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Background: Platelet receptors ACKR3 and CXCR4 play a crucial role in a variety of cardiovascular diseases. Like most chemokine receptors, CXCR4 is a G protein coupled receptor that induces platelet activation. In contrast, the atypical chemokine receptor 3 (ACKR3) lacks the ability to activate heterotrimeric G proteins and its activation leads to platelet inhibition and attenuates thrombus formation. In nucleated cells, heterodimerization of ACKR3 with CXCR4 regulates CXCL12‐dependent signalling. The aim of our study was to investigate the formation of ACKR3/CXCR4 heterodimers in platelets and the subsequent consequences for platelet function. Methods and Results: Using a proximity ligation assay (PLA, Duolink®) to screen for CXCR4/ACKR3 heterodimerization inducing compounds, we found that ACKR3 agonism but not conventional platelet agonists or endogen ligands lead to heterodimer formation. To further characterize the formation of ACKR3/CXCR4 heterodimers, we studied the CXCL12‐dependent platelet activation via CXCR4. Both, CXCL12‐dependent platelet aggregation and collagen‐dependent ex vivo thrombus formation were significantly downregulated by ACKR3 agonism. Moreover, platelet intracellular calcium and Akt signalling were increased by CXCL12 and again suppressed by ACKR3‐specific agonists. Previously, CXCL12 was shown to decrease platelet cAMP levels via CXCR4. Treatment with a specific ACKR3 agonist counteracted this CXCL12/CXCR4‐dependent cAMP decrease. Conclusion: Our results reveal that the formation of platelet ACKR3/CXCR4 heterodimers is dependent on ACKR3 rather than CXCR4. Furthermore, ACKR3 agonism induced heterodimerization is associated with mitigating CXCL12/CXCR4‐dependent platelet activation possibly by modulating CXCR4‐dependent G protein signalling. Our results indicate possible ACKR3 agonist functions and reinforce the potential therapeutic applications of ACKR3 agonists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques, intraplaque hemorrhages (IPH) result in hemolysis of red blood cells and release of hemoglobin and free hemin. Hemin activates platelets and leads to thrombosis. Agonism of the inhibitory platelet receptor ACKR3 inhibits hemin‐dependent platelet activation and thrombus formation. To characterize the effect of hemin and ACKR3 agonism on isolated human platelets, multi‐color flow cytometry and classical experimental setup such as light transmission aggregometry and a flow chamber assay were used. Hemin induces platelet aggregation and ex vivo platelet‐dependent thrombus formation on immobilized collagen under a low shear rate of 500 s−1, indicating that free hemin is a strong activator of platelet‐dependent thrombosis. Recently, we described that ACKR3 is a prominent inhibitory receptor of platelet activation. Specific ACKR3 agonists but not conventional antiplatelet compounds such as COX‐1 inhibitor (indometacin), ADP‐receptor blocker (cangrelor), or PAR1 inhibitor (ML161) inhibit both hemin‐dependent aggregation and thrombus formation. To further characterize the effect of hemin on platelet subpopulations, we established a multi‐color flow cytometry assay. We found that hemin induces procoagulant (CD42bpos/PAC‐1neg/AnnexinVpos), aggregatory (CD42bpos/PAC‐1pos/AnnexinVneg), and inflammatory (CD42bpos/CXCR4pos/ACKR3pos/AnnexinVpos) platelet subpopulations. Treatment with ACKR3 agonists significantly decreased the formation of procoagulant and ACKR3pos platelets in response to hemin. We conclude that hemin is a strong activator for the formation of procoagulant platelets and thrombus formation which is dependent on the function of ACKR3. Activation of ACKR3 using specific agonists may offer a therapeutic strategy to regulate the vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaques in areas of IPH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Temporal trends of routinely obtained parameters may provide valuable information for predicting BSIs, but this association has not yet been established in LVAD patients. Methods: This retrospective analysis included data from 347 consecutive recipients of three rotary LVAD types. Study endpoints included the incidence of BSI, the association of temporal trends of routinely obtained blood biomarkers with the development of BSIs, the incidence of BSIs, and survival on LVAD support. Results: During follow‐up, 47.8% (n = 166) of the patients developed BSI. In multivariate analyses, the development of BSI was a significant predictor of mortality (HR 5.78, 95% CI 4.08–8.19, p < 0.0001). In univariate analyses, after adjusting for potential confounders, albumin (SHR 0.94, 95% CI 0.91–0.97, p < 0.00010), creatinine (SHR 1.49, 95% CI 1.03–2.15, p = 0.033), and C‐reactive protein (SHR 1.19, 95% CI 1.08–1.32, p = 0.0007) significantly predicted the development of BSIs during LVAD support. Notably, the strength of the association of parameter changes with the prediction of BSIs demonstrated a time‐dependent correlation in the cases of albumin (p = 0.045) and creatinine (p = 0.003). Conclusion: Bloodstream infections are highly prevalent among LVAD recipients and are independent predictors of mortality. Temporal biomarker trends significantly predict the development of BSIs. These findings suggest opportunities for interventions aiming to reduce the incidence of BSIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers update on the curation of genetic associations with rheumatologic autoimmune diseases to improve patient outcomes. Topics discussed include monogenic autoimmune and/or autoinflammatory conditions, development of a framework for curation of HLA disease associations, development of a methodology for curation of complex, multigenic diseases, and curation of disease-associated somatic variants.

Despite their important ecological role, questions remain on mechanisms structuring parasite assemblages. We present an endemic and species‐poor parasite–host system of two species of clupeid fishes Limnothrissa miodon, Stolothrissa tanganicae) and two species of monogenean parasites (Kapentagyrus, Dactylogyridae) from Lake Tanganyika as a model to study parasite distribution patterns and co‐infection dynamics in nature. We modelled spatiotemporal dynamics of parasite–host interaction using infection data along the north–south axis of Lake Tanganyika (660 km) over the course of two seasons and four years (1730 fish, 3710 parasites). We found temporal stability of parasite infection, which contrasts with previously reported seasonally driven fluctuations of fish host abundances. We found a difference in spatial structure between the parasite species which follows the contrasting dispersal pattern of their respective host species. On L. miodon, the host species that is infected by the two parasite species, we discovered a positive correlation with host body size for one parasite species, and a negative correlation for the other species. The apparent host‐size related replacement in the two parasite species infecting L. miodon contrasts with the beneficial influence that each of the parasite species has on the other. Parasites have been reported in previous studies to change habitat depending on host size/age. Differences in abundance and prevalence here reported between parasite species infecting the same host species related to the host body length further illustrate the parasites' dependence on changes in lifestyle of the host during its ontogenetic development. Also, possible mechanisms underlying the reported facilitation of infection are discussed. In conclusion, we show that in this closed, species‐poor system parasite infection dynamics are dependent on a combination of host mobility, host lifestyle changes over ontogenetic development, and interspecific interactions between parasites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Interatrial shunts are under evaluation as a treatment for heart failure (HF); however, their in vivo flow performance has not been quantitatively studied. We aimed to investigate the fluid dynamics properties of the 0.51 cm orifice diameter Ventura shunt and assess its lumen integrity with serial transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Methods and results: Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and bench flow tests were used to establish the flow‐pressure relationship of the shunt. Open‐label patients from the RELIEVE‐HF trial underwent TEE at shunt implant and at 6 and 12 month follow‐up. Shunt effective diameter (Deff) was derived from the vena contracta, and flow was determined by the continuity equation. CFD and bench studies independently validated that the shunt's discharge coefficient was 0.88 to 0.89. The device was successfully implanted in all 97 enrolled patients; mean age was 70 ± 11 years, 97% were NYHA class III, and 51% had LVEF ≤40%. Patency was confirmed in all instances, except for one stenotic shunt at 6 months. Deff remained unchanged from baseline at 12 months (0.47 ± 0.01 cm, P = 0.376), as did the trans‐shunt mean pressure gradient (5.1 ± 3.9 mmHg, P = 0.316) and flow (1137 ± 463 mL/min, P = 0.384). TEE measured flow versus pressure closely correlated (R2 ≥ 0.98) with a fluid dynamics model. At 12 months, the pulmonary/systemic flow Qp/Qs ratio was 1.22 ± 0.12. Conclusions: When implanted in patients with advanced HF, this small interatrial shunt demonstrated predictable and durable patency and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder affecting salivary and lacrimal glands, while endometriosis involves uterine‐like tissue growth outside the uterus, causing pelvic pain and infertility. Investigating their intricate relationship using real‐world data is crucial due to limited research on their connection. Material and Methods: This population‐based cohort study included patients with endometriosis and controls without endometriosis. Propensity score matching was used to balance baseline differences in demographic and clinic characteristics between the two groups. Cox proportional hazards model were used to estimate the effect of endometriosis on the risk of new‐onset pSS over time. A symmetrical cohort study, including patients with pSS and propensity score‐matched controls without pSS, was conducted to investigate the effect of pSS on the risk of endometriosis over time. To elaborate on the mechanisms linking endometriosis and pSS, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis was performed to identify activated pathways in eutopic endometrium from patients with endometriosis and parotid tissues from patients with pSS. Results: A total of 15 947 patients with endometriosis and 15 947 propensity score‐matched controls without endometriosis were included. Patients with endometriosis presented a significantly greater risk of pSS compared to non‐endometriosis controls (adjusted hazard ratio, aHR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.29–1.91, p < 0.001). In the symmetrical cohort study, which included 4906 pSS patients and 4,906 propensity score‐matched controls without pSS, patients with pSS were found to be at a significantly higher risk of endometriosis compared to non‐pSS controls (aHR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.12–2.04, p = 0.012). Ingenuity Pathway Analysis showed that the underlying cellular mechanisms involved autoimmune‐related pathways, including activation of dendritic cell maturation, and chronic inflammatory pathways, including the fibrosis signaling pathway. Conclusions: These findings support a bidirectional association between endometriosis and pSS, which may be driven by dendritic cell maturation and fibrosis signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is limited data on the association between inflammation and the formation of early left ventricular thrombus (LVT) following ST‐elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This study aimed to explore the predictive value of several inflammatory biomarkers for LVT formation following STEMI. Methods and Results: Our cohort included 2534 consecutive patients admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) with STEMI. The final analysis included 51 patients with LVT and 102 patients without LVT, matched for age, sex, anterior infarct and ejection fraction. Upon admission, patients with LVT had higher white blood cell counts (WBC) (12.8 ± 7 vs. 12.4 ± 4 ×103/µL, p = 0.01), higher absolute neutrophil counts (10.5 ± 4 vs. 8.6 ± 4 ×103/µL, p = 0.003), neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (8.2 ± 6 vs. 4.8 ± 4, p = 0.04), and C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels (35.9 ± 62 vs. 18.6 ± 40 mg/L, p = 0.04). Peak values for WBC and CRP were also higher in the LVT group (17.8 ± 8 vs. 14.6 ± 5 ×103/µL, p = 0.003 and 95.8 ± 82 vs. 64.2 ± 76 mg/L, p = 0.02, respectively). In univariate regression analysis, WBC upon admission (OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.02–1.21, p = 0.02), peak WBC (OR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.02–1.17, p = 0.009), neutrophil count upon admission (OR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.04–1.26, p = 0.004), and peak CRP (OR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1–1.01, p = 0.03) predicted LVT formation, which was also evident in multivariate regression models. Conclusion: WBC and neutrophil counts upon admission, as well as peak WBC and CRP, have additional predictive value for LVT formation following STEMI, beyond classical risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glaciers are a source of fine‐ground rock flour to proglacial and coastal marine environments. In these environments, suspended rock flour may affect light and (micro)nutrient availability to primary producers. Due to high loads of glacier rock flour, the particulate metal load of glacier runoff typically exceeds the dissolved metal load. As glacier rock flour is deposited in downstream environments, short‐term exchange between particulate and dissolved metal phases may have a moderating influence on dissolved metal concentrations. Here we compare the behavior of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co) and silica (Si) following the addition of different glacier‐derived sediments into seawater under conditions of varying sediment load (20–500 mg L−1), time (0.5 hr–21 days), temperature (4–11°C) and light exposure (dark/2,500 Lux). Despite a moderately high labile Fe content across all particle types (0.28–3.50 mg Fe g−1 of dry sediment), only 0.27–7.13 μg Fe g−1 was released into seawater, with less efficient release as sediment load increased. Conversely, Si, Mn, and Co exhibited a more constant rate of release, which was less sensitive to sediment load. Dissolved Si release was equivalent to 17% ± 22% of particulate amorphous Si after 1–2 weeks. Dissolved Mn concentrations in most incubations exceeded dissolved Fe concentrations within 1 hr despite labile Mn content being 12‐fold lower than labile Fe content. Our results show the potential for glacier‐derived particles to be a large source of Mn and Co to marine waters and add to the growing evidence that Mn may be the bio‐essential metal most affected by glacier‐associated sources. Plain Language Summary: Glacier runoff is associated with high sediment loads derived from glacier weathering. Particle surfaces can, depending on ambient conditions, act as a source or sink for dissolved metals in solution. With increasing glacier discharge and ongoing glacier retreat around the Arctic, shifts in the seasonal timing and magnitude of sediment delivery to the coastline are expected. However, the net effect of glacier‐derived particles on marine metal and nutrient availability is not clear, especially for elements other than Fe, which are less well studied. Here we used sediment‐seawater incubations with different glacier and iceberg sediment samples from Greenland and Svalbard to quantify the change in Fe, Mn, Co, and Si concentrations when particles were suspended in Atlantic seawater. Our results and a comparison with in situ concentrations reveal the significance of particle dissolution on elemental cycles, particularly for Mn. Key Points: Changing light and temperature had no effect on the net release of Fe, Mn, Co, or Si from glacier rock flour in seawaterA small fraction of labile particulate Fe was soluble in seawater, although this was partially reversible over short (<24 hr) timescalesMn and Co showed a consistent gradual dissolution behavior with Mn present at dissolved concentrations ∼8× higher than Fe within 24 hr [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the spillover effect of crises represents an emerging area of interest within crisis communication studies, the perspective of consumers on the risk of crisis spillover as a result of corporate misconduct by another company remains underexplored in emerging markets like China. This study aims to fill the void through assessing how the severity of a crisis and the strategic responses by companies influence consumer perceptions of spillover risks from corporate misconduct by another company. A pre‐test (N = 120) determined two corporate misconducts as characteristic for the automotive industry in China. These scenarios were utilized in an online experiment (N = 320) to examine the effects of two crisis response strategies (issuing a denial vs. giving no response) by a competitor automaker. The results reveal that when a corporate misconduct is perceived as more severe, the perceived crisis spillover risks to the industry is higher; this perceived risk mediates the impact of crisis severity on negative word‐of‐mouth. Issuing a denial is more effective than giving no response, and leads to more positive consumer outcomes. This research unravels the complex dynamics at play in shaping consumer attitudes towards companies indirectly impacted by a crisis through a spillover effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The study aims to investigate exercise‐limiting factors in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) using combined stress echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise test. Methods and results: A symptom‐limited ramp bicycle exercise test was performed in the semi‐supine position on a tilting dedicated ergometer. Echocardiographic images were obtained concurrently with gas exchange measurements along predefined stages of exercise. Oxygen extraction was calculated using the Fick equation at each activity level. Thirty‐six HCM patients (mean age 67 ± 6 years, 72% men, 18 obstructive HCM) were compared with age and sex‐matched 29 controls. At rest, compared with controls, E/E′ ratio (6.26 ± 2.3 vs. 14 ± 2.5, P < 0.001) and systolic pulmonary artery pressures (SPAP) (22.6 ± 3.4 vs. 34 ± 6.2 mmHg, P = 0.023) were increased. Along with the stages of exercise (unloaded; anaerobic threshold; peak), diastolic function worsened (E/e′ 8.9 ± 2.6 vs. 13.8 ± 3.6 P = 0.011; 9.4 ± 2.3 vs. 18.6 ± 3.3 P = 0.001; 8.7 ± 1.9 vs. 21.5 ± 4, P < 0.001), SPAP increased (23 ± 2.7 vs. 33 ± 4.4, P = 0.013; 26 ± 3.2 vs. 40 ± 2.9, P < 0.001; 26 ± 3.5 vs. 45 ± 7 mmHg, P < 0.001), and oxygen consumption (6.6 ± 1.7 vs. 6.8 ± 1.6, P = 0.86; 18.1 ± 2.2 vs. 14.6 ± 1.5, P = 0.008; 20.3 ± 3 vs. 15.1 ± 2.1 mL/kg/min, P = 0.01) was reduced. Oxygen pulse was blunted (6.3 ± 1.8 vs. 6.2 ± 1.9, P = 0.79; 10 ± 2.1 vs. 8.8 ± 1.6, P = 0.063; 12.2 ± 2 vs. 8.2 ± 2.3 mL/beat, P = 0.002) due to an insufficient increase in both stroke volume (92.3 ± 17 vs. 77.3 ± 14.5 P = 0.021; 101 ± 19.1 vs. 87.3 ± 15.7 P = 0.06; 96.5 ± 12.2 vs. 83.6 ± 16.1 mL, P = 0.034) and oxygen extraction (0.07 ± 0.03 vs. 0.07 ± 0.02, P = 0.47; 0.13 ± 0.02 vs. 0.10 ± 0.03, P = 0.013; 0.13 ± 0.03 vs. 0.11 ± 0.03, P = 0.03). Diastolic dysfunction, elevated SPAP, and the presence of atrial fibrillation were associated with reduced exercise capacity. Conclusions: Both central and peripheral cardiovascular limitations are involved in exercise intolerance in HCM. Diastolic dysfunction seems to be the main driver for this limitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impact of post‐migration living difficulties (PMLDs) and quality of life (QoL) on the mental health of 55 young refugees who arrived in Germany either accompanied or unaccompanied. The results reveal that nearly 62% of the participants exhibited clinically significant symptoms of depression or post‐traumatic stress disorder. Regression analyses indicate that psychopathology was associated with being unaccompanied and experiencing lower QoL, while QoL was associated with higher economic status and lower PMLDs. Mediation analysis further demonstrates that higher economic status and reduced PMLDs were associated with higher QoL, which, in turn, correlated with lower levels of psychopathology. These findings emphasise the importance of considering PMLDs and QoL, as well as economic status and being accompanied/unaccompanied, in the assessment and treatment of young refugees in the host country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most important public health concerns is the increase in antibiotic‐resistant pathogens and corresponding treatment of associated infections. Addressing this challenge requires more efficient use of antibiotics, achievable by the use of evidence‐based, effective antibiotics identified by antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST). However, the current standard method of phenotypic AST used for this purpose requires 48 h or more from sample collection to result. Until results are available, broad‐spectrum antibiotics are used to avoid delaying treatment. The turnaround time must therefore be shortened in order for the results to be available before the second administration of antibiotics. The phenotypic electrochemical AST method presented here identifies effective antibiotics within 5–10 h after sampling. Spiked serum samples, including polymicrobial samples, with clinically relevant pathogens and respective concentrations commonly found in bloodstream infections (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) are used. Direct loading of the test with diluted serum eliminates the need for a pre‐culture, as required by existing methods. Furthermore, by combining several electrochemical measurement procedures with computational analysis, allowing the method to be used both online and offline, the AST achieves a sensitivity of 94.44% and a specificity of 95.83% considering each replicate individually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large area fabrication of high‐quality polycrystalline perovskite thin films remains one of the key challenges for the commercial readiness of perovskite photovoltaic (PV). To enable high‐throughput and high‐yield processing, reliable and fast in‐line characterization methods are required. The present work reports on a non‐invasive characterization technique based on intensity‐dependent photoluminescence (PL) imaging. The change in PL intensity as a function of excitation power density can be approximated by a power‐law with exponent k, which is a useful quality indicator for the perovskite layer, providing information about the relative magnitudes of radiative and non‐radiative recombination. By evaluating k‐parameter maps instead of more established PL intensity images, 2D information is obtained that is robust to optically induced artifacts such as intensity variations in excitation and reflection. Application to various half stacks of a perovskite solar cell showcase its ability to determine the importance of the interface between the charge transporting and perovskite layers. In addition, the k‐parameter correlates to the bulk passivation concentration, enabling rapid assessment of open‐circuit voltage variations in the range of 20 mV. Considering expected improvements in data acquisition speed, the presented k‐imaging method will possibly be obtained in real‐time, providing large‐area quality control in industrial‐scale perovskite PV production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid perovskite photovoltaics (PVs) promise cost‐effective fabrication with large‐scale solution‐based manufacturing processes as well as high power conversion efficiencies. Almost all of today's high‐performance solution‐processed perovskite absorber films rely on so‐called quenching techniques that rapidly increase supersaturation to induce a prompt crystallization. However, to date, there are no metrics for comparing results obtained with different quenching methods. In response, the first quantitative modeling framework for gas quenching, anti‐solvent quenching, and vacuum quenching is developed herein. Based on dynamic thickness measurements in a vacuum chamber, previous works on drying dynamics, and commonly known material properties, a detailed analysis of mass transfer dynamics is performed for each quenching technique. The derived models are delivered along with an open‐source software framework that is modular and extensible. Thereby, a deep understanding of the impact of each process parameter on mass transfer dynamics is provided. Moreover, the supersaturation rate at critical concentration is proposed as a decisive benchmark of quenching effectiveness, yielding ≈ 10−3 − 10−1s−1 for vacuum quenching, ≈ 10−5 − 10−3s−1 for static gas quenching, ≈ 10−2 − 100s−1 for dynamic gas quenching and ≈ 102s−1 for antisolvent quenching. This benchmark fosters transferability and scalability of hybrid perovskite fabrication, transforming the "art of device making" to well‐defined process engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Heart failure (HF) outcomes remain poor despite optimal guideline‐directed medical therapy (GDMT). We assessed safety, effectiveness, and transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) outcomes during the 12 months after Ventura shunt implantation in the RELIEVE‐HF open‐label roll‐in cohort. Methods and results: Eligibility required symptomatic HF despite optimal GDMT with ≥1 HF hospitalization in the prior year or elevated natriuretic peptides. The safety endpoint was device‐related major adverse cardiovascular or neurological events at 30 days, compared to a prespecified performance goal. Effectiveness evaluations included the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) at baseline, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months and TTE at baseline and 12 months. Overall, 97 patients were enrolled and implanted at 64 sites. Average age was 70 ± 11 years, 97% were in New York Heart Association class III, and half had left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40%. The safety endpoint was achieved (event rate 0%, p < 0.001). KCCQ overall summary score was improved by 12–16 points at all follow‐up timepoints (all p < 0.004), with similar outcomes in patients with reduced and preserved LVEF. At 12 months, left ventricular end‐systolic and end‐diastolic volumes were reduced (p = 0.020 and p = 0.038, respectively), LVEF improved (p = 0.009), right ventricular end‐systolic and end‐diastolic areas were reduced (p = 0.001 and p = 0.030, respectively), and right ventricular fractional area change (p < 0.001) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (p < 0.001) improved. Conclusion: Interatrial shunting with the Ventura device was safe and resulted in favourable clinical effects in patients with HF, regardless of LVEF. Improvements of left and right ventricular structure and function were consistent with reverse myocardial remodelling. These results would support the potential of this shunt device as a treatment for HF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Limited research has examined parental quality of life (QoL) for caregivers of children with special needs, mostly comparing parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to those with typical development. This study examines QoL and related variables during the COVID‐19 pandemic among two comparable groups: parents of children with ASD and parents of children with other diagnoses (non‐ASD). Method: The sample included 175 Israeli parents (ASD = 101; non‐ASD = 74). The parents were surveyed about the pandemic's effects on family life, child's function, and their own psychological distress, resilience, and QoL. Results: Parents in both groups reported deterioration in their child's academic, emotional, social, and functioning performance. However, higher psychological distress and more deterioration in child behaviour were reported in the ASD group. In both groups, QoL was positively associated with the introduction of distance learning and parental resilience and negatively associated with psychological distress, deterioration in the child's behaviour and functioning, and increased time spent with the child at home. An interaction analysis indicated that deterioration in a child's behaviour was linked to QoL solely within the ASD group, while home atmosphere was associated with QoL in the non‐ASD group. Conclusion: While the COVID‐19 pandemic imposed similar challenges on both parental groups, there is evidence that it may have been more challenging for the ASD group. This calls for further examination concerning parents with special needs children, and accordingly, tailoring targeted and specific help for them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postinterventional sonographic assessment of the femoral artery after transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TF‐TAVR) has the potential to identify several pathologies. We investigated the incidence and risk factors of femoral vessel complications in a modern TAVR collective using postinterventional sonography. Methods: Between September 2017 and March 2022, 480 patients underwent TF‐TAVR with postinterventional femoral sonography at a single center. Clinical outcomes and adverse events were analyzed after the Valve Academic Research Consortium 3 (VARC‐3) criteria. Results: In this cohort (51.2% male; age 80 ± 7.5 years, median EuroSCORE II 3.7) 74.8% (n = 359) were implanted with a self‐expandable and 25.2% (n = 121) with a balloon‐expandable valve. The main access (valve‐delivery) was located right in 91.4% (n = 438), and the primary closure system was Proglide in 95% (n = 456). Vascular complications (VC) were observed in 29.16% (n = 140) of patients; 23.3% (n = 112) presented with minor‐ and 5.8% (n = 28) with major VC. Postinterventional femoral artery stenosis on the main access was observed in 9.8% (n = 47). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed female sex (p =.03, odds ratio [OR] 2.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09–4.89) and the number of used endovascular closure devices (p =.014, OR 0.11, 95%CI 0.02–0.64) as predictive factors for femoral artery stenosis. Conclusions: The incidence of postinterventional femoral artery stenosis following TF‐TAVR was higher than expected with a number of used closure devices and female sex being independent risk factors. Considering the continuous advance of TAVR in low‐risk patients with preserved physical activity, emphasis should be directed at the correct diagnosis and follow‐up of these complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the United Airlines "bumpgate" crisis as example, this research analyses how reporting of irrelevant information on a crisis victim's bad character impacts on empathy towards the victim, the victim's reputation as well as the reputation of the news medium that published the information. A one‐factorial experiment was conducted with two conditions manipulating the reporting on the crisis victim's character plus a control condition. Respondents were 245 online‐panel participants from the UK. The findings show that when journalists violate the code of ethics by reporting irrelevant negative information on the character of a crisis victim, they harm not only the reputation of the victim, but also that of their news organization. This study contributes to the scarce research on the impact of media reporting during a crisis on victims of the crisis and on the reputation of the newspaper. Journalists must be aware that violating the journalistic code of ethics by reporting on irrelevant negative characteristics of a victim is not only detrimental for the victim but can also significantly hurt the reputation of their organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extramural exposure, through activities such as watching TV, gaming, networking, and online reading, has become an important source of vocabulary acquisition in English as a foreign language, particularly when learners' first language (L1) has many cognates with English. Our study examined extramural vocabulary acquisition of 10th‐grade L1 speakers of noncognate languages over one school year and explored the effects of digital activities and initial lexical knowledge of the participants on their vocabulary gains. Learners reported the amount of digital activity, took a vocabulary pretest, and kept vocabulary diaries where they recorded, on a weekly basis, the new words they encountered. At the end of the study, each student took a personalized test that included all the words recorded in their personal diary. The results indicate that (a) all learners gained some out‐of‐school word knowledge, (b) students with better initial vocabulary knowledge gained more words, and (c) the initial knowledge contributed to out‐of‐school learning more than the amount of digital activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Patient medication safety in the acute care setting is a foundational action provided by nurses and healthcare providers for safe patient care. Hospitalization of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) can be dangerous due to the unique and variable medication regimen required. Patients with PD often have their medication administered inappropriately in the acute care setting (e.g., holding a PD medication in preparation for surgery, not administering the medication on the patient's home schedule, and delaying administration). The research question posed in this study was the following: does a PD medication educational intervention in the clinical setting enhance knowledge, comfort, and competence of practicing nurses in the care of patients with PD regarding their medication safety? Design: A mixed methods study design was used for this 5‐month, two‐part study with a sample of practicing RNs at three different hospitals. Part one of the study assessed nurses' initial knowledge of PD and PD medication safety and included an educational intervention. Part two of the study occurred 3 months later and evaluated if knowledge from the educational intervention was retained. Methods: The study was conducted in two parts and included a pre‐test, educational intervention, post‐test, and follow‐up test 3 months later. The educational intervention consisted of a 15‐minute video of two PD advanced practice nurses being interviewed regarding the general care of a patient with PD. The pre‐test, post‐test, and follow‐up test were identical and consisted of six questions regarding knowledge, comfort, and self‐perceived competency. Participants were additionally asked three open‐ended questions at follow‐up to gain insight on the effectiveness of the educational intervention. Results: A total sample of 252 RNs participated in this study. Statistically significant improvements in knowledge, comfort, and self‐perceived competency were observed in the post‐test scores compared to pre‐test scores. These statistically significant improvements were retained after 3 months, despite a 42.9% decrease in the number of responders (n = 252 vs. n = 144). Additionally, compared to the post‐test, there were no statistically significant declines in knowledge, comfort, or competency in the follow‐up test. Qualitative findings indicated that the training regarding PD medications was retained and found to be valuable, even if it was seldom applied in practice. Conclusion: A review of the literature and this study both support the need for increased education for practicing nurses as it relates to PD and PD medication safety. Healthcare systems, organizations, and associations that support continuing education for nurses create a stronger workforce. Education has been found to keep nurses up to date on the latest advances in care and treatment while also providing exposure to other areas of nursing beyond their clinical settings. Clinical Relevance: Promoting better patient outcomes through safe medication administration is a hallmark of nursing care excellence. This study found that supporting the use of an educational intervention of PD medication safety for nurses improved RN levels of knowledge, comfort, and competency up to 3 months later. As the population of those with PD increases, healthcare systems, and nurses must now, more than ever, be poised to care for these individuals. This is a critical point in PD patient care since persons with PD are hospitalized 1.5 times more than their peers without PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This single‐center study administered MIJ821 (onfasprodil) as an intravenous infusion to healthy volunteers and included two parts: a single ascending dose study (Part 1) and a repeated intravenous dose study (Part 2). Primary objective was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of single ascending intravenous doses infused over a 40‐min period and of two repeated doses (1 week apart) of MIJ821 in healthy volunteers. Secondary objectives were to assess the pharmacokinetics of MIJ821 after intravenous infusion in Part 1 and Part 2 of the study. Overall, 43 subjects in Part 1 and 12 subjects in Part 2 were randomized in the study. Median age in Part 1 and Part 2 was 45.0 and 43.5 years, respectively, with the majority being Caucasian (Part 1: 84%; Part 2: 92%). 19 subjects (44.2%) in Part 1 and 8 subjects (66.7%) in Part 2 experienced at least one adverse event (AE). Following single dose in Part 1 and Part 2, the AUCinf values of MIJ821 increased in a dose‐proportional manner across the dose range 0.016–0.48 mg/kg and the Cmax values in a slight overproportional manner across the dose range 0.048–0.48 mg/kg. At the highest dose of 0.48 mg/kg, the geometric mean AUCinf was 708 h ng/mL and the geometric mean Cmax was 462 ng/mL. Inspection of 1‐h post‐dose resting electroencephalography activity across cohorts showed a relationship to administered dose, providing exploratory evidence of distal target engagement. In conclusion, MIJ821 showed a good safety and tolerability profile in healthy volunteers. Dissociative AEs were mild, transient, and dose‐dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is Food and Drug Administration (FDA)‐approved for malaria, systemic and chronic discoid lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis. Because HCQ has a proposed multimodal mechanism of action and a well‐established safety profile, it is often investigated as a repurposed therapeutic for a range of indications. There is a large degree of uncertainty in HCQ pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters which complicates dose selection when investigating its use in new disease states. Complications with HCQ dose selection emerged as multiple clinical trials investigated HCQ as a potential therapeutic in the early stages of the COVID‐19 pandemic. In addition to uncertainty in baseline HCQ PK parameters, it was not clear if disease‐related consequences of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection/COVID‐19 would be expected to impact the PK of HCQ and its primary metabolite desethylhydroxychloroquine (DHCQ). To address the question whether SARS‐CoV‐2 infection/COVID‐19 impacted HCQ and DHCQ PK, dried blood spot samples were collected from SARS‐CoV‐2(−)/(+) participants administered HCQ. When a previously published physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was used to fit the data, the variability in exposure of HCQ and DHCQ was not adequately captured and DHCQ concentrations were overestimated. Improvements to the previous PBPK model were made by incorporating the known range of blood to plasma concentration ratios (B/P) for each compound, adjusting HCQ and DHCQ distribution settings, and optimizing DHCQ clearance. The final PBPK model adequately captured the HCQ and DHCQ concentrations observed in SARS‐CoV‐2(−)/(+)participants, and incorporating COVID‐19‐associated changes in cytochrome P450 activity did not further improve model performance for the SARS‐CoV‐2(+) population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acid‐β‐glucosidase (GCase, EC3.2.1.45), the lysosomal enzyme which hydrolyzes the simple glycosphingolipid, glucosylceramide (GlcCer), is encoded by the GBA1 gene. Biallelic mutations in GBA1 cause the human inherited metabolic disorder, Gaucher disease (GD), in which GlcCer accumulates, while heterozygous GBA1 mutations are the highest genetic risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD). Recombinant GCase (e.g., Cerezyme®) is produced for use in enzyme replacement therapy for GD and is largely successful in relieving disease symptoms, except for the neurological symptoms observed in a subset of patients. As a first step toward developing an alternative to the recombinant human enzymes used to treat GD, we applied the PROSS stability‐design algorithm to generate GCase variants with enhanced stability. One of the designs, containing 55 mutations compared to wild‐type human GCase, exhibits improved secretion and thermal stability. Furthermore, the design has higher enzymatic activity than the clinically used human enzyme when incorporated into an AAV vector, resulting in a larger decrease in the accumulation of lipid substrates in cultured cells. Based on stability‐design calculations, we also developed a machine learning‐based approach to distinguish benign from deleterious (i.e., disease‐causing) GBA1 mutations. This approach gave remarkably accurate predictions of the enzymatic activity of single‐nucleotide polymorphisms in the GBA1 gene that are not currently associated with GD or PD. This latter approach could be applied to other diseases to determine risk factors in patients carrying rare mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mutations in genes involved in DNA damage repair (DDR), a hallmark of cancer, are associated with increased cancer cell sensitivity to certain therapies. This study sought to evaluate the association of DDR pathogenic variants with treatment efficacy in patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: A retrospective cohort of consecutive patients with advanced NSCLC attending a tertiary medical center who underwent next‐generation sequencing in 01/2015‐8/2020 were clustered according to DDR gene status and compared for overall response rate (ORR), progression‐free survival (PFS) (patients receiving systemic therapy), local PFS (patients receiving definitive radiotherapy), and overall survival (OS) using log‐rank and Cox regression analyses. Results: Of 225 patients with a clear tumor status, 42 had a pathogenic/likely pathogenic DDR variant (pDDR), and 183 had no DDR variant (wtDDR). Overall survival was similar in the two groups (24.2 vs. 23.1 months, p = 0.63). The pDDR group had a higher median local PFS after radiotherapy (median 45 months vs. 9.9 months, respectively; p = 0.044), a higher ORR (88.9% vs. 36.2%, p = 0.04), and a longer median PFS (not reached vs. 6.0 months, p = 0.01) in patients treated with immune checkpoint blockade. There was no difference in ORR, median PFS, and median OS in patients treated with platinum‐based chemotherapy. Conclusion: Our retrospective data suggest that in patients with stage 4 NSCLC, pathogenic variants in DDR pathway genes may be associated with higher efficacy of radiotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). This should be further explored prospectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIA (MPSIIIA) caused by recessive SGSH variants results in sulfamidase deficiency, leading to neurocognitive decline and death. No disease‐modifying therapy is available. The AAVance gene therapy trial investigates AAVrh.10 overexpressing human sulfamidase (LYS‐SAF302) delivered by intracerebral injection in children with MPSIIIA. Post‐treatment MRI monitoring revealed lesions around injection sites. Investigations were initiated in one patient to determine the cause. Methods: Clinical and MRI details were reviewed. Stereotactic needle biopsies of a lesion were performed; blood and CSF were sampled. All samples were used for viral studies. Immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, and transcriptome analysis were performed on brain tissue of the patient and various controls. Results: MRI revealed focal lesions around injection sites with onset from 3 months after therapy, progression until 7 months post therapy with subsequent stabilization and some regression. The patient had transient slight neurological signs and is following near‐normal development. No evidence of viral or immunological/inflammatory cause was found. Immunohistochemistry showed immature oligodendrocytes and astrocytes, oligodendrocyte apoptosis, strong intracellular and extracellular sulfamidase expression and hardly detectable intracellular or extracellular heparan sulfate. No activation of the unfolded protein response was found. Interpretation: Results suggest that intracerebral gene therapy with local sulfamidase overexpression leads to dysfunction of transduced cells close to injection sites, with extracellular spilling of lysosomal enzymes. This alters extracellular matrix composition, depletes heparan sulfate, impairs astrocyte and oligodendrocyte function, and causes cystic white matter degeneration at the site of highest gene expression. The AAVance trial results will reveal the potential benefit–risk ratio of this therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The study investigated the prognostic value of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery and calculated a simplified biomarker score comprising suPAR, N‐terminal pro B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) and age. Methods and Results: Biomarkers were assessed in a cohort of 478 patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. After a median follow‐up of 4.2 years, a total of 72 (15.1%) patients died. SuPAR, NT‐proBNP and age were independent prognosticators of mortality in a multivariable Cox regression model after adjustment for EuroScoreII. We then calculated a simplified biomarker score comprising age, suPAR and NT‐proBNP, which had a superior prognostic value compared to EuroScoreII (Harrel's C of 0.76 vs. 0.72; P for difference = 0.02). Besides long‐term mortality, the biomarker score had an excellent performance predicting one‐year mortality and hospitalization due to heart failure. Conclusion: The biomarker suPAR and NT‐proBNP were strongly and independently associated with mortality in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. A simplified biomarker score comprising only three variables (age, suPAR and NT‐proBNP) performed better than the established EuroScoreII with respect to intermediate and long‐term outcome as well as hospitalization due to heart failure. As such, integration of established and upcoming biomarkers in clinical practice may provide improved decision support in cardiac surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large‐area processing remains a key challenge for perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Advanced understanding and improved reproducibility of scalable fabrication processes are required to unlock the technology's economic potential. In this regard, machine learning (ML) methods have emerged as a promising tool to accelerate research and unlock the control needed to produce large‐area solution‐processed perovskite thin films. However, a suitable dataset allowing the analysis of a scalable fabrication process is currently missing. Herein, a unique labeled in situ photoluminescence (PL) dataset for blade‐coated PSCs is introduced and explored with unsupervised k‐means clustering, demonstrating the feasibility to derive meaningful insights from such data. Correlations between the obtained clusters and the measured performance of PSC reveal that the in situ PL signal encodes information about the perovskite thin‐film quality. Detrimental mechanisms during thin‐film formation are detected by identifying spatial differences in PL patterns and, consequently, of device performance. In addition, k‐nearest neighbors is applied to predict the performance of PSCs, motivating further investigations into ML‐based in‐line process monitoring of scalable PSC fabrication to detect, understand, and ultimately minimize process variations across iterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Ghrelin, a regulator of food intake and energy expenditure, has been shown to be associated with insufficient sleep. The goal of the present study was to investigate the effect of a single night of total sleep deprivation on fasting saliva ghrelin and on nocturnal variation of saliva ghrelin concentration. A further aim of the study was to investigate the influence of body mass index on changes in saliva ghrelin levels. Altogether 35 adolescents (18 boys; age: 13.8 ± 1.14 years) were studied on two subsequent days (sleep and total sleep deprivation). Saliva samples were collected during the two experimental nights at 21:00 hours, 01:00 hours and 06:00 hours. Total‐ghrelin concentration showed a continuous increase from the evening until 06:00 hours. This increase was blunted significantly (p = 0.003) by total sleep deprivation. Total‐ghrelin level was significantly lower (p = 0.02) during total sleep deprivation at 06:00 hours (median 403.6 pg ml−1; 95% confidence interval: 343.1–468.9 pg ml−1) as compared with values during the sleep condition (median 471.2 pg ml−1; 95% confidence interval: 205.4–1578.7 pg ml−1). Acyl‐ghrelin levels did not present any change at the three time points, and were not affected by total sleep deprivation. Stratifying the study population according to body mass index (normal weight and overweight/obese groups), the blunting effect of total sleep deprivation was more pronounced in the obese/overweight group (sleep: median 428.2 pg ml−1; 95% confidence interval: 331.3–606.9 pg ml−1 versus total sleep deprivation: median 333.1 pg ml−1; 95% confidence interval: 261.5–412.9 pg ml−1; p = 0.0479). Saliva total‐ghrelin concentrations gradually increased during the night, and total sleep deprivation significantly blunted this increase. This blunting effect was mainly observed in subjects with overweight/obesity. The physiological and clinical implications of the present observation are to be clarified by further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Educational technologies have experienced unprecedented prominence on university agendas with many institutions motivated to keep the lessons learned from the COVID‐19 sparked transition with regard to online teaching. In response to this renewed interest in ensuring the longevity of educational technologies in higher education, this systematic review analysed the various organisational factors—for example, leadership, infrastructure, strategy—considered essential in the literature for the successful implementation of educational technologies. Specifically, we reviewed 1614 papers published in five prominent educational technology journals in the last decade. From this sample, we identified 47 papers that discussed organisational factors. Drawing on these studies, we constructed an organisational framework, which outlines the different organisational factors, actors and processes involved in implementing educational technologies. The identified organisational factors are structured into three main categories: (1) Leadership and Strategy, (2) Infrastructure and Resources and (3) Recognition and Motivation. Our aim was to further the scholarly understanding of the organisational layer involved in digital change as well as provide concrete recommendations for practitioners. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic Previous research has stressed the importance of taking organisational factors such as infrastructure, leadership, strategy and staff commitment into account when implementing educational technologies.However, review papers have failed to systematically organise these studies to create a comprehensive understanding of the organisational factors involved in implementing educational technologies and ensuring their longevity at an institution.There is currently a high level of interest in how educational technologies can be implemented in the higher education landscape, as many institutions are facing the question of what lessons they can learn from the crisis and how they can continue on their path of digitalisation.What this paper addsThis review paper addresses a gap in our scholarly understanding of the organisational layers involved in the implementation of educational technologies in higher education institutions (HEIs).This paper provides a framework on organisational factors, which influence the implementation of educational technologies in HEIs.This review paper demonstrates that bottom‐up and opinion leadership, support structures tailored to the need and time of faculty as well as recognition and incentives have the largest impact on a sustainable implementation of educational technologies in HEIs.Implications for practice and/or policyUniversities should create structures that enable innovation and creativity by promoting bottom‐up and opinion leadership as well as shared decision‐making processes as they are important for the successful implementation of educational technologies in HEIs.Besides providing a reliable and suitable infrastructure, institutional support and resources in terms of technical advice and training tailored to specific needs, should be in place when planning the implementation of educational technologies in HEIs.The additional workload instructors face when implementing digital teaching should be recognised and incentivised as it strengthens instructor engagement which is crucial for the implementation of educational technologies in HEIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vacuum‐assisted growth (VAG) control is one of the most promising methods for controlling nucleation and crystallization of printed and coated large area lead halide perovskite‐based layers for optoelectronics. To coat or print homogeneous high‐quality perovskite thin‐films at high fabrication yield, real‐time process monitoring of the VAG is pivotal. In response, a 2.1‐megapixel multichannel photoluminescence (PL) and reflection imaging system is developed and employed for the simultaneous spatial in situ analysis of drying, nucleation, and crystal growth during VAG and subsequent thermal annealing of inkjet‐printed and blade‐coated perovskite thin‐films. It is shown that the VAG process, for example, evacuation rate and time, affects the film formation and provide detailed insight into traced PL and reflection transients extracted from sub‐second videos of each channel. Based on correlative analysis between the transients and, for example, perovskite ink composition, wet‐film thickness, or evacuation time, key regions which influence crystal quality, film morphology, and are base for prediction of solar cell performance are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiotoxicity, defined mainly as left ventricle (LV) dysfunction, is a significant side effect of anthracyclines (ANT) therapy. The need for an early simple marker to identify patients at risk is crucial. A high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been associated with poor prognosis in cancer patients; however, its role as a predictor for cardiotoxicity development is unknown. Objective: Evaluating whether elevated NLR, during ANT exposure, plays a predictive role in the development of cardiotoxicity as defined by LV global longitudinal strain (LV GLS) relative reduction (=10%). Methods and Results: Data were prospectively collected as part of the Israel Cardio-Oncology Registry. A total of 74 female patients with breast cancer, scheduled for ANT therapy were included. NLR levels were assessed at baseline (T1) and during ANT therapy (T2). All patients underwent serial echocardiography at baseline (T1) and after the completion of ANT therapy (T3). NLR = 2.58 at T2 was found to be the optimal predictive cutoff for LV GLS deterioration. A relative LV GLS reduction =10% was significantly more common among patients with high NLR (50% vs. 20%, p = .009). NLR = 2.58 at T2 increases the risk for LV GLS reduction by fourfold (odds ratio [OR]: 4.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29-16.5, p = .02), with each increase of 1-point NLR adding an additional 15% risk (OR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.01-1.32, p = .046). Conclusions: Our study provides novel data that high NLR levels, during ANT exposure, have an independent association with the development of LV dysfunction. Routine surveillance of NLR may be an effective means of risk-stratifying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering of the interface between perovskite absorber thin films and charge transport layers has fueled the development of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) over the past decade. For p‐i‐n PSCs, the development and adoption of hole transport layers utilizing self‐assembled monolayers (SAM‐HTLs) based on carbazole functional groups with phosphonic acid anchoring groups has enabled almost lossless contacts, minimizing interfacial recombination to advance power conversion efficiency in single‐junction and tandem solar cells. However, so far these materials have been deposited exclusively via solution‐based methods. Here, for the first time, vacuum‐based evaporation of the most common carbazole‐based SAM‐HTLs (2PACz, MeO‐2PACz, and Me‐4PACz) is reported. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy demonstrate no observable chemical differences in the evaporated SAMs compared to solution‐processed counterparts. Consequently, the near lossless interfacial properties are either preserved or even slightly improved as demonstrated via photoluminescence measurements and an enhancement in open‐circuit voltage. Strikingly, applying evaporated SAM‐HTLs to complete PSCs demonstrates comparable performance to their solution‐processed counterparts. Furthermore, vacuum deposition is found to improve perovskite wetting and fabrication yield on previously non‐ideal materials (namely Me‐4PACz) and to display conformal and high‐quality coating of micrometer‐sized textured surfaces, improving the versatility of these materials without sacrificing their beneficial properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past 80 years, tilapia have been translocated globally for aquaculture; active production is recorded in >124 countries. Of 7 million tonnes of tilapia produced in aquaculture, 79% is from 79 countries outside the natural range of tilapia. Capture fisheries account for a further 723,627 tonnes of tilapia, and >47% of this is landed from established invasive populations outside Africa. Tilapias host a rich fauna of parasites, many of which have been translocated with their hosts. This review summarises >2500 host–parasite records from 73+ countries and >820 recorded tilapia translocations (provided in the supplementary materials). This work focuses on the notable pathogens that threaten the health of cultured populations of tilapia, providing a description of their pathology and includes species that also have substantial impacts on wild tilapia populations, where relevant. For each major parasite taxonomic group, we highlight which parasites have been translocated or have been acquired from the new environments into which tilapia have been introduced, together with remarks on standard treatment approaches and research on them and their management and control. Regarding the theme 'Tilapia health: quo vadis?', Africa has enormous potential for aquaculture growth, but substantial knowledge gaps about tilapia parasites in many African states remain, which creates associated production and biosecurity risks. For each parasitic group, therefore, the risks of parasite translocation to new regions as tilapia aquaculture industries expand are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlling the internal structures of single‐chain nanoparticles (SCNPs) is an important factor for their targeted chemical design and synthesis, especially in view of nanosized compartments presenting different local environments as a main feature to control functionality. We here design SCNPs bearing near‐infrared fluorescent dyes embedded in hydrophobic compartments for use as contrast agents in pump–probe photoacoustic (PA) imaging, displaying improved properties by the location of the dye in the hydrophobic particle core. Compartment formation is controlled via single‐chain collapse and subsequent crosslinking of an amphiphilic polymer using external crosslinkers in reaction media of adjustable polarity. Different SCNPs with hydrodynamic diameters of 6‐12 nm bearing adjustable label densities are synthesized. It is found that the specific conditions for single‐chain collapse have a major impact on the formation of the desired core–shell structure, in turn adjusting the internal nanocompartments together with the formation of excitonic dye couples, which in turn increase their fluorescence lifetime and PA signal generation. SCNPs with the dye molecules accumulate at the core also show a nonlinear PA response as a function of pulse energy—a property that can be exploited as a contrast mechanism in molecular PA tomography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Metastatic spine tumor surgery consists of palliative operations performed on frail patients with multiple medical comorbidities. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs involve an evidence‐based, multidisciplinary approach to improve perioperative outcomes. This study presents clinical outcomes of a metastatic spine tumor ERAS pathway implemented at a tertiary cancer center. Methods: The metastatic spine tumor ERAS program launched in April 2019, and data from January 2018 to May 2020 were reviewed. Measured outcomes included the following: hospital length of stay (LOS), time to ambulation, urinary catheter duration, time to resumption of diet, intraoperative fluid intake, estimated blood loss (EBL), and intraoperative and postoperative day 0–5 cumulative opioid use (morphine milligram equivalent [MME]). Results: A total of 390 patients were included in the final analysis: 177 consecutive patients undergoing metastatic spine tumor surgery enrolled in the ERAS program and 213 consecutive pre‐ERAS patients. Although the mean case durations were similar in the ERAS and pre‐ERAS cohorts (265 vs. 274 min; p =.22), the ERAS cohort had decreased EBL (157 vs. 215 ml; p =.003), decreased postoperative day 0–5 cumulative mean opioid use (178 vs. 396 MME; p <.0001), earlier ambulation (mean, 34 vs. 57 h; p =.0001), earlier discontinuation of urinary catheters (mean, 36 vs. 56 h; p <.001), and shorter LOS (5.4 vs. 7.5 days; p <.0001). Conclusions: The implementation of a multidisciplinary ERAS program designed for metastatic spine tumor surgery led to improved clinical quality metrics, including shorter hospitalizations and significant reductions in opioid consumption. Metastatic spine tumor surgery consists of palliative operations performed on frail patients with multiple medical comorbidities. The implementation of a multidisciplinary enhanced recovery after surgery program designed for metastatic spine tumor surgery has led to improved clinical quality metrics, including shorter hospitalizations and significant reductions in opioid consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated how well Swedish adolescents recognize the meaning of derived words in English and whether this knowledge is determined by learner proficiency, word frequency, or affix type. Participants were 88 school students in two proficiency groups: 39 advanced 12th graders and 49 intermediate 9th graders. Two tests of receptive vocabulary knowledge were administered. The first test had 80 basewords (e.g., maintain) representing the 8,000 most frequent words. The second test had 60 words that were derived from the first test (e.g., maintainable). Results showed that participants' knowledge of basewords extended to knowledge of derived words quite well: for example, when the advanced learners knew a baseword, they knew its derived form in 91% of the cases. Other results were that word family frequency but not derived word frequency determined knowledge of derived words, and that little support was found for Bauer and Nation's (1993) hierarchy of affix difficulty. The main implication of the results is that the word family, which subsumes basewords and their related forms under word knowledge, is an appropriate unit of counting in L2 pedagogy and research for learners with extensive exposure to English and a Germanic first language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precise lifetime predictions for lithium‐ion cells are crucial for efficient battery development and thus enable profitable electric vehicles and a sustainable transformation towards zero‐emission mobility. However, limitations remain due to the complex degradation of lithium‐ion cells, strongly influenced by cell design as well as operating and storage conditions. To overcome them, a machine learning framework is developed based on symbolic regression via genetic programming. This evolutionary algorithm is capable of inferring physically interpretable models from cell aging data without requiring domain knowledge. This novel approach is compared against established approaches in case studies, which represent common tasks of lifetime prediction based on cycle and calendar aging data of 104 automotive lithium‐ion pouch‐cells. On average, predictive accuracy for extrapolations over storage time and energy throughput is increased by 38% and 13%, respectively. For predictions over other stress factors, error reductions of up to 77% are achieved. Furthermore, the evolutionary generated aging models meet requirements regarding applicability, generalizability, and interpretability. This highlights the potential of evolutionary algorithms to enhance cell aging predictions as well as insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In rotodynamic blood pumps (RBPs) a substantial proportion of input energy is dissipated into the blood. This energy may propel damaging work on blood constituents. To date, the link between this hydraulic energy dissipation and respective hemolytic action in RBPs remains vastly unknown. In this study, computational fluid dynamics is applied to compute the hydraulic energy dissipation at 9 operating conditions in two RBPs (HM3: HeartMate 3; HVAD: HeartWare Ventricular Assist Device). Respective interrelations with hemolytic pump performance are elucidated by comparing these computations with in silico predicted and in vitro measured hemolysis. Despite different pump geometries, hydraulic loss magnitudes, and distributions, global hydraulic energy dissipation shows strong correlation (r > 0.95) to in vitro hemolysis with scaling factors in the same order of magnitude for both devices (φHM3 = 0.599 (mL g) (J 100L)–1; φHVAD = 0.716 (mL g) (J 100L)–1). The analytical description of hydraulic energy dissipation reveals to be a function of shear stresses and exposure time, unmasking its analogy to the power‐law formulation of hemolysis. This hydraulics‐based analysis may denote a step ahead to relate turbomachinery to bioengineering and may provide mechanistic insights into the relation between RBP design, hydraulic properties, and hemolytic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A substantial portion of biodiversity has evolved through adaptive radiation. However, the effects of explosive speciation on species interactions remain poorly understood. Metazoan parasites infecting radiating host lineages could improve our knowledge because of their intimate host relationships. Yet limited molecular, phenotypic and ecological data discourage multivariate analyses of evolutionary patterns and encourage the use of discrete characters. Here, we assemble new molecular, morphological and host range data widely inferred from a species‐rich lineage of parasites (Cichlidogyrus, Platyhelminthes: Monogenea) infecting cichlid fishes to address data scarcity. We infer a multimarker (28S/18S rDNA, ITS1, COI mtDNA) phylogeny of 58 of 137 species and characterize major lineages through synapomorphies inferred from mapping morphological characters. We predict the phylogenetic position of species without DNA data through shared character states, a morphological phylogenetic analysis, and a classification analysis with support vector machines. Based on these predictions and a cluster analysis, we assess the systematic informativeness of continuous characters, search for continuous equivalents for discrete characters, and suggest new characters for morphological traits not analysed to date. We also model the attachment/reproductive organ and host range evolution using the data for 136 of 137 described species and multivariate phylogenetic comparative methods (PCMs). We show that discrete characters not only can mask phylogenetic signals, but also are key for characterizing species groups. Regarding the attachment organ morphology, a divergent evolutionary regime for at least one lineage was detected and a limited morphological variation indicates host and environmental parameters affecting its evolution. However, moderate success in predicting phylogenetic positions, and a low systematic informativeness and high multicollinearity of morphological characters call for a revaluation of characters included in species characterizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many species‐rich ecological communities emerge from adaptive radiation events. Yet the effects of adaptive radiation on community assembly remain poorly understood. Here, we explore the well‐documented radiations of African cichlid fishes and their interactions with the flatworm gill parasites Cichlidogyrus spp., including 10,529 reported infections and 477 different host–parasite combinations collected through a survey of peer‐reviewed literature. We assess how evolutionary, ecological, and morphological parameters determine host–parasite meta‐communities affected by adaptive radiation events through network metrics, host repertoire measures, and network link prediction. The hosts' evolutionary history mostly determined host repertoires of the parasites. Ecological and evolutionary parameters predicted host–parasite interactions. Generally, ecological opportunity and fitting have shaped cichlid‐Cichlidogyrus meta‐communities suggesting an invasive potential for hosts used in aquaculture. Meta‐communities affected by adaptive radiations are increasingly specialised with higher environmental stability. These trends should be verified across other systems to infer generalities in the evolution of species‐rich host–parasite networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite/silicon tandem photovoltaics have attracted enormous attention in science and technology over recent years. In order to improve the performance and stability of the technology, new materials and processes need to be investigated. However, the established sequential layer deposition methods severely limit the choice of materials and accessible device architectures. In response, a novel lamination process that increases the degree of freedom in processing the top perovskite solar cell (PSC) is proposed. The very first prototypes of laminated monolithic perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells with stable power output efficiencies of up to 20.0% are presented. Moreover, laminated single‐junction PSCs are on par with standard sequential layer deposition processed devices in the same architecture. The numerous advantages of the lamination process are highlighted, in particular the opportunities to engineer the perovskite morphology, which leads to a reduction of non‐radiative recombination losses and and an enhancement in open‐circuit voltage (Voc). Laminated PSCs exhibit improved stability by retaining their initial efficiency after 1‐year aging and show good thermal stability under prolonged illumination at 80 °C. This lamination approach enables the research of new architectures for perovskite‐based photovoltaics and paves a new route for processing monolithic tandem solar cells even with a scalable lamination process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A relation between the left ventricular assist device inflow cannula (IC) malposition and pump thrombus has been reported. This study aimed to investigate if the pump position, derived from chest X‐rays in HeartMate 3 (HM3) patients, correlates with neurological dysfunction (ND), ischemic stroke (IS), hemorrhagic stroke (HS) and survival. Methods: This analysis was performed on routinely acquired X‐rays of 42 patients implanted with a HM3 between 2014 and 2017. Device position was quantified in patients with and without ND from frontal and lateral X‐rays characterizing the IC and pump in relation to spine, diaphragm or horizontal line. The primary end‐point was freedom from stroke and survival one‐year after HM3 implantation stratified by pump position. Results: The analysis of X‐rays, 33.5 (41.0) days postoperative, revealed a significant smaller IC angle of HM3 patients with ND versus no ND (0.1° ± 14.0° vs. 12.9° ± 10.1°, p = 0.005). Additionally, the IC angle in the frontal view, IS: 4.1 (20.9)° versus no IS: 13.8 (7.5)°, p = 0.004 was significantly smaller for HM3 patients with IS. Using receiver operating characteristics derived cut‐off, IC angle <10° provided 75% sensitivity and 100% specificity (C‐statistic = 0.85) for predicting IS. Stratified by IC angle, freedom from IS at 12 months was 100% (>10°) and 60% (<10°) respectively (p = 0.002). No significant differences were found in any end‐point between patients with and without HS. One‐year survival was significantly higher in patients with IC angle >10° versus <10° (100% vs. 71.8%, p = 0.012). Conclusions: IC malposition derived from standard chest X‐rays serves as a risk factor for ND, IS and worse survival in HM3 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]