catena-Poly[[aqua­(3-methyl­benzoato-κ2 O,O′)lead(II)]-μ-3-methyl­benzoato-κ4 O:O,O′:O′]

The reaction of lead(II) acetate and 3-methyl­benzoic acid (MBA) in aqueous solution yielded the title polymer, [Pb(C8H7O2)2(H2O)]n. The asymmetric unit contains two PbII atoms, four MBA ligands and two water mol­ecules. Each PbII cation is hepta­coordinated and chelated by four carboxyl­ate O atoms from two MBA ligands. The Pb atoms are bridged through the carboxyl­ate O atoms from another two MBA ligands, leading to a central Pb2O2 core. The Pb—O bond lengths are in the range 2.325 (3)–2.757 (4) Å. The intra- and inter­dimer Pb⋯Pb distances are 4.2942 (3) and 4.2283 (3) Å, respectively, indicating little direct metal–metal inter­action. The coordinating water mol­ecules and carboxyl­ate O atoms are involved in extensive O—H⋯O hydrogen-bonding inter­actions. The complex has an extended ladder-like chain structure and the chains are assembled by hydrogen bonds and π–π inter­actions [centroid–centroid distance = 3.6246 (3) Å] into a three-dimensional supra­molecular structure

Spectral classification of Pleiades brown dwarf candidates

We report on the results of the spectroscopy of 10 objects previously classified as brown dwarf candidates via RIJHK colors by Eisenbeiss et al. (2009), who performed deep imaging observations on a 0.4 sq.deg. field at the edge of the Pleiades. We describe and judge on classification techniques in the region of M-type stars. To classify and characterise the objects, visual and near infrared spectra have been obtained with VLT FORS and ISAAC. The spectral classification was performed using the shape of the spectra as well as spectral indices that are sensitive to the spectral type and luminosity class of Mtype stars and late M-type brown dwarfs. Furthermore a spectrophotometric distance was calculated and compared the distance of the Pleiades to investigate the membership probability. As a second argument we analyzed the proper motion. The brown dwarf candidates were found not to be brown dwarfs, but late-K to mid-M-type dwarf stars. Based on the obtained distance and tabulated proper motions we conclude that all objects are background dwarf stars.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

Dynamics of direct inter-pack encounters in endangered African wild dogs

Aggressive encounters may have important life history consequences due to the potential for injury and death, disease transmission, dispersal opportunities or exclusion from key areas of the home range. Despite this, little is known of their detailed dynamics, mainly due to the difficulties of directly observing encounters in detail. Here, we describe detailed spatial dynamics of inter-pack encounters in African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus), using data from custom-built high-resolution GPS collars in 11 free-ranging packs. On average, each pack encountered another pack approximately every 7 weeks and met each neighbour twice each year. Surprisingly, intruders were more likely to win encounters (winning 78.6% of encounters by remaining closer to the site in the short term). However, intruders did tend to move farther than residents toward their own range core in the short-term (1 h) post-encounter, and if this were used to indicate losing an encounter, then the majority (73.3%) of encounters were won by residents. Surprisingly, relative pack size had little effect on encounter outcome, and injuries were rare (<15% of encounters). These results highlight the difficulty of remotely scoring encounters involving mobile participants away from static defendable food resources. Although inter-pack range overlap was reduced following an encounter, encounter outcome did not seem to drive this, as both packs shifted their ranges post-encounter. Our results indicate that inter-pack encounters may be lower risk than previously suggested and do not appear to influence long-term movement and ranging

Associated Factors of Quality of Life in First-Episode Schizophrenia Patients

OBJECTIVE: Improving quality of life is an important goal in the treatment of schizophrenia. In previous research, quality of life has been reported to be compromised in patients with schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to investigate whether quality of life may be impaired in first-episode schizophrenia patients and to identify the associated factors of quality of life in first-episode schizophrenia. METHODS: Forty-eight patients with first-episode schizophrenia and 20 normal controls were recruited. Quality of life was measured by using the Quality of Life scale (QLS). General and social self-efficacy, perceived social support were measured by using the self-report scales. The clinical assessments and comprehensive neurocognitive battery were also administered. RESULTS: First-episode group showed significantly decreased QLS total and QLS subscale scores compared to normal controls group. The key associated factors of quality of life in patients with first-episode schizophrenia were the negative symptoms and social self-efficacy. CONCLUSION: This finding implies that compromised quality of life may be already emerged in schizophrenia in their first-episode and the psychosocial interventions should be targeting the negative symptoms and the psychosocial protective factors including self-efficacy in addition to simply ameliorating the positive symptoms to foster social reintegration and recovery of first-episode patients.ope

Decision‐support networks of women newly diagnosed with breast cancer

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138904/1/cncr30848_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138904/2/cncr30848.pd

Comparison between Wild and Hatchery Populations of Korean Pen Shell (Atrina pectinata) Using Microsatellite DNA Markers

Pen shell (Atrina pectinata) is a popular food source with a high commercial value in a number of Asian Pacific areas. The natural A. pectinata population has been declining continuously over the past several decades. Microsatellite DNA markers are a useful DNA-based tool for monitoring the genetic variation of pen shell populations. In this study, 20 polymorphic microsatellite (MS) DNA markers were identified from a partial genomic pen shell DNA library enriched in CA repeats, and used to compare allelic variation between wild and hatchery pen shell populations in Korea. A total of 438 alleles were detected at the 20 MS loci in the two populations. All loci were easily amplified and demonstrated allelic variability, with the number of alleles ranging from 5 to 35 in the wild population and from 5 to 22 in the farmed population. The average observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.69 and 0.82, respectively, in the hatchery samples and 0.69 and 0.83, respectively, in the wild samples. Statistical analysis of fixation index (FST) and analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed minor, but significant, genetic differences between the wild and hatchery populations (FST = 0.0106, CI95% = 0.003–0.017). These microsatellite loci may be valuable for future aquaculture and population genetic studies for developing conservation and management plans. Further studies with additional pen shell samples are needed to conclusively determine the genetic diversity between the wild and hatchery populations

Wild and Hatchery Populations of Korean Starry Flounder (Platichthys stellatus) Compared Using Microsatellite DNA Markers

Starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus) is an important sport and food fish found around the margins of the North Pacific. Aquaculture production of this species in Korea has increased because of its commercial value. Microsatellite DNA markers are a useful DNA-based tool for monitoring the genetic variation of starry flounder populations. In this study, 12 polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers were identified from a partial genomic starry flounder DNA library enriched in CA repeats, and used to compare allelic variation between wild and hatchery starry flounder populations in Korea. All loci were readily amplified and demonstrated high allelic diversity, with the number of alleles ranging from 6 to 18 in the wild population and from 2 to 12 in the farmed population. A total of 136 alleles were detected at the 12 microsatellite loci in the two populations. The mean observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.62 and 0.68, respectively, in the hatchery samples and 0.67 and 0.75, respectively, in the wild samples. These results indicate lower genetic variability in the hatchery population as compared to the wild population. Significant shifts in allelic frequencies were detected at eight loci, which resulted in a small but significant genetic differences between the wild and hatchery populations (FST = 0.043, P < 0.05). Further studies with additional starry flounder sample collections are needed for comprehensive determinations of the genetic varieties between the wild and hatchery populations. These microsatellite loci may be valuable for future population genetic studies, monitoring the genetic variation for successful aquaculture management and the preservation of aquatic biodiversity

Light cluster production in intermediate energy heavy-ion collisions induced by neutron-rich nuclei

The coalescence model based on nucleon distribution functions from an isospin-dependent transport model is used to study the production of light clusters such as deuteron, triton, and $^{3}$He from heavy-ion collisions induced by neutron-rich nuclei at intermediate energies. It is found that the emission time of light clusters depends on their masses. For clusters with the same momentum per nucleon, heavier ones are emitted earlier. Both the yield and energy spectrum of light clusters are sensitive to the density dependence of nuclear symmetry energy, with more light clusters produced in the case of a stiff symmetry energy. On the other hand, effects due to the stiffness of the isoscalar part of nuclear equation of state and the medium dependence of nucleon-nucleon cross sections on light cluster production are unimportant. We have also studied the correlation functions of clusters, and they are affected by the density dependence of nuclear symmetry energy as well, with the stiff symmetry energy giving a stronger anti-correlation of light clusters, particularly for those with large kinetic energies. Dependence of light cluster production on the centrality and incident energy of heavy ion collisions as well as the mass of the reaction system is also investigated.Comment: Revised version, typos corrected and discussions added, 14 pages, 15 figures, 1 table, REVTeX4.

The relationship between inhibition of bacterial adhesion to a solid surface by sub-MICs of antibiotics and subsequent development of a biofilm

Many studies have demonstrated that subminimal inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) of antibiotics can inhibit initial microbial adherence to medical device surfaces. It has been suggested that, by inhibiting initial adhesion, biofilm formation might be prevented. However, since initial adherence and subsequent biofilm formation may be two distinct phenomena, conclusions regarding the effects of sub-MIC antibiotics on initial adhesion cannot be extrapolated to biofilm formation. In this study, we evaluated the adherence of several clinical isolates of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) to acrylic and the effect of sub-MICs of vancomycin, cefazolin, dicloxacillin and combinations of these antibiotics on adherence and biofilm formation. Most of the antibiotics used resulted in effective reduction of bacterial adherence to acrylic, in some cases reaching over 70% inhibition of adherence. When strains with a high biofilm-forming capacity were grown in sub-MICs of those antibiotics, there existed combinations of the drugs that significantly inhibited biofilm formation. However, most of the antibiotic combinations that inhibited adherence did not have a profound effect on biofilm formation. When comparing the results of the effect of sub-MIC amounts of antibiotics in inhibiting adherence with their effect on the inhibition of biofilm formation, significant differences were found, mainly when using combinations of antibiotics. In general, the effect on the inhibition of adherence was greater than the effect on inhibiting biofilm formation. These results demonstrate that assays evaluating the inhibition of initial adherence to medical surfaces cannot fully predict the effect on inhibition of biofilm formation.NIH - grant AI 46706.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) – Programa Operacional “Ciência, Tecnologia, Inovação” (POCTI) - POCTI/ESP/42688/2001, SFRH/BD/8676/2002