bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Deforestation Effects on Rainfall‐Induced Shallow Landslides: Remote Sensing and Physically‐Based Modelling
Authors: Lehmann Peter , von Ruette Jonas , Or Dani 
Published: October 2019

AbstractDeforestation of steep slopes may temporarily reduce evapotranspiration and lessen root reinforcement thus potentially enhancing landslide susceptibility. Quantifying the effects of deforestation and associated perturbations on landslide characteristics remains a challenge, especially for predictions in remote areas with limited information. We applied the STEP‐TRAMM model that uses publicly available climatic and landscape information to assess effects of forest alteration on hydro‐mechanical processes. The model considers two types of forest alterations: (i) removal of root reinforcement following permanent forest conversion, and (ii) time dependent root decay and regrowth following clear‐cut timber harvesting. The model was applied to four study areas in different climatic regions (New Zealand, Oregon, Sumatra and Cambodia). We compared model predictions of landslide metrics with satellite‐imaging of landslides following deforestation. Although we observe a higher propensity and larger landslides in deforested areas, effects were sensitive to deforestation practices and patterns. The largest increase in landslide area was associated with large and interconnected deforested tracts within a few years after deforestation as determined by competition between root decay and forest regrowth. For patchy small‐scale forest conversion, the landslide areas were smaller but could occur many years after deforestation (> 10 years). The modeling framework offers ability to evaluate forest alteration scenarios through their potential impact on landslide hazard in specific regions of the landscape.
The TWIST1-centered competing endogenous RNA network promotes proliferation, invasion, and migration of lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Xia Wenjie , Mao Qixing , Chen Bing , Wang Lin , Ma Weidong , Liang Yingkuan , Zhang Te , Dong Gaochao , Xu Lin , Jiang Feng 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThe proposed competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanism suggested that diverse RNA species, including protein-coding messenger RNAs and non-coding RNAs such as long non-coding RNAs, pseudogenes and circular RNAs could communicate with each other by competing for binding to shared microRNAs. The ceRNA network (ceRNET) is involved in tumor progression and has become a hot research topic in recent years. To date, more attention has been paid to the role of non-coding RNAs in ceRNA crosstalk. However, coding transcripts are more abundant and powerful than non-coding RNAs and make up the majority of miRNA targets. In this study, we constructed a mRNA-mRNA related ceRNET of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and identified the highlighted TWIST1-centered ceRNET, which recruits SLC12A5 and ZFHX4 as its ceRNAs. We found that TWIST1/SLC12A5/ZFHX4 are all upregulated in LUAD and are associated with poorer prognosis. SLC12A5 and ZFHX4 facilitated proliferation, migration, and invasion in vivo and in vitro, and their effects were reversed by miR-194–3p and miR-514a-3p, respectively. We further verified that SLC12A5 and ZFHX4 affected the function of TWIST1 by acting as ceRNAs. In summary, we constructed a mRNA-mRNA related ceRNET for LUAD and highlighted the well-known oncogene TWIST1. Then we verified that SLC12A5 and ZFHX4 exert their oncogenic function by regulating TWIST1 expression through a ceRNA mechanism.
Syntrophic growth of alkaliphilic anaerobes controlled by ferric and ferrous minerals transformation coupled to acetogenesis
Authors: Zavarzina Daria G , Gavrilov Sergey N , Chistyakova Natalia I , Antonova Angelina V , Gracheva Maria A , Merkel Alexandr Yu , Perevalova Anna A , Chernov Michail S , Zhilina Tatyana N , Bychkov Andrey Yu , Bonch-Osmolovskaya Elizaveta A 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Redox-active iron minerals can act as energy sources or electron-transferring mediators in microbial syntrophic associations, being important means of interspecies metabolic cooperation in sedimentary environments. Alkaline conditions alter the thermodynamic stability of iron minerals, influencing their availability for interspecies syntrophic interactions. We have modeled anaerobic alkaliphilic microbial associations in ethanol-oxidizing co-culture of an obligate syntroph Candidatus “Contubernalis alkalaceticum” and a facultative lithotroph Geoalkalibacter ferrihydriticus, which is capable of dissimilatory Fe(III) reduction and homoacetogenic oxidation of Fe(II) with CO2. The co-cultures were cultivated with thermodynamically metastable ferric-containing ferrihydrite, or ferrous-containing siderite, or without minerals. Mössbauer spectral analysis revealed the transformation of both minerals to the stable magnetite. In the presence of ferrihydrite, G. ferrihydriticus firstly reduced Fe(III) with ethanol and then switched to syntrophic homoacetogenesis, providing the growth of obligate syntroph on ethanol. The ability of G. ferrihydriticus to accept hydrogen from its syntrophic partner and produce extra acetate from carbonate during ethanol oxidation was confirmed by co-culture growth without minerals. In the presence of siderite, G. ferrihydriticus performed homoacetogenesis using two electron donors simultaneously— siderite and hydrogen. Pieces of evidence for direct and indirect hydrogen-mediated electron exchange between partner organisms were obtained. Relative abundancies of partner organisms and the rate of acetate production by their co-cultures were strongly determined by thermodynamic benefits, which G. ferrihydriticus got from redox transformations of iron minerals. Even the minor growth of G. ferrihydriticus sustained the growth of the syntroph. Accordingly, microbe-to-mineral interactions could represent underestimated drivers of syntrophic interactions in alkaline sedimentary environments.
CCL14 serves as a novel prognostic factor and tumor suppressor of HCC by modulating cell cycle and promoting apoptosis
Authors: Zhu Mengxuan , Xu Weiyue , Wei Chuanyuan , Huang Jing , Xu Jietian , Zhang Yuye , Zhao Yan , Chen Jie , Dong Shuangshuang , Liu Binbin , Liang Chunmin 
Published: October 2019

AbstractCCL14 is a member of CC chemokines and its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still unknown. In this study, CCL14 expression were analyzed by tissue microarray (TMA) including 171 paired tumor and peritumor tissues of patients from Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University. We found for the first time that CCL14 was downregulated in HCC tumor tissues compared with peritumor tissues (P = 0.01). Meanwhile, CCL14 low expression in HCC tumor tissues is associated with a poor prognosis (P = 0.035). CCL14 also displayed its predictive value in high differentiation (P = 0.026), liver cirrhosis (P = 0.003), and no tumor capsule (P = 0.024) subgroups. The underlying mechanisms were further investigated in HCC cell lines by CCL14 overexpression and knock-down in vitro. We found overexpression of CCL14 suppressed proliferation and promoted apoptosis of HCC cells. Finally, the effect was confirmed by animal xenograft tumor models in vivo. The results shown overexpression of CCL14 lead to inhibiting the growth of tumor in nude mice. Interestingly, our data also implied that CCL14 played these effects by inhibiting the activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway. These findings suggest CCL14 is a novel prognostic factor of HCC and serve as a tumor suppressor.
Mitochondrial 3243A > G mutation confers pro-atherogenic and pro-inflammatory properties in MELAS iPS derived endothelial cells
Authors: Pek Nicole Min Qian , Phua Qian Hua , Ho Beatrice Xuan , Pang Jeremy Kah Sheng , Hor Jin-Hui , An Omer , Yang Henry He , Yu Yang , Fan Yong , Ng Shi-Yan , Soh Boon-Seng 
Published: October 2019

AbstractMitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome is a mitochondrial disorder that is commonly caused by the m.3243A > G mutation in theMT-TL1gene encoding for mitochondrial tRNA(Leu(UUR)). While clinical studies reported cerebral infarcts, atherosclerotic lesions, and altered vasculature and stroke-like episodes (SLE) in MELAS patients, it remains unclear how this mutation causes the onset and subsequent progression of the disease. Here, we report that in addition to endothelial dysfunction, diseased endothelial cells (ECs) were found to be pro-atherogenic and pro-inflammation due to high levels of ROS and Ox-LDLs, and high basal expressions of VCAM-1, in particular isoform b, respectively. Consistently, more monocytes were found to adhere to MELAS ECs as compared to the isogenic control, suggesting the presence of an atherosclerosis-like pathology in MELAS. Notably, these disease phenotypes in endothelial cells can be effectively reversed by anti-oxidant treatment suggesting that the lowering of ROS is critical for treating patients with MELAS syndrome.
IRE1 promotes neurodegeneration through autophagy-dependent neuron death in the Drosophila model of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Yan Cheng , Liu Jingqi , Gao Jiamei , Sun Ying , Zhang Lei , Song Haiyun , Xue Lei , Zhan Lixing , Gao Guanjun , Ke Zunji , Liu Yong , Liu Jingnan 
Published: October 2019

AbstractAbnormal aggregation of misfolded pathological proteins in neurons is a prominent feature of neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson’s disease (PD). Perturbations of proteostasis at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) triggers ER stress, activating the unfolded protein response (UPR). Chronic ER stress is thought to underlie the death of neurons during the neurodegenerative progression, but the precise mechanism by which the UPR pathways regulate neuronal cell fate remains incompletely understood. Here we report a critical neurodegenerative role for inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1), the evolutionarily conserved ER stress sensor, in a Drosophila model of PD. We found that IRE1 was hyperactivated upon accumulation of α-synuclein in the fly photoreceptor neurons. Ectopic overexpression of IRE1 was sufficient to trigger autophagy-dependent neuron death in an XBP1-independent, JNK-dependent manner. Furthermore, IRE1 was able to promote dopaminergic neuron loss, progressive locomotor impairment, and shorter lifespan, whereas blocking IRE1 or ATG7 expression remarkably ameliorated the progression of α-synuclein-caused Parkinson’s disease. These results provide in vivo evidence demonstrating that the IRE1 pathway drives PD progression through coupling ER stress to autophagy-dependent neuron death.
Anti-inflammatory mechanisms of the novel cytokine interleukin-38 in allergic asthma
Authors: Sun Xiaoyu , Hou Tianheng , Cheung Edwin , Iu Tiffany Nga-Teng , Tam Victor Wai-Hou , Chu Ida Miu-Ting , Tsang Miranda Sin-Man , Chan Paul Kay-Sheung , Lam Christopher Wai-Kei , Wong Chun-Kwok 
Published: October 2019

AbstractWe elucidated the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of IL-38 in allergic asthma. Human bronchial epithelial cells and eosinophils were cocultured upon stimulation with the viral RLR ligand poly (I:C)/LyoVec or infection-related cytokine TNF-α to induce expression of cytokines/chemokines/adhesion molecules. House dust mite (HDM)-induced allergic asthma and humanized allergic asthma NOD/SCID murine models were established to assess anti-inflammatory mechanisms in vivo. IL-38 significantly inhibited induced proinflammatory IL-6, IL-1β, CCL5, and CXCL10 production, and antiviral interferon-β and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression in the coculture system. Mass cytometry and RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that IL-38 could antagonize the activation of the intracellular STAT1, STAT3, p38 MAPK, ERK1/2, and NF-κB pathways, and upregulate the expression of the host defense-related genePOU2AF1and anti-allergic response geneRGS13. Intraperitoneal injection of IL-38 into HDM-induced allergic asthma mice could ameliorate airway hyperreactivity by decreasing the accumulation of eosinophils in the lungs and inhibiting the expression of the Th2-related cytokines IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung homogenates. Histological examination indicated lung inflammation was alleviated by reductions in cell infiltration and goblet cell hyperplasia, together with reduced Th2, Th17, and innate lymphoid type 2 cell numbers but increased proportions of regulatory T cells in the lungs, spleen, and lymph nodes. IL-38 administration suppressed airway hyperreactivity and asthma-related IL-4 and IL-5 expression in humanized mice, together with significantly decreased CCR3+eosinophil numbers in the BALF and lungs, and a reduced percentage of human CD4+CRTH2+Th2 cells in the lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes. Together, our results demonstrated the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of IL-38 and provided a basis for the development of a regulatory cytokine-based treatment for allergic asthma.
Nickel sulfide nanocrystals on nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanotubes with high-efficiency electrocatalysis for room-temperature sodium-sulfur batteries
Authors: Yan Zichao , Xiao Jin , Lai Weihong , Wang Li , Gebert Florian , Wang Yunxiao , Gu Qinfen , Liu Hui , Chou Shu-Lei , Liu Huakun , Dou Shi-Xue 
Published: October 2019

AbstractPolysulfide dissolution and slow electrochemical kinetics of conversion reactions lead to low utilization of sulfur cathodes that inhibits further development of room-temperature sodium-sulfur batteries. Here we report a multifunctional sulfur host, NiS2 nanocrystals implanted in nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanotubes, which is rationally designed to achieve high polysulfide immobilization and conversion. Attributable to the synergetic effect of physical confinement and chemical bonding, the high electronic conductivity of the matrix, closed porous structure, and polarized additives of the multifunctional sulfur host effectively immobilize polysulfides. Significantly, the electrocatalytic behaviors of the Lewis base matrix and the NiS2 component are clearly evidenced by operando synchrotron X-ray diffraction and density functional theory with strong adsorption of polysulfides and high conversion of soluble polysulfides into insoluble Na2S2/Na2S. Thus, the as-obtained sulfur cathodes exhibit excellent performance in room-temperature Na/S batteries.
Altered dendritic spine function and integration in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome
Authors: Booker Sam A. , Domanski Aleksander P. F. , Dando Owen R. , Jackson Adam D. , Isaac John T. R. , Hardingham Giles E. , Wyllie David J. A. , Kind Peter C. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractCellular and circuit hyperexcitability are core features of fragile X syndrome and related autism spectrum disorder models. However, the cellular and synaptic bases of this hyperexcitability have proved elusive. We report in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome, glutamate uncaging onto individual dendritic spines yields stronger single-spine excitation than wild-type, with more silent spines. Furthermore, fewer spines are required to trigger an action potential with near-simultaneous uncaging at multiple spines. This is, in part, from increased dendritic gain due to increased intrinsic excitability, resulting from reduced hyperpolarization-activated currents, and increased NMDA receptor signaling. Using super-resolution microscopy we detect no change in dendritic spine morphology, indicating no structure-function relationship at this age. However, ultrastructural analysis shows a 3-fold increase in multiply-innervated spines, accounting for the increased single-spine glutamate currents. Thus, loss of FMRP causes abnormal synaptogenesis, leading to large numbers of poly-synaptic spines despite normal spine morphology, thus explaining the synaptic perturbations underlying circuit hyperexcitability.
Single- and multi-component chiral supraparticles as modular enantioselective catalysts
Authors: Li Si , Liu Juan , Ramesar Naomi S. , Heinz Hendrik , Xu Liguang , Xu Chuanlai , Kotov Nicholas A. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractNanoscale biological assemblies exemplified by exosomes, endosomes and capsids, play crucial roles in all living systems. Supraparticles (SP) from inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) replicate structural characteristics of these bioassemblies, but it is unknown whether they can mimic their biochemical functions. Here, we show that chiral ZnS NPs self-assemble into 70–100 nm SPs that display sub-nanoscale porosity associated with interstitial spaces between constituent NPs. Similarly to photosynthetic bacterial organelles, these SPs can serve as photocatalysts, enantioselectively converting L- or D-tyrosine (Tyr) into dityrosine (diTyr). Experimental data and molecular dynamic simulations indicate that the chiral bias of the photocatalytic reaction is associated with the chiral environment of interstitial spaces and preferential partitioning of enantiomers into SPs, which can be further enhanced by co-assembling ZnS with Au NPs. Besides replicating a specific function of biological nanoassemblies, these findings establish a path to enantioselective oxidative coupling of phenols for biomedical and other needs.
Concerted dynamics of metallo-base pairs in an A/B-form helical transition
Authors: Schmidt Olivia P. , Jurt Simon , Johannsen Silke , Karimi Ashkan , Sigel Roland K. O. , Luedtke Nathan W. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractMetal-mediated base pairs expand the repertoire of nucleic acid structures and dynamics. Here we report solution structures and dynamics of duplex DNA containing two all-natural C-HgII-T metallo base pairs separated by six canonical base pairs. NMR experiments reveal a 3:1 ratio of well-resolved structures in dynamic equilibrium. The major species contains two (N3)T-HgII-(N3)C base pairs in a predominantly B-form helix. The minor species contains (N3)T-HgII-(N4)C base pairs and greater A-form characteristics. Ten-fold different1Jcoupling constants (15N,199Hg) are observed for (N3)C-HgII(114 Hz) versus (N4)C-HgII(1052 Hz) connectivities, reflecting differences in cytosine ionization and metal-bonding strengths. Dynamic interconversion between the two types of C-HgII-T base pairs are coupled to a global conformational exchange between the helices. These observations inspired the design of a repetitive DNA sequence capable of undergoing a global B-to-A-form helical transition upon adding HgII, demonstrating that C-HgII-T has unique switching potential in DNA-based materials and devices.
Interfacial oxygen vacancies yielding long-lived holes in hematite mesocrystal-based photoanodes
Authors: Zhang Zhujun , Karimata Izuru , Nagashima Hiroki , Muto Shunsuke , Ohara Koji , Sugimoto Kunihisa , Tachikawa Takashi 
Published: October 2019

AbstractHematite (α-Fe2O3) is one of the most promising candidates as a photoanode materials for solar water splitting. Owing to the difficulty in suppressing the significant charge recombination, however, the photoelectrochemical (PEC) conversion efficiency of hematite is still far below the theoretical limit. Here we report thick hematite films (∼1500 nm) constructed by highly ordered and intimately attached hematite mesocrystals (MCs) for highly efficient PEC water oxidation. Due to the formation of abundant interfacial oxygen vacancies yielding a high carrier density of ∼1020 cm−3 and the resulting extremely large proportion of depletion regions with short depletion widths (<10 nm) in hierarchical structures, charge separation and collection efficiencies could be markedly improved. Moreover, it was found that long-lived charges are generated via excitation by shorter wavelength light (below ∼500 nm), thus enabling long-range hole transfer through the MC network to drive high efficiency of light-to-energy conversion under back illumination.
Sequence variants with large effects on cardiac electrophysiology and disease
Authors: Norland Kristjan , Sveinbjornsson Gardar , Thorolfsdottir Rosa B. , Davidsson Olafur B. , Tragante Vinicius , Rajamani Sridharan , Helgadottir Anna , Gretarsdottir Solveig , van Setten Jessica , Asselbergs Folkert W. , Sverrisson Jon Th. , Stephensen Sigurdur S. , Oskarsson Gylfi , Sigurdsson Emil L. , Andersen Karl , Danielsen Ragnar , Thorgeirsson Gudmundur , Thorsteinsdottir Unnur , Arnar David O. , Sulem Patrick , Holm Hilma , Gudbjartsson Daniel F. , Stefansson Kari 
Published: October 2019

AbstractFeatures of the QRS complex of the electrocardiogram, reflecting ventricular depolarisation, associate with various physiologic functions and several pathologic conditions. We test 32.5 million variants for association with ten measures of the QRS complex in 12 leads, using 405,732 electrocardiograms from 81,192 Icelanders. We identify 190 associations at 130 loci, the majority of which have not been reported before, including associations with 21 rare or low-frequency coding variants. Assessment of genes expressed in the heart yields an additional 13 rare QRS coding variants at 12 loci. We find 51 unreported associations between the QRS variants and echocardiographic traits and cardiovascular diseases, including atrial fibrillation, complete AV block, heart failure and supraventricular tachycardia. We demonstrate the advantage of in-depth analysis of the QRS complex in conjunction with other cardiovascular phenotypes to enhance our understanding of the genetic basis of myocardial mass, cardiac conduction and disease.
Inverting family GH156 sialidases define an unusual catalytic motif for glycosidase action
Authors: Bule Pedro , Chuzel Léa , Blagova Elena , Wu Liang , Gray Melissa A. , Henrissat Bernard , Rapp Erdmann , Bertozzi Carolyn R. , Taron Christopher H. , Davies Gideon J. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractSialic acids are a family of related sugars that play essential roles in many biological events intimately linked to cellular recognition in both health and disease. Sialidases are therefore orchestrators of cellular biology and important therapeutic targets for viral infection. Here, we sought to define if uncharacterized sialidases would provide distinct paradigms in sialic acid biochemistry. We show that a recently discovered sialidase family, whose first member EnvSia156 was isolated from hot spring metagenomes, defines an unusual structural fold and active centre constellation, not previously described in sialidases. Consistent with an inverting mechanism, EnvSia156 reveals a His/Asp active center in which the His acts as a Brønsted acid and Asp as a Brønsted base in a single-displacement mechanism. A predominantly hydrophobic aglycone site facilitates accommodation of a variety of 2-linked sialosides; a versatility that offers the potential for glycan hydrolysis across a range of biological and technological platforms.
Compositional boundary layers trigger liquid unmixing in a basaltic crystal mush
Authors: Honour Victoria C. , Holness Marian B. , Charlier Bernard , Piazolo Sandra C. , Namur Olivier , Prosa Ty J. , Martin Isabelle , Helz Rosalind T. , Maclennan John , Jean Marlon M. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThe separation of immiscible liquids has significant implications for magma evolution and the formation of magmatic ore deposits. We combine high-resolution imaging and electron probe microanalysis with the first use of atom probe tomography on tholeiitic basaltic glass from Hawaii, the Snake River Plain, and Iceland, to investigate the onset of unmixing of basaltic liquids into Fe-rich and Si-rich conjugates. We examine the relationships between unmixing and crystal growth, and the evolution of a nanoemulsion in a crystal mush. We identify the previously unrecognised role played by compositional boundary layers in promoting unmixing around growing crystals at melt-crystal interfaces. Our findings have important implications for the formation of immiscible liquid in a crystal mush, the interpretations of compositional zoning in crystals, and the role of liquid immiscibility in controlling magma physical properties.