bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quasi-experimental Studies in the Fields of Infection Control and Antibiotic Resistance, Ten Years Later: A Systematic Review
Authors: Alsaggaf Rotana , O’Hara Lyndsay M. , Stafford Kristen A. , Leekha Surbhi , Harris Anthony D. ,   for the CDC Prevention Epicenters Program
Published: February 2018

OBJECTIVEA systematic review of quasi-experimental studies in the field of infectious diseases was published in 2005. The aim of this study was to assess improvements in the design and reporting of quasi-experiments 10 years after the initial review. We also aimed to report the statistical methods used to analyze quasi-experimental data.DESIGNSystematic review of articles published from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2014, in 4 major infectious disease journals.METHODSQuasi-experimental studies focused on infection control and antibiotic resistance were identified and classified based on 4 criteria: (1) type of quasi-experimental design used, (2) justification of the use of the design, (3) use of correct nomenclature to describe the design, and (4) statistical methods used.RESULTSOf 2,600 articles, 173 (7%) featured a quasi-experimental design, compared to 73 of 2,320 articles (3%) in the previous review (P<.01). Moreover, 21 articles (12%) utilized a study design with a control group; 6 (3.5%) justified the use of a quasi-experimental design; and 68 (39%) identified their design using the correct nomenclature. In addition, 2-group statistical tests were used in 75 studies (43%); 58 studies (34%) used standard regression analysis; 18 (10%) used segmented regression analysis; 7 (4%) used standard time-series analysis; 5 (3%) used segmented time-series analysis; and 10 (6%) did not utilize statistical methods for comparisons.CONCLUSIONSWhile some progress occurred over the decade, it is crucial to continue improving the design and reporting of quasi-experimental studies in the fields of infection control and antibiotic resistance to better evaluate the effectiveness of important interventions.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2018;39:170–176
Hydrodynamics of flexible fins propelled in tandem, diagonal, triangular and diamond configurations
Authors: Park Sung Goon , Sung Hyung Jin 
Published: February 2018

A fish may gain hydrodynamic benefits from being a member of a school. Inspired by fish schools, a two-dimensional simulation was performed for flexible fins propelled in tandem, diagonal, triangular and diamond configurations. The flow-mediated interactions between the flexible fins were analysed by using an immersed boundary method. A transverse heaving motion was prescribed on the leading edge of each fin, and other posterior parts passively adapted to the surrounding fluid as a result of the fluid–flexible-body interaction. The flexible fins were allowed to actively adjust their relative positions in the horizontal direction. The four basic stable configurations are spontaneously formed and self-sustained purely by the vortex–vortex and vortex–body interactions. The hydrodynamic benefits depend greatly on the local positions of the members. For the same heaving motion prescribed on the leading edge, the input power of the following fin in the stable tandem and diagonal configurations is lower by 14 % and 6 %, respectively, than that of the leading fin. The following fin in the diagonal formation can keep pace with the leading fin even for reduced heaving amplitudes because of the help of the leader via their shared fluid environment, where its required input power is reduced by 21 %. The heaving amplitudes of the trailing fins are reduced to optimize the propulsive efficiency, and the average efficiencies in the triangular and diamond configurations increase by up to 14 % and 19 %, respectively, over that of the isolated swimmer. The propulsive efficiencies are enhanced by 22 % for the fins in the second row and by 36 % for the fin in the third row by decreasing the heaving amplitude in the diamond formation.
Application of Response Surface Methodology in the Optimization of Magneto-Hydrodynamic Flow Around and Through a Porous Circular Cylinder
Authors: Vahedi S. M. , Zare Ghadi A. , Valipour M. S. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractIn this study MHD flow around and through porous cylinder is numerically investigated. The governing equations are developed in polar coordinate arrangement in both porous and non-porous media on the basis of single-domain technique. The equations are solved numerically based on finite volume method over staggered grid structure. Nusselt number and drag coefficient are selected as two key parameters describing performance of this system. By applying response surface methodology the sensitivity of these parameters to main factors of the problem, including Stuart number, Darcy number and Reynolds number are quantified. RSM is also utilized to perform an optimization process to find the best condition in which the lowest drag force and highest heat transfer rate occur simultaneously. The CFD analysis is carried out for variant Reynolds numbers (10 ≤ Re ≤ 40), Darcy numbers (10-6 ≤ Da ≤ 10-2) and Stuart numbers (2 ≤ N ≤ 10). Streamlines and isotherms are presented to indicate the impacts of such parameters on heat and fluid flow. It can be seen that, Drag coefficient and Nusselt number increase by augmenting magnetic field strength. Beside, Darcy number and Reynolds numbers have a direct and inverse effect on Nuave and Cd, respectively. Results of optimization process show that Nuave and Cd are more sensitive to Reynolds and Stuart numbers, respectively, while they less sensitive to Darcy number. Moreover, it is revealed that the optimum condition occurs at Da = 10-2, Re = 38.1 and N = 4.49.
Discrete version of the Pythagorean theorem
Authors: Harminc Matúš , Janičková Lucia 
Published: February 2018

The following observations are motivated by the facts that the area of a planar figure displayed on a screen can be expressed by a certain number of pixels; and if the figure is drawn by a plotter, then its area can be characterised by the total length of a line which fills it in.The generalisations of the Pythagorean theorem are of three kinds. Firstly, the squares on the sides of the right triangle are substituted by other geometrically similar planar figures (Euclid's Elements Book VI, Proposition 31 [1]). Secondly, the assumption of the right angle is omitted (the law of cosines), or both of these generalizations occur simultaneously (Pappus’ area theorem [2], see also H. W. Eves [3]). Thirdly, mathematical spaces other than the plane are considered (for example, de Gua-Faulhaber theorem about trirectangular tetrahedra [3], further generalised by Tinseau [4], Euclideann-spaces, Banach spaces [5], see also [6]).
The performance of Metop Advanced SCATterometer soil moisture data as a complementary source for the estimation of crop-soil water balance in Central Europe
Authors: Thaler S. , Eitzinger J. , Trnka M. , Možný M. , Hahn S. , Wagner W. , Hlavinka P. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractSimulation of the water balance in cropping systems is an essential tool, not only to monitor water status and determine drought but also to find ways in which soil water and irrigation water can be used more efficiently. However, besides the requirement that models are physically correct, the spatial representativeness of input data and, in particular, accurate precipitation data remain a challenge. In recent years, satellite-based soil moisture products have become an important data source for soil wetness information at various spatial-temporal scales. Four different study areas in the Czech Republic and Austria were selected representing Central European soil and climatic conditions. The performance of soil water content outputs from two different crop-water balance models and the Metop Advanced SCATterometer (ASCAT) soil moisture product was tested with field measurements from 2007 to 2011. The model output for soil water content shows that the crop model Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer performs well during dry periods (<30% plant available soil moisture (ASM), whereas the soil water-balance model SoilClim presents the best results in humid months (>60% ASM). Moreover, the model performance is best in the early growing season and decreases later in the season due to biases in simulated crop-related above-ground biomass compared with the relatively stable grass canopy of the measurement sites. The Metop ASCAT soil moisture product, which presents a spatial average of soil surface moisture, shows the best performance under medium soil wetness conditions (30–50% ASM), which is related to low variation in precipitation frequency and under conditions of low-surface biomass (early vegetation season).
PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL EDITORS’ VIEWS ON REAL-WORLD EVIDENCE
Authors: Oehrlein Elisabeth M. , Graff Jennifer S. , Perfetto Eleanor M. , Mullins C. Daniel , Dubois Robert W. , Anyanwu Chinenye , Onukwugha Eberechukwu 
Published: February 2018

Objectives:Peer-review publication is a critical step to the translation and dissemination of research results into clinical practice guidelines, health technology assessment (HTA) and payment policies, and clinical care. The objective of this study was to examine current views of journal editors regarding: (i) The value of real-world evidence (RWE) and how it compares with other types of studies; (ii) Education and/or resources journal editors provide to their peer reviewers or perceive as needed for authors, reviewers, and editors related to RWE.Methods:Journal editors’ views on the value of RWE and editorial procedures for RWE manuscripts were obtained through telephone interviews, a survey, and in-person, roundtable discussion.Results:In total, seventy-nine journals were approached, resulting in fifteen telephone interviews, seventeen survey responses and eight roundtable participants. RWE was considered valuable by all interviewed editors (n= 15). Characteristics of high-quality RWE manuscripts included: novelty/relevance, rigorous methodology, and alignment of data to research question. Editors experience challenges finding peer reviewers; however, these challenges persist across all study designs. Journals generally do not provide guidance, assistance, or training for reviewers, including for RWE studies. Health policy/health services research (HSR) editors were more likely than specialty or general medicine editors to participate in this study, potentially indicating that HSR researchers are more comfortable/interested in RWE.Conclusions:Editors report favorable views of RWE studies provided studies examine important questions and are methodologically rigorous. Improving peer-review processes across all study designs, has the potential to improve the evidence base for decision making, including HTA.
Ruggiero Boscovich and “the Forces Existing in Nature”
Authors: Guzzardi Luca 
Published: February 2018

ArgumentAccording to a long-standing interpretation which traces back to Max Jammer'sConcepts of Force(1957), Ruggiero G. Boscovich would have developed a concept of force in the tradition of Leibniz's dynamics. In his variation on the theme, basic properties of matter such as solidity or impenetrability would be derived from an interplay of some “active” force of attraction and repulsion that any primary element of nature (“point of matter” in Boscovich's theory) would possess. In the present paper I discuss many flaws of this interpretation and argue for an alternative point of view, according to which the crucial aspect in the development of Boscovich's natural philosophy is his early definition of forces as “mathematical determinations” to have a certain state of motion. This is consistent with a Newtonian background and has as its epistemological consequence a certain agnosticism about the nature of forces and a “mathematical neutralism” (mathematics as a neutral tool, allowing for a plurality of interpretations).
Preemergence Application of Dicamba to Manage Dicamba-Resistant Kochia (Kochia scoparia)
Authors: Ou Junjun , Thompson Curtis R. , Stahlman Phillip W. , Jugulam Mithila 
Published: February 2018

AbstractDicamba-resistant crops are being rapidly embraced by growers in the United States to manage glyphosate-resistant and other difficult-to-control broadleaf weeds. However, dicamba resistance in kochia, one of the troublesome weeds of the North American Great Plains, is already widespread. Hence, POST application of dicamba may not adequately control kochia. In recent years in the High Plains Region of Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska, dicamba has been widely applied, often in combination with atrazine or metribuzin, in early spring for PRE control of kochia. However, there is concern this use pattern may increase the selection for dicamba-resistant (DR) kochia. Hence, there is need to understand the efficacy of dicamba applied PRE versus POST for managing DR kochia. A greenhouse study was conducted to test the efficacy of PRE-applied dicamba compared with POST application using both DR and dicamba-susceptible (DS) kochia. Efficacies of PRE-applied dicamba were compared at seeding densities of 300, 600, 900 and 1200 viable seed m−2. At eight weeks after PRE and four weeks after POST treatment, control of DR kochia seeded at 300 viable seed m−2was improved from 10% with 560 g ae ha−1dicamba applied POST to 94 and 97% with 350 and 420 g ha−1dicamba applied PRE, respectively. However, the efficacy of PRE-applied dicamba was negatively correlated with seed density. When kochia seeding density was increased from 300 to 1200 seed m−2, the ED50of PRE-applied dicamba increased from 237 to 705 g ae ha−1for DR kochia, and from 129 to 361 g ae ha−1for DS kochia, respectively. Thus, PRE-applied dicamba was effective in controlling the population of DR kochia tested, suggesting that PRE-applied dicamba may still provide substantial control of some DR kochia populations. However, it is not advisable to apply dicamba alone for PRE kochia control.
Targeting estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) for treatment of ovarian cancer: importance of KDM6B and SIRT1 for ERβ expression and functionality
Authors: Pinton Giulia , Nilsson Stefan , Moro Laura 
Published: February 2018

AbstractEstrogen receptor (ER) β has growth inhibitory and chemo drug potentiating effect on ovarian cancer cells. We studied the dependence of ERβ function on the presence of KDM6B and SIRT1 in human ovarian cancer cells in vitro. Activation of ERβ with the subtype-selective agonist KB9520 resulted in significant inhibition of human ovarian cancer cell growth. KB9520-activated ERβ had an additive effect on growth inhibition in combination with cisplatin and paclitaxel, respectively. Loss of KDM6B expression had a negative effect on ERβ function as a ligand-dependent inhibitor of ovarian cancer cell growth. In contrast, loss or inhibition of SIRT1 deacetylase activity restored ligand-activated ERβ functionality. Presented data suggest that selective targeting of ERβ with an agonist potentiate chemotherapy efficacy for the treatment of ovarian cancer and that downregulation or inhibition of SIRT1 may further enhance its therapeutic effect.
Photoautotrophic organisms control microbial abundance, diversity, and physiology in different types of biological soil crusts
Authors: Maier Stefanie , Tamm Alexandra , Wu Dianming , Caesar Jennifer , Grube Martin , Weber Bettina 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) cover about 12% of the Earth’s land masses, thereby providing ecosystem services and affecting biogeochemical fluxes on a global scale. They comprise photoautotrophic cyanobacteria, algae, lichens and mosses, which grow together with heterotrophic microorganisms, forming a model system to study facilitative interactions and assembly principles in natural communities. Biocrusts can be classified into cyanobacteria-, lichen-, and bryophyte-dominated types, which reflect stages of ecological succession. In this study, we examined whether these categories include a shift in heterotrophic communities and whether this may be linked to altered physiological properties. We analyzed the microbial community composition by means of qPCR and high-throughput amplicon sequencing and utilized flux measurements to investigate their physiological properties. Our results revealed that once 16S and 18S rRNA gene copy numbers increase, fungi become more predominant and alpha diversity increases with progressing succession. Bacterial communities differed significantly between biocrust types with a shift from more generalized to specialized organisms along succession. CO2 gas exchange measurements revealed large respiration rates of late successional crusts being significantly higher than those of initial biocrusts, and different successional stages showed distinct NO and HONO emission patterns. Thus, our study suggests that the photoautotrophic organisms facilitate specific microbial communities, which themselves strongly influence the overall physiological properties of biocrusts and hence local to global nutrient cycles.
Light and temperature control the seasonal distribution of thaumarchaeota in the South Atlantic bight
Authors: Liu Qian , Tolar Bradley B , Ross Meredith J , Cheek Jelani B , Sweeney Corinne M , Wallsgrove Natalie J , Popp Brian N , Hollibaugh James T 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
Mid-summer peaks in the abundance of Thaumarchaeota and nitrite concentration observed on the Georgia, USA, coast could result from in situ activity or advection of populations from another source. We collected data on the distribution of Thaumarchaeota, ammonia-oxidizing betaproteobacteria (AOB), Nitrospina, environmental variables and rates of ammonia oxidation during six cruises in the South Atlantic Bight (SAB) from April to November 2014. These data were used to examine seasonality of nitrification in offshore waters and to test the hypothesis that the bloom was localized to inshore waters. The abundance of Thaumarchaeota marker genes (16S rRNA and amoA) increased at inshore and nearshore stations starting in July and peaked in August at &gt;107 copies L−1. The bloom did not extend onto the mid-shelf, where Thaumarchaeota genes ranged from 103 to 105 copies L−1. Ammonia oxidation rates (AO) were highest at inshore stations during summer (to 840 nmol L−1 d−1) and were always at the limit of detection at mid-shelf stations. Nitrite concentrations were correlated with AO (R = 0.94) and were never elevated at mid-shelf stations. Gene sequences from samples collected at mid-shelf stations generated using Archaea 16S rRNA primers were dominated by Euryarchaeota; sequences from inshore and nearshore stations were dominated by Thaumarchaeota. Thaumarchaeota were also abundant at depth at the shelf-break; however, this population was phylogenetically distinct from the inshore/nearshore population. Our analysis shows that the bloom is confined to inshore waters during summer and suggests that Thaumarchaeota distributions in the SAB are controlled primarily by photoinhibition and secondarily by water temperature.
Nanostructuring one-dimensional and amorphous lithium peroxide for high round-trip efficiency in lithium-oxygen batteries
Authors: Dutta Arghya , Wong Raymond A. , Park Woonghyeon , Yamanaka Keisuke , Ohta Toshiaki , Jung Yousung , Byon Hye Ryung 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe major challenge facing lithium–oxygen batteries is the insulating and bulk lithium peroxide discharge product, which causes sluggish decomposition and increasing overpotential during recharge. Here, we demonstrate an improved round-trip efficiency of ~80% by means of a mesoporous carbon electrode, which directs the growth of one-dimensional and amorphous lithium peroxide. Morphologically, the one-dimensional nanostructures with small volume and high surface show improved charge transport and promote delithiation (lithium ion dissolution) during recharge and thus plays a critical role in the facile decomposition of lithium peroxide. Thermodynamically, density functional calculations reveal that disordered geometric arrangements of the surface atoms in the amorphous structure lead to weaker binding of the key reaction intermediate lithium superoxide, yielding smaller oxygen reduction and evolution overpotentials compared to the crystalline surface. This study suggests a strategy to enhance the decomposition rate of lithium peroxide by exploiting the size and shape of one-dimensional nanostructured lithium peroxide.
Impaired β-arrestin recruitment and reduced desensitization by non-catechol agonists of the D1 dopamine receptor
Authors: Gray David L. , Allen John A. , Mente Scot , O’Connor Rebecca E. , DeMarco George J. , Efremov Ivan , Tierney Patrick , Volfson Dmitri , Davoren Jennifer , Guilmette Edward , Salafia Michelle , Kozak Rouba , Ehlers Michael D. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractSelective activation of dopamine D1 receptors (D1Rs) has been pursued for 40 years as a therapeutic strategy for neurologic and psychiatric diseases due to the fundamental role of D1Rs in motor function, reward processing, and cognition. All known D1R-selective agonists are catechols, which are rapidly metabolized and desensitize the D1R after prolonged exposure, reducing agonist response. As such, drug-like selective D1R agonists have remained elusive. Here we report a novel series of selective, potent non-catechol D1R agonists with promising in vivo pharmacokinetic properties. These ligands stimulate adenylyl cyclase signaling and are efficacious in a rodent model of Parkinson's disease after oral administration. They exhibit distinct binding to the D1R orthosteric site and a novel functional profile including minimal receptor desensitization, reduced recruitment of β-arrestin, and sustained in vivo efficacy. These results reveal a novel class of D1 agonists with favorable drug-like properties, and define the molecular basis for catechol-specific recruitment of β-arrestin to D1Rs.
Anti-fouling graphene-based membranes for effective water desalination
Authors: Seo Dong Han , Pineda Shafique , Woo Yun Chul , Xie Ming , Murdock Adrian T. , Ang Elisa Y. M. , Jiao Yalong , Park Myoung Jun , Lim Sung Il , Lawn Malcolm , Borghi Fabricio Frizera , Han Zhao Jun , Gray Stephen , Millar Graeme , Du Aijun , Shon Ho Kyong , Ng Teng Yong , Ostrikov Kostya 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe inability of membranes to handle a wide spectrum of pollutants is an important unsolved problem for water treatment. Here we demonstrate water desalination via a membrane distillation process using a graphene membrane where water permeation is enabled by nanochannels of multilayer, mismatched, partially overlapping graphene grains. Graphene films derived from renewable oil exhibit significantly superior retention of water vapour flux and salt rejection rates, and a superior antifouling capability under a mixture of saline water containing contaminants such as oils and surfactants, compared to commercial distillation membranes. Moreover, real-world applicability of our membrane is demonstrated by processing sea water from Sydney Harbour over 72 h with macroscale membrane size of 4 cm2, processing ~0.5 L per day. Numerical simulations show that the channels between the mismatched grains serve as an effective water permeation route. Our research will pave the way for large-scale graphene-based antifouling membranes for diverse water treatment applications.