bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Capacity of a body shape index and body roundness index to identify diabetes mellitus in Han Chinese people in Northeast China: a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Zhao Q. , Zhang K. , Li Y. , Zhen Q. , Shi J. , Yu Y. , Tao Y. , Cheng Y. , Liu Y. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractAimTo assess the capacity of a body shape index and body roundness index to identify people with diabetes mellitus and those with prediabetes, and to determine whether a body shape index and/or body roundness index is superior to the traditional overall adiposity index, BMI, in Han Chinese people in Northeast China.MethodsA total of 15 078 participants were enrolled from Jilin province in 2012 using a multi‐stage stratified random cluster sampling method. Demographic data were collected, and anthropometric indices and biochemical indices were measured. Receiver‐operating characteristic curves were used to compare the validity of each anthropometric index, and the area under the receiver‐operating characteristic curve was calculated for each anthropometric index.ResultsBody roundness index had the highest areas under the receiver‐operating curve for prediabetes, diagnosed diabetes and undiagnosed diabetes in both men and women (all P<0.01). The optimum threshold values for body roundness index for prediabetes, undiagnosed diabetes and diagnosed diabetes, respectively, were 2.8, 3.7 and 3.3 in men, and 3.4, 3.8 and 3.6 in women. The cumulative proportions of prediabetes, undiagnosed diabetes and diagnosed diabetes identified by the optimum threshold values of body roundness index were 79.2%, 67.5% and 77.0% (82.3%, 62.5% and 75.3% in men; 74.6%, 74.9% and 78.3% in women), respectively.ConclusionsBMI, a body shape index and body roundness index may identify the presence of diabetes. Among the three anthropometric indices, BMI had the weakest association with diabetes. Body roundness index is an alternative index for assessing diabetes in Han Chinese people in Northeast China.
Left atrial function in children and young adult cancer survivors treated with anthracyclines
Authors: Patel Nisha R. , Chyu Christopher K. , Satou Gary M. , Halnon Nancy J. , Nguyen Kim‐Lien 
Published: July 2018

BackgroundThe left atrium (LA) modulates left ventricular filling pressure and is a strong prognosticator in heart failure. Although anthracycline exposure may lead to impaired left ventricular (LV) function, the effects on LA function are not well‐described in the younger population. We aim to evaluate LA function in children exposed to anthracyclines.MethodsChildren exposed to anthracyclines with pre‐ and post‐treatment echocardiographic imaging were enrolled. Measures of LA function (LA ejection fraction [LA EF], global longitudinal strain [GLS], and peak GLS rate) were quantified using 2D speckle tracking echocardiography pre‐ and post‐anthracycline therapy and were compared. Segments with poor tracking were excluded.ResultsFifty‐five children (age 13 [SD 5] years) treated with anthracyclines were evaluated. LA EF, GLS, and peak GLS rate were lower after anthracycline exposure. Mean changes were as follows: LA EF (pre‐73.5 [SD 7.7]% vs post‐70.6 [SD 8.2]%, P = 0.06), GLS (−34.2 [SD 8.4]% vs −31.9 [SD 7.1]%, P = 0.09), peak GLS rate (2.2 [SD 0.8] s−1 vs 2.0 [SD 0.6] s−1, P = 0.18). When stratified by pre‐ (≤12 years old) vs post‐puberty (>12 years old), prepubescent patients (n = 21) had statistically significant changes in pre/post LA GLS (P = 0.01) and LA EF (P = 0.01). In models adjusted for radiation dose, age, gender, body surface area, or cumulative anthracycline dose, there were no significant relationships in the absolute difference between pre/post LA EF (P = 0.34) or LA GLS (P = 0.18).ConclusionsIn children exposed to anthracyclines, short‐term effects on LA function were minimal in those with preserved LV EF. Age‐dependent LA susceptibility to anthracycline requires further study.
Subclinical cardiac disease in ankylosing spondylitis
Authors: Ozen Selin , Ozen Anil , Unal Ertekin U. , Tufekcioglu Omac , Ataman Sebnem , Yalcin Ayse P. 
Published: July 2018

ObjectivesTo investigate aortic stiffness and subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients.MethodsA cross‐sectional study of 55 AS patients being treated with antitumor necrosis factor alpha (anti–TNF‐α) biological agents, conventional synthetic disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDS), and non steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and 20 controls matched for conventional cardiovascular risk factors. Aortic stiffness, ejection fraction, and left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) were evaluated using transthoracic echocardiography and 2D Doppler echocardiography.ResultsAortic stiffness was higher in AS patients when compared to controls (P = 0.009). Stiffness increased in those being treated with csDMARDs when compared to the control group and those on anti–TNF‐α biologics (P ˂0.001). AS patients’ LVGLS values were worse than those of the control group (P < 0.001) and also worse in patients on csDMARDs and anti–TNF‐α biologics when compared to those being treated with NSAIDs (P < 0.001).ConclusionsSubclinical cardiac dysfunction occurs in AS patients despite well controlled musculoskeletal disease. Aortic stiffness and LVGLS increases in AS patients. Anti‐TNF biological agents may somewhat protect arterial compliance. We believe that all AS patients should be investigated for cardiac dysfunction and followed up accordingly.
Molecular and circuit mechanisms mediating circadian clock output in the Drosophila brain
Authors: King Anna N. , Sehgal Amita 
Published: July 2018

AbstractA central question in the circadian biology field concerns the mechanisms that translate ~24‐hr oscillations of the molecular clock into overt rhythms. Drosophila melanogaster is a powerful system that provided the first understanding of how molecular clocks are generated and is now illuminating the neural basis of circadian behavior. The identity of ~150 clock neurons in the Drosophila brain and their roles in shaping circadian rhythms of locomotor activity have been described before. This review summarizes mechanisms that transmit time‐of‐day signals from the clock, within the clock network as well as downstream of it. We also discuss the identification of functional multisynaptic circuits between clock neurons and output neurons that regulate locomotor activity.
Peripheral delta opioid receptors mediate duloxetine antiallodynic effect in a mouse model of neuropathic pain
Authors: Ceredig Rhian Alice , Pierre Florian , Doridot Stéphane , Alduntzin Unai , Salvat Eric , Yalcin Ipek , Gaveriaux‐Ruff Claire , Barrot Michel , Massotte Dominique 
Published: July 2018

AbstractPeripheral delta opioid (DOP) receptors are essential for the antiallodynic effect of the tricyclic antidepressant nortriptyline. However, the population of DOP‐expressing cells affected in neuropathic conditions or underlying the antiallodynic activity of antidepressants remains unknown. Using a mouse line in which DOP receptors were selectively ablated in cells expressing Nav1.8 sodium channels (DOP cKO), we established that these DOP peripheral receptors were mandatory for duloxetine to alleviate mechanical allodynia in a neuropathic pain model based on sciatic nerve cuffing. We then examined the impact of nerve cuffing and duloxetine treatment on DOP‐positive populations using a knock‐in mouse line expressing a fluorescent version of the DOP receptor fused with the enhanced green fluorescent protein (DOPeGFP). Eight weeks postsurgery, we observed a reduced proportion of DOPeGFP‐positive small peptidergic sensory neurons (calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) positive) in dorsal root ganglia and a lower density of DOPeGFP‐positive free nerve endings in the skin. These changes were not present in nerve‐injured mice chronically treated with oral duloxetine. In addition, increased DOPeGFP translocation to the plasma membrane was observed in neuropathic conditions but not in duloxetine‐treated neuropathic mice, which may represent an additional level of control of the neuronal activity by DOP receptors. Our results therefore established a parallel between changes in the expression profile of peripheral DOP receptors and mechanical allodynia induced by sciatic nerve cuffing.
Soil aeration: the relation between air‐filled pore volume and redox potential
Authors: Dorau K. , Luster J. , Mansfeldt T. 
Published: July 2018

SummaryThe soil water content affects rates of oxygen diffusion and redox potentials (EH). When water‐saturated soils become aerated, a switch from reducing to oxidizing conditions occurs. However, limited information is available on the air‐filled pore volume (ϵ) at which this shift happens. To obtain values of ϵ, undisturbed soil cores were taken from a Fluvisol and a Gleysol that differed in structure and clay content. Experiments on submergence and drying following a new experimental design were performed in the laboratory. After submergence, the cores were sealed with a glass hood to exclude oxygen and to achieve reducing conditions (EH < −100 mV). We then aerated the sample by removal of glass plugs in the hood and measured EH consecutively by platinum (Pt) electrodes and ϵ by matric potential readings on an hourly basis. From the drying curve we determined two characteristic values: (i) ϵPt reaction indicates the air‐filled pore volume at which a response of the Pt electrode to contact with oxygen occurs (i.e. EH increase > 5 mV hour−1) and (ii) ϵPt aeration indicates when oxidizing soil conditions are present (i.e. EH > 300 mV at pH 7). The Fluvisol was characterized by an ϵPt reaction value of 0.036 ± 0.006 cm3 cm−3 and an ϵPt aeration value of 0.047 ± 0.005, whereas for the Gleysol these values were 0.048 ± 0.008 and 0.085 ± 0.007 cm3 cm−3, respectively. We aimed to obtain such characteristic values for different soils to estimate the aeration status of a soil when ϵ is known, but EH measurements were unavailable.Highlights
We studied the relation between EH and air‐filled pore volume (ϵ) for two soils varying in texture.
Two characteristic ϵ values are proposed: ϵPt reaction (EH increases > 5 mV hour−1) and ϵPt aeration (EH > 300 mV at pH7).
ϵPt aeration was larger for a clayey Gleysol than a sandy Fluvisol, but ϵPt reaction was similar.
Small‐scale heterogeneity in soil structure had no effect on the EH–ϵ relation.
Multiple‐stressor effects on freshwater fish: Importance of taxonomy and life stage
Authors: Lange Katharina , Bruder Andreas , Matthaei Christoph D. , Brodersen Jakob , Paterson Rachel A. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractInteractions among multiple anthropogenic stressors threaten freshwater fish and pose challenges for fisheries management and conservation. Previous studies of multiple‐stressor effects on freshwater fish suggest a prevalence of antagonistic interactions. However, taxonomy, life stage and/or environmental context likely modify the magnitude and direction of fish responses to multiple stressors. Stressor intensity, impact mechanism, exposure time and ecosystem size may further affect interaction outcomes. Large‐scale studies quantifying how these variables moderate stressor interactions are lacking. To address this knowledge gap, we performed a meta‐analysis of 29 factorial multiple‐stressor experiments to examine the influence of seven potential moderator variables on the magnitude and direction of stressor interactions. Using weighted random‐effects meta‐analytic models, we demonstrate the importance of taxonomic identity and life stage for interaction outcomes. In particular, Cypriniformes showed stronger antagonisms than Salmoniformes, as did larval fish compared to juveniles. Interaction outcomes also varied among the measured fish responses with survival yielding stronger antagonisms than biomass. Increasing experimental duration and volume of the experimental units both drove interactions towards synergisms, supporting findings from previous studies that synergisms take time and space to develop. In an era when the number of stressors affecting freshwater systems is increasing rapidly, our study provides a vital step towards identifying generalities in multiple‐stressor outcomes and thus improved predictions of multiple‐stressor impacts. Furthermore, our meta‐analysis complements studies in real streams, rivers and lakes by providing an experimentally derived context for the growing number of multiple‐stressor assessments in research, management and conservation of freshwater fish.
The Theory and Practice of Corporate Risk Management: Evidence from the Field
Authors: Giambona Erasmo , Graham John R. , Harvey Campbell R. , Bodnar Gordon M. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractWe survey more than 1,100 risk managers from around the world regarding their risk management policies. We find evidence consistent with some traditional theories of risk management, but not with all. We then study “why” or “why not” firms hedge and find that almost 90% of risk managers in nonfinancial firms hedge to increase expected cash flow. We also find that 70% to 80% of risk managers hedge to smooth earnings or to satisfy shareholders’ expectations. Our analysis also suggests that regulatory changes implemented to increase market stability (e.g., Dodd‐Frank Act) could discourage corporate hedging. Finally, we provide evidence regarding hedging in six areas of risk: interest rate, foreign exchange, commodity, energy, credit, and geopolitical. We find that operational hedging is more common than financial hedging in all risk areas except foreign exchange.
Late Quaternary climate legacies in contemporary plant functional composition
Authors: Blonder Benjamin , Enquist Brian J. , Graae Bente J. , Kattge Jens , Maitner Brian S. , Morueta‐Holme Naia , Ordonez Alejandro , Šímová Irena , Singarayer Joy , Svenning Jens‐Christian , Valdes Paul J. , Violle Cyrille 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe functional composition of plant communities is commonly thought to be determined by contemporary climate. However, if rates of climate‐driven immigration and/or exclusion of species are slow, then contemporary functional composition may be explained by paleoclimate as well as by contemporary climate. We tested this idea by coupling contemporary maps of plant functional trait composition across North and South America to paleoclimate means and temporal variation in temperature and precipitation from the Last Interglacial (120 ka) to the present. Paleoclimate predictors strongly improved prediction of contemporary functional composition compared to contemporary climate predictors, with a stronger influence of temperature in North America (especially during periods of ice melting) and of precipitation in South America (across all times). Thus, climate from tens of thousands of years ago influences contemporary functional composition via slow assemblage dynamics.
Extending the Latent Dirichlet Allocation model to presence/absence data: A case study on North American breeding birds and biogeographical shifts expected from climate change
Authors: Valle Denis , Albuquerque Pedro , Zhao Qing , Barberan Albert , Fletcher Robert J. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractUnderstanding how species composition varies across space and time is fundamental to ecology. While multiple methods having been created to characterize this variation through the identification of groups of species that tend to co‐occur, most of these methods unfortunately are not able to represent gradual variation in species composition. The Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model is a mixed‐membership method that can represent gradual changes in community structure by delineating overlapping groups of species, but its use has been limited because it requires abundance data and requires users to a priori set the number of groups. We substantially extend LDA to accommodate widely available presence/absence data and to simultaneously determine the optimal number of groups. Using simulated data, we show that this model is able to accurately determine the true number of groups, estimate the underlying parameters, and fit with the data. We illustrate this method with data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS). Overall, our model identified 18 main bird groups, revealing striking spatial patterns for each group, many of which were closely associated with temperature and precipitation gradients. Furthermore, by comparing the estimated proportion of each group for two time periods (1997–2002 and 2010–2015), our results indicate that nine (of 18) breeding bird groups exhibited an expansion northward and contraction southward of their ranges, revealing subtle but important community‐level biodiversity changes at a continental scale that are consistent with those expected under climate change. Our proposed method is likely to find multiple uses in ecology, being a valuable addition to the toolkit of ecologists.
Performance enhancement of biological methanation with trickle bed reactors by liquid flow modulation
Authors: Ullrich Timo , Lemmer Andreas 
Published: July 2018

AbstractExperiments were carried out to investigate the influence of liquid flow modulation of trickle bed reactors (TBR) on biological hydrogen methanation (BHM). The modulation promises to improve the gas‐liquid mass transfer and has already been demonstrated in trickle bed reactors of other fields of application. Therefore, the influence of four different circulation intervals with pauses from two to 1,440 min was investigated in TBR for BHM. The results showed that as pause intervals without sprinkling became longer, the methane content increased from 88.61 ± 1.58 vol‐% at a circulation interval of 2 min to up to 97.19 ± 0.46 vol‐% at a circulation interval of 1,440 min. The analysis of the process liquid indicated a stable biological process at any trial phase. This study demonstrated that the performance of TBR on BHM can be significantly improved by liquid flow modulation, thus significantly reducing operating costs.
Potency estimates for recombinant factor IX in the one‐stage clotting assay are influenced by more than just the choice of activated partial thromboplastin time reagent
Authors: Wilmot Helen V. , Gray Elaine 
Published: July 2018

The activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) one‐stage clotting (OSC) assay is used to potency label factor IX (FIX) therapeutics and to monitor the treatment of deficient patients. Studies have highlighted differences in potency estimates for FIX therapeutics depending on what activator type the APTT reagent contains. During the study to replace the 4th International Standard (IS) for FIX Concentrate, it was noted that for the recombinant FIX (rFIX) candidates, a potency difference of 20% was obtained by some between laboratories using the reagent DAPTTIN.This study was designed to investigate this discrepancy.Two plasma‐derived (pdFIX) and 2 rFIX materials were assayed against the 4th IS for FIX concentrate (07/182) using the OSC assay. Three different APTT reagents were used (DAPTTIN, SynthAFax and SynthASil), plus 4 different activation times.The pdFIX samples were not affected by activation time or APTT reagent, with expected potencies recovered in all assays and at all activation times. For rFIX, expected potencies were recovered using SynthASil, but SynthAFax generated potencies around 20% lower. This was consistent across the activation times. For DAPTTIN, potencies for rFIX dropped progressively and by up to 30% as activation time increased from 120 to 300 seconds.This study demonstrates that activation time as well as choice of APTT reagent can result in discrepancies in the potency estimation of rFIX. These factors should be taken into account when assaying rFIX.
Effect of luseogliflozin on hepatic fat content in type 2 diabetes patients with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease: A prospective, single‐arm trial (LEAD trial)
Authors: Sumida Yoshio , Murotani Kenta , Saito Miyoko , Tamasawa Atsuko , Osonoi Yusuke , Yoneda Masashi , Osonoi Takeshi 
Published: July 2018

AimsNo pharmacological therapies are approved for non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Luseogliflozin, a sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, has been developed for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The aim of this prospective, single‐arm study is to evaluate the efficacy of luseogliflozin on hepatic fat content and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in T2DM patients with NAFLD.MethodsForty T2DM patients with NAFLD were treated with luseogliflozin 2.5 mg/day for 24 weeks. Primary end‐points were changes in HbA1c and hepatic steatosis evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging–hepatic fat fraction from baseline. Secondary end‐points were changes in metabolic and hepatic function‐related parameters, including hepatic fibrosis markers (Fibrosis‐4 index, NAFLD fibrosis score, type IV collagen 7S. and Wisteria floribunda agglutinin‐positive Mac‐2 binding protein).ResultsNot only HbA1c and transaminase activities but also hepatic fat content were significantly decreased after 24 weeks of therapy with luseogliflozin. The reduction of hepatic fat content was significantly correlated with the reduction of alanine aminotransferase. Although hepatic fibrosis markers were unchanged, serum ferritin levels reduced and serum albumin significantly increased after the treatment.ConclusionLuseogliflozin can be a novel promising agent for the treatment of T2DM patients with NAFLD. Prospective randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm this impact of luseogliflozin onT2DM with NAFLD.
Compromised NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasome function in autoimmune NZB/W F1 mouse macrophages
Authors: Thygesen Sara J , Takizawa Karli E , Robertson Avril A B , Sester David P , Stacey Katryn J 
Published: July 2018

AbstractInflammasomes are protein complexes activated by infection and cellular stress that promote caspase‐1 activation and subsequent inflammatory cytokine processing and cell death. It has been anticipated that inflammasome activity contributes to autoimmunity. However, we previously showed that macrophages from autoimmune New Zealand Black (NZB) mice lack NLRP3 inflammasome function, and their absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome responses are compromised by high expression of the AIM2 antagonist protein p202. Here we found that the point mutation leading to lack of NLRP3 expression occurred early in the NZB strain establishment, as it is shared with the related obese strain New Zealand Obese, but not with the unrelated New Zealand White (NZW) strain. The first cross progeny of NZB and NZW mice develop more severe lupus nephritis than the NZB strain. We have compared AIM2 and NLRP3 inflammasome function in macrophages from NZB, NZW, and NZB/W F1 mice. The NZW parental strain showed strong inflammasome function, whereas the NZB/W F1 have haploinsufficient expression of NLRP3 and show reduced NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasome responses, particularly at low stimulus strength. It remains to be established whether the low inflammasome function could contribute to loss of tolerance and the onset of autoimmunity in NZB and NZB/W F1. However, with amplifying inflammatory stimuli through the course of disease, the NLRP3 response in the NZB/W F1 may be sufficient to contribute to kidney damage at later stages of disease.