bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hypergravity hinders axonal development of motor neurons inCaenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Kalichamy Saraswathi Subbammal , Lee Tong Young , Yoon Kyoung-hye , Lee Jin Il
Published: November 2016

As space flight becomes more accessible in the future, humans will be exposed to gravity conditions other than our 1G environment on Earth. Our bodies and physiology, however, are adapted for life at 1G gravity. Altering gravity can have profound effects on the body, particularly the development of muscles, but the reasons and biology behind gravity’s effect are not fully known. We asked whether increasing gravity had effects on the development of motor neurons that innervate and control muscle, a relatively unexplored area of gravity biology. Using the nematode model organismCaenorhabditis elegans, we examined changes in response to hypergravity in the development of the 19 GABAergic DD/VD motor neurons that innervate body muscle. We found that a high gravity force above 10G significantly increases the number of animals with defects in the development of axonal projections from the DD/VD neurons. We showed that a critical period of hypergravity exposure during the embryonic/early larval stage was sufficient to induce defects. While characterizing the nature of the axonal defects, we found that in normal 1G gravity conditions, DD/VD axonal defects occasionally occurred, with the majority of defects occurring on the dorsal side of the animal and in the mid-body region, and a significantly higher rate of error in the 13 VD axons than the 6 DD axons. Hypergravity exposure increased the rate of DD/VD axonal defects, but did not change the distribution or the characteristics of the defects. Our study demonstrates that altering gravity can impact motor neuron development.
Hydrogen peroxide induced loss of heterozygosity correlates with replicative lifespan and mitotic asymmetry inSaccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Güven Emine , Parnell Lindsay A. , Jackson Erin D. , Parker Meighan C. , Gupta Nilin , Rodrigues Jenny , Qin Hong
Published: November 2016

Cellular aging inSaccharomyces cerevisiaecan lead to genomic instability and impaired mitotic asymmetry. To investigate the role of oxidative stress in cellular aging, we examined the effect of exogenous hydrogen peroxide on genomic instability and mitotic asymmetry in a collection of yeast strains with diverse backgrounds. We treated yeast cells with hydrogen peroxide and monitored the changes of viability and the frequencies of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in response to hydrogen peroxide doses. The mid-transition points of viability and LOH were quantified using sigmoid mathematical functions. We found that the increase of hydrogen peroxide dependent genomic instability often occurs before a drop in viability. We previously observed that elevation of genomic instability generally lags behind the drop in viability during chronological aging. Hence, onset of genomic instability induced by exogenous hydrogen peroxide treatment is opposite to that induced by endogenous oxidative stress during chronological aging, with regards to the midpoint of viability. This contrast argues that the effect of endogenous oxidative stress on genome integrity is well suppressed up to the dying-off phase during chronological aging. We found that the leadoff of exogenous hydrogen peroxide induced genomic instability to viability significantly correlated with replicative lifespan (RLS), indicating that yeast cells’ ability to counter oxidative stress contributes to their replicative longevity. Surprisingly, this leadoff is positively correlated with an inverse measure of endogenous mitotic asymmetry, indicating a trade-off between mitotic asymmetry and cell’s ability to fend off hydrogen peroxide induced oxidative stress. Overall, our results demonstrate strong associations of oxidative stress to genomic instability and mitotic asymmetry at the population level of budding yeast.
Supply-side barriers to maternal health care utilization at health sub-centers in India
Authors: Singh Aditya
Published: November 2016

Introduction

There exist several barriers to maternal health service utilization in developingcountries. Most of the previous studies conducted in India have focused on demand-side barriers, while only a few have touched upon supply-side barriers. None of the previous studies in India have investigated the factors that affect maternal health care utilization at health sub-centers (HSCs) in India, despite the fact that these institutions, which are the geographically closest available public health care facilities in rural areas, play a significant role in providing affordable maternal health care. Therefore, this study aims to examine the supply-side determinants of maternal service utilization at HSCs in rural India.

Data and Methods

This study uses health facility data from the nationally representativeDistrict-Level Household Survey, which was administered in 2007–2008 to examine the effect of supply-side variables on the utilization of maternal health care services across HSCs in rural India. Since the dependent variables (the number of antenatal registrations, in-facility deliveries, and postnatal care services) are count variables and exhibit considerable variability, the data were analyzed using negative binomial regression instead of Poisson regression.

Results

The results show that those HSCs run by a contractual auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM) are likely to offer a lower volume of services when compared to those run by a permanent ANM. The availability of obstetric drugs, weighing scales, and blood pressure equipment is associated with the increased utilization of antenatal and postnatal services. The unavailability of a labor/examination table and bed screen is associated with a reduction in the number of deliveries and postnatal services. The utilization of services is expected to increase if essential facilities, such as water, telephones, toilets, and electricity, are available at the HSCs. Monitoring of ANM’s work by Village Health and Sanitation Committee (VHSC) and providing in-service training to ANM appear to have positive impacts on service utilization. The distance of ANM’s actual residence from the sub-center village where she works is negatively associated with the utilization of delivery and postnatal services. These findings are robust to the inclusion of several demand-side factors.

Conclusion

To improve maternal health care utilization at HSCs, the government shouldensure the availability of basic infrastructure, drugs, and equipment at all locations. Monitoring of the ANMs’ work by VHSCs could play an important role in improving health care utilization at the HSCs; therefore, it is important to establish VHSCs in each sub-center village. The relatively low utilization of maternity services in those HSCs that are run solely by contractual ANMs requires further investigation.
Preexplosive conduit conditions during the 2010 eruption of Merapi volcano (Java, Indonesia)
Authors: Drignon Mélissa J. , Bechon Tonin , Arbaret Laurent , Burgisser Alain , Komorowski Jean‐Christophe , Martel Caroline , Miller Hayden , Yaputra Radit
Published: November 2016

The 2010 eruption is the largest explosive event at Merapi volcano since 1872. The high energy of the initial 26 October explosions cannot be explained by simple gravitational collapse, and the paroxysmal explosions were preceded by the growth of a lava dome not large enough to ensure significant pressurization of the system. We sampled pumice from these explosive phases and determined the preexplosive depths of the pumices by combining textural analyses with glass water content measurements. Our results indicate that the magma expelled was tapped from depths of several kilometers. Such depths are much greater than those involved in the pre‐2010 effusive activity. We propose that the water‐rich magma liberated enough gas to sustain the explosivity. Our results imply that the explosive potential of volcanoes having dome‐forming, effusive activity is linked to the depth from which fresh magma can be evacuated in a single explosion, regardless of the evacuated volume.
Convective growth of electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves from realistic ring current ion distributions
Authors: Fok Mei‐Ching , Khazanov George V. , Krivorutsky Emmanuil N. , Glocer Alex
Published: November 2016

It is well established that the development of pitch angle anisotropy in ring current ions provides a favorable condition for electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) wave growth. Many studies have calculated the EMIC growth rate assuming a bi‐Maxwellian or ring distribution of energetic ions in velocity space. To test the appropriateness of these assumptions, we compute the EMIC growth rate by using the realistic ion distributions output by our Comprehensive Inner Magnetosphere‐Ionosphere (CIMI) model. The CIMI model calculates energetic ion and electron distributions and many other essential quantities in the inner magnetosphere and ionosphere. We found that the ring current distributions are often very different from a bi‐Maxwellian or a ring distribution. The corresponding EMIC growth rates are likewise quite distinctive from those estimated by functional fits. In the simulation of an idealized magnetic storm, we found that much stronger EMIC growth near the dayside magnetopause was attained with realistic ring current distributions. On the other hand, with the assumption of a ring distribution, EMIC growth at the peak of the ring current pressure was overestimated. Our calculation using the realistic ion distribution function reproduces the observed occurrence of EMIC waves and demonstrates the need to use realistic ring current ion distributions when modeling EMIC wave excitation.
Thermoelastic properties of liquid Fe‐C revealed by sound velocity and density measurements at high pressure
Authors: Shimoyama Yuta , Terasaki Hidenori , Urakawa Satoru , Takubo Yusaku , Kuwabara Soma , Kishimoto Shunpachi , Watanuki Tetsu , Machida Akihiko , Katayama Yoshinori , Kondo Tadashi
Published: November 2016

Carbon is one of the possible light elements in the cores of the terrestrial planets. The P wave velocity (VP) and density (ρ) are important factors for estimating the chemical composition and physical properties of the core. We simultaneously measured the VP and ρ of Fe‐3.5 wt % C up to 3.4 GPa and 1850 K by using ultrasonic pulse‐echo method and X‐ray absorption methods. The VP of liquid Fe‐3.5 wt % C decreased linearly with increasing temperature at constant pressure. The addition of carbon decreased the VP of liquid Fe by about 2% at 3 GPa and 1700 K and decreased the Fe density by about 2% at 2 GPa and 1700 K. The bulk modulus of liquid Fe‐C and its pressure (P) and temperature (T) effects were precisely determined from directly measured ρ and VP data to be K0,1700 K = 83.9 GPa, dKT/dP = 5.9(2), and dKT/dT = −0.063 GPa/K. The addition of carbon did not affect the isothermal bulk modulus (KT) of liquid Fe, but it decreased the dK/dT of liquid Fe. In the ρ‐VP relationship, VP increases linearly with ρ and can be approximated as VP (m/s) = −6786(506) + 1537(71) × ρ (g/cm3), suggesting that Birch's law is valid for liquid Fe‐C at the present P‐T conditions. Our results imply that at the conditions of the lunar core, the elastic properties of an Fe‐C core are more affected by temperature than those of Fe‐S core.
Experimental investigations on the explosivity of steam‐driven eruptions: A case study of Solfatara volcano (Campi Flegrei)
Authors: Montanaro Cristian , Scheu Bettina , Mayer Klaus , Orsi Giovanni , Moretti Roberto , Isaia Roberto , Dingwell Donald B.
Published: November 2016

Steam‐driven eruptions, both phreatic and hydrothermal, expel exclusively fragments of non‐juvenile rocks disintegrated by the expansion of water as liquid or gas phase. As their violence is related to the magnitude of the decompression work that can be performed by fluid expansion, these eruptions may occur with variable degrees of explosivity. In this study we investigate the influence of liquid fraction and rock petrophysical properties on the steam‐driven explosive energy. A series of fine‐grained heterogeneous tuffs from the Campi Flegrei caldera were investigated for their petrophysical properties. The rapid depressurization of various amounts of liquid water within the rock pore space can yield highly variable fragmentation and ejection behaviors for the investigated tuffs. Our results suggest that the pore liquid fraction controls the stored explosive energy with an increasing liquid fraction within the pore space increasing the explosive energy. Overall, the energy released by steam flashing can be estimated to be 1 order of magnitude higher than for simple (Argon) gas expansion and may produce a higher amount of fine material even under partially saturated conditions. The energy surplus in the presence of steam flashing leads to a faster fragmentation with respect to gas expansion and to higher ejection velocities imparted to the fragmented particles. Moreover, weak and low permeability rocks yield a maximum fine fraction. Using experiments to unravel the energetics of steam‐driven eruptions has yielded estimates for several parameters controlling their explosivity. These findings should be considered for both modeling and evaluation of the hazards associated with steam‐driven eruptions.
Alternative Processing: Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase
Authors: Steer Brent M , Marsden Philip A
Published: November 2016

The human neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) gene is expressed from multiple promoters and is subject to alternate messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) processing. These complex molecular mechanisms contribute to regulating gene expression and function in multiple tissues and cell types. In the case of nNOS, these distinct promoters give rise to mRNA transcripts with untranslated leader sequences that have differing lengths, nucleotide composition and three‐dimensional structure. These distinct leader sequences have robust effects on translational efficiency. In disease settings, these have functional relevance. For example, in settings of low oxygen content, a unique promoter becomes transcriptionally active. In contrast to basally expressed transcripts, this hypoxia‐induced mRNA is very efficiently translated. To accommodate diverse biological roles, multiple mechanisms have evolved to produce a diverse range of nNOS mRNA transcripts from a single genetic locus.

Key Concepts

Mammalian genes can have more than one promoter.

Having more than one promoter implies that the gene has more than one version of exon 1.

Initiation of transcription in different regions of genomic DNA imparts different nucleotide sequences to the leader regions of messenger ribonucleic acid transcripts, also known as the 5′‐untranslated region (5′‐UTR).

Different leader sequences may, or may not, affect protein structure depending on whether the initiator AUG codon for translation of the protein lies in exon 1 or downstream.

If multiple versions of exon 1 all have their own initiator AUG codon, then the encoded protein will exist in different forms, each with a uniqueN‐terminal peptide sequence.

Different 5′‐UTRs of messenger ribonucleic acid transcripts can have functional effects on expression of the encoded protein.

The 5′‐UTRs of messenger ribonucleic acid transcripts can affect translational efficiency.

The 5′‐UTRs of messenger ribonucleic acid transcripts can affect subcellular messenger ribonucleic acid transcript localisation.

The 5′‐UTRs of messenger ribonucleic acid transcripts can affect messenger ribonucleic acid transcript stability.

Factors that regulate chromatin and transcription complexes can impact the splicing process.
Genetics as Explanation: Limits to the Human Genome Project
Authors: Cohen Irun R , Atlan Henri , Efroni Sol
Published: November 2016

Living organisms are composed of cells and all living cells contain a genome, the organism's stock of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The role of the genome has been likened to a computer program that encodes the organism's development and its subsequent response to the environment. Thus, the organism and its fate can be explained by genetics, the plans written into the sequence of genomic DNA; the Human Genome Project was devised to decipher this program. However, it is now clear that the genome does not directly program the organism; the computer program metaphor has misled us. The genome is only one class of vital information that serves the organism. Indeed, we now know that the healthy individual human is an ecosystem that lives in symbiosis with hundreds of different species of bacteria – the microbiota. Metaphorically, the genome can be likened to a toolbox for accomplishing specific tasks.

Key Concepts

The genome does not function as a master plan or computer program for controlling the organism; the genome is the organism's servant, not its master.

The genome is a reservoir of DNA sequence information and a vehicle for transmitting this information; the meaning of DNA emerges from the cellular processing of this raw information into proteins and other functional molecules.

Complex organisms like humans live in symbiosis with a microbiota of many hundreds of micro‐organisms. The microbiota are essential to human health and the phenotype of the individual is greatly influenced by interactions with the microbiota. The body houses manyfold more DNA of microbial origin than it does the genomic DNA inherited from the parents. The individual is thus an ecosystem of diverse cellular origins.

DNA is only one class of vital information that serves the organism; the organism epigenetically uses, manipulates, regulates and, in the case of the immune system, creates genes.

The effects of a gene vary with the organism's environment; the interactions between genes and environment are not linear and, in most cases, not additive. Therefore, one cannot compute with certainty the relative contributions of genes and environment to an organism's observed features – its phenotype.

Metaphorically, we can think of the genome as akin to a list of words, a vocabulary, which can be used to build and express a meaningful language; like a vocabulary, a genome by itself has no functional meaning.

The genome is thus akin to a toolbox of DNA sequences that provide molecular tools as requested by the internal state of the organism and the state of the environment.

One's genes cannot explain one's being: an organism is the expression of a dynamic and ongoing interaction between the state of its environment and its internal state, which includes its past history and its toolbox of DNA sequences.
Transposon‐Based Cellular Reprogramming to Induced Pluripotency
Authors: Kues Wilfried A
Published: November 2016

Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are a seminal discovery in the field of stem cells. iPS cells can be employed as patient‐specific pluripotent stem cells in disease modelling, drug screens and potentially for autologous cell therapy, without the ethical concerns associated with human embryonic stem (ES) cells. Initially, iPS cells were generated by viral transduction of fibroblasts with core reprogramming genes, such as Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and c‐Myc. However, integrating viruses may cause insertional mutagenesis and may increase the risk of tumour formation. Therefore, alternative gene transfer approaches which avoid these safety concerns are required. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) transposons are nonviral genetic elements, which can be designed as efficient vectors for gene transfer. DNA transposons are distinguished by their large cargo capacity, their relatively simple design and the availability of transposase variants. Transposon‐based reprogramming broadens the toolbox for the generation of iPS cell lines and will advance the development of safe, nonviral methods.

Key Concepts

During mammalian ontogenesis, cellular potency is gradually lost.

Mammalian ontogenesis is a one‐way process from pluripotent to somatic cells.

Experimentally, somatic cells can be reprogrammed to a state of induced pluripotency by the transduction of core reprogramming factors.

DNA transposons are a promising nonviral approach for reprogramming.

DNA transposon‐derived iPS cells can be triggered to differentiate
in vitro
and
in vivo
.
Consumer Perceptions of and Willingness to Use Remotely Delivered Service Models For Exercise Management of Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis: A Cross‐Sectional Survey
Authors: Lawford Belinda J. , Bennell Kim L. , Hinman Rana S.
Published: November 2016

Objective

To investigate the perceptions of people with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis (OA) about the remote delivery of exercise therapy by a physical therapist.

Methods

A survey of people age ≥45 years with a clinical diagnosis of hip and/or knee OA was conducted. The survey comprised 3 sections, including 1) demographic information, 2) statements about receiving exercise via the telephone, and 3) statements about receiving exercise via video over the internet. Data were analyzed by calculating response proportions and evaluating levels of agreement with each statement. Exploratory binomial regression analyses were performed to determine whether participant characteristics influenced perceptions of tele‐rehabilitation.

Results

A total of 330 people spanning metropolitan, regional, and rural Australia completed the survey. Respondents were in majority (≥50%) agreement with 13 of 17 statements, with most agreement about tele‐rehabilitation saving time (telephone versus video: 78% versus 81%), being easy to use (79% versus 78%), and maintaining privacy (86% versus 82%). There was no consensus agreement with liking the lack of physical contact (telephone versus video: 20% agreement versus 22%), willingness to pay (32% versus 46%), belief that telephone‐delivered exercise would be effective (45%), and belief that a physical therapist could adequately monitor OA over the telephone (42%).

Conclusion

People with knee and/or hip OA hold mostly positive perceptions about tele‐rehabilitation, delivered via the telephone or by video over the internet, for provision of physical therapist–prescribed exercise services. There was concern about the lack of physical contact with the therapist when using tele‐rehabilitation.
Single‐Thread‐Based Wearable and Highly Stretchable Triboelectric Nanogenerators and Their Applications in Cloth‐Based Self‐Powered Human‐Interactive and Biomedical Sensing
Authors: Lai Ying‐Chih , Deng Jianan , Zhang Steven L. , Niu Simiao , Guo Hengyu , Wang Zhong Lin
Published: November 2016

The development of wearable and large‐area fabric energy harvester and sensor has received great attention due to their promising applications in next‐generation autonomous and wearable healthcare technologies. Here, a new type of “single” thread‐based triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) and its uses in elastically textile‐based energy harvesting and sensing have been demonstrated. The energy‐harvesting thread composed by one silicone‐rubber‐coated stainless‐steel thread can extract energy during contact with skin. With sewing the energy‐harvesting thread into a serpentine shape on an elastic textile, a highly stretchable and scalable TENG textile is realized to scavenge various kinds of human‐motion energy. The collected energy is capable to sustainably power a commercial smart watch. Moreover, the simplified single triboelectric thread can be applied in a wide range of thread‐based self‐powered and active sensing uses, including gesture sensing, human‐interactive interfaces, and human physiological signal monitoring. After integration with microcontrollers, more complicated systems, such as wireless wearable keyboards and smart beds, are demonstrated. These results show that the newly designed single‐thread‐based TENG, with the advantage of interactive, responsive, sewable, and conformal features, can meet application needs of a vast variety of fields, ranging from wearable and stretchable energy harvesters to smart cloth‐based articles.
>10% Efficiency Polymer:Fullerene Solar Cells with Polyacetylene‐Based Polyelectrolyte Interlayers
Authors: Nam Sungho , Seo Jooyeok , Han Hyemi , Kim Hwajeong , Hahm Suk Gyu , Ree Moonhor , Gal Yeong‐Soon , Anthopoulos Thomas D. , Bradley Donal D. C. , Kim Youngkyoo
Published: November 2016

Polymer solar cells have gained great attention due to their tremendous potential for applications in light‐weight, large‐area, and flexible photovoltaic modules fabricated via continuous roll‐to‐roll processes. Despite the significant progress, however, their efficiency and operating stability are still inadequate for commercial applications. Interfacial engineering of the electron‐collecting buffer layer and the organic photoactive layer through the use of organic dipole interlayers, has been proposed as a simple and scalable way to improve the overall solar cell performance. Here, highly efficient inverted polymer:fullerene solar cells have been successfully developed with a power conversion efficiency of over 10%. The bulk heterojunction layer consists of the poly[4,8‐bis(5‐(2‐ethylhexyl)thiophen‐2‐yl)benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b]dithiophene‐alt‐3‐fluorothieno[3,4‐b]thiophene‐2‐carboxylate] (PTB7‐Th) and the [6,6]‐phenyl‐C71‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM), as the electron donor and electron acceptor, respectively. Key to this success is the insertion of the ionic polyacetylene‐based conjugated polymer, poly(N‐dodecyl‐2‐ethynylpyridinium bromide), as an interfacial dipole layer. The latter is shown to lower the work function of the electron transporting zinc oxide layer and increase the built‐in potential, consequently facilitating efficient charge transport/extraction. Optimized solar cells exhibit power conversion efficiency values exceeding 10% while their operating stability under continuous solar‐simulated illumination is significantly enhanced when ultraviolet light is effectively blocked using a suitable optical filter.
Short Channel Quantum Dot Vertical and Lateral Phototransistors
Authors: Zhang Haiting , Zhang Yating , Song Xiaoxian , Yu Yu , Cao Mingxuan , Che Yongli , Dai Haitao , Yang Junnbo , Ding Xin , Zhang Guizhong , Yao Jianquan
Published: November 2016

Quantum dot (QD) devices have been studied extensively as a significant platform for optoelectronic applications and photodetection, but the high efficient conversion from light to current requires high operating voltages, and has become a roadblock in a wide range of on chip applications. The main challenges rely on promoting light absorption and transportation efficiency, which occur in the same place—the channel. Here, the authors present short channel (SC) field effect phototransistors (FEpTs) by combing the QDs with the vertical architecture for the first time. These devices exhibit excellent performances in ultrahigh R of 1 × 105 A W−1, D* of 1.6 × 1013 Jones, effective quantum efficiency of 2.6 × 107% at low operating voltage of ±4 V under room temperature, and they strongly depend on channel length. It is found there was an optimal L to obtain high performances, due to the two roles of channel, light harvesting, and electric transportation, which give the negative and positive contributions to photocurrent, respectively. These SC QVFEpTs exhibit a great application in photodetection, from visible to infrared, moreover, the all‐solution fabricating process and lateral detection (determined by vertical architecture) provide a convenient pathway for low cost, integrated circuit architectural compatibility.
Palladium(II) Acetate‐Catalyzed Dual C–H Functionalization and C–C Bond Formation: A Domino Reaction for the Synthesis of Functionalized (E)‐Bisindole‐2‐ones from Diarylbut‐2‐ynediamides
Authors: Li Guangchen , Zhou Guangshuai , Zhang‐Negrerie Daisy , Du Yunfei , Huang Jianhui , Zhao Kang
Published: November 2016

A domino reaction of palladium(II)‐catalyzed dual C–H functionalization with subsequent intramolecular annulation is presented. This method provides a convenient synthesis of a range of symmetrical and unsymmetrical biologically important (E)‐bisindole‐2‐ones under extremely mild reaction conditions – room temperature, green oxidant and no additive. The reaction mechanism is elucidated in light of the yield values as well as additional control experiment results.

magnified image
Energy‐related influences on variation in breastfeeding duration among indigenous Maya women from Guatemala
Authors: McKerracher Luseadra J. , Collard Mark , Altman Rachel M. , Sellen Daniel , Nepomnaschy Pablo A.
Published: November 2016

Objectives

The causes of variation in breastfeeding duration in humans are poorly understood, but life history factors related to maternal energetics drive much of the variation in lactation duration in nonhuman animals. With this in mind, we investigated whether four energy‐related factors influence variation in breastfeeding duration in a non‐industrial human population: (1) mortality risk during mother's development (assessed via mother's adult height), (2) reliance on nutrient‐dense weaning foods, (3) access to and need for help with infant feeding and care (“allomaternal care”), and (4) maternal tradeoffs between current and future reproduction (measured via child's birth order).

Materials and methods

The data pertain to 51 Kakchiquel‐speaking Maya mothers and 283 children from a village in rural Guatemala. We developed a linear mixed model to evaluate the relationships between breastfeeding duration and the energy‐related factors.

Results

Duration of breastfeeding was associated with two of the energy‐related factors in the ways we predicted but not with the other two. Contrary to predictions, taller mothers breastfed for shorter periods and we found no evidence that weanling diet quality impacts breastfeeding duration. As predicted, women who had more help with infants breastfed for shorter periods, and later‐born infants breastfed longer than earlier‐born ones.

Discussion

The results regarding allomaternal care suggest that help reduces mothers' lactation demands. The energy saved may be redirected to increasing fecundity or investment in other children. The birth order result suggests that children born to mothers nearing reproductive senescence receive higher levels of investment, which likely impacts children's fitness.
Epistaxis grading in Osler's disease: comparison of comprehensive scores with detailed bleeding diaries
Authors: Parzefall Thomas , Wolf Axel , Frei Klemens , Kaider Alexandra , Riss Dominik
Published: November 2016

Background

Use of reliable grading scores to measure epistaxis severity in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is essential in clinical routine and for scientific purposes. For practical reasons, visual analog scale (VAS) scoring and the Epistaxis Severity Score (ESS) are widely used. VAS scores are purely subjective, and a potential shortcoming of the ESS is that it is based on self‐reported anamnestic bleeding data. The aim of this study was to validate the level of correlation between VAS scores, the ESS, and actual bleeding events, based on detailed epistaxis diaries of patients.

Methods

Records from daily epistaxis diaries maintained by 16 HHT patients over 112 consecutive days were compared with the monthly ESS and daily VAS scores in the corresponding time period. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient, analysis of variance models, and multiple R2 measures were used for statistical analysis.

Results

Although the ESS and VAS scores generally showed a high degree of correlation with actual bleeding events, mild events were underrepresented in both scores.

Conclusions

Our results highlight the usefulness of the ESS as a standard epistaxis score in cohorts with moderate to severe degrees of epistaxis. The use of detailed epistaxis diaries should be considered when monitoring patients and cohorts with mild forms of HHT.
Pump spectral linewidth influence on stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) and stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) and self‐termination behavior of SRS in liquids
Authors: He Guang S. , Kuzmin Andrey , Prasad Paras N.
Published: November 2016

The threshold, temporal behavior, and conversion efficiency of stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) and stimulated Raman scattering (SBS) in three liquids (benzene, hexane, and dimethyl sulfoxide) and two crystals (calcite and barium nitrate) have been investigated under three largely different spectral linewidth conditions. Pumped with 532‐nm and nanosecond duration laser pulses of ≤ 0.01 cm−1 linewidth, only SBS can be generated in all tested liquids with a high nonlinear reflectivity. However when the pump spectral linewidth is ∼0.07 cm−1 or ∼0.8 cm−1, both SBS and SRS can be observed in benzene while only SRS can be generated in dimethyl sulfoxide; in all these cases SRS is the dominant contribution to the stimulated scattering but the efficiency values are drastically decreased due to the self‐termination behavior of SRS in liquids, which arises from the thermal self‐defocusing of both pump beam and SRS beam owing to Stokes‐shift related opto‐heating effect. In contrast, for SRS process in the two crystals, the thermal self‐defocusing influence is negligible benefitting from their much greater thermal conductivity, and a higher conversion efficiency of SRS generation can be retained under all three pump conditions.

image
Initial Carbon–Carbon Bond Formation during the Early Stages of the Methanol‐to‐Olefin Process Proven by Zeolite‐Trapped Acetate and Methyl Acetate
Authors: Chowdhury Abhishek Dutta , Houben Klaartje , Whiting Gareth T. , Mokhtar Mohamed , Asiri Abdullah M. , Al‐Thabaiti Shaeel A. , Basahel Suliman N. , Baldus Marc , Weckhuysen Bert M.
Published: November 2016

Methanol‐to‐olefin (MTO) catalysis is a very active field of research because there is a wide variety of sometimes conflicting mechanistic proposals. An example is the ongoing discussion on the initial C−C bond formation from methanol during the induction period of the MTO process. By employing a combination of solid‐state NMR spectroscopy with UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry on an active H‐SAPO‐34 catalyst, we provide spectroscopic evidence for the formation of surface acetate and methyl acetate, as well as dimethoxymethane during the MTO process. As a consequence, new insights in the formation of the first C−C bond are provided, suggesting a direct mechanism may be operative, at least in the early stages of the MTO reaction.
Gas‐separation properties of amine‐crosslinked polyimide membranes modified by amine vapor
Authors: Yoshioka Tetsuro , Kojima Kenta , Shindo Ryohei , Nagai Kazukiyo
Published: November 2016

The modification of a polyimide (PI) membrane by aromatic amine vapor was performed in this work to increase the crosslinking of the membrane and to study the effect on gas permeability and the corresponding selectivity. The single‐gas permeability of the membranes at 35 °C was probed for H2, O2, N2, CO2, and CH4. From the relationship between the combinations of gases and ideal permselectivities, this study showed that amine‐crosslinked PI membranes tended to increase gas permselectivities exponentially with the increasing difference in gas kinetic diameter. Moreover, this study illustrated that the permeability of the membranes was influenced by the formation rate of amine‐crosslinked networks or chemical structures after the reaction. The membranes had the highest level of permselectivities among crosslinked PI membranes for O2/N2, and the H2/CH4 permselectivity increased 26 times after vapor modification. Furthermore, the modification method that used aromatic amine vapor produced thin and strongly modified layers. These findings indicate that modification is an advantageous technique for improving gas‐separation performance, even considering thinning. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44569.
Existence and Controllability Results for a New Class of Impulsive Stochastic Partial Integro‐Differential Inclusions with State‐Dependent Delay
Authors: Yan Zuomao , Jia Xiumei
Published: November 2016

In this paper, we study a new class of impulsive stochastic partial integro‐differential inclusions with state‐dependent delay in separable Hilbert spaces. Firstly, by using stochastic analysis theory, analytic resolvent operators, fractional powers of closed operators and suitable fixed point theorems, we prove the existence of mild and extremal mild solutions for these systems in the α‐norm. Secondly, we establish the controllability of the controlled stochastic partial integro‐differential inclusions with not instantaneous impulses. The results are obtained under the mixed Lipschitz and Carathéodory conditions. Finally, an example is provided to show the application of our results.
To promote, or not to promote fundamental British values? Teachers’ standards, diversity and teacher education
Authors: Elton‐Chalcraft Sally , Lander Vini , Revell Lynn , Warner Diane , Whitworth Linda
Published: November 2016

In this article we seek to problematize the presence of the requirement within the teachers’ standards (DfE, 2012), that they ‘should not undermine fundamental British values’ in the context of initial teacher education in England. The inclusion of this statement within the teachers’ code of conduct has made its way from the counter‐terrorism strategy, Prevent and raises questions about Britishness, values and the relationship between the state and the profession more generally. We argue that the inclusion of the phrase within a statutory document that regulates the profession is de facto a politicization of the profession by the state thereby instilling the expectation that teachers are state instruments of surveillance. The absence of any wider debate around the inclusion of the statement is also problematic as is the lack of training for pre‐service and inservice teachers since it means this concept of fundamental British values is unchallenged and its insidious racialising implications are unrecognised by most teachers.
Scheibenbemessung der Pressenkraftdurchleitung bei TVM‐Vortrieben
Authors: Behnen Gereon , Fischer Oliver , Schmidt‐Thrö Gerald
Published: November 2016

Die Scheibenbeanspruchung von Tübbingfertigteilen (Tübbings) infolge der Durchleitung konzentrierter Pressenkräfte aus der Tunnelvortriebsmaschine (TVM) ist ein in der Literatur bisher kaum behandeltes Thema. Das liegt vor allem daran, dass es sich dabei um eine im Bauzustand und meist nur kurzzeitig, an einzelnen lokalen Stellen wirkende Beanspruchung handelt, die häufig durch die in Deutschland übliche bzw. durch die Regelwerke vorgegebene Mindestbewehrung (weitgehend) abgedeckt ist. Dabei wird oft verkannt, dass die Scheibenbeanspruchung neben der unmittelbaren Lasteinleitung (Nachweis Teilflächenpressungen) den für die Tübbingbemessung maßgebenden Lastfall darstellt und nach den Erfahrungen der Verfasser die häufigste Schadensursache an Tübbings darstellt. Insofern sollten die entsprechenden Nachweise sorgfältig geführt werden, insbesondere dann, wenn aus Gründen der Wirtschaftlichkeit die Mindestbewehrung abgemindert werden soll, oder wenn andere Bewehrungsformen (z. B. Stahlfasern) zum Einsatz kommen. Im vorliegenden Beitrag werden Tafelwerke als übersichtliche Hilfsmittel zur Verfügung gestellt, die ohne EDV‐Berechnungen sowohl eine schnelle Optimierung der Tübbingteilung und der Pressenanordnung ermöglichen, als auch als Grundlage für die Bemessung herangezogen werden können. Zudem werden zur komplexen Modellbildung der rechnerischen Berücksichtigung von unvermeidlichen Toleranzen entsprechende Hinweise gegeben. Es wird dann auf unterschiedliche Bemessungsformate, insbesondere zur Begrenzung der Rissbreiten, näher eingegangen und vor dem Spannungsfeld der divergierenden Anforderungen an Wirtschaftlichkeit, Robustheit und dem Erkennen der relevanten Einflüsse diskutiert. Abschließend werden Vorschläge für eine ingenieurmäßige Nachweisstrategie gegeben.
Structure and function of the N‐terminal domain of Ralstonia eutropha polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase, and the proposed structure and mechanisms of the whole enzyme
Authors: Kim Yeo‐Jin , Choi So Young , Kim Jieun , Jin Kyeong Sik , Lee Sang Yup , Kim Kyung‐Jin
Published: November 2016

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are natural polyesters synthesized by numerous microorganisms as energy and reducing power storage materials, and have attracted much attention as substitutes for petroleum‐based plastics. In an accompanying paper, the authors reported the crystal structure of the C‐terminal domain of Ralstonia eutropha PHA synthase (PhaC1). Here, the authors report the 3D reconstructed model of full‐length of R. eutropha PhaC1 (RePhaC1F) by small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) analysis. The catalytic C‐terminal domain of RePhaC1 (RePhaC1CD) dimer is located at the center of RePhaC1F, and the N‐terminal domain of RePhaC1 (RePhaC1ND) is located opposite the dimerization subdomain of RePhaC1CD, indicating that RePhaC1ND is not directly involved in the enzyme catalysis. The localization studies using RePhaC1F, RePhaC1ND and RePhaC1CD revealed that RePhaC1ND plays important roles in PHA polymerization by localizing the enzyme to the PHA granules and stabilizing the growing PHA polymer near the active site of RePhaC1CD. The serial truncation study on RePhaC1ND suggested that the predicted five α‐helices (N‐α3 to N‐α7) are required for proper folding and granule binding function of RePhaC1ND. In addition, the authors also report the SAXS 3D reconstructed model of the RePhaC1F/RePhaMΔC complex (RePhaMΔC, PAKKA motif‐truncated version of RePhaM). RePhaM forms a complex with RePhaC1 by interacting with RePhaC1ND and activates RePhaC1 by providing a more extensive surface area for interaction with the growing PHA polymer.
UHPLC–MS/MS determination and pharmacokinetic study of plantamajoside in rat plasma after oral administration of single plantamajoside and Plantago asiatica extract
Authors: Bai Lizhi , Han Li , Lu Xiaoguang , Kang Xin , Fan Zhiwei , Xing Rong , Zhou Dangxia
Published: November 2016

A sensitive and reliable ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) method was developed for quantitation of plantamajoside in rat plasma. First, this study compared the pharmacokinetic properties of plantamajoside after oral administration of Plantago asiatica extract and pure plantamajoside in rat plasma with approximately the same dosage of 8.98 mg/kg. Second, chromatographic separation was performed on an Acquity HSS C18 column (50 × 2.1 mm, p.d.1.7 μm) with isocratic elution using methanol–water (80:20, v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.25 mL/min. The calibration curves were linear over the range of 0.1–100 ng/mL for plantamajoside. At different time points (0, 0.083, 0.167, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 h) after administration, the concentrations of plantamajoside in plasma were measured and the main pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated. The study indicates that the pharmacokinetics of plantamajoside in rat plasma have significant differences between two groups.
CORE assessment of adult survivors abused as children:A NAPAC group therapy evaluation
Authors: Lowe Michelle , Willan V.J. , Kelly Sarah , Hartwell Bina , Canuti Eliza
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The aim of this study was to provide the first formal evaluation of a unique 12‐session group therapy programme developed by the UK‐based National Association for People Abused as Children (NAPAC).

Method

The therapy outcomes of this programme were assessed using the CORE‐OM tool. Clients comprised 26 individuals (7 males and 19 females), with an age range of 19–67 (mean = 41; SD = 12.76). Clients were survivors of sexual, physical, emotional or neglectful childhood abuse, or a combination of these, and were from four different locations: London (n = 9), Bury (n = 4), Belfast (n = 8) and prison (n = 5).

Findings

Across all CORE domains, improvements were shown from pre‐ to post‐therapy. No gender or age differences were revealed, and improvements were shown across both community members and prison inmates.

Implications

A person‐centred approach to group therapy is beneficial to a wide range of adult clients within the community and prison settings that require therapy after historical sexual, physical, emotional or neglectful childhood abuse.
From ‘Virgin Births’ to ‘Octomom’: Representations of Single Motherhood via Sperm Donation in the UK News
Authors: Zadeh S. , Foster J.
Published: November 2016

The use of sperm donation by single women has provoked public, professional and political debate. Newspapers serve as a critical means of both broadcasting this debate and effecting a representation of this user group within the public sphere. This study uses the theory of social representations to examine how single motherhood by sperm donation has been represented in the UK news over time. The study sampled news coverage on this topic in eight British newspapers during three 4‐year periods between the years 1988 and 2012. The dataset of news reports (n = 406) was analysed using a qualitative approach. Findings indicated that UK media reports of single women using donor sperm are underpinned by conventional categories of the ‘personal’, the ‘traditional’ and the ‘natural’ that when paired with their corollaries produce a representation of this user group as the social ‘other’. The amount of coverage on this topic over time was found to vary according to the political orientation of different media sources. Using key concepts from social representations theory, this article discusses the relationship between themata and anchoring in the maintenance of representations of the social ‘other’ in mass mediated communication. Findings are explained in relation to theoretical conceptions of the mass media and its position within the public sphere. It is argued that the use of personal narratives in news reports of single mothers by sperm donation may have significant implications for public understandings of this social group. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Imaging for percutaneous left atrial appendage closure
Authors: Prakash Roshan , Saw Jacqueline
Published: November 2016

Percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) closure is increasingly performed worldwide as an alternative to long‐term oral anticoagulation, especially for patients who are considered ineligible for anticoagulation. This is a complex procedure with success that hinges upon good understanding of the LAA and surrounding structures anatomy. Multimodality imaging can provide important three‐dimensional appreciation of the LAA anatomy, which facilitates procedural safety and success. Thus, proceduralists and imagers involved with LAA closure should have good comprehension of such imaging modalities (cardiac CT angiography, transesophageal echocardiography, and/or intracardiac echocardiography) prior to embarking on this procedure. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.