bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Technical assistance: A determinant of cooperative member loyalty
Authors: Ferreira Marcelo , Macagnan Clea , Vancin Daniel , Toaldo Ana 
Published: December 2020

AbstractCooperative organizations face problems with the opportunistic behavior of their members, such as the “free‐rider problem”. To mitigate this problem, cooperative governance systems develop strategies that aim to maximize the economic gains of cooperative members through investments in technical assistance programs. The purpose of our research is to verify if the participation in the technical assistance program increases the probability of loyalty of dairy cooperative members. To this end, we developed an econometric model with logistic regression, using secondary data extracted from the Programa Gerencial Leite. The program is developed by the cooperative system of the State of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil and comprises 24 cooperatives. The collected data are longitudinal and include the commercial milk transactions carried out between cooperative members and cooperatives during the years 2014 to 2018, totaling 10,548 cooperative members and 28,765 observations collected and analyzed during this period. Our results indicate that participation in the technical assistance program offered by the cooperative governance increases the probability of loyalty of dairy farmers.
Endothelial KCa1.1 and KCa3.1 channels mediate rat intrarenal artery endothelium‐derived hyperpolarization response
Authors: Pinilla Estéfano , Sánchez Ana , Martínez María P. , Muñoz Mercedes , García‐Sacristán Albino , Köhler Ralf , Prieto Dolores , Rivera Luis 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAimEndothelium‐derived hyperpolarization (EDH)‐mediated response plays an essential role in the control of kidney preglomerular circulation, but the identity of the K+ channels involved in this response is still controversial. We hypothesized that large‐ (KCa1.1), intermediate‐ (KCa3.1) and small (KCa2.3) ‐conductance Ca2+‐activated K+ (KCa) channels are expressed in the endothelium of the preglomerular circulation and participate in the EDH‐mediated response.MethodsWe study the functional expression of different K+ channels in non‐cultured, freshly isolated native endothelial cells (ECs) of rat intrarenal arteries using immunofluorescence and the patch‐clamp technique. We correlate this with vasorelaxant responses ex vivo using wire myography.ResultsImmunofluorescence revealed the expression of KCa1.1, KCa3.1 and KCa2.3 channels in ECs. Under voltage‐clamp conditions, acetylcholine induced a marked increase in the outward currents in these cells, sensitive to the blockade of KCa1.1, KCa3.1 and KCa2.3 channels respectively. Isometric myography experiments, under conditions of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase inhibition, showed that blockade either of KCa1.1 or KCa3.1 channels was able to reduce the endothelium‐derived vasorelaxation of isolated interlobar arteries, while their combined blockade completely abolished it. In contrast, blockade of KCa2.3 channels did not reduce this vasorelaxant response, despite being functionally expressed in the endothelial cells.ConclusionThis study shows that KCa1.1 and KCa3.1 channels are functionally expressed at the renal vascular endothelium and play a central role in the EDH‐mediated relaxation of kidney preglomerular arteries, which is important in the control of renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate.
Long‐term interrelations between socio‐emotional and language competencies among preschool dual language learners in Germany
Authors: Ertanir Beyhan , Kaiser‐Kratzmann Jens , Sachse Steffi 
Published: December 2020

BackgroundRecent research has shown that socio‐emotional and language competencies are positively associated with each other. However, few studies have explored these associations for the second language competencies (L2) of young dual language learners (DLLs).AimsThis longitudinal study investigated possible bidirectional associations between L2 language (expressive and receptive vocabulary) and socio‐emotional competencies among preschool DLLs.SampleThe participants were 216 German DLLs (MT1 = 52.67 months;SD = 9.54; 53% girls) who were recruited from 19 preschools.MethodL2 skills were assessed at three time points over the course of one year using standardized tests for expressive and receptive vocabulary. Children’s teachers rated their socio‐emotional strengths and behaviour concerns. Cross‐lagged panel analyses were used to examine the temporal interplay and longitudinal directionality of effects controlling for children’s age, sex, type of language acquisition (sequential vs. simultaneous), and socio‐economic status.ResultsVocabulary skills and socio‐emotional skills were positively correlated with one another at each time point, such that children with better language proficiency were rated by their teachers as children with higher levels of socio‐emotional competence. Moreover, our results provided support for an effect of early socio‐emotional skills (T1) on the relative increase in L2 vocabulary skills (T2 & T3), particularly for expressive vocabulary. However, our results did not demonstrate a statistically significant effect of better L2 language skills on the relative change in socio‐emotional competencies.ConclusionOur results suggest unidirectional longitudinal relations between the socio‐emotional and L2 skills, signifying the role of socio‐emotional skills for the vocabulary development of DLLs.
Lake development and vegetation history in coastal Primor'ye: implications for Holocene climate of the southeastern Russian Far East
Authors: Lozhkin Anatoly V. , Anderson Patricia M. , Brown Thomas A. , Grebennikova Tatiana A. , Korzun Julia A. , Tsigankova Valeriya I. 
Published: December 2020

Latvia Lake provides one of the few high‐resolution palaeoenvironmental records from southeastern Primor'ye. It traces basin, vegetation and climate histories over the past c. 8.6 ka. The Latvia basin experienced four phases, two of which involved frequent shifts amongst lake, lagoon and bay settings (c. 8.6–7.0 cal. ka BP and c. 2.1 cal. ka BP–present). A sandbar was present between c. 7.0 and 6.9 cal. ka BP. The longest interval of Latvia basin stability was from c. 6.9–2.1 cal. ka BP when the basin was a lagoon of varying salinities. Quercus‐broadleaf forests characterized the regional vegetation throughout the past c. 8.6 ka. Variations in thermophilous species (e.g. Juglans,Carpinus,Ulmus,Tilia,Syringa) and Pinus koraiensis reflect shifts in temperature and moisture during the Middle Holocene. A period of warmest climate occurred c. 8.6–5.1 cal. ka BP with wettest conditions from c. 7.5–4.3 cal. ka BP, although all changes in temperature and precipitation were gradual. The Latvia Lake results indicate that changes in Middle to Late Holocene climates were linked more closely to shifts in the East Asian Summer Monsoon and less so to sea level oscillations. This investigation demonstrates that lakes of coastal Primor'ye can provide reliable palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate records despite their changing depositional environments.
Parental phubbing linking to adolescent life satisfaction: The mediating role of relationship satisfaction and the moderating role of attachment styles
Authors: Liu Ke , Chen Weiwei , Wang Hongxia , Geng Jingyu , Lei Li 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundParental phubbing and its effects on adolescents have recently begun to attract concern. Previous studies have shown that parental phubbing was associated with emotional and behavioral problems among adolescents. However, much less is known about the association between parental phubbing and youth life satisfaction, let alone the mediating and moderating mechanisms.MethodsSelf‐reports of parental phubbing, satisfaction with the parent–adolescent relationship, life satisfaction, and attachment style were assessed in a sample of 303 Chinese teenagers (155 girls and 148 boys, Mage = 14.00, SDage = 0.86). Multiple regressions were applied to investigate the association between parental phubbing and adolescents' life satisfaction, the mediating role of adolescents' relationship satisfaction, and the moderating role of adolescents' attachment styles.ResultsParental phubbing had a negative effect on adolescents' life satisfaction, yet this association was completely mediated by adolescents' relationship satisfaction. Besides, the association between parental phubbing and adolescents' relationship satisfaction was moderated by adolescents' attachment styles. Overall, the conditional effect of parental phubbing on adolescents' life satisfaction was significant among the preoccupied teens and the fearful teens but not significant among the secure teens and the dismissing teens.ConclusionAlthough parental phubbing has the potential to undermine youth well‐being, the actual consequences for adolescents are variable, depending on their attachment orientations.
Biphasic roles of pentraxin 3 in cerebrovascular function after white matter stroke
Authors: Shindo Akihiro , Takase Hajime , Hamanaka Gen , Chung Kelly K. , Mandeville Emiri T. , Egawa Naohiro , Maki Takakuni , Borlongan Mia , Takahashi Ryosuke , Lok Josephine , Tomimoto Hidekazu , Lo Eng H. , Arai Ken 
Published: December 2020

AbstractRecent clinical studies suggest that pentraxin 3 (PTX3), which is known as an acute‐phase protein that is produced rapidly at local sites of inflammation, may be a new biomarker of disease risk for central nervous system disorders, including stroke. However, the effects of PTX3 on cerebrovascular function in the neurovascular unit (NVU) after stroke are mostly unknown, and the basic research regarding the roles of PTX3 in NVU function is still limited. In this reverse translational study, we prepared mouse models of white matter stroke by vasoconstrictor (ET‐1 or L‐Nio) injection into the corpus callosum region to examine the roles of PTX3 in the pathology of cerebral white matter stroke. PTX3 expression was upregulated in GFAP‐positive astrocytes around the affected region in white matter for at least 21 days after vasoconstrictor injection. When PTX3 expression was reduced by PTX3 siRNA, blood‐brain barrier (BBB) damage at day 3 after white matter stroke was exacerbated. In contrast, when PTX3 siRNA was administered at day 7 after white matter stroke, compensatory angiogenesis at day 21 was promoted. In vitro cell culture experiments confirmed the inhibitory effect of PTX3 in angiogenesis, that is, recombinant PTX3 suppressed the tube formation of cultured endothelial cells in a Matrigel‐based in vitro angiogenesis assay. Taken together, our findings may support a novel concept that astrocyte‐derived PTX3 plays biphasic roles in cerebrovascular function after white matter stroke; additionally, it may also provide a proof‐of‐concept that PTX3 could be a therapeutic target for white matter‐related diseases, including stroke.
Weight gain post–heart transplantation is associated with an increased risk for allograft vasculopathy and rejection
Authors: Ram Eilon , Klempfner Robert , Peled Amir , Kassif Yigal , Sternik Leonid , Lavee Jacob , Peled Yael 
Published: December 2020

AbstractOBJECTIVEObesity and overweight are associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Since fat mass (FM) and fat‐free mass (FFM) both contribute to total body weight (TBW), we characterized the post–heart transplantation (HT) change in TBW and its implications for outcomes.METHODSPost‐HT changes in TBW, FM, and FFM were reviewed for 211 HT patients assessed during 1997–2017. Endpoints included cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) and rejection.RESULTSMedian TBW increased by 7.3% at 1 year, with a significant rise in the obese category (28% vs. 13%, p < 0.001) and with FM versus FFM making the main contribution (23% vs. 3%, p < 0.001). When patients were divided according to median TBW change (“high” vs. “low”), Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that 10‐year freedom from CAV (log‐rank p < 0.005) and rejection (log‐rank p < 0.01) was significantly higher for the “low” TBW change group. Consistently, multivariable analyses showed that the “high” group was independently associated with significant 3.5‐fold and 4.2‐fold increased risks for CAV (95% CI 1.4–8.7, p = 0.01) and rejection (95% CI 1.2–15.4, p = 0.03), respectively.CONCLUSIONSWeight gain, contributed mostly by FM, is independently associated with an increased risk for CAV and rejection. Follow‐up emphasis should be placed on weight gain and preventative measures.
Elementary visuospatial perception deficit in children with neurodevelopmental disorders
Authors: Pisella Laure , Vialatte Audrey , Martel Marie , Prost‐Lefebvre Myriam , Caton Marie‐Clémence , Stalder Mélanie , Yssad Rosa , Roy Alice C , Vuillerot Carole , Gonzalez‐Monge Sibylle 
Published: December 2020

AimTo assess the prevalence of elementary visuospatial perception (EVSP) deficit in children with neurodevelopmental disorders.MethodUsing a screening test designed and validated to measure dorsal EVSP ability, 168 children (122 males, 46 females; mean age 10y [SD 1y 10mo], range 4y 8mo–16y 4mo) diagnosed with developmental coordination disorder (DCD), specific learning disorder (SLD), attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and/or oral language disorder were compared with a group of 184 typically developing children. We also tested 14 children with binocular vision dysfunction and no neurodevelopmental disorder.ResultsChildren with SLD scored below the interquartile range of typically developing children as frequently (59%) as children with DCD, but only 5% were severely impaired (i.e. scored as outliers). Children with DCD were the most severely impaired (22% of outliers), even more so when they exhibited a co‐occuring disorder. Children with language disorder and those with binocular vision dysfunction scored similarly to the group of typically developing children.InterpretationThese results confirm the importance of assessing EVSP in the clinical evaluation of children with neurodevelopmental disorders, in particular those presenting with DCD or SLD.
What this paper adds

More than half of children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) scored below the normal interquartile range on the elementary visuospatial perception (EVSP) test.

More than half of children with specific learning disorder (SLD) scored below the normal interquartile range on the EVSP test.

Twenty‐two percent of children with DCD performed as outliers on the EVSP test.

Children with language disorder and those with binocular vision dysfunction scored similarly to typically developing children.
No specialist pheromone‐ignoring ants in Lasius niger
Authors: Koch Alexandra , Czaczkes Tomer J. 
Published: December 2020

In insect societies, the balance between exploitation of known resources and exploration of new ones is important to ensure sufficient resources.
Mass recruiting ants, such as Lasius niger, use pheromone trails to recruit nestmates to a newly discovered food source. Pheromone following, however, shows characteristic non‐following (lapse) rates among different species, with ∼20% of L. niger foragers ignoring pheromone.
These characteristic lapse rates might simply be ‘noise’, or they might indicate a subset of specialised explorative foragers, a scouting caste, that consistently ignores pheromone in order to explore.
Here we show pheromone ignoring is not a repeatable behaviour in L. niger foragers – ants who did not follow a trail were no more likely to ignore it again an hour later than ants which did follow it.
Our findings suggest that there is no subset of specialised pheromone‐ignoring L. niger foragers. This may be due to their moderate colony size and strong reliance on individual memories: species with larger colony sizes or a weaker reliance on private information (i.e. memory) may have specialist non‐followers.
Our work raises the question: what is a scout ant? We encourage future research to investigate the presence of a scouting caste in other ant species using our straightforward methodology, as a social information‐ignoring caste may be rarer than expected.
Neck flexor weakness at diagnosis predicts respiratory impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Vasta Rosario , Torrieri Maria Claudia , D’Ovidio Fabrizio , Circiello Alberta , De Mattei Filippo , Manera Umberto , Canosa Antonio , Calvo Andrea , Chiò Adriano , Moglia Cristina 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackground and purposeThe purpose was to assess the prognostic role of neck muscle weakness at diagnosis in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients with respect to survival and respiratory impairment.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted. All ALS patients seen in the Turin ALS Centre from 2007 to 2014 were included. Muscle strength at diagnosis was evaluated using the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale. Survival was considered as the time from diagnosis to death or tracheostomy; time to respiratory impairment was considered as the interval from diagnosis to the first event amongst an ALS Functional Rating Scale revised item 10 <4, forced vital capacity <70%, start of non‐invasive ventilation or tracheostomy. Time from diagnosis to dysarthria, dysphagia and walking impairment were considered as secondary outcomes. Cox proportional hazard regression models adjusted for sex, age at diagnosis, diagnostic delay, onset site, genetics status and the MRC scores of other muscle groups were used to assess the prognostic role of neck muscles.ResultsA total of 370 patients were included in the study. Fifty‐nine (15.9%) patients showed neck flexor weakness at diagnosis; MRC values were mostly in agreement for neck extensors. Neck flexors were the only muscles able to predict survival (hazard ratio 0.49, 95% confidence interval 0.28–0.86; p = 0.01). Furthermore, neck flexor normal strength decreased the risk of respiratory impairment (hazard ratio 0.46, 95% confidence interval 0.22–0.96; p = 0.04) but did not influence any secondary outcomes.DiscussionNeck flexor weakness at diagnosis predicts survival and respiratory impairment in ALS. This result could be valuable for both planning of patients’ interventions and clinical trials’ design.
Heterogeneity of a dwarf phenotype in Dutch traditional chicken breeds revealed by genomic analyses
Authors: Wu Zhou , Bortoluzzi Chiara , Derks Martijn F. L. , Liu Langqing , Bosse Mirte , Hiemstra Sipke Joost , Groenen Martien A. M. , Crooijmans Richard P. M. A. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe growth of animals is a complex trait, in chicken resulting in a diverse variety of forms, caused by a heterogeneous genetic basis. Bantam chicken, known as an exquisite form of dwarfism, has been used for crossbreeding to create corresponding dwarf counterparts for native fowls in the Dutch populations. Here, we demonstrate the heterogeneity of the bantam trait in Dutch chickens and reveal the underlying genetic causes, using whole‐genome sequence data from matching pairs of bantam and normal‐sized breeds. During the bantam‐oriented crossbreeding, various bantam origins were used to introduce the bantam phenotype, and three major bantam sources were identified and clustered. The genome‐wide association studies revealed multiple genetic variants and genes associated with bantam phenotype, including HMGA2 and PRDM16, genes involved in body growth and stature. The comparison of associated variants among studies illustrated differences related to divergent bantam origins, suggesting a clear heterogeneity among bantam breeds. We show that in neo‐bantam breeds, the bantam‐related regions underwent a strong haplotype introgression from the bantam source, outcompeting haplotypes from the normal‐sized counterpart. The bantam heterogeneity is further confirmed by the presence of multiple haplotypes comprising associated alleles, which suggests the selection of the bantam phenotype is likely subject to a convergent direction across populations. Our study demonstrates that the diverse history of human‐mediated crossbreeding has contributed to the complexity and heterogeneity of the bantam phenotype.
The receptor for advanced glycation end products is a sensor for cell‐free heme
Authors: May Olivia , Yatime Laure , Merle Nicolas S. , Delguste Florian , Howsam Mike , Daugan Marie V. , Paul‐Constant Charles , Billamboz Muriel , Ghinet Alina , Lancel Steve , Dimitrov Jordan D. , Boulanger Eric , Roumenina Lubka T. , Frimat Marie 
Published: December 2020

Heme’s interaction with Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) does not fully explain the proinflammatory properties of this hemoglobin‐derived molecule during intravascular hemolysis. The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) shares many features with TLR4 such as common ligands and proinflammatory, prothrombotic, and pro‐oxidative signaling pathways, prompting us to study its involvement as a heme sensor. Stable RAGE‐heme complexes with micromolar affinity were detected as heme‐mediated RAGE oligomerization. The heme‐binding site was located in the V domain of RAGE. This interaction was Fe3+‐dependent and competitive with carboxymethyllysine, another RAGE ligand. We confirmed a strong basal gene expression of RAGE in mouse lungs. After intraperitoneal heme injection, pulmonary TNF‐α, IL1β, and tissue factor gene expression levels increased in WT mice but were significantly lower in their RAGE−/− littermates. This may be related to the lower activation of ERK1/2 and Akt observed in the lungs of heme‐treated, RAGE−/− mice. Overall, heme binds to RAGE with micromolar affinity and could promote proinflammatory and prothrombotic signaling in vivo, suggesting that this interaction could be implicated in heme‐overload conditions.
Bioconversion of lignocellulosic ‘waste’ to high‐value food proteins: Recombinant production of bovine and human αS1‐casein based on wheat straw lignocellulose
Authors: Wang Yan , Kubiczek Dennis , Horlamus Felix , Raber Heinz F. , Hennecke Till , Einfalt Daniel , Henkel Marius , Hausmann Rudolf , Wittgens Andreas , Rosenau Frank 
Published: December 2020

AbstractLignocellulosic biomass is the most abundant bio‐resource on earth, mainly composed of D‐glucose, D‐xylose and L‐arabinose. It is widely considered to be a promising alternative feedstock for biotechnological processes. Here we evaluated its potential to be the carbon source for growth of broadly distributed and well‐established Escherichia coli laboratory and protein expression strains as well as a classic probiotic E. coli strain. E. coli DH5α, E. coli K12‐MG1655, E. coli K12‐W3110, E. coli BL21(DE3) and E. coli Nissle 1917 were cultivated in mineral media containing single lignocellulosic sugar components. Sugar consumption in these cultures and growth parameters of the different strains were characterized. enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) was chosen as a first easy to measure and prominent model recombinant target protein to demonstrate lignocellulose‐dependent recombinant protein production in E. coli. To open new production routes for high value food proteins based on lignocellulose, structural genes encoding bovine αS1‐casein and human αS1‐casein were synthesized, cloned and then expressed in an E. coli T7 expression system in different media based on single sugars and a synthetic wheat straw mixture. Successful recombinant production of both bovine and human αS1‐caseins in E. coli under these experimental conditions was demonstrated and quantified by densitometric analysis after protein separation in polyacrylamide gels. Finally, efficient casein production in E. coli based on a real hydrolysate obtained by steam explosion of wheat straw lignocellulose in a bioreactor‐based batch production process was successfully demonstrated. We believe that this proof‐of‐concept presented here is a promising starting point to open new routes for the production of food or feed proteins with high nutritional and economic value. As such, a valorization of bulk residual biomass like lignocellulose is envisioned as a key support of a growing and truly sustainable bioeconomy.