bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A mix-and-read drop-based in vitro two-hybrid method for screening high-affinity peptide binders
Authors: Cui Naiwen , Zhang Huidan , Schneider Nils , Tao Ye , Asahara Haruichi , Sun Zhiyi , Cai Yamei , Koehler Stephan A. , de Greef Tom F. A. , Abbaspourrad Alireza , Weitz David A. , Chong Shaorong 
Published: March 2016

AbstractDrop-based microfluidics have recently become a novel tool by providing a stable linkage between phenotype and genotype for high throughput screening. However, use of drop-based microfluidics for screening high-affinity peptide binders has not been demonstrated due to the lack of a sensitive functional assay that can detect single DNA molecules in drops. To address this sensitivity issue, we introduced in vitro two-hybrid system (IVT2H) into microfluidic drops and developed a streamlined mix-and-read drop-IVT2H method to screen a random DNA library. Drop-IVT2H was based on the correlation between the binding affinity of two interacting protein domains and transcriptional activation of a fluorescent reporter. A DNA library encoding potential peptide binders was encapsulated with IVT2H such that single DNA molecules were distributed in individual drops. We validated drop-IVT2H by screening a three-random-residue library derived from a high-affinity MDM2 inhibitor PMI. The current drop-IVT2H platform is ideally suited for affinity screening of small-to-medium-sized libraries (103–106). It can obtain hits within a single day while consuming minimal amounts of reagents. Drop-IVT2H simplifies and accelerates the drop-based microfluidics workflow for screening random DNA libraries, and represents a novel alternative method for protein engineering and in vitro directed protein evolution.
Beyond Neglect: Preliminary Evidence of Retrospective Time Estimation Abnormalities in Non-Neglect Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack Patients
Authors: Low Essie , Crewther Sheila G. , Perre Diana L. , Ben Ong  , Laycock Robin , Tu Hans , Wijeratne Tissa 
Published: March 2016

AbstractPerception of the passage of time is essential for safe planning and navigation of everyday activities. Findings from the literature have demonstrated a gross underestimation of time interval in right-hemisphere damaged neglect patients, but not in non-neglect unilaterally-damaged patients, compared to controls. This study aimed to investigate retrospective estimation of the duration of a target detection task over two occasions, in 30 stroke patients (12 left-side stroke 15 right-side stroke and 3 right-side stroke with neglect) and 10 transient ischemic attack patients, relative to 31 age-matched controls. Performances on visual short-term and working memory tasks were also examined to investigate the associations between timing abilities with residual cognitive functioning. Initial results revealed evidence of perceptual time underestimation, not just in neglect patients, but also in non-neglect unilaterally-damaged stroke patients and transient ischemic attack patients. Three months later, underestimation of time persisted only in left-side stroke and right-side stroke with neglect patients, who also demonstrated reduced short-term and working memory abilities. Findings from this study suggest a predictive role of residual cognitive impairments in determining the prognosis of perceptual timing abnormalities.
Autologous transplantation of intestine-isolated glia cells improves neuropathology and restores cognitive deficits in β amyloid-induced neurodegeneration
Authors: Esposito Giuseppe , Sarnelli Giovanni , Capoccia Elena , Cirillo Carla , Pesce Marcella , Lu Jie , Calì Gaetano , Cuomo Rosario , Steardo Luca 
Published: March 2016

AbstractAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by chronic deposition of β-amyloid (Aβ) in the brain, progressive neurodegeneration and consequent cognitive and behavioral deficits that typify the disease. Astrocytes are pivotal in this process because they are activated in the attempt to digest Aβ which starts a neuroinflammatory response that further contributes to neurodegeneration. The intestine is a good source of astrocytes-like cells-referred to as enteric glial cells (EGCs). Here we show that the autologous transplantation of EGCs into the brain of Aβ-injected rats arrested the development of the disease after their engraftment. Transplanted EGCs showed anti-amyloidogenic activity, embanked Aβ-induced neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration and released neutrophic factors. The overall result was the amelioration of the pathological hallmarks and the cognitive and behavioral deficits typical of Aβ-associated disease. Our data indicate that autologous EGCs transplantation may provide an efficient alternative for applications in cell-replacement therapies to treat neurodegeneration in AD.
Outstanding supercapacitive properties of Mn-doped TiO2 micro/nanostructure porous film prepared by anodization method
Authors: Ning Xuewen , Wang Xixin , Yu Xiaofei , Zhao Jianling , Wang Mingli , Li Haoran , Yang Yang 
Published: March 2016

AbstractMn-doped TiO2 micro/nanostructure porous film was prepared by anodizing a Ti-Mn alloy. The film annealed at 300 °C yields the highest areal capacitance of 1451.3 mF/cm2 at a current density of 3 mA/cm2 when used as a high-performance supercapacitor electrode. Areal capacitance retention is 63.7% when the current density increases from 3 to 20 mA/cm2 and the capacitance retention is 88.1% after 5,000 cycles. The superior areal capacitance of the porous film is derived from the brush-like metal substrate, which could greatly increase the contact area, improve the charge transport ability at the oxide layer/metal substrate interface and thereby significantly enhance the electrochemical activities toward high performance energy storage. Additionally, the effects of manganese content and specific surface area of the porous film on the supercapacitive performance were also investigated in this work.
Monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells from females, but not males, alleviate CVB3-induced myocarditis by increasing regulatory and CD4+IL-10+ T cells
Authors: Su Nan , Yue Yan , Xiong Sidong 
Published: March 2016

AbstractCoxsackievirus group B type 3 (CVB3) is a common etiologic agent of viral myocarditis and often causes sexually dimorphic myocarditis with increased incidence and mortality in male. So far, the underlying mechanism for the high male prevalence is not well elucidated. In this study, we deciphered the role of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in the gender bias in murine CVB3-induced myocarditis by comparing their frequencies, subsets as well as immune suppressive functions. We found that much more myocardial MDSCs were enriched in infected females than males, with dramatically higher percentage ratio of CD11b+Ly6G-Ly6Chigh monocytic subset (M-MDSCs) to CD11b+Ly6G+Ly6Clow granulocytic subset (G-MDSCs). Interestingly, more potent suppression on T cell proliferation was also evidenced in female-derived M-MDSCs. Consistently, adoptive transfer of female- but not male-derived M-MDSCs efficiently alleviated CVB3-induced myocarditis in male recipient mice, and this protection could be ascribed to the increased induction of regulatory and CD4+IL-10+ T cells. Our study suggested that myocardial MDSCs were distinctively induced not only in quantities but also in phenotypes and immune suppressive functions in CVB3-infected males and females; and female-derived more suppressive M-MDSCs contributed to their insensitivity to CVB3-induced myocarditis.
Channel based generating function approach to the stochastic Hodgkin-Huxley neuronal system
Authors: Ling Anqi , Huang Yandong , Shuai Jianwei , Lan Yueheng 
Published: March 2016

AbstractInternal and external fluctuations, such as channel noise and synaptic noise, contribute to the generation of spontaneous action potentials in neurons. Many different Langevin approaches have been proposed to speed up the computation but with waning accuracy especially at small channel numbers. We apply a generating function approach to the master equation for the ion channel dynamics and further propose two accelerating algorithms, with an accuracy close to the Gillespie algorithm but with much higher efficiency, opening the door for expedited simulation of noisy action potential propagating along axons or other types of noisy signal transduction.
Fluorescent sperm offer a method for tracking the real-time success of ejaculates when they compete to fertilise eggs
Authors: Lymbery Rowan A. , Kennington W. Jason , Evans Jonathan P. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractDespite intensive research effort, many uncertainties remain in the field of gamete-level sexual selection, particularly in understanding how sperm from different males interact when competing for fertilisations. Here, we demonstrate the utility of broadcast spawning marine invertebrates for unravelling these mysteries, highlighting their mode of reproduction and, in some species, unusual patterns of mitochondrial inheritance. We present a method utilising both properties in the blue mussel,Mytilus galloprovincialis. In mytilids and many other bivalves, both sperm and egg mitochondria are inherited. We exploit this, using the vital mitochondrial dye MitoTracker, to track the success of sperm from individual males when they compete with those from rivals to fertilise eggs. We confirm that dying mitochondria has no adverse effects onin vitromeasures of sperm motility (reflecting mitochondrial energetics) or sperm competitive fertilisation success. Therefore, we propose the technique as a powerful and logistically tractable tool for sperm competition studies. Importantly, our method allows the competitive fertilisation success of sperm from any male to be measured directly and disentangled from confounding effects of post-fertilisation embryo survival. Moreover, the mitochondrial dye has broader applications in taxa without paternal mitochondrial inheritance, for example by tracking the dynamics of competing ejaculates prior to fertilisation.
Improved
in vitro
production systems for bovine embryos.
Authors: Penitente Filho J. M. 
Published: March 2016

Abstract

Bovine
in vitro
embryo production (IVP) is an animal biotechnology important for both agriculture and biomedical research. IVP comprises ultrasound-guided oocyte recovery from donor by follicular aspiration,
in vitro
maturation (IVM) of oocytes,
in vitro
fertilization (IVF) and
in vitro
embryo culture (IVC). Each step of IVP has specific technicalities and the current systems are the result of years of research. This technique is used to study the physiology of oocyte maturation processes, fertilization and embryo development in pre-implantation stage, and enable the development of other techniques such as cloning and gene transfer. Moreover, it has been used commercially to produce individuals with high genetic value, becoming an alternative source in embryo transfer programmes in cattle. It is reported that the origin of the oocyte and IVM systems affect the blastocyst rate, and that IVC conditions influence the quality and viability of these blastocysts; nevertheless, despite the advances in designing media and culture systems, a precise knowledge about the nutritional and culture requirements of embryos remains still elusive. This review provides an overview of media design and culture systems, as well as recent advances in the embryo technology field.
5,6-Dehydrokawain from Alpinia zerumbet promotes osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cell differentiation
Authors: Kumagai Momochika , Mishima Takashi , Watanabe Akio , Harada Teppei , Yoshida Izumi , Fujita Kazuhiro , Watai Masatoshi , Tawata Shinkichi , Nishikawa Keisuke , Morimoto Yoshiki 
Published: March 2016

Abstract
Bone homeostasis is maintained by balancing bone formation and bone resorption, but an imbalance between them is associated with various bone-related diseases such as osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. We found that 5,6-dehydrokawain (DK) and dihydro-5,6-dehydrokawain (DDK), which were isolated as promising compounds from Alpinia zerumbet rhizomes, promote differentiation of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. DK and DDK increased the alkaline phosphatase activity and matrix mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells. DK exerts larger effects than DDK. The gene expression of runt-related transcription factor 2 and osterix, which are essential transcription factors in the early period of osteoblast differentiation, was significantly increased by DK treatment. The mRNA level of distal-less homeobox 5 was also enhanced by DK treatment, and DK activated the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Therefore, DK may have clinical potential for preventing osteoporosis, and could be considered as a potential anabolic therapeutic agent.
IsomiR Bank: a research resource for tracking IsomiRs
Authors: Zhang Yuanwei , Zang Qiguang , Xu Bo , Zheng Wei , Ban Rongjun , Zhang Huan , Yang Yifan , Hao Qiaomei , Iqbal Furhan , Li Ao , Shi Qinghua 
Published: March 2016

Abstract
Summary: Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology has revealed that microRNAs (miRNAs) are capable of exhibiting frequent differences from their corresponding mature reference sequences, generating multiple variants: the isoforms of miRNAs (isomiRs). These isomiRs mainly originate via the imprecise and alternative cleavage during the pre-miRNA processing and post-transcriptional modifications that influence miRNA stability, their sub-cellular localization and target selection. Although several tools for the identification of isomiR have been reported, no bioinformatics resource dedicated to gather isomiRs from public NGS data and to provide functional analysis of these isomiRs is available to date. Thus, a free online database, IsomiR Bank has been created to integrate isomiRs detected by our previously published algorithm CPSS. In total, 2727 samples (Small RNA NGS data downloaded from ArrayExpress) from eight species (Arabidopsis thaliana, Drosophila melanogaster, Danio rerio, Homo sapiens, Mus musculus, Oryza sativa, Solanum lycopersicum and Zea mays) are analyzed. At present, 308 919 isomiRs from 4706 mature miRNAs are collected into IsomiR Bank. In addition, IsomiR Bank provides target prediction and enrichment analysis to evaluate the effects of isomiRs on target selection.
Availability and implementation: IsomiR Bank is implemented in PHP/PERL + MySQL + R format and can be freely accessed at http://mcg.ustc.edu.cn/bsc/isomir/
Contacts: aoli@ustc.edu.cn or qshi@ustc.edu.cn
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Cyclic corrosion tests of organometallic coated fuel tanks
Authors: Saliba Patrícia Alves , Luciano Milene Adriane , Castro Maria das Mercês Reis , Lins Vanessa Freitas Cunha 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this study is to evaluate the quality of organometallic coatings of automotive fuel tanks. Galvannealed steels and galvannealed steels coated with organometallic layers were analyzed using accelerated corrosion tests.

Design/methodology/approach
– The characterization of galvannealed and organometallic coatings was done by mass (layer removal and weighing) and layer thickness (glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy), chemical composition (energy dispersive spectroscopy) and surface morphology (scanning electron microscopy). The accelerated corrosion tests were performed in accordance with SAE J2334 and GMW 14872 standards.

Findings
– The samples tested using the GMW 14872 standard were more deteriorated as compared to the samples submitted to the SAE J2334 test because of the higher degree of aggressiveness of the GMW 14872 test. Despite the presence of white rust, the corrosion resistance of organometallic-coated steel samples was higher as compared to the resistance of galvannealed steel samples.

Research limitations/implications
– The organometallic coating is a commercial product, whose chemical composition is confidential.

Practical implications
– This study reinforces the quality of automotive tanks with organometallic coating and helps to increase their competitiveness in the market tanks as compared to polymeric tanks.

Social implications
– The study contributes to increase the competitiveness of steel tanks against polymeric tanks that meet the technical requirements but are not environmentally friendly because they are multi-layered and cannot be recycled.

Originality/value
– The novelty of this study is the comparison of the corrosion resistance of galvannealed steel tanks and galvannealed steel tanks with organometallic coatings. This corrosion evaluation joined with the physical and chemical characterization was not found in literature and is relevant to the materials selection of the automotive industry.
Understanding approaches to managing diversity in the workplace
Authors: Ravazzani Silvia 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to enhance understanding of why and how companies implement diversity management in practice, and of factors that may explain their approach.

Design/methodology/approach
– This study takes inspiration from existing typologies depicting organisation-wide perspectives on diversity management, and articulates them in more detail by applying practice-driven indicators and highlighting possible contingent factors at play. The resulting framework is used to investigate diversity management in Italy. Data from a survey conducted among 90 companies and two focus groups with experts and managers are presented.

Findings
– The most common approach among Italian companies focuses on addressing social expectations, seemingly shaped by isomorphic pressures and the need to secure legitimacy in their environment. Results also point to an understanding and practice of diversity management in Italy that also incorporate compliance and opportunity-oriented aspects, in an interplay between coercion and voluntarism that reflects local perspective and priorities.

Originality/value
– This study makes an effort to address the paucity of studies linking approaches to managing diversity with managerial interventions and contextual factors. The research model connecting approaches with practice-driven aspects and explanatory factors shows descriptive and predictive potential, although it should be contextualised to the specific setting under investigation. This study also fills a research gap in Italy, where existing research primarily involves case studies and qualitative approaches and focuses on gender issues. Implications for research and practice drawn from this study can be useful to scholars and practitioners in other countries.
Behind camouflaging: traditional and innovative theoretical perspectives in social and environmental accounting research
Authors: Michelon Giovanna , Pilonato Silvia , Ricceri Federica , Roberts Robin W 
Published: March 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is threefold. First, it examines nuances that specific camouflaging perspectives provide to enhance traditional and widely adopted theories in social and environmental accounting. Second, within research on camouflaging, the paper stimulates multidisciplinarity and cross-fertilization by presenting recent developments in organizational theory that hold promise for enhancing our understanding of camouflaging. Finally, it discusses how the research contributions published in this special issue help advance the notion of corporate camouflaging.Design/methodology/approach– The paper makes use of an extensive literature review and discusses research implications related with the choice of theoretical framework.Findings– The idea of camouflaging may provide narrower and more refined perspective(s) that can help researchers delve deeper into their topic of interest and thereby support potentially substantive contributions to the field.Originality/value– The paper offers suggestions for future social and environmental accounting research that adopts the concepts of organized hypocrisy, organizational façades and functional stupidity into the study of organizations.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Syntrophomonas wolfei
subsp.
methylbutyratica
Strain 4J5
T
(JCM 14075), a Mesophilic Butyrate- and 2-Methylbutyrate-Degrading Syntroph
Authors: Narihiro Takashi , Nobu Masaru K. , Tamaki Hideyuki , Kamagata Yoichi , Liu Wen-Tso 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACT

Syntrophomonas wolfei
subsp.
methylbutyratica
strain 4J5
T
(=JCM 14075
T
) is a mesophilic bacterium capable of degrading butyrate and 2-methylbutyrate through syntrophic cooperation with a partner methanogen. The draft genome sequence is 3.2 Mb, with a G+C content of 45.5%.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Lactobacillus delbrueckii
subsp.
bulgaricus
CFL1, a Lactic Acid Bacterium Isolated from French Handcrafted Fermented Milk
Authors: Meneghel Julie , Dugat-Bony Eric , Irlinger Françoise , Loux Valentin , Vidal Marie , Passot Stéphanie , Béal Catherine , Layec Séverine , Fonseca Fernanda 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACT

Lactobacillus delbrueckii
subsp.
bulgaricus
(
L. bulgaricus
) is a lactic acid bacterium widely used for the production of yogurt and cheeses. Here, we report the genome sequence of
L. bulgaricus
CFL1 to improve our knowledge on its stress-induced damages following production and end-use processes.
Full-face motorcycle helmet protection from facial impacts: an investigation using THOR dummy impacts and SIMon finite element head model
Authors: Whyte Thomas , Gibson Tom , Eager David , Milthorpe Bruce 
Published: March 2016

ObjectiveFacial impacts are both common and injurious for helmeted motorcyclists who crash; however, there is no facial impact requirement in major motorcycle helmet standards. This study examined the effect of full-face motorcycle helmet protection on brain injury risk in facial impacts using a test device with biofidelic head and neck motion. A preliminary investigation of energy absorbing foam in the helmet chin bar was carried out.MethodFlat-faced rigid pendulum impacts were performed on a THOR dummy in an unprotected (no helmet) and protected mode (two full-face helmet conditions). The head responses of the dummy were input into the simulated injury monitor finite element head model to analyse the risk of brain injury in these impacts.ResultsFull-face helmet protection provides a significant reduction in brain injury risk in facial impacts at increasing impact speeds compared with an unprotected rider (p<0.05). The effect of low-density crushable foam added to the chin bar could not be distinguished from an unpadded chin bar impact.ConclusionsDespite the lack of an impact attenuation requirement for the face, full-face helmets do provide a reduction in head injury risk to the wearer in facial impacts. The specific helmet design factors that influence head injury risk in facial impacts need further investigation if improved protection for helmeted motorcyclists is to be achieved.
Improved Method Used to Investigate the Dynamic Shear Failure of AISI 1045 Steel Cylinder Under Blast Loading
Authors: Liang Minzu , Li Xiangyu , Lu Fangyun 
Published: March 2016

This study describes an improved method used to determine the dynamic shear failure of materials under blast loading conditions. The proposed method is a convenient and effective and generates material failure along the controlled fracture trajectories under uniform uniaxial stress conditions at a strain rate of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]s[Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]s[Formula: see text]. The method was developed by performing experiments on AISI 1045 steel with heat treatment. Specimens were filled with composition B explosives and detonated, and fragments were recovered. Most of the macroscopic shear cracks originated at the notch tips and connected adjacent internal and external notches. The phenomena of multipath and bifurcate shear fracture trajectories were also observed. Fractography analysis of the fragments provided data on damage and failure mechanism and revealed that dynamic shear fracture was characterized by microvoids and microcracks. The adiabatic shear band of AISI 1045 steel was detected on the fracture surface boundary. This finding indicates that adiabatic shear localization is the underlying failure mechanism of the studied material.