bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gastric mucosal microbiota in a Mongolian population with gastric cancer and precursor conditions
Authors: Gantuya Boldbaatar , El Serag Hashem B. , Matsumoto Takashi , Ajami Nadim J. , Uchida Tomohisa , Oyuntsetseg Khasag , Bolor Dashdorj , Yamaoka Yoshio 
Published: March 2020

SummaryBackgroundIncidence and mortality of gastric cancer (GC) are high in Mongolia despite Helicobacter pylori in the Mongolian population being less virulent.AimTo evaluate gastric bacterial microbiota profiles in patients with GC and its precursor histological conditions.MethodsWe conducted a case‐control study among 48 GC and 120 noncancer patients (20 normal gastric mucosa [control], 20 gastritis, 40 with atrophy and 40 intestinal metaplasia [IM]). We performed 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and compared taxonomic and functional prediction profiles based on the diagnosis group and H pylori infection status.ResultsThe highest overall bacterial alpha diversity metrics were observed in the control group, followed by the IM and cancer groups. The gastritis and atrophy groups had the least diversity. Lactobacilli and Enterococci were the dominant genus in several cancer patients especially in the absence of H pylori. In addition, Carnobacterium, Glutamicibacter, Paeniglutamicibacter, Fusobacterium and Parvimonas were associated with GC regardless of H pylori infection. Firmicutes were decreased in the gastritis and atrophy groups and increased in the IM and cancer groups. The functional metabolic activity of the Embden‐Meyerhof‐Parnas pathway and the utilization of sugar, were significantly increased in cancer group compared with the noncancer group.ConclusionMicrobial factors other than H pylori may play a role in Mongolian GC. We identified novel associations between GC and the genera Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Carnobacterium, Glutamicibacter, Paeniglutamicibacter, Fusobacterium, and Parvimonas.
Oesophageal and proximal gastric adenocarcinomas are rare after detection of Helicobacter pylori infection
Authors: Kumar Shria , Metz David C. , Ginsberg Gregory G. , Kaplan David E. , Goldberg David S. 
Published: March 2020

SummaryBackgroundHelicobacter pylori infection is the most important risk factor for non‐proximal gastric adenocarcinoma, yet some posit it is protective against oesophageal adenocarcinoma and proximal gastric cancers.AimsTo evaluate the incidence of and risk factors for future oesophageal and proximal gastric cancers, utilizing the largest North American cohort of patients with previously identified H pylori. Also to identify whether treatment and eradication of H pylori alter future oesophageal and proximal gastric cancer risk.MethodsRetrospective cohort study within the Veterans Administration of 36 803 patients (median age 60.4 years; 91.8% male) with confirmed H pylori between 01 January 1994 and 31 December 2018. Primary outcome was diagnosis of future oesophageal and proximal gastric cancers. A time to event with competing risk analysis was performed, evaluating patient factors and whether the patient received H pylori treatment. Secondary analysis of those treated evaluated whether confirmed eradication was associated with cancer.ResultsThe cumulative incidence of oesophageal and proximal gastric cancers 5, 10 and 15 years after H pylori detection was 0.145%, 0.26% and 0.34%. Risk of future oesophageal or proximal gastric cancer was similar amongst whites (reference), African Americans (SHR 0.87, 95%CI 0.57‐1.43) and American Indians (SHR 1.31, 95%CI 0.18‐9.60) but substantially reduced in those of Asian (no cases amongst 213 H pylori positive) or native Hawaiian origin (no cases amongst 295 H pylori positive) (P < .001). Increasing age (SHR 1.17 per 5 years, 95% CI: 1.09‐1.25, P < 0.001) and smoking (SHR 2.06, 95% CI: 1.33‐3.18, P = 0.001) were associated with oesophageal and proximal gastric cancers. Neither treatment of H pylori nor eradication status were associated with cancer (P > 0.20).ConclusionsIn the largest study of US patients with H pylori, we demonstrate that rates of oesophageal and proximal gastric cancers after treatment of H pylori are low. Older age, and smoking are associated with future cancer, whilst Asian or Native Hawaiian race are protective. H pylori treatment and eradication are not associated with future cancer.
Beyond petroleum or bottom line profits only? An ethical analysis of BP and the Gulf oil spill
Authors: Schwartz Mark S. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractOn April 20th, 2010, an incident was to take place 49 miles off the Louisiana coast at the Macondo Prospect location in the Gulf of Mexico that would potentially change the future of offshore oil drilling. On that day, 11 men would lose their lives when the 33,000 ton Deepwater Horizon rig, owned by Transocean but leased by BP PLC, exploded. As a result of the explosion, millions of barrels of oil would be released into the Gulf of Mexico, leading to widespread environmental harm and devastation to the shoreline communities. To better examine the underlying reasons for how such an event could take place in 2010, this paper will unfold as follows. First, we provide context to the oil spill by discussing the history of BP, including its transformation into an “environmental” firm in 1995. Second, we explore and analyze the catastrophe through the lens of ethics. Finally, we analyze the disaster through a comparison with the U.S. 2008 financial crisis with a view to identify the root causes of the disaster and the string of ethical failures that have scarred the market economy over the past three or four decades.
Modified diagnostic criteria, grading classification and newly elucidated pathophysiology of hepatic SOS/VOD after haematopoietic cell transplantation
Authors: Cairo Mitchell S. , Cooke Kenneth R. , Lazarus Hillard M. , Chao Nelson 
Published: March 2020

SummarySinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS), previously known as hepatic veno‐occlusive disease (VOD), remains a multi‐organ system complication following haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). When SOS/VOD is accompanied by multi‐organ dysfunction, overall mortality rates remain >80%. However, the definitions related to the diagnosis and grading of SOS/VOD after HCT are almost 25 years old and require new and contemporary modifications. Importantly, the pathophysiology of SOS/VOD, including the contribution of dysregulated inflammatory and coagulation cascades as well as the critical importance of liver and vascular derived endothelial dysfunction, have been elucidated. Here we summarise new information on pathogenesis of SOS/VOD; identify modifiable and unmodifiable risk factors for disease development; propose novel, contemporary and panel opinion‐based diagnostic criteria and an innovative organ‐based method of SOS/VOD grading classification; and review current approaches for prophylaxis and treatment of SOS/VOD. This review will hopefully illuminate pathways responsible for drug‐induced liver injury and manifestations of disease, sharpen awareness of risk for disease development and enhance the timely and correct diagnosis of SOS/VOD post‐HCT.
The effect of maslinic acid on cognitive dysfunction induced by cholinergic blockade in mice
Authors: Bae Ho Jung , Kim Jihyun , Kim Jaehoon , Goo Nayeon , Cai Mudan , Cho Kyungnam , Jung Seo Yun , Kwon Huiyoung , Kim Dong Hyun , Jang Dae Sik , Ryu Jong Hoon 
Published: March 2020

Background and PurposeAlzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent disease associated with cognitive dysfunction. Current AD therapeutic agents have several gastrointestinal or psychological adverse effects and therefore, novel therapeutic agents with fewer adverse effects must be developed. Previously, we demonstrated that oleanolic acid, which is similar in chemical structure to maslinic acid, ameliorates cognitive impairment through the activation of tropomyosin receptor kinase (TrkB)–ERK–cAMP response element‐binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation and increased levels of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). In the present study, we investigate the effect of maslinic acid on cholinergic blockade‐induced memory impairment in mice.Methods and Key ResultsMaslinic acid reversed scopolamine‐induced memory impairment, as determined by the Y‐maze, passive avoidance and Morris water maze tests. In addition, we also observed that ERK–CREB, PI3K and PKB (Akt) phosphorylation levels were increased by maslinic acid administration in the mouse hippocampus. Moreover, we determined that the effects of maslinic acid on scopolamine‐induced memory impairment in the passive avoidance test were abolished by a specific TrkB receptor antagonist (ANA‐12). Additionally, we observed similar temporal changes in the expression levels between BDNF and tissue plasminogen activator in the hippocampus.Conclusion and ImplicationsThese findings suggest that maslinic acid enhances cognitive function through the activation of BDNF and its downstream pathway signalling in the hippocampus and that it might be a potential therapeutic agent for cognitive decline, such as that observed in AD.
Invertebrates and the complexity of tropical ecosystems
Authors: Kitching Roger L. , Dahlsjö Cecilia A. L. , Eggleton Paul 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIt has been estimated that there are seven million terrestrial arthropod species on Earth consisting of 6.1 million species of insects, 1.5 million of which are beetles. Tropical forests hold a majority of these species, yet few such places have been adequately sampled for alpha diversity, and there remains even more uncertainty about beta diversity. From an ecological point of view, it is the functional role of organisms within ecosystems that is the particular focus. It has been customary to classify invertebrates within ecosystems in terms of their trophic roles, but it is also useful to consider their roles in networks. In broad terms, we can classify these networks on the grounds of their basal resources. Those based directly on the photosynthetic products of plants are so‐called “green” food webs, and those based on dead and dying plant material are “brown” food webs. Here, we principally discuss the diversity and functional roles of the invertebrates in tropical terrestrial ecosystems. New sampling and analytical techniques, an expanded set of focal taxa, and an enhanced concern with interactions and processes hold the promise of a productive future for invertebrate studies in the tropics. These will not only add to general understanding of the dynamics of tropical ecosystems but will also provide powerful tools for monitoring and responding to environmental change.
RETRACTED: Targeting USP1‐dependent KDM4A protein stability as a potential prostate cancer therapy
Authors: Cui Shu‐Zhong , Lei Zi‐Ying , Guan Tian‐Pei , Fan Ling‐Ling , Li You‐Qiang , Geng Xin‐Yan , Fu De‐Xue , Jiang Hao‐Wu , Xu Song‐Hui 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe histone demethylase lysine‐specific demethylase 4A (KDM4A) is reported to be overexpressed and plays a vital in multiple cancers through controlling gene expression by epigenetic regulation of H3K9 or H3K36 methylation marks. However, the biological role and mechanism of KDM4A in prostate cancer (PC) remain unclear. Herein, we reported KDM4A expression was upregulation in phosphatase and tensin homolog knockout mouse prostate tissue. Depletion of KDM4A in PC cells inhibited their proliferation and survival in vivo and vitro. Further studies reveal that USP1 is a deubiquitinase that regulates KDM4A K48‐linked deubiquitin and stability. Interestingly, we found c‐Myc was a key downstream effector of the USP1‐KDM4A/androgen receptor axis in driving PC cell proliferation. Notably, upregulation of KDM4A expression with high USP1 expression was observed in most prostate tumors and inhibition of USP1 promotes PC cells response to therapeutic agent enzalutamide. Our studies propose USP1 could be an anticancer therapeutic target in PC.
The impact of customer ratings on consumer choice of fresh produce: A stated preference experiment approach
Authors: He Chenyi , Shi Lijia , Gao Zhifeng , House Lisa 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe importance of customer ratings or reviews in online shopping has been recognized in the previous literature; however, few have studied how online customer rating scores affect consumers’ fresh produce purchases and its importance relative to other fresh produce attributes. The quality of fresh produce demonstrates high uncertainty and variation; therefore, the impact of user‐generated content such as customer rating scores on the choice of fresh produce may be more complex than on other product categories. Moreover, previous studies on customer ratings have not examined the price premium that retailers can obtain based on better ratings of fresh produce. Using a stated preference approach (i.e., choice experiment), this study measures the willingness to pay for a higher customer rating score and explores its relative importance to other popular fresh produce attributes (i.e., organic, place of origin, and shelf life). The results show that customer rating is the second most important attribute after the place of origin and is more important than production methods (e.g., organic and naturally grown) for fresh strawberry purchases. Also, rating scores demonstrate a diminishing marginal impact on consumer willingness to pay. Younger consumers and households with children are willing to pay more for fresh produce with high ratings than those with low ratings.
Intrinsic Goods and Distributive Justice in Education
Authors: Martin Christopher , Gilead Tal 
Published: March 2020

AbstractWhat is the relationship between the fair distribution of goods in general, and the intrinsic, or distinctive, value of educational goods in particular? In this article, Christopher Martin and Tal Gilead argue that clarifying this relationship has significant importance for educational justice, and they aim to accomplish this by focusing on questions of resource allocation. In particular, the authors draw on Michael Walzer's theory of “spherical” justice in order to argue that intrinsic goods are important enough that they should be of normative concern for any theory of educational justice. That is to say, a conception of educational justice that takes distributive relationships seriously should account for how the nonpositional values of education are served by resource allocation, and not only socioeconomic or other positional goods. However, Martin and Gilead also claim that such a pluralist theory of educational justice should not open the door to educational policies and practices that are plainly “antiegalitarian.” They address this concern by proffering a distinction between, and criteria for adjudicating, legitimate and illegitimate judgments of justice that aim to protect or promote intrinsic educational goods.
Indigenizing Education and the Phenomenology of Place
Authors: Pack Justin 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIn this essay Justin Pack responds to Vine Deloria, Jr., and Daniel Wildcat's call to “indigenize education” by exploring what that entails both in his own life and for his teaching. Recognizing the power of place in Native American metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics is essential to the project of indigenizing education, according to Pack. He recounts how reading Deloria and Wildcat's Power and Place: Indian Education in America as a graduate student radically changed his perception of and relation to place, instilling in him the insight that knowing the history of a place is key to gaining a sense of one's connection to place. This realization, in turn, influenced Pack's approach to teaching. He came to understand that passing his changed perception and experience of place along to his students helped their development of critical thinking skills by exposing them to a metaphysics radically different from Western epistemology and ethics and by opening a path for them to recover a deeper sense of what it means to be in a place. Ultimately, Pack's aim in the essay is to demonstrate the potential for teaching Native American philosophy to function as a disruptive force in the classroom.
Including albedo in time‐dependent LCA of bioenergy
Authors: Sieber Petra , Ericsson Niclas , Hammar Torun , Hansson Per‐Anders 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAlbedo change during feedstock production can substantially alter the life cycle climate impact of bioenergy. Life cycle assessment (LCA) studies have compared the effects of albedo and greenhouse gases (GHGs) based on global warming potential (GWP). However, using GWP leads to unequal weighting of climate forcers that act on different timescales. In this study, albedo was included in the time‐dependent LCA, which accounts for the timing of emissions and their impacts. We employed field‐measured albedo and life cycle emissions data along with time‐dependent models of radiative transfer, biogenic carbon fluxes and nitrous oxide emissions from soil. Climate impacts were expressed as global mean surface temperature change over time (∆T) and as GWP. The bioenergy system analysed was heat and power production from short‐rotation willow grown on former fallow land in Sweden. We found a net cooling effect in terms of ∆T per hectare (−3.8 × 10–11 K in year 100) and GWP100 per MJ fuel (−12.2 g CO2e), as a result of soil carbon sequestration via high inputs of carbon from willow roots and litter. Albedo was higher under willow than fallow, contributing to the cooling effect and accounting for 34% of GWP100, 36% of ∆T in year 50 and 6% of ∆T in year 100. Albedo dominated the short‐term temperature response (10–20 years) but became, in relative terms, less important over time, owing to accumulation of soil carbon under sustained production and the longer perturbation lifetime of GHGs. The timing of impacts was explicit with ∆T, which improves the relevance of LCA results to climate targets. Our method can be used to quantify the first‐order radiative effect of albedo change on the global climate and relate it to the climate impact of GHG emissions in LCA of bioenergy, alternative energy sources or land uses.
Biogeography of fire regimes in western U.S. conifer forests: A trait‐based approach
Authors: Stevens Jens T. , Kling Matthew M. , Schwilk Dylan W. , Varner J. Morgan , Kane Jeffrey M. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAimFunctional traits are a crucial link between species distributions and the ecosystem processes that structure those species’ niches. Concurrent increases in the availability of functional trait data and our ability to model species distributions present an opportunity to develop functional trait biogeography (i.e., the mapping of functional traits across space). Functional trait biogeography can improve process‐based predictions about the resistance of certain species assemblages to changing environmental conditions across landscape scales. We illustrate this concept by developing the first trait‐based, quantitative ranking of fire resistance (adult tree survival) in North American conifer species and mapping that fire resistance across space.Location and time periodWestern continental USA, present day.Major taxa studiedTwenty‐nine common conifer tree species.MethodsWe compiled six traits for each species: three relating to tree morphology and three relating to litter flammability. We combined these traits into a single fire resistance score and used community‐weighted averaging to estimate the fire resistance scores of different forest communities, using interpolated species distribution and relative abundance data.ResultsSpecies associated historically with frequent fire have high fire resistance scores (e.g.,Pinus ponderosa), reflected by thick bark, tall crowns and flammable litter. Species associated with subalpine or arid conditions have low fire resistance scores (e.g.,Picea engelmanniiandPinus edulis), reflected by thin bark, short stature, poor self‐pruning and low litter flammability. A map of forest community fire resistance across the western USA reveals agreement with independent assessments of historical fire regimes, while also identifying areas where community‐wide species traits might be mismatched with historical fire regimes.Main conclusionsQuantifying the functional traits that confer resistance to tree‐killing fire provides a direct link between ecosystem disturbance and community resistance. Understanding this link is crucial to evaluation of the long‐term resilience of different forest types under dynamic fire regimes. Our work represents the first known spatial representation of fire resistance traits at a regional scale and, as such, provides a link between functional traits and biogeography relevant to a critical ecosystem process.
Government support and firm innovation performance in Chinese science and technology parks: The perspective of firm and sub‐park heterogeneity
Authors: Teng Tangwei , Zhang Yi , Si Yuefang , Chen Jiayi , Cao Xianzhong 
Published: March 2020

AbstractScience and technology parks (STPs) are established to promote the firm innovation performance via agglomeration economy and government support in China. On‐site qualified firms obtain government R&D funding as a type of government support, and they are offered differential innovation service caused by the differential capabilities of sub‐parks which scatter throughout a single city. It is debatable whether those government supports at firm and sub‐park levels can promote firm innovation capabilities. This study takes Zhangjiang National Innovation Demonstration Zone, Shanghai as an example. It applies a Tobit regression model to analyse the databases of Zhangjiang Annual Sampling Survey of Firms 2015 and Zhangjiang Development Report 2015. We find out at the firm level, government R&D funding has a significant and positive influence on firms' innovation, but government R&D funding generates a crowing‐out effect the innovation performance of on‐site firms with more R&D investment themselves. At the sub‐park level, innovation service agencies of sub‐parks do not exert an important role in influencing firms' innovation, and they even have negative moderating effects on the relationship between firm R&D investment and firm innovation performance. It reflects the mismatch between innovation service of STPs and firms' needs in China.
Monophosphoryl lipid A alleviated radiation‐induced testicular injury through TLR4‐dependent exosomes
Authors: Liu Zhe , Cao Kun , Liao Zebin , Chen Yuanyuan , Lei Xiao , Wei Qun , Liu Cong , Sun Xuejun , Yang Yanyong , Cai Jianming , Gao Fu 
Published: March 2020

AbstractRadiation protection on male testis is an important task for ionizing radiation‐related workers or people who receive radiotherapy for tumours near the testicle. In recent years, Toll‐like receptors (TLRs), especially TLR4, have been widely studied as a radiation protection target. In this study, we detected that a low‐toxicity TLR4 agonist monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) produced obvious radiation protection effects on mice testis. We found that MPLA effectively alleviated testis structure damage and cell apoptosis induced by ionizing radiation (IR). However, as the expression abundance differs a lot in distinct cells and tissues, MPLA seemed not to directly activate TLR4 singling pathway in mice testis. Here, we demonstrated a brand new mechanism for MPLA producing radiation protection effects on testis. We observed a significant activation of TLR4 pathway in macrophages after MPLA stimulation and identified significant changes in macrophage‐derived exosomes protein expression. We proved that after MPLA treatment, macrophage‐derived exosomes played an important role in testis radiation protection, and specially, G‐CSF and MIP‐2 in exosomes are the core molecules in this protection effect.