Valence-bond treatment of distortions in polyacene polymers

Distortions of polyacene polymers are studied within a many-body valence-bond framework using a powerful transfer-matrix technique for the valence-bond (or Heisenberg) model of the system. The computations suggest that the ground-state geometry is either totally symmetric or possibly exhibits a slight (A2 or B2 symmetry) bond-alternation distortion. The lowest-energy (nonsymmetric, in-plane) distortions are the A2 and B2 modes, which, within our approximations, are degenerate.

Audit report on the Community Development Block Grants program for the City of Brooklyn, Iowa for the year ended June 30, 2012

Audit report on the Community Development Block Grants program for the City of Brooklyn, Iowa for the year ended June 30, 2012

Maternal and Child Health Services Title V Block Grant State Narrative for Iowa Application for 2013 Annual Report for 2011

Key factors that provide context for the state's Maternal and Child Health (MCH) annual report and state plan are highlighted in this overview. This section briefly outlines Iowa's demographics, population changes, economic indicators and significant public initiatives. Major strategic planning efforts affecting development of program activities are also identified.

Pseudo-pacemaker syndrome in a young woman with first-degree atrio-ventricular block.

First-degree atrio-ventricular (AV) block is defined as a PR interval longer than 200 ms. If too long, it can become clinically relevant and may mimic a pacemaker syndrome. We report the case of a young woman with a long PR interval, probably congenital, with episodes of syncope and dizziness since childhood. Pseudo-pacemaker syndrome is rare and is a Class IIa recommendation for a pacemaker implantation. A dual-chamber pacemaker was implanted and short AV delay was programmed, with rapid clinical improvement.

Note on seismic hazard assessment using gradient of uplift velocities on the Turan Block (Central Asia)

Uplift gradients can provide the location of highly strained zones, which can be considered to be seismic. The Turan block (Central Asia) contains zones with high gradient of uplift velocities, above the threshold 0.04mm km-1year-1. Some of these zones are associated with important seismic activity and others are not correlated with any recent important recorded earthquakes, however, recent faults scarps as well as diverted rivers may indicate a recent tectonic activity. This threshold of gradient is probably a significant rheologic property of the upper crust. On the basis of these considerations the Uzboy river area is proposed as a potential high seismic hazard zone.

Audit report on the Community Development Block Grants program for the City of Bedford, Iowa for the year ended June 30, 2014

Audit report on the Community Development Block Grants program for the City of Bedford, Iowa for the year ended June 30, 2014

Stereoselective block of hERG channel by (S)-methadone and QT interval prolongation in CYP2B6 slow metabolizers.

Methadone inhibits the cardiac potassium channel hERG and can cause a prolonged QT interval. Methadone is chiral but its therapeutic activity is mainly due to (R)-methadone. Whole-cell patch-clamp experiments using cells expressing hERG showed that (S)-methadone blocked the hERG current 3.5-fold more potently than (R)-methadone (IC50s (half-maximal inhibitory concentrations) at 37 degrees C: 2 and 7 microM). As CYP2B6 slow metabolizer (SM) status results in a reduced ability to metabolize (S)-methadone, electrocardiograms, CYP2B6 genotypes, and (R)- and (S)-methadone plasma concentrations were obtained for 179 patients receiving (R,S)-methadone. The mean heart-rate-corrected QT (QTc) was higher in CYP2B6 SMs (*6/*6 genotype; 439+/-25 ms; n=11) than in extensive metabolizers (non *6/*6; 421+/-25 ms; n=168; P=0.017). CYP2B6 SM status was associated with an increased risk of prolonged QTc (odds ratio=4.5, 95% confidence interval=1.2-17.7; P=0.03). This study reports the first genetic factor implicated in methadone metabolism that may increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death. This risk could be reduced by the administration of (R)-methadone.

Bloc atrioventriculaire complet sur borréliose de Lyme: aspects etectrocardiographiques, diagnostiques et microbiologiques [Atrioventricular heart block in Lyme disease]

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in Europe and in the United States. In comparison to dermatological, neurological and rheumatological manifestations, heart disease is quite rare. Atrioventricular heart block is nevertheless the most frequent cardiological manifestation. We hereby report the case of a patient with high degree heart block due to Lyme disease. We focus on the electrocardiographical evolution during antibiotic therapy, as well as on microbiological and diagnostic aspects. Lyme disease is a rare cause of conduction disturbances but it is treatable and potentially reversible.

Cumulative Shapes of Knotted Polymers

We investigate the influence of knotting and chirality on the shape of knotted polygons forming trefoil knots compared to unknotted polygons by aligning independent configurations along their principal inertial axes. While for six edge polygons forming trefoil knots the chiral knotted structure is revealed in the isodensity profiles, the distinct chiral signature of the trefoil is significantly diminished with 24 edges. We observe that as the number of edges in the polygons increases, the cumulative shapes of trefoil knots progressively approach the cumulative shapes for unknotted polygons.

Polymers as carriers for rhizobial inoculant formulations

The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and starch blends as carrier materials of rhizobial inoculants regarding their capacity to maintain viable cells and promote cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) nodulation. The experimental design adopted was completely randomized, with three replicates. Forty different compositions of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) with starch, compatibilized or not with different proportions of MgO or ZnO, were evaluated regarding their ability of maintaining rhizobial viable cells during the storage period of one month at room temperature, in an initial screening. Thereafter, selected inoculant carrier blends were evaluated regarding their ability to maintain viable rhizobial cells for a period of 165 days, and their performance as inoculant carriers was compared to a peat-based inoculant carrier under greenhouse conditions. Rhizobial cells were better maintained in blends containing 50-60% CMC. Compatibilizing agents did not increase survival of rhizobial cells for 30 days of storage. The cowpea nodulation of polymer blends was statistically the same of peat-based inoculants. CMC/starch polymer blends are efficient carriers to rhizobial inoculants for up to 165 days of storage, when compatibilized with MgO (1%).

Maternal and Child Health Services Title V Block Grant State Narrative for Iowa Application for 2015 Annual Report for 2013, September 21, 2014

Key factors that provide context for the state's Maternal and Child Health (MCH) annual report and state plan are highlighted in this overview. This section briefly outlines Iowa's demographics, population changes, economic indicators and significant public initiatives. Major strategic planning efforts affecting development of program activities are also identified.

Iowa’s Title V Block Grant Executive Summary, 2013

Title V of the Social Security Act is the longest-standing public health legislation in American history. Enacted in 1935, Title V is a federal-state partnership that promotes and improves maternal and child health (MCH). According to each state’s unique needs, Title V supports a spectrum of services, from infrastructure building services like quality assurance and policy development, to gap-filling direct health care services. Title V resources are directed towards MCH priority populations: pregnant women, mothers, infants, women of reproductive years, children and adolescents and children and youth with special health care needs.