Superadiabatic dynamical density functional study of Brownian hard-spheres in time-dependent external potentials

Superadiabatic dynamical density functional theory (superadiabatic-DDFT), a first-principles approach based on the inhomogeneous two-body correlation functions, is employed to investigate the response of interacting Brownian particles to time-dependent external driving. Predictions for the superadiabatic dynamics of the one-body density are made directly from the underlying interparticle interactions, without need for either adjustable fit parameters or simulation input. The external potentials we investigate have been chosen to probe distinct aspects of structural relaxation in dense, strongly interacting liquid states. Nonequilibrium density profiles predicted by the superadiabatic theory are compared with those obtained from both adiabatic DDFT and event-driven Brownian dynamics simulation. Our findings show that superadiabatic-DDFT accurately predicts the time-evolution of the one-body density

Mean-Field Theory of Inhomogeneous Fluids

The Barker-Henderson perturbation theory is a bedrock of liquid-state physics, providing quantitative predictions for the bulk thermodynamic properties of realistic model systems. However, this successful method has not been exploited for the study of inhomogeneous systems. We develop and implement a first-principles 'Barker-Henderson density functional', thus providing a robust and quantitatively accurate theory for classical fluids in external fields. Numerical results are presented for the hard-core Yukawa model in three dimensions. Our predictions for the density around a fixed test particle and between planar walls are in very good agreement with simulation data. The density profiles for the free liquid vapour interface show the expected oscillatory decay into the bulk liquid as the temperature is reduced towards the triple point, but with an amplitude much smaller than that predicted by the standard mean-field density functional

Lorentz forces induce inhomogeneity and flux in active systems

We consider the dynamics of a charged active Brownian particle in three dimensions subjected to an external magnetic field. We show that, in the presence of a field gradient, a macroscopic flux emerges from a flux-free system and the density distribution becomes inhomogeneous. The flux is induced by the gradient of the magnetic field only and does not require additional symmetry breaking such as density or potential gradients. This stands in marked contrast to similar phenomena in condensed matter such as the classical Hall effect. We further demonstrate that passive tracer particles can be used to measure the essential effects caused by the Lorentz force on the active particle bath, and we discuss under which conditions this diffusive Hall-like effect might be observed experimentally

Paternal age and risk of autism in an ethnically diverse non-industrialized setting: Aruba

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine paternal age in relation to risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in a setting other than the industrialized west. Design: A case-control study of Aruban-born children (1990-2003). Cases (N = 95) were identified at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic, the only such clinic in Aruba; gender and age matched controls (N = 347) were gathered from public health records. Parental age was defined categorically (≤29, 30-39, 40-49, ≥50y). The analysis was made, using conditional logistic regression. Results: Advanced paternal age was associated with increased risk of ASDs in offspring. In comparison to the youngest paternal age group (≤29y), risk of autism increased 2.18 times for children born from fathers in their thirties, 2.71 times for fathers in their forties, and 3.22 thereafter. Conclusion: This study, part of the first epidemiologic study of autism in the Caribbean, contributes additional evidence, from a distinctive sociocultural setting, of the risk of ASD associated with increased paternal age. © 2012 van Balkom et al

The impact of teacher's self-efficacy and classroom externalising problem behaviors on emotional exhaustion:Between- and within-person associations

Teaching can be a challenging profession, which puts teachers at high risk for developing burnout symptoms, such as emotional exhaustion. In this study we aim to investigate the interplay between classroom externalising problem behaviours (as a job demand), teachers’ self-efficacy (as a job resource) and emotional exhaustion over a school year. Conducting three measurements during a school year among 103 Dutch primary education teachers, we examine the sensitivity for, and the individual development of, emotional exhaustion. Findings show that emotional exhaustion, classroom externalising problem behaviours, and teachers’ self-efficacy are stable constructs in teachers. Traditional (between-person) cross-lagged panel models indicate that teachers with low levels of self-efficacy are more likely to develop emotional exhaustion during the school year, compared to their colleagues. We found no evidence that teachers confronted with classroom externalising problem behaviours were more likely to develop emotional exhaustion. Random intercept (within-person) cross-lagged panel models indicate that teachers with high levels of classroom externalising problem behaviours do not show increased emotional exhaustion at a later time point. For self-efficacy and emotional exhaustion, we could not estimate the within-person model due to limited variance in the variables. Implications of these findings and suggestions for further research were discussed

Effects of Key2Teach on students' externalising and social-emotional problem behaviours, mediated by the teacher-student relationship

Teaching students with externalising problem behaviours is difficult for teachers, as it challenges the relationship that teachers engage in with their students. In this study, effects of Key2Teach on externalising and social-emotional problem behaviours and the mediating role of conflict in the teacher-student relationship were studied using a randomised controlled trial (RCT)-design. In two cohorts, 103 teacher-student dyads and peer-students (n = 1643) were assessed two times during a school year. Fifty-three dyads received the intervention (experimental group), whereas 50 dyads received no intervention (control group). Data were collected on teacher-reported externalising and social-emotional problem behaviours in students, and on teacher-student conflict. For dyad-students, results showed a direct effect of Key2Teach on conduct problems and an indirect effect, via teacher-student conflict, for hyperactivity problems. No effects on social-emotional problems were established. For peer-students, results showed indirect effects on externalising problems and direct effects on social-emotional problems. Implications for practice and future research are discussed

Evaluation of exclusive enteral nutrition and corticosteroid induction treatment in new-onset moderate-to-severe luminal paediatric Crohn's disease

To induce remission in luminal paediatric Crohn's disease (CD), the ESPGHAN/ECCO guideline recommends treatment with exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) or oral corticosteroids. In newly diagnosed moderate-to-severe paediatric CD patients, we determined the proportion of patients in which EEN or corticosteroids induced remission and maintained remission on azathioprine monotherapy. We included patients from the "TISKids" study assigned to the conventional treatment arm. Patients were aged 3-17 years and had new-onset, untreated luminal CD with weighted paediatric CD activity index (wPCDAI)> 40. Induction treatment consisted of EEN or oral corticosteroids; all received azathioprine maintenance treatment from start of treatment. The primary outcome of this study was endoscopic remission defined as a SES-CD score Conclusion: In children with moderate-to-severe newly diagnosed CD, induction treatment with EEN or CS regularly is insufficient to achieve endoscopic remission without treatment escalation at week 10.Peer reviewe

Side-by-side comparison of uPAR-targeting optical imaging antibodies and antibody fragments for fluorescence-guided surgery of solid tumors

Purpose Radical resection is paramount for curative oncological surgery. Fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) aids in intraoperative identification of tumor-positive resection margins. This study aims to assess the feasibility of urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) targeting antibody fragments for FGS in a direct comparison with their parent IgG in various relevant in vivo models. Procedures Humanized anti-uPAR monoclonal antibody MNPR-101 (uIgG) was proteolytically digested into F(ab')2 and Fab fragments named uFab2 and uFab. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and cell assays were used to determine in vitro binding before and after fluorescent labeling with IRDye800CW. Mice bearing subcutaneous HT-29 human colonic cancer cells were imaged serially for up to 120 h after fluorescent tracer administration. Imaging characteristics and ex vivo organ biodistribution were further compared in orthotopic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (BxPc-3-luc2), head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (OSC-19-luc2-GFP), and peritoneal carcinomatosis (HT29-luc2) models using the clinical Artemis fluorescence imaging system. Results Unconjugated and conjugated uIgG, uFab2, and uFab specifically recognized uPAR in the nanomolar range as determined by SPR and cell assays. Subcutaneous tumors were clearly identifiable with tumor-to-background ratios (TBRs) > 2 after 72 h for uIgG-800F and 24 h for uFab2-800F and uFab-800F. For the latter two, mean fluorescence intensities (MFIs) dipped below predetermined threshold after 72 h and 36 h, respectively. Tumors were easily identified in the orthotopic models with uIgG-800F consistently having the highest MFIs and uFab2-800F and uFab-800F having similar values. In biodistribution studies, kidney and liver fluorescence approached tumor fluorescence after uIgG-800F administration and surpassed tumor fluorescence after uFab2-800F or uFab-800F administration, resulting in interference in the abdominal orthotopic mouse models. Conclusions In a side-by-side comparison, FGS with uPAR-targeting antibody fragments compared with the parent IgG resulted in earlier tumor visualization at the expense of peak fluorescence intensity.Surgical oncolog