Metal Substitution as the Method of Modifying Electronic Structure of Metal-Organic Frameworks.

Targeted modification of electronic structure is an important step in the optimization of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for photovoltaic, sensing, and photocatalytic applications. The key parameters to be controlled include the band gap, the absolute energy position of band edges, the excited state charge separation, and degree of hybridization between metal and ligand sites. Partial metal replacement, or metal doping, within secondary building units is a promising, yet relatively unexplored route to modulate these properties in MOFs. Therefore, in the present study, a general method for selecting metal dopant is worked out in theory and validated by experiment, retaining MIL-125 and UiO-66 as the model systems. Metal mixing enables targeted optimization of key electronic structure parameters. This method is applicable to any MOF architecture and can serve as a roadmap for future synthesis of MOFs with predefined properties

The lengths of Hermitian Self-Dual Extended Duadic Codes

Duadic codes are a class of cyclic codes that generalizes quadratic residue codes from prime to composite lengths. For every prime power q, we characterize the integers n such that over the finite field with q^2 elements there is a duadic code of length n having an Hermitian self-dual parity-check extension. We derive using analytic number theory asymptotic estimates for the number of such n as well as for the number of lengths for which duadic codes exist.Comment: To appear in the Journal of Pure and Applied Algebra. 21 pages and 1 Table. Corollary 4.9 and Theorem 5.8 have been added. Some small changes have been mad

Changes in Native Aquatic Vegetation, Associated Fish Assemblages, and Food Habits of Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) Following the Addition of Triploid Grass Carp to Manage Hydrilla (Hydrilla Verticillata) in Lake Conroe, TX

Nuisance aquatic vegetation (mainly Hydrilla Verticillata ) has become problematic in Lake Conroe, TX. Consequently, triploid grass carp (Ctenopharynogodon idella) were stocked at densities sufficient to completely denude the reservoir of all vegetation (invasive and native plants) within one year. As a result, an assessment was designed to investigate the changes (before and after carp stocking) in the plant assemblage among sampling stations, changes in water quality parameters, length frequency and condition changes of Centrachid species, largemouth diet changes, and changes in the fish assemblages among randomly selected sampling stations between early fall 2007, when grass carp were stocked, and one year later in early fall of 2008. The areas for sampling were based upon aquatic vegetation surveys by Texas Parks and Wildlife during 2007 and 2008, thirteen sampling stations were randomly selected using ArcGIS software and the percentage of water surface covered by vegetation was recorded at each station. Within each station, fish were collected by electrofishing the entire station for five minutes; water samples were also collected. Largemouth bass diet did significantly change for mature (<200 mm-TL) bass as indicated by a chi-square test. Largemouth bass from the samples were shown to consume less sunfish and more shad by the second (post-carp) sample. This is consistent with expected results due to the removal of vegetation consequently eliminating small sunfish habitat. In similar fashion, significant length-frequency changes were seen in the second year as there were fewer smaller (juvenile) Centrachid species found in the sampling sites. Contrary to the Centrachids, length-frequency of gizzard shad significantly decreased in size by the second sampling year. Based upon the aquatic vegetation surveys within the sampling sites of 2007 and 2008, there was an almost complete elimination of all aquatic plants following carp introduction. This result was consistent with what was expected from the carp introductions. Changes in water quality parameters (phosphorous, nitrate, nitrites, orthophosphate, chlorophyll (a)), were generally inconclusive, with the exception of nitrate which significantly increased by the second year. The water quality parameters along with other measured habitat parameters were used in the multivariate analysis

Concentration of anti-Müllerian hormone in dairy heifers is positively associated with productive herd life

Reliable biomarkers predictive of productive herd life (time in herd after birth of first calf) have heretofore not been discovered in dairy cattle. However, circulating concentrations of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) are positively associated with number of follicles or antral follicle count (AFC), ovarian function, and fertility, and approximately 25% of cows have a relatively low AFC and low AMH concentrations. The present study tested the hypothesis that heifers with the lowest AMH concentrations have suboptimal fertility and are removed from a herd for poor reproductive performance at a greater rate, and therefore have a shorter productive herd life compared with age-matched herdmates with higher AMH. To test this hypothesis, 11- to 15-mo-old Holstein heifers (n=281) were subjected to a single measurement of AMH. All heifers not removed from the herd had the opportunity to complete 2 lactations and start their third lactation after calving. During this time, performance and health parameters for each individual were recorded daily by herd managers. Results showed that the quartile of heifers with the lowest AMH concentration also had, on average, a shorter productive herd life (by 196 d), a reduced survival rate after birth of the first calf, the lowest level of milk production (first lactation), the lowest total percentage of cows pregnant (across all lactations), the highest culling rates (first and second lactations and overall), and the highest culling rate for poor reproduction (first lactation) compared with age-matched herdmates with higher AMH. We concluded that a single determination of AMH concentration in young adult dairy heifers may be a simple diagnostic method to predict herd longevity, and AMH may be a useful phenotypic marker to improve longevity of dairy cows

Association between Antenatal Vaginal Bleeding and Adverse Perinatal Outcomes in Placenta Accreta Spectrum

Background and Objectives: Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders are placental conditions associated with significant maternal morbidity and mortality. While antenatal vaginal bleeding in the setting of PAS is common, the implications of this on overall outcomes remain unknown. Our primary objective was to identify the implications of antenatal vaginal bleeding in the setting of suspected PAS on both maternal and fetal outcomes. Materials and Methods: We performed a case-control study of patients referred to our PAS center of excellence delivered by cesarean hysterectomy from 2012 to 2022. Subsequently, antenatal vaginal bleeding episodes were quantified, and components of maternal morbidity were assessed. A maternal composite of surgical morbidity was utilized, comprised of blood loss ≥ 2 L, transfusion ≥ 4 units of blood, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and post-operative length of stay ≥ 4 days. Results: During the time period, 135 cases of confirmed PAS were managed by cesarean hysterectomy. A total of 61/135 (45.2%) had at least one episode of bleeding antenatally, and 36 (59%) of these had two or more bleeding episodes. Increasing episodes of antenatal vaginal bleeding were associated with emergent delivery (p \u3c 0.01), delivery at an earlier gestational age (35 vs. 34 vs. 33 weeks, p \u3c 0.01), and increased composite maternal morbidity (76, 84, and 94%, p = 0.03). Conclusions: Antenatal vaginal bleeding in the setting of PAS is associated with increased emergent deliveries, earlier gestational ages, and maternal composite morbidity. This important antenatal event may aid in not only counseling patients but also in the coordination of multidisciplinary teams caring for these complex patients

Associations between long-term exercise participation and lower limb joint and whole-bone geometry in young and older adults

Introduction: Features of lower limb bone geometry are associated with movement kinematics and clinical outcomes including fractures and osteoarthritis. Therefore, it is important to identify their determinants. Lower limb geometry changes dramatically during development, partly due to adaptation to the forces experienced during physical activity. However, the effects of adulthood physical activity on lower limb geometry, and subsequent associations with muscle function are relatively unexplored. Methods: 43 adult males were recruited; 10 young (20–35 years) trained i.e., regional to world-class athletes, 12 young sedentary, 10 older (60–75 years) trained and 11 older sedentary. Skeletal hip and lower limb geometry including acetabular coverage and version angle, total and regional femoral torsion, femoral and tibial lateral and frontal bowing, and frontal plane lower limb alignment were assessed using magnetic resonance imaging. Muscle function was assessed recording peak power and force of jumping and hopping using mechanography. Associations between age, training status and geometry were assessed using multiple linear regression, whilst associations between geometry and muscle function were assessed by linear mixed effects models with adjustment for age and training. Results: Trained individuals had 2° (95% CI:0.6°–3.8°; p = 0.009) higher femoral frontal bowing and older individuals had 2.2° (95% CI:0.8°–3.7°; p = 0.005) greater lateral bowing. An age-by-training interaction indicated 4° (95% CI:1.4°–7.1°; p = 0.005) greater acetabular version angle in younger trained individuals only. Lower limb geometry was not associated with muscle function (p > 0.05). Discussion: The ability to alter skeletal geometry via exercise in adulthood appears limited, especially in epiphyseal regions. Furthermore, lower limb geometry does not appear to be associated with muscle function

An open‐source, expert‐designed decision tree application to support accurate diagnosis of myeloid malignancies

Accurate, reproducible diagnoses can be difficult to make in haemato-oncology due to multi-parameter clinical data, complex diagnostic criteria and time-pressured environments. We have designed a decision tree application (DTA) that reflects WHO diagnostic criteria to support accurate diagnoses of myeloid malignancies. The DTA returned the correct diagnoses in 94% of clinical cases tested. The DTA maintained a high level of accuracy in a second validation using artificially generated clinical cases. Optimisations have been made to the DTA based on the validations, and the revised version is now publicly available for use at http://bit.do/ADAtool