bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Star Polymers from Single‐Chain Cyclized/Knotted Nanoparticles as a Core
Authors: Huang Xiaobei , Zhou Dezhong , A Sigen , Gao Yongsheng , Wang Xi , Li Xiaolin , Xu Qian , Greiser Udo , Yin Guangfu , Wang Wenxin 
Published: December 2017

AbstractStar polymers are comprised of a spatially defined “core‐shell‐periphery” structure. Their unique properties render them for diverse applications. One of the central challenges in the synthesis of star polymers is the design of a multifunctional core with many reaction sites for the conjugation with presynthesized arms or the initiation of the growth of arms. In this paper, it is demonstrated that the single‐chain cyclized/knotted nanoparticles (SCKPs) with multiple vinyl functional groups can be synthesized by Cu0&CuII‐mediated homopolymerization of bisphenol A ethoxylate diacrylate. Furthermore, the SCKPs with multiple pendant vinyl groups are used as the core and uniform amphiphilic star poly(β‐amino ester)s with 17 high‐molecular‐weight arms are synthesized via a grafting‐onto approach. This facile approach opens new avenues for the design and preparation of novel star polymers.
Demonstration of Survival, Growth, and Reproduction of Gulf Killifish in Freshwater Ponds
Authors: Burger Wesley S , Ramee Shane W , Culpepper Charlie M , Green Chris C , Allen Peter J 
Published: December 2017

Abstract
The Gulf Killifish Fundulus grandis, a popular baitfish species inhabiting estuaries in the northern Gulf of Mexico, has potential as an aquaculture species, particularly if it can be produced in low-salinity or freshwater ponds. Because growth and survival in freshwater ponds are not known, two size-classes were examined over a 16-week period. Initial mean stocking weights and densities were 0.47 g/fish and 26,500 fish/ha for the smaller size-group, which was stocked into three 0.04-ha ponds, and 6.12 g/fish and 20,450 fish/ha for the larger size-group, which was stocked into two 0.04-ha ponds. Growth and survival were similar between size-classes: mean final weight and mean survival were 7.88 g/fish and 54.3%, respectively, for the smaller size-group, and 13.90 g/fish and 43.1% for the larger size-group. Mean weight gain was very similar between size-groups (small: 7.41 g; large: 7.78 g); steady growth was observed from June until mid-September, whereas little growth and declines in condition factor were observed from mid-September to mid-October, corresponding with decreases in water temperature. Gulf Killifish were resilient to a wide range of water quality conditions in freshwater ponds and reached market sizes of 3 g at about 4 weeks and 5 g by 8 weeks.
Tolerance of Prenant's Schizothoracin Schizothorax prenanti to Total Dissolved Gas Supersaturated Water at Varying Temperature
Authors: Yuan Yuan , Wang Yuanming , Zhou Chengyang , An Ruidong , Li Kefeng 
Published: December 2017

Abstract
Hydropower development changes the temporal and spatial distribution of water temperature and causes total dissolved gas (TDG) supersaturation downstream of dams. We conducted laboratory experiments to determine the effects of TDG supersaturation on Prenant's Schizothoracin Schizothorax prenanti at varying water temperatures. The fish were exposed to 120, 130, 135, and 140% TDG-supersaturated water at different water temperatures within the range of 12–24°C for 96 h. Survival rate of Prenant's Schizothoracins declined with increasing TDG saturation. At 120% TDG, the final survival rate of fish was over 50% at the different temperatures. However, when the TDG level increased to 130% or above, the survival rate decreased sharply. The median survival time of fish ranged from 5.22 to 18.62 h when exposed to 130% TDG, ranged from 2.41 to 9.41 h at 135% TDG, and was less than 5 h at 140% TDG. Under 120% TDG conditions, fish survival rate was not significantly different among water temperatures (12–24°C). However, when the TDG level was 130%, the survival rate of the fish declined with increasing water temperature. In 135% and 140% TDG-supersaturated water, the survival time of the fish was longer at 16°C than at other temperatures.
Addition of Emulsifiers to Hydrogenated Soybean Oil-Based Feeds for Yellowtail
Authors: Bergman Alexis M , Trushenski Jesse T , Drawbridge Mark 
Published: December 2017

Abstract
Hydrogenated soybean oil can be used to spare fish oil in aquafeeds, but lipid digestibility may be a limiting factor. We evaluated the performance and tissue fatty acid composition of juvenile Yellowtail Seriola dorsalis that were fed diets containing menhaden fish oil (positive control), hydrogenated soybean oil (negative control), or hydrogenated soybean oil amended with 1% mixed bile acids, casein, whey protein, or monoglycerides as emulsifying agents. Juvenile fish (~10 g) were stocked in a semi-closed recirculation aquaculture system (15 fish/tank), diets were randomly assigned to tanks in triplicate (N = 3), and fish were fed in slight excess of estimated apparent satiation amounts for 6 h/d with belt feeders. After 8 weeks, production performance was equivalent for fish fed the positive control and negative control feeds; amending the hydrogenated soybean oil-based feeds with casein, whey protein, or monoglycerides did not affect performance, whereas adding mixed bile acids significantly impaired performance (weight gain = 655–681% versus 459%; survival = 98–100% versus 49%; feed conversion ratio = 1.19–1.22 versus 1.56). Whole-body fatty acid composition tended to mirror dietary composition except that fish receiving the hydrogenated soybean oil-based feeds exhibited disproportionately lower levels of saturated fatty acids and higher levels of monounsaturated fatty acids, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, and n-3 and n-6 fatty acids compared to dietary levels. Results suggest that casein, whey protein, and monoglycerides could be added to saturated fatty acid-rich hydrogenated soybean oil-based diets to reduce tissue fatty acid profile distortion, but production performance might not be enhanced. Of all the hydrogenated soybean oil-based feeds in this study, the one supplemented with casein resulted in a whole-body fatty acid profile closest to that of fish fed the fish oil-based feed. Mixed bile acids should not be added due to the resulting negative impacts on survival and growth.
Differential Responses of the Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) Gene to Immunological Challenges in Noble Scallop Chlamys nobilis
Authors: Zhang Hongkuan , Lu Yeqing , Yang Jianqin , Zhang Yun , Liu Hongxing , Cheng Dewei , Zheng Huaiping 
Published: December 2017

Abstract
Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) plays important roles in the immune system of animals. As an important marine bivalve cultured in south China, the noble scallop Chlamys nobilis is subject to diseases of various kinds, leading to decrease harvest. To investigate whether NOS in the noble scallop (hereafter, CnNOS) plays a significant role in immune defense, the full-length open-reading frame (ORF) of the CnNOS gene was cloned, and its expression levels in different tissues were determined. The complementary DNA nucleotide sequence of CnNOS encompassed 5,345 bp, with a full-length ORF of 4,647 bp. The gene consisted of the typical NOS structure, including an NOS domain, a flavodoxin 1 domain, a flavin adenine dinucleotide binding domain, and a conservative nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide binding domain. Subsequently, transcript levels of CnNOS in hemocytes were determined by real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR, indicating that CnNOS expression was significantly up-regulated in noble scallops injected with different immunostimulants, including lipopolysaccharides; the synthetic double-stranded RNA, polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid; and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The present results suggest that the CnNOS might play a crucial role in the noble scallop's defense against exogenous stimuli.
Cripto stabilizes GRP78 on the cell membrane
Authors: Kouznetsova Valentina L. , Hu Hannah , Teigen Knut , Zanetti Maurizio , Tsigelny Igor F. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe ER resident chaperone molecule GRP78 has been shown to translocate to the cell surface where it associates with Cripto and signals cell growth, playing a still partially understood role in tumorigenesis. Consequently, a better understanding of GRP78 topology and structure at the surface of cancer cells represents an important step in the development of a new class of therapeutics. Here, we used a set of programs for creation of a complex containing GRP78 and Cripto proteins. We elucidated possible interactions of GRP78, Cripto, and their complex with the membrane. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we demonstrated that Cripto binding to GRP78 completely changes the dynamics of its behavior on the membrane, not allowing GRP78 to disconnect from it, thus enabling GRP78 tumorigenic functions.
Contributions to nucleosome dynamics in chromatin from interactive propagation of phosphorylation/acetylation and inducible histone lysine basicities
Authors: Manning Lois R. , Manning James M. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe effect of phosphorylation on the basicities of amines in histone H3 peptides and their acetylation kinetics is probed with a mild chemical acetylating agent. Phosphorylation of Ser‐10 lowers the rate of chemical acetylation of Lys‐9, Lys‐14, and Lys‐18 by methyl acetyl phosphate in that order consistent with a higher pKa of these Lys residues induced by phosphorylation; basicities increase up to 3 pKa units as a function of distance from Ser‐10 phosphate. Enzymic acetylation of Lys residues with high pKa values in nucleosomes is also expected to be enhanced by phosphorylation, consistent with the known mechanism involving binding of protonated amines to N‐acetyltransferases; fetal hemoglobin has a related linkage of increased basicity at a specific site, its acetylation, and a resulting decrease in subunit interaction strength. In the absence of a phosphate on Ser‐10, the amines of Lys‐9, Lys‐14, and Lys‐18 have lowered pKa values. Chemical acetylation of glycine and glycinamide have analogous kinetic profiles to the histone peptides but the phosphate inductive effect in histone H3 is more potent since the linkage between phosphorylation and acetylation is propagated with a range extending 9–10 amino acids in either direction from the phosphorylation site enhancing protonation of amino groups. We conclude that lysine amine basicities in histone tails are not static but inducible and variable due to a dynamic and immediate interaction between phosphorylation/acetylation that may contribute to inactive heterochromatin by compaction through such Ser phosphate–Lys amine electrostatic interactions and their relaxation by acetylation in euchromatin.
One‐step electrochemical deposition to achieve superhydrophobic cobalt incorporated amorphous carbon‐based film with self‐cleaning and anti‐corrosion
Authors: Zhou Shengguo , Zhu Xiaobo , Yan Qingqing 
Published: December 2017

Exploiting a superhydrophobic surface is very significant due to its excellent water repellency which has many practical applications in various fields. In this work, the cobalt incorporated amorphous carbon‐based (Co/a‐C:H) film was prepared successfully on Si substrate via a simple 1‐step electrochemical deposition where electrochemical deposition technology was using cobalt (II) acetylacetonate methanol solution as electrolyte under high voltage, atmospheric pressure, and low temperature. Surprisingly, the as‐prepared film showed a superior superhydrophobic surface with a water contact angle of 153 ± 1° and a sliding angle of 7.6° without any further modification of low surface energy materials. Especially, the tape adhesive, corrosion resistance, and self‐cleaning tests demonstrated that the as‐prepared carbon‐based film could possess fairly well adhesion, superior anti‐corrosion resistance, and self‐cleaning ability, respectively. It indicated that the superhydrophobic Co/a‐C:H film might have potential promising applications in the field of anti‐fouling, anti‐corrosion, and drag resistance, such as the above‐deck structures on icebreaker vessels, ship hulls, and offshore wind turbine blades.
Denitrification of fuel oil by hydrogen‐sulfate pyrazolium‐based ionic liquids
Authors: Li Jie , Zeng Kai , Xu Haoxing , Jiang Feng , Zhang Jianfeng 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThree ionic liquids (ILs) of pyrazolium cations associated with hydrogen sulfate (HSO4−) anions were synthesized and quinoline denitrification from simulated oil was investigated. 1‐Hexyl‐2,3,5‐trimethylpyzolium ([HexPZM]HSO4) showed the highest extraction efficiency (98%) for denitrification of quinoline from simulated oil, and could be reused more than five times without obvious decrease of extraction efficiency. The denitrification of fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) gasoline and diesel with [HexPZM]HSO4 were determined with extraction efficiencies of 42.1% and 13.7%, respectively.
Hexagonal Mg(OH)2 Nanosheets as Antibacterial Agent for Treating Contaminated Water Sources
Authors: Azzam Ahmed M. , Shenashen Mohamed A. , Selim Mahmoud M. , Alamoudi Ahmad S. , El‐Safty Sherif A. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractMany water sources are contaminated by Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative pathogenic bacteria. In this work, low‐cost antibacterial mesoporous nano‐hexagonal Mg(OH)2 sheets (MNMSs) with uniform sizes of 250–450 nm were fabricated. Their structural features enabled the sheets to be a powerful antibacterial agent with high surface reactivity owing to well‐scattered pore windows that provide the sheets with a large surface area. Results revealed that the minimum inhibitory concentrations for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria were 0.45 and 0.50 mg ml−1, respectively. MNMSs inhibited >97% of very high viable bacterial count 90×104 cfu ml−1 in a one‐step process through 12 hours. Complete inhibition of bacterial growth occurred while maintaining the MNMSs layer composition, indicating reusability. The MNMSs antibacterial agent surface areas were 21.83 and 20.09 m2 g−1 for before and after usage, respectively, while the pore volume has no significant differences for MNMSs before and after usage represented by 0.043 and 0.044 cm3 g−1, respectively. The treated bacterial cells were completely inactivated through the interaction of nanosheets with bacteria, leading to extensively damaged cell membranes and decomposition of internal cellular components. Therefore, the MNMSs can be used to treat biological pollution in water.
Light‐Regenerative Gray ZnO as a Fast and Selective Adsorbent for Dye Removal
Authors: Zuo‐Jiang Sizhi , Ma Ji , Wang Yunguo , Chen Kezheng 
Published: December 2017

AbstractGray ZnO adsorbent was synthesized via a facile urea‐assisted solvothermal procedure. Its positive surface charge is conducive to the electrostatic attraction with anionic dyes in aqueous solution. Based on equilibrium and thermodynamic studies, the dye adsorption mechanism on this adsorbent is mainly taken as physisorption. After adsorption, it could be effectively regenerated via sunlight and ultraviolet‐light irradiation. Its remarkable dye adsorption capacity, high selectivity and excellent regeneration efficiency are highly desirable in water treatment.
Enhancing the Stability and Immunomodulatory Activity of Liposomal Spherical Nucleic Acids through Lipid‐Tail DNA Modifications
Authors: Meckes Brian , Banga Resham J. , Nguyen SonBinh T. , Mirkin Chad A. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractLiposomal spherical nucleic acids (LSNAs) are an attractive therapeutic platform for gene regulation and immunomodulation due to their biocompatibility, chemically tunable structures, and ability to enter cells rapidly without the need for ancillary transfection agents. Such structures consist of small (<100 nm) liposomal cores functionalized with a dense, highly oriented nucleic acid shell, both of which are key components in facilitating their biological activity. Here, the properties of LSNAs synthesized using conventional methods, anchoring cholesterol terminated oligonucleotides into a liposomal core, are compared to LSNAs made by directly modifying the surface of a liposomal core containing azide‐functionalized lipids with dibenzocyclooctyl‐terminated oligonucleotides. The surface densities of the oligonucleotides are measured for both types of LSNAs, with the lipid‐modified structures having approximately twice the oligonucleotide surface coverage. The stabilities and cellular uptake properties of these structures are also evaluated. The higher density, lipid‐functionalized structures are markedly more stable than conventional cholesterol‐based structures in the presence of other unmodified liposomes and serum proteins as evidenced by fluorescence assays. Significantly, this new form of LSNA exhibits more rapid cellular uptake and increased sequence‐specific toll‐like receptor activation in immune reporter cell lines, making it a promising candidate for immunotherapy.
Differences in the Activity of Endogenous Bone Morphogenetic Protein Signaling Impact on the Ability of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells to Differentiate to Corneal Epithelial-Like Cells
Authors: Kamarudin Taty Anna , Bojic Sanja , Collin Joseph , Yu Min , Alharthi Sameer , Buck Harley , Shortt Alex , Armstrong Lyle , Figueiredo Francisco C. , Lako Majlinda 
Published: December 2017

Abstract
Cornea is a clear outermost layer of the eye which enables transmission of light onto the retina. The transparent corneal epithelium is regenerated by limbal stem cells (LSCs), whose loss/dysfunction results in LSCs deficiency (LSCD). Ex vivo expansion of autologous LSCs obtained from patient's healthy eye followed by transplantation onto the LSCs damaged/deficient eye, has provided a successful treatment for unilateral LSCD. However, this is not applicable to patient with total bilateral LSCD, where LSCs are lost/damaged from both eyes. We investigated the potential of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) to differentiate into corneal epithelial-like cells as a source of autologous stem cell treatment for patients with total bilateral LSCD. Our study showed that combined addition of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4), all trans-retinoic acid and epidermal growth factor for the first 9 days of differentiation followed by cell-replating on collagen-IV-coated surfaces with a corneal-specific-epithelial cell media for an additional 11 days, resulted in step wise differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESC) to corneal epithelial progenitors and mature corneal epithelial-like cells. We observed differences in the ability of hiPSC lines to undergo differentiation to corneal epithelial-like cells which were dependent on the level of endogenous BMP signaling and could be restored via the activation of this signaling pathway by a specific transforming growth factor β inhibitor (SB431542). Together our data reveal a differential ability of hiPSC lines to generate corneal epithelial cells which is underlined by the activity of endogenous BMP signaling pathway.
Growth Estimation of Western Population Segment Gulf Sturgeon Using Length‐at‐Age and Mark–Recapture Data
Authors: Andres Michael J. , Slack William T. , Peterson Mark S. , Kimmel Kayla D. , Lewis Bradley R. , Grammer Paul O. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractMultimodel inference of length‐at‐age and tag–recapture data was used to estimate growth for western population segment (WPS; populations natal to the Pearl River, Louisiana, and the Pascagoula River, Mississippi) Gulf Sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi. Four candidate growth models were fitted to the length‐at‐age data (n = 174): a three‐parameter von Bertalanffy growth function (VBGF), a two‐parameter VBGF, a power model, and a Gompertz model. Model support for each data set was estimated using Akaike's information criterion. The Gompertz model provided the best fit to our length‐at‐age data and had the lowest mean asymptotic maximum length (L∞). Mean estimated growth parameters for WPS Gulf Sturgeon were similar to those estimated for eastern population segment Gulf Sturgeon, but some of the mean parameter estimates fell outside of our 95% confidence intervals. Three growth curves were also fitted to tag–recapture data (n = 116): a reformulated two‐parameter VBGF, the Francis () GROTAG model, and a reparametrized Gompertz model. The GROTAG model provided the best fit to our data; all three models had lower mean estimates for L∞ compared with parameter estimates based on length at age but had similar mean growth coefficients. We also compared the observed growth of 47 individuals with their predicted growth based on parameter estimates of the Gompertz length‐at‐age model and their age at tagging. We found that observed growth was generally less than what was predicted for juveniles and adults. For adults, we attribute this to the inaccuracies associated with age estimation for older individuals, which suggests that a tag–recapture approach might be the most appropriate method of modeling Gulf Sturgeon growth. Our study (1) demonstrates the importance of fitting multiple models to estimate growth, (2) will enable more accurate growth comparisons for Gulf Sturgeon across their range, and (3) represents the most robust length‐at‐age and tag–recapture data set for WPS Gulf Sturgeon.
Movement and Survival of Wild Chinook Salmon Smolts from Butte Creek During Their Out‐Migration to the Ocean: Comparison of a Dry Year versus a Wet Year
Authors: Cordoleani Flora , Notch Jeremy , McHuron Alex S. , Ammann Arnold J. , Michel Cyril J. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractCalifornia's Central Valley (CCV) Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha stocks have declined substantially since the mid‐1800s, with most listed as threatened or endangered or heavily supplemented by hatcheries. As the largest population of CCV wild spring‐run Chinook Salmon, Butte Creek fish are an important source for promoting life history diversity in the CCV Chinook Salmon community. However, little information exists on Butte Creek juvenile mortality during out‐migration to the ocean, which is considered a critical phase in the overall population dynamics. We used the Juvenile Salmon Acoustic Telemetry System to track the movement of individual fish, and we used a mark–recapture modeling framework to estimate survival of migrating wild Chinook Salmon smolts from lower Butte Creek to ocean entry at the Golden Gate Bridge. Survival and migration varied significantly among years; in 2015, which was a dry year, Chinook Salmon smolts migrated more slowly throughout their migratory corridor and exhibited lower survival than in a wetter year (2016); among locations, fish migrated faster and experienced higher survival in the lower Sacramento River than in the Sutter Bypass and the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta. Our data suggest that higher flow at release and larger fish lengths both resulted in increased survival. Our findings shed light on a critical phase of wild spring‐run juvenile Chinook Salmon dynamics and could help to inform future restoration and management projects that would improve the survival and abundance of the CCV spring‐run Chinook Salmon populations.