Search

Research Findings: Few studies address the contextual conditions for preschool staff in supporting children in preschool, especially in classrooms with high proportions of early second language learners (L2-learners). The aim of the study was to describe preschool staff's support of children's engagement in units with high proportions of L2-learners. In an exploratory mixed-methods approach, eleven interviews (11 units and 27 staff) were conducted, analyzed through content analysis. For the observations, 121 preschool staff (31 units) were added, and 594 children were observed (42 classrooms), analyzed through T-tests to investigate staff's contextual differences in units with high proportions (> 80%) of L2-learners (L2-groups) and child groups with high proportions (> 80%) of L1-learners. Content analysis revealed a main theme of "a commitment to establish relationships with the children while managing cultural values and norms." In interacting with children individually, the staff wanted to be close to the children and acknowledging them. In these aspects, no differences were found between staff between groups. Differences occurred in interaction with children in groups. Staff in L2-groups struggled with routines, mediating values and encouraging children learning from each other. Policy/practice: Staff in L2-groups need further encouragement from the organization to manage the needs of children in L2-groups without straining their commitments.

Metal-supported solid oxide electrolysis cells (MS-SOECs) are being developed for steam-to-hydrogen electrolysis, especially for utilization of dynamic or intermittent electrical power from renewable sources. Various aspects of the electrocatalyst processing and composition, and metal support structure were explored. Catalyst materials, infiltration temperature and infiltration cycles were optimized for high performance and durability. Numerous catalyst materials were screened for both oxygen and steam electrodes. The oxygen catalyst had moderate impact on both initial cell performance and durability. Reducing Ni content in the steam electrode had little effect on durability, but reduced initial performance. Ex-situ XRD analysis and cell assessment of catalyst infiltration temperature revealed that the optimal range is 750–850 °C. The best cell performance and durability was achieved with LSCF-SDC oxygen electrocatalyst and SDC-Ni (60:40 vol%) steam electrocatalyst infiltrated 11 times at 800 °C and operated at 700 °C. At low steam content, a significant mass transport limitation on the steam side results in limiting current behavior. Thinner and more porous metal supports were implemented, and found to improve steam mass transport at low steam content, relevant for SOECs operating under high H2 recycle rate or high steam utilization.

Oxidation behavior of porous P434L ferritic stainless steel, used for the fabrication of metal-supported solid oxide electrolysis cells (MS-SOEC), is studied under oxygen-side and steam-side conditions. The impact of oxygen content on the oxygen side and steam:hydrogen ratio on the steam side is determined at 700 °C for bare, as-sintered samples. For these conditions, oxidation is more aggressive in the steam-side atmosphere. Oxygen with 3% humidification and steam:hydrogen ratio of 90:10 are selected for further assessment with pre-oxidized, catalyst-coated, and CuMn1·8O4-coated samples. The rapid oxidation at 700 °C and breakaway oxidation at 600 °C observed for bare stainless steel in 90:10 steam:hydrogen is mitigated by pre-oxidizing the sample in air before exposure. In oxygen, addition of the catalyst or CuMn1·8O4 coatings moderately increases the oxidation rate, due to consumption of Cr via reaction between the coatings and Cr-oxide scale. The results for ex-situ controlled oxidation are similar to oxidation observed after 1000 h operation of a full MS-SOEC. In general, the oxidation behavior at 700 °C is found to be acceptable.

Direct utilization and internal reforming of gaseous fuels is investigated on symmetric-architecture metal supported solid oxide fuel cells (MS-SOFCs) with thin ceramic electrolyte and scaffold backbone layers, and low cost ferritic stainless steel supports on both sides. Infiltrated Pr-oxide and Ni/samarium-doped ceria catalysts are added to the cathode and anode electrodes, respectively. Initial performance and durability is evaluated for MS-SOFCs operating with natural gas, propane, ammonia, and dimethyl ether at 700 °C. Cells for natural gas and propane utilize a novel high entropy alloy (HEA) catalyst for internal reforming with performance and degradation rates similar to H2 (0.5 W cm−2 and ∼12%/100 h). Initial testing with sulfur shows reversible degradation for levels found in natural gas and irreversible degradation for higher levels found in commercial propane. Overall, MS-SOFCs show successful fuel flexibility.

The performance, long-term durability, and thermal cycling tolerance of metal supported solid oxide fuel cells (MS-SOFCs) operating with natural gas reformate fuels is assessed. Symmetric MS-SOFCs with composite SDC-Ni anode catalysts and PrOx cathode catalysts are operated with simulated natural gas steam-reformate and partial-oxidation-reformate fuels with 1 ppm and 5 ppm of sulfur. Cells are operated for 1000 h with initial degradation rates similar to humidified H2, and initial performance differences attributed to the lower H2 concentration in reformate fuels. Additionally, cells tolerate many aggressive thermal cycles with sulfur present, with minimal impact on performance. Post mortem analysis suggests that Ni particle coarsening and Cr deposition are sources of degradation, while carbon and sulfur deposition are not observed. Overall, MS-SOFCs operate successfully with reformed natural gas.

This procedure describes the setup and testing protocol for metal-supported solid oxide electrolysis cell (MS-SOEC) button cell performance evaluation. It defines a standard testing protocol, describes materials selection, and identifies common pitfalls for testing MS-SOEC button cells.

Sterol lipids are widely present in eukaryotes and play essential roles in signaling and modulating membrane fluidity. Although rare, some bacteria also produce sterols, but their function in bacteria is not known. Moreover, many more species, including pathogens and commensal microbes, acquire or modify sterols from eukaryotic hosts through poorly understood molecular mechanisms. The aerobic methanotroph Methylococcus capsulatus was the first bacterium shown to synthesize sterols, producing a mixture of C-4 methylated sterols that are distinct from those observed in eukaryotes. C-4 methylated sterols are synthesized in the cytosol and localized to the outer membrane, suggesting that a bacterial sterol transport machinery exists. Until now, the identity of such machinery remained a mystery. In this study, we identified three novel proteins that may be the first examples of transporters for bacterial sterol lipids. The proteins, which all belong to well-studied families of bacterial metabolite transporters, are predicted to reside in the inner membrane, periplasm, and outer membrane of M. capsulatus, and may work as a conduit to move modified sterols to the outer membrane. Quantitative analysis of ligand binding revealed their remarkable specificity for 4-methylsterols, and crystallographic structures coupled with docking and molecular dynamics simulations revealed the structural bases for substrate binding by two of the putative transporters. Their striking structural divergence from eukaryotic sterol transporters signals that they form a distinct sterol transport system within the bacterial domain. Finally, bioinformatics revealed the widespread presence of similar transporters in bacterial genomes, including in some pathogens that use host sterol lipids to construct their cell envelopes. The unique folds of these bacterial sterol binding proteins should now guide the discovery of other proteins that handle this essential metabolite.

Abstract Eukaryotes produce highly modified sterols, including cholesterol, essential to eukaryotic physiology. Although few bacterial species are known to produce sterols, de novo production of cholesterol or other complex sterols in bacteria has not been reported. Here, we show that the marine myxobacterium Enhygromyxa salina produces cholesterol and provide evidence for further downstream modifications. Through bioinformatic analysis we identify a putative cholesterol biosynthesis pathway in E. salina largely homologous to the eukaryotic pathway. However, experimental evidence indicates that complete demethylation at C-4 occurs through unique bacterial proteins, distinguishing bacterial and eukaryotic cholesterol biosynthesis. Additionally, proteins from the cyanobacterium Calothrix sp. NIES-4105 are also capable of fully demethylating sterols at the C-4 position, suggesting complex sterol biosynthesis may be found in other bacterial phyla. Our results reveal an unappreciated complexity in bacterial sterol production that rivals eukaryotes and highlight the complicated evolutionary relationship between sterol biosynthesis in the bacterial and eukaryotic domains.

Sterane molecular fossils with side-chain methylations have not been reported in the bacterial domain. One such sterane, 24-isopropylcholestane, has been attributed to ancient sponges, potentially representing the earliest evidence for animals on Earth. This study demonstrates that symbiotic bacteria are capable of producing the 24-isopropyl sterol side-chain, suggesting that bacteria should not be dismissed as sources of these biomarkers in the rock record.

Abstract Aim The aim of the study was to describe different eHealth literacy domains among parents of children needing paediatric surgery in Sweden, and the correlation between these eHealth literacy domains and parents' socioeconomic factors and demographic characteristics. Design Descriptive correlational design. Method Thirty‐five Swedish‐speaking parents participated as a historical control group within an ongoing Swedish clinical trial developing eHealth solutions for families after hospital care; of these, 30 completed the eHealth Literacy Questionnaire and the socioeconomic and demographic questionnaire. Results Of the seven eHealth literacy domains assessed, parents' strengths lay in those pertaining to their own digital competence, control and safety, while their weakness concerned their motivation to engage with digital services, and their ability to access eHealth platforms that work. Overall, parents presented adequate eHealth literacy. Of the five socioeconomic and demographic variables assessed (i.e. monthly wages, education levels, age, gender and residency), monthly wages correlated the strongest, and positively, with the seven eHealth literacy domains.

Differentiating the contributions of photosynthesis and respiration to the global carbon cycle is critical for improving predictive climate models. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity in leaves is responsible for the largest biosphere-atmosphere trace gas fluxes of carbonyl sulfide (COS) and the oxygen-18 isotopologue of carbon dioxide (CO18O) that both reflect gross photosynthetic rates. However, CA activity also occurs in soils and will be a source of uncertainty in the use of COS and CO18O as carbon cycle tracers until process-based constraints are improved. In this study, we measured COS and CO18O exchange rates and estimated the corresponding CA activity in soils from a range of biomes and land use types. Soil CA activity was not uniform for COS and CO2, and patterns of divergence were related to microbial community composition and CA gene expression patterns. In some cases, the same microbial taxa and CA classes catalyzed both COS and CO2 reactions in soil, but in other cases the specificity towards the two substrates differed markedly. CA activity for COS was related to fungal taxa and β-D-CA expression, whereas CA activity for CO2 was related to algal and bacterial taxa and α-CA expression. This study integrates gas exchange measurements, enzyme activity models, and characterization of soil taxonomic and genetic diversity to build connections between CA activity and the soil microbiome. Importantly, our results identify kinetic parameters to represent soil CA activity during application of COS and CO18O as carbon cycle tracers.

Evidence of a MHD dynamo brought about by intrinsic helical core structures in negative triangularity (NT) and ITER baseline scenario (IBS) plasmas demonstrates paths to operating tokamaks without seeds for deleterious global MHD modes. A stationary sawtooth- and edge localized mode-free state maintains high performance for long durations in a strong NT shape in the DIII-D tokamak. Disparity between minimum safety factor values predicted by magnetic flux diffusion theory and derived from experiment suggests anomalous flux diffusion by an MHD dynamo, driven by flows associated with quasi-interchange modes. Stability calculations with the GATO code find NT and IBS experimental equilibria unstable to quasi-interchange modes, in agreement with observed saturated activity. IBS discharges with similar magnetic winding structure occupy robust helical core states following a transition from sawtooth instabilities. These states agree with prior modeling of helical core bifurcation thresholds with the VMEC equilibrium code.

The DIII-D tokamak has elucidated crucial physics and developed projectable solutions for ITER and fusion power plants in the key areas of core performance, boundary heat and particle transport, and integrated scenario operation, with closing the core-edge integration knowledge gap being the overarching mission. New experimental validation of high-fidelity, multi-channel, non-linear gyrokinetic turbulent transport models for ITER provides strong confidence it will achieve Q ⩾ 10 operation. Experiments identify options for easing H-mode access in hydrogen, and give new insight into the isotopic dependence of transport and confinement. Analysis of 2,1 islands in unoptimized low-torque IBS demonstration discharges suggests their onset time occurs randomly in the constant β phase, most often triggered by non-linear 3-wave coupling, thus identifying an NTM seeding mechanism to avoid. Pure deuterium SPI for disruption mitigation is shown to provide favorable slow cooling, but poor core assimilation, suggesting paths for improved SPI on ITER. At the boundary, measured neutral density and ionization source fluxes are strongly poloidally asymmetric, implying a 2D treatment is needed to model pedestal fuelling. Detailed measurements of pedestal and SOL quantities and impurity charge state radiation in detached divertors has validated edge fluid modelling and new self-consistent ‘pedestal-to-divertor’ integrated modeling that can be used to optimize reactors. New feedback adaptive ELM control minimizes confinement reduction, and RMP ELM suppression with sustained high core performance was obtained for the first time with the outer strike point in a W-coated, compact and unpumped small-angle slot divertor. Advances have been made in integrated operational scenarios for ITER and power plants. Wide pedestal intrinsically ELM-free QH-modes are produced with more reactor-relevant conditions, Low torque IBS with W-equivalent radiators can exhibit predator-prey oscillations in T _e and radiation which need control. High- β _P scenarios with q _min > 2, q _95 –7.9, β _N > 4, β _T –3.3% and H _98y2 > 1.5 are sustained with high density ( $\bar n$ = 7E19 m ^−3 , f _G –1) for 6 τ _E , improving confidence in steady-state tokamak reactors. Diverted NT plasmas achieve high core performance with a non-ELMing edge, offering a possible highly attractive core-edge integration solution for reactors.

The objectives of NSTX-U research are to reinforce the advantages of STs while addressing the challenges. To extend confinement physics of low- A , high beta plasmas to lower collisionality levels, understanding of the transport mechanisms that set confinement performance and pedestal profiles is being advanced through gyrokinetic simulations, reduced model development, and comparison to NSTX experiment, as well as improved simulation of RF heating. To develop stable non-inductive scenarios needed for steady-state operation, various performance-limiting modes of instability were studied, including MHD, tearing modes, and energetic particle instabilities. Predictive tools were developed, covering disruptions, runaway electrons, equilibrium reconstruction, and control tools. To develop power and particle handling techniques to optimize plasma exhaust in high performance scenarios, innovative lithium-based solutions are being developed to handle the very high heat flux levels that the increased heating power and compact geometry of NSTX-U will produce, and will be seen in future STs. Predictive capabilities accounting for plasma phenomena, like edge harmonic oscillations, ELMs, and blobs, are being tested and improved. In these ways, NSTX-U researchers are advancing the physics understanding of ST plasmas to maximize the benefit that will be gained from further NSTX-U experiments and to increase confidence in projections to future devices.

Since the last IAEA-FEC in 2021, significant progress on the development of long pulse steady state scenario and its related key physics and technologies have been achieved, including the reproducible 403 s long-pulse steady-state H-mode plasma with pure radio frequency (RF) power heating. A thousand-second time scale (∼1056 s) fully non-inductive plasma with high injected energy up to 1.73 GJ has also been achieved. The EAST operational regime of high β _P has been significantly extended ( H _98y2 > 1.3, β _P ∼ 4.0, β _N ∼ 2.4 and n _e / n _GW ∼ 1.0) using RF and neutral beam injection (NBI). The full edge localized mode suppression using the n = 4 resonant magnetic perturbations has been achieved in ITER-like standard type-I ELMy H-mode plasmas with q _95 ≈ 3.1 on EAST, extrapolating favorably to the ITER baseline scenario. The sustained large ELM control and stable partial detachment have been achieved with Ne seeding. The underlying physics of plasma-beta effect for error field penetration, where toroidal effect dominates, is disclosed by comparing the results in cylindrical theory and MARS-Q simulation in EAST. Breakdown and plasma initiation at low toroidal electric fields (

Real-time magnetic control has been developed to deliver precise control of multiple plasma shape parameters for advanced divertor configurations, including double-null, Super-X, X-point target and X-divertor for the first time on the MAST Upgrade (MAST-U) spherical tokamak. Successful real-time magnetic equilibrium control of different plasma shape variables has been accomplished in the 2022–2023 MAST-U experimental campaign for the advanced MAST-U divertor configurations. Application of the MAST-U boundary reconstruction algorithm, LEMUR, is described and compared with off-line equilibrium reconstruction and diagnostic measurements. The process of design and verification of the axisymmetric magnetic control schemes using a suite of control analysis tools (known collectively as TokSys) is also described.

The cell membranes of many archaea contain characteristic membrane-spanning lipids known as glycerol dibiphytanyl glycerol tetraethers. Here, Zeng et al. identify a protein that participates in a key step of the synthesis of these lipids from diether precursors.

Abstract Background Prevention of child obesity is an international public health priority and believed to be effective when started in early childhood. Caregivers often ask for an early and structured response from health professionals when their child is identified with overweight, yet cost‐effective interventions for children aged 2–6 years and their caregivers in Child Health Services are lacking. Objectives To evaluate the effects and cost‐effectiveness of a child‐centered health dialogue in the Child Health Services in Sweden on 4‐year‐old children with normal weight and overweight. Methods Thirty‐seven Child Health Centers were randomly assigned to deliver intervention or usual care. The primary outcome was zBMI‐change. Results A total of 4598 children with normal weight (zBMI: 0.1 [SD = 0.6] and 490 children with overweight (zBMI: 1.6 [SD = 0.3]) (mean age: 4.1 years [SD = 0.1]; 49% females) were included. At follow‐up, at a mean age of 5.1 years [SD = 0.1], there was no intervention effect on zBMI‐change for children with normal weight. Children with overweight in the control group increased zBMI by 0.01 ± 0.50, while children in the intervention group decreased zBMI by 0.08 ± 0.52. The intervention effect on zBMI‐change for children with overweight was –0.11, with a 95% confidence interval of –0.24 to 0.01 (p = 0.07). The estimated additional costs of the Child‐Centered Health Dialogue for children with overweight were 167 euros per child with overweight and the incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio was 183 euros per 0.1 zBMI unit prevented. Conclusions This low‐intensive multicomponent child‐centered intervention for the primary prevention of child obesity did not show statistical significant effects on zBMI, but is suggested to be cost‐effective with the potential to be implemented universally in the Child Health Services. Future studies should investigate the impact of socio‐economic factors in universally implemented obesity prevention programs.

Objective: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is associated with dilatation of central elastic arteries, while it is uncertain whether peripheral muscular arteries are affected. The aim of this study was to investigate radial artery diastolic lumen diameter (LD), wall thickness, and circumferential wall stress (CWS) in patients with AAA. Methods: We included 130 men with AAA (mean age, 70.4 ± 3.5 years) and 61 men without AAA (mean age, 70.5 ± 3.2 years) in the study. High-frequency ultrasound examination (50 MHz) was used to measure radial artery diameter, wall thickness, and CWS was calculated. Results: Men with AAA exhibited smaller radial artery LD (2.34 ± 0.42 mm vs 2.50 ± 0.38 mm; P < .01), thicker intima (0.094 ± 0.024 mm vs 0.081 ± 0.018 mm; P < .001), similar intima-media (0.28 ± 0.05 vs 0.26 ± 0.05 mm; P = NS), and lower CWS (42.9 ± 10.2 kPa vs 48.6 ± 11.4 kPa; P < .001), compared with controls. Subgroup analyses including all patients showed smaller LD and thicker intima in patients on statin therapy versus no statin therapy and current/ex-smoking versus never smoking. Individuals with hypertension versus no hypertension also presented with thicker intima, but with no difference in LD. Conclusions: AAAs demonstrated a smaller LD and thicker intima in the radial artery, in contrast with the theory of a general dilating diathesis of the arteries. Apart from AAA, other factors such as atherosclerosis, smoking habits, and hypertension might also be determinants of radial artery caliber and thickness. Clinical Relevance: The clinical relevance of this study is the added insight into the pathophysiology of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Today, the management of AAA is focused on reduction of general cardiovascular risk factors and treatment is based on surgical approaches when the AAA is already manifest. By shedding light on unknown pathophysiological aspects of AAA, it will eventually be possible to develop targeted pharmacological treatments to prevent the formation of AAA, to halt disease progression, and to find early cardiovascular markers of AAA.

Abstract Context The current report is part of a prospective, multi-center, two-arm, quasi-randomized field study focusing on the effectiveness in general praxis of evidence-based procedures in the non-surgical treatment of patients with periodontitis. Objective The specific aims were to (i) evaluate patient-reported experience and outcome measures of treatment following a guided approach to periodontal infection control (GPIC) compared to conventional non-surgical therapy (CNST) and to (ii) identify potential predictors of subjective treatment outcomes and patient’s adherence to self-performed infection control, i.e. adequate oral hygiene. Methods The study sample consisted of 494 patients treated per protocol with questionnaire- and clinical data at baseline and 6-months. The GPIC approach (test) comprised patient education for adequate oral hygiene prior to a single session of full-mouth ultra-sonic instrumentation, while the CNST approach (control) comprised education and instrumentation (scaling and root planing) integrated at required number of consecutive appointments. Clinical examinations and treatment were performed by Dental Hygienists, i.e. not blinded. Data were processed with bivariate statistics for comparison between treatment groups and with multiple regression models to identify potential predictors of subjective and clinical outcomes. The primary clinical outcome was gingival bleeding scores. Results No substantial differences were found between the two treatment approaches regarding patient-reported experiences or outcomes of therapy. Patients’ experiences of definitely being involved in therapy decisions was a significant predictor for a desirable subjective and clinical outcome in terms of; (i) that oral health was considered as much improved after therapy compared to how it was before, (ii) that the treatment definitively had been worth the cost and efforts, and (iii) adherence to self-performed periodontal infection control. In addition, to be a current smoker counteracted patients’ satisfaction with oral health outcome, while gingival bleeding scores at baseline predicted clinical outcome in terms of bleeding scores at 6-months. Conclusions The results suggest that there are no differences with regard to patient-reported experiences and outcomes of therapy following a GPIC approach to periodontal infection control versus CNST. Patients’ experiences of being involved in therapy decisions seem to be an important factor for satisfaction with care and for adherence to self-performed periodontal infection control. Registered at: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02168621).

Abstract Background The increasing prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) is a growing problem globally, particularly in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs). Previous studies have shown high rates of CRE colonisation among patients at hospitals in LMICs, with increased risk of hospital-acquired infections. Methods We isolated carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) from faecal samples collected in 2017 from patients at admission and discharge at a Vietnamese neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). 126 CRKP were whole-genome sequenced. The phylogenetic relationship between the isolates and between clinical CRKP isolates collected in 2012–2018 at the same hospital were investigated. Results NDM-type carbapenemase-(61%) and KPC-2-encoding genes (41%) were the most common carbapenem resistance genes observed among the admission and discharge isolates. Most isolates (56%) belonged to three distinct clonal clusters of ST15, carrying bla KPC-2, bla NDM-1 and bla NDM-4, respectively. Each cluster also comprised clinical isolates from blood collected at the study hospital. The most dominant ST15 clone was shown to be related to isolates collected from the same hospital as far back as in 2012. Conclusions Highly resistant CRKP were found colonising admission and discharge patients at a Vietnamese NICU, emphasising the importance of continued monitoring. Whole-genome sequencing revealed a population of CRKP consisting mostly of ST15 isolates in three clonally related clusters, each related to blood isolates collected from the same hospital. Furthermore, clinical isolates collected from previous years (dating back to 2012) were shown to likely be clonally descended from ST15 isolates in the largest cluster, suggesting a successful hospital strain which can colonise inpatients.