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Enhanced Activated Carbon with H2SO4-activation of African Maize Cobs biomass for Supercapacitor electrodes material application

The African Maize Cobs (AMC) biomass was converted into activated carbon (AC) for electrode materials for supercapacitor application. The carbonization was carried out with concentrated sulphuric acid and the activation was done in three (3) batches using activation temperatures of 600, 700 and 800oC. The AC materials were characterized by Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA-DSC), N2-adsorption-desorption isotherms, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Boehm titration, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Raman Spectroscopy and electrochemical analysis (EC). The materials activated were highly functionalized with oxygen groups with total acidity of 0.440 – 0.464mmol/g, basicity of 0.09 – 0.420mmol/g and oxygen percentage composition of 22 – 32%. The AC materials were analysed with EC as electrode material for supercapacitor devices. The electrode materials revealed specific capacitance of; 456.4 F/g with 0.25 A/g giving energy of 63.39 Wh/kg and Power of 500 W/kg with AC-S-800 material and 6M KOH electrolyte using chronopotentiometry technique with potential limitation

Supplemental tables from: Antifibrogenic activities of CYP11A1-derived vitamin D3-hydroxyderivatives are dependent on RORγ

Previous studies showed that non-calcemic 20(OH)D3, a product of CYP11A1 action on vitamin D3, has antifibrotic activity in human dermal fibroblasts and in a bleomycin mouse model of scleroderma. In this study we tested the role of RORγ, which is expressed in skin, in the action of CYP11A1-derived secosteroids using murine fibroblasts isolated from the skin of wild type (RORg+/+), knock out (RORg-/-) and heterozygote (RORg+/-) mice. CYP11A1-derived 20(OH)D3, 20,23(OH)2D3, 1,20(OH)2D3, and 1,20,23(OH)3D3 inhibited proliferation of RORγ+/+ fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner with a similar potency to 1,25(OH)2D3. Surprisingly, this effect was reversed in RORγ+/- and RORγ-/- fibroblasts with the most pronounced stimulatory effect seen in RORγ-/- fibroblasts. All of the analogs tested inhibited TGF-β1-induced collagen synthesis in RORγ+/+ fibroblasts and the expression of other fibrosis-related genes. This effect was curtailed or reversed in RORγ-/- fibroblasts. These results show that the antiproliferative and antifibrotic activities of the vitamin D hydroxy-derivatives are dependent on a functional RORγ. The dramatic changes in the transcriptomes of fibroblasts of RORg-/- versus wild type mice following treatment with 20(OH)D3 or 1,20(OH)2D3 provide a molecular basis to explain, at least in part, the observed phenotypic differences

Neural activity during a simple reaching task in macaques is counter to gating and rebound in basal ganglia-thalamic communication

<div class="page"> <div class="layoutArea"> <div class="column"> Task-related activity in the ventral thalamus, a major target of basal ganglia output, is often assumed to be permitted or triggered by changes in basal ganglia activity through gating- or rebound-like mechanisms. To test those hypotheses, we sampled single-unit activity from connected basal ganglia output and thalamic nuclei (globus pallidus-internus, GPi, and ventrolateral-anterior nucleus, VLa) in monkeys performing a reaching task. Rate increases were the most common peri-movement change in both nuclei. Moreover, peri-movement changes generally began earlier in VLa than in GPi. Simultaneously-recorded GPi-VLa pairs rarely showed short-timescale spike-to-spike correlations or slow across-trials covariations and both were equally positive and negative. Finally, spontaneous GPi bursts and pauses were both followed by small, slow reductions in VLa rate. These results appear incompatible with standard gating and rebound models. Still, gating or rebound may be possible in other physiological situations: Simulations show how GPi-VLa communication can scale with GPi synchrony and GPi-to-VLa convergence, illuminating how synchrony of basal ganglia output during motor learning or in pathological conditions may render this pathway effective. Thus, in the healthy state, basal ganglia-thalamic communication during learned movement is more subtle than expected, with changes in firing rates possibly being dominated by a common external source. </div> </div> </div>

Comment on "Ancient origins of allosteric activation in a Ser-Thr kinase"

Hadzipasic et al. used ancestral sequence reconstruction to identify historical sequence substitutions that putatively caused Aurora kinases to evolve allosteric regulation. We show that their results arise from an implausible phylogeny and sparse sequence sampling. Addressing either problem reverses their inferences: allostery and the amino acids that confer it were not gained during the diversification of eukaryotes but were lost in a subgroup of Fungi.

Data from: Microplastics negatively affect soil fauna but stimulate microbial activity: insights from a field-based microplastic addition experiment

Microplastics are recognized as an emerging contaminant worldwide. Although microplastics have been shown to strongly affect organisms in aquatic environments, less is known about whether and how microplastics can affect different taxa within a soil community, and it is unclear whether these effects can cascade through soil food webs. By conducting a microplastic manipulation experiment, i.e. adding low-density polyethylene fragments in the field, we found that microplastic addition significantly affected the composition and abundance of microarthropod and nematode communities. Contrary to soil fauna, we found only small effects of microplastics on the biomass and structure of soil microbial communities. Nevertheless, structural equation modeling revealed that the effects of microplastics strongly cascade through the soil food webs, leading to the modification of microbial functioning with further potential consequences on soil carbon and nutrient cycling. Our results highlight that taking into account the effects of microplastics at different trophic levels is important to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the ecological impacts of microplastic pollution on soil functioning.

Coexistence of predators in time: effects of season and prey availability on species activity within a Mediterranean carnivore guild

1. The degree of coexistence among predators can determine the structure of ecological communities. Niche partitioning is a common strategy applied by species to enhance their coexistence. Diet, habitat or time use can be responsible for segregation among carnivore species, the latter factor being the least studied in Mediterranean ecosystems. Terrestrial medium-sized carnivores (i.e. mesocarnivores) carry out important functions in ecosystems and identifying their interactions is essential for their conservation. 2. In this study, we explore the activity of a terrestrial mesocarnivore guild in order to determine seasonal differences on daily activity patterns of competitors and prey. We also investigate how the abundance of a common mesocarnivore prey in the region, small mammals, influences the activity of predators. 3. During a year, camera trap devices (n=18) were installed in Montseny Natural Park (Catalan Pre-Coastal Range, Nort-East Iberian Peninsula), a region that hosts five mesocarnivore species. Camera trapping detections were used to estimate their daily activity patterns and corresponding overlaps. We also surveyed small mammal plots (n=5) in order to calculate prey abundance and test its effect on the relative activity of each carnivore species. 4. Despite all target mesocarnivores are mainly nocturnal, the activity overlap among them varies according to species particularities and season. Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) appears as a generalist species in terms of time use, whereas stone marten (Martes foina) and genet (Genetta genetta) show the most similar activity patterns and both of them seem to be positively influenced by small mammal abundance. Overall, the diversity found in the way mesocarnivore species use time could facilitate their coexistence. 5. Despite activity pattern similarities among carnivore species should not be directly translated to negative interactions, they can have a strong influence in habitat and resource-limited ecosystems. Therefore, activity overlaps should be taken into account when discussing wildlife management actions.

Data from: Attention-related modulation of caudate neurons depends on superior colliculus activity

Recent work has implicated the basal ganglia in visual perception and attention, in addition to their traditional role in motor control. The basal ganglia, especially the caudate nucleus "head" (CDh) of the striatum, receive indirect anatomical connections from the superior colliculus (SC), a midbrain structure that is known to play a crucial role in the control of visual attention. To test the possible functional relationship between these subcortical structures, we recorded CDh neuronal activity before and during unilateral SC inactivation in a spatial attention task. SC inactivation significantly altered the attention-related modulation of CDh neurons and strongly impaired the classification of task epochs based on CDh activity. Only inactivation of the same-side of SC as recorded CDh neurons, not the opposite-side, had these effects. These results demonstrate a novel interaction between SC activity and attention-related visual processing in the basal ganglia.

Interaction between cytochrome c and DNA: conformation, peroxidase activity and molecular dynamics simulation

A mixed system of cytochrome c (Cyt c, a typical hemoprotein) and DNA was constructed and the interaction between Cyt c and DNA were analyzed by experiment and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation methods, respectively. On the one hand, the experimental results showed: 1. The peroxidase activity of the mixed system was significantly enhanced relative to the Cyt c in 50 mM phosphate buffer solution at 25ºC. 2. UV-Vis spectra study found that, compared with the Cyt c solution, the absorbance of the Cyt c-DNA mixed system increased significantly at 280 nm, while the absorbance decreased at 405 nm, indicating that the overall structure of Cyt c in the mixed system became loose, and the structure around heme group became more compact. 3. Circular Dichroism (CD) studies showed that there was a weak interaction between DNA and Cyt c in the mixed system, which had little effects on the secondary structures of Cyt c. On the other hand, MD simulation results showed: 1. DNA and Cyt c were combined by hydrogen bonding and non-bonding interactions in the mixed system. 2. During the simulation process, N-Terminal α-Helix changed, and Lys13-Cys17 opened, exposing the active center (heme structure) of Cyt c, which may increase the binding of the mixed system to the substrate. 3. The bond length of Fe-N (N in His18 and Fe in heme group) became slightly shorter after equilibrium in the presence of DNA. 4. The Cyt c became loose after binding with DNA. 5. The total binding free energy between Cyt c and DNA was calculated to be -141.9 kJ/mol. The Cyt c-DNA system was in a relatively stable state from energy perspective. The results of the research on the structure and function of the Cyt c-DNA mixed system using experimental method and MD simulation method were consistent. The combination of experimental method and simulation method may provide useful research ideas and effective research methods for further studying the interaction mechanism between hemeprotein and DNA.

Activation of astrocytes in hippocampus decreases fear memory through adenosine A1 receptors

Astrocytes respond to and regulate neuronal activity, yet their role in mammalian behavior remains incompletely understood. Especially unclear is whether, and if so how, astrocyte activity regulates contextual fear memory, the dysregulation of which leads to pathological fear-related disorders. We generated GFAP-ChR2-EYFP rats to allow the specific activation of astrocytes in vivo by optogenetics. We found that after memory acquisition within a temporal window, astrocyte activation disrupted memory consolidation and persistently decreased contextual but not cued fear memory accompanied by reduced fear-related anxiety behavior. In vivo microdialysis experiments showed astrocyte photoactivation increased extracellular ATP and adenosine concentrations. Intracerebral blockade of adenosine A1 receptors (A1Rs) reversed the attenuation of fear memory. Furthermore, intracerebral or intraperitoneal injection of A1R agonist mimicked the effects of astrocyte activation. Therefore, our findings provide a deeper understanding of the astrocyte-mediated regulation of fear memory, and suggest a new and important therapeutic strategy against pathological fear-related disorders.

opencc-by-4.0May 2020View details →

New understanding of the spatiotemporal lightning activity over the Tibetan Plateau based on WWLLN data

The submitted data are associated with the figures in the paper titled "New understanding of the spatiotemporal lightning activity over the Tibetan Plateau based on WWLLN data". The following is the abstract of this paper.   The spatiotemporal distribution of the lightning activity over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) has been previously studied based on data from the Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) aboard the polar-orbit Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite. In this study, using lightning data from the World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN), we reinvestigated the lightning activity over the TP and found that the geographic and seasonal lightning distributions suggested by the WWLLN are somewhat different from those obtained from the LIS. In particular, 1) while the LIS indicates strong lightning activity over the northeastern TP, the WWLLN indicates relatively weak lightning activity over the region; 2) the WWLLN indicates the existence of a center with relatively frequent lightning activity over the south-by-west TP, which is not indicated by the LIS; furthermore, 3) the WWLLN indicates the most frequent lightning in August and September, while the LIS suggests July and June. The black body temperature data from the Fengyun-2E geostationary satellite (as a proxy of deep convection), thunderstorm day data, and local cloud-to-ground lightning data strongly support the lightning spatiotemporal distribution patterns suggested by the WWLLN. The difference between the WWLLN and LIS data is attributed to their very different sample numbers and observation methods, and the situation that lightning tends to occur in the lower part of TP thunderstorms. Owing to the time-continuous nature, the WWLLN data were also used to obtain the ten-day distributions of lightning in space and time and the diurnal variation of lightning. This study may further elucidate our knowledge of the lightning activity over the TP.

Energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions data of activated carbon production using different biomass

This dataset includes the energy consumption and Greenhouse Gas emissions data of activated carbon production using 73 different types of woody biomass. Understanding the environmental implications of activated carbon (AC) produced from diverse biomass feedstocks is critical for biomass screening and process optimization for sustainability. Many studies have developed Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for biomass-derived AC. However, most of them either focused on individual biomass species with differing process conditions or compared multiple biomass feedstocks without investigating the impacts of feedstocks and process variations. Developing LCA for AC from diverse biomass is time-consuming and challenging due to the lack of process data (e.g., energy and mass balance). This study addresses these knowledge gaps by developing a modeling framework that integrates artificial neural network (ANN), a machine learning approach, and kinetic-based process simulation. The integrated framework is able to generate Life Cycle Inventory data of AC produced from 73 different types of woody biomass with 250 characterization data samples. The results show large variations in energy consumption and GHG emissions across different biomass species (43.4–277 MJ/kg AC and 3.96–22.0 kg CO2-eq/kg AC). The sensitivity analysis indicates that biomass composition (e.g., hydrogen and oxygen content) and process operational conditions (e.g., activation temperature) have large impacts on energy consumption and GHG emissions associated with AC production.

opencc-by-4.0Jul 2020View details →

Multi-label Pathway Prediction based on Active Dataset Subsampling

We include samples of various data types used in the work "Multi-label Pathway Prediction based on Active Dataset Subsampling" (under-review) More information about the software package and instructions are provided in <a href="https://github.com/hallamlab/leADS">hallamlab/leADS</a>

opencc-by-4.0Sep 2020View details →

Data collection for Tsuji et al., 2020, Microbial ecology of phototrophs in Boreal Shield lakes, Chapter 3: Biogeography and activity of chlorophototrophs in the ferruginous water columns of Boreal Shield lakes (PhD thesis)

This data collection includes supplementary or raw data files related to Chapter 3 of the PhD thesis of Jackson M. Tsuji, "Biogeography and activity of chlorophototrophs in the ferruginous water columns of Boreal Shield lakes" (in "Microbial ecology of phototrophs in Boreal Shield lakes"). Specifically, the following files are included: <ul> <li>ASV_table_non_rarefied_counts.tsv.gz -- non-rarefied ASV table containing 16S rRNA gene amplicon data presented in this study as raw counts. Beyond the index column and sample columns, two additional columns, "Consensus.Lineage" and "Sequence" are included in the table. These columns include the taxonomic classification of the ASV (according to Silva) and the ASV sequence, respectively.</li> <li>ASV_table_non_rarefied_percent.tsv.gz -- same as above, but the data are normalized within each sample and expressed as percentages (i.e., sum to 100%).</li> <li>ASV_table_rarefied_counts.tsv.gz -- same as "ASV_table_non_rarefied_counts.tsv.gz", except that data is rarefied to 12,000 sequences per sample. Five samples were dropped due to having <12,000 sequences.</li> <li>ASV_table_rarefied_percent.tsv.gz -- same as above, but the data are normalized within each sample and expressed as percentages (i.e., sum to 100%).</li> <li>MAG_abundances_to_unassembled_reads.tsv.gz -- table like an ASV table showing the relative abundances (expressed as percentages) of metagenome-assembled genomes within metagenomes. Aside from the index column and sample columns, additional columns are included to provide the taxonomic classification of the MAGs (based on the Genome Taxonomy Database) and the CheckM statistics of the MAGs. Relative abundances of MAGs in a metagenome are calculated as the number of mapped reads to the MAGs from the given metagenome divided by the total number of unassembled metagenome reads for that metagenome (times 100%).</li> <li>MAG_abundances_to_assembled_reads.tsv.gz -- same as above, except that relative abundances are divided by the total number of unassembled metagenome reads for that metagenome that mapped to that metagenome's assembled contigs.</li> <li>core_sample_metadata.tsv -- table of core physico-chemical and geographic metadata for the samples in this study (used to build biplots presented in the chapter). Note that "nd" means "no data available", and any measurements below detection limits have been set to 0. A limited number of values were inferred from other sampling time points -- these are noted in the table for TDFe measurements, and in addition, the light attenuation coefficient for Lake 373 in Sept. 2017 was inferred from the Sept. 2016 coefficient due to no light data being available for Sept. 2017 samples.</li> <li>metadata_descriptions.tsv -- descriptions of all metadata columns in the above file.</li> </ul>

opencc-by-4.0Nov 2019View details →

Data used for the paper Andres Parra-Puerto, Kai Ling NG, Kieran Fahy, Angela E Goode, Mary P. Ryan, and Anthony Kucernak Supported Transition Metal Phosphides: Activity Survey for HER, ORR, OER and Corrosion Resistance in Acid and Alkaline Electrolytes ACS Catalysis, 2019 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.9b03359

This is an updated version of the spreadsheet which corrects the first version which had the wrong datasets provided for figure 2 c and d (ORR)    The data in this spreadsheet was used to produce the figures in the paper Andres Parra-Puerto, Kai Ling NG, Kieran Fahy, Angela E Goode, Mary P. Ryan, and Anthony Kucernak Supported Transition Metal Phosphides: Activity Survey for HER, ORR, OER and Corrosion Resistance in Acid and Alkaline Electrolytes ACS Catalysis, 2019 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.9b03359Please cite the above reference if you wish to use this data

opencc-by-4.0Sep 2020View details →

data set related to article Actigraph assessment for measuring upper limb activity in unilateral cerebral palsy

<pre>This record contains raw data related to article Actigraph assessment for measuring upper limb activity in unilateral cerebral palsy</pre>

Brain aromatase and the regulation of sexual activity in male mice

The biologically active estrogen, estradiol, has important roles in adult brain physiology and sexual behavior. A single gene, Cyp19a1, encodes aromatase, the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of testosterone to estradiol in the testis and brain of male mice. Estradiol formation was shown to regulate sexual activity in various species, but the relative contributions to sexual behavior of estrogen arising in the brain versus gonads remained unclear. To determine the role of brain aromatase in regulating male sexual activity, we generated a brain-specific aromatase knockout (bArKO) mouse. A newly generated whole-body total aromatase knockout mouse of the same genetic background served as a positive control. Here we demonstrate that local aromatase expression and estrogen production in the brain is partially required for male sexual behavior and sex hormone homeostasis. Male bArKO mice exhibited decreased sexual activity in the presence of strikingly elevated circulating testosterone. In castrated adult bArKO mice, administration of testosterone only partially restored sexual behavior; full sexual behavior, however, was achieved only when both estradiol and testosterone were administered together. Thus, aromatase in the brain is, in part, necessary for testosterone-dependent male sexual activity. We also found that brain aromatase is required for negative feedback regulation of circulating testosterone of testicular origin. Our findings suggest testosterone activates male sexual behavior in part via conversion to estradiol in the brain. These studies provide foundational evidence that sexual behavior may be modified through inhibition or enhancement of brain aromatase enzyme activity and/or utilization of selective estrogen receptor modulators.

Evening locomotor activity during stopover differs on pre-departure and departure days in free-living songbirds

The length of time songbirds remain at a migratory stopover site is likely regulated by a daily stay/go decision informed by fat stores and weather conditions, but the finer-scale timing of this decision and associated pre-departure behaviours are still poorly understood. Using automated radiotelemetry of free-living songbirds captured at a migratory stopover site in spring, we tested whether individuals change their locomotor activity near sunset on their migratory departure day compared to their non-departure days. To do so, we extracted precise transition times between diurnal activity and nocturnal inactivity, which always precedes departure, using changepoint analysis of radio transmission signal strength. Among four warbler species, individuals extended diurnal activity by 8-19 minutes towards sunset on their departure day. In three species, this extension was significant. In contrast, white-throated sparrows significantly shortened diurnal activity on their departure day by 13 min, also towards sunset. This is the first study to detect and quantify a change in locomotor activity schedule on departure versus non-departure days in free-living songbirds, and is consistent with the hypothesis that birds engage in pre-departure preparatory behaviours near sunset.

Data From: Breeders are less active foragers than non-breeders in wild Damaraland mole-rats

Eusocial insect societies are characterised by a clear division of labour between non-breeding workers and breeding queens and queens often do not contribute to foraging, defence and other maintenance tasks. It has been suggested that the structure and organisation of social mole-rat groups resembles that of eusocial insect societies. However, the division of labour has rarely been investigated in wild mole-rats and it is unknown whether breeders show decreased foraging activity compared to non-breeding helpers in natural groups. Here we show that, in wild Damaraland mole-rats (Fukomys damarensis), breeding males and females show lower activity in foraging areas than non-breeding group members. Both breeders and non-breeders displayed variation in activity across the different seasons. Our results suggest that group living allows social mole-rat breeders to reduce their investment in energetically costly and potentially risky foraging tasks which could contribute to the extended life-span of breeding individuals in this species and other social mole-rats.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) from multiple pathogens is elevated near active Atlantic salmon farms

The spread of infection from reservoir host populations is a key mechanism for disease emergence and extinction risk and is a management concern for salmon aquaculture and fisheries. Using a quantitative environmental DNA methodology, we assessed pathogen eDNA in relation to salmon farms in coastal British Columbia, Canada, by testing for 39 species of salmon pathogens (viral, bacterial, and eukaryotic) in 134 marine environmental samples at 58 salmon farm sites (both active and inactive) over three years. Environmental DNA from twenty-two pathogen species was detected 496 times and species varied in their occurrence among years and sites, likely reflecting variation in environmental factors, other native host species, and strength of association with domesticated Atlantic salmon. Overall, we found that the probability of detecting pathogen eDNA was 2.72 (95% CI: 1.48, 5.02) times higher at active versus inactive salmon farm sites and 1.76 (95% CI: 1.28, 2.42) times higher per standard deviation increase in domesticated Atlantic salmon eDNA concentration at a site. If the distribution of pathogen eDNA accurately reflects the distribution of viable pathogens, our findings suggest that salmon farms serve as a potential reservoir for a number of infectious agents; thereby elevating the risk of exposure for wild salmon and other fish species that share the marine environment.

Data from: Temporal partitioning of activity: rising and falling top-predator abundance triggers community-wide shifts in diel activity

Top predators cause avoidance behaviours in competitors and prey, which can lead to niche partitioning and facilitate coexistence. We investigate changes in partitioning of the temporal niche in a mammalian community in response to both the rapid decline in abundance of a top predator and its rapid increase, produced by two concurrent natural experiments: 1) the severe decline of the Tasmanian devil due to a transmissible cancer, and 2) the introduction of Tasmanian devils to an island, with subsequent population increase. We focus on devils, two mesopredators, and three prey species, allowing us to examine niche partitioning in the context of intra- and inter-specific competition, and predator-prey interactions. The most consistent shift in temporal activity occurred in devils themselves, which were active earlier in the night at high densities, presumably because of heightened intraspecific competition. When devils were rare, their closest competitor, the spotted-tailed quoll, increased activity in the early part of the night, resulting in increased overlap with the devil's temporal niche and suggesting release from interference competition. The invasive feral cat, another mesopredator, did not shift its temporal activity in response to either decreasing or increasing devil densities. Shifts in temporal activity of the major prey species of devils were stronger in response to rising than to falling devil densities. We infer that the costs associated with not avoiding predators when their density is rising (i.e., death) are higher than the costs of continuing to adopt avoidance behaviours as predator densities fall (i.e., loss of foraging opportunity), so rising predator densities may trigger more rapid shifts. The rapid changes in devil abundance provide a unique framework to test how the non-lethal effects of top predators affect community-wide partitioning of temporal niches, revealing that this top-predator has an important but varied influence on the diel activity of other species.