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Recently, high-temperature superconductivity has been found at the interface between two Mott insulators, PrBa2Cu3O7 and La2CuO4. In this work, we demonstrate our tuning of this interface superconductor by ionic liquid gating. By varying gate voltage, VG, a superconductor–insulator phase transition was achieved. Hall-effect measurements suggest that the carrier density, which can be tuned continuously from 1.86 × 1014 to 3.78 × 1014 cm−2 for VG varying from −0.3 to −3 V, is the tuning parameter. A finite-size scaling analysis was used to analyze the superconductor–insulator phase transition, which gives a critical resistance of 14–17 kΩ and a critical exponent of zν ≈ 1.3–1.4. These values are comparable with those obtained in previous studies on ultrathin clean cuprate films gated by ionic liquid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: HIV-exposed uninfected infants (HEU) appear more vulnerable to infections compared to their HIV-unexposed uninfected (HUU) peers, generally attributed to poor passive immunity acquired from the mother. This may be due to some genetic factors that could alter the immune system. We thus sought to determine the distribution of Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-Like Receptors (KIRs) genes in HEU versus HUU and study their associations with the occurrence of infection-related hospitalization. Methods: A cohort study was conducted from May 2019 to April 2020 among HEU and HUU infants, including their follow-up at weeks 6, 12, 24, and 48, in reference pediatric centers in Yaoundé-Cameroon. The infant HIV status and infections were determined. A total of 15 KIR genes were investigated using the sequence-specific primer polymerase chain reaction (PCR-SSP) method. The KIR genes that were significantly associated with HIV-1 status (HEU and HUU) were analyzed for an association with infection-related hospitalizations. This was only possible if, and to the extent that, infection-related hospitalizations varied significantly according to status. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the association between KIR gene content variants and HIV status, while considering a number of potential confounding factors. Furthermore, the risk was quantified using relative risk, odds ratio, and a 95% confidence interval. The Fisher exact test was employed to compare the frequency of occurrences. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In this cohort, a total of 66 infants participated, but only 19 acquired infections requiring hospitalizations (14.81%, 04/27 HUU and 38.46%, 15/39 HEU, p = 0.037). At week 48 (39 HEU and 27 HUU), the relative risk (RR) for infection-related hospitalizations was 2.42 (95% CI: 1.028–5.823) for HEU versus HUU with OR 3.59 (1.037–12.448). KIR2DL1 gene was significantly underrepresented in HEU versus HUU (OR = 0.183, 95%CI: 0.053–0.629; p = 0.003), and the absence of KIR2DL1 was significantly associated with infection-related hospitalization (p < 0.001; aOR = 0.063; 95%CI: 0.017–0.229). Conclusion: Compared to HUU, the vulnerability of HEU is driven by KIR2DL1, indicating the protective role of this KIR against infection and hospitalizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Plasmonic nanogaps in strongly coupled metal nanostructures can confine light to nanoscale regions, leading to huge electric field enhancement. This unique capability makes plasmonic nanogaps powerful platforms for boosting light-matter interactions, thereby enabling the rapid development of novel phenomena and applications. This review traces the progress of nanogap systems characterized by well-defined morphologies, controllable optical responses, and a focus on achieving extreme performance. The properties of plasmonic gap modes in far-field resonance and near-field enhancement are explored and a detailed comparative analysis of nanogap fabrication techniques down to sub-nanometer scales is provided, including bottom-up, top-down, and their combined approaches. Additionally, recent advancements and applications across various frontier research areas are highlighted, including surface-enhanced spectroscopy, plasmon-exciton strong coupling, nonlinear optics, optoelectronic devices, and other applications beyond photonics. Finally, the challenges and promising emerging directions in the field are discussed, such as light-driven atomic effects, molecular optomechanics, and alternative new materials., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

We present a first-principles theoretical study of the atomistic footprints in the valence electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) of nanometer-size metallic particles. Charge density maps of excited plasmons and EEL spectra for specific electron paths through a nanoparticle (Na380 atom cluster) are modeled using ab initio calculations within time-dependent density functional theory. Our findings unveil the atomic-scale sensitivity of EELS within this low-energy spectral range. Whereas localized surface plasmons (LSPs) are particularly sensitive to the atomistic structure of the surface probed by the electron beam, confined bulk plasmons (CBPs) reveal quantum size effects within the nanoparticle's volume. Moreover, we prove that classical local dielectric theories mimicking the atomistic structure of the nanoparticles reproduce the LSP trends observed in quantum calculations, but fall short in describing the CBP behavior observed under different electron trajectories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the design and development of an electronic controller for accurate temperature management for the storage of biological and chemical samples in healthcare applications. In the introduction, some important application aspects related to the use of temperature control devices in healthcare are discussed. Keeping these aspects in mind, a brief overview of some related works is presented. The findings are then translated to specific requirements for an electronic controller, which is to be used in a temperature control device. These requirements made necessary the development of a custom controller, as no readily available solutions could be obtained. The paper proceeds with the design of a suitable architecture and discusses some of the design choices. Then, some implementation details are presented and the prototype controller, together with its user interface, is illustrated. Experiments are conducted and several points for improvement are identified. Overall, the main task of keeping accurate, traceable temperature at all times is accomplished successfully, and the electronic controller proves to be a viable solution that conforms to the identified requirements. Future versions will improve the speed of the temperature adaptation and include better user interface and wireless connectivity for remote monitoring and control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype 3 is the major cause of acute viral hepatitis in several European countries. It is acquired mainly by ingesting contaminated pork, but has also been reported to be transmitted through blood transfusion. Although most HEV infections, including those via blood products, are usually self-limiting, they may become chronic in immunocompromised persons. It is thus essential to identify HEV-infected blood donations to prevent transmission to vulnerable recipients. Aims: Prior to the decision whether to introduce HEV RNA screening for all Swiss blood donations, a 2-year nationwide prevalence study was conducted. Methods: All blood donations were screened in pools of 12–24 samples at five regional blood donation services, and HEV RNA-positive pools were subsequently resolved to the individual donation index donation (X). The viral load, HEV IgG and IgM serology, and HEV genotype were determined. Follow-up investigations were conducted on future control donations (X + 1) and previous archived donations of the donor (X − 1) where available. Results: Between October 2018 and September 2020, 541,349 blood donations were screened and 125 confirmed positive donations were identified (prevalence 1:4331 donations). At the time of blood donation, the HEV RNA-positive individuals were symptom-free. The median viral load was 554 IU/mL (range: 2.01–2,500,000 IU/mL). Men (88; 70%) were more frequently infected than women (37; 30%), as compared with the sex distribution in the Swiss donor population (57% male/43% female, p < 0.01). Of the 106 genotyped cases (85%), all belonged to genotype 3. Two HEV sub-genotypes predominated; 3h3 (formerly 3s) and 3c. The remaining sub-genotypes are all known to circulate in Europe. Five 3ra genotypes were identified, this being a variant associated with rabbits. In total, 85 (68%) X donations were negative for HEV IgM and IgG. The remaining 40 (32%) were positive for HEV IgG and/or IgM, and consistent with an active infection. We found no markers of previous HEV in 87 of the 89 available and analyzed archive samples (X − 1). Two donors were HEV IgG-positive in the X − 1 donation suggesting insufficient immunity to prevent HEV reinfection. Time of collection of the 90 (72%) analyzed X + 1 donations varied between 2.9 and 101.9 weeks (median of 35 weeks) after X donation. As expected, none of those tested were positive for HEV RNA. Most donors (89; 99%) were positive for anti-HEV lgG/lgM (i.e., seroconversion). HEV lgM-positivity (23; 26%) indicates an often-long persistence of lgM antibodies post-HEV infection. Conclusion: The data collected during the first year of the study provided the basis for the decision to establish mandatory HEV RNA universal screening of all Swiss blood donations in minipools, a vital step in providing safer blood for all recipients, especially those who are immunosuppressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the results of verbal framing analysis of the conflict in news published on Telegram channels by the Russian news agency RIA Novosti (RIAN) and the Ukrainian news agency (UNIAN) during the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The analysis, using the text mining method, shows differences between how a more authoritarian and more competitive regime uses social media to construct strategic narratives. RIAN benefits from a technical frame that has not changed throughout the war although the reality on the ground has been evolving dramatically. It focuses on military issues and international rivalry (e.g. sanctions) because the Kremlin focuses on it. UNIAN, on the other hand, uses the moralizing frame of conflict which is more flexible and has been developed in response to changes on the ground – from discussions about the possibility of the invasion to humanitarian tragedy to war crimes, and to creating a more essentialized image of the enemy ('rashists'). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasmonic nanoparticles in close vicinity to a metal surface confine light to nanoscale volumes within the insulating gap. With gap sizes in the range of a few nanometers or below, atomic-scale dynamical phenomena within the nanogap come into reach. However, at these tiny scales, an ultra-smooth material is a crucial requirement. Here, we demonstrate large-scale (50 μm) single-crystalline silver flakes with a truly atomically smooth surface, which are an ideal platform for vertically assembled silver plasmonic nanoresonators. We investigate crystalline silver nanowires in a sub-2 nm separation to the silver surface and observe narrow plasmonic resonances with a quality factor Q of about 20. We propose a concept toward the observation of the spectral diffusion of the lowest-frequency cavity plasmon resonance and present first measurements. Our study demonstrates the benefit of using purely crystalline silver for plasmonic nanoparticle-on-mirror resonators and further paves the way toward the observation of dynamic phenomena within a nanoscale gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO2 material has gained significant attention for large‐scale energy storage due to its abundant, low‐cost, and environmentally friendly properties, as well as the availability of various nanostructures. Phosphorus doping has been established as an effective technique for improving electronic conductivity and managing the slow ionic diffusion kinetics of TiO2. In this study, non‐doped and phosphorus doped TiO2 materials were synthesized using sodium alginate biopolymer as chelating agent. The prepared materials were evaluated as anode materials for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). The electrodes exhibit remarkable electrochemical performance, including a high reversible capacity of 235 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C and excellent first coulombic efficiency of 99 %. An integrated approach, combining operando XRD and ex‐situ XAS, comprehensively investigates the relationship between phosphorus doping, material structure, and electrochemical performance, reinforced by analytical tools and first principles calculations. Furthermore, a full cell was designed using 2 %P‐doped TiO2 anode and LiFePO4 cathode. The output voltage was about 1.6 V with high initial specific capacity of 148 mAh g−1, high rate‐capability of 120 mAh g−1 at 1 C, and high‐capacity retention of 96 % after 1000 cycles at 1 C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Use red blood cell stabilizer to store the antibody screening and antibody identification reagent red blood cells (RBCs) treated with 0.01 mol/L DTT and investigate its value in the pre-transfusion examinations of patients treated with daratumumab. Determined the optimal incubation time for the 0.01 mol/L DTT-treated RBCs method by evaluating the effect of treatment at different time points. Added ID-CellStab to store DTT-treated RBCs, determined the maximum shelf life of reagent RBCs by monitoring the hemolysis index, and assessed changes in the antigenicity of blood group antigens on the surface of RBCs during storage with antibody reagents. A protocol for long-term storage of reagent red blood cells treated with the 0.01 mol/L DTT method was established. The optimal incubation time was 40-50 min. RBCs could be stored stably for 18 days after adding ID-CellStab. The protocol was able to eliminate pan-agglutination caused by daratumumab, with no significant changes in the antigens of most blood group systems, except for some attenuation of K antigen and Duffy blood group system antigens during the storage period. The storage protocol of reagent RBCs based on the 0.01 mol/L DTT method does not affect the detection of most blood group antibodies and retains a certain degree of detection ability for anti-K antibodies, allowing patients treated with daratumumab to quickly perform pre-transfusion examinations, making up for the shortcomings of currently commercial reagent RBCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The core structures of dislocations are crucial for understanding the plastic deformation mechanisms and the functional properties of materials. Here, we use the scanning transmission electron microscopy imaging techniques of high-resolution high angle annular dark field and integrated differential phase contrast to investigate the atomic structure of a pair of climb-dissociated 1 2 a [ 01 1 ¯ ] dislocations in a bending-deformed relaxor ferroelectric Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3–Pb(Mg1/3Nb1/3)O3–PbTiO3 single crystal. Cations at one dislocation core are found to arrange in the same way as the climb-dissociated 1 2 a [ 01 1 ¯ ] dislocation core in SrTiO3, while the other one is different. Oxygen depletion was observed at both dislocation cores. Geometric phase analysis of the lattice rotation shows opposite signs at both sides of the dislocations, demonstrating the strain gradient, which is known to give rise to flexoelectric polarization. Using the peak finding method, the polarization (a combination of ferroelectric and flexoelectric) around dislocations was mapped at the unit-cell scale. The polarization direction obtained is consistent with that predicted based on the flexoelectric effect in a perovskite oxide with [011] geometry. Head-to-head positively charged and tail-to-tail negatively charged domain walls were revealed based on the polarization map, suggesting a new way to stabilize charged domain walls via dislocations. A distinct dislocation core configuration has been observed, and a unit-cell scale polarization map helps understand the flexoelectric effects (coupling between strain gradient and polarization) around dislocations in a relaxor ferroelectric. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Whole blood donors are at increased risk for iron deficiency (ID). ID anemia is associated with several symptoms, such as fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, pica, and restless leg syndrome (RLS). However, it is unclear if these symptoms also occur when a donor has developed ID without anemia. This study aims to determine whether non-anemic ID (NAID) is associated with the occurrence of ID-related symptoms., Study Designs and Methods: We combined data from three studies in whole blood donors (i.e., Donor Insight-III, FIND'EM, and FORTE) to create a substantial sample size (N = 12,143). The self-reported occurrence and severity of ID-related symptoms, such as physical and mental health, fatigue, cognitive functioning, pica, and RLS, was measured using validated questionnaires. Associations were studied using logistic regression modeling with ID-related symptoms derived from the questionnaires as the dependent variable and ferritin level group (0-15 μg/L, 15-30 μg/L, and >30 μg/L) as explanatory variable., Results: After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 9829 donors were eligible for analysis. In the models corrected for age, body mass index, Hb level, and cohort, only fatigue was shown to be associated with ferritin levels in men, showing lower odds (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.11-1.79) for fatigue with higher ferritin levels., Conclusion: In these studies, NAID was only associated with self-reported fatigue in male donors. Although selection bias may have led to underestimated associations, ferritin measurements in donors should be primarily considered as a measure to prevent anemia, rather than to prevent or mitigate NAID-related symptoms., (© 2024 The Author(s). Transfusion published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of AABB.)

Semiconducting nanoplatelets (NPLs) have attracted great attention due to the superior photophysical properties compared to their quantum dot analogs. Understanding and tuning the optical and electronic properties of NPLs in a plasmonic environment is a new paradigm in the field of optoelectronics. Here, we report on the resonant plasmon enhancement of light emission including Raman scattering and photoluminescence from colloidal CdSe/CdS nanoplatelets deposited on arrays of Au nanodisks fabricated by electron beam lithography. The localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of the Au nanodisk arrays can be tuned by varying the diameter of the disks. In the case of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), the Raman intensity profile follows a symmetric Gaussian shape matching the LSPR of the Au nanodisk arrays. The surface-enhanced photoluminescence (SEPL) profile of NPLs, however, follows an asymmetric Gaussian distribution highlighting a compromise between the excitation and emission enhancement mechanisms originating from energy transfer and Purcell effects. The SERS and SEPL enhancement factors depend on the nanodisk size and reach maximal values at 75 and 7, respectively, for the sizes, for which the LSPR energy of Au nanodisks coincides with interband transition energies in the semiconductor platelets. Finally, to explain the origin of the resonant enhancement behavior of SERS and SEPL, we apply a numerical simulation to calculate plasmon energies in Au nanodisk arrays and emission spectra from NPLs in such a plasmonic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 2014 to 2016, the number of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections in southern Switzerland increased dramatically and suggested food as a potential infection reservoir. We evaluated the effects of food control measures introduced to limit HEV infections, assessing anti-HEV IgG and IgM rates in blood donors before and after the implementation of food control measures in 2017. From 2012 to 2013, we screened 1283, and from 2017 to 2019, we screened 1447 donors for IgG and IgM antibodies. No statistically significant differences were detected for IgG (32.8% from 2012 to 2013 vs. 31.1% from 2017 to 2019, p = 0.337) or IgM rates (2.0% from 2012 to 2013 vs. 2.8% from 2017 to 2019, p = 0.21). Rural provenience and age > 66 are predictors for positive IgG serology. A total of 5.9% of 303 donors included in both groups lost IgG positivity. We also determined nucleic acid testing (NAT) rates after the introduction of this test in 2018, comparing 49,345 donation results from southern Switzerland with those of 625,559 Swiss donor controls, and only 9 NAT-positive donors were found from 2018 to 2023. The high HEV seroprevalence in southern Switzerland may depend on different food supply chains in rural and urban areas. Local preventive measures probably have a limited impact on blood HEV risk; thus, continuous NAT testing is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasmonic nanocavities form very robust sub-nanometer gaps between nanometallic structures and confine light within deep subwavelength volumes to enable unprecedented control of light–matter interactions. However, spherical nanoparticles acquire various polyhedral shapes during their synthesis, which has a significant impact in controlling many light–matter interactions, such as photocatalytic reactions. Here, we focus on nanoparticle-on-mirror nanocavities built from three polyhedral nanoparticles (cuboctahedron, rhombicuboctahedron, decahedron) that commonly occur during the synthesis. Their photonic modes have a very intricate and rich optical behaviour, both in the near- and far-field. Through a recombination technique, we obtain the total far-field produced by a molecule placed within these nanocavities, to reveal how energy couples in and out of the system. This work paves the way towards understanding and controlling light–matter interactions, such as photocatalytic reactions and non-linear vibrational pumping, in such extreme environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for lithium‐ion batteries has significantly increased due to the increasing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). However, these batteries have a limited lifespan, which needs to be improved for the long‐term use needs of EVs expected to be in service for 20 years or more. In addition, the capacity of lithium‐ion batteries is often insufficient for long‐range travel, posing challenges for EV drivers. One approach that has gained attention is using core–shell structured cathode and anode materials. That approach can provide several benefits, such as extending the battery lifespan and improving capacity performance. This paper reviews various challenges and solutions by the core–shell strategy adopted for both cathodes and anodes. The highlight is scalable synthesis techniques, including solid phase reactions like the mechanofusion process, ball‐milling, and spray‐drying process, which are essential for pilot plant production. Due to continuous operation with a high production rate, compatibility with inexpensive precursors, energy and cost savings, and an environmentally friendly approach that can be carried out at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperatures. Future developments in this field may focus on optimizing core–shell materials and synthesis techniques for improved Li‐ion battery performance and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reliable estimates of the population proportion eligible to donate blood are needed by blood collection agencies to model the likely impact of changes in eligibility criteria and inform targeted population‐level education, recruitment, and retention strategies. In Australia, the sole estimate was calculated 10+ years ago. With several subsequent changes to the eligibility criteria, an updated estimate is required. Study Design and Methods: We conducted a cross‐sectional national population survey to estimate eligibility for blood donation. Respondents were aged 18+ and resident in Australia. Results were weighted to obtain a representative sample of the population. Results: Estimated population prevalence of blood donation eligibility for those aged 18–74 was 57.3% (95% CI 55.3–59.3). The remaining 42.7% (95% CI 40.7–44.7) were either temporarily (25.3%, 95% CI 23.5–27.2) or permanently ineligible (17.4%, 95% CI 16.1–18.9). Of those eligible at the time of the survey, that is, with the UK geographic deferral for variant Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease included, (52.9%, 95% CI 50.8–54.9), 14.2% (95% CI 12.3–16.3) reported donating blood within the previous 2 years. Eligibility was higher among men (62.6%, 95% CI 59.6–65.6) than women (52.8%, 95% CI 50.1–55.6). The most common exclusion factor was iron deficiency/anemia within the last 6 months; 3.8% (95% CI 3.2–4.6) of the sample were ineligible due to this factor alone. Discussion: We estimate that approximately 10.5 million people (57.3% of 18–74‐year‐olds) are eligible to donate blood in Australia. Only 14.2% of those eligible at the time of survey reported donating blood within the previous 2 years, indicating a large untapped pool of potentially eligible blood donors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A domino aldol-SNAr-dehydration [3+3] annulation strategy has been utilized to fuse six-membered cyclic amides onto aromatic substrates. 2-Arylacetamides have been reacted with 2-fluorobenzaldehyde derivatives activated toward SNAr reaction by an electron-withdrawing substituent (NO2, CN, CF3, CO2Me) at C5 to prepare 3,6-disubstituted quinolin-2(1H)-ones. Additionally, 3-substituted 1,8-naphthyridin-2(1H)-ones have been similarly derived from 2-fluoronicotinaldehyde. Fifteen examples are reported, and two possible mechanistic scenarios are presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the unsolved problems for using high‐Tc superconducting cuprates for spintronic applications are the short coherence lengths of Cooper pairs in oxides (a few Å), which requires atomically sharp and defect‐free interfaces. This research demonstrates the presence of high‐Tc superconducting La1.84Sr0.16CuO4 in direct proximity to SrLaMnO4 and provides evidence for the sharpness of interfaces between the cuprate and the manganite layers at the atomic scale. These findings shed light on the impact of the chemical potential at the interface of distinct materials on highly sensitive physical properties, such as superconductivity. Additionally, this results show the high stability of ultrathin layers from the same K2NiF4‐type family, specifically one unit cell of Sr2−xLaxMnO4 and three unit cells of La1.84Sr0.16CuO4. This work advances both the fundamental understanding of the proximity region between superconducting cuprates and manganite phases and the potential use of oxide‐based materials in quantum computing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HLA-C, a gene located within the major histocompatibility complex, has emerged as a prominent target in biomedical research due to its involvement in various diseases, including cancer and autoimmune disorders; even though its recent addition to the MHC, the interaction between HLA-C and KIR is crucial for immune responses, particularly in viral infections. This review provides an overview of the structure, origin, function, and pathological implications of HLA-C in the major histocompatibility complex. In the last decade, we systematically reviewed original publications from Pubmed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Our findings reveal that genetic variations in HLA-C can determine susceptibility or resistance to certain diseases. However, the first four exons of HLA-C are particularly susceptible to epigenetic modifications, which can lead to gene silencing and alterations in immune function. These alterations can manifest in diseases such as alopecia areata and psoriasis and can also impact susceptibility to cancer and the effectiveness of cancer treatments. By comprehending the intricate interplay between genetic and epigenetic factors that regulate HLA-C expression, researchers may develop novel strategies for preventing and treating diseases associated with HLA-C dysregulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of combining electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) with environmental transmission electron microscopy (ETEM) is demonstrated by testing a specially designed micro gadolinia‐doped ceria (CGO) sample in reactive gasses (O2 and H2/H2O), at elevated temperatures (room temperature—800 °C) and with applied electrical potentials. The EIS‐TEM method provides structural and compositional information with direct correlation to the electrochemical performance. It is demonstrated that reliable EIS measurements can be achieved in the TEM for a sample with nanoscale dimensions. Specifically, the ionic and electronic conductivity, the surface exchange resistivity, and the volume‐specific chemical capacitance are in good agreement with results from more standardized electrochemical tests on macroscopic samples. CGO is chosen as a test material due to its relevance for solid oxide electrochemical reactions where its electrochemical performance depends on temperature and gas environment. As expected, the results show increased conductivity and lower surface exchange resistance in H2/H2O gas mixtures where the oxygen partial pressure is low compared to experiments in pure O2. The developed EIS‐TEM platform is an important tool in promoting the understanding of nanoscale processes for green energy technologies, e.g., solid oxide electrolysis/fuel cells, batteries, thermoelectric devices, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: The virtuous act of blood donations should be encouraged and promoted by all means while safeguarding the well-being of the donor. If regular blood donations lead to iron store depletion in any individual, it may be identified and preventive measures should be taken. The current practice of hemoglobin (Hb) testing alone before donation may not detect the depletion of iron stores. Yet, a policy to introduce tests for iron stores and iron supplementation in regular donors requires extensive research in this area because of the cost and feasibility concerns. The objectives were to study the prevalence of subclinical anemia among voluntary blood donors using serum ferritin levels attending the blood transfusion center and to compare the average Hb and serum ferritin levels of donors across different age groups, gender, and donation frequencies. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done on 300 consecutively enrolled voluntary whole-blood donors (December 2018-November 2019) who fulfilled eligibility criteria. Donors were further divided into four groups, depending on their number of donations. Their samples were tested for Hb and serum ferritin to check for reduced body iron stores. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Results: A total of 300 regular voluntary donors were included in the study. 57.7% of donors were in the age group of 20-29 years, of which 83.33% were males. The total prevalence of subclinical anemia was 16%, in whom 54.2% were males and 45.8% were females. Out of the total female donors in our study (50), 44% suffered from subclinical anemia. Out of the total male donors in the study (250), 10.4% suffered from subclinical anemia. There was a significant association between frequency of donation and subclinical anemia (odds ratio [OR] =6.36, P < 0.001). There was a significant association between subclinical anemia across gender (high for females; OR = 6.76, P < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between the frequency of donation and serum ferritin (Spearman correlation coefficient: -0.299), but there was no correlation observed between the frequency of donation and Hb levels. Conclusion: The study demonstrates the depletion of iron store with increasing donation frequency. This calls for continual supervision of body iron stores rather than Hb alone to ensure the continuous supply of healthy blood donors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) are cell surface molecules, central in coordinating innate and adaptive immune responses, that are targets of strong diversifying natural selection by pathogens. Of these pathogens, human herpesviruses have a uniquely ancient relationship with our species, where coevolution likely has reciprocating impact on HLA and viral genomic diversity. Consistent with this notion, genetic variation at multiple HLA loci is strongly associated with modulating immunity to herpesvirus infection. Here, we synthesize published genetic associations of HLA with herpesvirus infection and disease, both from case/control and genome-wide association studies. We analyze genetic associations across the eight human herpesviruses and identify HLA alleles that are associated with diverse herpesvirus-related phenotypes. We find that whereas most HLA genetic associations are virus- or disease-specific, HLA-A*01 and HLA-A*02 allotypes may be more generally associated with immune susceptibility and control, respectively, across multiple herpesviruses. Connecting genetic association data with functional corroboration, we discuss mechanisms by which diverse HLA and cognate receptor allotypes direct variable immune responses during herpesvirus infection and pathogenesis. Together, this review examines the complexity of HLA-herpesvirus interactions driven by differential T cell and Natural Killer cell immune responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are paving the way to clean energy conversion, relying on efficient oxygen-ion conductors with high ionic conductivity coupled with a negligible electronic contribution. Doped rare earth aluminates are promising candidates for SOFC electrolytes due to their high ionic conductivity. However, they often suffer from p-type electronic conductivity at operating temperatures above 500 °C under oxidizing conditions caused by the incorporation of oxygen into the lattice. High entropy materials are a new class of materials conceptualized to be stable at higher temperatures due to their high configurational entropy. Introducing this concept to rare earth aluminates can be a promising approach to stabilize the lattice by shifting the stoichiometric point of the oxides to higher oxygen activities, and thereby, reducing the p-type electronic conductivity in the relevant oxygen partial pressure range. In this study, the high entropy oxide (Gd,La,Nd,Pr,Sm)AlO 3 is synthesized and doped with Ca. The Ca-doped (Gd,La,Nd,Pr,Sm)AlO 3 compounds exhibit a higher ionic conductivity than most of the corresponding Ca-doped rare earth aluminates accompanied by a reduction of the p-type electronic conductivity contribution typically observed under oxidizing conditions. In light of these findings, this study introduces high entropy aluminates as a promising candidate for SOFC electrolytes., (© 2024 The Authors. Small published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

In recognition of the impact of whole-blood donation on body iron stores, there has been an increased focus assessing the efficacy of strategies to minimise the risk of iron deficiency (ID). Whilst donor behaviour is an important determinant of success, this literature is yet to be fully synthesised to help guide blood collection agencies when implementing these strategies into routine practice. This rapid review identifies strategies for management of low iron, how they have been communicated to donors, donor compliance with advice, donor use of external health services and their effect on donor retention. Web of Science, Medline, CINAHL and Wiley online library databases were searched from 2012 to November 2023, with 29 studies meeting inclusion criteria. Five iron management strategies were identified: oral iron supplementation (IS), education, dietary advice, lengthening inter-donation interval and switching donation type. Most studies (n = 16) focused on IS, with only four reporting how they communicated this to donors. Donor use of IS was high in controlled research environments but has not been evaluated when implemented into routine practice. None of the four studies on dietary advice included findings on donor acceptability. The proportion of donors consulting their doctor about a low iron result or their risk of ID was found to be suboptimal. However, in general, the identified strategies and communications had a positive effect on donor retention. More evidence is needed on how to increase donor knowledge and awareness of donation-related risk of ID as well as to identify how to effectively communicate strategies to donors to ensure optimal acceptability and use., (© 2024 British Blood Transfusion Society.)

Spontaneous photon emission can be drastically modified by placing quantum emitters (QEs) in nanostructured environment, resulting in dramatically enhanced emission rates due to the Purcell effect along with generation of collimated single‐photon beams propagating in design directions and featuring well‐defined polarization states. Recent advances in single‐photon generation engineering demonstrate fascinating possibilities for the directional emission of photons with designed spin and orbital angular momenta, a development that is crucial for exploiting the full potential of QEs within quantum information technologies. Although many different nanostructured configurations are considered for hosting QEs to mold single‐photon beams, collimating of the latter requires relatively large interaction areas to be involved, thus making the use of metasurfaces preferential. Furthermore, optical metasurfaces consisting of planar arrays of resonant nanoscale elements offer complete control over optical fields and thereby design freedom in shaping single‐photon emission. Here, recent advances in exploiting quantum optical metasurfaces for achieving enhanced and directional emission of single photons with specified polarization properties are overviewed. Special attention is paid to hybrid plasmon–QE coupled metasurfaces based on efficient QE coupling to surface plasmon modes that are subsequently outcoupled by designed dielectric nanoarrays into free propagating photon emission. Perspectives for future developments of metasurface empowered QEs are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common degenerative disorder in the elderly in developed countries. Currently, growing evidence is pointing at endothelial dysfunction as a key player in the cognitive decline course of AD. As a main component of the blood–brain barrier (BBB), the dysfunction of endothelial cells driven by vascular risk factors associated with AD allows the passage of toxic substances to the cerebral parenchyma, producing chronic hypoperfusion that eventually causes an inflammatory and neurotoxic response. In this process, the levels of several biomarkers are disrupted, such as an increase in adhesion molecules that allow the passage of leukocytes to the cerebral parenchyma, increasing the permeability of the BBB; moreover, other vascular players, including endothelin-1, also mediate artery inflammation. As a consequence of the disruption of the BBB, a progressive neuroinflammatory response is produced that, added to the astrogliosis, eventually triggers neuronal degeneration (possibly responsible for cognitive deterioration). Recently, new molecules have been proposed as early biomarkers for endothelial dysfunction that can constitute new therapeutic targets as well as early diagnostic and prognostic markers for AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dislocations have recently been imprinted into barium titanate single crystals to provide local domain wall pinning sites. Here, we assess the cycling stability under unipolar loading for the interaction between dislocations with [001] line vector and engineered ferroelectric domain walls. We find that a high large-signal piezoelectric strain coefficient (∼2100 pm/V) and dielectric permittivity (20 800) can be obtained without degradation if the topological interaction between domain wall and dislocation line is well chosen to utilize transient and permanent pinning sites. Our findings demonstrate the potential of dislocation engineering for the manipulation of the mobility of domain walls in bulk ferroelectrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autochthonous hepatitis E (HEV) cases have been increasingly recognized and reported in Europe, caused predominantly by the zoonotic HEV genotype 3. The clinical picture is highly variable, from asymptomatic to acute severe or prolonged hepatitis in immunocompromised patients. The main route of transmission to humans in Europe is the ingestion of undercooked pork meat. Transfusion-transmitted HEV infections have also been reported. The aim of the study was to determine the HEV epidemiology and risk in the Finnish blood donor population. A total of 23,137 samples from Finnish blood donors were screened for HEV RNA from individual samples and 1012 samples for HEV antibodies. Additionally, laboratory-confirmed hepatitis E cases in 2016–2022 were extracted from national surveillance data. The HEV RNA prevalence data was used to estimate the risk of transfusion transmission of HEV in the Finnish blood transfusion setting. Four HEV RNA-positive were found, resulting in 1:5784 (0.02%) RNA prevalence. All HEV RNA-positive samples were IgM-negative, and genotyped samples represented genotype HEV 3c. HEV IgG seroprevalence was 7.4%. From the HEV RNA rate found in this study and data on blood component usage in Finland in 2020, the risk estimate for a severe transfusion-transmitted HEV infection is 1:1,377,000 components or one in every 6–7 years. In conclusion, the results indicate that the risk of transfusion-transmitted HEV (HEV TTI) in Finland is low. However, continuous follow-up of the HEV epidemiology in relation to the transfusion risk landscape in Finland is necessary, as well as promoting awareness in the medical community of the small risk for HEV TTI, especially for immunocompromised patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: The increasing number of diagnosed hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections in Europe has led to the implementation of the testing of blood products in various countries. Many nations have not yet implemented such screening. To assess the need for HEV screening in blood products worldwide, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis assessing HEV RNA positivity and anti-HEV seroprevalence in blood donors. Methods: Studies reporting anti-HEV IgG/IgM or HEV RNA positivity rates among blood donors worldwide were identified via predefined search terms in PubMed and Scopus. Estimates were calculated by pooling study data with multivariable linear mixed-effects metaregression analysis. Results: A total of 157 (14%) of 1144 studies were included in the final analysis. The estimated HEV PCR positivity rate ranged from 0.01 to 0.14% worldwide, with strikingly higher rates in Asia (0.14%) and Europe (0.10%) in comparison to North America (0.01%). In line with this, anti-HEV IgG seroprevalence in North America (13%) was lower than that in Europe (19%). Conclusions: Our data demonstrate large regional differences regarding the risk of HEV exposure and blood-borne HEV transmission. Considering the cost–benefit ratio, this supports blood product screening in high endemic areas, such as Europe and Asia, in contrast to low endemic regions, such as the U.S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood centers are an essential component of the healthcare system, as timely blood collection, processing, and efficient blood dispatch are critical to the treatment of patients and the performance of the entire healthcare system. At the same time, an efficient blood dispatching system through the high-precision predictive capability of artificial intelligence is crucial for the efficiency improvement of the blood centers. However, the current artificial intelligence (AI) models for predicting blood usage do not meet the needs of blood centers. The challenges of AI models mainly include lower generalization ability in different hospitals, limited stability under missing values, and low interpretability. An artificial neural network-based model named the blood usage prediction neural network (BUPNN) has been developed to address these challenges. BUPNN includes a novel similarity-based manifold regularizer that aims to enhance network mapping consistency and, thus, overcome the domain bise of different hospitals. Moreover, BUPNN diminishes the performance degradation caused by missing values through data enhancement. Experimental results on a large amount of accurate data demonstrate that BUPNN outperforms the baseline method in classification and regression tasks and excels in generalization and consistency. Moreover, BUPNN has solid potential to be interpreted. Therefore, the decision-making process of BUPNN is explored to the extent that it acts as an aid to the experts in the blood center. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Concern on donors’ health and safety is growing in importance in many countries. One of the key issues is related to low body iron store in regular blood donors that some countries have advocated iron supplementation in addition to education. A survey was performed to look at the dietary factors in blood donors under an iron replenishment program in Hong Kong. The objectives of this survey were to evaluate the possible causes for iron deficiency and evaluate the effectiveness of education and iron supplementation program. Methods: A pre- and post- health education survey was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of an iron replenishment program addressing iron deficiency among regular blood donors. Eligible donors were invited to attend a health education held by a registered nurse after predonation hemoglobin test. A questionnaire was used to ask donors on their dietary habit, knowledge on iron deficiency, and iron supplement. Results: Of 428 participants, male donors preferred eating out for breakfast (P = 0.003) and lunch (P = 0.0005) than females. Those donors who preferred eating out were also likely to have higher frequency of taking tea or coffee (P = 0.0005). When compared the donors’ knowledge and confident level in taking iron replacement, significance was identified between genders and pre‑ and posthealth education. An affirmative donor satisfaction toward the nursing support and the iron replenishment program was also observed. Conclusion: The study result provided an insight into the possible dietary factors. The positive outcome of the health education warrants further planning of educational strategies to address the gender difference but also to achieve a better effect from iron replenishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The factors influencing hepatitis E virus (HEV) circulation remain largely unexplored. We investigated HEV seroprevalence in humans and the prevalence of infection in farm pigs and rabbits in different regions of the Russian Federation, as well as the genetic diversity and population dynamics of the HEV. The anti-HEV IgG antibody detection rates in the general population increase significantly with age, from 1.5% in children and adolescents under 20 years old to 4.8% in adults aged between 20 and 59 years old to 16.7% in people aged 60 years and older. HEV seroprevalence varies between regions, with the highest rate observed in Belgorod Region (16.4% compared with the national average of 4.6%), which also has the country's highest pig population. When compared with the archival data, both increases and declines in HEV seroprevalence have been observed within the last 10 years, depending on the study region. Virus shedding has been detected in 19 out of the 21 pig farms surveyed. On one farm, the circulation of the same viral strain for five years was documented. All the human and animal strains belonged to the HEV-3 genotype, with its clade 2 sequences being predominant in pigs. The sequences are from patients, pigs, and sewage from pig farms clustered together, suggesting a zoonotic infection in humans and possible environmental contamination. The HEV-3 population size that was predicted using SkyGrid reconstruction demonstrated exponential growth in the 1970s–1990s, with a subsequent decline followed by a short rise around the year 2010, the pattern being similar to the dynamics of the pig population in the country. The HEV-3 reproduction number (Re) that was predicted using birth–death skyline analysis has fluctuated around 1 over the past 20 years in Russia but is 10 times higher in Belgorod Region. In conclusion, the HEV-3 circulation varies both geographically and temporally, even within a single country. The possible factors contributing to this variability are largely related to the circulation of the virus among farm pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transfusion of packed red blood cells (pRBCs) saves lives, but iron overload limits survival of chronically transfused patients. Quality control methods, which involve entering pRBC units and removing them from the blood supply, reveal that hemoglobin (38.5–79.9 g) and heme iron (133.42–276.89 mg) vary substantially between pRBCs. Yet, neither hemoglobin nor iron content can be quantified for individual clinically used pRBCs leading to rules of thumb for pRBC transfusions. Keeping their integrity, the authors seek to predict hemoglobin/iron content of any given pRBC unit applying eight machine learning models on 6,058 pRBCs. Based on thirteen features routinely collected during blood donation, production and quality control testing, the model with best trade‐off between performance and complexity in hemoglobin/iron content prediction is identified. Validation of this model in an independent cohort of 2637 pRBCs confirms an adjusted R2 > 0.9 corresponding to a mean absolute prediction error of ≤1.43 g hemoglobin/4.96 mg iron (associated standard deviation: ≤1.13 g hemoglobin/3.92 mg iron). Such unprecedented precise prediction enables reliable pRBC dosing per pharmaceutically active agent, and monitoring iron uptake in patients and individual iron loss in donors. The model is implemented in a free open source web application to facilitate clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A boundary element modeling for predicting the plasmonic response from a Nanoparticle‐on‐Mirror (NPoM) structure is proposed. The NPoM can be considered as one of the most important platforms in the research on nanophotonics. Instead of using the local response model to describe the optical response of metals, the nonlocal hydrodynamic model is used to account for the dynamics of free electrons in the metallic NP and the metallic mirror beneath. A system of boundary integral equations (BIEs) is derived to describe the interaction of light with the NPoM structure. The BIEs are solved by the boundary element method. To validate the implementation, two exemplary structures are considered: the Nanosphere‐on‐Mirror structure and the Nanocube‐on‐Mirror structure. By contrasting with the results from previous works and the results from a generalized T‐matrix method, both a qualitative and quantitative agreement in the near field and the far field regimes are observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The purpose of this review is to raise awareness about the frequently underappreciated association of blood donation with iron deficiency, and to describe methods for its prevention and management. Blood donors cannot expect any health benefits from the donation but have justified expectations of no harm. Iron deficiency without anemia (IDWA) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are common consequences of regular blood donation, and this activity is the most important factor affecting iron status in regular blood donors. Awareness of blood donation as a primary cause of sideropenia is surprisingly low among physicians. Blood donation screening identifies potential donors with IDA but is frequently inadequate to detect IDWA. For the assessment of body iron stores, plasma or serum ferritin, transferrin saturation (TSAT) and soluble transferrin receptors (sTfR) concentrations are the most widely used biochemical markers, although the percentage of hypochromic mature erythrocytes and the hemoglobin content of reticulocytes are also useful. IDWA can be prevented by limiting the total volume of blood collected, by iron deficiency screening and deferral of sideropenic donors, by prolonging the interdonation intervals, and by iron supplementation between donations. IDWA tends to be more prevalent in younger people, females, and high-intensity donors. A potentially effective strategy to address sideropenia in blood donors is serum ferritin testing, but this may lead to a higher rate of deferral. Most regular blood donors cannot replenish their iron deficit by an iron-rich diet alone and will benefit from low-dose oral iron administration with various commercially available products post-donation, a well-tolerated strategy. However, valid concerns exist regarding the possibility of worsening the iron overload in donors with undiagnosed hemochromatosis or masking the symptoms of a clinically important gastrointestinal hemorrhage or other underlying medical condition. Finally, educational efforts should be intensified to improve the awareness of blood donation as a primary cause of iron deficiency among physicians of all specialties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fast charging lithium (Li)-ion batteries are intensively pursued for next-generation energy storage devices, whose electrochemical performance is largely determined by their constituent electrode materials. While nanosizing of electrode materials enhances high-rate capability in academic research, it presents practical limitations like volumetric packing density and high synthetic cost. As an alternative to nanosizing, microscale electrode materials cannot only effectively overcome the limitations of the nanosizing strategy but also satisfy the requirement of fast-charging batteries. Therefore, this review summarizes the new emerging microscale electrode materials for fast charging from the commercialization perspective. First, the fundamental theory of electronic/ionic motion in both individual active particles and the whole electrode is proposed. Then, based on these theories, the corresponding optimization strategies are summarized toward fast-charging microscale electrode materials. In addition, advanced functional design to tackle the mechanical degradation problems related to next generation high capacity alloy- and conversion-type electrode materials (Li, S, Si et al.) for achieving fast charging and stable cycling batteries. Finally, general conclusions and the future perspective on the potential research directions of microscale electrode materials are proposed. It is anticipated that this review will provide the basic guidelines for both fundamental research and practical applications of fast-charging batteries., (© 2023 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Plexcitonic strong coupling has ushered in an era of room‐temperature quantum electrodynamics at the nanoscale. Realizing its potential applications from single‐molecule spectroscopy to room‐temperature quantum technologies on an industrial level requires scalable and mass‐producible plasmonic cavities that provide ease of access and control for quantum emitters. Here, a strategy for multidimensional hotspot engineering is proposed via a rational selection of substrates, which facilitates elevation of a gold bowtie nanocavity hotspot to the top of the device and provides a field enhancement of ≈482 (a 1.6‐fold increase compared to a conventional bowtie‐on‐glass cavity at the bottom of the nanogap). The formation mechanism for these antenna modes is discussed from the perspective of charge carrier motion; and their advantages, particularly in view of their dominantly in‐plane polarized near‐fields, are further elaborated in a spatiotemporal study of plexcitonic strong coupling, which reveals ultrafast quantum dynamics and potential for applications related to 2D materials whose excitonic dipoles are typically oriented in‐plane. The conceptual discovery of this substrate‐enabled hotspot nanoengineering could readily be extended to tailor hotspots in other plasmonic platforms, and may inspire a plethora of novel research directions from plasmon‐enhanced spectroscopy and sensing to the design of quantum logic gates and quantum metasurfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural colorations with artificially engineered nanostructures provide a dye‐free mechanism for subdiffraction color generation with enhanced stability and environment friendliness. However, it remains elusive to create universally deep subwavelength pixels for arbitrary coloration at the single pixel level. The main obstacles are the unavoidable near‐field coupling between neighboring pixels and the angular dependent hues associated with the scattering process. Here, a generic principle is proposed and developed to create deep subwavelength bright‐field structural colors at the single pixel level by using alumina disk‐on‐film nanocavities. As a result of the gap‐plasmon‐induced perfect absorption, wide‐angle complementary colors are achieved across the full visible spectrum where both the near‐field coupling and angular dispersion are strongly suppressed. Deep subwavelength pixels down to 160 nm × 160 nm and green colors produced by composite pixels are experimentally demonstrated. The strategy represents a significant step toward practical application of structural colors at the single pixel level for nanoscale optical and optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]