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Introduction: Topographic surface patterning in the micro- and nanometer scale has evolved into a well applied approach in surface functionalization following biomimetic blueprints from nature. Depending on the production process an additional impact of process-related substrate modification has to be considered in functional surface optimization. This is especially true in case of antimicrobial applications of Cu surfaces where a modification of the substrate properties might impact bactericidal efficiency.Methods: In this regard, the effect of ultrashort pulsed direct laser interference patterning on the microstructure of pure Cu and resulting antimicrobial properties was investigated alongside line-like patterning in the scale of single bacterial cells.Results and Discussion: The process-induced microstructure modification was shown to play an important role in corrosion processes on Cu surfaces in saline environment, whereas the superficial microstructure impacts both corrosive interaction and ion emission. Surprisingly, antimicrobial efficiency is not predominantly following deviating trends in Cu ion release rates but rather depends on surface topography and wettability, which was shown to be impacted by the substrate microstructure state, as well. This highlights the need of an in-depth understanding on how different surface properties are simultaneously modulated during laser processing and how their interaction has to be designed to acquire an effective surface optimization e.g., to agitate active antimicrobial surface functionalization.

Despite multiple recent advances in systemic therapy for metastatic breast cancer, cases which display suboptimal response to guideline-driven treatment are frequently seen in the clinic. Effective options for such patients are limited, particularly in later line of therapy, and selection of optimal treatment options is essentially empirical and based largely on considerations of previous regimens received. Comprehensive cancer profiling includes detection of genetic alterations in tissue and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), immunohistochemistry (IHC) from re-biopsied metastatic disease, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), gene expression analysis and pharmacogenomics. The advent of this methodology and application to metastatic breast cancer, facilitates a more scientifically informed approach to identification of optimal systemic therapy approaches independent of the restrictions implied by clinical guidelines. Here we describe a case of metastatic breast cancer where consecutive comprehensive tumor profiling reveals ongoing tumor evolution, guiding the identification of novel effective therapeutic strategies.

Abstract Staphylococcus capitis is a member of the human and mammal skin microbiomes and is considered less harmful than Staphylococcus aureus. S. capitis subsp. urealyticus BN2 was isolated from a cat and expressed strong antibacterial activity against a range of Gram‐positive species, most notably including S. aureus strains with resistance to methicillin (MRSA) and strains with intermediate resistance to vancomycin (VISA). These latter strains are normally relatively resistant to bacteriocins, due to cell wall and cell membrane modifications. Genomic sequencing showed that the strain harboured at least two complete gene clusters for biosynthesis of antagonistic substances. The complete biosynthetic gene cluster of the well‐known lantibiotic gallidermin was encoded on a large plasmid and the mature peptide was present in isopropanol cell extracts. In addition, a chromosomal island contained a novel non‐ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) gene cluster. Accidental deletion of two NRPS modules and partial purification of the anti‐VISA activity showed that this novel bacteriocin represents a complex of differently decorated, non‐ribosomal peptides. Additionally, a number of phenol‐soluble modulins (PSMs) was detected by mass spectrometry of whole cells. Producing these compounds, the strain was able to outcompete several S. aureus strains, including MRSA and VISA, in tube cultures.

Strong unidirectional anisotropy in bulk polycrystalline B20 FeGe has been measured by ferromagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Such anisotropy is not present in static magnetometry measurements. B20 FeGe exhibits inherent Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction, resulting in a nonreciprocal spin-wave dispersion. Bulk and micron sized samples were produced and characterized. By X-band ferromagnetic resonance spectroscopy at 276 K ± 1 K, near the Curie temperature, a distribution of resonance modes was observed in accordance with the cubic anisotropy of FeGe. This distribution exhibits a unidirectional anisotropy, i.e. shift of the resonance field under field inversion, of KUD = 960 J/m3 ± 10 J/m3, previously unknown in bulk ferromagnets. Additionally, more than 25 small amplitude standing spin wave modes were observed inside a micron sized FeGe wedge, measured at 293 K ± 2 K. These modes also exhibit unidirectional anisotropy. This effect, only dynamically measurable and not detectable in static magnetometry measurements, may open new possibilities for directed spin transport in chiral magnetic systems.

Abstract Hyperpolarization techniques increase nuclear spin polarization by more than four orders of magnitude, enabling metabolic MRI. Even though hyperpolarization has shown clear value in clinical studies, the complexity, cost and slowness of current equipment limits its widespread use. Here, a polarization procedure of [1‐13C]pyruvate based on parahydrogen‐induced polarization by side‐arm hydrogenation (PHIP‐SAH) in an automated polarizer is demonstrated. It is benchmarked in a study with 48 animals against a commercial dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (d‐DNP) device. Purified, concentrated (≈70–160 mM) and highly hyperpolarized (≈18%) solutions of pyruvate are obtained at physiological pH for volumes up to 2 mL within 85 s in an automated process. The safety profile, image quality, as well as the quantitative perfusion and lactate‐to‐pyruvate ratios, are equivalent for PHIP and d‐DNP, rendering PHIP a viable alternative to established hyperpolarization techniques.

Abstract Background Increased occurrence of mucormycosis during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in early 2021 in India prompted us to undertake a multi-site case–control investigation. The objectives were to examine the monthly trend of COVID-19 Associated Mucormycosis (CAM) cases among in-patients and to identify factors associated with development of CAM. Methods Eleven study sites were involved across India; archived records since 1st January 2021 till 30th September 2021 were used for trend analysis. The cases and controls were enrolled during 15th June 2021 to 30th September 2021. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Among 1211 enrolled participants, 336 were CAM cases and 875 were COVID-19 positive non-mucormycosis controls. Results CAM-case admissions reached their peak in May 2021 like a satellite epidemic after a month of in-patient admission peak recorded due to COVID-19. The odds of developing CAM increased with the history of working in a dusty environment (adjusted odds ratio; aOR 3.24, 95% CI 1.34, 7.82), diabetes mellitus (aOR: 31.83, 95% CI 13.96, 72.63), longer duration of hospital stay (aOR: 1.06, 95% CI 1.02, 1.11) and use of methylprednisolone (aOR: 2.71, 95% CI 1.37, 5.37) following adjustment for age, gender, occupation, education, type of houses used for living, requirement of ventilatory support and route of steroid administration. Higher proportion of CAM cases required supplemental oxygen compared to the controls; use of non-rebreather mask (NRBM) was associated as a protective factor against mucormycosis compared to face masks (aOR: 0.18, 95% CI 0.08, 0.41). Genomic sequencing of archived respiratory samples revealed similar occurrences of Delta and Delta derivates of SARS-CoV-2 infection in both cases and controls. Conclusions Appropriate management of hyperglycemia, judicious use of steroids and use of NRBM during oxygen supplementation among COVID-19 patients have the potential to reduce the risk of occurrence of mucormycosis. Avoiding exposure to dusty environment would add to such prevention efforts.

Abstract Treatment recommendations for fragility fractures of the pelvis (FFP) have been provided along with the good reliable FFP classification but they are not proven in large studies and recent reports challenge these recommendations. Thus, we aimed to determine the usefulness of the FFP classification determining the treatment strategy and favored procedures in six level 1 trauma centers. Sixty cases of FFP were evaluated by six experienced pelvic surgeons, six inexperienced surgeons in training, and one surgeon trained by the originator of the FFP classification during three repeating sessions using computed tomography scans with multiplanar reconstruction. The intra-rater reliability and inter-rater reliability for therapeutic decisions (non-operative treatment vs. operative treatment) were moderate, with Fleiss kappa coefficients of 0.54 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.44–0.62) and 0.42 (95% CI 0.34–0.49). We found a therapeutic disagreement predominantly for FFP II related to a preferred operative therapy for FFP II. Operative treated cases were generally treated with an anterior–posterior fixation. Despite the consensus on an anterior–posterior fixation, the chosen procedures are highly variable and most plausible based on the surgeon’s preference.

Parahydrogen‐induced polarization (PHIP) is an inexpensive way to produce hyperpolarized molecules with polarization levels of >10 % in the solution‐state, but is strongly limited in generality since it requires chemical reactions/ interactions with H2. Here we report a new method to widen the scope of PHIP hyperpolarization: a source molecule is produced via PHIP with high 13C polarization, and precipitated out of solution together with a target species. Spin diffusion within the solid carries the polarization onto 13C spins of the target, which can then be dissolved for solution‐state applications. We name this method PHIP‐SSD (PHIP with solid‐state spin diffusion) and demonstrate it using PHIP‐polarized [1‐13C]‐fumarate as the source molecule, to polarize different 13C‐labelled target molecules. 13C polarizations of between 0.01 and 3 % were measured on [1‐13C]‐benzoic acid, depending on the molar ratio of fumarate:benzoate in the solid state. We also show that PHIP‐SSD does not require specific co‐crystallization conditions by grinding dry powders of target molecules together with solid fumarate crystals, and obtain 13C signal enhancements of between 100 and 200 on [13C,15N2]‐urea, [1‐13C]‐pyruvate, and [1‐13C]‐benzoic acid. This approach appears to be a promising new strategy for facile hyperpolarization based on PHIP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Topographic surface patterning in the micro- and nanometer scale has evolved into a well applied approach in surface functionalization following biomimetic blueprints from nature. Depending on the production process an additional impact of process-related substrate modification has to be considered in functional surface optimization. This is especially true in case of antimicrobial applications of Cu surfaces where a modification of the substrate properties might impact bactericidal efficiency. Methods: In this regard, the effect of ultrashort pulsed direct laser interference patterning on the microstructure of pure Cu and resulting antimicrobial properties was investigated alongside line-like patterning in the scale of single bacterial cells. Results and Discussion: The process-induced microstructure modification was shown to play an important role in corrosion processes on Cu surfaces in saline environment, whereas the superficial microstructure impacts both corrosive interaction and ion emission. Surprisingly, antimicrobial efficiency is not predominantly following deviating trends in Cu ion release rates but rather depends on surface topography and wettability, which was shown to be impacted by the substrate microstructure state, as well. This highlights the need of an in-depth understanding on how different surface properties are simultaneously modulated during laser processing and how their interaction has to be designed to acquire an effective surface optimization e.g., to agitate active antimicrobial surface functionalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendritic spines are actin-rich protrusions that receive a signal from the axon at the synapse. Remodeling of cytoskeletal actin is tightly connected to dendritic spine morphology-mediated synaptic plasticity of the neuron. Remodeling of cytoskeletal actin is required for the formation, development, maturation, and reorganization of dendritic spines. Actin filaments are highly dynamic structures with slow-growing/pointed and fast-growing/barbed ends. Very few studies have been conducted on the role of pointed-end binding proteins in the regulation of dendritic spine morphology. In this study, we evaluated the role played by tropomodulin 2 (Tmod2)—a brain-specific isoform, on the dendritic spine re-organization. Tmod2 regulates actin nucleation and polymerization by binding to the pointed end via actin and tropomyosin (Tpm) binding sites. We studied the effects of Tmod2 overexpression in primary hippocampal neurons on spine morphology using confocal microscopy and image analysis. Tmod2 overexpression decreased the spine number and increased spine length. Destroying Tpm-binding ability increased the number of shaft synapses and thin spine motility. Eliminating the actin-binding abilities of Tmod2 increased the number of mushroom spines. Tpm-mediated pointed-end binding decreased F-actin depolymerization, which may positively affect spine stabilization; the nucleation ability of Tmod2 appeared to increase shaft synapses.

The work functions of different stainless steels were investigated and found to be in the range of 4.08–4.19 eV. They characterize the passive layer, an oxide layer on top of the stainless steel bulk material. This layer makes the steels corrosion-resistant, and it also controls the possible electronic and electrochemical applications of such materials. Structured samples were measured that are especially important for applications of these materials, e.g., in solar cells or fuel cells. The effects of composition changes of the stainless steel on the work function are unexpectedly small, which is likely related to a similar number of d electrons responsible for the electronic band structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estuaries along the Amazonian coast are subjected to both a macrotidal regime and seasonally high fluvial discharge, both of which generate complex circulation. Furthermore, the Amazon River Plume (ARP) influences coastal circulation and suspended sediment concentrations (SSCs). The Gurupi estuary, located south of the mouth of the Amazon River, is relatively unstudied. This study evaluates how the Gurupi estuary dynamics respond to seasonal discharge and the varying influence of the ARP using cross-sectional and longitudinal surveys of morphology, hydrodynamics, and sediment transport. The Gurupi was classified as a tide-dominated estuary based on morphology and mean hydrodynamic conditions. However, the estuary was only partially mixed during both the wet and dry seasons. The tides propagated asymmetrically and hypersynchronously, with flood dominance during the dry season and ebb dominance during the rainy season. Seasonal variations of the ARP did not significantly affect the hydrodynamic structure of the lower Gurupi estuary. Estuarine turbidity maxima (ETM) were observed in both seasons, although the increase in fluvial discharge during the wet season attenuated and shifted the ETM seaward. Little sediment was delivered to the estuary by the river, and the SSCs were higher at the mouth in both seasons. Sediment was strongly imported during the dry season by tidal asymmetry. The morphology, hydrodynamics, and sediment dynamics all highlight the importance of considering both fluvial discharge and coastal influences on estuaries along the Amazon coast.