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Context.— Noninvasive papillary urothelial carcinomas (PUCs) comprise most urinary bladder tumors. Distinction between low-grade (LG-PUC) and high-grade (HG-PUC) PUCs is pivotal for determining prognosis and subsequent treatment. Objective.— To investigate the histologic characteristics of tumors with borderline features between LG-PUC and HG-PUC, focusing on the risk of recurrence and progression. Design.— We reviewed the clinicopathologic parameters of noninvasive PUC. Tumors with borderline features were subcategorized as follows: tumors that look like LG-PUC but have occasional pleomorphic nuclei (1-BORD-NUP) or elevated mitotic count (2-BORD-MIT), and tumors with side-by-side distinct LG-PUC and less than 50% HG-PUC (3-BORD-MIXED). Recurrence-free, total progression-free, and specific invasion-free survival curves were derived from the Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox regression analysis was performed. Results.— A total of 138 patients with noninvasive PUC were included, with the following distribution: LG-PUC (n = 52; 38%), HG-PUC (n = 34; 25%), BORD-NUP (n = 21; 15%), BORD-MIT (n = 14; 10%) and BORD-MIXED (n = 17; 12%). Median (interquartile range) follow-up was 44.2 months (29.9–73.1 months). Invasion-free survival was different between the 5 groups (P = .004), and pairwise comparison showed that HG-PUC had a worse prognosis compared with LG-PUC (P ≤ .001). On univariate Cox analysis, HG-PUC and BORD-NUP were 10.5 times (95% CI, 2.3–48.3; P = .003) and 5.9 times (95% CI, 1.1–31.9; P = .04) more likely to invade, respectively, when compared to LG-PUC. Conclusions.— Our findings confirm a continuous spectrum of histologic changes in PUC. Approximately a third of noninvasive PUCs show borderline features between LG-PUC and HG-PUC. Compared with LG-PUC, BORD-NUP and HG-PUC were more likely to invade on follow-up. BORD-MIXED tumors did not statistically behave differently from LG-PUC.

Grafting high yielding tomato cultivars (Solanum lycopersicum L.) onto vigorous rootstocks can increase marketable yields, but questions remain regarding optimal cultural and growing conditions such as pinching and plant spacing. This study addressed some of the dynamics between grafted plants and cultural practices. Two scions, ‘Tasti-Lee’ (TL) and ‘Mountain Fresh Plus’ (MFP) were grafted onto each of three rootstocks, ‘Beaufort’, ‘Arnold’, and ‘Shield’. Plants were pinched (removal of main shoot to induce both axillary shoots to grow) or non-pinched, and spaced at 56 or 61 cm. All 32 grafted treatments were compared to the grower standard: non-grafted TL and MFP spaced at 46 cm, which were non-pinched. Fruit quality traits including soluble solids content, pH, lycopene concentration, and titratable acidity were recorded for fruit harvested from tomatoes grafted onto ‘Arnold’, ‘Beaufort’, ‘Shield’ and non-grafted TL. The overall effect of grafting TL and MFP onto vigorous rootstocks ‘Arnold’, ‘Beaufort’, and ‘Fortamino’ increased marketable yields per hectare by 24-35% compared to non-grafted grower standards. The rootstock ‘Shield’ did not significantly increase yields with either scion. TL had a more positive response to grafting than MFP. ‘Arnold’, ‘Beaufort’, and ‘Fortamino’ significantly increased TL fruit size, but the fruit size results were not as significantly impacted by graft treatments for MFP. Plants spaced at 56 compared to 61 cm generated similar yields. Pinched plants significantly increased yields over non-pinched plants by 15% in 2018 but did not impact yield in 2017. No consistent difference was observed between pinched and non-pinched plants with regard to fruit size, only plants grafted with ‘Shield’ benefited significantly from being pinched. Soluble solids content, pH, total lycopene concentration, and titratable acidity differed slightly between grafted and non-grafted plants but was unlikely to positively or negatively affect overall perception of fruit quality in tomatoes. A partial budget analysis revealed that grafting with ‘Arnold’ or ‘Beaufort’ consistently increased profits in this low-disease field.

Early blight (EB) and leaf blight are two destructive diseases of tomato in North Carolina (NC), caused by Alternaria linariae and A. alternata, respectively. During the last decade, EB caused by A. solani has increased in potato-producing areas in Wisconsin (WI). We collected 152 isolates of three Alternaria spp. associated with tomato and potato in NC and WI and used the gene genealogical approach to compare the genetic relationships among them. Two nuclear genes: the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH), RNA polymerase second largest subunit (RPB2), and the rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of these isolates were sequenced. Besides, sequences of the GPDH locus from international isolates described in previous studies were included for comparison purposes. A set of single nucleotide polymorphisms was assembled to identify locus-specific and species-specific haplotypes. Nucleotide diversity varied among gene sequences and species analyzed. For example, the estimates of nucleotide diversity and Watterson’s theta were higher in A. alternata than in A. linariae and A. solani. There was little or no polymorphisms in the ITS sequences and thus restricted haplotype placement. The RPB2 sequences were less informative to detect haplotype diversity in A. linariae and A. solani, yet six haplotypes were detected in A. alternata. The GPDH sequences enabled strongly supported phylogenetic inferences with the highest haplotype diversity and belonged to five haplotypes (AaH1 to AaH5), which consisted of only A. alternata from NC. However, 13 haplotypes were identified within and among A. linariae and A. solani sequences. Among them, six (AsAlH1 to AsAlH6) were identical to previously reported haplotypes in global samples and the remaining were new haplotypes. The most divergent haplotypes were AaH1, AsAlH2/AsAlH3, and AsAlH4 and consisted exclusively of A. alternata, A. linariae, and A. solani, respectively. Neutrality tests suggested an excess of mutations and population expansion, and selection may play an important role in nucleotide diversity of Alternaria spp.

In this work, we report a facile approach to modify the magnetic and electrical property of Hipco single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) by attaching iron oxide nanoparticles (FeNPs). The Raman spectra of FeNP-SWCNTs revealed an apparent intensity reduction of metallic peaks in Radial breathing mode (RBM) region, which indicates the ratio change between the metallic and semiconducting component of SWCNTs after modification. Distinctive magnetic and electric resistance properties of FeNP-SWCNTs were found to be associated with the different shapes of FeNPs. The specific FeNP examples as showcased in this work can be applied to tune the electric and magnetic properties of other nanostructured materials in general and shed light on various electronic and magnetic applications.

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) are a valuable horticultural crop that are grown and consumed worldwide. Optimal production is hindered by several factors, among which Verticillium dahliae, the cause of Verticillium wilt, is considered a major biological constraint in temperate production regions. V. dahliae is difficult to mitigate because it is a vascular pathogen, has a broad host range and worldwide distribution, and can persist in soil for years. Understanding pathogen virulence and genetic diversity, host resistance, and plant-pathogen interactions could ultimately inform the development of integrated strategies to manage the disease. In recent years, considerable research has focused on providing new insights into these processes, as well as the development and integration of environment-friendly management approaches. Here, we discuss the current knowledge on the race and population structure of V. dahliae, including pathogenicity factors, host genes, proteins, enzymes involved in defense, and the emergent management strategies and future research directions for managing Verticillium wilt in tomatoes.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a valuable horticultural crop grown and consumed worldwide. Optimum production is hindered by several factors of which Verticillium dahliae, the cause of Verticillium wilt, is one of the major biological constraints in temperate production regions. V. dahliae is difficult to manage because it is a vascular pathogen, has a broad host range and worldwide distribution, and can persist in soil for years. Understanding the pathogen virulence and genetic diversity, host resistance, and plant-pathogen interactions can ultimately inform the development of integrated strategies to manage the disease. In recent years, considerable research has focused on providing new insight into these processes as well as the development and integration of environment-friendly management approaches. In this review, we discuss and summarize the recent findings on the race and population structure of V. dahliae; pathogenicity factors; host genes, proteins, and enzymes involved in defense; the emergent management strategies, and recent approaches to managing Verticillium wilt in tomatoes.

Two isostructural lanthanide-based metal - organic frameworks, {[Ln(C16H12N2O4)(CHO2)(OH2)·2(C5H11NO)]}n, Ln = Yb (1) and Tm (2), and a cadmium(II) coordination polymer,{[Cd2(C16H12N2O4)(NO3)·4(C3H7NO)]}n, were synthesized by the combination of the respective metal nitrate and 2,2′-diamino-trans 4,4′-stilbenedicarboxylate (C16H12N2O4) under solvothermal conditions [C5H11NO = diethylformamide and C3H7NO = dimethylformamide]. Their structures were determined by X-ray single crystal analysis, X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis and solid state photoluminescence spectroscopy. Both lanthanide structures are infinite three-dimensional non-penetrating networks with extremely large diamond shape accessible channels of cross-sectional dimensions [30 A x 12 A] and with the amino-functional groups projecting into the channels. The cadmium-based structure is a one-dimensional coordination polymer with both the carboxylate and the amino groups coordinating the cadmium atoms, which resulted in a large increase in the rigidity of the ligand. Ligand-based fluorescence was exhibited by all three networks, with the cadmium based structure showing the highest intensity and longest fluorescence radiative lifetime.

Three coordination polymers were synthesized from pyrazine-2,3,5,6-tetracarboxylic acid (H 4 pztc) in combination with calcium, zinc and manganese ions under hydrothermal conditions and their structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction, powdered X-ray diffraction, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric and elemental analyses. Structure 1 , {(Ca(H 2 pztc)(H 2 O) 3 ) n , crystallizes as 1-D chains, with the partially deprotonated ligand in –O,N,O– coordination mode and with the Ca atoms in an uncommon nine coordinate environment. Structure 2 , {Zn1(pztc)(H 2 O) 2 Zn2(H 2 O) 4 } n , is an infinite, 2-D coordination network that contains two nonequivalent Zn atoms, each with octahedral geometry, and the fully deprotonated pztc 4− in bis -bridging chelating coordination mode. The stacked 2-D layers are stabilized by extensive inter-layer water-carboxylate hydrogen-bonding with an inter-layer distance of 4.9 A. Structure 3, {(Mn 2 (pztc)(H 2 O) 2 )} n , is a covalently bonded 3-D network containing two nonequivalent Mn atoms, each with octahedral geometry, and the fully deprotonated pztc 4− units. Structure 3 exhibits paramagnetic behavior at room temperature, and weak antiferromagnetic properties at very low temperature, which is consistent with their nearest Mn…Mn separation distance of 4.9 A.

This paper focuses on lessons related to the development of viable medium, small and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) based on non-timber products in East Nusa Tenggara (ENT), Indonesia, that are relevant to the international aid shift towards private sector development and women’s economic empowerment. Most of the products traded in the 11 428 market stalls surveyed in informal-sector market places in ENT were not from forests or agroforests, but were vegetables, second-hand clothes and other products. Most of the forest and agro-forestry products being sold were low entry-point, low-value products, sold as part of people’s survival or coping strategies. Nevertheless, a few specialist products, such as indigo, hand-woven textiles, Symplocos leaf mordants and Lygodium fern baskets, have been remarkably successful in reaching global markets. Developing business partnerships with local producer groups and entrepreneurs is easier said than done, and requires strategic choices. In addition, enterprises need ...

A synthetic procedure for the preparation of ketones from easily accessible carboxylic acids has been developed. This methodology proceeds via in situ activation of the carboxylic acid with PyClU, followed by the palladium-catalyzed acylative cross-coupling with boronic acids. The reaction is performed in one pot, without the need of phosphine ligands, at room temperature and in reaction times of 2 h or less. The scope of the reaction is robust with aryl boronic and carboxylic acids.

This article describes the study protocol for an evaluation of an innovative model of care that supports home health nurses (HHN) who serve children with medical complexity ( CMC). CMC constitute a small proportion of children, but have very high need for health services, are hospitalized frequently, and account for significant proportion of pediatric healthcare expenditures. High-quality home health nursing services are important for CMC, but models of care of home healthcare, after discharge of CMC from the hospital, have not been tested. Our project aims are to develop, implement, and test a model of care, called ICollab, to improve home healthcare delivery for CMC. The ICollab model consists of collaboration between HHN, primary-care physicians and clinicians of the complex care program of a tertiary-care children's hospital in the care of CMC. In this randomized clinical trial, we will recruit 110 CMC discharged home on home health nursing services. The intervention group (n = 55) will receive the ICollab intervention for 6 months post-discharge from the hospital, in addition to usual care. Children in the control group (n = 55) will receive only usual care. Outcome measures will include healthcare utilization metrics (hospitalization rates, emergency room visit rates, and days to readmission), caregiver burden and caregiver satisfaction with home healthcare, HHN retention, and HHN collaboration with other healthcare providers. We hypothesize that ICollab will reduce healthcare utilization and caregiver burden, and improve caregiver satisfaction with home healthcare, increase HHN retention, and increase HHN collaboration with other healthcare providers. Results of this study have the potential to provide a critically needed evidence-base for interventions to improve the quality of healthcare delivery for CMC. This study is registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03978468) and is ongoing., Highlights • Although an increasing number of children with medical complexity in the U.S. receive home health nursing services, the quality of these services is not optimal. • Models of care that optimize communication and collaboration between home health nurses and other providers as children transition from hospital to home, have not been previously tested. • This RCT will evaluate the effect of an innovative care model on reducing hospital re-admissions, emergency room visits, improving caregiver satisfaction, reducing caregiver burden and improving home health nurse retention.

The diaza crown ether dicarboxylate ligand, 4,4′-((1,7-dioxa-4,10-diazacyclododecane-4,10-diyl)bis(methylene)dibenzoate), L, forms a monomeric coordination complex of Co(II) ions, CoL(H2O)2·2H2O, 1, and a coordination polymer (MnL·H2O)n, 2, with Mn(II) ions under hydrothermal conditions. The monomeric coordination complex (structure 1) is polar with mirror symmetry and crystallizes in the non-centrosymmetric space group Cm. The mirror plane bisects the complex at the six-coordinate Co(II) ion, the two oxygen atoms of the crown moiety and the two oxygen atoms from coordinated water molecules. The coordinated water molecules take part in strong, linear hydrogen bonds with carboxylate oxygens provided by neighboring Co(II)–crown complexes resulting in a three-dimensional (1 : 1)n polar network in which the topology of the underlying 8-coordinated net is sqc3. The structure of 2 crystallizes in the orthorhombic Fdd2 space group as an infinite, polar triply interpenetrating three-dimensional network. The eight-coordinate Mn(II) ion coordinates two oxygen and two nitrogen atoms of the crown moiety, as well as single carboxylate O atom from each of two neighboring ligands. In both structures, the ligand assumes a flexed-wing bird shape, with the two benzoate sidearms of the crown moiety locked in a syn orientation. The metal ion elevated above the plane of the diaza-crown oxygen and nitrogen atoms. The diaza-crown moiety with its two benzoate sidearms has the peculiar property of forming an oriented crystal structure where the metal-crown vectors are oriented parallel to each other in the crystal. However, the structures are achiral, but the rigid crystal lattice prevents re-orientation of the structure through inversion. The coordination polymer (MnL·H2O)n, 2, is a 3-center uninodal net with ths (ThSi2) topology. Computational results using the density functional theory (DFT) calculations explain why the flexed-wing bird shape is the preferred and most stable ligand conformation for metal ion binding. Both structures demonstrate magnetic properties that are characteristics of the respective non-interacting isolated paramagnetic transition metal ions that are present.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been chemically functionalized onto multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) through a metallopolymer linker-bis (2,2':6'2"-terpyridine) ruthenium(II)-connected diblock poly(N-isopropyacryamide). A "nano-snowflower" pattern was formed by self-assembly MWCNT-AuNP nanocomposite with anti-DNP IgE antibody. MWCNT-AuNP nanohybrid has unique biocompatibility and electronic current-voltage properties. This nanohybrid shows the potential application for IgE biosensor to diagnose cancer cells. We represent a step towards building complex electronic circuits response by providing molecular recognition properties.

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a live, attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis that is used to treat superficial bladder cancer. Although its use is typically associated with only mild, localized side effects, rare systemic complications can occur. Disseminated mycobacterium infections after BCG therapy have been reported in over 30 cases; however, central nervous system (CNS) infections do not commonly occur. We report a 74-year-old male who developed a M. bovis cerebellar abscess after receiving intravesical BCG infusion for bladder cancer for less than 1 year. This patient was successfully treated with antituberculosis therapy and corticosteroids. This patient case demonstrates that early-onset M bovis CNS infections can occur after BCG therapy. Patients presenting with altered mental status while on BCG therapy should be evaluated for disseminated infections.

Four anthracene-based lanthanide metal-organic framework structures (MOFs) were synthesized from the combination of the lanthanide ions, Eu3+, Tb3+, Er3+, and Tm3+, with 9,10-anthracenedicarboxylic acid (H2ADC) in dimethylformamide (DMF) under hydrothermal conditions. The 3-D networks crystalize in the triclinic system with P-1 space group with the following compositions: (i) {{[Ln2(ADC)3(DMF)4·DMF]}n, Ln = Eu (1) and Tb (2)} and (ii) {{[Ln2(ADC)3(DMF)2(OH2)2·2DMF·H2O]}n, Ln = Er (3) and Tm (4)}. The metal centers exist in various coordination environments; nine coordinate in (i), while seven and eight coordinate in (ii). The deprotonated ligand, ADC, assumes multiple coordination modes, with its carboxylate functional groups severely twisted away from the plane of the anthracene moiety. The structures show ligand-based photoluminescence, which appears to be significantly quenched when compared with that of the parent H2ADC solid powder. Structure 2 is the least quenched and showed an average photoluminescence lifetime from bi-exponential decay of 0.3 ns. On exposure to ionizing radiation, the structures show radioluminescence spectral features that are consistent with the isolation of the ligand units in its 3-D network. The spectral features vary among the 3-D networks and appear to suggest that the latter undergo significant changes in their molecular and/or electronic structure in the presence of the ionizing radiation.

Metal–organic frameworks {[Ln4(pztc)3(H2O)11]·10(H2O)}n (Ln = Gd(1), Tb(2); pztc = pyrazine-2,3,5,6-tetracarboxylate) containing variable coordination spheres and with a complex and unusual three dimensional structure, were synthesized by the reaction of H4pztc with the respective Ln(III) salt in water under hydrothermal conditions. The compounds were characterized by single crystal X-ray crystallography, elemental and thermal analysis, and FTIR spectroscopy. The asymmetric units in these compounds have four symmetry-independent Ln(III) ions and these are octa- and nona-coordinate centers, with irregular coordination polyhedra from [Ln(pztc)2(H2O)6], [Ln(pztc)2(H2O)4], [Ln(pztc)3(H2O)3], [Ln(pztc)3(H2O)], and [Ln(pztc)4] cluster units. The fully deprotonated ligand, pztc, coordinates to the Ln3+ ions through seven or through ten of its atoms (i.e., the maximum coordination number for this ligand). The three-dimensional open framework contains irregular channels along the [001] crystallographic direction. The channels are approximately 12 A wide at their largest dimension and contain strongly hydrogen bonded water molecules of crystallization which further stabilize the structure. The solvent accessible volume is 20% of the total volume. The structures exhibit magnetic behavior that is characteristic of the respective isolated paramagnetic lanthanide ions.

Ethnopharmacological relevance This is the first study of global trade in fruits of the widely used traditional medicine, Helicteres isora L. It is used in Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani medical systems and/or local folk traditional medicines in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. The roots are used in Traditional Chinese Medicines in China and the fruits in jamu products in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. In addition, H. isora fruits are also used in "traditional" medical systems far beyond the natural distribution of this species, for example in Zulu herbal medicine (South Africa) and Kurdish herbal medicines (Iraq). Aims of the study This study had three aims: (i) to assess the global trade in H. isora fruits; (ii) to study the H. isora trade from West Timor to Java in terms of actors and prices along the value chain and (iii) to get a better understanding of the potential of this species to improve household income in eastern Indonesia. Materials and methods This study uses historical records, a contemporary analysis of global trade data (2014–2016) and field assessments of value chains and the biological factors influencing H. isora fruit production. Results Globally, the major exporter of H. isora fruits is India, which exports H. isora fruits to 19 countries, far beyond the natural geographical distribution of this species. Over a 36-month period (January 2014–December 2016), India exported 392 t of H. isora fruits, with a Free-On-Board (FOB) value of Indian rupiah (INR) 18,337,000 (US$ 274,055). This represents an average annual export quantity of about 130,526 kg/year. Over this three year period, most of these exports (85.5%) were to Indonesia (346.58 t), followed by Thailand (6.85%). Indian H. isora exports are also used in many other medical systems, including Kurdish and Zulu “traditional” medicines in Iraq and South Africa. Formation of an Indian diaspora in Bahrain, Mauritius, South Africa, Tanzania and Trinidad and Tobago over the past 130 years is one of the drivers of H. isora fruit trade outside the natural geographic distribution of the species. In Indonesia, demand for H. isora fruits is supplemented by an intra-island trade in Java and an inter-island trade from East Nusa Tenggara. West Timor, for example, exports around 31–37 t of air-dried H. isora fruits per year to Java. At the farm gate, local harvesters in West Timor get 4000 IDR (c. 0.3 US$) per kg, with businesses in Java paying 25,000 IDR (c.US$2) per kg for H. isora fruits. This is similar to the price paid for H. isora fruits imported from India to Java. Conclusions India is the major exporter of whole dried H. isora fruits, including to countries where this species has never been in traditional use. In Indonesia, H. isora fruit extracts are used in the cosmetic industry as well as in jamu herbal medicines, including “Tolak Angin”, the country's most popular commercial “jamu” preparation. Indonesia also is the major importer of H. isora fruits from India. In eastern Indonesia, improved income to local villagers from the H. isora fruit trade could come from improved H. isora fruit quality due to better drying techniques. This would also reduce health risks along the supply chain from to mycotoxins that have been recorded on poorly dried H. isora fruits. There also is an opportunity for cultivation of H. isora in small-holder teak plantations in Indonesia, with harvest of H. isora fruits as well as the medicinal bark.

A combination of stomach contents, nitrogen stable-isotope and tissue C:N values are presented to demonstrate feeding activity of Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus on the Gulf of Mexico (GOMEX) spawning grounds. Diets include teleosts, cephalopods, crustaceans and a pelagic tunicate (Pyrosoma atlanticum). Results reveal the need to classify the GOMEX as a T. thynnus feeding ground.

a b s t r a c t Due to market and regulatory factors, Rajidae skates are routinely discarded by commercial otter trawlers in the western North Atlantic. Accounting for post-release mortality is therefore essential to total fishing mortality estimates, stock status and management of this group of fishes. However, despite a presumed species-specific range in tolerance, few studies have investigated the short-term post-release mortality among skates indigenous to the western North Atlantic following capture by mobile fishing gears, and never in the Gulf of Maine. This study addresses this shortfall for the prohibited thorny skate, Amblyraja radiate and smooth skate, Malacoraja senta, and the targeted winter skate, Leucoraja ocellata, and little skate, Leucoraja erinacea. Of 1288 skates evaluated, negligible immediate mortality was observed at the time of capture, even in relation to the largest catches and/or most prolonged tows. However, injury frequency was moderate, with highest levels in the smooth (60%) and thorny (52%) skates. Aside from the smooth skate (59%), 72 h mortality rates were low overall (19% across all species when accounting tow durations indicative of the fishery), with the winter skate (8%) exhibiting the lowest levels. Logis- tic regression modeling revealed tow duration as the most universal predictor of condition and 72 h mortality, while catch biomass, sex, temperature changes, and animal size also held influence in certain species. Although in general the studied species appear more resilient to trawl capture and handling than previously estimated, interspecific differences must be accounted for when managing this group. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Two novel coordination polymers with formulas CoL1·3H2O [1, L1 = 3,3′-((1,7-dioxa-4,10-diazacyclododecane-4,10-diyl)bis(methylene) dibenzenecarboxylate] and Co2L2(H2O)2·2(H2O) [2, L2 = 5,5′-((1,7-dioxa-4,10-diazacyclododecane-4,10-diyl)bis(methylene)) diisophthalate] were synthesized, where one Co(II) ion coordinates the crown-4 moiety of the ligand. Compound 1 crystallizes in the space group C2 as an infinite two-dimensional chiral layered coordination network with a tetragonal 44sql net topology. The structural unit consists of the coordinated Co(II) ion and the deprotonated ligand. The Co(II) ion is 6-coordinate with two nitrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms of the crown 1,7-diaza-12-crown-4, and two carboxylate oxygen atoms from neighboring ligands, and exhibits a highly distorted octahedral geometry. Compound 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n as a triply interpenetrating 3D network with the uncommon sqc528/dmd system, the first coordination polymer with a 3-fold interpenetrating dmd to...

Mesoporous iodine and silver codoped titania and alumina modified titania photocatalysts were synthesized by a two-step surfactant-templated hydrothermal route and characterized by X-ray diffraction, XPS, UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and nitrogen adsorption. The mesoporous materials had surface areas of 2.6–5.3 times that of Degussa P25. The I-Ag codoped mesoporous titania samples exhibited a bicrystalline framework of rutile and anatase with rutile fractions of 23% and 26%, respectively, whereas the alumina-containing I-Ag codoped materials yielded anatase as the only crystalline phase. The I-Ag codoped photocatalysts with Ag/Ti mole ratio of 1.6% and 2.0% showed catalytic activity 3.3 times and 12 times higher than Degussa P25 under halogen visible and visible light (>400 nm) in photodecomposing methyl orange, respectively. The high performance of I-Ag codoped titania and alumina modified titania photocatalysts under visible light is attributed to the combined effects of large surface area, lower band gap energies and mesoporous structure.

The title gadolinium benzenedicarboxylate based metal organic framework of chemical formula, C28H36Gd2N6O18, was synthesized under solvothermal conditions in the presence of DMF. The crystal structure is monoclinic, space group P21/c, with unit cell dimensions of a = 17.668(2) A, b = 20.005(3) A, c = 10.5382(15) A, and β = 91.205(2)°, Z = 4, V = 3723.9(9) A3, ρ (calculated) = 1.889 mg/m3. The unit is defined by four DMF molecules, two nitrate ions, two benzene dicarboxylate (BDC) units and two Gd atoms. Each Gd atom is coordinated to eight oxygen atoms, one from each of four dicarboxylate ions, one from each of two DMF molecules, and two from the single nitrate anion. The three dimensional framework is formed from the interconnectivity of a chainlike arrangement between BDC and Gd only, with one BDC bridging two Gd atoms. Elemental percentage composition was as follows: Gd = 30.9, C = 32.28, H = 3.33, N = 7.28, which are in agreement with calculated values of Gd = 31.7, C = 31.74, H = 3.40, N = 7.94. Gd–O bond lengths ranged between 2.290 and 2.511 A. The material is paramagnetic due to f7 unpaired Gd electrons, and also displays orange-yellow photoluminescence due to the presence of trace Eu ions in the structure when excited with UV radiation.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were functionalized with a bis(2,2':6',2"-terpyridine) ruthenium(ll)-connected diblock poly(N-isopropyacryamide) (RuTpyPNIPAM) by a simple methodology of covalent amidation. The composition and structure of the functionalized ruthenium multi-walled carbon nanotubes (RuMWCNTs) were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These characterization methods confirm that after functionalization, ruthenium metallopolymer are interconnected or attached as aggregated structures on the surface of the carbon nanotubes.

Surfactant templated Ti-containing organic–organic mesoporous catalysts which were synthesized from one step co-condensation of the precursors, showed enhanced liquid phase cyclohexene epoxidation activity and greater deactivation resistance than the parent Ti-MCM-41, with tert-butyl hydroperoxide as oxidant. The order of reactivity observed was Ti-MCM-41-phenylene > Ti-MCM-41-biphenylene > Ti-MCM-41-ethylene > Ti-MCM-41. In the presence of water, the Ti-MCM-41-phenylene catalyst showed up to 3.5-fold enhancement in activity over Ti-MCM-41. The enhancement in catalytic activity was attributed to improvement in surface hydrophobic characteristic from the incorporation of organic functionalities.

The perceived quality of an audiovisual sequence is heavily influenced by both the quality of the audio and the quality of the video. The question then arises as to the relative importance of each factor and whether a regression model predicting audiovisual quality can be devised that is generally applicable.

Size and age estimates at sexual maturity were determined for 162 male and 273 female little skates Leucoraja erinacea collected from the western Gulf of Maine. Maturity ogives suggest that 50% maturity in females occurs at age 9.5 years and 480 mm total length (LT), whereas 50% maturity in males occurs at a slightly younger age of 7.7 years and smaller size of 460 mm LT. Age estimates were made from 389 L. erinacea ranging in size from 93 to 570 mm LT. The index of average per cent error and age-bias plots indicated that the ageing methods were precise and non-biased. Additionally, annual periodicity of band formation was validated with oxytetracycline in eight individuals (three males and five females) ranging in age from 3 to 12 years. In conclusion, results from this study indicate that L. erinacea exhibits characteristics that make other elasmobranch populations highly susceptible to overexploitation.

Poly[4-(4-vinylbenzyloxy)-2-hydroxylbenzaldehyde] was evaluated for removing low concentrations of lead(II) in ppb levels from aqueous media. The effects of the pH condition and the initial lead concentrations on removal were examined. It was found that the metal absorption is best described with the Langmuir model. The RL values obtained between 0.01 and 0.23 indicate that favorable absorption occurs in the studied concentration ranges. The kinetic study revealed that the metal removal proceeds at a very fast pace—less than 30 s—to reach the maximum capacity. The data fit the description of pseudo–second-order rate. The dynamic column study for real-time practical absorption also was investigated. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009

We used Great Lakes hydrologic data and bird monitoring data from the Great Lakes Marsh Monitoring Program from 1995–2002 to: 1) evaluate trends and patterns of annual change in May-July water levels for Lakes Ontario, Erie, and Huron-Michigan, 2) report on trends of relative abundance for birds breeding in Great Lakes coastal marshes, and 3) correlate basin-wide and lake-specific annual indices of bird abundance with Great Lakes water levels. From 1995–2002, average May, June, and July water levels in all lake basins showed some annual variation, but Lakes Erie and Huron-Michigan had identical annual fluctuation patterns and general water level declines. No trend was observed in Lake Ontario water levels over this period. Abundance for five of seven marsh birds in Lake Ontario wetlands showed no temporal trends, whereas abundance of black tern (Chlidonias niger) declined and that of swamp sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) increased from 1995–2002. In contrast, abundances of American coot (Fulica americana), black tern, common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), least bittern (Ixobrychus exilis), marsh wren (Cistorthorus palustris), pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps), sora (Porzana carolina), swamp sparrow, and Virginia rail (Rallus limicola) declined within marshes at Lakes Erie and Huron/Michigan from 1995–2002. Annual abundances of several birds we examined showed positive correlations with annual lake level changes in non-regulated Lakes Erie and Huron/Michigan, whereas most birds we examined in Lake Ontario coastal wetlands were not correlated with suppressed water level changes of this lake. Overall, our results suggest that long-term changes and annual water level fluctuations are important abiotic factors affecting abundance of some marsh-dependent birds in Great Lakes coastal marshes. For this reason, wetland bird population monitoring initiatives should consider using methods in sampling protocols, or during data analyses, to account for temporal and spatial components of hydrologic variability that affect wetlands and their avifauna.