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Organized screening for breast cancer (BC) was suspended in most countries of the world during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Com-puted tomography (CT) scans of the chest, frequently performed in patients with severe forms of COVID-19, may detect asymptomatic breast abnormalities. A 72-year-old patient, with a severe form of COVID-19 underwent a diagnostic CT scan. This led to the unexpected discovery, at an early stage, of a 12 mm, high grade, Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive BC, with a high proliferation index. After responding to chemotherapy, she was managed with conser-vative breast surgery with sentinel lymph node biopsy. Delayed management of BC can be responsible for poor outcomes. Patients with severe forms of COVID-19 are also at risk for developing BC due to common risk factors. Thirty percent of incidental breast lesions discovered on CT scans are undiagnosed BC. Careful study of the mammary glands on CT scan of patients with COVID-19 may allow early diagnosis of a malignant tumor in a high-risk population for BC and deprived of routine screening mammography.

Current in vitro models of developmental blood formation lack spatiotemporal coherence and weakly replicate the hematopoietic microenvironment. Developmentally-appropriate models can enhance understanding of infant acute myeloid leukemia (infAML), which putatively originates in utero and has 50% age-unique genetic events, suggesting unique biology. The commonest genetic abnormality unique to infants involves homeobox gene MNX1, whose leukemogenic mechanisms remain unknown. Recently, 3D self-organising embryonic stem cell (SC)-based gastruloids have shown promise in recapitulating embryonic events with time/space precision. Herein, we report a hemogenic gastruloid (haemGx) system that captures multi-wave blood formation, progenitor specification from hemogenic endothelium (HE), and approximates generation of hematopoietic SC precursors. Enforced MNX1 expression in haemGx promotes HE formation, perturbs endothelial-to-hemogenic transition, and critically achieves transformation, generating myeloid colonies which display MNX1 AML signatures. By combining functional assays with single-cell transcriptomics, we establish the haemGx as a new model of normal and leukemic embryonic hematopoiesis amenable to mechanistic exploration.

The synthesis and the electrochemical, photophysical, structural, and photoconductive properties of three new heteroleptic Pd(II) complexes with various 3′,5′- disubstituted-2-(2′-pyridil) pyrroles H(N^N) as coordinated ligands are reported. The coordination of the metal center was completed by a functionalized Schiff base H(O^N) used as an ancillary ligand. The [(N^N)Pd(O^N)] complexes showed highly interesting photoconductive properties which have been correlated to their electronic and molecular structures. Theoretical density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT calculations were performed, and the results were confronted with the organization in crystalline phase, allowing to point out that the photoconductive properties are mainly a consequence of an efficient intramolecular ligand-to-metal charge transfer, combined to the proximity between the central metal and the donor moieties in the solid-state molecular stacks. The reported results confirm that these new Pd(II) complexes form a novel class of organometallic photoconductors with intrinsic characteristics suitable for molecular semiconductors applications., Supported by Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Universitàe della Ricerca by the ELIOTROPO.

Platinum compounds cytotoxicity is strictly related to their ability to be converted into active mono- and di-aquated species and consequently to the replacement of labile ligands by water molecules. This activation process makes the platinum center prone to nucleophilic substitution by DNA purines. In the present work, quantum mechanical density functional theory (DFT) computations and experimental investigations were carried out in order to shed light on the relationship between the internalization, aquation, and DNA binding of two isostructural anionic theranostic complexes previously reported by our group, NBu

A series of electropolymerizable cyclometallated IrIII complexes were synthesized and their electrochemical and photophysical properties studied. The triphenylamine electropolymerizable fragment was introduced by using triphenylamine-2-phenylpyridine and, respectively, triphenylamine-benzothiazole as cyclometalated ligands. The coordination sphere was completed by two differently substituted β-ketoiminate ligands deriving from the condensation of acetylacetone or hexafluoroacetylacetone with para-bromoaniline. The influence of the -CH3 /-CF3 substitution to the electrochemical and photophysical properties was investigated. Both complexes with CH3 substituted β-ketoiminate were emissive in solution and in solid state. Highly stable films were electrodeposited onto ITO coated glass substrates. Their emission was quenched by electron trapping within the polymeric network as proven by electrochemical studies. The -CF3 substitution of the β-ketoiminate leads instead to the quenching of the emission and inhibits electropolymerization.

Neutral cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes of general formula [Ir(ppy)2(O^O)squi], where ppy = 2-phenylpyridine and (O^O)squi = TBC (tetrabromocatechol) or TCC (tetrachlorocatechol) in their semiquinone (squi) monoanionic redox state, were synthesized by chemically oxidizing the anionic parent complexes NBu4[Ir(ppy)2(O^O)cat], in which (O^O)cat represents the corresponding ancillary dioxolene ligand in its dianionic catecholate (cat) redox state. This chemical oxidation leads to the modification of both the photophysical and the magnetic properties of the complexes. While the NBu4[Ir(ppy)2(O^O)cat] complexes are diamagnetic (D) and yellow-orange solids, the corresponding oxidized complexes [Ir(ppy)2(O^O)squi] display paramagnetic (P) properties and are characterized by a dark-green color. The conversion between the two forms (squi vs. cat) is electrochemically and chemically fully reversible. Indeed, the anionic NBu4[Ir(ppy)2(O^O)cat] complexes are quantitatively restored by chemical reduction of the neutral [Ir(ppy)2(O^O)squi] parents. These complexes therefore represent interesting redox based switches between multi-parameter states since they allow switching from a neutral paramagnetic to an anionic diamagnetic form together with a significant change in chromicity. Taking advantage of the significant color difference between the oxidized and the reduced form, an electrochromic cell was prepared with [Ir(ppy)2(TBC)squi] and its spectroelectrochemical properties are reported.

Linear supra-molecular liquid crystals, 4-(octyloxy) benzoic acid (8OBA) and 4-(octyloxy)-3-fluoro benzoic acid (8OBAF), have been synthesized. The structure of these compounds was investigated by NMR and FTIR. The thermal and phase behavior of these compounds were studied by polarized optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dielectric spectroscopy. The influence of fluorine atom in benzene ring core compounds and on electro-optical and optical properties has been studied as well. The binary mixtures of these compounds are well-established and the phase diagram (temperature-concentration) is plotted in heating as well as in cooling mode. The substituted mesogen exhibits rich phase variance compared to the 80BA. From the experimental observations, smectic-G phase appeared in the complexes.

The dynamics of different collective and non-collective relaxation processes were investigated in a new mixture which displays ferroelectric and antiferroelectric properties by dielectric spectroscopy. The experimental data, collected in function of frequency, temperature and under bias filed, were analyzed using a generalized Havriliak-Negami expression, leading to many dielectric relaxation modes. The results obtained through the dielectric spectroscopy and optical microscopy suggest a coexistence of different phases and hereditary dielectric peaks. A deep penetration of the Goldstone mode also occurs during isotropic phase.

The preparation and characterization of a new metallogelator based on the Ir(III) discrete cyclometallated complex [(ppy)2Ir(bpy)](CH3CH2OCH2CO2) are reported, where H(ppy) is 2-phenylpiridine and bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine, used as ancillary ligand. The compound is able to self-assemble in water in a range of concentrations between 3% and 6 % w/w, creating a luminescent ordered supramolecular gel. The gel and xerogel architectures were investigated through POM, SEM and TEM microscopies coupled with Powder X-Ray Diffraction. The gel supramolecular organization is characterized by columnar tetragonal strands, already present at high dilution conditions, of cations surrounded by counteranions. These strands, in turn, are self-assembled in an oblique columnar cell upon gelification. The xerogel thin films obtained upon complete dehydration maintained the gel supramolecular order and can be used as precursor for the preparation of nanostructured IrO2 thin films.

This work describes the synthesis and characterization of a series of water soluble Pt(II) complexes, with different degree of hydrophobicity, and thanks to d 8 -d 8 metal-metal and/or π-π interactions, these complexes are able to aggregate in aqueous solutions. Aggregates are luminescent more efficiently than the single molecule, exhibiting one of the highest emission quantum yield reported up to date for Pt(II) complexes dissolved in aerated water solution at room temperature (1·10 −5 M). Moreover, differently from single molecule, aggregates luminescence is not quenched by molecular oxygen.

The focus of this work is pointing out the different behavior of two structurally related Pt

The ability of Nile Red to self-assemble into supramolecular packings on Au(111) was studied using scanning tunneling microscopy and modeled through theoretical semiempirical calculations. At both submonolayer (sub-ML) and ML coverages, two distinct molecular packings, that is, four-leaf clover and dense chain, were observed, both weakly interacting with the underlying metal surface. Theoretical calculations suggested that the dipole moment plays a subtle role in both molecular assemblies, held together by hydrogen bonds between the Nile Red molecules. Furthermore, although both molecular assemblies were observed in as-deposited samples, a mild thermal annealing caused the transition from the four-leaf clover to the dense-chain packing, pointing out the greater stability of the dense-chain configuration. The study further emphasized how the established interactions between the Nile Red molecules are strongly influenced by the surrounding environment.

The focus of this work is pointing out the different behavior of two structurally related Pt(II) complexes, the anionic cyclometalated NBu4[(Bzq)Pt(Thio)], 1 and the neutral [(Phen)Pt(Thio)], 2, (Bzq = benzo[h]quinoline, Phen = 1,10-phenantroline, Thio = 1,2-benzenedithiolate), on the interaction with human serum albumin (HSA), a key drug-delivery protein in the bloodstream. Being very limited the number of anionic Pt(II) complexes reported to date, this is a pioneering example of report on a protein-ligand interaction involving a negatively charged platinum compound. The study was carried out by using fluorescence spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and molecular docking simulations. The results revealed a strong binding affinity between the anionic compound and the protein, whereas a weak/moderate binding interaction was highlighted for the neutral one. Comparative studies with site specific ligands (warfarin and ibuprofen), allowed us to identify the protein binding sites of the two compounds. The work aims to shed light on the relevance of the charge in designing new drugs with a favorable binding affinity for HSA, which strongly contributes to influence their pharmacological and toxicological profile.

The synthesis and photophysical characterization of a new family of luminescent water-soluble ionic iridium(III) complexes of the general formula [(ppy)2Ir(bpy)]X are reported. The Ir(III) complexes incorporate a cyclometalated 2-phenylpyridine (ppy), the ancillary ligand 2,2′-bipyridyl (bpy) and different counterions (X− = EtO−, OH−, EtOCH2CO2−, MeOCH2CO2−). These complexes were obtained starting from the cyclometalated Ir(III) chloro-bridged dimer [(ppy)2Ir(μ-Cl)]2, for the first time synthesized through a new microwave assisted synthetic procedure, and subsequently converted into the corresponding hydroxy-bridged dimer [(ppy)2Ir(μ-OH)]2. The latter was eventually used as a sole reagent for the synthesis of all the reported complexes by simply varying the nature of the reaction solvent from water to alcohols and glycol ethers. This study demonstrates the versatility of the [(ppy)2Ir(μ-OH)]2 complex as a precursor to water soluble ionic Ir(III) complexes. Indeed, [(ppy)2Ir(μ-OH)]2 has shown its peculiar chemical reactivity due to both a strong base character and an unexpected oxidative ability towards the alcoholic function of glycol ethers. All the synthesized complexes exhibit, in water solution, an orange emission centred at 606 nm. Moreover, all complexes display the ability to give rise to gel phases in water upon increasing their concentration, and the photophysical study evidenced the various interactions governing the gelification process. The water-solubility of these new luminescent Ir(III) complexes makes them potentially useful in bio-related systems.

This paper focuses on the analysis of Kazuo Ishiguro’s When We Were Orphans from an imagological point of view. The storyline follows the life of a prominent British detective in his endeavour to solve the mystery of his parents’ disappearances from their family home in Hong Kong. The images projected by the narrative reflect the centre of the empire in transition, with an accent on the reversal of the classical standpoints of characters, and a colony struggling to cope with the horrors of war as well as a change in vassality.

Two series of novel NBu4+ salts of anionic cyclometallated Pt(ii) complexes were synthesized and fully characterized. These highly luminescent compounds (NBu4[(C^N)Pt(O^N)] and NBu4[(C^N)Pt(O^O)]) are incorporated as testing examples of cyclometallating ligands 2-phenylpyridine (PhPy), 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-pyridine (F2PhPy) and 2-thienylpyridine (ThPy), and a benzo[h]quinoline (Bzq) fragment. All complexes display a square-planar coordination sphere, wherein the "(C^N)Pt" fragment is completed either by an O^N orotate (Ort) or an O^O tetrabromocatecholate (Cat) ligand. The HOMO and LUMO levels of all complexes were estimated by cyclic voltammetry and a comprehensive electrochemical and photophysical study was performed. The new complexes are emissive in solution at 298 K and the NBu4[(ThPy)Pt(Ort)] complex displays good photosensitizing properties (Φ = 28% in deaerated solution vs. Φ = 1.4% in the presence of O2). Both series of NBu4[(C^N)Pt(Ort)] and NBu4[(C^N)Pt(Cat)] complexes are highly luminescent in the solid state (emission quantum yields from 10 to 85%). Remarkably, the square-planar Pt(ii) anionic complexes showed an important increase in luminescence quantum yields on changing from the dilute solution to the solid state (the most significant from 0.13% to 85% for the NBu4[(PhPy)Pt(Ort)] complex, an ideal candidate as an active species for LEECs).

The preparation and characterization of a new metallogelator based on the Ir

Two anionic iridium complexes [(R-ppy)2Ir(O^N)]TBA with R-ppy = 2-phenylpyridine or 4,5'-dimethyl-2-phenylpyridine, O^N = dianionic form of orotic acid and TBA = tetrabutylammonium have been synthesised and fully characterised by UV-Vis, emission, IR, NMR and cyclic voltammetric studies. These cyclometallated luminescent complexes containing a dianionic bidentate ancillary ligand show bright emission (60-70% PLQY) with maxima in the green region of the visible spectrum. Coupled with the ionic iridium complexes [(ppy)2Ir(N^N)]X, where N^N = 2-picolylamine or 2,2'-bipyridyl, and X = Cl(-) or CH3CO2(-), a series of new soft salts of general formula [(ppy)2Ir(N^N)][(R-ppy)2Ir (O^N)] have been obtained and fully characterized, with enhanced luminescent properties up to ca. 80% of phosphorescence quantum yields.

The straightforward synthesis, redox and photophysical properties of a series of Ir(III) complexes of general formula [(ppy)Ir(O^O)]NBu4, (1–3) where ppy is 2-phenylpyridine and O^O are tetrachlorocatecholate (1), tetrabromocatecholate (2) or alizarinate (3) in their dianionic forms, are reported.

Homogeneous thin films of controlled thickness obtained from cyclometalated complexes of general formula [(C(∧)N)M(O(∧)N)], where M = Pd(II) or Pt(II), H(C(∧)N) = 2-phenylpyridine and, respectively, 2-thienylpyridine and H(O(∧)N) = a triphenylamine functionalized Schiff base, have been deposited by oxidative electropolymerization. The films have been electrochemically and morphologically characterized. The metallopolymeric thin films present stable reversible redox behavior and typical cauliflower-like textures in agreement with a nucleation-growth electropolymerization mechanism. However, the film growth is greatly influenced by the nature of the metal center, with a higher tendency of the Pt complexes to promote the 3D growth. Furthermore, a complete spectroelectrochemical study has been performed on electrodeposited films showing near-IR absorption in the oxidized state, high contrast ratios (up to 65%) and low response times.

We present the synthesis and characterization of a series of neutral and cationic Nile Red cyclopalladated complexes, first examples of covalent coordination of Nile Red to a Pd(II) metal centre. The Pd(II) coordination sphere is completed by a series of ancillary substituted ligands (acetylacetonates or bipyridine derivatives) selected in order to tune the photophysical properties and/or to enhance the supramolecular order. Both neutral and cationic columnar rectangular metallomesogens have been obtained. Emission has been observed only for neutral complexes (both in solution and mesophase) but quenched in cationic complexes.

Additional illumination with red light produced by laser diodes in continuous and different exposure times, was applied to seeds from two species of annual flowers: Garofita Dianthus caryophyllus - var. CHABAUD; FEUER KONING and romanian Petunia hybrid variety "WHITE CASCADE. The experimental results presented in the present study are a continuation of research initiated in 2009 ((P. Niculita , S. Danaila-Guidea, O. Livadariu , M. Ristici, J. Ristici si F. Burnichi, 2009 )and were aimed at testing the germination of seeds and development morphology induced by treatment effect based on laser radiation fields in the early stages of development of seeds under the effect of intensity light in the spectral range 640 nm - 660nm. Sets of seeds were irradiated once mounted on the first day of the experiment at different energy doses by changing exposure time. Thus the experiences of dry seeds were irradiated with different doses four lots in 2009 and 2010 corresponding variants V1-V4 (5-20 minutes). The experimental results were analyzed in parallel with a control group of seeds that did not apply to treatment of red laser diodes. In all the seeds analyzed from the two flower species studied germination capacity and that the growth of seedlings, determining germination percentages every two days for 3 weeks. Results have shown a percentage of germination higher than control group of seeds (75%) for all repetitions of variant V4 (95%), with exposure time of 20 minutes (1.53 joules / cm ²) to treatment with red light produced by laser modulated at audio frequency.

In contextul economic actual, orice intreprindere, indiferent daca actioneaza sau nu pe plan international, este afectata, intr-o anumita masura, de evenimentele care au loc pe piata internationala. Astfel, toate organizatiile economice, de la intreprinderile mici si mijlocii, care actioneaza cu precadere in plan national, pana la companiile transnationale, trebuie sa fie pregatite sa-si desfasoare activitatea intr-un mediu global deosebit de complex. De aceea, in acest articol vom prezenta rezultatele unei cercetari privind impactul integrarii Romaniei in Uniunea Europeana asupra importurilor realizate de intreprinderile mici si mijlocii din tara noastra.

Three homologous series of luminescent octahedral ionic Ir(III) complexes (1–12) with a dual stereogenic center of general formula Δ,Λ (R,S)[(ppy)2Ir(R-campy)]X, where ppy=2-phenylpyridine, R-campy=2-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinolin-8-amine (Me-campy) or 8-amino-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinolines (H-campy) and as counterions X−=Cl− or CH3COO− have been synthesized and characterized. The NMR characterization of each complex highlighted the diastereoisomeric purity and the absolute configuration has been confirmed by Electronic Circular Dichroism spectroscopy. The absorption and the luminescence properties of the compounds in solution and in solid state have been investigated by UV–vis, steady-state emission and time-correlated single-photon counting spectroscopy. The obtained results from the 12 compounds highlight the difficult to correlate photophysical properties in solution to the stereochemistry, while excited states decay studies of the solid state samples indicate a correlation between photophysics and packing mode which is affected by the different stereochemistry.

International audience; The complete characterization of novel electro-polymerizable organometallic complexes is presented. These are newly synthesized cyclometalated complexes of general formula (PPy)M(O∧N) n (H(PPy) = 2-phenylpyridine, M = Pd(II) or Pt(II), H(O∧N) n = Schiff base). Polymeric thin films have been obtained from these complexes by electro-polymerization of the triphenylamino group grafted onto the H(O∧N) n ancillary ligand. The redox behavior and the photoconductivity of both of the monomers (PPy)M(O∧N) n and the electropolymerized species have been investigated. The polymeric films of (PPy)M(O∧N) n have shown a very significant enhancement of photoconductivity when compared to their monomeric amorphous counterparts. The high stability of the obtained films strongly suggests that electropolymerization of cyclometalated complexes represents a viable deposition technique of quality thin films with improved photoconduction properties, hence opening the door to a new class of materials with suitable properties for optoelectronic applications.

Cerebrovascular complications in 9 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are presented, 6 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 3 with ulcerative colitis (UC), 7 men and 2 women, mean age 36.5 +/- 3.5 years, 4 of them during acute disease. Cerebrovascular complications were: cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT)--7 cases (5 CD and 2 UC) and ischemic stroke--2 cases (1 CD and 1 UC). Out of 7 cases with CVT 5 were superior sagittal sinus thrombosis (SSS), 2 SSS and transverse and sigmoid sinus thrombosis. Both ischemic strokes were infarctions in the middle cerebral artery area. No correlation between high doses of corticosteroids or their lowering, IBD activity, duration of the disease, and the appearance of cerebrovascular complications was observed. Tendency to hypercoagulation even in the inactive stage of the IBD was revealed. Investigations for thrombophilia were negative. Significantly high levels of homocysteine were observed in all patients.Neurovascular complications may be observed in IBD, both of venous and arterial type. Pathogenic mechanisms of these vascular complications are complex, low serum folate levels, of vitamin B6 and B12 being associated with elevation of homocysteine levels, high activation of platelets and microvascular endothelial dysfunction. A guide for the orientation of prophylaxis of cerebrovascular complications in IBD patients is necessary.

To establish the pathogenesis of ischemic strokes is very important in determining an adequate therapy. The objective was to observe if certain plasma parameters could be used as biomarkers in distinguishing between stroke subtypes. Plasma pro-BNP (chemiluminescence), serum uric acid, bilirubin (colorimetric assay), albumin and transferrin (nephelometric assay) levels were performed in 168 admitted patients (mean age 68.7 +/- 11.6 years, 52 men and 116 women) with different subtypes of acute ischemic strokes within 24 hours and at 7 days after stroke onset as TOAST and OCSP criteria, NIHSS and Glasgow Coma Score at baseline and at 7 days were used. The mean value of pro-BNP level was significantly higher in the cardioembolic stroke (CE), in patients, within 24 hours (p0.001) and at 7 days (p0.001) after stroke onset. A negative correlation between pro-BNP levels and GCS (r = 0.05, p0.0002) and a significant difference between pro-BNP levels of NIHSS groups were observed (p0.08, respectively (p0.01). We observed significantly higher values within 24 hours of uric acid (p0.05), significantly lower values within 24 hours of transferrin (p0.05), significantly lower values at 7 days of albumin and transferrin (p0.001), significantly higher values at 7 days of uric acid and bilirubin (p0.001). No significant statistical differences between the values of oxidative stress parameters and stroke subtypes, GCS and NIHSS score were observed. The level of plasma pro-BNP may be useful in distinguishing CE stroke from other stroke subtypes. Oxidative stress is increased in acute ischemic stroke, but oxidative stress parameters could not be used to differentiate stroke subtypes.

Despite increased consumer concern about the privacy threat posed by new technologies and the Internet as a whole, there is relatively little evidence that people’s privacy concerns actually translate into privacy-enhancing behaviors while online. One can say that it is not yet well understood how privacy concerns and trust influence social interactions between consumers within social networking sites. That is why, this article presents an exploratory study of perceptions of trust and privacy concern, along with willingness to share information and develop new relationships within two of the most popular social networking sites in Romania, Facebook and LinkedIn. The research shows that organizations must assume greater responsibility in ensuring consumers’ safety who sometime neglect protecting their personal information, otherwise confidential. In this respect, the application of ISO 26000 standard recommendations by organizations would allow them to pass from just good intentions towards consumers to good actions, so that they are truly protected. The information was gathered with the help of an online questionnaire, administered to people over 18 years old. It is a very useful and needed tool for Romanian companies, as it presents the users’ point of view, allowing them to find the best and most ethical way to do social data mining or use consumers’ private information, disclosed on such sites. It is our strong belief that sometimes companies have to play an active part in helping users protect themselves from actually disclosing too much personal information on social networking sites. The paper begins with a summary of relevant research related to social networking sites. Then, the online survey methodology is described and the results presented, followed by limitations and conclusions.

Oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of acute ischemic stroke. Antioxidants are consumed in the reaction with free radicals generated during the oxidative stress. The aim of the study was the to evaluate the oxidative stress in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Malondialdehyde (MDA), plasma glutathione, plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT), uric acid, bilirubin, plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD), red blood cells superoxide dismutase (RBS SOD) (spectrophotometric assay), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (enhanced chemiluminescence), ceruloplasmin, C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, transferrin (nephelometric assay) were performed in 57 patients (mean age 73.4 +/- 6.5 years) with acute ischemic stroke within 24 hours and at 7 days after stroke onset as compared to 51 age-and sex-matched controls. Significantly lower values in the first 24 hours were: plasma glutathione, CAT, plasma SOD, RBS SOD (p0.001), plasma GPX, TAC, transferrin (p0.05). Significantly higher values in the first 24 hours were: CRP (p0.001), MDA, uric acid (p0.05). Significantly lower values at 7 days were: TAC, albumin, transferrin (p0.001), plasma glutathione, plasma SOD, CAT (p0.05). Significantly higher values at 7 days were: MDA, plasma GPX, RBC SOD, CRP, uric acid, bilirubin (p0.001), ceruloplasmin (p0.05). These results indicate that oxidative stress is increased and that the majority of antioxidants are reduced; this suggests the possibility of therapeutic intervention with antioxidant agents.

My sole wish is to frustrate as utterly as possible the post-mortem exploiter — which, I know, is most imperfectly possible. Still, one can do something, and I have long thought of launching, by a provision in my will, a curse not less explicit than Shakespeare’s own on any such as try to move my bones. Your question determines me definitely to advert the matter in my will — that is to declare my utter and absolute abhorrence of any attempted biography or the giving to the world by “the famil...

The synthesis and the electrochemical, photophysical and photoconductive properties of two new cyclometallated metallomesogens are described. These two complexes were respectively obtained by covalent metallation of Nile red, or a polyalkylated Nile red derivative, to a palladium(II) ion and by using a polyalkylated Schiff base as an ancillary ligand to complete the coordination sphere of the metal centre. The introduction of long alkyl chains on either one or both ligands leads to disk-shaped metallomesogens with ordered room temperature columnar organisation induced, in both cases, by the formation of dimeric pairs. As shown by powder X-Ray diffraction studies, both complexes exhibit a columnar rectangular mesophase over a wide temperature range. These complexes show a redox solution behaviour characterised by one reversible single-electron reduction and two consecutive reversible oxidation waves, which give them an electrochemical amphoteric character. Energy levels and distributions of frontier orbitals have been estimated. Photoconductivity of the mesophase at room temperature has been observed from UV-Vis to near IR wavelength. The high thermal, electrochemical and mesophase stabilities of the studied Nile red complexes confirm that cyclometallated Pd(II) complexes form a new class of photoconductors with features suitable for molecular semiconductor applications.

In the previous paper of this issue, [Celebre, G.; Ionescu, A. J. Phys. Chem. B doi: 10.1021/jp907310g], following a generalized reaction field approach in the linear response approximation, we were successful in obtaining an analytical compact expression for the mean-field anisotropic orientational potential U(Q-EFG) theoretically experienced by a highly idealized nonionic and apolar solute, considered as a point quadrupole immersed in a uniaxial polarizable continuum medium (model of a nematic solvent comprised of dipolar mesogenic molecules). The term U(Q-EFG) describes the electrostatic interaction between the electric quadrupole of the solute and the electric field gradient induced at the solute by the surrounding medium polarized by the distribution of electric charges representing the quadrupolar solute itself. In the present paper, the obtained potential has been considered as an additional orientational interaction contributing to the solute ordering, besides the well-recognized and very effective "short-range" (size-and-shape-dictated) mechanisms. Since in our theory the solvent is characterized by its dielectric tensor, the model has been widely tested by taking as references the experimental order parameters of several uniaxial and biaxial different small rigid probe molecules (H(2), N(2), acetylene, allene, propyne, benzene, hexafluorobenzene, 1,4-difluorobenzene, and norbornadiene) dissolved in the nematic solvents ZLI1132 (Deltaepsilon0) and EBBA (Deltaepsilon0); moreover, the order parameters of the same solutes in the so-called nematic "magic mixture" (45 wt % EBBA + 55 wt % ZLI1132), where the short-range orientational effects are commonly believed to be very dominant, have been conventionally assumed as reference of the absence of electrostatic orientational effects. The experimental order parameters of the treated solutes, obtained in the past by liquid crystal NMR and available from literature, have been then compared with those theoretically predicted by our theoretical approach in order to obtain useful hints about two basic points, (a) the real physical nature of the interactions (other than the "size-and-shape") involved in the orientational mechanisms and (b) the conceptual effectiveness of the suggested mean-field approach in describing this kind of phenomena. Successes and failures of the approach in the predictions are discussed at length, along with their possible reasons and implications.

In the present paper, the fundamental problem of calculating the electric field gradient (EFG) experienced by a highly idealized solute, represented by a general point quadrupole immersed in an anisotropic uniaxial medium, has been tackled. Following a generalized reaction field approach (based upon the original ideas and the "mean-field philosophy" due to Kirkwood and Onsager) in the linear response approximation, a closed analytical expression of the EFG has been derived (to the best of our knowledge, for the first time). The obtained expression is particularly simple and elegant, also thanks to the oversimplifying approximation that the virtual cavity containing the solute is assumed to be perfectly spherical. This compact and manageable formula, obtained by a rigorous mathematical derivation (unlike other mean-field phenomenological models previously suggested in literature) can be useful to investigate and better understand a likely orientational mechanism, partly responsible for the ordering of small solutes dissolved in nematic mesophases, based on the interaction between the electric quadrupole of the solute and the electric field gradient of the anisotropic uniaxial medium (in the next paper of this issue, the formulation obtained in this work is widely tested on a variety of uniaxial and biaxial solutes dissolved in different nematic solvents).

Patients with severe cystic fibrosis can develop cor pulmonale, but little is known about the function of the right ventricle (RV) early in the disease. We hypothesized that such patients might have subclinical RV dysfunction, detectable by tissue Doppler echocardiography, and related to the severity of lung disease. We studied 21 clinically stable patients (Group 1), five patients with severe lung disease (Group 2), and 23 age-matched healthy subjects. Patients had impaired RV systolic function. The mean (SD) systolic velocities of the RV free wall were 8.9 (1.7) cm/s in Group 1, 7.7 (1.0) in Group 2, and 10.8 (1.9) in healthy subjects (p < 0.001). The velocities of the tricuspid annulus were less in patients (p < 0.0001). Patients had a greater isovolumic relaxation time (p < 0.001), indicating RV diastolic dysfunction. RV wall thickness was greater in patients (0.4 [0.1] versus 0.3 [0.1] cm/m(2), p < 0.01). RV systolic function was related to C-reactive protein (r = - 0.66, p < 0.001) and FEV(1) (r = 0.62, p = 0.003) and diastolic function to interleukin-6 (r = 0.64, p < 0.005). Patients with cystic fibrosis have subclinical RV dysfunction, which correlates with the severity of lung disease. Tissue Doppler echocardiography provides a quantifiable indicator useful for detection and monitoring of disease progression.