bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Red cell distribution width predicts death and appropriate therapy in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator: A simple measurement with prognostic value in a variety of diseases, may help in better selection of patients who will benefit the most from this device
Authors: Dabbah Saleem , Chertin Leonid , Khateeb Aehab , Rosenfeld Inna , Suleiman Mahmoud , Halabi Majdi 
Published: October 2017

AbstractBackgroundRed cell distribution width (RDW) is a measure of the size variation of erythrocytes. Its prognostic value has been described in a variety of cardiac and noncardiac diseases. Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is useful in preventing sudden cardiac death in high‐risk patients, but many of these patients continue to survive without needing ICD therapy. We sought to examine whether RDW, with its prognostic values, can benefit in risk stratification of patients with ICD by predicting death and ICD therapy, and thus help in the selection of patients who will benefit the most from ICD, and minimizing its implantation in others at low risk of death and arrhythmias.MethodsIn a retrospective study, we enrolled patients with ICD implanted for both primary and secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death. Baseline RDW values, demographics, and clinical characteristics, as well as the occurrence of death or first appropriate ICD therapy in postimplantation follow‐up were collected. We examined whether RDW can predict higher‐risk ICD‐implanted patients prone to death and first appropriate ICD therapy (the combined outcome).ResultsFinal population included 432 patients. Compared to others, patients in the upper RDW tertile were older and had more comorbidities and outcomes. In multivariate analysis including RDW, age, gender, and ejection fraction, RDW was the only predictor of the combined outcome.ConclusionRDW may be useful in risk stratification of patients selected for ICD implantation. But larger prospective randomized trials are needed.
An audit of ECT in England 2011–2015: Usage, demographics, and adherence to guidelines and legislation
Authors: Read John , Harrop Christopher , Geekie Jim , Renton Julia 
Published: October 2017

ObjectivesElectroconvulsive therapy (ECT) continues to be used in England, but without comprehensive national auditing. Therefore, information was gathered on usage, demographics, consent, and adherence to the guidelines of the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (N.I.C.E.) and to the Mental Health Act.Design and MethodsFreedom of Information Act requests were sent to 56 National Health Service Trusts.ResultsThirty‐two trusts provided some usable data. Only 10 were able to report how many people received psychological therapy prior toECTin accordance with N.I.C.E. recommendations, with figures ranging from 0% to 100%. The number of people currently receivingECTin England annually is between 2,100 and 2,700, and falling. There was a 12‐fold difference between the Trusts with the highest and lowest usage rates per capita. Most recipients are still women (66%) and over 60 (56%). More than a third (39%) is given without consent, with 30% of Trusts not adhering to mental health legislation concerning second opinions. At least 44% were not using validated measures of efficacy, and at least 33% failed to do so for adverse effects. Only four provided any actual data for positive outcomes or adverse effects. None provided any data on efficacy beyond the end of treatment.ConclusionsNational audits should be reinstated. Independent, objective monitoring of adverse effects is urgently required. An investigation into whyECTis still administered excessively to older people and women seems long overdue.Practitioner pointsMental health staff should seek to ensure that all depressed people in their service are offered evidence‐based psychological treatments before being offered E.C.T.Staff should lobby managers to ensure proper auditing of E.C.T. within their serviceIndividuals receiving ECT should be closely monitored for adverse cognitive effectsOveruse of ECT with women and older people should be avoided
Physiological roles of tryptophan in teleosts: current knowledge and perspectives for future studies
Authors: Hoseini Seyyed Morteza , Pérez‐Jiménez Amalia , Costas Benjamin , Azeredo Rita , Gesto Manuel 
Published: October 2017

AbstractTryptophan is an essential amino acid with a huge functional versatility, in addition to its participation in protein synthesis. Because of the complexity of its metabolism, and the functional relevance of several of its metabolites, it directly or indirectly participates in a wide array of physiological pathways. This amino acid is a precursor for the synthesis of the neurotransmitter/neuromodulator serotonin (5HT), the hormone melatonin and kynurenine and related compounds such as kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid or niacin. Because of this, it has a key role in the regulation of processes ranging from the neuroendocrine to the immune system in vertebrates. In aquaculture, extensive research has been performed to optimize the levels of tryptophan in the commercial diets for many fish species. Providing adequate levels of this amino acid is critically important for fish growth but also for fish welfare, as tryptophan has been shown to modulate fish behaviour, stress responses, and antioxidant and immune systems. Currently, available data suggest a wide variation in tryptophan requirements of different species ranging 0.3–1.3% of dietary protein level, but recent evidence also shows that fish tryptophan requirements can greatly vary depending on the rearing conditions of the fish. We also review here the participation of tryptophan and related metabolites in different physiological functions that are crucial for fish welfare. The review covers the involvement of tryptophan in 5HT‐ and melatonin‐mediated functions, along with its participation in the regulation of the immune system and its role as an antioxidant and antitoxic agent in fish.
Chitosan–dextran sulphate nanoparticles for GnRH release in rabbit insemination extenders
Authors: Fernández‐Serrano P , Casares‐Crespo L , Viudes‐de‐Castro MP 
Published: October 2017

ContentsThis study was designed to develop chitosan (CS)–dextran sulphate (DS) nanoparticles containing a GnRH analogue and to study their effect on rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) semen quality. Six experimental extenders were tested as follows: (control) Tris‐citric acid‐glucose (TCG), (1) 0.05% CS‐0.05% DS (4:1), (2) 0.1% CS‐0.05% DS (4:1), (3) 0.05% CS‐0.05% DS (3:1), (4) 0.1% CS‐0.05% DS (3:1), (5) 0.1% CS‐0.05% DS (2:1). CS and DS were dissolved in TCG medium, and nanoparticles were obtained through magnetic stirring. Rabbit seminal samples were incubated up to 5 hr at 37°C in the extenders, and seminal quality was evaluated. The entrapment efficiency was 40%–50%. After 5 hr at 37°C, a 20% of the hormone was released. Results showed that the presence of CS‐DS nanoparticles did not affect rabbit semen motility, viability and membrane functionality; however, acrosome integrity was significantly higher versus control (p < .001).
Exploring the anatomy of Geographic Information Systems and Technology (GIS&T) textbooks
Authors: Frazier Amy E. , Wikle Thomas , Kedron Peter 
Published: October 2017

AbstractChoosing a textbook is among the most important decisions instructors make in preparation for an academic term. Geographic Information Systems and Technology (GIS&T) textbook development has been influenced by a unique set of circumstances, mainly the rapid development of the discipline within an interdisciplinary environment, which has resulted in a continuous state of evolution. We examine the anatomy of GIS&T textbooks through a comparison of their organization, content, and depth of coverage. Specifically, utilizing the Geographic Information Science and Technology Body of Knowledge (BoK) as a comprehensive reference, we categorize the content of 26 of the most widely used introductory GIS textbooks. Our results show that there has been consistent coverage of topics over time, with analytical methods and geospatial data being the most prominent topics covered in texts. However, individual textbooks place varying emphasis on the BoK knowledge areas, which is potentially useful to instructors seeking books that emphasize particular knowledge areas. Additionally, long‐term trends indicate a shift toward an emphasis on new forms of geospatial data (e.g., social media). Ongoing efforts to expand and revise the BoK reflect how the discipline continues to manage its own evolution as new geographic research linked to GIS and GIScience emerges.
Position of enigmatic miniature trichomycterid catfishes inferred from molecular data (Siluriformes)
Authors: Henschel Elisabeth , Mattos José Leonardo O. , Katz Axel M. , Costa Wilson J. E. M. 
Published: October 2017

Trichomycteridae is a well‐corroborated catfish family that comprises about 300 valid species distributed in eight subfamilies. The phyletic status of the Trichomycterinae is uncertain, with different hypothesis regarding the position of the miniaturized Trichomycterus hasemani group. This group comprises four valid species, and neither its monophyly nor its positioning among the Trichomycteridae was tested in a phylogenetic framework. Bayesian Inference and Maximum Likelihood analyses of a molecular data set comprising the mitochondrial genes 12S and 16S and the nuclear genes H3, MYH6 and RAG2 (2983 bp) for 26 taxa highly supported the miniature catfish T. hasemani group as monophyletic and sister to the Tridentinae, consequently recognized as a new genus of this subfamily. Potamoglanis gen. nov. is diagnosed by seven character states: an angle of 35–40° between the main longitudinal axis of the head and the main axis of the autopalatine; thin tubular shape of the second ceratobranchial; presence of six or seven anal‐fin rays; eyes dorsally placed on head; opercular and interopercular odontodes patches not juxtaposed; absence of a distal process on the hyomandibula and presence of a long process on the anterior region of the hyomandibula. Potamoglanis gen. nov is similar to the Tridentinae genera by the presence of a wide cranial fontanelle; presence of a short ventral process in the opercular bone and by the origin of the dorsal fin placed in a vertical through the anal‐fin origin.
Fitness‐related differences in the rate of whole‐body evaporative heat loss in exercising men are heat‐load dependent
Authors: Lamarche Dallon T. , Notley Sean R. , Louie Jeffrey C. , Poirier Martin P. , Kenny Glen P. 
Published: October 2017

New Findings
What is the central question of this study?
Aerobic fitness modulates heat loss, but the heat‐load threshold at which fitness‐related differences in heat loss occur in young healthy men remains unclear.

What is the main finding and its importance?
We demonstrate using direct calorimetry that aerobic fitness modulates heat loss in a heat‐load‐dependent manner, with fitness‐related differences occurring between young men who have low and high fitness when the heat load is ∼≥500 W. Although aerobic fitness has been known for some time to modulate heat loss, our findings define the precise heat‐load threshold at which fitness‐related differences occur.

The effect of aerobic fitness (defined as rate of peak oxygen consumption) on heat loss during exercise is thought to be related to the level of heat stress. However, it remains unclear at what combined exercise and environmental (net) heat‐load threshold these fitness‐related differences occur. To identify this, we assessed whole‐body heat exchange (dry and evaporative) by direct calorimetry in young (22 ± 3 years) men matched for physical characteristics with low (Low‐fit; 39.8 ± 2.5 ml O2 kg−1 min−1), moderate (Mod‐fit; 50.9 ± 1.2 ml O2 kg−1 min−1) and high aerobic fitness (High‐fit; 62.0 ± 4.4 ml O2 kg−1 min−1; each n = 8), during three 30 min bouts of cycling in dry heat (40°C, 12% relative humidity) at increasing rates of metabolic heat production of 300 (Ex1), 400 (Ex2) and 500 W (Ex3), each followed by a 15 min recovery period. Each group was exposed to a similar net heat load (metabolic plus ∼100 W dry heat gain; P = 0.83) during each exercise bout [∼400 (Ex1), ∼500 (Ex2) and ∼600 W (Ex3); P < 0.01]. Although evaporative heat loss was similar between groups during Ex1 (P = 0.33), evaporative heat loss was greater in the High‐fit (Ex2, 466 ± 21 W; Ex3, 557 ± 26 W) compared with the Low‐fit group (Ex2, 439 ± 22 W; Ex3, 511 ± 20 W) during Ex2 and Ex3 (P ≤ 0.03). Conversely, evaporative heat loss for the Mod‐fit group did not differ from either the High‐fit or Low‐fit group during all exercise bouts (P ≥ 0.09). We demonstrate that aerobic fitness modulates heat loss in a heat‐load‐dependent manner, such that young, highly fit men display greater heat‐loss capacity only at heat loads ∼≥500 W compared with their lesser trained counterparts.
A Quantitative Approach for Reliability Evaluation of Safety I&C Systems in Nuclear Power Plants
Authors: Dongxu Liu , Dongling Xu , Shuhui Zhang , Xiaoying Hu 
Published: October 2017

The probability that the safety I&C system fails to actuate or advertently actuates RT or ESF functions, in part, essentially determines whether a nuclear power plant could operate safely and efficiently. Since more conservative assumptions and simplifications are introduced during the analysis, this paper achieves solid results by performing the modeling and calculation based on a relatively simple approach, the reliability block diagram (RBD) method. A typical safety I&C platform structure is involved in the model presented in this paper.
From the perspective of conservation and simplicity, some assumptions are adopted in this paper. A group of formulas is derived in this paper based on Boolean algebra, probability theory, basic reliability concepts and equations, to facilitate the calculations of probabilities that the safety I&C system fails to actuate or advertently actuates RT or ESF functions. All the inputs of the analysis and calculation in this paper, which includes the I&C platform structure, the constitution of the hardware modules, and reliability data, are referenced to the nuclear power plant universal database where applicable. Although the conclusion drawn in the paper doesn’t apply to the I&C platform assessment for a specific plant, the method of modeling and process of analysis provides an illustration of an alternative quantitative reliability assessment approach for a typical safety I&C system installed in the nuclear power plant.
Digital Human-Machine Interface Design for Marine Nuclear Power Plant Based on Task-Oriented
Authors: Liu Zhi-tong , Wang Shao-ming , Zhang Long-fei , Yang Guang , Lv Meng , Zhang Hong-jian 
Published: October 2017

A design of human machine interface (HMI) has been developed to ensure the safety and availability of marine nuclear power plant (NPP) in China. The staffing arrangement and HMIs are different from current nuclear power plants. One control room is used to monitor and control the reactor, the secondary loop, and the electric system. Considering the digital control room style, the elements of the HMIs in the control room are the large display panels and control consoles. Considering the digital control room style, the elements of the HMIs in the control room are the large display panels and control consoles. Information accuracy and control efficacy are thought as the ultimate goal. It has extremely high safety by hardware control on the control panel. Display device refers to the part designs of NPP one. Eventually it can provide centrally the working condition of the device and system, the operating parameters of key equipment, accident. Dynamic and static displays are combined to reflect real-time condition of the system conveniently, accurately and reliably. The necessary safety operations and displays are set on the safety console of each reactor independently. The large display panels are designed as an overview of the whole marine plant, which consist of large screen displays, mimic displays and alarm tiles.
This paper points out that what the main issues is to be dealt with in the computerized HMI design process. A task-oriented HMI design principle is used to the interfaces of marine reactors starting up.
Modeling DCS of Nuclear Power Plant With Extended GO-FLOW Methodology
Authors: Hongxing Lu , Ming Yang , Xinyu Dai , Wei Li , Hidekazu Yoshikawa 
Published: October 2017

GO-FLOW model is a success-oriented system modeling method which describes how the system configures its resources to achieve required functions by using basic functional units in terms of substances and demand flows in the system. The GO-FLOW models, which are directly built according to system structure drawings, can be used to analyze the reliability of a system with time and phased mission problems. With the development of Digital Control System (DCS), the reliability analysis of whole DCS has become an important task. However, there are some shortcomings using the traditional GO-FLOW methodology to model DCS:
1. There are not abundant operators in the GO-FLOW model to describe the control logic in DCS;
2. It is hard to model the relationship between the control actions and hardware devices using traditional GO-FLOW methodology;
This paper presents an extended GO-FLOW modeling method. In this study, the GO-FLOW model is supplemented and improved, which can accurately describe the relationship and control logic between the hardware and control action (or human control action) in the running process of the DCS. In this paper, taking the Chemical and Volume Control System (CVCS) as an example, using the extended GO-FLOW modeling method established the model of CVCS, and the model of DCS control logic. This improved modeling method can be applied to the reliability modeling and evaluation of DCS.
Innovative Methodology of Ranking Cooling Towers Based on Structural Safety Margin
Authors: Tran Nhu-Cuong , Toulemonde Charles , Beaudouin François , Meuwisse Christian , Schmitt Nicolas , El-Yazidi Abderrazzaq , Courtois Alexis , Genest Yves , Moriceau Sylvain 
Published: October 2017

EDF operates 28 natural draft cooling towers in nuclear power plants. The ageing of their atmospheric cooling tower shells is periodically monitored. Proactive maintenance strategies require ranking the towers according to the risk of failure and the observed damage. The ranking includes all sorts of monitoring data acquired at the plant: foundation settlements, material properties, quantified crack patterns, shell deformation and meteorological data... This combined ranking rely on two pillars: a ranking of the towers based on their shell surface faults observed on-site and another ranking based on their safety margin in terms of structural behavior. The aim of this paper is to present the second pillar of the ranking.
The objective of the methodology is to calculate for each tower a failure quantitative risk index based on failure analysis of reinforced concrete. It includes three modules: a mechanical module which is the core module, an ageing module considering the carbonation and corrosion and a decisional module allowing ranking towers. Putting all towers on a ranking scale based on their global risk index allowing decision-maker to optimize their cooling tower maintenance program.
ASME PTC 46 Performance Tests in Digital Plant Context
Authors: Le Galudec Olivier 
Published: October 2017

ASME PTC46 is nowadays a well known widely used Performance Test Code for Plant thermal performances. The Code — originally published in 1996, revised in 2015 — delivers all required guidance and methods for determination of the thermal performances in optimum precision conditions.
Present paper considers going a step further in the performance test methodology in the modern context, ie specifically for Plants supported by Digital methods. Although a PTC46 test will deliver valuable information, this information — ie the test result — is valid solely at the point of time of the test on site, after which Plant Operator will not necessarily again have a very sharp vision of the level of Performances. Recent Digital tools and methods are a major change in this context and at present Operators of Digitalised Plants have access to a methodic systematic continuous measurement of the gaps between on-line performances and ideal “as should” status.
Availability of such advanced functionalities is now opening the door to a radical change of the guarantees definitions, delivering to Plant developers better inputs without arbitrary assumptions as well as methodic and transparent measurement of the actual performance over significant periods of time, in opposition to the few hours of a PTC46 traditional test.
Present paper addresses the possible definition of such new guarantees, as well as updates of the correction approach that are needed in order to make use of the Code principles in the modern Digital context. Pro and cons of both methods are discussed in detail , as well as analogy with other Power Plant areas.
Draft Genome Sequence of a Sporulating and Motile Strain of Lachnotalea glycerini Isolated from Water in Québec City, Canada
Authors: Maheux Andrée F. , Boudreau Dominique K. , Bérubé Ève , Boissinot Maurice , Raymond Frédéric , Brodeur Stéphanie , Corbeil Jacques , Isabel Sandra , Omar Rabeea F. , Bergeron Michel G. 
Published: October 2017

ABSTRACT

Lachnotalea glycerini
CCRI-19302 belongs to the genus
Lachnotalea
. The strain was isolated from a water sample harvested in Québec City, Canada. The genome assembly comprised 4,694,231 bp, with 34.6% GC content. This is the first documentation to report the genome sequence of a sporulating and motile strain of
L. glycerini
.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Vibrio
sp. Strain V1B Isolated from the Gut Microflora of the Scallop
Argopecten purpuratus
Authors: Serrano Wilbert , Tarazona Ulrike I. , Olaechea Raul M. , Friedrich Michael W. 
Published: October 2017

ABSTRACT

A new
Vibrio
strain, V1B, was isolated from the intestinal tract of the scallop
Argopecten purpuratus
. Strain V1B is closely related to the species
Vibrio inhibens
BFLP-10, which has been characterized as showing antagonistic activity against pathogenic
Vibrio
sp. We report here the draft genome of the isolated
Vibrio
sp. strain V1B.