Opening a Pandora's Flask on a Prototype Catalytic Direct Arylation Reaction of Pentafluorobenzene: The AgCO/Pd(OAc)/PPh System.

Direct C-H functionalization reactions have opened new avenues in catalysis, removing the need for prefunctionalization of at least one of the substrates. Although C-H functionalization catalyzed by palladium complexes in the presence of a base is generally considered to proceed by the CMD/AMLA-6 mechanism, recent research has shown that silver(I) salts, frequently used as bases, can function as C-H bond activators instead of (or in addition to) palladium(II). In this study, we examine the coupling of pentafluorobenzene to 4-iodotoluene (and its analogues) to form 4-(pentafluorophenyl)toluene catalyzed by palladium(II) acetate with the commonplace PPh ligand, silver carbonate as base, and DMF as solvent.

Aspergillus sensitisation detection using point-of-care lateral flow assay in moderate to severe asthma.

Allergic fungal airway diseases are associated with asthma exacerbations and poor control. However, the early identification of allergic Aspergillus airway diseases can be challenging, especially in resource-poor countries. We aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of the point-of-care Aspergillus IgG-IgM lateral flow assay in diagnosing Aspergillus airway diseases in patients with moderate-severe asthma.

Algal amendment enhances biogenic methane production from coals of different thermal maturity.

The addition of small amounts of algal biomass to stimulate methane production in coal seams is a promising low carbon renewable coalbed methane enhancement technique. However, little is known about how the addition of algal biomass amendment affects methane production from coals of different thermal maturity. Here, we show that biogenic methane can be produced from five coals ranging in rank from lignite to low-volatile bituminous using a coal-derived microbial consortium in batch microcosms with and without algal amendment.

Optimization of hyperthermia process applied to cancer treatment using multi-objective optimization differential evolution.

Due to the number of cancer cases diagnosed each year and the fatality rate resulting from some more severe types, the improvement of less invasive and more efficient treatment techniques is of great importance. In this context, hyperthermia is a medical procedure in which the tumor region is heated by using an applicator for a certain period, aiming to destroy pathological cells. Computational models can be used to simulate the heating effect of tumors and adjacent cells.

In Situ Enhancement and Isotopic Labeling of Biogenic Coalbed Methane.

Subsurface microbial (biogenic) methane production is an important part of the global carbon cycle that has resulted in natural gas accumulations in many coal beds worldwide. Laboratory studies suggest that complex carbon-containing nutrients (e.g.

Mandibular muscle troponin of the Florida carpenter ant Camponotus floridanus: extending our insights into invertebrate Ca regulation.

Ants use their mandibles for a variety of functions and behaviors. We investigated mandibular muscle structure and function from major workers of the Florida carpenter ant Camponotus floridanus: force-pCa relation and velocity of unloaded shortening of single, permeabilized fibres, primary sequences of troponin subunits (TnC, TnI and TnT) from a mandibular muscle cDNA library, and muscle fibre ultrastructure. From the mechanical measurements, we found Ca-sensitivity of isometric force was markedly shifted rightward compared with vertebrate striated muscle.

Mathematical modelling of the second wave of COVID-19 infections using deterministic and stochastic SIDR models.

Recently, various countries from across the globe have been facing the second wave of COVID-19 infections. In order to understand the dynamics of the spread of the disease, much effort has been made in terms of mathematical modeling. In this scenario, compartmental models are widely used to simulate epidemics under various conditions.

Prospective observational study of SARS-CoV-2 infection, transmission and immunity in a cohort of households in Liverpool City Region, UK (COVID-LIV): a study protocol.

Introduction: The emergence and rapid spread of COVID-19 have caused widespread and catastrophic public health and economic impact, requiring governments to restrict societal activity to reduce the spread of the disease. The role of household transmission in the population spread of SARS-CoV-2, and of host immunity in limiting transmission, is poorly understood. This paper describes a protocol for a prospective observational study of a cohort of households in Liverpool City Region, UK, which addresses the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 between household members and how immunological response to the infection changes over time.

Social isolation alters behavior, the gut-immune-brain axis, and neurochemical circuits in male and female prairie voles.

The absence of social support, or social isolation, can be stressful, leading to a suite of physical and psychological health issues. Growing evidence suggests that disruption of the gut-immune-brain axis plays a crucial role in the negative outcomes seen from social isolation stress. However, the mechanisms remain largely unknown.

Identification of an Epidemiological Model to Simulate the COVID-19 Epidemic Using Robust Multiobjective Optimization and Stochastic Fractal Search.

Traditionally, the identification of parameters in the formulation and solution of inverse problems considers that models, variables, and mathematical parameters are free of uncertainties. This aspect simplifies the estimation process, but does not consider the influence of relatively small changes in the design variables in terms of the objective function. In this work, the SIDR (Susceptible, Infected, Dead, and Recovered) model is used to simulate the dynamic behavior of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and its parameters are estimated by formulating a robust inverse problem, that is, considering the sensitivity of design variables.

Determination of an optimal control strategy for vaccine administration in COVID-19 pandemic treatment.

Background And Objective: For decades, mathematical models have been used to predict the behavior of physical and biological systems, as well as to define strategies aiming at the minimization of the effects regarding different types of diseases. In the present days, the development of mathematical models to simulate the dynamic behavior of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is considered an important theme due to the quantity of infected people worldwide. In this work, the objective is to determine an optimal control strategy for vaccine administration in COVID-19 pandemic treatment considering real data from China.

Metagenome-Assembled Genome Sequences of Five Strains from the (Prairie Vole) Fecal Microbiome.

The prairie vole () is an important model for the study of social monogamy and dual parental care of offspring. Characterization of specific host species-microbe strain interactions is critical for understanding the effects of the microbiota on mood and behavior. The five metagenome-assembled genome sequences reported here represent an important step in defining the prairie vole microbiome.

Detection of carbapenemases, AmpC and ESBL genes in Acinetobacter isolates from ICUs by DNA microarray.

The accumulation of multiple inherent and acquired resistance mechanisms in Acinetobacter spp. results in emergence of "pandrug resistant" strains which is one of the major concerns in healthcare sectors worldwide. Surveillance of the carbapenemase/ extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) genes in A.

Direct Whole-Genome Sequencing of Sputum Accurately Identifies Drug-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Faster than MGIT Culture Sequencing.

The current methods available to diagnose antimicrobial-resistant infections require a positive culture or only test a limited number of resistance-associated mutations. A rapid accurate identification of antimicrobial resistance enables the prompt initiation of effective treatment. Here, we determine the utility of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of directly from routinely obtained diagnostic sputum samples to provide a comprehensive resistance profile compared to that from mycobacterial growth indicator tube (MGIT) WGS.

Superchiral Plasmonic Phase Sensitivity for Fingerprinting of Protein Interface Structure.

The structure adopted by biomaterials, such as proteins, at interfaces is a crucial parameter in a range of important biological problems. It is a critical property in defining the functionality of cell/bacterial membranes and biofilms (i.e.

A Randomized Control Trial of Cardiopulmonary Feedback Devices and Their Impact on Infant Chest Compression Quality: A Simulation Study.

Objectives: In effort to improve chest compression quality among health care providers, numerous feedback devices have been developed. Few studies, however, have focused on the use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation feedback devices for infants and children. This study evaluated the quality of chest compressions with standard team-leader coaching, a metronome (MetroTimer by ONYX Apps), and visual feedback (SkillGuide Cardiopulmonary Feedback Device) during simulated infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

The Unyvero P55 'sample-in, answer-out' pneumonia assay: A performance evaluation.

Background: O'Neill's recent Review on Antimicrobial Resistance expressed the view that by 2020 high-income countries should make it mandatory to support antimicrobial prescribing with rapid diagnostic evidence whenever possible.

Methods: Routine microbiology diagnosis of 95 respiratory specimens from patients with severe infection were compared with those generated by the Unyvero P55 test, which detects 20 pathogens and 19 antimicrobial resistance markers. Supplementary molecular testing for antimicrobial resistance genes, comprehensive culture methodology and 16S rRNA sequencing were performed.

Structure, proteome and genome of Sinorhizobium meliloti phage ΦM5: A virus with LUZ24-like morphology and a highly mosaic genome.

Bacteriophages of nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteria are revealing a wealth of novel structures, diverse enzyme combinations and genomic features. Here we report the cryo-EM structure of the phage capsid at 4.9-5.

Affimer proteins are versatile and renewable affinity reagents.

Molecular recognition reagents are key tools for understanding biological processes and are used universally by scientists to study protein expression, localisation and interactions. Antibodies remain the most widely used of such reagents and many show excellent performance, although some are poorly characterised or have stability or batch variability issues, supporting the use of alternative binding proteins as complementary reagents for many applications. Here we report on the use of Affimer proteins as research reagents.

'Sample-in, answer-out'? Evaluation and comprehensive analysis of the Unyvero P50 pneumonia assay.

This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the Unyvero P50 pneumonia assay, the first 'sample-in, answer-out' system for rapid identification of pathogens and antibiotic resistance markers directly from clinical specimens. Overall, Unyvero P50 displayed very good sensitivity (>95%); however, specificity was low (33%) mainly because 40% of the specimens were reported as normal flora. Specifically, one or more pathogens were identified in 28 of them.

Mapping the Aggregation Kinetics of a Therapeutic Antibody Fragment.

The analytical characterization of biopharmaceuticals is a fundamental step in the early stages of development and prediction of their behavior in bioprocesses. Protein aggregation in particular is a common issue as it affects all stages of product development. In the present work, we investigate the stability and the aggregation kinetics of A33Fab, a therapeutically relevant humanized antibody fragment at a wide range of pH, ionic strength, and temperature.

Comparison of Established Diagnostic Methodologies and a Novel Bacterial smpB Real-Time PCR Assay for Specific Detection of Haemophilus influenzae Isolates Associated with Respiratory Tract Infections.

Haemophilus influenzae is a significant causative agent of respiratory tract infections (RTI) worldwide. The development of a rapid H. influenzae diagnostic assay that would allow for the implementation of infection control measures and also improve antimicrobial stewardship for patients is required.

Complete ventricular asystole in a patient with altered mental status.

Patients who present with recurrent syncope are at risk for having underlying conduction disease, which may worsen if not promptly recognized and treated. We describe a patient who initially presented to a Mexican clinic with recurrent syncope and an electrocardiogram that showed complete heart block. After being transferred to our emergency department, he deteriorated into complete ventricular asystole with preserved atrial function and required placement of a transvenous cardiac pacemaker.

Effects of focus of attention and type of practice on learning and self-efficacy in dart throwing.

The present investigation studied the effect of focus of attention and type of practice on self-efficacy and learning during a demonstration of the dart-throwing skill. 48 university students (M = 22.5 yr.