bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Floral resource partitioning by individuals within generalised hoverfly pollination networks revealed by DNA metabarcoding
Authors: Lucas Andrew , Bodger Owen , Brosi Berry J. , Ford Col R. , Forman Dan W. , Greig Carolyn , Hegarty Matthew , Jones Laura , Neyland Penelope J. , de Vere Natasha 
Published: March 2018

AbstractPollination is a key ecosystem service for agriculture and wider ecosystem function. However, most pollination studies focus on Hymenoptera, with hoverflies (Syrphidae) frequently treated as a single functional group. We tested this assumption by investigating pollen carried by eleven species of hoverfly in five genera, Cheilosia, Eristalis, Rhingia, Sericomyia and Volucella, using DNA metabarcoding. Hoverflies carried pollen from 59 plant taxa, suggesting they visit a wider number of plant species than previously appreciated. Most pollen recorded came from plant taxa frequently found at our study sites, predominantly Apiaceae, Cardueae, Calluna vulgaris, Rubus fruticosus agg., and Succisa pratensis, with hoverflies transporting pollen from 40% of entomophilous plant species present. Overall pollen transport network structures were generalised, similar to other pollination networks elsewhere. All hoverfly species were also generalised with few exclusive plant/hoverfly interactions. However, using the Jaccard Index, we found significant differences in the relative composition of pollen loads between hoverfly genera, except for Volucella, demonstrating some degree of functional complementarity. Eristalis and Sericomyia species had significant differences in relative pollen load composition compared to congeners. Our results demonstrate the range of pollens transported by hoverflies and the potential pollination function undertaken within this ecologically and morphologically diverse guild.
Same habitat types but different use: evidence of context-dependent habitat selection in roe deer across populations
Authors: William Gaudry , Jean-Michel Gaillard , Sonia Saïd , Christophe Bonenfant , Atle Mysterud , Nicolas Morellet , Maryline Pellerin , Clément Calenge 
Published: March 2018

AbstractWith the surge of GPS-technology, many studies uncovered space use of mobile animals and shed light on the underlying behavioral mechanisms of habitat selection. Habitat selection and variation in either occurrence or strength of functional responses (i.e. how selection changes with availability) have given new insight into such mechanisms within populations in different ecosystems. However, linking variation in habitat selection to site-specific conditions in different populations facing contrasting environmental conditions but the same habitat type has not yet been investigated. We aimed to fill this knowledge gap by comparing within-home range habitat selection across 61 female roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) during the most critical life history stage in three study areas showing the same habitat types but with different environmental conditions. Female roe deer markedly differed in habitat selection within their home range, both within and among populations. Females facing poor environmental conditions clearly displayed a functional response, whereas females facing rich environmental conditions did not show any functional response. These results demonstrate how the use of a given habitat relative to its availability strongly varies in response to environmental conditions. Our findings highlight that the same habitat composition can lead to very different habitat selection processes across contrasted environments.
Laser speckle flowgraphy derived characteristics of optic nerve head perfusion in normal tension glaucoma and healthy individuals: a Pilot study
Authors: Mursch-Edlmayr Anna Sophie , Luft Nikolaus , Podkowinski Dominika , Ring Michael , Schmetterer Leopold , Bolz Matthias 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe purpose of this prospective, case control study was to investigate the differences in optic nerve head blood flow measured with Laser Speckle Flowgraphy (LSFG) between Caucasian patients with normal tension glaucoma and healthy subjects. It included 20 eyes from 20 Caucasian patients with diagnosis of normal tension glaucoma and 20 eyes from age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. In the glaucoma group the antiglaucomatous therapy was paused 3 weeks prior to the investigations. Measurement of optic nerve head blood flow was performed with LSFG. The mean blur rate was obtained for different vascular compartments of the optic nerve head. Parameters for the characterization of pulse-waveform of the mean blur rate were calculated. It was shown that the mean blur rate was significantly lower in the glaucoma group compared to the control group (P < 0.001). The significant differences in the pulse-waveform parameters blow out time (P = 0.028) and flow acceleration time index (P < 0.001) indicate a flatter curve in NTG patients. In conclusion, LSFG can detect differences in optic nerve head blood flow between eyes with normal tension glaucoma and healthy eyes.
Intriguingly high thermal conductivity increment for CuO nanowires contained nanofluids with low viscosity
Authors: Zhu Dahai , Wang Lingling , Yu Wei , Xie Huaqing 
Published: March 2018

AbstractNanofluids offer the exciting new possibilities to enhance heat transfer performance. In this paper, experimental and theoretical investigations have been conducted to determine the effect of CuO nanowires on the thermal conductivity and viscosity of dimethicone based nanofluids. The CuO nanowires were prepared through a thermal oxidation method, and the analysis indicated that the as-prepared CuO nanowires had high purity, monocrystalline with a monoclinic structure and large aspect ratio compared to CuO nanospheres. The experimental data show that the thermal conductivity of the nanofluids increases with the volume fraction of CuO nanowires or nanospheres, with a nearly linear relationship. For the nanofluid with the addition of 0.75 vol.% CuO nanowires, the thermal conductivity enhancement is up to 60.78%, which is much higher than that with spherical CuO nanoparticles. The nanofluids exhibit typical Newtonian behavior, and the measured viscosity of CuO nanowires contained nanofluids were found only 6.41% increment at the volume fraction of 0.75%. It is attractive in enhanced heat transfer for application. The thermal conductivity and viscosity of CuO nanofluids were further calculated and discussed by comparing our experimental results with the classic theoretical models. The mechanisms of thermal conductivity and viscosity about nanofluids were also discussed in detail.
Iron regulatory protein deficiency compromises mitochondrial function in murine embryonic fibroblasts
Authors: Li Huihui , Zhao Hongting , Hao Shuangying , Shang Longcheng , Wu Jing , Song Chuanhui , Meyron-Holtz Esther G. , Qiao Tong , Li Kuanyu 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIron is essential for growth and proliferation of mammalian cells. The maintenance of cellular iron homeostasis is regulated by iron regulatory proteins (IRPs) through binding to the cognate iron-responsive elements in target mRNAs and thereby regulating the expression of target genes. Irp1 or Irp2-null mutation is known to reduce the cellular iron level by decreasing transferrin receptor 1 and increasing ferritin. Here, we report that Irp1 or Irp2-null mutation also causes downregulation of frataxin and IscU, two of the core components in the iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis machinery. Interestingly, while the activities of some of iron-sulfur cluster-containing enzymes including mitochondrial aconitase and cytosolic xanthine oxidase were not affected by the mutations, the activities of respiratory chain complexes were drastically diminished resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction. Overexpression of human ISCU and frataxin in Irp1 or Irp2-null cells was able to rescue the defects in iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis and mitochondrial quality. Our results strongly suggest that iron regulatory proteins regulate the part of iron sulfur cluster biogenesis tailored specifically for mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes.
Ras hyperactivation versus overexpression: Lessons from Ras dynamics in Candida albicans
Authors: Pratyusha Vavilala A. , Victoria Guiliana Soraya , Khan Mohammad Firoz , Haokip Dominic T. , Yadav Bhawna , Pal Nibedita , Sethi Subhash Chandra , Jain Priyanka , Singh Sneh Lata , Sen Sobhan , Komath Sneha Sudha 
Published: March 2018

AbstractRas signaling in response to environmental cues is critical for cellular morphogenesis in eukaryotes. This signaling is tightly regulated and its activation involves multiple players. Sometimes Ras signaling may be hyperactivated. In C. albicans, a human pathogenic fungus, we demonstrate that dynamics of hyperactivated Ras1 (Ras1G13V or Ras1 in Hsp90 deficient strains) can be reliably differentiated from that of normal Ras1 at (near) single molecule level using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). Ras1 hyperactivation results in significantly slower dynamics due to actin polymerization. Activating actin polymerization by jasplakinolide can produce hyperactivated Ras1 dynamics. In a sterol-deficient hyperfilamentous GPI mutant of C. albicans too, Ras1 hyperactivation results from Hsp90 downregulation and causes actin polymerization. Hyperactivated Ras1 co-localizes with G-actin at the plasma membrane rather than with F-actin. Depolymerizing actin with cytochalasin D results in faster Ras1 dynamics in these and other strains that show Ras1 hyperactivation. Further, ergosterol does not influence Ras1 dynamics.
The role of cuticular hydrocarbons in mate recognition in Drosophila suzukii
Authors: Snellings Yannick , Herrera Beatriz , Wildemann Bruna , Beelen Melissa , Zwarts Liesbeth , Wenseleers Tom , Callaerts Patrick 
Published: March 2018

AbstractCuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) play a central role in the chemical communication of many insects. In Drosophila suzukii, an economically important pest insect, very little is known about chemical communication and the possible role of CHCs. In this study, we identified 60 CHCs of Drosophila suzukii and studied their changes in function of age (maturation), sex and interactions with the opposite sex. We demonstrate that age (maturation) is the key factor driving changes in the CHC profiles. We then test the effect on courtship behaviour and mating of six CHCs, five of which were positively associated with maturation and one negatively. The results of these experiments demonstrate that four of the major CHC peaks with a chain length of 23 carbons, namely 9-tricosene (9-C23:1), 7-tricosene (7-C23:1), 5-tricosene (5-C23:1) and tricosane (n-C23), negatively regulated courtship and mating, even though all these compounds were characteristic for sexually mature flies. We then go on to show that this effect on courtship and mating is likely due to the disruption of the natural ratios in which these hydrocarbons occur in Drosophila suzukii. Overall, these results provide key insights into the cuticular hydrocarbon signals that play a role in D. suzukii mate recognition.
Effects of Structural and Energetic Disorders on Charge Transports in Crystal and Amorphous Organic Layers
Authors: Suzuki Furitsu , Kubo Shosei , Fukushima Tatsuya , Kaji Hironori 
Published: March 2018

AbstractUnderstanding charge transports in organic films is important for both fundamental science and practical applications. Here, contributions of off-diagonal (structural) and diagonal (energetic) disorders to charge transports were clarified using molecular-based multiscale simulation. These disorders, important for understanding charge transport in organic systems, are investigated by comparing crystal and amorphous aggregates of N,N′-diphenyl-N,N′-bis(1-naphthyl)-1,1′-biphenyl-4,4′-diamine (NPD). Although NPD has been used as a hole transport material, it also exhibits comparable electron mobility experimentally. The experimental mobility and its electric field dependence in amorphous layers were reasonably reproduced by the multiscale simulation, confirming the electron transport properties of NPD. We assumed that the structural disorder would lower mobilities; however, the mobilities were found to be independent of the degree of structural disorder. Energetic disorder markedly lowered charge mobility instead. Charge migration in crystals was dominated by maximum electronic coupling pairs, whereas small electronic coupling pairs significantly contributed to charge transport in amorphous aggregate.
SpliceDetector: a software for detection of alternative splicing events in human and model organisms directly from transcript IDs
Authors: Baharlou Houreh Mandana , Ghorbani Kalkhajeh Payam , Niazi Ali , Ebrahimi Faezeh , Ebrahimie Esmaeil 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIn eukaryotes, different combinations of exons lead to multiple transcripts with various functions in protein level, in a process called alternative splicing (AS). Unfolding the complexity of functional genomics through genome-wide profiling of AS and determining the altered ultimate products provide new insights for better understanding of many biological processes, disease progress as well as drug development programs to target harmful splicing variants. The current available tools of alternative splicing work with raw data and include heavy computation. In particular, there is a shortcoming in tools to discover AS events directly from transcripts. Here, we developed a Windows-based user-friendly tool for identifying AS events from transcripts without the need to any advanced computer skill or database download. Meanwhile, due to online working mode, our application employs the updated SpliceGraphs without the need to any resource updating. First, SpliceGraph forms based on the frequency of active splice sites in pre-mRNA. Then, the presented approach compares query transcript exons to SpliceGraph exons. The tool provides the possibility of statistical analysis of AS events as well as AS visualization compared to SpliceGraph. The developed application works for transcript sets in human and model organisms.
A micro-CT-based method for quantitative brain lesion characterization and electrode localization
Authors: Masís Javier , Mankus David , Wolff Steffen B. E. , Guitchounts Grigori , Joesch Maximilian , Cox David D. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractLesion verification and quantification is traditionally done via histological examination of sectioned brains, a time-consuming process that relies heavily on manual estimation. Such methods are particularly problematic in posterior cortical regions (e.g. visual cortex), where sectioning leads to significant damage and distortion of tissue. Even more challenging is the post hoc localization of micro-electrodes, which relies on the same techniques, suffers from similar drawbacks and requires even higher precision. Here, we propose a new, simple method for quantitative lesion characterization and electrode localization that is less labor-intensive and yields more detailed results than conventional methods. We leverage staining techniques standard in electron microscopy with the use of commodity micro-CT imaging. We stain whole rat and zebra finch brains in osmium tetroxide, embed these in resin and scan entire brains in a micro-CT machine. The scans result in 3D reconstructions of the brains with section thickness dependent on sample size (12–15 and 5–6 microns for rat and zebra finch respectively) that can be segmented manually or automatically. Because the method captures the entire intact brain volume, comparisons within and across studies are more tractable, and the extent of lesions and electrodes may be studied with higher accuracy than with current methods.
A new cell-laden 3D Alginate-Matrigel hydrogel resembles human breast cancer cell malignant morphology, spread and invasion capability observed “in vivo”
Authors: Cavo Marta , Caria Marco , Pulsoni Ilaria , Beltrame Francesco , Fato Marco , Scaglione Silvia 
Published: March 2018

AbstractPurpose of this study was the development of a 3D material to be used as substrate for breast cancer cell culture. We developed composite gels constituted by different concentrations of Alginate (A) and Matrigel (M) to obtain a structurally stable-in-time and biologically active substrate. Human aggressive breast cancer cells (i.e. MDA-MB-231) were cultured within the gels. Known the link between cell morphology and malignancy, cells were morphologically characterized and their invasiveness correlated through an innovative bioreactor-based invasion assay. A particular type of gel (i.e. 50% Alginate, 50% Matrigel) emerged thanks to a series of significant results: 1. cells exhibited peculiar cytoskeleton shapes and nuclear fragmentation characteristic of their malignancy; 2. cells expressed the formation of the so-called invadopodia, actin-based protrusion of the plasma membrane through which cells anchor to the extracellular matrix; 3. cells were able to migrate through the gels and attach to an engineered membrane mimicking the vascular walls hosted within bioreactor, providing a completely new 3D in vitro model of the very precursor steps of metastasis.
Circatrigintan instead of lunar periodicity of larval release in a brooding coral species
Authors: Linden Bart , Huisman Jef , Rinkevich Baruch 
Published: March 2018

AbstractLarval release by brooding corals is often assumed to display lunar periodicity. Here, we show that larval release of individual Stylophora pistillata colonies does not comply with the assumed tight entrainment by the lunar cycle, and can better be classified as a circatrigintan pattern. The colonies exhibited three distinct reproductive patterns, characterized by short intervals, long intervals and no periodicity between reproductive peaks, respectively. Cross correlation between the lunar cycle and larval release of the periodic colonies revealed an approximately 30-day periodicity with a variable lag of 5 to 10 days after full moon. The observed variability indicates that the lunar cycle does not provide a strict zeitgeber. Other factors such as water temperature and solar radiation did not correlate significantly with the larval release. The circatrigintan patterns displayed by S. pistillata supports the plasticity of corals and sheds new light on discussions on the fecundity of brooding coral species.
Evidence for a dyadic motor plan in joint action
Authors: Sacheli Lucia Maria , Arcangeli Elisa , Paulesu Eraldo 
Published: March 2018

AbstractWhat mechanisms distinguish interactive from non-interactive actions? To answer this question we tested participants while they took turns playing music with a virtual partner: in the interactive joint action condition, the participants played a melody together with their partner by grasping (C note) or pressing (G note) a cube-shaped instrument, alternating in playing one note each. In the non-interactive control condition, players’ behavior was not guided by a shared melody, so that the partner’s actions and notes were irrelevant to the participant. In both conditions, the participant’s and partner’s actions were physically congruent (e.g., grasp-grasp) or incongruent (e.g., grasp-point), and the partner’s association between actions and notes was coherent with the participant’s or reversed. Performance in the non-interactive condition was only affected by physical incongruence, whereas joint action was only affected when the partner’s action-note associations were reversed. This shows that task interactivity shapes the sensorimotor coding of others’ behaviors, and that joint action is based on active prediction of the partner’s action effects rather than on passive action imitation. We suggest that such predictions are based on Dyadic Motor Plans that represent both the agent’s and the partner’s contributions to the interaction goal, like playing a melody together.
How Semantic Radicals in Chinese characters Facilitate Hierarchical Category-Based Induction
Authors: Wang Xiaoxi , Ma Xie , Tao Yun , Tao Yachen , Li Hong 
Published: March 2018

AbstractPrior studies indicate that the semantic radical in Chinese characters contains category information that can support the independent retrieval of category information through the lexical network to the conceptual network. Inductive reasoning relies on category information; thus, semantic radicals may influence inductive reasoning. As most natural concepts are hierarchically structured in the human brain, this study examined how semantic radicals impact inductive reasoning for hierarchical concepts. The study used animal and plant nouns, organized in basic, superordinate, and subordinate levels; half had a semantic radical and half did not. Eighteen participants completed an inductive reasoning task. Behavioural and event-related potential (ERP) data were collected. The behavioural results showed that participants reacted faster and more accurately in the with-semantic-radical condition than in the without-semantic-radical condition. For the ERPs, differences between the conditions were found, and these differences lasted from the very early cognitive processing stage (i.e., the N1 time window) to the relatively late processing stages (i.e., the N400 and LPC time windows). Semantic radicals can help to distinguish the hierarchies earlier (in the N400 period) than characters without a semantic radical (in the LPC period). These results provide electrophysiological evidence that semantic radicals may improve sensitivity to distinguish between hierarchical concepts.
Fungal spore diversity reflects substrate-specific deposition challenges
Authors: Calhim Sara , Halme Panu , Petersen Jens H. , Læssøe Thomas , Bässler Claus , Heilmann-Clausen Jacob 
Published: March 2018

AbstractSexual spores are important for the dispersal and population dynamics of fungi. They show remarkable morphological diversity, but the underlying forces driving spore evolution are poorly known. We investigated whether trophic status and substrate associations are associated with morphology in 787 macrofungal genera. We show that both spore size and ornamentation are associated with trophic specialization, so that large and ornamented spores are more probable in ectomycorrhizal than in saprotrophic genera. This suggests that spore ornamentation facilitates attachment to arthropod vectors, which ectomycorrhizal species may need to reach lower soil layers. Elongated spore shapes are more common in saprotrophic taxa, and genera associated with above ground substrates are more likely to have allantoid (curved elongated) spores, probably to lower the risk of wash out by precipitation. Overall, our results suggest that safe arrival on specific substrates is a more important driver of evolution in spore morphology than dispersal per se.