bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Global cognition predicts the incidence of poor physical performance among older adults: A cross‐national study
Authors: Dansereau Alexandra , Hunter Susan W , Gomez Fernando , Guralnik Jack M , DePaul Vincent G , Auais Mohammad 
Published: January 2020

AimThe relationship between physical performance and cognition is well established. However, findings on the relationship between global cognition and the incidence of functional disability has been inconsistent. Using data from the International Mobility in Aging Study, we investigated the relationship between baseline cognitive function and the incidence of poor physical performance 2 years later.MethodsA total of 1071 community‐dwelling participants (aged 64–75 years) from four sites in Canada and Latin America, with a Short Physical Performance Battery score ≥9 at baseline (good performance) were included. We carried out two sets of analyses, measuring cognition with either the Leganés Cognitive Test or the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. We used three logistic regression models, controlling for either no confounders, sociodemographic confounders or sociodemographic and health confounders. The full model was also stratified by site. A score <9 on the Short Physical Performance Battery indicated poor physical performance.ResultsIn the fully adjusted model, each 1‐point increase in the baseline Leganés Cognitive Test score (range 0–32) was associated with a 10% decrease in the odds of incidence of poor physical performance at the 2‐year follow‐up (P = 0.019). Likewise, each 1‐point increase in the baseline Montreal Cognitive Assessment score (range 0–30) was associated with a 16% decrease in the odds of developing poor physical performance (P = 0.005). When stratified by site, the results were significant at the Latin American sites (P = 0.02), but not at the Canadian sites (P = 0.08).ConclusionsPoor baseline cognition is associated with the incidence of poor physical performance in community‐dwelling older adults. To prevent physical disability, interventions addressing both cognitive and physical performance are required. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; ••: ••–••.
IMMIGRANT WAGE GROWTH IN THE UNITED STATES: THE ROLE OF OCCUPATIONAL UPGRADING
Authors: Lessem Rebecca , Sanders Carl 
Published: January 2020

AbstractImmigrants to the United States routinely take jobs below their skill qualifications because of barriers to entering occupations. We use a structural model of immigrant job choice to quantify the benefits of potential policies to promote entry into suitable occupations. We estimate the model using longitudinal labor market data on immigrants to the United States. Our counterfactual results show that eliminating barriers to occupational entry would lead to only a small earnings increase for the average immigrant in our sample, but a substantial earnings increase for the most highly skilled immigrants.
Epigenetic silencing of LncRNA ANRIL enhances liver fibrosis and HSC activation through activating AMPK pathway
Authors: Yang Jing‐Jing , Yang Yang , Zhang Chong , Li Jun , Yang Yan 
Published: January 2020

AbstractLong non‐coding RNAs (LncRNAs) and DNA methylation are important epigenetic mark play a key role in liver fibrosis. Currently, how DNA methylation and LncRNAs control the hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and fibrosis has not yet been fully characterized. Here, we explored the role of antisense non‐coding RNA in the INK4 locus (ANRIL) and DNA methylation in HSC activation and fibrosis. The expression levels of DNA methyltransferases 3A (DNMT3A), ANRIL, α‐Smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA), Type I collagen (Col1A1), adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) and p‐AMPK in rat and human liver fibrosis were detected by immunohistochemistry, qRT‐PCR and Western blotting. Liver tissue histomorphology was examined by haematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Sirius red and Masson staining. HSC was transfected with DNMT3A‐siRNA, over‐expressing ANRIL and down‐regulating ANRIL. Moreover, cell proliferation ability was examined by CCK‐8, MTT and cell cycle assay. Here, our study demonstrated that ANRIL was significantly decreased in activated HSC and liver fibrosis tissues, while Col1A1, α‐SMA and DNMT3A were significantly increased in activated HSC and liver fibrosis tissues. Further, we found that down‐regulating DNMT3A expression leads to inhibition of HSC activation. Reduction in DNMT3A elevated ANRIL expression in activated HSC. Furthermore, we performed the over expression ANRIL suppresses HSC activation and AMPK signalling pathways. In sum, our study found that epigenetic DNMT3A silencing of ANRIL enhances liver fibrosis and HSC activation through activating AMPK pathway. Targeting epigenetic modulators DNMT3A and ANRIL, and offer a novel approach for liver fibrosis therapy.
Evidence for rapid downward fecundity selection in an ectoparasite (Philornis downsi) with earlier host mortality in Darwin’s finches
Authors: Common Lauren K. , O’Connor Jody A. , Dudaniec Rachael Y. , Peters Katharina J. , Kleindorfer Sonia 
Published: January 2020

AbstractFecundity selection is a critical component of fitness and a major driver of adaptive evolution. Trade‐offs between parasite mortality and host resources are likely to impose a selection pressure on parasite fecundity, but this is little studied in natural systems. The ‘fecundity advantage hypothesis’ predicts female‐biased sexual size dimorphism whereby larger females produce more offspring. Parasitic insects are useful for exploring the interplay between host resource availability and parasite fecundity, because female body size is a reliable proxy for fecundity in insects. Here we explore temporal changes in body size in the myiasis‐causing parasite Philornis downsi (Diptera: Muscidae) on the Galápagos Islands under conditions of earlier in‐nest host mortality. We aim to investigate the effects of decreasing host resources on parasite body size and fecundity. Across a 12‐year period, we observed a mean of c. 17% P. downsi mortality in host nests with 55 ± 6.2% host mortality and a trend of c. 66% higher host mortality throughout the study period. Using specimens from 116 Darwin's finch nests (Passeriformes: Thraupidae) and 114 traps, we found that over time, P. downsi pupae mass decreased by c. 32%, and male (c. 6%) and female adult size (c. 11%) decreased. Notably, females had c. 26% smaller abdomens in later years, and female abdomen size was correlated with number of eggs. Our findings imply natural selection for faster P. downsi pupation and consequently smaller body size and lower parasite fecundity in this newly evolving host–parasite system.
Intrinsic post‐ejaculation sperm ageing does not affect offspring fitness in Atlantic salmon
Authors: Hotzy Cosima , Xuhui Bao , Larva Tuuli , Immler Simone 
Published: January 2020

AbstractPost‐meiotic sperm ageing, both before ejaculation and after ejaculation, has been shown to negatively affect offspring fitness by lowering the rate of embryonic development, reducing embryonic viability and decreasing offspring condition. These negative effects are thought to be caused by intrinsic factors such as oxidative stress and ATP depletion or extrinsic factors such as temperature and osmosis. Effects of post‐ejaculation sperm ageing on offspring fitness have so far almost exclusively been tested in internal fertilizers. Here, we tested whether intrinsic post‐ejaculation sperm ageing affects offspring performance in an external fertilizer, the Atlantic salmon Salmo salar. We performed in vitro fertilizations with a split‐clutch design where sperm were subjected to four post‐ejaculation ageing treatments. We varied the duration between sperm activation and fertilization while minimizing extrinsic stress factors and tested how this affected offspring fitness. We found no evidence for an effect of our treatments on embryo survival, hatching time, larval standard length, early larval survival or larval growth rate, indicating that intrinsic post‐ejaculation sperm ageing may not occur in Atlantic salmon. One reason may be the short life span of salmon sperm after ejaculation. Whether our findings are true in other external fertilizers with extended sperm activity remains to be tested.
Heat island effects in urban life cycle assessment: Novel insights to include the effects of the urban heat island and UHI‐mitigation measures in LCA for effective policy making
Authors: Susca Tiziana , Pomponi Francesco 
Published: January 2020

AbstractUrbanization often entails a surge in urban temperature compared to the rural surroundings: the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. Such a temperature increase triggers the formation of pollutants worsening the urban air quality. Jointly, bad air quality and UHI affect ecosystems and human health. To alleviate the impacts on the population and the environment, it is crucial to design effective UHI‐mitigation measures. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an assessment tool able to capture the complexity of urban settlements and quantify their impact. Yet, as currently implemented, LCA neglects the interactions between the built environment and the local climate, omitting the resulting impacts. This study reviews the existing literature, showing the lack of studies that organically include interactions between the built environment and local climate in LCA. This forms the basis to identify the unsuitability of the current LCA framework for comprehensively capturing the impact of urban settlements. To overcome this limitation, this research offers a pathway to expand the LCA methodology, indicating the necessity to (a) couple the LCA methodology with climate models or physical relations that quantify the interactions between the local climate and the built environment; (b) include novel impact categories in LCA to address such interactions; and (c) use existing or ad hoc developed characterization factors to assess the impacts related to the UHI effect. The LCA community can build on the frame of reference offered by this research to overcome the current limitations of LCA and enable its use for a comprehensive assessment of the impacts of UHI and its mitigation measures.
Oxytocin receptor signalling modulates novelty recognition but not social preference in zebrafish
Authors: Ribeiro Diogo , Nunes Ana Rita , Gliksberg Michael , Anbalagan Savani , Levkowitz Gil , Oliveira Rui F. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractSociality is a complex phenomenon that involves the individual´s motivation to approach their conspecifics, along with social cognitive functions that enable individuals to interact and survive. The nonapeptide oxytocin (OXT) is known to regulate sociality in many species. However, the role of OXT in specific aspects of sociality is still not well understood. In the present study, we investigated the contribution of the OXT receptor (OXTR) signalling in two different aspects of zebrafish social behaviour: social preference, by measuring their motivation to approach a shoal of conspecifics, and social recognition, by measuring their ability to discriminate between a novel and familiar fish, using a mutant zebrafish lacking a functional OXTR. Although oxtr mutant zebrafish displayed normal attraction to a shoal of conspecifics, they exhibited reduced social recognition. We further investigated whether this effect would be social‐domain specific by replacing conspecific fish by objects. Although no differences were observed in object approach, oxtr mutant fish also exhibited impaired object recognition. Our findings suggest that OXTR signalling regulates a more general memory recognition of familiar vs novel entities, not only in social but also in a non‐social domain, in zebrafish.
The relationship between facet tropism and cervical disc herniation
Authors: Huang Xuecheng , Ye Linqiang , Liu Xiang , Weng Rui , Tan Jinchuan , Xie Pusheng , Yang Yang , Liang Lichang , Huang Wenhua , Jiang Xiaobing 
Published: January 2020

AbstractMany studies have demonstrated the association between facet tropism and disc herniation in the lumbar spine. Some of them found that lumbar disc herniation was on the side of the more sagittal facet joint interface. However, little is understood about the association of facet tropism with disc herniation in the cervical spine. As the relationship between the facet orientation and the side of cervical disc herniation (CDH) is unclear, the purpose of this study is to investigate that relationship. Ninety‐six patients with single‐level CDH (C4‐C5, C5‐C6 or C6‐C7) were included in the CDH group of this study. Another 50 age‐matched and gender‐matched healthy participants who accepted physical examinations were enrolled as the control group. The cervical facet angles of two sides were measured using axial computed tomography (CT). The intersection angle of the midsagittal line of the vertebra to the facet line represents the facet angle. Facet tropism was defined as the angular difference of 7º between the left and the right sides. Facet tropism angle was recorded as the absolute value of the difference of facet angles between two sides. There were 20 herniations at C4–C5 level, 50 herniations at C5–C6 level and 26 herniations at C6‐C7 level. The present study showed that more cases in the CDH group had facet tropism than did those in the control group at C4‐C5, C5‐C6 and C6‐C7 level (p = .021, p = .001, p = .015, respectively). The facet tropism angles in the CDH group were significantly bigger than those in the control group at C4‐C5, C5‐C6 and C6‐C7 level (p = .001, p = .002, p = .028, respectively). In the CDH group, the facet angles on the herniated side were found to be significantly bigger than those on the healthy side at C4‐C5, C5‐C6 and C6‐C7 level (p = .000, p = .000, p = .037, respectively). The findings of this present study suggest that facet tropism is associated with the disc herniation in the cervical spine. We also found that cervical disc herniates towards the side of the bigger facet angle with respect to the sagittal plane. There is a need for future studies to verify the biomechanical impact of facet tropism on CDH.
Correlation between serum IL 37 levels with keloid severity
Authors: Khattab Fathia M. , Samir Mai A. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackgroundKeloids are dermal fibroproliferative disorders that characterized by over deposition of components of the extracellular matrix. Interleukin 37 (IL‐37) is known by its ability to inhibit the proliferation of keloid fibroblasts by inhibiting extracellular matrix production induced by transforming growth factor β (TGF‐β). Thus, Il‐37 is suggested to be used as an early preventive treatment for keloids.AimsThis study aimed to evaluate the correlation between serum levels of IL37 level and the keloid severity.Patients/MethodsThis is a cross‐sectional analytic study involving thirty‐two patients diagnosed clinically as having Keloid. An assessment of keloid severity was conducted by using Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS). Blood samples were collected from every patient to measure and assess the serum levels of IL37.ResultsA negative correlation was found between IL37 level and the keloid severity (P = .0001; r = −.737). Also, there was a nonsignificant correlation between IL37 levels in patient with keloid and age, gender, duration of lesions, and family history.ConclusionLower level of plasma IL 37 could be an indicator of the severity of Keloids.
Reconstructed uterine length is critical for the prevention of cervical stenosis following abdominal trachelectomy in cervical cancer patients
Authors: Nakajima Takahiro , Kasuga Akiko , Hara‐Yamashita Aki , Ikeda Yuji , Asai‐Sato Mikiko , Nakao Takehiro , Hayashi Chuyu , Takeya Chiaki , Adachi Katsuyuki , Tsuruga Tetsushi , Matsumoto Yoko , Arimoto Takahide , Nagamatsu Takeshi , Oda Katsutoshi , Komatsu Atsushi , Chishima Fumihisa , Osuga Yutaka , Fujii Tomoyuki , Kawana Kei 
Published: January 2020

AbstractAimAlthough the procedure of abdominal trachelectomy has been remarkably improved, preventing subsequent cervical stenosis remains challenging. In this study, we analyzed the clinicopathological risk factors for cervical stenosis to explore the appropriate surgical procedures for the prevention of cervical stenosis following trachelectomy.MethodsThirty‐two patients who underwent abdominal extended and radical trachelectomy were assessed retrospectively (median follow‐up period = 33 months). To evaluate the risk factors, the clinicopathological factors were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyses. The reconstructed uterine length (UtL), that is, the length between the vaginal end of the neo‐cervix and the uterine fundus, was measured by transvaginal ultrasound after surgery. The cut‐off value for the UtL was assessed by a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.ResultsCervical stenosis of any grade was observed in 12 patients (grade 1 = 9, grade 3b = 3). Among the various clinicopathological factors, the UtL and cervical length (CL) were significantly related to cervical stenosis following trachelectomy. The multivariate analysis revealed that the UtL, but not CL, is an independent risk factor for stenosis. The ROC curve analysis revealed that stenosis was significantly more likely to occur in patients with a UtL shorter than 53 mm (area under the ROC curve = 0.902). UtL in the patients who became pregnant was longer than that in the patients who did not. No evidence of recurrent cancer was observed during the follow‐up period.ConclusionOur proposed method may provide a functional reconstructed uterus with preserving fertility by remaining UtL more than 53 mm.
Clinical outcomes of hysteroscopy‐assisted transvaginal repair of cesarean scar defect
Authors: Zhou Dan , Wu Fengli , Zhang Qiao , Cui Ying , Huang Shuai , Lv Qiubo 
Published: January 2020

AbstractAimThis study was conducted to evaluate comparative clinical outcomes of hysteroscopy‐assisted transvaginal repair in the treatment of cesarean scar defect (CSD) in patients desirous of conceiving again.MethodsWe retrospectively enrolled 63 patients with CSD who were treated at Beijing Hospital between January 2014 and January 2016. Patients were divided into the hysteroscopic electrocauterization group (electrocauterization group, n = 28) and hysteroscopy‐assisted transvaginal repair group (transvaginal group, n = 35). Perioperative parameters including operation time, intraoperative blood loss, time to passage of flatus, hospitalization duration, duration of postoperative vaginal bleeding, pre‐ and postoperative myometrial thickness, rate of full‐term births and surgical complications were compared between the two groups.ResultsAt the 6‐month follow‐up, myometrial thickness was significantly greater in the transvaginal group (9.8 ± 1.0 mm) compared to the electrocauterization group (3.3 ± 0.7 mm, P < 0.05). One patient in the transvaginal group required intraoperative conversion to laparotomy because of surgical complications. The transvaginal group had a significantly higher rate of full‐term live birth compared to the electrocauterization group (92% vs 46%, P < 0.05). There were no significant between‐group differences in the other pre‐, intra‐, and postoperative parameters. The maximum postoperative diameter of the CSD in the transvaginal and electrocauterization groups was 1.6 ± 0.8 and 17 ± 2.0 mm, respectively.ConclusionCompared to hysteroscopic electrocauterization, hysteroscopy‐assisted transvaginal repair of CSD was associated with better clinical outcomes and higher rate of full‐term live births.
The association between heart diseases and suicide: a nationwide cohort study
Authors: Petersen B. D. , Stenager E. , Mogensen C. B. , Erlangsen A. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the association between specific heart diseases and suicide.DesignNationwide retrospective cohort study.ParticipantsA total of 7 298 002 individuals (3 640 632 males and 3 657 370 females) aged ≥15 years and living in Denmark during 1980–2016.Main outcome measuresIncidence rate ratios (IRR) with 95% confidence intervals. In multivariate analysis, we adjust for sex, period, age group, living status, income level, Charlson Comorbidity Index, psychiatric disorders prior to heart disease and self‐harm prior to heart disease.ResultsExcess suicide rate ratios were found for following disorders: heart failure (IRR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.38–1.58); cardiomyopathy (IRR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.16–1.70); acute myocardial infarction (IRR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.21–1.36); cardiac arrest with successful resuscitation (IRR: 4.75; 95% CI: 3.57–6.33); atrial fibrillation and flutter (IRR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.32–1.52); angina pectoris (IRR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.12–1.26); and ventricular tachycardia (IRR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.20–1.94). A higher rate of suicide was noted during the first 6 months after the diagnosis of heart failure (IRR: 2.38; 95% CI: 2.04–2.79); acute myocardial infarction (IRR: 2.24; 95% CI: 1.89–2.66); atrial fibrillation and flutter (IRR: 2.70; 95% CI: 2.30–3.18); and angina pectoris (IRR: 1.83; 95% CI: 1.53–2.19) when compared to later.ConclusionSeveral specific disorders were found to be associated with elevated rates of suicide. Additionally, we found temporal associations with higher suicide rates in the first time after diagnosis. Our results underscore the importance of being attentive towards psychological distress in individuals with heart disease.
Railways and manufacturing productivity in Italy after unification
Authors: Pontarollo Nicola , Ricciuti Roberto 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThis paper contributes to the debate on the effects of transport infrastructure endowment on productivity by adding a historical perspective. This allows us to address the issue in a proving ground where the effects of the existing stock of infrastructure are negligible. At the time of unification, the Kingdom of Italy initiated a large infrastructure project to build railways. We find that railways had a positive effect on manufacturing productivity over the period 1871–1911. Railways also had strong spillover effects in neighboring provinces so that provinces that started with a higher endowment of railways benefited more than those who were newly endowed.
Application of scientific measures to demonstrate the relaxing properties of Peony fragrance in hair care products
Authors: Painchault Typhanie , Perrin Lucie , Loijens Leanne W. S. , van der Linden Xandra , Theuws Hans M. M. , Zimmerman Patrick H. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractRelaxation response is impacted by physiological and psychological considerations. This study investigates the effect of a fragrance on the relaxation response triggered by a shampoo and a serum product. Two research cells were executed in identical hotel room facilities involving female shampoo or serum users. A control sample was evaluated to provide a neutral baseline against which the test samples could be compared. A concentrated fragrance was evaluated after the test samples. Nonverbal tools were chosen to measure relaxation covering physiology (heart rate, inter beat interval [IBI] variation, blood pressure [BP], and electrodermal activity [EDA]), mental and physical tasks (reaction time and handgrip strength), and behavior measures (posture and posturer switches). Results indicated that the physiology measures were most useful in demonstrating a relaxing effect of the fragrance in the shampoo and serum products. For example, the application of the shampoo caused an increase in IBI variation, a decrease in EDA and the concentrated shampoo fragrance caused a decrease heart rate. Serum application caused a decrease in BP and a decrease in heart rate. This study enabled to claim about emotional benefits of the scent of the hair care products with strong scientific evidence to support it.Practical ApplicationsThis study demonstrated how nonverbal methods could be successfully applied to evaluate consumer response to a product based on its fragrance. The research presented adds to the growing knowledge in the use of physiological, psychological, and behavioral measures to establish consumer responses that can be linked to a desired claim, such as relaxation properties. Additionally, the methodology proposed provides an accepted approach to validate a perception claim in a highly regulated cosmetics industry.