The organic component of interstellar grains

The 3.4 micron absorption feature observed in the spectrum of a number of Galactic Center (GC) sources indicates the presence of organic molecules in the interstellar medium. It is ascribed to the C-H stretch vibration of tetrahedrally bonded carbon. From the observed features due to the interstellar organic material, an estimate was made of its composition and abundance. The ratio of the number of C-H groups of tetrahedrally to those of trigonally bonded carbon was 1.5, the cosmic abundance of carbon was .00037, and the depth of the silicate absorption toward the GC was taken equal to 3.6

Evaluation of waist-to-height ratio to predict 5 year cardiometabolic risk in sub-Saharan African adults

Simple, low-cost central obesity measures may help identify individuals with increased cardiometabolic disease risk, although it is unclear which measures perform best in African adults. We aimed to: 1) cross-sectionally compare the accuracy of existing waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and waist circumference (WC) thresholds to identify individuals with hypertension, pre-diabetes, or dyslipidaemia; 2) identify optimal WC and WHtR thresholds to detect CVD risk in this African population; and 3) assess which measure best predicts 5-year CVD riskPeer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Laboratory and observational study of the interrelation of the carbonaceous component of interstellar dust and solar system materials

By studying the chemical and isotopic composition of interstellar ice and dust, one gains insight into the composition and chemical evolution of the solid bodies in the solar nebula and the nature of the material subsequently brought into the inner part of the solar system by comets and meteorites. It is now possible to spectroscopically probe the composition of interstellar ice and dust in the mid-infrared, the spectral range which is most diagnostic of fundamental molecular vibrations. We can compare these spectra of various astronomical objects (including the diffuse and dense interstellar medium, comets, and the icy outer planets and their satellites) with the spectra of analogs we produce in the laboratory under conditions which mimic those in these different objects. In this way one can determine the composition and abundances of the major constituents of the various ices and place general constraints on the types of organics coating the grains in the diffuse interstellar medium. In particular we have shown the ices in the dense clouds contain H2O, CH3OH, CO, perhaps some NH3 and H2CO, we well as nitriles and ketones or esters. Furthermore, by studying the photochemistry of these ice analogs in the laboratory, one gains insight into the chemistry which takes place in interstellar/precometary ices. Chemical and spectroscopic studies of photolyzed analogs (including deuterated species) are now underway. The results of some of these studies will be presented and implications for the evolution of the biogenic elements in interstellar dust and comets will be discussed

AIDS-related progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML): A retrospective study from Pretoria, South Africa

Introduction and objectives. Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), caused by the John Cunningham (JC) virus, results from lytic infection of predominantly oligodendrocytes. Following the HIV pandemic, the incidence of PML has risen sharply, but has rarely been reported in Africa. An increasing number of PML cases were seen recently in a tertiary South African hospital, and this study describes their clinical and radiological features.Methods. Patients with positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) JC virus confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were retrospectively identified from January 2008 to June 2012. Adults seen at Neurology with PML were identified, and clinical features, laboratory findings and imaging studies were analysed.Results. Of 121 specimens, 19 were positive; records of 17 patients were available (ages 27 - 64; CD4 counts 11 - 328 x106/ìl); clinical manifestations included focal weakness (47%), impaired co-ordination (41%), and speech disturbances (12%), and CSF analysis showedhigh protein in 76%, and pleocytosis in 35%. Fifteen patients had CT brain scans, showing white matter involvement in 12; MRI studies in 13 patients showed typical PML lesions.Conclusion. This report is the first case series of patients with PML from a South African neurology unit, emphasising the fact that PML occurs commonly in South African patients with HIV infection

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leucoencephalopathy (CADASIL)

Background. Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leuco-encephalopathy (CADASIL) is a hereditary autosomal dominant non-atherosclerotic nonamyloidcerebral arteriopathy. The disease was identified in 1993. We are not aware of reports in the literature of its occurrence in South Africa, and we present the clinical and laboratory features of 5 patients with CADASIL.Methods. Patients with the characteristic radiological white matter disease and typical features (family history, ischaemic events, migraine or dementia) were evaluated for possible CADASIL by means of clinical examination, routine investigations for strokes, magnetic resonance imaging, skin biopsy electron microscopy, evoked potentials and electroencephalography.Results. The clinical and laboratory features of our study largely correlate with reported studies. However, all of the skin biopsies were positive, and the onset of migraine in our patients was considerably earlier. A new finding, to our knowledge, was the normality of visual, somatosensory and auditory evoked potentials.Conclusion. Our study confirms the existence of CADASIL inSouth Africa, and also suggests that skin electron microscopyis useful, despite recent reports of its low sensitivity, and thatevoked potentials in CADASIL are likely to be normal

2-(Ammonio­meth­yl)pyridinium sulfate monohydrate

In the crystal of the title hydrated molecular salt, C6H10N2 2+·SO4 2−·H2O, N—H⋯O and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into layers parallel to the ab plane. C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds are observed both within these layers and between mol­ecules and ions in adjacent layers

Increasing Emotional Intelligence through Training: Current Status and Future Directions

Emotional intelligence consists of adaptive emotional functioning involving inter-related competencies relating to perception, understanding, utilising and managing emotions in the self and others. Researchers in diverse fields have studied emotional intelligence and found the construct to be associated with a variety of intrapersonal and interpersonal factors such as mental health, relationship satisfaction, and work performance. This article reviews research investigating the impact of training in emotional-intelligence skills. The results indicate that it is possible to increase emotional intelligence and that such training has the potential to lead to other positive outcomes. The paper offers suggestions about how future research, from diverse disciplines,can uncover what types of training most effectively increase emotional intelligence and produce related beneficial outcomes