bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Motivations for Environmental Alliances: Generating and Internalizing Environmental and Knowledge Value
Authors: Niesten Eva , Jolink Albert 
Published: May 2020

AbstractEnvironmental alliances are a common response to societal sustainability demands. In environmental alliances, firms collaboratively exploit and explore environmental technologies to address market opportunities while simultaneously generating positive environmental impacts. A striking idiosyncrasy is that in addition to economic value, environmental alliances generate two types of external value: environmental value from positive effects on air, water, land and biodiversity, and knowledge value from innovations in environmental technologies. Research on motivations for environmental alliances is dispersed and underdeveloped compared to the well‐established literature on motivations for strategic alliances that emphasize economic value. This study therefore develops a classification of motivations for environmental alliances by combining the literature on strategic alliances and that on environmental and knowledge value. The resulting classification includes motivations for environmental alliances to generate environmental and knowledge value as well as motivations to create economic value by internalizing environmental and knowledge value. A systematic review of 123 articles on environmental inter‐firm alliances identifies specific motivations to populate the new classification. We show that alliance partners are motivated to share sustainable resources, reduce sustainability risk, respond to stakeholders or invest in specific sustainable assets to generate external value. They collaborate to reduce costs or enhance competitive advantage, reputation or legitimacy to internalize external value. The resource‐based view, resource‐dependence view, institutional theory and transaction cost economics have not previously distinguished between motivations to generate and internalize external value. We extend their area of application from strategic alliances to environmental alliances, and thus beyond the exclusive pursuit of economic value.
Quality of life improvements by durable pulmonary vein isolation in patients with atrial fibrillation
Authors: Inagaki Dai , Fukamizu Seiji , Tokioka Sayuri , Kawamura Iwanari , Kitamura Takeshi , Hojo Rintaro , Sakurada Harumizu , Hiraoka Masayasu 
Published: May 2020

AbstractIntroductionSuccessful pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) can improve the quality of life (QOL) of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the role of durable PVI for such QOL improvement is not known. The aim of this study was to clarify the effectiveness of durable PVI in improving the QOL of patients with AF.Methods and ResultsWe assessed 119 patients who underwent PVI (age 66.4 ± 9.6 years, 104 paroxysmal AF). A scheduled electrophysiological study was performed 6 months after the first PVI session—regardless of recurrence of AF—to assess the durability of PVI and to identify and re‐isolate reconnected pulmonary veins. QOL scores were evaluated by an AF‐specific QOL questionnaire and checked at baseline, 6  months, and 1 year after the first session. In patients without AF recurrence (nonrecurrence group, n = 93), the scores at 6 months improved compared with those at baseline; conversely, the scores did not improve in patients with AF recurrence (n = 26). Nevertheless, the scores at 1 year improved compared with those at 6 months in both groups. Within the nonrecurrence group, the score difference between 6 months and baseline was higher in the durable PVI group (n = 58) than that in the nondurable PVI group (n = 35).ConclusionsThe QOL of AF patients improved by the resumption of sinus rhythm following PVI. Patients with durable PVI had increased QOL scores compared with those with nondurable PVI. The durability of PVI may achieve further improvements in the QOL of patients with AF.
Up‐regulation of miR‐195 contributes to cardiac hypertrophy‐induced arrhythmia by targeting calcium and potassium channels
Authors: Xuan Lina , Zhu Yanmeng , Liu Yunqi , Yang Hua , Wang Shengjie , Li Qingqi , Yang Chao , Jiao Lei , Zhang Ying , Yang Baofeng , Sun Lihua 
Published: May 2020

AbstractPrevious studies have confirmed that miR‐195 expression is increased in cardiac hypertrophy, and the bioinformatics website predicted by Targetscan software shows that miR‐195 can directly target CACNB1, KCNJ2 and KCND3 to regulate Cavβ1, Kir2.1 and Kv4.3 proteins expression. The purpose of this study is to confirm the role of miR‐195 in arrhythmia caused by cardiac hypertrophy. The protein levels of Cavβ1, Kir2.1 and Kv4.3 in myocardium of HF mice were decreased. After miR‐195 was overexpressed in neonatal mice cardiomyocytes, the expression of ANP, BNP and β‐MHC was up‐regulated, and miR‐195 inhibitor reversed this phenomenon. Overexpression of miR‐195 reduced the estimated cardiac function of EF% and FS% in wild‐type (WT) mice. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the ultrastructure of cardiac tissues was damaged after miR‐195 overexpression by lentivirus in mice. miR‐195 overexpression increased the likelihood of arrhythmia induction and duration of arrhythmia in WT mice. Lenti‐miR‐195 inhibitor carried by lentivirus can reverse the decreased EF% and FS%, the increased incidence of arrhythmia and prolonged duration of arrhythmia induced by TAC in mice. After miR‐195 treatment, the protein expressions of Cavβ1, Kir2.1 and Kv4.3 were decreased in mice. The results were consistent at animal and cellular levels, respectively. Luciferase assay results showed that miR‐195 may directly target CACNB1, KCNJ2 and KCND3 to regulate the expression of Cavβ1, Kir2.1 and Kv4.3 proteins. MiR‐195 is involved in arrhythmia caused by cardiac hypertrophy by inhibiting Cavβ1, Kir2.1 and Kv4.3.
Stage‐specific regulation of Gremlin1 on the differentiation and expansion of human urinary induced pluripotent stem cells into endothelial progenitors
Authors: Chen Haixuan , Zhang Zhen , Wang Zhecun , Li Quhuan , Chen Hui , Guo Song , Bao Lin , Wang Zheng , Min Wang , Xiang Qiuling 
Published: May 2020

AbstractHuman urinary induced pluripotent stem cells (hUiPSCs) produced from exfoliated renal epithelial cells present in urine may provide a non‐invasive source of endothelial progenitors for the treatment of ischaemic diseases. However, their differentiation efficiency is unsatisfactory and the underlying mechanism of differentiation is still unknown. Gremlin1 (GREM1) is an important gene involved in cell differentiation. Therefore, we tried to elucidate the roles of GREM1 during the differentiation and expansion of endothelial progenitors. HUiPSCs were induced into endothelial progenitors by three stages. After differentiation, GREM1 was obviously increased in hUiPSC‐induced endothelial progenitors (hUiPSC‐EPs). RNA interference (RNAi) was used to silence GREM1 expression in three stages, respectively. We demonstrated a stage‐specific effect of GREM1 in decreasing hUiPSC‐EP differentiation in the mesoderm induction stage (Stage 1), while increasing differentiation in the endothelial progenitors' induction stage (Stage 2) and expansion stage (Stage 3). Exogenous addition of GREM1 recombinant protein in the endothelial progenitors' expansion stage (Stage 3) promoted the expansion of hUiPSC‐EPs although the activation of VEGFR2/Akt or VEGFR2/p42/44MAPK pathway. Our study provided a new non‐invasive source for endothelial progenitors, demonstrated critical roles of GREM1 in hUiPSC‐EP and afforded a novel strategy to improve stem cell‐based therapy for the ischaemic diseases.
Healthcare utilization and direct medical cost in the years during and after cancer diagnosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Wu Tingting , Yang Fan , Chan Wendy Wing Lok , Lam Cindy Lo Kuen , Wong Carlos King Ho 
Published: May 2020

AbstractAims/IntroductionThere is uncertainty about the direct medical costs of type 2 diabetes patients with cancers.Materials and MethodsA population‐based retrospective cohort of 99,915 type 2 diabetes patients from the Hong Kong Hospital Authority between 2006 and 2017 was assembled. A total of 16,869 patients who had an initial cancer diagnosis after type 2 diabetes diagnosis were matched with 83,046 patients without cancer (controls) using a matching ratio of up to one‐to‐five propensity score‐matching method. Patients were divided into four categories according to life expectancy. Healthcare service utilization and direct medical costs during the index year, subsequent years and mortality year were compared between patients with and without cancer in each category.ResultsMedical costs of cancer patients in the index year ranged from $US27,533 for patients who died in <1 year to $US11,303 for those survived >3 years. Cancer patients had significantly greater expenditures than controls in the index year (all P < 0.001) and subsequent years ($US4,569 vs $US4,155, P < 0.001). Cancer patients also had greater costs in the year of death, and the difference was significant for patients who survived >3 years after the index year ($US32,558 vs $US28,260). For patients in both groups, patients who survived >3 years had significantly lower costs than those who died in <1 year. Costs incurred in the mortality year were greater than those in the index year and subsequent years. Hospitalization accounted for >90% of the medical costs for both groups in the mortality year.ConclusionsType 2 diabetes patients with cancers incurred greater medical costs in the diagnosis, ensuing and mortality years than type 2 diabetes patients without cancers.
Effect of drying air temperature on drying kinetics and physicochemical characteristics of dried banana
Authors: Macedo Leandro Levate , Vimercati Wallaf Costa , da Silva Araújo Cintia , Saraiva Sérgio Henriques , Teixeira Luciano José Quintão 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThis study aimed to evaluate the influence of drying air temperature on drying kinetics and the physicochemical properties of dried bananas. Banana slices were dried at 40, 60, and 80°C. Drying was terminated when the samples had a moisture of 20%. Mathematical models were fitted to the moisture ratio. A generalized model of moisture was developed, to predict the moisture of samples as a function of drying time and temperature. The effective moisture diffusivity (Deff), activation energy and the drying rate (DR) were calculated. Electrical energy consumption was measured. The moisture, water activity, reducing and total sugar content, acidity, hardness, and color of the dried bananas were evaluated. The moisture decreased during drying, obtaining a mean value of 20.132%. All mathematical models fitted well to the MR data, with a determination coefficient greater than 0.95. The Midilli model was that which best fitted. The higher temperature resulted in higher Deff (3.538 × 10−9 m2 s−1) and DR, less drying time (120 min) and electrical energy consumption (4.319 kWh), higher reducing sugar content (47.51%) and hardness (28.187 N), lower acidity (1.038%), more yellow tonality (78.04°), and higher chromaticity (18.49) of the dried bananas. The optimum temperature for drying bananas was 80°C.Practical ApplicationsBanana is a fruit widely consumed in the world. However, it is very perishable, causing great waste and financial loss. Convective drying is a simple and low‐cost method, widely used in fruit processing to produce new products and extend the shelf life of food. The dried banana is a product of good sensory acceptance and therefore drying is a good alternative for processing the banana pulp. The temperature of the drying air is one of the principal parameters of this process since it influences the drying kinetics and the physicochemical properties of the dry product. Therefore, it is important to study different drying air temperatures to determine the best drying condition for dried banana production, to optimize the dried banana process and properties.
Sleep patterns and insomnia in a large population‐based study of middle‐aged and older adults: The Tromsø study 2015–2016
Authors: Sivertsen Børge , Pallesen Ståle , Friborg Oddgeir , Nilsen Kristian Bernhard , Bakke Øystein Kvåle , Goll Jonas Bjørnskov , Hopstock Laila Arnesdatter 
Published: May 2020

AbstractEpidemiological studies assessing adult sleep duration have yielded inconsistent findings and there are still large variations in estimation of insomnia prevalence according to the most recent diagnostic criteria. Our objective was to describe sleep patterns in a large population of middle‐aged and older adults, by employing accurate measures of both sleep duration and insomnia. Data stem from the Tromsø Study (2015–2016), an ongoing population‐based study in northern Norway comprising citizens aged 40 years and older (n = 21,083, attendance = 64.7%). Sleep parameters were reported separately for weekdays and weekends and included bedtime, rise time, sleep latency and total sleep time. Insomnia was defined according to recent diagnostic criteria (International Classification of Sleep Disorders; ICSD‐3). The results show that 20% (95% confidence interval,19.4–20.6) fulfilled the inclusion criteria for insomnia. The prevalence was especially high among women (25%), for whom the prevalence also increased with age. For men, the prevalence was around 15% across all age groups. In all, 42% of the women reported sleeping <7 hr (mean sleep duration of 7:07 hr), whereas the corresponding proportion among males was 52% (mean sleep duration of 6:55 hr). We conclude that the proportion of middle‐aged and older adults not getting the recommended amount of sleep is worryingly high, as is also the observed prevalence of insomnia. This warrants attention as a public health problem in this population.
Evaluation of profibrotic gene transcription in renal tissues from cats with naturally occurring chronic kidney disease
Authors: Lourenço Bianca N. , Coleman Amanda E. , Tarigo Jaime L. , Berghaus Roy D. , Brown Cathy A. , Rissi Daniel R. , Stanton James B. , Brown Scott A. , Schmiedt Chad W. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBackgroundIncreased gene transcription of hypoxia‐induced mediators of fibrosis in renal tissue has been identified in experimentally induced, ischemic chronic kidney disease (CKD).ObjectiveTo characterize hypoxia‐induced profibrotic pathways in naturally occurring CKD in cats.AnimalsTwelve client‐owned cats with CKD and 8 healthy control cats.MethodsIn this prospective, cross‐sectional study, bilateral renal tissue samples were assessed histologically for inflammation, tubular atrophy, and fibrosis, and by reverse transcription‐quantitative PCR for characterization of transcript levels of hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF1A), matrix metalloproteinases‐2 (MMP2), ‐7 (MMP7), and ‐9 (MMP9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase‐1 (TIMP1), transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGFB1), and vascular endothelial growth factor‐A (VEGFA). Linear mixed models were used to compare gene transcription between diseased and healthy kidneys, and to examine the association between transcript levels and serum creatinine concentration for all cats, and between transcript levels and histologic scores of diseased kidneys.ResultsKidneys from cats with CKD had significantly higher transcript levels of HIF1A, MMP2, MMP7, MMP9, TIMP1, and TGFB1 (all P < .001), and lower levels of VEGFA (P = .006) than those from control cats. Transcript levels of MMP7 (P = .05) and TIMP1 (P = .005) were positively associated with serum creatinine in cats with CKD, but not in control cats. In diseased kidneys, transcript levels of MMP2 (P = .002), MMP7 (P = .02), and TIMP1 (P = .02) were positively, whereas those of VEGFA (P = .003) were negatively, associated with histologic score severity.Conclusion and Clinical SignificanceEvaluation of the expression of the corresponding proteins in larger populations could identify therapeutic targets and/or biomarkers of tubulointerstitial fibrosis in cats.
A pilot study of optical neuronavigation‐guided brain biopsy in the horse using anatomic landmarks and fiducial arrays for patient registration
Authors: Santistevan Lawrence , Easley Jeremiah , Ruple Audrey , Monck Sam , Randall Elissa , Wininger Fred , Packer Rebecca A. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBackgroundOptical neuronavigation‐guided intracranial surgery has become increasingly common in veterinary medicine, but its use has not yet been described in horses.ObjectivesTo determine the feasibility of optical neuronavigation‐guided intracranial biopsy procedures in the horse, compare the use of the standard fiducial array and anatomic landmarks for patient registration, and evaluate surgeon experience.AnimalsSix equine cadaver heads.MethodsComputed tomography images of each specimen were acquired, with the fiducial array rigidly secured to the frontal bone. Six targets were selected in each specimen. Patient registration was performed separately for 3 targets using the fiducial array, and for 3 targets using anatomic landmarks. In lieu of biopsy, 1 mm diameter wire seeds were placed at each target. Postoperative images were coregistered with the planning scan to calculate Euclidian distance from the tip of the seed to the target.ResultsNo statistical difference between registration techniques was identified. The impact of surgeon experience was examined for each technique using a Mann‐Whitney U test. The experienced surgeon was significantly closer to the intended target (median = 2.52 mm) than were the novice surgeons (median = 6.55 mm) using the fiducial array (P = .001). Although not statistically significant (P = .31), for the experienced surgeon the median distance to target was similar when registering with the fiducial array (2.47 mm) and anatomic landmarks (2.58 mm).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceRegistration using both fiducial arrays and anatomic landmarks for brain biopsy using optical neuronavigation in horses is feasible.
Low prevalence and disease severity of COVID‐19 in post‐liver transplant recipients—A single centre experience
Authors: Verma Anita , Khorsandi Shirin Elizabeth , Dolcet Annalisa , Prachalias Andreas , Suddle Abid , Heaton Nigel , Jassem Wayel 
Published: May 2020

AbstractCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) caused by a novel coronavirus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) is driving a present day global pandemic. Immunosuppressed patients are regarded as a high‐risk cohort. The following is a short report on COVID‐19 in liver transplant recipients (n = 5) from a high volume UK liver transplant unit with a large follow‐up cohort (n = 4500). Based on this limited data, liver transplant recipients appear to have a low incidence of COVID‐19, with less severe symptoms than expected, when compared with the general population and other solid organ recipients. This possibly could be related to self‐isolation adherence and/or the ‘ideal’ level of immunosuppression that favourably modulates the immune response to COVID‐19.
The Role of Positive Emotions in Education: A Neuroscience Perspective
Authors: Li Lu , Gow Andrew Douglas Isherwood , Zhou Jiaxian 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACTHumans are inherently emotional creatures due to our social nature, and emotions are able to influence how well we learn and even affect academic outcomes. Emotions are rarely a chief concern in educational settings, and we will discuss the mechanisms underlying how emotions are processed in the brain and how they influence the key aspects of learning—attention, memory, and motivation. The brain mechanisms of emotional and cognitive relationships are then detailed in order to provide some context within the modern developments of neuroscience. This will help to clarify the relationship between emotions and cognition, and hope to put forward a theoretical map based on neuroscience that helps us to better understand the pivotal role of emotions in students' cognitive activities and ultimately their performance. Various strategies, based on research findings, aimed at creating more positive learning environments are then put forward.
A Regions of Interest Voxel‐Based Morphometry Study of the Human Brain During High‐Frequency Spinal Cord Stimulation in Patients With Failed Back Surgery Syndrome
Authors: De Groote Sander , Goudman Lisa , Linderoth Bengt , Buyck Félix , Rigoard Philippe , De Jaeger Mats , Van Schuerbeek Peter , Peeters Ronald , Sunaert Stefan , Moens Maarten 
Published: May 2020

AbstractIntroductionThe effectiveness of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) as pain‐relieving treatment for failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) has already been demonstrated. However, potential structural and functional brain alterations resulting from subsensory SCS are less clear. The aim of this study was to test structural volumetric changes in a priori chosen regions of interest related to chronic pain after 1 month and 3 months of high‐frequency SCS in patients with FBSS.MethodsEleven patients with FBSS who were scheduled for SCS device implantation were included in this study. All patients underwent a magnetic resonance imaging protocol before SCS device implantation 1 and 3 months after high‐frequency SCS. Pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, and sleep quality were also measured. Regions‐of‐interest voxel‐based morphometry was used to explore grey matter volumetric changes over time. Additionally, volumetric changes were correlated with changes in pain intensity, catastrophizing, and sleep quality.ResultsSignificant decreases were found in volume in the left and right hippocampus over time. More specifically, a significant difference was revealed between volumes before SCS implantation and after 3 months of SCS. Repeated‐measures correlations revealed a significant positive correlation between volumetric changes in the left hippocampus and changes in back pain score over time and between volumetric changes in the right hippocampus and changes in back pain score over time.ConclusionIn patients with FBSS, high‐frequency SCS influences structural brain regions over time. The volume of the hippocampus was decreased bilaterally after 3 months of high‐frequency SCS with a positive correlation with back pain intensity.
Juvenile xanthogranulomas: Examining single, multiple, and extracutaneous presentations
Authors: So Naomi , Liu Regina , Hogeling Marcia 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBackgroundJuvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG) is a non‐Langerhans cell histiocytosis characterized by yellowish papules in the skin. JXGs most often occur in infancy or early childhood and are typically solitary and asymptomatic, often regressing after several years. While JXGs predominantly occur on the skin, extracutaneous JXGs also exist.AimsIn this paper, we review the literature on single, multiple, and visceral JXGs and provide recommendations on monitoring and work‐up.Materials & MethodsA literature review was conducted with the PubMed database using selective search terms for single, multiple, ocular, and visceral lesions as well as NF1/JMML.Results / DiscussionJXG is typically a self‐limited disorder if lesions are cutaneous and singular. While rare, JXGs may manifest as multiple and extracutaneous lesions. Further screening and referral to specialists may be warranted in these cases based on age and extent of involvement.ConclusionOur review demonstrates common presentations of single, multiple, and extracutaneous lesions in addition to those that occur with NF1 and JMML. We suggest patients be evaluated on a case‐by‐case basis by a dermatologist and referred to specialists as appropriate.