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Background: Currently, there are more than two million people in prisons or jails, with nearly two-thirds meeting the criteria for a substance use disorder. Following these patterns, overdose is the leading cause of death following release from prison and the third leading cause of death during periods of incarceration in jails. Traditional quantitative methods analyzing the factors associated with overdose following incarceration may fail to capture structural and environmental factors present in specific communities. People with lived experiences in the criminal legal system and with substance use disorder hold unique perspectives and must be involved in the research process. Objective: To identify perceived factors that impact overdose following release from incarceration among people with direct criminal legal involvement and experience with substance use. Methods: Within a community-engaged approach to research, we used concept mapping to center the perspectives of people with personal experience with the carceral system. The following prompt guided our study: "What do you think are some of the main things that make people who have been in jail or prison more and less likely to overdose?" Individuals participated in three rounds of focus groups, which included brainstorming, sorting and rating, and community interpretation. We used the Concept Systems Inc. platform groupwisdom for our analyses and constructed cluster maps. Results: Eight individuals (ages 33 to 53) from four states participated. The brainstorming process resulted in 83 unique factors that impact overdose. The concept mapping process resulted in five clusters: (1) Community-Based Prevention, (2) Drug Use and Incarceration, (3) Resources for Treatment for Substance Use, (4) Carceral Factors, and (5) Stigma and Structural Barriers. Conclusions: Our study provides critical insight into community-identified factors associated with overdose following incarceration. These factors should be accounted for during resource planning and decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 varies by profession, but "essential workers" are often considered in aggregate in COVID-19 models. This aggregation complicates efforts to understand risks to specific types of workers or industries and target interventions, specifically towards non-healthcare workers. We used census tract-resolution American Community Survey data to develop novel essential worker categories among the occupations designated as COVID-19 Essential Services in Massachusetts. Census tract-resolution COVID-19 cases and deaths were provided by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. We evaluated the association between essential worker categories and cases and deaths over two phases of the pandemic from March 2020 to February 2021 using adjusted mixed-effects negative binomial regression, controlling for other sociodemographic risk factors. We observed elevated COVID-19 case incidence in census tracts in the highest tertile of workers in construction/transportation/buildings maintenance (Phase 1: IRR 1.32 [95% CI 1.22, 1.42]; Phase 2: IRR: 1.19 [1.13, 1.25]), production (Phase 1: IRR: 1.23 [1.15, 1.33]; Phase 2: 1.18 [1.12, 1.24]), and public-facing sales and services occupations (Phase 1: IRR: 1.14 [1.07, 1.21]; Phase 2: IRR: 1.10 [1.06, 1.15]). We found reduced case incidence associated with greater percentage of essential workers able to work from home (Phase 1: IRR: 0.85 [0.78, 0.94]; Phase 2: IRR: 0.83 [0.77, 0.88]). Similar trends exist in the associations between essential worker categories and deaths, though attenuated. Estimating industry-specific risk for essential workers is important in targeting interventions for COVID-19 and other diseases and our categories provide a reproducible and straightforward way to support such efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Powdered xBaWO4/(1 − x)CaWO4 where (x = 0,0.25,0.5,0.75,1) nanocomposites were synthesized by the co-precipitation method at room temperature (RT). We are reporting DC and AC conductivity and dielectric properties of nanocomposites at room temperature (RT). Structural characterization and HRTEM image confirm interface formation of the nanocomposites. The current density–electric field (i.e., J–E) characteristics of the nanocomposites' studies reveal excellent varistor behavior. Dielectric properties were measured in the frequency 20 Hz–3 MHz at room temperature (RT). The dielectric constant was found to be higher for C2 (0.5BaWO4/0.5CaWO4) nanocomposites as compared to single phase and was maximum for atomic ratio (Ba/Ca) with optimal value of 'x'. DC conductivity (σdc), calculated from Jonscher's power law, of C2 (0.5BaWO4/0.5CaWO4) nanocomposites interfaced is higher than that of single phase, respectively. Enhanced AC conductivity is also observed for C2 (0.5BaWO4/0.5CaWO4) nanocomposites. These enhanced electrical properties of C2 (0.5BaWO4/0.5CaWO4) nanocomposites are due to the space charge layer (SCL) formation at the interface. In detail, conduction models for all the nanocomposites are explained. Thermopower investigations on the nanocomposites resulted in Seebeck coefficient (S) showing a transition from negative to positive values with confirmation n-type semiconductors at room temperature (RT). The enhanced power factor of C3 (0.75BaWO4/0.25CaWO4) nanocomposites is at higher temperature as compared to other nanocomposites. This C2 (0.5BaWO4/0.5CaWO4) nanocomposite can be considered as an efficient multifunctional nanocomposites due to its enhanced optical and electrical properties, and C3 (0.75BaWO4/ 0.25CaWO4) nanocomposite is very good efficient thermoelectric power devices at higher temperature application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postoperative gastrointestinal leak and venous thromboembolism (VTE) are devastating complications of bariatric surgery. The performance of currently available predictive models for these complications remains wanting, while machine learning has shown promise to improve on traditional modeling approaches. The purpose of this study was to compare the ability of two machine learning strategies, artificial neural networks (ANNs), and gradient boosting machines (XGBs) to conventional models using logistic regression (LR) in predicting leak and VTE after bariatric surgery. Methods: ANN, XGB, and LR prediction models for leak and VTE among adults undergoing initial elective weight loss surgery were trained and validated using preoperative data from 2015 to 2017 from Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program database. Data were randomly split into training, validation, and testing populations. Model performance was measured by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) on the testing data for each model. Results: The study cohort contained 436,807 patients. The incidences of leak and VTE were 0.70% and 0.46%. ANN (AUC 0.75, 95% CI 0.73–0.78) was the best-performing model for predicting leak, followed by XGB (AUC 0.70, 95% CI 0.68–0.72) and then LR (AUC 0.63, 95% CI 0.61–0.65, p < 0.001 for all comparisons). In detecting VTE, ANN, and XGB, LR achieved similar AUCs of 0.65 (95% CI 0.63–0.68), 0.67 (95% CI 0.64–0.70), and 0.64 (95% CI 0.61–0.66), respectively; the performance difference between XGB and LR was statistically significant (p = 0.001). Conclusions: ANN and XGB outperformed traditional LR in predicting leak. These results suggest that ML has the potential to improve risk stratification for bariatric surgery, especially as techniques to extract more granular data from medical records improve. Further studies investigating the merits of machine learning to improve patient selection and risk management in bariatric surgery are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time xBaWO4/(1 − x)CaWO4 where (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1) nanocomposites powder samples were prepared by co-precipitation method and sintered at 200 °C and 400 °C. They were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). UV–Visible reflectance, photoluminescence (PL) and PL lifetime studies methods. The intrinsic blue emission of CaWO4 at 420 nm was found to be maximum in xBaWO4/(1 − x)CaWO4 nanocomposite sample for the optimized value of 'x' and sintering temperature. The lifetime of this emission was also enhanced for the same sample. The mechanism for the enhanced PL emission intensity and lifetime are also discussed elaborately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of novel 18-crown-6 ether functionalized bis-benzimidazole derivatives ( 3a- g) have been synthesized by reacting various substituted ortho-phenylene diamines and pyridine diamines with 4,4′-diformyl dibenzo-18-crown-6 ether ( 1). The required starting material 4,4′-diformyl dibenzo-18-crown-6 ether ( 1) was prepared by Duff formylation method. All synthesized novel molecules have been identified on the basis of infrared (IR), H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), C NMR, mass spectroscopy (MS), and elemental analyses. The title compounds ( 3a- g) were tested for antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Trichothecium sp., Rhizopus sp., and Sclerotium rolfsii fungi species using agar well diffusion method, showing mild to good results. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D), one of the major common human health problems, is growing at an alarming rate around the globe. Alpha-glucosidase and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) enzymes play a significant role in development of T2D. Hence, reduction or inhibition of their activity can be one of the important strategies in management of T2D. Studies in the field of bioactive peptides have shown that dietary proteins could be natural source of alpha-glucosidase and DPP-IV inhibitory peptides. Purpose: The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of food protein-derived peptides as potential inhibitors of alpha-glucosidase and DPP-IV with major focus on milk proteins. Methods: Efforts have been made to review the available information in literature on the relationship between food protein-derived peptides and T2D. This review summarizes the current data on alpha-glucosidase and dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitory bioactive peptides derived from proteins and examines the potential value of these peptides in the treatment and prevention of T2D. In addition, the proposed modes of inhibition of peptide inhibitors are also discussed. Results: Studies revealed that milk and other food proteins-derived bioactive peptides play a vital role in controlling T2D through several mechanisms, such as the satiety response, regulation of incretin hormones, insulinemia levels, and reducing the activity of carbohydrate degrading digestive enzymes. Conclusions: The bioactive peptides could be used in prevention and management of T2D through functional foods or nutraceutical supplements. Further clinical trials are necessary to validate the findings of in vitro studies and to confirm the efficiency of these peptides for applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An innovatively designed novel crown ether functionalized imidazolium-based reusable acidic ionic liquid [crown ether MIm] [HSO] has been efficiently implemented for the synthesis of pyrazole derivatives using various substituted enaminones, hydrazine hydrate and phenyl hydrazine under solvent-free conditions. Structural novelty and task efficiency of the catalyst, high yields of desired products, greener approach attributing high atom economy and solvent-free conditions render this protocol suitable to cope with the current demand in contemporary organic chemistry. The inventive idea of utilizing crown ether functionalized ionic liquid as a catalyst was for the first time demonstrated in this protocol. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(±)-Camphor-10-sulfonic acid is used for the synthesis of triazolo[1,2-a]indazole-triones and spiro triazolo[1,2-a]indazole-tetraones by condensation reaction of dimedone, urazole and aromatic aldehydes or isatin. The noteworthy aspects of this new method are high yields, high atom efficiency, use of non-toxic solvent, mild conditions, simple workup and synthesis of complex molecules using an eco-friendly, inexpensive catalyst. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstracts: A novel, highly efficient and recyclable Brønsted acidic ionic liquid ([CMIM][CFCOO]) has been successfully implemented for the synthesis of acridinediones in aqueous media. Recyclability of novel catalyst, high yields, use of environmentally benign aqueous media as solvent, simple product isolation, high atom economy and sidestep to column chromatography are the noteworthy features of this protocol. This protocol is competent for producing wide library of acridinediones in good to excellent yields. Furthermore, molecular structure and relative stereochemistry of 4c and 4s derivatives were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Graphical Abstract: [InlineMediaObject not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]