bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Systematic Review of the Burden of Multidrug-Resistant Healthcare-Associated Infections Among Intensive Care Unit Patients in Southeast Asia: The Rise of Multidrug-ResistantAcinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Teerawattanapong Nattawat , Panich Pornpansa , Kulpokin Disorn , Na Ranong Siriwat , Kongpakwattana Khachen , Saksinanon Atibodi , Goh Bey-Hing , Lee Learn-Han , Apisarnthanarak Anucha , Chaiyakunapruk Nathorn
Published: March 2018

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the clinical burden (cumulative incidence, prevalence, case fatality rate and length of stay) and economic burden (healthcare cost) of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) due to multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) among patients in intensive care units (ICUs) in Southeast Asia.

DESIGN

Systematic review.

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive literature search in PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, EconLit, and the Cochrane Library databases from their inception through September 30, 2016. Clinical and economic burdens and study quality were assessed for each included study.

RESULTS

In total, 41 studies met our inclusion criteria; together, 22,876 ICU patients from 7 Southeast Asian countries were included. The cumulative incidence of HAI caused byA. baumannii(AB) in Southeast Asia is substantially higher than has been reported in other regions, especially carbapenem-resistant AB (CRAB; 64.91%) and multidrug-resistant AB (MDR-AB) (58.51%). Evidence of a dose–response relationship between different degrees of drug resistance and excess mortality due to AB infections was observed. Adjusted odds ratios were 1.23 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.51–3.00) for MDR-AB, 1.72 (95% CI, 0.77–3.80) for extensively drug-resistant AB (XDR-AB), and 1.82 (95% CI, 0.55–6.00) for pandrug-resistant AB (PDR-AB). There is, however, a paucity of published data on additional length of stay and costs attributable to MDROs.

CONCLUSIONS

This review highlights the challenges in addressing MDROs in Southeast Asia, where HAIs caused by MDR gram-negative bacteria are abundant and have a strong impact on society. With our findings, we hope to draw the attention of clinicians and policy makers to the problem of antibiotic resistance and to issue a call for action in the management of MDROs.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol2018;39:525–533
From Locke to Slots: Money and the Politics of Indigeneity
Authors: Cattelino Jessica R.
Published: March 2018

With ongoing consequences for American Indians, the New World Indian has been a pervasive figure of constitutive exclusion in modern theories of money, property, and government. This paradoxical exclusion of indigenous peoples from the money/property/government complex is intrinsic to, and constitutive of, modern theories of money. What is more, it haunts the cultural politics of indigenous peoples’ economic actions. In Part I, I establish that, and how, indigeneity has been constitutively present at the foundation of modern theories of money, as Europeans and settlers defined indigenous peoples in part by the absence of money and property (of which money is a special form). In turn, and more to the point here, they defined money and property in part as that which modern non-indigenous people have and use. These are not solely economic matters: the conceptual exclusions from money/property were coproduced with juridical ones insofar as liberal political theory grounded the authority of modern government in private property (and, in turn, in money). To show how this formation of money and indigeneity has mattered both for disciplinary anthropology and for American public culture at several historical moments, Part II traces how the dilemmas expressed by these texts haunt subsequent debates about the function of wampum, the logic of potlatch, and the impact of tribal gaming. Such debates inform scholarship beyond the boundaries of anthropology and, as each case shows in brief, they create harms and benefits for peoples in ways that perpetuate the (il)logics and everyday practices of settler colonialism.
Indigenous Conflict in Bolivia Explored through an African Lens: Towards a Comparative Analysis of Indigeneity
Authors: Canessa Andrew
Published: March 2018

Since Evo Morales was first elected President of Bolivia in 2005, indigeneity has moved from being a language of protest to a language of governance with concomitant profound changes in how indigeneity is imagined and mobilized. However, one of the striking features of Morales's presidency is his administration's open conflict with various indigenous groups. Although a number of scholars have addressed these issues, they have largely focused on the peculiarities of the Bolivian example in a Latin American context; this has obscured the advantage of significant comparative analysis with other areas of the world. I argue that indigeneity as it is currently practiced and understood is a recent global phenomenon and that there are more similarities between African countries and Bolivia than is generally appreciated. In particular, scholarly debates surrounding the difference between autochthony and indigeneity, and the case of Cameroon in particular, have much to offer in our understanding of the Bolivian case. To date, the primary frame for understanding indigeneity is an ethnic/cultural one and this can obscure important similarities and differences between groups. The comparative framework presented here allows for the development of analytical tools to distinguish fundamental differences and conflicts in indigenous discourses. I distinguish between five related conceptual pairs: majoritarian and minoritarian discourses; claims on the state and claims against the state; de-territorialized peoples versus territorialized peoples; hegemonic and counterhegemonic indigeneity; and substantive versus symbolic indigeneity. These nested pairs allow for analytic distinctions between indigenous rights discourses without recourse to discussions of culture and authenticity.
Interventions to address household food insecurity in high-income countries
Authors: Loopstra Rachel
Published: March 2018

Household food insecurity is a serious public health concern in high-income countries. Canada and the USA regularly monitor household food insecurity, while in other countries, such as the UK, it has been the rapid rise of food bank usage that has drawn increased attention to this longstanding, but largely overlooked, problem. This review evaluates evidence on interventions intended to reduce household food insecurity in high-income countries. Research on social protection interventions suggests both cash transfers and food subsidies (e.g. the US Supplement Nutrition and Assistance Programme) reduce household food insecurity. In contrast, research on community-level interventions, such as food banks and other food programmes, suggests limited impacts. Although food banks have become a common intervention for food insecurity in high-income countries, evidence suggests their reliance on donations of volunteer time and food make them inevitably limited in the assistance they are able to provide. The stigma people feel using food banks may also make them untenable. Alternatives to, or enhanced, food banks such as community shops or community kitchens, have become common, but evidence also suggests they may be limited in effectiveness if they do not reach people experiencing food insecurity. This review highlights the difficulty of trying to address household food insecurity with community-based food interventions when solutions likely lie upstream in social protection policies.
Recombinant adenylate kinase 3 from liver fluke Clonorchis sinensis for histochemical analysis and serodiagnosis of clonorchiasis
Authors: Kwon Soon Bin , Kim Paul , Woo Hae Sun , Kim Tae Yun , Kim Ju Yeong , Lee Hye Min , Jang Yun Soo , Kim Eun-Min , Yong Tai-Soon , Seong Baik Lin
Published: March 2018

Due to the lack of an effective prophylactic intervention and diagnosis, human liver fluke Clonorchis sinensis continues to afflict a large human population, causing a chronic inflammatory bile duct disease. With an aim to identify target antigens for sensitive serodiagnosis, adenylate kinase 3 of C. sinensis (CsAK3) was successfully expressed in soluble form in Escherichia coli by fusion to an RNA-interacting domain derived from human Lys-tRNA synthetase and purified by Ni2+-affinity chromatography. Anti-CsAK3 serum was raised by immunization of mice, and Western blotting confirmed that CsAK3 was expressed in adult-stage C. sinensis. Histochemical analysis showed that CsAK3 was localized to the subtegumental tissue of C. sinensis and was excreted into the bile duct of the host. When tested against sera from various parasite-infected patients by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the recombinant CsAK3 elicited a specific response to C. sinensis-infected sera. The results suggest that CsAK3, either alone or in combination with other antigens, could be used for improving the clinical diagnosis of clonorchiasis.
Introduction: From “The Popularization of Science through Film” to “The Public Understanding of Science”
Authors: Vidal Fernando
Published: March 2018

Science in film, and usual equivalents such asscience on filmorscience on screen, refer to the cinematographic representation, staging, and enactment of actors, information, and processes involved in any aspect or dimension of science and its history. Of course, boundaries are blurry, and films shot as research tools or documentation also display science on screen. Nonetheless, they generally count asscientific film, andscience inandon filmorscreentend to designate productions whose purpose is entertainment and education. Moreover, these two purposes are often combined, and inherently concern empirical, methodological, and conceptual challenges associated withpopularization,science communication, and thepublic understanding of science. It is in these areas that the notion of thedeficit modelemerged to designate a point of view and a mode of understanding, as well as a set of practical and theoretical problems about the relationship between science and the public.
ELEVEN NEW SPECIES OF CYRTANDRA (GESNERIACEAE) FROM SULAWESI, INDONESIA
Authors: Kartonegoro A. , Bone R. E. , Atkins H. J.
Published: March 2018

Eleven new species of Cyrtandra (Gesneriaceae) from Sulawesi are described and illustrated: C. albiflora Karton. & H.J.Atkins, C. boliohutensis Karton. & H.J.Atkins, C. gambutensis Karton. & H.J.Atkins, C. hekensis Karton. & H.J.Atkins, C. hendrianii Karton. & H.J.Atkins, C. hispidula Karton. & H.J.Atkins, C. kinhoii Karton. & H.J.Atkins, C. multinervis Karton. & R.Bone, C. nitida Karton. & H.J.Atkins, C. rantemarioensis Karton. & R.Bone and C. rubribracteata Karton. & H.J.Atkins. Illustrations, maps and preliminary conservation assessments are provided for all the species.
Healthy changes in some cardiometabolic risk factors accompany the higher summertime serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in Iranian children: National Food and Nutrition Surveillance
Authors: Nikooyeh Bahareh , Abdollahi Zahra , Hajifaraji Majid , Alavi-Majd Hamid , Salehi Forouzan , Yarparvar Amir Hossein , Neyestani Tirang R
Published: March 2018

Objective

To investigate seasonal variations of vitamin D status at different latitudes and if these changes are accompanied by corresponding variations in certain health parameters in children living in a broad latitudinal range in Iran.

Design

Longitudinal study.

Subjects

In total, 530 apparently healthy children aged 5–18 years were randomly selected from six regions of Iran with a latitudinal gradient from 29°N to 37·5°N. All anthropometric and biochemical assessments were performed twice during a year (summer, winter). High BMI (Z-score >1), low HDL cholesterol (<40 mg/dl, males; <50 mg/dl, females) and high TAG (>150 mg/dl) were considered cardiometabolic risk factors.

Results

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) showed between-season variation, with significantly higher concentrations (mean (sd)) in summerv. winter (43 (29)v.27 (18) nmol/l;P<0·001). Change of circulating 25(OH)D between summer and winter was negatively correlated with change of BMI (r=−0·16;P<0·001), TAG (r=−0·09;P=0·04) and total cholesterol (r=−0·10;P=0·02) and directly correlated with change of height-for-ageZ-score (r=0·09;P=0·04). Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis (β; 95 % CI) showed that winter serum 25(OH)D (−0·3; −0·4, −0·2;P<0·001), gender (boysv.girls: 9·7; 5·2, 14·1;P<0·001) and latitude (>33°Nv.<33°N: 4·5; 0·09, 9·0;P=0·04) were predictors of change of serum 25(OH)D between two seasons.

Conclusions

Summertime improvement of vitamin D status was accompanied by certain improved cardiometabolic risk factors, notably serum TAG, total cholesterol and BMI, in children.
Are Migraine and Tension-Type Headache Genetically Related? An Investigation of Twin Family Data
Authors: Ligthart Lannie , Huijgen Annemarie , Willemsen Gonneke , de Geus Eco J. C. , Boomsma Dorret I.
Published: March 2018

Migraine and tension-type headache (TTH) are often viewed as distinct entities and defined as such in the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edition (ICHD-II) criteria, although there is also empirical evidence to suggest they may be etiologically similar. This study aims to investigate whether migraine and TTH are etiologically related conditions. First, we explored whether migraine and TTH were associated with the same environmental and lifestyle risk factors at the population level. Second, we examined comorbidity of migraine and TTH in a twin design. By comparing the associations in monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs, we investigated whether the comorbidity can be explained by genetic factors that influence both conditions. Results indicated that migraine and TTH were largely associated with the same environmental and lifestyle factors, including younger age, female sex, higher body mass index, more depression, stress at home, and less participation in regular exercise, with consistently stronger effects for migraine than for TTH. Migraine in one twin was significantly associated with TTH in the other twin. A stronger cross-trait, cross-twin association in MZ than DZ twins suggested that this comorbidity may also be partly due to shared genetic factors, although the difference in associations was not significant. In conclusion, our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that migraine and TTH have partly shared etiologies. For both treatment and research, it may be advisable not to make a rigid distinction, but to treat migraine and TTH as related conditions.
Definitive Zygosity Scores in the Peas in the Pod Questionnaire is a Sensitive and Accurate Assessment of the Zygosity of Adult Twins
Authors: Jarrar Zakariya A. , Ward Kirsten J. , Mangino Massimo , Cherkas Lynn F. , Gill Raj , Gillham-Nasenya Irina , Yarand Darioush , Hart Deborah , Hammond Christopher J. , Spector Tim D.
Published: March 2018

Twin researchers face the challenge of accurately determining the zygosity of twins for research. As part of the annual questionnaire between 1999 and 2006, 8,307 twins from the TwinsUK registry were asked to complete five questions (independently from their co-twin) to ascertain their self-perceived zygosity during childhood on up to five separate occasions. This questionnaire is known as the ‘peas in the pod’ questionnaire (PPQ), but there is little evidence of its validation. Answers were scored and classified as monozygotic (MZ), dizygotic (DZ), or unknown zygosity (UZ) and were compared with 4,484 twins with genotyping data who had not been selected for zygosity. Of these, 3,859 individuals (46.5% of those who had a zygosity from PPQ) had zygosity classified by both the PPQ and genotyping. Of the 708 individual twins whose answers meant that they were consistently classed as MZ in the PPQ, 683 (96.5%) were MZ within the genotype data. Of the 945 individual twins consistently classed as DZ within questionnaire, 936 (99.0%) were DZ in the genotype data. Where both twins scored MZ consistently across multiple questionnaires, 99.6% were MZ on genotyping, 99.7% were DZ on genotyping if both twins consistently scored DZ. However, for the initial questionnaire, 88.6% of those scoring as MZ were genotypically MZ and 98.7% DZ. For twin pairs where both scored UZ, 94.7% were DZ. Using the PPQ on a single occasion provided a definitive classification of whether the twin was MZ or DZ with an overall accuracy of 86.9%, increasing to 97.9% when there was a consistent classification of zygosity across multiple questionnaires. This study has shown that the PPQ questionnaire is an excellent proxy indicator of zygosity in the absence of genotyping information.
Moderne Diabetestechnologie – von „Science Fiction“ zu „Science Facts“
Authors: Züger Thomas , Bally Lia , Laimer Markus , Stettler Christoph
Published: March 2018

Zusammenfassung. Diverse Errungenschaften führten in den letzten Dekaden zu einer laufenden Optimierung und Flexibilisierung der Diabetestherapie. Insbesondere der rasante technische Fortschritt hat völlig neue Therapieoptionen hervorgebracht, von denen sowohl Patienten mit Typ-1 als auch Typ-2 Diabetes profitieren können. Wesentliche Meilensteine waren die Einführung und Weiterentwicklung der Insulinpumpen sowie der kontinuierlichen Glucosemessung (CGM). Diese beiden Komponenten waren die Grundvoraussetzung für eine automatisierte Insulinabgabe durch Koppelung der beiden Geräte unter Zwischenschaltung von ausgeklügelten mathematischen Kontrollalgorithmen. Solche System sind heute in der Lage partiell (sog. Hybrid Closed-Loop, in gewissen Ländern bereits zugelassen) oder sogar vollautonom als geschlossener Regelkreis (Fully Closed-Loop, in Studien getestet) zu arbeiten. Dabei wird die Funktion einer intakten Betazelle nachgeahmt, weswegen diese Systeme auch als künstliches Pankreas bezeichnet werden. Nebst einer Vereinfachung des Selbstmanagements birgt diese Technologie auch das Potential, die Diabeteseinstellung längerfristig zu verbessern. Daneben hat auch die Verbreitung der Smartphones und zunehmende Konnektivität verschiedener Geräte der Diabetestechnologie zusätzlichen Schub verliehen. Dies ermöglichte unter anderem die Entwicklung von Applikationen, welche den Anwender beim Diabetes-Management, der Datenanalyse und -Dokumentation oder beim Kohlenhydratschätzen unterstützen können.
BLOND, a building-level office environment dataset of typical electrical appliances
Authors: Kriechbaumer Thomas , Jacobsen Hans-Arno
Published: March 2018

Energy metering has gained popularity as conventional meters are replaced by electronic smart meters that promise energy savings and higher comfort levels for occupants. Achieving these goals requires a deeper understanding of consumption patterns to reduce the energy footprint: load profile forecasting, power disaggregation, appliance identification, startup event detection, etc. Publicly available datasets are used to test, verify, and benchmark possible solutions to these problems. For this purpose, we present the BLOND dataset: continuous energy measurements of a typical office environment at high sampling rates with common appliances and load profiles. We provide voltage and current readings for aggregated circuits and matching fully-labeled ground truth data (individual appliance measurements). The dataset contains 53 appliances (16 classes) in a 3-phase power grid. BLOND-50 contains 213 days of measurements sampled at 50kSps (aggregate) and 6.4kSps (individual appliances). BLOND-250 consists of the same setup: 50 days, 250kSps (aggregate), 50kSps (individual appliances). These are the longest continuous measurements at such high sampling rates and fully-labeled ground truth we are aware of.
Impact of primer dimers and self-amplifying hairpins on reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification detection of viral RNA
Authors: Meagher Robert J. , Priye Aashish , Light Yooli K. , Huang Cheng , Wang Eryu
Published: March 2018

Bumping the priming sites for RT-LAMP based on thermodynamic predictions can dramatically reduce non-specific background amplification.
Multivalent conjugates of basic fibroblast growth factor enhance in vitro proliferation and migration of endothelial cells
Authors: Zbinden Aline , Browne Shane , Altiok Eda I. , Svedlund Felicia L. , Jackson Wesley M. , Healy Kevin E.
Published: March 2018

Multivalent growth factor conjugates hold great promise for regenerative therapies.
Solution-printable fullerene/TiS2 organic/inorganic hybrids for high-performance flexible n-type thermoelectrics
Authors: Wang Liming , Zhang Zimeng , Geng Linxiao , Yuan Tianyu , Liu Yuchen , Guo Juchen , Fang Lei , Qiu Jingjing , Wang Shiren
Published: March 2018

Flexible and solution-printable fullerene/TiS2 organic/inorganic hybrids with excellent thermoelectric properties are demonstrated.
Emerging investigator series: the role of vegetation in bioretention for stormwater treatment in the built environment: pollutant removal, hydrologic function, and ancillary benefits
Authors: Muerdter Claire P. , Wong Carol K. , LeFevre Gregory H.
Published: March 2018

Bioretention vegetation contributes to both the hydrologic and pollutant removal functions of bioretention.
Kenaf addition has mixed effects on process performance of sequencing batch reactors treating municipal wastewater
Authors: Hurley Forrest James , He Xia , Wang Ling , de los Reyes III Francis L.
Published: March 2018

The effects on wastewater treatment due to addition to the mixed liquor of a fine lignocellulosic powder made of dried kenaf were assessed using lab-scale sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) operated for over 200 days.
A new triazoloquinoxaline ligand and its polymeric 1D silver(i) complex: synthesis, structure, and antimicrobial activity
Authors: Abu-Youssef Morsy A. M. , Soliman Saied M. , El-Faham Ayman , Albering Jörg , Sharaf Mona M. , Gohar Yousry M. , Diana Eliano , Gatterer Karl , Kettle Sidney F. A.
Published: March 2018

The Ag–phenyl bond induces the ligand rearrangement responsible for the polymerization.
Anomalous piezoelectric response of ferroelectric mesocrystalline BaTiO3/Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3nanocomposites designed by strain engineering
Authors: Zhang Wenxiong , Ma Hao , Li Sen , Hu Dengwei , Kong Xingang , Uemura Shinobu , Kusunose Takafumi , Feng Qi
Published: March 2018

Mesocrystals, a new class of unique materials, not only have potential properties based on the individual nanocrystals but also have a single-crystal-like function.
Crossover of thermal expansion from positive to negative by removing the excess fluorines in cubic ReO3-type TiZrF7−x
Authors: Yang Cheng , Zhang Yugang , Bai Jianming , Qu Bingyan , Tong Peng , Wang Meng , Lin Jianchao , Zhang Ranran , Tong Haiyun , Wu Ying , Song Wenhai , Sun Yuping
Published: March 2018

We realize the crossover from PTE to NTE by removing the excess fluorines in TiZrF7−x.
Covalent attachment of [Ni(alkynyl-cyclam)]2+ catalysts to glassy carbon electrodes
Authors: Zhanaidarova Almagul , Moore Curtis E. , Gembicky Milan , Kubiak Clifford P.
Published: March 2018

Surface modification of glassy carbon electrodes (GCEs) with molecular electrocatalysts is an important step towards developing more efficient heterogeneous CO2 reduction materials.
An air-stable N-heterocyclic carbene iminoxyl borate radical zwitterion
Authors: Kim Youngsuk , Lee Eunsung
Published: March 2018

The presented N-heterocyclic carbene iminoxyl borate radical zwitterion shows remarkable stability toward air, moisture, and silica gel.
Nanotrumpets and circularly polarized luminescent nanotwists hierarchically self-assembled from an achiralC3-symmetric ester
Authors: Sang Yutao , Duan Pengfei , Liu Minghua
Published: March 2018

An achiralC3-symmetric molecule was found to self-assemble into various hierarchical nanostructures such as nanotwists, nanotrumpets and nanobelts, in which the twisted fibers showed supramolecular chirality as well as circularly polarized luminescence although the compound is achiral.
A three-dimensional cubic halogen-bonded network
Authors: Pfrunder Michael C. , Brock Aidan J. , Brown Joshua J. , Grosjean Arnaud , Ward John , McMurtrie John C. , Clegg Jack K.
Published: March 2018

The rational, deliberate design of supramolecular architectures is of great importance for the discovery of complex materials.
Variable temperature NMR of organogelators: the intensities of a single sample describe the full phase diagram
Authors: Christ Elliot , Collin Dominique , Lamps Jean-Philippe , Mésini Philippe J.
Published: March 2018

When an organogel is heated gradually, the intensities of its NMR signals as a function of temperature, in a single sample, provide the c–T phase diagram of the gelator/solvent system.
A sinter-resistant catalyst using an alumina support recycled from AlP fumigation residue: trash to treasure
Authors: Dong Jinshi , Wang Jun , Wang Jianqiang , Cheng Guanghao , Huang Tianming , Shen Meiqing
Published: March 2018

AlP fumigation residue was recycled to alumina used in emission control.
Structural signature and transition dynamics of Sb2Te3 melt upon fast cooling
Authors: Guo Y. R. , Dong F. , Qiao C. , Wang J. J. , Wang S. Y. , Xu Ming , Zheng Y. X. , Zhang R. J. , Chen L. Y. , Wang C. Z. , Ho K. M.
Published: March 2018

Sb-centered defective octahedrons connect with each other via four-fold rings, a close link of the four-fold ring and defective octahedrons in amorphous Sb2Te3 has been revealed.
Stability of the zwitterionic liquid butyl-methyl-imidazol-2-ylidene borane
Authors: Tröger-Müller Steffen , Antonietti Markus , Liedel Clemens
Published: March 2018

Because of its good electrochemical and thermal stability, a low viscosity NHC borane zwitterionic liquid may be suitable for battery electrolytes.
Highly efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B by a novel Z-scheme Ag3PO4/MIL-101/NiFe2O4 composite
Authors: Zhou Tianhong , Zhang Guozhen , Zhang Hongwei , Yang Hao , Ma Pengjun , Li Xiaoting , Qiu Xiaoli , Liu Gang
Published: March 2018

An Ag3PO4/MIL-101/NiFe2O4 composite was fabricated by an in situ precipitation method. The results implied that introduction of the MOF enhanced the rapid transfer of electrons from Ag3PO4 to NiFe2O4.
Ni2P hollow microspheres for electrocatalytic oxygen evolution and reduction reactions
Authors: Lei Haitao , Chen Mingxing , Liang Zuozhong , Liu Chengyu , Zhang Wei , Cao Rui
Published: March 2018

Ni2P hollow microspheres are synthesized via a facile two-step strategy and shown to be an active bifunctional electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution and reduction reactions.
A novel monodisperse SiO2@C-dot for the rapid and facile identification of latent fingermarks using self-quenching resistant solid-state fluorescence
Authors: Peng Di , Liu Xiang , Huang Mengjun , Wang Dan , Liu Renlong
Published: March 2018

A schematic strategy for facile synthesis of monodisperse SiO2@C-dot microspheres for the rapid identification of latent fingermarks using solid-state fluorescence.
Illuminating nanostructured gold electrode: surface plasmons or electron ejection?
Authors: Huang Di , He Quanfeng , Shan Jie-Jie , Sartin Matthew , Pang Ran , Yang Fang-Zu , Zhou Yongliang , Ren Bin , Tian Zhong-Qun , Zhan Dongping
Published: March 2018

We used a surface-plasmon-active gold-mushroom-array as a working electrode and observed enhanced faradaic current from ferrocenemethanol following illumination with a xenon lamp. The photoelectric current behaved differently in the presence and absence of oxygen in the solution.
Hydrogen adsorption on nano-structured platinum electrodes
Authors: Diaz-Morales Oscar , Hersbach Thomas J. P. , Badan Cansin , Garcia Amanda C. , Koper Marc T. M.
Published: March 2018

We present evidence that the “third hydrogen peak” involves surface-adsorbed hydrogen on a locally “reconstructed” (110)-type surface site.
Microplasma-assisted electrochemical synthesis of Co3O4nanoparticles in absolute ethanol for energy applications
Authors: Ni Chengsheng , Carolan Darragh , Rocks Conor , Hui Jianing , Fang Zeguo , Padmanaban Dilli Babu , Ni Jiupai , Xie Deti , Maguire Paul , Irvine John T. S. , Mariotti Davide
Published: March 2018

The anodisation of Co foil in an absolute ethanol electrolyte with a microplasma cathode produces size-controllable Co3O4quantum dots.
Opto-acousto-fluidic microscopy for three-dimensional label-free detection of droplets and cells in microchannels
Authors: Song Chaolong , Jin Tian , Yan Ruopeng , Qi Weizhi , Huang Tianye , Ding Huafeng , Tan Say Hwa , Nguyen Nam-Trung , Xi Lei
Published: March 2018

We present here a novel opto-acousto-fluidic microscopy approach for three-dimensional label-free detection of droplets and cells in microfluidic networks.
A ratiometric fluorescent paper sensor for consecutive color change-based visual determination of blood glucose in serum
Authors: Su Lei , Yang Liang , Sun Qin , Zhao Tingting , Liu Bianhua , Jiang Changlong , Zhang Zhongping
Published: March 2018

The ratiometric fluorescent paper sensor with a dosage-sensitive allochromatic capability for the visual determination of blood glucose in human serum.
Halogen bonding from the bonding perspective with considerations for mechanisms of thyroid hormone activation and inhibition
Authors: Bayse Craig A.
Published: March 2018

Bonding models of halogen bonding help understand how thyroid hormones and xenobiotic inhibitors affect thyroid activity through iodothyronine deiodinase.
Controllable fabrication of nickel sulfides with enhanced electrochemical performance
Authors: Gou Jianxia
Published: March 2018

In this work, nickel sulfides are fabricated from thiourea and Ni precursor through a hydrothermal method.
Alumina and silica preparation via a sol–gel route with carbon dioxide as a pH regulator – a new method for green catalysis
Authors: Przekop Robert E. , Sztorch Bogna , Pietrowski Mariusz , Zieliński Michał , Martyła Agnieszka
Published: March 2018

This paper presents a new preparation method of SiO2 and Al2O3via a sol–gel route with CO2 as a pH regulator.
Simultaneous assembly of van der Waals heterostructures into multiple nanodevices
Authors: Burzurí Enrique , Vera-Hidalgo Mariano , Giovanelli Emerson , Villalva Julia , Castellanos-Gomez Andres , Pérez Emilio M.
Published: March 2018

We present a fast and scalable method for the simultaneous fabrication of multiple nanodevices based on liquid-phase exfoliated van der Waals heterostructures.
Two-dimensional penta-Sn3H2 monolayer for nanoelectronics and photocatalytic water splitting: a first-principles study
Authors: Zhang Peng , Yang Xibin , Wu Wei , Tian Lifen , Xiong Daxi , Cui Heping , Chen Xianping , Zheng Kai , Ye Huaiyu
Published: March 2018

Exploring two-dimensional materials with novel properties is becoming particularly important due to their potential applications in future electronics and optoelectronics.
Investigation into THF hydrate slurry flow behaviour and inhibition by an anti-agglomerant
Authors: Zhang Hao , Du Jianwei , Wang Yanhong , Lang Xuemei , Li Gang , Chen Jianbiao , Fan Shuanshi
Published: March 2018

In a newly built-up loop, pilot-scale experiments were carried out to study typical hydrate plug phenomena and to explore the specific reasons behind these.
Effect of alkali and alkaline earth metal species on the combustion characteristics of cattle manures
Authors: Yi Baojun , Yuan Qiaoxia , Cao Hongliang , Niu Wenjuan , Wang Ming , Zhu Yao , Yan Shuiping
Published: March 2018

This study investigates the effects of alkali and alkaline earth metal (AAEM) species on the combustion characteristics of cattle manures (CM). Different AAEM species (K, Na, Ca, and Mg) were mixed with CM and deashing CM (D-CM) samples.
Highly sensitive and wearable gas sensors consisting of chemically functionalized graphene oxide assembled on cotton yarn
Authors: Kang Min-A. , Ji Seulgi , Kim Seongjun , Park Chong-Yun , Myung Sung , Song Wooseok , Lee Sun Sook , Lim Jongsun , An Ki-Seok
Published: March 2018

Functionalized-graphene-oxide-based gas sensors with KBIP-GO-Y showed extremely high sensitivity (∼70%) for exposure to gas molecules compared with rGO-based sensors (∼12%) in spite of relatively low gas concentrations (8 ppm NH3 gas).
Environmentally safe (chlorine-free): new green propellant formulation based on 2,2,2-trinitroethyl-formate and HTPB
Authors: Abd-Elghany Mohamed , Klapötke Thomas M. , Elbeih Ahmed
Published: March 2018

Burning behavior of a traditional (AP/HTPB) and new (TNEF/HTPB) propellants.
Synchronous, efficient and fast removal of phosphate and organic matter by carbon-coated lanthanum nanorods
Authors: Zhang Xintong , Wang Wei , Dai Shiyu , Cui Fuyi
Published: March 2018

The carbon-coated lanthanum nanorods with uniform distribution of La and C can synchronously remove phosphate and organic matter, efficiently and rapidly.
The plasmonic properties of gold nanoparticle clusters formed via applying an AC electric field
Authors: Watanabe K. , Tanaka E. , Ishii H. , Nagao D.
Published: March 2018

Plasmonic properties of gold nanoparticles in suspension were correlated to the clustering states of the particles formed by the application of an AC electric field.
MOF-74 derived porous hybrid metal oxide hollow nanowires for high-performance electrochemical energy storage
Authors: Yu Cuiping , Wang Yan , Cui Jiewu , Yu Dongbo , Zhang Xinyi , Shu Xia , Zhang Jianfang , Zhang Yong , Vajtai Robert , Ajayan Pulickel M. , Wu Yucheng
Published: March 2018

Phase evolution of hybrid metal oxides derived from MOF-74 nanowires was investigated systematically, and NiO/NiCo2O4(1 : 1) nanowires with hollow structure exhibited excellent performance in energy storage.
Chemical manipulation of phase stability and electronic behavior in Cu4−xAgxSe2
Authors: Olvera A. , Bailey T. P. , Uher C. , Poudeu P. F. P.
Published: March 2018

Gradual stoichiometric chemical substitution of Cu by Ag in the p-type Cu2Se phase enables phase segregation and incremental switching of the electronic transport to n-type behavior for large Ag/Cu ratios.
In situvisualizable self-assembly, aggregation-induced emission and circularly polarized luminescence of tetraphenylethene and alanine-based chiral polytriazole
Authors: Liu Qiuming , Xia Qing , Wang Shuo , Li Bing Shi , Tang Ben Zhong
Published: March 2018

The AIE chiral polytriazole has the capacity to self-assemble into diverse fluorescent nano/micro architectures at different water contents and polymer concentrations.
XZ-1 regulates cell apoptosis of gastric epithelial dysplasia via NF-κB/p53/Ki67 signaling pathway
Authors: Xu Bo , Zhang An-ming , Li Fang , Cui Miao , Han Ji , Cao Qin
Published: March 2018

We aimed to determine the effect of ‘Xiaozeng No. 1’ (XZ-1) on cellular apoptosis changes of gastric epithelial dysplasia (GED) and to explore the underlying mechanism. Specimens taken from the pyloric area of the stomachs from rats in each group were subjected to Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining for pathological examination, TUNEL staining for apoptosis detection, and Western blot analysis for apoptosis-related proteins. The results showed that XZ-1 decreased GED incidence and enhanced gastric epithelial apoptosis. Furthermore, XZ-1 up-regulated the proapoptotic proteins including cleaved caspases (cysteine-dependent aspartate-specific protease) (-3, -8, and -9), Fas, Bax, and Bid, and facilitated the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytoplasm. Interestingly, XZ-1 enhanced protein expression of NF-κB p65, Ki67, and p53. Moreover, inhibition of NF-κB pathway suppressed the XZ-induced p53 expression, whereas inhibition of NF-κB or p53 pathway suppressed the XZ-induced Ki67. More importantly, inhibition of NF-κB or p53 pathway attenuated the XZ-1-mediated induction of gastric epithelial apoptosis and decline of GED incidence. Collectively, our results demonstrated that XZ-1, almost equivalent effect exerted by the positive control Retin-A, dramatically decreased GED incidence and enhanced gastric epithelial apoptosis. Meanwhile, XZ-1 activated the NF-κB/p53/Ki67-apoptosis signaling pathway, which might be one of the mechanisms whereby XZ-1 reversed GED.
Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance in relation to the poor functional outcomes in nondiabetic patients with ischemic stroke
Authors: Li Siou , Yin Changhao , Zhao Weina , Zhu Haifu , Xu Dan , Xu Qing , Jiao Yang , Wang Xue , Qiao Hong
Published: March 2018

Whether insulin resistance (IR) predicts worse functional outcome in ischemic stroke is still a matter of debate. The aim of the present study is to determine the association between IR and risk of poor outcome in 173 Chinese nondiabetic patients with acute ischemic stroke. This is a prospective, population-based cohort study. Insulin sensitivity, expressed by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) of insulin sensitivity (HOMA index = (fasting insulin × fasting glucose)/22.5). IR was defined by HOMA-IR index in the top quartile (Q4). Functional impairment was evaluated at discharge using the modified Rankin scale (mRS). The median (interquartile range) HOMA-IR was 2.14 (1.17–2.83), and Q4 was at least 2.83. There was a significantly positive correlation between HOMA-IR and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (r = 0.408; P<0.001). In multivariate analyses, patients in IR group were associated with a higher risk of poor functional outcome (odds ratio (OR) = 3.23; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.75–5.08; P=0.001). In multivariate models comparing the third and fourth quartiles against the first quartile of the HOMA-IR, levels of HOMA-IR were associated with poor outcome, and the adjusted risk of poor outcome increased by 207% (OR = 3.05 (95% CI 1.70–4.89), P=0.006) and 429% (5.29 (3.05–9.80), P<0.001). In a receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis of poor outcome, the area under the curve (AUC) increased from 0.80 to 0.84 (95% CI: 0.79–0.88) by adding HOMA-IR to clinical examination variables (P=0.02). High HOMA-IR index is associated with a poor functional outcome in nondiabetic patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Constraint-based modeling in microbial food biotechnology
Authors: Rau Martin H. , Zeidan Ahmad A.
Published: March 2018

Genome-scale metabolic network reconstruction offers a means to leverage the value of the exponentially growing genomics data and integrate it with other biological knowledge in a structured format. Constraint-based modeling (CBM) enables both the qualitative and quantitative analyses of the reconstructed networks. The rapid advancements in these areas can benefit both the industrial production of microbial food cultures and their application in food processing. CBM provides several avenues for improving our mechanistic understanding of physiology and genotype–phenotype relationships. This is essential for the rational improvement of industrial strains, which can further be facilitated through various model-guided strain design approaches. CBM of microbial communities offers a valuable tool for the rational design of defined food cultures, where it can catalyze hypothesis generation and provide unintuitive rationales for the development of enhanced community phenotypes and, consequently, novel or improved food products. In the industrial-scale production of microorganisms for food cultures, CBM may enable a knowledge-driven bioprocess optimization by rationally identifying strategies for growth and stability improvement. Through these applications, we believe that CBM can become a powerful tool for guiding the areas of strain development, culture development and process optimization in the production of food cultures. Nevertheless, in order to make the correct choice of the modeling framework for a particular application and to interpret model predictions in a biologically meaningful manner, one should be aware of the current limitations of CBM.
Vocal Emotion Identification by Children Using Cochlear Implants, Relations to Voice Quality, and Musical Interests
Authors: Waaramaa Teija , Kukkonen Tarja , Mykkänen Sari , Geneid Ahmed
Published: March 2018

Purpose

Listening tests for emotion identification were conducted with 8–17-year-old children with hearing impairment (HI;N= 25) using cochlear implants, and their 12-year-old peers with normal hearing (N= 18). The study examined the impact of musical interests and acoustics of the stimuli on correct emotion identification.

Method

The children completed a questionnaire with their background information and noting musical interests. They then listened to vocal stimuli produced by actors (N= 5) and consisting of nonsense sentences and prolonged vowels ([a:], [i:], and [u:];N= 32) expressing excitement, anger, contentment, and fear. The children's task was to identify the emotions they heard in the sample by choosing from the provided options. Acoustics of the samples were studied using Praat software, and statistics were examined using SPSS 24 software.

Results

The children with HI identified the emotions with 57% accuracy and the normal hearing children with 75% accuracy. Female listeners were more accurate than male listeners in both groups. Those who were implanted before age of 3 years identified emotions more accurately than others (p< .05). No connection between the child's audiogram and correct identification was observed. Musical interests and voice quality parameters were found to be related to correct identification.

Conclusions

Implantation age, musical interests, and voice quality tended to have an impact on correct emotion identification. Thus, in developing the cochlear implants, it may be worth paying attention to the acoustic structures of vocal emotional expressions, especially the formant frequency of F3. Supporting the musical interests of children with HI may help their emotional development and improve their social lives.
The Impact of Lexical Characteristics and Noise on Intelligibility of Parkinsonian Speech
Authors: Chiu Yi-Fang , Forrest Karen
Published: March 2018

Purpose

This study investigated the impact of lexical characteristics on the intelligibility of speakers with Parkinson's disease (PD). Intelligibility was compared for listening in a quiet versus a noisy environment.

Method

A total of 192 young listeners participated in the study, with 96 listeners listening in quiet and 96 listening in noise in which the spoken sentences were mixed with 10-talker babble. The listeners transcribed spoken sentences with target words controlled for word frequency and neighborhood density. The sentences were produced by 12 speakers with PD and 12 healthy control (HC) speakers. Transcription accuracy was compared across lexical categories between PD and HC and between the two listening conditions.

Results

Transcription accuracy was higher for high-frequency words than low-frequency words for both speaker groups in quiet and in noise. The neighborhood density effect was evident only in the noise condition with better intelligibility for words from sparse neighborhoods than from dense neighborhoods. Regardless of listening condition, the PD group was less intelligible with a significant decrease in intelligibility in noise relative to quiet.

Conclusions

The lexical properties of the words affected listeners' understanding of Parkinsonian speech. Frequent words in sparse neighborhood enhanced intelligibility, especially under adverse listening conditions. Babble noise had a detrimental impact on the intelligibility of Parkinsonian speech. The extent of the lexical effect on intelligibility increased in noise.
Measuring the Diagnostic Features of Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Yuan Haiying , Dollaghan Christine
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition
introduced a new neurodevelopmental disorder, social (pragmatic) communication disorder (SPCD), that is characterized by deficits in 4 areas of communication. Although descriptions of these areas are provided, no assessment tools for SPCD are recommended. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which items from measurement tools commonly used in assessing pragmatic language impairment and related disorders might be useful in assessing the characteristics of social communication that define SPCD in the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition
.

Method

Based on a literature search, 594 items from assessment tools commonly used to measure social communication abilities in people with pragmatic language impairment were identified. The first author judged whether each item reflected 1, more than 1, or none of the 4 SPCD diagnostic characteristics. After a brief training process, 5 second raters independently mapped subsets of items to the 6 categories. We calculated the percentage of agreement and Cohen's kappa for each pair of raters in assigning items to categories.

Results

Percentages of agreement ranged from 76% to 82%, and Cohen's kappa values ranged from .69 to .76, indicating substantial agreement. Sources and item numbers for the 206 items that both raters assigned to the same SPCD feature are provided.

Conclusions

These items may provide guidance in assessing SPCD and in designing standardized screening and diagnostic measures for SPCD.
Non‐linear MIMO identification of a Phantom Omni using LS‐SVR with a hybrid model selection
Authors: Almasi Omid Naghash , Khooban Mohammad Hassan , Behzad Hamid
Published: March 2018

Here, a multiple‐input–multiple‐output (MIMO) Phantom Omni robot made by SensAble Technologies Inc. is identified by using a least‐square support vector regression (LS‐SVR). To this end, a two‐stage hybrid optimisation strategy combining coupled simulated annealing as a priori optimisation strategy and a derivative‐free Simplex method as a complementary stage is proposed to solve the LS‐SVR model selection problem. This extra step is a fine‐tuning procedure to enhance the optimal tuning parameters and hence lead LS‐SVR to a better performance. Generalised v‐fold cross‐validation is considered as the criterion of LS‐SVR model selection problem. The Phantom robot model is implemented via OPAL‐RT to assess the performance of the proposed algorithm compared with firefly algorithm and adaptive particle swarm optimisation in solving LS‐SVR model selection in practical application of the Phantom robot modelling. Finally, the proposed approach is validated and implemented in the hardware‐in‐the‐loop based on OPAL‐RT to integrate the fidelity of physical simulation as well as the flexibility of numerical simulations.