Omicron BA.2 breakthrough infection elicits CD8+ T cell responses recognizing the spike of later Omicron subvariants.

Here, we examine peripheral blood memory T cell responses against the SARS-CoV-2 BA.4/BA.5 variant spike among vaccinated individuals with or without Omicron breakthrough infections. We provide evidence supporting a lack of original antigenic sin in CD8+ T cell responses targeting the spike. We show that BNT162b2-induced memory T cells respond to the BA.4/BA.5 spike. Among individuals with BA.1/BA.2 breakthrough infections, IFN-γ-producing CD8+ T cell responses against the BA.4/BA.5 spike increased. In a subgroup with BA.2 breakthrough infections, IFN-γ-producing CD8+ T cell responses against the BA.2-mutated spike region increased and correlated directly with responses against the BA.4/BA.5 spike, indicating that BA.2 spike-specific CD8+ T cells elicited by BA.2 breakthrough infection cross-react with the BA.4/BA.5 spike. We identified CD8+ T cell epitope peptides that are present in the spike of BA.2 and BA.4/BA.5 but not the original spike. These peptides are fully conserved in the spike of now-dominant XBB lineages. Our study shows that breakthrough infection by early Omicron subvariants elicits CD8+ T cell responses that recognize epitopes within the spike of newly emerging subvariants.

Association between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Chronic Kidney Disease According to Sex, Long Working Hours: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019-2020).

This study aimed to investigate whether obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and to perform subgroup analysis by sex and working hours. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 8157 subjects who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). The adults completed the STOP-BANG score to measure their risk of OSA, and blood and urine samples were collected to ascertain the severity of CKD based on the estimated glomerular filtration rate and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio. Multivariate logistic regression was used for complex sample analysis. After fully adjusting for the confounding variables, the high-risk OSA group showed a significantly higher risk of developing albuminuria and CKD than the low-risk group, particularly among men. Odds ratio (OR) 1.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13-2.6 and (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.14-2.45), respectively. Additionally, men who worked for 40 h/week showed a significant association between OSA, CKD, and albuminuria. This study supports the link between OSA and the risk of kidney disease, especially among men and those who work long hours. Screening and treating OSA may be a crucial strategy for preventing kidney disease, particularly in high-risk populations.

Smart Materials with Dual Functionality: Repeatable Damage-Detection and Self-Healing.

Polymer materials are extensively used because of their excellent performance; however, when used for a long time, they break and eventually lose their original properties. Thus, smart polymer materials that can repeatedly detect and repair damage must be urgently developed to increase their durability and lifespan. In this study, a smart material with dual functionality (damage-detection and self-healing) is developed via a facile method of incorporating spiropyran (SP) beads, which exhibit changes in color and fluorescence when damaged, into a Diels-Alder (DA)-based self-healing matrix. When polyurethane (PU) is added to the DA-based matrix, the dual functionality exhibits a strong dependence on the proportion of PU. Because the PU ratio affects two opposing factors (damaged area and load-bearing capacity), the damage-detecting ability exhibits the best performance at 40 wt % PU, where both factors are optimized. A high healing efficiency of 96% is achieved via a dynamic DA reaction. In particular, the repeatability of the dual-functionality is successfully attained through the reversibility of the SP beads and DA networks, where the detection and healing efficiencies are reduced by 15 and 23%, respectively, after 10 cycles. Furthermore, the reprocessed fractured specimens exhibit excellent recyclability.

Truly form-factor-free industrially scalable system integration for electronic textile architectures with multifunctional fiber devices.

An integrated textile electronic system is reported here, enabling a truly free form factor system via textile manufacturing integration of fiber-based electronic components. Intelligent and smart systems require freedom of form factor, unrestricted design, and unlimited scale. Initial attempts to develop conductive fibers and textile electronics failed to achieve reliable integration and performance required for industrial-scale manufacturing of technical textiles by standard weaving technologies. Here, we present a textile electronic system with functional one-dimensional devices, including fiber photodetectors (as an input device), fiber supercapacitors (as an energy storage device), fiber field-effect transistors (as an electronic driving device), and fiber quantum dot light-emitting diodes (as an output device). As a proof of concept applicable to smart homes, a textile electronic system composed of multiple functional fiber components is demonstrated, enabling luminance modulation and letter indication depending on sunlight intensity.

Data evaluating triamcinolone acetonide and triamcinolone hexacetonide loaded poly(δ-valerolactone-co-allyl-δ-valerolactone) microparticles.

Advanced drug delivery strategies can be used to enhance the therapeutic effectiveness of locally delivered corticosteroids. Poly(δ-valerolactone-co-allyl-δ-valerolactone) microparticles (PVL-co-PAVL MPs) were evaluated for delivery of two corticosteroids, triamcinolone acetonide and triamcinolone hexacetonide. PVL-co-PAVL MPs were prepared using a modified oil-in-water emulsification method, followed by a UV-initiated cross-linking process. The resulting PVL-co-PAVL MPs were purified with an excess amount of water and then acetone to remove residual surfactant, cross-linker, and catalyst before lyophilization. Triamcinolone acetonide and triamcinolone hexacetonide were independently loaded into the resulting PVL-co-PAVL MPs via a post-loading swelling-equilibrium method. The drug-loaded MPs were characterized in terms of drug loading (determined by high-performance liquid chromatography, HPLC), thermal properties (determined by differential scanning calorimetry, DSC), and in vitro drug release kinetics (with quantification of drug using HPLC) to better understand the suitability of PVL-co-PAVL MPs for delivery of corticosteroids. These data demonstrate the potential of PVL-co-PAVL MPs as a promising drug delivery platform for the sustained release of corticosteroids. Raw data have been made available on Mendeley Data. Additional details on PVL-co-PAVL MPs were previously reported [1].

InP/ZnS quantum dot photoluminescence modulation via in situ H2S interface engineering.

InP quantum dots (QDs) are attracting significant interest as a potentially less toxic alternative to Cd-based QDs in many research areas. Although InP-based core/shell QDs with excellent photoluminescence properties have been reported so far, sophisticated interface treatment to eliminate defects is often necessary. Herein, using aminophosphine as a seeding source of phosphorus, we find that H2S can be efficiently generated from the reaction between a thiol and an alkylamine at high temperatures. Apart from general comprehension that H2S acts as a S precursor, it is revealed that with core etching by H2S, the interface between InP and ZnS can be reconstructed with S2- incorporation. Such a transition layer can reduce inherent defects at the interface, resulting in significant photoluminescence (PL) enhancement. Meanwhile, the size of the InP core could be further controlled by H2S etching, which offers a feasible process to obtain wide band gap InP-based QDs with blue emission.

Enhanced antibody responses in fully vaccinated individuals against pan-SARS-CoV-2 variants following Omicron breakthrough infection.

Omicron has become the globally dominant severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant, creating additional challenges due to its ability to evade neutralization. Here, we report that neutralizing antibodies against Omicron variants are undetected following COVID-19 infection with ancestral or past SARS-CoV-2 variant viruses or after two-dose mRNA vaccination. Compared with two-dose vaccination, a three-dose vaccination course induces broad neutralizing antibody responses with improved durability against different SARS-CoV-2 variants, although neutralizing antibody titers against Omicron remain low. Intriguingly, among individuals with three-dose vaccination, Omicron breakthrough infection substantially augments serum neutralizing activity against a broad spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Omicron variants BA.1, BA.2, and BA.5. Additionally, after Omicron breakthrough infection, memory T cells respond to the spike proteins of both ancestral and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 by producing cytokines with polyfunctionality. These results suggest that Omicron breakthrough infection following three-dose mRNA vaccination induces pan-SARS-CoV-2 immunity that may protect against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.

Optoelectronic system and device integration for quantum-dot light-emitting diode white lighting with computational design framework.

We propose a computational design framework to design the architecture of a white lighting system having multiple pixelated patterns of electric-field-driven quantum dot light-emitting diodes. The quantum dot of the white lighting system has been optimised by a system-level combinatorial colour optimisation process with the Nelder-Mead algorithm used for machine learning. The layout of quantum dot patterns is designed precisely using rigorous device-level charge transport simulation with an electric-field dependent charge injection model. A theoretical maximum of 97% colour rendering index has been achieved with red, green, cyan, and blue quantum dot light-emitting diodes as primary colours. The white lighting system has been fabricated using the transfer printing technique to validate the computational design framework. It exhibits excellent lighting performance of 92% colour rendering index and wide colour temperature variation from 1612 K to 8903 K with only the four pixelated quantum dots as primary.

The generation of stem cell-like memory cells early after BNT162b2 vaccination is associated with durability of memory CD8+ T cell responses.

COVID-19 vaccines elicit humoral and cellular immune responses. Durable maintenance of vaccine-induced immunity is required for long-term protection of the host. Here, we examine activation and differentiation of vaccine-induced CD8+ T cells using MHC class I (MHC-I) multimers and correlations between early differentiation and the durability of CD8+ T cell responses among healthcare workers immunized with two doses of BNT162b2. The frequency of MHC-I multimer+ cells is robustly increased by BNT162b2 but decreases 6 months post-second vaccination to 2.4%-65.6% (23.0% on average) of the peak. MHC-I multimer+ cells dominantly exhibit phenotypes of activated effector cells 1-2 weeks post-second vaccination and gradually acquire phenotypes of long-term memory cells, including stem cell-like memory T (TSCM) cells. Importantly, the frequency of TSCM cells 1-2 weeks post-second vaccination significantly correlates with the 6-month durability of CD8+ T cells, indicating that early generation of TSCM cells determines the longevity of vaccine-induced memory CD8+ T cell responses.

BNT162b2-induced memory T cells respond to the Omicron variant with preserved polyfunctionality.

The Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) extensively escapes neutralizing antibodies elicited by SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination. In the present study, we investigated whether BNT162b2 messenger RNA vaccine-induced memory T cells functionally respond to the Omicron spike protein. Experiments were performed using samples from healthcare workers who were immunized with two or three doses of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine and individuals with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection who were immunized with two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine. Vaccine-induced memory T cells exhibited substantial responses to the Omicron spike protein, with no difference between healthcare workers with two versus three vaccine doses. In individuals with prior infection, two-dose vaccination robustly boosted memory T cells that responded to the Omicron spike protein and the SARS-CoV-2 wild-type (lineage B) spike protein. Importantly, polyfunctionality was preserved in vaccine-induced memory T cells responding to the Omicron spike protein. The present findings indicate that BNT162b2-induced memory T cells substantially respond to the Omicron variant with preserved polyfunctionality.

Smart textile lighting/display system with multifunctional fibre devices for large scale smart home and IoT applications.

Smart textiles consist of discrete devices fabricated from-or incorporated onto-fibres. Despite the tremendous progress in smart textiles for lighting/display applications, a large scale approach for a smart display system with integrated multifunctional devices in traditional textile platforms has yet to be demonstrated. Here we report the realisation of a fully operational 46-inch smart textile lighting/display system consisting of RGB fibrous LEDs coupled with multifunctional fibre devices that are capable of wireless power transmission, touch sensing, photodetection, environmental/biosignal monitoring, and energy storage. The smart textile display system exhibits full freedom of form factors, including flexibility, bendability, and rollability as a vivid RGB lighting/grey-level-controlled full colour display apparatus with embedded fibre devices that are configured to provide external stimuli detection. Our systematic design and integration strategies are transformational and provide the foundation for realising highly functional smart lighting/display textiles over large area for revolutionary applications on smart homes and internet of things (IoT).

Poly(δ-valerolactone-co-allyl-δ-valerolactone) cross-linked microparticles: Formulation, characterization and biocompatibility.

A novel polymeric material, poly(δ-valerolactone-co-allyl-δ-valerolactone) (PVL-co-PAVL), was used to manufacture microparticles (MPs) for sustained drug delivery. PVL-co-PAVL MPs were formulated using a modified oil-in-water approach, followed by a UV-initiated cross-linking process. Prepared MPs had a smooth spherical morphology and cross-linking of the copolymer was found to improve the integrity and thermal stability of the MPs. Paclitaxel (PTX) was successfully loaded into the MPs at a high drug loading capacity, using a post-loading swelling-equilibrium method. In vitro evaluation showed that the PVL-co-PAVL MPs provide sustained release of PTX, which exhibited first-order release kinetics. A subsequent pilot pharmacokinetic study was carried out on the PTX-loaded PVL-co-PAVL MPs. During this study, serum levels of PTX were monitored following subcutaneous administration of the MPs to Sprague-Dawley rats. Overall, the in vivo release of PTX from the MPs was lower than expected based on the in vitro release studies. Detectable serum levels of PTX suggest that sustained release of drug was achieved in vivo. Minimal changes in subcutaneous tissue were observed at the site of injection. Future studies will further examine the localized and systemic distribution of drug following administration in this new polymer-based MP system.

Bacteriocinogenic Potential of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Isolated from Kimchi, a Traditional Korean Fermented Cabbage.

Bacteriocin production is considered a favorable property for various beneficial cultures. In addition to their potential as biopreservatives, bacteriocins are also promising alternatives for the control of multidrug-resistant pathogens and the inhibition of some viruses and cancer cells. The objective of this study was to screen and characterize a bacteriocin-producing strain with the aim of its future application for control of Listeria monocytogenes, an important food-borne pathogen. A total of 22 potentially bacteriocinogenic strains active against L. monocytogenes ATCC15313 were isolated from locally produced kimchi through a three-level approach. Pure cultures were obtained according to good microbiological practices and differentiated through RAPD-PCR using the primers OPL01, OPL09, and OPL11. Altogether, 5 strains were selected for further study. Specific focus was given to strain ST05DL based on its specific inhibitory activity against L. monocytogenes ATCC15313, while not affecting different strains belonging to the genera Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, Leuconostoc, and Weissella, most of which are beneficial microorganisms. The strain ST05DL was identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens based on its sugar fermentation profile obtained through API50CHB analysis and 16S rRNA partial sequencing. The antimicrobial compound produced by B. amyloliquefaciens ST05DL was found to be sensitive to pepsin and α-chymotrypsin, evidence of its proteinaceous nature. The presence of skim milk, NaCl, Tween 80, glycerol, and SDS did not affect the antimicrobial activity. The addition of 20% cell-free supernatant (CFS) obtained from a 24-h culture of B. amyloliquefaciens ST05DL to an exponentially growing culture of L. monocytogenes ATCC15313 successfully inhibited the test microorganisms during the monitored 10-h incubation. Optimal bacteriocin production by B. amyloliquefaciens ST05DL was observed during the stationary phase at 12 h (800 AU/mL) and remained stable for the next 15 h. The ratio between live and dead cells during this period was 74.37% and 25.66%, respectively, as determined by flow cytometry. The presence of the virulence genes hblA, hblB, hblC, nheA, nheB, and nheC was not detected in the total DNA of B. amyloliquefaciens ST05DL, and the strain was resistant only to ampicillin out of 10 tested antibiotics. Future evaluation of expressed bacteriocin/s by B. amyloliquefaciens ST05DL (amino acid sequence, molecular mass, cytotoxicity, detailed mode of action, etc.), will be the next step in the characterization and its potential application as biopreservative and/or pharmaceutical product.

Cross-linked valerolactone copolymer implants with tailorable biodegradation, loading and in vitro release of paclitaxel.

Implantable drug delivery systems, formed from degradable and non-degradable polymers, can offer several advantages over traditional dosage forms for sustained drug delivery. The majority of degradable implant systems developed to date are composed of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA). However, PLGA-based systems are not suitable for the delivery of all drugs. Each drug is unique in terms of physico-chemical properties, and polymer-drug compatibility plays a significant role in determining a drug formulation's performance. In this study, two novel cross-linkable δ-valerolactone-based copolymers were synthesized and used to prepare cross-linked disc-shaped implants. The manipulation of the composition of the discs and conditions used during drug loading were found to influence various aspects of the delivery system performance including the degree of swelling, degradation, drug-loading and in vitro release. The polymeric discs resulted in no adverse effects following subcutaneous implantation in naïve rats. These studies support further development of cross-linkable valerolactone matrices as implantable formulations for sustained drug delivery.

The Potential of T Cell Factor 1 in Sustaining CD8+ T Lymphocyte-Directed Anti-Tumor Immunity.

T cell factor 1 (TCF1) is a transcription factor that has been highlighted to play a critical role in the promotion of T cell proliferation and maintenance of cell stemness in the embryonic and CD8+ T cell populations. The regulatory nature of TCF1 in CD8+ T cells is of great significance, especially within the context of T cell exhaustion, which is linked to the tumor and viral escape in pathological contexts. Indeed, inhibitory signals, such as programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), expressed on exhausted T lymphocytes (TEX), have become major therapeutic targets in immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. The significance of TCF1 in the sustenance of CTL-mediated immunity against pathogens and tumors, as well as its recently observed necessity for an effective anti-tumor immune response in ICB therapy, presents TCF1 as a potentially significant biomarker and/or therapeutic target for overcoming CD8+ T cell exhaustion and resistance to ICB therapy. In this review, we aim to outline the recent findings on the role of TCF1 in T cell development and discuss its implications in anti-tumor immunity.

Technology progress on quantum dot light-emitting diodes for next-generation displays.

Quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QD-LEDs) are widely recognised as great alternatives to organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) due to their enhanced performances. This focus article surveys the current progress on the state-of-the-art QD-LED technology including material synthesis, device optimization and innovative fabrication processes. A discussion on the material synthesis of core nanocrystals, shell layers and surface-binding ligands is presented for high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) quantum dots (QDs) using heavy-metal free materials. The operational principles of several types of QD-LED device architectures are also covered, and the recent evolution of device engineering technologies is investigated. By exploring the fabrication process for pixel-patterning of QD-LEDs on an active-matrix backplane for full-colour display applications, we anticipate further improvement in device performance for the commercialisation of next-generation displays.

Robust In-Zn-O Thin-Film Transistors with a Bilayer Heterostructure Design and a Low-Temperature Fabrication Process Using Vacuum and Solution Deposited Layers.

We report on the design, fabrication, and characterization of heterostructure In-Zn-O (IZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) with improved performance characteristics and robust operation. The heterostructure layer is fabricated by stacking a solution-processed IZO film on top of a buffer layer, which is deposited previously using an electron beam (e-beam) evaporator. A thin buffer layer at the dielectric interface can help to template the structure of the channel. The control of the precursors and of the solvent used during the sol-gel process can help lower the temperature needed for the sol-gel condensation reaction to proceed cleanly. This boosts the overall performance of the device with a significantly reduced subthreshold swing, a four-fold mobility increase, and a two-order of magnitude larger on/off ratio. Atomistic simulations of the a-IZO structure using molecular dynamics (both classical and ab initio) and hybrid density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the electronic structure reveal the potential atomic origin of these effects.

Utility of the early lactate area score as a prognostic marker for septic shock patients in the emergency department.

BACKGROUND: The current Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines recommend the remeasurement of lactate levels if the initial lactate level is elevated; however, the prognostic value of lactate kinetics is limited and inconsistent. We attempted to determine the efficacy of the lactate area score (calculated from repeated lactate measurements during initial resuscitation) as a prognostic marker of septic shock in the emergency department (ED). METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of adult patients with septic shock in the ED of a single tertiary medical center. Serial lactate levels were measured five times within 12 hours. We also compared the initial lactate level, maximum lactate level, and lactate area score. The lactate area score was defined as the sum of the area under the curve measured at 2, 4, 6, and 12 hours following the initial measurement. RESULTS: A total of 362 patients were enrolled in this study, and the overall 28-day mortality was 31.8%. The lactate area score of serial lactate levels as well as the initial (median [interquartile range], 4.9 [3.4 to 10.5]; P=0.003) and maximum (7.3 [4.2 to 13.2]; P<0.001) lactate levels were significantly higher in the non-survivor group. However, in multivariate analysis, only the lactate area score (odds ratio, 1.013; 95% confidence interval, 1.007 to 1.019) was significantly associated with 28-day mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The early lactate area score may be a possible prognostic marker for predicting the 28-day mortality of adult septic shock patients. Further prospective interventional studies should be conducted to validate our results.

Factors Predicting Bacterial Infection in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients Undergoing Targeted Temperature Management.

The objective of this study was to determine a risk factor for predicting bacterial infection in patients, who survived out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), during targeted temperature management (TTM). This prospective registry-based retrospective observational study was conducted from November 2010 to October 2017. We measured several biomarkers such as whole blood cell counts, and levels of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin daily during TTM. The primary outcome was bacterial growth in initial blood or sputum cultures. A total of 116 patients were analyzed in this study. The bacterial growth rate was 32.8% and the procalcitonin levels measured at 24 h from cardiac arrest was significantly higher in the culture-positive group than the culture-negative group (10.6 vs. 2.5 ng/mL, p = 0.017). Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for procalcitonin obtained after 24 h was 0.727 and the cutoff value was 6.5 ng/mL (odds ratio 9.58 [95% confidential interval, CI 2.21-41.55], p = 0.003). Sensitivity was 71.4% [95% CI 41.9-91.6] and specificity was 79.3% [95% CI 60.3-92.0]. Procalcitonin measured at 24 h from cardiac arrest was associated with bacterial infection in OHCA patients undergoing TTM. Further prospective interventional studies are needed to validate these results.

Modeling Electrical Percolation to optimize the Electromechanical Properties of CNT/Polymer Composites in Highly Stretchable Fiber Strain Sensors.

A simulation model of electrical percolation through a three-dimensional network of curved CNTs is developed in order to analyze the electromechanical properties of a highly stretchable fiber strain sensor made of a CNT/polymer composite. Rigid-body movement of the curved CNTs within the polymer matrix is described analytically. Random arrangements of CNTs within the composite are generated by a Monte-Carlo simulation method and a union-find algorithm is utilized to investigate the network percolation. Consequently, the strain-induced resistance change curves are obtained in a wide strain range of the composite. In order to compare our model with experimental results, two CNT/polymer composite fibers were fabricated and tested as strain sensors. Their effective CNT volume fractions are estimated by comparing the experimental data with our simulation model. The results confirm that the proposed simulation model reproduces well the experimental data and is useful for predicting and optimizing the electromechanical characteristics of highly stretchable fiber strain sensors based on CNT/polymer composites.