bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Susceptibility of table grape varieties grown in south‐eastern Italy to Drosophila suzukii
Authors: Baser N. , Broutou O. , Verrastro V. , Porcelli F. , Ioriatti C. , Anfora G. , Mazzoni V. , Rossi Stacconi M. V.
Published: January 2018

Since 2008, Drosophila suzukii, the spotted wing drosophila, has colonized most of the American and European continents, being able to adapt to very different climates. In Italy, this pest has been captured from northern Alpine to southern Mediterranean regions where it can infest a broad range of fruits, including wine grapes. Studies have shown that oviposition levels and developmental rates of D. suzukii on wine grapes are lower than on other berries, although recent observations indicate that grapes may become a suitable host plant in particular conditions. Here, we report, for the first time, the results of a series of no‐choice oviposition experiments using berries of five table grape varieties sampled in the provinces of Taranto and Bari (Apulia region, south‐eastern Italy) during 2013 from both organic and conventional farming systems. The sugar content (SC) and skin hardness of each sample were analysed to assess the influence of these physiological parameters on the susceptibility of table grapes to D. suzukii infestation. A negative correlation was found between the number of eggs laid and berry skin penetration force, whereas there was a positive one between the number of eggs and Brix values, as well as sampling date. In organic grapes, SC and skin hardness of two varieties (“Crimson” and “Scarlotta”) were measured, respectively, higher and lower than in conventional grapes, thus making them more susceptible to pest infestation. The study hence shows that in laboratory conditions D. suzukii is able to heavily infest and develop on table grapes and that susceptibility to its infestation significantly depends on both variety and farming system.
Response to Teng et al.
Authors: Finucane Thomas E.
Published: January 2018

This is a response to the article by Teng et al.
Response to Dr. Finucane
Authors: Teng Edmond , Mendez Mario F.
Published: January 2018

This is a response to the article by Thomas E. Finucane.
Clinical Intentions of Antibiotics Prescribed Upon Discharge to Hospice Care
Authors: Servid Sarah A. , Noble Brie N. , Fromme Erik K. , Furuno Jon P.
Published: January 2018

Objectives

To better understand the clinical intentions for antibiotic prescribing upon discharge from acute care to hospice care.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Five hundred forty‐four–bed academic, acute‐care, tertiary referral hospital in Portland, Oregon.

Participants

Adults (≥18) who received an outpatient prescription for antibiotics on discharge from an acute care hospital to hospice care between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2011 (N = 149).

Measurements

We determined whether antibiotics were indicated for treatment of an active infection, palliative treatment, prophylaxis, or prescribed according to family or participant preference.

Results

Antibiotics were prescribed to 17.6% (n = 149) of individuals discharged to hospice care over the 3‐year study period. Antibiotics were most frequently prescribed for pneumonia (19.5%), urinary tract infections (18.9%), and gastrointestinal tract infections (17.0%). The explicit rationale for antibiotic prescription was documented for only 72 prescriptions (45.3%). For 84 (52.8%) participants, antibiotics were used to treat an active infection in the hospital. Of prescriptions with a documented rationale, 37.5% indicated that the intent was curative, 26.4% prophylaxis, and 22.2% to suppress an infection. For 19.4% of prescriptions, participants or their family members specifically wanted to be treated with antibiotics. Only 9.7% of prescriptions specifically indicated that antibiotics were prescribed for palliative reasons.

Conclusion

Antibiotics were frequently prescribed for treatment of active infection in individuals discharged to hospice care. Further research is needed to document antibiotic benefits and risks and optimize medication management at the end of life.
Managing Children's Internet Advertising Experiences: Parental Preferences for Regulation
Authors: Vijayalakshmi Akshaya , Lin Meng‐Hsien (Jenny) , Laczniak Russell N.
Published: January 2018

Recent research suggests that children are spending a significant amount of time on the Internet which increases their exposure to subtle, engaging, and interactive ads. As a result, policy makers have developed regulations intended to empower parents to manage their children's exposure to Internet advertising. However, prior research has not examined parental perceptions of these regulations. This article aims to identify (1) parents' regulatory preferences regarding children's exposure to Internet advertising and (2) whether (and how) parents' locus of control (LOC) drives their regulation preferences. Findings reveal that internal‐LOC parents prefer parental responsibility while external‐LOC parents prefer government regulations, parental responsibility, and involvement of independent organizations and firms. External‐LOC parents' preference is mediated by their concerns about Internet advertising and their tendency to have faith in regulation. Policy makers can use the findings to develop guidelines that better assist parents in influencing their children's Internet use.
Evaluation of the implementation of a 24‐hr stroke thrombolysis emergency treatment for patients with acute ischaemic stroke
Authors: Zhao Jun , Li Xingqiang , Liang Yingchun , Zhao Liang , Zhang Xinping , Liu Yunlin
Published: January 2018

Aims and objectives

To assess the trends of intravenous (IV) thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt‐PA) among patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) admitted to our hospital between 2012–2014 and investigate the effects of a 24‐hr stroke thrombolysis emergency treatment on the intrahospital clinical data and outcomes of these patients treated with IV rt‐PA thrombolysis.

Background

Although prenotification of stroke by emergency medical services has been endorsed by the national recommendations and implemented in some developed countries, the development in China is limited.

Design

A retrospective, single‐centre, observational study.

Methods

Patients with AIS admitted to our hospital between January 2012–December 2014 were included; those who received IV rt‐PA thrombolysis within 4.5 hr of onset were investigated. Demographic characteristics, including age and sex, and clinical data and outcomes, including onset‐to‐treatment time (OTT), door‐to‐needle time (DNT), premorbid modified Rankin Scale score and proportion of patients treated per year, were all recorded.

Results

The proportion of patients with AIS who received thrombolytic therapy within 4.5 hr increased from 2012–2014. The baseline characteristics of all patients were similar. Since the implementation of 24‐hr stroke thrombolysis emergency treatment in 2013, the median DNT significantly decreased in 2014 after implementation (42 min) compared with that in 2012 before implementation (81 min) (p < .05). Moreover, the admission‐to‐imaging time (37 vs. 33 vs. 36 min) and OTT (176 vs. 147 vs. 124 min) significantly decreased during the 3 years (p < .05).

Conclusions

The 24‐hr stroke thrombolysis emergency treatment reduced in‐hospital delay before thrombolytic therapy but had no effect on the functional outcomes of the patients with AIS.

Relevance to clinical practice

This study provides opportunities to improve the experiences in using 24‐h stroke thrombolysis emergency treatment in patients with AIS in clinical practice.
Serum amyloid A, procalcitonin, highly sensitive C reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels and acute inflammatory response in patients with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count (HELLP) and eclampsia
Authors: Uckan Kazım , Sahin Hanım Guler
Published: January 2018

Aim

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between serum amyloid A (SAA), procalcitonin (ProC), highly sensitive C reactive protein (hsCRP) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha activity in patients with pre‐eclampsia, eclampsia and hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count (HELLP), and the pathogenesis and severity of the disease.

Method

Ninety patients at ≥ 32 gestational weeks, according to the last date of menstruation and ultra‐sonographic measurements, diagnosed with pre‐eclampsia (30 patients), eclampsia (30 patients) or HELLP syndrome (30 patients) were included in the study. Thirty healthy pregnant women from the outpatient clinic during the same period were recruited as the control. The age, gravida, parity, gestational age, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, proteinuria, hemoglobin, thrombocyte count, liver function tests (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, SAA, TNF alpha, ProC and hsCRP levels during pregnancy) were determined and recorded.

Results

No statistically significant differences were detected between the four groups in terms of age, gravida, parity, gestational age and hemoglobin parameters (P > 0.05). When compared to the control, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, spot and 24 h urine protein levels, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, SAA, ProC, hsCRP and TNF alpha levels were significantly high and thrombocyte levels were low in the pre‐eclamptic, eclamptic and HELLP groups (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The investigated parameters were useful to gain an understanding of the maternal inflammatory profile of pre‐eclampsia and might be beneficial as markers to predict complications such as HELLP and eclampsia and to provide the necessary preventive approach in these patients.
A novel nested polymerase chain reaction assay targeting Plasmodium mitochondrial DNA in field‐collected Anopheles mosquitoes
Authors: Calzetta M. , Perugini E. , Seixas G. , Sousa C. A. , Guelbeogo W. M. , Sagnon N. , Della Torre A. , Pinto J. , Pombi M. , Mancini E.
Published: January 2018

Sensitive techniques for the detection of Plasmodium (Aconoidasida: Plasmodiidae) sporozoites in field‐collected malaria vectors are essential for the correct assessment of risk for malaria transmission. A real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) protocol targeting Plasmodium mtDNA proved to be much more sensitive in detecting sporozoites in mosquitoes than the widely used enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay targeting Plasmodium circumsporozoite protein (CSP‐ELISA). However, because of the relatively high costs associated with equipment and reagents, RT‐PCRs are mostly used to assess the outcomes of experimental infections in the frame of research experiments, rather than in routine monitoring of mosquito infection in the field. The present authors developed a novel mtDNA‐based nested PCR protocol, modified from a loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for Plasmodium recognition in human blood samples, and compared its performance with that of routinely used CSP‐ELISAs in field‐collected Anopheles coluzzii (Diptera: Culicidae) samples. The nested PCR showed 1.4‐fold higher sensitivity than the CSP‐ELISA. However, nested PCR results obtained in two laboratories and in different replicates within the same laboratory were not 100% consistent, probably because the copy number of amplifiable Plasmodium mtDNA was close in some specimens to the threshold of nested PCR sensitivity. This implies that Plasmodium‐positive specimens should be confirmed by a second nested PCR to avoid false positives. Overall, the results emphasize the need to use molecular approaches to obtain accurate estimates of the actual level of Plasmodium circulation within malaria vector populations.
The use of 3D model planning in the management of impacted teeth
Authors: Scott Jessica , Stagnell Sami , Downie Ian
Published: January 2018

The extraction of deeply impacted mandibular wisdom teeth can be challenging and may pose a risk of damage to the Inferior Alveolar Nerve (IAN). Thorough planning helps minimise this risk whilst improving the efficiency of the surgical procedure. The use of modern imaging and modelling techniques can help mitigate this risk and improve outcomes.

We discuss the case of a 61 year old male presenting to the outpatients department complaining of facial swelling and limited mouth opening. Plain film imaging revealed a deeply impacted molar with associated pathology. Subsequent 3D imaging provided more accurate location of the tooth and the close association with the IAN.

Surgical planning included the construction of a 3D model of the mandible. A viewing window was created to observe both the tooth and nerve. The construction and customisation of the model allowed for practise surgery along with appropriate preoperative decision making. An acrylic guide was constructed to fit the mandible intraoperatively and guide the bone cuts in the correct position, relative to the unerupted tooth.

The surgery was performed successfully using the guide intraoperatively. The tooth was removed without traumatising the IAN. The patient has since made a rapid and complete recovery after surgery with no neurosensory defect noted.
RNICE Model: Evaluating the Contribution of Replication Studies in Public Administration and Management Research
Authors: Pedersen Mogens Jin , Stritch Justin M.
Published: January 2018

Replication studies relate to the scientific principle of replicability and serve the significant purpose of providing supporting (or contradicting) evidence regarding the existence of a phenomenon. However, replication has never been an integral part of public administration and management research. Recently, scholars have called for more replication, but academic reflections on when replication adds substantive value to public administration and management research are needed. This article presents the RNICE conceptual model, for assessing when and how a replication study contributes knowledge about a social phenomenon and advances knowledge in the public administration and management literatures. The RNICE model provides a vehicle for researchers who seek to evaluate or demonstrate the value of a replication study systematically. The practical application of the model is illustrated using two published replication studies.
The future of caviar production on the light of social changes: a new dawn for caviar?
Authors: Sicuro Benedetto
Published: January 2018

Caviar consumption is increasing, and main projections indicate that the presumable maximum production will be of 3000 t year−1. From the productive point of view, the principal difference from the past caviar production is the definitive shift from wild to farmed caviar. Due to the recent advances in sturgeon aquaculture and the expansion of luxury consumers, there remains vast potential to reshape caviar consumption. Luxury market is extremely lucrative, it accounted for €217–€253 billion in 2016 and this is about 1.5 times of world aquaculture production. However, these perspectives are not only positive as this market segment is also affected by the diffusion of imitation (i.e. caviar substitutes, in this case). The proliferation of caviar substitutes can be interpreted as a kind of commercial Müllerian mimicry, while the adoption of new marketing strategy defined ‘Masstige’, which describes a downward luxury extensions directed towards middle‐class consumers and introduces new perspectives to this sector in its totality. What suggestions can be made by observing luxury consumers attitudes? This review takes into consideration the relation between sturgeon farming and quality of caviar on the light of modern societal changes. The main challenge for sturgeon aquaculture will be to spread a positive image of farmed caviar, thus introducing the aspects of excellence related to extensive aquaculture in controlled conditions by the adoption of shared rules on caviar quality. The most interesting aspects emerged are related to potential social expansion of caviar consumption, particularly in the middle‐class consumers.
Predictive functional profiles using metagenomic 16S rRNA data: a novel approach to understanding the microbial ecology of aquaculture systems
Authors: Ortiz‐Estrada Ángel Martín , Gollas‐Galván Teresa , Martínez‐Córdova Luis Rafael , Martínez‐Porchas Marcel
Published: January 2018

Micro‐organisms are an essential component of natural marine ecosystems, but also play important roles in anthropogenically modified ecosystems, including aquaculture. Although metagenomics is currently used to explore microbial communities, its application has not been as extensive in aquaculture. Although some taxonomic profiles and phylogenetic studies have been deciphered using biomarker genes, the functional potential of microbial communities associated with aquaculture systems is still unknown in most cases. Predicting functional profiles through 16S rRNA gene‐based metagenomics analysis is perhaps the most promising tool to elucidate the metabolic capabilities of microbial communities because there is no need to perform shotgun sequencing to have an idea of these capabilities. Moreover, robust bioinformatics background is not required to assess this information, and so the same data (16S rRNA sequences) are used to estimate both taxonomic and functional profiles, therefore providing deeper insights into these kinds of communities. In this review, we suggest the need to major use of novel bioinformatics tools that construct functional profiles from metagenomic 16S rRNA data, as strategy to obtain a preliminary approach about metabolic capacities of microbes that coexist in aquaculture systems.
Bayesian Models for Weighted Data with Missing Values: A Bootstrap Approach
Authors: Goldstein Harvey , Carpenter James , Kenward Michael G.
Published: January 2018

Many data sets, especially from surveys, are made available to users with weights. Where the derivation of such weights is known, this information can often be incorporated in the user's substantive model (model of interest). When the derivation is unknown, the established procedure is to carry out a weighted analysis. However, with non-trivial proportions of missing data this is inefficient and may be biased when data are not missing at random. Bayesian approaches provide a natural approach for the imputation of missing data, but it is unclear how to handle the weights. We propose a weighted bootstrap Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm for estimation and inference. A simulation study shows that it has good inferential properties. We illustrate its utility with an analysis of data from the Millennium Cohort Study.
Rural and Urban Differences in Gender‐Sentencing Patterns of Pennsylvania
Authors: Lu Yunmei
Published: January 2018

Research on criminal punishment and judicial decision making consistently reveals that female offenders receive more lenient treatment than similarly situated male counterparts. A major shortcoming in this body of research, however, is the lack of studies on whether the effects of gender on sentencing differ across geographic localities, such as in rural versus urban courts. Using a rich database on recent sentencing practices in Pennsylvania from 2003 to 2010 (N = 186,634), this study addresses this gap by investigating and comparing the effects of gender on sentence outcomes across six types of locality categorized by their level of rurality. Consistent with the focal concerns theory of punishment decision making, the results indicate robust gender effects on sentencing outcomes across places. When other factors are held constant, female defendants consistently receive more lenient treatment; they are less likely to be incarcerated and receive short sentences if incarcerated. The magnitudes of gender disparities are consistent across levels of the rural‐urban continuum, with one exception: female leniency in shorter jail or prison sentences is greater in the smallest and most rural localities than in other areas. The article discusses implications of the study findings for research on sentencing and rurality.
“People Will Bury Their Guns before They Surrender Them”: Implementing Domestic Violence Gun Control in Rural, Appalachian versus Urban Communities
Authors: Lynch Kellie R. , Logan TK , Jackson Dylan B.
Published: January 2018

Though gun violence is a global issue, the risk of firearm death is substantially higher in the United States than in other high‐income nations. Guns are deeply rooted within American culture; however, different subcultures exist along the urban‐rural divide. Such differences between urban and rural communities related to gun culture have been dubbed “firearm localism.” We investigated firearm localism in a state that has the highest proportion of firearm‐related domestic violence homicide and a large rural area representing a subgroup of rural culture: Appalachia. Specifically, key professionals reported issues related to domestic violence gun control in their communities. We conducted phone and in‐person surveys with a sample of community professionals (N = 133) working in victim services and the justice system in urban and Appalachian communities. Despite evidence of a strong gun culture in the rural communities, both urban and rural professionals estimated that about two‐thirds of their community would support restricting abusers' firearm access. Additionally, rural professionals were more likely to show concern for abusers' Second Amendment rights when discussing unintended negative consequences of gun confiscation; urban professionals were more likely to point out that gun confiscation can provide a false sense of security for victims. Policy implications are discussed.
Retrospective study on midfacial advancement in syndromic craniosynostosis: case series
Authors: Guaita Márcia Pereira , Pereira Maristela , Cardim Vera Lúcia Nocchi , Gonçalves Flávia , Júnior Sérgio Allegrini
Published: January 2018

AIMS

The aim of this study was to evaluate elastic distraction surgical procedures performed on patients with syndromic craniosynostosis using cephalometric analyses.

Methods

Eleven patients who underwent surgical midfacial advancement were divided into three groups: G1 – monobloc frontofacial; G2 – Le Fort III; and G3 – high‐level Le Fort I. The cephalometric analyses were manually created through cephalometric radiographs of each patient: T1 – preoperative; T2 – 6 months postoperatively; and T3 – 12 months postoperatively. The cephalometric landmark points were A and O. The distances between preoperative and postoperative tracings were measured.

Results

Point A advanced with no significant relapse 12 months after surgery. Point O advanced with a significant relapse rate of 28.5% postoperatively (p = 0.019). The vertical movement of points A and O increased by 40.6% (p = 0.033) and 38.8% (p = 0.032), respectively. There were no significant statistical differences between the assessed surgical techniques and syndromes with regard to midfacial advancement.

Conclusion

Point O has presented statistically significant relapse only in horizontal movement after 12 months. The cephalometric analysis performed in the present study only suggested no differences between the studied surgical techniques and syndromes with regard to midfacial advancement in syndromic craniosynostosis.
Temperament, mothers' reactions to children's emotional experiences, and emotion understanding predicting adjustment in preschool children
Authors: Klein Melanie R. , Moran Lyndsey , Cortes Rebecca , Zalewski Maureen , Ruberry Erika J. , Lengua Liliana J.
Published: January 2018

It is expected that both children and their parents contribute to children's development of emotion knowledge and adjustment. Bidirectional relations between child temperament (fear, frustration, executive control) and mothers' reactions to children's emotional experiences were examined to explore how these variables predict children's emotion understanding, social competence, and problem behaviors. Preschool‐aged children (N = 306) and their mothers were assessed across four‐time points. Children's temperament and mothers' non‐supportive reactions to children's emotional experiences were assessed when children were 36 and 45 months of age. Emotion understanding was assessed when the children were 54 months of age and teachers reported on children's problem behaviors and social competence when the children were 63 months of age. Covariates included family income, child cognitive ability, gender, and child adjustment at 36 months. Results from path analyses demonstrated that bidirectional relations between children's temperament and mothers' non‐supportive reactions were not significant. However, mother's non‐supportive reactions directly predicted fewer problem behaviors, and children's emotion understanding mediated the relation between children's executive control and their later social competence. As such, emotion understanding appears to be one mechanism through which executive control might impact social competence.
The Postsecondary Education Pathways of Canadian Immigrants: Who Goes and How Do They Get There?
Authors: Kamanzi Pierre Canisius , Collins Tya
Published: January 2018

This article aims to describe and understand the postsecondary education pathway morphology of Canadian youth from the province of Quebec with immigrant family origins, as well as the factors that contribute to its structuration. Results from a subsample of 20,387 students reveal that they generally acces postsecondary education and follow a linear pathway at higher rates than their peers whose parents were born in Canada. However, significant differences exist between first and second generation immigrants, as well as when parental geographic region of origin is considered.  In conclusion, several possible interpretations are proposed.
Predictive neuromechanical simulations indicate why walking performance declines with ageing
Authors: Song Seungmoon , Geyer Hartmut
Published: January 2018

Key points

Although the natural decline in walking performance with ageing affects the quality of life of a growing elderly population, its physiological origins remain unknown.

By using predictive neuromechanical simulations of human walking with age‐related neuro‐musculo‐skeletal changes, we find evidence that the loss of muscle strength and muscle contraction speed dominantly contribute to the reduced walking economy and speed.

The findings imply that focusing on recovering these muscular changes may be the only effective way to improve performance in elderly walking.

More generally, the work is of interest for investigating the physiological causes of altered gait due to age, injury and disorders.

Healthy elderly people walk slower and energetically less efficiently than young adults. This decline in walking performance lowers the quality of life for a growing ageing population, and understanding its physiological origin is critical for devising interventions that can delay or revert it. However, the origin of the decline in walking performance remains unknown, as ageing produces a range of physiological changes whose individual effects on gait are difficult to separate in experiments with human subjects. Here we use a predictive neuromechanical model to separately address the effects of common age‐related changes to the skeletal, muscular and nervous systems. We find in computer simulations of this model that the combined changes produce gait consistent with elderly walking and that mainly the loss of muscle strength and mass reduces energy efficiency. In addition, we find that the slower preferred walking speed of elderly people emerges in the simulations when adapting to muscle fatigue, again mainly caused by muscle‐related changes. The results suggest that a focus on recovering these muscular changes may be the only effective way to improve performance in elderly walking.
Assessing the manufacturing tolerances and uniformity of CMOS compatible metamaterial fabrication
Authors: Musick Katherine M. , Wendt Joel R. , Resnick Paul J. , Sinclair Michael B. , Burckel D. Bruce
Published: January 2018

The manufacturing tolerances of a stencil-lithography variant, membrane projection lithography, were investigated. In the first part of this work, electron beam lithography was used to create stencils with a range of linewidths. These patterns were transferred into the stencil membrane and used to pattern metallic lines on vertical silicon faces. Only the largest lines, with a nominal width of 84 nm, were resolved, resulting in 45 ± 10 nm (average ± standard deviation) as deposited with 135-nm spacing. Although written in the e-beam write software file as 84-nm in width, the lines exhibited linewidth bias. This can largely be attributed to nonvertical sidewalls inherent to dry etching techniques that cause proportionally larger impact with decreasing feature size. The line edge roughness can be significantly attributed to the grain structure of the aluminum nitride stencil membrane. In the second part of this work, the spatial uniformity of optically defined (as opposed to e-beam written) metamaterial structures over large areas was assessed. A Fourier transform infrared spectrometer microscope was used to collect the reflection spectra of samples with optically defined vertical split ring from 25 spatially resolved 300 × 300 μm regions in a 1-cm2 area. The technique is shown to provide a qualitative measure of the uniformity of the inclusions.
Effects of nanowire size and geometry on silicon nanowire array thin film solar cells
Authors: Müller Martin , Ledinský Martin , Kočka Jan , Fejfar Antonín , Červenka Jiří
Published: January 2018

Here, the authors demonstrate the fabrication of silicon nanowire array based solar cells consisting of crystalline Si cores and amorphous a-Si:H layers using a single pump-down plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process. The authors investigate the influence of geometry, physical dimensions, and doping of the nanowire arrays on the solar cell performance. The authors show that the length and thickness of the nanowire radial NIP junction have a significant influence on the current density–voltage characteristics and external quantum efficiency of the cells. The efficiency of radial solar cells is found to be mainly driven by the photogenerated current which is the largest when the thickness of the absorber film is approximately one half of the NIP nanowire length. Doping of the nanowires done by adding phosphine gas in situ in the PECVD growth has affected both the axial and radial nanowire growth rate, leading to the nanowire growth reduction in both directions at higher doping concentrations. The mechanism of light absorption, the ratio of crystalline and amorphous Si phases, and bulk and interface electrical losses for varying nanowire dimensions and amorphous layer thicknesses in the solar cells are discussed.
Analyzing student conceptual understanding of resistor networks using binary, descriptive, and computational questions
Authors: Mujtaba Abid H.
Published: January 2018

This paper presents a case study assessing and analyzing student engagement with and responses to binary, descriptive, and computational questions testing the concepts underlying resistor networks (series and parallel combinations). The participants of the study were undergraduate students enrolled in a university in Pakistan. The majority of students struggled with the descriptive question, and while successfully answering the binary and computational ones, they failed to build an expectation for the answer, and betrayed significant lack of conceptual understanding in the process. The data collected was also used to analyze the relative efficacy of the three questions as a means of assessing conceptual understanding. The three questions were revealed to be uncorrelated and unlikely to be testing the same construct. The ability to answer the binary or computational question was observed to be divorced from a deeper understanding of the concepts involved.
Effects of Three-Day Serial Sodium Bicarbonate Loading on Performance and Physiological Parameters During a Simulated Basketball Test in Female University Players
Authors: Delextrat Anne , Mackessy Sinead , Arceo-Rendon Luis , Scanlan Aaron , Ramsbottom Roger , Calleja-Gonzalez Julio
Published: January 2018

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 3-day serial sodium bicarbonate ingestion on repeated sprint and jump performance. Fifteen female university basketball players (23.3 ± 3.4 years; 173.1 ± 5.8 cm; 65.8 ± 6.3 kg; 23.6 ± 4.9% body fat) ingested 0.4 g/kg body mass of sodium bicarbonate or placebo for 3 days (split in three equal daily doses), before completing a simulated basketball exercise. Sprint and circuit times, jump heights, performance decrements, and gastrointestinal side effects were recorded during the test, and blood lactate concentration was measured pre- and posttest. Sodium bicarbonate supplementation led to significant decreases in mean sprint times (1.34 ± 0.23 vs. 1.70 ± 0.41 s, p = .008, 95% confidence intervals [−0.54, −0.10 s]) and mean circuit times (30.6 ± 2.0 vs. 31.3 ± 2.0 s, p = .044) and significantly greater mean jump height (26.8 [range 25.2–34.2] vs. 26.0 [range 25.6–33.6] cm, p = .013) compared with placebo. Performance decrement was significantly less for sprints with sodium bicarbonate compared with placebo (9.9 [range 3.4–37.0]% vs. 24.7 [range 4.1–61.3]%, p = .013), but not different for jumps (13.1 ± 4.5% vs. 12.5 ± 3.1%, p = .321) between conditions. No differences in gastrointestinal side effects were noted between conditions. Significantly greater postexercise blood lactate concentrations were measured in the sodium bicarbonate condition compared with the placebo condition (8.2 ± 2.8 vs. 6.6 ± 2.4 mmol/L, p = .010). This study is the first to show that serial loading of sodium bicarbonate is effective for basketball players to improve repeated sprint and jump performance during competition, or withstand greater training load during practice sessions without any gastrointestinal side effects.
Design and Validation of an Instrumented Uneven Terrain Treadmill
Authors: Voloshina Alexandra S. , Ferris Daniel P.
Published: January 2018

Studying human and animal locomotion on an uneven terrain can be beneficial to basic science and applied studies for clinical and robotic applications. Traditional biomechanical analysis of human locomotion has often been limited to laboratory environments with flat, smooth runways and treadmills. The authors modified a regular exercise treadmill by attaching wooden blocks to the treadmill belt to yield an uneven locomotion surface. To ensure that these treadmill modifications facilitated biomechanical measurements, the authors compared ground reaction force data collected while a subject ran on the modified instrumented treadmill with a smooth surface with data collected using a conventional instrumented treadmill. Comparisons showed only minor differences. These results suggest that adding an uneven surface to a modified treadmill is a viable option for studying human or animal locomotion on an uneven terrain. Other types of surfaces (eg, compliant blocks) could be affixed in a similar manner for studies on other types of locomotion surfaces.
Physical Activity, Function, and Mortality in Advanced Age: A Longitudinal Follow-Up (LiLACS NZ)
Authors: Mace Firebaugh Casey , Moyes Simon , Jatrana Santosh , Rolleston Anna , Kerse Ngaire
Published: January 2018

The relationship between physical activity, function, and mortality is not established in advanced age. Physical activity, function, and mortality were followed in a cohort of Māori and non-Māori adults living in advanced age for a period of 6 years. Generalized linear regression models were used to analyze the association between physical activity and Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living scale, whereas Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between the physical activity and mortality. The hazard ratio for mortality for those in the least active physical activity quartile was 4.1 for Māori and 1.8 for non-Māori compared with the most active physical activity quartile. There was an inverse relationship between physical activity and mortality, with lower hazard ratios for mortality at all levels of physical activity. Higher levels of physical activity were associated with lower mortality and higher functional status in advanced-aged adults.
Correlates of Physical Activity Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults With Hazardous Drinking Habits in Six Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Vancampfort Davy , Stubbs Brendon , Hallgren Mats , Lundin Andreas , Mugisha James , Koyanagi Ai
Published: January 2018

We investigated physical activity (PA) correlates among middle-aged and older adults (aged ≥50 years) with hazardous drinking patterns in six low- and middle-income countries. Cross-sectional data were analyzed from the World Health Organization’s Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health. Hazardous drinking was defined as consuming >7 (females) or >14 (males) standard drinks per week. Participants were dichotomized into low (i.e., not meeting 150 min of moderate PA/week) and moderate–high physically active groups. Associations between PA and a range of correlates were examined using multivariable logistic regressions. The prevalence of low PA in 1,835 hazardous drinkers (60.5 ± 13.1 years; 87.9% males) was 16.2% (95% confidence interval [13.9%, 18.9%]). Older age, living in an urban setting, being unemployed, depression, underweight, obesity, asthma, visual impairment, poor self-rated health, and higher levels of disability were identified as significant PA correlates. The current data provide important guidance for future interventions to assist older hazardous drinkers to engage in regular PA.
The accuracy, fairness, and limits of predicting recidivism
Authors: Dressel Julia , Farid Hany
Published: January 2018

Should we trust computers to make life-altering decisions in the criminal justice system?
Are algorithms good judges?
Authors: Matacic Catherine
Published: January 2018

People are as good as machines in predicting rearrest.
The believer
Authors: Wade Lizzie
Published: January 2018

How a Mormon lawyer transformed Mesoamerican archaeology—and ended up losing his faith.
Hydraulic fracturing volume is associated with induced earthquake productivity in the Duvernay play
Authors: Schultz R. , Atkinson G. , Eaton D. W. , Gu Y. J. , Kao H.
Published: January 2018

Seismicity curbed by lowering volume

Determining why hydraulic fracturing (also known as fracking) triggered earthquakes in the Duvernay Formation in Canada is important for future hazard mitigation. Schultz
et al.
found that injection volume was the key operational parameter correlated with induced earthquakes in the Duvernay. However, geological factors also played a considerable role in determining whether a large injection volume would trigger earthquakes. These findings provide a framework that may lead to better forecasting of induced seismicity.

Science
, this issue p.
304
Atomic-resolution transmission electron microscopy of electron beam–sensitive crystalline materials
Authors: Zhang Daliang , Zhu Yihan , Liu Lingmei , Ying Xiangrong , Hsiung Chia-En , Sougrat Rachid , Li Kun , Han Yu
Published: January 2018

Crystallography of sensitive materials

High-resolution transmission electron microscopy is an invaluable tool for looking at the crystalline structures of many materials. However, the need for high beam doses, especially as a sample is rotated to find the crystal axes, can lead to damage, particularly in fragile materials. Zhang
et al.
combined a state-of-the-art direct-detection electron-counting camera with ways to limit the overall electron dose to analyze delicate materials such as metal organic frameworks. With this approach, they could see the benzene rings in a UiO-66 linker and the coexistence of ligand-free (metal-exposing) and ligand-capped surfaces in UiO-66 crystals.

Science
, this issue p.
675
Improving refugee integration through data-driven algorithmic assignment
Authors: Bansak Kirk , Ferwerda Jeremy , Hainmueller Jens , Dillon Andrea , Hangartner Dominik , Lawrence Duncan , Weinstein Jeremy
Published: January 2018

Data-driven refugee assignment

The continuing refugee crisis has made it necessary for governments to find ways to resettle individuals and families in host communities. Bansak
et al.
used a machine learning approach to develop an algorithm for geographically placing refugees to optimize their overall employment rate. The authors developed and tested the algorithm on segments of registry data from the United States and Switzerland. The algorithm improved the employment prospects of refugees in the United States by ∼40% and in Switzerland by ∼75%.

Science
, this issue p.
325
A pathway for mitotic chromosome formation
Authors: Gibcus Johan H. , Samejima Kumiko , Goloborodko Anton , Samejima Itaru , Naumova Natalia , Nuebler Johannes , Kanemaki Masato T. , Xie Linfeng , Paulson James R. , Earnshaw William C. , Mirny Leonid A. , Dekker Job
Published: January 2018

Tracking mitotic chromosome formation

How cells pack DNA into fully compact, rod-shaped chromosomes during mitosis has fascinated cell biologists for more than a century. Gibcuset al.delineated the conformational transition trajectory from interphase chromatin to mitotic chromosomes minute by minute during the cell cycle. The mitotic chromosome is organized in a spiral staircase architecture in which chromatin loops emanate radially from a centrally located helical scaffold. The molecular machines condensin I and II play distinct roles in these processes: Condensin II is essential for helical winding, whereas condensin I modulates the organization within each helical turn.

Science, this issue p.eaao6135
Chiromagnetic nanoparticles and gels
Authors: Yeom Jihyeon , Santos Uallisson S. , Chekini Mahshid , Cha Minjeong , de Moura André F. , Kotov Nicholas A.
Published: January 2018

Boosting chiral nanoparticle responses

Optical nanomaterials that combine chirality and magnetism are useful for magneto-optics and as chiral catalysts. Although chiral inorganic nanostructures can exhibit high circular dichroism, modulating this optical activity has usually required irreversible chemical changes. Yeom
et al.
synthesized paramagnetic cobalt oxide (Co
3
O
4
) nanoparticles with
l
- and
d
-cysteine surface ligands. These ligands created chiral distortions of the crystal lattices, and this anisotropy led to much stronger chiroptical activity. The circular dichroism in the ultraviolet of nanoparticle gels could be modulated with magnetic fields of ∼1.5 tesla.

Science
, this issue p.
309
Assessing nature's contributions to people
Authors: Díaz Sandra , Pascual Unai , Stenseke Marie , Martín-López Berta , Watson Robert T. , Molnár Zsolt , Hill Rosemary , Chan Kai M. A. , Baste Ivar A. , Brauman Kate A. , Polasky Stephen , Church Andrew , Lonsdale Mark , Larigauderie Anne , Leadley Paul W. , van Oudenhoven Alexander P. E. , van der Plaat Felice , Schröter Matthias , Lavorel Sandra , Aumeeruddy-Thomas Yildiz , Bukvareva Elena , Davies Kirsten , Demissew Sebsebe , Erpul Gunay , Failler Pierre , Guerra Carlos A. , Hewitt Chad L. , Keune Hans , Lindley Sarah , Shirayama Yoshihisa
Published: January 2018

Recognizing culture, and diverse sources of knowledge, can improve assessments
Building superlattices from individual nanoparticles via template-confined DNA-mediated assembly
Authors: Lin Qing-Yuan , Mason Jarad A. , Li Zhongyang , Zhou Wenjie , O’Brien Matthew N. , Brown Keith A. , Jones Matthew R. , Butun Serkan , Lee Byeongdu , Dravid Vinayak P. , Aydin Koray , Mirkin Chad A.
Published: January 2018

Programmed nanoparticle stacking

A polymer pore template can control the order of assembly of nanoparticles into well-defined stacks and create superlattices. Lin
et al.
used DNA strands on gold nanoparticles to control interparticle distance. The DNA strands contained modified adenines with more rigid ribose groups that formed stronger base pairs. The height of the stacks of three different types of gold nanoparticle could be changed with different solvents, which in turn changed their optical response.

Science
, this issue p.
669
Remote control of nanoscale devices
Authors: Högberg Björn
Published: January 2018

A DNA nanodevice can be manipulated with an applied electric field
Evaluating the Relationship between Vancomycin Trough Concentration and 24-Hour Area under the Concentration-Time Curve in Neonates
Authors: Tseng Sheng-Hsuan , Lim Chuan Poh , Chen Qi , Tang Cheng Cai , Kong Sing Teang , Ho Paul Chi-Lui
Published: January 2018

Bacterial sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates, especially those involving methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA). Guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America recommend the vancomycin 24-h area under the concentration-time curve to MIC ratio (AUC
24
/MIC) of >400 as the best predictor of successful treatment against MRSA infections when the MIC is ≤1 mg/liter. The relationship between steady-state vancomycin trough concentrations and AUC
24
values (mg·h/liter) has not been studied in an Asian neonatal population. We conducted a retrospective chart review in Singapore hospitals and collected patient characteristics and therapeutic drug monitoring data from neonates on vancomycin therapy over a 5-year period. A one-compartment population pharmacokinetic model was built from the collected data, internally validated, and then used to assess the relationship between steady-state trough concentrations and AUC
24
. A Monte Carlo simulation sensitivity analysis was also conducted. A total of 76 neonates with 429 vancomycin concentrations were included for analysis. Median (interquartile range) was 30 weeks (28 to 36 weeks) for postmenstrual age (PMA) and 1,043 g (811 to 1,919 g) for weight at the initiation of treatment. Vancomycin clearance was predicted by weight, PMA, and serum creatinine. For MRSA isolates with a vancomycin MIC of ≤1, our major finding was that the minimum steady-state trough concentration range predictive of achieving an AUC
24
/MIC of >400 was 8 to 8.9 mg/liter. Steady-state troughs within 15 to 20 mg/liter are unlikely to be necessary to achieve an AUC
24
/MIC of >400, whereas troughs within 10 to 14.9 mg/liter may be more appropriate.
Amikacin Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Analysis in Pediatric Cancer Patients
Authors: Alhadab Ali A. , Ahmed Mariam A. , Brundage Richard C.
Published: January 2018

We performed pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) and simulation analyses to evaluate a standard amikacin dose of 15 mg/kg once daily in children with cancer and to determine an optimal dosing strategy. A population pharmacokinetic model was developed from clinical data collected in 34 pediatric patients and used in a simulation study to predict the population probability of various dosing regimens to achieve accepted safety (steady-state unbound trough plasma concentration [
fC
min
] of <10 mg/liter)- and efficacy (free, unbound plasma concentration-to-MIC ratio [
fC
max
/MIC] of ≥8)-linked targets. In addition, an adaptive resistance PD (ARPD) model of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
was built based on literature time-kill curve data and linked to the PK model to perform PK-ARPD simulations and compare results with those of the probability approach. Using the probability approach, an amikacin dose of 60 mg/kg administered once daily is expected to achieve the target
fC
max
/MIC in 80% of pediatric patients weighing 8 to 70 kg with a 97.5% probability, and almost all patients were predicted to have
fC
min
of <10 mg/liter. However, PK-ARPD simulation predicted that 60 mg/kg/day is unlikely to suppress bacterial resistance with repeated dosing. Furthermore, PK-ARPD simulation suggested that amikacin at 90 mg/kg, given in two divided doses (45 mg/kg twice a day), is expected to hit safety and efficacy targets and is associated with a lower rate of bacterial resistance. The disagreement between the two methods is due to the inability of the probability approach to predict development of drug resistance with repeated dosing. This originates from the use of PK-PD indices based on the MIC that neglects measurement errors, ignores the time course dynamic nature of bacterial growth and killing, and incorrectly assumes the MIC to be constant during treatment.