bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Postprandial renal haemodynamic effects of the dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitor linagliptin versus the sulphonylurea glimepiride in adults with type 2 diabetes (RENALIS): A predefined substudy of a randomized, double‐blind trial
Authors: Muskiet Marcel H. A. , Tonneijck Lennart , Smits Mark M. , Kramer Mark H. H. , Ouwens D. Margriet , Hartmann Bolette , Holst Jens J. , Danser A. H. Jan , Joles Jaap A. , van Raalte Daniël H. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractAimTo determine the effect of the dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitor linagliptin on postprandial glomerular hyperfiltration compared with the sulphonylurea glimepiride in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D).Materials and MethodsIn this predefined substudy within a randomized, double‐blind, parallel‐group, intervention trial, overweight people with T2D without renal impairment were treated with once‐daily linagliptin 5 mg (N = 10) or glimepiride 1 mg (N = 13) as an add‐on to metformin for 8 weeks. After a standardized liquid protein‐rich meal, the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow were determined by inulin and para‐aminohippuric acid clearance, respectively, based on timed urine sampling. Intrarenal haemodynamics were estimated using the Gomez equations. Glucoregulatory/vasoactive hormones, urinary pH and fractional excretions (FE) of sodium, potassium and urea were measured.ResultsCompared with glimepiride, linagliptin increased the postprandial filtration fraction (FF; mean difference 2.1%‐point; P = .016) and estimated glomerular hydraulic pressure (mean difference 3.0 mmHg; P = .050), and tended to increase GFR (P = .08) and estimated efferent renal arteriolar resistance (RE; P = .08) from baseline to week 8. No differences in FE were noted. Glimepiride reduced HbA1c more than linagliptin (mean difference −0.40%; P = .004), without between‐group differences in time‐averaged postprandial glucose levels. In the linagliptin group, change in FF correlated with change in mean arterial pressure (R = 0.807; P = .009) and time‐averaged mean glucagon (R = 0.782; P = .008), but not with changes in glucose, insulin, intact glucagon‐like peptide‐1, renin or FENa. Change in glucagon was associated with change in RE (R = 0.830; P = .003).ConclusionsIn contrast to our hypothesis, compared with glimepiride, linagliptin does not reduce postprandial hyperfiltration, yet appears to increase FF after meal ingestion by increasing blood pressure or RE.
“But it's a nice compromise” – Qualitative multi‐centre study of barriers and facilitators to acute telestroke cooperation in a regional stroke network
Authors: Busetto Loraine , Sert Melek , Herzog Franziska , Hoffmann Johanna , Stang Christina , Amiri Hemasse , Seker Fatih , Purrucker Jan , Mundiyanapurath Sibu , Ringleb Peter Arthur , Nagel Simon , Bendszus Martin , Wick Wolfgang , Gumbinger Christoph 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundTelemedical services can be used to complement on‐site services when demand for specialists exceeds supply or when specialists are not evenly distributed across health systems. Using stroke as an example, this study aimed to explore how patients and staff experience telestroke cooperation in a stroke network in Germany.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative multi‐method and multi‐centre study combining 32 non‐participant observations at one hub and four spoke hospitals with 26 semi‐structured interviews with hub and spoke staff as well as stroke patients and relatives. Observation protocols and interview transcripts were analysed to identify barriers and facilitators to telestroke cooperation from the perspectives of staff, patients and relatives.ResultsIn terms of barriers to telestroke cooperation, we found technological problems, providing the treatment for one patient from two sites, competing priorities between telestroke and in‐house duties in the spoke hospitals, as well as difficulties in participating in the teleneurological examination via a videoconferencing system for older and disabled patients. In terms of facilitators, we found an overall very positive perception of telestroke provision by patients, good professional relationships within the network, and sharing of neurological expertise to be experienced as helpful for telestroke cooperation.ConclusionsWe recommend better integration of telemedical services into the care pathway, fostering relationships within the network, improved technological support and resources, and more emphasis within networks, in public awareness efforts as well as in academia on the evaluation of telemedical services from the perspectives of patients and relatives, especially older patients and patients with disabilities.
Validating the Couple Relationship Skills Inventory
Authors: Adler‐Baeder Francesca , Futris Ted G. , McGill Julianne , Richardson Evin W. , Dede Yildirim Elif 
Published: September 2021

AbstractObjectiveWe tested the validity of the factor structure and reliability of a new research‐informed comprehensive inventory of key relationship skills predictive of couple quality, the Couple Relationship Skills Inventory (CRSI).BackgroundThe CRSI is based on the National Extension Relationship and Marriage Education Model, an evidence‐derived framework developed as a guide for couple relationship education content. For internal consistency in assessing the effectiveness of programming for couples and for general use in practice and research with couples, an important next step is the design and validation of a comprehensive measure of these core behavioral/attitudinal skills.MethodThe analytic (or “training”) sample of ethnically and economically diverse adults included 824 (independent) men and women and two cross‐validation samples (n = 763 andn = 470).ResultsBayesian confirmatory factor analysis of individual measurement models informed refinement to a 32‐item, nine‐factor (seven‐subscale) measure and indicated excellent fit of the model to the data. Reliabilities for the full scale and the subscales were good to excellent. Cross‐validation study fit statistics and reliabilities were similar, and measurement invariance across samples was validated. Further, support for internal discriminant validity was implied by small to moderate covariances among the factors and concurrent and predictive validity was evidenced (i.e., significant associations among CRSI scores and measures of relationship quality and family harmony).ImplicationsThis measure provides an efficient assessment of core relational skills critical for healthy couple quality and may prove useful in practice and for future studies of couple relationships and couple relationship education.
Neutrophil elastase and its inhibitors—overlooked players in osteoarthritis
Authors: Kaneva Magdalena K. 
Published: September 2021

Cartilage homeostasis is maintained by a delicate balance between anabolism and catabolism. In osteoarthritis, pathological biomechanics or injury triggers cartilage breakdown, nonresolving synovial inflammation, and bone changes, causing reduced joint mobility and incapacitating pain. Undoubtedly, the most important cartilage degrading collagenase during osteoarthritis, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐13, is activated by an unlikely player: neutrophil elastase. Although primarily associated with inflammatory arthritis, neutrophil elastase is present in the osteoarthritic joint, and through activating MMP‐13, spurs a cascade of events leading not just to the aberrant destruction of the cartilage itself, but to the proteolysis of its own inhibitor, alpha‐1‐antitrypsin, as described in the new study by Wilkinson et al. Endowed with potent chondrogenic and cartilage‐protective properties, the loss of alpha‐1‐antitrypsin from cartilage will have major consequences for osteoarthritis progression, and strategies to prevent its loss, or replace it, might provide an innovative treatment opportunity that should not be ignored.Comment on: https://doi.org/10.1111/febs.16127
Climate cascades affect coastal Antarctic seafloor ecosystem functioning
Authors: Lohrer Andrew M. , Norkko Alf M. , Thrush Simon F. , Cummings Vonda J. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractPolar seafloor ecosystems are changing rapidly and dramatically, challenging previously held paradigms of extreme dynamical stability. Warming‐related declines in polar sea ice are expected to alter fluxes of phytoplankton and under‐ice algae to the seafloor. Yet, how changes in food flux cascade through to seafloor communities and functions remains unclear. We leveraged natural spatial and temporal gradients in summertime sea ice extent to better understand the trajectories and implications of climate‐related change in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. McMurdo Sound was expected to be one of the last coastal marine environments on Earth to be affected by planetary warming, but the situation may be changing. Comparing satellite observations of selected coastal sites in McMurdo Sound between 2010–2017 and 2002–2009 revealed more ice‐free days per year, and shorter distances to open water during the warmest months each year, in the more recent period. Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO), Oceanic Niño Index (ONI) and Antarctic Oscillation (AAO) climate indices peaked concurrently between 2014 and 2017 when sea ice breakouts in McMurdo Sound were most spatially and temporally extensive. Increases in sediment chlorophyll a and phaeophytin content (indicating increased deposition of detrital algal food material) were recorded during 2014–2017 at three coastal study sites in McMurdo Sound following the major sea ice breakouts. Soft‐sediment seafloor ecosystem metabolism (measured in benthic incubation chambers as dissolved oxygen and inorganic nutrient fluxes) was correlated with sediment algal pigment concentration. Epifaunal invertebrate density, particularly opportunistic sessile suspension feeders, and infaunal community composition also shifted with increased food supply. The ecological characteristics and functions measured at the food‐poor sites shifted towards those observed at richer sites at a surprisingly fast pace. These results indicate the sensitivity of the benthos and shed light on Antarctic marine trophic cascades and trajectories of response of iconic high‐latitude seafloor habitats to a warming climate.
Dynamic interaction between outward foreign direct investment and home country industrial upgrading: Regional differences in China
Authors: Wang Mei Ling , Pang Si Lu , Wang Feng , Guo Xin , He Zheng Xia 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThis study examines the dynamic interaction between outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) and home industrial upgrading in China by using a panel vector autoregressive model over the period 2004–2017. To investigate regional differences, the 30 Chinese provinces were divided into 3 regions. To investigate regional differences, 30 Chinese provinces were divided into region 1, region 2, and 3 regions, which represent economically developed regions, comparatively economically developed regions, and economically less developed regions. The empirical results show that OFDI significantly promotes industrial upgrading across the whole sample, while the reverse is not significant. Further, considering the heterogeneity of regional economic development levels, the results show that the OFDI from region 1 and industrial upgrading promote each other, while the opposite is true for region 3. In region 2, industrial upgrading has an incentive effect on OFDI, but not significantly affected by OFDI. In addition, to supplement our analysis, impulse response function and variance decomposition are used to demonstrate the interaction process between OFDI and industrial upgrading of the home country. Therefore, to achieve industrial upgrading, Chinese governments should adhere to the long‐term national policy of “going global,” enhance the strength of OFDI, and formulate development strategies according to local conditions.
Teaching entangled Australian sexual histories: Pedagogy and approaches
Authors: Bennett James , Johnson Marguerite 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThis is an era of significant shifts in power dynamics pertaining to sexualities, the body and the law reflecting major changes in the socio‐political landscape, as evident in, for example, the #MeToo movement; inquiries into systemic child sexual abuse; and campaigns for equal rights, including marriage equality. This article examines the theme of controversies throughout history and provides a series of pedagogical examples drawn from the authors' innovations in teaching an upper‐level university course on sex and scandal. Although the course spans the ancient, early modern and modern worlds, covering sexual scandals throughout the west, the focus herein is on Australian examples. It begins by introducing the theme of controversy and its place in history, then teases out the related topics of sexual scandal and contestation. This is then followed by some case studies from the course to demonstrate the subject matter included, and to elucidate specific pedagogies employed to maximize engagement and to enhance understanding in a student‐centred and supportive learning environment.
Age‐dependent association of obesity with COVID‐19 severity in paediatric patients
Authors: Guzman Benedict Vincent , Elbel Brian , Jay Melanie , Messito Mary Jo , Curado Silvia 
Published: September 2021

SummaryBackgroundLimited research has addressed the obesity–COVID‐19 severity association in paediatric patients.ObjectiveTo determine whether obesity is an independent risk factor for COVID‐19 severity in paediatric patients and whether age modifies this association.MethodsSARS‐CoV‐2‐positive patients at NYU Langone Health from 1 March 2020 to 3 January 2021 aged 0–21 years with available anthropometric measurements: weight, length/height and/or body mass index (BMI). Modified log‐Poisson models were utilized for the analysis. Main outcomes were 1) hospitalization and 2) critical illness (intensive care unit [ICU] admission).ResultsOne hundred and fifteen of four hundred and ninety‐four (23.3%) patients had obesity. Obesity was an independent risk factor for critical illness (adjusted risk ratio [ARR] 2.02, 95% CI 1.17 to 3.48). This association was modified by age, with obesity related to a greater risk for critical illness in adolescents (13–21 years) [ARR 3.09, 95% CI 1.48 to 6.47], but not in children (0–12 years). Obesity was not an independent risk factor for hospitalization for any age.ConclusionObesity was an independent risk factor for critical illness in paediatric patients, and this association was modified by age, with obesity related to a greater risk for critical illness in adolescents, but not in children. These findings are crucial for patient risk stratification and care.
Comprehensive immune cell profiling depicts an early immune response associated with severe coronavirus disease 2019 in cancer patients
Authors: Tembhare Prashant R , Sriram Harshini , Chatterjee Gaurav , Khanka Twinkle , Gokarn Anant , Mirgh Sumeet , Rajendra Akhil , Chaturvedi Anumeha , Ghogale Sitaram G , Deshpande Nilesh , Girase Karishma , Dalvi Kajal , Rajpal Sweta , Patkar Nikhil , Trivedi Bhakti , Joshi Amit , Murthy Vedang , Shetty Nitin , Nair Sudhir , More Ashwini , Kamtalwar Sujeet , Chavan Preeti , Bhat Vivek , Bhat Prashant , Subramanian Papagudi G , Gupta Sudeep , Khattry Navin 
Published: September 2021

AbstractRecent studies have highlighted multiple immune perturbations related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection–associated respiratory disease [coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19)]. Some of them were associated with immunopathogenesis of severe COVID‐19. However, reports on immunological indicators of severe COVID‐19 in the early phase of infection in patients with comorbidities such as cancer are scarce. We prospectively studied about 200 immune response parameters, including a comprehensive immune‐cell profile, inflammatory cytokines and other parameters, in 95 patients with COVID‐19 (37 cancer patients without active disease and intensive chemo/immunotherapy, 58 patients without cancer) and 21 healthy donors. Of 95 patients, 41 had severe disease, and the remaining 54 were categorized as having a nonsevere disease. We evaluated the association of immune response parameters with severe COVID‐19. By principal component analysis, three immune signatures defining characteristic immune responses in COVID‐19 patients were found. Immune cell perturbations, in particular, decreased levels of circulating dendritic cells (DCs) along with reduced levels of CD4 T‐cell subsets such as regulatory T cells (Tregs), type 1 T helper (Th1) and Th9; additionally, relative expansion of effector natural killer (NK) cells were significantly associated with severe COVID‐19. Compared with patients without cancer, the levels of terminal effector CD4 T cells, Tregs, Th9, effector NK cells, B cells, intermediate‐type monocytes and myeloid DCs were significantly lower in cancer patients with mild and severe COVID‐19. We concluded that severely depleted circulating myeloid DCs and helper T subsets in the initial phase of infection were strongly associated with severe COVID‐19 independent of age, type of comorbidity and other parameters. Thus, our study describes the early immune response associated with severe COVID‐19 in cancer patients without intensive chemo/immunotherapy.
Functional redundancy of non‐volant small mammals increases in human‐modified habitats
Authors: Luza André Luís , Graham Catherine Helen , Hartz Sandra Maria , Karger Dirk Nikolaus 
Published: September 2021

AbstractAimHumans are rapidly altering natural habitats across much of the globe. Here we compared 264 globally distributed communities in natural and human‐modified habitats to detect changes in community richness and functional diversity with human influence.LocationGlobal.TaxonNon‐volant small mammals.MethodsWe calculated differences in observed to potential species richness (ΔSR) and observed to potential functional diversity (ΔFD) to account for regional pool differences. Then we determined the prevalence of four distinct scenarios of richness and functional diversity differences between human‐modified and natural habitats, and evaluated local and geographical variation in these differences. We obtained potential richness by calculating a probabilistic species pool and obtained potential functional diversity through the n‐dimensional hypervolume based on pool composition. We tested for differences in average ΔSR and ΔFD between habitats, and determined the most common scenario of ΔSR and ΔFD in human‐modified and natural habitats.ResultsWe found lower ΔSR in human‐modified than natural habitats, but no difference in ΔFD. Low ΔSR and high ΔFD predominated in human‐modified habitats, and high ΔSR and ΔFD in natural habitats. Low ΔSR and high ΔFD predominated in temperate forests, whereas high ΔSR and ΔFD in tropical forests and grasslands. Scenarios of low ΔSR and high ΔFD, and high ΔSR and low ΔFD, were most common in human‐modified and natural habitats of temperate grasslands.Main conclusionsA larger richness in human‐modified habitats does not result in larger functional diversity. Rather there seems to be an increase in functional redundancy because species which profit from human modification do not bring new functions into human‐modified habitats. While greater richness is found in human‐modified habitats from temperate biomes, this is not the case in extremely biodiverse tropical biomes. Assuming a positive relationship between richness, functional traits and ecosystem function, greater richness in modified habitats may not yield greater function.
Interleukin‐7 aggravates myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury by regulating macrophage infiltration and polarization
Authors: Yan Mengwen , Yang Yaliu , Zhou Ying , Yu Changan , Li Rui , Gong Wei , Zheng Jingang 
Published: September 2021

AbstractInterleukin (IL)‐7 is known to enhance the macrophages cytotoxic activity and that macrophages play a pivotal role in the development and progression of myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, the effects of IL‐7 on macrophages infiltration and polarization in myocardial I/R injury are currently unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the IL‐7 expression on myocardial I/R injury and their relationship with macrophages. The data showed that IL‐7 expression in mouse heart tissue increases following I/R injury and that IL‐7 knockout or anti‐IL‐7 antibody treatment significantly improve I/R injury, including reduction in myocardial infarction area, a serum troponin T level decreases and an improvement in cardiac function. On the other hand, recombinant IL‐7 (rIL‐7) supplementation induces opposite effects and the anti‐IL‐7 antibody significantly reduces the cardiomyocyte apoptosis and macrophage infiltration. rIL‐7 cannot directly cause apoptosis, but it can induce cardiomyocyte apoptosis through macrophages, in addition to increase the macrophages migration in vitro. Anti‐IL‐7 antibody affects the cytokine production in T helper (Th) 1 and Th2 cells and also promotes the macrophages differentiation to M2 macrophages. However, anti‐IL‐7 antibody does not reduce the M1 macrophage number, and it only increases the ratio of M2/M1 macrophages in mice heart tissues after I/R injury. Taking together, these data reveal that IL‐7 plays an intensifying role in myocardial I/R injury by promoting cardiomyocyte apoptosis through the regulation of macrophage infiltration and polarization.
Variation in seasonal timing traits and life history along a latitudinal transect in Mimulus ringens
Authors: Vest Kelly , Sobel James M. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractSeasonal timing traits are commonly under recurrent, spatially variable selection, and are therefore predicted to exhibit clinal variation. Temperate perennial plants often require vernalization to prompt growth and reproduction; however, little is known about whether vernalization requirements change across the range of a broadly distributed species. We performed a critical vernalization duration study in Mimulus ringens, coupled with population genomic analysis. Plants from eight populations spanning the latitudinal range were exposed to varying durations of 4°C vernalization between 0 and 56 days, and flowering response was assessed. RADSeq was also performed to generate 1179 polymorphic SNPs, which were used to examine population structure. We found unexpected life history variation, with some populations lacking vernalization requirement. Population genomic analyses show that these life history variants are highly divergent from perennials, potentially revealing a cryptic species. For perennial populations, minimum vernalization time was surprisingly consistent. However, once vernalized, northern populations flowered almost 3 weeks faster than southern. Furthermore, southern populations exhibited sensitivity to vernalization times beyond flowering competency, suggesting an ability to respond adaptively to different lengths of winter. Mimulus ringens, therefore, reveals evidence of clinal variation, and provides opportunities for future studies addressing mechanistic and ecological hypotheses both within and between incipient species.