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Abstract The bat immune system features multiple unique properties such as dampened inflammatory responses and increased tissue protection, explaining their long lifespan and tolerance to viral infections. Here, we demonstrated that body temperature fluctuations corresponding to different physiological states in bats exert a large impact on their antibody repertoires. At elevated temperatures typical for flight, IgG from the bat species Myotis myotis and Nyctalus noctula show elevated antigen binding strength and diversity, recognizing both pathogen-derived antigens and autoantigens. The opposite is observed at temperatures reflecting inactive physiological states. IgG antibodies of human and other mammals, or antibodies of birds do not appear to behave in a similar way. Importantly, diversification of bat antibody specificities results in preferential recognition of damaged endothelial and epithelial cells, indicating an anti-inflammatory function. The temperature-sensitivity of bat antibodies is mediated by the variable regions of immunoglobulin molecules. Additionally, we uncover specific molecular features of bat IgG, such as low thermodynamic stability and implication of hydrophobic interactions in antigen binding as well as high prevalence of polyreactivity. Overall, our results extend the understanding of bat tolerance to disease and inflammation and highlight the link between metabolism and immunity.

An antibody molecule that can bind to multiple distinct antigens is defined as polyreactive. In the present study, we performed statistical analyses to assess sequence correlates of polyreactivity of >600 antibodies cloned from different B-cell types of healthy humans. The data revealed several sequence patterns of variable regions of heavy and light immunoglobulin chains that determine polyreactivity. The most prominent identified patterns were increased number of basic amino acid residues, reduced frequency of acidic residues, increased number of aromatic and hydrophobic residues, and longer length of CDR L1. Importantly, our study revealed that antibodies isolated from different B-cell populations used distinct sequence patterns (or combinations of them) for polyreactive antigen binding. Furthermore, we combined the data from sequence analyses with molecular modeling of selected polyreactive antibodies and demonstrated that human antibodies can use multiple pathways for achieving antigen-binding promiscuity. These data reconcile some contradictions in the literature regarding the determinants of antibody polyreactivity. Moreover, our study demonstrates that the mechanism of polyreactivity of antibodies evolves during immune response and might be tailored to specific functional properties of different B-cell compartments. Finally, these data can be of use for efforts in the development and engineering of therapeutic antibodies.

Thinking about modernist urbanism as a period in architecture with potential for the future of cities has been outside the canon for several decades. But from a critical viewpoint, the postmodern stance on modernist mass housing continuously failed to dissociate high modernist urbanism as a unified architectural project from its socio-political, economic, and infrastructural context. While the public image of the projects declined, the architectural canon shifted away from modernist urbanism. And although modernist architecture as a whole recovered from the trauma, the urbanist branch became infamous for failing. However, since the birth of total modernism, its architecture has always been about experimentation and failure. One hundred years later and once again—for different reasons—we confront similar needs for affordable, inclusive housing for never-ending streams of migration clashing with the ecological imperative to free up land to regreen our cities affected by global warming. Although different times bring different requirements, the first waves of modernist experiments had already invented the basic tools. A refreshed moment of attention that negotiates the potential of modernist urbanism could fill the gaps and nuance the postmodernist critique. What does all this mean for urbanism today, and what can it learn from modernist urbanism?

Background: Recurrentlateral patellar dislocation is a devastating condition associated with different pathologies, including medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) injury, increased tibial tubercle to trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance, and trochlear dysplasia. This video aims to provide an overview of isolated MPFL reconstruction in a patient with recurrent patellar dislocation and chronic MPFL injury. Indications: Isolated MPFL reconstruction is indicated for patients with recurrent lateral patellar instability following an initial trial of nonoperative management, in the absence of other contributing anatomic factors. Candidates for isolated MPFL reconstruction should have a TT-TG distance of

Summary:. Rhinoplasty in facial cleft patients is among the most challenging types of reconstructive facial surgery due to its variability. Advances in 3-dimensional imaging enable improved preoperative assessment in rhinoplasty. In complex cases with bony support irregularities and asymmetry, it is rational to initiate planning with reconstruction of the aberrant substructure (ie, “bottom-up” planning) rather than starting the surgical design with soft-tissue morphing. We present a new comprehensive workflow in which novel advanced technologies are implemented to perform “bottom-up” computer-assisted planning and execution in complex rhinoplasty cases. This workflow enables meticulous planning, use of grafting templates, and 3-dimensional–guided osteotomies with integration of piezotome and intraoperative navigation. Previous reports separately discuss some of these innovations. However, greater benefit lies in the combination of these techniques, with emphasis on preoperative computer analysis, virtual planning, and transfer to the operation theater. Surgeons are seeking new ways to enhance minimally invasive approaches and to obtain predictable and favorable clinical results. The presently introduced workflow allows clinicians to plan complex cases in a simple, effective, and safe manner, with the combination of different techniques to produce consistent results.

According to geographical distribution, Nezara viridula (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) can be found across tropical, subtropical and temperate regions and this pattern is assumed to reflect differences in thermal adaptation, particularly in cold tolerance. Here the lethal temperature and critical thermal limits (thermal tolerance) are examined for N. viridula. The upper lethal temperature for N. viridula at two contrasting climate locations (Breeza and Grafton, New South Wales, Australia) was 40.3ºC with 20% survival under the stress of high temperature. The lower lethal temperature did not differ between these two populations and was -8.0ºC with 20% survival under low temperature stress. Survival of N. viridula increased after acclimation at high temperature for seven days. In contrast, when acclimated at lower temperatures (10 and 15ºC), survival of Breeza and Grafton N. viridula was lower than 20% at -8.0ºC.Control-reared N. viridula adults (25ºC) had a mean CTMinOnset (cold stupor) of 1.3 ± 2.1ºC and a mean CTMax (heat coma) of 45.9 ± 0.9ºC. After 7 days of acclimation at 10, 20, 30, or 35ºC, N. viridula adults exhibited a 1ºC change in CTMax and a ~ 1.5ºC change in CTMinOnset. CTMax and CTMinOnset of Breeza and Grafton N. viridula populations did not differ across acclimation temperatures. These results suggest that short-term temperature acclimation is more important than provenance for determining lethal temperatures and critical thermal limits in N. viridula.

We describe a new experimental system for direct measurements of the absolute saturation vapor pressures of liquid or solid samples. The setup allows the isolation of the sample under steady conditions in an ultra-high vacuum chamber, where the measurement of the sample's vapor pressure as a function of its temperature can be performed in a range around room temperature and in a pressure range defined only by the applied absolute pressure sensor. We characterize the setup and illustrate its capability to measure saturation vapor pressures as well as enthalpies of evaporation around room temperature with explicit measurements on four liquid compounds (diethyl phthalate, 1-decanol, 1-heptanol, and 1-hexanol) for which accurate vapor pressures have previously been reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We engineered the thermal conductivity of nano-grained Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 (BST) by embedding SiO2 and diamond nanoparticles (NPs) with concentration ranging from 0.5 to 5 vol. %. The embedded NPs work as additional scattering centers for long mean free path phonons that are not effectively scattered by the grain boundaries. We found that both the SiO2 and diamond NPs materially reduced the lattice thermal conductivity (κ lat ) within the temperature range of 50–300 K, with stronger reduction occurring at a lower temperature. Furthermore, the diamond NPs were found to cause large reduction in κ lat compared to the SiO2 NPs at the same concentrations. Further theoretical analysis showed that the diamond NPs possess about tenfold higher interfacial thermal resistance with the BST matrix compared to that of SiO2 NPs, due to the larger acoustic mismatch between diamond and BST as compared to SiO2 and BST. As a result of the large reduction of κ lat , the thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) was enhanced by 15% at room temperature with 0.5 vol. % diamond NP relative to the pristine nano-grained samples without the NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-quality spectral reference libraries are important for algorithm development and identification of diagnostic optical characteristics of target objects in earth observation monitoring applications. We present additional measurements conducted using hyperspectral sensor technologies in a laboratory and an outdoor setting to further extend high-quality data as well as diversity in available open-access spectral reference libraries. These observations involved gathering hyperspectral single-pixel-point and multipixel optical properties of a diverse set of plastic materials (e.g., ropes, nets, packaging, and personal protective equipment). Measurements of COVID-19 personal protective equipment were conducted to also further expand spectral reference datasets that could be useful in remote sensing the mismanaged waste in the natural environment that was generated during the pandemic. The sample set consisted of virgin polymers and ocean weathered and artificially biofouled objects of varying apparent colors, shapes, forms, thicknesses, and opacity. A Spectral Evolution spectroradiometer was used to collect hyperspectral reflectance single-pixel-point information from 280 to 2500 nm. Imaging was also performed using a Specim IQ hyperspectral camera from 400 to 1000 nm. Sampling underwater was completed in intervals of 0.005–0.215 m within a depth range covering 0.005–0.715 m. All optical measurements are available in open access for the laboratory experiment via 10.4121/769cc482-b104-4927-a94b-b16f6618c3b3 (de Vries and Garaba, 2023) and an outdoor campaign involving the biofouling samples via 10.4121/7c53b72a-be97-478b-9288-ff9c850de64b (de Vries et al., 2023). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]