bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antimicrobial stewardship in rural nursing homes: Impact of interprofessional education and clinical decision tool implementation on urinary tract infection treatment in a cluster randomized trial
Authors: Pasay Darren K. , Guirguis Micheal S. , Shkrobot Rhonda C. , Slobodan Jeremy P. , Wagg Adrian S. , Sadowski Cheryl A. , Conly John M. , Saxinger Lynora M. , Bresee Lauren C.
Published: February 2019

Objectives:

To measure the impact of an antimicrobial stewardship initiative on the rate of urine culture testing and antimicrobial prescribing for urinary tract infections (UTIs) between control and intervention sites. Secondary objectives included evaluation of potential harms of the intervention and identifying characteristics of the population prescribed antimicrobials for UTI.

Design:

Cluster randomized controlled trial.

Setting:

Nursing homes in rural Alberta, Canada.

Participants:

The study included 42 nursing homes ranging from 8 to 112 beds.

Methods/interventions:

Intervention sites received on-site staff education, physician academic detailing, and integrated clinical decision-making tools. Control sites provided standard care. Data were collected for 6 months prior to and 12 months after the intervention.

Results:

Resident age (83.0 vs 83.8 years) and sex distribution (female, 62.5% vs 64.5%) were similar between the groups. Statistically significant decreases in the rate of urine culture testing (−2.1 tests per 1,000 resident days [RD]; 95% confidence interval [CI], −2.5 to −1.7;P< .001) and antimicrobial prescribing for UTIs (−0.7 prescriptions per 1,000 RD; 95% CI, −1.0 to −0.4;P< .001) were observed in the intervention group. There was no difference in hospital admissions (0.00 admissions per 1,000 RD; 95% CI, −0.4 to 0.3;P= .76), and the mortality rate decreased by 0.2 per 1,000 RD in the intervention group (95% CI, −0.5 to −0.1;P= .002). Chart reviews indicated that UTI symptoms were charted in 16% of cases and that urine culture testing occurred in 64.5% of cases.

Conclusion:

A multimodal antimicrobial stewardship intervention in rural nursing homes significantly decreased the rate of urine culture testing and antimicrobial prescriptions for UTI, with no increase in hospital admissions or mortality.
The mean conformation tensor in viscoelastic turbulence
Authors: Hameduddin Ismail , Zaki Tamer A.
Published: February 2019

This work demonstrates that the popular arithmetic mean conformation tensor frequently used in the analysis of turbulent viscoelastic flows is not a good representative of the ensemble. Alternative means based on recent developments in the literature are proposed, namely, the geometric and log-Euclidean means. These means are mathematically consistent with the Riemannian structure of the manifold of positive-definite tensors, on which the conformation tensor lives, and have useful properties that make them attractive alternatives to the arithmetic mean. Using a turbulent FENE-P channel flow dataset, it is shown that these two alternatives are physically representative of the ensemble. By definition, these means minimize the geodesic distance to realizations and exactly preserve the scalar geometric mean of the volume and of the principal stretches. The proposed geometric and log-Euclidean means have clear physical interpretations and are attractive quantities for turbulence modelling.
High-speed standard magneto-rotational instability
Authors: Deguchi Kengo
Published: February 2019

The large Reynolds number asymptotic approximations of the neutral curve of Taylor–Couette flow subject to an axial uniform magnetic field are analysed. The flow has been extensively studied since the early 1990s as the magneto-rotational instability (MRI) occurring in the flow may explain the origin of the instability observed in some astrophysical objects. Elsewhere, the ideal approximation has been used to study high-speed flows, which sometimes produces paradoxical results. For example, ideal flows must be completely stabilised for a sufficiently strong applied magnetic field. On the other hand, the vanishing magnetic Prandtl number limit of the stability should be purely hydrodynamic, so instability must occur when Rayleigh’s stability condition is violated. Our first discovery is that this apparent contradiction can be resolved by showing the abrupt appearance of the hydrodynamic instability at a certain critical value of the magnetic Prandtl number. This is found using the asymptotically large Reynolds number limit but with a sufficiently long wavelength to retain some diffusive effects. Our second finding concerns the so-called Velikhov–Chandrasekhar paradox, namely the mismatch of the zero external magnetic field limit of the Velikhov–Chandrasekhar stability criterion and Rayleigh’s stability criterion. We show for fully wide-gap cases that the high Reynolds number asymptotic analysis of the MRI naturally yields the simple stability condition that describes smooth transition from Rayleigh to Velikhov–Chandrasekhar stability criteria with increasing Lundquist number.
RECOVERY OF THE TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION IN A MULTILAYER FRACTIONAL DIFFUSION EQUATION
Authors: TRAN KHIEU T. , TRAN LUAN N. , NGUYEN HONG B. Q. , TRA KHANH Q.
Published: February 2019

We study the inverse boundary value problem for fractional diffusion in a multilayer composite medium. Given data in the right boundary of the second layer, the problem is to recover the temperature distribution in the first layer, which is inaccessible for measurement. The problem is ill-posed and we propose a Fourier spectral approach to achieve Hölder approximations. The convergence analysis is performed in both the$L^{2}$- and$L^{\infty }$-settings.
Efficacy and safety of iron supplementation in patients with heart failure and iron deficiency: a meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Shuo , Zhang Fengxiao , Du Meng , Huang Kun , Wang Cheng
Published: February 2019

Fe therapy can be effective in heart failure patients both with and without anaemia. However, the role of Fe therapy in such patients is still uncertain. In this review, the aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Fe therapy in adult patients with heart failure who have reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Multiple databases (PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and Clinical Trials) were searched up to December 2017 and the reference lists of relevant articles obtained from the search were reviewed. Data extracted from randomised control trials (RCT) selected for the review were pooled using a fixed effects model or a random effects model, according to heterogeneity between trials. Nine RCT were included in this meta-analysis which included a total of 789 patients who received Fe therapy and who in turn were compared with 585 controls. There was significant improvement in the 6-min walk test (19·05 m, 95 % CI 10·48, 27·62) and peak VO2/kg (0·93 ml/kg per min, 95 % CI 0·16, 1·69) in the Fe supplementation arm. With Fe therapy, fewer patients were hospitalised for heart failure (OR: 0·42, 95 % CI 0·27, 0·65), but no relationship was found for total re-hospitalisation (OR: 0·70, 95 % CI 0·32, 1·51) or mortality (OR: 0·70, 95 % CI 0·38, 1·28). Fe therapy has the potential to improve exercise tolerance, reduce re-hospitalisations for patients with HFrEF having Fe deficiency. In addition, Fe supplementation was found to be safe, with no increased rate of adverse events.
NONNEGATIVE MULTIPLICATIVE FUNCTIONS ON SIFTED SETS, AND THE SQUARE ROOTS OF −1 MODULO SHIFTED PRIMES
Authors: POLLACK PAUL
Published: February 2019

An oft-cited result of Peter Shiu bounds the mean value of a nonnegative multiplicative function over a coprime arithmetic progression. We prove a variant where the arithmetic progression is replaced by a sifted set. As an application, we show that the normalized square roots of −1 (modm) are equidistributed (mod 1) asmruns through the shifted primesq− 1.
3D modelling of thallus topography of Lobaria pulmonaria facilitates understanding of water storage pools
Authors: PHINNEY Nathan H.
Published: February 2019

Lobaria pulmonaria is a widespread epiphytic foliose lichen that exhibits a prominent reticulum, a structure that has a presumed role in mechanical support and water capture. Using photogrammetry, thallus topography was digitally modelled in three dimensions to calculate 3D surface area (A3D), which was consistently greater than areas extracted from projected images (A2D). The A3D:A2D ratio, a proxy for topographic three-dimensionality, was strongly correlated with both specific thallus mass (STM) and external water-holding capacity (WHCexternal), suggesting that the reticulum in L. pulmonaria extends hydration, photosynthetic activity and growth, following rainfall. Three-dimensionality was more pronounced in larger thalli, which is likely beneficial to liquid water-dependent internal cephalodia that occur more in older thalli and most often within the fovea.
If analytic philosophy of religion is sick, can it be cured?
Authors: MIZRAHI MOTI
Published: February 2019

In this article, I argue that, if ‘the overrepresentation of Christian theists in analytic philosophy of religion is unhealthy for the field, since they would be too much influenced by prior beliefs when evaluating religious arguments’ (De Cruz & De Smedt (2016), 119), then a first step towards a potential remedy is this: analytic philosophers of religion need to restructure their analytical tasks. For one way to mitigate the effects of confirmation bias, which may be influencing how analytic philosophers of religion evaluate arguments in Analytical Philosophy of Religion (APR), is to consider other points of view. Applied to APR, this means considering religious beliefs, questions, and arguments couched in non-Christian terms. In this article, I focus on Islam in particular. My aim is to show that Islam is a fertile ground of philosophical questions and arguments for analytic philosophers of religion to engage with. Engaging with questions and arguments couched in non-Christian terms would help make work in APR more diverse and inclusive of religions other than Christianity, which in turn would also be a first step towards attracting non-Christians to APR.
Iatrogenic diaphragmatic hernia in an infant following cardiac surgery: the culprit in a case of unresolved respiratory distress: Case report and review of the literature
Authors: Heinrichs Erica N. , Miller Michelle S.
Published: February 2019

Acquired diaphragmatic hernia is a rare complication of pediatric intervention or surgery. In this study, we report an infant with iatrogenic diaphragmatic hernia following neonatal complex congenital cardiac surgery, and then we review the associated literature.
Assessing general public and policy influencer support for healthy public policies to promote healthy eating at the population level in two Canadian provinces
Authors: Kongats Krystyna , McGetrick Jennifer Ann , Raine Kim D , Voyer Corinne , Nykiforuk Candace IJ
Published: February 2019

Objective

To assess and compare the favourability of healthy public policy options to promote healthy eating from the perspective of members of the general public and policy influencers in two Canadian provinces.

Design

The Chronic Disease Prevention Survey, administered in 2016, required participants to rank their level of support for different evidence-based policy options to promote healthy eating at the population level. Pearson’sχ2significance testing was used to compare support between groups for each policy option and results were interpreted using the Nuffield Council on Bioethics’ intervention ladder framework.

Setting

Alberta and Québec, Canada.

Participants

Members of the general public (n2400) and policy influencers (n302) in Alberta and Québec.

Results

General public and policy influencer survey respondents were more supportive of healthy eating policies if they were less intrusive on individual autonomy. However, in comparing levels of support between groups, we found policy influencers indicated significantly stronger support overall for healthy eating policy options. We also found that policy influencers in Québec tended to show more support for more restrictive policy options than their counterparts from Alberta.

Conclusions

These results suggest that additional knowledge brokering may be required to increase support for more intrusive yet impactful evidence-based policy interventions; and that the overall lower levels of support among members of the public may impede policy influencers from taking action on policies to promote healthy eating.
The Twin Relationship Questionnaire
Authors: Segal Hila , Knafo-Noam Ariel
Published: February 2019

Abstract. Twins’ relationships evoke critical dilemmas for parents and teachers regarding raising and educating their twins. The current study provides comprehensive psychometric information about the Twin Relationship Questionnaire (TRQ; Fortuna, Goldner, & Knafo, 2010 ) as examined in nine samples, using mothers’ and fathers’ reports on 1,560 pairs of twins, tested in five measurement points from age 3 to age 9. On half of the subsamples, we conducted principal component analyses (PCA), whereas on the other subsamples, we conducted confirmatory factor analyses (CFA). Five factors were found in the PCA and confirmed by the CFA: conflict, closeness, dependence, dominance, and rivalry. All scales showed adequate internal consistencies and corrected item-total correlations. Correlation matrixes between scales demonstrate a triad of conflict, rivalry, and dominance scales, as opposed to the dyad of closeness and dependence. As evidence for the TRQ’s reliability and validity, we report the degree of agreement between mothers and fathers, the 10-month stability of mothers’ reports, and the associations of the TRQ subscales with experimentally assessed prosocial behaviors between the twins at age 6.5, and with the twins’ reports on their closeness at age 11. The replication of the findings across ages and raters reinforces the reliability and validity of the questionnaire.
Esh3D, an Analytical and Numerical Hybrid Code for Full Space and Half‐Space Eshelby's Inclusion Problems
Authors: Meng C.
Published: February 2019

I present an open source code Esh3D that evaluates the quasi‐static elastic displacement and stress fields perturbed by ellipsoidal inclusions, known as the Eshelby solution. The improvement over my previous work includes obtaining solutions in half‐space by numerically canceling the traction to stage a free surface. The discrete numerical domain allows nonplanar surface. I first briefly introduce the ellipsoidal inclusion problem and solution evaluation. Then, I describe the traction cancellation method in forming the half‐space solutions. Next, I emulate a planar fault with a low aspect ratio ellipsoid and compare the half‐space solution against the well‐known Okada solution for flat and topographic surfaces. Finally, I provide comparisons between the full space and half‐space solutions to illustrate the free surface effects on the displacement and stress fields.
Complex and Diverse Rupture Processes of the 2018 Mw 8.2 and Mw 7.9 Tonga‐Fiji Deep Earthquakes
Authors: Fan Wenyuan , Wei S. Shawn , Tian Dongdong , McGuire Jeffrey J. , Wiens Douglas A.
Published: February 2019

Deep earthquakes exhibit strong variabilities in their rupture and aftershock characteristics, yet their physical failure mechanisms remain elusive. The 2018 Mw 8.2 and Mw 7.9 Tonga‐Fiji deep earthquakes, the two largest ever recorded in this subduction zone, occurred within days of each other. We investigate these events by performing waveform analysis, teleseismic P wave backprojection, and aftershock relocation. Our results show that the Mw 8.2 earthquake ruptured fast (4.1 km/s) and excited frequency‐dependent seismic radiation, whereas the Mw 7.9 earthquake ruptured slowly (2.5 km/s). Both events lasted ∼35 s. The Mw 8.2 earthquake initiated in the highly seismogenic, cold core of the slab and likely ruptured into the surrounding warmer materials, whereas the Mw 7.9 earthquake likely ruptured through a dissipative process in a previously aseismic region. The contrasts in earthquake kinematics and aftershock productivity argue for a combination of at least two primary mechanisms enabling rupture in the region.
Imaging Torfajökull's Magmatic Plumbing System With Seismic Interferometry and Phase Velocity Surface Wave Tomography
Authors: Martins J. E. , Ruigrok E. , Draganov D. , Hooper A. , Hanssen R. F. , White R. S. , Soosalu H.
Published: February 2019

Torfajökull volcano, Iceland, has not erupted since 1477. However, intense geothermal activity, deformation, and seismicity suggest a long‐lasting magmatic system. In this paper, we use ambient noise tomography to image the magmatic system beneath Torfajökull volcano. One hundred days of ambient noise data from 23 broadband seismometers show the consistent presence of double‐frequency microseism noise with significant power between ∼0.1 and 0.5 Hz. Beamforming results indicate microseism noise with persistent higher energy propagating from west and SE directions and apparent velocities below 3 km/s. We use ambient noise seismic interferometry to retrieve Rayleigh waves, and we introduce a method to estimate the reliability of the retrieved surface waves. We find stable estimation of surface wave phase velocities between 0.16 and 0.38 Hz. Azimuthal velocity variations show a trend of higher velocities in the NE/SW direction, the strike of the rift zone intersecting Torfajökull, and orientation of erupted lavas on a NE‐SW fissure swarm. Tomographic results indicate low‐velocity anomalies beneath the volcano caldera (between −5% and −10%) and even lower velocity variations in the southeast and southwest study area (below −10%), outside the volcano caldera. Low anomalies may indicate the existence of hot material, more prominent outside the caldera outskirts. High‐velocity variations (between 5% and 10%) outline the volcano caldera between 4‐ and 5‐km depth and more pronounced velocities (between 10% and 15%) up to 5‐km depth in the north of the volcano caldera. We interpret the former as possible caldera collapse structure and the latest as solidified intrusive magma from the old preferred magma paths.
Testing the Influence of Static and Dynamic Stress Perturbations On the Occurrence of a Shallow, Slow Slip Event in Eastern Taiwan
Authors: Canitano Alexandre , Gonzalez‐Huizar Hector , Hsu Ya‐Ju , Lee Hsin‐Ming , Linde Alan T. , Sacks Selwyn
Published: February 2019

We report the first evidence for the detection of a slow slip event in the Longitudinal Valley, in eastern Taiwan. The slow event, which lasted about 3.5 days, has been detected by borehole strainmeters. It occurred at shallow depths (about 2 to 4 km), either on the Longitudinal Valley Fault or on the Central Range Fault. Here we investigate whether the event occurrence was influenced by transient and periodic stress perturbations, in particular by the June 2013 Mw 6.2 Nantou earthquake, which occurred about 60 km away and 6 days prior to the event. Modeled changes in Coulomb stress in the direction parallel to the geologic slip vector on the fault planes show negative static stress changes (approximately −1.5 to −1 kPa), while maximum dynamic stress changes generated by the surface waves are ranging from 5.5 to 14.5 kPa. We also observe that the slow event initiated during a maximum of Earth and ocean tidal Coulomb stress changes (about 0.8 to 1.5 kPa). Dynamic and static stress perturbations represent a few percents to tens of percents of the stress buildup through the slow rupture cycle. However, the absence of recurrent events during the 12 years of strain monitoring (2006 to 2018) prevents to estimate the recurrence interval of the slow event, which limits our ability to further interpret the link between the rupture and the perturbations. Finally, there is no large and unique load transient at the time of the initiation, therefore this single event may have likely occurred spontaneously.
High‐Q Spectral Peaks and Nonstationarity in the Deep Ocean Infragravity Wave Band: Tidal Harmonics and Solar Normal Modes
Authors: Chave Alan D. , Luther Douglas S. , Thomson David J.
Published: February 2019

Infragravity waves have received the least study of any class of waves in the deep ocean. This paper analyzes a 389‐day‐long deep ocean pressure record from the Hawaii Ocean Mixing Experiment for the presence of narrowband (≲2 μHz) components and nonstationarity over 400–4,000 μHz using a combination of fitting a mixture noncentral/central χ2 model to spectral estimates, high‐resolution multitaper spectral estimation, and computation of the offset coherence between distinct frequencies for a given data segment. In the frequency band 400–1,000 μHz there is a noncentral fraction of 0.67 ± 0.07 that decreases with increasing frequency. Evidence is presented for the presence of tidal harmonics in the data over the 400‐ to 1,400‐μHz bands. Above ~2,000 μHz the noncentral fraction rises with frequency, comprising about one third of the spectral estimates over 3,000–4,000 μHz. The power spectrum exhibits frequent narrowband peaks at 6–11 standard deviations above the noise level. The widths of the peaks correspond to a Q of at least 1,000, vastly exceeding that of any oceanic or atmospheric process. The offset coherence shows that the spectral peaks have substantial (p = 0.99–0.9999) interfrequency correlation, both locally and between distinct peaks within a given analysis band. Many of the peak frequencies correspond to the known values for solar pressure modes that have previously been observed in solar wind and terrestrial data, while others are the result of nonstationarity that distributes power across frequency. Overall, this paper documents the existence of two previously unrecognized sources of infragravity wave variability in the deep ocean.
Effect of a Mesoscale Eddy on Surface Turbulence at the Kuroshio Front in the East China Sea
Authors: Yang Guang‐Bing , Zheng Quanan , Yuan Yeli , Zhuang Zhanpeng , Hui Zhenli , Guo Yan‐Liang , Yu Long , Sun Jia , Ju Xia , Ma De‐Jing , Hu Xiaomin
Published: February 2019

Field observations were conducted along three west‐east transects in the East China Sea Kuroshio Front in July 2017. The microstructure observations results show that the surface turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) dissipation rates in the northern and southern transects are about 2 orders larger than those in the middle transect. The sea surface temperature, mixed layer depth, and the submesoscale motions (with horizontal scales smaller than 30 km) also suggest the surface turbulences are more active in the northern and southern transects. The current velocity data and sea level anomaly show that the middle transect was located at the northern edge of a cyclonic eddy. The eddy‐generated cross‐front geostrophic current was observed to flow toward the opposite direction of the cross‐front Ekman transport and believed to counteract the Ekman buoyancy flux (EBF)‐induced turbulence enhancement. The TKE dissipation rates can be well scaled by a scaling considering the EBF and the wind in the northern and southern transects but wind scaling only in the middle transect, suggesting the EBF does not contribute to the surface turbulence in the middle transect. An improved empirical scaling considering the cross‐front geostrophic current is defined and can scale the TKE dissipation rates better, indicating an eddy plays a key role in surface turbulent mixing in the East China Sea Kuroshio front.
Unabated Bottom Water Warming and Freshening in the South Pacific Ocean
Authors: Purkey Sarah G. , Johnson Gregory C. , Talley Lynne D. , Sloyan Bernadette M. , Wijffels Susan E. , Smethie William , Mecking Sabine , Katsumata Katsuro
Published: February 2019

Abyssal ocean warming contributed substantially to anthropogenic ocean heat uptake and global sea level rise between 1990 and 2010. In the 2010s, several hydrographic sections crossing the South Pacific Ocean were occupied for a third or fourth time since the 1990s, allowing for an assessment of the decadal variability in the local abyssal ocean properties among the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. These observations from three decades reveal steady to accelerated bottom water warming since the 1990s. Strong abyssal (z > 4,000 m) warming of 3.5 (±1.4) m°C/year (m°C = 10−3 °C) is observed in the Ross Sea, directly downstream from bottom water formation sites, with warming rates of 2.5 (±0.4) m°C/year to the east in the Amundsen‐Bellingshausen Basin and 1.3 (±0.2) m°C/year to the north in the Southwest Pacific Basin, all associated with a bottom‐intensified descent of the deepest isotherms. Warming is consistently found across all sections and their occupations within each basin, demonstrating that the abyssal warming is monotonic, basin‐wide, and multidecadal. In addition, bottom water freshening was strongest in the Ross Sea, with smaller amplitude in the Amundsen‐Bellingshausen Basin in the 2000s, but is discernible in portions of the Southwest Pacific Basin by the 2010s. These results indicate that bottom water freshening, stemming from strong freshening of Ross Shelf Waters, is being advected along deep isopycnals and mixed into deep basins, albeit on longer timescales than the dynamically driven, wave‐propagated warming signal. We quantify the contribution of the warming to local sea level and heat budgets.
The Effects of Tree Species on Soil Organic Carbon Content in South Korea
Authors: Cha Ji‐Yeon , Cha YoonKyung , Oh Neung‐Hwan
Published: February 2019

The effects of tree species on soil organic carbon (SOC) content have been evaluated in many studies, but only with a relatively small number of sample plots, resulting in ambiguous conclusions. Here we used a total of 595 forest plots in South Korea to investigate the role of four grouped tree species—pines, oaks, other conifers, and other deciduous trees—in the forest SOC content in both forest floors and mineral soils. Significant differences were observed in SOC content among the groups. Pines contained 7.12 Mg C/ha of organic carbon in forest floors, whereas oaks and other deciduous trees contained 5.39 and 5.41 Mg C/ha, respectively. In contrast, oaks and other deciduous trees contained ~66 Mg C/ha of organic carbon each in mineral soils (0‐ to 30‐cm depth), whereas pines contained 49.50 Mg C/ha. The total SOC content including both forest floors and mineral soils was the largest under oaks and the smallest under other coniferous trees, due to SOC being approximately an order of magnitude higher in mineral soils than in forest floors. The effects of tree species on SOC storage became apparent for the forest stands with >20‐year‐old trees, which suggests that the observed differences in the SOC content are likely due to the current stands rather than remnants of previous stands. The decomposition rates of organic materials could be a controlling factor affecting SOC storage, rather than inputs of photosynthesized products to soils.
PreMevE: New Predictive Model for Megaelectron‐Volt Electrons Inside Earth's Outer Radiation Belt
Authors: Chen Yue , Reeves Geoffrey D. , Fu Xiangrong , Henderson Michael
Published: February 2019

This work designs a new model called PreMevE to predict storm time distributions of relativistic electrons within Earth's outer radiation belt. This model takes advantage of the cross‐energy, cross‐L‐shell, and cross‐pitch angle coherence associated with wave‐electron resonant interactions, ingests observations from belt boundaries—mainly by a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Polar Operational Environmental Satellite in low‐Earth orbit, and provides high‐fidelity nowcast (multiple‐hour prediction) and forecast (>~1 day) of MeV electron fluxes over L‐shells between 2.8 and 7 through linear prediction filters. PreMevE can not only reliably anticipate incoming enhancements of MeV electrons during storms with at least 1‐day forewarning time but also accurately specify the evolving event‐specific electron spatial distributions afterward. The performance of PreMevE is assessed against long‐term in situ data from one Van Allen Probe and a Los Alamos National Laboratory geosynchronous satellite. This new model enhances our preparedness for severe MeV electron events in the future and further adds new science utility to existing and next‐generation low‐Earth orbit space infrastructure.
Pesticide exposure among Bolivian farmers: associations between worker protection and exposure biomarkers
Authors: Barrón Cuenca Jessika , Tirado Noemi , Vikström Max , Lindh Christian H. , Stenius Ulla , Leander Karin , Berglund Marika , Dreij Kristian
Published: February 2019

The use of pesticides has increased during the past decades, also increasing the risk of exposure to toxic pesticides that can cause detrimental health effects in the future. This is of special concern among farmers in low-to-middle-income countries that may lack proper training in the safe use of these chemicals. To assess the situation in Bolivia a cross-sectional study in three agricultural communities was performed (n = 297). Handling, use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and pesticide exposure were assessed by a questionnaire and measurements of urinary pesticide metabolites (UPMs). Results showed that methamidophos (65%) and paraquat (52%) were the most commonly used pesticides and that 75% of the farmers combined several pesticides while spraying. Notably, only 17% of the farmers used recommended PPEs while 84% reported to have experienced symptoms of acute pesticide poisoning after spraying. UPM measurements indicated high levels of exposure to chlorpyrifos, pyrethroids and 2,4D and that men generally were more highly exposed compared to women. Our study demonstrates that farmers who are better at following recommendations for pesticide handling and use of PPE had a significantly lower risk of having high UPM levels of most measured pesticides. Our results thus confirm the need of proper training of farmers in low-to-middle-income countries in proper protection and pesticide handling in order to reduce exposure levels and health problems.
The role of dietary sugars in health: molecular composition or just calories?
Authors: Prinz Philip
Published: February 2019

This review will focus on the question of whether dietary sugars are a relevant determinant in the global rise of overweight and obesity in adults, adolescents, and children. Initially, the review describes the current definitions for sugars in the diet and makes reference to them while analyzing their role in overweight and obesity as well as diet-related diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cancer. Second, it will focus particularly on sucrose and the question of whether it is the molecular composition of sucrose (glucose and fructose) or its energy content that promotes body weight gain and diet-related diseases. Finally, the review will clarify the molecular characteristics of sucrose regarding the release of the gastrointestinal glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) compared to other energy-providing nutrients and its relevance in metabolic diseases. Current data indicates that dietary sugars are only associated with an increase in obesity when consumed as an excess source of calories and with that an increase in the risk of diet-related diseases. Furthermore, it was shown that a diet rich in fat will stimulate GIP secretion more than a diet rich in sucrose. Taken together, current scientific evidence does not support the conclusion that dietary sugars per se are detrimental to human health.
Cytosolic lipid droplets as engineered organelles for production and accumulation of terpenoid biomaterials in leaves
Authors: Sadre Radin , Kuo Peiyen , Chen Jiaxing , Yang Yang , Banerjee Aparajita , Benning Christoph , Hamberger Bjoern
Published: February 2019

Cytosolic lipid droplets are endoplasmic reticulum-derived organelles typically found in seeds as reservoirs for physiological energy and carbon to fuel germination. Here, we report synthetic biology approaches to co-produce high-value sesqui- or diterpenoids together with lipid droplets in plant leaves. The formation of cytosolic lipid droplets is enhanced in the transient Nicotiana benthamiana system through ectopic production of WRINKLED1, a key regulator of plastid fatty acid biosynthesis, and a microalgal lipid droplet surface protein. Engineering of the pathways providing the universal C5-building blocks for terpenoids and installation of terpenoid biosynthetic pathways through direction of the enzymes to native and non-native compartments boost the production of target terpenoids. We show that anchoring of distinct biosynthetic steps onto the surface of lipid droplets leads to efficient production of terpenoid scaffolds and functionalized terpenoids. The co-produced lipid droplets “trap” the terpenoids in the cells.
The importance of cognitive diversity for sustaining the commons
Authors: Baggio Jacopo A. , Freeman Jacob , Coyle Thomas R. , Nguyen Tam The , Hancock Dale , Elpers Karrie E. , Nabity Samantha , Dengah II H. J. Francois , Pillow David
Published: February 2019

Cognitive abilities underpin the capacity of individuals to build models of their environment and make decisions about how to govern resources. Here, we test the functional intelligences proposition that functionally diverse cognitive abilities within a group are critical to govern common pool resources. We assess the effect of two cognitive abilities, social and general intelligence, on group performance on a resource harvesting and management game involving either a negative or a positive disturbance to the resource base. Our results indicate that under improving conditions (positive disturbance) groups with higher general intelligence perform better. However, when conditions deteriorate (negative disturbance) groups with high competency in both general and social intelligence are less likely to deplete resources and harvest more. Thus, we propose that a functional diversity of cognitive abilities improves how effectively social groups govern common pool resources, especially when conditions deteriorate and groups need to re-evaluate and change their behaviors.
Low temperature self-densification of high strength bulk hexagonal boron nitride
Authors: Yang Haotian , Fang Hailiang , Yu Hui , Chen Yongjun , Wang Lianjun , Jiang Wan , Wu Yiquan , Li Jianlin
Published: February 2019

Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) ceramics are expected to have wide applications at high temperatures as both a structural and functional material. However, because of its flake structure and general inertness, it is currently impossible to sinter hBN powder to a dense bulk (with a relative density of above 96%) even at 2000 °C. Here, we report dense bulk hBN with 97.6% theoretical density achieved at a lower preparation temperature (1700 °C) via a self-densifying mechanism without sintering additives. During the sintering process, cubic boron nitride particles incorporated into the hBN flake powders transform into BN onions with a significant volume increase, thus filling in voids among the hBN flakes and highly densifying the hBN bulks. The resulting dense hBN ceramics possess 2–3 times the strength of traditional hBN ceramics. This phase-transition-induced volume expansion strategy could lead to dense sintered compacts with high performance in other ceramic systems.
On-surface light-induced generation of higher acenes and elucidation of their open-shell character
Authors: Urgel José I. , Mishra Shantanu , Hayashi Hironobu , Wilhelm Jan , Pignedoli Carlo A. , Di Giovannantonio Marco , Widmer Roland , Yamashita Masataka , Hieda Nao , Ruffieux Pascal , Yamada Hiroko , Fasel Roman
Published: February 2019

Acenes are an important class of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which have recently gained exceptional attention due to their potential as functional organic semiconductors. Fundamentally, they are important systems to study the convergence of physico-chemical properties of all-carbon sp2-frameworks in the one-dimensional limit; and by virtue of having a zigzag edge topology they also provide a fertile playground to explore magnetism in graphenic nanostructures. The study of larger acenes is thus imperative from both a fundamental and applied perspective, but their synthesis via traditional solution-chemistry route is hindered by their poor solubility and high reactivity. Here, we demonstrate the on-surface formation of heptacene and nonacene, via visible-light-induced photo-dissociation of α-bisdiketone precursors on an Au(111) substrate under ultra-high vacuum conditions. Through combined scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy and non-contact atomic force microscopy investigations, together with state-of-the-art first principles calculations, we provide insight into the chemical and electronic structure of these elusive compounds.
The indirect health effects of malaria estimated from health advantages of the sickle cell trait
Authors: Uyoga Sophie , Macharia Alex W. , Ndila Carolyne M. , Nyutu Gideon , Shebe Mohammed , Awuondo Kennedy O. , Mturi Neema , Peshu Norbert , Tsofa Benjamin , Scott J. Anthony G. , Maitland Kathryn , Williams Thomas N.
Published: February 2019

Most estimates of the burden of malaria are based on its direct impacts; however, its true burden is likely to be greater because of its wider effects on overall health. Here we estimate the indirect impact of malaria on children’s health in a case-control study, using the sickle cell trait (HbAS), a condition associated with a high degree of specific malaria resistance, as a proxy indicator for an effective intervention. We estimate the odds ratios for HbAS among cases (all children admitted to Kilifi County Hospital during 2000–2004) versus community controls. As expected, HbAS protects strongly against malaria admissions (aOR 0.26; 95%CI 0.22–0.31), but it also protects against other syndromes, including neonatal conditions (aOR 0.79; 0.67–0.93), bacteraemia (aOR 0.69; 0.54–0.88) and severe malnutrition (aOR 0.67; 0.55–0.83). The wider health impacts of malaria should be considered when estimating the potential added benefits of effective malaria interventions.
Measuring luteinising hormone pulsatility with a robotic aptamer-enabled electrochemical reader
Authors: Liang Shaolin , Kinghorn Andrew B. , Voliotis Margaritis , Prague Julia K. , Veldhuis Johannes D. , Tsaneva-Atanasova Krasimira , McArdle Craig A. , Li Raymond H. W. , Cass Anthony E. G. , Dhillo Waljit S. , Tanner Julian A.
Published: February 2019

Normal reproductive functioning is critically dependent on pulsatile secretion of luteinising hormone (LH). Assessment of LH pulsatility is important for the clinical diagnosis of reproductive disorders, but current methods are hampered by frequent blood sampling coupled to expensive serial immunochemical analysis. Here, we report the development and application of a Robotic APTamer-enabled Electrochemical Reader (RAPTER) electrochemical analysis system to determine LH pulsatility. Through selective evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX), we identify DNA aptamers that bind specifically to LH and not to related hormones. The aptamers are integrated into electrochemical aptamer-based (E-AB) sensors on a robotic platform. E-AB enables rapid, sensitive and repeatable determination of LH concentration profiles. Bayesian Spectrum Analysis is applied to determine LH pulsatility in three distinct patient cohorts. This technology has the potential to transform the clinical care of patients with reproductive disorders and could be developed to allow real-time in vivo hormone monitoring.
Intradermal delivery of modified mRNA encoding VEGF-A in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Gan Li-Ming , Lagerström-Fermér Maria , Carlsson Leif G. , Arfvidsson Cecilia , Egnell Ann-Charlotte , Rudvik Anna , Kjaer Magnus , Collén Anna , Thompson James D. , Joyal John , Chialda Ligia , Koernicke Thomas , Fuhr Rainard , Chien Kenneth R. , Fritsche-Danielson Regina
Published: February 2019

Chemically modified mRNA is an efficient, biocompatible modality for therapeutic protein expression. We report a first-time-in-human study of this modality, aiming to evaluate safety and potential therapeutic effects. Men with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) received intradermal injections of modified mRNA encoding vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) or buffered saline placebo (ethical obligations precluded use of a non-translatable mRNA control) at randomized sites on the forearm. The only causally treatment-related adverse events were mild injection-site reactions. Skin microdialysis revealed elevated VEGF-A protein levels at mRNA-treated sites versus placebo-treated sites from about 4–24 hours post-administration. Enhancements in basal skin blood flow at 4 hours and 7 days post-administration were detected using laser Doppler fluximetry and imaging. Intradermal VEGF-A mRNA was well tolerated and led to local functional VEGF-A protein expression and transient skin blood flow enhancement in men with T2DM. VEGF-A mRNA may have therapeutic potential for regenerative angiogenesis.
Spontaneous Selective Preconcentration Leveraged by Ion Exchange and Imbibition through Nanoporous Medium
Authors: Lee Dokeun , Lee Jung A. , Lee Hyomin , Kim Sung Jae
Published: February 2019

Manipulating mechanism of particle’s motion has been extensively studied for the sample preparation in microfluidic applications including diagnostics, food industries, biological analyses and environmental monitoring. However, most of conventional methods need additional external forces such as electric field or pressure and complicated channel designs, which demand highly complex fabrication processes and operation strategies. In addition, these methods have inherent limitations of dilution or mixing during separation or preconcentration step, respectively, so that a number of studies have reported an efficient selective preconcentration process, i.e. conducting the separation and preconcentration simultaneously. In this work, a power-free spontaneous selective preconcentration method was suggested based on leveraging convective flow over diffusiophoresis near the water-absorbing nanoporous ion exchange medium, which was verified both by simulation and experiment. Especially, the velocity of the convective flow by an imbibition deviated from the original tendency of t−1/2 due to non-uniformly patterned nanoporous medium that has multiple cross-sectional areas. As a result, the direction of particle’s motion was controlled at one’s discretion, which led to the spontaneous selective preconcentration of particles having different diffusiophoretic constant. Also, design rule for maximizing the efficiency was recommended. Thus, this selective preconcentration method would play as a key mechanism for power-free lab on a chip applications.
Internal embryonic development in a non-copulatory, egg-laying teleost, the three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus
Authors: Dean Laura L. , Robertson Shaun , Mahmud Muayad , MacColl Andrew D. C.
Published: February 2019

The switch from egg-laying to retaining and giving birth to live young is a major transition in the history of life. Despite its repeated evolution across the fishes, records of intermediate phenotypes are vanishingly rare, with only two known cases in existence of normally egg-laying fish species retaining embryos within the ovaries. We report the discovery of a third occurrence, in which well-developed embryos were found in the ovaries of a three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), a non-copulatory, normally oviparous species. Extracted from the parent fish, these embryos hatched and grew to adulthood. Genetic and physiological examination of the parent fish and offspring ruled out development by parthenogenesis and hermaphroditism, therefore implicating internal fertilisation by a male stickleback. This extremely rare phenomenon may have been facilitated in this population by an unusual tendency for females to become egg-bound, and suggests that some major transitions may arise almost spontaneously.
Lower ototoxicity and absence of hidden hearing loss point to gentamicin C1a and apramycin as promising antibiotics for clinical use
Authors: Ishikawa Masaaki , García-Mateo Nadia , Čusak Alen , López-Hernández Iris , Fernández-Martínez Marta , Müller Marcus , Rüttiger Lukas , Singer Wibke , Löwenheim Hubert , Kosec Gregor , Fujs Štefan , Martínez-Martínez Luis , Schimmang Thomas , Petković Hrvoje , Knipper Marlies , Durán-Alonso M. Beatriz
Published: February 2019

Spread of antimicrobial resistance and shortage of novel antibiotics have led to an urgent need for new antibacterials. Although aminoglycoside antibiotics (AGs) are very potent anti-infectives, their use is largely restricted due to serious side-effects, mainly nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity. We evaluated the ototoxicity of various AGs selected from a larger set of AGs on the basis of their strong antibacterial activities against multidrug-resistant clinical isolates of the ESKAPE panel: gentamicin, gentamicin C1a, apramycin, paromomycin and neomycin. Following local round window application, dose-dependent effects of AGs on outer hair cell survival and compound action potentials showed gentamicin C1a and apramycin as the least toxic. Strikingly, although no changes were observed in compound action potential thresholds and outer hair cell survival following treatment with low concentrations of neomycin, gentamicin and paromomycin, the number of inner hair cell synaptic ribbons and the compound action potential amplitudes were reduced. This indication of hidden hearing loss was not observed with gentamicin C1a or apramycin at such concentrations. These findings identify the inner hair cells as the most vulnerable element to AG treatment, indicating that gentamicin C1a and apramycin are promising bases for the development of clinically useful antibiotics.
Morphological changes in starch grains after dehusking and grinding with stone tools
Authors: Ma Zhikun , Perry Linda , Li Quan , Yang Xiaoyan
Published: February 2019

Research on the manufacture, use, and use-wear of grinding stones (including slabs and mullers) can provide a wealth of information on ancient subsistence strategy and plant food utilization. Ancient residues extracted from stone tools frequently exhibit damage from processing methods, and modern experiments can replicate these morphological changes so that they can be better understood. Here, experiments have been undertaken to dehusk and grind grass grain using stone artifacts. To replicate ancient activities in northern China, we used modern stone tools to dehusk and grind twelve cultivars of foxtail millet (Setaria italica), two cultivars of broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum) and three varieties of green bristlegrass (Setaira viridis). The residues from both used and unused facets of the stone tools were then extracted, and the starch grains studied for morphological features and changes from the native states. The results show that (1) Dehusking did not significantly change the size and morphology of millet starch grains; (2) After grinding, the size of millet starch grains increases up to 1.2 times larger than native grains, and a quarter of the ground millet starch grains bore surface damage and also exhibited distortion of the extinction cross. This indicator will be of significance in improving the application of starch grains to research in the functional inference of grinding stone tools, but we are unable to yet distinguish dehusked forms from native.