bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Graminoids vary in functional traits, carbon dioxide and methane fluxes in a restored peatland: implications for modeling carbon storage
Authors: Goud Ellie M. , Touchette Sabrina , Strachan Ian B. , Strack Maria 
Published: May 2021

AbstractOne metric of peatland restoration success is the re-establishment of a carbon sink, yet considerable uncertainty remains around the timescale of carbon sink trajectories. Conditions post-restoration may promote the establishment of vascular plants such as graminoids, often at greater density than would be found in undisturbed peatlands, with consequences for carbon storage. Although graminoid species are often considered as a single plant functional type (PFT) in land-atmosphere models, our understanding of functional variation among graminoid species is limited, particularly in a restoration context. We used a traits-based approach to evaluate graminoid functional variation and to assess whether different graminoid species should be considered a single PFT or multiple types. We tested hypotheses that greenhouse gas fluxes (CO2, CH4) would vary due to differences in plant traits among five graminoid species in a restored peatland in central Alberta, Canada. We further hypothesized that species would form two functionally distinct groupings based on taxonomy (grass, sedge). Differences in gas fluxes among species were primarily driven by variation in leaf physiology related to photosynthetic efficiency and resource-use, and secondarily by plant size. Multivariate analyses did not reveal distinct functional groupings based on taxonomy or environmental preferences. Rather, we identified functional groups defined by continuous plant traits and carbon fluxes that are consistent with ecological strategies related to differences in growth rate, resource-acquisition, and leaf economics. These functional groups displayed larger carbon storage potential than currently-applied graminoid PFTs. Existing PFT designations in peatland models may be more appropriate for pristine or high-latitude systems than those under restoration. Although replacing PFTs with continuous plant traits remains a challenge in peatlands, traits related to leaf physiology and growth rate strategies offer a promising avenue for future applications.
Density-based binning of gene clusters to infer function or evolutionary history using GeneGrouper
Authors: McFarland Alexander G. , Kennedy Nolan W. , Mills Carolyn E. , Tullman-Ercek Danielle , Huttenhower Curtis , Hartmann Erica M. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractMotivationIdentifying gene clusters of interest in phylogenetically proximate and distant taxa can help to infer phenotypes of interest. Conserved gene clusters may differ by only a few genes, which can be biologically meaningful, such as the formation of pseudogenes or insertions interrupting regulation. These qualities may allow for unsupervised clustering of similar gene clusters into bins that provide a population-level understanding of the genetic variation in similar gene clusters.ResultsWe developed GeneGrouper, a command-line tool that uses a density-based clustering method to group gene clusters into bins. GeneGrouper demonstrated high recall and precision in benchmarks for the detection of the 23-gene Salmonella enterica LT2 Pdu gene cluster and four-gene Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 Mex gene cluster in 435 genomes containing mixed taxa. In a subsequent application investigating the diversity and impact of gene complete and incomplete LT2 Pdu gene clusters in 1130 S. enterica genomes, GeneGrouper identified a novel, frequently occurring pduN pseudogene. When replicated in vivo, disruption of pduN with a frameshift mutation negatively impacted microcompartment formation. We next demonstrated the versatility of GeneGrouper by clustering both distant homologous gene clusters and variable gene clusters found in integrative and conjugative elements.AvailabilityGeneGrouper software and code are publicly available at https://github.com/agmcfarland/GeneGrouper.
Structure Learning for Hierarchical Regulatory Networks
Authors: Federico Anthony , Kern Joseph , Varelas Xaralabos , Monti Stefano 
Published: May 2021

ABSTRACTNetwork analysis offers a powerful technique to model the relationships between genes within biological regulatory networks. Inference of biological network structures is often performed on high-dimensional data, yet is hindered by the limited sample size of high throughput “omics” data typically available. To overcome this challenge, we exploit known organizing principles of biological networks that are sparse, modular, and likely share a large portion of their underlying architecture. We presentSHINE-Structure Learning forHierarchicalNetworks - a framework for defining data-driven structural constraints and incorporating a shared learning paradigm for efficiently learning multiple networks from high-dimensional data. We show through simulationsSHINEimproves performance when relatively few samples are available and multiple networks are desired, by reducing the complexity of the graphical search space and by taking advantage of shared structural information. We evaluatedSHINEon TCGA Pan-Cancer data and found learned tumor-specific networks exhibit expected graph properties of real biological networks, recapture previously validated interactions, and recapitulate findings in literature. Application ofSHINEto the analysis of subtype-specific breast cancer networks identified key genes and biological processes for tumor maintenance and survival as well as potential therapeutic targets for modulating known breast cancer disease genes.
Feasibility of an Inhalable Ultrasound Contrast Agent to Enhance Airway Imaging
Authors: Clapp Phillip W. , Durham Phillip G. , Antinori Jamie C. , Walmer Rachel W. , Chlebowski Jessica G. , Velasco Brian , Snow Samantha J. , Dayton Paul A. , Caughey Melissa C. 
Published: May 2021

IntroductionUltrasound is a relatively inexpensive and non-ionizing imaging modality, but is under-utilized in large airway assessments due to poor image quality. No commercially available contrast agents currently exist for sonographic evaluation of the respiratory system, nor has a respiratory route of microbubble contrast agent (MCA) administration been previously described for the enhancement of airway imaging.MethodsWe conducted a feasibility study to assess proof-of-concept for an inhalable ultrasound MCA composed of lipid-encapsulated decaflourobutane gas. The MCA was nebulized and administered as an aerosol through the lumen of an ex vivo porcine trachea, with image enhancement evaluated by comparing images pre- and post-exposure. Additionally, primary human bronchial epithelial (hBE) cells from three donors were differentiated at an air-liquid interface and exposed apically to 25 μL of undiluted MCA or vehicle control to assess contrast agent-induced cytotoxicity and inflammation. Basolateral medium was collected 24-hours post-exposure and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) concentrations were measured as biomarkers of cytotoxicity and inflammation, respectively.ResultsContrast microbubbles remained intact following nebulization and enhanced sonographic delineation of ex vivo porcine tracheal walls, indicating adherence of the nebulized MCA to the lumenal mucosa. No significant cytotoxic or inflammatory effects were observed in cultured hBE cells following exposure to MCA.ConclusionsWe present proof-of-concept for an inhaled MCA for the enhancement of sonographic evaluations of the large airways. Pending further evaluations for safety and effectiveness, inhaled MCA may be feasible for clinical ultrasound applications, such as enhancing ultrasound-guided tracheal intubation, detecting airway bleeds, or monitoring large airway diseases in pediatric populations.
Multi-dimensional analyses identify genes of high priority for pancreatic cancer research
Authors: Nwosu Zeribe C. , Giza Heather , Nassif Maya , Charlestin Verodia , Menjivar Rosa E. , Kim Daeho , Kemp Samantha B. , Steele Nina G. , Hu Jiantao , Hu Biao , Wang Shaomeng , Pasca di Magliano Marina , Lyssiotis Costas A. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractGenomic profiling has unveiled the molecular subtypes and mutational landscape of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, there is a knowledge gap on the consistency of gene expression across PDAC tumors profiled in independent studies and this limits follow up research. To facilitate novel drug target prioritization and biomarker discovery, we investigated the most consistently expressed genes in human PDAC. We identified ~4,000 genes highly or lowly expressed in at least 4 of 5 microarrays (adjusted P<0.05) and validated their expression pattern in additional datasets, bulk tumor and single-cell RNA sequencing samples. Over 50% of the genes were previously uncharacterized in PDAC; many correlated with proliferation, metastasis, mutation, tumor grade, and ~41% predicted overall survival. We identified 185 high-priority targets (notably in cell cycle and glycolysis) whose inhibition suppressed PDAC cell viability in multiple RNA interference datasets and these genes predicted treatment in mouse models. Our results represent important milestone in the quest for mechanisms, drug targets and biomarkers in PDAC, and originate from an adaptable analytical concept that can aid discovery in other cancers.HighlightsIdentifies ~4,000 consistent genes across PDAC microarrays, >50% of which have not been studiedGlycolysis and cell cycle are the most consistent processes in PDACHeterogeneous pathways underlie or correlate with clinicopathological variablesIdentifies 205 genes with similar expression pattern in PDAC tissues and peripheral bloodHighlights 185 upregulated genes that are high priority therapeutic targets in PDAC
Pro-regenerative Extracellular Matrix Hydrogel Prevents and Mitigates Pathological Alterations of Pelvic Muscles Following Birth Injury
Authors: Duran Pamela , Sesillo Francesca Boscolo , Burnett Lindsey , Menefee Shawn A. , Cook Mark , Zazueta-Damian Gisselle , Dzieciatkowska Monika , Do Emmy , French Saya , Shah Manali M. , Sanvictores Clyde , Hansen Kirk C. , Shtrahman Matthew , Christman Karen L. , Alperin Marianna 
Published: May 2021

AbstractPelvic floor disorders, which include pelvic organ prolapse, and urinary and fecal incontinence, affect millions of women globally and represent a major public health concern. Pelvic floor muscle (PFM) dysfunction has been identified as one of the leading risk factors for the development of these morbid conditions. Even though childbirth, specifically vaginal delivery, has been long recognized as the most important potentially modifiable risk factor for PFM injury, the precise mechanisms of PFM dysfunction following childbirth remain elusive. In this study we demonstrate that PFMs undergo atrophy and severe fibrosis in parous women with symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse compared to age-matched nulliparous cadaveric donors without history of pelvic floor disorders. These pathological alterations are recapitulated in the pre-clinical rat model of simulated birth injury. The transcriptional signature of PFMs post-injury demonstrates a sustained inflammatory response, impairment in muscle anabolism, and persistent expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling genes. Next, we evaluated the administration of acellular injectable skeletal muscle extracellular matrix hydrogel for the prevention and mitigation of these pathological alterations. Treatment of PFMs with the biomaterial either at the time of birth injury or 4 weeks post-injury reduced muscle atrophy and mitigated fibrotic degeneration. By evaluating gene expression, we demonstrate that these changes are mainly driven by the hydrogel-induced modulation of the immune response and intramuscular fibrosis, as well as enhancement of the endogenous myogenesis. This work furthers our understanding of PFM birth injury and demonstrates proof-of-concept for a new pragmatic pro-regenerative biomaterial approach for treating injured PFMs.
Identification and fermentative properties of an indigenous strain ofWickerhamomyces anomalusisolated fromRosa roxburghiiTratt
Authors: Liu Xiaozhu , Li Yinfeng , Zhao Hubing , Yu Zhihai , Hardie William James , Huang Mingzheng 
Published: May 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify and analyse the fermentative properties of a strain of indigenousWickerhamomyces anomalus(W. anomalus) fromRosa roxburghiiTratt (R. roxburghii).Design/methodology/approachMorphological and molecular methods were used to determine the species of the selected strainW. anomalusC11. The physiological tolerances to glucose, ethanol, citric acid and sulphur dioxide (SO2) were further assessed by checking the growth of cells, and the oenological performances were proved to measure the related fermentative properties ofR. roxburghiiwines.FindingsTheW. anomalusC11 strain could be grown faster than commercialS. cerevisiaeX16 in its logarithmic growth period and had preferable tolerances to glucose, ethanol, citric acid and SO2. Moreover, this strain of nativeR. roxburghiiyeastW. anomalusC11 produced less sulphuretted hydrogen and had a higherβ-glucosidase activity. Furthermore,W. anomalusC11 could reduce the volatile acids, reduce the sourness and enhance volatile aroma richness and complexity ofR. roxburghiiwines including types of aroma and content thereof. Taken together, theR. roxburghiinative yeastW. anomalusC11 may have potential for use inR. roxburghiiwinemaking.Originality/value(1) The fermentative properties of a strain of indigenousW. anomalus(named as C11) fromR. roxburghiiwas evaluated. (2) The strain ofW. anomalusC11 had preferable tolerances to glucose, ethanol, citric acid and SO2. (3) This strain of nativeR. roxburghiiyeastW. anomalusC11 produced less sulphuretted hydrogen and had a higherß-glucosidase activity. (4)W. anomalusC11 could reduce the volatile acids, reduce the sourness and enhance volatile aroma richness and complexity ofR. roxburghiiwines including types of aroma and content thereof.
How to increase job satisfaction: the role of participative decisions and feeling trusted
Authors: Guinot Jacob , Monfort Adrián , Chiva Ricardo 
Published: May 2021

PurposeIn the last few years a new management style and paradigm has emerged with the aim of improving employee motivation, commitment and satisfaction through participatory management practices and more democratic organizational structures. Based on this new paradigm, this study examines the consequences of participative decision making for job satisfaction and trust.Design/methodology/approachTo examine the proposed relationships structural equation modelling was used on a sample of 3,364 employees conducted by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound).FindingsResults confirm that participative decisions positively influence job satisfaction both directly and indirectly by means of employees' perception of trust.Originality/valueBased on democratic management style, this study shows how participative decisions and trust can increase job satisfaction.
Season ticket holder segmentation in professional sports: an application of the sports relationship marketing model
Authors: Finch David J. , Abeza Gashaw , O'Reilly Norm , Nadeau John , Levallet Nadège , Legg David , Foster Bill 
Published: May 2021

PurposeThe segmentation of customers into homogeneous groups is well researched, reflecting its importance to marketers. Specific to professional sports, published research on customer segmentation first occurred in the early 2000s, but no studies exist based on internal data from season ticket holders, an attractive and loyal customer group which is the most important customer for professional sports teams. Thus, the purpose of this research was to fill this gap in the literature through a sequential study of season ticket holders of a professional sports club.Design/methodology/approachStudy 1 employed six focus groups (n = 56) to determine the constructs, understand the issues, and sequentially inform the survey instrument for the second study. Study 2 used an online survey (n = 1,007) to collect data on factors including socio-demographics, consumption, media engagement, fan satisfaction, future intentions and sports fan motivation.FindingsThe results identified the engagement factors and selection variables which drive season ticket holder purchase and allowed for the segmentation analysis, which identified fourteen unique fan segments for a professional sports club, generalizable to other clubs.Originality/valueThe identification of 14 segments of season ticket holders based on a sequential study framed by the sports relationship marketing model is a needed contribution for practice (i.e. a specific direction on how to efficiently allocate resources when marketing to season ticket holders) and advances our conceptual knowledge by applying the model to the context of the most loyal customers in professional sports season ticket holders.
Metacognition as a core skill for wise decision-making in higher education: investigating gender differences
Authors: Abedini Yasamin 
Published: May 2021

PurposeThe present study aimed to predict department heads' wisdom in Tehran universities based on their metacognitive beliefs and gender.Design/methodology/approachThe study employed a nonexperimental design. The statistical population consisted of all male and female heads of departments in Tehran universities, among whom 150 participants were selected using Morgan's table and via the random sampling method. The research instruments were the Meta-Cognitive Beliefs Questionnaire (Wells, 1997) and the Wisdom Scale (Schmitet al., 2012). The data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis and independent-samplest-test.FindingsThe total scores of male and female principals were significantly different in the two scales and some of their subscales. The metacognitive beliefs scale and its components were good and significant predictors of the principals' wisdom. Cognitive self-awareness was the best positive predictor, and positive beliefs about worries were the best negative predictor for their wisdom.Practical implicationsWise department heads are usually more empathetic, and this makes their decisions for the well-being and satisfaction of their colleagues as well as the students. Therefore, when faculty members are more satisfied and relaxed, they can do their teaching better and establish more effective relationships with their students. They should also be more motivated to do scientific research studies. Because wise managers are happier and more relaxed, they can focus more on solving educational problems in their department, and this, in turn, improves the educational quality of their department. The higher the quality of the university educational system, the less stress and the more mental health the students will have. Students in such educational environments are more focused on learning courses and gain better expertise. These students will provide more specialized services to the community in the future.Social implicationsWisdom is associated with better contributing to a happy life, and as a result, we have a healthier and more productive society.Originality/valueIt can be concluded that positive metacognitive knowledge, such as cognitive self-awareness via affecting the principals' mental awareness and regulating thoughts, and negative metacognitive experiences, such as worrying about the future, low meta memory and sensitive-obsessive control negatively affecting their affective and cognitive states, affect the principals' decisions and behaviors in educational settings. According to the results of this research, university presidents can hold workshops to increases metacognitive skills to their administrators and teachers. Also, the results of the present study can help the heads of university departments to establish more constructive and effective relationships with the faculty members and students by strengthening their metacognitive skills.
The lost generation of entrepreneurs? The impact of COVID-19 on the availability of risk capital in Canada
Authors: Croteau Martin , Grant Kenneth A. , Rojas Claudio , Abdelhamid Hadeer 
Published: May 2021

Purpose
Canada has lagged in access to capital for high-potential, growth-oriented new ventures, but has made considerable strides in the past decade. This study aims to examine the evolving state of the market for risk capital in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing a critical assessment of government policy from the perspective of angel investors and diverse communities of entrepreneurs.

Design/methodology/approach
A thematic analysis was conducted of seven COVID-19 roundtable discussions hosted by the National Angel Capital Organization that included 51 global and national-level business and political leaders. The analysis extracted the most salient details from the discussions, distilling them into timely and actionable insights for policymakers.

Findings
The analysis suggests that the government’s economic policy response to the COVID-19 crisis fails to address the sudden liquidity problems faced by new ventures. Entrepreneurs and angel investors have remained resilient, rallied as a community and demonstrated an extraordinary level of trust. Traditionally under-represented communities of entrepreneurs are more affected by the crisis than others.

Practical implications
The findings and recommendations are of relevance to policymakers interested in post-COVID-19 economic policies to address the unique challenges faced by start-ups and ensure their full contribution to economic recovery.

Originality/value
The paper presents several policy recommendations and proposes a novel framework to describe the impacts of the pandemic on different categories of start-ups.
How top management's environmental awareness affect corporate green competitive advantage: evidence from China
Authors: Cao Cuizhen , Tong Xiujun , Chen Yunqi , Zhang Yue 
Published: May 2021

PurposeGreen ambidexterity innovation and green competitive advantage are of great significance to enterprises' sustainable development. From the perspective of upper echelons theory, This paper aims to investigate the role of top managers in gaining green competitive advantage and the intermediary effect of the green ambidexterity innovation between them.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses empirical data from heavily polluting enterprises in China for constructing a model to infer how enterprises achieve the green competitive advantage.FindingsThe paper shows that (a) top managers' environmental awareness and the green ambidexterity innovation are both positively related to the green competitive advantage of enterprises, while there is a difference between the exploitative green innovation and the exploratory green innovation regarding the heterogeneity; the positive effect of the exploratory green innovation on enterprises' green competitive advantage is greater than that of the exploitative green innovation; (b) the green ambidexterity innovation plays a partial intermediary effect between top managers' environmental awareness and enterprises' green competitive advantage and (c) strategic flexibility positively moderates the relation between the green ambidexterity innovation and the green competitive advantage. The study concludes that top managers' environmental awareness has a significantly positive impact on reinforcing green competitive advantages and adopting the green ambidexterity innovation for heavily polluting enterprises in China.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the green innovation management literature by offering a theoretical framework for examining how top managers' environmental awareness influences enterprises' green competitive advantage.