Delayed Follow-up Visits and Thyrotropin Among Patients With Levothyroxine During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Context: The indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on clinical practice have received great attention, but evidence regarding thyroid disease management is lacking. Objective: We aimed to investigate the association between delayed follow-up visits during the pandemic and their serum thyrotropin (TSH) levels among patients being treated with levothyroxine. Methods: This study included 25 361 patients who made a follow-up visit as scheduled (n = 9063) or a delayed follow-up visit ( 4.5 mIU/L, aRR [95% CI] = 1.72 [1.60-1.85]; and TSH > 10 mIU/L, aRR [95% CI] = 2.38 [2.16-2.62]). Conclusion: A delayed follow-up visit during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with less well-controlled TSH among patients with levothyroxine

Competition between magnetic interactions and structural instabilities leading to itinerant frustration in the triangular lattice antiferromagnet LiCrSe2

LiCrSe2 constitutes a recent valuable addition to the ensemble of two-dimensional triangular lattice antiferromagnets. In this work, we present a comprehensive study of the low temperature nuclear and magnetic structure established in this material. Being subject to a strong magnetoelastic coupling, LiCrSe2 was found to undergo a first order structural transition from a trigonal crystal system (P3 \uaf m1) to a monoclinic one (C2/m) at T s = 30 K. Such restructuring of the lattice is accompanied by a magnetic transition at T N = 30 K. Refinement of the magnetic structure with neutron diffraction data and complementary muon spin rotation analysis reveal the presence of a complex incommensurate magnetic structure with a up-up-down-down arrangement of the chromium moments with ferromagnetic double chains coupled antiferromagnetically. The spin axial vector is also modulated both in direction and modulus, resulting in a spin density wave-like order with periodic suppression of the chromium moment along the chains. This behavior is believed to appear as a result of strong competition between direct exchange antiferromagnetic and superexchange ferromagnetic couplings established between both nearest neighbor and next nearest neighbor Cr3+ ions. We finally conjecture that the resulting magnetic order is stabilized via subtle vacancy/charge order within the lithium layers, potentially causing a mix of two co-existing magnetic phases within the sample

Differential regulations of abscisic acid-induced desiccation tolerance and vegetative dormancy by group B3 Raf kinases in liverworts

Phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays a key role in stomata closure, osmostress acclimation, and vegetative and embryonic dormancy. Group B3 Raf protein kinases (B3-Rafs) serve as positive regulators of ABA and osmostress signaling in the moss Physcomitrium patens and the angiosperm Arabidopsis thaliana. While P. patens has a single B3-Raf called ARK, specific members of B3-Rafs among six paralogs regulate ABA and osmostress signaling in A. thaliana, indicating functional diversification of B3-Rafs in angiosperms. However, we found that the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha, belonging to another class of bryophytes, has three paralogs of B3-Rafs, MpARK1, MpARK2, and MpARK3, with structural variations in the regulatory domains of the polypeptides. By reporter assays of the P. patens ark line and analysis of genome-editing lines of M. polymorpha, we found that these B3-Rafs are functionally redundant in ABA response, with respect to inhibition of growth, tolerance to desiccation and expression of stress-associated transcripts, the majority of which are under the control of the PYR/PYL/RCAR-like receptor MpPYL1. Interestingly, gemmae in gemma cups were germinating only in mutant lines associated with MpARK1, indicating that dormancy in the gametophyte is controlled by a specific B3-Raf paralog. These results indicated not only conservation of the role of B3-Rafs in ABA and osmostress response in liverworts but also functional diversification of B3-Rafs, which is likely to have occurred in the early stages of land plant evolution

Performance of fluoride and boron compounds against drywood and subterranean termites and decay and mold fungi

Sodium fluoride (NaF) and disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT) are well-known fungicides for preventing and remediating decay in wood and wood structures, due to their excellent diffusion properties in wood. The efficacy of both compounds against drywood termites is, however, inadequately studied; there is a lack of information on the development of proper protection and control methods against drywood termites using these diffusible chemicals. In this study, the threshold values of fluoride and boron against drywood and subterranean termites and decay and mold fungi were assessed in laboratory conditions. TreatedCryptomeria japonicaD. Don (sugi) sapwood specimens with four different concentrations of NaF and DOT applied by either dipping or vacuum processes were subjected to attack by drywood termites,Incisitermes minor(Hagen) for 6 weeks. Treated specimens were also tested against subterranean termites,Coptotermes formosanusShiraki for 3 weeks. Laboratory decay and mold resistance tests were then performed to determine the efficacy of the compounds against fungal attack. Results showed 80% or greater drywood termite mortality in wood specimens treated with NaF at a retention level of 1.7 kg m(-3)or more. In DOT treated groups, higher retention levels (greater than 6.8 kg m(-3)) were needed to reach up to 80% or more termite mortality. In general, weight losses in NaF-treated specimens were slightly lower than those in DOT-treated ones. Retention levels of around 1.2 kg m(-3)for NaF and 1.6 kg m(-3)for DOT were high enough to reach the JIS K 1571 threshold requirement of weight loss less than 3% in subterranean termite resistance tests. Slightly higher termite mortality values were seen in the DOT than NaF treatments at respective retention levels. In decay resistance tests, no weight losses were seen at a NaF retention level of 2.3 kg m(-3); however, a retention level of nearly 4 kg m(-3)for DOT was needed for complete protection against both test fungi. In most cases, lower weight losses were obtained in NaF-treated specimens when compared to DOT. In mold resistance tests, neither NaF nor DOT at even the highest retention level was able to completely inhibit mold growth on the surfaces of treated specimens

Boron, Fluoride and Copper Distribution in Treated Sugi Sapwood and Heartwood: Interactions Between the Elements

Aim of study: This study evaluated the distribution of boron (B), fluoride (F) and copper (Cu) elements in sugi wood by single and double treatments and the effect of each element on the elemental distribution in double treatments

Decay and termite resistance of boron-treated and chemically modified wood by in situ co-polymerization of allyl glycidyl ether (AGE) with methyl methacrylate (MMA)

Chemical modification was carried out on disodium octoborate tetrahydrate (DOT)-treated wood using allyl glycidyl ether (AGE) in combination with methyl methacrylate (MMA) to limit boron leaching. Co-polymerization of the monomers in DOT-treated sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) wood was completed by catalyst heat treatment. Besides boron leachability, the dimensional stability and decay, and termite resistance of chemically modified wood were also determined. Dimensional stability in terms of anti-swelling efficiency and water absorption was found to improve in chemically modified wood specimens. Co-polymerization of AGE with MMA in DOT-treated wood resulted in less boron leaching compared with DOT-only-treated wood. Chemically modified wood containing boron proved to be more resistant to the brown-rot fungus Fomitopsis palustris (Berkeley et Curtis) Murrill (FFPRI 0507) and the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor (L. ex Fr.) Quel. (FFPRI 1030) in laboratory decay resistance tests after severe leaching for 10 days. Termite resistance tests also showed that wood specimens treated with DOT and MMA plus AGE monomers were effective against subterranean termites Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki even after severe leaching cycles. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Modification of wood with Si compounds to limit boron leaching from treated wood and to increase termite and decay resistance

In this study, we tested tetraethoxysilane and methyltriethoxysilane lane as modifying silicon-based compounds for their potential to limit boron leachability from modified wood and to increase biological durability of the wood against fungi and termites. Both the silane Compounds were used in silane state where acidified ethanol was added and stirred at ambient temperature for 30 min. We used two different processes for preservative treatments: double treatment and single treatment. In double treatment, the specimens from sugi wood were first treated with boric acid at 1% concentration and subsequently treated with the silanes. In single treatment, boric acid was mixed with the silane compounds in the silane state yielding 1% boric acid concentration. Subsequent to the treatments, wood specimens were subjected to laboratory leaching tests, and leachates were analyzed for boron content with an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectrometry. ICP analyses showed that silane treatments were able to limit boron leaching from treated wood by about 40% in all cases for each silane compound. Wood specimens were then subjected to laboratory termite and decay resistance tests using the subterranean termites, Captotermes formosanus, and the wood decaying fungi, Fomitopsis palustris and Trametes versicolor. Termite and fungal decay resistance tests revealed that resistance of modified wood with the silane and boron compounds increased when compared to untreated and boron-only treated wood specimens. More in-depth studies on the mechanisms of interactions between the silicon compounds, boron elements and wood components are in progress. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Boron, Fluoride and Copper Distribution in Treated Sugi Sapwood and Heartwood: Interactions Between the Elements

Aim of study: This study evaluated the distribution of boron (B), fluoride (F) and copper (Cu) elements in sugi wood by single and double treatments and the effect of each element on the elemental distribution in double treatments

Termite resistance of solid wood and plywood treated with quaternary ammonia compounds and common fire retardants

Kartal, Nami/0000-0002-3085-5937WOS: 000290693900027The ability of termites to attack solid wood and plywood treated with quaternary ammonia compounds and common fire retardants was evaluated. The plywood and solid-wood specimens treated with either monoammonium phosphate (MAP), diammonium phosphate (DAP), ammonium sulfate (AS), didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC), or didecyl dimethyl ammonium tetrafluoroborate (DBF) were subjected to termite resistance tests using the subterranean termites Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki under laboratory conditions. The lowest mass losses and the highest termite mortalities were obtained for the solid-wood and plywood specimens treated with DDAC and DBF. Higher termite mortalities were seen in the plywood specimens treated with the fire retardants when compared to the solid-wood specimens. The MAP, DAP, and AS treatments lowered the mass losses in both solid-wood and plywood specimens in comparison with control specimens; however, DBF and DDAC protected specimens well against termite attack at both concentration levels tested. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Biological performance, water absorption, and swelling of wood treated with nano-particles combined with the application of Paraloid B72((R))

We evaluated fungal decay and mold resistance, leaching, and water absorption of nano-compounds and Paraloid B72(A (R)) (PB72) in treated wood specimens to develop new methods of consolidation by combining nano-particles and consolidants. Scots pine wood specimens were treated with dispersions of nano-CuO, nano-ZnO, nano-B2O3, nano-TiO2, and nano-CeO2. PB72 treatments of nano-particle-treated wood specimens were then carried out by either vacuum or immersion for 24 h. Previously, decayed wood specimens were also consolidated with the nano-compounds and PB72. PB72 treatments reduced element release from treated wood specimens. Nearly all nano-compounds + PB72 treatments increased the biological performance of treated wood specimens against decay fungi tested. PB72-only treated wood specimens had the highest weight losses in decay tests. No improvements were obtained in mold resistance tests when the nano-compounds and PB72 were combined. In nano-compound-only treatments, unleached specimens showed slightly lower water absorption values compared to untreated control specimens. Incorporation of PB72 into nano-compound-treated wood specimens resulted in considerably lower water absorption and volumetric swell. In previously decayed specimens treated with the nano-compounds and PB72 solution, water absorption after 2-h immersion declined compared to control specimens