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The α-metallated ylides [Ph 3 P-C-Z] - M + (with Z=SO 2 Tol or CN and M=Na or K) were used as versatile nucleophiles for the facile access to ylide-substituted compounds. Halogenations, alkylations, carbonylations and functionalization reactions with main group element halides were easily accomplished by simple trapping reactions with the appropriate electrophiles. X-ray crystallographic studies of all compounds - including the first structures of α-fluorinated P-ylides - showed remarkable differences in the ylide backbone depending on the substituents. In the fluorinated compounds, a change from a fully planar to a pyramidalized ylidic carbon centre was observed despite the strongly anion-stabilizing ability of the yldiide substituent. π-Donation from the ylide substituent also resulted in geometric restrictions depending on the steric and electronic properties of the introduced substituents., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The isolation and structural characterization of the cyanido-substituted metalated ylides [Ph 3 P-C-CN]M (1-M; M=Li, Na, K) are reported with lithium, sodium, and potassium as metal cations. In the solid-state, most different aggregates could be determined depending on the metal and additional Lewis bases. The crown-ether complexes of sodium (1-Na) and potassium (1-K) exhibited different structures, with sodium preferring coordination to the nitrogen end, whereas potassium binds in an unusual η 2 -coordination mode to the two central carbon atoms. The formation of the yldiide was accompanied by structural changes leading to shorter C-C and longer C-N bonds. This could be attributed to the delocalization of the free electron pairs at the carbon atom into the antibonding orbitals of the CN moiety, which was confirmed by IR spectroscopy and computational studies. Detailed density functional theory calculations show that the changes in the structure and the bonding situation were most pronounced in the lithium compounds due to the higher covalency., (© 2019 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.)

Cooperative B-H bond activation reactions with thio- and iminophosphoryl tethered ruthenium-carbene complexes are reported. The complexes show surprisingly different reactivities towards the commonly employed boranes CatBH, PinBH and BH 3 ⋅LB as a result of different modes of metal-ligand cooperation. Although the iminophosphoryl system allows for selective 1,2-addition of the B-H bond across the Ru=C double bond, the sulfur analogue only delivers the 1,2-addition product for CatBH, whereas activation of BH 3 and PinBH lead to further insertion reactions in one or more sides of the Ru-C-P-S-ring. The different reactivities can be explained by the differences in the electronics of the carbene complexes and the phosphoryl tether and by the Lewis acidities of the boranes. DFT calculations show that the mechanism of the reactions either proceeds by an addition across the Ru=C bond with different regioselectivities or across the Ru-S linkage., (© 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Low alanine aminotransferase (ALT) blood levels are associated with frailty and poor outcome in older adults. Therefore, we studied the association between ALT blood levels before rehabilitation and rehabilitation outcome in older adults following hip fracture surgery. A total of 490 older adults (age>60 years, mean age: 82.9±6.7 years, 82.0% women) admitted to rehabilitation following hip fracture surgery were included. The rehabilitation outcome was assessed by Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores. ALT blood levels were documented between 1 and 6 months before rehabilitation. Patients with ALT blood levels over 40 IU/l possibly consistent with liver injury were excluded. The cohort was divided into two groups: patients with ALT more than 10 IU/l and patients with ALT less than or equal to 10 IU/l. Upon rehabilitation discharge, the FIM outcome measures (motor, cognitive, gain, efficiency) were significantly higher in patients with ALT more than 10 IU/l relative to patients with ALT less than or equal to 10 IU/l (P<0.05). A logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and sex showed that patients with ALT more than 10 IU/l were more likely to have higher (second to fourth upper quartiles) total FIM scores (>50), cognitive FIM scores (>16), and FIM efficiency (>0.228) upon rehabilitation discharge (odds ratio=1.56-1.78). However, this association was no longer significant following adjustment also for admission total FIM score, cognitive impairment, cancer, and albumin serum levels. High-normal ALT blood levels before rehabilitation are associated with a better rehabilitation outcome in older adults following hip fracture surgery. It may be used when data on admission FIM score, cognitive impairment, cancer, and albumin serum levels are not available.

The synthesis, electronic structure, and reactivity of the first Group 9 carbene complex, [Cp*IrL] [L=C(Ph2 PS)(SO2 Ph)] (2), based on a dilithio methandiide are reported. Spectroscopic as well as computational studies have shown that, despite using a late transition-metal precursor, sufficient charge transfer occurred from the methandiide to the metal, resulting in a stable, nucleophilic carbene species with pronounced metal-carbon double-bond character. The potential of this iridium complex in the activation of a series of E-H bonds by means of metal-ligand cooperation has been tested. These studies have revealed distinct differences in the reactivity of 2 compared to a previously reported ruthenium analogue. Whereas attempts to activate the O-H bond in different phenol derivatives resulted in ligand cleavage, H-H and Si-H activation as well as dehydrogenation of isopropanol have been accomplished. These reactions are driven by the transformation of the carbene to an alkyl ligand. Contrary to a previously reported ruthenium carbene system, the dihydrogen activation has been found to proceed by a stepwise mechanism, with the activation first taking place solely at the metal. The activated products further reacted to afford a cyclometalated complex through liberation of the activated substrates. In the case of triphenylsilane, cyclometalation could thus be induced by a substoichiometric (i.e., catalytic) amount of silane., (© 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The transfer hydrogenation (TH) reaction of ketones with catalytic systems based on a methandiide-derived ruthenium carbene complex was investigated and optimised. The complex itself makes use of the noninnocent behaviour of the carbene ligand (M=CR2 →MH-C(H)R2 ), but showed only moderate activity, thus requiring long reaction times to achieve sufficient conversion. DFT studies on the reaction mechanism revealed high reaction barriers for both the dehydrogenation of iPrOH and the hydrogen transfer. A considerable improvement of the catalytic activity could be achieved by employing triphenylphosphine as additive. Mechanistic studies on the role of PPh3 in the catalytic cycle revealed the formation of a cyclometalated complex upon phosphine coordination. This ruthenacycle was revealed to be the active species under the reaction conditions. The use of the isolated complex resulted in high catalytic activities in the TH of aromatic as well as aliphatic ketones. The complex was also found to be active under base-free conditions, suggesting that the cyclometalation is crucial for the enhanced activity., (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Si-H bond activation of a number of silanes via metal ligand cooperation in a carbene complex is reported. Thereby, the electronic flexibility of the carbene ligand allows for the activation via a unique mechanism with oxidative addition to an 18e species without a formal change in the number of valence electrons.

While the physical health effects of obesity are well-characterized, an emerging branch of research has shown that obesity additionally plays a critical role in one's mental health. Young adults, in a pivotal transition phase in their lives, may be particularly prone to the concurrent effects of obesity and adverse mental health outcomes. The purpose of this review is to comprehensively examine existing data regarding the connection between obesity and two widely validated measures of mental health: psychological distress and depression. The connection between mental health outcomes and obesity is mediated by a complex interplay between biological and sociocultural factors, which is explored in this review with particular focus on younger adults aged 20-39. Further, the impact of several demographic factors including race/ethnicity, gender, and immigration status are examined closely. To our knowledge, this review is one of the first efforts to integrate existing knowledge between obesity and mental health, with particular regard for young adults and the impact of other key sociodemographic characteristics. This review has important implications at the interface of two of the most pressing public health crises in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Hitit Journal of Social Sciences is the property of Hitit University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Recent studies (Cragg and Woof, Bus Soc Rev 107(1):98-144, ; Weismann, J Bus Ethics 88:615-66, ) revealed that in the first 28 years of its existence, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act was not enforced by the federal government. The Weismann study further concluded that the FCPA, designed by Congress as a self-regulatory model of corporate governance, failed to achieve the regulatory goal of deterring global bribery by U.S. companies. The current article addresses the reasons that the FCPA remains an ineffective measure to control bribery as a global market entry strategy despite the highly publicized 2006 Department of Justice initiative to increase prosecutions and tighten enforcement efforts. The failure arises out of both the increased use of informal dispositions of case prosecutions, (including non-prosecution and deferred prosecution agreements), which has made 'getting caught' merely an increased 'cost of doing business' and the failure to close the regulatory gaps in the statute that permit violators to slip through the enforcement net. The article updates and compiles the case prosecution data for every reported case prosecuted between 1977 and 2011. That data are then compared to the results of a 2010 integrity risk survey performed by Deloitte Financial Advisory Services and Forbes which reveal a widely held global business perception that compliance and integrity risks appear to be rising sharply and that the FCPA is ineffective in deterring bribery and corruption in foreign markets. The article aims to serve as a predictive tool for policy makers and business professionals in assessing risk in the global markets, particularly as commerce intensifies in the BRIC countries, notable for bribery and corruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Open Scholarship of Teaching & Learning is the property of Open Scholarship of Teaching & Learning and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Microglia, as one of the main types of glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS), are widely distributed throughout the brain and spinal cord. The normal number and function of microglia are very important for maintaining homeostasis in the CNS. In recent years, scientists have paid widespread attention to the role of microglia in the CNS. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder, and patients with ASD have severe deficits in behavior, social skills, and communication. Most previous studies on ASD have focused on neuronal pathological changes, such as increased cell proliferation, accelerated neuronal differentiation, impaired synaptic development, and reduced neuronal spontaneous and synchronous activity. Currently, more and more research has found that microglia, as immune cells, can promote neurogenesis and synaptic pruning to maintain CNS homeostasis. They can usually reduce unnecessary synaptic connections early in life. Some researchers have proposed that many pathological phenotypes of ASD may be caused by microglial abnormalities. Based on this, we summarize recent research on microglia in ASD, focusing on the function of microglia and neurodevelopmental abnormalities. We aim to clarify the essential factors influenced by microglia in ASD and explore the possibility of microglia-related pathways as potential research targets for ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trophic factors are secreted proteins that can modulate neuronal integrity, structure, and function. Previous preclinical studies have shown synergistic effects on decreasing apoptosis and improving behavioral performance after stroke when combining two such trophic factors, erythropoietin (EPO) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). However, EPO can elevate the hematocrit level, which can be life-threatening for non-anemic individuals. A chemically engineered derivative of EPO, carbamoylated EPO (CEPO), does not impact hematological parameters but retains neurotrophic effects similar to EPO. To obtain insight into CEPO and IGF-1 combination signaling, we examined immediate early gene (IEG) expression after treatment with CEPO, IGF-1, or CEPO + IGF-1 in rat pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells and found that combining CEPO and IGF-1 produced a synergistic increase in IEG expression. An in vivo increase in the protein expression of Npas4 and Nptx2 was also observed in the rat hippocampus. We also examined which kinase signaling pathways might be mediating these effects and found that while AKT inhibition did not alter the pattern of IEG expression, both ERK and JAK2 inhibition significantly decreased IEG expression. These results begin to define the molecular effects of combining CEPO and IGF-1 and indicate the potential for these trophic factors to produce positive, synergistic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the experience of 115 examinations, the authors first describes the normal radiological appearances on arthrography of the elbow joint. Subsequently, the radiological criteria are discussed which permit a diagnosis of intra- and para-articular soft tissue lesions due to closed trauma of the elbow joint. Arthrography with positive (water-soluble) contrast media enables one to diagnose rupture of the joint capsule and ligaments, and to diagnose with certainty subluxations of the various parts of the joint. Is is also possible to demonstrate haematomas between the muscles, which may lead to a reduction in joint function. Negative contrast medium (carbon dioxide, oxygen) permits the diagnosis of rupture of the insertion of the biceps.

Phelan–McDermid syndrome (PMS) is a genetic condition caused by SHANK3 haploinsufficiency and characterized by a wide range of neurodevelopmental and systemic manifestations. The first practice parameters for assessment and monitoring in individuals with PMS were published in 2014; recently, knowledge about PMS has grown significantly based on data from longitudinal phenotyping studies and large‐scale genotype–phenotype investigations. The objective of these updated clinical management guidelines was to: (1) reflect the latest in knowledge in PMS and (2) provide guidance for clinicians, researchers, and the general community. A taskforce was established with clinical experts in PMS and representatives from the parent community. Experts joined subgroups based on their areas of specialty, including genetics, neurology, neurodevelopment, gastroenterology, primary care, physiatry, nephrology, endocrinology, cardiology, gynecology, and dentistry. Taskforce members convened regularly between 2021 and 2022 and produced specialty‐specific guidelines based on iterative feedback and discussion. Taskforce leaders then established consensus within their respective specialty group and harmonized the guidelines. The knowledge gained over the past decade allows for improved guidelines to assess and monitor individuals with PMS. Since there is limited evidence specific to PMS, intervention mostly follows general guidelines for treating individuals with developmental disorders. Significant evidence has been amassed to guide the management of comorbid neuropsychiatric conditions in PMS, albeit mainly from caregiver report and the experience of clinical experts. These updated consensus guidelines on the management of PMS represent an advance for the field and will improve care in the community. Several areas for future research are also highlighted and will contribute to subsequent updates with more refined and specific recommendations as new knowledge accumulates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the creation of adaptable carbonyl compounds in organic synthesis, the oxidation of alcohols is a crucial step. As a sustainable alternative to the harmful traditional oxidation processes, transition-metal catalysts have recently attracted a lot of interest in acceptorless dehydrogenation reactions of alcohols. Here, using well-defined, air-stable palladium(II)–NHC catalysts (A–F), we demonstrate an effective method for the catalytic acceptorless dehydrogenation (CAD) reaction of secondary benzylic alcohols to produce the corresponding ketones and molecular hydrogen (H2). Catalytic acceptorless dehydrogenation (CAD) has been successfully used to convert a variety of alcohols, including electron-rich/electron-poor aromatic secondary alcohols, heteroaromatic secondary alcohols, and aliphatic cyclic alcohols, into their corresponding value-added ketones while only releasing molecular hydrogen as a byproduct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disorder that affects nearly half a billion people around the world and causes millions of deaths annually. Treatment of diabetes or related complications represents an economic burden not only for developing countries but also for the developed ones. Hence, new efficient therapeutic and preventive strategies and screening tools are necessary. The current work aimed to assess the potential association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT) rs10096097, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element binding protein (CREB) rs6740584, and v-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog A (MafA) rs62521874 genes with type 2 DM susceptibility in Egyptians. A total of 96 patients with type 2 DM along with 72 healthy individuals participated in this study. Genotyping was executed via real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the serum protein levels of GOAT, CREB, and MafA were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Genotyping revealed a significant association of GOAT rs10096097 and CREB1 rs6740584 SNPs with type 2 diabetes risk, with significantly higher GOAT rs10096097 G allele and CREB1 rs6740584 T allele frequencies in diabetic patients than in controls. However, insignificant association was identified between the MafA rs62521874 SNP and diabetes in the examined sample of the Egyptian residents. Serum GOAT, CREB1, and MafA protein levels did not vary significantly between diabetic and control individuals. Yet, significant variation in serum GOAT and CREB1 levels was detected between CREB1 rs6740584 genotypes within the diabetic group, with CT and TT genotype carriers showing higher levels than AA genotype patients. GOAT rs10096097 and CREB1 rs6740584, but not MafA rs62521874, SNPs are associated with type 2 diabetes risk in the studied Egyptians., (© 2024 Deutsche Pharmazeutische Gesellschaft.)

Phelan–McDermid syndrome (PMS), caused by pathogenic variants in the SHANK3 gene or 22q13 deletions, is characterized by intellectual disability, autistic features, developmental delays, and neonatal hypotonia. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and human growth hormone (hGH) have been shown to reverse neurobehavioral deficits in PMS. We assessed the metabolic profiling of 48 individuals with PMS and 50 controls and determined subpopulations by taking the top and bottom 25% of responders to hGH and IGF-1. A distinct metabolic profile for individuals with PMS showed a reduced ability to metabolize major energy sources and a higher metabolism of alternative energy sources. The analysis of the metabolic response to hGH or IGF-1 highlighted a major overlap between both high and low responders, validating the model and suggesting that the two growth factors share many target pathways. When we investigated the effect of hGH and IGF-1 on the metabolism of glucose, the correlation between the high-responder subgroups showed less similarity, whereas the low-responders were still relatively similar. Classification of individuals with PMS into subgroups based on responses to a compound can allow an investigation into pathogenic mechanisms, the identification of molecular biomarkers, an exploration of in vitro responses to candidate drugs, and eventually the selection of better candidates for clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growth factors are commonly added to cell culture media in cellular agriculture to mimic the endogenous process of proliferation and differentiation of cells. Many of these growth factors are endogenous to humans and known to be present in the edible tissues and milk of food animals. However, there is little or no information on the use of growth factors intentionally added in food production before the advent of cultivated meat. Ten commonly used growth factors have been reviewed to include information on their mode of action, bioavailability, occurrence in food and food animals, endogenous levels in humans, as well as exposure and toxicological information drawn from relevant animal studies and human clinical trials with a focus on oral exposure. In addition, a comparison of homology of growth factors was done to compare the sequence homology of growth factors from humans and domestic animal species commonly consumed as food, such as bovine, porcine, and poultry. This information has been gathered as the starting point to determine the safety of use of growth factors in cultivated meat meant for human consumption. The change in levels of growth factors measured in human milk and bovine milk after pasteurization and high-temperature treatment is discussed to give an indication of how commercial food processing can affect the levels of growth factors in food. The concept of substantial equivalence is also discussed together with a conservative exposure estimation. More work on how to integrate in silico assessments into the routine safety assessment of growth factors is needed., (© 2024 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

Aim: To evaluate the prognostic impact at admission of 10 biochemical indices for prediction postoperative myocardial injury (PMI) and/or hospital death in hip fracture (HF) patients. Methods: In 1273 consecutive patients with HF (mean age 82.9 ± 8.7 years, 73.5% women), clinical and laboratory parameters were collected prospectively, and outcomes were recorded. Multiple logistic regression and receiver-operating characteristic analyses (the area under the curve, AUC) were preformed, the number needed to predict (NNP) outcome was calculated. Results: Age ≥ 80 years and IHD were the most prominent clinical factors associated with both PMI (with cardiac troponin I rise) and in-hospital death. PMI occurred in 555 (43.6%) patients and contributed to 80.3% (49/61) of all deaths (mortality rate 8.8% vs. 1.9% in non-PMI patients). The most accurate biochemical predictive markers were parathyroid hormone > 6.8 pmol/L, urea > 7.5 mmol/L, 25(OH)vitamin D < 25 nmol/L, albumin < 33 g/L, and ratios gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) to alanine aminotransferase > 2.5, urea/albumin ≥ 2.0 and GGT/albumin ≥ 7.0; the AUC for developing PMI ranged between 0.782 and 0.742 (NNP: 1.84–2.13), the AUC for fatal outcome ranged from 0.803 to 0.722, (NNP: 3.77–9.52). Conclusions: In HF patients, easily accessible biochemical indices at admission substantially improve prediction of hospital outcomes, especially in the aged >80 years with IHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical clearing (OC) of adipose tissue has not been studied enough, although it can be promising in medical applications, including surgery and cosmetology, for example, to visualize blood vessels or increase the permeability of tissues to laser beams. The main objective of this work is to develop technology for OC of abdominal adipose tissue in vivo using hyperosmotic optical clearing agents (OCAs). The maximum OC effect (77%) was observed for ex vivo rat adipose tissue samples exposed to OCA on fructose basis for 90 minutes. For in vivo studies, the maximum effect of OC (65%) was observed when using OCA based on diatrizoic acid and dimethylsulfoxide for 120 minutes. Histological analysis showed that in vivo application of OCAs may induce a limited local necrosis of fat cells. The efficiency of OC correlated with local tissue damage through cell necrosis due to accompanied cell lipolysis [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formation of biomolecular condensates by phase separation has recently emerged as a new principle for regulating gene expression in response to extracellular signaling. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the coupling of signal transduction and gene activation through condensate formation, and how dysregulation of these mechanisms contributes to disease progression, remain elusive. Here, the authors report that CREB‐regulated transcription coactivator 2 (CRTC2) translocates to the nucleus and forms phase‐separated condensates upon activation of cAMP signaling. They show that intranuclear CRTC2 interacts with positive transcription elongation factor b (P‐TEFb) and activates P‐TEFb by disrupting the inhibitory 7SK snRNP complex. Aberrantly elevated cAMP signaling plays central roles in the development of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). They find that CRTC2 localizes to the nucleus and forms condensates in cystic epithelial cells of both mouse and human ADPKD kidneys. Genetic depletion of CRTC2 suppresses cyst growth in an orthologous ADPKD mouse model. Using integrative transcriptomic and cistromic analyses, they identify CRTC2‐regulated cystogenesis‐associated genes, whose activation depends on CRTC2 condensate‐facilitated P‐TEFb recruitment and the release of paused RNA polymerase II. Together, their findings elucidate a mechanism by which CRTC2 nuclear condensation conveys cAMP signaling to transcription elongation activation and thereby promotes cystogenesis in ADPKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Improving teamwork competencies among health care professionals is important for patient safety. Few previous studies have investigated whether a teamwork intervention has an impact on patients' perceptions of quality of care. Objective: To investigate patients' perceptions of quality of care before and after the implementation of a team training program in a surgical ward. Methods: A quasi-experimental pre- and posttest design was used. The TeamSTEPPS® team training program was implemented in a surgical ward. Three groups of consecutively sampled patients responded to the Quality from the Patient's Perspective (QPP) questionnaire including four dimensions with 25 items. In addition to the QPP, six items were developed for this study. In total, 223 patients responded to the questionnaire. The mean age was 59.6 years, and there were 128 males and 94 females. Results: The physical-technical condition dimension and four items showed significantly higher scores after six months of intervention. The majority of the patients scored quality of care in the four dimensions as very high at all three time points. Younger patients reported the lowest care quality. Conclusion: The results in this study indicate that the teamwork intervention had a minimal impact on the patients' perceptions of quality of care, with only significant differences between baseline and six months of intervention in one dimension and three items. At each data collection time point, the numbers of patients who perceived quality of care as modest decreased slightly. Younger patients were more likely to perceive care quality as modest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adult stem cells (ASCs) in vertebrates and model invertebrates (e.g. Drosophila melanogaster) are typically long‐lived, lineage‐restricted, clonogenic and quiescent cells with somatic descendants and tissue/organ‐restricted activities. Such ASCs are mostly rare, morphologically undifferentiated, and undergo asymmetric cell division. Characterized by 'stemness' gene expression, they can regulate tissue/organ homeostasis, repair and regeneration. By contrast, analysis of other animal phyla shows that ASCs emerge at different life stages, present both differentiated and undifferentiated phenotypes, and may possess amoeboid movement. Usually pluri/totipotent, they may express germ‐cell markers, but often lack germ‐line sequestering, and typically do not reside in discrete niches. ASCs may constitute up to 40% of animal cells, and participate in a range of biological phenomena, from whole‐body regeneration, dormancy, and agametic asexual reproduction, to indeterminate growth. They are considered legitimate units of selection. Conceptualizing this divergence, we present an alternative stemness metaphor to the Waddington landscape: the 'wobbling Penrose' landscape. Here, totipotent ASCs adopt ascending/descending courses of an 'Escherian stairwell', in a lifelong totipotency pathway. ASCs may also travel along lower stemness echelons to reach fully differentiated states. However, from any starting state, cells can change their stemness status, underscoring their dynamic cellular potencies. Thus, vertebrate ASCs may reflect just one metazoan ASC archetype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a new technology that produces three-dimensional (3D) digital imaging at reduced cost and less radiation for the patient than traditional CT scans. It also delivers faster and easier image acquisition. By providing a 3D representation of the maxillofacial tissues in a cost- and dose-efficient manner, a better preoperative assessment can be obtained for diagnosis and treatment. This comprehensive review presents current applications of CBCT in endodontics. Specific case examples illustrate the difference in treatment planning with traditional periapical radiography versus CBCT technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Azulene is a very remarkable ligand because of its zwitterionic character and the large variety of ways that it can coordinate with a metal. However, there is little knowledge about the factors that control the diversity of coordination modes in metal‐Azulene complexes. We carry out an energy and electron density analysis in the framework of DFT and QTAIM to understand how the nature of the spectator ligands affects the azulene's coordination preference in these systems. The results show that the π back‐donation plays a fundamental role in the coordination preference of the metal and also show that the π‐acidity of spectator ligands can be used to control inter‐ring haptotropic preferences. If the spectator ligands are strong acceptors as CO, the metal centre prefers to coordinate at the five‐membered ring. Meanwhile, poor acidic ligands as amines, favour a coordination to the seven‐membered ring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neck of femur fracture is a common consequence of falls in the elderly with a large burden of morbidity and mortality. Derangement in liver function tests (LFTs) is frequently seen in elderly people with neck of femur (NOF) fracture in the peri-operative period and can indicate serious and treatable underlying pathology as well as prognosis. On admission, raised alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels with normal gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) suggest underlying bone pathology such as osteomalacia or Paget's disease but do not confirm or exclude osteoporosis. ALP can also be raised by non-bone pathology such as congestive cardiac failure and chronic kidney disease. LFT derangement in cardiac failure is associated with poorer prognosis. Post-operatively, ALP levels rise after the first week with a peak at 3–4 weeks and then fall thereafter. The rate at which they fall may help indicate bone healing in trochanteric fractures. Derangement in other LFTs is commonly due to hepatic injury; causes include trauma, alcohol, and viral hepatitis. There are also iatrogenic causes including surgery and commonly prescribed medication such as beta-lactam antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, and paracetamol. The differential diagnosis for deranged LFTs in the elderly peri-operatively is wide; however, most causes can be elicited through careful history and examination with occasional need for further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this technical paper, we address the issue of predicting cash dispenser (addressed as ‘Device’ henceforth) failure by harnessing the power of humungous data from service history, logs, metrics, transactions, and plausible environmental factors. This study helps increase device availability, enhanced customer experience, manage risk & compliance and revenue growth. It also helps reduce maintenance cost, travel cost, labour cost, downtime, repair duration and increase meantime between failures (MTBF) of individual components. This study uses a cognitive prioritization model which entails the following at its core; a) Machine Learning engineered features with highest influence on machine failure, b) Observation Windows, Transition Windows and Prediction Windows to accommodate various business processes and service planning delivery windows, and c) A forward-looking evaluation of emerging patterns to determine failure prediction score that is prioritized by business impact, for a predefined time window in the future. The model not only predicts failure score for the devices to be serviced, but it also reduces the service miss impact for the prediction windows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subvalent boron compounds contain boron atoms with oxidation numbers lower than +III. Over the last decades, the development of isolable derivatives has relied heavily on the use of specially designed ligands capable of stabilizing the electron‐rich boron centers electronically or through steric protection. Herein, we are exclusively reviewing anionic organo(hydro)boranes largely devoid of stabilizing ligands or heteroatom substituents. The restriction to these subvalent species is intended to minimize the risk of ligand artifacts being included when carving out the characteristic properties of the respective boron centers, such as nucleophilic or carbenoid behavior. The scope of this review encompasses triorganoborane radical monoanions ([·BR3]–) along with closed‐shell dianions ([:BR3]2–), boryl anions ([:BR2]–), as well as B–B single‐bonded diborane(6) dianions ([R3B–BR3]2–) and diborane(5) monoanions ([R2B–BR3]–), and finally B=B double‐bonded diborane(4) dianions ([R2B=BR2]2–). We are showing how these species are related to each other and comment on their bonding situations from an experimentalist's perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver-led glycemic control: Hepatokines are liver-secreted proteins that regulate whole-body metabolism. Montgomery et al. identified sparc-related modular calcium-binding protein 1 (SMOC1) as a glucose-responsive hepatokine involved in the regulation of glucose homeostasis in mice. Both fasted lean mice and db/db mice injected with recombinant SMOC1 showed improved glycemic control, and a stabilized version of the SMOC1 protein injected into the diabetic mice once a week for 4 weeks also resulted in improved insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. Future work will need to confirm whether SMOC1 has potential as a therapeutic target in type 2 diabetes in humans. Intertissue communication is a fundamental feature of metabolic regulation, and the liver is central to this process. We have identified sparc-related modular calcium-binding protein 1 (SMOC1) as a glucose-responsive hepatokine and regulator of glucose homeostasis. Acute intraperitoneal administration of SMOC1 improved glycemic control and insulin sensitivity in mice without changes in insulin secretion. SMOC1 exerted its favorable glycemic effects by inhibiting adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)–cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA)–cAMP response element–binding protein (CREB) signaling in the liver, leading to decreased gluconeogenic gene expression and suppression of hepatic glucose output. Overexpression of SMOC1 in the liver or once-weekly intraperitoneal injections of a stabilized SMOC1-FC fusion protein induced durable improvements in glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in db/db mice, without adverse effects on adiposity, liver histopathology, or inflammation. Furthermore, circulating SMOC1 correlated with hepatic and systemic insulin sensitivity and was decreased in obese, insulin-resistant humans. Together, these findings identify SMOC1 as a potential pharmacological target for the management of glycemic control in type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COPD exacerbations have negative impact on patients' survival. Several risk factors for grave outcomes of such exacerbations have been descried. Muscle dysfunction and mass loss were shown to impact negatively on prognosis and survival. Low activity of the enzyme ALT (Alanine amino-transferase) in the blood is a known indicator for sarcopenia and frailty, however, no previous studies addressed the association of low ALT amongst patients hospitalized due to COPD exacerbation and long-term survival.Methods: This is a historic prospective cohort study of patients hospitalized due to acute COPD exacerbation.Results: Included were 232 consecutive COPD exacerbation patients. The median time of follow-up was 34.9 months (IQR 23.13-41.73 months). During this period 104 (44.8%) patients died. All patients were grouped to quartiles according to blood ALT levels (after exclusion of cases considered to have hepatic tissue damage (ALT > 40 IU)). The risk of long-term mortality increased, in a statistically significant manner, amongst patients with low ALT values: the median survival of patients with ALT < 11 IU was 18.5 months only while the median survival for the rest of the study group was not reached. For ALT < 11 IU; 12-16 IU; 17-20 IU and > 21 IU the mortality rates were 69%; 40.9%; 36.3 and 25% respectively (p <  0.001 for comparison of lower quartile with upper three quartiles). The crude hazard ratio for mortality amongst patients with ALT levels lower than 11 IU was 2.37 (95% CI; 1.6-3.5). This increased risk of mortality remained significant after adjustment for age, weight, creatinine, albumin concentration and cardiovascular diseases (HR = 1.83; 95% CI 1.08-3.1, p <  0.05).Conclusions: Low ALT values, a biomarker of sarcopenia and frailty, are associated with poor long-term survival amongst patients hospitalized due to COPD exacerbation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mike Brown an 18-year-old, unarmed African American male, was stopped, while on foot, by a Ferguson, Missouri police officer named Darren Wilson, on August 9th, 2014. The encounter ended with Officer Wilson firing several shots, striking and killing Mike Brown Jr. Wilson's testimony, specifically his description of Mike Brown, is critical in better understanding the perception of Black bodies, particularly Black young men such as Brown in society. Wilson constructs a testimony highlighting the functionality and significance of race and gender. Wilson's testimony contains language which further racializes Black men as a threat in society and is important in exploring the implications racialized narratives created for Black males and their mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability of tetracationic triarylboranes in dilute aqueous solution was investigated by tuning the steric demand of the linker in a (para‐(N,N,N‐trimethylammonio)xylyl)2B–(linker)–B(para‐(N,N,N‐trimethylammonio)xylyl)2 structure. With increasing steric bulk of the linker, namely 1,4‐phenylene, 2,2′′′‐(3,3′′′‐dimethyl)‐5,2′:5′,2′′:5′′,5′′′‐quaterthiophene, 9,10‐anthracenylene, and 4,4′′′‐(5′‐(3,5‐dimethylphenyl))(5′′‐(3′′′,5′′′‐dimethylphenyl))‐2′,2′′‐bithiophene, the stability of the compounds increased. The anthracene‐based chromophore, compound 3M is water‐stable for at least 48 h, is nontoxic to cells and exhibits an exceedingly high fluorescence quantum yield of 0.86 in water making it an ideal candidate for confocal live‐cell imaging of lysosomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents an evidence for the thermal nature of delayed electron emission from a superhot carbon[sub 50] molecule. Measurement of delayed ionization efficiency curves; Dependence of delayed electron emission on the initial molecular thermal energy; Agreement of the experiment with simulations based on decay kinetics with thermal rate constants.