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In this work, we present a statistical adiabatic channel model for termolecular reactions, A + B + C → Products. Our approach relies on hyperspherical coordinates, where the adiabatic channels are readily defined in the hyper-radius after averaging the hyperangular degrees of freedom. In this way, we find a general expression for termolecular rate constants. We focus on ion-neutral association reactions to test our approach's accuracy and predictive power, finding a good agreement between theory and experiment, especially in those reactions' temperature dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a direct three-body recombination approach of the sulfur recombination reaction, S + S + M → S2 + M, at temperatures between 100 and 500 K. Our calculations for M = Ar, based on a classical trajectory approach in hyperspherical coordinates, show excellent agreement with the experimental measurement at T = 298 K of Fair and Thrush [Trans. Faraday Soc. 65, 1208 (1969)]. Similarly, we find that the production of S2 strongly depends on the SAr product, the other possible reaction channel. Finally, using the classical threshold law, we check sulfur recombination with another third body, M = H2S, and find no significant change in the rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the Boussinesq‐Peregrine (BP) system as described by Lannes [Lannes, D. (2013). The water waves problem: mathematical analysis and asymptotics (Vol. 188). American Mathematical Soc.], within the shallow water regime, and study the inverse problem of determining the time and space variations of the channel bottom profile, from measurements of the wave profile and its velocity on the free surface. A well‐posedness result within a Sobolev framework for (BP), considering a time dependent bottom, is presented. Then, the inverse problem is reformulated as a nonlinear PDE‐constrained optimization one. An existence result of the minimum, under constraints on the admissible set of bottoms, is presented. Moreover, an implementation of the gradient descent approach, via the adjoint method, is considered. For solving numerically both, the forward (BP) and its adjoint system, we derive a universal and low‐dissipation scheme, which contains non‐conservative products. The scheme is based on the FORCE‐ α$$ \alpha $$ method proposed in [Toro, E. F., Saggiorato, B., Tokareva, S., and Hidalgo, A. (2020). Low‐dissipation centred schemes for hyperbolic equations in conservative and non‐conservative form. Journal of Computational Physics, 416, 109545]. Finally, we implement this methodology to recover three different bottom profiles; a smooth bottom, a discontinuous one, and a continuous profile with a large gradient. We compare with two classical discretizations for (BP) and the adjoint system. These results corroborate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology to recover bottom profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long‐lived orogens are often characterized by basement blocks affected by polyphase thick‐skinned deformation. Deciphering these events is challenging due to the heterogeneous and complex structural histories resulting from the superposition of multiple deformation phases. For instance, the Central Cordillera of Colombia was shaped by multiple tectonic phases during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic, which have been poorly constrained in both space and time. To unravel the deformation history of this mountain belt, we conducted field mapping and applied a multi‐chronometric approach that included zircon and apatite U‐Pb dating of the igneous basement, epidote and titanite U‐Pb dating of structurally controlled mineralization events, K‐Ar dating of fault rock illite, and fission track and (U‐Th‐Sm)/He bedrock thermochronology of apatite and zircon. The results reveal six deformation events along two fault systems during the past 184 Myr. This deformation history started in the Jurassic with structurally controlled magmatism and ductile deformation; followed by brittle‐ductile and fluid‐assisted basin subsidence and inversion during the Cretaceous. Finally, the Cenozoic was characterized by brittle strike‐slip and compressional deformation. Our findings show the basement response to polyphase reworking, highlighting the prominent role of ancient upper‐plate discontinuities, magmatism, and fluids. Key Points: Polyphase extensional, compressional, and strike‐slip deformation in the Northern Andes Central CordilleraA geo‐ and thermochronological approach unravels the detailed deformation history of the Northern AndesRelations between exhumation, hydrothermal activity, and rock metamorphism during basement reworking [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comedian Ángel Martín edits and presents the Informativo matinal para ahorrar tiempo (IMPAT), a daily two-minute audiovisual newscast distributed on major social networks, with a daily audience of around one million views. This format has generated a community of followers who expand its original content by creating mimetic sector-specific news programs. This study analyzes the thematic agenda and stylistic features of the IMPAT, as well as the news programs developed by its followers. The results show a predominance of soft news and non-news content, as well as the presence of narrative traits characteristic of infotainment. The followers expand the IMPAT by creating their own news programs, also focused on soft news and with similar styles. Thus, IMPAT stands out as an alternative newscast around which a unique informational fandom has been consolidated, with content generated by its users as news prodesigners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Contraceptive arm implants, such as Implanon NXT ® /Nexplanon ® , are reversible methods of birth control that have gained global popularity, with over 20 million worldwide users. While palpable implants can be easily removed, deep or non-palpable implants pose complications during extraction, often requiring open surgery. This ultrasound-guided removal technique offers a minimally invasive, safe, and effective alternative, providing real-time control over the implant and neurovascular structures. Our study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and challenges of this implant removal method., Methods: In this retrospective observational study, all cases referred to our institution for ultrasound-guided removal of contraceptive implants, from June 2022 to December 2023, were reviewed. Our facility serves as a referral center for handling challenging implants. Twenty-nine women with contraceptive implants were referred for implant removal in this period of time. Thirty implants were sent for removal in total (one patient had a double implant). Data specific to the patients were collected: age and body mass index (BMI). Data specific to the implant were also collected: time since implant insertion (months), history of a previous removal attempt, type of implant (single or double rod), implant palpability, laterality of the implant, supra or subfascial location, success or failure of the ultrasound-guided removal procedure and presence of complications in the post-procedure. Statistical analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between the procedure success rate and these variables, and also between these variables and the supra or subfascial location of the implant., Results: Twenty-six of the 30 implants (86.67%) were successfully removed with this fully ultrasound-guided technique. In cases where the implant could not be removed, there was a higher rate of subfascial implant location (75%), while in cases where the removal was successful, the rate of subfascial implant location was significantly lower at 19.23% (P=0.048). Patients whose implants could be removed had a median BMI of 23.71 kg/m 2 , which was higher than the BMI of patients whose implants could not be removed (20.82 kg/m 2 ), with a P=0.022. No complications were registered., Conclusions: Percutaneous real-time ultrasound-guided implant removal is effective, safe and offers a minimally-invasive alternative to open surgery. The removal of subfascial implants is also feasible but more challenging, leading to a reduction of success rate in this group. These positive outcomes suggest its potential as a standard initial approach for deep contraceptive implant removal., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://qims.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/qims-24-356/coif). The special issue “Advances in Diagnostic Musculoskeletal Imaging and Image-guided Therapy” was commissioned by the editorial office without any funding or sponsorship. X.T. served as the unpaid Guest Editor of the issue. The authors have no other conflicts of interest to declare., (2024 AME Publishing Company. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aim: Determining suitable copper parameters for monitoring Wilson disease remains a topic of ongoing discussion. International recommendations currently rely on the combination of urinary copper excretion and nonspecific liver markers when considering therapy and time elapsed since diagnosis. The emergence of exchangeable copper (CuEX) as a novel measurement reflecting the "free copper pool" held promise as a valuable target to ensure metabolic stability during follow-up, although the validation of target ranges remains unknown. We aimed to evaluate CuEX quantification in repeated samples from 92 real-world patients with Wilson disease during a 2-year period., Approach: Patients were classified as "stable" if a diagnosis had been made more than 1 year before and were compliant with stable anti-copper drug and dose. Otherwise, patients were classified as "nonstable.", Results: Two hundred and thirteen CuEX samples were obtained per clinical practice. Overall, 57% of CuEX measurements fell below the reference "range of normality," whereas only 34% were within and 9% were above normal levels. There was no association of CuEX levels with therapy, elapsed time from diagnosis, or clinical stability, although most of the samples above normality corresponded to nonstable patients. Only 23.4% of the CuEX samples were aligned with data obtained from concomitant urinary copper excretion., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that CuEX is a suboptimal tool for assessing copper homeostasis when used alone and should be used with caution if no additional information is available. Normal reference intervals for Wilson disease-treated patients should be redefined, as most CuEX quantifications fell in the lower range, with no sign of overtreatment in these patients., (Copyright © 2024 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.)

Background: Although minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy (MIDP) is considered a standard approach it still presents a non-negligible rate of conversion to open that is mainly related to some difficulty factors, as obesity. The aim of this study is to analyze the preoperative factors associated with conversion in obese patients with MIDP., Methods: In this multicenter study, all obese patients who underwent MIDP at 18 international expert centers were included. The preoperative factors associated with conversion to open surgery were analyzed., Results: Out of 436 patients, 91 (20.9%) underwent conversion to open, presenting higher blood loss, longer operative time and similar rate of major complications. Twenty (22%) patients received emergent conversion. At univariate analysis, the type of approach, radiological invasion of adjacent organs, preoperative enlarged lymphnodes and ASA ≥ III were significantly associated with conversion to open. At multivariate analysis, robotic approach showed a significantly lower conversion rate (14.6 % vs 27.3%, OR = 2.380, p = 0.001). ASA ≥ III (OR = 2.391, p = 0.002) and preoperative enlarged lymphnodes (OR = 3.836, p = 0.003) were also independently associated with conversion., Conclusion: Conversion rate is significantly lower in patients undergoing robotic approach. Radiological enlarged lymphnodes and ASA ≥ III are also associated with conversion to open. Conversion is associated with poorer perioperative outcomes, especially in case of intraoperative hemorrhage., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Abstract: Long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) was US Food and Drug Administration-approved in 2021. However, little is known about providers' CAB-LA knowledge, attitudes, challenges, and prescribing preferences for transgender women patients. Understanding this is critical to developing new pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) interventions tailored to transgender women. We conducted 45-min, in-depth Zoom interviews (IDIs) with United States-based health care providers who prescribe PrEP to transgender women. IDIs focused on providers' CAB-LA knowledge/acceptability, willingness to prescribe CAB-LA to transgender women, potential challenges, and solutions to mitigate challenges. Providers ( N = 17) had a mean age of 43 years, and 35.4% ( n = 6) identified as people of color. Most ( n = 12) had basic knowledge of CAB-LA but wanted additional training. All participants found CAB-LA acceptable and were willing to prescribe. Most ( n = 11) anticipated minimal challenges to implementation. Others ( n = 4) reported potential issues, including logistical/scheduling concerns that impede CAB-LA integration and staffing concerns. Many providers expressed support for self-injection ( n = 13) and injections at "drop-in" clinics ( n = 8) to overcome challenges., (Copyright © 2024 Association of Nurses in AIDS Care.)

Background and Objectives: Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) offer a high rate of hepatitis C virus (HCV) eradication. However, concerns on the risk of cancer after HCV eradication remain. Our study aimed at quantifying the incidence of cancer in patients treated with anti-HCV therapies in Catalonia (Spain) and their matched controls., Methods: This was a population-based study using real-world data from the public healthcare system of Catalonia between 2012 and 2016. Propensity score matching was performed in patients with HCV infection treated with interferon-based therapy (IFN), sequential IFN and DAA (IFN+DAA), and DAA only (DAA) with concurrent controls. We estimated the annual incidence of overall cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and non-liver cancer of HCV-treated patients and their corresponding rate ratios., Results: The study included 11,656 HCV-treated patients and 49,545 controls. We found statistically significant increases in the rate of overall cancer for IFN+DAA-treated (rate ratio [RR] 1.77, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.27-2.46) and DAA-treated patients (RR 1.90, 95% CI 1.66-2.19) and in the rate of HCC for IFN-treated (RR 1.50, 95% CI 1.02-2.22), IFN+DAA-treated (RR 3.89, 95% CI 2.26-6.69), and DAA-treated patients (RR 6.45, 95% CI 4.90-8.49) compared with their corresponding controls. Moreover, DAA-treated patients with cirrhosis showed an increased rate of overall cancer versus those without cirrhosis (RR 1.92, 95% CI 1.51-2.44)., Conclusions: Results showed that overall cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma incidence in Catalonia was significantly higher among HCV-treated patients compared with matched non-HCV-infected controls, and risks were higher in patients with cirrhosis. An increased awareness of the potential occurrence of uncommon malignant events and monitoring after HCV eradication therapy may benefit patients., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The oxidative phase of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) involving the enzymes glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), 6-phosphogluconolactonase (6PGL), and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH), is critical to NADPH generation within cells, with these enzymes catalyzing the conversion of glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) into ribulose-5-phosphate (Ribu5-P). We have previously studied peroxyl radical (ROO • ) mediated oxidative inactivation of E. coli G6PDH, 6PGL, and 6PGDH. However, these data were obtained from experiments where each enzyme was independently exposed to ROO • , a condition not reflecting biological reality. In this work we investigated how NADPH production is modulated when these enzymes are jointly exposed to ROO • . Enzyme mixtures (1:1:1 ratio) were exposed to ROO • produced from thermolysis of 100 mM 2,2'-azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH). NADPH was quantified at 340 nm, and protein oxidation analyzed by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (LC-MS). The data obtained were rationalized using a mathematical model. The mixture of non-oxidized enzymes, G6P and NADP + generated ∼175 μM NADPH. Computational simulations showed a constant decrease of G6P associated with NADPH formation, consistent with experimental data. When the enzyme mixture was exposed to AAPH (3 h, 37 °C), lower levels of NADPH were detected (∼100 μM) which also fitted with computational simulations. LC-MS analyses indicated modifications at Tyr, Trp, and Met residues but at lower concentrations than detected for the isolated enzymes. Quantification of NADPH generation showed that the pathway activity was not altered during the initial stages of the oxidations, consistent with a buffering role of G6PDH towards inactivation of the oxidative phase of the pathway., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We propose an array of ultracold polar molecules as a platform to study alignment transport between molecules. We envision a polar molecule being aligned with an intense off-resonant laser field whose alignment migrates to a nearby molecule due to dipole-dipole interactions. Our results show that the transport of the alignment is due to a complex interplay between electric field-driven excitations and dipole-dipole interactions. All mechanisms for alignment transfer are elucidated and analyzed. Using NaCs as a prototype molecule, we find that the time for alignment transfer is (10 μs), which makes the phenomena readily observable in the lab.

This research enhances ethanol sensing with Fe-doped tetragonal SnO 2 films on glass, improving gas sensor reliability and sensitivity. The primary objective was to improve the sensitivity and operational efficiency of SnO 2 sensors through Fe doping. The SnO 2 sensors were synthesized using a flexible and adaptable method that allows for precise doping control, with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) confirming homogeneous Fe distribution within the SnO 2 matrix. A morphological analysis showed a surface structure ideal for gas sensing. The results demonstrated significant improvement in ethanol response (1 to 20 ppm) and lower temperatures compared to undoped SnO 2 sensors. The Fe-doped sensors exhibited higher sensitivity, enabling the detection of low ethanol concentrations and showing rapid response and recovery times. These findings suggest that Fe doping enhances the interaction between ethanol molecules and the sensor surface, improving performance. A mathematical model based on diffusion in porous media was employed to further analyze and optimize sensor performance. The model considers the diffusion of ethanol molecules through the porous SnO 2 matrix, considering factors such as surface morphology and doping concentration. Additionally, the choice of electrode material plays a crucial role in extending the sensor's lifespan, highlighting the importance of material selection in sensor design.

Objective: To evaluate the incidence, clinical features, treatment, and outcome of canine follicular conjunctivitis (CFC)., Procedure: Medical records of dogs diagnosed with CFC were reviewed. Data recorded included signalment, duration of clinical signs and treatment details prior to presentation, concurrent ocular/systemic diseases, ocular clinical signs, cytology, treatment, follow-up, and outcome. Blepharospasm, signs of self-trauma, hyperemia, chemosis, ocular discharge, and follicle location and severity (0.5-4) were retrospectively evaluated. Based on severity, treatment consisted of topical 0.1% diclofenac or 0.1% dexamethasone sodium eyedrops. Dogs were classified into young (YD < 18 months) and adult (AD ≥ 18 months)., Results: One hundred and fifty-three dogs (276 eyes) were included in the study: 83YD (54%) and 70AD (46%). Males and bilateral disease were over-represented in both groups. Severity was associated with young age (p = .032) and bilaterality (p = .025), and not with dermatological diseases (p > .05). No differences in follicular location were observed except for more frequent involvement of the nictitating membrane (MN) in YD (p = .02). Response to treatment was faster in AD (p = .001), with complete resolution in 80.6% of the eyes (100/124) at 1 month. YD treated with diclofenac showed faster resolution than those treated with 0.1% dexamethasone (p = .009)., Conclusions: Although CFC is a bilateral ocular disease occurring at any age, the clinical presentation is influenced by age. Follicular conjunctivitis in adult dogs is less sever, less commonly affects the NM, and responds more quickly to topical treatment. One month of topical diclofenac may be adequate for mild cases, and 1 month of topical 0.1% dexamethasone is recommended as initial therapy for moderate to severely affected cases., (© 2023 The Authors. Veterinary Ophthalmology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.)

Introduction: Comprehensive information about atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is relatively scarce outside of Europe and North America. This narrative review assembles available published data about the clinical presentation and management of aHUS in Latin America., Areas Covered: A search conducted in February 2023 of the MEDLINE (from inception), Embase (from inception), and LILACS/IBECS (1950 to 2023) databases using search terms 'atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome' and 'Latin America' and their variations retrieved 51 records (full papers and conference abstracts) published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. After de-duplication, manual screening of titles/abstracts and addition of author-known articles, 25 articles were included of which 17 (68%) are full papers. All articles were published during the years 2013-2022. Articles include cohort studies, a registry analysis, and case reports from Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Columbia. Overall, Latin American patients with aHUS present the classic epidemiological, clinical, and genetic characteristics associated with this condition as described in other world regions. Depending on the country and time of reporting, aHUS in Latin America was treated mainly with plasma therapy and/or eculizumab. Where reported, eculizumab substantially improved aHUS-related outcomes in almost all adult and pediatric patients., Expert Opinion: Eculizumab has dramatically altered the natural course of aHUS, improving prognosis and patient outcomes. Addressing economic challenges and investing in healthcare infrastructure will be essential to implement strategies for timely detection and early treatment of aHUS in Latin America.

The three-body recombination reaction, or ternary association, is a termolecular reaction leading to a molecule after a three-body encounter that plays a vital role in many relevant scenarios in chemical physics. Here, we introduce the Python 3-Body Recombination program, which is dedicated to the computation of atomic three-body recombination rate coefficients. The software is based on a classical trajectory approach in hyperspherical coordinates after mapping the three-body problem as a single particle in a higher-dimensional space. This theoretical approach is fully general and applicable to any ion-atom-atom or atom-atom-atom three-body process. The predictive power of the methodology has been tested in several different experimental scenarios, reaching a good description of every system. The code structure is presented alongside examples and tests to ensure the software's capacity. In addition, the performance of the software after parallelization is shown., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: To compare multimodal structural and functional diagnostic methods in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) treated with hydroxychloroquine, to identify the best complementary approach for detecting subclinical retinal toxicity., Methods: A cross-sectional, unicentric study was conducted on patients with SLE treated with hydroxychloroquine. Each patient underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation, comprising structural tests (spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), en face OCT, en face OCT angiography (OCTA), fundus autofluorescence (FAF)) and functional tests (automated perimetry for visual field (VF) testing, multifocal electroretinography (mfERG)). A diagnosis of macular toxicity required the presence of abnormalities in at least one structural and functional test. The Kappa Concordance Index was used to assess the concordance among the different tests in detecting potential macular toxicity-associated alterations., Results: Sixty-six patients with SLE (132 eyes) were consecutively enrolled. Four (6.1%) patients developed subclinical hydroxychloroquine-induced retinal toxicity without visual acuity impairment. The proportion of abnormal results was 24% for both en face OCT and en face OCTA. Regarding functional analysis, VF was less specific than mfERG in detecting subclinical retinal toxicity (VF specificity 47.5%). En face OCT and en face OCTA structural findings showed better concordance, with a kappa index >0.8, and both identified the same cases of toxicity as FAF., Conclusion: Although structural OCT and VF are frequently used to screen for hydroxychloroquine-induced retinal toxicity, our findings suggest that a combination of mfERG, en face OCT and en face OCTA could improve the diagnostic accuracy for subclinical retinal damage. This study emphasises the importance of a multimodal imaging strategy to promptly detect signs of hydroxychloroquine-induced retinal toxicity., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Non-additive forces are a cornerstone of molecular spectroscopy and reaction dynamics. However, the relevance of non-additive forces in three-body recombination remains largely unexplored. In this work, we present a global study on the impact of non-additive interactions in three-body recombination: atom-atom-atom and ion-atom-atom. Our study explores these reactions in a wide range of energies, from the cold to the hyperthermal regime, finding no effect of non-additive interactions. Therefore, pair-wise interactions are enough to describe the three-body recombination dynamics adequately.

A fruit leather (apple and acáchul berry) oriented toward women of reproductive age was developed. The snack was supplemented with an ingredient composed of folic acid (FA) and whey proteins (WPI) to ensure the required vitamin intake to prevent fetal neural tube defects. In order to generate a low-calorie snack, alternative sweeteners were used (stevia and maltitol). The fruit leather composition was determined. Also, an in vitro digestion process was carried out to evaluate the bioaccessibility of compounds with antioxidant capacity (AC), total polyphenols (TPCs), total monomeric anthocyanins (ACY), and FA. The quantification of FA was conducted by a microbiological method and by HPLC. The leather contained carbohydrates (70%) and antioxidant compounds, mainly from fruits. Bioaccessibility was high for AC (50%) and TPCs (90%), and low for ACY (17%). Regarding FA, bioaccessibility was higher for WPI-FA (50%) than for FA alone (37%), suggesting that WPI effectively protected the vitamin from processing and digestion. Furthermore, the product was shown to be non-cytotoxic in a Caco-2 cell model. The developed snack is an interesting option due to its low energy intake, no added sugar, and high content of bioactive compounds. Also, the supplementation with WPI-FA improved the conservation and bioaccessibility of FA.

An adequate approach to refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (rGERD) is essential for achieving therapeutic success. From the precise definition of rGERD to the detailed characterization of its phenotypes, it will pave the way for the customization of optimal therapy for each patient. In this narrative literature review, the aim is to provide an updated synthesis of the utility of various diagnostic tools and explore the wide range of therapeutic options, both medical and invasive, available for this condition.