bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Altered physiochemical properties in industrially synthesized ZnO nanoparticles regulate oxidative stress; induce in vivo cytotoxicity in embryonic zebrafish by apoptosis
Authors: Verma Suresh K. , Panda Pritam Kumar , Jha Ealisha , Suar Mrutyunjay , Parashar S. K. S. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThis study investigates thein vivocytotoxicity of ZnO nanoparticles synthesized at industrial scale with embryonic Zebrafish. Industrial synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles was mimicked at lab scale by high energy ball milling technique by milling bulk ZnO particles for 15 h. Synthesized 7 h and 10 h ZnO nanoparticles showed significant alteration of size, zeta potential and optical properties in comparison to Bulk ZnO. Mortality and hatching rate in Zebrafish embryos were influenced by these alterations. Size and charge dependent effect of ZnO nanoparticles exposure on physiology and development of Zebrafish embryos were evident by malfunctioned organ development and abnormal heartbeat rate. Similar dependency on quenching of ROS due to influential hydrogen bond interaction with glycine residue of Sod1 oxidative stress protein and increased apoptosis were observed in cells. The study revealed the mechanism of cytotoxicity in exposed embryonic Zebrafish as an effect of accumulation and internalization inside cells instigating to generation of hypoxic condition and interference with the normal adaptive stress regulation signaling pathways leading towards enhanced apoptosis. The study revealed hidden size and charge dependentin vivocytotoxicity mechanism of ZnO nanoparticles in Zebrafish embryos insight of the environmental and clinical importance of attention on industrially synthesized ZnO nanoparticles.
Investigation of causes of sex-related differences in ocular blood flow in healthy eyes determined by laser speckle flowgraphy
Authors: Iwase Takeshi , Yamamoto Kentaro , Yanagida Kosei , Ra Eimei , Ito Yasuki , Murotani Kenta , Terasaki Hiroko 
Published: October 2017

AbstractSex-related differences are present in the systemic and ocular blood flow. However, the cause of the sex-related differences has not been determined. We investigated the ocular blood flow, represented by the mean blur rate (MBR), on the optic nerve head (ONH) determined by laser speckle flowgraphy in 138 males (63.9 ± 8.9 years) and 194 females (63.5 ± 9.4 years). The correlations between the MBR on the ONH and the clinical data were determined. The overall ONH-MBR was significantly higher in females than males (P < 0.001). In addition, the levels of the hemoglobin and hematocrit were significantly lower in females than in males (P < 0.001). The ONH-MBR was negatively and significantly correlated with the levels of the hemoglobin and hematocrit (both, P < 0.001). Multiple regression analyses showed that the sex (β = 0.248, P < 0.001) was an independent factor correlated with the ONH-MBR when the clinical examination data were not included in the analyses. However, when the clinical examination data were included, the hemoglobin level (β = −0.295, P < 0.001) was an independent factor that contributed to the ONH-MBR but the sex was not. We conclude that the sex-related differences in the hemoglobin level and the negative correlation between hemoglobin and the ONH-MBR are the causes of the sex-related differences in the ONH-MBR.
Deficit irrigation and planting patterns strategies to improve maize yield and water productivity at different plant densities in semi-arid regions
Authors: Jia Qianmin , Sun Lefeng , Ali Shahzad , Liu Donghua , Zhang Yan , Ren Xiaolong , Zhang Peng , Jia Zhikuan 
Published: October 2017

AbstractField research was done in two consecutive years to optimize deficit irrigation under different crop densities (low, medium, and high) using the ridge and furrow rainfall harvesting (RFRH) system. We demonstrate that applying deficit irrigation (375 m3 ha−1) at the flowering stage of maize grown at medium density (M: 75000 plant ha−1) under the RFRH system (MIF) can improve soil water storage (0–200 cm) at the bell, filling and flowering stages. MIF increased biomass by 10% and grain yield by 21%, thereby achieving a 17% increase in water use efficiency (WUE) and a 22% increase in precipitation use efficiency (PUE) compared with conventional flat planting (CKM). MIF also improved irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) (9%) and irrigation water productivity (IWP) (46%) compared with no-irrigation under the RFRH system (MI0). We observed that applying deficit irrigation (750 m3 ha−1) at the bell and flowering stage (IBF) had positive effects on dry matter, leaf area, and evapotranspiration, but there were no significant increases in IWUE, IWP, WUE, biomass and grain yield compared with maize grown under IF at low, medium and high plant densities. The average net profit over the two years was 34% higher for MIF compared with the CKM treatment.
Complex furrows in a 2D epithelial sheet code the 3D structure of a beetle horn
Authors: Matsuda Keisuke , Gotoh Hiroki , Tajika Yuki , Sushida Takamichi , Aonuma Hitoshi , Niimi Teruyuki , Akiyama Masakazu , Inoue Yasuhiro , Kondo Shigeru 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe external organs of holometabolous insects are generated through two consecutive processes: the development of imaginal primordia and their subsequent transformation into the adult structures. During the latter process, many different phenomena at the cellular level (e.g. cell shape changes, cell migration, folding and unfolding of epithelial sheets) contribute to the drastic changes observed in size and shape. Because of this complexity, the logic behind the formation of the 3D structure of adult external organs remains largely unknown. In this report, we investigated the metamorphosis of the horn in the Japanese rhinoceros beetle Trypoxylus dichotomus. The horn primordia is essentially a 2D epithelial cell sheet with dense furrows. We experimentally unfolded these furrows using three different methods and found that the furrow pattern solely determines the 3D horn structure, indicating that horn formation in beetles occurs by two distinct processes: formation of the furrows and subsequently unfolding them. We postulate that this developmental simplicity offers an inherent advantage to understanding the principles that guide 3D morphogenesis in insects.
Rewinding the waves: tracking underwater signals to their source
Authors: Kadri Usama , Crivelli Davide , Parsons Wade , Colbourne Bruce , Ryan Amanda 
Published: October 2017

AbstractAnalysis of data, recorded on March 8th 2014 at the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation’s hydroacoustic stations off Cape Leeuwin Western Australia, and at Diego Garcia, reveal unique pressure signatures that could be associated with objects impacting at the sea surface, such as falling meteorites, or the missing Malaysian Aeroplane MH370. To examine the recorded signatures, we carried out experiments with spheres impacting at the surface of a water tank, where we observed almost identical pressure signature structures. While the pressure structure is unique to impacting objects, the evolution of the radiated acoustic waves carries information on the source. Employing acoustic–gravity wave theory we present an analytical inverse method to retrieve the impact time and location. The solution was validated using field observations of recent earthquakes, where we were able to calculate the eruption time and location to a satisfactory degree of accuracy. Moreover, numerical validations confirm an error below 0.02% for events at relatively large distances of over 1000 km. The method can be developed to calculate other essential properties such as impact duration and geometry. Besides impacting objects and earthquakes, the method could help in identifying the location of underwater explosions and landslides.
Automatic recognition of therapy progress among children with autism
Authors: Kołakowska Agata , Landowska Agnieszka , Anzulewicz Anna , Sobota Krzysztof 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe article presents a research study on recognizing therapy progress among children with autism spectrum disorder. The progress is recognized on the basis of behavioural data gathered via five specially designed tablet games. Over 180 distinct parameters are calculated on the basis of raw data delivered via the game flow and tablet sensors - i.e. touch screen, accelerometer and gyroscope. The results obtained confirm the possibility of recognizing progress in particular areas of development. The recognition accuracy exceeds 80%. Moreover, the study identifies a subset of parameters which appear to be better predictors of therapy progress than others. The proposed method - consisting of data recording, parameter calculation formulas and prediction models - might be implemented in a tool to support both therapists and parents of autistic children. Such a tool might be used to monitor the course of the therapy, modify it and report its results.
Non-invasive quantitative imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma growth in mice by micro-CT using liver-targeted iodinated nano-emulsions
Authors: Anton Nicolas , Parlog Alexandru , Bou About Ghina , Attia Mohamed F. , Wattenhofer-Donzé Marie , Jacobs Hugues , Goncalves Isabelle , Robinet Eric , Sorg Tania , Vandamme Thierry F. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the only cancer for which non-invasive diagnosis is recognized by international guidelines. Contrast agent free ultrasound imaging, computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging are techniques used for early detection and confirmation. Clinical evidence depicts that CT is 30% less precise as compared to MRI for detection of small tumors. In our work, we have reported some novel tools that can enhance the sensitivity and precision of CT applied to preclinical research (micro-CT). Our system, containing non-toxic nano-droplets loaded with iodine has high contrasting properties, liver and hepatocyte specificity and strong liver persistence. Micro-CT was performed on HCC model implanted in nude mice by intrahepatic injection. Contrast agent was administrated intravenously. This method allows an unprecedented high precision of detection, quantitative measurement of tumor volume and quantitative follow-up of the tumor development.
Large reversible magnetocaloric effect in antiferromagnetic Ho2O3 powders
Authors: Boutahar A. , Moubah R. , Hlil E. K. , Lassri H. , Lorenzo E. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractGiant magnetocaloric materials are highly promising for technological applications in magnetic refrigeration. Although giant magnetocaloric effects were discovered in first-order magnetic transition materials, it is accompanied by some non-desirable drawbacks, such as important hysteretic phenomena, irreversibility of the effect, or poor mechanical stability, which limits their use in applications. Here, we report the discovery of a giant magnetocaloric effect in commercialized Ho2O3 oxide at low temperature (around 2 K) without hysteresis losses. Ho2O3 is found to exhibit a second-order antiferromagnetic transition with a Néel temperature of 2 K. At an applied magnetic field change of 5 T and below 3.5 K, the maximum value of magnetic entropy change $$(-\Delta {{\rm{S}}}_{M}^{max})$$

(

-
Δ

S

M

max

)

, the refrigerant capacity (RC) were found to be 31.9 J.K−1.kg−1 and 180 J.K−1, respectively.
Optimization Strategies for Bruch’s Membrane Opening Minimum Rim Area Calculation: Sequential versus Simultaneous Minimization
Authors: Enders Philip , Adler Werner , Schaub Friederike , Hermann Manuel M. , Diestelhorst Michael , Dietlein Thomas , Cursiefen Claus , Heindl Ludwig M. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractTo compare a simultaneously optimized continuous minimum rim surface parameter between Bruch’s membrane opening (BMO) and the internal limiting membrane to the standard sequential minimization used for calculating the BMO minimum rim area in spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). In this case-control, cross-sectional study, 704 eyes of 445 participants underwent SD-OCT of the optic nerve head (ONH), visual field testing, and clinical examination. Globally and clock-hour sector-wise optimized BMO-based minimum rim area was calculated independently. Outcome parameters included BMO-globally optimized minimum rim area (BMO-gMRA) and sector-wise optimized BMO-minimum rim area (BMO-MRA). BMO area was 1.89 ± 0.05 mm2. Mean global BMO-MRA was 0.97 ± 0.34 mm2, mean global BMO-gMRA was 1.01 ± 0.36 mm2. Both parameters correlated with r = 0.995 (P < 0.001); mean difference was 0.04 mm2 (P < 0.001). In all sectors, parameters differed by 3.0–4.2%. In receiver operating characteristics, the calculated area under the curve (AUC) to differentiate glaucoma was 0.873 for BMO-MRA, compared to 0.866 for BMO-gMRA (P = 0.004). Among ONH sectors, the temporal inferior location showed the highest AUC. Optimization strategies to calculate BMO-based minimum rim area led to significantly different results. Imposing an additional adjacency constraint within calculation of BMO-MRA does not improve diagnostic power. Global and temporal inferior BMO-MRA performed best in differentiating glaucoma patients.
Biomechanical Simulation of Stress Concentration and Intraocular Pressure in Corneas Subjected to Myopic Refractive Surgical Procedures
Authors: Shih Po-Jen , Wang I-Jong , Cai Wen-Feng , Yen Jia-Yush 
Published: October 2017

AbstractRecent advances in the analysis of corneal biomechanical properties remain difficult to predict the structural stability before and after refractive surgery. In this regard, we applied the finite element method (FEM) to determine the roles of the Bowman’s membrane, stroma, and Descemet’s membrane in the hoop stresses of cornea, under tension (physiological) and bending (nonphysiological), for patients who undergo radial keratotomy (RK), photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), or small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE). The stress concentration maps, potential creak zones, and potential errors in intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements were further determined. Our results confirmed that the Bowman’s membrane and Descemet’s membrane accounted for 20% of the bending rigidity of the cornea, and became the force pair dominating the bending behaviour of the cornea, the high stress in the distribution map, and a stretch to avoid structural failure. In addition, PRK broke the central linking of hoop stresses and concentrated stress on the edge of the Bowman’s membrane around ablation, which posed considerable risk of potential creaks. Compared with SMILE, LASIK had a higher risk of developing creaks around the ablation in the stroma layer. Our FEM models also predicted the postoperative IOPs precisely in a conditional manner.
Silicon Photonics Transmitter with SOA and Semiconductor Mode-Locked Laser
Authors: Moscoso-Mártir Alvaro , Müller Juliana , Hauck Johannes , Chimot Nicolas , Setter Rony , Badihi Avner , Rasmussen Daniel E. , Garreau Alexandre , Nielsen Mads , Islamova Elmira , Romero-García Sebastián , Shen Bin , Sandomirsky Anna , Rockman Sylvie , Li Chao , Sharif Azadeh Saeed , Lo Guo-Qiang , Mentovich Elad , Merget Florian , Lelarge François , Witzens Jeremy 
Published: October 2017

AbstractWe experimentally investigate an optical link relying on silicon photonics transmitter and receiver components as well as a single section semiconductor mode-locked laser as a light source and a semiconductor optical amplifier for signal amplification. A transmitter based on a silicon photonics resonant ring modulator, an external single section mode-locked laser and an external semiconductor optical amplifier operated together with a standard receiver reliably supports 14 Gbps on-off keying signaling with a signal quality factor better than 7 for 8 consecutive comb lines, as well as 25 Gbps signaling with a signal quality factor better than 7 for one isolated comb line, both without forward error correction. Resonant ring modulators and Germanium waveguide photodetectors are further hybridly integrated with chip scale driver and receiver electronics, and their co-operability tested. These experiments will serve as the basis for assessing the feasibility of a silicon photonics wavelength division multiplexed link relying on a single section mode-locked laser as a multi-carrier light source.
Measurement of Crystalline Silica Aerosol Using Quantum Cascade Laser–Based Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Wei Shijun , Kulkarni Pramod , Ashley Kevin , Zheng Lina 
Published: October 2017

AbstractInhalation exposure to airborne respirable crystalline silica (RCS) poses major health risks in many industrial environments. There is a need for new sensitive instruments and methods for in-field or near real-time measurement of crystalline silica aerosol. The objective of this study was to develop an approach, using quantum cascade laser (QCL)-based infrared spectroscopy (IR), to quantify airborne concentrations of RCS. Three sampling methods were investigated for their potential for effective coupling with QCL-based transmittance measurements: (i) conventional aerosol filter collection, (ii) focused spot sample collection directly from the aerosol phase, and (iii) dried spot obtained from deposition of liquid suspensions. Spectral analysis methods were developed to obtain IR spectra from the collected particulate samples in the range 750–1030 cm−1. The new instrument was calibrated and the results were compared with standardized methods based on Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry. Results show that significantly lower detection limits for RCS (≈330 ng), compared to conventional infrared methods, could be achieved with effective microconcentration and careful coupling of the particulate sample with the QCL beam. These results offer promise for further development of sensitive filter-based laboratory methods and portable sensors for near real-time measurement of crystalline silica aerosol.
Transcription factor TFEB cell-autonomously modulates susceptibility to intestinal epithelial cell injury in vivo
Authors: Murano Tatsuro , Najibi Mehran , Paulus Geraldine L. C. , Adiliaghdam Fatemeh , Valencia-Guerrero Aida , Selig Martin , Wang Xiaofei , Jeffrey Kate , Xavier Ramnik J. , Lassen Kara G. , Irazoqui Javier E. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractUnderstanding the transcription factors that modulate epithelial resistance to injury is necessary for understanding intestinal homeostasis and injury repair processes. Recently, transcription factor EB (TFEB) was implicated in expression of autophagy and host defense genes in nematodes and mammalian cells. However, the in vivo roles of TFEB in the mammalian intestinal epithelium were not known. Here, we used mice with a conditional deletion of Tfeb in the intestinal epithelium (TfebΔIEC) to examine its importance in defense against injury. Unperturbed TfebΔIEC mice exhibited grossly normal intestinal epithelia, except for a defect in Paneth cell granules. TfebΔIEC mice exhibited lower levels of lipoprotein ApoA1 expression, which is downregulated in Crohn’s disease patients and causally linked to colitis susceptibility. Upon environmental epithelial injury using dextran sodium sulfate (DSS), TfebΔIEC mice exhibited exaggerated colitis. Thus, our study reveals that TFEB is critical for resistance to intestinal epithelial cell injury, potentially mediated by APOA1.
Live Cell Imaging Reveals pH Oscillations in Saccharomyces cerevisiae During Metabolic Transitions
Authors: Dodd Benjamin J. T. , Kralj Joel M. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractAddition of glucose to starved Saccharomyces cerevisiae initiates collective NADH dynamics termed glycolytic oscillations. Numerous questions remain about the extent to which single cells can oscillate, if oscillations occur in natural conditions, and potential physiological consequences of oscillations. In this paper, we report sustained glycolytic oscillations in single cells without the need for cyanide. Glucose addition to immobilized cells induced pH oscillations that could be imaged with fluorescent sensors. A population of cells had oscillations that were heterogeneous in frequency, start time, stop time, duration and amplitude. These changes in cytoplasmic pH were necessary and sufficient to drive changes in NADH. Oscillators had lower mitochondrial membrane potentials and budded more slowly than non-oscillators. We also uncovered a new type of oscillation during recovery from H2O2 challenge. Our data show that pH in S. cerevisiae changes over several time scales, and that imaging pH offers a new way to measure glycolytic oscillations on individual cells.
RNase 7 participates in cutaneous innate control of Corynebacterium amycolatum
Authors: Walter Stephanie , Rademacher Franziska , Kobinger Nicole , Simanski Maren , Gläser Regine , Harder Jürgen 
Published: October 2017

AbstractNondiphtheria corynebacteria are typical members of the skin microbiota. However, in addition to being harmless inhabitants of healthy skin commensal skin-derived corynebacteria such as C. amycolatum occasionally also cause infections. This suggests that human skin must harbor adequate mechanisms to control the growth of corynebacteria on the skin surface. Here we show that keratinocytes are able to detect the presence of C. amycolatum leading to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-dependent induction of the antimicrobial protein RNase 7. C. amycolatum-mediated induction of RNase 7 was also confirmed in a human 3D skin equivalent. The functional relevance of these findings was demonstrated by potent antimicrobial activity of RNase 7 against C. amycolatum and C. xerosis. In addition, the capacity of human stratum corneum to restrict the growth of C. amycolatum was significantly attenuated when RNase 7 was inactivated by a specific RNase 7-neutralizing antibody. Taken together, the interaction of RNase 7 with C. amycolatum indicates that RNase 7 may function as important effector molecule to control the growth of corynebacteria on human skin.
Fungal community structure of fallen pine and oak wood at different stages of decomposition in the Qinling Mountains, China
Authors: Yuan Jie , Zheng Xiaofeng , Cheng Fei , Zhu Xian , Hou Lin , Li Jingxia , Zhang Shuoxin 
Published: October 2017

AbstractHistorically, intense forest hazards have resulted in an increase in the quantity of fallen wood in the Qinling Mountains. Fallen wood has a decisive influence on the nutrient cycling, carbon budget and ecosystem biodiversity of forests, and fungi are essential for the decomposition of fallen wood. Moreover, decaying dead wood alters fungal communities. The development of high-throughput sequencing methods has facilitated the ongoing investigation of relevant molecular forest ecosystems with a focus on fungal communities. In this study, fallen wood and its associated fungal communities were compared at different stages of decomposition to evaluate relative species abundance and species diversity. The physical and chemical factors that alter fungal communities were also compared by performing correspondence analysis according to host tree species across all stages of decomposition. Tree species were the major source of differences in fungal community diversity at all decomposition stages, and fungal communities achieved the highest levels of diversity at the intermediate and late decomposition stages. Interactions between various physical and chemical factors and fungal communities shared the same regulatory mechanisms, and there was no tree species-specific influence. Improving our knowledge of wood-inhabiting fungal communities is crucial for forest ecosystem conservation.