(Electro-)chemical Splitting of Dinitrogen with a Rhenium Pincer Complex.

The splitting of N into well-defined terminal nitride complexes is a key reaction for nitrogen fixation at ambient conditions. In continuation of our previous work on rhenium pincer mediated N splitting, nitrogen activation and cleavage upon (electro)chemical reduction of [ReCl(2)] {2 = N(CHCHPBu) } is reported. The electrochemical characterization of [ReCl(2)] and comparison with our previously reported platform [ReCl(1)] {1 = N(CHCHPBu) } provides mechanistic insight to rationalize the dependence of nitride yield on the reductant.

Altered metabolic activity in the developing brain of rats predisposed to high versus low depression-like behavior.

Individual differences in human temperament can increase the risk of psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety. Our laboratory utilized a rat model of temperamental differences to assess neurodevelopmental factors underlying emotional behavior differences. Rats selectively bred for low novelty exploration (Low Responders, LR) display high levels of anxiety- and depression-like behavior compared to High Novelty Responder (HR) rats.

States' experiences with loan repayment programs for health care professionals in a time of state budget cuts and NHSC expansion.

Purpose: The landscape of education loan repayment programs for health care professionals has been turbulent in recent years, with doubling of the funding for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) and cuts in funding for some states' programs. We sought to understand how this turbulence is being felt within the state offices involved in recruiting clinicians to rural and urban underserved communities.

Methods: We conducted key informant telephone interviews with staff of state offices of rural health, primary care organizations, and/or related organizations within 28 diverse states to answer questions about perceived changes and interplay among solely state-funded loan repayment programs, joint state-federal programs, and the NHSC federal program.

Fitting multilevel models with ordinal outcomes: performance of alternative specifications and methods of estimation.

Previous research has compared methods of estimation for fitting multilevel models to binary data, but there are reasons to believe that the results will not always generalize to the ordinal case. This article thus evaluates (a) whether and when fitting multilevel linear models to ordinal outcome data is justified and (b) which estimator to employ when instead fitting multilevel cumulative logit models to ordinal data, maximum likelihood (ML), or penalized quasi-likelihood (PQL). ML and PQL are compared across variations in sample size, magnitude of variance components, number of outcome categories, and distribution shape.

Analysis of cross-sectional univariate measurements for family dyads using linear mixed modeling.

Outcome measurements from members of the same family are likely correlated. Such intrafamilial correlation (IFC) is an important dimension of the family as a unit but is not always accounted for in analyses of family data. This article demonstrates the use of linear mixed modeling to account for IFC in the important special case of univariate measurements for family dyads collected at a single point in time.

Hexamethylbisacetamide and disruption of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 latency in CD4(+) T cells.

Background: Novel therapeutic approaches are needed to attack persistent proviral human immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV-1) infection. Hexamethylbisacetamide (HMBA), a hybrid bipolar compound, induces expression of the HIV-1 promoter in the long terminal repeat (LTR) region in a Tat-independent manner but mimics the effect of Tat, overcoming barriers to LTR expression and increasing the processivity of LTR transcription complexes.

Methods: We studied alterations in cellular factors and their LTR occupancy induced by HMBA in models of latent HIV-1 infection.

Perceived barriers to physical activity among North Carolinians with arthritis: findings from a mixed-methodology approach.

Background: A goal of the North Carolina Arthritis Plan is to reduce arthritis burden through regular physical activity. We identified community and personal factors that influence physical activity in individuals with arthritis.

Methods: In 2004 and 2005, 2479 individuals (53% self-reported arthritis) from 22 North Carolina communities completed a telephone survey (59.

Functional outcomes of cleft lip surgery. Part III: Measurement of lip forces.

Objective: To investigate lip force dynamics among participants with a repaired cleft of the lip and noncleft control participants.

Design: A parallel, three-group, nonrandomized clinical trial.

Subjects: Forty-eight participants with cleft lip and 36 noncleft participants.

Functional outcomes of cleft lip surgery. Part IV: Between- and within-participant variables affecting lip vermilion sensory thresholds.

Objective: Compare neurosensory assessments for participants with and without a cleft lip; identify between- and within-participant variables affecting sensory thresholds on the vermilion of participants with cleft lip.

Design: A parallel group, nonrandomized clinical trial.

Subjects: There were 56 participants with cleft lip and 37 noncleft participants.

Functional outcomes of cleft lip surgery. Part II: Quantification of nasolabial movement.

Objective: To explore nasolabial movements in participants with repaired cleft lip and palate.

Design: A parallel, three-group, nonrandomized clinical trial.

Subjects: Group 1=31 participants with a cleft lip slated for revision surgery (revision), group 2=32 participants with a cleft lip who did not have surgery (nonrevision), and group 3=37 noncleft control participants.

Functional outcomes of cleft lip surgery. Part I: Study design and surgeon ratings of lip disability and need for lip revision.

Objective: Children with a cleft of the upper lip exhibit obvious facial disfigurement. Many require multiple lip surgeries for an optimal esthetic result. However, because the decision for lip revision is based on subjective clinical criteria, clinicians may disagree on whether these surgeries should be performed.

Proteasome inhibition promotes regression of left ventricular hypertrophy.

Current research in left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has largely focused on its progression and therapeutic mechanisms to prevent or slow its development. Few studies have centered on the regression or treatment of existing LVH. Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) is an inflammatory transcription factor that has been shown to be involved in LVH development.

Nurse staffing, mortality, and length of stay in for-profit and not-for-profit hospitals.

The issue of differential quality in for-profit (FP) and not-for-profit (NFP) hospitals remains a critical health policy question. With research demonstrating a relationship between nurse staffing and quality, the question arises whether the relationship differs in these hospital types. Using Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project data from the period 1990-1995, we found that case mix-adjusted registered nurse (RN) staffing was significantly lower in FPs than in NFPs, and we found a superior distribution of outcomes (mortality and length of stay) obtained with a lower level of RN staffing.

The role of pathology in the diagnosis of systemic vasculitis.

Pathologic processes are underlying defining features of systemic vasculitis. When these pathologic processes can not be observed directly, surrogate signs and symptoms of disease must be used to conclude that vasculitis is present in a patient and, if so, to determine what specific type of vasculitis is present. This review briefly describes the most defining pathologic features of giant cell arteritis, Takayasu arteritis, polyarteritis nodosa, Henoch-Schönlein purpura, cryoglobulinemic vasculitis, Kawasaki disease, microscopic polyangiitis, Wegener's granulomatosis and Churg-Strauss syndrome; and discusses how these pathologic features can be integrated with clinical and laboratory data to reach an actionable diagnosis.

Development and reliability of an observation method to assess food intake of young children in child care.

To our knowledge, a direct observation protocol for assessing dietary intake among young children in child care has not been published. This article reviews the development and testing of a diet observation system for child care facilities that occurred during a larger intervention trial. Development of this system was divided into five phases, done in conjunction with a larger intervention study; (a) protocol development, (b) training of field staff, (c) certification of field staff in a laboratory setting, (d) implementation in a child-care setting, and (e) certification of field staff in a child-care setting.

Teachers' education, classroom quality, and young children's academic skills: results from seven studies of preschool programs.

In an effort to provide high-quality preschool education, policymakers are increasingly requiring public preschool teachers to have at least a Bachelor's degree, preferably in early childhood education. Seven major studies of early care and education were used to predict classroom quality and children's academic outcomes from the educational attainment and major of teachers of 4-year-olds. The findings indicate largely null or contradictory associations, indicating that policies focused solely on increasing teachers' education will not suffice for improving classroom quality or maximizing children's academic gains.

Health anxiety, hypochondriasis, and the anxiety disorders.

Although clinical observations suggest that health-related anxiety is present, to some extent, in a number of anxiety disorders, this relationship has not been examined empirically. The present study therefore utilized the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI) to elucidate the structure of such symptoms among patients with anxiety disorders and to empirically investigate the presence of health anxiety in various anxiety disorders. Confirmatory factor analysis yielded equivalent support for either a 2-factor or 3-factor model of the SHAI's latent structure.

Age at first sexual intercourse, genes, and social context: evidence from twins and the dopamine D4 receptor gene.

We carried out two distinct types of genetic analysis with data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. The first was a non-DNA twin analysis using monozygotic (identical) and same-sex dizygotic (fraternal) twins. The second analysis investigates the association between age at first sexual intercourse and the 48-bp repeat polymorphism in the dopamine receptor D4 gene (DRD4).

Orientation of endothelial cell division is regulated by VEGF signaling during blood vessel formation.

New blood vessel formation requires the coordination of endothelial cell division and the morphogenetic movements of vessel expansion, but it is not known how this integration occurs. Here, we show that endothelial cells regulate division orientation during the earliest stages of blood vessel formation, in response to morphogenetic cues. In embryonic stem (ES) cell-derived vessels that do not experience flow, the plane of endothelial cytokinesis was oriented perpendicular to the vessel long axis.

Dietary sodium restriction alters postprandial ghrelin: implications for race differences in obesity.

Objectives: To examine the effect of sodium restriction on the appetite-stimulating hormone, ghrelin, as a function of race, salt sensitivity, and obesity.

Design: PARTICIPANTS completed two 4-day outpatient dietary interventions (moderate vs low sodium), and blood samples were drawn two hours after a controlled test meal under both conditions.

Setting: A university research laboratory and affiliated General Clinical Research Center.

Mutations of DNAI1 in primary ciliary dyskinesia: evidence of founder effect in a common mutation.

Rationale: Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare, usually autosomal recessive, genetic disorder characterized by ciliary dysfunction, sino-pulmonary disease, and situs inversus. Disease-causing mutations have been reported in DNAI1 and DNAH5 encoding outer dynein arm (ODA) proteins of cilia.

Objectives: We analyzed DNAI1 to identify disease-causing mutations in PCD and to determine if the previously reported IVS1+2_3insT (219+3insT) mutation represents a "founder" or "hot spot" mutation.

Current approaches to advanced-stage non-small-cell lung cancer: first-line therapy in patients with a good functional status.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among men and women in the United States. Approximately 80-85% of lung cancer cases are non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and approximately 65% of these patients have advanced-stage (IIIB/IV) disease at diagnosis. The median survival for patients with advanced-stage NSCLC treated with platinum-based chemotherapy is a disappointing 8-10 months.