bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Solid-state fermentation as an efficient strategy for the biotransformation of lentils: enhancing their antioxidant and antidiabetic potentials
Authors: Magro Ana Elisa Alves , Silva Laura Carvalho , Rasera Gabriela Boscariol , de Castro Ruann Janser Soares 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Fermentation is a classic industrial process that can be applied as an efficient strategy to increase the release of bioactive compounds with antioxidant and antidiabetic activities.

Methods
This work reported the effects of solid-state fermentation (SSF) performed using strains of Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus niger on the antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS and FRAP) and in vitro antidiabetic (inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities) potential of lentils.

Results
The results showed that the profiles of the biological activities of the extracts obtained from the fermented samples varied greatly with respect to both the microorganism involved and the fermentation time. The extracts obtained from the fermented lentils by A. oryzae after 72 h and by A. niger after 48 h using the FRAP assay showed the most remarkable changes in the antioxidant activity, increasing by 107 and 81%, respectively, compared to the nonfermented lentils. The lentil extracts produced by fermentation with A. niger after 48 h were able to inhibit the α-glucosidase activity by up to 90%, while a maximal inhibition of amylase (~ 75%) was achieved by the lentil extract obtained after 24 h of fermentation with A. oryzae. The content of the total phenolic compounds (TPCs) and the identification of them in lentil extracts correlated well with the improvement of the biological activities.

Conclusion
These results suggested that SSF was feasible to obtain extracts of fermented lentils with improved antioxidant and antidiabetic properties. Additionally, these results indicated that the proper choice of microorganism is crucial to direct the process for the production of compounds with specific biological activities.
microRNA in Early-Stage Breast Cancer in Lebanese Women
Authors: Nassar Farah , Tfayli Arafat , Itani Abdul Rahman , Chamandi Ghada , Zgheib Nathalie , Makoukji Joelle , Boustany Rosemary , Talhouk Rabih , Nasr Rihab 
Published: October 2019

PURPOSE Breast cancer is the most prevalent female cancer and has a higher incidence in young Lebanese patients as compared with the West. Interestingly, this particularity of breast cancer in the Lebanese population was not found to be associated with higher BRCA1/2 gene mutations. Hence, our research focuses on investigating molecular mechanisms and associated epigenetic signatures that underlie breast cancer in young patients. We are specifically interested in microRNA (miRNA), small noncoding RNAs that act as master players at all stages of breast cancer development and that are increasingly recognized as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. We have previously shown that differential expression of certain miRNAs in Lebanese breast cancer tissues could be different than what is reported in the West. METHODS We recently assessed the miRNA microarray profile expression in Lebanese breast cancer tissues, performed a comparative miRNA profile analysis with matched American samples, and predicted the role of dysregulated miRNA in early breast cancer through mRNA-miRNA integration analysis. RESULTS Although most of the dysregulated miRNA in Lebanese patients with breast cancer is similar to that in American population, differences in miRNA expression exist and can be attributed either to the patient’s age at diagnosis or to an ethnic variation. We are currently studying circulating miRNA in the blood of Lebanese patients with breast cancer, and a dysregulated signature will be presented. CONCLUSION Our data provide a basis for additional investigation that should be performed to comprehend dysregulated miRNA implication in breast cancer, especially in young patients, and the role of circulating miRNAs as potential biomarkers for breast cancer early detection.
Traditional eye medicine use in microbial keratitis in Uganda: a mixed methods study
Authors: Arunga Simon , Asiimwe Allen , Apio Olet Eunice , Kagoro-Rugunda Grace , Ayebazibwe Bosco , Onyango John , Newton Robert , Leck Astrid , Macleod David , Hu Victor H. , Seeley Janet , Burton Matthew J. 
Published: October 2019

Background: Traditional eye medicine (TEM) is frequently used to treat microbial keratitis (MK) in many parts of Africa. Few reports have suggested that this is associated with a worse outcome. We undertook this large prospective study to determine how TEM use impacts presentation and outcome of MK and to explore reasons why people use TEM for treatment in Uganda. Methods: In a mixed method prospective cohort study, we enrolled patients presenting with MK at the two main eye units in Southern Uganda between December 2016 and March 2018 and collected information on history, TEM use, microbiology and 3-month outcomes. We conducted qualitative interviews with patients, carers traditional healers on reasons why people use TEM. Outcome measures included presenting vision and at 3-months, comparing TEM Users versus Non-Users. A thematic coding framework was deployed to explore reasons for use of TEM. Results: Out of 313 participants enrolled, 188 reported TEM use. TEM Users had a delayed presentation; median presenting time 18 days versus 14 days, p= 0.005; had larger ulcers 5.6 mm versus 4.3 mm p=0.0005; a worse presenting visual acuity median logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (Log MAR) 1.5 versus 0.6, p=0.005; and, a worse visual acuity at 3 months median Log MAR 0.6 versus 0.2, p=0.010. In a multivariable logistic regression model, distance from the eye hospital and delayed presentation were associated with TEM use. Reasons for TEM use included lack of confidence in conventional medicine, health system breakdown, poverty, fear of the eye hospital, cultural belief in TEM, influence from traditional healers, personal circumstances and ignorance. Conclusion: TEM users had poorer clinical presentation and outcomes. Capacity building of the primary health centres to improve access to eye care and community behavioural change initiatives against TEM use should be encouraged.
Self- or caregiver-delivered manual remote ischemic conditioning therapy in acute ischemic stroke is feasible: the Early Remote Ischemic Conditioning in Stroke (ERICS) trial
Authors: Kate Mahesh , Brar Sumair , George Uttam , Rathore Shubhra , Butcher Kenneth , Pandian Jeyaraj , Hess David 
Published: October 2019

Background: Infarct growth and recurrent stroke may be responsible for early morbidity and mortality in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) may reduce infarct growth and prevent recurrent stroke; however, the exact dose remains to be investigated. We hypothesized that self- or caregiver-delivered six cycles of RIC intervention in acute ischaemic stroke for the first 12 weeks is feasible and safe compared to the four cycles RIC intervention. Methods: Adult ischemic stroke patients presenting within the first 48 h of symptom onset were screened. Patients with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence of acute infarct were randomized (1:1) to receive either four or six cycles of RIC therapy sessions two times daily in both arms for 12 weeks. All patients underwent MRI for infarct volume assessment and endothelial-dependent flow-mediated dilation (EDFMD) testing at baseline, 7 days and 12 weeks. Results: A total of 57 patients with mean±SD age of 59.4±12.4 years and median National Institute of Stroke Scale, 4 (IQR, 3-7) were randomised at a median of 23 h 30 min (IQR, 10 h 20 min to 30 h) after symptom onset to either the four-cycle (n=27) or six-cycle group (n=30). A total of 18 (66%) patients completed ≥50% sessions in 12 weeks in the four-cycles group; 21 (69.7%) patients completed ≥50% sessions in 12 weeks in the six-cycle group (p=0.4). There was no between-group differences in infarct growth, early neurological deterioration, recurrent stroke, and EDFMD at 7 days and 90 days. Conclusion: Both four and six cycles of short-term self- or caregiver-delivered RIC therapy is safe and may be feasible in acute ischaemic stroke patients. Randomised clinical trials are needed to assess efficacy to decrease infarct growth and prevent early neurological deterioration. Registration: Clinical Trial Registry - India: CTRI/2016/11/007495; registered on 25/11/2016.
Soybean extract increases telomerase reverse transcriptase protein expression in pancreatic β-cells of diabetes mellitus-induced rats
Authors: Mustofa Muhammad Samsul , Suyatna Franciscus Dhyanagiri , Sadikin Mohamad , Pujianto Dwi Ari , Royhan Aan , Suwardji Kenconoviati 
Published: October 2019

BACKGROUND A number of studies on the benefits of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr) in the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM) have already been conducted; however, the effects of soybean extracts on telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) expression in improving telomerase activity in pancreatic cells is currently unknown. This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of soybean extracts on TERT protein expression in the pancreatic β-cells of rats with DM.
METHODS Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups: (1) negative control (N); (2) DM rats induced by alloxan (DMA); (3) DM rats with glibenclamide (DMG; positive control); (4) DM rats with 1 mg/kgBW/day soybean extract (DM1E); (5) DM rats with 5 mg/kgBW/day soybean extract (DM5E); (6) DM rats with 25 mg/kgBW/day soybean extract (DM25E). The treatments were carried out over 28 days. The measured variables included fasting blood glucose (FBG) level, TERT protein expression, and the number of pancreatic β-cells.
RESULTS All parameters were measured against the diabetes control group. The FBG levels in rats DM1E, DM5E, and DM25E were significantly reduced on the 28th day (p < 0.05). TERT protein expression and the number of pancreatic β-cells (DM25E) also showed significant improvements compared to DM rats (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS Soybean extracts can increase TERT protein expression in pancreatic β-cells in diabetes-induced rats.
Sexualised landscapes and gentry masculinity in Victorian scenery: An ecostylistic examination of a pornographic novel from the magazineThe Pearl
Authors: Virdis Daniela Francesca 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThis article is an ecostylistic examination ofSub-Umbra, one of the six serialised novels in the Victorian pornographic magazineThe Pearl(1879–1881). It explores the stylistic strategies utilised to depict landscapes and masculinity – stylistic choices at word- and phrase-level, collocation and compounding, semantic crescendo, humour and point of view – applying an ecostylistic approach. The investigation reveals that the unfolding of the licentious narrative develops from the description of the setting, more precisely the landscape and natural scenery, as feminised and sexualised (Kolodny. 1975.The lay of the land: Metaphor as experience and history in American life and letters. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press). It also demonstrates that the sociological model of gentry masculinity (Connell. 2005.Masculinities. Oxford: Blackwell), characterised by landownership and domination of the physical environment, is the most appropriate to define the main character and narrator interacting with the gendered countryside setting.
Power to methanol technologies via CO2recovery: CO2hydrogenation and electrocatalytic routes
Authors: Samiee Leila , Gandzha Sergey 
Published: October 2019

AbstractVarious strategies are proposed to date in order to convert CO2to large diversity of useful chemicals. The following review discusses two important approaches that produce methanol from CO2. These two includes CO2hydrogenation and electrocatalytic routes. These processes could recycle CO2, permitting a carbon neutral, closed loop of fuel combustion and CO2reduction to prevent a rising concentration of this greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. Besides, intermittent electricity generation can be stored in an energy-dense, portable form in chemical bonds. The present review reports more recent findings and drawbacks of these two processes. The present review study revealed that the hydrogenation process could become readily operational in comparison to electrocatalytic process. The electrocatalytic approach still has serious technical issues in terms of kinetically sluggish multi-electron transfer process during CO2reduction reaction that requires excessive over-potential, relatively poor selectivity, poor durability in the long term, and the absence of the optimized standard experimental and commercial systems.
Changes in inflammatory plasma proteins from patients with chronic pain associated with treatment in an interdisciplinary multimodal rehabilitation program – an explorative multivariate pilot study
Authors: Gerdle Björn , Bäckryd Emmanuel , Falkenberg Torkel , Lundström Erik , Ghafouri Bijar 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
It has been suggested that alterations in inflammation molecules maintain chronic pain although little is known about how these factors influence homeostatic and inflammatory events in common chronic pain conditions. Nonpharmacological interventions might be associated with alterations in inflammation markers in blood. This study of patients with chronic pain investigates whether an interdisciplinary multimodal rehabilitation program (IMMRP) was associated with significant alterations in the plasma pattern of 68 cytokines/chemokines 1 year after rehabilitation and whether such changes were associated with clinical changes. Blood samples and self-reports of pain, psychological distress, and physical activity of 25 complex chronic pain patients were collected pre-IMMRP and at 12-month follow-up. Analyses of inflammatory proteins (cytokines/chemokines/growth factors) were performed directly in plasma using the multiplex immunoassay technology Meso Scale Discovery. This explorative pilot study found that 12 substances, mainly pro-inflammatory, decreased after IMMRP. In two other relatively small IMMRP studies, four of these proinflammatory markers were also associated with decreases. The pattern of cytokines/chemokines pre-IMMRP was associated with changes in psychological distress but not with pain or physical activity. The present study cannot impute cause and effect. These results together with the results of the two previous IMMRP studies suggest that there is a need for larger and more strictly controlled studies of IMMRP with respect to inflammatory markers in blood. Such studies need to consider responders/non-responders, additional therapies, involved pain mechanisms and diagnoses. This and the two other studies open up for developing biologically measurable outcomes from plasma. Such biomarkers will be an important tool for further development of IMMRP and possibly other treatments for patients w ith chronic pain.
Autoria e internacionalização na escrita acadêmica: análise da principal organização profissional das Engenharias Elétrica e Eletrônica
Authors: Paris Larissa Giacometti , Laranjeira Rómina De Mello 
Published: October 2019

Este artigo identifica e analisa as concepções de escrita acadêmica do IEEE (Instituto de Engenheiros Eletricistas e Eletrônicos), uma organização de relevância internacional na área. Para tal, utiliza procedimentos investigativos de base documental, caracterizando-se como uma pesquisa qualitativo-interpretativa. A partir do quadro teórico-epistemológico dos Letramentos Acadêmicos, analisa documentos do Instituto referentes à escrita e publicação de artigos científicos, com foco na autoria e internacionalização da produção científica. Em relação ao primeiro elemento, observa-se que a definição de autoria, associada a questões de ética na publicação, evidencia relações implícitas de poder institucional, no âmbito da cultura da velocidade. Em segundo lugar, conclui-se que as orientações disponibilizadas pelo IEEE, no que concerne à escrita em inglês, evidenciam uma perspectiva centrada no domínio das habilidades técnicas, perpetuando desigualdades entre o centro anglo-americano e os falantes não nativos de Inglês, na conjuntura atual da internacionalização da ciência.
Electroencephalographic Signatures of the Neural Representation of Speech during Selective Attention
Authors: Viswanathan Vibha , Bharadwaj Hari M. , Shinn-Cunningham Barbara G. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThe ability to selectively attend to speech in the presence of other competing talkers is critical for everyday communication; yet the neural mechanisms facilitating this process are poorly understood. Here, we use electroencephalography (EEG) to study how a mixture of two speech streams is represented in the brain as subjects attend to one stream or the other. To characterize the speech-EEG relationships and how they are modulated by attention, we estimate the statistical association between each canonical EEG frequency band (delta, theta, alpha, beta, low-gamma, and high-gamma) and the envelope of each of ten different frequency bands in the input speech. Consistent with previous literature, we find that low-frequency (delta and theta) bands show greater speech-EEG coherence when the speech stream is attended compared to when it is ignored. We also find that the envelope of the low-gamma band shows a similar attention effect, a result not previously reported with EEG. This is consistent with the prevailing theory that neural dynamics in the gamma range are important for attention-dependent routing of information in cortical circuits. In addition, we also find that the greatest attention-dependent increases in speech-EEG coherence are seen in the mid-frequency acoustic bands (0.5–3 kHz) of input speech and the temporal-parietal EEG sensors. Finally, we find individual differences in the following: (1) the specific set of speech-EEG associations that are the strongest, (2) the EEG and speech features that are the most informative about attentional focus, and (3) the overall magnitude of attentional enhancement of speech-EEG coherence.
Sleep Deprivation Disrupts Acquisition of Contextual Fear Extinction by Affecting Circadian Oscillation of Hippocampal-Infralimbic proBDNF
Authors: Sun Wei , Li Jia , Cui Shuai , Luo Le , Huang Peidong , Tang Chunzhi , An Lei 
Published: October 2019

AbstractExtensive evidence showed that mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (mBDNF) levels displayed a circadian pattern. Circadian disruption, for example, sleep deprivation (SD), induced functional and behavioral deficits. However, compared with that of mature form, the biological role of the pro-peptide, proBDNF, was poorly understood. Here, we found that proBDNF was expressed under circadian rhythm in the ventral hippocampus (vHPC). SD rats exhibited deficits in acquisition of conditioned extinction and damped rhythmicity in vHPC proBDNF activity that were accompanied by SD between zeitgeber time (ZT)0 and ZT4, but not the late stage of sleep period. Furthermore, SD affected fear extinction through vHPC-IL proBDNF signaling, which was associated with NR2B subunits of NMDA receptors. More importantly, infusion of proBDNF could mitigate SD-induced abnormal neural activity, by suppressing the enhanced basal firing rate of IL-RS and elevating the depressed neural response that evoked by acquisition of conditioned extinction. Therefore, this finding provided the first evidence that circadian oscillation of vHPC proBDNF activity contributed to the effects of SD on acquisition of conditioned fear extinction, and suggested a new therapeutic target to reverse the cognitive deficits in sleep-related mental disorder, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Immune response in bacterial and Candida sepsis
Authors: Patricio Patricia , Paiva José Artur , Borrego Luís Miguel 
Published: October 2019

Sepsis leads to a systemic immune response, and despite the progress of modern medicine, it is still responsible for a high mortality rate.
The immune response to sepsis is dependent on the innate and adaptive immune systems. The first line is the innate system, which requires complex and multiple pathways in order to eliminate the invading threats. The adaptive responses start after the innate response. The cell-mediated arm of CD4+ and CD8+ T and B cells is the main responsible for this response.
A coordinated cytokine response is essential for the host immune response. A dysregulated response can lead to a hyperinflammatory condition (cytokine storm). This hyperinflammation leads to neutrophils activation and may also lead to organ dysfunction. An imbalance of this response can increase the anti-inflammatory response, leading to compensatory anti-inflammatory response syndrome (CARS), persistent inflammation-immunsupression, catabolism syndrome (PICS), and, above all, an immune paralysis stat.
This immune paralysis leads to opportunistic infections, Candida species being one of the emerging microorganisms involved. The host immune response is different for bacterial or Candida sepsis.
Immune responses for bacterial and Candida sepsis are described in this paper.
ПОДХОДЫ К ТРАНСАКЦИОННЫМ ИЗДЕРЖКАМ
Authors: Сафонова Ольга Викторовна 
Published: October 2019

Цель. Политико-экономический аспект, предполагающий выявление экономической природы этих издержек и причин их появления, в экономической литературе разработан недостаточно. Необходимо провести сравнительный анализ политико-экономического и институционального подходов с точки зрения трансакционных издержек.
Материалы и методы. При исследовании опирались на экономические учения ученых политико-экономической и институциональной школ. В исследовании использованы такие методы экономических исследований, как анализ и синтез, системный подход, исторический и логический методы, функциональный анализ.
Результаты. В статье дано авторское определение трансакционных издержек. Доказано, что сопоставление содержания чистых издержек обращения и трансакционных издержек говорит о большом совпадении между ними. Обосновано внешнее сходство в подходах марксистской и институциональной школ, при существенных различиях с точки зрения их операционализации.
Сделан вывод, что экономическая природа трансакционных издержек – это издержки обращения, но в условиях послемарксовой высоко обобществленной экономики, когда сфера обращения перестала быть простым посредником между производством и потреблением, по сути, имеет место интеграция производства и обращения.
Выводы. В настоящее время необходимо выяснить, какую долю занимают трансакционные издержки в общем объеме издержек производства предприятия, затем выработать пути минимизации или оптимизации трансакционных издержек.
ПРОБЛЕМАТИКА ВСТРАИВАНИЯ МАЛЫХ ПРЕДПРИЯТИЙ В СИСТЕМУ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫХ ЗАКУПОК
Authors: Юрьева Галина Михайловна 
Published: October 2019

Цель: рассмотреть проблемы встраивания малых предприятиях в систему государственных заказов; проанализировать существующую систему государственных закупок.
Обсуждение: субъекты малого предпринимательства, наравне с иными юридическими лицами, могут стать участниками государственных закупок; участвуя в торгах, предприятия выполняют порой очень строгие требования контрактной системы, отвечая завышенным обязательствам кредитных и финансовых компаний, что, собственно, говорит о большом потенциале такого сектора экономики и его устойчивости.
Результаты: выявлены проблемы включения малых предприятий в госзаказ; систематизированы мероприятия, которые необходимо сделать малому предприятию для успешной работы в системе государственных закупок.