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C15H26O2, monoclinic, P1211 (no. 4), a = 10.369(2) Å, b = 27.528(6) Å, c = 10.815(2) Å, β = 107.98(3)°, V = 2936.3 Å3, Z = 8, Rgt(F) = 0.041, wRref(F2) = 0.105, T = 293 K.

The article focuses on the introduction of the Personalized Patient Preference Predictor (P4) by Earp et al. (2024), designed to extract patient preferences using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to enhance accuracy and uphold patient autonomy in healthcare decisions. Topics include the limitations of Advance Care Planning (ACP) and arguments advocating for the integration of cognitive, emotional, and embodied aspects in decision-making processes.

We report the synthesis, characterization and electrical properties of Ag0.3Cu0.7InS2, Ag0.3Cu0.7InSe2 and Ag0.3Cu0.7InTe2. These solid solutions were synthesized via microwave-assisted solid-state reactions. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns were indexed in the space group I4 2d. The chemical compositions were determined by scanning electron microcopy. The analysis of the vibrational properties was performed by Raman scattering measurements. The Raman peaks were analyzed by fitting the spectra and allowed the identification of the vibrational modes via comparison with experimental and theoretical data from CuInQ2 (Q = S, Se, Te) end-members. Ag0.3Cu0.7InS2 and Ag0.3Cu0.7InTe2 exhibit typical semiconductor p-type behavior with a carrier concentration of ~ +1016 cm-3. The electrical conductivities σ at R.T. were ~10-1 S cm-1 and ~1.0 S cm-1 for Ag0.3Cu0.7InS2 and Ag0.3Cu0.7InTe2, respectively. The optical band gaps, based on the UV-Vis-NIR spectra, were Eg ~1.50 eV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New solid solutions Cu2Mn xFe1− xSnS4 were prepared by direct combination of the corresponding elements at 850 °C. The crystal structure of Cu2Mn0.4Fe0.6SnS4 was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. This phase is described in the space group [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) materials such as REMnO3 perovskites and AB2S4 thiospinels have been well studied in the past. The authors present thiospinel compounds with A = Mn, since they may be viewed as a link to REMnO3 CMR perovskites. Ferrimagnetic MnCr2S4 is known to present a Tc of 65 K and a magnetic transition towards a non-collinear Yafet-Kittel state. The (Mn1-xA'x)Cr2S4 series (A = Cd, Zn) was synthesised at 850°C. This series crystallises in the space group Fd3m with a close to 10 Å. When A' = Cd (Tc ranging from 68 K, x = 0·2, to 79 K, x = 0·6), the ferromagnetic features are enhanced, indicating that antiferromagnetism between Mn spins is progressively lost. For A' = Zn, two magnetic transitions take place, one at 15 K, which is reminiscent of the antiferromagnetic state of ZnCr2S4 and another one at Tc = 115 K. Impurities which could be responsible of these two magnetic states are excluded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new quaternary alkali metal, rare earth thiophosphate was synthesized by the ceramic method and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction: K2SmP2S7 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2 (no. 5) with the unit cell parameters a =22.746(5)Å, b =6.7362(13)Å, c =8.9004(18)Å, β =99.68(3)°, V =1344.3(5)Å3 and Z =2. The phase K2SmP2S7 can be better described as K4Sm2[PS4]2[P2S6] because it contains in the crystal structure both discrete anions [PS4]3− and [P2S6]4−. The crystal structure consists of infinite chains of 1 ∞[SmPS4] that are linked together through the ethane-like [P2S6]4− anions to form two-dimensional layers. The packing of K2SmP2S7 is formed by layers of 2 ∞[Sm2[PS4]2[P2S6]]4− separated by K+ cations. K2SmP2S7 was characterized by Raman and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and SEM-EDX microprobe analyses. The optical band gap of K2SmP2S7 was determined by UV–vis diffuse reflectance measurements to be 2.59eV. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The intercalation compounds Li0.96(H2O)0.77(PEO)0.63Ni0.48PS3 and Li0.94(H2O)0.92(PEO)0.94Fe0.48PS3 obtained by the insertion of PEO in MPS3 form lithium-polyethylene oxide complexes containing Li+ exchangeable cation in the interlayer space. Polyethylene oxide (PEO) is able to associate interlayer cation increasing the ionic conductivity of NiPS3 and FePS3. These compounds constitute a new family of intercalates MPS3 (M=Ni, Fe) host-layer materials. The new materials were characterized by powder X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transformed infrared (FT-IR), differential thermal and thermogravimetric analyses (DTA/TG), energy dispersive X-Ray (EDX), inductively coupled plasma (ICP) and electrochemical impedance measurements. The intercalation compound Li0.96(H2O)0.77(PEO)0.63Ni0.48PS3 shows an ionic conductivity of 0.13μS/cm, and dc electronic conductivity of ca. 0.1μS/cm which is twice that of NiPS3. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The anisotropic proton conductivity of a large-sized single crystal of the supramolecular, commensurate host-guest inclusion compound constituted by a poly-anionic thiourea-chloride matrix defining channels in which the diquinuclidinium cations [Q2H]+ are hosted is reported. Specimens in the millimetre scale display an anisotropy factor of about 100, with electrical conductivities along molecular channels of the order of 10-4 S cm-1 at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new quaternary selenophosphate phases AMP2Se6 (A=Cu, Ag and M=Bi, Sb) were synthesized by ceramic methods at 1023 K. These phases were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and a.c. and d.c. electrical conductivity measurements. The phases all show values of electrical conductivity, σ, of about 10−4 Ω−1 cm−1 at 303 K and photoconductive effect. The conductivity is nearly five orders of magnitude larger than that of related phases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

BiKP2S6, monoclinic, P1211 (No. 4), a = 6.6200(6) Å, b = 7.4058(7) Å, c = 9.9002(9) Å, β = 92.108(1)°, V = 485.0Å3, Z = 2, Rgt(F) = 0.027, wRref(F2) = 0.060, T = 293 K.

KSbP2S6, monoclinic, P1211 (No. 4), a = 6.605(1) Å, b = 7.651(2) Å, c = 9.754(2) Å, β = 92.11(3)°, V = 492.6 Å3, Z = 2, Rgt(F) = 0.018, wRref(F2) = 0.044, T = 293 K.

In this paper, the results of the synthesis, structural, vibrational and optical characterization of the CuInSSe pseudo-quaternary compound (CISS) obtained via the assistance of microwave radiation and the conventional ceramic method are compared. The synthesis was performed in vacuum sealed quartz ampoules and exposed to microwave radiation at 2, 3 and 4 minutes for 3 days. The structural characterization indicates that the products are single phases with crystal structure Chalcopyrite-type. The average particle sizes were estimated through the use of Scherrer's formula, and the results showed that there is a correlation between the duration of exposure to radiation and the particle size obtained. The SEM-EDS analysis confirms the chemical compositions expected. The Raman analysis confirmed the formation of the pseudo-quaternary phase presenting the characteristic peaks and displacement for these compounds. Finally, the measurement of diffuse reflectance show band-gap values Eg between 1.21 and 1.29 eV allowing us to conclude that the microwave-assisted synthesis leads to the obtaining of the CISS phase, which are presented as good candidates to be used as absorbing material in solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new family of Cu2Mn1−x Co x SnS4 chalcogenides has been synthesized by conventional solid-state reactions at 850°C. The reactions products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDS), Raman spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility. The crystal structures of two members of the solid solution series Cu2Mn0.4Co0.6SnS4 and Cu2Mn0.2Co0.8SnS4 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Both phases crystallize in the tetragonal kësterite-type structure (space group ). The distortions of the tetrahedral volume of Cu2Mn0.4Co0.6SnS4 and Cu2Mn0.2Co0.8SnS4 were calculated and compared with the corresponding differences in the Cu2MnSnS4 (stannite-type) end-member. The compounds show nearly the same Raman spectral features. Temperature-dependent magnetization measurements (ZFC/FC) and high-temperature susceptibility indicate that these solid solutions are antiferromagnetic. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The nominal compositions Ag0.8Cu0.2SbS2 and Ag0.7Cu0.3SbS2 have been synthesized by conventional ceramic solid-state reaction at high temperature. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy chemical analysis (SEM-EDAX) revealed single phases, isostructural to the natural miargyrite α-AgSbS2 mineral. Examination of the lattice parameters shows a decrease in the cell volume with increasing copper substitutions. The Raman analysis displays absorptions which may be assigned to the Sb–S stretching vibrations of the SbS3 pyramids. The impedance-frequency analysis showed grain boundary and electrode interface contributions in non-Debye type relaxation, following Jonscher's universal power law. The giant permittivity response is attributed to extrinsic effects without evidence of a ferroelectric transition. Summerfield scaling, leading to the superposition of impedance analysis, implies that the relaxation is thermally activated, without introducing more than one underlying transport mechanism. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Human Adenovirus D-36 (HAdV-D36) promotes adipogenesis in cellular and animal models and may contribute to the development of human obesity. Induction of PPARγ by HAdV-D36 seems to have a central role in the maintenance of adipogenic status. There is limited information about epigenetic mechanisms contributing to this process in human adipose tissue. This study evaluated the expression of lncRNAs (ADINR, GAS5 and MEG3) and miRNAs (miR-18a and miR-140) involved in the adipogenic process in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) of subjects with obesity with previous HAdV-D36 infection (seropositive) and unexposed (seronegative) subjects with obesity., Methods: Individuals with obesity were grouped according to the presence of antibodies against HAdV-D36 (Seropositive: HAdV-D36[+], n = 29; and Seronegative: HAdV-D36[-], n = 28). Additionally, a group of individuals without obesity (n = 17) was selected as a control group. The HAdV-D36 serology was carried out by ELISA. Biopsies of VAT were obtained during an elective and clinically indicated surgery (bariatric or cholecystectomy). RNA extraction from VAT was performed and the expression of PPARG and non-coding RNAs was evaluated by qPCR., Results: HAdV-D36[+] individuals had lower expression of anti-adipogenic lncRNAs GAS5 (p = 0.016) and MEG3 (p = 0.035) compared with HAdV-D36[-] subjects with obesity. HAdV-D36[+] subjects also presented increased expression of the adipogenic miRNA miR-18a (p = 0.042), which has been reported to be modulated by GAS5 through a RNA sponging mechanism during adipogenic differentiation. Additionally, an inverse correlation of GAS5 with PPARG expression was observed (r = -0.917, p = 0.01)., Conclusion: Our results suggest that HAdV-D36 is related to non-coding RNAs implicated in adipogenesis, representing a potential mechanism by which previous HAdV-D36 infection could be associated with the long-term maintenance of adipogenic status, probably through the GAS5/miR-18a axis., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Introduction and Hypothesis: To define the prevalence and incidence of pelvic/low back pain in patients with pelvic organ prolapse (POP)., Methods: Patients presenting for POP to three urogynecology centers in the US, UK, and Chile were enrolled in an IRB-approved cross-sectional study assessing pain, GU, GI and sexual function symptoms. For prevalence, symptoms were noted as present if the participant recorded the symptom and reported the degree of bother as "somewhat," "a moderate amount," or "a lot." For incidence, participants were queried if the symptom's onset concurred with the POP. We also queried if they perceived the symptom was worsened by their POP., Results: Two hundred five participants were recruited: 100 from the US, 46 from the UK, and 59 from Chile. One US participant was excluded due a missing examination. The prevalence of pelvic pain was 42%. Seventy-three percent of these participants reported the onset of pelvic pain coinciding with prolapse onset, and 81% endorsed worsening pelvic pain with POP. The prevalence of low back pain was 46%, with 30% reporting the onset coincided with the onset of POP and 44% responded that prolapse worsened their pain., Conclusion: A higher proportion of participants than expected endorsed pelvic/low back pain. Among patients with pelvic pain, the majority experienced symptom onset with POP onset and a worsening of pain with POP. While roughly half of participants reported low back pain; a minority correlated this to their POP. These findings highlight a high incidence of pelvic pain, challenging the perception of POP as a painless condition., (© 2024. The International Urogynecological Association.)

Introduction and Hypothesis: "Dropped p abd at void" occurs when p abd decreases below the previous resting pressure during voiding time. We sought clinical factors associated with this phenomenon and evaluated whether its correction modifies the urodynamic diagnosis., Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study of non-neurological consecutive symptomatic women. The following definitions were used: "dropped p abd at void": decrease in p abd at Q max ≥ 5 cmH 2 O; bladder outflow obstruction (BOO) (p detQmax ≥ 25 cmH 2 O + Q max ≤ 12 ml/s and female BOO index (p detQmax - 2.2*Q max ) > 18; "low detrusor contraction strength": PIP1 (p detQmax + Q max ) < 30. In patients with "dropped p abd at void", p detQmax was corrected., Results: A total of 360 women were analyzed. Ninety-five percent of the women had a variation in p abd at Q max between -13 and 53 cmH 2 O. "Dropped p abd at void" was found in 100 women (27.8%). History of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) surgery was significantly higher (p = 0.016) and symptoms of mixed urinary incontinence were significantly lower (p = 0.030) in patients with "dropped p abd at void". On multivariate analysis only the history of SUI surgery maintained its significance (OR = 1.787 [95% CI: 1.058, 3.017], p = 0.030). When correcting p detQmax in women with "dropped p abd at void", 2 or 5 patients lost BOO diagnosis (depending on how it was diagnosed) and 7 patients gained a "low detrusor contraction strength" diagnosis., Conclusions: Approximately one-quarter of women had "dropped p abd at void", which was associated with a history of SUI surgery. Correction of p detQmax would lead to a 2.5% to 3.33% diagnostic modification., (© 2022. The International Urogynecological Association.)

(1) Background: Gastric cancer, the fourth most common cause of death from tumors in the world, is closely associated with Helicobacter pylori . Timely diagnosis, therefore, is essential to achieve a higher survival rate. In Chile, deaths from gastric cancer are high, mainly due to late diagnosis. Progranulin has reflected the evolution of some cancers, but has been poorly studied in gastric lesions. Aiming to understand the role of progranulin in H. pylori infection and its evolution in development of gastric lesions, we evaluated the genic expression of progranulin in gastric tissue from infected and non-infected patients, comparing it according to the epithelial status and virulence of H. pylori strains. (2) Methods: The genic expression of progranulin by q-PCR was quantified in gastric biopsies from Chilean dyspeptic patients ( n = 75) and individuals who were uninfected ( n = 75) by H. pylori , after receiving prior informed consent. Bacteria were grown on a medium Columbia agar with equine-blood 7%, antibiotics (Dent 2%, Oxoid TM ), in a microaerophilic environment, and genetically characterized for the ureC , vacA , cagA , and iceA genes by PCR. The status of the tissue was determined by endoscopic observation. (3) Results: Minor progranulin expression was detected in atrophic tissue, with a sharp drop in the tissue colonized by H. pylori that carried greater virulence, VacAs1m1 + CagA + IceA1 + . (4) Conclusions: Progranulin shows a differential behavior according to the lesions and virulence of H. pylori , affecting the response of progranulin against gastric inflammation.

Background: Infection by Adenovirus 36 (Ad-36) has been associated with adipogenesis using cell and animal models, and a high risk of developing obesity has been reported in Ad-36-seropositive individuals. However, molecular mechanisms involved in the maintenance over the years of adipogenesis associated with Ad-36 has not been investigated in human adipose tissue. Epigenetic mechanisms, such as micro-RNAs (miRNAs) that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, have shown an important role in the development and maintenance of metabolic diseases., Aim: This study investigated the expression of miRNA associated with the adipogenic process in visceral adipose tissue from obese individuals according to Ad-36 serology., Methods: Obese individuals were separated according to their status of Ad-36 serology in seropositive (Ad-36 (+); n = 29) and seronegative (Ad-36 (-); n = 28) groups. Additionally, a group of lean controls (n = 17) was selected to compare with obese individuals. Biopsies of visceral adipose tissue were obtained to evaluate miRNA and gene expression. The study of Ad-36 serology was carried out by ELISA. The expression of pro-adipogenic (miR-17 and miR-210) and anti-adipogenic (miR-155, miR-130 and miR-27a) miRNAs was evaluated using Taqman advanced miRNA assays by qPCR. The expression of adipogenes encoding LEP, ADIPOQ, and PPARγ was evaluated by Taqman predesigned assays through qPCR., Results: The obese group had higher LEP (p < 0.001) and PPARγ (p = 0.016) expression and lower ADIPOQ expression (p = 0.017), and also had higher expression of miR-210 (p = 0.039), whereas lower expression of miR-155 (p = 0.019) and miR-27a (p = 0.028) as compared to lean controls. Higher PPARγ expression (p = 0.008), but no influence on LEP or ADIPOQ expression was observed in Ad-36 (+) group. Those seropositive individuals also had higher expression of the miR-17 (p = 0.028) and lower levels of miR-155 (p = 0.031) in adipose tissue as compared to seronegative subjects., Conclusions: Individuals with previous infection by Ad-36 had higher expression of the pro-adipogenic miR-17 and lower expression of the anti-adipogenic miR-155, which could lead to an increased adipogenic status by positively modulating PPARγ expression in adipose tissue from obese subjects.

Introduction and Hypothesis: We tested the hypothesis that women can subjectively determine if they have emptied their bladder after a spontaneous voiding attempt following urogynecological surgery to rule out post-operative urinary retention as determined by a voiding trial., Methods: This is a prospective observational study of women undergoing urogynecological surgery at two academic institutions from June 2016 to March 2019. Following surgery, subjects underwent a voiding trial followed by measurement of the PVR via ultrasound bladder scan or straight catheterization. A successful voiding trial was defined as a PVR of ≤150 ml. Subjects were queried about their subjective sensation of bladder emptying; "Do you feel that you completely emptied your bladder?" Their responses were either "Yes", "No" or "I don't know". Their subjective responses were correlated with the voiding trial results using a Chi-squared analysis for sensitivity, specificity, and positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV)., Results: A total of 266 subjects were included in the final evaluation. The screening subjective question had a sensitivity of 85.7% (CI 71.46 to 94.57%), a specificity of 91.5% (CI 87.01 to 94.79%), a PPV of 65.4% (CI 54.78 to 74.77%), and an NPV of 97.14% (CI 94.18 to 98.62%) to detect a failed voiding trial., Conclusions: The NPV of the subjective question regarding bladder emptying in the post-operative urogynecological setting is high at >97%, suggesting that it might be reasonable to forgo a formal voiding trial in patients who subjectively feel that they have emptied their bladder.

Background: Adenovirus 36 (Ad-36) has been associated to adiposity in animal and in vitro studies. Ad-36 seropositivity has also been reported to contribute to obesity risk in children and adult populations. We investigated the relationship of Ad-36 serology with obesity and metabolic parameters in a Chilean population., Subjects and Methods: Clinical and anthropometric data were obtained and blood samples were drawn from 99 lean (BMI: 18.5-24.9 kg/m 2 ) and 151 obese (BMI > 30 kg/m 2 ) subjects. Laboratory tests included lipid profile as well as glucose, insulin, leptin, and adiponectin levels. Ad-36 seropositivity was evaluated in serum samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay., Results: Seroprevalence of Ad-36 was higher in the obese group (58%) than in lean controls (34%) demonstrating that individuals previously infected with Ad-36 have higher risk of obesity in the study population (OR: 2.67, 95%CI: 1.58-4.51, p < 0.001). Interestingly, Ad-36 was related to lower concentrations of triglycerides and VLDL cholesterol in lean subjects (p = 0.049) and lower leptin in obese individuals (p = 0.014). Previous Ad-36 infection was also related to lower glycemia, insulinemia, and HOMA-IR (p < 0.05) in obese subjects who were not under antidiabetic drugs., Conclusions: Our results provide evidence of the contribution of previous Ad-36 infection to an increased risk of obesity in adult Chilean population. Ad-36 seropositivity was also associated to lipid profile, glycemic control, and leptin levels in adult Chilean population.

Background: Dyslipidemias in childhood increase the risk of cardiovascular events in adult life., Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of dyslipidemia and risk of atherogenicity based in the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) in a sample of school children and adolescents., Material and Methods: Cross-sectional study of 208 children aged 10.4 ± 1.0 years (107 women). Demographic data were obtained, and a clinical evaluation was conducted, including pubertal development according to Tanner and anthropometric parameters. A fasting blood sample was obtained to measure total cholesterol (CT), HDL cholesterol (cHDL) and triglycerides (TG), glucose and insulin. LDL cholesterol (cLDL), Non-HDL cholesterol and the indices CT/cHDL, cLDL/cHDL and AIP (log[TG/cHDL]) were calculated. Risk categories according to AIP for the pediatric population were also determined (low: AIP < 0.11, intermediate: AIP 0.11-0.21, high: AIP > 0.21)., Results: Thirty eight percent of participants had dyslipidemia, without differences by gender and pubertal development. The frequency of dyslipidemia was significantly higher in children with obesity (54%, p < 0.01) and a waist circumference over percentile 90 (61%; p < 0.01). The later conditions had also higher CT/cHDL, cLDL/cHDL and AIP. According to AIP, 54% of children had a high atherogenicity risk along with alterations in anthropometric parameters and insulin resistance. All anthropometric and insulin resistance parameters were significantly correlated with the AIP., Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of dyslipidemia in the studied population, which is associated with an increased cardiometabolic risk. The indices of atherogenicity and particularly AIP are correlated with nutritional status, abdominal obesity and parameters of insulin resistance.