Charge-ordering, commensurability and metallicity in the phase diagram of layered Na(x)CoO(2)

The phase diagram of non-hydrated Na(x)CoO(2) has been determined by changing the Na content x using a series of chemical reactions. As x increases from 0.3, the ground state goes from a paramagnetic metal to a charge-ordered insulator (at x=1/2) to a `Curie-Weiss metal' (around 0.70), and finally to a weak-moment magnetically ordered state (x>0.75). The unusual properties of the state at 1/2 (including particle-hole symmetry at low T and enhanced thermal conductivity) are described. The strong coupling between the Na ions and the holes is emphasized.Comment: 4 pages with 3 figures, changed conten

Circulating microRNAs in sera correlate with soluble biomarkers of immune activation but do not predict mortality in ART treated individuals with HIV-1 infection: A case control study

Introduction: The use of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) has dramatically reduced HIV-1 associated morbidity and mortality. However, HIV-1 infected individuals have increased rates of morbidity and mortality compared to the non-HIV-1 infected population and this appears to be related to end-organ diseases collectively referred to as Serious Non-AIDS Events (SNAEs). Circulating miRNAs are reported as promising biomarkers for a number of human disease conditions including those that constitute SNAEs. Our study sought to investigate the potential of selected miRNAs in predicting mortality in HIV-1 infected ART treated individuals. Materials and Methods: A set of miRNAs was chosen based on published associations with human disease conditions that constitute SNAEs. This case: control study compared 126 cases (individuals who died whilst on therapy), and 247 matched controls (individuals who remained alive). Cases and controls were ART treated participants of two pivotal HIV-1 trials. The relative abundance of each miRNA in serum was measured, by RTqPCR. Associations with mortality (all-cause, cardiovascular and malignancy) were assessed by logistic regression analysis. Correlations between miRNAs and CD4+ T cell count, hs-CRP, IL-6 and D-dimer were also assessed. Results: None of the selected miRNAs was associated with all-cause, cardiovascular or malignancy mortality. The levels of three miRNAs (miRs -21, -122 and -200a) correlated with IL-6 while miR-21 also correlated with D-dimer. Additionally, the abundance of miRs -31, -150 and -223, correlated with baseline CD4+ T cell count while the same three miRNAs plus miR- 145 correlated with nadir CD4+ T cell count. Discussion: No associations with mortality were found with any circulating miRNA studied. These results cast doubt onto the effectiveness of circulating miRNA as early predictors of mortality or the major underlying diseases that contribute to mortality in participants treated for HIV-1 infection

Elective cancer surgery in COVID-19-free surgical pathways during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An international, multicenter, comparative cohort study

PURPOSE As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19–free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19–free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19–free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19–free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score–matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19–free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19-Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19-free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19-free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS: Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19-free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19-free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score-matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19-free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Development and Validation of a Risk Score for Chronic Kidney Disease in HIV Infection Using Prospective Cohort Data from the D:A:D Study

Ristola M. on työryhmien DAD Study Grp ; Royal Free Hosp Clin Cohort ; INSIGHT Study Grp ; SMART Study Grp ; ESPRIT Study Grp jäsen.Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major health issue for HIV-positive individuals, associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Development and implementation of a risk score model for CKD would allow comparison of the risks and benefits of adding potentially nephrotoxic antiretrovirals to a treatment regimen and would identify those at greatest risk of CKD. The aims of this study were to develop a simple, externally validated, and widely applicable long-term risk score model for CKD in HIV-positive individuals that can guide decision making in clinical practice. Methods and Findings A total of 17,954 HIV-positive individuals from the Data Collection on Adverse Events of Anti-HIV Drugs (D:A:D) study with >= 3 estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values after 1 January 2004 were included. Baseline was defined as the first eGFR > 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 after 1 January 2004; individuals with exposure to tenofovir, atazanavir, atazanavir/ritonavir, lopinavir/ritonavir, other boosted protease inhibitors before baseline were excluded. CKD was defined as confirmed (>3 mo apart) eGFR In the D:A:D study, 641 individuals developed CKD during 103,185 person-years of follow-up (PYFU; incidence 6.2/1,000 PYFU, 95% CI 5.7-6.7; median follow-up 6.1 y, range 0.3-9.1 y). Older age, intravenous drug use, hepatitis C coinfection, lower baseline eGFR, female gender, lower CD4 count nadir, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) predicted CKD. The adjusted incidence rate ratios of these nine categorical variables were scaled and summed to create the risk score. The median risk score at baseline was -2 (interquartile range -4 to 2). There was a 1: 393 chance of developing CKD in the next 5 y in the low risk group (risk score = 5, 505 events), respectively. Number needed to harm (NNTH) at 5 y when starting unboosted atazanavir or lopinavir/ritonavir among those with a low risk score was 1,702 (95% CI 1,166-3,367); NNTH was 202 (95% CI 159-278) and 21 (95% CI 19-23), respectively, for those with a medium and high risk score. NNTH was 739 (95% CI 506-1462), 88 (95% CI 69-121), and 9 (95% CI 8-10) for those with a low, medium, and high risk score, respectively, starting tenofovir, atazanavir/ritonavir, or another boosted protease inhibitor. The Royal Free Hospital Clinic Cohort included 2,548 individuals, of whom 94 individuals developed CKD (3.7%) during 18,376 PYFU (median follow-up 7.4 y, range 0.3-12.7 y). Of 2,013 individuals included from the SMART/ESPRIT control arms, 32 individuals developed CKD (1.6%) during 8,452 PYFU (median follow-up 4.1 y, range 0.6-8.1 y). External validation showed that the risk score predicted well in these cohorts. Limitations of this study included limited data on race and no information on proteinuria. Conclusions Both traditional and HIV-related risk factors were predictive of CKD. These factors were used to develop a risk score for CKD in HIV infection, externally validated, that has direct clinical relevance for patients and clinicians to weigh the benefits of certain antiretrovirals against the risk of CKD and to identify those at greatest risk of CKD.Peer reviewe

Ligand-based solid solution approach to stabilisation of sulphonic acid groups in porous coordination polymer Zr_{6}O_{4}(OH)_{4}(BDC)_{6} (UiO-66).

By adopting a ligand-based solid solution approach, the sulphonic acid functional group can be successfully incorporated into a porous coordination polymer with UiO-66 structure type. Zr_{6}O_{4}(OH)_{4}(BDC-SO_{3}H)_{1.1}(BDC)_{4.9} possesses enhanced heat of adsorption for carbon dioxide and acetone compared to Zr_{6}O_{4}(OH)_{4}(BDC)_{6}

General guide to the exhibition halls of the American Museum of Natural History, 1930.

The synthesis and characterization of three barium coordination polymers with one-, two-, and three-dimensional (1-D, 2-D, 3-D) inorganic connectivity based on biphenyl carboxylic acid ligands are described. Employing biphenyl-3,3′,5,5′-tetracarboxylic acid (H₄BTTC) as a ligand, [Ba₂(BTTC)­(H₂O)₂]_<i>n</i> (<b>1</b>, space group = <i>Pn</i>2₁<i>a</i>, <i>a</i> = 7.059(1) Å, <i>b</i> = 12.432(2) Å, <i>c</i> = 19.090(3) Å), a coordination polymer with 1-D inorganic connectivity (I¹O²), can be synthesized. The coordinated water is strongly coordinated and removed at 270 °C. By using 4,4′-biphenyldicarboxylic acid (H₂BPDC), [Ba­(BPDC)]_<i>n</i> (<b>2</b>, space group = <i>C</i>2/<i>m</i>, <i>a</i> = 6.955(2) Å, <i>b</i> = 5.947(1) Å, <i>c</i> = 13.852 (4) Å, β = 92.399(4)°) a coordination polymer with 2-D inorganic connectivity (I²O¹) is obtained. The connection of the Ba–O bonds in each layer is topologically similar to CaF₂. Using biphenyl-3,5,5′-tricarboxylic acid (H₃BPTC) as a ligand, [Ba₃(BPTC)₂(NMF)₅⊃2NMF]_<i>n</i> (<b>3</b>, space group = <i>I</i>4̅2<i>d</i>, <i>a</i> = 25.984(3) Å, <i>c</i> = 13.999(2) Å) (NMF = <i>N</i>-methyl formamide), a structurally porous coordination polymer with rare 3-D inorganic connectivity (I³O⁰) can be synthesized. Hence, barium as a metal is extremely malleable with respect to construction of coordination polymers of different inorganic dimensionalities. <b>2</b> with I²O¹ connectivity demonstrates extraordinary thermal stability and maintains its crystallinity until decomposition at 590 °C. The luminescence behavior of <b>1</b>, <b>2</b>, and <b>3</b> at room temperature has been investigated and is predominantly intraligand based

A Family of Rare Earth Porous Coordination Polymers with Different Flexibility for CO₂/C₂H₄ and CO₂/C₂H₆ Separation

A family of new porous coordination polymers (PCPs) were prepared by the reaction of an acylamide modified ligand (H₃L) and RE­(NO)₃·​<i>x</i>H₂O (RE = Y, La, Ce, Nd, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, and Tm). PXRD and single-crystal X-ray analyses of them revealed that, besides the La PCP, all other rare earth members gave isomorphous structures. The two types of structural toplogies obtained, although similar, differ in their alignment of acylamide functional groups and structural flexibility. Adsorption experiments and in situ DRIFT spectra showed that rigid frameworks have the typical microporous behavior and poor selective capture of CO₂ over C₂H₄ and C₂H₆; however, the unique La-PCP with structural flexibility and close-packed acylamide groups has a high selective capture of CO₂ with respect to C₂H₆ or C₂H₄ at 273 K, especially at the ambient pressure area (0.1–1 bar)

A Family of Rare Earth Porous Coordination Polymers with Different Flexibility for CO₂/C₂H₄ and CO₂/C₂H₆ Separation

A family of new porous coordination polymers (PCPs) were prepared by the reaction of an acylamide modified ligand (H₃L) and RE­(NO)₃·​<i>x</i>H₂O (RE = Y, La, Ce, Nd, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, and Tm). PXRD and single-crystal X-ray analyses of them revealed that, besides the La PCP, all other rare earth members gave isomorphous structures. The two types of structural toplogies obtained, although similar, differ in their alignment of acylamide functional groups and structural flexibility. Adsorption experiments and in situ DRIFT spectra showed that rigid frameworks have the typical microporous behavior and poor selective capture of CO₂ over C₂H₄ and C₂H₆; however, the unique La-PCP with structural flexibility and close-packed acylamide groups has a high selective capture of CO₂ with respect to C₂H₆ or C₂H₄ at 273 K, especially at the ambient pressure area (0.1–1 bar)