Profits, Costs, and the Changing Structure of Dairy Farming

U.S. dairy production is consolidating into fewer but larger farms. This report uses data from several USDA surveys to detail that consolidation and to analyze the financial drivers of consolidation. Specifically, larger farms realize lower production costs. Although small dairy farms realize higher revenue per hundredweight of milk sold, the cost advantages of larger size allow large farms to be profitable, on average, even while most small farms are unable to earn enough to replace their capital. Further survey evidence, as well as the financial data, suggest that consolidation is likely to continue.Dairy farming, economies of scale, economies of size, dairy farm structure, milk costs, Farm Management, Industrial Organization, Livestock Production/Industries,

Non-market Valuation Biases Due to Aboriginal Cultural Characteristics in Northern Saskatchewan: The Values Structures Component

Current non-market valuation techniques have been developed based on assumptions about values held within the Eurocentred culture. Contentions between cultures over natural resources are hypothesized to occur because of differences in held values resulting in different values being assigned to the resources in question. This study measured the held values of an Aboriginal band in Northern Saskatchewan as the first dimension of a non-market valuation study of natural resources. These held value structures are presented noting differences by age and gender and in comparison with the local Non-Aboriginal community and another Aboriginal group in northern Alberta.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Controlled Diffusion of Photoswitchable Receptors by Binding Anti-electrostatic Hydrogen-Bonded Phosphate Oligomers

Dihydrogen phosphate anions are found to spontaneously associate into anti-electrostatic oligomers via hydrogen bonding interactions at millimolar concentrations in DMSO. Diffusion NMR measurements supported formation of these oligomers, which can be bound by photoswitchable anion receptors to form large bridged assemblies of approximately three times the volume of the unbound receptor. Photoisomerization of the oligomer-bound receptor causes a decrease in diffusion coefficient of up to 16%, corresponding to a 70% increase in effective volume. This new approach to external control of diffusion opens prospects in controlling molecular transport using light

Process Evaluation to Document Crucial Moments in Development of the National Neurological Conditions Surveillance System at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Background: Neurological conditions or disorders strike roughly 50 million Americans annually but accurate and comprehensive national estimates for many of these conditions are not available. In 2019, Congress provided $5 million to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to establish the National Neurological Conditions Surveillance System (NNCSS). CDC focused initial activities on multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. Purpose: We conducted a process evaluation to document and understand multifaceted work to implement a new surveillance activity for two neurological conditions. Setting: We conducted this evaluation with government personnel internal to the Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, GA. Intervention: A new public health surveillance activity for two neurological conditions, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease, that uses existing data resources and systems. Research design: The evaluation included interviews with CDC personnel and review of administrative and programmatic information. Data were analyzed and interpreted to identify crucial moments in the first year of funded work on NNCSS. The study revealed that this surveillance activity required diverse contributions and collaboration within the federal government and with non-governmental organizations. The findings can be used to guide work to enhance surveillance for many neurological conditions. Findings: The study revealed that this surveillance activity required diverse contributions and collaboration within the federal government and with non-governmental organizations. While collaboration is a cornerstone of public health practice, it is not always well-documented in planning or implementation of surveillance or other data-related activities. Keywords: program evaluation; surveillance; neurological conditions; neurological disorders; multiple sclerosis; Parkinson’s disease

Bostonia: The Boston University Alumni Magazine. Volume 10

Founded in 1900, Bostonia magazine is Boston University's main alumni publication, which covers alumni and student life, as well as university activities, events, and programs

Clinical evidence for overcoming capecitabine resistance in a woman with breast cancer terminating in radiologically occult micronodular pseudo-cirrhosis with portal hypertension: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>We report a case of stage IV breast cancer terminating in an unusual picture of radiologically occult micronodular pseudo-cirrhosis. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed no evidence of metastatic breast cancer within the liver. Unlike the few previously reported cases of intrasinusoidal spread of breast cancer, our patient was palliated with a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt along with salvage chemohormonal therapy. In addition, our patient demonstrated proof of the principle of the dependence of capecitabine (Xeloda) efficacy on dose scheduling as predicted by laboratory studies based on Gompertzian tumor growth and the Norton-Simon hypothesis.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a 52-year-old Caucasian woman who developed radiological signs of portal hypertension without radiological evidence of hepatic metastasis five years after being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. She was receiving chemotherapy for stage IV breast cancer initially thought to be metastatic only to the bones. During salvage therapy with high-dose estradiol (Estradiol valerate), vinorelbine (Navelbine) and bevacizumab (Avastin), she suddenly developed signs of portal hypertension confirmed on computed tomography and by portal and systemic venous pressure measurements. Drug toxicity due to bevacizumab (Avastin) was initially and incorrectly entertained as a cause. The patient underwent palliative transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt and transhepatic venous liver biopsy, which revealed the presence of rapidly progressive and uncontrolled metastatic breast cancer. The new discovery of radiologically occult intrasinusodal hepatic metastases with secondary micronodular cirrhosis was found to be the cause of her sudden onset portal hypertension. The patient's resistance to capecitabine (Xeloda) was reversed by changing the schedule of medication to biweekly 7/7 (7 days ingesting drug alternating with 7 days off drug) from the 14/7 (14 days ingesting drug alternating with a 7 day rest period) day schedule approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This case report demonstrates an unusual presentation of radiographically occult hepatic metastasis from breast cancer palliated with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt. All patients with advanced breast cancer developing unexpected portal hypertension should be considered candidates for liver biopsy despite normal computed tomography of the liver imaging results. This is the first report of a reversal of clinical resistance to capecitabine (Xeloda) by changing from the schedule of 14/7 day to a biweekly 7/7 day schedule. This suggests that a biweekly schedule may be best for some patients.</p

Atp2c2 Is Transcribed From a Unique Transcriptional Start Site in Mouse Pancreatic Acinar Cells

Proper regulation of cytosolic Ca2+ is critical for pancreatic acinar cell function. Disruptions in normal Ca2+ concentrations affect numerous cellular functions and are associated with pancreatitis. Membrane pumps and channels regulate cytosolic Ca2+ homeostasis by promoting rapid Ca2+ movement. Determining how expression of Ca2+ modulators is regulated and the cellular alterations that occur upon changes in expression can provide insight into initiating events of pancreatitis. The goal of this study was to delineate the gene structure and regulation of a novel pancreas-specific isoform for Secretory Pathway Ca2+ ATPase 2 (termed SPCA2C), which is encoded from the Atp2c2 gene. Using Next Generation Sequencing of RNA (RNA-seq), chromatin immunoprecipitation for epigenetic modifications and promoter-reporter assays, a novel transcriptional start site was identified that promotes expression of a transcript containing the last four exons of the Atp2c2 gene (Atp2c2c). This region was enriched for epigenetic marks and pancreatic transcription factors that promote gene activation. Promoter activity for regions upstream of the ATG codon in Atp2c2’s 24th exon was observed in vitro but not in in vivo. Translation from this ATG encodes a protein aligned with the carboxy terminal of SPCA2. Functional analysis in HEK 293A cells indicates a unique role for SPCA2C in increasing cytosolic Ca2+. RNA analysis indicates that the decreased Atp2c2c expression observed early in experimental pancreatitis reflects a global molecular response of acinar cells to reduce cytosolic Ca2+ levels. Combined, these results suggest SPCA2C affects Ca2+ homeostasis in pancreatic acinar cells in a unique fashion relative to other Ca2+ ATPases. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 2768–2778, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Tachycardia Related Cardiomyopathy: Response to Control of the Arrhythmia

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75609/1/j.1540-8183.1989.tb00780.x.pd

The impact of physical inactivity on glucose homeostasis when diet is adjusted to maintain energy balance in healthy, young males

Background &amp; aims: It is unclear if dietary adjustments to maintain energy balance during reduced physical activity can offset inactivity-induced reductions in insulin sensitivity and glucose disposal to produce normal daily glucose concentrations and meal responses. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the impact of long-term physical inactivity (60 days of bed rest) on daily glycemia when in energy balance.Methods: Interstitial glucose concentrations were measured using Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems (CGMS) for 5 days before and towards the end of bed rest in 20 healthy, young males (Age: 34 ± 8 years; BMI: 23.5 ± 1.8 kg/m2). Energy intake was reduced during bed rest to match energy expenditure, but the types of foods and timing of meals was maintained. Fasting venous glucose and insulin concentrations were determined, as well as the change in whole-body glucose disposal using a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp (HIEC).Results: Following long-term bed rest, fasting plasma insulin concentration increased 40% (p = 0.004) and glucose disposal during the HIEC decreased 24% (p &lt; 0.001). Interstitial daily glucose total area under the curve (tAUC) from pre-to post-bed rest increased on average by 6% (p = 0.041), despite a 20 and 25% reduction in total caloric and carbohydrate intake, respectively. The nocturnal period (00:00–06:00) showed the greatest change to glycemia with glucose tAUC for this period increasing by 9% (p = 0.005). CGMS measures of daily glycemic variability (SD, J-Index, M-value and MAG) were not changed during bed rest.Conclusions: Reduced physical activity (bed rest) increases glycemia even when daily energy intake is reduced to maintain energy balance. However, the disturbance to daily glucose homeostasis was much more modest than the reduced capacity to dispose of glucose, and glycemic variability was not negatively affected by bed rest, likely due to positive mitigating effects from the contemporaneous reduction in dietary energy and carbohydrate intake.Clinical trials record: NCT03594799 (registered July 20, 2018) (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03594799)