Metabolic performance of the coral reef fish Siganus guttatus exposed to combinations of water borne diesel, an anionic surfactant and elevated temperature in Indonesia.

Jakarta Bay in Indonesia and its offshore island chain, the Thousand Islands, are facing extreme pollution. Surfactants and diesel-borne compounds from sewage and bilge water discharges are common pollutants. However, knowledge of their effects on reef fish physiology is scarce. This study investigated combined and single effects of a) the water accommodated fraction of diesel (WAF-D, determined by Æ©EPA polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)) and b) the surfactant linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) on metabolic performance of the coral reef fish Siganus guttatus. Responses to combinations of each pollutant with elevated temperature (+3°C) were determined. Short-term exposure to WAF-D led to a significant decrease in standard metabolic rates, while LAS led to an increase. During combined exposure, metabolic depression was observed. Effects of pollutants were not amplified by elevated temperature. This study highlights the need to reduce import of these pollutants and to avoid negative long-term effects on fish health.

Measurement of the charged-pion polarizability.

The COMPASS collaboration at CERN has investigated pion Compton scattering, π(-)γ→π(-)γ, at center-of-mass energy below 3.5 pion masses. The process is embedded in the reaction π(-)Ni→π(-)γNi, which is initiated by 190 GeV pions impinging on a nickel target. The exchange of quasireal photons is selected by isolating the sharp Coulomb peak observed at smallest momentum transfers, Q(2)<0.0015 (GeV/c)(2). From a sample of 63,000 events, the pion electric polarizability is determined to be α(π)=(2.0±0.6(stat)±0.7(syst))×10(-4) fm(3) under the assumption α(π)=-ß(π), which relates the electric and magnetic dipole polarizabilities. It is the most precise measurement of this fundamental low-energy parameter of strong interaction that has been addressed since long by various methods with conflicting outcomes. While this result is in tension with previous dedicated measurements, it is found in agreement with the expectation from chiral perturbation theory. An additional measurement replacing pions by muons, for which the cross-section behavior is unambiguously known, was performed for an independent estimate of the systematic uncertainty.

Response to an exercise intervention after endometrial cancer: differences between obese and non-obese survivors.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper is to describe baseline differences between obese and non-obese endometrial cancer survivor in anthropometrics, exercise behavior, fitness, heart rate and blood pressure, and quality of life, and to analyze whether the effect of a home-based exercise intervention on these outcomes differed for obese and non-obese participants. METHODS: One hundred post-treatment Stage I-IIIa endometrial cancer survivors participated in a single arm 6month study in which they received a home-based exercise intervention. Cardiorespiratory fitness, anthropometrics, and exercise behavior were measured every two months, and quality of life (QOL) and psychological distress were measured at baseline and 6months. RESULTS: Adjusting for potential confounders, at baseline obese survivors had poorer cardiorespiratory fitness (p=.002), higher systolic blood pressure (p=.018), and lower physical functioning (p<.001) and ratings of general health (p=.002), and more pain (p=.037) and somatization (.002). Significant improvements were seen in exercise behavior, resting heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and multiple QOL domains over the course of the intervention. Obese survivors had less improvement in exercise behavior and cardiorespiratory fitness than non-obese survivors, but there were no differences with regard to improvements in QOL and stress. CONCLUSIONS: Home based exercise interventions are beneficial to endometrial cancer survivors, including those whose BMI is in the obese range. While obese survivors have lower levels of physical activity and fitness, they experienced similar activity, fitness, quality of life and mental health benefits. Exercise should be encouraged in endometrial cancer survivors, including those who are obese.

Two regimes in conductivity and the Hall coefficient of underdoped cuprates in strong magnetic fields.

We address recent experiments shedding light on the energy spectrum of under and optimally doped cuprates at temperatures above the superconducting transition. Angle resolved photoemission reveals coherent excitation only near nodal points on parts of the 'bare' Fermi surface known as the Fermi arcs. The question debated in the literature is whether the small normal pocket, seen via quantum oscillations, exists at higher temperatures or forms below a charge order transition in strong magnetic fields. Assuming the former case as a possibility, expressions are derived for the resistivity and the Hall coefficient (in weak and strong magnetic fields) with both types of carriers participating in the transport. There are two regimes. At higher temperatures (at a fixed field) electrons are dragged by the Fermi arcs' holes. The pocket being small, its contribution to conductivity and the Hall coefficient is negligible. At lower temperatures electrons decouple from holes behaving as a Fermi gas in the magnetic field. As the mobility of holes on the arcs decreases in strong fields with a decrease of temperature, below a crossover point the pocket electrons prevail, changing the sign of the Hall coefficient in the low temperature limit. Such behavior finds its confirmation in recent high-field experiments.

ESR of coupled spin-1/2 chains in copper pyrazine dinitrate: unveiling geometrical frustration.

The spin dynamics of copper pyrazine dinitrate (Cu(C4H4N2)(NO3)2), a model spin-1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnetic (AF) chain system, was investigated by means of electron spin resonance (ESR). Using the high-field ESR we evidenced the inequivalence of Cu sites belonging to adjacent spin chains in the ac planes of this compound. It was revealed that the dominating interchain interaction is of zig-zag-type. This interaction gives rise to geometrical frustration strongly affecting the character of AF ordering. Combining our experimental findings with the results of a quasiclassical approach we predict that at low temperatures the system orders in an incommensurate spiral state.

First measurement of chiral dynamics in π- γ → π- π- π+.

The COMPASS Collaboration at CERN has investigated the π- γ → π- π- π+ reaction at center-of-momentum energy below five pion masses, sqrt[s]<5m(π), embedded in the Primakoff reaction of 190 GeV pions impinging on a lead target. Exchange of quasireal photons is selected by isolating the sharp Coulomb peak observed at smallest momentum transfers, t'<0.001 GeV2/c2. Using partial-wave analysis techniques, the scattering intensity of Coulomb production described in terms of chiral dynamics and its dependence on the 3π-invariant mass m(3π)=sqrt[s] were extracted. The absolute cross section was determined in seven bins of sqrt[s] with an overall precision of 20%. At leading order, the result is found to be in good agreement with the prediction of chiral perturbation theory over the whole energy range investigated.

Robust spinal motor neuron transduction following intrathecal delivery of AAV9 in pigs.

Adeno-associated viral vector 9 (AAV9) has recently been shown to penetrate the blood-brain barrier via intravascular administration, making it a good candidate for diffuse gene delivery. However, the potential side effects of systemic delivery are unknown. Intrathecal viral vector administration may be more invasive than intravenous injections, but it requires far less vector and it can be performed on an outpatient basis, making it an ideal route of delivery for clinical translation. A total of 12 domestic farm pigs (<20 kg) underwent a single-level lumbar laminectomy with intrathecal catheter placement for AAV9 delivery. Animals were perfused and the tissue was harvested 30 days after treatment. Gene expression was assessed by anti-green fluorescent protein immunohistochemistry. Although a single lumbar injection resulted in gene expression limited to the lumbar segment of the spinal cord, three consecutive boluses via a temporary catheter resulted in diffuse transduction of motor neurons (MNs) throughout the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal cords. We now present the first successful robust transduction of MNs in the spinal cord of a large animal via intrathecal gene delivery using a self-complementary AAV9. These promising results can be translated to many MN diseases requiring diffuse gene delivery.

Observation of a J(PC)=1-+ exotic resonance in diffractive dissociation of 190   GeV/c π- into π- π- π+.

The COMPASS experiment at the CERN SPS has studied the diffractive dissociation of negative pions into the π- π- π+ final state using a 190 GeV/c pion beam hitting a lead target. A partial wave analysis has been performed on a sample of 420,000 events taken at values of the squared 4-momentum transfer t' between 0.1 and 1 GeV2/c2. The well-known resonances a1(1260), a2(1320), and π2(1670) are clearly observed. In addition, the data show a significant natural-parity exchange production of a resonance with spin-exotic quantum numbers J(PC)=1-+ at 1.66 GeV/c2 decaying to ρπ. The resonant nature of this wave is evident from the mass-dependent phase differences to the J(PC)=2-+ and 1++ waves. From a mass-dependent fit a resonance mass of (1660±10(-64)(+0)) MeV/c2 and a width of (269±21(-64)(+42)) MeV/c2 are deduced, with an intensity of (1.7±0.2)% of the total intensity.

First measurement of the transverse spin asymmetries of the deuteron in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering.

First measurements of the Collins and Sivers asymmetries of charged hadrons produced in deep-inelastic scattering of muons on a transversely polarized 6LiD target are presented. The data were taken in 2002 with the COMPASS spectrometer using the muon beam of the CERN SPS at 160 GeV/c. The Collins asymmetry turns out to be compatible with zero, as does the measured Sivers asymmetry within the present statistical errors.

Prevalence of psychiatric disorders among persons convicted of driving while impaired.

BACKGROUND: Large numbers of convicted drunk drivers are entering alcohol treatment programs, yet little information is available about their need for psychiatric treatment. This study of convicted drunk drivers estimates lifetime and 12-month prevalence of DSM-III-R psychiatric disorders (alcohol and drug abuse and dependence, major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and antisocial personality disorder) and compares rates with estimates from a US population-based survey. METHODS: Six hundred twelve women and 493 men, aged 23 to 54 years, convicted of driving while impaired, who had been referred to a screening program in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, were located and interviewed using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule between January 25, 1994, and June 30, 1997. Psychiatric diagnoses were compared with findings from the National Comorbidity Survey for the western region of the United States, conducted between September 14, 1990, and February 6, 1992. RESULTS: Eighty-five percent of female and 91% of male offenders reported a lifetime alcohol-use disorder, compared with 22% and 44%, respectively, in the National Comorbidity Survey sample. Thirty-two percent of female and 38% of male offenders had a drug-use disorder, compared with 16% and 21%, respectively, in the National Comorbidity Survey sample. For offenders with alcohol-use disorders, 50% of women and 33% of men had at least 1 additional psychiatric disorder other than drug abuse or dependence, mainly posttraumatic stress disorder or major depression. CONCLUSION: Drunk-driving offenders need assessment and treatment services not only for alcohol problems but also for drug use and the other psychiatric disorders that commonly accompany alcohol-related problems.

Mantoux testing of 7th graders in Tel Aviv, Israel.

As part of a countrywide program of tuberculin testing of 7th graders, 10,133 children were examined in the Tel Aviv area over the 3-year period, Septemer 1991-June 1994. Of these, 655 were from families recently arrived from the former Soviet Union (I), and 9478 from long-time resident families of Israel (L). Of the I group 537 had received BCG at least once (82.0%), of the L group 5306 (56.0%). In the nonvaccinated I group 33.9% had reactions of 10 mm or more (clinically significant) while the rate was 6.1% in the L group, a statistically highly significant difference. In the vaccinated I group the rate of clinically significant reactions was 49.3% as compared to 10.3% in the L group, also statistically a highly significant difference. In general, the clinically significant reactions were more commonly found in the I group as opposed to the L group. Both BCG vaccination and prior place of residence appear to be statistically significant independent variables. No cases of tuberculosis occurred among the entire population tested. These data provide a base for surveillance of tuberculosis risk in Tel Aviv specifically and Israel in general.

Attrition in a follow-up study of driving while impaired offenders: who is lost?

High attrition rates seriously threaten the validity of follow-up studies of criminal justice populations. This study examines attrition from a follow-up study of drink-driving offenders referred 5 years earlier to a screening programme. The aim of the study was to determine which factors are most closely associated with: (1) inability to locate subjects, (2) subjects' refusal to participate; (3) the manner in which subjects refuse. Logistic regression models compared the following groups of subjects: located vs not located; interviewed vs not interviewed; type of refusal (direct vs indirect). Independent variables included gender, age group, ethnicity, whether the subject had a telephone, compliance with and completion of the screening programme, alcohol dependence or abuse diagnosis vs no diagnosis, breath-alcohol level (BAL) at the time of arrest, and whether the subject had an outstanding arrest warrant. Some factors (younger age, screening compliance, Mexican national ethnicity, and having an outstanding arrest warrant) predicted both inability to locate and type of refusal. Hispanic ethnicity and having a telephone predicted better success with locating subjects. Among refusers, non-Hispanic whites were more likely than other ethnic groups to refuse directly, and those with warrants were more likely to refuse indirectly. Non-compliance with the screening programme was also associated with differential follow-up rates. Neither arrest BAL nor alcohol diagnoses was associated with differential rates of follow-up. We conclude that alcohol diagnosis does not appear to influence successful follow-up in this criminal justice population. Rather, tracking and interviewing challenges differed among ethnic groups, suggesting a need for culturally sensitive recruitment strategies in these populations.

Pnictides as symmetrically bridging ligands in novel neutral complexes

The reaction of [LWCl] (3) [L = N(CH2CH2NiPr)3] with LiE(SiMe3)2 (E = P, As, Sb) yields the novel, neutral pnictido-bridged complexes [LW = E = WL] (5-7). By following the reaction, which starts from the LiP-(SiMe3)2 derivative, by 31P NMR spectroscopy, the formation of an intermediate with a terminal pnictido ligand can be ruled out. The paramagnetic complexes 5-7 are comprehensively spectroscopically characterised. The X-ray structure analysis of the heterocumulenes 5-7 reveals a linear structure in which the two W-"tren" units bind to the central pnictido atom in a staggered conformation ["tren" = tren-based ligand; tren = tris(2-aminoethyl)-amine. When N2 is used as the inert gas in the synthesis of the starting material [N(CH2CH2NNp)3WCl] [Np = CH2C-(CH3)3], the complex [[N(CH2CH2NNp)3]W2(mu, eta 1: eta 1-N2)] (4) is formed as a side product. Complex 4 possesses a hydrazido(4-) (N2(4-)) ligand connected by two tungsten-"tren" moieties.

Recognition-directed supramolecular assemblies of metal complexes of terpyridine derived ligands with self-complementary hydrogen bonding sites.

The synthesis and X-ray structures of three metal complexes with terpyridine-derived ligands that contain amino-pyrimidine and amino-pyrazine moieties are presented. They have been designed in view of directing their self-assembly into specific supramolecular arrays through molecular recognition interactions. The solid-state structures indeed reveal extensive hydrogen-bonded networks. The Co complex 4a with PF6- counterions builds a two-dimensional infinite interwoven grid through strong double hydrogen bonds (d(N-H-N) =2.918-3.018 A) between the amino groups and the N atoms of the rings, with all H-bonding sites saturated. Changing the anions to BF4- in 4b leads to a similar infinite but partially broken grid with a quarter of the H-bonding sites unsaturated (d(N-H-N)=2.984-3.206 A). In the case of the Zn complex 12 with triflate anions, half of the hydrogen bonds are formed. Only one of the two orthogonal ligands has hydrogen bonds (d(N-H-N) = 3.082, 3.096 A) to the neighbouring complexes and thus builds linear, supramolecular, polymeric chains. These structural differences are mainly attributed to crystal-packing effects caused by the different anions. The data presented here may also be regarded as a prototype for the generation of organised arrays through sequential self-assembly processes.

Adaptive self-assembly: environment-induced formation and reversible switching of polynuclear metallocyclophanes.

Ligand 3 has been shown to self-assemble under coordination of copper(II) cations in a 1:1 ratio in acetonitrile to give equilibrating mixtures of a [2 x 2] grid-type tetranuclear structure 1 and a hexanuclear achitecture of hexagonal shape 2. The latter was confirmed by determination of the crystal structure which further indicated that 2 contained acetonitrile molecules and hydroxo groups bound to the copper(II) centers, which are therefore five-coordinate. The structures assigned to 1 and 2 were further supported by the spectral (mass, UV/Vis) data. The self-assembly process is strongly dependent on the conditions of the medium. An increase in concentration in acetronitrile increases the relative amount of hexamer 2, which appears to be the favored entity at the highest concentrations that can be reached before precipitation occurs. On the other hand, in nitromethane only the tetranuclear complex 1 was detected by mass spectrometry. Replacement of nitromethane by acetonitrile and vice versa indicated the reversible switching between a solution containing either 1 alone or an equilibrium mixture of 1 and 2, respectively. In conclusion, the system described presents several remarkable features: 1) self-assembly with substrate binding, 2) dynamic combinatorial structure generation, and 3) environment-induced structural switching amounting in effect to a process of adaptive self-assembly.

Self-assembly and structure of interconverting multinuclear inorganic arrays: a.

Coordination of the pentatopic ligand 3 with AgI leads to the simultaneous self-assembly of two polynuclear architectures: a [4 x 5] grid-type species 10 and a quadruple-helicate 11, which contain twenty and ten silver ions. respectively. Their structures have been established by X-ray diffraction analysis of the crystals obtained as a mixture on crystallisation. Complex 10 contains two [2 x 5]-AgI10 rectangular subgrids located on opposite sides of an array of parallel ligands of 3 that are twisted into a transoid N=C-C=N arrangement around the central C-C bond; it may thus be formulated as a grid of grids: [2 x (2 x 5)]. Complex 11 is an inorganic quadruple helicate that consists of two sets of two parallel ligands of 3 connected by an array of ten silver ions. Both compounds 10 and 11 are novel types of polynuclear complexes that are composed of two subunits. Their formation points to the possibility of generating specific arrays of metal ions by self-assembly, involving, in particular, a combination of subunits within the overall entity. They represent organised patterns of ion dots of special significance in view of their formal relationship to quantum dots.

Stimulation of the blue light phototropic receptor NPH1 causes a transient increase in cytosolic Ca2+.

Blue light regulates plant growth and development, and three photoreceptors, CRY1, CRY2, and NPH1, have been identified. The transduction pathways of these receptors are poorly understood. Transgenic plants containing aequorin have been used to dissect the involvement of these three receptors in the regulation of intracellular Ca2+. Pulses of blue light induce cytosolic Ca2+ transients lasting about 80 s in Arabidopsis and tobacco seedlings. Use of organelle-targeted aequorins shows that Ca2+ increases are limited to the cytoplasm. Blue light treatment of cry1, cry2, and nph1 mutants showed that NPH1, which regulates phototropism, is largely responsible for the Ca2+ transient. The spectral response of the Ca2+ transient is similar to that of phototropism, supporting NPH1 involvement. Furthermore, known interactions between red and blue light and between successive blue light pulses on phototropic sensitivity are mirrored in the blue light control of cytosolic Ca2+ in these seedlings. Our observations raise the possibility that physiological responses regulated by NPH1, such as phototropism, may be transduced through cytosolic Ca2+.