bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Free Amino Acids in Pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus, Eggs and Larvae
Authors: Portella M. C. , Takata R. , Leitão N. J. , Menossi O. C. , Kwasek K. , Dabrowski K. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractFree amino acids (FAA) are used principally as substrate in protein synthesis and the source of energy in aerobic catabolism. In marine fish, embryo and larvae FAA are used to maintain body fluid osmolality during fish early development. However, there is essentially no information about FAA concentrations in early ontogeny of freshwater neotropical species in comparison to marine fishes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the FAA concentrations in pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus, eggs and larvae. Broodstock fish were induced to spawn and ovulated females were stripped of their eggs and immediately sampled for analysis. Larvae were sampled right after hatching (HL) and after the completion of the yolk‐sac absorption (YSA). The wet weight of the HL and YSA larvae amounted to 0.5 ± 0.1 mg and 1.1 ± 0.3 mg, respectively. HL larvae showed higher levels of most of the indispensable amino acids (IAA) in comparison to eggs and YSA larvae. Exceptions were observed with His and Trp that showed higher or similar levels, respectively, in YSA larvae. The FAA Orn, Tau, Glu, Gln, Gly, and Tyr increased concentrations in both larval stages while that of Tau was found in higher concentration in all analyzed stages. Also, the concentrations of Asn, Ala, Pro, Ser, and Asp were higher in HL larvae. Both larval stages displayed a rise in total free IAA/total free DAA (dispensable amino acids) ratio. The authors conclude that the highest level of FAA in HL pacu larvae is indicative of active proteolysis of yolk reserves and a probable catabolism regulation of some FAA through spare‐effect. In addition, Tau is one of the major FAA occurring during pacu ontogeny and may be performing regulation on body fluid osmolality regulation.
Alternative Solids Removal for Warm Water Recirculating Raft Aquaponic Systems
Authors: Danaher Jason J. , Shultz R. Charlie , Rakocy James E. , Bailey Donald S. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractAquaponics is an integrated fish and plant recirculating production system. The University of the Virgin Islands' raft aquaponic system uses a cylindro‐conical clarifier as a primary solids removal device; however, a swirl separator may offer advantages. The objectives of the 8‐wk experiment were to compare water quality parameters, Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, production and water spinach, Ipomoea aquatica, production in a raft aquaponic system using a clarifier or swirl separator for primary treatment of solids in the waste stream.No significant differences (P ≥ 0.05) existed between treatments for temperature, oxygen, pH, total suspended solids, alkalinity, electrical conductivity, total ammonia‐nitrogen, nitrite‐nitrogen, nitrate‐nitrogen, macronutrients, and micronutrients concentrations in the culture water. There were no significant differences (P ≥ 0.05) between treatments for Nile tilapia production, average weight, survival, or feed conversion ratio. There were no significant differences (P ≥ 0.05) between treatments for water spinach production or plant tissue analysis. In conclusion, the swirl separator used in this experiment performed similar to the clarifier and water spinach grew vigorously in the raft aquaponic system.
Variation in Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, to Biosynthesize Eicosapentaenoic Acid and Docosahexaenoic Acid When Reared on Plant Oil Replacement Feeds
Authors: Overturf Ken , Welker Tom , Barrows Frederick , Towner Richard , Schneider Rich , LaPatra Scott 
Published: June 2013

AbstractTo determine the potential for improving the conversion and deposition of the omega‐3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n‐3) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n‐3) in fish, 44 families of rainbow trout were fed a diet low in these components and then evaluated for their ability to convert and store plant oils that did not contain DHA and EPA in their muscle tissue. The range for EPA and DHA detected in the tissues of different families varied between 1.2 and 2.9%, and 3.8 and 7.1% total fatty acid, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, an averaged heritability of 0.78 ± 0.11 for DHA and 0.61 ± 0.17 for EPA was calculated. Expression analysis of genes related to the elongation and conversion of lipids were also analyzed, and significant differences were found in the expression of some genes between groups of families that were delineated as having relative high, medium, and low capabilities of depositing EPA and DHA in their muscle tissue after being reared on the mainly soy/flax oil containing diet. However, none of these genes showed a positive correlation with the high conversion/deposition group.
Development and Validation of Single‐nucleotide Polymorphism Markers in the Pacific Oyster, Crassostrea gigas, Using High‐resolution Melting Analysis
Authors: Zhong Xiaoxiao , Li Qi , Yu Hong , Kong Lingfeng 
Published: June 2013

AbstractHigh‐resolution melting (HRM) has been considered as a fast and simple single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) scanning and genotyping method for identifying differences in the shapes of melting curves between different genotypes. Fifty‐six SNPs were developed in the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas by mining expressed sequence tags database, using the HRM method. The frequency of the SNPs was estimated at 1 per 113 bp of contig sequences. Analysis of segregation in a full‐sib family showed that 28 SNPs were polymorphic, with 15 in accordance to expected Mendelian ratios. Linkage grouping of the 28 markers resulted in six linkage groups. The combined power of exclusion of the 42 SNPs, which conformed to Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, was greater than 99.98%, while the average polymorphic information content was 0.2223. The simulation results showed that the success rate of parentage analysis could be 97% with the 42 SNPs. These SNPs will be useful for pedigree analysis, association studies, and marker‐associated selection of this species.
Response of Pacific White Shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, to Three Sources of Solvent Extracted Soybean Meal
Authors: Zhu Xuezhi , Davis D. Allen , Roy Luke A. , Samocha T. M. , Lazo J. P. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThree sources of soybean meal (SBM) were biochemically characterized and evaluated in diets for juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei. Three biological techniques were utilized to evaluate the nutritional quality of the meals including an outdoor growth trial as well as determination of in vivo apparent digestibility and in vitro digestibility including pepsin digestibility (0.0002%), pH Stat degree of hydrolysis, and immobilized digestive enzyme assay (IDEA). The growth trial was conducted over a 10‐wk period using soybean meal as the primary protein source with each meal being included at 54–58% of the diet based on an equal protein inclusion. At the conclusion of the growth trial there were no significant differences between the test diets indicating equivalent biological availability under practical conditions. The in vivo digestibility trial utilized chromic oxide as the inert marker and 70:30 replacement techniques resulted in typical results. Apparent protein digestibility (APD) and apparent energy digestibility (AED) of the diets ranged from 66.8 to 80.2% and 65.4 to 74.7%, respectively. Ingredient digestibility values for protein and energy ranged from 78.8 to 93.5% and 60.5 to 85.0%, respectively. One of the three SBM evaluated had numerically lower protein digestibility and significantly lower energy digestibility than the other two meals.
Effects of reviewing routine practices on learning outcomes in continuing education
Authors: Mamede Silvia , Loyens Sofie , Ezequiel Oscarina , Tibiriçá Sandra , Penaforte Júlio , Schmidt Henk 
Published: June 2013

ContextConventional continuing medical education (CME) has been shown to have modest effects on doctor performance. New educational approaches based on the review of routine practices have brought better results. Little is known about factors that affect the outcomes of these approaches, especially in middle‐income countries. This study aimed to investigate factors that influence the learning and quality of clinical performance in CME based on reflection upon experiences.MethodsA questionnaire and a clinical performance test were administered to 165 general practitioners engaged in a CME programme in Brazil. The questionnaire assessed behaviours related to four input variables (individual reflection on practices, peer review of experiences, self‐regulated learning and learning skills) and two mediating variables (identification of learning needs and engagement in learning activities, the latter consisting of self‐study of scientific literature, consultations about patient problems, and attendance at courses). Structural equation modelling was used to test a hypothesised model of relationships between these variables and the outcome variable of clinical performance, measured by the clinical performance test.ResultsAfter minor adjustments, the hypothesised model fit the empirical data well. Individual reflection fostered identification of learning needs, but also directly positively influenced the quality of clinical performance. Peer review did not affect identification of learning needs, but directly positively affected clinical performance. Learning skills and self‐regulation did not help in identifying learning needs, but self‐regulation enhanced study of the scientific literature, the learning activity that most positively influenced clinical performance. Consultation with colleagues, the activity most frequently triggered by the identification of learning needs, did not affect performance, and attendance of courses had only limited effect.ConclusionsThis study shed light on the factors that influence learning and performance improvement in continuing education based on the review of routine practices in middle‐income settings. The findings support the importance of reflection on practices as an instrument for enhancing clinical performance.
Reliability Assessment with Fuzzy Random Variables Using Interval Monte Carlo Simulation
Authors: Jahani Ehsan , Muhanna Rafi L. , Shayanfar Mohsen A. , Barkhordari Mohammad A. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractIn this work structural reliability assessment is presented for structures with uncertain loads and material properties. Uncertain variables are modeled as fuzzy random variables and Interval Monte Carlo Simulation along with interval finite element method is used to evaluate failure probability. Interval Monte Carlo is compared with existing search algorithms used in the reliability assessment of fuzzy random structural systems for both efficiency and accuracy. The genetic algorithm as one of the well developed approaches is selected for comparison. Fuzzy randomness is used as a model for handling both aleatory and epistemic uncertainties. Fuzzy quantities are calculated using the α‐cut approach. In the case of Interval Monte Carlo, bounds on response quantities are obtained for each α‐cut using only one run of interval finite element method, however genetic approach requires performing Monte Carlo Simulation for each of the considered different possible combinations within the search domain (α‐cut) and running finite element for each of the Monte Carlo realizations. In the presented examples both load and material uncertainties are considered. Numerical results show the computational efficiency of the Interval Monte Carlo approach and its superiority to the alternative search approaches such as optimization and genetic algorithms. In addition, results show how that Interval Monte Carlo approach provides guaranteed and sharp enclosure to the system solution.
Evidence that transport of iron from the lysosome to the cytosol in African trypanosomes is mediated by a mucolipin orthologue
Authors: Taylor Martin C. , McLatchie Alex P. , Kelly John M. 
Published: June 2013

SummaryBloodstream‐form Trypanosoma brucei acquire iron by receptor‐mediated endocytosis of host transferrin. However, the mechanism(s) by which iron is then transferred from the lysosome to the cytosol are unresolved. Here, we provide evidence for the involvement of a protein (TbMLP) orthologous to the mammalian endolysosomal cation channel Mucolipin 1. In T. brucei, we show that this protein is localized to the single parasite lysosome. TbMLP null mutants could only be generated in the presence of an expressed ectopic copy, suggesting that the protein is essential. RNAi‐mediated ablation resulted in a growth defect in vitro and led to a sevenfold increase in susceptibility to the iron‐chelators deferoxamine and salicylhydroxamic acid. Conditional null mutants remained viable when the ectopic copy was repressed, but were hypersensitive to deferoxamine and displayed a growth defect similar to that observed following RNAi. The conditional nulls also retained virulence in vivo in the absence of the doxycycline inducer. These data provide strong evidence that TbMLP has a role in import of iron into the cytosol of African trypanosomes. They also indicate that even when expression is greatly reduced, there is sufficient protein, or an alternative mechanism, to provide the parasite with an adequate supply of cytosolic iron.
A deletion in the wapB promoter in many serotypes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa accounts for the lack of a terminal glucose residue in the core oligosaccharide and resistance to killing by R3‐pyocin
Authors: Kocíncová Dana , Lam Joseph S. 
Published: June 2013

SummaryPseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic human pathogen producing a variety of virulence factors. One of them is lipopolysaccharide, consisting of endotoxic lipid A and long‐chain O‐antigen polysaccharide, which are connected together through a short linker region, called core oligosaccharide. Chemical structures of the core oligosaccharide are well conserved, with one exception, in that certain strains of P. aeruginosa add a terminal glucose residue (GlcIV) to core by a transferase reaction, due to the activity of a glucosyltransferase, WapB. Here, we investigated the regulation of wapB expression. Our results showed that while the majority of analysed genomes of P. aeruginosa contain wapB, many of these have a conserved identical 5‐nucleotide deletion in the upstream region that inactivated the promoter. This deletion is within the −10 hexamer that is recognized by a principle sigma factor (RpoD, or σ70) as proven by data from an electromobility shift assay. These results provide the molecular basis of why LPS core of many P. aeruginosa strains is lacking GlcIV. In addition, we show that absence of GlcIV due to an inactive wapB promoter confers resistance to killing by R3‐pyocin, a phage tail‐like bacteriocin of P. aeruginosa.
Relationship between clinical fieldwork educator performance and health professional students' perceptions of their practice education learning environments
Authors: Brown Ted , Williams Brett , Lynch Marty 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThe Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure, Clinical Teaching Effectiveness Instrument, and Clinical Learning Environment Inventory were completed by 548 undergraduate students (54.5% response rate) enrolled in eight health professional bachelor degree courses. Regression analysis was used to investigate the significant predictors of the Clinical Teaching Effectiveness Instrument with the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure and Clinical Learning Environment Inventory subscales as independent variables. The results indicated that the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure and Clinical Learning Environment Inventory Actual version subscale scores explained 44% of the total variance in the Clinical Teaching Effectiveness Instrument score. The Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure subscale Academic Self‐Perception explained 1.1% of the variance in the Clinical Teaching Effectiveness Instrument score. The Clinical Learning Environment Inventory Actual subscales accounted for the following variance percentages in the Clinical Teaching Effectiveness Instrument score: personalization, 1.1%; satisfaction, 1.7%; task orientation, 5.1%; and innovation, 6.2%. Aspects of the clinical learning environment appear to be predictive of the effectiveness of the clinical teaching that students experience. Fieldwork educator performance might be a significant contributing factor toward student skill development and practitioner success.
Expanding our understanding of sovereign power: on the creation of zones of exception in forensic psychiatry
Authors: Jacob Jean Daniel , Foth Thomas 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to engage with the readers in a theoretical reflection on nursing practices in forensic psychiatric settings. In this paper, we argue that practices of exclusion in forensic psychiatric settings share some common ground with Agamben's description of sovereign power and, consequently, the possible creation of zones of exception in this environment. The concept of exception is, therefore, purposely used to shift our thinking, highlight the political forces surrounding exclusionary practices in forensic psychiatric nursing, and explore the ethical tensions that arise for nurses who become entangled in the control of these zones of exception. We argue that ethical and political discussions regarding this phenomenon are necessary if we wish to further understand the complexities of this field of practice and promote constructive change.
Image, measure, figure: a critical discourse analysis of nursing practices that develop children
Authors: Einboden Rochelle , Rudge Trudy , Varcoe Colleen 
Published: June 2013

AbstractMotivated by discourses that link early child development and health, nurses engage in seemingly benign surveillance of children. These practices are based on knowledge claims and technologies of developmental science, which remain anchored in assumptions of the child body as an incomplete form with a universal developmental trajectory and inherent potentiality. This paper engages in a critical discursive analysis, drawing on Donna Haraway's conceptualizations of technoscience and figuration. Using a contemporary developmental screening tool from nursing practice, this analysis traces the effects of this tool through production, transformation, distribution, and consumption. It reveals how the techniques of imaging, abstraction, and measurement collide to fix the open, transformative child body in a figuration of the developing child. This analysis also demonstrates how technobiopower infuses nurses' understandings of children and structures developmentally appropriate expectations for children, parents, and nurses. Furthermore, it describes how practices that claim to facilitate healthy child development may inversely deprive children of agency and foster the production of normal or ideal children. An alternative ontological perspective is offered as a challenge to the individualism of developmental models and other dominant ideologies of development, as well as practices associated with these ideologies. In summary, this analysis argues that nurses must pay closer attention to how technobiopower infuses practices that monitor and promote child development. Fostering a critical understanding of the harmful implications of these practices is warranted and offers the space to conceive of human development in alternate and exciting ways.
β1‐Adrenoceptor Blocker Aggravated Ventricular Arrhythmia
Authors: WANG YAN , PATEL DIMPI , WANG DAO WU , YAN JIANG TAO , HSIA HENRY H. , LIU HAO , ZHAO CHUN XIA , ZUO HOU JUAN , WANG DAO WEN 
Published: June 2013

ObjectivesTo assess the impact of β1‐adrenoceptor blockers (β1‐blocker) and isoprenaline on the incidence of idiopathic repetitive ventricular arrhythmia that apparently decreases with preprocedural anxiety.MethodsFrom January 2010 to July 2012, six patients were identified who had idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias that apparently decreased (by greater than 90%) with preprocedural anxiety. The number of ectopic ventricular beats per hour (VPH) was calculated from Holter or telemetry monitoring to assess the ectopic burden. The mean VPH of 24 hours from Holter before admission (VPH‐m) was used as baseline (100%) for normalization. β1‐Blockers, isoprenaline, and/or aminophylline were administrated successively on the ward and catheter lab to evaluate their effects on the ventricular arrhythmias.ResultsAmong 97 consecutive patients with idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias, six had reduction in normalized VPHs in the hour before the scheduled procedure time from (104.6 ± 4.6%) to (2.8 ± 1.6%) possibly due to preprocedural anxiety (P < 0.05), then increased to (97.9 ± 9.7%) during β1‐blocker administration (P < 0.05), then quickly reduced to (1.6 ± 1.0%) during subsequent isoprenaline infusion. Repeated β1‐blocker quickly counteracted the inhibitory effect of isoprenaline, and VPHs increased to (120.9 ± 2.4%) from (1.6 ± 1.0%; P < 0.05). Isoprenaline and β1‐blocker showed similar effects on the arrhythmias in catheter lab.ConclusionsIn some patients with structurally normal heart and ventricular arrhythmias there is a marked reduction of arrhythmias associated with preprocedural anxiety. These patients exhibit a reproducible sequence of β1‐blocker aggravation and catecholamine inhibition of ventricular arrhythmias, including both repetitive ventricular premature beats and monomorphic ventricular tachycardia.
Mitral Isthmus Ablation is Feasible, Efficacious, and Safe Using a Remote Robotic Catheter System
Authors: WONG KELVIN C.K. , JONES MICHAEL , WEBB TERENCE , QURESHI NORMAN , BASHIR YAVER , BETTS TIMOTHY R. , RAJAPPAN KIM 
Published: June 2013

BackgroundThere are limited data on the use of a remote robotic catheter system (RCS) for mitral isthmus (MI) ablation.MethodsThis single‐center, prospective, matched control study included 45 patients who underwent atrial fibrillation ablation using a remote RCS compared to 45 patients who underwent conventional ablation. All patients had circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), roof, and MI ablation.ResultsThere were no significant differences in baseline clinical characteristics. There were no significant differences in MI block (RCS: 44/45 [98%] vs Control: 43/45 [96%], P = 1.0), roof block (RCS: 45/45 [100%] vs Control: 44/45 [98%], P = 1.0), and PVI (RCS: 45/45 [100%] vs Control: 45/45 [100%], P = 1.0). Ablation and procedural times were similar in both arms. Using RCS, mean total MI ablation and procedure times were 13 ± 6 minutes and 23 ± 15 minutes, respectively. Coronary sinus (CS) ablation was significantly less in the RCS arm (48% vs 72%, P = 0.03). It was possible to “drive” the ablation catheter into the distal CS using the RCS in 19/22 (86%) patients. There was a significant trend of reduction in mean MI ablation (P = 0.008) and procedural times (P = 0.004) over the course of the study period. There was a significant reduction in fluoroscopy time in the RNS arm (33 ± 17 minutes vs 49 ± 20 minutes, P = 0.0004).ConclusionIt is feasible and safe to use a remote RCS for MI ablation, including “driving into the CS.” MI block was achieved in 98% with a significant reduction in the need for CS ablation (48%). There is a short learning curve.