bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding fracture distribution and its relation to knickpoint evolution in the Rio Icacos watershed (Luquillo Critical Zone Observatory, Puerto Rico) using landscape‐scale hydrogeophysics
Authors: Comas Xavier , Wright William , Hynek Scott A. , Fletcher Raymond C. , Brantley Susan L.
Published: November 2018

The Rio Icacos watershed in the Luquillo Mountains (Puerto Rico) is unique due to its extremely rapid weathering rates. The watershed is incised into a quartz diorite that has developed a large knickzone defining the river profile. Regolith thickness within the watershed generally decreases from 20 to 30 m at the ridges to several meters in the quartz diorite‐dominated valley to tens of centimeters near the major river knickpoint, as determined from previous studies. Above the knickzone, we observe spheroidal corestones, but below this weathering is much less apparent. Measured erosion rates from previous studies are also high in the knickzone compared with upper elevations within the river profile. A suite of near‐surface geophysical methods (i.e. ground penetrating radar and terrain conductivity) capable of fast data acquisition in rugged landscapes, was deployed at kilometer scales to characterize critical zone structure. Concentrations of chaotic ground penetrating radar (GPR) reflections and diffraction hyperbolas with low electrical conductivity were observed in vertical zones that outcrop at the land surface as areas of intense fracturing and spheroidally weathered corestones. The width of these fractured and weathered zones showed an increase with proximity to the knickpoint, and was attributed to dilation of these sub‐vertical fractures near the knickpoint, as postulated theoretically by a stress model calculated for the topographic variability across the knickzone in the Rio Icacos, and that shows a release of compressive stress near the knickpoint. We hypothesize that erosion rates increase in the knickzone because of this inferred dilation of fractures. Specifically, opened fractures could enhance access of water and in turn promote spalling, erosion, and spheroidal weathering. This study shows that ground‐based hydrogeophysical methods used at the landscape‐scale (traditionally applied at smaller scales) can be used to explore critical zone architecture at the scales needed to explain the extreme variability in erosion rates across river profiles. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficient artificial fish swarm based clustering approach on mobility aware energy‐efficient for MANET
Authors: Gupta Deepak , Khanna Ashish , SK Lakshmanaprabu , Shankar K. , Furtado Vasco , Rodrigues Joel J. P. C.
Published: November 2018

Mobile ad hoc network (MANET) is a gathering of self‐ruling mobile nodes in which ad hoc network framed without settled foundation. Dynamic topology property of MANET may debase the execution of the network, mobility attentiveness, and energy effectiveness because of an ideal cluster head (CH). The low energy adaptive clustering hierarchy protocol is used in the MANETs for enhancement of network life time by proficiently utilizing of the accessible constrained energy. Artificial fish swarm optimization is used to select the CH in MANET communication process. The election of CH takes care of mobility and remaining energy as well as the degree of connectivity for selecting nodes to serve as cluster for longer duration of time. From the implementation results, it is observed that the proposed method provides the maximum network life time as 80 to 140 hours and minimum energy consumption as 9 to 130 J, compared with existing protocol and optimization technique.
Peatland carbon stocks and burn history: Blanket bog peat core evidence highlights charcoal impacts on peat physical properties and long‐term carbon storage
Authors: Heinemeyer Andreas , Asena Quinn , Burn William Lee , Jones Anthony Lloyd
Published: November 2018

Peatlands are globally important carbon stores, yet both natural and human impacts can influence peatland carbon accumulation. While changes in climate can alter peatland water tables leading to changes in peat decomposition, managed burning of vegetation has also been claimed to reduce peat accumulation. Particularly in the UK, blanket bog peatlands are rotationally burned to encourage heather re‐growth on grouse shooting estates. However, the evidence of burning impacts on peat carbon stocks is very limited and contradictory. We assessed peat carbon accumulation over the last few hundred years in peat cores from three UK blanket bog sites under rotational grouse moor burn management. High resolution (0.5 cm) peat core analysis included dating based on spheroidal carbonaceous particles, determining fire frequency based on macro‐charcoal counts and assessing peat properties such as carbon content and bulk density. All sites showed considerable net carbon accumulation during active grouse moor management periods. Averaged over the three sites, burns were more frequent, and carbon accumulation rates were also higher, over the period since 1950 than in the period 1700–1950. Carbon accumulation rates during the periods 1950–2015 and 1700–1850 were greater on the most frequently burnt site, which was linked to bulk density and carbon accumulation rates showing a positive relationship with charcoal abundance. Charcoal input from burning was identified as a potentially crucial component in explaining reported differences in burning impacts on peat carbon accumulation, as assessed by carbon fluxes or stocks. Both direct and indirect charcoal impacts on decomposition processes are discussed to be important factors, namely charcoal production converting otherwise decomposable carbon into an inert carbon pool, increasing peat bulk density, altering peat moisture and possibly negative impacts on soil microbial activity. This study highlights the value of peat core records in understanding management impacts on peat accumulation and carbon storage in peatlands.
Base‐Mediated N‐Arylation for the Synthesis of 9H‐Pyrrolo[1,2‐a]indol‐9‐ones and 10H‐Indolo[1,2‐a]indol‐10‐ones
Authors: Xu Hongjin , Sun Li , Song Chuanjun
Published: November 2018

Treatment of 2‐bromoaryl pyrrole/indol‐2‐yl ketones with cesium carbonate in DMF resulted in the formation of 9H‐pyrrolo[1,2‐a]indol‐9‐ones and 10H‐indolo[1,2‐a]indol‐10‐ones in moderate to excellent isolated yields.
The increase of rainfall erosivity and initial soil erosion processes due to rainfall acidification
Authors: Kavian Ataollah , Alipour Aazam , Soleimani Karim , Gholami Leila , Smith Pete , Rodrigo‐Comino Jesús
Published: November 2018

The drastic growth of population in highly industrialized urban areas, as well as fossil fuel use, is increasing levels of airborne pollutants and enhancing acid rain. In rapidly developing countries such as Iran, the occurrence of acid rain has also increased. Acid rain is a driving factor of erosion due to the destructive effects on biota and aggregate stability; however, little is known about its impact on specific rates of erosion at the pedon scale. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of acid rain at pH levels of 5.25, 4.25, and 3.75 for rainfall intensities of 40, 60, and 80 mm h−1 on initial soil erosion processes under dry and saturated soil conditions using rainfall simulations. The results were compared using a two‐way ANOVA and Duncan tests and showed that initial soil erosion rates with acidic rain and non‐acidic rain under dry soil conditions were significantly different. The highest levels of soil particle loss due to splash effects in all rainfall intensities were observed with the most acidic rain (pH = 3.75), reaching maximum values of 16 g m−2 min−1. The lowest levels of particle losses were observed in the control plot where non‐acidic rain was used, with values ranging from 3.8 to 8.1 g m−2 min−1. Similarly, under saturated soil conditions, the lowest level of soil particle loss was observed in the control plot, and the highest peaks of soil loss were observed for the most acidic rains (pH = 3.75 and pH = 4.25), reaching maximum average values of 40 g m−2 min−1. However, for saturated soils with acidic water but with non‐acidic rain, the highest soil particle loss was observed for the control plot for all the rainfall intensities. In conclusion, acidic rain has a negative impact on soils, which can be more intense with a concomitant increase in rainfall intensity. Rapid solutions, therefore, need to be found to reduce the emission of pollutants into the air, otherwise, rainfall erosivity may drastically increase.
Effects of subsurface soil characteristics on wetland–groundwater interaction in the coastal plain of the Chesapeake Bay watershed
Authors: Lee Sanghcul , McCarty Gregory W. , Moglen Glenn E. , Lang Megan W. , Sadeghi Ali M. , Green Timothy R. , Yeo In‐Young , Rabenhorst Martin C.
Published: November 2018

Ecosystem services provided by depressional wetlands on the coastal plain of the Chesapeake Bay watershed (CBW) have been widely recognized and studied. However, wetland–groundwater interactions remain largely unknown in the CBW. The objective of this study was to examine the vertical interactions of depressional wetlands and groundwater with respect to different subsurface soil characteristics. This study examined two depressional wetlands with a low‐permeability and high‐permeability soil layer on the coastal plain of the CBW. The surface water level (SWL) and groundwater level (GWL) were monitored over 1 year from a well and piezometer at each site, respectively, and those data were used to examine the impacts of subsurface soil characteristics on wetland–groundwater interactions. A large difference between the SWL and GWL was observed at the wetland with a low‐permeability soil layer, although there was strong similarity between the SWL and GWL at the wetland with a high‐permeability soil layer. Our observations also identified a strong vertical hydraulic gradient between the SWL and GWL at the wetland with a high‐permeability soil layer relative to one with a low‐permeability soil layer. The hydroperiod (i.e., the total time of surface water inundation or saturation) of the wetland with a low‐permeability soil layer appeared to rely on groundwater less than the wetland with a high‐permeability soil layer. The findings showed that vertical wetland–groundwater interactions varied with subsurface soil characteristics on the coastal plain of the CBW. Therefore, subsurface soil characteristics should be carefully considered to anticipate the hydrologic behavior of wetlands in this region.
Sensitivity analysis of hydraulic conductivity and Manning's n parameters lead to new method to scale effective hydraulic conductivity across model resolutions
Authors: M. Foster Lauren , M. Maxwell Reed
Published: November 2018

Hydrological modelling is an important tool for research, policy, and management, but uncertainty remains about parameters transferability from field observations made at small scale to models at the catchment scale and larger. This uncertainty compels the need to develop parameter relationships that are translatable across scale. In this study, we compare the changes to modelled processes as resolution is coarsened from 100‐m to 1‐km in a topographically complex, 255‐km2 Colorado River headwater catchment. We conducted a sensitivity analysis for hydraulic conductivity (K) and Manning's n parameters across four orders of magnitude. Results showed that K acts as a moderator between surface and subsurface contributions to streamflow, whereas n moderates the duration of high intensity, infiltration‐excess flow. The parametric sensitivity analysis informed development of a new method to scale effective hydraulic conductivity across modelling resolutions in order to compensate for the loss of topographic gradients as resolution is coarsened. A similar mathematical relationship between n and lateral resolution changes was not found, possibly because n is also sensitive to time discretization. This research provides an approach to translate hydraulic conductivity parameters from a calibrated coarse model to higher resolutions where the number of simulations are limited by computational demand.
Canopy interception of apple orchards should not be ignored when assessing evapotranspiration partitioning on the Loess Plateau in China
Authors: Wang Di , Wang Li
Published: November 2018

Canopy interception is one of the most important processes in an ecosystem, but it is still neglected when assessing evapotranspiration (ET) partitioning in apple orchards on the Loess Plateau in China. To explore the importance of canopy interception, we monitored two neighbouring apple orchards on the Loess Plateau in China, one 8‐year‐old and the other 18‐years old at the start of the study, from May to September for four consecutive years (2013–2016). We measured parameters of canopy interception (I) including precipitation, throughfall, stemflow, leaf area index, transpiration (T), and soil evaporation (S) to quantify ET. The importance of canopy interception was then assessed by comparing the relationship between water supply (precipitation) and water demand (ET), calculated with and without considering canopy interception (T + S and T + S + I, respectively). Tree age clearly influenced canopy interception, as estimates of annual canopy interception during the study years in the younger and older orchards amounted to 22.2–29.4 mm and 26.8–39.9 mm, respectively. Daily incident rainfall and rainfall intensity in both orchards were significantly positively correlated with daily canopy interception in each year. The relationship between annual precipitation and annual ET (calculated with and without consideration of canopy interception) in the younger orchard differed during 2015 and 2016. Ignoring canopy interception would result in underestimation of annual ET in both apple orchards and hence incorrect evaluation of the relationship between water supply and water demand, particularly for the younger orchard during 2015 and 2016. Thus, for a complete understanding of water consumption in apple orchards in this and similar regions, canopy interception should not be ignored when assessing ET partitioning.
MnFe2O4 nanoclusters as labels for the quantitative detection of D‐dimer in a lateral‐flow immunochromatographic assay
Authors: Li Xiaolu , Wang Yanyun , Tang Qianqian , Li Qiao
Published: November 2018

In this study, MnFe2O4 nanoclusters were prepared as bioprobes to establish a lateral‐flow immunochromatographic assay (LFIA) for the rapid and quantitative detection of D‐dimer for the first time. The magnetic properties of the magnetic labels play a key role in the quantitative detection of biomolecules. The 47.3‐nm MnFe2O4 magnetic nanoclusters (MNCs) with good dispersion and high saturation magnetization (76 emu/g) were fabricated via thermal decomposition of Fe(acac)3 with Mn(acac)2. The prepared MnFe2O4 MNCs were well dispersed in water because the surfaces were fully covered with 3,4‐dihydroxyhydrocinnamic acid (DHCA) molecules by ligand exchange. Anti‐D‐dimer antibodies were coupled on the surface of MnFe2O4 MNCs, and the target protein, D‐dimer, was detected, in the range 0.05–6 μg/mL. This assay provides a promising platform for D‐dimer detection for point‐of‐care diagnosis.
Human BDNF rs6265 polymorphism as a mediator for the generalization of contextual anxiety
Authors: Andreatta Marta , Neueder Dorothea , Genheimer Hannah , Schiele Miriam A. , Schartner Christoph , Deckert Jürgen , Domschke Katharina , Reif Andreas , Wieser Matthias J. , Pauli Paul
Published: November 2018

The Met allele of the human brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene might be a risk factor for anxiety disorders and is associated with reduced hippocampal volume. Notably, hippocampus plays a crucial role in contextual learning and generalization. The role of the BDNF gene variation in human context‐conditioning and generalization is still unknown. We investigated 33 carriers of the Met allele (18 females) and 32 homozygous carriers of the Val allele (15 females) with a virtual‐reality context‐conditioning paradigm. Electric stimulations (unconditioned stimulus, US) were unpredictably delivered in one virtual office (CTX+), but never in another virtual office (CTX‐). During generalization, participants revisited CTX+ and CTX‐ and a generalization office (G‐CTX), which was a mix of the other two. Rating data indicated successful conditioning (more negative valence, higher arousal, anxiety and contingency ratings for CTX+ than CTX‐), and generalization of conditioned anxiety by comparable ratings for G‐CTX and CTX+. The startle data indicated discriminative learning for Met allele carriers, but not for Val homozygotes. Moreover, a trend effect suggests that startle responses of only the Met carriers were slightly potentiated in G‐CTX versus CTX‐. In sum, the BDNF polymorphism did not affect contextual learning and its generalization on a verbal level. However, the physiological data suggest that Met carriers are characterized by fast discriminative contextual learning and a tendency to generalize anxiety responses to ambiguous contexts. We propose that such learning may be related to reduced hippocampal functionality and the basis for the risk of Met carriers to develop anxiety disorders.
Carotid Intima–Media Roughness and Elasticity in Hypertensive Patients With Normal Carotid Intima‐Media Thickness
Authors: Wu Yu , Xie Mingxing , Zhang Li , Lu Xuan , Cheng Xinyao , Lv Qing
Published: November 2018

Objectives

To investigate carotid intima‐media roughness (IMR) in hypertensive patients with normal carotid intima‐media thickness (IMT) using automatic identification software and the correlation between carotid IMR and risk factors.

Methods

This case‐control study comprised 61 hypertensive patients with normal carotid IMT and 51 control participants. Carotid IMR, carotid IMT, pulsed wave velocity (PWV), stiffness (β), and arterial compliance were determined by carotid ultrasound and image postprocessing using an automatic identification program and echo‐tracking analysis software.

Results

Carotid IMR, mean carotid IMT, maximum carotid IMT, β, and PWV in the hypertension group were higher than those in the control group (58.24 versus 34.61 μm, 641.17 versus 576.48 μm, 746.82 versus 640.55 μm, 9.42 versus 7.35, and 7.10 versus 5.86 m/s, respectively; P < .05), and arterial compliance was lower than that in the control group (0.70 versus 0.95 mm2/kPa; P < .05). Intima‐media roughness was correlated with maximum IMT, mean IMT, PWV, β, age, diagnosis of hypertension for greater than 1 year, and pulse pressure. Multivariate logistic regression showed that age, diagnosis of hypertension for greater than 1 year, and pulse pressure were influential factors for IMR in hypertensive patients, with odds ratios of 6.719 (95% confidence interval, 1.658–27.221; P = .008), 4.726 (95% confidence interval, 1.174–19.022; P = .029), and 3.998 (95% confidence interval, 1.033–15.466; P = .045), respectively.

Conclusions

Carotid IMR and the elasticity index have important clinical importance in evaluating the risk of early atherosclerosis in hypertensive populations.
The psychological and genetic factors of the addictive behaviors (PGA) study
Authors: Kotyuk Eszter , Farkas Judit , Magi Anna , Eisinger Andrea , Király Orsolya , Vereczkei Andrea , Barta Csaba , Griffiths Mark D. , Kökönyei Gyöngyi , Székely Anna , Sasvári‐Székely Mária , Demetrovics Zsolt
Published: November 2018

Objectives

Most of the addiction studies focus on very specific aspects of addictions, often with contradictory results, and integrated studies are quite rare. Experimental studies comparing underlying mechanisms of addictions and analyzing data from an integrative psychological and genetic perspective are almost nonexistent. The aim of the present paper is to describe the research protocol of the Psychological and Genetic Factors of Addictive Behaviors (PGA) study, which applies an integrative approach to understanding the acquisition, development, and maintenance of addictive behaviors.

Methods

A wide‐spectrum national study was carried out. Data were collected from 3,003 adolescents. Addictions to both psychoactive substances and behaviors were thoroughly assessed via psychometrically robust scales, which also included assessment related to a wide range of related psychological dimensions. Additionally, a DNA sample was also collected from participants.

Results

The paper presents the detailed methodology of the PGA study. Data collection procedures, instrumentation, and the analytical approach used to attain the research objectives are described.

Conclusions

Future plans, along with potential contributions of the PGA study, are also discussed. It is envisaged that the study will provide a unique opportunity to test possible mechanisms and causal pathways mediating the associations of genetic factors, psychological characteristics, and addictions.
A data mining and item response mixture modeling method to retrospectively measure Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders‐5 attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the 1970 British Cohort Study
Authors: Cotton Joanne , Baker Sara T.
Published: November 2018

Objective

To facilitate future outcome studies, we aimed to develop a robust and replicable method for estimating a categorical and dimensional measure of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders‐5 (DSM‐5) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS70).

Method

Following a data mining framework, we mapped DSM‐5 ADHD symptoms to age 10 BCS70 data (N = 11,426) and derived a 16‐item scale (α = 0.85). Mapping was validated by an expert panel. A categorical subgroup was derived (n = 594, 5.2%), and a zero‐inflated item response theory (IRT) mixture model fitted to estimate a dimensional measure.

Results

Subgroup composition was comparable with other ADHD samples. Relative risk ratios (ADHD/not ADHD) included boys = 1.38, unemployed fathers = 2.07, below average reading = 2.58, and depressed parent = 3.73. Our estimated measures correlated with two derived reference scales: Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire hyperactivity (r = 0.74) and a Rutter/Conners‐based scale (r = 0.81), supporting construct validity. IRT model items (symptoms) had moderate to high discrimination (0.90–2.81) and provided maximum information at average to moderate theta levels of ADHD (0.5–1.75).

Conclusion

We extended previous work to identify ADHD in BCS70, derived scales from existing data, modeled ADHD items with IRT, and adjusted for a zero‐inflated distribution. Psychometric properties were promising, and this work will enable future studies of causal mechanisms in ADHD.
UPLC‐QTOF‐MS analysis of a carbonic anhydrase‐inhibiting extract and fractions of Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb (ridge gourd)
Authors: Chanda Joydeb , Mukherjee Pulok K. , Biswas Rajarshi , Biswas Sayan , Tiwari Amrendra Kumar , Pargaonkar Ashish
Published: November 2018

Introduction

Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb, commonly known as ridge gourd (cucurbitaceae), is a common vegetable cultivated in India. It is also a well‐used medicinal plant in Indian traditional medicine.

Objectives

To analyse the phenolics content of the most potent carbonic anhydrase‐inhibiting fraction from an extract of L. acutangula.

Materials and Methods

An aqueous ethanol extract of dried fruits of L. acutangula was successively fractionated into petroleum ether, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate. The extract and subsequent fractions were assessed for carbonic anhydrase‐inhibitory activity and the enzyme inhibition kinetics were determined for the most active fraction. Total phenolic and flavonoid content of the extract and subsequent fractions were determined spectrophotometrically. Ultra‐performance liquid chromatography‐quadrupole/time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (UPLC‐QTOF‐MS) analysis was used to tentatively identify the major phenolics in the most active fraction.

Results

The concentration of total phenolics and total flavonoids in the extract and each fraction thereof correlated with the level of carbonic anhydrase inhibition activity. The ethyl acetate fraction of the aqueous ethanol extract of L. acutangula had the highest carbonic anhydrase inhibition activity. The enzyme kinetics analysis indicated a mixed mode of inhibition. UPLC‐QTOF‐MS analysis of the ethyl acetate fraction indicated a number of phenolic acids, hydroxycoumarins, flavones, flavanones, and flavonoids.

Conclusion

The correlation of total phenolic content with carbonic anhydrase inhibition suggested further research that might confirm that phenolic compounds of L. acutangula offer potential therapeutic benefits against carbonic anhydrase‐related disorders.
Reappraisal of Contemporary Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Principles for Informing Aminoglycoside Dosing
Authors: Bland Christopher M. , Pai Manjunath P. , Lodise Thomas P.
Published: November 2018

Therapeutic drug management is regularly performed for aminoglycosides in an effort to maximize their effectiveness and safety. The ratio of maximum plasma drug concentration to minimum inhibitory concentration (Cmax/MIC) has long been regarded as the primary pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) index of clinical efficacy for aminoglycosides due to their concentration‐dependent killing. In this review, however, we discuss why the area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC)/MIC ratio may be a more reliable indicator of bacterial killing and clinical efficacy for these agents. The definitive AUC/MIC efficacy targets for aminoglycosides are less clear, unlike those that exist for fluoroquinolones. Evaluation of available literature suggests that an AUC/MIC ratio of 30–50 for aminoglycoside therapy may provide optimal outcomes when targeting non–critically ill immunocompetent patients with low–bacterial burden gram‐negative infections such as urinary tract infections or in patients receiving additional gram‐negative therapy with good source control. However, an AUC/MIC target of 80–100 may be more prudent when treating patients with aminoglycoside monotherapy or in critically ill patients with high–bacterial burden infections, such as nosocomial pneumonia. Reappraisal of current antimicrobial susceptibility breakpoints for aminoglycosides against gram‐negative bacteria may also be necessary to achieve these AUC/MIC targets and ensure that current empiric doses are not grossly suboptimal in critically ill patients. Although it has been historically difficult to calculate AUCs in clinical practice, equation‐based and Bayesian approaches now can be used to estimate the AUC in clinical practice, with limited PK sampling. Additional research is needed to better define optimal AUC/MIC targets for efficacy, especially when drugs are used in combination, as well as PK/PD targets associated with suppression of resistance. It is also important to determine if AUC can predict nephrotoxicity of these agents or whether trough concentrations should be used instead.
Cohort Study of Albumin versus Lactated Ringer's for Postoperative Cardiac Surgery Fluid Resuscitation in the Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Fink Ryan J. , Young Andrew , Yanez N. David , Hom Marissa , Mai Jennifer , Treggiari Miriam , Merkel Matthias
Published: November 2018

Purpose

A new postcardiac surgery fluid resuscitation strategy was implemented in our cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU) to implement evidence‐based practice. We transitioned from a primarily albumin fluid–based strategy to a lactated Ringer's fluid–based strategy. We sought to determine whether a new postoperative fluid resuscitation strategy significantly altered the fluid composition for postcardiac surgery patients and what effect that would have on fluid resuscitation costs. Secondary outcomes included various clinical parameters.

Methods

This was a retrospective, before‐and‐after cohort study of postcardiac surgery patients in an academic quaternary care intensive care unit (ICU) during two different 3‐month time intervals. A total of 192 patients were studied: 108 pre‐intervention and 84 post intervention. The intervention consisted of surveying stakeholders regarding potential concerns of reducing albumin use, an educational intervention addressing those concerns, and removing albumin from the routine postcardiac surgery ICU admission order set.

Results

In the post intervention time period, albumin use decreased significantly compared to pre‐invention (p<0.01), and lactated Ringer's volume increased significantly (p<0.01). However, total volume administered for resuscitation was not significantly different pre‐ and post intervention (1129 ml vs. 1369 ml, p=0.136). There were a net‐cost savings between the pre‐intervention and post intervention period (3 mo) of $30,549.20, with the albumin reduction accounting for most of those savings. Secondary outcomes were not significantly different between groups.

Conclusions

An albumin fluid reduction strategy was successful in reducing the amount of albumin fluid used for postcardiac surgery patients and resulted in substantial cost savings.
Onset timing of statin‐induced musculoskeletal adverse events and concomitant drug‐associated shift in onset timing of MAEs
Authors: Akimoto Hayato , Negishi Akio , Oshima Shinji , Okita Mitsuyoshi , Numajiri Sachihiko , Inoue Naoko , Ohshima Shigeru , Kobayashi Daisuke
Published: November 2018

To evaluate the onset timing of musculoskeletal adverse events (MAEs) that develop during statin monotherapy and to determine whether concomitant drugs used concurrently with statin therapy shifts the onset timing of MAEs. Cases in which statins (atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin, lovastatin, fluvastatin, pitavastatin, and pravastatin) were prescribed were extracted from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) Data Files. The onset timing of MAEs during statin monotherapy was evaluated by determining the difference between statin start date and MAE onset date. The use of concomitant drugs with statin therapy was included in the analysis. Statins used in combination with concomitant drugs were compared with statin monotherapy to determine if the use of concomitant drugs shifted the onset timing of MAEs. The onset of MAEs was significantly faster with atorvastatin and rosuvastatin than with simvastatin. A difference in onset timing was not detected with other statins because the number of cases was too small for analysis. When evaluating concomitant drug use, the concomitant drugs that shifted the onset timing of MAEs could not be detected. Statins with strong low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol‐lowering effects (atorvastatin and rosuvastatin) contributed not only to a high risk of MAE onset, but also to a shorter time‐to‐onset. No concomitant drug significantly shifted the onset timing of MAEs when used concurrently with statins.
Mixed methods systematic review on effectiveness and experiences of the Incredible Years Teacher Classroom Management programme
Authors: Nye Elizabeth , Melendez‐Torres G.J. , Gardner Frances
Published: November 2018

Children's early problematic behaviour correlates with later deviant behaviour. The Incredible Years Teacher Classroom Management (IY TCM) programme trains teachers in proactive strategies to disrupt patterns of negative child behaviour. This mixed methods systematic review applies multilevel meta‐analysis and qualitative meta‐synthesis to answer: What is known about the effectiveness of IY TCM, and how do people experience the programme and its effects? We included RCTs comparing IY TCM against treatment‐as‐usual/wait‐list controls and interview/focus group studies with stakeholders. We pooled effect sizes using multilevel meta‐analysis and applied grounded theory analysis to qualitative data. We used framework analysis and integrative grids for cross‐synthesis. Nine studies from England, Ireland, Jamaica, the United States and Wales were included. IY TCM significantly reduced teachers’ use of negative classroom management strategies and reduced conduct problems among high‐risk children. No significant effects were found for improving child prosocial behaviours. Qualitative findings illuminated iterative learning processes between the individual and group and identified a wider range of perceived benefits than was measured in trials. Cross‐synthesis demonstrates both harmonious overlap and gaps from differing research priorities. IY TCM presents an opportunity to lessen violence in schools, leading to improved learning environments for all. It reduced teachers’ negative classroom management practices and high‐risk children's aggressive/non‐compliant behaviours. Experiential data mirrors these findings and expands upon them with a wide range of perceived benefits, demonstrating IY TCM is acceptable and enjoyable. Future quantitative research should seek to test the processes produced in the qualitative meta‐synthesis, to better understand mechanisms of change.
Exponential dissipativity analysis of discrete‐time switched memristive neural networks with actuator saturation via quasi‐time‐dependent control
Authors: Wang Jinling , Jiang Haijun , Ma Tianlong , Hu Cheng , Alsaedi Ahmed
Published: November 2018

The dissipativity of discrete‐time switched memristive neural networks with actuator saturation is considered in this paper. By constructing a quasi‐time‐dependent Lyapunov function, sufficient conditions are obtained to guarantee the exponential stability and exponential dissipativity for the closed‐loop system with mode‐dependent average dwell time switching. Furthermore, the exponential H∞ performance of discrete‐time switched memristive neural networks is also analyzed, while the quasi‐time‐dependent controller and observer gains of the desired exponential dissipative and H∞ performance can be calculated from linear matrix inequalities. Finally, the effectiveness of theoretical results is illustrated through the numerical examples.
Using reverse engineering techniques to infer a system use case model
Authors: Miranda Enrique A. , Berón Mario , Montejano Germán , Riesco Daniel
Published: November 2018

In this article, a strategy that seeks to assist the arduous cognitive process that involves understanding a GUI‐based system is presented. In order to reach this goal, a UML use case model with the most relevant features is obtained. To derive this model, the strategy performs the following steps: Extraction and filtering of specific system static information and implementation of a clustering process that inspects this information including GUI widgets, which are components closely related to the system problem domain. Although these steps are commonly known and used in the context of reverse engineering, the strategy introduces unusual approaches regarding the proposals found in the available literature. More specifically, the strategy presents (a) a set of metrics that infers the relative importance of a method or a function within the analysed system, (b) a summarization process driven by different features of software systems, and (c) a technique to cluster software artefacts and to map the cluster model onto a use case model. The article also propose a methodology that allows to compare the achieved results. The assessment of the approach suggests that the strategy can assist the software engineer to understand a software system providing a useful fine‐grained use case model.
Degradation of tetracycline by solar photo‐Fenton: Optimization and application in pilot photoreactor
Authors: Cahino Arthur Marinho , de Andrade Mariana Maciel Almeida , de Araújo Elizabeth Sousa , Silva Erika Lima , Cunha Cláudia de Oliveira , Rocha Elisângela Maria Rodrigues
Published: November 2018

The objective of this study is to analyze the photodegradation of the antibiotic tetracycline by the solar photo‐Fenton process. The optimal conditions were obtained in a 2² (2 × 2) factorial design with the following input variables: reaction time and catalyst concentration (ferrous ion [Fe2+]). After statistical analysis using the Statistica 7.0 software, the optimal conditions determined, time = 120 min and Fe2+ = 166.81 mg/L, were applied in a pilot scale photoreactor, resulting in an 88.7% removal of the drug. In addition, in this stage we studied the reaction kinetics, biodegradability, and phytotoxicity of the products generated by the process. In the kinetic study, a constant of 1.82 × 10−2 min−1 was obtained. For this constant, a reaction time of 38.16 min is required for the initial tetracycline concentration to be reduced by 50%. The biodegradability tests indicated a gradual increase in the five‐day biological oxygen demand/chemical oxygen demand ratio over time. The phytotoxicity tests showed an 18.5% decrease in the inhibition rate of the root growth of lettuce seedlings, indicating that the treatment applied reduces the toxicity of the substance.
Analysis and optimal individual pitch control decoupling by inclusion of an azimuth offset in the multiblade coordinate transformation
Authors: Mulders Sebastiaan Paul , Pamososuryo Atindriyo Kusumo , Disario Gianmarco Emilio , Wingerden Jan‐Willem van
Published: November 2018

With the trend of increasing wind turbine rotor diameters, the mitigation of blade fatigue loadings is of special interest to extend the turbine lifetime. Fatigue load reductions can be partly accomplished using individual pitch control (IPC) facilitated by the so‐called multiblade coordinate (MBC) transformation. This operation transforms and decouples the blade load signals in a yaw‐axis and tilt‐axis. However, in practical scenarios, the resulting transformed system still shows coupling between the axes, posing a need for more advanced multiple input multiple output (MIMO) control architectures. This paper presents a novel analysis and design framework for decoupling of the nonrotating axes by the inclusion of an azimuth offset in the reverse MBC transformation, enabling the application of simple single‐input single‐output (SISO) controllers. A thorough analysis is given by including the azimuth offset in a frequency‐domain representation. The result is evaluated on simplified blade models, as well as linearizations obtained from the NREL 5–MW reference wind turbine. A sensitivity and decoupling assessment justify the application of decentralized SISO control loops for IPC. Furthermore, closed‐loop high‐fidelity simulations show beneficial effects on pitch actuation and blade fatigue load reductions.
Accretion of dissipative dark matter onto active galactic nuclei
Authors: Outmezguine Nadav Joseph , Slone Oren , Tangarife Walter , Ubaldi Lorenzo , Volansky Tomer
Published: November 2018

Abstract

We examine the possibility that accretion of Dissipative Dark Matter (DDM) onto Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) contributes to the growth rate of Super Massive Black Holes (SMBHs). Such a scenario could alleviate tension associated with anomalously large SMBHs measured at very early cosmic times, as well as observations that indicate that the growth of the most massive SMBHs occurs before z ∼ 6, with little growth at later times. These observations are not readily explained within standard AGN theory. We find a range in the parameter space of DDM models where we both expect efficient accretion to occur and which is consistent with observations of a large sample of measured SMBHs. When DDM accretion is included, the predicted evolution of this sample seems to be more consistent with assumptions regarding maximal BH seed masses and maximal AGN luminosities.
Quantum gravity, fakeons and microcausality
Authors: Anselmi Damiano , Piva Marco
Published: November 2018

Abstract

We investigate the properties of fakeons in quantum gravity at one loop. The theory is described by a graviton multiplet, which contains the fluctuation h

μν
of the metric, a massive scalar ϕ and the spin-2 fakeon χ

μν
. The fields ϕ and χ

μν
are introduced explicitly at the level of the Lagrangian by means of standard procedures. We consider two options, where ϕ is quantized as a physical particle or a fakeon, and compute the absorptive part of the self-energy of the graviton multiplet. The width of χ

μν
, which is negative, shows that the theory predicts the violation of causality at energies larger than the fakeon mass. We address this issue and compare the results with those of the Stelle theory, where χ

μν
is a ghost instead of a fakeon.
Chiral 3d SU(3) SQCD and $$ \mathcal{N}=2 $$ mirror duality
Authors: Fazzi Marco , Lanir Assaf , Razamat Shlomo S. , Sela Orr
Published: November 2018

Abstract

Recently a very interesting three-dimensional

$$ \mathcal{N}=2 $$

N
=
2

supersymmetric theory with SU(3) global symmetry was discussed by several authors. We denote this model by T

x
. This was conjectured to have two dual descriptions, one with explicit supersymmetry and emergent flavor symmetry and the other with explicit flavor symmetry and emergent supersymmetry. We discuss a third description of the model which has both flavor symmetry and supersymmetry manifest. We then investigate models which can be constructed by using T

x
as a building block gauging the global symmetry and paying special attention to the global structure of the gauge group. We conjecture several cases of

$$ \mathcal{N}=2 $$

N
=
2

mirror dualities involving such constructions with the dual being either a simple

$$ \mathcal{N}=2 $$

N
=
2

Wess-Zumino model or a discrete gauging thereof.
Consequences of fine-tuning for fifth force searches
Authors: Blinov Nikita , Ellis Sebastian A. R. , Hook Anson
Published: November 2018

Abstract

Light bosonic fields mediate long range forces between objects. If these fields have self-interactions, i.e., non-quadratic terms in the potential, the experimental constraints on such forces can be drastically altered due to a screening (chameleon) or enhancement effect. We explore how technically natural values for such self-interaction coupling constants modify the existing constraints. We point out that assuming the existence of these natural interactions leads to new constraints, contrary to the usual expectation that screening leads to gaps in coverage. We discuss how screening can turn fundamentally equivalence principle (EP)-preserving forces into EP-violating ones. This means that when natural screening is present, searches for EP violation can be used to constrain EP-preserving forces. We show how this effect enables the recently discovered stellar triple system PSR J0337+1715 to place a powerful constraint on EP-preserving fifth forces. Finally, we demonstrate that technically natural cubic self-interactions modify the vacuum structure of the scalar potential, leading to new constraints from spontaneous and induced vacuum decay.
Standard Model fragmentation functions at very high energies
Authors: Bauer Christian W. , Provasoli Davide , Webber Bryan R.
Published: November 2018

Abstract

We compute the leading-order evolution of parton fragmentation functions for all the Standard Model fermions and bosons up to energies far above the electroweak scale, where electroweak symmetry is restored. We discuss the difference between doublelogarithmic and leading-logarithmic resummation, and show how the latter can be implemented through a scale choice in the SU(2) coupling. We present results for a wide range of partonic center-of-mass energies, including the polarization of fermion and vector boson fragmentation functions induced by electroweak evolution.
Holographic quantization of linearized higher-spin gravity in the de Sitter causal patch
Authors: Neiman Yasha
Published: November 2018

Abstract

We study the dS/CFT duality between minimal type-A higher-spin gravity and the free Sp(2N) vector model. We consider the bulk spacetime as “elliptic” de Sitter space dS
4
/ℤ2, in which antipodal points have been identified. We apply a technique from arXiv:1509.05890, which extracts the quantum-mechanical commutators (or Poisson brackets) of the linearized bulk theory in an observable patch of dS
4
/ℤ2 directly from the boundary 2-point function. Thus, we construct the Lorentzian commutators of the linearized bulk theory from the Euclidean CFT. In the present paper, we execute this technique for the entire higher-spin multiplet, using a higher-spin-covariant language, which provides a promising framework for the future inclusion of bulk interactions. Aside from its importance for dS/CFT, our construction of a Hamiltonian structure for a bulk causal region should be of interest within higher-spin theory itself. The price we pay is a partial symmetry breaking, from the full dS group (and its higher-spin extension) to the symmetry group of an observable patch. While the boundary field theory plays a role in our arguments, the results can be fully expressed within a boundary particle mechanics. Bulk fields arise from this boundary mechanics via a version of second quantization.
Correlation functions in the Schwarzian theory
Authors: Belokurov Vladimir V. , Shavgulidze Evgeniy T.
Published: November 2018

Abstract

A regular approach to evaluate the functional integrals over the quasi-invariant measure on the group of diffeomorphisms is presented. As an important example of the application of this technique, we explicitly evaluate the correlation functions in the Schwarzian theory.
Instructions
Authors: Freeman David J. , Kimbrough Erik O. , Petersen Garrett M. , Tong Hanh T.
Published: November 2018

A survey of instruction delivery and reinforcement methods in recent laboratory experiments reveals a wide and inconsistently reported variety of practices and limited research evaluating their effectiveness. Thus, we experimentally compare how methods of delivering and reinforcing experiment instructions impact subjects’ comprehension and retention of payoff-relevant information. We report a one-shot individual decision task in which non-money-maximizing behavior can be unambiguously identified and find that such behavior is prevalent in our baseline treatment which uses plain, but relatively standard experimental instructions. We find combinations of reinforcement methods that can eliminate half of non-money-maximizing behavior, and we find that we can induce a similar reduction via enhancements to the content of instructions. Residual non-money-maximizing behavior suggests that this may be an important source of noise in experimental studies.
Description of limiting vorticities for the magnetic 2D Ginzburg–Landau equations
Authors: Rodiac Rémy
Published: November 2018

Let

\Omega

be a bounded open set in

\mathbb{R}^{2}

. The aim of this article is to describe the functions

h

in

H^{1}(\mathrm{\Omega })

and the Radon measures

\mu

which satisfy

−\mathrm{\Delta }h + h = \mu

and

\mathrm{div}(T_{h}) = 0

in

\Omega

, where

T_{h}

is a

2 \times 2

matrix given by

(T_{h})_{ij} = 2\partial _{i}h\partial _{j}h−(|\mathrm{∇}h|^{2}) + h^{2})\delta _{ij}

for

i,j = 1,2

. These equations arise as equilibrium conditions satisfied by limiting vorticities and limiting induced magnetic fields of solutions of the magnetic Ginzburg–Landau equations. This was shown by Sandier–Serfaty in [32,33]. Let us recall that they obtained that

|\mathrm{∇}h|

is continuous in Ω. We prove that if

z_{0}

in

\Omega

is in the support of

\mu

and is such that

|\mathrm{∇}h|(z_{0}) \neq 0

then

\mu

is absolutely continuous with respect to the 1D-Hausdorff measure restricted to a

\mathcal{C}^{1}

-curve near

z_{0}

whereas

\mu _{\lfloor \{|\mathrm{\nabla}h| = 0\}} = h_{|\{|\mathrm{\nabla}h| = 0\}}\mathcal{L}^{2}

. We also prove that if

\Omega

is smooth bounded and star-shaped and if

h = 0

on

\partial\Omega

then

h \equiv 0

in

\Omega

. This rules out the possibility of having critical points of the Ginzburg–Landau energy with a number of vortices much larger than the applied magnetic field

h_{ex}

in that case.