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IMPORTANCE: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly recognized for their ability to promote patient-centered care, but concerted health information technology (HIT)–enabled PROM implementations have yet to be achieved for national surgical quality improvement. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of collecting PROMs within a national surgical quality improvement program. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a pragmatic implementation cohort study conducted from February 2020 to March 2023. Hospitals in the US participating in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program and their patients were included in this analysis. EXPOSURES: Strategies to increase PROM collection rates were identified using the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Framework for Spread and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and operationalized with the IHI Model for Improvement’s Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary goal was to accrue more than 30 hospitals and achieve collection rates of 30% or greater in the first 3 years. Logistic regression was used to identify hospital-level factors associated with achieving collection rates of 30% or greater and to identify patient-level factors associated with response to PROMs. RESULTS: At project close, 65 hospitals administered PROMs to 130 365 patients (median [IQR] age, 60.1 [46.2-70.0] years; 77 369 female [59.4%]). Fifteen PDSA cycles were conducted to facilitate implementation, primarily targeting the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research domains of Inner Setting (ie, HIT platform) and Individuals (ie, patients). The target collection rate was exceeded in quarter 3 (2022). Fifty-eight hospitals (89.2%) achieved collection rates of 30% or greater, and 9 (13.8%) achieved collection rates of 50% or greater. The median (IQR) maximum hospital-level collection rate was 40.7% (34.6%-46.7%). The greatest increases in collection rates occurred when both email and short-message service text messaging were used, communications to patients were personalized with their surgeon’s and hospital’s information, and the number of reminders increased from 2 to 5. No identifiable hospital characteristic was associated with achieving the target collection rate. Patient age and insurance status contributed to nonresponse. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Results of this cohort study suggest that the large-scale electronic collection of PROMs into a national multispecialty surgical registry was feasible. Findings suggest that HIT platform functionality and earning patient trust were the keys to success; although, iterative opportunities to increase collection rates and address nonresponse remain. Future work to drive continuous surgical quality improvement with PROMs are ongoing.

We investigate the early stages of cesium lead bromide perovskite formation through absorption spectroscopy of stopped-flow reactions, high-throughput mapping, and direct synthesis and titration of potential precursor species. Calorimetric and spectroscopic measurements of lead bromide complex titrations combined with theoretical calculations suggest that bromide complexes with higher coordination numbers than previously considered for nonpolar systems can better explain observed behaviors. Synthesis mapping of binary lead halides reveals multiple lead bromide species with absorption peaks higher than 300 nm, including a previously observed species with a peak at 313 nm and two species with peaks at 345 and 370 nm that also appear as reaction intermediates during the formation of lead bromide perovskites. Based on theoretical calculations of excitonic energies that match within 50 meV, we give a preliminary assignment of these species as two-dimensional magic-sized clusters with side lengths of 2, 3, and 4 unit cells. Kinetic measurements of the conversion of benzoyl bromide precursor are connected to stopped-flow measurements of product formation and demonstrate that the formation of complexes and magic-sized clusters (i.e., nucleation) is controlled by precursor decomposition, whereas the growth rate of 2D and 3D perovskites is significantly slower.

We report a general and functional-group-tolerant method for the Cu-catalyzed amination of base-sensitive aryl bromides including substrates possessing acidic functional groups and small five-membered heteroarenes. The results presented herein substantially expand the scope of Cu-catalyzed C–N coupling reactions. The combination of L8, an anionic N1,N2-diarylbenzene-1,2-diamine ligand, along with the mild base NaOTMS leads to the formation of a stable yet reactive catalyst that resists deactivation from coordination to heterocycles or charged intermediates. This system enables the use of low catalyst and ligand loadings. Exploiting the differences in nucleophile deprotonation in C–O and C–N coupling reactions catalyzed by Cu·L8we developed a method to chemoselectively N- and O-arylate a variety of amino alcohol substrates. Employing NaOt-Bu as the base resulted exclusively in C–O coupling when the amino alcohols featured primary alcohols and more hindered amines or aniline groups. Utilizing NaOTMS enabled the ability to override the steric-based selectivity of these reactions completely and exclusively promoted C–N coupling regardless of the structure of the amino alcohol. The ability to invert the observed chemoselectivity is distinct from previously described methods that require protecting group manipulations or rely entirely on steric effects to control reactivity. These results substantially improve the scope of Cu-catalyzed C–N coupling reactions using N1,N2-diarylbenzene-1,2-diamine ligands and introduce a new chemoselective method to arylate amino alcohols.

Nanoclusters are promising materials for catalysis and sensing due to their large surface areas and unique electronic structures which can be tailored through composition, geometry, and chemistry. However, relationships correlating synthesis parameters directly to outcomes are limited. While previous computational studies have mapped the potential energy surface of specific systems of bare nanoclusters by generating and calculating the energies of reasonable structures, it is known that environmental ions and ligands crucially impact the final shape and size. In this work, phosphine-stabilized gold is considered as a test system and DFT calculations are performed for clusters with and without ligands, producing a database containing >10000 structures for Aun(PH3)m(n≤ 12). We find that the ligation of phosphines affects the thermodynamic stability, bonding, and electronic structure of Au nanoclusters, specifically such that “hidden” ground state cluster geometries are stabilized that are dynamically unstable in the pure gold system. Further, the addition of phosphine introduces steric effects that induce a transition from planar to nonplanar structures at 4–5 Au atoms rather than up to 13–14 Au atoms, as previously predicted for bare clusters. This work highlights the importance of considering the ligand environment in the prediction of nanocluster morphology and functionality, which adds complexity as well as a rich opportunity for tunability.

This project was undertaken to determine if mammary development at the end of gestation differs between primiparous and multiparous sows. During gestation, primiparous (n = 19) and multiparous (parities 2 and 3, n = 17) Yorkshire × Landrace sows were fed one daily meal of a conventional corn-based diet. Amounts fed were based on body weight (BW) and backfat thickness at mating. On d 110 ± 1 of gestation, a jugular blood sample was obtained from all sows to measure IGF-1, glucose, FFA and urea. Sows were then weighed and their backfat thickness measured before euthanasia. Mammary glands from one side of the udder (7 glands) were dissected for compositional analyses. The fifth gland of the contralateral row of mammary gland was sampled for histology and immunohistochemical localization of Ki67. There was less total parenchyma (1,437.4 vs 2,004.7 ± 127.1 g) and total extra-parenchymal tissue (1,691.0 vs 2,407.0 ± 125.3 g; P< 0.001) in mammary gland of primiparous compared with multiparous sows. When these values were expressed per kg BW (respective means of 226.0 and 284.0 ± 2.7 kg for primiparous and multiparous sows), there was no difference for either parenchyma or extra-parenchymal tissue across parity groups (P> 0.05). Parity altered all components within the parenchyma (P< 0.001). Specifically, parenchymal tissue from primiparous sows had greater fat and DM percentages, decreased protein percent, and reduced concentrations of DNA (6.59 vs 9.35 ± 0.53 mg/g DM) and RNA (7.76 vs 12.33 ± 0.70 mg/g DM) than that from multiparous sows. On the other hand, the circumference of alveolar lumens was greater in primiparous than multiparous sows (P< 0.001), and the percentage of epithelial cells that were positive for Ki67, an indicator of cell proliferation, also tended to be greater in primiparous sows (P= 0.07). Circulating concentrations of IGF-1 were greater in primiparous than multiparous sows (45.0 vs 27.3 ± 2.8 ng/mL, P< 0.001). None of the other blood variables were affected by parity (P> 0.10). Results show a marked effect of parity on mammary gland development in swine. At the end of gestation, primiparous sows had less developed mammary parenchyma with a tendency for a greater rate of proliferation than multiparous sows. Such a difference could affect the response of mammary tissue to various nutritional or endocrine signals. This information is crucial for developing optimal management strategies that will maximize sow milk yield.

Recent research has described a ‘moist margin’ in the tropics, defined through a total column water vapor (TCWV) value of 48 kg m−2, that encloses most of the rainfall over the tropical oceans. Diagnosing the moist margin in the ERA5 reanalysis reveals that it varies particularly on synoptic time scales, which this study aims to quantify. We define ‘wet and dry perturbation’ objects based on the margin's movement relative to its seasonal climatology. These perturbations are associated with a variety of synoptic weather systems. Wet (dry) perturbations produce substantially more (less) rainfall compared to the seasonal average, confirming the clear link between moisture and precipitation. On synoptic scales we suggest that mid‐tropospheric humidity plays a key role in creating these perturbations, while sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are relatively unimportant. Rainfall over the tropical oceans tends to be confined within a large‐scale, highly humid region enclosed by the ‘moist margin’. This work aims to describe how the moist margin varies from one day to another. We find that shifts of the moist margin strongly control rainfall variability around the boundary of the tropics. Therefore, understanding the processes leading to shifts in the moist margin is an important component of understanding precipitation variability. We suggest that water vapor in the middle levels of the atmosphere, rather than sea surface temperatures, play a key role in controlling the moist margin. The tropical moist margin described from satellite‐based data sets is well‐represented in the ERA5 reanalysisThe moist margin displays strong variance on synoptic scales, and its movement is strongly related to precipitation variabilityVariability in the moist margin is related to mid‐tropospheric humidity, and is uncorrelated with sea surface temperature The tropical moist margin described from satellite‐based data sets is well‐represented in the ERA5 reanalysis The moist margin displays strong variance on synoptic scales, and its movement is strongly related to precipitation variability Variability in the moist margin is related to mid‐tropospheric humidity, and is uncorrelated with sea surface temperature

Increasing access to undergraduate research is critical in efforts to retain students pursuing careers in STEM. Alternatives to traditional research positions, such as course based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs), have played important roles in engaging more undergraduates in research. However, these opportunities are only a subset of possible nontraditional research experiences which can enrich the undergraduate experience. In this study, we critically examined and improved the research-group-led undergraduate research program (GURP) to better meet the needs of undergraduates seeking research. Specifically, we investigated if the program was successful with a greater diversity of data sets, if assessments of learning were consistent across different data sets and teaching environments, and if the program promoted student engagement in research. We have found that this model is scalable, robust, and adaptable to different implementations while producing consistent and positive learning outcomes for students. Especially remarkable are students’ increased self-identification as scientists and statistically significant gains in self-perceived competency across multiple domains of knowledge. This program model has shown promising results as a partially and fully online research experience for undergraduates and has benefited program alumni in their research careers. To assist research groups starting similar programs, we have created public data sets and instructional resources. We believe that GURP programs can work in a variety of situations and hope that they can become a tool to increase interest and build communities for young researchers.

The synthesis quality of artificial inorganic nanocrystals is most often assessed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for which high-throughput advances have dramatically increased both the quantity and information richness of metal nanoparticle (mNP) characterization. Existing automated data analysis algorithms of TEM mNP images generally adopt a supervised approach, requiring a significant effort in human preparation of labeled data that reduces objectivity, efficiency, and generalizability. We have developed an unsupervised algorithm AutoDetect-mNP for automated analysis of TEM images that objectively extracts morphological information on convex mNPs from TEM images based on their shape attributes, requiring little to no human input in the process. The performance of AutoDetect-mNP is tested on two data sets of bright field TEM images of Au nanoparticles with different shapes and further extended to palladium nanocubes and cadmium selenide quantum dots, demonstrating that the algorithm is quantitatively reliable and can thus serve as a generalizable measure of the morphology distributions of any mNP synthesis. The AutoDetect-mNP algorithm will aid in future developments of high-throughput characterization of mNPs and the future advent of time-resolved TEM studies that can investigate reaction mechanisms of mNP synthesis and reactivity.

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been recognized as an essential contributor to many human diseases including neurodegenerative disorders. However, the exact pathological role of mitochondrial dysfunction, especially in mitochondrial reactive oxygen species-associated oxidative stress, remains elusive, partially due to the lack of chemical probes with well-defined mechanisms of action. Herein, we describe the characterization and discovery of a rationally designed small molecule ZCM-I-1as a selective modulator of the production of reactive oxygen species from mitochondrial complex I that does not alter mitochondrial membrane potential and bioenergetics. Chemical biology studies employing photoaffinity probes derived from ZCM-I-1demonstrated its novel mechanism of action of modulating complex I via interactions with the flavin mononucleotide site, proximal in the reaction pathway within complex I.

Advances in automation and data analytics can aid exploration of the complex chemistry of nanoparticles. Lead halide perovskite colloidal nanocrystals provide an interesting proving ground: there are reports of many different phases and transformations, which has made it hard to form a coherent conceptual framework for their controlled formation through traditional methods. In this work, we systematically explore the portion of Cs–Pb–Br synthesis space in which many optically distinguishable species are formed using high-throughput robotic synthesis to understand their formation reactions. We deploy an automated method that allows us to determine the relative amount of absorbance that can be attributed to each species in order to create maps of the synthetic space. These in turn facilitate improved understanding of the interplay between kinetic and thermodynamic factors that underlie which combination of species are likely to be prevalent under a given set of conditions. Based on these maps, we test potential transformation routes between perovskite nanocrystals of different shapes and phases. We find that shape is determined kinetically, but many reactions between different phases show equilibrium behavior. We demonstrate a dynamic equilibrium between complexes, monolayers, and nanocrystals of lead bromide, with substantial impact on the reaction outcomes. This allows us to construct a chemical reaction network that qualitatively explains our results as well as previous reports and can serve as a guide for those seeking to prepare a particular composition and shape.

The aim of the present study was to determine the optimal concentration of dietary protein required in transition diets for multiparous sows that enhance the farrowing process, colostrum production, and subsequent lactation performance. Forty-eight multiparous sows were allotted to one of six dietary treatments according to body weight (290 ± 3 kg) and parity (3.8 ± 0.2) from day 108 of gestation until 24 h after the onset of farrowing. The diets were isoenergetic and contained increasing concentrations of dietary protein (expressed as standardized ileal digestible [SID] Lys) and were supplied at a daily feed supply of 3.8 kg. On day 108 of gestation and days 2, 7, 14, 21, and 28 of lactation, body weight, and back fat thickness were recorded, and blood was sampled on day 108 of gestation, at the onset of farrowing, and days 3, 10, 17, and 24 of lactation from the sows for analysis of plasma metabolites. On day 115 of gestation, urine, and feces were collected for nitrogen (N) balance. The number of liveborn and stillborn piglets and time of birth were recorded and blood from every fourth piglet was sampled at birth for blood gas analysis. Piglets were weighed individually from birth until weaning, to estimate the colostrum and milk yield of the sows. Colostrum and milk samples were collected, and their compositions were determined. On days 3 and 28 of lactation, sows were injected with deuterium oxide to estimate body composition. The N utilization was maximized when the concentration of SID Lys in the transition diet was 6.06 g/kg (P< 0.01). When urinary concentrations of urea were expressed relative to creatinine, the relative concentration of urea remained low until a dietary concentration of 6.08 g SID Lys/kg, above which the relative concentration of urea increased (P< 0.01). Stillbirth rate increased linearly with increasing SID Lys concentration in the transition diet (P< 0.001), thus the concentration of SID Lys should be kept as low as possible without impairing sow performance excessively. A carry-over effect on milk yield was observed, showing that a dietary SID Lys concentration of 5.79 g/kg during transition optimized milk production at an average yield of 13.5 kg/d (P= 0.04). Increasing loss of body fat in lactation was observed with increasing SID Lys concentration in the transition diet (P= 0.03). In conclusion, the transition diet of multiparous sows should contain 5.79 g SID Lys/kg when fed 3.8 kg/d (13.0 MJ ME/kg), for a total SID Lys intake of 22 g/d.This study demonstrates the importance of supplying dietary protein in accordance with the requirement of the multiparous sow in the transition period, to avoid detrimental effects of inadequate as well as excess protein supply. Milk yield was maximized at a dietary concentration of 5.79 g SID Lys/kg, while nitrogen utilization was optimized at 6.06 g SID Lys/kg when fed 3.8/d, however, stillbirth rate increased with increasing SID Lys concentration.In late gestation, the protein requirement of sows increases rapidly due to growth of the fetuses and mammary glands, whereas their energy requirement only is slightly increasing. Recent studies show that a feed supply of 4.1 kg/d in the last week of gestation is beneficial for the farrowing process and subsequent lactation performance. However, studies on feed supply cannot separate the effects of dietary fractions, so the sows’ requirement for protein in the transition period remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to determine the dietary protein requirement of multiparous sows using a dose–response design with six diets containing increasing dietary protein (expressed as standardized ileal digestible [SID] Lys) from 3.99 to 8.57 g SID Lys/kg at a feeding level of 3.8 kg/d. Results indicate that the utilization of nitrogen (protein) during the transition period was maximized when the diet contained 6.06 g SID Lys/kg. Colostrum yield was unaffected by dietary treatment while dietary SID Lys in transition diet was found to have a carry-over effect on milk yield in the subsequent lactation period that was optimized at 5.79 g SID Lys/kg. As the concentration of SID Lys in the transition diet increased, stillbirth rate also increased, therefore, the concentration of SID Lys should be kept as low as possible without impairing sow performance excessively. In conclusion, the transition diet of multiparous sows should contain 5.79 g SID Lys/kg when fed 3.8 kg/d (13.0 MJ ME/kg), for a total SID Lys intake of 22 g/d.

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) tomography from nanoparticles (NPs) shows promise for high-spatial-resolution molecular imaging in small-animals. Quantitative reconstruction algorithms aim to reconstruct the true distribution of NPs inside the small-animal, but so far there has been no feasible way to predict signal levels or evaluate the accuracy of reconstructions in realistic scenarios. Here we present a GPU-based computational model for small-animal XRF tomography. The unique combination of a highly accelerated Monte Carlo tool combined with an accurate small-animal phantom allows unprecedented realistic full-body simulations. We use this model to simulate our experimental system to evaluate the quantitative performance and accuracy of our reconstruction algorithms on large-scale organs as well as mm-sized tumors. Furthermore, we predict the detection limits for sub-mm tumors at realistic NP concentrations. The computational model will be a valuable tool for optimizing next-generation experimental arrangements and reconstruction algorithms.

Cell surface proteins are key regulators of fundamental cellular processes and, therefore, often at the root of human diseases. Thus, a large number of targeted drugs which are approved or under development act upon cell surface proteins. Although down-regulation of surface proteins by many natural ligands is well-established, the ability of drug candidates to cause internalization or degradation of the target is only recently moving into focus. This property is important both for the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the drug but may also constitute a potential resistance mechanism. The enormous numbers of drug candidates targeting cell surface molecules, comprising small molecules, antibodies, or alternative protein scaffolds, necessitate methods for the investigation of internalization and degradation in high throughput. Here, we present a generic high-throughput assay protocol, which allows the simultaneous and independent quantification of internalization and degradation of surface proteins on a single-cell level. Because we fuse a HaloTag to the cell surface protein of interest and exploit the differential cell permeability of two fluorescent HaloTag ligands, no labeling of the molecules to be screened is required. In contrast to previously described approaches, our homogeneous assay is performed with adherent live cells in a 96-well format. Through channel rescaling, we are furthermore able to obtain true relative abundances of surface and internal protein. We demonstrate the applicability of our procedure to three major drug targets, EGFR, HER2, and EpCAM, examining a selection of well-investigated but also novel small molecule ligands and protein affinity reagents.

Radiative convective equilibrium (RCE) describes a balance between the cooling of the atmosphere by radiation and the heating through latent heat release and surface heat fluxes. While RCE is known to provide an energetic constraint on the atmosphere at the global scale, little is known about the proximity of the atmosphere to RCE at smaller spatial and temporal scales, despite the common use of RCE in idealized modeling studies. Here we provide the first observational evaluation of the scales at which the atmosphere is near RCE. We further use observations of cloud characteristics to investigate the role played by organized convection in the RCE state. While the tropical atmosphere as a whole is near RCE on daily time scales and longer, this is not the case for any given location. Rather, areas in excess of 5,000 × 5,000 km2must be considered to ensure the atmosphere remains near RCE at least 80% of the time, even for monthly averaged conditions. We confirm that RCE is established through the interplay of regions of active deep convection with high precipitation and weak radiative cooling and regions of subsiding motions leading to shallow cloud states that allow strong radiative cooling with no precipitation. The asymmetry in the maximum amount of radiative cooling and latent heating leads to the well‐known ratio of small areas of precipitation and large regions of subsidence observed in the tropics. Finally, we show that organized deep convection does not occur when regions smaller than 1,000 × 1,000 km2are near RCE. The scales of tropical radiative convective equilibrium (RCE) are assessed from observations for the first timeThe tropics as a whole are near RCE on a daily basisOrganized deep convection is a rare state for regions in RCE and is absent when small regions are in RCE

Lead toxicity has sparked interest into alternative halide nanomaterials with properties similar to CsPbX3perovskites. A promising alternative suggested from bulk studies is the family of double perovskites of the form Cs2AgMX6. Here, we report the synthesis of colloidal Cs2AgInCl6and Cs2AgSbCl6nanocrystals via injection of acyl halides into a metal acetate solution under atmospheric conditions and relatively mild temperatures. We demonstrate the synthesis of single-crystalline cubic nanocrystals of ca. 10 nm side length and their morphological similarities to other double perovskite nanostructures in terms of their [200] facet termination and decoration with Ag(0)smaller nanocrystallites. To compare the stabilities of the synthesized materials, we develop a titration assay based on the degradation of nanocrystals with amines as a proxy for degradation by humidity, which provides a quantifiable stability metric. This measurement shows that Cs2AgSbCl6releases more than twice the decomposition energy compared to Cs2AgInCl6or CsPbCl3and degrades in the presence of approximately one molar equivalent of amine, whereas the other two materials require more than a 100-fold excess. Using facile chemical titration to quantitatively determine chemical stability provides an additional tool to aid in the basic understanding of what makes some of these materials more environmentally stable than others.

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) tomography is an emerging imaging technology with the potential for high spatial resolution molecular imaging. One of the key limitations is the background noise due to Compton scattering since it degrades the signal and limits the sensitivity. In this Letter, we present a linear focused anti-scatter grid that reduces the Compton scattering background. An anti-scatter grid was manufactured and evaluated both experimentally and theoretically with Monte Carlo simulations. The measurements showed a 31% increase in signal-to-background ratio, and simulations of an improved grid showed that this can easily be extended up to >75%. Simulated tomographies using the improved grid show a large improvement in reconstruction quality. The anti-scatter grid will be important for in vivo XRF tomography since the background reduction allows for faster scan times, lower doses, and lower nanoparticle concentrations.

This project was conducted to determine if providing standardized ileal digestible (SID) Lys at 40% above estimated requirements (NRC, 2012), with the concomitant increased protein intake, from days 90 to 110 of gestation stimulates mammary development in multiparous sows. From day 90 of gestation, Yorkshire × Landrace multiparous sows (parities 2 and 3) were fed 2.6 kg/d of either a conventional diet (CTL, control, n= 17) providing 14.8 g/d of SID Lys or a diet providing 20.8 g/d of SID Lys via additional soybean meal (HILYS, n= 16). The diets were isoenergetic. Concentrations of IGF-1, glucose, free fatty acids (FFA), urea, and amino acids (AA) were measured in jugular blood samples obtained on days 90 and 110 of gestation. Sows were necropsied on day 110 ± 1 of gestation to obtain mammary glands for compositional and histological analyses. Backfat or BW changes of sows during late gestation were unaffected by treatment (P > 0.10), as was the case for fetal BW (P> 0.10). None of the variables measured in mammary tissue were altered by supplementary Lys (P > 0.10). Circulating IGF-1, glucose, and FFA did not differ (P > 0.10) between HILYS and CTL sows on day 110 of gestation, whereas concentrations of urea were greater (P< 0.01) in HILYS versus CTL gilts. Concentrations of Ile and Thr in plasma were also greater (P <0.05), and those of Glu were lower (P< 0.01) in HILYS than CTL sows. These results demonstrate that feeding Lys (via protein) above current NRC recommendations during late gestation does not improve mammary development of multiparous sows. Hence, the use of a two-phase feeding strategy to provide more Lys (protein) to multiparous sows during this period is not necessary.Increasing intake (40%) of standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine by multiparous sows, via addition of soybean meal to the diet, from days 90 to 110 of gestation did not affect mammary development. This finding contrasts to the beneficial effect of the same treatment previously reported for gilts, thereby indicating that parity impacts the response to supplemental dietary lysine during late gestation.Results indicate that there is no advantage in terms of mammary development to feeding late-pregnant multiparous sows with 40% more lysine (via protein) than current recommendations (NRC, 2012). From days 90 to 110 of gestation, multiparous sows (parities 2 and 3) were fed 2.6 kg/d of either a conventional diet providing 14.8 g/d of standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine or a diet providing 20.8 g/d of SID lysine via the inclusion of additional soybean meal. Diets were isoenergetic. Feeding supplementary SID lysine had no effect on mammary development at the end of gestation. Contrary to our previous report for gilts, mammary gland development is not improved by providing more lysine to multiparous sows in late gestation. Such information is crucial for developing the best feeding strategies to maximize milk yield. The use of a two-phase feeding strategy to provide more lysine (protein) as of day 90 of gestation is not necessary in multiparous sows.

Piglet survival is a major challenge in the first few days postpartum and interventions during this period may improve survival and growth. This study investigated the effects of palmitoleic acid (C16:1n-7; PA) supplementation on growth performance, body temperature, fatty acid (FA), and energy metabolism in milk-replacer-fed piglets. Forty-eight piglets were stratified by body weight and randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments (0%, 1%, 2%, and 3% PA supplementation as a percent of milk replacer) and given the diet through an orogastric tube. They were fed dietary treatments every 2 h for 4 d in the first week postpartum and all were sacrificed at the end of the experiment. The piglets were weighed daily, and half in each dietary treatment group, the same piglets each day, were exposed daily to a lower temperature for 2 h. Plasma samples were collected immediately before sacrifice for analyses of FA and other plasma metabolites. The weight of organs and empty body weight were determined after sacrifice. Liver and semimembranosus muscle tissue samples were collected and analyzed for FA content. Contents of C16:1n-7 and C18:1n-7 in both plasma and liver (P< 0.001), and C16:1n-7 in semimembranosus muscle (P< 0.001) increased linearly as PA supplementation increased. Most plasma FA levels (except C16:1n-7, C16:1n-9, and C22:5n-3) were lower in piglets exposed to lower temperatures than those that were not. Plasma glucose, triglycerides, and lactate dehydrogenase levels increased linearly with PA supplementation (P< 0.001). Piglets’ average daily gain, liver glycogen pool, liver weight, and gallbladder weight increased linearly (P< 0.05, P< 0.01, P< 0.05, and P< 0.001, respectively), but lung weight, liver nitrogen content, and body temperature drop decreased linearly (P< 0.01, P< 0.001, and P< 0.05, respectively) with PA supplementation. Piglets exposed to low temperature had greater liver nitrogen (P< 0.05) and lactate dehydrogenase (P< 0.001) contents but had lower liver weight (P< 0.01) and plasma lactate concentration (P< 0.05) than those that were not. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the importance of PA on the growth performance of the piglets by increasing their average daily gain and decreasing a drop in body temperature upon cold exposure, most likely due to a modified energy metabolism.This study investigated the effects of palmitoleic acid supplementation on the growth and energy metabolism of artificially fed piglets. The results demonstrated that the supplementation of palmitoleic acid in piglets’ diet resulted in enhanced growth, better maintenance of body temperature in cold environments, and an increased liver glycogen pool; indicating the beneficial impact of palmitoleic acid supplementation on the overall growth performance of the piglets.Reducing piglet mortality in the early days after birth is a significant challenge in the modern pig industry. The focus on achieving larger litter sizes has had a negative impact on piglets’ birth weight and their intake of colostrum. Additionally, piglets are born without easily oxidizable brown adipose tissue and have limited body reserves, making them more vulnerable to death due to their lower capacity for thermogenesis. Therefore, it is important to explore dietary strategies that can enhance piglets’ thermogenesis capacity. In this study, the role of palmitoleic acid supplementation was investigated in a dose-response design to determine its impact on growth performance, fatty acid composition, and energy metabolism of milk-replacer-fed piglets during their first week of life. The results revealed a linear increase in the average daily gain of the piglets, liver weight, and liver glycogen content with increasing palmitoleic acid supplementation. Moreover, increased palmitoleic acid supplementation was associated with a drop in body temperature when piglets were exposed to a lower temperature during the experimental period. Altogether, the study indicated that palmitoleic acid has a sparing effect on glycogen reserves and that a greater proportion of energy utilized by the piglets to maintain their body temperature was derived from the oxidation of fatty acids. The results indicated a promising approach to improve piglet survival and growth through dietary modifications of fatty acids in the diet.

We apply a scientific machine learning (ML) framework to aid the prediction and understanding of nanomaterial formation processes via a joint spectral–kinetic model. We apply this framework to study the nucleation and growth of two-dimensional (2D) perovskite nanosheets. Colloidal nanomaterials have size-dependent optical properties and can be observed in situ, all of which make them a good model for understanding the complex processes of nucleation, growth, and phase transformation of 2D perovskites. Our results demonstrate that this model nanomaterial can form through two processes at the nanoscale: either viaa layer-by-layer chemical exfoliation process from lead bromide nanocrystals or viadirect nucleation from precursors. We utilize a phenomenological kinetic analysis to study the exfoliation process and scientific machine learning to study the direct nucleation and growth and discuss the circumstances under which it is more appropriate to use phenomenological or more complex machine learning models. Data for both analysis techniques are collected through in situspectroscopy in a stopped flow chamber, incorporating over 500,000 spectra taken under more than 100 different conditions. More broadly, our research shows that the ability to utilize and integrate traditional kinetics and machine learning methods will greatly assist in the understanding of complex chemical systems.

Hematopoietic precursor cells (HPC) are able to restore hematopoiesis after high-dose chemotherapy and their cryopreservation is routinely employed prior to the autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT). Although previous studies showed feasibility of long-term HPC storage, concerns remain about possible negative effects on their potency. To study the effects of long-term cryopreservation, we compared time to neutrophil and platelet recovery in 50 patients receiving two AHCT for multiple myeloma at least 2 years apart between 2006 and 2016, using HPC obtained from one mobilization and collection attempt before the first transplant. This product was divided into equivalent fractions allowing a minimum of 2 × 106CD34+ cells/kg recipient’s weight. One fraction was used for the first transplant after median storage of 60 days (range, 17–165) and another fraction was used after median storage of 1448 days (range, 849–3510) at the second AHCT. Neutrophil recovery occurred at 14 days (median; range, 11–21) after the first and 13 days (10–20) after the second AHCT. Platelets recovered at a median of 16 days after both procedures. Considering other factors, such as disease status, conditioning and HPC dose, this single institution data demonstrated no reduction in the potency of HPC after long-term storage.

Satellite observations of Australian rainfall are used with reanalysis fields to identify the fundamental ingredients that distinguish extreme rain days from non‐extreme rain days. We analyze regions from the tropics to the mid‐latitudes, seeking to address whether regions with very different large‐scale circulations have common factors required for extreme rainfall, and if so, what synoptic conditions lead to the development of the extremes. In all regions, extreme rain days occur in locally strong ascent, high moisture, and an atmosphere closer to saturation throughout the depth of the free troposphere than on weaker intensity rain days, although the synoptic processes leading to the development of these local conditions vary regionally. The concentration of moisture over several days preceding an extreme is important to the development of the extreme. We show that the local values of precipitable water and mid‐level ascent can indicate whether a rain day will be extreme. The analysis uses 20 years of satellite‐derived rain estimates covering the period 1998–2017, averaged daily and over 100 × 100 km2areas centered on the Australian cities of Darwin (tropical), Brisbane (subtropical), and Melbourne (mid‐latitude). The daily mean rainfalls are ranked by intensity, and the top 100 days in each region are selected as extremes. The large‐scale conditions of these extreme rain days are taken from reanalysis and compared against those of the median and low intensity rain days in each region. Extreme rain days occur in locally strong ascent, high moisture, and in an atmosphere closer to saturation than on weaker intensity rain daysThe likelihood of a rain day being an extreme can be estimated from the local values of precipitable water and mid‐level ascentThe local build‐up of moisture over several days preceding an extreme is important to the development of the extreme Extreme rain days occur in locally strong ascent, high moisture, and in an atmosphere closer to saturation than on weaker intensity rain days The likelihood of a rain day being an extreme can be estimated from the local values of precipitable water and mid‐level ascent The local build‐up of moisture over several days preceding an extreme is important to the development of the extreme

Much of the day‐to‐day variability of rainfall in the midlatitudes is controlled by the passage of extratropical cyclones and their related fronts. A good representation of fronts and their associated rainfall in climate models is essential to have confidence in future projections of midlatitude precipitation. An objective front identification method has been applied to the data from ERA‐Interim and 18 Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, version 5 (CMIP5) models and the fronts linked with daily precipitation estimates to investigate how winter front‐related precipitation is represented in the models. While the front frequency is well represented, the frequency of frontal precipitation is too high and the intensity is too low, thus adding little bias to the rainfall total. Although the intensity of the modeled frontal precipitation is too low, the intensity of other precipitation is even lower; thus, the ratio of frontal precipitation to total precipitation is higher in the models than in the reanalysis. Evaluation of the winter frontal precipitation in CMIP5 models using objective front identificationFrontal precipitation well represented on average but due to complex compensating factorsAmplifying impact of fronts on rainfall intensity too high in models because of low biased total