bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Colorful seashells: Identification of haem pathway genes associated with the synthesis of porphyrin shell color in marine snails
Authors: Williams Suzanne T. , Lockyer Anne E. , Dyal Patricia , Nakano Tomoyuki , Churchill Celia K. C. , Speiser Daniel I. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractVery little is known about the evolution of molluskan shell pigments, although Mollusca is a highly diverse, species rich, and ecologically important group of animals comprised of many brightly colored taxa. The marine snail genus Clanculus was chosen as an exceptional model for studying the evolution of shell color, first, because in Clanculus margaritarius and Clanculus pharaonius both shell and foot share similar colors and patterns; and second, because recent studies have identified the pigments, trochopuniceus (pink‐red), and trochoxouthos (yellow‐brown), both comprised of uroporphyrin I and uroporphyrin III, in both shell and colored foot tissue of these species. These unusual characteristics provide a rare opportunity to identify the genes involved in color production because, as the same pigments occur in the shell and colored foot tissue, the same color‐related genes may be simultaneously expressed in both mantle (which produces the shell) and foot tissue. In this study, the transcriptomes of these two Clanculus species along with a third species, Calliostoma zizyphinum, were sequenced to identify genes associated with the synthesis of porphyrins. Calliostoma zizyphinum was selected as a negative control as trochopuniceus and trochoxouthos were not found to occur in this species. As expected, genes necessary for the production of uroporphyrin I and III were found in all three species, but gene expression levels were consistent with synthesis of uroporphyrins in mantle and colored foot tissue only in Clanculus. These results are relevant not only to understanding the evolution of shell pigmentation in Clanculus but also to understanding the evolution of color in other species with uroporphyrin pigmentation, including (mainly marine) mollusks soft tissues and shells, annelid and platyhelminth worms, and some bird feathers.
Testing the intermittent upwelling hypothesis: upwelling, downwelling, and subsidies to the intertidal zone
Authors: Shanks Alan L. , Morgan Steven G. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe Intermittent Upwelling Hypothesis (IUH) posits that subsidies of larvae and phytoplankton to intertidal communities should vary unimodally along a gradient of upwelling from persistent upwelling to persistent downwelling with most subsidies occurring where upwelling is of intermediate strength and intermittent. Furthermore, the hypothesis states that larvae and phytoplankton are transported far offshore by strong, persistent upwelling and fail to subsidize nearshore communities, whereas weak upwelling or downwelling reduces nutrients for phytoplankton production limiting food for larvae and nearshore communities. We review studies conducted at sea and onshore and reanalyze published data to test the IUH and evaluate alternative hypotheses. To test the hypothesis, we examine five predictions that must hold if the IUH is true. (1) Larvae should inhabit the surface Ekman layer where they are transported offshore during upwelling. Larvae of many intertidal taxa occur deeper in the water column where currents flow shoreward during upwelling. (2) Larvae of nearshore species should occur farther offshore during upwelling than during relaxation or downwelling. Larvae of many nearshore species remain within several kilometers of shore during both conditions. (3) Larval settlement in intertidal communities should be lower during upwelling than relaxation or downwelling. Daily larval settlement has not observed to be higher during relaxation or downwelling events; settlement has most often been seen to vary with the fortnightly tidal cycle likely due to onshore larval transport by internal tides. (4) Larval settlement and recruitment in intertidal communities should be lower in areas of strong, persistent upwelling than where upwelling is weaker and less persistent. Recruitment of mussels and barnacles to artificial and natural substrates did not vary with the strength of upwelling, but did vary inversely with two measures of desiccation potential, and directly with indicators of surf zone hydrodynamics; larval recruitment was higher where surf zones were more dissipative with rip currents. (5) Phytoplankton subsidies to nearshore communities should be highest where upwelling is moderate and intermittent. Like larval subsidies, phytoplankton subsidies varied spatially with surf zone hydrodynamics rather than upwelling. This reconsideration of the evidence for the IUH finds the hypothesis unsupported.
Maintenance of salt barrens inhibited landward invasion ofSpartinaspecies in salt marshes
Authors: Qi Man , Sun Tao , Zhang Heyue , Zhu Meisha , Yang Wei , Shao Dongdong , Voinov Alexey 
Published: October 2017

AbstractSpartinaspp. (cordgrasses) often dominates intertidal mudflats and/or low marshes. The landward invasion of these species was typically thought to be restrained by low tidal inundation frequencies and interspecific competition. We noticed that the reported soil salinity levels in some salt marshes were much higher than those at the mean higher high water level, which might inhibit the landward invasion of cordgrass. To test this possibility, we transplantedSpartina alternifloraacross an elevational gradient in an invaded salt marsh in the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve, where a salt accumulation zone (i.e., salt barren) was previously observed. We found thatS. alterniflorawas significantly inhibited by the salt barren in high marsh regions, although it performed better at upland and low marsh regions. A common garden experiment further elucidated thatS. alternifloraperformed best at low salinity levels and that this species is less sensitive to inundation frequency. Our results indicated that the salt barren inhibited the landward invasion ofS. alterniflorain salt marshes and provided a natural barrier to protect the upland from invasion. Though field observations suggest thatS. alternifloracould propagate along tidal channels, which provide low‐salinity corridors for the dispersal of propagules, natural salt barrens can inhibit the landward invasion ofSpartinain salt marshes. However, artificial disturbances that break the salt barren band in salt marshes (e.g., artificial ditches) might accelerate the invasion ofSpartinaspp. This new finding should alert salt marsh managers to pay attention to artificial ditches and/or other human activities when attempting to controlSpartinainvasion.
Interaction frequency, network position, and the temporal persistence of interactions in a plant–pollinator network
Authors: Chacoff Natacha P. , Resasco Julian , Vázquez Diego P. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractEcological interactions are highly dynamic in time and space. Previous studies of plant–animal mutualistic networks have shown that the occurrence of interactions varies substantially across years. We analyzed interannual variation of a quantitative mutualistic network, in which links are weighted by interaction frequency. The network was sampled over six consecutive years, representing one of the longest time series for a community‐wide mutualistic network. We estimated the interannual similarity in interactions and assessed the determinants of their persistence. The occurrence of interactions varied greatly among years, with most interactions seen in only one year (64%) and few (20%) in more than two years. This variation was associated with the frequency and position of interactions relative to the network core, so that the network consisted of a persistent core of frequent interactions and many peripheral, infrequent interactions. Null model analyses suggest that species abundances play a substantial role in generating these patterns. Our study represents an important step in the study of ecological networks, furthering our mechanistic understanding of the ecological processes driving the temporal persistence of interactions.
Method for Diffusing Carrier Noise under Zero‐Speed Condition using a Zero‐Sequence Voltage
Authors: AYANO HIDEKI , ISHIKAWA SEITARO , MATSUI YOSHIHIRO 
Published: October 2017

SUMMARYIn this paper, a technique is proposed to reduce the carrier noise of pulse width modulation (PWM) inverters for a permanent magnet motor drive. The carrier noise is generated by the motor and the reactor driven by the inverter and affected by the switching frequency. When a motor rotates and drives a machine, the carrier noise is hidden by the machine noise. However, when the motor speed is approximately zero, the carrier noise becomes dominant and raucous. The typical method to reduce the noise employs a switching frequency higher than the audible frequency of human hearing. However, the increase in switching frequency results in the inverter suffering a higher switching loss and lower efficiency. In particular, when the permanent magnet motor operates at approximately zero‐speed and full‐load, for example, in the hill‐start conditions of electric vehicles and the start and stop conditions of elevators, the current flows in specific power devices and the switching loss further increases. The proposed technique uses a zero‐sequence voltage, which is generated randomly with the M‐sequence signal, and diffuses the frequency components of the ripple contained in the current. The technique is able to reduce the noise without increasing the switching frequency of the inverter when the motor speed is almost zero. Simulation and experimental results show that the proposed technique can diffuse the carrier noise and the cycle of the M‐sequence signal changes the diffusion effect of the carrier noise.
Scd1 Contributes to Lipid Droplets Formation in GMEC via Transcriptional Regulation of Tip47 and Adrp
Authors: Ren Caifang , Wang Lizhong , Fan Yixuan , Jia Ruoxin , Zhang Guomin , Deng Mingtian , Deng Kaiping , Wang Feng 
Published: October 2017

Sterol‐CoA desaturase 1 (Scd1) plays a pivotal role in the synthesis and metabolism of fatty acids (FA). However, whether Scd1 contributes to lipid accumulation in dairy goat mammary epithelial cells (GMEC), and how it affects FA synthesis and metabolism remains unexplored. The aim of this study was to detect the effect of Scd1 on lipid droplets (LD) formation and uncover its regulatory mechanism in GMEC. In this study, a novel fluorescence reporter system was developed to confirm the expression of SCD1 protein in GMEC plasma. In addition, a mammalian expression vector (pCAG‐SCD1) and siRNA targeting Scd1 were constructed and confirmed to be efficient by qRT‐PCR. Notably, the amount and the size of LD varied with the alteration of Scd1. Furthermore, Scd1 induced the mRNA expression of genes involved in de novo FA synthesis, triacylglycerol (TAG) biosynthesis, lipid droplets formation, and milk fat lipolysis. In particular, changes in Scd1 led to a consistent change in LD formation‐associated genes (tail‐interacting protein of 47 kDa (Tip47) and adipose differentiation‐related protein (Adrp)). Overall, the results suggest that Scd1 affects lipid accumulation by altering the FA metabolic profile in GMEC.Practical Applications: As is known, FA metabolism closely associates with human health. The results of our research firstly exposed the metabolic profile associated with SCD1 in GMEC. It will be helpful for our understanding about the regulatory role of Scd1 in FA metabolism in mammary gland of dairy goats. It also provides a reference for the studies on Scd1‐related FA metabolic pathways, which is of great significance for human health. Furthermore, this study lays the foundation for engineering the FA content via SCD1 in transgenic goat milk products.Sterol‐CoA desaturase 1 (Scd1) differentially activates signaling pathways associated with de novo fatty acid (FA) synthesis (Acaca and Fasn), TAG biosynthesis (Gpam, Agpat6, and Dgat1), lipid droplets (LD) formation (Tip47 and Adrp), and milk fat lipolysis (Atgl and Hsl) in GMEC; in particular, it contributes to the LD formation through transcriptional regulation of Tip47 and Adrp.
The role of peripheral vasopressin 1A and oxytocin receptors on the subcutaneous vasopressin antinociceptive effects
Authors: Manzano‐García A. , González‐Hernández A. , Tello‐García I.A. , Martínez‐Lorenzana G. , Condés‐Lara M. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractBackgroundVasopressin (AVP) seems to play a role as an antinociceptive neurohormone, but little is known about the peripheral site of action of its antinociceptive effects. Moreover, AVP can produce motor impairment that could be confused with behavioural antinociception. Finally, it is not clear which receptor is involved in the peripheral antinociceptive AVP effects.MethodsIn anaesthetized rats with end‐tidal CO2 monitoring, extracellular unitary recordings were performed, measuring the evoked activity mediated by Aβ‐, Aδ‐, C‐fibres and post‐discharge. Behavioural nociception and motor impairment were evaluated under subcutaneous AVP (0.1–10 μg) using formalin and rotarod tests. Selective antagonists to vasopressin (V1AR) or oxytocin receptors (OTR) were used. Additionally, vasopressin and oxytocin receptors were explored immunohistochemically in skin tissues.ResultsSubcutaneous AVP (1 and 10 μg/paw) induced antinociception and a transitory reduction of the end‐tidal CO2. The neuronal activity associated with Aδ‐ and C‐fibre activation was diminished, but no effect was observed on Aβ‐fibres. AVP also reduced paw flinches in the formalin test and a transitory locomotor impairment was also found. The AVP‐induced antinociception was blocked by the selective antagonist to V1AR (SR49059) or OTR (L368,899). Immunohistochemical evidence of skin VP and OT receptors is given.ConclusionsSubcutaneous AVP produces antinociception and behavioural analgesia. Both V1a and OTR participate in those effects. Our findings suggest that antinociception could be produced in a local manner using a novel vasopressin receptor located in cutaneous sensorial fibres. Additionally, subcutaneous AVP also produces important systemic effects such as respiratory and locomotor impairment.SignificanceOur findings support that AVP produces peripheral antinociception and behavioural analgesia in a local manner; nevertheless, systemic effects are also presented. Additionally, this is the first detailed electrophysiological analysis of AVP antinociceptive action after subcutaneous administration. The results are reasonably explained by the demonstration of V1AR and OTR in cutaneous fibres.
The contribution of pain in determining the health status of cancer patients with bone metastases: A secondary analysis of data from three Phase III registration trials
Authors: Mendoza T. R. , Dueck A. C. , Shi Q. , Ma H. , Zhang J. , Qian Y. , Cleeland C. S. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractBackgroundWe aimed to provide a simple, descriptive health‐status profile for cancer patients with bone metastases, based on the EuroQol EQ‐5D, a tool commonly used to measure health utility scores, and to evaluate its association with the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), a legacy pain‐assessment tool. Although pain is one of five health‐status dimensions measured by the EQ‐5D, our understanding of how pain relates to the other EQ‐5D dimensions is limited.MethodsWe derived data from 5500 patients with bone metastases who completed the EQ‐5D and BPI. Regression analyses examined how BPI severity and interference scores correlated with EQ‐5D utility scores and how BPI items associated with EQ‐5D items, for the entire sample and by disease‐type subgroup.ResultsRegardless of cancer site, the percentage of patients reporting moderate/severe problems in each of the five EQ‐5D dimensions were pain/discomfort, 78%; usual activities, 58%; mobility, 55%; anxiety/depression, 57%; and self‐care, 26%. BPI pain interference explained more of the variability in the EQ‐5D utility scores than did pain severity (R2 = 41% vs. 34%). BPI worst pain, average pain, pain now, interference with general activity, and interference with work significantly predicted EQ‐5D pain/discomfort, with odds ratio estimates <1.ConclusionsPain/discomfort was the worst‐rated dimension of the EQ‐5D in this population, but the relationship of this item to BPI pain severity was modest, suggesting that the single pain item of the EQ‐5D may be of limited utility in studies for which pain is an endpoint.SignificanceHealth‐status dimensions include more than pain. We examine the contribution of pain severity and pain‐related functional interference in determining the health status of cancer patients with bone metastases. The pain dimension from a health‐status measure may be an inadequate metric in clinical trials/clinical practice when pain is an important outcome.
Thermo‐Economic Analysis and Optimization of Adiabatic Compressed Air Energy Storage (A‐CAES) System Coupled with a Kalina Cycle
Authors: Li Ruixiong , Wang Huanran , Tu Qingshi 
Published: October 2017

AbstractAn adiabatic compressed air energy storage system (A‐CAES) can improve the energy storage potential, compared with conventional CAES systems, by capturing the heat generated during the charge stage. However, a challenge remains in the utilization step of the stored thermal energy due to the energy loss from the thermal energy storage vessel, which has hindered commercialization of A‐CAES. To utilize the thermal energy produced by a compressor during the charge process efficiently, a novel system that couples A‐CAES system with the Kalina cycle (KC) is designed to recover the loss of heat. In the new system, which is characterized by a higher and more stable power output, a Kalina cycle and the expander absorb the heat released from thermal energy storage units to generate electricity. Theoretical thermodynamic analysis shows that the novel combined system can achieve more efficient operation than a single A‐CAES system. By examining the effects of key thermodynamic parameters on the exergy efficiency and overall capital cost, a Pareto frontier obtained shows the tradeoff between exergy efficiency and overall capital cost of the system, where 47.17 % and 1.455 k$ kW−1 are determined as the optimum values for the two objectives from the optimum design solutions.
Scientific and Technological Assessment of Iron Pyrite for Use in Solar Devices
Authors: Shukla Sudhanshu , Ager Joel W. , Xiong Qihua , Sritharan Thirumany 
Published: October 2017

AbstractIron pyrite (FeS2) holds an enormous potential as a low cost and non‐toxic photoelectrochemical and energy‐harvesting material owing to its interesting optical, electronic, and chemical properties along with elemental abundance. In this Review, low cost and scalable processing techniques to synthesize phase‐pure pyrite thin films and nanocubes are described, and the application of this material in various energy‐harvesting devices such as dye‐sensitized solar cells, photodiodes, and heterojunction solar cells is discussed. A detailed analysis of the electron transport in single‐crystal iron pyrite is presented to shed light on its bulk‐ and surface‐conduction properties, which could be useful in designing better pyrite solar cells and could be exploited for novel device architectures. Finally, future prospects and directions are discussed.
Experimental analysis and simulation of a production line for CPV modules: impact of defects, misalignments, and binning of receivers
Authors: Herrero Rebeca , Antón Ignacio , Victoria Marta , Domínguez César , Askins Stephen , Sala Gabriel , De Nardis Davide , Araki Kenji 
Published: October 2017

AbstractAn inherent characteristic of high concentrator photovoltaics (HCPV) modules is a tight mechanical tolerance caused by the narrow angular transmission of the optical system, typically below or close to 1°. Misalignments in the modules caused during the assembly process in the production line will degrade not only the electrical but also the angular performance of the module. Moreover, dispersion in the electrical characteristics of the elementary units comprising a module would lead also to power loss. Quality control and data analysis on the production line is of great significance for adjusting the production line and preserving the angular tolerance and the electrical performance. This is particularly critical during the set‐up and tuning of an automated production line. This paper presents the results of a pilot production line for HCPV modules carried out within the European funded ECOSOLE project. Several quality controls were established, which are the binning of the photovoltaic receivers, the measurement of misalignments among the elementary units within every module, and the indoor electrical characterization of the modules. Collected experimental data during the tuning phase of the pilot line were used to validate a module performance model based on production parameters. Monte Carlo method is lately applied to the model to assess the influence of production defects of diverse nature and the adequacy of quality controls, in several manufacturing scenarios beyond the specific constrains of the ECOSOLE experience.
Antibiotic prophylaxis in clean‐contaminated head and neck cases with microvascular free flap reconstruction: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Haidar Yarah M. , Tripathi Prem B. , Tjoa Tjoson , Walia Sartaaj , Zhang Lishi , Chen Yanjun , Nguyen Danh V. , Mahboubi Hossein , Armstrong William B. , Goddard Julie A. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractBackgroundOptimal antibiotic prophylaxis duration in head and neck clean‐contaminated free‐flap cases is unknown.MethodsA systematic review/meta‐analysis was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Web‐of‐Science, and Scopus databases.ResultsOf the 3755 searched articles, 5 articles were included for a total of 861 patients. The recipient surgical site infection risk was significantly higher in patients receiving prophylactic antibiotics for ≤24 hours compared to >24 hours (relative risk [RR] 1.56; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13‐2.14). In the post hoc multivariate analysis based on available individual‐level data on 697 patients from 3 studies, the risk of surgical site infection for ≤24 hours versus >24 hours was not significant after adjusting for antibiotic type (RR 1.09; 95% CI 0.78‐1.55). When compared to ampicillin‐sulbactam, patients who received clindamycin prophylaxis had an increased likelihood of recipient surgical site infection (RR 2.85; 95% CI 1.95‐4.17).ConclusionLess than or equal to 24 hours of antibiotic prophylaxis in head and neck clean‐contaminated free‐flap is likely sufficient but a strong conclusion remains elusive. Clindamycin prophylaxis increases the risk of recipient surgical site infection. Further prospective trials are necessary to clarify.