Search

Randomized controlled trials (RCT) demonstrate that whole wheat consumption improves glycemia. However, substantial inter-individual variation is often observed, highlighting that dietary whole grain recommendations may not support the health of all persons. The objective of this report is to describe the rationale and design of a planned RCT aimed at establishing the gut microbiota and metabolome signatures that predict whole wheat-mediated improvements in glucose tolerance in adults with prediabetes. It is hypothesized that a controlled diet containing wheat bread (WHEAT; 160 g/day) compared with refined bread (WHITE) will improve glucose tolerance in a gut microbiota-mediated manner. Biospecimens will be collected before and after each 2-week study arm. Testing for oral glucose tolerance and gastrointestinal permeability will be performed post-intervention. Assessments will include oral glucose tolerance (primary outcome) and secondary outcomes including gut microbiota, targeted and untargeted metabolomics of fecal and plasma samples, intestinal and host inflammatory responses, and intestinal permeability. WHEAT is predicted to alleviate glucose intolerance by shifting microbiota composition to increase short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria while reducing populations implicated in intestinal inflammation, barrier dysfunction, and systemic endotoxemia. Further, benefits from WHEAT are anticipated to correlate with gut-level and systemic metabolomic responses that can help to explain the expected inter-individual variability in glucose tolerance. Thus, knowledge gained from integrating multi-omic responses associating with glucose tolerance could help to establish a precision nutrition-based framework that can alleviate cardiometabolic risk. This framework could inform novel dietary whole grain recommendations by enhancing our understanding of inter-individual responsiveness to whole grain consumption., Competing Interests: Author declarations RSB is the Editor-in-Chief and JZ is a Guest Editor of Nutrition Research. Manuscript handling was performed by a designated staff person from Elsevier to blind RSB and JZ to the peer review process. None of the other authors have any relevant conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Sleep problems increase in later life. Studies have linked sleep with marital satisfaction, yet mechanisms, such as mood, have not been explored. The current study is innovative in examining sleep and marital interactions among older couples in a daily context, exploring mood as a potential mediator., Method: Data were taken from the Life and Family Legacies Daily Experiences Study, involving 191 older couples surveyed across 14 days. Multivariate (dyadic) multilevel models were used to address our research questions., Results: Findings indicated significant associations between daily sleep hours, sleep quality, and feeling rested with daily marital interactions. These associations were most consistent for wives. Mediation analyses indicated that positive mood was a common mechanism linking sleep with marital interactions. Also, in some cases, spouse sleep and mood reports were associated with partner marital interactions., Discussion: Improving sleep quality among older couples could lead to better daily marital interactions through changes in mood.

Systematic surface energy modifications to glass substrates can induce nucleation and improve crystallization outcomes for small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and proteins. A comparatively broad probe for function is presented in which various APIs, proteins, organic solvents, aqueous media, surface energy motifs, crystallization methods, form factors, and flat and convex surface energy modifications were examined. Replicate studies ( n ≥ 6) have demonstrated an average reduction in crystallization onset times of 52(4)% (alternatively 52 ± 4%) for acetylsalicylic acid from 91% isopropyl alcohol using two very different techniques: bulk cooling to 0 °C using flat surface energy modifications or microdomain cooling to 4 °C from the interior of a glass capillary having convex surface energy modifications that were immersed in the solution. For thaumatin and bovine pancreatic trypsin, a 32(2)% reduction in crystallization onset times was demonstrated in vapor diffusion experiments ( n ≥ 15). Nucleation site arrays have been engineered onto form factors frequently used in crystallization screening, including microscope slides, vials, and 96- and 384-well high-throughput screening plates. Nucleation using surface energy modifications on the vessels that contain the solutes to be crystallized adds a layer of useful variables to crystallization studies without requiring significant changes to workflows or instrumentation.

The reaction of YbI(2) with KTp(Me2) gives (Tp(Me2))YbI(THF)(2) (1-Yb) as a thermally unstable product. Use of the more hindered KTp(tBu,Me) gave (Tp(tBu,Me))LnI(THF)(n) (Ln = Sm, n = 2, 2-Sm; Ln = Yb, n = 1, 2-Yb). The crystal structures of both these compounds are reported. Adducts with neutral ligands such as pyridines and isonitriles can be prepared and the crystal structures of [(Tp(tBu,Me))YbIL(n)] (L = CN(t)Bu, n = 1; L = 3,5-lutidine, n = 2) are described. 2-Sm can be oxidized using AgBPh(4) to give [(Tp(tBu,Me))SmI(THF)(2)]BPh(4). Compounds 2-Sm and 2-Yb are useful starting materials for the preparation of heteroleptic compounds by metathesis with appropriate potassium reagents. The preparations and characterization of the hydrocarbyls (Tp(tBu,Me))Ln{CH(SiMe(3))(2)} (Ln = Sm, 5-Sm; Yb, 5-Yb) and [(Tp(tBu,Me))Ln{CH(2)(SiMe(3))}(THF)] (Ln = Yb, 6a-Yb) and the triethylborohydrides [(Tp(tBu,Me))Ln(HBEt(3))(THF)(n)] (Ln = Sm, n = 0, 7-Sm; Yb, n = 1, 7-Yb) are reported, as well as the crystal structures of 5-Sm and 5-Yb, and the THF adducts 6a-Yb and [(Tp(tBu,Me))Sm{CH(SiMe(3))(2)}(THF)], 5a-Sm.

Illegible physician signatures in patient records can lead to inaccurate documentation, improper billing, and potential legal issues. Many studies in the current literature address legibility of prescriptions and medication orders; however, few focus on legibility of physicians' signatures. The purpose of the present quality improvement survey was to evaluate physician signature legibility on patient charts at the University of Mississippi Medical Center's Adult Internal Medicine Clinic. At the time of the study, the clinic was known as the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) Adult Internal Medicine Clinic. Effective July 1, 2009, UMMC entered into a collaboration with Jackson-Hinds Comprehensive Health Center (JHCHC), a federally qualified health center. The clinic is now known as the Federally Qualified Health Center at the Jackson Medical Mall. In this pilot study, we examined clinic notes and billing sheets for legible physician signatures over a three-month period. Midway through the study, an intervention group was given name stamps and a standardized discussion on the importance of signature legibility and proper name stamp usage. Legibility of resident signatures in the intervention group increased from 26 percent to 60 percent. Legibility of attending signatures in the intervention group increased from 1.4 percent to 86 percent. Results suggest the significant impact of resident education on changing practice behavior.

A conceptual flowsheet has been developed for the separation of (177)Lu from a 300 mg neutron irradiated (176)Yb enriched target. The key component of the process is an extraction chromatographic (EXC) resin containing 2-ethylhexyl 2-ethylhexylphosphonic acid (HEH[EHP]) sorbed onto a 25-53 microm Amberchrom CG-71 substrate. The process is divided into three sections: (1) front-end target removal system, (2) primary separation system and (3) secondary separation system. Each section involves the separation of Yb and Lu using the HEH[EHP] resin followed by concentration and acid adjustment of the Lu-rich eluate using an EXC material containing a diglycolamide extractant. The use of the diglycolamide EXC material is a significant feature of the flowsheet, allowing one to avoid lengthy evaporations and acidity adjustments between successive HEH[EHP] column runs while removing adventitious impurities from the (177)Lu. The overall recovery of (177)Lu is estimated at 73% with an overall decontamination factor from Yb of 10(6). The overall processing time can be as short as 4h.

Working at the systems level of analysis, we will use the term functional architecture to concern what processing components exist, how they are interconnected, and what information-processing functions each is involved in. In this paper, experimental evidence for the primate neocortex is analysed for conclusions concerning the existence of neural areas, for corticocortical connectivity among neural areas, and for the involvement of each cortical neural area in the functioning of the brain. We characterize the information-processing function for each neural area in terms of the types of information it is associated with, and conceive of its activity as processing, storage and transmission of data of the corresponding types for that area. We also adapt concepts of goal, plan, sequence, event and context for the description of information processing in the neocortex. This analysis shows that the primate neocortex consists in the main of a perception hierarchy, an action hierarchy and connections between them. In other words, from an information-processing point of view, the primate neocortex has a hierarchical perception-action architecture.

Experimental evidence has shown that the primate neocortex consists in the main of a set of cortical regions which form a perception hierarchy, an action hierarchy and connections between them. By using a computer science analysis, we develop a computational architecture for the brain in which each cortical region is represented by a computational module with processing and storage abilities. Modules are interconnected according to the connectivity of the corresponding cortical regions. We develop computational principles for designing such a hierarchical and parallel computing system. We demonstrate this approach by proposing a causal functioning model of the brain. We report on results obtained with an implementation of this model. We conclude with a brief discussion of some consequences and predictions of our work.

The complexes of trivalent actinide (Am(III) and Cm(III)) and lanthanide (Nd(III) and Sm(III)) cations with bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinic acid, bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)monothiophosphinic acid, and bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)dithiophosphinic acid in n-dodecane have been studied by visible absorption spectroscopy and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) measurements in order to understand the chemical interactions responsible for the great selectivity the dithiophosphinate ligand exhibits for trivalent actinide cations in liquid-liquid extraction. Under the conditions studied, each type of ligand displays a different coordination mode with trivalent f-element cations. The phosphinate ligand coordinates as hydrogen-bonded dimers, forming M(HL2)3. Both the oxygen and the sulfur donor of the monothiophosphinate ligand can bind the cations, affording both bidentate and monodentate ligands. The dithiophosphinate ligand forms neutral bidentate complexes, ML3, with no discernible nitrate or water molecules in the inner coordination sphere. Comparison of the Cm(III), Nd(III), and Sm(III) XAFS shows that the structure and metal-donor atom bond distances are indistinguishable within experimental error for similarly sized trivalent lanthanide and actinide cations, despite the selectivity of bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)dithiophosphinic acid for trivalent actinide cations over trivalent lanthanide cations.

A system model of the primate neocortex is presented, based mainly on the neuroanatomy of the rhesus macaque monkey and consisting of a set of processing modules arranged as a perception-action hierarchy. These modules correspond to regions of the neocortex and their connectivity to that of the neocortex. A computational approach based on predicate logic is explained, and the results of a computer implementation of the model are reported, which demonstrate social behaviors involving affiliation and social conflict. The behavioral states of primates involved in these behaviors can be represented by the states of the system model, which have a logical representation and a diagrammatic form. It is shown how the behavioral states in goal-directed behaviors can be represented and also their short term moment-to-moment development in time. It is then shown how the state of social interaction among two or more primates can be represented, using their individual behavioral states, with interindividual action and perception. The causal dynamics of behavioral states is explained and also a control mechanism, namely, the use of confirmation signals, which stabilizes behavioral states and their dynamics. Stabilized behavioral states are seen as corresponding to coherent activations of the system, resulting from successful selection of module activations and intermodule communication with confirmation.

The reaction of 1:1 stoichiometries (1:1.5 for the nitrate/tetraethylene glycol (EO4) and pentaethylene glycol (EO5) complexes) of PbX(2) (X = NO(3), Br) with five- to eight-donor poly(ethylene glycols) (PEGs) in 3:1 CH(3)CN/CH(3)OH (CH(3)CN only for the nitrate/EO5 complex) followed by solvent evaporation resulted in six crystalline materials upon which X-ray structural analyses were carried out: [Pb(NO(3))(2)(EO4)](n)(), [Pb(NO(3))(2)(EO5)], [Pb(NO(3))(2)(EO6)], [PbBr(EO5)(&mgr;-Br)PbBr(2)].H(2)O, [PbBr(NCMe)(EO6)](2)[PbBr(2)(EO6)][PbBr(3)](2), and [PbBr(EO7)][PbBr(3)]. The nitrates crystallize as tight ion pairs with the PEG ligands coordinating in an equatorial plane around the Pb(2+) ions. Because EO4 has only five oxygen donors, this complex exhibits steric unsaturation which is overcome by a monodentate interaction with a third nitrate anion that is also coordinated to a neighboring Pb(2+) ion. The six donors of EO5 coordinate in an equatorial plane resulting in a 10-coordinate complex with trans, twisted, bidentate nitrate anions. The seven-donor hexaethylene glycol (EO6) only uses six of its oxygen donors to coordinate Pb(2+). [Pb(NO(3))(2)(EO4)](n)() is monoclinic, P2(1)/c, with a = 7.902(3) Å, b = 22.136(6) Å, c = 8.910(2) Å, beta = 90.96(3) degrees, and Z = 4. [Pb(NO(3))(2)(EO5)] is triclinic P&onemacr;, with a = 9.332(3) Å, b = 10.025(3) Å, c = 11.688(4) Å, alpha = 68.41(3) degrees, beta = 68.39(3) degrees, gamma = 68.58(3) degrees, and Z = 2. [Pb(NO(3))(2)(EO6)] is monoclinic P2(1)/c, with a = 16.289(4) Å, b = 10.773(4) Å, c = 12.329(4) Å, beta = 106.77(2) degrees, and Z = 4. Lead(II) bromide complexes with PEGs tend to crystallize as PEG complexed cations with polymeric lead(II) bromide anions. In the EO5 complex, bromide anions in the polymer also coordinate to the PEG-wrapped Pb(2+) cations. The hexa- and heptaethylene glycol (EO6 and EO7, respectively) complexes contain discreet ions. In these halide complexes, EO7 is the only PEG to expand the Pb(2+) coordination number from eight to nine. [PbBr(EO5)(&mgr;-Br)PbBr(2)].H(2)O is triclinic P&onemacr;, with a = 7.922(6) Å,b = 15.802(9) Å, c = 19.001(9) Å, alpha = 73.19(8) degrees, beta = 88.91(9) degrees, gamma = 87.22(9) degrees, and Z = 4. [PbBr(NCMe)(EO6)](2)[PbBr(2)(EO6)][PbBr(3)](2) is monoclinic P2(1)/c, with a = 14.389(4) Å, b = 31.931(9) Å, c = 8.029(2) Å, beta = 97.76(3) degrees, and Z = 2. [PbBr(EO7)][PbBr(3)] is monoclinic Cc, with a = 13.165(3) Å, b = 24.732(5) Å, c = 8.007(1) Å, beta = 94.58(2) degrees, and Z = 4.

Solvent extraction utilizing an oil-water mixture (e.g., chloroform-water) and a suitable complexant, is a proven technology for the selective removal and recovery of metal ions from aqueous solutions. Aqueous biphasic systems (ABS), formed by mixing certain inorganic salts and water-soluble polymers, or by mixing two dissimilar water-soluble polymers, have been studied for more than 40 years for the gentle, non-denaturing separation of fragile biomolecules, yet ABS have been virtually ignored as a possible extraction technology for metal ions. In this report we review our metal ion partitioning work and discuss the three major types of partitioning: (1) those rare instances that the metal ion species present in a given solution partitions to the PEG-rich phase without an extractant; (2) the use of halide salts which produce a metal anion complex that partitions to the PEG-rich phase; and (3) the use of a water-soluble extractant which distributes to the PEG-rich phase. In addition, we correlate the partitioning behavior we observed with available thermodynamic data for metal ions and their complexes.

Virginia Stephen was a member of one of England's great literary families, many of whom were also mentally ill. An exquisitely endowed infant, she was beautifully matched with her mother during the symbiotic state of development, and later called this period "the base upon which life stands." Difficulties presumably began as early as the differentiation subphase of separation. Mrs. Stephen appeared to be a narcissistic woman, who required constant affirmation, and thus was unable to respond to the needs of a developing child. Virginia probably was rescued from engulfment by a powerful biologically determined practicing period of separation-individuation. This great organismic surge, in all likelihood, is as characteristic of toddlers who are incipient manics as of children of future genius. Because of the strong regressive pull, it is probable that Virginia experienced a particularly high-powered glee in evading the field of her mother. This "economic condition," according to Freud, is a given that is felt by the manic as he overthrows the imprisoning restraints of the superego. Deflated by events beyond her control, such as the sadism of her siblings, Virginia probably attempted to return to her mother. But it appears that Mrs. Stephen was not available. Hence Virginia was forced to split off her anger and turn it against herself, keeping her aggression unavailable for neutralization. As a result she was unable to proceed to an age-adequate level of development. The raw rage lay smoldering within until many years later, when it burst forth to power her manic attacks. This failure of rapprochement presumably deflated Virginia, and resulted in a basic mood of depression already apparent in the nursery. Virginia also experienced a second basic mood, elation, which appears to have been characteristic of her even in well periods, and resembles the description of the typical manic victim given by Beck.

Leslie Stephen, the father of Virginia Woolf, was a cacophony of contradictions. From all accounts, he was a bully, a manipulator, and a blustering, pessimistic, emotionally dishonest man. Although he could be lovable, charming, whimsical, encouraging, and deeply devoted to his family, he subjugated the adult women in his household and at least one son to exploitation and abuse, demanding (and receiving from his wife and step-daughter) almost total abnegation of self. Julia Stephen, in contrast, was an optimistic, seemingly selfless person, who characteristically presented herself in an "up" mood to the world. Virginia incorporated both parental moods into her character structure, as have a number of the author's cyclothymic patients. Therefore, it is postulated that pessimism and habitual deflating affronts on the part of one parent, in combination with a compulsive "good mood" on the part of the second parent, are a particularly lethal combination of character traits, which in their offspring may contribute to the rapid mood shifting characteristic of manic depression. In contrast to Julie, Stephen was a presence who could not be side-stepped. This combination of sweet and monstrous attributes in her father's nature, and again in the contrasting temperaments of the parental couple, must have been impossible to integrate for the small Virginia, who already was desperately engaged in the struggle for selfhood. She could not complete her development on the oedipal level, although she loved her father dearly, because identification with her mother meant further threat to an identity already weakened at the separation-individuation phase of development. Virginia's solution was to identify with her father in his character, his sexual identity, and his profession. Stephen, who was particularly devoted to Virginia, whom he regarded as an extension of himself, encouraged this identification, and served as her teacher and mentor. In that sense, he truly was the captain of the ship in her voyage To the Lighthouse, master of the currents that swept her onward to the grand light of her genius. A four-fold comparison of Virginia Woolf and Leslie Stephen is made concerning their respective ages of weaning, success in navigating both the rapproachment phase of separation-individuation and the oedipal period, and the ages at which their mothers died. It appears that Virginia lost her mother at those four critical periods when Leslie did not.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)