bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
PTEN Regulates Renal Extracellular Matrix Deposit via Increased CTGF in Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Zhu Lin , Zhao Song , Liu Shuxia , Liu Qingjuan , Li Fan , Hao Jun 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACTExtracellular matrix accumulation and fibrosis are the features of diabetic nephropathy. PI3K (phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase)/Akt (protein kinase B) signal pathway and its inhibitor PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10) are revealed to modulate renal fibrosis. However, the exact mechanism is still not well known. In the present study we found that compared with normal mice, diabetic mice showed decreased PTEN, increased phospho‐Akt (Ser 473), phospho‐Akt (Thr 308), CTGF (connective tissue growth factor), α‐SMA (α‐smooth muscle actin), and matricellular protein in kidney. Knocking down of PTEN caused an increase in phospho‐Akt (Ser 473), phospho‐Akt (Thr 308), CTGF, secreted fibronectin, and secreted Col 3 in HKC cells (human renal tubular epithelial cells). Again, in vitro experiment revealed 1.89, 2.18, 1.92, 3.06, 2.06‐fold increases of phospho‐Akt (Ser 473), phospho‐Akt (Thr 308), CTGF, secreted fibronectin, and secreted Col 3 in high glucose‐stimulated HKC cells in comparison with normal control cells. Furthermore, knocking down of CTGF reversed increased secreted fibronectin and Col 3 in high glucose‐treated HKC cells. Moreover, transfection of PTEN expression vector prevented high glucose‐caused these changes in HKC cells. Especially, CTGF expression, secretion of fibronectin and Col 3 were, respectively, decreased by 38.81, 53.85, and 39.12%. The treatment of LY294002 inhibited phospho‐Akt (Ser 473) and phospho‐Akt (Thr 308) expression followed by decreased CTGF, secretory fibronectin and secretory Col 3 in high glucose‐treated HKC cells. In the end our study suggests that PTEN regulates renal extracellular matrix production via activated Akt and increased CTGF in diabetes mellitus. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 1187–1198, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Daily gridded meteorological variables in Brazil (1980–2013)
Authors: Xavier Alexandre C. , King Carey W. , Scanlon Bridget R. 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACTBasic meteorological data are essential for evaluating impacts of spatiotemporal variability in climate forcing on hydrology and agroecosystems. The objective of this work was to develop high‐resolution grids (0.25∘ × 0.25∘) of daily precipitation, evapotranspiration, and the five climate variables generally required to estimate evapostranspiration for Brazil. These five variables are maximum and minimum temperature, solar radiation, relative humidity, and wind speed. We tested six different interpolation schemes to create the grids for these variables. The data were obtained from 3625 rain gauge and 735 weather stations for period of 1980–2013. We used a cross‐validation approach that compares point observed data to point interpolated estimates to select the best interpolation scheme for each climate variable. We also present the performance of the best interpolation for each climate variable at daily timescales and for river basins. The inverse distance weighting and angular distance weighting methods produced the best results. Performance of all methods was poorer prior to 1995 because of fewer stations and available data. The performance of the interpolation varies for different seasons for almost all variables. Forecasting capability was tested for precipitation only and performed adequately for the system state (wet or dry). Variations in the interpolation schemes across river basins are primarily attributed to differences in gauge or station network density. This freely available gridded meteorological data set significantly advances the availability of climate data in Brazil.
Adverse effects of vitamin D deficiency on the Pi3k/Akt pathway and pancreatic islet morphology in diet‐induced obese mice
Authors: Borges Celina Carvalho , Salles Andreza Fernandes , Bringhenti Isabele , Souza‐Mello Vanessa , Mandarim‐de‐Lacerda Carlos Alberto , Aguila Marcia Barbosa 
Published: October 2015

ScopeTo investigate the impact of vitamin D deficiency on insulin resistance and abnormal glucose homeostasis in obesity.Methods and resultsSixty male C57BL/6 mice (3 months old) were fed a control diet (C—10% energy as fat) or a high‐fat diet (HF—50% energy as fat), with or without vitamin D, for 8 weeks. There was no difference in body mass between the HF and HF/VitD‐ groups. Vitamin D deficiency (VitD) in the diet‐induced obese mice increased hyperinsulinemia (p = 0.04), hyperleptinemia (p = 0.0002), insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR, p = 0.04), and islet changes, including alpha and beta cell disarray. In the insulin signaling pathway, insulin receptor substrate 2 expression was upregulated in the C/VitD‐ group (p = 0.001) and downregulated in the HF/VitD‐ group (p = 0.009). Interestingly, forkhead box protein O1 expression was higher in the HF/VitD‐ group than in the HF group (p = 0.03), and pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 expression was lower in the HF/VitD‐group than in the HF group (p = 0.025), indicating that the HF diet and vitamin D deficiency influenced the downregulation of the expression of these proteins (two‐way ANOVA, p < 0.0001).ConclusionVitamin D deficiency exacerbated the adverse structural and physiological remodeling of pancreatic islets due to obesity, contributing to abnormal glucose homeostasis.
Use of the Portuguese version of the educational material “your pelvic floor“ among Brazilian teenagers
Authors: Cavalcanti Marianna Carvalho e Souza Leão , Lucio Adelia , de Moraes Lopes Maria Helena Baena 
Published: October 2015

AimsTo evaluate the use of the Portuguese version of the booklet “Your Pelvic Floor” as educational material, among Brazilian teenagers. The original version in English, directed to teenage audience, was developed by members of the Association for Continence Advice, in 2009.MethodsThis quasi‐experimental study was carried out at a non‐governmental organization (NGO, São Paulo, Brazil) that develops continuing education programs for low‐income girls aged eight to eighteen years old. A questionnaire with five questions was developed and validated by experts to measure the efficacy of the booklet “Your Pelvic Floor” on the learning of teenagers. After this, teenagers underwent three steps: pre‐test, reading educational material and post‐test, using the developed questionnaire to evaluate the knowledge about pelvic floor before and after reading the booklet.ResultsSixteen teenagers volunteered to participate. The number of correct answers to the questionnaire was significantly higher (P < 0.01) after reading the educational material, in all questions.ConclusionsThe educational material “Your pelvic floor” was shown to be effective in teaching teenagers about the pelvic floor. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:62–64, 2017. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ticagrelor and bradycardia: a nested case–control study
Authors: Turgeon Ricky D. , Fernandes Kimberly A. , Juurlink David , Tu Jack V. , Mamdani Muhammad 
Published: October 2015

AbstractPurposeTicagrelor increases serum adenosine concentrations, slowing conduction and possibly leading to bradycardia. Clinical trial data have shown numerically, though not statistically significantly, higher rates of bradyarrhythmias with ticagrelor versus clopidogrel. Additionally, recent case reports have further raised concerns for this adverse effect. We explored the association between ticagrelor and hospitalization for bradycardia in a real‐world setting.MethodsWe conducted a population‐based, nested case–control study of Ontario residents, 66 years of age or older, discharged after a first acute coronary syndrome by linking multiple healthcare databases. Cases included patients hospitalized for bradycardia within 1 year of starting a P2Y12 inhibitor. For each case, we identified 4 controls matched on age, sex, index date, and current use of a P2Y12 inhibitor. The exposure of interest was a prescription for ticagrelor within 90 days, with clopidogrel use as the reference group.ResultsFrom April 2012 to March 2014, we identified 140 cases and 560 controls who met the study criteria. We found no significant association between bradycardia and exposure to ticagrelor relative to clopidogrel in the previous 90 days prior to the index date (adjusted odds ratio 1.06, 95% confidence interval 0.65–2.21). Further adjustment for potential confounders also did not identify a significant association.ConclusionsAmong older patients with a first acute coronary syndrome, use of ticagrelor was not associated with a greater risk of admission for bradycardia relative to clopidogrel. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A domination algorithm for {0,1}‐instances of the travelling salesman problem
Authors: Kühn Daniela , Osthus Deryk , Patel Viresh 
Published: October 2015

AbstractWe present an approximation algorithm for ‐instances of the travelling salesman problem which performs well with respect to combinatorial dominance. More precisely, we give a polynomial‐time algorithm which has domination ratio . In other words, given a ‐edge‐weighting of the complete graph on vertices, our algorithm outputs a Hamilton cycle of with the following property: the proportion of Hamilton cycles of whose weight is smaller than that of is at most . Our analysis is based on a martingale approach. Previously, the best result in this direction was a polynomial‐time algorithm with domination ratio for arbitrary edge‐weights. We also prove a hardness result showing that, if the Exponential Time Hypothesis holds, there exists a constant such that cannot be replaced by in the result above. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 48, 427–453, 2016
Concise Review: Fluorescent Reporters in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells: Contributions to Cardiac Differentiation and Their Applications in Cardiac Disease and Toxicity
Authors: Den Hartogh Sabine C. , Passier Robert 
Published: October 2015

Abstract
In the last decade, since the first report of induced pluripotent stem cells, the stem cell field has made remarkable progress in the differentiation to specialized cell-types of various tissues and organs, including the heart. Cardiac lineage- and tissue-specific human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) reporter lines have been valuable for the identification, selection, and expansion of cardiac progenitor cells and their derivatives, and for our current understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms. In order to further advance the use of hPSCs in the fields of regenerative medicine, disease modeling, and preclinical drug development in cardiovascular research, it is crucial to identify functionally distinct cardiac subtypes and to study their biological signaling events and functional aspects in healthy and diseased conditions. In this review, we discuss the various strategies that have been followed to generate and study fluorescent reporter lines in hPSCs and provide insights how these reporter lines contribute to a better understanding and improvement of cell-based therapies and preclinical drug and toxicity screenings in the cardiac field.
Communication Between Breast Cancer Patients Who Received Inconclusive Genetic Test Results and Their Daughters and Sisters Years After Testing
Authors: Baars Jessica E. , Ausems Margreet G. E. M. , van Riel Els , Kars Marijke C. , Bleiker Eveline M. A. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractInconclusive genetic test results including screening recommendations for the breast cancer patients and their first‐degree relatives are the most common outcomes of BRCA 1/2 testing. Patients themselves should communicate these results to their relatives. Our aim was to explore communication of breast cancer genetic counseling results with daughters and sisters over a long period of time. Breast cancer patients, who had received an inconclusive DNA test result 7–14 years earlier, completed a self‐report questionnaire. Additionally, in‐depth interviews were conducted and analysed thematically. Of the 93 respondents, 85 (91 %) considered themselves responsible for communicating genetic test results to relatives. In‐depth interviews (n = 14) showed, that counselees wanted ‘to hand over’ their responsibilities to communicate the test results and screening recommendations to their sisters. Although most patients had informed their daughters and sisters about the genetic test results, usually little is spoken about genetic test results and screening recommendations once the duty of informing is completed. We recommend that, similar to the procedure for BRCA1/2‐mutation carriers, a separate letter for first‐degree relatives of patients with an inconclusive test result should be provided. In this way information about risks and screening recommendations can be verified by family members years after genetic testing has been completed.
Synthesis and Evaluation of Nonionic Surfactants Derived from Tannic Acid as Corrosion Inhibitors for Carbon Steel in Acidic Medium
Authors: Negm Nabel A. , Ahmed Sayed Abdelkader , Badr Emad A. , Ghani Mona Abdel , El‐Raouf Mohamed Abd 
Published: October 2015

AbstractNonionic Schiff base surfactants were synthesized by chemical modification of tannic acid. The surface activities of the synthesized surfactants were determined using surface tension, interfacial tension, and emulsification properties. Thermodynamic parameters of adsorption and micellization of these surfactants showed their tendency towards the two processes with greater predominance of adsorption over micellization. Electrochemical polarization and impedance measurements showed that the surfactants exhibited good tendency towards inhibiting the dissolution of carbon steel in acidic medium. The inhibition efficiencies depend on the chemical structure and concentration of the compounds.
9‐Oxo‐10(E),12(Z),15(Z)‐Octadecatrienoic Acid Activates Peroxisome Proliferator‐Activated Receptor α in Hepatocytes
Authors: Takahashi Haruya , Kamakari Kosuke , Goto Tsuyoshi , Hara Hideyuki , Mohri Shinsuke , Suzuki Hideyuki , Shibata Daisuke , Nakata Rieko , Inoue Hiroyasu , Takahashi Nobuyuki , Kawada Teruo 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThe peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR)α is mainly expressed in the liver and plays an important role in the regulation of lipid metabolism. It has been reported that PPARα activation enhances fatty acid oxidation and reduces fat storage. Therefore, PPARα agonists are used to treat dyslipidemia. In the present study, we found that 9‐oxo‐10(E),12(Z),15(Z)‐octadecatrienoic acid (9‐oxo‐OTA), which is a α‐linolenic acid (ALA) derivative, is present in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) extract. We showed that 9‐oxo‐OTA activated PPARα and induced the mRNA expression of PPARα target genes in murine primary hepatocytes. These effects promoted fatty acid uptake and the secretion of β‐hydroxybutyrate, which is one of the endogenous ketone bodies. We also demonstrated that these effects of 9‐oxo‐OTA were not observed in PPARα‐knockout (KO) primary hepatocytes. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report that 9‐oxo‐OTA promotes fatty acid metabolism via PPARα activation and discuss its potential as a valuable food‐derived compound for use in the management of dyslipidemia.
Socioeconomic Variation in the Effect of Economic Conditions on Marriage and Nonmarital Fertility in the United States: Evidence From the Great Recession
Authors: Schneider Daniel , Hastings Orestes P. 
Published: October 2015

Abstract
The United States has become increasingly characterized by stark class divides in family structure. Poor women are less likely to marry than their more affluent counterparts but are far more likely to have a birth outside of marriage. Recent theoretical and qualitative work at the intersection of demography and cultural sociology suggests that these patterns are generated because poor women have high, nearly unattainable, economic standards for marriage but make a much weaker connection between economic standing and fertility decisions. We use the events of the Great Recession, leveraging variation in the severity of the crisis between years and across states, to examine how exposure to worse state-level economic conditions is related to poor women’s likelihood of marriage and of having a nonmarital birth between 2008 and 2012. In accord with theory, we find that women of low socioeconomic status (SES) exposed to worse economic conditions are indeed somewhat less likely to marry. However, we also find that unmarried low-SES women exposed to worse economic conditions significantly reduce their fertility; economic standing is not disconnected from nonmarital fertility. Our results suggest that economic concerns were connected to fertility decisions for low-SES unmarried women during the Great Recession.
Attitudes and Interest in Technology-Based Treatment and the Remote Monitoring of Smoking among Adolescents and Emerging Adults
Authors: McClure Erin A. , Baker Nathaniel L. , Carpenter Matthew J. , Treiber Frank A. , Gray Kevin M. 
Published: October 2015

Introduction: Despite the public health relevance of smoking in adolescents and emerging adults, this group remains understudied and underserved. High technology utilisation among this group may be harnessed as a tool for better understanding of smoking, yet little is known regarding the acceptability of mobile health (mHealth) integration.Methods: Participants (ages 14–21 years) enrolled in a smoking cessation clinical trial provided feedback on their technology utilisation, perceptions, and attitudes; and interest in remote monitoring for smoking. Characteristics that predicted greater technology acceptability for smoking treatment were also explored.Results: Participants (N = 87) averaged 19 years old and were mostly male (67%). Technology utilisation was high for smart phone ownership (93%), Internet use (98%), and social media use (94%). Despite this, only one-third of participants had ever searched the Internet for cessation tips or counselling (33%). Participants showed interest in mHealth-enabled treatment (48%) and felt that it could be somewhat helpful (83%). Heavier smokers had more favourable attitudes toward technology-based treatment, as did those with smartphones and unlimited data.Conclusions: Our results demonstrate high technology utilisation, favourable attitudes towards technology, and minimal concerns. Technology integration among this population should be pursued, though in a tailored fashion, to accomplish the goal of providing maximally effective, just-in-time interventions.
Paediatric acute mastoiditis, then and now: is it more of a problem now?
Authors: Attlmayr B , Zaman S , Scott J , Derbyshire S G , Clarke R W , De S 
Published: October 2015

AbstractBackground:Acute mastoiditis is a significant cause of morbidity in the paediatric population. This paper reviews our experience with this condition over the last 10 years and compares it with historical data from Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK.Method:A retrospective case note review of patients who presented between 2003 and 2012 was performed.Results:Forty-six patients with acute mastoiditis were identified. Imaging with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging was carried out in 14 cases (30.4 per cent). Intracranial complications were identified in six patients (13.0 per cent), one of whom required neurosurgical intervention. In 27 cases (58.7 per cent), a surgical procedure was performed. Data from 1995 to 2000 revealed similar rates of imaging (30.0 per cent), but significantly lower rates of surgical intervention (23 per cent). A lower rate of intracranial complications (4.8 per cent) in the historical cohort did not prove to be statistically significant (p = 0.419).Conclusion:The numbers of paediatric patients presenting with acute mastoiditis appears essentially unchanged. Improvement in imaging technology and aids to interpretation may explain the apparent increase of intracranial complications.
Paralimbic and lateral prefrontal encoding of reward value during intertemporal choice in attempted suicide
Authors: Vanyukov P. M. , Szanto K. , Hallquist M. N. , Siegle G. J. , Reynolds C. F. , Forman S. D. , Aizenstein H. J. , Dombrovski A. Y. 
Published: October 2015

BackgroundAlongside impulsive suicide attempts, clinicians encounter highly premeditated suicidal acts, particularly in older adults. We have previously found that in contrast to the more impulsive suicide attempters’ inability to delay gratification, serious and highly planned suicide attempts were associated with greater willingness to wait for larger rewards. This study examined neural underpinnings of intertemporal preference in suicide attempters. We expected that impulsivity and suicide attempts, particularly poorly planned ones, would predict altered paralimbic subjective value representations. We also examined lateral prefrontal and paralimbic correlates of premeditation in suicidal behavior.MethodA total of 48 participants aged 46–90 years underwent extensive clinical and cognitive characterization and completed the delay discounting task in the scanner: 26 individuals with major depression (13 with and 13 without history of suicide attempts) and 22 healthy controls.ResultsMore impulsive individuals displayed greater activation in the precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) to value difference favoring the delayed option. Suicide attempts, particularly better-planned ones, were associated with deactivation of the lateral prefrontal cortex (lPFC) in response to value difference favoring the immediate option. Findings were robust to medication exposure, depression severity and possible brain damage from suicide attempts, among other confounders. Finally, in suicide attempters longer reward delays were associated with diminished parahippocampal responses.ConclusionsImpulsivity was associated with an altered paralimbic (precuneus/PCC) encoding of value difference during intertemporal choice. By contrast, better-planned suicidal acts were associated with altered lPFC representations of value difference. The study provides preliminary evidence of impaired decision processes in both impulsive and premeditated suicidal behavior.
Do increasing reform pressures change welfare state attitudes? An experimental study on population ageing, pension reform preferences, political knowledge and ideology
Authors: NAUMANN ELIAS 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACTIt is a perennial issue in the public and the scientific debate whether increased pressures to reform due to the financial crisis or population ageing erode welfare state support. Surprisingly, our knowledge of how individuals change their attitudes in hard times is still limited – both theoretically and empirically. We rely on newly available data from a survey experiment in a representative German online survey and exogenously manipulate the perceived pressure to reform (due to an ageing society). We show that people indeed change their reform preferences when faced with an ageing society: the strong opposition to increasing the retirement age decreases. Further analyses reveal that not all groups within society react to increased reform pressures in the same way: political knowledge but also political partisanship do moderate the strength and the direction of the attitude change.
How Are the Different Formulas of the Categorical Imperative Related?
Authors: Geiger Ido 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThe article defends three claims regarding the relation between the different formulas of the categorical imperative. (1) On its prevailing reading, FUL gives different moral guidance than FH; left answered, this problem is an argument for adopting a competing perspective on FUL. (2) The prohibitions and commands of the formulas should be taken to be extensionally the same; but FKE adds a dimension missing from the others, gained by uniting their perspectives, namely, bringing the variety of moral laws into systematic unity. (3) The grammatically ambiguous phrase inGMS, 4: 436.9–10 claims that FA alone unites the other formulas in itself.