bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Regulation of gene expression by MF63, a selective inhibitor of microsomal PGE synthase 1 (mPGES1) in human osteoarthritic chondrocytes
Authors: Tuure Lauri , Pemmari Antti , Hämäläinen Mari , Moilanen Teemu , Moilanen Eeva 
Published: May 2020

Background and PurposemPGES1 catalyses the production of PGE2, the most abundant prostanoid related to inflammation and pain in arthritis. mPGES1 is suggested to be a safer and more selective drug target in inflammatory conditions compared to the COX enzymes inhibited by NSAIDs. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the selective mPGES1 inhibitor MF63 on gene expression in primary human chondrocytes from patients with osteoarthritis (OA).Experimental ApproachChondrocytes were isolated from articular cartilage obtained from osteoarthritis patients undergoing knee replacement surgery. The effects of MF63 were studied in the primary chondrocytes with RNA‐sequencing based genome‐wide expression analysis. The main results were confirmed with qRT‐PCR and compared with the effects of the NSAID ibuprofen. Functional analysis was performed with the GO database and interactions between the genes were studied with STRING.Key ResultsMF63 enhanced the expression of multiple metallothionein 1 (MT1) isoforms as well as endogenous antagonists of IL‐1 and IL‐36. The expression of IL‐6, by contrast, was down‐regulated. These genes were also essential in functional and interaction network analyses. The effects of MF63 were consistent in qRT‐PCR analysis, whereas the effects of ibuprofen overlapped only partly with MF63. There were no evident findings of catabolic effects by MF63.Conclusion and ImplicationsMetallothionein 1 has been suggested to have anti‐inflammatory and protective effects in cartilage. Up‐regulation of the antagonists of IL‐1 superfamily and down‐regulation of the pro‐inflammatory cytokine IL‐6 also support novel anti‐inflammatory and possibly disease‐modifying effects of mPGES1 inhibitors in arthritis.
Dietary importance of C3 and CAM food pathways for birds in a Neotropical semiarid zone
Authors: González‐Carcacía José Antonio , Herrera M. L. Gerardo , Nassar Jafet M. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractVegetation of tropical dry ecosystems is represented by patches of plants with different photosynthetic pathways. We used C and N stable isotope mixing models to assess the relative importance of CAM and C3 vegetation as direct or indirect sources of food for birds in a Neotropical semiarid zone. We analyzed tissues from 26 bird species encompassing a broad array of feeding habits in the dry and rainy seasons. Although CAM plants are important elements of our study site, their use as food was mainly restricted to some plant‐eating and omnivorous bird species. “Intermediate” or “High” dependence on CAM food was observed in only 7 species: three frugivores, one nectarivore, one granivore, and two omnivores. Instead, C3‐derived food sustained most of the bird species studied, even some for which dependence on CAM‐derived food was reported in studies using other methodological approaches. Consumption of C3 insects extended to the entire assemblage of birds, including plant‐eating species. Our findings highlight the importance of maintaining vegetation heterogeneity in arid zones for animal communities and the need to provide increasing protection measures to woody C3 species, as their local demand for firewood is rapidly increasing.Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.
‘What is left…?’: The implications of losing Maintained Nursery Schools for vulnerable children and families in England
Authors: Solvason Carla , Webb Rebecca , Sutton‐Tsang Samantha 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThis TACTYC funded research highlights the role that Maintained Nursery Schools (MNS) play in supporting families within areas of extreme social deprivation in the UK. Data collected through survey and interview demonstrated the positive impact that these schools have upon disadvantaged children and their families, providing a breadth and depth of ongoing care, against a backdrop of ongoing fiscal cuts and uncertainty. Often this provision was in lieu of the reported minimisation of other social services support for struggling families. We argue in this paper that the loss of these state institutions could be highly detrimental to the families that they currently support.
Moral Values Reveal the Causality Implicit in Verb Meaning
Authors: Niemi Laura , Hartshorne Joshua , Gerstenberg Tobias , Stanley Matthew , Young Liane 
Published: May 2020

AbstractPrior work has found that moral values that build and bind groups—that is, the binding values of ingroup loyalty, respect for authority, and preservation of purity—are linked to blaming people who have been harmed. The present research investigated whether people's endorsement of binding values predicts their assignment of the causal locus of harmful events to the victims of the events. We used an implicit causality task from psycholinguistics in which participants read a sentence in the form “SUBJECT verbed OBJECT because…” where male and female proper names occupy the SUBJECT and OBJECT position. The participants were asked to predict the pronoun that follows “because”—the referent to the subject or object—which indicates their intuition about the likely cause of the event. We also collected explicit judgments of causal contributions and measured participants' moral values to investigate the relationship between moral values and the causal interpretation of events. Using two verb sets and two independent replications (N = 459, 249, 788), we found that greater endorsement of binding values was associated with a higher likelihood of selecting the object as the cause for harmful events in the implicit causality task, a result consistent with, and supportive of, previous moral psychological work on victim blaming. Endorsement of binding values also predicted explicit causal attributions to victims. Overall, these findings indicate that moral values that support the group rather than the individual reliably predict that people shift the causal locus of harmful events to those affected by the harms.
Migratory connectivity of Swan Geese based on species' distribution models, feather stable isotope assignment and satellite tracking
Authors: Zhu Qin , Hobson Keith A. , Zhao Qingshan , Zhou Yiqi , Damba Iderbat , Batbayar Nyambayar , Natsagdorj Tseveenmyadag , Davaasuren Batmunkh , Antonov Aleksei , Guan Jian , Wang Xin , Fang Lei , Cao Lei , David Fox Anthony 
Published: May 2020

AbstractAimUnderstanding connectivity between avian breeding and non‐breeding areas is essential to understand processes affecting threatened migrants throughout their annual cycle. We attempted to establish migratory connectivity and flyway structure of the IUCN vulnerable Swan Geese (Anser cygnoides) by combining citizen science species' distribution models (SDMs) and feather stable isotope analysis.LocationsRussia, Mongolia and China.MethodsWe established migratory origins and movements of 46 Swan Geese from five wintering locations by integrating citizen science SDMs and feather stable hydrogen isotope (δ2H) measurements by linking feathers to precipitation isoscapes in a Bayesian probability framework.ResultsWe determined multiple summering origins among Swan Geese from the most important wintering location, Poyang Lake, Jiangxi Province, China. As predicted, we found no evidence for sex‐biased differences in δ2H measurements. Four geese tracked with GPS/GSM loggers all migrated to moulting areas, which confirmed the accuracy of our predictions from δ2H assignments. Differences between summering ranges inferred from historical and modern samples coincided with major wetland loss in northeastern China since the 1950s. Despite limited historical data, we contend that this supports the hypothesis that the summering range prior to 1950 was much wider than that of the current population.Main conclusionsThis was the first Asian study to establish migratory origins of wintering Anatidae based on stable isotopes and citizen science SDMs. We advocate the wider combined application of SDMs, telemetry studies and stable isotopes to investigate effectively avian migratory connectivity, as the results from this study provided important contributions to the development of conservation measures for this threatened and declining species in East Asia.
Alternative type 2 diabetes screening tests may reduce the number of U.S. adults with undiagnosed diabetes
Authors: Dadwani R. S. , Skandari M. R. , GoodSmith M. S. , Phillips L. S. , Rhee M. K. , Laiteerapong N. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractAimTo evaluate the U.S. population‐level impact of two alternatives for initial type 2 diabetes screening [opportunistic random plasma glucose (RPG) > 6.7 mmol/l and a 1‐h 50‐g glucose challenge test (GCT) > 8.9 mmol/l] compared with American Diabetes Association (ADA)‐recommended tests.MethodsUsing a sample (n = 1471) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013–2014 that represented 145 million U.S. adults at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes, we simulated a two‐test screening process. We compared ADA‐recommended screening tests [fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2‐h 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), HbA1c] vs. initial screening with opportunistic RPG or GCT (followed by FPG, OGTT or HbA1c). After simulation, participants were entered into an individual‐level Monte Carlo‐based Markov lifetime outcomes model. Primary outcomes were representative number of U.S. adults correctly identified with type 2 diabetes, societal lifetime costs and quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs).ResultsIn NHANES 2013–2014, 100 individuals had undiagnosed diabetes [weighted estimate: 8.4 million, standard error (se): 1.1 million]. Among ADA‐recommended screening tests, FPG followed by OGTT (FPG–OGTT) was most sensitive, identifying 35 individuals with undiagnosed diabetes (weighted estimate: 3.2 million, se: 0.9 million). Four alternative screening strategies performed superior to FPG–OGTT, with RPG followed by OGTT being the most sensitive overall, identifying 72 individuals with undiagnosed diabetes (weighted estimate: 6.1 million, se: 1.0 million). There was no increase in average lifetime costs and comparable QALYs.ConclusionsInitial screening using opportunistic RPG or a GCT may identify more U.S. adults with type 2 diabetes without increasing societal costs.
International application of standards for health care quality, access and evaluation of services for early intervention in psychotic disorders
Authors: Addington Donald , Cheng Chiachen Cheng , French Paul , Killackey Eoin , Melau Marianne , Meneghelli Anna , Nordentoft Merete , Nossel Ilana , Preti Antonio , Smith Jo 
Published: May 2020

AbstractAimStandards for health care quality, access and evaluation of early intervention in psychosis services are required to assess implementation, provide accountability to service users and funders and support quality assurance. The aim of this article is to review the application of standards in Europe and North America.MethodsDescriptive methods will be used to illustrate the organizational context in which standards are being applied and used, specific measures being applied and results so far.ResultsBoth fidelity scales and quality indicators of health care are being used. Fidelity scales are being applied in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy and United States. In England, quality indicators derived from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance are being used.ConclusionIn the last 4 years, significant progress has been made in the development and application of measures that assess quality and access to evidence‐based practices for early intervention in psychosis services. This represents an important step towards providing accountability, improving outcomes and service user experience. The methods used allow for comparison between the services that are assessed with the same methods, but there is a need to compare the different methods. Further research is also required to explore links between quality of care and outcomes for community mental health services that deliver early intervention in psychotic disorders.
Neuropsychiatric symptoms and quality of life in Spanish patients with Alzheimer’s disease during the COVID‐19 lockdown
Authors: Lara B. , Carnes A. , Dakterzada F. , Benitez I. , Piñol‐Ripoll G. 
Published: May 2020

Background and purposeThe COVID‐19 epidemic is affecting almost all individuals worldwide, and patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and amnesic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are particularly at risk due to their characteristics and age. We analysed the impact of the pandemic on these patients’ neuropsychiatric symptoms and their quality of life after 5 weeks of lockdown in Spain.MethodsA total of 40 patients with a diagnosis of MCI (n = 20) or mild AD (n = 20) from the Cognitive Stimulation Program of the Cognitive Disorders Unit were evaluated. All patients had undergone a previous evaluation during the month before the lockdown, and were re‐evaluated after 5 weeks of lockdown. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and EuroQol‐5D questionnaire (EQ‐5D) were used to assess neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients and the quality of life in patients as well in caregivers.ResultsThe mean (SD) total baseline NPI score was 33.75 (22.28), compared with 39.05 (27.96) after confinement (P = 0.028). The most frequently affected neuropsychiatric symptoms were apathy [4.15 (3.78) vs. 5.75 (4.02); P = 0.002] and anxiety [3.95 (3.73) vs. 5.30 (4.01); P = 0.006] in patients with MCI, and apathy [2.35 (2.70) vs. 3.75 (3.78); P = 0.036], agitation [0.45 (1.14) vs. 1.50 (2.66); P = 0.029] and aberrant motor behaviour [1.25 (2.86) vs. 2.00 (2.93); P = 0.044] in patients with AD. We did not observe differences in EQ‐5D scores during the re‐evaluation. The 30% of patients and 40% of caregivers reported a worsening of the patients' health status during confinement.ConclusionsThe results of this study show the worsening of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with AD and MCI during 5 weeks of lockdown, with agitation, apathy and aberrant motor activity being the most affected symptoms.
Do foreign stocks substitute for international diversification?
Authors: Bermejo Vicente J. , Campa José M. , Campos Rodolfo G. , Zakriya Mohammed 
Published: May 2020

AbstractUsing a novel sample of foreign securities available for trade in 42 countries during the last four decades (1979–2018), we examine the rise in importance of foreign stocks for investors in their host countries and its implications for diversification across industries and countries. The availability of foreign stocks allows domestic investors to increase their international diversification from home by investing in these stocks. We conclude that including foreign stocks in portfolio investments offers an effective substitute for international diversification, and contributes significantly towards increasing the integration of global markets.
Hsa_circ_0000515 is a novel circular RNA implicated in the development of breast cancer through its regulation of the microRNA‐296‐5p/CXCL10 axis
Authors: Cai Fenglin , Fu Wenjie , Tang Lei , Tang Jinhai , Sun Jinming , Fu Guangshun , Ye Gang 
Published: May 2020

Cancer metastasis is a major cause of death among women afflicted with breast cancer (BC) and understanding the molecular processes involved is a major focus in BC research. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have emerged as genomic regulatory molecules in carcinogenesis and metastasis; however, their role in BC is unclear. We characterized a novel circRNA, hsa_circ_0000515, in context of BC. We collected 340 cancerous tissues surgically resected from BC patients and found hsa_circ_0000515 was upregulated in BC tissues and associated with poor prognosis of BC. Silencing of hsa_circ_0000515 impaired cell cycle progression, cell proliferation, and invasion, attenuated inflammatory response, and reduced the proangiogenetic potential of BC cells. RNA pull‐down and dual‐luciferase reporter gene assays showed that hsa_circ_0000515 binds miR‐296‐5p, preventing it from repressing CXCL10 expression. We also observed that miR‐296‐5p inhibition or CXCL10 overexpression promoted cell cycle progression, restored proliferative, invasive and proangiogenetic abilities, and increased inflammatory response in MCF‐7 cells in the absence of hsa_circ_0000515. In vivo analyses showed that partial loss of hsa_circ_0000515 reduced the tumor growth of MCF‐7 cells in nude mice. The key findings from this study revealed that targeting hsa_circ_0000515 might be an effective strategy to combat BC.
Amazonian biogenic volatile organic compounds under global change
Authors: Yáñez‐Serrano Ana M. , Bourtsoukidis Efstratios , Alves Eliane G. , Bauwens Maite , Stavrakou Trissevgeni , Llusià Joan , Filella Iolanda , Guenther Alex , Williams Jonathan , Artaxo Paulo , Sindelarova Katerina , Doubalova Jana , Kesselmeier Jürgen , Peñuelas Josep 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBiogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) play important roles at cellular, foliar, ecosystem and atmospheric levels. The Amazonian rainforest represents one of the major global sources of BVOCs, so its study is essential for understanding BVOC dynamics. It also provides insights into the role of such large and biodiverse forest ecosystem in regional and global atmospheric chemistry and climate. We review the current information on Amazonian BVOCs and identify future research priorities exploring biogenic emissions and drivers, ecological interactions, atmospheric impacts, depositional processes and modifications to BVOC dynamics due to changes in climate and land cover. A feedback loop between Amazonian BVOCs and the trends of climate and land‐use changes in Amazonia is then constructed. Satellite observations and model simulation time series demonstrate the validity of the proposed loop showing a combined effect of climate change and deforestation on BVOC emission in Amazonia. A decreasing trend of isoprene during the wet season, most likely due to forest biomass loss, and an increasing trend of the sesquiterpene to isoprene ratio during the dry season suggest increasing temperature stress‐induced emissions due to climate change.
The effects of raising the long‐term care insurance co‐payment rate on the utilization of long‐term care services
Authors: Soga Yugo , Murata Fumiko , Maeda Megumi , Fukuda Haruhisa 
Published: May 2020

AimThe effect of raising insurance co‐payment rates on healthcare service utilization in Japan remains unclear. In this study, we utilized patient‐level long‐term care (LTC) insurance claims data to analyze these effects.MethodsClaims data were obtained on individuals certified as requiring LTC in City A and City B, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan during August 2014–July 2016. Individuals whose LTC insurance co‐payment rate increased from 10% to 20% in August 2015 were regarded as high‐income individuals; individuals whose co‐payment rate remained at 10% were regarded as non–high‐income individuals. We examined the changes in LTC service utilization between high‐income individuals and non–high‐income individuals during the study period. Monthly LTC insurance charges were analyzed to evaluate service utilization. We created monthly panel data for the study participants, and quantified the differences in LTC service utilization before and after August 2015 between the high‐income and non–high‐income groups. Care needs levels and age were included as covariates in a fixed‐effects model.ResultsThe sample comprised 7711 individuals (1000 high‐income individuals and 6711 non–high‐income individuals) in City A and 647 individuals (84 high‐income individuals and 563 non–high‐income individuals) in City B. After adjusting for care needs levels and age, the co‐payment rate increase was associated with reductions in monthly LTC insurance charges of $34.3 (P < 0.001) in City A and $91.0 (P = 0.022) in City B.ConclusionThe increase in co‐payment rate for high‐income individuals in August 2015 negatively affected their utilization of LTC services. Geriatr Gerontol Int ••; ••: ••–•• Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; ••: ••–••.
Novel homozygous variants in the SERPING1 gene in two Turkish families with hereditary angioedema of recessive inheritance
Authors: Mete Gökmen Nihal , Rodríguez‐Alcalde César , Gülbahar Okan , Lopez‐Trascasa Margarita , Onay Hüseyin , López‐Lera Alberto 
Published: May 2020

AbstractHereditary angioedema as a result of deficiency of the C1 inhibitor (HAE‐C1INH; MIM# 106100) is a rare autosomal disorder and affected individuals are generally heterozygous for dominant negative variants in the SERPING1 gene. Homozygosity for SERPING1 pathogenic variants was long considered to be embryonically lethal; however, five nonrelated families with a recessive HAE pattern have been described in the last decade. In this report, we functionally characterized two newly reported nonrelated, consanguineous families with a recessive presentation of HAE attributed to SERPING1 variants in the reactive center loop (family D; S438F) and gate (family A; I379T) regions. S438F heterozygotes (family D) showed variable levels of intact 105‐kDa and cleaved/inactive 96‐kDa isoforms of C1INH, whereas their homozygous relative presented only the 96‐kDa band. Functional studies showed that S438F reduced C1INH interaction with target proteases in heterozygous (C1s, 32–38% of controls and FXIIa, 28–35% of controls) and homozygous (C1s, 18–24% of controls and FXIIa, 4–8% of controls) carriers, which is consistent with the more severe presentation of HAE in the family and decreased C1q levels in homozygous patients. By contrast, plasma C1INH from I379T heterozygotes (family A) showed normal C1INH/C1s binding (84–94% of controls) and no significant reduction in C1INH/FXIIa complexes (50–70% of controls). However, the homozygote failed to inhibit both C1s (25–42% of controls) and FXIIa (14–18% of controls). This profile is concordant with the less severe presentation of HAE in the family and the conserved C4 and C1q levels in heterozygous and homozygous patients.
Epidemiological trends in notified influenza cases in Australia’s Northern Territory, 2007‐2016
Authors: Weinman Aaron L. , Sullivan Sheena G. , Vijaykrishna Dhanasekaran , Markey Peter , Levy Avram , Miller Adrian , Tong Steven Y. C. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe Northern Territory (NT) of Australia has a mix of climates, sparsely distributed population and a large proportion of the populace are Indigenous Australians, and influenza is known to have a disproportionate impact upon this group. Understanding the epidemiology of influenza in this region would inform public health strategies.ObjectivesTo assess if there are consistent patterns in characteristics of influenza outbreaks in the NT.MethodsLaboratory confirmed influenza cases in the NT are notified to the NT Centre for Disease Control. We conducted analyses on notified cases from 2007‐2016 to determine incidence rates (by age group, Indigenous status and area), seasonality of cases and spatial distribution of influenza types. Notified cases were linked to laboratory datasets to update information on influenza type or subtypeResultsThe disparity in Indigenous and non‐Indigenous notification rates varied by age group, with rate ratios for Indigenous versus non‐Indigenous ranging from 1.58 (95% CI:1.39, 1.80) for ages 15‐24 to 5.56 (95% CI: 4.71, 6.57) for ages 55‐64. The disparity between Indigenous and non‐Indigenous notification rates appeared higher in the Central Australia region. Indigenous versus non‐Indigenous hospitalisation and mortality rate ratios were 6.51 (95% CI: 5.91, 7.18) and 5.46 (95% CI: 2.40, 12.71) respectively. Inter‐seasonal peaks during February and March occurred in 2011, 2013 and 2014, and were due to influenza activity in the tropical north of the NT.ConclusionsOur results highlight the importance of influenza vaccination across all age groups for Indigenous Australians. An early vaccination campaign targeted against outbreaks in February‐March would be best focused on the tropical north.