bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Toxicology Study of Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes and Reduced Graphene Oxide in Human Sperm
Authors: Asghar Waseem , Shafiee Hadi , Velasco Vanessa , Sah Vasu R. , Guo Shirui , El Assal Rami , Inci Fatih , Rajagopalan Adhithi , Jahangir Muntasir , Anchan Raymond M. , Mutter George L. , Ozkan Mihrimah , Ozkan Cengiz S. , Demirci Utkan 
Published: August 2016

AbstractCarbon-based nanomaterials such as single-walled carbon nanotubes and reduced graphene oxide are currently being evaluated for biomedical applications includingin vivodrug delivery and tumor imaging. Several reports have studied the toxicity of carbon nanomaterials, but their effects on human male reproduction have not been fully examined. Additionally, it is not clear whether the nanomaterial exposure has any effect on sperm sorting procedures used in clinical settings. Here, we show that the presence of functionalized single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT-COOH) and reduced graphene oxide at concentrations of 1–25 μg/mL do not affect sperm viability. However, SWCNT-COOH generate significant reactive superoxide species at a higher concentration (25 μg/mL), while reduced graphene oxide does not initiate reactive species in human sperm. Further, we demonstrate that exposure to these nanomaterials does not hinder the sperm sorting process, and microfluidic sorting systems can select the sperm that show low oxidative stress post-exposure.
Climate extremes can drive biological assemblages to early successional stages compared to several mild disturbances
Authors: Sanz-Lázaro Carlos 
Published: August 2016

AbstractExtreme climatic events have a major role in the structuring of biological communities, and their occurrence is expected to increase due to climate change. Here I use a manipulative approach to test the effects of extreme storm events on rocky mid-shore assemblages. This study shows that an extreme storm can cause more negative effects than several mild storms, primarily by bringing the biological assemblages towards early stages of succession. This finding contrasts with the effects of clustering of climatic events due to climate change, which are expected to mitigate its ecological impacts. Thus, the ecological consequences of climatic events that are influenced by climate change may have contrasting effects depending on the features that are considered. These results have relevant implications in the forecasting of the ecological consequences of climate change and should be considered when designing measures to mitigate its effects.
Combining endangered plants and animals as surrogates to identify priority conservation areas in Yunnan, China
Authors: Yang Feiling , Hu Jinming , Wu Ruidong 
Published: August 2016

AbstractSuitable surrogates are critical for identifying optimal priority conservation areas (PCAs) to protect regional biodiversity. This study explored the efficiency of using endangered plants and animals as surrogates for identifying PCAs at the county level in Yunnan, southwest China. We ran the Dobson algorithm under three surrogate scenarios at 75% and 100% conservation levels and identified four types of PCAs. Assessment of the protection efficiencies of the four types of PCAs showed that endangered plants had higher surrogacy values than endangered animals but that the two were not substitutable; coupled endangered plants and animals as surrogates yielded a higher surrogacy value than endangered plants or animals as surrogates; the plant-animal priority areas (PAPAs) was the optimal among the four types of PCAs for conserving both endangered plants and animals in Yunnan. PAPAs could well represent overall species diversity distribution patterns and overlap with critical biogeographical regions in Yunnan. Fourteen priority units in PAPAs should be urgently considered as optimizing Yunnan’s protected area system. The spatial pattern of PAPAs at the 100% conservation level could be conceptualized into three connected conservation belts, providing a valuable reference for optimizing the layout of the in situ protected area system in Yunnan.
Binding site elucidation and structure guided design of macrocyclic IL-17A antagonists
Authors: Liu Shenping , Dakin Leslie A. , Xing Li , Withka Jane M. , Sahasrabudhe Parag V. , Li Wei , Banker Mary Ellen , Balbo Paul , Shanker Suman , Chrunyk Boris A. , Guo Zuojun , Chen Jinshan M. , Young Jennifer A. , Bai Guoyun , Starr Jeremy T. , Wright Stephen W. , Bussenius Joerg , Tan Sheng , Gopalsamy Ariamala , Lefker Bruce A. , Vincent Fabien , Jones Lyn H. , Xu Hua , Hoth Lise R. , Geoghegan Kieran F. , Qiu Xiayang , Bunnage Mark E. , Thorarensen Atli 
Published: August 2016

AbstractInterleukin-17A (IL-17A) is a principal driver of multiple inflammatory and immune disorders. Antibodies that neutralize IL-17A or its receptor (IL-17RA) deliver efficacy in autoimmune diseases, but no small-molecule IL-17A antagonists have yet progressed into clinical trials. Investigation of a series of linear peptide ligands to IL-17A and characterization of their binding site has enabled the design of novel macrocyclic ligands that are themselves potent IL-17A antagonists.
Ammonia intercalated flower-like MoS2 nanosheet film as electrocatalyst for high efficient and stable hydrogen evolution
Authors: Wang F. Z. , Zheng M. J. , Zhang B. , Zhu C. Q. , Li Q. , Ma L. , Shen W. Z. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractAmmonia intercalated flower-like MoS2 electrocatalyst film assembled by vertical orientated ultrathin nanosheet on graphite sheethas been successfully synthesized using one-step hydrothermal method. In this strategy, ammonia can effectively insert into the parallel plane of the MoS2 nanosheets, leading to the expansion of lattice and phase transfer from 2H to 1T, generating more active unsaturated sulfur atoms. The flower-like ammoniated MoS2 electrocatalysts with more active sites and large surface area exhibited excellent HER activity with a small Tafel slope and low onset overpotential, resulting a great enhancement in hydrogen evolution. The high efficient activity and recyclable utilization, as well as large-scale, indicate that it is a very promising electrocatalyst to replace Pt in industry application.
Nematicidal spore-forming Bacilli share similar virulence factors and mechanisms
Authors: Zheng Ziqiang , Zheng Jinshui , Zhang Zhengming , Peng Donghai , Sun Ming 
Published: August 2016

AbstractIn the soil environment, Bacilli can affect nematode development, fecundity and survival. However, although many Bacillus species can kill nematodes, the virulence mechanisms Bacilli utilize remain unknown. In this study, we collected 120 strains comprising 30 species across the Bacillaceae and Paenibacillaceae families of the Bacillales order and measured their nematicidal activities in vitro. Comparison of these strains’ nematicidal capacities revealed that nine species, including Bacillus thuringiensis, B. cereus, B. subtilis, B. pumilus, B. firmus, B. toyonensis, Lysinibacillus sphaericus, Brevibacillus laterosporus and B. brevis, were highly nematicidal, the first of which showed the highest activity. Genome sequencing and analysis identified many potential virulence factors, which grouped into five types. At least four possible mechanisms were deduced on the basis of the combination of these factors and the bacterial nematicidal activity, including a pore-forming mechanism of crystal proteins, an inhibition-like mechanism of thuringiensin and a degradation mechanism of proteases and/or chitinases. Our results demonstrate that 120 spore-forming Bacilli across different families share virulence factors that may contribute to their nematicidal capacity.
Metal-electrode-free Window-like Organic Solar Cells with p-Doped Carbon Nanotube Thin-film Electrodes
Authors: Jeon Il , Delacou Clement , Kaskela Antti , Kauppinen Esko I. , Maruyama Shigeo , Matsuo Yutaka 
Published: August 2016

AbstractOrganic solar cells are flexible and inexpensive, and expected to have a wide range of applications. Many transparent organic solar cells have been reported and their success hinges on full transparency and high power conversion efficiency. Recently, carbon nanotubes and graphene, which meet these criteria, have been used in transparent conductive electrodes. However, their use in top electrodes has been limited by mechanical difficulties in fabrication and doping. Here, expensive metal top electrodes were replaced with high-performance, easy-to-transfer, aerosol-synthesized carbon nanotubes to produce transparent organic solar cells. The carbon nanotubes were p-doped by two new methods: HNO3 doping via ‘sandwich transfer’, and MoOx thermal doping via ‘bridge transfer’. Although both of the doping methods improved the performance of the carbon nanotubes and the photovoltaic performance of devices, sandwich transfer, which gave a 4.1% power conversion efficiency, was slightly more effective than bridge transfer, which produced a power conversion efficiency of 3.4%. Applying a thinner carbon nanotube film with 90% transparency decreased the efficiency to 3.7%, which was still high. Overall, the transparent solar cells had an efficiency of around 50% that of non-transparent metal-based solar cells (7.8%).
Genome-wide Expression Analysis and Metabolite Profiling Elucidate Transcriptional Regulation of Flavonoid Biosynthesis and Modulation under Abiotic Stresses in Banana
Authors: Pandey Ashutosh , Alok Anshu , Lakhwani Deepika , Singh Jagdeep , Asif Mehar H. , Trivedi Prabodh K. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractFlavonoid biosynthesis is largely regulated at the transcriptional level due to the modulated expression of genes related to the phenylpropanoid pathway in plants. Although accumulation of different flavonoids has been reported in banana, a staple fruit crop, no detailed information is available on regulation of the biosynthesis in this important plant. We carried out genome-wide analysis of banana (Musa acuminata, AAA genome) and identified 28 genes belonging to 9 gene families associated with flavonoid biosynthesis. Expression analysis suggested spatial and temporal regulation of the identified genes in different tissues of banana. Analysis revealed enhanced expression of genes related to flavonol and proanthocyanidin (PA) biosynthesis in peel and pulp at the early developmental stages of fruit. Genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis were highly expressed during banana fruit ripening. In general, higher accumulation of metabolites was observed in the peel as compared to pulp tissue. A correlation between expression of genes and metabolite content was observed at the early stage of fruit development. Furthermore, this study also suggests regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis, at transcriptional level, under light and dark exposures as well as methyl jasmonate (MJ) treatment in banana.
Model-based action planning involves cortico-cerebellar and basal ganglia networks
Authors: Fermin Alan S. R. , Yoshida Takehiko , Yoshimoto Junichiro , Ito Makoto , Tanaka Saori C. , Doya Kenji 
Published: August 2016

AbstractHumans can select actions by learning, planning, or retrieving motor memories. Reinforcement Learning (RL) associates these processes with three major classes of strategies for action selection: exploratory RL learns state-action values by exploration, model-based RL uses internal models to simulate future states reached by hypothetical actions and motor-memory RL selects past successful state-action mapping. In order to investigate the neural substrates that implement these strategies, we conducted a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiment while humans performed a sequential action selection task under conditions that promoted the use of a specific RL strategy. The ventromedial prefrontal cortex and ventral striatum increased activity in the exploratory condition; the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, dorsomedial striatum and lateral cerebellum in the model-based condition; and the supplementary motor area, putamen and anterior cerebellum in the motor-memory condition. These findings suggest that a distinct prefrontal-basal ganglia and cerebellar network implements the model-based RL action selection strategy.
Parkinson disease-linked GBA mutation effects reversed by molecular chaperones in human cell and fly models
Authors: Sanchez-Martinez Alvaro , Beavan Michelle , Gegg Matthew E. , Chau Kai-Yin , Whitworth Alexander J. , Schapira Anthony H. V. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractGBA gene mutations are the greatest cause of Parkinson disease (PD). GBA encodes the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase (GCase) but the mechanisms by which loss of GCase contributes to PD remain unclear. Inhibition of autophagy and the generation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress are both implicated. Mutant GCase can unfold in the ER and be degraded via the unfolded protein response, activating ER stress and reducing lysosomal GCase. Small molecule chaperones that cross the blood brain barrier help mutant GCase refold and traffic correctly to lysosomes are putative treatments for PD. We treated fibroblast cells from PD patients with heterozygous GBA mutations and Drosophila expressing human wild-type, N370S and L444P GBA with the molecular chaperones ambroxol and isofagomine. Both chaperones increased GCase levels and activity, but also GBA mRNA, in control and mutant GBA fibroblasts. Expression of mutated GBA in Drosophila resulted in dopaminergic neuronal loss, a progressive locomotor defect, abnormal aggregates in the ER and increased levels of the ER stress reporter Xbp1-EGFP. Treatment with both chaperones lowered ER stress and prevented the loss of motor function, providing proof of principle that small molecule chaperones can reverse mutant GBA-mediated ER stress in vivo and might prove effective for treating PD.
Three-dimensional fluorescent microscopy via simultaneous illumination and detection at multiple planes
Authors: Ma Qian , Khademhosseinieh Bahar , Huang Eric , Qian Haoliang , Bakowski Malina A. , Troemel Emily R. , Liu Zhaowei 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe conventional optical microscope is an inherently two-dimensional (2D) imaging tool. The objective lens, eyepiece and image sensor are all designed to capture light emitted from a 2D ‘object plane’. Existing technologies, such as confocal or light sheet fluorescence microscopy have to utilize mechanical scanning, a time-multiplexing process, to capture a 3D image. In this paper, we present a 3D optical microscopy method based upon simultaneously illuminating and detecting multiple focal planes. This is implemented by adding two diffractive optical elements to modify the illumination and detection optics. We demonstrate that the image quality of this technique is comparable to conventional light sheet fluorescent microscopy with the advantage of the simultaneous imaging of multiple axial planes and reduced number of scans required to image the whole sample volume.
Simulated leakage of high pCO2 water negatively impacts bivalve dominated infaunal communities from the Western Baltic Sea
Authors: Schade Hanna , Mevenkamp Lisa , Guilini Katja , Meyer Stefanie , Gorb Stanislav N. , Abele Doris , Vanreusel Ann , Melzner Frank 
Published: August 2016

AbstractCarbon capture and storage is promoted as a mitigation method counteracting the increase of atmospheric CO2levels. However, at this stage, environmental consequences of potential CO2leakage from sub-seabed storage sites are still largely unknown. In a 3-month-long mesocosm experiment, this study assessed the impact of elevatedpCO2levels (1,500 to 24,400 μatm) onCerastoderma eduledominated benthic communities from the Baltic Sea. Mortality ofC. edulewas significantly increased in the highest treatment (24,400 μatm) and exceeded 50%. Furthermore, mortality of small size classes (0–1 cm) was significantly increased in treatment levels ≥6,600 μatm. First signs of external shell dissolution became visible at ≥1,500 μatm, holes were observed at >6,600 μatm.C. edulebody condition decreased significantly at all treatment levels (1,500–24,400 μatm). Dominant meiofauna taxa remained unaffected in abundance. Densities of calcifying meiofauna taxa (i.e. Gastropoda and Ostracoda) decreased in high CO2treatments (>6,600 μatm), while the non - calcifying Gastrotricha significantly increased in abundance at 24,400 μatm. In addition, microbial community composition was altered at the highestpCO2level. We conclude that strong CO2leakage can alter benthic infauna community composition at multiple trophic levels, likely due to high mortality of the dominant macrofauna speciesC. edule.
Insights into the transmission of respiratory infectious diseases through empirical human contact networks
Authors: Huang Chunlin , Liu Xingwu , Sun Shiwei , Li Shuai Cheng , Deng Minghua , He Guangxue , Zhang Haicang , Wang Chao , Zhou Yang , Zhao Yanlin , Bu Dongbo 
Published: August 2016

AbstractIn this study, we present representative human contact networks among Chinese college students. Unlike schools in the US, human contacts within Chinese colleges are extremely clustered, partly due to the highly organized lifestyle of Chinese college students. Simulations of influenza spreading across real contact networks are in good accordance with real influenza records; however, epidemic simulations across idealized scale-free or small-world networks show considerable overestimation of disease prevalence, thus challenging the widely-applied idealized human contact models in epidemiology. Furthermore, the special contact pattern within Chinese colleges results in disease spreading patterns distinct from those of the US schools. Remarkably, class cancelation, though simple, shows a mitigating power equal to quarantine/vaccination applied on ~25% of college students, which quantitatively explains its success in Chinese colleges during the SARS period. Our findings greatly facilitate reliable prediction of epidemic prevalence and thus should help establishing effective strategies for respiratory infectious diseases control.
Microbial and diagenetic steps leading to the mineralisation of Great Salt Lake microbialites
Authors: Pace Aurélie , Bourillot Raphaël , Bouton Anthony , Vennin Emmanuelle , Galaup Serge , Bundeleva Irina , Patrier Patricia , Dupraz Christophe , Thomazo Christophe , Sansjofre Pierre , Yokoyama Yusuke , Franceschi Michel , Anguy Yannick , Pigot Léa , Virgone Aurélien , Visscher Pieter T. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractMicrobialites are widespread in modern and fossil hypersaline environments, where they provide a unique sedimentary archive. Authigenic mineral precipitation in modern microbialites results from a complex interplay between microbial metabolisms, organic matrices and environmental parameters. Here, we combined mineralogical and microscopic analyses with measurements of metabolic activity in order to characterise the mineralisation of microbial mats forming microbialites in the Great Salt Lake (Utah, USA). Our results show that the mineralisation process takes place in three steps progressing along geochemical gradients produced through microbial activity. First, a poorly crystallized Mg-Si phase precipitates on alveolar extracellular organic matrix due to a rise of the pH in the zone of active oxygenic photosynthesis. Second, aragonite patches nucleate in close proximity to sulfate reduction hotspots, as a result of the degradation of cyanobacteria and extracellular organic matrix mediated by, among others, sulfate reducing bacteria. A final step consists of partial replacement of aragonite by dolomite, possibly in neutral to slightly acidic porewater. This might occur due to dissolution-precipitation reactions when the most recalcitrant part of the organic matrix is degraded. The mineralisation pathways proposed here provide pivotal insight for the interpretation of microbial processes in past hypersaline environments.
Mechanical properties and failure behaviors of the interface of hybrid graphene/hexagonal boron nitride sheets
Authors: Ding Ning , Chen Xiangfeng , Wu Chi-Man Lawrence 
Published: August 2016

AbstractHybrid graphene/h-BN sheet has been fabricated recently and verified to possess unusual physical properties. During the growth process, defects such as vacancies are unavoidably present at the interface between graphene and h-BN. In the present work, typical vacancy defects, which were located at the interface between graphene and h-BN, were studied by density functional theory. The interface structure, mechanical and electronic properties, and failure behavior of the hybrid graphene/h-BN sheet were investigated and compared. The results showed that the formation energy of the defective graphene/h-BN interface basically increased with increasing inflection angles. However, Young’s modulus for all graphene/h-BN systems studied decreased with the increase in inflection angles. The intrinsic strength of the hybrid graphene/h-BN sheets was affected not only by the inflection angles, but also by the type of interface connection and the type of defects. The energy band structure of the hybrid interface could be tuned by applying mechanical strain to the systems. These results demonstrated that vacancies introduced significant effects on the mechanical and electronic properties of the hybrid graphene/h-BN sheet.
The Switch in a Genetic Toggle System with Lévy Noise
Authors: Xu Yong , Li Yongge , Zhang Hao , Li Xiaofan , Kurths Jürgen 
Published: August 2016

AbstractA bistable toggle switch is a paradigmatic model in the field of biology. The dynamics of the system induced by Gaussian noise has been intensively investigated, but Gaussian noise cannot incorporate large bursts typically occurring in real experiments. This paper aims to examine effects of variations from one protein imposed by a non-Gaussian Lévy noise, which is able to describe even large jumps, on the coherent switch and the on/off switch via the steady-state probability density, the joint steady-state probability density and the mean first passage time. We find that a large burst of one protein due to the Lévy noises can induce coherent switches even with small noise intensities in contrast to the Gaussian case which requires large intensities for this. The influences of the stability index, skewness parameter and noise intensity on the on/off switch are analyzed, leading to an adjustment of the concentrations of both proteins and a decision which stable point to stay most. The mean first passage times show complex effects under Lévy noise, especially the stability index and skewness parameter. Our results also imply that the presence of non-Gaussian Lévy noises has fundamentally changed the escape mechanism in such a system compared with Gaussian noise.