bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dietary Fisetin Supplementation Protects Against Alcohol‐Induced Liver Injury in Mice
Authors: Sun Qian , Zhang Wenliang , Zhong Wei , Sun Xinguo , Zhou Zhanxiang 
Published: August 2016

BackgroundOverproduction of reactive oxygen species is associated with the development of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Plant polyphenols have been used as dietary interventions for multiple diseases including ALD. The objective of this study was to determine whether dietary supplementation with fisetin, a novel flavonoid, exerts beneficial effect on alcohol‐induced liver injury.MethodsC57BL/6J mice were pair‐fed with the Lieber‐DeCarli control or ethanol (EtOH) diet for 4 weeks with or without fisetin supplementation at 10 mg/kg/d.ResultsAlcohol feeding induced lipid accumulation in the liver and increased plasma alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities, which were attenuated by fisetin supplementation. The EtOH concentrations in the plasma and liver were significantly elevated by alcohol exposure but were reduced by fisetin supplementation. Although fisetin did not affect the protein expression of alcohol metabolism enzymes, the aldehyde dehydrogenase activities were significantly increased by fisetin compared to the alcohol alone group. In addition, fisetin supplementation remarkably reduced hepatic NADPH oxidase 4 levels along with decreased plasma hydrogen peroxide and hepatic superoxide and 4‐hydroxynonenal levels after alcohol exposure. Alcohol‐induced apoptosis and up‐regulation of Fas and cleaved caspase‐3 in the liver were prevented by fisetin. Moreover, fisetin supplementation attenuated alcohol‐induced hepatic steatosis through increasing plasma adiponectin levels and hepatic protein levels of p‐AMPK, ACOX1, CYP4A, and MTTP.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that the protective effect of fisetin on ALD is achieved by accelerating EtOH clearance and inhibition of oxidative stress. The data suggest that fisetin has a therapeutical potential for treating ALD.
Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy: long‐term experience and outcomes
Authors: Coumou Adriaan D. , Genders Stijn W. , Smid Trudy M. , Saeed Peerooz 
Published: August 2016

AbstractPurposeTo report our experience in endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy in treating nasolacrimal duct obstruction over a 14‐year period.MethodsRetrospective case series carried out over a 14‐year period from 1999 to 2014. A total of 624 endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy procedures were performed in 442 patients who were diagnosed with persistent epiphora.ParticipantsIn total, 624 procedures in a total of 442 patients (<18 yo: 36 and >18 yo: 406) were included. Patients' records were assessed for demographics, intra‐ and postoperative complications, outcome and follow‐up.ResultsIn total, 442 patients underwent an endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy. There were 342 females (77.3%) and 100 males with a mean age of 50.2 years. All patients presented with epiphora: 33 congenital (7.5%), 357 acquired (80.7%) and 52 functional cases (11.8%). The adult dacryocystorhinostomy (n = 577) had an anatomical success of 90.1%. Children's group (<18 yo) n = 36 with a total of 47 procedures and an anatomical success of 91.5%. Functional cases (all adults – n = 52) showed a 91% benefit after operation. In 624 DCRs, we found a complication rate of 3.2%.ConclusionEndoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy offers good success rates with a safety profile and efficacy equivalent to the traditional external approach is an effective treatment with good outcome results in adults and children with persistent or functional epiphora.
Beneficial effects of renal denervation on cardiac angiogenesis in rats with prolonged pressure overload
Authors: Lu D. , Wang K. , Wang S. , Zhang B. , Liu Q. , Zhang Q. , Geng J. , Shan Q. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractAimRenal denervation (RDN) has beneficial effects on cardiac remodelling and function in resistant hypertension. We aimed to investigate the impact of RDN on cardiac angiogenesis during prolonged pressure overload.MethodsCardiac pressure overload was reproduced by transverse aorta constriction (TAC) procedure in adult Sprague Dawley male rats (n = 35). RDN/sham‐RDN procedure was performed in surviving rats at 5 weeks after TAC.ResultsFive weeks post‐TAC, transthoracic echocardiography revealed that myocardial hypertrophy occurred in TAC rats, with ejection fraction and fractional shortening not significantly changed. At the end of 10 weeks, cardiac systolic function was preserved in RDN group, but not in sham group. CD31 immunohistochemical staining showed that RDN‐treated rats had higher cardiac capillary density than sham rats. However, no significant between‐group difference was observed in the kidneys. A decreased protein expression of left ventricle vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was observed in sham group, while RDN attenuated this decrease. Compared with sham, RDN resulted in a higher protein expression of VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (p‐eNOS) in the heart.ConclusionRenal denervation benefits cardiac angiogenesis during sustained pressure overload, involving regulation of VEGF and VEGFR2 expression as well as activation of eNOS.
The Dynamic Effects of Works Councils on Labour Productivity: First Evidence from Panel Data
Authors: Mueller Steffen , Stegmaier Jens 
Published: August 2016

AbstractWe estimate dynamic effects of works councils on labour productivity using newly available information from West German establishment panel data. Conditioning on plant fixed effects and control variables, we find negative productivity effects during the first five years after council introduction but a steady and substantial increase in the councils’ productivity effect thereafter. Our findings support a causal interpretation for the positive correlation between council existence and plant productivity that has been frequently reported in previous studies.
REGIONAL EFFECTS OF MONETARY POLICY IN CHINA: EVIDENCE FROM CHINA'S PROVINCES
Authors: Guo Xiaohui , Masron Tajul Ariffin 
Published: August 2016

ABSTRACTThis study examines the provincial effects of monetary policy from 1978 to 2011 in China. We used the SVAR method to measure the magnitude and timing of each province's response to monetary policy shocks when considering the influences of spillover effects among provinces. Then we also explored the regional effects of monetary policy employing multiple linear regressions. The results confirm that provinces respond differently to monetary policy actions. It was found that in the short run, the influence of spillover effects on a province's response is very important, but in the long run, the negative influence of deposit transfers overtake the positive impact of the spillover effect. For the factors causing the regional effects on monetary policy, the results show that the interest rate channel is rather weak at the regional level in China. The bank lending channel can explain the regional effects of monetary policy to some extent. Thus in China, the bank lending channel is more effective than the interest rate channel at the regional level.
Intensity‐specific effect of physical activity on urinary levels of 8‐hydroxydeoxyguanosine in middle‐aged Japanese
Authors: Hara Megumi , Nishida Yuichiro , Shimanoe Chisato , Otsuka Yasuko , Nanri Hinako , Yasukata Jun , Miyoshi Nobuyuki , Yamada Yosuke , Horita Mikako , Kawai Kazuaki , Li Yun‐Shan , Kasai Jun , Kasai Hiroshi , Higaki Yasuki , Tanaka Keitaro 
Published: August 2016

Physical activity (PA) is recommended to both promote and maintain health and prevent cancer by improving the body's DNA repair system, which is considered a mechanism of cancer prevention. However, associations between PA and urinary levels of 8‐hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8‐OH‐dG), which reflects DNA damage, are unclear. This cross‐sectional study included 2370 men and 4052 women aged 45–74 years enrolled between 2010 and 2012. Habitual PA was assessed by single‐axis accelerometer and urinary 8‐OH‐dG levels by automated HPLC. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between log‐transformed urinary 8‐OH‐dG and total PA (TPA) and PA of moderate/vigorous intensity (MVPA; ≥3 metabolic equivalents), with adjustment for age, body mass index, energy intake, alcohol consumption, smoking status, daily coffee drinking, menopause status (in women), and TPA (for MVPA). On multivariate adjustment, urinary 8‐OH‐dG levels were inversely correlated with TPA (β = −0.020, P < 0.01) in women, and this correlation was not changed by PA intensity. Conversely, urinary 8‐OH‐dG levels were inversely correlated with MVPA (β = −0.022, P < 0.05) in men, although the correlation with TPA was non‐significant. This inverse correlation was clearer in current smokers than in never or former smokers, although the interaction between smoking status and MVPA on urinary 8‐OH‐dG levels was non‐significant. In conclusion, greater TPA in women and greater MVPA in men were correlated with reduction in urinary 8‐OH‐dG, suggesting sex‐specific effects of MVPA and TPA on protection from oxidative DNA damage. Increasing PA may mediate reduction in oxidative stress.
Cow's milk allergy guidelines: a quality appraisal with the AGREE II instrument
Authors: Ruszczyński M. , Horvath A. , Dziechciarz P. , Szajewska H. 
Published: August 2016

SummaryBackgroundThe appropriate diagnosis and management of cow's milk allergy (CMA) is challenging.ObjectiveTo systematically review the quality of the existing guidelines on CMA.MethodsThe Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, and EMBASE databases were searched from 2010 to November 2015. The methodological rigour, quality, and transparency of relevant guidelines were assessed with the use of the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) tool.ResultsOf the 15 included guidelines, two, both developed by recognized scientific organizations, achieved the highest score (100%). Eight others were considered to be of high quality (i.e., overall quality scores >60%). The quality scores for each domain varied. Of all the domains, clarity and presentation had the highest mean score, and applicability had the lowest mean score. The scores (mean ± SD) for individual domains were as follows: domain 1 (score and purpose) 62 ± 36%; domain 2 (stakeholder involvement) 56 ± 33%; domain 3 (rigor of development) 55 ± 38%; domain 4 (clarity of presentation) 71 ± 29%; domain 5 (applicability) 44 ± 33%; and domain 6 (editorial independence) 60 ± 36%. One guideline had the maximum possible score of 100% for all AGREE II domains.Conclusion and Clinical RelevanceA number of guidelines on CMA are available; however, their quality varies. Overall, the guidelines developed by recognized professional/scientific organizations were of the highest quality. These guidelines should be recommended for use. Still, the methodological quality of CMA guidelines may be improved.
Effects of metformin on bone healing around titanium implants inserted in non‐diabetic rats
Authors: Bastos Marta Ferreira , Serrão Caroline Ribeiro , Miranda Tamires Szeremeske , Cruz Daniele Ferreira , de Souza Malta Fernando , Duarte Poliana Mendes 
Published: August 2016

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of metformin on bone healing around titanium implants inserted in non‐diabetic rats.MethodsTwenty Wistar rats were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: control group (n = 10): rats without metformin treatment; MT group (n = 10): rats treated with metformin (40 mg/kg/day by gavage). At thirty days after implant placement, animals were euthanized. Histometric measurements of bone‐to‐implant contact (BIC) and bone area (BA), in addition to immunohistochemical analysis of the number of cells stained for RANKL and OPG, were assessed in the cortical and medullary areas around implants.ResultsThe percentages of BIC and BA in the cortical bone were significantly lower in the MT group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the medullary bone around the implants inserted in the metformin‐treated animals exhibited an increased number of RANKL‐stained cells than that around the implants inserted in the control animals (P < 0.05).ConclusionsMetformin negatively affected osseointegration by reducing the percentages of BIC and BA and increasing the expression of RANKL around titanium implants inserted in non‐diabetic rats.
Agency Costs of Moving to Tax Havens: Evidence from Cross‐border Merger Premia
Authors: Col Burcin 
Published: August 2016

AbstractManuscript TypeEmpiricalResearch Question/IssueThis paper explores the valuation effects of the tradeoff between tax avoidance and corporate governance through tax haven M&As. Firms can achieve tax savings by selling to an acquirer based in a tax haven, making the newly created multinational a haven resident. Changing a firm's tax home through a 100 percent acquisition is also accompanied by a change in legal system and corporate governance. Therefore, tax savings could come at the expense of corporate governance degradation making the value implications of such tax avoidance attempts an important empirical issue.Research Findings/InsightsUsing an international sample of cross‐border M&As from 1989 to 2012, we find value evidence supporting the agency costs hypothesis. For 100 percent M&As, a lower target premium is associated with those transactions where the tax haven acquirer has weaker investor protection than the target.Theoretical/Academic ImplicationsOur findings provide value evidence regarding the agency costs of tax‐motivated M&As as a result of the secrecy laws and limited investor protection of tax havens.Practitioner/Policy ImplicationsThis study provides a perspective for executives of multinational firms to take into account the value consequences associated with secrecy laws and weak investor protection while considering a possible relocation to tax havens. It also offers further insight to policymakers concerning the costs of limited investor protection and lack of transparency.
Action mechanisms for social cognition: behavioral and neural correlates of developing Theory of Mind
Authors: Bowman Lindsay C. , Thorpe Samuel G. , Cannon Erin N. , Fox Nathan A. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractMany psychological theories posit foundational links between two fundamental constructs: (1) our ability to produce, perceive, and represent action; and (2) our ability to understand the meaning and motivation behind the action (i.e. Theory of Mind; ToM). This position is contentious, however, and long‐standing competing theories of social‐cognitive development debate roles for basic action‐processing in ToM. Developmental research is key to investigating these hypotheses, but whether individual differences in neural and behavioral measures of motor action relate to social‐cognitive development is unknown. We examined 3‐ to 5‐year‐old children's (N = 26) EEG mu‐desynchronization during production of object‐directed action, and explored associations between mu‐desynchronization and children's behavioral motor skills, behavioral action‐representation abilities, and behavioral ToM. For children with high (but not low) mu‐desynchronization, motor skill related to action‐representation abilities, and action‐representation mediated relations between motor skill and ToM. Results demonstrate novel foundational links between action‐processing and ToM, suggesting that basic motor action may be a key mechanism for social‐cognitive development, thus shedding light on the origins and emergence of higher social cognition.
Texts as Metaphoric Machines and the Challenge of the Digital
Authors: Kouppanou Anna 
Published: August 2016

AbstractIn this essay Anna Kouppanou expands the notion of metaphor from its received meaning to refer to an embodied and material process of connectedness that transforms the domains that it brings together. Because of metaphor's reliance on materiality and exteriority Kouppanou turns to literary texts, which she calls “metaphoric machines.” In doing so she sheds light on the specific way texts, as reading/writing technologies, work through metaphorical processes of association. Through the study of print and electronic literary texts Kouppanou shows that every medium brings contents and domains, such as space and time, together and indeed in specific ways, allowing different forms of association, selective organization, and filtering of information. She also underlines that the mappings between these domains often take place unexpectedly and not always between their respective parts. Finally, she discusses the need for literacies that make the reader/writer/user aware of the metaphorical‐associative power of texts.
Cognitive‐behavioural social skills training for first‐episode psychosis: a feasibility study
Authors: Herman Yarissa , Shireen Huma , Bromley Sarah , Yiu Natalie , Granholm Eric 
Published: August 2016

AbstractAimTo conduct a preliminary feasibility examination of cognitive‐behavioural social skills training (CBSST) in a first‐episode psychosis population.MethodsTwenty two first‐episode psychosis clients participated in an 18‐week CBSST group adapted for a younger population.ResultsAdaptive functioning significantly improved following group participation and was maintained at 3‐month follow‐up.ConclusionThe CBSST group was feasible and well accepted in the first episode programme. These preliminary findings warrant further testing in a larger trial to determine efficacy.
When left‐hemisphere reading is compromised: Comparing reading ability in participants after left cerebral hemispherectomy and participants with developmental dyslexia
Authors: Katzir Tami , Christodoulou Joanna A. , de Bode Stella 
Published: August 2016

SummaryObjectiveWe investigated reading skills in individuals who have undergone left cerebral hemispherectomy and in readers with developmental dyslexia to understand diverse characteristics contributing to reading difficulty. Although dyslexia is a developmental disorder, left hemispherectomy requires that patients (re)establish the language process needed to perform the language‐based tasks in the nondominant (right) hemisphere to become readers.MethodsParticipants with developmental dyslexia (DD; n = 11) and participants who had undergone left hemispherectomy (HEMI; n = 11) were matched on age and gender, and were compared on timed and untimed measures of single word and pseudo‐word reading. The hemispherectomy group was subdivided into prenatal (in utero) and postnatal (>3 years) insult groups, indicating the timing of the primary lesion that ultimately required surgical intervention.ResultsOn an untimed reading measure, the readers with DD were comparable to individuals who had undergone left hemispherectomy due to prenatal insult, but both scored higher than the postnatal hemispherectomy group. Timed word reading differed across groups. The hemispherectomy prenatal subgroup had low average scores on both timed and untimed tests. The group with dyslexia had average scores on untimed measures and below average scores on timed reading. The hemispherectomy postnatal group had the lowest scores among the groups by a significant margin, and the most pronounced reading difficulty.SignificancePatients with prenatal lesions leading to an isolated right hemisphere (RH) have the potential to develop reading to a degree comparable to that in persons with dyslexia for single word reading. This potential sharply diminishes in individuals who undergo hemispherectomy due to postnatal insult. The higher scores of the prenatal hemispherectomy group on timed reading suggest that under these conditions, individuals with an isolated RH can compensate to a significant degree.
Transform high seas management to build climate resilience in marine seafood supply
Authors: Cheung William W L , Jones Miranda C , Lam Vicky W Y , D Miller Dana , Ota Yoshitaka , Teh Louise , Sumaila Ussif R 
Published: August 2016

AbstractClimate change is projected to redistribute fisheries resources, resulting in tropical regions suffering decreases in seafood production. While sustainably managing marine ecosystems contributes to building climate resilience, these solutions require transformation of ocean governance. Recent studies and international initiatives suggest that conserving high seas biodiversity and fish stocks will have ecological and economic benefits; however, implications for seafood security under climate change have not been examined. Here, we apply global‐scale mechanistic species distribution models to 30 major straddling fish stocks to show that transforming high seas fisheries governance could increase resilience to climate change impacts. By closing the high seas to fishing or cooperatively managing its fisheries, we project that catches in exclusive economic zones (EEZs) would likely increase by around 10% by 2050 relative to 2000 under climate change (representative concentration pathway 4.5 and 8.5), compensating for the expected losses (around −6%) from ‘business‐as‐usual’. Specifically, high seas closure increases the resilience of fish stocks, as indicated by a mean species abundance index, by 30% in EEZs. We suggest that improving high seas fisheries governance would increase the resilience of coastal countries to climate change.
Species interactions in a grassland mixture under low nitrogen fertilization and two cutting frequencies: 1. dry‐matter yield and dynamics of species composition
Authors: Ergon Å. , Kirwan L. , Bleken M. A. , Skjelvåg A. O. , Collins R. P. , Rognli O. A. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractFour‐species mixtures and pure stands of perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, white clover and red clover were grown in three‐cut and five‐cut systems at Ås, southern Norway, at a low fertilization rate (100 kg N ha−1 year−1). Over a three‐year experiment, we found strong positive effects of species diversity on annual dry‐matter yield and yield stability under both cutting frequencies. The overyielding in mixtures relative to pure stands was highest in the five‐cut system and in the second year. Among the possible pairwise species interaction effects contributing to the diversity effect, the grass–grass interaction was the strongest, being significant in both cutting systems and in all years. The grass–legume interactions were sometimes significant, but no significant legume–legume interaction could be detected. Competitive relationships between species varied from year to year and also between cutting systems. Estimations based on species identity effects and pair‐specific interactions suggested that the optimal proportions of red clover, white clover, perennial ryegrass and tall fescue in seed mixtures would have been around 0·1, 0·2, 0·4 and 0·3 in the three‐cut system, and 0·1, 0·3, 0·3 and 0·3 in the five‐cut system.