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At the onset of COVID-19, many Local Government Areas (LGAs) indicated they were struggling to communicate effectively with multilingual migrant communities. Communities were isolated from vital LGA support due to factors including the digital divide, barriers to language access, and top-down communication strategies. The pandemic also provided insights into the ways migrant communities mitigate hardship by engaging in placemaking and place-shaping, using existing networks and resources to provide vital support during crisis, which requires significant invisible labour. In this article, we present three case studies from a larger community-based project which began in early 2020 with an LGA in Western Australia. We use case narratives to illustrate and analyse three common actions migrant women used to engage their communities prior to, and during, COVID-19 recovery. These simple, yet profound actions, which include visiting communities, acknowledging challenges, and identifying opportunities further evidence the ways community leaders facilitate culturally sustaining placemaking, even during crisis; they underscore the intense emotional, cultural, and linguistic labour required to enact support in contexts where resources are inaccessible or misaligned with community stories. We argue it is only in partnership with communities that LGAs can learn to address some of the long-standing issues COVID-19 highlights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Simultaneous membrane-based feeding and monitoring of the oxygen transfer rate shall be introduced to the newly established perforated ring flask, which consists of a cylindrical glass flask with an additional perforated inner glass ring, for rapid bioprocess development. Methods: A 3D-printed adapter was constructed to enable monitoring of the oxygen transfer rate in the perforated ring flasks. Escherichia coli experiments in batch were performed to validate the adapter. Fed-batch experiments with different diffusion rates and feed solutions were performed. Results: The adapter and the performed experiments allowed a direct comparison of the perforated ring flasks with Erlenmeyer flasks. In batch cultivations, maximum oxygen transfer capacities of 80 mmol L−1 h−1 were reached with perforated ring flasks, corresponding to a 3.5 times higher capacity than in Erlenmeyer flasks. Fed-batch experiments with a feed reservoir concentration of 500 g glucose L−1 were successfully conducted. Based on the oxygen transfer rate, an ammonium limitation could be observed. By adding 40 g ammonium sulfate L−1 to the feed reservoir, the limitation could be prevented. Conclusion: The membrane-based feeding, an online monitoring technique, and the perforated ring flask were successfully combined and offer a new and promising tool for screening and process development in biotechnology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When mRNAs have been transcribed and processed in the nucleus, they are exported to the cytoplasm for translation. This export is mediated by the export receptor heterodimer Mex67–Mtr2 in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (TAP–p15 in humans)1,2. Interestingly, many long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) also leave the nucleus but it is currently unclear why they move to the cytoplasm3. Here we show that antisense RNAs (asRNAs) accelerate mRNA export by annealing with their sense counterparts through the helicase Dbp2. These double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) dominate export compared with single-stranded RNAs (ssRNAs) because they have a higher capacity and affinity for the export receptor Mex67. In this way, asRNAs boost gene expression, which is beneficial for cells. This is particularly important when the expression program changes. Consequently, the degradation of dsRNA, or the prevention of its formation, is toxic for cells. This mechanism illuminates the general cellular occurrence of asRNAs and explains their nuclear export.Antisense RNAs boost gene expression by accelerating the export of mRNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm through the Dbp2-mediated formation of double-stranded RNAs, which might explain the prevalence of antisense RNAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 5 July 2023, the European Commission proposed a regulation aiming to ease the requirements for the marketing authorisation of plants obtained through certain new genomic techniques (NGTs) within the European Union (EU). While NGTs are expected to become more attractive to breeders and farmers, the complexity of the intellectual property (IP) landscape surrounding these techniques and resulting products may negatively impact technology diffusion and innovation. Given numerous concerns related to IP protection for NGTs and NGT-derived plants, this Position Statement from the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition presents a set of policy recommendations for facilitating access to and utilisation of IP-protected NGTs and NGT-derived products in the breeding sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persons receiving maintenance dialysis are at increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection and its severe outcomes, including death. However, rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19-related deaths in this population are not well described. Since November 2020, CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) has collected weekly data monitoring incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections (defined as a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result) and COVID-19-related deaths (defined as the death of a patient who had not fully recovered from a SARS-CoV-2 infection) among maintenance dialysis patients. This analysis used NHSN dialysis facility COVID-19 data reported during June 30, 2021-September 27, 2022, to describe rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19-related death among maintenance dialysis patients. The overall infection rate was 30.47 per 10,000 patient-weeks (39.64 among unvaccinated patients and 27.24 among patients who had completed a primary COVID-19 vaccination series). The overall death rate was 1.74 per 10,000 patient-weeks. Implementing recommended infection control measures in dialysis facilities and ensuring patients and staff members are up to date with recommended COVID-19 vaccination is critical to limiting COVID-19-associated morbidity and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active bone-conducting hearing devices (aBCHD; e.g., MEDEL Bonebridge® (BB)) and active middle ear implants (aMEI; e.g., MEDEL Vibrant Soundbridge® (VSB)) use radio frequency transmission to send information from an external microphone and sound processor to an internally implanted transducer. These devices potentially have an advantage over devices with percutaneous links because the skin is closed over the implantable components, which should reduce the risk of skin problems and infection. On the other hand, surgical procedures are more complex, with a greater risk of damage due to surgery. The objectives of this research were to quantify the reliability and long-term survival of MEDEL VSB and BB devices, determine the adverse and serious adverse device-related complications, and consider associated causes. A multi-center observational retrospective and prospective study was conducted at eleven auditory implant centers in the United Kingdom. Data was collected using a surgical questionnaire and audiological reports. Data were obtained from patient notes or from prospective cases that had a minimum follow-up of one year post-implant. Consecutive patient records were reviewed. Datasets from 109 BB and 163 VSB were reviewed. Of these, 205 were retrospective case note reviews, and 67 were prospective cases. The mean follow-up was 4 and 6 years, respectively, for BB and VSB. Kaplan–Meier Survival analyses indicated that the BB survival was 97% and 93.3% at 1 and 5 years, respectively, and the VSB was 92.1% and 87% at the same time points. This is a large cohort study for the field and has indicated that BB and VSB are safe interventions. Care should be taken to monitor magnet strength in the first few months. For the majority of device-related effects, there was no apparent association with etiology. However, an interesting pattern emerged for individuals who exhibited an inflammatory response, e.g., adhesions or device extrusion, and those with a history of chronic suppurative otitis media. This should be considered in future work and is not surprising given that many VSB recipients have a complicated hearing history, often associated with otitis media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the scope of its initiative on 'Compulsory Licensing in the EU', 8 the European Commission launched a call for evidence on 1 April 2022 and a public consultation on 7 July 2022 with the aim of gathering views from stakeholders. The objective of this initiative is to explore the possibility of revising the framework for compulsory licensing in the EU to make it more 'adequately prepared and coordinated to tackle future crises'. 9 The authors of this position paper welcome the Commission's attempt to reinvigorate the public discourse on this important subject. Depending on the issue to be addressed and the extent of the Commission's willingness to reform, different regulatory approaches are conceivable. Subject to compatibility with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, these include: Rather than making concrete recommendations on the regulatory approach, this paper addresses selected aspects by way of a preliminary, non-exhaustive note on: the proposed reform's scope and the grounds for a compulsory licence; the requirements of prior negotiation and licensing failure; government use; procedural matters; compulsory licences for patent applications and products; the relation with other regulations and sui generis regimes (i.e. trade secret protection, regulatory data protection and supplementary protection certificates); the concept of adequate remuneration; compulsory licences for European patents with unitary effect; and the exhaustion of products placed on the market under a compulsory licence. – soft law measures, such as guidelines and recommendations; – harmonisation of national laws (substantive and/or procedural); 10 – judicial cooperation (i.e. mutual recognition of judgments and of decisions in extrajudicial cases); 11 – centralisation of granting and/or judicial review competences; – creation of a supranational compulsory licence; – or any combination thereof. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Assessing performance validity is imperative in both clinical and research contexts as data interpretation presupposes adequate participation from examinees. Performance validity tests (PVTs) are utilized to identify instances in which results cannot be interpreted at face value. This study explored the hit rates for two frequently used PVTs in a research sample of individuals with and without histories of bipolar disorder (BD). Method: As part of an ongoing longitudinal study of individuals with BD, we examined the performance of 736 individuals with BD and 255 individuals with no history of mental health disorder on the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) and the California Verbal Learning Test forced choice trial (CVLT-FC) at three time points. Results: Undiagnosed individuals demonstrated 100% pass rate on PVTs and individuals with BD passed over 98% of the time. A mixed effects model adjusting for relevant demographic variables revealed no significant difference in TOMM scores between the groups, a =.07, SE =.07, p =.31. On the CVLT-FC, no clinically significant differences were observed (ps <.001). Conclusions: Perfect PVT scores were obtained by the majority of individuals, with no differences in failure rates between groups. The tests have approximately >98% specificity in BD and 100% specificity among non-diagnosed individuals. Further, nearly 90% of individuals with BD obtained perfect scores on both measures, a trend observed at each time point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of many pneumatic soft actuators is based on multiple chambers in parallel alignment. The Cosserat beam theory is an established technique for modeling this kind of actuator, where existing approaches mainly differ in the parameters being required for simulation. The modeling approach presented in this study particularly aims at finding the beam parameters necessary for a simulation even with limited experimental methods. Importantly, it provides a straightforward relationship between the bending stiffness, the extensional stiffness and the axial stretch of the actuator. If the actuator to be modeled has an elementary design, axial measurements are sufficient to identify the parameters to perform three-dimensional simulations, which is of interest to adopters with limited testing equipment. The experimentally parameterized model of such an actuator of elementary design shows high accuracy. Both without load and with a weight of 1 N applied to the tip, the mean error of the tip position in vertical orientation is less than 3.4% for a constant extensional stiffness and less than 2.7% for a pressure-dependent extensional stiffness. Further reduction of the error could be achieved by more refined identification techniques that decompose the complex interrelationship of pressurization, forces and material stiffness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is debate in the literature regarding how manipulating the focus of attention (FOA) influences ground reaction forces during the standing long jump (SLJ) and gaps in understanding as to which phases of the SLJ are affected (takeoff, flight, and landing) and whether FOA manipulation benefits remain when tasks are performed in fixed body postures. P urpose: This study compared SLJ performance under external (EXT) and internal (INT) FOA conditions with free and fixed postures. M ethods: Twenty participants performed SLJs under EXT and INT FOA conditions while being allowed to swing arms freely and having to keep hands on their hips. Kinematics and kinetics were recorded using 3D-motion capture and force plates. Jump distances, projection angles, and ground reaction forces and impulses were compared across conditions using a 2 × 3 repeated measures ANOVA. R esults: Jump distances were significantly further with EXT FOA (p <.001). These differences were due to increases in the takeoff distance (p <.001) and landing distances (p <.001), with flight distances not being different between the conditions (p =.061). Peak horizontal ground reaction forces (p <.001) and impulses (p <.001) were both greater, while projection angles were lower (p =.002) in the EXT FOA condition. Co nclusions: Improvements in SLJ distance with an EXT FOA are due to the takeoff and landing phases; manipulating FOA does change forces during the SLJ; and that benefits of an EXT FOA are realized even when movements are performed with constrained body postures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One barrier to hand hygiene compliance is overestimation of one's own performance. Overconfidence research shows that overestimation tends to be higher for difficult tasks, which suggests that the magnitude of overestimation also depends on how it is assessed. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that overestimation was stronger for hand hygiene indications with low compliance (i.e., high difficulty), and the hypothesis that self-reported overall compliance based on a single item is higher than based on "5 Moments of Hand Hygiene" (WHO-5) items, since the single item implies an aggregation across indications. Methods: In the WACH trial (German Clinical Trials Register [DRKS] ID: DRKS00015502), a questionnaire survey was conducted among physicians and nurses in nine surgical clinics (general/visceral surgery or orthopedics/trauma surgery) of six German hospitals. Self-reported compliance was assessed both by a single item and the WHO-5-items using percentage scales. These were compared with each other and with direct observations. Relative frequencies of the WHO-5 indications used to calculate the WHO-5-based self-reported overall compliance rate were estimated by a systematized review of the literature (see appendix). In analysis, t-tests, Chi2-tests and multiple linear regressions were used. Results: Ninety-three physicians (response rate: 28.4%) and 225 nurses (30.4%) participated. Significant compliance differences between physicians and nurses were found for direct observations and were in favor of nurses, while no such differences were found for self-reports. Across the WHO-5, overestimation showed inverse correlations with observed compliance (physicians: r = −0.88, p = 0.049; nurses: r = −0.81, p = 0.093). Support for the hypothesis that the self-reported overall compliance based on one item is higher than that based on WHO-5 items was found for physicians (M = 87.2 vs. 84.1%, p = 0.041; nurses: 84.4 vs. 85.5%, p = 0.296). Exploratory analyses showed that this effect was confined to orthopedic/trauma surgeons (89.9 vs. 81.7%, p = 0.006). Conclusion: Among physicians, results indicate stronger hand hygiene overestimation for low-compliance indications, and when measurements are based on a single item versus the five WHO-5 items. For practice, results contribute to infection prevention and control's understanding of overestimation as a psychological mechanism that is relevant to professional hand hygiene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antarctic sea ice plays a critical role in the Earth system, influencing energy, heat and freshwater fluxes, air–sea gas exchange, ice shelf dynamics, ocean circulation, nutrient cycling, marine productivity and global carbon cycling. However, accurate simulation of recent sea-ice changes remains challenging and, therefore, projecting future sea-ice changes and their influence on the global climate system is uncertain. Reconstructing past changes in sea-ice cover can provide additional insights into climate feedbacks within the Earth system at different timescales. This paper is the first of two review papers from the Cycles of Sea Ice Dynamics in the Earth system (C-SIDE) working group. In this first paper, we review marine- and ice core-based sea-ice proxies and reconstructions of sea-ice changes throughout the last glacial–interglacial cycle. Antarctic sea-ice reconstructions rely mainly on diatom fossil assemblages and highly branched isoprenoid (HBI) alkenes in marine sediments, supported by chemical proxies in Antarctic ice cores. Most reconstructions for the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) suggest that winter sea ice expanded all around Antarctica and covered almost twice its modern surface extent. In contrast, LGM summer sea ice expanded mainly in the regions off the Weddell and Ross seas. The difference between winter and summer sea ice during the LGM led to a larger seasonal cycle than today. More recent efforts have focused on reconstructing Antarctic sea ice during warm periods, such as the Holocene and the Last Interglacial (LIG), which may serve as an analogue for the future. Notwithstanding regional heterogeneities, existing reconstructions suggest that sea-ice cover increased from the warm mid-Holocene to the colder Late Holocene with pervasive decadal- to millennial-scale variability throughout the Holocene. Studies, supported by proxy modelling experiments, suggest that sea-ice cover was halved during the warmer LIG when global average temperatures were ∼2 ∘ C above the pre-industrial (PI). There are limited marine (14) and ice core (4) sea-ice proxy records covering the complete 130 000 year (130 ka) last glacial cycle. The glacial–interglacial pattern of sea-ice advance and retreat appears relatively similar in each basin of the Southern Ocean. Rapid retreat of sea ice occurred during Terminations II and I while the expansion of sea ice during the last glaciation appears more gradual especially in ice core data sets. Marine records suggest that the first prominent expansion occurred during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 4 and that sea ice reached maximum extent during MIS 2. We, however, note that additional sea-ice records and transient model simulations are required to better identify the underlying drivers and feedbacks of Antarctic sea-ice changes over the last 130 ka. This understanding is critical to improve future predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Structured and harmonized implementation of molecular tumor boards (MTB) for the clinical interpretation of molecular data presents a current challenge for precision oncology. Heterogeneity in the interpretation of molecular data was shown for patients even with a limited number of molecular alterations. Integration of high-dimensional molecular data, including RNA- (RNA-Seq) and whole-exome sequencing (WES), is expected to further complicate clinical application. To analyze challenges for MTB harmonization based on complex molecular datasets, we retrospectively compared clinical interpretation of WES and RNA-Seq data by two independent molecular tumor boards.Methods: High-dimensional molecular cancer profiling including WES and RNA-Seq was performed for patients with advanced solid tumors, no available standard therapy, ECOG performance status of 0-1, and available fresh-frozen tissue within the DKTK-MASTER Program from 2016 to 2018. Identical molecular profiling data of 40 patients were independently discussed by two molecular tumor boards (MTB) after prior annotation by specialized physicians, following independent, but similar workflows. Identified biomarkers and resulting treatment options were compared between the MTBs and patients were followed up clinically.Results: A median of 309 molecular aberrations from WES and RNA-Seq (n = 38) and 82 molecular aberrations from WES only (n = 3) were considered for clinical interpretation for 40 patients (one patient sequenced twice). A median of 3 and 2 targeted treatment options were identified per patient, respectively. Most treatment options were identified for receptor tyrosine kinase, PARP, and mTOR inhibitors, as well as immunotherapy. The mean overlap coefficient between both MTB was 66%. Highest agreement rates were observed with the interpretation of single nucleotide variants, clinical evidence levels 1 and 2, and monotherapy whereas the interpretation of gene expression changes, preclinical evidence levels 3 and 4, and combination therapy yielded lower agreement rates. Patients receiving treatment following concordant MTB recommendations had significantly longer overall survival than patients receiving treatment following discrepant recommendations or physician's choice.Conclusions: Reproducible clinical interpretation of high-dimensional molecular data is feasible and agreement rates are encouraging, when compared to previous reports. The interpretation of molecular aberrations beyond single nucleotide variants and preclinically validated biomarkers as well as combination therapies were identified as additional difficulties for ongoing harmonization efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium keratoplasticum is the Fusarium species most commonly associated with human infections (fusariosis). Antifungal treatment of fusariosis is often hampered by limited treatment options due to resistance towards azole antifungals. The mechanisms of antifungal resistance and sterol biosynthesis in fusaria are poorly understood. Therefore, in this study we assessed the transcriptional response of F. keratoplasticum when exposed to voriconazole. Our results revealed a group of dramatically upregulated ergosterol biosynthesis gene duplicates, most notably erg6A (912-fold), cyp51A (52-fold) and ebp1 (20-fold), which are likely part of an alternative ergosterol biosynthesis salvage pathway. The presence of human cholesterol biosynthesis gene homologs in F. keratoplasticum (ebp1, dhcr7 and dhcr24_1, dhcr24_2 and dhcr24_3) suggests that additional sterol biosynthesis pathways may be induced in fusaria under other growth conditions or during host invasion. Voriconazole also induced the expression of a number of ABC efflux pumps. Further investigations suggested that the highly conserved master regulator of ergosterol biosynthesis, FkSR, and the pleiotropic drug resistance network that induces zinc-cluster transcription factor FkAtrR coordinate the response of FSSC species to azole antifungal exposure. In-depth genome mining also helped clarify the ergosterol biosynthesis pathways of moulds and provided a better understanding of antifungal drug resistance mechanisms in fusaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium infections in humans (fusariosis) and in economically important plants involve species of several Fusarium species complexes. Species of the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) are the most frequent cause of human fusariosis. The FSSC comprises more than 60 closely related species that can be separated into three major clades by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) using translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1-α) and RNA polymerase II (RPB2) DNA sequences. The MLST nomenclature for clade 3 of the FSSC assigns numbers to species types (e.g., FSSC 2) and lowercase letters to identify unique haplotypes. The aim of this study was to analyse the genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of 15 environmental and 15 clinical FSSC isolates from Malaysia. MLST was used for the genotypic characterisation of FSSC isolates from various locations within Malaysia, which was complemented by their morphological characterisation on potato dextrose and carnation leaf agar. MLST identified eight different FSSC species: thirteen Fusarium keratoplasticum (i.e., FSSC 2), six Fusarium suttonianum (FSSC 20), five Fusarium falciforme (FSSC 3+4), two Fusarium cyanescens (FSSC 27), and one each of Fusarium petroliphilum (FSSC 1), Fusarium waltergamsii (FSSC 7), Fusarium sp. (FSSC 12), and Fusarium striatum (FSSC 21). Consistent with previous reports from Malaysia, most (11 of 15) clinical FSSC isolates were F. keratoplasticum and the majority (9 of 15) of environmental isolates were F. suttonianum (5) or F. falciforme (4) strains. The taxonomic relationships of the isolates were resolved phylogenetically. The eight Fusarium species also showed distinct morphological characteristics, but these were less clearly defined and reached across species boundaries. Although TEF1-α and RPB2 sequences were sufficient for the species identification of most FSSC isolates, a more precise MLST scheme needs to be established to reliably assign individual isolates of the species-rich FSSC to their geographically-, epidemiologically-, and host-associated sub-lineages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antarctic sea ice plays a critical role in the Earth system, influencing energy, heat, and freshwater fluxes, air-sea gas exchange, ice shelf dynamics, ocean circulation, nutrient cycling, marine productivity, and global carbon cycling. However, accurate simulation of recent sea-ice changes remains challenging, and therefore projecting future sea-ice changes and their influence on the global climate system is uncertain. Reconstructing past changes in sea-ice cover can provide additional insights into climate feedbacks within the Earth system at different timescales. This paper is the first of two review papers from the Cycles of Sea Ice Dynamics in the Earth system (C-SIDE) Working Group. In this first paper, we review marine- and ice core-based sea-ice proxies and reconstructions of sea-ice changes throughout the last glacial-interglacial cycle. Antarctic sea-ice reconstructions rely mainly on diatom fossil assemblages and highly branched isoprenoid (HBI) alkenes in marine sediments, supported by chemical proxies in Antarctic ice cores. Most reconstructions for the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) suggest winter sea-ice expanded all around Antarctica and covered almost twice its modern surface extent. In contrast, LGM summer sea-ice expanded mainly in the regions off the Weddell and Ross seas. The difference between winter and summer sea ice during the LGM led to a larger seasonal cycle than today. More recent efforts have focused on reconstructing Antarctic sea-ice during warm periods, such as the Holocene and the Last Interglacial (LIG), which may serve as an analogue the future. Notwithstanding regional heterogeneities, existing reconstructions suggest sea-ice cover increased from the warm mid-Holocene to the colder Late Holocene, with pervasive decadal-to-millennial scale variability throughout the Holocene. Sparse marine and ice core data, supported by proxy modelling experiments, suggest that sea-ice cover was halved during the warmer LIG, when global average temperatures were ~2°C above the pre-industrial PI). There are limited marine (14) and ice core (4) sea-ice proxy records covering the complete 130,000 year 130 ka) last glacial cycle. The glacial-interglacial pattern of sea-ice advance and retreat appears relatively similar in each basin of the Southern Ocean. Rapid retreat of sea ice occurred during Terminations II and I, while the expansion of sea ice during the last glaciation appears more gradual, especially in cores data sets. Marine records suggest that the first prominent expansion occurred during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 4 and that sea ice reached maximum extent during MIS 2. We however note that additional sea-ice records and transient model simulations are required to better identify the underlying drivers and feedbacks of Antarctic sea-ice changes over the last 130 ka. This understanding is critical to improve future predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antarctic sea ice plays a critical role in the Earth system, influencing energy, heat, and freshwater fluxes, air-sea gas exchange, ice shelf dynamics, ocean circulation, nutrient cycling, marine productivity, and global carbon cycling. However, accurate simulation of recent sea-ice changes remains challenging, and therefore projecting future sea-ice changes and their influence on the global climate system is uncertain. Reconstructing past changes in sea-ice cover can provide additional insights into climate feedbacks within the Earth system at different timescales. This paper is the first of two review papers from the Cycles of Sea Ice Dynamics in the Earth system (C-SIDE) Working Group. In this first paper, we review marine- and ice core-based sea-ice proxies and reconstructions of sea-ice changes throughout the last glacial-interglacial cycle. Antarctic sea-ice reconstructions rely mainly on diatom fossil assemblages and highly branched isoprenoid (HBI) alkenes in marine sediments, supported by chemical proxies in Antarctic ice cores. Most reconstructions for the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) suggest winter sea-ice expanded all around Antarctica and covered almost twice its modern surface extent. In contrast, LGM summer sea-ice expanded mainly in the regions off the Weddell and Ross seas. The difference between winter and summer sea ice during the LGM led to a larger seasonal cycle than today. More recent efforts have focused on reconstructing Antarctic sea-ice during warm periods, such as the Holocene and the Last Interglacial (LIG), which may serve as an analogue the future. Notwithstanding regional heterogeneities, existing reconstructions suggest sea-ice cover increased from the warm mid-Holocene to the colder Late Holocene, with pervasive decadal-to-millennial scale variability throughout the Holocene. Sparse marine and ice core data, supported by proxy modelling experiments, suggest that sea-ice cover was halved during the warmer LIG, when global average temperatures were ~2°C above the pre-industrial (PI). There are limited marine (14) and ice core (4) sea-ice proxy records covering the complete 130,000 year (130 ka) last glacial cycle. The glacial-interglacial pattern of sea-ice advance and retreat appears relatively similar in each basin of the Southern Ocean. Rapid retreat of sea ice occurred during Terminations II and I, while the expansion of sea ice during the last glaciation appears more gradual, especially in cores data sets. Marine records suggest that the first prominent expansion occurred during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 4 and that sea ice reached maximum extent during MIS 2. We however note that additional sea-ice records and transient model simulations are required to better identify the underlying drivers and feedbacks of Antarctic sea-ice changes over the last 130 ka. This understanding is critical to improve future predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial hearing is critical for communication in everyday sound-rich environments. It is important to gain an understanding of how well users of bilateral hearing devices function in these conditions. The purpose of this work was to evaluate a Virtual Acoustics (VA) version of the Spatial Speech in Noise (SSiN) test, the SSiN-VA. This implementation uses relatively inexpensive equipment and can be performed outside the clinic, allowing for regular monitoring of spatial-hearing performance. The SSiN-VA simultaneously assesses speech discrimination and relative localization with changing source locations in the presence of noise. The use of simultaneous tasks increases the cognitive load to better represent the difficulties faced by listeners in noisy real-world environments. Current clinical assessments may require costly equipment which has a large footprint. Consequently, spatial-hearing assessments may not be conducted at all. Additionally, as patients take greater control of their healthcare outcomes and a greater number of clinical appointments are conducted remotely, outcome measures that allow patients to carry out assessments at home are becoming more relevant. The SSiN-VA was implemented using the 3D Tune-In Toolkit, simulating seven loudspeaker locations spaced at 30° intervals with azimuths between −90° and +90°, and rendered for headphone playback using the binaural spatialization technique. Twelve normal-hearing participants were assessed to evaluate if SSiN-VA produced patterns of responses for relative localization and speech discrimination as a function of azimuth similar to those previously obtained using loudspeaker arrays. Additionally, the effect of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), the direction of the shift from target to reference, and the target phonetic contrast on performance were investigated. SSiN-VA led to similar patterns of performance as a function of spatial location compared to loudspeaker setups for both relative localization and speech discrimination. Performance for relative localization was significantly better at the highest SNR than at the lowest SNR tested, and a target shift to the right was associated with an increased likelihood of a correct response. For word discrimination, there was an interaction between SNR and word group. Overall, these outcomes support the use of virtual audio for speech discrimination and relative localization testing in noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telomerases elongate the ends of chromosomes required for cell immortality through their reverse transcriptase activity. By using the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae we defined the order in which the holoenzyme matures. First, a longer precursor of the telomerase RNA, TLC1 is transcribed and exported into the cytoplasm, where it associates with the protecting Sm-ring, the Est and the Pop proteins. This partly matured telomerase is re-imported into the nucleus via Mtr10 and a novel TLC1-import factor, the karyopherin Cse1. Remarkably, while mutations in all known transport factors result in short telomere ends, mutation in CSE1 leads to the amplification of Y′ elements in the terminal chromosome regions and thus elongated telomere ends. Cse1 does not only support TLC1 import, but also the Sm-ring stabilization on the RNA enableling Mtr10 contact and nuclear import. Thus, Sm-ring formation and import factor contact resembles a quality control step in the maturation process of the telomerase. The re-imported immature TLC1 is finally trimmed into the 1158 nucleotides long mature form via the nuclear exosome. TMG-capping of TLC1 finalizes maturation, leading to mature telomerase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of Antarctic sea ice and Southern Ocean warming has come into the focus of polar research during the last couple of decades. Especially around West Antarctica, where warm water masses approach the continent and where sea ice has declined, the distribution and evolution of sea ice play a critical role in the stability of nearby ice shelves. Organic geochemical analyses of marine seafloor surface sediments from the Antarctic continental margin allow an evaluation of the applicability of biomarker-based sea-ice and ocean temperature reconstructions in these climate-sensitive areas. We analysed highly branched isoprenoids (HBIs), such as the sea-ice proxy IPSO 25 and phytoplankton-derived HBI-trienes, as well as phytosterols and isoprenoidal glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs), which are established tools for the assessment of primary productivity and ocean temperatures respectively. The combination of IPSO 25 with a phytoplankton marker (i.e. the PIPSO 25 index) permits semi-quantitative sea-ice reconstructions and avoids misleading over- or underestimations of sea-ice cover. Comparisons of the PIPSO 25 -based sea-ice distribution patterns and TEX 86L - and RI-OH ′ -derived ocean temperatures with (1) sea-ice concentrations obtained from satellite observations and (2) instrument measurements of sea surface and subsurface temperatures corroborate the general capability of these proxies to determine oceanic key variables properly. This is further supported by model data. We also highlight specific aspects and limitations that need to be taken into account for the interpretation of such biomarker data and discuss the potential of IPSO 25 as an indicator for the former occurrence of platelet ice and/or the export of ice-shelf water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium keratoplasticum is arguably the most common Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) species associated with human infections. Invasive fusariosis is a life-threatening fungal infection that is difficult to treat with conventional azole antifungals. Azole drug resistance is often caused by the increased expression of pleiotropic drug resistance (PDR) ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters of the ABCG sub-family. Most investigations of Fusarium ABC transporters associated with azole antifungal drug resistance are limited to plant pathogens. Through the manual curation of the entire ABCG protein family of four FSSC species including the fully annotated genome of the plant pathogen Nectria haematococca we identified PDR transporters ABC1 and ABC2 as the efflux pump candidates most likely to be associated with the innate azole resistance phenotype of Fusarium keratoplasticum. An initial investigation of the transcriptional response of logarithmic phase F. keratoplasticum cells to 16 mg/L voriconazole confirmed strong upregulation (372-fold) of ABC1 while ABC2 mRNA levels were unaffected by voriconazole exposure over a 4 h time-period. Overexpression of F. keratoplasticum ABC1 and ABC2 in the genetically modified Saccharomyces cerevisiae host ADΔΔ caused up to ∼1,024-fold increased resistance to a number of xenobiotics, including azole antifungals. Although ABC1 and ABC2 were only moderately (20% and 10%, respectively) expressed compared to the Candida albicans multidrug efflux pump CDR1 , overexpression of F. keratoplasticum ABC1 caused even higher resistance levels to certain xenobiotics (e.g., rhodamine 6G and nigericin) than CDR1. Our investigations suggest an important role for ABC1 orthologues in the innate azole resistance phenotype of FSSC species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Despite promising achievements in precision cancer medicine (PCM), participating patients are still faced with manifold uncertainties, especially regarding a potential treatment benefit of molecular diagnostics (MD). Hence, MD poses considerable challenges for patient information and communication. To meet these challenges, healthcare professionals need to gain deeper insight into patients' subjective experiences. Therefore, this qualitative study examined information aspects of MD programs in cancer patients. Methods: In two German Comprehensive Cancer Centers, 30 cancer patients undergoing MD participated in semi-structured interviews on information transfer and information needs regarding MD. Additionally, patients provided sociodemographic and medical data and indicated their subjective level of information (visual analogue scale, VAS, 0–10). Results: On average patients had high levels of information (mean = 7, median = 8); nevertheless 20% (n = 6) showed an information level below 5 points. Qualitative analysis revealed that patients show limited understanding of the complex background of MD and have uncertainties regarding their personal benefit. Further, patients described unmet information needs. Existential threat in awaiting the results was experienced as burdensome. To withstand the strains of their situation, patients emphasized the importance of trusting their physician. Conclusion: The challenges in PCM consist in providing unambiguous information, especially concerning treatment benefit, and providing guidance and support. Therefore, psycho-oncology needs to develop guidelines for adequate patient communication in order to help healthcare providers and cancer patients to handle these challenges in the developing field of PCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of Southern Ocean sea ice has come into the focus of polar research in the last couple of decades. Especially in West Antarctica, where sea ice has declined, its distribution and evolution play a critical role for the stability of nearby ice shelves. Organic geochemical analyses of marine surface sediments from the West Antarctic continental shelves permit a biomarker-based reconstruction of sea surface conditions in these vulnerable areas. We analysed highly branched isoprenoids (HBIs), such as the sea-ice proxy IPSO25 and phytoplankton-derived HBI-trienes, but also phytosterols and isoprenoidal glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs), which are established tools for the reconstruction of primary productivity and sea surface temperatures, respectively. The combination of IPSO25 with a phytoplankton marker results in the semi-quantitative sea-ice index PIPSO25, which provides useful reconstructions of sea-ice conditions, avoiding misleading over- or underestimations of sea-ice cover. Comparisons of the biomarker-based sea-ice distribution patterns and GDGT-based temperatures with (1) sea-ice distributions obtained from satellite observations and (2) estimated sea-ice patterns and SSTs deduced from modelled data are in reasonable agreement, but also highlight specific aspects that need to be considered when interpreting biomarker data. We further discuss IPSO25 concentrations in the vicinity of ice shelves, where elevated values could be related to the occurrence of ice shelf basal melt water and platelet ice under landfast sea ice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been suggested that a specialized high-temporal-acuity brainstem pathway can be activated by stimulating more apically in the cochlea than is achieved by cochlear implants (CIs) when programmed with contemporary clinical settings. We performed multiple experiments to test the effect on pitch perception of phantom stimulation and asymmetric current pulses, both supposedly stimulating beyond the most apical electrode of a CI. The two stimulus types were generated using a bipolar electrode pair, composed of the most apical electrode of the array and a neighboring, more basal electrode. Experiment 1 used a pitch-ranking procedure where neural excitation was shifted apically or basally using so-called phantom stimulation. No benefit of apical phantom stimulation was found on the highest rate up to which pitch ranks increased (upper limit), nor on the slopes of the pitch-ranking function above 300 pulses per second (pps). Experiment 2 used the same procedure to study the effects of apical pseudomonophasic pulses, where the locus of excitation was manipulated by changing stimulus polarity. A benefit of apical stimulation was obtained for the slopes above 300 pps. Experiment 3 used an adaptive rate discrimination procedure and found a small but significant benefit of both types of apical stimulation. Overall, the results show some benefit for apical stimulation on temporal pitch processing at high pulse rates but reveal that the effect is smaller and more variable across listeners than suggested by previous research. The results also provide some indication that the benefit of apical stimulation may decline over time since implantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus , resistance to azole antifungals is often linked to mutations in CYP51A , a gene that encodes the azole antifungal drug target lanosterol 14α-demethylase. The aim of this study was to investigate whether similar changes could be associated with azole resistance in a Malaysian Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) isolate collection. Most (11 of 15) clinical FSSC isolates were Neocosmospora keratoplastica and the majority (6 of 10) of environmental isolates were Neocosmospora suttoniana strains. All 25 FSSC isolates had high minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for itraconazole and posaconazole, low MICs for amphotericin B, and various (1 to >32 mg/l) voriconazole susceptibilities. There was a tight association between a 23 bp CYP51A promoter deletion and high (>32 mg/l) voriconazole MICs; of 19 FSSC strains sequenced, nine isolates had voriconazole MICs > 32 mg/l, and they all contained the 23 bp CYP51A promoter deletion, although it was absent in the ten remaining isolates with low (≤12 mg/l) voriconazole MICs. Surprisingly, this association between voriconazole resistance and the 23 bp CYP51A promoter deletion held true across species boundaries. It was randomly distributed within and across species boundaries and both types of FSSC isolates were found among environmental and clinical isolates. Three randomly selected N. keratoplastica isolates with low (≤8 mg/l) voriconazole MICs had significantly lower (1.3–7.5 times) CYP51A mRNA expression levels than three randomly selected N. keratoplastica isolates with high (>32 mg/l) voriconazole MICs. CYP51A expression levels, however, were equally strongly induced (~6,500-fold) by voriconazole in two representative strains reaching levels, after 80 min of induction, that were comparable to those of CYP51B. Our results suggest that FSSC isolates with high voriconazole MICs have a 23 bp CYP51A promoter deletion that provides a potentially useful marker for voriconazole resistance in FSSC isolates. Early detection of possible voriconazole resistance is critical for choosing the correct treatment option for patients with invasive fusariosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sphingolipids, modified by dietary fatty acids, are integral components of plasma membrane and caveolae that are also vasoactive compounds. We hypothesized that dietary fatty acid saturation affects vasoconstriction to sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) through caveolar regulation of rho kinase. Wild type (WT) and caveolin-1-deficient (cav-1 KO) mice which lack vascular caveolae were fed a low-fat diet (LF), 60% high-saturated fat diet (lard, HF), or 60% fat diet with equal amounts of lard and n-3 polyunsaturated menhaden oil (MO). Weight gain of WT on HF and MO diets was similar while markedly blunted in cav-1 KO. Neither high-fat diet affected the expression of cav-1, rho, or rho kinase in arteries from WT. In cav-1 KO, MO increased the vascular expression of rho but had no effect on rho kinase. HF had no effect on rho or rho kinase expression in cav-1 KO. S1P produced a concentration-dependent constriction of gracilis arteries from WT on LF that was reduced with HF and restored to normal with MO. Constriction to S1P was reduced in cav-1 KO and no longer affected by a high-saturated fat diet. Inhibition of rho kinase which reduced constriction to PE independent of diet in arteries from WT and cav-1 KO only reduced constriction to S1P in arteries from WT fed MO. The data suggest that dietary fatty acids modify vascular responses to S1P by a caveolar-dependent mechanism which is enhanced by dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: Precision oncology depends on the availability of up-to-date, comprehensive, and accurate information about associations between genetic variants and therapeutic options. Recently, a number of knowledge bases (KBs) have been developed that gather such information on the basis of expert curation of the scientific literature. We performed a quantitative and qualitative comparison of Clinical Interpretations of Variants in Cancer, OncoKB, Cancer Gene Census, Database of Curated Mutations, CGI Biomarkers (the cancer genome interpreter biomarker database), Tumor Alterations Relevant for Genomics-Driven Therapy, and the Precision Medicine Knowledge Base. METHODS: We downloaded each KB and restructured their content to describe variants, genes, drugs, and gene-drug associations in a common format. We normalized gene names to Entrez Gene IDs and drug names to ChEMBL and DrugBank IDs. For the analysis of clinically relevant gene-drug associations, we obtained lists of genes affected by genetic alterations and putative drug therapies for 113 patients with cancer whose cases were presented at the Molecular Tumor Board (MTB) of the Charité Comprehensive Cancer Center. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed that the KBs are largely overlapping but also that each source harbors a notable amount of unique information. Although some KBs cover more genes, others contain more data about gene-drug associations. Retrospective comparisons with findings of the Charitè MTB at the gene level showed that use of multiple KBs may considerably improve retrieval results. The relative importance of a KB in terms of cancer genes was assessed in more detail by logistic regression, which revealed that all but one source had a notable impact on result quality. We confirmed these findings using a second data set obtained from an independent MTB. CONCLUSION: To date, none of the existing publicly available KBs on gene-drug associations in precision oncology fully subsumes the others, but all of them exhibit specific strengths and weaknesses. Consideration of multiple KBs, therefore, is essential to obtain comprehensive results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral candidiasis is prevalent among older people due to predisposing factors such as impaired immune defenses, medications and denture use. An increasing number of older people live in rest home facilities and it is unclear how this institutionalized living affects the quantity and type of fungi colonizing these people's oral cavities. Smears and swabs of the palate and tongue and saliva samples were taken from participants residing in rest homes (RH; n = 20) and older people living in their own homes (OH; n = 20). Yeast in samples were quantified and identified by culturing on CHROMagar Candida and sequencing the ITS2 region of rDNA. A higher proportion of RH residents had Candida hyphae present in smears compared to OH participants (35% vs. 30%) although this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.74). RH residents had, on average, 23 times as many yeast per mL saliva as OH participants (p = 0.01). Seven yeast species were identified in OH samples and only five in RH samples, with Candida albicans and Candida glabrata being the most common species isolated from both participant groups. The results indicate that older people living in aged-care facilities were more likely to have candidiasis and have a higher yeast carriage rate than similarly aged people living at home. This may be due to morbidities which led to the need for residential care and/or related to the rest home environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of water‐soluble, N‐heterocyclic‐carbene‐stabilized Au–Pd alloy nanoparticles by a straightforward ligand exchange process is presented. Extensive analysis revealed excellent size retention and stability over years in water. The alloy nanoparticles were applied as biomimetic catalysts for aerobic oxidation of d‐glucose, for which monometallic Au and Pd nanoparticles showed no or negligible activity. The alloy nanoparticles were further applied as titania‐supported heterogeneous catalysts for the mild hydrogenation of nitroarenes and the semihydrogenation of 1,2‐diphenylacetylene with a solvent‐dependent selectivity switch between E‐ and Z‐stilbene. It's all about the mix! The preparation of water‐soluble, N‐heterocyclic‐carbene‐stabilized Au–Pd alloy nanoparticles is presented. The particles were stable over years and were used as biomimetic catalysts in water or as heterogeneous catalysts in hydrogenation reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temporal processing by cochlear implant listeners is degraded and is affected by auditory deprivation. The fast-acting Kv3.1 potassium channel is important for sustained temporally accurate firing and is also susceptible to deprivation, the effects of which can be partially restored in animals by the molecule AUT00063. We report the results of a randomised placebo-controlled double-blind study on psychophysical tests of the effects of AUT00063 on temporal processing by CI listeners. The study measured the upper limit of temporal pitch, gap detection, and discrimination of low rates (centred on 120 pps) for monopolar pulse trains presented to an apical electrode. The upper limit was measured using the optimally efficient midpoint comparison (MPC) pitch-ranking procedure; thresholds were obtained for the other two measures using an adaptive procedure. Twelve CI users (MedEl and Cochlear) were tested before and after two periods of AUT00063 or placebo in a within-subject crossover study. No significant differences occurred between post-drug and post-placebo conditions. This absence of effect occurred despite high test-retest reliability for all three measures, obtained by comparing performance on the two baseline visits, and despite the demonstrated sensitivity of the measures to modest changes in temporal processing obtained in other studies from our laboratory. Hence, we have no evidence that AUT00063 improves temporal processing for the doses and patient population employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Precision oncology holds the promise of improving patient outcome. It is based on the idea that the testing of genomic biomarkers can lead to the recommendation of a treatment option tailored to the specific patient. To derive treatment recommendations from molecular profiles, interdisciplinary molecular tumor boards (MTBs) have been established recently in many academic institutions. The recommendation process in MTBs, however, has not been well defined, which limits applicability to larger clinical trials and patient populations. Methods: We created four fictional patients on the basis of recent real cases with genomic information on mutations, fusions, copy numbers, and gene expression. We identified 29 tumor boards from nine countries worldwide and asked them to provide treatment recommendations for the sample patients. In addition, a questionnaire regarding the setup and methods used by MTBs was circulated. Results: Five MTBs from four countries provided treatment recommendations and answered the questionnaire. For one patient, three tumor board treatment recommendations were identical, and two tumor boards had identical treatment strategies for the other three patients. There was heterogeneity in the interpretation of tumor and germline aberrations as well as in standards of prioritization. Conclusion: Differences in the interpretation and recommendation process contribute to heterogeneity in MTB recommendations. Additional comparative analyses of recommendations could help improve rational decision making and lead to standardization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-stabilized palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) by an entirely new strategy comprising the NHC functionalization of ligand-free PdNPs obtained by metal vapor synthesis is described. Detailed characterization confirms the formation of very small monodisperse PdNPs (2.3 nm) and the presence of the NHC ligand on the Pd surface. The stable NHC-functionalized PdNPs dispersed onto a carbon support showed high activity in the hydrogenation of limonene with enhanced regioselectivity in comparison to bare PdNPs on carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors discuss the issue of literacy education for immigrants in Australia and the U.S. They mention the need to reform the curriculum for hard-to-reach students, the question of restoring and maintaining the students' identity, and how literacy education can provide hope.

Abstract: Patterned monolayers of N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) on gold surfaces were obtained by microcontact printing of NHC–CO2 adducts and NHC(H)[HCO3] salts. The NHC‐modified areas showed an increased conductivity compared to unmodified gold surface areas. Furthermore, the remaining surface areas could be modified with a second, azide‐functionalized carbene, facilitating further applications and post‐printing modifications. Thorough elucidation by a variety of analytical methods offers comprehensive evidence for the viability of the methodology reported here. The protocol enables facile access to versatile, microstructured NHC‐modified gold surfaces with highly stable patterns, enhanced conductivity, and the option for further modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The purpose of this study was to measure 1st- and 2nd-year students’ engagement as a result of a qualitative inquiry and field experiences with elders residing in an independent and assisted living retirement community. Undergraduate student research and field experiences are often introduced toward the completion of undergraduate students’ academics. The findings suggest discovery and further consideration to implement undergraduate research and field experiences at the beginning of students’ academic experiences in gerontology. Outcomes further suggest that early introduction of gerontological research and field experiences may assist in educating students about agism, potentially dissuading personal fears of their aging or apprehensions in working with elders. Optimal student engagement is evidenced through connectedness to learning, understanding of aging concepts through the lens of research, and enhanced learning metaphorically described as a woven gerontological tapestry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) generated by a monolayer of a spirobifluorene derivative covalently bound onto an indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate is reported for the first time. Our approach allows the efficient preparation homogeneous and patterned substrates through micromolding in capillaries (MIMIC), and opens novel scenarios for multicolour ECL applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The covalent immobilization of the biomimetic, photo‐organocatalyst (−)‐riboflavin on silica micro‐ and nanoparticles via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is disclosed. Given the effectiveness of (−)‐riboflavin as a versatile, environmentally benign photocatalyst, an immobilization strategy based on acrylate‐linker modification of the catalyst core and controlled polymerization on initiator pre‐functionalized silica particles has been developed. Validation of this approach is demonstrated in the E→Z isomerization of a benchmark cinnamonitrile (Z/E up to 88:12) with 0.97 mol % catalyst loading. Characterization of the immobilized photocatalyst supports covalent embedding of the catalyst in the polymeric brushes on the silica particle surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A glue, based on dynamic covalent chemistry, with a strong adhesion (2.38 kg cm−2), water resistance and carbohydrate responsive reversibility is presented. Using surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI‐ATRP), glass and silicon surfaces were coated with copolymers functionalized with phenylboronic acids and catechols. In combination with microcontact printing (μCP) these polymer brushes give access to a carbohydrate responsive “supramolecular Velcro”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Angewandte Chemie is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)