bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of yeast fermentation on dough matrix properties
Authors: Rezaei Mohammad N , Jayaram Vinay B , Verstrepen Kevin J , Courtin Christophe M 
Published: December 2015

AbstractBACKGROUNDMost studies on dough properties are performed on yeastless dough to exclude the complicating, time‐dependent effect of yeast. Baker's yeast, however, impacts dough matrix properties during fermentation, probably through the production of primary (CO2 and ethanol) and secondary (glycerol, acetic acid and succinic acid) metabolites. The aim of this study is to obtain a better understanding of the changes in yeasted dough behavior introduced by fermentation, by investigating the impact of yeast fermentation on Farinograph dough consistency, dough spread, Kieffer rig dough extensibility and gluten agglomeration behavior in a fermented dough‐batter gluten starch separation system.RESULTSResults show that fermentation leads to a dough with less flow and lower extensibility that breaks more easily under stress and strain. The dough showed less elastic and more plastic deformation behavior. Gluten agglomerates were smaller for yeasted dough than for the unyeasted control.CONCLUSIONThese changes probably have to be attributed to metabolites generated during fermentation. Indeed, organic acids and also ethanol in concentrations produced by yeast were previously shown to have similar effects in yeastless dough. These findings imply the high importance of yeast fermentation metabolites on dough matrix properties in industrial bread production. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Evaluation of depression and anxiety in empty nose syndrome after surgical treatment
Authors: Lee Ta‐Jen , Fu Chia‐Hsiang , Wu Ching‐Lung , Tam Yuan‐Yun , Huang Chi‐Che , Chang Po‐Hung , Chen Yi‐Wei , Wu Meng‐Hsiu 
Published: December 2015

Objectives/HypothesisEmpty nose syndrome (ENS) is often associated with psychological symptoms. With the absence of psychiatric instruments utilized in the current literature, the assessment of psychological disorder is limited, and the effectiveness of surgical intervention in improving such disorders in ENS are not well understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the change in depression and anxiety before and after surgical treatment for ENSStudy DesignProspective cohort study in a tertiary medical center.MethodsENS patients indicated for surgical treatment were enrolled. The Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI‐II) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) questionnaires were completed by these patients before and after surgery to assess the level of depression and anxiety.ResultsA total of 20 patients completed the BDI‐II and BAI before and after surgical treatment. A majority of patients developed depression and anxiety prior to surgical treatment. The severity of depression and anxiety were significantly decreased following the surgery; the mean scores of both the BDI‐II and BAI improved from moderate severity to normal (both P < .001). The preoperative total score was found to be a powerful predictor for the postoperative improvement in both BDI‐II and BAI (P < .001). Female patients had significantly worse preoperative scores (P = .005) and greater postoperative improvement (P = .012) in the BDI‐II.ConclusionsDepression and anxiety are psychological disorders prevalent among ENS patients. Surgical treatment for ENS is effective in improving depression and anxiety. Patients with worse preoperative BDI‐II and BAI scores as well as female patients may be better candidates for surgical intervention.Level of Evidence4 Laryngoscope, 126:1284–1289, 2016
Gut barrier impairment by high‐fat diet in mice depends on housing conditions
Authors: Müller Veronika Maria , Zietek Tamara , Rohm Florian , Fiamoncini Jarlei , Lagkouvardos Ilias , Haller Dirk , Clavel Thomas , Daniel Hannelore 
Published: December 2015

ScopeDiet‐induced obesity (DIO) is proposed to cause impairments in intestinal barrier integrity, but contradictory results have been published and it appears that the outcomes depend on other environmental factors. We therefore assessed whether the hygienic status of animal facilities alters the gut barrier in DIO mice.Methods and resultsMale C57BL/6N mice were housed in a conventional (CV) or a specific pathogen‐free (SPF) animal facility and were fed identical diets represented by a high‐fat (60kJ% fat) or control diet (11kJ% fat) for 12 wks. Intestinal barrier function in small and large intestine was evaluated in Ussing chambers by electrical resistance and permeability measurements. Jejunal (p < 0.01) and proximal colonic (p < 0.05) barrier function was altered in CV DIO mice, but not in SPF DIO mice. Moreover, only CV DIO mice were characterized by metabolic endotoxemia and low‐grade inflammation. High‐throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed significant differences in fecal bacterial diversity and composition between the two animal facilities, but only in mice fed the HFD. Moreover, cecal DCA concentrations correlated positively with two yet uncultivated Clostridiales species.ConclusionsWe demonstrated that housing conditions and associated changes in gut bacterial colonization are pivotal for maintenance of gut barrier integrity in DIO mice.
How does 3D endovaginal ultrasound compare to magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of levator ani anatomy?
Authors: Javadian Pouya , O'Leary Dena , Rostaminia Ghazaleh , North Justin , Wagner Jason , Quiroz Lieschen H. , Shobeiri S. Abbas 
Published: December 2015

Introduction and HypothesisTo compare magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to 3D endovaginal ultrasound (EVUS) in the evaluation of major levator ani defects in women with pelvic floor disorders.MethodsA total of 21 subjects with pelvic floor with complaints of pelvic floor disorders were included in this study. EVUS imaging of the levator ani muscle (LAM) was performed in all subjects, and the LA muscle groups of interest evaluated were the puboanalis (PA), puborectalis (PR), and pubovisceralis (PV) muscles. The right and left subdivisions were evaluated separately, and classified as (i) normal, normal with only minor irregularities, grossly abnormal, or absent, or (ii) by the levator ani deficiency (LAD) score and classified by no defect (complete attachment of muscle to the pubic bone), <50% detachment or loss, >50% detachment or loss, and completely detached or complete muscle loss. Paired data were analyzed with McNemar's test or Bowker's test of symmetry.ResultsWhen unilateral LAM subdivisions were classified as “normal,” “normal with minor irregularity,” “grossly abnormal,” and “absent,” there were no significant differences between MRI and EVUS by categorization of LAM defects. Comparing “normal” versus “abnormal,” there was no difference between imaging modalities. When compared by LAD score evaluation, there were no differences in the categorization of unilateral defects between MRI and EVUS.ConclusionsEndovaginal 3D US is comparable to MRI in its ability to identify both normal and abnormal LAM anatomy. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:409–413, 2017. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Detecting Drugs in Saliva
Authors: Barnett Nick , Rathmell Cicely 
Published: December 2015

AbstractFor law enforcement and medical professionals, rapid detection of illicit and harmful drugs saves time, resources and even lives. Raman spectroscopy is a well‐established method for substance identification, but until now has not been practical for human intoxication testing. Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) substrates have reduced sensitivity and cost barriers, allowing Raman to be successfully applied to noninvasive testing of trace concentrations of drugs in saliva.
Poly(2‐oxazoline) hydrogels crosslinked with aliphatic bis(2‐oxazoline)s: Properties, cytotoxicity, and cell cultivation
Authors: Zahoranová Anna , Kroneková Zuzana , Zahoran Miroslav , Chorvát Dušan , Janigová Ivica , Kronek Juraj 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACTA series of hydrogels from 2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline and three bis(2‐oxazoline) crosslinkers—1,4‐butylene‐2,2′‐bis(2‐oxazoline), 1,6‐hexamethylene‐2,2′‐bis(2‐oxazoline), and 1,8‐octamethylene‐2,2′‐bis(2‐oxazoline)—are prepared. The hydrogels differ by the length of aliphatic chain of crosslinker and by the percentage of crosslinker (2–10%). The influence of the type and the percentage of the crosslinker on swelling properties, mechanical properties, and state of water is studied. The equilibrium swelling degree in water ranges from 2 to 20. With a proper selection of the crosslinker, Young's modulus can be varied from 10 kPa to almost 100 kPa. To evaluate the potential for medical applications, the cytotoxicity of extracts and the contact toxicity toward murine fibroblasts are measured. The hydrogels with the crosslinker containing a shorter aliphatic exhibit low toxicity toward fibroblast cells. Moreover, the viability and the proliferation of pancreatic β‐cells incubated inside hydrogels for 12 days are analyzed. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 54, 1548–1559
Solvent and micellar effects upon the reaction of NADH models with methylene blue
Authors: Engbersen J. F. J. , Koudijs A. , van der Plas H. C. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe oxidation of the NADH‐model compounds 1‐R‐1,4‐dihydronicotinamide (R = benzyl, octyl or cetyl) and 1‐benzyl‐1,4‐dihydroquinoline‐3‐carboxamide by methylene blue proceeds via a direct hydride transfer mechanism. In the transition state of this reaction, a considerable fraction of positive charge is developed in the dihydronicotinamide ring. Effects of solvents and effects of NaLS micelles upon the reaction have been investigated. In organic solvents, the oxidation proceeds ca. 1.5–50 times more slowly than in water. Interestingly, the reaction rate in organic solvents increases with decreasing polarity of the solvents. In aqueous NaLS solution, the oxidation of the NADH models proceeds 9‐80 times more rapidly than in water. The kinetic data in micellar solution are analyzed in terms of the pseudophase model, taking into account partitioning of the reactants between micellar and aqueous pseudophase. It appears that the observed rate enhancements in micellar solution are completely due to an increase of the reactant concentrations in the micellar pseudophase. The second‐order rate constants for oxidation in the micellar pseudophase are 35‐150 times smaller than those in the aqueous phase. It is suggested that both a decrease of the micropolarity and a unfavourable orientation of the reactants contribute to the low values of the second‐order rate constants in the micellar pseudophase.
Early Campanian (Late Cretaceous) Pleromidae and Isoraphiniidae (lithistid Demospongiae) from the Łódź‐Miechów Synclinorium (central and southern Poland): new data and taxonomic revision
Authors: Świerczewska‐Gładysz Ewa 
Published: December 2015

AbstractAn abundant and diversified assemblage of early Campanian lithistid Demospongiae has been identified in the Miocene gravels exposed in the Bełchatów lignite mine. Fourteen species of Pleromidae and one species of Isoraphiniidae have been distinguished in the assemblage. Among them, five species (Pachypoterion koeneni Schrammen; P. compactum Hinde; Gigantodesma aurita (Schrammen); Amphilectella piriformis Schrammen; and Heterostinia immanis Schrammen) have not been previously recorded from Poland. Moreover, one new genus and species, Stipesia belchatowiensis, assigned to the family Pleromidae, is described. Streptasters were found in the latter species and in Heterostinia immanis. They represent the first documented in situ microscleres in the fossil species of the Pleromidae. Due to the unique state of preservation of the sponges, significant new data on the choanosomal skeleton and ectosomal megascleres of Cretaceous pleromid and isoraphiniid taxa are also presented. This paper also provides a taxonomic revision of Campanian pleromid and isoraphiniid sponges from southern Poland, derived from museum collections. Six species described by Hurcewicz as new taxa are considered to be junior synonyms of species known from the Upper Cretaceous of Europe. The taxonomic composition of both analysed groups is almost identical to the assemblages from central and southern Poland; a similar composition has been noted among the Pleromidae and Isoraphiniidae in sponge assemblages from the lower and middle Campanian of Germany.
The relation of neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, and mean platelet volume with the presence and severity of Behçet's syndrome
Authors: Alan Sevil , Tuna Serpil , Türkoğlu Elif Betül 
Published: December 2015

AbstractBehçet's syndrome (BS) is associated with chronic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. Although there have been extensive investigations on neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and mean platelet volume (MPV) in many diseases, their roles in BS is unclear. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate NLR, PLR, and MPV levels in BS patients and explore their clinical significance. The study included 254 patients with BS and 173 healthy individuals. Age, sex, age of onset, duration of disease, smoking, Behçet activity score, total white blood counts, neutrophil, platelet, and T lymphocyte counts of the patients were recorded. White blood cell (WBC), neutrophil, platelet, NLR, and PLR were significantly higher in patients with BS when compared with healthy controls (all p < 0.001). Lymphocyte counts and MPVs of the BS group were not statistically different from healthy controls (all p > 0.05). In the BS group, PLR and MPV were significantly different among the three severity groups (p = 0.037 and p = 0.016, respectively). We showed that any laboratory markers were not associated with joint, eye, central nervous system, large vessel, or gastrointestinal involvement in BS. NLR was shown to be an independent factor for BS by multivariate analysis. We suggest that NLR can be considered to be a diagnostic criterion of BS given the support of the findings from larger prospective studies.
Distinct promoter activation mechanisms modulate noise-driven HIV gene expression
Authors: Chavali Arvind K. , Wong Victor C. , Miller-Jensen Kathryn 
Published: December 2015

AbstractLatent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections occur when the virus occupies a transcriptionally silent but reversible state, presenting a major obstacle to cure. There is experimental evidence that random fluctuations in gene expression, when coupled to the strong positive feedback encoded by the HIV genetic circuit, act as a ‘molecular switch’ controlling cell fate, i.e., viral replication versus latency. Here, we implemented a stochastic computational modeling approach to explore how different promoter activation mechanisms in the presence of positive feedback would affect noise-driven activation from latency. We modeled the HIV promoter as existing in one, two, or three states that are representative of increasingly complex mechanisms of promoter repression underlying latency. We demonstrate that two-state and three-state models are associated with greater variability in noisy activation behaviors and we find that Fano factor (defined as variance over mean) proves to be a useful noise metric to compare variability across model structures and parameter values. Finally, we show how three-state promoter models can be used to qualitatively describe complex reactivation phenotypes in response to therapeutic perturbations that we observe experimentally. Ultimately, our analysis suggests that multi-state models more accurately reflect observed heterogeneous reactivation and may be better suited to evaluate how noise affects viral clearance.
Combined rTMS treatment targeting the Anterior Cingulate and the Temporal Cortex for the Treatment of Chronic Tinnitus
Authors: Kreuzer Peter M. , Lehner Astrid , Schlee Winfried , Vielsmeier Veronika , Schecklmann Martin , Poeppl Timm B. , Landgrebe Michael , Rupprecht Rainer , Langguth Berthold 
Published: December 2015

AbstractRepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been proposed as a tinnitus treatment option. Promising results have been obtained by consecutive stimulation of lateral frontal and auditory brain regions. We investigated a combined stimulation paradigm targeting the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) with double cone coil rTMS, followed by stimulation of the temporo-parietal junction area with a figure-of-eight coil. The study was conducted as a randomized, double-blind pilot trial in 40 patients suffering from chronic tinnitus. We compared mediofrontal stimulation with double-cone-coil, (2000 stimuli, 10 Hz) followed by left temporo-parietal stimulation with figure-of-eight-coil (2000 stimuli, 1 Hz) to left dorsolateral-prefrontal-cortex stimulation with figure-of-eight-coil (2000 stimuli, 10 Hz) followed by temporo-parietal stimulation with figure-of-eight-coil (2000 stimuli, 1 Hz). The stimulation was feasible with comparable dropout rates in both study arms; no severe adverse events were registered. Responder rates did not differ in both study arms. There was a significant main effect of time for the change in the TQ score, but no significant time x group interaction. This pilot study demonstrated the feasibility of combined mediofrontal/temporoparietal-rTMS-stimulation with double cone coil in tinnitus patients but failed to show better outcome compared to an actively rTMS treated control group.
Accumulation Mechanisms of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ Regulatory T Cells in EBV-associated Gastric Carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Na-na , Chen Jian-ning , Xiao Lin , Tang Fang , Zhang Zhi-gang , Zhang Yi-wang , Feng Zhi-ying , Jiang Ye , Shao Chun-kui 
Published: December 2015

AbstractApproximately 10% of gastric carcinomas are associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and are defined as EBV-associated gastric carcinomas (EBVaGCs). EBVaGCs are known to be accompanied by massive CD8+ cytotoxic T cell (CTL) infiltration; however, adoptive cellular immunotherapy based on EBV-specific CD8+ CTLs has been explored with limited success. Because regulatory T cells (Tregs) are regarded as a critical hurdle in anti-tumour immunity, we assessed the distribution of Tregs in 45 cases of EBVaGC and 45 cases of EBV-negative gastric carcinoma (EBVnGC) with matched clinicopathological parameters by immunohistochemistry. We showed that Tregs were significantly increased in EBVaGC compared to EBVnGC (15.92 ± 11.45/HPF vs. 8.45 ± 6.16/HPF, p = 0.001). In addition, we explored the accumulation mechanisms of Tregs in EBVaGC by using EBV (+) gastric carcinoma cell lines SNU719 and GT39 as ex vivo models. When peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were co-cultured with EBV (+) gastric carcinoma cell lines, the Treg frequency increased and they underwent phenotypic and functional changes. The enhanced recruitment by CCL22 produced by EBVaGC cells, the decreased emigration due to CCR7 downregulation on the Treg surface, the higher proliferation rate and the lower apoptosis rate of Tregs at tumour sites may promote the accumulation of Tregs in EBVaGC.
Sildenafil Therapy Normalizes the Aberrant Metabolomic Profile in the Comt−/− Mouse Model of Preeclampsia/Fetal Growth Restriction
Authors: Stanley Joanna L. , Sulek Karolina , Andersson Irene J. , Davidge Sandra T. , Kenny Louise C. , Sibley Colin P. , Mandal Rupasri , Wishart David S. , Broadhurst David I. , Baker Philip N. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractPreeclampsia (PE) and fetal growth restriction (FGR) are serious complications of pregnancy, associated with greatly increased risk of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. These complications are difficult to diagnose and no curative treatments are available. We hypothesized that the metabolomic signature of two models of disease, catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT−/−) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (Nos3−/−) knockout mice, would be significantly different from control C57BL/6J mice. Further, we hypothesised that any differences in COMT−/− mice would be resolved following treatment with Sildenafil, a treatment which rescues fetal growth. Targeted, quantitative comparisons of serum metabolic profiles of pregnant Nos3−/−, COMT−/− and C57BL/6J mice were made using a kit from BIOCRATES. Significant differences in 4 metabolites were observed between Nos3−/− and C57BL/6J mice (p < 0.05) and in 18 metabolites between C57BL/6J and COMT−/− mice (p < 0.05). Following treatment with Sildenafil, only 5 of the 18 previously identified differences in metabolites (p < 0.05) remained in COMT−/− mice. Metabolomic profiling of mouse models is possible, producing signatures that are clearly different from control animals. A potential new treatment, Sildenafil, is able to normalize the aberrant metabolomic profile in COMT−/− mice; as this treatment moves into clinical trials, this information may assist in assessing possible mechanisms of action.
Reading direction causes spatial biases in mental model construction in language understanding
Authors: Román Antonio , Flumini Andrea , Lizano Pilar , Escobar Marysol , Santiago Julio 
Published: December 2015

AbstractCorrelational evidence suggests that the experience of reading and writing in a certain direction is able to induce spatial biases at both low-level perceptuo-motor skills and high-level conceptual representations. However, in order to support a causal relationship, experimental evidence is required. In this study, we asked whether the direction of the script is a sufficiente cause of spatial biases in the mental models that understanders build when listening to language. In order to establish causality, we manipulated the experience of reading a script with different directionalities. Spanish monolinguals read either normal (left-to-right), mirror reversed (right-to-left), rotated downward (up-down), or rotated upward (down-up) texts and then drew the contents of auditory descriptions such as “the square is between the cross and the triangle”. The directionality of the drawings showed that a brief reading experience is enough to cause congruent and very specific spatial biases in mental model construction. However, there were also clear limits to this flexibility: there was a strong overall preference to arrange the models along the horizontal dimension. Spatial preferences when building mental models from language are the results of both short-term and long-term biases.
Dissociating sensory from decision processes in human perceptual decision making
Authors: Mostert Pim , Kok Peter , de Lange Floris P. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractA key question within systems neuroscience is how the brain translates physical stimulation into a behavioral response: perceptual decision making. To answer this question, it is important to dissociate the neural activity underlying the encoding of sensory information from the activity underlying the subsequent temporal integration into a decision variable. Here, we adopted a decoding approach to empirically assess this dissociation in human magnetoencephalography recordings. We used a functional localizer to identify the neural signature that reflects sensory-specific processes and subsequently traced this signature while subjects were engaged in a perceptual decision making task. Our results revealed a temporal dissociation in which sensory processing was limited to an early time window and consistent with occipital areas, whereas decision-related processing became increasingly pronounced over time and involved parietal and frontal areas. We found that the sensory processing accurately reflected the physical stimulus, irrespective of the eventual decision. Moreover, the sensory representation was stable and maintained over time when it was required for a subsequent decision, but unstable and variable over time when it was task-irrelevant. In contrast, decision-related activity displayed long-lasting sustained components. Together, our approach dissects neuro-anatomically and functionally distinct contributions to perceptual decisions.