bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Green Tea Polyphenol-Sensitive Calcium Signaling in Immune T Cell Function
Authors: Singh Yogesh , Salker Madhuri S. , Lang Florian
Published: January 2021

Polyphenol compounds found in green tea have a great therapeutic potential to influence multiple human diseases including malignancy and inflammation. In this mini review, we describe effects of green tea and the most important component EGCG in malignancy and inflammation. We focus on cellular mechanisms involved in the modification of T cell function by green tea polyphenol EGCG. The case is made that EGCG downregulates calcium channel activity by influencing miRNAs regulating expression of the channel at the post-transcriptional level.
Novel Prognostic Nomogram for Recurrence-Free Survival of Patients With Primary Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors After Surgical Resection: Combination of Prognostic Nutritional Index and Basic Variables
Authors: Li Shuliang , Chen Daming , Li Shilong , Zhao Zongxian , Yang Huaxiang , Wang DaoHan , Zhang Zhaoxiong , Fu Weihua
Published: January 2021

Background

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common type of mesenchymal tumors in the digestive tract, often recrudescing even after R0 resection. Adjuvant tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy prolonged recurrence-free survival (RFS). This study aimed to develop a novel nomogram for predicting the RFS of patients following surgical resection of GISTs.

Methods

Clinicopathologic data of patients with GISTs at Tianjin Medical University General Hospital (Tianjin, China) from January 2000 to October 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to select the suitable variables from the training cohort to construct a nomogram for 2- and 5-year RFS. The 1,000 bootstrap samples and calibration curves were used to validate the discrimination of the nomogram. The receiver operating characteristic analysis(ROC) was used to compare the predictive ability of the nomogram and present four commonly used risk stratification systems: National Institutes of Health (NIH)–Fletcher staging system; NIH–Miettinen criteria; Modified NIH criteria; and Air Forces Institute of Pathology risk criteria (AFIP).

Results

Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the tumor site, tumor size, mitotic index, tumor rupture, and prognostic nutritional index were significant factors associated with RFS. These variables were selected to create the nomogram for 2- and 5-year RFS (all P<0.05). The 2- and 5-year the ROC of the nomogram were 0.821 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.740–0.903) and 0.798 (95% CI: 0.739–0.903); NIH–Fletcher criteria were 0.757 (95% CI: 0.667–0.846) and 0.683 (95% CI: 0.613–0.753); NIH–Miettinen criteria were 0.762 (95% CI: 0.678–0.845) and 0.718 (95% CI: 0.653–0.783); Modified NIH criteria were 0.750 (95% CI: 0.661–0.838) and 0.689 (95% CI: 0.619–0.760); and AFIP were 0.777 (95% CI: 0.685–0.869) and 0.708 (95% CI: 0.636–0.780). Hence, the predictive probabilities of our nomogram are better than those of other GIST risk stratification systems.

Conclusion

This nomogram, combining tumor site, tumor size, mitotic index, tumor rupture, and prognostic nutritional index, may assist physicians in providing individualized treatment and surveillance protocols for patients with GISTs following surgical resection.
Silencing of Long Non-Coding RNA LINC00607 Prevents Tumor Proliferation of Osteosarcoma by Acting as a Sponge of miR-607 to Downregulate E2F6
Authors: Zheng Yuehuan , Chen Zhe , Zhou Zezhu , Xu Xiangyang , Yang Huilin
Published: January 2021

Osteosarcoma (OS), a type of malignant bone tumor, is commonly found in children and adolescents. Although previous studies have identified that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate OS, it is unclear whether lncRNAs impact the progression of OS. Here, we identified LINC00607, a lncRNA that facilitates OS proliferation, migration, and invasion. Based on the RNA-sequencing results, LINC00607 expression was significantly upregulated in pulmonary metastasis within OS. Functional experiments revealed that LINC00607 promoted migration and invasion of endothelial cells to exacerbate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Furthermore, the results of RNA pull-down assay and invasion assay suggested that the binding between LINC00607 and miR-607 promoted OS invasion. Bioinformatic analysis and rescue experiments demonstrated that E2F6, a transcriptional factor, functioned downstream of LINC00607/miR-607. Finally, we found that LINC00607 promoted OS progression in vivo. This work revealed that LINC00607 worked as an miR-607 sponge to upregulate E2F6 expression, which promoted tumor proliferation in OS. These results identified a novel therapeutic target for treating OS.
Association of Axillary Lymph Node Evaluation With Survival in Women Aged 70 Years or Older With Breast Cancer
Authors: Luo Shi-Ping , Zhang Jie , Wu Qi-Sen , Lin Yu-Xiang , Song Chuan-Gui
Published: January 2021

Background

Survival in elderly patients undergoing sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) has not been specifically analyzed. This study aimed to explore the association between different types of axillary lymph node (ALN) evaluations and survival of elderly breast cancer patients.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted of invasive ductal breast cancer patients 70 years and older in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2004–2016). Analyses were performed to compare the characteristics and survival outcomes of patients who received surgical lymph node dissection and those who did not. Breast cancer specific survival (BCSS) and overall survival were compared by using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis and propensity score matching (PSM) methods to account for selection bias from covariate imbalance.

Results

Of the 75,950 patients analyzed, patients without ALN evaluation had a significantly worse prognosis, while there was no significant difference for BCSS between using a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and an axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) after adjustment for known covariates [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 0.991, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.925–1.062, p = 0.800]. In the stratification analyses after PSM, the ALND did not show a significant BCSS advantage compared with SLNB in any subgroups except for the pN1 stage or above. Furthermore, after PSM of the pN1 stage patients, SLNB was associated with a significantly worse BCSS in hormone receptor negative (HR−) patients (HR = 1.536, 95%CI = 1.213–1.946, p < 0.001), but not in the hormone receptor positive (HR+) group (HR = 1.150, 95%CI = 0.986–1.340, p = 0.075).

Conclusion

In our study, ALND does not yield superior survival compared with SLNB for elderly patients with pN1 stage HR+ breast cancer. Although our findings are limited by the bias associated with retrospective study design, we believe that in the absence of results from randomized clinical trials, our findings should be considered when recommending the omission of ALND for elderly breast cancer patients.
Physical and Psychological Effects of Bariatric Surgery on Obese Adolescents: A Review
Authors: Roberts Cherie A.
Published: January 2021

The worldwide obesity crisis is not isolated to adults; rather, obesity in adolescents has reached epidemic levels as well. Bariatric surgery continues to be one of the most effective treatments for obesity, both in adults and adolescents, with new evidence continually emerging; however, research surrounding outcomes of these procedures in younger patients is limited in comparison with data available for adults. Further, it is important to examine psychological aspects of obesity in adolescents, as well as effects of surgery on mental health endpoints. Conditions such as anxiety, depression, anger, and disruptive behavior show increased prevalence among obese adolescents, but minimal research exists to examine changes in such conditions following bariatric surgery. Additionally, there is growing evidence of a bidirectional relationship between sleep (quality; disorders) and the development of obesity, and the effects of this relationship are particularly pronounced in the vulnerable adolescent population. This review aims to compile and discuss the results of literature within the last 5 years with regard to overall efficacy of bariatric surgery specifically in adolescent patients in terms of weight and body mass index (BMI) reduction, hormonal changes, and co-morbidity resolution, as well as data surrounding sleep and psychological outcomes. Race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status were also examined. From this review, we conclude that current research supports bariatric surgery in adolescents as an effective method of treatment for obesity and related co-morbidities; however, minimal long-term data exists to adequately assess efficacy and trends into adulthood. These areas are ripe for future study.
MicroRNAs and Natural Compounds Mediated Regulation of TGF Signaling in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Javed Zeeshan , Khan Khushbukhat , Rasheed Amna , Sadia Haleema , Raza Shahid , Salehi Bahare , Cho William C. , Sharifi-Rad Javad , Koch Wojciech , Kukula-Koch Wirginia , Głowniak-Lipa Anna , Helon Paweł
Published: January 2021

Prostate cancer (PCa) is with rising incidence in male population globally. It is a complex anomaly orchestrated by a plethora of cellular processes. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling is one of the key signaling pathways involved in the tumorigenesis of PCa. TGF-β signaling has a dual role in the PCa, making it difficult to find a suitable therapeutic option. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) mediated regulation of TGF-β signaling is responsible for the TGF-ß paradox. These are small molecules that modulate the expression of target genes and regulate cancer progression. Thus, miRNAs interaction with different signaling cascades is of great attention for devising new diagnostic and therapeutic options for PCa. Natural compounds have been extensively studied due to their high efficacy and low cytotoxicity. Here, we discuss the involvement of TGF-ß signaling in PCa with the interplay between miRNAs and TGF-β signaling and also review the role of natural compounds for the development of new therapeutics for PCa.
Enhanced Autophagy in GAB1-Deficient Vascular Endothelial Cells Is Responsible for Atherosclerosis Progression
Authors: Qian Xin , Wang Han , Wang Yuli , Chen Jiaquan , Guo Xiangjiang , Deng Haoyu
Published: January 2021

Autophagy is a host machinery that controls cellular health. Dysfunction of autophagy is responsible for the pathogenesis of many human diseases that include atherosclerosis obliterans (ASO). Physiologically, host autophagy removes aging organelles and delays the formation of atherosclerotic plaque. However, in ischemia event, dysregulated autophagy can be induced to trigger autosis, leading to an inevitable cellular death. Grb2-associated binder 1 (GAB1) is a docking/scaffolding adaptor protein that regulates many cell processes including autophagy. Our study first reported that the protein expression of GAB1 significantly decreased in ASO. Mechanically, our results showed that inhibition of Akt (protein kinase B), the upstream of mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin), significantly enhanced autophagy by demonstrating the downregulation of p62/Sequestosome 1 expression and the upregulation of the ratio of LC3II/LC3I. Conversely, we found that the inhibition of ERK1/2 (extracellular signal-regulated kinases1/2), p38, and JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) signaling pathway, respectively, significantly inhibited autophagy by demonstrating the upregulation of p62 expression and the downregulation of the ratio of LC3II/LC3I. Further, we demonstrated that knockdown of GAB1 significantly increased autophagy in HUVECs (human umbilical vein endothelial cells) via activation of MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathways that include ERK1/2, p38, and JNK. Moreover, we found that knockdown of GAB1 profoundly inhibited HUVEC proliferation, migration, and tube formation. Taken together, this study first suggests that GAB1 is a key regulator of autophagy in HUVECs. Targeting GAB1 may serve as a potential strategy for the atherosclerosis treatment.
Pathogenesis of Multiple Organ Injury in COVID-19 and Potential Therapeutic Strategies
Authors: Lopes-Pacheco Miquéias , Silva Pedro Leme , Cruz Fernanda Ferreira , Battaglini Denise , Robba Chiara , Pelosi Paolo , Morales Marcelo Marcos , Caruso Neves Celso , Rocco Patricia Rieken Macedo
Published: January 2021

Severe acute respiratory disease coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, formerly 2019-nCoV) is a novel coronavirus that has rapidly disseminated worldwide, causing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. As of January 6th, 2021, there were over 86 million global confirmed cases, and the disease has claimed over 1.87 million lives (a ∼2.2% case fatality rate). SARS-CoV-2 is able to infect human cells by binding its spike (S) protein to angiotensin-conversing enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is expressed abundantly in several cell types and tissues. ACE2 has extensive biological activities as a component of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and plays a pivotal role as counter-regulator of angiotensin II (Ang II) activity by converting the latter to Ang (1-7). Virion binding to ACE2 for host cell entry leads to internalization of both via endocytosis, as well as activation of ADAM17/TACE, resulting in downregulation of ACE2 and loss of its protective actions in the lungs and other organs. Although COVID-19 was initially described as a purely respiratory disease, it is now known that infected individuals can rapidly progress to a multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. In fact, all human structures that express ACE2 are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or to the downstream effects of reduced ACE2 levels, namely systemic inflammation and injury. In this review, we aim to summarize the major features of SARS-CoV-2 biology and the current understanding of COVID-19 pathogenesis, as well as its clinical repercussions in the lung, heart, kidney, bowel, liver, and brain. We also highlight potential therapeutic targets and current global efforts to identify safe and effective therapies against this life-threatening condition.
Voltage/Calcium Uncoupling Underlies Sustained Torsade de Pointes Ventricular Tachyarrhythmia in an Experimental Model of Long QT Syndrome
Authors: Himel Herman D. , Cupelli Michael , Boutjdir Mohamed , El-Sherif Nabil
Published: January 2021

Background

Clinical experience showed that the majority of Torsade de Pointes (TdP) ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VT) in patients with long QT syndrome (LQTS) are self-terminating (ST), but the few that are non-self-terminating (NST) are potentially fatal. A paramount issue in clinical arrhythmology is to understand the electrophysiological mechanism of ST vs. NST TdP VT.

Methods

We investigated the electrophysiological mechanism of ST vs. NST TdP VT in the guinea pig Anthopleurin-A experimental model of LQTS, a close surrogate model of congenital LQT3. We utilized simultaneous optical recordings of membrane voltage (Vm) and intracellular calcium (Cai) and a robust analytical method based on spatiotemporal entropy difference (Ed) to investigate the hypothesis that early Vm/Caiuncoupling during TdP VT can play a primary role in perpetuation of VT episodes.

Results

We analyzed a total of 35 episodes of TdP VT from 14 guinea pig surrogate models of LQTS, including 23 ST and 12 NST VTs. Edvalues for NST VT were significantly higher than Edvalues for ST VT. Analysis of wave front topology during the early phase of ST VT showed the Caiwave front following closely Vmwave front consistent with a lower degree of Ed. In contrast, NST VT was associated with uncoupling of Vm/Caiwave fronts during the first 2 or 3 cycles of VT associated with early wave break propagation pattern.

Conclusions

Utilizing a robust analytical method we showed that, in comparison to ST TdP VT, NST VT was consistently predated by early uncoupling of Vm/Caithat destabilized wave front propagation and can explain a sustained complex reentrant excitation pattern.
Early Renal Vasodilator and Hypotensive Action of Epoxyeicosatrienoic Acid Analog (EET-A) and 20-HETE Receptor Blocker (AAA) in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Walkowska Agnieszka , Červenka Luděk , Imig John D. , Falck John R. , Sadowski Janusz , Kompanowska-Jezierska Elżbieta
Published: January 2021

Cytochrome P450 (CYP-450) metabolites of arachidonic acid: epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) and 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) have established role in regulation of blood pressure (BP) and kidney function. EETs deficiency and increased renal formation of 20-HETE contribute to hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). We explored the effects of 14,15-EET analog (EET-A) and of 20-HETE receptor blocker (AAA) on BP and kidney function in this model. In anesthetized SHR the responses were determined of mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), total renal (RBF), and cortical (CBF) and inner-medullary blood flows, glomerular filtration rate and renal excretion, to EET-A, 5 mg/kg, infused i.v. for 1 h to rats untreated or after blockade of endogenous EETs degradation with an inhibitor (c-AUCB) of soluble epoxide hydrolase. Also examined were the responses to AAA (10 mg/kg/h), given alone or together with EET-A. EET-A significantly increased RBF and CBF (+30% and 26%, respectively), seen already within first 30 min of infusion. The greatest increases in RBF and CBF (by about 40%) were seen after AAA, similar when given alone or combined with EET-A. MABP decreased after EET-A or AAA but not significantly after the combination thereof. In all groups, RBF, and CBF increases preceded the decrease in MABP. We found that in SHR both EET-A and AAA induced renal vasodilation but, unexpectedly, no additive effect was seen. We suggest that both agents have a definite therapeutic potential and deserve further experimental and clinical testing aimed at introduction of novel antihypertensive therapy.
Plant Factories Are Heating Up: Hunting for the Best Combination of Light Intensity, Air Temperature and Root-Zone Temperature in Lettuce Production
Authors: Carotti Laura , Graamans Luuk , Puksic Federico , Butturini Michele , Meinen Esther , Heuvelink Ep , Stanghellini Cecilia
Published: January 2021

This study analyzed interactions among photon flux density (PPFD), air temperature, root-zone temperature for growth of lettuce with non-limiting water, nutrient, and CO2 concentration. We measured growth parameters in 48 combinations of a PPFD of 200, 400, and 750 μmol m–2 s–1 (16 h daylength), with air and root-zone temperatures of 20, 24, 28, and 32°C. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa cv. Batavia Othilie) was grown for four cycles (29 days after transplanting). Eight combinations with low root-zone (20 and 24°C), high air temperature (28 and 32°C) and high PPFD (400 and 750 μmol m–2 s–1) resulted in an excessive incidence of tip-burn and were not included in further analysis. Dry mass increased with increasing photon flux to a PPFD of 750 μmol m–2 s–1. The photon conversion efficiency (both dry and fresh weight) decreased with increasing photon flux: 29, 27, and 21 g FW shoot and 1.01, 0.87, and 0.76 g DW shoot per mol incident light at 200, 400, and 750 μmol m–2 s–1, respectively, averaged over all temperature combinations, following a concurrent decrease in specific leaf area (SLA). The highest efficiency was achieved at 200 μmol m–2 s–1, 24°C air temperature and 28°C root-zone temperature: 44 g FW and 1.23 g DW per mol incident light. The effect of air temperature on fresh yield was linked to all leaf expansion processes. SLA, shoot mass allocation and water content of leaves showed the same trend for air temperature with a maximum around 24°C. The effect of root temperature was less prominent with an optimum around 28°C in nearly all conditions. With this combination of temperatures, market size (fresh weight shoot = 250 g) was achieved in 26, 20, and 18 days, at 200, 400, and 750 μmol m–2 s–1, respectively, with a corresponding shoot dry matter content of 2.6, 3.8, and 4.2%. In conclusion, three factors determine the “optimal” PPFD: capital and operational costs of light intensity vs the value of reducing cropping time, and the market value of higher dry matter contents.
Mental Health and Political Representation: A Roadmap
Authors: Bernardi Luca
Published: January 2021

Research on health and political behavior has identified a significant mental health-participation gap that is likely to have important consequences for political equality. Yet such consequences remain by and large unexplored. Inspired by 60 years of empirical research on public opinion, media and policy, this article proposes a roadmap for research on the political representation of mental health. It advances a number of research questions around 1) opinion formation and issue emergence and evolution, 2) multiple and complementary societal signals that can influence policy makers’ issue attention and policy change, and 3) different conceptions of representation and their consequences for public attitudes and political participation. The article also provides a preliminary attempt at addressing whether mental health spending incorporates signals from public preferences for spending on mental health services or policy problems. Making use of time-series data on spending on mental health services by local authorities in England between 1994 and 2013, the analysis finds no statistical association between spending and policy problems and reveals a negative relationship between spending and public preferences, suggesting that if spending is reacting at all to preferences, it misrepresents them. This article invites scholars to collect more data and produce more research that will guide interventions to help overcome stigma and participation challenges that undermine political equality as one of the key principles of democracy.
Score-Guided Structural Equation Model Trees
Authors: Arnold Manuel , Voelkle Manuel C. , Brandmaier Andreas M.
Published: January 2021

Structural equation model (SEM) trees are data-driven tools for finding variables that predict group differences in SEM parameters. SEM trees build upon the decision tree paradigm by growing tree structures that divide a data set recursively into homogeneous subsets. In past research, SEM trees have been estimated predominantly with the R package semtree. The original algorithm in the semtree package selects split variables among covariates by calculating a likelihood ratio for each possible split of each covariate. Obtaining these likelihood ratios is computationally demanding. As a remedy, we propose to guide the construction of SEM trees by a family of score-based tests that have recently been popularized in psychometrics (Merkle and Zeileis, 2013; Merkle et al., 2014). These score-based tests monitor fluctuations in case-wise derivatives of the likelihood function to detect parameter differences between groups. Compared to the likelihood-ratio approach, score-based tests are computationally efficient because they do not require refitting the model for every possible split. In this paper, we introduce score-guided SEM trees, implement them in semtree, and evaluate their performance by means of a Monte Carlo simulation.
Work-Family Conflict and Primary and Secondary School Principals’ Work Engagement: A Moderated Mediation Model
Authors: Yang Zhongping , Qi Shisan , Zeng Lianping , Han Xiaohong , Pan Yun
Published: January 2021

With the development of positive psychology, work engagement has received widespread attention from researchers in the fields of positive organizational behavior and occupational health. Some studies have shown that work-family conflict has an important influence on individual behaviors and attitudes, but little research has studied the influence of work-family conflict on work engagement. The present study examined whether the relationship between work-family conflict and work engagement was mediated by job satisfaction, and whether the mediating role was moderated by affective commitment. We surveyed 358 Chinese primary and secondary school principals using the Work-Family Conflict Scale, Job Satisfaction Scale, Affective Commitment Scale, and Work Engagement Scale. The results revealed that there is a significant negative correlation between work-family conflict and primary and secondary school principals’ work engagement, and this relationship was partially mediated by job satisfaction. Moreover, affective commitment played a moderating role in the relationship between job satisfaction and work engagement. Specifically, the relationship between job satisfaction and work engagement was significant for primary and secondary school principals with high and low affective commitment. The current study contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between work-family conflict and work engagement.
Can Corporate Social Responsibility Promote Employees’ Taking Charge? The Mediating Role of Thriving at Work and the Moderating Role of Task Significance
Authors: Yan Aimin , Tang Liping , Hao Yingchun
Published: January 2021

There is growing evidence to suggest that employees’ perceptions of their employer’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) positively influences their attitude and behavior. An increasing number of scholars have called for further explorations of the microfoundations of CSR. To that end, this study takes the conservation of resources perspective to examine relationships and the perception of CSR by employees, considering areas such as thriving at work, task significance, and employees taking charge. By analyzing 444 questionnaires completed by employees in China and using the conditional process analysis to test a hypothesis, results showed that the association between employees’ CSR perception and taking charge is significantly and positively correlated, with thriving at work mediating the connection. We also found that task significance negatively moderates the mediating effect between CSR and taking charge, such that the lower the level of task significance of a job, the more positive the effect of CSR on taking charge via thriving at work. These findings have theoretical implications for micro-level CSR research and managerial implications for entrepreneurs.
Dream Lucidity and the Attentional Network Task
Authors: Loo Moo-Rung , Cheng Shih-kuen
Published: January 2021

This study investigated the relationship between dream lucidity, i.e., a dreamer’s insight to the ongoing dream, and attention by considering lucidity as a trait. We examined the ways in which lucidity correlates with the orienting, alerting, and conflict components of the attentional network. A total of 77 participants rated the lucidity of their dreams over 7 consecutive days with the LuCiD scale and then completed the attentional network task (ANT). A negative correlation between trait lucidity and the conflict score of the ANT was found for 49 participants whose responses were faster when an alerting signal was presented. This result suggested that, with a prerequisite that the presence of cues facilitates subsequent information processing, the greater a person’s trait lucidity, the more efficiently he or she is capable of resolving conflicts.
Rational Adaptation in Using Conceptual Versus Lexical Information in Adults With Aphasia
Authors: Dresang Haley C. , Warren Tessa , Hula William D. , Dickey Michael Walsh
Published: January 2021

The information theoretic principle of rational adaptation predicts that individuals with aphasia adapt to their language impairments by relying more heavily on comparatively unimpaired non-linguistic knowledge to communicate. This prediction was examined by assessing the extent to which adults with chronic aphasia due to left-hemisphere stroke rely more on conceptual rather than lexical information during verb retrieval, as compared to age-matched neurotypical controls. A primed verb naming task examined the degree of facilitation each participant group received from either conceptual event-related or lexical collocate cues, compared to unrelated baseline cues. The results provide evidence that adults with aphasia received amplified facilitation from conceptual cues compared to controls, whereas healthy controls received greater facilitation from lexical cues. This indicates that adaptation to alternative and relatively unimpaired information may facilitate successful word retrieval in aphasia. Implications for models of rational adaptation and clinical neurorehabilitation are discussed.
The Impact of Challenge and Hindrance Stressors on Thriving at Work Double Mediation Based on Affect and Motivation
Authors: Yang Yi , Li Xiang
Published: January 2021

Although the relationship between stressors and thriving at work has been established, the linkage between them is still in the early stages of theory development. This study proposed a two-path model, based on Lepine’s stressors-performance model, to analyze the effects of the stressors on the thriving at work. Two complementary mediating paths were proposed, i.e., affective strain (positive affect) and motivation (self-efficacy), which were explained using affective events theory and expectancy theory, respectively. Based on the empirical data from 233 employees, the results show that challenge stressors could enhance employees’ positive affect and self-efficacy, thus leading to thriving at work; on the contrary, hindrance stressors would result in negative influences. In addition, it is also found that the effect of affective path tend to be greater than that of motivation path, which could provide a practical guide for organizations to effectively apply stress management and to promote employees thriving at work.
“He’s Just a Wee Laddie”: The Relative Age Effect in Male Scottish Soccer
Authors: Dugdale James H. , McRobert Allistair P. , Unnithan Viswanath B.
Published: January 2021

Significant structural, developmental, and financial constraints exist in Scottish soccer that may predicate a different approach to talent identification and development. To our knowledge, no published reports exist evaluating the prevalence of the relative age effect (RAE) in Scottish soccer players. Consequently, the aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of the RAE among varied playing levels and ages of male Scottish youth soccer players. Birthdates of male youth players (n = 1,230) from U10 to U17 age groups and from playing levels: “Amateur” (n = 482), “Development” (n = 214), and “Performance” (n = 534), alongside a group of male Scottish senior professional players (n = 261) were recorded and categorized into quartiles (Q1 = January–March; Q2 = April–June; Q3 = July–September; and Q4 = October–December) and semesters (S1 = January–June and S2 = July–December) from the start of the selection year. Birthdates were analyzed for: (a) each playing level and (b) each age group irrespective of playing level. For the varied playing levels examined, an RAE was evident in “Development” and “Performance” playing levels only at youth level. When examining each age group, an RAE was observed in U12–U17 players only. While there was a slight asymmetry favoring Q1 born senior professional players, the RAE was not present within this group of our sample. Results from our study suggest that a bias in selecting individuals born earlier in the selection year may exist within male soccer academy structures, but not at amateur level. The asymmetry favoring chronologically older players at youth but not professional level questions the efficacy of this (un)conscious bias within male Scottish soccer players.
Students’ Acceptance of Technology-Mediated Teaching – How It Was Influenced During the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020: A Study From Germany
Authors: Vladova Gergana , Ullrich André , Bender Benedict , Gronau Norbert
Published: January 2021

In response to the impending spread of COVID-19, universities worldwide abruptly stopped face-to-face teaching and switched to technology-mediated teaching. As a result, the use of technology in the learning processes of students of different disciplines became essential and the only way to teach, communicate and collaborate for months. In this crisis context, we conducted a longitudinal study in four German universities, in which we collected a total of 875 responses from students of information systems and music and arts at four points in time during the spring–summer 2020 semester. Our study focused on (1) the students’ acceptance of technology-mediated learning, (2) any change in this acceptance during the semester and (3) the differences in acceptance between the two disciplines. We applied the Technology Acceptance Model and were able to validate it for the extreme situation of the COVID-19 pandemic. We extended the model with three new variables (time flexibility, learning flexibility and social isolation) that influenced the construct of perceived usefulness. Furthermore, we detected differences between the disciplines and over time. In this paper, we present and discuss our study’s results and derive short- and long-term implications for science and practice.
The Antidepressant-Like Effects of Shen Yuan in a Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress Rat Model
Authors: Jiang Ning , Wang Haixia , Huang Hong , Lv Jingwei , Zeng Guirong , Wang Qiong , Bao Yu , Chen Ying , Liu Xinmin
Published: January 2021

Depression is a common yet severe neuropsychiatric condition that causes imposes considerable personal, economic, and social burdens worldwide. Medicinal plant species (e.g., Panax ginseng and Polygala tenuifolia) demonstrate potent antidepressant-like effects with less toxicity and other side effects. Shen yuan prescription (SY), composed of Panax ginseng (GT) and Polygala tenuifolia (YT). The present study aimed to elucidate the effects of SY treatment on chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rats and study the underlying mechanism. Our results indicated that SY (67.5, 135, or 270 mg/kg) significantly reverses the depressive-like behaviors in rats with a 5-week CUMS exposure, as demonstrated by increased sucrose consumption in the sucrose preference test, and decreased immobility time in the tail suspension and forced swim test. Moreover, SY altered serum corticosterone levels, pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α), and oxidative markers (SOD, CAT, and MDA), and increased the levels of hippocampal neurotransmitters (5-HT, DA, and NE) in rats exposed to CUMS. Furthermore, rats treated with SY showed a reduction in the protein expression of BDNF, p-TrkB, p-Akt, and p-mTOR proteins induced by CUMS exposure in the hippocampus. In conclusion, SY prevented depressive-like behaviors in CUMS-exposed rats by preventing hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction, decreasing the levels of the neurotransmitters, minimizing oxidative stress, suppressing neuroinflammation, and activating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR-mediated BDNF/TrkB pathway, all of which are the key players in the pathological basis of depression.
Socioeconomic Drought in a Mexican Semi-arid City: Monterrey Metropolitan Area, a Case Study
Authors: Magaña Víctor , Herrera Eduardo , Ábrego-Góngora Carlos J. , Ávalos José Antonio
Published: January 2021

The Monterrey Metropolitan Area (MMA) is located in northeastern Mexico in a semi-arid region. As in other areas of the world, prolonged and severe meteorological droughts are recurrent. Meteorological droughts affect the level of dam reservoirs, rivers, and groundwater (aquifers) in the region to the extent they become hydrological droughts which in turn may contribute to socioeconomic droughts. The recent dry event (2011–2013) in northern Mexico severely affected various socioeconomic sectors and may serve as an example of future climatic and hydrologic conditions in this region. Meteorological droughts in northeastern Mexico, mostly induced by anomalously intense subsidence, frequently result in hydrological droughts and intense pressure in the water resources services of the Monterrey Metropolitan Area (MMA), one of the largest cities in Mexico. Landfalling tropical cyclones entering northeastern Mexico historically have alleviated water crises during prolonged droughts. In 2013, the rains from tropical cyclone Ingrid helped to recover water levels in the system of dam reservoirs that provides water to the MMA. However, water management is only one part of a complex socioeconomic system that must respond to the growing demands for water in a region where aquifers are already overexploited. Trends in the atmospheric circulation indicate that droughts in the region may become more severe in the coming decades. Improved water management programs and protocols should be considered in addition to closer reviews of the hydraulic infrastructure. Water transfers from one region to another should be carefully planned because solving a problem in one place may adversely affect another. The use of climate information may be critical to avoidance of water conflicts in the future.
Entrenched Inequalities? Class, Gender and Ethnic Differences in Educational and Occupational Attainment in England
Authors: Li Yaojun
Published: January 2021

Research in social stratification tends to focus on class differences in educational and occupational attainment, with particular attention to primary and secondary effects in the former, and class reproduction in the latter, domain. Research in ethnic studies tends to focus, however, on ethnic penalty or premium. Many studies have been conducted in each tradition on specific issues but little research is available that examines class, gender and ethnic effects simultaneously or in tandem with contextual effects, let alone on the whole trajectory from compulsory schooling, through further and higher education, to labor market position. Using data from the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England, this paper shows pronounced class differences but remarkable gender progress in each of the educational domains. With regard to ethnicity, people from minority ethnic heritages had lower GCSE scores due to poorer family conditions but achieved higher transition rates to A-Level study, higher university enrollment and, for some groups, greater attendance at elite universities, resulting in an overall higher rate of degree-level attainment than did whites. One might expect members of ethnic minority backgrounds to fare equally well in their earlier careers in the labor market, but only to find them more vulnerable to unemployment, less likely to have earnings, and more disadvantaged in terms of disposable incomes.
Involvement in Multiple Race Events Among International Para and Non-disabled Swimmers
Authors: Schipman Julien , Saulière Guillaume , Le Toquin Bryan , Marc Andy , Forstmann Nicolas , Toussaint Jean-François , Sedeaud Adrien
Published: January 2021

International elite Para swimmers form a large portion of the overall multi-medalist winning population. For the highest performing Para swimmers, world class performances were achieved across different strokes. The aim of this study was to quantify the level of involvement across different events and to examine this in relation to the level of performance. The performances in swimming speed of the top 100 females and males for both Para- and non-disabled swimmers were collected in 11 race events between 2009 and 2019 (4,400 performances for 307 Para females and 365 Para males, 605 non-disabled females, and 715 non-disabled males). We tallied the number of events in which each swimmer was involved. Swimmers were grouped according to the total number of race events in which they participated. Then the association between involvement and level of performance was investigated. Para swimmers with impairment from classes seven to 14 were involved in a range of race events across different strokes. The most common combination for both Para and non-disabled athletes was over similarly distanced races of the same stroke (50 and 100 m freestyle). The more race events in which Para swimmers involved, the higher the level of performance that was achieved. This trend can partially be explained by the less concentrated competition pool for Para swimmers compared to able-bodied swimmers. Para swimmers with minimal and no physical impairment perform in multiple race events more often than able-bodied swimmers. Fewer Para swimmers at the international level and a less concentrated competition pool could explain these differences.
Detection of Southern Rice Black-Streaked Dwarf Virus Using Western Blotting With P6
Authors: Xie Xin , Jiang Junmei , Huang Maoxi , Chen Meiqing , Qu Zhiguang , Li Xiangyang
Published: January 2021

The southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus (SRBSDV) is a severe threat to the yield and quality of rice products worldwide. Traditional detection methods for diagnosing SRBSDV infection show several false positives and thus provide inaccurate findings. However, Western blotting (WB) can precisely solve this problem. In this study, P6—a viral RNA-silencing suppressor—was expressed and purified in vitro. Two polyclonal P6 antibodies were obtained and quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and WB. Subsequently, WB was performed using the P6 antibodies to identify SRBSDV antigens derived from the suspected rice samples collected from nine districts in Guizhou, China. The assay results showed that Libo, Pingtang, Huishui, Dushan, and Anshun districts had experienced an SRBSDV outbreak. The virus content in the sampled rice tissues was quantified by WB. Our results revealed that SRBSDV mainly accumulated in rice stems rather than rice leaves. Thus, the findings of our study show that the SRBSDV P6 antibody can be used in WB for detecting and monitoring SRBSDV infection in infected rice plants.
Partners in Sickness and in Health? Relationship-Centered Veterinary Care and Self-Educated Pet Owners in Germany: A Structural Equation Model
Authors: Küeper Alina M. , Merle Roswitha
Published: January 2021

In recent years, the web has become a widely used source for health information. Pet owners seem to respond to the supply of medical information on the Internet by increasing their self-education. However, after more than a decade of the digital revolution, little is known about the Internet's impact on the veterinarian-pet owner relationship. Recent research has raised concerns regarding the increase in self-education among pet owners. However, reasons suggest that the Internet might be a valuable source of pet-owner education for veterinarians. In particular, relationship-centered approaches of care might benefit from the information provided. Our study aimed to determine the perception of German veterinarians with regard to pet owners' self-education on different aspects of veterinary care. An online survey was conducted for German veterinarians from November 2016 to June 2017. Data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. Within the structural equation model, we evaluated how the veterinarians' attitude toward relationship-centered care might affect the evaluation of pet owners' self-education. A total of 585 valid questionnaires were completed. The majority of veterinarians (83.6%) welcomed the principles of shared decision-making. Practically, all veterinarians reported a noticeable increase in pet owners' self-education within the last few years. Perceptions on self-education's impacts on veterinary practice varied among the participants. A beneficial impact of self-education was reported regarding the general quality of veterinary care and quality of follow-up care. Most concerns were related to a negative impact on the veterinarian-pet owner relationship and the pet owners' demands on the veterinarians' work after self-education. Moreover, many participants were afraid that unfiltered information may unsettle pet owners and, therefore, advised them against self-education. The structural equation model confirmed the hypothesis that a veterinarian's positive attitude toward shared decision-making, empathic behavior, and his/her evaluation of self-education were associated. Therefore, we concluded that while there are beneficial potentials, there seem to be barriers that prevent the effective use of the Internet as a supportive medium in veterinary care. Further research and training are needed to enable the use of the Internet as an ancillary medium.
Quality of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Changes under Different Cover Crops, Soil Tillage and Nitrogen Fertilization Management
Authors: Massantini Riccardo , Radicetti Emanuele , Frangipane Maria Teresa , Campiglia Enio
Published: January 2021

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the interaction effects of winter cover crops (hairy vetch, subclover and black oat) and a bare soil, cover crop biomass management (incorporated into the soil or left on the soil surface as death mulch), and nitrogen (N) fertilization level (0, 75 and 150 kg ha−1 of N) on fruit yield and fruit quality parameters of processing tomato. Hairy vetch residues increased the yield (+57%), color index (+8%) and sugar/acidity ratio (+7%) of marketable tomato fruits compared to bare soil regardless of cover crop biomass management. Black oat residues determined a poor marketable yield, especially in tilled soil (on average, −26%, compared to bare soil) and they had a tendentially negative effect on some parameters of tomato quality (high firmness and titratable acidity, low color index and pH). Subclover residues, when incorporated into the soil, determined similar marketable fruit yield to bare soil, although they had a more favorable effect on the color parameters of tomato fruits. The increasing of the N fertilization level from 0 kg ha−1 of N to 150 kg ha−1 of N always positively influenced the tomato yield and fruit characteristics. The results suggest that hairy vetch, compared to other cover crops, had a positive influence on tomatoes and it could be part of an environmentally friendly management package for sustainable tomato cultivation in Mediterranean conditions.