Capillary electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, and UV-visible absorption studies on electrolyte-induced fractionation of gold nanoclusters

We describe a novel and simple electrolyte-induced fractionation method to separate a polydisperse water-soluble gold nanocluster (Au NC) product. Different particle sizes of Au NC fractions can be easily centrifuged down as a function of the electrolyte concentration or lipophilicity of the solution. The changes in the absorption characteristic of the Au NC fractions under different electrolyte/ethanol conditions demonstrate the change in particle size distribution of the Au NC. Small gold nanoclusters, Au10, Au11, Au12, and Au15, were separated from the Au10-Au50 polydisperse Au NC product under various phosphate/ethanol conditions. The core size separation of Au NC was evaluated by their migration trends in capillary zone electrophoresis, UV-visible absorption, and mass spectra. The electrolyte-induced fractionation not only provides a convenient method to separate small Au NC mixture but also assists in the study of the photophysical properties of smaller Au NCs that are present with the larger Au NCs in a polydisperse Au NC product.     

Mediators of a coping and communication-enhancing intervention and a supportive counseling intervention among women diagnosed with gynecological cancers.

The authors evaluated mechanisms of change for a coping and communication-enhancing intervention (CCI) and supportive counseling (SC). They proposed that the effects of CCI on depressive symptoms would be mediated by psychological processes targeted by CCI, namely increases in the following: positive reappraisal, acceptance, planful problem solving, attempts to understand emotional reactions to cancer, emotional expression, seeking of emotional and instrumental support, and self-esteem. The authors hypothesized that the effects of SC on depressive symptoms would be mediated by the processes encouraged by SC, in this case increases in the following: expression of emotions, attempts to understand emotional reactions to cancer, and self-esteem. Three hundred fifty-three women were randomized to a CCI, SC, or usual care control group and completed measures at preintervention and 3, 6, and 9 months later. The effects of CCI were fully mediated by positive reappraisal, problem solving, and self-esteem and partially mediated by emotional expression. The effects of SC were partially mediated by positive reappraisal. These findings provide support for hypothesized mediators for CCI. The authors were less able to identify mediators for SC. Future research might benefit from identifying SC mediators. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Phosphine‐Free Palladium‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative Coupling of Alkynylcarboxylic Acids with Aryl and Heteroaryl Halides

We herein report the design and development of a carboxyamido/carbene ligand and its Pd‐complex for the decarboxylative coupling of alkynylcarboxylic acids with aryl and heteroaryl halides to afford arylalkynes.     

Visible-light-driven photocatalytic inactivation of E. coli K-12 by bismuth vanadate nanotubes: bactericidal performance and mechanism

Bismuth vanadate nanotube (BV-NT), synthesized by a template-free solvothermal method, was used as an effective visible-light-driven (VLD) photocatalyst for inactivation of Escherichia coli K-12. The mechanism of photocatalytic bacterial inactivation was investigated by employing multiple scavengers combined with a simple partition system. The VLD photocatalytic bacterial inactivation by BV-NT did not allow any bacterial regrowth. The photogenerated h(+) and reactive oxidative species derived from h(+), such as OH(ads), H(2)O(2) and HO(2)/O(2)(-), were the major reactive species for bacterial inactivation. The inactivation by h(+) and OH(ads) required close contact between the BV-NT and bacterial cells, and only a limited amount of H(2)O(2) could diffuse into the solution to inactivate bacterial cells. The direct oxidation effect of h(+) to bacterial cells was confirmed by adopting F(-) surface modification and anaerobic experiments. The bacterial cells could trap e(-) in order to minimize e(-)-h(+) recombination, especially under anaerobic condition. Transmission electron microscopic study indicated the destruction process of bacterial cell began from the cell wall to other cellular components. The OH(ads) was postulated to be more important than OH(bulk) and was not supposed to be released very easily in the BV-NT bacterial inactivation system.     

Development and simulation of dynamic control strategies for wind farms

The authors show that: (a) with reliable prediction of low variance in the wind velocity, modern wind farms have the wherewithal to produce regulated power in the next hour; (b) when the conditions for producing regulated power are not predicted, the wind farms may opt to use the tracking mode which tracks the slowly time-varying, non-turbulent component of wind power and (c) the proposed control system has the capability to divert some of the wind farm power to implement dynamic performance enhancement strategies, for system damping. The capabilities are demonstrated by simulations of a wind farm made up of 24 windturbine generators using one-hour-long wind velocity data.     

Tailored versus generic interventions for skin cancer risk reduction for family members of melanoma patients.

Background: Improving strategies for risk reduction among family members of patients with melanoma may reduce their risk for melanoma. Objective: To evaluate the effects of two behavioral interventions designed to improve the frequency of total cutaneous skin examination by a health provider (TCE), skin self-examination (SSE), and sun protection among first degree relatives of patients with melanoma; and to evaluate whether increased intentions, increased benefits, decreased barriers, and improved sunscreen self-efficacy mediated the effects of the tailored intervention, as compared with the generic intervention on TCE, SSE, or sun protection. Methods: Four hundred forty-three family members (56 parents, 248 siblings, 239 children) who were nonadherent with these practices were randomly assigned to either a generic (N = 218) or a tailored intervention (N = 225) which included 3 print mailings and 1 telephone session. Participants completed measures of TCE, SSE, and sun protections at baseline, 6 months, and 1 year, and measures of intentions, benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy at baseline and 6 months. Results: Those enrolled in the tailored intervention had almost a twofold increased probability of having a TCE ( p     

Two-Dimensional Packet Classification and Filter Conflict Resolution in the Internet

In this paper, we study the packet classification problem and the filter conflict resolution problem, both motivated by applications in the routing of packets in an IP network. For the first problem, we focus on the static 2-dimensional conflict-free (i.e., nested) filters. We design a linear space data structure with O(T _w (n)+(log log n)²) query time on a RAM with word size O(w) bits where n is the number of filters in the router, w is the number of bits in an IP address and

A distance-based group decision-making methodology for multi-person multi-criteria emergency decision support

In this paper, a distance-based group decision-making (GDM) methodology is proposed to solve unconventional multi-person multi-criteria emergency decision-making problems. In this model, some decision-makers are first identified to formulate a group decision-making framework. Then a standard multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) process is performed on specific decision-making problems and different decision results are obtained from different decision-makers. Finally, these different decision results are aggregated into a group consensus to support the final decision-making. For illustration and verification purposes, a numerical example and a practical unconventional emergency decision case are presented. Experimental results obtained demonstrate that the proposed distance-based multi-criteria GDM methodology can improve decision-making objectivity and emergency management effectiveness.     

Adult-child interaction during invasive medical procedures.

Adult–child interactions during stressful medical procedures were investigated in 43 pediatric patients (aged 36–212 mo) videotaped during a venipuncture procedure in the course of cancer treatment. Relations among 6 adult behavior categories (explain, distract, command to engage in coping behavior, give control to the child, praise, and criticize/threat/bargain) and 3 child behavior categories (momentary distress, cry/scream, and cope) were examined using correlational and sequential analysis. Results indicate that adult distraction resulted in increased child coping and reduced momentary distress and crying. Adult explanations did not result in a reduction of these behaviors. Attempts to give control to the child reduced child crying. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)