bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit and special care nursery at a tertiary-care hospital in Australia—A retrospective case-control study
Authors: Andersson Patiyan , Beckingham Wendy , Gorrie Claire Louise , Kennedy Karina , Daveson Kathryn , Ballard Susan Alicia , Chen Ming , Roper Katrina , Coatsworth Nicholas 
Published: March 2019

AbstractObjective:We investigated the risk factors and origins of the first known occurrence of VRE colonization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the Canberra Hospital.Design:A retrospective case-control study.Setting:A 21-bed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and a 15-bed special care nursey (SCN) in a tertiary-care adult and pediatric hospital in Australia.Patients:All patients admitted to the NICU and SCN over the outbreak period: January–May 2017. Of these, 14 were colonized with vancomycin-resistantEnterococcus(VRE) and 77 were noncolonized.Methods:Demographic and clinical variables of cases and controls were compared to evaluate potential risk factors for VRE colonization. Whole-genome sequencing of the VRE isolates was used to determine the origin of the outbreak strain.Results:Swift implementation of wide-ranging infection control measures brought the outbreak under control. Multivariate logistic regression revealed a strong association between early gestational age and VRE colonization (odds ratio [OR], 3.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.94–7.00). Whole-genome sequencing showed the isolates to be highly clonalEnterococcus faeciumST1421 harboring avanAgene and to be closely related to other ST1421 previously sequenced from the Canberra Hospital and the Australian Capital Territory.Conclusion:The colonization of NICU patients was with a highly successful clone endemic to the Canberra Hospital likely introduced into the NICU environment from other wards, with subsequent cross-contamination spreading among the neonate patients. Use of routine surveillance screening may have identified colonization at an earlier stage and have now been implemented on a 6-monthly schedule.
Family Naticidae (Gastropoda) from the Upper Jurassic of Kutch, India and a critical reappraisal of taxonomy and time of origination of the family
Authors: Das Shiladri S. , Mondal Subhronil , Saha Sandip , Bardhan Subhendu , Saha Ranita 
Published: March 2019

AbstractNaticid taxonomy is in a state of flux owing to non-descript shell morphology and frequent convergence. Inadequate preservation of naticid body fossils has further complicated the matter in determining the true affinity and the exact time of origin of the clade. As a result, a plethora of classificatory schemes of naticid phylogeny and times of origin has been proposed. In many previous studies, true naticid affinities of fossils have been sought based on single or a few morphological characters, which are susceptible to poor preservation. In the present paper, we have attempted a holistic reappraisal of naticid taxonomy based on an extensive database of shell morphological characters and identified many distinct family- and subfamily-specific characters that survived fossilization. This approach has enabled us to identify three new naticid species from the Late Jurassic horizons of Kutch, India, thus extending back the time of origin of the family Naticidae by 30 Ma.Analysis of character matrix data reveals that the present species—Gyrodes mahalanobisinew species,Euspira jhuraensisnew species, andEuspira lakhaparensisnew species—belong to two subfamilies, Gyrodinae and Polinicinae. The occurrence of typical naticid drill holes on various coeval gastropod and bivalve taxa along with these body fossils provides strong supporting evidence for the naticid affinity of these forms.UUIDhttp://zoobank.org/94188d64-075b-4bd0-8303-1ce9a0d86eb0
Participatory Social Policies: Diverging Patterns in Brazil and Bolivia
Authors: Niedzwiecki Sara , Anria Santiago 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACTBolivia and Brazil have universalized their pension and healthcare systems, respectively. Civil society organizations participated actively in social policy expansion, yet they have done so in starkly different ways, reflecting general patterns in each country. Whereas in Brazil, popular participation in social policies takes place through “inside” formal channels, such as conferences and councils, in Bolivia, bottom-up influence occurs mostly via “outside” channels, by coordinating collective action in the streets. Understanding forms of popular participation matters because policies that allow for popular input are potentially more representative, universal, and nondiscretionary. This article argues that differences in the forms of popular participation in social policy expansion can be explained by the characteristics of the institutional context and differences in the types of movements engaged in the policymaking process. By focusing on patterns of participation, these findings add nuance to the literature on Latin America’s welfare states.
Society-driven Participatory Institutions: Lessons from Colombia’s Planning Councils
Authors: Mayka Lindsay 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACTThis article challenges the conventional wisdom that enthusiastic state support is a prerequisite to building strong participatory institutions. Through an analysis of Colombia’s planning councils, this study develops the concept of the societydriven participatory institution, in which civil society actors, rather than the state, undertake the core tasks involved in implementing participatory institutions. The article argues that while state neglect limits their involvement in decisionmaking, society-driven participatory institutions can still develop important policymaking roles in agenda setting and in monitoring and evaluating public policy.
Proxy measures of premortem cognitive aptitude in postmortem subjects with schizophrenia
Authors: Glausier Jill R. , Kelly Mary Ann , Salem Samantha , Chen Kehui , Lewis David A. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundPostmortem human brain studies provide the molecular, cellular, and circuitry levels of resolution essential for the development of mechanistically-novel interventions for cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. However, the absence of measures of premortem cognitive aptitude in postmortem subjects has presented a major challenge to interpreting the relationship between the severity of neural alterations and cognitive deficits within the same subjects.MethodsTo begin addressing this challenge, proxy measures of cognitive aptitude were evaluated in postmortem subjects (N = 507) meeting criteria for schizophrenia, major depressive or bipolar disorder, and unaffected comparison subjects. Specifically, highest levels of educational and occupational attainment of the decedent and their parents were obtained during postmortem psychological autopsies.ResultsConsistent with prior findings in living subjects, subjects with schizophrenia had the lowest educational and occupational attainment relative to all other subject groups, and they also failed to show the generational improvement in attainment observed in all other subject groups.ConclusionsEducational and occupational attainment data obtained during postmortem psychological autopsies can be used as proxy measures of premortem cognitive function to interrogate the neural substrate of cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia.
Evaluating risks of plant growth regulator–resistant soybean technologies to horseradish production
Authors: Wiedau Kayla N. , Krausz Ronald F. , Walters S. Alan , Matthews Joseph L. , Gage Karla L. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractOff-target movement of dicamba and 2,4-D may injure and reduce the yield of many fruit and vegetable crops, impacting specialty crop producers and herbicide applicators alike. Two field experiments were established, using plant growth regulator–resistant soybean herbicide technologies, to evaluate drift and carryover risks to horseradish production. The drift experiment was conducted in 2015 and 2016 to evaluate impact of dicamba and 2,4-D simulated drift on horseradish production with a mid-POST application in soybean. Simulated drift rates were 1/10,000X, 1/1,000X, and 1/100X, with 1/2X, 1X, and 2X of standard application rates. Injury and yield loss was greater following application of 2,4-D than with dicamba. Yield reductions were observed beginning at the 1/1,000X rate of 2,4-D, with complete crop loss occurring when rates exceed 1/2X. In comparison, dicamba only reduced yields when applied at the 1X and 2X rates. Only horseradish roots from plants treated with dicamba at the 2X rate had greater dicamba residue than the nontreated control, and the amount detected, 0.32 parts per billion (ppb), was lower than the EPA tolerance of 100 ppb in root crops. There was little to no harvestable tissue for 2,4-D residue analysis for plants treated with 2,4-D at rates above 1/2X. The carryover experiment was a 2-yr rotational evaluation conducted in 2014, 2015, and 2016 to assess dicamba carryover to horseradish following application to dicamba-resistant soybean the previous season. Observations taken at 4, 6, and 8 wk after planting indicated no significant horseradish injury, nor was height, stand, or root weight reduced. These results suggest that horseradish growers should have few concerns about injury from dicamba drift or carryover. While 2,4-D applicators may need to be cautious when making applications near horseradish fields, 2,4-D may be an effective tool for controlling volunteer horseradish in 2,4-D–resistant soybean.
Droplet Size Impact on Efficacy of a Dicamba-plus-Glyphosate Mixture
Authors: Butts Thomas R. , Samples Chase A. , Franca Lucas X. , Dodds Darrin M. , Reynolds Daniel B. , Adams Jason W. , Zollinger Richard K. , Howatt Kirk A. , Fritz Bradley K. , Hoffmann Clint W. , Luck Joe D. , Kruger Greg R. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractChemical weed control remains a widely used component of integrated weed management strategies because of its cost-effectiveness and rapid removal of crop pests. Additionally, dicamba-plus-glyphosate mixtures are a commonly recommended herbicide combination to combat herbicide resistance, specifically in recently commercially released dicamba-tolerant soybean and cotton. However, increased spray drift concerns and antagonistic interactions require that the application process be optimized to maximize biological efficacy while minimizing environmental contamination potential. Field research was conducted in 2016, 2017, and 2018 across three locations (Mississippi, Nebraska, and North Dakota) for a total of six site-years. The objectives were to characterize the efficacy of a range of droplet sizes [150 µm (Fine) to 900 µm (Ultra Coarse)] using a dicamba-plus-glyphosate mixture and to create novel weed management recommendations utilizing pulse-width modulation (PWM) sprayer technology. Results across pooled site-years indicated that a droplet size of 395 µm (Coarse) maximized weed mortality from a dicamba-plus-glyphosate mixture at 94 L ha–1. However, droplet size could be increased to 620 µm (Extremely Coarse) to maintain 90% of the maximum weed mortality while further mitigating particle drift potential. Although generalized droplet size recommendations could be created across site-years, optimum droplet sizes within each site-year varied considerably and may be dependent on weed species, geographic location, weather conditions, and herbicide resistance(s) present in the field. The precise, site-specific application of a dicamba-plus-glyphosate mixture using the results of this research will allow applicators to more effectively utilize PWM sprayers, reduce particle drift potential, maintain biological efficacy, and reduce the selection pressure for the evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds.
Influence of a thiamethoxam seed treatment on acetolactate synthase–inhibiting herbicide–induced injury to inbred and hybrid imidazolinone-resistant rice
Authors: Martin Steven M. , Norsworthy Jason K. , Scott Robert C. , Hardke Jarrod , Lorenz Gus M. , Gbur Edward 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe increased use of insecticide seed treatments in rice has raised many questions about the potential benefits of these products. In 2014 and 2015, a field experiment was conducted near Stuttgart and Lonoke, AR, to evaluate whether an insecticide seed treatment could possibly lessen injury from acetolactate synthase (ALS)–inhibiting herbicides in imidazolinone-resistant (IR) rice. Two IR cultivars were tested (a hybrid, ‘CLXL745’, and an inbred, ‘CL152’), with and without an insecticide seed treatment (thiamethoxam). Four different herbicide combinations were evaluated: a nontreated control, two applications of bispyribac-sodium (hereafter bispyribac), two applications of imazethapyr, and two applications of imazethapyr plus bispyribac. The first herbicide application was to two- to three-leaf rice, and the second immediately prior to flooding (one- to two-tiller). At both 2 and 4 wk after final treatment (WAFT), the sequential applications of imazethapyr or bispyribac plus imazethapyr were more injurious to CLXL745 than CL152. This increased injury led to decreased groundcover 3 WAFT. Rice treated with thiamethoxam was less injured than nontreated rice and had improved groundcover and greater canopy heights. Even with up to 32% injury, the rice plants recovered by the end of the growing season, and yields within a cultivar were similar with and without a thiamethoxam seed treatment across all herbicide treatments. Based on these results, thiamethoxam can partially protect rice from injury caused by ALS-inhibiting herbicides as well as increase groundcover and canopy height; that is, the injury to rice never negatively affected yield.
Pockmarks in the Witch Ground Basin, Central North Sea
Authors: Böttner Christoph , Berndt Christian , Reinardy Benedict T.I. , Geersen Jacob , Karstens Jens , Bull Jonathan M. , Callow Ben J. , Lichtschlag Anna , Schmidt Mark , Elger Judith , Schramm Bettina , Haeckel Matthias 
Published: March 2019

AbstractMarine sediments host large amounts of methane (CH4), which is a potent greenhouse gas. Quantitative estimates for methane release from marine sediments are scarce, and a poorly constrained temporal variability leads to large uncertainties in methane emission scenarios. Here, we use 2‐D and 3‐D seismic reflection, multibeam bathymetric, geochemical, and sedimentological data to (I) map and describe pockmarks in the Witch Ground Basin (central North Sea), (II) characterize associated sedimentological and fluid migration structures, and (III) analyze the related methane release. More than 1,500 pockmarks of two distinct morphological classes spread over an area of 225 km2. The two classes form independently from another and are corresponding to at least two different sources of fluids. Class 1 pockmarks are large in size (>6 m deep, >250 m long, and >75 m wide), show active venting, and are located above vertical fluid conduits that hydraulically connect the seafloor with deep methane sources. Class 2 pockmarks, which comprise 99.5% of all pockmarks, are smaller (0.9–3.1 m deep, 26–140 m long, and 14–57 m wide) and are limited to the soft, fine‐grained sediments of the Witch Ground Formation and possibly sourced by compaction‐related dewatering. Buried pockmarks within the Witch Ground Formation document distinct phases of pockmark formation, likely triggered by external forces related to environmental changes after deglaciation. Thus, greenhouse gas emissions from pockmark fields cannot be based on pockmark numbers and present‐day fluxes but require an analysis of the pockmark forming processes through geological time.
Long‐Period Rayleigh Wave Phase Velocity Tomography Using USArray
Authors: Babikoff Jordyn C. , Dalton Colleen A. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractSeismic models show that the shallow mantle beneath the contiguous United States is characterized by low velocities west of the Rocky Mountain Front, high velocities beneath the North American craton, and moderate wave speeds along the eastern seaboard. However, numerous questions remain, including the distribution of temperature and partial melt in the mantle that may explain the slower velocities in the west; the origin and depth extent of the western edge of the cratonic lithosphere; and explanations for slower velocities observed along the eastern seaboard. To investigate these questions, we have measured teleseismic Rayleigh wave phase and amplitude at USArray stations for periods of 25–180 s and calculated phase velocity using the Helmholtz tomography method. Notably, the new long‐period maps represent an opportunity to resolve mantle structure at sublithospheric depths and show differences relative to shorter periods in both the distribution of slow velocities in the west and the extent of fast velocities in the central United States. The maps are then used as a basis for comparing six recent 3‐D shear velocity models of the contiguous United States, from which we predict phase velocities. While predictions from surface‐wave models agree best with our observations at short and intermediate periods, the longest‐period maps are most similar in amplitude to body‐wave models.
Disentangling the Mesoscale Ocean‐Atmosphere Interactions
Authors: Renault L. , Masson S. , Oerder V. , Jullien S. , Colas F. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractIn the decades, the use of scatterometer data allowed to demonstrate the global ubiquity of the ocean mesoscale thermal feedback (TFB) and current feedback (CFB) effects on surface winds and stress. Understanding these air‐sea interactions is of uttermost importance as the induced atmospheric anomalies partly control the ocean circulation and thus can influence the Earth climate. Whether the TFB and CFB effects can be disentangled, and whether satellite scatterometers can properly reveal them, remain rather unclear. Here, using satellite observations and ocean‐atmosphere coupled mesoscale simulations over 45°S to 45°N, we show that the CFB effect can be properly characterized and unraveled from that due to the TFB. We demonstrate that the TFB can be unambiguously characterized by its effect on the stress (and wind) divergence and magnitude. However, its effect on the wind and stress curl is contaminated by the CFB and thus cannot be estimated from scatterometer data. Finally, because scatterometers provide equivalent neutral stability winds relative to the oceanic currents, they cannot characterize adequately the CFB wind response and overestimate the TFB wind response by ≈25%. Surface stress appears to be the more appropriate variable to consider from scatterometer data.
Selected Heavy Metals Removal From Electroplating Wastewater by Purified and Polyhydroxylbutyrate Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes Adsorbents
Authors: Bankole Mercy Temitope , Abdulkareem Ambali Saka , Mohammed Ishaq Alhassan , Ochigbo Stephen Shaibu , Tijani Jimoh Oladejo , Abubakre Oladiran Kamaldeen , Roos Wiets Daniel 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThis research investigated the removal of heavy metals (As, Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni, Cu, Fe, and Zn) via batch adsorption process from industrial electroplating wastewater using two different nano-adsorbents; purified carbon nanotubes (P-CNTs) and polyhydroxylbutyrate functionalized carbon nanotubes (PHB-CNTs), both produced through catalytic chemical vapour deposition (CCVD) method. HRSEM, HRTEM, XRD, DLS, BET, FTIR, XPS, TGA, pH drift and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the developed nano-adsorbents. In the batch adsorption process, the effects of contact time, dosage, temperature and pH were studied. Both nano-adsorbents gave optimum contact time, equilibrium time, optimum dosage, and pH of 10 minutes, 70 minutes, 20 mg, and 5.63–5.65 respectively. The heavy metals removal efficiencies by the nano-adsorbents followed the order of PHB-CNTs > P-CNTs based on ion exchange and electrostatic forces mechanism. For P-CNTs and PHB-CNTs, the equilibrium sorption isotherm suits temkin model, kinetic data fitted to pseudo-second order based on the linear regression correlation coefficient, and the thermodynamic study established spontaneity and endothermic nature of the adsorption process. The findings in this research conclude that both nano-adsorbents have exceptional capacity to remove heavy metals from the adsorbate, with PHB-CNTs possessing better quality. The treated adsorbate meets the standard for industrial or irrigation re-use.
The effect of one year lifestyle intervention on eGFR in children and adolescents with overweight, obesity and morbid obesity
Authors: van Dam Mark , Rijks Jesse , Dorenbos Elke , Horuz Flore , van Dael Karin , Vreugdenhil Anita 
Published: March 2019

AbstractObesity causes modifications in the kidneys reversed by weight loss in adults. There is little data on renal function and effects of weight loss in children with obesity. The aim of this prospective study was to examine renal function and effect of a lifestyle intervention in children with overweight, obesity and morbid obesity. Two hundred forty-five children (age 12.4 ± 3.3 years, 40% boys, BMI z-score 3.46 ± 0.70) participating in an out-patient lifestyle intervention were included. Children with at least 12 months follow-up (n = 144 (58.8%)) were included in the longitudinal study. Anthropometry, blood analysis and blood pressure measurements were performed at baseline and follow-up. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated using the Schwartz and FAS equation. eGFR was de-indexed using body surface area. Different cut-off points for defining glomerular hyperfiltration were used for stratification. Depending on the definition and equation used, glomerular hyperfiltration was present in 2% to 18% of the participants. After intervention, de-indexed eGFR decreased significantly in children with baseline glomerular hyperfiltration, depending on the eGFR equation and definition for glomerular hyperfiltration used. No associations of changes in eGFR with changes in BMI z-score, blood pressure or parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism were found. In conclusion, after one year of lifestyle intervention, eGFR decreases in hyperfiltrating children and adolescents with overweight, obesity and morbid obesity. eGFR and changes over time in children with obesity depend on eGFR equation used and on de-indexing for body surface area.
Composition and Dynamics of the Activated Sludge Microbiome during Seasonal Nitrification Failure
Authors: Johnston Juliet , LaPara Timothy , Behrens Sebastian 
Published: March 2019

AbstractWastewater treatment plants in temperate climate zones frequently undergo seasonal nitrification failure in the winter month yet maintain removal efficiency for other contaminants. We tested the hypothesis that nitrification failure can be correlated to shifts in the nitrifying microbial community. We monitored three parallel, full-scale sequencing batch reactors over the course of a year with respect to reactor performance, microbial community composition via 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, and functional gene abundance using qPCR. All reactors demonstrated similar changes to their core microbiome, and only subtle variations among seasonal and transient taxa. We observed a decrease in species richness during the winter, with a slow recovery of the activated sludge community during spring. Despite the change in nitrification performance, ammonia monooxygenase gene abundances remained constant throughout the year, as did the relative sequence abundance of Nitrosomonadacae. This suggests that nitrification failure at colder temperatures might result from different reaction kinetics of nitrifying taxa, or that other organisms with strong seasonal shifts in population abundance, e.g. an uncultured lineage of Saprospiraceae, affect plant performance in the winter. This research is a comprehensive analysis of the seasonal microbial community dynamics in triplicate full-scale sequencing batch reactors and ultimately strengthens our basic understanding of the microbial ecology of activated sludge communities by revealing seasonal succession patterns of individual taxa that correlate with nutrient removal efficiency.