bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multisensory modulation of experimentally evoked perceptual distortion of the face
Authors: Dagsdóttir L. K. , Bellan V. , Skyt I. , Vase L. , Baad‐Hansen L. , Castrillon E. , Svensson P. 
Published: October 2017

SummaryBackgroundChronic oro‐facial pain patients often perceive the painful face area as “swollen” without clinical signs, that is a perceptual distortion (PD). Local anaesthetic (LA) injections in healthy participants are also associated with PD.ObjectiveThe aim was to explore whether PD evoked by LA into the infraorbital region could be modulated by adding mechanical stimulation (MS) to the affected area.MethodsMechanical stimulation was given with a brush and a 128‐mN von Frey filament. Firstly, sixty healthy participants were randomly divided into three groups: (i) LA control, (ii) LA with MS, (iii) isotonic solution (ISO) with MS as an additional control condition. To further examine the role of a multisensory modulation, an additional experiment was conducted. Twenty participants received LA with MS (filament) in addition to visual feedback of their distorted face. The results of the two experiments are presented together.ResultsAll three LA groups experienced PD; per contra, PD was not reported in the ISO group. MS alone did not change the magnitude of PD: brush (P = .089), filament (P = .203). However, when the filament stimulation was combined with additional visual information of a distorted face, there was observable decrease in PD (P = .002).ConclusionThe findings indicate the importance of multisensory integration for PD and represent a significant step forward in the understanding of the factors that may influence this common condition. Future studies are encouraged to investigate further the cortical processing for possible implications for PD in pain management.
The optimal minimum wage with regulatory uncertainty
Authors: Bennett John , Chioveanu Ioana 
Published: October 2017

AbstractFor two different regulatory standards, we examine the optimal minimum wage in a competitive labor market when the government is uncertain about supply and demand. Solutions are related to underlying supply and demand conditions, and to the extent of uncertainty and of rationing efficiency. With expected earnings maximization, greater uncertainty widens the range of parameter values for which a minimum wage should be set. With expected worker surplus maximization and sufficiently efficient rationing, a minimum wage should always be set. However, in both cases regulatory uncertainty may require a low minimum wage that may not bind in equilibrium.
Assessing global range expansion in a cryptic species complex: insights from the red seaweed genus Asparagopsis (Florideophyceae)
Authors: Zanolla Marianela , Altamirano María , Carmona Raquel , De la Rosa Julio , Souza‐Egipsy Virginia , Sherwood Alison , Tsiamis Konstantinos , Barbosa Ana Márcia , Muñoz Antonio Román , Andreakis Nikos 
Published: October 2017

The mitochondrial genetic diversity, distribution and invasive potential of multiple cryptic operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of the red invasive seaweed Asparagopsis were assessed by studying introduced Mediterranean and Hawaiian populations. Invasive behavior of each Asparagopsis OTU was inferred from phylogeographic reconstructions, past historical demographic dynamics, recent range expansion assessments and future distributional predictions obtained from demographic models. Genealogical networks resolved Asparagopsis gametophytes and tetrasporophytes into four A. taxiformis and one A. armata cryptic OTUs. Falkenbergia isolates of A. taxiformis L3 were recovered for the first time in the western Mediterranean Sea and represent a new introduction for this area. Neutrality statistics supported past range expansion for A. taxiformis L1 and L2 in Hawaii. On the other hand, extreme geographic expansion and an increase in effective population size were found only for A. taxiformis L2 in the western Mediterranean Sea. Distribution models predicted shifts of the climatically suitable areas and population expansion for A. armata L1 and A. taxiformis L1 and L2. Our integrated study confirms a high invasive risk for A. taxiformis L1 and L2 in temperate and tropical areas. Despite the differences in predictions among modelling approaches, a number of regions were identified as zones with high invasion risk for A. taxiformis L2. Since range shifts are likely climate‐driven phenomena, future invasive behavior cannot be excluded for the rest of the lineages.
Control of biotin biosynthesis in mycobacteria by a pyruvate carboxylase dependent metabolic signal
Authors: Lazar Nathaniel , Fay Allison , Nandakumar Madhumitha , Boyle Kerry E. , Xavier Joao , Rhee Kyu , Glickman Michael S. 
Published: October 2017

SummaryBiotin is an essential cofactor utilized by all domains of life, but only synthesized by bacteria, fungi and plants, making biotin biosynthesis a target for antimicrobial development. To understand biotin biosynthesis in mycobacteria, we executed a genetic screen in Mycobacterium smegmatis for biotin auxotrophs and identified pyruvate carboxylase (Pyc) as required for biotin biosynthesis. The biotin auxotrophy of the pyc::tn strain is due to failure to transcriptionally induce late stage biotin biosynthetic genes in low biotin conditions. Loss of bioQ, the repressor of biotin biosynthesis, in the pyc::tn strain reverted biotin auxotrophy, as did reconstituting the last step of the pathway through heterologous expression of BioB and provision of its substrate DTB. The role of Pyc in biotin regulation required its catalytic activities and could be supported by M. tuberculosis Pyc. Quantitation of the kinetics of depletion of biotinylated proteins after biotin withdrawal revealed that Pyc is the most rapidly depleted biotinylated protein and metabolomics revealed a broad metabolic shift in wild type cells upon biotin withdrawal which was blunted in cell lacking Pyc. Our data indicate that mycobacterial cells monitor biotin sufficiency through a metabolic signal generated by dysfunction of a biotinylated protein of central metabolism.
Memories of humiliation, cultures of resentment towards Edom and the formation of ancient Jewish national identity
Authors: Tebes Juan Manuel 
Published: October 2017

AbstractWhile the impact of wars and national humiliations in the ancient Jewish cultural nationalism has been studied extensively, little has been written about the role of the related phenomena of cultures of resentment against foreigners or minority groups. Well before the Hellenistic period, the Jewish tradition had already created its own perfect enemy whose very name became synonymous of Israel's most malicious antagonist: Edom. This article aims to study the changing attitudes towards the Edomites/Idumaeans from the late Judaean kingdom to the Roman period using a long‐durée perspective, particularly the growth of memories of humiliation and feelings of resentment product of the alleged crimes of Edom during Judah's fall and exile.
Impact of the Late Triassic mass extinction on functional diversity and composition of marine ecosystems
Authors: Dunhill Alexander M. , Foster William J. , Sciberras James , Twitchett Richard J. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractMass extinctions have profoundly influenced the history of life, not only through the death of species but also through changes in ecosystem function and structure. Importantly, these events allow us the opportunity to study ecological dynamics under levels of environmental stress for which there are no recent analogues. Here, we examine the impact and selectivity of the Late Triassic mass extinction event on the functional diversity and functional composition of the global marine ecosystem, and test whether post‐extinction communities in the Early Jurassic represent a regime shift away from pre‐extinction communities in the Late Triassic. Our analyses show that, despite severe taxonomic losses, there is no unequivocal loss of global functional diversity associated with the extinction. Even though no functional groups were lost, the extinction event was, however, highly selective against some modes of life, in particular sessile suspension feeders. Although taxa with heavily calcified skeletons suffered higher extinction than other taxa, lightly calcified taxa also appear to have been selected against. The extinction appears to have invigorated the already ongoing faunal turnover associated with the Mesozoic Marine Revolution. The ecological effects of the Late Triassic mass extinction were preferentially felt in the tropical latitudes, especially amongst reefs, and it took until the Middle Jurassic for reef ecosystems to fully recover to pre‐extinction levels.
First evidence for the presence of aquaporins in stallion sperm
Authors: Bonilla‐Correal S , Noto F , Garcia‐Bonavila E , Rodríguez‐Gil JE , Yeste M , Miro J 
Published: October 2017

ContentsAquaporins (AQPs) are transmembrane proteins found in all cells and are responsible for the transport of water and small solutes. While these proteins have been found in the spermatozoa of humans, rodents, pigs and cattle, where not only do they play a role for the regulation of sperm volume but are also related with the sperm resilience to withstand freeze–thawing procedures, their presence in stallion sperm is yet to be reported. Therefore, the objectives of this work were as follows: (i) to determine whether AQP3, AQP7 and AQP11 are present in stallion sperm and (ii) to investigate whether the relative amounts of these three AQPs play any role in the cryopreservation success. With this purpose, a total of five ejaculates from healthy stallions were collected. Evaluation of sperm quality and immunoblotting against these three proteins were performed before and after cryopreservation. Immunoblots confirmed the presence of AQP3, AQP7 and AQP11 in all examined samples. Subsequently, ejaculates were classified as GFE (good) and PFE (poor freezability ejaculates), according to their sperm viability and motility at 0 and 2 hr post‐thaw. Relative AQP3 and AQP11 contents in stallion fresh semen were found to be significantly (p < .05) higher in GFE than in PFE. In conclusion, the current study has confirmed, for the first time, the presence of AQP3, AQP7 and AQP11 in stallion sperm. In addition, despite preliminary, our results suggest that AQP3 and AQP11 are involved in the resilience of stallion sperm to withstand cryopreservation. Ongoing research is aimed at increasing the sample size and includes immunolocalization studies.
Schooling and household welfare: The case of Sri Lanka from 1990 to 2006
Authors: Himaz Rozana , Aturupana Harsha 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThis paper looks at the effect schooling has had on household welfare in Sri Lanka during the 1990–2006 period, on average and across the welfare distribution. We account for the endogeneity of schooling using quantile instrumental variable estimation as developed in Chernozhukov, Fernández‐Val, and Kowalski (). We use pooled data from four cross‐sectional Household Income Expenditure Surveys. The results show that an extra year of schooling on the part of the most educated adult member in the household can increase welfare (proxied by real per capita consumption expenditure) by 3.8 percent on average. However, the effect varies considerably across the welfare distribution: At the lower end, around the 20th and 25th quantiles, an extra year of education increases welfare by 6 and 5 percent, respectively, while at the median it is around 3.5 percent. At the higher, 90th quantile it is much less, at 1 percent. Thus the marginal effect of schooling on welfare is significant and positive at all levels of the welfare distribution, but highest at the lower and middle quartiles. This result is different from findings in the literature that tend to show larger effects at higher quantiles, when endogeneity is uncorrected.
A daily diary investigation of the influence of early family adversity on social functioning during the transition to adulthood
Authors: Raposa Elizabeth B. , Hammen Constance 
Published: October 2017

AbstractEarly life stressors are associated with maladaptive social functioning in childhood and adolescence, but it is unclear whether and how the negative interpersonal effects of stress persist into adulthood. Daily diary surveys were used to examine young adults' social behavior and mood reactivity to social stressors as a function of experiences of early family adversity. Stressful early family environments predicted more daily reassurance seeking, but not aggression, withdrawal, or positive social behavior. Early family adversity also moderated the within‐person effects of social stressors on next‐day mood, such that individuals with high levels of adversity had elevated next‐day negative affect in response to higher than average social stress. Findings highlight the enduring impact of early adversity on social development, with implications for developing targeted policies and interventions.
Audit of appropriate use of platelet transfusions: validation of adjudication criteria
Authors: Etchells M. , Spradbrow J. , Cohen R. , Lin Y. , Armali C. , Lieberman L. , Cserti‐Gazdewich C. , Pendergrast J. , Callum J. 
Published: October 2017

Background and ObjectivesPlatelet (PLT) transfusions must be used appropriately, as they are in chronic short supply, costly and risky to patients. The goals of this audit were to: (1) validate preset adjudication criteria through an audit of appropriateness at four large academic hospitals; (2) identify variability in appropriateness across medical services, physician specialties or hospital locations; and (3) inform logistical or educational interventions that may reduce inappropriate use.Materials and MethodsA chart review of two hundred patients receiving PLT transfusions was performed. Fifty consecutive transfusion episodes per site were audited in detail. Each transfusion episode was independently adjudicated as appropriate or inappropriate by two transfusion specialists based on predetermined criteria.ResultsThe adjudication criteria performed well with simple agreement of 95% (kappa statistic 0·83) between reviewers. Overall, 78% (95% CI: 72–84%) of PLT transfusions were adjudicated as appropriate, with results varying significantly by hospital site (range 62–94%). Prophylactic transfusions for non‐bleeding patients had the highest proportion of appropriateness (85%, n = 80), and therapeutic transfusions for bleeding patients had the lowest (73%, n = 99). The lowest levels of appropriate platelet transfusions were observed in the operating rooms (60%) and when ordered by the general surgery service (55%).ConclusionsOne in five platelet transfusions may be unnecessary, suggesting that interventions to improve PLT transfusion practice are warranted.
The risks and external effects of diabetic foot ulcer on diabetic patients: A hospital‐based survey in Wuhan area, China
Authors: Zhong Aimei , Li Gongchi , Wang Dan , Sun Yi , Zou Xinghua , Li Binghui 
Published: October 2017

AbstractDiabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a common complication observed in diabetic patients and affects diabetic patients in multiple ways. Severe DFU even leads to amputation in many cases. Early detection and intervention of DFU in diabetic patients can significantly relieve the pain caused by the ulcer and also keep patients from losing limbs in severe cases. In this study, the risks of diabetic patients getting DFU were estimated through a hospital‐based survey. This survey collected information from hospitalized diabetic patients in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, using a questionnaire. This investigation includes studies from two stages with 502 diabetic patients from 20 hospitals in Wuhan City. The results suggested that patients with a long history of diabetes are often associated with a high risk of DFU (χ2 = 11.428, p = 0.0007), smoking (χ2 = 8.386, p = 0.0007), diabetic complications (χ2 = 13.484, p < 0.0001), and especially patients with diabetic foot complications (χ2 = 57.6621, p < 0.0001). Foot lesions appeared to be important attributors to DFU since our data demonstrated close correlations between DFU and patients with calluses/corns (χ2 = 4.584, p = 0.0323), tinea pedis (χ2 = 4.030, p = 0.0447), and cracked skin (χ2 = 8.712, p = 0.0032). Only a small number of patients seek for the assistance from specialists, such as trimming toenails (3.4%), removing corn or calluses (1.4%) or treating wounds (11.78%), when they are suffering from foot problems. The findings of this study can potentially be utilized to develop an early DFU diagnostic method in diabetic patients and can provide objective evidence for suggesting that patients who are suffering from foot problems should seek professional help.
Control System Design for NuScale
Authors: Wang Kai , Sun Peiwei 
Published: October 2017

NuScale is an advanced light water reactor with 50MWe. In its design, there is no coolant pump and the reactor is passively cooled. Integral design is adopted. In the pressure vessel, there are reactor core, steam generators and pressurizer. The coolant inventory is large and it takes more time to respond to disturbances. Once-through steam generator is adopted and superheated steam can be generated and sent to turbine. The water volume in the steam generator is small and it is very sensitive to disturbances. The different designs in the NuScale make its dynamic characteristics unique. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a dynamic model to study its dynamic behaviours and the control system can be further designed.
A dynamic model of NuScale is developed using Matlab/Simulink. The plant model includes reactor core model, helical coil steam generator model, pressurizer model and turbine model. A steady-state simulation is carried out and the results are compared with its design parameters. The largest relative error is 0.91%, which proves that the dynamic plant model developed is correct. Control systems are considered: reactor power, coolant pressure and pressurizer pressure control systems. The control rods are applied to regulate the reactor power and average coolant temperature. The spray and heater in the pressurizer is used to adjust the coolant pressure. The feedwater control is the most complex. Feedwater flow rate is adjusted to control the steam pressure and meanwhile the feedwater flow should be in accordance with the average coolant temperature. Therefore, average coolant temperature is considered in the feedwater control. PI controllers are selected and the gains are tuned to match the control requirements. Different load patterns are introduced to test the control system performance.
Small Pressurized Water Reactor (SPWR) Simulation Platform Development for its Design Verification
Authors: Sun Peiwei , Zhao Huanhuan , Zhang Jianmin 
Published: October 2017

Small pressurized water reactors (SPWRs) are under development in the world. Lots of efforts have been made to the Research & Development. SPWR has its unique design features. The integral design is adopted. The reactor, coolant pump and steam generator are in the reactor vessel. The coolant inventory is large. Once-through steam generator is chosen. The pressurizer is also large in the volume. Because many years operation experiences of commercial PWRs, some old operation strategies may be modified or new strategies are derived for the new development. When the operation strategies are chosen, a simulation platform is needed to verify whether they are suitable for SPWRs. In this paper, an SPWR simulation platform is developed to verify the operation strategies of SPWR.
The platform is developed based on an engineering simulator and Relap5 has been integrated in the simulator. Operation transient or accident scenarios can be simulated with the simulator. To improve the operation flexibility and implementation of control logics, the engineering simulator is couple with MATLAB/Simulink using shared memory technology. Shared memory is an efficient means of passing data between programs. The dynamic data exchange and simulation time synchronization methods are carefully treated. To verify the platform, an SPWR with its control system is modeled with the platform and the simulator. The thermal-hydraulic modeling of the SPWR is carried out using Relap5. The preliminary SPWR control system is designed with conditional proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers and implemented in MATLAB/Simulink. Abrupt load changes are simulated to evaluate the performance of the platform. The results obtained from two different platforms match well with each other. It is proved that the coupling is successfully and the platform can simulate the transient behavior of the SPWR with its control system.
In-Service Inspection Technology Research on CANOPY Seal Weld of Control Rod Drive Mechanism in PWR
Authors: Lifeng Zhou , Zhaoyu Cheng , Jiafan Cai , Yi Tang 
Published: October 2017

The cracking of CANOPY Seal Weld (CSW) of the Control Rod Drive Mechanism (CRDM) ever occurred and led to Boric acid solution leakage in nuclear power plant worldwide. The failure analysis on above failure CSW shows that stress corrosion crack (SCC) is main failure mode of CSW, and the crack usually originate from the weld root and grows along weld or HAZ under PWR service environment.
The CSW structure parameter presented here are as following, the wall thickness is 2–3 mm, radius of curvature of cross-section is 6–12 mm, and the gyration radius is 50–100mm. In the latest year, CSW is required to implement surface examination (i.e. Visual Test or Penetration Test) during the plant outage. The flaw is that the CSW won’t be repaired till its failure is detected; therefore effective preventive maintenance can’t be performed. The specific inspection technology is developed for NDT volume testing method, aiming to detect the root crack occurred in weld and its adjacent base metal.
This paper introduces the CSW structure, in-service inspection requirements, and technical solutions. The NDT technology corresponding UT, ET and CCTV was finally applied as applicable technical solution with automatic scanning devices to detect CSW crack. Ultrasonic inspection technology uses high-frequency water immersion focusing probes with frequency higher than 10MHz which is investigated to detect the defect in the weld root area. Meanwhile, Eddy current inspection technology is applied to detect the surface crack or subsurface crack with orthogonal difference array probes, which helps to distinguish false signals detected by UT in outer surface. Ultrasonic inspection technical solutions based on high-frequency water immersion focusing methods and the key technical parameters are discussed emphatically in this paper. By testing on blocks with characteristic artificial reflectors, characteristic rule of ultrasonic signals in different areas and sizing methods for crack is investigated respectively. It show that UT has higher detecting sensitivity for crack of where the height reaches 0.5mm and the length reaches 4mm, and sizing is accuracy and reliable for crack when the height over than 1 mm and the length over than 4mm.
CSW is not incorporated in-service scope referring to ASME code or Chinese in-service code, and the acceptance criterion of weld flaw is also not found. So, the integrity shall be evaluated as far as CSW with flaw is concerned. Thus, the stress analysis and temperature field are carried out on the CSW mentioned above, and the structural integrity assessment is simultaneously performed based on ASME code. Finally, the acceptance criteria are recommended for both volumetric and planar flaw.