Manipulating the Substituent Sphere of a Bicyclic Silicon(I) Ring Compound Results in Anionic Cubane-Type Clusters and a Tetrahedral Silanide.

The reaction of the bicyclic silicon(I) ring compound Si{N(SiMe)Mes} 1 with strong zwitterionic character and moderate sterical demand of the amido substituents with two equivalents of KC was investigated. This resulted in the unexpected abstraction of two amido substituents from 1 and additionally in dimerization to a dianionic Si cluster compound 2 with four unsubstituted silicon atoms and two [K([18]crown-6)] counter cations. Performing this reaction in the absence of [18]crown-6 results in release of only one amido substituent from 1 and dimerization to a dianionic Si cluster 3 with only two unsubstituted silicon atoms.

Silicon Chalcogenide Cage Compounds: New Structures Derived from the Bicyclic Silicon(I) Ring Compound Si {N(SiMe )Mes}.

The bicyclic silicon(I) ring compound Si {N(SiMe )Mes} (2) was used as starting material in reactions with chalcogens and chalcogen transfer agents at low temperatures. This resulted in the selective formation of new cage compounds. With Me NO, a silicon oxide with adamantane-type cage 3 was isolated that represents the first isolated T silsesquioxane.

Exogenous and endogenous spatial attention in crows.

Attention describes the ability to selectively process a particular aspect of the environment at the expense of others. Despite the significance of selective processing, the types and scopes of attentional mechanisms in nonprimate species remain underexplored. We trained four carrion crows in Posner spatial cueing tasks using two separate protocols where the attention-capturing cues are shown at different times before target onset at either the same or a different location as the impending target.

Reactivity of the Bicyclic Amido-Substituted Silicon(I) Ring Compound Si {N(SiMe )Mes} with FLP-Type Character.

The bicyclic amido-substituted silicon(I) ring compound Si {N(SiMe )Mes} 2 (Mes=Mesityl=2,4,6-Me C H ) features enhanced zwitterionic character and different reactivity from the analogous compound Si {N(SiMe )Dipp} 1 (Dipp=2,6- Pr C H ) due to the smaller mesityl substituents. In a reaction with the N-heterocyclic carbene NHC (1,3,4,5-tetramethyl-imidazol-2-ylidene), we observe adduct formation to give Si {N(SiMe )Mes}  ⋅ NHC (3). This adduct reacts further with the Lewis acid BH to yield the Lewis acid-base complex Si {N(SiMe )Mes}  ⋅ NHC  ⋅ BH (4).

Barriers and Facilitators to Expanding Roles of Medical Assistants in Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMHs).

Background: Many primary care practices participating in patient-centered medical home (PCMH) transformation initiatives are expanding the work roles of their medical assistants (MAs). Little is known about attitudes of MAs or barriers and facilitators to these role changes.

Methods: Secondary data analysis of qualitative cross-case comparison study of 15 New Jersey primary care practices participating in a PCMH project during 2012 to 2013.

Seasonal timing of sperm production in roe deer: interrelationship among changes in ejaculate parameters, morphology and function of testis and accessory glands.

Roe deer are seasonal breeders with a short rutting season from mid-July to mid-August. The seasonality of reproductive activity in males is associated with cyclic changes between growth and involution of both testes and the accessory sex glands. This study characterizes morphological and functional parameters of these organs prior to, during and after breeding season in live adult roe deer bucks.

Establishment of assisted reproduction technologies in female and male African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus).

Transrectal ultrasonography, electroejaculation and cryopreservation of spermatozoa were applied to the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) to establish non-invasive protocols for assessing the reproductive health of one of the most endangered African canids. Transrectal ultrasonography was performed on immobilized male (n = 2) and female (n = 5) captive wild dogs. The testes and epididymides of the male dogs were imaged transcutaneously, followed by electrostimulation and cryopreservation of spermatozoa.

Control of reproduction with anti-progestin and oestrogens in captive bears.

The aim of this study was to establish new methods for controlling reproduction in bears. Anti-progestins were used to interrupt pregnancies. In two consecutive years, the anti-progestin J956 was administered to 11 female bears (nine Ursus arctos, one Ursus tibethanus, one Tremarctos ornatus) living in zoos.

Administration of antiprogestin J956 for contraception in bears: a pharmacological study.

Effective and reversible control of reproduction in bears is highly desirable for conservation and management programs in zoos to establish genetically variable ex-situ populations of bears within the constraints of limited space in captivity. The reproductive physiology of bears is characterized by two main traits--seasonality and delayed implantation, which is progesterone dependent. This offers the opportunity to interrupt early pregnancy by short-term administration of antiprogestins.