bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhanced insulin receptor, but not PI3K, signalling protects podocytes from ER stress
Authors: Garner Kathryn L. , Betin Virginie M. S. , Pinto Vanda , Graham Mark , Abgueguen Emmanuelle , Barnes Matt , Bedford David C. , McArdle Craig A. , Coward Richard J. M. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractDisruption of the insulin-PI3K-Akt signalling pathway in kidney podocytes causes endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, leading to podocyte apoptosis and proteinuria in diabetic nephropathy. We hypothesised that by improving insulin sensitivity we could protect podocytes from ER stress. Here we use established activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6)- and ER stress element (ERSE)-luciferase assays alongside a novel high throughput imaging-based C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) assay to examine three models of improved insulin sensitivity. We find that by improving insulin sensitivity at the level of the insulin receptor (IR), either by IR over-expression or by knocking down the negative regulator of IR activity, protein tyrosine-phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), podocytes are protected from ER stress caused by fatty acids or diabetic media containing high glucose, high insulin and inflammatory cytokines TNFα and IL-6. However, contrary to this, knockdown of the negative regulator of PI3K-Akt signalling, phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted from chromosome 10 (PTEN), sensitizes podocytes to ER stress and apoptosis, despite increasing Akt phosphorylation. This indicates that protection from ER stress is conferred through not just the PI3K-Akt pathway, and indeed we find that inhibiting the MEK/ERK signalling pathway rescues PTEN knockdown podocytes from ER stress.
Temperature- and field-driven spin reorientations in triple-layer ruthenate Sr4Ru3O10
Authors: Zhu M. , Li P. G. , Wang Y. , Cao H. B. , Tian W. , Zhang H. D. , Phelan B. D. , Mao Z. Q. , Ke X. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractSr4Ru3O10, the n = 3 member of the Ruddlesden-Popper type ruthenate Srn+1Ru
n
O3n+1, is known to exhibit a peculiar metamagnetic transition in an in-plane magnetic field. However, the nature of both the temperature- and field-dependent phase transitions remains as a topic of debate. Here, we have investigated the magnetic transitions of Sr4Ru3O10 via single-crystal neutron diffraction measurements. At zero field, we find that the system undergoes a ferromagnetic transition with both in-plane and out-of-plane magnetic components at Tc ≈ 100 K. Below T * = 50 K, the magnetic moments incline continuously toward the out-of-plane direction. At T = 1.5 K, where the spins are nearly aligned along the c axis, a spin reorientation occurs above a critical field Bc, giving rise to a spin component perpendicular to the plane defined by the field direction and the c axis. We suggest that both the temperature- and field-driven spin reorientations are associated with a change in the magnetocrystalline anisotropy, which is strongly coupled to the lattice degrees of freedom. This study elucidates the long-standing puzzles on the zero-field magnetic orders of Sr4Ru3O10 and provides new insights into the nature of the field-induced metamagnetic transition.
A machine learning approach for automated assessment of retinal vasculature in the oxygen induced retinopathy model
Authors: Mazzaferri Javier , Larrivée Bruno , Cakir Bertan , Sapieha Przemyslaw , Costantino Santiago 
Published: February 2018

AbstractPreclinical studies of vascular retinal diseases rely on the assessment of developmental dystrophies in the oxygen induced retinopathy rodent model. The quantification of vessel tufts and avascular regions is typically computed manually from flat mounted retinas imaged using fluorescent probes that highlight the vascular network. Such manual measurements are time-consuming and hampered by user variability and bias, thus a rapid and objective method is needed. Here, we introduce a machine learning approach to segment and characterize vascular tufts, delineate the whole vasculature network, and identify and analyze avascular regions. Our quantitative retinal vascular assessment (QuRVA) technique uses a simple machine learning method and morphological analysis to provide reliable computations of vascular density and pathological vascular tuft regions, devoid of user intervention within seconds. We demonstrate the high degree of error and variability of manual segmentations, and designed, coded, and implemented a set of algorithms to perform this task in a fully automated manner. We benchmark and validate the results of our analysis pipeline using the consensus of several manually curated segmentations using commonly used computer tools. The source code of our implementation is released under version 3 of the GNU General Public License (https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/65699-javimazzaf-qurva).
Noise Source and Individual Physiology Mediate Effectiveness of Bird Songs Adjusted to Anthropogenic Noise
Authors: Curry Claire M. , Des Brisay Paulson G. , Rosa Patricia , Koper Nicola 
Published: February 2018

AbstractAnthropogenic noise is a pervasive pollutant altering behaviour of wildlife that communicates acoustically. Some species adjust vocalisations to compensate for noise. However, we know little about whether signal adjustments improve communication in noise, the extent to which effectiveness of adjustments varies with noise source, or how individual variation in physiology varies with response capacity. We played noise-adjusted and unadjusted songs to wild Passerculus sandwichensis (Savannah Sparrows) after measurements of adrenocortical responsiveness of individuals. Playbacks using songs adjusted to noisy environments were effective in restoring appropriate conspecific territorial aggression behaviours in some altered acoustic environments. Surprisingly, however, levels of adrenocortical responsiveness that reduced communication errors at some types of infrastructure were correlated with increased errors at others. Song adjustments that were effective in communicating for individuals with lower adrenocortical responsiveness at pumpjacks were not effective at screwpumps and vice versa. Our results demonstrate that vocal adjustments can sometimes allow birds to compensate for disruptions in communication caused by anthropogenic noise, but that physiological variation among receivers may alter effectiveness of these adjustments. Thus mitigation strategies to minimize anthropogenic noise must account for both acoustic and physiological impacts of infrastructure.
Acceleration of phenological advance and warming with latitude over the past century
Authors: Post Eric , Steinman Byron A. , Mann Michael E. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractIn the Northern Hemisphere, springtime events are frequently reported as advancing more rapidly at higher latitudes, presumably due to an acceleration of warming with latitude. However, this assumption has not been investigated in an analytical framework that simultaneously examines acceleration of warming with latitude while accounting for variation in phenological time series characteristics that might also co-vary with latitude. We analyzed 743 phenological trend estimates spanning 86 years and 42.6 degrees of latitude in the Northern Hemisphere, as well as rates of Northern Hemisphere warming over the same period and latitudinal range. We detected significant patterns of co-variation in phenological time series characteristics that may confound estimates of the magnitude of variation in trends with latitude. Notably, shorter and more recent time series tended to produce the strongest phenological trends, and these also tended to be from higher latitude studies. However, accounting for such variation only slightly modified the relationship between rates of phenological advance and latitude, which was highly significant. Furthermore, warming has increased non-linearly with latitude over the past several decades, most strongly since 1998 and northward of 59°N latitude. The acceleration of warming with latitude has likely contributed to an acceleration of phenological advance along the same gradient.
Origin, Maintenance and Variability of the Asian Tropopause Aerosol Layer (ATAL): The Roles of Monsoon Dynamics
Authors: Lau William K. M. , Yuan Cheng , Li Zhanqing 
Published: February 2018

AbstractUsing NASA MERRA2 daily data, we investigated the origin, maintenance and variability of the Asian Tropopause Aerosol Layer (ATAL) in relation to variations of the Asia Monsoon Anticyclone (AMA) during the summer of 2008. During May-June, abundant quantities of carbon monoxide (CO), carbonaceous aerosols (CA) and dusts are found in the mid- and upper troposphere over India and China, arising from enhanced biomass burning emissions, as well as westerly transport from the Middle East deserts. During July-August, large quantities of dusts transported from the deserts are trapped and accumulate over the southern and eastern foothills of the Tibetan Plateau. Despite strong precipitation washout, ambient CO, CA and dust are lofted by orographically forced deep convection to great elevations, 12–16 km above sea level, via two key pathways over heavily polluted regions: a) the Himalayas-Gangetic Plain, and b) the Sichuan Basin. Upon entering the upper-troposphere-lower-stratosphere, the pollutants are capped by a stable layer near the tropopause, advected and dispersed by the anticyclonic circulation of AMA, forming the ATAL resembling a planetary-scale “double-stem chimney cloud”. The development and variability of the ATAL are strongly linked to the seasonal march and intraseasonal (20–30 days and higher frequency) oscillations of the Asian monsoon.
A CREB2-targeting microRNA is required for long-term memory after single-trial learning
Authors: Korneev Sergei A. , Vavoulis Dimitris V. , Naskar Souvik , Dyakonova Varvara E. , Kemenes Ildikó , Kemenes György 
Published: February 2018

AbstractAlthough single-trial induced long-term memories (LTM) have been of major interest in neuroscience, how LTM can form after a single episode of learning remains largely unknown. We hypothesized that the removal of molecular inhibitory constraints by microRNAs (miRNAs) plays an important role in this process. To test this hypothesis, first we constructed small non-coding RNA (sncRNA) cDNA libraries from the CNS ofLymnaea stagnalissubjected to a single conditioning trial. Then, by next generation sequencing of these libraries, we identified a specific pool of miRNAs regulated by training. Of these miRNAs, we focussed on Lym-miR-137 whose seed region shows perfect complementarity to a target sequence in the 3’ UTR of the mRNA for CREB2, a well-known memory repressor. We found that Lym-miR-137 was transiently up-regulated 1 h after single-trial conditioning, preceding a down-regulation ofLym-CREB2mRNA. Furthermore, we discovered that Lym-miR-137 is co-expressed withLym-CREB2mRNA in an identified neuron with an established role in LTM. Finally, using anin vivoloss-of-function approach we demonstrated that Lym-miR-137 is required for single-trial induced LTM.
Geotechnology in the analysis of forest fragments in northern Mato Grosso, Brazil
Authors: Barbosa Sergio Guedes , Spletozer Aline Gonçalves , Roque Mariane Paulina Batalha , Ferreira Neto José Ambrosio , Dias Herly Carlos Teixeira , Ramos Marcony Paulo , Bonilla Michael Alejandro Castro , Ribeiro Wellington Souto , Alcántara-de la Cruz Ricardo , Zanuncio José Cola 
Published: February 2018

AbstractPasture implantation fragments and reduces the Amazonian forest area. The objective was to quantify landscape changes in 1985, 2000 and 2015 in northern Mato Grosso, Brazil. The study was carried out in three scenes obtained by the LANDSAT satellite of a microbasin (2742.33 ha) in the municipality of Alta Floresta. Forest, water bodies, pasture and exposed soil were the thematic classes determined to e mapping the land use evolution. The edge, density and shape indexes of the fragments were measured. Normalized vegetation difference (NDVI) values were high in 1985. Land use and occupation over 15 years (1985–2000) reduced forest cover by 69.8%, but it increased by 1.7% over the next 15 years (2000–2015). The number of exposed soil patches increased between the periods, but the total area and number of the patches of the forest fragments decreased. The high values of NDVI in 1985 showed vegetated areas with high density. Reducing forest cover decreases the size of the fragments, increases the isolation and the number of soil patches exposed. The mapping of land use showed a reduction of the Amazon forest in the microbasin in the north of Mato Grosso, in the years 2000 and 2015 compared to 1985.
Assembly, growth and conductive properties of tellurium nanorods produced by Rhodococcus aetherivorans BCP1
Authors: Presentato Alessandro , Piacenza Elena , Darbandi Ali , Anikovskiy Max , Cappelletti Martina , Zannoni Davide , Turner Raymond J. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractTellurite (TeO32−) is a hazardous and toxic oxyanion for living organisms. However, several microorganisms can bioconvert TeO32− into the less toxic form of elemental tellurium (Te0). Here, Rhodococcus aetherivorans BCP1 resting (non-growing) cells showed the proficiency to produce tellurium-based nanoparticles (NPs) and nanorods (NRs) through the bioconversion of TeO32−, depending on the oxyanion initial concentration and time of cellular incubation. Te-nanostructures initially appeared in the cytoplasm of BCP1 cells as spherical NPs, which, as the exposure time increased, were converted into NRs. This observation suggested the existence of an intracellular mechanism of TeNRs assembly and growth that resembled the chemical surfactant-assisted process for NRs synthesis. The TeNRs produced by the BCP1 strain showed an average length (>700 nm) almost doubled compared to those observed in other studies. Further, the biogenic TeNRs displayed a regular single-crystalline structure typically obtained for those chemically synthesized. The chemical-physical characterization of the biogenic TeNRs reflected their thermodynamic stability that is likely derived from amphiphilic biomolecules present in the organic layer surrounding the NRs. Finally, the biogenic TeNRs extract showed good electrical conductivity. Thus, these findings support the suitability of this strain as eco-friendly biocatalyst to produce high quality tellurium-based nanomaterials exploitable for technological purposes.
Production and Characterization of Superhydrophobic and Antibacterial Coated Fabrics Utilizing ZnO Nanocatalyst
Authors: Shaban Mohamed , Mohamed Fatma , Abdallah Semsem 
Published: February 2018

AbstractDirt and microorganisms are the major problems in textiles which can generate unpleasant odor during their growth. Here, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles prepared by sol-gel method were loaded on the cotton fabrics using spin coating technique to enhance their antimicrobial properties and water repellency. The effects of ZnO precursor concentration, precursor solution pH, number of coating runs, and Mg doping percent on the structures, morphologies, and water contact angles (WCA) of the ZnO-coated fabrics were addressed. At 0.5 M concentration and pH7, more homogeneous and smaller ZnO nanoparticles were grown along the preferred (0 0 2) direction and uniformly distributed on the fabric with a crystallite size 17.98 nm and dislocation density 3.09 × 10−3 dislocation/nm2. The substitution of Zn
2+
with Mg
2+
ions slightly shifted the (002) peak position to a higher angle. Also, the zeta potential and particle size distribution were measured for ZnO nanoparticle suspension. A superhydrophobic WCA = 154° was measured for the fabric that coated at 0.5 M precursor solution, pH 7, 20 runs and 0% Mg doping. Moreover, the antibacterial activities of the ZnO-coated fabric were investigated against some gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria such as Salmonella typhimurium, Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis.
Culture-free Antibiotic-susceptibility Determination From Single-bacterium Raman Spectra
Authors: Novelli-Rousseau A. , Espagnon I. , Filiputti D. , Gal O. , Douet A. , Mallard F. , Josso Q. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractRaman spectrometry appears to be an opportunity to perform rapid tests in microbiological diagnostics as it provides phenotype-related information from single bacterial cells thus holding the promise of direct analysis of clinical specimens without any time-consuming growth phase. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of a rapid antibiotic-susceptibility determination based on the use of Raman spectra acquired on single bacterial cells. After a two-hour preculture step, one susceptible and two resistant E. coli strains were incubated, for only two hours, in the presence of different bactericidal antibiotics (gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin) in a range of concentrations that included the clinical breakpoints used as references in microbial diagnostic. Spectra were acquired and processed to isolate spectral modifications associated with the antibiotic effect. We evidenced an “antibiotic effect signature” which is expressed with specific Raman peaks and the coexistence of three spectral populations in the presence of antibiotic. We devised an algorithm and a test procedure that overcome single-cell heterogeneities to estimate the MIC and determinate the susceptibility phenotype of the tested bacteria using only a few single-cell spectra in four hours only if including the preculture step.
Wearable in‐the‐ear EEG system for SSVEP‐based brain–computer interface
Authors: Ahn J.W. , Ku Y. , Kim D.Y. , Sohn J. , Kim J.‐H. , Kim H.C. 
Published: February 2018

Steady‐state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) has been widely used in electroencephalogram (EEG)‐based brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) due to its high information transfer rate (ITR) and short training time. Current methods usually measure SSVEP from electrodes on the scalp, which is an uncomfortable and time‐consuming method. Furthermore, most research relies on expensive and non‐portable EEG devices. To utilise BCIs in daily life, however, these are critical issues to address. Hence, a wearable EEG device for in‐ear SSVEP detection is proposed. The system is 40 × 21 × 10.5 mm3 and weighs 14.2 g, thus being light weight and wearable. Moreover, the system has a noise level of 0.11 µVrms, which is comparable with commercial EEG systems. Six subjects participated in an offline BCI experiment that consisted of six visual targets using the developed in‐the‐ear EEG system. The results showed a highest ITR of 11.03 ± 4.18 bits/min with an accuracy of 79.9 ± 13.1%, and the experiments demonstrated that the system can be utilised for unobtrusive monitoring of SSVEP in BCI applications.
Theoretical analysis and design of a compact analogue phase shifter with constant low insertion loss
Authors: Jiang Yuan , Lin Xian Qi , Wang Bao , Tang Cong 
Published: February 2018

An analogue phase shifter with a constant low insertion loss (IL) and compact size is proposed. It consists of two quarter wavelength transmission lines and three tunable reflective loads. The theoretical analysis to maximise the relative phase shift, reduce the IL and the IL variation of the phase shifter is presented explicitly, which provides performance estimation and design guidance for this class phase shifter. A circuit with a size of 0.12λg × 0.21λg is designed and fabricated to verify the theory. The simulated and measured results are in good agreement. The measurement shows that the relative phase shift of the proposed phase shifter is 186° at 1.97 GHz. The average IL is 0.79 dB with a very small IL variation which is just 0.02 dB.
Rotordynamics modelling and analysis of high‐speed permanent magnet electrical machine rotors
Authors: Huang Ziyuan , Le Yun 
Published: February 2018

For the high‐frequency permanent magnet electrical machine, a reasonable mechanical aspect design is crucial to meet its stability and reliability. This study focuses on the accurate modelling and analysis of the natural frequencies and modes of the rotor assembly for a designed and manufactured 100 kW 32,000 r/min motor. The influence of contact stiffness and friction on bending frequencies is analysed in detail. To obtain the accurate results of first two bending frequencies, on the basis of the finite‐element method, the optimisation method is carried out to acquire appropriate variables of the contact stiffness and friction. The optimised results show that the method proposed in this study can realise the accurate analysis of the rotor mode, which are verified by free–free modal testing of the rotor.
Improving metal/n ‐Ge ohmic contact by inserting TiO2 deposited by PEALD
Authors: Zhang Yi , Liu Yan , Han Genquan , Liu Huan , Hao Yue 
Published: February 2018

A simple method is used to improve metal/n ‐germanium (Ge) contact characteristics by inserting plasma‐enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) deposited titanium dioxide (TiO2)/GeOx. Cross‐sectional transmission electron microscope results confirm the thickness of the 30 PEALD cycles TiO2/GeOx is 1.62/1.38 nm. By inserting 1.62/1.38 nm TiO2/GeOx between aluminium (Al) and n ‐Ge, current densities increased by about 1800 times at −0.1 V compared with contacts without insertion layer (IL). With IL, ρc of 9.52 × 10−3 Ω cm2 for Al/IL/n ‐Ge with an n ‐Ge concentration of 6 × 1016 cm−3 was achieved. ρc reduced by a factor 83 compared with no TiO2 IL, and it also shows 4.72 times reduction compared with ρc extracted from samples inserting thermal ALD‐deposited TiO2. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results shows that the valence state for GeOx was 3.682, thus Ge surface may be passivated. It was also determined by XPS that TiO2 was oxygen‐vacancies rich, which may dope TiO2 and may contribute to lower tunnelling resistance. All of the characteristics will be beneficial for low contact resistivity.
Isolation, Synthesis, and Biological Activity of Quindoline, a Valuable­ Indoloquinoline Natural Product and Useful Key Intermediate­
Authors: Kaufman Teodoro , Méndez María , Bracca Andrea 
Published: February 2018

Quindoline is one of the simplest naturally occurring monomeric indoloquinoline alkaloids. Chemists exhibited interest in this compound before it was isolated from a natural source. The different approaches toward the total synthesis of the natural product and its performance in various biological tests are discussed. Aspects related to the isolation of quindoline from different ethnomedicinally relevant plants around the world are also reviewed.1	Introduction2	Isolation and Biogenetic Considerations3	Total Syntheses of Quindoline3.1	Early Synthetic Studies3.2	Syntheses from Benzenoids3.3	Syntheses from Indoles3.4	Syntheses from Quinolines4	Biological Activity Studies5	Conclusions