bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recent highlights in electro‐driven separations‐ selected applications of alkylthiol gold nanoparticles in capillary electrophoresis and capillary electro‐chromatography
Authors: Guihen Elizabeth
Published: March 2017

To date, alkylthiol gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been widely used in electro‐chromatographic separation techniques as a viable alternative to traditional stationary phases. This is mainly due to their stability, chemical inertness, ease of functionality, increased phase ratio, ability to form self‐assembled monolayers. They also yield versatile stationary phases with highly specific targeted functionalities. At the nanoscale region, the chemical and physical properties of a molecule display different attributes to that of the parent molecules or material, hence these features can be harnessed in electro‐driven chromatographic separations. Application areas illustrating the use of AuNPs in separation science continue to grow and expand to cover many different kinds of analysis. The last decade has witnessed a successful trend in miniaturisation of chemical separation systems toward the micro and nanoscale ranges. Nanoparticle‐based stationary phases fit well with performing chemical separations on microfluidic and capillary platforms. In this review the theory of the use of alkylthiol gold nanoparticles in electro‐chromatographic driven separation methods will be discussed. This will be followed by details of recent and selected applications showing alkylthiol gold nanoparticles in capillary electrophoretic and open‐tubular electro‐chromatographic separations. This review will focus solely on alkylthiol based gold nanoparticles, therefore other kinds of chemical moieties bonded to gold nanoparticles are outside the scope of this review. Finally the future outlook of this exciting technology will be outlined in some detail in the final section.
Capillary electrophoresis of covalently functionalized single‐chirality carbon nanotubes
Authors: He Pingli , Meany Brendan , Wang Chunyan , Piao Yanmei , Kwon Hyejin , Deng Shunliu , Wang YuHuang
Published: March 2017

We demonstrate the separation of chirality‐enriched single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) by degree of surface functionalization using high‐performance CE. Controlled amounts of negatively charged and positively charged functional groups were attached to the sidewall of chirality‐enriched SWCNTs through covalent functionalization using 4‐carboxybenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate or 4‐diazo‐N,N‐diethylaniline tetrafluoroborate, respectively. Surfactant‐ and pH‐dependent studies confirmed that under conditions that minimized ionic screening effects, separation of these functionalized SWCNTs was strongly dependent on the surface charge density introduced through covalent surface chemistry. For both heterogeneous mixtures and single‐chirality‐enriched samples, covalently functionalized SWCNTs showed substantially increased peak width in electropherogram spectra compared to nonfunctionalized SWCNTs, which can be attributed to a distribution of surface charges along the functionalized nanotubes. Successful separation of functionalized single‐chirality SWCNTs by functional density was confirmed with UV‐Vis‐NIR absorption and Raman scattering spectroscopies of fraction collected samples. These results suggest a high degree of structural heterogeneity in covalently functionalized SWCNTs, even for chirality‐enriched samples, and show the feasibility of applying CE for high‐performance separation of nanomaterials based on differences in surface functional density.
Dorsomedial prefontal cortex supports spontaneous thinking per se
Authors: Raij T. T. , Riekki T. J. J.
Published: March 2017

Spontaneous thinking, an action to produce, consider, integrate, and reason through mental representations, is central to our daily experience and has been suggested to serve crucial adaptive purposes. Such thinking occurs among other experiences during mind wandering that is associated with activation of the default mode network among other brain circuitries. Whether and how such brain activation is linked to the experience of spontaneous thinking per se remains poorly known. We studied 51 healthy subjects using a comprehensive experience‐sampling paradigm during 3T functional magnetic resonance imaging. In comparison with fixation, the experiences of spontaneous thinking and spontaneous perception were related to activation of wide‐spread brain circuitries, including the cortical midline structures, the anterior cingulate cortex and the visual cortex. In direct comparison of the spontaneous thinking versus spontaneous perception, activation was observed in the anterior dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. Modality congruence of spontaneous‐experience‐related brain activation was suggested by several findings, including association of the lingual gyrus with visual in comparison with non‐verbal–non‐visual thinking. In the context of current literature, these findings suggest that the cortical midline structures are involved in the integrative core substrate of spontaneous thinking that is coupled with other brain systems depending on the characteristics of thinking. Furthermore, involvement of the anterior dorsomedial prefrontal cortex suggests the control of high‐order abstract functions to characterize spontaneous thinking per se. Hum Brain Mapp 38:3277–3288, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Assessment of biopsy‐proven liver fibrosis by two‐dimensional shear wave elastography: An individual patient data‐based meta‐analysis
Authors: Herrmann Eva , de Lédinghen Victor , Cassinotto Christophe , Chu Winnie C.‐W. , Leung Vivian Y.‐F. , Ferraioli Giovanna , Filice Carlo , Castera Laurent , Vilgrain Valérie , Ronot Maxime , Dumortier Jérôme , Guibal Aymeric , Pol Stanislas , Trebicka Jonel , Jansen Christian , Strassburg Christian , Zheng Rongqin , Zheng Jian , Francque Sven , Vanwolleghem Thomas , Vonghia Luisa , Manesis Emanuel K. , Zoumpoulis Pavlos , Sporea Ioan , Thiele Maja , Krag Aleksander , Cohen‐Bacrie Claude , Criton Aline , Gay Joel , Deffieux Thomas , Friedrich‐Rust Mireen
Published: March 2017

Two‐dimensional shear wave elastography (2D‐SWE) has proven to be efficient for the evaluation of liver fibrosis in small to moderate‐sized clinical trials. We aimed at running a larger‐scale meta‐analysis of individual data. Centers which have worked with Aixplorer ultrasound equipment were contacted to share their data. Retrospective statistical analysis used direct and paired receiver operating characteristic and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) analyses, accounting for random effects. Data on both 2D‐SWE and liver biopsy were available for 1,134 patients from 13 sites, as well as on successful transient elastography in 665 patients. Most patients had chronic hepatitis C (n = 379), hepatitis B (n = 400), or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (n = 156). AUROCs of 2D‐SWE in patients with hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease were 86.3%, 90.6%, and 85.5% for diagnosing significant fibrosis and 92.9%, 95.5%, and 91.7% for diagnosing cirrhosis, respectively. The AUROC of 2D‐SWE was 0.022‐0.084 (95% confidence interval) larger than the AUROC of transient elastography for diagnosing significant fibrosis (P = 0.001) and 0.003‐0.034 for diagnosing cirrhosis (P = 0.022) in all patients. This difference was strongest in hepatitis B patients. Conclusion: 2D‐SWE has good to excellent performance for the noninvasive staging of liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis B; further prospective studies are needed for head‐to‐head comparison between 2D‐SWE and other imaging modalities to establish disease‐specific appropriate cutoff points for assessment of fibrosis stage. (Hepatology 2018;67:260‐272).
Water balance estimation under the challenge of data scarcity in a hyperarid to Mediterranean region
Authors: Sachse Agnes , Fischer Christian , Laronne Jonathan B. , Hennig Hanna , Marei Amer , Kolditz Olaf , Rödiger Tino
Published: March 2017

Water budget analyses are important for the evaluation of the water resources in semiarid and arid regions. The lack of observed data is the major obstacle for hydrological modelling in arid regions. The aim of this study is the analysis and calculation of the natural water resources of the Western Dead Sea subsurface catchment, one which is highly sensitive to rainfall resulting in highly variable temporal and spatial groundwater recharge. We focus on the subsurface catchment and subsequently apply the findings to a large‐scale groundwater flow model to estimate the groundwater discharge to the Dead Sea.

We apply a semidistributed hydrological model (J2000g), originally developed for the Mediterranean, to the hyperarid region of the Western Dead Sea catchment, where runoff data and meteorological records are sparsely available. The challenge is to simulate the water budget, where the localized nature of extreme rainstorms together with sparse runoff data results in few observed runoff and recharge events. To overcome the scarcity of climate input data, we enhance the database with mean monthly rainfall data. The rainfall data of 2 satellites are shown to be unsuitable to fill the missing rainfall data due to underrepresentation of the steep hydrological gradient and temporal resolution. Hydrological models need to be calibrated against measured values; hence, the absence of adequate data can be problematic. Therefore, our calibration approach is based on a nested strategy of diverse observations. We calculate a direct surface runoff of the Western Dead Sea surface area (1,801 km2) of 3.4 mm/a and an average recharge (36.7 mm/a) for the 3,816 km2 subsurface drainage basin of the Cretaceous aquifer system.
Reduced glucose‐induced insulin secretion in low‐protein‐fed rats is associated with altered pancreatic islets redox status
Authors: Cappelli Ana Paula G. , Zoppi Claudio C. , Silveira Leonardo R. , Batista Thiago M. , Paula Flávia M. , da Silva Priscilla M. R. , Rafacho Alex , Barbosa‐Sampaio Helena C. , Boschero Antonio C. , Carneiro Everardo M.
Published: March 2017

In the present study, we investigated the relationship between early life protein malnutrition‐induced redox imbalance, and reduced glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion. After weaning, male Wistar rats were submitted to a normal‐protein‐diet (17%‐protein, NP) or to a low‐protein‐diet (6%‐protein, LP) for 60 days. Pancreatic islets were isolated and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), oxidized (GSSG) and reduced (GSH) glutathione content, CuZn‐superoxide dismutase (SOD1), glutathione peroxidase (GPx1) and catalase (CAT) gene expression, as well as enzymatic antioxidant activities were quantified. Islets that were pre‐incubated with H2O2 and/or N‐acetylcysteine, were subsequently incubated with glucose for insulin secretion measurement. Protein malnutrition increased CAT mRNA content by 100%. LP group SOD1 and CAT activities were 50% increased and reduced, respectively. H2O2 production was more than 50% increased whereas GSH/GSSG ratio was near 60% lower in LP group. Insulin secretion was, in most conditions, approximately 50% lower in LP rat islets. When islets were pre‐incubated with H2O2 (100 μM), and incubated with glucose (33 mM), LP rats showed significant decrease of insulin secretion. This effect was attenuated when LP islets were exposed to N‐acetylcysteine.
One‐pot Synthesis of 3‐phenyl‐4‐pyrazolylmethylene‐isoxazol‐(5H)‐ones Catalyzed by Sodium Benzoate in Aqueous Media under the Influence of Ultrasound Waves: A Green Chemistry Approach
Authors: Konkala Veera Swamy , Dubey Pramod Kumar
Published: March 2017

A series of 4‐pyrazolylmethylene‐3‐phenylisoxazol‐5(4H)‐ones have been prepared from Knoevenagel condensation of pyrazole‐4‐carbaxaldehyde with isoxazolone precursors or via one‐pot three‐component cyclocondensation of pyrazole‐4‐carbaxaldehyde with β‐ketoesters and hydroxylamine hydrochloride in the presence of sodium benzoate in water under the influence of ultrasonic waves. The merits of this method are efficient, clean, green, easy work‐up, high yields, and shorter reaction time, and the catalyst could be recycled easily without affecting the catalytic activity.
Concentrations, biological uptake, and respiration of dissolved acrylate and dimethylsulfoxide in the northern Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Tyssebotn Inger Marie B. , Kinsey Joanna D. , Kieber David J. , Kiene Ronald P. , Rellinger Alison N. , Motard‐Côté Jessie
Published: March 2017

The abundant marine organosulfur compound, dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) can be degraded to acrylate and dimethylsulfide (DMS), with some DMS further oxidized to dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). Despite intensive study of DMSP and DMS in a variety of marine settings, the processes affecting acrylate and DMSO concentrations in marine waters are poorly known, particularly their loss from the dissolved phase through biological uptake. We measured the concentrations of dissolved acrylate (acrylated) and DMSO (DMSOd) in coastal and open‐ocean waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico during non‐bloom conditions and quantified the rates and kinetics of their biological uptake using 14C labeled substrates. Acrylated concentrations and uptake rates ranged from 0.8–2.1 nmol L−1 and 0.07–1.8 nmol L−1 d−1, respectively. Somewhat higher uptake rates were observed for DMSOd (0.27–3.9 nmol L−1 d−1) owing to higher DMSOd concentrations (5.5–14 nmol L−1). Both compounds were taken up by the microbial community with high affinity uptake systems, with similar Ks and Vmax values to those for other well‐studied biological substrates including amino acids and monosaccharides. However, median turnover times were relatively slow, 4.8 d for acrylated and 7.4 d for DMSOd. The slow acrylated turnover points to low supply rates of this compound to the dissolved phase, a finding consistent with previous observations that the microbial DMSP lyase pathway accounts for only a small fraction of dissolved DMSP degradation (and therefore acrylate production) in the Gulf of Mexico.
Using eDNA to determine the source of organic carbon in seagrass meadows
Authors: Reef Ruth , Atwood Trisha B. , Samper‐Villarreal Jimena , Adame Maria Fernanda , Sampayo Eugenia M. , Lovelock Catherine E.
Published: March 2017

Seagrasses sequester globally significant amounts of carbon (C), which is stored mainly in the sediment. Both C fixation by the seagrass (autochthonous) and the trapping of organic matter that is derived from outside the ecosystem (allochthonous) contribute to seagrass sediment organic C (OC). However, due to limitations in current methods we do not yet fully understand which sources of C are most important to blue C ecosystems. We used environmental‐DNA (eDNA) to identify and estimate the contribution of floral sources to seagrass sediment OC sampled from three sites in Moreton Bay, Australia that differ in potential levels of autochthonous and allochthonous OC inputs. Using the plant barcode gene rbcL and a next‐generation sequencing platform we identified 150 plant operational taxonomic units in the sediment samples. We found that seagrass DNA composed on average 88% of the eDNA pool in the sediment samples. Allochtonous sources were primarily mangrove, saltmarsh, and freshwater marsh species, but the proportional contribution of other sources varied among meadows. Carbon and nitrogen (N) stable isotope mixing models suggested a lower autochthonous contribution than the eDNA data, but had high ambiguity due to indistinguishable isotopic values among some of the sources. Our study shows that eDNA can be an effective tool for identifying sources to sediment OC in blue C ecosystems and can be used in conjunction with stable isotope analysis to reduce ambiguity. Identifying the sources of OC to the sediments of blue C ecosystems is crucial for building robust and accurate C budgets for these systems.
A Groszek‐Laver pair of undistinguishable ‐classes
Authors: Golshani Mohammad , Kanovei Vladimir , Lyubetsky Vassily
Published: March 2017

A generic extension of the constructible universe by reals is defined, in which the union of ‐classes of x and y is a lightface set, but neither of these two ‐classes is separately ordinal‐definable.
A space‐time continuous Galerkin method with mesh modification for viscoelastic wave equations
Authors: Zhao Zhihui , Li Hong , Luo Zhendong
Published: March 2017

In this article, we consider the space‐time continuous Galerkin (STCG) method for the viscoelastic wave equations. It allows variable temporal step‐sizes, and the changing of the spatial grids in two adjacent time levels. The existence, uniqueness, and stability of the approximate solutions are demonstrated and the error estimates with global and local spatial mesh sizes in norm are derived without any restrictive assumptions on the space‐time meshes. If the meshes in each time level satisfy some reasonable assumptions, then we can get the optimal order error estimates both in time and space. Finally, we give a numerical example on unstructured meshes to confirm the theoretical findings. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 33: 1183–1207, 2017
Structure of the Y. pseudotuberculosis adhesin InvasinE
Authors: Sadana Pooja , Mönnich Manuel , Unverzagt Carlo , Scrima Andrea
Published: March 2017

Enteropathogenic Yersinia expresses several invasins that are fundamental virulence factors required for adherence and colonization of tissues in the host. Within the invasin‐family of Yersinia adhesins, to date only Invasin has been extensively studied at both structural and functional levels. In this work, we structurally characterize the recently identified inverse autotransporter InvasinE from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (formerly InvasinD from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis strain IP31758) that belongs to the invasin‐family of proteins. The sequence of the C‐terminal adhesion domain of InvasinE differs significantly from that of other members of the Yersinia invasin‐family and its detailed cellular and molecular function remains elusive. In this work, we present the 1.7 Å crystal structure of the adhesion domain of InvasinE along with two Immunoglobulin‐like domains. The structure reveals a rod shaped architecture, confirmed by small angle X‐ray scattering in solution. The adhesion domain exhibits strong structural similarities to the C‐type lectin‐like domain of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Invasin and enteropathogenic/enterohemorrhagic E. coli Intimin. However, despite the overall structural similarity, the C‐type lectin‐like domain in InvasinE lacks motifs required for Ca2+/carbohydrate binding as well as sequence or structural features critical for Tir binding in Intimin and β1‐integrin binding in Invasin, suggesting that InvasinE targets a distinct, yet unidentified molecule on the host‐cell surface. Although the biological role and target molecule of InvasinE remain to be elucidated, our structural data provide novel insights into the architecture of invasin‐family proteins and a platform for further studies towards unraveling the function of InvasinE in the context of infection and host colonization.
Diode laser annealing on sputtered epitaxial Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films
Authors: Song Ning , Huang Jialiang , Green Martin A. , Hao Xiaojing
Published: March 2017

In this work, epitaxial Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) films grown by magnetron sputtering were annealed by continuous wavelength diode laser as an alternative post‐deposition heat treatment replacing conventional post‐annealing within sulfur atmosphere to improve the film quality. Upon ultrafast millisecond diode laser annealing, improvement of crystallinity and reduction of Cu/Zn disordering were observed in the CZTS thin films. The results indicate that the diode laser treatment can enable fast, effective, and efficient annealing of CZTS thin films.
The application of a blunt‐tip needle to suture the dorsal venous complex in robot‐assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy
Authors: Zhang Chao , Wang Huiqing , Ye Chen , Guo Fei , Yang Bo , Xu Chuanliang , Sun Yinghao
Published: March 2017

Objectives

Complete haemostasis of the dorsal venous complex (DVC) is of great importance in robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of blunt‐tip needles in the surgery.

Methods

Cases of robot‐assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy were reviewed. If a blunt‐tip needle had been used to suture the DVC, the patient was recruited to the blunt‐tip group. If a regular needle was used, the patient was recruited to the control group. Patient characteristics and perioperative outcomes were recorded.

Results

One hundred and nine cases were reviewed. A blunt‐tip needle was used to suture the DVC in 67 cases, and a regular needle in 42 cases. All characteristics of the two groups are comparable (p > 0.05). In 66 cases in the blunt‐tip group, no sutures or coagulations were needed when suturing the DVC, Five cases of DVC‐related bleeding were observed in the control group, which is higher than in the blunt‐tip group (p = 0.031). At the same time, no catheter was sutured in the blunt‐tip group. All patients were followed for at least six months. The continence rate in the blunt‐tip group is 89.6%, significantly higher than in the control group (73.8%, p = 0.031).

Conclusions

Using a blunt‐tip needle to suture the DVC may reduce DVC‐related bleeding and provide a better surgical field. It may be helpful in improving postoperative continence. However, its effect on positive margin at the apex still needs further investigation.
Relational event models for longitudinal network data with an application to interhospital patient transfers
Authors: Vu Duy , Lomi Alessandro , Mascia Daniele , Pallotti Francesca
Published: March 2017

The main objective of this paper is to introduce and illustrate relational event models, a new class of statistical models for the analysis of time‐stamped data with complex temporal and relational dependencies. We outline the main differences between recently proposed relational event models and more conventional network models based on the graph‐theoretic formalism typically adopted in empirical studies of social networks. Our main contribution involves the definition and implementation of a marked point process extension of currently available models. According to this approach, the sequence of events of interest is decomposed into two components: (a) event time and (b) event destination. This decomposition transforms the problem of selection of event destination in relational event models into a conditional multinomial logistic regression problem. The main advantages of this formulation are the possibility of controlling for the effect of event‐specific data and a significant reduction in the estimation time of currently available relational event models. We demonstrate the empirical value of the model in an analysis of interhospital patient transfers within a regional community of health care organizations. We conclude with a discussion of how the models we presented help to overcome some the limitations of statistical models for networks that are currently available. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multifunctional Hybrid Nanoparticles for Traceable Drug Delivery and Intracellular Microenvironment‐Controlled Multistage Drug‐Release in Neurons
Authors: Shi Bingyang , Du Xin , Chen Jian , Fu Libing , Morsch Marco , Lee Albert , Liu Yong , Cole Nicholas , Chung Roger
Published: March 2017

Innovative nanoparticles hold promising potential for disease therapy as drug delivery systems. For brain‐disease therapy, a drug delivery system that can sustainably control drug‐release and monitor fluorescence of the drug cargos is highly desirable. In this study, a light‐traceable and intracellular microenvironment‐responsive drug delivery system was developed based on the combination of glutathione‐responsive autoflurescent nanogel, dendrimer‐like mesoporous silica nanoparticles, and gold nanoparticles. The resulting hybrid nanoparticles represent a new class of delivery system that can efficiently load, transport, and control multistage‐release of sulfydryl‐containing drugs into neurons, with light‐traceable monitoring for future brain‐disease therapy.
Phosphorus Enhanced Intermolecular Interactions of SnO2 and Graphene as an Ultrastable Lithium Battery Anode
Authors: Zhang Lei , Zhao Kangning , Yu Ruohan , Yan Mengyu , Xu Wangwang , Dong Yifan , Ren Wenhao , Xu Xu , Tang Chunjuan , Mai Liqiang
Published: March 2017

SnO2 suffers from fast capacity fading in lithium‐ion batteries due to large volume expansion as well as unstable solid electrolyte interphase. Herein, the design and synthesis of phosphorus bridging SnO2 and graphene through covalent bonding are demonstrated to achieve a robust structure. In this unique structure, the phosphorus is able to covalently “bridge” graphene and tin oxide nanocrystal through PC and SnOP bonding, respectively, and act as a buffer layer to keep the structure stable during charging–discharging. As a result, when applied as a lithium battery anode, SnO2@P@GO shows very stable performance and retains 95% of 2nd capacity onward after 700 cycles. Such unique structural design opens up new avenues for the rational design of other high‐capacity materials for lithium battery, and as a proof‐of‐concept, creates new opportunities in the synthesis of advanced functional materials for high‐performance energy storage devices.
Seismic risk assessment of steel frames equipped with steel panel wall
Authors: Hu Yi , Zhao Junhai , Jiang Liqiang
Published: March 2017

This paper aims to conduct risk assessment on steel frame equipped with steel panel wall (SPWF) through probabilistic seismic demand analysis. First, cyclic test on a SPWF specimen with one‐third scale, one bay, and single story is performed, and the typical limit performance levels were determined in accordance with the test results and the stipulated in FEMA 356. Then, finite element models were built for a 12‐story steel frame and two 12‐story SPWF structures with different lateral stiffness ratio. The seismic performance of these models are investigated through nonlinear time–history analyses, and their limits capacities are determined from incremental dynamic analyses. Besides, fragility functions are developed for these models associated with 10%/50 years and 2%/50 years events, as defined in SAC project. Finally, the annual probabilities of each limits and the collapse probabilities in 50 years for the 3 models are calculated and analyzed, and the function associated with the collapse probability and lateral stiffness ratio is developed. The effectiveness of steel panel wall in reducing the seismic risk of the existing steel frame buildings is validated on the basis of the risk analyses.
Cardiac pathophysiology in twin–twin transfusion syndrome: new insights into its evolution
Authors: Wohlmuth C. , Boudreaux D. , Moise K. J. , Johnson A. , Papanna R. , Bebbington M. , Gardiner H. M.
Published: March 2017

Objectives

In twin–twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), unbalanced transfer of vasoactive mediators and fluid from the donor to the recipient cotwin alters their cardiovascular function. The aims of this study were to describe the impact of TTTS on fetal cardiac function in a large cohort of monochorionic–diamniotic (MCDA) pregnancies, and determine the early hemodynamic response to selective fetoscopic laser photocoagulation (SFLP).

Methods

Echocardiography was performed in 145 MCDA pregnancies, including 26 uncomplicated MCDA, 61 TTTS Stages I+II and 58 TTTS Stages III+IV pregnancies, prior to SFLP for TTTS. Echocardiographic data after SFLP were available in a subset of 41/119 (34%) TTTS cases at a mean of 1.7 ± 1.9 days. Mitral (MAPSE) and tricuspid (TAPSE) annular systolic excursion, myocardial performance index (MPI), tissue Doppler velocities (E′, A′, S′) and filling pressures (E/E′) were measured and transformed into Z‐scores. Ventricular pressure was estimated from peak atrioventricular regurgitation velocity.

Results

Left ventricular hemodynamics of the recipient twin were affected in early TTTS. In all stages of TTTS, left MPI and E/E′ of the recipient twin were elevated in comparison to those of the donor (all P < 0.05), with reduced recipient left S′ in TTTS Stages III+IV (P < 0.001). Ventricular pressure was elevated for gestational age (median, 42 mmHg (range, 20–65 mmHg)) in 11 of 14 recipients in which this parameter was measured. Between‐group difference in right ventricular E/E′ was significant only in TTTS Stages III+IV recipients compared with TTTS Stages I+II (P = 0.007) and uncomplicated MCDA (P = 0.041). Recipient left and right MPI decreased while S′, MAPSE and TAPSE increased after SFLP; in donors, left E/E′ and cardiac output increased.

Conclusions

Cardiac function of the recipient twin in TTTS is abnormal, even in the early stages of the disease. Left ventricular filling pressures are elevated and systolic function is decreased before abnormalities in the right heart become apparent. SFLP produces rapid hemodynamic improvement. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Researching climate change and community in neoliberal contexts: an emerging critical approach
Authors: Taylor Aiken Gerald , Middlemiss Lucie , Sallu Susannah , Hauxwell‐Baldwin Richard
Published: March 2017

In a 2011 contribution to this journal, Walker examined the ways that community is routinely employed in carbon governance, suggesting the need for more critical approaches. Here, we characterize an emerging, critical approach to researching climate change and community in neoliberal contexts, focusing attention principally on the global north, where this body of research has emerged. This work recognizes communities as sites of contestation, difference, tension, and distinction, in which action on climate change can be designed to meet a range of political and public ends. It aims to uncover the political and social context for community action on climate change, to be alert to the power relations inside and outside of communities, and to the context of neoliberalism, including individualism, the will to quantify, and competition. Furthermore, research in this space is committed to understanding both the lived experience of the messy empirical worlds we encounter, and the potential agency coalescing in community responses to climate change. Much of the work to date, discussed here, has focused on communities working on climate change mitigation in the global north, in which the idea of community as a space for governance is gaining traction. We also comment on the positioning of these arguments in the context of long‐standing debates in the fields of ‘community‐based’ development, natural resource management, and adaptation in the global South. This discussion establishes a foundation from which to progress learning across fields and geopolitical boundaries, furthering critical thinking on ‘community.’ WIREs Clim Change 2017, 8:e463. doi: 10.1002/wcc.463

This article is categorized under:

Perceptions, Behavior, and Communication of Climate Change > Behavior Change and Responses

Social Status of Climate Change Knowledge > Climate Science and Social Movements
Competitive Civilizing Missions: Hungarian Germans, Modernization, and Ethnographic Descriptions of theZigeunerbefore World War I
Authors: Davis Sacha E.
Published: March 2017

This article examines writings on theZigeuner(“Gypsies”) by three prominent Hungarian-German scholars—Johann Schwicker, Anton Herrmann, and Heinrich von Wlislocki—as responses to Magyarization pressures, which divided Hungarian-Germans by threatening the traditional privileges of some while offering others opportunities for social advancement. Hungarian and German elites alike castZigeuneras primitiveNaturvölkerin an effort to legitimize reform efforts. By writing about theZigeuner, scholars asserted competing Magyar and German models for modernization and reform. Passionate German nationalist Johann Schwicker called for theZigeunerto assimilate into Hungarian and Romanian culture, arguing that Germanization was beyond their reach, thereby asserting German culture's supposedly superior status as an elite culture. By contrast, Hungarian nationalist Anton Herrmann urged the Magyarization of theZigeunerto strengthen the Hungarian nation-state, denigrating the role of German and Romanian culture. Finally, Heinrich Wlislocki rejected all nationalist modernizing efforts, presenting theZigeuneras a romantic symbol of the premodern age. In all three cases, Schwicker's, Herrmann's, and Wlislocki'sZigeunerbore very limited resemblance to Romani lived experience. Collectively, the writings of these three scholars illustrate both the range of Hungarian-German responses to nationalist modernization, as well as the role of national disputes in shapingZigeunerkunde(“Gypsy Studies”).
The risk of use small matrices to measure specialization in host–parasite interaction networks: a comment to Rivera-García et al. (2016)
Authors: LUNA PEDRO , CORRO ERICK J. , AHUATZIN-FLORES DIANA A. , ANTONIAZZI REUBER L. , BARROZO NATHALIA , CHÁVEZ-GONZÁLEZ EDGAR , MORALES-TREJO JUAN J. , DÁTTILO WESLEY
Published: March 2017

In the last years, there were a growing number of studies using the metric H2′ to calculate complementary specialization in host–parasite interaction networks. However, only a few studies have explored the sensitivity of H2′ to network dimensions (i.e. species richness and number of interactions), which consequently could generate studies that are not comparable among them or lead to biased conclusions. In this study, we used the recent published study conducted by Rivera-García et al. in 2016 involving host–bat fly networks as an example to call attention to the risk of using H2′ to calculate specialization for small matrices. After conducting analyses based on both empirical and simulated data, we show that H2′ values are strongly affected by randomly allocation of species interactions to another cell in the matrix for small networks and that therefore the results and conclusions presented in Rivera-García et al. in 2016 are only an artefact of the dataset used. Therefore, we fully recommended taking into account the careful use of small networks to measuring specialization in host–parasite interactions.
Consequentialism and the Synthetic Biology Problem
Authors: HEAVEY PATRICK
Published: March 2017

This article analyzes the ethics of synthetic biology (synbio) from a consequentialist perspective, examining potential effects on food and agriculture, and on medicine, fuel, and the advancement of science. The issues of biosafety and biosecurity are also examined. A consequentialist analysis offers an essential road map to policymakers and regulators as to how to deal with synbio. Additionally, the article discusses the limitations of consequentialism as a tool for analysing synbioethics. Is it possible to predict, with any degree of plausibility, what the consequences of synthetic biology will be in 50 years, or in 100, or in 500? Synbio may take humanity to a place of radical departure from what is known or knowable.
Beyond an Open Future
Authors: KRUTZINNA JENNY I.
Published: March 2017

Discussions about the ethical permissibility of pediatric cognitive enhancement frequently revolve around arguments about welfare, and often include an appeal to the child’s right to an open future. Both proponents and opponents of cognitive enhancement claim that their respective positions best serve the interests of the child by promoting an open future. This article argues that this right to an open future argument only captures some of the risks to the welfare of children, therefore requiring a broader ethical approach. Further, it suggests that a thorough moral assessment of the ends pursued is needed before concluding on the moral permissibility of cognitive enhancement in children, which ultimately hinges on the effect on the overall welfare of the child, beyond an open future.
Helicopter Parenting and the Policy Attitudes of College Students
Authors: Milita Kerri , Bunch Jaclyn
Published: March 2017

Helicopter parenting is a phenomenon that is attracting sizable attention from university administrators and instructors. We examine the implications of helicopter parenting for both the political science classroom and for public opinion. Using a survey conducted at multiple universities in the United States, we find that helicopter parenting has a significant impact on the policy attitudes of college students. Specifically, students with helicopter parents are more likely to express support for both government surveillance and nanny state policies than are students without helicopter parents. Given the growing trend of helicopter parenting, these findings will likely have substantial implications for both the political science classroom and public opinion in the near future.
Synthetic clusters of massive stars to test stellar evolution models
Authors: Georgy Cyril , Ekström Sylvia
Published: March 2017

During the last few years, the Geneva stellar evolution group has released new grids of stellar models, including the effect of rotation and with updated physical inputs (Ekström et al. 2012; Georgy et al. 2013a, b). To ease the comparison between the outputs of the stellar evolution computations and the observations, a dedicated tool was developed: the Syclist toolbox (Georgy et al. 2014). It allows to compute interpolated stellar models, isochrones, synthetic clusters, and to simulate the time-evolution of stellar populations.
GalevNB: from simulations to observations
Authors: Pang Xiaoying , Olczak Christoph , Spurzem Rainer
Published: March 2017

We present GalevNB (Galev for N-body simulations), an utility that converts fundamental stellar properties of N-body simulations into observational properties using the GALEV (GAlaxy EVolutionary synthesis models) package, and thus allowing direct comparisons between observations and N-body simulations. It converts the fundamental stellar properties of N-body simulations, i.e., stellar mass, temperature, stellar luminosity and metallicity, into observational magnitudes for a variety of filters of widely used instruments/telescopes (HST, ESO, SDSS, 2MASS), and into spectra that span from far-UV (90 Å) to near-IR (160 μm).
Drama of HII regions: Clustered and Triggered Star Formation
Authors: Li Jin-Zeng , Yuan Jinghua , Liu Hong-Li , Wu Yuefang , Huang Ya-Fang
Published: March 2017

In order to understand the star formation process under the influence of H ii regions, we have carried out extensive investigations to well selected star-forming regions which all have been profoundly affected by existing massive O type stars. On the basis of multi-wavelength data from mid-infrared to millimeter collected using Spitzer, Herschel, and ground based radio telescopes, the physical status of interstellar medium and star formation in these regions have been revealed. In a relatively large infrared dust bubble, active star formation is undergoing and the shell is still expanding. Signs of compressed gas and triggered star formation have been tentatively detected in a relatively small bubble. The dense cores in the Rosette Molecular Complex detected at 1.1 mm using SMA have been speculated to have a likely triggered origin according to their spatial distribution. Although some observational results have been obtained, more efforts are necessary to reach trustworthy conclusions.
The dynamical importance of binary systems in young massive star clusters
Authors: de Grijs Richard , Li Chengyuan , Geller Aaron M.
Published: March 2017

Characterization of the binary fractions in star clusters is of fundamental importance for many fields in astrophysics. Observations indicate that the majority of stars are found in binary systems, while most stars with masses greater than 0.5M⊙ are formed in star clusters. In addition, since binaries are on average more massive than single stars, in resolved star clusters these systems are thought to be good tracers of (dynamical) mass segregation. Over time, dynamical evolution through two-body relaxation will cause the most massive objects to migrate to the cluster center, while the relatively lower-mass objects remain in or migrate to orbits at greater radii. This process will globally dominate a cluster’s stellar distribution. However, close encounters involving binary systems may disrupt ‘soft’ binaries. This process will occur more frequently in a cluster’s central, dense region than in its periphery, which may mask the effects of mass segregation. Using high resolution Hubble Space Telescope observations, combined with sophisticated N-body simulations, we investigate the radial distributions of the main-sequence binary fractions in massive young Large Magellanic Cloud star clusters. We show that binary disruption may play an important role on very short timescales, depending on the environmental conditions in the cluster cores. This may lead to radial binary fractions that initially decline in the cluster centers, which is contrary to the effects expected from dynamical mass segregation.
Binary Information from Open Clusters Using SEDS (BINOCS) Project: The Dynamical Evolution of the Binary Populations in Cluster Environments
Authors: Frinchaboy Peter , Thompson Benjamin
Published: March 2017

Studying the internal dynamics of stellar clusters is conducted primarily through N-Body simulations. One of the major inputs into N-Body simulations is the binary star frequency and mass distribution, which is currently constrained by relations derived from field binary stars. However to truly understand how clustered environments evolve, binary data from within star clusters is needed including masses. Detailed information on binaries masses, primary and secondary, in star clusters has been limited to date. The primary technique currently available has been radial velocity surveys that are limited in depth. Using previous two-band photometry-based studies that may cover different mass ranges produce potentially discrepant interpretations of the observed binary population. We introduce a new binary detection method, Binary INformation from Open Clusters Using SEDs (BINOCS) that covers the wide mass range needed to improve cluster N-body simulation inputs and comparisons. Using newly-observed multi-wavelength photometric catalogs (0.3 - 8 microns) of the key open clusters with a range of ages, we can show that the BINOCS method determines accurate binary component masses for unresolved cluster binaries through comparison to available RV-based studies. Using this method, we present results on the dynamical evolution of binaries from 0.4 - 2.5 solar masses within five prototypical clusters, spaning 30 Myr to 3.5 Gyr, and how the binary populations evolve as a function of mass.
Galactic and extragalactic giant molecular clouds and massive star clusters: counting and analysis
Authors: Hojaev A. S.
Published: March 2017

Comparative analysis of GMS and MSC is presented based on data collected on these objects in the Galaxy and other galaxies. The model is proposed of gravitational instability of GMC and MSC system. Some implications are discussed.
The Orion Nebula in the Far-Infrared: High-J CO and fine-structure lines mapped by FIFI-LS/SOFIA
Authors: Klein Randolf , Looney Leslie W. , Cox Erin , Fischer Christian , Iserlohe Christof , Krabbe Alfred
Published: March 2017

The Orion Nebula is the closest massive star forming region allowing us to study the physical conditions in such a region with high spatial resolution. We used the far infrared integral-field spectrometer, FIFI-LS, on-board the airborne observatory SOFIA to study the atomic and molecular gas in the Orion Nebula at medium spectral resolution.

The large maps obtained with FIFI-LS cover the nebula from the BN/KL-object to the bar in several fine structure lines. They allow us to study the conditions of the photon-dominated region and the interface to the molecular cloud with unprecedented detail.

Another investigation targeted the molecular gas in the BN/KL region of the Orion Nebula, which is stirred up by a violent explosion about 500 years ago. The explosion drives a wide angled molecular outflow. We present maps of several high-J CO observations, allowing us to analyze the heated molecular gas.
Formation of globular clusters with multiple populations
Authors: Decressin T.
Published: March 2017

Spectroscopic and photometric evidences have led to a complete revision of our understanding of globular clusters with the discovery of multiple stellar populations which differ chemically. Whereas some stars have a chemical composition similar to fields stars, others show large star-to-star variations in light elements (Li to Al) while their composition in iron and heavy elements stay constant. This peculiar chemical pattern can be explained by self-pollution of the intracluster gas occurring in the early evolution of clusters. Here the possible impact from a first generation of fast rotating stars to the early evolution of globular clusters is presented. The high rotation velocity will allow the stars to rotate at the break-up velocity and release matter enrich in H-burning which in turn will produce new stars with a chemical composition in agreement with observations. The massive stars have also an important role to clear the cluster from the remaining gas left after the star formation episodes. If the gas expulsion is fast enough, the strong change in the potential well will lead to the loss of stars occupying the outer part of the cluster. As second generation stars are preferentially born in the cluster centre, the ratio of second to first generation stars will increase over time to match the present ratio determined by observations. Considerations on the properties of low-mass stars still present in globular clusters will also be presented.
Inverting the dynamical evolution of globular clusters: clues to their origin
Authors: Gieles Mark , Alexander Poul
Published: March 2017

Scaling relations for globular clusters (GC) differ from the scaling relations for pressure supported (elliptical) galaxies. In this contribution we discuss the relative importance of nature and nurture in the establishment of the scaling between cluster density (or radius), mass and Galactocentric distance for the Milky Way GCs. We show that energy diffusion by stellar encounters (i.e. two-body relaxation) is the dominant mechanism in shaping the bivariate dependence of density on mass and Galactocentric distance for GCs with masses ≲ 106M⊙, and it can not be excluded that GCs formed with similar scaling relations as the more massive ultra-compact dwarf galaxies (UCDs). To explore the initial properties that give rise to the distributions of these quantities, we developed a fast cluster evolution model (Evolve Me A Cluster of StarS, emacss) and use it in a hierarchical Bayesian framework to fit a parameterised model for the initial properties of Milky Way GCs to the observed present-day properties. The best-fit cluster initial mass function is substantially flatter (power-law with index − 0.6 ± 0.2) than what is observed for young massive clusters (YMCs) forming in the nearby Universe (power-law with index − 2). This result is driven by the metal-poor GCs, a slightly steeper CIMF is allowed when considering the metal-rich GCs separately (α ≃ −1.2 ± 0.4). If stellar mass loss and two-body relaxation in the Milky Way tidal field are the dominant disruption mechanisms, then GCs formed differently from YMCs.
Formation of young massive clusters from turbulent molecular clouds
Authors: Fujii Michiko S. , Zwart Simon Portegies
Published: March 2017

We simulate the formation and evolution of young star clusters from turbulent molecular clouds using smoothed-particle hydrodynamics and direct N-body methods. We find that the shape of the cluster mass function that originates from an individual molecular cloud is consistent with a Schechter function with power-law slopes of β = −1.73. The superposition of mass functions turn out to have a power-law slope of < −2. The mass of the most massive cluster formed from a single molecular cloud with mass Mg scales with 6.1 M0.51g. The molecular clouds that tend to form massive clusters are much denser than those typical found in the Milky Way. The velocity dispersion of such molecular clouds reaches 20km s−1 and it is consistent with the relative velocity of the molecular clouds observed near NGC 3603 and Westerlund 2, for which a triggered star formation by cloud-cloud collisions is suggested.