Patients' experiences of lupus-related foot problems: a qualitative investigation.

Background Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can present with a variety of symptoms. Previous research has shown there is a high prevalence of lower limb and foot problems in patients with SLE associated with the musculoskeletal, vascular and neurological changes. Furthermore, there is a high prevalence of infections affecting the feet and a range of common skin and nail problems.

Iron(II)-Catalyzed Hydrophosphination of Isocyanates.

The first transition metal catalyzed hydrophosphination of isocyanates is presented. The use of low-coordinate iron(II) precatalysts leads to an unprecedented catalytic double insertion of isocyanates into the P-H bond of diphenylphosphine to yield phosphinodicarboxamides [Ph PC(=O)N(R)C(=O)N(H)R], a new family of derivatized organophosphorus compounds. This remarkable result can be attributed to the low-coordinate nature of the iron(II) centers whose inherent electron deficiency enables a Lewis-acid mechanism in which a combination of the steric pocket of the metal center and substrate size determines the reaction products and regioselectivity.

Enhanced Alignment of Water-Soluble Polythiophene Using Cellulose Nanocrystals as a Liquid Crystal Template.

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are bioderived, rodlike particles that form a chiral nematic liquid crystal (LC) in water. In this work, CNCs were used to induce long-range order in a semiconducting polymer, poly[3-(potassium-4-butanoate) thiophene-2,5-diyl] (PPBT). When mixed with CNCs, it was found that PPBT was incorporated into the liquid crystal "template" to form ordered structures with highly birefringent domains, as observed under polarized light.

Tailoring porosity and rotational dynamics in a series of octacarboxylate metal-organic frameworks.

Modulation and precise control of porosity of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is of critical importance to their materials function. Here we report modulation of porosity for a series of isoreticular octacarboxylate MOFs, denoted MFM-180 to MFM-185, via a strategy of selective elongation of metal-organic cages. Owing to the high ligand connectivity, these MOFs do not show interpenetration, and are robust structures that have permanent porosity.

1,8-Bis(silylamido)naphthalene complexes of magnesium and zinc synthesised through alkane elimination reactions.

The reactions between magnesium or zinc alkyls and 1,8-bis(triorganosilyl)diaminonaphthalenes afford the 1,8-bis(triorganosilyl)diamidonaphthalene complexes with elimination of alkanes. The reaction between 1,8-CH(NSiMePhH) and one or two equivalents of MgBu affords two complexes with differing coordination environments for the magnesium; the reaction between 1,8-CH(NSiMePhH) and MgBu in a 1 : 1 ratio affords 1,8-CH(NSiMePh){Mg(THF)} (1), which features a single magnesium centre bridging both ligand nitrogen donors, whilst treatment of 1,8-CH(NSiRH) (R = MePh, Pr) with two equivalents of MgBu affords the bimetallic complexes 1,8-CH(NSiR){BuMg(THF)} (R = MePh2, R = Pr3), which feature four-membered MgN rings. Similarly, 1,8-CH(NSiPr){MeMg(THF)} (4) and 1,8-CH(NSiMePh){ZnMe} (5) are formed through reactions with the proligands and two equivalents of MMe (M = Mg, Zn).

Photon echo in exciton-plasmon nanomaterials: A time-dependent signature of strong coupling.

We investigate the dynamics of the photon echo exhibited by exciton-plasmon systems under strong coupling conditions. Using a self-consistent model based on coupled Maxwell-Bloch equations, we investigate the femtosecond time dynamics of ensembles of interacting molecules optically coupled to surface plasmon supporting materials. It is shown that observed photon echoes under a two pulse pump-probe sequence are highly dependent on various material parameters such as molecular concentration and periodicity.

Advancing alternatives analysis: The role of predictive toxicology in selecting safer chemical products and processes.

Alternatives analysis (AA) is a method used in regulation and product design to identify, assess, and evaluate the safety and viability of potential substitutes for hazardous chemicals. It requires toxicological data for the existing chemical and potential alternatives. Predictive toxicology uses in silico and in vitro approaches, computational models, and other tools to expedite toxicological data generation in a more cost-effective manner than traditional approaches.

How flies are flirting on the fly.

Background: Flies have some of the most elaborate visual systems in the Insecta, often featuring large, sexually dimorphic eyes with specialized "bright zones" that may have a functional role during mate-seeking behavior. The fast visual system of flies is considered to be an adaptation in support of their advanced flight abilities. Here, we show that the immense processing speed of the flies' photoreceptors plays a crucial role in mate recognition.

Vedolizumab exposure in pregnancy: outcomes from clinical studies in inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Vedolizumab is a gut-selective immunoglobulin G monoclonal antibody to α β integrin for the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Prospective clinical studies of vedolizumab in pregnancy have not been conducted; therefore, existing safety data of vedolizumab in pregnancy were examined.

Aim: To assess pregnancy outcomes in females and partners of males who received vedolizumab.

The inverse-trans-influence in tetravalent lanthanide and actinide bis(carbene) complexes.

Across the periodic table the trans-influence operates, whereby tightly bonded ligands selectively lengthen mutually trans metal-ligand bonds. Conversely, in high oxidation state actinide complexes the inverse-trans-influence operates, where normally cis strongly donating ligands instead reside trans and actually reinforce each other. However, because the inverse-trans-influence is restricted to high-valent actinyls and a few uranium(V/VI) complexes, it has had limited scope in an area with few unifying rules.

Rational Synthesis and Investigation of Porous Metal-Organic Framework Materials from a Preorganized Heterometallic Carboxylate Building Block.

The tetranuclear heterometallic complex [LiZn(piv)(py)] (1, where piv = pivalate and py = pyridine) has been successfully employed as a presynthesized node for the construction of four porous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) [LiZn(R-bdc)(bpy)]·solv (2-R, R-bdc; R = H, Br, NH, NO) by reaction with 4,4'-bipyridine (bpy) and terephthalate anionic linkers. The [LiZn] node is retained in the products, representing a rare example of the rational step-by-step design of isoreticular MOFs based on complex heterometallic building units. The permanent porosity of the activated frameworks was confirmed by gas adsorption isotherm measurements (N, CO, CH).

Myoblast replication is reduced in the IUGR fetus despite maintained proliferative capacity in vitro.

Adults who were affected by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) suffer from reductions in muscle mass and insulin resistance, suggesting muscle growth may be restricted by molecular events that occur during fetal development. To explore the basis of restricted fetal muscle growth, we used a sheep model of progressive placental insufficiency-induced IUGR to assess myoblast proliferation within intact skeletal muscle in vivo and isolated myoblasts stimulated with insulin in vitro Gastrocnemius and soleus muscle weights were reduced by 25% in IUGR fetuses compared to those in controls (CON). The ratio of PAX7+ nuclei (a marker of myoblasts) to total nuclei was maintained in IUGR muscle compared to CON, but the fraction of PAX7+ myoblasts that also expressed Ki-67 (a marker of cellular proliferation) was reduced by 23%.

A Functional Bioluminescent Zebrafish Screen for Enhancing Hematopoietic Cell Homing.

To discover small molecules that modulate hematopoietic cell homing after adoptive transfer, we created a transgenic zebrafish expressing firefly luciferase downstream of the ubiquitin promoter (ubi:luc) to serve as a hematopoietic donor. Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) was used to detect and follow ubi:luc hematopoietic cells that homed to the marrow as early as 1 day post-transplant. BLI was able to detect the biological effect of prostaglandin E on early homing/engraftment of donor hematopoietic cells.

Cyclotrimerisation of isocyanates catalysed by low-coordinate Mn(ii) and Fe(ii) m-terphenyl complexes.

Two- and three-coordinate m-terphenyl complexes of manganese and iron are efficient catalysts for the selective cyclotrimerisation of primary aliphatic isocyanates affording isocyanurates in short reaction times and under mild conditions.

Halochromic coordination polymers based on a triarylmethane dye for reversible detection of acids.

Chromeazurol B (NaHL) is a pH-sensitive (halochromic) dye based on a hydroxytriarylmethane core and two carboxylate functional groups, which makes it suitable for the synthesis of coordination polymers. Two new coordination polymers [NaZn(HO)(L)]·3THF·3HO (1) and [Zn(HO)(μ-OH)(μ-OH)(HL)(HL)]·2THF·3HO (2) incorporating Chromeazurol B linkers have been prepared and characterised. The structure of 1 comprises pentanuclear heterometallic {ZnNa} nodes linked by six L anions to give a layered structure with a honeycomb topology.

Gas adsorption and structural diversity in a family of Cu(II) pyridyl-isophthalate metal-organic framework materials.

A family of Cu(II)-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has been synthesized using three pyridyl-isophthalate ligands, HL (4'-(pyridin-4-yl)biphenyl-3,5-dicarboxylic acid), HL (4''-(pyridin-4-yl)-1,1':4',1''-terphenyl-3,5-dicarboxylic acid) and HL (5-[4-(pyridin-4-yl)naphthalen-1-yl]benzene-1,3-dicarboxylic acid). Although in each case the pyridyl-isophthalate ligands adopt the same pseudo-octahedral [Cu(OCR)N] paddlewheel coordination modes, the resulting frameworks are structurally diverse, particularly in the case of the complex of Cu(II) with HL, which leads to three distinct supramolecular isomers, each derived from Kagomé and square nets. In contrast to [Cu(L)] and the isomers of [Cu(L)], [Cu(L)] exhibits permanent porosity.

Evaluation of chest radiography, lytA real-time PCR, and other routine tests for diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia and estimation of possible attributable fraction of pneumococcus in northern Togo.

Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) is a leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), yet existing diagnostic tools remain inadequate. We aimed to evaluate laboratory and radiological methods for detecting pneumococcal aetiology in CAP patients and to estimate Spn prevalence in this group. All-aged patients hospitalized with clinically defined CAP in northern Togo were enrolled during 2010-2013.

Amides Do Not Always Work: Observation of Guest Binding in an Amide-Functionalized Porous Metal-Organic Framework.

An amide-functionalized metal organic framework (MOF) material, MFM-136, shows a high CO uptake of 12.6 mmol g at 20 bar and 298 K. MFM-136 is the first example of an acylamide pyrimidyl isophthalate MOF without open metal sites and, thus, provides a unique platform to study guest binding, particularly the role of free amides.

Limits on Active to Sterile Neutrino Oscillations from Disappearance Searches in the MINOS, Daya Bay, and Bugey-3 Experiments.

Searches for a light sterile neutrino have been performed independently by the MINOS and the Daya Bay experiments using the muon (anti)neutrino and electron antineutrino disappearance channels, respectively. In this Letter, results from both experiments are combined with those from the Bugey-3 reactor neutrino experiment to constrain oscillations into light sterile neutrinos. The three experiments are sensitive to complementary regions of parameter space, enabling the combined analysis to probe regions allowed by the Liquid Scintillator Neutrino Detector (LSND) and MiniBooNE experiments in a minimally extended four-neutrino flavor framework.

Search for Sterile Neutrinos Mixing with Muon Neutrinos in MINOS.

We report results of a search for oscillations involving a light sterile neutrino over distances of 1.04 and 735 km in a ν_{μ}-dominated beam with a peak energy of 3 GeV. The data, from an exposure of 10.

Game theory and strategy in medical training.

Objective: This paper analyses how game theory can provide a framework for understanding the strategic decision-making that occurs in everyday scenarios in medical training and practice, and ultimately serves as a tool for improving the work environment and patient care. Game theory has been applied to a variety of fields outside of its native economics, but has not been thoroughly studied in the context of health care provision.

Methods: The paper discusses four of the most common 'games' and applies each to a scenario in medicine to provide new insight on the incentives and drivers for certain types of behaviour and a deeper understanding of why certain results are valued more strongly than others.

The prevalence of self-reported lower limb and foot health problems experienced by participants with systemic lupus erythematosus: Results of a UK national survey.

Objective The main aim of this survey was to determine the frequency of self-reported lower limb or foot and ankle complications experienced by participants with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A secondary aim was to determine the frequency of treatments that have been received or that participants with SLE may like to receive if offered. Method A quantitative, cross-sectional, self-reported survey design was utilized.

Novel gene function revealed by mouse mutagenesis screens for models of age-related disease.

Determining the genetic bases of age-related disease remains a major challenge requiring a spectrum of approaches from human and clinical genetics to the utilization of model organism studies. Here we report a large-scale genetic screen in mice employing a phenotype-driven discovery platform to identify mutations resulting in age-related disease, both late-onset and progressive. We have utilized N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea mutagenesis to generate pedigrees of mutagenized mice that were subject to recurrent screens for mutant phenotypes as the mice aged.

Selective Adsorption of Sulfur Dioxide in a Robust Metal-Organic Framework Material.

Selective adsorption of SO is realized in a porous metal-organic framework material, and in-depth structural and spectroscopic investigations using X-rays, infrared, and neutrons define the underlying interactions that cause SO to bind more strongly than CO and N .