting three case studies of large construction site-associated dengue clusters recorded during 2013-16.