Gold nanocrystal arrays as a macroscopic platform for molecular junction thermoelectrics.

Efficiencies of bulk thermoelectric systems have been limited because the Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity are typically inversely correlated in traditional materials. Decoupling of these properties has been demonstrated in molecular junctions by capitalizing on the unique electronic transport at organic-inorganic interfaces. In this work, the thermoelectric properties of gold nanocrystal arrays with varying thiol-terminated ligands are compared to molecular junction experiments. The experimental results and supporting theory demonstrate that gold nanocrystal arrays are a valuable model system for mapping the applicability of molecular junction design rules to the design of macroscale organic-inorganic hybrid thermoelectric materials.

ICU without walls project. Effect of the early detection of patients at risk.

OBJECTIVES: To describe and evaluate the impact of a system for early detection and intervention in patients at risk outside the ICU upon the outcome of patients admitted to the ICU and the number of cases of hospital cardiopulmonary arrest. SETTING: A second-level hospital in the Community of Madrid (Spain) with electronic clinical histories. METHODS: An intensivist reviewed each of the patients meeting the inclusion criteria, and decided the need or not for intervention. Posteriorly, in collaboration with the physician supervising the patient, the needed level of care was decided, along with the subsequent management protocol. DESIGN: A descriptive and quasi-experimental "before-after" study was made. RESULTS: A total of 202 patients were intervened during the study period, With the inclusion of 147 after detecting altered laboratory test results through our software application. During the control period, the mortality rate in the ICU was 9%, versus 4.4% during the intervention period (P=.03). In the multivariate analysis, the two factors significantly related to mortality were admission during the intervention period (OR=0.42; 95%CI: 0.18-0.98; P=.04) and SAPS 3 (OR=1.11; 95%CI: 1.07-1.14; P<0.05). There were 10 cardiopulmonary arrest alerts during the control period, versus three in the intervention period (P=.07). CONCLUSIONS: Early detection activities in patients at risk outside the ICU can have beneficial effects upon the patients admitted to the ICU, and can contribute to reduce the number of hospital cardiopulmonary arrests.

Label-free in situ imaging of lignification in the cell wall of low lignin transgenic Populus trichocarpa.

Chemical imaging by confocal Raman microscopy has been used for the visualization of the cellulose and lignin distribution in wood cell walls. Lignin reduction in wood can be achieved by, for example, transgenic suppression of a monolignol biosynthesis gene encoding 4-coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL). Here, we use confocal Raman microscopy to compare lignification in wild type and lignin-reduced 4CL transgenic Populus trichocarpa stem wood with spatial resolution that is sub-microm. Analyzing the lignin Raman bands in the spectral region between 1,600 and 1,700 cm(-1), differences in lignin signal intensity and localization are mapped in situ. Transgenic reduction of lignin is particularly pronounced in the S2 wall layer of fibers, suggesting that such transgenic approach may help overcome cell wall recalcitrance to wood saccharification. Spatial heterogeneity in the lignin composition, in particular with regard to ethylenic residues, is observed in both samples.

A modular synthetic approach toward exhaustively stereodiversified ligand libraries.

[structure] This report describes a modular approach to the synthesis of stereodiversified natural product-like libraries. Monomers 2 and 3 were coupled in parallel by silyl-tethered olefin metathesis to generate all 16 stereoisomers of cis-enediols 1. All 16 stereoisomers were incorporated into chimerae having flanking peptidic segments. These chimerae exhibited a broad range of hydrophobicities, raising the possibility that stereochemical variation might be used to tune the pharmacologic properties of small molecules.

Design and fabrication of two types of artificial tendons for evaluation of surgical techniques.

Double-loop tendons of fixed and adjustable lengths, and tendons with inner porous tapes both for anastomosis to tendon stumps have been made from readily available materials. By using stainless steel wire and polymer fibers, breakloads have been obtained that range from 20 to 100 lb and elongations have been reduced to less than 2%. Pore sizes up to 50 times 250 mu2 were achieved by using woven, knitted, and braided polyester tapes. For all tendons, Silastic was used to isolate inner fibers and to effect smooth gliding. Preliminary evaluation of these devices, after being implanted in the feet of chickens for 4 weeks, indicates that anastomotic strength of unions formed by use of loops is about 1000 g compared to more than 2000 for unions formed by tissue ingrowth.