Quantitating Diffusion Enhancement in Pore Hierarchies.

A microporous continuum traversed by a set of mutually perpendicular channels is considered to be a model for a hierarchically porous system of the mesoporous zeolite type. Transient profiles of molecular uptake as determined by kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) simulation are found to be in excellent agreement with the result attained by the application of the two-region model (the Kärger model) of molecular diffusion. In particular, it is found that, in the two limiting cases referred to as fast exchange and slow exchange, there exist two simple analytical expressions for the rate of molecular uptake and hence for the quantification of transport enhancement in comparison with the purely microporous adsorbent. In the general case, transport enhancement is simply recognized by the reciprocal addition of the expressions in the two limiting cases.

Free energy landscape within the hysteresis regime for fluids confined in disordered mesoporous solids.

Adsorption/desorption and melting/freezing in structurally disordered nanoporous solids exhibit strongly non-equilibrium behavior as revealed by the formation of a hysteresis region populated by the multitude of different states. Many questions concerning the free energy spectrum of these states, including the existence of the equilibrium transition, if any, their accessibility in the experiments, and internal relaxation dynamics toward the global energy minimum, still remain poorly addressed. By using a serially connected pore model with the statistical disorder as a minimal model of the pore networks, we explore the system free energies along the solid-liquid and liquid-gas transitions in the pore systems. The rigorous results obtained with this model shed light on the occurrence and nature of the equilibrium transition line in porous solids with arbitrary pore topology. We discuss further the free energies along the experimentally measured boundary and scanning transitions and how close the equilibrium states can be approached in these experiments.

[German S1 Guideline Long-/Post-COVID]. / S1-Leitlinie Long-/Post-COVID.

The German Society of Pneumology initiated 2021 the AWMF S1 guideline Long COVID/Post-COVID. In a broad interdisciplinary approach, this S1 guideline was designed based on the current state of knowledge.The clinical recommendations describe current Long COVID/Post-COVID symptoms, diagnostic approaches, and therapies.In addition to the general and consensus introduction, a subject-specific approach was taken to summarize the current state of knowledge.The guideline has an explicit practical claim and will be developed and adapted by the author team based on the current increase in knowledge.

Membrane Structure of Aquaporin Observed with Combined Experimental and Theoretical Sum Frequency Generation Spectroscopy.

High-resolution structural information on membrane proteins is essential for understanding cell biology and for the structure-based design of new medical drugs and drug delivery strategies. X-ray diffraction (XRD) can provide angstrom-level information about the structure of membrane proteins, yet for XRD experiments, proteins are removed from their native membrane environment, chemically stabilized, and crystallized, all of which can compromise the conformation. Here, we describe how a combination of surface-sensitive vibrational spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations can account for the native membrane environment. We observe the structure of a glycerol facilitator channel (GlpF), an aquaporin membrane channel finely tuned to selectively transport water and glycerol molecules across the membrane barrier. We find subtle but significant differences between the XRD structure and the inferred in situ structure of GlpF.

Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of Porous OSG Films by PFQNM AFM and Benchmarking with Traditional Instrumentation.

Characterization of mechanical properties of thin porous films with nanoscale resolution remains a challenge for instrumentation science. In this work, atomic force microscopy (AFM) in the PeakForce quantitative nanomechanical mapping (PFQNM) mode is used for Young's modulus measurements of porous organosilicate glass films. The test samples were prepared by sol-gel techniques using silicon alkoxide and methyl-modified silicon alkoxide to prepare films with different CH3/Si ratios. The film porosity was engineered by using a Brij 30 template and the evaporation-induced self-assembly technique. The chemical composition, pore structure, and modification during air storage and thermal annealing were studied using FTIR spectroscopy and ellipsometric porosimetry (EP). Since PFQNM AFM was first used for evaluation of Young's modulus of thin porous films, the obtained results are benchmarked using nanoindentation (NI), surface acoustic wave (SAW) spectroscopy, and EP. The results have good agreement with each other, but PFQNM and NI give slightly larger values than SAW and EP. The difference is in agreement with previously reported data and reflects the different physical meaning of the obtained values. It is shown that the presence of physically adsorbed water strongly influences the results generated by PFQNM AFM, and therefore, reliable water removal from the studied materials is necessary.

Prevention of anastomotic leak in rectal cancer surgery with local antibiotic decontamination: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled single center trial.

PURPOSE: Anastomotic leak and other infectious complications are septic complications of rectal cancer surgery caused by bacteria. Data from registry analysis show a beneficial effect of local antimicrobial administration on anastomotic leaks, but data are inconsistent in recent clinical trials. Therefore, our aim was to study the efficacy of topical antibiotic treatment on the incidence of anastomotic leaks in rectal cancer surgery. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled, single center trial was conducted. Patients received either placebo and amphotericin B or decontamination with polymyxin B, tobramycin, vancomycin, and amphotericin B four times per day starting the day before surgery until postoperative day 7. If a protective ileostomy was created, a catheter was placed transanally and the medication was administered locally to the anastomotic site. All patients received an intravenous perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis. RESULTS: The trial had to be stopped for ethical reasons after first interim analysis with 80 patients instead of the initially planned 280 patients. Of the 40 patients randomized to receive placebo, eight (20%) developed anastomotic leak compared to only 2 (5%) in the treatment group of 40 patients (decontamination) with significant difference in the χ2 test (p = 0.0425). Twenty percent of the placebo group and 12.5% in the treatment group developed infectious complications not associated with anastomotic leak (p = 0.5312). One patient (2.5%) in the placebo group died (p = 0.3141). CONCLUSION: Local decontamination with polymyxin, tobramycin, vancomycin, and amphotericin B is safe and effective in the prevention of anastomotic leak in rectal cancer surgery.

The association between range usage and tibial quality in commercial free-range laying hens.

1. Bone tissue adapts continuously to metabolic calcium demands, as well as to external forces due to physical weight loading subject to hen movement. Limited calcium metabolism and, subsequently, its availability from the medullary bone, is a major factor contributing to reduced eggshell quality in hens in the late laying period (>60 weeks of age). 2. Increasing physical activity and biomechanical loading during hen rearing has been demonstrated to increase skeletal strength, enhancing bone mass as well as endocortical and periosteal bone metabolism. Presently, the consequences of range use during lay on bone quality characteristics in laying hens remain unknown. 3.The aims of this study were to characterise tibiotarsal bone indices and evaluate the impact of range access during lay on tibia bone quality in commercial free-range laying hens. 4. This exploratory study described and analysed the volumetric measurements, morphological mechanical and trabeculae indices of the tibiotarsal bone of 48 Lohmann Brown laying hens at 74 weeks of age. All bone parameters were obtained using micro-computed tomography and correlated with individual hen range use. 5. Range usage throughout lay was not associated with tibial trabecular architecture (bone volume and fraction, trabecular thickness, trabecular connectivity density and structural model index), or any other morphological characteristics (breaking strength, diaphyseal diameter, bone weight and bone mineral density) of the tibia (P > 0.05) when hens were 74 weeks of age. 6. The results demonstrated a large variation in individual bone characteristics and suggested that range usage was not associated with bone quality in commercial free-range laying hens used in this study. In conclusion, the bone health of free-range commercial laying hens may be positively impacted by other features, such as hen genetics, feed, the quality of pullet rearing, perch availability or other shed equipment, and the benefits of these variables exceed the benefit of range use.

Flock use of the range is associated with the use of different components of a multi-tier aviary system in commercial free-range laying hens.

1. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of using a multi-tier aviary system and access to range on flock uniformity in free-range laying hens, and to determine whether the extent of range use or flock uniformity can be predicted from the use of different levels of the aviary system.2. A total of 13,716 Lohmann Brown hens from five commercial free-range flocks housed in identical houses on the same farm were individually weighed at 16 weeks of age and allocated to five replicate areas within each house. Hen movement in the multi-tier aviary system and on the range was individually monitored using radio frequency identification (RFID). All hens had access to the range from 18 to 22 weeks of age and were exposed to the same management conditions.3. Whilst only one flock significantly changed its flock uniformity with time, they differed from each other in uniformity and body weight (P = 0.001).4. Hens spent most of their available time on the lower aviary tier (7.29 ± 0.029 h/hen/day) and on the upper aviary tier (4.29 ± 0.024 h/hen/day) while the least amount of time was spent on the range and in the nest boxes (0.93 ± 0.005 h/hen/day and 1.48 ± 0.007 h, respectively, P = 0.001).5. Range use was negatively correlated (r = -0.30) to the time spent on the upper aviary tier and positively correlated (r = 0.46) to the time spent on the lower aviary tier (P = 0.001). Bivariate analysis revealed that range and upper aviary resp. lower aviary tier usage had a significant curvilinear association.6. In conclusion, the study showed that range use was associated to the time hens spent on the different tiers of the aviary system. Flock uniformity varied between flocks but was not associated with either range and aviary system usage.

Neutron Time-of-Flight Measurements of Charged-Particle Energy Loss in Inertial Confinement Fusion Plasmas.

Neutron spectra from secondary ^{3}H(d,n)α reactions produced by an implosion of a deuterium-gas capsule at the National Ignition Facility have been measured with order-of-magnitude improvements in statistics and resolution over past experiments. These new data and their sensitivity to the energy loss of fast tritons emitted from thermal ^{2}H(d,p)^{3}H reactions enable the first statistically significant investigation of charged-particle stopping via the emitted neutron spectrum. Radiation-hydrodynamic simulations, constrained to match a number of observables from the implosion, were used to predict the neutron spectra while employing two different energy loss models. This analysis represents the first test of stopping models under inertial confinement fusion conditions, covering plasma temperatures of k_{B}T≈1-4 keV and particle densities of n≈(12-2)×10^{24} cm^{-3}. Under these conditions, we find significant deviations of our data from a theory employing classical collisions whereas the theory including quantum diffraction agrees with our data.

Ethephon induced oxidative stress in the olive leaf abscission zone enables development of a selective abscission compound.

BACKGROUND: Table olives (Olea europaea L.), despite their widespread production, are still harvested manually. The low efficiency of manual harvesting and the rising costs of labor have reduced the profitability of this crop. A selective abscission treatment, inducing abscission of fruits but not leaves, is crucial for the adoption of mechanical harvesting of table olives. In the present work we studied the anatomical and molecular differences between the three abscission zones (AZs) of olive fruits and leaves. RESULTS: The fruit abscission zone 3 (FAZ3), located between the fruit and the pedicel, was found to be the active AZ in mature fruits and is sensitive to ethephon, whereas FAZ2, between the pedicel and the rachis, is the flower active AZ as well as functioning as the most ethephon induced fruit AZ. We found anatomical differences between the leaf AZ (LAZ) and the two FAZs. Unlike the FAZs, the LAZ is characterized by small cells with less pectin compared to neighboring cells. In an attempt to differentiate between the fruit and leaf AZs, we examined the effect of treating olive-bearing trees with ethephon, an ethylene-releasing compound, with or without antioxidants, on the detachment force (DF) of fruits and leaves 5 days after the treatment. Ethephon treatment enhanced pectinase activity and reduced DF in all the three olive AZs. A transcriptomic analysis of the three olive AZs after ethephon treatment revealed induction of several genes encoding for hormones (ethylene, auxin and ABA), as well as for several cell wall degrading enzymes. However, up-regulation of cellulase genes was found only in the LAZ. Many genes involved in oxidative stress were induced by the ethephon treatment in the LAZ alone. In addition, we found that reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated abscission in response to ethephon only in leaves. Thus, adding antioxidants such as ascorbic acid or butyric acid to the ethephon inhibited leaf abscission but enhanced fruit abscission. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that treating olive-bearing trees with a combination of ethephon and antioxidants reduces the detachment force (DF) of fruit without weakening that of the leaves. Hence, this selective abscission treatment may be used in turn to promote mechanized harvest of olives.

Movement control during aspiration with different injection systems via video monitoring-an in vitro model.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was an evaluation of movement during double aspiration by different manual syringes and one computer-controlled local anesthesia delivery system (C-CLAD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: With five different devices (two disposable syringes (2, 5 ml), two aspirating syringes (active, passive), one C-CLAD), simulation of double aspiration in a phantom model was conducted. Two experienced and two inexperienced test persons carried out double aspiration with the injection systems at the right and left phantom mandibles in three different inclination angles (n = 24 × 5 × 2 for each system). 3D divergences of the needle between aspiration procedures (mm) were measured with two video cameras. RESULTS: An average movement for the 2-ml disposal syringe of 2.85 mm (SD 1.63), for the 5 ml syringe of 2.36 mm (SD 0.86), for the active-aspirating syringe of 2.45 mm (SD 0.9), for the passive-aspirating syringe of 2.01 mm (SD 0.7), and for the C-CLAD, an average movement of 0.91 mm (SD 0.63) was seen. The movement was significantly less for the C-CLAD compared to the other systems (p < 0.001). The movement of the needle in the soft tissue was significantly less for the C-CLAD compared to the other systems (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A difference in involuntary movement of the syringe could be seen in comparison between manual and C-CLAD systems. Launching the aspiration by a foot pedal in computer-assisted anesthesia leads to a minor movement. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: To solve the problem of movement during aspiration with possibly increased false-negative results, a C-CLAD seems to be favorable.

Comparison of anesthetic efficacy of 2 and 4 % articaine in inferior alveolar nerve block for tooth extraction-a double-blinded randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this clinical prospective, randomized, double-blind trial was to compare the anesthetic efficacy of 2 % articaine and 4 % articaine in inferior alveolar nerve block anesthesia for extraction of mandibular teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 95 patients, 105 lower molar and premolar teeth were extracted after intraoral inferior alveolar nerve block. In 53 cases, 2 % articaine (group I) and, in 52 cases, 4 % articaine (group II) was administered. The primary objective was to analyze the differences of anesthetic effects between the two groups (complete/sufficient vs. insufficient/none). Furthermore, differences in pulpal anesthesia (onset and depth, examined with pulp vitality tester (min)), as well as in length of soft tissue anesthesia (min), were evaluated. Additionally, the need of a second injection, pain while injecting (numeric rating scale (NRS)), pain during treatment (NRS), pain after treatment (NRS), and other possible complications (excessive pain, bleeding events, prolonged deafness) were analyzed. RESULTS: Anesthesia was sufficient for dental extractions in both groups without significant differences (p = 0.201). The onset of anesthesia did not differ significantly (p = 0.297). A significantly shorter duration of soft tissue anesthesia was seen in group I (2.9 vs. 4 h; p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the need for a second injection (p = 0.359), in injection pain (p = 0.386), as well as in pain during (p = 0.287) or after treatment (p = 0.121). In both groups, no complications were seen. CONCLUSIONS: The local anesthetic effect of the 4 % articaine solution is not significantly better when compared to 2 % articaine. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: For mandibular tooth extraction, articaine 2 % may be used as alternative as well.

Acute calcific tendonitis of dorsal interosseous muscles of the hand: uncommon site of a frequent disease.

Acute calcific tendinopathy is one of the manifestations of hydroxyapatite crystal deposition disease. While it is more frequent in the shoulder, it has been described in virtually all areas of the body, but rarely in the muscles of the hand. Its etiopathogenesis is not yet fully understood and despite being a fairly frequent condition, it is commonly misdiagnosed. The onset of the disease is usually acute and resolves spontaneously. Acute calcific tendinitis of the interosseous tendons of the hand is an uncommon site of a frequent condition. The clinical presentation is similar to other entities, thus errors in diagnosis frequently occur, resulting in over-treatment or unnecessary tests. We describe a case of acute calcific tendinitis of the interosseous muscles of the hand with a brief review of the current literature with emphasis on diagnostic imaging methods.

Imaging the Temporal Evolution of Molecular Orbitals during Ultrafast Dissociation.

We investigate the temporal evolution of molecular frame angular distributions of Auger electrons emitted during ultrafast dissociation of HCl following a resonant single-photon excitation. The electron emission pattern changes its shape from that of a molecular σ orbital to that of an atomic p state as the system evolves from a molecule into two separated atoms.

Co-existence of psoriasis and melanoma in a large urban academic centre population: a cross-sectional retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis has been linked to increased malignancy risk, particularly lympho-haematopoietic and non-melanoma skin cancers; however, its association with cutaneous melanoma remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine if there is an association between melanoma and psoriasis in a large, urban academic population through an electronic medical record database. METHODS: We searched our institution's electronic medical record database (EDW-Electronic Data Warehouse) from 1/2001 to 11/2013. Subjects were identified by ICD-9 codes. Melanoma diagnosis was included only if documented at least 1 month after the psoriasis diagnosis was documented. Odds ratio (OR) was obtained for association between cutaneous melanoma and psoriasis. The OR was then adjusted for phototherapy and age. To minimize detection bias, we also obtained the OR for association between cutaneous melanoma and atopic dermatitis. RESULTS: We identified 10 947 patients with psoriasis, 64 of whom had a subsequent diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma. We detected a significant association between melanoma and psoriasis (OR = 1.77; 95%CI 1.38-2.26; P < 0.0001; total n = 1 525 252). After adjusting for phototherapy and age, a statistically significant association between melanoma and psoriasis remained detectable (OR = 1.9; 95%CI 1.55-2.55; P < 0.0001 and OR = 1.64; 95%CI 1.17-2.26; P = 0.003 respectively). The OR for melanoma with atopic dermatitis in the same patient database showed a statistically significant inverse association between the two diseases (OR = 0.35; 95%CI 0.16-0.73; P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Our findings show a statistically significant association between psoriasis and melanoma. After adjusting the OR for phototherapy and age, a statistically significant association remained. Further investigations exploring these associations are warranted in order to establish the relative risk for melanoma in psoriasis patients.

Diffusion and Molecular Exchange in Hollow Core-Shell Silica Nanoparticles.

The diffusion behavior of small molecules in hollow core-shell nanocapsules was studied using pulsed field gradient NMR. By purposefully selecting the liquid saturating the hollow core and the porous shell and the solvent between the nanocapsules, two different situations corresponding to the excluded and admitted molecular exchange between the intra- and intercapsule liquids at the external boundary of the nanoparticles were covered. In the former case, corresponding to the reflective boundary condition for the molecules approaching the nanocapsule boundary, restricted diffusion in the complex pore space formed by the hollow core and the mesoporous shell was observed. The time-dependent diffusivities measured in the experiment were inter-related with the geometry of the intraparticle pore space. The thus assessed structural information was found to be in a good agreement with that provided by electron microscopy. In the case of the molecular exchange occurring between the two pools of molecules in the nanocapsules and between them, the diffusive dynamics of only the molecules remaining in the nanocapsules during the entire observation times was studied.

Soft tissue augmentation of ridge defects in the maxillary anterior area using two different methods: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: To test whether or not vascularized interpositional periosteal-connective tissue grafts are as successful as free subepithelial connective tissue grafts in augmenting volume defects in the anterior maxilla. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty subjects with Seibert class 1 ridge defects in the anterior maxilla were randomly, equally assigned to augmentation by vascularized interpositional periosteal-connective tissue graft (test) or free subepithelial connective tissue graft (control). Clinical periodontal parameters at teeth adjacent to the gap were recorded, and conventional impressions were taken prior to surgery (baseline = t(0)) and 1 (t(1)), 3 (t(3)) and 6 (t(6)) months after surgery. The casts were optically scanned, digitized and analyzed for ridge contour changes in the augmented area. Data were subjected to nonparametric statistics. RESULTS: The contour changes in labial distance between baseline and follow-up for the control group were (median, range) 1 mm, 0.37-1.45 (t(0)-t(1)); 1.18 mm, 0.39-1.40 (t(0)-t(3)); and 0.63 mm, 0.28-1.22 (t(0)-t(6)) and for test group 1.21 mm, 0.74-2.47 (t(0)-t(1)); 1.26 mm, 0.50-1.71 (t(0)-t(3)); and 1.18 mm, 0.16-1.75 (t(0)-t(6)). Significantly less shrinkage of the graft was observed in the test group after 6 months (P = 0.03). Clinical periodontal parameters at the neighboring teeth were stable over the follow-up period and did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Augmentation of single tooth gaps with moderate ridge defects in the anterior maxilla was successfully performed using both techniques. However, after 6 months, sites treated by the pediculated graft were superior in maintaining the initially augmented volume and showed less shrinkage of the graft. This could be attributed to better perfusion of the pediculated graft.

Locally limited inhibition of bone resorption and orthodontic relapse by recombinant osteoprotegerin protein.

OBJECTIVES: To determine minimal dose levels required for local inhibition of orthodontic relapse by recombinant OPG protein (OPG-Fc), while also determining effects of injected OPG-Fc on alveolar bone and long bone. SETTING AND SAMPLE POPULATION: The Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Michigan. Eighteen male Sprague Dawley rats. MATERIALS & METHODS: Maxillary molars were moved with nickel-titanium springs and then allowed to relapse in Sprague Dawley rats. Upon appliance removal, animals were injected with a single dose of 1.0 mg/kg OPG-Fc, 0.1 mg/kg OPG-Fc, or phosphate-buffered saline (vehicle) just distal to the molar teeth. Tooth movement measurements were made from stone casts, which were scanned and digitally measured. Alveolar tissues were examined by histology. Micro-computed tomography was used to quantify changes in alveolar and femur bone. RESULTS: Local injection of OPG-Fc inhibited molar but not incisor relapse, when compared to vehicle-injected animals. No significant differences in alveolar or femur bone were seen between the three treatment groups after 24 days of relapse. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that a single local injection of OPG-Fc effectively inhibits orthodontic relapse, with minimal systemic bone metabolic effects. Our results also show that a single injection of OPG-Fc will influence tooth movement only in teeth close to the injection site. These findings indicate that OPG-Fc has potential as a safe and effective pharmacological means to locally control osteoclasts, for uses such as maintaining anchorage during orthodontic tooth movement and preventing orthodontic relapse in humans.

Analysis of Infants Based on Data from the German Perinatal Survey of the Years 1994-2011 in Mecklenburg-Pomerania, Germany. Classification of Infants with regard to their Gestation Duration and Birth Weight.

BACKGROUND: The demographic change in -Germany describes an ongoing process of population development of which the eastern German states tend to be more affected. These ongoing changes have an influence on the reproductive behavior of the population. After twenty-three years of German reunification, the present study has investigated the question to what extent the somatic classification of newborns in Mecklenburg-Pomerania (M-P), Germany, is affected. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Newborn singleton births (n=174,084) were classified from the existing data of the German Perinatal Survey between 1994 and 2011. The rate of premature birth, SGA, and LGA rate as well as the rate of low birth weight ≤2,499 g were determined both gender-dependently and independently. In addition, a combined analysis of the rates has been taken into account. The obtained data material from M-P made it possible for the first time to compare by values. National and international reference studies were considered in this comparison. RESULTS: In M-P, the premature birth rate is 5.2%; the rate of newborns with low birth weight ≤ 2,499 g is 4.4%. Among newborns of ≤2,499 g and SGA newborns, girls compose a higher percentage (4.7%, 12.5%) compared to boys (4.0%, 7.4%). The premature birth rate and LGA newborns appear conversely. For these, the percentage of boys (5.6%, 12.6%) is higher than that of girls (4.8%, 7.0%). 60.6% of the gender non-specific newborns ≤2,499 g are simultaneously premature newborn infants. Only a very small percentage of 0.5% of SGA newborns is at the same time premature infants and newborns with low birth weight. CONCLUSIONS: By getting nationwide country-specific figures, a detailed analysis of the newborns in M-P can be performed. The analysis supports the existing national values and is a helpful addition for practice-oriented advice.