bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nitric oxide is required for lung alveolarization revealed by deficiency of argininosuccinate lyase
Authors: Jin Zixue , Jiang Ming-Ming , Lee Brendan 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) therapy has been reported to improve lung growth in premature newborns. However, the underlying mechanisms by which NO regulates lung development remain largely unclear. NO is enzymatically produced by three isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzymes. NOS knockout mice are useful tools to investigate NO function in the lung. Each single NOS knockout mouse does not show obvious lung alveolar phenotype, likely due to compensatory mechanisms. While mice lacking all three NOS isoforms display impaired lung alveolarization, implicating NO plays a pivotal role in lung alveolarization. Argininosuccinate lyase (ASL) is the only mammalian enzyme capable of synthesizing L-arginine, the sole precursor for NOS-dependent NO synthesis. ASL is also required for channeling extracellular L-arginine into a NO-synthetic complex. Thus, ASL deficiency (ASLD) is a non-redundant model for cell-autonomous, NOS-dependent NO deficiency. Here, we assessed lung alveolarization in ASL-deficient mice. Hypomorphic deletion of Asl (AslNeo/Neo) results in decreased lung alveolarization, accompanied with reduced level of S-nitrosylation in the lung. Genetic ablation of one copy of Caveolin-1, which is a negative regulator of NO production, restores total S-nitrosylation as well as lung alveolarization in AslNeo/Neo mice. Importantly, NO supplementation could partially rescue lung alveolarization in AslNeo/Neo mice. Furthermore, endothelial-specific knockout mice (VE-Cadherin Cre; Aslflox/flox) exhibit impaired lung alveolarization at 12 weeks old, supporting an essential role of endothelial-derived NO in the enhancement of lung alveolarization. Thus, we propose that ASLD is a model to study NO-mediated lung alveolarization.
Gastroenterology Clinic Follow-Up Reduces Gastroenterology-Specific Readmissions Among Patients With Severe Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Barber Grant E , Zhuo Justin , Okafor Philip N , Streett Sarah 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

Background and aims
Readmission within 30 days occurs in up to 18% of admitted patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). The importance of postdischarge follow-up with a gastroenterologist as well as the optimal follow-up interval is unknown.

Methods
We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with UC who were admitted to Stanford University Hospital between 2010 and 2020. We included adult patients with UC who were admitted for a UC flare. Patients with a colectomy during hospitalization or with Clostridium difficile infection at the index hospitalization were excluded. The primary outcome was time to readmission for a gastroenterology (GI) indication, and the primary predictor (time dependent) was follow-up with a GI provider. Patients were followed for 180 days after discharge. Data were analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards model.

Results
Of the 223 patients hospitalized with UC during the study period, 25% (n = 57) were readmitted within 180 days, with 13.9% occurring within 30 days. Early follow-up (within 7 days) was observed in 29% (n = 65) of patients, while 30-day follow-up was seen in 68.7% (n = 153), and follow-up within 180 days was seen in 198 (89%) patients. In the adjusted Cox proportional hazards model, GI follow-up was associated with fewer readmissions (hazard ratio, 0.42; 95% confidence interval, 0.22-0.81; P = .009). Early follow-up was strongly associated with a reduced risk of readmission (hazard ratio, 0.24; 95% 95% confidence interval, 0.09-0.69; P = .008). Follow-up in 7 days was associated with fewer readmissions (P &lt; .0001).

Conclusions
Outpatient GI follow-up after UC hospitalization reduces readmissions, with the greatest reduction occurring among patients followed up within 1 week of discharge.
Brain-Gut Axis: Invasive and Noninvasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation, Limitations, and Potential Therapeutic Approaches
Authors: Hesampour Fatemeh , Bernstein Charles N , Ghia Jean-Eric 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing condition with no known etiology and is characterized by disrupted gut homeostasis, chronic inflammation, and ulcerative lesions. Although current treatments can reduce disease activity, IBD frequently recurs once treatments are discontinued, indicating that treatments are ineffective in providing long-term remission. The lack of responsiveness and reluctance of some affected persons to take medications because of potential adverse effects has enhanced the need for novel therapeutic approaches. The vagus nerve (VN) is likely important in the pathogenesis of IBD, considering the decreased activity of the parasympathetic nervous system, especially the VN, and the impaired interaction between the enteric nervous system and central nervous system in patients with IBD. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in various inflammatory disorders, including IBD, by inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines by immune cells. It has been suggested that stimulating the vagus nerve to induce its anti-inflammatory effects may be a potential therapeutic approach for IBD. Noninvasive techniques for VNS have been developed. Considering the importance of VN function in the brain-gut axis, VNS is a promising treatment option for IBD. This review discusses the potential therapeutic advantages and drawbacks of VNS, particularly the use of noninvasive transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation.
In Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis Patients Who Receive Rescue Therapy, Prior Maintenance Therapy and Day 3 C-Reactive Protein After Rescue Therapy Are Associated With 12-Month Colectomy Risk
Authors: Sninsky Jared A , Staicu Ana-Maria , Barnes Edward L 
Published: September 2023

Lay Summary
In steroid-refractory patients with acute severe ulcerative colitis, the number of advanced therapies prior to admission and day 3 C-reactive protein post–rescue therapy is associated with a higher risk of colectomy within 12 months.
Outcomes of completed quality activities in an Australian tertiary hospital, 2015–2019
Authors: Li Qun Catherine , Karnon Jonathan , Codde Jim 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Quality activities including quality assurance and quality improvement are an integral part of safety and quality governance for hospitals. Previous studies identified that (i) majority are for quality assurance and knowledge-acquiring purposes and (ii) adherence to the quality cycle as well as impact on patient-related outcomes at the hospital level are unclear, neither associated with costs. This study aims to (i) assess adherence to the quality cycle for quality activities in a large Australian tertiary hospital; (ii) report outcomes of quality activities at the hospital level, including impact on patient-related outcomes measured by the occurrence of hospital-acquired complications; and (iii) estimate time and costs for data collection.
This quantitative study utilized three data sources. First is the hospital’s electronic quality management system, Governance, Evidence, Knowledge and Outcome that identifies completed quality activities over a 5-year period; second is Tableau dashboards for hospital-acquired complication performance; third is Microsoft Teams Forms used to capture time of data collection for bedside observations and retrospective notes reviews. Median sample size and median hourly rates in 2018 were used for calculations.
A total of 1768 quality activities were completed over a 5-year period representing an average of 353 quality activities per year, of which 87.8% were initiated by clinicians and 12.2% planned and coordinated by safety and quality or equivalent. The activity reports indicated that less than a fifth (17.1%) brought about improvement in process measures and only 7.1% improved outcome measures. Two-thirds of the quality activities (66.3%) provided recommendations based on their findings, but evidence of action plan was available in 14.1% of the reports only. No association was found between the number of activities completed and overall hospital-acquired complication performance. Retrospective data collection (64.7%) was common. The estimated time and cost for data collection averaged at 3490 h/year, equivalent to 1.8 full-time employees, for a cost of $171 000 at the nursing rate (A$49.0), $280 000 at the medical rate (A$79.5), and $200 000 at the Health Service Union rate (A$58.9). Most quality activities were clinician-initiated. Implementing change and achieving and sustaining improvement were the two challenging stages in the quality cycle. No clear association was observed between activities completed and improvement in patient-related outcomes although some improvement in processes. A paradigm shift may be needed to engineer quality activities in hospitals to be more outcome-oriented. Opportunities exist for hospitals to consider how quality activities can be organized to maximize returns from investment.
Physics-statistics-based hybrid simulation scheme of coupled nonstationary hurricane wind and wave fields for long-span floating bridges
Authors: Li Shaopeng , Wu Teng 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Long-span bridges with floating towers have recently drawn great attention from the engineering community. Due to their sensitivity to the aerodynamic and hydrodynamic loads during extreme storms, accurate and efficient simulation tools for hurricane winds and waves are needed for improved understanding of the complex dynamics of the fully coupled wind–wave–structure interaction system. Conventional simulation schemes usually generate winds and waves separately, and hence cannot capture the intense wind–wave interactions under hurricanes. In this study, a physics-statistics-based hybrid simulation scheme of nonstationary hurricane wind and wave fields is presented, where the winds and waves are coupled in both large and small scales. To simulate the large-scale winds and waves, a height-resolving hurricane wind model is coupled with a parametric hurricane wave model through a dependence between sea surface roughness and surface wind speed. In the small-scale simulations, the nonstationary wind fluctuations are statistically obtained by a Hilbert-wavelet-based scheme in which the target parameters (e.g. fluctuation intensity) are estimated based on the local sea state, while the nonstationary sea surface elevations are physically acquired by solving the governing equation of the nonlinear wave evolution under the action of winds. The simulation fidelity of the proposed physics-statistics-based hybrid scheme is demonstrated by generating the coupled nonstationary wind and wave fields approaching to a hypothetical long-span bridge with floating towers under a hurricane event.
Relationship between hindgut microbes and feed conversion ratio in Hu sheep and microbial longitudinal development
Authors: Xu Dan , Cheng Jiangbo , Zhang Deyin , Huang Kai , Zhang Yukun , Li Xiaolong , Zhao Yuan , Zhao Liming , Wang Jianghui , Lin Changchun , Yang Xiaobin , Zhai Rui , Cui Panpan , Zeng Xiwen , Huang Yongliang , Ma Zongwu , Liu Jia , Han Kunchao , Liu Xiaoqiang , Yang Fan , Tian Huibin , Weng Xiuxiu , Zhang Xiaoxue , Wang Weimin 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Feed efficiency is an important indicator in the sheep production process, which plays an important role in improving economic benefits and strengthening energy conservation and emission reduction. Compared with the rumen, the fermentation of the hindgut microorganisms can also provide part of the energy for the host, and the composition of the hindgut microorganisms will affect the feed efficiency. Therefore, we hope to find new ways to regulate sheep feed efficiency by studying the sheep gut microbes. In this study, male Hu sheep with the same birth date were raised under the same conditions until 180 d old. The sheep were divided into high and low groups according to the feed conversion ratio (FCR) at 80 to 180 d old, and the differences in rectal microorganisms between the two groups were compared. The permutational multivariate analysis (PERMANOVA) test showed that there were differences in microorganisms between the two groups (P &lt; 0.05). Combined with linear fitting analysis, a total of six biomarkers were identified, including Ruminobacter, Eubacterium_xylanophilum_group, Romboutsia, etc. Functional enrichment analysis showed that microorganisms may affect FCR through volatile fatty acids synthesis and inflammatory response. At the same time, we conducted a longitudinal analysis of the hindgut microbes, sampling nine-time points throughout the sheep birth to market stages. The microbiota is clearly divided into two parts: before weaning and after weaning, and after weaning microbes are less affected by before weaning microbial composition.
Acquisition, duplicates and exchange
Authors: Dowler Amelia 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Charles Philippe de Bosset (1773–1845) was a Swiss soldier and British imperial official who established an extensive archaeological and numismatic collection from the Mediterranean region, particularly the Ionian Islands. His collections are now in the British Museum, the Laténium in Neuchâtel and the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire de Neuchâtel. This article establishes the circumstances of the British Museum’s acquisition in the early nineteenth century of its part of the de Bosset collection of coins, two bas-reliefs and a bronze. It then considers the process of removing duplicate coins from the British Museum collection through sales and exchanges by an examination of the de Bosset acquisition. Finally, it uses de Bosset’s own publication in 1815 of the coins of Cephalonia, Ithaca and Delphi as a case-study to restore archaeological provenance and a catalogue of that part of de Bosset’s collection.
Metabolic engineering and optimization of Escherichia coli co-culture for the de novo synthesis of genkwanin
Authors: Thuan Nguyen Huy , Tatipamula Vinay Bharadwaj , Trung Nguyen Thanh , Van Giang Nguyen 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Genkwanin has various significant roles in nutrition, biomedicine, and pharmaceutical biology. Previously, this compound was chiefly produced by plant-originated extraction or chemical synthesis. However, due to increasing concern and demand for safe food and environmental issues, the biotechnological production of genkwanin and other bioactive compounds based on safe, cheap, and renewable substrates has gained much interest. This paper described recombinant Escherichia coli-based co-culture engineering that was reconstructed for the de novo production of genkwanin from d-glucose. The artificial genkwanin biosynthetic chain was divided into 2 modules in which the upstream strain contained the genes for synthesizing p-coumaric acid from d-glucose, and the downstream module contained a gene cluster that produced the precursor apigenin and the final product, genkwanin. The Box–Behnken design, a response surface methodology, was used to empirically model the production of genkwanin and optimize its productivity. As a result, the application of the designed co-culture improved the genkwanin production by 48.8 ± 1.3 mg/L or 1.7-fold compared to the monoculture. In addition, the scale-up of genkwanin bioproduction by a bioreactor resulted in 68.5 ± 1.9 mg/L at a 48 hr time point. The combination of metabolic engineering and fermentation technology was therefore a very efficient and applicable approach to enhance the production of other bioactive compounds.
Management of Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) on a cow–calf farm in East Tennessee, USA
Authors: Butler R A , Trout Fryxell R T 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann is an exotic and invasive tick species rapidly expanding across the United States. Large infestations of these ticks on cattle can cause anemia, and in eastern regions of the country, they are transmitting Theileria orientalis Ikeda within herds. Methods for managing H. longicornis in the environment are rarely successful and rely on chemicals. To document population effects from producer management decisions, we investigated the change in H. longicornis populations to different tick management practices chosen by producers at 3 different H. longicornis-infested farms. Farm 1 kept a closed herd, chose to cut brush monthly, used on-animal acaricides, and allowed us to drag weekly. Farm 2 kept an open herd, chose to cut brush yearly, did not use on-animal acaricides, and allowed us to drag for ticks weekly/monthly. Farm 3 kept an open herd, chose to cut brush yearly, used on-animal acaracides, and allowed us to drag for ticks monthly. We assessed H. longicornis populations responding to those methods over time using active surveillance methods at each farm. Management decisions on Farms 1 and 3 significantly reduced H. longicornis on farms. Importantly, Farm 1 management decisions reduced the chance of a tick being present by 90%; the number of questing ticks collected fell from 5,000 to 12 H. longicornis in 2 years. Therefore, combined management strategies such as keeping a closed herd, use of on-animal chemical control, mechanical control, and reducing the amount of vegetation on farms were effective ways for producers to manage Haemaphysalis longicornis Neuman (Ixodidae).
Mitochondrial DNA variation in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Thia Joshua A , Endersby-Harshman Nancy , Collier Sophie , Nassar Majed S , Tawfik Essam A , Alfageeh Mohamed B , Elfekih Samia , Hoffmann Ary A 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Wolbachia (Hertig 1936) (Rickettsiales: Ehrlichiaceae) has emerged as a valuable biocontrol tool in the fight against dengue by suppressing the transmission of the virus through mosquitoes. Monitoring the dynamics of Wolbachia is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of release programs. Mitochondrial (mtDNA) markers serve as important tools for molecular tracking of infected mitochondrial backgrounds over time but require an understanding of the variation in release sites. In this study, we investigated the mitochondrial lineages of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus 1762) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which is a prospective release site for the “wAlbBQ” Wolbachia-infected strain of this mosquito species. We employed a combination of comprehensive mitogenomic analysis (including all protein-coding genes) and mtDNA marker analysis (cox1 and nad5) using data collected from Jeddah. We combined our mitogenome and mtDNA marker data with those from previous studies to place mitochondrial variation in Saudi Arabia into a broader global context. Our findings revealed the presence of 4 subclades that can be broadly categorized into 2 major mitochondrial lineages. Ae. aegypti mosquitoes from Jeddah belonged to both major lineages. Whilst mitogenomic data offered a higher resolution for distinguishing Jeddah mosquitoes from the wAlbBQ strain, the combination of cox1 and nad5 mtDNA markers alone proved to be sufficient. This study provides the first important characterization of Ae. aegypti mitochondrial lineages in Saudi Arabia and offers essential baseline information for planning future molecular monitoring efforts during the release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes.
Rickettsia tillamookensis (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) in Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) in Oklahoma
Authors: Noden Bruce H , Gilliland Meghan , Propst Jozlyn , Slater Kimetha , Karpathy Sandor E , Paddock Christopher D 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Some of the most prevalent arthropod-borne pathogens impacting humans in the United States are transmitted by Ixodes ticks. However, little is known regarding the Rickettsia species that inhabit Ixodes scapularis in the United States. The aim of this study was to screen adult I. scapularis collected in central Oklahoma over an 8-yr period for the presence of tick-borne rickettsial pathogens or potential pathogens. During 2014–2021, 112 adult specimens of I. scapularis were collected from central Oklahoma. Amplicons for Rickettsia spp. were amplified from 53 (47.3%) of the samples. Of the positive ticks, 42 (79.2%) amplicon-positive Rickettsia samples were 100% identical to Rickettsia buchneri, 10 (18.9%) were 100% identical to R. tillamookensis strain Tillamook 23, and 1 (1.9%) specimen showed high identity for Rickettsia amblyommatis. This study highlights the importance of considering Rickettsia-specific assays when assessing Ixodes species ticks for potential pathogens.
Assessing the Effects of User Accountability in Contracting Out
Authors: Esteve Marc , Garrido-Rodríguez Juan Carlos , Moore Alice , Schuster Christian , Zafra Gómez José Luis 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
How does contracting out affect service performance? Evidence to date is mixed. We argue that this is partially due to prior studies focusing often on whether—not how—services are contracted. Yet, how services are contracted matters. In particular, we argue that whether users pay user fees for services to contractors affects efficiency. Where they do, contractor revenue depends on user satisfaction and contractors face incentives to provide quality services to users to retain revenue. Where, by contrast, governments fund services, information asymmetry about the quality of services users receive allows contractors to shirk quality. The assertion is substantiated by empirical evidence derived from a comprehensive analysis of conditional efficiency within the water supply services across 2,111 municipalities in Spain, employing a two-stage conditional order-m data panel estimation. Our results show that contracting out where users pay service fees and thus have incentives to hold contractors accountable outperforms contracting out without user fees in quality-adjusted service provision.
A JROD survey: nationwide overview of radiotherapy data from 2015 to 2021
Authors: Ohba Hisateru , Nakada Yoshihiro , Numasaki Hodaka , Umehara Kensuke , Ota Junko , Okuda Yasuo , Teshima Teruki , Ogawa Kazuhiko , Nakamura Katsumasa , Japanese Society for Radiation Oncology Database Committee  
Published: September 2023

Abstract
The purpose of this survey was to examine the status of radiotherapy in Japan based on the cases registered in the Japanese Radiation Oncology Database (JROD), from 2015 to 2021, and to provide basic data to help improve the usefulness of the JROD in the future. The study population consisted of patients who underwent radiotherapy between 2014 and 2020 and did not opt out of the study. The survey item data analyzed in this study were entered into the database at each radiotherapy institution by referring to medical records from the preceding year. Our results show that the number of registered radiotherapy institutions and cases increased by ~50% in 2019 compared to those in 2015 (to 113 institutions and 60 575 cases, respectively). Among the survey item categories, the registration rate was lowest for prognostic information (13.9% on average over the 7-year period). In terms of the Japanese Society for Radiation Oncology disease site, the breast; lung, trachea and mediastinum and urogenital sites accounted for &gt;50% of the total cases. The average survival and mortality rates over the 7-year study period were 67.4 and 17.4%, respectively. The X-ray radiotherapy completion rate exceeded 90% for all years and across all disease categories. 192Ir-based brachytherapy and 223Ra-based radionuclide therapy accounted for an average of 61.9 and 44.6%, respectively, of all corresponding cases over the 7-year period. In conclusion, this survey enables us to infer the actual status of radiotherapy in Japan based on the analysis of relevant nationwide data.