Cynomolgus macaques as a translational model of human immune responses to yellow fever 17D vaccination.

The non-human primate (NHP) model (specifically rhesus and cynomolgus macaques) has facilitated our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of yellow fever (YF) disease and allowed the evaluation of the safety and efficacy of YF-17D vaccines. However, the accuracy of this model in mimicking vaccine-induced immunity in humans remains to be fully determined. We used a systems biology approach to compare hematological, biochemical, transcriptomic, and innate and antibody-mediated immune responses in cynomolgus macaques and human participants following YF-17D vaccination. Immune response progression in cynomolgus macaques followed a similar course as in adult humans but with a slightly earlier onset. Yellow fever virus neutralizing antibody responses occurred earlier in cynomolgus macaques [by Day 7[(D7)], but titers > 10 were reached in both species by D14 post-vaccination and were not significantly different by D28 [plaque reduction neutralization assay (PRNT)50 titers 3.6 Log vs 3.5 Log in cynomolgus macaques and human participants, respectively; P = 0.821]. Changes in neutrophils, NK cells, monocytes, and T- and B-cell frequencies were higher in cynomolgus macaques and persisted for 4 weeks versus less than 2 weeks in humans. Low levels of systemic inflammatory cytokines (IL-1RA, IL-8, MIP-1α, IP-10, MCP-1, or VEGF) were detected in either or both species but with no or only slight changes versus baseline. Similar changes in gene expression profiles were elicited in both species. These included enriched and up-regulated type I IFN-associated viral sensing, antiviral innate response, and dendritic cell activation pathways D3-D7 post-vaccination in both species. Hematological and blood biochemical parameters remained relatively unchanged versus baseline in both species. Low-level YF-17D viremia (RNAemia) was transiently detected in some cynomolgus macaques [28% (5/18)] but generally absent in humans [except one participant (5%; 1/20)].IMPORTANCECynomolgus macaques were confirmed as a valid surrogate model for replicating YF-17D vaccine-induced responses in humans and suggest a key role for type I IFN.

Semiconductor Deposition via Laser Printing of a Bespoke Toner Containing Metal Xanthate Complexes.

A methodology to use laser printing, a form of electrophotography, to print metal chalcogenide complexes on paper, is described. After fusing the toner to paper, a heating step is used to cause the printed metal xanthate complexes to thermolyze within the toner and form three target metal chalcogenides: CuS, SnS, and ZnS. To achieve this, we synthesize a poly(styrene-co-n-butyl acrylate) thermopolymer that emulates the thermal properties of a commercial toner and is also solution processable with the metal xanthate complexes used: [Zn(S2COEt)2], [Cu(S2COEt)·(PPh3)2], and [Sn(S2COEt)2]. We demonstrate through energy dispersive X-ray mapping that the toner is deposited following printing and that thermolysis of the metal xanthate complexes occurs in the fused toner, demonstrating the first example of laser printing of inorganic complexes and, in turn, semiconductors.

Colouterine fistula relating to diverticulitis: a rare clinical entity.

Colouterine fistula is a rare but recognizable complication of diverticulitis. This case illustrates the presence of a colouterine fistula in an elderly patient who had an atypical presentation for diverticulitis. She was initially treated with intravenous antibiotics for diverticulitis with a contained abscess. This gave her an opportunity to avoid surgery. However, her sepsis failed to respond to the initial treatment. Progress computerized tomography imaging demonstrated the presence of a colouterine fistula for which she required source control. Thus she underwent laparotomy, Hartmann's procedure, and total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. The diagnosis of colouterine fistula was confirmed intraoperatively and on histopathology. Subsequently, the patient had an uneventful recovery following the operation. This case highlights the rarity but also the veracity of this clinical entity.

Thermoelectric Performance of Tetrahedrite (Cu12Sb4S13) Thin Films: The Influence of the Substrate and Interlayer.

In the present work, tetrahedrite Cu12Sb4S13 thin films were deposited on various substrates via aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD) using diethyldithiocarbamate complexes as precursors. A buffer layer of Sb2O3 with a small lattice mismatch to Cu12Sb4S13 was applied to one of the glass substrates to improve the quality of the deposited thin film. The buffer layer increased the coverage of the Cu12Sb4S13 thin film, resulting in improved electrical transport properties. The growth of the Cu12Sb4S13 thin films on the other substrates, including ITO-coated glass, a SiO2-coated Si wafer, and mica, was also investigated. Compared to the films grown on the other substrates, the Cu12Sb4S13 thin film deposited on the SiO2-coated Si wafer showed a dense and compact microstructure and a larger grain size (qualities that are beneficial for carrier transport), yielding a champion power factor (PF) of ∼362 µW cm-1 K-2 at 625 K. The choice of substrate strongly influenced the composition, microstructure, and electrical transport properties of the deposited Cu12Sb4S13 thin film. At 460 K, the highest zT value that was obtained for the thin films was ∼0.18. This is comparable to values reported for Cu-Sb-S bulk materials at the same temperature. Cu12Sb4S13 thin films deposited using AACVD are promising for thermoelectric applications. To the best of our knowledge, the first full thermoelectric characterization of the Cu12Sb4S13 thin film is performed in this work.

Portrait of a UK-Africa Capacity Building Initiative Consortium 2015-2022: the Cameroon, Ghana, South Africa and United Kingdom Materials Initiative (CaGSUMI) for developing materials for solar cells.

The CaGSUMI consortium was funded by the Royal Society-Department for International Development (later the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) on the Africa Capacity Building Initiative programme between the years 2015 and 2022 and involved three Sub-Saharan African universities: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon, and the University of Zululand, South Africa; and the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom. The project was used to cement an emergent UK-Africa network in the areas of materials chemistry related to renewable energy generation with both thin films and nanomaterials. The consortium's outputs led to numerous publications of African science in international journals, a number of graduated PhDs who went on to permanent academic positions and prestigious fellowships, the establishment of a capacity-building plan relevant to the chemistry departments in each of the African countries, and the installation of a number of first-in-kind pieces of kit for African laboratories that will keep them on a competitive footing at an international level for the next decade and more.

Exceptional Thermoelectric Performance of Cu2(Zn,Fe,Cd)SnS4 Thin Films.

High-quality Cu2(Zn,Fe,Cd)SnS4 (CZFCTS) thin films based on the parent CZTS were prepared by aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD). Substitution of Zn by Fe and Cd significantly improved the electrical transport properties, and monophasic CZFCTS thin films exhibited a maximum power factor (PF) of ∼0.22 µW cm-1 K-2 at 575 K. The quality and performance of the CZFCTS thin films were further improved by postdeposition annealing. CZFCTS thin films annealed for 24 h showed a significantly enhanced maximum PF of ∼2.4 µW cm-1 K-2 at 575 K. This is higher than all reported values for single-phase quaternary sulfide (Cu2BSnS4, B = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) thin films and even exceeds the PF for most polycrystalline bulk materials of these sulfides. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to understand the impact of Cd and Fe substitution on the electronic properties of CZTS. It was predicted that CZFCTS would have a smaller band gap than CZTS and a higher density of states (DoS) near the Fermi level. The thermal conductivity and thermoelectric figure of merit (zT) of the CZFCTS thin films have been evaluated, yielding an estimated maximum zT range of 0.18-0.69 at 550 K. The simple processing route and improved thermoelectric performance make CZFCTS thin films extremely promising for thermoelectric energy generation.

Nanosized Chevrel phases for dendrite-free zinc-ion based energy storage: unraveling the phase transformations.

The nanoscale form of the Chevrel phase, Mo6S8, is demonstrated to be a highly efficient zinc-free anode in aqueous zinc ion hybrid supercapacitors (ZIHSCs). The unique morphological characteristics of the material when its dimensions approach the nanoscale result in fast zinc intercalation kinetics that surpass the ion transport rate reported for some of the most promising materials, such as TiS2 and TiSe2. In situ Raman spectroscopy, post-mortem X-ray diffraction, Hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were combined to understand the overall mechanism of the zinc ion (de)intercalation process. The previously unknown formation of the sulfur-deficient Zn2.9Mo15S19 (Zn1.6Mo6S7.6) phase is identified, leading to a re-evaluation of the mechanism of the (de)intercalation process. A full cell comprised of an activated carbon (YEC-8A) positive electrode delivers a cell capacity of 38 mA h g-1 and an energy density of 43.8 W h kg-1 at a specific current density of 0.2 A g-1. The excellent cycling stability of the device is demonstrated for up to 8000 cycles at 3 A g-1 with a coulombic efficiency close to 100%. Post-mortem microscopic studies reveal the absence of dendrite formation at the nanosized Mo6S8 anode, in stark contrast to the state-of-the-art zinc electrode.

Validation of a Novel Method to Assess the Clinical Quality of Information in Pregnancy-Related Pharmacovigilance Case Reports: A ConcePTION Project.

BACKGROUND: To assess the causal relationship between a medicinal product and a reported event, relevant information needs to be present. Information elements for assessing cases of exposure to medicinal products during pregnancy were predefined and used in a new tool to assess the quality of information. However, the extent in which the presence or absence of these predefined information elements is associated with the overall clinical quality of these cases, as evaluated by pharmacovigilance experts, remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to validate a novel method to assess the clinical quality of information in real-world pregnancy pharmacovigilance case reports. METHODS: The clinical quality of case reports regarding medicinal product exposure and pregnancy-related outcomes was appraised from spontaneous reports, literature, Teratology Information Services (UK and Switzerland), The Dutch Pregnancy Drug Register, the Gilenya pregnancy registry and the Enhanced PV programme of Novartis. Assessment was done by means of the novel standardised tool based on the presence and relevance of information, and by expert judgement. The novel tool was validated compared to the expert assessment as the gold standard expressed as the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves, after which the sensitivity and specificity were calculated using cross-tabulations. Inter-rater variability was determined by means of weighted Cohen's kappa. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-six case reports were included. The clinical quality score as assessed by the novel method was divided into three categories with cut-off values of 45% (poor to intermediate) and 65% (intermediate to excellent). Sensitivity was 0.93 and 0.96 for poor to intermediate and intermediate to excellent, respectively. Specificity was respectively 0.52 and 0.73. Inter-rater variability was 0.65 (95% confidence interval 0.53-0.78) for the newly developed approach, and 0.40 (95% confidence interval 0.28-0.52) for the gold standard assessment. CONCLUSIONS: The tool described in this study using the presence and relevance of elements of information is the first designed, validated and standardised method for the assessment of the quality of information of case reports in pregnancy pharmacovigilance data. This method confers less inter-rater variability compared with a quality assessment by experts of pregnancy-related pharmacovigilance data.