bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
3D Interconnected Mesoporous Alumina with Loaded Hemoglobin as a Highly Active Electrochemical Biosensor for H2O2
Authors: Yang Xuanyu , Cheng Xiaowei , Song Hongyuan , Ma Junhao , Pan Panpan , Elzatahry Ahmed A. , Su Jiacan , Deng Yonghui 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAlumina is one of the most common and stable metal oxides in nature, which has been developed as a novel adsorbent in enrichment of biomolecules due to its excellent affinity to phosphor or amino groups. In this study, ordered mesoporous alumina (OMA) with interconnected mesopores and surface acidic property is synthesized through a solvent evaporation induced co‐assembly process using poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐polystyrene (PEO‐b‐PS) diblock copolymer as a template and aluminium acetylacetonate (Al(acac)3) as the aluminium source. The pore size (12.1–19.7 nm), pore window size (3.5–9.0 nm) and surface acidity (0.092–0.165 mmol g−1) can be precisely adjusted. The highly porous structure endows the OMA materials with high hemoglobin (Hb) immobilization capacity (170 mg g−1). The obtained Hb@OMA composite is used as an electrocatalyst of biosensor for convienet and fast detection of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) with a low H2O2 detection limit of 1.7 × 10−8
m and a wide linear range of 2.5 × 10−8 to 5.0 × 10−5
m. Moreover, the Hb@OMA sensors show a good performance in real time detection of H2O2 released from Homo sapiens bone osteosarcoma, indicating their potential application in complex biological processes.
Protein Bricks: 2D and 3D Bio‐Nanostructures with Shape and Function on Demand
Authors: Jiang Jianjuan , Zhang Shaoqing , Qian Zhigang , Qin Nan , Song Wenwen , Sun Long , Zhou Zhitao , Shi Zhifeng , Chen Liang , Li Xinxin , Mao Ying , Kaplan David L. , Gilbert Corder Stephanie N. , Chen Xinzhong , Liu Mengkun , Omenetto Fiorenzo G. , Xia Xiaoxia , Tao Tiger H. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractPrecise patterning of polymer‐based biomaterials for functional bio‐nanostructures has extensive applications including biosensing, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. Remarkable progress is made in both top‐down (based on lithographic methods) and bottom‐up (via self‐assembly) approaches with natural and synthetic biopolymers. However, most methods only yield 2D and pseudo‐3D structures with restricted geometries and functionalities. Here, it is reported that precise nanostructuring on genetically engineered spider silk by accurately directing ion and electron beam interactions with the protein's matrix at the nanoscale to create well‐defined 2D bionanopatterns and further assemble 3D bionanoarchitectures with shape and function on demand, termed “Protein Bricks.” The added control over protein sequence and molecular weight of recombinant spider silk via genetic engineering provides unprecedented lithographic resolution (approaching the molecular limit), sharpness, and biological functions compared to natural proteins. This approach provides a facile method for patterning and immobilizing functional molecules within nanoscopic, hierarchical protein structures, which sheds light on a wide range of biomedical applications such as structure‐enhanced fluorescence and biomimetic microenvironments for controlling cell fate.
Cell Membrane Coating Nanotechnology
Authors: Fang Ronnie H. , Kroll Ashley V. , Gao Weiwei , Zhang Liangfang 
Published: March 2018

AbstractNanoparticle‐based therapeutic, prevention, and detection modalities have the potential to greatly impact how diseases are diagnosed and managed in the clinic. With the wide range of nanomaterials available, the rational design of nanocarriers on an application‐specific basis has become increasingly commonplace. Here, a comprehensive overview is provided on an emerging platform: cell‐membrane‐coating nanotechnology. As a fundamental unit of biology, cells carry out a wide range of functions, including the remarkable ability to interface and interact with their surrounding environment. Instead of attempting to replicate such functions via synthetic techniques, researchers are now directly leveraging naturally derived cell membranes as a means of bestowing nanoparticles with enhanced biointerfacing capabilities. This top‐down technique is facile, highly generalizable, and has the potential to greatly augment existing nanocarriers. Further, the introduction of a natural membrane substrate onto nanoparticles surfaces has enabled additional applications beyond those traditionally associated with nanomedicine. Despite its relative youth, there exists an impressive body of literature on cell membrane coating, which is covered here in detail. Overall, there is still significant room for development, as researchers continue to refine existing workflows while finding new and exciting applications that can take advantage of this developing technology.
Plasmonic Sensing and Modulation Based on Fano Resonances
Authors: Chen Jianjun , Gan Fengyuan , Wang Yujia , Li Guozhou 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe rapid developments in nanotechnology and plasmonics allow the manipulation of light at nanometer scales, such as light propagation and resonances. Differing from the symmetric Lorentzian‐like profiles in the conventional resonances, Fano resonances, which originate from the interference of different resonant modes, exhibit obviously asymmetric spectral profiles. Based on lineshape engineering, the Fano resonances with sharp asymmetric profiles exhibit a small linewidth and a high spectral contrast by exploiting different mechanisms and designing various metallic nanostructures. Both of the above properties in the sharp Fano resonances have significant applications in nanoscale plasmonic sensors and modulators. This review summarizes the underlying mechanism of the Fano resonances in various metallic nanostructures. Then, practical applications of the Fano resonances in nanoscale plasmonic sensing and modulation are reviewed. At last, the development and challenges of plasmonic sensing and modulation based on Fano resonances are discussed.
Circular Dichroism in Higher‐Order Diffraction Beams from Chiral Quasiplanar Nanostructures
Authors: Kuppe Christian , Williams Calum , You Jie , Collins Joel T. , Gordeev Sergey N. , Wilkinson Timothy D. , Panoiu Nicolae‐Coriolan , Valev Ventsislav K. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractMiniaturization down to the nanoscale has enabled a new paradigm of ultrathin optical devices, capable of manipulating the direction, polarization, and frequency of light. Great interest is drawn by the promising prospects of deep‐subwavelength material dimensions. However, interesting properties and opportunities offered by structures with sizes comparable to the wavelength of light appear to have been overlooked. Here, quasiplanar chiral arrays made of gold are considered and show that higher‐order diffracted beams can yield extremely large chiroptical responses for optical frequencies. The chosen sample geometry demonstrates spectrally tunable polarization conversion and extremely large circular dichroism. Experimental and numerical data are in good agreement, for both sample chiral forms, and for the complementary geometries under Babinet's principle. Specifically, the experimental results show that the fractional circular dichroism (CD) can be as high as 20%, in the third‐order diffraction beam. Based on the numerical results, a great potential for improvement is anticipated, which makes higher‐order diffraction CD a very promising candidate for ultrathin optical applications.
Advanced GeSn/SiGeSn Group IV Heterostructure Lasers
Authors: von den Driesch Nils , Stange Daniela , Rainko Denis , Povstugar Ivan , Zaumseil Peter , Capellini Giovanni , Schröder Thomas , Denneulin Thibaud , Ikonic Zoran , Hartmann Jean‐Michel , Sigg Hans , Mantl Siegfried , Grützmacher Detlev , Buca Dan 
Published: March 2018

AbstractGrowth and characterization of advanced group IV semiconductor materials with CMOS‐compatible applications are demonstrated, both in photonics. The investigated GeSn/SiGeSn heterostructures combine direct bandgap GeSn active layers with indirect gap ternary SiGeSn claddings, a design proven its worth already decades ago in the III–V material system. Different types of double heterostructures and multi‐quantum wells (MQWs) are epitaxially grown with varying well thicknesses and barriers. The retaining high material quality of those complex structures is probed by advanced characterization methods, such as atom probe tomography and dark‐field electron holography to extract composition parameters and strain, used further for band structure calculations. Special emphasis is put on the impact of carrier confinement and quantization effects, evaluated by photoluminescence and validated by theoretical calculations. As shown, particularly MQW heterostructures promise the highest potential for efficient next generation complementary metal‐oxide‐semiconductor (CMOS)‐compatible group IV lasers.
UV Resonance Raman Study of Apoptosis, Platinum‐Based Drugs, and Human Cell Lines
Authors: Geng Jiafeng , Aioub Mena , El‐Sayed Mostafa A. , Barry Bridgette A. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAs a noninvasive molecular analysis technique, ultraviolet resonance Raman (UVRR) spectroscopy represents a label‐free method suitable for characterizing biomolecules. Using UVRR spectroscopy, we collected spectral fingerprints of UV absorbing cellular components, including proteins, nucleic acids, and unsaturated lipids. This knowledge was used to guide the assignment of spectra derived from intact human cell lines (i. e., HSC‐3 and HaCaT) and from the apoptotic events induced by cisplatin. Notably, a jet‐flow system was employed to generate flowing cell suspensions during UVRR measurements, minimizing UV‐induced damage. A spectral marker is established based on the ratio of Raman intensities at 1488 and 1655 cm−1; this ratio correlates to the level of cell death due to apoptosis. Collectively, this work demonstrates that UVRR spectroscopy is a sensitive and informative probe of cellular physiology and molecular composition. The molecular insight obtained from UVRR measurements can be used to improve understanding of therapeutic treatment and to guide drug development and the choice of therapeutic agents.
The potential influence of Atlantic salmonSalmo salarand brown troutSalmo truttaon density and breeding of the white‐throated dipperCinclus cinclus
Authors: Nilsson Anna L. K. , L'Abée‐Lund Jan Henning , Vøllestad L. Asbjørn , Jerstad Kurt , Larsen Bjørn Mejdell , Røstad Ole Wiggo , Saltveit Svein Jakob , Skaugen Thomas , Stenseth Nils C. , Walseng Bjørn 
Published: March 2018

AbstractInteractions between birds and fish are often overlooked in aquatic ecosystems. We studied the influence of Atlantic salmon and brown trout on the breeding population size and reproductive output of the white‐throated dipper in a Norwegian river. Acidic precipitation led to the extinction of salmon, but salmon recolonized after liming was initiated in 1991. We compared the dipper population size and reproductive output before (1978–1992) and after (1993–2014) salmon recolonization. Despite a rapid and substantial increase in juvenile salmon, the breeding dipper population size and reproductive output were not influenced by juvenile salmon, trout, or total salmonid density. This might be due to different feeding strategies in salmonids and dippers, where salmonids are mainly feeding on drift, while the dipper is a benthic feeder. The correlation between the size of the dipper population upstream and downstream of a salmonid migratory barrier was similar before and after recolonization, indicating that the downstream territories were not less attractive after the recolonization of salmon. Upstream dipper breeding success rates declined before the recolonization event and increased after, indicating improved water quality due to liming, and increasing invertebrate prey abundances and biodiversity. Surprisingly, upstream the migratory barrier, juvenile trout had a weak positive effect on the dipper population size, indicating that dippers may prey upon small trout. It is possible that wider downstream reaches might have higher abundances of alternative food, rending juvenile trout unimportant as prey. Abiotic factors such as winter temperatures and acidic precipitation with subsequent liming, potentially mediated by prey abundance, seem to play the most important role in the life history of the dipper.
The role of the reef flat in coral reef trophodynamics: Past, present, and future
Authors: Bellwood David R. , Tebbett Sterling B. , Bellwood Orpha , Mihalitsis Michalis , Morais Renato A. , Streit Robert P. , Fulton Christopher J. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe reef flat is one of the largest and most distinctive habitats on coral reefs, yet its role in reef trophodynamics is poorly understood. Evolutionary evidence suggests that reef flat colonization by grazing fishes was a major innovation that permitted the exploitation of new space and trophic resources. However, the reef flat is hydrodynamically challenging, subject to high predation risks and covered with sediments that inhibit feeding by grazers. To explore these opposing influences, we examine the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) as a model system. We focus on grazing herbivores that directly access algal primary productivity in the epilithic algal matrix (EAM). By assessing abundance, biomass, and potential fish productivity, we explore the potential of the reef flat to support key ecosystem processes and its ability to maintain fisheries yields. On the GBR, the reef flat is, by far, the most important habitat for turf‐grazing fishes, supporting an estimated 79% of individuals and 58% of the total biomass of grazing surgeonfishes, parrotfishes, and rabbitfishes. Approximately 59% of all (reef‐wide) turf algal productivity is removed by reef flat grazers. The flat also supports approximately 75% of all grazer biomass growth. Our results highlight the evolutionary and ecological benefits of occupying shallow‐water habitats (permitting a ninefold population increase). The acquisition of key locomotor and feeding traits has enabled fishes to access the trophic benefits of the reef flat, outweighing the costs imposed by water movement, predation, and sediments. Benthic assemblages on reefs in the future may increasingly resemble those seen on reef flats today, with low coral cover, limited topographic complexity, and extensive EAM. Reef flat grazing fishes may therefore play an increasingly important role in key ecosystem processes and in sustaining future fisheries yields.
Structural and functional responses of plant communities to climate change‐mediated alterations in the hydrology of riparian areas in temperate Europe
Authors: Baattrup‐Pedersen Annette , Garssen Annemarie , Göthe Emma , Hoffmann Carl Christian , Oddershede Andrea , Riis Tenna , van Bodegom Peter M. , Larsen Søren E. , Soons Merel 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe hydrology of riparian areas changes rapidly these years because of climate change‐mediated alterations in precipitation patterns. In this study, we used a large‐scale in situ experimental approach to explore effects of drought and flooding on plant taxonomic diversity and functional trait composition in riparian areas in temperate Europe. We found significant effects of flooding and drought in all study areas, the effects being most pronounced under flooded conditions. In near‐stream areas, taxonomic diversity initially declined in response to both drought and flooding (although not significantly so in all years) and remained stable under drought conditions, whereas the decline continued under flooded conditions. For most traits, we found clear indications that the functional diversity also declined under flooded conditions, particularly in near‐stream areas, indicating that fewer strategies succeeded under flooded conditions. Consistent changes in community mean trait values were also identified, but fewer than expected. This can have several, not mutually exclusive, explanations. First, different adaptive strategies may coexist in a community. Second, intraspecific variability was not considered for any of the traits. For example, many species can elongate shoots and petioles that enable them to survive shallow, prolonged flooding but such abilities will not be captured when applying mean trait values. Third, we only followed the communities for 3 years. Flooding excludes species intolerant of the altered hydrology, whereas the establishment of new species relies on time‐dependent processes, for instance the dispersal and establishment of species within the areas. We expect that altered precipitation patterns will have profound consequences for riparian vegetation in temperate Europe. Riparian areas will experience loss of taxonomic and functional diversity and, over time, possibly also alterations in community trait responses that may have cascading effects on ecosystem functioning.
The effect of gut microbiota elimination in Drosophila melanogaster: A how‐to guide for host–microbiota studies
Authors: Heys Chloe , Lizé Anne , Blow Frances , White Lewis , Darby Alistair , Lewis Zenobia J. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIn recent years, there has been a surge in interest in the effects of the microbiota on the host. Increasingly, we are coming to understand the importance of the gut microbiota in modulating host physiology, ecology, behavior, and evolution. One method utilized to evaluate the effect of the microbiota is to suppress or eliminate it, and compare the effect on the host with that of untreated individuals. In this study, we evaluate some of these commonly used methods in the model organism, Drosophila melanogaster. We test the efficacy of a low‐dose streptomycin diet, egg dechorionation, and an axenic or sterile diet, in the removal of gut bacteria within this species in a fully factorial design. We further determine potential side effects of these methods on host physiology by performing a series of standard physiological assays. Our results showed that individuals from all treatments took significantly longer to develop, and weighed less, compared to normal flies. Males and females that had undergone egg dechorionation weighed significantly less than streptomycin reared individuals. Similarly, axenic female flies, but not males, were much less active when analyzed in a locomotion assay. All methods decreased the egg to adult survival, with egg dechorionation inducing significantly higher mortality. We conclude that low‐dose streptomycin added to the dietary media is more effective at removing the gut bacteria than egg dechorionation and has somewhat less detrimental effects to host physiology. More importantly, this method is the most practical and reliable for use in behavioral research. Our study raises the important issue that the efficacy of and impacts on the host of these methods require investigation in a case‐by‐case manner, rather than assuming homogeneity across species and laboratories.
The role of the right temporo–parietal junction in social decision‐making
Authors: Bitsch Florian , Berger Philipp , Nagels Arne , Falkenberg Irina , Straube Benjamin 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIdentifying someone else's noncooperative intentions can prevent exploitation in social interactions. Hence, the inference of another person's mental state might be most pronounced in order to improve social decision‐making. Here, we tested the hypothesis that brain regions associated with Theory of Mind (ToM), particularly the right temporo–parietal junction (rTPJ), show higher neural responses when interacting with a selfish person and that the rTPJ‐activity as well as cooperative tendencies will change over time. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and a modified prisoner's dilemma game in which 20 participants interacted with three fictive playing partners who behaved according to stable strategies either competitively, cooperatively or randomly during seven interaction blocks. The rTPJ and the posterior–medial prefrontal cortex showed higher activity during the interaction with a competitive compared with a cooperative playing partner. Only the rTPJ showed a high response during an early interaction phase, which preceded participants increase in defective decisions. Enhanced functional connectivity between the rTPJ and the left hippocampus suggests that social cognition and learning processes co‐occur when behavioral adaptation seems beneficial.
Exploiting the use of physical information for the calibration of a lumped hydrological model
Authors: Manfreda Salvatore , Mita Leonardo , Dal Sasso Silvano Fortunato , Samela Caterina , Mancusi Leonardo 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIn hydrological modelling, the challenge is to identify an optimal strategy to exploit tools and available observations in order to enhance model reliability. The increasing availability of data promotes the use of new calibration techniques able to make use of additional information on river basins. In the present study, a lumped hydrological model—designed with the aim of utilizing remotely sensed data—is introduced and calibrated, adopting four different schemes that adopt, to varying extents, available physical information. The physically consistent conceptualization of the hydrological model used allowed development of a step by step calibration based on a combination of information, such as remotely sensed data describing snow cover, recession curves obtained from streamflow measurements, and time series of surface run‐off obtained with a baseflow mathematical filter applied to the streamflow time‐series. Results suggest that the use of physical information in the calibration procedure tends to increase model reliability with respect to approaches where the parameters are calibrated using an overall statistic based, considerably or exclusively, on streamflow data.
Investigation of the relationship between runoff and atmospheric oscillations, sea surface temperature, and local‐scale climate variables in theYellow Riverheadwaters region
Authors: Chu Haibo , Wei Jiahua , Li Jiaye , Li Tiejian 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe Yellow River headwaters region (YRHR) contributes nearly 40% of total flow in the Yellow River basin, which is suffering from a serious water shortage problem. Investigation of the relationship between runoff and climate variables is important for understanding the variation trend of runoff in the YRHR under global climate change. Global and local climate variables, including the West Pacific subtropical high; northern hemisphere polar vortex (NH); Tibetan Plateau Index B (TPI‐B); southern oscillation index; sea surface temperature; and precipitation, evaporation, and temperature, were fully considered to explore the relationship with runoff at Jimai, Maqu, and Tangnaihai stations from 1956 to 2014. The results reveal that runoff had a decreasing trend, which will likely be maintained in the future, and there was a significant change in runoff around 1995 at all stations. Correlation analysis indicated that runoff was dominated by precipitation, NH, temperature, and TPI‐B, and a substantial correlation was observed with sea surface temperature and evaporation, but there was little correlation with West Pacific subtropical high and southern oscillation index. Furthermore, impacts of climate change on runoff variations were distinctly different at different temporal scales. Three dominant runoff periodicities were identified by a singular spectrum analysis‐multitaper method and continuous wavelet transform, that is, 1.0‐, 6.9‐, and 24.8‐year runoff periodicities. In addition, runoff was positively correlated with temperature at a 1‐year periodicity, negatively correlated with TPI‐B at a 6.9‐year periodicity, and positively correlated with NH at a 24.8‐year periodicity, that is, temperature, TPI‐B, and NH‐controlled runoff at annual, interannual, and interdecadal scales. Further, all analyses of the stations in the YRHR showed excellent consistency. The results will provide valuable information for water resource management in the YRHR.