Thermosonication as an effective substitution for fusion in Brazilian cheese spread (Requeijão Cremoso) manufacturing: The effect of ultrasonic power on technological properties.

In this initial study, the impact of thermosonication as an alternative to the traditional fusion in Brazilian cheese spread (Requeijão Cremoso) manufacture was investigated. The effect of ultrasound (US) power was evaluated considering various aspects such as gross composition, microstructure, texture, rheology, color, fatty acid composition, and volatile compounds. A 13 mm US probe operating at 20 kHz was used. The experiment involved different US power levels (200, 400, and 600 W) at 85 °C for 1 min, and results were compared to the conventional process in the same conditions (85 °C for 1 min, control treatment). The texture became softer as ultrasound power increased from 200 to 600 W, which was attributed to structural changes within the protein and lipid matrix. The color of the cheese spread also underwent noticeable changes for all US treatments, and treatment at 600 W resulted in increased lightness but reduced color intensity. Moreover, the fatty acid composition of the cheese spread showed variations with different US power, with samples treated at 600 W showing lower concentrations of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, as well as lower atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indexes, indicating a potentially healthier product. Volatile compounds were also influenced by US, with less compounds being identified at higher powers, especially at 600 W. This could indicate possible degradation, which should be evaluated in further studies regarding US treatment effects on consumer perception. Hence, this initial work demonstrated that thermosonication might be interesting in the manufacture of Brazilian cheese spread, since it can be used to manipulate the texture, color and aroma of the product in order to improve its quality parameters.

Unraveling the Morphology of [CnC1Im]Cl Ionic Liquids Combining Cluster and Aggregation Analyses.

A characteristic feature of ionic liquids is their nanosegregation, resulting in the formation of polar and nonpolar domains. The influence of increasing the alkyl side chain on the morphology of ionic liquids has been the subject of many studies. Typically, the polar network (charged part of the cation and anion) constitutes a continuous subphase that partially breaks to allow the formation of a nonpolar domain with the increase of the alkyl chain. As the nonpolar network expands, the number of tails per aggregate increases until the ionic liquid percolates. In this work, we demonstrate how the complementary software packages TRAVIS and AGGREGATES can be employed in conjunction to gain insights into the size and morphology of the [CnC1Im]Cl family, with n ∈ {2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12}. The combination of the two approaches rounds off the picture of the intricate arrangement and structural features of the alkyl chains.

Mannans: Structural carbohydrates produced during seed maturation in Euterpe edulis Martius, an Atlantic Forest species vulnerable to extinction.

Palm seedlings are visually selected from mature fruits in a slow process that leads to nonuniform germination and high embryo mortality. In this study, we determined the levels of monosaccharides, their crystallinity, and their role in the formation of Euterpe edulis endosperm during seed maturation. Seeds harvested from 108 to 262 days after anthesis (DAA) were analyzed morphologically, physiologically, and chemically to measure soluble and insoluble lignins, ashes, structural carbohydrates, degree of crystallinity, and endo-ß-mannanase. The seeds achieved maximum germination and vigor at 164 DAA. During the early stages, only compounds with a low structural order were formed. The contents of soluble and insoluble lignins, ashes, glucans, and galactans decreased during maturation. Those of mannans, the main structural carbohydrate in the endosperm, increased along with the degree of crystallinity, as suggested by a mannan-I-type X-ray diffraction pattern. Similarly, endo-ß-mannanase activity peaked at 262 DAA. The superior physiological outcome of seeds and seedlings at 164 DAA implies a 98-day shorter harvesting time. The state of mannans during seed maturation could be used as a marker to improve seedling production by E. edulis.

Progesterone-Related Diabetes Mellitus in the Bitch: Current Knowledge, the Role of Pyometra, and Relevance in Practice.

Progesterone-related diabetes mellitus (PRDM) in dogs is known for its particular potential for diabetes remission. This narrative review aims to provide relevant detailed information on (1) the canine estrus cycle and its impact on canine diabetes mellitus (CDM) etiology and management, (2) the role of pyometra as a further cause of insulin resistance, and (3) useful individual therapeutic and preventive strategies. PRDM is recognized due to diestrus, exogenous progestogen exposure, pregnancy, and P4-production ovarian dysfunction. Pyometra represents additional inflammatory and septic negative influence on insulin sensitivity, and its diagnosis associated with CDM is therapeutically challenging. The estrus cycle's hormone fluctuations seem to modulate peripheric insulin sensibility by influencing insulin receptor (IR) affinity and its binding capacity, as well as modulating tyrosine kinase activity. Pyometra was shown to negatively influence IR compensatory mechanisms to insulin resistance causing glucose intolerance. Spaying and pregnancy termination may cause diabetes remission in PRDM cases in a median time of 10 days (1-51). Pharmacological annulment of progesterone effects may benefit patients unable to undergo surgery; however, remission chances are virtually null. The ALIVE (Agreeing Language in Veterinary Endocrinology) project proposed new criteria for CDM diagnoses and subclinical diabetes recognition. These new concepts may increase the frequency of a PRDM diagnosis and, even more, its relevance. Spaying represents a preventive measure against pyometra and PRDM that should be individually assessed in light of its recognized benefits and harms.

Molecular Interactions between Ionic Liquid Lubricants and Silica Surfaces: An MD Simulation Study.

The unique physicochemical properties of ionic liquids (ILs) attracted interest in their application as lubricants of micro/nano-electromechanical systems. This work evaluates the feasibility of using the protic ionic liquids [4-picH][HSO4], [4-picH][CH3SO3], [MIMH][HSO4], and [MIMH][CH3SO3] and the aprotic ILs [C6mim][HSO4] and [C6mim][CH3SO3] as additives to model lubricant poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG200) to lubricate silicon surfaces. Additives based on the cation [4-picH]+ exhibited the best tribological performance, with the optimal value for 2% [4-picH][HSO4] in PEG200 (w/w). Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the first stages of adsorption of the ILs at the glass surface were performed to portray the molecular behavior of the ILs added to PEG200 and their interaction with the silica substrate. For the pure ILs at the solid substrates, the MD results indicated that weak specific interactions of the cation with the glass interface are lost to accommodate the larger anion in the first contact layer. For the PEG200 + 2% [4-picH][HSO4] system, the formation of a more compact protective film adsorbed at the glass surface is revealed by a larger trans population of the dihedral angle -O(R)-C-C-O(R)- in PEG200, in comparison to the same distribution for the pure model lubricant. Our findings suggest that the enhanced lubrication performance of PEG200 with [4-picH][HSO4] arises from synergistic interactions between the protic IL and PEG200 at the adsorbed layer.

Improvement of gait and balance function in chronic post-stroke patients induced by Lower Extremity - Constraint Induced Movement Therapy: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of Lower Extremity - Constraint Induced Movement Therapy on gait function and balance in chronic hemiparetic patients. METHODS: Randomized, controlled, single-blinded study. We recruited chronic post stroke patients and allocated them to Lower Extremity - Constraint Induced Movement Tharapy (LE-CIMT) or Control Group. The LE-CIMT group received this protocol 2.5 hour/day for 15 followed days, including: 1) intensive supervised training, 2) use of shaping as a strategy for motor training, and 3) application of a transfer package. The control group received conventional physiotherapy for 2.5 hours/day for 15 followed days. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, after the interventions, and after 6 months, through 6-minute walk test and Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test; 10-meter walk test, Timed Up and Go, 3-D gait analysis, and Lower Extremity - Motor Activity Log. RESULTS: LE-CIMT was superior on the Assistance and confidence subscale of Lower Extremity - Motor Activity Log, Mini-BESTest and 6-minute walk test. The effect size for all outcomes was small when comparing both groups. LE-CIMT showed clinically significant differences in daily activities, balance, and gait capacity, with no clinically significant difference for spatiotemporal parameters. CONCLUSION: The LE-CIMT protocol had positive outcomes on balance, performance, and confidence perception.

Environmental impact assessment due to the intake of uranium contained in surface waters in a semi-arid region in Brazil.

In Santa Quitéria City, part of the population uses surface water for potation. These waters do not undergo any treatment before consumption. As the region has a deposit of uranium, assessing water quality becomes important. In the present study, the uranium activity concentration (AC) in becquerels per liter was determined in water samples from six points. Univariate statistics showed differences between the soluble and the particulate fraction (soluble AC > particulate AC). The particulate fraction showed no variation in AC among the six points. On the other hand, the soluble fraction and the total fraction presented different ACs between them. The multivariate statistics allowed to separate the soluble from the particulate fraction of the points. The same tools applied to the total fraction made it possible to differentiate the sampling points, grouping them ((#1, #2); (#3, #4), and (#5, #6)). The maximum mean value of AC found was 0.177 Bq∙L-1, corresponding to 25% of the chemical toxicity limit (0.72 Bq∙L-1). The maximum mean dose rate, 2.25 µSv∙year-1, is lower than the considered negligible dose rate (> 10 µSv∙year-1). The excess lifetime cancer risk was 10-6, two orders of magnitude smaller than the threshold considered for taking action. The assessment parameters used in this work indicate that the risk due to the uranium intake by the local population is negligible.

Myristoylated GRASP55 dimerizes in the presence of model membranes.

The Golgi Reassembly and Stacking Proteins (GRASPs) are engaged in various functions within the cell, both in unconventional secretion mechanisms and structuring and organizing the Golgi apparatus. Understanding their specific role in each situation still requires more structural and functional data at the molecular level. GRASP55 is one of the GRASP members in mammals, anchored to the membrane via the myristoylation of a Gly residue at its N-terminus. Therefore, co-translational modifications, such as myristoylation, are fundamental when considering a strategy to obtain detailed information on the interactions between GRASP55 and membranes. Despite its functional relevance, the N-terminal myristoylation has been underappreciated in the studies reported to date, compromising the previously proposed models for GRASP-membrane interactions. Here, we investigated the synergy between the presence of the membrane and the formation of oligomeric structures of myristoylated GRASP55, using a series of biophysical techniques to perform the structural characterization of the lipidated GRASP55 and its interaction with biological lipid model membranes. Our data fulfill an unexplored gap: the adequate evaluation of the presence of lipidations and lipid membranes on the structure-function dyad of GRASPs.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Internal dose rate due to intake of uranium and thorium by fish from a dam reservoir associated with a uranium mine in Brazil.

Uranium mining can cause environmental impacts on non-human biota around mine sites. Because of this, the reduction in non-human biota exposure becomes an important issue. Environmental radioprotection results from the evolution of human radioprotection; it is based on dose rate to non-human biota and uses, as a biological target, and has harmful effects on populations. In the present study, a flooded impoundment created following dam construction in a uranium mine plant undergoing decommissioning was investigated. Internal dose rates due to activity concentration of natural uranium (Unat) and 232Th in omnivorous, phytophagous, and carnivorous fish species were estimated. Radionuclide activity concentrations were obtained by spectrophotometry with arsenazo III in the visible range. The dose rate contribution of 232Th was lower than that of Unat. There were no differences between the internal dose rates to studied fish species due to 232Th, but there were differences for Unat. A dose rate of 2.30·10-2 µGy∙d-1 was found due to the two studied radionuclides. Although this value falls below the benchmark for harmful effects, it is important to acknowledge that the assessment did not account for other critical radionuclides from uranium mining, which also contribute to the internal dose. Moreover, the study did not assess external doses. As a result, the possibility cannot be excluded that dose rates at the study area overcome the established benchmarks for harmful effects.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia: temporal trend from 2010 to 2019 in the Brazilian Network on Neonatal Research.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the temporal trend of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants who survived to at least 36 weeks' post-menstrual age (PMA) and BPD or death at 36 weeks' PMA, and to analyse variables associated with both outcomes. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort with data retrieved from an ongoing national registry. SETTING: 19 Brazilian university public hospitals. PATIENTS: Infants born between 2010 and 2019 with 23-31 weeks and birth weight 400-1499 g. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Temporal trend was evaluated by Prais-Winsten model and variables associated with BPD in survivors or BPD or death were analysed by logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 11 128 included infants, BPD in survivors occurred in 22%, being constant over time (annual per cent change (APC): -0.80%; 95% CI: -2.59%; 1.03%) and BPD or death in 45%, decreasing over time (APC: -1.05%; 95% CI: -1.67%; -0.43%). Being male, small for gestational age, presenting with respiratory distress syndrome, air leaks, needing longer duration of mechanical ventilation, presenting with treated patent ductus arteriosus and late-onset sepsis were associated with an increase in the chance of BPD. For the outcome BPD or death, maternal bleeding, multiple gestation, 5-minute Apgar <7, late-onset sepsis, necrotising enterocolitis and intraventricular haemorrhage were added to the variables reported above as increasing the chance of the outcome. CONCLUSION: The frequency of BPD in survivors was constant and BPD or death decreased by 1.05% at each study year. These results show some improvement in perinatal care in Brazilian units which resulted in a reduction of BPD or death, but further improvements are still needed to reduce BPD in survivors.

Ordered mesoporous silicas for potential applications in solid vaccine formulations.

In an effort to develop efficient vaccine formulations, the use of ordered mesoporous silica (SBA-15) as an antigen carrier has been investigated. SBA-15 has required properties such as high surface area and pore volume, including narrow pore size distribution to protect antigens inside its matrix. This study aimed to examine the impact of solvent removal methods, specifically freeze-drying and evaporation on the intrinsic properties of an immunogenic complex. The immunogenic complexes, synthesized and incorporated with BSA, were characterized by various physicochemical techniques. Small Angle X-ray Scattering measurements revealed the characteristic reflections associated to pure SBA-15, indicating the preservation of the silica mesostructured following BSA incorporation and the formation of BSA aggregates within the macropore region. Nitrogen Adsorption Isotherm measurements demonstrated a decrease in surface area and pore volume for all samples, indicating that the BSA was incorporated into the SBA-15 matrix. Fluorescence spectroscopy evidenced that the tryptophan residues in BSA inside SBA-15 or in solution displayed similar spectra, showing the preservation of the aromatic residues' environment. The Circular Dichroism spectra of BSA in both conditions suggest the preservation of its native secondary structure after the encapsulation process. The immunogenic analysis with the detection of anti-BSA IgG did not give any significant difference between the non-dried, freeze-dried or evaporated groups. However, all groups containing BSA and SBA-15 showed results almost three times higher than the groups with pure BSA (control group). These facts indicate that none of the BSA incorporation methods interfered with the immunogenicity of the complex. In particular, the freeze-dried process is regularly used in the pharmaceutical industry, therefore its adequacy to produce immunogenic complexes was proved Furthermore, the results showed that SBA-15 increased the immunogenic activity of BSA.

Functional Fruit Trees from the Atlantic and Amazon Forests: Selection of Potential Chestnut Trees Rich in Antioxidants, Nutrients, and Fatty Acids.

The Amazon rainforest and the biodiversity hotspot of the Atlantic Forest are home to fruit trees that produce functional foods, which are still underutilized. The present study aimed to select potential functional nut donor trees from two Brazilian chestnuts, by evaluating the nutritional and antioxidant composition of the nuts and the fatty acid profile of the oil. The nutritional characteristics, antioxidants, oil fatty acid profile, and X-ray densitometry of the nuts were evaluated, as well as the characterization of leaf and soil nutrients for each parent tree. The nut oil was evaluated through Brix (%), mass (g), yield (%), and the fatty acid profile. For L. pisonis, the most nutritious nuts were produced by L. pisonis tree 4 (N > P > K > Mg > Ca > Zn > Fe) and L. pisonis tree 6 (P > Ca > Mg > Mn > Zn > Cu > Fe), and for the species L. lanceolata, L. lanceolata tree 6 (N > P > Ca > Mg > Zn > Fe > Cu) and L. lanceolata tree 2 (P > K > Mg > Zn > Cu). In L. pisonis, the highest production of anthocyanins, DPPH, total phenolics, and flavonoids was obtained from the nuts of L. pisonis tree 4 as well as for L. lanceolata, from L. lanceolata tree 1, except for flavonoids. The Brix of the oil from the nuts of both species showed no difference between the trees and the fatty acid profile with a similar amount between saturated (48-65%) and unsaturated (34-57%) fatty acids. Both species have nuts rich in nutrients and antioxidant compounds and can be considered unconventional functional foods. The data collected in the present study confirm that the nuts of these species can replace other foods as a source of selenium.

Enabling genome editing in tropical maize lines through an improved, morphogenic regulator-assisted transformation protocol.

The recalcitrance exhibited by many maize (Zea mays) genotypes to traditional genetic transformation protocols poses a significant challenge to the large-scale application of genome editing (GE) in this major crop species. Although a few maize genotypes are widely used for genetic transformation, they prove unsuitable for agronomic tests in field trials or commercial applications. This challenge is exacerbated by the predominance of transformable maize lines adapted to temperate geographies, despite a considerable proportion of maize production occurring in the tropics. Ectopic expression of morphogenic regulators (MRs) stands out as a promising approach to overcome low efficiency and genotype dependency, aiming to achieve 'universal' transformation and GE capabilities in maize. Here, we report the successful GE of agronomically relevant tropical maize lines using a MR-based, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation protocol previously optimized for the B104 temperate inbred line. To this end, we used a CRISPR/Cas9-based construct aiming at the knockout of the VIRESCENT YELLOW-LIKE (VYL) gene, which results in an easily recognizable phenotype. Mutations at VYL were verified in protoplasts prepared from B104 and three tropical lines, regardless of the presence of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at the seed region of the VYL target site in two of the tropical lines. Three out of five tropical lines were amenable to transformation, with efficiencies reaching up to 6.63%. Remarkably, 97% of the recovered events presented indels at the target site, which were inherited by the next generation. We observed off-target activity of the CRISPR/Cas9-based construct towards the VYL paralog VYL-MODIFIER, which could be partly due to the expression of the WUSCHEL (WUS) MR. Our results demonstrate efficient GE of relevant tropical maize lines, expanding the current availability of GE-amenable genotypes of this major crop.

Data reconciliation connected to guard bands to set specification limits related to risk assessment for radiopharmaceutical activity.

Radiopharmaceuticals have been used to diagnose several diseases, particularly because the procedure is non-invasive. However, it is important that the correct amount of radiopharmaceutical is used to avoid inaccurate diagnostic results and suboptimal therapeutic outcomes. The amount of the radiopharmaceutical is measured when produced (by the supplier) and a second time (by the receiver), before it's use. When measured at the receiver, the result is corrected for its normal radioactivity decay. Even then, it is possible that both measurements should be considered nominal different or even statistically different when compared through various statistical tools. This research combines two innovative techniques in the field of clinical metrology. The first technique is data reconciliation, which not only enhances measurement accuracy but also reduces measurement uncertainty. The second technique involves using uncertainty information to establish specification limits for compliance assessments. In this way, our proposal aimed to minimize the risk of making incorrect decisions regarding the conformity of the concentration of radiopharmaceutical activity, that is, rejecting an item or batch that is within specification or accepting an item or batch that is outside of specification. A spreadsheet, based on these metrology fundamentals, is available to help the user with the calculations, presenting numerical and graphical results for some common radioisotopes. Reliable specification limits can be calculated and used to determine if the radiopharmaceutical is in accordance with its proposed application.

Acute kidney injury in multiple myeloma patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant plays an important role in multiple myeloma (MM) treatment. Increasing incidence of MM and growing awareness of acute kidney injury (AKI) as a complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplant results in the need to better understand AKI in these patients. We aimed to evaluate incidence, risk factors and 5-year prognostic impact of AKI in MM patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study. AKI was defined by the KDIGO classification using creatinine and urinary output criteria. We used survival analysis methods considering competing events for risk factors and disease-free survival, Cox proportional regression for overall survival and stepwise regression methods for multivariable models. RESULTS: We analyzed data regarding 143 patients. The cumulative incidence of AKI and moderate-to-severe AKI was 49.7% and 14.1%, respectively. Factors with independent impact on AKI were obesity (HR: 1.83, 95% CI 1.07-3.11; p = 0.026), Hematopoietic cell transplantation-specific comorbidity index (HCT-CI) ≥ 2 (HR: 1.85, 95% CI 1.08-3.17), chronic kidney disease (CKD) (HR: 2.06, 95% CI 1.05-4.04), amyloidosis (HR: 2.25, 95% CI 1.25-4.06), mucositis grade 3-4 (HR: 2.19, 95% CI 1.25-3.86) and exposure to nephrotoxic drugs (HR: 2.0856, 95% CI 1.04-4.19). Moderate-to-severe AKI had an impact (HR: 1.62, 95% CI 1.15-2.31) on 5-year overall survival. CONCLUSION: Acute kidney injury affects almost half of MM patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and reduction in urinary output allows early diagnosis in almost a quarter of the patients. Obesity, HCT-CI ≥ 2, CKD, amyloidosis, mucositis grade 3-4 and exposure to nephrotoxic drugs are significant risk factors. Moderate-to-severe AKI is associated with lower 5-year overall survival.

Cellular iron governs the host response to malaria.

Malaria and iron deficiency are major global health problems with extensive epidemiological overlap. Iron deficiency-induced anaemia can protect the host from malaria by limiting parasite growth. On the other hand, iron deficiency can significantly disrupt immune cell function. However, the impact of host cell iron scarcity beyond anaemia remains elusive in malaria. To address this, we employed a transgenic mouse model carrying a mutation in the transferrin receptor (TfrcY20H/Y20H), which limits the ability of cells to internalise iron from plasma. At homeostasis TfrcY20H/Y20H mice appear healthy and are not anaemic. However, TfrcY20H/Y20H mice infected with Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi AS showed significantly higher peak parasitaemia and body weight loss. We found that TfrcY20H/Y20H mice displayed a similar trajectory of malaria-induced anaemia as wild-type mice, and elevated circulating iron did not increase peak parasitaemia. Instead, P. chabaudi infected TfrcY20H/Y20H mice had an impaired innate and adaptive immune response, marked by decreased cell proliferation and cytokine production. Moreover, we demonstrated that these immune cell impairments were cell-intrinsic, as ex vivo iron supplementation fully recovered CD4+ T cell and B cell function. Despite the inhibited immune response and increased parasitaemia, TfrcY20H/Y20H mice displayed mitigated liver damage, characterised by decreased parasite sequestration in the liver and an attenuated hepatic immune response. Together, these results show that host cell iron scarcity inhibits the immune response but prevents excessive hepatic tissue damage during malaria infection. These divergent effects shed light on the role of iron in the complex balance between protection and pathology in malaria.

Excess lifetime cancer risk due to ingestion of fish from a dam reservoir associated with a nuclear facility in Brazil.

Fish from a Funil dam reservoir associated with a Nuclear Fuel Factory were sampled aiming to assess the radiological risk due to ingestion. Funil dam reservoir is a strategic site, once it receives effluent from the industrial complex that performs isotopic enrichment of uranium and conversion of UF6. The mean activity concentrations obtained for 40K, 226Ra, 228Ra and 228Th were 57.81, 0.41, 0.92 and 0.49 Bq·kg-1, respectively. Lifetime cancer risk was estimated in ∼10-5 and no action needs to be taken.

Seeing eye to eye: trustworthy embodiment for task-based conversational agents.

Smart speakers and conversational agents have been accepted into our homes for a number of tasks such as playing music, interfacing with the internet of things, and more recently, general chit-chat. However, they have been less readily accepted in our workplaces. This may be due to data privacy and security concerns that exist with commercially available smart speakers. However, one of the reasons for this may be that a smart speaker is simply too abstract and does not portray the social cues associated with a trustworthy work colleague. Here, we present an in-depth mixed method study, in which we investigate this question of embodiment in a serious task-based work scenario of a first responder team. We explore the concepts of trust, engagement, cognitive load, and human performance using a humanoid head style robot, a commercially available smart speaker, and a specially developed dialogue manager. Studying the effect of embodiment on trust, being a highly subjective and multi-faceted phenomena, is clearly challenging, and our results indicate that potentially, the robot, with its anthropomorphic facial features, expressions, and eye gaze, was trusted more than the smart speaker. In addition, we found that embodying a conversational agent helped increase task engagement and performance compared to the smart speaker. This study indicates that embodiment could potentially be useful for transitioning conversational agents into the workplace, and further in situ, "in the wild" experiments with domain workers could be conducted to confirm this.

Neonatal Admission Temperature in Middle- and High-Income Countries.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Despite being preventable, neonatal hypothermia remains common. We hypothesized that the proportion of newborns with hypothermia on admission would be high in all settings, higher in hospitals in middle-income countries (MIC) compared with high-income countries (HIC), and associated with morbidity and mortality. METHODS: Using the Vermont Oxford Network database of newborns with birth weights 401 to 1500 g or 22 to 29 weeks' gestational age from 2018 to 2021, we analyzed maternal and infant characteristics, delivery room management, and outcomes by temperature within 1 hour of admission to the NICU in 12 MICs and 22 HICs. RESULTS: Among 201 046 newborns, hypothermia was more common in MIC hospitals (64.0%) compared with HIC hospitals (28.6%). Lower birth weight, small for gestational age status, and prolonged resuscitation were perinatal risk factors for hypothermia. The mortality was doubled for hypothermic compared with euthermic newborns in MICs (24.7% and 15.4%) and HICs (12.7% and 7.6%) hospitals. After adjusting for confounders, the relative risk of death among hypothermic newborns compared with euthermic newborns was 1.21 (95% confidence interval 1.09-1.33) in MICs and 1.26 (95% confidence interval 1.21-1.31) in HICs. Every 1°C increase in admission temperature was associated with a 9% and 10% decrease in mortality risk in MICs and HICs, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this large sample of newborns across MICs and HICs, hypothermia remains common and is strongly associated with mortality. The profound burden of hypothermia presents an opportunity for strategies to improve outcomes and achieve the neonatal 2030 Sustainable Development Goal.

Understanding the Liquid Structure in Mixtures of Ionic Liquids with Semiperfluoroalkyl or Alkyl Chains.

By mixing ionic liquids (ILs), it is possible to fine-tune their bulk and interfacial structure. This alters their physical properties and solvation behavior and is a simple way to prepare a collection of ILs whose properties can be tuned to optimize a specific application. In this study, mixtures of perfluorinated and alkylated ILs have been prepared, and links between composition, properties, and nanostructure have been investigated. These different classes of ILs vary substantially in the flexibility and polarizability of their chains. Thus, a range of useful structural and physical property variations are accessible through mixing that will expand the library of IL mixtures available in an area that to this point has received relatively little attention. In the experiments presented herein, the physical properties and bulk structure of mixtures of 1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [C8MIM][Tf2N] and 1-(1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl)-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [C8MIM-F13][Tf2N] have been prepared. The bulk liquid structure was investigated using a combination of small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering (SAXS and SANS, respectively) experiments in combination with atomistic molecular dynamics simulations and the measurement of density and viscosity. We observed that the addition of [C8MIM-F13][Tf2N] to [C8MIM][Tf2N] causes changes in the nanostructure of the IL mixtures that are dependent on composition so that variation in the characteristic short-range correlations is observed as a function of composition. Thus, while the length scales associated with the apolar regions (polar non-polar peak─PNPP) increase with the proportion of [C8MIM-F13][Tf2N] in the mixtures, perhaps surprisingly given the greater volume of the fluorocarbon chains, the length scale of the charge-ordering peak decreases. Interestingly, consideration of the contact peak shows that its origins are both in the direct anion···cation contact length scale and the nature (and hence volume) of the chains appended to the imidazolium cation.