bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Unveiling the operation mechanism of layered perovskite solar cells
Authors: Lin Yun , Fang Yanjun , Zhao Jingjing , Shao Yuchuan , Stuard Samuel J. , Nahid Masrur Morshed , Ade Harald , Wang Qi , Shield Jeffrey E. , Zhou Ninghao , Moran Andrew M. , Huang Jinsong 
Published: March 2019

AbstractLayered perovskites have been shown to improve the stability of perovskite solar cells while its operation mechanism remains unclear. Here we investigate the process for the conversion of light to electrical current in high performance layered perovskite solar cells by examining its real morphology. The layered perovskite films in this study are found to be a mixture of layered and three dimensional (3D)-like phases with phase separations at micrometer and nanometer scale in both vertical and lateral directions. This phase separation is explained by the surface initiated crystallization process and the competition of the crystallization between 3D-like and layered perovskites. We further propose that the working mechanisms of the layered perovskite solar cells involve energy transfer from layered to 3D-like perovskite network. The impact of morphology on efficiency and stability of the hot-cast layered perovskite solar cells are also discussed to provide guidelines for the future improvement.
Loading ceftriaxone, vancomycin, and Bifidobacteria bifidum TMC3115 to neonatal mice could differently and consequently affect intestinal microbiota and immunity in adulthood
Authors: Cheng RuYue , Guo JiaWen , Pu FangFang , Wan ChaoMin , Shi Lei , Li HuaWen , Yang YuHong , Huang ChengYu , Li Ming , He Fang 
Published: March 2019

AbstractRecent studies have demonstrated that antibiotics/or probiotics administration in early life play key roles on modulating intestinal microbiota and the alterations might cause long-lasting consequences both physiologically and immunologically. We investigated the effects of early life ceftriaxone, vancomycin and Bifidobacterium bifidum TMC3115 (TMC3115) treatment on intestinal microbiota and immunity both in neonates and adults even after termination of antibiotics exposure. We found that ceftriaxone and vancomycin, but not TMC3115, significantly altered the intestinal microbiota, serum total IgE level, and the morphology and function of the intestinal epithelium in the neonatal mice. In the adult stages, the diversity and composition of the intestinal microbiota were significantly different in the antibiotic-treated mice, and ceftriaxone-treated mice exhibited significantly higher serum total IgE and OVA-specific IgE levels. TMC3115 significantly mitigated the alteration of intestinal microbiota caused by ceftriaxone not vancomycin. Antibiotics and TMC3115 can differently modulate intestinal microbiota and SCFAs metabolism, affecting the development and function of the immunity and intestinal epithelium to different degrees in neonatal mice. Neonatal ceftriaxone-induced abnormal intestinal microbiota, immunity and epithelium could last to adulthood partly, which might be associated with the enhancement of host susceptibility to IgE-mediated allergies and related immune responses, TMC3115 may protect against the side effects of antibiotic treatment, at least partly.
64Cu and fluorescein labeled anti-miRNA peptide nucleic acids for the detection of miRNA expression in living cells
Authors: Croci Stefania , Manicardi Alex , Rubagotti Sara , Bonacini Martina , Iori Michele , Capponi Pier Cesare , Cicoria Gianfranco , Parmeggiani Maria , Salvarani Carlo , Versari Annibale , Corradini Roberto , Asti Mattia 
Published: March 2019

AbstractMiRNAs are single stranded RNAs of 18–22 nucleotides. They are promising diagnostic and prognostic markers for several pathologies including tumors, neurodegenerative, cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases. In the present work the development and characterization of anti-miRNA radiolabeled probes based on peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) for potential non-invasive molecular imaging in vivo of giant cell arteritis are described. MiR-146a and miR-146b-5p were selected as targets because they have been found up-regulated in this disease. Anti-miR and scramble PNAs were synthesized and linked to carboxyfluorescein or DOTA. DOTA-anti-miR PNAs were then labelled with copper-64 (64Cu) to function as non-invasive molecular imaging tools. The affinity of the probes for the targets was assessed in vitro by circular dichroism and melting temperature. Differential uptake of fluorescein and 64Cu labeled anti-miRNA probes was tested on BCPAP and A549 cell lines, expressing different levels of miR-146a and -146b-5p. The experiments showed that the anti-miR-146a PNAs were more effective than the anti-miR-146b-5p PNAs. Anti-miR-146a PNAs could bind both miR-146a and miR-146b-5p. The uptake of fluorescein and 64Cu labeled anti-miR-146a PNAs was higher than that of the negative control scramble PNAs in miRNA expressing cells in vitro. 64Cu-anti-miR-146a PNAs might be further investigated for non-invasive PET imaging of miR-146 overexpressing diseases.
A quantitative analysis linking seabird mortality and marine debris ingestion
Authors: Roman Lauren , Hardesty Britta Denise , Hindell Mark A. , Wilcox Chris 
Published: March 2019

AbstractProcellariiformes are the most threatened bird group globally, and the group with the highest frequency of marine debris ingestion. Marine debris ingestion is a globally recognized threat to marine biodiversity, yet the relationship between how much debris a bird ingests and mortality remains poorly understood. Using cause of death data from 1733 seabirds of 51 species, we demonstrate a significant relationship between ingested debris and a debris-ingestion cause of death (dose-response). There is a 20.4% chance of lifetime mortality from ingesting a single debris item, rising to 100% after consuming 93 items. Obstruction of the gastro-intestinal tract is the leading cause of death. Overall, balloons are the highest-risk debris item; 32 times more likely to result in death than ingesting hard plastic. These findings have significant implications for quantifying seabird mortality due to debris ingestion, and provide identifiable policy targets aimed to reduce mortality for threatened species worldwide.
Tightening Monogamy and Polygamy Inequalities of Multiqubit Entanglement
Authors: Farooq Ahmad , ur Rehman Junaid , Jeong Youngmin , Kim Jeong San , Shin Hyundong 
Published: March 2019

AbstractMonogamy and polygamy relations of quantum entanglement characterize the sharing and distribution of entanglement in a multipartite system. Multiqubit entanglement can be characterized entirely with bipartite combinations by saturating the monogamy and polygamy inequalities. In this paper, we tighten monogamy and polygamy constraints for the squared convex-roof extended negativity and its dual measure by employing a genetic algorithm. This evolutionary algorithm optimizes inequality residual functions to improve the monogamy and polygamy relations of these entanglement measures.
Strong and recurring seasonality revealed within stream diatom assemblages
Authors: Snell M. A. , Barker P. A. , Surridge B. W. J. , Benskin C. McW. H. , Barber N. , Reaney S. M. , Tych W. , Mindham D. , Large A. R. G. , Burke S. , Haygarth P. M. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractImproving stream water quality in agricultural landscapes is an ecological priority and a legislative duty for many governments. Ecosystem health can be effectively characterised by organisms sensitive to water quality changes such as diatoms, single-celled algae that are a ubiquitous component of stream benthos. Diatoms respond within daily timescales to variables including light, temperature, nutrient availability and flow conditions that result from weather and land use characteristics. However, little consideration has been given to the ecological dynamics of diatoms through repeated seasonal cycles when assessing trajectories of stream function, even in catchments actively managed to reduce human pressures. Here, six years of monthly diatom samples from three independent streams, each receiving differing levels of diffuse agricultural pollution, reveal robust and repeated seasonal variation. Predicted seasonal changes in climate-related variables and anticipated ecological impacts must be fully captured in future ecological and water quality assessments, if the apparent resistance of stream ecosystems to pollution mitigation measures is to be better understood.
Lifelong physical activity is associated with promoter hypomethylation of genes involved in metabolism, myogenesis, contractile properties and oxidative stress resistance in aged human skeletal muscle
Authors: Sailani M. Reza , Halling Jens Frey , Møller Henrik Devitt , Lee Hayan , Plomgaard Peter , Pilegaard Henriette , Snyder Michael P. , Regenberg Birgitte 
Published: March 2019

AbstractLifelong regular physical activity is associated with reduced risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D), maintenance of muscle mass and increased metabolic capacity. However, little is known about epigenetic mechanisms that might contribute to these beneficial effects in aged individuals. We investigated the effect of lifelong physical activity on global DNA methylation patterns in skeletal muscle of healthy aged men, who had either performed regular exercise or remained sedentary their entire lives (average age 62 years). DNA methylation was significantly lower in 714 promoters of the physically active than inactive men while methylation of introns, exons and CpG islands was similar in the two groups. Promoters for genes encoding critical insulin-responsive enzymes in glycogen metabolism, glycolysis and TCA cycle were hypomethylated in active relative to inactive men. Hypomethylation was also found in promoters of myosin light chain, dystrophin, actin polymerization, PAK regulatory genes and oxidative stress response genes. A cluster of genes regulated by GSK3β-TCF7L2 also displayed promoter hypomethylation. Together, our results suggest that lifelong physical activity is associated with DNA methylation patterns that potentially allow for increased insulin sensitivity and a higher expression of genes in energy metabolism, myogenesis, contractile properties and oxidative stress resistance in skeletal muscle of aged individuals.
Time-resolved decoding of metabolic signatures of in vitro growth of the hemibiotrophic pathogen Colletotrichum sublineolum
Authors: Tugizimana Fidele , Djami-Tchatchou Arnaud T. , Fahrmann Johannes F. , Steenkamp Paul A. , Piater Lizelle A. , Dubery Ian A. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractMetabolomics has emerged as a powerful approach to comprehensively interrogate cellular biochemistry. As such, we applied an untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolomic strategy to elucidate metabolome changes in the anthracnose-causing hemibiotrophic sorghum pathogen, Colletotrichum sublineolum. An in vitro batch culture study model with different carbon sources, glucose, arabinose and rhamnose, were used to support fungal growth over a period of twelve days. Metabolites representing the intracellular and extracellular (secreted) metabolomes were extracted with methanol and subjected to LC-MS analyses. Chemometric modelling revealed a metabolic variation trajectory, comprising three distinct stages that metabolically describe the adaptation of the fungus to diminishing nutrients. Selected marker gene expression indicated stage one (0–3 d.p.i) as corresponding to the early logarithmic phase. Stage two can be interpreted as an intermediate transitionary stage with stage three corresponding to the stationary phase (9–12 d.p.i). Stage one was characterised by up-regulation of endo-metabolites such as ferricrocin, fatty acids and flavone-conjugates, while stage three was characterised by the secretion of phytotoxins, including colletotrichin and colletotric acid. Ultimately, results from our in vitro model reveal previously unknown insights into the dynamic aspects of metabolome reprogramming in the growth phases of Colletotrichum spp as determined by nutrients obtainable from plant cell walls.
Identification and expression of candidate chemosensory receptors in the white-spotted flower chafer, Protaetia brevitarsis
Authors: Liu Hongmin , Zhang Xiaofang , Liu Chunqin , Liu Yongqiang , Mei Xiangdong , Zhang Tao 
Published: March 2019

AbstractAccurate detection and recognition of chemical signals play extremely important roles for insects in their survival and reproduction. Chemosensory receptors, including odorant receptors (ORs), ionotropic receptors (IRs) and gustatory receptors (GRs), are involved in detection of volatile signals. In the present study, we aimed to identify candidate chemosensory receptors, and RNA-seq technology was employed to sequence the antennal transcriptome of Protaetia brevitarsis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae), a native agricultural and horticultural pest in East-Asia. According to the sequence similarity analysis, we identified 72 PbreORs, 11 PbreGRs and eight PbreIRs. Among PbreORs, PbreOR2, PbreOR33 and PbreOR53 were preliminarily classified into pheromone receptors. Further qRT-PCR analysis indicated that 11 PbreORs were specifically expressed in the antennae of male P. brevitarsis, whereas 23 PbreORs were specifically expressed in the female antennae. Our results laid a solid foundation for further functional elucidations of insect chemoreceptors, which could be used as the potential targets of pest management.
Dynamic Imaging of Glucose and Lactate Metabolism by 13C-MRS without Hyperpolarization
Authors: Brender Jeffrey R. , Kishimoto Shun , Merkle Hellmut , Reed Galen , Hurd Ralph E. , Chen Albert P. , Ardenkjaer-Larsen Jan Henrik , Munasinghe Jeeva , Saito Keita , Seki Tomohiro , Oshima Nobu , Yamamoto Kazutoshi , Choyke Peter L. , Mitchell James , Krishna Murali C. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractMetabolic reprogramming is one of the defining features of cancer and abnormal metabolism is associated with many other pathologies. Molecular imaging techniques capable of detecting such changes have become essential for cancer diagnosis, treatment planning, and surveillance. In particular, 18F-FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose) PET has emerged as an essential imaging modality for cancer because of its unique ability to detect a disturbed molecular pathway through measurements of glucose uptake. However, FDG-PET has limitations that restrict its usefulness in certain situations and the information gained is limited to glucose uptake only.13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy theoretically has certain advantages over FDG-PET, but its inherent low sensitivity has restricted its use mostly to single voxel measurements unless dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (dDNP) is used to increase the signal, which brings additional complications for clinical use. We show here a new method of imaging glucose metabolism in vivo by MRI chemical shift imaging (CSI) experiments that relies on a simple, but robust and efficient, post-processing procedure by the higher dimensional analog of singular value decomposition, tensor decomposition. Using this procedure, we achieve an order of magnitude increase in signal to noise in both dDNP and non-hyperpolarized non-localized experiments without sacrificing accuracy. In CSI experiments an approximately 30-fold increase was observed, enough that the glucose to lactate conversion indicative of the Warburg effect can be imaged without hyper-polarization with a time resolution of 12s and an overall spatial resolution that compares favorably to 18F-FDG PET.
Cationic Intrinsically Disordered Antimicrobial Peptides (CIDAMPs) Represent a New Paradigm of Innate Defense with a Potential for Novel Anti-Infectives
Authors: Latendorf Ties , Gerstel Ulrich , Wu Zhihong , Bartels Joachim , Becker Alexander , Tholey Andreas , Schröder Jens-Michael 
Published: March 2019

AbstractIn the search for potential mechanisms underlying the remarkable resistance of healthy skin against infection by soil bacteria likePseudomonas(P.)aeruginosawe identified fragments of the intrinsically disordered protein hornerin as potent microbicidal agents in the stratum corneum. We found that, independent of the amino acid (AA)-sequence, any tested linear cationic peptide containing a high percentage of disorder-promoting AA and a low percentage of order-promoting AA is a potent microbicidal antimicrobial. We further show that the antimicrobial activity of these cationic intrinsically disordered antimicrobial peptides (CIDAMPs) depends on the peptide chain length, its net charge, lipidation and environmental conditions. The ubiquitous presence of latent CIDAMP sources in nature suggests a common and yet overlooked adapted innate disinfection system of body surfaces. The simple structure and virtually any imaginable sequence or composition of disorder-promoting AA allow the generation of a plethora of CIDAMPs. These are potential novel microbicidal anti-infectives for various bacterial pathogens, includingP. aeruginosa, methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) and fungal pathogens likeCandida albicansandCryptococcus neoformans.
Reduced habit-driven errors in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Bannard Colin , Leriche Mariana , Bandmann Oliver , Brown Christopher H. , Ferracane Elisa , Sánchez-Ferro Álvaro , Obeso José , Redgrave Peter , Stafford Tom 
Published: March 2019

AbstractParkinson’s Disease can be understood as a disorder of motor habits. A prediction of this theory is that early stage Parkinson’s patients will display fewer errors caused by interference from previously over-learned behaviours. We test this prediction in the domain of skilled typing, where actions are easy to record and errors easy to identify. We describe a method for categorizing errors as simple motor errors or habit-driven errors. We test Spanish and English participants with and without Parkinson’s, and show that indeed patients make fewer habit errors than healthy controls, and, further, that classification of error type increases the accuracy of discriminating between patients and healthy controls. As well as being a validation of a theory-led prediction, these results offer promise for automated, enhanced and early diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease.
Variation in genome size, cell and nucleus volume, chromosome number and rDNA loci among duckweeds
Authors: Hoang Phuong T. N. , Schubert Veit , Meister Armin , Fuchs Jörg , Schubert Ingo 
Published: March 2019

AbstractDuckweeds are small, free-floating, largely asexual and highly neotenous organisms. They display the most rapid growth among flowering plants and are of growing interest in aquaculture and genome biology. Genomic and chromosomal data are still rare. Applying flow-cytometric genome size measurement, microscopic determination of frond, cell and nucleus morphology, as well as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for localization of ribosomal DNA (rDNA), we compared eleven species, representative for the five duckweed genera to search for potential correlations between genome size, cell and nuclei volume, simplified body architecture (neoteny), chromosome numbers and rDNA loci. We found a ~14-fold genome size variation (from 160 to 2203 Mbp), considerable differences in frond size and shape, highly variable guard cell and nucleus size, chromosome number (from 2n = 36 to 82) and number of 5S and 45S rDNA loci. In general, genome size is positively correlated with guard cell and nucleus volume (p < 0.001) and with the neoteny level and inversely with the frond size. In individual cases these correlations could be blurred for instance by particular body and cell structures which seem to be linked to specific floating styles. Chromosome number and rDNA loci variation between the tested species was independent of the genome size. We could not confirm previously reported intraspecific variation of chromosome numbers between individual clones of the genera Spirodela and Landoltia.
Women’s preferences for men’s facial masculinity are strongest under favorable ecological conditions
Authors: Marcinkowska Urszula M. , Rantala Markus J. , Lee Anthony J. , Kozlov Mikhail V. , Aavik Toivo , Cai Huajian , Contreras-Garduño Jorge , David Oana A. , Kaminski Gwenaël , Li Norman P. , Onyishi Ike E. , Prasai Keshav , Pazhoohi Farid , Prokop Pavol , Cardozo Sandra L. Rosales , Sydney Nicolle , Taniguchi Hirokazu , Krams Indrikis , Dixson Barnaby J. W. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe strength of sexual selection on secondary sexual traits varies depending on prevailing economic and ecological conditions. In humans, cross-cultural evidence suggests women’s preferences for men’s testosterone dependent masculine facial traits are stronger under conditions where health is compromised, male mortality rates are higher and economic development is higher. Here we use a sample of 4483 exclusively heterosexual women from 34 countries and employ mixed effects modelling to test how social, ecological and economic variables predict women’s facial masculinity preferences. We report women’s preferences for more masculine looking men are stronger in countries with higher sociosexuality and where national health indices and human development indices are higher, while no associations were found between preferences and indices of intra-sexual competition. Our results show that women’s preferences for masculine faces are stronger under conditions where offspring survival is higher and economic conditions are more favorable.
Enriched environment alleviates stress-induced dry-eye through the BDNF axis
Authors: Sano Kokoro , Kawashima Motoko , Imada Toshihiro , Suzuki Toru , Nakamura Shigeru , Mimura Masaru , Tanaka Kenji F. , Tsubota Kazuo 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe number of patients with dry eye disease (DED) is increasing, and DED has become an urgent public health problem. A comorbidity of mental disorders has been reported in DED patients. We hypothesized that physical and psychological stressors impair tear secretion. To examine the relationship between stress loading and decreased tear secretion, we established a stress-induced DED mouse model, which permitted us to address the underlying mechanism of pathogenesis and resilience. Enriched environment (EE) was an effective intervention to prevent and alleviate stress-induced decreased tear secretion. Because stress loading resulted in decreased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression while EE resulted in increased expression, we focused on the role of BDNF in tear secretion. Using two distinct Bdnf gene knockdown mice, we evaluated whether BDNF was a deterministic factor in regulating tear secretion in healthy and stressed conditions. Bdnf knockdown mice showed decreased basal tear secretion and loss of stress tolerance by EE for tear secretion. These results suggest that BDNF expression is related to tear secretion and to the pathology of DED.