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Urban groundwater supply planning is often achieved at the regional scale while the effects of aquifer exploitation are experienced on a local scale. In the Mexico City metropolitan area, land and water use changes have caused massive overdraft and subsidence, threatening water supply in marginalized communities. While spatially distributed groundwater models have been developed to test model uncertainty and policy interventions, there is little understanding of how regional aggregation of planning objectives can exacerbate existing social inequities. This study develops socially informed spatial analysis to evaluate differential impacts of groundwater pumping policies at multiple scales. We compare four planning objectives at three spatial resolutions to determine if policy preference shows a relationship with socioeconomic indicators. We find that the multiobjective performance of pumping policies can neglect marginalized communities according to multiple indicators. Further, clustering model grid cells according to socioeconomic indicators allows for more accurate analysis of this effect. Finally, multiscale analysis of policy preference considering subregional socioeconomic characteristics can aid in equitable selection of aquifer management alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structurally diverse zinc(II) complexes with tripodal tetradentate phenolic-amines of variable substituents in the phenol and amine moieties were synthesized and thoroughly characterized. The two dinuclear [Zn2(L1)2](ClO4)2·MeOH (1), [Zn2(L2)2](ClO4)2 (2), and four mononuclear [Zn(L3)(H2O)]·MeOH (3), [Zn(L4)] (4), [Zn(L5)] (5) and [Zn(L6)] (6) complexes revealed distorted octahedral, trigonal–bipyramidal or tetrahedral geometries. The free HL1 and H2L3–6 ligands, and complexes 1–6 were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines (A2780, A2780R, PC-3 and 22Rv1) and normal healthy MRC-5 cells. Overall results revealed high-to-moderate cytotoxicity (with the best IC50 values for complex 6 ranging from 2.4 to 4.5 μM), which is however, significantly higher than that of the reference drug cisplatin. The moderately active complexes 1–4 showed considerable selectivity on A2780 cells (IC50 ≈ 16.3–19.5 μM) over MRC-5 ones (with IC50 >50 μM for 1, 2 and 4, and with IC50 >25 μM for 3). The complexes 1, 2, and 6 and the ligand H2L6 were chosen for subsequent deeper biological evaluations. Their time-resolved cellular uptake and other cellular effects in A2780 cells were studied, such as cell cycle profile, intracellular ROS production, induction of apoptosis and activation of caspases 3/7. Complexes 1 and 2 caused significant G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in A2780 cells and antioxidant effects at normal conditions. They showed only limited effects on cellular processes connected with cytotoxicity, i.e. induction of apoptosis, depletion of mitochondrial membrane potential, and autophagy. These findings can be at least partly attributed to the low ability of the complexes to enter the A2780 cells and the depression of metabolic activity of the target cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeMethodsResultsConclusionThis retrospective observational study of health claims data seeks to quantify the prolonged impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on DR screening rates in central Massachusetts.Retrospective claims data from the UMass Memorial Managed Care Network were collected for the years of 2018–2022. Comprehensive and DR screening exams were identified using CPT codes for patients with diabetes. Data were derived from claims submitted by the UMass Memorial Managed Care network to four insurance programs via CPT billing code for comprehensive and DR screening exams for patients with diabetes. Over one million claims for the years 01/2018–05/2022 were collected.We found a significant decrease in unadjusted DR screening rates in the post-lockdown period compared to the pre-COVID-19 period (p < 0.001). Bivariate analysis revealed a 15.1% decrease in weekly DR screenings during post-lockdown (RR = 0.849, 95% CI = 0.811, 0.888). After adjusting for seasonal variation, the mean weekly DR screening rate was 12% lower in the post-lockdown period, with a 95% CI of 6.1% to 17.5% decrease (Adjusted RR = 0.880, 95% CI = 0.825, 0.939 Stratified analysis based on patient status revealed a significant decrease in adjusted DR screening rates for established patients post-lockdown compared to pre-pandemic (p < 0.0001), while no significant difference was observed for new patients (p > 0.05).The impact of COVID-19 on DR screening and treatment rates persisted even after the resumption of non-essential care services, with a discrepancy between new and established patients. Future research should work to identify and overcome the barriers to DR screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Despite the high prevalence of typical symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), approximately 30% of patients have functional esophageal disorders (FED) on ambulatory reflux monitoring, which may include reflux hypersensitivity (RH; defined as physiologic acid exposure but temporally correlated symptoms of reflux), or functional heartburn (FH; defined as physiologic acid exposure and negative symptom correlation). There are limited epidemiological data characterizing these conditions. We investigated demographic and socioeconomic factors as well as medical comorbidities which may predispose to FED versus pathologic GERD. Methods: Adult patients with reflux symptoms for at least 3 months were studied with 24-h pH-impedance testing from 11/2019 to 3/2021. Participants were categorized into pathologic GERD, FH, or RH using pH-impedance data and reported symptom correlation. Demographic data, including age, gender, race/ethnicity, zip code, insurance status, and medical comorbidity data were retrospectively retrieved from the electronic medical record on all participants. Results: 229 patients were included. Non-Hispanic Asian ethnicity (OR 5.65; p = 0.01), underweight BMI (OR 7.33; p = 0.06), chronic pain (OR 2.33; p < 0.01), insomnia (OR 2.83; p = 0.06), and allergic rhinitis (OR 3.90; p < 0.01) were associated with a greater risk for FED. Overweight BMI (OR 0.48; p = 0.03) and alcohol use (OR 0.57; p = 0.06) were associated with a decreased risk for FED. Discussion: This is the first report of a greater risk of FED in patients with underweight BMI, insomnia, chronic pain, allergic rhinitis, or of Asian or Hispanic ethnicities. The weak associations between female gender and anxiety are corroborated in other studies. Our findings enable clinicians to better screen patients with reflux for this disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engaged Dharma Israel (EDI) activists resist their state's occupation of West Bank Palestinians by offering them solidarity and support. Whereas most Israelis consider such Palestinians' houses unsafe, EDI participants "feel at home" when acting as polite guests there, experiencing the hospitality of their politically subordinate counterparts as poignant. Such activists value intimacy—crossing boundaries between self and other on both personal and national levels—which they substantially realize during their visits. However, they also seek to promote Israelis' and Palestinians' mutual autonomy, or nonintervention in each other's personal and communal affairs, an often‐competing value that the visits likewise help effectuate. These capacities of hospitality result from its ritualized nature—namely, its tendency to follow conventional scripts that do not require certain inner states (e.g., sincerity). Hospitality can therefore be usefully approached as a ritualized arena that enables people to promote multiple values, or culturally valorized ideals, including ones frequently found in tension. This ability of hospitality to work out and negotiate participants' plural ethical commitments is embedded in the power dynamics and political inequalities that normally characterize hospitality events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Thalamic hypometabolism is a consistent finding in brain PET with F‐18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). However, the pathophysiology of this metabolic alteration is unknown. We hypothesized that it might be secondary to disturbance of peripheral input to the thalamus by NF1‐characteristic peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs). To test this hypothesis, we investigated the relationship between thalamic FDG uptake and the number, volume, and localization of PNSTs. Methods: This retrospective study included 22 adult NF1 patients (41% women, 36.2 ± 13.0 years) referred to whole‐body FDG‐PET/contrast‐enhanced CT for suspected malignant transformation of PNSTs and 22 sex‐ and age‐matched controls. Brain FDG uptake was scaled voxelwise to the individual median uptake in cerebellar gray matter. Bilateral mean and left‐right asymmetry of thalamic FDG uptake were determined using a left‐right symmetric anatomical thalamus mask. PNSTs were manually segmented in contrast‐enhanced CT. Results: Thalamic FDG uptake was reduced in NF1 patients by 2.0 standard deviations (p <.0005) compared to controls. Left‐right asymmetry was increased by 1.3 standard deviations (p =.013). Thalamic hypometabolism was higher in NF1 patients with ≥3 PNSTs than in patients with ≤2 PNSTs (2.6 vs. 1.6 standard deviations, p =.032). The impact of the occurrence of paraspinal/paravertebral PNSTs and of the mean PNST volume on thalamic FDG uptake did not reach statistical significance (p =.098 and p =.189). Left‐right asymmetry of thalamic FDG uptake was not associated with left‐right asymmetry of PNST burden (p =.658). Conclusions: This study provides first evidence of left‐right asymmetry of thalamic hypometabolism in NF1 and that it might be mediated by NF1‐associated peripheral tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concordance analysis is widely recognised as one of the main techniques in a corpus linguist's toolkit. However, despite a growing body of work critically exploring previously unquestioned mainstays of corpus methods (Mautner, 2015; Taylor & Marchi, 2018), this has not focused on concordance analysis specifically. In this paper, we aim to discuss issues that researchers may encounter when interpreting concordances. We begin in Step One with a cursory examination of 800 concordance lines in order to identify potential issues. In Step Two, we assess the distribution of those issues in a reduced sample of 200. As a result, we identify eight interpretability issues: noise in the corpus, non-standard syntax, unclear referring expressions, unclear quotation source attribution, technical terms/jargon, acronyms/initialisms, unspecific co-text, and lines unrelated to the research question. After reflecting on practical challenges, we discuss the epistemological implications of removing concordance lines uncritically and suggest ten recommendations for future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactions of the bicompartmental bis(phenolato) compound 6,6′-methylenebis(2-((bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)methyl)-4-chlorophenol)hemihydrate (H2L ½H2O) with 3d metal(II) ions afforded novel fully structurally characterized bridged acetato dinuclear complexes [Mn2(HL)(μ1,2-OAc)2]PF6 (1) [Zn2(HL)(μ1,2-OAc)(H2O)0.75(MeOH)0.25](PF6)2·0.45(H2O) (5) and [Cd2(HL)(μ1,1,2-OAc)(OAc)(H2O)]PF6·H2O (6) as well as the polymeric bridged-azido tetranuclear catena-[Cu4(HL)2(μ1,1-N3)2(μ1,3-N3)2](NO3)2·5H2O (4). The complex [Cu4(HL)2(ClO4)3(H2O)5](ClO4)3·5H2O (2) was partially characterized. In addition, three more dinuclear complexes [Cu2(H2L)(NO3)2(H2O)2](NO3)2 (3), [Cu2(HL)(OAc)(CH3OH)](PF6)2 (7) and [Cu2(HL)(NCS)2]NO3·2H2O (8) were also isolated. All complexes were characterized by CHN elemental analysis, IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy, ESI-MS, conductivity measurements and X-ray single crystal crystallography for compounds 1, 4, 5 and 6, where the bis(phenolato) ligand displayed different deprotonation (H2L, HL− and L2−). The magnetic susceptibility measurements over the temperature range 2–300 K revealed very weak antiferromagnetic coupling in dimanganese(II) 1 (J = −1.64(1) cm−1) and almost negligible magnetic interaction in dicopper(II) 2 (J = 0(3) cm−1). In the azido catena-[Cu4(HL)2(μ1,1-N3)2(μ1,3-N3)2](NO3)2·5H2O (4) complex, the J value of −133(3) cm−1 was obtained upon moderate-to-strong antiferromagnetic coupling through the di-μ1,3-N3-bridged dicopper(II) unit with no magnetic interaction between the two copper(II) ions in the di-μ1,1-N3-bridged unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the MHC-I-pathway is key to antigen presentation to cytotoxic T-cells and, therefore, recognition by the host adaptive immune system, we hypothesized that SARS-CoV-2 including its Variants of Concern (VOCs), influences MHC-I expression on epithelial cell surfaces as an immune evasion strategy. We conducted an in vitro time course experiment with the human airway epithelial cell line Calu-3 and the human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line Caco-2. Cells were infected with SARS-CoV-2 strains non-VOC/B.1.1, Alpha/B.1.1.7, Beta/B.1.351, Gamma/P.1, and Delta/B.1.617.2. At 2, 24, 48 and 72 h post-infection we performed RT-qPCR to track viral replication. Simultaneously, we performed intracellular staining with a serum of a double-vaccinated healthy adult containing a high amount of spike protein antibody. In flow cytometry experiments, we differentiated between infected (spike protein positive) and bystander (spike protein negative) cells. To compare their HLA expression levels, cells were stained extracellularly with anti-HLA-A-IgG and anti-HLA-B,C-IgG. While HLA-A expression was stable on infected Calu-3 cells for all variants, it increased to different degrees on bystander cells in samples infected with VOCs Beta, Gamma, Delta, or non-VOC over the time course analyzed. In contrast, HLA-A levels were stable in bystander Calu-3 cells in samples infected with the Alpha variant. The upregulation of MHC-I on spike protein negative bystander cells in Calu-3 cell cultures infected with Beta, Gamma, Delta, and partly non-VOC might suggest that infected cells are still capable of secreting inflammatory cytokines like type-I interferons stimulating the MHC-I expression on bystander cells. In comparison, there was no distinct effect on HLA expression level on Caco-2 cells of any of the VOCs or non-VOC. Further investigations of the full range of immune evasion strategies of SARS-CoV-2 variants are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Insight' or vipassanā meditation refers to meditative practices employed within Buddhist traditions. But following the secularization of vipassanā in recent decades – that is, its differentiation from Buddhism – orthodox Jewish Israeli meditators frame it as a religiously neutral, therapeutic technique centred on the mundane human body. They thus consider it as involving no forbidden 'Eastern' religious contents. Nevertheless, these 'Jewish Vipassanā' meditators also utilize insight meditation for improving their Jewish practice, characters, and ability to experience closeness to God; and some situate it within a national‐religious historical narrative culminating in redemption. The secularization of vipassanā enables orthodox Jewish practitioners to engage with it in ways that are significant for them as observant Jews, and without continually being concerned over 'idolatry'. Secularization therefore has important implications for people's ethical projects, or attempts to foster what they consider good. Examining these implications can both stimulate secular studies and contribute to anthropological research on ethics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The parasitoid wasp Trichopria drosophilae is promising as a biocontrol agent for controlling the ubiquitous pest Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura). Crucial for the successful implementation of any biocontrol agent is a high parasitisation rate by the parasitoid. Most studies investigating the parasitisation rate of D. suzukii pupae have focused on parasitisation in the fruit or in a petri dish. However, the predominant pupation site of D. suzukii in the field is the soil. Unfortunately, little is known on how well parasitoid wasps can detect and parasitise pupae of D. suzukii buried in the soil. Therefore, we conducted soil parasitisation experiments of T. drosophilae on D. suzukii pupae using two pupation depths in three different soil types (loamy sand, loam, and clay). In all three soil types, we found generally low D. suzukii pupae parasitisation rate by T. drosophilae, independent of the pupation depth. The pupation behaviour of D. suzukii and the parasitisation behaviour of T. drosophilae are discussed in detail. For pest control in most soil types, our results mean that the number of D. suzukii larvae pupating in the soil should be reduced, e.g., by adding a layer of sandy soil or covering the soil with plastic mulch. This might increase the probability of success when using T. drosophilae as a biocontrol agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic caused by the emerging virus SARS-CoV-2, research in the field of coronaviruses has expanded tremendously. The genome of SARS-CoV-2 has rapidly acquired numerous mutations, giving rise to several Variants of Concern (VOCs) with altered epidemiological, immunological, and pathogenic properties. Methods: As cell culture models are important tools to study viruses, we investigated replication kinetics and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 in the African Green Monkey-derived Vero E6 kidney cell line and the two human cell lines Caco-2, a colon epithelial carcinoma cell line, and the airway epithelial carcinoma cell line Calu-3. We assessed viral RNA copy numbers and infectivity of viral particles in cell culture supernatants at different time points ranging from 2 to 96 h post-infection. Results: We here describe a systematic comparison of growth kinetics of the five SARS-CoV-2 VOCs Alpha/B.1.1.7, Beta/B.1.351, Gamma/P.1, Delta/B.1.617.2, and Omicron/B.1.1.529 and a non-VOC/B.1.1 strain on three different cell lines to provide profound information on the differential behaviour of VOCs in different cell lines for researchers worldwide. We show distinct differences in viral replication kinetics of the SARS-CoV-2 non-VOC and five VOCs on the three cell culture models Vero E6, Caco-2, and Calu-3. Conclusion: This is the first systematic comparison of all SARS-CoV-2 VOCs on three different cell culture models. This data provides support for researchers worldwide in their experimental design for work on SARS-CoV-2. It is recommended to perform virus isolation and propagation on Vero E6 while infection studies or drug screening and antibody-based assays should rather be conducted on the human cell lines Caco-2 and Calu-3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) is a rare autosomal dominant disease that causes the dysregulated growth of Schwann cells. Most reported studies of brain morphology in NF1 patients have included only children, and clinical implications of the observed changes later in life remain unclear. In this study, we used MRI to characterize brain morphology in adults with NF1.Methods: Planar (2D) MRI measurements of 29 intracranial structures were compared in 389 adults with NF1 and 112 age- and sex-matched unaffected control subjects. The 2D measurements were correlated with volumetric (3D) brain measurements in 99 of the adults with NF1 to help interpret the 2D findings. A subset (n = 70) of these NF1 patients also received psychometric testing for attention deficits and IQ and was assessed for clinical severity of NF1 features and neurological problems. Correlation analysis was performed between the MRI measurements and clinical and psychometric features of these patients.Results: Four of nine corpus callosum measurements were significantly greater in adults with NF1 than in sex- and age-matched controls. All seven brainstem measurements were significantly greater in adults with NF1 than in controls. Increased corpus callosum and brainstem 2D morphology were correlated with increased total white matter volume among the NF1 patients. No robust correlations were observed between the 2D size of these structures and clinical or neuropsychometric assessments.Conclusion: Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that dysregulation of brain myelin production is an important manifestation of NF1 in adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Magnetospheric Multiscale mission (MMS1) data for 8 months in the winter periods of 2017–2018 and 2018–2019, when MMS had its apogee in the upstream solar wind of the Earth's bow shock, are used to study linear magnetic holes (LMHs). These LMHs are characterized by a magnetic depression of more than 50 % and a rotation of the background magnetic field of less then 10∘. A total of 406 LMHs are found and, based on their magnetoplasma characteristics, are split into three categories: cold (increase in density, little change in ion temperature), hot (increase in ion temperature, decrease in density) and sign change (at least one magnetic field component changes sign). The occurrence rate of LMHs is 2.3 per day. All LMHs are basically in pressure balance with the ambient plasma. Most of the linear magnetic holes are found in ambient plasmas that are stable against the mirror-mode generation, but only half of the holes are mirror-mode-stable inside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) syndrome is a common rare/orphan disease that manifests itself early in the paediatric age. It imposes a considerable burden upon patients as well as on caregivers. Decisions regarding optimal care often rely on several medical instances working together as a team. Methods: The authors reviewed the literature and supplied a description of their own clinical work at the NF1 centres. Results: The experience of a multidisciplinary teamwork of three NF centres was summarized in order to enhance awareness for possible multidisciplinary ways of delivery of health and health-related aspects of care to NF1 patients. Both population-focused research centres and family-focused centres were reviewed. Conclusions: Chronic rare diseases that start in the paediatric age mandate long-term follow-up most often by several disciplines. NF1 syndrome is an example of a multidisciplinary centre in order to enhance the quality of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurofibromatosis type 2 is a neurogenetic disorder with an incidence of about 1:33.000. Hallmarks are bilateral benign vestibular schwannomas, which can lead to deafness or brainstem compression. Volumetric tumor measurements are essential to assess the efficacy of new therapies. We present a statistical and methodical comparison of three volumetric image analysis tools. We performed volumetric measurements on phantoms with predefined volumes (0.1 to 8.0 ml) and tumors seen on 32 head MRI scans from eight NF2 patients with BrainLab, ITK-Snap, or OsiriX. The software was compared with regard to accuracy and reproducibility of the measurements and time required for analysis. The mean volume estimated by all three software programs differed significantly from the true volume of the phantoms, but OsiriX and BrainLab gave estimates that were not significantly different from each other. For the actual tumors, the estimated volumes with all three software tools showed a low coefficient of variability, but the mean volume estimates differed among the tools. OsiriX showed the shortest analysis time. Volumetric assessment of MRI images is associated to an intrinsic risk of miscalculation. For precise volumes it is mandatory to use the same volumetric tools for all measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insight meditation (vipassanā) originated in Theravāda Buddhism. However, participants in a "Jewish Vipassanā" meditation retreat – held at a Jewish settlement in the West Bank region controlled by Israel since 1967 – often depicted vipassanā as essentially Jewish. Indeed, to validate their adoption of insight meditation, many participants first needed to establish their exclusive commitment to orthodox Judaism. Consequently, they culturally appropriated vipassanā, decoupling this practice from "religious" Buddhist elements and instead depicting it as "theirs". While this appropriation entailed significant dimensions of openness to cultural otherness, including an appreciation of "eastern" expertise in meditation, it would be difficult to characterize it as "cosmopolitan". Rather, in this case openness ironically depended on, and resulted in deepening, meditators' belief in the superiority of national-religious Judaism. Thus, far from being identical to openness, cosmopolitan attitudes may actually preclude openness in settings that emphasize an exclusive commitment to a single tradition. Theoretical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schwannomatosis and neurofibromatosis type 2 are hereditary tumor syndromes, and peripheral neuropathy has been reported in both. We prospectively applied in vivo morphometric measurement of dorsal root ganglia volume in 16 schwannomatosis patients, 14 neurofibromatosis type 2 patients, and 26 healthy controls by magnetic resonance neurography. Compared to healthy controls, dorsal root ganglia hypertrophy was a consistent finding in neurofibromatosis type 2 (L3, + 267%; L4, + 235%; L5, + 241%; S1, + 300%; S2, + 242%; Bonferroni-adjusted p < 0.001) but not in schwannomatosis. Dorsal root ganglia may be a vulnerable site in origination of areflexia and sensory loss and a useful diagnostic marker in neurofibromatosis type 2. Ann Neurol 2018;83:854-857. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two 1D CPs of doubly bridged-azido-cobalt(II) complexes catena -[Co(2,6-lutidine- N -oxide)(μ 1,1 -N 3) 2 ] (1) and catena -{[Co(μ 1,1 -N 3) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ](3-picoline- N -oxide) 2 } (2) were synthesized, structurally and magnetically characterized. The SCM behavior of the complexes was verified. Two coordination polymers of mono-dimensional doubly bridged-azido-cobalt(II) complexes catena -[Co(2,6-lutidine- N -oxide)(μ 1,1 -N 3) 2 ] (1) and catena -{[Co(μ 1,1 -N 3) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ](3-picoline- N -oxide) 2 } (2), where 2,6-lutidine- N -oxide = 2,6-dimethylpyridine- N -oxide and 3-picoline- N -oxide = 3-methylpyridine- N -oxide, were synthesized, and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The Co(II) cations in complexes 1 and 2 are penta- and hexa-coordinate, respectively with four μ 1,1 -bridging azido groups and a terminal 2,6-lutidine- N -oxide molecule in 1 or two trans aqua molecules in 2. Magnetic relaxations in the zero field are consistent with single chain magnetic behavior (SCM) and the ac susceptibility measurements revealed that the weak ferromagnetic exchanges in the two complexes are associated with slow relaxation of magnetization. Complex 2 exhibits metamagnetic transition with an antiferromagnetic phase transition at 12 K at the applied field of 200 Oe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary SHAPE experiments are used to probe the structure of RNA molecules. We present ShaKer to predict SHAPE data for RNA using a graph-kernel-based machine learning approach that is trained on experimental SHAPE information. While other available methods require a manually curated reference structure, ShaKer predicts reactivity data based on sequence input only and by sampling the ensemble of possible structures. Thus, ShaKer is well placed to enable experiment-driven, transcriptome-wide SHAPE data prediction to enable the study of RNA structuredness and to improve RNA structure and RNA–RNA interaction prediction. For performance evaluation, we use accuracy and accessibility comparing to experimental SHAPE data and competing methods. We can show that Shaker outperforms its competitors and is able to predict high quality SHAPE annotations even when no reference structure is provided. Availability and implementation ShaKer is freely available at https://github.com/BackofenLab/ShaKer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Rapid continuous adsorption of Cu2+ on natural fibre-nanocellulose filters. • Non-woven crop fibres (agave, e.g. from tequila residue) fibres as substrate. • Anionic TEMPO-nanocellulose as active ingredient imparting high adsorption capacity. Abstract Contamination of fresh water sources with heavy metal ions constitutes a serious threat to drinking water safety. Treatment of water in order to remove these contaminants, e.g. copper ions, is thus an important task, usually performed by utilizing adsorbents or continuous membrane/filter processes. In particular combinations of these processes, i.e. adsorption or ion-exchange membranes/filters, are potential solutions in this regard. Thereby, materials derived from renewable resources constitute an environmentally benign alternative to traditional adsorption membrane/filter materials. For example, anionic TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (TCNF) were demonstrated to have high affinity towards heavy metal ions but nanopaper membranes made thereof suffer from low permeance and hence limited performance. To achieve high permeance and efficient adsorption of metal ions utilizing pure nanopapers has still not been possible. However, decorating a porous natural fibre substrate with TCNF should allow for high adsorption capacity towards Cu2+ together with high water permeance. We here present natural fibre-nanocellulose composite filters derived from flax and agave fibres, extracted e.g. from tequila residues, decorated with TCNF. The performance of these filters was determined with respect to their permeance and adsorption capacity for copper. It was shown that this new type of filter derived from industrial crop residues is capable of adsorbing high amounts of Cu(II) ions during a continuous filtration process with very high permeances enabled by their highly porous nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five 1D polymeric metal(II) dicyanamido (dca) complexes with 3-aminopyridine (py-NH 2) as co-ligand: catena -[M(μ 1,5 -dca) 2 (py-NH 2) 2 ] {M = Mn (1), Cu (2), Co (3), Zn (4), Cd (5)}, were synthesized, and were characterized by X-ray structural methods, IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility for 1 – 3 and luminescence measurements for 4 and 5 , respectively. Five new metal(II) dicyanamido (dca) complexes with 3-aminopyridine (py-NH 2) have been synthesized, catena -[M(μ 1,5 -dca) 2 (py-NH 2) 2 ] {M = Mn (1), Cu (2), Co (3), Zn (4) and Cd (5)}, and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV–Vis spectroscopy, single crystal X-ray and powder diffraction, respectively. The isostructural polymeric 1D complexes feature double µ 1,5 -bridging dicyanamide ligands and two terminal 3-aminopyridine ligands located in a trans -conformation around the distorted M(II) octahedra, which add extra stability through their involvements in the formation of 3D supramolecular hydrogen bonded systems and the constitution of non-covalent π–π ring-ring interactions along the chain direction. The magnetic properties of complexes 1 – 3 were studied at variable temperature over the range 2–300 K. Luminescence enhancements upon complexation of dca ligands was observed in 4 and 5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Four metal-pseudohalide complexes with 3- and 4-hydroxymethylpyridine as co-ligand were synthesized, and were characterized by X-ray structural methods, IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy, Hirshfeld surface analysis, magnetic susceptibility and thermogravimetric measurements. Abstract A dimeric [Cu(μ-4-HOMP)(4-HOMP)(NCS) 2 ] 2 (1) and three discrete monomeric complexes [Ni(3-HOMP) 2 (NCS) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ] (2), [Co(3-HOMP) 3 (N 3) 3 ]·H 2 O (3) and [Zn(4-HOMP) 2 (NCS) 2 ] (4), (3-HOMP = 3-hydroxymethylpyridine, 4-HOMP = 4-hydroxymethylpyridine) have been isolated and structurally characterized by IR, UV–Vis spectroscopy, XRPD, single crystal X-ray crystallography and Hirshfeld surface analysis as well as thermogravimetric analyses for complexes 1 , 2 and 4. In dimeric complex 1 each penta-coordinated Cu2+ center is bridged through N,O -4-HOMP ligands, whereas metal ions in 2 and 3 are located in distorted octahedral geometry with mer -configuration in the azido complex 3. Distorted tetrahedral geometry is observed around Zn2+ in complex 4. The variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements of 1 showed very weak antiferromagnetic interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Motivated by the polynomial representation theory of the general linear group and the theory of symplectic singularities, we study a category of perverse sheaves with coefficients in a field k on any affine unimodular hypertoric variety M. Our main result is that this is a highest weight category whose Ringel dual is the corresponding category for the Gale dual hypertoric variety M !. On the way to proving our main result, we confirm a conjecture of Finkelberg–Kubrak in the case of hypertoric varieties. We also show that our category is equivalent to representations of a combinatorially-defined algebra, recently introduced in a related paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Three cadmium(II) coordination polymesrs (CP) based on 2,2′-bipyridine-N,N′-dioxide (bipy-O2) as a coligand bridged by azido, thiocyanato and dicyanamido anions were synthesized. The complexes catena -[Cd(bipy-O2)(μ 1,1 -N 3) 2 ] (1), catena -[Cd(bipy-O2)(μ 1,3 -NCS) 2 ] (2) and catena -[Cd(bipy-O2)(μ 1,5 -dca) 2 ] (3), where dca = dicyanamide anion, NCNCN− were structurally characterized by X-ray single crystallography. The complexes display six-coordinated geometry around the central Cd(II) ion through the two oxygen atoms of the seven-membered chelating bipy-O2 molecule in cis conformation and four N -donor atoms of the doubly bridged end-on N 3 − in complex 1 and in the dicyanamido complex 3 as well as the doubly bridged end-to-end through the terminal two N and two S -donors in the corresponding thiocyanato compound 2. These arrangements led to the generation of 1D CP in the azido and thiocyanato complexes and a 2D CP in the dicyanamido complex 3. The luminescence and thermoanalytical properties of the complexes were also investigated. Graphical abstract Three coordination polymers 1D catena -[Cd(bipy-O2)(μ 1,1 -N 3) 2 ] (1), 1D catena -[Cd(bipy-O2)(μ 1,3 -NCS) 2 ] (2) and 2D catena -[Cd(bipy-O2)(μ 1,5 -dca) 2 ] (3) bridged by pseudohalides were synthesized and their crystal structure were determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography. Image 1 Highlights • 2,2′-Bipyridine-N,N′-dioxide (bipy-O2). • 1D catena -[Cd(bipy-O2)(μ 1,1 -N 3) 2 ]. • 1D catena -[Cd(bipy-O2)(μ 1,3 -NCS) 2 ]. • 2D catena -[Cd(bipy-O2)(μ 1,5 -dca) 2 ] (dca = dicyanamide anion). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article argues that the far-reaching changes in the jurisprudence of Israel's Supreme Court during the 1980s and 1990s need to be understood in the context of the 1977 upheaval (or mahapach). This momentous event signalled the decline of the hegemony of the Labour movement that had led Israel for over four decades, as well as the resurgence of the 'war of cultures' (kulturkapmpf) that had been part of the history of the Jewish people since the rise of Jewish Enlightenment in the second half of the eighteenth century, namely the struggle between secular, pro-Western, liberal Jews and their religious counterparts over the nature and characteristics of Jewish public life. This article argues that the short time between the unprecedented developments in the jurisprudence of the Supreme Court and the mahapach invites an explanation that connects the two together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proton affinity of cyanoacetylene HCCCN was determined by pulsed high pressure mass spectrometric equilibrium measurements as 180.1±1 kcal/mol. Ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) bracketing experiments yielded the proton affinity of diacetylene HCCCCH as 180±1 kcal/mol and of cyanogen NCCN as 161±2 kcal/mol. Ab initio calculations at the 6-31+G** level are used to evaluate the heats of formation of HCCCCH as 105 and of HCCCN as 87 kcal/mol. The ab initio results show also that protonation of diacetylene on a terminal carbon converts a destabilizing antibonding interaction between the triple bonds in the neutral molecule into an attractive interaction, leading to a significant shortening of the C2–C3 bond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental and ab initio dissociation energies of the (H2O)n(CH3CN)mH+ ions are reported. The experimental energies range from 10–35 kcal/mol. The proton is best stabilized by placing the maximum number of acetonitrile molecules close to the protonated center in such a way that the formation of a network of strong hydrogen bonds is still possible. Other results from this work are: (1) Distinct solvent shells can be distinguished in these complex ions. (2) Mixtures of several isomeric structures are unlikely for n≤4. (3) When a water or an acetonitrile molecule clusters with (H2O)(CH3CN)H+, the proton is transferred from the acetonitrile to the water. (4) Although electrostatic interactions make the dominant contribution to the bonding in these systems, polarization and charge-transfer effects contribute also. (5) There is a cooperativity effect among the hydrogen bonds that leads to extensive changes in geometry and charge distribution as successive hydrogen bonds are formed. (6) The relative complexation energies along a series of reactions correlate with many properties of the electron donor and with several properties of the proton donor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The coordination properties of the macrocycle 1,4,7,10-tetrakis(2,4-dimethyl-1-hydroxy-6-methyl-benzyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane, H 4 LMe,Me have been investigated with lanthanides La(III) and Pr(III) and 3/4 d metal ions Zn(II) and Y(III). Two Pr(III) complexes [Pr(HLMe,Me)]‧MeOH (2a) and [Pr(HLMe,Me)]‧2H 2 O (2b) with coordination numbers (C.N.) 7 and 8, respectively as well as the [La(HLMe,Me)]‧2H 2 O (1) complex, which was isomorphic with 2b were isolated. In addition, [Y(HLMe,Me)]‧CH 3 CN‧H 2 O (3) and [Zn(H 3 LMe,Me)](NO 3) (4) with C.N. 7 and 5, respectively were synthesized too. All complexes were spectroscopically and structurally characterized as well as luminescence emission of 2a and 2b. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schwannomatosis is a genetic disorder characterized by the occurrence of multiple peripheral schwannomas. Segmental schwannomatosis is diagnosed when schwannomas are restricted to 1 extremity and is thought to be caused by genetic mosaicism. We studied 5 patients with segmental schwannomatosis through microstructural magnetic resonance neurography and mutation analysis of NF2, SMARCB1, and LZTR1. In 4 of 5 patients, subtle fascicular nerve lesions were detected in clinically unaffected extremities. Two patients exhibited LZTR1 germline mutations. This appears contrary to a simple concept of genetic mosaicism and suggests more complex and heterogeneous mechanisms underlying the phenotype of segmental schwannomatosis than previously thought. Ann Neurol 2016;80:625-628. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Three thiocyanato cobalt(II) complexes with 4-methoxypyridine as co-ligand were synthesized, and were characterized by X-ray structural methods, IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility and thermogravimetric measurements. Abstract Three cobalt(II) isothiocyanato complexes with 4-methoxypyridine (4-MOP) as a co-ligand have been synthesized: catena -[Co(4-MOP) 2 (μ 1,3 -NCS) 2 ] (1), trans -[Co(4-MOP) 4 (NCS) 2 ] (2), and [Co(4-MOP) 2 (NCS) 2 ] (3) and structurally characterized by IR, UV–Vis spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The complexes 2 and 3 are discrete monomeric species with octahedral and tetrahedral geometries, respectively whereas the catena -[Co(4-MOP) 2 (μ 1,3 -NCS) 2 ] (1) is featuring a polymeric 1D system with doubly bridging NCS− groups through the terminals N - and S -donor atoms in a trans octahedral geometry. The thermoanalytical behavior of 1 – 3 is reported. Magnetic susceptibility of the bridged-isothiocyanato coordination polymer 1 was studied down to a temperature of 2 K and at various magnetic dc and ac fields. These measurements indicate a metamagnetic transition in 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let G be a connected reductive group over an algebraically closed field F of good characteristic, satisfying some mild conditions. In this paper we relate tilting objects in the heart of Bezrukavnikov's exotic t-structure on the derived category of equivariant coherent sheaves on the Springer resolution of G, and Iwahori-constructible F-parity sheaves on the affine Grassmannian of the Langlands dual group. As applications we deduce in particular the missing piece for the proof of the Mirković-Vilonen conjecture in full generality (i.e. for good characteristic), a modular version of an equivalence of categories due to Arkhipov-Bezrukavnikov-Ginzburg, and an extension of this equivalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The breakpoints of type-1 NF1 deletions encompassing 1.4-Mb are located within NF1-REPa and NF1-REPc, which exhibit a complex structure comprising different segmental duplications in direct and inverted orientation. Here, we systematically assessed the proportion of type-1 NF1 deletions caused by nonallelic homologous recombination (NAHR) and those mediated by other mutational mechanisms. To this end, we analyzed 236 unselected type-1 deletions and observed that 179 of them (75.8%) had breakpoints located within the NAHR hotspot PRS2, whereas 39 deletions (16.5%) had breakpoints located within PRS1. Sixteen deletions exhibited breakpoints located outside of these NAHR hotspots but were also mediated by NAHR. Taken together, the breakpoints of 234 (99.2%) of the 236 type-1 NF1 deletions were mediated by NAHR. Thus, NF1-REPa and NF1-REPc are strongly predisposed to recurrent NAHR, the main mechanism underlying type-1 NF1 deletions. We also observed a non-random overlap between type-1 NF1-deletion breakpoints and G-quadruplex forming sequences (GQs) as well as regions flanking PRDM9A binding-sites. These findings imply that GQs and PRDM9A binding-sites contribute to the clustering of type-1 deletion breakpoints. The co-location of both types of sequence was at its highest within PRS2, indicative of their synergistic contribution to the greatly increased NAHR activity within this hotspot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four different coordination compounds have been synthesized and structurally characterized in the reaction of aqueous solution of Mn(NO 3 ) 2 with pyridine- N -oxide co-ligands in the presence of KNCS, namely: [Mn(2-methylpyridine- N -oxide)(NCS) 2 ] n ( 1 ); [Mn(3-methylpyridine- N -oxide) 2 (NCS) 2 ] n ( 2 ), [Mn(4-methylpyridine- N -oxide) 2 (NCS) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ] ( 3 ) and [Mn(4-cyanopyridine- N -oxide) 2 (NCS) 2 (H 2 O)] 2 ( 4 ). Single crystal X-ray crystallography revealed the polymeric nature of the complexes as 2-D and 1-D for 1 and 2 , respectively, with doubly μ(N,S) isothiocyanato bridging and μ (O,O) bridging methylpyridine- N -oxide ligands. The metal centers in the dinuclear complex 4 are linked by doubly μ(N,S) isothiocyanato bridges, whereas only terminal ligands are observed in the mononuclear complex 3 . The magnetic properties of the complexes 1 , 2 and 4 were investigated over the temperature range 2–300 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose nanopapers have gained significant attention in recent years as large-scale reinforcement for high-loading cellulose nanocomposites, substrates for printed electronics and filter nanopapers for water treatment. The mechanical properties of nanopapers are of fundamental importance for all these applications. Cellulose nanopapers can simply be prepared by filtering a suspension of nanocellulose, followed by heat consolidation. It was already demonstrated that the mechanical properties of cellulose nanopapers can be tailored by the fineness of the fibrils used or by modifying nanocellulose fibrils for instance by polymer adsorption, but nanocellulose blends remain underexplored. In this work, we show that the mechanical and physical properties of cellulose nanopapers can be tuned by creating nanopapers from blends of various grades of nanocellulose, i.e. (mechanically refined) bacterial cellulose or cellulose nanofibrils extracted from never-dried bleached softwood pulp by chemical and mechanical pre-treatments. We found that nanopapers made from blends of two or three nanocellulose grades show synergistic effects resulting in improved stiffness, strength, ductility, toughness and physical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five new metal(II) dicyanamide (dca) complexes with 4-hydroxymethylpyridine (4-OMP) and 4-methoxypyridine (4-MOP) have been synthesized, [Co(dca) 2 (4-OMP) 2 ] n ( 1 ), [Cu(dca) 2 (4-OMP) 2 ] n ( 2 ), [Cu(dca) 2 (4-MOP) 2 ] n ( 3 ), [Cd(dca) 2 (4-MOP) 2 ] n ( 4 ), [Zn(dca) 2 (4-MOP) 2 ] n ( 5 ) and characterized by IR, UV–Vis spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The isostructural polymeric 1-D complexes feature double µ 1,5 -bridging dicyanamide ligands and terminal 4-OMP or 4-MOP ligands in trans -conformation around the distorted M(II) octahedra. The magnetic properties of complexes 1 and 2 are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obtaining informative short tandem repeat (STR) profiles from degraded DNA samples is a challenging task usually undermined by locus or allele dropouts and peak-high imbalances observed in capillary electrophoresis (CE) electropherograms, especially for those markers with large amplicon sizes. We hereby show that the current STR assays may be greatly improved for the detection of genetic markers in degraded DNA samples by using long single stranded DNA polynucleotides (ssDNA polynucleotides) as surrogates for PCR primers. These long primers allow a closer annealing to the repeat sequences, thereby reducing the length of the template required for the amplification in fragmented DNA samples, while at the same time rendering amplicons of larger sizes suitable for multiplex assays. We also demonstrate that the annealing of long ssDNA polynucleotides does not need to be fully complementary in the 5’ region of the primers, thus allowing for the design of practically any long primer sequence for developing new multiplex assays. Furthermore, genotyping of intact DNA samples could also benefit from utilizing long primers since their close annealing to the target STR sequences may overcome wrong profiling generated by insertions/deletions present between the STR region and the annealing site of the primers. Additionally, long ssDNA polynucleotides might be utilized in multiplex PCR assays for other types of degraded or fragmented DNA, e.g. circulating, cell-free DNA (ccfDNA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three different coordination polymeric compounds have been synthesized and structurally characterized in the reaction of aqueous solution of Mn(NO 3 ) 2 ·4H 2 O with methylpyridine- N -oxide co-ligands (Mepy- N -oxide) in the presence of NaN 3 depending on the position of the methyl group in Mepy- N -oxide namely: [Mn(μ (O,O) -2-Mepy- N -oxide)(μ 1,3 -N 3 ) 2 ] n ( 1 ), catena -{[Mn(μ 1,1 -N 3 ) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ](3-Mepy- N -oxide) 2 } ( 2 ) and [Mn 3 (μ 1,1 -N 3 ) 2 (μ 1,3 -N 3 ) 4 (μ (O,O) -4-Mepy- N -oxide) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ] n ( 3 ). Single crystal X-ray crystallography revealed the polymeric nature of the complexes as 2D, 1D and 3D networks, respectively with a doubly end-to-end (EE) azide bridging and μ (O,O) bridging 2-Mepy- N -oxide in 1 , and a doubly end-on (EO) azide bridging in 2 . In complex 3 within the trinuclear subunit the three Mn(II) atoms are bridged via EO azido groups and μ (O,O) bridging 4-Mepy- N -oxide molecules and the trinuclear subunits are connected further by EE azido bridges to generate the 3D network structure. The magnetic properties of the three complexes were investigated over the temperature range 2–300 K. Complex 2, as far as we know, is the first Mn(II) uniform 1D compound with double EO azido bridges which shows antiferromagnetic coupling. The fit of the magnetic data by using the appropriate equation derived from the Hamiltonian H = −∑ JS i· S i+1 gives the best fit parameters J = −3.55(1) cm −1 , g = 2.044(1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five coordination polymers catena -[(3-Hampy) 2 [Zn 7 (N 3 ) 16 (3-ampy) 4 ]·3H 2 O] ( 1 ), catena -[Zn 2 (μ 2 -4-HO-py)(μ 1,1 -N 3 ) 4 ]·H 2 O ( 2 ), catena -[Zn 2 (μ 2 -4-amtz)(μ 1,1 -N 3 ) 4 ] ( 3 ), catena -[Zn(5-Et-2-Me-py)(μ 1,1 -N 3 ) 2 ] ( 4 ) and catena -[Zn(μ 2 -2-O-py-N-oxide)(μ 1,1 -N 3 )] ( 5 ), where 3-ampy = 3-aminopyridine, 4-HOpy = 4-hydroxypyridine, 4-amtz = 4-amino-4H-1,2,4-triazole, 5-Et-2-Mepy = 5-ethyl-2-methylpyridine and 2-HO-py-N-oxide = 2-hydroxypyridine- N -oxide were synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The complexes display different dimensionality depending on the nature of the coligand. The anionic polymer in complex 1 consists of 1D system of defective dicubanes with two different azido-bridging μ 1,1 -N 3 and μ 1,1,1 -N 3 modes. Complexes 2 and 3 are isostructural and both exhibit 2D networks with μ(O,O)-pyridinone bridging molecule in 2 or μ(N,N′)-bridging 4-amtz in 3 , and μ 1,1, -azide bridging. Complex 4 reveals a zigzag chains of 1D polyhedral through a doubly bridged μ 1,1 -N 3 bonding mode, whereas in complex 5 a 1D polymeric chain is generated via singly bridged μ 1,1 -N 3 bonding and hydrogen bonding results in the formation of supramolecular 2D system. The emission spectral properties of the parent free ligands and their corresponding Zn(II) complexes were investigated where enhancement luminescence emissions with strong red shifts were observed in complexes 2 , 4 and 5 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A small percentage of emergency department (ED) visitors account for a disproportionate portion of ED visits. Little is known about their relationships with their primary care providers (PCPs). This study compares frequent and infrequent ED visitors' primary care utilization and perceptions of primary care access, continuity, and connectedness and examines primary care utilization and perceptions as predictors of ED use. Data were obtained from 2 cross-sectional studies of psychosocial predictors of high levels of utilization at 2 urban hospitals. Data included age, sex, race/ethnicity, number and type of chronic conditions, self-rated health, and number of primary care and ED visits in the previous 12 months. Participants also answered 8 primary care access, continuity, and connectedness items. Participants with frequent ED visits (N = 70) were younger (43.24 vs 48.34, P = .020), more likely to be African American (61.4% vs 41.8%, P < .001), had a significant chronic illness burden (5.83 vs 2.83 chronic conditions, P < .001), and were more likely to report fair or poor health (65.7% vs 50.4%, P = .009). Frequent ED users were as likely as infrequent users to have a usual source of care, and reported similar primary care access, relationship length, and likelihood of provider knowing them well. Although making twice as many primary care visits, these participants were less likely to report that they could get what they need from their PCP (76.12% vs 92.53%, P < .001). Despite similar primary care access and continuity, frequent ED visitors are less likely to report that they get what they need from their PCPs. Further research should investigate their needs and how primary care can best provide high-value care to this complex population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most frequent recurring mutations in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) are large deletions encompassing the NF1 gene and its flanking regions ( NF1 microdeletions). The majority of these deletions encompass 1.4-Mb and are associated with the loss of 14 protein-coding genes and four microRNA genes. Patients with germline type-1 NF1 microdeletions frequently exhibit dysmorphic facial features, overgrowth/tall-for-age stature, significant delay in cognitive development, large hands and feet, hyperflexibility of joints and muscular hypotonia. Such patients also display significantly more cardiovascular anomalies as compared with patients without large deletions and often exhibit increased numbers of subcutaneous, plexiform and spinal neurofibromas as compared with the general NF1 population. Further, an extremely high burden of internal neurofibromas, characterised by >3000 ml tumour volume, is encountered significantly, more frequently, in non-mosaic NF1 microdeletion patients than in NF1 patients lacking such deletions. NF1 microdeletion patients also have an increased risk of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours (MPNSTs); their lifetime MPNST risk is 16-26%, rather higher than that of NF1 patients with intragenic NF1 mutations (8-13%). NF1 microdeletion patients, therefore, represent a high-risk group for the development of MPNSTs, tumours which are very aggressive and difficult to treat. Co-deletion of the SUZ12 gene in addition to NF1 further increases the MPNST risk in NF1 microdeletion patients. Here, we summarise current knowledge about genotype-phenotype relationships in NF1 microdeletion patients and discuss the potential role of the genes located within the NF1 microdeletion interval whose haploinsufficiency may contribute to the more severe clinical phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We construct affine pavings of Springer-type fibers over the enhanced nilpotent cone. This resolves a question of Achar-Henderson and implies the existence of perverse parity sheaves on the enhanced nilpotent cone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactions of a methanolic solution containing M(NO 3 ) 2 · n H 2 O and bis(2-(H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethyl)amine (bepza) with NH 4 NCS afforded two series of complexes: the mononuclear dithiocyanato [M(bepza)(NCS) 2 ] ( 1 : M = Mn 2+ , 2 : M = Zn 2+ , 3 : M = Cu 2+ , 5 : M = Ni 2+ ) and the dinuclear bridged-thiocyano [M 2 (bepza) 2 (μ 1,3 -NCS) 2 (NCS) 2 ] ( 6 : M = Cd 2+ , 7 : M = Co 2+ ). The compounds which proved to be non-electrolytes were characterized by IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy and the molecular structures of the compounds 1 – 3 , 6 and 7 were determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. In the former series, the five-coordinate distorted square pyramidal or trigonal bipyramidal geometry was achieved by the three N-donors of the ligand bepza and two N atoms of the terminal thiocyanato ligands, whereas in the dinuclear series, distorted octahedral geometry around each metal ion was achieved via the three N-donors of bepza, one N atom of a terminal thiocyanato ligand and a doubly bridged μ 1,3 -NCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health locus of control may be an important predictor of health care utilization. We analyzed associations between health locus of control and frequency of emergency department visits and hospital admissions, and investigated self-rated health as a potential mediator. Overall, 863 patients in an urban emergency department completed the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control instrument, and self-reported emergency department use and hospital admissions in the last year. We found small but significant associations between Multidimensional Health Locus of Control and utilization, all of which were mediated by self-rated health. We conclude that interventions to shift health locus of control may change patients’ perceptions of their own health, thereby impacting utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction of Cu(ClO 4) 2 and Zn(ClO 4) 2 with croconate, C 5 O 5 2−, squarate, C 4 O 4 2− and pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylate dianions in presence of tridentate or 4,4′-bipyridine led to the production of novel series of penta-, tri- and di-nuclear metal complexes, whereas with 2,2′-biphenyl dicarboxylate, a monomeric species was isolated. [Display omitted] A novel series of Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes were constructed through the bridging croconate (C 5 O 5)2−, squarate (C 4 O 4)2− and 2,5-pyridine-dicarboxylate (Py2,5-dc)2− dianions. These include pent- [Cu 5 (epdmpy) 4 (C 5 O 5) 2 (H 2 O) 6 ](ClO 4) 6 ‧12H 2 O (1) and tri-nuclear [Cu 3 (bepza) 2 (Py2,5-dc) 2 (ClO 4) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ]‧2H 2 O (4), dinuclear [Zn 2 (MeDPA) 2 (C 4 O 4)(H 2 O) 4 ](ClO 4) 2 (7), and 1-D- coordination polymers (CPs) catena -{[Cu 2 (bpzpy) 2 (C 5 O 5)](ClO 4) 2 ‧MeOH} (2) and catena -{[Zn(4,4′-bipy)(H 2 O) 4 ](C 5 O 5)(H 2 O)} (6) as well as the mononuclear [Cu(HBph2,2′-dc)(pmdien)]ClO 4 (5) have been synthesized and spectroscopically characterized as well as by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The reaction of aqueous solution Cu(ClO 4) 2 , pymeea and C 5 O 5 2− resulted in the unprecedently bis(oxalato) [Cu 2 (Pymeea) 2 (C 2 O 4)(ClO 4) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ] (3). In these complexes, (C 5 O 5)2−, squarate (C 4 O 4)2− and (Py2,5-dc)2− ligands display a variety of coordination bonding modes. In complexes 1 and 2 the croconato is binding as 1,2-bidentate-3-monodentate but in addition 5-mono-dentate semi-coordinate bonding was detected for 2 , whereas in 6 as counter dianion. The bonding mode in the squarato 7 was achieved through the trans μ 1,3 -mono-dentate. In the di-carboxylato compounds, only five-membered chelate ring was formed in 5 via one of the carboxylate groups, whereas in 4 bridging was conducted through a mono-carboxylate and five-membered chelate ring including the second carboxylate and pyridyl nitrogen. In complexes 1 – 5 and 7 , hydrogen bonds of type O H⋯O and/or N H⋯O are connecting the complex cations with the perchlorate anions/ligands to generate different dimensional supramolecular network structures, whereas in 6 , the 3D network was formed through hydrogen bonding between the coordinated aqua and lattice water molecules. Non-covalent ring⋯ring interactions were also observed between pyridyl rings in complexes 1 , 6 and 7 , and between pyrazolyl rings as well as pyridyl ring in 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Four simultaneously different bridging coordination modes were characterized in a new 2D manganese-azide system, giving a proof of the extraordinary versatility of this ligand and the influence of the counterion in the final topology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The synthesis and structural characterization of two new complexes catena -[Ni(3-O-py)(3-HO-py) 2 (μ 1,3 -N 3 )(H 2 O)] ( 1 ) and catena -[Zn(μ-3-O-py)(μ 1,1 -N 3 )] ( 2 ), where 3-HO-py = 3-hydroxypyridine, are reported. The complexes were characterized by the elemental microanalyses, IR, and X-ray crystallography and by UV–Vis spectroscopy for complex 1 . Single crystal X-ray crystallography revealed the polymeric nature of the complexes: 1 as 1D with a single EE azide bridging, and 2 as 2D with μ(O,O′,N) bridging of the deprotonated 3-O-py anions and di-EO azide groups, respectively. In 1 the neutral and deprotonated 3-hydroxypyridine molecules act only as N-terminal ligands. The emission spectral properties of the Zn(II) complex were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]