Adsorption properties of HKUST-1 toward hydrogen and other small molecules monitored by IR

Among microporous systems metal organic frameworks are considered promising materials for molecular adsorption. In this contribution infrared spectroscopy is successfully applied to highlight the positive role played by coordinatively unsaturated Cu2+ ions in HKUST-1, acting as specific interaction sites. A properly activated material, obtained after solvent removal, is characterized by a high fraction of coordinatively unsaturated Cu2+ ions acting as preferential adsorption sites that show specific activities towards some of the most common gaseous species (NO, CO2, CO, N-2 and H-2). From a temperature dependent IR study, it has been estimated that the H-2 adsorption energy is as high as 10 kJ mol(-1). A very complex spectral evolution has been observed upon lowering the temperature. A further peculiarity of this material is the fact that it promotes ortho-para conversion of the adsorbed H-2 species.

Molecular diagnosis of the myeloproliferative neoplasms: UK guidelines for the detection of JAK2 V617F and other relevant mutations

Molecular genetic assays for the detection of the JAK2 V617F (c.1849G>T) and other pathogenetic mutations within JAK2 exon 12 and MPL exon 10 are part of the routine diagnostic workup for patients presenting with erythrocytosis, thrombocytosis or otherwise suspected to have a myeloproliferative neoplasm. A wide choice of techniques are available for the detection of these mutations, leading to potential difficulties for clinical laboratories in deciding upon the most appropriate assay, which can lead to problems with inter-laboratory standardization. Here, we discuss the most important issues for a clinical diagnostic laboratory in choosing a technique, particularly for detection of the JAK2 V617F mutation at diagnosis. The JAK2 V617F detection assay should be both specific and sensitive enough to detect a mutant allele burden as low as 13%. Indeed, the use of sensitive assays increases the detection rate of the JAK2 V617F mutation within myeloproliferative neoplasms. Given their diagnostic relevance, it is also beneficial and relatively straightforward to screen JAK2 V617F negative patients for JAK2 exon 12 mutations (in the case of erythrocytosis) or MPL exon 10 mutations (thrombocytosis or myelofibrosis) using appropriate assays. Molecular results should be considered in the context of clinical findings and other haematological or laboratory results.

Group Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy with Former Child Soldiers and other War-affected Boys in the DR Congo: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

Background: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been home to the world’s deadliest con?ict since World War II and is reported to have the largest number of child soldiers in the world. Despite evidence of the debilitating impact of war, no group-based mental health or psychosocial intervention has been evaluated in a randomised controlled trial for psychologically distressed former child soldiers.

Method: A randomised controlled trial involving 50 boys, aged 13–17, including former child soldiers (n = 39) and other war-affected boys (n = 11). They were randomly assigned to an intervention group, or wait-list control group. The intervention group received a 15-session, group-based, culturally adapted Trauma-Focused Cognitive–Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) intervention. Assessment interviews were completed at baseline, postintervention and 3-month follow-up (intervention group).

Results: Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) demonstrated that, in comparison to the wait-list control group, the TF-CBT intervention group had highly signi?cant reductions in posttraumatic stress symptoms, overall psychosocial distress, depression or anxiety-like symptoms, conduct problems and a signi?cant increase in prosocial behaviour (p < .001 for all). Effect sizes were higher when former child soldier scores were separated for sub-analysis. Three-month follow-up of the intervention group found that treatment gains were maintained.

Conclusions: A culturally modi?ed, group-based TF-CBT intervention was effective in reducing posttraumatic stress and psychosocial distress in former child soldiers and other war-affected boys.

By any other name? The women and Geography study group

If one grants that meanings are constructed through exclusions, one must acknowledge and take responsibility for the exclusions involved in one's own project. (Wallach Scott 1988, 7)

Names can be important, as an identity marker and public persona, especially if they shape our own and others' expectations – ask any woman named Hope or Patience. In this short piece we consider what the Women and Geography Study Group of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) represents to both those inside and outside the group in the 21st century and make a case for change to a more inclusionary title.

Phage Display-Derived Binders Able to Distinguish Listeria monocytogenes from Other Listeria Species

The objective of this study was to produce phage display-derived binders with the ability to distinguish Listeria monocytogenes from other Listeria spp., which may have potential utility to enhance detection of Listeria monocytogenes. To obtain binders with the desired binding specificity a series of surface and solution phage-display biopannings were performed. Initially, three rounds of surface biopanning against gamma-irradiated L. monocytogenes serovar 4b cells were performed followed by an additional surface biopanning round against L. monocytogenes 4b which included prior subtraction biopanning against gamma-irradiated L. innocua cells. In an attempt to further enhance binder specificity for L. monocytogenes 4b two rounds of solution biopanning were performed, both rounds included initial subtraction solution biopanning against L. innocua. Subsequent evaluations were performed on the phage clones by phage binding ELISA. All phage clones tested from the second round of solution biopanning had higher specificity for L. monocytogenes 4b than for L. innocua and three other foodborne pathogens (Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli and Campylobacter jejuni). Further evaluation with five other Listeria spp. revealed that one phage clone in particular, expressing peptide GRIADLPPLKPN, was highly specific for L. monocytogenes with at least 43-fold more binding capability to L. monocytogenes 4b than to any other Listeria sp. This proof-of-principle study demonstrates how a combination of surface, solution and subtractive biopanning was used to maximise binder specificity. L. monocytogenes-specific binders were obtained which could have potential application in novel detection tests for L. monocytogenes, benefiting both the food and medical industries. © 2013 Morton et al.

Glycosylation of low density lipoprotein in patients with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes:correlations with other parameters of glycaemic control

Glycosylation of low density lipoproteins obtained from 16 patients with Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes and from 16 age-, sex-, and race-matched controls, was determined. The diabetic patients were normolipaemic and were in good or fair glycaemic control. Eleven patients performed home blood glucose monitoring. Glycosylation of low density lipoproteins in the diabetic patients was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) than in the control subjects, and was significantly correlated with haemoglobin A1c, (p less than 0.01), glycosylation of plasma proteins, (p less than 0.001), and mean home blood glucose, (p less than 0.01). This study confirms that, in diabetic patients, increased glycosylation of low density lipoprotein occurs to an extent which correlates closely with other commonly used indices of glycaemic control.

Multiple Regulatory Pathways Associated with High-Level Ciprofloxacin and Multidrug Resistance in Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis: Involvement of ramA and Other Global Regulators

Mechanisms of antibiotic resistance were examined in nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis field isolates displaying decreased susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and in in vitro-derived ciprofloxacin-resistant mutants (104-cip and 5408-cip). All field isolates harbored a single gyrA mutation (D87Y). Deletion of acrB and complementation with wild-type gyrA increased quinolone susceptibility. Selection for ciprofloxacin resistance was associated with the development of an additional gyrA (S83F) mutation in 104-cip, novel gyrB (E466D) and parE (V461G) mutations in 5408-cip, overexpression of acrB and decreased susceptibility to nonquinolone antibiotics in both mutants, and decreased OmpF production and altered lipopoly- saccharide in 104-cip. Complementation of mutated gyrA and gyrB with wild-type alleles restored susceptibility to quinolones in 104-cip and significantly decreased the ciprofloxacin MIC in 5408-cip. Complementation of parE had no effect on quinolone MICs. Deletion of acrB restored susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and other antibiotics tested. Both soxS and marA were overexpressed in 104-cip, and ramA was overexpressed in 5408-cip. Inactivation of each of these global regulators lowered ciprofloxacin MICs, decreased expression of acrB, and restored susceptibility to other antibiotics. Mutations were found in soxR (R20H) and in soxS (E52K) in 104-cip and in ramR (G25A) in 5408-cip. In conclusion, both efflux activity and a single gyrA mutation contribute to nalidixic acid resistance and reduced ciprofloxacin sensitivity. Ciprofloxacin resistance and decreased susceptibility to multiple antibiotics can result from different genetic events leading to development of target gene mutations, increased efflux activity resulting from differential expression of global regulators associated with mutations in their regulatory genes, and possible altered membrane permeability.

A novel single base deletion in the LDLR gene (211delG):Effect on serum lipid profiles and the influence of other genetic polymorphisms in the ACE, APOE and APOB genes

A single base deletion (211delG) in the low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene was shown to cause familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) in a large family from Northern Ireland. Twenty-four of 52 family members tested had this mutation, 13 of which were newly diagnosed. Mutation-positive individuals had significantly higher mean total-cholesterol (TC) and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) than those without 211delG. LDL-C was a more accurate indicator of disease status than TC, When TC levels alone were considered, in individuals over 16 years, a false negative rate (TC <7.5 mmol/l) of 40% was found; however, this fell to 13% based on inclusion of LDL-C levels. Individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD) had significantly higher TC levels than those without CAD and tended to have tendinous xanthomas (TX) and corneal arcus (CA). Genetic polymorphisms in the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and apolipoprotein (ape) B genes did not appear to be associated with lipid levels or with the clinical severity of the disease; however, the apo E e4 allele did show a lipid-raising effect in individuals with the mutation.

Water Content Determinations for Peat and Other Organic Soils Using the Oven-Drying Method

There has been much debate in the literature over the past 60 years regarding an appropriate oven-drying temperature for water content determinations in peat and other organic soils. For inorganic soils, the water content is usually based on the equilibrium dry mass corresponding to drying temperatures in the range 100-110°C. However, for peat and other organic soils, several researchers have recommended lower drying temperatures in the range 60-90°C in an attempt to prevent possible charring, oxidation, and/or vaporization of substances other than pore water. However, all of the relevant water is not fully evaporated at too low a temperature, and because specimen dry mass is a function of drying temperature, the resulting water content values are lower than those determined for the temperature range 100-110°C. Experimental data reported in this article show that oven drying of peat and other organic soils at 100-110°C using either gravity-convection or forced-draft ovens is acceptable for routine water content determinations. Because a standardized oven temperature is desirable when correlating water content with other material properties, it is recommended that oven drying of peat and other organic soils be performed over temperature ranges of either 105-110°C or 105 ± 5°C, in line with standardized ranges for inorganic soils. © 2014 Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, and other elements concentrations in Italian rice grain varies with origin and type

Rice is comparatively efficient at assimilating inorganic arsenic (As _i), a class-one, non-threshold carcinogen, into its grain, being the dominant source of this element to mankind. Here it was investigated how the total arsenic (As_t) and As_i content of Italian rice grain sourced from market outlets varied by geographical origin and type. Total Cr, Cd Se, Mg, K, Zn, Ni were also quantified. As_t concentration on a variety basis ranged from means of 0.18 mg kg^-1 to 0.28 mg kg ^-1, and from 0.11 mg kg^-1 to 0.28 mg kg^-1 by production region. For As_i concentration, means ranged from 0.08 mg kg^-1 to 0.11 mg kg^-1 by variety and 0.10 mg kg ^-1 to 0.06 mg kg^-1 by region. There was significant geographical variation for both As_t and As_i; total Se and Ni concentration; while the total concentration of Zn, Cr, Ni and K were strongly influenced by the type of rice.

Risk assessment of neonatal excipient exposure:Lessons from food safety and other areas

Newborn babies can require significant amounts of medication containing excipients intended to improve the drug formulation. Most medicines given to neonates have been developed for adults or older children and contain excipients thought to be safe in these age groups. Many excipients have been used widely in neonates without obvious adverse effects. Some excipients may be toxic in high amounts in which case they need careful risk assessment. Alternatively, it is conceivable that ill-founded fears about excipients mean that potentially useful medicines are not made available to newborn babies. Choices about excipient exposure can occur at several stages throughout the lifecycle of a medicine, from product development through to clinical use. Making these choices requires a scalable approach to analysing the overall risk. In this contribution we examine these issues.

Borders, Asylum and Global Non-Citizenship: The Other Side of the Fence

The experience of border crossing for refugees and irregular migrants challenges global border and migration controls in multiple contexts. Using qualitative field research in Tanzania, Spain, Morocco and Australia, Heather Johnson asks how a global regime of migration management and control can be perceived through the dynamics of particular border spaces: refugee camps, border zones and detention centres. She explores how irregular migrants are impacted by the increasingly security-oriented practices of border control, and how they confront these practices. Johnson rejects the characterization of border spaces as exceptional, abject and exclusionary, arguing instead for an understanding of politics as everyday contestation that reveals a radical political agency, re-imagining the global non-citizen as a transgressive and powerful figure. Building on recent scholarship that rethinks irregularity and non-citizenship, her conclusions have broad implications for how we understand irregular migration from a position of dialogue and solidarity.