bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Peat depth as a control onSphagnummoisture stress during seasonal drought
Authors: Moore Paul A. , Didemus Benjamin D. , Furukawa Alexander K. , Waddington James M. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractPeatlands are globally important long‐term sinks of carbon, however there is concern that enhanced peat decomposition and moss moisture stress due to climate change mediated drought will reduce moss productivity making these ecosystems vulnerable to carbon loss and associated long‐term degradation. Peatlands are resilient to summer drought moss stress because of negative ecohydrological feedbacks that generally maintain a wet peat surface, but where feedbacks may be contingent on peat depth. We tested this ‘survival of the deepest’ hypothesis by examining water table (WT) position, near‐surface moisture content, and soil water tension in peatlands that differ in size, peat depth, and catchment area during a summer drought. All shallow sites (<40 cm depth) lost their WT (i.e., the groundwater well was dry) for considerable time during the drought period. Near‐surface soil water tension increased dramatically at shallow sites following WT loss, increasing ~5–7.5× greater at shallow sites compared to deep sites (≥40 cm depth). During a mid‐summer drought intensive field survey, we found that 60–67% of plots at shallow sites exceeded a 100 mb tension threshold used to infer moss water stress. Unlike the shallow sites, tension typically did not exceed this 100 mb threshold at the deep sites. Using species dependent water content – chlorophyll fluorescence thresholds and relations between volumetric water content and WT depth, Monte Carlo simulations suggest that moss had nearly twice the likelihood of being stressed at shallow sites (0.38 ± 0.24) compared to deep sites (0.22 ± 0.18). This study provides evidence that mosses in shallow peatland may be particularly vulnerable to warmer and drier climates in the future, but where species composition may play an important role. We argue that a critical ‘threshold’ peat depth specific for different hydrogeological and hydroclimatic regions can be used to assess what peatlands are especially vulnerable to climate change mediated drought.
Decellularization of porcine whole lung to obtain a clinical‐scale bioengineered scaffold
Authors: Li Yi , Wu Qiong , Li Li , Chen Fei , Bao Ji , Li Weimin 
Published: March 2021

AbstractWhole‐organ engineering is emerging as an alternative source for xenotransplantation in end‐stage diseases. Utilization of decellularized whole lung scaffolds created by detergent perfusion is an effective strategy for organ replacement. In the current study, we attempted to decellularize porcine whole lungs to generate an optimal and reproducible decellularized matrix for future clinical use. Porcine whole lungs were decellularized via perfusion of various detergents (sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)/Triton X‐100, sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES)/Triton X‐100, dextrose/SDS/Triton X‐100 and dextrose/SLES/Triton X‐100) through the pulmonary artery and bronchus of the lung. The decellularized scaffolds were evaluated for decellularization efficiency, extracellular matrix (ECM) component preservation, xenoantigen removal and compatibility. The resulting lung scaffolds obtained from treatment with the dextrose/SLES/Triton X‐100 cocktail showed minimal residual cellular components and xenoantigens, including DNA and protein, and good preservation of ECM composition. Evaluation of the porcine lung ECM by specific staining and immunofluorescence confirmed that the three‐dimensional ultrastructure of the ECM was noticeably preserved in the SLES‐treated groups. In addition, the decellularized lung scaffolds originating from the dextrose/SLES/Triton X‐100 cocktail supported cell adhesion and growth. In summary, the novel detergent SLES alleviated the damage to retain a better‐preserved ECM than SDS. Sequential Triton X‐100 perfusion eliminated SLES. Moreover, performing dextrose perfusion in advance further protected scaffold components, especially collagen. We developed an optimal dextrose/SLES/Triton X‐100 cocktail method that can be used for the decellularization of porcine whole lung to obtain a clinical‐scale bioengineered scaffold.
Serum exosomal microRNAs as predictive markers for EGFR mutations in non–small‐cell lung cancer
Authors: Xia Junbo , Luo Man , Dai Lujun , Wang Liusheng , Wang Limin , Zhu Jing 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundCurrent therapeutic drugs show positive effects on non–small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with mutant epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression, whereas a lesser beneficial effect is generally noted on NSCLC patients with wild‐type EGFR. Therefore, identification of new detection methods for the accurate clinical diagnosis of NSCLC is essential.MethodsIn this study, tumor‐derived exosomes from the plasma of EGFR mutation and wild‐type NSCLC patients were isolated. Extensive exosomal miRNA profiling of EGFR mutation and wild‐type NSCLC patients, in comparison with healthy individuals, was performed using miRNA‐sequencing analysis.ResultsThe variation of exosomal miRNA expression between control group (NR) and NCSLC samples (AM and AW) was identified. 96 significantly different expressed miRNAs were identified. Of these, 39 miRNAs were upregulated and 57 were downregulated. 11 miRNAs were downregulated, and 31 miRNAs were upregulated in the miRNA expression between NR and AM. Compared with healthy donors, 54 upregulated miRNAs and 36 downregulated miRNAs were observed in samples from AW patients. 40 different expressed miRNAs were identified in AM samples, compared with AW. Ten of upregulated miRNAs are miR‐260, miR‐1169, miR‐117, miR‐15b‐5p, miRNA‐731, miR‐342‐5p, miR‐ 898, miR‐1384, miR‐56, and miR‐1214. Ten of downregulated miRNAs are miR‐99b‐5p, miR‐1116, miR‐689, miR‐818, miR‐604, miR‐72, miR‐955, miR‐403, miR‐1228, and miR‐836.ConclusionThe exosomal miR‐1169 and miR‐260 as potential candidates, which contain specific characteristics that can distinguish between wild‐type EGFR and mutant EGFR NSCLC patients in early‐stage cancers.
The ERK1/2–ATG13–FIP200 signaling cascade is required for autophagy induction to protect renal cells from hypoglycemia‐induced cell death
Authors: Guo Wenjing , Wang Qian , Pan Shihua , Li Jinbing , Wang Yuanhua , Shu Yahai , Chen Jiaheng , Wang Qizheng , Zhang Sheng , Zhang Xiao , Yue Jianbo 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAutophagy, an evolutionarily conserved lysosomal degradation pathway, is known to regulate a variety of physiological and pathological processes. At present, the function and the precise mechanism of autophagy regulation in kidney and renal cells remain elusive. Here, we explored the role of ERK1 and ERK2 (referred as ERK1/2 hereafter) in autophagy regulation in renal cells in response to hypoglycemia. Glucose starvation potently and transiently activated ERK1/2 in renal cells, and this was concomitant with an increase in autophagic flux. Perturbing ERK1/2 activation by treatment with inhibitors of RAF or MEK1/2, via the expression of a dominant‐negative mutant form of MEK1/2 or RAS, blocked hypoglycemia‐mediated ERK1/2 activation and autophagy induction in renal cells. Glucose starvation also induced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species in renal cells, which was involved in the activation of the ERK1/2 cascade and the induction of autophagy in renal cells. Interestingly, ATG13 and FIP200, the members of the ULK1 complex, contain the ERK consensus phosphorylation sites, and glucose starvation induced an association between ATG13 or FIP200 and ERK1/2. Moreover, the expression of the phospho‐defective mutants of ATG13 and FIP200 in renal cells blocked glucose starvation‐induced autophagy and rendered cells more susceptible to hypoglycemia‐induced cell death. However, the expression of the phospho‐mimic mutants of ATG13 and FIP200 induced autophagy and protected renal cells from hypoglycemia‐induced cell death. Taken together, our results demonstrate that hypoglycemia activates the ERK1/2 signaling to regulate ATG13 and FIP200, thereby stimulating autophagy to protect the renal cells from hypoglycemia‐induced cell death.
A community of practice in dental education: A phenomenon of newcomers becoming oldtimers
Authors: Mills Denise A. , Bernstein Joshua 
Published: March 2021

AbstractObjectivesCommunity of practice (CoP) members develop cooperative learning history with shared cases, techniques, and concepts. A 2020 study was designed to explore participants’ perceptions toward learning in the dental education CoP.MethodsThe Institutional Review Board exempted (AZ #1355) study involved an incidental population of third‐ and fourth‐year dental students (N = 285) and resulted in a 43.5% response rate. The online Community of Practice Assessment Scale, consisted of Likert‐style, check box items, and one open‐ended question. Survey responses were categorized as Strongly Agree (1), Agree (2), No opinion (3), Disagree (4), and Strongly Disagree (5). Univariate analyses and descriptive statistics were used to analyze study variables (domain, community, and practice).ResultsOverall the learning domain is most strongly perceived by participants with mean scores ranging from 1.59 to 1.61. Responses assessing practices within the CoP had mean scores ranging from 1.72 to 1.90. Similarly, responses assessing the community ranged from 1.65 to 1.81. “Builds Knowledge and Shared Learning” was the characteristic participants most strongly agreed as beneficial with a 1.58 mean score. Participants agree that the CoP “Captures and Stores Tacit and Explicit Knowledge” with a mean score of 1.90. There was a 25.6% response rate to the open‐ended question. Two themes evolved: the need for calibration and more shared learning.ConclusionBased on study results, participants strongly agreed or agreed in opinions about CoP learning resources (faculty, staff, technology, and other students) benefitting their learning. The CoP provides an optimal environment for preparing competent new dental professionals.
Ground state depletion microscopy as a tool for studying microglia–synapse interactions
Authors: Paasila Patrick Jarmo , Fok Sandra Y. Y. , Flores‐Rodriguez Neftali , Sajjan Sujata , Svahn Adam J. , Dennis Claude V. , Holsinger R. M. Damian , Kril Jillian J. , Becker Thomas S. , Banati Richard B. , Sutherland Greg T. , Graeber Manuel B. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractGround state depletion followed by individual molecule return microscopy (GSDIM) has been used in the past to study the nanoscale distribution of protein co‐localization in living cells. We now demonstrate the successful application of GSDIM to archival human brain tissue sections including from Alzheimer's disease cases as well as experimental tissue samples from mouse and zebrafish larvae. Presynaptic terminals and microglia and their cell processes were visualized at a resolution beyond diffraction‐limited light microscopy, allowing clearer insights into their interactions in situ. The procedure described here offers time and cost savings compared to electron microscopy and opens the spectrum of molecular imaging using antibodies and super‐resolution microscopy to the analysis of routine formalin‐fixed paraffin sections of archival human brain. The investigation of microglia–synapse interactions in dementia will be of special interest in this context.
Botanical and chemical fungicides in the treatment of commercial seeds ofBrachiaria brizanthaandPanicum maximum
Authors: dos Santos Patrícia R. R. , Alves Marcos Vinicius G. , dos Santos Gil R. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBrazil is the largest producer, consumer, and exporter of forage seeds in the world. However, the high incidence of pathogens threatens the seed production system, resulting in decreases in production and quality. Currently, the emphasis has been placed on the use of alternative products as a way of maintaining productivity and environmental sustainability. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the mycoflora associated with the commercial seeds ofBrachiaria brizanthaandPanicum maximumtreated with chemical and alternative fungicide. To test with chemical and alternative treatments, seeds were subjected to fluazinam + thiophanate‐methyl, fludioxonil + metalaxyl‐M, noni essential oil, rosemary pepper essential oil, sulfuric acid. There was also an untreated control. The most efficient products in the control of incident fungi were, in decreasing order, fluazinam + thiophanate‐methyl, fludioxonil + metalaxyl‐M, noni essential oil, rosemary pepper essential oil, and sulfuric acid. Fungicides mainly controlled the generaAlternaria, Aspergillus, Bipolaris, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Colletotrichum, Curvularia, Fusarium, Penicillium, PhomaandRhizopus. Essential oils showed positive effects in controlling Bipolaris,Curvularia, andFusarium. Sulfuric acid reduced the incidence ofBipolaris, Colletotrichum, Curvularia, Fusarium, Phoma, andRhizopus. Seed treatment is one of the promising strategies for obtaining seeds of a healthy quality. As a result, the fungicides and botanical components listed above were promising in reducing fungi associated with forage seeds and can be used for seed treatments and in the development of new products with a natural base through essential oils.
Quantifying the effects of the diurnal cycle in the variability of rainfall
Authors: Zermeño‐Díaz David Maximiliano 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIn order to quantify how much variability is affected by the diurnal cycle (DC), two variance‐partitioning schemes were applied on two rainfall datasets that cover the Intra Americas Seas (IAS) domain at a 3‐hourly resolution during 21 years. The datasets are the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM) 3B42, and a simulation from the Centre National de Recherches Météorologiques (CNRM) model. From TRMM, the results show that the variance attributable to the DC is large because it shapes the variability of transients. Such diurnal effects shape transients similarly during all seasons, but their effects produce different patterns over continental and oceanic regions. Over continental regions, the total variance attributable to the DC is much larger than that attributable to the mean seasonal cycle and to interannual variability. But over oceanic regions, the latter two types of partitions can be larger than that of the DC. Although the analysed model simulation captures the broad features of the observed variance partitions, it overestimates the importance of the typical diurnal march, it underestimates how the DC tends to suppresses transient variability during nighttime over land, and it underestimates how it tends to increase it otherwise. As shown by the results, the variance‐partitioning approach of this study might complement previous approaches because rather than focusing on diurnal amplitudes and phases, it focuses on diurnal effects. Therefore, this approach could be useful to diagnose DC‐related issues from a relatively new perspective, issues such as the evaluation of systematic errors, or the evaluation of how the DC affects transients under different large‐scale conditions or slow‐varying forcings.
Evaluation of biological and chemical additives on microbial community, fermentation characteristics, aerobic stability, and in vitro gas production of SuMu No. 2 elephant grass
Authors: Shah Assar Ali , Qian Chen , Liu Zhiwei , Wu Juanzi , Sultana Nighat , Mobashar Muhammad , Wanapat Metha , Zhong Xiaoxian 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe study was conducted to evaluate the effects of biological and chemical additives on microbial community, fermentation characteristics, aerobic stability, and in vitro gas production of SuMu No. 2 elephant grass.RESULTSAerobic bacteria and yeast were not affected on days 5 and 7 but were significantly (P < 0.224) reduced on days 14, 30, and 60, whereas lactic acid and lactic acid bacteria were significantly (P > 0.001) higher in all ensiling days within all treatment groups. During the ensiling days, the pH, acetic acid, butyric acid, and yeast were decreased in all treatment groups, whereas the Lactobacillus plantarum group and L. plantarum + natamycin group were highly significantly (P > 0.001) decreased. During air exposure, the water‐soluble carbohydrates, ammonia nitrogen, lactic acid, and acetic acid were not affected on days 1–4, whereas pH and aerobic bacteria (were significantly (P < 0.05) increased on days 2–4. The addition of Lactobacillus plantarum and natamycin increased the gas production, in vitro dry matter digestibility, and in vitro neutral detergent fiber of SuMu No. 2 elephant grass silages.CONCLUSIONSThe addition of biological and chemical additives, such as L. plantrum alone and the combination with natamycin, affected the undesirable microbial community, fermentation characteristics, aerobic stability, and in vitro gas of SuMu No. 2 elephant grass. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
Carob kibbles as an alternative raw material for production of kvass with probiotic potential
Authors: Polanowska Katarzyna , Varghese Reshma , Kuligowski Maciej , Majcher Małgorzata 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBACKGROUNDNon‐diary beverages with probiotic properties are of great interest nowadays. In this research, we evaluated the suitability of carob kibbles in the manufacture of kvass. Kvass is a low‐alcohol drink popular in Central and Eastern Europe and indicated as a potential non‐diary beverage with probiotic properties. Therefore, the viability of probiotic strains of Lactobacillus plantarum and Saccharomyces boulardii during 4 weeks’ storage in manufactured beverages was tested.RESULTSCarob kibbles introduced significant amounts of phenolic compounds into kvasses, especially gallic acid (up to 117.45 ± 10.56 mg L−1), and improved antiradical activity up to 78% after fermentation. Moreover, fermentation efficiently reduced furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural content in samples up to 12.9% and 29.9%, respectively. Kvasses with rye malt extract possessed coffee‐like, chocolate‐like, roasted and caramel‐like odours and a more bitter taste. Whereas kvass with carob kibbles was characterized by fruit‐like odour and sweeter taste. Fermentation contributed to a creation as well as degradation of volatiles. L. plantarum exhibited higher general mortality during storage, whereas, in the case of S. boulardii, the viability was significantly higher regardless of the sample composition.CONCLUSIONThis is the first study reporting the use of carob kibbles for kvass production. The obtained results showed that carob kibbles can replace rye malt extract, at least partially, in the production of kvass, giving to the product added health benefits. Moreover, S. boulardii is a better choice for production of kvass with probiotic properties. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
Simultaneous versus staged resections for bilateral pulmonary metastases
Authors: Feldman Hope A. , Zhou Nicolas , Antonoff Mara B. , Hofstetter Wayne L. , Rajaram Ravi , Rice David C. , Sepesi Boris , Vaporciyan Ara A. , Zorrilla‐Vaca Andres , Mehran Reza J. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundFor patients with bilateral pulmonary metastases, staged resections have historically been the preferred surgical intervention. During the spring of 2020, the COVID‐19 pandemic made patient travel to the hospital challenging and necessitated reduction in operative volume so that resources could be conserved. We report our experience with synchronous bilateral metastasectomies for the treatment of disease in both lungs.MethodsPatients with bilateral pulmonary metastases who underwent simultaneous bilateral resections were compared with a cohort of patients who underwent staged resections. We used nearest‐neighbor propensity score (1:1) matching to adjust for confounders. Perioperative outcomes were compared between groups using paired statistical analysis techniques.ResultsBetween 1998 and 2020, 36 patients underwent bilateral simultaneous metastasectomies. We matched 31 pairs of patients. The length of stay was significantly shorter in patients undergoing simultaneous resection (median 3 vs. 8 days, p < .001) and operative time was shorter (156 vs. 235.5 min, p < .001) when compared to the sum of both procedures in the staged group. The groups did not significantly differ with regard to postoperative complications.ConclusionIn a carefully selected patient population, simultaneous bilateral metastasectomy is a safe option. A single procedure confers benefits for both the patient as well as the hospital resource system.
Chances, challenges and outcomes of patients with complex bilobar colorectal liver metastases approached by a combined multimodal therapy with liver resection and local ablative therapy
Authors: Drefs Moritz , Schoenberg Markus B. , Schiergens Tobias S. , Albertsmeier Markus , Andrassy Joachim , Angele Martin K. , Westphalen Christoph B. , Seidensticker Max , Werner Jens , Guba Markus O. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesIn treatment of colorectal liver metastases (CRC‐LM), liver surgery combined with systemic therapies and local ablation (LAT) allows improved survival. This study aims at the outcomes of patients with complex bilobar CRC‐LM who were intended to undergo multimodal therapy with liver resection and LAT.MethodsForty‐three CRC‐LM patients with recommendation for multimodal treament were extracted from 5878 tumor board decisions between 2014 and 2017. Outcome variables included patient survival, as well as completion of hepatic clearance. Prognostic factors were identified by correlation and a Cox proportional hazards model.ResultsOut of 43 patients only 23 achieved complete clearance of CRC‐LM. One‐ and 3‐year overall survival of patients with cleared liver disease was 100% and 91.7%, respectively, as compared to 83.8% and 12.1%. Incomplete hepatic clearance was the strongest independent risk factor for overall survival (hazards ratio [HR], 5.86; p = .009). Risk factors for incomplete clearance were higher age (r = .34; p = .026), comorbidities (r = .40; p = .008), major complications (r = .34; p = .024), and prolonged intensive care unit stay (r = .41; p = .017).ConclusionCompletion of hepatic clearance is crucial to achieve long‐term survival in patients with complex bilobar CRC‐LM. Careful patient selection and treatment planning should avoid treatment failure before completing the intended therapy plan when multimodal treatments are planned.
Immunological impact of chemotherapy on the tumor microenvironment in gastric cancer
Authors: Wei Qing , Xu Qi , Yuan Xing , Li Jing‐Jing , Chen Lei , Luo Cong , Zhu Xiu , Ying Jie‐Er 
Published: March 2021

AbstractObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate alterations in pre‐ and post‐neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) tumor‐infiltrating immune cells and subsequent evaluation of the predictive and prognostic value of these changes in gastric cancer (GC).MethodsFifty patients with GC underwent three cycles of S‐1 and oxaliplatin (SOX regimen)‐NACT. Paired samples from tumor lesions before and after NACT were available for all patients participating in the study. Immunohistochemistry was performed for T cell subsets (CD3+ and CD8+) and macrophages (CD68+ and CD163+).ResultsAfter NACT, the average expression levels of CD3, CD8, CD68, and CD163 were significantly increased (p < .001). However, neither expression levels pre‐ nor post‐chemotherapy correlated with treatment response. Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that upregulation of CD8/CD3 levels (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.117; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.031–0.446; p = 0.002) and CD163 levels after chemotherapy (HR = 2.258; 95% CI = 1.047–4.867; p = 0.038) were independent prognostic factors of overall survival.ConclusionChemotherapy in GC is useful to induce CD3+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes as well as CD68+ and CD163+ macrophages in the tumor microenvironment in combination with its direct cytotoxic effects. These results indicate that chemotherapy may play a role in tumor immune microenvironment remodeling.