A standardized workflow for long-term longitudinal actigraphy data processing using one year of continuous actigraphy from the CAN-BIND Wellness Monitoring Study.

Monitoring sleep and activity through wearable devices such as wrist-worn actigraphs has the potential for long-term measurement in the individual's own environment. Long periods of data collection require a complex approach, including standardized pre-processing and data trimming, and robust algorithms to address non-wear and missing data. In this study, we used a data-driven approach to quality control, pre-processing and analysis of longitudinal actigraphy data collected over the course of 1 year in a sample of 95 participants. We implemented a data processing pipeline using open-source packages for longitudinal data thereby providing a framework for treating missing data patterns, non-wear scoring, sleep/wake scoring, and conducted a sensitivity analysis to demonstrate the impact of non-wear and missing data on the relationship between sleep variables and depressive symptoms. Compliance with actigraph wear decreased over time, with missing data proportion increasing from a mean of 4.8% in the first week to 23.6% at the end of the 12 months of data collection. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated the importance of defining a pre-processing threshold, as it substantially impacts the predictive value of variables on sleep-related outcomes. We developed a novel non-wear algorithm which outperformed several other algorithms and a capacitive wear sensor in quality control. These findings provide essential insight informing study design in digital health research.

Alfalfa response to heat stress is modulated by microRNA156.

Heat stress and extreme temperatures negatively affect plant development by disrupting regular cellular and biochemical functions, ultimately leading to reduced crop production. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is an important forage crop grown worldwide as forage for livestock feed. Limiting the effects of abiotic stress by developing alfalfa cultivars that are stress tolerant would help mitigate losses to crop production. Members of the microRNA156 (miR156) family regulate the Squamosa Promoter-Binding Protein-Like (SPL) genes that in turn impact plant growth and development by regulating downstream genes in response to various abiotic stresses. In this study, alfalfa with miR156 overexpression and SPL13 RNAi knockdown show increased tolerance to heat stress (40°C). Transgenic plants show high water potential and increased non-enzymatic antioxidant content under heat stress. Moreover, anthocyanin content and chlorophyll abundance were increased under stress. Expression of some important transcription factors and downstream genes involved in abiotic stress response were altered in miR156-overexpressing genotypes under heat. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the miR156/SPL13 network contributes to improving heat stress tolerance in alfalfa.

Physician assistant education in Germany.

The first physician assistant (PA) program in Germany began in 2005. As of 2013 there are three PA programs operational, with a fourth to be inaugurated in the fall of 2013. The programs have produced approximately 100 graduates, all with a nursing background. The PA model of shifting tasks from medical doctors to PAs appears to be growing among senior physicians and hospital administrators. While the development of a German PA movement is in its nascent stage, the training, deployment, and evolution of PA training programs appears underway.

Mixed valence Mn(II)/Mn(III) [3 x 3] grid complexes: structural, electrochemical, spectroscopic, and magnetic properties.

Mn(II)9 grid complexes with a [Mn9(mu-O)12] core, obtained by self-assembly of a series of tritopic picolinic dihydrazone ligands with Mn(II) salts, have been oxidized by both chemical and electrochemical methods to produce mixed oxidation state systems. Examples involving [Mn(III)3Mn(II)6] and [Mn(III)4Mn(II)5] combinations have been produced. Structures are reported for [Mn9(2poap-2H)6](NO3)6.14H2O (1), [Mn9(2poap-2H)6](ClO4)10.10H2O (3), and [Mn9(Cl2poap-2H)6](ClO4)9.14H2O.3CH3CN (10). Structural studies show distinct contraction of the corner grid sites on oxidation, with overall magnetic properties consistent with the resulting changes in electron distribution. Antiferromagnetic exchange in the outer ring of eight metal centers creates a ferrimagnetic subunit, which undergoes antiferromagnetic coupling to the central metal, leading to S=1/2 (3) and S2/2 (10) ground states. Two moderately intense absorptions are observed on oxidation of the Mn(II) grids in the visible and near-infrared (1000 nm, 700 nm), associated with charge transfer transitions (LMCT, IVCT respectively). Compound 1 crystallized in the monoclinic system, space group P2 1/n, with a=21.308(2) A, b=23.611(2) A, c=32.178(3) A, beta=93.820(2) degrees . Compound 3 crystallized in the tetragonal system, space group I, with a=b=18.44410(10) A, c = 24.9935(3) A. Compound 10 crystallized in the triclinic system, space group P, with a=19.1150(10) A, b=19.7221(10) A, c=26.8334(14) A, alpha=74.7190(10) degrees, beta=77.6970(10) degrees, gamma=64.7770(10) degrees. The facile oxidation of the Mn(II)9 grids is highlighted in terms of their potential use as molecular based platforms for switching and data storage.

Crystal structures of dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridyl complexes: the role of hydrogen bonding and stacking interactions.

The crystal structures of three complexes of dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridyl ligands, 5,5'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridyl (1) and 4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridyl (2) are reported. [Rh(1H)3] shows two interpenetrating, homochiral rhombohedral networks linked by short carboxylate-carboxylic acid hydrogen bonds, in which each complex acts as a node for six hydrogen bonds. [Ru(1H2)(1H)2] forms only four such hydrogen bonds, leading to the formation of heterochiral chains held together by stacking between bipyridyls. [Co(2H)3] can in principle form six hydrogen bonds, but in practice forms only four in a layer structure where stacking interactions are important. This is attributed to differences in molecular shape.

Self-assembly of a unique hexadecanuclear [4 x (2 x 2)]-Pb16 'grid of grids' type structure.

A new ligand containing a linear sequence of four-tridentate chelating subunits built around alkoxide and pyrimidine bridging groups undergoes a spontaneous self-assembly process with Pb(CF3SO3)2 to produce a unique hexadecanuclear [4 x (2 x 2)] 'grid of grids' type structure with external dimensions of 26 A.

Synthesis, structure and magnetism of a unique dodecanuclearcopper(II) 'picture frame' held in a 4 x 4 grid-like assembly.

The synthesis, structure and preliminary magnetic studies of a novel dodecanuclearcopper(II) grid-like assembly are reported.