Publications by authors named "Michael Rodriguez"

The activation of C-H and C-C bonds by atomic metal cations remains a profitable area of research to utilize environmentally abundant methane and produce useful hydrocarbon fuel. Although methane activation by transition metal cations has been the focus of catalysis research for decades, less is known about the catalytic capabilities of lanthanide cations. Here we employ inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry to examine the kinetic energy dependences of the reactions of lanthanide cations Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, and Eu with methane.

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Alkoxy- and hydroxycarbonylations of alkenes are widely useful transformations for the preparation of esters and carboxylic acids, respectively. Catalytic systems using earth-abundant, first-row metals hold significant promise in increasing the scope and sustainability of these processes, but general methods remain virtually undeveloped. Herein, we report alkene alkoxycarbonylations and hydroxycarbonylations catalyzed by unmodified, inexpensive cobalt carbonyl under mild conditions and under low pressure promoted by light.

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Forty-two species of myxozoans, including 31 species of Myxobolus Bütschli, 1882, have been described from centrarchid fishes. One species, the green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus), has been reported to host at least three species of Myxobolus. Between March 2023 and June 2024, 42 L.

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The prevalence of focal granule cell bilamination (FGCB) in the hippocampal dentate gyrus varies from 0% to 44%, depending on age and study population. FGCB is commonly thought to be a specific feature of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) but its prevalence in cases without TLE is unclear. Using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded hippocampal sections, this retrospective postmortem study evaluated the prevalence of FGCB and other granule cell pathologies in infants (1-12 months of age, n = 16), children (4-10 years, n = 6), and adults (28-91 years, n = 15) with no known history of epilepsy or seizures.

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A comprehensive understanding of when and how 5f orbitals participate in complex chemical bonding is important for a variety of applications. The actinides are unique in that they possess 5f orbitals and can access high oxidation states, which make them attractive for use in catalysis. Fundamental studies of actinide-ligand interactions offer a mechanism to examine the activation of the 5f orbitals so that the selectivity of 5f orbitals can be assessed.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Significant changes in soil properties were noted, with bokashi raising total nitrogen and biochar enhancing total carbon, leading to an optimal 24:1 carbon to nitrogen ratio associated with healthy microbial growth.
  • * Both amendments improved germination rates and plant height compared to control soils, demonstrating their effectiveness in enhancing nutrient availability and overall plant development.
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Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunohistochemistry was investigated in the developing human brain using two measures; the number of GFAP-positive cells (density, GFAP+/mm), and a reactivity score (R-score), which we recently introduced to indicate astrogliosis, with scores ≥120 indicative of pathological processes. The primary aim was to report on GFAP expression and cell soma size in 26 microscopically defined regions of the amygdala, basal ganglia, cerebellum, hippocampus and medulla, and to determine whether they are affected by postconceptional age (PCA) from 40 to 83 weeks. The secondary aim was to determine if GFAP expression differs according to the classification of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) as opposed to infant deaths of known causes, or for the presence of major SIDS risk factors of male sex, cigarette smoke exposure, upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), bed-sharing and prone sleeping.

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Background: Pemigatinib demonstrated efficacy in fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)-altered cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) in the FIGHT-202 trial. However, limited real-world evidence exists on treatment patterns and outcomes in this setting.

Patients And Methods: Patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes of US adults who received pemigatinib for unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic CCA were collected via retrospective physician-abstracted chart review.

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The collagen-based epidermal 'cuticle' of functions as an extracellular sensor for damage that regulates genes promoting osmotic balance, innate immunity, and detoxification. Prior studies demonstrate that SKN-1 , an ortholog of the mammalian Nrf transcription factors, activates core detoxification genes downstream from cuticle damage. Prior RNAseq data suggested that expression of five genes with functions in redox balance, ATP homeostasis, and lysosome function ( , , , , and ) were increased in a cuticle collagen mutant; this study employed RT-qPCR to verify this observation and to test the role of SKN-1 .

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Background: Cauda equina neuroendocrine tumors (CENETs), previously known as cauda equina paragangliomas, and multiple cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are uncommon conditions affecting the central nervous system. To the authors' knowledge, they have not been reported in the same patient.

Observations: The authors present the case of a 45-year-old male with CENET and concurrent incidental MRI findings of multiple CCMs.

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The interleukin (IL)-23 pathway is a pathogenic driver in psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Currently, no oral therapeutics selectively target this pathway. JNJ-77242113 is a peptide targeting the IL-23 receptor with high affinity (K: 7.

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Anti-IgLON5 (IgLON5-IgG)-associated disease is a newly defined clinical entity. This literature review aims to evaluate its pathogenesis, which remains a pivotal question. Features that favour a primary neurodegenerative mechanism include the non-inflammatory tauopathy neuropathological signature and overrepresentation of microtubule-associated protein tau () H1/H1 genotype as seen in other sporadic tauopathies.

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Common beans (CB), a vital source for high protein content, plays a crucial role in ensuring both nutrition and economic stability in diverse communities, particularly in Africa and Latin America. However, CB cultivation poses a significant threat to diseases that can drastically reduce yield and quality. Detecting these diseases solely based on visual symptoms is challenging, due to the variability across different pathogens and similar symptoms caused by distinct pathogens, further complicating the detection process.

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Introduction: Academic detailing, patient-panel management, and mailed, stool-based testing have each been utilized to increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in rural clinics. The effectiveness of combining these interventions to increase CRC screening during COVID-19 restrictions was unclear.

Methods: We explored the effects of a multi-component intervention including academic detailing, active patient panel management, and mailed MT-sDNA testing on colorectal cancer screening in our rural family medicine clinic.

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f-Block chemistry offers an opportunity to test current knowledge of chemical reactivity. The energy dependence of lanthanide cation (Ln = Ce, Pr, Nd-Eu) and actinide cation (An = Th, U-Am) oxidation reactions by CO, was observed by inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry. This reaction is commonly spin-unallowed because the neutral reactant (CO, Σ+g) and product (CO, Σ) require the metal and metal oxide cations to have the same spin state.

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Background: Immunohistochemical upregulation of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is commonly used to detect astrogliosis in tissue sections and includes measurement of intensity and/or distribution of staining. There remains a lack of standard objective measures when diagnosing astrogliosis and its severity.

New Method: Aim was to test a novel semi-quantitative assessment of GFAP which we term reactivity (R)-score, on its reproducibility and sensitivity to measure astrogliosis.

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Avian paramyxovirus type 1 (APMV-1) is a virus of birds that results in a range of outcomes, from asymptomatic infections to outbreaks of systemic respiratory and neurologic disease, depending on the virus strain and the avian species affected. Humans are rarely affected; those who are predominantly experience mild conjunctivitis. We report a fatal case of neurologic disease in a 2-year-old immunocompromised child in Australia.

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Digestion of waste feedstocks by larvae of the black soldier fly Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) (BSF) results in proteins for animal feed and organic fertilizer with a reduced environmental footprint, but it can still have negative environmental effects through greenhouse gas (GHG) and ammonia (NH) emissions. Both biomass conversion by BSF larvae and associated GHG and NH emissions can depend on substrate properties that may be optimized through microbial inoculation pre-treatments, such as bokashi fermentation. Here, we quantified the effects of bokashi fermentation of brewery's spent grains on BSF rearing metrics and associated GHG and NH emissions at benchtop scale.

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Article Synopsis
  • DNA methylation array profiling shows promise in classifying pediatric CNS tumors, serving as a useful complement to traditional histopathology.
  • The AIM BRAIN diagnostic trial tested this technique across 11 cancer centers with 269 patient samples, achieving high classification rates (66.4% and 79.2% for two classifier versions).
  • Results demonstrated excellent test reproducibility (99% concordance with another study) and highlighted the technique's ability to provide significant diagnostic insights, enhancing overall CNS tumor diagnosis.
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Article Synopsis
  • Genomic alterations in astrocytomas have been studied for decades, particularly the impact of homozygous deletions (HD) of specific genes, which are now critical criteria for diagnosing WHO grade 4 astrocytomas.
  • The genes in question are located on chromosome 9 and play a role in regulating cell growth; however, understanding how various alterations like heterozygous deletions and point mutations affect prognosis remains complex.
  • The literature review highlights the challenges in interpreting the prognostic value of these alterations as glioma classification evolves, emphasizing the need for standardized research methods to enhance clinical decision-making.
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In epidermal tissues, extracellular matrices (ECMs) function as barriers between the organism and environment. Despite being at the interface with the environment, little is known about the role of animal barrier ECMs in sensing stress and communicating with cytoprotective gene pathways in neighboring cells. We and others have identified a putative damage sensor in the C.

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Although exclusionary immigration policies are associated with fear of deportation and avoidance of public benefits, relationships between immigration enforcement policy and public charge policies are largely unknown. Using a California population-based survey of 1103 Asian and Latinx immigrants in 2018, we tested the relationship between immigrants' experiences with law enforcement and their concern about public charge. Direct encounters with various forms of law enforcement, including being asked to show proof of citizenship by law enforcement, staying inside to avoid police or immigration officials, and having known someone who had been deported, were associated with immigrants' avoidance of public benefits due to public charge concerns.

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In the context of an emerging Japanese encephalitis outbreak within Australia, we describe a novel locally acquired case in New South Wales. A man in his 70s had rapidly progressive, fatal meningoencephalitis, diagnosed as caused by Japanese encephalitis virus by RNA-based metagenomic next-generation sequencing performed on postmortem brain tissue.

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