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Plant–parasitic nematodes, specifically cyst nematodes (CNs) and root‐knot nematodes (RKNs), pose significant threats to global agriculture, leading to substantial crop losses. Both CNs and RKNs induce permanent feeding sites in the root of their host plants, which then serve as their only source of nutrients throughout their lifecycle. Plants deploy reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a primary defense mechanism against nematode invasion. Notably, both CNs and RKNs have evolved sophisticated strategies to manipulate the host's redox environment to their advantage, with each employing distinct tactics to combat ROS. In this review, we have focused on the role of ROS and its scavenging network in interactions between host plants and CNs and RKNs. Overall, this review emphasizes the complex interplay between plant defense mechanism, redox signalling and nematode survival tactics, suggesting potential avenues for developing innovative nematode management strategies in agriculture. Summary statement: This review highlights the complex interactions between host plants and parasitic nematodes, focusing on the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plant defense mechanisms and nematode strategies to manipulate the host's redox environment for their own survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Despite the superiority of regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA) in continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), its application is limited in resource‐limited settings. We aim to explore the cost and safety of RCA for CRRT in critically ill patients, compared to usual care. Methods: This prospective observational study included patients requiring CRRT in a tertiary intensive care unit (ICU) from February 2022 to January 2023. They were classified to either the RCA or usual care groups based on the anticoagulation technique chosen by the treating physician, considering contraindications. The CRRT prescription follows the institutional protocol. All relevant data were obtained from the ICU CRRT‐RCA charts and electronic medical records. A cost analysis was performed. Results: A total of 54 patients (27 per group) were included, with no demographic differences. Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score and lactate levels were significantly higher in the usual care group. The number of filters used were comparable (p =.108). The median filter duration in the RCA group was numerically longer (35.00 [15.50–56.00] vs. 23.00 [17.00–29.00] h), but not statistically significant (p =.253). The duration of mechanical ventilation, vasopressor requirement, and mortality were similar, but the RCA group had a significantly longer ICU stay. The rate of adverse events was similar, with four severe metabolic alkalosis cases in the RCA group. The RCA group had higher total cost per patient per day (USD 611 vs. 408; p =.013). Conclusion: In this resource‐limited setting, RCA for CRRT appeared safe and had clinically longer filter lifespan compared with usual care, albeit the increased cost. Summary at a glance: While regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA) is recommended for continuous renal replacement therapy in critically ill patients, its application is limited by complexity and cost considerations. In this study, RCA appeared safe and had prolonged filter lifespan. However, higher treatment cost incurred suggests the need for further research on cost‐effective strategies for RCA adoption in resource‐limited settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long‐term biodiversity monitoring is crucial for freshwater ecosystems as it enables the detection of even subtle changes and biodiversity trends, guiding conservation efforts and ensuring the sustainability of these vital habitats. Despite becoming more commonly considered in the field of freshwater ecology and biological invasions, studies using long‐term time series from Türkiye's freshwater resources have remained scarce.To assess the availability of data and ultimately present a baseline for future efforts, we combined published museum records and samples from recent field studies from the highly anthropogenically‐altered Lake Bafa in Western Anatolia covering the period 1958–2019.Lake Bafa has a very diverse aquatic ecosystem, providing habitat for both freshwater and saltwater species, and is one of the allottees in Türkiye's inland fish production. In the current study, we investigated how fish populations in Lake Bafa were affected by environmental changes and examined changes in taxonomic and functional diversity of non‐native species over time.The analyses revealed—concomitant to an increase in native marine and freshwater species richness—an increase in non‐native species richness over time. Non‐native species did not interfere with native species' niche space, whereas applied models indicate that in this highly altered ecosystem, foremost temperature and salinity shaped the fish community over time, limiting the impacts of non‐native species.These results have implications for the fishery of the lake, which includes highly valuable catadromous fish species, highlighting the value and importance of collecting long‐term data in Türkiye to better understand both invasion dynamics and changes in the naturality of Turkish ecosystems. These findings further underline the importance of long‐term data to create new management strategies for the lake and to start restoration processes, thus improving fisheries management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient energy harvesting through full solar spectrum utilization has been considered a promising solution to world energy and environmental issues. In this direction, lead sulphide (PbS) quantum dot (QD) based hybrid materials find greater application due to their near‐infrared (NIR) active photo response. Slower charge injection and inefficient charge separation limit photoactive response of such NIR active low band gap semiconductor like PbS QDs. Moreover, constructing dual charge transfer pathways in a PbS QDs based nanocomposite through the formation of hybrids with suitable materials can be advantageous in suppressing the charge recombination. In this work, we have synthesized a nanocomposite after decorating the PbS‐QDs with semiconducting TiO2 nanoparticles modified with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and thus forming the tri‐hybrid (PbS‐TiO2‐MWCNT) nanocomposites. The enhanced photo‐activities of the tri‐hybrid, as compared to di‐hybrids like PbS‐TiO2, PbS‐MWCNT were confirmed by the steady state, time‐resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) measurements and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation measurements. Higher ROS generation in the tri‐hybrid has been correlated with a faster interfacial electron transfer due to the dual charge injection pathway of PbS QD to TiO2 and MWCNT. The enhanced activity of the trio‐hybrid has also been analyzed from the first principal calculations in light of an efficient interfacial electron transfer as a result of the dual charge injection pathway. The photoelectrochemical water‐spilling response of the photoanodes in terms of photocurrent density, electrochemical impedance, and Mott–Schottky measurements on PbS‐TiO2 and PbS‐TiO2‐MWCNT photoanodes reveal that a combination of MWCNT and TiO2 exhibits an increase in electrical double layer capacitance, decrease in series resistance and enhancement of carrier density with NIR illumination at the heterojunction. Overall, all the dynamical studies at the interface of the trihybrid‐based photoanodes demonstrate its potential of utilization as a futuristic NIR‐ active photoelectrochemical water‐splitting material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main theme of this work is to synthesize and investigate different properties of Pr3+‐Cu2+ substituted X‐type hexaferrite Sr2‐xPrxCo2Fe28‐yCuyO46 with concentration (x = 0, 0.02, 0.06, 0.1 and y = 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5) by adopting the sol–gel method. The XRD patterns show the single phase for all the samples. The Pr3+‐Cu2+ substitution in pure X‐type hexaferrites changes the structural parameters. The increment in dielectric properties with Pr3+‐Cu2+ substitution is observed and the patterns show anomalous dielectric behavior. The FTIR analysis also confirms the single phase for the prepared materials. The magnetic properties of the material are enhanced with additives. The difference in saturation magnetization, coercivity, and remanence is observed on the basis of allocated cations onto the different lattice sites. The linear increase in saturation magnetization, remanence, and coercivity make them useful as permanent magnets. The thermal analysis is carried out to know the sintering temperature at which the single X‐type phase can be attained. The material exhibits the minimum value of reflection loss (microwave absorption) at higher frequencies that make this material useful to act as microwave absorbing material (MAM) for super high frequency (SHF) devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several countries, including Bahrain, used wastewater surveillance for disease activity monitoring. This study aimed to determine the presence of SARS‐CoV‐2 in untreated wastewater and to correlate it with the disease spread. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted for all wastewater samples tested for SARS‐CoV‐2 in public health laboratories from November 2020 to October 2022. Samples were collected weekly between February and October 2022 from different areas across Bahrain. Real‐time polymerase chain reaction was used to test for the presence of SARS‐CoV‐2 in wastewater, and the results were correlated with the number of COVID‐19 cases in the same area. Results: Of 387 wastewater samples, 103 (26.6%) samples tested positive for SARS‐CoV‐2. In late 2020, of 42 samples collected initially, four (9.5%) samples tested positive for SARS‐CoV‐2 in the four locations that hosted COVID‐19 isolation facilities. Between February and October 2022, 345 specimens of wastewater were tested, and 99 (28.7%) were positive. The highest detection rate was in February, June, and July (60%, 45%, and 43%, respectively), which corresponded to COVID‐19 peaks during 2022, and the lowest detection rate was in August and September (11% and 0%, respectively), corresponding to the low number of COVID‐19 cases. Conclusion: The detection rate of SARS‐CoV‐2 in wastewater samples from Bahrain was high and was significantly correlated with the number of reported COVID‐19 cases. Wastewater surveillance can aid the existing surveillance system in monitoring SARS‐CoV‐2 spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Despite the significant milestone of vaccine discovery, the spread of misinformation and pseudoscientific claims has resulted in an increasing number of people refusing vaccination in Syria. In this study, we aimed to explore fears and misconceptions towards COVID‐19 vaccines among the Syrian population. Methods: We conducted a nationwide cross‐sectional study between January and May 2022, using a convenience sample of 10,006 participants aged at least 18 years and living in Syria. We administered a validated online/paper questionnaire and conducted face‐to‐face interviews. We used SPSS software (version 26) for statistical analysis, assessing our data using frequency and χ2 tests, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The majority of the participants were female 6048 (60.4%), university degree holders 7304 (73%), and from urban areas 8015 (80.1%). Approximately half of the participants 5021 (50.2%) belonged to the medical sector (49% had concerns about the vaccine). Females, university degree holders, and participants with a history of symptomatic COVID‐19 were more likely to have fears about the vaccines. The main concerns about the vaccines were the rapid development, fears of blood clots, and common side effects. The prevalence of some misconceptions was relatively high, such as the belief that the vaccine is an experiment or a secret plan to reduce the population. Reliable sources are crucial to fight misleading information on social media. Conclusion: COVID‐19 vaccine is key to controlling the spread, but acceptance rate is critical. High variability in vaccine acceptance and high vaccine hesitancy can affect the efforts to terminate the COVID‐19 pandemic. Addressing the barriers associated with the acceptance of COVID‐19 vaccination will be the cornerstone to achieving maximum vaccination coverage. It is important to consider the reasons for refusing the COVID‐19 vaccine when interpreting the results of any study on vaccine attitudes among the Syrian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Severe acute respiratory tract infection (SARI) is a major global health threat. This study aimed to examine risk factors associated with poor outcomes in patients with SARI. Methods: All patients who met World Health Organization's (WHO) SARI case definition and were admitted to Salmaniya Medical Complex from January 2018 to December 2021 were included. Epidemiological and virological data were obtained and analyzed. Results: Of 1159 patients with SARI included, 731 (63.1%) patients were below 50 years, and 357 (30.8%) tested positive for viral pathogens. The most prevalent virus was Flu‐A (n = 134, 37.5%), SARS‐CoV2 (n = 118, 33%), RSV (n = 51, 14.3%), Flu B (n = 49,13.7%), other viruses (n = 3, 0.8%), and combined infection (n = 2, 0.6%). Six hundred fifty‐eight (56.8%) patients had comorbidities, mainly diabetes (n = 284, 43%) and heart disease (n = 217, 33%). 183 (16%) patients were admitted to ICU, 110 (9%) needed mechanical ventilation, and 80 (7%) patients died. The odds of ICU admission were higher for patients with hematological (OR 5.9, 95% CI 3.1–11.1) and lung diseases (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.6–4.6). The odds of mechanical ventilation were higher among patients with lung disease (OR 3.1, 95% 1.7–5.5). The mortality odds were higher among patients above 50 (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.4–4.1) and chronic kidney disease (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1–5.2). Conclusions: Being 50 years or above or having kidney, lung, or heart diseases was associated with worse SARI outcomes. Efforts and actions in developing better strategies to vaccinate individuals at high risk and early diagnosis and treatment should help in reducing the burden of SARI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying sustainable chemical processes often depends on the choice of enabling materials that directly influence the overall performance. Matching property targets while incorporating adequate process knowledge is essential for optimal material selection. Multi‐scale decisions need to be taken simultaneously to determine the optimal process configurations, operating conditions, and material structures. Integrating molecular to process scale decisions within an equation‐oriented optimization framework leads to large‐scale mixed‐integer nonlinear programs (MINLP). Over the years, several solution approaches have been suggested to tackle this issue. Here, the current state‐of‐the‐art in the field of computer‐aided molecular and process design (CAMPD) is discussed and key challenges and open questions are highlighted that may stimulate future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Plant root architecture plasticity in response to biotic stresses has not been thoroughly investigated. Infection by endoparasitic cyst nematodes induces root architectural changes that involve the formation of secondary roots at infection sites. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating secondary root formation in response to cyst nematode infection remain largely unknown.We first assessed whether secondary roots form in a nematode density‐dependent manner by challenging wild‐type Arabidopsis plants with increasing numbers of cyst nematodes (Heterodera schachtii). Next, using jasmonate‐related reporter lines and knockout mutants, we tested whether tissue damage by nematodes triggers jasmonate‐dependent secondary root formation. Finally, we verified whether damage‐induced secondary root formation depends on local auxin biosynthesis at nematode infection sites.Intracellular host invasion by H. schachtii triggers a transient local increase in jasmonates, which activates the expression of ERF109 in a COI1‐dependent manner. Knockout mutations in COI1 and ERF109 disrupt the nematode density‐dependent increase in secondary roots observed in wild‐type plants. Furthermore, ERF109 regulates secondary root formation upon H. schachtii infection via local auxin biosynthesis.Host invasion by H. schachtii triggers secondary root formation via the damage‐induced jasmonate‐dependent ERF109 pathway. This points at a novel mechanism underlying plant root plasticity in response to biotic stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutrition support is an important aspect of the management of critically ill patients. This review highlights the emerging evidence on critical care nutrition and focuses on the pathophysiologic interplay between critical illness, the gastrointestinal tract, and nutrition support and the evidence on the best route, dose, and timing of nutrition. Although indirect calorimetry is recommended to measure energy expenditure, predictive equations are commonly used but are limited by their inaccuracy in individual patients. The current evidence supports early enteral nutrition (EN) in most patients, with a gradual increase in the daily dose over the first week. Delayed EN is warranted in patients with severe shock. According to recent trials, parenteral nutrition seems to be as effective as EN and may be started if adequate EN is not achieved by the first week of critical illness. A high protein dose has been recommended, but the best timing is unclear. Immuno-nutrition should not be routinely provided to critically ill patients. Patients receiving artificial nutrition should be monitored for metabolic derangements. Additional adequately powered studies are still needed to resolve many unanswered questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The computational fluid dynamics of hurricane rapid intensification (RI) is examined through idealized simulations using two codes: a community‐based, finite‐difference/split‐explicit model (WRF) and a spectral‐element/semi‐implicit model (NUMA). The focus of the analysis is on the effects of implicit numerical dissipation (IND) in the energetics of the vortex response to heating, which embodies the fundamental dynamics in the hurricane RI process. The heating considered here is derived from observations: four‐dimensional, fully nonlinear, latent heating/cooling rates calculated from airborne Doppler radar measurements collected in a hurricane undergoing RI. The results continue to show significant IND in WRF relative to NUMA with a reduction in various intensity metrics: (a) time‐integrated, mean kinetic energy values in WRF are ∼20% lower than NUMA and (b) peak, localized wind speeds in WRF are ∼12 m/s lower than NUMA. Values of the eddy diffusivity in WRF need to be reduced by ∼50% from those in NUMA to produce a similar intensity time series. Kinetic energy budgets demonstrate that the pressure contribution is the main factor in the model differences with WRF producing smaller energy input to the vortex by ∼23%, on average. The low‐order spatial discretization of the pressure gradient in WRF is implicated in the IND. In addition, the eddy transport term is found to have a largely positive impact on the vortex intensification with a mean contribution of ∼20%. Overall, these results have important implications for the research and operational forecasting communities that use WRF and WRF‐like numerical models. Plain Language Summary: The intensity of a hurricane is primarily a balance between energy production and dissipation from various physical processes. Numerical models calculate this energy balance by solving complicated equations that attempt to capture these physical processes. Previous research has shown that the methods used to solve these equations can introduce additional dissipation into the system that affects the prediction of the storm intensity. In this paper, we examine this "numerical dissipation" idea more closely by conducting carefully designed comparisons between the community numerical model (WRF) and an advanced, research model (NUMA). Using observational estimates of heating in clouds, which feed the production of energy, we find that the WRF model produces significantly more numerical dissipation relative to NUMA that results in a reduced intensity of the storm. Our analysis indicates that the reason for the anomalous numerical dissipation in WRF is due to how the pressure gradient is computed. These results can have potentially important consequences for operational forecasts, especially the rapid intensification (RI) process. For example, the under‐prediction or low bias of RI forecasts may be partly due to excessive numerical dissipation. Key Points: The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) dynamic core dissipates ∼20% more kinetic energy than Non‐hydrostatic Unified Model of the Atmosphere (NUMA) for a dry vortex forced by four‐dimensional latent heating observationsValues of the eddy diffusivity in WRF need to be reduced by ∼50% from those in NUMA in order to produce a similar intensity time seriesBudgets and sensitivity tests indicate that the low‐order approximation of the pressure gradient is the source of the dissipation in WRF [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyst nematodes (CNs) are an important group of root‐infecting sedentary endoparasites that severely damage many crop plants worldwide. An infective CN juvenile enters the host's roots and migrates towards the vascular cylinder, where it induces the formation of syncytial feeding cells, which nourish the CN throughout its parasitic stages. Here, we examined the role of glutathione (l‐γ‐glutamyl‐l‐cysteinyl‐glycine) in Arabidopsis thaliana on infection with the CN Heterodera schachtii. Arabidopsis lines with mutations pad2, cad2, or zir1 in the glutamate–cysteine ligase (GSH1) gene, which encodes the first enzyme in the glutathione biosynthetic pathway, displayed enhanced CN susceptibility, but susceptibility was reduced for rax1, another GSH1 allele. Biochemical analysis revealed differentially altered thiol levels in these mutants that was independent of nematode infection. All glutathione‐deficient mutants exhibited impaired activation of defence marker genes as well as genes for biosynthesis of the antimicrobial compound camalexin early in infection. Further analysis revealed a link between glutathione‐mediated plant resistance to CN infection and the production of camalexin on nematode infection. These results suggest that glutathione levels affect plant resistance to CN by fine‐tuning the balance between the cellular redox environment and the production of compounds related to defence against infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a new data‐driven approach for both accurate and computationally efficient approximation of vapor liquid equilibria (VLE) models. Our method is able to provide guaranteed enclosure to limit the approximation errors over the entire domain of interest, all just by sampling only at select points. The approximation relies on a mixed‐integer linear programming (MILP) formulation that exploits vertex polyhedral properties of theoretically guaranteed lower and upper bounds to enclose nonlinear and nonconvex equations of state (EOS) and empirical models. Another advantage is that, unlike traditional full simulation‐based data‐driven approaches, we do not solve nonlinear system of equations (f(x) = 0) for sampling. Instead of looking for only feasible samples, we evaluate f(x) over x‐domain. This functional evaluation eliminates the need for computationally‐demanding full‐scale simulations and the associated convergence issues. We demonstrate excellent performance of the proposed MILP formulation in predicting the solubility of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants in ionic liquids (IL). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent revolution in shale gas has presented opportunities for distributed manufacturing of key commodity chemicals, such as methanol, from methane. However, the conventional methane‐to‐methanol process is energy intensive which negatively affects the profitability and sustainability. We report an intensified process configuration that is both economically attractive and environmentally sustainable. This flowsheet is systematically discovered using the building block‐based representation and optimization methodology. The new process configuration utilizes membrane‐assisted reactive separations and can have as much as 190% higher total annual profit compared to a conventional configuration. Additionally, it has 57% less CO2‐equivalent greenhouse gas emission. Such drastic improvement highlights the advantages of building block‐based computer‐aided process intensification method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nutrition risk, sarcopenia, and frailty are interrelated. They may be due to suboptimal or prevented by optimal nutrition intake. The combination of nutrition risk (modified nutrition risk in the critically ill [mNUTRIC]), sarcopenia (SARC‐F combined with calf circumference [SARC‐CALF]), and frailty (clinical frailty scale [CFS]) in a single score may better predict adverse outcomes and prioritize resources for optimal nutrition in the intensive care unit (ICU) Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of a single‐center prospective observational study that enrolled mechanically ventilated adults with expected ≥96 h of ICU stay. SARC‐F and CFS questionnaires were administered to patient's next‐of‐kin and mNUTRIC were calculated. Right calf circumference was measured. Nutrition data were collected from nursing record. The high‐risk scores (mNUTRIC ≥ 5, SARC‐CALF > 10, or CFS ≥ 4) of these variables were combined to become the nutrition risk, sarcopenia, and frailty (NUTRIC‐SF) score (range: 0–3). Results: Eighty‐eight patients were analyzed. Increasing mNUTRIC was independently associated with 60‐day mortality, whereas increasing SARC‐CALF and CFS showed a strong trend towards a higher 60‐day mortality. Discriminative ability of NUTRIC‐SF for 60‐day mortality is better than its component (C‐statistics, 0.722; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.677–0.868). Every increment of 300 kcal/day and 30 g/day is associated with a trend towards higher rate of discharge alive for high (≥2; adjusted hazard ratio, 1.453 [95% CI, 0.991–2.130] for energy; 1.503 [0.936–2.413] for protein) but not low (<2) NUTRIC‐SF score. Conclusion: NUTRIC‐SF may be a clinically relevant risk stratification tool in the ICU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaysia has experienced three waves of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) as of March 31, 2021. We studied the associated molecular epidemiology and SARS‐CoV‐2 seroprevalence during the third wave. We obtained 60 whole‐genome SARS‐CoV‐2 sequences between October 2020 and January 2021 in Kuala Lumpur/Selangor and analyzed 989 available Malaysian sequences. We tested 653 residual serum samples collected between December 2020 to April 2021 for anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 total antibodies, as a proxy for population immunity. The first wave (January 2020) comprised sporadic imported cases from China of early Pango lineages A and B. The second wave (March–June 2020) was associated with lineage B.6. The ongoing third wave (from September 2020) was propagated by a state election in Sabah. It is due to lineage B.1.524 viruses containing spike mutations D614G and A701V. Lineages B.1.459, B.1.470, and B.1.466.2 were likely imported from the region and confined to Sarawak state. Direct age‐standardized seroprevalence in Kuala Lumpur/Selangor was 3.0%. The second and third waves were driven by super‐spreading events and different circulating lineages. Malaysia is highly susceptible to further waves, especially as alpha (B.1.1.7) and beta (B.1.351) variants of concern were first detected in December 2020/January 2021. Increased genomic surveillance is critical. Highlights: As of March 2021, Malaysia has had 3 waves of COVID‐19The 2nd wave was driven by lineage B.6 virusesThe 3rd wave was driven by lineage B.1.524 virusesSeroprevalence in Kuala Lumpur/Selangor is only 3%Malaysia is susceptible to further waves [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the effect of maternal employment on the nutritional status of children below age 5 years in Bangladesh using data from the 2014 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey. Since mothers' choice to participate in the labor market is endogenous, the estimation of the causal effect of maternal employment on child health is statistically challenging. To correct for the endogeneity of maternal employment, we employ instrumental variable (IV) estimation. While our ordinary least squares results show that mothers' employment has no significant effect on children's nutritional outcome, the IV estimates suggest that maternal employment significantly decreases children's height‐for‐age Z‐score. This result is contrary to conventional wisdom advocating for maternal employment to positively affect child health and well‐being. We, therefore, argue for effective policy interventions—such as childcare centers at workplaces, flexibility in working hours including part‐time options for mothers, restraining child marriages, and strengthening maternal and child health‐care services through community health centers—to foster children's health as well as maternal employment in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) is a promising reaction for valorisation of bio‐based feedstocks via hydrogenation without needing to use H2. Unlike standard hydrogenation, CTH occurs via dehydrogenation (DHD) of a hydrogen donor (H‐donor) and hydrogenation (HYD) of a substrate. Therefore, the "ideal" CTH catalyst must balance the catalysis of both reactions to maximize the hydrogen transfer between H‐donor and substrate with minimal H2 loss to gas (high atom efficiency). Additionally, the H‐donor must be highly stable to prevent secondary reactions with the substrate. Herein we study the impact of the catalyst's properties on CTH of guaiacol using bicyclohexyl, a liquid organic hydrogen carrier, as a H‐donor. The reaction was promoted by palladium dispersed on three typical support materials (γ‐Al2O3, MgO, and SiO2). The performance of these catalysts in the conversion of bicyclohexyl and guaiacol was evaluated, allowing to estimate the H‐transfer efficiency, as well as the potential for recycling the spent H‐donor (bicyclohexyl). The apparent activation energies for DHD of bicyclohexyl and HYD of guaiacol revealed that slow DHD combined with fast HYD, as is the case with Pd/MgO, favours hydrogen transfer efficiency and selectivity towards hydrogenated products. In addition, an investigation of the DHD of bicyclohexyl and HYD of guaiacol independently showed that the affinity between the organic molecules and the support significantly impacts CTH. Indeed, Pd/SiO2 was highly active for both reactions individually and almost inactive for CTH. Consequently, these findings highlight the importance of the interaction between solvent‐substrate‐support in designing catalysts for transfer hydrogenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of natural disasters, pandemic‐induced lockdowns, and other disruptions often cascade across networks. In this work, we use minimum cost of resilience (MCOR) and operation‐based resilience metrics to quantify network performance against single‐connectivity failures and identify critical connections in interconnected networks. MCOR corresponds to the minimum additional infrastructure investment that is required to achieve a certain level of resilience. To guarantee MCOR, we incorporate the metrics in a multi‐scenario mixed‐integer linear program (MILP) that accounts for resilience in the design phase of interconnected networks. The goal is to obtain optimal generation and transportation capacities with flexible operation under all single‐connectivity disruption scenarios. We demonstrate the applicability of our resilience‐aware framework on a water‐energy nexus (WEN) example focusing on grass‐root design and retrofitting. We further apply the framework to analyze a regional WEN and observe that it is possible to achieve "full" resilience in the expense of additional regional investments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in response to infections often activate immune responses in eukaryotes including plants. In plants, ROS are primarily produced by plasma membrane‐bound NADPH oxidases called respiratory burst oxidase homologue (Rboh). Surprisingly, Rbohs can also promote the infection of plants by certain pathogens, including plant parasitic cyst nematodes.The Arabidopsis genome contains 10 Rboh genes (RbohA–RbohJ). Previously, we showed that cyst nematode infection causes a localised ROS burst in roots, mediated primarily by RbohD and RbohF. We also found that plants deficient in RbohD and RbohF (rbohD/F) exhibit strongly decreased susceptibility to cyst nematodes, suggesting that Rboh‐mediated ROS plays a role in promoting infection. However, little information is known of the mechanism by which Rbohs promote cyst nematode infection.Here, using detailed genetic and biochemical analyses, we identified WALLS ARE THIN1 (WAT1), an auxin transporter, as a downstream target of Rboh‐mediated ROS during parasitic infections. We found that WAT1 is required to modulate the host's indole metabolism, including indole‐3‐acetic acid levels, in infected cells and that this reprogramming is necessary for successful establishment of the parasite.In conclusion, this work clarifies a unique mechanism that enables cyst nematodes to use the host's ROS for their own benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusion This Rapid Practice Guideline (RPG) aimed to provide evidence‐based recommendations for ketamine analgo‐sedation (monotherapy and adjunct) versus non‐ketamine sedatives or usual care in adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients on invasive mechanical ventilation (iMV) and to identify knowledge gaps for future research.The RPG panel comprised 23 multinational multidisciplinary panelists, including a patient representative. An up‐to‐date systematic review and meta‐analysis constituted the evidence base. The Grading Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach, and the evidence‐to‐decision framework were used to assess the certainty of evidence and to move from evidence to decision/recommendation. The panel provided input on the balance of the desirable and undesirable effects, certainty of evidence, patients' values and preferences, costs, resources, equity, feasibility, acceptability, and research priorities.Data from 17 randomized clinical trials (n = 898) and nine observational studies (n = 1934) were included. There was considerable uncertainty about the desirable and undesirable effects of ketamine monotherapy for analgo‐sedation. The evidence was very low certainty and downgraded for risk of bias, indirectness, and inconsistency. Uncertainty or variability in values and preferences were identified. Costs, resources, equity, and acceptability were considered varied. Adjunctive ketamine therapy had no effect on mortality (within 28 days) (relative risk [RR] 0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.76 to 1.27; low certainty), and may slightly reduce iMV duration (days) (mean difference [MD] −0.05 days; 95% CI −0.07 to −0.03; low certainty), and uncertain effect on the cumulative dose of opioids (mcg/kg/h morphine equivalent) (MD −11.6; 95% CI −20.4 to −2.7; very low certainty). Uncertain desirable effects (cumulative dose of sedatives and vasopressors) and undesirable effects (adverse event rate, delirium, arrhythmia, hepatotoxicity, hypersalivation, use of physical restraints) were also identified. A possibility of important uncertainty or variability in patient‐important outcomes led to a balanced effect that favored neither the intervention nor the comparison. Cost, resources, and equity were considered varied.The RPG panel provided two conditional recommendations and suggested (1) against using ketamine as monotherapy analgo‐sedation in critically ill adults on iMV when other analgo‐sedatives are available; and (2) using ketamine as an adjunct to non‐ketamine usual care sedatives (e.g., opioids, propofol, dexmedetomidine) or continuing with non‐ketamine usual care sedatives alone. Large‐scale trials should provide additional evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topological semimetals represent a novel class of quantum materials displaying non‐trivial topological states that host Dirac/Weyl fermions. The intersection of Dirac/Weyl points gives rise to essential properties in a wide range of innovative transport phenomena, including extreme magnetoresistance, high mobilities, weak antilocalization, electron hydrodynamics, and various electro‐optical phenomena. In this study, the electronic, transport, phonon scattering, and interrelationships are explored in single crystals of the topological semimetal HfAs2. It reveals a weak antilocalization effect at low temperatures with high carrier density, which is attributed to perfectly compensated topological bulk and surface states. The angle‐resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) results show anisotropic Fermi surfaces and surface states indicative of the topological semimetal, further confirmed by first‐principle density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Moreover, the lattice dynamics in HfAs2 are investigated both with the Raman scattering and density functional theory. The phonon dispersion, density of states, lattice thermal conductivity, and the phonon lifetimes are computed to support the experimental findings. The softening of phonons, the broadening of Raman modes, and the reduction of phonon lifetimes with temperature suggest the enhancement of phonon anharmonicity in this new topological material, which is crucial for boosting the thermoelectric performance of topological semimetals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the rampant discovery of tunable magnetic properties using magneto‐ionic gating, e.g., magnetic anisotropy, exchange bias, and exchange interactions, there are few studies that give a quantitative understanding of the reversible and irreversible effects of ionic infiltration. In this study, in situ vibrating sample magnetometry, superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry, and X‐ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) reveal the reversible and irreversible control of magnetization, anisotropy, proximity‐effects, spin, and orbital angular momenta. Pd/Co/Pd trilayers, loaded using solid‐state hydrogen‐ion gating, show a decrease in the saturation magnetization of Co, and an increase in the proximity‐induced moment of Pd. This results in little to no change in the net effective magnetization, yet, allows for the effective anisotropy to be reversibly controlled by 270 kJ m−3. The reversible control of the effective anisotropy is dominated by a reversible change in surface anisotropy, however, under repeated cycling, irreversible evolution occurs in the heterostructure. XMCD measurements indicate this is partly due to hydrogen‐induced modification of the spin and orbital angular momenta. Together, these measurements indicate that the origin of the reversible and irreversible effects of magneto‐ionic gating is interfacial and provides crucial insight to scale and optimize thin film heterostructures for enhanced longevity and faster response time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulases are used in textile, pulp and paper, brewery and wine, sugars, and ethanol industries. Four fungal isolates obtained from organic municipal solid wastes (OMSW) were selected based on their cellulolytic activity on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) agar medium. Based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence of the ribosomal DNA, the four cellulolytic isolates were identified as Aspergillus fumigatus AKAL1, Aspergillus oryzae AKAL4, Aspergillus flavus AKAL8, and Aspergillus flavus AKAL9. After 9 days of fermentation at 30°C and pH 6.5 under 110 rpm agitation, these isolates produced the maximum amount of cellulase. The cellulase showed optimum activity at temperature 35-40°C and pH 6.0-7.0 and was stable for 1 h at 25-45°C and pH 5.0-7.0. The Mg 2+ and Zn 2+ significantly increased but Hg 2+ , K + , and Ca 2+ severely repressed the cellulase activity. Degradation of filter papers and bio-stoning of denim was successfully done with the crude cellulase. An endo-β-1,4-glucanase was isolated and characterized from Aspergillus isolates. Genome-wide analysis revealed that the genomes of A. oryzae, A. fumigatus, and A. flavus, the pertinent species of the fungal isolates, had 23, 25, and 22 cellulase genes, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the cellulases in these fungal species were divided into three major groups, and the isolated endo-β-1,4-glucanase clustered to Group II. Ten different motifs are present in cellulases of the three species. Results herein provide a valuable resource for understanding cellulase genes in Aspergillus species and potential application of cellulase in textile and fermentable sugars production industries., (© 2022 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.)

Infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are complex to treat and associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Historically, antistaphylococcal penicillins such as nafcillin were recommended for the treatment of methicillin-susceptible staphylococcal CNS infections. However, the use of antistaphylococcal penicillins presents challenges, such as frequent dosing administration and adverse events with protracted use. This narrative reviews available clinical and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) data for cefazolin in CNS infections and produces a recommendation for use. Based on the limited available evidence analyzed, dose optimized cefazolin is likely a safe and effective alternative to antistaphylococcal penicillins for a variety of CNS infections due to methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus. Given the site of infection and wide therapeutic index of cefazolin, practitioners may consider dosing cefazolin regimens of 2 g IV every 6 h or a continuous infusion of 8-10 g daily instead of 2 g IV every 8 h to optimize PK/PD properties., (© 2023 Pharmacotherapy Publications, Inc.)

Objective: To provide updated information about between-country variations, temporal trends and changes in inequalities within countries in caesarean delivery (CD) rates., Design: Cross-sectional study of Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) during 1990-2018., Setting: 74 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)., Population: Women 15-49 years of age who had live births in the last 3 years., Methods: Bayesian linear regression analysis was performed and absolute differences were calculated., Main Outcome Measure: Population-level CD by countries and sociodemographic characteristics of mothers over time., Results: CD rates, based on the latest DHS rounds, varied substantially between the study countries, from 1.5% (95% CI 1.1-1.9%) in Madagascar to 58.9% (95% CI 56.0-61.6%) in the Dominican Republic. Of 62 LMICs with at least two surveys, 57 countries showed a rise in CD during 1990-2018, with the greatest increase in Sierra Leone (19.3%). Large variations in CD rates were observed across mother's wealth, residence, education and age, with a higher rate of CD by the richest and urban mothers. These inequalities have widened in many countries. Stratified analyses suggest greater provisioning of CD by the richest mothers in private facilities and poorest mothers in public facilities., Conclusions: CD rates varied substantially across geographical locations and over time, irrespective of public or private health facilities. Changes in CD rates continue across wealth, place of residence, education, and age of mother, and are widening in most study countries., Tweetable Abstract: Increasing caesarean delivery rates were greater among the richest and urban mothers than their counterparts, with widened gaps in LMICs., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)