(E)-4-[(4-Methoxy­phen­yl)imino­meth­yl]-N,N-dimethyl­aniline

The title compound, C16H18N2O, an N-benzyl­ideneaniline derivative with substituents on both aromatic rings, crystallizes with two independent mol­ecules (A and B) in the asymmetric unit. Both mol­ecules exist in the E configuration. The dihedral angle between the two aromatic rings is 8.20 (5)° for mol­ecule A and 12.52 (6)° for mol­ecule B, and the imino C—N torsion angle (τ) is 7.1 (2)° for mol­ecule A and −14.7 (2)° for mol­ecule B. In the crystal structure, mol­ecules are arranged in stacks which propagate along the a-axis direction. The crystal structure is stabilized by a number of weak C—H⋯π inter­actions

Design, synthesis, growth and characterization of 4-methoxy-4'-dimethylamino-benzylidene aniline (MDMABA): A novel third order nonlinear optical material

Synthesis, growth, X-ray crystal structure and characterization of a novel third order nonlinear optical material, 4-methoxy-4'-dimethylamino-benzylidene aniline (MDMABA), are reported for the first time. The asymmetric unit of MDMABA compound contains two crystallographically independent molecules (A and B), and they exist in the E-configuration. The structural perfection of the grown crystal is analyzed by high-resolution X-ray diffraction rocking curve analysis. The functional groups present in MDMABA are investigated by FTIR and FT-Raman spectral analyses. The placement of the protons is determined using HNMR spectrum. The range and percentage of optical transmission were ascertained by recording UV–vis–NIR spectrum. Thermal and mechanical properties are reported. Dielectric study shows that the dielectric constant of the crystal varies with frequency and temperature. The third order nonlinear optical absorption coefficient of the MDMABA crystal is determined by the Z-scan technique

Recruiting Black Men Who Have Sex with Men and Women (BMSMW) in an Urban Setting for HIV Prevention Research.

Concerns related to stigma and confidentiality limit HIV-related study recruitment and retention of Black men who have sex with men and women (MSMW). This paper examines lessons learned from recruitment strategies utilized in enrolling 437 participants between 2007 and 2011 for a randomized controlled trial to test a culturally specific HIV risk-reduction intervention for Black MSMW. Interested respondents completed a brief screener and participants completed surveys at baseline and at post, 3 and 6 months follow-up. Recruitment patterns were assessed by examining the source of study information reported when respondents were asked how they learned about the study. Chi-square tests were then conducted to examine differences in the distribution of participants by self-reported HIV status, age group and socio-economic status (SES) for each type of study information source. Regardless of HIV or SES, study respondents were more likely to have received information about the study through a service agency than from other sources. Participants ages 30-49 and 50+ years were most likely to have learned about the study from an agency (34.9% and 27.0%, respectively) or another participant/friend (20.1%, 23.1%) and least likely to have found out from bus (0.8%, 0.0%) or radio (1.3%, 0.0%) advertisements; whereas younger participants were more likely to have heard about the study through a friend/participant (23.4%) than an agency (15.4%). Although, 14.1% of participants' ages less than 30 years reported the Internet as their source of study information, this compared to just 2.7% and 4.8% for participants in the 30-49 and 50-plus age groups. While agencies and referrals from personal networks appear to be the most significant recruitment source for potential HIV research participants, there is evidence that Internet based tools may enhance recruitment, particularly among younger Black MSMW

Growth and characterization of thiosemicarbazide hydrochloride: A semiorganic NLO material

Thiosemicarbazide hydrochloride (TSCHCL) was synthesized by mixing thiosemicarbazide and hydrochloride in 1:1 molar ratio in double distilled water. Single crystals of TSCHCL were grown by slow evaporation at room temperature and were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction study to determine the molecular structure and by FT-IR, 1 H and 13 C NMR spectral analyses to confirm the syn- thesized compound. Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses reveal the thermal stability of the crystal. The transmission spectrum of TSCHCL showed that the crystal is transparent in the wave- length range 380–1100 nm. High resolution X-ray diffractometry (HRXRD) was employed to evaluate the perfection of the grown crystal. Mechanical properties of the grown crystal were studied using Vickers microhardness test. Second harmonic generation efficiency of the powdered TSCHCL was tested using Nd:YAG laser and is ∼1.5 times that of potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate

Recruiting Black Men Who Have Sex with Men and Women (BMSMW) in an Urban Setting for HIV Prevention Research.

ObjectivesConcerns related to stigma and confidentiality limit HIV-related study recruitment and retention of Black men who have sex with men and women (MSMW). This paper examines lessons learned from recruitment strategies utilized in enrolling 437 participants between 2007 and 2011 for a randomized controlled trial to test a culturally specific HIV risk-reduction intervention for Black MSMW.MethodsInterested respondents completed a brief screener and participants completed surveys at baseline and at post, 3 and 6 months follow-up. Recruitment patterns were assessed by examining the source of study information reported when respondents were asked how they learned about the study. Chi-square tests were then conducted to examine differences in the distribution of participants by self-reported HIV status, age group and socio-economic status (SES) for each type of study information source.ResultsRegardless of HIV or SES, study respondents were more likely to have received information about the study through a service agency than from other sources. Participants ages 30-49 and 50+ years were most likely to have learned about the study from an agency (34.9% and 27.0%, respectively) or another participant/friend (20.1%, 23.1%) and least likely to have found out from bus (0.8%, 0.0%) or radio (1.3%, 0.0%) advertisements; whereas younger participants were more likely to have heard about the study through a friend/participant (23.4%) than an agency (15.4%). Although, 14.1% of participants' ages less than 30 years reported the Internet as their source of study information, this compared to just 2.7% and 4.8% for participants in the 30-49 and 50-plus age groups.ConclusionsWhile agencies and referrals from personal networks appear to be the most significant recruitment source for potential HIV research participants, there is evidence that Internet based tools may enhance recruitment, particularly among younger Black MSMW

Efficacy of a culturally congruent HIV risk-reduction intervention for behaviorally bisexual black men

ObjectivesBlack men who have sex with men and women (MSMW) experience high HIV rates and may not respond to interventions targeting gay-identified men. We tested the efficacy of the Men of African American Legacy Empowering Self (MAALES), a multisession, small-group holistically framed intervention designed to build skills, address sociocultural issues, and reduce risk behaviors in black MSMW.DesignFrom 2007 to 2011, we enrolled 437 black MSMW into a parallel randomized controlled trial that compared MAALES to the control condition, a single, individualized HIV risk-reduction session.MethodsParticipants completed surveys at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months postintervention. We used multiple regressions to compare risk behaviors at follow-up between the intervention and control groups while adjusting for baseline risk behaviors, time between assessments, other covariates, and clustering. We used inverse probability weighting (IPW) to adjust for loss-to-follow-up while carrying out these regressions with the 291 (76.4%) randomized participants who completed at least one follow-up.ResultsParticipants were largely low-income (55% reported monthly incomes <$1000); nearly half had previously tested HIV positive. At 6 months of follow-up, unadjusted within-group analyses demonstrated reduced risk behaviors for the MAALES but not the control group. Adjusted results indicated significant intervention-associated reductions in the numbers of total anal or vaginal sex acts [risk ratio = 0.61; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.49–0.76], unprotected sex acts with women (risk ratio = 0.50; 95% CI 0.37–0.66), and female partners (risk ratio = 0.56; 95% CI 0.44–0.72). Near significant reductions were observed for number of male intercourse partners.ConclusionThe MAALES intervention was efficacious at reducing HIV risk behaviors in black MSMW

Efficacy of a culturally congruent HIV risk-reduction intervention for behaviorally bisexual black men

ObjectivesBlack men who have sex with men and women (MSMW) experience high HIV rates and may not respond to interventions targeting gay-identified men. We tested the efficacy of the Men of African American Legacy Empowering Self (MAALES), a multisession, small-group holistically framed intervention designed to build skills, address sociocultural issues, and reduce risk behaviors in black MSMW.DesignFrom 2007 to 2011, we enrolled 437 black MSMW into a parallel randomized controlled trial that compared MAALES to the control condition, a single, individualized HIV risk-reduction session.MethodsParticipants completed surveys at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months postintervention. We used multiple regressions to compare risk behaviors at follow-up between the intervention and control groups while adjusting for baseline risk behaviors, time between assessments, other covariates, and clustering. We used inverse probability weighting (IPW) to adjust for loss-to-follow-up while carrying out these regressions with the 291 (76.4%) randomized participants who completed at least one follow-up.ResultsParticipants were largely low-income (55% reported monthly incomes <$1000); nearly half had previously tested HIV positive. At 6 months of follow-up, unadjusted within-group analyses demonstrated reduced risk behaviors for the MAALES but not the control group. Adjusted results indicated significant intervention-associated reductions in the numbers of total anal or vaginal sex acts [risk ratio = 0.61; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.49–0.76], unprotected sex acts with women (risk ratio = 0.50; 95% CI 0.37–0.66), and female partners (risk ratio = 0.56; 95% CI 0.44–0.72). Near significant reductions were observed for number of male intercourse partners.ConclusionThe MAALES intervention was efficacious at reducing HIV risk behaviors in black MSMW

Learning From Successful Interventions: A Culturally Congruent HIV Risk–Reduction Intervention for African American Men Who Have Sex With Men and Women

Few HIV prevention interventions have been developed for African American men who have sex with men or who have sex with both men and women. Many interventions neglect the historical, structural or institutional, and sociocultural factors that hinder or support risk reduction in this high-risk group