Familial aggregation of early-onset myocardial infarction

Although ischemic heart disease tends to cluster in families, previous studies have reported a modest (2-fold increased risk) to strong (10-fold increased risk) contribution of family history to the explanation of disease occurrence. The authors assessed the familial aggregation of early-onset myocardial infarction in 11,307 adults aged <65 years who participated in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A parental history was more common in those with (n = 237) than in those without (n = 11,070) a myocardial infarction (19.8 vs. 7.9%, p < or = 0.01). Adults with a parental history were also more likely to have multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease (OR for four or five risk factors compared with none: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.4, 6.3). After multivariate adjustment, the likelihood of myocardial infarction was more than three times greater among adults with a parental history than among those without (95% CI: 1.7, 6.7). A maternal history of myocardial infarction was strongly associated (OR = 6.1, 95% CI: 2.1, 17.4) with an increased likelihood of myocardial infarction, and a paternal history was associated with a 3-fold (95% CI: 1.5, 6.3) increased likelihood of myocardial infarction after adjustment for cardiovascular disease risk factors. These results suggest a familial aggregation of early-onset myocardial infarction and show that family history is strongly associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors.     

A versatile and modular approach to functionalisation of deep-cavity cavitands via"click" chemistry

The surface modification of deep-cavity cavitands has been demonstrated by using the azide-alkyne "click" coupling to attach dendritic macromolecules or linear polymers onto their periphery. The resulting set of macromolecular cavitands exhibited tuneable solubility yet retained the ability to encapsulate guest molecules.     

Infra-red spectrum,structure and properties of the N2-Ar van der Waals molecule

The first spectroscopic observation of bound N₂-Ar van der Waals molecules has been achieved with a cryogenic long path cell maintained at 87 K. The infra-red spectrum exhibits prominent fine structure near the N₂ stretching frequency which is assigned to hindered internal rotation of N₂ within the weakly bound complex. An analysis of this fine structure yields a T-shaped equilibrium geometry in which the N₂ bond axis is perpendicular to the N₂-Ar van der Waals bond axis. The observed spectrum is shown to be consistent with an internal rotational barrier of 20 cm^-1 (57 cal/mole). Approximately 20 per cent of the bound species are trapped by this rotational barrier and acquire a locked semi-rigid structure. The remaining 80 per cent have ill-defined geometry and undergo hindered internal rotation. The rotational envelope of an infra-red fundamental is analysed to give an estimate of the N₂-Ar bond length as 3·9 Å.     

Magnetic,Spectroscopic and Thermal Study of [Cu(NO3)(PyTz)2](NO3). A Copper(II) Complex Containing Thiazine Derivative Ligand

The copper(II) complex [Cu(NO₃)(PyTz)₂](NO₃) has been previously characterized means X‐ray powder diffraction and now studied by IR spectroscopy, UV‐Vis‐NIR diffuse reflectance, magnetic susceptibility measurement, electronic spin resonance (ESR) and thermal analysis. The results are correlated with a distorted square pyramidal coordination around copper(II) ion rather than the cis‐distorted octahedral stereochemistry of a CuN₄OO′ chromophore in good concordance with their structure. Likewise, in order to indicate towards what square pyramidal isomer the complex is distorted, the method proposed by Carugo and Bisi has been applied to the structural data of [Cu(NO₃)(PyTz)₂](NO₃). It is deduced that there is a large distortion from the trigonal bipyramid geometry, close to a square pyramid geometry, being produced almost exclusively through the B route of the Berry mechanism.     

The principles of remote interferometric optical fibre strain measurement

Measurement of mechanical strain using optical fibre techniques may be implemented in many configurations. This paper concentrates on interferometric measurements which offer high sensitivity and reasonable scale factor stability. The emphasis here is on the remote measurement of slowly varying strains in the region of a few microstrains. The system is based on a remote fibre or integrated optic interferometer, and the device is read using a frequency swept laser source. The potential resolution is of mechanical displacements of about 10 nm, and the device may be optically interrogated over ranges of several kilometers. The concept is also compatible with passive sensor multiplexing.     

Adsorption and catalysis at the solid/sulfur dioxide interface in the atmosphere. An examination of statistical data

From the official analytical data for sulfur dioxide and smoke in air pollution for one winter and one summer month covering residential and industrial areas in Great Britain, regression lines are computed. These reveal a large deficiency which is of very high significance of sulfur dioxide relative to smoke in winter compared with summer; the data show clearly that the deficiency is not due to the increase in domestic smoke in winter. Several reasons for the deficiency are examined semiquantitatively, and it is suggested that adsorption of sulfur dioxide occurs on solid particles followed by its catalytic oxidation by oxygen to sulfur trioxide. The amount of sulfur dioxide to be accounted for is far too high to be explained by simple adsorption on smoke particles. The catalysis may be due to traces of metals.The data also reveal that whatever may be the mechanism by which the sulfur dioxide is removed, it becomes less effective as the amount of smoke present increases, in all situations. It is suggested that a cause of this change might be the progressive covering of the very active surface of natural inorganic dust, possibly including meteoric dust, in the atmosphere by the less catalytically active smoke particles as their concentration rises.     

A survey of the analytical significance of prompt gamma-rays induced by 5 MeV alpha-particles

Alpha induced prompt gamma-rays generated by excitation, or in nuclear reactions, were studied for 56 elements to select those elements having gamma-rays of sufficient intensity for analytical application. A catalogue of observed gamma-rays is given which lists their calculated interference-free sensitivities for analysis. Spectra of elements which potentially may be determined or which provide serious interference in the determination of other elements are illustrated, together with a compilation in increasing order of energy of all observed gamma-rays.     

Towards a unified bifurcation theory

Bifurcation theories for the instability of slowly evolving systems have been developed in various disciplines, and a first step is here taken towards some desirable unification. A modern account of the authors' general branching theory for discrete systems is first presented, some new features being the introduction of principal imperfections and the delineation of the important semi-symmetric points of bifurcation. This theory, embedded in a perturbation approach ideal for quantitative analysis, is complementary to the far-reaching qualitative catastrophe theory of René Thom which offers a profound topological classification of instability phenomena. For this reason, we present here a detailed correlation of the two theories. Also presented in the paper is a survey of some fields of application ranging from classical fields such as hydrodynamics, through thermodynamics, crystallography and cosmology, to the newer domains of biology and psychology.