bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An efficient green ionic liquid for the corrosion inhibition of reinforcement steel in neutral and alkaline highly saline simulated concrete pore solutions
Authors: Sliem Mostafa H. , Radwan Ahmed Bahgat , Mohamed Farida S. , Alnuaimi Nasser A. , Abdullah Aboubakr M. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe effect of the green ionic liquid compound, Quaternium-32 (Q-32), on the corrosion inhibition performance of reinforcement steel, in a simulated concrete pore solution, was investigated at different temperatures and pH values, using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The inhibition efficiency was improved as the concentration of Q-32 and pH values were increased. However, it decreased as the temperature was raised. A Q-32 concentration of 20 µmol L–1exhibited a 94% inhibition efficiency at 20 °C. The adsorption isotherm was evaluated using EIS measurements, and it was found to obey the Langmuir isotherm. The surface topography was examined using an atomic force microscope and scanning electron microscope. The effect of the Q-32 concentration with the highest corrosion efficiency on the mechanical properties of the mortars was also explained by flexure and compression techniques.
Lipocalin-2 deficiency may predispose to the progression of spontaneous age-related adiposity in mice
Authors: Meyers Keya , López María , Ho Joanna , Wills Savannah , Rayalam Srujana , Taval Shashidharamurthy 
Published: September 2020

AbstractLipocalin-2 (Lcn2) is an innate immune protein elevated by several orders of magnitude in various inflammatory conditions including aging and obesity. Recent studies have shown that Lcn2 is secreted by adipocytes in response to inflammation and is categorized as a new adipokine cross-linking innate immunity and metabolic disorders including obesity. However, the involvement of Lcn2 and its function during the progression of obesity is largely unknown. Recently, browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) has gained attention as a therapeutic strategy to combat obesity. Herein, we have shown that treatment of mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes with recombinant Lcn2 (rec-Lcn2) resulted in the up-regulation of thermogenic and beige/brown markers (UCP1, PRDM16, ZIC-1 and TBX1) and increased mitochondrial activity. Additionally, global Lcn2 genetic knockout (Lcn2KO) mice exhibited accelerated weight gain and visceral fat deposition with age, when compared to wild type (WT) mice. Taken together, both in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that Lcn2 is a naturally occurring adipokine, and may serve as an anti-obesity agent by upregulating the thermogenic markers resulting in the browning of WAT. Therefore, Lcn2 and its downstream signaling pathways could be a potential therapeutic target for obesity.
Markers for the central serotonin system correlate to verbal ability and paralinguistic social voice processing in autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Yoshimura Yuko , Kikuchi Mitsuru , Saito Daisuke N. , Hirosawa Tetsu , Takahashi Tetsuya , Munesue Toshio , Kosaka Hirotaka , Naito Nobushige , Ouchi Yasuomi , Minabe Yoshio 
Published: September 2020

AbstractImpairment in verbal communication abilities has been reported in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Dysfunction of the serotonergic system has also been reported in ASD. However, it is still unknown how the brain serotonergic system relates to impairment in verbal communication abilities in individuals with ASD. In the present study, we investigated the correlation between brain serotonergic condition and brain sensitivity to paralinguistic stimuli (i.e., amplitude in the human voice prosodic change-evoked mismatch field) measured by magnetoencephalography (MEG) or verbal ability in 10 adults with ASD. To estimate the brain serotonergic condition, we measured the serotonin transporter nondisplaceable binding potential cerebrum-wide using positron emission tomography with [11C]N,N-dimethyl-2-(2-amino-4-cyanophenylthio)benzylamine ([11C] DASB). The results demonstrated a significant positive correlation between brain activity to paralinguistic stimuli and brain serotonin transporter binding potential in the left lingual gyrus, left fusiform gyrus and left calcarine cortex. In addition, there were significant positive correlations between verbal ability and serotonergic condition in the right anterior insula, right putamen and right central operculum. These results suggested that the occipital cortex is implicated in recognition of the prosodic change in ASD, whereas the right insula-involved serotonergic system is important in nurturing verbal function in ASD.Trial registration: UMIN000011077.
Comprehensive profiling of Asian and Caucasian meibomian gland secretions reveals similar lipidomic signatures regardless of ethnicity
Authors: Butovich Igor A. , Suzuki Tomo , Wojtowicz Jadwiga , Bhat Nita , Yuksel Seher 
Published: September 2020

AbstractMeibum—a lipid secretion that is produced by Meibomian glands (MG) in a process termed meibogenesis—plays a critical role in ocular surface physiology. Abnormalities in the chemical composition of meibum were linked to widespread ocular pathologies—dry eye syndrome (DES) and MG dysfunction (MGD). Importantly, in epidemiologic studies the Asian population was shown to be prone to these pathologies more than the Caucasian one, which was tied to differences in their meibomian lipids. However, biochemical data to support these observations and conclusions are limited. To determine if non-DES/non-MGD Asian meibum was significantly different from that of Caucasians, individual samples of meibum collected from ethnic Asian population living in Japan were compared with those of Caucasians living in the USA. These experiments revealed that composition of major lipid classes, such as wax esters (WE), cholesteryl esters (CE), triacylglycerols, (O)-acylated ω-hydroxy fatty acids (OAHFA), cholesteryl sulfate, cholesteryl esters of OAHFA, and diacylated α,ω-dihydroxy fatty alcohols remained invariable in both races, barring a minor (< 10%; p < 0.01) increase in the Asian CE/WE ratio. Considering the natural variability range for most meibomian lipids (app. ± 15% of the Mean), these differences in meibogenesis were deemed to be minimal and unlikely to have a measurable physiological impact.
Serum BDNF levels correlate with regional cortical thickness in minor depression: a pilot study
Authors: Polyakova M. , Beyer F. , Mueller K. , Sander C. , Witte V. , Lampe L. , Rodrigues F. , Riedel-Heller S. , Kratzsch J. , Hoffmann K. T. , Villringer A. , Schoenknecht P. , Schroeter M. L. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractSerum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) reflects state changes in mood disorders. But its relation to brain changes in depression has rarely been investigated in humans. We assessed the association between serum BDNF, cortical thickness, or gray matter volume in 20 subjects with a minor depressive episode and 40 matched healthy subjects. Serum BDNF positively correlated with cortical thickness and volume in multiple brain regions in the minor depression group: the bilateral medial orbitofrontal cortex and rostral anterior cingulate cortex, left insula, and cingulum, right superior frontal gyrus, and other regions—regions typically affected by major depression. Interestingly, these correlations were driven by subjects with first episode depression. There was no significant association between these imaging parameters and serum BDNF in the healthy control group. Interaction analyses supported this finding. Our findings point to a specific association between serum BDNF and magnetic resonance imaging parameters in first-episode minor depression in a region- and condition-dependent manner. A positive correlation between serum BDNF and structural gray matter estimates was most consistently observed for cortical thickness. We discuss why cortical thickness should be preferred to volumetric estimates for such analyses in future studies. Results of our pilot study have to be proven in future larger-scale studies yielding higher statistical power.
Refining the genetic structure and relationships of European cattle breeds through meta-analysis of worldwide genomic SNP data, focusing on Italian cattle
Authors: Mastrangelo Salvatore , Tolone Marco , Ben Jemaa Slim , Sottile Gianluca , Di Gerlando Rosalia , Cortés Oscar , Senczuk Gabriele , Portolano Baldassare , Pilla Fabio , Ciani Elena 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe availability of genotyping assays has allowed the detailed evaluation of cattle genetic diversity worldwide. However, these comprehensive studies did not include some local European populations, including autochthonous Italian cattle. In this study, we assembled a large-scale, genome-wide dataset of single nucleotide polymorphisms scored in 3,283 individuals from 205 cattle populations worldwide to assess genome-wide autozygosity and understand better the genetic relationships among these populations. We prioritized European cattle, with a special focus on Italian breeds. Moderate differences in estimates of molecular inbreeding calculated from runs of homozygosity (FROH) were observed among domesticated bovid populations from different geographic areas, except for Bali cattle. Our findings indicated that some Italian breeds show the highest estimates of levels of molecular inbreeding among the cattle populations assessed in this study. Patterns of genetic differentiation, shared ancestry, and phylogenetic analysis all suggested the occurrence of gene flow, particularly among populations originating from the same geographical area. For European cattle, we observed a distribution along three main directions, reflecting the known history and formation of the analyzed breeds. The Italian breeds are split into two main groups, based on their historical origin and degree of conservation of ancestral genomic components. The results pinpointed that also Sicilian breeds, much alike Podolian derived-breeds, in the past experienced a similar non-European influence, with African and indicine introgression.
Comparative quantitative LC–MS/MS analysis of 13 amylase/trypsin inhibitors in ancient and modern Triticum species
Authors: Geisslitz Sabrina , Longin C. Friedrich H. , Koehler Peter , Scherf Katharina Anne 
Published: September 2020

AbstractAmylase/trypsin inhibitors (ATIs) are major wheat allergens and they are also implicated in causing non-celiac gluten sensitivity and worsening other inflammatory conditions. With only few studies on ATI contents in different Triticum species available so far, we developed a targeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method based on stable isotope dilution assays to quantitate the 13 most important ATIs in a well-defined sample set of eight cultivars of common wheat and durum wheat (modern species), as well as spelt, emmer and einkorn (ancient species) grown at three locations in Germany, respectively. Only few ATIs with low contents were detected in einkorn. In contrast, spelt had the highest total ATI contents. Emmer and common wheat had similar total ATI contents, with durum wheat having lower contents than common wheat. Due to the lack of correlation, it was not possible to estimate ATI contents based on crude protein contents. The wheat species had a higher influence on ATI contents than the growing location and the heritability of this trait was high. Despite comparatively low intra-species variability, some cultivars were identified that may be promising candidates for breeding for naturally low ATI contents.
TNF genetic polymorphism (rs1799964) may modify the effect of the dietary inflammatory index on gastric cancer in a case–control study
Authors: Kim Jeeeun , Lee Jeonghee , Choi Il Ju , Kim Young-Il , Sung Joohon , Kim Jeongseon 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe inflammatory process is known to increase the risk of gastric carcinogenesis, and both genetic and dietary factors are associated with inflammation. In the present study of 1,125 participants (373 cases and 752 controls), we determined whether the dietary inflammatory index (DII) is associated with the risk of gastric cancer (GC) and investigated whether a TNF polymorphism (rs1799964) modifies this association. Semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire derived data were used to calculate the DII scores. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using multivariable logistic models adjusted for confounders. When we stratified the data by sex, the association between GC and the DII was significant only among the women (OR, 2.27; 95% CI 1.25–4.19), and the DII effect on the risk of GC differed depending on the TNF genotype (OR, 2.30; 95% CI 1.27–4.24 in TT genotype; OR, 0.78; 95% CI 0.37–1.65 in CC + CT, p for interaction = 0.035). Furthermore, the association between the DII and GC was significant in the Helicobacter pylori-positive group; similarly, the effect differed based on the TNF genotype (OR, 1.76; 95% CI 1.13–2.73 in TT genotype; OR,0.98; 95% CI 0.54–1.77 in CT + CC, p for interaction = 0.034). In conclusion, rs1799964 may modify the effect of the DII on GC.
Health-related quality of life amongst people diagnosed with abdominal aortic aneurysm and peripheral artery disease and the effect of fenofibrate
Authors: Golledge Jonathan , Pinchbeck Jenna , Rowbotham Sophie E. , Yip Lisan , Jenkins Jason S. , Quigley Frank , Moxon Joseph V. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe aims of this study were, firstly, to assess the effect of concurrent peripheral artery disease (PAD) on the health-related quality of life (QOL) of people diagnosed with a small abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA); and secondly, to test whether the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α agonist fenofibrate improved QOL of people diagnosed with a small AAA, including those diagnosed with concurrent PAD. The study included both a cross-sectional observational study and a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. 140 people diagnosed with a 35–49 mm diameter AAA, 56 (40%) of whom had concurrent PAD, and 25 healthy controls were prospectively recruited. QOL was assessed with the short form (SF) 36. Findings in participants that were diagnosed with both AAA and PAD were compared separately with those of participants that had a diagnosis of AAA alone or who had neither AAA nor PAD diagnosed (healthy controls). All participants diagnosed with an AAA were then randomly allocated to 145 mg of fenofibrate per day or identical placebo. Outcomes were assessed by changes in the domains of the SF-36 and ankle brachial pressure Index (ABPI) from randomization to 24 weeks. Data were analyzed using Mann–Whitney U tests. Participants diagnosed with both AAA and PAD had significantly worse QOL than participants diagnosed with AAA alone or healthy controls. Fenofibrate did not significantly alter SF-36 scores or ABPI over 24 weeks. Fenofibrate does not improve QOL of people diagnosed with small AAA, irrespective of whether they have concurrent PAD.Trial registration: ACTN12613001039774 Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry.
Serological cytokine signature in paediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease impacts diagnosis
Authors: Tatsuki Maiko , Hatori Reiko , Nakazawa Tomoko , Ishige Takashi , Hara Tomoko , Kagimoto Seiichi , Tomomasa Takeshi , Arakawa Hirokazu , Takizawa Takumi 
Published: September 2020

AbstractEndoscopy is a central tool for diagnosing and evaluating paediatric inflammatory bowel diseases (PIBD), but is too invasive to be frequently repeated in young children. Furthermore, it is challenging to distinguish Crohn’s disease (CD) from ulcerative colitis (UC) endoscopically. This study aimed to determine biomarkers useful for the diagnosis of PIBD. Cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors were quantified in the sera of 15 patients with CD or UC, at disease onset prior to treatment, and 26 age-matched controls. Correlation of cytokine levels with the paediatric CD activity index (PCDAI) and the paediatric UC activity index (PUCAI) was analysed. Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-13, IL-7, and vascular endothelial growth factor were higher in the CD group than in the UC group. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that IL-7 was a putative biomarker for distinguishing CD from UC (area under the curve: 0.94). Granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor was associated with PCDAI, and an IL-1 receptor antagonist, IL-6, and macrophage inflammatory protein-1β were associated with PUCAI. These findings indicate significant differences in cytokine signatures among patients with new-onset PIBD, which may improve accuracy in diagnosing PIBD.
Generation and characterization of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated MEN1 knockout BON1 cells: a human pancreatic neuroendocrine cell line
Authors: Monazzam Azita , Li Su-Chen , Wargelius Hanna , Razmara Masoud , Bajic Duska , Mi Jia , Bergquist Jonas , Crona Joakim , Skogseid Britt 
Published: September 2020

AbstractAmong patients with the rare diagnosis of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (P-NET), a substantial proportion suffer from the inherited cancer syndrome multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), which is caused by germline mutations of the MEN1 suppressor gene. Somatic mutations and loss of the MEN1 protein (menin) are frequently also found in sporadic P-NETs. Thus, a human neuroendocrine pancreatic cell line with biallelic inactivation of MEN1 might be of value for studying tumorigenesis. We used the polyclonal human P-NET cell line BON1, which expresses menin, serotonin, chromogranin A and neurotensin, to generate a monoclonal stable MEN1 knockout BON1 cell line (MEN1-KO-BON1) by CRISPR/Cas9 editing. Changes in morphology, hormone secretion, and proliferation were analyzed, and proteomics were assessed using nanoLC-MS/MS and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). The menin-lacking MEN1-KO-BON1 cells had increased chromogranin A production and were smaller, more homogenous, rounder and grew faster than their control counterparts. Proteomic analysis revealed 457 significantly altered proteins, and IPA identified biological functions related to cancer, e.g., posttranslational modification and cell death/survival. Among 39 proteins with at least a two-fold difference in expression, twelve are relevant in glucose homeostasis and insulin resistance. The stable monoclonal MEN1-KO-BON1 cell line was found to have preserved neuroendocrine differentiation, increased proliferation, and an altered protein profile.
The effect on clinical outcomes when targeting spinal manipulation at stiffness or pain sensitivity: a randomized trial
Authors: Nim Casper Glissmann , Kawchuk Gregory Neil , Schiøttz-Christensen Berit , O’Neill Søren 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe mechanisms underlying pain relief following spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) are not understood fully although biomechanical and neurophysiological processes have been proposed. As such, we designed this randomized trial to elucidate the contributions of biomechanical and neurophysiological processes. A total of 132 participants with low back pain were randomly assigned to receive SMT at either the lumbar segment measured as the stiffest or the segment measured as having the lowest pain threshold. The primary outcome was patient reported low back pain intensity following treatment. Secondary outcomes were biomechanical stiffness and neurophysiological pressure pain threshold. All outcomes were measured at baseline, after the fourth and final session and at 2-weeks follow-up. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models, and demonstrated that the SMT application site did not influence patient reported low back pain intensity or stiffness. However, a large and significant difference in pressure pain threshold was observed between groups. This study provides support that SMT impacts neurophysiological parameters through a segment-dependent neurological reflex pathway, although this do not seem to be a proxy for improvement. This study was limited by the assumption that the applied treatment was sufficient to impact the primary outcome.
Language is the missing link in action-perception coupling: an EEG study
Authors: Billard Pauline , Coll Sélim Yahia , Glowinski Donald , Grandjean Didier 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe paper reports an electrophysiological (EEG) study investigating how language is involved in perception–action relations in musically trained and untrained participants. Using an original backward priming paradigm, participants were exposed to muted point-light videos of violinists performing piano or forte nuances followed by a congruent vs. incongruent word. After the video presentation, participants were asked to decide whether the musician was playing a piano or forte musical nuance. EEG results showed a greater P200 event-related potential for trained participants at the occipital site, and a greater N400 effect for untrained participants at the central site. Musically untrained participants were more accurate when the word was semantically congruent with the gesture than when it was incongruent. Overall, language seems to influence the performance of untrained participants, for which perception–action couplings are less automatized.
Population-based epidemiological data of follicular lymphoma in Poland: 15 years of observation
Authors: Szumera-Ciećkiewicz Anna , Wojciechowska Urszula , Didkowska Joanna , Poleszczuk Jan , Rymkiewicz Grzegorz , Paszkiewicz-Kozik Ewa , Sokół Kamil , Prochorec-Sobieszek Monika , Walewski Jan 
Published: September 2020

AbstractAvailable epidemiological reports on follicular lymphoma (FL) often highlight a significant discrepancy between its high and low incidence rates in Western and Eastern Europe, respectively. The reasons behind that difference are not fully understood, but underreporting is typically presumed as one of the main factors. This study aimed to assess FL epidemiology in Poland based on 2000–2014 data from the Polish National Cancer Registry, which has 100% population coverage and over 90% completeness of the registration. All cases were coded according to ICD-10 and ICD-O-3 recommendations. The total number of registered FL cases was 3,928 with crude (CR) and standardized (SR) incidence rates of 0.72/105 and 0.87/105, respectively. The median age of FL diagnosis was 61 years, with the male to female incidence ratio of 1.06. The distribution of morphological types of FL: not otherwise specified (NOS), grades 1, 2, or 3 were 72.58, 4.81, 12.88, and 9.73%, respectively. Among all reported mature B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas, FL was ranked the fourth in incidence, just after chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CR 3.62/105, SR 4.99/105), plasma cell neoplasms (CR 3.78/105, SR 4.97/105) and diffuse B-cell lymphoma, NOS (CR 2.13/105, SR 2.65/105). The systematic increase in FL incidence among females was observed. Our study confirms a lower FL incidence rate in Poland as compared to other European countries. Moreover, as our analysis was based on a registry with high data completeness, it provides evidence that reasons other than underreporting are responsible for FL incidence discrepancies between Eastern and Western Europe.