Pre-Pulse Inhibition of an escape response in adult fruit fly, .

Pre-Pulse Inhibition (PPI) is a neural process where suppression of a startle response is elicited by preceding the startling stimulus (Pulse) with a weak, non-startling one (Pre-Pulse). Defective PPI is widely employed as a behavioural endophenotype in humans and mammalian disorder-relevant models for neuropsychiatric disorders. We have developed a user-friendly, semi-automated, high-throughput-compatible light-off jump response PPI paradigm, with which we demonstrate that PPI, with similar parameters measured in mammals, exists in adults of this model organism.

Outstanding Thermal Conductivity of Single Atomic Layer Isotope-Modified Boron Nitride.

Materials with high thermal conductivities (κ) are valuable to solve the challenge of waste heat dissipation in highly integrated and miniaturized modern devices. Herein, we report the first synthesis of atomically thin isotopically pure hexagonal boron nitride (BN) and its one of the highest κ among all semiconductors and electric insulators. Single atomic layer (1L) BN enriched with ^{11}B has a κ up to 1009  W/mK at room temperature.

From Rare Copy Number Variants to Biological Processes in ADHD.

Objective: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly heritable psychiatric disorder. The objective of this study was to define ADHD-associated candidate genes and their associated molecular modules and biological themes, based on the analysis of rare genetic variants.

Methods: The authors combined data from 11 published copy number variation studies in 6,176 individuals with ADHD and 25,026 control subjects and prioritized genes by applying an integrative strategy based on criteria including recurrence in individuals with ADHD, absence in control subjects, complete coverage in copy number gains, and presence in the minimal region common to overlapping copy number variants (CNVs), as well as on protein-protein interactions and information from cross-species genotype-phenotype annotation.

production of a two-dimensional molybdenum disulfide/graphene hybrid nanosheet anode for lithium-ion batteries.

A solvent-free, low-cost, high-yield and scalable single-step ball milling process is developed to construct 2D MoS/graphene hybrid electrodes for lithium-ion batteries. Electron microscopy investigation reveals that the obtained hybrid electrodes consist of numerous nanosheets of MoS and graphene which are randomly distributed. The MoS/graphene hybrid anodes exhibit excellent cycling stability with high reversible capacities (442 mA h g for MoS/graphene (40 h); 553 mA h g for MoS/graphene (20 h); 342 mA h g for MoS/graphene (10 h)) at a high current rate of 250 mA g after 100 cycles, whereas the pristine MoS electrode shows huge capacity fading with a retention of 37 mA h g at 250 mA g current after 100 cycles.

Habituation Learning Is a Widely Affected Mechanism in Drosophila Models of Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Background: Although habituation is one of the most ancient and fundamental forms of learning, its regulators and its relevance for human disease are poorly understood.

Methods: We manipulated the orthologs of 286 genes implicated in intellectual disability (ID) with or without comorbid autism spectrum disorder (ASD) specifically in Drosophila neurons, and we tested these models in light-off jump habituation. We dissected neuronal substrates underlying the identified habituation deficits and integrated genotype-phenotype annotations, gene ontologies, and interaction networks to determine the clinical features and molecular processes that are associated with habituation deficits.

Systematic Phenomics Analysis Deconvolutes Genes Mutated in Intellectual Disability into Biologically Coherent Modules.

Intellectual disability (ID) disorders are genetically and phenotypically extremely heterogeneous. Can this complexity be depicted in a comprehensive way as a means of facilitating the understanding of ID disorders and their underlying biology? We provide a curated database of 746 currently known genes, mutations in which cause ID (ID-associated genes [ID-AGs]), classified according to ID manifestation and associated clinical features. Using this integrated resource, we show that ID-AGs are substantially enriched with co-expression, protein-protein interactions, and specific biological functions.

WeGET: predicting new genes for molecular systems by weighted co-expression.

We have developed the Weighted Gene Expression Tool and database (WeGET, http://weget.cmbi.umcn.

High-Performance Supercapacitor Electrode Materials from Cellulose-Derived Carbon Nanofibers.

Nitrogen-functionalized carbon nanofibers (N-CNFs) were prepared by carbonizing polypyrrole (PPy)-coated cellulose NFs, which were obtained by electrospinning, deacetylation of electrospun cellulose acetate NFs, and PPy polymerization. Supercapacitor electrodes prepared from N-CNFs and a mixture of N-CNFs and Ni(OH)2 showed specific capacitances of ∼236 and ∼1045 F g(-1), respectively. An asymmetric supercapacitor was further fabricated using N-CNFs/Ni(OH)2 and N-CNFs as positive and negative electrodes.

Facile preparation and thermoelectric properties of Bi₂Te₃ based alloy nanosheet/PEDOT:PSS composite films.

Bi2Te3 based alloy nanosheet (NS)/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) composite films were prepared separately by spin coating and drop casting techniques. The drop cast composite film containing 4.10 wt % Bi2Te3 based alloy NSs showed electrical conductivity as high as 1295.