bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Aerobic exercise and nano-curcumin supplementation improve inflammation in elderly females with metabolic syndrome
Authors: Osali Ali 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundAging, inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic syndrome are the main important factors in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level.AimThe aim of this research was to investigate the effect of 6-week aerobic exercise with moderate intensity and consumption of nano-curcumin on IL-6, IL-10 and BDNF in 60–65 year females with metabolic syndrome (MS).Materials and methodsForty-four women with metabolic syndrome (Mets) voluntarily took part in the present study. Participants were randomly divided into 4 groups of MetS exercise + Nano-Curcumin (MENC), MetS exercise (ME), MetS Nano-Curcumin (MNC), MetS control (MC). During the first week, MENC and ME groups participated in three sets of 10-min aerobic exercise training (AT) with a treadmill with 5-min rest parts between the sets. One minute was added to the duration of exercise sets weekly. Blood samples were collected before and after 6 weeks. IL-6, IL-10 and BDNF levels were measured by ELISA method. To analyze the data, Paired-samples t-test with the significance level of (P ≤ 0.05).ResultsIL-10 and BDNF concentrations significantly increased after a 6-week intervention (P ≤ 0.05). Also, IL-6 serum levels significantly decreased (P ≤ 0.05). Besides, the results of the present study suggested that nano-curcumin supplementation significantly decreases serum concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), and hs-CRP in subjects with metabolic syndrome. In addition, the results of the present study suggested that nano-curcumin supplementation significantly increases serum concentrations of BDNF, IL-10, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in subjects with metabolic syndrome.ConclusionFindings show that both of the regular exercise and consumption of NanoCurcumin for 6 weeks reduce inflammation. Combination of these two leads to even more reduction of inflammation. The regular exercise led to a decrease at the fat percentage, which deceased IL-6 level and increased IL-10 level. So, this change led to increasing BDNF’s levels.Trial registrationIRCT2017082335857N1 Registered 2017-11-16, https://en.irct.ir/trial/26971
Perception of and risk factors for type 2 diabetes among students attending an upstate New York college: a pilot study
Authors: Antwi Janet , Lavin Rebecca , Sullivan Stacey , Bellavia Maria 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background
Detecting early type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk factors may reduce or prevent the development of the disease. We conducted a pilot study to generate preliminary data on the perception of T2D and further determined the prevalence of T2D risk factors among college students at an upstate New York campus.

Methods
Metabolic profiles were available for 44 college students for cross-sectional analysis. The American Diabetes Association screening guidelines were used to determine risk factors, and perceived susceptibility, perceived seriousness, and self-efficacy were determined with the Health Belief Model’s constructs. Sociodemographic and anthropometric data, nutrition knowledge, and metabolic profiles were obtained.

Results
The most common T2D risk factors were lack of physical activity (61.4%), decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c, 56.8%), high fasting blood glucose (FBG, 45.5%), family history of T2D (43.2%), increased body mass index (BMI, 36.4%), and high blood pressure (15.9%). A high proportion (70%) of participants with detected impaired FBG perceived they were at low risk of developing T2D. Participants with a family history of T2D (mean rank = 24.2) perceived the seriousness of T2D at a similar level as those without family history (mean rank = 21.2), with no significant difference (U = 205, P = 0.430). Nearly 30% of students did not feel confident they could prevent the development of T2D. Pearson’s correlations revealed direct relationships between perceived risk of T2D and BMI (r = 0.49, P = 0.001), fat mass percent (r = 0.51, P < 0.001), and waist circumference (r = 0.42, P = 0.005), and an inverse relationship was found with HDL-c (r = − 0.41, P = 0.005). The association of perceived risk of T2D with a family history of T2D revealed a trend toward significance (Chi-squared = 5.746, P = 0.057), and the association of perceived risk of T2D with physical activity was not significant (Chi-squared = 1.520, P = 0.468). The nutrition knowledge score was 74.32 ± 15.97 (recommended is > 75). However, knowledge scores regarding recommended intake of fruits, vegetables, high sodium foods, and whole grains to prevent T2D were only 36.36%, 34.09%, 47.73%, and 63.6%, respectively.

Conclusions
The discordance between college students’ perceived risk and prevalence of T2D risk factors warrants strategies to address misperceptions of T2D risk and improve lifestyle behaviors among this study sample.
Critical methodological considerations in recruiting and engaging non-native English speaking workers with a head injury: a Canadian perspective
Authors: Nowrouzi-Kia B. , Sharma B. , Lewko J. , Colantonio A. 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Objective
Non-native English speaking workers with a mild work-related traumatic brain and/or head injury are a vulnerable and underrepresented population in research studies. The researchers present their experiences with recruiting and performing qualitative interviews with non-native English speaking individuals with a work-related mild traumatic brain injury, and provide recommendations on how to better include this vulnerable population in future research studies. This paper presents considerations regarding ethics, recruitment challenges, interview preparation and debriefing, sex & gender and language and cultural issues must be made when working with this vulnerable population.

Results
The researchers discuss critical issues and provide recommendations in recruiting and engaging with non-native English language workers including ethics, recruitment challenges, interview preparation and debriefing, sex & gender and language, and cultural considerations that must be made when working with this population. The study recommendations advise investigators to spend more time to learn about the non-native English participants in the mild wrTBI context, to be familiar with the vulnerabilities and specific circumstances that these workers experience. By increasing their awareness of the challenging facing this vulnerable population, the intention is to provide better care and treatment options through evidence-based research and practice.
Inter domain interactions influence the substrate affinity and hydrolysis product specificity of xylanase from Streptomyces chartreusis L1105
Authors: Xiong Ke , Yan Zi xiang , Liu Jia yun , Pei Peng gang , Deng Lei , Gao Le , Sun Bao guo 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Purpose
This study investigated the influence of inter-domain interactions on the substrate affinity and hydrolysis product specificity of xylanase.

Methods
Genes encoding a GH10 endo-xylanase from Streptomyces chartreusis L1105 xynA and its truncated derivative were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The catalytic activities of the enzyme (xynA) and the derivative xynADCBM, lacking the carbohydrate binding module (CBM), were assessed to evaluate the role of CBM in xynA.

Results
Recombinant xynA (44 kDa) was found to be optimally active on beechwood xylan at 65 °C with pH 7.7, while xynADCBM (34 kDa) exhibited optimal activity at 65 °C with pH 7.2. Additionally, xynA and xynADCBM were found to be highly thermostable at 40–60 °C, each retaining 80% of their original activity after 30 min. The xynADCBM without the CBM domain was highly efficient at hydrolyzing xylan to produce xylobiose (over 67%), which may be because the CBM domain facilitates substrate binding with xylanase. Meanwhile, the xylan hydrolysis efficiency of xynADCBM was higher than that of xynA.

Conclusion
These findings showed that the CBM domain with non-catalytic activity has no significant effect on the characteristics of the enzyme at optimum pH and pH tolerance. It has also been suggested that the derivative xynADCBM without CBM components can promote hydrolysis of xylan to yield xylooligosaccharides, which has great potential economic benefits.
The presence of overlapping quality of life symptoms in primary antibody deficiency (PAD) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
Authors: Bansal Rhea A. , Tadros Susan , Bansal Amolak S. 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background
Fatigue, sleep disturbance and altered mood are frequently reported in patients with primary antibody deficiency syndrome (PADS) on adequate immunoglobulin replacement therapy. This study aimed to determine the frequency of symptoms compatible with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in patients with PADS.

Methods
The study involved the distribution of 682 self-completed postal questionnaires to ascertain the presence and frequency of symptoms compatible with CFS in patients with PADS. The reporting of symptoms for each patient were scored against the CFS diagnostic criteria used within our own South London Chronic Fatigue service.

Results
The frequency of symptoms compatible with CFS were evident in 26 of the 188 patients (16.25%) returning adequately completed questionnaires. We considered a bias in the return of questionnaires amongst PADS patients with fatigue to be likely. As such we estimated the minimum frequency of CFS in patients with PADS to be 4% based on the 682 PAD patients to whom the questionnaire was distributed. This was significantly higher than the 0.5% estimate of the prevalence of CFS in the community in western populations. While the presence of significant fatigue correlated with the presence of anxiety and depression, there was no association with self-reported lung damage. Sleep disturbance affected 60% of the PAD patients returning satisfactory questionnaires and as expected the CFS score was higher in those with greater physical limitation.

Conclusions
We conclude that patients with PADS have a high frequency of fatigue, low mood and anxiety. We suggest routine questioning for the symptoms of fatigue, disturbed sleep and altered mood in patients with PADS. The use of several treatment strategies in CFS may prove beneficial in improving the quality of life of patients with PAD.
Multimodal analysis using [11C]PiB-PET/MRI for functional evaluation of patients with Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Okazawa Hidehiko , Ikawa Masamichi , Jung Minyoung , Maruyama Rikiya , Tsujikawa Tetsuya , Mori Tetsuya , Rahman Mahmudur G. M. , Makino Akira , Kiyono Yasushi , Kosaka Hirotaka 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundMultimodal PET/MRI image data simultaneously obtained from patients with early-stage of Alzheimer’s disease (eAD) were assessed in order to observe pathophysiologic and functional changes, as well as alterations of morphology and connectivity in the brain. Fifty-eight patients with mild cognitive impairment and early dementia (29 males, 69 ± 12 years) underwent [11C]Pittsburgh compound-B (PiB) PET/MRI with 70-min PET and MRI scans. Sixteen age-matched healthy controls (CTL) (9 males, 68 ± 11 years) were also studied with the same scanning protocol. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was calculated from the early phase PET images using the image-derived input function method. A standardized uptake value ratio (SUVr) was calculated from 50 to 70 min PET data with a reference region of the cerebellar cortex. MR images such as 3D-T1WI, resting-state functional MRI (RS-fMRI), diffusion tensor image (DTI), and perfusion MRI acquired during the dynamic PET scan were also analyzed to evaluate various brain functions on MRI.ResultsTwenty-seven of the 58 patients were determined as eAD based on the results of PiB-PET and clinical findings, and a total of 43 subjects’ data including CTL were analyzed in this study. PiB SUVr values in all cortical regions of eAD were significantly greater than those of CTL. The PiB accumulation intensity was negatively correlated with cognitive scores. The regional PET-CBF values of eAD were significantly lower in the bilateral parietal lobes and right temporal lobe compared with CTL, but not in MRI perfusion; however, SPM showed regional differences on both PET- and MRI-CBF. SPM analysis of RS-fMRI delineated regional differences between the groups in the anterior cingulate cortex and the left precuneus. VBM analysis showed atrophic changes in the AD group in a part of the bilateral hippocampus; however, analysis of fractional anisotropy calculated from DTI data did not show differences between the two groups.ConclusionMultimodal analysis conducted with various image data from PiB-PET/MRI scans showed differences in regional CBF, cortical volume, and neuronal networks in different regions, indicating that pathophysiologic and functional changes in the AD brain can be observed from various aspects of neurophysiologic parameters. Application of multimodal brain images using PET/MRI would be ideal for investigating pathophysiologic changes in patients with dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases.
The DNA secondary structures at telomeres and genome instability
Authors: Tan Jun , Lan Li 
Published: March 2020

AbstractTelomeric DNA are TTAGGG tandem repeats, which are susceptible for oxidative DNA damage and hotspot regions for formation of DNA secondary structures such as t-loop, D-loop, G-quadruplexes (G4), and R-loop. In the past two decades, unique DNA or RNA secondary structures at telomeres or some specific regions of genome have become promising therapeutic targets. G-quadruplex and R-loops at telomeres or transcribed regions of genome have been considered as the potential targets for cancer therapy. Here we discuss the potentials to target the secondary structures (G4s and R-loops) in genome as therapy approaches.
Deep learning-based computation offloading with energy and performance optimization
Authors: Gong Yongsheng , Lv Congmin , Cao Suzhi , Yan Lei , Wang Houpeng 
Published: March 2020

AbstractWith the benefit of partially or entirely offloading computations to a nearby server, mobile edge computing gives user equipment (UE) more powerful capability to run computationally intensive applications. However, a critical challenge emerged: how to select the optimal set of components to offload considering the UE performance as well as its battery usage constraints. In this paper, we propose a novel energy and performance efficient deep learning based offloading algorithm. The optimal offloading schemes of components based on remaining energy and its performance can be determined by our proposed algorithm. All of these considerations are modeled as a cost function; then, a deep learning network is trained to compute the solution by which the optimal offloading scheme can be determined. Experimental results show that the proposed method is superior to existing methods in terms of energy and performance constraints.
Nontrivial solutions of a class of fractional differential equations with p-Laplacian via variational methods
Authors: Qiao Yan , Chen Fangqi , An Yukun 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIn this paper, a class of boundary value problems for fractional differential equations with a parameter is studied via the variational methods. Firstly, we present a result that the boundary value problems have at least one weak solution under the quadratic condition and the superquadratic condition, respectively. Additionally, we obtain the existence of at least one nontrivial solution by using the famous mountain pass lemma without the Ambrosetti–Rabinowitz condition. Finally, by a recent critical points theorem of Bonanno and Marano, the existence of at least three solutions is established.
Applications of some fixed point theorems for fractional differential equations with Mittag-Leffler kernel
Authors: Afshari Hojjat , Baleanu Dumitru 
Published: March 2020

AbstractUsing some fixed point theorems for contractive mappings, including α-γ-Geraghty type contraction, α-type F-contraction, and some other contractions in $\mathcal{F}$F-metric space, this research intends to investigate the existence of solutions for some Atangana–Baleanu fractional differential equations in the Caputo sense.
Higher incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome in cardiac surgical patients with elevated serum procalcitonin concentration: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Cheng Zhang-Bo , Chen Han 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundInflammatory response is activated during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), which may lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and procalcitonin (PCT) increases during this inflammatory response. The objective of the study was to validate whether patients with higher serum PCT concentrations have a higher incidence of ARDS.MethodsThe study was a prospective, single-center, observational cohort study. All patients who received cardiac surgery with CPB were screened for study eligibility. Patients were assigned to the PCT-elevated cohort or the control cohort according to serum PCT concentration on the first postoperative day with a cut-off value of 7.0 ng/mL. Patients were followed up until the 7th postoperative day. The primary endpoint was the incidence of ARDS, which was diagnosed according to the Berlin definition.ResultsA total of 296 patients were enrolled, 64 patients were assigned to the PCT-elevated cohort and 232 patients were assigned to the control cohort. PCT concentration was 16.23 ± 5.9 ng/mL in the PCT-elevated cohort, and 2.70 ± 1.43 ng/mL in the control cohort (p < 0.001). The incidence of ARDS was significantly higher in the PCT-elevated cohort than in the control cohort (21.9% versus 5.6%,p < 0.001). The incidence of moderate-to-severe ARDS was also significantly higher in the PCT-elevated cohort than in the control cohort (10.9% versus 0.4%,p < 0.001). The hazard ratio of ARDS at 7 days in the PCT-elevated cohort, as compared with the control cohort, was 6.8 (95% confidence interval 2.7 to 17.4). The hazard ratio of moderate-to-severe ARDS in the PCT-elevated cohort was 57.3 (95% confidence interval 10.4 to 316.3). The positive predictive value of PCT for ARDS and moderate-to-severe ARDS were 0.242 and 0.121, respectively; the negative predictive value of PCT for ARDS and moderate-to-severe ARDS were 0.952 and 1.0, respectively.ConclusionCardiac surgical patients with elevated PCT concentration have a higher incidence of ARDS. Elevated PCT may serve as a warning signal of postoperative ARDS in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB.Study registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-OCH-14005076)
Bond Behavior of Basalt Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Bars Embedded in Concrete Under Mono-tensile and Cyclic Loads
Authors: Liu Xia , Wang Xin , Xie Kangyu , Wu Zhishen , Li Feng 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThis study evaluates the static and fatigue bond behavior in basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) bars embedded in concrete. For bond behavior under a mono-tensile load, BFRP bars with four types of surface patterns (round, rectangular, cross-winding, and spiral-winding) were adopted, and 20 groups of rib parameters were introduced for round-type BFRP bars. The bond–slip relationships and the influences of the above parameters on bond behavior were investigated. An analytical model for simulating the relationships of full bond slip was studied by data fitting. For bond behavior under cyclic loads, the relationship between stress levels and the number of cycles was investigated, and the slip of round-ribbed BFRP bars was studied with respect to the number of cycles. The results showed that the rectangular, cross-winding, and spiral-winding ribbed bars experienced serious wear, and that the average bond strength was approximately 80.6% of that of the round-ribbed bars. Thus, the bond behavior of the round rib is superior to those of the other surfaces. In addition, a bond–slip constitutive model for a BFRP bar is proposed, representing four main stages: a micro-slip stage, a slip stage, a descending stage, and a residual stage. Under cyclic loads, an equation was proposed for predicting fatigue life with a regression coefficient of 0.880, and a development law of slip was characterized as three stages: the linear increase stage, the steady increase stage, and the sharp increase stage, respectively.
The molecular characteristics of spinal cord gliomas with or without H3 K27M mutation
Authors: Chai Rui-Chao , Zhang Yao-Wu , Liu Yu-Qing , Chang Yu-Zhou , Pang Bo , Jiang Tao , Jia Wen-Qing , Wang Yong-Zhi 
Published: March 2020

AbstractDue to the rare incidence of spinal cord astrocytomas, their molecular features remain unclear. Here, we characterized the landscapes of mutations in H3 K27M, isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) R132H, BRAF V600E, and the TERT promoter in 83 diffuse spinal cord astrocytic tumors. Among these samples, thirty-five patients had the H3 K27M mutation; this mutant could be observed in histological grade II (40%), III (40%), and IV (20%) astrocytomas. IDH1 mutations were absent in 58 of 58 cases tested. The BRAF V600E mutation (7/57) was only observed in H3-wildtype astrocytomas, and was associated with a better prognosis in all histological grade II/III astrocytomas. TERT promoter mutations were observed in both H3 K27M-mutant (4/25) and -wildtype (9/33) astrocytomas, and were associated with a poor prognosis in H3-wildtype histological grade II/III astrocytomas. In the 2016 WHO classification of CNS tumors, H3 K27M-mutant diffuse midline gliomas, including spinal cord astrocytomas, are categorized as WHO grade IV. Here, we noticed that the median overall survival of histological grade II/III H3 K27M-mutant cases (n = 28) was significantly longer than that of either the total histological grade IV cases (n = 12) or the H3 K27M-mutant histological grade IV cases (n = 7). We also directly compared H3 K27M-mutant astrocytomas to H3-wildtype astrocytomas of the same histological grade. In histological grade II astrocytomas, compared to H3-wildtype cases (n = 37), H3 K27M-mutant patients (n = 14) had showed a significantly higher Ki-67-positive rate and poorer survival rate. However, no significant differences in these parameters were observed in histological grade III and IV astrocytoma patients. In conclusion, these findings indicate that spinal cord astrocytomas are considerably different from hemispheric and brainstem astrocytomas in terms of their molecular profiles, and that the histological grade cannot be ignored when assessing the prognosis of H3 K27M-mutant spinal cord astrocytomas.