Sr3P3N7: Complementary Approach by Ammonothermal and High‐Pressure Syntheses

Nitridophosphates exhibit an intriguing structural diversity with different structural motifs, for example, chains, layers or frameworks. In this contribution the novel nitridophosphate Sr3P3N7 with unprecedented dreier double chains is presented. Crystalline powders were synthesized using the ammonothermal method, while single crystals were obtained by a high‐pressure multianvil technique. The crystal structure of Sr3P3N7 was solved and refined from single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and confirmed by powder X‐ray methods. Sr3P3N7 crystallizes in monoclinic space group P 2/c . Energy‐dispersive X‐ray and Fourier‐transformed infrared spectroscopy were conducted to confirm the chemical composition, as well as the absence of NHx functionality. The optical band gap was estimated to be 4.4 eV using diffuse reflectance UV/Vis spectroscopy. Upon doping with Eu2+, Sr3P3N7 shows a broad deep‐red to infrared emission (λem=681 nm, fwhm≈3402 cm−1) with an internal quantum efficiency of 42 %

Secular trends in pregnancy weight gain in German women and their influences on foetal outcome: a hospital-based study

BACKGROUND: Increasing rates of overweight have been reported. In Germany, women of childbearing age are especially affected. Those women are at increased risks of several peri- and postnatal complications. The purpose of this study was to carry out Germany’s first study in terms of secular trends of overweight and weight gain during pregnancy related to foetal clinical outcomes (birth weight, Apgar score and umbilical blood pH). METHODS: A database maintained by a large regional university hospital in Cologne, Germany was used to evaluate clinical routine data from 1996 to 2012. 11771 women (23.5 ± 5.4 years; 18–48 years), who gave birth to a live singleton child (>2000 gram) were included. Recommended weight gain during pregnancy was based on IOM guidelines: Total weight gain range for underweight (initial BMI < 18.5 kg/m(2)) is 12.5 - 18 kg/ 28–40 lbs respectively, for normal-weight (initial BMI 18.5 -24.9 kg/m(2)) is 11.5 - 16 kg/ 25–35 lbs respectively, for overweight (initial BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m(2)) is 7–11.5 kg/ 15–25 lbs respectively and for obese (initial BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m(2)) is 5–9 kg/ 11–20 lbs respectively. A one-way variance analysis was employed to test for differences in particular factors in various groups. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to model impact factors. RESULTS: Over the second analysed period (2005–2012), the number of women with high weight gain increased from 33.8% to 42.9% (p <0.001). 54.5% overweight and 57.7% obese women were affected (p <0.001). Women with high weight gain were 54.5% significantly more likely to give birth to an infant ≥ 4000 grams than women with normal (31.7%) or low weight gain (13.8%, p < 0.001). Women with normal weight gain had significantly better foetal outcomes in terms of the Apgar score at 5 min and umbilical cord blood pH. CONCLUSION: These data confirm an increase in maternal weight gain before and during pregnancy. An excessive weight gain is accompanied by macrosomia, lower Apgar scores and pH-value. Women should therefore be advised about the risks of obesity before and during pregnancy as well as excessive maternal weight gain during pregnancy

Ammonothermal Synthesis of Ba2PO3N – An Oxonitridophosphate with Non‐Condensed PO3N Tetrahedra

The ortho‐oxonitridophosphate Ba2PO3N was synthesized under ammonobasic conditions (T = 1070 K, p = 120 MPa) in custom‐built high‐temperature autoclaves, starting from red phosphorus, BaO, NaN3 and KOH. Thus, single crystals of up to several hundred µm were obtained, which were used for single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Ba2PO3N [Pnma (no. 62), a = 7.596(2), b = 5.796(1), c = 10.212(3) Å, Z = 4] crystallizes in the β‐K2SO4 structure type with non‐condensed [PO3N]4– ions and is isotypic to its lighter homologues EA2PO3N (EA = Ca, Sr). Powder X‐ray diffraction, energy dispersive X‐ray and Fourier Transformed Infrared spectroscopy corroborate the crystal structure. The optical band gap was determined by means of diffuse reflectance UV/Vis spectroscopy to be 4.3 eV. Eu2+ doped samples show green luminescence (λem = 534 nm, fwhm = 85 nm/2961 cm–1) when irradiated with UV light (λexc = 420 nm). However, Ba2PO3N:Eu2+ shows strong thermal quenching, even at room temperature

Self-stabilizing Balls & Bins in Batches: The Power of Leaky Bins

A fundamental problem in distributed computing is the distribution of requests to a set of uniform servers without a centralized controller. Classically, such problems are modelled as static balls into bins processes, where m balls (tasks) are to be distributed to n bins (servers). In a seminal work, [Azar et al.; JoC'99] proposed the sequential strategy Greedy[d] for n = m. When thrown, a ball queries the load of d random bins and is allocated to a least loaded of these. [Azar et al.; JoC'99] showed that d=2 yields an exponential improvement compared to d=1. [Berenbrink et al.; JoC'06] extended this to m ⇒ n, showing that the maximal load difference is independent of m for d=2 (in contrast to d=1). We propose a new variant of an infinite balls into bins process. In each round an expected number of λ n new balls arrive and are distributed (in parallel) to the bins and each non-empty bin deletes one of its balls. This setting models a set of servers processing incoming requests, where clients can query a server's current load but receive no information about parallel requests. We study the Greedy[d] distribution scheme in this setting and show a strong self-stabilizing property: For any arrival rate λ=λ(n) < 1, the system load is time-invariant. Moreover, for any (even super-exponential) round t, the maximum system load is (w.h.p.) O(1 over 1-λ•logn over 1-λ) for d=1 and O(log n over 1-λ) for d=2. In particular, Greedy[2] has an exponentially smaller system load for high arrival rates

Plurality consensus in arbitrary graphs : lessons learned from load balancing.

We consider plurality consensus in networks of n nodes. Initially, each node has one of k opinions. The nodes execute a (randomized) distributed protocol to agree on the plurality opinion (the opinion initially supported by the most nodes). In certain types of networks the nodes can be quite cheap and simple, and hence one seeks protocols that are not only time efficient but also simple and space efficient. Typically, protocols depend heavily on the employed communication mechanism, which ranges from sequential (only one pair of nodes communicates at any time) to fully parallel (all nodes communicate with all their neighbors at once) and everything in-between. We propose a framework to design protocols for a multitude of communication mechanisms. We introduce protocols that solve the plurality consensus problem and are, with probability 1-o(1), both time and space efficient. Our protocols are based on an interesting relationship between plurality consensus and distributed load balancing. This relationship allows us to design protocols that generalize the state of the art for a large range of problem parameters

Plurality Consensus in Arbitrary Graphs: Lessons Learned from Load Balancing

We consider plurality consensus in networks of n nodes. Initially, each node has one of k opinions. The nodes execute a (randomized) distributed protocol to agree on the plurality opinion (the opinion initially supported by the most nodes). In certain types of networks the nodes can be quite cheap and simple, and hence one seeks protocols that are not only time efficient but also simple and space efficient. Typically, protocols depend heavily on the employed communication mechanism, which ranges from sequential (only one pair of nodes communicates at any time) to fully parallel (all nodes communicate with all their neighbors at once) and everything in-between. We propose a framework to design protocols for a multitude of communication mechanisms. We introduce protocols that solve the plurality consensus problem and are, with probability 1-o(1), both time and space efficient. Our protocols are based on an interesting relationship between plurality consensus and distributed load balancing. This relationship allows us to design protocols that generalize the state of the art for a large range of problem parameters

Filariasis of the Axilla in a Patient Returning from Travel Abroad: A Case Report

Background: The term filariasis comprises a group of parasitic infections caused by helminths belonging to different genera in the superfamily Filaroidea. The human parasites occur mainly in tropical and subtropical regions, but filariae are also found in temperate climates, where they can infect wild and domestic animals. Humans are rarely infected by these zoonotic parasites. Patients and Methods: A 55-year-old patient presented with a new-onset, subcutaneous, non-tender palpable mass in the right axilla. Ultrasonography showed a 1.3-cm, solid, singular encapsulated node. Sonography of the breast on both sides, axilla and lymphatic drainage on the left side, lymphatic drainage on the right side, and mammography on both sides were without pathological findings. The node was excised under local anesthesia as the patient refused minimal invasive biopsy. Results: On histopathological examination, the tail of a parasite of the group of filariae was found. The patient revealed that she had stayed in Africa and Malaysia for professional reasons. 6 months before the time of diagnosis, she had also suffered from a fever and poor general condition after a trip abroad. The patient was referred for further treatment to the Institute for Tropical Medicine at the University of Dusseldorf, where a treatment with ivermectin was conducted on the basis of positive staining with antibodies against filariae. Conclusion: Our case demonstrates the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between breast center, pathology, and other specialties such as microbiology and tropical medicine

Low-Molecular Weight Heparin Increases Circulating sFlt-1 Levels and Enhances Urinary Elimination

Rationale: Preeclampsia is a devastating medical complication of pregnancy which leads to maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. While the etiology of preeclampsia is unclear, human and animal studies suggest that excessive circulating levels of soluble fms-like tyrosine-kinase-1 (sFlt-1), an alternatively spliced variant of VEGF-receptor1, contribute to the signs and symptoms of preeclampsia. Since sFlt-1 binds to heparin and heparan sulfate proteoglycans, we hypothesized that the anticoagulant heparin, which is often used in pregnancy, may interfere with the levels, distribution and elimination of sFlt-1 in vivo. Objective: We systematically determined serum and urine levels of angiogenic factors in preeclamptic women before and after administration of low molecular weight heparin and further characterized the interaction with heparin in biochemical studies. Methods and Results: Serum and urine samples were used to measure sFlt-1 levels before and after heparin administration. Serum levels of sFlt-1 increased by 25% after heparin administration in pregnant women. The magnitude of the increase in circulating sFlt-1 correlated with initial sFlt-1 serum levels. Urinary sFlt-1 levels were also elevated following heparin administration and levels of elimination were dependent on the underlying integrity of the glomerular filtration barrier. Biochemical binding studies employing cation exchange chromatography revealed that heparin bound sFlt-1 had decreased affinity to negatively charged surfaces when compared to sFlt-1 alone. Conclusion: Low molecular weight heparin administration increased circulating sFlt1 levels and enhanced renal elimination. We provide evidence that both effects may be due to heparin binding to sFlt1 and masking the positive charges on sFlt1 protein