bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of microsolvation on a SN2 reaction: indirect atomistic dynamics and weakened suppression of reactivity
Authors: Yang Li , Liu Xu , Zhang Jiaxu , Xie Jing
Published: March 2017

Indirect dynamics prevails in a microsolvated SN2 reaction.
Hexacyanometallates for sodium-ion batteries: insights into higher redox potentials using d electronic spin configurations
Authors: Kim Duho , Hwang Taesoon , Lim Jin-Myoung , Park Min-Sik , Cho Maenghyo , Cho Kyeongjae
Published: March 2017

Considering the d electronic spin configurations of transition metals, a deep understanding of hexacyanometallates was developed for higher redox potentials.
Chemical states of 3d transition metal impurities in a liquid lead–bismuth eutectic analyzed using first principles calculations
Authors: Han Jeong-Hwan , Oda Takuji
Published: March 2017

Interactions of 4s and 3d orbitals with the 6p band largely determine the chemical states of 3d transition-metal impurities in a liquid LBE.
An adaptive mutation simulated annealing based investigation of Coulombic explosion and identification of dissociation patterns in (CO2)n2+ clusters
Authors: Naskar Pulak , Talukder Srijeeta , Chaudhury Pinaki
Published: March 2017

In this communication, we would like to discuss the advantages of adaptive mutation simulated annealing (AMSA) over standard simulated annealing (SA) in studying the Coulombic explosion of (CO2)n2+ clusters for n = 20–68, where ‘n’ is the size of the cluster.
Intrinsic defects and their effects on the optical properties in the nonlinear optical crystal CdSiP2: a first-principles study
Authors: Wang Ci , Sun Jie , Gou Huiyang , Wang Shanpeng , Zhang Jian , Tao Xutang
Published: March 2017

In view of their high nonlinear optical coefficients and good phase-matching properties, CdSiP2 (CSP) crystals are considered as one of the most promising materials in the field of nonlinear optical applications.
On the Lewis acidic character of bis(salicylaldiminato)zinc(ii) Schiff-base complexes: a computational and experimental investigation on a series of compounds varying the bridging diimine
Authors: Forte Giuseppe , Oliveri Ivan Pietro , Consiglio Giuseppe , Failla Salvatore , Di Bella Santo
Published: March 2017

The electronic effects induced by the geometry of the 1,2-diimine bridge control the Lewis acidic character in a series of ZnII Shiff-base complexes.
A review of quantitative structure–property relationships for the fate of ionizable organic chemicals in water matrices and identification of knowledge gaps
Authors: Nolte Tom M. , Ragas Ad M. J.
Published: March 2017

QSPR prediction models for chemical fate and exposure are critically reviewed so that knowledge gaps may be filled in subsequent study.
Correction: Enhanced electrical properties of (Li,Ce) co-doped Sr(Na0.5Bi0.5)Bi4Ti5O18 high temperature piezoceramics
Authors: Yao Zhongran , Chu Ruiqing , Xu Zhijun , Hao Jigong , Li Guorong
Published: March 2017

Correction for ‘Enhanced electrical properties of (Li,Ce) co-doped Sr(Na0.5Bi0.5)Bi4Ti5O18 high temperature piezoceramics’ by Zhongran Yao et al., RSC Adv., 2016, 6, 33387–33392.
Localisation of faults in wiring networks using time domain reflectometry and adaptive neuro‐fuzzy inference system
Authors: Laib A. , Melit M. , Nekhoul B. , Boudjefdjouf H. , Bouchekara H.
Published: March 2017

The aim the present research is to develop a new approach for the localisation of faults in wiring networks based on adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and time domain reflectometry (TDR). In this approach a forward model has been developed and validated with measurements in order to generate a TDR response of any wiring network then the inverse problem is solved using ANFIS. The developed approach has been tested using a complex configuration that is YY‐shaped network. The results show the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed approach.
Antipodal Vivaldi antenna with improved radiation characteristics for civil engineering applications
Authors: Moosazadeh Mahdi , Kharkovsky Sergey , Case Joseph T. , Samali Bijan
Published: March 2017

An ultra‐wideband elliptically tapered antipodal Vivaldi antenna designed for civil engineering applications is presented. It is based on design of a conventional antipodal Vivaldi antenna (CAVA) which impedance bandwidth is limited at low end of frequency band. To extend impedance bandwidth, inner edges of top and bottom radiators of the CAVA have been properly bent; however, its gain and front‐to‐back (F‐to‐B) ratio is low at the low frequencies. To enhance gain and F‐to‐B ratio, the comb‐shaped slits on edges of the radiators of CAVA are applied. The obtained results exhibit the impedance bandwidth of 1.65–18 GHz, gain of 6.7 dB at 1.65 GHz, and F‐to‐B ratio of 42 dB at 13.5 GHz that are higher than those parameters of the CAVA. Applicability of the proposed antenna for detection of void inside concrete beam is demonstrated. First, models of the proposed antenna and concrete beam possessing void are created in computer simulation technology and numerical study is performed. Then, a prototype of the antenna is fabricated and employed as part of microwave imaging system to verify simulation results and to detect voids inside concrete beam.
Improved pulse‐width modulation scheme for T‐type multilevel inverter
Authors: Vemuganti Hari Priya , Sreenivasarao Dharmavarapu , Siva Kumar Ganjikunta
Published: March 2017

In recent times, reduced switch count multilevel inverter (RSC‐MLI) has become an emerging area of research in power electronic converters. To control these RSC‐MLI topologies, various novel modulation schemes are reported. Multi‐reference is one of such modulation scheme reported for various RSC topologies, such as T‐type. However, the performance of this conventional scheme results in high total harmonic distortion (THD) in line voltages, when compared with the conventional level shifted pulse‐width modulation scheme. This observation is clearly presented in this study and the reason for its degraded THD performance has been deeply discussed. To alleviate this problem, a modified multi‐reference dual‐carrier modulation technique with multiple references and two carriers is proposed. To implement this proposed modulation technique, an alternate carrier and modulation signals arrangement with multiple carriers and single reference is also presented. Finally, a comparative THD performance of the proposed and conventional modulation schemes is carried out on a five‐level T‐type MLI and obtained simulation results are validated experimentally.
Action recognition using vague division DMMs
Authors: Jin Ke , Jiang Min , Kong Jun , Huo Hongtao , Wang Xiaofeng
Published: March 2017

This study presents a novel human action recognition method based on the sequences of depth maps, which provide additional body shape and motion information for action recognition. First, the authors divide each depth sequence into a number of sub‐sequences. All these sub‐sequences are of uniform length. By controlling vague boundary (VB), they construct a VB‐sequence which consists of an original sub‐sequence and its adjacent sequences. Then, each depth frame in a VB‐sequence is projected onto three orthogonal Cartesian planes, and the absolute value of the difference between two consecutive projected maps is accumulated to form a depth motion map (DMM) to describe the dynamic feature of a VB‐sequence. Finally, they concatenate the DMMs of all the VB‐sequences in one video sequence to describe an action. Collectively, they call them VB division of depth model. For classification, they apply robust probabilistic collaborative representation classification. The recognition results applied to the MSR Action Pairs, MSR Gesture 3D, MSR Action3D, and UTD‐MHAD datasets indicate superior performance of their method over most existing methods.
Organocatalytic Asymmetric Tandem Conjugate Addition–Protonation of Azlactones to N-Itaconimides
Authors: Zhao Xiaowei , Jiang Zhiyong , Zhang Gao , Yin Yanli
Published: March 2017

An unprecedented catalytic asymmetric reaction between azlactones and N-itaconimides has been developed. In the presence of an l-tert-leucine-based urea–tertiary amine Brønsted base catalyst, the tandem conjugate addition–protonation products could be attained in moderate yields with excellent enantio- and diastereoselectivities (up to 99% ee and >20:1 dr). The method provides an efficient approach to access valuable chiral γ-tertiary amine substituted succinimides containing nonadjacent stereocenters.
The Intriguing Link between the Intestinal Microbiota and Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Danese Elisa , Mattiuzzi Camilla , Favaloro Emmanuel , Lippi Giuseppe
Published: March 2017

Human microbiota is a term conventionally used to define the normal flora of microbes living in all of us, most of which are resident in the gastrointestinal tract. Despite it having been known for some time that the vast majority of intestinal bacteria exert a strong influence on human life, recent technologic breakthroughs have made it possible to more accurately characterize the host microbial communities and explore their relationship with many human diseases. Notably, the evidence accumulated over the past 10 years suggests that a reasonable relationship can now be established between gut microbiota composition and the risk of cardiovascular disease. The most convincing information comes from data generated by studies involving trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO)-producing bacteria. It seems now clear that these bacterial strains may actively contribute to increase the concentration of endogenous TMAO and consequently enhance the risk of ischemic and thrombotic disorders, so opening intriguing scenarios for effective prevention of cardiovascular disease by targeting the intestine by means of diet, probiotics, prebiotics, antibiotics, or even transplantation of gut microbes.
The Association between Regional Fat Distribution and Acute Mountain Sickness in Young Hikers
Authors: Dobrosielski Devon , Guadagno Michelle , Phan Phillip
Published: March 2017

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) can occur upon rapid ascent from low to high altitude. This study examined the association between central adiposity and the development of AMS in young adults during a high-altitude hike. Total and regional body fat were measured at sea level using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Within 24 h of arriving in Cusco, Peru (3 400 meters) participants embarked on a 14-mile hike across the Andes Mountain range in southern Peru. Symptoms of AMS were assessed using the Lake Louise score at 24 h (3 400 meters), 29 h (4 100 meters), 34 h (3 800 meters) and 53 h (2 900 meters). 14 participants (mean age 21±2 years; women: 11, men: 3) completed the study. The number of participants exhibiting at least mild AMS increased from 6 (54%) at 3 400 meters to 9 (64%) at 3 800 meters. A higher AMS score at 4 100 meters was associated with greater android (r=0.72, p<0.01), trunk (r=0.73, p<0.01) and total body (r=0.71, p<0.01) fat, but not with total body fat % (r=0.39, p=0.16). Our findings suggest that central obesity, but not total body fat per se, may be an important factor in the development of AMS.
Rashba spin-splitting of single electrons and Cooper pairs
Authors: Shekhter R. I. , Entin-Wohlman O. , Jonson M. , Aharony A.
Published: March 2017

Electric weak links, the term used for those parts of an electrical circuit that provide most of the resistance against the flow of an electrical current, are important elements of many nanodevices. Quantum dots, nanowires and nano-constrictions that bridge two bulk conductors (or superconductors) are examples of such weak links. Here we consider nanostructures where the electronic spin-orbit interaction is strong in the weak link but is un-important in the bulk conductors, and explore theoretically the role of the spin-orbit active weak link (which we call a “Rashba spin splitter”) as a source of new spin-based functionality in both normal and superconducting devices. Some recently predicted phenomena, including mechanically-controlled spin- and charge currents as well as the effect of spin polarization of superconducting Cooper pairs, are reviewed.
Communication: Non-Newtonian rheology of inorganic glass-forming liquids: Universal patterns and outstanding questions
Authors: Zhu W. , Aitken B. G. , Sen S.
Published: March 2017

All families of inorganic glass-forming liquids display non-Newtonian rheological behavior in the form of shear thinning at high shear rates. Experimental evidence is presented to demonstrate the existence of remarkable universality in this behavior, irrespective of chemical composition, structure, topology, and viscosity. However, contrary to intuition, in all cases the characteristic shear rates that mark the onset of shear thinning in these liquids are orders of magnitude slower than the global shear relaxation rates. Attempt is made to reconcile such differences within the framework of the cooperative structural relaxation model of glass-forming liquids.
Transport-spin phenomena in nanowires with a large screening radius
Authors: Kopeliovich A. I. , Petrenko L. G.
Published: March 2017

A two-fluid hydrodynamic model is used to examine the electrical conductivity of collinear magnetic micro- and nanoconductors without the electric field screening typical of wires. It is shown that the transport properties of these wires are qualitatively different from the usual behavior. An electro-spin effect is predicted.
Computer synthesis of hypercrosslinked polystyrene: All-atom simulations
Authors: Lazutin A. A. , Glagoleva A. A. , Vasilevskaya V. V. , Khokhlov A. R.
Published: March 2017

For the first time a special force field ReaxFF is used to describe the synthesis of polymer networks and for all-atom simulations of intermolecular cross linking in polystyrene. The density, specific surface, and coefficient of thermal expansion for sample networks with different degrees of crosslinking are calculated in the all-atom model. The results are in agreement with experimental data.
Spontaneous polarization of vapor-deposited 1-butanol films and its dependence on temperature
Authors: Gavra Irini K. , Pilidi Alexandra N. , Tsekouras Athanassios A.
Published: March 2017

Films of 1-butanol were vapor deposited under vacuum conditions at cryogenic temperatures on a polycrystalline platinum foil. Kelvin probe measurements showed the generation of a large negative voltage on the vacuum side of the film relative to its back side in contact with the platinum foil. Voltages across vapor deposited films, which are known to require molecules with an electric dipole moment, were confirmed to be proportional to the amount of gas deposited at a given temperature. Voltages of several hundreds of volts were recorded for films that were a few thousand monolayers thick. As deposition temperature was reduced from 120 K, the film voltage was found to increase almost linearly from 0 V until a little below 38 K, where the trend was reversed. Ramping up the sample temperature after deposition at 15 K/min exhibited an initial increase in absolute magnitude and then a gradual elimination of the voltage as the temperature of 120 K was reached. Both the initial increase and the subsequent decrease were found to be irreversible and indicate structural changes in the amorphous film. The elimination of the film voltage is associated with small rearrangements of the deposited molecules which are facilitated by the gradual increase of the temperature and the cumulative electric field of the surrounding molecules.
Characteristic of energetic semiconductor bridge based on Al/MoOx energetic multilayer nanofilms with different modulation periods
Authors: Xu Jianbing , Tai Yu , Ru Chengbo , Dai Ji , Shen Yun , Ye Yinghua , Shen Ruiqi , Fu Shuai
Published: March 2017

Three types of energetic semiconductor bridges (ESCBs) through integrating different Al/MoOx energetic multilayer nanofilms on a semiconductor bridge have been investigated in this study. The relationships among the critical firing energy, critical firing time, total firing time, and ignition energy as well as the input energy utilization efficiency of these initiators were analyzed. The principal component analysis (PCA) was utilized in the experiments to evaluate the output energy magnitude based on the ignition duration, the maximum flame area, reaction ratio, and other parameters. The results obtained were as follows: (1) The critical firing energy is positively proportional to the modulation periods of nanofilms for the initiators discharged with identical voltage, while the total firing energy and the input energy utilization efficiency do not change significantly; (2) by using PCA, the composite score of the ESCB/50 nm, ESCB/150 nm, ESCB/1500 nm, and SCB is measured at 3.025, 0.250, −1.433, and −1.842, respectively, discharge with 30 V/47 μF, which indicated that the output energy of ESCBs can be increased significantly by decreasing the modulation periods of nanofilms.
Revisiting the mechanism of nitrogen fluorescence emission induced by femtosecond filament in air
Authors: Li Suyu , Jiang Yuanfei , Chen Anmin , He Lanhai , Liu Dunli , Jin Mingxing
Published: March 2017

The backward propagating and side emitted fluorescence during the femtosecond filamentation in air is experimentally investigated in this paper. By comparing the fluorescence emission in the circular and linear polarization states, we find that in the shorter focal length case, the direct ionization of N2 greatly affects the fluorescence emission behaviors: the fluorescence from N2+ and N2 is always stronger in the linear and circular polarization cases, respectively. Based on the observation, the emission mechanism of nitrogen fluorescence emission induced by a femtosecond filament is discussed.
Temporal characteristics of electrostatic surface waves in a cold complex plasma containing collision-dominated ion flow
Authors: Lee Myoung-Jae , Jung Young-Dae
Published: March 2017

The influence of electron-ion collision frequency and dust charge on the growth rate of two-stream instability of the electrostatic surface wave propagating at the interface of semi-infinite complex plasma whose constituents are electrons, negatively charged dust, and streaming ions. It is found that the surface wave can be unstable if the multiplication of wave number and ion flow velocity is greater than the total plasma frequency of electrons and dusts. The analytical solution of the growth rate is derived as a function of collision frequency, dust charge, and ion-to-electron density ratio. It is found that the growth rate is inversely proportional to the collision rate, but it is enhanced as the number of electrons residing on the dust grain surface is increased. The growth rate of surface wave is compared to that of the bulk wave.
Responses of a phytoplankton community to seasonal and environmental changes in Lake Nansihu, China
Authors: Tian Wang , Zhang Huayong , Zhao Lei , Huang Hai
Published: March 2017

Phytoplankton is the primary producer and the basis of most aquatic food webs. Characterising the variations in phytoplankton communities and the factors affecting these variations in a fluctuating environment are central issues in ecology and essential to developing appropriate conservation strategies. In the present study, seasonal variations in the phytoplankton community and the driving environmental factors were analysed based on data from Lake Nansihu in 2013. In all, 138 phytoplankton species were identified. The phytoplankton community exhibited seasonal variations, with a mean abundance that ranged from 5.00×105 cells L–1 in winter to 4.57×106 cells L–1 in summer and a mean biomass that varied from 0.44mgL–1 in winter to 3.75mgL–1 in summer. A spring algal bloom did not appear in this warm, temperate monsoon lake, but an algal bloom did appear in summer when the temperature and nutrient concentrations were high. There were substantial seasonal variations in the dominant phytoplankton taxa, from Chlorophyta, Bacillariophyta and Euglenophyta in spring to Chlorophyta and Bacillariophyta in summer, followed by dominance of Chlorophyta in autumn and Bacillariophyta in winter. Results of canonical correspondence analysis indicated that although the environmental factors affecting the seasonal variations in different phytoplankton species varied, water temperature, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and ammonia nitrogen appeared to be the most dominant. These four variables were also the main environmental factors driving the seasonal variations in the phytoplankton community in the lake. The results of the present study will be useful in guaranteeing the water quality and ecological security of Lake Nansihu.
Dynamic cross-correlations between entangled biofilaments as they diffuse
Authors: Tsang Boyce , Dell Zachary E. , Jiang Lingxiang , Schweizer Kenneth S. , Granick Steve
Published: March 2017

Significance

Highly entangled biofilaments are ubiquitous in the cytoskeleton and present a paradigm in polymer physics and biophysics. Here, rather than conventionally seeking to understand the self-diffusion of a single tagged entangled polymer we inquire into dynamic cross-correlations between nearby filaments as they diffuse anisotropically in aqueous solution. Our combined fluorescence tracking experiments and statistical mechanical modeling show that the continuum limit is reached only at distances beyond the filament length, in this system beyond the large distance of ≈15 µm. This noncontinuum behavior at micron-scale distance may be related to the “crowding” problem in biological function.
The glass micropipette electrode: A history of its inventors and users to 1950
Authors: Bretag Allan H.
Published: March 2017

Soon after the glass micropipette was invented as a micro-tool for manipulation of single bacteria and the microinjection and microsurgery of living cells, it was seen to hold promise as a microelectrode to stimulate individual cells electrically and to study electrical potentials in them. Initial successes and accurate mechanistic explanations of the results were achieved in giant plant cells in the 1920s. Long known surface electrical activity in nerves and muscles was only resolved at a similar cellular level in the 1930s and 1940s after the discovery of giant nerve fibers and the development of finer tipped microelectrodes for normal-sized cells.
A national survey assessing the number of records allowed open in electronic health records at hospitals and ambulatory sites
Authors: Adelman Jason S , Berger Matthew A , Rai Amisha , Galanter William L , Lambert Bruce L , Schiff Gordon D , Vawdrey David K , Green Robert A , Salmasian Hojjat , Koppel Ross , Schechter Clyde B , Applebaum Jo R , Southern William N
Published: March 2017

To reduce the risk of wrong-patient errors, safety experts recommend limiting the number of patient records providers can open at once in electronic health records (EHRs). However, it is unknown whether health care organizations follow this recommendation or what rationales drive their decisions. To address this gap, we conducted an electronic survey via 2 national listservs. Among 167 inpatient and outpatient study facilities using EHR systems designed to open multiple records at once, 44.3% were configured to allow ≥3 records open at once (unrestricted), 38.3% allowed only 1 record open (restricted), and 17.4% allowed 2 records open (hedged). Decision-making centered on efforts to balance safety and efficiency, but there was disagreement among organizations about how to achieve that balance. Results demonstrate no consensus on the number of records to be allowed open at once in EHRs. Rigorous studies are needed to determine the optimal number of records that balances safety and efficiency.
Influence of Sex/Gender and Race on Responses to Raltegravir Combined With Tenofovir-Emtricitabine in Treatment-Naive Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 Infected Patients: Pooled Analyses of the STARTMRK and QDMRK Studies
Authors: Squires Kathleen , Bekker Linda-Gail , Katlama Christine , Yazdanpanah Yazdan , Zhou Yan , Rodgers Anthony J. , DiNubile Mark J. , Sklar Peter A. , Leavitt Randi Y. , Teppler Hedy
Published: March 2017

Background

Antiretroviral therapy in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women and blacks merits particular scrutiny because these groups have been underrepresented in clinical trials.

Methods

To document the effects of raltegravir across sex and racial lines, we conducted a pooled subgroup analysis of the efficacy and safety of raltegravir 400 mg BID plus tenofovir-emtricitabine by sex (women vs men) and self-identified race (black vs non-black) using phase 3 studies in treatment-naive patients.

Results

Study participants included 42 black women, 102 non-black women, 48 black men, and 477 non-black men. Clade B infections were less common in women (43.8%) than men (84.6%) and in blacks (45.6%) than non-blacks (80.5%). Baseline CD4 counts were ≤200 cells/µL in 52.2% of blacks and 31.6% of non-blacks. Black men had the largest proportion of patients with baseline CD4 counts <50 cells/µL and the highest nontreatment-related discontinuation rate among the 4 sex-by-race subgroups. Human immunodeficiency virus-ribonucleic acid levels <50 copies/mL were achieved at week 48 in 92.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 80.1–98.5) of black women, 93.6% (95% CI, 86.6–97.6) of non-black women, 82.9% (95% CI, 67.9–92.8) of black men, and 91.4% (95% CI, 88.4–93.8) of non-black men. Serious clinical adverse events were reported in 9.0% of women versus 8.8% of men and in 11.1% of blacks versus 8.5% of non-blacks.

Conclusions

In this post hoc analysis of patients with previously untreated HIV-1 infection receiving raltegravir plus tenofovir-emtricitabine, generally comparable results were achieved across sex and racial subgroups. However, black men had a lower response rate than either black women or non-black men, partially attributable to lower baseline CD4 counts and higher discontinuation rates.
Innovations in mental health promotion: Youth Net/Réseau Ado
Authors: Manion Ian G , Davidson Simon , Norris Christina , Brandon Sarah
Published: March 2017

Today's youth are at a disturbingly high risk for mental health and illness problems and are largely dissatisfied with the existing mental health services. Youth Net/Réseau Ado (YN/RA), supported by input from mental health professionals, is a bilingual mental health promotion program that seeks out the opinions and attitudes of youth regarding mental health and illness issues, while connecting them with appropriate resources and mental health services. This paper describes the Youth Net/Réseau Ado program and provides some guidelines for the identification of mental health and illness problems, including indicators of the risk of suicide.
Comparison of the Berg Balance Scale and the Mini-BESTest for Assessing Balance in Ambulatory People With Spinal Cord Injury: Validation Study
Authors: Jørgensen Vivien , Opheim Arve , Halvarsson Alexandra , Franzén Erika , Roaldsen Kirsti Skavberg
Published: March 2017

Background. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) has several constraints—ceiling effect, low responsiveness, and uncertain predictability of falls—in neurological populations. The Mini-BESTest, which has not yet been validated in spinal cord injury (SCI) populations, has shown no ceiling effect, slightly better responsiveness, and could in some neurological populations predict falls.

Objective. Validate and compare psychometric performances of the BBS and Mini-BESTest in individuals with chronic SCI.

Design. Cross-sectional validation study.

Methods. Forty-six individuals able to walk 10 meters (85% American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale grade D) with mean age of 55±17 years and median 7 years (range: 1–41) postinjury were included. Floor/ceiling effects were inspected; internal consistency, construct validity, and receiver operating characteristics were analyzed.

Results. The Mini-BESTest had no ceiling effect; 28% of participants achieved the maximum score on the BBS. Both scales showed excellent internal consistency (α > .93). Strong correlations between both scales (rs = 0.90, P < .001) and between both scales and Timed Up and Go (rs > .70), Spinal Cord Independence Measure-mobility items (rs > .80), and 10-Meter Walk Test (rs > .80) support high construct validity. Both scales could differentiate community walkers without walking aids from participants using aids (AUC > .86) and individuals with low/high concerns about falling (AUC > 0.79) but not recurrent (>2 falls/year) and infrequent fallers (AUC < 0.55). The BBS and Mini-BESTest separated 2 and more than 3 different levels of balance control, respectively.

Limitations. Small sample.

Conclusions. Both the BBS and Mini-BESTest were found to be valid scales for assessing balance control in individuals with chronic SCI. The Mini-BESTest may be preferable for this group primarily due to the lack of a ceiling effect.
New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation in the Critically Ill*
Authors: Moss Travis J. , Calland James Forrest , Enfield Kyle B. , Gomez-Manjarres Diana C. , Ruminski Caroline , DiMarco John P. , Lake Douglas E. , Moorman J. Randall
Published: March 2017

Objective:

To determine the association of new-onset atrial fibrillation with outcomes, including ICU length of stay and survival.

Design:

Retrospective cohort of ICU admissions. We found atrial fibrillation using automated detection (≥ 90 s in 30 min) and classed as new-onset if there was no prior diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. We identified determinants of new-onset atrial fibrillation and, using propensity matching, characterized its impact on outcomes.

Setting:

Tertiary care academic center.

Patients:

A total of 8,356 consecutive adult admissions to either the medical or surgical/trauma/burn ICU with available continuous electrocardiogram data.

Interventions:

None.

Measurements and Main Results:

From 74 patient-years of every 15-minute observations, we detected atrial fibrillation in 1,610 admissions (19%), with median burden less than 2%. Most atrial fibrillation was paroxysmal; less than 2% of admissions were always in atrial fibrillation. New-onset atrial fibrillation was subclinical or went undocumented in 626, or 8% of all ICU admissions. Advanced age, acute respiratory failure, and sepsis were the strongest predictors of new-onset atrial fibrillation. In propensity-adjusted regression analyses, clinical new-onset atrial fibrillation was associated with increased hospital mortality (odds ratio, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.01–2.63) and longer length of stay (2.25 d; CI, 0.58–3.92). New-onset atrial fibrillation was not associated with survival after hospital discharge (hazard ratio, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.76–1.28 and hazard ratio, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.67–1.83, respectively, for subclinical and clinical new-onset atrial fibrillation).

Conclusions:

Automated analysis of continuous electrocardiogram heart rate dynamics detects new-onset atrial fibrillation in many ICU patients. Though often transient and frequently unrecognized, new-onset atrial fibrillation is associated with poor hospital outcomes.
The Current Use of Social Media in Undergraduate Nursing Education
Authors: Ross Jennifer Gunberg , Myers Shannon Marie
Published: March 2017

Social media, including blogs, Twitter, wikis, Facebook, YouTube, and Ning, provides an opportunity for nurse educators to engage undergraduate nursing students who are members of the millennial generation in active learning while enhancing knowledge and fostering communication. Despite the rise of social media usage in undergraduate nursing education, there is a significant deficiency of empirical evidence supporting the efficacy and outcomes of these teaching strategies. This article provides an overview of social media use in undergraduate nursing education and a review of the existing research related to social media use in prelicensure nursing education. Overall, undergraduate nursing students respond positively to social media use in nursing education; however, no outcome measures are available to determine the effect of these teaching strategies on student learning.
Solitary Large Keratoacanthomas of the Head and Neck: An Observational Study
Authors: Rossi Anthony M. , Park Brian , Qi Bernice , Lee Erica H. , Busam Klaus J. , Nehal Kishwer S.
Published: March 2017

BACKGROUND

Solitary large keratoacanthomas (KAs) of the head and neck present a management dilemma, as no reliable means to predict the clinical course is available. Although typically considered a low-grade tumor, KAs are reported to invade/metastasize, prompting more aggressive treatment. There is little published regarding factors that predict when a KA behaves more like an aggressive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

OBJECTIVE

To study the clinical and pathologic features of large solitary head and neck KAs and assess response to intralesional methotrexate (IL-MTX) as well as predictors of clinical course.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An observation study of 14 patients with large solitary head and neck KAs were treated with IL-MTX and then excised by Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) at a later time point. Clinical presentation, treatment, response, and pathology were recorded. Features of classic KAs were compared with those with an aggressive SCC course.

RESULTS

Ten of fourteen lesions responded with necrosis, a decrease in size and/or pain, and histological clearance on MMS. However, 4/14 lesions continued to have progression despite IL-MTX therapy. These showed persistent pain, perineural invasion, moderate/poor differentiation, and an infiltrative growth.

LIMITATIONS

Small sample size.

CONCLUSION

Significant pain, or continued growth may suggest an underlying aggressive SCC in clinically classic large KAs. In these cases, surgical management with assessment for high-risk tumor features is recommended.
An Electronic Health Record–based Intervention to Promote Hepatitis C Virus Testing Among Adults Born Between 1945 and 1965
Authors: Federman Alex D. , Kil Natalie , Kannry Joseph , Andreopolous Evie , Toribio Wilma , Lyons Joanne , Singer Mark , Yartel Anthony , Smith Bryce D. , Rein David B. , Krauskopf Katherine
Published: March 2017

Background:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends one-time hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody testing for “Birth Cohort” adults born during 1945–1965.

Objective:

To examine the impact of an electronic health record (EHR)-embedded best practice alert (BPA) for HCV testing among Birth Cohort adults.

Design:

Cluster-randomized trial was conducted from April 29, 2013 to March 29, 2014.

Subjects and Setting:

Ten community and hospital-based primary care practices. Participants were attending physicians and medical residents during 25,620 study-eligible visits.

Intervention:

Physicians in all practices received a brief introduction to the CDC testing recommendations. At visits for eligible patients at intervention sites, physicians received a BPA through the EHR to order HCV testing or medical assistants were prompted to post a testing order for the physician. Physicians in control sites did not receive the BPA.

Main Outcomes:

HCV testing; the incidence of HCV antibody positive tests was a secondary outcome.

Results:

Testing rates were greater among Birth Cohort patients in intervention sites (20.2% vs. 1.8%, P<0.0001) and the odds of testing were greater in intervention sites after controlling for imbalances of patient and visit characteristics between comparison groups [odds ratio (OR), 9.0; 95% confidence interval, 7.6–10.7). The adjusted OR of identifying HCV antibody positive patients was also greater in intervention sites (OR, 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.3–11.2).

Conclusions:

An EHR-embedded BPA markedly increased HCV testing among Birth Cohort patients, but the majority of eligible patients did not receive testing indicating a need for more effective methods to promote uptake.
Sternal Development and Variations and Anomalies in Patients With Microtia: Evaluation Using 3-Dimensional Computed Tomography
Authors: Yang MeiRong , Jiang Haiyue , Yu Xiaobo , Chen Weiwei , Li Qingsong , Zhang Ye , Pan Bo
Published: March 2017

Objective

The objectives of this study were to evaluate sternal development and variations in patients with microtia and to identify the incidence of congenital sternal anomalies and then to investigate the interaction between microtia and sternal anomalies.

Methods

A total of 212 consecutive patients received a preoperative 3-dimensional chest computed tomography. A retrospective study was performed with the clinical and imaging data from November 2014 to July 2015. Descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, Spearman analysis, χ2 test, and Fisher χ2 test were performed for statistics analysis.

Results

We evaluated the ossification centers and developmental variations in the manubrium and body, as well as the xiphoid process, manubriosternal and sternoxiphoidal fusion, and sternal anomalies. Significant variations were observed from person to person. Sternal foramen was detected in 6 male patients (2.8%). All foramina were located in the inferior part of the body. Sternal cleft was observed in 4 cases (1.9%), of which 2 were accompanied by a foramen in the distal part of the sternum.

Conclusions

The development of the different components of the sternum is a process with wide variation among patients with microtia. A different distribution of mesosternal types I to II among our population age range was found, and the incidence of sternal foramina was lower in patients with microtia.
Longitudinal Analysis of the Intestinal Microbiota in Liver Transplantation
Authors: Kato Karin , Nagao Miki , Miyamoto Kentaro , Oka Kentaro , Takahashi Motomichi , Yamamoto Masaki , Matsumura Yasufumi , Kaido Toshimi , Uemoto Shinji , Ichiyama Satoshi
Published: March 2017

Background

Increasing evidence suggests that the intestinal microbiota plays an important role in liver diseases. However, the dynamics of the intestinal microbiota during liver transplantation (LT) and its potential role in clinical course remain unknown.

Methods

We prospectively analyzed the intestinal microbiota of 38 patients who underwent LT in Kyoto University Hospital. We characterized the microbial compositions of fecal specimens from LT patients using a metagenomics approach by an Illumina MiSeq platform. We analyzed the diversity of microbiota sequentially from pretransplantation until 2 months after LT and also compared the microbiota during an episode of acute cellular rejection (ACR) and bloodstream infections (BSI) to the microbial composition of time-matched fecal specimens obtained from patients who did not experience ACR or BSI, respectively.

Results

Three hundred twenty fecal specimens were analyzed. Dynamic changes were observed in the microbial composition of LT recipients during the perioperative period. Over the course of LT, the mean diversity index decreased during the first 3 weeks after LT and gradually increased during our observation period. The loss of intestinal microbiota diversity was associated with high Child-Pugh scores, high model for end-stage liver disease scores, ACR, and BSI. At the family level, Bacteroides, Enterobacteriaceae, Streptococcaceae, and Bifidobacteriaceae were increased whereas Enterococcaceae, Lactobacillaceae, Clostridiaceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Peptostreptococcaceae were decreased in ACR patients.

Conclusions

The microbiota of LT patients was associated with the severity of liver diseases and the presence of ACR and BSI. These results lay the groundwork for more comprehensive investigations of microbiota characteristics to identify diagnostic markers for transplant health and to guide intervention strategies to improve transplant outcomes.
Functional Connectivity is Reduced in Early-stage Primary Progressive Aphasia When Atrophy is not Prominent
Authors: Bonakdarpour Borna , Rogalski Emily J. , Wang Allan , Sridhar Jaiashre , Mesulam M.M. , Hurley Robert S.
Published: March 2017

Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a clinical syndrome of language decline caused by neurodegenerative pathology. Although language impairments in PPA are typically localized via the morphometric assessment of atrophy, functional changes may accompany or even precede detectable structural alterations, in which case resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) could provide an alternative approach. The goal of this study was to determine whether language network RSFC is reduced in early-stage PPA when atrophy is not prominent. We identified 10 individuals with early-stage agrammatic variant of PPA with no prominent cortical thinning compared with nonaphasic controls. RSFC between 2 nodes of the language network and 2 nodes of the default mode network were compared between agrammatic variant of PPA and healthy control participants. Language network connectivity was comparable with controls among patients with milder agrammatism, but was significantly reduced in patients with more pronounced agrammatism. No group differences were observed in default mode network connectivity, demonstrating specificity of findings. In early stages of PPA when cortical atrophy is not prominent, RSFC provides an alternative method for probing the neuroanatomic substrates of language impairment. RSFC may be of particular utility in studies on early interventions for neurodegenerative disease, either to identify anatomic targets for intervention or as an outcome measure of therapeutic efficacy.
Bioinspired polymer microstructures for directional transport of oily liquids
Authors: Plamadeala C. , Hischen F. , Friesenecker R. , Wollhofen R. , Jacak J. , Buchberger G. , Heiss E. , Klar T.A. , Baumgartner W. , Heitz J.
Published: March 2017

Nature has always served as an inspiration for scientists, helping them to solve a large diversity of technical problems. In our case, we are interested in the directional transport of oily liquids and as a model for this application we used the flat bug
Dysodius lunatus
. In this report, we present arrays of drops looking like polymer microstructures produced by the two-photon polymerization technique that mimic the micro-ornamentation from the bug's cuticle. A good directionality of oil transport was achieved, directly controlled by the direction of the pointed microstructures at the surface. If the tips of the drop-like microstructures are pointing towards the left side, the liquid front moves to the right and vice versa. Similar effects could be expected for the transport of oily lubricants. These results could, therefore, be interesting for applications in friction and wear reduction.
A new apparatus to induce lysis of planktonic microbial cells by shock compression, cavitation and spray
Authors: Schiffer A. , Gardner M. N. , Lynn R. H. , Tagarielli V. L.
Published: March 2017

Experiments were conducted on an aqueous growth medium containing cultures ofEscherichia coli(E. coli) XL1-Blue, to investigate, in a single experiment, the effect of two types of dynamic mechanical loading on cellular integrity. A bespoke shock tube was used to subject separate portions of a planktonic bacterial culture to two different loading sequences: (i) shock compression followed by cavitation, and (ii) shock compression followed by spray. The apparatus allows the generation of an adjustable loading shock wave of magnitude up to 300 MPa in a sterile laboratory environment. Cultures ofE. coliwere tested with this apparatus and the spread-plate technique was used to measure the survivability after mechanical loading. The loading sequence (ii) gave higher mortality than (i), suggesting that the bacteria are more vulnerable to shear deformation and cavitation than to hydrostatic compression. We present the results of preliminary experiments and suggestions for further experimental work; we discuss the potential applications of this technique to sterilize large volumes of fluid samples.
A restatement of the natural science evidence concerning catchment-based ‘natural’ flood management in the UK
Authors: Dadson Simon J. , Hall Jim W. , Murgatroyd Anna , Acreman Mike , Bates Paul , Beven Keith , Heathwaite Louise , Holden Joseph , Holman Ian P. , Lane Stuart N. , O'Connell Enda , Penning-Rowsell Edmund , Reynard Nick , Sear David , Thorne Colin , Wilby Rob
Published: March 2017

Flooding is a very costly natural hazard in the UK and is expected to increase further under future climate change scenarios. Flood defences are commonly deployed to protect communities and property from flooding, but in recent years flood management policy has looked towards solutions that seek to mitigate flood risk at flood-prone sites through targeted interventions throughout the catchment, sometimes using techniques which involve working with natural processes. This paper describes a project to provide a succinct summary of the natural science evidence base concerning the effectiveness of catchment-based ‘natural’ flood management in the UK. The evidence summary is designed to be read by an informed but not technically specialist audience. Each evidence statement is placed into one of four categories describing the nature of the underlying information. The evidence summary forms the appendix to this paper and an annotated bibliography is provided in the electronic supplementary material.
The Fourier decomposition method for nonlinear and non-stationary time series analysis
Authors: Singh Pushpendra , Joshi Shiv Dutt , Patney Rakesh Kumar , Saha Kaushik
Published: March 2017

for many decades, there has been a general perception in the literature that Fourier methods are not suitable for the analysis of nonlinear and non-stationary data. In this paper, we propose a novel and adaptive Fourier decomposition method (FDM), based on the Fourier theory, and demonstrate its efficacy for the analysis of nonlinear and non-stationary time series. The proposed FDM decomposes any data into a small number of ‘Fourier intrinsic band functions’ (FIBFs). The FDM presents a generalized Fourier expansion with variable amplitudes and variable frequencies of a time series by the Fourier method itself. We propose an idea of zero-phase filter bank-based multivariate FDM (MFDM), for the analysis of multivariate nonlinear and non-stationary time series, using the FDM. We also present an algorithm to obtain cut-off frequencies for MFDM. The proposed MFDM generates a finite number of band-limited multivariate FIBFs (MFIBFs). The MFDM preserves some intrinsic physical properties of the multivariate data, such as scale alignment, trend and instantaneous frequency. The proposed methods provide a time–frequency–energy (TFE) distribution that reveals the intrinsic structure of a data. Numerical computations and simulations have been carried out and comparison is made with the empirical mode decomposition algorithms.
Population structure reduces benefits from partner choice in mutualistic symbiosis
Authors: Akçay Erol
Published: March 2017

Mutualistic symbioses are key drivers of evolutionary and ecological processes. Understanding how different species can evolve to interact in mutually beneficial ways is an important goal of evolutionary theory, especially when the benefits require costly investments by the partners. For such costly investments to evolve, some sort of fitness feedback mechanism must exist that more than recoups the direct costs. Several such feedback mechanisms have been explored both theoretically and empirically, yet we know relatively little of how they might act together, as they probably do in nature. In this paper, I model the joint action of three of the main mechanisms that can maintain interspecific cooperation in symbioses: partner choice by hosts, population structure amongst symbionts and undirected rewards from hosts to symbionts. The model shows that population structure reduces the benefit from partner choice to hosts. It may help or hinder beneficial symbionts and create positive or negative frequency dependence depending on the nature of host rewards to the symbiont. Strong population structure also makes it less likely that host choosiness and symbiont cooperation will be jointly maintained in a population. The intuition behind these results is that all else being equal, population structure reduces local variation available to the host to choose from. Thus, population structure is not always beneficial for the evolution of cooperation between species. These results also underscore the need to do full analyses of multiple mechanisms of social evolution to uncover the interactions between them.