Defining the latent phase of labour: is it important?

Background and rationale. The latent phase of labour is recognised as a period of uncertainty for women and midwives. There is evidence from the literature of considerable variation in labour definitions and practice. Stimulated by discussion at an international maternity research conference, the authors set out to explore opinions regarding the need for labour-stage definitions.  Aim. To identify health professionals’ views on the need for a definition of the onset and the end of the latent phase of labour.  Methods. This was an opportunistic, semi-structured, online survey of attendees at a maternity care research conference, which included midwives, other clinicians, academics, advocates and user representatives. Attendees (approximately 100) were invited to participate through a single email invitation sent by the conference committee and containing a link to the survey. Consent was sought on the landing page. Ethical approval was obtained from Bournemouth University’s research ethics committee. Quantitative questions were analysed using simple descriptive statistics using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 24. Open questions were analysed using content analysis and where participants gave a more detailed answer, these were analysed using a thematic approach.  Findings. Participants in the survey (n=21) came from 12 countries. Most of the participants thought that there was a need to define the onset of the latent phase (n=15, 71%). Common characteristics were cited, but the main theme in the open comments referred to the importance of women’s perceptions of labour onset. Most participants (n = 18, 86%) thought that there was a need to define the end of the latent phase. This was felt necessary because current practice within facilities is usually dictated by a definition. The characteristics suggested were also not unexpected and there was some consensus; but the degree of cervical dilatation that signified the end of the latent phase varied among participants. There was significant debate about whether a prolonged latent phase was important; for example, was it associated with adverse consequences. Most participants thought it was important (n=15, 71%), but comments indicated that the reasons for this were complex. Themes included the value that women attached to knowing the duration of labour and the need to support women in the latent phase.  Implications for practice. The findings from this small, opportunistic survey reflect the current debate within the maternal health community regarding the latent phase of labour. There is a need for more clarity around latent phase labour (in terms of both the definition and the support offered) if midwives are to provide care that is both woman centred and evidence-based. The findings will inform the development of a larger survey to explore attitudes towards labour definitions

A comparative study of food habits and body shape perception of university students in Japan and Korea

BACKGROUND: Abnormal body weight, dietary concerns, and unhealthy weight loss behaviors are increasingly being observed in young females in Japan. Our previous research has shown that the irregular lifestyles of female Japanese and Chinese students are significantly related to their desire to be thinner. In the present study, we compare the food habits and body shape preferences of female university students in South Korea and Japan to explore body shape perceptions in those populations. METHODS: A total of 265 female university students aged 19 – 25 years participated in this study. University students in Korea (n = 141) and university students in Japan (n = 124) completed a self-reported questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software. Descriptive statistics were used to identify the demographic characteristics of the students and parametric variables were analyzed using the Student's t-test. Chi-square analyses were conducted for non-parametric variables. RESULTS: Comparison of body mass index (BMI) distributions in Japan and Korea showed the highest value in the normal category (74%) together with a very low obesity rate (1.2%). Significant differences were observed between the two countries in terms of eating patterns, with more Japanese eating breakfast daily and with Japanese students eating meals more regularly than Korean students. A difference was also observed in frequency of meals, where Korean students reported eating meals two times per day (59%) and the majority of Japanese students reported eating meals three times per day (81%). Although most subjects belonged to the normal BMI category, their ideal BMI classification was the underweight category (BMI: 18.4 ± 3.4). CONCLUSION: Few studies have compared the health related practices of Japanese and Korean university students. The present results suggest the necessity of nutrition and health promotion programs for university students, especially programs emphasizing weight management

Spin-Crossover Hysteresis of [FeII(LHiPr)2(NCS)2] (LHiPr = N-2-Pyridylmethylene-4-Isopropylaniline) Accompanied by Isopropyl Conformation Isomerism

[FeII(LHiPr)2(NCS)2] (LHiPr = N-2-pyridylmethylene-4-isopropylaniline) showed an abrupt spin-crossover (SCO) at T1/2↓ = 154 K on cooling and at T1/2↑ = 167 K on heating. The thermal hysteresis with a width of 13 K is related with the structural solid-state phase transition. The space group was unchanged as P21/n with Z = 8, and there are two crystallographically independent molecules in a unit cell at 130 and 180 K. The two iron (II) sites synchronously underwent the SCO. The most drastic structural change across the SCO was found in the conformation isomerization of an isopropyl group. Namely, rotation around the C(sp2)–C(sp3) bond by ca. 120° takes place during the SCO. There is no structural disorder in the high-temperature phase. The thermal hysteresis probably originates in the bulk isomerization requiring considerable activation energy in the crystalline solid

Syntheses, Structures, and Magnetic Properties of Acetato- and Diphenolato-Bridged 3d–4f Binuclear Complexes [M(3-MeOsaltn)(MeOH)_<i>x</i>(ac)­Ln(hfac)₂] (M = Zn^II, Cu^II, Ni^II, Co^II; Ln = La^III, Gd^III, Tb^III, Dy^III; 3‑MeOsaltn = <i>N,N</i>′‑Bis(3-methoxy-2-oxybenzylidene)-1,3-propanediaminato; ac = Acetato; hfac = Hexafluoroacetylacetonato; <i>x</i> = 0 or 1)

A series of 3d–4f binuclear complexes, [M­(3-MeOsaltn)­(MeOH)_<i>x</i>(ac)­Ln­(hfac)₂] (<i>x</i> = 0 for M = Cu^II, Zn^II; <i>x</i> = 1 for M = Co^II, Ni^II; Ln = Gd^III, Tb^III, Dy^III, La^III), have been synthesized and characterized, where 3-MeOsaltn, ac, and hfac denote <i>N,N</i>′-bis­(3-methoxy-2-oxybenzylidene)-1,3-propanediaminato, acetato, and hexafluoroacetylacetonato, respectively. The X-ray analyses demonstrated that all the complexes have an acetato- and diphenolato-bridged M^II–Ln^III binuclear structure. The Cu^II–Ln^III and Zn^II–Ln^III complexes are crystallized in an isomorphous triclinic space group <i>P</i>1̅, where the Cu^II or Zn^II ion has square pyramidal coordination geometry with N₂O₂ donor atoms of 3-MeOsaltn at the equatorial coordination sites and one oxygen atom of the bridging acetato ion at the axial site. The Co^II–Ln^III and Ni^II–Ln^III complexes are crystallized in an isomorphous monoclinic space group <i>P</i>2₁/<i>c</i>, where the Co^II or Ni^II ion at the high-spin state has an octahedral coordination environment with N₂O₂ donor atoms of 3-MeOsaltn at the equatorial sites, and one oxygen atom of the bridged acetato and a methanol oxygen atom at the two axial sites. Each Ln^III ion for all the complexes is coordinated by four oxygen atoms of two phenolato and two methoxy oxygen atoms of “ligand-complex” M­(3-MeOsaltn), four oxygen atoms of two hfac^–, and one oxygen atom of the bridging acetato ion; thus, the coordination number is nine. The temperature dependent magnetic susceptibilities from 1.9 to 300 K and the field-dependent magnetization up to 5 T at 1.9 K were measured. Due to the important orbital contributions of the Ln^III (Tb^III, Dy^III) and to a lesser extent the M^II (Ni^II, Co^II) components, the magnetic interaction between M^II and Ln^III ions were investigated by an empirical approach based on a comparison of the magnetic properties of the M^II–Ln^III, Zn^II–Ln^III, and M^II–La^III complexes. The differences of χ_M<i>T</i> and <i>M</i>(<i>H</i>) values for the M^II–Ln^III, Zn^II–Ln^III and those for the M^II–La^III complexes, that is, Δ­(<i>T</i>) = (χ_M<i>T</i>)_MLn – (χ_M<i>T</i>)_ZnLn – (χ_M<i>T</i>)_MLa = <i>J</i>_MLn(<i>T</i>) and Δ­(<i>H</i>) = <i>M</i>_MLn(<i>H</i>) – <i>M</i>_ZnLn(<i>H</i>) – <i>M</i>_MLa(<i>H</i>) = <i>J</i>_MLn(<i>H</i>), give the information of 3d–4f magnetic interaction. The magnetic interactions are ferromagnetic if M^II = (Cu^II, Ni^II, and Co^II) and Ln = (Gd^III, Tb^III, and Dy^III). The magnitudes of the ferromagnetic interaction, <i>J</i>_MLn(<i>T</i>) and <i>J</i>_MLn(<i>H</i>), are in the order Cu^II–Gd^III > Cu^II–Dy^III > Cu^II–Tb^III, while those are in the order of M^II–Gd^III ≈ M^II–Tb^III > M^II–Dy^III for M^II = Ni^II and Co^II. Alternating current (ac) susceptibility measurements demonstrated that the Ni^II–Tb^III and Co^II–Tb^III complexes showed out-of-phase signal with frequency-dependence and the Ni^II–Dy^III and Co^II–Dy^III complexes showed small frequency-dependence. The energy barrier for the spin flipping was estimated from the Arrhenius plot to be 14.9(6) and 17.0(4) K for the Ni^II–Tb^III and Co^II–Tb^III complexes, respectively, under a dc bias field of 1000 Oe

Syntheses, Structures, and Magnetic Properties of Acetato- and Diphenolato-Bridged 3d–4f Binuclear Complexes [M(3-MeOsaltn)(MeOH)_<i>x</i>(ac)­Ln(hfac)₂] (M = Zn^II, Cu^II, Ni^II, Co^II; Ln = La^III, Gd^III, Tb^III, Dy^III; 3‑MeOsaltn = <i>N,N</i>′‑Bis(3-methoxy-2-oxybenzylidene)-1,3-propanediaminato; ac = Acetato; hfac = Hexafluoroacetylacetonato; <i>x</i> = 0 or 1)

A series of 3d–4f binuclear complexes, [M­(3-MeOsaltn)­(MeOH)_<i>x</i>(ac)­Ln­(hfac)₂] (<i>x</i> = 0 for M = Cu^II, Zn^II; <i>x</i> = 1 for M = Co^II, Ni^II; Ln = Gd^III, Tb^III, Dy^III, La^III), have been synthesized and characterized, where 3-MeOsaltn, ac, and hfac denote <i>N,N</i>′-bis­(3-methoxy-2-oxybenzylidene)-1,3-propanediaminato, acetato, and hexafluoroacetylacetonato, respectively. The X-ray analyses demonstrated that all the complexes have an acetato- and diphenolato-bridged M^II–Ln^III binuclear structure. The Cu^II–Ln^III and Zn^II–Ln^III complexes are crystallized in an isomorphous triclinic space group <i>P</i>1̅, where the Cu^II or Zn^II ion has square pyramidal coordination geometry with N₂O₂ donor atoms of 3-MeOsaltn at the equatorial coordination sites and one oxygen atom of the bridging acetato ion at the axial site. The Co^II–Ln^III and Ni^II–Ln^III complexes are crystallized in an isomorphous monoclinic space group <i>P</i>2₁/<i>c</i>, where the Co^II or Ni^II ion at the high-spin state has an octahedral coordination environment with N₂O₂ donor atoms of 3-MeOsaltn at the equatorial sites, and one oxygen atom of the bridged acetato and a methanol oxygen atom at the two axial sites. Each Ln^III ion for all the complexes is coordinated by four oxygen atoms of two phenolato and two methoxy oxygen atoms of “ligand-complex” M­(3-MeOsaltn), four oxygen atoms of two hfac^–, and one oxygen atom of the bridging acetato ion; thus, the coordination number is nine. The temperature dependent magnetic susceptibilities from 1.9 to 300 K and the field-dependent magnetization up to 5 T at 1.9 K were measured. Due to the important orbital contributions of the Ln^III (Tb^III, Dy^III) and to a lesser extent the M^II (Ni^II, Co^II) components, the magnetic interaction between M^II and Ln^III ions were investigated by an empirical approach based on a comparison of the magnetic properties of the M^II–Ln^III, Zn^II–Ln^III, and M^II–La^III complexes. The differences of χ_M<i>T</i> and <i>M</i>(<i>H</i>) values for the M^II–Ln^III, Zn^II–Ln^III and those for the M^II–La^III complexes, that is, Δ­(<i>T</i>) = (χ_M<i>T</i>)_MLn – (χ_M<i>T</i>)_ZnLn – (χ_M<i>T</i>)_MLa = <i>J</i>_MLn(<i>T</i>) and Δ­(<i>H</i>) = <i>M</i>_MLn(<i>H</i>) – <i>M</i>_ZnLn(<i>H</i>) – <i>M</i>_MLa(<i>H</i>) = <i>J</i>_MLn(<i>H</i>), give the information of 3d–4f magnetic interaction. The magnetic interactions are ferromagnetic if M^II = (Cu^II, Ni^II, and Co^II) and Ln = (Gd^III, Tb^III, and Dy^III). The magnitudes of the ferromagnetic interaction, <i>J</i>_MLn(<i>T</i>) and <i>J</i>_MLn(<i>H</i>), are in the order Cu^II–Gd^III > Cu^II–Dy^III > Cu^II–Tb^III, while those are in the order of M^II–Gd^III ≈ M^II–Tb^III > M^II–Dy^III for M^II = Ni^II and Co^II. Alternating current (ac) susceptibility measurements demonstrated that the Ni^II–Tb^III and Co^II–Tb^III complexes showed out-of-phase signal with frequency-dependence and the Ni^II–Dy^III and Co^II–Dy^III complexes showed small frequency-dependence. The energy barrier for the spin flipping was estimated from the Arrhenius plot to be 14.9(6) and 17.0(4) K for the Ni^II–Tb^III and Co^II–Tb^III complexes, respectively, under a dc bias field of 1000 Oe

Synthesis, Structure, Luminescence, and Magnetic Properties of a Single-Ion Magnet “<i>mer</i>”‑[Tris(<i>N</i>‑[(imidazol-4-yl)-methylidene]-dl-phenylalaninato)terbium(III) and Related “<i>fac</i>”-dl-Alaninato Derivative

Two Tb^III complexes with the same N₆O₃ donor atoms but different coordination geometries, “<i>fac</i>”-[Tb^III(HL^dl‑ala)₃]·7H₂O (<b>1</b>) and “<i>mer</i>”-[Tb^III(HL^dl‑phe)₃]·7H₂O (<b>2</b>), were synthesized, where H₂L^dl‑ala and H₂L^dl‑phe are <i>N</i>-[(imidazol-4-yl)­methylidene]-dl-alanine and -dl-phenylalanine, respectively. Each Tb^III ion is coordinated by three electronically mononegative NNO tridentate ligands to form a coordination geometry of a tricapped trigonal prism. Compound <b>1</b> consists of enantiomers “<i>fac</i>”-[Tb^III(HL^d‑ala)₃] and “<i>fac</i>”-[Tb^III(HL^l‑ala)₃], while <b>2</b> consists of “<i>mer</i>”-[Tb^III(HL^d‑phe)₂(HL^l‑phe)] and “<i>mer</i>”-[Tb^III(HL^d‑phe)­(HL^l‑phe)₂]. Magnetic data were analyzed by a spin Hamiltonian including the crystal field effect on the Tb^III ion (4f⁸, <i>J</i> = 6, <i>S</i> = 3, <i>L</i> = 3, <i>g</i>_<i>J</i> = 3/2, ⁷F₆). The Stark splitting of the ground state ⁷F₆ was evaluated from magnetic analysis, and the energy diagram pattern indicated easy-plane and easy-axis (Ising type) magnetic anisotropies for <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>, respectively. Highly efficient luminescences with Φ = 0.50 and 0.61 for <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>, respectively, were observed, and the luminescence fine structure due to the ⁵D₄ → ⁷F₆ transition is in good accordance with the energy diagram determined from magnetic analysis. The energy diagram of <b>1</b> shows an approximate single-well potential curve, whereas that of <b>2</b> shows a double- or quadruple-well potential within the ⁷F₆ multiplets. Complex <b>2</b> displayed an onset of the out-of-phase signal in alternating current (ac) susceptibility at a direct current bias field of 1000 Oe on cooling down to 1.9 K. A slight frequency dependence was recorded around 2 K. On the other hand, <b>1</b> did not show any meaningful out-of-phase ac susceptibility. Pulsed-field magnetizations of <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> were measured below 1.6 K, and only <b>2</b> exhibited magnetic hysteresis. This finding agrees well with the energy diagram pattern from crystal field calculation on <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>. DFT calculation allowed us to estimate the negative charge distribution around the Tb^III ion, giving a rationale to the different magnetic anisotropies of <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>

Synthesis, Structure, Luminescence, and Magnetic Properties of a Single-Ion Magnet “<i>mer</i>”‑[Tris(<i>N</i>‑[(imidazol-4-yl)-methylidene]-dl-phenylalaninato)terbium(III) and Related “<i>fac</i>”-dl-Alaninato Derivative

Two Tb^III complexes with the same N₆O₃ donor atoms but different coordination geometries, “<i>fac</i>”-[Tb^III(HL^dl‑ala)₃]·7H₂O (<b>1</b>) and “<i>mer</i>”-[Tb^III(HL^dl‑phe)₃]·7H₂O (<b>2</b>), were synthesized, where H₂L^dl‑ala and H₂L^dl‑phe are <i>N</i>-[(imidazol-4-yl)­methylidene]-dl-alanine and -dl-phenylalanine, respectively. Each Tb^III ion is coordinated by three electronically mononegative NNO tridentate ligands to form a coordination geometry of a tricapped trigonal prism. Compound <b>1</b> consists of enantiomers “<i>fac</i>”-[Tb^III(HL^d‑ala)₃] and “<i>fac</i>”-[Tb^III(HL^l‑ala)₃], while <b>2</b> consists of “<i>mer</i>”-[Tb^III(HL^d‑phe)₂(HL^l‑phe)] and “<i>mer</i>”-[Tb^III(HL^d‑phe)­(HL^l‑phe)₂]. Magnetic data were analyzed by a spin Hamiltonian including the crystal field effect on the Tb^III ion (4f⁸, <i>J</i> = 6, <i>S</i> = 3, <i>L</i> = 3, <i>g</i>_<i>J</i> = 3/2, ⁷F₆). The Stark splitting of the ground state ⁷F₆ was evaluated from magnetic analysis, and the energy diagram pattern indicated easy-plane and easy-axis (Ising type) magnetic anisotropies for <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>, respectively. Highly efficient luminescences with Φ = 0.50 and 0.61 for <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>, respectively, were observed, and the luminescence fine structure due to the ⁵D₄ → ⁷F₆ transition is in good accordance with the energy diagram determined from magnetic analysis. The energy diagram of <b>1</b> shows an approximate single-well potential curve, whereas that of <b>2</b> shows a double- or quadruple-well potential within the ⁷F₆ multiplets. Complex <b>2</b> displayed an onset of the out-of-phase signal in alternating current (ac) susceptibility at a direct current bias field of 1000 Oe on cooling down to 1.9 K. A slight frequency dependence was recorded around 2 K. On the other hand, <b>1</b> did not show any meaningful out-of-phase ac susceptibility. Pulsed-field magnetizations of <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> were measured below 1.6 K, and only <b>2</b> exhibited magnetic hysteresis. This finding agrees well with the energy diagram pattern from crystal field calculation on <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>. DFT calculation allowed us to estimate the negative charge distribution around the Tb^III ion, giving a rationale to the different magnetic anisotropies of <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>

Crystal Field Splitting of the Ground State of Terbium(III) and Dysprosium(III) Complexes with a Triimidazolyl Tripod Ligand and an Acetate Determined by Magnetic Analysis and Luminescence

Terbium­(III) and dysprosium­(III) complexes with a tripodal N₇ ligand containing three imidazoles (H₃L) and a bidentate acetate ion (OAc^–), [Ln^III(H₃L)­(OAc)]­(ClO₄)₂·MeOH·H₂O (Ln = Tb, <b>1</b>; Ln = Dy, <b>2</b>), were synthesized and studied, where H₃L = tris­[2-(((imidazol-4-yl)­methylidene)­amino)­ethyl]­amine. The Tb^III and Dy^III complexes have an isomorphous structure, and each Tb^III or Dy^III ion is coordinated by the tripodal N₇ and the bidentate acetate ligands, resulting in a nonacoordinated capped-square-antiprismatic geometry. The magnetic data, including temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibilities and field dependence of the magnetization, were analyzed by a spin Hamiltonian, including the crystal field effect on the Tb^III ion (4f⁸, <i>J</i> = 6, <i>S</i> = 3, <i>L</i> = 3, <i>g</i>_<i>J</i> = 3/2, ⁷F₆) and the Dy^III ion (4f⁹, <i>J</i> = 15/2, <i>S</i> = 5/2, <i>L</i> = 5, <i>g</i>_<i>J</i> = 4/3, ⁶H_15/2). The Stark splittings of the ground states ⁷F₆ of the Tb^III ion and ⁶H_15/2 of the Dy^III ion were evaluated from the magnetic analyses, and the energy diagram patterns indicated an easy axis (Ising type) anisotropy for both complexes, which is more pronounced for <b>2</b>. The solid-state emission spectra of both complexes displayed sharp bands corresponding to the f–f transitions, and the fine structures assignable to the ⁵D₄ → ⁷F₆ transition for <b>1</b> and the ⁶F_9/2 → ⁶H_15/2 transition for <b>2</b> were related to the energy diagram patterns from the magnetic analyses. <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> showed an out-of-phase signal with frequency dependence in alternating current (ac) susceptibility under a dc bias field of 1000 Oe, indicative of a field-induced SIM

Crystal Field Splitting of the Ground State of Terbium(III) and Dysprosium(III) Complexes with a Triimidazolyl Tripod Ligand and an Acetate Determined by Magnetic Analysis and Luminescence

Terbium­(III) and dysprosium­(III) complexes with a tripodal N₇ ligand containing three imidazoles (H₃L) and a bidentate acetate ion (OAc^–), [Ln^III(H₃L)­(OAc)]­(ClO₄)₂·MeOH·H₂O (Ln = Tb, <b>1</b>; Ln = Dy, <b>2</b>), were synthesized and studied, where H₃L = tris­[2-(((imidazol-4-yl)­methylidene)­amino)­ethyl]­amine. The Tb^III and Dy^III complexes have an isomorphous structure, and each Tb^III or Dy^III ion is coordinated by the tripodal N₇ and the bidentate acetate ligands, resulting in a nonacoordinated capped-square-antiprismatic geometry. The magnetic data, including temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibilities and field dependence of the magnetization, were analyzed by a spin Hamiltonian, including the crystal field effect on the Tb^III ion (4f⁸, <i>J</i> = 6, <i>S</i> = 3, <i>L</i> = 3, <i>g</i>_<i>J</i> = 3/2, ⁷F₆) and the Dy^III ion (4f⁹, <i>J</i> = 15/2, <i>S</i> = 5/2, <i>L</i> = 5, <i>g</i>_<i>J</i> = 4/3, ⁶H_15/2). The Stark splittings of the ground states ⁷F₆ of the Tb^III ion and ⁶H_15/2 of the Dy^III ion were evaluated from the magnetic analyses, and the energy diagram patterns indicated an easy axis (Ising type) anisotropy for both complexes, which is more pronounced for <b>2</b>. The solid-state emission spectra of both complexes displayed sharp bands corresponding to the f–f transitions, and the fine structures assignable to the ⁵D₄ → ⁷F₆ transition for <b>1</b> and the ⁶F_9/2 → ⁶H_15/2 transition for <b>2</b> were related to the energy diagram patterns from the magnetic analyses. <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> showed an out-of-phase signal with frequency dependence in alternating current (ac) susceptibility under a dc bias field of 1000 Oe, indicative of a field-induced SIM