Adsorption of naphthalene and indole on F300 MOF in liquid phase by the complementary spectroscopic,kinetic and DFT studies

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are the promising functional materials for adsorption in liquid phase. It is important to understand the details of chemical bonding between the aromatic and heteroaromatic adsorbates and major structural units in the MOF sorbent—metal coordinatively unsaturated sites (CUS) and organic linkers. In this paper, we report the mechanistic studies of adsorption of naphthalene and indole on F300 Basolite MOF by two complementary spectroscopic methods and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Fluorescence spectra, the near-UV/visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (near-UV/VIS DRS) and DFT calculations suggest that naphthalene forms an adsorption complex with F300 MOF where naphthalene is quantum confined within the cavity of the F300, weakly electronically bound to the Fe(III) CUS, and strongly dispersively stabilized by side interactions with the benzene rings of the linker of F300. On the other hand, indole forms an adsorption complex with F300 MOF in which indole is electronically bound to the Fe(III) CUS and dispersively stabilized by the side interactions with benzene rings of the linker. Coordination bonds between indole and F300 MOF in the adsorption complex are detected by geometry optimization using the DFT method, and electronic spectra are calculated by the time-dependent-DFT method. The direct spectroscopic proof of the formation of adsorption complex with coordination bonds between indole and F300 MOF is provided by the complementary near-UV/VIS DRS spectroscopy (new absorption bands at 460–660 nm), the wavelength-dependent fluorescence spectroscopy (new fluorescence bands at 410 and 430 nm) and by the time-dependent fluorescence spectroscopy.     

Tenascin-R inhibits the growth of optic fibers in vitro but is rapidly eliminated during nerve regeneration in the salamander Pleurodeles waltl

Tenascin-R is a multidomain molecule of the extracellular matrix in the CNS with neurite outgrowth inhibitory functions. Despite the fact that in amphibians spontaneous axonal regeneration of the optic nerve occurs, we show here that the molecule appears concomitantly with myelination during metamorphosis and is present in the adult optic nerve of the salamander Pleurodeles waltl by immunoblots and immunohistochemistry. In vitro, adult retinal ganglion cell axons were not able to grow from retinal explants on a tenascin-R substrate or to cross a sharp substrate border of tenascin-R in the presence of laminin, indicating that tenascin-R inhibits regrowth of retinal ganglion cell axons. After an optic nerve crush, immunoreactivity for tenascin-R was reduced to undetectable levels within 8 d. Immunoreactivity for the myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) was also diminished by that time. Myelin was removed by phagocytosing cells at 8-14 d after the lesion, as demonstrated by electron microscopy. Tenascin-R immunoreactivity was again detectable at 6 months after the lesion, correlated with remyelination as indicated by MAG immunohistochemistry. Regenerating axons began to repopulate the distal lesioned nerve at 9 d after a crush and grew in close contact with putative astrocytic processes in the periphery of the nerve, close to the pia, as demonstrated by anterograde tracing. Thus, the onset of axonal regrowth over the lesion site was correlated with the removal of inhibitory molecules in the optic nerve, which may be necessary for successful axonal regeneration in the CNS of amphibians.     

Assessing variation in alcohol outcome expectancies across environmental context: An examination of the situational-specificity hypothesis.

Using an in vivo manipulation, this study examined whether alcohol outcome expectancies (AOEs) vary across environmental settings. Two hundred twenty-one undergraduates were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 conditions in which environmental context (an on-campus bar vs. a laboratory) and instructed phase of intoxication ("just enough to begin to feel intoxicated" vs. "too much to drink") were manipulated. AOEs were assessed with a revised version of the Effects of Alcohol Scale (L. Southwick, C. Steele, A. Marlatt, & M. Lindell, 1981). Compared with participants tested in the laboratory, individuals exposed to the on-campus bar expected greater alcohol-related stimulation/perceived dominance and pleasurable disinhibition. Women expected more behavioral impairment during the latter stage of intoxication. These findings highlight the importance of ecologically valid research in this area, as well as cue-exposure assessment and treatment approaches. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hallucinations, sleep fragmentation, and altered dream phenomena in Parkinson''s disease

Middle ear effusion has been considered the most common cause of vestibular disturbance in children. However, there have been only a few studies on vestibular disturbance in children with otitis media with effusion. We studied the vestibular systems of 30 children with otitis media with effusion aged 8 to 13 years and compared the results with 15 age- and sex-matched controls. A questionnaire relating to vestibular disturbance was given to patients and their parents. Spontaneous nystagmus and positional nystagmus were recorded by electronystagmography as diagnostic tests of the vestibular system. Romberg's and past-pointing tests were performed on children with otitis media with effusion and controls. After vestibular tests were completed, myringotomy was performed, and a ventilation tube was inserted. The questionnaire and the vestibular tests were repeated after the operation and during the first month after surgery. Our study showed that there was a history of vestibular disturbance in 33% of children with otitis media with effusion. Electronystagmography and Romberg's test findings demonstrated that 33% of the children had vestibular dysfunction (p < 0.05). After myringotomy with ventilation tube insertion, vestibular test results returned to normal, and symptoms related to vestibular disturbance improved. These findings confirm the assumption that middle ear effusion may affect the vestibular system, which can be resolved after myringotomy with ventilation tube insertion.     

Xenoislet transplantation: experimental and clinical aspects

Ten diabetic renal transplant patients had porcine fetal islet-like cell clusters (ICC) injected intraportally or placed under the kidney capsule. In some patients, temporary graft survival was achieved, as evidenced by the urinary excretion of small amounts of porcine C-peptide (4 patients) and the identification of some intact insulin-staining cells in a biopsy specimen (1 patient). Glucose metabolism remained unaffected. To improve the results, better islets and better immunosuppressive protocols are required. We found that, while fetal porcine ICC produced insulin only after several weeks, adult islets gave immediate insulin production. The search for an optimal immunosuppression was conducted in the pig-to-rat islet transplant model. A clear inhibitory effect on the xenograft rejection was observed when using some of the new drugs. The best results were achieved with a triple drug regimen consisting of cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil and leflunomide.     

Downscaling and Assimilation of Surface Soil Moisture Using Ground Truth Measurements

Methods for reconciliation of spatial and temporal scales of data have become increasingly important as remote sensing data become more readily available and as the science of hydrology moves more heavily toward distributed modeling. The purpose of this paper is to develop a method to disaggregate coarse-resolution remote sensing data to finer scale resolutions that are more appropriate for use in hydrologic studies and water management. This disaggregation is done with the help of point measurements on the ground. The downscaling of remote sensing data is achieved by three main steps: initialization, spatial pattern mimicking, and assimilation. The first two steps are part of the main algorithm, and the last step, assimilation, is included for fine-tuning and to ensure further compatibility between the coarse-scale and fine-scale images. The assimilation step also incorporates the information coming from the point measurements. The approach has been applied and validated by downscaling images for two cases. In the first case, a synthetically generated random field is reproduced at fine and coarse resolutions. The downscaled image has been shown to match the spatial properties of the true image according to the variogram test as well as the magnitude of values according to the various univariate goodness-of-fit measures R² = 0.91. In the second case, a soil moisture field from the Southern Great Plains (SGP 97) experiments is downscaled from a resolution of 800 m X 800 m to a resolution of 50 m X 50 m.     

Chain reactions linking acorns to gypsy moth outbreaks and Lyme disease risk

In eastern U.S. oak forests, defoliation by gypsy moths and the risk of Lyme disease are determined by interactions among acorns, white-footed mice, moths, deer, and ticks. Experimental removal of mice, which eat moth pupae, demonstrated that moth outbreaks are caused by reductions in mouse density that occur when there are no acorns. Experimental acorn addition increased mouse density. Acorn addition also increased densities of black-legged ticks, evidently by attracting deer, which are key tick hosts. Mice are primarily responsible for infecting ticks with the Lyme disease agent. The results have important implications for predicting and managing forest health and human health.     

An extended panel of hamster-human hybrids for chromosome 2q

A hamster-human hybrid containing only the q arm of chromosome 2 has been used to construct a panel of hybrids bearing reduced regions of chromosome 2 using the technique of irradiation fusion gene transfer. The human chromosome 2 carried the Ecogpt gene and all hybrids were selected using this marker. The integrated Ecogpt gene was localized to the region 2q33-34, resulting in the selective retention of this region in the hybrids. These data were combined with another previously constructed panel of hybrids containing regions of 2q, which were enriched for the region 2q36-37. The combined hybrid panel is useful for the mapping of new markers to defined regions of chromosome 2 and for the cloning of genes located on 2q by a positional strategy.     

An orphan nuclear receptor activated by pregnanes defines a novel steroid signaling pathway

PURPOSE: To determine the effects of 28 d of creatine supplementation during training on body composition, strength, sprint performance, and hematological profiles. METHODS: In a double-blind and randomized manner, 25 NCAA division IA football players were matched-paired and assigned to supplement their diet for 28 d during resistance/agility training (8 h x wk[-1]) with a Phosphagen HP (Experimental and Applied Sciences, Golden, CO) placebo (P) containing 99 g x d(-1) of glucose, 3 g x d(-1) of taurine, 1.1 g x d(-1) of disodium phosphate, and 1.2 g x d(-1) of potassium phosphate (P) or Phosphagen HP containing the P with 15.75 g x d(-1) of HPCE pure creatine monohydrate (HP). Before and after supplementation, fasting blood samples were obtained; total body weight, total body water, and body composition were determined; subjects performed a maximal repetition test on the isotonic bench press, squat, and power clean; and subjects performed a cycle ergometer sprint test (12 x 6-s sprints with 30-s rest recovery). RESULTS: Hematological parameters remained within normal clinical limits for active individuals with no side effects reported. Total body weight significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the HP group (P 0.85 +/- 2.2; HP 2.42 +/- 1.4 kg) while no differences were observed in the percentage of total body water. DEXA scanned body mass (P 0.77 +/- 1.8; HP 2.22 +/- 1.5 kg) and fat/bone-free mass (P 1.33 +/- 1.1; HP 2.43 +/- 1.4 kg) were significantly increased in the HP group. Gains in bench press lifting volume (P -5 +/- 134; HP 225 +/- 246 kg), the sum of bench press, squat, and power clean lifting volume (P 1,105 +/- 429; HP 1,558 +/- 645 kg), and total work performed during the first five 6-s sprints was significantly greater in the HP group. CONCLUSION: The addition of creatine to the glucose/taurine/electrolyte supplement promoted greater gains in fat/bone-free mass, isotonic lifting volume, and sprint performance during intense resistance/agility training.