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From γ-γ-γ and γ-γ-γ-γ coincidence studies of spontaneous fission of 252Cf, new high spin states in 148Ce were identified. The octupole bands with s=+1 and s=−1 are expanded with spins with 28+ and 18−, respectively. Importantly, a 1γ vibrational band has been established up to 14+ and a 1β vibrational band up to 6+. The levels in γ and β bands in 148Ce are compared systematically to those in neighboring 150Nd and 152Sm isotones. This comparison informs the role of deformation and shape transition in this mass region. New 3− and 5− members of the s=+1 octupole band were observed.

The heaviest currently known nuclei, which have up to 118 protons, have been produced in Ca48 induced reactions with actinide targets. Among them, the element tennessine (Ts), which has 117 protons, has been synthesized by fusing Ca48 with the radioactive target Bk249, which has a half-life of 327 d. The experiment was performed at the gas-filled recoil separator TASCA. Two long and two short α decay chains were observed. The long chains were attributed to the decay of Ts294. The possible origin of the short-decay chains is discussed in comparison with the known experimental data. They are found to fit with the decay chain patterns attributed to Ts293. The present experimental results confirm the previous findings at the Dubna Gas-Filled Recoil Separator on the decay chains originating from the nuclei assigned to Ts.

The heaviest currently known nuclei, which have up to 118 protons, have been produced in Ca48 induced reactions with actinide targets. Among them, the element tennessine (Ts), which has 117 protons, has been synthesized by fusing Ca48 with the radioactive target Bk249, which has a half-life of 327 d. The experiment was performed at the gas-filled recoil separator TASCA. Two long and two short α decay chains were observed. The long chains were attributed to the decay of Ts294. The possible origin of the short-decay chains is discussed in comparison with the known experimental data. They are found to fit with the decay chain patterns attributed to Ts293. The present experimental results confirm the previous findings at the Dubna Gas-Filled Recoil Separator on the decay chains originating from the nuclei assigned to Ts.

E2/M1 mixing ratios have been measured for transitions from states in the γ vibrational bands (Iγ+) to states in the ground state bands (I+ or [ I- 1 ] +) of the neutron rich, even-even, deformed isotopes, 102, 104, 106, 108Mo, 108, 110, 112Ru, and 112, 114, 116Pd, including from states as high as 9γ+. These measurements were done using the GAMMASPHERE detector array, which, at the time of the experiment, had 101 working HPGe detectors, arranged at 64 different angles. A 62 μCi source of 252Cf was placed inside GAMMASPHERE yielding 5. 7 × 10 11γ-γ-γ and higher coincidence events. The angular correlations between the transitions from the γ-bands to the ground bands, and the pure E2 transitions within the ground band were then measured. These angular correlations yielded the mixing ratios, demonstrating that these transitions are pure or nearly pure E2, in agreement with theory. In order to correct for possible attenuation due to the lifetime of the intermediate state in these correlations, the g-factors of the intermediate states needed to be known. Therefore, the g-factors of the 2+ states in the ground state band have been measured.

Rotational bands in 110,112Ru and 108Mo have been investigated by means of γ-γ-γ and γ-γ(θ) coincidences of prompt γ rays emitted in the spontaneous fission of 252Cf. New δI = 1 negative parity doublet bands are found. These bands in 110,112Ru and 108Mo have all the properties expected for chiral vibrations. Microscopic calculations that combine the TAC meanfield with random phase approximation support this interpretation.

Background: The learning-curve cumulative sum method (LC-CUSUM) and its risk-adjusted form (RA-LC-CUSUM) have been proposed as performance-monitoring methods to assess competency during the learning phase of procedural skills. However, scarce data exist about the method's accuracy. This study aimed to compare the accuracy of LC-CUSUM forms using historical data consisting of sequences of successes and failures in brachial plexus blocks (BPBs) performed by anesthesia residents., Methods: Using historical data from 1713 BPB performed by 32 anesthesia residents, individual learning curves were constructed using the LC-CUSUM and RA-LC-CUSUM methods. A multilevel logistic regression model predicted the procedure-specific risk of failure incorporated in the RA-LC-CUSUM calculations. Competency was defined as a maximum 15% cumulative failure rate and was used as the reference for determining the accuracy of both methods., Results: According to the LC-CUSUM method, 22 residents (84.61%) attained competency after a median of 18.5 blocks (interquartile range [IQR], 14-23), while the RA-LC-CUSUM assigned competency to 20 residents (76.92%) after a median of 17.5 blocks (IQR, 14-25, P = .001). The median failure rate at reaching competency was 6.5% (4%-9.75%) under the LC-CUSUM and 6.5% (4%-9%) for the RA-LC-CUSUM method ( P = .37). The sensitivity of the LC-CUSUM (85%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 71%-98%) was similar to the RA-LC-CUSUM method (77%; 95% CI, 61%-93%; P = .15). Identical specificity values were found for both methods (67%; 95% CI, 29%-100%, P = 1)., Conclusions: The LC-CUSUM and RA-LC-CUSUM methods were associated with substantial false-positive and false-negative rates. Also, small lower limits for the 95% CIs around the accuracy measures were observed, indicating that the methods may be inaccurate for high-stakes decisions about resident competency at BPBs., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 International Anesthesia Research Society.)

Objective: Assessment and management of suicide risk is dependent on the individual at risk disclosing their suicidal thoughts. This study analyzed self-reported data collected via Youper, a mental-health app, to explore user experiences with suicide-related disclosure., Method: 2,952 international users who endorsed suicidal ideation reported on experiences with suicide-related disclosure. Differences in experiences were examined according to age, gender, and symptoms of psychopathology., Results: Just over half of users (56.17%) shared their suicidal thoughts. The primary reason for not sharing was thinking others would not understand. Of those who had disclosed their suicidal thoughts, 56.31% perceived the listener's response to be helpful, with listening and expressing care identified as most helpful. More severe depression and generalized anxiety symptoms were associated with higher disclosure likelihood, whereas higher borderline-personality and social-anxiety symptoms were associated with lower disclosure likelihood. Perceptions of what users found helpful when they disclosed suicidality varied by gender. Lack of understanding was the most frequently reported unhelpful response universally., Conclusion: Findings suggest that listening and expressing care should be prioritized to maximize suicidal individuals' experiences of feeling supported. That said, gender and symptoms impact likelihoods of and experiences with disclosure, which should be considered when receiving suicide-related disclosure.HIGHLIGHTSNearly half of users shared suicidal thoughts and found listener responses helpful.Users most often endorsed listening as helpful and not understanding as unhelpful.Symptom severity and gender informed suicide-related disclosure experiences.

Weed coexistence with an agricultural crop can negatively affect its growth, development, and yield. From this perspective, this study aimed to evaluate weed management strategies and their effect on the agronomic parameters of cowpea cultivation in direct (SPD) and conventional (SPC) planting systems. The experiment was set up in a completely randomized block design with a split-plot arrangement with four replications. The plots received a source of variation referring to the planting systems (direct and conventional planting), and the subplots corresponded to ten weed management strategies (manual hoeing 18 days after planting (DAP); at 36 DAP; at 54 DAP; at 18 and 36 DAP; at 18 and 54 DAP; at 18 and 72 DAP; at 36 and 54 DAP; at 36-72 DAP; at 18, 36, and 54 DAP; and a control with no hoeing). Density and dry mass evaluations of the cowpea plants were performed at harvest (72 DAP) by determining the number of pods per plant, pod length, number of grains per pod, 1000-grain mass, and yield. A total of 28 species distributed in 12 botanical families were identified in the two cultivation systems. The family Poaceae showed the highest frequency, with 25% of the species identified. At the end of the assay, treatment 20 had the highest positive influence and provided significant quantitative gains to the complex of traits related to cowpea production (SPD and hoeing at 18, 36, and 54 DAP). UPGMA cluster analysis and canonical discriminant analysis were performed and allowed a better classification of the evaluated treatments. It was observed that the first two canonical variables explained 90.8% of the total variance contained in the original variables. The use of SPD with weeding at 18, 36, and 54 days after planting provides greater weed control and significant quantitative gains for the complex of characteristics related to cowpea production. The results underscore the importance of choosing the correct cropping system and implementing effective weeding practices to optimize weed control and improve crop performance.

Objective: Plaque incision and grafting is indicated for patients with Peyronie's Disease [PD] and severe curvature, complex deformities or for patients with significant penile shortening. To date, no graft studied has been considered ideal. The aim of this study is to conduct a descriptive analysis about functional results with the use of a bioabsorbable graft for PD treatment., Materials and Methods: A single-center, retrospective evaluation of a cohort of patients who were treated by plaque incision and grafting with a polyglycolic acid polymer graft (Gore® Bio-A®) between 2018 and 2021 was conducted. Correction of penile curvature was the main outcome. Loss of penile sensitivity, de novo erectile dysfunction and any other adverse event were the secondary endpoints., Results: 14 patients were included in this study (mean age 59.5 ± 7.2 years). The median follow-up time was 12 months (range 3-12). The curvature correction rate was 78.5%. Glans hypoesthesia was present in one of 14 patients (7.1%) and refractory erectile dysfunction was reported in 64.2%. None of the patients presented any major adverse event based on Clavien-Dindo classification., Conclusions: Curvature correction and changes in penile sensitivity rates were similar to those found in the literature. No major surgical complications, such as graft rejection, infection, and extrusion, occurred in this sample. Although a population with a higher prevalence of erectile dysfunction was included in this sample, higher rates of refractory erectile dysfunction were observed and these findings should be confirmed in further studies.

The present work demonstrates the design and implementation of a human-safe, portable, noninvasive device capable of predicting type 2 diabetes, using electrical bioimpedance and biometric features to train an artificial learning machine using an active learning algorithm based on population selection. In addition, there is an API with a graphical interface that allows the prediction and storage of data when the characteristics of the person are sent. The results obtained show an accuracy higher than 90% with statistical significance ( p  < 0.05). The Kappa coefficient values were higher than 0.9, showing that the device has a good predictive capacity which would allow the screening process of type 2 diabetes. This development contributes to preventive medicine and makes it possible to determine at a low cost, comfortably, without medical preparation, and in less than 2 minutes whether a person has type 2 diabetes., Competing Interests: The authors do not present any type of conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Javier Ferney Castillo García et al.)

Background: Youper is a widely used, commercially available mobile app that uses artificial intelligence therapy for the treatment of anxiety and depression., Objective: Our study examined the acceptability and effectiveness of Youper. Further, we tested the cumulative regulation hypothesis, which posits that cumulative emotion regulation successes with repeated intervention engagement will predict longer-term anxiety and depression symptom reduction., Methods: We examined data from paying Youper users (N=4517) who allowed their data to be used for research. To characterize the acceptability of Youper, we asked users to rate the app on a 5-star scale and measured retention statistics for users' first 4 weeks of subscription. To examine effectiveness, we examined longitudinal measures of anxiety and depression symptoms. To test the cumulative regulation hypothesis, we used the proportion of successful emotion regulation attempts to predict symptom reduction., Results: Youper users rated the app highly (mean 4.36 stars, SD 0.84), and 42.66% (1927/4517) of users were retained by week 4. Symptoms decreased in the first 2 weeks of app use (anxiety: d=0.57; depression: d=0.46). Anxiety improvements were maintained in the subsequent 2 weeks, but depression symptoms increased slightly with a very small effect size (d=0.05). A higher proportion of successful emotion regulation attempts significantly predicted greater anxiety and depression symptom reduction., Conclusions: Youper is a low-cost, completely self-guided treatment that is accessible to users who may not otherwise access mental health care. Our findings demonstrate the acceptability and effectiveness of Youper as a treatment for anxiety and depression symptoms and support continued study of Youper in a randomized clinical trial., (©Ashish Mehta, Andrea Nicole Niles, Jose Hamilton Vargas, Thiago Marafon, Diego Dotta Couto, James Jonathan Gross. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 22.06.2021.)

Background: The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic presents an unprecedented crisis with potential negative mental health impacts., Methods: This study used data collected via Youper, a mental health app, from February through July 2020. Youper users (N = 157,213) in the United States self-reported positive and negative emotions and anxiety and depression symptoms during the pandemic. We examined emotions and symptoms before (pre), during (acute), and after (sustained) COVID-related stay-at-home orders., Results: For changes in frequency of reported acute emotions, from the pre to acute periods, anxiety increased while tiredness, calmness, happiness, and optimism decreased. From the acute to sustained periods, sadness, depression, and gratitude increased. Anxiety, stress, and tiredness decreased. Between the pre and sustained periods, sadness and depression increased, as did happiness and calmness. Anxiety and stress decreased. Among symptom measures, anxiety increased initially, from the pre to the acute periods, but later returned to baseline., Limitations: The study sample was primarily comprised of young people and women. The app does not collect racial or ethnicity data. These factors may limit generalizability. Sample size was also not consistent for all data collected., Conclusions: The present study suggests that although there were initial negative impacts on emotions and mental health symptoms in the first few weeks, many Americans demonstrated resilience over the following months. The impact of the pandemic on mental health may not be as severe as predicted, although future work is necessary to understand longitudinal effects as the pandemic continues., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The red tree frog Litoria rubella from Australia has been studied for several decades showing that their dorsal skin glands secrete a number of small peptides containing a Pro-Trp sequence, known as tryptophyllin L peptides. Although peptides from many genera of Australian frogs have been reported to possess a variety of biological activities, the bioactivities of this peptide family have remained to be discovered. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant potency of a number of tryptophyllin L peptides for the first time using a joint statistical and experimental approach in which predictions based on Gaussian three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) models were employed to guide an in vitro experimental investigation. Two tryptophyllin tripeptides P-W-L (OH) and P-W-L (NH 2 ) were predicted to have the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) values of 0.80 and 0.87 μM Trolox/μM peptide, respectively. With those promising results, antioxidant capabilities of five tryptophyllin L peptides with the common core Pro-Trp-Leu were synthesized and subjected to 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical cation (ABTS˙ + ) radical scavenging assays. The tests indicated that all the tested tryptophyllin L peptides, noticeably S-P-W-L (OH) and F-P-W-L (NH 2 ), are strong ABTS˙ + radical scavengers and moderate scavengers in the other two assays. The results, thus, suggested that the tryptophyllin L peptides are likely to be a part of the skin antioxidant system helping the frog to cope with drastic change in oxygen exposure and humidity, as they inhabit over a large area of Australia with a wide climate variation., (© 2021 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Purpose: CTLA4, PTPN22, and CD40 are immune-regulatory genes strongly associated with GD, as well as PPARG, but their clinical significance in different populations is still uncertain., Methods: We genotyped 282 Brazilian GD patients (234 women and 48 men, 39.80 ± 11.69 years old), including 144 patients with GO, and 308 healthy control individuals (246 women and 62 men, 36.86 ± 12.95 years old)., Results: A multivariate analysis demonstrated that the inheritance of the GG genotype rs3087243 of CTLA4 (OR = 2.593; 95% CI = 1.630-4.123; p < 0.0001) and the CC genotype of rs3789607 of PTPN22 (OR = 2.668; 95% CI = 1.399-5.086; p = 0.0029) consisted in factors independent of the susceptibility to GD. The inheritance of polymorphic genotypes of rs5742909 of CTLA4 was associated with older age at the time of diagnosis (42.90 ± 10.83 versus 38.84 ± 11.81 years old; p = 0.0105), with higher TRAb levels (148.17 ± 188.90 U/L versus 112.14 ± 208.54 U/L; p = 0.0229) and the need for higher therapeutic doses of radioiodine (64.23 ± 17.16 versus 50.22 ± 16.86; p = 0.0237). The inheritance of the CC genotype of rs1883832 CD40 gene was more frequent among women (69.65%) than men (52.00%; p = 0.0186). The polymorphic genotype of PPARG gene (rs1801282) was associated with TPOAb positivity (p = 0.0391), and the GG genotype of rs2476601 of PTPN22 gene was associated with positivity for both TgAb (p = 0.0360) and TPOAb (p < 0.0001). Both polymorphic genotypes rs2476601 and rs3789607 of the PTPN22 gene were more frequent among nonsmoking patients (p = 0.0102 and p = 0.0124, respectively)., Conclusions: Our data confirm the important role of CTLA4 polymorphisms in GD susceptibility; demonstrate the role of PTPN22 polymorphisms in patients' clinical features; and suggest these genes may influence the severity of the disease.

This article aims to draw an overview on the actual knowledge on bacteriostatic and bactericidal natural clays. Particular emphasis is given to the role of clay itself, the action of reduced metals located either in the structure of clay minerals or external to them as constituents of associate minerals, and the definition of the mechanisms of action based on the achievements found in all available studies being carried out so far. The term bactericidal is herein used when a clay or a clay mineral kill the bacteria, whereas the term bacteriostatic is used when those minerals stop bacteria growth and replication. The second part of this article deals with experimental studies on bactericidal natural clay, experience and perspective for the preparation of bactericidal natural clays, interesting on the authors perspective and experience for the preparation of pathogens safe both therapeutic and cosmetic natural mud/natural peloid, and better yet of both therapeutic 87oooand cosmetic peloid itself and designed and engineered peloid. The authors also show how to convert non-antimicrobial clay into antimicrobial one, opening the way in the field of pelotherapy to the preparation of sanitary safe peloids addressed, for instance, to the treatment of rheumatic disabilities, as well as to the preparation of antimicrobial peloids and, in particular, of dermatological ointments, all able to fight infectious skin disorders.

Level structures in the neutron-rich ^{144}Ba nucleus have been reinvestigated by measuring prompt γ rays in the spontaneous fission of ^{252}Cf. The previous s=+1 octupole band structure with reflection asymmetric shape has been expanded, and a side quadrupole band structure based on a 3^{+} state with reflection symmetric shape is identified. Thus, the results show the coexistence of reflection asymmetric and symmetric shapes in ^{144}Ba. This is a first identification of such a shape coexistence structure in a nuclear structure. The other structural characteristics are discussed.

Objective: Selenium (Se) supplementation has been used to help prevent the progression of Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) and autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) patients. We investigated Se serum and selenoprotein P (SePP) levels in Graves' disease (GD) with and without GO, Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) patients and in 27 control individuals (C)., Subjects and Methods: We studied 54 female and 19 male patients: 19 with GD without GO, 21 GD with GO, 14 with HT and 19 with HT+LT4. Se values were measured using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Serum SePP levels were measured by ELISA., Results: Median Se levels were similar among all groups; GD patients: 54.2 (46.5-61.1 μg/L), GO: 53.6 (43.5-60.0 μg/L), HT: 51.9 (44.6-58.5 μg/L), HT+LT4 54.4 (44-63.4) and C group patients: 56.0 (52.4-61.5 μg/L); P = 0.48. However, serum SePP was lower in GO patients: 0.30 (0.15-1.05 μg/mL) and in HT patients: 0.35 (0.2-1.17 μg/mL) compared to C group patients: 1.00 (0.564.21 μg/mL) as well as to GD patients: 1.19 (0.62-2.5 μg/mL) and HT+LT4 patients: 0.7 (0,25-1.95); P = 0.002. Linear regression analysis showed a significant relationship between SePP and TPOAb values (r = 0.445, R2 = 0.293; P < 0.0001). Multiple regression analysis found no independent variables related to Se or SePP., Conclusion: A serum Se concentration was lower than in some other countries, but not significantly among AITD patients. The low serum SePP levels in GO and HT patients seems to express inflammatory reactions with a subsequent increase in Se-dependent protein consumption remains unclear.

We report the results of a β-decay study of fission products ^{86}Br, ^{89}Kr, ^{89}Rb, ^{90gs}Rb, ^{90m}Rb, ^{90}Kr, ^{92}Rb, ^{139}Xe, and ^{142}Cs performed with the Modular Total Absorption Spectrometer (MTAS) and on-line mass-separated ion beams. These radioactivities were assessed by the Nuclear Energy Agency as having high priority for decay heat analysis during a nuclear fuel cycle. We observe a substantial increase in β feeding to high excited states in all daughter isotopes in comparison to earlier data. This increases the average γ-ray energy emitted by the decay of fission fragments during the first 10 000 s after fission of ^{235}U and ^{239}Pu by approximately 2% and 1%, respectively, improving agreement between results of calculations and direct observations. New MTAS results reduce the reference reactor ν[over ¯]&#95;{e} flux used to analyze reactor ν[over ¯]&#95;{e} interaction with detector matter. The reduction determined by the ab initio method for the four nuclear fuel components, ^{235}U, ^{238}U, ^{239}Pu, and ^{241}Pu, amounts to 0.976, 0.986, 0.983, and 0.984, respectively.