bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
From Biological Cilia to Artificial Flow Sensors: Biomimetic Soft Polymer Nanosensors with High Sensing Performance
Authors: Asadnia Mohsen , Kottapalli Ajay Giri Prakash , Karavitaki K. Domenica , Warkiani Majid Ebrahimi , Miao Jianmin , Corey David P. , Triantafyllou Michael 
Published: September 2016

AbstractWe report the development of a new class of miniature all-polymer flow sensors that closely mimic the intricate morphology of the mechanosensory ciliary bundles in biological hair cells. An artificial ciliary bundle is achieved by fabricating bundled polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) micro-pillars with graded heights and electrospinning polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric nanofiber tip links. The piezoelectric nature of a single nanofiber tip link is confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Rheology and nanoindentation experiments are used to ensure that the viscous properties of the hyaluronic acid (HA)-based hydrogel are close to the biological cupula. A dome-shaped HA hydrogel cupula that encapsulates the artificial hair cell bundle is formed through precision drop-casting and swelling processes. Fluid drag force actuates the hydrogel cupula and deflects the micro-pillar bundle, stretching the nanofibers and generating electric charges. Functioning with principles analogous to the hair bundles, the sensors achieve a sensitivity and threshold detection limit of 300 mV/(m/s) and 8 μm/s, respectively. These self-powered, sensitive, flexible, biocompatibale and miniaturized sensors can find extensive applications in navigation and maneuvering of underwater robots, artificial hearing systems, biomedical and microfluidic devices.
Altered Intranetwork and Internetwork Functional Connectivity in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus With and Without Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Yang Shi-Qi , Xu Zhi-Peng , Xiong Ying , Zhan Ya-Feng , Guo Lin-Ying , Zhang Shun , Jiang Ri-Feng , Yao Yi-Hao , Qin Yuan-Yuan , Wang Jian-Zhi , Liu Yong , Zhu Wen-Zhen 
Published: September 2016

AbstractType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with cognitive impairment. We investigated whether alterations of intranetwork and internetwork functional connectivity with T2DM progression exist, by using resting-state functional MRI. MRI data were analysed from 19 T2DM patients with normal cognition (DMCN) and 19 T2DM patients with cognitive impairment (DMCI), 19 healthy controls (HC). Functional connectivity among 36 previously well-defined brain regions which consisted of 5 resting-state network (RSN) systems [default mode network (DMN), dorsal attention network (DAN), control network (CON), salience network (SAL) and sensorimotor network (SMN)] was investigated at 3 levels (integrity, network and connectivity). Impaired intranetwork and internetwork connectivity were found in T2DM, especially in DMCI, on the basis of the three levels of analysis. The bilateral posterior cerebellum, the right insula, the DMN and the CON were mainly involved in these changes. The functional connectivity strength of specific brain architectures in T2DM was found to be associated with haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), cognitive score and illness duration. These network alterations in intergroup differences, which were associated with brain functional impairment due to T2DM, indicate that network organizations might be potential biomarkers for predicting the clinical progression, evaluating the cognitive impairment, and further understanding the pathophysiology of T2DM.
Controllable two-scale network architecture and enhanced mechanical properties of (Ti5Si3+TiBw)/Ti6Al4V composites
Authors: Jiao Y. , Huang L. J. , Duan T. B. , Wei S. L. , Kaveendran B. , Geng L. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractNovel Ti6Al4V alloy matrix composites with a controllable two-scale network architecture were successfully fabricated by reaction hot pressing (RHP). TiB whiskers (TiBw) were in-situ synthesized around the Ti6Al4V matrix particles, and formed the first-scale network structure (FSNS). Ti5Si3 needles (Ti5Si3) precipitated in the β phase around the equiaxed α phase, and formed the secondary-scale network structure (SSNS). This resulted in increased deformation compatibility accompanied with enhanced mechanical properties. Apart from the reinforcement distribution and the volume fraction, the ratio between Ti5Si3 and TiBw fraction were controlled. The prepared (Ti5Si3 + TiBw)/Ti6Al4V composites showed higher tensile strength and ductility than the composites with a one-scale microstructure, and superior wear resistance over the Ti6Al4V alloy under dry sliding wear conditions at room temperature.
Changes in intracellular copper concentration and copper-regulating gene expression after PC12 differentiation into neurons
Authors: Ogra Yasumitsu , Tejima Aya , Hatakeyama Naohiro , Shiraiwa Moeko , Wu Siyuan , Ishikawa Tsutomu , Yawata Ayako , Anan Yasumi , Suzuki Noriyuki 
Published: September 2016

AbstractIt is suspected that some neurodegenerative diseases are a result of the disturbance of copper (Cu) homeostasis, although it remains unclear whether the disturbance of Cu homeostasis has aberrant effects on neurons. Herein, we investigated Cu metabolism specifically in neurons in terms of changes in the intracellular Cu concentration and the expression of Cu-regulating genes, such as Cu transporters and metallothioneins (MTs), before and after the differentiation of rat pheochromocytoma cells (PC12 cells) into neurons. After the differentiation, Cu and Zn imaging with fluorescent probes revealed an increase in intracellular Cu concentration. The concentrations of other essential metals, which were determined by an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer, were not altered. The mRNA expression of the Cu influx transporter, Ctr1, was decreased after the differentiation, and the differentiated cells acquired tolerance to Cu and cisplatin, another substrate of Ctr1. In addition, the expression of MT-3, a brain-specific isoform, was increased, contrary to the decreased expression of MT-1 and MT-2. Taken together, the differentiation of PC12 cells into neurons induced MT-3 expression, thereby resulting in intracellular Cu accumulation. The decrease in Ctr1 expression was assumed to be a response aimed at abolishing the physiological accumulation of Cu after the differentiation.
Light effect on Click reaction: Role of photonic quantum dot catalyst
Authors: Nandi Debkumar , Taher Abu , Islam Rafique Ul , Choudhary Meenakshi , Siwal Samarjeet , Mallick Kaushik 
Published: September 2016

AbstractDue to the light excitation, the valence band electron of the copper (I) sulfide quantum dot transfer to the conduction band and act as a scavenger of the terminal proton of the alkyne in the presence of organic azide with the formation of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles, where the copper(I) species of Cu2S act as a catalyst for the reaction. The above cycloaddition reaction between alkyne and azide is commonly known as the Click reaction. In this study, experiments were carried out under the exposure of ultra-violate and daylight and also dark environment. According to the original recommendation for the Click reaction, the role of the base was also considered for this experiment. We found that the effect of conduction band electron is more efficient than the recommended conventional base mediated reaction procedure.
Facile synthesis of pristine graphene-palladium nanocomposites with extraordinary catalytic activities using swollen liquid crystals
Authors: Vats T. , Dutt S. , Kumar R. , Siril P. F. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractAmazing conductivity, perfect honeycomb sp2 arrangement and the high theoretical surface area make pristine graphene as one of the best materials suited for application as catalyst supports. Unfortunately, the low reactivity of the material makes the formation of nanocomposite with inorganic materials difficult. Here we report an easy approach to synthesize nanocomposites of pristine graphene with palladium (Pd-G) using swollen liquid crystals (SLCs) as a soft template. The SLC template gives the control to deposit very small Pd particles of uniform size on G as well as RGO. The synthesized nanocomposite (Pd-G) exhibited exceptionally better catalytic activity compared with Pd-RGO nanocomposite in the hydrogenation of nitrophenols and microwave assisted C-C coupling reactions. The catalytic activity of Pd-G nanocomposite during nitrophenol reduction reaction was sixteen times higher than Pd nanoparticles and more than double than Pd-RGO nanocomposite. The exceptionally high activity of pristine graphene supported catalysts in the organic reactions is explained on the basis of its better pi interacting property compared to partially reduced RGO. The Pd-G nanocomposite showed exceptional stability under the reaction conditions as it could be recycled upto a minimum of 15 cycles for the C-C coupling reactions without any loss in activity.
Creation of an anti-imaging system using binary optics
Authors: Wang Haifeng , Lin Jian , Zhang Dawei , Wang Yang , Gu Min , Urbach H. P. , Gan Fuxi , Zhuang Songlin 
Published: September 2016

AbstractWe present a concealing method in which an anti-point spread function (APSF) is generated using binary optics, which produces a large-scale dark area in the focal region that can hide any object located within it. This result is achieved by generating two identical PSFs of opposite signs, one consisting of positive electromagnetic waves from the zero-phase region of the binary optical element and the other consisting of negative electromagnetic waves from the pi-phase region of the binary optical element.
Nanoscale Chemical and Electrical Stabilities of Graphene-covered Silver Nanowire Networks for Transparent Conducting Electrodes
Authors: Kim Seong Heon , Choi Woon Ih , Kim Kwang Hee , Yang Dae Jin , Heo Sung , Yun Dong-Jin 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe hybrid structure of Ag nanowires (AgNWs) covered with graphene (Gr) shows synergetic effects on the performance of transparent conducting electrodes (TCEs). However, these effects have been mainly observed via large-scale characterization, and precise analysis at the nanoscale level remains inadequate. Here, we present the nanoscale verification and visualization of the improved chemical and electrical stabilities of Gr-covered AgNW networks using conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) combined with the gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) sputtering technique. Specifically by transferring island Gr on top of the AgNW network, we were able to create samples in which both covered and uncovered AgNWs are simultaneously accessible to various surface-characterization techniques. Furthermore, our ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulation elucidated the specific mechanistic pathway and a strong propensity for AgNW sulfidation, even in the presence of ambient oxidant gases.
Concurrent micro-RNA mediated silencing of tick-borne flavivirus replication in tick vector and in the brain of vertebrate host
Authors: Tsetsarkin Konstantin A. , Liu Guangping , Kenney Heather , Hermance Meghan , Thangamani Saravanan , Pletnev Alexander G. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractTick-borne viruses include medically important zoonotic pathogens that can cause life-threatening diseases. Unlike mosquito-borne viruses, whose impact can be restrained via mosquito population control programs, for tick-borne viruses only vaccination remains the reliable means of disease prevention. For live vaccine viruses a concern exists, that spillovers from viremic vaccinees could result in introduction of genetically modified viruses into sustainable tick-vertebrate host transmission cycle in nature. To restrict tick-borne flavivirus (Langat virus, LGTV) vector tropism, we inserted target sequences for tick-specific microRNAs (mir-1, mir-275 and mir-279) individually or in combination into several distant regions of LGTV genome. This caused selective attenuation of viral replication in tick-derived cells. LGTV expressing combinations of target sequences for tick- and vertebrate CNS-specific miRNAs were developed. The resulting viruses replicated efficiently and remained stable in simian Vero cells, which do not express these miRNAs, however were severely restricted to replicate in tick-derived cells. In addition, simultaneous dual miRNA targeting led to silencing of virus replication in live Ixodes ricinus ticks and abolished virus neurotropism in highly permissive newborn mice. The concurrent restriction of adverse replication events in vertebrate and invertebrate hosts will, therefore, ensure the environmental safety of live tick-borne virus vaccine candidates.
High-effective approach from amino acid esters to chiral amino alcohols over Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst and its catalytic reaction mechanism
Authors: Zhang Shuangshuang , Yu Jun , Li Huiying , Mao Dongsen , Lu Guanzhong 
Published: September 2016

AbstractDeveloping the high-efficient and green synthetic method for chiral amino alcohols is an intriguing target. We have developed the Mg2+-doped Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst for hydrogenation of L-phenylalanine methyl ester to chiral L-phenylalaninol without racemization. The effect of different L-phenylalanine esters on this title reaction was studied, verifying that Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 is an excellent catalyst for the hydrogenation of amino acid esters to chiral amino alcohols. DFT calculation was used to study the adsorption of substrate on the catalyst, and showed that the substrate adsorbs on the surface active sites mainly by amino group (-NH2) absorbed on Al2O3, and carbonyl (C=O) and alkoxy (RO-) group oxygen absorbed on the boundary of Cu and Al2O3. This catalytic hydrogenation undergoes the formation of a hemiacetal intermediate and the cleavage of the C–O bond (rate-determining step) by reacting with dissociated H to obtain amino aldehyde and methanol ad-species. The former is further hydrogenated to amino alcohols, and the latter desorbs from the catalyst surface.
Vitamin B2 as a virulence factor in Pseudogymnoascus destructans skin infection
Authors: Flieger Miroslav , Bandouchova Hana , Cerny Jan , Chudíčková Milada , Kolarik Miroslav , Kovacova Veronika , Martínková Natália , Novák Petr , Šebesta Ondřej , Stodůlková Eva , Pikula Jiri 
Published: September 2016

AbstractPathogenic and non-pathogenic related microorganisms differ in secondary metabolite production. Here we show that riboflavin overproduction by a fungal pathogen and its hyperaccumulation in affected host tissue exacerbates a skin infection to necrosis. In white-nose syndrome (WNS) skin lesions caused byPseudogymnoascus destructans, maximum riboflavin concentrations reached up to 815 μg ml−1, indicating bioaccumulation and lack of excretion. We found that high riboflavin concentrations are cytotoxic under conditions specific for hibernation, affect bats’ primary fibroblasts and induce cell detachment, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, polymerization of cortical actin, and cell necrosis. Our results explain molecular pathology of WNS, where a skin infection becomes fatal. Hyperaccumulation of vitamin B2coupled with reduced metabolism and low tissue oxygen saturation during hibernation prevents removal of excess riboflavin in infected bats. Upon reperfusion, oxygen reacts with riboflavin resulting in dramatic pathology after arousal. While multiple molecules enable invasive infection, riboflavin-associated extensive necrosis likely contributes to pathophysiology and altered arousal pattern in infected bats. Bioaccumulation of a vitamin under natural infection represents a novel condition in a complex host-pathogen interplay.
Early-life sexual segregation: ontogeny of isotopic niche differentiation in the Antarctic fur seal
Authors: Kernaléguen L. , Arnould J. P. Y. , Guinet C. , Cazelles B. , Richard P. , Cherel Y. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractInvestigating the ontogeny of niche differentiation enables to determine at which life-stages sexual segregation arises, providing insights into the main factors driving resource partitioning. We investigated the ontogeny of foraging ecology in Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella), a highly dimorphic species with contrasting breeding strategies between sexes. Sequential δ13C and δ15N values of whiskers provided a longitudinal proxy of the foraging niche throughout the whole life of seals, from weaning, when size dimorphism is minimal to the age of 5. Females exhibited an early-life ontogenetic shift, from a total segregation during their first year at-sea, to a similar isotopic niche as breeding females as early as age 2. In contrast, males showed a progressive change in isotopic niche throughout their development such that 5-year-old males did not share the same niche as territorial bulls. Interestingly, males and females segregated straight after weaning with males appearing to feed in more southerly habitats than females. This spatial segregation was of similar amplitude as observed in breeding adults and was maintained throughout development. Such early-life niche differentiation is an unusual pattern and indicates size dimorphism and breeding constraints do not directly drive sexual segregation contrary to what has been assumed in otariid seals.
Morphology and Electric Conductance Change Induced by Voltage Pulse Excitation in (GeTe)2/Sb2Te3 Superlattices
Authors: Bolotov Leonid , Saito Yuta , Tada Tetsuya , Tominaga Junji 
Published: September 2016

AbstractChalcogenide superlattice (SL) phase-change memory materials are leading candidates for non-volatile, energy-efficient electric memory where the electric conductance switching is caused by the atom repositioning in the constituent layers. Here, we study the time evolution of the electric conductance in [(GeTe)2/(Sb2Te3)1]4 SLs upon the application of an external pulsed electric field by analysing the structural and electrical responses of the SL films with scanning probe microscopy (SPM) and scanning probe lithography (SPL). At a low pulse voltage (1.6–2.3 V), a conductance switching delay of a few seconds was observed in some SL areas, where the switch to the high conductance state (HCS) is accompanied with an SL expansion under the strong electric field of the SPM probe. At a high pulse voltage (2.5–3.0 V), the HCS current was unstable and decayed in a few seconds; this is ascribed to the degradation of the HCS crystal phase under excessive heating. The reversible conductance change under a pulse voltage of opposite polarity emphasised the role of the electric field in the phase-transition mechanism.
PPM1D controls nucleolar formation by up-regulating phosphorylation of nucleophosmin
Authors: Kozakai Yuuki , Kamada Rui , Furuta Junya , Kiyota Yuhei , Chuman Yoshiro , Sakaguchi Kazuyasu 
Published: September 2016

AbstractAn increase of nucleolar number and size has made nucleoli essential markers for cytology and tumour development. However, the underlying basis for their structural integrity and abundance remains unclear. Protein phosphatase PPM1D was found to be up-regulated in different carcinomas including breast cancers. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that PPM1D regulates nucleolar formation via inducing an increased phosphorylation of the nucleolar protein NPM. We show that PPM1D overexpression induces an increase in the nucleolar number regardless of p53 status. We also demonstrated that specific sequential phosphorylation of NPM is important for nucleolar formation and that PPM1D is a novel upstream regulator of this phosphorylation pathway. These results enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that govern nucleoli formation by demonstrating that PPM1D regulates nucleolar formation by regulating NPM phosphorylation status through a novel signalling pathway, PPM1D-CDC25C-CDK1-PLK1.
Characterization of a knock-in mouse model of the homozygous p.V37I variant in Gjb2
Authors: Chen Ying , Hu Lingxiang , Wang Xueling , Sun Changling , Lin Xin , li Lei , Mei Ling , Huang Zhiwu , Yang Tao , Wu Hao 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe homozygous p.V37I variant inGJB2is prevalent in East and Southeast Asians and may lead to mild-to-moderate hearing loss with reduced penetrance. To investigate the pathogenic mechanism underlying this variant, we generated a knock-in mouse model of homozygous p.V37I by an embryonic stem cell gene targeting method. Auditory brainstem response test showed that the knock-in mice developed progressive, mild-to-moderate hearing loss over the first 4–9 months. Overall no significant developmental and morphological abnormality was observed in the knock-in mouse cochlea, while confocal immunostaining and electron microscopic scanning revealed minor loss of the outer hair cells. Gene expression microarray analysis identified 105 up-regulated and 43 down-regulated genes in P5 knock-in mouse cochleae (P < 0.05 adjusted by the Benjamini & Hochberg method), among which four top candidate genes with the highest fold-changes or implication to deafnessFcer1g, NnmtandLars2andCuedc1were verified by quantitative real-time PCR. Our study demonstrated that the homozygous p.V37I knock-in mouse modeled the hearing phenotype of the human patients and can serve as a useful animal model for further studies. The differentially expressed genes identified in this study may shed new insights into the understanding of the pathogenic mechanism and the phenotypic modification of homozygous p.V37I.
Morphological change in cranial shape following the transition to agriculture across western Eurasia
Authors: Cheronet Olivia , Finarelli John A. , Pinhasi Ron 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe Neolithic transition brought about fundamental social, dietary and behavioural changes in human populations, which, in turn, impacted skeletal morphology. Crania are shaped through diverse genetic, ontogenetic and environmental factors, reflecting various elements of an individual’s life. To determine the transition’s effect on cranial morphology, we investigated its potential impact on the face and vault, two elements potentially responding to different influences. Three datasets from geographically distant regions (Ukraine, Iberia, and the Levant plus Anatolia) were analysed. Craniometric measurements were used to compare the morphology of pre-transition populations with that of agricultural populations. The Neolithic transition corresponds to a statistically significant increase only in cranial breadth of the Ukrainian vaults, while facial morphology shows no consistent transformations, despite expected changes related to the modification of masticatory behaviour. The broadening of Ukrainian vaults may be attributable to dietary and/or social changes. However, the lack of change observed in the other geographical regions and the lack of consistent change in facial morphology are surprising. Although the transition from foraging to farming is a process that took place repeatedly across the globe, different characteristics of transitions seem responsible for idiosyncratic responses in cranial morphology.
Atmospheric methane isotopic record favors fossil sources flat in 1980s and 1990s with recent increase
Authors: Rice Andrew L. , Butenhoff Christopher L. , Teama Doaa G. , Röger Florian H. , Khalil M. Aslam K. , Rasmussen Reinhold A. 
Published: September 2016

Significance
There is no scientific consensus on the drivers of the atmospheric methane growth rate over the past three decades. Here, we report carbon and hydrogen isotopic measurements of atmospheric methane in archived air samples collected 1977–1998, and modeling of these with more contemporary data to infer changes in methane sources over the period 1984–2009. We present strong evidence that methane emissions from fossil fuel sectors were approximately constant in the 1980s and 1990s but increased significantly between 2000 and 2009. This finding challenges recent conclusions based on atmospheric ethane that fugitive fossil fuel emissions fell during much of this period. Emissions from other anthropogenic sources also increased, but were partially offset by reductions in wetland and fire emissions.