bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interplay of adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase/sirtuin‐1 activation and sodium influx inhibition mediates the renal benefits of sodium‐glucose co‐transporter‐2 inhibitors in type 2 diabetes: A novel conceptual framework
Authors: Packer Milton 
Published: January 2020

AbstractLong‐term treatment with sodium‐glucose co‐transporter‐2 (SGLT2) inhibitors slows the deterioration of renal function in patients with diabetes. This benefit cannot be ascribed to an action on blood glucose, ketone utilization, uric acid or systolic blood pressure. SGLT2 inhibitors produce a striking amelioration of glomerular hyperfiltration. Although initially ascribed to an action of these drugs to inhibit proximal tubular glucose reabsorption, SGLT2 inhibitors exert renoprotective effects, even in patients with meaningfully impaired levels of glomerular function that are sufficient to abolish their glycosuric actions. Instead, the reduction in intraglomerular pressures may be related to an action of SGLT2 inhibitors to interfere with the activity of sodium‐hydrogen exchanger isoform 3, thereby inhibiting proximal tubular sodium reabsorption and promoting tubuloglomerular feedback. Yet, experimentally, such an effect may not be sufficient to prevent renal injury. It is therefore noteworthy that the diabetic kidney exhibits an important defect in adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) and sirtuin‐1 (SIRT1) signalling, which may contribute to the development of nephropathy. These transcription factors exert direct effects to mute oxidative stress and inflammation, and they also stimulate autophagy, a lysosomally mediated degradative pathway that maintains cellular homeostasis in the kidney. SGLT2 inhibitors induce both AMPK and SIRT1, and they have been shown to stimulate autophagy, thereby ameliorating cellular stress and glomerular and tubular injury. Enhanced AMPK/SIRT1 signalling may also contribute to the action of SGLT2 inhibitors to interfere with sodium transport mechanisms. The dual effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on AMPK/SIRT1 activation and renal tubular sodium transport may explain the protective effects of these drugs on the kidney in type 2 diabetes.
A comparison of pedigree, genetic and genomic estimates of relatedness for informing pairing decisions in two critically endangered birds: Implications for conservation breeding programmes worldwide
Authors: Galla Stephanie J. , Moraga Roger , Brown Liz , Cleland Simone , Hoeppner Marc P. , Maloney Richard F. , Richardson Anne , Slater Lyndon , Santure Anna W. , Steeves Tammy E. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractConservation management strategies for many highly threatened species include conservation breeding to prevent extinction and enhance recovery. Pairing decisions for these conservation breeding programmes can be informed by pedigree data to minimize relatedness between individuals in an effort to avoid inbreeding, maximize diversity and maintain evolutionary potential. However, conservation breeding programmes struggle to use this approach when pedigrees are shallow or incomplete. While genetic data (i.e., microsatellites) can be used to estimate relatedness to inform pairing decisions, emerging evidence indicates this approach may lack precision in genetically depauperate species, and more effective estimates will likely be obtained from genomic data (i.e., thousands of genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs). Here, we compare relatedness estimates and subsequent pairing decisions using pedigrees, microsatellites and SNPs from whole‐genome resequencing approaches in two critically endangered birds endemic to New Zealand: kakī/black stilt (Himantopus novaezelandiae) and kākāriki karaka/orange‐fronted parakeet (Cyanoramphus malherbi). Our findings indicate that SNPs provide more precise estimates of relatedness than microsatellites when assessing empirical parent–offspring and full sibling relationships. Further, our results show that relatedness estimates and subsequent pairing recommendations using PMx are most similar between pedigree‐ and SNP‐based approaches. These combined results indicate that in lieu of robust pedigrees, SNPs are an effective tool for informing pairing decisions, which has important implications for many poorly pedigreed conservation breeding programmes worldwide.
Engaging Parents About the Importance of Play: The Impact of a Brief, Arts‐Informed Community Presentation
Authors: Rathunde Kevin , Isabella Russell 
Published: January 2020

ObjectiveThis study evaluated the effectiveness of an arts‐informed approach to parent education using a 50‐minute, arts‐informed parent education presentation that integrated the creative arts (e.g., film, photography, music, dance, and design). The focus of the arts‐informed program was to communicate more effectively about the importance of play for child and adult development.BackgroundArts‐informed or arts‐based educational approaches have been found useful for science outreach because of their potential to enhance affective engagement with information. This raises the question of whether arts‐informed methods could be used to engage and inform parents on research topics relevant for the family.MethodThe study used analysis of covariance and a pretest–posttest control group design (N = 97).ResultsOne month after attending the arts‐informed presentation, parents of children in early childhood reported greater knowledge about play, support for play, and time spent playing with their child and that their children engaged in more free play. Parents also reported an increase in their amount of flow experience (i.e., states of enjoyable absorption), although they did not report changes in time spent engaging in leisure play.ConclusionThese findings are discussed in terms of the utility of arts‐informed approaches for family researchers interested in science outreach and community engagement as well as using the arts to enhance parents' affective engagement with information about play.
Association of physical and/or cognitive activity with cognitive impairment in older adults
Authors: Kurita Satoshi , Tsutsumimoto Kota , Doi Takehiko , Nakakubo Sho , Kim Minji , Ishii Hideaki , Shimada Hiroyuki 
Published: January 2020

AimWe aimed to examine the association between physical activity (PA) and/or cognitive activity (CA) and cognitive impairment in a sample of older adults from a community‐based cohort in Nagoya, Japan.MethodsA total of 2726 participants (mean age 75.5 ± 3.9 years; 51.8% women) met the study criteria. The time of moderate‐to‐vigorous intensity PA was measured using an accelerometer. CA was subjectively assessed by the frequency of engagement in six activities (reading, writing for pleasure, doing crossword puzzles, playing board games/cards, participating in organized group discussions and playing musical instruments). Participants were categorized into four groups by high or low PA combined with high or low CA. Cognitive impairment was defined by at least one of four neuropsychological tests with a result of at least 1.5 standard deviations below the reference threshold.ResultsThe prevalence of cognitive impairments differed significantly between the groups (P < 0.001), with 29.5% in the low PA and low CA group, to 14.8% in the high PA and high CA group. Compared with the low PA and low CA group, other groups had significantly lower odds ratio (OR) of cognitive impairment (low PA and high CA: OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.37–0.79; high PA and low CA: OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.45–0.92; high PA and high CA: OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.30–0.58).ConclusionsBoth PA and CA showed a protective association with cognitive impairment, even when one or the other is lowly engaged. Therefore, older adults with difficulty engaging in sufficient PA might benefit from CA to prevent cognitive impairment. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 31–35.
Development and validity of the Computer‐Based Cognitive Assessment Tool for intervention in community‐dwelling older individuals
Authors: Takahashi Junta , Kawai Hisashi , Suzuki Hiroyuki , Fujiwara Yoshinori , Watanabe Yutaka , Hirano Hirohiko , Kim Hunkyung , Ihara Kazushige , Miki Akiko , Obuchi Shuichi 
Published: January 2020

AimThe Mini‐Mental State Examination is a widely used cognitive assessment tool. However, it has several limitations, including the learning effect and interrater reliability. Therefore, we developed a Computer‐Based Cognitive Assessment Tool (CompBased‐CAT), which runs on a tablet or personal computer. In this study, we examined the validity and discrimination ability of the CompBased‐CAT.MethodsParticipants were recruited from the Otasha‐Kenshin study carried out in 2016. We included 773 community‐dwelling older individuals in Japan (332 men, 441 women, aged 65–97 years). CompBased‐CAT scores were converted to z‐scores, and the correlation with Mini‐Mental State Examination scores was examined using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Furthermore, the ability to discern cognitive impairment was examined using the receiver operating characteristic curve.ResultsThe Pearson's correlation coefficient for the Mini‐Mental State Examination scores and each task component of the CompBased‐CAT ranged from 0.24 to 0.41 (P < 0.001), and the correlation coefficient of the total z‐scores was 0.51 (P < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the discriminating ability of the CompBased‐CATool for cognitive impairment were 0.81, 0.77 and 0.85, respectively.ConclusionsThe CompBased‐CAT certainly possesses validity, discriminating ability and utility as a new cognitive assessment tool in community‐dwelling older individuals. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; ••: ••–••.
Long‐Term Evaluation of Mulch Biowall Performance to Treat Chlorinated Solvents
Authors: Walker Kenneth L. , McGuire Travis M. , Adamson David T. , Anderson R. Hunter 
Published: January 2020

AbstractPermeable reactive barriers (PRBs), such as mulch biowalls, have been installed at numerous groundwater cleanup sites, and laboratory and field studies have demonstrated biotic and abiotic processes that degrade chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) in groundwater passing through these engineered remedies. However, the longevity of mulch biowalls remains a fundamental research question. Soil and groundwater sampling at seven mulch biowalls at Altus Air Force Base (AFB) approximately 10 years after installation demonstrated the ongoing degradation of CVOCs. Trichloroethene was not detected in five of seven groundwater samples collected from the biowall despite upgradient detections above federal drinking water standards. Microbial sampling established the presence of key dechlorinating bacteria and the abundance of genes encoding specific enzymes for degradation, high methane concentrations, low sulfate concentrations, and negative oxidation‐reduction potential, all indicative of highly reducing conditions within the biowalls and favorable conditions for CVOC destruction via microbial reductive dechlorination. High cellulose content (>79%) of the mulch, elevated total organic carbon (TOC) content in groundwater, and elevated potentially bioavailable organic carbon (PBOC) measurements in soil samples further supports an ongoing, long‐lived source of carbon. These results demonstrate the ongoing and long‐term efficacy of the mulch biowalls at Altus AFB. In addition, concentrations of bacteria, TOC, PBOC, and other geochemical parameters suggest a modest impact of the biowalls downgradient. The continued presence of CVOCs downgradient may be attributable to back diffusion from low‐permeability shale. However, the biowalls continue to provide benefits by removing CVOCs in groundwater, thus reducing further CVOC loading to the downgradient, low‐permeability strata.
Ultrafine porous boron nitride nanofiber‐toughened WC composites
Authors: Li Xiaoqiang , Cao Ting , Zhang Minai , Qiu Hao , Huang Yang , Qu Shengguan , Liang Liang , Song Tao 
Published: January 2020

AbstractPorous fibers are widely used in catalysis chemistry and hydrogen storage but are rarely used in structural ceramics. In this study, spark plasma sintering was used to prepare an ultrafine porous boron nitride nanofiber‐toughened WC composite for the first time. The obtained WC‐0.05 wt% ultrafine porous boron nitride nanofiber composites exhibited better properties (ie, a 2.3% increase in hardness and a 19.6% increase in fracture toughness) compared to those of the pure WC specimen. The fiber porosity improved the second phase‐WC matrix microstructural combination. The described approach is a novel preparation method for the WC composites. Furthermore, a new toughening mechanism, which is based on “pinning and stretching”, was determined. These findings suggest that porous boron nitride fibers can be considered to be second phases for toughening the WC composites.
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells from parent strains of the NZB/W F1 lupus mouse contribute different characteristics to autoimmune propensity
Authors: Zhan Yifan , Kong Isabella , Chopin Michael , Macri Christophe , Zhang Jian‐Guo , Xie Jiaying , Nutt Stephen L , O'Keeffe Meredith , Hawkins Edwin D , Morand Eric F , Lew Andrew M 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThe NZB/W F1 (F1) mice develop severe disease that is similar to human systemic lupus erythematosus. By contrast, each parent strain, NZB or NZW, has limited autoimmunity, suggesting traits of both strains contribute to pathogenesis. Although many of the contributing genes have been identified, the contributing cellular abnormality associated with each parent strain remains unresolved. Given that plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are key to the pathogenesis of lupus, we investigated the properties of pDCs from NZB and NZW mice. We found that NZB mouse had higher numbers of pDCs, with much of the increase being contributed by a more abundant CD8+ pDC subset. This was associated with prolonged survival and stronger proliferation of CD4+ T cells. By contrast, NZW pDCs had heightened capacity to produce interferon‐α (IFNα) and IFNλ, and promoted stronger B‐cell proliferation upon CpG stimulation. Thus, our data reveal the different functional and numerical characteristics of pDCs from NZW and NZB mouse.
Mitigating distress and promoting positive aspects of caring in caregivers of children and adolescents with schizophrenia: Mediation effects of resilience, hope, and social support
Authors: Wang Anni , Bai Xiaoling , Lou Ting , Pang Jin , Tang Siyuan 
Published: January 2020

AbstractAssistance for distressed caregivers can indirectly facilitate recovery of the people being cared for, yet how resilience, hope, and social support mediate between caregiving burden and adjustment outcomes is unclear. A structural equation model was constructed based on data from a cross‐sectional survey of 324 caregivers of children and adolescents with schizophrenia using multidimensional caregiver burden inventory, Connor‐Davidson resilience scale, Herth hope index, perceived social support scale, distress management screening measure, and positive aspects of caregiving instruments. On distress, caregiving burden had a relatively large direct effect, and an indirect effect, mainly mediated by resilience. Resilience had a greater effect than social support or hope on distress. On positive aspects of caregiving (PAC), caregiving burden had only an indirect effect, primarily via the processes from social support and resilience to hope. Hope had a significant direct effect, while resilience and support had moderate indirect effects on PAC via hope. Resilience is an important mediator between caregiving burden and distress, with a greatest effect. Resilience, hope, and social support all mediated between caregiving burden and PAC, with hope having a greatest effect. Reducing the care burden may greatly help to relieve caregiver distress. Providing needed social support, encouraging caregivers to proactively utilize the support, and enhancing resilient coping skills will be helpful in developing resilience and mitigating distress. Health professionals should assess and ameliorate burden, be particularly aware of caregiver hopes, provide formal support, and encourage informal support to promote PAC.
Embryonic development of the false limpet Siphonaria lateralis from Atlantic Patagonia
Authors: Zabala Soledad , Averbuj Andrés , Bigatti Gregorio , Penchaszadeh Pablo E. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractSiphonariids are pulmonate gastropods inhabiting rocky intertidal habitats, and many studies have focused on these false limpets around the world. In the southern South Atlantic, studies on reproduction and development in species of Siphonaria are scarce. We studied the embryonic development and egg masses of Siphonaria lateralis at its northernmost distribution in Atlantic Patagonia. In S. lateralis, as in most species of Siphonaria, individuals spawn benthic egg masses that strongly attach to intertidal rocky substrata. A single spherical egg that measures ~120 µm develops inside the egg capsule of S. lateralis. Considering the relatively small egg size, and reports from previous studies, the developmental modality of S. lateralis might be expected to include a planktotrophic larval phase. However, we found that hatchlings emerged as 1‐mm crawling juveniles, probably owing to the presence of intracapsular fluid, which may provide the energetic requirements for direct development. The embryonic size changed little from the egg to veliger stages, and then increased rapidly until the hatchling stage. We compared development in S. lateralis with development in the sympatric Siphonaria lessonii, in which egg size was reported to be ~80 µm and hatching occurs as planktotrophic veliger larvae. In these two species, spawn and early intracapsular developmental modes are remarkably different; these differences represent contrasting ways to survive in the harsh and physically stressful intertidal Patagonian coasts.
It's OK to pay well, if you write well: The effects of remuneration disclosure readability
Authors: Hemmings Danial , Hodgkinson Lynn , Williams Gwion 
Published: January 2020

AbstractWe examine whether, and how, shareholders’ votes in the Say‐on‐Pay (SOP) are affected by the readability of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (CD&A). Despite the SEC's Plain English requirement, qualitative disclosures on executive remuneration are generally long and complex. Extant evidence on whether low readability results in higher or lower shareholder dissent in the SOP, however, is ambiguous. We resolve this debate by demonstrating that the effects of readability on SOP voting are heterogeneous; while obfuscation may reduce dissent when CEO compensation is close to “normal” levels, diminished readability results in increased scepticism when pay levels are clearly excessive. The moderating role of readability is most pronounced for firms with less sophisticated shareholders, consistent with readability acting as a heuristic cue. Our results are robust to propensity score matching, and are less pronounced (1) when shareholders have less time to review the CD&A, and (2) when shareholders are distracted by competing AGMs, suggesting they are driven by readability, directly. Overall, our results highlight that greater use of Plain English in remuneration disclosures can have a substantial persuasive impact on shareholders.
Costs and complications associated with transvenous lead reoperation in cardiac implantable electronic devices
Authors: Griffiths Robert I. , Amorosi Stacey L. , Jacobsen Caroline M. , McBee Patrick J. , Menzin Joseph , Reynolds Matthew R. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackgroundCardiac implantable electronic device transvenous (TV) lead reoperations are projected to increase, and robust economic data are needed to assess the resulting financial impact and the cost‐effectiveness of prevention and treatment strategies. This study estimates Medicare costs, and describes patterns of complications, in patients who underwent TV lead reoperation.Methods and ResultsMedicare data (2010‐2014) were used to identify patients who underwent TV lead reoperation. Cumulative costs to Medicare, and rates of infection and mechanical complications were calculated from 180 days before, to 180 days after, lead reoperation. Multivariate analysis was used to estimate adjusted costs, and to examine the impact of complications on medical resource use and costs. There were 1691 patients, 63.2% of whom underwent inpatient lead reoperation. Overall, the mean age was 78.2 years, 39.6% were female, and 92.3% were white. The mean cumulative cost was $36 199 (95% confidence interval [CI], $31 864‐$40 535) for TV lead repositioning, $27 701 (95% CI, $19 869‐$35 534) for repair, and $54 442 (95% CI, $51 651‐$57 233) for removal. Underlying infection was associated with increased odds of inpatient reoperation and of lead removal, as well as longer length of stay and higher costs.ConclusionsThe economic consequences of TV lead reoperation are substantial. Strategies aimed at reducing reoperation, particularly lead removal, are likely to result in considerable cost offsets.
Long‐term cardiac arrhythmia and chronotropic evaluation in patients with severe anorexia nervosa (LACE‐AN): A pilot study
Authors: Farasat Morteza , Watters Ashlie , Bendelow Tiffany , Schuller Joseph , Mehler Philip S. , Krantz Mori J. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackgroundAnorexia nervosa (AN) is associated with autonomic dysfunction and carries a high risk of sudden death, putatively attributed to ventricular tachyarrhythmias. To date, long‐term cardiac monitoring has not been performed to confirm this speculation.Methods and ResultsWe assessed the safety and acceptability of an insertable cardiac monitor (ICM) in patients with severe AN with markedly reduced body mass index (BMI), and investigated heart rate (HR) and rhythm before and after weight restoration. Autonomic function was assessed as HR response to a standardized activity protocol at baseline and four additional visits over 360 days. The Florida Patient Acceptance Survey (FPAS) was used to measure ICM acceptability.During a mean follow‐up of 10 months, no ICM‐related complications occurred and ICM was well‐accepted by the 11 study participants (nine women, aged 19‐59 years, baseline BMI = 12.7 ± 1.6 kg/m2). Both resting and peak HR increased with weight restoration and were directly associated with BMI (both P < .001). No ventricular tachyarrhythmias occurred during the study period, but two participants (18%) experienced eight sinus pauses (3.0‐7.0 seconds) and three runs of supraventricular tachycardia.ConclusionsLong‐term cardiac rhythm monitoring with an ICM is feasible, safe, and acceptable in patients with severe AN. Autonomic dysfunction in AN results in not only profound resting bradycardia, but also some degree of chronotropic incompetence, both of which improve with weight restoration. Clinically significant bradyarrhythmias are more common than ventricular tachyarrhythmias in AN, and may represent a competing underlying mechanism for the high risk of sudden death in this population.
Merchants of doubt: Corporate political action when NGO credibility is uncertain
Authors: Chiroleu‐Assouline Mireille , Lyon Thomas P. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThe literature on special interest groups emphasizes two main influence channels: campaign contributions and informational lobbying. We introduce a third channel: providing information about the credibility of political rivals. In particular, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) often aim to communicate scientific knowledge to policymakers, but industry‐backed groups often attempt to undermine their credibility. We extend a standard signaling model of interest‐group lobbying to include fixed costs of policymaker action and show that these costs make possible two mechanisms for creating doubt about the value of policy action. The first uses Bayesian persuasion to suggest the NGO may be a noncredible radical. The second involves creating an opposition think tank (TT) that acts as a possible radical, not a credible moderate. We show that the TT cannot always implement the Bayesian persuasion benchmark, and we characterize how optimal TT design varies with exogenous parameters.