Asylum story

Includes abstract.asylum story is a short literary novel set in South Africa in the year 2019. The protagonist is infected with a deadly new respiratory disease and being held in a quarantine facility near a fictional town in the Karoo. The novel spans a six-month period during which the protagonist becomes involved in an ultimately failed attempt to escape. The novel is partly inspired by the Department of Health's decision in 2007 to place patients with drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis into quarantine. Many patients died in this enforced captivity. Conditions in some facilities were reportedly very poor and in 2008 there was a high-profile escape from the Jose Pearson quarantine facility. Though the disease in the novel is not drug-resistant tuberculosis, it is something similar, and the response to the fictional disease is comparable in some ways to the real-life medical response to the TB scare. The novel is set in a universe that is similar but different to our own, allowing the exploration of universal themes without the constraint of a rigid representation of current reality

Cooling of photoexcited carriers in graphene by internal and substrate phonons

We investigate the energy relaxation of hot carriers produced by photoexcitation of graphene through coupling to both intrinsic and remote (substrate) surface polar phonons using the Boltzmann equation approach. We find that the energy relaxation of hot photocarriers in graphene on commonly used polar substrates, under most conditions, is dominated by remote surface polar phonons. We also calculate key characteristics of the energy relaxation process, such as the transient cooling time and steady state carrier temperatures and photocarriers densities, which determine the thermoelectric and photovoltaic photoresponse, respectively. Substrate engineering can be a promising route to efficient optoelectronic devices driven by hot carrier dynamics.Comment: related papers at http://tonylow.info

Transnational mobilisation on access to medicines: The global movement around the imatinib mesylate case and its roots in the AIDS movement

Starting in 2006, a patent dispute emerged in India with significant implications for global access to medicine. An application by Novartis for a 'new formulation' patent on the beta crystalline form of the cancer drug imatinib mesylate was rejected. Novartis responded by challenging the legality of provisions designed to protect access to medicines in India's patent legislation. A global activist movement emerged in defence of these aspects of Indian patent legislation mainly because the challenge threatened access to medicine at a systemic level, given India's critical role as a supplier of generic medicines to developing countries. The mobilisation described in this paper exploited existing activist networks and broader 'networks of influence' built during prior campaigns conducted around access to antiretroviral drugs. AIDS activists consequently played a key role in the global mobilisation around the imatinib mesylate dispute, aimed at generating public outrage and political pressure against Novartis's challenge to Indian patent law. A critical 'broker' in these transnational networks is identified as the medical charity M�dicins sans Fronti�res (MSF), and specifically its dedicated medicines access campaign, which linked disparate activist groups together, disseminated information and mobilised AIDS activists across the world in support of the Indian patent flexibilities. In 2013 the Indian Supreme Court upheld the relevant sections of the law, representing a significant victory for the international medicines access movement. This movement illustrates the power of transnational mobilisation to help bring about 'moral consensus' and to deploy influence and social power at the global level sufficient to overcome substantial corporate power. But we also argue that both the emergence of the 'global AIDS movement' and the emergence of a transnational social movement around the imatinib mesylate dispute depended on a set of historical circumstances that are unlikely to persist and that the broader medicines access movement therefore faces significant challenges to its sustainability and future success

Effectiveness of exercise interventions to improve postural control in older adults:A systematic review and meta-analyses of centre of pressure measurements

Background. Previous reviews have shown balance in older adults to be improved with exercise. However, it is currently unclear whether postural control, indicated by centre of pressure (COP) measurement, can be improved in older adults and thus whether postural control could be a mechanism to improve balance. Objectives. The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of force platform COP variables to identify changes in postural control following exercise interventions in older adults. In addition, a secondary purpose was to determine whether the exercise types (balance, resistance or multi-component exercise interventions) are equally effective to improve postural control. Methods. Randomised controlled trials were identified using searches of databases and reference lists (PROSPERO registration number CRD42014010617). Trials performing exercise interventions, reporting force platform COP measurements, in participants with a mean age of ≥60 years were included. Risk of bias assessments were performed following the Cochrane guidelines. Data were pooled in meta-analyses, and standardised mean differences (SMDs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results. Twenty-three trials met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review. Twenty-two trials could be defined as either utilising a balance, resistance or multi-component exercise intervention. These 22 trials were used in the meta-analyses. All trials reported measurements of double leg stance; eight trials reported additional stance conditions. The meta-analyses of double leg stance showed that balance exercise interventions significantly decreased total sway path length/velocity [SMD −1.13, 95 % CI −1.75 to −0.51 (eyes open); SMD −0.79, 95 % CI −1.33 to −0.26 (eyes closed)] and anterior-posterior sway path length/velocity [SMD −1.02, 95 % CI −2.01 to −0.02 (eyes open); SMD −0.82, 95 % CI −1.46 to −0.17 (eyes closed)] in both eyes open and eyes closed conditions. Balance exercise interventions also decreased sway area in eyes closed conditions (SMD −0.57, 95 % CI −1.01 to −0.13) and medio-lateral sway path length/velocity in eyes open conditions (SMD −0.8, 95 % CI −1.48 to −0.12). In contrast, neither resistance nor multi-component exercise interventions affected any of the included COP measurements. Conclusions. Postural control is improved by balance exercise interventions. In contrast, strength or multi-component exercise interventions did not influence postural control measurements in older adults. In addition, a lack of standardisation in collection protocol and COP variables calculated across trials was identified

Lead, chromium and cadmium in coloured printing inks used in children's magazines

One hundred and five coloured magazines and comics commonly available in the Malaysian market were analysed for lead, chromium and cadmium. A few with high lead content were extracted under simulated stomach conditions. Results were compared with those from the United States, England and Finland

Hemilabile, Non-Innocent (Poly)arylene Donors for Accessing Novel Reactivity at Transition Metal Centers

Understanding the effects that ligands have on the coordination environment and reactivity of metal complexes is an endeavor that drives much of the field of inorganic chemistry. The use of ligands capable of flexible binding modes and redox states further enriches the chemistry of these complexes. This dissertation describes studies on metal complexes bearing pendant (poly)arylene donors that demonstrate hemilability and redox non-innocence. Within this context, conditions that result in coordination mode change and the multi-electron bond transformation that is made possible by the hemilability and/or non-innocence of the ligand are discussed. Chapter 2 investigates the meta-terphenyl diphosphine framework bearing a central phenolate donor as an anionic POP pincer on a variety of first-row transition metals. The circumstances under which coordination mode change from the phenolate donor to the arene face are investigated. Reduction of the cobalt and nickel complexes induced a coordination mode change from phenolate oxygen to metal-arene binding, while Lewis acid additives induced a coordination mode change in some iron POP complexes. Additionally, it was found that iron chloride POP complex initially not amendable to two-electron reduction was cleanly reduced in the presence of Lewis acids, suggesting a role the Lewis acid plays in quenching the negatively charged phenolate and stabilizing the overall transformation. Chapter 3 discusses reactivity on 1,4-naphthalenediyl diphosphine molybdenum complexes in the context of carbon monoxide (CO) coupling. Similar to the previously studied phenylene system, the reductive coupling of CO can be carried out. However, the naphthalene system showed a distinct and exclusive selectivity for the two-electron reductive CO coupling to a bis(siloxy)acetylene motif, without C–O bond cleavage. This difference in selectivity is proposed to be a result of accessible η4-arene binding modes previously not observed in the phenylene variant. Additionally, the bis(siloxy)acetylene complex also displays η4-binding to the central arene. Further CO catenation can be effected from this species, providing a metallacyclobutenone complex that bears a C3 fragment derived completely from CO. In Chapter 4, the reactivity of 9,10-anthracenediyl bis(phenoxide) zirconium complexes is presented. The more expanded polyaromatic system with a milder reduction potential allowed the anthracene motif to function as a non-innocent ligand. This enabled facile reductive elimination of ancillary benzyl ligands on the metal center without the use of harsh reductants. This reduced complex was then able to oxidatively couple alkynes, and alkynes with nitriles. Furthermore, further insertion of an additional nitrile followed by reductive elimination, likely facilitated by the non-innocent anthracene motif, allowed for the catalytic synthesis of pyridines and pyrimidines with high yields and selectivities. This reactivity was further leveraged in the final Chapter of this dissertation. Chapter 5 presents the development of a new methodology towards the synthesis of pyridine or pyrimidine-containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using polyaromatic alkyne and nitrile building blocks. Because conventional methods of oxidative cyclodehydrogenation towards N-doped nanographenes proved ineffective with these PAHs, a new reductive cyclization route was developed offering a complementary method towards the challenging synthesis of these N-doped nanographenes. Appendix A briefly explores additional reactivity on the 1,4-naphthalenediyl diphosphine complexes with regard to nitrile activation. Appendix B explores the synthesis of iron complexes supported by a benzene tris(thiophenolate) ligand towards potential model compounds for the iron molybdenum cofactor in nitrogenase. Appendix C presents preliminary studies on the 9,10-anthracenediyl bis(phenoxide) zirconium complex towards oxidative coupling of alkynes with CO2.</p

Gate-controlled Guiding of Electrons in Graphene

Ballistic semiconductor structures have allowed the realization of optics-like phenomena in electronics, including magnetic focusing and lensing. An extension that appears unique to graphene is to use both n and p carrier types to create electronic analogs of optical devices having both positive and negative indices of refraction. Here, we use gate-controlled density with both p and n carrier types to demonstrate the analog of the fiber-optic guiding in graphene. Two basic effects are investigated: (1) bipolar p-n junction guiding, based on the principle of angle-selective transmission though the graphene p-n interface, and (2) unipolar fiber-optic guiding, using total internal reflection controlled by carrier density. Modulation of guiding efficiency through gating is demonstrated and compared to numerical simulations, which indicates that interface roughness limits guiding performance, with few-nanometer effective roughness extracted. The development of p-n and fiber-optic guiding in graphene may lead to electrically reconfigurable wiring in high-mobility devices.Comment: supplementary materal at http://marcuslab.harvard.edu/papers/OG_SI.pd

Crystal structures and Hirshfeld surfaces of four methoxybenzaldehyde oxime derivatives, 2-MeO-XC6H3C=NOH (X = H and 2-, 3- and 4-MeO): different conformations and hydrogen-bonding patterns

The crystal structures of four (E)-meth-oxy-benzaldehyde oxime derivatives, namely (2-meth-oxy-benzaldehyde oxime, 1, 2,3-di-meth-oxy-benzaldehyde oxime, 2, 4-di-meth-oxy-benzaldehyde oxime, 3, and 2,5-di-meth-oxy-benzaldehyde oxime, 4, are discussed. The arrangements of the 2-meth-oxy group and the H atom of the oxime unit are s-cis in compounds 1-3, but in both independent mol-ecules of compound 4, the arrangements are s-trans. There is also a difference in the conformation of the two mol-ecules in 4, involving the orientations of the 2- and 5-meth-oxy groups. The primary inter-molecular O-H(oxime)⋯O(hy-droxy) hydrogen bonds generate C(3) chains in 1 and 2. In contrast, in compound 3, the O-H(oxime)⋯O(hy-droxy) hydrogen bonds generate symmetric R22(6) dimers. A more complex dimer is generated in 4 from the O-H(oxime)⋯O(hy-droxy) and C-H(2-meth-oxy)⋯O(hy-droxy) hydrogen bonds. In all cases, further inter-actions, C-H⋯O and C-H⋯π or π-π, generate three-dimensional arrays. Hirshfeld surface and fingerprint analyses are discussed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Different classical hydrogen-bonding patterns in three salicylaldoxime derivatives, 2-HO-4-XC6H3C=NOH (X = Me, OH and MeO)

The crystal structures of three salicyaldoxime compounds, namely 2-hy-droxy-4-methyl-benzaldehyde oxime, C8H9NO2, 1, 2,4-di-hydroxy-benzaldehyde oxime, C7H7NO3, 2, and 2-hy-droxy-4-meth-oxy-benzaldehyde oxime, C8H9NO3, 3, are discussed. In each compound, the hydroxyl groups are essentially coplanar with their attached phenyl group. The inter-planar angles between the C=N-O moieties of the oxime unit and their attached phenyl rings are 0.08 (9), 1.08 (15) and 6.65 (15)° in 1, 2 and 3, respectively. In all three mol-ecules, the 2-hy-droxy group forms an intra-molecular O-H⋯N(oxime) hydrogen bond. In compound (1), inter-molecular O-H(oxime)⋯O(hydrox-yl) hydrogen bonds generate R22(14) dimers, related by inversion centres. In compound 2, inter-molecular O-H(oxime)⋯O(4-hy-droxy) hydrogen bonds generate C9 chains along the b-axis direction, while O-H(4-hydrox-yl)⋯O(2-hydrox-yl) inter-actions form zigzag C6 spiral chains along the c-axis direction, generated by a screw axis at 1, y, 1/4: the combination of the two chains provides a bimolecular sheet running parallel to the b axis, which lies between 0-1/2 c and 1/2-1 c. In compound 3, similar C9 chains, along the b-axis direction are generated by O-H(oxime)⋯O(4-meth-oxy) hydrogen bonds. Further weaker, C-H⋯π (in 1), π-π (in 2) and both C-H⋯π and π-π inter-actions (in 3) further cement the three-dimensional structures. Hirshfeld surface and fingerprint analyses are discussed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio