Chronotype, sleep quality and sleep duration in adult distance education: Not related to study progress

Research in traditional education shows chronotype, sleep duration and sleep quality to be related to learning performance. Research in adult students participating in distance education (DE) is scarce. This study aims to provide knowledge on these relationships in this educational setting. In an observational longitudinal study, chronotype, sleep duration (i.e., for work and free days separately) and sleep quality of 894 students were analyzed in a multiple regression analyses. Students provided information on sleep-relatedmeasures and important covariates at the start of their study and study progress was evaluated after 14 months (i.e., the number of successfully completed modules). In linewith previous research, chronotype did not predict study progress. Further, sleep duration did not predict study progress, neither as a linear nor as a polynomial term. Third, sleep quality did not predict study progress. Concluding, these results are in linewith previous research that DE provides a solution to the asynchrony problem. Findings regarding sleep duration and sleep quality are new and unexpected, asking for attention and further research. Despite the study's observational nature, findings suggest that students participating in DE may benefit from this type of education as the asynchrony problem appears not to apply here, as students can choose their own study schedule.

Spacecraft for radar propagation experiments; design study progress report.

"Contract no. AF30(602)-2077."

Sedentary behavior and not physical activity predicts study progress in distance education`

For the official publication, see: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2016.06.021

Challenges of recruiting hospice patients with advanced cancer to research : reflections on a delirium screening study

Introduction Delirium research in palliative care, particularly in the dying phase, is possible but is frequently met with ethical and methodological challenges. This paper describes the challenges faced in a previous delirium screening study. Methods Within 72 hours of admission to an acute inpatient specialist palliative care unit one hundred consecutive patients over 18 years of age with advanced cancer were invited to be screened for delirium using validated screening tools. Results Of the 100 consecutive admissions 49 patients were unable to participate including seven who did not meet the inclusion criteria and nine (six families and three patients) who withheld consent. The remaining 33 patients were more unwell and closer to death than those who were recruited. Reasons for non- participation included being too unwell (ten), unresponsive (nine), died (two) or discharged (three) before recruitment and exceeding the 72hour time limit (nine). Conclusion Gate keeping and physical condition of patients were the main obstacles to recruitment and is consistent with barriers faced in previous studies involving palliative care and dying patients. While it is possible and necessary to conduct studies in palliative care, including the terminal phase, as reflective practitioners we must maintain the balance between the demands for evidence-based practice and our compassion and respect for our most vulnerable of patients.

Validation of a single item to assess daytime sleepiness for the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study

Context-Daytime sleepiness in kidney transplant recipients has emerged as a potential predictor of impaired adherence to the immunosuppressive medication regimen. Thus there is a need to assess daytime sleepiness in clinical practice and transplant registries.Objective-To evaluate the validity of a single-item measure of daytime sleepiness integrated in the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study (STCS), using the American Educational Research Association framework.Methods-Using a cross-sectional design, we enrolled a convenience sample of 926 home-dwelling kidney transplant recipients (median age, 59.69 years; 25%-75% quartile [Q25-Q75], 50.27-59.69), 63% men; median time since transplant 9.42 years (Q25-Q75, 4.93-15.85). Daytime sleepiness was assessed by using a single item from the STCS and the 8 items of the validated Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine the cutoff for the STCS daytime sleepiness item against the Epworth Sleepiness Scale score.Results-Based on the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, a score greater than 4 on the STCS daytime sleepiness item is recommended to detect daytime sleepiness. Content validity was high as all expert reviews were unanimous. Concurrent validity was moderate (Spearman ϱ, 0.531; P< .001) and convergent validity with depression and poor sleep quality although low, was significant (ϱ, 0.235; P<.001 and ϱ, 0.318, P=.002, respectively). For the group difference validity: kidney transplant recipients with moderate, severe, and extremely severe depressive symptom scores had 3.4, 4.3, and 5.9 times higher odds of having daytime sleepiness, respectively, as compared with recipients without depressive symptoms.Conclusion-The accumulated evidence provided evidence for the validity of the STCS daytime sleepiness item as a simple screening scale for daytime sleepiness.

Visual vector inversion during memory antisaccades--a TMS study

In the memory antisaccade task, subjects are instructed to look at an imaginary point precisely at the opposite side of a peripheral visual stimulus presented short time previously. To perform this task accurately, the visual vector, i.e., the distance between a central fixation point and the peripheral stimulus, must be inverted from one visual hemifield to the other. Recent data in humans and monkeys suggest that the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) might be critically involved in the process of visual vector inversion. In the present study, we investigated the temporal dynamics of visual vector inversion in the human PPC by using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). In six healthy subjects, single pulse TMS was applied over the right PPC during a memory antisaccade task at four different time intervals: 100 ms, 217 ms, 333 ms, or 450 ms after target onset. The results indicate that for rightward antisaccades, i.e., when the visual target was presented in the left screen-half, TMS had a significant effect on saccade gain when applied 100 ms after target onset, but not later. For leftward antisaccades, i.e., when the visual target was presented in the right screen-half, a significant TMS effect on gain was found for the 333 ms and 450 ms conditions, but not for the earlier ones. This double dissociation of saccade gain suggests that the initial process of vector inversion can be disrupted 100 ms after onset of the visual stimulus and that TMS interfered with motor saccade planning based on an inversed vector signal at 333 ms and 450 ms after stimulus onset.

倾斜沉积制备雕塑薄膜的研究进展

倾斜沉积是一种新型的薄膜沉积技术。通过制备过程中基片的旋转和倾斜,可以制备出斜柱状、之字形、螺旋状、S形以及C形等各种形状的雕塑薄膜。雕塑薄膜可以实现许多传统薄膜无法实现的光学性质,为光学薄膜的设计与制备开辟了新的途径。本文综述了雕塑薄膜的制备方法,分析了雕塑薄膜的结构特征及影响因素,并阐述了其在光学领域的广泛应用前景。

双花千里光、川芎及宽叶羌活的化学成分研究

本论文由四章组成。第一、二和三章分别报道了双花千里光、川芎和宽叶羌活的化学成分研究。从三种药用植物中共分离和鉴定了40 个化学成分，其中8个为新化合物。第四章概述了藳本属植物及日本川芎的化学成分研究进展。 第一章包括三个部分。第一部分报道双花千里光（Senecio dianthus Franch.）地上部分乙醇提取物的化学成分。采用正、反相硅胶柱层析等各种分离方法，从中共分离出8 个艾里莫酚型倍半萜内酯，其中5 个是新化合物，并且有1 个为首次发现的连接了含氮原子取代基的艾里莫酚型倍半萜内酯。它们的结构经MS、IR、NMR及X-单晶衍射等解析方法确定为2b-angeloyloxy-10b-hydroxyeremophil-7(11)-en-8a,12-olide (1)、6b-angeloyloxy-10b-hydroxyeremophil-7(11)-en-8a,12-olide (2)、2b-angeloyloxy-8b,10b- dihydroxyeremophil-7(11)-en-8a,12-olide (3)、2b-angeloyloxy-8a-hydroxyeremophil-7(11),9(10)-dien-8b,12-olide (4)和8b-amino-10b- hydroxyleremophil-7(11)-en-8a,12-olide (5)。这8 个倍半萜内酯经体外生物活性测试表明均具有通过抑制巨噬细胞增殖抵制破骨细胞增生的活性。第二部分对艾里莫酚型倍半萜内酯的质谱裂解规律进行了初步探讨。第三部分报道双花千里光茎、和叶花的挥发油成分分析。采用传统水蒸气蒸馏法分别提取了双花千里光茎、叶和花的挥发油，用气相色谱－质谱联用（GC-MS）技术分别分离鉴定了其化学成分，从茎、叶和花挥发油中各分离和鉴定出70、80 和73 种化学成分，分别占挥发油总量的91.2％、85.7％及93.4％。 第二章包括两个部分。第一部分报道川芎（Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.）根茎乙醇提取物的化学成分。通过正、反相硅胶柱层析等分离纯化和MS、NMR及X-单晶衍射等解析方法，共分离鉴定了21 个化合物，结构类型分属于苯酞、二聚苯酞、香豆素和脂肪酸类。其中2 个为结构比较新颖的二聚苯酞类化合物：chuanxiongnolide A (19)和chuanxiongnolide B (20)，化合物19 的结构经X-单晶衍射得到确证。第二部分报道川芎挥发油的化学成分。采用不同的提取方法（溶剂萃取法、水蒸气蒸馏法、CO2 超临界流体萃取法）提取川芎挥发油，同时采集不同产地（四川彭县、四川郫县、云南鹤庆）及不同品质（川芎、奶芎、苓子）的川芎产品，利用GC-MS 技术分离鉴定其挥发油的化学成分，计算各成分的相对含量，并对比分析其中的异同。 第三章报道宽叶羌活（Notopterygium forbesii Boiss.）根茎化学成分的分离纯化和结构鉴定。通过正、反相硅胶柱层析等分离纯化和MS、NMR 等解析方法，共分离鉴定了13 个化合物，结构类型分属于香豆素、二氢异香豆素、甾体和羧酸类。其中1 个新二氢异香豆素类成分鉴定为6-methoxy-hydrangenol (37)。 第四章概述了藳本属植物及日本川芎化学成分的研究进展。 This dissertation consisted of four chapters. The former three chaptersrespectively elaborated the phytochemical investigation of three herbal medicines:Senecio dianthus Franch., Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. and Notopterygium forbesiiBoiss.. Forty compounds, including eight new ones, were isolated and identified byspectral and chemical evidence. The fourth chapter elaborated the study progress ofchemical constituents of Ligusticum genus and Cnidium offcinale. The first chapter consisted of three parts. The first part is about the chemicalconstituents of ethanol extraction and essential oils from the aerial parts of S. dianthu.Eight eremophilenolides were isolated and identified. Among them, five ones are newcompounds and one of them is a novel eremophilenolide attched with an amino group.The structures of the new compounds were identified as 2b-angeloyloxy-10b-hydroxyeremophil-7(11)-en-8a,12-olide (1)，6b-angeloyloxy-10b-hydroxyeremophil-7(11)-en-8a,12-olide (2)，2b-angeloyloxy-8b,10b-dihydroxyeremophil-7(11)-en-8a,12-olide (3)，2b-angeloyloxy-8a-hydroxyeremophil-7(11),9(10)-dien-8b,12-olide (4) and8b-amino-10b-hydroxyeremophil-7(11)-en-8a,12-olide (5) by spectral evidence andX-ray crystallography analysis. All the compounds were evaluated for theiranti-osteoclstogenesis activity using a proliferation inhibit assay with microphagecells. The second part elementarily discussed the characteristic fragmentation oferemophilenolides isolated from S. dianthus in ESI-MS.The latter part is about thechemical constituents of essential oil extracted from stems, leaves and flowers of S.dianthus with steam distillation. By the GC-MS analysis, 70, 80 and 73 compoundswere respectively isolated and identified which accounted for more than 91.2％, 85.7％ and 93.4％ of total essential oil. The second chapter, including two parts, is about the the chemical constituents ofethanol extraction and essential oils from rhizomes of L. chuanxion. In the first part, twenty-one compounds were isolated and iedntified. Two ones are novel dimericphthalides and the structures were suggested as chuanxiongnolide A (19) andchuanxiongnolide B (20) by spectral evidence and confirmed by X-raycrystallography analysis. In the second part, the samples were collected from differentextract techniques (solvent extraction, steam distillation and supercriticalfluid extraction), different habitats (Peng and Pi counties, Sichuan province; Heqing,Yunnan province) and different qualities (Chuanxiong, Naixiong and Lingzi). Thechemical constituents of essential oil from L. chuanxiong were analyzed by GC-MS and were compared each other. The third chapter is about the chemical constituents of rhizomas of N. forbesii,which belongs to a endemic genus of China. Thirteen compounds were isolated andidentified. One of them is a new dihydroisocoumarin and the structure was identifiedas 6-methoxy-hydrangenol (37) by spectral evidence. The fourth chapter is a review on study progress of chemical constituents ofLigusticum species and Cnidium offcinale.

钩藤和蹄叶橐吾的化学成分研究

本论文由三章组成。第一、二章分别报道钩藤、蹄叶橐吾的化学成分研究工作。从两种药用植物中共分离和鉴定了37 个化合物，其中有1 组6 个新的骨架相似的鞘糖脂类同系物及5 个新的倍半萜类化合物。第三章概述了艾里莫芬烷内酯类化合物的研究进展。 第一章报道钩藤(Uncaria rhynchophylla)带钩茎枝乙醇提取物的化学成分。采用正、反相硅胶柱层析等分离方法，运用NMR、MS 等波谱技术共分离鉴定得到22 个化合物，分属于五环三萜类化合物、鞘糖脂类化合物等，其中有1 组6个新的鞘糖脂类化合物同系物，另外有7 个化合物首次从该植物中分离得到。 第二章报道蹄叶橐吾(Ligularia fischeri)根部乙醇提取物化学成分的分离纯化和结构鉴定。通过正、反相硅胶柱层析等分离纯化和MS、NMR 等波谱解析，共分离鉴定得到18 个化合物，其中5 个是新化合物。它们的结构分别确定为3β-acetyl-6β, 8α, 10β-trihydroxyeremophila-7(11)-en-8, 12-olide (23), 3β-acetyl-8β,10β-dihydroxy-6β-(2-methylbutyryloxy)-eremophilenolide (24), 3β-acetyl-6β, 10β-dihydroxyeremophila-7(11), 8(9)-dien-8, 12-olide (25), 3β-acetyl-6β, 10β-dihydroxyeremophila- 7(11), 8(9)-dien-8, 12-olide (26), (3aR, 4R, 5S, 7aS)-2-acetyl-7ahydroxy-3a, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7a-hexahydro-1H-inden-5-yl acetate (27)。这5 个化合物经体外生物活性测试，结果表明化合物23 具有抑制酪氨酸磷酸酯酶的活性, 其IC50 值为1.30 μg/ml。 第三章概述了近二十年来艾里莫芬烷内酯类化合物的研究进展，包括其结构及药理活性两个方面，列举了从23 种植物中分到的114 个艾里莫芬烷内酯类化合物，同时也对其主要生物活性进行了总结。 This dissertation consists of three chapters. The first and second chapters elaborate the phytochemical investigation of Uncaria rhynchophylla and Ligularia fischeri. Thirty-seven compounds, including six new ones, were isolated and identified by spectroscopic methods and X-ray diffraction experiments. The third chapter is a review on the study progress of Eremophilanolides. The first chapter focus on the isolation and identification of chemical constituents from Uncaria rhynchophylla. Twenty-two compounds were isolated from the roots of U. rhynchophylla by repeat column chromatography over normal and reversed phase silica gel. Those compounds mainly belonged pentacyclic triterpenoids and sphingolipids. Among them, a series homologues of six sphingolipids were new compounds and seven compounds were firstly reported in this plant. The second chapter is about the phytochemical investigation of L. fischeri. Eighteen compounds were isolated and identified. Among them, four new erem-ophilanolides and a new dinoreremophilane derivative were characterized as 3β-acetyl-6β, 8α, 10β-trihydroxyeremophila-7(11)-en-8, 12-olide (23), 3β-acetyl-8β, 10β-dihydroxy-6β-(2-methylbutyryloxy)-eremophilenolide (24), 3β-acetyl-6β, 10β-dihydroxyeremophila-7(11), 8(9)-dien-8,12-olide (25), 3β-acetyl-6β, 10α-dihydroxyeremophila- 7(11), 8(9)-dien-8,12-olide (26), (3aR,4R,5S,7aS)-2-acetyl-7a-hydroxy-3a, 4, 5, 6,7, 7a-hexahydro-1H-inden-5-yl acetate (27) by spectroscopic analysis and confirmed by X-ray crystallography analysis. It was revealed that compound 23 has the ability to inhabit the PTP1B in vivo. And its IC50 is 1.30 μg/ml. The third part is a review on the study progress of Eremophilanolides.

Seguridad de los antipsicoticos en embarazo en pacientes con psicosis. Revisión sistemática

Enfermedades mentales de tipo psicótico en gestantes se han asociado con mayor número de resultados negativos. Los síntomas psicóticos durante el embarazo se presentan aproximadamente 7.1 por 100.000 casos. Dentro de las consecuencias se incluye mayor riesgo de parto pretérmino, bajo peso al nacer, alteraciones placentarias, malformaciones congénitas de predominio cardiovascular y mayor tasa de muertes perinatales. Como abordaje terapéutico son frecuentes los antipsicóticos de primera generación, aceptados como seguros pero en menor grado se han considerados los antipsicóticos de segunda generación pues ha sido escasamente evaluada su seguridad durante la gestación. Aún existe controversia sobre los potenciales efectos secundarios de algunos antipsicóticos dado los resultados contradictorios. Métodos: Revisión sistemática de la literatura de artículos que proporcionaron mejor evidencia para determinar cuáles antipsicóticos de elección durante la gestación en pacientes con esquizofrenia de acuerdo a su perfil de seguridad. Se evaluó calidad metodológica reconociendo particularidades y resultados de los estudios incluidos. Resultados: De 39 estudios seleccionados, cinco fueron incluidos en esta revisión, clasificándose como nivel de evidencia IIa y evaluados según su calidad metodológica con escala NOS. Se evaluó paso placentario de antipsicóticos, malformaciones fetales, complicaciones obstétricas como parto pretérmino, bajo y alto peso fetal, complicaciones respiratorias, diabetes gestacional, aborto espontáneo, entre otros. Discusión: Se debe sopesar el riesgo-beneficio, la significancia estadística, la significancia clínica y las particularidades de las pacientes a tratar. Conclusión: Los estudios analizados evaluaron diferentes medicamentos antipsicóticos, dificultando consolidación de información en especial en conclusiones solidas ante algunas premisas como fármacos de elección.

Good lives sexual offender treatment for mentally disordered offenders

Purpose – The main aim of this paper is to describe the content, structure and preliminary evaluation of a new Good Lives sexual offender treatment group (SOTG) for male mentally disordered offenders.

Design/methodology/approach – As evaluation and work on the SOTG is necessarily ongoing, case study descriptions of each patient who attended the SOTG and of their progress throughout SOTG are described.

Findings – Overall, the case study progress reports suggest that mentally disordered male patients made some notable progress on SOTG despite their differential and complex needs. In particular, attention to each patient's life goals and motivators appeared to play a key role in promoting treatment engagement. Furthermore, patients with lower intelligence quotient and/or indirect pathways required additional support to understand the links between the Good Lives Model (GLM) and their own risk for sexual offending.

Research limitations/implications – Further evaluations of SOTG groups, that incorporate higher numbers of participants and adequate control groups, are required before solid conclusions and generalisations can be made.

Practical implications – Practitioners should consider providing additional support to clients when implementing any future SOTGs for mentally disordered patients.

Originality/value – This is the first paper to outline and describe implementation of the GLM in the sexual offender treatment of mentally disordered male patients group format. As such, it will be of interest to any professionals involved in the facilitation of sexual offender treatment within this population.

Performance of different rubber tree clones against South American leaf blight (Microcyclus ulei)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Recognition and moral progress : a case study about discourses on disability in the media

This article aims to discuss the notion of moral progress in the theory of recognition. It argues that Axel Honneth's program offers sophisticated theoretical guidance to observe and critically interpret emancipatory projects in contemporary politics based on ideas of individuality and social inclusiveness. Using a case study – the investigation, through frame analysis, of transformations in the portrayal of people with impairment as well as in public discourses on the issue of disability in major Brazilian news media from 1960 to 2008 – this article addresses three controversies: the notion of progress as a directional process; the problem of moral disagreement and conflict of interest in struggles for recognition; and the processes of social learning. By articulating empirically based arguments and Honneth's normative discussions, this study concludes that one can talk about moral progress without losing sight of value pluralism and conflict of interest.