bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Planar cell polarity in the C. elegans embryo emerges by differential retention of aPARs at cell-cell contacts
Authors: Dutta Priyanka , Odedra Devang , Pohl Christian 
Published: March 2019

AbstractFormation of the anteroposterior and dorsoventral body axis in the Caenorhabditis elegans embryo depends on cortical actomyosin flows and advection of polarity determinants. The role of this patterning mechanism in tissue polarization immediately after formation of cell-cell contacts is not fully understood. Here, we demonstrate that planar cell polarity (PCP) is established in the C. elegans embryo at the time of left-right (l/r) symmetry breaking. At this stage, centripetal cortical flows asymmetrically and differentially advect anterior polarity determinants (aPARs) PAR-3, PAR-6 and PKC-3 from cell-cell contacts to the medial cortex, which results in their unmixing from apical myosin. Advection generally requires GSK-3 and CDC-42, while advection of PAR-6 specifically depends on the RhoGAP PAC-1. Concurrent asymmetric retention of PAR-3, E-cadherin/HMR-1, PAC-1 and opposing retention of the antagonistic Wnt pathway components APC/APR-1 and Frizzled/MOM-5 at apical cell-cell contacts leads to planar asymmetries. The most obvious mark of PCP, asymmetric retention of PAR-3 at posterior cell-cell contacts on the left side of the embryo, is required for proper cytokinetic cell intercalation. Hence, our data uncover how PCP can be established through Wnt signaling as well as dissociation and planar asymmetric retention of aPARs mediated by distinct Rho GTPases and their regulators.
Transcriptomic analysis of the BDNF-induced JAK/STAT pathway in neurons: a window into epilepsy-associated gene expression
Authors: Hixson Kathryn M , Cogswell Meaghan , Brooks-Kayal Amy R , Russek Shelley J 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundBrain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a major signaling molecule that the brain uses to control a vast network of intracellular cascades fundamental to properties of learning and memory, and cognition. While much is known about BDNF signaling in the healthy nervous system where it controls the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) and cyclic-AMP pathways, less is known about its role in multiple brain disorders where it contributes to the dysregulated neuroplasticity seen in epilepsy and traumatic brain injury (TBI). We previously found that neurons respond to prolonged BDNF exposure (bothin vivo(in models of epilepsy and TBI) andin vitro(in BDNF treated primary neuronal cultures)) by activating the Janus Kinase/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway. This pathway is best known for its association with inflammatory cytokines in non-neuronal cells.ResultsHere, using deep RNA-sequencing of neurons exposed to BDNF in the presence and absence of well characterized JAK/STAT inhibitors, and without non-neuronal cells, we determine the BDNF transcriptome that is specifically reliant on JAK/STAT signaling. Surprisingly, the transcriptome contains ion channels and neurotransmitter receptors coming from all the major classes expressed in the brain, along with key modulators of synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis, and axonal remodeling. Analysis of this dataset has also provided a window on the unique mechanism of JAK/STATs in neurons as differential gene expression mediated by STAT3 does not appear to be dependent upon phosphorylation at residue 705.ConclusionsOur findings strengthen and expand the role that BDNF plays in the regulation of brain excitability at the transcriptional level. They also suggest that a majority of such signaling in neurons is tied to the activation of the JAK/STAT pathway which may be non-canonical, not based on phosphorylation of STAT3 proteins at Tyrosine 705.
OVOL2 induces mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition in fibroblasts and enhances reprogramming to epithelial lineages
Authors: Watanabe Kazuhide , Liu Ye , Noguchi Shuhei , Murray Madeleine , Chang Jen-Chien , Kishima Mami , Nishimura Hajime , Hashimoto Kosuke , Minoda Aki , Suzuki Harukazu 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACTMesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) is an important step in cell reprogramming from fibroblasts (a cell type frequently used for this purpose) to various epithelial cell types. However, the mechanism underlying MET induction in fibroblasts remains to be understood. The present study aimed to identify the transcription factors (TFs) that efficiently induce MET in dermal fibroblasts. OVOL2 was identified as a potent inducer of key epithelial genes, and OVOL2 cooperatively enhanced MET induced by HNF1A, TP63, and KLF4, which are known reprogramming TFs to epithelial lineages. In TP63/KLF4-induced keratinocyte-like cell-state reprogramming, OVOL2 greatly facilitated the activation of epithelial and keratinocyte-specific genes. This was accompanied by enhanced changes in chromatin accessibility across the genome. Mechanistically, motif enrichment analysis revealed that the target loci of KLF4 and TP63 become accessible upon induction of TFs, whereas the OVOL2 target loci become inaccessible. This indicates that KLF4 and TP63 positively regulate keratinocyte-associated genes whereas OVOL2 suppresses fibroblast-associated genes. The exogenous expression of OVOL2 therefore disrupts fibroblast lineage identity and facilitates fibroblast cell reprogramming into epithelial lineages cooperatively with tissue-specific reprogramming factors. Identification of OVOL2 as a MET inducer and an epithelial reprogramming enhancer in fibroblasts provides new insights into cellular reprogramming improvement for future applications.
Drought Affects the Antioxidant System and Stomatal Aperture in Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim
Authors: Fei Xitong , Hu Haichao , Li Jingmiao , Liu Yulin , Wei Anzhi 
Published: March 2019

AbstractWhen under drought, plants activate a range of self-protective responses. Among these are activation of the antioxidant system and changes in stomatal aperture. The antioxidant system can remove the reactive oxygen species produced under drought conditions and so mitigate oxidative damage. Water becomes a severely limiting resource for plants suffering drought stress, so they generally close their stomata to reduce water loss. We examined changes in the activities of the antioxidant enzymes and altered gene expression patterns in Zanthoxylum bungeanum plants exposed to drought by irrigation with 20% PEG6000. We also recorded changes in stomatal aperture as the drought persisted. Relationships between the antioxidant system and stomatal aperture were analyzed in relation to gene expression. The results indicate that under drought stress, POD, CAT, APX, proline, MDA and related genes all show positive responses to drought, while SOD and its genes showed a negative response. The relationship between drought duration and stomatal aperture was considered. Stomatal aperture declines exponentially as drought duration increases.
An automatic system for a helicopter autopilot performance evaluation
Authors: Kopyt Antoni , Topczewski Sebastian , Zugaj Marcin , Bibik Przemyslaw 
Published: March 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to elaborate and develop an automatic system for automatic flight control system (AFCS) performance evaluation. Consequently, the developed AFCS algorithm is implemented and tested in a virtual environment on one of the mission task elements (MTEs) described in Aeronautical Design Standard 33 (ADS-33) performance specification.

Design/methodology/approach
Control algorithm is based on the Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) which is adopted to work as a controller in this case. Developed controller allows for automatic flight of the helicopter via desired three-dimensional trajectory by calculating iteratively deviations between desired and actual helicopter position and multiplying it by gains obtained from the LQR methodology. For the AFCS algorithm validation, the objective data analysis is done based on specified task accomplishment requirements, reference trajectory and actual flight parameters.

Findings
In the paper, a description of an automatic flight control algorithm for small helicopter and its evaluation methodology is presented. Necessary information about helicopter dynamic model is included. The test and algorithm analysis are performed on a slalom maneuver, on which the handling qualities are calculated.

Practical implications
Developed automatic flight control algorithm can be adapted and used in autopilot for a small helicopter. Methodology of evaluation of an AFCS performance can be used in different applications and cases.

Originality/value
In the paper, an automatic flight control algorithm for small helicopter and solution for the validation of developed AFCS algorithms are presented.
New machine learning prediction models for compressive strength of concrete modified with glass cullet
Authors: Mirzahosseini Mohammadreza , Jiao Pengcheng , Barri Kaveh , Riding Kyle A. , Alavi Amir H. 
Published: March 2019

PurposeRecycled waste glasses have been widely used in Portland cement and concrete as aggregate or supplementary cementitious material. Compressive strength is one of the most important properties of concrete containing waste glasses, providing information about the loading capacity, pozzolanic reaction and porosity of the mixture. This study aims to propose highly nonlinear models to predict the compressive strength of concrete containing finely ground glass particles.Design/methodology/approachA robust machine leaning method called genetic programming is used the build the compressive strength prediction models. The models are developed using a number of test results on 50-mm mortar cubes containing glass powder according to ASTM C109. Parametric and sensitivity analyses are conducted to evaluate the effect of the predictor variables on the compressive strength. Furthermore, a comparative study is performed to benchmark the proposed models against classical regression models.FindingsThe derived design equations accurately characterize the compressive strength of concrete with ground glass fillers and remarkably outperform the regression models. A key feature of the proposed models as compared to the previous studies is that they include the simultaneous effect of various parameters such as glass compositions, size distributions, curing age and isothermal temperatures. Parametric and sensitivity analyses indicate that compressive strength is very sensitive to the curing age, curing temperature and particle surface area.Originality/valueThis study presents accurate machine learning models for the prediction of one of the most important mechanical properties of cementitious mixtures modified by waste glass, i.e. compressive strength. In addition, it provides an insight into the effect of several parameters influencing the compressive strength. From a computing perspective, a robust machine learning technique that overcomes the shortcomings of existing soft computing methods is introduced.
Corporate governance and corporate social responsibility disclosures in insurance companies
Authors: Ullah Md Shahid , Muttakin Mohammad Badrul , Khan Arifur 
Published: March 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to empirically examine the association between corporate governance and the extent of corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosures in insurance companies, using archival data.Design/methodology/approachThe data set comprises 277 listed insurance company-years in Bangladesh for the period of 2008 to 2014. The authors have used a checklist to measure the extent of CSR disclosures. The checklist was developed based on the previous CSR literature. The study uses a multiple regression analysis technique to investigate the association between different governance variables, particularly managerial ownership, institutional ownership, board independence and the proportion of female directors, and the extent of CSR disclosures in Bangladeshi insurance companies.FindingsThe authors find that board independence and the proportion of female directors have positive associations with the extent of CSR disclosures. However, the results indicate that managerial ownership is negatively associated with the extent of CSR disclosures.Originality/valueUnlike most of the prior research that explored CSR disclosures in non-financial companies, the authors focus on financial companies, namely, insurance businesses. The authors provide empirical evidence using archival data that suggests that some governance mechanisms are important determinants of CSR disclosures in the insurance industry.
The workplaces of researchers in different disciplines
Authors: Huhtelin Mervi Tuulikki , Nenonen Suvi 
Published: March 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study whether researchers from different disciplines have different requirements for workplaces.

Design/methodology/approach
A literature review aimed to understand the academic workplace requirements of different disciplines. The empirical data were gathered by a national survey conducted in Finland. Open-ended questions accumulated answers, which were analysed and clustered.

Findings
The analysis implies that the majority of researchers in all the disciplinary categories required places that support both concentration and interaction. When comparing those researchers who asked for a place that only supports either concentration or interaction, the majority of those working in soft-pure disciplines required spaces to support concentration and those in soft-applied disciplines required spaces to support interaction. Researchers from hard disciplines – both applied and pure – consider places supporting concentration or interaction to be equally important.

Research limitations/implications
The weakness of this study is the generalisability, as this survey was conducted in Finland. The analysis emphasised diversity between disciplines without analysing diversity within disciplines.

Practical implications
Facilities and real estate managers can gain a deeper understanding of the academics’ workplace requirements, which in turn can help them to enhance workplace support of productivity at the same time as cutting real estate costs.

Originality/value
This study contributes to the body of research on academic office design.
Employer brand, person-organisation fit and employer of choice
Authors: Tanwar Karnica , Kumar Amresh 
Published: March 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between employer brand dimensions and employer of choice (EOC). The paper also analyses the role of person-organisation fit in transferring employer brand dimensions to EOC status, and the moderating role of social media in the relationship between person-organisation fit and EOC.Design/methodology/approachFactor analysis has been conducted to validate the “employer attractiveness” scale for identifying the dimensions of employer brand. Structural equation modelling has been used to conduct mediation and moderation analysis. The results are based on the perceptions of college students regarding employer brand dimensions and EOC status.FindingsThe paper provides empirical insights on how the person-organisation fit helps in transferring employer brand dimensions to EOC status. The results indicate that the person-organisation fit acts as a full mediator, indicating that for becoming a EOC, the dimensions of employer brand must be linked to the person-organisation fit. Also, the moderation analysis results highlight the importance of social media towards obtaining EOC status.Originality/valueThe authors believe that the study is the first of its kind to investigate drivers of EOC, and to identify the role of the person-organisation fit as a mediating variable and social media as a moderating variable.
Are ecophysiological adaptive traits decoupled from leaf economics traits in wetlands?
Authors: Pan Yingji , Cieraad Ellen , van Bodegom Peter M. 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Wetland plants have developed a suite of traits, such as aerenchyma, radial oxygen loss and leaf gas films, to adapt to the wetland environment characterised by, for example, a low redox potential and a lack of electron acceptors. These ecophysiological traits are critical for the survival and physiological functioning of wetland plants. Most studies on these traits typically focus on a single trait and a single or few species at the time.

Next to these traits, traits of the leaf economics spectrum (LES) that reflect resource acquisition and allocation in plant species have also been frequently measured in wetlands. However, the performance of the LES has rarely been examined among wetland plants.

Both suites of traits are critical for—but affect different aspects of—wetland plant functioning and survival. The interactions between them, potentially causing synergies or trade‐offs, reflect wetland plant strategies to simultaneously deal with stress tolerance and resource utilization, and have ramifications for the functioning of wetland ecosystems.

Based on a literature review and quantitative analysis of available data, we provide evidence suggesting that LES and ecophysiological traits may be decoupled (e.g., for root porosity and radial oxygen loss vs. leaf nitrogen) or coupled (e.g., for iron tolerance vs. specific leaf area) in wetlands, depending on the trait combination concerned. This rather complex relationship between wetland adaptive traits and LES traits indicates that there can be multiple mechanisms behind the strategies of wetland plants.

We further illustrate how adaptive and LES traits together contribute to wetland ecosystem functions, such as denitrification and methane emission. We highlight that both suites of traits should be considered simultaneously when applying trait‐based methods to wetland ecology.
Functional activation of Gαq/11 protein via α1‐adrenoceptor in rat cerebral cortical membranes
Authors: Odagaki Yuji , Kinoshita Masakazu , Ota Toshio 
Published: March 2019

SummaryAlthough it is recognized that α1‐adrenoceptors are coupled to diverse intracellular signalling pathways, its primary transduction mechanisms are evoked by activating phospholipase C in the cell membrane through Gαq/11, resulting in production of inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate and diacylglycerol. However, there have been few studies that indicate directly the involvement of Gαq/11 proteins in this signalling pathway in the central nervous system. In the current study, we tried to pharmacologically characterize (−)‐adrenaline‐stimulated [35S]GTPγS binding to Gαq/11 in rat brain membranes. Functional activation of Gαq/11 coupled to α1‐adrenoceptor was investigated by using [35S]GTPγS binding/immunoprecipitation assay in the membranes prepared from rat cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and striatum. The specific [35S]GTPγS binding to Gαq/11 was stimulated by (−)‐adrenaline in a concentration‐dependent and saturable manner in rat cerebral cortical membranes. In hippocampal or striatal membranes, the stimulatory effects of (−)‐adrenaline were scarce. The effect of (−)‐adrenaline was potently inhibited by prazosin, a potent and selective α1‐adrenoceptor antagonist, but not by yohimbine, a selective α2‐adrenoceptor antagonist. The response was mimicked by cirazoline, but not by R(−)‐phenylephrine. Although oxymetazoline also stimulated the specific [35S]GTPγS binding to Gαq/11 as an apparent “super‐agonist”, detailed pharmacological characterization revealed that its agonistic properties in this experimental system were derived from off‐target effects on 5‐HT2A receptors, but not via α1‐adrenoceptors. In conclusion, functional coupling of α1‐adrenoceptors to Gαq/11 proteins are detectable in rat brain membranes by means of [35S]GTPγS binding/immunoprecipitation assay. It is necessary to interpret the experimental data with caution when oxymetazoline is included as an agonist at α1‐adrenoceptors.
Differences between µCT‐imaging and conventional CT for the diagnosis of possible diseases of the middle and inner cat ear
Authors: Beck Tobias , Kilchling Tim P. , Meyer‐Lindenberg Andrea 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe aim of this study was to check the relevance of using in‐vivo micro computed tomography (ÂµCT) for the diagnosis of possible diseases of the middle and inner ear of the cat. Therefore, on the one hand, differences of the detail detectability between the two imaging methods conventional computed tomography (cCT) and in‐vivo ÂµCT were analyzed. Six healthy cat ears were dissected and scanned several times and the obtained images were compared with each other. On the other hand, histological slices of all ears were prepared and pictures of defined anatomical structures were taken and compared with the identical sectional plane of the ÂµCT‐images. This way it was possible to evaluate the quality and clinical limitations of the in‐vivo ÂµCT. The results show that an in‐vivo ÂµCT is suitable to analyze even the smallest osseous structures, such as the semicircular ducts, the spiral osseous lamina or the ossicles whereas with the help of cCT it is not possible to identify such small osseous structures because of their blurred and less detailed representation. Delicate soft tissue structures as the membranous labyrinth including hearing and vestibular organ cannot be differentiated with as well in‐vivo ÂµCT‐ as with cCT‐images. In‐vivo ÂµCT represent a good possibility for more detailed diagnosis of extremely fine structures which cannot be detected with cCT. Histological slices can nonetheless not be replaced by in‐vivo ÂµCT due to a too low spatial resolution and the limitations of the in‐vivo ÂµCT with regard to the evaluation of soft tissue dense structures.
Genetic studies of multiple consanguineous Pakistani families segregating oculocutaneous albinism identified novel and reported mutations
Authors: Gul Hadia , Shah Abdul Haleem , Harripaul Ricardo , Mikhailov Anna , Prajapati Kamalben , Khan Ejazullah , Ullah Farman , Zubair Muhammad , Ali Muhammad Zeeshan , Shah Ayesha Haleem , Salman Said , Khan Saadullah , Vincent John B. , Khan Muzammil Ahmad 
Published: March 2019

AbstractOculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is an autosomal‐recessive disorder of a defective melanin pathway. The condition is characterized by hypopigmentation of hair, dermis, and ocular tissue. Genetic studies have reported seven nonsyndromic OCA genes, among which Pakistani OCA families mostly segregate TYR and OCA2 gene mutations. Here in the present study, we investigate the genetic factors of eight consanguineous OCA families from Pakistan. Genetic analysis was performed through single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping (for homozygosity mapping), whole exome sequencing (for mutation identification), Sanger sequencing (for validation and segregation analysis), and quantitative PCR (qPCR) (for copy number variant [CNV] validation). Genetic mapping in one family identified a novel homozygous deletion mutation of the entire TYRP1 gene, and a novel deletion of exon 19 in the OCA2 gene in two apparently unrelated families. In three further families, we identified homozygous mutations in TYR (NM_000372.4:c.1424G > A; p.Trp475*), NM_000372.4:c.895C > T; p.Arg299Cys), and SLC45A2 (NM_016180:c.1532C > T; p.Ala511Val). For the remaining two families, G and H, compound heterozygous TYR variants NM_000372.4:c.1037‐7T > A, NM_000372.4:c.1255G > A (p.Gly419Arg), and NM_000372.4:c.1255G > A (p.Gly419Arg) and novel variant NM_000372.4:c.248T > G; (p.Val83Gly), respectively, were found. Our study further extends the evidence of TYR and OCA2 as genetic mutation hot spots in Pakistani families. Genetic screening of additional OCA cases may also contribute toward the development of Pakistani specific molecular diagnostic tests, genetic counseling, and personalized healthcare.