Multiple and contrasting pressures determine intraspecific phytochemical variation in a tropical shrub.

Intraspecific phytochemical variation across a landscape can cascade up trophic levels, potentially mediating the composition of entire insect communities. Surprisingly, we have little understanding of the processes that regulate and maintain phytochemical variation within species, likely because these processes are complex and operate simultaneously both temporally and spatially. To assess how phytochemistry varies within species, we tested the degree to which resource availability, contrasting soil type, and herbivory generate intraspecific chemical variation in growth and defense of the tropical shrub, Piper imperiale (Piperaceae).

EXPRESS: Acute Vasoreactivity Testing in Pediatric Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: an international Survey on Current Practice.

The aim of this study was to determine practice patterns and inter-institutional variability in how acute vasoreactivity testing (AVT) is performed and interpreted in pediatrics throughout the world. A survey was offered to physicians affiliated with the Pediatric & Congenital Heart Disease Taskforce of the Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute (PVRI), the Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension Network (PPHNET), or the Spanish Registry for Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension (REHIPED), from February to December 2016. The survey requested data about the site-specific protocol for AVT and subsequent management of pediatric patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) or heritable PAH (HPAH).

Squaraines: crystal structures and spectroscopic analysis of hydrated and anhydrous forms of squaric acid-isoniazid species.

The crystal structures, synthesis procedure, thermal behavior, and spectroscopic properties of a new squaraine SqINH·H2O and its anhydrous arrangement are described. This squaraine is obtained through an acid-base reaction using squaric acid (H2Sq) and isoniazid (INH) as precursors. Both squaraines crystallize in the monoclinic system, but in different space groups: the hydrated and anhydrous arrangement crystallizes in the P2₁ and P2₁/c space group, respectively.

Resilient monitoring systems: architecture, design, and application to boiler/turbine plant.

Resilient monitoring systems, considered in this paper, are sensor networks that degrade gracefully under malicious attacks on their sensors, causing them to project misleading information. The goal of this paper is to design, analyze, and evaluate the performance of a resilient monitoring system intended to monitor plant conditions (normal or anomalous). The architecture developed consists of four layers: data quality assessment, process variable assessment, plant condition assessment, and sensor network adaptation.

Ultrafine particle levels at an international port of entry between the US and Mexico: exposure implications for users, workers, and neighbors.

Exposure to diesel-emitted particles has been linked to increased cancer risk and cardiopulmonary diseases. Because of their size (<100 nm), exposure to ultrafine particles (UFPs) emitted from heavy-duty diesel vehicles (HDDV) might result in greater health risks than those associated with larger particles. Seasonal UFP levels at the International Bridge of the Americas, which connects the US and Mexico and has high HDDV traffic demands, were characterized.

On the azo/hydrazo equilibrium in Sudan I azo dye derivatives.

In this study, Raman, infrared, UV/vis, NMR, and single crystal X-ray diffraction spectroscopies are used to elucidate the tautomeric equilibrium of azo dyes derived from 1-phenyl-azo-2-naphthol (Sudan I). A new crystallographic structure is described for Sudan I, revealing the presence of intramolecular hydrogen bonds and supramolecular interactions, such as the unconventional C-H···O hydrogen bond type, π-stacking, and charge-dipole interactions. All of these weak intermolecular interactions play a role in the stability of the crystalline structure.

[Correction of the perpendicular positioning of the Amplatzer device during closure of an ostium secundum atrial septal defect].

Introduction And Objectives: Ostium secundum atrial septal defects require closure. Echocardiographic studies have reported that, in 7% of cases, the Amplatzer occluder is orientated perpendicular to the rim of the defect. This article describes the use of an ancillary technique involving a balloon catheter that enables the Amplatzer device to be positioned transversely.

New insight on the investigation of the role of water in the solid-state structures of potassium croconate, K(2)C(5)O(5).2H(2)O, and its anhydrate.

This work presents a comparative study of dihydrated and anhydrous forms of potassium croconate crystals by vibrational spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and thermogravimetry. These compounds have different colors (dihydrated is orange, and dehydrated is yellow) due to the presence of coordinated water molecules. X-ray diffraction patterns show that the unit cell of the yellow compound is smaller than that of the orange analogue, suggesting that the croconate ion layers are more closely bonded in this salt.

Prevalence of malnutrition and associated metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease in older adults from Northwest Mexico.

This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence of malnutrition and several metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease in 287 apparently healthy older adults from Northwest Mexico. Also, the impact of overweight and obesity on metabolic risk factors was assessed. Nutritional status was determined using serum albumin levels and anthropometry.