bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Protecting restoration investments from the cheatgrass‐fire cycle in sagebrush steppe
Authors: Pilliod David S. , Jeffries Michelle I. , Welty Justin L. , Arkle Robert S. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe U.S. federal government has recently committed to the difficult task of slowing and managing the invasive grass‐fire cycle in sagebrush steppe, where property, livelihoods, and entire ecosystems are at risk. To safely manage this crisis, the government recently proposed to construct about 17,700 km of fuel breaks and millions of hectares of fuel reduction treatments in six western states. A challenge for resource managers will be the strategic placement of these land treatments. We investigated the need for this massive effort from the perspective of protecting previous rehabilitation and restoration seeding investments, including over 3,400 seedings implemented from 1990 to 2019 covering about 24,540 km2. We found that portions of over 26% of these seedings have since burned representing nearly 17% of this seeded area. Locations that had recurrent wildfire had repeat treatments and thus multiple investments in the same location. Our analysis supports the management actions aimed at protecting remaining sagebrush and restoration investments, especially in areas where the invasive grass‐fire cycle is most pervasive. Given the decades required for most sagebrush to recover after wildfire, the urgency of this management intervention is evident. The specific details, placement, and effectiveness of these interventions could influence outcomes and potential unintended consequences.
Low mortality in SARS‐CoV‐2 infected heart transplant recipients at a single center
Authors: Duran Jason M. , Barat Masihullah , Lin Andrew Y. , King Kevin R. , Greenberg Barry , Adler Eric D. , Aslam Saima 
Published: July 2021

AbstractImmunosuppressed heart transplant (HT) recipients are thought to be at higher risk of infection and mortality from SARS‐CoV‐2 infection coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19); however, evidence guiding management of HT patients are limited. Retrospective search of electronic health records from February 2020 to February 2021, identified 28 HT recipients out of 400 followed by UC San Diego who tested positive for SARS‐CoV‐2. Patient demographics, COVID‐19 directed therapies, hospital course and outcomes were compared to control HT recipients who tested negative for SARS‐CoV‐2 during the same period (n = 80). Among 28 HT recipients who tested positive for SARS‐CoV‐2, 15 were admitted to the hospital and 13 were monitored closely as outpatients. Among inpatients, five developed severe illness and two died (7% mortality). Nine patients were treated with remdesivir, and four received dexamethasone and remdesivir. Two outpatients received neutralizing monoclonal antibody therapy and one outpatient received dexamethasone for persistent dyspnea. Immunosuppressed HT recipients, especially Hispanic patients and patients with higher body mass index, were at greater risk of infection and mortality from COVID‐19 than the general population. Use of remdesivir and dexamethasone may have improved outcomes in our HT recipients compared to HT recipients at other centers.
Return to work after deceased donor kidney transplant under the kidney allocation system
Authors: Wherry Kael S. , Dowd Bryan E. , Kuntz Karen M. , Berg Bjorn P. , McGovern Patricia M. , Pruett Timothy L. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe Kidney Allocation System (KAS) includes a scoring system to match transplant candidate life expectancy with expected longevity of the donor kidney, and a backdating policy that gives waitlist time credit to patients waitlisted after starting dialysis treatment (post‐dialysis). We estimated the effect of the KAS on employment among patient subgroups targeted by the policy.MethodsWe used a sample selection model to compare employment after transplant before and after KAS implementation among patients on the kidney‐only transplant waitlist between December 4, 2011 and December 31, 2017.ResultsPost‐dialysis transplant recipients aged 18–49 were significantly more likely to be employed 1‐year post transplant in the post‐KAS era compared to the pre‐KAS era. Transplant recipients aged 35–64 with no dialysis treatment were significantly less likely to be employed 1 year after transplant in the post‐KAS era compared to the pre‐KAS era.ConclusionsThis study provides the first assessment of employment after DDKT under the KAS and provides important information about both the methods used to measure employment after transplant and the outcome under the KAS. Changes in employment after DDKT among various patient subgroups have important implications for assessing long‐term patient and societal effects of the KAS and organ allocation policy.
Kurdish–Iraqi state conflict (de‐)escalation following the independence referendum
Authors: Hama Hawre Hasan 
Published: July 2021

AbstractMoral hazard theory assumes that the responsibility to protect (R2P) raises expectations of third‐party intervention, thus creating a perverse motivation for vulnerable groups to act aggressively and incite a situation where foreign intervention becomes necessary to preserve their own safety. The promise of external intervention encourages vulnerable groups to rebel against their parent states under the assumption that intervention increases the likelihood of success and lowers the expected cost. Alan Kuperman describes moral hazard theory as the taking of risks that may inadvertently derive from trying to protect from risk, with unwanted results. This paper asks, if there are divisions, conflicts, or a security dilemma arising between factional leaders within a vulnerable group, how does that affect the decisions of the group with regard to taking risks? Taking the case of the PUK’s decision not to fight Iraqi armed forces and thereby prevent conflict escalation following the 2017 independence referendum, this paper argues that divisions between factional leaders affect a group's choice to take risks, reducing its likelihood. Consequently, conditions are less likely to reach the point of existential danger where outside intervention becomes necessary.
Trade liberalization and decentralization of state‐owned enterprises: Evidence from China
Authors: Fan Haichao , Hu Cui , Lin Faqin , Wang Huanhuan 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThis paper examines the relationship between trade liberalization and the probability of state‐owned enterprises (SOEs) being decentralized. We find that tariff cuts for inputs significantly lower the probability of a SOE being decentralized, whereas tariff cuts for outputs raise this probability. We also find that as the distance from a SOE to its overseeing government increases, the effects of input and output tariff cuts on the probability of SOEs decentralization become stronger. Our empirical results are consistent with a simple model in which local governments try to balance the costs of supervising SOEs against the profits extracted from SOEs.
Housing prices, volatility, and fundamental value
Authors: Tomat Gian Maria 
Published: July 2021

AbstractAsset pricing theories imply the existence of a long run relation between real housing prices and rents. The long run relation predicts, that in each time period real housing prices should be equal to the expected present discounted value of subsequent real rents. We use the annual time series for the 1991–2016 period in Italy as evidence regarding the present discounted value relation. Considering the stochastic properties of the aggregate time series, cointegration tests do not deliver conclusive results. In a dynamic vector autoregression model, real housing prices are shown to properly anticipate forthcoming real rents, though they exhibit excess volatility. In the sample period, movements of housing prices relatively to the long run relation predict successive real returns. While rational speculative bubbles might produce excess volatility of housing prices, other explanations are required for the predictability of real housing returns.
Grazing‐induced biodiversity loss impairs grassland ecosystem stability at multiple scales
Authors: Liang Maowei , Liang Cunzhu , Hautier Yann , Wilcox Kevin R. , Wang Shaopeng 
Published: July 2021

AbstractLivestock grazing is a major driver shaping grassland biodiversity, functioning and stability. Whether grazing impacts on grassland ecosystems are scale‐dependent remains unclear. Here, we conducted a sheep‐grazing experiment in a temperate grassland to test grazing effects on the temporal stability of productivity across scales. We found that grazing increased species stability but substantially decreased local community stability due to reduced asynchronous dynamics among species within communities. The negative effect of grazing on local community stability propagated to reduce stability at larger spatial scales. By decreasing biodiversity both within and across communities, grazing reduced biological insurance effects and hence the upscaling of stability from species to communities and further to larger spatial scales. Our study provides the first evidence for the scale dependence of grazing effects on grassland stability through biodiversity. We suggest that ecosystem management should strive to maintain biodiversity across scales to achieve sustainability of grassland ecosystem functions and services.
First report of walnut (Juglans regia) pest Garella musculana in Romania
Authors: Bostancı Cengiz , Yıldırım İbrahim , Aydoğan Onur , Yıldız Yafes , Kiss Iosif Karoly , Albas Ertan 
Published: July 2021

AbstractGarella musculana (Erschov, 1874) is an important walnut pest originating in Central Asia. It was found in 2008 in Ukraine, and more recently in Turkey and Bulgaria. The Asian walnut moth was observed in Romania during studies conducted in Albesti and Arsa province between 2018 and 2020. G. musculana was observed on both saplings and 50‐year‐old walnut (Juglans regia) trees in Romania. This paper presents the first record for Romania.
Association between childhood parental involvement and late‐life cognitive function: A population‐based cross‐sectional study among cognitively intact community‐dwelling older adults in Japan
Authors: Morita Ayako , Fujiwara Takeo 
Published: July 2021

AimAlthough poor childhood rearing environment is known to negatively impact late‐life cognitive function, there is a scarcity of evidence on the contribution of positive parenting behaviors. The present study investigates the association between parental involvement in childhood and late‐life cognitive function.MethodsA total of 266 older adults aged between 65 and 88 years living in Wakuya City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, without indication of mild cognitive impairment or dementia, participated in a survey. Parental involvement in childhood was assessed by a questionnaire, and late‐life cognitive function was measured by the Japanese version of the Quick Mild Cognitive Impairment (QMCI) screening test (range: 0–100). Multiple regression analysis was performed to investigate the association, adjusting for potential confounders and mediators.ResultsAfter adjusting for age, sex, other child‐rearing environment, and academic performance in grade 6, older adults with a high level of positive parental involvement in childhood scored 6.00 (95% CI: 2.39, 9.61) points higher for the QMCI total score than those without. Parental involvement in childhood showed significant dose–response positive associations with the QMCI total score (P < 0.001), clock‐drawing test score (P < 0.05), and verbal fluency score (P < 0.001). Among the six types of positive parental involvement, book reading showed a significant independent positive association with QMCI total score (P < 0.01) and logical memory score (P < 0.01).ConclusionsGreater parental involvement in childhood, particularly book reading, was associated with better late‐life cognitive function. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 794–801.
Dexamethasone reduces autoantibody levels in MRL/lpr mice by inhibiting Tfh cell responses
Authors: Shen Chunxiu , Xue Xiaonan , Zhang Xiaoyu , Wu Lihua , Duan Xiangguo , Su Chunxia 
Published: July 2021

AbstractPrevious studies have shown that dexamethasone (Dex) reduces the levels of anti‐nuclear (ANA) and anti‐dsDNA antibodies in MRL/lpr mice (a mouse model of SLE). However, the effect of Dex on T follicular helper (Tfh) cells is less documented. Here, using the MRL/lpr mouse model, we investigated the influence of Dex on Tfh cells and potential underlying mechanisms. The data showed that the proportion of Tfh cells, identified as CD4+CXCR5+ICOS+, CD4+CXCR5+PD‐1+ or CD4+BCL‐6+ cells, markedly decreased after treatment with the Dex, in both Balb/c mice and MRL/lpr mice. Dex significantly inhibited IL‐21 expression at both the mRNA and the protein levels. Dex also significantly reduced the proportion of germinal centre B cells and decreased serum IgG, IgG2a/b and IgA levels. Moreover, a positive correlation between the proportion of Tfh cells (CD4+CXCR5+ICOS+, CD4+CXCR5+PD‐1+ or CD4+BCL‐6+) and autoantibodies was observed. Dex significantly increased the Prdm1 and Stat5b mRNA expression and decreased the Bcl‐6 and c‐Maf mRNA expression of CD4+T cells. In brief, Dex inhibited the Tfh development, which relies on many other transcription factors in addition to Bcl‐6. Our data indicate that Dex can be used as a Tfh cell inhibitor in SLE.
An Application of Shapley Value Cost Allocation to Liquidity Savings Mechanisms
Authors: GARRATT RODNEY J. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThis paper describes a proposal for operating a centralized netting queue for nonurgent interbank payments that involves take‐it‐or‐leave‐it offers and allocates liquidity costs using the Shapley value. This method achieves fairness and ensures welfare‐maximizing netting proposals are agreeable to all providers of liquidity.
Methcathinone decreases dopamine transporter function: Role of protein kinase C
Authors: Magee Charlotte P. , Le BaoMinh D. , Siripathane Yasmeen H. , Wilkins Diana G. , Hanson Glen R. , Fleckenstein Annette E. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractMethcathinone (MCAT) is a psychostimulant of abuse that can cause both persistent striatal dopaminergic and serotonergic, as well as hippocampal serotonergic, deficits. Evidence suggests that the rapid effects of stimulants that are structurally and mechanistically similar to MCAT on monoamine transporter function may contribute to the abuse liability and/or persistent monoaminergic deficits caused by these agents. Thus, effects of MCAT on 1) striatal dopamine (DA) transporter (DAT); and 2) striatal and hippocampal serotonin transporter (SERT) function, as determined in tissues from adult male rats, were assessed. As reported previously, a single administration of MCAT rapidly (within 1 hr) decreases striatal [3H]DA uptake. Similarly, incubation of rat synaptosomes with MCAT at 37℃ (but not 4˚C) decreased striatal [3H]DA uptake. Incubation with MCAT likewise decreased [3H]5HT but not vesicular [3H]DA uptake. MCAT incubation in vitro was without effect on [3H]DA uptake in striatal synaptosomes prepared from MCAT‐treated rats. The decrease in [3H]DA uptake caused by MCAT incubation: (a) reflected a decrease in Vmax, with minimal change in Km, and (b) was attenuated by co‐incubation with the cell‐permeable calcium chelator, N,N'‐[1,2‐ethanediylbis(oxy‐2,1‐phenylene)]bis[N‐[2‐[(acetyloxy)methoxy]‐2‐oxoethyl]‐1,1'‐bis[(acetyloxy)methyl] ester‐glycine (BAPTA‐AM), as well as the non‐selective protein kinase‐C (PKC) inhibitors bisindolylmaleimide‐1 (BIM‐1) and 2‐[1‐3(Aminopropyl)indol‐3‐yl]‐3(1‐methyl‐1H‐indol‐3‐yl)maleimide (or Bisindolylmaleimide VIII; Ro‐31‐7549). Taken together, these results suggest that in vitro MCAT incubation may model important aspects of MCAT administration in vivo, and that calcium and PKC contribute to the in vitro effects of MCAT on DAT.
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Neuropsychological effects of direct‐acting antiviral treatment for Hepatitis C virus subjects: A systematic review
Authors: Santos‐Lima Cassio , Souza‐Marques Breno , Vieira Flávia , Isabel Schinoni Maria , Quarantini Lucas C. , Abreu Neander 
Published: July 2021

AbstractDirect‐acting antivirals (DAAs) have been approved in recent years to treat patients infected by the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). The DAAs treatment is well tolerated and increases sustained virological responses, but there is no consensus about the neuropsychological functioning related to the treatment. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of the recent findings exploring the cognitive effects of DAAs treatment in patients with HCV. After a systematic search on PubMed, Embase, Scopus and LILACS, studies that assessed neuropsychological data related to DAAs treatment were included. We found nine articles, considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Three other manuscripts were included after searching for the references listed in the previously mentioned articles. We observed methodological heterogeneity in terms of neuropsychological tests used, cognitive domain explored and the sample characteristic presented between the studies. Studies presented data from HCV subjects monoinfected with or without cirrhosis, advanced liver disease and post‐transplant patients; and HCV subjects coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Most results from the 12 studies that explored the effect of DAAs treatment in HCV subjects’ neurocognitive functioning demonstrated cognitive improvement following treatment. In general, HCV and HCV/HIV subjects improved processing speed, verbal fluency and verbal/visual episodic memory. The DAAs treatment is effective for neurocognitive functioning in HCV monoinfected and coinfected subjects, with or without advanced liver disease, since neuropsychological scores increased after treatment. Further studies, however, are needed to confirm these findings.
Resilience and anxiety among intensive care unit professionals during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Peñacoba Cecilia , Velasco Lilian , Catalá Patricia , Gil‐Almagro Fernanda , García‐Hedrera Fernando J. , Carmona‐Monge Francisco Javier 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe situation of the COVID‐19 global pandemic has generated an unprecedented state of emergency worldwide that has had a psychological impact on health care workers working in the ICU and this has created the need to implement different psychological strategies.AimThis study explores (a) the prevalence of symptoms associated with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), (b) the relationship between GAD symptoms and resilience skills, and (c) which of the resilience skills were associated with a probable GAD among the ICU professionals during the COVID‐19 pandemic.Study designCross‐sectional survey design.MethodsWe explored anxiety and resilience in 448 ICU health care workers using an online survey.ResultsThe participants showed high resilience levels and more than half of them presented symptoms consistent with a possible diagnosis of GAD. The GAD symptoms were more prevalent among women, nursing assistants, interns, staff who worked on rotation and health care workers who had to attend to more than 20 COVID patients. Significant negative correlations between resilience skills and GAD symptoms were found. The multiple regression analysis showed that resilience skills contribute to 14.4% of the variance for GAD symptoms. The binary logistic regression showed that the only skill that had a significant and negative predictive effect was “I usually take things in my stride” (OR = 0.774, 95% CI 0.67, 0.88; P = .000). This ability was the differentiating skill between professionals who equal or exceed the cut‐off point established for the diagnosis of a probable GAD regarding those who do not.ConclusionICU professionals developed symptoms consistent with a possible diagnosis of GAD due to their exposure to extremely stressful circumstances. However, resilience skills acted as a protective factor.Relevance to clinical practiceThe importance of incorporating programmes that mitigate these psychological effects and to promote adaptive coping styles during pandemics has become a need after what ICU professionals have gone through.
Flower orientation influences floral temperature, pollinator visits and plant fitness
Authors: Creux Nicky M. , Brown Robin I. , Garner Austin G. , Saeed Sana , Scher C. Lane , Holalu Srinidhi V. , Yang Daniel , Maloof Julin N. , Blackman Benjamin K. , Harmer Stacey L. 
Published: July 2021

Summary

Effective insect pollination requires appropriate responses to internal and external environmental cues in both the plant and the pollinator. Helianthus annuus, a highly outcrossing species, is marked for its uniform eastward orientation of mature pseudanthia, or capitula. Here we investigate how this orientation affects floral microclimate and the consequent effects on plant and pollinator interactions and reproductive fitness.

We artificially manipulated sunflower capitulum orientation and temperature in both field and controlled conditions and assessed flower physiology, pollinator visits, seed traits and siring success.

East‐facing capitula were found to have earlier style elongation, pollen presentation and pollinator visits compared with capitula manipulated to face west. East‐facing capitula also sired more offspring than west‐facing capitula and under some conditions produced heavier and better‐filled seeds. Local ambient temperature change on the capitulum was found to be a key factor regulating the timing of style elongation, pollen emergence and pollinator visits.

These results indicate that eastward capitulum orientation helps to control daily rhythms in floral temperature, with direct consequences on the timing of style elongation and pollen emergence, pollinator visitation, and plant fitness.
DE‐ETIOLATED1 has a role in the circadian clock of the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha
Authors: Lagercrantz Ulf , Billhardt Anja , Rousku Sabine N. , Leso Martina , Reza Salim Hossain , Eklund D. Magnus 
Published: July 2021

Summary

Previous studies of plant circadian clock evolution have often relied on clock models and genes defined in Arabidopsis. These studies identified homologues with seemingly conserved function, as well as frequent gene loss. In the present study, we aimed to identify candidate clock genes in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha using a more unbiased approach.

To identify genes with circadian rhythm we sequenced the transcriptomes of gemmalings in a time series in constant light conditions. Subsequently, we performed functional studies using loss‐of‐function mutants and gene expression reporters.

Among the genes displaying circadian rhythm, a homologue to the transcriptional co‐repressor Arabidopsis DE‐ETIOLATED1 showed high amplitude and morning phase. Because AtDET1 is arrhythmic and associated with the morning gene function of AtCCA1/LHY, that lack a homologue in liverworts, we functionally studied DET1 in M. polymorpha.

We found that the circadian rhythm of MpDET1 expression is disrupted in loss‐of‐function mutants of core clock genes and putative evening‐complex genes. MpDET1 knock‐down in turn results in altered circadian rhythm of nyctinastic thallus movement and clock gene expression. We could not detect any effect of MpDET1 knock‐down on circadian response to light, suggesting that MpDET1 has a yet unknown function in the M. polymorpha circadian clock.