Redox-induced controllable engineering of MnO-MnCoO interface to boost catalytic oxidation of ethane.

Multicomponent oxides are intriguing materials in heterogeneous catalysis, and the interface between various components often plays an essential role in oxidations. However, the underlying principles of how the hetero-interface affects the catalytic process remain largely unexplored. Here we report a unique structure design of MnCoO catalysts by chemical reduction, specifically for ethane oxidation.

Fluoroscopy-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound neurotomy of the lumbar zygapophyseal joints: a prospective, open-label study.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate safety and effectiveness of a fluoroscopy-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) system for thermal ablation of the lumbar medial branch nerves.

Methods: This dual center prospective cohort study enrolled 30 participants with lumbar zygapophyseal joint syndrome. Each participant previously had a positive response to either a single diagnostic analgesic block or radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

New molten metal catalysts for CO and CH conversion to 2 : 1 H : CO syngas.

Activity trends for 22 metals and metal alloys are reported for the conversion of CO and CH to 2 : 1 H : CO syngas and carbon. A correlation is observed between CO conversion and the free energy of oxidation by CO on pure metal catalysts. Indium and indium alloys activate CO at the highest rates.

Chronic pain management during the COVID-19 pandemic: Can telemedicine replace in-person consultation? A prospective clinical study.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic forced numerous pain clinics to suspend their services. For chronic pain patients, even a temporary closure and inability to connect with their healthcare providers may result in adverse outcomes. There are serious concerns regarding worsening of physical and emotional suffering and a surge in substance abuse.

Electrocatalytic Hydrogenation of Guaiacol in Diverse Electrolytes Using a Stirred Slurry Reactor.

Electrocatalytic hydrogenation (ECH) of guaiacol was performed in a stirred slurry electrochemical reactor (SSER) using 5 wt % Pt/C catalyst in the cathode compartment. Different pairs of acid (H SO ), neutral (NaCl), and alkaline (NaOH) catholyte-anolyte combinations separated by a Nafion 117 cation exchange membrane, were investigated by galvanostatic and potentiostatic electrolysis to probe the electrolyte and proton concentration effect on guaiacol conversion, product distribution, and Faradaic efficiency. The acid-acid and neutral-acid pairs were found to be the most effective.

Analgesic and Respiratory Depressant Effects of R-dihydroetorphine: A Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Analysis in Healthy Male Volunteers.

Background: There is an ongoing need for potent opioids with less adverse effects than commonly used opioids. R-dihydroetorphine is a full opioid receptor agonist with relatively high affinity at the μ-, δ- and κ-opioid receptors and low affinity at the nociception/orphanin FQ receptor. The authors quantified its antinociceptive and respiratory effects in healthy volunteers.

Esterification over Acid-Treated Mesoporous Carbon Derived from Petroleum Coke.

Multistep activation of a Canadian oilsands petroleum coke that yields an acidified mesoporous carbon catalyst is reported. Microporous-activated carbon (APC; ∼2000 m/g), obtained by thermochemical activation of petroleum coke using KOH, was impregnated with ammonium heptamolybdate and activated by carbothermal hydrogen reduction (CHR). The resulting MoC, supported on high-mesopore volume ( ∼0.

Mesoporous Silica-Supported Nanostructured PdO/CeO Catalysts for Low-Temperature Methane Oxidation.

Nanostructured PdO/CeO supported on mesoporous SBA-15 silica was synthesized using a combination of incipient wetness impregnation and surface-assisted reduction. After calcination, the materials showed good activity as catalysts for the low-temperature oxidation of methane, with a sample having 5 wt % Pd loading showing 50% conversion to CO at ∼290 °C and complete conversion below 360 °C. The stability of catalysts in the presence of water was studied.

Key interactions by conserved polar amino acids located at the transmembrane helical boundaries in Class B GPCRs modulate activation, effector specificity and biased signalling in the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor.

Class B GPCRs can activate multiple signalling effectors with the potential to exhibit biased agonism in response to ligand stimulation. Previously, we highlighted key TM domain polar amino acids that were crucial for the function of the GLP-1 receptor, a key therapeutic target for diabetes and obesity. Using a combination of mutagenesis, pharmacological characterisation, mathematical and computational molecular modelling, this study identifies additional highly conserved polar residues located towards the TM helical boundaries of Class B GPCRs that are important for GLP-1 receptor stability and/or controlling signalling specificity and biased agonism.

The Extracellular Surface of the GLP-1 Receptor Is a Molecular Trigger for Biased Agonism.

Ligand-directed signal bias offers opportunities for sculpting molecular events, with the promise of better, safer therapeutics. Critical to the exploitation of signal bias is an understanding of the molecular events coupling ligand binding to intracellular signaling. Activation of class B G protein-coupled receptors is driven by interaction of the peptide N terminus with the receptor core.

A Hydrogen-Bonded Polar Network in the Core of the Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Is a Fulcrum for Biased Agonism: Lessons from Class B Crystal Structures.

The glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor is a class B G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that is a key target for treatments for type II diabetes and obesity. This receptor, like other class B GPCRs, displays biased agonism, though the physiologic significance of this is yet to be elucidated. Previous work has implicated R2.

Nanostructured Materials Prepared by Surface-Assisted Reduction: New Catalysts for Methane Oxidation.

Cerium formate hollow spheres and cerium hydroxycarbonate nanorods with residual formate groups are effective for reducing palladium(II) salts onto their surfaces. Calcination of the new materials obtained by this surface-assisted reduction method gives highly active PdO/CeO2 nanostructures with Pd well dispersed on the substrate. Temperature-programmed oxidation experiments showed that these nanomaterials are good catalysts for the low-temperature oxidation of methane, with 50% conversion temperatures (T(50%)) at ∼300 °C.

The unique role of transdermal buprenorphine in the global chronic pain epidemic.

Pain is a global epidemic, exacerbated by barriers to access of opioid analgesics. Regulations about opioids attempt to protect public health from the risks of harmful use of opioids, diversion, and dependence. Transdermal buprenorphine is an effective opioid analgesic agent with unique properties that may make it particularly well suited for more widespread use.

Mesoporous Mn- and La-doped cerium oxide/cobalt oxide mixed metal catalysts for methane oxidation.

New precious-metal-free mesoporous materials were investigated as catalysts for the complete oxidation of methane to carbon dioxide. Mesoporous cobalt oxide was first synthesized using KIT-6 mesoporous silica as a hard template. After removal of the silica, the cobalt oxide was itself used as a hard template to construct cerium oxide/cobalt oxide composite materials.

How absent negativity relates to affect and motivation: an integrative relief model.

The present paper concerns the motivational underpinnings and behavioral correlates of the prevention or stopping of negative stimulation - a situation referred to as relief. Relief is of great theoretical and applied interest. Theoretically, it is tied to theories linking affect, emotion, and motivational systems.

The role of ECL2 in CGRP receptor activation: a combined modelling and experimental approach.

The calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor is a complex of a calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR), which is a family B G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and receptor activity modifying protein 1. The role of the second extracellular loop (ECL2) of CLR in binding CGRP and coupling to Gs was investigated using a combination of mutagenesis and modelling. An alanine scan of residues 271-294 of CLR showed that the ability of CGRP to produce cAMP was impaired by point mutations at 13 residues; most of these also impaired the response to adrenomedullin (AM).

Validated in vitro/in vivo correlation of prolonged-release oxycodone/naloxone with differing dissolution rates in relation to gastrointestinal transit times.

Objectives: To formally establish the relationship between oxycodone dissolution, in vitro, from a prolonged-release, oral, combination of oxycodone and naloxone (OXN PR) tablets with in vivo absorption, by developing a validated Level A in vitro/in vivo correlation (IVIVC) and subsequently ascertaining the temporal absorption of oxycodone during gastrointestinal transit.

Methods: In vitro dissolution data from formulations of OXN PR (20/10 mg) tablets with slow, medium and fast dissolution rates were generated using United States Pharmacopeia I apparatus 2 (paddle at 50 rpm) in simulated gastric fluid, pH 1.2.

Ingestion of foreign objects as a means of nonlethal self-injury.

The focus of this practice review is to understand the precursors, correlates, and treatment of self-injury by ingestion of foreign objects among patients in inpatient mental health facilities. These cases exhibited pervasive psychopathology of early onset, histories of severe personality disorder, and trauma. The cases seemingly presented a higher incidence of medical complications than is reported in the literature, and treatment outcomes varied from modest-to-good success.

Heuristic evaluation and usability testing of a computerized patient-reported outcomes survey for headache sufferers.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate usability of a prototype tablet PC-administered computerized adaptive test (CAT) of headache impact and patient feedback report, referred to as HEADACHE-CAT.

Materials And Methods: Heuristic evaluation specialists (n = 2) formed a consensus opinion on the application's strengths and areas for improvement based on general usability principles and human factors research. Usability testing involved structured interviews with headache sufferers (n = 9) to assess how they interacted with and navigated through the application, and to gather input on the survey and report interface, content, visual design, navigation, instructions, and user preferences.

A hybrid cohort individual sampling natural history model of age-related macular degeneration: assessing the cost-effectiveness of screening using probabilistic calibration.

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of visual impairment and blindness. It is likely that treatment of AMD at earlier stages is more effective than later treatment; thus, screening for AMD should be considered. The aim of this study was to develop a natural history model of AMD to estimate the cost-effectiveness of screening.

Cost-utility analysis of screening high-risk groups for anal cancer.

Objectives: Cost-utility analysis of screening for anal cancer in high-risk groups from a UK perspective.

Methods: Criteria for the assessment of screening programmes were combined in a Markov model representing the natural history of anal cancer and HIV infection in the UK population of men who have sex with men (MSM). Alternative screening programmes were overlaid on the natural history model to evaluate their impact.

Body satisfaction effect on thorough skin self-examination.

Background: Melanoma and obesity have both increased in recent years. Given the propensity of body dissatisfaction among the obese, the objectives of this paper were to determine how body satisfaction might influence skin examination and to examine differences in this relationship by gender among the participants of Check-It-Out, a study to increase thorough skin self-examination (TSSE).

Methods: Through primary care offices, 2126 participants were recruited from April 2000 to November 2001 for the baseline cross-sectional telephone data from the Check-It-Out study.

Innovations in curriculum design: a multi-disciplinary approach to teaching statistics to undergraduate medical students.

Background: Statistics is relevant to students and practitioners in medicine and health sciences and is increasingly taught as part of the medical curriculum. However, it is common for students to dislike and under-perform in statistics. We sought to address these issues by redesigning the way that statistics is taught.