bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Implementation of an infection prevention bundle and increased physician awareness improves surgical outcomes and reduces costs associated with spine surgery
Authors: Agarwal Nitin , Agarwal Prateek , Querry Ashley , Mazurkiewicz Anna , Tempel Zachary J. , Friedlander Robert M. , Gerszten Peter C. , Hamilton D. Kojo , Okonkwo David O. , Kanter Adam S. 
Published: April 2018

OBJECTIVEPrevious studies have demonstrated the efficacy of infection prevention protocols in reducing infection rates. This study investigated the effects of the development and implementation of an infection prevention protocol that was augmented by increased physician awareness of spinal fusion surgical site infection (SSI) rates and resultant cost savings.METHODSA cohort clinical investigation over a 10-year period was performed at a single tertiary spine care academic institution. Preoperative infection control measures (chlorohexidine gluconate bathing, Staphylococcus aureus nasal screening and decolonization) followed by postoperative infection control measures (surgical dressing care) were implemented. After the implementation of these infection control measures, an awareness intervention was instituted in which all attending and resident neurosurgeons were informed of their individual, independently adjudicated spinal fusion surgery infection rates and rankings among their peers. During the course of these interventions, the overall infection rate was tracked as well as the rates for those neurosurgeons who complied with the preoperative and postoperative infection control measures (protocol group) and those who did not (control group).RESULTSWith the implementation of postoperative surgical dressing infection control measures and physician awareness, the postoperative spine surgery infection rate decreased by 45% from 3.8% to 2.1% (risk ratio 0.55; 95% CI 0.32–0.93; p = 0.03) for those in the protocol cohort, resulting in an estimated annual cost savings of $291,000. This reduction in infection rate was not observed for neurosurgeons in the control group, although the overall infection rate among all neurosurgeons decreased by 54% from 3.3% to 1.5% (risk ratio 0.46; 95% CI 0.28–0.73; p = 0.0013).CONCLUSIONSA novel paradigm for spine surgery infection control combined with physician awareness methods resulted in significantly decreased SSI rates and an associated cost reduction. Thus, information sharing and physician engagement as a supplement to formal infection control measures result in improvements in surgical outcomes and costs.
An Assessment of the Wind Power Generation Potential of Built Environment Wind Turbine (BEWT) Systems in Fort Beaufort, South Africa
Authors: Manyeredzi Terrence , Makaka Golden 
Published: April 2018

The physical and economic sustainability of using built environment wind turbine (BEWT) systems depends on the wind resource potential of the candidate site. Therefore, it is crucial to carry out a wind resource assessment prior to the deployment of the BEWT. The assessment results can be used as a referral tool for predicting the performance and lifespan of the BEWT in the given built environment. To date, there is limited research output on BEWTs in South Africa, with available literature showing a bias towards utility-scale or conventional ground-based wind energy systems. This study aimed to assess the wind power generation potential of BEWT systems in Fort Beaufort using the Weibull distribution function. The results show that Fort Beaufort wind patterns can be classified as fairly good and that BEWTs can best be deployed at 15 m for a fairer power output as roof height wind speeds require BEWTs of very low cut-in speeds of at most 1.2 ms − 1 .
Phase-dependent Photometric and Spectroscopic Characterization of the MASTER-Net Optical Transient J212444.87+321738.3: An Oxygen-rich Mira
Authors: Ghosh Supriyo , Mondal Soumen , Das Ramkrishna , Banerjee D. P. K. , Ashok N. M. , Hambsch Franz-Josef , Dutta Somnath 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
We describe the time-dependent properties of a new spectroscopically confirmed Mira variable, which was discovered in 2013 as MASTER-Net Optical Transient J212444.87+321738.3 toward the Cygnus constellation. We have performed long-term optical/near-infrared (NIR) photometric and spectroscopic observations to characterize the object. From the optical/NIR light curves, we estimate a variability period of 465 ± 30 days. The wavelength-dependent amplitudes of the observed light curves range from ΔI ∼ 4 mag to ΔK ∼ 1.5 mag. The (J − K) color index varies from 1.78 to 2.62 mag over phases. Interestingly, a phase lag of ∼60 days between optical and NIR light curves is also seen, as in other Miras. Our optical/NIR spectra show molecular features of TiO, VO, CO, and strong water bands that are a typical signature of oxygen-rich Mira. We rule out S- or C-type as ZrO bands at 1.03 and 1.06 μm and C2 band at 1.77 μm are absent. We estimate the effective temperature of the object from the Spectral Energy Distribution, and distance and luminosity from standard Period–Luminosity relations. The optical/NIR spectra display time-dependent atomic and molecular features (e.g., TiO, Na i, Ca i, H2O, CO), as commonly observed in Miras. Such spectroscopic observations are useful for studying pulsation variability in Miras.
The Absolute Reflectance and New Calibration Site of the Moon
Authors: Wu Yunzhao , Wang Zhenchao , Cai Wei , Lu Yu 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
How bright the Moon is forms a simple but fundamental and important question. Although numerous efforts have been made to answer this question such as use of sophisticated electro-optical measurements and suggestions for calibration sites, the answer is still debated. An in situ measurement with a calibration panel on the surface of the Moon is crucial for obtaining the accurate absolute reflectance and resolving the debate. China’s Chang’E-3 (CE-3) “Yutu” rover accomplished this type of measurement using the Visible-Near Infrared Spectrometer (VNIS). The measurements of the VNIS, which were at large emission and phase angles, complement existing measurements for the range of photometric geometry. The in situ reflectance shows that the CE-3 landing site is very dark with an average reflectance of 3.86% in the visible bands. The results are compared with recent mission instruments: the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) Wide Angle Camera (WAC), the Spectral Profiler (SP) on board the SELENE, the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) on board the Chandrayaan-1, and the Chang’E-1 Interference Imaging Spectrometer (IIM). The differences in the measurements of these instruments are very large and indicate inherent differences in their absolute calibration. The M3 and IIM measurements are smaller than LROC WAC and SP, and the VNIS measurement falls between these two pairs. When using the Moon as a radiance source for the on-orbit calibration of spacecraft instruments, one should be cautious about the data. We propose that the CE-3 landing site, a young and homogeneous surface, should serve as the new calibration site.
The Near-infrared Tip of the Red Giant Branch. II. An Absolute Calibration in the Large Magellanic Cloud
Authors: Hoyt Taylor J. , Freedman Wendy L. , Madore Barry F. , Seibert Mark , Beaton Rachael L. , Hatt Dylan , Jang In Sung , Lee Myung Gyoon , Monson Andrew J. , Rich Jeffrey A. 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
We present a new empirical JHK absolute calibration of the tip of the red giant branch (TRGB) in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). We use published data from the extensive Near-Infrared Synoptic Survey containing 3.5 million stars, 65,000 of which are red giants that fall within one magnitude of the TRGB. Adopting the TRGB slopes from a companion study of the isolated dwarf galaxy IC 1613, as well as an LMC distance modulus of μ
0 = 18.49 mag from (geometric) detached eclipsing binaries, we derive absolute JHK zero points for the near-infrared TRGB. For a comparison with measurements in the bar alone, we apply the calibrated JHK TRGB to a 500 deg2 area of the 2MASS survey. The TRGB reveals the 3D structure of the LMC with a tilt in the direction perpendicular to the major axis of the bar, which is in agreement with previous studies.
An Empirical Study of Contamination in Deep, Rapid, and Wide-field Optical Follow-up of Gravitational Wave Events
Authors: Cowperthwaite P. S. , Berger E. , Rest A. , Chornock R. , Scolnic D. M. , Williams P. K. G. , Fong W. , Drout M. R. , Foley R. J. , Margutti R. , Lunnan R. , Metzger B. D. , Quataert E. 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
We present an empirical study of contamination in wide-field optical follow-up searches of gravitational wave sources from Advanced LIGO/Virgo using dedicated observations with the Dark Energy Camera. Our search covered ∼56 deg2, with two visits per night, in the i and z bands, followed by an additional set of griz images three weeks later to serve as reference images for subtraction. We achieve 5σ point-source limiting magnitudes of i ≈ 23.5 and z ≈ 22.4 mag in the coadded single-epoch images. We conduct a search for transient objects that mimic the i − z color behavior of both red (i−z > 0.5 mag) and blue (i−z < 0 mag) kilonova emission, finding 11 and 10 contaminants, respectively. Independent of color, we identify 48 transients of interest. Additionally, we leverage the rapid cadence of our observations to search for sources with characteristic timescales of ≈1 day and ≈3 hr, finding no potential contaminants. We assess the efficiency of our search with injected point sources, finding that we are 90% (60%) efficient when searching for red (blue) kilonova-like sources to a limiting magnitude of i ≲ 22.5 mag. Using our efficiencies, we derive sky rates for kilonova contaminants of

deg−2 and

deg−2. The total contamination rate is

deg−2. We compare our results to previous optical follow-up efforts and comment on the outlook for gravitational wave follow-up searches as additional detectors (e.g., KAGRA, LIGO India) come online in the next decade.
Upper Limits on the Presence of Central Massive Black Holes in Two Ultra-compact Dwarf Galaxies in Centaurus A
Authors: Voggel Karina T. , Seth Anil C. , Neumayer Nadine , Mieske Steffen , Chilingarian Igor , Ahn Christopher , Baumgardt Holger , Hilker Michael , Nguyen Dieu D. , Romanowsky Aaron J. , Walsh Jonelle L. , Brok Mark den , Strader Jay 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
The recent discovery of massive black holes (BHs) in the centers of high-mass ultra-compact dwarf galaxies (UCDs) suggests that at least some are the stripped nuclear star clusters of dwarf galaxies. We present the first study that investigates whether such massive BHs, and therefore stripped nuclei, also exist in low-mass (M < 107
M
⊙) UCDs. We constrain the BH masses of two UCDs located in Centaurus A (UCD 320 and UCD 330) using Jeans modeling of the resolved stellar kinematics from adaptive optics data obtained with the SINFONI integral field spectrograph at the Very Large Telescope (VLT/SINFONI). No massive BHs are found in either UCD. We find a 3σ upper limit on the central BH mass in UCD 330 of M
• < 1.0 × 105
M
⊙, which corresponds to 1.7% of the total mass. This excludes a high-mass fraction BH and would only allow low-mass BHs similar to those claimed to be detected in Local Group globular clusters. For UCD 320, poorer data quality results in a less constraining 3σ upper limit of M
• < 1 × 106
M
⊙, which is equal to 37.7% of the total mass. The dynamical mass-to-light ratios of UCD 320 and UCD 330 are not inflated compared to predictions from stellar population models. The non-detection of BHs in these low-mass UCDs is consistent with the idea that elevated dynamical mass-to-light ratios do indicate the presence of a substantial BH. Although no massive BHs are detected, these systems could still be stripped nuclei. The strong rotation (v/σ of 0.3–0.4) in both UCDs and the two-component light profile in UCD 330 support the idea that these UCDs may be stripped nuclei of low-mass galaxies whose BH occupation fraction is not yet known.
Nurses' Perceptions and Practices Related to Alarm Management: A Quality Improvement Initiative
Authors: Cameron Hannah L. , Little Barbara 
Published: April 2018

Background:
The purpose of this quality improvement project was to develop, implement, and assess the effects of an alarm management policy and educational program on nurses' perceptions and practices of alarm management in an acute care hospital.

Method:
Nurses from an acute care hospital in the southeastern United States attended a mandatory alarm management education program. The hospital implemented the evidence-based alarm management education to achieve the NPSG.06.01.01: Alarm Management. Pre- and posttests were administered to evaluate the education and the changes in nurses' perceptions and practices of clinical alarms.

Results:
A total of 417 nurses received the educational intervention. All participants completed the pretest, and 215 (51%) completed the voluntary posttest. Significant improvements were made in alarm perceptions and practices. Nurses suggested unit-specific alarm education, improved staffing, and updated equipment.

Conclusion:
Findings support the benefits of continued education in alarm management for nurses. Bedside nurses are a critical member of a multidisciplinary alarm management team because they are at the forefront of patient safety and most at risk for experiencing alarm fatigue.

J Contin Educ Nurs.
2018;49(5):207–215.
Preceptors' Perception of Role Competency
Authors: L'Ecuyer Kristine M. , Hyde Matthew J. , Shatto Bobbi J. 
Published: April 2018

Background:
Many variables contribute to the success of nursing students and new nurses in their transition to practice. Clinical orientation and training usually falls to staff nurse preceptors. Inherent in this dynamic is the assumption that staff nurses are prepared and able to assume this responsibility. Ideal characteristics and attributes of preceptor competency have not been conclusively defined.

Method:
This qualitative study explored the defining attributes of preceptor role competency as described by preceptors who attended one of 44 continuing education preceptor academies over 9 years in Missouri.

Results:
Analysis revealed that communication, expertise, flexibility, evaluation skills, and patience are among the most important competencies of nurse preceptors.

Conclusion:
Understanding role expectations would benefit both preceptors and nurse educators who select, train, and support nurse preceptors. Identification of essential preceptor competencies can inform preceptor preparation courses and identify needs for continuing education of preceptors.

J Contin Educ Nurs.
2018;49(5):233–240.
Enfants délaissés : mères sans-papiers. Pour une critique nécessaire de l’article 30 du projet de loi sur l’asile et l’immigration (second épisode)
Authors: Carayon Lisa 
Published: April 2018

Dans un article précédent1, nous avons proposé une première analyse critique de l’article 30 du projet de loi asile et immigration présenté par le gouvernement et actuellement discuté au Parlement2. Nous avons montré comment ce projet, visant à contrôler l’établissement de la filiation des enfants dont l’un des deux parents est de nationalité étrangère, risque de priver certains enfants de leur filiation paternelle. Mais cet article 30 ne se limite pas à complexifier la procédure de reconnaissance d’un enfant, il modifie également les conditions que doivent remplir les parents étrangers d’enfants français pour obtenir un titre de séjour.
Farnesyltransferase Inhibition Exacerbates Eosinophilic Inflammation and Airway Hyperreactivity in Mice with Experimental Asthma: The Complex Roles of Ras GTPase and Farnesylpyrophosphate in Type 2 Allergic Inflammation
Authors: Bratt Jennifer M. , Chang Kevin Y. , Rabowsky Michelle , Franzi Lisa M. , Ott Sean P. , Filosto Simone , Goldkorn Tzipora , Arif Muhammad , Last Jerold A. , Kenyon Nicholas J. , Zeki Amir A. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractRas, a small GTPase protein, is thought to mediate Th2-dependent eosinophilic inflammation in asthma. Ras requires cell membrane association for its biological activity, and this requires the posttranslational modification of Ras with an isoprenyl group by farnesyltransferase (FTase) or geranylgeranyltransferase (GGTase). We hypothesized that inhibition of FTase using FTase inhibitor (FTI)–277 would attenuate allergic asthma by depleting membrane-associated Ras. We used the OVA mouse model of allergic inflammation and human airway epithelial (HBE1) cells to determine the role of FTase in inflammatory cell recruitment. BALB/c mice were first sensitized then exposed to 1% OVA aerosol or filtered air, and half were injected daily with FTI-277 (20 mg/kg per day). Treatment of mice with FTI-277 had no significant effect on lung membrane–anchored Ras, Ras protein levels, or Ras GTPase activity. In OVA-exposed mice, FTI-277 treatment increased eosinophilic inflammation, goblet cell hyperplasia, and airway hyperreactivity. Human bronchial epithelial (HBE1) cells were pretreated with 5, 10, or 20 μM FTI-277 prior to and during 12 h IL-13 (20 ng/ml) stimulation. In HBE1 cells, FTase inhibition with FTI-277 had no significant effect on IL-13–induced STAT6 phosphorylation, eotaxin-3 peptide secretion, or Ras translocation. However, addition of exogenous FPP unexpectedly augmented IL-13–induced STAT6 phosphorylation and eotaxin-3 secretion from HBE1 cells without affecting Ras translocation. Pharmacological inhibition of FTase exacerbates allergic asthma, suggesting a protective role for FTase or possibly Ras farnesylation. FPP synergistically augments epithelial eotaxin-3 secretion, indicating a novel Ras-independent farnesylation mechanism or direct FPP effect that promotes epithelial eotaxin-3 production in allergic asthma.
Comparison of Heterosubtypic Protection in Ferrets and Pigs Induced by a Single-Cycle Influenza Vaccine
Authors: Holzer Barbara , Morgan Sophie B. , Matsuoka Yumi , Edmans Matthew , Salguero Francisco J. , Everett Helen , Brookes Sharon M. , Porter Emily , MacLoughlin Ronan , Charleston Bryan , Subbarao Kanta , Townsend Alain , Tchilian Elma 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
Influenza is a major health threat, and a broadly protective influenza vaccine would be a significant advance. Signal Minus FLU (S-FLU) is a candidate broadly protective influenza vaccine that is limited to a single cycle of replication, which induces a strong cross-reactive T cell response but a minimal Ab response to hemagglutinin after intranasal or aerosol administration. We tested whether an H3N2 S-FLU can protect pigs and ferrets from heterosubtypic H1N1 influenza challenge. Aerosol administration of S-FLU to pigs induced lung tissue-resident memory T cells and reduced lung pathology but not the viral load. In contrast, in ferrets, S-FLU reduced viral replication and aerosol transmission. Our data show that S-FLU has different protective efficacy in pigs and ferrets, and that in the absence of Ab, lung T cell immunity can reduce disease severity without reducing challenge viral replication.
Modified U-Shaped ileal neobladder designed for facilitating neobladder-urethral anastomosis in extracorporeal reconstruction after robotic-assisted radical cystectomy
Authors: Hu Su-Wei , Wu Chia-Chang , Chen Kuan-Chou , Ho Chen-Hsun 
Published: April 2018

Background/Objective:
To report the initial experience and the early outcomes of a modified U-shaped ileal neobladder, which was developed to facilitate the neobladder-urethral anastomosis by minimizing the anastomotic tension.

Patients and Methods:
Between June 2015 and December 2016, two male and two female patients (median age: 65.5 years, range: 43–72 years) underwent the modified U-shaped ileal neobladder after robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC). The most mobile and dependent ileal segment was first selected intracorporeally as the site for later neobladder-urethral anastomosis. The neobladder was formed extracorporeally, and the previously selected ileal segment formed the most dependent portion of the neobladder. The neobladder-urethral anastomosis was completed after robotic redocking.

Results:
The median follow-up was 8 months (3–21 months). The median operative time, console time, and extracorporeal reconstruction time were 620 min (534–674 min), 372 min (314–420 min), and 151 min (128–215 min), respectively. In all patients, the neobladder-urethral anastomosis was completed intracorporeally with minimal tension. The median hospital time after the surgery was 14.5 days (14–19 days). Postoperatively, the median peak flow rate and void volume were 10 ml/s (4–35 ml/s) and 258 ml (88–775 ml). The median postvoid residual was 20 ml (10–53 ml). At daytime, two were completely continent; the other two reported mild (1–2 pads) and moderate (>2 pads) incontinence at the postoperative 3 and 4 months, respectively. Three reported nocturnal enuresis.

Conclusions:
Our initial experience demonstrated that the modified U-shaped neobladder designed for minimizing the anastomotic tension is safe and feasible with its satisfactory functional outcomes.
The effects of sea spray and atmosphere–wave coupling on air–sea exchange during a tropical cyclone
Authors: Garg Nikhil , Ng Eddie Yin Kwee , Narasimalu Srikanth 
Published: April 2018

Abstract. The study investigates the role of the air–sea interface using numerical
simulations of Hurricane Arthur (2014) in the Atlantic. More specifically,
the present study aims to discern the role ocean surface waves and sea spray play
in modulating the intensity and structure of a tropical cyclone (TC). To
investigate the effects of ocean surface waves and sea spray, numerical
simulations were carried out using a coupled atmosphere–wave model, whereby a
sea spray microphysical model was incorporated within the coupled model.
Furthermore, this study also explores how sea spray generation can be
modelled using wave energy dissipation due to whitecaps; whitecaps are
considered as the primary mode of spray droplets generation at hurricane
intensity wind speeds. Three different numerical simulations including the sea-
state-dependent momentum flux, the sea-spray-mediated heat flux, and a combination
of the former two processes with the sea-spray-mediated momentum flux were conducted.
The foregoing numerical simulations were evaluated against the National Data
Buoy Center (NDBC) buoy and satellite altimeter measurements as well as a
control simulation using an uncoupled atmosphere model. The results indicate
that the model simulations were able to capture the storm track and
intensity: the surface wave coupling results in a stronger TC.
Moreover, it is also noted that when only spray-mediated heat fluxes are
applied in conjunction with the sea-state-dependent momentum flux, they result in
a slightly weaker TC, albeit stronger compared to the control simulation.
However, when a spray-mediated momentum flux is applied together with spray
heat fluxes, it results in a comparably stronger TC. The results presented
here allude to the role surface friction plays in the intensification of a TC.