bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Methylene blue adsorption using chabazite: Kinetics and equilibrium modelling
Authors: Solisio Carlo , Aliakbarian Bahar 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe adsorption of methylene blue from aqueous solution by a natural zeolite (chabazite) was studied. The effect of adsorbate concentration and pH were evaluated using raw and acid‐treated chabazite. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed surface modification of acid‐treated chabazite, thus resulting in a decrease in adsorption capacity. The sorption kinetics and the equilibrium isotherms were evaluated. The pseudo‐second‐order model was found to be the most suited for kinetic results, and the Langmuir isotherm was chosen to better describe the sorption system. The results confirmed the efficacy of raw chabazite in removing almost all methylene blue fraction from the solution. The use of such a material, at low cost and easily available, can therefore represent a possible efficient way to remove dyes from effluent of many industries.
Hydraulic and disinfection efficiency of an ozonation contactor for a municipal water treatment plant using computational fluid dynamics
Authors: Niazi Shahram , Kalbasi Mansour , Bahramian Alireza 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACTDetermination of hydrodynamic characteristics and disinfection efficiency are important factors in the operational study of the ozone contactors. In the present work, a full‐scale ozonation contactor for a municipal water treatment plant was simulated by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach. The Eulerian multiphase, k–ϵ turbulence, and kinetic‐based reaction models were implemented in a finite volume framework to predict the hydraulic parameters, ozone concentration distribution, total organic carbon (TOC) reduction, and concentration‐contact time (CT) values in the contactor. The reaction kinetics for ozone decay was determined by experimental data collected via the contactor. The quality of mesh near the walls and the results independence on the mesh density were probed to determine the optimal grid density. For the first time, the accuracy of the model was evaluated in contrast with experimental data of TOC reductions during ozonation process. The pulse tracer study and flow field indicated recirculation, dead zones, and therefore non‐optimized baffle configuration in the contactor. The predicted CT values indicated that in the cold and hot months, the ozone dosage must increase by a factor of 3–5 relative to the current dosage values to achieve disinfection log‐inactivation credit for pathogens. Using the CFD simulation results, the correlation between ozone dosage and CT values for the hot and cold months in the ozonation contactor was predicted.
Primary atomization of electrified water sprays
Authors: Manna Lucia , Carotenuto Claudia , Nigro Roberto , Lancia Amedeo , Di Natale Francesco 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThis study reports experimental results on the primary jet breakup parameters of three hollow cone hydraulic spray nozzles electrified by induction. While former evidence indicated that the properties of sprayed droplets are scarcely affected by induction charging, we found that an increase in charging potential from 0 kV to −10 kV led to a reduction of breakup length and an increase of spray angle. For charging potential from −10 kV and −12 kV both the parameters reached asymptotic levels. As for electrosprays, we argue that jet breakup reduction modifications depend on the establishment of electrical stresses over the water sheet, while spray angle enlargements depend on the repulsion forces caused by induced charges. In most of the cases, these modifications are not sufficient to change the secondary atomization regime, but they severely affect the charging level of sprayed droplets.
A phase 1 study to evaluate the safety and LDL cholesterol–lowering effects of RG7652, a fully human monoclonal antibody against proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9
Authors: Baruch Amos , Luca Diana , Kahn Robert S. , Cowan Kyra J. , Leabman Maya , Budha Nageshwar R. , Chiu Cecilia P.C. , Wu Yan , Kirchhofer Daniel , Peterson Andrew , Davis Jr John C. , Tingley Whittemore G. 
Published: March 2017

BackgroundProprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) downregulates low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors, thereby leading to a rise in circulating LDL cholesterol (LDL‐C). RG7652 is a fully human monoclonal antibody against PCSK9. This placebo‐controlled, phase 1 ascending‐dose study in healthy subjects evaluated the safety of RG7652 and its efficacy as a potential LDL‐C–lowering drug.HypothesisAnti‐PCSK9 antibody therapy safely and effectively reduces LDL‐C.MethodsSubjects (N = 80) were randomized into 10 cohorts. Six sequential single‐dose cohorts received 10, 40, 150, 300, 600, or 800 mg of RG7652 via subcutaneous injection. Four multiple‐dose cohorts received 40 or 150 mg of RG7652 once weekly for 4 weeks, either with or without statin therapy (atorvastatin).ResultsAdverse events (AEs) were generally mild; the most common AEs were temporary injection‐site reactions. No serious AEs, severe AEs, AEs leading to study‐drug discontinuation, or dose‐limiting toxicities were reported. RG7652 monotherapy reduced mean LDL‐C levels by up to 64% and as much as 100 mg/dL at week 2; the effect magnitude and duration increased with dose (≥57 days following a single RG7652 dose ≥300 mg). Exploratory analyses showed reduced oxidized LDL, lipoprotein(a), and lipoprotein‐associated phospholipase A2 with RG7652. Antidrug antibody against RG7652 tested positive in 2 of 60 (3.3%) RG7652‐treated and in 4 of 20 (20.0%) placebo‐treated subjects. Simultaneous atorvastatin administration did not appear to impact the pharmacokinetic profile or lipid‐lowering effects of RG7652.ConclusionsOverall, RG7652 elicited substantial and sustained dose‐related LDL‐C reductions with an acceptable safety profile and minimal immunogenicity.
N‐Guanidino Derivatives of 1,5‐Dideoxy‐1,5‐imino‐d‐xylitol are Potent, Selective, and Stable Inhibitors of β‐Glucocerebrosidase
Authors: Sevšek Alen , Šrot Luka , Rihter Jakob , Čelan Maša , van Ufford Linda Quarles , Moret Ed E. , Martin Nathaniel I. , Pieters Roland J. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractA series of lipidated guanidino and urea derivatives of 1,5‐dideoxy‐1,5‐imino‐d‐xylitol were prepared from d‐xylose using a concise synthetic protocol. Inhibition assays with a panel of glycosidases revealed that the guanidino analogues display potent inhibition against human recombinant β‐glucocerebrosidase with IC50 values in the low nanomolar range. Related urea analogues of 1,5‐dideoxy‐1,5‐imino‐d‐xylitol were also synthesized and evaluated in the same fashion and found to be selective for β‐galactosidase from bovine liver. No inhibition of human recombinant β‐glucocerebrosidase was observed for the urea analogues. Computational studies provided insight into the potent activity of analogues bearing the substituted guanidine moiety in the inhibition of lysosomal glucocerebrosidase (GBA).
5‐HT3A‐driven green fluorescent protein delineates gustatory fibers innervating sour‐responsive taste cells: A labeled line for sour taste?
Authors: Stratford J. M. , Larson E. D. , Yang R. , Salcedo E. , Finger T. E. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractTaste buds contain multiple cell types with each type expressing receptors and transduction components for a subset of taste qualities. The sour sensing cells, Type III cells, release serotonin (5‐HT) in response to the presence of sour (acidic) tastants and this released 5‐HT activates 5‐HT3 receptors on the gustatory nerves. We show here, using 5‐HT3AGFP mice, that 5‐HT3‐expressing nerve fibers preferentially contact and receive synaptic contact from Type III taste cells. Further, these 5‐HT3‐expressing nerve fibers terminate in a restricted central‐lateral portion of the nucleus of the solitary tract (nTS)—the same area that shows increased c‐Fos expression upon presentation of a sour tastant (30 mM citric acid). This acid stimulation also evokes c‐Fos in the laterally adjacent mediodorsal spinal trigeminal nucleus (DMSp5), but this trigeminal activation is not associated with the presence of 5‐HT3‐expressing nerve fibers as it is in the nTS. Rather, the neuronal activation in the trigeminal complex likely is attributable to direct depolarization of acid‐sensitive trigeminal nerve fibers, for example, polymodal nociceptors, rather than through taste buds. Taken together, these findings suggest that transmission of sour taste information involves communication between Type III taste cells and 5‐HT3‐expressing afferent nerve fibers that project to a restricted portion of the nTS consistent with a crude mapping of taste quality information in the primary gustatory nucleus.
Efficient quality of service‐aware packet chunking scheme for machine‐to‐machine cloud services
Authors: Sawabe Anan , Tsukamoto Kazuya , Oie Yuji 
Published: March 2017

SummaryWith the recent advances in machine‐to‐machine communications, huge numbers of devices have become connected and massive amounts of traffic are exchanged. Machine‐to‐machine applications typically generate small packets, which can profoundly affect the network performance. Namely, even if the packet arrival rate at the router is lower than the link bandwidth, bits per second, it can exceed the router forwarding capacity, which indicates the maximum number of forwarded packets per second. This will cause the decrease in the network throughput. Therefore, eliminating the packets per second limitation by chunking small packets will enable machine‐to‐machine cloud services to spread further. This paper proposes new packet‐chunking schemes aimed at meeting both application requirements and improving achievable router throughput. In our schemes, multiple buffers, each of which accommodates packets classified based on their delay requirement, are installed in parallel. Herein, we report on analysis of the theoretically performance of these schemes, which enabled us to derive some important features. We also propose a scheme whereby a single chunking buffer and parallel multiple buffers were arranged in tandem. Through our simulation and numerical results, we determined that these schemes provide excellent performance in reducing the number of outgoing packets from the router while meeting various delay requirements.
Patterns in Greater Sage‐grouse population dynamics correspond with public grazing records at broad scales
Authors: Monroe Adrian P. , Aldridge Cameron L. , Assal Timothy J. , Veblen Kari E. , Pyke David A. , Casazza Michael L. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractHuman land use, such as livestock grazing, can have profound yet varied effects on wildlife interacting within common ecosystems, yet our understanding of land‐use effects is often generalized from short‐term, local studies that may not correspond with trends at broader scales. Here we used public land records to characterize livestock grazing across Wyoming,USA, and we used Greater Sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) as a model organism to evaluate responses to livestock management. With annual counts of male Sage‐grouse from 743 leks (breeding display sites) during 2004–2014, we modeled population trends in response to grazing level (represented by a relative grazing index) and timing across a gradient in vegetation productivity as measured by the Normalized Vegetation Difference Index (NDVI). We found grazing can have both positive and negative effects on Sage‐grouse populations depending on the timing and level of grazing. Sage‐grouse populations responded positively to higher grazing levels after peak vegetation productivity, but populations declined when similar grazing levels occurred earlier, likely reflecting the sensitivity of cool‐season grasses to grazing during peak growth periods. We also found support for the hypothesis that effects of grazing management vary with local vegetation productivity. These results illustrate the importance of broad‐scale analyses by revealing patterns in Sage‐grouse population trends that may not be inferred from studies at finer scales, and could inform sustainable grazing management in these ecosystems.
Screening mitochondrial DNA sequence variation as an alternative method for tracking established and outbreak populations of Queensland fruit fly at the species southern range limit
Authors: Blacket Mark J. , Malipatil Mali B. , Semeraro Linda , Gillespie Peter S. , Dominiak Bernie C. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractUnderstanding the relationship between incursions of insect pests and established populations is critical to implementing effective control. Studies of genetic variation can provide powerful tools to examine potential invasion pathways and longevity of individual pest outbreaks. The major fruit fly pest in eastern Australia, Queensland fruit fly Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt), has been subject to significant long‐term quarantine and population reduction control measures in the major horticulture production areas of southeastern Australia, at the species southern range limit. Previous studies have employed microsatellite markers to estimate gene flow between populations across this region. In this study, we used an independent genetic marker, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences, to screen genetic variation in established and adjacent outbreak populations in southeastern Australia. During the study period, favorable environmental conditions resulted in multiple outbreaks, which appeared genetically distinctive and relatively geographically localized, implying minimal dispersal between simultaneous outbreaks. Populations in established regions were found to occur over much larger areas. Screening mtDNA (female) lineages proved to be an effective alternative genetic tool to assist in understanding fruit fly population dynamics and provide another possible molecular method that could now be employed for better understanding of the ecology and evolution of this and other pest species.
Phylogeny and biogeography of the scaleless scale worm Pisione (Sigalionidae, Annelida)
Authors: Gonzalez Brett C. , Petersen Haidi Cecilie B. , Di Domenico Maikon , Martínez Alejandro , Armenteros Maickel , García‐Machado Erik , Møller Peter Rask , Worsaae Katrine 
Published: March 2017

AbstractPisione is a scaleless group of small scale worms inhabiting sandy bottoms in shallow marine waters. This group was once considered rare, but now 45 described species can be characterized, among others, by their paired, segmental copulatory organs (one to multiple external pairs), which display a complexity of various accessory structures. The evolutionary significance of these unique organs was suggested in the late 1960s, but has been heavily debated since the late 1990s and remains controversial. In the present paper, we study the internal relationships within Pisione, employing combined phylogenetic analyses of both molecular and morphological data from 16 terminals of Pisione, as well as two terminals of Pisionidens, and eight additional scale worms as outgroups. Our taxon sampling covers all geographical areas where the genus has been reported, as well as most of their morphological and copulatory variability, including representatives of the “africana,” “remota,” “crassa,” and “papuensis” groups, established previously by Yamanishi. We hereby provide a first insight into the relationships of the genus, testing previously proposed hypotheses on the evolutionary significance of male copulatory structures within Pisione, while attempting to understand patterns of distribution. The phylogenetic analyses using maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods consistently recovered two large clades spanning the East Atlantic (including the Mediterranean) and the Indo‐Pacific–West Atlantic, respectively. Character optimization on our trees revealed a high degree of homoplasy in both non‐reproductive and sexual characters of Pisione, with buccal acicula found to be the sole apomorphy among the morphological features assessed herein, with none defining the biogeographical subclades within. Overall, our comparative analyses highlight the high degree of morphological variation in this widely distributed genus, rejecting previous assertions of an increasing number and complexity of copulatory structures across the genus.
Temperature increase and fluctuation induce phytoplankton biodiversity loss – Evidence from a multi‐seasonal mesocosm experiment
Authors: Rasconi Serena , Winter Katharina , Kainz Martin J. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractGlobal climate change scenarios predict lake water temperatures to increase up to 4°C and extreme weather events, including heat waves and large temperature fluctuations, to occur more frequently. Such changes may result in a reorganization of the plankton community structure, causing shifts in diversity and structure toward a community dominated by fewer species that are more adapted to endure warmer and irregular temperature conditions. We designed a long‐term (8 months) mesocosm experiment to explore how ambient water temperature (C: control), induced increased temperature (T: +4°C), and temperature fluctuations (F: ±4°C relative to T) change phytoplankton phenology, taxonomical diversity, and community structure, and how such changes affected zooplankton abundance and composition. Synthesis. Our results show that T and F relative to C significantly decreased phytoplankton diversity. Moreover, there was a clear effect of the temperature treatments (T and F) on phytoplankton size structure that resulted in a significantly lower growth of large species (i.e., large Chlorophyta) compared to C. Decreased diversity and evenness in the T and F treatments pushed the community toward the dominance of only a few phytoplankton taxa (mainly Cyanobacteria and Chlorophyta) that are better adapted to endure warmer and more irregular temperature conditions. The observed shift toward Cyanobacteria dominance may affect trophic energy transfer along the aquatic food web.
Genetic structure among greater white‐fronted goose populations of the Pacific Flyway
Authors: Ely Craig R. , Wilson Robert E. , Talbot Sandra L. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractAn understanding of the genetic structure of populations in the wild is essential for long‐term conservation and stewardship in the face of environmental change. Knowledge of the present‐day distribution of genetic lineages (phylogeography) of a species is especially important for organisms that are exploited or utilize habitats that may be jeopardized by human intervention, including climate change. Here, we describe mitochondrial (mtDNA) and nuclear genetic (microsatellite) diversity among three populations of a migratory bird, the greater white‐fronted goose (Anser albifrons), which breeds discontinuously in western and southwestern Alaska and winters in the Pacific Flyway of North America. Significant genetic structure was evident at both marker types. All three populations were differentiated for mtDNA, whereas microsatellite analysis only differentiated geese from the Cook Inlet Basin. In sexual reproducing species, nonrandom mate selection, when occurring in concert with fine‐scale resource partitioning, can lead to phenotypic and genetic divergence as we observed in our study. If mate selection does not occur at the time of reproduction, which is not uncommon in long‐lived organisms, then mechanisms influencing the true availability of potential mates may be obscured, and the degree of genetic and phenotypic diversity may appear incongruous with presumed patterns of gene flow. Previous investigations revealed population‐specific behavioral, temporal, and spatial mechanisms that likely influence the amount of gene flow measured among greater white‐fronted goose populations. The degree of observed genetic structuring aligns well with our current understanding of population differences pertaining to seasonal movements, social structure, pairing behavior, and resource partitioning.
Water and nitrogen uptake are better associated with resource availability than root biomass
Authors: Kulmatiski Andrew , Adler Peter B. , Stark John M. , Tredennick Andrew T. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractPlant uptake of soil water and nitrogen can determine plant growth, community composition, and ecosystem functioning. Despite its importance, resource uptake is typically inferred from root biomass distributions rather than measured directly. Using a depth‐controlled, dual‐tracer experiment, here we show that during peak growing season in a sagebrush‐steppe ecosystem, vertical patterns of root biomass, water uptake, and nitrogen uptake are strikingly different from one another. Half of root biomass (0–188 cm) occurred in the top 24 cm of the soil. Half of water uptake occurred in the top 14 cm. Half of nitrogen uptake occurred in the top 79 cm. Shallow water uptake and deep nitrogen uptake were better correlated with water and nitrogen availability than with root biomass, suggesting that root systems foraged independently for different resources. Root biomass has long been used as a proxy measure of plant access to soil resources, but our results suggest that resource availability may be a better predictor of uptake.
Short‐range dispersal maintains a volatile marine metapopulation: the brown algaPostelsia palmaeformis
Authors: Paine Robert T. , Buhle Eric R. , Levin Simon A. , Kareiva Peter 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe annual brown algaPostelsia palmaeformisis dependent for its survival on short‐distance dispersal (SDD) where it is already established, as well as occasional long‐distance colonization of novel sites. To quantifySDD, we transplantedPostelsiato sites lacking established plants within ≥10 m. The spatial distribution of the first naturally produced sporophyte generation was used to fit dispersal kernels in a hierarchical Bayesian framework. Mean dispersal distance within a year ranged from 0.16 to 0.50 m across sites; 95% of the recruits were within 0.38–1.32 m of the transplant. The fat‐tailed exponential square root kernel was the best among the candidate models at describing offspring density and dispersal. Independent measurements of patch size over two to five generations permitted an evaluation of whether models parameterized by individual‐level data could adequately predict longer‐term persistence and spread at the patch scale. The observed spread rates generally fell within the 95% predictive intervals. Finally,Postelsiawas eliminated from 14 occupied sites that were then followed for ≥27 yr. The probability of invasion when unoccupied declined and the probability of extinction when occupied increased with distance from the nearest propagule source. Sites >10 m from a source were rarely invaded, and one initially densely populated site isolated by 39 m has remainedPostelsia‐free since 1981. In spite of dispersal that is almost entirely within 2 m of the parent, the ability of our models to capture the observed dynamics ofPostelsiaindicates that short‐range dispersal adequately explains the persistent and thrivingPostelsiametapopulation on Tatoosh Island. However, the presence ofPostelsiaover a 2000‐km coastal range with many gaps >1 km makes it clear that rare long‐distance dispersal must be required to explain the geographic range of the species.