bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Environmental Controls on the Temporal Evolution of Energy and CO2 Fluxes on an Arid Mangrove of Northwestern Mexico
Authors: Granados‐Martínez K. P. , Yépez E. A. , Sánchez‐Mejía Z. M. , Gutiérrez‐Jurado H. A. , Méndez‐Barroso L. A. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThis work explored the environmental factors that control the temporal dynamics of vertical energy and carbon fluxes between the atmosphere and arid mangroves located on the coastline of the Gulf of California, Mexico. Net ecosystem exchange (NEE), latent (λE) and sensible heat (H) exchange fluxes were estimated in situ using the eddy covariance technique along with meteorological and hydrological observations during the period November 2017 through November 2019. Moreover, multiyear mangrove phenology at footprint‐scale was tracked using remotely sensed vegetation greenness data from Sentinel‐2. Our results suggest that the seasonal energy partition and the magnitude of NEE is highly coupled with seasonal changes in the level of tidal flooding, vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and temperature. Low tidal levels facilitate heat transmission to the atmosphere leading the energy partition to H, while the increase in flooding and VPD facilitates the transmission of water vapor resulting in λE dominance. The lowest rate of NEE was observed during the months of highest tidal flooding (June–August) while the highest seasonal rate of NEE matched with the lowest mean flood levels (March–May). Estimated annual NEE for 2018 was −745.3 gC m−2 y−1 while for 2019 was −307.4 gC m−2 y−1. Our findings suggest a possible trend of decrease in the capacity of carbon sequestration of arid mangroves with rising sea levels and air temperature as a result of global warming.
Latitudinal Migrations of the Subtropical Front at the Agulhas Plateau Through the Mid‐Pleistocene Transition
Authors: Cartagena‐Sierra Alejandra , Berke Melissa A. , Robinson Rebecca S. , Marcks Basia , Castañeda Isla S. , Starr Aidan , Hall Ian R. , Hemming Sidney R. , LeVay Leah J. ,   Expedition 361 Scientific Party
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe meridional variability of the Subtropical Front (STF) in the Southern Hemisphere, linked to expansions or contractions of the Southern Ocean, may have played an important role in global ocean circulation by moderating the magnitude of water exchange at the Indian‐Atlantic Ocean Gateway, so called Agulhas Leakage. Here we present new biomarker records of upper water column temperature ( and ) and primary productivity (chlorins and alkenones) from marine sediments at IODP Site U1475 on the Agulhas Plateau, near the STF and within the Agulhas retroflection pathway. We use these multiproxy time‐series records from 1.4 to 0.3 Ma to examine implied changes in the upper oceanographic conditions at the mid‐Pleistocene transition (MPT, ca. 1.2–0.8 Ma). Our reconstructions, combined with prior evidence of migrations of the STF over the last 350 ka, suggest that in the Southwestern Indian Ocean the STF may have been further south from the Agulhas Plateau during the mid‐Pleistocene Interim State (MPIS, MIS 23–12) and reached its northernmost position during MIS 34–24 and MIS 10. Comparison to a Globorotalia menardii‐derived Agulhas Leakage reconstruction from the Cape Basin suggests that only the most extreme northward migrations of the STF are associated with reduced Agulhas Leakage. During the MPIS, STF migrations do not appear to control Agulhas Leakage variability, we suggest previously modeled shifting westerly winds may be responsible for the patterns observed. A detachment between STF migrations and Agulhas Leakage, in addition to invoking shifting westerly winds may also help explain changes in CO2 ventilation seen during the MPIS.
Loss Exponent Modeling for the Hilly Forested Region in the VHF Band III
Authors: Jawhly Thaisa , Chandra Tiwari Ramesh 
Published: June 2021

AbstractModeling forest propagation loss over a vast area is challenging, particularly for the hilly terrain regions where canopy obstacle depth varies with region. To consider such vegetation impact, we present a novel forest cover classification well defined with the line‐of‐sight (LoS). Furthermore, we incorporated the mobile antenna site elevation angle, which showed significant influence within the target frequencies selected at 182.25 and 203.25 MHz (VHF Band III). We proposed a loss exponent dependent on the elevation angle and the vegetation‐visibility classification, which is the basis of the model introduced in this paper. The resulting loss derived using this loss exponent showed a good agreement with the empirically derived loss variations. The proposed method offers easy forest classification approximations with precise determination of signal variation over a wide‐ranging forested area.
Strain Partitioning Within Bending Orogens, New Insights From the Variscan Belt (Chiroulet‐Lesponne Domes, Pyrenees)
Authors: Cochelin Bryan , Lemirre Baptiste , Denèle Yoann , de Saint Blanquat Michel 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThis study investigates how strain is partitioned within hot orogenic belts in a context of plate reorganization. We document crustal‐scale strike‐slip shear zones, plate‐scale oroclinal bending, and widespread exhumation of deep crustal domains in the core of nascent Pangea plate during late‐Variscan times (ca. 310–290 Ma). The role of strain partitioning in the finite strain patterns is first highlighted at regional scale by a new detailed structural, kinematic, and petrologic analysis of the Chiroulet and Lesponne gneiss domes in the Pyrenees. Vertical strain partitioning in response to N‐S shortening‐dominated dextral transpression is secondly documented at the scale of the Variscan domains of the Pyrenees, based on a synthesis of recent geochronological, thermobarometrical, and structural data. We show that the mid‐lower crust is affected by eastward lateral flow and the upper crust by penetrative thickening and localized thrusting. Local transverse extension in the mid‐lower crust illustrates gravity‐driven instability favored by the accumulation of anatectic melts in gneiss domes. Finally, we highlight the respective position of extended and shortened area within the Variscan belt during late‐Carboniferous/early‐Permian that suggests large‐scale lateral strain partitioning and reorganization of the weak continental crust in the core of the Pangea. This distribution appears significantly different from other orogens in a similar context of oroclinal bending, resulting in localization of the shortened zones in the core of the belt. This highlights the influence of the initial and boundary conditions, such as the obliquity of the belt to the applied stress field and the location of free‐boundaries, on finite strain patterns.
MyD88 determines the protective effects of fish oil and perilla oil against metabolic disorders and inflammation in adipose tissue from mice fed a high-fat diet
Authors: Wang Feng , Hu Mingyuan , Zhu Hangju , Yang Chao , Xia Hui , Yang Xian , Yang Ligang , Sun Guiju 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background
The beneficial effects of ω−3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) vary between different sources. However, there is a paucity of comparative studies regarding the effects and mechanisms of marine and plant ω−3 PUFA on obesity.

Objective
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of fish oil (FO) and perilla oil (PO) on glucolipid metabolism, inflammation, and adipokine in mice fed a high-fat (HF) diet in association with the contribution of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88) pathway.

Methods
C57BL/6J mice and MyD88−/− mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal chow diet, HF diet, HF diet accompanied by daily gavage with either FO or PO. After 4 weeks, blood biochemistries, adipocyte histology, mRNA, and protein expression of MyD88-dependent and -independent pathways of TLR4 signaling in epididymal adipose tissue were measured.

Results
In C57BL/6J mice, there were no statistical differences between FO and PO in decreasing body weight, glucose, insulin, triglyceride, total cholesterol, interleukin-6, and increasing adipocyte counts. FO and PO decreased mRNA and protein expression of TLR4, MyD88, tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6, inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B kinase beta and nuclear factor-kappa B p65. In MyD88−/− mice, the beneficial effects of FO and PO on HF diet-induced metabolism abnormalities and inflammation were abolished. FO and PO had no impacts on mRNA and protein expression of receptor-interacting protein-1, interferon regulate factor 3, and nuclear factor-kappa B p65.

Conclusion
FO and PO exhibit similar protective effects on metabolic disorders and inflammation through inhibiting TLR4 signaling in a manner dependent on MyD88. These findings highlight plant ω−3 PUFA as an attractive alternative source of marine ω−3 PUFA and reveal a mechanistic insight for preventive benefits of ω−3 PUFA in obesity and related metabolic diseases.
Conditional depletion of macrophages ameliorates cholestatic liver injury and fibrosis via lncRNA-H19
Authors: Tian Xinbei , Wang Ying , Lu Ying , Wang Weipeng , Du Jun , Chen Shanshan , Zhou Huiping , Cai Wei , Xiao Yongtao 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAlthough macrophages are recognized as important players in the pathogenesis of chronic liver diseases, their roles in cholestatic liver fibrosis remain incompletely understood. We previously reported that long noncoding RNA-H19 (lncRNA-H19) contributes to cholangiocyte proliferation and cholestatic liver fibrosis of biliary atresia (BA). We here show that monocyte/macrophage CD11B mRNA levels are increased significantly in livers of BA patients and positively correlated with the progression of liver inflammation and fibrosis. The macrophages increasingly infiltrate and accumulate in the fibrotic niche and peribiliary areas in livers of BA patients. Selective depletion of macrophages using the transgenic CD11b-diphtheria toxin receptor (CD11b-DTR) mice halts bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced progression of liver damage and fibrosis. Meanwhile, macrophage depletion significantly reduces the BDL-induced hepatic lncRNA-H19. Overexpression of H19 in livers using adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9) counteracts the effects of macrophage depletion on liver fibrosis and cholangiocyte proliferation. Additionally, both H19 knockout (H19−/−) and conditional deletion of H19 in macrophage (H19ΔCD11B) significantly depress the macrophage polarization and recruitment. lncRNA-H19 overexpressed in THP-1 macrophages enhance expression of Rho-GTPase CDC42 and RhoA. In conclusions, selectively depletion of macrophages suppresses cholestatic liver injuries and fibrosis via the lncRNA-H19 and represents a potential therapeutic strategy for rapid liver fibrosis in BA patients.
Fast food and sweet intake pattern is directly associated with the prevalence of asthma in a Qatari population
Authors: Shi Zumin , El-Obeid Tahra , Meftah Zainab , Alawi Amal , Said Suad , Ganji Vijay 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Objective
The relationship between dietary patterns and the prevalence of asthma is not well understood. We aimed to investigate the association between dietary patterns and asthma in adults in Qatar.

Methods
In this study, cross-sectional data from the Qatar Biobank were used (n = 986). Participants were Qatari or long-term Qatar residents aged ≥20 years old. A food frequency questionnaire was used to collect dietary intakes. Three dietary patterns were identified using factor analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between dietary patterns scores and asthma.

Results
Among 986 eligible participants, 6.6% (n = 65) reported that they were diagnosed with asthma. Three dietary patterns were identified. These were (1) “Traditional” (high intake of rice, chicken/meat/fish, and breads); (2) “Prudent” (high intake of fruits, vegetables, and fish); and (3) “Fast Food/Sweets” (high intake of desserts, fast food, and soft drinks). The fast food/sweet dietary pattern was associated with increased likelihood of having asthma [comparing high vs. low tertile, OR for asthma = 1.25; 95% CI (1.02–1.54); p = 0.035]. Traditional and Prudent dietary patterns were not associated with the prevalence of asthma.

Conclusion
The fast food/sweet dietary pattern was directly associated with the prevalence of asthma among adults in Qatar. Reducing the fast foods and sugary-rich foods may be beneficial for respiratory health.
Contrasting responses of above- and belowground diversity to multiple components of land-use intensity
Authors: Le Provost Gaëtane , Thiele Jan , Westphal Catrin , Penone Caterina , Allan Eric , Neyret Margot , van der Plas Fons , Ayasse Manfred , Bardgett Richard D. , Birkhofer Klaus , Boch Steffen , Bonkowski Michael , Buscot Francois , Feldhaar Heike , Gaulton Rachel , Goldmann Kezia , Gossner Martin M. , Klaus Valentin H. , Kleinebecker Till , Krauss Jochen , Renner Swen , Scherreiks Pascal , Sikorski Johannes , Baulechner Dennis , Blüthgen Nico , Bolliger Ralph , Börschig Carmen , Busch Verena , Chisté Melanie , Fiore-Donno Anna Maria , Fischer Markus , Arndt Hartmut , Hoelzel Norbert , John Katharina , Jung Kirsten , Lange Markus , Marzini Carlo , Overmann Jörg , Paŝalić Esther , Perović David J. , Prati Daniel , Schäfer Deborah , Schöning Ingo , Schrumpf Marion , Sonnemann Ilja , Steffan-Dewenter Ingolf , Tschapka Marco , Türke Manfred , Vogt Juliane , Wehner Katja , Weiner Christiane , Weisser Wolfgang , Wells Konstans , Werner Michael , Wolters Volkmar , Wubet Tesfaye , Wurst Susanne , Zaitsev Andrey S. , Manning Peter 
Published: June 2021

AbstractLand-use intensification is a major driver of biodiversity loss. However, understanding how different components of land use drive biodiversity loss requires the investigation of multiple trophic levels across spatial scales. Using data from 150 agricultural grasslands in central Europe, we assess the influence of multiple components of local- and landscape-level land use on more than 4,000 above- and belowground taxa, spanning 20 trophic groups. Plot-level land-use intensity is strongly and negatively associated with aboveground trophic groups, but positively or not associated with belowground trophic groups. Meanwhile, both above- and belowground trophic groups respond to landscape-level land use, but to different drivers: aboveground diversity of grasslands is promoted by diverse surrounding land-cover, while belowground diversity is positively related to a high permanent forest cover in the surrounding landscape. These results highlight a role of landscape-level land use in shaping belowground communities, and suggest that revised agroecosystem management strategies are needed to conserve whole-ecosystem biodiversity.
Residue 6.43 defines receptor function in class F GPCRs
Authors: Turku Ainoleena , Schihada Hannes , Kozielewicz Pawel , Bowin Carl-Fredrik , Schulte Gunnar 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe class Frizzled of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), consisting of ten Frizzled (FZD1-10) subtypes and Smoothened (SMO), remains one of the most enigmatic GPCR families. While SMO relies on cholesterol binding to the 7TM core of the receptor to activate downstream signaling, underlying details of receptor activation remain obscure for FZDs. Here, we aimed to investigate the activation mechanisms of class F receptors utilizing a computational biology approach and mutational analysis of receptor function in combination with ligand binding and downstream signaling assays in living cells. Our results indicate that FZDs differ substantially from SMO in receptor activation-associated conformational changes. SMO manifests a preference for a straight TM6 in both ligand binding and functional readouts. Similar to the majority of GPCRs, FZDs present with a kinked TM6 upon activation owing to the presence of residue P6.43. Functional comparison of FZD and FZD P6.43F mutants in different assay formats monitoring ligand binding, G protein activation, DVL2 recruitment and TOPflash activity, however, underlines further the functional diversity among FZDs and not only between FZDs and SMO.
Role of backbone strain in de novo design of complex α/β protein structures
Authors: Koga Nobuyasu , Koga Rie , Liu Gaohua , Castellanos Javier , Montelione Gaetano T. , Baker David 
Published: June 2021

AbstractWe previously elucidated principles for designing ideal proteins with completely consistent local and non-local interactions which have enabled the design of a wide range of new αβ-proteins with four or fewer β-strands. The principles relate local backbone structures to supersecondary-structure packing arrangements of α-helices and β-strands. Here, we test the generality of the principles by employing them to design larger proteins with five- and six- stranded β-sheets flanked by α-helices. The initial designs were monomeric in solution with high thermal stability, and the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) structure of one was close to the design model, but for two others the order of strands in the β-sheet was swapped. Investigation into the origins of this strand swapping suggested that the global structures of the design models were more strained than the NMR structures. We incorporated explicit consideration of global backbone strain into the design methodology, and succeeded in designing proteins with the intended unswapped strand arrangements. These results illustrate the value of experimental structure determination in guiding improvement of de novo design, and the importance of consistency between local, supersecondary, and global tertiary interactions in determining protein topology. The augmented set of principles should inform the design of larger functional proteins.
Improved pyrrolysine biosynthesis through phage assisted non-continuous directed evolution of the complete pathway
Authors: Ho Joanne M. L. , Miller Corwin A. , Smith Kathryn A. , Mattia Jacob R. , Bennett Matthew R. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractPyrrolysine (Pyl, O) exists in nature as the 22nd proteinogenic amino acid. Despite being a fundamental building block of proteins, studies of Pyl have been hindered by the difficulty and inefficiency of both its chemical and biological syntheses. Here, we improve Pyl biosynthesis via rational engineering and directed evolution of the entire biosynthetic pathway. To accommodate toxicity of Pyl biosynthetic genes in Escherichia coli, we also develop Alternating Phage Assisted Non-Continuous Evolution (Alt-PANCE) that alternates mutagenic and selective phage growths. The evolved pathway provides 32-fold improved yield of Pyl-containing reporter protein compared to the rationally engineered ancestor. Evolved PylB mutants are present at up to 4.5-fold elevated levels inside cells, and show up to 2.2-fold increased protease resistance. This study demonstrates that Alt-PANCE provides a general approach for evolving proteins exhibiting toxic side effects, and further provides an improved pathway capable of producing substantially greater quantities of Pyl-proteins in E. coli.
Subcortical circuits mediate communication between primary sensory cortical areas in mice
Authors: Lohse Michael , Dahmen Johannes C. , Bajo Victoria M. , King Andrew J. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIntegration of information across the senses is critical for perception and is a common property of neurons in the cerebral cortex, where it is thought to arise primarily from corticocortical connections. Much less is known about the role of subcortical circuits in shaping the multisensory properties of cortical neurons. We show that stimulation of the whiskers causes widespread suppression of sound-evoked activity in mouse primary auditory cortex (A1). This suppression depends on the primary somatosensory cortex (S1), and is implemented through a descending circuit that links S1, via the auditory midbrain, with thalamic neurons that project to A1. Furthermore, a direct pathway from S1 has a facilitatory effect on auditory responses in higher-order thalamic nuclei that project to other brain areas. Crossmodal corticofugal projections to the auditory midbrain and thalamus therefore play a pivotal role in integrating multisensory signals and in enabling communication between different sensory cortical areas.
High thermoelectric figure of merit of porous Si nanowires from 300 to 700 K
Authors: Yang Lin , Huh Daihong , Ning Rui , Rapp Vi , Zeng Yuqiang , Liu Yunzhi , Ju Sucheol , Tao Yi , Jiang Yue , Beak Jihyun , Leem Juyoung , Kaur Sumanjeet , Lee Heon , Zheng Xiaolin , Prasher Ravi S. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThermoelectrics operating at high temperature can cost-effectively convert waste heat and compete with other zero-carbon technologies. Among different high-temperature thermoelectrics materials, silicon nanowires possess the combined attributes of cost effectiveness and mature manufacturing infrastructures. Despite significant breakthroughs in silicon nanowires based thermoelectrics for waste heat conversion, the figure of merit (ZT) or operating temperature has remained low. Here, we report the synthesis of large-area, wafer-scale arrays of porous silicon nanowires with ultra-thin Si crystallite size of ~4 nm. Concurrent measurements of thermal conductivity (κ), electrical conductivity (σ), and Seebeck coefficient (S) on the same nanowire show a ZT of 0.71 at 700 K, which is more than ~18 times higher than bulk Si. This ZT value is more than two times higher than any nanostructured Si-based thermoelectrics reported in the literature at 700 K. Experimental data and theoretical modeling demonstrate that this work has the potential to achieve a ZT of ~1 at 1000 K.
Synaptic plasticity-dependent competition rule influences memory formation
Authors: Jeong Yire , Cho Hye-Yeon , Kim Mujun , Oh Jung-Pyo , Kang Min Soo , Yoo Miran , Lee Han-Sol , Han Jin-Hee 
Published: June 2021

AbstractMemory is supported by a specific collection of neurons distributed in broad brain areas, an engram. Despite recent advances in identifying an engram, how the engram is created during memory formation remains elusive. To explore the relation between a specific pattern of input activity and memory allocation, here we target a sparse subset of neurons in the auditory cortex and thalamus. The synaptic inputs from these neurons to the lateral amygdala (LA) are not potentiated by fear conditioning. Using an optogenetic priming stimulus, we manipulate these synapses to be potentiated by the learning. In this condition, fear memory is preferentially encoded in the manipulated cell ensembles. This change, however, is abolished with optical long-term depression (LTD) delivered shortly after training. Conversely, delivering optical long-term potentiation (LTP) alone shortly after fear conditioning is sufficient to induce the preferential memory encoding. These results suggest a synaptic plasticity-dependent competition rule underlying memory formation.