bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Beyond C4: Analysis of the complement gene pathway shows enrichment for IQ in patients with psychotic disorders and healthy controls
Authors: Holland Jessica F. , Cosgrove Donna , Whitton Laura , Harold Denise , Corvin Aiden , Gill Michael , Mothersill David O. , Morris Derek W. , Donohoe Gary 
Published: August 2019

AbstractVariation in cognitive performance, which strongly predicts functional outcome in schizophrenia (SZ), has been associated with multiple immune‐relevant genetic loci. These loci include complement component 4 (C4A), structural variation at which was recently associated with SZ risk and synaptic pruning during neurodevelopment and cognitive function. Here, we test whether this genetic association with cognition and SZ risk is specific to C4A, or extends more broadly to genes related to the complement system. Using a gene‐set with an identified role in “complement” function (excluding C4A), we used MAGMA to test if this gene‐set was enriched for genes associated with human intelligence and SZ risk, using genome‐wide association summary statistics (IQ; N = 269 867, SZ; N = 105 318). We followed up this gene‐set analysis with a complement gene‐set polygenic score (PGS) regression analysis in an independent data set of patients with psychotic disorders and healthy participants with cognitive and genomic data (N = 1000). Enrichment analysis suggested that genes within the complement pathway were significantly enriched for genes associated with IQ, but not SZ. In a gene‐based analysis of 90 genes, SERPING1 was the most enriched gene for the phenotype of IQ. In a PGS regression analysis, we found that a complement pathway PGS associated with IQ genome‐wide association studies statistics also predicted variation in IQ in our independent sample. This association (observed across both patients and controls) remained significant after controlling for the relationship between C4A and cognition. These results suggest a robust association between the complement system and cognitive function, extending beyond structural variation at C4A.
Impacts of intensifying or expanding cereal cropping in sub‐Saharan Africa on greenhouse gas emissions and food security
Authors: van Loon Marloes P. , Hijbeek Renske , ten Berge Hein F. M. , De Sy Veronique , ten Broeke Guus A. , Solomon Dawit , van Ittersum Martin K. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractCropping is responsible for substantial emissions of greenhouse gasses (GHGs) worldwide through the use of fertilizers and through expansion of agricultural land and associated carbon losses. Especially in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA), GHG emissions from these processes might increase steeply in coming decades, due to tripling demand for food until 2050 to match the steep population growth. This study assesses the impact of achieving cereal self‐sufficiency by the year 2050 for 10 SSA countries on GHG emissions related to different scenarios of increasing cereal production, ranging from intensifying production to agricultural area expansion. We also assessed different nutrient management variants in the intensification. Our analysis revealed that irrespective of intensification or extensification, GHG emissions of the 10 countries jointly are at least 50% higher in 2050 than in 2015. Intensification will come, depending on the nutrient use efficiency achieved, with large increases in nutrient inputs and associated GHG emissions. However, matching food demand through conversion of forest and grasslands to cereal area likely results in much higher GHG emissions. Moreover, many countries lack enough suitable land for cereal expansion to match food demand. In addition, we analysed the uncertainty in our GHG estimates and found that it is caused primarily by uncertainty in the IPCC Tier 1 coefficient for direct N2O emissions, and by the agronomic nitrogen use efficiency (N‐AE). In conclusion, intensification scenarios are clearly superior to expansion scenarios in terms of climate change mitigation, but only if current N‐AE is increased to levels commonly achieved in, for example, the United States, and which have been demonstrated to be feasible in some locations in SSA. As such, intensifying cereal production with good agronomy and nutrient management is essential to moderate inevitable increases in GHG emissions. Sustainably increasing crop production in SSA is therefore a daunting challenge in the coming decades.
Optimization of non‐aqueous tape casting of high solid loading slurry for aluminum nitride ceramic substrates
Authors: Ding Maomao , Shi Ying , Xie Jianjun , Zhou Ding , Wang Yu , Lei Fang , Zhang Lei 
Published: August 2019

AbstractAluminum nitride (AlN) ceramic substrates have been fabricated using non‐aqueous tape casting and pressureless densification under flowing N2 atmosphere. Considering the economic and environmental impact, a new strategy of solvent and dispersant system was adopted to prepare AlN slurries with high solid loading. According to the viscosity characteristics of AlN slurries, dispersant content was adjusted to be 0.5 wt% of AlN powder in order to optimize the rheological behavior of AlN slurries. The addition contents of binder and plasticizer were both optimized as 5 wt% of AlN powders by combining the viscosity of slurries and tensile strength of green tapes. Green AlN tapes were fabricated with an optimized tape casting process such as dry temperature. The exclusion process of organic additives was investigated by employing thermogravimetric analysis. Flat and dense AlN ceramic substrates with a relative bulk density over 99.75 % were achieved after being sintered under 1800°C for 6 hours, which had a maximum size of 110 × 110 mm. The thermal conductivity of the AlN substrate could reach 145 Wm−1K−1.
Physicochemical and technological properties of beef burger as influenced by the addition of pea fibre
Authors: Polizer‐Rocha Yana Jorge , Lorenzo José M. , Pompeu Daniel , Rodrigues Isabela , Baldin Juliana Cristina , Pires Manoela A. , Freire Maria Teresa A. , Barba Francisco Jose , Trindade Marco Antonio 
Published: August 2019

SummaryThis study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics and sensory attributes of beef burgers with the addition of pea fibre as a partial substitute of meat or fat. Three formulations were prepared: control (CON) – similar to the commercial formulation; fibre/less meat (FLM)—5% meat reduction and addition of 1% pea fibre; fibre/less fat (FLF)—7% fat reduction and addition of 1% pea fibre. Non‐significant differences were obtained for pH, colour parameters (L* and b*), texture profile, cooking loss and size reduction among formulations. Moreover, sensory analysis with consumers of beef burgers did not indicate differences among the formulations for all the analysed attributes. Therefore, pea fibre is a promising partial replacer for meat and fat in beef burgers due to the preservation of technological parameters and sensory acceptance.
Evaluating the effects of social networking sites addiction, task distraction, and self‐management on nurses' performance
Authors: Javed Asad , Yasir Muhammad , Majid Abdul , Shah Hassan Ahmed , Islam Ehsan ul , Asad Shawana , Khan Muhammad Waleed 
Published: August 2019

AbstractAimsThe purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of social networking sites (SNSs) addiction on nurses’ performance and how this relationship was mediated by task distraction and moderated by self‐management.DesignThis cross‐sectional study is designed to empirically test the relationship of SNSs addiction, task distraction, and self‐management with the nurses’ performance.MethodsData were collected by conducting an online survey on nurses across the world using a web‐based questionnaire developed through ‘Google Docs’ and distributed through Facebook from 13 August 2018 – 17 November 2018. The Facebook groups were searched using the selected key terms. In total, 45 groups were found to have relevance to this research; therefore, request was made to the admins of these groups to participate in this research and to post a link in their groups. Only 19 group admins responded positively by uploading a link of the research instrument on their respective group pages and 461 members of these groups participated in the research.ResultsResults of the data collected from 53 different countries indicated that SNSs addiction results in lowering the nurses’ performance. This relationship is further strengthened by task distraction introduced as a mediating variable. The results show that self‐management mediates the relationship between SNSs addiction and employees’ performance. Moreover, the results of the study confirm that self‐management reduces the negative impact of SNSs addiction on nurses’ performance.ConclusionSocial networking sites (SNSs) addiction and task distraction reduce the nurses’ performance, whereas self‐management enhances nurses’ performance.ImpactThis study addresses the problem of using SNSs at the workplace and its potential effect on nurses’ performance. Results demonstrate that SNSs addiction reduces the performance which is further decreased by task distraction; however, self‐management of nurses can enhance the nurses’ performance. The research has numerous theoretical and practical implications for hospital administration, doctors, and nurses.
Age‐ and disease‐specific changes of the kynurenine pathway in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Sorgdrager Freek J. H. , Vermeiren Yannick , Van Faassen Martijn , van der Ley Claude , Nollen Ellen A. A. , Kema Ido P. , De Deyn Peter P. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe kynurenine (Kyn) pathway, which regulates neuroinflammation and N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor activation, is implicated in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Age‐related changes in Kyn metabolism and altered cerebral Kyn uptake along large neutral amino acid transporters, could contribute to these diseases. To gain further insight into the role and prognostic potential of the Kyn pathway in PD and AD, we investigated systemic and cerebral Kyn metabolite production and estimations of their transporter‐mediated uptake in the brain. Kyn metabolites and large neutral amino acids were retrospectively measured in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of clinically well‐characterized PD patients (n = 33), AD patients (n = 33), and age‐matched controls (n = 39) using solid‐phase extraction‐liquid chromatographic‐tandem mass spectrometry. Aging was disease independently associated with increased Kyn, kynurenic acid and quinolinic acid in serum and CSF. Concentrations of kynurenic acid were reduced in CSF of PD and AD patients (p = 0.001; p = 0.002) but estimations of Kyn brain uptake did not differ between diseased and controls. Furthermore, serum Kyn and quinolinic acid levels strongly correlated with their respective content in CSF and Kyn in serum negatively correlated with AD disease severity (p = 0.002). Kyn metabolites accumulated with aging in serum and CSF similarly in PD patients, AD patients, and control subjects. In contrast, kynurenic acid was strongly reduced in CSF of PD and AD patients. Differential transporter‐mediated Kyn uptake is unlikely to majorly contribute to these cerebral Kyn pathway disturbances. We hypothesize that the combination of age‐ and disease‐specific changes in cerebral Kyn pathway activity could contribute to reduced neurogenesis and increased excitotoxicity in neurodegenerative disease.
image
Paradoxical adipose hyperplasia after noninvasive radiofrequency treatment: A novel report and review
Authors: Agochukwu‐Nwubah Nneamaka , Mentz Henry 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe past decade has experienced a surge in the frequency of nonsurgical procedures, including injectables, skin rejuvenation, and nonsurgical fat reduction. Nonsurgical fat reduction methods include cryolipolysis (Coolsculpting), ultrasound (Vaser Shape), laser (Liposonix), and radiofrequency (Vanquish). These methods generally produce good results, with cryolipolysis gaining much popularity over the past few years. Multiple reports of paradoxical adipose hyperplasia have been reported with Coolsculpting, with an incidence of 0.025% to 1%. This entity has never been reported with other methods of nonsurgical fat reduction, including noninvasive radiofrequency (Vanquish). We present a case of paradoxical adipose hyperplasia in a 57‐year‐old male following treatment with noninvasive radiofrequency (Vanquish) to the abdomen. He was treated with power‐assisted liposuction to the abdomen and flanks. This is the first case in the literature of paradoxical adipose hyperplasia in a patient treated with this form of noninvasive fat reduction.
Caffeine improves sperm quality, modulates steroidogenic enzyme activities, restore testosterone levels and prevent oxidative damage in testicular and epididymal tissues of scopolamine-induced rat model of amnesia
Authors: Akomolafe Seun F , Olasehinde Tosin A , Ogunsuyi Opeyemi B , Oyeleye Sunday I , Oboh Ganiyu 
Published: August 2019

Abstract

Objectives
This study was designed to assess the role of caffeine on fertility parameters in testicular and epididymal tissues of scopolamine-induced model of amnesia in rats.

Methods
Adult male rats were treated with scopolamine with or without caffeine. The modulatory effects of caffeine or scopolamine on fertility parameters were assessed in rats' testicular and epididymal homogenates.

Key findings
Scopolamine-induced sperm abnormalities, reduced steroidogenic enzyme 3β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) and 17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) activities and serum testosterone levels in rats' testicular tissues. Treatment with caffeine increased 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD as well as testosterone levels. Caffeine also reversed sperm viability, sperm motility and sperm count in testicular tissues of scopolamine-treated rats. Furthermore, scopolamine-induced oxidative damage in rats' epididymal and testicular tissues via reduction of thiol and non-protein thiol content as well as increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Caffeine attenuated oxidative stress in testicular and epididymal tissues of rats treated with scopolamine via increase in non-protein and protein thiol levels with concomitant reduction in ROS and MDA levels.

Conclusion
This study revealed that caffeine (5 and 25 mg/kg) improved sperm quality, increased steroidogenic enzyme activities and attenuated oxidative damage in testis and epididymis of rats treated with scopolamine.
Effect of dietary supplementation of calcium butyrate on growth performance, carcass traits, intestinal health and pro‐inflammatory cytokines in Japanese quails
Authors: Abd El‐Wahab Amr , Mahmoud Rania E. , Ahmed Marwa F. E. , Salama Mohamed F. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe objective of the present study was to evaluate the potential effect of dietary calcium butyrate on growth performance, carcass traits and gut health in Japanese quails. In total, 320 one‐day‐old Japanese quails were randomly assigned to 4 equal treatments, with 8 replicates of 10 Japanese quails, for 4 weeks. The Japanese quails in control treatment were fed control diet whereas in the other treatments the Japanese quails were fed diet supplemented with calcium butyrate at 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7 g/kg diet. Data concerning performance measurements were recorded weekly. In addition, eight Japanese quails (one/replicate) from each treatment were selected randomly for serum collection to measure pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory cytokines. Pooled faecal samples from each replicate of each treatment were also collected at three time points (0, 2 and 4 weeks) for count E. coli and C. perfringens. The results showed that after 7 days of the experimental period, Japanese quails fed calcium butyrate supplemented diet at 0.7 g/kg showed a greater (p < .05) body weight and a favourable (p < .05) feed conversion ratio than the other treatments. Moreover, serum superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were increased (p < .05) in Japanese quails fed calcium butyrate supplemented diet at 0.7 g/kg. Calcium butyrate supplementation at 0.7 g/kg was associated with reduction (p < .05) in TNF‐α, IL‐6 and IL1‐β, while IL‐10 was increased (p < .05). In addition, after 2 weeks of calcium butyrate supplementation, a reduction (p < .05) in E. coli and C. perfringens counts was observed in excreta of Japanese quails fed 0.5 and 0.7 g calcium butyrate/kg diets. It is concluded that calcium butyrate supplementation improves body weight gain, reduces E. coli and C. perfringens counts and has anti‐inflammatory/anti‐oxidant effect in Japanese quails.
Post‐fire vegetation recovery at forest sites is affected by permafrost degradation in the Da Xing'an Mountains of northern China
Authors: Shi Liang , Dech Jeffery P. , Liu Hongyan , Zhao Pengwu , Bayin Delehei , Zhou Mei 
Published: August 2019

AbstractQuestionVegetation recovery and succession patterns after fire are not completely explained by the interactions of climate, disturbance, and species pool. Site‐specific factors can substantially change vegetation succession. We hypothesize that on sites exposed to fire and surface permafrost degradation, successional trajectories will produce different species assemblages than typical post‐fire succession.LocationDa Xing'an Mountains, northern China.MethodsVegetation and environmental data were collected at eight sites of past natural wildfire events. These sites represented different topographical situations, with four sites on slopes (lacking surface permafrost) and four sites in valleys (with surface permafrost). Three plots were established on each site, representing three different fire presence zones (burned, ecotone and unburned areas), giving a total of 24 plots. We used non‐metric multidimensional scaling (NMS) to describe post‐fire vegetation recovery at different sites and multi‐response permutation procedures (MRPP) to test our hypothesis.ResultsThe variation in dates of last fire was similar between the slope and valley sites. Slope sites that had been burned prior to 2003 had recovered to a composition similar to unburned sites by the time the study was conducted in 2017. However, none of the burned valley sites had fully recovered, even those exposed to fire in 1986, suggesting that the surface permafrost conditions affected the recovery pattern of vegetation. On burned valley sites, shrub species that are tolerant of saturated soils had become dominant and the number of tree saplings and seedlings became significantly lower than on the slope sites.ConclusionThe interaction of fire and topographic site type (through the influence of surface permafrost degradation) was revealed as a primary factor affecting species composition and tree density of post‐fire communities. On valley sites, melting of the surface permafrost after fire caused a failure of tree recruitment and prompted shrub species tolerant of saturated soils to become dominant.
Probabilistic key for identifying vegetation types in the field: A new method and Android application
Authors: Tichý Lubomír , Chytrý Milan 
Published: August 2019

AbstractQuick identification of vegetation types in the field, based on species composition but not requiring time‐consuming plot sampling, is often needed for vegetation mapping, conservation assessment, teaching and other applications of vegetation classification. Here, we propose a new method that identifies the probability of belonging to the units of an established vegetation classification for vegetation stands encountered in the field. The method is based on calculating the probability that a few species observed in the field would co‐occur in a priori defined vegetation types, using the existing information on species occurrence frequency in these types. The method has been implemented in a freely available Android application called Probabilistic Vegetation Key, which makes it possible to employ it in the field using smartphones or tablets, even in the absence of internet access.
Functional studies of aegerolysin and MACPF‐like proteins in Aspergillus niger
Authors: Novak Maruša , Čepin Urška , Hodnik Vesna , Narat Mojca , Jamnik Maja , Kraševec Nada , Sepčić Kristina , Anderluh Gregor 
Published: August 2019

SummaryProteins of the aegerolysin family have a high abundance in Fungi. Due to their specific binding to membrane lipids, and their membrane‐permeabilization potential in concert with protein partner(s) belonging to a membrane‐attack‐complex/perforin (MACPF) superfamily, they were proposed as useful tools in different biotechnological and biomedical applications. In this work, we performed functional studies on expression of the genes encoding aegerolysin and MACPF‐like proteins in Aspergillus niger. Our results suggest the sporulation process being crucial for strong induction of the expression of all these genes. However, deletion of either of the aegerolysin genes did not influence the growth, development, sporulation efficiency and phenotype of the mutants, indicating that aegerolysins are not key factors in the sporulation process. In all our expression studies we noticed a strong correlation in the expression of one aegerolysin and MACPF‐like gene. Aegerolysins were confirmed to be secreted from the fungus. We also showed the specific interaction of a recombinant A. niger aegerolysin with an invertebrate‐specific membrane sphingolipid. Moreover, using this protein labelled with mCherry we successfully stained insect cells membranes containing this particular sphingolipid. Our combined results suggest, that aegerolysins in this species, and probably also in other aspergilli, could be involved in defence against predators.
Functional dyspepsia susceptibility is associated with TGFB1 gene polymorphisms (RS4803455, RS1800469) in H pylori‐negative Chinese population
Authors: Cheung Cynthia K. Y. , Lan Lin Lin , Chan Yawen , Yuen Kay , Cheong Pui Kuan , Fang Fanny , Wu Justin C. Y. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractBackgroundWe previously published that altered expression of gastric TRPV1, BDNF, and peripheral cytokines was present in patients with functional dyspepsia. We herein examine whether genetic predisposition in altered biomarkers influences dyspeptic, sleep, and mood symptoms in patients with FD without previous infection.MethodsConsecutive adult FD patients (Rome III) with no recent history of gastroenteritis and asymptomatic age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls were recruited for upper endoscopy. Subjects with GERD and IBS as predominant symptoms, diabetes mellitus, current or previous H pylori infection, psychiatric illness, and recent use of NSAID or PPI were excluded. The genetic associations with dyspeptic symptoms, sleep quality, and mood symptoms were evaluated. Genetic polymorphisms in TRPV1, TGFB1, TNF, COMT, BDNF, IL6, IL8, IL10, and IL12 were analyzed.Key resultsTwenty‐nine male FD patients and 104 female FD patients were age matched (±3 years) with 81 healthy subjects. All had postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) as predominant subtype (PDS: 130, EPS: 3). SNPs in TGFB1 showed significant associations in dyspeptic patients after age and sex adjustment [for RS4803455: in the codominant model (C/A, OR = 0.34 (0.18‐0.65), P = .004); in the dominant model (genotype C/C vs C/A‐A/A, OR = 0.42 (0.23‐0.77), P = .004); and in the overdominant model (genotype C/C‐A/A vs C/A, OR = 0.38 (0.21‐0.70), P < .001)] [for RS1800469: in dominant model (genotype A/A vs A/G‐G/G, OR = 0.52 (0.27‐0.99), P = .043)]. A allele in RS4803455 was associated with higher HADS depression score (P = .05) and epigastric burning sensation(P = .01).Conclusions and inferencesOur data showed that dyspeptic patients predispose genetic difference in TGFB1 which may influence the severity of dyspepsia.