bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A bioeconomic approach to optimize mussel culture production
Authors: Fuentes‐Santos Isabel , Cubillo Alhambra M. , Labarta Uxío 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe fast rise of aquaculture practices during the last decades has increased the need of adopting culture strategies to optimize production and guarantee the sustainability of the sector. This study aimed to provide a management tool to help mussel farmers identify optimal culture strategies and use production inputs efficiently. For this purpose, we evaluated the productivity and efficiency of different stocking densities and culture durations by the joint application of parametric and nonparametric frontier analysis at the farm scale. The translog production function outperformed the Cobb–Douglas model currently applied in most farm‐scale frontier analyses. This model estimates that the optimal culture density is ca. 700 ind m−1, given that at lower densities, efficiency decreases (under‐usage of available space) and mussel quality did not improve, and at higher densities, mortality and dislodgements from the ropes led to economic losses. This work also showed that marginal analysis does not provide an accurate estimation of the economic efficiency when unitary costs and prices are not constant. According to the Malmquist indices, mussel farmers should shorten the culture period to improve their productivity. All these results support the joint use of parametric and nonparametric frontier analysis as management tool for optimizing input use and scheduling aquaculture production.
Application of Digital Image Correlation to Address Complex Motions in Thermoelastic Stress Analysis
Authors: Wang W. , Fruehmann R. K. , Dulieu‐Barton J. M. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractA motion compensation method for thermoelastic stress analysis (TSA) is described that uses digital image correlation (DIC) to capture the displacement field on the surface of the specimen. The displacement field is used to correct the infrared (IR) images to remove the effect of the motion of the specimen from the TSA. As the DIC displacements are obtained with a relatively high spatial resolution, sharp displacement gradients and discontinuities can be corrected. The feasibility of the motion compensation method for TSA is investigated firstly by validating the approach using data obtained from an aluminium alloy plate with a central circular hole loaded in tension and comparing the results with a finite element model. It is shown that the motion compensation approach significantly improves the accuracy of TSA, particularly when high magnification optics are used. Next, the feasibility of simultaneous capture of IR and white light images is investigated. It is shown that by using the correct combination of paints, a speckle pattern can be applied to the surface to provide contrast in the white light spectrum for the DIC but have a uniform emissivity in the IR spectrum so that there is no effect on the TSA. Thus, it is possible for the motion compensation to be conducted on data collected during fatigue tests. Finally, it is demonstrated that the motion compensation technique can be applied to discontinuous motion produced by face sheet debonding in a foam cored sandwich structure loaded in a double cantilever beam (DCB) configuration. It is shown that the motion compensation technique is capable of correcting the complex and non‐uniform motion for TSA in the DCB test, thereby enabling detailed thermoelastic data to be obtained from the vicinity of the crack tip.
Geomorphologic evidence for Plio‐Quaternary shortening in the southern Neuquén basin (40°S, Argentina)
Authors: Huyghe Damien , Nivière Bertrand , Bonnel Cédric 
Published: August 2015

AbstractA morphostructural analysis of a Pliocene flood basalt formation in the southern Neuquén basin (40°S) shows evidence of contractional deformation less than 3.5 Ma ago. This formation exhibits a general dip towards the south‐east, with relict outcrops located 100 m higher than the main source volcano, which suggests a local tilting of the lava flow. This tilt has been brought about by Plio‐Quaternary reactivation of the eastern border of the Sañico Massif along two thrusts that offset the lava flow. Another long‐wavelength bulge in the southern part of the lava flow unit indicates a possible Pliocene uplift of the North Patagonian Massif. These results provide new evidence of continuing shortening in the Neuquén basin during the Plio‐Quaternary, challenging the hypothesis that an extensional regime has existed since the end of the Miocene in this basin.
Differential activation of renal sympathetic burst amplitude and frequency during hypoxia, stress and baroreflexes with chronic angiotensin treatment
Authors: Lim Kyungjoon , Burke Sandra L. , Moretti John‐Luis , Head Geoffrey A. 
Published: August 2015

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?
Is the elevated tonic renal nerve activity induced by chronic angiotensin administration mediated by recruitment or increased firing frequency and does this occur via stress, chemoreflex or baroreflex pathways?

What is the main finding and its importance?
Long‐term angiotensin treatment in rabbits elevates renal sympathetic nerve activity by recruitment of previously silent fibres. This was similar to the effect of chemoreflex stimulation, but not to stress or baroreceptor activation, suggesting that presympathetic pathways activated by angiotensin may be common to those activated by chemoreceptors.

Modulation of sympathetic nerve activity involves control by the CNS of the amplitude of neural discharges, reflecting recruitment of neurons and their firing frequency. We tested whether elevated tonic renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) induced by chronic angiotensin administration is mediated by recruitment or increased firing frequency and whether this is characteristic of the pattern observed with activation of stress, chemoreflex or baroreflex pathways. Conscious rabbits treated with angiotensin II for 12 weeks to increase blood pressure by 10–30% were subjected to stress (air jet), hypoxia (10% O2 + 3% CO2) and drug‐induced changes in blood pressure to produce baroreflexes. Total RSNA and RSNA burst amplitude were scaled to 100 normalized units (n.u.) by the maximal response to smoke. After 12 weeks of treatment, blood pressure was 17% higher than baseline 68 ± 1 mmHg (P = 0.02). Compared with sham treatment, total RSNA and burst amplitude were +82% (P < 0.001) and 39% (P = 0.04) greater, but burst frequency was similar. Total RSNA increased during hypoxia (+38% from 4.9 ± 0.7 n.u.), owing to greater amplitude, but not frequency. Air‐jet stress increased total RSNA (+44% from 4.3 ± 0.5 n.u.) and burst frequency (+21% from 5.4 ± 0.7 bursts s−1), but not amplitude. Angiotensin enhanced total RSNA responses to both air jet (+33%) and hypoxia (+58%), but only increased the amplitude response to air jet. The RSNA baroreflexes reset to the higher blood pressure, but amplitude or frequency was not differentially altered. Chronic angiotensin treatment elevated RSNA by recruitment of neurons, which is similar to chemoreflex stimulation, but not to stress or baroreceptor activation, suggesting that presympathetic pathways activated by angiotensin may be common to those activated by chemoreceptors.
Computational Sensitivity Analysis on a Mathematical Model of Epileptic Seizures
Authors: Yokley Karen A , Fischer Andrew F. , Luke Nicholas S. , Rouiller Adrienne 
Published: August 2015

Temporal lobe epilepsy is a serious neurological disorder characterized by complex partial seizures, which are thought to originate in the hippocampus.В Ordinary differential equation modeling has been used to describe changes in membrane potential of excitatory and inhibitory cells in order to gain insight into seizure propagation.В In the current study, a system of ordinary differential equations based on previous modeling is used with distinct biologically reasonable values for membrane capacitance in order to determine model sensitivity to that parameter. Because delay differential equations are used in the model, sensitivity is investigated computationally by examining the variation in output relative to various inputs. Membrane capacitance was found to affect model predictions and whether groups of cells exhibited the same behavior after a certain period of time.В Hence, membrane capacitance is a critical parameter when modeling changes in membrane potential and should be incorporated clearly.В Changes in model output as a result of changes in a time delay parameter are also investigated.
Performance of Chemical Vapor Deposition and Plasma Spray-Coated Stainless Steel 310 in Supercritical Water
Authors: Huang Xiao , Yang Q. , Guzonas Dave 
Published: August 2015

In this study, aluminized and NiCrAlY plasma-sprayed AISI 310 stainless steel samples were tested in supercritical water (SCW) at 500°C. The microstructure after SCW exposure was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Weight measurements were taken before and after exposure to provide quantitative comparison of the two coatings on AISI 310 base metal. The results showed that aluminized and bare 310 stainless steel experienced similar weight gain, in the range of 0.02–0.08  mg/cm2 after 1550 hr. The aluminized sample had a slight weight decrease as exposure progressed. Oxide formation, in the forms of Al2O3 and (Fe,Cr)2O3, was found on the aluminized surface along with surface cracking after 1550 hr testing in SCW. NiCrAlY-coated 310, however, had the most consistent weight increase and oxide formation (mainly Al2O3) on the surface. Based on the results from this study, the aluminized coating has limitations in providing surface protection due to surface cracking and weight loss. The NiCrAlY plasma-sprayed coating with alumina formation on the surface has the potential to provide long-term surface protection to the substrate material in SCW.
Supercritical Oxidation of Boiler Tube Materials
Authors: Tuurna Satu , Yli-Olli Sanni , Penttilä Sami , Auerkari Pertti , Huang Xiao 
Published: August 2015

The advantage of using supercritical water (SCW) systems for power generation is based on the increased thermodynamic efficiency when operating at higher temperature and pressure. Steam oxidation has become an important issue for power plants as operating temperatures increase from current to 650°C and even higher. Three alloys, FeCrAlY, NiCrAl, and Sanicro 25, were investigated in an elevated steam oxidation condition. All three materials showed relatively good initial SCW oxidation resistance, but after 100 hr, the oxidation rate of FeCrAlY increased rapidly compared to NiCrAl and Sanicro 25, which both showed a steadier and lower rate of oxide growth and weight gain.
Lower Extremity Muscular Strength and Leukocyte Telomere Length: Implications of Muscular Strength in Attenuating Age-Related Chronic Disease
Authors: Loprinzi Paul D. , Loenneke Jeremy P. 
Published: August 2015

Objective:Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) shortening is characteristic of aging and is associated with morbidity and mortality, independent of age. Research demonstrates that lower extremity muscular strength is associated with mobility, morbidity and mortality; however, no study, to our knowledge, had examined the association between lower extremity muscular strength and LTL, which was the purpose of this brief study.Methods:Data from the 1999–2002 NHANES was used (N = 2410; 50–85 years). Peak isokinetic knee extensor strength (IKES) was objectively measured with LTL assessed from a blood sample.Results:After adjustments, for every 50 N increase in IKES, participants had a 9% reduced odds (P = .04) of being in the 1st (vs. 4th) LTL quartile.Discussion:Lower extremity muscular strength is associated with LTL, suggesting a possible mechanism through which lower extremity muscular strength may be associated with morbidity and mortality.
Colloidal matter: Packing, geometry, and entropy
Authors: Manoharan Vinothan N. 
Published: August 2015

Learning from the packing of particles
Colloidal particles, which consist of clusters of hundreds or thousands of atoms, can still resemble atomic systems. In particular, colloids have been used to study the packing of spheres and the influence of short-range interactions on crystallization and melting. Manoharan reviews these similarities, as well as the cases in which colloidal particles show behavior not seen in atomic systems. For example, the packing of nonspherical objects, where geometry or topology may matter, can give insights into the role of entropy in packing.

Science
, this issue
10.1126/science.1253751
Irrationality in mate choice revealed by túngara frogs
Authors: Lea Amanda M. , Ryan Michael J. 
Published: August 2015

A third option leads to poor mates
A “decoy” effect decreases rational decision-making in humans. Irrational decisions in this case are a result of a choice between two options being affected by the introduction of a suboptimal third choice. Lea and Ryan show that tungara frogs are also subject to a decoy effect, choosing a male with a less appealing call when presented with a third, inferior calling male. These results suggest that the choice of mates by animals may be context dependent. It appears that rational choice may not always drive sexual selection.

Science
, this issue p.
964
Activation of Autophagy by Metals in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Authors: Pérez-Martín Marta , Blaby-Haas Crysten E. , Pérez-Pérez María Esther , Andrés-Garrido Ascensión , Blaby Ian K. , Merchant Sabeeha S. , Crespo José L. 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACT

Autophagy is an intracellular self-degradation pathway by which eukaryotic cells recycle their own material in response to specific stress conditions. Exposure to high concentrations of metals causes cell damage, although the effect of metal stress on autophagy has not been explored in photosynthetic organisms. In this study, we investigated the effect of metal excess on autophagy in the model unicellular green alga
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
. We show in cells treated with nickel an upregulation of ATG8 that is independent of CRR1, a global regulator of copper signaling in
Chlamydomonas
. A similar effect on ATG8 was observed with copper and cobalt but not with cadmium or mercury ions. Transcriptome sequencing data revealed an increase in the abundance of the protein degradation machinery, including that responsible for autophagy, and a substantial overlap of that increased abundance with the hydrogen peroxide response in cells treated with nickel ions. Thus, our results indicate that metal stress triggers autophagy in
Chlamydomonas
and suggest that excess nickel may cause oxidative damage, which in turn activates degradative pathways, including autophagy, to clear impaired components and recover cellular homeostasis.
Comparison of Phenotypic and Genotypic Approaches to Capsule Typing of Neisseria meningitidis by Use of Invasive and Carriage Isolate Collections
Authors: Jones C. Hal , Mohamed Naglaa , Rojas Eduardo , Andrew Lubomira , Hoyos Johanna , Hawkins Julio C. , McNeil Lisa K. , Jiang Qin , Mayer Leonard W. , Wang Xin , Gilca Rodica , De Wals Philippe , Pedneault Louise , Eiden Joseph , Jansen Kathrin U. , Anderson Annaliesa S. 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACT

Neisseria meningitidis
serogroup B (MnB) is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis; however, MnB is most commonly associated with asymptomatic carriage in the nasopharyngeal cavity, as opposed to the disease state. Two vaccines are now licensed for the prevention of MnB disease; a possible additional benefit of these vaccines could be to protect against disease indirectly by disrupting nasopharyngeal carriage (e.g., herd protection). To investigate this possibility, accurate diagnostic approaches to characterize MnB carriage isolates are required. In contrast to invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) isolates, which can be readily serogrouped, carriage isolates often lack capsule expression, making standard phenotypic assays unsuitable for strain characterization. Several antibody-based methods were evaluated for their abilities to serogroup isolates and were compared with two genotyping methods (real-time PCR [rt-PCR] and whole-genome sequencing [WGS]) to identify which approach would most accurately ascertain the polysaccharide groups associated with carriage isolates. WGS and rt-PCR were in agreement for 99% of IMD isolates, including those with coding sequences for MnB, MnC, MnW, and MnY, and the phenotypic methods correctly identified serogroups for 69 to 98% of IMD isolates. In contrast, only 47% of carriage isolates were groupable by genotypic methods, due to mutations within the capsule operon; of the isolates identified by genotypic methods, ≤43% were serogroupable with any of the phenotypic methods tested. These observations highlight the difficulties in the serogrouping and capsular genogrouping of meningococcal carriage isolates. Based on our findings, WGS is the most suitable approach for the characterization of meningococcal carriage isolates.
Comparison of Diagnostic Accuracy of PCR Targeting the 47-Kilodalton Protein Membrane Gene of Treponema pallidum and PCR Targeting the DNA Polymerase I Gene: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Gayet-Ageron Angèle , Combescure Christophe , Lautenschlager Stephan , Ninet Béatrice , Perneger Thomas V. 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACT

Treponema pallidum
PCR (
Tp
-PCR) testing now is recommended as a valid tool for the diagnosis of primary or secondary syphilis. The objectives were to systematically review and determine the optimal specific target gene to be used for
Tp
-PCR. Comparisons of the performance of the two main targets are
tpp47
and
polA
genes were done using meta-analysis. Three electronic bibliographic databases, representing abstract books from five conferences specialized in infectious diseases from January 1990 to March 2015, were searched. Search keywords included (“syphilis” OR “
Treponema pallidum
” OR “neurosyphilis”) AND (“PCR” OR “PCR” OR “molecular amplification”). We included diagnostic studies assessing the performance of
Tp
-PCR targeting
tpp47
(
tpp
47-
Tp
-PCR) or the
polA
gene (
polA-Tp
-PCR) in ulcers from early syphilis. All studies were assessed against quality criteria using the QUADAS-2 tool. Of 37 studies identified, 62.2% were judged at low risk of bias or applicability. Most used the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) case definitions for primary or secondary (early) syphilis (89.2%;
n
= 33); 15 (40.5%) used darkfield microscopy (DFM). We did not find differences in sensitivity and specificity between the two
Tp
-PCR methods in the subgroup of studies using adequate reference tests. Among studies using DFM as the reference test, sensitivities were 79.8% (95% confidence intervals [CI], 72.7 to 85.4%) and 71.4% (46.0 to 88.0%) for
tpp47-Tp
-PCR and
polA-Tp
-PCR (
P
= 0.217), respectively; respective specificities were 95.3% (93.5 to 96.6%) and 93.7% (91.8 to 95.2%) (
P
= 0.304). Our findings suggest that the two
Tp
-PCR methods have similar accuracy and could be used interchangeably.
Infectious Bursal Disease Virus VP3 Upregulates VP1-Mediated RNA-Dependent RNA Replication
Authors: Ferrero Diego , Garriga Damià , Navarro Aitor , Rodríguez José F. , Verdaguer Núria 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACT
Genome replication is a critical step in virus life cycles. Here, we analyzed the role of the infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) VP3, a major component of IBDV ribonucleoprotein complexes, on the regulation of VP1, the virus-encoded RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Data show that VP3, as well as a peptide mimicking its C-terminal domain, efficiently stimulates the ability of VP1 to replicate synthetic single-stranded RNA templates containing the 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs) from the IBDV genome segments.
Selective Removal of FG Repeat Domains from the Nuclear Pore Complex by Enterovirus 2A
pro
Authors: Park Nogi , Schweers Nicholas J. , Gustin Kurt E. 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACT

Enteroviruses proteolyze nuclear pore complex (NPC) proteins (Nups) during infection, leading to disruption of host nuclear transport pathways and alterations in nuclear permeability. To better understand how enteroviruses exert these effects on nuclear transport, the mechanisms and consequences of Nup98 proteolysis were examined. The results indicate that Nup98 is rapidly targeted for degradation following enterovirus infection and that this is mediated by the enterovirus 2A protease (2A
pro
). Incubation of bacterially expressed or
in vitro
-translated Nup98 with 2A
pro
results in proteolytic cleavage at multiple sites
in vitro
, indicating that 2A
pro
cleaves Nup98 directly. Site-directed mutagenesis of putative cleavage sites identified Gly374 and Gly552 as the sites of 2A
pro
proteolysis in Nup98
in vitro
and in infected cells. Indirect immunofluorescence assays using an antibody that recognizes the N terminus of Nup98 revealed that proteolysis releases the N-terminal FG-rich region from the NPC. In contrast, similar analyses using an antibody to the C terminus indicated that this region is retained at the nuclear rim. Nup88, a core NPC component that serves as a docking site for Nup98, also remains at the NPC in infected cells. These findings support a model whereby the selective removal of Nup FG repeat domains leads to increased NPC permeability and inhibition of certain transport pathways, while retention of structural domains maintains the overall NPC structure and leaves other transport pathways unaffected.

IMPORTANCE
Enteroviruses are dependent upon host nuclear RNA binding proteins for efficient replication. This study examines the mechanisms responsible for alterations in nuclear transport in enterovirus-infected cells that lead to the cytoplasmic accumulation of these proteins. The results demonstrate that the enterovirus 2A protease directly cleaves the nuclear pore complex (NPC) protein, Nup98, at amino acid positions G374 and G552 both
in vitro
and in infected cells. Cleavage at these positions results in the selective removal of the FG-containing N terminus of Nup98 from the NPC, while the C terminus remains associated. Nup88, a core component of the NPC that serves as a docking site for the C terminus of Nup98, remains associated with the NPC in infected cells. These findings help to explain the alterations in permeability and nuclear transport in enterovirus-infected cells and how NPCs remain functional for certain trafficking pathways despite significant alterations to their compositions.