text:
The Zinc finger protein of the cerebellum 2 (Zic2) is one of the vertebrate homologs of the Drosophila pair-rule gene odd-paired (opa). Our molecular and biochemical studies demonstrate that Zic2 preferentially binds to transcriptional enhancers and is required for the regulation of gene expression in embryonic stem cells. Detailed genome-wide and molecular studies reveal that Zic2 can function with Mbd3/NuRD in regulating the chromatin state and transcriptional output of genes linked to differentiation. Zic2 is required for proper differentiation of ES cells, similar to what has been previously reported for Mbd3/NuRD. Our study identifies Zic2 as a key factor in the execution of transcriptional fine-tuning with Mbd3/NuRD in ES cells through interactions with enhancers. Our study also points to the role of the Zic family of proteins as enhancer-specific binding factors functioning in development.
The control of promoter-proximal pausing and the release of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is a widely used mechanism for regulating gene expression in metazoans, especially for genes that respond to environmental and developmental cues. Here, we identify Pol II-associated Factor 1 (PAF1) to possess an evolutionarily conserved function in metazoans in the regulation of promoter-proximal pausing. Reduction in PAF1 levels leads to an increased release of paused Pol II into gene bodies at thousands of genes. PAF1 depletion results in increased nascent and mature transcripts and increased levels of phosphorylation of Pol II’s C-terminal domain on serine 2 (Ser2P). These changes can be explained by the recruitment of the Ser2P kinase Super Elongation Complex (SEC) effecting increased release of paused Pol II into productive elongation, thus establishing a novel function for PAF1 as a regulator of promoter-proximal pausing by Pol II.
Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) and CDK12 have each been demonstrated to phosphorylate the RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain (CTD) at serine 2 of the heptad repeat, both in vitro and in vivo. CDK9, as part of P-TEFb and the super elongation complex (SEC), is by far the best characterized of CDK9, CDK12, and CDK13. We employed both in vitro and in vivo assays to further investigate the molecular properties of CDK12 and its paralog CDK13. We isolated Flag-tagged CDK12 and CDK13 and found that they associate with numerous RNA processing factors. Although knockdown of CDK12, CDK13, or their cyclin partner CCNK did not affect the bulk CTD phosphorylation levels in HCT116 cells, transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis revealed that CDK12 and CDK13 losses in HCT116 cells preferentially affect expression of DNA damage response and snoRNA genes, respectively. CDK12 and CDK13 depletion also leads to a loss of expression of RNA processing factors and to defects in RNA processing. These findings suggest that in addition to implementing CTD phosphorylation, CDK12 and CDK13 may affect RNA processing through direct physical interactions with RNA processing factors and by regulating their expression.
To identify factors associated with oral hygiene practices in adults with systemic sclerosis (SSc)
In this cross-sectional study, 178 dentate adults with SSc received an oral examination which included measurement of oral aperture, assessment of manual dexterity to perform oral hygiene, as well as completion of the Center of Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale, and an oral health-related questionnaire.
Multivariable logistic regression modeling showed male, minority and high CES-D scores (i.e., clinically significant symptoms of depression) were associated with less likelihood of participants brushing teeth at least twice daily, but the presence of self-reported dry mouth symptoms increased the likelihood of toothbrushing. Having a dental visit in the past 12 months, and use of an adapted flossing or interdental cleaning device were significantly associated with daily dental flossing; however, having difficulty flossing teeth reduced the likelihood of daily flossing.
Overall, demographic variables were strongly associated with toothbrushing frequency, whereas, flossing self-efficacy and barriers were strongly associated with dental flossing frequency in adults with SSc. The results suggest that dental health professionals should take mental health into consideration when educating patients with SSc to improve their oral hygiene, and consider making referrals for patients exhibiting suspected clinically significant depressive symptoms to mental health professionals for further evaluation and treatment. In addition, an appropriate adapted flossing or interdental cleaning device should be recommended to increase dental flossing practices in this patient population.
adapted devices; oral hygiene; scleroderma; mental health; epidemiologic methods
To investigate the safety and efficacy of oral bovine type I collagen (CI) treatment in patients who have had diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dc-SSc; scleroderma) for ≤10 years.
One hundred sixty-eight patients with dcSSc were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of oral CI (500 µg/day) or placebo administered over 12 months, with a followup visit at month 15. The primary outcome was the modified Rodnan skin thickness score (MRSS). Other clinical and immune system parameters were also assessed.
Intent-to-treat and modified intent-to-treat analyses showed that for the total population of patients with dcSSc, there were no significant differences in the mean change in MRSS or other key clinical parameters between the CI and placebo treatment groups at 12 months or at 15 months. However, in a subanalysis of the available data at month 15, the CI-treated group of patients with late-phase dcSSc experienced a significant reduction in the MRSS compared with that in the placebo-treated patients with late-phase dcSSc (change in MRSS at month 15 –7.9 versus −2.9; P = 0.0063).
Although the results from this trial did not meet the primary outcome goals, the findings from exploratory analyses indicated that CI treatment may benefit patients with late-phase dcSSc. This new treatment strategy and preliminary clinical observations in patients with dcSSc need to be corroborated.
Raynaud phenomenon (RP) is a temporary vasoconstrictive condition that often manifests itself in the fingers in response to cold or stress. It often co-occurs with certain chronic diseases that impact mortality. Our objective was to determine whether RP has any independent association with survival.
From 1987–1989, a total of 830 participants of the Charleston Heart Study cohort completed an in-person RP screening questionnaire. Two definitions of RP were used: a broad definition that included both blanching (pallor) and cyanotic color changes and a narrow definition that included only blanching. All-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality were compared between subjects with and without RP using race-specific survival models that adjusted for age, sex, baseline CVD, and 10-year risk of coronary heart disease.
Using the narrow RP definition, we identified a significant interaction between older age and the presence of RP on all-cause mortality. In the broad RP definition model, the presence of RP was not associated with CVD mortality among blacks; however, among whites, the presence of RP was associated with a 1.6-fold increase in the hazard associated with CVD-related death (hazard ratio: 1.55, 95% confidence interval: 1.10–2.20, P=0.013).
RP was independently associated with mortality among older adults in our cohort. Among whites, RP was associated with increased CVD-related death. It is possible that RP may be a sign of undiagnosed vascular disease.
Raynaud disease; cohort studies; cardiovascular diseases; survival analysis
The small nuclear RNA (snRNA) genes have been widely used as a model system for understanding transcriptional regulation due to the unique aspects of their promoter structure, selectivity for either RNA Polymerase (Pol) II or III, and because of their unique mechanism of termination that is tightly linked with the promoter. Recently, we identified the Little Elongation Complex (LEC) in Drosophila that is required for the expression of Pol II-transcribed snRNA genes. Here, using Drosophila and mammalian systems, we provide genetic and molecular evidence that LEC functions in at least two phases of snRNA transcription: an initiation step requiring the ICE1 subunit, and an elongation step requiring ELL.
Histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) can be mono-, di-, and trimethylated by members of the COMPASS (complex of proteins associated with Set1) family from Saccharomyces cerevisiae to humans, and these modifications can be found at distinct regions of the genome. Monomethylation of histone H3K4 (H3K4me1) is relatively more enriched at metazoan enhancer regions compared to trimethylated histone H3K4 (H3K4me3), which is enriched at transcription start sites in all eukaryotes. Our recent studies of Drosophila melanogaster demonstrated that the Trithorax-related (Trr) branch of the COMPASS family regulates enhancer activity and is responsible for the implementation of H3K4me1 at these regions. There are six COMPASS family members in mammals, two of which, MLL3 (GeneID 58508) and MLL4 (GeneID 8085), are most closely related to Drosophila Trr. Here, we use chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq) of this class of COMPASS family members in both human HCT116 cells and mouse embryonic stem cells and find that MLL4 is preferentially found at enhancer regions. MLL3 and MLL4 are frequently mutated in cancer, and indeed, the widely used HCT116 cancer cell line contains inactivating mutations in the MLL3 gene. Using HCT116 cells in which MLL4 has also been knocked out, we demonstrate that MLL3 and MLL4 are major regulators of H3K4me1 in these cells, with the greatest loss of monomethylation at enhancer regions. Moreover, we find a redundant role between Mll3 (GeneID 231051) and Mll4 (GeneID 381022) in enhancer H3K4 monomethylation in mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells. These findings suggest that mammalian MLL3 and MLL4 function in the regulation of enhancer activity and that mutations of MLL3 and MLL4 that are found in cancers could exert their properties through malfunction of these Trr/MLL3/MLL4-specific (Trrific) enhancers.
The Disease Activity Score based on 28 joints (DAS28) has been increasingly used in clinical practice and research studies of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Studies have reported discordance between DAS28 based on erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) versus C-reactive protein (CRP) in RA patients. However such comparison is lacking in African-Americans with RA.
This analysis included participants from the Consortium for the Longitudinal Evaluation of African Americans with Early Rheumatoid Arthritis (CLEAR) Registry which enrolls self-declared African-Americans with RA. Using tender and swollen joint counts separate ESR-based and CRP-based DAS28 scores (DAS28-ESR3 and DAS28-CRP3) were calculated, as were DAS28-ESR4 and DAS28-CRP4, which included the patient’s assessment of disease activity. The scores were compared using paired t-test, simple agreement and kappa, correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman plots.
Of the 233 included participants, 85% were women, mean age at enrollment was 52.6 years, and median disease duration at enrollment was 21 months. Mean DAS28-ESR3 was significantly higher than DAS28-CRP3 (4.8 vs. 3.9; p<0.001). Similarly, mean DAS28-ESR4 was significantly higher than DAS28-CRP4 (4.7 vs. 3.9; p<0.001). ESR-based DAS28 remained higher than CRP-based DAS28 even when stratified by age, sex, and disease duration. Overall agreement was not high between DAS28-ESR3 and DAS28-CRP3 (50%) or between DAS28-ESR4 and DAS28-CRP4 (59%). DAS28-CRP3 underestimated disease activity in 47% of the participants relative to DAS28-ESR3 and DAS28-CRP4 in 40% of the participants relative to DAS28-ESR4.
There was significant discordance between the ESR-based and CRP-based DAS28 which could impact clinical treatment decisions in African-Americans with RA.
DAS28; Rheumatoid Arthritis; African-Americans
Racial/ethnic differences with regard to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use have been reported in the US. However, specific details of CAM use by African Americans with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are lacking.
Data were collected from African Americans with RA enrolled in a multicenter registry regarding the use of CAM, including food supplements, topical applications, activities, and alternative care providers. Factors associated with CAM use by sex and disease duration were assessed using t-test, Wilcoxon’s rank sum test, chi-square test, and logistic regression analyses.
Of the 855 participants, 85% were women and mean age at enrollment was 54 years. Overall, ever using any of the CAM treatments, activities, and providers was 95%, 98%, and 51%, respectively (median of 3 for number of treatments, median of 5 for activities, and median of 1 for providers). Those with longer disease duration (>2 years) were significantly more likely (odds ratio >2.0, P < 0.05) to use raisins soaked in vodka/gin, to take fish oils, or to drink alcoholic beverages for RA treatment than those with early disease. As compared to men, women were significantly (P < 0.05) more likely to pray/attend church, write in a journal, and use biofeedback, but were less likely to smoke tobacco or topically apply household oils for treatment of RA.
CAM use was highly prevalent in this cohort, even in individuals with early disease. Health care providers need to be aware of CAM use as some treatments may potentially have interactions with conventional medicines. This could be important within this cohort of African Americans, where racial disparities are known to affect access to conventional care.
Promoters of many developmentally regulated genes have a bivalent mark of H3K27me3 and H3K4me3 in embryonic stem cells state, which is proposed to confer precise temporal activation upon differentiation. Although Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) is known to implement H3K27me3, the COMPASS family member responsible for H3K4me3 at bivalently-marked promoters was previously unknown. Here, we identify Mll2 (KMT2b) as the enzyme responsible for H3K4me3 on bivalently-marked promoters in embryonic stem cells. Although H3K4me3 at bivalent genes is proposed to prime future activation, we did not detect a substantial defect in rapid transcriptional induction after retinoic acid treatment in Mll2 depleted cells. Our identification of the Mll2 complex as the COMPASS family member responsible for implementing H3K4me3 at bivalent promoters provides an opportunity to reevaluate and experimentally test models for the function of bivalency in the embryonic stem cell state and in differentiation.
Lack of an adequate experimental model has hindered the ability to fully understand scleroderma (SSc) pathogenesis. Current SSc research is based on the study of cultured fibroblasts from skin biopsies. In depth characterization of the SSc fibroblast phenotype is hindered by the limited lifespan and heterogeneity of these cells. The goal of this study was to isolate high collagen-producing fibroblasts from SSc biopsies and extend their lifespan with hTERT immortalization to enable characterization of their phenotype. Fibroblasts from two pairs of closely matched normal and SSc biopsies were infected with an hTERT lentivirus. Infected colonies were isolated, cultured into clonal cell lines and analysed with respect to profibrotic gene expression. The mRNA levels of nine profibrotic genes were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Protein levels were assessed by Western blot. The hTERT SSc clones were heterogeneous with regards to expression of the profibrotic genes measured. A subset of the SSc clones showed elevated expression levels of collagen I, connective tissue growth factor and thrombospondin 1 mRNA, while expression of other genes was not significantly changed. Elevated expression of collagen I protein and mRNA was correlative with elevated expression of connective tissue growth factor. Several hTERT clones expressed high levels of pSmad1, Smad1 and TGF-βRI indicative of altered TGF-β signalling. A portion of SSc clones expressed several profibrotic genes. This study demonstrates that select characteristics of the SSc phenotype are expressed in a subset of activated fibroblasts in culture. The clonal SSc cell lines may present a new and useful model to investigate the mechanisms involved in SSc fibrosis.
scleroderma; fibroblast; hTERT; fibrosis; collagen; TGF-β; Smad1
To determine whether shared epitope (SE)–containing HLA–DRB1 alleles are associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in African Americans and whether their presence is associated with higher degrees of global (genome-wide) genetic admixture from the European population.
In this multicenter cohort study, African Americans with early RA and matched control subjects were analyzed. In addition to measurement of serum anti–cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies and HLA–DRB1 genotyping, a panel of >1,200 ancestry-informative markers was analyzed in patients with RA and control subjects, to estimate the proportion of European ancestry.
The frequency of SE-containing HLA–DRB1 alleles was 25.2% in African American patients with RA versus 13.6% in control subjects (P = 0.00005). Of 321 patients with RA, 42.1% had at least 1 SE-containing allele, compared with 25.3% of 166 control subjects (P = 0.0004). The mean estimated percent European ancestry was associated with SE-containing HLA–DRB1 alleles in African Americans, regardless of disease status (RA or control). As reported in RA patients of European ancestry, there was a significant association of the SE with the presence of the anti-CCP antibody: 86 (48.9%) of 176 patients with anti-CCP antibody–positive RA had at least 1 SE allele, compared with 36 (32.7%) of 110 patients with anti-CCP antibody–negative RA (P = 0.01, by chi-square test).
HLA–DRB1 alleles containing the SE are strongly associated with susceptibility to RA in African Americans. The absolute contribution is less than that reported in RA among populations of European ancestry, in which ~50–70% of patients have at least 1 SE allele. As in Europeans with RA, the SE association was strongest in the subset of African American patients with anti-CCP antibodies. The finding of a higher degree of European ancestry among African Americans with SE alleles suggests that a genetic risk factor for RA was introduced into the African American population through admixture, thus making these individuals more susceptible to subsequent environmental or unknown factors that trigger the disease.
It has been suggested that a specific pattern of histone posttranslational modifications and their crosstalk may constitute a code that determines transcriptional outcomes. However, recent studies indicate that histone modifications have context-dependent effects, making their interplay more like a language within the chromatin signaling pathway than a code.
To examine whether polymorphisms in genes coding for drug metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) impact rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk due to cigarette smoking in African Americans.
Smoking status was evaluated in African American RA cases and non-RA controls categorized as heavy (≥ 10 pack-years) vs. other. Individuals were genotyped for a homozygous deletion polymorphism in glutathione S-transferase Mu-1 (GSTM1-null) in addition to tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in N-acetyltransferase (NAT)1, NAT2, and epoxide hydrolase (EPXH1). Associations of genotypes with RA were examined using logistic regression and gene-smoking interactions were assessed.
There were no significant associations of any DME genotype with RA. After adjustment for multiple comparisons, there were significant additive interactions between heavy smoking and NAT2 SNPs rs9987109 (Padd = 0.000003) and rs1208 (Padd = 0.00001); attributable proportions (APs) due to interaction ranged from 0.61 to 0.67. None of the multiplicative gene-smoking interactions examined remained significant after adjustment for multiple testing in overall disease risk. There was no evidence of significant gene-smoking interactions in analyses of GSTM1-null, NAT1, or EPXH1. DME gene-smoking interactions were similar when cases were limited to anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) positive individuals.
Among African Americans, RA risk imposed by heavy smoking appears to be mediated in part by genetic variation in NAT2. While further studies are needed to elucidate mechanisms underpinning these interactions, these SNPs appear to identify African American smokers at a much higher risk for RA with relative risks that are at least two-fold higher compared to non-smokers lacking these risk alleles.
rheumatoid arthritis; African Americans; cigarette smoking; anti-CCP antibody; drug metabolizing enzyme; N-acetyltransferase; epoxide hydrolase; glutathione S-transferase
Eleven-nineteen Lysine-rich Leukemia (ELL) participates in the Super Elongation Complex (SEC) with the Pol II CTD kinase P-TEFb. SEC is a key regulator in the expression of HOX genes in Mixed Lineage Leukemia (MLL) -based hematological malignancies, in the control of induced gene expression early in development, and in immediate early gene transcription. Here, we identify an SEC-like complex in Drosophila, as well as a distinct ELL-containing complex that lacks P-TEFb and other components of SEC named the “little elongation complex” (LEC). LEC subunits are highly enriched at RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) -transcribed small nuclear RNA (snRNA) genes, and the loss of LEC results in decreased snRNA expression in both flies and mammals. The specialization of the SEC and LEC complexes for mRNA and snRNA-containing genes, respectively, suggests the presence of specific classes of elongation factors for each class of genes transcribed by RNA polymerase II.
Promoter proximal pausing by initiated RNA polymerase II (Pol II) and regulated release of paused polymerase into productive elongation has emerged as a major mechanism of transcription activation. Reactivation of paused Pol II correlates with recruitment of SuperElongationComplexes (SECs) containing ELL/EAF family members, P-TEFb, and other proteins, but the mechanism of their recruitment is currently a major unanswered question. Here, we present evidence for a role of human Mediator subunit Med26 in this process. We identify in the conserved N-terminal domain of Med26 overlapping docking sites for SEC and a second ELL/EAF-containing complex, as well as general initiation factor TFIID. In addition, we present evidence consistent with the model that Med26 can function as a molecular switch that interacts first with TFIID in the Pol II initiation complex and then exchanges TFIID for complexes containing ELL/EAF and P-TEFb to facilitate transition of Pol II into the elongation stage of transcription.
Methylation of histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is implemented by Set1/COMPASS, which was originally purified based on the similarity of yeast Set1 to human MLL1 and Drosophila melanogaster Trithorax (Trx). While humans have six COMPASS family members, Drosophila possesses a representative of the three subclasses within COMPASS-like complexes: dSet1 (human SET1A/SET1B), Trx (human MLL1/2), and Trr (human MLL3/4). Here, we report the biochemical purification and molecular characterization of the Drosophila COMPASS family. We observed a one-to-one similarity in subunit composition with their mammalian counterparts, with the exception of LPT (lost plant homeodomains [PHDs] of Trr), which copurifies with the Trr complex. LPT is a previously uncharacterized protein that is homologous to the multiple PHD fingers found in the N-terminal regions of mammalian MLL3/4 but not Drosophila Trr, indicating that Trr and LPT constitute a split gene of an MLL3/4 ancestor. Our study demonstrates that all three complexes in Drosophila are H3K4 methyltransferases; however, dSet1/COMPASS is the major monoubiquitination-dependent H3K4 di- and trimethylase in Drosophila. Taken together, this study provides a springboard for the functional dissection of the COMPASS family members and their role in the regulation of histone H3K4 methylation throughout development in Drosophila.
Large-scale genetic association studies have identified over 20 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk alleles among individuals of European ancestry. The influence of these risk alleles has not been comprehensively studied in African-Americans. We therefore sought to examine whether these validated RA risk alleles are associated with RA in an African-American population.
27 candidate SNPs were genotyped in 556 autoantibody-positive African-Americans with RA and 791 healthy African-American controls. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each SNP were compared to previously published ORs of RA patients of European ancestry. We then calculated a composite Genetic Risk Score (GRS) for each individual based on the sum of all risk alleles.
There was overlap in the OR and 95% CI between the European and African-American populations in 24 of the 27 candidate SNPs. Conversely, 3 of the 27 SNPs (CCR6 rs3093023, TAGAP rs394581, TNFAIP3 rs6920220) demonstrated an OR in the opposite direction from those reported in RA patients of European ancestry. The GRS analysis indicated a small but highly significant probability that African-American cases were enriched for the European RA risk alleles relative to controls (p=0.00005).
The majority of RA risk alleles previously validated among European ancestry RA patients showed similar ORs in our population of African-Americans with RA. Furthermore, the aggregate GRS supports the hypothesis that these SNPs are risk alleles for RA in the African-American population. Future large-scale genetic studies are needed to validate these risk alleles and identify novel risk alleles for RA in African-Americans.
Posttranslational modifications of histones are coupled in the regulation of the cellular processes involving chromatin such as transcription, replication, repair, and genome stability. Recent biochemical and genetic studies have clearly demonstrated that many aspects of chromatin, and not just posttranslational modifications of histones, provide surfaces that can interact with effectors and the modifying machineries in a context-dependent manner, all as a part of the “chromatin signaling pathway”. Here, we have reviewed recent findings on the molecular basis for the recruitment of the chromatin-modifying machineries and their diverse and varied biological outcomes.
To examine the associations of cigarette smoking with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in African Americans and to determine to whether this association is impacted by HLA-DRB1 shared epitope (SE).
Smoking status, cumulative smoking exposure, and SE status were measured in African American patients with RA and in healthy controls. Associations of smoking with RA were examined using age- and gender-adjusted logistic regression. Additive and multiplicative SE-smoking interactions were examined.
After adjusting for age and gender, ever (OR = 1.45; 95% CI 1.07 to 1.97) and current smoking (OR = 1.56; 95% CI 1.07 to 2.26) were more common in African American RA cases (n = 605) than in controls (n = 255). The association of smoking with RA was limited to those with a cumulative exposure exceeding 10 pack-years, associations that were evident in both autoantibody positive and negative disease. There was evidence of a significant additive interaction between SE status and heavy smoking (≥ 10 pack-years) in RA risk (attributable proportion due to interaction [AP] of 0.58, p = 0.007) with an AP of 0.47 (p = 0.006) between SE status and ever smoking. There was no evidence of multiplicative interactions.
Among African Americans, cigarette smoking is associated not only with the risk of autoantibody positive RA but also with the risk of autoantibody negative disease. RA risk attributable to smoking is limited to African Americans with more than 10 pack-years of exposure and is more pronounced among individuals positive for HLA-DRB1 SE.
rheumatoid arthritis; African Americans; cigarette smoking; rheumatoid factor; anti-CCP antibody; HLA-DRB1 shared epitope
A 17-year-old female patient with pyridoxine non-responsive homocystinuria, treated with 20 g of betaine per day, developed a strong body odour, which was described as fish-like. Urinary trimethylamine (TMA) was measured and found to be markedly increased. DNA mutation analysis revealed homozygosity for a common allelic variant in the gene coding for the TMA oxidising enzyme FMO3. Without changing diet or betaine therapy, riboflavin was given at a dose of 200 mg per day. An immediate improvement in her odour was noticed by her friends and family and urinary TMA was noted to be greatly reduced, although still above the normal range.
Gradual further reductions in TMA (and odour) have followed whilst receiving riboflavin. Throughout this period, betaine compliance has been demonstrated by the measurement of dimethylglycine (DMG) excretion, which has been consistently increased. Marked excretions of DMG when the odour had subsided also demonstrate that DMG was not the source of the odour.
This patient study raises the possibility that betaine may be converted to TMA by intestinal flora to some degree, resulting in a significant fish odour when oxidation of TMA is compromised by FMO3 variants. The possibility exists that the body odour occasionally associated with betaine therapy for homocystinuria may not be related to increased circulating betaine or DMG, but due to a common FMO3 mutation resulting in TMAU. Benefits of riboflavin therapy for TMAU for such patients would allow the maintenance of betaine therapy without problematic body odour.
We previously reported association of co-occurrence of HLA-DRB1 shared epitope (SE) and RANKL SNPs with younger age of RA onset in 182 rheumatoid factor positive (RF) European American (EA) early RA patients. Here, we fine-mapped the 48 kb RANKL region in the extended 210 EA RF-positive early RA cohort, sought replication of RA-associated SNPs in additional 501 EA and 298 African-Americans (AA) RA cohorts, and explored functional consequences of RA-associated SNPs.
SNP genotyping was conducted using pyrosequencing or TaqMan PCR assays. Associations of rs7984870 with RANKL expression in plasma, PBMC and isolated T cells were quantified using ELISA and RT-PCR. Site-directed mutagenesis of rs7984870 within the 2kb RANKL promoter was performed to drive the luciferase reporter gene in osteoblast and stromal cell lines. Interaction of DNA and protein was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay.
A single promoter SNP rs7984870 was consistently significantly associated with earlier age of RA onset in 3 independent seropositive (RF or anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody positive) RA cohorts but not in seronegative RA patients. The risk C allele of rs7984870 conferred 2-fold higher plasma RANKL levels in RF-positive RA patients, significantly elevated RANKL mRNA expression in activated normal T cells, and increased promoter activity after stimulation in vitro via differential binding to transcription factor SOX5.
The RANKL promoter allele that increased transcriptional levels upon stimulation might promote interaction between activated T cells and dendritic cells, predisposing to younger RA onset in seropositive EA and/or AA individuals.
To examine the association between baseline bone mineral density (BMD) and radiographic damage at 3-year disease duration in a longitudinal cohort of African Americans (AAs) with recent-onset RA.
Participants (n=141) included AAs with < 2 years of disease duration. All patients underwent baseline BMD measurement (femoral neck and/or lumbar spine) using DXA. T-scores were calculated using AAs normative data. Patients were categorized as having osteopenia/osteoporosis (T score ≤ −1) or healthy. Hand/wrist radiographs, obtained at baseline and at 3-year disease duration, were scored using modified Sharp/van der Heijde method. The association between baseline BMD and total radiographic score at 3-year disease duration was examined using multivariable negative binomial regression.
At baseline, the mean age and disease duration were 52.4 years and 14.8 months respectively (85.1% women). Average total radiographic scores at baseline and 3-year disease duration were 2.4 and 5.7. In the final reduced multivariable model adjusting for age, gender, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody positivity, and the presence of radiographic damage at baseline, the total radiographic score at 3-years of disease duration in patients with osteopenia/osteoporosis at the femoral neck was twice that in patients with healthy bone density and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.0084). No association between lumbar spine osteopenia/osteoporosis and radiographic score was found.
These findings suggest that reduced generalized BMD may be a predictor of future radiographic damage and support the hypothesis that radiographic damage and reduced generalized BMD in RA patients may share a common pathogenic mechanism.
To examine the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and the associations of vitamin D concentration with disease status in African Americans with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Study participants (n = 266) were enrolled in the Consortium for the Longitudinal Evaluation of African Americans with Early RA (CLEAR) Registry. 25(OH)-D was measured on baseline plasma and associations of 25(OH)-D with disease status (baseline and at 3 years disease duration) were examined using univariate and multivariate regression.
The prevalence of 25(OH)-D insufficiency (≤ 37.5 nmol/L or 15 ng/ml) was 50%, with the highest prevalence in winter. In unadjusted analyses, vitamin D concentrations were inversely associated with baseline pain (p = 0.04), swollen joints (p = 0.04), and Disease Activity Score (DAS-28, p = 0.05) but not with measures at 3 years disease duration. There were no multivariate associations of 25(OH)-D with any disease measures at baseline or at 3 years with the exception of a positive borderline association with rheumatoid factor positivity at enrollment (p = 0.05).
Vitamin D insufficiency is common in African Americans with recent-onset RA. Unadjusted associations of circulating vitamin D with baseline pain, swollen joints, and DAS-28 were explained by differences in season, age, and gender and were not significant in multivariate analyses. In contrast to reports of Northern Europeans with early inflammatory arthritis, there are not strong associations of 25(OH)-D concentration with symptoms or disease severity in African Americans with RA.
rheumatoid arthritis; vitamin D; African American; disease activity; severity


text:
Good afternoon everyone, happy Friday! I was working on my Buy Miles & Points Page and found 5 offers that end this month. Always check the math to make sure that buying miles & points makes sense for you. Do not buy miles & points speculatively unless you have a use in mind. With that said, here are 5 offers that end soon. Up first, United Airlines is offering up to a 100% bonus, depending on the number of United Airlines MileagePlus Miles you purchase. This offer expires today – July 23.
Good evening everyone, I hope your week is going well. I was working on my Buy Miles & Points Page and found 6 offers that end soon. Always check the math to make sure that buying miles & points makes sense for you. Do not buy miles & points speculatively unless you have a use in mind. With that said, here are 6 offers that end soon. Up first, Southwest Airlines is offering up to a 75% bonus, depending on the number of Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Points you purchase. This offer expires tomorrow – May 28.
Good morning everyone, happy Friday! Long story short, I planned an awesome award trip to Africa (Victoria Falls, South Africa, and Madagascar) for August 2020, but due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, we decided to cancel the trip and try again next year. I planned / booked this award trip in October 2019 and part of the award booking process involved transferring 77,000 American Express Membership Rewards Points to my Air Canada Aeroplan account. I recently wrote about my Anatomy and Timeline of a Cancelled American Airlines Award Ticket, so I decided I would write something similar for my experience cancelling 2 Air Canada Aeroplan award tickets.
Good afternoon everyone, happy Friday. I started sharing my thoughts regarding working from home in a series of Work from Home Diary posts. Feel free to share your work from home feelings in the comments section below. For today’s update, I wanted to discuss upcoming travel plans and my plans for those trips. As of today, I have 4 trips on the books. These trips are not set in stone and could be cancelled by myself or the airlines before departure depending upon how things are going in the world. We are taking things slowly and focusing on 1 day at a time.
Trip 1 – Mother’s Day Weekend
My next trip is in mid-May for Mother’s Day Weekend. I was planning on flying down from San Francisco (SFO) to Orange County (SNA) to visit my parents and grandparents. I have flown down for Mother’s Day weekend for the last few years and enjoy seeing my family. This trip was booked with Citi Thank You Points for basic economy travel on Alaska Airlines. If the situation in California remains the same (all Californias are told to stay home to prevent the spread of coronavirus), I will probably cancel my trip and hold onto travel funds for a future trip.
Good morning everyone, I hope you had a great Memorial Day Weekend. I had a great time in San Diego, walking around the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, drinking at Stone Brewery, and visiting the USS Midway. Over the weekend, I also started planning my Eurotrip around southeastern Europe. I made a really silly / stupid award booking mistake, and I want to share it with my readers so you can learn from my mistake and not make the same mistake.
After doing some award searching, I found this award ticket on Air Canada for 37,500 Air Canada Aeroplan miles. The price was higher than the 30,000 United Airlines miles, but I am trying to save my Chase Ultimate Reward Points and I had a stash of Air Canada Aeroplan miles that I wanted to redeem.

domain: travel


text:
There are racquets that are specifically designed for beginners and novice. This allows them to practice the sport and enjoy at the same time. This allows them to grow and improve as a player, and to discover their own game style. In other words, the best tennis racquet for beginners makes learning the game more enjoyable and a lot easier.
At the same time, it allows them to grow and improve as a player, and to discover their own game style. In other words, the best tennis racquet for beginners makes learning the game more enjoyable and a lot easier.
Tennis racquets for beginners sometimes called game improvement racquets. This is because they are designed to help novice players improve their game and learn more about the ins and outs of the sport.
Generally, the racquet that’s best for beginners is lightweight and has medium-to-stiff flex and large to an oversized head. We will find out more about each of these characteristics and how are they helpful for beginning players.
Read my earlier post here if you missed how to choose a tennis racquet.
Lightweight Tennis Racquet for Beginners
Tennis racquets are generally divided into three classes in terms of weight: light racquets (which weighs around 7.9 to 9.7 ounces), medium racquets (which weighs 9.8 to 10.5 ounces), and heavy racquets 10.6 to 11.9 ounces).
For beginners, the best racquet is the one that falls under the lightweight tennis racquet class. It gives more power and spin, which is perfect for a novice who naturally has slower swing speed.
Another benefit of using lightweight racquet is maneuverability. This allows novice more control. However, normally, when the player advances, he or she may need heavier racquets like Babolat Pure Drive Lite for power, control, and faster swing speed.
This comes with Babolat tennis bag of your choice if you buy from Amazon.
Oversized Head Tennis Racquet for Beginners
The best tennis racquet for beginners is one with an oversized head, which has an average size of 107 to 135 sq. inches.
The main benefit of using a racquet with an oversized head is that it gives the player more forgiveness on off-center hits and a larger sweet spot. Because as a new player, you tend to make many mistakes and have a lot of mishits by mistaking ball position.
It also provides more power to the player. These features will allow the player to play with more control, power, and consistency.I have an earlier post on tennis racquet head sizes here if you missed it.
These are all helpful for the player to improve his game and develop his style as he or she advances to the next level of play.These tennis r racquets can players as well as beginner adults.
I’m trying to make this clear because sometimes people think those beginner tennis racquets are only meant for kids which is not the case. This goes together well if the racquet or body is lightweight.
Medium-to-Stiff Flex Beginner Tennis racquet
The deflection or flexibility of the racquet frame during ball contact is essential for the game. The amount a frame flexes affects its power. As a general rule, a flexible racket results in more energy loss because it has more “gives.”
A stiffer tennis racquet, on the other hand, depletes less energy because it flexes less. Going by this description, beginning and intermediate players can benefit from a stiffer racquet because it provides more power and is perfect for those with slower swing speeds.
However, the downside to this is that it can be uncomfortable for the players. Stiffer racquets transmit more impact to the shoulder, elbow, and wrist, which can possibly cause pain and injury.
A safer choice for beginners is a racquet with a medium flex. This kind of racquet combines more control and power and helps players avoid muscle injury and fatigue at the same time.
If you need help with choosing the right racquet for your tennis game, you can check out some of the latest game improvement racquets that meet the criteria. Currently, two of the highly rated racquets for beginners are Wilson n1 and Head Liquidmetal 8.
The n1 has a lighter weight and a slightly larger head which is more forgiving and gives the player more power during the game. The Liquidmetal 8, on the other hand, is designed to provide more control, which makes it perfect for novices who are still improving their skills.
Whatever beginner tennis racket you are thinking of, knowing how to choose the best beginner tennis racquet is not hard, you won’t go wrong if you just follow the three main criteria: lightweight, oversized head, and medium-to-stiff flex.
You can always find a demo racquet to try that meets the criteria. It’s always great to try the racquet out before purchasing. Finding the best tennis racquet for beginners all boils down to choosing the one that feels right for you.Read more if you need more info here.Remember as your game gets better and footwork improves, you will need to upgrade your tennis racquet to fit your game.
Leave me a message below if you have any questions

domain: hobby


text:
NEW COLLECTION GAIA TAPESTRY SPIRITUAL
,,Color hides a power still unknown but real, which acts on every part of the human body”
You may wonder what colors have to do with spirituality. We strongly believe that the universe leaves us traces through the colors that our unconscious mind registers. Have you ever felt the power of colors that elevate you toward progress and sense of the highest level of spirituality with the immense support of the Mother Nature? Do you ever noticed they can bring you joy, happiness, love and inner peace and make you feel specially relaxed and calm?
Our new collection Gaia Tapestry Spiritual is all about colors that can make you alive, joyful and intertwined with our beautiful Mother Nature Gaia, mother of all life on the planet.
We are inspired by combination of colors that nourish our soul and lead us to become more aware of our mission on the Earth.
Like a flower turning towards the sun, we choose Nature to become our spiritual path and inviting you to dive into the power of colors with Gaia Tapestry Spiritual.
Allow your autenticity to express itself through combination of colors that we have created.
Let’s travel through the healing power of colors with our new collection Gaia Tapestry

domain: artistic


text:
World Government Baseball T-Shirts
High resolution illustration, consists on 2 colours, Black and White without a background (transparent). Would look best on white, gray, light yellow, light blue, light green and other light colours as backgrounds. Try to not purchase it on dark backgrounds as it will be difficult to tell the design!!
Tags: mystic, black-and-white, artistic, vector, graphic

domain: design


text:
Portugal has a daily average of 2.25 deaths per million inhabitants attributed to the disease in the last seven days, below the European Union average for this indicator, which is 3.37.
Portugal is one of the countries in the European Union with the fewest deaths attributed to Covid-19, according to data from the statistical site Our World in Data.
According to figures updated to date, Portugal has a daily average of 2.25 deaths per million inhabitants attributed to the disease in the last seven days, below the European Union average for this indicator, which is 3.37, but above the world average of 0.91.
Of the EU countries, Latvia has the highest average (9.26), followed by Estonia (8.3), Lithuania (8.1), Bulgaria (7.25) and Denmark (6.9).
Globally, Hong Kong has the highest average (25.5 deaths per day attributed to Covid-19), followed by Latvia, Estonia, Georgia (8.1) and Lithuania.
Concerning daily new cases per million inhabitants, Portugal has had an average of 1,040 in the last seven days, the 11th highest.
In this indicator, Latvia has the highest average of 3,980, followed by the Netherlands (3,640), Austria (3,290), Denmark (2,850) and Estonia (2,540).
The European average of new daily cases per million inhabitants is 1,070, and the world average is 193.
In the rest of the world, considering only countries with more than one million inhabitants, Iceland has the highest average of new cases (6,800), followed by Hong Kong (5,680), New Zealand (4,300) and South Korea (4,370).
Covid-19 has caused at least 5,978,400 deaths worldwide since the start of the pandemic, according to the latest balance of the agency France-Presse, released on Saturday.
In Portugal, since March 2020, 21,199 people have died, and 3,332,134 cases of infection have been counted, according to the latest data from the health authority (DGS).
The disease is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, detected in late 2019 in Wuhan, a city in central China.
The Omicron variant, which spreads and mutates rapidly, has become dominant worldwide since it was first detected in South Africa in November.

domain: geography


text:
The possibilities are limitless! This is the perfect beginner resin tutorial for anyone wondering how to make a resin pendant. Here are the 6 steps to making your resin pendant jewelry.
For inspiration on making resin jewelry, check out our getting started guide.
HOW TO MAKE RESIN PENDANT JEWELRY
Before you begin, you’ll want to make sure you’re wearing your nitrile gloves and working in a well-ventilated area . It also helps to work on a waxed paper coated surface, making it easy to clean up spills. Here are 6 easy steps to complete your resin pendant.
1. PREPARE THE MOLD AND MIX THE RESIN
Preparing the mold and mixing the resin
Spray a light mist of Castin’ Craft mold releaser and conditioner on the mold and let dry (usually 20-30 minutes).
Measure the appropriate amounts of resin for your desired resin pendant and hardener into two separate wells – Resin Obsession Super Clear Resin mixes in two parts resin to one part hardener.
Measured 10 ccs of resin and 5 ccs of hardener (the minimum amount we recommend mixing).
Tip: While it may be tempting to use just one cup, using two cups will allow you to pour out any excess you accidentally spilled.
2. POUR THE RESIN INTO THE MOLD
Pour resin into the mold
Pour your hardener into the cup with the resin and mix thoroughly with the stir. While mixing, scrape the sides of the cup and stir several times during the process.
When resin does not cure properly, it is almost always related to incorrect measurement and incomplete mixing. Don’t overlook the importance of this step!
If you find yourself with sticky resin , this article will help you troubleshoot: Why is my resin sticky?
Pour your resin well into the cabochon. Tip: Squeezing the cup into a pour spout will make pouring easier.
3. PLACE THE BUTTONS IN THE RESIN
Place the buttons in the resin
Carefully place your button jewelry into the resin . Use your craft stick to reposition the buttons as desired
4. REMOVE BUBBLES AND LET DRY
Remove bubbles and let dry
Before letting your piece dry, remove any bubbles that may be in your resin. You can do this by blowing lightly on the surface of the resin using a straw.
Be careful not to inhale the resin! You can also draw bubbles using a toothpick. Cover your resin casting with a dome before letting it dry.
Tip: Sometimes trapped bubbles can rise to the surface later. Be sure to recheck your cast in about 20-30 minutes for any extra bubbles.
5. UNMOLD AND FINISH THE EDGES
Mold release and edge finishing
Unmold your resin cabochon once it has hardened by turning the mold over and pressing gently from the back while twisting it. The cabochon should come out easily.
Sand any sharp edges or extra resin with 400-600 grit wet/dry sandpaper. You’ll want the sandpaper to be wet so the friction from sanding doesn’t melt dust into your resin cabochon and finish off your resin jewelry pendant .
Finish your resin jewelry pendant
6. APPLY JEWELRY SEARCH
Application of jewelry search
Once your pendant is finished, glue the bail on the back with E6000. You will need to apply glue to the bail and the back of the pendant.
Let stand 2-3 minutes before pressing the two parts together. The glue needs 24 hours to be completely dry and secure.
After the pendant bail glue has dried, cut or remove any extra E6000 adhesive.
PS Royi Sal Jewelry, as a leader in silver jewelry design and manufacturing for decades, invites you to download our latest magazine here and enjoy the exceptional jewelry designs at affordable prices you will find in the magazine. Click here to download it now.


text:
Motosumo is a fitness app that allows you to ride any bike, anywhere and still enjoy all of the features. This workout app is most famous for its live cycling classes and ability to track metrics without any fancy wearable technology, compatibility issues or any serious workout equipment needed apart from an indoor bike. With fitness instructors all over the world, Motosumo was created to empower members with interactive workouts they can enjoy anywhere in 2020. In this Motosumo review, we will be looking at its main pros, cons and suitability so let’s dive right in!
Key Takeaways & Highlights of Motosumo Review
Before we dive into details, here are the key takeaways and highlights:
Get Motosumo app if:
- You want a simple workout targeted around cycling;
- You’re looking for beginner-friendly workouts with low modification options;
- You want an app that can track your rides and workouts for you;
- You have an indoor bike and a smartphone;
- You want to stay motivated to achieve your workout goals;
- You don’t want to deal with equipment compatibility issues.
Don’t get the Motosumo app if:
- Your bike has a magnetic resistance system or doesn’t have handlebar sensors;
- You don’t want to spend too much money on fitness tracking apps;
- You prefer high-intensity programs;
- You’re advanced;
- You are not willing to commit some time to work out (or exercise in general).
What Is Motosumo?
The Motosumo app allows you to ride any bike, anytime without worrying about compatibility issues or other equipment needed. Motosumo cycling classes are live, instructor-led, and have 180+ classes a month. Motosumo is compatible with indoor bikes and smartphones along with workout programs designed by the Motosumo team.
Motosumo was created back in 2015 by a Denmark-based team of engineers and an elite athlete. Currently, it can run on any device with Bluetooth connectivity which is quite easy to connect and use. Motosumo works on Android and iOS devices, which means you don’t need a special bike or other equipment to use Motosumo as it will still pull workouts metrics afterwards.
Motosumo uses the built-in motion sensors of smartphones to generate live fitness metrics on indoor bikes, independent of any machine or equipment. These metrics are not 100% accurate, but it’s better than nothing. Overall, we thought its a good thing as it would give rough estimates of burned calories which better helps to achieve one’s fitness goals.
However, Motosumo does not offer high-intensity training. Motosumo is designed for beginners, moderate exercisers, and people looking to maintain their current fitness levels. So if you’re looking for but kicking routines, perhaps go with other apps like Beachbody or MyZone.
In a nutshell, Motosumo helps you create a custom workout based on your ability level, the available equipment you have access to, and how much time you want to spend working out. Motosumo also takes care of tracking your progress like in the picture below, although we must say that it being new and all, it did have some glitches.
What Makes It Special?
Motosumo allows you to enjoy a live instructor-led cycling workout with other Motosumo users. Motosumo also offers audio coaching that can be customized based on your needs during workouts.
Not only do the Motosumo instructors motivate you, but Motosumo gives you access to more than 180+ classes each month so there is always a workout that fits your schedule. Motosumo also has instructors from all over the world, so you will have access to classes via live webcasts and recorded videos in different languages as well!
Motosumo automatically tracks metrics like cadence on indoor bikes, 100% independent of any branded equipment. This makes fitness more accessible for those who might not have a piece of specific equipment at home. For comparison, in order to use the Peloton app, users must get one of their indoor cycling bikes. Here, the app can be used with all sorts of bikes.
Motosumo is available to download on iPhone and Android. The app has been downloaded more than 300,000 times on Google Play and over 250,000 times on the Apple App Store. But the user base keeps growing on a daily basis.
Since its inception, it has managed to amass a decent rating of five stars on Google Play. Motosumo in the app store has managed to amass a rating of five out of five in just over three months since its launch, which is quite impressive for an application so young and yet so popular! This is merely due to its usability features that allow users to use any type of cycling bike in order to use the app. Meantime cycling apps like SoulCycle only works if you schedule workouts within the gym setting.
The Motosumo Review – Core Features
In our Motosumo review, we’ll now go over some features found in Motosumo that make it such a popular choice among fitness enthusiasts and people looking for an innovative workout.
Motosumo has several features to help you customize your workouts, track progress, and motivate yourself so Motosumo is best suited for individuals who have access to indoor bikes or stationary recumbent bikes in their homes/gyms, etc. Let’s take a look at what they are and how you’ll use them.
Motosumo can be used on any stationary bike that has a Bluetooth connectivity feature, so if you don’t have access to an indoor cycle or recumbent exercise bicycle in your gym/home facility then Motosumo may not be the best choice for you. This also means you don’t need a special bike or equipment to use Motosumo.
Motosumo is compatible with both iOS and Android devices so users have access to all the features of Motosumo regardless of their operating system preference.
Motosumo does not offer high-intensity training but it is designed to be used by beginners as well as people looking to maintain their current fitness levels. Motosumo helps you create a custom workout based on your ability level, the available equipment you have access to, and how much time you want to spend working out. Motosumo also takes care of tracking your progress so all you need to do is show up ready for class!
Motosumo allows users to enjoy a live instructor-led workout with other Motosumo users and Motosumo offers audio coaching that can be customized based on individual needs during workouts. Another fitness app that offers audio couching is Aaptiv so if you’re after audio coaching but with a focus on HIIT, check it out here!
Last but not the least, Motosumo is a great app for those who want to feel motivated and enjoy tracking their rides! Motosumo provides motivation because it tracks workouts and has live, instructor-led classes. It also allows you to ride any bike anywhere so there’s no need to worry about compatibility issues.
The Motosumo Review – Pricing
The Motosumo app is free to download but to view the unlimited live classes, the user will have to subscribe for $12.99 a month. The payment comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
The Motosumo Review – Motosumo vs Similar Apps
There are many apps that Motosumo competes with in the cycling training niche, but most of these other apps just do not offer Motosumo’s range of features. Furthermore, the Motosumo app is constantly being upgraded to meet users’ needs and provide them with a better experience!
Compared to similar workout-tracking apps like Peloton or Flywheel, Motosumo is a much cheaper option for indoor bike riders. Motosumo also has live webcasts and classes, whereas other apps do not offer this feature.
- Motosumo vs Peloton – Motosumo is currently the only app that allows you to track your workouts even if you ride on any type of bicycle! You can use Motosumo whether you’re at home or outside, while Peloton only allows riders to track their indoor rides. Motosumo is also compatible with both iOS and Android phones whereas Peloton’s app works on iPhones but not Androids;
- Motosumo vs Flywheel – Motosumo has live webcasts of workouts in addition to the recorded classes, whereas this feature is not available on Flywheel. Motosumo also has a much larger selection of workouts and instructors than the limited number currently offered by Flywheel;
- Motosumo vs Zwift – Motosumo’s classes are taught live with real-time feedback from motivational trainers. You can use Motosumo whether you’re at home or outside, while Zwift can only be used on an indoor trainer. Motosumo is also compatible with both iOS and Android phones whereas the Zwift app works on iPhones but not Androids.
Overall, Motosumo is a comparatively better choice, if not the best, for indoor bike riders. Although legitimate we did experience slow response times and occasional glitches when browsing through and interacting with the app.
The Motosumo Review – Final Thoughts
All in all, Motosumo is a great app for bike riders who want to enjoy workouts that are fun and beneficial. Motosumo’s instructors provide valuable advice on forms that can be applied both indoors and out. Its live webcasts of classes keep you motivated with real-time feedback from exercise professionals!
If you’re tired of the monotony of workouts, Motosumo may be an innovative solution to liven up your workout schedule. We could tell that the app has been designed with the user in mind and provides them with everything they need from an indoor cycling app. However, we do not recommend the app for users who are looking for weight loss, HIIT, or any other advanced training as Motosumo was simply just “too easy”.
The Motosumo app is simple yet effective when it comes to helping beginners get in shape. Good app for those who are just getting started with indoor biking or want to maintain their fitness levels. So, if you have access to an indoor bike and don’t need high-intensity training then Motosumo may be the perfect workout solution for you!
As we come to conclude our Motosumo review, let’s give you a quick overview of the pros and cons of this app:
- Motosumo is easy to use;
- The app provides great customer support;
- Compatible with the widest range of indoor bikes;
- All paid plans offer motivational audio coaching;
- 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Paid plans may not be affordable for all;
- Motosumo may not be suitable for intense workouts;
- No live outdoor classes.
To conclude our Motosumo review, it’s clear that Motosumo beats most other apps in terms of features and usability with its live webcasts of classes keeping you motivated throughout your workout, and Motosumo’s easy-to-use interface guides you through your classes. Motosumo is a great app for indoor bike riders who want to enjoy workouts that are fun and beneficial.
Motosumo’s instructors provide valuable advice on forms that can be applied both indoors and out. Motosumo has been designed with the user in mind and provides them with everything they need from an indoor cycling app!
Motosumo is an effective and affordable app that provides users with live training sessions, the ability to track their workouts even on any bike, and a wide variety of classes. In fact, Motosumo is currently the only option when it comes to tracking your indoor rides!
So, if you have access to an indoor bike and don’t need high-intensity training then Motosumo may be the perfect workout solution for you.
Thanks for reading our Motosumo review and if you have any questions about the app that we didn’t answer in our Motosumo review, please leave a comment down below.
We do hope that our Motosumo review helped you! If it did, please let us know. Also, if there is a topic that you’d like us to write about in the future, please let us know in the comments. We love hearing from our users and will do our best to make sure we keep making improvements based on your suggestions.


text:
Countless books, articles, and lectures have given theories about the mysterious lost continent of Atlantis. It seems that in “New Age” literature everything originated in Atlantis. Where does this come from? The source of the Atlantis story goes back centuries to a handful of pages in “Plato’s Dialogues.” Plato, who was born somewhere around 423 BCE, was a Greek philosopher, poet, and mathematician. He wrote a story called “Critias,” where he describes the Island of Atlantis.
In the story, Critias is talking with Socrates, Timaeus, and Hermocrates. He tells them a story, told to him by his grandfather, also named Critias, who heard the story from his grandfather, Dropides (young Critias' great grandfather) who heard the story from his friend and distant cousin, Solon. Solon heard the story from an Egyptian priest while he was traveling through Egypt. The Egyptian priest heard the story from another priest who said that it had been passed down through 9,000 years of previous priests who had been told by survivors of the great deluge.
The word "Liminal" refers to being over the threshold, but not through to the other side. It comes from the Latin word “Limen”meaning that place in between.

domain: library


text:
Hours after Game Informer revealed a new cover story featuring a code centering around Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, a Reddit user cracked and posted a translation. While scant details were revealed in either version of the code, both can be found in their entirety after the jump, and will certainly provide key words that will play a bigger part in the advertising of the game and the game itself.
DOVAHKIIN DOVAHKIIN / NAAL OK ZIN LOS VAHRIIN / WAH DEIN VOKUL MAHFAERAAK AHST VAAL / AHRK FIN NOROK PAAL GRAAN / FOD NUST HON ZINDRO ZIN / DOVAHKIIN FAH HIN KOGAAN MU DRAAL /
AHRK FIN KEL LOST PRODAH / DO VED VIING KO FIN KRAH / TOL FOD ZEYMAH WIN KEIN MEYZ FUNDEIN / ALDUIN FEYN DO JUN / KRUZIIK VOKUN STAADNAU / VOTH AAN BAHLOK WAH DIIVON FIN LEIN
DRAGONBORN DRAGONBORN / BY HIS HONOR IS SWORN / TO KEEP EVIL FOREVER AT BAY / AND THE FIERCEST ROUT / WHEN THEY HEAR TRIUMPH’S HONOR / DRAGONBORN FOR YOUR BLESSING WE PRAY
AND THE SCROLLS HAVE FORTOLD / OF BLACK WINGS IN THE COLD / THAT WHEN BROTHERS WAGE WAR COME UNFURLED / ALDUIN BANE OF KINGS / ANCIENT SHADOW UNBOUND / WITH A HUNGERY TO SWALLOW THE WORLD

domain: game


NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – A machete-wielding man was apprehended in New Rochelle on Monday morning after causing a ruckus outside of his Lafayette Avenue apartment.
Police confirmed that shortly after 7 a.m. on Monday, officers responded to Lafayette Avenue, where the suspect, wielding an approximately 18-inch knife, was breaking windows and making threats on residents’ lives.
When police arrived at the scene, the man then ran indoors to hide. Police surrounded the building and subsequently found the suspect hiding inside. A knife was also recovered after the suspect attempted to discard it near the rear of the building.
According to reports, police believe that alcohol may have influenced the man’s behavior. He allegedly became belligerent towards the arresting officers.
Police are still investigating the incident and searching for motive.
Keep following the Daily Voice for more details.
- 1 Drowning Victim, 22, ID'd; Stepson Of Schools Superintendent
- 2 New Scam Showing Up On Facebook Could Cost You Lots Of Money
- 3 Rain Could Spoil July 4 Events, Celebrations In New Rochelle
- 4 Three Hospitalized After Serious I-87 Crash Involving Tractor-Trailer, Car
- 5 Yonkers Man, 22, Drowns In Surf Off New Jersey Shore


Axiom Journey Disc
The bicycle industry’s original disc-brake compatible rack. We designed this rack as a problem solver back when disc-brakes were still a new thing. The Journey® Disc remains a favorite to this day thanks to its flexible yet elegant mounting options and industry-leading weight capacity.
CONSTRUCTION Hand-welded, tubular 10.2mm 6061 T6 aluminum.
MOUNTING SYSTEM Extra-long (280mm), adjustable Versalock® arms (for frames with eyelets).
Traditional stay on right (drive side).
Adjustable Versalock® stay on left (disc side).
FEATURES Triple stay design has a sweepback frame that prevents pannier bags from bouncing into your wheel while you ride.
Suitable for frames where disc-brake placement causes a compatibility issue with traditional racks.
Generous platform size is optimized for top loading things like trunk bags and rear baskets.
Designed for modern bicycles by sitting your load further back over the wheel where it is supposed to sit.
Increased heel clearance.
Enhanced trunk bag / seat clearance improves trunk bag function, especially on smaller frames.
280mm Versalock® arms are long enough to fit even the smallest of bikes.
Versalock® arms can be DIY bent up to 30 degrees without reducing strength.
Double welded for extra strength and long-term durability.
Ample room for a full range of fender styles
Reflector/light mount, Frame bolts included
Compatibility: 26”, 27”, 700c
Stay length: 365mm / 14.4”
Platform size: 390x150mm / 15.4”x5.9”
Weight: 730g / 1.6 lbs (including hardware)
Capacity: 50 kg / 110 lbs
Part Number: 171338 - Black
*Please note that our specifications may be impacted by running substitution changes, we highly recommend confirming the specifications of our products at the time of sale. *Recommended Retail Prices are subject to change without notice and may vary from store to store depending on freighting and assembly costs. Please read our Terms & Conditions
*Giant & Liv Bicycles are available for purchase online, but due to warranty regulations, must be shipped to qualified Giant dealers, as bicycles must be assembled by a qualified bike mechanic in an approved store - This is an international policy and usually will require an additional fee to build the bike. This will be confirmed by one of our online staff after purchase of the bike.
We Also Recommend
Axiom Seymour Oceanweave P55+


text:
Dexter Fletcher / United Kingdom, Canada, USA / 2019 / 121 min / English
An epic musical fantasy about the incredible story of Elton John’s breakthrough years. The film follows the fantastical journey of transformation from shy piano prodigy Reginald Dwight into an international superstar. Set to Elton John’s most beloved songs and performed by Taron Egerton, Rocketman tells the universally relatable story of how a small-town boy became one of the most iconic figures in pop culture.
Jacques Doillon / France, USA, Belgium / 2017 / 119 min / French
In collaboration with the Rodin Museum in Paris, French auteur Jacques Doillon shows the artist at work on the 100th anniversary of his death.
Romy's Salon Kapsalon Romy
Mischa Kamp / Netherlands, Germany / 2019 / 92 min / Slovene subtitles, Dutch / 9+
An earnest story about Romy and her grandmother united through the latter’s dementia introduces a child’s view on old age and disease, while gently reminding us why intergenerational connections are priceless.


text:
Chinese telecommunications company Huawei is stepping up production at its supply centre in Hungary, Huawei Technologies Hungary managing director Gavin Dai told MTI on Thursday.
The expansion of production and logistics services will make Hungary Huawei's second-biggest supply centre and one of its most important foreign investments, said Gavin Dai. Outside China, Huawei operates such a supply center only in Brazil, he added.
Huawei established its Europe Supply Center (ESC) in Hungary as an experiment in 2009, and now the 20-month test period has been successfully completed. Last year, the centre exported $600 million of product and this is expected to double in 2011.
The strategic step will "create a large number of jobs in Hungary", said Gavin Dai.


text:
As we have explored in a number of previous articles, media literacy is a critical skill in our digital age for a number of reasons. Developing the capacity to evaluate information and separate truth from fiction can help everyone avoid being taken in by deliberate disinformation.
Moreover, critical media literacy skills can boost civic engagement and political participation in audiences of all ages — and from a wide variety of communities — by creating a more informed and active population.
Put in simpler terms, media literacy is good for democracy.
Increased civic participation
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) initiated Global Media and Information Literacy Week in 2012. According to UNESCO's Media and Information Literacy Policy and Strategy Guidelines, media literacy education can result in increased citizen participation in society, which can lead to the following positive outcomes:
More active and democratic participation: UNESCO cites scholarly research suggesting that in addition to having positive effects on academic outcomes, information literacy and media literacy predispose citizens towards taking a more active role in society. Media and information literacy (MIL) “is a basis for freedom of expression, access to information and quality education for all,” the guidelines read. “Without MIL competencies, citizens cannot be well informed because they do not have access to information and are not empowered to process and use it.”
Awareness of ethical responsibilities for global citizenship: Media literacy deepens citizens’ understanding of such fundamental rights as freedom of opinion, expression and communication, and the balance between these rights and ethical responsibilities at the personal and societal level. By linking these responsibilities with the concept of global citizenship, media literacy education empowers all citizens to respect and promote the rights of others.
Enabling diversity, dialog and tolerance: MIL encourages greater engagement with society, which makes it a powerful tool to enable intercultural dialog, tolerance and cultural understanding across different sectors of society and among all age groups.
Why we need media literacy
As we learn more about how critical media literacy is, and the positive impact it can have on civic and political engagement, the more it becomes clear just how much work remains to be done.
According to a report published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, 40.7% of Slovakian high-school students aged 16 to 19 could not differentiate between fake and true health articles when researchers asked them to read articles that contained messages about the nutritional value of various fruits and vegetables.
In an earlier study designed to assess students’ skills in discerning fact from fiction, researchers at Stanford University gave 3,446 high-school-aged Americans a series of exercises to gauge how capable they were at evaluating information found on the internet.
According to the study’s executive summary, “The results — if they can be summarized in a word — are troubling.”
The Stanford team reported that 96% of participants failed to question the credibility of an online source, and two-thirds of them could not discern the difference between news articles and advertisements.
Safeguarding democracy against misinformation
“Reliable information is to civic health what proper sanitation and potable water are to public health,” the researchers wrote. “A polluted information supply imperils our nation’s civic health.”
The study called for “high-quality digital literacy curricula, validated by rigorous research,” to safeguard democracy against the dangerous consequences of misinformation.
“Education moves slowly,” the executive summary reads. “Technology doesn’t. If we don’t act with urgency, our students’ ability to engage in civic life will be the casualty.”
The role of libraries
What can librarians do to promote both media literacy and increased civic or political participation among their patrons?
Public libraries can start by offering workshops designed to help patrons develop critical thinking and news analysis skills that empower them to understand and make sense of the messages they read, hear and see.
Wherever they get their info — be it in the morning paper, via social media platforms or on a digital news app such as PressReader — participation in a media literacy program can help readers critically evaluate information and consider a story from more than one point of view.
Connecting readers with trusted sources
Media literacy promotes civic participation, empowering societies to hold those in power accountable, and helping to reduce inequalities.
One key way that libraries can help their patrons improve their media literacy skills is by giving them access to trustworthy journalistic sources.
Libraries can, for example, offer access to trusted journalism with tools like Pressreader, a digital platform featuring current and back issues of thousands of newspapers and magazines from around the world. Engaging with a broad variety of sources from across the political spectrum allows media consumers to do “lateral reading”.
What is lateral reading?
The concept of lateral reading emerged from research conducted by the Stanford History Education Group (SHEG), led by its founder and executive director Sam Wineburg.
According to the News Literacy Project:
Lateral reading helps you determine an author’s credibility, intent and biases by searching for articles on the same topic by other writers (to see how they are covering it) and for other articles by the author you’re checking on. That’s what professional fact-checkers do.
By opening readers’ eyes to the wide range of perspectives available in quality journalism, librarians not only encourage further civic engagement, they also help patrons avoid the sort of online echo chambers that foment he most harmful and isolating ideologies.
Three key questions to ask
According to one MIT study, readers' ability to discern between real and fake headlines improved by 26% when they were given blunt reminders about critical thinking, including prompts like “if shocking claims in headlines sound unbelievable, they probably are.”
To help readers evaluate the credibility of sources, librarians can share a simple checklist of rules as part of a media-literacy program. For example, Common Sense Media recommends consuming any media with the following three questions in mind:
Who created this?
Why did they make it?
What techniques are being used to make this message credible or believable?
Media literacy: a foundational skill
While cautioning that it is not a panacea (and "must be accompanied by a holistic societal approach to the challenges of disinformation"), the News Literacy Project makes the case that media literacy is a precondition of a modern democratic society:
Educating and empowering the individual to be more discerning consumers of news and information (news literacy) is foundational to strengthening our democratic society. News literacy helps people civically engage in more meaningful, authentic and empowering ways while also helping people hold news media accountable.

domain: sociology


text:
The Dalmatian⁚ Spots‚ Energy‚ and the Perfect Adventure Buddy
The Dalmatian is a breed of dog that is instantly recognizable by its unique coat of spots. Known for their high energy levels and friendly nature‚ Dalmatians make excellent adventure buddies for active individuals or families. In this article‚ we will explore the characteristics that make Dalmatians such special companions.
The most notable feature of the Dalmatian is its coat of spots. Dalmatians are born completely white and develop their spots as they grow. The spots can be black or liver-colored‚ and they cover the entire body‚ including the ears and tail. No two Dalmatians have the same pattern of spots‚ making each dog truly unique.
Aside from their spots‚ Dalmatians have a sleek and muscular build. They have a medium-sized body with a deep chest and long legs‚ which contribute to their agility and endurance.
Dalmatians are known for their boundless energy. They require regular exercise to keep them physically and mentally stimulated. Daily walks‚ runs‚ or play sessions in a secure area are essential to prevent them from becoming bored or destructive.
Due to their high energy levels‚ Dalmatians excel in various dog sports and activities‚ such as agility‚ obedience‚ and even dock diving. They are always up for a challenge and love to engage in physical activities with their human companions.
Intelligent and Trainable
Dalmatians are highly intelligent dogs and quick learners. They thrive on mental stimulation and enjoy learning new tricks and commands. However‚ their intelligence can sometimes lead to stubbornness‚ so consistent and positive reinforcement-based training methods are essential.
Early socialization is crucial for Dalmatians to ensure they grow up to be well-rounded and friendly dogs. Exposing them to various people‚ animals‚ and environments from a young age helps prevent any behavioral issues that may arise from fear or anxiety.
Loving and Loyal Companions
Despite their energetic nature‚ Dalmatians are affectionate and love being part of a family. They form strong bonds with their human companions and thrive on attention and affection. They are known to be good with children and can be protective of their loved ones.
Dalmatians are social dogs and may not do well if left alone for long periods. They require plenty of human interaction and may become anxious or develop destructive behaviors if they feel neglected.
The Perfect Adventure Buddy
With their energy‚ intelligence‚ and friendly nature‚ Dalmatians are the perfect adventure buddies. They love exploring new places‚ going on hikes‚ or accompanying their owners on outdoor activities. Whether it’s a long walk in the park or a weekend camping trip‚ Dalmatians are always up for an adventure.
However‚ it’s important to note that owning a Dalmatian requires commitment and dedication. They need an active lifestyle‚ mental stimulation‚ and plenty of love and attention. If you are ready for the challenge and can provide them with the care they need‚ a Dalmatian can be an incredible and rewarding companion.
In conclusion‚ Dalmatians are more than just dogs with spots. They are energetic‚ intelligent‚ and loving companions that thrive on adventure and human interaction. Their distinctive appearance‚ combined with their friendly nature‚ makes them a breed that stands out from the crowd. If you are seeking a loyal and active companion‚ a Dalmatian may be the perfect fit for you.

domain: pet


text:
Index of content:
Volume 8, Issue 9, 01 September 1940
Studies of Equilibrium Solid Solutions in Ionic Lattices Systems: KMnO4–KClO4–H2O and NH4Cl–MnCl2–H2O8(1940); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1750735View Description Hide Description
1. The systems, potassium permanganate‐potassium perchlorate‐water and ammonium chloride‐manganous chloride‐water, have been studied at equilibrium conditions by phase rule and x‐ray diffraction methods. 2. The system potassium permanganate‐potassium perchlorate‐water yields a continuous series of solid solutions having orthorhombic crystal symmetry. For these, the components of which are of similar crystal and chemical structure and of identical valence type, Vegard's additivity law is followed by the a 0 and c 0lattice constants, but the b 0 constant shows a definite deviation. 3. A method is described of obtaining homogeneous crystals with a particle size which gives excellent powder diffraction photograms in cases where heat annealing is not feasible. 4. A method of analyzing for ClO4 — is given. 5. The danger of making serious errors is pointed out in the use of rapid precipitation by chemical reaction or from supersaturated solutions as a method of preparing solid solutions for the study of the relationship between their lattice constants and composition. 6. The system ammonium chloride‐manganous chloride‐water shows three solid solution series; the crystals obtained in the first series have cubic symmetry, while in the others the symmetry is tetragonal. 7. The mechanism of the formation of the ``anomalous'' solid solutions between ammonium chloride and manganous chloride is given. Experimental and other considerations verify it. 8. It is shown that Vegard's law is not followed by the first solid solution series in which the components are of dissimilar chemical and crystal structure and dissimilar valence types. The curve for the relationship between the lattice constants and composition rises to a maximum and then falls off. Reasons to explain why this law does not apply to these solid solutions are given. 9. The existence of a new ``compound,'' 6NH4Cl·MnCl2·2H2O, is demonstrated. This and the known compound, 2NH4Cl·MnCl2·‐2H2O, are considered to be examples of ``compounds of variable composition.'' They are tetragonal with a 0 = 15.256±0.004A, c 0 = 16.008±0.007A and a 0 = 7.5139±0.0005A, c 0 = 8.245±0.003A, respectively. The structure of the latter is that of 2NH4Cl·CuCl2·2H2O which belongs to space group D 4 14 h or P4mnm.
Application of the Theory of Absolute Reaction Rates to Heterogeneous Processes I. The Adsorption and Desorption of Gases8(1940); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1750736View Description Hide Description
By regarding the process of adsorption as involving a reaction between a molecule of gas and an adsorbing center on the solid surface, it has been possible, with the aid of the theory of absolute reaction rates, to derive for the rates of adsorption and desorption of gases simple equations which can be tested experimentally. Different results are obtained according as the adsorbed gas forms an immobile or a mobile layer on the surface: in the latter circumstance, which does not appear to be common, the rate of adsorption would be given by the Hertz‐Knudsen equation, provided there were no activation energy for adsorption. Combination of the expressions for the rates of adsorption and desorption gives an adsorption isotherm of the same form as that originally derived by Langmuir. Various cases of adsorption accompanied by dissociation of the adsorbed molecule are considered and the appropriate rate equations are deduced. If the molecule undergoes dissociation in the course of adsorption and the atoms remain on neighboring sites, these equations and the isotherm are the same as if there had been no dissociation, but if the molecule is adsorbed as such and then dissociation occurs as the result of an atom jumping from one adsorption center to another, the rate equations and isotherm differ from those obtained previously. The isotherm involves p ½ instead of p, but the form of the rate equation depends on whether the adsorption of the molecule or the jump of the atom is the slow stage. The possibility of interaction between adsorbed atoms or molecules in an immobile film on the surface is considered, and a modified isotherm which makes allowance for such interaction is derived. Equations have also been deduced for adsorption on covered surfaces.
Application of the Theory of Absolute Reaction Rates to Heterogeneous Processes II. Chemical Reactions on Surfaces8(1940); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1750737View Description Hide Description
The method developed in the preceding paper is used to derive equations for the rates of unimolecular and bimolecular heterogeneous gas reactions under various conditions of surface coverage by either reactants or poisons. The resulting equations are of the same form as those previously deduced by Langmuir and others, but they are more explicit; provided the activation energy is known they can be utilized to calculate rates of surface reactions which are in good agreement with the observed values. In the case of the dissociation of hydrogen on a tungstensurface, the simple assumption that the activated state consists of hydrogen atoms permits the absolute rate of the reaction to be calculated with an accuracy which is at least as good as that attained by direct experimental measurement. The factors responsible for the difference in rates of the same reaction taking place homogeneously or heterogeneously are considered; it is shown that adsorption of the activated complex lowers the over‐all activation energy, and this has the most important influence in favoring the surface reaction. If one of the products, or any other substance acting as a poison, is strongly adsorbed, the effective activation energy is increased, but there is some compensation resulting from the increase of entropy accompanying the desorption of the poison.
8(1940); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1750738View Description Hide Description
The potential energy surfaces for the reactions of two hydrogen atoms with another hydrogen‐like atom having a single valence electron in a 2p orbital are investigated. The simple Heitler‐London approximation is used in the calculations. The calculated activation energies for the reactions:where X is the atom having the 2p valence electron, are quite low, ∼1 Calorie. This is in good agreement with the experimental results for X = halogen, and the general principle that directed valence lowers activation energies. The symmetrical configurations for the H2X complex are found to have the lowest energy. In fact, a triangular complex was found to be stable with respect to dissociation into either HX+H or H2+X. The mechanism of the reactions between hydrogen and the halogens is discussed.
The Mechanism of Reactions Involving Excited Electronic States The Gaseous Reactions of the Alkali Metals and Halogens8(1940); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1750739View Description Hide Description
In many of the reactions of the alkali metals with the halogens the reacting system changes from a homopolar to a polar state, or vice versa. The possibility of a restriction on this change is considered, and it is concluded that there will be a serious restriction only for some of the atomic reactions which are of little importance. The crossing points between the polar and homopolar states for the reactions are drawn in so close that the interaction is large enough to insure transition. Due to the threefold degeneracy of the initial state of b (which arises because X is in a P state) this reaction has the possibility of leading directly to the excitation of the M atom which is formed. The nature of the potential surfaces for this process are considered. The process first suggested by Polanyi, the excitation of M atoms by vibrationally excited MX molecules, is discussed. This process is possible because of a crossing of the two lowest polar states for the M2X system. These two surfaces cross for a certain isosceles triangular configuration. Reacting systems thus easily go from the lowest to the second state in this region.
8(1940); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1750740View Description Hide Description
The Raman spectra of dibromochloro‐, bromo‐dichloro‐, dichlorofluoro‐, chlorodifluoro‐, dibromofluoro‐ and bromochlorofluoro‐methane have been studied. Their fundamental frequencies have been correlated and systematized. Simple graphical means were used to predict the Raman frequencies of CHBrF2 and CHF3. It was found that the C—X bond will show a ``characteristic'' frequency whenever the halogen X is the only and lightest of this type in a halomethane.
8(1940); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1750741View Description Hide Description
The absorptionspectrum of heavy benzene at 2700–2300A has been analyzed. As in light benzene it represents a forbidden transition 1 A 1g →B 2u 1 made allowed through the interaction of vibrations of type ε g +. Interpretations have been given for the majority of the bands. The measured bands together with the assignments are exhibited in Table I.
8(1940); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1750742View Description Hide Description
A method is developed for calculating thermodynamic functions for long chain molecules with particular attention to normal paraffins. In this connection the infinite chain approximation method for calculating vibration frequencies is considered. Starting with the results of Kirkwood, a modification is made which improves the agreement with the exact values for the simpler cases. In addition this method of attack is extended to out of plane motions. This vibrational analysis shows that all skeletal frequencies for molecules of the normal paraffin type can be put into two groups, one fairly narrow band near 1000 cm—1, and a broader band extending from 0 to 460 cm—1. The partition function is then set up on the assumption that motions in the low frequency group can be treated classically, and that the high frequency band can be replaced by a suitable number of 1000 cm—1 frequencies. Contributions from hydrogen atom vibrations are added on later. A formula is finally obtained which is quite simple, considering the complexity of the molecules. The calculated entropies can be brought into agreement with experimental values on the basis of very reasonable internal rotation restricting barriers.
8(1940); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1750807View Description Hide Description
A theory of depolymerization of long chain molecules is developed on a statistical basis. It is assumed that all bonds connecting monomeric elements in the system have the same probability of being broken regardless of their position in a given polymer and regardless of the size of the polymer in which they are found. Expressions are derived for the distribution of molecular sizes in the depolymerized system as a function of the initial chain length and the average number of bonds split per molecule. Also, relationships are established between the average molecular weight of the degraded product and the average number of bonds split per molecule. Experiments on the acetolytic degradation of cellulose acetate are briefly discussed.
8(1940); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1750808View Description Hide Description
The theory recently developed by Frank‐Kamenetzky for thermal explosions in which heat is removed by conduction only, has been applied to the azomethane, ethyl azide and methyl nitrate explosions. A fairly detailed discussion has been given of the experimental results and their relation to the theory. In the case of azomethane and ethyl azide the conclusion is reached that at low pressuresthermal conduction as contrasted to convection is an important, if not the exclusive, method of removal of heat from the reacting gas, with deviation appearing at high pressures. As was already concluded by Rice and Campbell, the results appear to indicate that the methyl nitrate explosion is not a thermal explosion. Certain criticisms directed by Frank‐Kamenetzky against the determination of the heat of reaction from the induction period, as carried out by Rice and Campbell, have been considered and refuted.
8(1940); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1750809View Description Hide Description
The reaction of hydrogen atoms, produced by the Wood‐Bonhoeffer method, with butane has been investigated over the temperature range 35° to 250°C. The activation energy is 9±1.5 kcal. The products consist solely of methane at low temperatures. At high temperatures ethane is also formed. It is concluded that the results indicate a mechanism in which a series of ``atomic cracking''reactions play the main role. The main steps in the postulated mechanism are: Primary process Secondary processes at low temperaturesAdditional secondary processes at higher temperatures
8(1940); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1750810View Description Hide Description
New electron diffraction photographs have been taken of NO2 extending the region previously investigated to include larger angles of scattering. An interference ring was found at (1/λ) sin ½θ = 0.49 followed by another ring appearing at 0.94 as determined by visual measurements. The outer portion of the pattern consists of two rather broad rings and two well‐defined minima. Theoretical intensities of scattering were computed for various nitrogen valence angles, assuming the positions of the two oxygens to be equivalent. The best fit, and probably the correct structure, gives the angle O–N–O = 130±2° with the N–O distance 1.21±.02A. Photographs were obtained from pure nitric acid vapor at 70°—85°C. The interference maxima were measured visually as far out as the eighth maximum at (1/λ) sin ½θ = 1.83; a prominent minimum was seen at 1.54. Theoretical intensities were computed for various likely models, disregarding the scattering by the hydrogen atom. Good agreement was obtained for a planar model having an NO2 group with the same structure found for nitrogen dioxide. The third oxygen atom O′ is located at a distance of 1.41±0.02A from the nitrogen atom and equidistant from the other oxygen atoms. A model having the nitrogen atom slightly out of the plane containing the oxygen atoms also gave good agreement with the experimental results. This model however is considered less probable in view of Raman spectra data which apparently require a planar structure for O′–NO2.

domain: chemistry