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The formation of protein precursors, due to the condensation of atomic carbon under the low-temperature conditions of the molecular phases of the interstellar medium, opens alternative pathways for the origin of life. We perform peptide synthesis under conditions prevailing in space and provide a comprehensive analytic characterization of its products. The application of 13C allowed us to confirm the suggested pathway of peptide formation that proceeds due to the polymerization of aminoketene molecules that are formed in the C + CO + NH3 reaction. Here, we address the question of how the efficiency of peptide production is modified by the presence of water molecules. We demonstrate that although water slightly reduces the efficiency of polymerization of aminoketene, it does not prevent the formation of peptides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the effect of amine-based leveler additives on the catalytic function of the accelerator at the Cu-electrolyte interface. In the presence of the bis-(sodium sulfopropyl)-disulfide (SPS) accelerator, chronopotentiometric measurements show the potential changes from inhibition of the levelers increased with molecular weight and were greater to those of glycol-based suppressors. In situ surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) revealed significant conformational changes of the surface-adsorbed SPS in the presence of the amine-based levelers. This leveler-induced conformational perturbation of SPS diminishes the activity of SPS. SERS also revealed decreased coverages of surface-adsorbed SPS in the presence of the high molecular weight amine-based levelers at negative potentials, indicating that the leveler limits direct contact of SPS with the surface. Decreased coverages were also found for adsorbed chloride in the presence of all levelers considered, likely contributing to the deactivation of the accelerative effect of SPS. Secondary-ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) analysis of Cu electrodeposited from solutions comprised of a linear polyethyleneimine (PEI), SPS, and Cl– show increased S, Cl, and C content in the deposit relative to solutions absent PEI, indicating the presence of PEI results in co-incorporation of these additives. This leveler-assisted incorporation of SPS and Cl– also serves to mitigate SPS acceleration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The catalytic role of dust grain surfaces in the thermal reaction CO2 + 2NH3 → NH4+NH2COO− was recently demonstrated by our group. The rate coefficients for the reaction at 80 K on the surface of nanometer-sized carbon and silicate grains were measured to be up to three times higher compared to the reaction rate coefficients measured on KBr. In this study, the reaction was performed on carbon grains and on KBr in the extended temperature range of 50–80 K and with the addition of water ice. The reaction activation energy was found to be about three times lower on grains compared to the corresponding ice layer on KBr. Thus, the catalytic role of the dust grain surface in the studied reaction can be related to a reduction of the reaction barrier. Addition of water to NH3:CO2 ice on grains slowed the reaction down. At the H2O:CO2 ratio of 5:1, the reaction was not detected on the experimental timescale. This result calls into question the thermal formation of ammonium carbamate in dense molecular clouds and outer regions of protostellar and protoplanetary environments with dominating water ice mantle chemistry. However, it can still happen in inner regions of protostellar and protoplanetary environments in crystalline ices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A century of unsuccessful attempts to identify the neutral ethylenedione molecule combined with the results of quantum-chemical computations resulted in the conclusion on the instability of this molecule. In this article, we demonstrate that although the lowest energy isomer of ethylenedione with linear geometry is indeed unstable, a higher energy three-membered cyclic isomer can be stabilized, and at low temperature has a life-time longer than one millisecond. In our study, the ethylenedione C2O2 molecule was synthesized in the low-temperature reaction CO2 + C → C2O2 inside liquid helium nanodroplets. To study the reaction, a newly developed calorimetric technique was applied. Single pairs of reactants were incorporated into tiny helium droplets having a temperature of 0.37 K. The reaction energy was transferred to liquid helium stabilizing an intermediate gas-phase reaction product. The energy transfer also resulted in the evaporation of helium atoms. Therefore, the change of the helium droplets’ size allowed precise calorimetry on a molecular scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of the temperature-dependent Cu+1-accelerator complex formation on through-silicon via (TSV) filling was studied by means of electrochemical polarization and plating experiments. Electrochemical studies revealed increasing cuprous ion concentration upon addition of the accelerator additive in comparison to the additive-free electrolyte and further increase upon increasing temperature. This indicated formation of a Cu+1-accelerator complex. The electrochemical results were compared to TSV plating experiments at different temperatures. Despite improved mass transport of cupric ions into the high aspect ratio TSV feature at elevated temperatures, large voids were obtained under these conditions, while void-free bottom-up filling was achieved at room temperature. This effect was ascribed to acceleration of the copper deposition in the upper part of the feature due to increasing Cu+1-accelerator complex concentration at higher temperatures. The resulting counter action the effect of the suppressor additive in this part of the features is assumed to yield the observed voids by closure of the features at an early stage of the plating process. Thus, the results presented here reveal the importance of taking into account the comprehensive impact factors on copper deposition for TSV applications and help to improve and fine tune the process to challenging structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existence of cosmic dust is attested by the interstellar extinction and polarization, IR emission and absorption spectra, and elemental depletion patterns. Dust grains are efficiently processed or even destroyed in shocks, molecular clouds, or protoplanetary disks. A considerable amount of dust has to be re-formed in the ISM. In various astrophysical environments, dust grains are covered by molecular ices and therefore contribute or catalytically influence the chemical reactions in these layers. Laboratory experiments are desperately required to understand the evolution of grains and grain/ice mixtures in molecular clouds and early planetary disks. This review considers recent progress in laboratory approaches to dust/ice experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) has been carried out for a series of unsubstituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the corresponding ethynyl, 1,3-butadiynyl, and 1,3,5-hexatriynyl derivatives. Theoretical values of the isotropic polarizability and several polarity descriptors have been computed for each compound by using semiempirical models and density functional theory (DFT), with the aim of evaluating linear functions as quantitative structure-retention relationships (QSRRs). The polarity has been described by using either the permanent electric dipole moment, the subpolarity, or a topological electronic index. Three types of partial atomic charges have been used to calculate the subpolarity and a topological index. The choice of the theoretical model, of the polarity descriptor, and of the partial atomic charges is discussed and the resulting QSRRs are compared. Calculating the retention times from the polarizability and the topological electronic index (AM1, PM3, or DFT-B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p)) gives the best agreement with the experimental values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We developed and evaluated a tailored programme to implement three evidence-based recommendations for multimorbid patients with polypharmacy into primary care practices: structured medication counselling including brown bag reviews, the use of medication lists and medication reviews. No effect on the primary outcome was found. This process evaluation aimed to identify factors associated with outcomes by exploring nine hypotheses specified in the logic model of the tailored programme.Methods: The tailored programme was developed with respect to identified determinants of practice and consisted of a workshop for practice teams, elaboration of implementation action plans, aids for medication reviews, a multilingual info-tool for patients on a tablet PC, posters and brown paper bags as reminders for patients. The tailored programme was evaluated in a cluster randomized trial. The process evaluation was based on various data sources: interviews with general practitioners and medical assistants of the intervention group and a survey with general practitioners of the intervention and control group, written reports on the implementation action plans, documentation forms for structured medication counselling and the log file of the info-tool.Results: We analyzed 12 interviews, 21 questionnaires, 120 documentation forms for medication counselling, 5 implementation action plans and one log file of the info-tool. The most frequently reported effect of the tailored programme was the increase of awareness for the health problem and the recommendations, while implementation of routine processes was only reported for structured medication counselling. The survey largely confirmed the usefulness of the applied strategies, yet the interviews provided a more detailed understanding of the actual use of the strategies and several suggestions for modifications of the tailored programme.Conclusions: The tailored programme seemed to have induced awareness as a first step of behaviour change. Several modifications of the tailored programme may enhance its effectiveness such as conducting outreach visits instead of a workshop, improved targeting, provision of evidence, integration of tools into the practice software and information materials in tailored formats.Trial Registration: This study is linked to an outcome evaluation study with the registration ISRCTN34664024 , assigned 14/08/2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficiency of dust formation in a variety of environments is an ongoing topic for discussions, especially if it comes to dust formation in the interstellar medium. Although this possibility is discussed in a wide range of numerical studies, experiments on the formation of dust at low densities and temperatures are mostly lacking. This contribution summarizes the main findings of our low-temperature condensation experiments including the formation of silica, complex silicates with pyroxene and olivine stoichiometry, and of carbonaceous refractory materials. Atomic and molecular species to be expected as products of supernovae shock fronts were produced by laser ablation of silicates and graphite. These species were deposited together with a rare gas on cold substrates representing the surfaces of surviving dust grains in the interstellar medium. After characterizing the precursor species, the rare gas matrix was annealed to induce diffusion and reactions between the initial components. We found the production of amorphous and homogeneous silica and magnesium iron silicates at temperatures of about 12 K in a barrierless reaction as monitored by infrared spectroscopy. The 10 μm band of the low-temperature siliceous condensates shows a striking similarity to the 10 μm band of interstellar silicates. Carbonaceous atoms and molecules can also react without a barrier and form an amorphous or hydrogenated amorphous carbon material. The refractory condensate has properties comparable to fullerene-like carbon grains formed at high temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multimorbid patients receiving polypharmacy represent a growing population at high risk for negative health outcomes. Tailoring is an approach of systematic intervention development taking account of previously identified determinants of practice. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a tailored program to improve the implementation of three important processes of care for this patient group: (a) structured medication counseling including brown bag reviews, (b) the use of medication lists, and (c) structured medication reviews to reduce potentially inappropriate medication.Methods: We conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial with a follow-up time of 9 months. Participants were general practitioners (GPs) organized in quality circles and participating in a GP-centered care contract of a German health insurance. Patients aged >50 years, suffering from at least 3 chronic diseases, receiving more than 4 drugs, and being at high risk for medication-related events according to the assessment of the treating GP were enrolled. The tailored program consisted of a workshop for GPs and health care assistants, educational materials and reminders for patients, and the elaboration of implementation action plans. The primary outcome was the change in the degree of implementation between baseline and follow-up, measured by a summary score of 10 indicators. The indicators were based on structured surveys with patients and GPs.Results: We analyzed the data of 21 GPs (10 - intervention group, 11 - control group) and 273 patients (130 - intervention group, 143 - control group). The increase in the degree of implementation was 4.2 percentage points (95% confidence interval: -0.3, 8.6) higher in the intervention group compared to the control group (p = 0.1). Two of the 10 indicators were significantly improved in the intervention group: medication counseling (p = 0.017) and brown bag review (p = 0.012). Secondary outcomes showed an effect on patients' self-reported use of medication lists when buying drugs in the pharmacy (p = 0.03).Conclusions: The tailored program may improve implementation of medication counseling and brown bag review whereas the use of medication lists and medication reviews did not improve. No effect of the tailored program on the combined primary outcome could be substantiated. Due to limitations of the study, results have to be interpreted carefully. The factors facilitating and hindering successful implementation will be examined in a comprehensive process evaluation.Trial Registration Number: ISRCTN34664024 , assigned 14/08/2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tagish Lake meteorite is CI/CM2 chondrite, which fell by a fireball event in January 2000. This study emphasizes the cathodoluminescence (CL) and Raman spectroscopical properties of the Tagish Lake meteorite in order to classify the meteoritic forsterite and its relation to the crystallization processes in a parent body. The CL-zoning of Tagish Lake meteorite records the thermal history of chondrules and terrestrial weathering. Only the unweathered olivine is forsterite, which is CL-active. The variation of luminescence in chondrules of Tagish Lake meteorite implies chemical inhomogeneity due to low-grade thermal metamorphism. The blue emission center in forsterite due to crystal lattice defect is proposed as being caused by rapid cooling during the primary crystallization and relatively low-temperature thermal metamorphism on the parent body of Tagish Lake meteorite. This is in a good agreement with the micro-Raman spectroscopical data. A combination of cathodoluminescence and micro-Raman spectroscopies shows some potentials in study of the asteroidal processes of parent bodies in solar system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Medication lists and structured medication counselling (SMC) including “brown bag reviews” (BBR) are important instruments for medication safety. The aim of this study was to explore whether patients’ use of a medication list is associated with their beliefs about their medicine and their memory of SMC. Methods. Baseline data of 344 patients enrolled into the “Polypharmacy in Multimorbid Patients study” were analysed. Linear regression models were calculated for the “specific necessity subscale” (SNS) and the “specific concerns subscale” (SCS) of the German “Beliefs About Medicine Questionnaire,” including self-developed variables assessing patients’ use of a medication list, their memory of SMC, and sociodemographic data. Results. 62.8% (n=216) remembered an appointment for SMC and 32.0% (n=110) BBR. The SNS correlated positively with regular receipt of a medication list (β=0.286, p<0.01) and negatively with memory of a BBR (β=-0.268; p<0.01). The SCS correlated positively with memory of a BBR (β=0.160, p=0.02) and negatively with the comprehensiveness of the mediation list (β=-0.224; p<0.01). Conclusions. A comprehensive medication list may reduce patients’ concerns and increase the perceived necessity of their medication. A potential negative impact of BBR on patients’ beliefs about their medicine should be considered and quality standards for SMC developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Managing polypharmacy is particularly demanding for general practitioners as coordinators of care. Recently, a German guideline for polypharmacy in primary care has been published. This paper describes the content and delivery of a tailored intervention, which aims at improving the implementation of guideline recommendations for polypharmacy into practice, considering individual barriers. Materials and Methods. Firstly, barriers for implementation and the corresponding strategies to address them have been identified. On this basis, an intervention consisting of a workshop for health care professionals and educational materials for patients has been developed. The workshop focused on knowledge, awareness, and skills. The educational materials included a tablet computer. Practice teams will elaborate individual concepts of how to implement the recommendations into their practice. The workshop has been evaluated by the participants by means of a questionnaire. Results. During the workshop 41 possible sources of medication errors and 41 strategies to improve medication management have been identified. Participants evaluated the workshop overall positively, certifying its relevancy to practice. Discussion. The concept of the workshop seemed appropriate to impart knowledge about medication management to the participants. It will have to be evaluated, if the intervention finally resulted in an improved implementation of the guideline recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Tailored strategies to implement evidence-based practice can be generated in several ways. In this study, we explored the usefulness of group interviews for generating these strategies, focused on improving healthcare for patients with chronic diseases. Methods Participants included at least four categories of stakeholders (researchers, quality officers, health professionals, and external stakeholders) in five countries. Interviews comprised brainstorming followed by a structured interview and focused on different chronic conditions in each country. We compared the numbers and types of strategies between stakeholder categories and between interview phases. We also determined which strategies were actually used in tailored intervention programs. Results In total, 127 individuals participated in 25 group interviews across five countries. Brainstorming generated 8 to 120 strategies per group; structured interviews added 0 to 55 strategies. Healthcare professionals and researchers provided the largest numbers of strategies. The type of strategies for improving healthcare practice did not differ systematically between stakeholder groups in four of the five countries. In three out of five countries, all components of the chosen intervention programs were mentioned by the group of researchers. Conclusions Group interviews with different stakeholder categories produced many strategies for tailored implementation of evidence-based practice, of which the content was largely similar across stakeholder categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Audio books are enjoying enormous popularity among publishers and the public as an alternative form for printed literature. Now researchers in literature studies are taking a closer look at this successful medium. They see in it a distinct form of expression with an aesthetic all of its own. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: When designing interventions and policies to implement evidence based healthcare, tailoring strategies to the targeted individuals and organizations has been recommended. We aimed to gather insights into the ideas of a variety of people for implementing evidence-based practice for patients with chronic diseases, which were generated in five European countries. Methods: A qualitative study in five countries (Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, United Kingdom) was done, involving overall 115 individuals. A purposeful sample of four categories of stakeholders (healthcare professionals, quality improvement officers, healthcare purchasers and authorities, and health researchers) was involved in group interviews in each of the countries to generate items for improving healthcare in different chronic conditions per country: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, depression in elderly people, multi-morbidity, obesity. A disease-specific standardized list of determinants of practice in these conditions provided the starting point for these groups. The content of the suggested items was categorized in a pre-defined framework of 7 domains and specific themes in the items were identified within each domain. Results: The 115 individuals involved in the study generated 812 items, of which 586 addressed determinants of practice. These largely mapped onto three domains: individual health professional factors, patient factors, and professional interactions. Few items addressed guideline factors, incentives and resources, capacity of organizational change, or social, political and legal factors. The relative numbers of items in the different domains were largely similar across stakeholder categories within each of the countries. The analysis identified 29 specific themes in the suggested items across countries. Conclusion: The type of suggestions for improving healthcare practice was largely similar across different stakeholder groups, mainly addressing healthcare professionals, patient factors and professional interactions. As this study is one of the first of its kind, it is important that more research is done on tailored implementation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In the 'Tailored Implementation for Chronic Diseases (TICD)' project, five tailored implementation programs to improve healthcare delivery in different chronic conditions have been developed. These programs will be evaluated in distinct cluster-randomized controlled trials. This protocol describes the process evaluation across these trials, which aims to identify determinants of change in chronic illness care, to examine the validity of the tailoring methods that were applied, and to analyze the association of implementation activities and the effectiveness of the program. Methods A multilevel approach was used to develop five tailored implementation interventions. In order to guide the process evaluation in five distinct trials, the study protocols for the cluster randomized trials and the related process evaluations were developed simultaneously and iteratively. Results The process evaluation comprises three main components: a structured survey with health professionals in the trials, semi-structured interviews with a purposeful sample of this study population, and standardized documentation of organizational practice characteristics. Norway will only conduct the qualitative part of the analysis because the survey and documentation of practice characteristics are considered to be not feasible. The evaluation is guided by 'logic models' of the implementation programs: frameworks that specify the linkages between the strategies used, the determinants addressed by tailoring, and the anticipated outcomes. Standardization of measures across trials is sought to facilitate analysis of aggregated data from the trials. Conclusions This process evaluation will need to find a balance between standardization of methods across trials and the tailoring of measures to the specificities of each trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bei Medienhäusern und beim Publikum stehen Hörbücher als andere Darreichung gedruckter Literatur hoch im Kurs. Literaturwissenschaftler werfen nun einen tieferen Blick auf das Erfolgsmedium. Sie sehen darin eine ganz eigene Ausdrucksform mit eigenständiger Ästhetik. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The condensation of complex silicates with pyroxene and olivine composition under conditions prevailing in molecular clouds has been experimentally studied. For this purpose, molecular species comprising refractory elements were forced to accrete on cold substrates representing the cold surfaces of surviving dust grains in the interstellar medium. The efficient formation of amorphous and homogeneous magnesium iron silicates at temperatures of about 12 K has been monitored by IR spectroscopy. The gaseous precursors of such condensation processes in the interstellar medium are formed by erosion of dust grains in supernova shock waves. In the laboratory, we have evaporated glassy silicate dust analogs and embedded the released species in neon ice matrices that have been studied spectroscopically to identify the molecular precursors of the condensing solid silicates. A sound coincidence between the 10 μm band of the interstellar silicates and the 10 μm band of the low-temperature siliceous condensates can be noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Multimorbid patients frequently receive complex medication regimens and are at higher risk for adverse drug reactions and hospitalisations. Managing patients with polypharmacy is demanding, because it requires coordination of multiple prescribers and intensive monitoring. Three evidence-based recommendations addressing polypharmacy in primary care are structured medication counselling, use of medication lists and medication reviews to avoid potentially inappropriate medication (PIM). Although promising to improve patient outcomes, these recommendations are not well implemented in German routine care. Implementation of guidelines is often hindered by specific "determinants of change". "Tailored" interventions are designed to specifically address previously identified determinants. This study examines a tailored intervention to implement the aforementioned recommendations into primary care practices. This study is part of the European Tailored Interventions for Chronic Diseases project, which aims at contributing knowledge about the methods used for tailoring. Methods/Design The study is designed as a cluster randomized controlled trial with primary care practices of general practitioners (GPs) who are organized in quality circles. Quality circles will be the unit of randomization with a 1:1 ratio. Follow-up time is 6 months. GPs and healthcare assistants in the intervention group will receive training on medication management. Each GP will create a tailored concept of how to implement the three recommendations into his/her practice. Evidence-based checklists for medication counselling and medication reviews will be provided for physicians. A tablet PC with an interactive educational tool and information leaflets will be provided for use by patients to inform about the necessity of continuous medication management. Control practices will not receive special training and will provide care as usual. Primary outcome is the degree of implementation of the three recommendations, which will be measured using a prespecified set of indicators. Additionally, the PIM prescription rate, patient activation, patients' beliefs about medicine, medication adherence and patients' social support will be measured. Discussion This study will contribute knowledge about the feasibility of implementing recommendations for managing patients with polypharmacy in primary care practices. Additionally, this study will contribute knowledge about methods for tailoring of implementation interventions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid state spectroscopy continues to be an important source of information on the mineralogical composition and physical properties of dust grains both in space and on planetary surfaces. With only a few exceptions, artificially produced or natural terrestrial analog materials, rather than ‘real’ cosmic dust grains, are the subject of solid state astrophysics. The Jena laboratory has provided a large number of data sets characterizing the UV, optical and infrared properties of such cosmic dust analogs. The present paper highlights recent developments and results achieved in this context, focussing on ‘non-standard conditions’ such as very low temperatures, very high temperatures and very long wavelengths. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Nanometer- and subnanometer-sized carbonaceous particles have been synthesized via gas-phase condensation processes in laser ablation and laser pyrolysis experiments. Depending on the laser power which affects the temperature in the reaction zone, different carbonaceous nanomaterials are obtained. Low temperatures favor the production of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons whereas, at comparably higher temperatures, fullerene- or onion-like nanoparticles are formed. To characterize the carbonaceous species, we employed high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, UV/vis and IR absorption spectroscopy, gas and liquid chromatography, as well as matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Carbonaceous materials have been prepared in the laboratory by laser-induced pyrolysis of a mixture of hydrocarbons under different conditions and laser ablation of graphite in reactive gas atmospheres. We have investigated the soluble and insoluble parts of the condensed carbon powders with several spectroscopic and chromatographic methods in order to obtain information on the composition of the condensate. The results of these experiments have demonstrated that, at temperatures lower than 1700 K, the pyrolysis by-products are mainly PAHs, whereas at higher temperatures fullerenes and polyyne-based compounds are formed. The experimental findings point to different soot formation mechanisms with variable intermediates and end products. It has been found that soot extracts can contain more than 65 different polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Eventually, the study of the condensation pathways of soot particles and their precursors and by-products will permit the prediction of the spectral properties of carbonaceous matter in space. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A highly purified cytochromeb6 fcomplex from the cyanobacteriumSynechocystissp. PCC 6803 selectively binds one chlorophyll a and one carotenoid in analogy to the recent published structure from two otherb6 fcomplexes. The unknown function of these pigments was elucidated by spectroscopy and site-directed mutagenesis. Low-temperature redox difference spectroscopy showed red shifts in the chlorophyll and carotenoid spectra upon reduction of cytochromeb6, which indicates coupling of these pigments with the heme groups and thereby with the electron transport. This is supported by the correlated kinetics of these redox reactions and also by the distinct orientation of the chlorophyll molecule with respect to the heme cofactors as shown by linear dichroism spectroscopy. The specific role of the carotenoid echinenone for the cytochromeb6 fcomplex ofSynechocystis6803 was elucidated by a mutant lacking the last step of echinenone biosynthesis. The isolated mutant complex preferentially contained a carotenoid with 0, 1 or 2 hydroxyl groups (most likely 9-cisisomers ofβ-carotene, a monohydroxy carotenoid and zeaxanthin, respectively) instead. This indicates a substantial role of the carotenoid– possibly for strucure and assembly– and a specificity of its binding site which is different from those in most other oxygenic photosynthetic organisms. In summary, both pigments are probably involved in the structure, but may also contribute to the dynamics of the cytochromeb6 fcomplex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the current state and future of the WWW Jena-Petersburg database of optical constants (JPDOC) that also contains references to papers and links to internet resources related to measurements or calculations of the optical constants of materials of astronomical interest. The most important part of the JPDOC are data measured in broad wavelength ranges and partly at low temperatures in the Jena Laboratory. To demonstrate the use of these data, we show as examples infrared refractive indices of crystalline and amorphous magnesium silicates, spinel, and hydrogenated amorphous carbon and calculate the absorption cross-sections of small particles composed of these materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Surface processes on cosmic solids in cold astrophysical environments lead to gas-phase depletion and molecular complexity. Most astrophysical models assume that the molecular ice forms a thick multilayer substrate, not interacting with the dust surface. In contrast, we present experimental results demonstrating the importance of the surface for porous grains. We show that cosmic dust grains may be covered by a few monolayers of ice only. This implies that the role of dust surface structure, composition, and reactivity in models describing surface processes in cold interstellar, protostellar, and protoplanetary environments has to be reevaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: General practice-based case management is effective in improving symptoms, adherence, and the perceived process of care of patients living with major depression. The aim was to explore the patients’ perceptions of practice-based depression case management, their satisfaction with it and how living with depression contextualizes case management. Methods: This qualitative study was nested in a large cluster-randomized controlled trial on the effectiveness of case management for patients living with major depression. Case management was provided over 12 months by practice-based health care assistants, who monitored symptoms. We undertook semi-structured interviews with 41 patients, then transcribed and analysed them using qualitative content analysis. Results: Patients described depression as the unfortunate situation, where loneliness and lack of energy lead to being unable to actively seek help. Case management was appreciated because of regular, proactive contact and support by health care assistants. It was crucial to patients that they could trust the health care assistant. Some patients complained that case management was undertaken too mechanically and lacked empathy. Conclusion: Patients living with depression may perceive practice-based case management as beneficial if carried out in a trustworthy and empathetic manner. Practice implications: General practices should ensure that depression case management is patient-centered and non-mechanical. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A collaborative study including 13 German laboratories was conducted to evaluate the performance of two non-patented real-time PCR methods for the detection of Salmonella in milk powder targeting the ttrC/ttrA- or the invA gene. The enrichment procedure and sample DNA preparation method prior to the real-time PCR was the same for both systems and the identical DNA extraction samples were analysed. The traditional cultural method according to EN ISO 6579:2002 for the detection of Salmonella in food was performed in each laboratory as the reference. The participants received twelve coded milk powder samples each of 25 g for the analysis. Four of them were Salmonella negative (level L0), four artificially contaminated with <3 MPN/g Salmonella Typhimurium (level L1) and four artificially contaminated with 3.6 MPN/g S. Typhimurium (level L2) to the beginning of the experiment. Of the 13 laboratories 12 used various models of real-time PCR blockcyclers conducting both real-time PCR assays and three laboratories the Light Cycler 2.0 system (Roche Bioscience) conducting the ttr-based real-time PCR assay only. The relative accuracy for both real-time PCR assays performed on blockcyclers was for level L0 97.5%. For level L1 the relative accuracy was 94.1% and for level L2 it was 100% for both assays. The relative accuracy on the Light Cycler 2.0 system was 100% for all levels applied to the ttr-real-time PCR. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Most low-mass stars form in stellar clusters that also contain massive stars, which are sources of far-ultraviolet (FUV) radiation. Theoretical models predict that this FUV radiation produces photodissociation regions (PDRs) on the surfaces of protoplanetary disks around low-mass stars, which affects planet formation within the disks. We report James Webb Space Telescope and Atacama Large Millimeter Array observations of a FUV-irradiated protoplanetary disk in the Orion Nebula. Emission lines are detected from the PDR; modeling their kinematics and excitation allowed us to constrain the physical conditions within the gas. We quantified the mass-loss rate induced by the FUV irradiation and found that it is sufficient to remove gas from the disk in less than a million years. This is rapid enough to affect giant planet formation in the disk.

Photochemistry in H 2 O:NH 3 :CO 2 cosmic ice analogues was studied at temperatures of 75, 120, and 150 K, relevant to hot cores and warmer regions in protostellar envelopes and planet-forming disks. A combination of two triggers of surface chemistry in cosmic ice analogues, heat and UV irradiation, compared to using either just heat or UV irradiation, leads to a larger variety and an increased production of complex organic molecules, including potential precursors of prebiotic molecules. In addition to complex organic molecules detected in previous studies of H 2 O:NH 3 :CO 2 ices, ammonium carbamate, carbamic acid, ammonium formate and formamide, we detected acetaldehyde, urea, and, tentatively, glycine, the simplest amino acid. Water ice hampers reactions at low temperature (75 K) but allows the parent molecules, CO 2 and NH 3 , to stay in the solid state and react at higher temperatures (120 and 150 K, above their desorption temperatures). The experiments were performed on the surface of KBr substrates and amorphous silicate grains, analogs of cosmic silicate dust. The production of complex molecules on the silicate surface is decreased compared to KBr. This result suggests that the larger surface area and/or surface properties of the silicate grains play a role in controlling the chemistry, preventing it taking place to the same extent as on the flat KBr substrate. This is further evidence of the fact that cosmic dust grains play an important role in the chemistry taking place on their surface.

Background: Tailored intervention strategies are frequently recommended among approaches to the implementation of improvement in health professional performance. Attempts to change the behaviour of health professionals may be impeded by a variety of different barriers, obstacles, or factors (which we collectively refer to as determinants of practice). Change may be more likely if implementation strategies are specifically chosen to address these determinants., Objectives: To determine whether tailored intervention strategies are effective in improving professional practice and healthcare outcomes. We compared interventions tailored to address the identified determinants of practice with either no intervention or interventions not tailored to the determinants., Search Methods: We conducted searches of The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, CINAHL, and the British Nursing Index to May 2014. We conducted a final search in December 2014 (in MEDLINE only) for more recently published trials. We conducted searches of the metaRegister of Controlled Trials (mRCT) in March 2013. We also handsearched two journals., Selection Criteria: Cluster-randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of interventions tailored to address prospectively identified determinants of practice, which reported objectively measured professional practice or healthcare outcomes, and where at least one group received an intervention designed to address prospectively identified determinants of practice., Data Collection and Analysis: Two review authors independently assessed quality and extracted data. We undertook qualitative and quantitative analyses, the quantitative analysis including two elements: we carried out 1) meta-regression analyses to compare interventions tailored to address identified determinants with either no interventions or an intervention(s) not tailored to the determinants, and 2) heterogeneity analyses to investigate sources of differences in the effectiveness of interventions. These included the effects of: risk of bias, use of a theory when developing the intervention, whether adjustment was made for local factors, and number of domains addressed with the determinants identified., Main Results: We added nine studies to this review to bring the total number of included studies to 32 comparing an intervention tailored to address identified determinants of practice to no intervention or an intervention(s) not tailored to the determinants. The outcome was implementation of recommended practice, e.g. clinical practice guideline recommendations. Fifteen studies provided enough data to be included in the quantitative analysis. The pooled odds ratio was 1.56 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27 to 1.93, P value < 0.001). The 17 studies not included in the meta-analysis had findings showing variable effectiveness consistent with the findings of the meta-regression., Authors' Conclusions: Despite the increase in the number of new studies identified, our overall finding is similar to that of the previous review. Tailored implementation can be effective, but the effect is variable and tends to be small to moderate. The number of studies remains small and more research is needed, including trials comparing tailored interventions to no or other interventions, but also studies to develop and investigate the components of tailoring (identification of the most important determinants, selecting interventions to address the determinants). Currently available studies have used different methods to identify determinants of practice and different approaches to selecting interventions to address the determinants. It is not yet clear how best to tailor interventions and therefore not clear what the effect of an optimally tailored intervention would be.