The study of positive homotropic allosterism in supramolecular receptors is important for elucidating design strategies that can lead to increased sensitivity in various molecular recognition ...applications. In this work, the cooperative relationship between tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)‐calix4pyrroles and several nitroaromatic guests is examined. The design and synthesis of new annulated TTF‐calix4pyrrole receptors with the goal of rigidifying the system to accommodate better nitroaromatic guests is outlined. These new derivatives, which display significant improvement in terms of binding constants, also display a positive homotropic allosteric relationship, as borne out from the sigmoidal nature of the binding isotherms and analysis by using the Hill equation, Adair equation, and Scatchard plots. The host–guest complexes themselves have been characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses and studied by means of UV‐spectroscopic titrations. Investigations into the electronic nature of the receptors were made by using cyclic voltammetry; this revealed that the binding efficiency was not strictly related to the redox potential of the receptor. On the other hand, this work serves to illustrate how cooperative effects may be used to enhance the recognition ability of TTF‐calix4pyrrole receptors. It has led to new allosteric systems that function as rudimentary colorimetric chemosensors for common nitroaromatic‐based explosives, and which are effective even in the presence of potentially interfering anions.
Killing two rats with one trap provides the inspiration for a new class of aromatic‐fused tetrathiafulvalene–calix4pyrroles that act as positive homotropic allosteric receptors for nitroaromatic explosives. The use of annulated tetrathiafulvalene subunits in these new systems leads to a greater efficiency in binding and colorimetric nitroaromatic “sensing”, relative to simple tetrathiafulvalene‐containing derivatives.
Abstract Objective Gender differences in psychosis have been investigated, and the results have contributed to a better understanding of the disease, but many questions are unanswered. In clinical ...terms, women and men with psychosis differ in terms of access to social support, tendency of substance abuse, level of functioning and symptom patterns. We aimed to investigate how gender differences at onset of psychosis develop during the first 5 years of treatment. Method A total of 578 patients with a first-episode psychosis in the schizophrenia spectrum were included in the Danish OPUS trial – a randomized clinical trial comparing 2 years of intensive early-intervention programme with standard treatment. All patients were assessed with validated instruments at inclusion, and after 2 and 5 years. Data were analysed for significant gender differences. Results Males have significantly higher levels of negative symptoms at all times, and are more likely to live alone and suffer from substance abuse. Females reach higher levels of social functioning at follow-up, and show a greater tendency to be employed or in education than males. Markedly more women than men live with children. More women than men reach a state of recovery and are more compliant with medication. Conclusion There are significant gender differences at 2- and 5-year follow-up in this large cohort of first-episode psychotic patients. Males and females show different symptomatology and different levels of social functioning.
•This study encompasses 841 sampling records from 217 chinese lakes.•The trophic state of lakes was significantly related to the degree of human impact.•Human impact disrupted most relationships ...among environmental factors of the lakes.•Correlations between salinity and organic C/N were apparent in saline lake regions.•Human impact and environmental factor network can be indicators of lake status.
Anthropogenic and natural disturbance to inland aquatic ecosystems displays a notable spatial difference, yet data to measure these differences are scarce. This study encompasses 217 lakes distributed over five lake regions of China and elucidates the environmental factors determining the spatial variability of the water quality and trophic status. A significant correlation between human modification index in surrounding terrestrial systems (HMT) and trophic status of lake ecosystems (TSI) was found, and the regression slope in each region was similar except in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region. It was further noted that the pattern of environmental factor network (EF network) differed among freshwater and saline lakes. The EF network was complex for freshwater lakes in less human-influenced areas, but intensive man-made influence disrupted most relationships except for those between total nitrogen, total phosphorus, chlorophyll-a, and water turbidity. As for regions including saline lakes, correlations among water salinity and organic forms of carbon and nitrogen were apparent. Our results suggest that HMT and EF network can be useful indicators of the ecological integrity of local lake ecosystems, and integrating spatial information on a large scale provides conservation planners the option for evaluating the potential risk on inland aquatic systems.
We present growth studies of InAs nanowires nucleated from lithographically positioned Au seeds on InAs (111)B substrates. The nanowires are grown in a chemical beam epitaxy system and exhibit high ...aspect ratios and high homogeneity in length and width. Investigations of wire growth rate as a function of diameter, density, and time were performed and the results indicate that 80% of the growth is due to In species diffusing from the (111)B substrate surface. Furthermore, we have established that the diffusion length on the {110} wire side surfaces exceeds 10 μm. We also observe a decreasing length growth rate with increasing wire diameter.
Because of the first observations in the 1900s of the oligotrophic and eutrophic states of lakes, researchers have been interested in the process that makes lakes become turbid because of high ...phytoplankton biomass. Definitions of eutrophication have multiplied and diversified since the mid‐20th century, more than for any other ecological process. Reasons for the high number of definitions might be that the former ones did not sufficiently describe their causes and/or consequences. Global change is bringing eutrophication more into the spotlight than ever, highlighting the need to find consensus on a common definition, or at least to explain and clarify why there are different meanings of the term eutrophication. To find common patterns, we analyzed 138 definitions that were classified by a multiple correspondence factor analysis (MCA) into three groups. The first group contains the most generic scientific definitions but many of these limit the causes to increased nutrient availability. A single definition takes into account all causes but would require additional work to clarify the process itself. Nutrient pollution, which is by far the primary cause of eutrophication in the Anthropocene, has generated a second group of environmental definitions that often specify the primary producers involved. Those definitions often mention the iconic consequences of nutrient pollution, such as increased algal biomass, anoxia/hypoxia and reduced biodiversity. The third group contains operational definitions, focusing on the consequences of nutrient pollution, for ecosystem services and therefore associated with ecosystem management issues. This group contains definitions related to regulations, mainly US laws and European directives. These numerous definitions, directly derived from the problem of nutrient pollution, have enlarged the landscape of definitions, and reflect the need to warn, legislate and implement a solution to remedy it. Satisfying this demand should not be confused with scientific research on eutrophication and must be based on communicating knowledge to as many people as possible using the simplest possible vocabulary. We propose that operational definitions (groups 2 and 3) should name the process “nutrient pollution,” making it possible to refine (scientific) definitions of eutrophication and to expand on other challenges such as climate warming, overfishing, and other nonnutrient‐related chemical pollutions.
Depuis les premières observations, dans les années 1900, des états oligotrophes et eutrophes des lacs, les chercheurs se sont intéressés au processus qui rend les lacs turbides en raison d'une biomasse phytoplanctonique élevée. Les définitions de l'eutrophisation se sont multipliées et diversifiées depuis le milieu du XXe siècle, plus que pour tout autre processus écologique. Ce nombre élevé de définitions pourrait s'expliquer par le fait que ces dernières ne décrivaient pas suffisamment les causes et/ou les conséquences de ce processus. Le changement global remet l'eutrophisation au centre des préoccupations, soulignant la nécessité de trouver un consensus sur une définition commune, ou au moins d'expliquer et de clarifier les raisons pour lesquelles il existe différentes significations du terme “eutrophisation.” Pour trouver des caractéristiques communes, nous avons analysé 138 définitions qui ont été classées en trois groupes par une analyze factorielle des correspondances multiples (ACM). Le premier groupe contient les définitions scientifiques les plus génériques, mais nombre d'entre elles limitent les causes à l'augmentation de la disponibilité des nutriments. Une définition unique prend en compte toutes les causes mais nécessiterait des travaux supplémentaires pour clarifier le processus lui‐même. La pollution par les nutriments, qui est de loin la première cause d'eutrophisation dans l'Anthropocène, a donné lieu à un deuxième groupe de définitions environnementales qui précisent souvent les producteurs primaires concernés. Ces définitions mentionnent souvent les conséquences emblématiques de la pollution par les nutriments, telles que l'accroissement de la biomasse algale, l'anoxie/l'hypoxie et la réduction de la biodiversité. Le troisième groupe contient des définitions opérationnelles, qui se concentrent sur les conséquences de la pollution par les nutriments. Ce groupe contient des définitions liées à des réglementations, principalement des lois américaines et des directives européennes. Ces nombreuses définitions, directement issues du problème de la pollution par les nutriments, ont élargi le paysage des définitions et reflètent la nécessité d'alerter, de légiférer et de mettre en œuvre une solution pour y remédier. La satisfaction de cette demande ne doit pas être confondue avec la recherche scientifique sur l'eutrophisation et doit être basée sur la communication des connaissances au plus grand nombre en utilisant un vocabulaire le plus simple possible. Nous proposons que les définitions opérationnelles (groupes 2 et 3) nomment le processus “pollution par les nutriments,” ce qui permettrait d'affiner les définitions (scientifiques) de l'eutrophisation et de s'étendre à d'autres défis tels que le réchauffement climatique, la surpêche et d'autres pollutions chimiques non liées aux nutriments.
This paper aims to investigate the predictors of good outcome after first-episode non-affective psychosis and the clinical and social trajectories of those that recover.
A cohort of 255 patients with ...first-episode non-affective psychosis was interviewed 5 years after first diagnosis and treatment. Recovery was defined as working or studying, having a GAF-function score of 60 or above, having remission of negative and psychotic symptoms, and not living in a supported housing facility or being hospitalized during the last 2 years before the five-year follow-up interview.
A total of 40 (15.7%) were found to be recovered, and 76 (29.8%) had a job or were studying after 5 years. Of those working, as many as 20 still had psychotic symptoms. Also notable is that out of the 40 recovered, less than half were recovered after 2 years. Recovery after 5 years was predicted by female sex (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.0-5.8), higher age (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.83-0.99), pre-morbid social adaptation (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.56-0.93), growing up with both parents (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.0-6.8) and low level of negative symptoms (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.77) at baseline.
Our findings suggest that a stable social life with normal social functioning has a predictive value for good outcome. These measures might be influenced by negative symptoms, but in the multivariate analysis with negative symptoms included they have an independent effect. Also our findings suggest that, after first-episode psychosis, some patients can still experience psychotic symptoms, but have a job and a fairly stable life.
Because of the first observations in the 1900s of the oligotrophic and eutrophic states of lakes, researchers have been interested in the process that makes lakes become turbid because of high ...phytoplankton biomass. Definitions of eutrophication have multiplied and diversified since the mid‐20th century, more than for any other ecological process. Reasons for the high number of definitions might be that the former ones did not sufficiently describe their causes and/or consequences. Global change is bringing eutrophication more into the spotlight than ever, highlighting the need to find consensus on a common definition, or at least to explain and clarify why there are different meanings of the term eutrophication. To find common patterns, we analyzed 138 definitions that were classified by a multiple correspondence factor analysis (MCA) into three groups. The first group contains the most generic scientific definitions but many of these limit the causes to increased nutrient availability. A single definition takes into account all causes but would require additional work to clarify the process itself. Nutrient pollution, which is by far the primary cause of eutrophication in the Anthropocene, has generated a second group of environmental definitions that often specify the primary producers involved. Those definitions often mention the iconic consequences of nutrient pollution, such as increased algal biomass, anoxia/hypoxia and reduced biodiversity. The third group contains operational definitions, focusing on the consequences of nutrient pollution, for ecosystem services and therefore associated with ecosystem management issues. This group contains definitions related to regulations, mainly US laws and European directives. These numerous definitions, directly derived from the problem of nutrient pollution, have enlarged the landscape of definitions, and reflect the need to warn, legislate and implement a solution to remedy it. Satisfying this demand should not be confused with scientific research on eutrophication and must be based on communicating knowledge to as many people as possible using the simplest possible vocabulary. We propose that operational definitions (groups 2 and 3) should name the process “nutrient pollution,” making it possible to refine (scientific) definitions of eutrophication and to expand on other challenges such as climate warming, overfishing, and other nonnutrient‐related chemical pollutions.
Résumé
Depuis les premières observations, dans les années 1900, des états oligotrophes et eutrophes des lacs, les chercheurs se sont intéressés au processus qui rend les lacs turbides en raison d'une biomasse phytoplanctonique élevée. Les définitions de l'eutrophisation se sont multipliées et diversifiées depuis le milieu du XXe siècle, plus que pour tout autre processus écologique. Ce nombre élevé de définitions pourrait s'expliquer par le fait que ces dernières ne décrivaient pas suffisamment les causes et/ou les conséquences de ce processus. Le changement global remet l'eutrophisation au centre des préoccupations, soulignant la nécessité de trouver un consensus sur une définition commune, ou au moins d'expliquer et de clarifier les raisons pour lesquelles il existe différentes significations du terme “eutrophisation.” Pour trouver des caractéristiques communes, nous avons analysé 138 définitions qui ont été classées en trois groupes par une analyze factorielle des correspondances multiples (ACM). Le premier groupe contient les définitions scientifiques les plus génériques, mais nombre d'entre elles limitent les causes à l'augmentation de la disponibilité des nutriments. Une définition unique prend en compte toutes les causes mais nécessiterait des travaux supplémentaires pour clarifier le processus lui‐même. La pollution par les nutriments, qui est de loin la première cause d'eutrophisation dans l'Anthropocène, a donné lieu à un deuxième groupe de définitions environnementales qui précisent souvent les producteurs primaires concernés. Ces définitions mentionnent souvent les conséquences emblématiques de la pollution par les nutriments, telles que l'accroissement de la biomasse algale, l'anoxie/l'hypoxie et la réduction de la biodiversité. Le troisième groupe contient des définitions opérationnelles, qui se concentrent sur les conséquences de la pollution par les nutriments. Ce groupe contient des définitions liées à des réglementations, principalement des lois américaines et des directives européennes. Ces nombreuses définitions, directement issues du problème de la pollution par les nutriments, ont élargi le paysage des définitions et reflètent la nécessité d'alerter, de légiférer et de mettre en œuvre une solution pour y remédier. La satisfaction de cette demande ne doit pas être confondue avec la recherche scientifique sur l'eutrophisation et doit être basée sur la communication des connaissances au plus grand nombre en utilisant un vocabulaire le plus simple possible. Nous proposons que les définitions opérationnelles (groupes 2 et 3) nomment le processus “pollution par les nutriments,” ce qui permettrait d'affiner les définitions (scientifiques) de l'eutrophisation et de s'étendre à d'autres défis tels que le réchauffement climatique, la surpêche et d'autres pollutions chimiques non liées aux nutriments.
The ecosystem services (EcoS) concept is being used increasingly to attach values to natural systems and the multiple benefits they provide to human societies. Ecosystem processes or functions only ...become EcoS if they are shown to have social and/or economic value. This should assure an explicit connection between the natural and social sciences, but EcoS approaches have been criticized for retaining little natural science. Preserving the natural, ecological science context within EcoS research is challenging because the multiple disciplines involved have very different traditions and vocabularies (common-language challenge) and span many organizational levels and temporal and spatial scales (scale challenge) that define the relevant interacting entities (interaction challenge). We propose a network-based approach to transcend these discipline challenges and place the natural science context at the heart of EcoS research.
The EcoS concept is being used to evaluate the complex social and economic benefits that ecological systems provide to humans. EcoS should explicitly connect the natural and social sciences, but have been criticized for retaining little natural science context.
When formalized in a series of discipline-specific layers, network-based methods can be used in EcoS.
In layer 1, analysis of ecological networks identifies the crucial natural science context for EcoS research, which structures the overlying social science and economic layers, and thus limits the complexity of the problem.
This brings a generic network-based language to EcoS and makes explicit the scales and interactions that connect the disciplines, fostering communication.
Network approaches are a promising method for interdisciplinary research aimed at understanding and predicting EcoS.
Those with first-episode psychosis are at high-risk of suicide.
To identify predictive factors for suicidal thoughts, plans and attempts, and to investigate the rate of suicides and other deaths ...during the 5 years after first diagnosis and initiation of treatment.
A longitudinal, prospective, 5-year follow-up study of 547 individuals with first-episode schizophrenia spectrum psychosis. Individuals presenting for their first treatment in mental health services in two circumscribed urban areas in Denmark were included in a randomised controlled trial of integrated v. standard treatment. All participants were followed in the Danish Cause of Death Register for 5 years. Suicidal behaviour and clinical and social status were assessed using validated interviews and rating scales at entry, and at 1- and 2-year follow-ups.
Sixteen participants died during the follow-up. We found a strong association between suicidal thoughts, plans and previous attempts, depressive and psychotic symptoms and young age, and with suicidal plans and attempts at 1- and 2-year follow-up.
In this first-episode cohort depressive and psychotic symptoms, especially hallucinations, predicted suicidal plans and attempts, and persistent suicidal behaviour and ideation were associated with high risk of attempted suicide.
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