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Using high‐performance polymers to replace the weak points in wood may be an efficient approach to overcoming certain drawbacks while improving the properties of wood. This study investigated the feasibility of easily replacing part of the wood matrix in poplar wood with renewable poly(furfuryl alcohol) (PFA). The wood was first treated with an alkali solution and was then immersed in a furfuryl alcohol (FA) solution followed by in situ polymerization. After delignification, a large part of hemicelluloses and lignin were removed. In addition, wood porosity increased and more PFA was polymerized in the wood cell walls, resulting in increased weight percent gain and efficient bulking. The thermogravimetric analysis results indicated that the reformation strongly affected the wood thermal stability. A transformation with 30% FA maintained the porous structure of the wood and resulted in the highest maximum degradation temperature. The dynamic mechanical analysis results also indicated that reformation allowed for greater stress transfer at the interface and resulted in a lower damping peak and a higher storage modulus. Our approach, therefore, could provide a promising method to enhance the performance of wood by reforming the wood components and structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The substitution of phenol by lignin in phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resins is one of the most promising end uses of lignin valorization. Lignin from grasses and softwood has been the focus of the studies in this field as they present a higher number of theoretical reactive sites for resin synthesis. Herein we examined the composition and chemical reactivity of "less-reactive" hardwood lignin fractions and their performance in PF resins, synthesized by substituting 50 wt% of the phenol with lignin. Before resin synthesis, the samples were hydroxymethylated and the maximum formaldehyde consumption was recorded. By doing so, we observed that hardwood fractions consumed formaldehyde close to the theoretical calculation, whereas the reference softwood lignin consumed only about ¼ of the theoretical value. In the resin synthesis, we added formaldehyde to the formulation according to the measured maximum formaldehyde consumption. Thus, low values of free formaldehyde in lignin-PF (LPF) resins were achieved (<0.23%). Moreover, the resin bonding strength displayed similar performance irrespective of whether the LPF resins were made with softwood or hardwood lignin (range of 3.4–4.8 N mm−2 at 150°C and 45–480 s of press time). Furthermore, we concluded that hardwood kraft lignins present no disadvantage compared to softwood lignins in PF resin applications, which have significant practical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informal care‐givers play an important role in society, and many of the people who provide this care are lesbian women and gay men. Being a care‐giver is known to be associated with poorer health and well‐being, and lesbian and gay care‐givers report experiences of stigma and discrimination in the care‐giving context. This study involved a survey of 230 lesbian women and 503 gay men aged 60 years and over living in Australia, of which 218 were care‐givers. We compared care‐givers to non‐caregivers on a range of health and well‐being measures, including psychological distress, positive mental health, physical health and social support. While we found no significant differences between these two groups, we further compared care‐givers who were caring for an LGBTI person to those who were caring for a non‐LGBTI person. Among the lesbian women, care‐givers of an LGBTI person reported feeling less supported in their carer role and reported lower levels of social support more generally. They were also lower on positive mental health and physical health indicators. Among the gay men, care‐givers of an LGBTI person also reported feeling less supported in their carer role, but there were no differences in reported levels of social support more generally or health and well‐being compared to those caring for a non‐LGBTI person. Overall, results from this study suggest that older lesbian and gay care‐givers may be facing some challenges related to their well‐being and feeling supported, especially if they are caring for another LGBTI person. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The needs of older lesbian and gay people regarding access and use of aged‐care services remain underresearched. This paper reports the findings of 33 qualitative interviews with older lesbian women and gay men about their perceptions and experiences of residential aged‐care and home‐based aged‐care services in Australia. The focus of this paper is their preparedness for using aged‐care services. The results highlight that participants had a number of concerns related to accessing residential‐care services in particular, including perceptions of a lack of inclusivity and concerns of potential for discrimination and hostility, loss of access to community and partners, decreased autonomy and concerns relating to quality of care and the potential for elder abuse. Participants noted a number of strategies they employed in avoiding residential‐care services, including the use of home‐care services, renovating the home for increased mobility, moving to locations with greater access to outside home‐care services, a preference for lesbian/gay‐specific housing and residential‐care options if available, and the option of voluntary euthanasia to ensure dignity and autonomy. Participants, on the whole, were hopeful that they would never require the use of residential‐care services, with some believing that having current good health or the support of friends could prevent this from happening. The findings suggest that older lesbian and gay people have a variety of concerns with aged‐care and may need additional support and education to improve their perceptions and experiences of services, whether these are needed presently or in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study petal diagrams of knots, which provide a method of describing knots in terms of permutations in a symmetric group S 2 n + 1. We define two classes of moves on such permutations, called trivial petal additions and crossing exchanges, which do not change the isotopy class of the underlying knot. We prove that any two permutations which represent isotopic knots can be related by a sequence of these moves and their inverses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incorporation of polymers derived from renewable resources is more desirable in the preparation of wood composites due to its sustainability. As biomass feedstock, rosin has been used for the preparation of wood-based composite material. However, the high leachability and non-reactive with wood limit its application. Three kinds of rosin derivatives synthesized with reactive groups in the current study were confirmed by 13C NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The polymerization process and polymer properties of the derivatives were studied by the differential scanning calorimetry and gel permeation chromatography. The poplar wood was impregnated by rosin derivatives solution and then oven heated to induce in situ polymerization. The results indicated that the derivatives could penetrate into wood structures, polymerize in both wood cell walls and lumina, and efficiently improve the physical properties and surface hardness of wood. Moreover, the extraction indicated that rosin derivatives could permanently bulk wood structure through the formation of polymers. Our studies provide a new approach to modify fast-growing wood using renewable resources. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) has been classified as a triad of postural headache, low CSF opening pressure (below 60mmH20) and diffuse pachymeningeal gadolinium enhancement on MRI. SIH is due to a non-iatrogenic defect in the dura somewhere along the neuraxis (usually in the spine). The resultant leak depressurizes the system and undermines the buoyancy-providing quality of CSF. In many cases the site of leak is not identified. Epidural blood patch (EBP) is a well-established treatment of SIH but is not always effective. We retrospectively analysed thirty-one cases of SIH who required at least one EBP. They were managed over a fifteen-year period at a single institution. EBP resulted in a significant improvement in headache for 77% of patients. We report in more detail on a particularly challenging outlier where severe SIH resulted in coma. Serial epidural blood patches, burr hole evacuation of chronic subdural haematomata, and infusion of 0.9% NaCl via an intradural spinal catheter were all required to enable long-term recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS) screening has been shown to reduce colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality among screened adults. The aim of this review was to identify patient-related factors associated with the screening test's use. We searched PubMed for studies that examined the association between FS screening use and one or more factors. To determine the eligibility of studies, we first reviewed titles, then abstracts, and finally the full paper. We started with a narrow search, which we expanded successively (by adding 'OR' terms) until the number of new publications eligible after abstract review was <1% of the total number of publications. We then abstracted factors from eligible papers and reported the number of times each was found to be positively or negatively associated with FS screening use. We identified 42 papers, most of which reported studies conducted in the United States of America (n = 21, 50%) and the United Kingdom (n = 13, 31%). Across studies, a wide range of factors were examined (n = 123), almost half of which were found to be associated with FS screening use at least once (n = 60). Sociodemographic and health and lifestyle factors that were frequently positively associated with FS screening use included: male gender, higher socioeconomic status and a family history of CRC. Frequently positively associated psychosocial factors included low perceived barriers and high perceived benefits. Findings suggest that future research should focus on developing a theoretical framework of cancer screening behaviour to allow a greater level of consistency and specificity in measuring key constructs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HER2 (ERBB2) amplification is a driving oncogenic event in breast cancer. Clinical trials have consistently shown the benefit of HER2 inhibitors (HER2i) in treating patients with both local and advanced HER2+ breast cancer. Despite this benefit, their efficacy as single agents is limited, unlike the robust responses to other receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors like EGFR inhibitors in EGFR-mutant lung cancer. Interestingly, the lack of HER2i efficacy occurs despite sufficient intracellular signaling shutdown following HER2i treatment. Exploring possible intrinsic causes for this lack of response, we uncovered remarkably depressed levels of NOXA, an endogenous inhibitor of the antiapoptotic MCL-1, in HfR2-amplified breast cancer. Upon investigation of the mechanism leading to low NOXA, we identified a micro-RNA encoded in an intron of HER2, termed miR-4728, that targets the mRNA of the Estrogen Receptor α (ESR1). Reduced ESR1 expression in turn prevents ERα-mediated transcription of NOXA, mitigating apoptosis following treatment with the HER2i lapatinib. Importantly, resistance can be overcome with pharmacological inhibition of MCL-1. More generally, while many cancers like EGFR-mutant lung cancer are driven by activated kinases that when drugged lead to robust monotherapeutic responses, we demonstrate that the efficacy of targeted therapies directed against oncogenes active through focal amplification may be mitigated by coamplified genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the work reported herein was to investigate anisotropy in the temperature rise occurring on the surface of Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) during adsorption. The temperature increase on the transverse, radial and tangential surfaces of small wood specimens during adsorption was measured by thermal imaging. The experiments were conducted in a purpose-built humidity chamber facilitating the accurate control of the internal relative humidity (RH). It was found that the temperature rise on initially oven-dry wood surfaces exposed to a RH of 95% was anisotropic, with a maximum temperature increase of around 4 °C occurring on the transverse surface and around 1 °C on both the radial and tangential surfaces. Additionally, it was observed that the technique reported can be used to accurately measure the temperature change arising from sorption, thus providing reliable information about the behaviour of wood. This information is vital if the effects of the enthalpy change occurring during water vapour sorption are to be correctly considered in building physics models and the potential to reduce energy consumption in buildings fully realised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sorption behaviour of extracted and un-extracted Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) heartwood was analysed using dynamic vapour sorption apparatus. In addition to the sorption isotherm and hysteresis, the moisture increments and decrements were determined as well as the rate of sorption. Parallel exponential kinetics model was used for further analysis. The effect of cyclic humidity loading on the sorption characteristics was studied by exposing samples to ten repeated sorption cycles and by determining the amount of accessible hydroxyl (OH) groups before and after the cyclic humidity loading. Removal of extractives led to an increase in EMC both in adsorption and in desorption. Hysteresis decreased due to the removal of extractives. Cyclic humidity loading reduced the sorptive capacity of wood material for both extracted and un-extracted wood, but was more pronounced in un-extracted wood. However, despite the decrease in the sorptive capacity, the amount of accessible OH groups increased after ten repeated dry-humid cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The flora of Panay Island is under-collected compared with the other islands of the Philippines. In a joint expedition to the island, botanists from Taiwan and the Philippines found three unknown Begonia species and compared them with potentially allied species. Results: The three species are clearly assignable to Begonia sect. Baryandra which is largely endemic to the Philippines. Studies of literature, herbarium specimens, and living plants support the recognition of the three new species: Begonia culasiensis, B. merrilliana, and B. sykakiengii. Somatic chromosomes at metaphase were determined to be 2 n = 30 for B. culasiensis and 2 n = 28 for both B. merrilliana and B. sykakiengii, congruent with those of most species in sect. Baryandra. Molecular phylogenetic evidence is consistent with B. culasiensis being a relict from the late Miocene and B. merrilliana and B. sykakiengii being younger species of Pleistocene origin. Conclusion: The continuing discovery of endemic Philippine species means the remaining fragments of both primary and secondary native vegetation in the archipelago are of increasing value in terms of natural capital. A secure future for the species could be realized through ex situ conservation collections and raising awareness with community groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The density of wood can be increased by compressing the porous structure under suitable moisture and temperature conditions. One aim of such densification is to improve surface hardness, and therefore, densified wood might be particularly suitable for flooring products. After compression, however, the deformed wood material is sensitive to moisture, and in this case, recovered up to 60 % of the deformation in water-soaking. This phenomenon, termed set-recovery, was reduced by thermally modifying the wood after densification. This study presents the influence of compression ratio (CR = 40, 50, 60 %) and thermal modification time (TM = 2, 4, 6 h) on the hardness and set-recovery of densified wood. Previously, set-recovery has mainly been studied separately from other properties of densified wood, while in this work, set-recovery was also studied in relation to hardness. The results show that set-recovery was almost eliminated with TM 6 h in the case of CR 40 and 50 %. Hardness significantly increased due to densification and even doubled compared to non-densified samples with a CR of 50 %. Set-recovery reduced the hardness of densified (non-TM) wood back to the original level. TM maintained the hardness of densified wood at an increased level after set-recovery. However, some reduction in hardness was recorded even if set-recovery was almost eliminated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method to assess the impact of processing on hemp fibres is presented. A testing process based on acid hydrolysis followed by fractionation, employing a Bauer McNett apparatus, was used to assess the extent to which dislocations formed in hemp fibre that had undergone different degrees of mechanical processing. Using the potential of acid hydrolysis to break the fibres preferentially at dislocations, fractionation was used to classify the resulting segments by size into eight fractions. Overall, the assessment method was shown to be a feasible and robust, as well as a reasonably fast technique. Using the same method, samples of hemp fibre taken from different stages of the production chain were used to assess the impact of the production processes on the formation of dislocations in the fibres. The results show that the first stage of processing (decortication) has the greatest impact on the formation of dislocations and that further processing steps (carding or coarse separation) also add more dislocations but with a lower impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heating logs prior to peeling positively affects the surface properties of veneer as well as the wood-adhesive bond strength. However, the mechanism behind this increase in strength is not fully understood. The aim of the present study was to separate the influence of soaking temperature and peeling temperature on the physical surface properties and bonding quality. Rotary-cut birch (Betula pendula Roth) logs were soaked at 70 °C, and half of them were subsequently cooled to 20 °C prior to peeling. Surface roughness measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), surface integrity testing, color measurements, and wood-adhesive bond testing were conducted with an automated bonding evaluation system. The results showed that logs soaked at 70 °C and peeled at 20 °C had roughness, color, integrity, bond strength, and wetting properties more similar to logs soaked and peeled at 70 °C than those soaked and peeled at 20 °C. In every test conducted, the effect of soaking temperature was greater than the effect of peeling temperature. Hightemperature soaking not only caused softening of the material during the peeling process, but it also caused irreversible changes in the wood material, which affected the veneer surface characteristics and bond strength development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood material surface properties play an important role in adhesive bond formation and performance. In the present study, a test method was developed to evaluate the integrity of the wood surface, and the results were used to understand bond performance. Materials used were rotary cut birch ( Betula pendula Roth) veneers, produced from logs soaked at 20 or 70 °C prior to peeling and followed by drying at 160 °C. Surface quality was evaluated through surface roughness measurement, SEM imaging, lathe check depth evaluation and surface integrity testing. The results show that soaking logs at 70 °C rather than at 20 °C before peeling produced veneers with decreased surface roughness, shallower lathe checks and better integrity. All these parameters are mainly affected by the lathe check depth, which is observed on the loose side of veneer. On the tight side of veneer, the only detectable differences were the mode of cell wall failure observed under SEM, and the greater amount of very fine particles loosely bound to the surface. Higher soaking temperature also produced a surface with 'hairy' structure and larger surface area, which could promote strong adhesive bond development. The surface integrity measurements were found to be very useful for evaluating the quality of veneer surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are derived from the inner cell mass (ICM) of blastocyst staged embryos. Spare blastocyst staged embryos were obtained by in vitro fertilization (IVF) and donated for research purposes. hESCs carrying specific mutations can be used as a powerful cell system in modeling human genetic disorders. We obtained preimplantation genetic diagnosed (PGD) blastocyst staged embryos with genetic mutations that cause human disorders and derived hESCs from these embryos. We applied laser assisted micromanipulation to isolate the inner cell mass from the blastocysts and plated the ICM onto the mouse embryonic fibroblast cells. Two hESC lines with lesions in FOXP3 and NF1 were established. Both lines maintain a typical undifferentiated hESCs phenotype and present a normal karyotype. The two lines express a panel of pluripotency markers and have the potential to differentiate to the three germ layers in vitro and in vivo. The hESC lines with lesions in FOXP3 and NF1 are available for the scientific community and may serve as an important resource for research into these disease states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Humans that are heterozygous for the common S180L polymorphism in the Toll-like receptor (TLR) adaptor Mal (encoded by TIRAP ) are protected from a number of infectious diseases, including tuberculosis (TB), whereas those homozygous for the allele are at increased risk. The reason for this difference in susceptibility is not clear. We report that Mal has a TLR-independent role in interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) receptor signaling. Mal-dependent IFN-γ receptor (IFNGR) signaling led to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38 phosphorylation and autophagy. IFN-γ signaling via Mal was required for phagosome maturation and killing of intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( Mtb ). The S180L polymorphism, and its murine equivalent S200L, reduced the affinity of Mal for the IFNGR, thereby compromising IFNGR signaling in macrophages and impairing responses to TB. Our findings highlight a role for Mal outside the TLR system and imply that genetic variation in TIRAP may be linked to other IFN-γ-related diseases including autoimmunity and cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Fewer than half of children with high-risk neuroblastoma survive. Many of these tumors harbor high-level amplification of MYCN , which correlates with poor disease outcome. Using data from our large drug screen we predicted, and subsequently demonstrated, that MYCN -amplified neuroblastomas are sensitive to the BCL-2 inhibitor ABT-199. This sensitivity occurs in part through low anti-apoptotic BCL-xL expression, high pro-apoptotic NOXA expression, and paradoxical, MYCN-driven upregulation of NOXA. Screening for enhancers of ABT-199 sensitivity in MYCN -amplified neuroblastomas, we demonstrate that the Aurora Kinase A inhibitor MLN8237 combines with ABT-199 to induce widespread apoptosis. In diverse models of MYCN -amplified neuroblastoma, including a patient-derived xenograft model, this combination uniformly induced tumor shrinkage, and in multiple instances led to complete tumor regression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The care of Very Important Patients (VIPs) is different from other patients because they may receive greater access, attention, and resources from health care staff. Although the term VIP is used regularly in the medical literature and is implicitly understood, in practice it constitutes a wide and heterogeneous group of patients that have a strong effect on health care providers. We define a VIP as a very influential patient whose individual attributes and characteristics (eg, social status, occupation, position), coupled with their behavior, have the potential to significantly influence a clinician's judgment or behavior. Physicians, celebrities, the politically powerful, and philanthropists, may all become VIPs in the appropriate context. The quality of care may be inferior because health care professionals may deviate from standard practices when caring for them. Understanding the common features among what may otherwise be very different groups of patients can help health care providers manage ethical concerns when they arise. We use a series of vignettes to demonstrate how VIPs behavior and status can influence a clinician's judgment or actions. Appreciating the ethical principles in these varied circumstances provides health care professionals with the tools to manage ethical conflicts that arise in the care of VIPs. We conclude each vignette with guidance for how health care providers and administrators can manage the ethical concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of hydrothermal pre-treatment on the color of silver birch veneer were determined. Spectrophotometric and chemical analyses of the veneer by means of extraction were conducted to determine the detailed chemical characteristics of the veneers. Results from spectrophotometric analysis revealed a significant increase in lightness (L*) and a decrease in yellowness (b*) in the veneer produced from a log soaked at 70 °C in short-term. Conversely, the effect of long-term storage resulted in a significant reduction in L* and an increase in b*. Chemical analyses of the veneer extract identified a moderate negative correlation between soluble proanthocyanidins content and treatment temperature. A higher amount of wood extractives, such as lipophilic extractives, free monosaccharides, and other organic substances, were obtained from wood material soaked at 70 °C than at 20 °C, which was most likely due to moderate chemical changes during treatment. Comparison of the results between dried veneers and wet veneers from the water extraction study revealed that the dried veneers had higher amounts of lipophilic matter and less water-soluble organic matter than the wet veneers. Other aspects of the loss of soluble proanthocyanidins in the birch veneer during plywood manufacturing are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Objectives The purpose of this study was to consider how fear and symptom experience are perceived in patients with heart failure at the end of life. Background Heart failure is a burdensome condition and mortality rates are high globally. There is substantive literature describing suffering and unmet needs but description of the experience of fear and the relationship with symptom burden is limited. Design A convergent mixed methods design was used. Methods Data from the McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire ( n = 55) were compared to data from in-depth interviews ( n = 5). Results Patients denied fear when asked directly, but frequently referred to moments of being afraid when they were experiencing symptoms. In addition, patients reported few troublesome symptoms on the survey, but mentioned many more symptoms during interviews. Conclusions These data not only identify the relationship between psychological issues and symptom experience but also elucidate the benefit of a mixed method approach in describing such experiences from the perspective of the patient. Future research should examine relationships between and among symptom experience, fear and other psychological constructs across the illness trajectory. Relevance to Clinical Practice Conversations about the interaction of symptom burden and fear can lead to both a more robust assessment of symptoms and lead to patient centred interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the detailed water extract of wood components in birch under hydrothermal treatment, xylem sap obtained by mechanical compression-squeezing-was analyzed. Comprehensive physical and chemical characteristics of birch log under soaking were investigated in a previous study where limited permeation of soaking water into the log was observed, and glucose and fructose (dominant free monosaccharides in the squeezed sap) were increased during the experiments. In this paper, focus was placed on the effect of treatment time and the water extract of chemical compounds which were not determined in the previous study under controlled laboratory condition using small wood blocks. Laboratory-scale experiments were carried out with vacuum-packed birch blocks heated in water at 70 °C, which is a soaking temperature sometimes used in veneer manufacturing. The squeezed sap was analyzed for acetate, formate, sulfate, and sulfite using ion chromatography, and epicatechin, which is the most abundant phenolic compound in the sap, was determined by gas chromatography analyses with a flame ionization detector following solvent extraction with ethyl acetate. The results indicated that the concentration of free monosaccharides and other organic substances increased proportionally with soaking time, as well as the concentration of carboxylates and sulfur compounds. Epicatechin, on the other hand, was reduced during soaking. It was suspected that nutrients existing in parenchyma cells and the wood cell wall became more squeezable under the treatment due to the structural integrity of the wood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Delayed diffuse cerebellar swelling is a rare life-threatening complication following medulloblastoma resection. Presentation: We present our experience of managing a 4-year-old who developed diffuse cerebellar swelling with upward herniation 41 days after resection of a large cell anaplastic medulloblastoma. Conclusion: Emergency chemotherapy alone was sufficient in promoting regression of swelling and recovery from coma. Reports of similar cases are scant. Chemotherapy may be a critical component of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The origin of Neotropical hyperdiversity is one of the most intriguing questions in modern biogeography and is best answered through the investigation of large, pantropically distributed genera, allowing the comparison of closely related clades in different regions. We produced a dated phylogeny and reconstructed ancestral ranges of the megadiverse, Andean-centred genus Begonia to discern its dispersal history throughout the Neotropics and correlates of range evolution. Neotropical and Palaeotropical diversification rates were estimated. Location Neotropics: Central America, South America, West Indies and Mexico. Methods Plastid DNA sequence data from species representing the full geographical range and majority of sections of Neotropical Begonia were analysed with a secondarily calibrated relaxed molecular clock in order to estimate the age of crown groups and divergence times within Neotropical Begonia. Ancestral areas were reconstructed with a Bayesian approach to dispersal-vicariance analysis, a likelihood framework under a dispersal-extinction-cladogenesis model, and a Bayesian binary method. Diversification rates were estimated under a Bayesian framework. Results Biogeographical reconstruction indicated two independent trans-Atlantic colonizations of the Neotropics from Africa. Early-diverging lineages of both clades are reconstructed as having diversified in the mid-Miocene, with multiple dispersal events between the Brazilian Atlantic rain forest and the Andes, and single radiations within the West Indies and Central America plus Mexico. Main conclusions Begonia displays numerous radiations within regions, punctuated by long-distance dispersal. Successful colonization and diversification is predicted by the presence of upland habitat. Recognizing the role of chance dispersal events between available habitats is vital for understanding the formation of current biogeographical patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel approach to modifying native cellulosic fibres with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) impregnation and simultaneous cross-linking by citric acid (CA) was investigated. To understand the contributions of different components in the system, control references with just CA and cellulosic fibres (filter paper) were studied. The effect of sodium hypophosphite as a catalyst was also assessed. The results revealed that ester bonds are indeed formed in the cellulose–PEG–CA reaction system, as indicated by weight percentage gain (WPG) and FTIR analysis. The best results were achieved by using 5% CA and 10% PEG (calculated as weight-% from cellulose). In the reaction, the environmentally friendly CA prevents PEG from being leached out of cellulose during washing, resulting in promising future applications in dimensionally stabilized products based on cellulosic fibres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lathe check depth (LCD) and the grain angle (GA) of veneer are important factors because they have an impact on the strength properties of plywood. Several methods to measure the LCD of veneer and the GA of wood or veneer have been developed over the years. In this study, a method to simultaneously measure LCD and GA from veneer is presented using silver birch ( Betula pendula Roth) veneer of 3.5 mm nominal thickness as an example. The measurement is based on laser trans-illumination imaging through the veneer. From these images, the projected area of the crack mouth of slightly opened lathe checks was calculated using image analysis techniques. Reference LCD values were measured manually by dyeing the veneer and imaging with an optical microscope. The relationship between the area of lathe checks in the images and the reference LCD values was modelled with regression analysis, and R was found to be 0.86 and the root-mean-square error was 9.9 %. GA was determined by recognizing an elliptical illuminated area projected through the veneer from which GA was obtained by measuring the angle of the major axis of the ellipse. The range in the GA of the veneer samples studied was from 1° to 11°. Furthermore, the uncertainty in the reference LCD measurements taken by four operators was estimated with a reproducibility and repeatability test. The reference LCD measurements were found to be dependent on the operator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is currently known about the chemical changes that birch logs undergo during soaking in the plywood process. In order to probe the chemical changes in the log during soaking, sap obtained by mechanical compression from the log was chemically analyzed after pilot scale soaking at 70 °C. The results from the experiments revealed that the physical interaction between the core part of the log and the soaking water is limited. It was also suggested a water extraction causing significant increases in free monosaccharides and organic carbon concentrations in the sap. Assessment of the soaking water in the tank after soaking showed that the level of organic loading in water increases as the soaking temperature increases, probably due to the elution of organic substances from the bark. The dominant-free monosaccharides were glucose and fructose. Xylose and galactose also emerged during soaking. From the results, it is suspected that the majority of organic loadings in the water after soaking originate from the bark. This methodology for the sap collection seemed a reasonable approach to analyze the chemical characteristics of the xylem part of a log. Another aspect, relating to the seasonal variation of these changes in birch logs, is briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most adhesive studies employing wood veneer as the substrate assume that it is a relatively uniform material if wood species and veneer thickness are constant. In the present study, veneers from rotary cut birch ( Betula pendula Roth) were produced from logs harvested in spring, autumn and winter, and soaked at 20°C and 70°C prior to peeling. Firstly, veneers produced from logs felled in autumn were dried at 103°C for 24 h and subsequently half of these veneers were heat-treated at 180°C for 3 h. In addition, veneers produced from logs felled in all three seasons were dried at 160°C for 3.5 min to simulate industrial drying. The wettability of veneers was evaluated goniometrically, and bonding strength was evaluated with an automated bonding evaluation system (ABES). The results show that soaking birch logs at 70°C rather than at 20°C before peeling, or harvesting trees in the spring rather than in the autumn or winter, gives rise to veneers with enhanced wettability and higher bond strengths with a phenol-formaldehyde adhesive. Changes in the preparation and history of a veneer surface may have a profound effect on the development of adhesive bonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of a 2D simulation model have been validated by experimental data to check the possibility of infrared (IR) heating of rotating green logs in the course of veneer production. The assumption that the experimental situation can be described by simplified analytical solutions has been confirmed. In the knowledge of the thermal and physical characteristics of green wood, two methods are now available to calculate rapidly the temperature within the wood log and the maximum surface temperature reached by a green log rotating under an IR heating source: (1) by numerical simulation and (2) by analytical equations, which are simpler than the computationally intensive finite element method. Experimental results, validated by both methods, show that an IR heating system as part of an industrial peeling machine would not warm-up green wood to the required peeling temperature at current peeling speeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the use of three-dimensional or 3D printed, patient-specific anatomy as a tool to improve informed patient consent and patient understanding in a case of posterior lumbar fixation. Next, we discuss its utility as an educational tool to enhance imaging interpretation by neurosurgery trainees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Suberin and SFA extracted from birch (Betula spp.) characterized by FTIR and GC–MS. • Suberin and SFA adsorbed on cellulose substrates and made them less hydrophilic. • Hydrogen bonding most likely occurred between Suberin/SFA monomers and cellulose. • Suberin/SFA modified cellulose can be used in the design of new renewable products. This paper provides evidence for the adsorption of suberin onto cellulose and illustrates the effect of suberin and suberin fatty acid (SFA) treatment on the physicochemical surface properties of the modified cellulose substrate. Suberin and SFA were extracted from the outer bark of birch (Betula pendula Roth) and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The results confirmed the extracts to comprise primarily of depolymerised suberin and SFA. The adsorption of suberin and SFA on cellulose was studied by treating the filter paper with solutions of suberin and SFA. Changes in the surface topography of the filter paper following treatment were analysed with atomic force microscopy and the effect on wettability assessed through contact angle measurement. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis showed that the cellulose substrate was evenly covered. GC–MS analysis showed which suberin monomers were preferentially adsorbed on the cellulose surfaces. Based on these results, it can be inferred that suberin and SFA have the potential for cellulose surface modification. This finding supports the view that suberin and SFA could be used to improve the interfacial properties of cellulose fibre reinforced composites. The novelty in this study is that it provides detailed information, derived though advanced experimental techniques, about the manner and mechanisms behind changes in surface physiochemical properties of cellulose obtained through suberin and SFA adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To examine the effect of patient and facility level factors on the success of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) in patients with neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1). Design Retrospective review. Setting Large PGD reference laboratory. Patient(s) All patients with NF1 referred from June 2004 to May 2013. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Embryos' NF1 mutation status and live birth rates. Result(s) Seventy-seven couples underwent 156 PGD cycles during the study period. The average maternal age at the time of embryo biopsy was 33.2 years. The majority of embryos had a day 3 single blastomere biopsy without aneuploidy screening. A diagnosis was obtained for 80% of biopsied embryos; 20% of biopsies were nondiagnostic due to technical failures. Diagnosis was more often obtained for embryos of parents with familial disease and for embryos biopsied at centers that referred multiple NF1 cases. Among diagnosed embryos, 483/1,060 (46%) were unaffected by the parental NF1 mutation. Twenty-two (14%) of the 156 cycles had a confirmed live birth; if the observed success rate is applied to cycles with unknown outcomes, 33/156 (21%) cycles are expected to have resulted in live birth. In multivariate logistic regression, having a live birth was significantly associated with having more unaffected embryos available for transfer (odds ratio 1.33 per additional embryo, 95% confidence interval 1.02–1.72). Conclusion(s) Advances in biopsy and diagnostic techniques which increase the number of unaffected embryos identified may improve live birth rates for patients with NF1. Clinicians should counsel patients about their fertility and reproductive options early, with the use of disease-specific data, to set appropriate expectations for the PGD process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]