bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Altered serum Zinc and Copper in Iranian Adults who were of normal weight but metabolically obese
Authors: Darroudi Susan , Fereydouni Narges , Tayefi Maryam , Esmaily Habibollah , Sadabadi Fatemeh , Khashyarmanesh Zahra , Tayefi Batool , Haghighi Hamideh Moalemzadeh , Timar Ameneh , Mohammadpour Amir Hooshang , Gonoodi Kayhan , Ferns Gordon A. , Hoseini Seyed Javad , Ghayour-Mobarhan Majid 
Published: October 2019

AbstractMetabolically obese normal weight (MONW) individuals are potentially at increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Serum zinc and copper concentrations were assessed in individuals with MONW to determine whether MONW is associated with altered serum zinc and/or copper status. Normal weight subjects (total n = 2419; 1298 men and 1121 women), were recruited as part of Mashhad Stroke and Heart Association Disorder (MASHAD) Study cohort. They were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of MetS, defined using IDF criteria. Serum zinc and copper concentrations were determined by atomic absorption. Of the 2419 normal weight adults, 377 had MetS. Of this group, 53.7% and 49.7% had a serum zinc <70 µg/dl (Q1) (p = 0.001) or a serum copper <79 µg/dl (Q1) respectively. Furthermore, 27.3% had a serum copper >131 µg/dl (Q4) (p = 0.034), and 18.8% had a serum zinc >95 µg/dl (Q4). Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the odds ratio (OR) for an association of serum zinc, copper and zinc to copper ratio with MetS in normal weight subjects. The subjects with a serum zinc >95 µg/dl (Q4) had 0.386 [OR: 0.614(95%CI 0.457–0.823)] lower chance of MetS (p = 0.001) and the subjects with a serum copper >131 (Q4) had OR 1.423 (95% CI: 1.09–1.857) higher chance of MetS (p = 0.009). These data remained significant after adjustment for age and sex, for serum zinc and copper, respectively. Furthermore, our results strongly suggested that zinc and copper were the independent risk factor for metabolic syndrome in normal weight subjects. There is an imbalance between serum copper and zinc concentrations among individuals with MONW when compared with normal BMI individuals without MetS. This may increase the risk of individuals with MONW developing conditions associated with this imbalance, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Circulating Apolipoprotein L1 is associated with insulin resistance-induced abnormal lipid metabolism
Authors: Nishimura Kenji , Murakami Taichi , Sakurai Toshihiro , Miyoshi Masashi , Kurahashi Kiyoe , Kishi Seiji , Tamaki Masanori , Tominaga Tatsuya , Yoshida Sumiko , Nagai Kojiro , Abe Hideharu , Hui Shu-Ping , Kotani Kazuhiko , Doi Toshio 
Published: October 2019

AbstractCirculating ApolipoproteinL1 (ApoL1) is a component of pre-β-high-density lipoprotein (HDL), however little is known about the relationship of ApoL1 with cardiometabolic factors. Considering previous studies reporting the correlation of ApoL1 to triglyceride, we have hypothesized that ApoL1 associates with insulin-related metabolism. The current study examined their associations in 126 non-diabetic subjects and 36 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Non-diabetic subjects demonstrated triglyceride (standardized coefficients [s.c.] = 0.204, p < 0.05), body mass index (s.c. =0.232, p < 0.05) and HDL cholesterol (s.c. = −0.203, p < 0.05) as independent determinant of ApoL1 levels, and the significant elevation of ApoL1 in metabolic syndrome. Lipoprotein fractionation analysis revealed the predominant distribution of ApoL1 in large HDL fraction, and the significant increase of ApoL1 in large LDL fraction in high ApoL1 samples with insulin resistance. In T2DM, ApoL1 was higher in T2DM with metabolic syndrome, however ApoL1 was lower with β cell dysfunction. Insulin significantly promotes ApoL1 synthesis and secretion in HepG2 cells. In conclusion, circulating ApoL1 may be associated with abnormal HDL metabolism in insulin resistant status. This may suggest a regulation of insulin signal on the ApoL1 level, leading to offer a novel insight to the ApoL1 biology.
Expression regulation of myo-inositol 3-phosphate synthase 1 (INO1) in determination of phytic acid accumulation in rice grain
Authors: Perera Ishara , Fukushima Ayaka , Akabane Tatsuki , Horiguchi Genki , Seneweera Saman , Hirotsu Naoki 
Published: October 2019

AbstractPhytic acid (PA) is the primary phosphorus (P) storage compound in the seeds of cereals and legumes. Low PA crops, which are considered an effective way to improve grain nutrient availability and combat environmental issues relating to seed P have been developed using mutational and reverse genetics approaches. Here, we identify molecular mechanism regulating PA content among natural rice variants. First, we performed genome-wide association (GWA) mapping of world rice core collection (WRC) accessions to understand the genetic determinants underlying PA trait in rice. Further, a comparative study was undertaken to identify the differences in PA accumulation, protein profiles, and gene expression in low (WRC 5) and high PA (WRC 6) accessions. GWA results identified myo-inositol 3-phosphate synthase 1 (INO1) as being closely localized to a significant single nucleotide polymorphism. We found high rates of PA accumulation 10 days after flowering, and our results indicate that INO1 expression was significantly higher in WRC 6 than in WRC 5. Seed proteome assays found that the expression of INO1 was significantly higher in WRC 6. These results suggest that not only the gene itself but regulation of INO1 gene expression at early developmental stages is important in determining PA content in rice.
CarR, a MarR-family regulator from Corynebacterium glutamicum, modulated antibiotic and aromatic compound resistance
Authors: Si Meiru , Chen Can , Wei Zengfan , Gong Zhijin , Li GuiZhi , Yao Shumin 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
MarR (multiple antibiotic resistance regulator) proteins are a family of transcriptional regulators that is prevalent in Corynebacterium glutamicum. Understanding the physiological and biochemical function of MarR homologs in C. glutamicum has focused on cysteine oxidation-based redox-sensing and substrate metabolism-involving regulators. In this study, we characterized the stress-related ligand-binding functions of the C. glutamicum MarR-type regulator CarR (C. glutamicum antibiotic-responding regulator). We demonstrate that CarR negatively regulates the expression of the carR (ncgl2886)–uspA (ncgl2887) operon and the adjacent, oppositely oriented gene ncgl2885, encoding the hypothetical deacylase DecE. We also show that CarR directly activates transcription of the ncgl2882–ncgl2884 operon, encoding the peptidoglycan synthesis operon (PSO) located upstream of carR in the opposite orientation. The addition of stress-associated ligands such as penicillin and streptomycin induced carR, uspA, decE, and PSO expression in vivo, as well as attenuated binding of CarR to operator DNA in vitro. Importantly, stress response-induced up-regulation of carR, uspA, and PSO gene expression correlated with cell resistance to β-lactam antibiotics and aromatic compounds. Six highly conserved residues in CarR were found to strongly influence its ligand binding and transcriptional regulatory properties. Collectively, the results indicate that the ligand binding of CarR induces its dissociation from the carR–uspA promoter to derepress carR and uspA transcription. Ligand-free CarR also activates PSO expression, which in turn contributes to C. glutamicum stress resistance. The outcomes indicate that the stress response mechanism of CarR in C. glutamicum occurs via ligand-induced conformational changes to the protein, not via cysteine oxidation-based thiol modifications.
Heat resistance and presence of genes encoding staphylococcal enterotoxins evaluated by multiplex-PCR of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from pasteurized camel milk
Authors: Yehia Hany M. , Ismail Elsayed A. , Hassan Zeinab K. , Al-masoud Abdulrahman H. , Al-Dagal Mosffer M. 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Milk pasteurization eliminates vegetative pathogenic microorganisms and reduces microorganisms associated with spoilage. Camel milk is a well-accepted, traditionally consumed food in Arab countries. The present study aimed to investigate the microflora of pasteurized camel milk sold in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. The heat resistance of the microflora was tested in culture medium and lab-sterilized milk, and its composition was verified by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific primers. Further verification was performed by using separate specific primers. The identified strain survived heat treatment at 65, 72, 80, 85, and 90°C for 30, 15, 10, 5, and 2 min, respectively. An unanticipated result was obtained when an enterotoxin producing strain of Staphylococcus aureus showed abnormal resistance to heat treatment. The enterotoxin gene within the PCR fragment was identified as enterotoxin C by DNA sequencing. During Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) analysis, the isolated enterotoxin C genes showed &gt;99% similarity to published database sequences of the Staphylococcus aureus strain SAI48 staphylococcal enterotoxin C variant v4 (sec) gene. The decimal reduction value (D-value) at 90°C (D90) was determined after 10 s. This is the first time to report this abnormally heat resistant and enterotoxin-producing strain of Staphylococcus aureus. The use of ultra-high temperatures (UHTs) is preferable for reducing or killing bacteria in camel milk, especially if this problem is encountered in many camel milk factories.
Performance and Reliability of a Smartphone Digits-in-Noise Test in the Sound Field
Authors: Brown Lisa , Mahomed-Asmail Faheema , De Sousa Karina C. , Swanepoel De Wet 
Published: October 2019

Purpose
This study compared the speech reception thresholds (SRTs) and test–retest reliability of the smartphone digits-in-noise (DIN) test coupled to various sound-field transducers.

Method

Fifty normal-hearing participants (bilateral pure- tone thresholds 0.5–8kHz ≤ 15dB HL) between the ages of 18 and 25 years (
M
= 20,
SD
= ±1.9) were recruited. The study used a repeated measure counterbalanced Latin square design to compare the SRTs of the smartphone DIN test recorded with earphones, 2 smartphone speakers, and 2 external loudspeakers in a sound booth. Test–retest reliability across sound field conditions was also determined.

Results

Mean SRTs across earphone and different sound field transducers ranged from −11.3 (
SD =
0.8) to −11.7 (
SD =
1.2). SRTs across the 4 different loudspeaker transducers and earphones were not significantly different (
p
> .05) between test and retest sessions.

Conclusion
The smartphone DIN test is reliable and can be conducted using various sound field transducers in a sound booth. To allow home-based testing without earphones, with special application to aided performance for speech-in-noise testing, the smartphone DIN test should be evaluated in home environments.
Assessing Higher Order Language Processing in Long-Term Cochlear Implant Users
Authors: Kronenberger William G. , Pisoni David B. 
Published: October 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to describe and explain individual differences in complex/higher order language processing in long-term cochlear implant (CI) users relative to normal-hearing (NH) peers.MethodMeasures of complex/higher order language processing indexed by the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals–Fourth Edition (CELF-4) Core Language subtests were obtained from 53 long-term (≥ 7 years) CI users aged 9–29 years and 60 NH controls who did not differ in age, gender, or nonverbal IQ. Vocabulary knowledge and fast, automatic language processing (rapid phonological coding, verbal rehearsal speed, and speech intelligibility) were also assessed.ResultsCI users showed weaker performance than NH controls on all CELF-4 Core Language subtests. These differences remained for Formulated Sentences and Recalling Sentences even when vocabulary knowledge was statistically controlled. About 50% of the CI sample scored within the range of the NH sample on Formulated Sentences and Recalling Sentences, while the remaining 50% scored well below the NH sample on these subtests. Vocabulary knowledge, rapid phonological coding, verbal rehearsal speed, and speech intelligibility were more strongly correlated with CELF-4 subtest scores in the CI sample than in the NH sample.ConclusionsWeaknesses in complex, higher order language processing shown by a subgroup of CI users compared to NH peers may result from delays in fast, automatic processing of language. These at-risk domains of language functioning could serve as targets for novel interventions for deaf children who experience suboptimal spoken language outcomes following cochlear implantation.
Infants and Adults Use Visual Cues to Improve Detection and Discrimination of Speech in Noise
Authors: Lalonde Kaylah , Werner Lynne A. 
Published: October 2019

PurposeThis study assessed the extent to which 6- to 8.5-month-old infants and 18- to 30-year-old adults detect and discriminate auditory syllables in noise better in the presence of visual speech than in auditory-only conditions. In addition, we examined whether visual cues to the onset and offset of the auditory signal account for this benefit.MethodSixty infants and 24 adults were randomly assigned to speech detection or discrimination tasks and were tested using a modified observer-based psychoacoustic procedure. Each participant completed 1–3 conditions: auditory-only, with visual speech, and with a visual signal that only cued the onset and offset of the auditory syllable.ResultsMixed linear modeling indicated that infants and adults benefited from visual speech on both tasks. Adults relied on the onset–offset cue for detection, but the same cue did not improve their discrimination. The onset–offset cue benefited infants for both detection and discrimination. Whereas the onset–offset cue improved detection similarly for infants and adults, the full visual speech signal benefited infants to a lesser extent than adults on the discrimination task.ConclusionsThese results suggest that infants' use of visual onset–offset cues is mature, but their ability to use more complex visual speech cues is still developing. Additional research is needed to explore differences in audiovisual enhancement (a) of speech discrimination across speech targets and (b) with increasingly complex tasks and stimuli.
Simplified implementation of millimetre‐wave zero‐bias detector for an accurate detection in six‐port‐based receivers
Authors: Hannachi C. , Romaric M.E. , Tatu S.O. , Wu K. 
Published: October 2019

In this Letter, a simplified design approach for zero‐bias power detectors suited for integration in six‐port receiver architectures is presented. The proposed concept uses the quadrature hybrid coupler as an effective way to improve the input impedance matching and linearity performance. The proposed solution has been experimentally validated through its implementation into a 60 GHz six‐port receiver prototype to investigate its performance in detecting various M‐ary quadrature amplitude modulation (M‐QAM) signals. The obtained measurement results show a high accurate and linear detection responses for all investigated M‐ary QAM modulation techniques (4‐QAM, 16‐QAM, 32‐QAM). The variation in the error rates of the demodulated signals at the adjacent differential outputs is minimal (<1%), and the maximum error rate achieved does not exceed 5%. The obtained precision and linearity performances make the proposed structure highly suitable for the emerging millimetre‐wave six‐port receiver front‐ends.
Wideband circularly polarised horn antenna with large aspect ratio for terahertz applications
Authors: Yu Hai‐yang , Yu Junsheng , Yao Yuan , Liu Xiaoming , Chen Xiaodong 
Published: October 2019

This Letter proposes a circularly polarised horn antenna with large side length ratio. In virtue of 45° deflection structure and rectangular aperture with large aspect ratio, the proposed antenna achieves wideband circular polarisation radiation in small dimension. The fabrication is made on the prototype of the proposed antenna operating in the range of 220–320 GHz. Both of the measured circular polarisation bandwidth and impedance bandwidth of the designed antenna are 37% (220–320 GHz). This compact wideband circularly polarised antenna can be widely used in terahertz applications.
High‐selective triple‐mode SIW bandpass filter using higher‐order resonant modes
Authors: Liu Qing , Zhou Dongfang , Shi Jian , Hu Tao 
Published: October 2019

A novel high‐selective triple‐mode substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) bandpass filter using higher‐order resonant modes is proposed in this Letter. The new triple‐mode SIW resonator is realised by the second degenerate dual modes TM210 and one perturbed higher‐order mode TM020 in a circular SIW cavity. The resonance of TM020 mode can be independently moved to that of dual modes TM210 by changing the size of a floating circular patch. The proposed triple‐mode SIW filter can produce three finite‐transmission zeros (FTZs), which can also be controlled well by the angle between two feeding lines. For the demonstration, a triple‐mode SIW filter with the centre frequency of 13.5 GHz was designed, fabricated and measured. The proposed triple‐mode circular SIW filter has the merits of the high‐quality factor, high selectivity and controllable bandwidth as well as FTZs.
Using CO line ratios to trace compressed areas in bubble N131
Authors: Zhang Chuan-Peng , Li Guang-Xing , Zhou Chenlin , Yuan Lixia , Zhu Ming 
Published: October 2019

Aims. N131 is a typical infrared dust bubble showing an expanding ring-like shell. We study the CO line ratios that can be used to trace the interaction in the expanding bubble.
Methods. We carried out new CO (3–2) observations toward bubble N131 using the 15 m JCMT, and derived line ratios by combining these observations with our previous CO (2–1) and CO (1–0) data from IRAM 30 m observations. To trace the interaction between the molecular gas and the ionized gas in the HII region, we used RADEX to model the dependence of the CO line ratios on kinetic temperature and H2 volume density, and examined the abnormal line ratios based on other simulations.
Results. We present CO (3–2), CO (2–1), and CO (1–0) integrated intensity maps convolved to the same angular resolution (22.5″). The three different CO transition maps show a similar morphology. The line ratios of WCO (3–2)/WCO (2–1) mostly range from 0.2 to 1.2 with a median of 0.54 ± 0.12, while the line ratios of WCO (2–1)/WCO (1–0) range from 0.5 to 1.6 with a median of 0.84 ± 0.15. The high CO line ratios WCO (3–2)/WCO (2–1) ≳ 0.8 and WCO (2–1)/WCO (1–0) ≳ 1.2 are beyond the threshold predicted by numerical simulations based on the assumed density-temperature structure for the inner rims of the ring-like shell, where the compressed areas are located in bubble N131.
Conclusions. These high CO integrated intensity ratios, such as WCO (3–2)/WCO (2–1) ≳ 0.8 and WCO (2–1)/WCO (1–0) ≳ 1.2, can be used as a tracer of gas-compressed regions with a relatively high temperature and density. This further suggests that the non-Gaussian part of the line-ratio distribution can be used to trace the interaction between the molecular gas and the hot gas in the bubble.
Analysis of the electric energy consumption components for mine train traction
Authors: Arpul Serhii , Artemchuk Viktor , Babyak Mykola , Vasilyev Viacheslav , Hetman Hennadii , Marikutsa Serhii 
Published: October 2019

The paper considers the issues of reducing the energy intensity of transportation at opencast mining enterprises, the relevance of which has now increased due to the rise in the cost of fuel and energy resources. It presents the study results concerning the cost structure of the electricity consumed by electric mine transport, which form the basis for the development of technical and operational measures to reduce the energy intensity of the transportation process. It is shown that the work to reduce the electricity consumption for mined rock transportation should be aimed at:

Reduction of losses in the power circuits of the traction rolling stock due to the use of more advanced electric rolling stock and regulation of the degree of utilization of the installed traction power;
Introduction of new contact materials for electrical circuits with the lowest possible resistivity, including for current collector plates;
Introduction of measures to reduce energy consumption for power supply of auxiliary circuits;
Development and implementation of rational train control techniques.

The introduction of energy-saving measures should include the development and application of effective methods for calculating individual norms of energy consumption and incentives for energy saving of the employees involved in the organization of the transportation process.
Die körperdysmorphe Störung in der Plastischen Chirurgie – Eine systematische Übersicht der Screening-Methoden
Authors: Houschyar K. S. , Philipps H. M. , Duscher D. , Rein S. , Weissenberg K. , Nietzschmann I. , Maan Z. N. , Pyles M.N. , Siemers F. 
Published: October 2019

Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund Die körperdysmorphe Störung, englisch „body dysmorphic disorder“ (BDD), gilt als Unterform der somatoformen Störungen. BDD kann sich in wahnhaftem Erleben, einer übermäßigen Bewertung und Beschäftigung des äußeren Erscheinungsbildes, insbesondere dem Gesicht äußern. Vorläufige Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass Personen mit BDD nicht von plastisch-chirurgischen Behandlungen profitieren, so dass durch ästhetische operative Eingriffe häufig sogar eine Aggravation ihrer Symptome resultiert. Somit ist die Identifikation von Anzeichen für ein BDD entscheidend, ob ein Patient plastisch- ästhetisch operiert werden sollte. Diese Übersichtsarbeit erläutert die oft schwierige Diagnostik der BDD, indem sie die aktuelle Literatur zu dessen Screening zusammenfasst.
Studiendesign Systematische Übersichtsarbeit
Methoden Es wurde eine elektronische Suche in der deutschund englischsprachigen Literatur durchgeführt, um alle Screening-Instrumente für die BDD zu identifizieren. Es werden die spezifischen Entwicklungs- und Validierungsprozesse beurteilt, ob die Screening-Instrumente einen positiven prädiktiven Wert für die BDD haben.
Ergebnisse Sechs verschiedene Screening-Instrumente wurden für die BDD identifiziert. Davon wurden nur zwei in einem kosmetischen Rahmen evaluiert: der „Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire–Dermatology Version“ (BDDQ-DV) und der „Dysmorphic Concern Questionnaire“ (DCQ). Der Einfluss auf die subjektiven Ergebnisse nach einem plastisch-ästhetischen Eingriff wurde nur für den DCQ gemessen.
Schlussfolgerung Die begrenzte Verfügbarkeit von validierten Screening-Instrumenten für die BDD in der plastischen Chirurgie steht in bemerkenswerten Gegensatz zu der vermeintlich hohen Prävalenz der Erkrankung von 2,4 %. Unter den derzeit verwendeten Screening-Tools scheinen die BDDQ-DV und der DCQ am besten geeignet zu sein. Weitere Forschungsbemühungen zur Etablierung besserer Screeningmethoden für die BDD in der plastischen chirurgischen Patientenpopulation und zur Untersuchung der Auswirkungen von BDD auf Behandlungsergebnisse sind notwendig.