A nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of the solvent dependence of the barrier to rotation in N,N,N',N'-Tetramethylthiodicarbonic diamide : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Chemistry at Massey University

Barriers to rotation were determined from variable-temperature nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. The computer program used to calculate the rotational rates was validated by obtaining results in good agreement with the literature values from studies carried out on neat N,N-dimethylcarbamic chloride. The barrier to rotation for N,N,N',N'-tetramethylthiodicarbonic diamide was measured in a variety of solvents and large variations in activation energy were observed (more than 40 kJ mol -1 ). The free energies could be correlated with the dielectric constant, the dipole moment, the Hildebrand solubility parameter and the empirical polarity parameters E T and Z. A linear plot of ΔH ≠ 298 versus ΔS ≠ 298 different solvents was obtained. Attempts to obtain other systems suitable for NMR study are reported

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An Odorant Receptor from the Southern House Mosquito Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus Sensitive to Oviposition Attractants

Insect odorant receptors (ORs) are heteromers comprised of highly variable odorant-binding subunits associated with one conserved co-receptor. They are potential molecular targets for the development of novel mosquito attractants and repellents. ORs have been identified in the malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, and in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. However, they are still unknown in the Southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus, which transmits pathogens that cause human diseases throughout the world, including West Nile Virus in the United States.We have employed a combination of bioinformatics, molecular cloning and electrophysiology approaches to identify and characterize the response profile of an OR in Cx. quinquefasciatus. First, we have unveiled a large multigenic family of one-hundred-fifty-eight putative ORs in this species, including a subgroup of conserved ORs in three mosquito species. Using the Xenopus oocytes expression system, we have determined the response profile of CquiOR2, an antennae-specific OR, which shares high identity with putative orthologs in Anopheles gambiae (AgamOR2) and Aedes aegypti (AaegOR2).We show that CquiOR2 is highly sensitive to indole, an oviposition attractant for Cx. quinquefasciatus. The response profile of CquiOR2 expressed in Xenopus oocytes resembles that of an olfactory receptor neuron housed in the antennal short blunt-tipped sensilla (A2) of Cx. quinquefasciatus, which are natural detectors for oviposition attractants. This first Culex OR de-orphanized is, therefore, a potential molecular target for screening oviposition attractants

Conformation of Adjacent Self-expanding Stents: A Cross-Sectional In Vitro Study

We examined the proximal conformation of three commonly used self-expanding stents when the stents were deployed adjacent to one another in a tubular model, simulating a “kissing” stent technique. The stent pairs were evaluated by computed tomogrphy to determine the cross-sectional area excluded by the stents within the model. The mean areas associated with each stent pair were compared and significance evaluated by a t -test. A statistically significant difference was found when the area excluded by adjacent Wallstents was compared with both the Luminexx and SMART stents ( p < 0.001 and p < 0.002, respectively). The difference in the area excluded and differences in conformation might play a role in the lower patencies that have been observed in “kissing” stent series.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/41328/1/270_2005_Article_33.pd

Potential role of the intestinal microbiota of the mother in neonatal immune education

Mucosal dendritic cells are at the heart of decision-making processes that dictate immune reactivity to intestinal microbes. They ensure tolerance to commensal bacteria and a vigorous immune response to pathogens. It has recently been demonstrated that the former involves a limited migration of bacterially loaded dendritic cells from the Peyer's patches to the mesenteric lymph nodes. During lactation, cells from gut-associated lymphoid tissue travel to the breast via the lymphatics and peripheral blood. Here, we show that human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and breast milk cells contain bacteria and their genetic material during lactation. Furthermore, we show an increased bacterial translocation from the mouse gut during pregnancy and lactation and the presence of bacterially loaded dendritic cells in lactating breast tissue. Our observations show bacterial translocation as a unique physiological event, which is increased during pregnancy and lactation. They suggest endogenous transport of intestinally derived bacterial components within dendritic cells destined for the lactating mammary gland. They also suggest neonatal immune imprinting by milk cells containing commensal-associated molecular pattern

Potential role of the intestinal microbiota of the mother in neonatal immune education

Mucosal dendritic cells are at the heart of decision-making processes that dictate immune reactivity to intestinal microbes. They ensure tolerance to commensal bacteria and a vigorous immune response to pathogens. It has recently been demonstrated that the former involves a limited migration of bacterially loaded dendritic cells from the Peyer's patches to the mesenteric lymph nodes. During lactation, cells from gut-associated lymphoid tissue travel to the breast via the lymphatics and peripheral blood. Here, we show that human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and breast milk cells contain bacteria and their genetic material during lactation. Furthermore, we show an increased bacterial translocation from the mouse gut during pregnancy and lactation and the presence of bacterially loaded dendritic cells in lactating breast tissue. Our observations show bacterial translocation as a unique physiological event, which is increased during pregnancy and lactation. They suggest endogenous transport of intestinally derived bacterial components within dendritic cells destined for the lactating mammary gland. They also suggest neonatal immune imprinting by milk cells containing commensal-associated molecular patterns.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

Potential role of the intestinal microbiota of the mother in neonatal immune education

Mucosal dendritic cells are at the heart of decision-making processes that dictate immune reactivity to intestinal microbes. They ensure tolerance to commensal bacteria and a vigorous immune response to pathogens. It has recently been demonstrated that the former involves a limited migration of bacterially loaded dendritic cells from the Peyer's patches to the mesenteric lymph nodes. During lactation, cells from gut-associated lymphoid tissue travel to the breast via the lymphatics and peripheral blood. Here, we show that human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and breast milk cells contain bacteria and their genetic material during lactation. Furthermore, we show an increased bacterial translocation from the mouse gut during pregnancy and lactation and the presence of bacterially loaded dendritic cells in lactating breast tissue. Our observations show bacterial translocation as a unique physiological event, which is increased during pregnancy and lactation. They suggest endogenous transport of intestinally derived bacterial components within dendritic cells destined for the lactating mammary gland. They also suggest neonatal immune imprinting by milk cells containing commensal-associated molecular patterns.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

The relationship between moral development, distorted cognitions and social problem solving amongst men with intellectual disabilities who have a history of criminal offending

Aim: Little is known about the self-rated health status of people with co-morbid autism and intellectual disabilities (ID) in whole country populations. This paper will present analysis of: self-rated general health status, demographic factors, and prevalence of other disabilities for people with co-morbid autism and ID, as well as people with autism only. Method: We analysed data from Scotland’s Census 2011, and generated descriptive statistics. Results: People with co-morbid autism and ID (n=5,709)comprised 0.1% of the total population of Scotland (n=5,295,403) and 18 .0% of the whole population of people with autism in Scotland(n=31,712) across all ages. Only 2,863 (50.1%) people with co-morbid autism and ID rated their health as good or very good, compared with 19,97 1 (76.8%) of all people with autism only. Conclusions: Health is poorer for people with c o-morbid autism and ID than for people with autism only. Further analysis will explore the impact of individual and household characteristics on the health o f people with co-morbid autism and ID