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Objective: Sleep and eating behaviors are disturbed during the premenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle in a significant number of reproductive-age women. Despite their impact on the development and control of chronic health conditions, these behaviors are poorly understood. In the present study, we sought to identify affective and psychological factors which associate with premenstrual changes in sleeping and eating behaviors and assess how they impact functionality. Methods: Fifty-seven women provided daily ratings of premenstrual symptomatology and functionality across two-three menstrual cycles (156 cycles total). For each participant and symptom, we subtracted the mean day +5 to +10 ("post-menstruum") ratings from mean day −6 to −1 ("pre-menstruum") ratings and divided this value by participant- and symptom-specific variance. We completed the statistical analysis using multivariate linear regression. Results: Low interest was associated with a premenstrual increase in insomnia (p ≤ 0.05) and appetite/eating (p ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, insomnia was associated with occupational (p ≤ 0.001), recreational (p ≤ 0.001), and relational (p ≤ 0.01) impairment. Conclusions: Results of the present analysis highlight the importance of apathy (i.e., low interest) on the expression of behavioral symptomatology, as well as premenstrual insomnia on impairment. These findings can inform treatment approaches, thereby improving care for patients suffering from premenstrual symptomatology linked to chronic disease conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural biomimicry is a fascinating concept to explore hierarchically organized nanomaterials for mechanical structures, catalysis, sensing, and energy storage applications. Here we report the fabrication of biomimetic mesoporous cobalt ferrite/carbon nanoflake materials with helical morphologies and evaluate their electrochemical properties as free‐standing lithium‐ion battery (LIB) anodes. Iridescent chiral nematic mesoporous chitosan films obtained from crab shells were combined with binary metallic ions to afford helical cobalt ferrite/chitosan membranes. The cobalt ferrite/chitosan composites were thermally converted to cobalt ferrite/carbon replicas with hybrid nanoflakes arranged in a twisted Bouligand‐type mesoporous network. The structure of the materials was probed by electron microscopy, powder X‐ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy. We directly used these freestanding cobalt ferrite/carbon films as binder‐ and additive‐free LIB anodes, where they showed a first discharge capacity of 862 mAh g−1 (at 100 mA g−1), which faded during subsequent charge‐discharge cycles. Our work demonstrates a new potential use of chiroptical chitosan membranes to develop energy storage materials, a process that may be extended to other metal‐oxide based components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the dependence of the morphology and stability of the extended solid of carbon monoxide (CO) is correlated to the rate of transformation from the molecular CO to extended solid of CO using optical imaging, photoluminescence, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The analyses show the rate and pressure of the transformation to be strongly controlled by catalytic effects, both chemical and optical. In a larger volume per reaction area, the transformation was found to require either a longer time at an elevated pressure or a higher pressure compared to a sample synthesized in a smaller volume per reaction area, leading to the conclusion that the transformation rate is slower for a sample in a larger volume per reaction area. A faster rate of transformation was also noted when the reaction area of a CO sample was catalyzed with H2SO4. Through variation of the volume per reaction area, pressure or the addition of catalysts, it was possible to control the rate of the phase transition and therefore the morphology. In general, the extended solid of CO synthesized with a faster rate showed a more ordered structure and increased metastability relative to the material formed with a slower compression rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ardisia sadirioides C. M. Hu & L. K. Phan (A. sadirioides) belongs to the Myrsinaceae family, which was first discovered and recorded in Central Vietnam in 2012. There have been no reports on the chemical constituents as well as the biological activity of A. sadirioides. This research aims to identify the chemical compositions and anti-inflammatory activity of the essential oil from the leaves of A. sadirioides. The chemical constituents of the essential oil from the leaves of this species were analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Thirty compounds were identified corresponding to 93.38% of the oil content; the main compounds found in the essential oil included methyl salicylate (20.62%), palmitic acid (16.01%), and propylcyclopropane (4.94%). Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory activity of the essential oil on Lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 macrophage cells was investigated by measuring the production of pro-inflammatory cytokine (nitric oxide, NO). The screening for anti-inflammatory activity showed that the essential oil had anti-inflammatory effect as measured by inhibition of NO production with an IC50 value of 19.13 ± 1.01 μg/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser shock Hugoniot data were obtainedusing ultrafast dynamicellipsometry (UDE) for both nonideal (ethanol/water solutions withmole percent χethanol= 0%, 3.4%, 5.4%, 7.5%, 9.7%,11%, 18%, 33%, 56%, 100%) and ideal liquid mixtures (toluene/fluorobenzenesolutions with mole percent χtoluene= 0%, 26.0%,49.1%, 74.9%, 100%). The shock and particle velocities obtained fromthe UDE data were compared to the universal liquid Hugoniot (ULH)and to literature shock (plate impact) data where available. It wasfound that the water UDE data fit to a ULH-form equation suggestsan intercept of 1.32 km/s, lower than the literature ambient soundspeed in water of 1.495 km/s (Mijakovic et al. J. Mol. Liq.2011, 164, 66–73). Similarly,the ethanol UDE data fit to a ULH-form equation suggests an interceptof 1.45 km/s, which lies above the literature ambient sound speedin ethanol of 1.14 km/s. Both the literature plate impact and UDEHugoniot data lie below the ULH for water. Likewise, the literatureplate impact and UDE Hugoniot data lie above the ULH for ethanol.The UDE Hugoniot data for the mixtures of water and ethanol crossthe predictions of the ULH near the same concentration where the soundspeed reaches a maximum. In contrast, the UDE data from the idealliquids and their mixtures are well behaved and agree with ULH predictionsacross the concentration range. The deviations of the nonideal ethanol/waterdata from the ULH suggest that complex hydrogen bonding networks inethanol/water mixtures alter the compressibility of the mixture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report low temperature (7) optical spectra of the isolated CP47 antenna complex from Photosystem II (PSII) with a Iow-Tfluorescence emission maximum near 695 nm and not, as previously reported, at 690-693 nm. The latter emission is suggested to result from three distinct bands: a lowest- state emission band near 695 nm (labeled F1) originating from the lowest-energy excitonic state Al of intact complexes (located near 693 nm and characterized by very weak oscillator strength) as well as emission peaks near 691 nm (FT1) and 685 nm (FT2) originating from subpopulations of partly destabilized complexes. The observation of the Fl emission is in excellent agreement with the 695 nm emission observed in intact PSII cores and thylakoid membranes. We argue that the band near 684 nm previously observed in singlet-minus-triplet spectra originates from a subpopulation of partially destabilized complexes with lowest- energy traps located near 684 nm in absorption (referred to as AT2) giving rise to FT2 emission. It is demonstrated that varying contributions from the Fl, FT1, and FT2 emission bands led to different maxima of fluorescence spectra reported in the literature. The fluorescence spectra are consistent with the zero-phonon hole action spectra obtained in absorption mode, the profiles of the nonresonantly burned holes as a function of fluence, as well as the fluorescence line-narrowed spectra obtained for the Qy band. The lowest Qy state in absorption band (Al) is characterized by an electron-phonon coupling with the Huang-Rhys factor S of ∼1 and an inhomogeneous width of ∼180 cm-1. The mean phonon frequency of the Al band is 20 cm-1. In contrast to previous observations, intact isolated CP47 reveals negligible contribution from the triplet-bottleneck hole, i.e., the AT2 trap. It has been shown that ChIs in intact CP47 are connected via efficient excitation energy transfer to the Al trap near 693 nm and that the position of the fluorescence maximum depends on the burn fluence. That is, the 695 nm fluorescence maximum shifts blue with increasing fluence, in agreement with nonresonant hole burned spectra. The above findings provide important constraints and parameters for future excitonic calculations, which in turn should offer new insight into the excitonic structure and composition of low-energy absorption traps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is presently thought that the levels of sex hormones in women with PMDD are not implicated in the etiology of the condition. However, the periovulatory subphase has largely been overlooked in research to date. The present study implemented a refined study methodology, involving collection of blood samples at 8 key menstrual cycle timepoints, following which the data is realigned, as the original visits are inherently misaligned, and imputed, because the realignment causes some datapoints to be set to missing. Study participants did not take any medications, had a negative urine drug test, and did not have DSM-5 defined anxiety or depression. Their symptom ratings were collected daily across two menstrual cycles, following which they were classified as PMDD (n=9), or healthy (n=13). The participants' estradiol levels, collected at the 8 clinic visits, were measured using ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Relative to the original data, realignment of study visits resulted in better-defined estradiol and LH periovulatory peaks. No group differences were identified regarding: (1) demographic characteristics, (2) periovulatory luteinizing hormone (LH), and (3) estradiol at the early and mid-follicular, as well as early, mid-, and late luteal subphase. In contrast, the PMDD group showed a markedly reduced periovulatory estradiol peak (p=0.0049). The present talk will describe the study's findings in the context of periovulatory inflammation and estradiol's anti-inflammatory properties, as well as highlight a validated methodology for studying menstrual cycle trajectories, which involves realignment of study visits based on serum LH levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Squalene,an intermediate in the biosynthesis of cholesterol, hasa 24-carbon backbone with six methyl groups and six isolated doublebonds. Capillary flow techniques have been used to determine its translationaldiffusion constant, D, at room temperature in squalane, n-C16, and three n-C8–squalane mixtures. The Dvalues have a weakerdependence on viscosity, η, than predicted by the Stokes–Einsteinrelation, D= kBT/(6πηr). A fit to the modifiedrelation, D/T= ASE/ηp, gives p= 0.820 ± 0.028; p= 1 for the Stokes–Einsteinlimit. The translational motion of squalene appears to be much likethat of n-alkane solutes with comparable chain lengths;their Dvalues show similar deviations from the Stokes–Einsteinmodel. The n-alkane with the same carbon chain lengthas squalene, n-C24, has a near-equal pvalue of 0.844 ± 0.018 in n-alkanesolvents. The values of the hydrodynamic radius, r, for n-C24, squalene, and other n-alkane solutes decrease as the viscosity increases andhave a common dependence on the van der Waals volumes of the soluteand solvent. The possibility of studying squalene in lipid dropletsand membranes is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Geological and hydrogeological processes controlling recharge and the mobilization of As were investigated in a shallow Holocene aquifer on the Red River flood plain near Hanoi, Vietnam. The geology was investigated using surface resistivity methods, geophysical borehole logging, drilling of boreholes and installation of more than 200 piezometers. Recharge processes and surface–groundwater interaction were studied using (i) time-series of hydraulic head distribution in surface water and aquifers, (ii) the stable isotope composition of waters and (iii) numerical groundwater modeling. The Red River and two of its distributaries run through the field site and control the groundwater flow pattern. For most of the year, there is a regional groundwater flow towards the Red River. During the monsoon the Red River water stage rises up to 6m and stalls the regional groundwater flow. The two distributaries recharge the aquifer from perched water tables in the dry season, whilst in the flooding period surface water enters the aquifer through highly permeable bank sediments. The result is a dynamic groundwater flow pattern with rapid fluctuations in the groundwater table. A transient numerical model of the groundwater flow yields an average recharge rate of 60–100mm/a through the confining clay, and a total recharge of approximately 200mm/a was estimated from 3H/3He dating of the shallow groundwater. Thus in the model area, recharge of surface water from the river distributaries and recharge through a confining clay is of the same magnitude, being on average around 100mm/a. The thickness of the confining clay varies between 2 and 10m, and affects the recharge rate and the transport of electron acceptors (O2, and ) into the aquifer. Where the clay layer is thin, an up to 2m thick oxic zone develops in the shallow aquifer. In the oxic zone the As concentration is less than 1μg/L but increases in the reduced zone below to 550μg/L. In the Holocene aquifer, As is mobilized at a rate of around 14 μg/L/a. An As mass balance for the field site shows that around 1100kg of As is annually leached from the Holocene sand and discharged into the Red River, corresponding to 0.01% of the total pool of As now present in the Holocene sand. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The translational diffusion constant, D, has been measured for O2 in the even 1-alkenes 1-C6H12 to 1-C16H32 and biphenyl in n-C6F14 and n-C9F20. Deviations from the Stokes–Einstein relation were found; the use of D/T=A/ηp gave p=0.560±0.017 for O2 in the 1-alkenes, the same (within experimental error) as found previously for O2 in the n-alkanes. The charge transfer (CT) transition used to detect O2 in the 1-alkenes is at 220 nm. The D values for biphenyl in the perfluoro-n-alkanes (PFAs) are consistent with those in the n-alkanes, where p=0.718±0.004. These results suggest that O2 has similar solute–solvent interactions in both the 1-alkenes and n-alkanes as does biphenyl in the n-alkanes and PFAs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article uses the lens of the Multiple Streams Approach to explore whether the agendas set by political actors in Vietnam converged with the agenda set in the Mekong Delta Plan (MDP). The MDP presents policy choices for the development of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta. The plan offers economically attractive, climate adaptive and environmentally sustainable paths forward in the face of climate change and economic uncertainties. We collected our data using qualitative techniques, including a literature review and interviews. We found convergence between the MDP's agenda and political actors' agendas, though divergences were also detected. Between the delivery of the MDP in 2013 and formal endorsement of its ideas in 2017, the problem stream, policy stream and politics stream were brought together by the actions of "policy entrepreneurs" (scientists and experts). Our findings suggest that agenda-setting and convergence were a crucial step towards endorsement of the strategic delta planning process for the Mekong Delta. Further research could explore issues of power mobilization in enabling or constraining decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a seven-step approach to identify and support local climate change (CC) responses in agriculture. The following seven steps comprise this approach: 1. Analyse past trends on the climatic factors and model the future trends. 2. Simulate the possible impacts of CC on the selected system(s) or product(s). 3. Present and discuss the predicted impacts with the local stakeholders. 4. Identify and rank CC responses together with the local stakeholders. 5. Elaborate plans to develop and test the highest ranked response(s). 6. Evaluate the results of the tests and recommend implementation or changes. 7. Report the results to the involved authorities and suggest ways to implement the responses and/or advise new tests if the first ones were not able to sufficiently deal with the impacts. Six pilot studies in Vietnam were funded through two projects led by Wageningen University & Research. The first addressed several production systems in one southern province, and the second in three more northern districts, each with different problems. This paper reflects and communicates the seven-step approach in order to make local CC responses accessible to the larger rural development communities. Most of the identified solutions can spread autonomously, while others will require specific planned interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we exploit new sustainable carbon-based nanostructures by investigating the biomimetic pyrolysis and hydrothermal liquid crystal transfer of natural chitin nanofibrils. Chitin nanofibrils with Bouligand structure in the original crab shell are thermally carbonized to yield helical mesoporous carbon replicas. Monodisperse oleic acid-capped cobalt oxide nanoparticles are impregnated into helical pores in the carbonized membranes to generate hierarchical mesoporous Co 3 O 4 /C nanocomposites that are functionable as a freestanding, binder free supercapacitor. Towards colloidal chemistry of photoluminescent chitin-derived carbon nanoparticles, chitin nanorods prepared by acid hydrolysis of crab shell-extracted chitin disperse in water to form chitin liquid crystals that are used as a new carbon precursor for the carbonized transformation. Hydrophobic oleic acid-stabilized carbon nanorod colloids with optical response are primarily synthesized by hydrothermal phase transfer carbonization of chitin liquid crystals. The structural integrity of chitin nanorods can be preserved during liquid-liquid phase transformation to form carbon nanorods. The carbon anisotropic nanocolloids hydrophobically dispersed in toluene exhibit green photoluminescent emission in the visible region, which optically respond to trinitrotoluene. Our chitin inspiration paves a way to pursue further investigation of the electrochemical catalysis for the mesoporous Co 3 O 4 /C nanohelices and the sensing and optical coating for the photoluminescent carbon nanorod colloids. [Display omitted] • The mesoporous carbon replica with Bouligand structure was derived from crab shell. • The impregnating Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles onto carbon replica afforded Co 3 O 4 /C replicas. • The Co 3 O 4 /C replicas showed a highly capacitive behavior with good ion response. • The rod-shape chitin liquid nanocrystals prepared from crab shell-obtained chitin. • The photoluminescent carbon nanorods relates their surface and anisotropic features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]