Non-invasive assessment of dynamic properties in human arteries : with special reference to gestation and diabetes

Background: The important role played by the intrinsic properties of central arteries in cardiovascular physiology and pathology has been increasingly recognised. Several circulatory disorders are associated with increased arterial stiffness. To better understand the arterial functions in diabetes and their relevance to pregnancy, we have employed recent improvements in technology for non-invasive investigation of the dynamic functions both in large arteries and in microvasculature. Our main purposes were to enhance the application of these techniques for vascular measurements, and to clarify the large-arterial wall function in mother and fetus in normal pregnancy and in pregnancy complicated with diabetes, and to investigate macro- and microvascular properties in non-pregnant women with a history of gestational diabetes (GDM), as well as in children and adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM).Study population and methods: Totally 341 subjects participated in this series of investigations, including (1) fetuses and women in uncomplicated or diabetic pregnancy; (2) non- pregnant women with a GDM history and their age-matched controls; and (3) children and adolescents with IDDM and their age- and gender-matched controls. To evaluate the mechanical properties of the descending aorta and carotid artery, an ultrasonic, phase-locked, zero-crossing echo tracking system was employed. The microcirculatory reactivities in the skin of the foot and hand were assessed using a laser Doppler technique.Results: The pulse wave velocity (PWV) in the fetal aorta increased from the 28th to the 36th gestational week, and then remained constant during the last month of uncomplicated pregnancy; however, a few days before spontaneous parturition it declined significantly. The fetal aortic PWV depended on fetal behavioural states as well as on the presence or absence of fetal breathing movements. Reduced maternal aortic stiffness was found in the first trimester of uncomplicated pregnancy; however, this change, regarded as a cardioprotective adaptation, did not appear in pregnant women complicated with IDDM. Two-to-four years after a pregnancy complicated with GDM, apparently healthy women had stiffened carotid arteries and impaired acetylcholine-induced vasodilatation in the skin microvasculature. An age-related increase in aortic stiffness started already around ten years of age, soon after puberty boys having a stiffer aorta than girls. In children and adolescents with IDDM and without clinical evidence of cardiovascular complications, the aorta was stiffer than in their age- and gender-matched non- diabetic controls; but only in diabetic girls after puberty. In addition, microcirculatory reactivities were disturbed in children and adolescents with IDDM, but the degree of aortic stiffness and the microvascular reactivity of the foot skin were not statistically interrelated.Conclusions: Evaluation of vascular dynamic properties provides assessment of patho-physiological functions in the vessels of fetuses and their mothers, as well as in subjects with IDDM or at high risk of developing NIDDM. The macro- as well as the microvascular disturbances found in young persons with uncomplicated IDDM, and in women with previous GDM history, might be early markers of cardiovascular complications to their diabetes. The present non- invasive methods are suitable for large-scale studies to detect vascular lesions in a high-risk population.</p

A Photocatalyzed Cascade Approach Toward the Tetracyclic Core of Akuammiline Alkaloids

A cascade approach toward the tetracyclic core of akuammiline alkaloids which features high modularity and convergence is reported. Distinct substitution pattern can be readily introduced to the tetracyclic core by varying three building blocks with similar complexity. The critical event in the cascade is a regio- and stereoselective 1,2-shift enabled by a carbocation that sets up the core

Table_1_Regression Analysis of ICT Impact Factors on Early Adolescents’ Reading Proficiency in Five High-Performing Countries.docx

The popularity of information and communication technology (ICT) has had a significant influence on the reading proficiency of early adolescents. Achieving excellent reading proficiency, which is related not only to a student’s inherent talent but also to various impact factors, can greatly enhance the effectiveness of reading education. The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2015 provides an international view on the reading proficiency of 15-year-olds in a computer-based testing environment. In this study, a multiple linear regression model was constructed using the computing language R to investigate the association between student-level ICT impact factors (the availability of ICT, the use of ICT and attitudes toward ICT) and reading proficiency among early adolescents. The sample included 37,155 15-year-olds from five representative countries with extremely high reading proficiency. The results showed that the students’ ICT-related attitudinal factors concerning their interest in ICT and perceived autonomy in using ICT, rather than ICT availability and ICT use, were closely associated with high reading proficiency. In addition, ICT devices should be integrated not only as instructional media but also as a cognitive tool for teaching reading with timely and appropriate scrutiny.</p

Table_3_Regression Analysis of ICT Impact Factors on Early Adolescents’ Reading Proficiency in Five High-Performing Countries.docx

The popularity of information and communication technology (ICT) has had a significant influence on the reading proficiency of early adolescents. Achieving excellent reading proficiency, which is related not only to a student’s inherent talent but also to various impact factors, can greatly enhance the effectiveness of reading education. The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2015 provides an international view on the reading proficiency of 15-year-olds in a computer-based testing environment. In this study, a multiple linear regression model was constructed using the computing language R to investigate the association between student-level ICT impact factors (the availability of ICT, the use of ICT and attitudes toward ICT) and reading proficiency among early adolescents. The sample included 37,155 15-year-olds from five representative countries with extremely high reading proficiency. The results showed that the students’ ICT-related attitudinal factors concerning their interest in ICT and perceived autonomy in using ICT, rather than ICT availability and ICT use, were closely associated with high reading proficiency. In addition, ICT devices should be integrated not only as instructional media but also as a cognitive tool for teaching reading with timely and appropriate scrutiny.</p

Ruthenium(III) Chloride Catalyzed Oxidation of Pyrene and 2,7-Disubstitued Pyrenes: An Efficient, One-Step Synthesis of Pyrene-4,5-diones and Pyrene-4,5,9,10-tetraones

Pyrene and 2,7-disubstituted pyrenes have been oxidized with ruthenium(III) chloride (RuCl3) and sodium periodate (NaIO4) under very mild conditions to 4,5-diones or 4,5,9,10-tetraones. Thus, the oxidation has been controlled by varying the amount of oxidant and reaction temperature to proceed exclusively at the pyrene 4- and 5-positions or at the 4-, 5-, 9-, and 10-positions

Table_2_Regression Analysis of ICT Impact Factors on Early Adolescents’ Reading Proficiency in Five High-Performing Countries.docx

The popularity of information and communication technology (ICT) has had a significant influence on the reading proficiency of early adolescents. Achieving excellent reading proficiency, which is related not only to a student’s inherent talent but also to various impact factors, can greatly enhance the effectiveness of reading education. The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2015 provides an international view on the reading proficiency of 15-year-olds in a computer-based testing environment. In this study, a multiple linear regression model was constructed using the computing language R to investigate the association between student-level ICT impact factors (the availability of ICT, the use of ICT and attitudes toward ICT) and reading proficiency among early adolescents. The sample included 37,155 15-year-olds from five representative countries with extremely high reading proficiency. The results showed that the students’ ICT-related attitudinal factors concerning their interest in ICT and perceived autonomy in using ICT, rather than ICT availability and ICT use, were closely associated with high reading proficiency. In addition, ICT devices should be integrated not only as instructional media but also as a cognitive tool for teaching reading with timely and appropriate scrutiny.</p

Supplemental Material - The Relationship Between ICT Perceived Competence and Adolescents’ Digital Reading Performance: A Multilevel Mediation Study

Supplemental Material for The Relationship Between ICT Perceived Competence and Adolescents’ Digital Reading Performance: A Multilevel Mediation Study by Rushi Yu, Meishu Wang, and Jie Hu in Journal of Educational Computing Research</p

Table_6_Regression Analysis of ICT Impact Factors on Early Adolescents’ Reading Proficiency in Five High-Performing Countries.docx

The popularity of information and communication technology (ICT) has had a significant influence on the reading proficiency of early adolescents. Achieving excellent reading proficiency, which is related not only to a student’s inherent talent but also to various impact factors, can greatly enhance the effectiveness of reading education. The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2015 provides an international view on the reading proficiency of 15-year-olds in a computer-based testing environment. In this study, a multiple linear regression model was constructed using the computing language R to investigate the association between student-level ICT impact factors (the availability of ICT, the use of ICT and attitudes toward ICT) and reading proficiency among early adolescents. The sample included 37,155 15-year-olds from five representative countries with extremely high reading proficiency. The results showed that the students’ ICT-related attitudinal factors concerning their interest in ICT and perceived autonomy in using ICT, rather than ICT availability and ICT use, were closely associated with high reading proficiency. In addition, ICT devices should be integrated not only as instructional media but also as a cognitive tool for teaching reading with timely and appropriate scrutiny.</p

Table_5_Regression Analysis of ICT Impact Factors on Early Adolescents’ Reading Proficiency in Five High-Performing Countries.docx

The popularity of information and communication technology (ICT) has had a significant influence on the reading proficiency of early adolescents. Achieving excellent reading proficiency, which is related not only to a student’s inherent talent but also to various impact factors, can greatly enhance the effectiveness of reading education. The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2015 provides an international view on the reading proficiency of 15-year-olds in a computer-based testing environment. In this study, a multiple linear regression model was constructed using the computing language R to investigate the association between student-level ICT impact factors (the availability of ICT, the use of ICT and attitudes toward ICT) and reading proficiency among early adolescents. The sample included 37,155 15-year-olds from five representative countries with extremely high reading proficiency. The results showed that the students’ ICT-related attitudinal factors concerning their interest in ICT and perceived autonomy in using ICT, rather than ICT availability and ICT use, were closely associated with high reading proficiency. In addition, ICT devices should be integrated not only as instructional media but also as a cognitive tool for teaching reading with timely and appropriate scrutiny.</p

Table_4_Regression Analysis of ICT Impact Factors on Early Adolescents’ Reading Proficiency in Five High-Performing Countries.docx

The popularity of information and communication technology (ICT) has had a significant influence on the reading proficiency of early adolescents. Achieving excellent reading proficiency, which is related not only to a student’s inherent talent but also to various impact factors, can greatly enhance the effectiveness of reading education. The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2015 provides an international view on the reading proficiency of 15-year-olds in a computer-based testing environment. In this study, a multiple linear regression model was constructed using the computing language R to investigate the association between student-level ICT impact factors (the availability of ICT, the use of ICT and attitudes toward ICT) and reading proficiency among early adolescents. The sample included 37,155 15-year-olds from five representative countries with extremely high reading proficiency. The results showed that the students’ ICT-related attitudinal factors concerning their interest in ICT and perceived autonomy in using ICT, rather than ICT availability and ICT use, were closely associated with high reading proficiency. In addition, ICT devices should be integrated not only as instructional media but also as a cognitive tool for teaching reading with timely and appropriate scrutiny.</p