bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Differences in soil moisture in two Middle Eastern oak forests: Comparing the effects of trees and soil composition
Authors: Kopler Idan , Burg David , Wittenberg Lea , Malkinson Dan 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe incidence of large rain events in Mediterranean ecosystems vary among years. Summer aridity is interpreted as a resetting event, eliminating previous soil‐moisture dynamics. The dynamics of soil moisture and retention are critical to tree survival, particularly in dry regions. This study examines the long‐term soil water content (θV) dynamics in two distinct locations within the forest, under the canopy and forest clearing, within two diverse oak forests: subhumid mixed oak forests (MG) and semiarid monospecific oak woodlands (YE). Plots were established at small‐scale catchments and soil water contents were measured during 2010–2013, at three depths in the two different locations. Cumulative rainfall was used as an independent proxy for θV analysis. A novel bell‐bilogistic mathematical model of wetting, saturation, and drying arms was developed. We aimed to study the θV distribution differences between soil profiles giving the large climatic gradient between the two forested sub basins, the differences in vegetation traits along with soil attributes. We further aimed at determining the role of an individual tree in regulating soil‐moisture dynamics. We hypothesized the occurrence of distinct responses between sites in all soil‐moisture indices with higher θV at the wetter site. We tested the hypothesis that seasonal cumulative rainfall dictates the variations in soil‐moisture regimes throughout contiguous years. Annual rainfall was higher than long‐term average throughout the study. Soil profiles under the canopies at both sites were consistently wetter. Infiltration and depletion constants were higher at MG whereas maximum soil moisture was higher at YE. Homogenous recharge patterns were seen at MG although YE evinced more variation. Oaks had no effect on recharge at MG compared with the forest clearing. Soil properties primarily affected the wetting arm whereas vegetation composition regulated the drying arm. Mixed‐stands characterized by ever‐green and deciduous species may maintain favourable soil‐moisture conditions, in comparison with other mixed stand morphologies. The increasing role of slacking forces in infiltration process may alter the interaction between trees and herbaceous vegetation.
Assessing multidecadal runoff (1970–2010) using regional hydrological modelling under data and water scarcity conditions in Peruvian Pacific catchments
Authors: Rau Pedro , Bourrel Luc , Labat David , Ruelland Denis , Frappart Frédéric , Lavado Waldo , Dewitte Boris , Felipe Oscar 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIn a context of water scarcity in Peruvian Pacific catchments as a crucial issue for Peru, added to the paucity of data availability, we propose a methodology that provides new perspectives for freshwater availability estimation as a base reference for unimpaired conditions. Under those considerations, a regional discharge of 709 m3/s to the Pacific Ocean is estimated with a significant increasing trend of about 43 m3/s per decade over the 1970–2010 period.To represent the multidecadal behaviour of freshwater runoff along the region, a regional runoff analysis is proposed based on hydrological modelling at annual and monthly time step for unimpaired conditions over the whole 1970–2010 period. Differential Split‐Sample Tests are used to assess the hydrological modelling robustness of the GR1A and GR2M conceptual lumped models, showing a satisfactory transposability from dry to wet years inside the thresholds defined for Nash–Sutcliffe and bias criteria. This allowed relating physical catchment characteristics with calibrated and validated model parameters, thus offering a regional perspective for dryland conditions in the study area (e.g., the anticlockwise hysteresis relationship found for seasonal precipitation–runoff relationship) as well as the impacts of climate variability and catchment characteristics.
PS/PMMA‐CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dots Hybrid Nanofibers for VOCs Sensors
Authors: De San Luis Alicia , Aguirreurreta Ziortza , Pardo Leticia M. , Perez‐Marquez Ana , Maudes Jon , Murillo Nieves , Paulis María , Leiza Jose Ramon 
Published: October 2018

AbstractHybrid nanofibers containing CdSe/ZnS quantum dots have been produced by electrospinning of hybrid latexes to characterize the electro‐optical behavior of this novel luminescent sensing material. The latexes are synthesized by seeded semi‐batch emulsion polymerization yielding cross‐linked core‐shell PS/QDs/PMMA particles with efficiently encapsulated quantum dots guaranteeing a good optical stability. Addition of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or polyethylene oxide (PEO) to the latexes is necessary to produce polymeric dispersions suitable for electrospinning manufacture of the nanometric fibers. The optimized polymeric dispersions are successfully electrospun obtaining fluorescent nanofibers in both cases. The hybrid nanofibers are sensitive to selected solvents (acetone, methanol and THF) and present positive response making them good candidates for the production of VOC sensors.
Interconnectedness of the banking sector as a vulnerability to crises
Authors: Peltonen Tuomas Antero , Rancan Michela , Sarlin Peter 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThis paper uses macro‐network to measure the interconnectedness of the banking sector and relates it to banking crises in Europe. Beyond cross‐border financial linkages of the banking sector, the macronetwork also accounts for financial linkages to the other main financial and nonfinancial sectors within the economy. We find that a more central position of the banking sector in the macronetwork significantly increases the probability of a banking crisis. By analysing the different types of risk exposures, our evidence shows that credit is an important source of vulnerability. Finally, our early‐warning models augmented with interconnectedness measures outperform traditional models in terms of out‐of‐sample predictions.
Electroactive graphene oxide‐incorporated collagen assisting vascularization for cardiac tissue engineering
Authors: Norahan Mohammad Hadi , Amroon Masoud , Ghahremanzadeh Ramin , Mahmoodi Mahboobeh , Baheiraei Nafiseh 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe application of a cardiac patch over the epicardial surface has shown positive effects in protecting cardiac function postinfarction. Electroactive patches could enhance electrical signal propagation among cardiac cells. In the present study, an electrically active composite of collagen and graphene oxide (Col–GO) was fabricated as a cardiac patch. Col scaffolds were fabricated using a freeze‐drying method and coated covalently with GO. Some scaffolds were also reduced by a reduction agent to restore the high conductivity of GO. GO was shown to be a single layer with suitable lateral size for biological application. The Col–GO scaffolds contained randomly oriented interconnected pores with appropriate pore sizes of 120–138 ± 8 μm. GO flakes were also well distributed in the pore walls. By increasing the GO concentration, the tensile strength of the scaffolds was enhanced from 75 kPa for Col–GO‐5 to 162 kPa for Col–GO‐90. Young modulus also followed the same trend. Electrical conductivity of the scaffolds was in the range of semi‐conductive materials (~10−4 S/m), which is suitable for cardiac tissue engineering applications. 3‐(4,5‐Dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay indicated no toxic effects on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) after 96 h. Also, a 10‐days degradation product of the samples was compatible with HUVECs. Reduced scaffolds supported neonatal cardiomyocyte adhesion and upregulated the expression of the cardiac genes, including Cx43, Actin4, and Trpt‐2 than their nonconductive counterparts. The obtained results confirmed the angiogenic properties of reduced Go‐containing materials for cardiovascular applications where angiogenesis plays an important role, especially postinfarction. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 107A: 204–219, 2019.
microRNA‐874 inhibition targeting STAT3 protects the heart from ischemia–reperfusion injury by attenuating cardiomyocyte apoptosis in a mouse model
Authors: Chen Pei‐Jun , Shang An‐Quan , Yang Jian‐Ping , Wang Wei‐Wei 
Published: October 2018

AbstractMicroRNAs (miRs) were involved in numerous cardiovascular diseases, especially ischemic heart diseases, but the miR changes during cardiac ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury following sevoflurane (SEV) preconditioning are still unknown. This study aims to investigate the effect of miR‐874 on cardiac I/R injury in mouse models pretreated with SEV. Following establishment of mouse models with myocardial I/R injury, mice were pretreated with SEV. The functional mechanism of miR‐874 in I/R injury was explored when miR‐874 and the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway were inhibited. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)‐mediated dUTP biotin nick‐end labeling (TUNEL) staining was used to detect cardiomyocyte apoptosis and dual luciferase reporter gene assay to identify the targeting relationship between miR‐874 and STAT3. Expression of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and apoptosis‐related genes was determined. Initially, upregulated miR‐874 was observed in I/R mice. Then, miR‐874 inhibition improved cardiac function of I/R mice, inhibited cardiomyocyte apoptosis (also shown as decreased Bcl‐2 associated X protein B [Bax] and increased B‐cell lymphoma‐2 [Bcl‐2]), and activated the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. STAT3, a target gene of miR‐874, was upregulated following miR‐874 inhibition. Finally, we also observed that the effect of miR‐874 was lost when the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway was blocked. The findings indicate miR‐874 as a contributory role in cardiac I/R injury, with miR‐874 inhibition alleviating cardiac I/R injury in mice following SEV pretreatment by targeting STAT3 through the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.
Molecular signaling mechanisms of renal gluconeogenesis in nondiabetic and diabetic conditions
Authors: Swe Myat Theingi , Pongchaidecha Anchalee , Chatsudthipong Varanuj , Chattipakorn Nipon , Lungkaphin Anusorn 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe kidneys are as involved as the liver in gluconeogenesis which can significantly contribute to hyperglycemia in the diabetic condition. Substantial evidence has demonstrated the overexpression of rate‐limiting gluconeogenic enzymes, especially phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose 6 phosphatase, and the accelerated glucose release both in the isolated proximal tubular cells and in the kidneys of diabetic animal models and diabetic patients. The aim of this review is to provide an insight into the mechanisms that accelerate renal gluconeogenesis in the diabetic conditions and the therapeutic approaches that could affect this process in the kidney. Increase in gluconeogenic substrates, reduced insulin concentration or insulin resistance, downregulation of insulin receptors and insulin signaling, oxidative stress, and inappropriate activation of the renin–angiotensin system are likely to participate in enhancing renal gluconeogenesis in the diabetic milieu. Several studies have suggested that controlling glucose metabolism at the renal level favors effective overall glycemic control in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Therefore, renal gluconeogenesis may be a promising target for effective glycemic control as a therapeutic strategy in diabetes.
Andrographolide prevents human nucleus pulposus cells against degeneration by inhibiting the NF‐κB pathway
Authors: Liu Jianwei , Jiang Tongmeng , He Mingwei , Fang Depeng , Shen Chong , Le Yiguan , He Maolin , Zhao Jinmin , Zheng Li 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIntervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is among the most common spinal disorders, pathologically characterized by excessive cell apoptosis and production of proinflammatory factors. Pharmacological targeting of nucleus pulposus (NP) degeneration may hold promise in IDD therapy, but it is limited by adverse side effects and nonspecificity of drugs. In this study, we used a natural compound, andrographolide (ANDRO), which has been widely used to intervene inflammatory and apoptotic diseases in the investigation of NP degeneration based on IDD‐patients‐derived NP cells by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment for the preservation of degeneration. The results showed that LPS maintained the degeneration status of NP cells as evidenced by a high apoptosis rate and the expression of degenerative and inflammatory mediators after LPS treatment. ANDRO reversed the effects of LPS‐caused degeneration of NP cells and maintained the phenotype of NP cells, as demonstrated by flow cytometry, degenerative mediators (ADAMTS4 and ADAMTS5), inflammatory factors (COX2, PGE2, MMP‐13, and MMP‐3), biomarkers of NP cells (SOX9, ACAN, and COL2A1) expressions, and glycosaminoglycan secretion. We also found the involvement of the nuclear factor kappa‐light‐chain‐enhancer of the activated B cells (NF‐κB) pathway in ANDRO treatment, indicating that ANDRO prevented the LPS‐preserved degeneration of NP cells by inhibiting the NF‐κB pathway. This study may provide a reference for clinic medication of IDD therapy.
Population Pharmacokinetics of Tacrolimus in Transplant Recipients: What Did We Learn About Sources of Interindividual Variabilities?
Authors: Campagne Olivia , Mager Donald E. , Tornatore Kathleen M. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractTacrolimus, a calcineurin inhibitor, is a common immunosuppressant prescribed after organ transplantation and has notable inter‐ and intrapatient pharmacokinetic variability. The sources of variability have been investigated using population pharmacokinetic modeling over the last 2 decades. This article provides an updated synopsis on published nonlinear mixed‐effects analyses developed for tacrolimus in transplant recipients. The objectives were to establish a detailed overview of the current data and to investigate covariate relationships determined by the models. Sixty‐three published analyses were reviewed, and data regarding the study design, modeling approach, and resulting findings were extracted and summarized. Most of the studies investigated tacrolimus pharmacokinetics in adult and pediatric renal and liver transplants after administration of the immediate‐release formulation. Model structures largely depended on the study sampling strategy, with ∼50% of studies developing a 1‐compartment model using trough concentrations and a 2‐compartment model with delayed absorption from intensive sampling. The CYP3A5 genotype, as a covariate, consistently impacted tacrolimus clearance, and dosing adjustments were required to achieve similar drug exposure among patients. Numerous covariates were identified as sources of interindividual variability on tacrolimus pharmacokinetics with limited consistency across these studies, which may be the result of the study designs. Additional analyses are required to further evaluate the potential impact of these covariates and the clinical implementation of these models to guide tacrolimus dosing recommendations. This article may be useful for guiding the design of future population pharmacokinetic studies and provides recommendations for the selection of an existing optimal model to individualize tacrolimus therapy.
Improved strength prediction combining clinically available measures of skeletal muscle mass and quality
Authors: Bourgeois Brianna , Fan Bo , Johannsen Neil , Gonzalez Maria Cristina , Ng Bennett K. , Sommer Markus J. , Shepherd John A. , Heymsfield Steven B. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBackgroundMeasures of skeletal muscle function decline at a faster rate with ageing than do indices of skeletal muscle mass. These observations have been attributed to age‐related changes in muscle quality, another functional determinant separate from skeletal muscle mass. This study tested the hypothesis that improved predictions of skeletal muscle strength can be accomplished by combining clinically available measures of skeletal muscle mass and quality.MethodsThe participants included 146 healthy adult (age ≥ 18 years, range 18–77 years; X ± SD 47 ± 17 years and body mass index 16.5–51.8 kg/m2; 27.7 ± 6.2 kg/m2) men (n = 60) and women (n = 86) in whom skeletal muscle mass was estimated as appendicular lean soft tissue (LST) measured by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry and skeletal muscle quality as bioimpedance analysis‐derived phase angle and B‐mode‐evaluated echogenicity of mid‐thigh skeletal muscle. Strength of the right leg and both arms was quantified as knee isokinetic extension and handgrip strength using dynamometers. The statistical significance of adding phase angle or echogenicity to strength prediction multiple regression models that included extremity‐specific LST and other covariates (e.g. age and sex) was evaluated to test the study hypothesis.ResultsRight leg LST mass alone was significantly (P < 0.0001) correlated with isokinetic right leg strength (R2 = 0.57). The addition of segmental phase angle measured in the right leg at 50 kHz increased the R2 of this model to 0.66 (P < 0.0001); other phase angle frequencies (5 and 250 kHz) did not contribute significantly to these models. Results were similar for both right and left arm handgrip strength prediction models. Adding age and sex as model covariates increased the R2 values of these models further (e.g. right leg strength model R2 increased to 0.71), but phase angle continued to remain a significant (all P < 0.01) predictor of extremity strength. Similarly, when predicting isokinetic right leg strength, mid‐thigh skeletal muscle echogenicity added significantly (P < 0.0001) to right leg LST, increasing R2 from 0.57 to 0.64; age was a significant (P < 0.0001) covariate in this model, increasing R2 further to 0.68.ConclusionsThe hypothesis of the current study was confirmed, strongly supporting and extending earlier reports by quantifying the combined independent effects of skeletal muscle mass and quality on lower‐body and upper‐body measures of strength. These observations provide a clinically available method for future research aimed at optimizing sarcopenia and frailty risk prediction models.
IL-10 participates in the expansion and functional activation of CD8+ T cells during acute infection with Trypanosoma cruzi
Authors: Pino-Martínez Agustina M , Miranda Cristian G , Batalla Estela I , González-Cappa Stella M , Alba Soto Catalina D 
Published: October 2018

Abstract
IL-10 is a pleiotropic cytokine with immunoregulatory functions affecting various cell types. In a model of experimental infection with the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), we found increased morbidity and lower parasite control in IL-10 deficient mice (IL-10 KO) compared to wild-type (WT) mice. Despite enhanced Mϕ function and dendritic cell activation, IL-10 KO mice were more susceptible to infection. The kinetics of T cells in spleen and peripheral blood revealed that infected IL-10 KO mice failed to increase the number of spleen and circulating total CD8+ T cells, a phenomenon observed from the second week of infection in WT mice. Total CD8+ T cells from IL-10 KO mice exhibited diminished proliferation, cytotoxic potential and IFN-γ production than their WT counterparts and T. cruzi-specific CD8+ T cells displayed reduced in vivo cytotoxicity. The absence of IL-10 selectively affected expansion, survival, and increased PD-1 expression of CD8+ T cells without altering these same parameters on CD4+ T cells. Increased inhibitory receptors expression and down-modulation of T-bet by CD8+ T cells from IL-10 KO infected mice were compatible with a T cell exhaustion phenotype. Collectively, these findings reveal that during acute infection, IL-10 plays a previously unrecognized stimulatory role on CD8+ T cells, the most relevant lymphocyte population for the control of intracellular T. cruzi stages. A clear knowledge of the underlying mechanisms that drive effector functions of cytotoxic T cells is critical to understand pathogen persistence and rational design of prophylactic strategies against T. cruzi.
Absence of IL-10 during acute T. cruzi infection impairs the expansion and functional activation of CD8+T cells which display a prematurely exhausted phenotype.
Nitrous oxide emissions after incorporation of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) residues under two different tillage treatments
Authors: Kesenheimer Katharina , Pandeya Hemant Raj , Müller Torsten , Buegger Franz , Ruser Reiner 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate the effect of crop residues from winter oilseed rape on N2O emissions from a loamy soil and to determine the effect of different tillage practices on N2O fluxes. We therefore conducted a field experiment in which crop residues of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L., OSR) were replaced with 15N labelled OSR residues. Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and 15N abundance in the N2O were determined for a period of 11 months after harvest of OSR and in the succeeding crop winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivated on a Haplic Luvisol in South Germany. Measurements were carried out with the closed chamber method in a treatment with conventional tillage (CT) and in a treatment with reduced soil tillage (RT). In both tillage treatments we also determined N2O fluxes in control plots where we completely removed the crop residues. High N2O fluxes occurred in a short period just after OSR residue replacement in fall and after N‐fertilization to winter wheat in the following spring. Although N2O emissions differed for distinct treatments and sub‐periods, cumulative N2O emissions over the whole investigation period (299 days) ranged between 1.7 kg and 2.4 kg N2O‐N ha−1 with no significant treatment effects. More than half of the cumulative emissions occurred during the first eight weeks after OSR replacement, highlighting the importance of this post‐harvest period for annual N2O budgets of OSR. The contribution of residue N to the N2O emission was low and explained by the high C/N‐ratio fostering immobilization of mineral N. In total only 0.03% of the N2O‐N emitted in the conventional tillage treatment and 0.06% in the reduced tillage treatment stemmed directly from the crop residues. The 15N recovery in the treatments with crop residues was 62.8% (CT) and 75.1% (RT) with more than 97% of the recovered 15N in the top soil. Despite our measurements did not cover an entire year, the low contribution of the OSR residues to the direct N2O emissions shows, that the current IPCC tier 1 approach, which assumes an EF of 1%, strongly overestimated direct emissions from OSR crop residues. Furthermore, we could not observe any relationship between tillage and crop residues on N2O emission, only during the winter period were N2O emissions from reduced tillage significantly higher compared to conventional tillage. Annual N2O emission from RT and CT did not differ.