bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chain Entanglements and Hydrogen Bonds in Carbopol Microgel Reinforced Hydrogel
Authors: Zhang Xiuyin , Zhao Chuanzhuang , Xiang Nanping , Li Wei 
Published: August 2016

Physical interaction between the microgel and the hydrogel matrix is a key issue in the rational design of microgel reinforced hydrogels. A pentaerythritol‐crosslinked poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc) microgel, named Carbopol, is composited with polyacrylamide (PAAm) hydrogel. The toughness of the hydrogel is significantly improved by constructing an interpenetrating network of Carbopol and PAAm. Chain entanglements within the composited hydrogel result in a strain‐hardening phenomenon and an efficient stress transfer from the PAAm matrix to the sacrificing network of Carbopol. Hydrogen bonds between PAAc and PAAm can be formed in an acidic environment, which function as reversible sacrificing bonds and further improve the stretchability of the hydrogel.
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Roles of the Interphase Stiffness and Percolation on the Behavior of Solid Propellants
Authors: Toulemonde Paul‐Aymé , Diani Julie , Gilormini Pierre , Lacroix Geneviève , Desgardin Nancy 
Published: August 2016

AbstractAtomic force microscopy has provided access to local moduli for propellants prepared with bonding agents, which create a stiffness gradient in the matrix producing a stiffer interphase surrounding the fillers. The reinforcing impact of the bonding agent appears up to some distance and interphase percolation is observed. In order to better understand the impact of bonding agents on the stress and strain at break of propellants, finite element simulations are performed. Two‐dimensional periodic cells containing randomly dispersed particles are considered, including both a cohesive zone model at the filler/matrix interface to account for possible debonding and an interphase that percolates or not. The influence of the interphase stiffness and of its percolation, on the stress and strain at break of the model propellants are evaluated through the use of a microstructure‐based failure criterion.
Antifungal activity of fabricated mesoporous alumina nanoparticles against root rot disease of tomato caused by Fusarium oxysporium
Authors: Shenashen Mohamed , Derbalah Aly , Hamza Amany , Mohamed Ahmed , El Safty Sherif 
Published: August 2016

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe present work involved the synthesis and characterisation of mesoporous alumina sphere (MAS) nanoparticles to evaluate their biological activity against tomato root rot caused by Fusarium oxysporium, as compared with the recommended fungicide, tolclofos‐methyl, under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. The effects of MAS nanoparticles on the growth of tomato plants were also evaluated and compared with those of tolclofos‐methyl.RESULTSThe physical characteristics and structural features of MAS nanoparticles, such as their large surface‐area‐to‐volume ratio, active surface sites and open channel pores, caused high antifungal efficacy against F. oxysporium. MAS nanoparticles presented an antifungal potential similar to that of tolclofos‐methyl and much greater than that of the control under both laboratory and greenhouse conditions. The highest growth parameters were recorded in tomato plants treated with MAS nanoparticles, followed by those treated with tolclofos‐methyl.CONCLUSIONSOur study demonstrated the possible use of cylindrically cubic MAS nanoparticles as an effective alternative for the control of Fusarium root rot in tomato. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Effect of a non‐woven fabric covering on the residual activity of pendimethalin in lettuce and soil
Authors: Jursík Miroslav , Kováčová Jana , Kočárek Martin , Hamouzová Kateřina , Soukup Josef 
Published: August 2016

AbstractBACKGROUNDLettuce (Lactuca sativaL.) is a crop that is very sensitive to herbicide contamination owing to its short growing season. The use of long‐residual herbicides and non‐woven fabric coverings could therefore influence pendimethalin concentrations in soil and lettuce.RESULTSThe pendimethalin half‐life in soil ranged between 18 and 85 days and was mainly affected by season (i.e. weather), and especially by soil moisture. Pendimethalin degradation in soil was slowest under dry conditions. A longer pendimethalin half‐life was observed under the non‐woven fabric treatment, but the effect of varying application rate was not significant. Pendimethalin residue concentrations in lettuce heads were significantly influenced by pendimethalin application rate and by non‐woven fabric cover, especially at the lettuce's early growth stages. The highest pendimethalin concentration at final harvest was determined in lettuce grown on uncovered plots treated with pendimethalin at an application rate of 1200 g ha−1(7–38 µg kg−1). Depending on growing season duration and weather conditions, pendimethalin concentrations in lettuce grown under non‐woven fabric ranged from 0 to 21 µg kg−1.CONCLUSIONUse of transparent non‐woven fabric cover with lettuce can help to reduce application rates of soil herbicides and diminish the risk of herbicide contamination in the harvested vegetables. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Rigor in Elementary Science Students’ Discourse: The Role of Responsiveness and Supportive Conditions for Talk
Authors: COLLEY CAROLYN , WINDSCHITL MARK 
Published: August 2016

ABSTRACTTeaching that is responsive to students’ ideas can create opportunities for rigorous sense‐making talk by young learners. Yet we have few accounts of how thoughtful attempts at responsive teaching unfold across units of instruction in elementary science classrooms and have only begun to understand how responsiveness encourages rigor in conversations. In this study, the first author taught an electric circuits unit to four upper elementary science classes, exercising a responsive teaching stance. We found that rigorous episodes of whole‐class talk were associated with the teacher's use of open‐ended questions, follow‐up prompts, references to activity or representations, prediscussion tasks, and asking students to comment on their peers’ ideas. Overall, higher rigor talk co‐occurred with these conditions when used in combination. Despite being responsive to students’ emerging ideas, all four classes addressed the science ideas for the unit—an outcome we attribute to the use of an anchoring phenomenon and the teacher's awareness of the concepts required to construct evidence‐based explanations for it. Finally, concerted attempts to teach in responsive ways—while also attending to rigor—surfaced pedagogical tensions that problematize efforts to create such discourse‐rich environments and inform how this type of instruction might be enacted by others.
Modeling the second stage of labor
Authors: Yan Xiani , Kruger Jennifer A. , Li Xinshan , Nielsen Poul M. F. , Nash Martyn P. 
Published: August 2016

Vaginal delivery is the primary cause of levator ani muscle injury, which is in turn the leading factor contributing to pelvic floor disorders including pelvic organ prolapse and urinary stress incontinence. Existing biomechanical models of childbirth have provided some understanding of pelvic floor function during delivery and have helped in the investigation of preventative strategies. The modeling frameworks for childbirth simulation are described with emphasis on (1) the recent advances in medical imaging quality and computational power; (2) improvements in the anatomical representation of the pelvic floor and fetal head; (3) more realistic boundary conditions for delivery; and (4) mechanical properties determined from experiments. Researchers have used these models to analyze childbirth mechanics and identify anatomical and mechanical features of the maternal pelvic floor, shape of the fetal head, and delivery techniques that potentially contribute to a difficult labor and higher risk of levator ani muscle injuries. The challenges to be addressed for these frameworks to be clinically useful are also discussed, including: (1) the improvements required to more accurately simulate the second stage of labor; (2) automatic segmentation of medical images and creation of customized computer models; (3) acquisition of individual specific pelvic floor mechanical properties; and (4) construction of statistical models for rapidly predicting the indices of childbirth mechanics. Within the next decade, it is likely that biomechanical models of childbirth will be sufficiently well informed and functional for personalized birth planning, and as educational tools for clinicians. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2016, 8:506–516. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.1351This article is categorized under:

Models of Systems Properties and Processes > Organ, Tissue, and Physiological Models
Impact of Tissue Sealing Sheet on Erectile Dysfunction in a Rat Model of Nerve-Sparing Radical Prostatectomy
Authors: Yamashita Shinichi , Fujii Shinji , Kamiyama Yoshihiro , Kawasaki Yoshihide , Izumi Hideaki , Kawamorita Naoki , Mitsuzuka Koji , Adachi Hisanobu , Kaiho Yasuhiro , Ito Akihiro , Arai Yoichi 
Published: August 2016

ABSTRACT

Introduction
The tissue sealing sheet has recently been used to prevent intraoperative bleeding from the neurovascular bundles in radical prostatectomy. Surgical stress or inflammatory changes likely play a role in erectile dysfunction after cavernous nerve injury. However, the efficacy of a tissue sealing sheet for preventing erectile function after nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy remains unclear.

Aim
To evaluate the effect of a tissue sealing sheet on erectile dysfunction after cavernous nerve dissection.

Methods
Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups and subjected to sham operation or bilateral cavernous nerve dissection with (sheet group) or without (non-sheet group) a tissue sealing sheet. In the sheet group, cavernous nerves were sealed with a tissue sealing sheet immediately after cavernous nerve dissection.

Main Outcome Measures
Erectile function was assessed by measuring intracavernous pressure and arterial pressure during pelvic nerve electrostimulation at 4 weeks after surgery. Expressions of interleukin-6, tumor growth factor-β1, and heme-oxygenase-1 in the major pelvic ganglion were examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results
Mean intracavernous pressure along with mean arterial pressure in the sheet group were similar to those in the sham group and showed a significant positive response compared with the non-sheet group (P &lt; .05). Furthermore, expressions of interleukin-6, tumor growth factor-β1, and heme-oxygenase-1 were significantly lower in the sheet group than in the non-sheet group (P &lt; .05).

Conclusion
Use of a tissue sealing sheet attenuated postoperative inflammatory changes and oxidative stress and improved erectile function after cavernous nerve injury in rats. The tissue sealing sheet might become a useful therapeutic approach to preserve erectile function after nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy.
Long-term time-lapse microscopy of C. elegans post-embryonic development
Authors: Gritti Nicola , Kienle Simone , Filina Olga , van Zon Jeroen Sebastiaan 
Published: August 2016

AbstractWe present a microscopy technique that enables long-term time-lapse microscopy at single-cell resolution in moving and feeding Caenorhabditis elegans larvae. Time-lapse microscopy of C. elegans post-embryonic development is challenging, as larvae are highly motile. Moreover, immobilization generally leads to rapid developmental arrest. Instead, we confine larval movement to microchambers that contain bacteria as food, and use fast image acquisition and image analysis to follow the dynamics of cells inside individual larvae, as they move within each microchamber. This allows us to perform fluorescence microscopy of 10–20 animals in parallel with 20 min time resolution. We demonstrate the power of our approach by analysing the dynamics of cell division, cell migration and gene expression over the full ∼48 h of development from larva to adult. Our approach now makes it possible to study the behaviour of individual cells inside the body of a feeding and growing animal.
Hedgehog–BMP signalling establishes dorsoventral patterning in lateral plate mesoderm to trigger gonadogenesis in chicken embryos
Authors: Yoshino Takashi , Murai Hidetaka , Saito Daisuke 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe gonad appears in the early embryo after several events: cells at the lateral plate mesoderm (LPM) undergo ingression, begin gonadal differentiation and then retain primordial germ cells (PGCs). Here we show that in the chicken embryo, these events are triggered on the basis of dorsoventral patterning at the medial LPM. Gonadal progenitor cells (GPCs) at the ventromedial LPM initiate gonadogenesis by undergoing ingression, whereas mesonephric capsule progenitor cells (MCPCs) at the dorsomedial LPM do not. These contrasting behaviours are caused by Hedgehog signalling, which is activated in GPCs but not in MCPCs. Inhibiting Hedgehog signalling prevents GPCs from forming gonadal structures and collecting PGCs. When activated by Hedgehog signalling, MCPCs form an ectopic gonad. This Hedgehog signalling is mediated by BMP4. These findings provide insight into embryonic patterning and gonadal initiation in the chicken embryo.
Sensory input attenuation allows predictive sexual response in yeast
Authors: Banderas Alvaro , Koltai Mihaly , Anders Alexander , Sourjik Victor 
Published: August 2016

AbstractAnimals are known to adjust their sexual behaviour depending on mate competition. Here we report similar regulation for mating behaviour in a sexual unicellular eukaryote, the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We demonstrate that pheromone-based communication between the two mating types, coupled to input attenuation by recipient cells, enables yeast to robustly monitor relative mate abundance (sex ratio) within a mixed population and to adjust their commitment to sexual reproduction in proportion to their estimated chances of successful mating. The mechanism of sex-ratio sensing relies on the diffusible peptidase Bar1, which is known to degrade the pheromone signal produced by mating partners. We further show that such a response to sexual competition within a population can optimize the fitness trade-off between the costs and benefits of mating response induction. Our study thus provides an adaptive explanation for the known molecular mechanism of pheromone degradation in yeast.
The microRNA cluster miR-183/96/182 contributes to long-term memory in a protein phosphatase 1-dependent manner
Authors: Woldemichael Bisrat T. , Jawaid Ali , Kremer Eloïse A. , Gaur Niharika , Krol Jacek , Marchais Antonin , Mansuy Isabelle M. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractMemory formation is a complex cognitive function regulated by coordinated synaptic and nuclear processes in neurons. In mammals, it is controlled by multiple molecular activators and suppressors, including the key signalling regulator, protein phosphatase 1 (PP1). Here, we show that memory control by PP1 involves the miR-183/96/182 cluster and its selective regulation during memory formation. Inhibiting nuclear PP1 in the mouse brain, or training on an object recognition task similarly increases miR-183/96/182 expression in the hippocampus. Mimicking this increase by miR-183/96/182 overexpression enhances object memory, while knocking-down endogenous miR-183/96/182 impairs it. This effect involves the modulation of several plasticity-related genes, withHDAC9identified as an important functional target. Further, PP1 controls miR-183/96/182 in a transcription-independent manner through the processing of their precursors. These findings provide novel evidence for a role of miRNAs in memory formation and suggest the implication of PP1 in miRNAs processing in the adult brain.
Shaping polymersomes into predictable morphologies via out-of-equilibrium self-assembly
Authors: Rikken R. S. M. , Engelkamp H. , Nolte R. J. M. , Maan J. C. , van Hest J. C. M. , Wilson D. A. , Christianen P. C. M. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractPolymersomes are bilayer vesicles, self-assembled from amphiphilic block copolymers. They are versatile nanocapsules with adjustable properties, such as flexibility, permeability, size and functionality. However, so far no methodological approach to control their shape exists. Here we demonstrate a mechanistically fully understood procedure to precisely control polymersome shape via an out-of-equilibrium process. Carefully selecting osmotic pressure and permeability initiates controlled deflation, resulting in transient capsule shapes, followed by reinflation of the polymersomes. The shape transformation towards stomatocytes, bowl-shaped vesicles, was probed with magnetic birefringence, permitting us to stop the process at any intermediate shape in the phase diagram. Quantitative electron microscopy analysis of the different morphologies reveals that this shape transformation proceeds via a long-predicted hysteretic deflation–inflation trajectory, which can be understood in terms of bending energy. Because of the high degree of controllability and predictability, this study provides the design rules for accessing polymersomes with all possible different shapes.
Intradermal immunisation using the TLR3-ligand Poly (I:C) as adjuvant induces mucosal antibody responses and protects against genital HSV-2 infection
Authors: Bardel Emilie , Doucet-Ladeveze Remi , Mathieu Cyrille , Harandi Ali M , Dubois Bertrand , Kaiserlian Dominique 
Published: August 2016

AbstractDevelopment of vaccines able to induce mucosal immunity in the genital and gastrointestinal tracts is a major challenge to counter sexually transmitted pathogens such as HIV-1 and HSV-2. Herein, we showed that intradermal (ID) immunisation with sub-unit vaccine antigens (i.e., HIV-1 gp140 and HSV-2 gD) delivered with Poly(I:C) or CpG1668 as adjuvant induces long-lasting virus-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)-G and IgA antibodies in the vagina and feces. Poly(I:C)-supplemented sub-unit viral vaccines caused minimal skin reactogenicity at variance to those containing CpG1668, promoted a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to the vaccine and protected mice from genital and neurological symptoms after a lethal vaginal HSV-2 challenge. Interestingly, Poly(I:C12U) (Ampligen), a Poly(I:C) structural analogue that binds to TLR3 but not MDA-5, promoted robust mucosal and systemic IgG antibodies, a weak skin DTH to the vaccine but not IgA responses and failed to confer protection against HSV-2 infection. Moreover, Poly(I:C) was far superior to Poly(I:C12U) at inducing prompt and robust upregulation of IFNß transcripts in lymph nodes draining the injection site. These data illustrate that ID vaccination with glycoproteins and Poly(I:C) as adjuvant promotes long-lasting mucosal immunity and protection from genital HSV-2 infection, with an acceptable skin reactogenicity profile. The ID route thus appears to be an unexpected inductive site for mucosal immunity and anti-viral protection suitable for sub-unit vaccines. This works further highlights that TLR3/MDA5 agonists such as Poly(I:C) may be valuable adjuvants for ID vaccination against sexually transmitted diseases.
Comparison of intraspecific, interspecific and intergeneric chloroplast diversity in Cycads
Authors: Jiang Guo-Feng , Hinsinger Damien Daniel , Strijk Joeri Sergej 
Published: August 2016

AbstractCycads are among the most threatened plant species. Increasing the availability of genomic information by adding whole chloroplast data is a fundamental step in supporting phylogenetic studies and conservation efforts. Here, we assemble a dataset encompassing three taxonomic levels in cycads, including ten genera, three species in the genus Cycas and two individuals of C. debaoensis. Repeated sequences, SSRs and variations of the chloroplast were analyzed at the intraspecific, interspecific and intergeneric scale and using our sequence data, we reconstruct a phylogenomic tree for cycads. The chloroplast was 162,094 bp in length, with 133 genes annotated, including 87 protein-coding, 37 tRNA and 8 rRNA genes. We found 7 repeated sequences and 39 SSRs. Seven loci showed promising levels of variations for application in DNA-barcoding. The chloroplast phylogeny confirmed the division of Cycadales in two suborders, each of them being monophyletic, revealing a contradiction with the current family circumscription and its evolution. Finally, 10 intraspecific SNPs were found. Our results showed that despite the extremely restricted distribution range of C. debaoensis, using complete chloroplast data is useful not only in intraspecific studies, but also to improve our understanding of cycad evolution and in defining conservation strategies for this emblematic group.
Non-additive genome-wide association scan reveals a new gene associated with habitual coffee consumption
Authors: Pirastu Nicola , Kooyman Maarten , Robino Antonietta , van der Spek Ashley , Navarini Luciano , Amin Najaf , Karssen Lennart C. , Van Duijn Cornelia M , Gasparini Paolo 
Published: August 2016

AbstractCoffee is one of the most consumed beverages world-wide and one of the primary sources of caffeine intake. Given its important health and economic impact, the underlying genetics of its consumption has been widely studied. Despite these efforts, much has still to be uncovered. In particular, the use of non-additive genetic models may uncover new information about the genetic variants driving coffee consumption. We have conducted a genome-wide association study in two Italian populations using additive, recessive and dominant models for analysis. This has uncovered a significant association in the PDSS2 gene under the recessive model that has been replicated in an independent cohort from the Netherlands (ERF). The identified gene has been shown to negatively regulate the expression of the caffeine metabolism genes and can thus be linked to coffee consumption. Further bioinformatics analysis of eQTL and histone marks from Roadmap data has evidenced a possible role of the identified SNPs in regulating PDSS2 gene expression through enhancers present in its intron. Our results highlight a novel gene which regulates coffee consumption by regulating the expression of the genes linked to caffeine metabolism. Further studies will be needed to clarify the biological mechanism which links PDSS2 and coffee consumption.
Integrative effect of drought and low temperature on litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) floral initiation revealed by dynamic genome-wide transcriptome analysis
Authors: Shen Jiyuan , Xiao Qiusheng , Qiu Haiji , Chen Chengjie , Chen Houbin 
Published: August 2016

AbstractFloral induction in litchi is influenced by multiple environment cues including temperature and soil water condition. In the present study, we determined that a combined treatment consisting of 14-day drought imposed prior to exposure to 35-day low temperature (T3) significantly promoted litchi flowering relative to the low temperature alone (T2), suggesting an integrative effect of drought and low temperature on litchi floral initiation. Analysis of transcriptomic changes in leaves from different treatments showed that 2,198 and 4,407 unigenes were differentially expressed in response to drought and low temperature, respectively. 1,227 of these unigenes were expressed in response to both treatments, implying an interaction of drought and low temperature on expression of genes involved in litchi floral initiation. Additionally, 932 unigenes were consistently differentially expressed during floral induction between T2 and T3 plants, which potentially accounts for the difference of flowering time. Thirty-eight transcription factors out of these 932 unigenes were identified as hub genes with central roles in regulation of litchi floral induction. The expression of litchi homologs of well-known flowering genes was also investigated and one Flowering Locus T (FT) homolog may play a crucial role in litchi flowering in responses to drought and low temperature.