Wearable Seismocardiography-Based Assessment of Stroke Volume in Congenital Heart Disease.

Background Patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at risk for the development of low cardiac output and other physiologic derangements, which could be detected early through continuous stroke volume (SV) measurement. Unfortunately, existing SV measurement methods are limited in the clinic because of their invasiveness (eg, thermodilution), location (eg, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging), or unreliability (eg, bioimpedance). Multimodal wearable sensing, leveraging the seismocardiogram, a sternal vibration signal associated with cardiomechanical activity, offers a means to monitoring SV conveniently, affordably, and continuously.

Local detection of pH-induced disaggregation of biocompatible micelles by fluorescence switch ON.

Fluorogenic nanoparticles (NPs) able to sense different physiological environments and respond with disaggregation and fluorescence switching OFF/ON are powerful tools in nanomedicine as they can combine diagnostics with therapeutic action. pH-responsive NPs are particularly interesting as they can differentiate cancer tissues from healthy ones, they can drive selective intracellular drug release and they can act as pH biosensors. Controlled polymerization techniques are the basis of such materials as they provide solid routes towards the synthesis of pH-responsive block copolymers that are able to assemble/disassemble following protonation/deprotonation.

Genetic Deletion of Menin in Mouse Mesenchymal Stem Cells: An Experimental and Computational Analysis.

Loss-of-function mutations in the tumor-suppressor gene cause the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 syndrome. Menin, the gene product, is expressed in many tissues, including bone, where its function remains elusive. We conditionally inactivated menin in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) using paired-related homeobox 1 (Prx1)-Cre and compared resultant skeletal phenotypes of ; menin-knockout mice (KO) and wild-type controls using in vivo and in vitro experimental approaches and mechanics simulation.

Arene-perfluoroarene interactions confer enhanced mechanical properties to synthetic nanotubes.

Supramolecular nanotubes prepared through macrocycle assembly offer unique properties that stem from their long-range order, structural predictability, and tunable microenvironments. However, assemblies that rely on weak non-covalent interactions often have limited aspect ratios and poor mechanical integrity, which diminish their utility. Here pentagonal imine-linked macrocycles are prepared by condensing a pyridine-containing diamine and either terephthalaldehyde or 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoroterephthalaldehyde.

Spectrum of Apolipoprotein AI and Apolipoprotein AII Proteoforms and Their Associations With Indices of Cardiometabolic Health: The CARDIA Study.

Background ApoAI (apolipoproteins AI) and apoAII (apolipoprotein AII) are structural and functional proteins of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) which undergo post-translational modifications at specific residues, creating distinct proteoforms. While specific post-translational modifications have been reported to alter apolipoprotein function, the full spectrum of apoAI and apoAII proteoforms and their associations with cardiometabolic phenotype remains unknown. Herein, we comprehensively characterize apoAI and apoAII proteoforms detectable in serum and their post-translational modifications and quantify their associations with cardiometabolic health indices.

Translation into Brazilian Portuguese and Cultural Adaptation of the Component Scores Definition from the Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile (MBSImPTM).

Purpose: Translate into Brazilian Portuguese and culturally adapt the component scores definition from the Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile - MBSImP videofluoroscopy protocol.

Methods: This study was conducted based on international guidelines for creation, translation and transcultural adaptation according to domestic publications for the validation of international speech-language pathology tests. A specialist committee was convened with two otorhinolaryngologists and three speech-language pathologists familiar with videofluoroscopy examinations.

Iron phosphate mediated magnetite synthesis: a bioinspired approach.

The biomineralization of intracellular magnetite in magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) is an area of active investigation. Previous work has provided evidence that magnetite biomineralization begins with the formation of an amorphous phosphate-rich ferric hydroxide precursor phase followed by the eventual formation of magnetite within specialized vesicles (magnetosomes) through redox chemical reactions. Although important progress has been made in elucidating the different steps and possible precursor phases involved in the biomineralization process, many questions still remain.

The electronic structure of FeV-cofactor in vanadium-dependent nitrogenase.

The electronic structure of the active-site metal cofactor (FeV-cofactor) of resting-state V-dependent nitrogenase has been an open question, with earlier studies indicating that it exhibits a broad = 3/2 EPR signal (Kramers state) having values of ∼4.3 and 3.8, along with suggestions that it contains metal-ions with valencies [1V, 3Fe, 4Fe].

Primary age-related EBV-associated effusion-based lymphoma successfully treated with rituximab and thoracentesis.

EBV-positive HHV8-negative EBL is part of the spectrum of EBV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma NOS. This entity can be labeled as primary age-related EBV-associated EBL and appears to respond well to rituximab and thoracentesis.

Long periodic ripple in a 2D hybrid halide perovskite structure using branched organic spacers.

Two-dimensional (2D) halide perovskites have great promise in optoelectronic devices because of their stability and optical tunability, but the subtle effects on the inorganic layer when modifying the organic spacer remain unclear. Here, we introduce two homologous series of Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) structures using the branched isobutylammonium (IBA) and isoamylammonium (IAA) cations with the general formula (RA)(MA) Pb I (RA = IBA, IAA; MA = methylammonium = 1-4). Surprisingly, the IAA = 2 member results in the first modulated 2D perovskite structure with a ripple with a periodicity of 50.

Superstructured Biomaterials Formed by Exchange Dynamics and Host-Guest Interactions in Supramolecular Polymers.

Dynamic and reversible assembly of molecules is ubiquitous in the hierarchical superstructures of living systems and plays a key role in cellular functions. Recent work from the laboratory reported on the reversible formation of such superstructures in systems of peptide amphiphiles conjugated to oligonucleotides and electrostatically complimentary peptide sequences. Here, a supramolecular system is reported upon where exchange dynamics and host-guest interactions between -cyclodextrin and adamantane on peptide amphiphiles lead to superstructure formation.

COVID-19 phobia across the world: Impact of resilience on COVID-19 phobia in different nations.

Aim: This research study focused on exploring the impact of resilience on COVID-19 phobia (C19P) among individuals from different nations including a cluster of European countries, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and the United States of America (USA).

Method: We recruited research participants via disseminating an electronic survey on Facebook Messenger (FM) that included 812 participants. The electronic survey assessed unidentifiable demographic information, the COVID-19 Phobia Scale (C19P-S; Arpaci et al.

Optically Activated 3D Thin-Shell TiO for Super-Sensitive Chemoresistive Responses: Toward Visible Light Activation.

One of the well-known strategies for achieving high-performance light-activated gas sensors is to design a nanostructure for effective surface responses with its geometric advances. However, no study has gone beyond the benefits of the large surface area and provided fundamental strategies to offer a rational structure for increasing their optical and chemical performances. Here, a new class of UV-activated sensing nanoarchitecture made of highly periodic 3D TiO, which facilitates 55 times enhanced light absorption by confining the incident light in the nanostructure, is prepared as an active gas channel.

Sacrificial Synthesis of Supported Ru Single Atoms and Clusters on N-doped Carbon Derived from Covalent Triazine Frameworks: A Charge Modulation Approach.

High-temperature pyrolysis of nitrogen (N)-rich, crystalline porous organic architectures in the presence of a metal precursor is an important chemical process in heterogeneous catalysis for the fabrication of highly porous N-carbon-supported metal catalysts. Herein, covalent triazine framework (CTF) and CTF-I (that is, CTF after charge modulation with iodomethane) are presented as sacrificial templates, for the synthesis of carbon-supported Ru catalysts-Ru-CTF-900 and Ru-CTF-I-900 respectively, following high-temperature pyrolysis at 900 °C under N atmosphere. Predictably, the dispersed Ru on pristine CTF carrier suffered severe sintering of the Ru nanoparticles (NPs) during heat treatment at 900 °C.

Seed size and capitulum position drive germination and dormancy responses to projected warming for the threatened dune endemic (Asteraceae).

Among coastal plant species at risk from rapid environmental changes is the North American Great Lakes dune endemic . Despite being listed as federally threatened, little is known about how seed attributes influence germination and dormancy-break patterns in the context of climate change. Following a previous work where we found differences in the number and weight of seeds among capitulum positions and study sites, here we examine the effects of seed attributes (capitulum position, seed weight, and site of origin) on the proportion and timing of seed germination under temperature treatments that simulate projected warming in the Great Lakes (20/10, 25/10, and 30/10°C day/night).

Toughening of a Soft Polar Polythiophene through Copolymerization with Hard Urethane Segments.

Polar polythiophenes with oligoethylene glycol side chains are exceedingly soft materials. A low glass transition temperature and low degree of crystallinity prevents their use as a bulk material. The synthesis of a copolymer comprising 1) soft polythiophene blocks with tetraethylene glycol side chains, and 2) hard urethane segments is reported.

Thienoisoindigo (TII)-Based Quinoidal Small Molecules for High-Performance n-Type Organic Field Effect Transistors.

A novel quinoidal thienoisoindigo (TII)-containing small molecule family with dicyanomethylene end-capping units and various alkyl chains is synthesized as n-type organic small molecules for solution-processable organic field effect transistors (OFETs). The molecular structure of the 2-hexyldecyl substituted derivative, , is determined via single-crystal X-ray diffraction and shows that the core is planar and exhibits molecular layers stacked in a "face-to-face" arrangement with short core intermolecular distances of 3.28 Å.

Effects of anthropogenic habitat disturbance and infection on a sentinel species' gut bacteria.

Habitat disturbance, a common consequence of anthropogenic land use practices, creates human-animal interfaces where humans, wildlife, and domestic species can interact. These altered habitats can influence host-microbe dynamics, leading to potential downstream effects on host physiology and health. Here, we explored the effect of ecological overlap with humans and domestic species and infection with the protozoan parasite on the bacteria of black and gold howler monkeys (), a key sentinel species, in northeastern Argentina.

Self-Healing of Electrical Damage in Polymers.

Polymers are widely used as dielectric components and electrical insulations in modern electronic devices and power systems in the industrial sector, transportation, and large appliances, among others, where electrical damage of the materials is one of the major factors threatening the reliability and service lifetime. Self-healing dielectric polymers, an emerging category of materials capable of recovering dielectric and insulating properties after electrical damage, are of promise to address this issue. This paper aims at summarizing the recent progress in the design and synthesis of self-healing dielectric polymers.

Resource competition shapes biological rhythms and promotes temporal niche differentiation in a community simulation.

Competition for resources often contributes strongly to defining an organism's ecological niche. Endogenous biological rhythms are important adaptations to the temporal dimension of niches, but how other organisms influence such temporal niches has not been much studied, and the role of competition in particular has been even less examined. We investigated how interspecific competition and intraspecific competition for resources shape an organism's activity rhythms.

Public Health and Climate Benefits and Trade-Offs of U.S. Vehicle Electrification.

Vehicle electrification is a common climate change mitigation strategy, with policymakers invoking co-beneficial reductions in carbon dioxide (CO) and air pollutant emissions. However, while previous studies of U.S.

Incidence of Hypertension Among US Hispanics/Latinos: The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, 2008 to 2017.

Background Among US Hispanics/Latinos, the largest ethnic minority population in the United States, hypertension incidence has not been thoroughly reported. The goal of this study was to describe the incidence of hypertension among US Hispanic/Latino men and women of diverse Hispanic/Latino background. Methods and Results We studied 6171 participants of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, a diverse group of self-identified Hispanics/Latinos from 4 US urban communities, aged 18 to 74 years, and free from hypertension in 2008 to 2011 and re-examined in 2014 to 2017.

Youth Who Achieve Upward Socioeconomic Mobility Display Lower Psychological Distress But Higher Metabolic Syndrome Rates as Adults: Prospective Evidence From Add Health and MIDUS.

Background People with higher socioeconomic status generally enjoy better cardiovascular health across the life course than those with lower status. However, recent studies of upward mobility, where a child goes on to achieve higher socioeconomic status than his or her parents, suggest that it entails a tradeoff between better psychological well-being and worse cardiometabolic health. In this study, we consider further evidence of this tradeoff in 2 multidecade studies, asking how upward income mobility relates to subsequent perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and metabolic syndrome.

Revealing the Intrinsic Electronic Structure of 3D Half-Heusler Thermoelectric Materials by Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy.

Accurate determination of the intrinsic electronic structure of thermoelectric materials is a prerequisite for utilizing an electronic band engineering strategy to improve their thermoelectric performance. Herein, with high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), the intrinsic electronic structure of the 3D half-Heusler thermoelectric material ZrNiSn is revealed. An unexpectedly large intrinsic bandgap is directly observed by ARPES and is further confirmed by electrical and optical measurements and first-principles calculations.