Continuous Polarizability-Based Separation of Lithium Iron Phosphate and Graphite Using a Dielectrophoretic Particle Separator.

The recovery of valuable materials from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has experienced increasing demand in recent years. Current recycling technologies are typically energy-intensive and are often plagued by high operation costs, low processing efficiency, and environmental pollution concerns. In this study, an efficient and environmentally friendly dielectrophoresis (DEP)-based approach is proposed to separate the main components of "black mass" mixtures from LIBs, specifically lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and graphite, based on their polarizability differences.

Decoding Salience: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Investigation of Reward and Contextual Unexpectedness in Memory Encoding and Retrieval.

The present study investigated the neuromodulatory substrates of salience processing and its impact on memory encoding and behaviour, with a specific focus on two distinct types of salience: reward and contextual unexpectedness. 46 Participants performed a novel task paradigm modulating these two aspects independently and allowing for investigating their distinct and interactive effects on memory encoding while undergoing high-resolution fMRI. By using advanced image processing techniques tailored to examine midbrain and brainstem nuclei with high precision, our study additionally aimed to elucidate differential activation patterns in subcortical nuclei in response to reward-associated and contextually unexpected stimuli, including distinct pathways involving in particular dopaminergic modulation.

Electronic confinement induced quantum dot behavior in magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene.

Magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene (TBLG) has emerged as a versatile platform to explore correlated electron phases driven primarily by low-energy flat bands in moiré superlattices. While techniques for controlling the twist angle between graphene layers have spurred rapid experimental progress, understanding the effects of doping inhomogeneity on electronic transport in correlated electron systems remains challenging. In this work, we investigate the interplay of confinement and doping inhomogeneity on the electrical transport properties of TBLG by leveraging device dimensions and twist angles.

Sex-associated differences in incentive salience and drinking behaviour in a rodent model of alcohol relapse.

The ability of environmental cues to trigger alcohol-seeking behaviours is thought to facilitate problematic alcohol use. Individuals' tendency to attribute incentive salience to cues may increase the risk of addiction. We sought to study the relationship between incentive salience and alcohol addiction using non-preferring rats to model the heterogeneity of human alcohol consumption, investigating both males and females.

Fracture Resistance and Wear Behavior of Ultra-Thin Occlusal Veneers Made From Translucent Zirconia Ceramics Bonded to Different Tooth Substrates.

Objective: Investigation of the mechanical properties of occlusal veneers made from zirconia with varying translucency, bonded to different tooth substrates.

Materials And Methods: Sixty-four extracted molars were divided into two groups: preparation within enamel (E) or extending into dentin (D). Veneers were milled from four zirconia ceramics (n = 8): 5Y-TZP (HT), a multilayer of 5 and 3Y-TZP (GT), 3Y-TZP (LT), and 4Y-TZP (MT).

Gestational Duration and Postnatal Age-Related Changes in Aperiodic and Periodic Parameters in Neonatal and Toddler Electroencephalogram (EEG).

The brain develops most rapidly during pregnancy and early neonatal months. While prior electrophysiological studies have shown that aperiodic brain activity undergoes changes across infancy to adulthood, the role of gestational duration in aperiodic and periodic activity remains unknown. In this study, we aimed to bridge this gap by examining the associations between gestational duration and aperiodic and periodic activity in the EEG power spectrum in both neonates and toddlers.

Cross-Coupling of Carbonyl Derivatives and -Arylamines Enabled by Visible Light for Easy Access to 1,2-Amino Alcohols.

We disclosed a new strategy for the synthesis of 1,2-amino alcohols enabled by visible light without the requirement of a photocatalyst and metal. Under light irradiation at 400 nm, the reaction of carbonyl derivatives and -arylamines proceeds via an electron-donor-acceptor (EDA) intermediate, obtaining diverse vicinal amino alcohols decorated with a two-electron-rich/-deficient aryl group.

High heterogeneity in the size distribution of the micellar fraction from in vitro digestions: sample preparation and reporting recommendations.

Background: Understanding the size and surface charge (ζ-potential) of particles in the mixed micellar fraction produced by in vitro digestion is crucial to understand their cellular absorption and transport. The inconsistent presentation of micellar size data, often limited to average particle diameter, makes comparison of studies difficult. The present study aimed to assess different size data representations (mean particle diameter, relative intensity- or volume-weighted size distribution) to better understand physiological mixed micelle characteristics and to provide recommendations for size reporting and sample handling.

Loading of CAR-T cells with magnetic nanoparticles for controlled targeting suppresses inflammatory cytokine release and switches tumor cell death mechanism.

Therapies against hematological malignancies using chimeric antigen receptors (CAR)-T cells have shown great potential; however, therapeutic success in solid tumors has been constrained due to limited tumor trafficking and infiltration, as well as the scarcity of cancer-specific solid tumor antigens. Therefore, the enrichment of tumor-antigen specific CAR-T cells in the desired region is critical for improving therapy efficacy and reducing systemic on-target/off-tumor side effects. Here, we functionalized human CAR-T cells with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), making them magnetically controllable for site-directed targeting.

Can there be calm during a cytokine storm? Immune checkpoint pathways affecting the severity of COVID-19 disease.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has become a global health crisis, eliciting varying severity in infected individuals. This study aimed to explore the immune profiles between moderate and severe COVID-19 patients experiencing a cytokine storm and their association with mortality. This study highlights the role of PD-1/PD-L1 and the TIGIT/CD226/CD155/CD112 pathways in COVID-19 patients.

Neuroprotective role of sialic-acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin-11 in humanized transgenic mice.

Brain aging is a chronic process linked to inflammation, microglial activation, and oxidative damage, which can ultimately lead to neuronal loss. Sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin-11 (SIGLEC-11) is a human lineage-specific microglial cell surface receptor that recognizes -2-8-linked oligo-/polysialylated glycomolecules with inhibitory effects on the microglial inflammatory pathways. Recently, the gene locus was prioritized as a top tier microglial gene with potential causality to Alzheimer's disease, although its role in inflammation and neurodegeneration remains poorly understood.

Meta-analyses of the effects of high-intensity interval training in elite athletes - part II: relationships between the mean effects on various performance measures.

Introduction: Our recent meta-analyses have demonstrated that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) causes a range of mean changes in various measures and predictors of endurance and sprint performance in athletes. Here, we extend the analyses to relationships between mean changes of these measures and consider implications for understanding and improving HIIT that were not apparent in the previous analyses.

Methods: The data were mean changes from HIIT with highly trained endurance and elite other (mainly team sport) athletes in studies where two or more measures or predictors of performance were available.

Biosecurity measures reducing spp. and hepatitis E virus prevalence in pig farms-a systematic review and meta-analysis.

spp. and hepatitis E virus (HEV) are significant foodborne zoonotic pathogens that impact the health of livestock, farmers, and the general public. This study aimed to identify biosecurity measures (BSMs) against these pathogens on swine farms in Europe, the United States, and Canada.

The impact of typological similarities and differences between German and Italian on the acquisition of language-specific phonetic cues in bilingual children: insights from the T-complex.

Introduction: Lateral temporal neural measures (Na and T-complex Ta and Tb) of the auditory evoked potential (AEP) index auditory/speech processing and have been observed in children and adults. While Na is already present in children under 4 years of age, Ta emerges from 4 years of age, and Tb appears even later. The T-complex has been found to be sensitive to language experience in Spanish-English and Turkish-German children and adults.

Postoperative dizziness after cochlear implant surgery: can it be caused by air?

Objectives: Multiple studies have described the onset and variable incidence of postoperative acute vertigo following cochlear implant (CI) surgery. However, postoperative imaging has not yet been specifically evaluated with special focus on vertigo. The aim of this study is to assess the incidence and causes of new-onset, acute postoperative vertigo following CI surgery using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Preparticipation screening in young female elite ice hockey players.

Objectives: The occurrence of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in competitive athletes has led to a discussion about appropriate preparticipation screening models. The role of an electrocardiogram (ECG) in routine testing remains controversial in current guidelines. Furthermore, data on cardiac findings and the prognostic utility of screening strategies in young female elite ice hockey is scarce.

Psychological factors associated with Long COVID: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Despite the immense impact of Long COVID on public health and those affected, its aetiology remains poorly understood. Findings suggest that psychological factors such as depression contribute to symptom persistence alongside pathophysiological mechanisms, but knowledge of their relative importance is limited. This study aimed to synthesise the current evidence on psychological factors potentially associated with Long COVID and condition-relevant outcomes like quality of life.

COVID-19 among migrants, refugees, and internally displaced persons: systematic review, meta-analysis and qualitative synthesis of the global empirical literature.

Background: Evidence amounted early that migrants, who are often side-lined in pandemic response or preparedness plans, are disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences. However, synthesised evidence that quantifies the magnitude of inequalities in infection risk, disease outcomes, consequences of pandemic measures or that explains the underlying mechanisms is lacking.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review searching 25 databases and grey literature (12/2019 to 09/2023) and considered empirical articles covering migrants, refugees, asylum-seekers, and internally displaced persons reporting COVID-19 cases, hospitalisation, ICU admission, mortality, COVID-19 vaccination rates or health consequences of pandemic measures.

A typology of organizational readiness for change based on a latent profile analysis.

Companies have to undergo many change processes to succeed in the transforming economy. However, many change processes fail because employees are insufficiently accompanied through the process in a targeted manner. This study of N = 427 employees from a steel industry company undergoing a transformation process examines whether the organizational readiness for change (ORC) of highly affected employees can be classified into profiles, how these profiles can be predicted by various antecedents, and whether outcome variables such as job satisfaction can be explained by profile membership.

Case report: Detecting giant cell arteritis in [Ga]Ga-DOTA-Siglec-9-PET/CT.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic utility of [Ga]Ga-DOTA-Siglec-9 positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) in assessing disease activity in a patient experiencing a relapse of giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Case Presentation: A 90-year-old male patient with GCA, diagnosed in 2018, was enrolled. Demographic data, disease history, and laboratory parameters, including soluble VAP-1 (sVAP-1) levels, were recorded.

Effects of chemoradiotherapy on surface PD-L1 expression in esophageal cancer and its implications for immunotherapy.

Background: Esophageal cancer has a poor prognosis despite treatment advancements. Although the benefit of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by adjuvant immunotherapy is evident, the effects of CRT on PD-L1 expression in esophageal cancer are not well understood. This study examines the impact of neoadjuvant CRT on PD-L1 surface expression in esophageal cancer both and considering its implications for immunotherapy.

The impact of stigma and discrimination-based narratives in the health of migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean: a scoping review.

Stigma and discrimination-based narratives have been associated with adverse health outcomes. Migrants and refugees face multiple barriers to accessing healthcare, influenced by stigma and discrimination-based narratives against them. We conducted a scoping review of scientific and grey literature (n = 61) to discuss available evidence in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) concerning communication and narrative speeches related to international migration and its implications for population health, particularly when associated with stigma and discrimination against migrants and refugees.

Climate change, migration, and health: perspectives from Latin America and the Caribbean.

This article delves into the complex relationship between climate change, migration patterns, and health outcomes in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). While the severe impact of climate change on health in LAC is widely acknowledged, the article sheds light on the often-overlooked multiple effects on migration and the well-being of migrants. These impacts encompass poverty, food and water insecurity, and adverse physical and mental health outcomes.