bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of testosterone supplementation on nitroso‐redox imbalance, cardiac metabolism markers, and S100 proteins expression in the heart of castrated male rats
Authors: Regouat N. , Cheboub A. , Benahmed M. , Belarbi A. , Hadj‐Bekkouche F. 
Published: December 2017

SummaryThe aim of this study was to investigate the effects of castration and testosterone supplementation on nitroso‐redox status, cardiac metabolism markers, and S100 proteins expression in the heart of male rats. 50 male Wistar rats were randomized into five groups with ten animals each: group 1: control intact (CON); group 2: sham operated (Sh‐O); group 3: sesame oil‐treated rats (S‐oil); group 4: gonadoectomized (GDX); and group 5: gonadoectomized rats treated with testosterone (GDX‐T) for 8 weeks. Our results showed myofibrillar weaving, apoptosis, inflammation, and fibrosis (as reflected by increased activity of MMP 9 and MMP 2) in the heart of gonadoectomized rats. Testosterone supplementation restored the normal structure of the heart. In addition, a state of nitroso‐redox imbalance was observed in the heart of castrated rats with increased NO (425.1 ± 322.8 vs. 208 ± 67.06, p ˂ 0.05) and MDA (33.18 ± 9.45 vs. 22.04 ± 7.13, p ˂ 0.05) and decreased GSH levels (0.71 ± 0.13 vs. 1.09 ± 0.19, p = 0.001). Testosterone treatment leads to a re‐establish of only NO levels (425.1 ± 322.8 vs. 210.4 ± 114.3, p > 0.05). Markers of cardiac metabolism showed an enhancement of LDH activity (12725 ± 4604 vs. 5381 ± 3122, p ˂ 0.05) in the heart of castrated rats. This was inversed by testosterone replacement (12725 ± 4604 vs. 5781 ± 5187, p ˂ 0.05). Furthermore, castration induced heart's accumulation of triglycerides (37.24 ± 6.17 vs. 27.88 ± 6.47, p ˂ 0.05) and total cholesterol (61.44 ± 3.59 vs. 54.11 ± 7.55, p ˂ 0.05), which were significantly reduced by testosterone supplementation (29.03 ± 2.47 vs. 37.24 ± 6.17, p ˂ 0.05) and (47.9 ± 4.15 vs. 61.44 ± 3.59, p ˂ 0.001). Cardiomyocytes of castrated rats showed a decreased immunoexpression of S100 proteins compared to control animals. A restoration of S100 proteins immunostaining in cardiomyocyte cytoplasm was observed after testosterone supplementation. These findings confirm the deleterious effects of testosterone deficiency on cardiac function and highlight the involvement of nitric oxide, metalloproteinases 2 and 9, and S100 proteins.
National screening guidelines and developments in prenatal diagnoses and live births of Down syndrome in 1973–2016 in Denmark
Authors: Lou Stina , Petersen Olav B. , Jørgensen Finn S. , Lund Ida C.B. , Kjærgaard Susanne ,   Danish Cytogenetic Central Registry Study Group, Vogel Ida 
Published: December 2017

AbstractIntroductionDenmark was the first country in the world to implement a national, free‐for‐all offer of prenatal screening for Down syndrome to all pregnant women. It has a high uptake (>90%) compared to other countries. Thus, Denmark offers an interesting case for investigating the consequences of implementing comprehensive, national prenatal screening guidelines. The aim of this study was to describe the historical developments in invasive procedures, pre‐/postnatal diagnoses of Down syndrome and Down syndrome live births in the period 1973–2016 in Denmark.Material and methodsData on invasive procedures, pre‐ and postnatal Down syndrome diagnoses were retrieved from the Danish Cytogenetic Central Registry.ResultsFrom 1973 to 1993, screening based on maternal age and high‐risk indications resulted in a constant increase in invasive procedures. After the introduction of the triple test in 1994, invasive procedures decreased for the first time in 20 years. Following the introduction of an offer of combined screening to all pregnant women in 2004, the number of invasive procedures decreased markedly, while there was a concurrent increase in prenatal diagnoses of Down syndrome. Additionally, the number of Down syndrome live births decreased suddenly and significantly, but subsequently stabilized at 23–35 annual live births. Of these, the majority were diagnosed postnatally.ConclusionThough prenatal screening technologies constantly improve, it was the introduction of and adherence to national guidelines that resulted in marked shifts in screening procedures and outcome in Denmark.
Socioeconomic Context as a Moderator in the Relationship between Body Mass Index and Depression in Europe
Authors: Alvarez‐Galvez Javier , Gomez‐Baya Diego 
Published: December 2017

BackgroundObesity and depression are two major health issues in contemporary societies. This study aims to address two fundamental questions: (1) what is the impact of macro‐level adverse socioeconomic circumstances on depression? and (2) how do macro‐level variations in the socioeconomic context affect the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and depression?MethodsData from the 7th round of the European Social Survey were used, collected from a sample size of 37,623 participants and aggregated around a total of 20 countries. A random intercept multilevel model was constructed to study the variations in the relationship between depression and BMI. The contextual effect of risk of poverty, unemployment rate, and gross domestic product per capita were studied at the country level.ResultsFirst, both unemployment and poverty risk were found to be positively associated with depressive disorders. Second, the results show that a higher risk of poverty at the macro level may increase the effect of BMI on depression in European countries.ConclusionThe present study provides new evidence suggesting that the obesity–depression relationship will be, on average, stronger in countries with poor socioeconomic conditions. Therefore, adverse socioeconomic contextual conditions may increase depression associated with obesity.
Who gets the gametes? An argument for a points system for fertility patients
Authors: Jenkins Simon , Ives Jonathan , Avery Sue , Draper Heather 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis paper argues that the convention of allocating donated gametes on a ‘first come, first served’ basis should be replaced with an allocation system that takes into account more morally relevant criteria than waiting time. This conclusion was developed using an empirical bioethics methodology, which involved a study of the views of 18 staff members from seven U.K. fertility clinics, and 20 academics, policy‐makers, representatives of patient groups, and other relevant professionals, on the allocation of donated sperm and eggs. Against these views, we consider some nuanced ways of including criteria in a points allocation system. We argue that such a system is more ethically robust than ‘first come, first served’, but we acknowledge that our results suggest that a points system will meet with resistance from those working in the field. We conclude that criteria such as a patient's age, potentially damaging substance use, and parental status should be used to allocate points and determine which patients receive treatment and in what order. These and other factors should be applied according to how they bear on considerations like child welfare, patient welfare, and the effectiveness of the proposed treatment.
Digital government and service delivery: An examination of performance and prospects
Authors: Roy Jeffrey 
Published: December 2017

AbstractSince the emergence of electronic or digital government two decades ago, the delivery of public services online has been a centrepiece in efforts to leverage the Internet and improve the performance of the public sector. Prodded by comparisons to banks and online retailers, governments at all levels have been enticed by the dramatically lower costs of a transaction online versus one involving mail, a telephone call centre, or in‐person service facility. Yet such comparators have also masked a much more complicated story for public sector service innovation and delivery reform. The recent advent of mobility further complicates this landscape since the term can be interpreted in one of two (partially related) manners: first, as a newer online channel via mobile devices that accentuates the search for efficiency as integration; and second, as a basis for more participative public engagement in the governance of service design and delivery. Drawing upon three inter‐related typologies of public sector governance (traditional public administration, new public management, and public value management), this article examines the evolution of a partially digitized sector service architecture, its mixed performance to date, and the challenges ahead. Specific attention is devoted to the Liberal Government's initial sign posts as well as the increasingly pressing inter‐governmental dimensions to more digitized service delivery.
Greenhouse gas emissions from the energy crop oilseed rape (Brassica napus); the role of photosynthetically active radiation in diurnal N2O flux variation
Authors: Keane Ben J. , Ineson Phil , Vallack Harry W. , Blei Emanuel , Bentley Mark , Howarth Steve , McNamara Niall P. , Rowe Rebecca L. , Williams Mat , Toet Sylvia 
Published: December 2017

AbstractOilseed rape (OSR, Brassica napus L.) is an important feedstock for biodiesel; hence, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and particularly fertilizer‐derived nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions during cultivation must be quantified to assess putative greenhouse gas (GHG) savings, thus creating an urgent and increasing need for such data. Substrates of nitrification [ammonium (NH4)] and denitrification [nitrate (NO3)], the predominant N2O production pathways, were supplied separately and in combination to OSR in a UK field trial aiming to: (i) produce an accurate GHG budget of fertilizer application; (ii) characterize short‐ to medium‐term variation in GHG fluxes; (iii) establish the processes driving N2O emission. Three treatments were applied twice, 1 week apart: ammonium nitrate fertilizer (NH4NO3, 69 kg‐N ha−1) mimicking the farm management, ammonium chloride (NH4Cl, 34.4 kg‐N ha−1) and sodium nitrate (NaNO3, 34.6 kg‐N ha−1). We deployed SkyLine2D for the very first time, a novel automated chamber system to measure CO2, CH4 and N2O fluxes at unprecedented high temporal and spatial resolution from OSR. During 3 weeks following the fertilizer application, CH4 fluxes were negligible, but all treatments were a net sink for CO2 (ca. 100 g CO2 m−2). Cumulative N2O emissions (ca. 120 g CO2‐eq m−2) from NH4NO3 were significantly greater (P < 0.04) than from NaNO3 (ca. 80 g CO2‐eq m−2), but did not differ from NH4Cl (ca. 100 g CO2‐eq m−2) and reduced the carbon sink of photosynthesis so that OSR was a net GHG source in the fertilizer treatment. Diurnal variation in N2O emissions, peaking in the afternoon, was more strongly associated with photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) than temperature. This suggests that the supply of carbon (C) from photosynthate may have been the key driver of the observed diurnal pattern in N2O emission and thus should be considered in future process‐based models of GHG emissions.
EQUILIBRIUM SEARCH AND TAX CREDIT REFORM
Authors: Shephard Andrew 
Published: December 2017

AbstractAn empirical equilibrium job search model with wage posting is developed to analyze the impact of U.K. tax reforms. The model allows for a rich characterization of the labor market, with hours responses, accurate representations of the tax and transfer system, and both worker and firm heterogeneity. The British Working Families' Tax Credit and contemporaneous reforms are predicted to increase employment, with equilibrium effects found to be relatively modest. The model is used to assess the impact of alternative policies, with equilibrium effects shown to become important as the generosity of tax credits is increased.
WORK INCENTIVES OF MEDICAID BENEFICIARIES AND THE ROLE OF ASSET TESTING
Authors: Pashchenko Svetlana , Porapakkarm Ponpoje 
Published: December 2017

AbstractShould asset testing be used in means‐tested programs? Focusing on Medicaid, we show that in the asymmetric information environment, there is a positive role for asset testing. Our tool is a general equilibrium model with heterogeneous agents. We find that 23% of Medicaid enrollees do not work in order to be eligible. These distortions are costly: If Medicaid eligibility could be linked to (unobservable) productivity, this results in substantial welfare gains. We show that asset testing can achieve a similar outcome when asset limits are allowed to be different for workers and nonworkers.
CARBON LOCK‐IN: THE ROLE OF EXPECTATIONS
Authors: van der Meijden Gerard , Smulders Sjak 
Published: December 2017

AbstractWe argue that expectations about future energy use affect the transition from fossil to renewables because of an interaction between innovation and resource scarcity. This article presents a model of directed technical change to study this interaction. We find that fossil‐saving technical change erodes the incentives to implement renewables. Conversely, the anticipation of a transition to renewables diminishes the incentives to invest in fossil technology. As a result, two equilibria may arise, one with a transition to renewables and with low fossil efficiency and one without renewables and with high fossil efficiency. Expectations determine which equilibrium arises.
Mental health nurses and mental health peer workers: Self‐perceptions of role‐related clinical competences
Authors: Debyser Bart , Duprez Veerle , Beeckman Dimitri , Vandewalle Joeri , Van Hecke Ann , Deproost Eddy , Verhaeghe Sofie 
Published: December 2017

AbstractIn a mental healthcare that embraces a recovery‐oriented practice, the employment of mental health peer workers is encouraged. Although peer workers are increasingly working together with nurses, there is a lack of research that explores how nurses and peer workers perceive their role‐related competences in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to clarify and understand these self‐perceptions in order to identify the specificity and potential complementarity of both roles. This insight is needed to underpin a successful partnership between both vocations. A qualitative descriptive research design based on principles of critical incident methodology was used. Twelve nurses and eight peer workers from different mental healthcare organizations participated. A total of 132 reported cases were analysed. Rigour was achieved through thick description, audit trail, investigator triangulation and peer review. Nurses relate their role‐related competences predominantly with being compliant with instructions, being a team player and ensuring security and control. Peer workers relate their role‐related competences with being able to maintain themselves as a peer worker, building up a relationship that is supportive for both the patient and themselves, and to utilize their lived experience. Both nurses and peer workers assign a major role to the team in determining their satisfaction with their competences. Consequently, what is perceived as important for the team appears to overshadow their self‐assessment of competences. The findings highlighted the importance of paying more attention to identity construction, empowerment and role competence development of nurses and peer workers in their respective education and ongoing training.
Optimal production decision for a risk‐averse manufacturer faced with random yield and stochastic demand
Authors: Deng Shiming , Zheng Zhong 
Published: December 2017

AbstractConsider a risk‐averse manufacturer who produces a single product with a random yield to satisfy uncertain market demand. The manufacturer maximizes its expected profit subject to a chance constraint that requires the probability of the total profit below a target be less than a predetermined level. We show that due to the profit target constraint in the presence of random yield and stochastic demand, the manufacturer can neither produce too much nor too little irrespective of the predetermined probability level, depending solely on the profit target level. Further, the special case of uniform yield and uniform demand is examined and we obtain the manufacturer's optimal production quantity. In addition, two special cases of random yield rate and deterministic demand or deterministic yield rate and stochastic demand are considered. The opposite impacts of random yield and stochastic demand are revealed: the random yield induces a minimum production quantity that may cause the manufacturer to increase its production quantity, while the stochastic demand induces a maximum production quantity that may cause the manufacturer to decrease its production quantity. By comparing the solutions of the above‐mentioned special cases with the case of both random yield and stochastic demand, it is demonstrated that the existence of both random yield and stochastic demand results in a more constrained production requirement for the manufacturer (a larger minimum production quantity and a smaller maximum production quantity). That is, the opposite impacts of random yield and stochastic demand will not offset, but enhance each other.
Fabrication of nearly stoichiometric polycrystalline SiC fibers with excellent high‐temperature stability up to 1900°C
Authors: Gou Yanzi , Jian Ke , Wang Hao , Wang Jun 
Published: December 2017

AbstractDue to the extensive applications of SiC fiber‐reinforced composite materials in the fields of aviation, aerospace, and nuclear power, there are increasing demands for SiC fibers with both excellent mechanical performance and high‐temperature stability. In this work, nearly stoichiometric polycrystalline SiC fibers were fabricated using amorphous Si–C–Al–O fibers with excess carbon and oxygen (C/Si = 1.34, O content: 7.74 wt%). The nearly stoichiometric composition (C/Si = 1.05) of the product fibers was achieved by thermal decomposition of the starting fibers. The fibers were well‐crystallized with grain sizes of ~200 nm due to sintering at a high temperature of 1900°C. The fibers exhibited a high tensile strength and a high elastic modulus and were composed of SiC grains with twins and stacking‐faults, exhibiting intragranular fracture behavior. Furthermore, the fibers maintained their original tensile strength after being maintained at 1800°C for 5 hour or at 1900°C for 1 hour under an inert atmosphere, and they exhibited a high strength retention (97%) after exposure at 1300°C for 1 hour under air. The high‐temperature stability and creep resistance of the fibers were comparable to that of commercial Hi‐Nicalon S and Tyranno SA fibers.
Emphasizing excellence and diversity cues on university websites: Additive or interactive effects on prospective students' psychological reactions?
Authors: Ihme Toni Alexander , Stürmer Stefan 
Published: December 2017

AbstractA series of three web‐based scenario experiments investigated how emphasizing excellence and/or diversity on university websites affects students' psychological reactions toward the advertising institution. Our findings form a robust pattern suggesting that emphasizing excellence and emphasizing diversity have additive (rather than interactive or mutually interfering) effects. Two studies (N = 346 and N = 128) showed that the effects of emphasizing excellence and diversity arise from different psychological processes related to important aspects of student applicants' expectations about how well they “fit in” and how well the institution will meet their needs. Study 3 (N = 363), using a within‐subject design, further corroborated that participants preferred universities whose websites emphasized both excellence as well as diversity. Practical implications and directions for future research are discussed.
Effects of pioglitazone treatment on blood leptin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Ida Satoshi , Murata Kazuya , Kaneko Ryutaro 
Published: December 2017

AbstractAims/IntroductionThe aim of the present study was to carry out a meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effects of pioglitazone on blood leptin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.Materials and MethodsLiterature searches were carried out using Medline, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Registry and ClinicalTrials.gov, and RCTs that investigated the effects of pioglitazone on blood leptin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes were selected. Standardized mean differences and 95% confidence intervals were calculated.ResultsA total of 10 RCTs met the eligibility criteria and were included in the meta‐analysis. Significantly lower blood leptin levels were observed in the pioglitazone group (standardized mean difference −0.58, 95% confidence interval −1.12 to −0.05%, P = 0.03) than in the placebo group. There was no significant difference in blood leptin levels observed between the pioglitazone and oral antidiabetic drug groups (standardized mean difference −0.01, 95% confidence interval −0.20 to 0.19%, P = 0.93).ConclusionsThere was a significant difference in blood leptin levels between the pioglitazone and placebo groups. However, relatively few RCTs were included in the study, and there was a high level of statistical heterogeneity; we believe that this could have affected the results.
Assessing dutasteride‐associated sexual dysfunction using the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System
Authors: Gupta A.K. , Carviel J. , Gupta M.A. , Shear N.H. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractBackgroundIncidences of sexual dysfunction due to the use of 5 α‐reductase inhibitors have been suggested. Despite low sexual dysfunction reported in clinical trials, an analysis of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database revealed a significant disproportionality in the reporting of sexual dysfunction with the use of finasteride. Therefore, it is likely that a similar relationship with dutasteride may exist.ObjectiveTo determine whether dutasteride use leads to a higher risk of sexual dysfunction compared to a baseline risk for all other drugs using the FAERS database.MethodsA case by non‐case disproportionality approach was used whereby a reporting odds ratio (ROR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated. Cases of dutasteride‐associated sexual dysfunction were compared to a reference risk of sexual dysfunction for all other drugs in the database.ResultsA significant disproportionality in reporting of sexual dysfunction with the use of dutasteride was observed. The disproportionality was present for all age ranges except for 31–45 years where there were few overall reports of adverse events.LimitationsAdverse events can be underreported, and selection bias is inherent in the FAERS.ConclusionDutasteride use is associated with an increase in reports of sexual dysfunction.
How to Compare Parametric and Nonparametric Person‐Fit Statistics Using Real Data
Authors: Sinharay Sandip 
Published: December 2017

AbstractPerson‐fit assessment (PFA) is concerned with uncovering atypical test performance as reflected in the pattern of scores on individual items on a test. Existing person‐fit statistics (PFSs) include both parametric and nonparametric statistics. Comparison of PFSs has been a popular research topic in PFA, but almost all comparisons have employed simulated data. This article suggests an approach for comparing the performance of parametric and nonparametric PFSs using real data. This article then shows that there is no clear winner between , a popular parametric PFS, and , a popular nonparametric statistic, in a comparison using the suggested approach. This finding is contradictory to the common finding shown by Karabatsos, Dimitrov and Smith, and Tendeiro and Meijer that is more powerful than several parametric PFSs including and .