First principles density functional theory study of tritium species adsorption on Ni(111) surface and diffusion in nickel-sublayer for tritium storage.

The nickel-plated zircaloy-4 is used as a tritium (H) getter in the tritium-producing burnable absorber rods (TPBARs) to capture H produced in the Li-riched annular γ-LiAlO pellet under neutron irradiation. The experimental data and our previous theoretical results showed that the H species produced from the γ-LiAlO pellet were mainly H and HO. These H species diffuse from the surface of the LiAlO pellet across vacuum to the nickel-plated zircaloy-4 getter and then further diffuse into the getter to chemically form metal hydrides.

Endemic species in the high Himalayas, Eastern Nepal, seeking conservation.

Prunus species play an important role in preserving the Nepal's unique identity; such as three endemic species of Prunus, , , and , represent the country's local area. An ecological and social survey of . and .

How Well Can Quantum Embedding Method Predict the Reaction Profiles for Hydrogenation of Small Li Clusters?

Quantum computing leverages the principles of quantum mechanics in novel ways to tackle complex chemistry problems that cannot be accurately addressed using traditional quantum chemistry methods. However, the high computational cost and available number of physical qubits with high fidelity limit its application to small chemical systems. This work employed a quantum-classical framework which features a quantum active space-embedding approach to perform simulations of chemical reactions that require up to 14 qubits.

Nephrologist-Led Simulation-Based Focused Cardiac Ultrasound Workshop for Medical Students: Insights and Implications.

Background: Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) is being increasingly recognized as an adjunct to physical examination. However, limited availability of trained faculty in specialties other than emergency medicine and lack of universal training standards remain key barriers to its widespread integration into undergraduate and graduate medical curricula. In this study, we sought to explore the effectiveness of a short simulation-based workshop for medical students teaching basic cardiac ultrasound led by a nephrologist.

Concurrent Acute Heart Failure and Renal Failure in Amyloid Light Chain Amyloidosis.

Introduction: Amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis is a multisystem disease with significant variability in patient presentation. This case describes the presentation and workup of a patient with unique multiorgan involvement on initial presentation.

Case Presentation: A 69-year-old African American male presented with weakness, leg swelling, and shortness of breath.

Ethnomedicinal plants in Champadevi rural municipality, Okhaldhunga district, Nepal.

Background: Okhaldhunga is a hilly district with fragile socioeconomic conditions, limited access to health care, social stigma, and poor resource management, where most people rely on medicinal plants for primary health care. The use of medicinal plants for primary health care varies with socioeconomic attributes. Following the intra-cultural analysis, we documented and tested the hypothesis that use of medicinal plants in Champadevi, Okhaldhunga, Nepal, depends on socioeconomic variables.

Zebras in the Era of COVID.

Malaria remains a significant global health concern. Non-malarial areas, including North America and Europe, largely report cases in association with recent travel to endemic regions. Though cyclic symptoms and chills are characteristic of the infection, thorough social histories including previous travels is the basic prerequisite for timely diagnosis, treatment initiation, and ultimate prognosis of this potentially life-threatening condition.

Relapsing Polychondritis in a Patient With Auricular Chondritis and Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Case Report With Literature Review.

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) most commonly presents as inflammation and degeneration of cartilaginous tissue in the auricles, nasal septum, and lungs (in severe instances). RP is a rare autoimmune condition associated with other autoimmune diseases in 30% of cases. The prevalence of gastrointestinal involvement with RP is tenuous; however, there is a growing collection of case studies associating auricular chondritis with concomitant inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Elucidating the Reaction Pathways of Veratrylglycero-β-Guaiacyl Ether Degradation over Metal-Free Solid Acid Catalyst with Hydrogen.

Efficient cleavage of β-O-4 bonds in lignin to high-yield aromatic compounds for the potential production of fuels and chemicals is vital for the economics of the modern biorefinery industry. This work is distinct in that a detailed mechanistic analysis of the reaction pathways of veratrylglycero-β-guaiacyl ether (VGE) catalyzed by transition-metal-free solid acid zeolite in aqueous conditions at high hydrogen pressure has been performed. VGE degradation produced high monomers yields (≈87 %), including guaiacol (48.

A Complex Case of Aspergillus Infection of the Brain and Its Future Medical Implications.

Aspergillus is a fungal genus found worldwide, which causes infection most commonly in the respiratory system and in other systems, including the central nervous system. Fungal species, such as or are more common in immunocompromised patient populations, such as those taking immunosuppressants post-transplantation, those on long-term corticosteroids, or those with immunodeficiencies such as AIDS. In this paper, we describe a rare case of aspergillosis that occurred due to a history of taking corticosteroids to treat arthritis pain in a patient with type 2 diabetes.

Perception of Cigarette Graphic Health Warnings and Its Impact on Smoking Behavior: A Cross-Sectional Study among Current Smokers of Western Part of Nepal.

Globally, tobacco use (smoked, secondhand, and chewing) accounted for 8.71 million deaths, which is 15.4% of all deaths in 2019.

Three-Photon Adaptive Optics for Mouse Brain Imaging.

Three-photon microscopy (3PM) was shown to allow deeper imaging than two-photon microscopy (2PM) in scattering biological tissues, such as the mouse brain, since the longer excitation wavelength reduces tissue scattering and the higher-order non-linear excitation suppresses out-of-focus background fluorescence. Imaging depth and resolution can further be improved by aberration correction using adaptive optics (AO) techniques where a spatial light modulator (SLM) is used to correct wavefront aberrations. Here, we present and analyze a 3PM AO system for mouse brain imaging.

On the reciprocal relationship between σ-hole bonding and (anti)aromaticity gain in ketocyclopolyenes.

σ-Hole bonding interactions (e.g., tetrel, pnictogen, chalcogen, and halogen bonding) can polarize π-electrons to enhance cyclic [4n] π-electron delocalization (i.

Self-assembling purine and pteridine quartets: how do π-conjugation patterns affect resonance-assisted hydrogen bonding?

Computed association strengths for 43 purine and pteridine quartets (38 to 100 kcal mol) show excellent linear correlation with π-conjugation gain in the assembled monomers (r = 0.965). Even quartets having the same secondary electrostatic interactions can display very different association strengths depending on the π-conjugation patterns of the monomeric units.

Perceptions of Third-year Medical Students of a Non-resident Hospitalist Rotation.

Introduction Although medical students in the United States frequently rotate on a non-resident hospitalist team, there is a paucity of literature on their perceptions regarding such rotation. We sought to assess the perceptions of third-year medical students (M3s) regarding a non-resident hospitalist rotation. Methods We conducted a web-based survey of M3s who had previously rotated on a non-resident hospitalist service.

Development and validation of a salivary tau biomarker in Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: Total tau (t-tau) and phosphorylated tau (p-tau) are abnormally elevated in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid of individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Tau is also present in the salivary gland tissue and saliva, and salivary measures might produce an accurate, accessible, and inexpensive biomarker.

Methods: Using unstimulated saliva and Western blot analysis, we quantified the p-tau/t-tau ratio at different phosphorylation sites.

Complete Genome Sequences of Six BI Cluster Bacteriophages, HotFries, Moozy, Rainydai, RavenPuff, Scap1, and SenditCS.

Six double-stranded DNA Streptomyces bacteriophages, HotFries, Moozy, RavenPuff, Scap1, Rainydai, and SenditCS, were isolated using the phytopathogen Streptomyces scabiei as a host. These phages have been identified as and members of cluster BI by genomic analysis.

Pupil plane differential detection microscopy.

Differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy is a powerful technique for imaging phase objects in transparent samples but does not work with scattering samples. This Letter, to the best of our knowledge, describes a new technique for obtaining DIC-like phase-gradient images in scattering media based on differential detection of forward-scattered light, using detectors arranged in a ring configuration around the microscope objective pupil or its conjugate pupil plane. This method, called pupil plane differential detection (P2D2) microscopy, does not need polarization optics or a confocal pinhole, yet produces images that are free of speckles and interference noises.

Direct observation of localized surface plasmon field enhancement by Kelvin probe force microscopy.

A surface plasmon (SP) is a fundamental excitation state that exists in metal nanostructures. Over the past several years, the performance of optoelectronic devices has been improved greatly via the SP enhancement effect. In our previous work, the responsivity of GaN ultraviolet detectors was increased by over 30 times when using Ag nanoparticles.

Cystatin C promotes tau protein phosphorylation and causes microtubule instability by inhibiting intracellular turnover of GSK3β in neurons.

In Alzheimer's disease (AD) tau protein hyperphosphorylation causes neurofibrillary tangle formation, microtubule instability and neurodegeneration. Determining the mechanism of tau hyperphosphorylation will provide a better understanding of AD pathology. Cystatin C (CysC) is a risk factor for late-onset AD and its level is upregulated in the brains of AD patients.

Intravital imaging of osteocytes in mouse calvaria using third harmonic generation microscopy.

Osteocytes are the most abundant cell in the bone, and have multiple functions including mechanosensing and regulation of bone remodeling activities. Since osteocytes are embedded in the bone matrix, their inaccessibility makes in vivo studies problematic. Therefore, a non-invasive technique with high spatial resolution is desired.

A Novel Egr-1-Agrin Pathway and Potential Implications for Regulation of Synaptic Physiology and Homeostasis at the Neuromuscular Junction.

Synaptic transmission requires intricate coordination of the components involved in processing of incoming signals, formation and stabilization of synaptic machinery, neurotransmission and in all related signaling pathways. Changes to any of these components cause synaptic imbalance and disruption of neuronal circuitry. Extensive studies at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) have greatly aided in the current understanding of synapses and served to elucidate the underlying physiology as well as associated adaptive and homeostatic processes.

Inhibition of Early Growth Response 1 in the Hippocampus Alleviates Neuropathology and Improves Cognition in an Alzheimer Model with Plaques and Tangles.

A sporadic form of Alzheimer disease (AD) and vascular dementia share many risk factors, and their pathogenic mechanisms are suggested to be related. Transcription factor early growth response 1 (Egr-1) regulates various vascular pathologies and is up-regulated in both AD brains and AD mouse models; however, its role in AD pathogenesis is unclear. Herein, we report that silencing of Egr-1 in the hippocampus by shRNA reduces tau phosphorylation, lowers amyloid-β (Aβ) pathology, and improves cognition in the 3xTg-AD mouse model.