bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Soluble amyloid beta oligomers block the learning-induced increase in hippocampal sharp wave-ripple rate and impair spatial memory formation
Authors: Nicole Olivier , Hadzibegovic Senka , Gajda Judyta , Bontempi Bruno , Bem Tiaza , Meyrand Pierre 
Published: March 2016

AbstractPost-learning hippocampal sharp wave-ripples (SWRs) generated during slow wave sleep are thought to play a crucial role in memory formation. While in Alzheimer’s disease, abnormal hippocampal oscillations have been reported, the functional contribution of SWRs to the typically observed spatial memory impairments remains unclear. These impairments have been related to degenerative synaptic changes produced by soluble amyloid beta oligomers (Aβos) which, surprisingly, seem to spare the SWR dynamics during routine behavior. To unravel a potential effect of Aβos on SWRs in cognitively-challenged animals, we submitted vehicle- and Aβo-injected mice to spatial recognition memory testing. While capable of forming short-term recognition memory, Aβ mice exhibited faster forgetting, suggesting successful encoding but an inability to adequately stabilize and/or retrieve previously acquired information. Without prior cognitive requirements, similar properties of SWRs were observed in both groups. In contrast, when cognitively challenged, the post-encoding and -recognition peaks in SWR occurrence observed in controls were abolished in Aβ mice, indicating impaired hippocampal processing of spatial information. These results point to a crucial involvement of SWRs in spatial memory formation and identify the Aβ-induced impairment in SWRs dynamics as a disruptive mechanism responsible for the spatial memory deficits associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Intercalation-assisted longitudinal unzipping of carbon nanotubes for green and scalable synthesis of graphene nanoribbons
Authors: Li Yan-Sheng , Liao Jia-Liang , Wang Shan-Yu , Chiang Wei-Hung 
Published: March 2016

AbstractWe have demonstrated an effective intercalation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for the green and scalable synthesis of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) using an intercalation-assisted longitudinal unzipping of MWCNTs. The key step is to introduce an intercalation treatment of raw MWCNTs with KNO3 and H2SO4, making it promising to decrease the strong van der Waals attractions in the MWCNTs bundles and between the coaxial graphene walls of CNTs. Systematic micro Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterizations suggest that potassium, nitrate and sulfate ions play an important role in the CNT intertube and intratube intercalations during the pretreatment. Detailed scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy, XRD and micro Raman characterizations indicate that the developed methodology possesses the ability to synthesis GNRs effectively with an improved CNT concentration in H2SO4 of 10 mg/ml at 70 °C, which is amenable to industrial-scale production because of the decreased amount of strong acid. Our work provides a scientific understanding how to enhance the GNR formation by accelerating the CNT longitudinal unzipping via suitable molecular intercalation.
Targeting and Imaging of Cancer Cells via Monosaccharide-Imprinted Fluorescent Nanoparticles
Authors: Wang Shuangshou , Yin Danyang , Wang Wenjing , Shen Xiaojing , Zhu Jun-Jie , Chen Hong-Yuan , Liu Zhen 
Published: March 2016

AbstractThe recognition of cancer cells is a key for cancer diagnosis and therapy, but the specificity highly relies on the use of biorecognition molecules particularly antibodies. Because biorecognition molecules suffer from some apparent disadvantages, such as hard to prepare and poor storage stability, novel alternatives that can overcome these disadvantages are highly important. Here we present monosaccharide-imprinted fluorescent nanoparticles (NPs) for targeting and imaging of cancer cells. The molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) probe was fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) doped silica NPs with a shell imprinted with sialic acid, fucose or mannose as the template. The monosaccharide-imprinted NPs exhibited high specificity toward the target monosaccharides. As the template monosaccharides used are over-expressed on cancer cells, these monosaccharide-imprinted NPs allowed for specific targeting cancer cells over normal cells. Fluorescence imaging of human hepatoma carcinoma cells (HepG-2) over normal hepatic cells (L-02) and mammary cancer cells (MCF-7) over normal mammary epithelial cells (MCF-10A) by these NPs was demonstrated. As the imprinting approach employed herein is generally applicable and highly efficient, monosaccharide-imprinted NPs can be promising probes for targeting cancer cells.
Transport in serial spinful multiple-dot systems: The role of electron-electron interactions and coherences
Authors: Goldozian Bahareh , Damtie Fikeraddis A. , Kiršanskas Gediminas , Wacker Andreas 
Published: March 2016

AbstractQuantum dots are nanoscopic systems, where carriers are confined in all three spatial directions. Such nanoscopic systems are suitable for fundamental studies of quantum mechanics and are candidates for applications such as quantum information processing. It was also proposed that linear arrangements of quantum dots could be used as quantum cascade laser. In this work we study the impact of electron-electron interactions on transport in a spinful serial triple quantum dot system weakly coupled to two leads. We find that due to electron-electron scattering processes the transport is enabled beyond the common single-particle transmission channels. This shows that the scenario in the serial quantum dots intrinsically deviates from layered structures such as quantum cascade lasers, where the presence of well-defined single-particle resonances between neighboring levels are crucial for device operation. Additionally, we check the validity of the Pauli master equation by comparing it with the first-order von Neumann approach. Here we demonstrate that coherences are of relevance if the energy spacing of the eigenstates is smaller than the lead transition rate multiplied by ħ.
Mechanisms involved in xyloglucan catabolism by the cellulosome-producing bacterium Ruminiclostridium cellulolyticum
Authors: Ravachol Julie , de Philip Pascale , Borne Romain , Mansuelle Pascal , Maté María J. , Perret Stéphanie , Fierobe Henri-Pierre 
Published: March 2016

AbstractXyloglucan, a ubiquitous highly branched plant polysaccharide, was found to be rapidly degraded and metabolized by the cellulosome-producing bacteriumRuminiclostridium cellulolyticum. Our study shows that at least four cellulosomal enzymes displaying either endo- or exoxyloglucanase activities, achieve the extracellular degradation of xyloglucan into 4-glucosyl backbone xyloglucan oligosaccharides. The released oligosaccharides (composed of up to 9 monosaccharides) are subsequently imported by a highly specific ATP-binding cassette transporter (ABC-transporter), the expression of the corresponding genes being strongly induced by xyloglucan. This polysaccharide also triggers the synthesis of cytoplasmic β-galactosidase, α-xylosidase, and β-glucosidase that act sequentially to convert the imported oligosaccharides into galactose, xylose, glucose and unexpectedly cellobiose. ThusR. cellulolyticumhas developed an energy-saving strategy to metabolize this hemicellulosic polysaccharide that relies on the action of the extracellular cellulosomes, a highly specialized ABC-transporter, and cytoplasmic enzymes acting in a specific order. This strategy appears to be widespread among cellulosome-producing mesophilic bacteria which display highly similar gene clusters encoding the cytosolic enzymes and the ABC-transporter.
Influence of aging on the quantity and quality of human cardiac stem cells
Authors: Nakamura Tamami , Hosoyama Tohru , Kawamura Daichi , Takeuchi Yuriko , Tanaka Yuya , Samura Makoto , Ueno Koji , Nishimoto Arata , Kurazumi Hiroshi , Suzuki Ryo , Ito Hiroshi , Sakata Kensuke , Mikamo Akihito , Li Tao-Sheng , Hamano Kimikazu 
Published: March 2016

AbstractAdvanced age affects various tissue-specific stem cells and decreases their regenerative ability. We therefore examined whether aging affected the quantity and quality of cardiac stem cells using cells obtained from 26 patients of various ages (from 2 to 83 years old). We collected fresh right atria and cultured cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs), which are a type of cardiac stem cell. Then we investigated growth rate, senescence, DNA damage and the growth factor production of CDCs. All samples yielded a sufficient number of CDCs for experiments and the cellular growth rate was not obviously associated with age. The expression of senescence-associated b-galactosidase and the DNA damage marker, gH2AX, showed a slightly higher trend in CDCs from older patients (≥65 years). The expression of VEGF, HGF, IGF-1, SDF-1, and TGF-b varied among samples and the expression of these beneficial factors did not decrease with age. An in vitro angiogenesis assay also showed that the angiogenic potency of CDCs was not impaired, even in those from older patients. Our data suggest that the impact of age on the quantity and quality of CDCs is quite limited. These findings have important clinical implications for autologous stem cell transplantation in elderly patients.
Fabrication of BiOBrxI1−x photocatalysts with tunable visible light catalytic activity by modulating band structures
Authors: Zhang Xing , Wang Chu-Ya , Wang Li-Wei , Huang Gui-Xiang , Wang Wei-Kang , Yu Han-Qing 
Published: March 2016

AbstractA series of BiOBrxI1−x solid solutions were explored as novel visible light-sensitive photocatalysts. These BiOBrxI1−x solid-solution photocatalysts grew into two-dimensional nanoplates with exposed (001) facets and possessed continuously modulated band gaps from 2.87 to 1.89 eV by decreasing the Br/I ratio. The photocatalytic activities of these samples were measured and the samples exhibited visible light-driven activities for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB). In particular, BiOBr0.8I0.2 exhibited the highest activity for the degradation of RhB. This result could be attributed to the balance between the effective light absorption and adequate redox potential. Additionally, investigations into the photocatalytic mechanism showed that the photodegradation of RhB over BiOBr0.8I0.2 solid-solution photocatalysts involved direct holes oxidation, in which the reaction that dominated during photocatalysis was determined by the potential of the valence band. Furthermore, a high stability in the photocatalytic activity of BiOBr0.8I0.2 was demonstrated by the cycling photocatalytic experiment and long-term irradiation, which might offer opportunities for its practical application as a catalyst.
An integrative approach to investigate the respective roles of single-nucleotide variants and copy-number variants in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: de Araújo Lima Leandro , Feio-dos-Santos Ana Cecília , Belangero Sintia Iole , Gadelha Ary , Bressan Rodrigo Affonseca , Salum Giovanni Abrahão , Pan Pedro Mario , Moriyama Tais Silveira , Graeff-Martins Ana Soledade , Tamanaha Ana Carina , Alvarenga Pedro , Krieger Fernanda Valle , Fleitlich-Bilyk Bacy , Jackowski Andrea Parolin , Brietzke Elisa , Sato João Ricardo , Polanczyk Guilherme Vanoni , Mari Jair de Jesus , Manfro Gisele Gus , do Rosário Maria Conceição , Miguel Eurípedes Constantino , Puga Renato David , Tahira Ana Carolina , Souza Viviane Neri , Chile Thais , Gouveia Gisele Rodrigues , Simões Sérgio Nery , Chang Xiao , Pellegrino Renata , Tian Lifeng , Glessner Joseph T. , Hashimoto Ronaldo Fumio , Rohde Luis Augusto , Sleiman Patrick M.A. , Hakonarson Hakon , Brentani Helena 
Published: March 2016

AbstractMany studies have attempted to investigate the genetic susceptibility of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), but without much success. The present study aimed to analyze both single-nucleotide and copy-number variants contributing to the genetic architecture of ADHD. We generated exome data from 30 Brazilian trios with sporadic ADHD. We also analyzed a Brazilian sample of 503 children/adolescent controls from a High Risk Cohort Study for the Development of Childhood Psychiatric Disorders, and also previously published results of five CNV studies and one GWAS meta-analysis of ADHD involving children/adolescents. The results from the Brazilian trios showed that cases withde novoSNVs tend not to havede novoCNVs and vice-versa. Although the sample size is small, we could also see that various comorbidities are more frequent in cases with only inherited variants. Moreover, using only genes expressed in brain, we constructed two “in silico” protein-protein interaction networks, one with genes from any analysis, and other with genes with hits in two analyses. Topological and functional analyses of genes in this network uncovered genes related to synapse, cell adhesion, glutamatergic and serotoninergic pathways, both confirming findings of previous studies and capturing new genes and genetic variants in these pathways.
SmMYC2a and SmMYC2b played similar but irreplaceable roles in regulating the biosynthesis of tanshinones and phenolic acids in Salvia miltiorrhiza
Authors: Zhou Yangyun , Sun Wei , Chen Junfeng , Tan Hexin , Xiao Ying , Li Qing , Ji Qian , Gao Shouhong , Chen Li , Chen Shilin , Zhang Lei , Chen Wansheng 
Published: March 2016

AbstractSalvia miltiorrhizaBunge, which contains tanshinones and phenolic acids as major classes of bioactive components, is one of the most widely used herbs in traditional Chinese medicine. Production of tanshinones and phenolic acids is enhanced by methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Transcription factor MYC2 is the switch of jasmontes signaling in plants. Here, we focused on two novel JA-inducible genes inS. miltiorrhiza, designated asSmMYC2aandSmMYC2b, which were localized in the nucleus.SmMYC2a andSmMYC2b were also discovered to interact withSmJAZ1 andSmJAZ2, implying that the two MYC2s might function as direct targets of JAZ proteins. Ectopic RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knockdown experiments suggested thatSmMYC2a/b affected multiple genes in tanshinone and phenolic acid biosynthetic pathway. Besides, the accumulation of tanshinones and phenolic acids was impaired by the loss of function inSmMYC2a/b. Meanwhile,SmMYC2a could bind with an E-box motif withinSmHCT6andSmCYP98A14promoters, whileSmMYC2b bound with an E-box motif withinSmCYP98A14promoter, through which the regulation of phenolic acid biosynthetic pathway might achieve. Together, these results suggest thatSmMYC2a andSmMYC2b are JAZ-interacting transcription factors that positively regulate the biosynthesis of tanshinones and Sal B with similar but irreplaceable effects.
Whole genome sequencing identifies a novel species of the genus Capnocytophaga isolated from dog and cat bite wounds in humans
Authors: Zangenah Salah , Abbasi Nasir , Andersson Anders F. , Bergman Peter 
Published: March 2016

AbstractC. canimorsus and C. cynodegmi are dog and cat commensals which can be transmitted to humans via bites or scratches and can cause sepsis, meningitis, endocarditis and eye- or wound infections. Recently an additional Capnocytophaga species was identified as part of the oral flora of healthy dogs and was given the name “C. canis”. We previously identified a Capnocytophaga isolate that could not be typed with available diagnostic tests including MALDI-TOF, 16S rRNA sequencing or species-specific PCR. This strain and 21 other Capnocytophaga spp isolated in Sweden from clinical blood- or wound-cultures were subjected to whole genome sequencing using the Illumina platform. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the previously non-typable isolate belongs to the putative new species “C. canis”. Since this strain was isolated from a wound it also shows that members of “C. canis” have the potential to be pathogenic. In addition, our phylogenetic analysis uncovered an additional species of Capnocytophaga, which can be transmitted from dogs and cats to humans, suggesting a speciation within the Capnocytophaga family that has not been observed before. We propose the name of “C. stomatis” for this putative novel species.
Large variations in ocular dimensions in a multiethnic population with similar genetic background
Authors: Niu Zhiqiang , Li Jun , Zhong Hua , Yuan Zhonghua , Zhou Hua , Zhang Yang , Yuan Yuansheng , Chen Qin , Pan Chen-Wei 
Published: March 2016

AbstractWe aimed to describe the ethnic variations in ocular dimensions among three ethnic groups with similar genetic ancestry from mainland of China. We included 2119 ethnic Bai, 2202 ethnic Yi and 2183 ethnic Han adults aged 50 years or older in the study. Ocular dimensions including axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), vitreous chamber depth (VCD) and lens thickness (LT) were measured using A-scan ultrasonography. Bai Chinese had longer ALs (P < 0.001), deeper ACDs (P < 0.001) but shallower VCDs (P < 0.001) compared with the other two ethnic groups. There were no ethnic variations in LTs. Diabetes was associated with shallower ACDs and this association was stronger in Bai Chinese compared with Yi or Han Chinese (P for interaction = 0.02). Thicker lenses were associated with younger age (P = 0.04), male gender (P < 0.001), smoking history (P = 0.01), alcohol intake (P = 0.03), the presence of cataract (P < 0.001) and the presence of diabetes (P < 0.001). There were significant differences in ocular dimensions among different ethnic groups with small differences in genetics but large variations in cultures and lifestyles.
Simplified model and submodule capacitor voltage balancing of single‐phase AC/AC modular multilevel converter for railway traction purpose
Authors: Liu Wanxun , Zhang Kai , Chen Xiaosen , Xiong Jian 
Published: March 2016

A single‐phase AC/AC modular multilevel converter (MMC) can interact directly with 25 kV railway grid without a bulky 50 Hz step‐down transformer. This brings in great savings in size and cost. Submodule (SM) voltage balancing of this kind of MMCs remains a major technique issue. This study proposes a voltage‐balancing solution for this scenario which consists of intra‐ and inter‐arm voltage balancing methods. The former combines the advantages of carrier phase‐shifted pulse‐width modulation (PWM) and phase disposition PWM based voltage‐balancing methods. It only uses two proportional regulators, easing the control system significantly. The latter is based on a power channel between the upper and lower arms. It avoids interferences with input/output voltage and current, and gets rid of common mode current component which would be injected into the grid with conventional inter‐arm balancing methods. By assuming perfect voltage‐balancing, a simplified mathematical model is also developed, which reveals more clearly the power conversion relationship. Simulations and experiments verify the proposed voltage‐balancing methods and the mathematical model.
Quiet eye predicts goaltender success in deflected ice hockey shots†
Authors: Panchuk Derek , Vickers Joan N. , Hopkins Will G. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractIn interceptive timing tasks, long quiet eye (QE) durations at the release point, along with early tracking on the object, allow performers to couple their actions to the kinematics of their opponent and regulate their movements based on emergent information from the object's trajectory. We used a mobile eye tracker to record the QE of eight university‐level ice hockey goaltenders of an equivalent skill level as they responded to shots that deflected off a board placed to their left or right, resulting in a trajectory with low predictability. QE behaviour was assessed using logistic regression and magnitude‐based inference. We found that when QE onset occurred later in the shot (950 ± 580 ms, mean ± SD) there was an increase in the proportion of goals allowed (41% vs. 22%) compared to when QE onset occurred earlier. A shorter QE duration (1260 ± 630 ms) predicted a large increase in the proportion of goals scored (38% vs. 14%). More saves occurred when QE duration (2074 ± 47 ms) was longer. An earlier QE offset (2004 ± 66 ms) also resulted in a large increase in the number of goals allowed (37% vs. 11%) compared to a later offset (2132 ± 41 ms). Since an early, sustained QE duration contributed to a higher percentage of saves, it is important that coaches develop practice activities that challenge the goaltender's ability to fixate the puck early, as well as sustain a long QE fixation on the puck until after it is released from the stick.
Variability in Fish Tissue Proximate Composition is Consistent with Indirect Effects of Hypoxia in Chesapeake Bay Tributaries
Authors: Tuckey Troy D. , Fabrizio Mary C. 
Published: March 2016

Abstract
The spatial and temporal extent of summer hypoxia (dissolved oxygen [DO] concentration ≤ 2 mg/L) in Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries has been increasing for decades, consequently affecting fish distribution and abundance by shifting biomass to non-hypoxic habitats. Hypoxia in coastal waters impacts food web dynamics, thereby limiting ecosystem productivity and affecting regional fisheries. Additionally, laboratory studies of Atlantic Croakers Micropogonias undulatus have shown that hypoxia serves as an endocrine disruptor, reducing the production of the yolk precursor vitellogenin as well as affecting other biochemical pathways. Reproductive potential is therefore lower in hypoxia-exposed Atlantic Croakers than in fish that are taken from normoxic conditions. We examined field-caught Atlantic Croakers from three Chesapeake Bay tributaries with different DO levels to evaluate patterns in the lipid content of somatic and gonadal tissues. We found that somatic lipid content was not affected by the presence of hypoxia, whereas ovarian lipid content was significantly affected by the severity of hypoxia. Furthermore, Atlantic Croakers that were exposed indirectly to mild hypoxia (lasting hours to days) exhibited greater ovarian lipid content than fish that were captured from normoxic sites. As expected, severe hypoxia reduced the ability of Atlantic Croakers to accumulate lipids in their ovaries, likely affecting reproductive output. Stock assessment models that ignore the effects of hypoxia may yield overly optimistic production estimates for hypoxia-exposed populations, particularly if environmentally invariant fecundity and growth are assumed.
Received December 16, 2014; accepted September 24, 2015