Memory B cell responses induced by pneumococcal conjugate vaccine schedules with fewer doses: analysis of a randomised-controlled trial in Viet Nam.

The use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) schedules with fewer doses are being considered to reduce costs and improve access, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. While several studies have assessed their immunogenicity, there are limited data on their potential for long-term immune protection, as assessed by pneumococcal serotype-specific memory B cell (Bmem) responses. This current study reports secondary outcome data that aims to compare Bmem responses following reduced-dose (0 + 1 and 1 + 1) schedules of PCV10 and PCV13 in Vietnamese infants from our randomised-controlled trial (trial registration number NCT03098628). Following vaccination at 12 months of age, Bmem levels for most serotypes peaked seven days post-vaccination and were higher in magnitude for the 1 + 1 than 0 + 1 schedules and for PCV13 than PCV10. Furthermore, Bmem did not wane as rapidly as IgG levels by 24 months of age. Further studies are needed to assess the use of Bmem as markers of long-term protection against pneumococcal carriage and disease, which is crucial to generate data for immunisation program decision-making.

Impact of cryoprotectant-free sperm vitrification in pulled-glass capillary on sperm parameters and DNA integrity: A lab trial study.

Background: Vitrification is a recently introduced yet widely applied assisted reproduction technique. So far, the effects of the chemicals and devices in vitrification on sperm motility and DNA integrity are still unclear. Objective: This study aimed to examine sperm quality, as determined by semen analysis and sperm DNA integrity when vitrified with or without cryoprotectant agents (CPAs) using pulled-glass capillaries. Materials and Methods: Between February and June 2020, 50 infertile men from the Hue Center for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam, were enrolled. Sperm samples, prepared using the swim-up technique, were divided into 2 groups: vitrification with CPAs (group 1) and without CPAs (group 2). Vitrified sperm samples were preserved in 10 µL pulled-glass capillaries. Motility, sperm membrane integrity, and the DNA fragmentation index were tested. Results: Sperm motility in vitrified media with CPAs (54.4 ± 11%) was statistically higher than in media without CPAs (51.14 ± 10.6%, p < 0.05). CPAs did not affect sperm membrane integrity or large halo ratio (71.34 ± 8.47 vs. 70.38 ± 8.11 and 50.84 ± 18.92 vs. 51.98 ± 19.44, respectively). Group 2 exhibited a lower DNA fragmentation index than group 1 after vitrification (14.2 ± 8.47 vs. 12.60 ± 9.03, p = 0.021). Conclusion: Using a pulled-glass capillary for sperm vitrification, the presence of CPAs in the vitrification medium resulted in higher progressive motility and lower DNA fragmentation index than the medium without CPAs.

A qualitative study of individuals with acquired brain injury' and program facilitators' experiences in virtual acquired brain injury community support programs.

PURPOSE: Acquired brain injury (ABI) community support programs aim to help support long-term needs through informational and psychosocial support. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many support programs adopted virtual program delivery. However, the experiences of facilitators and people with ABI who participate in virtual support programs are understudied. This study aimed to describe the experiences of people with ABI and program facilitators participating in virtual ABI community support programs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a qualitative descriptive study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with people with ABI and program facilitators who participated in virtual ABI community support programs. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: In total, 16 participants were included in this study. Of the 16 participants, 14 were people with ABI (three of whom were also program facilitators) and two were program facilitators without ABI. Our analysis generated three themes including perceived benefits (theme 1), perceived challenges (theme 2), and considerations to improve program quality (theme 3). Each theme outlines subthemes relaying the experiences of participants. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the need for stakeholders to implement guidelines and training for program facilitators and attendees of virtual ABI support programs to maximize accessibility, usability, inclusivity and safety.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONThis study described the experiences of people with acquired brain injury and facilitators who participated in virtual support programs.Benefits of virtual support programs include connecting with peers, increased access to resources, and enhanced feasibility and accessibility.Difficulties with virtual support programs include intrapersonal (e.g., increased side effects), interpersonal (e.g., communication barriers), and environmental and contextual (e.g., privacy concerns) challenges.Suggestions to improve program quality include creating a safe and respectful environment, fostering engagement and managing challenging situations, and enhancing accessibility and inclusivity.

Comparative Nutritional and Histological Analysis of Malabar Red Snapper (Lutjanus malabaricus) and Asian Seabass (Lates calcarifer).

This study offers a comprehensive morpho-histological analysis of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of the Malabar red snapper. A comparison of its GIT morphology with that of the Asian seabass reveals similarities and differences between the two species. Additionally, the moisture content, crude protein, and ash in the fillets of Malabar red snapper and Asian seabass were slightly different, with Malabar red snapper exhibiting higher levels of essential fatty acids. Furthermore, higher levels of the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)/saturated fatty acid (SFA) ratio and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)/eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ratio, and a lower omega-6/omega-3 ratio, were observed in Malabar red snapper compared to Asian seabass. The Malabar red snapper's esophagus featured protective mechanisms such as simple columnar epithelial cells, mucous-secreting glands, and goblet cells that were predominantly stained for acid and neutral mucosubstances. Furthermore, its stomach, with mucus cells that were weakly stained for acid mucosubstances, exhibited distinct regions with varying glandular densities, with the pyloric region featuring few glands. The pyloric caeca of the fish were composed of five finger-like structures and few goblet cells. Several goblet cells gradually increased from the anterior to the posterior region of the intestine. These findings provide useful insights for the aquaculture sector, focusing on Malabar red snapper.

Enhancing corrosion resistance of mild steel in hydrochloric acid with Chiquita banana sap extract.

The corrosion of metals is still a huge challenge for various industries, and the pursuit of effective treatments ensures environmental sustainability. In this study, we utilized Chiquita banana sap-water extract (BSWE) to prevent mild steel from electrochemical corrosion in a 0.1 M HCl at room temperature. Corrosion resistance was assessed using various electrochemical methodologies, combining with surface characterization techniques. The results showed a high level of effectiveness when the corrosion current density decreased from 3292.67 µA cm-2 (for the sample immerged in the blank solution) to 187.33 µA cm-2 after 24 hours of immersion in the solution containing BSWE at a 2000 ppm concentration, equivalent to corrosion efficiency of 94.32%. Surface characterization revealed diminished corrosion on the inhibited steel surface due to the formation of a protective layer. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results demonstrated the presence of BSWE ingredients combining with iron oxides and hydroxides to form a smooth protective layer. Furthermore, theoretical calculations also indicated that the addition of BSWE can reduce steel surface damage when exposing to corrosive environment. The inhibitor based on banana sap extract can be referred to as a sustainable protective coating since it is biodegradable, abundantly available in banana plants and free of other harmful substances.

Premise setting for sustainable developing adsorption in environmental remediation using graphitic carbon nitride@agar-derived porous carbon composite.

In the adsorption process for wastewater treatment, the adsorbent plays an important role. A composite adsorptive material composed of graphitic carbon nitride and agar-derived porous carbon (CNPC) was fabricated from simple precursors (melamine, thiourea, and agar) and through a facile procedure with different melamine and thiourea ratios. Characterization of CNPC proved a successful formation of a porous structure consisting of mesopores and macropores, wherein CNPC holds distinctive electrochemical (lowered resistance and higher specific capacity) and photochemical properties (lowered bandgap to 2.33 eV) thanks to the combination of graphitic carbon nitride (CN) and agar-derived porous carbon (PC). Inheriting the immanent nature, CNPC was subjected to the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) dye in an aqueous solution. The highest adsorption capacity was 133 mg/g for CNPC-4 which was prepared using a melamine to thiourea ratio of 4:4 - equivalent to the removal rate of 53.2 % and following the pseudo-I-order reaction rate. The effect of pH points out that pH 7 and 9 were susceptible to maximum removal and pretreatment is not required while the optimal ratio of 7.5 mg of MB and 30 mg of material was also determined to yield the highest performance. Furthermore, the reusability of the material for three consecutive cycles was evaluated based on two methods pyrolysis at 200 °C and photocatalytic degradation by irradiation under visible light. In general, the photocatalytic regeneration pathway is more ample and efficient than pyrolysis in terms of energy efficiency (saving energy over 10 times) and adsorption capacity stability. As a whole, the construction of accessible regenerative and stable adsorbent could be a venturing step into the sustainable development spearhead for industries.

Differential anti-viral response to respiratory syncytial virus A in preterm and term infants.

BACKGROUND: Preterm infants are more likely to experience severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease compared to term infants. The reasons for this are multi-factorial, however their immature immune system is believed to be a major contributing factor. METHODS: We collected cord blood from 25 preterm (gestational age 30.4-34.1 weeks) and 25 term infants (gestation age 37-40 weeks) and compared the response of cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMCs) to RSVA and RSVB stimulation using neutralising assays, high-dimensional flow cytometry, multiplex cytokine assays and RNA-sequencing. FINDINGS: We found that preterm and term infants had similar maternally derived neutralising antibody titres to RSVA and RSVB. Preterm infants had significantly higher myeloid dendritic cells (mDC) RSV infection compared to term infants. Differential gene expression analysis of RSVA stimulated CBMCs revealed enrichment of genes involved in cytokine production and immune regulatory pathways involving IL-10, IL-36γ, CXCL1, CXCL2, SOCS1 and SOCS3 in term infants, while differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in preterm infants were related to cell cycle (CDK1, TTK, ESCO2, KNL1, CDC25A, MAD2L1) without associated expression of immune response genes. Furthermore, enriched genes in term infants were highly correlated suggesting an increased co-ordination of their immune response to RSVA. When comparing DEGs in preterm and term infants following RSVB stimulation, no differences in immune response genes were identified. INTERPRETATION: Overall, our data suggests that preterm infants have a more restricted immunological response to RSVA compared with term infants. While further studies are required, these findings may help to explain why preterm infants are more susceptible to severe RSV disease and identify potential therapeutic targets to protect these vulnerable infants. FUNDING: Murdoch Children's Research Institute Infection and Immunity theme grant.

Comparing Intramedullary Nails and Locking Plates in Displaced Proximal Humerus Fracture Management: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This study aims to provide an updated review comparing the complication rates and clinical outcomes of intramedullary nails and locking plates (LPs) in displaced proximal humerus fracture (PHF) management. We performed a systematic review of the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Clinical Trials Registry, EMBASE, and PubMed. Studies with level III evidence or higher comparing intramedullary nails and LPs used for internal fixation of displaced PHFs were included. The Methodological Index for Nonrandomized Studies (MINORS) criteria and Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions 5.2.0 were used to assess the risk of bias. Our meta-analysis included a comparison of method-related complications, pain scores, range of motion (ROM), and functional scores. A total of 13 comparative studies were included: five randomized controlled trials, three prospective cohort studies, and five retrospective cohort studies. The total number of patients included was 1,253 (677 in the LP group and 576 in the intramedullary nail group). Superior Constant-Murley scores and external rotation ROM were found in the LP group during the early postoperative period. However, long-term functional scores and complication rates were comparable between the two groups. We conclude that intramedullary nailing and LP fixation are both equally effective for the treatment of displaced PHFs. Neither treatment appears superior at this time, and more large-scale randomized controlled trials should be conducted to further evaluate the potential benefit of LPs in the early postoperative period.

Association of higher transient receptor potential melastatin 8 expression with higher tumor histologic grades, lymph node metastasis, risk factors, and worse survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background/purpose: Transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8), a thermosensitive ion channel known for its role in cold sensation and menthol response, has emerged as a potential regulator in various cancers. This study aimed to investigate expression trends of TRPM8 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cases and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell lines and its association with clinicopathological features. Materials and methods: The noncancerous matched tissues and HNSCC paired tissue samples from 84 HNSCC patients were utilized to evaluate the association of TRPM8 with HNSCC clinicopathological features. TRPM8 expression was examined in HNSCC patient tissues and OSCC cell lines treated with arecoline. Results: Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of TCGA data revealed high TRPM8 expression correlated with unfavorable outcomes and higher tumor histologic grades. TRPM8 mRNA expression was upregulated in HNSCC cell lines and patients' tissue samples. Arecoline treatment led to significantly increased TRPM8 mRNA and protein expression in OSCC cell lines. Lymph node metastasis showed a significant association with upregulated TRPM8 expression in combined OSCC and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) cases. TRPM8 mRNA expression was upregulated in HNSCC and OSCC patients with alcohol drinking and cigarette smoking habits, but not in betel quid chewing. Conclusion: These findings reveal the involvement of TRPM8 in HNSCC's malignant development and metastasis, suggesting that high expression of TRMP8 may be mutually causal with addiction to tobacco, alcohol, and betel nut in HNSCC patients. Further investigations are needed to determine the underlying pathways of TRPM8 in HNSCC's development and progression.

Falls among community-dwelling older adults in the Philippines and Viet Nam: Results from nationally representative samples.

Falls are a significant public health issue globally. However, studies with nationally representative samples have yet to be done to understand falls among older adults in the Philippines and Viet Nam. Using a biopsychosocial perspective, this study investigated the prevalence of falls and their associated factors among community-dwelling older adults in these countries. Cross-sectional data were drawn from the baseline survey of the Longitudinal Study of Ageing and Health in the Philippines (2018, N = 4,606) and the Longitudinal Study of Ageing and Health in Viet Nam (2018, N = 4,378). The outcome variables were any falls in the past year. Independent variables included sociodemographic factors (age, sex, education, living in urban areas, living alone, social network size), biophysical factors (vision, chronic conditions, functional impairments, pain locations, insomnia symptoms, sleep medications, grip strength, walking speed, postural control), and psychological factors (depressive symptoms). Descriptive analysis and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The results showed that 17.7 % and 7.3 % of older Filipino and Vietnamese adults fell in the year before the study. Significant factors associated with the odds of any falls among Filipino older adults were having a higher level of education, living in urban areas, living with others, experiencing more functional impairments, reporting one or more pain locations, and having poor grip strength. In Viet Nam, having more chronic conditions, experiencing more functional impairments, and reporting two or more pain locations were found to be associated with higher odds of any falls. The population in the Philippines and Viet Nam is aging rapidly. Findings from this study are timely in identifying at-risk individuals and preparing for effective fall prevention strategies.

Label-Free Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Detection of Fire Blight Pathogen Using a Pathogen-Specific Bacteriophage.

Fire blight is one of the most devastating plant diseases, causing severe social and economic problems. Herein, we report a novel method based on label-free surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) combined with an Erwinia amylovora-specific bacteriophage that allows detecting efficiently fire blight bacteria E. amylovora for the first time. To achieve the highest SERS signals for E. amylovora, we synthesized and compared plasmonic nanoparticles (PNPs) with different sizes, i.e., bimetallic gold core-silver shell nanoparticles (Au@AgNPs) and monometallic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and utilized the coffee-ring effect for the self-assembly of PNPs and enrichment of fire blight bacteria. Furthermore, we investigated the changes in the SERS spectra of E. amylovora after incubation with an E. amylovora-specific bacteriophage, and we found considerable differences in the SERS signals as a function of the bacteriophage incubation time. The results indicate that our bacteriophage-based label-free SERS analysis can specifically detect E. amylovora without the need for peak assignment on the SERS spectra but simply by monitoring the changes in the SERS signals over time. Therefore, our facile method holds great potential for the label-free detection of pathogenic bacteria and the investigation of viral-bacterial interactions.

Efficacy of Two Evidence-Based Alcohol Consumption Interventions on Positive, Negative, and Neutral Days Among Hazardous Alcohol Users Living with HIV in Vietnam.

Social events and stressful settings can be catalysts for alcohol consumption. Motivational enhancement therapy (MET) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are widely used in alcohol interventions. We assessed how alcohol consumption varied across three types of days (positive/social, negative/stressful, and neutral) among hazardous alcohol users living with HIV in Vietnam. We further evaluated how those consumption patterns changed after two MET/CBT alcohol reduction interventions versus the standard of care (SOC). The 'combined' intervention offered 6 individual sessions and 3 group sessions; the 'brief' intervention offered 2 individual sessions and 2 phone calls. A 30-day timeline follow-back was administered at study visits, detailing daily drinks and events. Days were categorized as neutral, positive/social, or negative/stressful; negative binomial models and generalized estimating equations were used to estimate drinks consumed by type of day at baseline and 12 months. Prior to intervention, more drinks were consumed on positive/social days (5.2 drinks; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]:4.8, 5.7) than negative/stressful (1.5; 95% CI:1.3, 1.9) and neutral days (2.2; 95% CI: 1.9, 2.5). After the brief intervention, drinks consumed decreased on neutral days (ratio: 0.5: 95% CI: 0.4, 0.7). After the combined intervention, drinks consumed decreased on neutral days (ratio: 0.4; 95% CI: 0.3, 0.6), positive/social days (ratio: 0.6; 95% CI: 0.5, 0.7) and negative/stressful days (ratio: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.2, 0.6). No reductions in consumption were observed in the SOC group. Social/positive days had the highest alcohol consumption prior to intervention, and the combined intervention showed the greatest decrease in consumption on those days. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02720237).

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 2'-hydroxychalcone derivatives as AMPK activators.

A series of 2'-hydroxychalcone derivatives with various substituents on B-ring were synthesized and evaluated for AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation activity in podocyte cells. The results displayed that hydroxy, methoxy and methylenedioxy groups on B-ring could enhance the activitiy better than O-saturated alkyl, O-unsaturated alkyl or other alkoxy groups. Compounds 27 and 29 possess the highest fold change of 2.48 and 2.73, respectively, which were higher than those of reference compound (8) (1.28) and metformin (1.88). Compounds 27 and 29 were then subjected to a concentration-response study to obtain the EC50 values of 2.0 and 4.8 µM, respectively and MTT assays also showed that cell viability was not influenced by the exposure of podocytes to compounds 27 and 29 at concentrations up to 50 µM. In addition, compound 27 was proved to activate AMPK via calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase ß (CaMKKß)-dependent pathway without affecting intracellular calcium levels. The computational study showed that the potent compounds exhibited stronger ligand-binding strength to CaMKKß, particularly compounds 27 (-8.4 kcal/mol) and 29 (-8.0 kcal/mol), compared to compound 8 (-7.5 kcal/mol). Fragment molecular orbital (FMO) calculation demonstrated that compound 27 was superior to compound 29 due to the presence of methyl group, which amplified the binding by hydrophobic interactions. Therefore, compound 27 would represent a promising AMPK activator for further investigation of the treatment of diabetes and diabetic nephropathy.

Bacteriophage cocktail for biocontrol of soft rot disease caused by Pectobacterium species in Chinese cabbage.

Pectobacterium spp. are necrotrophic plant pathogens that cause the soft rot disease in Chinese cabbage, resulting in severe yield loss. The use of conventional antimicrobial agents, copper-based bactericides, and antibiotics has encountered several limitations, such as bioaccumulation on plants and microbial resistance. Bacteriophages (phages) are considered promising alternative antimicrobial agents against diverse phytopathogens. In this study, we isolated and characterized two virulent phages (phiPccP-2 and phiPccP-3) to develop a phage cocktail. Morphological and genomic analyses revealed that two phages belonged to the Tevenvirinae and Mccorquodalevirinae subfamilies, respectively. The phiPccP-2 and phiPccP-3 phages, which have a broad host range, were stable at various environmental conditions, such as various pHs and temperatures and exposure to ultraviolet light. The phage cocktail developed using these two lytic phages inhibited the emergence of phage-resistant bacteria compared to single-phage treatments in in vitro challenge assays. The phage cocktail treatment effectively prevented the development of soft rot symptom in matured Chinese cabbage leaves. Additionally, the phage cocktail comprising three phages (phiPccP-1, phiPccP-2, and phiPccP-3) showed superior biocontrol efficacy against the mixture of Pectobacterium strains in Chinese cabbage seedlings. These results suggest that developing phage cocktails is an effective approach for biocontrol of soft rot disease caused by Pectobacterium strains in crops compared to single-phage treatments. KEY POINTS: •Two newly isolated Pectobacterium phages, phiPccP-2 and phiPccP-3, infected diverse Pectobacterium species and effectively inhibited the emergence of phage-resistant bacteria. •Genomic and physiological analyses suggested that both phiPccP-2 and phiPccP-3 are lytic phages and that their lytic activities are stable in the environmental conditions under which Chinese cabbage grows. •Treatment using a phage cocktail comprising phiPccP-2 and phiPccP-3 efficiently suppressed soft rot disease in detached mature leaves and seedlings of Chinese cabbage, indicating the applicability of the phage cocktail as an alternative antimicrobial agent.

A Combination of Blue Light at 460 nm and H2O2 for the Safe and Effective Eradication of Staphylococcus aureus in an Infected Mouse Skin Abrasion Model.

Antibiotic-free approaches are more important than ever to address the rapidly growing problem of the antibiotic resistance crisis. The photolysis of the bacterial virulence factor staphyloxanthin using blue light at 460 nm (BL460 nm) has been found to effectively attenuate Staphylococcus aureus to chemical and physical agents. However, phototherapy using BL640 nm still needs to be investigated in detail for its safety in eradicating Staphylococcus aureus in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we employed a 460 nm continuous-wavelength LED source and a low concentration of hydrogen peroxide to treat S. aureus under a culturing condition and a wound abrasion mouse model. The results demonstrated the safety of the combined therapy when it did not modify the bacterial virulence factors or the susceptibility to widely used antibiotics. In addition, the results of the mouse model also showed that the combined therapy was safe to apply to mouse skin since it did not cause adverse skin irritation. More importantly, the therapy can aid in healing S. aureus-infected wounds with an efficacy comparable to that of the topical antibiotic Fucidin. The aforementioned findings indicate that the concurrent application of BL460 nm and hydrogen peroxide can be used safely as an alternative or adjunct to antibiotics in treating S. aureus-infected wounds.

Association Between Left Ventricular Strains and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: a Controlled Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Cardiovascular complications are the leading cause of death in diabetic patients. Speckle tracking echocardiography can early detect left ventricular systolic dysfunction even when normal ejection fraction. Objective: The study aims to evaluate left ventricular systolic function by Speckle tracking echocardiography and its relation with cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: A controlled cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 150 patients (75 type 2 diabetic patients and 75 controls). Results: Type 2 diabetic patients had global longitudinal strain (-17.02±3.06%), global circumferential strain (-29.04±6.39%) were lower than the control group (p<0.05). Global longitudinal strain was correlated with systolic blood pressure (r=0.3), diastolic blood pressure (r=0.2), fasting plasma glucose (r=0.5), HbA1c (r=0.2), total cholesterol (r=-0.25), (p<0.05). Global circumferential strain was correlated with systolic blood pressure (r=0.2), diastolic blood pressure (r=0.2), HDL (r=-0.3), (p<0.05). Conclusion: Type 2 diabetic patients have reduced global longitudinal strain and global circumferential strain. The reduction of global longitudinal strain, global circumferential strain was correlated with cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, not good glycemia control, increasing BMI, dyslipidemia).

Anterolateral thigh adipofascial flap combined with skin paddle in three-dimension scalp reconstruction: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Management of cranial and scalp defects is always challenging. Complication rates following cranioplasty are still high (10-40 %), including bone graft resorption, infection, and T-mesh implant exposure due to thinning of soft tissue (Yeap et al., 2019; Alkhaibary et al., 2020; Cho and Kang, 2017 [1-3]). CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a 38-year-old male with autologous bone graft resorption accompanied by thinning of the forehead skin. He underwent cranioplasty with titanium mesh (T-mesh) and scalp reconstruction with an anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap in a single-stage operation. A 2-component ALT flap was used: the skin paddle covered the scalp defect to reduce closure tension, and especially the adipofascial flap lining beneath the forehead skin to increase thickness. Postoperative results were great in terms of coverage function and aesthetics. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: The phenomenon of soft tissue thinning causing titanium mesh exposure is a common complication with a rate of 10-14 % (Yeap et al., 2019; Dong et al., 2020; Maqbool et al., 2018 [1, 4, 5]). Using adipofascial ALT flap as a sub-scalp filler material has many advantages over the latissimus dorsi (LD) flap to increase scalp thickness but still ensure aesthetics. CONCLUSION: The results suggest a new direction in using adipofascial ALT flap as filler material to increase scalp thickness to reduce T-mesh exposure following cranioplasty.

Composite Spin Hall Conductivity from Non-Collinear Antiferromagnetic Order.

Non-collinear antiferromagnets (AFMs) are an exciting new platform for studying intrinsic spin Hall effects (SHEs), phenomena that arise from the materials' band structure, Berry phase curvature, and linear response to an external electric field. In contrast to conventional SHE materials, symmetry analysis of non-collinear antiferromagnets does not forbid non-zero longitudinal and out-of-plane spin currents with x ̂ , z ̂ $\hat{x},\hat{z}$ polarization and predicts an anisotropy with current orientation to the magnetic lattice. Here, multi-component out-of-plane spin Hall conductivities σ xz x , $\sigma _{{\rm{xz}}}^{\rm{x}},$ σ xz y , σ xz z $\sigma _{{\rm{xz}}}^{\rm{y}},\ \sigma _{{\rm{xz}}}^{\rm{z}}$ are reported in L12 -ordered antiferromagnetic PtMn3 thin films that are uniquely generated in the non-collinear state. The maximum spin torque efficiencies (ξ  = JS  /Je  ≈ 0.3) are significantly larger than in Pt (ξ  ≈  0.1). Additionally, the spin Hall conductivities in the non-collinear state exhibit the predicted orientation-dependent anisotropy, opening the possibility for new devices with selectable spin polarization. This work demonstrates symmetry control through the magnetic lattice as a pathway to tailored functionality in magnetoelectronic systems.

Adapting and Scaling a Digital Health Intervention to Improve Maternal and Child Health Among Ethnic Minority Women in Vietnam Amid the COVID-19 Context: Protocol for the dMOM Project.

BACKGROUND: Due to interconnected structural determinants including low maternal health knowledge, economic marginalization, and remoteness from low-capacity health centers, ethnic minority women in remote areas of Vietnam face severe maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) inequities. As ethnic minorities represent 15% of the Vietnamese population, these disparities are significant. mMOM-a pilot mobile health (mHealth) intervention using SMS text messaging to improve MNCH outcomes among ethnic minority women in northern Vietnam-was implemented from 2013-2016 with promising results. Despite mMOM's findings, exacerbated MNCH inequities, and digital health becoming more salient amid COVID-19, mHealth has not yet been scaled to address MNCH among ethnic minority women in Vietnam. OBJECTIVE: We describe the protocol for adapting, expanding, and exponentially scaling the mMOM intervention qualitatively through adding COVID-19-related MNCH guidance and novel technological components (mobile app and artificial intelligence chatbots) and quantitatively through broadening the geographical area to reach exponentially more participants, within the evolving COVID-19 context. METHODS: dMOM will be conducted in 4 phases. (1) Drawing on a review of international literature and government guidelines on MNCH amid COVID-19, mMOM project components will be updated to respond to COVID-19 and expanded to include a mobile app and artificial intelligence chatbots to more deeply engage participants. (2) Using an intersectionality lens and participatory action research approach, a scoping study and rapid ethnographic fieldwork will explore ethnic minority women's unmet MNCH needs; acceptability and accessibility of digital health; technical capacity of commune health centers; gendered power dynamics and cultural, geographical, and social determinants impacting health outcomes; and multilevel impacts of COVID-19. Findings will be applied to further refine the intervention. (3) dMOM will be implemented and incrementally scaled across 71 project communes. (4) dMOM will be evaluated to assess whether SMS text messaging or mobile app delivery engenders better MNCH outcomes among ethnic minority women. The documentation of lessons learned and dMOM models will be shared with Vietnam's Ministry of Health for adoption and further scaling up. RESULTS: The dMOM study was funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in November 2021, cofacilitated by the Ministry of Health, and is being coimplemented by provincial health departments in 2 mountainous provinces. Phase 1 was initiated in May 2022, and phase 2 is planned to begin in December 2022. The study is expected to be complete in June 2025. CONCLUSIONS: dMOM research outcomes will generate important empirical evidence on the effectiveness of leveraging digital health to address intractable MNCH inequities among ethnic minority women in low-resource settings in Vietnam and provide critical information on the processes of adapting mHealth interventions to respond to COVID-19 and future pandemics. Finally, dMOM activities, models, and findings will inform a national intervention led by the Ministry of Health. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/44720.