Discotic Mesophases of the Hexakis(alkylsulfono)benzene Series: Characterization by Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Optical Microscopy and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Members of the Hexakis(alkylsulfono)benzene series 4, containing 7 to 15 carbon atoms per alkyl chain (4 c-k), exhibit one and possibly several liquid crystalline discotic mesophases. The mesophases are uniaxial and most probably have a columnar structure. Their anisotropic magnetic susceptibility is negative and in sufficiently strong magnetic fields they align with the director perpendicular to the field direction. Deuterium NMR spectra of C6D6 dissolved in the mesophases exhibit quadrupolar splittings which are strongly temperature dependent. In analogy with the conventional discotics this suggests the presence of multiple solvation sites for solute molecules

Keeping Her Surname as a Middle Name at Marriage: What Predicts this Practice Among Married Women Who Take Their Husband’s Last Name?

Data from 60,223 clients of MissNowMrs.com were used to identify predictors of women retaining their premarital surname as a middle name when changing their last name to that of their husband after they were married. Among women who changed their last name to that of their husband, 18 % kept their former last name as a middle name. We identify four significant predictors of women keeping their surname as their middle name: education, marital age, race, and region of residence. As their education level increased, women were significantly more likely to keep their surname before marriage as a middle name. Marital age had a curvilinear relationship with this naming choice. African Americans were significantly less likely than whites to use their birth name as a middle name while other women of color were significantly more likely than whites to follow this practice. The birth surname as middle name pattern was most common in the South, suggesting a regional cultural influence.</jats:p

National Survey of Fertility Barriers: Methodology Report for Wave 1

This methodology report provides information on the first wave of the National Survey of Fertility Barriers (NSFB). This nationally representative telephone survey of women age 25-45 was funded by grant R01-HD044144 from the National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD) entitled “Infertility: Pathways and Psychological Outcomes.” Professor Lynn K. White was the Principal Investigator for the first two years of the project. Following her retirement, Professor David R. Johnson assumed this role. The survey was conducted between 2004 and 2007 and includes completed interviews with 4,712 women age 25 to 45 and 936 of their partners. The data were collected by the Survey Research Center at The Pennsylvania State University and the Bureau of Sociological Research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The Bureau of Sociological Research is currently in the field re-interviewing the respondents three years after their initial interview. The field work on the second wave is not expected to be completed until the end of 2009. The documentation in this report is directed towards researchers who are interested in conducting analyses of the public release version of these data. The data are being released and are archived with the Population Research Institute at Penn State University. Inquiries about the NSFB should be directed to the study Principal Investigator Professor David R. Johnson at Penn State University ([email protected]) or to Professor Julia McQuillan, a project investigator at the University of Nebraska ([email protected]). Contents Research Procedures Study Design and Sample Selection The Survey Interview Schedules Obtaining Interviews and Response Rate Analysis Representativeness and Calculation of Sample Weights Management of the Study Appendices: A. Proposal B. Letters Sent to Respondents C. Survey Interview Schedules and Frequencies D. Planned Missing Design Information E. Response Rate Formulas and Calculations F. Interviewer Guides G. Responses to Open-ended Questions H. Constructed Variables Glossary and Sample Syntax I. List of Variables in the Data File J. Comparisons with Select External Measures K. Imputation of Planned Missing Dat

Restoration of normal sinus rhythm in atrial fibrillation: impact of reverse remodelling of right chambers on tricuspid regurgitation severity

Abstract Background The severity of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in patients with restored normal sinus rhythm (SR) after atrial fibrillation (AF) has been poorly assessed. Purpose Our study aimed to assess (1) right chamber remodelling and (2) TR severity in patients with AF who have had their rhythms restored to normal sinus. Methods We prospectively evaluated 94 consecutive patients hospitalized for AF who received either ablation, direct current cardioversion, or pharmacological therapy. Patients were divided into two groups according to their cardiac rhythm at 6 months follow up (6M): restoration to SR (SR group, n=54), persistence of AF (AF group, n=40). TR vena contracta (VC), TR grade severity was divided into 4 grades using an integrated approach (0: none or trace; 1: mild; 2: moderate; 3: severe TR). Two dimensional (2D) end diastolic (ED) tricuspid annulus (TA) diameter in the apical 4 chambers view, three-dimensional (3D) indexed volumes (3D Vi) of the right atrium (RA) and right ventricle (RV) in end systole (ES) and ED were acquired using transthoracic echocardiography at admission and at 6M. Results At 6M, in the SR group a significant improvement in TR VC (Figure A) and TR grade (Figure B) were noted, whereas there was no differences in the AF group (0.41 vs. 0.42cm, p=0.24 for TR VC; 1.70 vs. 1.76, p=0.16 for mean TR grade). In the SR group a significant reduction in 3D ES RV Vi, 2D ED TA diameter, 3D ES and ED Vi of the RA (Table) were observed. Regression of TR VC was correlated with regression of right cavities parameters (ρ=0.47, p&amp;lt;0.001 for 2D ED TA diameter; ρ=0.34, p&amp;lt;0.005 for 3D ES RA Vi; ρ=0.33, p&amp;lt;0.005 for 3D ED RV Vi; ρ=0.29, p&amp;lt;0.005 for 3D ES RV Vi). Conclusion Restoration of normal SR in patients with AF results in beneficial remodelling of right cavities at 6M of follow-up which were associated with a significant decrease in TR severity. Strategies for normal SR restoration in patients with AF and TR should be vigorously attempted. TR Evolution Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None </jats:sec

Microfluidic Technique for the Simultaneous Quantification of Emulsion Instabilities and Lipid Digestion Kinetics

Quantifying the impact of environmental physicochemical changes on the microstructure of lipid delivery systems is challenging. Therefore, we have developed a methodology to quantify the coalescence of oil-in-water emulsion droplets during lipid digestion in situ on a single droplet level. This technique involves a custom-made glass microfluidic platform, in which oil droplets can be trapped as single droplets, or several droplets per trap. The physicochemical environment can be controlled, and droplet digestion, as well as coalescence, can be visualized. We show that the exchange of the physicochemical conditions in the entire reaction chamber can be reached in under 30 s. Microparticle image velocimetry allowed mapping of the flow profile and demonstrated the tuneability of the shear profile in the device. The extraction of quantitative information regarding the physical characteristics of the droplets during digestion was performed using an automated image analysis throughout the digestion process. Therefore, we were able to show that oil-in-water emulsions stabilized by proteins coalesced under human gastric conditions. This coalescence delayed the overall lipid digestion kinetics. The droplets that coalesced during digestion were hydrolyzed 1.4 times slower than individually trapped droplets. Thus, the microstructural evolution of lipid delivery systems is a crucial factor in lipid digestion kinetics. This novel technique allows the simultaneous quantification of the impact that the physicochemical environment has on both the lipid droplet microstructure and the lipid release patterns.The authors thank Frederic Carrière for providing rDGL, José Toro-Sierra for providing b-lactoglobulin and Manuel Schuhmacher for generating preliminary results. The Swiss National Foundation (SNF) is acknowledged for funding projects No. 2000-21137941 and No. 200020-159898.FacultyReviewe