Structure and optical properties have been successfully determined for a series of niobium- and tantalum-containing layered alkaline-earth silicate compounds, Ba3(Nb6−xTax)Si4O26 (x = 0.6, 1.8, 3.0, 4.2, 5.4). The structure of this solid solution was found to be hexagonal P-62m (No. 189), with Z = 1. With x increases from 0.6 to 5.4, the lattice parameter a increases from 8.98804(8) to 9.00565(9) Å and c decreases from 7.83721(10) to 7.75212(12) Å. As a result, the volume decreases from 548.304(11) to 544.479(14) Å3. The (Nb/Ta)O6 distorted octahedra form continuous chains along the c-axis. These (Nb/Ta)O6 chains are in turn linked with the Si2O7 groups to form distorted pentagonal channels in which Ba ions were found. These Ba2+ ions have full occupancy and a 13-fold coordination environment with neighboring oxygen sites. Another salient feature of the structure is the linear Si–O–Si chains. When x in Ba3(Nb6−xTax)Si4O26 increases, the bond valence sum (BVS) values of the Ba sites increase slightly (2.09–2.20), indicating the size of the cage becoming progressively smaller (over-bonding). While SiO cages are also slightly smaller than ideal (BVS range from 4.16 to 4.19), the (Nb/Ta)O6 octahedral cages are slightly larger than ideal (BVS range from 4.87 to 4.90), giving rise to an under-bonding situation. The bandgaps of the solid solution members were measured between 3.39 and 3.59 eV, and the x = 3.0 member was modeled by density functional theory techniques to be 3.07 eV. The bandgaps of these materials indicate that they are potential candidates for ultraviolet photocatalyst.

Powder X-ray diffraction patterns for three forms of MIL-53(Al), a metal organic framework (MOF) compound with breathing characteristics, were investigated using the Rietveld refinement method. These three samples are referred to as the MIL-53(Al)as-syn (the as synthesized sample), orthorhombic, Pnma, a = 17.064(2) Å, b = 6.6069(9) Å, c = 12.1636(13) Å, V = 1371.3(2) Å3, Z = 4), MIL-53(Al)LT-H (low-temperature hydrated phase, monoclinic P21/c, a = 19.4993(8) Å, b = 15.2347(6) Å, c = 6.5687(3) Å, β = 104.219(4) °, V = 1891.55(10) Å3, Z = 8), and MIL-53(Al)HT-D (high-temperature dehydrated phase, Imma, a = 6.6324(5) Å, b = 16.736(2) Å, c = 12.840(2), V = 1425.2(2) Å3, Z = 4). The crystal structures of the “as-syn” sample and the HT-D sample are confirmed to be the commonly adopted ones. However, the structure of the MIL-53(Al)LT-H phase is confirmed to be monoclinic with a space group of P21/c instead of the commonly accepted space group Cc, resulting in a cell volume double in size. The structure has two slightly different types of channel. The pore volumes and pore surface area were estimated to be 0.11766 (8) cm3/g and 1461.3(10) m2/g for MIL-53(Al)HT-D (high-temperature dehydrated phase), and 0.08628 (5) cm3/g and 1401.6 (10) m2/g for MIL-53(Al)as-syn phases, respectively. The powder patterns for the MIL-53(Al)as-syn and MIL-53(Al)HT-D phases are reported in this paper.

Introduction: Oxygen is commonly administered to prehospital patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We conducted a systematic review to determine if oxygen administration, in AMI, impacts patient outcomes. Methods: We conducted a systematic search using MeSH terms and keywords in Medline, Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central, clinicaltrials.gov and ISRCTN for relevant randomized controlled trials and observational studies comparing oxygen administration and no oxygen administration. The outcomes of interest were: mortality (≤30 days, in-hospital, and intermediate 2-11 months), infarct size, and major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Risk of Bias assessments were performed and GRADE methodology was employed to assess quality and overall confidence in the effect estimate. A meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5 software. Results: Our search yielded 1192 citations of which 48 studies were reviewed as full texts and a total of 8 studies were included in the analysis. All evidence was considered low or very low quality. Five studies reported on mortality finding low quality evidence of no benefit or harm. Low quality evidence demonstrated no benefit or harm from supplemental oxygen administration. Similarly, no benefit or harm was found in MACE or infarct size (very low quality). Normoxia was defined as oxygen saturation measured via pulse oximetry at ≥90% in one recent study and ≥94% in another. Conclusion: We found low and very low quality evidence that the administration of supplemental oxygen to normoxic patients experiencing AMI, provides no clear harm nor benefit for mortality or MACE. The evidence on infarct size was inconsistent and warrants further prospective examination.

Introduction: Opioids are routinely administered for analgesia to prehospital patients experiencing chest discomfort from acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We conducted a systematic review to determine if opioid administration impacts patient outcomes. Methods: We conducted a systematic search using MeSH terms and keywords in Medline, Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central and Clinicaltrials.gov for relevant randomized controlled trials and observational studies comparing opioid administration in AMI patients from 1990 to 2017. The outcomes of interest were: all-cause short-term mortality (≤30 days), major adverse cardiac events (MACE), platelet activity and aggregation, immediate adverse events, infarct size, and analgesia. Included studies were hand searched for additional citations. Risk of Bias assessments were performed and GRADE methodology was employed to assess quality and overall confidence in the effect estimate. Results: Our search yielded 3001 citations of which 19 studies were reviewed as full texts and a total of 9 studies were included in the analysis. The studies predominantly reported on morphine as the opioid. Five studies reported on mortality (≤30 days), seven on MACE, four on platelet activity and aggregation, two on immediate adverse events, two on infarct size and none on analgesic effect. We found low quality evidence suggesting no benefit or harm in terms of mortality or MACE. However, low quality evidence indicates that opioids increase infarct size. Low-quality evidence also shows reduced serum P2Y12 (eg: clopidogrel and ticagrelor) active metabolite levels and increased platelet reactivity in the first several hours post administration following an increase in vomiting. Conclusion: We find low and very low quality evidence that the administration of opioids in STEMI may be adversely related to vomiting and some surrogate outcomes including increased infarct size, reduced serum P2Y12 levels, and increased platelet activity. We found no clear benefit or harm on patient-oriented clinical outcomes including mortality.

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has a high prevalence among individuals in jail and prisons. Access to HCV treatment has been restricted in jails and prisons. We hypothesized that HCV infection in inmates would be associated with increased mortality in people who were hospitalized while incarcerated. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We created and then linked a database of people who were incarcerated and admitted at Lemuel Shattuck Hospital (2004, 2008, 2011) to the Massachusetts Vital Statistic Registry (updated through end of 2015). Death was classified using the Automatic Classification of Medical Entry Death Code. The primary outcome of interest was mortality within 1 year of hospitalization, and the secondary outcome was mortality at any time. The primary indicator of interest was HCV, defined as the presence of the ICD-9 code for HCV on discharge. Covariates included in univariate and multivariate modeling included age, year of admission, and race/ethnicity classified as: White, Black, Hispanic or Other (i.e., Asian, Native American, Multi-Racial, or No answer). RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Of the 1,541 hospital admissions, 21% had HCV, and 57% were white, 22% black, 8% Hispanic and 12% other. Of the 273 total deaths (18% of cohort), 82 deaths occurred within 1 year of hospitalization (5.3% of the entire cohort, 30% of all deaths). The primary cause of death was vascular (21%), followed by chronic liver disease (18%), cancer (17%), overdose/suicide/trauma (19%), pulmonary (7%) and infection (6%). People with HCV were more likely to die of chronic liver disease (40% vs 7%, p<0.001). In the multivariable adjusted model, people with HCV were more likely to die within 1 year of hospitalization (HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.02, 2.49) and more likely to die at any time (HR 1.38, 95% CI 1.06, 1.79). Age, race and gender were not associated with risk of death. Compared to 2004, people admitted in 2008 (HR 2.05, 95% CI, 1.50-2.80) and 2011 (HR 4.02, 95% CI 2.77, 5.83) were more likely to die within 1 year. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Despite advances in HCV treatment in the community, HCV in inmates is associated with increased mortality.

We present observations of 50 deg2 of the Mopra carbon monoxide (CO) survey of the Southern Galactic Plane, covering Galactic longitudes l = 300–350° and latitudes |b| ⩽ 0.5°. These data have been taken at 0.6 arcmin spatial resolution and 0.1 km s−1spectral resolution, providing an unprecedented view of the molecular clouds and gas of the Southern Galactic Plane in the 109–115 GHz J = 1–0 transitions of 12CO, 13CO, C18O, and C17O.

We present a series of velocity-integrated maps, spectra, and position-velocity plots that illustrate Galactic arm structures and trace masses on the order of ~106 M⊙ deg−2, and include a preliminary catalogue of C18O clumps located between l = 330–340°. Together with the information about the noise statistics of the survey, these data can be retrieved from the Mopra CO website and the PASA data store.

BACKGROUND: IGTS is a rare phenomenon of paradoxical germ cell tumor (GCT) growth during or following treatment despite normalization of tumor markers. We sought to evaluate the frequency, clinical characteristics and outcome of IGTS in patients in 21 North-American and Australian institutions. METHODS: Patients with IGTS diagnosed from 2000-2017 were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: Out of 739 GCT diagnoses, IGTS was identified in 33 patients (4.5%). IGTS occurred in 9/191 (4.7%) mixed-malignant GCTs, 4/22 (18.2%) immature teratomas (ITs), 3/472 (0.6%) germinomas/germinomas with mature teratoma, and in 17 secreting non-biopsied tumours. Median age at GCT diagnosis was 10.9 years (range 1.8-19.4). Male gender (84%) and pineal location (88%) predominated. Of 27 patients with elevated markers, median serum AFP and Beta-HCG were 70 ng/mL (range 9.2-932) and 44 IU/L (range 4.2-493), respectively. IGTS occurred at a median time of 2 months (range 0.5-32) from diagnosis, during chemotherapy in 85%, radiation in 3%, and after treatment completion in 12%. Surgical resection was attempted in all, leading to gross total resection in 76%. Most patients (79%) resumed GCT chemotherapy/radiation after surgery. At a median follow-up of 5.3 years (range 0.3-12), all but 2 patients are alive (1 succumbed to progressive disease, 1 to malignant transformation of GCT). CONCLUSION: IGTS occurred in less than 5% of patients with GCT and most commonly after initiation of chemotherapy. IGTS was more common in patients with IT-only on biopsy than with mixed-malignant GCT. Surgical resection is a principal treatment modality. Survival outcomes for patients who developed IGTS are favourable.

The putative Thoka gene, with large effects on fecundity, originated in Icelandic sheep. The gene was introduced to the UK in 1985 through a programme of crossbreeding and established in Cheviot sheep (Russel et al., 1997). Ewes have been retained in the flock as putative Thoka gene carriers if they have lambed in each of the first three years and had at least two sets of twins. Progeny tests on a separate population of ewes have been used on two occasions to identify rams believed to carry the gene. Despite this complex breeding programme, the actual segregation of a gene for fecundity has yet to be unambiguously demonstrated in this flock. The purpose of this study is to use complex segregation analysis to demonstrate the existence of this gene, estimate the size of its effect and frequency of the favourable allele within the population.

X-ray reference powder patterns and structures have been determined for a series of cobalt-, nickel- and zinc-containing niobates, Co(Ni x Zn1−x )Nb4O12 (x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8). The Co(Ni x Zn1−x )Nb4O12 series crystallize in the space group of Pbcn, which is of the disordered columbite-type structure (α-PbO2). The lattice parameters range from a = 14.11190(13) to 14.1569(3) Å, b = 5.69965(6) to 5.71209(13) Å, c = 5.03332(5) to 5.03673(11) Å, and V = 404.844(8) to 407.296(17) Å3 from x = 0.8 to 0.2, respectively. Co(Ni x Zn1−x )Nb4O12 contains double zig-zag chains of NbO6 octahedra and single chain of (Ni,Zn,Co)O6 octahedra run parallel to the bc-plane. Within the same chain the NbO6 octahedra share edges, while the adjacent NbO6 chains are joined to each other through common oxygen corners. These double NbO6 chains are further linked together along the [100]-direction through another (Co,Ni,Zn)O6 units, via common oxygen corners. The edge-sharing (Co,Ni,Zn)O6 also forms zig-zag chains along the c-axis. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns of this series of compounds have been submitted to be included in the Powder Diffraction File.