bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lianas reduce biomass accumulation in early successional tropical forests
Authors: Estrada‐Villegas Sergio , Hall Jefferson S. , van Breugel Michiel , Schnitzer Stefan A. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractEarly successional tropical forests could mitigate climate change via rapid accumulation of atmospheric carbon. However, liana (woody vine) abundance and biomass has been increasing in many tropical forests over the past decades, which may slow the speed at which secondary forests accumulate biomass. Lianas decrease biomass accumulation in tropical forests, and may have a particularly strong effect on young forests by stalling tree growth. As forests mature, trees may outgrow or shed lianas, thus escaping some of the negative effects of lianas. Alternatively, lianas may have the strongest effect in older successional forests if the effect of lianas is commensurate with their density, which increases dramatically in the first decades of forest succession. We tested these two hypotheses using a landscape liana‐removal experiment in 30 forest stands that ranged from 10 to 35 yr old in Central Panama. We measured tree growth and biomass accumulation in the stands every year from 2014 to 2017. We found that the effect of liana removal on large trees (≥20‐cm diameter) decreased with forest age, supporting the hypothesis that lianas have the strongest negative effects on trees, and thus biomass uptake and carbon storage, in very young successional forests. Large trees accumulated more biomass in the absence of lianas in younger forests than in older forests (compared to controls) even after accounting for the effect of canopy completeness and crown illumination, implying that the detrimental effects of lianas go well beyond resource availability and crown health. There was no significant effect of lianas on small trees (1–20‐cm diameter), likely because lianas seek light and thus do not deploy their leaves on small trees that are trapped in the forest understory. Our results show that high liana density early in forest succession reduces forest biomass accumulation by negatively impacting large trees, thus decreasing the capacity of young secondary forests to mitigate climate change. Although the negative effects of lianas on forest biomass diminish as forests age, they do not disappear, and thus lianas are an important component of tropical forest carbon budgets throughout succession.
The optimization of fermentation conditions for Pichia pastoris GS115 producing recombinant xylanase
Authors: Sun Taotao , Yan Ping , Zhan Na , Zhang Licong , Chen Zhihui , Zhang Aizhong , Shan Anshan 
Published: January 2020

AbstractXylanase is a member of an important family of enzymes that has been used in many biotechnological processes. However, the overall cost of enzyme production has been the main problem in the industrial application of enzymes. To obtain maximum xylanase production, statistical approaches based on the Plackett–Burman design and response surface methodology were employed. The results of the statistical analyses demonstrated that the optimal conditions for increased xylanase production were the following: inoculum size, 3.8%; maize meal, 4.5%; histidine, 0.6%; methanol, 1%; culture volume, 20%; bean pulp, 30 g L−1; and Tween‐80, 0.8%; and pH 5.0. Verification of the optimization demonstrated that 3273 U mL−1 xylanase was observed under the optimal conditions in shake flask experiments. SDS–PAGE results showed that the size of xylanase protein was about 23 kDa. The results showed that the xylanase produced by fermentation came from Aspergillus Niger by MALDI‐TOF‐MS. The optimized medium resulted in 2.1‐ and 1.4‐fold higher the activity of xylanase compared with the unoptimized medium (the main nutrients are maize meal and bean pulp) and laboratory medium (the main nutrients are yeast extract and peptone), respectively. The optimization of fermentation conditions is an effective means to reduce production cost and improve xylanase activity.
Moving average threshold heterogeneous autoregressive (MAT‐HAR) models
Authors: Motegi Kaiji , Cai Xiaojing , Hamori Shigeyuki , Xu Haifeng 
Published: January 2020

AbstractWe propose moving average threshold heterogeneous autoregressive (MAT‐HAR) models as a novel combination of heterogeneous autoregression (HAR) and threshold autoregression (TAR). The MAT‐HAR has multiple groups of lags of a target series, and a threshold term can appear in each group. The threshold is a moving average of lagged target series, which guarantees time‐varying thresholds and simple estimation via least squares. We show via Monte Carlo simulations that the MAT‐HAR has sharp in‐sample and out‐of‐sample performance. An empirical application on the industrial production of Japan suggests that significant threshold effects exist, and the MAT‐HAR has a higher forecast accuracy than the HAR.
A Gap in the Armor: Spearfishing Reduces Biomass of Invasive Suckermouth Armored Catfish
Authors: Blanton Caleb S , Perkin Joshuah S , Menchaca Nick , Kollaus Kristy A 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Introduced Suckermouth Armored Catfish (SAC; family Loricariidae) have invaded freshwater ecosystems globally. In the San Marcos River, Texas, control of invasive SAC includes spearfishing through public tournaments and contracted spearfishing, yet the effectiveness of these control efforts is unquantified. We used a recently developed length-based Bayesian biomass estimation method to assess spearfishing mortality relative to natural mortality and existing biomass relative to an unexploited population. During 2014–2018, 6,046 SAC were removed and measured (total length, cm) from the San Marcos River through spearfishing. Using the length-based Bayesian biomass, we found fishing pressure increased mortality 1.50- to 1.75-fold relative to natural mortality, and that relative biomass during 2016–2018 was significantly below the threshold at which stock depletion occurs. Our application of fishery stock assessment provides quantitative benchmarks for invasive species control and can be applied to other invaded systems where control methods are unassessed but length data from removed individuals are available.
Role of fucosyltransferase IV in the migration and invasion of human melanoma cells
Authors: Shan Xiu , Dong Weijie , Zhang Li , Cai Xin , Zhao Yi , Chen Qun , Yan Qiu , Liu Jiwei 
Published: January 2020

AbstractMalignant melanoma is one of the most aggressive human tumor types, mainly due to its high invasion capability, metastatic properties, and the absence of effective treatments. Glycosylation serves a pivotal role in the migration and invasion of melanoma. However, differences in glycosylation between high and low metastatic melanoma cells and how these regulate migration and invasion by altering the expression of fucosyltransferases (FUTs) remain unclear. In the present study, matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐time‐of‐flight‐mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF‐MS) analysis revealed that the composition profiling of fucosylated N‐glycans differed between high metastatic C8161 and low metastatic A375P cells. Further analysis revealed that FUT4 expression was significantly increased in C8161 cells. Melanoma tissue arrays further demonstrated that FUT4 was overexpressed in metastatic samples. Altered FUT4 expression was accompanied by a change in the migration and invasion capacity of the cells. In addition, the migration and invasion potential of melanoma cells were decreased in C8161 and increased in A375P cells upon altering FUT4 expression levels by small interfering RNA or complementary DNA transfection. Furthermore, regulating FUT4 expression markedly modulated the activity of the phosphoinositide‐3‐kinase/Akt (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway, which affected melanoma cell migration and invasion. In conclusion, FUT4 is a novel biomarker and regulator of the migration and invasion of melanoma cells and may serve as a therapeutic target for melanoma.
Upregulated microRNA‐194 impairs stemness of cholangiocarcinoma cells through the Rho pathway via inhibition of ECT2
Authors: Gao Jun , Dai Chao , Yu Xin , Yin Xiang‐Bao , Zhou Fan 
Published: January 2020

AbstractCholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is devastating for its delayed presence, difficulty in diagnosis, and high mortality. Other studies have supported the important role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the pathogenesis of CCA, and the role of miR‐194 was investigated in several human cancers, though, the molecular mechanism of miR‐194 in CCA stem cells remains largely unknown. We aimed to identify the functional significance of miR‐194 in CCA. The microarray‐based analysis was applied to detect the epithelial cell transforming sequence 2 (ECT2) expression and predict the miRNA‐regulated ECT2, followed by the identification of relationship between ECT2 and obtained miRNA by dual‐luciferase reporter gene assay. The effects of depletion or ectopic expression of miR‐194 on Rho pathway and the biological characteristics of CCA were assessed by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunoblotting, 3‐(4,5‐dimethyl‐2‐thiazolyl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2‐H‐tetrazolium bromide, scratch test, Transwell, and flow cytometry. Lastly, tumor growth was assessed by xenograft tumor in nude mice. ECT2 was highly expressed while miR‐194 was poorly expressed in CCA stem cells, and the targeting relation between ECT2 and miR‐194 was proved. More important, the elevated expression of miR‐194 or ECT2 silencing inhibited the Rho pathway, and further promoted the apoptosis and suppressed the stem cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of CCA in vitro. miR‐194 inhibited the tumor growth in vivo. In a word, miR‐194 inhibits ECT2 and blocks the activation of Rho signaling pathway, thus promoting apoptosis, inhibiting proliferation and migration of CCA stem cells, and suppressing tumor growth. The mechanism can be regarded as a target for treating CCA.
RETRACTED: Reduction of nuclear Y654‐p‐β‐catenin expression through SH3GL2‐meditated downregulation of EGFR in chemotolerance TNBC: Clinical and prognostic importance
Authors: Islam Md. Saimul , Dasgupta Hemantika , Basu Mukta , Roy Anup , Alam Neyaz , Roychoudhury Susanta , Kumar Panda Chinmay 
Published: January 2020

AbstractTriple negative breast cancer (TNBC) originates from a less differentiated ductal cell of breast, which is less sensitive to chemotherapy. The chemotolerance mechanism of TNBC has not yet been studied in detail. For this reason, molecular profiles (expression/genetic/epigenetic) of Y654‐p‐β‐catenin (active) and its kinase epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) along with SH3GL2 (regulator of EGFR homeostasis) were compared between neoadjuvant chemotherapy treated (NACT) and pretherapeutic TNBC samples. Reduced nuclear expression of Y654‐p‐β‐catenin protein with low proliferation index and CD44 prevalence showed concordance with reduced expression of EGFR/Y1045‐p‐EGFR proteins in the NACT samples than the pretherapeutic TNBC samples. Infrequent messenger RNA expression, gene amplification (10–32.5%), and mutation (1%) of EGFR were seen in the TNBC samples irrespective of therapy, suggesting the importance of EGFR protein stabilization in this tumor. The upregulation of SH3GL2 seen in the NACT samples in contrast to the pretherapeutic samples might be due to its promoter hypomethylation, as seen in the quantitative methylation assay. A similar trend of upregulation of SH3GL2 and downregulation of EGFR, Y1045‐p‐EGFR, Y654‐p‐β‐catenin were seen in the MDA‐MB‐231 cell line using antharacycline antitumor drugs (doxorubicin/nogalamycin). The NACT patients with reduced expression of Y654‐p‐β‐catenin and/or EGFR and high expression of SH3GL2 showed comparatively better prognosis than the pretherapeutic patients. Thus, our study showed that reduced nuclear expression of Y654‐p‐β‐catenin in NACT samples due to downregulation of EGFR protein through promoter hypomethylation‐mediated upregulation of SH3GL2, resulting in low proliferation index/CD44 prevalence with better prognosis of the NACT patients, might have an important role in the chemotolerance of TNBC.
α‐Mangostin attenuates stemness and enhances cisplatin‐induced cell death in cervical cancer stem‐like cells through induction of mitochondrial‐mediated apoptosis
Authors: Chien Hung‐Ju , Ying Tsung‐Ho , Hsieh Shu‐Ching , Lin Chia‐Liang , Yu Yung‐Luen , Kao Shao‐Hsuan , Hsieh Yi‐Hsien 
Published: January 2020

AbstractCancer stem cells (CSCs) exhibit specific characteristics including decontrolled self‐renewal, tumor‐initiating, promoting, and metastatic potential, abnormal stemness signaling, and chemotherapy resistance. Thus, targeting CSC is becoming an emerging cancer treatment. α‐Mangostin has been shown to have potent and multiple anticancer activities. Accordingly, we hypothesized that α‐mangostin may diminish the stemness and proliferation of CSC‐like cervical cancer cells. In our results, comparing to the parent cells, CSC‐like SiHa and HeLa cells highly expressed CSC marker Sox2, Oct4, Nanog, CK‐17, and CD49f. α‐Mangostin significantly reduced the cell viability, sphere‐forming ability, and expression of the CSC stemness makers of CSC‐like cervical cancer cells. Further investigation showed that α‐mangostin induced mitochondrial depolarization and mitochondrial apoptosis signaling, including upregulation of Bax, downregulation of Mcl‐1 and Bcl‐2, and activation of caspase‐9/3. Moreover, α‐mangostin synergically enhanced the cytotoxicity of cisplatin on CSC‐like SiHa cells by promoting mitochondrial apoptosis and inhibiting the expression of CSC markers. Consistent with in vitro findings, in vivo tumor growth assay revealed that α‐mangostin administration significantly inhibited the growth of inoculated CSC‐like SiHa cells and synergically enhanced the antitumor effect of cisplatin. Our findings indicate that α‐mangostin can reduce the stemness and proliferation of CSC‐like SiHa and HeLa cells and promote the cytotoxicity of cisplatin, which may attribute to the mitochondrial apoptosis activation. Thus, it suggests that α‐mangostin may have clinical potential to improve chemotherapy for cervical cancer by targeting cervical CSC.
Insights into the expression profiles and functions of circRNAs in a newborn hyperoxia‐induced rat bronchopulmonary dysplasia model
Authors: Cheng Hanrong , Wu Benqing , Wang Lingwei , Hu Tianyong , Deng Zhuhui , Li Dongcai 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackgroundBronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a severe chronic lung disease in preterm infants. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are key regulators of various biological processes. The present study aimed to explore the biological roles of circRNAs in BPD pathogenesis.MethodsA newborn BPD rat model was developed to construct a circRNA library; Illumina deep sequencing (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA) was used to reveal differential expression of circRNAs in the hyperoxia‐induced BPD rat models. Sanger sequencing and a reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction were performed to confirm circRNAs that may be related to BPD. After miRNA binding‐site prediction, we constructed a network diagram of circRNA‐competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) related to transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β and p53 pathways using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis.ResultsIn total, 256 differentially expressed circRNAs were detected between the hyperoxia group and the normoxia group. Of these circRNAs, 195 were up‐regulated and 61 were down‐regulated. The differences of circRNA distribution between the two groups were analyzed and six circRNAs were validated in the tissue samples. GO analysis indicated that 6519 target genes were enriched in cell location and biological processes. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that circRNAs involved in 242 KEGG pathways. A network diagram of circRNA‐ceRNA related to TGF‐β and p53 pathways was constructed.ConclusionsCircRNAs are differentially expressed between the BPD model and control group. Many target genes of circRNAs are involved in the developmental process, which suggests that BPD may be associated with pathways including extracellular matrix–receptor interaction, vascular endothelial growth factor signaling and vascular smooth muscle contraction.
Design and synthesis of diethyl(substituted 2‐benzylbenzofuran‐3‐yl)phosphonates as antioxidant and antimicrobial agents
Authors: Gundluru Mohan , Sarva Santhisudha , Sudileti Murali , Tellamekala Sreekanth , Yakkate Subba Rao , Nemallapudi Bakthavatchala Reddy , Cirandur Suresh Reddy 
Published: January 2020

AbstractIn continuance of our effort to improve novel and potent synthetic approaches for various bioactive phosphorylated heterocycles via C─P bond formation, a series of diethyl substituted(2‐benzylbenzofuran‐3‐yl)phosphonate derivatives (4a‐j) was synthesized by one‐pot reaction of various diversely substituted salicylaldehydes, phenyl acetylene, and diethyl phosphite using CuO nanoparticles as catalyst in 1:1 ethanol and water under room temperature. The new compounds have been studied for their radical scavenging activity by DPPH, H2O2, and NO approaches and antimicrobial activity assay against bacteria and fungi by disk diffusion method.
Structural analogues of quinoline alkaloids: Straightforward route to [1,3]dioxolo[4,5‐c]quinolines with antibacterial properties
Authors: Horák Radim , Kořistek Kamil , Šamšulová Veronika , Slaninová Ludmila , Grepl Martin , Kvapil Lubomír , Funk Petr , Hradil Pavel , Soural Miroslav 
Published: January 2020

AbstractCompounds bearing [1,3]dioxolo‐quinoline scaffolds have been found in quinoline‐based natural products; the only exception is the [1,3]dioxolo[4,5‐c]quinoline moiety with a rare occurrence in both natural and synthetic derivatives. In this article, we report the preparation of diversely substituted and functionalized [1,3]dioxolo[4,5‐c]quinolines using [1,3]dioxolo[4,5‐c]quinoline‐4‐carbaldehyde (DQC) as the common intermediate. DQC was synthesized on a large scale from anthranilic acid and chloroacetone as the starting materials, with the rearrangement of acetonyl‐anthranilate as the key step. The developed method allows for the simple preparation of [1,3]dioxolo[4,5‐c]quinolines with various C2 substituents on the quinoline scaffold. Additionally, the synthetic route was successfully applied to the preparation of 3‐hydroxyquinoline‐4(1H)‐ones. The target compounds were tested against representative Gram‐positive/negative bacteria, and two derivatives exhibited submicromolar minimum inhibitory concentrations against Micrococcus luteus.
A simple protocol for the isolation of proteorhodopsins of the dinoflagellate Oxyrrhis marina
Authors: Rhiel Erhard , Nguyen Tien , Wöhlbrand Lars , Rabus Ralf 
Published: January 2020

AbstractFor the first time, native proteorhodopsins of the marine dinoflagellate Oxyrrhis marina were isolated. Total cell membrane fractions were minced in a bead beater and solubilized with the detergent Triton X‐100. Subsequent sucrose density gradient centrifugation resulted in three or four red‐colored bands. Nonsolubilized, but still red colored, membranes sedimented at the bottom. For each of these bands, absorbance maxima were registered at approximately 514–516 nm with shoulders toward shorter wavelengths (470–490 nm). Sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that the uppermost band represented free retinal chromophore, as it contained no protein. The other bands were almost pure proteorhodopsin fractions as the banding patterns showed one major protein of 25 kDa. Tryptic, in‐gel digestion of the 25 kDa proteins and of faint protein bands above and below 25 kDa was followed by mass spectrometry, confirming these protein bands to consist, nearly exclusively, proteorhodopsins. Only single peptides of few other proteins were detected. In total, at least seven predicted proteorhodopsin protein sequences were experimentally verified.
A comparative study on immunophenotypic characterization and osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stromal cells derived from periodontal ligament and gingiva
Authors: Abedian Zeinab , Jenabian Niloofar , Moghadamnia Ali Akbar , Zabihi Ebrahim , Pourbagher Roghayeh , Hossein‐Nataj Hadi , Mohamadnia‐Afrouzi Mousa 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackgroundMesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from periodontal ligament (PDL) and gingiva can be used for the development of cell‐based regenerative approaches in dentistry and medicine. The purpose of this investigation was to establish a method for isolation of human stem cells from the PDL and gingiva, multilineage differentiation of those cells, and comparison of periodontal ligament mesenchymal stem cells (PDLMSCs) and gingival mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs).MethodsPDL and gingival tissues of third molar teeth were digested enzymatically and the proliferative potential of human PDLMSCs and GMSCs was compared by MTT assay. The expression of cell surface epitopes was analyzed by flow cytometry. To investigate the multilineage differentiation capacity of these stem cells, osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation was achieved. The specific staining of nodules was performed to evaluate differentiation, whereas the expression of alkalin phosphatase (ALP) and collagen A I (COL I) genes was analyzed by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction.ResultsThe outgrown cells derived from PDL and gingival tissues were similar, fibroblast‐like, and spindle‐shaped. Further, the proliferation potential of GMSCs was greater than PDLMSCs. Both types of stem cells expressed MSC precursor markers, including CD73, CD90, and CD105, whereas they were negative for hematopoietic markers, including CD34 and CD45. PDLMSCs demonstrated more osteogenic potential compared to GMSCs with strong mineral noduls, and significantly greater expression of up‐regulated bone‐related markers ALP and COL I.ConclusionMSCs derived from PDL and gingiva demonstrated multipotent characteristics, suggesting new therapeutic approaches in tissue engineering and PDLMSCs are more appropriate candidates for this purpose.
Effect of water‐extractive components from funazushi, a fermented crucian carp, on the activity of fibrinolytic factors
Authors: Ito Koji 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDJapanese fermented foods, including funazushi, have have been studied insufficiently. Related research into fermented products has led to the hope that they might have positive effects on blood circulation, including anti‐thrombosis effects. The possible antithrombotic effects of funazushi on the fibrinolytic system were examined.RESULTSThe administration of extracts from funazushi increased the activity of plasmin and tissue plasminogen activators in the fibrinolytic system but decreased the activity of plasminogen activator inhibitor type‐1 (PAI‐1). This decrease was positively correlated with the decreased plasma triglyceride levels. Funazushi extract directly inhibited PAI‐1 activity in vitro despite alimentary enzyme digestion, although direct PAI‐1 inhibition was not observed in an extract from salted crucian carp.CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that funazushi extracts are closely involved in the antithrombotic effects of the fibrinolytic system, and that they exert their effect through a reduction in PAI‐1 activity. The findings also indicate that fermentation processing is necessary to achieve the antithrombotic effects of funazushi. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry