bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An economic valuation of federal and private grazing land ecosystem services supported by beef cattle ranching in the United States
Authors: Maher Anna T , Quintana Ashwell Nicolas E , Maczko Kristie A , Taylor David T , Tanaka John A , Reeves Matt C 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Beef cattle ranching and farming is a major agricultural industry in the United States that manages an estimated 147 million ha of private land and uses approximately 92% of forage authorized for grazing on federal rangelands. Rangelands, as working landscapes, sustain beef cattle ranching while providing habitat for wildlife, recreation, and open space amenities, as well as spiritual and cultural values that define a way of life. Historically, discussions regarding the economics of beef cattle ranching have focused primarily on the value of beef production but have more recently expanded to consider related ecosystem services. A systematic search of peer-reviewed literature published between 1998 and 2018 found 154 articles that considered ecosystem services from rangelands/grasslands. Of these, only two articles (1%) provided an in-depth economic valuation (monetary measure) of ecosystem services in the United States. To fill this knowledge gap, we primarily used publicly available data to conduct an economic valuation of major ecosystem services associated with beef cattle production in the United States at both the national and state levels. We find that over 186 million ha were actively grazed by beef cattle ranches and farms in the United States in 2017. We estimate the economic value of this land use to be $17.5 billion for wildlife recreation, $3.8 billion for forage production, and $3.2 billion for other ecosystem services related to the conservation of biodiversity—a combined total of $24.5 billion. Ecosystem services from federal rangelands in 16 western states accounted for 35% of the total value. Ecosystem services per beef cow and per kilogram of retail beef were estimated to be $1,043.35 and $2.74, respectively. More studies like these are needed to inform decision-makers at the industry, land management, and federal levels to ensure that the conservation, improvement, and restoration of these ecosystem services are considered in future management and research efforts.
The Impact of Establishing a Dedicated Liver Surgery Program at a University-affiliated Hospital on Workforce, Workload, Surgical Outcomes, and Trainee Surgical Autonomy and Academic Output
Authors: Azoulay Daniel , Eshkenazy Rony , Pery Ron , Cordoba Mordechai , Haviv Yael , Inbar Yael , Zisman Eliyahu , Lahat Eylon , Salloum Chady , Lim Chetana 
Published: May 2021

Objective:
To detail the implementation of a dedicated liver surgery program at a university-affiliated hospital and to analyze its impact on the community, workforce, workload, complexity of cases, the short-term outcomes, and residents and young faculties progression toward technical autonomy and academic production.

Background:
Due to the increased burden of liver tumors worldwide, there is an increased need for liver centers to better serve the community and facilitate the education of trainees in this field.

Methods:
The implementation of the program is described. The 3 domains of workload, research, and teaching were compared between 2-year periods before and after the implementation of the new program. The severity of disease, complexity of procedures, and subsequent morbidity and mortality were compared.

Results:
Compared with the 2-year period before the implementation of the new program, the number of liver resections increased by 36% within 2 years. The number of highly complex resections, the number of liver resections performed by residents and young faculties, and the number of publications increased 5.5-, 40-, and 6-fold, respectively. This was achieved by operating on more severe patients and performing more complex procedures, at the cost of a significant increase in morbidity but not mortality. Nevertheless, operations during the second period did not emerge as an independent predictor of severe morbidity.

Conclusions:
A new liver surgery program can fill the gap between the demand for and supply of liver surgeries, benefiting the community and the development of the next generation of liver surgeons.
Effects of High-Fat Diet on Carcinogen-Induced Pancreatic Cancer and Intestinal Microbiota in C57BL/6 Wild-Type Mice
Authors: Liu Beibei , Wang Furong , Chen Lina , Xin Yi , Liu Likun , Wu Dachang , Li Weiling 
Published: May 2021

Objectives
High-fat diet has been considered a risk factor for the development of pancreatic cancer. It is also shown to significantly impact composition and dysbiosis of gut microbiota in both humans and animals. However, there is little information on the effect of high-fat diet on the development of pancreatic cancer or upon the gut microbiota of patients with pancreatic cancer in humans or animal models.

Methods
In this study, the effect of high-fat diet on cancer pathology and the gut microbiota was investigated by a carcinogen-induced pancreatic cancer mouse model.

Results
Compared with carcinogen alone, mice with high-fat diet and carcinogen showed more obvious pathological changes in pancreatic tissue; increased levels of proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, interleukin-10, and carbohydrate antigen 242; and increased expression of cancer-associated biomarkers mucin-4 and claudin-4 in pancreatic tissue. Moreover, there is a significant change in the gut microbiota between the carcinogen group and the carcinogen with high-fat diet group. We identified that Johnsonella ignava especially existed in the carcinogen with high-fat diet group, which may contribute to pancreatic cancer development.

Conclusions
Our results revealed that high-fat diet changed the composition of the gut microbiota and was involved in carcinogen-induced pancreatic cancer progression.
Froin Syndrome, a Rare Complication of Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Nizam Ahmad , Sivakumar Keithan , Yacoub Hussam 
Published: May 2021

Introduction:
Froin syndrome is a rare condition that is defined as marked coagulability, elevated protein level, and xanthochromia of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Froin syndrome more commonly occurs because of obstruction of CSF flow due to underlying inflammatory or neoplastic conditions.

Case Report:
We present a case of a 38-year-old man who was found to have Froin syndrome a year after he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM). CSF analysis, laboratory work-up, and magnetic resonance imaging of the neuroaxis supported the diagnosis of Froin syndrome related to leptomeningeal myelomatosis. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of FS due to MM.

Conclusion:
Leptomeningeal myelomatosis associated with MM can cause blockage of CSF circulation leading to Froin syndrome. Inflammatory or neoplastic conditions should be considered as an underlying etiology.
COVID-19–Associated Ischemic Stroke in a Patient on Therapeutic Anticoagulation
Authors: Scharpf William , Katsafanas Constance , Ng Kintin 
Published: May 2021

Introduction:
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with a hypercoagulable state, increasing the risk for ischemic stroke. In select cases, patients are already on anticoagulation therapy. Such examples highlight the severity of COVID-19’s hyperthrombotic state, and raise questions regarding optimal stroke prevention in these patients.

Case Report:
An 84-year-ool male with past medical history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation was admitted for respiratory failure secondary to COVID-19 pneumonia. He was continued on his home apixaban 5 mg twice daily. On day 2 of admission, he developed a new aphasia, and right-sided facial droop. Computed tomography (CT) head was unrevealing. CT angiography did not show large vessel occlusion. CT perfusion demonstrated a left middle cerebral artery ischemic penumbra, without core. He was not eligible for thrombolysis or thrombectomy interventions. Later CT head confirmed L middle cerebral artery infarct. The patient’s D-dimer was 1,184 ng/mL on day 1 of admission, and increased to 111,574 by day 4. His hypoxia worsened, requiring intubation and transfer to the ICU. He experienced further clinical decline and eventual demise.

Conclusion:
Ischemic stroke in anticoagulated patients with COVID-19 has been previously reported. Such cases emphasize the severity of the coronavirus virus associated hypercoagulable state. A majority of reported cases have occurred in patients continuing their ambulatory therapy. Overall, such cases are likely underreported. There are current trials comparing therapeutic versus prophylactic dose anticoagulation in patients with COVID-19. There are no studies specifically addressing anticoagulation agent failure in these patients. Further research is required this area to determine the optimal therapy for patients with COVID-19.
American older adults in COVID-19 Times:Vulnerability types, aging attitudes and emotional responses
Authors: Fu Mingqi , Guo Jing , Chen Xi , Zhang Qilin 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe coronavirus disease aroused challenges to the emotional well-being of vulnerable older adults in hard-hit areas. This study investigates different vulnerability types among American older adults and how modes of vulnerability are associated with aging attitudes and emotional responses.MethodsUsing Latent Class Analysis, we investigated 2003 respondents aged over 50 from HRS. Hierarchical linear regressions with the affective profile as cluster identity were used to examine the relationship between vulnerability type and positive aging attitudes with positive and negative emotional responses.ResultsWe detected three vulnerability types among American older adults: the slight vulnerability (72%), the healthcare use vulnerability (19%), and the dual vulnerabilities (9%). No significant difference in positive emotions was found between vulnerability types. However, more negative emotions were found among older adults with healthcare use vulnerability (B=0.746, SE=0.759) and dual vulnerabilities (B=1.186, SE=0.274) than those with slight vulnerability. Positive aging attitudes associate with more positive emotions (B=0.266, SE=0.017) but less negative emotions (B=-0.183, SE=0.016) and had significant moderation effects on the relationship between vulnerability types and negative emotional responses (B=-0.118, SE=0.045).ConclusionOlder adults’ emotional well-being should not be neglected as they deserve the support of prevention and intervention strategies, in particular when they have vulnerabilities in healthcare use and financial sustainment. Female, non-white races, and those aged below 65, been uncoupled, less educated, and with ADL difficulties should prioritize.
Germline RUNX1 Variation and Predisposition to Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Li Yizhen , Devidas Meenakshi , Yang Wentao , Winter Stuart S. , Yang Wenjian , Dunsmore Kimberly P. , Smith Colton , Qian Maoxiang , Zhao Xujie , Zhang Ranran , Gastier-Foster Julie M. , Raetz Elizabeth A. , Carroll William L. , Li Chunliang , Liu Paul P. , Rabin Karen R. , Sanda Takaomi , Mullighan Charles G. , Nichols Kim E. , Evans William E. , Pui Ching-Hon , Hunger Stephen P. , Teachey David T. , Relling Mary V. , Loh Mignon L. , Yang Jun J. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractRUNX1 is a transcription factor critical for definitive hematopoiesis and genetic alterations in RUNX1 have been implicated in both benign and malignant blood disorders, particularly of the megakaryocyte and myeloid lineages. Somatic RUNX1 mutations are reported in B- and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL and T-ALL), but germline genetic variation of RUNX1 in these lymphoid malignancies have not been comprehensively investigated. Sequencing 4,836 children with B-ALL and 1,354 cases of T-ALL, we identified 31 and 18 unique germline RUNX1 variants in these two ALL subtypes, respectively. RUNX1 variants in B-ALL were predicted to have minimal impact. By contrast, 54.5% of variants in T-ALL result in complete or partial loss of RUNX1 activity as a transcription activator in vitro, with dominant negative effects for 4 variants. Ectopic expression of dominant negative deleterious RUNX1 variants in human CD34+ cells repressed differentiation into erythroid, megakaryocytes, and T cells, while promoting differentiation towards myeloid cells. We then performed chromatin immunoprecipitation profiling in isogenic T-ALL models with variants introduced by genome editing of endogenous RUNX1. We observed highly distinctive patterns of DNA binding and target genomic loci by RUNX1 proteins encoded by the truncating vs missense variants. The p.G365R RUNX1 variant resulted in a novel methylation site in RUNX1 and alteration in its interaction with CBFβ. Further whole genome sequencing showed that JAK3 mutation was the most frequent somatic genomic abnormality in T-ALL with germline RUNX1 variants. Consistently, co-introduction of RUNX1 variant and JAK3 mutation in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in mouse gave rise to T-ALL with early T-cell precursor phenotype in vivo, compared to thymic T-ALL seen in mice with JAK3 mutation alone. Taken together, these results indicated that RUNX1 is an important predisposition gene for ALL, especially in T-ALL and also pointed to novel biology of RUNX1-mediated leukemogenesis in the lymphoid lineages.
Tracking the emergence of disparities in the subnational spread of COVID-19 in Brazil using an online application for real-time data visualisation: a longitudinal analysis
Authors: Mee Paul , Alexander Neal , Mayaud Philippe , Colon Gonzalez Felipe de Jesus , Abbott Sam , de Souza Santos Andreza Aruska , Acosta Andre Luis , Parag Kris V. , Pereira Rafael H. M. , Prete Carlos A. , Sabino Ester C. , Faria Nuno R. ,   LSHTM Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Disease COVID-19 working group, Brady Oliver J 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundBrazil is one of the countries worst affected by the COVID-19 pandemic with over 20 million cases and 557,000 deaths reported. Comparison of real-time local COVID-19 data between areas is essential for understanding transmission, measuring the effects of interventions and predicting the course of the epidemic, but are often challenging due to different population sizes and structures.MethodsWe describe the development of a new app for the real-time visualisation of COVID-19 data in Brazil at the municipality level. In the CLIC-Brazil app, daily updates of case and death data are downloaded, age standardised and used to estimate reproduction number (Rt). We show how such platforms can perform real-time regression analyses to identify factors associated with the rate of initial spread and early reproduction number. We also use survival methods to predict the likelihood of occurrence of a new peak of COVID-19 incidence.FindingsAfter an initial introduction in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro states in early March 2020, the epidemic spread to Northern states and then to highly populated coastal regions and the Central-West. Municipalities with higher metrics of social development experienced earlier arrival of COVID-19 (decrease of 11·1 days [95% CI:13·2,8·9] in the time to arrival for each 10% increase in the social development index). Differences in the initial epidemic intensity (meanRt) were largely driven by geographic location and the date of local onset.InterpretationThis study demonstrates that platforms that monitor, standardise and analyse the epidemiological data at a local level can give useful real-time insights into outbreak dynamics that can be used to better adapt responses to the current and future pandemics.FundingThis project was supported by a Medical Research Council UK (MRC-UK) -São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) CADDE partnership award (MR/S0195/1 and FAPESP 18/14389-0)
SARS-CoV-2 spike protein induces brain pericyte immunoreactivity in absence of productive viral infection
Authors: Khaddaj-Mallat Rayan , Aldib Natija , Paquette Anne-Sophie , Ferreira Aymeric , Lecordier Sarah , Bernard Maxime , Saghatelyan Armen , ElAli Ayman 
Published: May 2021

AbstractCOVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). COVID-19 pathogenesis causes vascular-mediated neurological disorders via still elusive mechanisms. SARS-CoV-2 infects host cells by binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a transmembrane receptor that recognizes the viral spike (S) protein. Brain pericytes were recently shown to express ACE2 at the neurovascular interface, outlining their possible implication in microvasculature injury in COVID-19. Yet, pericyte responses to SARS-CoV-2 is still to be fully elucidated. Using cell-based assays, we report that ACE2 expression in human brain vascular pericytes is highly dynamic and is increased upon S protein stimulation. Pericytes exposed to S protein underwent profound phenotypic changes translated by increased expression of contractile and myofibrogenic proteins, namely α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), fibronectin, collagen I, and neurogenic locus notch homolog protein-3 (NOTCH3). These changes were associated to an altered intracellular calcium (Ca2+) dynamic. Furthermore, S protein induced lipid peroxidation, oxidative and nitrosative stress in pericytes as well as triggered an immune reaction translated by activation of nuclear factor-kappa-B (NF-κB) signalling pathway, which was potentiated by hypoxia, a condition associated to vascular comorbidities, which exacerbate COVID-19 pathogenesis. S protein exposure combined to hypoxia enhanced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines involved in immune cell activation and trafficking, namely interleukin-8 (IL-8), IL-18, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), and stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1). Finally, we found that S protein could reach the mouse brain via the intranasal route and that reactive ACE2-expressing pericytes are recruited to the damaged tissue undergoing fibrotic scarring in a mouse model of cerebral multifocal micro-occlusions, a main reported vascular-mediated neurological condition associated to COVID-19. Our data demonstrate that the released S protein is sufficient to mediate pericyte immunoreactivity, which may contribute to microvasculature injury in absence of a productive viral infection. Our study provides a better understanding for the possible mechanisms underlying cerebrovascular disorders in COVID-19, paving the way to develop new therapeutic interventions.
Re-oxidation of cytosolic NADH is a major contributor to the high oxygen requirements of the thermotolerant yeastOgataea parapolymorphain oxygen-limited cultures
Authors: Dekker Wijbrand J. C. , Juergens Hannes , Ortiz-Merino Raúl A. , Mooiman Christiaan , van den Berg Remon , Kaljouw Astrid , Mans Robert , Pronk Jack T. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThermotolerance is an attractive feature for yeast-based industrial ethanol production. However, incompletely understood oxygen requirements of known thermotolerant yeasts are incompatible with process requirements. To study the magnitude and molecular basis of these oxygen requirements in the facultatively fermentative, thermotolerant yeastOgataea parapolymorpha, chemostat studies were performed under defined oxygen-sufficient and oxygen-limited cultivation regimes. The minimum oxygen requirements ofO. parapolymorphawere found to be at least an order of magnitude larger than those of the thermotolerant yeastKluyveromyces marxianus. This high oxygen requirement coincided with absence of glycerol formation, which plays a key role in NADH reoxidation in oxygen-limited cultures of other facultatively fermentative yeasts. Co-feeding of acetoin, whose reduction to 2,3-butanediol can reoxidize cytosolic NADH, supported a 2.5-fold higher biomass concentration in oxygen-limited cultures. The apparent inability ofO. parapolymorphato produce glycerol correlated with absence of orthologs of theS. cerevisiaegenes encoding glycerol-3P phosphatase (ScGPP1, ScGPP2). Glycerol production was observed in aerobic batch cultures of a strain in which genes including key enzymes in mitochondrial reoxidation of NADH were deleted. However, transcriptome analysis did not identify a clear candidate for the responsible phosphatase. Expression of ScGPD2, encoding NAD+-dependent glycerol-3P dehydrogenase, and ScGPP1inO. parapolymorpharesulted in increased glycerol production in oxygen-limited chemostats, but glycerol production rates remained substantially lower than observed inS. cerevisiaeandK. marxianus. These results identify a dependency on aerobic respiration for reoxidation of NADH generated in biosynthesis as a key factor in the unexpectedly high oxygen requirements ofO. parapolymorpha.ImportanceThermotolerant yeasts hold great potential for anaerobic fermentation processes but their application is so far hampered by incompletely understood oxygen requirements. Based on quantitative physiological studies in oxygen-limited chemostat cultures, this study shows that the thermotolerant yeastOgataea parapolymorphahas a much higher oxygen requirement than other, previously investigated facultatively fermentative yeasts. The large oxygen requirement ofO. parapolymorphawas linked to an inability of oxygen-limited cultures to efficiently reoxidize NADH formed in biosynthetic processes by glycerol formation. These results provide a basis for reducing the oxygen requirements ofO. parapolymorphaby targeted metabolic engineering. In addition, this study shows that diversity of oxygen requirements should be taken into account in selecting yeast species for application in anaerobic or oxygen-limited industrial processes.
Latest Generation Colonoscope Yields Improvements in Cecal Insertion Time and Adenoma Detection Rate: A Retrospective Comparison of Two Colonoscope Brands
Authors: Yasmeh Pauline , Vicari Joseph J. , Shiels Aaron J. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackground and AimsHigh quality colonoscopy remains the cornerstone of colon cancer prevention. Studies have shown that generational advances in colonoscopes result in more favorable clinical outcomes. Performance of various endoscopes is determined using objective quality measures. The aim of this study was to compare these measures between two colonoscope platforms.MethodsThis study is a single center retrospective study of 3,761 patients undergoing initial screening colonoscopy between November 2013 and May 2020 using two different colonoscope platforms (Fujifilm EC-760R-V/L, n=2287 and Olympus CF and PCF 180 series, n= 1474). The primary outcomes measured were cecal insertion time, withdrawal time, and adenoma detection rate.ResultsProcedures completed with the Fujifilm colonoscope had mean cecal insertion times that were 2.01 minutes shorter than procedures completed with Olympus (p<.0001). Procedures completed with Olympus brand colonoscopes had prolonged cecal insertion times (≥10 minutes) nearly three times as often compared to those performed with Fujifilm colonoscopes (p<.0001). Cecal withdrawal times were slightly longer for females performed with Fujifilm colonoscopes, but there was no difference when all procedures were included (p=.09). Procedures completed with Fujifilm colonoscopes had higher adenoma detection rates compared to those completed with Olympus colonoscopes (p<0.001).ConclusionsIn this study, Fujifilm colonoscopes outperformed Olympus colonoscopes in screening colonoscopies with statistically and clinically significant shorter cecal insertion times and higher adenoma detection, though both platforms had similar withdrawal times.