bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Above‐ground net primary productivity in regenerating seasonally dry tropical forest: Contributions of rainfall, forest age and soil
Authors: Becknell Justin M. , Vargas G. German , Pérez‐Aviles Daniel , Medvigy David , Powers Jennifer S. 
Published: August 2021

Abstract

Identifying factors controlling forest productivity is critical to understanding forest‐climate change feedbacks, modelling vegetation dynamics and carbon finance schemes. However, little research has focused on productivity in regenerating tropical forests which are expanding in their fraction of global area have an order of magnitude larger carbon uptake rates relative to older forest.

We examined above‐ground net primary productivity (ANPP) and its components (wood production and litterfall) over 10 years in forest plots that vary in successional age, soil characteristics and species composition using band dendrometers and litterfall traps in regenerating seasonally dry tropical forests in northwestern Costa Rica.

We show that the components of ANPP are differentially driven by age and annual rainfall and that local soil variation is important. Total ANPP was explained by a combination of age, annual rainfall and soil variation. Wood production comprised 35% of ANPP on average across sites and years, and was explained by annual rainfall but not forest age. Conversely, litterfall increased with forest age and soil fertility yet was not affected by annual rainfall. In this region, edaphic variability is highly correlated with plant community composition. Thus, variation in ecosystem processes explained by soil may also be partially explained by species composition.

These results suggest that future changes in annual rainfall can alter the secondary forest carbon sink, but this effect will be buffered by the litterfall flux which varies little among years. In determining the long‐term strength of the secondary forest carbon sink, both rainfall and forest age will be critical variables to track. We also conclude that detailed understanding of local site variation in soils and plant community may be required to accurately predict the impact of changing rainfall on forest carbon uptake.

Synthesis. We show that in seasonally dry tropical forest, annual rainfall has a positive relationship with the growth of above‐ground woody tissues of trees and that droughts lead to significant reductions in above‐ground productivity. These results provide evidence for climate change—carbon cycle feedbacks in the seasonal tropics and highlight the value of longitudinal data on forest regeneration.
The effect of a mobile integrated health program on health care cost and utilization
Authors: Gingold Daniel B. , Liang Yuanyuan , Stryckman Benoit , Marcozzi David 
Published: August 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo measure the effect of a mobile integrated health community paramedicine (MIH‐CP) transitional care program on hospital utilization, emergency department visits, and charges.Data SourcesRetrospective secondary data from the electronic health record and regional health information exchange were used to analyze patients discharged from a large academic medical center and an affiliated community hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, May 2018–October 2019.Study DesignWe performed an observational study comparing patients enrolled in an MIH‐CP program to propensity‐matched controls. Propensity scores were calculated using measures of demographics, clinical characteristics, social determinants of health, and prior health care utilization. The primary outcome is inpatient readmission within 30 days of discharge. Secondary outcomes include excess days in acute care 30 days after discharge and emergency department visits, observation hospitalizations, and total health care charges within 30 and 60 days of discharge.Data CollectionIncluded patients were over 18 years old, discharged to home from internal/family medicine services, and live in eligible ZIP codes. The intervention group was enrolled in the MIH‐CP program; controls met inclusion criteria but were not enrolled during the study period.Principal FindingsThe adjusted model showed no difference in 30‐day inpatient readmission between 464 enrolled patients and propensity‐matched controls (adjusted incidence rate ratio = 1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.89, 1.60]). There was a higher rate of observation hospitalizations within 30 days of index discharge for MIH‐CP patients (adjusted incidence rate ratio = 1.78, 95% CI = [1.01, 3.14]). This difference did not persist at 60 days, and there were no differences in other secondary outcomes.ConclusionsWe found no significant difference in short‐term health care utilization or charges between patients enrolled in an MIH‐CP transitional care program and propensity‐matched controls. This highlights the importance of well‐controlled, robust evaluations of effectiveness in novel care‐delivery systems.
Infra‐cranial radiographic comparison for human identification: A study of analyst expertise
Authors: Hona Te Wai Pounamu T. , Olditch Chelsea , Byrd John E. , Stephan Carl N. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractRadiographic comparison for identification is widely utilized. However, these methods are qualitative and subject to analyst ability to correctly read and interpret radiographs. With regards to infra‐cranial radiographs, few studies have been conducted to explore the role of practitioner expertize on correct classification rates (CCRs). Here, we undertake two such studies using forensic anthropologists [American Board of Forensic Anthropology (ABFA) certified, practicing but not board‐certified anthropologists, and chest radiograph comparison (CXR) anthropologists trained via the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency CXR competency training program] and compare their results to novices. To ensure participants only referred to the same skeletal morphology, we cropped radiographs to single bones. An array of four simulated antemortem radiographs was presented to each assessor with each postmortem radiograph. Assessors evaluated arrays for a correct match, which was always present, yielding a 25% rate for random correct selections. Study 1 used anteroposterior C7, posteroanterior second metacarpal, and lateral calcaneus radiographs (three arrays each for nine arrays total), which yielded 86, 81, 69, and 68% mean CCRs for CXR experts, ABFA anthropologists, non‐ABFA anthropologists and novices, respectively. Study 2 used anteroposterior C7 and left clavicles (three arrays each for six arrays total), yielding mean CCRs of 100, 96, and 84% for CXR experts, ABFA anthropologists and novices, respectively. As reflected by the CCRs, expertise is clearly a factor for radiographic comparisons, evident not just between novices and anthropologists, but also between anthropologists. We recommend all radiographic comparison analysts be subject to competency/proficiency tests prior to their engagement for forensic casework.
Factors associated with dropout from physical function assessment programs among participants receiving maintenance hemodialysis: A retrospective observational cohort study
Authors: Yamaguchi Tomoya , Yabe Hiroki , Mitake Yuya , Fujii Takayuki 
Published: August 2021

ABSTRACTWe aimed to investigate the factors associated with dropout from a physical function assessment program among participants receiving outpatient hemodialysis (HD). The participants were divided into continuation and dropout groups and followed up for 3 years after the initial physical function assessment. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the dropout group to determine the factors associated with dropout from the physical function assessment program. The continuation and dropout groups included 43 and 58 participants, respectively. The continuation group had a significantly higher self‐efficacy (SE) and age than the dropout group (p = 0.001, p = 0.047). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that only SE (OR: 1.202, 95% CI: 1.082–1.334) remained a significant predictor after adjustment (p < 0.05). There is a need to evaluate SE to prevent dropout from physical functioning assessment programs.
Synthesis of aromatic amino acids from 2G lignocellulosic substrates
Authors: Godoy Patricia , García‐Franco Ana , Recio María‐Isabel , Ramos Juan‐Luis , Duque Estrella 
Published: August 2021

SummaryPseudomonas putida is a highly solvent‐resistant microorganism and useful chassis for the production of value‐added compounds from lignocellulosic residues, in particular aromatic compounds that are made from phenylalanine. The use of these agricultural residues requires a two‐step treatment to release the components of the polysaccharides of cellulose and hemicellulose as monomeric sugars, the most abundant monomers being glucose and xylose. Pan‐genomic studies have shown that Pseudomonas putida metabolizes glucose through three convergent pathways to yield 6‐phosphogluconate and subsequently metabolizes it through the Entner–Doudoroff pathway, but the strains do not degrade xylose. The valorization of both sugars is critical from the point of view of economic viability of the process. For this reason, a P. putida strain was endowed with the ability to metabolize xylose via the xylose isomerase pathway, by incorporating heterologous catabolic genes that convert this C5 sugar into intermediates of the pentose phosphate cycle. In addition, the open reading frame T1E_2822, encoding glucose dehydrogenase, was knocked‐out to avoid the production of the dead‐end product xylonate. We generated a set of DOT‐T1E‐derived strains that metabolized glucose and xylose simultaneously in culture medium and that reached high cell density with generation times of around 100 min with glucose and around 300 min with xylose. The strains grew in 2G hydrolysates from diluted acid and steam explosion pretreated corn stover and sugarcane straw. During growth, the strains metabolized > 98% of glucose, > 96% xylose and > 85% acetic acid. In 2G hydrolysates P. putida 5PL, a DOT‐T1E derivative strain that carries up to five independent mutations to avoid phenylalanine metabolism, accumulated this amino acid in the medium. We constructed P. putida 5PLΔgcd (xylABE) that produced up to 250 mg l−1 of phenylalanine when grown in 2G pretreated corn stover or sugarcane straw. These results support as a proof of concept the potential of P. putida as a chassis for 2G processes.
The potential of aquatic bloodfeeding and nonbloodfeeding leeches as a tool for iDNA characterisation
Authors: Lynggaard Christina , Oceguera‐Figueroa Alejandro , Kvist Sebastian , Gilbert M. Thomas P. , Bohmann Kristine 
Published: August 2021

AbstractLeeches play important roles in food webs due to their abundance, diversity and feeding habits. Studies using invertebrate‐derived DNA (iDNA) extracted from leech gut contents to target vertebrate DNA have focused on the Indo‐Pacific region and mainly leveraged the leech family Haemadipsidae, composed of bloodfeeding terrestrial leeches, while predatory, fluid/tissue‐feeding and aquatic bloodfeeding species have been largely disregarded. While there is some general knowledge regarding the taxonomic groups that leeches prefer to feed on, detailed taxonomic resolution is missing and, therefore, their potential use for monitoring animals is unknown. In this study, 116 leeches from 12 species (six families) and spanning the three feeding habits were collected in Mexico and Canada. We used DNA metabarcoding to investigate their diet and assess their potential use for biodiversity monitoring. We detected vertebrates from five orders including fish, turtles and birds in the diet of aquatic bloodfeeding leeches; eight invertebrate orders of annelids, arthropods and molluscs in leeches that feed on body fluids and tissues; and 10 orders of invertebrates belonging to Arthropoda and Annelida, as well as one vertebrate and one parasitic nematode, in predatory leeches. These results show the potential use of iDNA from aquatic bloodfeeding leeches for retrieving vertebrate taxa, and from predatory and fluid‐feeding leeches for invertebrates. Our study provides information about the dietary range of freshwater leeches and one terrestrial leech and contributes proof‐of‐concept for the use of these leeches for animal monitoring, expanding our knowledge of the use of iDNA from leech gut contents to North America.
Hiding in plain sight: risk mitigation by a cryptic carnivore foraging at the urban edge
Authors: Leighton Gabriella R. M. , Bishop Jacqueline M. , Merondun Justin , Winterton Deborah J. , O’Riain M. Justin , Serieys Laurel E. K. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractAs natural habitat is progressively transformed, effective wildlife conservation relies on understanding the phenotypic traits that allow select species to persist outside of protected areas. Through behavioural flexibility such species may trade off abundant resources with risks, both real and perceived. As highly adaptable mesocarnivores, caracals (Caracal caracal) provide an opportunity to examine development of successful foraging strategies in high‐risk developed areas. Here we investigated caracal resource selection of both anthropogenic and environmental factors relative to availability at varying levels of urbanization in and around the city of Cape Town, South Africa, using GPS cluster‐located feeding events (n = 326 prey remains, n = 384 scat). We also examined spatial and temporal risk mitigation strategies by assessing behaviours at feeding clusters. We find that, within home ranges, caracals living in the urban‐dominated region (n = 14; 548 feeding events) select for the urban edge, while caracals in the wildland‐dominated region (n = 3; 162 feeding events) avoid it. Adults selected more strongly for foraging at the urban edge than juveniles and may competitively exclude them from resources. By including back‐traced scat feeding event locations, we were able to improve model resolution. We argue that caracals foraging on the edge of a large metropole mitigate risk of detection by remaining cryptic, prolonging handling time, and maintaining high feeding site fidelity where cover was available. Along with the strong functional response to the urban edge, this strategy suggests that carnivores are being drawn into, and stay longer in, areas with potentially increased prey availability despite higher risk. While behavioural plasticity clearly enables carnivore coexistence with humans in urban ecosystems, it can also be maladaptive if it reduces fitness and leads the population into an ecological trap. We provide mitigative recommendations to promote the conservation of this predator in a spatially isolated and rapidly urbanizing landscape.
From DREAM to REALITI‐A and beyond: Mepolizumab for the treatment of eosinophil‐driven diseases
Authors: Pavord Ian D. , Bel Elisabeth H. , Bourdin Arnaud , Chan Robert , Han Joseph K. , Keene Oliver N. , Liu Mark C. , Martin Neil , Papi Alberto , Roufosse Florence , Steinfeld Jonathan , Wechsler Michael E. , Yancey Steven W. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractEffective treatment of inflammatory diseases is often challenging owing to their heterogeneous pathophysiology. Understanding of the underlying disease mechanisms is improving and it is now clear that eosinophils play a complex pathophysiological role in a broad range of type 2 inflammatory diseases. Standard of care for these conditions often still includes oral corticosteroids (OCS) and/or cytotoxic immune therapies, which are associated with debilitating side effects. Selective, biological eosinophil‐reducing agents provide treatment options that improve clinical symptoms associated with eosinophilic inflammation and reduce OCS use. Mepolizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to and neutralizes interleukin‐5, the major cytokine involved in eosinophil proliferation, activation, and survival. Mepolizumab is approved for the treatment of severe eosinophilic asthma, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis and hypereosinophilic syndrome. Additionally, the efficacy of add‐on mepolizumab has been observed in patients with severe chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with an eosinophilic phenotype. Here, we review the development, approval, and real‐world effectiveness of mepolizumab for the treatment of patients with severe eosinophilic asthma, from the DREAM to REALITI‐A studies, and describe how knowledge from this journey extended to the use of mepolizumab and other biologics across a broad spectrum of eosinophilic diseases.
Direct platelet adhesion potentiates group 2 innate lymphoid cell functions
Authors: Orimo Keisuke , Tamari Masato , Takeda Tomohiro , Kubo Terufumi , Rückert Beate , Motomura Kenichiro , Sugiyama Hiroki , Yamada Ayako , Saito Kyoko , Arae Ken , Kuriyama Motohiro , Hara Mariko , Soyka Michael B. , Ikutani Masashi , Yamaguchi Sota , Morimoto Noriko , Nakabayashi Kazuhiko , Hata Kenichiro , Matsuda Akio , Akdis Cezmi A. , Sudo Katsuko , Saito Hirohisa , Nakae Susumu , Tamaoki Jun , Tagaya Etsuko , Matsumoto Kenji , Morita Hideaki 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundPlatelets are thought to be involved in the pathophysiology of asthma, presumably through direct adhesion to inflammatory cells, including group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s). Here, we tried to elucidate the effects of platelet adhesion to ILC2s in vitro and in vivo, as well as the mechanisms involved.MethodsAlternaria‐induced ILC2‐dependent airway inflammation models using wild‐type and c‐mpl−/− mice were evaluated. Both purified CD41+ and CD41−ILC2s were cultured with IL‐2 and IL‐33 to determine in vitro Type 2 (T2) cytokine production and cell proliferation. RNA‐seq data of flow‐cytometry‐sorted CD41+ and CD41−ILC2s were used to isolate ILC2‐specific genes. Flow cytometry was performed to determine the expression of CD41 and adhesion‐related molecules on ILC2s in both mouse and human tissues.ResultsT2 inflammation and T2 cytokine production from ILC2s were significantly reduced in the c‐mpl−/− mice compared to wild‐type mice. Platelet‐adherent ILC2s underwent significant proliferation and showed enhanced T2 cytokine production when exposed to IL‐2 and IL‐33. The functions of ILC2‐specific genes were related to cell development and function. Upstream regulator analysis identified 15 molecules, that are thought to be involved in ILC2 activation. CD41 expression levels were higher in ILC2s from human PBMCs and mouse lung than in those from secondary lymphoid tissues, but they did not correlate with the P‐selectin glycoprotein ligand‐1 or CD24 expression level.ConclusionPlatelets spontaneously adhere to ILC2s, probably in the peripheral blood and airways, thereby potentiating ILC2s to enhance their responses to IL‐33.
Use of plasma late on cardiopulmonary bypass in patients undergoing left ventricular assist device implantation
Authors: Nelson James A. , Diaz Soto Juan C. , Warner Matthew A. , Stulak John M. , Schulte Phillip J. , Weister Timothy J. , Mauermann William J. , Smith Mark M. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractCoagulopathy is common during left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, treatment of which can be challenging given the often‐limited ability for the right ventricle to accommodate volume transfusion after device initiation with 20% to 40% of patients developing right ventricular failure (RVF). Transfusion of plasma late on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) combined with ultrafiltration may replace clotting factors while reducing volume administration. We compared outcomes in patients undergoing LVAD implantation receiving plasma on CPB and ultrafiltration with traditional transfusion practices. Co‐primary outcomes needed for blood product transfusion in the first 6 and 24 hours after CPB. Secondary outcomes included metrics of morbidity and mortality. 396 patients were analyzed (59 plasma on CPB). Patients receiving plasma on CPB had a greater volume of blood products transfused (3764 vs. 2741 mL first 6 hours; 6059 vs. 4305 mL first 24 hours) in unadjusted analysis. In adjusted analysis, plasma transfusion on CPB with ultrafiltration had no significant effect on the primary outcomes of blood products given in the first 6 hours (estimated effect size 982 [−428, 2392] mL, P = .17) and 24 hours (estimated effect size 1076 [−904, 3057] mL, P = .29). Patients receiving plasma on CPB were more likely on either vasopressors or inotropes at 24 hours after ICU admission (P = .01), however, indices of coagulopathy and RVF were similar between groups. While prospective studies would be necessary to definitively evaluate the clinical utility of this strategy, no signal for benefit was observed suggesting plasma should not be used for this purpose.
Rupture and chemical accumulation in contact lenses with dexamethasone eye drop administration after congenital cataract surgery
Authors: De Lima Sara , Erdal Nejla , Adolfsson Karin , Hakkarainen Minna , Kugelberg Maria 
Published: August 2021

AbstractPurposeTo investigate whether contact lenses used after surgery for congenital cataracts act as a depot for dexamethasone, which would allow the prescribed amount of drops to be reduced, and to examine whether the preservative benzalkonium chloride accumulates in the contact lens matrix, which would suggest a need for more frequent replacements.MethodsContact lenses (n = 10) worn by infants treated with dexamethasone eye drops after congenital cataract surgery were analysed with scanning electron microscopy, UV‐vis,1H‐NMR and LDI‐MS for chemical deposits and for changes on the contact lens surface. Unused lenses (n = 5) and lenses (n = 4) from patients with no eye drop treatment were analysed as reference.ResultsThe treated contact lenses displayed ruptured surfaces in comparison with unused and reference lenses. Dexamethasone and BAK were not detected in any of the lenses. A polyethylene oxide component was found in the treated lenses, likely originating from the dexamethasone eye drops or the contact lens solution.ConclusionDexamethasone and BAK do not accumulate in the contact lenses, and a depot effect of any clinical significance is unlikely. Therefore, the number of drops given after surgery should remain the same regardless of whether the child has contact lenses. The ruptured surface may both decrease the child’s comfort and increase the risk of microbial adhesion, and so it is recommended that contact lenses should be replaced once a month throughout the course of anti‐inflammatory eye drop treatment after surgery for congenital cataract.
Liver metabolomic analysis in broiler chicks: Profiling the metabolites after oral administration of l‐citrulline
Authors: Chowdhury Vishwajit S. , Ouchi Yoshimitsu , Haraguchi Shogo , Bungo Takashi 
Published: August 2021

AbstractHypothermia is directly linked to metabolism; however, it is still unknown how the overall metabolism is altered by oral administration of hypothermic agent, l‐citrulline (l‐Cit). The present study aimed to determine the characteristics of liver metabolites of chicks orally administered l‐Cit to provide a greater understanding of its metabolism. Capillary electrophoresis–time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (CE‐TOFMS) and liquid chromatography–time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (LC‐TOFMS) were conducted on liver samples after oral administration of l‐Cit. A total of 361 liver metabolites were identified. Although a small number of samples were used for each group, a principal component analysis and heatmap patterns confirmed that the composition of metabolites could be segregated from each other. Of the 361 compounds detected in the liver, 41 compounds, including amino acids related to the Cit‐arginine (Arg) cycle, argininosuccinic acid, Arg, ornithine, and Cit, as well as gamma aminobutyric acid, glycine, histidine, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide were abundant in l‐Cit‐treated livers. In contrast, 24 compounds containing fatty acids, amino acids, and cyclic adenosine monophosphate were lower in the l‐Cit group. These data imply that the active Cit‐Arg cycle, TCA cycle metabolism, and a low activity in fatty acid metabolism occur in l‐Cit‐treated broiler chicks.