Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Within a National Multispecialty Surgical Quality Improvement Program.

Importance: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly recognized for their ability to promote patient-centered care, but concerted health information technology (HIT)-enabled PROM implementations have yet to be achieved for national surgical quality improvement. Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of collecting PROMs within a national surgical quality improvement program. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a pragmatic implementation cohort study conducted from February 2020 to March 2023. Hospitals in the US participating in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program and their patients were included in this analysis. Exposures: Strategies to increase PROM collection rates were identified using the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Framework for Spread and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and operationalized with the IHI Model for Improvement's Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary goal was to accrue more than 30 hospitals and achieve collection rates of 30% or greater in the first 3 years. Logistic regression was used to identify hospital-level factors associated with achieving collection rates of 30% or greater and to identify patient-level factors associated with response to PROMs. Results: At project close, 65 hospitals administered PROMs to 130 365 patients (median [IQR] age, 60.1 [46.2-70.0] years; 77 369 female [59.4%]). Fifteen PDSA cycles were conducted to facilitate implementation, primarily targeting the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research domains of Inner Setting (ie, HIT platform) and Individuals (ie, patients). The target collection rate was exceeded in quarter 3 (2022). Fifty-eight hospitals (89.2%) achieved collection rates of 30% or greater, and 9 (13.8%) achieved collection rates of 50% or greater. The median (IQR) maximum hospital-level collection rate was 40.7% (34.6%-46.7%). The greatest increases in collection rates occurred when both email and short-message service text messaging were used, communications to patients were personalized with their surgeon's and hospital's information, and the number of reminders increased from 2 to 5. No identifiable hospital characteristic was associated with achieving the target collection rate. Patient age and insurance status contributed to nonresponse. Conclusions and Relevance: Results of this cohort study suggest that the large-scale electronic collection of PROMs into a national multispecialty surgical registry was feasible. Findings suggest that HIT platform functionality and earning patient trust were the keys to success; although, iterative opportunities to increase collection rates and address nonresponse remain. Future work to drive continuous surgical quality improvement with PROMs are ongoing.

Prospective case series study on the survival rates of occlusal polymethyl methacrylate veneers as a semipermanent therapy in patients with severe pathologic tooth wear.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the survival rate of minimally invasive semipermanent occlusal polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) onlays/veneers in previous temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients with severe tooth wear and with a loss of vertical dimension after up to 7 years. METHOD AND MATERIALS: This case series was designed as a follow-up evaluation with consecutive patient recruitment. All patients bearing the indication for this kind of rehabilitation were treated by the same clinician using the same adhesive methodology. The study included 22 patients (3 males/19 females), with a mean [SD] age of 50.7 [11.6] years. Controls followed within the first 4 weeks (and subsequently as required). Failure criteria included damage by fracture, chipping, and retention loss. Survival rates were determined based on the Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: 328 semipermanent occlusal/incisal veneers were included (142 maxillary/186 mandibular teeth). Almost 80% of the restorations were in place and in function when starting the follow-up treatment after 180 days; failures predominantly occurred within the first 3 to 6 months but proved reparable. Depending on the patients' priorities, scheduled replacements followed successively, and more than 65% did not show repair or any renewal needs for more than 360 days. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study the survival rates of occlusal veneers made of PMMA were sufficiently high to allow for consecutive treatment of the respective teeth by means of permanent restorations while preserving the restored vertical dimension. In patients with severe tooth wear and a TMD history, semipermanent restorative therapy with occlusal PMMA onlays/veneers would seem a noteworthy option.

Cu-Catalyzed Amination of Base-Sensitive Aryl Bromides and the Chemoselective N- and O-Arylation of Amino Alcohols.

We report a general and functional-group-tolerant method for the Cu-catalyzed amination of base-sensitive aryl bromides including substrates possessing acidic functional groups and small five-membered heteroarenes. The results presented herein substantially expand the scope of Cu-catalyzed C-N coupling reactions. The combination of L8, an anionic N1,N2-diarylbenzene-1,2-diamine ligand, along with the mild base NaOTMS leads to the formation of a stable yet reactive catalyst that resists deactivation from coordination to heterocycles or charged intermediates. This system enables the use of low catalyst and ligand loadings. Exploiting the differences in nucleophile deprotonation in C-O and C-N coupling reactions catalyzed by Cu·L8 we developed a method to chemoselectively N- and O-arylate a variety of amino alcohol substrates. Employing NaOt-Bu as the base resulted exclusively in C-O coupling when the amino alcohols featured primary alcohols and more hindered amines or aniline groups. Utilizing NaOTMS enabled the ability to override the steric-based selectivity of these reactions completely and exclusively promoted C-N coupling regardless of the structure of the amino alcohol. The ability to invert the observed chemoselectivity is distinct from previously described methods that require protecting group manipulations or rely entirely on steric effects to control reactivity. These results substantially improve the scope of Cu-catalyzed C-N coupling reactions using N1,N2-diarylbenzene-1,2-diamine ligands and introduce a new chemoselective method to arylate amino alcohols.

Adding Patient-Reported Outcomes to the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program: Results of the First 33,842 Patients from 65 Hospitals.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the initial set of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in the ACS NSQIP and their associations with 30-day surgical outcomes. BACKGROUND: PROs provide important information that can be used to improve routine care and facilitate quality improvement. The ACS conducted a demonstration project to capture PROs into the NSQIP to complement clinical data. METHODS: From 2/2020-3/2023, 65 hospitals collected PROMIS measures assessing global health, pain interference, fatigue, and physical function from patients accrued into the NSQIP. Using multivariable mixed regression, we compared the scores of patients with and without 30-day complications and further analyzed scores exceeding one standard deviation (1-SD) worse than national benchmarks. RESULTS: Overall, 33842 patients completed the PROMIS measures a median 58 days (IQR 47-72) postoperatively. Among patients without complications (n=31210), 33.9% had PRO scores 1-SD worse than national benchmarks. Patients with complications were 1.7-times more likely to report worse PROs (95% CI 1.6-1.8). Patients with complications had lower scores for global physical health (adjusted mean difference [AMD] 2.6, 95% CI 2.2-3.0), lower for global mental health (AMD 1.8, 95% CI 1.4-2.2), higher for pain interference (AMD 2.4, 95% CI 2.0-2.8), higher fatigue (AMD 2.7, 95% CI 2.3-3.1), and lower physical function (AMD 3.2, 95% CI 2.8-3.5). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative complications negatively affect multiple key dimensions of patients' health-related quality of life. PROs were well below national benchmarks for many patients, even among those without complications. Identifying solutions to improve PROs after surgery thus remains a tremendous quality opportunity.

Parity affects mammary development in late-pregnant swine.

The goal of this project was to determine whether various measures of mammary development differed between gilts and multiparous sows at the end of gestation. During gestation, Yorkshire × Landrace gilts (n = 19) and sows (second and third gestations, n = 17) were fed one daily meal of a conventional corn-based diet, where the amount fed was based on body weight (BW) and backfat thickness (BF) at mating. On day 110 ±â€…1 of gestation, a jugular blood sample was obtained from all gilts and sows to measure insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), glucose, free fatty acids, and urea. On that same day, BW and BF were measured and animals were euthanized. Mammary glands from one side of the udder were dissected for compositional analyses. The fifth gland of the contralateral row of mammary glands was sampled for histology and immunohistochemical localization of Ki67. There was less total parenchyma (1,437.4 vs. 2,004.7 ±â€…127.1 g; P < 0.001) and total extraparenchymal tissue (1,691.0 vs. 2,407.0 ±â€…125.3 g; P < 0.001) in mammary glands of gilts compared to those from sows. When these values were expressed per kg BW (226.0 and 284.0 ±â€…2.7 kg for gilts and sows, respectively), parenchymal mass did not differ (P > 0.10), while extraparenchymal tissue weight tended to be less in gilts than sows (P = 0.07). All components within the parenchyma differed by parity (P < 0.001). Specifically, parenchymal tissue from gilts contained a greater proportion of fat and dry matter (DM), a lower proportion of protein, and lower concentrations of DNA (6.59 vs. 9.35 ±â€…0.53 mg/g DM) and RNA (7.76 vs. 12.33 ±â€…0.70 mg/g DM) than that from sows. On the other hand, the circumference of alveolar lumens was greater in gilts than sows (P < 0.001), while the percentage of epithelial cells that were positive for Ki67, a marker of cell proliferation, was greater in sows than gilts (P < 0.05). Circulating concentrations of IGF-1 were greater in gilts than in multiparous sows (45.0 vs. 27.3 ±â€…2.8 ng/mL, P < 0.001). None of the other blood variables were changed by parity. Results show a marked effect of parity on mammary gland development in swine. At the end of gestation, the mammary glands of gilts had less parenchyma with lower epithelial proliferation than glands from multiparous sows. These differences could alter the response of mammary tissue to various nutritional or endocrine signals. This information is crucial for the development of management strategies designed to maximize sow milk yield.

Optimal protein concentration in diets for sows during the transition period.

The aim of the present study was to determine the optimal concentration of dietary protein required in transition diets for multiparous sows that enhance the farrowing process, colostrum production, and subsequent lactation performance. Forty-eight multiparous sows were allotted to one of six dietary treatments according to body weight (290 ±â€…3 kg) and parity (3.8 ±â€…0.2) from day 108 of gestation until 24 h after the onset of farrowing. The diets were isoenergetic and contained increasing concentrations of dietary protein (expressed as standardized ileal digestible [SID] Lys) and were supplied at a daily feed supply of 3.8 kg. On day 108 of gestation and days 2, 7, 14, 21, and 28 of lactation, body weight, and back fat thickness were recorded, and blood was sampled on day 108 of gestation, at the onset of farrowing, and days 3, 10, 17, and 24 of lactation from the sows for analysis of plasma metabolites. On day 115 of gestation, urine, and feces were collected for nitrogen (N) balance. The number of liveborn and stillborn piglets and time of birth were recorded and blood from every fourth piglet was sampled at birth for blood gas analysis. Piglets were weighed individually from birth until weaning, to estimate the colostrum and milk yield of the sows. Colostrum and milk samples were collected, and their compositions were determined. On days 3 and 28 of lactation, sows were injected with deuterium oxide to estimate body composition. The N utilization was maximized when the concentration of SID Lys in the transition diet was 6.06 g/kg (P < 0.01). When urinary concentrations of urea were expressed relative to creatinine, the relative concentration of urea remained low until a dietary concentration of 6.08 g SID Lys/kg, above which the relative concentration of urea increased (P < 0.01). Stillbirth rate increased linearly with increasing SID Lys concentration in the transition diet (P < 0.001), thus the concentration of SID Lys should be kept as low as possible without impairing sow performance excessively. A carry-over effect on milk yield was observed, showing that a dietary SID Lys concentration of 5.79 g/kg during transition optimized milk production at an average yield of 13.5 kg/d (P = 0.04). Increasing loss of body fat in lactation was observed with increasing SID Lys concentration in the transition diet (P = 0.03). In conclusion, the transition diet of multiparous sows should contain 5.79 g SID Lys/kg when fed 3.8 kg/d (13.0 MJ ME/kg), for a total SID Lys intake of 22 g/d.

In late gestation, the protein requirement of sows increases rapidly due to growth of the fetuses and mammary glands, whereas their energy requirement only is slightly increasing. Recent studies show that a feed supply of 4.1 kg/d in the last week of gestation is beneficial for the farrowing process and subsequent lactation performance. However, studies on feed supply cannot separate the effects of dietary fractions, so the sows' requirement for protein in the transition period remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to determine the dietary protein requirement of multiparous sows using a dose­response design with six diets containing increasing dietary protein (expressed as standardized ileal digestible [SID] Lys) from 3.99 to 8.57 g SID Lys/kg at a feeding level of 3.8 kg/d. Results indicate that the utilization of nitrogen (protein) during the transition period was maximized when the diet contained 6.06 g SID Lys/kg. Colostrum yield was unaffected by dietary treatment while dietary SID Lys in transition diet was found to have a carry-over effect on milk yield in the subsequent lactation period that was optimized at 5.79 g SID Lys/kg. As the concentration of SID Lys in the transition diet increased, stillbirth rate also increased, therefore, the concentration of SID Lys should be kept as low as possible without impairing sow performance excessively. In conclusion, the transition diet of multiparous sows should contain 5.79 g SID Lys/kg when fed 3.8 kg/d (13.0 MJ ME/kg), for a total SID Lys intake of 22 g/d.

Distribution of global sea turtle nesting explained from regional-scale coastal characteristics.

Climate change and human activity threaten sea turtle nesting beaches through increased flooding and erosion. Understanding the environmental characteristics that enable nesting can aid to preserve and expand these habitats. While numerous local studies exist, a comprehensive global analysis of environmental influences on the distribution of sea turtle nesting habitats remains largely unexplored. Here, we relate the distribution of global sea turtle nesting to 22 coastal indicators, spanning hydrodynamic, atmospheric, geophysical, habitat, and human processes. Using state-of-the-art global datasets and a novel 50-km-resolution hexagonal coastline grid (Coastgons), we employ machine learning to identify spatially homogeneous patterns in the indicators and correlate these to the occurrence of nesting grounds. Our findings suggest sea surface temperature, tidal range, extreme surges, and proximity to coral and seagrass habitats significantly influence global nesting distribution. Low tidal ranges and low extreme surges appear to be particularly favorable for individual species, likely due to reduced nest flooding. Other indicators, previously reported as influential (e.g., precipitation and wind speed), were not as important in our global-scale analysis. Finally, we identify new, potentially suitable nesting regions for each species. On average, [Formula: see text] of global coastal regions between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] latitude could be suitable for nesting, while only [Formula: see text] is currently used by turtles, showing that the realized niche is significantly smaller than the fundamental niche, and that there is potential for sea turtles to expand their nesting habitat. Our results help identify suitable nesting conditions, quantify potential hazards to global nesting habitats, and lay a foundation for nature-based solutions to preserve and potentially expand these habitats.

Tooth Wear Evaluation System 2.0-Evaluation of diagnostic reliability in the assessment of signs and symptoms for tooth wear by non-experts.

BACKGROUND: Tooth wear is a multifactorial condition that manifests through various signs and symptoms. These individual signs and symptoms were described in multiple studies, leading to the inclusion in TWES 2.0 (Tooth Wear Evaluation System 2.0) and the forthcoming DC-TW (Diagnostic Criteria for Tooth Wear). However, a study evaluating their reliability has yet to be conducted. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to examine the reliability in the assessment of 6 signs of pathological tooth wear and 18 clinical signs and symptoms determining aetiology, all of which are included in the TWES 2.0/DC-TW. METHODS: 48 dental students (operators) evaluated patient cases from a patient pool of 14 patients on dental casts and high-resolution intraoral photographs. The agreement between all operators for each sign and symptom was calculated based on ICC (Intraclass Correlation Coefficients). Additionally, the agreement of each operator's evaluation with a predefined sample solution was calculated based on Cohen's kappa. RESULTS: Inter-user agreement ranged from near perfect (0.91) to poor (0.02) for the various pathology signs or aetiology symptoms of tooth wear (mean 0.32). The agreements of the operator's ratings compared to the sample solution resulted in Cohen's kappa from 0.18 to 1 (mean 0.59) for the pathology signs and ranged from 0.02 to 0.51 for the aetiology signs (mean 0.38). CONCLUSIONS: The reliability of the signs and symptoms examined and the ability of individual investigators to correctly identify and assign signs and symptoms varied widely. The current assessment tools for the qualification of tooth wear need further refinement, and examiners need intensive training in tooth wear assessment.

Dietary supplementation with lysine (protein) in late pregnancy does not enhance mammary development in multiparous sows.

This project was conducted to determine if providing standardized ileal digestible (SID) Lys at 40% above estimated requirements (NRC, 2012), with the concomitant increased protein intake, from days 90 to 110 of gestation stimulates mammary development in multiparous sows. From day 90 of gestation, Yorkshire × Landrace multiparous sows (parities 2 and 3) were fed 2.6 kg/d of either a conventional diet (CTL, control, n = 17) providing 14.8 g/d of SID Lys or a diet providing 20.8 g/d of SID Lys via additional soybean meal (HILYS, n = 16). The diets were isoenergetic. Concentrations of IGF-1, glucose, free fatty acids (FFA), urea, and amino acids (AA) were measured in jugular blood samples obtained on days 90 and 110 of gestation. Sows were necropsied on day 110 ±â€…1 of gestation to obtain mammary glands for compositional and histological analyses. Backfat or BW changes of sows during late gestation were unaffected by treatment (P > 0.10), as was the case for fetal BW (P > 0.10). None of the variables measured in mammary tissue were altered by supplementary Lys (P > 0.10). Circulating IGF-1, glucose, and FFA did not differ (P > 0.10) between HILYS and CTL sows on day 110 of gestation, whereas concentrations of urea were greater (P < 0.01) in HILYS versus CTL gilts. Concentrations of Ile and Thr in plasma were also greater (P < 0.05), and those of Glu were lower (P < 0.01) in HILYS than CTL sows. These results demonstrate that feeding Lys (via protein) above current NRC recommendations during late gestation does not improve mammary development of multiparous sows. Hence, the use of a two-phase feeding strategy to provide more Lys (protein) to multiparous sows during this period is not necessary.

Results indicate that there is no advantage in terms of mammary development to feeding late-pregnant multiparous sows with 40% more lysine (via protein) than current recommendations (NRC, 2012). From days 90 to 110 of gestation, multiparous sows (parities 2 and 3) were fed 2.6 kg/d of either a conventional diet providing 14.8 g/d of standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine or a diet providing 20.8 g/d of SID lysine via the inclusion of additional soybean meal. Diets were isoenergetic. Feeding supplementary SID lysine had no effect on mammary development at the end of gestation. Contrary to our previous report for gilts, mammary gland development is not improved by providing more lysine to multiparous sows in late gestation. Such information is crucial for developing the best feeding strategies to maximize milk yield. The use of a two-phase feeding strategy to provide more lysine (protein) as of day 90 of gestation is not necessary in multiparous sows.

Supplementation of palmitoleic acid improved piglet growth and reduced body temperature drop upon cold exposure.

Piglet survival is a major challenge in the first few days postpartum and interventions during this period may improve survival and growth. This study investigated the effects of palmitoleic acid (C16:1n-7; PA) supplementation on growth performance, body temperature, fatty acid (FA), and energy metabolism in milk-replacer-fed piglets. Forty-eight piglets were stratified by body weight and randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments (0%, 1%, 2%, and 3% PA supplementation as a percent of milk replacer) and given the diet through an orogastric tube. They were fed dietary treatments every 2 h for 4 d in the first week postpartum and all were sacrificed at the end of the experiment. The piglets were weighed daily, and half in each dietary treatment group, the same piglets each day, were exposed daily to a lower temperature for 2 h. Plasma samples were collected immediately before sacrifice for analyses of FA and other plasma metabolites. The weight of organs and empty body weight were determined after sacrifice. Liver and semimembranosus muscle tissue samples were collected and analyzed for FA content. Contents of C16:1n-7 and C18:1n-7 in both plasma and liver (P < 0.001), and C16:1n-7 in semimembranosus muscle (P < 0.001) increased linearly as PA supplementation increased. Most plasma FA levels (except C16:1n-7, C16:1n-9, and C22:5n-3) were lower in piglets exposed to lower temperatures than those that were not. Plasma glucose, triglycerides, and lactate dehydrogenase levels increased linearly with PA supplementation (P < 0.001). Piglets' average daily gain, liver glycogen pool, liver weight, and gallbladder weight increased linearly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.05, and P < 0.001, respectively), but lung weight, liver nitrogen content, and body temperature drop decreased linearly (P < 0.01, P < 0.001, and P < 0.05, respectively) with PA supplementation. Piglets exposed to low temperature had greater liver nitrogen (P < 0.05) and lactate dehydrogenase (P < 0.001) contents but had lower liver weight (P < 0.01) and plasma lactate concentration (P < 0.05) than those that were not. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the importance of PA on the growth performance of the piglets by increasing their average daily gain and decreasing a drop in body temperature upon cold exposure, most likely due to a modified energy metabolism.

Reducing piglet mortality in the early days after birth is a significant challenge in the modern pig industry. The focus on achieving larger litter sizes has had a negative impact on piglets' birth weight and their intake of colostrum. Additionally, piglets are born without easily oxidizable brown adipose tissue and have limited body reserves, making them more vulnerable to death due to their lower capacity for thermogenesis. Therefore, it is important to explore dietary strategies that can enhance piglets' thermogenesis capacity. In this study, the role of palmitoleic acid supplementation was investigated in a dose-response design to determine its impact on growth performance, fatty acid composition, and energy metabolism of milk-replacer-fed piglets during their first week of life. The results revealed a linear increase in the average daily gain of the piglets, liver weight, and liver glycogen content with increasing palmitoleic acid supplementation. Moreover, increased palmitoleic acid supplementation was associated with a drop in body temperature when piglets were exposed to a lower temperature during the experimental period. Altogether, the study indicated that palmitoleic acid has a sparing effect on glycogen reserves and that a greater proportion of energy utilized by the piglets to maintain their body temperature was derived from the oxidation of fatty acids. The results indicated a promising approach to improve piglet survival and growth through dietary modifications of fatty acids in the diet.

Freehand vs. depth-gauge rotary instruments for veneer preparation: A controlled randomized simulator study.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether depth-gauge burs in veneer preparations influence preparation depth in a randomized, controlled, single-blinded trial and whether inexperienced operators can perform adequate veneer preparations. METHODS: Participants were 20 undergraduate dental students with no prior veneer preparation experience. The instruments used were the "Laminate Veneer System" (LVS), "Keramik-Veneers. de" (KVD), and a "Freehand" group (FH) for reference. All participants prepared three educational acrylic resin maxillae and three mandibular central incisors mounted in typodonts in patient simulators. The objectives were to achieve a preparation depth of 0.6 mm (tooth 11) and 0.4 mm (tooth 31). The sequences of the instruments used and prepared teeth were randomized. The measurements were performed using a laser triangulation coordinate-measuring machine. The data were stratified according to tooth location. RESULTS: The preparation depths of both depth-gauge-instrument-groups LVS and KVD achieved the objectives significantly better than did the instruments from the "Freehand" group (P < 0.001). The differences between the depth gauge groups were insignificant, although the maximum preparation depths were smaller in the KVD group. Regarding the prepared teeth, the preparation depths in the mandibular incisors were lower, and the differences were smaller. CONCLUSIONS: The use of special depth-gauge burs for initial veneer preparation leads to significantly lower preparation depths than "Freehand" preparations. The tapered instruments resulted in a lower incidence of extreme preparation depths. The inexperienced operators performed veneer preparation remarkably well.

Scientific Machine Learning of 2D Perovskite Nanosheet Formation.

We apply a scientific machine learning (ML) framework to aid the prediction and understanding of nanomaterial formation processes via a joint spectral-kinetic model. We apply this framework to study the nucleation and growth of two-dimensional (2D) perovskite nanosheets. Colloidal nanomaterials have size-dependent optical properties and can be observed in situ, all of which make them a good model for understanding the complex processes of nucleation, growth, and phase transformation of 2D perovskites. Our results demonstrate that this model nanomaterial can form through two processes at the nanoscale: either via a layer-by-layer chemical exfoliation process from lead bromide nanocrystals or via direct nucleation from precursors. We utilize a phenomenological kinetic analysis to study the exfoliation process and scientific machine learning to study the direct nucleation and growth and discuss the circumstances under which it is more appropriate to use phenomenological or more complex machine learning models. Data for both analysis techniques are collected through in situ spectroscopy in a stopped flow chamber, incorporating over 500,000 spectra taken under more than 100 different conditions. More broadly, our research shows that the ability to utilize and integrate traditional kinetics and machine learning methods will greatly assist in the understanding of complex chemical systems.

Songbird germline-restricted chromosome as a potential arena of genetic conflicts.

Genetic conflicts can arise between components of the genome with different inheritance strategies. The germline-restricted chromosome (GRC) of songbirds shows unusual mitotic and meiotic transmission compared with the rest of the genome. It is excluded from somatic cells and maintained only in the germline. It is usually present in one copy in the male germline and eliminated during spermatogenesis, while in the female germline, it usually occurs in two copies and behaves as a regular chromosome. Here, we review what is known about the GRC's evolutionary history, genetic content, and expression and discuss how it may be involved in different types of genetic conflicts. Finally, we interrogate the potential role of the GRC in songbird germline development, highlighting several unsolved mysteries.

Condylar motion analysis: a controlled, blinded clinical study on the interindividual reproducibility of standardized evaluation of computer-recorded condylar movements.

The present study investigated to what extent a systematic evaluation of electronic condylar motion recordings leads to reproducible results in different examiners. The study was based on the anonymized condylar motion recordings of 20 patients (Cadiax compact II system). These were recruited consecutively from the examinations in a center specializing in diagnosing and managing temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Four trained practitioners independently evaluated the identical movement recordings of all patients after calibration. The evaluation was based on the previously published evaluation system. The results were recorded digitally in a database. The findings were then compared, and the matching values were determined (Fleiss' Kappa). The evaluation, according to Fleiss' Kappa, showed that the consistency of the assessment of the findings among the examiners is excellent (mean value 0.88, p < 0.00001). The study shows that calibrated dentists achieved reproducible results using this evaluation system and computer-assisted reporting. Good reproducibility confirms the reliability of systematic evaluation of clinical motion analysis. The ambiguities uncovered and eliminated in the study should avoid misunderstandings in the future. Both factors establish the prerequisites for applying condylar motion analysis in clinical practice.

Micro Germline-Restricted Chromosome in Blue Tits: Evidence for Meiotic Functions.

The germline-restricted chromosome (GRC) is likely present in all songbird species but differs widely in size and gene content. This extra chromosome has been described as either a microchromosome with only limited basic gene content or a macrochromosome with enriched gene functions related to female gonad and embryo development. Here, we assembled, annotated, and characterized the first micro-GRC in the blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) using high-fidelity long-read sequencing data. Although some genes on the blue tit GRC show signals of pseudogenization, others potentially have important functions, either currently or in the past. We highlight the GRC gene paralog BMP15, which is among the highest expressed GRC genes both in blue tits and in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) and is known to play a role in oocyte and follicular maturation in other vertebrates. The GRC genes of the blue tit are further enriched for functions related to the synaptonemal complex. We found a similar functional enrichment when analyzing published data on GRC genes from two nightingale species (Luscinia spp.). We hypothesize that these genes play a role in maintaining standard maternal inheritance or in recombining maternal and paternal GRCs during potential episodes of biparental inheritance.

Characterization data of reference materials used for phase II of the priority program DFG SPP 2005 "Opus Fluidum Futurum - Rheology of reactive, multiscale, multiphase construction materials".

A thorough characterization of base materials is the prerequisite for further research. In this paper, the characterization data of the reference materials (CEM I 42.5 R, limestone powder, calcined clay and a mixture of these three components) used in the second funding phase of the priority program 2005 of the German Research Foundation (DFG SPP 2005) are presented under the aspects of chemical and mineralogical composition as well as physical and chemical properties. The data were collected based on tests performed by up to eleven research groups involved in this cooperative program.

Tuning Phonon Energies in Lanthanide-doped Potassium Lead Halide Nanocrystals for Enhanced Nonlinearity and Upconversion.

Optical applications of lanthanide-doped nanoparticles require materials with low phonon energies to minimize nonradiative relaxation and promote nonlinear processes like upconversion. Heavy halide hosts offer low phonon energies but are challenging to synthesize as nanocrystals. Here, we demonstrate the size-controlled synthesis of low-phonon-energy KPb2 X5 (X=Cl, Br) nanoparticles and the ability to tune nanocrystal phonon energies as low as 128 cm-1 . KPb2 Cl5 nanoparticles are moisture resistant and can be efficiently doped with lighter lanthanides. The low phonon energies of KPb2 X5 nanoparticles promote upconversion luminescence from higher lanthanide excited states and enable highly nonlinear, avalanche-like emission from KPb2 Cl5 : Nd3+ nanoparticles. The realization of nanoparticles with tunable, ultra-low phonon energies facilitates the discovery of nanomaterials with phonon-dependent properties, precisely engineered for applications in nanoscale imaging, sensing, luminescence thermometry and energy conversion.

Phosphine-Stabilized Hidden Ground States in Gold Clusters Investigated via a Aun(PH3)m Database.

Nanoclusters are promising materials for catalysis and sensing due to their large surface areas and unique electronic structures which can be tailored through composition, geometry, and chemistry. However, relationships correlating synthesis parameters directly to outcomes are limited. While previous computational studies have mapped the potential energy surface of specific systems of bare nanoclusters by generating and calculating the energies of reasonable structures, it is known that environmental ions and ligands crucially impact the final shape and size. In this work, phosphine-stabilized gold is considered as a test system and DFT calculations are performed for clusters with and without ligands, producing a database containing >10000 structures for Aun(PH3)m (n ≤ 12). We find that the ligation of phosphines affects the thermodynamic stability, bonding, and electronic structure of Au nanoclusters, specifically such that "hidden" ground state cluster geometries are stabilized that are dynamically unstable in the pure gold system. Further, the addition of phosphine introduces steric effects that induce a transition from planar to nonplanar structures at 4-5 Au atoms rather than up to 13-14 Au atoms, as previously predicted for bare clusters. This work highlights the importance of considering the ligand environment in the prediction of nanocluster morphology and functionality, which adds complexity as well as a rich opportunity for tunability.

Inverse size-dependent Stokes shift in strongly quantum confined CsPbBr3 perovskite nanoplates.

Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) are used as bright chromatic fluorophores for energy-efficient displays. We focus here on the size-dependent Stokes shift for CsPbBr3 nanocrystals. The Stokes shift, i.e., the difference between the wavelengths of absorption and emission maxima, is crucial for display application, as it controls the degree to which light is reabsorbed by the emitting material reducing the energetic efficiency. One major impediment to the industrial adoption of NCs is that slight deviations in manufacturing conditions may result in a wide dispersion of the product's properties. A data-driven analysis of over 2000 reactions comparing two data sets, one produced via standard colloidal synthesis and the other via high-throughput automated synthesis is discussed. We show that differences in the reaction conditions of colloidal CsPbBr3 nanocrystals yield nanocrystals with opposite Stokes shift size-dependent trends. These match the morphologies of two-dimensional nanoplatelets (NPLs) and nanocrystal cubes. The Stokes shift size dependence trend of NPLs and nanocubes is non-monotonic indicating different physics is at play for the two nanocrystal morphologies. For nanocrystals with cubic shape, with the increase of edge length, there is a significant decrease in Stokes shift values. However, for NPLs with the increase of thickness (1-4 ML), Stokes shift values will increase. The study emphasizes the transition from a spectroscopic point of view and relates the two Stokes shift trends to 2D and 0D exciton dimensionalities for the two morphologies. Our findings highlight the importance of CsPbBr3 nanocrystal morphology for Stokes shift prediction.