bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Molecular mechanisms in fungal fatty acid synthase (FAS) assembly
Authors: Fischer Manuel , Mulinacci Barbara , Joppe Mirko , Vollrath Ronnald , Konstantinidis Kosta , Kötter Peter , Ciccarelli Luciano , Vonck Janet , Oesterhelt Dieter , Grininger Martin 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThe fungal fatty acid synthase (fFAS) multienzyme is a barrel-shaped 2.6 MDa complex comprising six times eight catalytic domains. Upon barrel-formation, up to several hundred kDa large polypeptides intertwine to bury about 170,000 Å2of protein surface. Functional, regulatory and structural data as well as evolutionary aspects of fFAS have been elucidated during the last decades. Notwithstanding a profound knowledge of this protein family, the biogenesis of the elaborate structure remained elusive. Remarkably, experimental data have recently demonstrated that fFAS self-assembles without the assistance of specific factors. Considering the infinitesimal probability that the barrel-shaped complex forms simply by domains approaching in the correct orientation, we were interested in understanding the sequence of events that have to orchestrate fFAS assembly. Here, we show that fFAS attains its quaternary structure along a pathway of successive domain-domain interactions, which is strongly related to the evolutionary development of this protein family. The knowledge on fFAS assembly may pave the way towards antifungal therapy, and further develops fFAS as biofactory in technological applications.
Readiness for behavioral change of discretionary salt intake among women in Tehran, Iran
Authors: Kholdi Nahid , Pouraram Hamed , Pirasteh Ashraf , Abtahi Mitra 
Published: June 2018

AbstractBackgroundIt is vitally important to take into consideration women’s role in dietary pattern choice and family food management. Since women’s readiness for dietary behavioral change can be one of the most effective fundamental measures for preventing chronic diseases in developing countries, the present study is aimed to determine the readiness for behavioral change in voluntary salt intake as well as its determinants among women living in Tehran.Materials and methodsThe present cross-sectional study was conducted on 561 women referring to the women care units across city of Tehran. In this regard, demographic information of the participants was collected. The self-administered questionnaire included assessment of nutrition-related knowledge on salt intake and its association with diseases, discretionary salt intake, stages of change, and self-efficacy of women. In addition, the logistic regression test was used to determine the predictors of women’s readiness for behavioral change in voluntary salt intake.Results40% women had someone in the family who had such a limitation (salt intake-limited exposure group), while 81.6% always or often added salt to their foods. Moreover, one-third of the participants were in the stage of pre-contemplation and 41.2% were in the stage of preparation for reducing salt intake. Stage of change increased with an increase in the self-efficacy score (r=0.42, p<0.001). Self-efficacy and salt intake-limited exposure were the two most important determinants of the women’s readiness for behavioral change in voluntary salt intake, respectively: (OR=1.1 95% CI: 1.06-1.14 p<0.001; OR=1.58, 95% CI: 1.03-2.42 p<0.038)ConclusionsResults of the present study showed that increased self-efficacy is associated with higher levels of behavioral change among women. Since self-efficacy is very important for initiating and maintaining the behavioral change, women’s empowerment for reducing salt intake necessitates putting the emphasis on increased self-efficacy as well as community-based nutritional interventions.
Validation of prostate cancer risk variants by CRISPR/Cas9 mediated genome editing
Authors: Wang Xing , Hayes James E. , Xu Xing , Gao Xiaoni , Mehta Dipti , Lilja Hans G. , Klein Robert J. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractGWAS have identified numerous SNPs associated with prostate cancer risk. One such SNP is rs10993994. It is located in the MSMB promoter, associates with MSMB encoded β-microseminoprotein prostate secretion levels, and is associated with mRNA expression changes in MSMB and the adjacent gene NCOA4. In addition, our previous work showed a second SNP, rs7098889, is in LD with rs10993994 and associated with MSMB expression independent of rs10993994. Here, we generate a series of clones with single alleles removed by double guide RNA (gRNA) mediated CRISPR/Cas9 deletions, through which we demonstrate that each of these SNPs independently and greatly alters MSMB expression in an allele-specific manner. We further show that these SNPs have no substantial effect on the expression of NCOA4. These data demonstrate that a single SNP can have a large effect on gene expression and illustrate the importance of functional validation to deconvolute observed correlations. The method we have developed is generally applicable to test any SNP for which a relevant heterozygous cell line is available.Author summaryIn pursuing the underlying biological mechanism of prostate cancer pathogenesis, scientists utilized the existence of common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in human genome as genetic markers to perform large scale genome wide association studies (GWAS) and have so far identified more than a hundred prostate cancer risk variants. Such variants provide an unbiased and systematic new venue to study the disease mechanism, and the next big challenge is to translate these genetic associations to the causal role of altered gene function in oncogenesis. The majority of these variants are waiting to be studied and lots of them may act in oncogenesis through gene expression regulation. To prove the concept, we took rs10993994 and its linked rs7098889 as an example and engineered single cell clones by allelic-specific CRISPR/Cas9 deletion to separate the effect of each allele. We observed that a single nucleotide difference would lead to surprisingly high level of MSMB gene expression change in a gene specific and tissue specific manner. Our study strongly supports the notion that differential level of gene expression caused by risk variants and their associated genetic locus play a major role in oncogenesis and also highlights the importance of studying the function of MSMB encoded β-MSP in prostate cancer pathogenesis.
Establishment of epithelial and fibroblast cell lines from primary renal cancer nephrectomies
Authors: Yap Ning Yi , Ong Teng Aik , Morais Christudas , Pailoor Jayalakshmi , Gobe Glenda C. , Rajandram Retnagowri 
Published: June 2018

AbstractRenal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most lethal urogenital cancers and effective treatment of metastatic RCC remains an elusive target. Cell lines enable the in-vitro investigation of molecular and genetic changes leading to renal carcinogenesis and are important for evaluating cellular drug response or toxicity. This study details a fast and easy protocol of establishing epithelial and fibroblast cell lines concurrently from renal cancer nephrectomy tissue. The protocol involves mechanical disaggregation, collagenase digestion and cell sieving for establishing epithelial cells while fibroblast cells were grown from explants. This protocol has been modified from previous published reports with additional antibiotics and washing steps added to eliminate microbial contamination from the surgical source. Cell characterization was carried out using immunofluorescence and quantitative PCR. Eleven stable epithelial renal tumour cell lines of various subtypes, including rare subtypes, were established with a spontaneous immortalization rate of 21.6% using this protocol. Eight fibroblast cell cultures grew successfully but did not achieve spontaneous immortalization. Cells of epithelial origin expressed higher expression of epithelial markers such as pan-cytokeratin, CK8 and E-cadherin whereas fibroblast cells expressed high α-SMA. Further mutational analysis is needed to evaluate the genetic or molecular characteristics of the cell lines.
The effect of resilience and job stress on information security awareness
Authors: McCormac Agata , Calic Dragana , Parsons Kathryn , Butavicius Marcus , Pattinson Malcolm , Lillie Meredith 
Published: June 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between resilience, job stress and information security awareness (ISA). The study examined the effect of resilience and job stress on the three components that comprise ISA, namely, knowledge, attitude and behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach
A total of 1,048 working Australians completed an online questionnaire. ISA was measured with the Human Aspects of Information Security Questionnaire. Participants also completed the Brief Resilience Scale and the Job Stress Scale.

Findings
It was found that participants with greater resilience also had higher ISA and experienced lower levels of job stress. More specifically, individuals who reported higher levels of resilience had significantly better knowledge, attitude and behaviour. Similarly, participants who reported lower levels of job stress also reported significantly better knowledge, attitude and behaviour. Resilience plays an important mediating role in the relationship between job stress and ISA. This means that even if people have high levels of job stress, if they are better able to cope with or adapt to stress (i.e. have higher resilience), they are less likely to have lower ISA. Results of this study add to the body of literature emphasising the positive effects of resilience and suggest that resilience is associated with improved ISA and therefore more secure behaviour.

Research limitations/implications
Future research should focus on assessing the influence of resilience training in the workplace.

Originality/value
Given the constructive findings, it may be valuable to focus on the effect of organisational culture, and organisational security culture, on resilience, job stress and ISA.
How government policies shape the development process of strategic networks
Authors: Agostini Lara , Wegner Douglas 
Published: June 2018

PurposeThe importance of government policies in the formation and development of strategic networks has been widely recognized. Many countries have designed specific government policies with the aim to support network creation. However, the influence of these different government policies on the development process of strategic networks has never been considered so far. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate how different government policies influence the development process of strategic networks.Design/methodology/approachThis research uses a multiple case study design with a descriptive and processual case study approach. The study compares two strategic networks where different government policies have been implemented: on the one hand, policies aimed to promote networking through the support of trade association and the design of specific laws; on the other hand, public policies providing financial support for network development.FindingsThe comparative analysis of two networks shows how the different activities along the development process are carried out based on the different support received, and it highlights that financing network creation and exerting a control function is not enough to stimulate network development and sustain its success.Research limitations/implicationsConsidering the limited generalizability of this exploratory study because of the analysis of two cases, future studies with a larger number of strategic networks can expand the understanding of the effects of different types of public support for network development.Practical implicationsThe results contribute to make entrepreneurs and public bodies aware of the importance of a managerial support to strategic networks’ development. The authors provide a series of evidences to academics and practitioners regarding how the development process of strategic networks may be shaped depending on the different government support they receive.Originality/valueThe value of this contribution lies in demonstrating the influence of different government policies in the development process of strategic networks, which has not been investigated yet, despite the great attention governments are devoting to networking.
Factors influencing green purchase behavior of millennials in India
Authors: Chaudhary Richa , Bisai Samrat 
Published: June 2018

Purpose
Building on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), the purpose of this paper is to understand the green buying behavior of educated millennials in India. The study also attempts to extend the TPB by including two additional variables, environmental concern (EC) and willingness to pay premium, in the framework.

Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from 202 students from various departments of an institute of higher education in India. The proposed model was tested with the help of structural equation modeling using bootstrapping procedures in SPSS AMOS 24.

Findings
Except for the direct association between subjective norm (SN) and purchase intention (PI), the study provided support for the TPB framework. EC was found to exert an indirect influence on green PI through its effect on attitude, SN and perceived behavioral control. Willingness to pay premium moderated the relationship of PI with green buying behavior. PIs were found to successfully translate into purchase behavior (PB).

Practical implications
This research by promoting an understanding on the factors affecting the green buying behavior of educated millennials in India will assist green marketers to tap the tremendous potential inherent in this market segment by formulating customized market plans and strategies.

Originality/value
The study extends the existing literature by validating and extending the TPB framework in a unique cultural context and advancing the understanding of underlying psychological mechanisms and boundary conditions of the relationship between PIs and PBs.
Green supply chain practice adoption and firm performance: manufacturing SMEs in Uganda
Authors: Namagembe Sheila , Ryan S. , Sridharan Ramaswami 
Published: June 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess the relationship between five green practices and firm performance. In addition, this paper investigates the influence of each green practice on environmental performance, economic benefits, and economic costs.

Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected based on a cross-sectional survey of owner/managers of 200 manufacturing SME firms in Uganda, Africa. SPSS was used to find descriptive means and test relationships between green practices and performance outcomes. Structural equation modelling was used to test for the influence of each practice on performance outcomes. The structural equation modelling results were obtained using the Covariance-Based Structural Equation Modelling software. Results were compared with similar studies conducted in developing countries.

Findings
Different green practices affect different performance dimensions in different ways across different industries. For example, eco-design and internal environmental management practices significantly influence environmental performance; green purchasing and internal environmental management practices significantly influence economic benefits; and internal environmental management practices affect economic costs. Overall internal environmental management is the key to positive outcomes across the three performance criteria. The authors show how the results obtained vary from similar studies conducted in developing countries and explain possible reasons for the difference.

Research limitations/implications
Africa is a rapidly industrialising nation faced with difficult choices between economic growth and increased pollution. Because SMEs represent the majority of manufacturing firms, they are the main polluters. Hence, better understanding of the costs and benefits, both environmental and economic, is important to encourage green practice adoption for the betterment of community health and prosperity.

Originality/value
Despite numerous studies on the relationships between green practice adoption and performance outcomes, only a few studies include both economic costs and benefits in addition to environmental performance. The study covers five green supply chain practices, whereas most similar studies are limited in the number of practices examined. The African context is unique and important because industrial development and environmental protection goals are in conflict. Similar studies are predominant in an Asian context which is more developed than Africa. The findings and comparisons raise important questions for further research in relation to the roles of national regulations, geographical markets and industry types in furthering green practices in manufacturing.
Improving in-role and extra-role performances with rewards and recognition
Authors: Rai Alka , Ghosh Piyali , Chauhan Ragini , Singh Richa 
Published: June 2018

PurposeThis study aims to explore the possibility that rewards and recognition may be instrumental in improving both in-role and extra-role performances of retail sales associates, with an underlying mediating role of employee engagement in this relationship.Design/methodology/approachA survey was conducted across 35 retail stores in five cities located in North India on 247 sales associates. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted to test the mediation hypotheses. Analysis was done in lines with the conditions of mediation laid down by Baron and Kenny (1986).FindingsEmployee engagement is found to fully mediate the impact of rewards and recognition on in-role and extra-role performances.Practical implicationsOrganizations should be committed to recognizing employees’ efforts and providing them with financial and non-financial rewards based on organizational policies. Such measures would improve in-role and extra-role performances through enhancing engagement level of employees.Originality/valueThis study makes significant contributions to literature on employee engagement and that on retail sector, especially in Indian context, through highlighting the mediating role of engagement. Given shortage and retention of skilled manpower as major challenges for Indian retailers, engaging sales associates through rewards and recognition to improve their performance at both in-role and extra-role levels can have significant implications for retailers.
The influence of the specifics of small businesses on innovation
Authors: Ferreira de Lara Felipe , Regina Neves Guimarães Márcia 
Published: June 2018

Purpose
Based on a multi-case analysis of small businesses in the metal-mechanical industry in the region of Sorocaba, State of São Paulo, Brazil, the purpose of this paper is to analyze how small businesses (in terms of the owner, business, and influences exerted by the environment) influence innovation.

Design/methodology/approach
Six case studies are used to analyze the Brazilian metal-mechanical industry. The data are collected through semi-structured interviews and direct observations. In addition, innovations over the previous five years are evaluated in order to establish a comparative pattern between companies.

Findings
This study examines how facilitating factors are related to the owners of small businesses. These factors include owners’ personal ambitions, the centralization of decisions, and their confidence in their ability to make effective decisions. Factors related to the organization that favor innovation include a simple and streamlined structure and fewer levels of bureaucracy, whereas low capital intensity limit innovation. While some factors related to the environment favor innovation, others have a limiting effect (e.g. short-term horizons and a lack of formal strategic planning).

Originality/value
The main contribution of this research is to show that innovation is not synonymous with financial investment. Strategic reorganization and the rationalization of productive resources through competitive priorities may lead to innovation in different spheres, helping to increase the competitiveness and strength of the national economy.
Predation risk shaped by habitat and landscape complexity in urban environments
Authors: Frey David , Vega Kevin , Zellweger Florian , Ghazoul Jaboury , Hansen Dennis , Moretti Marco 
Published: June 2018

AbstractHabitat loss and modification are hallmarks of anthropogenic ecosystems, but the consequences for ecosystem functioning and service provisioning often remain unclear. Understanding these links in cities is complicated by strong but fine‐scale differences in habitat structure among green space patches, and a high variance in habitat amount across urban landscapes.We used airborne laser scanning data to disentangle the effects of 3D woody habitat heterogeneity of urban home gardens, and woody habitat amount at four landscape spatial scales (50, 100, 250, and 500 m), on the predation risk of artificial sentinel prey by birds and arthropods.In both predator groups, and at all the investigated spatial scales, cross‐scale interactive effects between garden habitat heterogeneity and habitat amount in the urban landscape were the main drivers of predation. Risk of predation by birds was highest in heterogeneous garden habitats, but only in densely built urban landscapes where habitat amount was low to intermediate (10%–20%) at large spatial scales (250–500 m). It dropped independently of garden habitat heterogeneity when habitat amount became too low (<10%) at small (50–100 m) spatial scales. In contrast, risk of predation by arthropods mostly peaked in homogeneous garden habitats when habitat amount was intermediate (20%) at large spatial scales.Our findings show that the ability of urban green space patches, such as gardens, to sustain ecosystem functions in cities mainly depends on cross‐scale interactive effects with larger scale habitat amount. In birds, predation activity can increase when high patch‐scale habitat heterogeneity contrasts with reduced larger scale habitat amount, suggesting concentration effects. Yet, thresholds exist under which ecosystem functioning drops independently of habitat structure.Synthesis and applications. The potential of small‐scale interventions to enhance habitat heterogeneity (e.g., by planting native trees with understorey shrubs) for restoring ecosystem functions, such as bird predation, in urban areas is dependent on wider landscape habitat structure. Urban planning should therefore adopt a multiscale approach to sustain and restore ecosystem functions and services; a simple but still not broadly recognized finding. Airborne laser scanning is a useful tool to infer habitat structure across a hierarchy of scales in spatially heterogeneous anthropogenic ecosystems.
The Timing of Income Tax Changes in the Face of Projected Debt Increases
Authors: Ball Christopher , Creedy John , Scobie Grant 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThis article examines the time path of the income tax rate chosen by a hypothetical policy‐maker, in a model where an increasing ratio of government debt to GDP is projected in the absence of policy changes. The policy‐maker is assumed to maximise an objective function expressed in terms of a number of aggregate variables, including the excess burden of taxation and a desired debt ratio. Tax policy changes have feedback effects, as a result of incentives and other endogenous influences that impose constraints on the efficacy of those policies. Emphasis is given to the importance of uncertainty in devising an optimal policy and the consequent value of waiting instead of imposing a sharp initial increase in anticipation of otherwise higher future debt.