bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Physical Realization of a Supervised Learning System Built with Organic Memristive Synapses
Authors: Lin Yu-Pu , Bennett Christopher H. , Cabaret Théo , Vodenicarevic Damir , Chabi Djaafar , Querlioz Damien , Jousselme Bruno , Derycke Vincent , Klein Jacques-Olivier 
Published: September 2016

AbstractMultiple modern applications of electronics call for inexpensive chips that can perform complex operations on natural data with limited energy. A vision for accomplishing this is implementing hardware neural networks, which fuse computation and memory, with low cost organic electronics. A challenge, however, is the implementation of synapses (analog memories) composed of such materials. In this work, we introduce robust, fastly programmable, nonvolatile organic memristive nanodevices based on electrografted redox complexes that implement synapses thanks to a wide range of accessible intermediate conductivity states. We demonstrate experimentally an elementary neural network, capable of learning functions, which combines four pairs of organic memristors as synapses and conventional electronics as neurons. Our architecture is highly resilient to issues caused by imperfect devices. It tolerates inter-device variability and an adaptable learning rule offers immunity against asymmetries in device switching. Highly compliant with conventional fabrication processes, the system can be extended to larger computing systems capable of complex cognitive tasks, as demonstrated in complementary simulations.
Melatonin prevents acute kidney injury in severely burned rats via the activation of SIRT1
Authors: Bai Xiao-Zhi , He Ting , Gao Jian-Xin , Liu Yang , Liu Jia-Qi , Han Shi-Chao , Li Yan , Shi Ji-Hong , Han Jun-Tao , Tao Ke , Xie Song-Tao , Wang Hong-Tao , Hu Da-Hai 
Published: September 2016

AbstractAcute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication after severe burns. Melatonin has been reported to protect against multiple organ injuries by increasing the expression of SIRT1, a silent information regulator that regulates stress responses, inflammation, cellular senescence and apoptosis. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of melatonin on renal tissues of burned rats and the role of SIRT1 involving the effects. Rat severely burned model was established, with or without the administration of melatonin and SIRT1 inhibitor. The renal function and histological manifestations were determined to evaluate the severity of kidney injury. The levels of acetylated-p53 (Ac-p53), acetylated-p65 (Ac-p65), NF-κB, acetylated-forkhead box O1 (Ac-FoxO1), Bcl-2 and Bax were analyzed to study the underlying mechanisms. Our results suggested that severe burns could induce acute kidney injury, which could be partially reversed by melatonin. Melatonin attenuated oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis accompanied by the increased expression of SIRT1. The protective effects of melatonin were abrogated by the inhibition of SIRT1. In conclusion, we demonstrate that melatonin improves severe burn-induced AKI via the activation of SIRT1 signaling.
Using a low melting solvent mixture to extract value from wood biomass
Authors: Hiltunen Jaakko , Kuutti Lauri , Rovio Stella , Puhakka Eini , Virtanen Tommi , Ohra-Aho Taina , Vuoti Sauli 
Published: September 2016

AbstractGreen chemistry, sustainability and eco-efficiency are guiding the development of the next generation of industrial chemical processes. The use of non-edible lignocellulosic biomass as a source of chemicals and fuels has recently raised interest due to the need for an alternative to fossil resources. Valorisation mainly focuses on cellulose, which has been used for various industrial scale applications for decades. However, creating an economically more viable value chain would require the exploitation of the other main components, hemicellulose and lignin. Here, we present a new low melting mixture composition based in boric acid and choline chloride and demonstrate its efficiency in the fractionation of wood-based biomass for the production of non-condensed lignin, suitable for further use in the search for sustainable industrial applications and for the selective conversion of hemicelluloses into valuable platform chemicals.
Effect of sulfurization time on the properties of copper zinc tin sulfide thin films grown by electrochemical deposition
Authors: Aldalbahi Ali , Mkawi E. M. , Ibrahim K. , Farrukh M. A. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractWe report growth of quaternary Cu2 ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films prepared by the electrochemical deposition from salt precursors containing Cu (II), Zn (II) and Sn (IV) metals. The influence of different sulfurization times t (t = 75, 90, 105 and 120 min) on the structural, compositional, morphological and optical properties, as well as on the electrical properties is studied. The films sulfurized 2 hours showed a prominent kesterite phase with a nearly stoichiometric composition. Samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and Raman and UV-VIS-NIR spectrometer at different stages of work. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy analyses confirmed the formation of phase-pure CZTS films. (FESEM) shows that compact and dense morphology and enhanced photo-sensitivity. STEM - EDS elemental map of CZTS cross-section confirms homogeneous distribution. From optical study, energy gap was enlarged with a changed sulfurization times in the range of 1.37–1.47 eV.
The evolution of monogamy in response to partner scarcity
Authors: Schacht Ryan , Bell Adrian V. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe evolution of monogamy and paternal care in humans is often argued to have resulted from the needs of our expensive offspring. Recent research challenges this claim, however, contending that promiscuous male competitors and the risk of cuckoldry limit the scope for the evolution of male investment. So how did monogamy first evolve? Links between mating strategies and partner availability may offer resolution. While studies of sex roles commonly assume that optimal mating rates for males are higher, fitness payoffs to monogamy and the maintenance of a single partner can be greater when partners are rare. Thus, partner availability is increasingly recognized as a key variable structuring mating behavior. To apply these recent insights to human evolution, we model three male strategies – multiple mating, mate guarding and paternal care – in response to partner availability. Under assumed ancestral human conditions, we find that male mate guarding, rather than paternal care, drives the evolution of monogamy, as it secures a partner and ensures paternity certainty in the face of more promiscuous competitors. Accordingly, we argue that while paternal investment may be common across human societies, current patterns should not be confused with the reason pairing first evolved.
Multiple determinants of lifespan memory differences
Authors: Henson Richard N. , Campbell Karen L. , Davis Simon W. , Taylor Jason R. , Emery Tina , Erzinclioglu Sharon ,   Cam-CAN, Tyler Lorraine K. , Brayne Carol , Bullmore Edward T. , Calder Andrew C. , Cusack Rhodri , Dalgleish Tim , Duncan John , Matthews Fiona E. , Marslen-Wilson William D. , Rowe James B. , Shafto Meredith A. , Cheung Teresa , Geerligs Linda , McCarrey Anna , Mustafa Abdur , Price Darren , Samu David , Treder Matthias , Tsvetanov Kamen A. , van Belle Janna , Williams Nitin , Bates Lauren , Gadie Andrew , Gerbase Sofia , Georgieva Stanimira , Hanley Claire , Parkin Beth , Troy David , Auer Tibor , Correia Marta , Gao Lu , Green Emma , Henriques Rafael , Allen Jodie , Amery Gillian , Amunts Liana , Barcroft Anne , Castle Amanda , Dias Cheryl , Dowrick Jonathan , Fair Melissa , Fisher Hayley , Goulding Anna , Grewa Adarsh , Hale Geoff , Hilton Andrew , Johnson Frances , Johnston Patricia , Kavanagh-Williamson Thea , Kwasniewska Magdalena , McMinn Alison , Norman Kim , Penrose Jessica , Roby Fiona , Rowland Diane , Sargeant John , Squire Maggie , Stevens Beth , Stoddart Aldabra , Stone Cheryl , Thompson Tracy , Yazlik Ozlem , Barnes Dan , Dixon Marie , Hillman Jaya , Mitchell Joanne , Villis Laura , Kievit Rogier A. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractMemory problems are among the most common complaints as people grow older. Using structural equation modeling of commensurate scores of anterograde memory from a large (N = 315), population-derived sample (www.cam-can.org), we provide evidence for three memory factors that are supported by distinct brain regions and show differential sensitivity to age. Associative memory and item memory are dramatically affected by age, even after adjusting for education level and fluid intelligence, whereas visual priming is not. Associative memory and item memory are differentially affected by emotional valence, and the age-related decline in associative memory is faster for negative than for positive or neutral stimuli. Gray-matter volume in the hippocampus, parahippocampus and fusiform cortex, and a white-matter index for the fornix, uncinate fasciculus and inferior longitudinal fasciculus, show differential contributions to the three memory factors. Together, these data demonstrate the extent to which differential ageing of the brain leads to differential patterns of memory loss.
Aggregation tendencies in the p53 family are modulated by backbone hydrogen bonds
Authors: Cino Elio A. , Soares Iaci N. , Pedrote Murilo M. , de Oliveira Guilherme A. P. , Silva Jerson L. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe p53 family of proteins is comprised of p53, p63 and p73. Because the p53 DNA binding domain (DBD) is naturally unstable and possesses an amyloidogenic sequence, it is prone to form amyloid fibrils, causing loss of functions. To develop p53 therapies, it is necessary to understand the molecular basis of p53 instability and aggregation. Light scattering, thioflavin T (ThT) and high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) assays showed that p53 DBD aggregates faster and to a greater extent than p63 and p73 DBDs and was more susceptible to denaturation. The aggregation tendencies of p53, p63 and p73 DBDs were strongly correlated with their thermal stabilities. Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations indicated specific regions of structural heterogeneity unique to p53, which may be promoted by elevated incidence of exposed backbone hydrogen bonds (BHBs). The results indicate regions of structural vulnerability in the p53 DBD, suggesting new targetable sites for modulating p53 stability and aggregation, a potential approach to cancer therapy.
A new autosomal dominant eye and lung syndrome linked to mutations in TIMP3 gene
Authors: Meunier Isabelle , Bocquet Béatrice , Labesse Gilles , Zeitz Christina , Defoort-Dhellemmes Sabine , Lacroux Annie , Mauget-Faysse Martine , Drumare Isabelle , Gamez Anne-Sophie , Mathieu Cyril , Marquette Virginie , Sagot Lola , Dhaenens Claire-Marie , Arndt Carl , Carroll Patrick , Remy-Jardin Martine , Cohen Salomon Yves , Sahel José-Alain , Puech Bernard , Audo Isabelle , Mrejen Sarah , Hamel Christian P. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractTo revisit the autosomal dominant Sorsby fundus dystrophy (SFD) as a syndromic condition including late-onset pulmonary disease. We report clinical and imaging data of ten affected individuals from 2 unrelated families with SFD and carrying heterozygous TIMP3 mutations (c.572A > G, p.Y191C, exon 5, in family 1 and c.113C > G, p.S38C, exon 1, in family 2). In family 1, all SFD patients older than 50 (two generations) had also a severe emphysema, despite no history of smoking or asthma. In the preceding generation, the mother died of pulmonary emphysema and she was blind after the age of 50. Her two great-grandsons (<20 years), had abnormal Bruch Membrane thickness, a sign of eye disease. In family 2, eye and lung diseases were also associated in two generations, both occurred later and lung disease was moderate (bronchiectasis). This is the first report of a syndromic SFD in line with the mouse model uncovering the role of TIMP3 in human lung morphogenesis and functions. The TIMP3 gene should be screened in familial pulmonary diseases with bronchiectasis, associated with a medical history of visual loss. In addition, SFD patients should be advised to avoid tobacco consumption, to practice sports and to undergo regular pulmonary examinations.
The C-terminal region of OVGP1 remodels the zona pellucida and modifies fertility parameters
Authors: Algarra B. , Han L. , Soriano-Úbeda C. , Avilés M. , Coy P. , Jovine L. , Jiménez-Movilla M. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractOVGP1 is the major non-serum glycoprotein in the oviduct fluid at the time of fertilization and early embryo development. Its activity differs among species. Here, we show that the C-terminal region of recombinant OVGP1 regulates its binding to the extracellular zona pellucida and affects its activity during fertilization. While porcine OVGP1 penetrates two-thirds of the thickness of the zona pellucida, shorter OVGP1 glycoproteins, including rabbit OVGP1, are restricted to the outer one-third of the zona matrix. Deletion of the C-terminal region reduces the ability of the glycoprotein to penetrate through the zona pellucida and prevents OVGP1 endocytosis. This affects the structure of the zona matrix and increases its resistance to protease digestion. However, only full-length porcine OVGP1 is able to increase the efficiency rate ofin vitrofertilization. Thus, our findings document that the presence or absence of conserved regions in the C-terminus of OVGP1 modify its association with the zona pellucida that affects matrix structure and renders the zona matrix permissive to sperm penetration and OVGP1 endocytosis into the egg.
Space Charge Modulated Electrical Breakdown
Authors: Li Shengtao , Zhu Yuanwei , Min Daomin , Chen George 
Published: September 2016

AbstractElectrical breakdown is one of the most important physical phenomena in electrical and electronic engineering. Since the early 20th century, many theories and models of electrical breakdown have been proposed, but the origin of one key issue, that the explanation for dc breakdown strength being twice or higher than ac breakdown strength in insulating materials, remains unclear. Here, by employing a bipolar charge transport model, we investigate the space charge dynamics in both dc and ac breakdown processes. We demonstrate the differences in charge accumulations under both dc and ac stresses and estimate the breakdown strength, which is modulated by the electric field distortion induced by space charge. It is concluded that dc breakdown initializes in the bulk whereas ac breakdown initializes in the vicinity of the sample-electrode interface. Compared with dc breakdown, the lower breakdown strength under ac stress and the decreasing breakdown strength with an increase in applied frequency, are both attributed to the electric field distortion induced by space charges located in the vicinity of the electrodes.
Emergence and evolution of inter-specific segregating retrocopies in cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) and rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta)
Authors: Zhang Xu , Zhang Qu , Su Bing 
Published: September 2016

AbstractRetroposition is an RNA-mediated mechanism to generate gene duplication, and is believed to play an important role in genome evolution and phenotypic adaptation in various species including primates. Previous studies suggested an elevated rate of recent retroposition in the rhesus macaque genome. To better understand the impact of retroposition on macaque species which have undergone an adaptive radiation approximately 3–6 million years ago, we developed a bioinformatics pipeline to identify recently derived retrocopies in cynomolgus monkeys. As a result, we identified seven experimentally validated young retrocopies, all of which are polymorphic in cynomolgus monkeys. Unexpectedly, five of them are also present in rhesus monkeys and are still segregating. Molecular evolutionary analysis indicates that the observed inter-specific polymorphism is attribute to ancestral polymorphism. Further population genetics analysis provided strong evidence of balancing selection on at least one case (Crab-eating monkey retrocopy 6, or CER6) in both species. CER6 is in adjacent with an immunoglobulin related gene and may be involved in host-pathogen interaction, a well-known target of balancing selection. Altogether, our data support that retroposition is an important force to shape genome evolution and species adaptation.
Time-Course Gene Expression Profiling Reveals a Novel Role of Non-Canonical WNT Signaling During Neural Induction
Authors: Huang Cindy Tzu-Ling , Tao Yunlong , Lu Jianfeng , Jones Jeffrey R. , Fowler Lucas , Weick Jason P. , Zhang Su-Chun 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe process of neuroepithelial differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) resembles in vivo neuroectoderm induction in the temporal course, morphogenesis, and biochemical changes. This in vitro model is therefore well-suited to reveal previously unknown molecular mechanisms underlying neural induction in humans. By transcriptome analysis of cells along PSC differentiation to early neuroepithelia at day 6 and definitive neuroepithelia at day 10, we found downregulation of genes that are associated with TGF-β and canonical WNT/β-CATENIN signaling, confirming the roles of classical signaling in human neural induction. Interestingly, WNT/Ca2+ signaling was upregulated. Pharmacological inhibition of the downstream effector of WNT/Ca2+ pathway, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), led to an inhibition of the neural marker PAX6 and upregulation of epidermal marker K18, suggesting that Ca2+/CaMKII signaling promotes neural induction by preventing the alternative epidermal fate. In addition, our analyses revealed known and novel expression patterns of genes that are involved in DNA methylation, histone modification, as well as epithelial-mesenchymal transition, highlighting potential roles of those genes and signaling pathways during neural differentiation.
Wnt4 is a novel biomarker for the early detection of kidney tubular injury after ischemia/reperfusion injury
Authors: Zhao Shi-Lei , Wei Shi-Yao , Wang Yu-Xiao , Diao Tian-Tian , Li Jian-Si , He Yi-Xin , Yu Jing , Jiang Xi-Yue , Cao Yang , Mao Xin-Yue , Wei Qiu-Ju , Wang Yu , Li Bing 
Published: September 2016

AbstractEarlier intervention after acute kidney injury would promote better outcomes. Our previous study found that Wnt proteins are promptly upregulated after ischemic kidney injury. Thus, we assessed whether Wnt4 could be an early and sensitive biomarker of tubular injury. We subjected mice to bilateral ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). Kidney and urinary Wnt4 expression showed an early increase at 3 hours and increased further at 24 hours post-IRI and was closely correlated with histopathological alterations. Serum creatinine slightly increased at 6 hours, indicating that it was less sensitive than Wnt4 expression. These data were further confirmed by clinical study. Both kidney and urinary Wnt4 expression were significantly increased in patients diagnosed with biopsy-proven minimal change disease (MCD) with tubular injury, all of whom nevertheless had normal estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and serum creatinine. The increased Wnt4 expression also strongly correlated with histopathological alterations in these MCD patients. In conclusion, this is the first demonstration that increases in both kidney and urinary Wnt4 expression can be detected more sensitively and earlier than serum creatinine after kidney injury. In particular, urinary Wnt4 could be a potential noninvasive biomarker for the early detection of tubular injury.
Niche conservatism in Gynandropaa frogs on the southeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Hu Junhua , Broennimann Olivier , Guisan Antoine , Wang Bin , Huang Yan , Jiang Jianping 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe role of ecological niche in lineage diversification has been the subject of long-standing interest of ecologists and evolutionary biologists.Gynandropaafrogs diversified into three independent clades endemic to the southeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Here, we address the question whether these clades kept the same niche after separation, and what it tells us about possible diversification processes. We applied predictions in geographical (G)-space and tests of niche conservatism in environmental (E)-space. Niche models in G-space indicate separate regions with high suitability for the different clades, with some potential areas of sympatry. While the pair of central and eastern clades displayed the largest niche overlap for most variables, and strict niche equivalency was rejected for all clade-pairs, we found no strong evidence for niche divergence, but rather the signature of niche conservatism compared to null models in E-space. These results suggest a common ancestral ecological niche, and as such give good support to divergence through allopatric speciation, but alternative explanations are also possible. Our findings illustrate how testing for niche conservatism in lineage diversification can provide insights into underlying speciation processes, and how this information may guide further research and conservation practices, as illustrated here for amphibians on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.
Understanding the Solvent Molecules Induced Spontaneous Growth of Uncapped Tellurium Nanoparticles
Authors: Liu Jun , Liang Changhao , Zhu Xiaoguang , Lin Yue , Zhang Hao , Wu Shouliang 
Published: September 2016

AbstractUnderstanding the thermodynamic behavior and growth kinetics of colloidal nanoparticles (NPs) is essential to synthesize materials with desirable structures and properties. In this paper, we present specific uncapped Te colloidal NPs obtained through laser ablation of Te in various protic or aprotic solvents. At ambient temperature and pressure, the uncapped Te NPs spontaneously exhibited analogous evolution and growth of “nanoparticle-nanochain-agglomerate-microsphere” in different solvents. The distinctive growth kinetics of the formation of nanochains strongly depended on the polarity and dielectric constant of solvent molecules. The growth rate of agglomerates and microspheres was closely related to the zeta potential of the colloidal solution of Te nanochains and the average size of Te agglomerates. Furthermore, the resulting uncapped Te NPs and Te nanochains displayed a prominent size-dependent and structure-inherited chemical reductive ability. These findings provide insights into the growth of active uncapped nanoparticles in various dispersion media. This study also provides an alternative route in designing novel nanostructures of alloys, telluride, and functional composites using Te as a unique reactive precursor.