bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Adhesive System and Anisotropic Shear Force of Guizhou Gastromyzontidae
Authors: Zou Jun , Wang Jinrong , Ji Chen 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe Guizhou gastromyzontidae (Beaufortia kweichowensis) can adhere to slippery and fouled surfaces in torrential streams. A unique adhesive system utilized by the fish was observed by microscope and CLSM as an attachment disc sealed by a round belt of micro bubbles. The system is effective in wet or underwater environments and can resist a normal pulling force up to 1000 times the fish’s weight. Moreover, a mechanism for passive anisotropic shear force was observed. The shear forces of the fish under different conditions were measured, showing that passive shear force plays an important role in wet environments. The adhesive system of the fish was compared with other biological adhesion principles, from which we obtained potential values for the system that refer to the unique micro sealing and enhanced adhesion in a wet environment.
The genesis of adiabatic shear bands
Authors: Landau P. , Osovski S. , Venkert A. , Gärtnerová V. , Rittel D. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractAdiabatic shear banding (ASB) is a unique dynamic failure mechanism that results in an unpredicted catastrophic failure due to a concentrated shear deformation mode. It is universally considered as a material or structural instability and as such, ASB is hardly controllable or predictable to some extent. ASB is modeled on the premise of stability analyses. The leading paradigm is that a competition between strain (rate) hardening and thermal softening determines the onset of the failure. It was recently shown that microstructural softening transformations, such as dynamic recrystallization, are responsible for adiabatic shear failure. These are dictated by the stored energy of cold work, so that energy considerations can be used to macroscopically model the failure mechanism. The initial mechanisms that lead to final failure are still unknown, as well as the ASB formation mechanism(s). Most of all - is ASB an abrupt instability or rather a gradual transition as would be dictated by microstructural evolutions? This paper reports thorough microstructural characterizations that clearly show the gradual character of the phenomenon, best described as a nucleation and growth failure mechanism, and not as an abrupt instability as previously thought. These observations are coupled to a simple numerical model that illustrates them.
Investigating the effect of AS03 adjuvant on the plasma cell repertoire following pH1N1 influenza vaccination
Authors: Galson J. D. , Trück J. , Kelly D. F. , van der Most R. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractInfluenza pandemics require rapid deployment of effective vaccines for control. Adjuvants such as AS03 improve vaccine immunogenicity, but this mechanism is poorly understood. We used high-throughput B cell receptor sequencing of plasma cells produced following AS03-adjuvanted and non-adjuvanted 2009 pandemic H1N1 vaccination, as well as pre-pandemic seasonal influenza vaccination to elucidate the effect of the adjuvant on the humoral immune response. By analyzing mutation levels, it was possible to distinguish sequences from cells that were recently activated from naïve B cells from those that were activated by memory recall. We show that the adjuvant functions through two mechanisms. First, the adjuvant stimulates increased activation of naïve B cells, thus reducing immune interference with previous vaccine responses. Second, the adjuvant is able to increase the adaptability of the recalled cells to give improved specificity to the new vaccine antigen. We thus show how AS03 enhances pH1N1 immune responses, and reduces immune interference.
A competing-risk-based score for predicting twenty-year risk of incident diabetes: the Beijing Longitudinal Study of Ageing study
Authors: Liu Xiangtong , Chen Zhenghong , Fine Jason Peter , Liu Long , Wang Anxin , Guo Jin , Tao Lixin , Mahara Gehendra , Yang Kun , Zhang Jie , Tian Sijia , Li Haibin , Liu Kuo , Luo Yanxia , Zhang Feng , Tang Zhe , Guo Xiuhua 
Published: November 2016

AbstractFew risk tools have been proposed to quantify the long-term risk of diabetes among middle-aged and elderly individuals in China. The present study aimed to develop a risk tool to estimate the 20-year risk of developing diabetes while incorporating competing risks. A three-stage stratification random-clustering sampling procedure was conducted to ensure the representativeness of the Beijing elderly. We prospectively followed 1857 community residents aged 55 years and above who were free of diabetes at baseline examination. Sub-distribution hazards models were used to adjust for the competing risks of non-diabetes death. The cumulative incidence function of twenty-year diabetes event rates was 11.60% after adjusting for the competing risks of non-diabetes death. Age, body mass index, fasting plasma glucose, health status, and physical activity were selected to form the score. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.76 (95% Confidence Interval: 0.72–0.80), and the optimism-corrected AUC was 0.78 (95% Confidence Interval: 0.69–0.87) after internal validation by bootstrapping. The calibration plot showed that the actual diabetes risk was similar to the predicted risk. The cut-off value of the risk score was 19 points, marking mark the difference between low-risk and high-risk patients, which exhibited a sensitivity of 0.74 and specificity of 0.65.
Neutrophil extracellular traps are indirectly triggered by lipopolysaccharide and contribute to acute lung injury
Authors: Liu Shuai , Su Xiaoli , Pan Pinhua , Zhang Lemeng , Hu Yongbin , Tan Hongyi , Wu Dongdong , Liu Ben , Li Haitao , Li Haosi , Li Yi , Dai Minhui , Li Yuanyuan , Hu Chengping , Tsung Allan 
Published: November 2016

AbstractNeutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) facilitate the extracellular killing of pathogens. However, excessive NETs formation and poor degradation are associated with exacerbated immune responses and tissue injury. In this study, we investigated the role of NETs in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated acute lung injury (ALI) and assessed the use of DNase I, for the treatment of ALI. Additionally, we focused on the controversial issue of whether LPS directly induces NETs release in vitro. NETs formation was detected in murine ALI tissue in vivo and was associated with increased NETs markers, citrullinated-histone H3 tissue levels and NET-DNA levels in BALF. Treatment with DNase I significantly degraded NETs and reduced citrullinated-histone H3 levels, which protected against ALI and ameliorated pulmonary oedema and total protein in BALF. In addition, DNase I significantly reduced IL-6 and TNF-α levels in plasma and BALF. In vitro, LPS-activated platelets rather than LPS alone efficiently induced NETs release. In conclusion, NETs formed during LPS-induced ALI, caused organ damage and initiated the inflammatory response. NETs degradation by DNase I promoted NET-protein clearance and protected against ALI in mice; thus, DNase I may be a new potential adjuvant for ALI therapy. Specifically, LPS induced NETs formation in an indirect manner via platelets activation.
X-ray Scintillation in Lead Halide Perovskite Crystals
Authors: Birowosuto M. D. , Cortecchia D. , Drozdowski W. , Brylew K. , Lachmanski W. , Bruno A. , Soci C. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractCurrent technologies for X-ray detection rely on scintillation from expensive inorganic crystals grown at high-temperature, which so far has hindered the development of large-area scintillator arrays. Thanks to the presence of heavy atoms, solution-grown hybrid lead halide perovskite single crystals exhibit short X-ray absorption length and excellent detection efficiency. Here we compare X-ray scintillator characteristics of three-dimensional (3D) MAPbI3 and MAPbBr3 and two-dimensional (2D) (EDBE)PbCl4 hybrid perovskite crystals. X-ray excited thermoluminescence measurements indicate the absence of deep traps and a very small density of shallow trap states, which lessens after-glow effects. All perovskite single crystals exhibit high X-ray excited luminescence yields of >120,000 photons/MeV at low temperature. Although thermal quenching is significant at room temperature, the large exciton binding energy of 2D (EDBE)PbCl4 significantly reduces thermal effects compared to 3D perovskites, and moderate light yield of 9,000 photons/MeV can be achieved even at room temperature. This highlights the potential of 2D metal halide perovskites for large-area and low-cost scintillator devices for medical, security and scientific applications.
Regulation of Ebola virus VP40 matrix protein by SUMO
Authors: Baz-Martínez Maite , El Motiam Ahmed , Ruibal Paula , Condezo Gabriela N. , de la Cruz-Herrera Carlos F. , Lang Valerie , Collado Manuel , San Martín Carmen , Rodríguez Manuel S. , Muñoz-Fontela Cesar , Rivas Carmen 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe matrix protein of Ebola virus (EBOV) VP40 regulates viral budding, nucleocapsid recruitment, virus structure and stability, viral genome replication and transcription, and has an intrinsic ability to form virus-like particles. The elucidation of the regulation of VP40 functions is essential to identify mechanisms to inhibit viral replication and spread. Post-translational modifications of proteins with ubiquitin-like family members are common mechanisms for the regulation of host and virus multifunctional proteins. Thus far, no SUMOylation of VP40 has been described. Here we demonstrate that VP40 is modified by SUMO and that SUMO is included into the viral like particles (VLPs). We demonstrate that lysine residue 326 in VP40 is involved in SUMOylation, and by analyzing a mutant in this residue we show that SUMO conjugation regulates the stability of VP40 and the incorporation of SUMO into the VLPs. Our study indicates for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, that EBOV hijacks the cellular SUMOylation system in order to modify its own proteins. Modulation of the VP40-SUMO interaction may represent a novel target for the therapy of Ebola virus infection.
Angle-independent VO2 Thin Film on Glass Fiber Cloth as a Soft-Smart-Mirror (SSM)
Authors: Cai Nianjin , Zhang Wang , Wang Wanlin , Zhu Yuchen , Zada Imran , Gu Jiajun , Liu Qinglei , Su Huilan , Guo Cuiping , Zhang Zhijian , Zhang Jianzhong , Wu Liping , Zhang Di 
Published: November 2016

AbstractDesigning materials with a negative feedback function is beneficial for achieving temperature regulation inside a greenhouse. VO2 has been studied extensively because of its low insulator-to-metal transition temperature (IMT). In this study, reflection changes during a VO2 phase transition were investigated. Glass fiber cloth was used as a substrate, as it is stable and soft. A VO2 thin film on a glass fiber cloth whose surface contained 96% V4+ and 4% V5+ was prepared using an inorganic sol-gels method. The insulator-to-metal transition temperature was decreased by 38 °C, which was observed from the reflection curve detected using an angle-resolved spectrometer. This decrease in IMT occurred mainly because of the presence of V5+, which causes destabilization of the monoclinic phase of VO2. When the greenhouse temperature was increased from 30 °C to 40 °C, the reflected intensity of VO2 on glass fiber cloth decreased by 22% for the wavelength range of 400 nm to 800 nm. In addition, the angle-independent property of the VO2 thin film was observed using an angle-resolved spectrometer. Owing to its thermo-reflective properties, the thin film can serve as a soft-smart-mirror (SSM) inside a greenhouse to stabilize the temperature, playing a negative feedback role.
Continuous exposure to non-lethal doses of sodium iodate induces retinal pigment epithelial cell dysfunction
Authors: Zhang Xiao-Yu , Ng Tsz Kin , Brelén Mårten Erik , Wu Di , Wang Jian Xiong , Chan Kwok Ping , Yung Jasmine Sum Yee , Cao Di , Wang Yumeng , Zhang Shaodan , Chan Sun On , Pang Chi Pui 
Published: November 2016

AbstractAge-related macular degeneration (AMD), characterized by progressive degeneration of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), is the major cause of irreversible blindness and visual impairment in elderly population. We previously established a RPE degeneration model using an acute high dose sodium iodate to induce oxidative stress. Here we report findings on a prolonged treatment of low doses of sodium iodate on human RPE cells (ARPE-19). RPE cells were treated continuously with low doses (2–10 mM) of sodium iodate for 5 days. Low doses (2–5 mM) of sodium iodate did not reduce RPE cell viability, which is contrasting to cell apoptosis in 10 mM treatment. These low doses are sufficient to retard RPE cell migration and reduced expression of cell junction protein ZO-1. Phagocytotic activity of RPE cells was attenuated by sodium iodate dose-dependently. Sodium iodate also increased expression of FGF-2, but suppressed expression of IL-8, PDGF, TIMP-2 and VEGF. Furthermore, HTRA1 and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition marker proteins were downregulated, whereas PERK and LC3B-II proteins were upregulated after sodium iodate treatment. These results suggested that prolonged exposure to non-lethal doses of oxidative stress induces RPE cell dysfunctions that resemble conditions in AMD. This model can be used for future drug/treatment investigation on AMD.
Evolutionarily conserved odorant receptor function questions ecological context of octenol role in mosquitoes
Authors: Dekel Amir , Pitts Ronald J. , Yakir Esther , Bohbot Jonathan D. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractOlfaction is a key insect adaptation to a wide range of habitats. In the last thirty years, the detection of octenol by blood-feeding insects has been primarily understood in the context of animal host-seeking. The recent discovery of a conserved octenol receptor gene in the strictly nectar-feeding elephant mosquitoToxorhynchites amboinensis (TaOr8) suggests a different biological role. Here, we show that TaOR8 is a functional ortholog of its counterparts in blood-feeding mosquitoes displaying selectivity towards the (R)-enantiomer of octenol and susceptibility to the insect repellent DEET. These findings suggest that while the function of OR8 has been maintained throughout mosquito evolution, the context in which this receptor is operating has diverged in blood and nectar-feeding mosquitoes.
Facile synthesis of nickel oxide thin film on nickel foam for lithium ion batteries
Authors: Wang Lielong 
Published: November 2016

In this study, nickel oxide (NiO) thin films are deposited on three‐dimensional nickel foam by a facile two‐step method for application in Li‐ion batteries (LIBs). These NiO films on Ni foam are tested as Li‐ion batteries anodes. The rough NiO thin film with the shortest deposition time (3 min) shows the best Li‐ion battery performance. A high specific capacity of 917 mAh g−1 is achieved at a charge–discharge current of 0.5 C and even after 100 cycles, a capacity of 838 mAh g−1 is still retained. The electrode also shows a good rate capability. This study shows that NiO electrode prepared with this method can be a promising candidate for LIBs anodes materials.
Magnetically recyclable Fe3+/TiO2@Fe3O4 nanocomposites towards degradation of direct blue 71 under visible‐light irradiation
Authors: Fallah Shojaei Abdollah , Shams‐Nateri Ali , Ghomashpasand Maryam 
Published: November 2016

Fe3+/TiO2@Fe3O4 magnetic nanocompsites with 0.1–1 at% of Fe3+ content were synthesised by sol–gel method. The surface morphology, structure and crystalline phase of the nanocomposite were characterised by using XRD, SEM, HRTEM, EDX, BET, Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and VSM techniques. Photocatalytic activity experiments confirmed that as‐prepared nanocomposite had good photodegradating behaviour to Direct Blue 71 under visible‐light irradiation. 99.6% decomposition of dye was achieved within 50 min in the presence of the prepared photocatalyst. The nanocomposite could be easily recovered from the reaction solution by using a permanent magnetic bar and its photocatalytic activity remained 90% after five cycles of repetitious reusing. Then 0.5% Fe3+/TiO2@Fe3O4 nanocomposite can be used as highly efficient reusable catalysts.
The potential of asteroseismology for probing the core chemical stratification in white dwarf stars
Authors: Giammichele N. , Charpinet S. , Brassard P. , Fontaine G. 
Published: November 2016

Context. The details of the C/O core structure in white dwarf stars has mostly remained inaccessible to the technique of asteroseismology, despite several attempts carried out in the past.
Aims. We aim to re-assess the potential of asteroseismology for probing the chemical stratification in white dwarf cores, in light of new highly efficient tools recently developed for that purpose.
Methods. Using the forward modeling approach and a new parameterization for the core chemical stratification in ZZ Ceti stars, we tested several situations typical of the usually limited constraints available, such as small numbers of observed independent modes, to carry out asteroseismology of these stars.
Results. We find that, even with a limited number of modes, the core chemical stratification (in particular, the location of the steep chemical transitions expected in the oxygen profile) can be determined quite precisely due to the significant sensitivity of some confined modes to partial reflexion (trapping) effects. These effects are similar to the well known trapping induced by the shallower chemical transitions at the edge of the core and at the bottom of the H-rich envelope. We also find that success to unravel the core structure depends on the information content of the available seismic data. In some cases, it may not be possible to isolate a unique, well-defined seismic solution and the problem remains degenerate.
Conclusions. Our results establish that constraining the core chemical stratification in white dwarf stars based solely on asteroseismology is possible, an opportunity that we have begun to exploit.
The Variable Emergence of the Infrapatellar Branch of the Saphenous Nerve
Authors: Henry Brandon , Pękala Przemysław , Ramakrishnan Piravin , Taterra Dominik , Saganiak Karolina , Mizia Ewa , Walocha Jerzy , Tomaszewski Krzysztof 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve (IPBSN) is a cutaneous nerve of the lower limb, which arises distal to the adductor canal. High variability in the emergence, course, branching, termination, and morphometrics of the IPBSN poses an increased risk of injury to the nerve during surgical interventions on the anteromedial aspect of the knee. The aim of this study was to describe the anatomical characteristics of the IPBSN. This study utilized cadaveric (n = 100) and ultrasonography (n = 30) assessments, and meta-analysis. In the cadaveric study, the presence of IPBSN and its emergence mode in relation to the sartorius muscle (SaM) was determined (type A-anterior; type B-posterior; type C-penetrating the SaM). Ultrasonography examinations were conducted on healthy volunteers to determine the presence and mode of the emergence of the nerve. Finally, from electronic databases searching, all studies reporting the IPBSN emergence data were pooled into a meta-analysis. The mean distance between the medial border of the patellar ligament (MBPL) and the IPBSN at the level of the patellar apex (PA) was also analyzed in the cadaveric, ultrasonography, and meta-analysis portions of the study. Six studies (n = 336 limbs), including the present cadaveric study, were pooled into the meta-analysis of emergence. The most prevalent IPBSN emergence mode was type C (42.9%) followed by type B (41.9%) and type A (15.4%). In the ultrasonography assessment, type A was found to be the most common (82.8%). The mean distance between the MBPL and the IPBSN at the level of the PA was 4.89 ± 0.22 cm, and 5.57 ± 0.91 cm, for the cadaveric and meta-analysis studies combined, and the ultrasonography assessment, respectively. This multimodality study shows that the most common type of IPBSN emergence is type C. The horizontal distance between the MBPL and the IPBSN at the level of the PA is usually between 4.5 and 5.6 cm. Understanding the anatomy of IPBSN emergence is crucial for orthopedic surgeons to minimize the risks of iatrogenic nerve injury during surgical procedures in the region.
Unreasonable effectiveness of learning neural networks: From accessible states and robust ensembles to basic algorithmic schemes
Authors: Baldassi Carlo , Borgs Christian , Chayes Jennifer T. , Ingrosso Alessandro , Lucibello Carlo , Saglietti Luca , Zecchina Riccardo 
Published: November 2016

SignificanceArtificial neural networks are some of the most widely used tools in data science. Learning is, in principle, a hard problem in these systems, but in practice heuristic algorithms often find solutions with good generalization properties. We propose an explanation of this good performance in terms of a nonequilibrium statistical physics framework: We show that there are regions of the optimization landscape that are both robust and accessible and that their existence is crucial to achieve good performance on a class of particularly difficult learning problems. Building on these results, we introduce a basic algorithmic scheme that improves existing optimization algorithms and provides a framework for further research on learning in neural networks.
Trypanosoma bruceimetabolite indolepyruvate decreases HIF-1α and glycolysis in macrophages as a mechanism of innate immune evasion
Authors: McGettrick Anne F. , Corcoran Sarah E. , Barry Paul J. G. , McFarland Jennifer , Crès Cécile , Curtis Anne M. , Franklin Edward , Corr Sinéad C. , Mok K. Hun , Cummins Eoin P. , Taylor Cormac T. , O’Neill Luke A. J. , Nolan Derek P. 
Published: November 2016

SignificanceThe parasiteTrypanosoma bruceicauses African sleeping sickness. This disease, which lacks effective treatments, affects millions of humans and livestock in sub-Saharan Africa. This paper reveals a mechanism by which the parasite can evade our immune response. Indolepyruvate is a metabolite produced by the parasite and it manipulates the immune cells, called macrophages, preventing them from becoming fully active. The selective advantage for the parasite of excretion of indolepyruvate is possible modulation of host inflammatory responses to prolong host survival, thereby potentiating transmission of the parasite to the tsetse fly vector and ensuring completion of the life cycle. This discovery could lead to new drug targets and better treatments.
Global transformation of erythrocyte properties via engagement of an SH2-like sequence in band 3
Authors: Puchulu-Campanella Estela , Turrini Francesco M. , Li Yen-Hsing , Low Philip S. 
Published: November 2016

Significance
Src homology 2 (SH2) domains regulate signaling by binding phosphotyrosines. While all known SH2 domains consist of contiguous sequences of ∼100 aa, we describe a highly conserved SH2-like sequence motif located in the second cytoplasmic loop of membrane-spanning domain of erythrocyte membrane band 3. Upon tyrosine phosphorylation of the cytoplasmic domain of band 3, the domain rotates to bind the SH2 signature sequence within the membrane-spanning domain of band 3, promoting significant changes in erythrocyte properties. Because sequence homology searches do not recognize SH2-like sequence motifs, the possibility arises that many other SH2-like structures remain undetected in membrane-spanning proteins where they perform critical steps in kinase-facilitated signaling pathways.