bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Precipitation Characteristics and Land Cover Control Wet Season Runoff Source and Rainfall Partitioning in Three Humid Tropical Catchments in Central Panama
Authors: Birch Andrew L. , Stallard Robert F. , Barnard Holly R. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractMechanisms of runoff generation in the humid tropics are poorly understood, particularly in the context of land‐use/land cover change. This study analyzed the results of 124 storm hydrographs from three humid tropical catchments of markedly different vegetation cover and land‐use history in central Panama during the 2017 wet season: actively grazed pasture, young secondary succession, and near‐mature forest. We used electrical conductivity to separate baseflow (old water) from storm‐event water (new‐water). In all three land covers, new‐water dominated storm runoff generation in 44% of the sampled storm events, indicating the dominance of fast shallow flow paths in the landscape. Activation of these flow paths was found to depend on a combination of maximum rainfall intensity and total storm rainfall, which, in turn, relates to markedly contrasting hydrograph separation results among land covers. Relationships between these rainfall characteristics and storm runoff generation were nonlinear, producing a threshold response with the exceedance of specific rainfall volumes and/or intensities. The pastoral catchment delivered order of magnitude more new‐water during storm events than the two forested catchments. Although new‐water contributed minimally (<10%) to total wet season runoff in the forested catchments, 43% of runoff generation in the pasture came from five large rainfall events where a threshold response produced substantial increases in total runoff and new‐runoff efficiency. Based on our results, we propose a conceptual model of hydrologic flow paths in humid tropical systems that can explain previously observed disparities in seasonal storage and runoff with respect to land use/land cover.
Towards efficient near-infrared fluorescent organic light-emitting diodes
Authors: Minotto Alessandro , Bulut Ibrahim , Rapidis Alexandros G. , Carnicella Giuseppe , Patrini Maddalena , Lunedei Eugenio , Anderson Harry L. , Cacialli Franco 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe energy gap law (EG-law) and aggregation quenching are the main limitations to overcome in the design of near-infrared (NIR) organic emitters. Here, we achieve unprecedented results by synergistically addressing both of these limitations. First, we propose porphyrin oligomers with increasing length to attenuate the effects of the EG -law by suppressing the non-radiative rate growth, and to increase the radiative rate via enhancement of the oscillator strength. Second, we design side chains to suppress aggregation quenching. We find that the logarithmic rate of variation in the non-radiative rate vs. EG is suppressed by an order of magnitude with respect to previous studies, and we complement this breakthrough by demonstrating organic light-emitting diodes with an average external quantum efficiency of ~1.1%, which is very promising for a heavy-metal-free 850 nm emitter. We also present a novel quantitative model of the internal quantum efficiency for active layers supporting triplet-to-singlet conversion. These results provide a general strategy for designing high-luminance NIR emitters.
Targeting Notch and EGFR signaling in human mucoepidermoid carcinoma
Authors: Ni Wei , Chen Zirong , Zhou Xin , Yang Rongqiang , Yu Mu , Lu Jianrong , Kaye Frederic J. , Wu Lizi 
Published: January 2021

AbstractMucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common type of salivary gland cancers and patients with advanced, metastatic, and recurrent MECs have limited therapeutic options and poor treatment outcomes. MEC is commonly associated with a chromosomal translocation t(11;19) (q14-21;p12-13) that encodes the CRTC1-MAML2 oncogenic fusion. The CRTC1-MAML2 fusion is required for MEC growth in part through inducing autocrine AREG-EGFR signaling. Growing evidence suggests that MEC malignancy is maintained by cancer stem-like cells. In this study, we aimed to determine critical signaling for maintaining MEC stem-like cells and the effect of combined targeting of stem cell signaling and CRTC1-MAML2-induced EGFR signaling on blocking MEC growth. First, we evaluated the significance of Notch signaling in regulating MEC stem-like cells. Aberrantly activated Notch signaling was detected in human fusion-positive MEC cells. The inhibition of Notch signaling with genetic or pharmacological inhibitors reduced oncosphere formation and ALDH-bright population in vitro and blocked the growth of MEC xenografts in vivo. Next, we investigated the effect of co-targeting Notch signaling and EGFR signaling, and observed enhanced inhibition on MEC growth in vivo. Collectively, this study identified a critical role of Notch signaling in maintaining MEC stem-like cells and tumor growth, and revealed a novel approach of co-targeting Notch and EGFR signaling as a potential effective anti-MEC treatment.
Inhibiting CBX4 efficiently protects hepatocellular carcinoma cells against sorafenib resistance
Authors: Zhao Wei , Ma Bo , Tian Zhihua , Han Haibo , Tang Jintian , Dong Bin , An Guo , Cao Baoshan , Wang Boqing 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
This study aimed to investigate the possible role of inhibiting chromobox protein homologue 4 (CBX4) to deregulate of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and to evaluate the contribution of these molecules to sorafenib resistance in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods
HCC cell lines and a xenograft mouse model with resistance to sorafenib were employed to analyse the effects of miR424 on CSC characteristics. RNA expression was analysed by RT-PCR and next-generation sequencing in a cohort of HCC cancer patients and sorafenib-resistant (SR) cell lines, respectively, to validate the key microRNAs and targets in the network.

Results
MicroRNA and mRNA profiles of SR cell lines identified miR424 and its direct target CBX4 as significantly associated with stem-cell-like properties, poor survival, and clinical characteristics. Functional experiments demonstrated that miR424 suppressed CBX4 and CBX4 induced nuclear translocation of YAP1 protein but was not associated with protein production. When YAP1 and CBX4 were modulated with CA3 and UNC3866, tumorigenicity and stem-like properties were extremely inhibited, thus indicating that these compounds exerted a strong anti-tumour effect in vivo against SR HCC cells.

Conclusions
Our results revealed that blocking CBX4 expression is critical in response to sorafenib resistance with advanced HCC.
Mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate lipid metabolism through reducing mitochondrial damage of hepatocytes in the treatment of post-hepatectomy liver failure
Authors: Wang Jing-lin , Ding Hao-ran , Pan Chen-yan , Shi Xiao-lei , Ren Hao-zhen 
Published: January 2021

AbstractHepatectomy is an effective therapeutic strategy for many benign and malignant liver diseases, while the complexity of liver anatomy and the difficulty of operation lead to complications after hepatectomy. Among them, post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) is the main factor threatening the life of patients. At present, liver transplantation is an effective approach for PHLF. However, the application of liver transplantation has been largely limited due to the shortage of donors and the high cost of such operation. Therefore, it is urgently necessary to develop a new treatment for PHLF. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have become a new treatment regimen for liver diseases because of their easy access and low immunogenicity. Our study found that there were some subtle connections between MSCs and liver lipid metabolism in the PHLF model. We used MSC transplantation to treat PHLF induced by 90% hepatectomy. MSC transplantation could restore the mitochondrial function, promote the β-oxidation of fatty acid (FA), and reduce the lipid accumulation of hepatocytes. In addition, interleukin 10 (IL-10), a cytokine with immunoregulatory function, had an important role in lipid metabolism. We also found that MSCs transplantation activated the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. Therefore, we explored the relationship between mitochondrial damage and lipid metabolism abnormality or PHLF. MSCs improved mitochondrial function and corrected abnormal lipid metabolism by affecting the mTOR pathway in the treatment of PHLF. Collectively, MSC transplantation could be used as a potential treatment for PHLF.
HOXB4 inhibits the proliferation and tumorigenesis of cervical cancer cells by downregulating the activity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway
Authors: Lei Dan , Yang Wen-Ting , Zheng Peng-Sheng 
Published: January 2021

AbstractHomeobox B4 (HOXB4), which belongs to the homeobox (HOX) family, possesses transcription factor activity and has a crucial role in stem cell self-renewal and tumorigenesis. However, its biological function and exact mechanism in cervical cancer remain unknown. Here, we found that HOXB4 was markedly downregulated in cervical cancer. We demonstrated that HOXB4 obviously suppressed cervical cancer cell proliferation and tumorigenic potential in nude mice. Additionally, HOXB4-induced cell cycle arrest at the transition from the G0/G1 phase to the S phase. Conversely, loss of HOXB4 promoted cervical cancer cell growth both in vitro and in vivo. Bioinformatics analyses and mechanistic studies revealed that HOXB4 inhibited the activity of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by direct transcriptional repression of β-catenin. Furthermore, β-catenin re-expression rescued HOXB4-induced cervical cancer cell defects. Taken together, these findings suggested that HOXB4 directly transcriptional repressed β-catenin and subsequently inactivated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, leading to significant inhibition of cervical cancer cell growth and tumor formation.
Discriminating mild from critical COVID-19 by innate and adaptive immune single-cell profiling of bronchoalveolar lavages
Authors: Wauters Els , Van Mol Pierre , Garg Abhishek Dinkarnath , Jansen Sander , Van Herck Yannick , Vanderbeke Lore , Bassez Ayse , Boeckx Bram , Malengier-Devlies Bert , Timmerman Anna , Van Brussel Thomas , Van Buyten Tina , Schepers Rogier , Heylen Elisabeth , Dauwe Dieter , Dooms Christophe , Gunst Jan , Hermans Greet , Meersseman Philippe , Testelmans Dries , Yserbyt Jonas , Tejpar Sabine , De Wever Walter , Matthys Patrick ,   CONTAGIOUS collaborators, Bosisio Maria , Casaer Michael , De Smet Frederik , De Munter Paul , Humblet-Baron Stephanie , Liston Adrian , Lorent Natalie , Martinod Kim , Proost Paul , Raes Jeroen , Thevissen Karin , Vos Robin , Weynand Birgit , Wouters Carine , Neyts Johan , Wauters Joost , Qian Junbin , Lambrechts Diether 
Published: January 2021

AbstractHow the innate and adaptive host immune system miscommunicate to worsen COVID-19 immunopathology has not been fully elucidated. Here, we perform single-cell deep-immune profiling of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples from 5 patients with mild and 26 with critical COVID-19 in comparison to BALs from non-COVID-19 pneumonia and normal lung. We use pseudotime inference to build T-cell and monocyte-to-macrophage trajectories and model gene expression changes along them. In mild COVID-19, CD8+ resident-memory (TRM) and CD4+ T-helper-17 (TH17) cells undergo active (presumably antigen-driven) expansion towards the end of the trajectory, and are characterized by good effector functions, while in critical COVID-19 they remain more naïve. Vice versa, CD4+ T-cells with T-helper-1 characteristics (TH1-like) and CD8+ T-cells expressing exhaustion markers (TEX-like) are enriched halfway their trajectories in mild COVID-19, where they also exhibit good effector functions, while in critical COVID-19 they show evidence of inflammation-associated stress at the end of their trajectories. Monocyte-to-macrophage trajectories show that chronic hyperinflammatory monocytes are enriched in critical COVID-19, while alveolar macrophages, otherwise characterized by anti-inflammatory and antigen-presenting characteristics, are depleted. In critical COVID-19, monocytes contribute to an ATP-purinergic signaling-inflammasome footprint that could enable COVID-19 associated fibrosis and worsen disease-severity. Finally, viral RNA-tracking reveals infected lung epithelial cells, and a significant proportion of neutrophils and macrophages that are involved in viral clearance.
Sarcoma classification by DNA methylation profiling
Authors: Koelsche Christian , Schrimpf Daniel , Stichel Damian , Sill Martin , Sahm Felix , Reuss David E. , Blattner Mirjam , Worst Barbara , Heilig Christoph E. , Beck Katja , Horak Peter , Kreutzfeldt Simon , Paff Elke , Stark Sebastian , Johann Pascal , Selt Florian , Ecker Jonas , Sturm Dominik , Pajtler Kristian W. , Reinhardt Annekathrin , Wefers Annika K. , Sievers Philipp , Ebrahimi Azadeh , Suwala Abigail , Fernández-Klett Francisco , Casalini Belén , Korshunov Andrey , Hovestadt Volker , Kommoss Felix K. F. , Kriegsmann Mark , Schick Matthias , Bewerunge-Hudler Melanie , Milde Till , Witt Olaf , Kulozik Andreas E. , Kool Marcel , Romero-Pérez Laura , Grünewald Thomas G. P. , Kirchner Thomas , Wick Wolfgang , Platten Michael , Unterberg Andreas , Uhl Matthias , Abdollahi Amir , Debus Jürgen , Lehner Burkhard , Thomas Christian , Hasselblatt Martin , Paulus Werner , Hartmann Christian , Staszewski Ori , Prinz Marco , Hench Jürgen , Frank Stephan , Versleijen-Jonkers Yvonne M. H. , Weidema Marije E. , Mentzel Thomas , Griewank Klaus , de Álava Enrique , Martín Juan Díaz , Gastearena Miguel A. Idoate , Chang Kenneth Tou-En , Low Sharon Yin Yee , Cuevas-Bourdier Adrian , Mittelbronn Michel , Mynarek Martin , Rutkowski Stefan , Schüller Ulrich , Mautner Viktor F. , Schittenhelm Jens , Serrano Jonathan , Snuderl Matija , Büttner Reinhard , Klingebiel Thomas , Buslei Rolf , Gessler Manfred , Wesseling Pieter , Dinjens Winand N. M. , Brandner Sebastian , Jaunmuktane Zane , Lyskjær Iben , Schirmacher Peter , Stenzinger Albrecht , Brors Benedikt , Glimm Hanno , Heining Christoph , Tirado Oscar M. , Sáinz-Jaspeado Miguel , Mora Jaume , Alonso Javier , del Muro Xavier Garcia , Moran Sebastian , Esteller Manel , Benhamida Jamal K. , Ladanyi Marc , Wardelmann Eva , Antonescu Cristina , Flanagan Adrienne , Dirksen Uta , Hohenberger Peter , Baumhoer Daniel , Hartmann Wolfgang , Vokuhl Christian , Flucke Uta , Petersen Iver , Mechtersheimer Gunhild , Capper David , Jones David T. W. , Fröhling Stefan , Pfister Stefan M. , von Deimling Andreas 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSarcomas are malignant soft tissue and bone tumours affecting adults, adolescents and children. They represent a morphologically heterogeneous class of tumours and some entities lack defining histopathological features. Therefore, the diagnosis of sarcomas is burdened with a high inter-observer variability and misclassification rate. Here, we demonstrate classification of soft tissue and bone tumours using a machine learning classifier algorithm based on array-generated DNA methylation data. This sarcoma classifier is trained using a dataset of 1077 methylation profiles from comprehensively pre-characterized cases comprising 62 tumour methylation classes constituting a broad range of soft tissue and bone sarcoma subtypes across the entire age spectrum. The performance is validated in a cohort of 428 sarcomatous tumours, of which 322 cases were classified by the sarcoma classifier. Our results demonstrate the potential of the DNA methylation-based sarcoma classification for research and future diagnostic applications.
Repeat DNA-PAINT suppresses background and non-specific signals in optical nanoscopy
Authors: Clowsley Alexander H. , Kaufhold William T. , Lutz Tobias , Meletiou Anna , Di Michele Lorenzo , Soeller Christian 
Published: January 2021

AbstractDNA-PAINT is a versatile optical super-resolution technique relying on the transient binding of fluorescent DNA ‘imagers’ to target epitopes. Its performance in biological samples is often constrained by strong background signals and non-specific binding events, both exacerbated by high imager concentrations. Here we describe Repeat DNA-PAINT, a method that enables a substantial reduction in imager concentration, thus suppressing spurious signals. Additionally, Repeat DNA-PAINT reduces photoinduced target-site loss and can accelerate sampling, all without affecting spatial resolution.
GATA2 regulates mast cell identity and responsiveness to antigenic stimulation by promoting chromatin remodeling at super-enhancers
Authors: Li Yapeng , Gao Junfeng , Kamran Mohammad , Harmacek Laura , Danhorn Thomas , Leach Sonia M. , O’Connor Brian P. , Hagman James R. , Huang Hua 
Published: January 2021

AbstractMast cells are critical effectors of allergic inflammation and protection against parasitic infections. We previously demonstrated that transcription factors GATA2 and MITF are the mast cell lineage-determining factors. However, it is unclear whether these lineage-determining factors regulate chromatin accessibility at mast cell enhancer regions. In this study, we demonstrate that GATA2 promotes chromatin accessibility at the super-enhancers of mast cell identity genes and primes both typical and super-enhancers at genes that respond to antigenic stimulation. We find that the number and densities of GATA2- but not MITF-bound sites at the super-enhancers are several folds higher than that at the typical enhancers. Our studies reveal that GATA2 promotes robust gene transcription to maintain mast cell identity and respond to antigenic stimulation by binding to super-enhancer regions with dense GATA2 binding sites available at key mast cell genes.
Responses of soil microbiome to steel corrosion
Authors: Huang Ye , Xu Dake , Huang Lu-yao , Lou Yun-tian , Muhadesi Jiang-Baota , Qian Hong-chang , Zhou En-ze , Wang Bao-jun , Li Xiu-Tong , Jiang Zhen , Liu Shuang-Jiang , Zhang Da-wei , Jiang Cheng-Ying 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe process of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) in soils has received widespread attention. Herein, long-term outdoor soil burial experiments were conducted to elucidate the community composition and functional interaction of soil microorganisms associated with metal corrosion. The results indicated that iron-oxidizing (e.g.,Gallionella), nitrifying (e.g.,Nitrospira), and denitrifying (e.g.,Hydrogenophaga) microorganisms were significantly enriched in response to metal corrosion and were positively correlated with the metal mass loss. Corrosion process may promote the preferential growth of the abundant microbes. The functional annotation revealed that the metabolic processes of nitrogen cycling and electron transfer pathways were strengthened, and also that the corrosion of metals in soil was closely associated with the biogeochemical cycling of iron and nitrogen elements and extracellular electron transfer. Niche disturbance of microbial communities induced by the buried metals facilitated the synergetic effect of the major MIC participants. The co-occurrence network analysis suggested possible niche correlations among corrosion related bioindicators.
The genetic basis of inter-individual variation in recovery from traumatic brain injury
Authors: Cortes Daniel , Pera Martin F. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of death among young people, and is increasingly prevalent in the aging population. Survivors of TBI face a spectrum of outcomes from short-term non-incapacitating injuries to long-lasting serious and deteriorating sequelae. TBI is a highly complex condition to treat; many variables can account for the observed heterogeneity in patient outcome. The limited success of neuroprotection strategies in the clinic has led to a new emphasis on neurorestorative approaches. In TBI, it is well recognized clinically that patients with similar lesions, age, and health status often display differences in recovery of function after injury. Despite this heterogeneity of outcomes in TBI, restorative treatment has remained generic. There is now a new emphasis on developing a personalized medicine approach in TBI, and this will require an improved understanding of how genetics impacts on long-term outcomes. Studies in animal model systems indicate clearly that the genetic background plays a role in determining the extent of recovery following an insult. A candidate gene approach in human studies has led to the identification of factors that can influence recovery. Here we review studies of the genetic basis for individual differences in functional recovery in the CNS in animals and man. The application of in vitro modeling with human cells and organoid cultures, along with whole-organism studies, will help to identify genes and networks that account for individual variation in recovery from brain injury, and will point the way towards the development of new therapeutic approaches.
Phosphorus removal and recovery from wastewater via hybrid ion exchange nanotechnology: a study on sustainable regeneration chemistries
Authors: Ownby Miles , Desrosiers David-Alexandre , Vaneeckhaute Céline 
Published: January 2021

AbstractTechnologies that allow for removal and subsequent recovery and reuse of phosphorus from polluted streams are imperative. One such technology is hybrid ion exchange nanotechnology (HIX-Nano), which may allow to produce a valuable nutrient solution following phosphorus desorption of the saturated media. This study evaluated the potential of four regeneration chemistries to desorb phosphorus from a commercially available HIX-Nano resin hybridized with iron oxide nanoparticles using a design of experiments (DoE) approach. More sustainable and less harmful regeneration solutions using a KOH/K2SO4 blend or a recovered NH4OH alkaline solution, along with tap water instead of synthetic acid, were compared to a control solution of KOH and H2SO4. Among the four regeneration methods studied, using the combination of recovered NH4OH and tap water shows the highest phosphorus recovery potential because: (i) it involves low cost and sustainable products, (ii) it showed a relatively high recovery efficiency (75 ± 15% as compared to the control at 89 ± 13%), and (iii) it did not demonstrate any significant dampening of the resin longevity after five adsorption and desorption cycles. Based on the DoE data, a series of regression models was developed to generate understanding of the effect of important operational parameters (volume of the regenerant solution, rinse speed, strength of the alkaline solution) on the phosphorus concentration in the recovered nutrient solution. Overall, this study indicates that HIX-Nano may contribute to providing a cost-effective and sustainable technological solution to tackle the phosphorus problem in wastewater treatment applications across the globe.