Overgrowth of rhodium on gold nanorods

[Image: see text] This study focuses on the deposition and growth mode of rhodium (Rh) on gold (Au) seed nanorods (NRs). Using a combination of scanning transmission electron microscopy imaging, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and UV–visible absorption spectroscopy, we show that Rh deposition results in an uneven overlayer morphology on the Au NR seeds, with a tendency for Rh deposition to occur preferentially on the Au NR ends. The results suggest that complex and kinetically driven metal–metal interactions take place in this system

Shelter Dogs as Sentinels for Trypanosoma cruzi Transmission across Texas

Chagas disease, an infection with the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is increasingly diagnosed among humans in the southern United States. We assessed exposure of shelter dogs in Texas to T. cruzi; seroprevalence across diverse ecoregions was 8.8%. Canine serosurveillance is a useful tool for public health risk assessment

cruzi Transmission

Chagas disease, an infection with the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is increasingly diagnosed among humans in the southern United States. We assessed exposure of shelter dogs in Texas to T. cruzi; seroprevalence across diverse ecoregions was 8.8%. Canine serosurveillance is a useful tool for public health risk assessment. The protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease affecting>8 million persons across Mexico and Central and South America. In the United States, estimates of human infection range from 300,000 to>1 million (1,2). Although immigrants exposed in Chagas disease-endemic regions constitute the majority of infected persons in the United States, autochthonous transmission is increasingly recognized (3), and enzootic cycles involving infected wildlife reservoirs and domestic dogs occur across the southern United States. (4). Vectorborne transmission occurs through contamination of the bite site or mucous membranes with feces of infected hematophagous triatomines (“kissing bugs”). In addition, the parasite can be passed through consumption of infected bugs or contaminated food products, through blood transfusions, and congenitally (4). Clinical manifestation in humans and dogs ranges from asymptomatic to acute myocarditis and sudden death to chronic progressive cardiac disease (5,6). No vaccine is available for humans or dogs. Drugs used to treat Chagas disease in humans have not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and are available in the United States only through investigational protocols. The disease is notifiable in 4 states including Texas, where as of 2013, human and veterinary cases must be reported. Texas is a high-risk state for transmission of T. cruzi to dogs, considering the diversity of triatomine vectors, reservoir hosts, and previous documentation of canine disease (5,7). Because dogs arriving at shelters may have hig

Effect of a single one-hour teaching session about environmental pollutants and climate change on the understanding and behavioral choices of adolescents: The BREATHE pilot randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Despite the wealth of scientific information on the health effects of air pollution, the adult publics lifestyle continues to be largely detrimental towards the environment. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to determine whether a short interactive teaching session on air pollution could shift reported behavioral choices of adolescents towards environmentally friendlier options. METHODS: We performed a pilot randomized control trial in which eighth-grade students were randomized to receive a one-hour script-based teaching on either the effects of air pollution on lung health (intervention group) or the role of vaccination in public health (active control group). The enrolled students completed a survey (15 multiple-choice questions; five targeting understanding (score range 5 to 20); ten targeting behavioral choices (score range 10 to 38) newly designed for this study to evaluate their understanding and predict their future behavior towards air pollution immediately before, immediately after, and one month after the teaching sessions. RESULTS: Seventy-seven students (age = 13.5±0.6 years; 50.4% female; median annual family income = $25K-$50K with 70.1% <$50K; 39 assigned to intervention group) were enrolled in the study. The teaching sessions did not result in any significant change in the participants understanding domain scores in either the intervention or the control groups. However, the intervention (air pollution) teaching session resulted in a statistically significant increase in behavior domain score from baseline to immediately post-teaching, which continued to be present at one-month follow-up (mean ± standard deviation of score change immediately after = 1.7±3.3; score change 1-month after = 2.5±3.2; P<0.001; minimally important difference = 1.0). DISCUSSION: This pilot study highlights the potential of a short one-time teaching session in promoting environmentally friendly behavior choices among adolescents

Using Enzyme Assays to Evaluate the Structure and Bioactivity of Sponge-Derived Meroterpenes

Enzyme screening of crude sponge extracts prioritized a 2005 Papua New Guinea collection of Hyrtios sp. for further study. The MeOH extract contained puupehenone and four puupehenone analogues (1, 2, 3, 5, and 7) along with a new diastereomer, 20-epi-hydroxyhaterumadienone (4), and a new analogue, 15-oxo-puupehenoic acid (6). The drimane terpene core of 4 and 6 was rapidly dereplicated, and the modified Mosher's method identified 4, while 1D and 2D NMR techniques were used to solve 6. These compounds plus noteworthy repository natural products and standards were tested against three lipoxygenase isozymes, human 5-, 12-, and 15-lipoxygenases. Significant potency and selectivity profiles were exhibited in the human 5-lipoxygenase assay by puupehenone (1) and jaspaquinol (9) and structural factors responsible for activity identified

Determination of minimally important difference of the questionnaire.

Determination of minimally important difference of the questionnaire.</p

Study scientific protocol.

BackgroundDespite the wealth of scientific information on the health effects of air pollution, the adult public’s lifestyle continues to be largely detrimental towards the environment.ObjectiveThe purpose of the study was to determine whether a short interactive teaching session on air pollution could shift reported behavioral choices of adolescents towards environmentally friendlier options.MethodsWe performed a pilot randomized control trial in which eighth-grade students were randomized to receive a one-hour script-based teaching on either the effects of air pollution on lung health (intervention group) or the role of vaccination in public health (active control group). The enrolled students completed a survey (15 multiple-choice questions; five targeting understanding (score range 5 to 20); ten targeting behavioral choices (score range 10 to 38) newly designed for this study to evaluate their understanding and predict their future behavior towards air pollution immediately before, immediately after, and one month after the teaching sessions.ResultsSeventy-seven students (age = 13.5±0.6 years; 50.4% female; median annual family income = $25K-$50K with 70.1% DiscussionThis pilot study highlights the potential of a short one-time teaching session in promoting environmentally friendly behavior choices among adolescents.</div