bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Multicenter, Prospective, Observational Study to Determine Predictive Factors for Multidrug‐Resistant Pneumonia in Critically Ill Adults: The DEFINE Study
Authors: Lat Ishaq , Daley Mitchell J. , Shewale Anand , Pangrazzi Mark H. , Hammond Drayton , Olsen Keith M. ,   the DEFINE study group and the Discovery Research Network
Published: August 2018

ObjectiveThis study was conducted to describe the prevalence, epidemiology, and clinical outcomes of multidrug‐resistant (MDR) organism (MDRO) pneumonia in critically ill patients.MethodsA multicenter, prospective, observational study of patients admitted to 60 intensive care units (ICUs), from 34 hospitals, in the United States from November to December 2016. Adults (> 18 yrs) receiving antimicrobial therapy at least 5 days for pneumonia were included. Patients were classified into two categories, with or without MDRO, and subcategorized by pneumonia type.Measurements and main resultsDemographics, medication histories, and health care exposure were collected during ICU admission and compared using t test and chi‐square tests. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine predictive factors for MDRO pneumonia and hospital mortality. Of 652 patients, 92 patients (14.1%) developed MDR pneumonia. Predictors of MDRO pneumonia were acid suppression therapy within the previous 90 days (odds ratio [OR] 1.88 [1.14–3.09]; p=0.013), mechanical ventilation (OR 1.96 [1.14–3.35]; p<0.001), and history of MDRO infection (OR 4.74 [2.21–10.18]; p<0.001). Appropriate initial antimicrobial selection occurred in 58 patients (63%) with MDRO pneumonia compared to 464 patients (82.7%) in patients without MDRO pneumonia (p<0.001). MDRO pneumonia was not associated with hospital mortality (18.5% vs 17.6%, p=0.087).ConclusionsIn a broad cohort of critically ill patients, MDRO pneumonia is infrequent, and associated with factors describing the intensity of health care provided. Presence of MDRO pneumonia is not associated with hospital mortality. Further study is needed to clarify risk factors for multidrug‐resistant pneumonia in critically ill patients.
Formation of Fe and Fe2O3 Microspirals via Interfacial Synthesis
Authors: Gulina Larisa B. , Tolstoy Valeri P. , Lobinsky Artem A. , Petrov Yuri V. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractA new method is reported for obtaining microspirals of iron‐based compounds by interfacial interaction. A thin film of Fe(OH)3 is obtained as a result of interaction between an aqueous solution of iron salts and gaseous ammonia. Upon drying, it is transformed into Fe(OH)3 microspirals with a diameter of up to 10 µm. These microspirals can be transformed into Fe2O3 microspirals by annealing in air. As a result of hydrogen reduction, Fe microspirals are formed. Both the annealing in air and that in hydrogen allow the retaining of the morphology. The material synthesized is characterized by electronic microscopy methods, X‐ray diffraction, diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared, and Mössbauer and photoelectron spectroscopies. The electrocatalytic properties of the electrode based on Fe2O3 microspirals as a catalyst of hydrogen evolution and the magnetic properties of Fe microspirals are tested. A hypothesis is proposed on the formation of microspirals by the gas–solution interface technique.
Natural mortality factors of tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta in open‐field tomato crops in South America
Authors: Bacci Leandro , Silva Ézio M , Silva Gerson A , Silva Laércio J , Rosado Jander F , Samuels Richard I , Picanço Marcelo C 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBackgroundLittle importance has been given to the role of natural mortality factors (biotic and abiotic) in the regulation of tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) populations. The present study determined the action of mortality factors on T. absoluta populations infesting cultivated tomato crops. Eighty ecological life tables for T. absoluta in field cultivated tomato plants were constructed and analyzed.ResultsTotal T. absoluta mortality was 99.08%, with 38.76% mortality during the egg phase, 57.20% in the larva phase and 3.12% in the pupal phase. The main mortality factors during the egg stage were predation, parasitism and egg inviability. In the larval stage, the main mortality factors were predation, parasitism, entomopathogenic agents and physiological disorders. In the pupal stage, the main mortality factor was predation. The larvae of the third and fourth instar were more susceptible to the action of mortality factors and the predatory wasp, Protonectarina sylveirae, was the main insect predator of these larvae.ConclusionsThe T. absoluta population is regulated under field conditions by the action of natural enemies of the larvae. The predatory wasp P. sylveirae is very important in the regulation of T. absoluta populations in open‐field tomato crops in Brazil. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Field monitoring of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Cry1Ac insecticidal protein resistance in China (2005–2017)
Authors: Dandan Zhang , Yutao Xiao , Wenbo Chen , Yanhui Lu , Kongming Wu 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDBt cotton expressing Cry1Ac can efficiently control Helicoverpa armigera, but field‐evolved Bt resistance reduces its efficacy. Susceptibility of H. armigera field populations to Cry1Ac protein has been monitored since Bt cotton was commercialized in 1997 in China. Here we report the results of our continued monitoring from 2005 to 2017 to provide important guidelines for sustainably growing cotton.RESULTSFrom 13 provinces and regions, 221 populations were sampled and measured. IC50 values (concentration producing 50% inhibition of larval development to third instar) among different strains ranged from 0.004 to 0.212 µg mL−1, the percentage survival at a diagnostic concentration (IC99, 1.0 µg mL−1) (SUR) ranged from 0% to 22.2%, and the percentage of field populations yielding survivors at diagnostic concentration (PSD) increased from 0 in 2006 and 2007 to 80% in 2015.CONCLUSIONSCompared to resistance level from 1998 to 2004 and the geographic baseline in different places of China in 1997, Bt resistance of H. armigera field populations to Cry1Ac protein has increased significantly, but failure of Bt cotton has not yet been detected. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Distributed zero‐gradient‐sum algorithm for convex optimization with time‐varying communication delays and switching networks
Authors: Guo Zhijun , Chen Gang 
Published: August 2018

SummaryThe distributed convex optimization problem subject to time‐varying communication delays and switching network topologies is addressed in this paper. Based on continuous‐time Zero‐Gradient‐Sum scheme, the novel distributed algorithms are proposed to minimize the global objective function which is composed of a sum of strictly convex local cost functions. In the fixed network topology case, by constructing a new Lyapunov‐Krasovskii function, two explicit sufficient conditions for the maximum admissible time delay are derived to guarantee that all agents' states converge to the optimal solution. In the switching network topology case, the stability condition is derived by the common Lyapunov function theory. In addition, two sufficient conditions about the maximum admissible time delays are also derived for the fixed and switching weight‐balanced network topologies, respectively. Several simulation tests are used to illustrate the effectiveness of our obtained theoretical results.
Anomalous Dynamics of Magnetic Anisotropic Colloids Studied by XPCS
Authors: Pal Antara , Zinn Thomas , Kamal Mohammad Arif , Narayanan Theyencheri , Schurtenberger Peter 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe influence of an applied magnetic field on the collective dynamics of novel anisotropic colloidal particles whose shape resembles peanuts is reported. Being made up of hematite cores and silica shells, these micrometer‐sized particles align in a direction perpendicular to the applied external magnetic field, and assemble into chains along the field direction. The anisotropic dynamics of these particles is investigated using multispeckle ultrasmall‐angle X‐ray photon correlation spectroscopy (USA‐XPCS). The results indicate that along the direction of the magnetic field, the particle dynamics strongly depends on the length scale probed. Here, the relaxation of the intermediate scattering function follows a compressed exponential behavior at large distances, while it appears diffusive at distances comparable or smaller than the particle size. Perpendicular to the applied field (and along the direction of gravity), the experimental data can be quantitatively reproduced by a combination of an advective term originating from sedimentation and a purely diffusive one that describes the thermal diffusion of the assembled chains and individual particles.
Usability of Intraoperative Fluorescence Imaging with Indocyanine Green During Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy After Percutaneous Transhepatic Gallbladder Drainage
Authors: Yoshiya Shohei , Minagawa Ryosuke , Kamo Keisuke , Kasai Meidai , Taketani Kenji , Yukaya Takafumi , Kimura Yasue , Koga Tadashi , Kai Masanori , Kajiyama Kiyoshi , Yoshizumi Tomoharu 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBackgroundPatients with persistent symptoms of acute cholecystitis for >72 h who cannot undergo urgent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) often undergo percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) and delayed LC. However, intraoperative near‐infrared fluorescence with indocyanine green (ICG) has recently become available in various surgical settings. Therefore, we evaluated the usability of intraoperative fluorescence imaging with ICG for LC after PTGBD in patients with acute cholecystitis.MethodsThe preoperative and postoperative clinical characteristics of patients who underwent LC after PTGBD were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsIn total, 130 patients were reviewed. Intraoperative ICG fluorescence imaging was used in 39 (30.0%) patients, and none developed adverse reactions. Patients with ICG fluorescence imaging had a significantly shorter operative time (129 ± 46 vs. 150 ± 56 min, p = 0.0455), markedly lower conversion rate (2.6% vs. 22.0%, p = 0.0017), and lower proportion of subtotal cholecystectomy (0.0% vs. 6.6%, p = 0.0359) than patients without ICG fluorescence imaging. Independent risk factors for conversion to laparotomy during LC after PTGBD were the performance of PTGBD after 48 h from onset (OR 3.52; 95% CI 1.11–12.21; p = 0.0322), an unremoved PTGBD tube on LC (4.48, 1.46–15.00, p = 0.0084), and surgery without ICG (8.00, 1.28–159.47, p = 0.0231).ConclusionIntraoperative ICG fluorescence imaging produced better surgical outcomes without any adverse reactions. Early performance of PTGBD and intraoperative ICG fluorescence imaging can reduce the surgical difficulties in LC after PTGBD for acute cholecystitis.
C-O Isotope Analysis of Dolostone of Vempalle Formation in Dhone-Gudipadu-Korivipalle Sector, Western Part of Papaghni Sub-basin, Andhra Pradesh and Its Impact on Uranium Mineralization
Authors: Rajaraman H. S. , Roy Minati , Verma M. B. , Nanda L. K. 
Published: August 2018

ABSTRACT
Cuddapah basin is an important uranium province, wherein unconformity related uranium deposit occur in Srisailam sub-basin in northern part and the dolostone hosted strata bound uranium deposit in Vempalle dolostone in southern part. The latter host the low-grade, large-tonnage uranium deposit. Vempalle Formation in Dhone-Gudipadu-Korivipalle (DGK) sector, along western part of the Papaghni sub-basin consists of three major units viz. (a) lower dolostone, (b) middle purple shale and (c) upper cherty dolostone. The lower dolostone has lot of detritus, represented mainly by quartz, feldspar, mica and clay. The upper cherty dolostone has chert as layers, nodules, rip-up clasts and at places do have conspicuous reddish brown shale bands with &lt;2mm size siliceous oolite layers. They exhibit shallowing-upward carbonate depositional system with tidal flat environment. A number of uranium occurrences in Gudipadu-Korivipalle sector are hosted by the lower dolostone unit, especially at its lower stratigraphic level, i.e. 15-42m above the Gulcheru-Vempalle (GV) contact. Micro-stylolites are indicative of comparatively more burial pressure. Presence of fenestral voids filled with recrystallised fibrous calcite and thin mud drapes in the dolostone is indicative of precipitation in a shallow marine-tidal flat environment with late burial dolomitisation. Depletion of heavier C and O isotopes [13C: (-2.31 to 1.32%) and 18O: (-6.21 to -17.3%)] in the lower dolostone indicate mixing of fresh water with sea water in the depositional environment of tidal flat regime
Effect of Atmosphere and Temperature Treatment on Leoanardite for Increasing Humic Acid Yield
Authors: Simsek Yunus Emre , Degirmenci Levent 
Published: August 2018

ABSTRACT
Humic acid is a complex molecule including carboxylic, phenolic, alcoholic, and carbonyl fractions in its structure. Addition of this complex structure in soil improves its fertility by increasing its porosity along with water/nutrient capacity. Although naturally exists in soil, humic acid must be added to soil externally in regions with low soil fertility.
The present study was conducted to provide insight on improving the efficiency of humic acid yield during its extraction. Leonardite was selected as raw material due to its higher amounts of humic acid compared to low rank coals, soil, agricultural crop residues, compost, sewage sludge, landfill leachate and animal waste. Leonardite was treated at 200, 300 and 400°C, in the presence of air and nitrogen atmospheres and humic acid was extracted from this treated samples. Compared to untreated leonardite, an improvement in humic acid efficiency was achieved for samples treated at 200°C, in the presence of nitrogen atmosphere. The reasons of this distinct behavior in the presence of nitrogen was elaborated with elemental, FT-IR, UV-Vis and XRD analyses.
The Mechanisms of Enlargement and Hydrogeological Characteristics of Nanka Gully, Southeast Nigeria
Authors: Igwe Ogbonnaya 
Published: August 2018

ABSTRACT
The mechanisms, failure processes and the hydrogeological factors leading to the enlargement of Nanka gully, one of the biggest landslide sites in Nigeria, were investigated. The gully is situated on unconsolidated, friable, collapsible sandstones capped in some places by lateritic overburden. Cross-section analysis shows that a NE-SW profile closely corresponds to the length of the gully which is over 2km while the NW-SE profile represents the width which is approximately 500m. The depth from the section is between 60 – 100m. Field investigation found gullies were abundant only in the eastern part of the study area. Digital elevation model (DEM) indicates that the abundance is related to the numerous surface runoff drainages in that part. The large Nanka gully (7° 5’E, 6° 2’20”N) forms the major tributary of the Mamu river. Expectedly, intense rainfall generates strong surface runoffs and remove large quantities of soil and bedrock. Shear strength tests show that overburden pressure can further weaken the materials and increase their vulnerability to the erosive impacts of runoffs and groundwater during the wet season. The gully’s progressive expansion to its present size is generally by headward extension of stream channels, head-cutting and landslides.
Numerical Simulation of Groundwater Flow and Vulnerability in Wadi El-Natrun Depression and Vicinities, West Nile Delta, Egypt
Authors: El Osta M. , Hussein H. , Tomas K. 
Published: August 2018

ABSTRACT
During the last 25 years, rapid and unplanned land reclamation activity has been carried out in the areas located in both south and east of Wadi El - Natrun Depression of Egypt. Accordingly, negative effects on groundwater levels and vulnerability are frequently caused by localized high levels of abstraction and the return-flow of polluted irrigation water respectively. A groundwater model is a computational method that presents an approximation of an underground water system. In this study the groundwater system is simulated both in quantity and quality by using Mass Balance Transfer Model (NETPATH), Groundwater Modeling System (GMS) and DRASTIC Model to investigate the water - rock interactions, groundwater levels drawdown and vulnerability respectively. Three main geochemical processes namely dedolomitisation, dissolution of halite and silicate weathering were estimated during the flow path. The present over-abstraction of groundwater (105.84 million m3/year) has induced a general head drawdown from 3 to 40 m in years 2015 and 2050 respectively. Best estimate using a 3D GMS hydraulic model was (157000 m3/day) a strategy proposed for the management of groundwater without critical depletion (second scenario). The results document the extent to which a high drawdown can greatly reach 4 m by the end of simulation year 2050. The vulnerability maps of groundwater were constructed using the DRASTIC index method. The results indicated that, the southeastern and central portions of the study area are having high vulnerability rate (&gt; 110). Modified DRASTIC map showed many more dominant high risk areas in the eastern parts of the study area that were low risk, which may be attributed to return flow of polluted irrigation water.
Prenatal Exposure to an Acute Stressor and Children’s Cognitive Outcomes
Authors: Torche Florencia 
Published: August 2018

AbstractExposure to environmental stressors is highly prevalent and unequally distributed along socioeconomic lines and may have enduring negative consequences, even when experienced before birth. Yet, estimating the consequences of prenatal stress on children’s outcomes is complicated by the issue of confounding (i.e., unobserved factors correlated with stress exposure and with children’s outcomes). I combine a natural experiment—a strong earthquake in Chile—with a panel survey to capture the effect of prenatal exposure on acute stress and children’s cognitive ability. I find that stress exposure in early pregnancy has no effect on children’s cognition among middle-class families, but it has a strong negative influence among disadvantaged families. I then examine possible pathways accounting for the socioeconomic stratification in the effect of stress, including differential exposure across socioeconomic status, differential sensitivity, and parental responses. Findings suggest that the interaction between prenatal exposures and socioeconomic advantage provides a powerful mechanism for the intergenerational transmission of disadvantage.
Forest recovery in set-aside windthrow is facilitated by fast growth of advance regeneration
Authors: Szwagrzyk Jerzy , Maciejewski Zbigniew , Maciejewska Ewa , Tomski Andrzej , Gazda Anna 
Published: August 2018

Abstract

Key message

The disturbance of a research plot by a windstorm allowed us to study the role of the seedling bank in the regeneration processes. The released advance regeneration dominated among the saplings; taller individuals retained their position until the end of the study. Pioneer species occurred sporadically. Seven years after the disturbance, the windthrow was covered by a dense thicket of young trees.

Context

The dominant role played by advance regeneration in natural regeneration processes after intense wind disturbances is still a matter of dispute.

Aims

We took advantage of a windstorm in one of our research plots to study the role of the seedling bank released by the disturbance in the regeneration processes.

Methods

We collected data in 70 plots, recording the survivorship of seedlings, annual height growth, and signs of browsing. The height ranking was analyzed with Kendall’s concordance coefficient, and the height growth rates were compared using Dunn’s test.

Results

The density of seedlings increased from 6.7/m2 in 2008 to 8.1/m2 in 2010 and then decreased to 1.2/m2 in 2015. The density of saplings increased continuously from 0.14 to 1.9/m2. The highest size differentiation occurred in sycamore maple; the individuals which were taller before the windstorm retained their position until the year 2015. The only species that was recruited mainly from germinants was European hornbeam.

Conclusion

The advance regeneration released by the windstorm played a major role in the regeneration process, while pioneer species occurred only sporadically. Seven years after the disturbance, the windthrow was already covered by a dense thicket of young trees.
Somatic variants in autosomal dominant genes are a rare cause of sporadic Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Nicolas Gaël , Acuña‐Hidalgo Rocío , Keogh Michael J. , Quenez Olivier , Steehouwer Marloes , Lelieveld Stefan , Rousseau Stéphane , Richard Anne‐Claire , Oud Manon S. , Marguet Florent , Laquerrière Annie , Morris Chris M. , Attems Johannes , Smith Colin , Ansorge Olaf , Al Sarraj Safa , Frebourg Thierry , Campion Dominique , Hannequin Didier , Wallon David , Gilissen Christian , Chinnery Patrick F. , Veltman Joris A. , Hoischen Alexander 
Published: August 2018

AbstractIntroductionA minority of patients with sporadic early‐onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) exhibit de novo germ line mutations in the autosomal dominant genes such as APPPSEN1, or PSEN2. We hypothesized that negatively screened patients may harbor somatic variants in these genes.MethodsWe applied an ultrasensitive approach based on single‐molecule molecular inversion probes followed by deep next generation sequencing of 11 genes to 100 brain and 355 blood samples from 445 sporadic patients with AD (>80% exhibited an early onset, <66 years).ResultsWe identified and confirmed nine somatic variants (allele fractions: 0.2%–10.8%): two APP, five SORL1, one NCSTN, and one MARK4 variants by independent amplicon‐based deep sequencing.DiscussionTwo of the SORL1 variant might have contributed to the disease, the two APP variants were interpreted as likely benign and the other variants remained of unknown significance. Somatic variants in the autosomal dominant AD genes may not be a common cause of sporadic AD, including early onset cases.
Towards a multi-criteria framework for stereotomy – Workflows for subtractive fabrication in complex geometries
Authors: Fernando Shayani , Weir Simon , Reinhardt Dagmar , Hannouch Adam 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
In a context of stereotomy, robotic subtractive cutting enables design-to-production processes that integrate craftsmanship with advanced manufacturing technology. This paper discusses empirical research into the fabrication of complex and custom-designed geometries by means of robotic subtractive cutting, with a specific focus on modular elements and joint typologies that form an essential condition for self-supporting stone structures. The paper presents research findings in two parts. In the first part, four case studies for jointing techniques and a cross-comparison between these are introduced to derive strategies for multiple criteria, including macro-and-micro geometries, modules and joints, structural performance, material variations, machine cutting methods and end-effectors, and robotic workspace. In the second part, the paper focuses on the structural performance of the joint geometry typologies, expanded towards material constraints and robotic fabrication process. The paper concludes with a discussion on these varied subtractive cutting methodologies and a resulting design-to-fabrication workflow, and indicates future research work.
Highlights Demonstrates applications of stereotomic practice for robotic subtractive cutting. Reports on comparative case studies for four different module and joint structures. Discusses structural performance for Interlocking base block geometries. Provides a multi-criteria framework for structural, material/machine cutting methods. Develops a design-to-fabrication workflow in robotic subtractive cutting.