Ikerbasque

About: Ikerbasque is a other organization based out in Bilbao, Spain. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Graphene & Quantum. The organization has 713 authors who have published 7967 publications receiving 231990 citations. The organization is also known as: Basque Foundation for Science.

Ecosystem response to interventions: lessons from restored and created wetland ecosystems

Abstract: Summary Current efforts to restore and create ecosystems require greater understanding of ecosystems’ responses to commonly used physical and biological intervention approaches to overcome ecological and technological limitations. We estimated effect sizes from measurements of biotic assemblage structure and biogeochemical functions at 628 restored and created wetlands globally, in comparison with 499 reference wetlands. We studied the recovery trajectories of wetlands where different restoration or creation approaches were used under different environmental settings. Although the variance explained by a linear mixed-effects models was low (6–7%), the study of recovery trajectories showed that the restoration or creation approach had no significant effects in most environmental settings. In particular, wetlands where surface modification and flow re-establishment were used followed similar recovery trajectories regardless of whether they were revegetated or not. We even found potential detrimental effects of biological manipulations on the recovery of the plant assemblage, particularly in cold climates and in wetlands restored or created in agricultural areas. Since physical interventions are required to recover or create the hydrological conditions of degraded or new wetlands, and given the high cost (22–73%) of biological interventions (i.e. revegetation), the need for biological interventions is, in most cases, unclear. Our results highlight the urgent need to increase our understanding of the long-term effects of restoration and creation actions in our aim to engage in large-scale ecosystem management strategies for wetlands. Synthesis and applications. These results suggest that, currently, the recovery and development processes of restored and created wetlands can be driven by spontaneous processes rather than by the response of wetlands to human interventions other than those targeted to restore hydrological conditions that existed prior to disturbance. However, given the synthetic nature of the data set, the mixed nature of available data and the limited number of measures we found to estimate recovery, caution must be exercised when adapting the results presented here to the planning and execution of specific ecosystem restoration projects.

Customizing the Electrochemical Properties of Carbon Nanodots by Using Quinones in Bottom-Up Synthesis

Abstract: We show how the redox potentials of carbon nanodots (CNDs) can be modulated by employing quinones as electroactive precursors during a microwave-assisted synthesis. We prepared and characterized a redox library of CNDs, demonstrating that this approach can promote the use of carbon nanodots for ad hoc applications, including photocatalysis.

Graphene-based technologies for energy applications, challenges and perspectives

Abstract: Here we report on technology developments implemented into the Graphene Flagship European project for the integration of graphene and graphene-related materials (GRMs) into energy application devices. Many of the technologies investigated so far aim at producing composite materials associating graphene or GRMs with either metal or semiconducting nanocrystals or other carbon nanostructures (e.g., CNT, graphite). These composites can be used favourably as hydrogen storage materials or solar cell absorbers. They can also provide better performing electrodes for fuel cells, batteries, or supercapacitors. For photovoltaic (PV) electrodes, where thin layers and interface engineering are required, surface technologies are preferred. We are using conventional vacuum processes to integrate graphene as well as radically new approaches based on laser irradiation strategies. For each application, the potential of implemented technologies is then presented on the basis of selected experimental and modelling results. It is shown in particular how some of these technologies can maximize the benefit taken from GRM integration. The technical challenges still to be addressed are highlighted and perspectives derived from the running works emphasized.

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen structure and interactions: too many partners for one dancer?

Abstract: PCNA is the DNA sliding clamp found in eukaryotes and archaebacteria. Sliding clamps were first described as processivity factors in DNA replication. They consist of multimeric, toroidal-shaped structures with pseudo-sixfold symmetry that encircle the DNA duplex and tether the replicative polymerases to the genomic template. Later, it was found that PCNA serves as a docking platform where other proteins dock to carry out different DNA metabolic processes. The structure of the bacterial clamp bound to a short primed DNA shows a tilted duplex in the central channel, which is lined by α-helices with net positive charges. Many of the proteins reported to interact with PCNA do so via the PCNA Interaction Protein sequence (PIP-box). The structures of several proteins and peptides bound to PCNA show a common binding mode, but it is still unknown how the many different partners compete for binding and exert their enzymatic and regulatory functions. Furthermore, the literature contains many reports on proteins that directly bind to PCNA as detected by different methods, but only few of the putative complexes have been examined in detail by quantitative analytical techniques or high-resolution structural methods. Some of the reported interactions are not observed in solution using the pure proteins, indicating that the direct interaction is nonexistent or very weak and is likely mediated by other factors. We review here the current knowledge on PCNA interactions from a structural point of view, with a focus on human proteins and highlighting the questions that remain to be answered.

Microdosed Lipid-Coated 67Ga-Magnetite Enhances Antigen-Specific Immunity by Image Tracked Delivery of Antigen and CpG to Lymph Nodes

Abstract: Development of vaccines to prevent and treat emerging new pathogens and re-emerging infections and cancer remains a major challenge. An attractive approach is to build the vaccine upon a biocompatible NP that simultaneously acts as accurate delivery vehicle and radiotracer for PET/SPECT imaging for ultrasensitive and quantitative in vivo imaging of NP delivery to target tissues/organs. Success in developing these nanovaccines will depend in part on having a “correct” NP size and accommodating and suitably displaying antigen and/or adjuvants (e.g., TLR agonists). Here we develop and evaluate a NP vaccine based on iron oxide-selective radio-gallium labeling suitable for SPECT(67Ga)/PET(68Ga) imaging and efficient delivery of antigen (OVA) and TLR 9 agonists (CpGs) using lipid-coated magnetite micelles. OVA, CpGs and rhodamine are easily accommodated in the hybrid micelles, and the average size of the construct can be controlled to be ca. 40 nm in diameter to target direct lymphatic delivery of the vaccine c...