Photo- and solvatochromic properties of nitrobenzospiropyran in ionic liquids containing the [NTf2]- anion

The photo-, thermo- and solvatochromic properties of 2,3-dihydro-10,30,30-trimethyl-6-nitrospiro- [1-benzopyran-2,20-1H-indole] (BSP-NO2) were studied in ILs containing the anion [NTf2]- by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, ab initio molecular orbital theory and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. It was found that the kinetics and thermodynamics of the BSP-NO2 MC (merocyanine) equilibrium was sensitive to the nature of the cation. It was also observed that the imidazolium cation can form a through-space orbital interaction with the MC isomer, rather than a simple electrostatic interaction, thus preventing the MC conversion back to the BSP-NO2 isomer. The BSP-NO2 MC equilibrium thus serves as a model system for studying modes of interaction of the cations in ionic liquids

The effect of indapamide vs. bendroflumethiazide for primary hypertension:a systematic review

The aims of the current review were to compare the efficacy of monotherapy with bendroflumethiazide vs. indapamide on mortality, cardiovascular outcomes, blood pressure, need for intensification of treatment and treatment withdrawal. Two authors independently screened the results of a literature search, assessed the risk of bias and extracted relevant data. Randomized clinical trials of hypertensive patients of at least a 1-year duration were included. When there was disagreement, a third reviewer was consulted. Risk ratio (RR) and mean differences were used as measures of effect. Two trials comparing bendroflumethiazide against placebo, one comparing indapamide with placebo and three of short duration directly comparing indapamide and Bendroflumethiazide, were included. No statistically significant difference was found between indapamide and bendroflumethiazide for all deaths [RR 0.82; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.57, 1.18], cardiovascular deaths (RR 0.82; 95% CI 0.55, 1.20), noncardiovascular deaths (0.81; 95% CI 0.54, 1.22), coronary events (RR 0.73; 95% CI 0.30, 1.79) or all cardiovascular events (RR 0.89; 95% CI 0.67, 1.18). Indapamide performed worse for stroke (RR 2.21; 95% CI 1.19, 4.11), even though a reduction in RR compared with placebo was observed in both groups. There was no statistically or clinically significant difference between indapamide and bendroflumethiazide in blood pressure reduction (mean absolute difference &lt;1 mmHg). The present review highlights a lack of studies to answer the review question but also a lack of evidence of superiority of one drug over the other. Therefore, there is a clear need for new studies directly comparing the effect of these drugs on the outcomes of interest.</p

Ionic and electronic properties of the topological insulator Bi2_2Te2_2Se investigated using β\beta-detected nuclear magnetic relaxation and resonance of 8^8Li

We report measurements on the high temperature ionic and low temperature electronic properties of the 3D topological insulator Bi$_2$Te$_2$Se using ion-implanted $^8$Li $\beta$-detected nuclear magnetic relaxation and resonance. With implantation energies in the range 5-28 keV, the probes penetrate beyond the expected range of the topological surface state, but are still within 250 nm of the surface. At temperatures above ~150 K, spin-lattice relaxation measurements reveal isolated $^8$Li$^{+}$ diffusion with an activation energy $E_{A} = 0.185(8)$ eV and attempt frequency $\tau_{0}^{-1} = 8(3) \times 10^{11}$ s$^{-1}$ for atomic site-to-site hopping. At lower temperature, we find a linear Korringa-like relaxation mechanism with a field dependent slope and intercept, which is accompanied by an anomalous field dependence to the resonance shift. We suggest that these may be related to a strong contribution from orbital currents or the magnetic freezeout of charge carriers in this heavily compensated semiconductor, but that conventional theories are unable to account for the extent of the field dependence. Conventional NMR of the stable host nuclei may help elucidate their origin.Comment: 17 pages, 12 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Epitaxy: Programmable Atom Equivalents

The programmability of DNA makes it an attractive structure-directing ligand for the assembly of nanoparticle (NP) superlattices in a manner that mimics many aspects of atomic crystallization. However, the synthesis of multilayer single crystals of defined size remains a challenge. Though previous studies considered lattice mismatch as the major limiting factor for multilayer assembly, thin film growth depends on many interlinked variables. Here, a more comprehensive approach is taken to study fundamental elements, such as the growth temperature and the thermodynamics of interfacial energetics, to achieve epitaxial growth of NP thin films. Both surface morphology and internal thin film structure are examined to provide an understanding of particle attachment and reorganization during growth. Under equilibrium conditions, single crystalline, multilayer thin films can be synthesized over 500 × 500 μm² areas on lithographically patterned templates, whereas deposition under kinetic conditions leads to the rapid growth of glassy films. Importantly, these superlattices follow the same patterns of crystal growth demonstrated in atomic thin film deposition, allowing these processes to be understood in the context of well-studied atomic epitaxy and enabling a nanoscale model to study fundamental crystallization processes. Through understanding the role of epitaxy as a driving force for NP assembly, we are able to realize 3D architectures of arbitrary domain geometry and size.United States. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR FA9550-11-1-0275)United States. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (FA9550-12-1-0280)United States. Department of Defense (N00014-15-1-0043)United States. Department of Energy (Grant DE-SC0000989-0002)National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Award DMR-1121262

Modelling the emergent dynamics and major metabolites of the human colonic microbiota

Funded by Scottish Government's Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS) Acknowledgements We would like to thank Thanasis Vogogias, David Nutter and Alec Mann for their assistance in developing the software for this model. We also acknowledge the Scottish Government’s Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS) for their financial support. Furthermore,many thanks go to the two anonymous reviewers whose hard work has greatly improved this paper.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Evidence: Contradiction of Collateral Matter

It has been said so many times that a party is concluded by the answers of a witness on any collateral matter, that the real rule and the reasons therefor are very generally misunderstood and frequently misapplied. Some cases and some textbooks draw a very clear distinction between impeachment as applied to a collateral matter and contradiction as applied to a collateral matter. The distinguishing feature seems to be found in whether or not the answer sought to be refuted is elicited on direct examination or cross-examination. If an answer given on direct examination is to be disproven it is called contradiction. If an answer elicited on cross-examination is to be disproven it is called impeachment. It is obvious, of course, that this is all a matter of definition and despite a confusion of terms the question of refuting answers elicited either on direct or cross-examination is really a matter of impeachment and by the better writers is generally called impeachment by contradiction. Definitions are not particularly material to our present inquiry as we are here chiefly interested in applying this rule of evidence to collateral matters

Allergy as a factor in idiopathic epilepsy

Two cases of idiopathic epilepsy are reported. In the first, epileptic convulsions disappeared completely during an acute infection and the patient's mental condition showed a remarkable improvement. In the second, after an acute febrile illness in 1931, the patient has since had only two fits. His mental condition shows a very striking improvement.Protein skin tests were performed on twenty -five male patients suffering from idiopathic epilepsy and on twenty -five non -epileptic controls. Among the former, 36% were positive, among the latter, 4%. Sensitiveness, as indicated by positive skin reactions was found to be increased before, and diminished, for a variable period after a fit or series of fits. A few hours after an injection of Pyrifer, it had disappeared. completely.Non -specific desensitisation by means of Pyrifer was attempted in the case of those showing multi- sensitivity. All showed definite mental improvement. In two cases the fits were reduced by 50% and 38% respectively, while in the third case, there was no reduction in the number of fits.Of those treated with Peptone, two improved mentally, while the third showed no noticeable improvement. The effect on the incidence of fits was not so striking as in the case of Pyrifer.The essential features of Allergy are outlined.Evidence is adduced in support of the view that Allergy is a factor in the causation of certain cases of essential Epilepsy.Other methods of treatment are briefly described.The writer urges the investigation of all cases of idiopathic epilepsy from the allergic point of view and the carrying out of protein skin tests. He strongly advocates some form of desensitisation treatment in those cases which appear to have an allergic basis

Dumpor\u27s Case: Its Status

Dumpor\u27s Case holds, according to the syllabus in Sir Edward Coke\u27s Reports (4 Coke 119b) that a condition in a lease that the lessee or his assigns shall not alien without the special license of the lessor, is determined by an alienation by licence, and no subsequent alienation is a breach of condition, nor does it give a right of entry to the lessor. The same case more properly titled Dumpor v Symms (Coke) or Dumper v Syms is reported by Sir George Croke (Croke\u27s Eliz. 815) The head note there reads: On a proviso that a lessee and his assigns shall not alien without licence, if the lessor give licence, the condition is entirely destroyed and the assignee may afterwards assign or demise the whole or any part of the term without licence; but otherwise a devise of the term would have been a breach of the condition

The Association of Hemispheric Specialization and Cognitive Abilities with Regard to Sex, Hand Preferences and Birth Stress

The relationship of patterns of hemispheric specialization to verbal and non-verbal cognitive abilities were studied as well as the effects of birth stress on the etiology of left-handedness. Using verbal and non-verbal dichotic listening tests 28 right- and left-handed boys and girls with a mean age of 10.6 years, were assessed as being unilaterally or bilaterally organized for processing verbal and non-verbal material. The subjects were also assessed for verbal and non-verbal ability using standard intelligence tests. Birth records were obtained in order to assess whether birth stress resulted in perinatal anoxia, the agent for altering hand preference. It was found that: 1) Boys may show a left ear effect for some nonverbal material but girls may not. 2) Bilateral organization for processing non-verbal material is not necessarily correlated with poorer spatial ability in girls. 3) The relationship of bilateral organization for processing verbal material with overall verbal ability were inconclusive. 4) There is no evidence to indicate that birth stress and/or oxygen deficit are necessary for left-handedness to occur, since both right- and left-handers exhibit these factors to the same degree and at least some of the left-handers appear to show no evidence of birth stress at all.Master of Science (MS

Poliomyelitis in Malta, 1950-1951: An Epidemiological and Clinical Study of the Disease as it Affected the Armed Services

The basis of the treatment of the acute stage of poliomyelitis is presented and the meaning of muscle spasm is discussed. The results of treatment are shown and roughly compared with those of other epidemics