The Impact of Having a Baby on the Level and Content of Women’s Well-Being

The primary objective of this study was to more fully understand the impact of having a baby on women’s well-being by attending to both the level and the content of well-being. To cover the judgemental and affective aspects of well-being we included global measures of life satisfaction and well-being and affective experience measures derived from the day reconstruction method. In a sample of 19 first-time mothers no differences between pre and postnatal reports of general life satisfaction, depression, anxiety, and experienced positive and negative affect were found, suggesting that the arrival of the newborn baby does not universally impact on women’s level of well-being. Changes in the content of well-being were studied by examining changes in the way women experience specific activities and interactions with various social partners. There appeared to be an upward shift in experienced positive affect during active leisure and a slight decrease in negative affect during time spent with relatives. The results are discussed in light of previously documented changes across the transition to motherhood in negative mood states, time use, women’s evaluation of various aspects of daily life, and relational satisfaction

Neuromuscular disease genetics in under-represented populations: increasing data diversity

Neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) affect ∼15 million people globally. In high income settings DNA-based diagnosis has transformed care pathways and led to gene-specific therapies. However, most affected families are in low-to-middle income countries (LMICs) with limited access to DNA-based diagnosis. Most (86%) published genetic data is derived from European ancestry. This marked genetic data inequality hampers understanding of genetic diversity and hinders accurate genetic diagnosis in all income settings. We developed a cloud-based transcontinental partnership to build diverse, deeply-phenotyped and genetically characterized cohorts to improve genetic architecture knowledge, and potentially advance diagnosis and clinical management. We connected 18 centres in Brazil, India, South Africa, Turkey, Zambia, Netherlands and the UK. We co-developed a cloud-based data solution and trained 17 international neurology fellows in clinical genomic data interpretation. Single gene and whole exome data were analysed via a bespoke bioinformatics pipeline and reviewed alongside clinical and phenotypic data in global webinars to inform genetic outcome decisions. We recruited 6001 participants in the first 43 months. Initial genetic analyses ‘solved’ or ‘possibly solved’ ∼56% probands overall. In-depth genetic data review of the four commonest clinical categories (limb girdle muscular dystrophy, inherited peripheral neuropathies, congenital myopathy/muscular dystrophies and Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy) delivered a ∼59% ‘solved’ and ∼13% ‘possibly solved’ outcome. Almost 29% of disease causing variants were novel, increasing diverse pathogenic variant knowledge. Unsolved participants represent a new discovery cohort. The dataset provides a large resource from under-represented populations for genetic and translational research. In conclusion, we established a remote transcontinental partnership to assess genetic architecture of NMDs across diverse populations. It supported DNA-based diagnosis, potentially enabling genetic counselling, care pathways and eligibility for gene-specific trials. Similar virtual partnerships could be adopted by other areas of global genomic neurological practice to reduce genetic data inequality and benefit patients globally

Outcomes from elective colorectal cancer surgery during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

This study aimed to describe the change in surgical practice and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on mortality after surgical resection of colorectal cancer during the initial phases of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Effect of Reynolds number and abutment geometry on the flow and turbulence structure around an abutment with a large scour hole

© 34th IAHR Congress 2011. All rights reserved.Results of eddy resolving numerical simulations are used to discuss the changes in the flow and turbulence structure around abutments of idealized shape (vertical wall) between channel Reynolds numbers of 18,000 and 240,000. The abutment is positioned at one of the sidewalls of a straight channel. A large scour hole is present around the abutment, corresponding to conditions at the end of the scour process. In both simulations the horseshoe vortex is subject to bimodal oscillations that amplify the turbulence within the upstream part of the scour hole. Results show that at Re=240,000 the region of the highest turbulence amplification within the horseshoe vortex region is not anymore situated around the flank of the obstacle, as was the case in the simulation conducted at Re=18,000. The study also investigates the changes in the flow structure between the case of a vertical-wall abutment and that of an abutment of more realistic geometry with sloped lateral walls (Re=240,000). We show that while the horseshoe vortex system induces a large amplification of the turbulence inside the scour hole in both geometries, the coherence of the horseshoe vortex system is lower in the case of an abutment with a sloped wall. This is mainly because of the larger deflection of the incoming flow toward the upstream face of the abutment with sloped walls and lower strength of the downflow

Flow structure and large scale turbulence in an open channel bend of strong curvature with flat and deformed bed

Results of Three-Dimensional (3D) Detached Eddy Simulation (DES) are used to discuss changes in flow structure and large-scale turbulence structures in a high-curvature open channel between conditions present at the start (flat bed) and at the end (equilibrium deformed bed) of the erosion-deposition process. The flow in a 193 degrees bend is simulated, for which the ratio between the bend curvature and the channel width is close to 1.3. For these geometrical parameters, the cross-stream secondary flow and anisotropic effects play a crucial role in the redistribution of the streamwise momentum and influence significantly the distribution of the bed shear stress which, in turn, determines the capacity of the flow to entrain sediment. We also investigated changes in the flow and turbulence structure between Reynolds numbers at which most laboratory experiments are conducted and Reynolds numbers that are closer to those encountered in natural small streams. We show that an energetic thin shear layer containing large-scale eddies develops at the interface between the core of high streamwise velocities and the retarded (flat bed case) or recirculating (deformed bed case) fluid moving close to the inner bank. Highly energetic large-scale Streamwise-Oriented Vortices (SOVs) develop close to the inner bank. The strength of the secondary outer bank SOV cell is enhanced as the Reynolds number is increased. Results show that an increase in Reynolds number by about one order of magnitude enhances significantly the turbulence, the secondary flow, the SOVs, the bed shear stresses and the flow's potential to erode the boundaries

An experimental investigation on the durability of railway ballast material by magnesium sulfate soundness

In this study, the durability of railway ballast material is investigated by magnesium sulfate soundness tests. Two types of ballast aggregates, which are produced from basaltic rocks and currently used as railway ballast in such high speed railway routes in Turkey, are investigated regarding their resistance against freezing–thawing (FT) and traffic loads. Firstly, the mineralogical and physico-mechanical properties of rocks are determined. Then the degradation of investigated ballast aggregates is determined by magnesium sulfate soundness and Los Angeles abrasion (LAA) tests. The natural FT effects are simulated by magnesium sulfate soundness tests up to 40 cycles, whereas the traffic loads are represented by LAA tests up to 3000 revolutions. The ballast fouling that leads to such problems are also investigated within the scope in the present study. The degree of ballast fouling is quantified as fouling index (FI) which is determined using the crushed particles generated after LAA tests. It is concluded from laboratory studies that rock properties considered are considerably influenced by simulated FT cycles. It is also achieved from the laboratory studies that magnesium sulfate soundness and Los Angeles abrasion tests are good indicators to clarify the fragmentation mechanism of the ballast aggregate in laboratory scale. In conclusion several empirical formulas are developed to predict LAA and FI for each rock type. The proposed empirical formulas could be utilized as a pre-design tool for new railway routes in design stage provided that the investigated ballast aggregates are considered. © 2018, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.Bülent Ecevit ÜniversitesiAcknowledgements The authors gratefully acknowledge and appreciate the constructive comments and suggestions of the reviewers and the financial support (Project No: 2016-98150330-01) provided by Bülent Ecevit University

Maternal and fetal leptin and ghrelin levels: Relationship with fetal growth

PubMed: 20830483Purpose In our study, we investigated the influence of plasma levels ghrelin, leptin and other metabolic hormones (ILGF-1 and ILGF-2) in pregnants in regulating fetal body weight and mode of delivery. Methods A total of 36 appropriately healthy pregnants 19-36-year-old were involved in the study. Demographic chracteristics, serum ghrelin, leptin, IGF-1 and IGF-2 levels of the pregnants were studied. Results Plasma ghrelin and leptin levels did not differ significantly among trimesters and delivery, in contrast to IGF-I and IGF-II concentrations were significantly higher in the first half of the pregnancy (P<0.05). Serum leptin was significantly associated with mode of delivery (r = 0.231; P = 0.008), BMI (r = 0.462; P = 0.004). Conclusion Metabolic factors are associated with fetal growth, but in AGA babies, there were no differences between any parameter and clinical factor. © Springer-Verlag 2010

Weathering effects on physical properties and material behaviour of granodiorite rocks

ISRM International Symposium - EUROCK 2016 -- 29 August 2016 through 31 August 2016 -- -- 144475Weathering has several effects on the physical, strength and material behaviour characteristics of rocks. Various researchers have attempted to obtain weathering classifications using qualitative and/or quantitative approaches. In this study, material behaviour under uniaxial loading conditions, mechanical and physical properties are investigated for reliable estimation of weathering degree of granodiorites. For this purpose, representative rock samples with different degrees of weathering from Havran (Balıkesir/Turkey) were collected and the necessary investigations and tests were performed. Weathering grades ranging from unweathered (W 0 ) to highly weathered rock (W 3 ) were used for classification purposes. Core samples were tested in the laboratory to determine various physical and mechanical properties for each weathering class. Also, mineralogical properties of granodiorites were investigated and described for each weathering degree. Test results were used for analyzing and constructing prediction models with the aim of indirect determination of the weathering degree of granodiorites. Finally, a monogram was proposed to distinguish different weathering degrees under uniaxial loading conditions for rock engineering purposes. © 2016 Taylor & Francis Group, Londo

A Large Eddy Simulation study of the bed shear stress distributions around isolated and multiple groynes

Large Eddy Simulation is used to investigate the main coherent structures playing a role in the erosion process (e.g., horseshoe vortex system forming around the base of the groynes, eddies shed in the separated shear layer) and the associated bed shear stress distributions around isolated and multiple groynes placed in straight channels. For isolated groynes we investigate the flow at conditions corresponding to the start of the scouring process (flat bed) and to its end (equilibrium scour bathymetry). Also, we consider the flow past two vertical groynes and we study the effect of groyne submergence (fully emerged vs. 40% relative submergence depth) on the horseshoe vortex system forming at the base of the upstream groyne and bed shear stress distribution in the groynes region. Large amplifications of the turbulence (e.g., resolved kinetic energy) inside the horseshoe vortex system and of the bed shear stress below are observed in all the cases. © 2008 Taylor & Francis Group, London