bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coupled consolidation and heat flow analysis of layered soils surrounding cylindrical heat sources using a precise integration technique
Authors: Wang Lu‐Jun , Zhu Bin , Chen Yun‐Min , Kong De‐Qiong , Chen Ren‐Peng
Published: March 2019

The engineering applications of energy piles, geological radioactive waste disposals, and mining wells of geothermal and petroleum are usually associated with strong coupled behaviour of consolidation and heat flow. This paper aims to present an efficient precise integration technique (PIT) for the analysis of such behaviour within layered saturated soils surrounding cylindrical heat sources (ie, with a cross section as a point, ring, or disc). Each soil layer, together with its embedded part of heat source, is divided into 2N layer elements with equal thickness. Then any pair of adjacent two layer elements are merged into a heat source on the interface. With the aid of Taylor series expansion and recurrence formula for adjacent layer elements combination, such problems can be solved by means of an improved PIT. Typical examples are performed to examine the effects of heat source type and soils layered properties on the coupled consolidation and heat flow responses. The elevation of the clay surface increases with time because of thermal expansion and reaches a peak value before showing a tendency of getting stabilised because of the dissipation of pore pressure becoming dominant. Such a peak cannot be achieved in sand case because of no accumulation of pore pressure. The influencing area of the heat source was found to be limited to near the source. These quantitative results serve as good verification of the presented technique, which proves to be remarkably efficient and several orders more accurate than traditional numerical techniques in that it ideally reaches the accuracy limit of the hardware of the computers used.
Enhancing the Interfacial Properties of Composites by Grafting Polyethylene Glycol and Polyvinyl Alcohol Onto a CF Surface
Authors: Zhan Yi‐Kai , Du Shuai , He Min , Zhang Dao‐Hai , Liu Yu‐Fei , Li Li‐Ping
Published: March 2019

In this study, a carboxy esterification reaction was used to graft the hydrophilic polymers polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) onto the surface of carbon fibers (CFs). The properties of the grafted CFs were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and through the measurement of interlaminar shear strength (ILSS). SEM enabled the graft morphology on CF surfaces to be determined. In comparisons of grafted and non‐grafted CFs, AFM indicated that the roughness was significantly improved; XPS showed that the concentration of oxygen‐containing functional groups increased by 186.1%; TG showed that the grafting rate of CF‐grafted PEG (CF‐g‐PEG) was 0.5%, and that of CF‐grafted PVA (CF‐g‐PVA) was 2.0%; and the ILSS of CF‐g‐PEG and CF‐g‐PVA increased by 22.7% and 43.0%, respectively. We conclude that esterification grafting is an effective method for modifying the physicochemical properties of CFs and improving the interfacial adhesion of composites. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:1043–1050, 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers
Zur Physik des Schuheschnürens
Authors: Schlichting H. Joachim , Ucke Christian
Published: March 2019

Die Art, wie man seine Schuhe schnürt, der Schnürvorgang selbst und das Laufen mit den geschnürten Schuhen beinhalten mathematisch und physikalisch interessante Aspekte. Die Topologie des Schnürens entscheidet über die Festigkeit der Schnürung, der Schnürvorgang macht Gebrauch von der kraftmindernden Wirkung des Flaschenzugs, und die großen Winkel der Schnürung beim Durchgang durch die Ösen und Haken sorgen für eine große Reibungskraft, die das leichte Fixieren der zusammengezogenen Schuhhälften bewirkt. Schließlich fixiert die Schleife die Schnürung. Doch sie kann sich durch das Zusammenspiel von Erschütterung und Trägheitswirkung beim Laufen von selbst lösen.
Die unterschätzte Gefahr
Authors: Frölicher Thomas
Published: March 2019

Marine Hitzewellen – längere Perioden mit extrem hohen Meerestemperaturen – haben in den vergangenen Jahrzehnten stark zugenommen. Die Anzahl der marinen Hitzetage hat sich in den letzten 35 Jahren verdoppelt. Hitzewellen wurden auch intensiver, länger und erstrecken sich über größere Gebiete. Diese Trends werden sich infolge des Klimawandels weiter verstärken. Die Folgen für die Ökosysteme der Weltmeere sind gravierend. Besonders bedroht sind sesshafte Organismen, die sich den wärmeren Bedingungen nicht anpassen können.
The many‐faced Janus of plant breeding
Authors: Kantar Michael B. , Runck Bryan C. , Raghavan Barath , Joglekar Alison B. , Senay Senait , Krohn Brian , Neyhart Jeffrey , Bradeen James , Soto Gomez Marybel , Kjelgren Roger
Published: March 2019

Societal Impact Statement

Plant breeding is crucial for improving agricultural crops for human use. However, an urgent rethink is needed to ensure the next generation of plant breeders have the necessary breadth of skills to provide ever more efficient, nutritious, profitable, and environmentally sustainable crops. Plant breeding is a multifaceted endeavor, which intersects with many other disciplines and professions. To help ensure that future plant breeding efforts are sustainable and relevant to the needs of society, it is vital that the interdisciplinary nature of the plant breeding profession is adequately reflected in student training and development.

Summary

Breeders need to have many faces to understand not only genetics but also environmental, social, and economic factors that are relevant for maintaining or improving crops for human use. In the United States, there is a long history of public involvement in agriculture and plant breeding. However, recent changes in the social systems underpinning public agriculture (i.e., funding structure) necessitate a rethinking of how agriculture education, specifically plant breeding education, should be facilitated. To provide viable plant breeding programs, it is necessary to explicitly acknowledge that breeding has been an interdisciplinary, long‐standing public endeavor to increase food system stability. Acknowledging this complexity has important pedagogical implications: the core of plant breeding resides in genetics, but the changing nature of this profession requires breeders to embrace a much broader training. Here, we suggest specific curricular objectives for plant breeders.
Within‐breath changes in respiratory system impedance in children with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Zannin Emanuela , Nyilas Sylvia , Ramsey Kathryn A. , Latzin Philipp , Dellaca' Raffaele L.
Published: March 2019

Background

The aim of this study was to assess within‐breath respiratory system impedance by the forced oscillation technique (FOT) in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) and relate it to the underlying lung disease.

Methods

Thirty‐three children with CF (median [range] age 12.0 [6‐17] years) underwent FOT at 8 Hz during tidal breathing, multiple breath nitrogen washout (LCI), spirometry (FEV1), body plethysmography (RV/TLC), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). FOT outcomes included: mean inspiratory, expiratory, and whole breath resistance (R8INSP, R8EXP, R8TOT) and reactance (X8INSP, X8EXP, X8TOT), and the differences between X8INSP and X8EXP (ΔX8). Morphological changes were evaluated by MRI using CF‐specific morphological scores. Spearman correlation was performed to examine the correlation between FOT indices and other parameters.

Results

FEV1 was negatively correlated with R8EXP (r = −0.52, P = 0.002) and ΔX8 (r = −0.55, P = 0.001), and positively correlated with and X8EXP (r = 0.56, P < 0.001). RV/TLC was positively correlated with R8EXP (r = 0.43, P = 0.013), and ΔX8 (r = 0.54, P = 0.001) and negatively correlated with X8EXP (r = −0.54, P = 0.001). We found poor correlation between FOT parameters and LCI and no correlation between FOT parameters and MRI scores.

Conclusion

In children with CF, changes in within‐breath FOT parameters are consistent with peripheral obstruction and dynamic airway compression, while they are not associated with ventilation heterogeneities and morphological alterations.
A “Power and Influence” political archetype: the dynamics of public support
Authors: Cavana Robert Y. , Forgie Vicky E. , van den Belt Marjan , Cody John R. , Romera Alvaro J. , Wang Keming , Browne Chris A.
Published: March 2019

Systems archetypes are effective in communicating complex behaviour with relatively simple structures, across a wide range of topics. The “power dynamics” between different power holders are critically important in decision making when it comes to formulating and implementing policies. This topic was explored at a four‐day Australasian systems workshop run in New Zealand. A synthesis approach was combined with analytical procedures from system dynamics (SD). Building on Rahn's “Fear and Greed” political archetype, a conceptual “Power and Influence” political archetype was developed. This political archetype shows the impact of public support. It is used to analyse a crowdfunding story in New Zealand. A small SD concept model was subsequently constructed to test this story and evaluate alternative public support scenarios. A library of political archetypes and concept models would be an asset for the field of SD and provide a means of synthesising insights from case studies and social theory.

© 2019 System Dynamics Society
Multicomponent Reaction for Selective Synthesis of Spiro[indene‐2,7′‐isoquinoline] and 1,2,8,8 a‐Tetrahydroisoquinoline Derivatives
Authors: Cao Jun , Sun Jing , Yan Chao‐Guo
Published: March 2019

The piperidine promoted three‐component reaction of N‐alkylpiperidin‐4‐ones, malononitrile and 2‐arylidene‐1,3‐indanediones in ethanol selectively resulted in the spiro[indene‐2,7′‐isoquinoline] and the ring‐opened cis‐ or trans‐1,2,8,8a‐tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives at room temperature or at the elevated temperature. However, the four‐component reaction N‐alkylpiperidin‐4‐ones, malononitrile, aromatic aldehydes and 1,3‐indanedione in refluxing ethanol mainly afforded ring‐opened cis‐1,2,8,8a‐tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives in good yields and with high diastereoselectivity. A plausible domino reaction mechanism was proposed for the formation of the different polycyclic products.
Adducts of Zinc(II) Acetylacetonate with Various Aminoquinolines: Synthesis, Structure and Luminescence
Authors: Chesnokov Vasilii V. , Rostovtseva Irina A.
Published: March 2019

New adducts of zinc(II) acetylacetonate of composition [Zn(acac)2L] (where L=2‐aminoquinoline, 4‐aminoquinoline, 6‐aminoquinoline, 5‐amino‐4,6‐dimethylquinoline) were obtained and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and 1H‐NMR. The optical properties of zinc(II) adducts were investigated by UV/Vis and photoluminescence spectroscopy. In these adducts, each zinc(II) ion is coordinated with two acetylacetonate moieties and one aminoquinoline ligand through an endocyclic nitrogen atom. Adducts show thermal stability (m.p.>180 °C), good solubility in non‐polar solvents, but they easily decompose in the presence of Lewis bases. The 4‐aminoquinoline adduct does not luminesce. The emission bands of other compounds in CH2Cl2 solutions are located in the blue region of the spectrum in the range 373–460 nm with quantum yields ϕ= 0.21‐0.40.
All‐Carbon Pressure Sensors with High Performance and Excellent Chemical Resistance
Authors: Xiao Zhuojian , Zhou Weiya , Zhang Nan , Zhang Qiang , Xia Xiaogang , Gu Xiaogang , Wang Yanchun , Xie Sishen
Published: March 2019

An all‐carbon pressure sensor is designed and fabricated based on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanomaterials. By sandwiching one layer of superelastic rGO aerogel between two freestanding high‐conductive rGO thin papers, the sensor works based on the contact resistance at the aerogel–paper interfaces, getting rid of the alien materials such as polymers and metals adopted in traditional sensors. Without the limitation of alien materials, the all‐carbon sensors demonstrate an ultrawide detecting range (0.72 Pa–130 kPa), low energy consumption (≈0.58 µW), ultrahigh sensitivity (349–253 kPa−1) at low‐pressure regime (<1.4 Pa), fast response time (8 ms at 1 kPa), high stability (10 000 unloading–loading cycles between 0 and 1 kPa), light weight (<10 mg), easily scalable fabrication process, and excellent chemical stability. These merits enable them to detect real‐time human physiological signals and monitor the weights of various droplets of not only water but also hazardous chemical reagents including strong acid, strong alkali, and organic solvents. This shows their great potential applications in real‐time health monitoring, sport performance detecting, harsh environment‐related robotics and industry, and so forth.
Engineering 2D Metal–Organic Framework/MoS2 Interface for Enhanced Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Zhu Dongdong , Liu Jinlong , Zhao Yongqiang , Zheng Yao , Qiao Shi‐Zhang
Published: March 2019

2D metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been widely investigated for electrocatalysis because of their unique characteristics such as large specific surface area, tunable structures, and enhanced conductivity. However, most of the works are focused on oxygen evolution reaction. There are very limited numbers of reports on MOFs for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and generally these reported MOFs suffer from unsatisfactory HER activities. In this contribution, novel 2D Co‐BDC/MoS2 (BDC stands for 1,4‐benzenedicarboxylate, C8H4O4) hybrid nanosheets are synthesized via a facile sonication‐assisted solution strategy. The introduction of Co‐BDC induces a partial phase transfer from semiconducting 2H‐MoS2 to metallic 1T‐MoS2. Compared with 2H‐MoS2, 1T‐MoS2 can activate the inert basal plane to provide more catalytic active sites, which contributes significantly to improving HER activity. The well‐designed Co‐BDC/MoS2 interface is vital for alkaline HER, as Co‐BDC makes it possible to speed up the sluggish water dissociation (rate‐limiting step for alkaline HER), and modified MoS2 is favorable for the subsequent hydrogen generation step. As expected, the resultant 2D Co‐BDC/MoS2 hybrid nanosheets demonstrate remarkable catalytic activity and good stability toward alkaline HER, outperforming those of bare Co‐BDC, MoS2, and almost all the previously reported MOF‐based electrocatalysts.
BIM im Stahlbau: etablierte Arbeitsweisen und neue Wege
Authors: Erfurth Lorenz
Published: March 2019

Building Information Modeling (BIM) spielt auch im Stahlbau eine immer größere Rolle und wird in allen Ebenen der Planung und Ausführung sowohl interessiert als auch kritisch diskutiert. Der Stahlbau kann dabei aufgrund seiner langen Erfahrung in der 3D‐Planung auf etablierte Prozesse im Bereich des Datenaustauschs zurückgreifen. BIM bietet die Chance, diese weiterzuentwickeln und auszubauen. Der Artikel beleuchtet anhand ausgewählter Einsatzbereiche und Praxisbeispiele den aktuellen Status der modellbasierten Planung und Ausführung. Ziel ist dabei, BIM im Kontext etablierter Arbeitsweisen des Stahlbaus zu betrachten, Mut zu machen, die Möglichkeiten von BIM schon heute auszuschöpfen, und das Potenzial für die Zukunft aufzuzeigen.
Effects of LED lighting exposure during sleep on endocrine and autonomic nervous system activity
Authors: Hasegawa‐Ohira Masako , Kato Yoshimune , Nomura Shusaku
Published: March 2019

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of an LED lighting on endocrine and autonomic nervous system activity during sleep. In a within‐subject experimental design, participants, ten healthy male students, took a 6‐h sleep from 0:00–6:00 am in an environmentally controlled room during which they were exposed to an LED lighting of approximately 50 lx for 90 min from 1:30–3:00 am, whereas there was no light exposure under the control condition. Compared to the control condition, the heart rate (HR) during light exposure, 1 h before awakening, and 1 h after awakening, was significantly higher under the light exposure condition. Salivary melatonin under the light exposure was significantly higher than that under control condition, meanwhile there was no difference in salivary cortisol secretion. Light exposure during sleep may enhance the sympathetic nervous system activation but not give an impact on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal pathway during sleep. © 2019 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Operando soft X‐ray microscope study of rechargeable Zn–air battery anodes in deep eutectic solvent electrolyte
Authors: Bozzini Benedetto , Kazemian Majid , Kiskinova Maya , Kourousias George , Mele Claudio , Gianoncelli Alessandra
Published: March 2019

Zn–air batteries are very promising devices for energy storage at high energy density due to their intrinsic safety, environmental friendliness, and low cost, but still, there are key issues to be solved to get to the industrial scale. One of the unsolved problems is the poor cyclability of batteries based on aqueous solvents that urges to consider nonaqueous solvents. Among different possible options are deep eutectic solvents, which are cost‐effective and technologically relatively easy to implement. The present investigation reports for the first time an operando scanning soft X‐ray microscope analysis of the Zn behaviour in a choline–chloride/urea deep eutectic solvents electrolyte during the cathodic and anodic phase formation processes taking place in battery charge and discharge, providing a platform for in‐depth space–time dependent investigations of the chemistry of crystallites evolving during potential cycling. These operando measurements have been enabled by the construction of a novel wet cell, improving the design and filling protocol of earlier generation cells developed by authors.

High‐resolution soft X‐ray microscope images were acquired in two modes: (a) dynamic mode at a fixed beam energy, allowing to follow morphology evolution under electrochemical control and (b) static mode for selected morphologies representative of characteristic Zn growth and dissolution steps.
Global solvability and stabilization in a two-dimensional cross-diffusion system modeling urban crime propagation
Authors: Winkler Michael
Published: March 2019

The system

\left\{\begin{matrix} u_{t} = \mathrm{\Delta }u−\chi \mathrm{∇} \cdot \left(\frac{u}{v}\mathrm{∇}v\right)−uv + B_{1}(x,t), \\ v_{t} = \mathrm{\Delta }v + uv−v + B_{2}(x,t), \\ \end{matrix}\right.\:\:( \star )

is considered in a disk

\mathrm{\Omega } \subset \mathbb{R}^{2}

, with a positive parameter

χ

and given nonnegative and suitably regular functions

B_{1}

and

B_{2}

defined on

\mathrm{\Omega } \times (0,\infty )

. In the particular version obtained when

\chi = 2

, (

\star

) was proposed in [31] as a model for crime propagation in urban regions.

Within a suitable generalized framework, it is shown that under mild assumptions on the parameter functions and the initial data the no-flux initial-boundary value problem for (

\star

) possesses at least one global solution in the case when all model ingredients are radially symmetric with respect to the center of

Ω

. Moreover, under an additional hypothesis on stabilization of the given external source terms in both equations, these solutions are shown to approach the solution of an elliptic boundary value problem in an appropriate sense.

The analysis is based on deriving a priori estimates for a family of approximate problems, in a first step achieving some spatially global but weak initial regularity information which in a series of spatially localized arguments is thereafter successively improved.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first result on global existence of solutions to the two-dimensional version of the full original system (

\star

) for arbitrarily large values of

χ

.
Impact of a Half Dome Cable Permitting Process on Search and Rescue Activity, Hiker Mortality Rates, and Operational Costs Above Little Yosemite Valley
Authors: Spano Susanne J , Seymer John A , Crane Desiree H , Auerbach Paul S
Published: March 2019

Introduction

The summit of Yosemite's Half Dome is reached using cable handrails for the final 146 m (480 ft). Access to these cables was restricted to users with permits in 2010. The authors aim to describe the impact of permitting on search and rescue (SAR) in the region of the park most affected by permitting.

Methods

An observational study from 2005 to 2009 and 2011 to 2015 comparing the number of incidents, major incidents (exceeding $500), victims, and fatalities before and after permitting the use of cable handrails on Half Dome in the area above Little Yosemite Valley (LYV) and parkwide. Each year was analyzed separately with t tests and Mann-Whitney U tests. Data are presented as mean±SD.

Result

The number of hikers in the study area was reduced by up to 66% by permitting. Above LYV from 2005 to 2009, there were 85 SAR incidents, 134 victims, 8 fatalities, 38 major incidents, and annual SAR costs of $44,582±28,972. From 2011 to 2015, the same area saw 54 SAR incidents, 156 victims, 4 fatalities, 35 major incidents, and annual SAR costs of $27,027±19,586. No parameter showed statistical significance. Parkwide SAR incidents decreased from 232 to 198 annual incidents ( P=0.013) during the same time period, with parkwide mortality increasing from 8 to 12 deaths annually ( P=0.045).

Conclusions

SAR incidents, victims, fatalities, or costs above LYV did not decrease after cable handrail permitting. Parkwide SAR activity decreased during the same intervals. This strongly suggests that overcrowding is not the key factor influencing safety on Half Dome. This discordant trend warrants close observation over 5 to 10 y.
Implications of Commodity Programs and Crop Insurance Policies for Wheat Producers
Authors: Luckstead Jeff , Devadoss Stephen
Published: March 2019

We analyze the effects of Price Loss Coverage (PLC), Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC), individual revenue protection insurance (RP), and Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) on the RP coverage level, certainty equivalent, and program payments. The model is calibrated to a representative wheat farm in Mitchell County in Kansas to analyze the effects of various policies. The result highlights that when insurance is framed as an investment, cumulative prospect theory predicts farmers’ coverage decisions accurately at 70%. ARC or PLC program increases the RP coverage level to 75%, but PLC and SCO jointly decrease the RP coverage level to 70%.
The Challenges of Dealing with Human Remains in Cultural Resource Management
Authors: Powless Patricia , Freiwald Carolyn
Published: March 2019

Over the past few years, the lead author has had the opportunity to excavate multiple large sites in California, working on behalf of developers to keep their projects in compliance with their permits. She also worked in conjunction with local tribes to resolve burial issues with each excavation. During these excavations, she observed the challenges that the tribes encountered when dealing with fast-paced cultural resource management (CRM) projects where burial retrieval and a shortage of resources were the norm. For many years, archaeologists have viewed CRM as only dealing with the material culture of the past; however, archaeologists also consult and work with living cultures. This article will address the endemic problem in CRM that stems from a lack of planning, preparation, resources, and training and how it affects the burial excavations that archaeologists and tribes encounter in the CRM setting. It will also look for solutions to remedy a long-broken system that continues to ignore existing laws set in place to protect resources, as well as the relationships between the Native American community, agencies, researchers, and land developers.
Curating Large Skeletal Collections: An Example from the Ancient Maya Site of Copán, Honduras
Authors: Miller Wolf Katherine A.
Published: March 2019

Archaeologists strive to understand ancient lifeways, and bioarchaeological data provide honest and immutable evidence of the realities of ancient society in the bodies of the dead. Given the importance of human remains in the archaeological record, a major component of the author's work has been devoted to the ethical responsibilities of bioarchaeologists in the treatment of the collections studied. However, the curation of skeletal remains is often challenging because the conservation and storage of these delicate materials may be afterthoughts in archaeological plans, being inadequately or incorrectly stored and sometimes treated to the same conservation conditions as more robust artifacts and samples. This article offers guidelines and recommendations for skeletal curation based on observations of curation challenges in a large collection in the subtropical Maya region. The collection was not well managed and human remains were not prioritized in the conservation program. The challenges and mitigations are presented here.
Lex Lata comes with a Date; or, What Follows from Referring to the “Tallinn Rules”
Authors: Boer Lianne J.M.
Published: March 2019

At first sight, the question that Dan Efrony and Yuval Shany ask in their article, A Rule Book on the Shelf?, makes sense. If a group of lawyers writes a legal manual for state legal advisors, the logical follow-up question would indeed be, do they use it? Do these “black-letter rules,” as the Manual itself terms them, actually “provid[e] international law advice” to states operating in cyberspace? Given the Manual's own claim that its “effort [is] to examine how extant legal norms apply” to cyber warfare, one may indeed wonder whether states have used the Manual as intended—as a manual.
A methodological comparison of risk scores versus decision trees for predicting drug-resistant infections: A case study using extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) bacteremia
Authors: Goodman Katherine E. , Lessler Justin , Harris Anthony D. , Milstone Aaron M. , Tamma Pranita D.
Published: March 2019

Background:

Timely identification of multidrug-resistant gram-negative infections remains an epidemiological challenge. Statistical models for predicting drug resistance can offer utility where rapid diagnostics are unavailable or resource-impractical. Logistic regression–derived risk scores are common in the healthcare epidemiology literature. Machine learning–derived decision trees are an alternative approach for developing decision support tools. Our group previously reported on a decision tree for predicting ESBL bloodstream infections. Our objective in the current study was to develop a risk score from the same ESBL dataset to compare these 2 methods and to offer general guiding principles for using each approach.

Methods:

Using a dataset of 1,288 patients withEscherichia coliorKlebsiellaspp bacteremia, we generated a risk score to predict the likelihood that a bacteremic patient was infected with an ESBL-producer. We evaluated discrimination (original and cross-validated models) using receiver operating characteristic curves and C statistics. We compared risk score and decision tree performance, and we reviewed their practical and methodological attributes.

Results:

In total, 194 patients (15%) were infected with ESBL-producing bacteremia. The clinical risk score included 14 variables, compared to the 5 decision-tree variables. The positive and negative predictive values of the risk score and decision tree were similar (>90%), but the C statistic of the risk score (0.87) was 10% higher.

Conclusions:

A decision tree and risk score performed similarly for predicting ESBL infection. The decision tree was more user-friendly, with fewer variables for the end user, whereas the risk score offered higher discrimination and greater flexibility for adjusting sensitivity and specificity.
Reducing urinary catheter use using an electronic reminder system in hospitalized patients: A randomized stepped-wedge trial
Authors: Mitchell Brett G. , Northcote Maria , Cheng Allen C. , Fasugba Oyebola , Russo Philip L. , Rosebrock Hannah
Published: March 2019

Objective:

To determine the effectiveness and ease of use of an electronic reminder device in reducing urinary catheterization duration.

Design:

A randomized controlled trial with a cross-sectional anonymous online survey and focus group.

Setting:

Ten wards in an Australian hospital.

Participants:

All hospitalized patients with a urinary catheter.

Intervention:

An electronic reminder system, the CATH TAG, applied to urinary catheter bags to prompt removal of urinary catheters.

Outcomes:

Catheterization duration and perceptions of nurses about the ease of use.

Methods:

A Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the rate of removal of catheters. A phenomenological approach underpinned data collection and analysis methods associated with the focus group.

Results:

In total, 1,167 patients with a urinary catheter were included. The mean durations in control and intervention phases were 5.51 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.9–6.2) and 5.08 days (95% CI, 4.6–5.6), respectively. For patients who had a CATH TAG applied, the hazard ratio (HR) was 1.02 (95% CI, 0.91–1.14; P = .75). A subgroup analysis excluded patients in an intensive care unit (ICU), and the use of the CATH TAG was associated with a 23% decrease in the mean, from 5.00 days (95% CI, 4.44–5.56) to 3.84 days (95% CI, 3.47–4.21). Overall, 82 nurses completed a survey and 5 nurses participated in a focus group. Responses regarding the device were largely positive, and benefits for patient care were identified.

Conclusion:

The CATH TAG did not reduce the duration of catheterization, but potential benefits in patients outside the ICU were identified. Electronic reminders may be useful to aid prompt removal of urinary catheters in the non-ICU hospital setting.
No net motion for oscillating near-spheres at low Reynolds numbers
Authors: Lippera K. , Dauchot O. , Michelin S. , Benzaquen M.
Published: March 2019

We investigate the flow around an oscillating nearly spherical particle at low, yet non-vanishing, Reynolds numbers ($Re$), and the potential resulting locomotion. We analytically demonstrate that no net motion can arise up to order one in $Re$ and order one in the asphericity parameter, regardless of the particle’s shape. Therefore, geometry-induced acoustic streaming propulsion, if any, must arise at higher order.
CHARACTERIZING DOWNWARDS CLOSED, STRONGLY FIRST-ORDER, RELATIVIZABLE DEPENDENCIES
Authors: GALLIANI PIETRO
Published: March 2019

In Team Semantics, a dependency notion is strongly first order if every sentence of the logic obtained by adding the corresponding atoms to First-Order Logic is equivalent to some first-order sentence. In this work it is shown that all nontrivial dependency atoms that are strongly first order, downwards closed, and relativizable (in the sense that the relativizations of the corresponding atoms with respect to some unary predicate are expressible in terms of them) are definable in terms of constancy atoms.

Additionally, it is shown that any strongly first-order dependency is safe for any family of downwards closed dependencies, in the sense that every sentence of the logic obtained by adding to First-Order Logic both the strongly first-order dependency and the downwards closed dependencies is equivalent to some sentence of the logic obtained by adding only the downwards closed dependencies.
Patterns ofClinostomum marginatuminfection in fishes and amphibians: integration of field, genetic, and experimental approaches
Authors: Calhoun D.M. , Leslie K. L. , Riepe T.B. , Achatz T.J. , McDevitt-Galles T. , Tkach V.V. , Johnson P.T.J.
Published: March 2019

Digenetic trematodes of the genusClinostomumare cosmopolitan parasites infecting fishes, amphibians, reptiles, and snails as intermediate hosts. Despite the broad geographical distribution of this genus, debate about the number of species and how they vary in host use has persisted. To better understand patterns of infection among host species and across life stages, we used large-scale field surveys and molecular tools to examine five species of amphibians and seven species of fishes from 125 California ponds. Among the 12,360 examined hosts, infection was rare, with an overall prevalence of 1.7% in amphibians and 9.2% in fishes. Molecular evidence indicated that both groups were infected withClinostomum marginatum. Using generalized linear mixed effects models, host species identity and host life stage had a strong influence on infection status, such thatLepomis cyanellus(green sunfish) (49.3%) andTaricha granulosa(rough skinned newt) (9.2%) supported the highest overall prevalence values, whereas adult amphibians tended to have a higher prevalence of infection relative to juveniles (13.3% and 2.5%, respectively). Experimentally, we tested the susceptibility of two amphibian hosts (Pseudacris regilla[Pacific chorus frog] andAnaxyrus boreas[western toad]) to varying levels of cercariae exposure and measured metacercariae growth over time.Pseudacris regillawas 1.3× more susceptible to infection, while infection success increased with cercariae exposure dose for both species. On average, metacarcariae size increased by 650% over 20 days. Our study highlights the importance of integrating field surveys, genetic tools, and experimental approaches to better understand the ecology of host–parasite interactions.
Understanding the association between advanced paternal age and schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
Authors: Weiser Mark , Fenchel Daphna , Frenkel Or , Fruchter Eyal , Burshtein Shimon , Yehuda Ariel Ben , Yoffe Rinat , Bergman-Levi Tal , Reichenberg Abraham , Davidson Michael , Sandin Sven
Published: March 2019

Background

Previous studies reported an association between advanced paternal age at birth and increased risk for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. While some hypothesize that this association is caused byde-novomutations in paternal spermatozoa, others cite factors associated with psycho-social characteristics of fathers who have children at a late age. This study aims to test these hypotheses.

Methods

A historical-prospective, population-based cohort study, performed by linking the Israeli Draft Board Registry and the Israeli National Psychiatric Hospitalization Registry (N= 916 439; 4488 with schizophrenia, 883 with bipolar disorder). Odds ratios (OR) and two-sided 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by logistic regression models, using paternal age as predictor and risk for later hospitalizations for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder as outcome measure. Models were first fitted unadjusted, then adjusted for paternal age at birth of the first child.

Results

In the unadjusted model, offspring of fathers aged 45 and above at birth had increased risk of schizophrenia (OR = 1.71, 95% CI 1.49–1.99) and bipolar disorder (OR = 1.63, 95% CI 1.16–2.24). However, taking into account paternal age at birth of first child, advanced paternal age was no longer associated with increased risk of schizophrenia (OR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.48–0.79) or bipolar disorder (OR = 1.03, 95% CI 0.56–1.90).

Conclusions

Controlling for paternal age at birth of the first offspring, advanced paternal age does not predict increased risk for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. These data indicate that the association between advanced paternal age and having an offspring with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder is likely due to psychos-social factors, or common genetic variation associated with delayed initial fatherhood.
Larger leeches attack from higher ground – size-dependent preferences for ambush sites in the Bornean terrestrial leech Haemadipsa picta
Authors: Miler Krzysztof , Gurgul Aleksandra , Peryga Maja , Czarnoleski Marcin
Published: March 2019

The rain forests of South-East Asia represent a biodiversity hotspot of terrestrial leeches, but we have only fragmentary and often anecdotal information on this component of tropical communities. To address the foraging tactics of terrestrial leeches, we studied the vertical distribution ofHaemadipsa pictaon foliage in a Bornean tropical rain forest. We investigated the links between leech body length and the above-ground height of their ambush positions under natural conditions and in a choice experiment performed under semi-natural conditions. We studied 167 leeches, which varied considerably with respect to body length (4–29 mm). On average, the leeches ambushed at lower heights under natural conditions than under experimental conditions (47.7 cm vs. 67.5 cm), though the heights of ambush positions overlapped considerably. Leeches that chose higher ambush positions under natural conditions consistently chose higher ambush positions in the experiment (Pearson r = 0.29). Under both natural and experimental conditions, leech body length was positively correlated with the height of ambush positions (Pearson r = 0.48); on average, a 1-mm increase in body length corresponded to a 2–3 cm higher ambush position. Our findings suggest thatH. pictaindividuals actively choose hunting locations according to their above-ground height, shifting their ambush sites over ontogeny to higher foliage. We hypothesize that growing leeches might target different prey following ontogenetic shifts in the foraging optima, ultimately decreasing intraspecific competition.
Uh and euh signal novelty for monolinguals and bilinguals: evidence from children and adults
Authors: MORIN-LESSARD Elizabeth , BYERS-HEINLEIN Krista
Published: March 2019

Previous research suggests that English monolingual children and adults can use speech disfluencies (e.g., uh) to predict that a speaker will name a novel object. To understand the origins of this ability, we tested 48 32-month-old children (monolingual English, monolingual French, bilingual English–French; Study 1) and 16 adults (bilingual English–French; Study 2). Our design leveraged the distinct realizations of English (uh) versus French (euh) disfluencies. In a preferential-looking paradigm, participants saw familiar–novel object pairs (e.g., doll–rel), labeled in either Fluent (“Look at the doll/rel!”), Disfluent Language-consistent (“Look at thee uh doll/rel!”), or Disfluent Language-inconsistent (“Look at thee euh doll/rel!”) sentences. All participants looked more at the novel object when hearing disfluencies, irrespective of their phonetic realization. These results suggest that listeners from different language backgrounds harness disfluencies to comprehend day-to-day speech, possibly by attending to their lengthening as a signal of speaker uncertainty. Stimuli and data are available at .
Treading with Caution: China's Multidimensional Interventions in the Gulf Region
Authors: Mansour Imad
Published: March 2019

This article demonstrates the growing adaptability of Chinese foreign policy to Gulf states’ expectations around issues that implicate them directly or are relevant (such as relations with the US, and the wars in Yemen and Syria). Gulf states reacted positively because China's approach incrementally integrated local demands in its strategizing, especially by finding common ground with Gulf states despite their own differences; China has done so while not being tied to a “hegemonic idea” (i.e. it is not trying to control or define Gulf politics). China's incrementalist and non-hegemonic regional approach significantly increased Gulf states’ acceptance of its interventions, adapted to Gulf states’ expectations, and, crucially, has been altering what these states expect of major powers in general. The article concludes by proposing that unfolding Gulf politics in light of the June 2017 GCC crisis is very likely to present China with multiple opportunities to demonstrate the adroitness of its strategic choices vis-à-vis the region.
Slow Stream Rehabilitation for Older Adults: A Scoping Review
Authors: Maximos Melody , Seng-iad Sirirat , Tang Ada , Stratford Paul , Bello-Haas Vanina Dal
Published: March 2019

Au Canada, les personnes âgées présentant des problèmes de santé complexes sont souvent considérées comme inadmissibles aux programmes de réadaptation traditionnels, mais peuvent toutefois bénéficier de soins en réadaptation lente (SRL). Cet examen de la portée apporte une vue d’ensemble sur les publications traitant des SRL offerts aux personnes âgées dans les systèmes de soins de santé à payeur unique. Méthodes : Les articles publiés sur les personnes âgées en SRL par des revues avec comités de pairs et dans la littérature grise ont été analysés de manière systématique. Résultats : Un total de 1 445 documents ont été examinés de manière indépendante par deux évaluateurs [valeur Kappa de Cohen de 0,78 (IC = 0,73, 0,83)], et 18 documents ont été retenus. Les programmes de RSS pouvaient être caractérisés comme multidisciplinaires et leur durée moyenne variait de 30 à 141,2 jours. Les participants ayant reçu des SRL étaient majoritairement de sexe féminin, et leurs moyennes d’âge variaient entre 72 et 82 ans. Ils présentaient de multiples comorbidités et des troubles cognitifs légers ou modérés. Leurs mesures physiques et fonctionnelles se sont améliorées après les SRL. Discussion : Les programmes de SRL présentent un potentiel intéressant et leur intégration au continuum de soins devrait être considérée pour les personnes âgées ayant des antécédents médicaux complexes.
The Short Performance Physical Battery Is Associated with One-Year Emergency Department Visits and Hospitalization
Authors: Negm Ahmed M. , Kennedy Courtney C. , Pritchard Janet M. , Ioannidis George , Vastis Vasilia , Marr Sharon , Patterson Christopher , Misiaszek Brian , Woo Tricia K. W. , Thabane Lehana , Papaioannou Alexandra
Published: March 2019

Les outils cliniques employés dans les établissements de soins peuvent fournir des informations pronostiques importantes aux professionnels de la santé. Dans cette étude observationnelle prospective d’un an, nous avons examiné l’association entre les scores au Short Performance Physical Battery (SPPB), d’une part, et les consultations à l’urgence et les hospitalisations au cours de l’étude, d’autre part. Au total, 191 patients ayant été nouvellement référés à une clinique gériatrique externe de Hamilton (Ontario) ont été contactés, et parmi eux, 120 pris part à l’étude. Le SPPB et d’autres évaluations ont été réalisés dans le cadre de consultations de routine. Les dossiers médicaux électroniques ont été examinés pour déterminer le nombre de consultations à l’urgence et d’hospitalisations dans l’année qui a suivi l’évaluation de base. Des analyses de régression logistique ont été utilisées pour identifier des prédicteurs des consultations à l’urgence et des hospitalisations. Le score moyen au SPPB dans la cohorte étudiée (moyenne d’âge = 80,6 ans, écart-type = 6,3 ans ; 53 % de femmes) était de 6,3 (écart-type = 3,2). Au cours de cette période d’un an, le score au SPPB était associé au nombre de consultations à l’urgence [RR = 0,90 (0,78-1,03)] et d’hospitalisations [RR = 0,84 (0,72-0,97)], après ajustement pour l’âge, le sexe et les comorbidités.
Association of meteorological factors with seasonal activity of influenza A subtypes and B lineages in subtropical western China
Authors: Pan M. , Yang H. P. , Jian J. , Kuang Y. , Xu J. N. , Li T. S. , Zhou X. , Wu W. L. , Zhao Z. , Wang C. , Li W. Y. , Li M. Y. , He S. S. , Zhou L.L.
Published: March 2019

The seasonality of individual influenza subtypes/lineages and the association of influenza epidemics with meteorological factors in the tropics/subtropics have not been well understood. The impact of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic on the prevalence of seasonal influenza virus remains to be explored. Using wavelet analysis, the periodicities of A/H3N2, seasonal A/H1N1, A/H1N1pdm09, Victoria and Yamagata were identified, respectively, in Panzhihua during 2006–2015. As a subtropical city in southwestern China, Panzhihua is the first industrial city in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. The relationship between influenza epidemics and local climatic variables was examined based on regression models. The temporal distribution of influenza subtypes/lineages during the pre-pandemic (2006–2009), pandemic (2009) and post-pandemic (2010–2015) years was described and compared. A total of 6892 respiratory specimens were collected and 737 influenza viruses were isolated. A/H3N2 showed an annual cycle with a peak in summer–autumn, while A/H1N1pdm09, Victoria and Yamagata exhibited an annual cycle with a peak in winter–spring. Regression analyses demonstrated that relative humidity was positively associated with A/H3N2 activity while negatively associated with Victoria activity. Higher prevalence of A/H1N1pdm09 and Yamagata was driven by lower absolute humidity. The role of weather conditions in regulating influenza epidemics could be complicated since the diverse viral transmission modes and mechanism. Differences in seasonality and different associations with meteorological factors by influenza subtypes/lineages should be considered in epidemiological studies in the tropics/subtropics. The development of subtype- and lineage-specific prevention and control measures is of significant importance.
The Court of Justice and the Ban on Bulk Data Retention: Expansive Potential and Future Scenarios
Authors: Celeste Edoardo
Published: March 2019

Data retention saga – Interpretative strategy of the Court of Justice – Expansive potential of the principles set by the Court of Justice – ‘Reverse’ effet utile and conflict of competence – EU acts under threat – Domino effect on national security measures – Future scenarios – Twilight of the model of bulk data retention – Modulation of the ban on bulk data retention according to the vulnerability of data processing or depending on the prior unknowability of the threats – Divergence from the European Court of Human Rights – Legitimisation of bulk data retention

‘Equo ne credite, Teucri!

Quidquid id est, timeo Danaos et dona ferentes’

— Virgil, Aeneid, II, 48-49
Traquair's lungfish from Loanhead: dipnoan diversity and tooth plate growth in the late Mississippian
Authors: SMITHSON Timothy R. , CHALLANDS Thomas J. , SMITHSON Ketura Z.
Published: March 2019

Ramsay Heatley Traquair, the eminent Victorian Scottish palaeoichthyologist and museum curator, procured an extensive collection of Palaeozoic fishes from across Scotland with the help of local miners and quarrymen. One very productive locality near Edinburgh was Loanhead. Traquair described numerous fossil fish from this Serpukhovian site, including four lungfish taxa:Ctenodus interruptus,Sagenodus quinquecostatus,Uronemus splendensandCtenodus angustulus. The first three are now quite well known, but the fourth was only briefly described and never figured. It is based entirely on tooth plates, which are unusual both in their very small size and the arrangement of the tooth ridges. They lack the diagnostic characters ofCtenodustooth plates and are here renamedClackodus angustulus. A further taxon,Conchopomasp., has recently been identified. Represented by a spade-shaped parasphenoid and denticulated jaw elements, it is the earliest known occurrence of the genus, extending its range into the Mississippian. A sixth taxon may be represented by an isolated parasphenoid bearing an anterior process, previously only seen in Devonian lungfish. The presence of up to six lungfish taxa at a single locality is unprecedented in the Carboniferous and indicates that the high level of lungfish diversity encountered in the Tournaisian of the Scottish Borders continued throughout the Mississippian, adding to the growing evidence that post-Devonian lungfish evolution was not as limited as previously proposed. This may have been due to changes in tooth plate growth, enabling greater variation in dentition and diet. In most Devonian taxa, tooth plate growth can be explained by comparison with that in extant forms, but analysis of Carboniferous tooth plates suggest growth was different in many taxa, possibly based on more than one pioneer tooth, allowing for novel patterns of tooth ridges and different types of teeth to develop on the same plate.