bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative analysis of proteomes between diabetic and normal human sperm: Insights into the effects of diabetes on male reproduction based on the regulation of mitochondria‐related proteins
Authors: An Tian , Wang Yue‐Fen , Liu Jia‐Xian , Pan Yan‐Yun , Liu Yu‐Fei , He Zhong‐Chen , Mo Fang‐Fang , Li Jun , Kang Li‐Hua , Gu Yu‐Jie , Lv Bo‐Han , Gao Si‐Huan , Jiang Guang‐Jian
Published: November 2017

This study sought to identify sources of the reduced fertility of men with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Significant reductions in semen volume, sperm concentration, and total sperm count were observed in diabetic individuals, while transmission electron microscopy revealed that the structure of mitochondria in the tail of sperm from diabetic patients was damaged. Proteins potentially associated with these sperm defects were identified using proteomics. Isobaric tagging for relative and absolute quantitation labeling and high‐performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry allowed us to identify 357 proteins significantly differentially expressed in diabetic versus control semen (>1.2 or <0.83). According to gene ontology enrichment and pathway analyses, many of these differentially expressed proteins are associated with sperm function, including binding of sperm to the zona pellucida and proteasome function; of particular interest, half of these proteins were related to mitochondrial metabolism. Protein‐interaction networks revealed that a decrease in Cystatin C and Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 in the mitochondria may be sources of the decreased motility of sperm from diabetic patients.
Adaptive integrated parallel reception, excitation, and shimming (iPRES‐A) with microelectromechanical systems switches
Authors: Darnell Dean , Ma Yixin , Wang Hongyuan , Robb Fraser , Song Allen W. , Truong Trong‐Kha
Published: November 2017

Purpose

Integrated parallel reception, excitation, and shimming coil arrays with N shim loops per radio‐frequency (RF) coil element (iPRES(N)) allow an RF current and N direct currents (DC) to flow in each coil element, enabling simultaneous reception/excitation and shimming of highly localized B0 inhomogeneities. The purpose of this work was to reduce the cost and complexity of this design by reducing the number of DC power supplies required by a factor N, while maintaining a high RF and shimming performance.

Methods

In the proposed design, termed adaptive iPRES(N) (iPRES(N)‐A), each coil element only requires one DC power supply, but uses microelectromechanical systems switches to adaptively distribute the DC current into the appropriate shim loops to generate the desired magnetic field for B0 shimming. Proof‐of‐concept phantom experiments with an iPRES(2)‐A coil and simulations in the human abdomen with an 8‐channel iPRES(4)‐A body coil array were performed to demonstrate the advantages of this innovative design.

Results

The iPRES(2)‐A coil showed no loss in signal‐to‐noise ratio and provided a much more effective correction of highly localized B0 inhomogeneities and geometric distortions than an equivalent iPRES(1) coil (88.2% vs. 32.2% lower B0 root‐mean‐square error). The iPRES(4)‐A coil array showed a comparable shimming performance as that of an equivalent iPRES(4) coil array (52.6% vs. 54.2% lower B0 root‐mean‐square error), while only requiring 8 instead of 32 power supplies.

Conclusion

The iPRES(N)‐A design retains the ability of the iPRES(N) design to shim highly localized B0 inhomogeneities, while drastically reducing its cost and complexity. Magn Reson Med 80:371–379, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
A biomimetic tumor tissue phantom for validating diffusion‐weighted MRI measurements
Authors: McHugh Damien J. , Zhou Feng‐Lei , Wimpenny Ian , Poologasundarampillai Gowsihan , Naish Josephine H. , Hubbard Cristinacce Penny L. , Parker Geoffrey J. M.
Published: November 2017

Purpose

To develop a biomimetic tumor tissue phantom which more closely reflects water diffusion in biological tissue than previously used phantoms, and to evaluate the stability of the phantom and its potential as a tool for validating diffusion‐weighted (DW) MRI measurements.

Methods

Coaxial‐electrospraying was used to generate micron‐sized hollow polymer spheres, which mimic cells. The bulk structure was immersed in water, providing a DW‐MRI phantom whose apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and microstructural properties were evaluated over a period of 10 months. Independent characterization of the phantom's microstructure was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The repeatability of the construction process was investigated by generating a second phantom, which underwent high resolution synchrotron‐CT as well as SEM and MR scans.

Results

ADC values were stable (coefficients of variation (CoVs) < 5%), and varied with diffusion time, with average values of 1.44 ± 0.03 µm2/ms (Δ = 12 ms) and 1.20 ± 0.05 µm2/ms (Δ = 45 ms). Microstructural parameters showed greater variability (CoVs up to 13%), with evidence of bias in sphere size estimates. Similar trends were observed in the second phantom.

Conclusion

A novel biomimetic phantom has been developed and shown to be stable over 10 months. It is envisaged that such phantoms will be used for further investigation of microstructural models relevant to characterizing tumor tissue, and may also find application in evaluating acquisition protocols and comparing DW‐MRI‐derived biomarkers obtained from different scanners at different sites. Magn Reson Med 80:147–158, 2018. © 2017 The Authors Magnetic Resonance in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Optimally scheduling interfering and non‐interfering cranes
Authors: Emde Simon
Published: November 2017

This article treats the problem of scheduling multiple cranes processing jobs along a line, where cranes are divided into different groups and only cranes in the same group can interfere with each other. Such crane scheduling problems occur, for example, at indented berths or in container yards where double rail‐mounted gantry cranes stack containers such that cranes of the same size can interfere with each other but small cranes can pass underneath larger ones. We propose a novel algorithm based on Benders decomposition to solve this problem to optimality. In a computational study, it is shown that this algorithm solves small and medium‐sized instances and even many large instances within a few seconds or minutes. Moreover, it improves several best known solutions from the literature with regard to the simpler problem version with only one crane group. We also look into whether investment in more complicated crane configurations with multiple crane groups is actually worthwhile.
The Dancers Who Became Transformed into Wood: the mai masks of the Iatmul, Papua New Guinea
Authors: Hauser‐Schäublin Brigitta
Published: November 2017

Borrowing, exchanging, and violent appropriation of ritual artefacts have been actions that have contributed to the development of cultural diversity within a particular frame of variations in the Middle Sepik region of Papua New Guinea. The mai masks of the Iatmul, already mentioned by Bateson, are the well‐documented result of a violent appropriation, as indigenous evidence shows. However, the ‘model’ which served for the mai were ritual dancers captured in the Alexander Mountains. These dancers displayed heavily painted faces (but no masks) and rich body decoration. In the process of making the powerful ‘model’ into one of their own, the Iatmul artists transformed the painted faces into carvings according to their preferred material of artistic expressions, wood, and their predilection for the interplay of elevated and deepened surfaces. As this article shows, the creation of mai as (enlivened) persons needs the establishment of socio‐cosmological relationships in which ancestral spirits and ‘natural’ substances are crucially involved. Thus, apart from sculpting as making, actions of growing are essential for turning the masks into beings endowed with ancestral power.
Being overweight or obese as a risk factor for acute liver injury secondary to acute acetaminophen overdose
Authors: Chomchai Summon , Chomchai Chulathida
Published: November 2017

Purpose

Increased incidences of hepatotoxicity have been observed in obese patients with acute acetaminophen overdose. We evaluate whether the status of being overweight or obese is associated with increase in the development of hepatotoxicity and acute liver injury (ALI) in patients with acute acetaminophen overdose.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study comparing the risk of hepatotoxicity and ALI between overweight or obese patients (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 25) and normal BMI patients (BMI ≤ 24.9) presenting with acute acetaminophen overdose at Siriraj Hospital during January 2004 to June 2012. All patients were treated with intravenous N‐acetylcysteine. Psi parameters were calculated. High psi was defined as psi of ≥5.0 mM‐hour. Data were analyzed using multinomial logistic regressions, odds ratio (OR), stratified OR, and 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

There were 197 patients who fulfilled the criteria for analysis, 35 (17.8%) were obese, 24 (12.2%) were overweight, and 138 (70%) were normal BMI cases. Hepatotoxicity and ALI developed in 25 (12.7%) and 40 (20.3%) cases, respectively. Multinomial logistic regression revealed that the overweight‐obesity status and log10(psi value) were significant risk factors of ALI, with OR (95% CI) of 2.68 (1.21‐5.95) and 1.74 (1.27‐2.38), respectively, while only log10(psi) was a significant risk factor of hepatotoxicity with OR (95% CI) 378.51 (39.49‐3627.99). From stratification, overweight‐obesity had significant odds ratios for ALI in strata with low acetaminophen concentration, early initiation of N‐acetylcysteine and low psi.

Conclusion

We conclude that being overweight or obese is an independent risk factor of ALI in acute acetaminophen overdoses.
Silica Nanoparticles as Adhesives for Biological Tissues? Re‐Examining the Effect of Particles Size, Particle Shape, and the Unexpected Role of Base
Authors: Liu Hui , Peng Yanfen , Yang Cangjie , Wang Mingfeng
Published: November 2017

Development of new, effective, and patient‐friendly adhesives for biological tissues is important for medical and surgical practices such as bleeding control and organ repairing. While some commercially available silica nanoparticles such as LUDOX SM‐30 have shown adhesive properties for biological tissues, the role of inorganic base present in the adhesive properties of the silica nanoparticles has not been examined. Moreover, it remained unclear how the size and the shape of silica nanoparticles affect the adhesion properties. To address these questions, synthesis and characterization of a series of uniform silica nanostructures with different sizes and shapes is carried out. Unexpectedly, none of the synthesized silica nanostructures without additional inorganic base shows adhesion properties against liver tissues. Such surprising phenomena motivate to examine other factors in the commercial silica nanoparticles as tissue adhesives, and reach a conclusion that the inorganic base plays a key role in the adhesion properties. It is believed that this study answers the important question whether silica nanoparticles can act as biological adhesives or not. The conclusion also gives a lesson to other scientists and engineers in design and exploration of new biological adhesives.
Dynamic expiratory CT: An effective non‐invasive diagnostic exam for fragile children with suspected tracheo‐bronchomalacia
Authors: Ullmann Nicola , Secinaro Aurelio , Menchini Laura , Caggiano Serena , Verrillo Elisabetta , Santangelo Teresa Pia , Cutrera Renato , Tomà Paolo
Published: November 2017

Background

Tracheobronchomalacia, defined as variable collapse of the airways, has been recognized as an important cause of respiratory morbidity but still widely underdiagnosed. Bronchoscopy is still considered as the gold standard, but numerous limitations are known, especially for fragile sick children. Moreover, information on parenchymal lung disease cannot be described. There is a real need for a reliable, non‐invasive test to help detection of airway and parenchymal malformations in children, specifically when bronchoscopy cannot be performed.

Methods and Results

34 paediatric patients underwent cine multidector CT for ongoing respiratory symptoms and were included. All CT images were of good quality and sedation was never needed. Airway disease such as trachea‐broncomalacia with/without stenosis was described in 53% with the first being more frequent. Bronchomalacia alone was described in 10 patients and in 4 patients was associated with tracheomalacia. Moreover, CT allowed identification of parenchymal disease in 10 patients. Airways stenosis alone was detected in seven patients. The majority of patients (85%) underwent also bronchoscopy for clinical decision. The agreement between CT and bronchoscopy was explored. The two examinations did not agree only in two cases. CT dynamic showed an excellent sensitivity of 100% (81.47‐100 %), a great specificity of 82% (48.22‐97.72 %), NPV 100%, and PPV 90% (72‐96.9 %).

Conclusion

Dynamic CT results an effective and highly sensitive diagnostic exam for children with tracheo‐bronchomalacia. CT is especially indicated for those small and fragile patients that cannot undergo an invasive investigation. Moreover, CT allows a detailed evaluation both of the airways and the lungs which is useful for the clinical management.
Vitellogenin and vitellogenin receptor gene expression profiles in Spodoptera exigua are related to host plant suitability
Authors: Zhao Jing , Sun Yang , Xiao Liubin , Tan Yongan , Jiang Yiping , Bai Lixin
Published: November 2017

BACKGROUND

The beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua, a worldwide phytophagous pest, causes considerable economic agricultural losses. Understanding the relationship between its fecundity and the host plant is a basic and important component of early forecasting of beet armyworm outbreaks. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism by which distinct hosts affect S. exigua fecundity.

RESULTS

In this study, key life‐history parameters of S. exigua reared on distinct hosts were investigated; the host plants could be ranked as lettuce > shallot > tomato > celery in their order of suitability. Full‐length S. exigua vitellogenin receptor (SeVgR) cDNA was cloned, and sex‐, stage‐ and tissue‐specific expression characteristics were assessed. Spodoptera exigua vitellogenin (SeVg) and SeVgR expression levels were markedly modulated by host nutrients (P < 0.05). SeVg and SeVgR expression levels were significantly higher in S. exigua reared on lettuce, the most preferred and most nutritive host, than in those reared on tomato and celery. Interestingly, significant linear regression correlations were found between SeVg and SeVgR expression levels and key S. exigua life‐history parameters, especially life span, pupa weight, and female fecundity (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Host plant type and suitability could affect the expression pattern of SeVg and SeVgR, which influenced S. exigua fecundity. Vg and VgR have the potential to be used as molecular markers of S. exigua fecundity and for forecasting outbreaks of S. exigua on different hosts. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Novel cytochrome P450 (CYP6D1) and voltage sensitive sodium channel (Vssc) alleles of the house fly (Musca domestica) and their roles in pyrethroid resistance
Authors: Pan Jing , Yang Chan , Liu Yan , Gao Qi , Li Mei , Qiu Xinghui
Published: November 2017

BACKGROUND

The house fly Musca domestica is an important disease vector. Point mutation‐mediated target‐site insensitivity of the voltage sensitive sodium channel (VSSC) and increased detoxification mediated by cytochrome P450 (CYP6D1) overexpression have been characterized as two major mechanisms of pyrethroid resistance. In this study, genetic mutations in the Vssc and CYP6D1 genes and their contribution to pyrethroid resistance were investigated.

RESULTS

Twelve lines of house flies homozygous for four genotypes were established. House flies carrying the VSSC 1014F mutation and overexpressing CYP6D1 had higher resistance to pyrethroids than those carrying 1014F alone. The presence of the 15‐bp insert in the promoter region of the CYP6D1 gene did not necessarily result in a significant increase in CYP6D1 mRNA and pyrethroid resistance levels. A novel Vssc allele carrying two mutations (G1924D and G2004S) in combination with the classic 1014F and a novel CYP6D1 allele that is very similar to CYP6D1v1 were identified in Chinese house flies.

CONCLUSION

This work demonstrates the effect of genetic mutations in CYP6D1 and Vssc on the susceptibility of house flies to pyrethroids, and verifies that 15‐bp insert‐containing CYP6D1 alleles have a single origin. These findings offer insights into the evolution of insecticide resistance and have implications for house fly control. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
In Situ Control of CVD Synthesis of Graphene Film on Nickel Foil
Authors: Rybin Maxim G. , Kondrashov Ivan I. , Pozharov Anatoliy S. , Nguyen Van Chuc , Phan Ngoc Minh , Obraztsova Elena D.
Published: November 2017

Here we present a detailed study of the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method used in a real‐time regime for graphene film fabrication on nickel foils. Thin films with a wide range of thicknesses (from 3 up to 53 layers and more) have been obtained. A home‐made cold‐wall chamber for CVD realization is demonstrated in this work. It is supplied with tools for in situ monitoring the temperature‐dependent electrical resistance of nickel substrate to obtain a desired number of graphene layers in the sample synthesized. An area of 1 × 1 cm2 appeared to be covered by graphene. Raman spectroscopy and optical absorption spectroscopy are used to estimate the quality of graphene films fabricated and the graphene layer number.
Human pegivirus (HPgV) infection in sub‐Saharan Africa—A call for a renewed research agenda
Authors: Singh Shivank , Blackard Jason T.
Published: November 2017

The human pegivirus (HPgV)—formerly GB virus C—has a beneficial impact on HIV disease progression that has been described in multiple studies. Given the high prevalence of HIV in sub‐Saharan Africa and the continuing need to suppress HIV replication, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the existing data on HPgV infection in sub‐Saharan Africa, with a particular focus on studies of prevalence and the circulating HPgV genotypes. This review also highlights the need for additional studies of HPgV conducted on the African continent and proposes a research agenda for evaluation of HPgV.
The Mechanistic Details for the Growth of Palladium Nanoparticles on Graphene Oxide Support
Authors: Khannanov Artur A. , Valimukhametova Alina R. , Kiiamov Airat G. , Vakhitov Iskander R. , Dimiev Ayrat M.
Published: November 2017

Composite materials, comprising metal nanoparticles (NP) on a structural support have gained significant attention as novel systems for catalysis and energy conversion. Despite the importance of these materials for practical applications, the mechanism of the NPs formation remains elusive. Here, we investigate the seeding and the growth of Pd‐NPs on graphene oxide (GO) support in the two‐step process: impregnation and annealing. During the impregnation step, Pd2+ uniformly covers GO surface due to the strong chemical bonding with the oxygen functional groups. During the thermal annealing step, the growth of Pd‐NPs occurs via the radial in‐plane migration of Pd‐NPs along the GO surface to incorporate new Pd atoms in a way, similar to the snowball effect. The exact migration path depends on the annealing temperature, and on the Pd/GO ratio. The same two factors are responsible for the size‐distribution and the lateral density of as‐grown Pd‐NPs. At high temperatures, diffusion of the growing Pd‐NPs across the GO layers complicates the picture. The annealing temperature also influences the crystallinity, or the degree of porosity of the graphenic support. Below 500°C, carbon planes remain almost intact, while above 700°C, GO decomposes into highly porous material.
Cyclometalated Ru(II)‐NHC Complexes as Effective Catalysts for Transfer Hydrogenation: Influence of Wingtip Group on Catalytic Outcome
Authors: Balamurugan Gunasekaran , Ramesh Rengan , Malecki Jan Grzegorz
Published: November 2017

Cyclometalated N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) based ruthenium benzene complexes of general formula [(η6‐C6H6)Ru(C C)Cl] (C C=1‐butyl‐3‐phenylimidazol‐2‐ylidene 1 a, 1‐isopropyl‐3‐phenylimidazol‐2‐ylidene 1 b and 1‐benzyl‐3‐phenylimidazol‐2‐ylidene 1 c) have been synthesised via C−H activation of 1‐alkyl‐3‐phenylimidazolium salts with [(η6‐C6H6)RuCl2]2 under silver transmetallation condition. All the complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis and spectral methods. The solid‐state structures of the complexes 2 a‐c have been established by a X‐ray single crystal diffraction study which revealed that NHC ligands behaved as mono anionic bidentate C C donors to the Ru(II) center via carbenic carbon and cyclometalated carbon. The newly synthesised ruthenium(II) NHC complexes 2 a‐c have been exploited as potential homogeneous catalysts to the transfer hydrogenation reactions for a broad scope of ketones to alcohols using 2‐propanol as a hydrogen source. The titled complexes worked well with low catalyst loading of 0.2 mol% with maximum conversion of 100% under optimized condition with reference to base, temperature, time, catalyst loading and substrate scope. Besides, the influence of the nature of wingtip group of the NHC ligands on the transfer hydrogenation reaction has also been reported to demonstrate the efficacy of catalyst.
Enhancing Efficiency and Stability of Organic Solar Cells by UV Absorbent
Authors: Qin Meng , Cheng Pei , Mai Jiangquan , Lau Tsz‐Ki , Zhang Qianqian , Wang Jiayu , Yan Cenqi , Liu Kuan , Su Chun‐Jen , You Wei , Lu Xinhui , Zhan Xiaowei
Published: November 2017

A new type of high boiling‐point additive, UV absorbent benzophenone (BP), is reported which can simultaneously improve the efficiency and stability of fullerene and nonfullerene organic solar cells (OSCs). After the addition of BP, the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of nonfullerene OSCs based on FTAZ: ITIC‐Th is increased from 8.5 to 9.4%, and is further increased to 10.3% by employing inverted geometry. Meanwhile, the photo‐stability of nonfullerene OSC is improved. After illumination‐aging, the OSCs with BP preserve 79% of the original PCEs, while the OSCs without additives or with 1,8‐diiodooctane only preserve 65 and 58% of their original PCEs, respectively. In addition, BP can also work in fullerene‐based OSCs. After the addition of BP, the efficiency and photo‐stability of the OSCs based on PTB7‐Th: PC71BM are simultaneously enhanced.
On the Damage Behavior of a 0.1C6Mn Medium‐Mn Steel
Authors: Steineder Katharina , Krizan Daniel , Schneider Reinhold , Béal Coline , Sommitsch Christof
Published: November 2017

The present work concentrates on the investigation of the damage behavior in the case of a batch annealed 0.1C6Mn medium‐Mn steel as a function of intercritical annealing temperature. The variation of this important annealing parameter results in the formation of different microstructures, consisting of altering amounts of ferrite, martensite, and retained austenite. Martensite and retained austenite change not only in their volume fraction, but also in the grain size and composition, which implies a modification of their hardness and for the latter microstructural compound, varying chemical, and mechanical stability. Therefore, a detailed investigation of non‐deformed and pre‐strained microstructures is performed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and interrupted tensile testing is carried out to determine the retained austenite stability. To understand the macro‐ and micro‐scale damage response of the investigated steel, tested tensile samples are analyzed with respect to their fracture behavior, as well as void appearance and their location within the microstructure. It is found that the stability of retained austenite and the presence of hard athermal martensite in the microstructure play the most important role, governing the overall damage behavior of the present medium‐Mn steel.
“We help each other”: Collaborative exploration of reading by college students of English as a foreign language in China
Authors: Wang Yang , Zheng Yuebo
Published: November 2017

In this study, college English as a foreign language (EFL) learners in mainland China for the first time explored their reading process through collaborative retrospective miscue analysis (CRMA). In pairs, they interviewed each other about reading interests, beliefs, and strategies; read aloud and retold texts to each other; marked each other's miscues; and talked about how they made those miscues when they read. They read multiple genres of texts in class and discussed their miscues and readings. Through the retrospective conversations for 5 months, they shifted toward reading as meaning making and learned that everybody miscues and not all miscues are mistakes, they became more metacognitive about their reading process and uncovered and named reading strategies, and they learned English language through this language in a social context. Their native language contributed to their English language learning. The CRMA sessions provided an opportunity for Chinese EFL students to listen to each other, encourage exploratory talk, and take ownership of their learning through discovering their reading process with their peers. They valued their reading and themselves as readers through CRMA sessions.
Visual biofeedback using transperineal ultrasound in second stage of labor
Authors: Gilboa Y. , Frenkel T. I. , Schlesinger Y. , Rousseau S. , Hamiel D. , Achiron R. , Perlman S.
Published: November 2017

Objective

To assess the obstetric and psychological effects of visual biofeedback by transperineal ultrasound (TPU) during the second stage of labor.

Methods

This was a prospective, single‐center observational study of low‐risk nulliparous women with epidural analgesia undergoing vaginal delivery. Visual biofeedback using TPU was provided to 26 women during the second stage of labor. Pushing efficacy was assessed by the change in the angle of progression (AoP) at rest and during pushing efforts, before and after biofeedback. Obstetric outcomes included incidence of perineal tearing, mode of delivery and length of second stage of labor. Psychological outcomes were assessed by self‐reported measures obtained during the postnatal hospital stay and included measures of perceived control and maternal satisfaction with childbirth, as well as level of maternal feelings of connectedness with the newborn. Obstetric and psychological results were compared with those of a control group of 69 women who received standard obstetric coaching from midwives.

Results

Pushing efficacy increased significantly following visual biofeedback by TPU (P = 0.01), as indicated by a significantly lower delta AoP before (mean, 22.2° (95% CI, 13.9–31.7°)) compared with after (mean, 35.2° (95% CI, 25.9–45.3°)) biofeedback. A significant association was found between visual biofeedback and an intact perineum following delivery (P = 0.03). No significant differences were found between the two groups with regard to mode of delivery or length of the second stage. Feelings of maternal connectedness with the newborn were significantly stronger (P = 0.003) in women who received visual biofeedback than in those who did not. However, perceived control during childbirth and maternal satisfaction with childbirth did not differ significantly between the biofeedback and control groups.

Conclusions

This pilot study suggests that biofeedback using TPU may serve as a complementary tool to coached maternal pushing during the second stage of labor, with obstetric as well as psychological benefits. Further studies are required to confirm our findings and define the optimal duration of the intervention. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
State‐to‐state photodissociation dynamics of the water molecule
Authors: Hu Xixi , Zhou Linsen , Xie Daiqian
Published: November 2017

Photodissociation provides an ideal proving ground for an in‐depth understanding of the microscopic mechanism and dynamics of bond breaking processes at a state‐to‐state level. After a brief outline of the requisite theory, we review the latest developments on the state‐to‐state photodissociation dynamics of the water molecule via the lowest two excited states, focusing on the absorption spectrum and product state distributions. A detailed discussion is given on the competition between different adiabatic and nonadiabatic pathways of the dissociation. Quantum mechanical studies of this prototypical system on accurate coupled potential energy surfaces not only offer an interpretation of the existing experimental results but also provide a clear and comprehensive dynamical picture of water photodissociation. WIREs Comput Mol Sci 2018, 8:e1350. doi: 10.1002/wcms.1350

This article is categorized under:

Theoretical and Physical Chemistry > Reaction Dynamics and Kinetics
Aligning Instructional Strategies with Learning Outcomes and Leadership Competencies
Authors: Jenkins Daniel M. , Allen Scott J.
Published: November 2017

This chapter provides recommendations for aligning instructional strategies with learning outcomes and leadership competencies to foster intentional student leadership development.
Structurally Diverse Divalent Metal Adamantanedicarboxylate Coordination Polymers with Hydrogen‐bonding Capable Dipyridyl Pillaring Ligands
Authors: Travis Jamelah Z. , Martinez Brianna L. , LaDuca Robert L.
Published: November 2017

Five new divalent metal coordination polymers containing either 1,3‐adamantanedicarboxylate (adc) or 1,3‐adamantanediacetate (ada) and pillaring dipyridyl ligands were prepared and structurally characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Using the V‐shaped linker 4,4′‐dipyridylamine (dpa), three new phases were isolated. {[Zn2(ada)2(dpa)2]·4.5H2O}n (1) shows a (4,4) grid topology with embedded octameric water clusters. {[Co(ada)(dpa)(H2O)]·H2O}n (2) also manifests a 2D dimensionality, but with an intriguing novel (4)(12)(4.125) looped topology. {[Cd(adc)(H2O)2]·H2O}n (3) did not incorporate dpa ligands during self‐assembly, but exhibits an uncommon 3‐connected 83 etb network topology. [Co(ada)(ebin)]n (4) [ebin = ethanediaminebis(nicotinamide)] possesses a (3,6) triangular net based on {Co2(OCO)2} dimeric units. {[Cd(adc)(ebin)]·2H2O}n (5) also shows dimeric units, although linked into a decorated (4,4) grid topology. Magnetic susceptibility studies of compound 4 revealed a decrease in χmT product upon cooling, ascribed to antiferromagnetic coupling concomitant with single‐ion effects [g = 2.39(2) with D = 40(3) cm–1 and J = –3.55(4) cm–1]. Compounds 1 and 5 undergo blue‐violet fluorescence upon ultraviolet irradiation; the zinc derivative 1 shows potential as a sensor for the solution‐phase detection of nitrobenzene and m‐nitrophenol. Thermal decomposition behavior of the five new phases is also discussed.
Using the National Longitudinal Surveys of Youth (NLSY) to Conduct Life Course Analyses
Authors: Cooksey Elizabeth C.
Published: November 2017

The National Longitudinal Surveys of Youth (NLSY) are a set of three separate US cohorts. Two of the cohorts, the NLSY79 and the NLSY97, are nationally representative, while the third, the NLSY79 Child and Young Adult cohort, follows the offspring born to female NLSY79 respondents. The NLSY79 began data collection in 1979 from an initial sample of 12,686 young men and women born between 1957 and 1964; the NLSY97 cohort, an initial group of 8984 young people born between 1980 and 1984, was first interviewed in 1997. Both the NLSY79 and NLSY97 cohorts have been interviewed annually or biennially since their inceptions. NLSY79 Child data were first obtained in 1986, when 4971 children were interviewed. Over 11,000 children have been born in total. The children have been regularly interviewed and/or assessed since 1986, many of them through their teens into their young adult years. Data for all three cohorts are remarkably suited for life course analysis due to the breadth of topical areas included in the interviews: health, education, employment, household information, family background, marital history, childcare, income and assets, attitudes, substance use, and criminal activity. The NLSY data also provide opportunities for multi-generational and kinship research. Data on health and recent research using NLSY health data are a focus of this chapter.
Adolescent Health Development: A Relational Developmental Systems Perspective
Authors: Lerner Richard M. , Brindis Claire D. , Batanova Milena , Blum Robert Wm.
Published: November 2017

The contemporary study of adolescent development emphasizes that the process of development involves mutually influential relations between the developing individual and the features of his or her complex and changing context. These relations are most often framed by models derived from a relational developmental systems metatheory, an approach to theory that is entirely consistent with the seven principles of life course health development. Concepts associated with these ideas are used to describe, explain, and optimize the course of development in the second decade of life and, as such, to frame applied research aimed at promoting health and positive development among diverse adolescents. Accordingly we discuss the relational developmental systems metatheory and the seven principles and illustrate how the ideas associated with both approaches to adolescent development can innovatively integrate and extend scholarship about transitions and transformations characterizing the adolescent period and, as well, afford optimism that relational changes linked to positive change in the health developmental system can be identified and used to promote thriving in adolescence.
Demanding Energy: An Introduction
Authors: Hui Allison , Day Rosie , Walker Gordon
Published: November 2017

This edited collection starts from the question: what social processes constitute and make energy demand? That is, what is energy for? Pursuing this question requires stepping back from energy demand per se to investigate the social practices that contribute to its constitution, patterning and transformation. Drawing in part upon social theories of practice and bringing together empirical cases addressing transportation, institutional and domestic settings, chapters draw particularly upon socio-theoretical understandings of space, time and change in order to provide new and sophisticated contributions to discussions of energy demand. This introduction discusses key themes and outlines the book’s structure.
Systematics of the multi-Regge three-loop symbol
Authors: Bargheer Till
Published: November 2017

Abstract

We review the systematics of Mandelstam cut contributions to planar scattering amplitudes in the multi-Regge limit. Isolating the relevant cut terms, we explain how the BFKL expansion can be used to construct the perturbative n-point multi-Regge limit amplitude in certain kinematic regions from a finite number of basic building blocks. At three loops and at leading logarithmic order, two building blocks are required. Their symbols are extracted from the known three-loop six-point and seven-point symbols for general kinematics. The new seven-point building block is constructed in terms of single-valued multiple polylogarithms to the extent it can be determined using the symbol as well as further symmetry and consistency constraints. Beyond the leading logarithmic order, the subleading and sub-subleading terms require two and one further building block, respectively. The latter could either be reconstructed from further perturbative data, or from BFKL integrals involving yet-unknown corrections to the central emission block.
Monogene Adipositas
Authors: von Schnurbein Julia , Wabitsch Martin
Published: November 2017

Autosomal-rezessiv vererbte Mutationen in den Genen für Leptin, Leptinrezeptor, Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) und Prohormon-Convertase (PC1) führen zu einer ausgeprägten frühkindlichen Adipositas. Patienten mit biologisch inaktivem Leptin oder Leptinmangel können mit humanem rekombinanten Leptin erfolgreich behandelt werden. Für die anderen Patienten hat sich die Behandlung mit einem α‑MSH-Analogon als erfolgreich erwiesen (POMC-Patienten) bzw. befindet sich derzeit in Erprobung.

Kodominant vererbte Mutationen im MC4R-Gen stellen die häufigste Form der monogenen Adipositas dar. Eine kausale Therapie ist hier allerdings nicht möglich.

Es sind inzwischen noch weitere, autosomal-rezessiv vererbte Genmutationen identifiziert worden, die ebenfalls mit einer ausgeprägten Adipositas assoziiert sind. Die meisten dieser Mutationen liegen in Genen, die in die Signaltransduktion von MC4R oder dem Leptinrezeptor involviert sind. Auch für diese Patienten gibt es aktuell noch keine kausale Therapie.

Schlussfolgerung: Bei Patienten mit extremer frühkindlicher Adipositas sollte eine molekulargenetische Diagnostik eingeleitet werden, da die Diagnosestellung für die Betroffenen und ihre Familie eine enorme Erleichterung bedeuten kann. Außerdem gewinnen die Familien Klarheit über das Wiederholungsrisiko und eventuell ist sogar eine kausale oder zumindest optimierte Therapie möglich.
Well-posedness for mean-field evolutions arising in superconductivity
Authors: Fischer Julian , Duerinckx Mitia
Published: November 2017

We establish the existence of a global solution for a new family of fluid-like equations, which are obtained in certain regimes in [24] as the mean-field evolution of the supercurrent density in a (2D section of a) type-II superconductor with pinning and with imposed electric current. We also consider general vortex-sheet initial data, and investigate the uniqueness and regularity properties of the solution. For some choice of parameters, the equation under investigation coincides with the so-called lake equation from 2D shallow water fluid dynamics, and our analysis then leads to a new existence result for rough initial data.
Novel Application of Micro-Computerized Tomography for Morphologic Characterization of the Murine Penis
Authors: O'Neill Marisol , Huang Gene O. , Lamb Dolores J.
Published: November 2017

Background

The murine penis model has enriched our understanding of anomalous penile development. The morphologic characterization of the murine penis using conventional serial sectioning methods is labor intensive and prone to errors.

Aim

To develop a novel application of micro-computerized tomography (micro-CT) with iodine staining for rapid, non-destructive morphologic study of murine penis structure.

Methods

Penises were dissected from 10 adult wild-type mice and imaged using micro-CT with iodine staining. Images were acquired at 5-μm spatial resolution on a Bruker SkyScan 1272 micro-CT system. After images were acquired, the specimens were washed of any remaining iodine and embedded in paraffin for conventional histologic examination. Histologic and micro-CT measurements for all specimens were made by 2 independent observers.

Outcomes

Measurements of penile structures were made on virtual micro-CT sections and histologic slides.

Results

The Lin concordance correlation coefficient demonstrated almost perfect strength of agreement for interobserver variability for histologic section (0.9995, 95% CI = 0.9990–0.9997) and micro-CT section (0.9982, 95% CI = 0.9963–0.9991) measurements. Bland-Altman analysis for agreement between the 2 modalities of measurement demonstrated mean differences of −0.029, 0.022, and −0.068 mm for male urogenital mating protuberance, baculum, and penile glans length, respectively. There did not appear to be a bias for overestimation or underestimation of measured lengths and limits of agreement were narrow.

Clinical Translation

The enhanced ability offered by micro-CT to phenotype the murine penis has the potential to improve translational studies examining the molecular pathways contributing to anomalous penile development.

Strengths and Limitations

The present study describes the first reported use of micro-CT with iodine staining for imaging the murine penis. Producing repeated histologic sections of identical orientation was limited by inherent imperfections in mounting and tissue sectioning, but this was compensated for by using micro-CT reconstructions to identify matching virtual sections.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the successful use of micro-CT with iodine staining, which has the potential for submicron spatial resolution, as a non-destructive method of characterizing murine penile morphology.
Traffic flow densities in large transport networks
Authors: Hirsch Christian , Jahnel Benedikt , Keeler Paul , Patterson Robert I. A.
Published: November 2017

We consider transport networks with nodes scattered at random in a large domain. At certain local rates, the nodes generate traffic flows according to some navigation scheme in a given direction. In the thermodynamic limit of a growing domain, we present an asymptotic formula expressing the local traffic flow density at any given location in the domain in terms of three fundamental characteristics of the underlying network: the spatial intensity of the nodes together with their traffic generation rates, and of the links induced by the navigation. This formula holds for a general class of navigations satisfying a link-density and a sub-ballisticity condition. As a specific example, we verify these conditions for navigations arising from a directed spanning tree on a Poisson point process with inhomogeneous intensity function.
A Tribute to James Parkinson
Authors: Parent André
Published: November 2017

Exactly 200 years ago, the London surgeon-apothecary James Parkinson (1755-1824) published a 66-page-long booklet entitledAn Essay on the Shaking Palsy, which contains the first clear clinical description of the shaking palsy orparalysis agitans, which we now refer to as Parkinson’s disease. However, the value of this essay was not fully recognized during Parkinson’s lifetime, which spanned the American Revolution, the French Revolution, and the Napoleonic Wars. James Parkinson was one of the most singular figures of his time and place. He was successively or concomitantly a virulent political activist, a popular medical writer, a scholarly medical contributor, a highly appreciated parish doctor, a prominent amateur chemist, a devoted madhouse doctor, and a renowned paleontologist. It is that branch of geology that brought Parkinson fame during his lifetime. He was an insatiable collector of fossils, minerals, and shells that came to form the core of the museum that he set out at his home in Shoreditch, England. These specimens are beautifully illustrated in hisOrganic Remains of a Former World(1804-1811), a three-volume treatise that rapidly became a standard paleontology textbook. Parkinson was a founding member of the Geological Society of London, and in recognition of his contribution to the nascent field of paleontology his name was given to many fossils, particularly ammonites (e.g.Nautilus parkinsoni). Hence, we owe much to Mr. Parkinson, the Paleontologist, as he used to be referred to after his death, for such a vast and multifaceted contribution to natural science and medicine.
Short, flat-tipped, viscous fingers: novel interfacial patterns in a Hele-Shaw channel with an elastic boundary
Authors: McCue Scott W.
Published: November 2017

Injecting a less viscous fluid into a more viscous fluid in a Hele-Shaw cell triggers two-dimensional viscous fingering patterns which are characterised by increasingly long fingers undergoing tip splitting and branching events. These complex structures are considered to be a paradigm for interfacial pattern formation in porous media flow and other related phenomena. Over the past five years, there has been a flurry of interest in manipulating these interfacial fingering patterns by altering the physical components of the Hele-Shaw apparatus. In this Focus on Fluids article, we summarise some of this work, concentrating on a very recent study in which the alterations include replacing one of the two bounding plates with an elastic membrane (Ducloué et al., J. Fluid Mech., vol. 826, 2017, R2). The resulting experimental set-up gives rise to a wide variety of novel interfacial patterns including periodic sideways fingers, dendritic-like patterns and short, flat-tipped viscous fingers that appear to resemble molar teeth. These latter fingers are similar to those observed in the printer’s instability and when peeling off a layer of adhesive tape. This delightful work brings together a number of well-studied themes in interfacial fluid mechanics, including how viscous and surface tension forces compete to drive fingering patterns, how interfaces are affected by fluid–solid interactions and, finally, how novel strategies can be implemented to control interfacial instabilities.
Properties of the mean momentum balance in polymer drag-reduced channel flow
Authors: White C. M. , Dubief Y. , Klewicki J.
Published: November 2017

Mean momentum equation based analysis of polymer drag-reduced channel flow is performed to evaluate the redistribution of mean momentum and the mechanisms underlying the redistribution processes. Similar to channel flow of Newtonian fluids, polymer drag-reduced channel flow is shown to exhibit a four layer structure in the mean balance of forces that also connects, via the mean momentum equation, to an underlying scaling layer hierarchy. The self-similar properties of the flow related to the layer hierarchy appear to persist, but in an altered form (different from the Newtonian fluid flow), and dependent on the level of drag reduction. With increasing drag reduction, polymer stress usurps the role of the inertial mechanism, and because of this the wall-normal position where inertially dominated mean dynamics occurs moves outward, and viscous effects become increasingly important farther from the wall. For the high drag reduction flows of the present study, viscous effects become non-negligible across the entire hierarchy and an inertially dominated logarithmic scaling region ceases to exist. It follows that the state of maximum drag reduction is attained only after the inertial sublayer is eradicated. According to the present mean equation theory, this coincides with the loss of a region of logarithmic dependence in the mean profile.