bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Oxidative Stress and Biochemical Biomarkers, and Psychological Parameters in Cement Plant Workers
Authors: Darabi Faezeh , Keshavarzi Majid , Abdullah Media Noori , Dehghani Fatemeh , Yousefinejad Saeed , Khanjani Narges , khajehnasiri Farahnaz , zamanian zahra 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
BackgroundThe cement industry is one of the main world industries with exposure to a wide range of hazardous chemical and physical occupational agents that can increase free radicals and cause diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate oxidative stress, and biochemical markers and psychological parameters among cement plant workers who were exposed to variety of hazardous occupational agents.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study 40 workers exposed to cement and 40 office employees, were selected as the exposed and control group, respectively. Exposure to cement dust, silica and noise were respectively assessed using the NIOSH 0600, NIOSH 7601 and noise dosimetry methods. Oxidative stress biomarkers including malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and biochemical parameters were measured in the serum of all participants. Depression, anxiety and stress were assessed by Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) questioner. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS22 software. Independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U, Chi-square were used to evaluate the relation between variables. ResultsThe results demonstrated that the level of MDA as a marker of oxidative stress was significantly higher in the exposed group.Antioxidant enzymes including SOD and CAT were significantly higher, and TAC was insignificantly lower in the exposed group. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate transaminase (AST), depression and stress were also significantly higher in the exposure group. It seems like working in cement plants, can have hazardous effects on liver function, enzyme activity and mental health.
Anisotropic Ferroelectric Distortion Effects on the RKKY Interaction in Topological Crystalline Insulators
Authors: Cheraghchi Hosein , Yarmohammadi Mohsen 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Manipulation of electronic and magnetic properties of topological materials is a topic of much interest in spintronic and valleytronic applications. Perturbation tuning of multiple Dirac cones on the (001) surface of topological crystalline insulators (TCIs) is also a related topic of growing interest. Here we show the numerical evidence for the ferroelectric structural distortion effects on the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) interaction between two magnetic impurity moments on the SnTe (001) and related alloys. The mirror symmetry breaking between Dirac cones induced by the ferroelectric distortion could be divided into various possible configurations including the isotropically gapped, coexistence of gapless and gapped, and anisotropically gapped phases. Based on the retarded perturbed Green’s functions of the generalized gapped Dirac model, we numerically find the RKKY response for each phase. The distortion-induced symmetry breaking constitutes complex and interesting magnetic responses between magnetic moments compared to the pristine TCIs. In the specific case of coexisted gapless and gapped phases, a nontrivial behavior of the RKKY interaction is observed, which has not been seen in other Dirac materials up until now. For two impurities resided on the same sublattices, depending on the distortion strength, magnetic orders above of a critical impurity separation exhibit irregular ferromagnetic $ antiferromagnetic phase transitions. However, independent ofthe impurity separation and distortion strength, no phase transition emerges for two impurities resided on different sublattices. This essential study sheds light on magnetic properties of Dirac materials with anisotropic mass terms and also makes TCIs applications relatively easy to understand.
Prognostic Significance of the Proximal Margin for Esophagogastric Junction Adenocarcinoma With Type II&nbsp;and III Tumors After Surgery
Authors: Yan Qian , Hu Weixian , Zheng Jiabin , Lv Zejian , Wang Junjiang , Li Yong 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
BackgroundThe incidence of esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma (EJA) has increased in recent years, with surgical resection the main choice of treatment. The optimal length of the proximal margin for EJA is still under debate, and the impact of EJA survival and recurrence remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of the optimal length of the proximal margin on EJA.MethodsFrom January 2011 to December 2015, 131 patients who had EJA with type II tumors were included and retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent radical R0 resection. The proximal margin was measured promptly after resection, and the frozen-section pathological examination was negative for the margin.ResultsThere were 3 cases of Siewert type I EJA (2.9 %), 75 cases of Siewert type II EJA (57.9 %), and 53 cases (40.1%) of Siewert type III EJA. The median number of lymph nodes examined was 19 (range: 1–41), and the median number of positive lymph nodes was 2 (range: 0–18). Sixty-three patients underwent total gastrectomy (48.1%), and 68 underwent proximal gastrectomy (51.9%). The median follow-up time was 57.3 months: (range 1.9–174.1); 34 patients (26%) relapsed and 74 (56.5%) died. The 5-year overall survival rate of type II tumor patients was 68.2%, and that of type III tumor patients was 38.5% (P = 0.02). For patients with a proximal margin <2 cm, the median recurrence time was 41.6 months, whereas it was for 42.8 months for patients with proximal margin >2 cm (log–rank: 0.496). Our data analysis found that a proximal margin length of 2 cm was a prognostic variable for type II and type III tumors.ConclusionsThere are a number of factors associated with recurrence and overall survival at 5 years for patients who have EJA with type II and type III tumors, and a proximal margin >2 cm may indicate better prognosis.
Relationship Between Parents’ Health Literacy and Children’s Sleep Problems: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study in Japan
Authors: Ono Sae , Ogi Hiroto , Ogawa Masato , Nakamura Daisuke , Nakamura Teruhiko , Izawa Kazuhiro 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background: Sleep disorder in preschool children can stunt their health and growth. However, the factors that cause sleep disorders in children are not well understood. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between parents’ health literacy (HL) and children's sleep problems. The study was conducted at two kindergartens, two nursery schools, and a center for early childhood education in Chitose-city, Hokkaido, Japan.Method: This study used a multicenter cross-sectional design. The sample comprised 354 preschoolers (aged 3–6 years) and their parents. In families with two or more children attending the same facility, only the oldest child was asked to participate in the study. Exclusion criteria included participants whose completed questionnaires had missing values. Children’s sleep disorder was assessed using the Japanese version of the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ-J). Parents’ HL was assessed using the 14-item Health Literacy Scale (HLS-14). The parents were classified into two groups (high HL group and low HL group). Multiple regression modelling was used to determine the association between HLS-14 and CSHQ-J scores.Results: Of the 354 parents, 255 (72%) were in the high HL group and 99 (28%) in the low HL group. The mean CSHQ-J score was significantly lower in the high HL group than in the low HL group (45.3 ± 6.0 points vs. 46.8 ± 5.9 points, p = 0.043). In multiple regression analyses, CSHQ-J was independently associated with parents’ HL after adjusting for all confounding factors (R² = 0.41, β = -0.11; p = 0.0043).　 Conclusions: Parents’ HL appears to affect their children's sleep disorder. This finding suggests that parents’ HL may be a target for intervention to improve children’s sleep disorders.
Interleukin-6 As An Enhancer of Anti-Angiogenic Therapy for Ovarian Clear Cell Carcinoma.
Authors: Seki Toshiyuki , Yanaihara Nozomu , Shapiro Jason , Saito Misato , Tabata Junya , Yokomizo Ryo , Noguchi Daito , Kuroda Takafumi , Kawabata Ayako , Suzuki Jiro , Takahashi Kazuaki , Matsuzawa Haruka , Miyake Misayo , Takenaka Masataka , Iida Yasushi , Yanagida Satoshi , Okamoto Aikou 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) is a subtype of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and associated with elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression, resistance to chemotherapy, and increased mortality. Although bevacizumab (Bev) is a widely used anti-angiogenic agent for EOC, the efficacy of Bev and the role of IL-6 in modulating angiogenesis in OCCC are unknown. We performed tube formation assays on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) cultured in OCCC conditioned media and in direct co-culture with OCCC cells and observed that IL-6 inhibition significantly mitigated the ability of Bev to impede tube formation in both cases. Furthermore, the IL-6 blockade not only disrupted the anti-angiogenic efficacy of Bev but also the concomitant anti-tumor activity. We also found that IL-6 inhibition resulted in a significant increase in the secreted levels of angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) in addition to decreased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. Clinical specimens also exhibited this reciprocal relationship between IL-6 and Ang1 expression. Finally, knockdown of Ang1 prevented IL-6 inhibition from mitigating the effects of Bev, demonstrating that IL-6 supports the anti-angiogenic activity of Bev by suppressing Ang1 and promoting dependence on VEGF for angiogenesis. Altogether, our data suggest that OCCC tumors with high IL-6 are candidates for Bev therapy.
Qualitative And Quantitative Detection of Surgical Pathogenic Microorganisms Escherichia Coli and Staphylococcus Aureus Based&nbsp;on ddPCR System
Authors: Zhang Tiantian , Niu Zhiqiang , Wu Feng , Chen Zongkun , xu Jun , Jiang Kewei , Lai Zhiyong 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Bacterial culture and drug susceptibility testing are used to identify bacteria associated with infections. Nevertheless, the process requires several days from collection to the identification of bacterial species and drug resistance patterns. The digital PCR system is a rapidly developing quantitative detection technology widely used in many fields, including pathogenic microorganism detection, early diagnosis of tumor markers, and analysis of gene expression with its advantages. The purpose of this study was to use a droplet digital PCR system to identify bacteria in blood samples, to explore its ability to identify common pathogenic microorganisms. We designed primers and probes for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus specific genes for the ddPCR system to identify in blood samples mixed with both organisms. The system had extremely high detection accuracy in samples and the detection rate of E. coli was 13.1–21.4% and that of S. aureus was 50–88.3%. The system identified blood samples containing both bacteria, with detection rates of 18.1%–97%. The ddPCR system qualitatively and quantitatively measured common pathogenic microorganisms in blood samples with high sensitivity and accuracy, providing rapid and accurate detection of pathogenic microorganisms.
Metabolomics Analysis of Tilletia Controversa Kühn Infected and Non-infected Grains of Wheat
Authors: Ren Zhaoyu , Muhae-Ud-Din Ghulam , Liu Jianjian , Liu Taiguo , Chen Wanquan , Gao Li 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Dwarf bunt caused by the pathogen Tilletia controversa Kühn is one of the most serious quarantine disease of winter wheat. Metabolomics studies provide detailed information about biochemical changes at the cell and tissue level of the plants. In the present study, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) metabolomic approach was used to investigate the changes in the grains metabolomics of T. controversa infected and non-infected samples. PCA analysis suggested that T. controversa infected and non-infected samples scattered separately during the interaction. LC/MS analysis showed that 62 different metabolites were recorded in the grains, among them total of 34 metabolites were up-regulated and 28 metabolite were down-regulated. The prostaglandins (PGs) and 9-hydroxyoctadecaenoic acids (9-HODEs) are fungal toxin related substances and their expression significantly increased in T. controversa infected grains. Additionally, the concentration of cucurbic acid and octadecatrienoic acid were changed significantly after pathogen infection, which has great role in plant defense. The eight different metabolic pathways activated during the T. controversa and wheat plants interactions including phenylalanine metabolism, isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis, starch and sucrose metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, alanine, aspartate, glutamate metabolism, and tryptophan metabolism.
Fluorescence Fluctuation Spectroscopy Enables Quantification of Potassium Channel Subunit Dynamics and Stoichiometry
Authors: Tedeschi Giulia , Scipioni Lorenzo , Papanikolaou Maria , Abbott Geoffrey , Digman Michelle 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels are a family of membrane proteins that facilitate K+ ion diffusion across the plasma membrane, regulating both resting and action potentials. Kv channels comprise four pore-forming α subunits, each with a voltage sensing domain, and they are regulated by interaction with β subunits such as those belonging to the KCNE family. Here we conducted a comprehensive biophysical characterization of stoichiometry and protein diffusion across the plasma membrane of the epithelial KCNQ1-KCNE2 complex, combining total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy and a series of complementary Fluorescence Fluctuation Spectroscopy (FFS) techniques. Using this approach, we found that KCNQ1-KCNE2 has a predominant 4:4 stoichiometry, while non-bound KCNE2 subunits are mostly present as dimers in the plasma membrane. At the same time, we identified unique spatio-temporal diffusion modalities and nano-environment organization for each channel subunit. These findings improve our understanding of KCNQ1-KCNE2 channel function and suggest strategies for elucidating the subunit stoichiometry and forces directing localization and diffusion of ion channel complexes in general.
Development of Taqman-Based Real-Time RT-PCR Assay Based on N Gene for The Quantitative Detection of Feline Morbillivirus
Authors: Makhtar Siti Tasnim , Tan Sheau Wei , Nasruddin Nur Amalina , Aziz Nor Azlina Abdul , Omar Abdul Rahman , Mustaffa-Kamal Farina 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background: Feline morbillivirus (FeMV) is a member of genus Morbillivirus which has been associated with the chronic kidney disease in cats even though a definite relationship is still unclear. Morbilliviruses are associated with severe diseases such as Peste des petits ruminants, canine distemper and measles. FeMV has been detected in many countries including Malaysia. This study aims to develop a Taqman real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) assay targeting the N gene of FeMV in clinical samples to detect early phase of FeMV infection.Results: A specific assay was developed since no amplification was observed in viral strains from the same Paramyxoviridae family, such as canine distemper virus (CDV), Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and measles virus (MeV), and other feline viruses, such as feline coronavirus (FCoV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV). The lower detection limit of the assay was 1.74 x 104 copies/L with Cq value of 34.32 0.5 based on the cRNA copy number. The coefficient of variations (CV) values calculated for both intra- and inter-assay were low, ranging from 0.34% - 0.53% and 1.38% - 2.03%, respectively. Besides that, the clinical sample evaluation using this assay showed a higher detection rate, with 26 (37%) clinical samples being FeMV-positive compared to 11 (15.5%) using conventional RT-PCR, proving a more sensitive assay compared to the conventional RT-PCR.Conclusions: The Taqman-based real-time RT PCR assay targeting the N gene described here is more sensitive, specific, rapid and reproducible compared to the conventional RT-PCR assay targeting the N gene and it could be used to detect early infection in cats.
Caloric Restriction, Physical Exercise, and CB1 Receptor Blockade as an Efficient Combined Strategy for Bodyweight Control and Cardiometabolic Status Improvement.
Authors: Trinidad Luisa Lopez , Martínez Rosario , Kapravelou Garyfallia , Galisteo Milagros , Aranda Pilar , Porres Jesus , Lopez-Jurado Maria 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Obesity is critically associated with the development of insulin resistance and related cardiovascular and kidney diseases. Several strategies for weight loss have been developed but most of them exhibit a post-intervention rebound effect. Here, we aimed to design combined weight-loss strategies of caloric restriction, physical exercise, and administration of a food-intake inhibitor that also accomplish the objectives of post-intervention lost-weight maintenance and improvement of cardiovascular and renal functionality. Diet-induced obesity (DIO) was generated in Sprague Dawley rats for 12 weeks to test the effects of single or combined strategies (i.e. caloric restriction, mixed training protocol, and/or administration of appetite suppressant) on caloric intake, body weight, cardiovascular and renal functionality resulting from a weight-loss intervention period of 3 weeks followed by 6 weeks of weight maintenance. Consumption of a high-fat diet (HFD) caused a significant increase in body weight (5th week of the experimental period) and led to the development of insulin resistance, cardiovascular, and renal alterations. The different interventions tested, resulted in a significant body weight loss and improved glucose metabolism, aerobic capacity, electrocardiographic parameters, vascular expression of adhesion molecules and inflammatory mediators, and renal functionality, reaching values similar to the control normocaloric group or even improving them. Successful maintenance of lost weight was achieved along a 6-week post-intervention period in addition to adequate health status. In conclusion, the weight-loss and maintenance intervention strategies tested were efficient at reversing the obesity-related alterations in body weight, glucose metabolism, aerobic capacity, cardiovascular and renal functionality. The beneficial action was very consistent for caloric restriction and physical exercise, whereas administration of a food-intake inhibitor complemented the effects of the prior interventions in some parameters like body weight or aerobic capacity, and showed specific actions in renal metabolism.
In Silico Method for Selecting Residue Pairs for Single-Molecule Microscopy and Spectroscopy
Authors: Sikkema Henkrik , Poolman Bert 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Obtaining (dynamic) structure related information on proteins is key for understanding their function. Methods as single-molecule Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (smFRET) and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) that measure distances between labeled residues to obtain dynamic information rely on selection of suitable residue pairs for chemical modification. Selection of pairs of amino acids, that show sufficient distance changes upon activity of the protein, can be a tedious process. Here we present an in silico approach that makes use of two or more structures (or structure models) to filter suitable residue pairs for FRET or EPR from all possible pairs within the protein. We apply the method for the study of the conformational dynamics of the substrate-binding domain of the osmoregulatory ATP-Binding Cassette transporter OpuA. This method speeds up the process of designing mutants, and because of its systematic nature, the chances of missing promising candidates are reduced.
Integrative Genomics of the Mammalian Alveolar Macrophage Response to Intracellular Mycobacteria
Authors: Hall Thomas J. , Mullen Michael P. , McHugo Gillian P. , Killick Kate E. , Ring Siobhán C. , Berry Donagh P. , Correia Carolina N. , Browne John A. , Gordon Stephen V. , MacHugh David E. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
BackgroundBovine TB (BTB), caused by infection with Mycobacterium bovis, is a major endemic disease affecting global cattle production, particularly in many developing countries. The key innate immune that first encounters the pathogen is the alveolar macrophage, previously shown to be substantially reprogrammed during intracellular infection by the pathogen. Here we use differential expression, and correlation- and interaction-based network approaches to analyse the host response to infection with M. bovis at the transcriptome level to identify core infection response pathways and gene modules. These outputs were then integrated with genome-wide association study (GWAS) data sets to enhance detection of genomic variants for susceptibility/resistance to M. bovis infection.ResultsThe host gene expression data consisted of bovine RNA-seq data from alveolar macrophages infected with M. bovis at 24 and 48 hours post-infection. These RNA-seq data were analysed using three distinct analysis pipelines and novel response pathways and modules were further refined using cross-comparison and integration of the results. First, a differential expression analysis was carried out to determine the most significantly differentially expressed (DE) genes between conditions at each time point. Second, two networks were constructed at each time point using gene correlation patterns to determine changes in expression across conditions. Functional sub-modules within each correlation network were selected by statistical criteria for modularity. Third, a base gene interaction network of the mammalian host response to mycobacterial infection was generated using the GeneCards database and InnateDB. Differential gene expression data were superimposed on this base network to extract functional modules of interconnected DE genes.ConclusionsBovine GWAS data was obtained from a published BTB susceptibility/resistance study. The results from the three parallel analyses were integrated with this data to determine which of the three approaches identified genes significantly enriched for SNPs associated with susceptibility/resistance to M. bovis infection. Results indicate distinct and significant overlap in SNP discovery, demonstrating that network-based integration of biologically relevant transcriptomics data can leverage substantial additional information from GWAS data sets.
A Splice-site Variant (C.3289-1G&gt;T) in OTOF&nbsp;Underlies Profound Hearing Loss in a Pakistani Kindred
Authors: ahmed ashfaque , Wang Meng , Khan Rizwan , Shah Abid Ali , Guo Hui , Malik Sajid , Xia Kun , Hu Zhengmao 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background: Hearing loss/deafness is a common otological disorder found in the Pakistani population due to the high prevalence of consanguineous unions, but the full range of genetic causes is still unknown.Methods: A large consanguineous Pakistani kindred with hearing loss was studied. Whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing were performed to search for the candidate gene underlying the disease phenotype. A minigene assay and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction were used to assess the effect of splicing variants.Results: The splicing variants of OTOF (NM_194248, c.3289-1G>T) cosegregated with the disease phenotype in this Pakistani family. The substitution of a single base pair causes the deletion of 10 bp (splicing variant 1) or 13 bp (splicing variant 2) from exon 27, which results in truncated proteins of 1141 and 1140 amino acids, respectively.Conclusion: Our findings reveal an OTOF splice-site variant as pathogenic for profound hearing loss in this family.