A Cooperative Rhodium/Secondary Phosphine Oxide [Rh/P(O)nBu ] Template for Catalytic Hydrodefluorination of Perfluoroarenes.

The selective activation of C-F bonds under mild reaction conditions remains an ongoing challenge of bond activation. Here, we present a cooperative [Rh/P(O)nBu ] template for catalytic hydrodefluorination (HDF) of perfluoroarenes. In addition to substrates presenting electron-withdrawing functional groups, the system showed an exceedingly rare tolerance for electron-donating functionalities and heterocycles.

Trial of Globus Pallidus Focused Ultrasound Ablation in Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Unilateral focused ultrasound ablation of the internal segment of globus pallidus has reduced motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease in open-label studies.

Methods: We randomly assigned, in a 3:1 ratio, patients with Parkinson's disease and dyskinesias or motor fluctuations and motor impairment in the off-medication state to undergo either focused ultrasound ablation opposite the most symptomatic side of the body or a sham procedure. The primary outcome was a response at 3 months, defined as a decrease of at least 3 points from baseline either in the score on the Movement Disorders Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, part III (MDS-UPDRS III), for the treated side in the off-medication state or in the score on the Unified Dyskinesia Rating Scale (UDysRS) in the on-medication state.

An Adaptive Rhodium Catalyst to Control the Hydrogenation Network of Nitroarenes.

An adaptive catalytic system that provides control over the nitroarene hydrogenation network to prepare a wide range of aniline and hydroxylamine derivatives is presented. This system takes advantage of a delicate interplay between a rhodium(III) center and a Lewis acidic borane introduced in the secondary coordination sphere of the metal. The high chemoselectivity of the catalyst in the presence of various potentially vulnerable functional groups and its readiness to be deployed at a preparative scale illustrate its practicality.

Rhodium(i) complexes derived from tris(isopropyl)-azaphosphatrane-controlling the metal-ligand interplay.

Proazaphosphatranes are intriguing ligand architectures comprising a bicyclic cage of flexible nature. They can undergo structural deformations due to transannulation while displaying modular electronic and steric properties. Herein, we report the synthesis and coordination chemistry of rhodium(i) complexes bearing a tris(isopropyl)-azaphosphatrane (TPrAP) ligand.

Isolable Tin(II) Hydrides Featuring Sterically Undemanding Pincer-Type Ligands and Their Dehydrogenative Sn-Sn Bond Forming Reactions to Distannynes Promoted by Lewis Acidic Tri--butylborane.

Unlike isolable tin(II) hydrides supported by bulky ligands reported in the literature, this research describes the synthesis and characterization of thermally stable tin(II) hydrides () and () stabilized by sterically undemanding N,N,N-coordinating pincer-type ligands ( = 2,5-dipyridyl-3,4-diphenylpyrrolato; = 2,5-bis(6-methylpyridyl)pyrrolato). The results from previous reports reveal that attempts to access tin(II) hydrides containing less-bulky ligands have had limited success, and decomposition to tin(I) distannynes often occurs. The key to the successful isolation of and is the identification of the role of Lewis acidic BBu, generated upon delivering hydride from commonly used hydride reagents M[BBuH] ("selectrides", M = Li or K).

Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy for the Treatment of Essential Tremor: A 2-Year Outcome Study of Chinese People.

Essential tremor (ET) is a common movement disorder among elderly individuals worldwide and is occasionally associated with a high risk for mild cognitive impairment and dementia. This retrospective study aimed to determine the clinical outcome of unilateral magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) thalamotomy in Chinese patients with ET. In total, 31 male and 17 female patients with drug-refractory ET were enrolled in this research study from January 2017 to September 2019.

The Distribution of Skull Score and Skull Density Ratio in Tremor Patients for MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy.

Objective: Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a minimum-invasive surgical approach to non-incisionally cause the thermos-coagulation inside the human brain. The skull score (SS) has already been approved as one of the most dominant factors related to a successful MRgFUS treatment. In this study, we first reveal the SS distribution of the tremor patients, and correlate the SS with the image feature from customized skull density ratio (cSDR).

Transcranial Magnetic Resonance-Guided Focused Ultrasound in X-Linked Dystonia-Parkinsonism.

X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism (XDP) is a neurodegenerative condition found among males with maternal ancestry from Panay Island, Philippines. The treatment options are limited. We report on our experience of three XDP patients who underwent transcranial magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (tcMRgFUS) pallidothalamic tractotomy.

Extracellular and intracellular intermittent magnetic-fluid hyperthermia treatment of SK-Hep1 hepatocellular carcinoma cells based on magnetic nanoparticles coated with polystyrene sulfonic acid.

The use of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) magnetized on applying an alternating magnetic field (AMF) to stimulate the thermal characteristics and to induce tumor apoptosis is a currently active area of research in cancer treatment. In previous work, we developed biocompatible and superparamagnetic polystyrene-sulfonic-acid-coated magnetic nanoparticles (PSS-MNPs) as applications for magnetically labeled cell trapping, but without assessment of treatment effects on tumor diseases. In the present work, we examined PSS-MNP-induced magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) on SK-Hep1 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells for lethal thermal effects with a self-made AMF system; an adjustable AMF frequency generated a variable intensity of magnetic field and induced MNP relaxation.

Linear, mixed-valent homocatenated tri-tin complexes featuring Sn-Sn bonds.

A series of tri-tin complexes (LPhSn)3X with triple-decker structures (LPh = 2,5-di(o-pyridyl)-3,4-diphenylpyrrolate; X = Cl, AlCl4, OTf, and PF6) was synthesized by reducing LPhSnCl with LiBsBu3H and subsequent reactions. Structural characterization of (LPhSn)3Cl revealed a Sn-Sn-Sn core, and DFT calculations suggest that its HOMO is primarily σ-bonding along the tri-tin framework. (LPhSn)3Cl reacts with W(CO)5THF to afford (LPhSn)2(W(CO)5)2 and LPhSnCl, implying that (LPhSn)3Cl may exhibit dynamic behavior in solution.

Mediation Effect of Health Beliefs in the Relationship Between Health Knowledge and Uptake of Mammography in a National Breast Cancer Screening Program in Taiwan.

Despite evidence that breast cancer screening effectively diagnoses and treats cancer through early detection, mammography use remains low in Taiwan. We applied the health belief model (HBM) and the knowledge-attitude-behavior (KAB) model as theoretical frameworks to examine factors associated with mammography uptake among women aged 45-69 years in Taiwan. A cross-sectional survey January-July 2018 was conducted of women aged 45-69 years in five southern Taiwan health institutions.

Endoscopic Endonasal Approach to the Anteromedial Temporal Fossa and Mobilization of the Lateral Wall of the Cavernous Sinus Through the Inferior Orbital Fissure and V1-V2 Corridor: An Anatomic Study and Clinical Considerations.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify key anatomic landmarks useful in gaining access to the anteromedial temporal region via the corridor formed by the inferior orbital fissure (IOF), the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve (V1), and the maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve (V2) via an endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA).

Methods: An anatomic dissection of 6 cadaver heads was performed to confirm the feasibility and applicability of an EEA for accessing the anteromedial temporal region.

Results: After middle turbinectomy, the lateral recess of the sphenoid sinus was opened, the orbital apex was exposed, and the posterior wall of the maxillary sinus was removed, in sequence.

Controllable Electrochromic Polyamide Film and Device Produced by Facile Ultrasonic Spray-coating.

Thermally stable TPA-OMe polyamide films with high transmittance modulation in response to applied potential are formed by facile ultrasonic spray-coating. Four processing conditions (Film A, Film B, Film C and Film D) through tuning both solution concentrations and deposition temperatures can be utilized for the formation of wet and dry deposited films with two film thickness intervals. The electrochromic results show that the dry deposited rough films at higher deposition temperature generally reveal a faster electrochromic response, lower charge requirements (Q) and less conspicuous color changes (smaller optical density change (ΔOD) and lightness change (ΔL*)) during the oxidation process as compared to the wet deposited smooth films at lower deposition temperature.

Intramolecular Locked Dithioalkylbithiophene-Based Semiconductors for High-Performance Organic Field-Effect Transistors.

New 3,3'-dithioalkyl-2,2'-bithiophene (SBT)-based small molecular and polymeric semiconductors are synthesized by end-capping or copolymerization with dithienothiophen-2-yl units. Single-crystal, molecular orbital computations, and optical/electrochemical data indicate that the SBT core is completely planar, likely via S(alkyl)⋯S(thiophene) intramolecular locks. Therefore, compared to semiconductors based on the conventional 3,3'-dialkyl-2,2'-bithiophene, the resulting SBT systems are planar (torsional angle <1°) and highly π-conjugated.

Controlled Deposition and Performance Optimization of Perovskite Solar Cells Using Ultrasonic Spray-Coating of Photoactive Layers.

This study investigated a new film-deposition technique, ultrasonic spray-coating, for use in the production of a photoactive layer of perovskite solar cells. Stable atomization and facile fabrication of perovskite thin films by ultrasonic spray-coating were achieved in a one-step method through manipulating the ink formulation (e.g.

Ultrastructural observation of oocytes in six types of stony corals.

In this study, the ultrastructure of the oocytes of 6 types of scleractinian corals was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Moreover, histological and ultrastructural analyses were performed to improve our understanding of the organelles involved in coral oocyte formation. In all 6 stony coral species, the microvilli were tubular and directly grew from the surface of the oocyte membrane; yolk bodies, lipid granules, and cortical alveoli accounted for most of the volume inside the oocytes, suggesting that they are associated with energy storage and buoyancy.

Functionalization of cubic mesoporous silica SBA-16 with carboxylic acid via one-pot synthesis route for effective removal of cationic dyes.

In this work, we demonstrate that a high density of −COOH groups loading, up to 60 mol% based on silica, is successfully incorporated into SBA-16 via a one-pot synthesis route, which involves co-condensation of carboxyethylsilanetriol sodium salt (CES) and tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) templated by Pluronic F127 and P123 in an acidic medium. A variety of characterization techniques are performed to confirm quantitative incorporation of carboxylic groups into ordered cubic mesostructures. These functionalized materials are used to effectively remove two cationic dyes methylene blue (MB) and phenosafranine (PF) with the maximum adsorption capacities of 561 and 519 mg g(-1), respectively, at pH 9.

Synthesis of highly phosphonic acid functionalized benzene-bridged periodic mesoporous organosilicas for use as efficient dye adsorbents.

Periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs) with benzene bridging groups in the silica wall were functionalized with a tunable content of phosphonic acid groups. These bifunctional materials were synthesized by co-condensation of two different organosilane precursors, that is, 1,4-bis(triethoxysilyl)benzene (BTEB) and sodium 3-(trihydroxysilyl)propyl methyl phosphate (SPMP), under acidic conditions using nonionic surfactant Brij-S10 as template. The materials exhibited well-ordered mesostructures and were characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen sorption, TEM, TGA, FTIR, and solid-state NMR measurements.

Ethane-bridged periodic mesoporous organosilicas functionalized with high loadings of carboxylic acid groups: synthesis, bifunctionalization, and fabrication of metal nanoparticles.

Well-ordered periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs) functionalized with high contents of carboxylic acid (COOH) groups, up to 85 mol % based on silica, were synthesized by co-condensation of 1,2-bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane (BTEE) and carboxyethylsilanetriol sodium salt (CES) under acidic conditions by using alkyl poly(oxyethylene) surfactant Brij 76 as a structure-directing agent. A variety of techniques including powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption/desorption, Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), (13) C- and (29) Si solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) were used to characterize the products. The materials thus obtained were used as an effective support to synthesize metal nanoparticles (Ag and Pt) within the channel of 2D hexagonal mesostructure of PMOs.

Ipomoelin, a jacalin-related lectin with a compact tetrameric association and versatile carbohydrate binding properties regulated by its N terminus.

Many proteins are induced in the plant defense response to biotic stress or mechanical wounding. One group is lectins. Ipomoelin (IPO) is one of the wound-inducible proteins of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas cv.

Nasopharyngeal gangrenous abscess with skull base extension caused by Escherichia coli after esophageal dilatation for esophageal reconstruction.

Background: Esophageal dilatation is the most widely used treatment option for the management of esophageal strictures. Complications include bleeding, brain abscess, esophageal perforation and bacteremia. Nasopharyngeal gangrenous abscess after the esophageal dilatation is very rare.

Preliminary comparison of radiolucent cages containing either autogenous cancellous bone or hydroxyapatite graft in multilevel cervical fusion.

We compared the preliminary outcomes of cervical fusion performed using radiolucent cages containing either cancellous bone or hydroxyapatite graft. From July 2004 to June 2006, 45 consecutive patients presented with a total of 109 levels of degenerative disc disease between the C2 and C7 levels. Each patient underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for each affected cervical disc.

The effect of leader-member exchange, trust, supervisor support on organizational citizenship behavior in nurses.

This study examined from a social exchange perspective the influence of leader-member exchange (LMX) on the trust of subordinates in their supervisors as well as their perception of support received from their medical organization supervisors and the subsequent effect of such on organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) in subordinates. Two hundred valid supervisor-subordinate (head nurses-nurses) dyads from 3 medical centers and 3 regional hospitals took part in this study, which found that the quality of leader-member exchange affects nurse trust in their supervisors as well as their perception of supervisor support, which consequently promotes OCB on the part of nurses. Findings imply that a higher level of LMX can enhance nurses' commitment, significantly reduce turnover, and promote their OCB, resulting in greater organizational effectiveness.

Influences of market competition on dental care utilization under the global budget payment system.

Objectives: The degrees of market competition usually influence providers' behaviors. This study investigated the influence of medical market competition on the utilization of dental care under the global budget payment system. This study also examined the relative factors that influence the utilization of dental care.

Successful treatment of extended epidural abscess and long segment osteomyelitis: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Spinal osteomyelitis and epidural abscess are complicated medical conditions. Diagnosis is often delayed because of cormorbidity. The time of instrumentation is still controversial.