bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Detoxification of pulping black liquor with Pleurotus ostreatus or recombinant Pichia pastoris followed by CuO/TiO2/visible photocatalysis
Authors: Rivera-Hoyos Claudia M. , Morales-Álvarez Edwin D. , Abelló-Esparza Juanita , Buitrago-Pérez Daniel F. , Martínez-Aldana Nicolás , Salcedo-Reyes Juan C. , Poutou-Piñales Raúl A. , Pedroza-Rodríguez Aura M. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractCellulose-pulping requires chemicals such as Cl2, ClO2, H2O2, and O2. The black liquor (BL) generated exhibits a high chemical oxygen demand (COD), five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), and chlorophenol content, along with an augmented colour and increased pH. BL is often discharged into water bodies, where it has a negative impact on the environment. Towards that end, laccases are of great interest for bioremediation, since they can degrade aromatic and non-aromatic compounds while reducing O2 to water instead of H2O2. As such, we evaluated Pleurotus ostreatus and Pichia pastoris (which produces rPOXA 1B laccase) in the treatment of synthetic BL (SBL) in an “in vitro” modified Kraft process followed by CuO/TiO2/visible light photocatalysis. Treating SBL with P. ostreatus viable biomass (VB) followed by CuO/TiO2/visible light photocatalysis resulted in 80.3% COD removal and 70.6% decolourisation. Toxic compounds such as 2-methylphenol, 4-methylphenol, and 2-methoxyphenol were eliminated. Post-treated SBL exhibited low phytotoxicity, as evidenced by a Lactuca sativa L seed germination index (GI) > 50%. Likewise, SBL treatment with P. pastoris followed by VB/CuO/TiO2/visible light photocatalysis resulted in 63.7% COD removal and 46% decolourisation. Moreover, this treatment resulted in the elimination of most unwanted compounds, with the exception of 4-chlorophenol. The Lactuca sativa L seed GI of the post-treated SBL was 40%, indicating moderate phytotoxicity.
FISSA: A neuropil decontamination toolbox for calcium imaging signals
Authors: Keemink Sander W. , Lowe Scott C. , Pakan Janelle M. P. , Dylda Evelyn , van Rossum Mark C. W. , Rochefort Nathalie L. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractIn vivo calcium imaging has become a method of choice to image neuronal population activity throughout the nervous system. These experiments generate large sequences of images. Their analysis is computationally intensive and typically involves motion correction, image segmentation into regions of interest (ROIs), and extraction of fluorescence traces from each ROI. Out of focus fluorescence from surrounding neuropil and other cells can strongly contaminate the signal assigned to a given ROI. In this study, we introduce the FISSA toolbox (Fast Image Signal Separation Analysis) for neuropil decontamination. Given pre-defined ROIs, the FISSA toolbox automatically extracts the surrounding local neuropil and performs blind-source separation with non-negative matrix factorization. Using both simulated and in vivo data, we show that this toolbox performs similarly or better than existing published methods. FISSA requires only little RAM, and allows for fast processing of large datasets even on a standard laptop. The FISSA toolbox is available in Python, with an option for MATLAB format outputs, and can easily be integrated into existing workflows. It is available from Github and the standard Python repositories.
Dynamic behavior of a rotary nanomotor in argon environments
Authors: Cai Kun , Shi Jiao , Yu Jingzhou , Qin Qing H. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractWhen argon is used as a protecting gas in the fabrication or working environment of a nanodevice, absorption of some argon atoms onto the surface of the device lead to different responses. In this work, the rotation of the rotor in a carbon nanotube (CNT)-based rotary nanomotor in argon environment is investigated. In the rotary nanomotor, two outer CNTs act as the stator and are used to constrain the inner CNT (i.e., the rotor). The rotor is driven to rotate by the stator due to their collision during thermal vibration of their atoms. A stable rotational frequency (SRF) of the rotor occurs when the rotor reaches a dynamic equilibrium state. The value of the SRF decreases exponentially with an increase in the initial argon density. At dynamic equilibrium date, some of the argon atoms rotate synchronously with the rotor when they are absorbed onto either internal or external surface of the rotor. The interaction between the rest of the argon atoms and the rotor is stronger at higher densities of argon, resulting in lower values of the SRF. These principles provide insight for future experimentation and fabrication of such rotary nanomotor.
Equal-Spin Andreev Reflection on Junctions of Spin-Resolved Quantum Hall Bulk State and Spin-Singlet Superconductor
Authors: Matsuo Sadashige , Ueda Kento , Baba Shoji , Kamata Hiroshi , Tateno Mizuki , Shabani Javad , Palmstrøm Christopher J. , Tarucha Seigo 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe recent development of superconducting spintronics has revealed the spin-triplet superconducting proximity effect from a spin-singlet superconductor into a spin-polarized normal metal. In addition recently superconducting junctions using semiconductors are in demand for highly controlled experiments to engineer topological superconductivity. Here we report experimental observation of Andreev reflection in junctions of spin-resolved quantum Hall (QH) states in an InAs quantum well and the spin-singlet superconductor NbTi. The measured conductance indicates a sub-gap feature and two peaks on the outer side of the sub-gap feature in the QH plateau-transition regime increases. The observed structures can be explained by considering transport with Andreev reflection from two channels, one originating from equal-spin Andreev reflection intermediated by spin-flip processes and second arising from normal Andreev reflection. This result indicates the possibility to induce the superconducting proximity gap in the the QH bulk state, and the possibility for the development of superconducting spintronics in semiconductor devices.
Serum profile changes in postpartum women with a history of childhood maltreatment: a combined metabolite and lipid fingerprinting study
Authors: Koenig Alexandra M , Karabatsiakis Alexander , Stoll Thomas , Wilker Sarah , Hennessy Thomas , Hill Michelle M , Kolassa Iris-Tatjana 
Published: February 2018

AbstractChildhood maltreatment (CM) can increase the risk of adverse health consequences in adulthood. A deeper insight in underlying biological pathways would be of high clinical relevance for early detection and intervention. The untargeted investigation of all detectable metabolites and lipids in biological samples represents a promising new avenue to identify so far unknown biological pathways associated with CM. Using an untargeted approach, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was performed on peripheral blood serum samples collected three months postpartum from 105 women with varying degrees of CM exposure. Comprehensive univariate and multivariate statistical analyses consistently identified eight biomarker candidates putatively belonging to antioxidant-, lipid-, and endocannabinoid-associated pathways, which differentiated between women with and without CM. Classification algorithms allowed for clear prediction of the CM status with high accuracy scores (~80–90%). Similar results were obtained when excluding all women with a lifetime psychiatric diagnosis. In order to confirm the identities of these promising biomarker candidates, LC-MS/MS analysis was applied, confirming one of the metabolites as bilirubin IXa, a potent antioxidant with immunomodulatory properties. In sum, our results suggest novel pathways that could explain long-term effects of CM on health and disease by influencing biological patterns associated with energy metabolism, inflammation, and oxidative stress.
GSK3 is a negative regulator of the thermogenic program in brown adipocytes
Authors: Markussen Lasse K. , Winther Sally , Wicksteed Barton , Hansen Jacob B. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBrown adipose tissue is a promising therapeutic target in metabolic disorders due to its ability to dissipate energy and improve systemic insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis. β-Adrenergic stimulation of brown adipocytes leads to an increase in oxygen consumption and induction of a thermogenic gene program that includes uncoupling protein 1 (Ucp1) and fibroblast growth factor 21 (Fgf21). In kinase inhibitor screens, we have identified glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) as a negative regulator of basal and β-adrenergically stimulated Fgf21 expression in cultured brown adipocytes. In addition, inhibition of GSK3 also caused increased Ucp1 expression and oxygen consumption. β-Adrenergic stimulation triggered an inhibitory phosphorylation of GSK3 in a protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent manner. Mechanistically, inhibition of GSK3 activated the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase 3/6-p38 MAPK-activating transcription factor 2 signaling module. In summary, our data describe GSK3 as a novel negative regulator of β-adrenergic signaling in brown adipocytes.
DEHP deregulates adipokine levels and impairs fatty acid storage in human SGBS-adipocytes
Authors: Schaedlich Kristina , Gebauer Scarlett , Hunger Luise , Beier Laura-Sophie , Koch Holger M. , Wabitsch Martin , Fischer Bernd , Ernst Jana 
Published: February 2018

AbstractDEHP is a plasticizer which has been used in plastic products of everyday use for decades. Studies in mice and murine cell culture models identified DEHP as an endocrine disruptor that may also act as an obesogen. As this is of high concern in respect of the worldwide obesity epidemic, our aim is the translation of these findings into a human model system. On the basis of DOHaD, we investigated the influence of an environmentally relevant dose of DEHP [50 µg/ml] on adipogenesis in the human cell culture model SGBS. Pre-adipocytes were exposed to DEHP and differentiated into mature adipocytes. At different stages of differentiation, markers of adipogenesis like GLUT4, FABP4, LPL and PPARs, and of signaling pathways like AMPK/ACC2, JAK/STAT and MAPK were analyzed. Functional markers like adipokine secretion and triglyceride content as well as ROS production were measured in mature adipocytes. We found significantly lower expression levels of adipogenic markers, a reduction in lipid accumulation, higher leptin- and reduced adiponectin levels in the supernatant of treated adipocytes. Moreover, ROS production was significantly elevated after DEHP-exposure. In conclusion, DEHP led to lower grade of adipogenic differentiation in human SGBS-adipocytes under the chosen conditions.
Modulating bacterial and gut mucosal interactions with engineered biofilm matrix proteins
Authors: Duraj-Thatte Anna M. , Praveschotinunt Pichet , Nash Trevor R. , Ward Frederick R. , Nguyen Peter Q. , Joshi Neel S. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractExtracellular appendages play a significant role in mediating communication between bacteria and their host. Curli fibers are a class of bacterial fimbria that is highly amenable to engineering. We demonstrate the use of engineered curli fibers to rationally program interactions between bacteria and components of the mucosal epithelium. Commensal E. coli strains were engineered to produce recombinant curli fibers fused to the trefoil family of human cytokines. Biofilms formed from these strains bound more mucins than those producing wild-type curli fibers, and modulated mucin rheology as well. When treated with bacteria producing the curli-trefoil fusions mammalian cells behaved identically in terms of their migration behavior as when they were treated with the corresponding soluble trefoil factors. Overall, this demonstrates the potential utility of curli fibers as a scaffold for the display of bioactive domains and an untapped approach to rationally modulating host-microbe interactions using bacterial matrix proteins.
HDAC4 regulates satellite cell proliferation and differentiation by targeting P21 and Sharp1 genes
Authors: Marroncelli Nicoletta , Bianchi Marzia , Bertin Marco , Consalvi Silvia , Saccone Valentina , De Bardi Marco , Puri Pier Lorenzo , Palacios Daniela , Adamo Sergio , Moresi Viviana 
Published: February 2018

AbstractSkeletal muscle exhibits a high regenerative capacity, mainly due to the ability of satellite cells to replicate and differentiate in response to appropriate stimuli. Epigenetic control is effective at different stages of this process. It has been shown that the chromatin-remodeling factor HDAC4 is able to regulate satellite cell proliferation and commitment. However, its molecular targets are still uncovered. To explain the signaling pathways regulated by HDAC4 in satellite cells, we generated tamoxifen-inducible mice with conditional inactivation of HDAC4 in Pax7+ cells (HDAC4 KO mice). We found that the proliferation and differentiation of HDAC4 KO satellite cells were compromised, although similar amounts of satellite cells were found in mice. Moreover, we found that the inhibition of HDAC4 in satellite cells was sufficient to block the differentiation process. By RNA-sequencing analysis we identified P21 and Sharp1 as HDAC4 target genes. Reducing the expression of these target genes in HDAC4 KO satellite cells, we also defined the molecular pathways regulated by HDAC4 in the epigenetic control of satellite cell expansion and fusion.
Nasopharyngeal Pneumococcal Carriage in Nigeria: a two-site, population-based survey
Authors: Adetifa Ifedayo M. O. , Adamu Aishatu L. , Karani Angela , Waithaka Michael , Odeyemi Kofo A. , Okoromah Christy A. N. , Bello Mohammed M. , Abubakar Isa S. , Inem Victor , Scott J. Anthony. G. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractChanges in nasopharyngeal (NP) carriage of vaccine-type (VT) Streptococcus pneumoniae can be used to assess the effectiveness of a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10). We conducted a baseline carriage survey in rural (Kumbotso, Kano) and urban (Pakoto, Ogun) Nigeria. In this cross-sectional study, we obtained data on demography, clinical history, risk factors, and took NP swabs for pneumococcal culture. We calculated crude and age-standardised carriage prevalence and used log-binomial regression to assess risk factors for carriage. Among children aged <5 years, 92% (95% CI: 88–95%) and 78% (73–82%), respectively, carried any pneumococcus and 48% and 50%, respectively, carried PCV10 serotypes. In Kumbotso, carriage prevalence was >40% across all ages. The age-standardized prevalence of pneumococcal carriage was 66% in Kumbotso and 40% in Pakoto. The most commonly identified serotypes were 19 F, 6 A and 23 F. Risk factors for carriage were young age, recent rhinorrhoea, cohabitation with ≥2 children aged <5 years, and sharing a bed with ≥2 persons. Pneumococcal carriage prevalence is high in this Nigerian population. Persisting prevalence of VT-carriage in older children and adults suggests that PCV10 introduction in children will not eliminate transmission of vaccine serotypes rapidly. High vaccine coverage will therefore be required to ensure full protection of children.
Elevated Serum Interleukin-34 Level in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Is Associated with Disease Activity
Authors: Xie Huan Huan , Shen Hui , Zhang Li , Cui Mei Ying , Xia Li Ping , Lu Jing 
Published: February 2018

AbstractWe measured the interleukin-34 (IL-34) level in sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Blood tests, including assays to determine C-reactive protein (CRP), complement (C) 3, C4, immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgG, IgM, anti-double-stranded DNA antibody (Anti-dsDNA Ab) and hemoglobin (Hb) levels and white blood cell (WBC) and platelet (PLT) counts, were performed using standard methods. Lupus nephritis (LN) was diagnosed according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) renal criteria. The SLE disease activity was scored using the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). Among the 110 SLE cases, IL-34 could be detected in 79 cases (71.8%). IL-34 was barely detected in the control group. The serum level of IL-34 was significantly higher in the SLE group. No change was observed in the serum IL-34 concentration in the SLE patients regardless of LN status. Correlations were observed between the serum IL-34 level and the disease activity parameters. The SLE patients with detectable IL-34 levels had higher SLEDAI and IgG concentrations and lower C3 and Hb levels than patients with undetectable IL-34 levels. Therefore, IL-34 could be a potential disease activity marker for SLE.
The role of medial prefrontal cortex in the working memory maintenance of one’s own emotional responses
Authors: Smith Ryan , Lane Richard D. , Alkozei Anna , Bao Jennifer , Smith Courtney , Sanova Anna , Nettles Matthew , Killgore William D. S. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe role of medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) in maintaining emotional information within working memory (WM) remains insufficiently investigated – with some studies suggesting this process activates MPFC and others suggesting its activity is suppressed. To reconcile these different results, we asked 26 healthy participants to complete a WM task involving the maintenance of emotional content (EWM), visual content (VWM), or no content (“rest”) after exposure to emotion-provoking images. We also assessed individual differences in emotional awareness (EA). We observed that dorsal MPFC was more active during EWM than VWM; further, relative to the rest condition, both of these WM conditions involved suppression of ventral MPFC. We also observed that the dorsal anterior cingulate subregion of dorsal MPFC was positively associated with EA. We discuss how these results may be able to reconcile the findings of previous EWM studies, and extend understanding of the relationship between MPFC, EA, and WM.
The Po Delta is restarting progradation: geomorphological evolution based on a 47-years Earth Observation dataset
Authors: Ninfo A. , Ciavola P. , Billi P. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractFrom the 1950s, the Po delta, one of the largest anthropogenic world deltas, has been subjected to a fast degradation and shoreline retreat due a marked reduction of sediment supply, mainly controlled by human impacts/factors, including subsidence. Through the interpretation of satellite images, coupled with the analysis of the flow discharge, and of the annual frequency of marine storms, we show that recently (>2010) the Po River has resumed delta progradation, especially in its northern portion. This happens after decades of erosion, followed by alternating regrowth and degradation phases, indicating conditions of substantial stability (1970–2000). Today the delta shows aggradation of new mouth-bars at the main distributary mouth, a clear evidence of active constructive processes. The ongoing trend marks a countertendency compared to many deltas worldwide.
Association of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) gene promoter polymorphisms with aggressive and chronic periodontitis in the eastern Indian population
Authors: Majumder Poulami , Thou Keheibamding , Bhattacharya Mandar , Nair Vineet , Ghosh Sujay , Dey Subrata Kumar 
Published: February 2018

Background: Periodontitis is a very common inflammatory oral disease. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a cytokine that has been involved with the gingival tissue destruction and remodeling occurrence. We investigated the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TNF-α gene promoter region with the susceptibility of aggressive and chronic periodontitis in the eastern Indian population.
Methods: A total of 397 DNA samples from venous blood were isolated. 40 individuals were aggressive periodontitis patients, 157 were identified chronic periodontitis patients, and the remaining 200 were healthy individuals. Five SNPs of TNF-α at promoter region (rs361525, rs1800629, rs1799724, rs1800630, and rs1799964) were genotyped by PCR-sequencing in periodontitis patients and control subjects.
Results: rs1800629 (-308G/A) polymorphism was more frequent in both aggressive and chronic periodontitis patients compared with the control population, though the allele frequency was different only in aggressive periodontitis patients. On the other hand, both the genotypic and allelic variation of rs361525 (-238G/A) polymorphism were found significantly less frequently in aggressive and chronic periodontitis than in controls. The other polymorphisms like rs1799724 (-857C/T) and rs1799964 (-1031T/C) were significantly different between chronic periodontitis patients and control subjects.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that the rs1800629 (-308G/A) polymorphism of TNF-α gene is associated with both aggressive and chronic periodontitis while rs1799724 (-857C/T) and rs1799964 (-1031T/C) polymorphisms of TNF-α gene is associated only with the increased susceptibility to chronic periodontitis.
Transient overvoltage response performance of transformer windings with short‐circuit fault
Authors: Yang Qing , Chen Yong , Han Rui , Su Peiyu 
Published: February 2018

The fault diagnosis of transformer windings is a basis for condition maintenance. Conventional online or offline diagnosis methods require additional pulse or impulse signal. If the overvoltage signal can be regarded as the broadband excitation source for the fault diagnosis of transformer windings, the interference caused by signal injection is likely eliminated without additional pulse or impulse signals. In this study, the transient overvoltage response performance of transformer windings with short‐circuit fault is presented, which could provide a new method for the diagnosis on transformer fault diagnosis. A 10 kVA, 2400 V/220 V, 50 Hz, 1‐phase tapped transformer was designed, and a test platform for the fault diagnosis of transformer windings is established. The excitation signals for the fault diagnosis of the transformer windings included different lightning waves and damped oscillation waves, as indicated by the differences among actual overvoltage waveforms. The voltage and current of windings under normal and fault conditions are determined, and the frequency responses of admittance and voltage transfer function are calculated. The criterion for the fault diagnosis of transformer windings is obtained by comparing and analysing statistical indicators that reflected the differences in the frequency response of transfer function under normal and fault.
Theoretical simulation of the thermoelectrically cooled HgCdTe LWIR detector for fast response operating under unbiased conditions
Authors: Martyniuk Piotr , Madejczyk Paweł , Kopytko Małgorzata , Henig Aleksandra Magdalena , Grodecki Kacper , Gawron Waldemar , Rutkowski Jarosław 
Published: February 2018

This study reports on photoelectrical performance of the long‐wave infrared HgCdTe high operating temperature (200–230 K) detector for the fast response time operating under unbiased conditions. The detailed analysis of the response time as a function of device architecture was conducted pointing out optimal working conditions and structure. The response time of the long‐wave (xCd  = 0.19) HgCdTe detector for temperatures reached by thermoelectrical cooling (200–230 K) was estimated at the level of τs  < 0.6 ns for unbiased condition while responsivity Ri ∼ 1.8 A/W and detectivity was assessed at the level of D*  ∼  1.6 × 1010 cm Hz1/2 /W. It was shown that extra series resistance Rseries   < 10 Ω (resistance–capacitance time constant) plays a decisive role in order to reach τs < 1 ns meaning that device processing is much more important rather than fundamental limitations imposed by physics.