bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Magnetoelectric Spin Wave Modulator Based On Synthetic Multiferroic Structure
Authors: Balinskiy Michael , Chavez Andres C. , Barra Anthony , Chiang Howard , Carman Gregory P. , Khitun Alexander 
Published: July 2018

AbstractWe describe a spin wave modulator – spintronic device aimed to control spin wave propagation by an electric field. The modulator consists of a ferromagnetic film serving as a spin wave bus combined with a synthetic multiferroic comprising piezoelectric and magnetostrictive materials. Its operation is based on the stress-mediated coupling between the piezoelectric and magnetostrictive materials. By applying an electric field to the piezoelectric layer, the stress is produced. In turn, the stress changes the direction of the easy axis in the magnetostrictive layer and affects spin wave transport. We present experimental data on a prototype consisting of a piezoelectric [Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3](1-x) –[PbTiO3]x substrate, and 30 nm layer of magnetostrictive Ni film, where the film is attached to a 30 nm thick Ni81Fe19 spin wave bus. We report spin wave signal modulation in Ni81Fe19 layer by an electric field applied across the piezoelectric layer. The switching between the spin wave conducting and non-conducting states is achieved by applying ±0.3 MV/m electric field. We report over 300% modulation depth detected 80 μm away from the excitation port at room temperature. The demonstration of the spin wave modulator provides a new direction for spin-based device development by utilizing an electric field for spin current control.
Reading and Myopia: Contrast Polarity Matters
Authors: Aleman Andrea C. , Wang Min , Schaeffel Frank 
Published: July 2018

AbstractIn myopia the eye grows too long, generating poorly focused retinal images when people try to look at a distance. Myopia is tightly linked to the educational status and is on the rise worldwide. It is still not clear which kind of visual experience stimulates eye growth in children and students when they study. We propose a new and perhaps unexpected reason. Work in animal models has shown that selective activation of ON or OFF pathways has also selective effects on eye growth. This is likely to be true also in humans. Using custom-developed software to process video frames of the visual environment in realtime we quantified relative ON and OFF stimulus strengths. We found that ON and OFF inputs were largely balanced in natural environments. However, black text on white paper heavily overstimulated retinal OFF pathways. Conversely, white text on black paper overstimulated ON pathways. Using optical coherence tomography (OCT) in young human subjects, we found that the choroid, the heavily perfused layer behind the retina in the eye, becomes about 16 µm thinner in only one hour when subjects read black text on white background but about 10 µm thicker when they read white text from black background. Studies both in animal models and in humans have shown that thinner choroids are associated with myopia development and thicker choroids with myopia inhibition. Therefore, reading white text from a black screen or tablet may be a way to inhibit myopia, while conventional black text on white background may stimulate myopia.
GOATOOLS: A Python library for Gene Ontology analyses
Authors: Klopfenstein D. V. , Zhang Liangsheng , Pedersen Brent S. , Ramírez Fidel , Warwick Vesztrocy Alex , Naldi Aurélien , Mungall Christopher J. , Yunes Jeffrey M. , Botvinnik Olga , Weigel Mark , Dampier Will , Dessimoz Christophe , Flick Patrick , Tang Haibao 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe biological interpretation of gene lists with interesting shared properties, such as up- or down-regulation in a particular experiment, is typically accomplished using gene ontology enrichment analysis tools. Given a list of genes, a gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis may return hundreds of statistically significant GO results in a “flat” list, which can be challenging to summarize. It can also be difficult to keep pace with rapidly expanding biological knowledge, which often results in daily changes to any of the over 47,000 gene ontologies that describe biological knowledge. GOATOOLS, a Python-based library, makes it more efficient to stay current with the latest ontologies and annotations, perform gene ontology enrichment analyses to determine over- and under-represented terms, and organize results for greater clarity and easier interpretation using a novel GOATOOLS GO grouping method. We performed functional analyses on both stochastic simulation data and real data from a published RNA-seq study to compare the enrichment results from GOATOOLS to two other popular tools: DAVID and GOstats. GOATOOLS is freely available through GitHub: https://github.com/tanghaibao/goatools.
How driving rates determine the statistics of driven non-equilibrium systems with stationary distributions
Authors: Corominas-Murtra Bernat , Hanel Rudolf , Zavojanni Leonardo , Thurner Stefan 
Published: July 2018

AbstractSample space reducing (SSR) processes offer a simple analytical way to understand the origin and ubiquity of power-laws in many path-dependent complex systems. SRR processes show a wide range of applications that range from fragmentation processes, language formation to search and cascading processes. Here we argue that they also offer a natural framework to understand stationary distributions of generic driven non-equilibrium systems that are composed of a driving- and a relaxing process. We show that the statistics of driven non-equilibrium systems can be derived from the understanding of the nature of the underlying driving process. For constant driving rates exact power-laws emerge with exponents that are related to the driving rate. If driving rates become state-dependent, or if they vary across the life-span of the process, the functional form of the state-dependence determines the statistics. Constant driving rates lead to exact power-laws, a linear state-dependence function yields exponential or Gamma distributions, a quadratic function produces the normal distribution. Logarithmic and power-law state dependence leads to log-normal and stretched exponential distribution functions, respectively. Also Weibull, Gompertz and Tsallis-Pareto distributions arise naturally from simple state-dependent driving rates. We discuss a simple physical example of consecutive elastic collisions that exactly represents a SSR process.
Reduction of the forming voltage through tailored oxygen non-stoichiometry in tantalum oxide ReRAM devices
Authors: Skaja Katharina , Andrä Michael , Rana Vikas , Waser Rainer , Dittmann Regina , Baeumer Christoph 
Published: July 2018

AbstractIn this study, we investigated the influence of oxygen non-stoichiometry on the resistive switching performance of tantalum oxide based memristive devices. Thin-films of tantalum oxide were deposited with varying sputter power and oxygen partial pressure. The electroforming voltage was found to decrease with increasing power density or decreased oxygen partial pressure, while the endurance remained stable and the resistance window ROFF/RON was found to increase. In-depth XPS analysis connects these observations to a controllable oxygen sub-stoichiometry in the sputter-deposited films. Our analysis shows that the decrease of the forming voltage results from an increase in carrier density in the as-prepared thin-films, which is induced by the presence of oxygen vacancies.
Menthol, a unique urinary volatile compound, is associated with chronic inflammation in interstitial cystitis
Authors: Shahid Muhammad , Lee Min Young , Yeon Austin , Cho Eunho , Sairam Vikram , Valdiviez Luis , You Sungyong , Kim Jayoung 
Published: July 2018

AbstractChronic inflammation is a potential systemic risk factor for many bladder dysfunctions, including interstitial cystitis (IC). However, the underlying mechanism through which a healthy bladder protects itself from inflammatory triggers remains unknown. In this study, we identified odor compounds in urine obtained from IC patients and healthy controls. Using comprehensive solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-TOF-MS) profiling and bioinformatics, we found that levels of urinary volatile metabolites, such as menthol, were significantly reduced in IC patients, compared to healthy controls. In an attempt to understand the mechanistic meaning of our volatile metabolites data and the role of menthol in the immune system, we performed two independent experiments: (a) cytokine profiling, and (b) DNA microarray. Our findings suggest that lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated inflammatory events, such as the production and secretion of inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) and the activation of NF-κB and associated proteins within a large signaling network (e.g., Akt, TLR1, TNFAIP3, and NF-κB), are suppressed by the presence of menthol. These findings broaden our knowledge on the role of urinary menthol in suppressing inflammatory events and provide potential new strategies for alleviating both the odor and inflammation associated with IC.
Label-free multiphoton microscopy reveals relevant tissue changes induced by alginate hydrogel implantation in rat spinal cord injury
Authors: Galli Roberta , Sitoci-Ficici Kerim H. , Uckermann Ortrud , Later Robert , Marečková Magda , Koch Maria , Leipnitz Elke , Schackert Gabriele , Koch Edmund , Gelinsky Michael , Steiner Gerald , Kirsch Matthias 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe development of therapies promoting recovery after spinal cord injury is a challenge. Alginate hydrogels offer the possibility to develop biocompatible implants with mechanical properties tailored to the nervous tissue, which could provide a permissive environment for tissue repair. Here, the effects of non-functionalized soft calcium alginate hydrogel were investigated in a rat model of thoracic spinal cord hemisection and compared to lesioned untreated controls. Open field locomotion tests were employed to evaluate functional recovery. Tissue analysis was performed with label-free multiphoton microscopy using a multimodal approach that combines coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering to visualize axonal structures, two-photon fluorescence to visualize inflammation, second harmonic generation to visualize collagenous scarring. Treated animals recovered hindlimb function significantly better than controls. Multiphoton microscopy revealed that the implant influenced the injury-induced tissue response, leading to decreased inflammation, reduced scarring with different morphology and increased presence of axons. Demyelination of contralateral white matter near the lesion was prevented. Reduced chronic inflammation and increased amount of axons in the lesion correlated with improved hindlimb functions, being thus relevant for locomotion recovery. In conclusion, non-functionalized hydrogel improved functional outcome after spinal cord injury in rats. Furthermore, label-free multiphoton microscopy qualified as suitable technique for regeneration studies.
Quantitative muscle MRI to follow up late onset Pompe patients: a prospective study
Authors: Figueroa-Bonaparte Sebastian , Llauger Jaume , Segovia Sonia , Belmonte Izaskun , Pedrosa Irene , Montiel Elena , Montesinos Paula , Sánchez-González Javier , Alonso-Jiménez Alicia , Gallardo Eduard , Illa Isabel ,   Spanish Pompe group, Barba-Romero Miguel Angel , Barcena Joseba , Carbonell Pilar , Carzorla María Rosario , Creus Carlota , Coll-Cantí Jaume , Díaz Manuel , Domínguez Cristina , Fernández-Torrón Roberto , García-Antelo María José , Grau Josep Maria , López de Munáin Adolfo , Martínez-García Francisco Antonio , Morgado Yolanda , Moreno Antonio , Morís Germán , Muñoz-Blanco Miguel Angel , Nascimento Andres , Parajua José Luis , Robledo-Strauss Arturo , Rojas-Marcos Íñigo , Salazar Jose António , Usón Mercedes , Díaz-Manera Jordi 
Published: July 2018

AbstractLate onset Pompe disease (LOPD) is a slow, progressive disorder characterized by skeletal and respiratory muscle weakness. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) slows down the progression of muscle symptoms. Reliable biomarkers are needed to follow up ERT-treated and asymptomatic LOPD patients in clinical practice. In this study, 32 LOPD patients (22 symptomatic and 10 asymptomatic) underwent muscle MRI using 3-point Dixon and were evaluated at the time of the MRI with several motor function tests and patient-reported outcome measures, and again after one year. Muscle MRI showed a significant increase of 1.7% in the fat content of the thigh muscles in symptomatic LOPD patients. In contrast, there were no noteworthy differences between muscle function tests in the same period of time. We did not observe any significant changes either in muscle MRI or in muscle function tests in asymptomatic patients over the year. We conclude that 3-point Dixon muscle MRI is a useful tool for detecting changes in muscle structure in symptomatic LOPD patients and could become part of the current follow-up protocol in daily clinics.
Electrostatic Tuning of the Ligand Binding Mechanism by Glu27 in Nitrophorin 7
Authors: Abbruzzetti Stefania , Allegri Alessandro , Bidon-Chanal Axel , Ogata Hideaki , Soavi Giancarlo , Cerullo Giulio , Bruno Stefano , Montali Chiara , Luque F. Javier , Viappiani Cristiano 
Published: July 2018

AbstractNitrophorins (NP) 1–7 are NO-carrying heme proteins found in the saliva of the blood-sucking insect Rhodnius prolixus. The isoform NP7 displays peculiar properties, such as an abnormally high isoelectric point, the ability to bind negatively charged membranes, and a strong pH sensitivity of NO affinity. A unique trait of NP7 is the presence of Glu in position 27, which is occupied by Val in other NPs. Glu27 appears to be important for tuning the heme properties, but its influence on the pH-dependent NO release mechanism, which is assisted by a conformational change in the AB loop, remains unexplored. Here, in order to gain insight into the functional role of Glu27, we examine the effect of Glu27 → Val and Glu27 → Gln mutations on the ligand binding kinetics using CO as a model. The results reveal that annihilation of the negative charge of Glu27 upon mutation reduces the pH sensitivity of the ligand binding rate, a process that in turn depends on the ionization of Asp32. We propose that Glu27 exerts a through-space electrostatic action on Asp32, which shifts the pKa of the latter amino acid towards more acidic values thus reducing the pH sensitivity of the transition between open and closed states.
Extract from Aphloia theiformis, an edible indigenous plant from Reunion Island, impairs Zika virus attachment to the host cell surface
Authors: Clain Elodie , Sinigaglia Laura , Koishi Andrea Cristine , Gorgette Olivier , Gadea Gilles , Viranaicken Wildriss , Krejbich-Trotot Pascale , Mavingui Patrick , Desprès Philippe , Nunes Duarte dos Santos Claudia , Guiraud Pascale , Jouvenet Nolwenn , El Kalamouni Chaker 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe mosquito-borne Zika virus (ZIKV) belongs to the flavivirus genus of the Flaviviridae family. Contemporary epidemic strains of ZIKV are associated with congenital malformations in infants, including microcephaly, as well as Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. A risk of human-to-human transmission of ZIKV is also well documented. A worldwide research effort has been undertaken to identify safe and effective strategies to prevent or treat ZIKV infection. We show here that extract from Aphloia theiformis, an edible endemic plant from Indian Ocean islands, exerts a potent antiviral effect against ZIKV strains of African and Asian lineages, including epidemic strains. The antiviral effect of A. theiformis extract was extended to clinical isolates of dengue virus (DENV) of the four serotypes in human hepatocytes. A. theiformis inhibited virus entry in host cells by acting directly on viral particles, thus impairing their attachment to the cell surface. Electron microscopic observations revealed that organization of ZIKV particles was severely affected by A. theiformis. We propose a model of antiviral action for A. theiformis against flaviviruses that highlights the potential of medicinal plants as promising sources of naturally-derived antiviral compounds to prevent ZIKV and DENV infections.
Triptolide attenuates proteinuria and podocyte apoptosis via inhibition of NF-κB/GADD45B
Authors: Wang Ling , Zhang Liwen , Hou Qing , Zhu Xiaodong , Chen Zhaohong , Liu Zhihong 
Published: July 2018

AbstractPodocyte injury is a primary contributor to proteinuria. Triptolide is a major active component of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F that exhibits potent antiproteinuric effects. We used our previously developed in vivo zebrafish model of inducible podocyte-target injury and found that triptolide treatment effectively alleviated oedema, proteinuria and foot process effacement. Triptolide also inhibited podocyte apoptosis in our zebrafish model and in vitro. We also examined the mechanism of triptolide protection of podocyte. Whole-genome expression profiles of cultured podocytes demonstrated that triptolide treatment downregulated apoptosis pathway-related GADD45B expression. Specific overexpression of gadd45b in zebrafish podocytes abolished the protective effects of triptolide. GADD45B is a mediator of podocyte apoptosis that contains typical NF-κB binding sites in the promoter region, and NF-κB p65 primarily transactivates this gene. Triptolide inhibited NF-κB signalling activation and binding of NF-κB to the GADD45B promoter. Taken together, our findings demonstrated that triptolide attenuated proteinuria and podocyte apoptosis via inhibition of NF-κB/GADD45B signalling, which provides a new understanding of the antiproteinuric effects of triptolide in glomerular diseases.
Control energy of complex networks towards distinct mixture states
Authors: Nie Sen , Stanley H. Eugene , Chen Shi-Ming , Wang Bing-Hong , Wang Xu-Wen 
Published: July 2018

AbstractControlling complex networked systems is a real-world puzzle that remains largely unsolved. Despite recent progress in understanding the structural characteristics of network control energy, target state and system dynamics have not been explored. We examine how varying the final state mixture affects the control energy of canonical and conformity-incorporated dynamical systems. We find that the control energy required to drive a network to an identical final state is lower than that required to arrive a non-identical final state. We also demonstrate that it is easier to achieve full control in a conformity-based dynamical network. Finally we determine the optimal control strategy in terms of the network hierarchical structure. Our work offers a realistic understanding of the control energy within the final state mixture and sheds light on controlling complex systems.
Nano@lignocellulose intercalated montmorillonite as adsorbent for effective Mn(II) removal from aqueous solution
Authors: An Yuhong , Zhang Xiaotao , Wang Ximing , Chen Zhangjing , Wu Xiangwen 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThis paper describes the preparation of nano@lignocellulose (nano@LC) and a nano@lignocellulose/montmorillonite (nano@LC/MT) nanocomposite, as well as the capacity of the nano@LC/MT for adsorbing manganese ions from aqueous solution. The structure of nano@LC and nano@LC/MT was characterised by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Scanning electron microscopy, and Transmission electron microscopy, which revealed that the diffraction peak of montmorillonite almost disappeared, infrared bands of the functional groups shifted, and morphology of the material changed after the formation of the composite. The optimum conditions for the adsorption of Mn(II) on the nano@LC/MT nanocomposite were investigated in detail by changing the initial Mn(II) concentration, pH, adsorption temperature, and time. The results revealed that the adsorption capacity of the nano@LC/MT nanocomposite for Mn(II) reached 628.0503 mg/g at a Mn(II) initial concentration of 900 mg/L, solution pH 5.8, adsorption temperature 55 °C, and adsorption time 160 min. Adsorption kinetics experiments revealed good agreement between the experimental data and the pseudo-second order kinetic model. The experimental data was satisfactorily fitted to the Langmuir isotherm. Adsorption-desorption results showed that nano@LC/MT exhibited excellent reusability. The adsorption mechanism was investigated through FT-IR and EDX spectroscopic analyses. The results suggested that nano@LC/MT have great potential in removing Mn(II) from water.
How different sterols contribute to saponin tolerant plasma membranes in sea cucumbers
Authors: Claereboudt Emily J. S. , Eeckhaut Igor , Lins Laurence , Deleu Magali 
Published: July 2018

AbstractSea cucumbers produce saponins as a chemical defense mechanism, however their cells can tolerate the cytotoxic nature of these chemicals. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms behind this tolerance a suite of complementary biophysical tools was used, firstly using liposomes for in vitro techniques then using in silico approaches for a molecular-level insight. The holothuroid saponin Frondoside A, caused significantly less permeabilization in liposomes containing a Δ7 holothuroid sterol than those containing cholesterol and resulted in endothermic interactions versus exothermic interactions with cholesterol containing liposomes. Lipid phases simulations revealed that Frondoside A has an agglomerating effect on cholesterol domains, however, induced small irregular Δ7 sterol clusters. Our results suggest that the structural peculiarities of holothuroid sterols provide sea cucumbers with a mechanism to mitigate the sterol-agglomerating effect of saponins, and therefore to protect their cells from the cytotoxicity of the saponins they produce.
A dual-fMRI investigation of the iterated Ultimatum Game reveals that reciprocal behaviour is associated with neural alignment
Authors: Shaw Daniel J. , Czekóová Kristína , Staněk Rostislav , Mareček Radek , Urbánek Tomáš , Špalek Jiří , Kopečková Lenka , Řezáč Jan , Brázdil Milan 
Published: July 2018

AbstractDyadic interactions often involve a dynamic process of mutual reciprocity; to steer a series of exchanges towards a desired outcome, both interactants must adapt their own behaviour according to that of their interaction partner. Understanding the brain processes behind such bidirectional reciprocity is therefore central to social neuroscience, but this requires measurement of both individuals’ brains during real-world exchanges. We achieved this by performing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) on pairs of male individuals simultaneously while they interacted in a modified iterated Ultimatum Game (iUG). In this modification, both players could express their intent and maximise their own monetary gain by reciprocating their partner’s behaviour – they could promote generosity through cooperation and/or discourage unfair play with retaliation. By developing a novel model of reciprocity adapted from behavioural economics, we then show that each player’s choices can be predicted accurately by estimating expected utility (EU) not only in terms of immediate payoff, but also as a reaction to their opponent’s prior behaviour. Finally, for the first time we reveal that brain signals implicated in social decision making are modulated by these estimates of EU, and become correlated more strongly between interacting players who reciprocate one another.