Establishing the Need for Anticipatory Symptom Guidance and Networked Models of Disease in Adaptive Family Management Among Children With Medical Complexity: Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND

Caregivers of children with medical complexity navigate complex family management tasks for their child both in the hospital and home-based setting. The roles and relationships of members of their social network and the dynamic evolution of these family management tasks have been underexamined.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to explore the structures and processes of family management among caregivers of children with medical complexity, with a focus on the underlying dynamic nature of family management practices and the role of members of their social network.

METHODS

This study used a qualitative approach to interview caregivers of children with medical complexity and members of their social network. Caregivers of children with medical complexity were recruited through an academic Children's Hospital Complex Care Clinic in the mid-Atlantic region and interviewed over a period of 1 to 3 days. Responses were analyzed using constructivist grounded theory and situational analysis to construct a new conceptual model. Only caregiver responses are reported here.

RESULTS

In total, 20 caregivers were included in this analysis. Caregiver perspectives revealed the contextual processes that allowed for practices of family management within the setting of rapidly evolving symptoms and health concerns. The dynamic and adaptive nature of this process is a key underlying action supporting this novel conceptual model. The central themes underpinning the adaptive family management model include symptom cues, ongoing surveillance, information gathering, and acute on chronic health concerns. The model also highlights facilitators and threats to successful family management among children with medical complexity and the networked relationship among the structures and processes.

CONCLUSIONS

The adaptive family management model provides a basis for further quantitative operationalization and study. Previously described self- or family management frameworks do not account for the underlying dynamic nature of the disease trajectory and the developmental stage progression of the child or adolescent, and our work extends existing work. For future work, there is a defined role for technology-enhanced personalized approaches to home-based monitoring. Due to the disparities caregivers and the children in this population already experience, technology-enhanced approaches must be built alongside key stakeholders with an equity orientation to technology co-development.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

RR2-10.2196/14810.

Correction: A Web-Based Platform (CareVirtue) to Support Caregivers of People Living With Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias: Mixed Methods Feasibility Study

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A Web-Based Platform (CareVirtue) to Support Caregivers of People Living With Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias: Mixed Methods Feasibility Study

BACKGROUND

People living with Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD) require prolonged and complex care that is primarily managed by informal caregivers who face significant unmet needs regarding support for communicating and coordinating across their informal care network. To address this unmet need, we developed CareVirtue, which provides (1) the ability to invite care network members; (2) a care guide detailing the care plan; (3) a journal where care network members can document, communicate, and coordinate; (4) a shared calendar; and (5) vetted geolocated caregiver resources.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate CareVirtue's feasibility based on: (1) Who used CareVirtue? (2) How did caregivers use CareVirtue? (3) How did caregivers perceive the acceptability of CareVirtue? (4) What factors were associated with CareVirtue use?

METHODS

We conducted a feasibility study with 51 care networks over a period of 8 weeks and used a mixed methods approach that included both quantitative CareVirtue usage data and semistructured interviews.

RESULTS

Care networks ranged from 1 to 8 members. Primary caregivers were predominantly female (38/51, 75%), White (44/51, 86%), married (37/51, 73%), college educated (36/51, 71%), and were, on average, 60.3 (SD 9.8) years of age, with 18% (9/51) living in a rural area. CareVirtue usage varied along 2 axes (total usage and type of usage), with heterogeneity in how the most engaged care networks interacted with CareVirtue. Interviews identified a range of ways CareVirtue was useful, including practically, organizationally, and emotionally. On the Behavioral Intention Scale, 72% (26/36) of primary caregivers reported an average score of at least 3, indicating an above average intention to use. The average was 81.8 (SD 12.8) for the System Usability Scale score, indicating "good" usability, and 3.4 (SD 1.0) for perceived usefulness, suggesting above average usefulness. The average confidence score increased significantly over the study duration from 7.8 in week 2 to 8.9 in week 7 (P=.005; r=0.91, 95% CI 0.84-0.95). The following sociodemographic characteristics were associated with posting in the journal: retired (mean 59.5 posts for retired caregivers and mean 16.9 for nonretired caregivers), income (mean 13 posts for those reporting >US $100K and mean 55.4 for those reporting

CONCLUSIONS

This study establishes the acceptability and feasibility of CareVirtue among ADRD care networks and highlights the importance of designing flexible, multicomponent interventions that allow care networks to tailor their engagement according to their needs. The results will be used to improve CareVirtue feasibility and acceptability in preparation for a subsequent randomized trial to test CareVirtue's effectiveness in improving caregiver outcomes.

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Key Words

• Alzheimer disease and related dementias
• caregivers
• dementia caregiving
• eHealth
• mHealth
• telehealth

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MESH Headings Collapse

Grants

• P30 AG062715 NIA NIH HHS
• R41 AG069607 NIA NIH HHS

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Affiliation(s)

Justin J Boutilier Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
Priya Loganathar Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
Anna Linden Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
Eleanore Scheer Department of Engineering Systems and Environment, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
Sofia Noejovich Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
Christian Elliott Whiplash Technology, Inc, Palm Springs, CA, United States
Matthew Zuraw Whiplash Technology, Inc, Palm Springs, CA, United States
Nicole E Werner Department of Health and Wellness Design, Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, United States

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Unveiling unconventional magnetism at the surface of Sr2RuO4

Materials with strongly correlated electrons often exhibit interesting physical properties. An example of these materials is the layered oxide perovskite Sr₂RuO₄, which has been intensively investigated due to its unusual properties. Whilst the debate on the symmetry of the superconducting state in Sr₂RuO₄ is still ongoing, a deeper understanding of the Sr₂RuO₄ normal state appears crucial as this is the background in which electron pairing occurs. Here, by using low-energy muon spin spectroscopy we discover the existence of surface magnetism in Sr₂RuO₄ in its normal state. We detect static weak dipolar fields yet manifesting at an onset temperature higher than 50 K. We ascribe this unconventional magnetism to orbital loop currents forming at the reconstructed Sr₂RuO₄ surface. Our observations set a reference for the discovery of the same magnetic phase in other materials and unveil an electronic ordering mechanism that can influence electron pairing with broken time reversal symmetry.

Where do the counterions go? Tip-induced dissociation of self-assembled triazatriangulenium-based molecules on Au(111)

Chemical coupling of functional molecules on top of the so-called platform molecules allows the formation of functional self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). An often-used example of such a platform is triazatriangulenium (TATA), which features an extended aromatic core providing good electronic contact to the underlying metal surface. Here, we present a study of the SAM formation of a TATA platform on Au(111) employing scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) under ambient atmospheric conditions. In solution, the TATA platform is stabilized by BF4 counterions, while after deposition on a gold substrate, the localization of the BF4 counterions remains unknown. We used 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene as a solvent of TATA-BF4 to induce SAM formation on a heated (∼50 °C) Au substrate. We show by STM how to detect and distinguish TATA-BF4 from TATA platforms, which lost their BF4 counterions. Finally, we observe a change of the counterion position on the SAM during the STM scanning, which we explain by an electric-field-induced decrease of the electrostatic interaction in TATA-BF4 on the surface. We applied DFT calculations to reveal the influence of the gold lattice and the electric field of the STM tip on the stability of TATA-BF4 physisorbed on the surface.

Creation of equal-spin triplet superconductivity at the Al/EuS interface

In conventional superconductors, electrons of opposite spins are bound into Cooper pairs. However, when the superconductor is in contact with a non-uniformly ordered ferromagnet, an exotic type of superconductivity can appear at the interface, with electrons bound into three possible spin-triplet states. Triplet pairs with equal spin play a vital role in low-dissipation spintronics. Despite the observation of supercurrents through ferromagnets, spectroscopic evidence for the existence of equal-spin triplet pairs is still missing. Here we show a theoretical model that reveals a characteristic gap structure in the quasiparticle density of states which provides a unique signature for the presence of equal-spin triplet pairs. By scanning tunnelling spectroscopy we measure the local density of states to reveal the spin configuration of triplet pairs. We demonstrate that the Al/EuS interface causes strong and tunable spin-mixing by virtue of its spin-dependent transmission.

Facile, non-destructive characterization of 2d photonic crystals using UV-vis-spectroscopy

The quality of particle monolayers and size evolution of their particles during dry etching can be monitored by radiative losses of photonic modes into dielectric substrates.

Comparison of cryogenic low-pass filters

Low-temperature electronic transport measurements with high energy resolution require both effective low-pass filtering of high-frequency input noise and an optimized thermalization of the electronic system of the experiment. In recent years, elaborate filter designs have been developed for cryogenic low-level measurements, driven by the growing interest in fundamental quantum-physical phenomena at energy scales corresponding to temperatures in the few millikelvin regime. However, a single filter concept is often insufficient to thermalize the electronic system to the cryogenic bath and eliminate spurious high frequency noise. Moreover, the available concepts often provide inadequate filtering to operate at temperatures below 10 mK, which are routinely available now in dilution cryogenic systems. Herein we provide a comprehensive analysis of commonly used filter types, introduce a novel compact filter type based on ferrite compounds optimized for the frequency range above 20 GHz, and develop an improved filtering scheme providing adaptable broad-band low-pass characteristic for cryogenic low-level and quantum measurement applications at temperatures down to few millikelvin.

Identification of the current path for a conductive molecular wire on a tripodal platform

We present the chemical synthesis as well as charge transport measurements and calculations for a new tripodal platform based on a rigid 9,9'-spirobifluorene equipped with a phenylene-ethynylene wire. The transport experiments are performed with the help of the low-temperature mechanically controlled break junction technique with gold electrodes. By combining experimental and theoretical investigations of elastic and inelastic charge transport, we show that the current proceeds through the designated molecular wire and identify a binding geometry that is compatible with the experimental observations. The conductive molecular wire on the platform features a well-defined and relatively high conductance of the order of 10(-3)G0 despite the length of the current path of more than 1.7 nm, demonstrating that this platform is suitable to incorporate functional units like molecular switches or sensors.

Shot Noise of 1,4-Benzenedithiol Single-Molecule Junctions

We report measurements of the shot noise on single-molecule Au-1,4-benzenedithiol-Au junctions, fabricated with the mechanically controllable break junction (MCBJ) technique at 4.2 K in a wide range of conductance values from 10(-2) to 0.24 conductance quanta. We introduce a simple measurement scheme using a current amplifier and a spectrum analyzer and that does not imply special requirements regarding the electrical leads. The experimental findings provide evidence that the current is carried by a single conduction channel throughout the whole conductance range. This observation suggests that the number of channels is limited by the Au-thiol bonds and that contributions due to direct tunneling from the Au to the π-system of the aromatic ring are negligible also for high conductance. The results are supported by quantum transport calculations using density functional theory.

Signature of magnetic-dependent gapless odd frequency states at superconductor/ferromagnet interfaces

The theory of superconductivity developed by Bardeen, Cooper and Schrieffer (BCS) explains the stabilization of electron pairs into a spin-singlet, even frequency, state by the formation of an energy gap within which the density of states is zero. At a superconductor interface with an inhomogeneous ferromagnet, a gapless odd frequency superconducting state is predicted, in which the Cooper pairs are in a spin-triplet state. Although indirect evidence for such a state has been obtained, the gap structure and pairing symmetry have not so far been determined. Here we report scanning tunnelling spectroscopy of Nb superconducting films proximity coupled to epitaxial Ho. These measurements reveal pronounced changes to the Nb subgap superconducting density of states on driving the Ho through a metamagnetic transition from a helical antiferromagnetic to a homogeneous ferromagnetic state for which a BCS-like gap is recovered. The results prove odd frequency spin-triplet superconductivity at superconductor/inhomogeneous magnet interfaces.

A current-driven single-atom memory

The possibility of fabricating electronic devices with functional building blocks of atomic size is a major driving force of nanotechnology. The key elements in electronic circuits are switches, usually realized by transistors, which can be configured to perform memory operations. Electronic switches have been miniaturized all the way down to the atomic scale. However, at such scales, three-terminal devices are technically challenging to implement. Here we show that a metallic atomic-scale contact can be operated as a reliable and fatigue-resistant two-terminal switch. We apply a careful electromigration protocol to toggle the conductance of an aluminium atomic contact between two well-defined values in the range of a few conductance quanta. Using the nonlinearities of the current-voltage characteristics caused by superconductivity in combination with molecular dynamics and quantum transport calculations, we provide evidence that the switching process is caused by the reversible rearrangement of single atoms. Owing to its hysteretic behaviour with two distinct states, this two-terminal switch can be used as a non-volatile information storage element.

Subharmonic resonant optical excitation of confined acoustic modes in a free-standing semiconductor membrane at GHz frequencies with a high-repetition-rate femtosecond laser

We propose subharmonic resonant optical excitation with femtosecond lasers as a new method for the characterization of phononic and nanomechanical systems in the gigahertz to terahertz frequency range. This method is applied for the investigation of confined acoustic modes in a free-standing semiconductor membrane. By tuning the repetition rate of a femtosecond laser through a subharmonic of a mechanical resonance we amplify the mechanical amplitude, directly measure the linewidth with megahertz resolution, infer the lifetime of the coherently excited vibrational states, accurately determine the system's quality factor, and determine the amplitude of the mechanical motion with femtometer resolution.

Switchable wiring for high-resolution electronic measurements at very low temperatures

Low-temperature transport measurements with high energy resolution require effective filtering of high-frequency input. The high dc resistance of standard RC filters results in considerable heat input and hampers measurements with high currents or voltages. We developed a wiring scheme that incorporates a commercial latching relay at very low temperature between two sets of wires. In our application one set of wires comprises a voltage divider and a high-Ohmic reference resistance at low temperature as well. The other set has low dc resistance and no voltage divider. Both sets are high frequency filtered with very robust and compact filters, though, for insuring effective damping at gigahertz frequencies. We demonstrate that with the first set, we obtain a voltage resolution of 6 microV and a current resolution of 100 pA, which is sufficient for the recording and analysis of multiparticle transport in superconducting point contacts. The second set is used for electromigration experiments on superconducting point contacts and allows application of currents up to 1 mA and voltages up to 20 V, while the sample is at 1 K. More versatile applications of the scheme are possible.

Influence of chopped laser light onto the electronic transport through atomic-sized contacts

This paper reports on the influence of laser irradiation onto the electrical conductance of gold nanocontacts established with the mechanically controllable breakjunction technique. We concentrate here on the study of reversible conductance changes which can be as high as 200%. We investigate the dependence on the initial conductance of the contacts, the wavelength, the intensity and position of the laser spot with respect to the sample. Under most conditions an enhancement of the conductance is observed. We discuss several physical mechanisms which might contribute to the observed effect including thermal expansion, rectification and photon-assisted transport. We conclude that thermal expansion is not the dominating one.

Influence of laser light on electronic transport through atomic-size contacts

This Letter reports on the influence of laser irradiation onto the electrical conductance of gold nanocontacts established with the mechanically controllable break-junction technique. We concentrate on the study of reversible conductance changes which can be as high as 200%. We investigate the dependence on the initial conductance of the contacts, and on the wavelength, the intensity, and the position of the laser spot with respect to the sample. Under most conditions an enhancement of the conductance is observed. Several physical mechanisms which might contribute to the observed effect including thermal expansion, rectification, plasmon excitation, and photon-assisted transport are discussed, among which the two latter ones are most likely the dominating ones.

Identification of hTAF(II)80 delta links apoptotic signaling pathways to transcription factor TFIID function

Apoptotic cell death is associated with altered levels of mRNA expression, yet the mechanisms that coordinate changes in gene expression with activation of the cell death machinery remain obscure. Here, we report the cloning and characterization of hTAF(II)80 delta, a specialized isoform of the general transcription factor TFIID subunit hTAF(II)80. Several distinct apoptotic stimuli induce the expression and caspase-dependent cleavage of hTAF(II)80 delta. hTAF(II)80 delta, unlike hTAF(II)80, forms a TFIID-like complex lacking hTAF(II)31. Elevated expression of hTAF(II)80 delta in HeLa cells is sufficient to trigger apoptotic cell death and selectively alters cellular transcription, including the induction of the target genes gadd45 and p21. These data define a signaling pathway that couples apoptotic signals to a reprogramming of RNA polymerase II transcription.

Proximity effect and multiple Andreev reflections in gold atomic contacts

We investigate the electronic transport properties of gold point contacts with superconducting aluminum leads. The modifications induced by the proximity effect in the quasiparticle density of states at the contact region are measured by tunnel spectroscopy. The theory of transport through multiple Andreev reflections is extended to incorporate these effects and used to determine the number and transmission coefficients of the conduction channels in the contact regime. We find that the smallest contacts, formed by one gold atom between the electrodes, contribute one single channel to the transport with variable transmission T between 0.1 and 1.

Mammalian TAF(II)30 is required for cell cycle progression and specific cellular differentiation programmes

The two alleles of the 30 kDa TATA-binding protein associated factor (TAF(II)30) gene, have been targeted by homologous recombination in murine F9 embryonal carcinoma cells and subsequently disrupted using a Cre recombinase-loxP strategy. The TAF(II)30-null cells are not viable, but are rescued by the expression of human TAF(II)30. Cells lacking TAF(II)30 are blocked in G(1)/G(0) phase of the cell cycle and undergo apoptosis. In agreement with the G(1) arrest phenotype, the expression of cyclin E is impaired and the retinoblastoma protein is hypophosphorylated in the TAF(II)30-null cells. Interestingly, retinoic acid (RA) treatment prevented TAF(II)30-null cell death and induced primitive endodermal differentiation. In contrast, the RA- and cAMP-induced parietal endodermal differentiation was impaired in the TAF(II)30-null cells. Thus, TAF(II)30 is not indispensable for class II gene transcription in general, but seems to be required for the expression of a subset of genes.

Diode-Pumped Emission of Tm(3)(+)-Doped Ca(2)Al(2)SiO(7) Crystals

A diode-pumped Tm:Ca(2)Al(2)SiO(7) (Tm:CAS) laser has been demonstrated for the first time to the authors' knowledge. A 39-mW output power and an 8.6% slope efficiency were obtained at -11 degrees C. The most attractive features of Tm:CAS are a broad absorption band near 785 nm and a large ground-state splitting. The improvement in laser performance expected from the large Stark splitting is shown to be limited by the enhancement of multiphonon relaxation processes and by the low thermal conductivity of the crystal.

Organization and chromosomal localization of the gene (TAF2H) encoding the human TBP-associated factor II 30 (TAFII30)

The basal RNA polymerase II transcription factor, TFIID, is composed of the TATA binding protein (TBP) and 8-13 TBP-associated factors (TAFs) ranging from 250 to 17 kDa. The structure of the human gene encoding the 30-kDa subunit of TFIID, TAF2H, has been determined. The gene consists of five exons (ranging from 66 to 248 bp) and four introns (ranging from 83 to 211 bp). The transcription start site of the mRNA was mapped, and it shares a weak homology to the consensus of known initiator elements. Using in situ hybridization on human metaphase chromosomes, the TAF2H gene has been localized in the 11p15.2-p15.5 region of the human genome.

[Extensive pulmonary tumor embolisms of anaplastic thyroid gland carcinoma as a rare cause of hemorrhagic pleural effusion in an 88-year-old patient]

An 88 year old woman without substantial previous illness was admitted to hospital because of a rapidly developing dyspnea and thoracic pains. X-Ray, CT scan and ultra sound showed a subdivided pleural effusion of the left side. After a short time a pulmonary infiltrate as well as a contralateral pleural effusion developed. Neither tumor cells nor mycobacteria could be detected in repeated pleural punctions. The general condition of the patient was deteriorating continuously while an antibiotic therapy given in the meantime only led to a temporary recovery. Three weeks later the patient died under the picture of a cardio-respiratory failure. At autopsy the lungs showed parenchymal haemorrhages and multiple infarctions as well as pleural effusions. The above mentioned changes could be explained histologically by tumor embolism of small pulmonary arteries from an anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. The discussion gives a short survey about already published cases of tumor embolism in the lung. PMVC as the diagnostic method of choice is discussed.

Occupational-type exposure tests and bronchoalveolar lavage analyses in two patients with byssinosis and two asymptomatic cotton workers

Two workers suffering from stage III byssinosis and claiming for compensation were examined. Bronchial obstruction was present in one case. MEF25-75 values were significantly reduced and bronchial hyperreactivity was present in both subjects. Occupational-type exposure tests with cotton dust resulted in significant decreases in arterial oxygen pressure for more than 2 h and were associated with an obstructive ventilation pattern in one of the patients. Prolonged hypoxemia which is not paralleled by lung function changes is probably typical for byssinosis patients since we have never seen this in inhalative challenge tests with various environmental antigens and other occupational substances including flour dust. No specific IgE or IgG antibodies could be detected. In the two patients a hitherto unknown significant increase in CD23+ lymphocytes and granulocytosis were detected by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Corresponding investigations in two cotton workers without any evidence of byssinosis revealed neither lung function changes after the exposure test nor striking BAL findings. Our results demonstrate the diagnostic value of specific challenge tests and BAL investigations in patients suffering from byssinosis, which is often difficult to diagnose.

Different TBP-associated factors are required for mediating the stimulation of transcription in vitro by the acidic transactivator GAL-VP16 and the two nonacidic activation functions of the estrogen receptor

The estrogen receptor (ER) contains two nonacidic transcriptional activation functions, AF-1 and AF-2 (formerly TAF-1 and TAF-2). In this study we show that AF-1 and AF-2 are able to stimulate transcription in vitro in a HeLa cell system when fused to the DNA binding domain of the yeast activator GAL4. We also demonstrate that a factor(s) required for the function of the ER AFs is chromatographically separable from a factor(s) necessary for the activity of the acidic activation domain of VP16. Moreover, immunoprecipitation experiments using a monoclonal antibody directed against the TATA box binding protein (TBP) indicate, that these different factors are associated with TBP in distinct TFIID complexes.

Increased incidence of anti-dsDNA autoantibody concentration in sera of workers occupationally exposed to diisocyanates

Sera of 87 industrial workers with a history of occupational exposition to various diisocyanates, toluene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate and methylene-diphenyl diisocyanate were analyzed for antibodies to isocyanate-conjugated human serum albumin and for anti-dsDNA autoantibodies. Ten workers (approx. 11%) were shown to have elevated anti-dsDNA autoantibody concentrations and 13 revealed antibodies to isocyanate-modified human serum albumin. The overlap of both tests being positive was calculated at about 40%. It would seem, therefore, that routine estimation of anti-dsDNA autoantibodies could provide additional useful information for the clinical diagnosis of occupational health impairment due to isocyanate exposure.

Distinct classes of transcriptional activating domains function by different mechanisms

We have previously shown that the two transcriptional activation functions (TAF-1 and TAF-2) of the human estrogen receptor (hER) have synergistic properties different from one another and from those of acidic activating domains (AADs). Here we compare the transcriptional interference/squelching properties of the hER TAFs with those of the AADs of yeast GAL4 and chimeric GAL-VP16 activators. Our results indicate that AADs interact with a factor(s) that, while required for activation by AADs, is not essential for activation by hER TAFs. In contrast, hER TAFs appear to interact with factors indispensable for mediating both their activation function and that of AADs. Thus, different classes of trans-activators may interact with different factors. In addition, the synergistic and transcriptional interference/squelching properties of the two TAFs of the human glucocorticoid receptor (hGR) indicate that both are composed of acidic and nonacidic activation functions.

The human estrogen receptor has two independent nonacidic transcriptional activation functions

We have previously reported the presence of a hormone-inducible transcriptional activation function (TAF-2) within the region of the estrogen receptor (ER) that contains the hormone binding domain. We show here that the N-terminal A/B region of the ER contains an independent constitutive activation function (TAF-1) that exhibits cell type specificity since it activates transcription efficiently in chicken embryo fibroblasts, but only poorly in HeLa cells. By analyzing the ability of TAF-1, TAF-2, and the GAL4 and VP16 acidic activating domains (AADs) to homosynergize and heterosynergize with one another and with the factor binding to the upstream element (UE) of the adenovirus 2 major late promoter, we show that the activation properties of TAF-1 and TAF-2 are different and distinct from those of AADs, in agreement with the absence of acidic amino acid stretches in TAF-1 and TAF-2.

Activity of three 8-hydroxyquinoline derivatives against in vitro dental plaque

Three 8-hydroxyquinoline derivatives, assessed using an in vitro preformed dental plaque model system, were differentially inhibitory for four plaque-forming microorganisms.

Cell walls of Coccidioides immitis: neutral sugars of aqueous alkaline extract polymers

The neutral sugar components of hydrolysates of the alkali-soluble and -insoluble fractions of an acid-extracted Coccidioides immitis mycelial cell wall preparation were examined by gas-liquid chromatography. The alkali-soluble fraction was separated into a neutral water-soluble (46% carbohydrate) and a neutral water-insoluble fraction (6% carbohydrate). Glucose was the major neutral sugar constituent of all fractions. Mannose appeared to be a second major component of the alkali-soluble, water-soluble fraction. 3-O-methylmannose was absent. Small amounts of other sugars, including galactose and pentoses, were tentatively identified. Borohydride reduction before alkaline extraction resulted in retention of almost half of the glucose and variable amounts of other components in the alkaline residue, indicating that solubilization of cell wall polymers by alkaline extraction results in significant degradation of the native cell wall polymers.

Unusual reducing sugar from Coccidioides immitis

Documentation is offered for the identification of 3-O-methyl-mannose as one of several neutral sugars found in defatted arthrospore and mycelial cell walls of Coccidioides immitis.