Health-related quality of life and perceived stress of informal caregivers of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities and ADHD.

Introduction: Informal caregivers of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) face numerous challenges. However, no study has yet compared the HRQoL of the caregivers of children and adolescents with these two conditions. We aimed to compare the HRQoL and perceived stress of caregivers of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities and ADHD. Methods: The HRQoL and perceived stress of informal caregivers of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities and ADHD (40 in each group) were compared using the perceived stress scale and the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire - Short Form, respectively. Results: HRQoL was significantly worse in most dimensions in caregivers of children and adolescents with severe ADHD than in caregivers of children and adolescents with severe intellectual disabilities. However, perceived stress was similar. Conclusion: Differences in the impact of intellectual disability and ADHD on family members' HRQoL should be considered while developing educational programs for patients and their families.

Antiferromagnetic Correlations in Strongly Valence Fluctuating CeIrSn.

CeIrSn with a quasikagome Ce lattice in the hexagonal basal plane is a strongly valence fluctuating compound, as we confirm by hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and inelastic neutron scattering, with a high Kondo temperature of T_{K}∼480 K. We report a negative in-plane thermal expansion α/T below 2 K, which passes through a broad minimum near 0.75 K. Volume and a-axis magnetostriction for B∥a are markedly negative at low fields and change sign before a sharp metamagnetic anomaly at 6 T. These behaviors are unexpected for Ce-based intermediate valence systems, which should feature positive expansivity. Rather they point towards antiferromagnetic correlations at very low temperatures. This is supported by muon spin relaxation measurements down to 0.1 K, which provide microscopic evidence for a broad distribution of internal magnetic fields. Comparison with isostructural CeRhSn suggests that these antiferromagnetic correlations emerging at T≪T_{K} result from geometrical frustration.

Electron-phonon superconductivity in C-doped topological nodal-line semimetal Zr5Pt3: a muon spin rotation and relaxation (µSR) study.

In the present work, we demonstrate that C-doped Zr5Pt3is an electron-phonon superconductor (with critical temperatureTC= 3.8 K) with a nonsymmorphic topological Dirac nodal-line semimetal state, which we report here for the first time. The superconducting properties of Zr5Pt3C0.5have been investigated by means of magnetization, resistivity, specific heat, and muon spin rotation and relaxation (µSR) measurements. We find that at low temperatures, the depolarization rate is almost constant and it can be well described by a single-bands-wave model with a superconducting gap of 2Δ(0)/kBTC= 3.84, somewhat higher than the value of BCS theory. From the transverse field µSR analysis, we estimate the London penetration depthλL= 469 nm, superconducting carrier densityns= 1.83 × 1026 m-3, and effective massm* = 1.428me. The zero field µSR confirms the absence of any spontaneous magnetic field in the superconducting ground state. In order to gain additional insights into the electronic ground state of C-doped Zr5Pt3, we also performed first-principles calculations within the framework of density functional theory (DFT). The observed homogenous electronic character of the Fermi surface as well as the mutual decrease ofTCand density of states at the Fermi level are consistent with the experimental findings of this study. However, the band structure reveals the presence of robust, gapless fourfold-degenerate nodal lines protected by 63screw rotations and glide mirror planes. Therefore, Zr5Pt3represents a novel, unprecedented condensed matter system to investigate the intricate interplay between superconductivity and topology.

Renal outcomes with the newer antidiabetes drugs: the era before and after CREDENCE.

In 2008, the US Food and Drug Administration provided guidance for the evaluation of the cardiovascular safety of antidiabetes drugs. The newer antidiabetes drugs, approved after 2008, were therefore evaluated in long-term cardiovascular outcome trials, designed and powered for the assessment of cardiovascular safety. Accordingly, the primary endpoint of these trials was a cardiac composite endpoint. Since 2008, the data from various cardiovascular outcome trials have been reported, including SAVOR-TIMI 53 (saxagliptin), EXAMINE (alogliptin), TECOS (sitagliptin), CARMELINA (linagliptin), CAROLINA (linagliptin), ELIXA (lixisenatide), LEADER (liraglutide), EXSCEL (exenatide once-weekly), SUSTAIN-6 (injectable semaglutide), HARMONY Outcomes (albiglutide), REWIND (dulaglutide), PIONEER-6 (oral semaglutide), EMPA-REG OUTCOME (empagliflozin), the CANVAS Program (canagliflozin) and DECLARE-TIMI 53 (dapagliflozin). Some of these trials subsequently also published data on renal outcomes, although these were secondary or exploratory analyses. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists had beneficial effects on albuminuria, while sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors additionally showed a positive effect on 'hard' renal outcomes. In contrast to the cardiovascular outcome trials, the renal outcome trial of canagliflozin, CREDENCE, assessed a hard renal endpoint as its primary endpoint and showed positive effects on these hard renal outcomes. In this review, we aim to highlight the renal outcome data from the cardiovascular outcome trials and the CREDENCE trial and understand the differences between their results. The post CREDENCE era would appear to reinforce the position of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors as drugs providing cardiorenal protection, in addition to their anti-glycaemic effects.

Ir 5d-band derived superconductivity in LaIr3.

The superconducting properties of rhombohedral LaIr3 were examined using susceptibility, resistivity, heat capacity, and zero-field (ZF) and transverse-field (TF) muon spin relaxation and rotation ([Formula: see text]SR) measurements. The susceptibility and resistivity measurements confirm a superconducting transition below [Formula: see text] K. Two successive transitions are observed in the heat capacity data, one at [Formula: see text] K and a second at 1.2 K below [Formula: see text]. The heat capacity jump is [Formula: see text], which is lower than 1.43 expected for Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) weak-coupling limit. TF-[Formula: see text]SR measurements reveal a fully gapped s-wave superconductivity with [Formula: see text], which is small compared to the BCS value of 3.56, suggesting weak-coupling superconductivity. The magnetic penetration depth, [Formula: see text], estimated from TF-[Formula: see text]SR gives [Formula: see text] nm, a superconducting carrier density [Formula: see text] carriers m-3 and a carrier effective-mass enhancement factor [Formula: see text]. ZF-[Formula: see text]SR data show no evidence for any spontaneous magnetic fields below [Formula: see text], which demonstrates that time-reversal symmetry is preserved in the superconducting state of LaIr3.

Investigation of superconducting gap structure in HfIrSi using muon spin relaxation/rotation.

We have investigated the superconducting state of HfIrSi using magnetization, specific heat, muon spin rotation and relaxation ([Formula: see text]SR) measurements. Superconductivity was observed at [Formula: see text] K in both specific heat and magnetization measurements. From an analysis of the transverse-field [Formula: see text]SR data, it is clear that the temperature variation of superfluid density is well fitted by an isotropic Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) type s-wave gap structure. The superconducting carrier density [Formula: see text] m-3, the magnetic penetration depth, [Formula: see text] nm, and the effective mass, [Formula: see text], were calculated from the TF-[Formula: see text]SR data. Zero-field [Formula: see text]SR data for HfIrSi reveal the absence of any spontaneous magnetic moments below [Formula: see text], indicating that time-reversal symmetry (TRS) is preserved in the superconducting state of HfIrSi. Theoretical investigations suggest that the Hf and Ir atoms hybridize strongly along the c-axis, and that this is responsible for the strong three-dimensionality of this system which screens the Coulomb interaction. As a result, despite the presence of d-electrons in HfIrSi, these correlation effects are weakened, making the electron-phonon coupling more important.

Evidence of a Nodal Line in the Superconducting Gap Symmetry of Noncentrosymmetric ThCoC_{2}.

The newly discovered noncentrosymmetric superconductor ThCoC_{2} exhibits numerous types of unconventional behavior in the field dependent heat capacity data. Here we present the first measurement of the gap symmetry of ThCoC_{2} by muon spin rotation and relaxation (µSR) measurements. The temperature dependence of the magnetic penetration depth measured using the transverse field µSR experiment reveals the evidence of a nodal pairing symmetry. To understand this finding, we carry out calculations of the superconducting pairing eigenvalue and eigenfunction (pairing symmetry) due to the spin-fluctuation mechanism by directly implementing the ab initio band structures. We find that the system possesses a single Fermi surface with considerable three dimensionality and a strong nesting along the k_{z} direction. Such nesting promotes a superconducting state with a cosk_{z}-like pairing symmetry with a prominent nodal line on the k_{z}=±π/2 plane. The result agrees well with the experimental data.

Unveiling spin-glass transition and antiferromagnetic order by µSR studies in spin-chain Sm2BaNiO5.

We report the zero-field and longitudinal field muon spin relaxation studies in a spin-chain compound Sm2BaNiO5. Two magnetic transitions, that have not been previously detected by the heat capacity and magnetization measurements, are confirmed at 46 and 9 K. The antiferromagnetic order is suggested at 46 K. Analysis of the muon spin polarization unveils the spin-glass transition at 9 K. Time-field scaling relation of the muon spin polarization verifies the spin-spin autocorrelation function following the cut-off power law, which is approximated by the Ogielski form, as employed numerically for characterizing the spin-glasses.

A cost-utility analysis of decompressive hemicraniectomy versus medical treatment in the management of space-occupying brain oedema post middle cerebral artery infarction.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Data from randomly controlled trials have indicated that a decompressive hemicraniectomy is more clinically effective than medical treatment in the management of space-occupying brain oedema post middle cerebral artery infarction. This economic evaluation compares the impact of the two options in the UK. No recent study has conducted an economic evaluation on this topic for the UK. METHOD: A cost-utility analysis over a time period of 1 year was used, measuring benefits in terms of quality adjusted life years (QALYs) and costs in pound sterling, discounted to 2015 prices. The evaluation was from the perspective of the National Health Service, the largest healthcare provider in the UK. RESULTS: The cost-utility analysis found an incremental cost effectiveness of £116 595.10 for every QALY gained if patients were offered a decompressive hemicraniectomy compared to the best medical treatment. DISCUSSION: This is above the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) 'cost-effective' threshold of £20 000-£30 000 per QALY, but lower mortality rates associated with the surgical alternative raises ethical considerations for healthcare providers in the UK.

Complexation of U(VI) with Cucurbit[5]uril: Thermodynamic and Structural investigation in aqueous medium.

The assessment of cucurbituril (CBn) for selective removal of actinides from nuclear waste streams requires comprehensive understanding of binding parameters and coordination of these complexes. The present work is the first experimental report on complexation of actinide ion with Cucurbit[5]uril (CB5) in solution. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔG, ΔH and ΔS) for complexation of CB5 with U(VI) in formic acid water medium were determined using microcalorimetry and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The enthalpy and entropy of complexation revealed the partial binding of U(VI) to CB5 portal. The partial binding was confirmed by spectroscopic techniques viz. extended X absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS), 1H and 13C NMR. The EXAFS χ(r) versus r spectra for U-CB5 complex has been fitted from 1.4 to 3.5 Šwith two oxygen shells and a carbon shell. The presence of three carbon atom in secondary shell shows the involvement of only three carbonyl oxygens directly bonding to U(VI) which is in contrast to that calculated from gas phase DFT calculation of unhydrated system. The combined effect of hydration and formic acid encapsulation led to the enhanced stability of partially bound U(VI) to CB5. In the present work the binding of formic acid has also been studied by fluorescence spectroscopy. ESI-MS data shows the unusual stabilization of U(VI) by CB5 in gas phase.

Magnetic structure and field-dependent magnetic phase diagram of Ni2In-type PrCuSi.

The magnetic structure of the ternary equiatomic intermetallic compound PrCuSi is investigated using neutron powder diffraction experiments in 0 T as well as in external magnetic fields up to 2 T. The PrCuSi compound crystallizes in the hexagonal Ni2In-type structure, in the space group P63/mmc. In this structure, cationic ordering of Cu and Si takes place. The antiferromagnetic phase transition in the Pr sublattice takes place at [Formula: see text] K in 0 T. Under an external magnetic field of 2 T, a field-induced ferromagnetic phase is observed. Magnetoelastic coupling is evidenced by an increase in the unit cell volume. Clear signatures of a mixed antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic phase in weak, intermediate fields, 0.4-0.8 T, are obtained from the present study. Using the present set of experimental data, we construct the H - T phase diagram of PrCuSi.

Effect of dietary manipulation and vaccination of turkey breeder hens on immunoglobulin levels of yolk, yolk sac and neonate poults.

Two hundred turkey breeder hens and 24 viable toms of 30-35 weeks age of small white variety were distributed into two treatment groups having four replicates of 25 hens and three toms in each treatment. First four replicates were offered a turkey breeder diet (Diet A) (Nutrient requirements of poultry, 1994, National Academic Press, Washington, DC) and the rest four replicates were maintained on a higher plane of nutrition (Diet B) for 8-week duration. After 6 weeks of experimental feeding, two replicates from each treatment groups were vaccinated with ND (R2 B) vaccine. Yolk sac of embryo from birds fed Diet B had a significantly higher (p < .05) IgG, IgM level and HI titre (log 2) than those fed Diet A. HI titre values of embryonic yolk sac from the vaccinated birds fed Diet B were significantly higher (p < .05) than that of the control groups. In addition, HI titre values were significantly higher (p < .05) in the day-old poults of the birds fed Diet B than that of those fed Diet A. There was significantly (p < .01) positive correlation between serum IgG and IgM of the breeder birds and day-old chicks. Similarly, there was significantly (p < .05) positive correlation between yolk IgG and IgM after 1-month experimental feeding and yolk sac IgG and IgM. Positive correlation (p < .05) also existed between yolk sac IgM and day-old chick serum IgM. Furthermore, the HI titres of breeder birds' serum at 14 days post-vaccination were positively correlated with their egg yolk after 10 and 15 days post-vaccination, yolk sac and day-old chicks. Thus, the study envisaged that a higher immunity in neonate poults from turkey breeders maintained on a higher plane of nutrition may be elicited as there was maternal transfer of antibodies from the serum of breeder birds to their offsprings through their yolk sac.

Adsorption of ammonia molecules and humidity on germanane nanosheet-A density functional study.

The structural stability and electronic properties of pristine and Ga substituted germanane nanosheet were investigated using the density functional theory technique. The stability of bare and Ga substituted germanane nanosheet is substantiated with formation energy. The energy band gap opens upon hydrogenation on germanene sheet, which is utilized as a sensor material for the detection of NH3 and H2O molecules. The interaction of ammonia and humidity on germanane nanosheet is explored using the projected density of states, Bader charge transfer, adsorption energy, average energy gap variation, energy gap and electron density. The interaction of H2O and NH3 gas molecules on germanane material is studied in atomistic level. The interaction of humidity on pristine germanane nanosheet and NH3 on Ga substituted germanane nanosheet is found to be more favorable. The findings recommend that germanane nanosheet can be utilized as a chemi-resistor for the detection of humidity and trace levels of ammonia gas in the environment.

Superconducting gap structure in the electron doped BiS2-based superconductor.

The influence of electron doping on semimetallic SrFBiS2 has been investigated by means of resistivity, zero and transverse - field (ZF/TF) muon spin relaxation/rotation (µSR) experiments. SrFBiS2 is semimetallic in its normal state and small amounts of La doping results in bulk superconductivity at 2.8 K, at ambient pressure. The temperature dependence of the superfluid density as determined by TF-µSR can be best modelled by an isotropic s - wave type superconducting gap. We have estimated the magnetic penetration depth [Formula: see text] nm, superconducting carrier density [Formula: see text] carriers m-3 and effective-mass enhancement m * = 1.558 m e. Additionally, there is no clear sign of the occurrence of spontaneous internal magnetic fields below [Formula: see text], which implies that the superconducting state in this material can not be categorized by the broken time-reversal symmetry which is in agreement with the previous theoretical prediction.

Membrane-bound ß-catenin degradation is enhanced by ETS2-mediated Siah1 induction in Helicobacter pylori-infected gastric cancer cells.

ß-catenin has two different cellular functions: intercellular adhesion and transcriptional activity. The E3 ubiquitin ligase Siah1 causes ubiquitin-mediated degradation of the cytosolic ß-catenin and therefore, impairs nuclear translocation and oncogenic function of ß-catenin. However, the effect of Siah1 on the cell membrane bound ß-catenin has not been studied. In this study, we identified that the carcinogenic bacterium H. pylori increased ETS2 transcription factor-mediated Siah1 protein expression in gastric cancer cells (GCCs) MKN45, AGS and Kato III. Siah1 protein level was also noticeably higher in gastric adenocarcinoma biopsy samples as compared to non-cancerous gastric epithelia. Siah1 knockdown significantly decreased invasiveness and migration of H. pylori-infected GCCs. Although, Siah1 could not increase degradation of the cytosolic ß-catenin and its nuclear translocation, it enhanced degradation of the membrane-bound ß-catenin in the infected GCCs. This loss of membrane-bound pool of ß-catenin was not associated with the proteasomal degradation of E-cadherin. Thus, this work delineated the role of Siah1 in increasing invasiveness of H. pylori-infected GCCs.

Microbial acceleration of aerobic pyrite oxidation at circumneutral pH.

Pyrite (FeS2 ) is the most abundant sulfide mineral on Earth and represents a significant reservoir of reduced iron and sulfur both today and in the geologic past. In modern environments, oxidative transformations of pyrite and other metal sulfides play a key role in terrestrial element partitioning with broad impacts to contaminant mobility and the formation of acid mine drainage systems. Although the role of aerobic micro-organisms in pyrite oxidation under acidic-pH conditions is well known, to date there is very little known about the capacity for aerobic micro-organisms to oxidize pyrite at circumneutral pH. Here, we describe two enrichment cultures, obtained from pyrite-bearing subsurface sediments, that were capable of sustained cell growth linked to pyrite oxidation and sulfate generation at neutral pH. The cultures were dominated by two Rhizobiales species (Bradyrhizobium sp. and Mesorhizobium sp.) and a Ralstonia species. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing and genome reconstruction indicated the presence of Fe and S oxidation pathways in these organisms, and the presence of a complete Calvin-Benson-Bassham CO2 fixation system in the Bradyrhizobium sp. Oxidation of pyrite resulted in thin (30-50 nm) coatings of amorphous Fe(III) oxide on the pyrite surface, with no other secondary Fe or S phases detected by electron microscopy or X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Rates of microbial pyrite oxidation were approximately one order of magnitude higher than abiotic rates. These results demonstrate the ability of aerobic microbial activity to accelerate pyrite oxidation and expand the potential contribution of micro-organisms to continental sulfide mineral weathering around the time of the Great Oxidation Event to include neutral-pH environments. In addition, our findings have direct implications for the geochemistry of modern sedimentary environments, including stimulation of the early stages of acid mine drainage formation and mobilization of pyrite-associated metals.

Kondo lattice heavy fermion behavior in CeRh2Ga2.

The physical properties of an intermetallic compound CeRh2Ga2 have been investigated by magnetic susceptibility [Formula: see text], isothermal magnetization M(H), heat capacity [Formula: see text], electrical resistivity [Formula: see text], thermal conductivity [Formula: see text] and thermopower S(T) measurements. CeRh2Ga2 is found to crystallize with CaBe2Ge2-type primitive tetragonal structure (space group P4/nmm). No evidence of long range magnetic order is seen down to 1.8 K. The [Formula: see text] data show paramagnetic behavior with an effective moment [Formula: see text]/Ce indicating Ce3+ valence state of Ce ions. The [Formula: see text] data exhibit Kondo lattice behavior with a metallic ground state. The low-T [Formula: see text] data yield an enhanced Sommerfeld coefficient [Formula: see text] mJ/mol K2 characterizing CeRh2Ga2 as a moderate heavy fermion system. The high-T [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] show an anomaly near 255 K, reflecting a phase transition. The [Formula: see text] suggests phonon dominated thermal transport with considerably higher values of Lorenz number L(T) compared to the theoretical Sommerfeld value L 0.

Interface phonon modes in the [AlN/GaN]20 and [Al0.35Ga0.65N/Al0.55Ga0.45N]20 2D multi-quantum well structures.

The observation of interface (IF) phonon modes in the recorded Raman spectra of c-plane oriented [AlN/GaN]20 and [Al0.35Ga0.65N/Al0.55Ga0.45N]20 multi-quantum well (MQW) structures grown via plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy is reported. The nominal shift in the IF phonon mode of E1 symmetry for [Al0.35Ga0.65N/Al0.55Ga0.45N]20 compared to that of the [AlN/GaN]20 MQW structure is understood on the basis of change in dielectric constants (εm) of the surrounding medium. The presence of buffer layers in [Al0.35Ga0.65N/Al0.55Ga0.45N]20 MQW over a sapphire substrate is also understood by characterizing the IF phonon mode of A1 symmetry. The observed IF phonon modes in the spectra are attributed to the relaxation of Raman selection rules away from the Brillouin zone centre because of the breakdown of the translational symmetry of surface potential due to the presence of the periodic interfaces and surface modulations in the superlattice structures of MQWs. The corresponding required edge lengths (L) of 2D plates, for the observation of the breakdown of the surface potential, are computed from the simulated dispersion relation curve of IF modes. The integral multiples of uniformly distributed platelets, originated due to the horizontal uneven irregularities on the surface of superlattices, are matched with the calculated L values.