Sevenfold enhancement on porphyrin dye efficiency by coordination of ruthenium polypyridine complexes

Sevenfold enhancement of photoconversion efficiency was achieved by incorporation of peripheral ruthenium complexes to a porphyrin dye, generating supramolecular effects capable of playing several key roles (e.g., transferring energy to, inhibiting aggregation, and accepting the hole generated in the porphyrin center after electron injection), providing new insights for the design of better DSSC photosensitizers.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq

Corrole isomers: intrinsic gas-phase shapes via traveling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry and dissociation chemistries via tandem mass spectrometry

Corrole and four of its isomers with subtle structural changes promoted by exchange of nitrogen and carbon atoms in the corrole ring have been studied by traveling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry and collision induced dissociation experiments. Significant differences in shapes and charge distributions for their protonated molecules were found to lead to contrasting gas phase mobilities, most particularly for corrorin, the most "confused" isomer. Accordingly, corrorin was predicted by B3LYP/6-31g(d,p) and collisional cross section calculations to display the most compact tri-dimensional structure, whereas NCC4 and corrole were found to be the most planar isomers. Better resolution between the corrole isomers was achieved using the more polarizable and massive CO2 as the drift gas. Sequential losses of HF molecules were found to dominate the dissociation chemistry of the protonated molecules of these corrole isomers, but their unique structures caused contrasting labilities towards CID, whereas NCC4 showed a peculiar and structurally diagnostic loss of NH3, allowing its prompt differentiation from the other isomers

Triazenes and antibacterial activity

Quinze compostos triazenos foram estudados quanto à atividade antibacteriana pela metodologia de microdiluição em caldo. A Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM) e a Concentração Bactericida Mínima (CBM) foram pesquisadas frente a três bactérias padrão (E. coli ATCC 25922, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853) e frente a cepas hospitalares (Acinetobacter baumannii, Acinetobacter lwoffii, Ralstonia pickettii, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Micrococcus sp., Enterococcus sp., Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Bacillus cereus, Corynebacterium sp., Rhodococcus sp., Salmonella sp., Serratia marcescens, Morganella morganii, Enterobacter cloacae, Shigella flexneri, Shigella sonnei, Shigella sp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, ESBL Klebsiella oxytoca 14, ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae 23, ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae 24, ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae 25, ESBL Escherichia coli 26, ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae 27, ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae 31, ESBL Escherichia coli 32, ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae 37 e ESBL Escherichia coli 38). A maior atividade foi evidenciada para o composto 1-metil-3-(p-carboxifenil)triazeno 1-óxido (2) contra Streptococcus agalactiae (CIM =16 µg/mL e CBM = 32 µg/mL). Os compostos 1-fenil-3-(4-nitrofenil)triazeno-1-óxido (9), 1-(4-nitrofenil)-3-(4-carboxifenil)triazeno (10) e 1-(4-acetilaminofenil)-3-(4-carboxifenil)triazeno (11) apresentaram CIMs de 32 a 64 µg/mL frente a S. edipermidis, S. saprophyticus, Corynebacterium sp. e E. cloacae. Os compostos 1-metil-3-feniltriazeno-1-óxido (1) , bis-1,3-(4-acetiloxima)triazeno (3), bis-1,3 (4-acetilfenil)triazeno (4), 1-(2-fluorfenil)-3-(4-acetilfenil)triazeno (5), 1,3-(3-hidroxi-difeniltriazenido)(piridil)(bis-oxo-vanádio) (12), 1-(3-nitrofenil)-3-feniltriazeno (14), 1-(4-nitrofenil)-3-benziltriazeno (15) apresentaram CIM = 128 µg/mL frente a S. aureus ATCC 25923, P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853, A. lwoffii, Micrococcus sp., S. epidermidis, S. saprophyticus, Corynebacterirum sp., E. cloacae, S. flenneri e S. sonnei. Os compostos 1-fenil-3-(4-acetilfenil)triazeno (6), 1,3-bis-(4-etoxicarbonilfenil) triazeno (7) e 3-(4-carboxilatofenil)-1-metiltriazeno 1-óxido de potássio tetraidratado (13) apresentaram CIMs iguais ou maiores que 128 µg/mL. Estes resultados demonstraram a potencial atividade biológica destes compostos contra bactérias Gram-positivas e Gram-negativas.Fifteen triazenes compounds were studied concerning their antibacterial activity by broth microdilution method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was determined with E. coli ATCC 25922, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Acinetobacter baumannii, Acinetobacter lwoffii, Ralstonia pickettii, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Micrococcus sp., Enterococcus sp., Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Bacillus cereus, Corynebacterium sp., Rhodococcus sp., Salmonella sp., Serratia marcescens, Morganella morganii, Enterobacter cloacae, Shigella flexneri, Shigella sonnei, Shigella sp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, ESBL Klebsiella oxytoca 14, ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae 23, ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae 24, ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae 25, ESBL Escherichia coli 26, ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae 27, ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae 31, ESBL Escherichia coli 32, ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae 37 e ESBL Escherichia coli 38. The highest effect was evidenced by the compound 1-methyl-3-(p-carboxyphenyl)triazene 1-oxide (2) against Streptococcus agalactiae (MIC = 16 µg/mL and MBC = 32 µg/mL). The compounds 1-phenyl-3-(4-nitrophenyl)triazene-1-oxide (9), 1-(4-nitrophenyl)-3-(4-carboxyphenyl)triazene (10) e 1-(4-acethyl amine phenyl)-3-(4-carboxyphenyl)triazene (11) presented MIC between 32 and 64 µg/mL against S. edipermidis, S. saprophyticus, Rhodococcus sp. and E. cloacae. The compounds 1-methyl-3-phenyltriazene-1-oxide (1) , bis-1,3-(4-acethyl oxime)triazene (3), bis-1,3 (4-acethyl phenyl)triazene (4), 1-(2-fluorophenyl)-3-(4-acethylphenyl)triazene (5), 1,3-(3-hydroxy-diphenyltriazenide)(piridil)(bis-oxo-vanadium) (12), 1-(3-nitrophenyl)-3-phenyltriazene (14), 1-(4-nitrophenyl)-3-benzyltriazene (15) presented MIC of the 128 µg/mL against S. aureus ATCC 25923, P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853, A. lwoffii, Micrococcus sp., S. epidermidis, S. saprophyticus, Corynebacterirum sp., E. cloacae, S. flenneri e S. sonnei. The compounds 1-phenyl-3-(4-acethylphenyl)triazene (6), 1,3-bis-(4-ethoxycarbonylphenyl) triazene (7), and 3-(4-carboxylatephenyl)-1-methyltriazene 1-oxide of potassium tetrahydrate (13) presented MICs equals or highest than 128 µg/mL. The results have demonstrated the potential biological activity of these compounds against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans – anteaters, sloths, and armadillos – have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data-paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n=962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other datasets of Neotropical Series which will become available very soon (i.e. Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans dataset

Juxtaposing BTE and ATE – on the role of the European insurance industry in funding civil litigation

One of the ways in which legal services are financed, and indeed shaped, is through private insurance arrangement. Two contrasting types of legal expenses insurance contracts (LEI) seem to dominate in Europe: before the event (BTE) and after the event (ATE) legal expenses insurance. Notwithstanding institutional differences between different legal systems, BTE and ATE insurance arrangements may be instrumental if government policy is geared towards strengthening a market-oriented system of financing access to justice for individuals and business. At the same time, emphasizing the role of a private industry as a keeper of the gates to justice raises issues of accountability and transparency, not readily reconcilable with demands of competition. Moreover, multiple actors (clients, lawyers, courts, insurers) are involved, causing behavioural dynamics which are not easily predicted or influenced. Against this background, this paper looks into BTE and ATE arrangements by analysing the particularities of BTE and ATE arrangements currently available in some European jurisdictions and by painting a picture of their respective markets and legal contexts. This allows for some reflection on the performance of BTE and ATE providers as both financiers and keepers. Two issues emerge from the analysis that are worthy of some further reflection. Firstly, there is the problematic long-term sustainability of some ATE products. Secondly, the challenges faced by policymakers that would like to nudge consumers into voluntarily taking out BTE LEI

Penilaian Kinerja Keuangan Koperasi di Kabupaten Pelalawan

This paper describe development and financial performance of cooperative in District Pelalawan among 2007 - 2008. Studies on primary and secondary cooperative in 12 sub-districts. Method in this stady use performance measuring of productivity, efficiency, growth, liquidity, and solvability of cooperative. Productivity of cooperative in Pelalawan was highly but efficiency still low. Profit and income were highly, even liquidity of cooperative very high, and solvability was good

Differential cross section measurements for the production of a W boson in association with jets in proton–proton collisions at √s = 7 TeV

Measurements are reported of differential cross sections for the production of a W boson, which decays into a muon and a neutrino, in association with jets, as a function of several variables, including the transverse momenta (pT) and pseudorapidities of the four leading jets, the scalar sum of jet transverse momenta (HT), and the difference in azimuthal angle between the directions of each jet and the muon. The data sample of pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV was collected with the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 5.0 fb[superscript −1]. The measured cross sections are compared to predictions from Monte Carlo generators, MadGraph + pythia and sherpa, and to next-to-leading-order calculations from BlackHat + sherpa. The differential cross sections are found to be in agreement with the predictions, apart from the pT distributions of the leading jets at high pT values, the distributions of the HT at high-HT and low jet multiplicity, and the distribution of the difference in azimuthal angle between the leading jet and the muon at low values.United States. Dept. of EnergyNational Science Foundation (U.S.)Alfred P. Sloan Foundatio

Severe early onset preeclampsia: short and long term clinical, psychosocial and biochemical aspects

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy specific disorder commonly defined as de novo hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks gestational age. It occurs in approximately 3-5% of pregnancies and it is still a major cause of both foetal and maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide1. As extensive research has not yet elucidated the aetiology of preeclampsia, there are no rational preventive or therapeutic interventions available. The only rational treatment is delivery, which benefits the mother but is not in the interest of the foetus, if remote from term. Early onset preeclampsia (<32 weeks’ gestational age) occurs in less than 1% of pregnancies. It is, however often associated with maternal morbidity as the risk of progression to severe maternal disease is inversely related with gestational age at onset2. Resulting prematurity is therefore the main cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity in patients with severe preeclampsia3. Although the discussion is ongoing, perinatal survival is suggested to be increased in patients with preterm preeclampsia by expectant, non-interventional management. This temporising treatment option to lengthen pregnancy includes the use of antihypertensive medication to control hypertension, magnesium sulphate to prevent eclampsia and corticosteroids to enhance foetal lung maturity4. With optimal maternal haemodynamic status and reassuring foetal condition this results on average in an extension of 2 weeks. Prolongation of these pregnancies is a great challenge for clinicians to balance between potential maternal risks on one the eve hand and possible foetal benefits on the other. Clinical controversies regarding prolongation of preterm preeclamptic pregnancies still exist – also taking into account that preeclampsia is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the Netherlands5 - a debate which is even more pronounced in very preterm pregnancies with questionable foetal viability6-9. Do maternal risks of prolongation of these very early pregnancies outweigh the chances of neonatal survival? Counselling of women with very early onset preeclampsia not only comprises of knowledge of the outcome of those particular pregnancies, but also knowledge of outcomes of future pregnancies of these women is of major clinical importance. This thesis opens with a review of the literature on identifiable risk factors of preeclampsia

Search for stop and higgsino production using diphoton Higgs boson decays

Results are presented of a search for a "natural" supersymmetry scenario with gauge mediated symmetry breaking. It is assumed that only the supersymmetric partners of the top-quark (stop) and the Higgs boson (higgsino) are accessible. Events are examined in which there are two photons forming a Higgs boson candidate, and at least two b-quark jets. In 19.7 inverse femtobarns of proton-proton collision data at sqrt(s) = 8 TeV, recorded in the CMS experiment, no evidence of a signal is found and lower limits at the 95% confidence level are set, excluding the stop mass below 360 to 410 GeV, depending on the higgsino mass

Effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on stroke and atrial fibrillation in diabetic kidney disease: Results from the CREDENCE trial and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Chronic kidney disease with reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate or elevated albuminuria increases risk for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. This study assessed the effects of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) on stroke and atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF/AFL) from CREDENCE (Canagliflozin and Renal Events in Diabetes With Established Nephropathy Clinical Evaluation) and a meta-Analysis of large cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) of SGLT2i in type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: CREDENCE randomized 4401 participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease to canagliflozin or placebo. Post hoc, we estimated effects on fatal or nonfatal stroke, stroke subtypes, and intermediate markers of stroke risk including AF/AFL. Stroke and AF/AFL data from 3 other completed large CVOTs and CREDENCE were pooled using random-effects meta-Analysis. RESULTS: In CREDENCE, 142 participants experienced a stroke during follow-up (10.9/1000 patient-years with canagliflozin, 14.2/1000 patient-years with placebo; hazard ratio [HR], 0.77 [95% CI, 0.55-1.08]). Effects by stroke subtypes were: ischemic (HR, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.61-1.28]; n=111), hemorrhagic (HR, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.19-1.32]; n=18), and undetermined (HR, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.20-1.46]; n=17). There was no clear effect on AF/AFL (HR, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.53-1.10]; n=115). The overall effects in the 4 CVOTs combined were: Total stroke (HRpooled, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.82-1.12]), ischemic stroke (HRpooled, 1.01 [95% CI, 0.89-1.14]), hemorrhagic stroke (HRpooled, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.30-0.83]), undetermined stroke (HRpooled, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.49-1.51]), and AF/AFL (HRpooled, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.71-0.93]). There was evidence that SGLT2i effects on total stroke varied by baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (P=0.01), with protection in the lowest estimated glomerular filtration rate (45 mL/min/1.73 m2]) subgroup (HRpooled, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.31-0.79]). CONCLUSIONS: Although we found no clear effect of SGLT2i on total stroke in CREDENCE or across trials combined, there was some evidence of benefit in preventing hemorrhagic stroke and AF/AFL, as well as total stroke for those with lowest estimated glomerular filtration rate. Future research should focus on confirming these data and exploring potential mechanisms