bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
O-
GlcNAcylation destabilizes the active tetrameric PKM2 to promote the Warburg effect
Authors: Wang Yang , Liu Jia , Jin Xin , Zhang Dapeng , Li Dongxue , Hao Fengqi , Feng Yunpeng , Gu Shan , Meng Fanlin , Tian Miaomiao , Zheng Yi , Xin Ling , Zhang Xinbo , Han Xue , Aravind L. , Wei Min
Published: December 2017

Significance

Cancer cells are characterized by a high rate of glycolysis even under normal oxygen availability to meet the demand of biomass production during rapid proliferation. An isoform of pyruvate kinase (PK), PKM2, preferentially expressed in cancers, was recently shown to be critical for this metabolic reprogramming with adjustable activity and dynamic cellular relocalization. However, specific molecular mechanisms mediating PKM2’s role in cancer-specific metabolism remain largely elusive. We demonstrate that
O-
GlcNAcylation of PKM2 on threonine/serine encoded by an alternatively spliced exon disrupts the intersubunit interactions in the active PKM2 tetramer. This causes the tetramer disassembly, reduced PK activity, and its nuclear translocation to facilitate cell proliferation. Thus, our findings furnish a key piece in the puzzle of aerobic glycolysis in cancer.
Male homosexuality and maternal immune responsivity to the Y-linked protein NLGN4Y
Authors: Bogaert Anthony F. , Skorska Malvina N. , Wang Chao , Gabrie José , MacNeil Adam J. , Hoffarth Mark R. , VanderLaan Doug P. , Zucker Kenneth J. , Blanchard Ray
Published: December 2017

We conducted a direct test of an immunological explanation of the finding that gay men have a greater number of older brothers than do heterosexual men. This explanation posits that some mothers develop antibodies against a Y-linked protein important in male brain development, and that this effect becomes increasingly likely with each male gestation, altering brain structures underlying sexual orientation in their later-born sons. Immune assays targeting two Y-linked proteins important in brain development—protocadherin 11 Y-linked (PCDH11Y) and neuroligin 4 Y-linked (NLGN4Y; isoforms 1 and 2)—were developed. Plasma from mothers of sons, about half of whom had a gay son, along with additional controls (women with no sons, men) was analyzed for male protein-specific antibodies. Results indicated women had significantly higher anti-NLGN4Y levels than men. In addition, after statistically controlling for number of pregnancies, mothers of gay sons, particularly those with older brothers, had significantly higher anti-NLGN4Y levels than did the control samples of women, including mothers of heterosexual sons. The results suggest an association between a maternal immune response to NLGN4Y and subsequent sexual orientation in male offspring.
Allosteric histidine switch for regulation of intracellular zinc(II) fluctuation
Authors: Zhu Rongfeng , Song Yanqun , Liu Haiping , Yang Yufei , Wang Shenlin , Yi Chengqi , Chen Peng R.
Published: December 2017

Significance

Metal homeostasis is critical to numerous biological processes, and metalloregulators play key roles in its regulation. In transcriptional regulation, which is allosterically controlled by metalloregulators, reorganization of their metal-binding residues and/or related hydrogen bonding networks is usually utilized, while the coordination atoms on the same metal-binding residues remain seldom changed. Our study shows an example whereby the zinc-induced transcriptional regulator ZitR switches one of its histidine nitrogen atoms for zinc coordination in response to zinc fluctuation. This histidine-switch process facilitates conformational change of ZitR protein, allowing allosteric and fine-tuned control of DNA binding and transcriptional regulation.
Ultrafast rotation in an amphidynamic crystalline metal organic framework
Authors: Vogelsberg Cortnie S. , Uribe-Romo Fernando J. , Lipton Andrew S. , Yang Song , Houk K. N. , Brown Stuart , Garcia-Garibay Miguel A.
Published: December 2017

Significance

The control of matter at the molecular scale is a key requirement for the development of smart materials and artificial molecular machines. A challenging but promising platform in this emergent field of science is the development of crystalline materials with components that experience motion in a structurally predetermined manner, such that changes in their state of motion and the collective orientation of suitably functionalized molecules may lead to useful thermal, dielectric, and optical properties in response to external physical or chemical influences. Here, we describe a metal organic framework with elements that have no steric hindrance or electronic barriers, such that they can rotate in the solid as fast as they would it if they were in the gas phase.
Disease onset in X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism correlates with expansion of a hexameric repeat within an SVA retrotransposon inTAF1
Authors: Bragg D. Cristopher , Mangkalaphiban Kotchaphorn , Vaine Christine A. , Kulkarni Nichita J. , Shin David , Yadav Rachita , Dhakal Jyotsna , Ton Mai-Linh , Cheng Anne , Russo Christopher T. , Ang Mark , Acuña Patrick , Go Criscely , Francoeur Taylor N. , Multhaupt-Buell Trisha , Ito Naoto , Müller Ulrich , Hendriks William T. , Breakefield Xandra O. , Sharma Nutan , Ozelius Laurie J.
Published: December 2017

Significance

The genetic basis of X-Linked dystonia-parkinsonism (XDP) has been difficult to unravel, in part because all patients inherit the same haplotype of seven sequence variants, none of which has ever been identified in control individuals. This study revealed that one of the haplotype markers, a retrotransposon insertion within an intron ofTAF1, has a variable number of hexameric repeats among affected individuals with an increase in repeat number strongly correlated with earlier age at disease onset. These data support a contributing role for this sequence in disease pathogenesis while further suggesting that XDP may be part of a growing list of neurodegenerative disorders associated with unstable repeat expansions.
Human presence diminishes the importance of climate in driving fire activity across the United States
Authors: Syphard Alexandra D. , Keeley Jon E. , Pfaff Anne H. , Ferschweiler Ken
Published: December 2017

Significance

Projections of worsening wildfire conditions under climate change are a major concern in policy and management, but there is little understanding of geographical variation in fire-climate relationships. Our analysis relating climate variables to historical fire activity across the United States showed substantial variability in the importance of different seasonal temperature and precipitation variables and of climate overall in explaining fire activity. Climate was significantly less important where humans were more prevalent, suggesting that human influence could override or even exceed the effect of climate change on fire activity. Although climate change may play a significant role in altering future fire regimes, geographical context and human influence should also be accounted for in management and policy decisions.
PSMA-targeted polyinosine/polycytosine vector induces prostate tumor regression and invokes an antitumor immune response in mice
Authors: Langut Yael , Talhami Alaa , Mamidi Samarasimhareddy , Shir Alexei , Zigler Maya , Joubran Salim , Sagalov Anna , Flashner-Abramson Efrat , Edinger Nufar , Klein Shoshana , Levitzki Alexander
Published: December 2017

Significance

Prostate cancer (PC) is the most common cancer affecting males. To date, there is no effective treatment for metastatic PC. Prostate tumors invariably overexpress prostate surface membrane antigen (PSMA). We present a potent therapy, PEI-PEG-DUPA/polyinosinic/polycytosinic acid (PPD/polyIC), which is targeted against PSMA. This treatment leads to tumor cell death and to the recruitment of immune cells, which attack neighboring tumor cells, even those that do not overexpress PSMA. In a mouse model, PPD/polyIC led to shrinkage of all PSMA-overexpressing tumors and to complete regression in half of the animals. The multipronged approach invokes antitumor immunity, and reduces the probability of acquired resistance and disease recurrence. PPD/polyIC is a promising, affordable candidate for clinical development.
Identification of cancer genes that are independent of dominant proliferation and lineage programs
Authors: Selfors Laura M. , Stover Daniel G. , Harris Isaac S. , Brugge Joan S. , Coloff Jonathan L.
Published: December 2017

Significance

Large, multidimensional “landscaping” projects have provided datasets that can be mined to identify potential targets for subgroups of tumors. Here, we analyzed genomic and transcriptomic data from human breast tumors to identify genes whose expression is enriched in tumors harboring specific genetic alterations. However, this analysis revealed that two other factors, proliferation rate and tumor lineage, are more dominant factors in shaping tumor transcriptional programs than genetic alterations. This discovery shifted our attention to identifying genes that are independent of the dominant proliferation and lineage programs. A small subset of these genes represents candidate targets for combination cancer therapies because they are druggable, maintained after treatment with chemotherapy, essential for cell line survival, and elevated in drug-resistant stem-like cancer cells.
A small-molecule activator of kinesin-1 drives remodeling of the microtubule network
Authors: Randall Thomas S. , Yip Yan Y. , Wallock-Richards Daynea J. , Pfisterer Karin , Sanger Anneri , Ficek Weronika , Steiner Roberto A. , Beavil Andrew J. , Parsons Maddy , Dodding Mark P.
Published: December 2017

Significance

Herein we identify kinesore as a cell permeable small-molecule modulator of the kinesin-1 microtubule motor. Kinesore acts through the cargo-binding domain of the motor to activate its function in controlling microtubule dynamics. Our chemical biology approach to understanding microtubule motor protein function provides mechanistic insight into how this poorly understood activity of kinesin-1 is regulated and establishes a proof-of-concept that a microtubule motor–cargo interface and associated autoregulatory mechanism can be manipulated using a small molecule. In doing so, we define a target for the modulation of microtubule dynamics. We suggest that this offers a conceptual approach to consider for the chemical manipulation of the cytoskeleton and its motor proteins.
Global biogeochemical cycle of vanadium
Authors: Schlesinger William H. , Klein Emily M. , Vengosh Avner
Published: December 2017

Significance

Human emissions of vanadium to atmosphere exceed natural sources by a factor of 1.7 and are destined to rise dramatically as we switch to the use of heavy oils, tar sands, and bitumen as combustion sources. Breathing vanadium-rich aerosols has unknown but potentially adverse health impacts. The human impacts on the global vanadium cycle parallel impacts on the global cycles for Pb and Hg.
Designing flexible 2D transition metal carbides with strain-controllable lithium storage
Authors: Zhang Hang , Fu Zhongheng , Zhang Ruifeng , Zhang Qianfan , Tian Hongzhen , Legut Dominik , Germann Timothy C. , Guo Yuanqi , Du Shiyu , Francisco Joseph S.
Published: December 2017

Significance

The discovery of MXenes opens an opportunity on flexible energy storage. We explored systematically several factors including metal species, layer thicknesses, functional group, strain, and Li concentration on the mechanical and electrochemical properties of 2D transition metal carbides (TMCs). Taking the electrode polarization into account, we found several critical factors that govern the ionic mobility on the surface of 2D TMCs. Under multiaxial loadings, the electrical conductivity, high ionic mobility, low equilibrium voltage with good stability, excellent flexibility, and high theoretical capacity offered bare 2D TMCs the potential to be ideal flexible anode materials, whereas the surface functionalization degraded the transport mobility and increased the equilibrium voltage. General rules are proposed to identify the optimal candidate based on a combined analysis of these critical parameters.
Architecture of the human PI4KIIIα lipid kinase complex
Authors: Lees Joshua A. , Zhang Yixiao , Oh Michael S. , Schauder Curtis M. , Yu Xiaoling , Baskin Jeremy M. , Dobbs Kerry , Notarangelo Luigi D. , De Camilli Pietro , Walz Thomas , Reinisch Karin M.
Published: December 2017

Significance

Phosphoinositide lipids, produced by phosphorylation of the membrane lipid phosphatidylinositol, play essential roles throughout the cell in defining organelle membrane identity and in initiating and mediating cellular signaling processes. Plasma membrane (PM) phosphoinositides, which reside at the interface between the intracellular and extracellular environments, play especially critical roles. The synthesis of all PM phosphoinositides begins with the conversion of phosphatidylinositol to phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate by the heterotrimeric PI4KIIIα complex. This study reports the high-resolution structure of the PI4KIIIα complex, revealing a large, intricately structured superassembly whose complexity positions it as a major regulatory junction for PM phosphoinositide synthesis. The structure now provides a framework to guide further efforts to understand its regulation.
Grain growth behaviour on reheating Al–Nb-containing steel in the homogenised condition
Authors: Wang Fei , Davis Claire , Strangwood Martin
Published: December 2017

Grain size development during reheating is important to the mechanical properties of steels, and non-uniform grain growth including abnormal and bimodal grain growth are undesirable for steel manufacturing. In this paper, reheating treatments for Al–Nb-containing steel (0.057 wt-% Al and 0.019 wt-% Nb) were selected based on Thermo-Calc predictions for the dissolution temperatures of precipitates in the steel for a fully homogenised condition. Abnormal grain growth occurred in the homogenised Al–Nb sample during reheating, associated with random dissolution of the grain boundary-pinning AlN precipitates, while bimodal grain growth was not observed. So material in a homogenised condition would not be expected to provide a fully uniform grain structure during reheating treatment.
Microstructural evolution mechanism during brazing of Hastelloy X superalloy using Ni–Si–B filler metal
Authors: Ghasemi Ali , Pouranvari Majid
Published: December 2017

The paper aims at understanding solidification phenomena and solid state precipitations during diffusion brazing of Hastelloy X nickel base superalloy using a ternary Ni–4.5Si–3.2 B (in wt-%) filler metal. The joint is featured by the formation of Ni-rich solid solution in an isothermal solidification zone, borides/silicide formation during eutectic-type solidification in an athermal solidification zone, on-cooling precipitation of fine nickel silicides in the joint centerline, in situ precipitation of Mo–Cr-rich borides in the diffusion affected zone and grain growth in the heat affected zone. The implication of the phase transformations on the joint properties is discussed. It is shown that Hastelloy X exhibited very fast isothermal solidification which can be attributed to its high Mo and Cr content that promotes in situ boride precipitation during brazing.
What if things go wrong in co-producing health services? Exploring the implementation problems of health care co-production
Authors: Palumbo Rocco , Manna Rosalba
Published: December 2017

Patient-centered care and health services’ co-production are the cornerstones of the health care system of the future. These constructs rely on the reconceptualization of the patient as a co-deliverer of care. While studies about the intrinsic value-added of health services’ co-production are prominent, the risks of value co-destruction attached to patient involvement have been widely neglected. In an attempt to fill this gap, this paper draws on the ‘health literacy’ perspective to conceptually explore the ‘dark side’ of health services’ co-production. Value co-destruction is understood as a two-way street, where both the health care professionals and the patients are likely to walk, either intentionally or unintentionally. Individual and organizational health literacy are proposed as two essential ingredients of the recipe for effective health services’ co-production, reducing the risks of value co-destruction in health services’ provision.
On complete monotonicity of certain special functions
Authors: Zhang Ruiming
Published: December 2017

Given an entire function

f
(
z
)

f(z)

that has only negative zeros, we shall prove that all the functions of type

f

(
m
)

(
x
)

/

f

(
n
)

(
x
)
,
 
m
>
n

f^{(m)}(x)/f^{(n)}(x),\ m>n

are completely monotonic. Examples of this type are given for Laguerre polynomials, ultraspherical polynomials, Jacobi polynomials, Stieltjes-Wigert polynomials,

q
q

-Laguerre polynomials, Askey-Wilson polynomials, Ramanujan function,

q
q

-exponential functions,

q
q

-Bessel functions, Euler’s gamma function, Airy function, modified Bessel functions of the first and the second kind, and the confluent basic hypergeometric series.
Daily decision-making about food during pregnancy: a New Zealand study
Authors: Pullon Susan , Ballantyne Angela , Macdonald Lindsay , Barthow Christine , Wickens Kristin , Crane Julian
Published: December 2017

Pregnancy has always been a life-changing event for women and their families, but societal concern about pregnancy and motherhood has become intense in the digital age. The role of health promotion agencies and others supplying health-related resources about lifestyle behaviours is both important and in need of scrutiny. Ever increasing advice for pregnant women, their families and health professionals, abounds. This study of decision making during pregnancy investigated how women made everyday decisions during pregnancy about food and drink, as well as dietary supplements and medications, alcohol and recreational drugs. This qualitative interview study was a side-arm to a double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted with pregnant women in Wellington New Zealand, 2013–2016. Data from interviews with 20 women were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. In relation to decision-making about lifestyle behaviours, five themes emerged—Information about food; Wanted and unwanted advice; Worry, anxiety and indecision; Making daily decisions about food; Changes in decision making over time. Participating women talked more about food selection and restriction advice than any other lifestyle topic. Analysis demonstrated concern about information accuracy and overload from multiple, diverse sources. Women described learning how to assess resource credibility, how to develop decision-making skills, and who to trust. The study raises important questions about how the health information environment, despite best intentions, can be confusing or potentially harmful. The study underlines the continued importance of the role health professionals have in not only interpreting information to discuss individualized advice, but also in empowering pregnant women to develop lifestyle-related decision-making skills.
The ancestral animal genetic toolkit revealed by diverse choanoflagellate transcriptomes
Authors: Richter Daniel J. , Fozouni Parinaz , Eisen Michael B. , King Nicole
Published: December 2017

The changes in gene content that preceded the origin of animals can be reconstructed by comparison with their sister group, the choanoflagellates. However, only two choanoflagellate genomes are currently available, providing poor coverage of their diversity. We sequenced transcriptomes of 19 additional choanoflagellate species to produce a comprehensive reconstruction of the gains and losses that shaped the ancestral animal gene repertoire. We find roughly 1,700 gene families with origins on the animal stem lineage, of which only a core set of 36 are conserved across animals. We find more than 350 gene families that were previously thought to be animal-specific actually evolved before the animal-choanoflagellate divergence, including Notch and Delta, Toll-like receptors, and glycosaminoglycan hydrolases that regulate animal extracellular matrix (ECM). In the choanoflagellateSalpingoeca helianthica, we show that a glycosaminoglycan hydrolase modulates rosette colony size, suggesting a link between ECM regulation and morphogenesis in choanoflagellates and animals.

Data Availability

Raw sequencing reads: NCBI BioProject PRJNA419411 (19 choanoflagellate transcriptomes), PRJNA420352 (S. rosettapolyA selection test)

Transcriptome assemblies, annotations, and gene families:https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.5686984

Protocols:https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.kwscxee
Cytoskeletal mechanisms of axonal contractility
Authors: Mutalik S. P. , Joseph J. , Pullarkat P.A. , Ghose A.
Published: December 2017

Mechanotransduction is likely to be an important mechanism of signalling in thin, elongated cells like neurons. Maintenance of pre-stress or rest tension may facilitate mechanotransduction in these cells. In recent years, functional roles for mechanical tension in neuronal development and physiology are beginning to emerge but the cellular mechanisms regulating neurite tension remain poorly understood. Active contraction of neurites is a potential mechanism of tension regulation. In this study, we have explored cytoskeletal mechanisms mediating active contractility of neuronal axons. We have developed a simple assay where we evaluate contraction of curved axons upon trypsin-mediated detachment. We show that curved axons undergo contraction and straighten upon de-adhesion. Axonal straightening was found to be actively driven by actomyosin contractility, while microtubules may subserve a secondary role. We find that while axons show a monotonous decrease in length upon contraction, subcellularly, the cytoskeleton shows a heterogeneous contractile response. Further, using an assay for spontaneous development of tension without trypsin-induced de-adhesion, we show that axons are intrinsically contractile. These experiments, using novel experimental approaches, implicate the axonal cytoskeleton in tension homeostasis. Our data suggest that while globally the axon behaves as a mechanical continuum, locally the cytoskeleton is remodelled heterogeneously.
The ERK MAPK pathway modulates Gq-dependent locomotion in>Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Coleman Brantley , Topalidou Irini , Ailion Michael
Published: December 2017

The heterotrimeric G protein Gq regulates neuronal activity through distinct downstream effector pathways. In addition to the canonical Gq effector phospholipase Cβ, the small GTPase Rho was recently identified as a conserved effector of Gq. To identify additional molecules important for Gq signaling in neurons, we performed a forward genetic screen in the nematodeCaenorhabditis elegansfor suppressors of the hyperactivity and exaggerated waveform of an activated Gq mutant. We isolated two mutations affecting the MAP kinase scaffold protein KSR-1 and found that KSR-1 modulates locomotion downstream of or in parallel to the Gq-Rho pathway. Through epistasis experiments, we found that the core ERK MAPK cascade is required for Gq-Rho regulation of locomotion, but that the canonical ERK activator LET-60/Ras may not be required. Through neuron-specific rescue experiments, we found that the ERK pathway functions in head acetylcholine neurons to control Gq-dependent locomotion. Additionally, expression of activated LIN-45/Raf in head acetylcholine neurons is sufficient to cause an exaggerated waveform phenotype and hypersensitivity to the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor aldicarb, similar to an activated Gq mutant. Taken together, our results suggest that the ERK MAPK pathway modulates the output of Gq-Rho signaling to control locomotion behavior inC. elegans.
Unraveling mitotic protein networks by 3D multiplexed epitope drug screening
Authors: Maier Lorenz , Kallenberger Stefan , Jechow Katharina , Waschow Marcel , Eils Roland , Conrad Christian
Published: December 2017

Three-dimensional protein localization intricately determines the functional coordination of cellular processes. The complex spatial context of protein landscape has been assessed by multiplexed immunofluorescent staining1–3or mass spectrometry4, applied to 2D cell culture with limited physiological relevance5or tissue sections. Here, we present3D SPECS, an automated technology for3DSpatial characterization ofProteinExpressionChanges by microscopic Screening. This workflow encompasses iterative antibody staining of proteins, high-content imaging, and machine learning based classification of mitotic states. This is followed by mapping of spatial protein localization into a spherical, cellular coordinate system, the basis used for model-based prediction of spatially resolved affinities of various mitotic proteins. As a proof-of-concept, we mapped twelve epitopes in 3D cultured epithelial breast spheroids and investigated the network effects of mitotic cancer drugs with known limited success in clinical trials6–8. Our approach reveals novel insights into spindle fragility and global chromatin stress, and predicts unknown interactions between proteins in specific mitotic pathways.3D SPECS’sability to map potential drug targets by multiplexed immunofluorescence in 3D cell cultured models combined with our automized high content assay will inspire future functional protein expression and drug assays.
A death pheromone, oleic acid, triggers hygienic behavior in honey bees (Apis mellifera L.)
Authors: McAfee Alison , Chapman Abigail , Iovinella Immacolata , Gallagher-Kurtzke Ylonna , Collins Troy F. , Higo Heather , Madilao Lufiani L. , Pelosi Paolo , Foster Leonard J.
Published: December 2017

Eusocial insects live in teeming societies with thousands of their kin. In this crowded environment, workers combat disease by removing or burying their dead or diseased nestmates. For honey bees, we found that hygienic brood-removal behavior is triggered by two odorants – β-ocimene and oleic acid – which are released from brood upon freeze-killing. β-ocimene is a co-opted pheromone that normally signals larval food-begging, whereas oleic acid is a conserved necromone across arthropod taxa. Interestingly, the odorant blend can induce hygienic behavior more consistently than either odorant alone. We suggest that the volatile β-ocimene flags hygienic workers’ attention, while oleic acid is the death cue, triggering removal. Bees with high hygienicity detect and remove brood with these odorants faster than bees with low hygienicity, and both molecules are strong ligands for hygienic behavior-associated odorant binding proteins (OBP16 and OBP18). Odorants that induce low levels of hygienic behavior, however, are weak ligands for these OBPs. We are therefore beginning to paint a picture of the molecular mechanism behind this complex behavior, using odorants associated with freeze-killed brood as a model.
In situ architecture of the algal nuclear pore complex
Authors: Mosalaganti Shyamal , Kosinski Jan , Albert Sahradha , Schaffer Miroslava , Plitzko Jürgen M. , Baumeister Wolfgang , Engel Benjamin D. , Beck Martin
Published: December 2017

Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) span the nuclear envelope and mediate nucleocytoplasmic exchange. They are a hallmark of eukaryotes and are deeply rooted in the evolutionary origin of cellular compartmentalization. NPCs have an elaborate architecture that has been well studied in vertebrates. Whether this architecture is unique or varies significantly in other eukaryotic kingdoms remains unknown, predominantly due to missing in situ structural data. Here, we report the architecture of the algal NPC from the early branching eukaryote Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and compare it to the human NPC. We find that the inner ring of the Chlamydomonas NPC has an unexpectedly large diameter, and the outer rings exhibit an asymmetric oligomeric state that is unprecedented compared to all previously proposed models of NPC architecture. Our study provides evidence that the NPC is subject to substantial structural variation between species. The divergent and conserved features of NPC architecture provide insights into the evolution of the nucleocytoplasmic transport machinery.
Probing cellular response to topography in three dimensions
Authors: Paul Colin D. , Hruska Alex , Staunton Jack R. , Burr Hannah A. , Daly Kathryn M. , Kim Jiyun , Jiang Nancy , Tanner Kandice
Published: December 2017

Biophysical aspects of in vivo tissue microenvironments include microscale mechanical properties, fibrillar alignment, and architecture or topography of the extracellular matrix (ECM). These aspects act in concert with chemical signals from a myriad of diverse ECM proteins to provide cues that drive cellular responses. Here, we used a bottom-up approach to build fibrillar architecture into 3D amorphous hydrogels using magnetic-field driven assembly of paramagnetic colloidal particles functionalized with three types of human ECM proteins found in vivo. We investigated if cells cultured in matrices comprised of fibrils of the same size and arranged in similar geometries will show similar behavior for each of the ECM proteins tested. We were able to resolve spatial heterogeneities in microscale mechanical properties near aligned fibers that were not observed in bulk tissue mechanics. We then used this platform to examine factors contributing to cell alignment in response to topographical cues in 3D laminin-rich matrices. Multiple human cell lines extended protrusions preferentially in directions parallel or perpendicular to aligned fibers independently of the ECM coating. Focal adhesion proteins, as measured by paxillin localization, were mainly diffuse in the cytoplasm, with few puncta localized at the protrusions. Integrin β1 and fascin regulated protrusion extension but not protrusion alignment. Myosin II inhibition did not reduce observed protrusion length. Instead, cells with reduced myosin II activity generated protrusions in random orientations when cultured in hydrogels with aligned fibers. Similarly, myosin II dependence was observed in vivo, where cells no longer aligned along the abluminal surfaces of blood vessels upon treatment with blebbistatin. These data suggest that myosin II can regulate sensing of topography in 3D engineered matrices for both normal and transformed cells.
The role of mental health and challenging behaviour in the quality of life in people with intellectual disabilities in Spain
Authors: Peña-Salazar Carlos , Arrufat Francesc , Fontanet Abel , Font Josep , Mas Silvia , Roura-Poch Pere , Santos Josep Manel
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the relation between quality of life (QoL), mental illness, challenging behaviour and institutionalisation in an adult population with intellectual disabilities (ID).

Design/methodology/approach

The study assessed the QoL and its conditioning factors in 142 subjects with different degrees of ID. The GENCAT and Quality of Life in Late Stage Dementia scale were used to evaluate QoL, the Psychiatric Assessment Schedule for Adults with Developmental Disability and Diagnostic Assessment for the Severely Handicapped-II scale to assess mental illness and the Inventory for Client and aetiology Planning scale to assess challenging behaviour.

Findings

Individuals who live in residential care homes were found to have significantly impaired QoL (<0.001). Individuals with challenging behaviour presented significantly lower QoL, regardless of ID aethiology and degree, while psychiatric disorders did not seem to have a direct influence on individual QoL.

Originality/value

This paper provides new insight into the importance of challenging behaviour and psychiatric disorders in the QoL of individuals with ID.
Improving the quality of business process descriptions of public administrations
Authors: Ferrari Alessio , Witschel Hans Friedrich , Spagnolo Giorgio Oronzo , Gnesi Stefania
Published: December 2017

Purpose

Business processes (BPs) of public administrations (PAs) are often described in the form of written procedures or operational manuals. These business process descriptions are expected to be properly understood and applied by civil servants, who have to provide legally compliant service provisions to the citizens. However, process descriptions in the PA are sometimes hard to read, ambiguous, or vague, leading to false interpretations or even incorrect execution of the processes. The purpose of this paper is to focus on improving the descriptions of BPs to be used in PAs.

Design/methodology/approach

To this end, the authors present an in-depth domain analysis, including a literature review and interviews with PA stakeholders belonging to different realities. From this analysis, the authors identified a set of 52 typical defects of process descriptions.

Findings

The authors provide a set of guidelines and a template to constrain the definition of these documents and to mitigate the identified defects. Furthermore, the authors outline research challenges in the field of quality assessment of textual process descriptions for the PA.

Research limitations/implications

This paper addresses the needs of any PA officer who has to write an official procedure or operational manual, and should be studied by researchers who wish to provide automatic strategies to check the quality of these documents.

Originality/value

Text quality issues have been addressed in various fields (e.g. requirements engineering), but not in the area of BP descriptions of PAs. The contribution consists in the study of the quality issues that occur and create problems in the practice of this particular domain. Based on this insight, we provide directions for research that will find solutions to mitigate the issues.
Empirical assessment of factors influencing potential of manufacturing flexibility in organization
Authors: Mishra Ruchi , Pundir Ashok K. , Ganapathy L.
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an understanding of factors and their associated attributes that largely influence achievement of manufacturing flexibility.

Design/methodology/approach

Using two sequential phases consisting of literature review, plant visits and focus group interviews, the study identifies key factors that influence manufacturing flexibility and develop and validate these factors through postal survey. In total, 211 responses from multiple industries were collected to analyze the data.

Findings

The study identifies and develops eight factors and their associated 39 attributes that largely influence achievement of manufacturing flexibility. Out of eight underlying constructs, operational improvement practices construct reported highest level of variance followed by advanced manufacturing technology, human resource practices, supplier flexibility, supplier integration, customer integration, product-process technology integration and marketing and manufacturing integration.

Research limitations/implications

The scope of the study is limited to the plant level. Therefore, other strategic-level factors, such as business strategy, the amount of investment, leadership quality have not been addressed in this research.

Practical implications

The findings can assist managers in improving the level of manufacturing flexibility by specifying key factors essential for achievement of manufacturing flexibility. An important implication for managers is that identification of factors should be followed by proper assessment and implementation so as to remain competitive in the market.

Originality/value

The findings provide insight into the factors that facilitate in achievement of manufacturing flexibility.
A review of service quality and service delivery
Authors: Alzaydi Zyad M. , Al-Hajla Ali , Nguyen Bang , Jayawardhena Chanaka
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide researchers with an overview of the service quality and delivery domain, focussing on the inclusion of customer co-production and customer integration. Specifically, this paper concentrates on service quality (including quality measurement), the service environment, controls and their consequences.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive review of the literature is conducted, analysed and presented.

Findings

The review shows that service delivery is both complex and challenging, particularly when considering the unique characteristics of services and the high level of customer involvement in their creation. The facilitation, transformation and usage framework identifies how failures can occur at each stage of service delivery, beginning with the characteristics of the service environment, while control theory offers insights into the formal and informal controls that may be applied in the facilitation and transformation stages, which may reduce the likelihood or extent of such failures.

Originality/value

Despite the fact that it is widely accepted that service quality is an antecedent to customer satisfaction, it is surprising that this customer co-creation aspect has been largely neglected in the extant literature. As such, the role that customer co-production plays in service quality performance has been examined in this paper. It is hoped that this examination will enhance both theoretical and practical understanding of service quality. It would be useful to find modern tools that can help in improving service quality performance.
Examining the factors influencing knowledge management system (KMS) adoption in small and medium enterprises SMEs
Authors: Shrafat Fayiz Dahash
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The potential for the adoption of a knowledge management system (KMS) is becoming a crucial matter in small and medium enterprises (SMEs); however, there is a scarcity of studies related to KMS adoption in SMEs. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to advance further our understanding of the factors that influence the KMS adoption process among SMEs.

Design/methodology/approach

The collected sample size was 247 respondents. For statistical analysis, Smart partial least square (PLS) (a structural model-based tool) was used to build, run and validate the process model. PLS regression techniques were used to analyze the latent constructs. Smart PLS exhibits both the measurement model and the structural model.

Findings

The results indicate that knowledge management capabilities, knowledge sharing, organizational learning capabilities and IT capabilities are the significant factors which influence KMS adoption. This study also identifies some unexpected results.

Research limitations/implications

The number of responses obtained from the survey was rather small. However, a larger number of responses would probably have resulted in a more accurate finding. Additionally, this study should be verified via a larger sample to increase its generalization.

Practical implications

The result of this study will provide SMEs with valuable guidelines to better understand what factors should be considered as highly important and thus providing decision makers and managers with valuable insights to increase the adoption level of KMSs.

Originality/value

The study addresses the research gap by developing and empirically validating a research model of KMS adoption from a different perspective that incorporates critical issues which have never been simultaneously examined.
Account-based recommenders in open discovery environments
Authors: Hahn Jim , McDonald Courtney
Published: December 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to introduce a machine learning-based “My Account” recommender for implementation in open discovery environments such as VuFind among others.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach to implementing machine learning-based personalized recommenders is undertaken as applied research leveraging data streams of transactional checkout data from discovery systems.

Findings

The authors discuss the need for large data sets from which to build an algorithm and introduce a prototype recommender service, describing the prototype’s data flow pipeline and machine learning processes.

Practical implications

The browse paradigm of discovery has neglected to leverage discovery system data to inform the development of personalized recommendations; with this paper, the authors show novel approaches to providing enhanced browse functionality by way of a user account.

Originality/value

In the age of big data and machine learning, advances in deep learning technology and data stream processing make it possible to leverage discovery system data to inform the development of personalized recommendations.
An overview of ICD medical classification for the information professional
Authors: Cervone H. Frank
Published: December 2017

Purpose

Informatics work introduces information professionals to taxonomies and other classification systems outside the boundaries of traditional bibliographic systems. This paper aims to provide an overview of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) for informaticians and information professionals who may not have worked with the system previously.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the author reviews the purpose, history, current use and future trends of the ICD classification system.

Findings

ICD is used globally as a standard vocabulary for medical diagnoses and, in the USA, for medical procedures in hospitals. Understanding the classification system is vital to working with clinical medical data.

Originality/value

The ICD classification system is not commonly used by information professionals. This paper provides a brief overview that will familiarize the information professional with the standard and its uses related to medical practice.
Understanding subjects contained in Dunhuang mural images for deep semantic annotation
Authors: Wang Xiaoguang , Song Ningyuan , Zhang Lu , Jiang Yanyu
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the subjects contained in the Dunhuang mural images as well as their relation structures.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper performed content analysis based on Panofsky’s theory and 237 research papers related to the Dunhuang mural images. UNICET software was also used to study the correlation structures of subject network.

Findings

The results show that the three levels of subject have all captured the attention of Dunhuang mural researchers, the iconology occupy the critical position in the whole image study, and the correlation between iconography and iconology was strong. Further analysis reveals that cultural development, production, and power and domination have high centralities in the subject network.

Research limitations/implications

The research samples come from three major Chinese journal databases. However, there are still many authoritative monographs and foreign publications about the Dunhuang murals which are not included in this study.

Originality/value

The results uncover the subject hierarchies and structures contained in the Dunhuang murals from the angle of image scholarship which express scholars’ intention and contribute to the deep semantic annotation on digital Dunhuang mural images.
Examining consumer-brand relationships on social media platforms
Authors: Jain Nikunj Kumar , Kamboj Shampy , Kumar Vinod , Rahman Zillur
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how consumer-brand relationships affect brand loyalty and word of mouth when mediated by brand trust considering online brand communities on social media platforms.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual model is developed, depicting the impact of customer-brand relationships on brand loyalty and word of mouth via brand trust. The conceptual model is validated using partial least squares structural equation modeling and data for which are collected online through a structured questionnaire from a sample of 131 brand community members in North Capital Region of India.

Findings

Findings of the present study revealed that brand trust partially mediated between the involvement and commitment variables of customer-brand relationships, and brand loyalty and word of mouth. However, the link between satisfaction variable of customer-brand relationships, and brand loyalty and word of mouth via brand trust was found insignificant.

Originality/value

The present study provides novel insight to understand consumer-brand relationships on social media platforms.
Challenges to the learning organization in the context of generational diversity and social networks
Authors: Kaminska Renata , Borzillo Stefano
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to gain a better understanding of the challenges to the emergence of a learning organization (LO) posed by a context of generational diversity and an enterprise social networking system (ESNS).

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a qualitative methodology based on an analysis of 20 semi-structured interviews in a high-tech organization and internal company documents relating to the introduction of a new, centralized ESNS.

Findings

This study uncovers fundamental differences between Generation X and Y employees regarding their ESNS adoption and use. While Xers take more time to adopt the new centralized ESNS introduced into the company, their use seems in line with the company culture and corporate norms of behavior. At the same time, even if Yers are faster ESNS adopters, they use it as they use Facebook disregarding the hierarchy and organizational boundaries. This creates tensions between Generation X and Y and undermines the formation of the LO.

Research limitations/implications

As conclusions are specific to a context of a single organization, the authors recommend other case studies, to enrich the findings.

Originality/value

By highlighting how the use of social networks modifies who has the power and the control over knowledge in an organization, this paper enriches the theory on the LO. It has implications for managers wishing to design LOs in the context of intergenerational diversity.
Clinical characteristics of Japanese patients with psoriatic arthritis: Comparison with East Asian countries
Authors: Yamamoto Toshiyuki , Kawada Akira
Published: December 2017

To determine the characteristics and current status of Japanese patients with psoriatic arthritis, the Japanese Society for Psoriasis Research have started to conduct retrospective questionnaire surveys. The results collected from over a thousand patients with psoriatic arthritis have revealed several characteristics. The newly visited psoriatic arthritis patients accounted for approximately 10% of all new psoriatic patients who visited the dermatology department in many referral centers. The prevalence was nearly 15% of psoriatic patients, which was similar to a recent rheumatology and dermatology study in Japan with a large cohort. There was a male predominance. The mean age of onset for cutaneous psoriasis was in the late 30s, while that of arthritis was in the late 40s. If we compare the precedence of cutaneous psoriasis versus arthritis, the psoriasis precedent group accounted for nearly 75%, while arthritis accounted for 5% of cases. The mean duration in patients who developed psoriasis prior to arthritis was over 10 years, while that in patients preceded by arthritis was less than 5 years. According to the Moll and Wright criteria, polyarthritis type was most common, followed by distal interphalangeal type and oligoarthritis type. Biologics were used in over 50% of psoriatic arthritis patients, and TNF inhibitors were currently used in approximately 70% among biologics. Switching to other biologics or discontinuance was seen in 15%. This review shows the current status of psoriatic arthritis in Japan, as well as a comparison of the prevalence among East Asian countries.