bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Proteomic profiles before and during weight loss: Results from randomized trial of dietary intervention
Authors: Figarska Sylwia M. , Rigdon Joseph , Ganna Andrea , Elmståhl Sölve , Lind Lars , Gardner Christopher D. , Ingelsson Erik 
Published: May 2020

AbstractInflammatory and cardiovascular biomarkers have been associated with obesity, but little is known about how they change upon dietary intervention and concomitant weight loss. Further, protein biomarkers might be useful for predicting weight loss in overweight and obese individuals. We performed secondary analyses in the Diet Intervention Examining The Factors Interacting with Treatment Success (DIETFITS) randomized intervention trial that included healthy 609 adults (18–50 years old) with BMI 28–40 kg/m2, to evaluate associations between circulating protein biomarkers and BMI at baseline, during a weight loss diet intervention, and to assess predictive potential of baseline blood proteins on weight loss. We analyzed 263 plasma proteins at baseline and 6 months into the intervention using the Olink Proteomics CVD II, CVD III and Inflammation arrays. BMI was assessed at baseline, after 3 and 6 months of dietary intervention. At baseline, 102 of the examined inflammatory and cardiovascular biomarkers were associated with BMI (>90% with successful replication in 1,584 overweight/obese individuals from a community-based cohort study) and 130 tracked with weight loss shedding light into the pathophysiology of obesity. However, out of 263 proteins analyzed at baseline, only fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) predicted weight loss, and none helped individualize dietary assignment.
CNN-Peaks: ChIP-Seq peak detection pipeline using convolutional neural networks that imitate human visual inspection
Authors: Oh Dongpin , Strattan J. Seth , Hur Junho K. , Bento José , Urban Alexander Eckehart , Song Giltae , Cherry J. Michael 
Published: May 2020

AbstractChIP-seq is one of the core experimental resources available to understand genome-wide epigenetic interactions and identify the functional elements associated with diseases. The analysis of ChIP-seq data is important but poses a difficult computational challenge, due to the presence of irregular noise and bias on various levels. Although many peak-calling methods have been developed, the current computational tools still require, in some cases, human manual inspection using data visualization. However, the huge volumes of ChIP-seq data make it almost impossible for human researchers to manually uncover all the peaks. Recently developed convolutional neural networks (CNN), which are capable of achieving human-like classification accuracy, can be applied to this challenging problem. In this study, we design a novel supervised learning approach for identifying ChIP-seq peaks using CNNs, and integrate it into a software pipeline called CNN-Peaks. We use data labeled by human researchers who annotate the presence or absence of peaks in some genomic segments, as training data for our model. The trained model is then applied to predict peaks in previously unseen genomic segments from multiple ChIP-seq datasets including benchmark datasets commonly used for validation of peak calling methods. We observe a performance superior to that of previous methods.
Oxytocin and bone quality in the femoral neck of rats in periestropause
Authors: Fernandes Fernanda , Stringhetta-Garcia Camila Tami , Peres-Ueno Melise Jacon , Fernandes Fabiana , Nicola Angela Cristina de , Castoldi Robson Chacon , Ozaki Guilherme , Louzada Mário Jefferson Quirino , Chaves-Neto Antonio Hernandes , Ervolino Edilson , Dornelles Rita Cássia Menegati 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe objective of this study is to identify whether oxytocin (OT) contributes to the reduction of osteopenia in the femoral neck of rats in periestropause. Animals in irregular estrous cycles received two NaCl injections (0.15 mol/L) or OT (134 μg/kg) over a 12-h interval, and after thirty-five days without treatments, the biological sample collection was performed. The oxytocin group (Ot) demonstrated the highest enzymatic activity of alkaline phosphatase (p = 0.0138), lowest enzymatic activity of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (p = 0.0045), higher percentage of compact bone (p = 0.0359), cortical expression of runt-related transcription factor 2 (p = 0.0101), osterix (p = 0.0101), bone morphogenetic protein-2/4 (p = 0.0101) and periostin (p = 0.0455). Furthermore, the mineral-to-matrix ratio (ν1PO4/Proline) was higher and type-B carbonate substitution (CO3/ν1PO4) was lower (p = 0.0008 and 0.0303) in Ot group. The Ot showed higher areal bone mineral density (p = 0.0050), cortical bone area (p = 0.0416), polar moment of inertia, maximum, minimum (p = 0.0480, 0.0480, 0.0035), bone volume fraction (p = 0.0166), connectivity density (p < 0.0001), maximal load (p = 0.0003) and bone stiffness (p = 0.0145). In Ot percentage of cortical pores (p = 0.0102) and trabecular number (p = 0.0088) was lower. The results evidence action of OT in the reduction of osteopenia, suggesting that it is a promising anabolic strategy for the prevention of primary osteoporosis during the periestropause period.
Effect of statin therapy on plasma C-type Natriuretic Peptides and Endothelin-1 in males with and without symptomatic coronary artery disease
Authors: Prickett Timothy C. R. , Troughton Richard W. , Espiner Eric A. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractC-type Natriuretic Peptide (CNP) and Endothelin-1 (ET-1) have reciprocal roles in maintaining vascular homeostasis and are acutely modulated by statins in human cultured endothelial cells. Whether these actions of statins in vitro are reflected in studies in vivo is unknown. In a prospective study of 66 subjects with or without post- acute coronary syndrome (ACS), plasma concentrations of bioactive CNP and bio-inactive aminoterminal proCNP (NTproCNP), ET-1, B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) and high sensitivity C Reactive Protein (hsCRP) were measured together with lipids before and at intervals of 1, 2 and 7 days after commencing atorvastatin 40 mg/day - and for a further period of 6months in those with ACS. Plasma lipids fell significantly in all subjects but plasma CNP, NTproCNP and ET-1 were unchanged by atorvastatin. In ACS, baseline hsCRP, BNP and CNP but not NTproCNP or ET-1 were significantly raised compared to values in age-matched controls. The ratio of NTproCNP to CNP was significantly lower in ACS throughout the study and was unaffected by statin therapy. We conclude that conventional doses of atorvastatin do not affect plasma CNP products or ET-1. Elevated CNP after cardiac injury likely results from regulated changes in clearance, not enhanced production.
External Cesium-137 doses to humans from soil influenced by the Fukushima and Chernobyl nuclear power plants accidents: a comparative study
Authors: Wai Ka-Ming , Krstic Dragana , Nikezic Dragoslav , Lin Tang-Huang , Yu Peter K. N. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractExternal exposure to gamma-photon irradiation from soil contamination due to nuclear power plant (NPP) accidents has significant contribution to human radiation exposure in the proximity of the NPP. Detailed absorbed doses in human organs are rarely reported in the literature. We applied the Monte Carlo Neutron Particle (MCNP) transport code to calculate and compare the absorbed doses in different human organs. The absorbed doses by gamma-photon radiation were from cesium-137 (137Cs) in soil contaminated by the two major NPP accidents. More serious and wide-spread impacts of the Chernobyl NPP accident on soil contamination in Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and countries as far as Sweden and Greece were due to the inland location, radiative plume transport pathway and high 137Cs emission strength (9 times the Fukushima emission). Based on our MCNP calculations, the largest absorbed dose was found in skin. The maximum calculated external 137Cs annual effective dose received from the Chernobyl accident was 10 times higher relative to the Fukushima accident. Our calculated effective doses at various influenced areas were comparable to those available in the literature. The calculated annual effective doses at areas near the Fukushima and Chernobyl NPPs exceeded the ICRP recommendation of 1 mSv yr−1.
Tracing the composition of single e-cigarette aerosol droplets in situ by laser-trapping and Raman scattering
Authors: David Grégory , Parmentier Evelyne A. , Taurino Irene , Signorell Ruth 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe partitioning of components between droplets and the gas phase in e-cigarette aerosols has a significant impact on deposition within the respiratory tract. However, exclusive detection of droplet composition has, so far, been elusive. Consequently, the dynamics of partitioning between droplets and the gas phase remains unknown. Here, we combine optical trapping of single droplets with in situ Raman scattering for destruction-free monitoring of e-cigarette droplet composition with a time resolution of seconds. We find that the initial droplet composition is very close to the composition of the e-liquid. Upon dilution with air, the droplet composition changes exponentially on a time scale of seconds, mainly because of evaporation of propylene glycol. The nicotine content in the droplet is controlled by the pH. Nicotine evaporates from the droplets under basic conditions, but remains in the liquid under acidic conditions. These results are crucial for advancing e-liquid research and manufacturing.
Screening for deafness-associated mitochondrial 12S rRNA mutations by using a multiplex allele-specific PCR method
Authors: Ding Yu , Lang Jianyong , Zhang Junkun , Xu Jianfeng , Lin Xiaojiang , Lou Xiangyu , Zheng Hui , Huai Lei 
Published: May 2020

AbstractMitochondrial 12S rRNA A1555G and C1494T mutations are the major contributors to hearing loss. As patients with these mutations are sensitive to aminoglycosides, mutational screening for 12S rRNA is therefore recommended before the use of aminoglycosides. Most recently, we developed a novel multiplex allele-specific PCR (MAS-PCR) that can be used for detecting A1555G and C1494T mutations. In the present study, we employed this MAS-PCR to screen the 12S rRNA mutations in 500 deaf patients and 300 controls from 5 community hospitals. After PCR and electrophoresis, two patients with A1555G and one patient with C1494T were identified, this was consistent with Sanger sequence results. We further traced the origin of three Chinese pedigrees. Clinical evaluation revealed variable phenotypes of hearing loss including severity, age at onset and audiometric configuration in these patients. Sequence analysis of the mitochondrial genomes from matrilineal relatives suggested the presence of three evolutionarily conserved mutations: tRNACys T5802C, tRNALys A8343G and tRNAThr G15930A, which may result the failure in tRNAs metabolism and lead to mitochondrial dysfunction that was responsible for deafness. However, the lack of any functional variants in GJB2, GJB3, GJB6 and TRMU suggested that nuclear genes may not play active roles in deafness expression. Hence, aminoglycosides and mitochondrial genetic background may contribute to the clinical expression of A1555G/C1494T-induced deafness. Our data indicated that the MAS-PCR was a fast, convenience method for screening the 12S rRNA mutations, which was useful for early detection and prevention of mitochondrial deafness.
Sensory Inhibition Is Related to Variable Speech Perception in Noise in Adults With Normal Hearing
Authors: Campbell Julia , Nielsen Mashhood , LaBrec Alison , Bean Connor 
Published: May 2020

Purpose
Speech perception in noise (SPiN) varies widely in individuals with normal hearing, which may be attributed to factors that are not reflected in the audiogram, such as inhibition. However, inhibition is involved at both sensory and cognitive stages of auditory perception, and while inhibition at the cognitive level has been shown to be a significant factor in SPiN processes, it is unknown whether sensory inhibition may also contribute to SPiN variability. Therefore, the goal of this study was to evaluate sensory inhibition in adults with normal hearing and mild SPiN impairment.

Method

Cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEPs) were recorded in 49 adults via high-density electroencephalography using an auditory gating paradigm. Participants were categorized according to a median signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) loss of 1.5 dB: typical SNR loss ≤ 1.5 dB (
n
= 32), mild SNR loss > 1.5 dB (
n
= 17). CAEP gating responses were compared and correlated with SNR loss and extended high-frequency thresholds. Current density reconstructions were performed to qualitatively observe underlying cortical inhibitory networks in each group.

Results
In comparison to adults with typical SPiN ability, adults with mild SPiN impairment showed an absence of the gating response. A CAEP gating component (P2) reflected decreased sensory inhibition and correlated with increased SNR loss. Extended high-frequency thresholds were also found to correlate with SNR loss, but not gating function. An atypical cortical inhibitory network was observed in the mild SNR loss group, with reduced frontal and absent prefrontal activation.

Conclusion
Sensory inhibition appears to be atypical and related to SPiN deficits in adults with mild impairment. In addition, cortical inhibitory networks appear to be incomplete, with a possible compensatory parietal network. Further research is needed to delineate between types or levels of central inhibitory mechanisms and their contribution to SPiN processes.
Assessing Speech Sound Disorders in School-Age Children From Diverse Language Backgrounds: A Tutorial With Three Case Studies
Authors: Jasso Javier , Potratz Jill R. 
Published: May 2020

Purpose
Assessing speech sound disorders (SSDs) in children from multilingual backgrounds requires synthesis of language- and dialect-specific information to arrive at a more accurate diagnosis. We present three case studies of school-age children with unique linguistic profiles to aid speech-language pathologists in assessing this diverse population. Our aim is to offer feasible strategies for speech-language pathologists who do not speak the student's language(s).

Method
Three multilingual school-age children with suspected SSD were assessed as part of an initial evaluation at a suburban school district. Children spoke Vietnamese–English, Japanese–Polish–English, and Tamil–English. Students' languages were considered in the entire assessment process (i.e., interview, test selection, data analysis, and clinical decision making), and appropriate measures and resources were chosen to understand word-level and spontaneous articulation, phonological awareness, and language skills. A contrastive analysis was used to determine the presence of an SSD.

Conclusions
Although all students presented with patterns attributable to transfer processes (e.g., nonmainstream vowel productions) and/or dialectal differences, only one of the three students presented with an SSD. Together, these cases underscore the importance of a comprehensive assessment for multilingual children.
Synovial Fluid Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Knee Arthritis and Cartilage Defects: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Fang William , Sun ZhiTao , Chen Xiao , Han Bo , Vangsness C. Thomas 
Published: May 2020

AbstractMesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells that have the ability to self-renew and differentiate into several cell lineages including adipocytes, chondrocytes, tenocytes, bones, and myoblasts. These properties make the cell a promising candidate for regenerative medicine applications, especially when dealing with sports injuries in the knee. MSCs can be isolated from almost every type of adult tissue. However, most of the current research focuses on MSCs derived from bone marrow, adipose, and placenta derived products. Synovial fluid-derived MSCs (SF-MSCs) are relatively overlooked but have demonstrated promising therapeutic properties including possessing higher chondrogenic proliferation capabilities than other types of MSCs. Interestingly, SF-MSC population has shown to increase exponentially in patients with joint injury or disease, pointing to a potential use as a biomarker or as a treatment of some orthopaedic disorders. In this review, we go over the current literature on synovial fluid-derived MSCs including the characterization, the animal studies, and discuss future perspectives.
Vertical Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2: A Systematic Review
Authors: Yang Ziyi , Liu Yi 
Published: May 2020

Objective The aim of this study is to summarize currently available evidence on vertical transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
Study Design A systematic review was conducted following the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis Statement.
Results A total of 22 studies comprising 83 neonates born to mothers diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 were included in the present systematic review. Among these neonates, three were confirmed with SARS-CoV-2 infection at 16, 36, and 72 hours after birth, respectively, by nasopharyngeal swab real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests; another six had elevated virus-specific antibody levels in serum samples collected after birth, but negative RT-PCR test results. However, without positive RT-PCR tests of amniotic fluid, placenta, or cord blood, there is a lack of virologic evidence for intrauterine vertical transmission.
Conclusion There is currently no direct evidence to support intrauterine vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Additional RT-PCR tests on amniotic fluid, placenta, and cord blood are needed to ascertain the possibility of intrauterine vertical transmission. For pregnant women infected during their first and second trimesters, further studies focusing on long-term outcomes are needed.
Key Points
Trees and forests in nuclear physics
Authors: Carnini M , Pastore A 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
We present a simple introduction to the decision tree algorithm using some examples from nuclear physics. We show how to improve the accuracy of the classical liquid drop nuclear mass model by performing feature engineering with a decision tree. Finally, we apply the method to the Duflo–Zuker model showing that, despite their simplicity, decision trees are capable of improving the description of nuclear masses using a limited number of free parameters.
His/Met heme ligation in the PioA outer membrane cytochrome enabling light-driven extracellular electron transfer by Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1
Authors: Li Dao-Bo , Edwards Marcus J , Blake Anthony W , Newton-Payne Simone E , Piper Samuel E H , Jenner Leon P , Sokol Katarzyna P , Reisner Erwin , Van Wonderen Jessica H , Clarke Thomas A , Butt Julea N 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
A growing number of bacterial species are known to move electrons across their cell envelopes. Naturally this occurs in support of energy conservation and carbon-fixation. For biotechnology it allows electron exchange between bacteria and electrodes in microbial fuel cells and during microbial electrosynthesis. In this context Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1 is of much interest. These bacteria respond to light by taking electrons from their external environment, including electrodes, to drive CO2-fixation. The PioA cytochrome, that spans the bacterial outer membrane, is essential for this electron transfer and yet little is known about its structure and electron transfer properties. Here we reveal the ten c-type hemes of PioA are redox active across the window +250 to −400 mV versus Standard Hydrogen Electrode and that the hemes with most positive reduction potentials have His/Met and His/H2O ligation. These chemical and redox properties distinguish PioA from the more widely studied family of MtrA outer membrane decaheme cytochromes with ten His/His ligated hemes. We predict a structure for PioA in which the hemes form a chain spanning the longest dimension of the protein, from Heme 1 to Heme 10. Hemes 2, 3 and 7 are identified as those most likely to have His/Met and/or His/H2O ligation. Sequence analysis suggests His/Met ligation of Heme 2 and/or 7 is a defining feature of decaheme PioA homologs from over 30 different bacterial genera. His/Met ligation of Heme 3 appears to be less common and primarily associated with PioA homologs from purple non-sulphur bacteria belonging to the alphaproteobacteria class.
A simple method to prepare superhydrophobic and regenerable antibacterial films
Authors: Liang Xiaomei , Chen Xin , Zhu Jianli , Liu Lixian , Wang Wei , Wang Xu , Qu Chunsheng 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Macromolecules incorporating N-halamines have shown significant antibacterial properties and can be regenerated by chlorination. In this work, a new type of regenerable material made of nano-sized latex particles having N-H groups was prepared via the emulsion polymerization of methacrylamide and dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate with divinylbenzene as a crosslinker. The N-H moieties in this polymer were subsequently transformed into N-Cl groups by chlorination with an aqueous sodium hypochlorite solution, and films were prepared by casting on substrates previously coated with a self-adhesive silicone rubber. The nanoparticles and the films were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), contact angle measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and microbiological tests. The results showed that F and Cl were successfully incorporated in the nanoparticles, that the films were thermally stable and hydrophobic (with a contact angle of 152°), and that these materials exhibited antimicrobial properties. The N-Cl groups killed bacteria by releasing active chlorine as they transitioned to N-H groups, and could be re-chlorinated with a methanol solution of isocyanuric chloride. FTIR and XPS analyses confirmed this regeneration, while SEM image showed that the morphology of the original microspheres was maintained after re-chlorination. The re-chlorinated films also maintained superhydrophobic and bactericidal characteristics.
Operative and Technical Modifications to the Coriolis® µ Air Sampler That Improve Sample Recovery and Biosafety During Microbiological Air Sampling
Authors: Rufino de Sousa Nuno , Shen Lei , Silcott David , Call Charles J , Rothfuchs Antonio Gigliotti 
Published: May 2020

AbstractDetecting infectious aerosols is central for gauging and countering airborne threats. In this regard, the Coriolis® µ cyclonic air sampler is a practical, commercial collector that can be used with various analysis methods to monitor pathogens in air. However, information on how to operate this unit under optimal sampling and biosafety conditions is limited. We investigated Coriolis performance in aerosol dispersal experiments with polystyrene microspheres and Bacillus globigii spores. We report inconsistent sample recovery from the collector cone due to loss of material when sampling continuously for more than 30 min. Introducing a new collector cone every 10 min improved this shortcoming. Moreover, we found that several surfaces on the device become contaminated during sampling. Adapting a high efficiency particulate air-filter system to the Coriolis prevented contamination without altering collection efficiency or tactical deployment. A Coriolis modified with these operative and technical improvements was used to collect aerosols carrying microspheres released inside a Biosafety Level-3 laboratory during simulations of microbiological spills and aerosol dispersals. In summary, we provide operative and technical solutions to the Coriolis that optimize microbiological air sampling and improve biosafety.