bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
N-glycan microheterogeneity regulates interactions of plasma proteins
Authors: Wu Di , Struwe Weston B. , Harvey David J. , Ferguson Michael A. J. , Robinson Carol V. 
Published: August 2018

Significance
Glycosylation is one of the most common and complex posttranslation modifications that significantly influences protein structure and function. However, linking individual glycan structures to protein interactions remains challenging and typically requires multiple techniques. Here, we establish a mass-spectrometric approach to systematically dissect the microheterogeneity of two important serum proteins, α1-acid glycoprotein and haptoglobin, and relate glycan features to drug and protein-binding interaction kinetics. We found that the degree of N-glycan branching and extent of terminal fucosylation can attenuate or enhance these interactions, providing important insight into drug transport in plasma. Our study demonstrates an approach capable of investigating how protein glycosylation fine-tunes protein–drug interactions at the glycan-specific level and will prove universally useful for studying glycoprotein interactions.
Co-invasion of the ladybird Harmonia axyridis and its parasites Hesperomyces virescens fungus and Parasitylenchus bifurcatus nematode to the Caucasus
Authors: Orlova-Bienkowskaja Marina J. , Spiridonov Sergei E. , Butorina Natalia N. , Bieńkowski Andrzej O. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractStudy of parasites in recently established populations of invasive species can shed lite on sources of invasion and possible indirect interactions of the alien species with native ones. We studied parasites of the global invader Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in the Caucasus. In 2012 the first established population of H. axyridis was recorded in the Caucasus in Sochi (south of European Russia, Black sea coast). By 2018 the ladybird has spread to the vast territory: Armenia, Georgia and south Russia: Adygea, Krasnodar territory, Stavropol territory, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria and North Ossetia. Examination of 213 adults collected in Sochi in 2018 have shown that 53% of them are infested with Hesperomyces virescens fungi (Ascomycota: Laboulbeniales) and 8% with Parasitylenchus bifurcatus nematodes (Nematoda: Tylenchida, Allantonematidae). Examined H. axyridis specimens were free of parasitic mite Coccipolipus hippodamiae. An analysis of the phylogenetic relationships of Parasitylenchus bifurcatus based on 18S rDNA confirmed the morphological identification of this species. Hesperomyces virescens and Parasitylenchus bifurcatus are firstly recorded from the Caucasus and Russia, though widespread in Europe. It probably indicates that they appeared as a result of co-invasion with their host. Harmonia axyridis was released in the region for pest control, but laboratory cultures are always free of H. virescens and P. bifurcatus. Therefore, detection of H. virescens and P. bifurcatus indicates that population of H. axyridis in the Caucasus cannot derive exclusively from released specimens. We did not find H. virescens on 400 specimens of 31 other ladybird species collected in the same localities with H. axyridis in the Caucasus. No reliable correlation between infestation by H. virescens and P. bifurcatus has been found. Besides these two parasites an unidentified species of the order Mermithida is recorded. It is the first documented case of H. axyridis infestation by a parasitic nematode of this order in nature.
Unigene-based RNA-seq provides insights on drought stress responses in Marsdenia tenacissima
Authors: Meng Heng-Ling , Zhang Wei , Zhang Guang-Hui , Wang Jian-Jun , Meng Zhen-Gui , Long Guang-Qiang , Yang Sheng-Chao 
Published: August 2018

AbstractMarsdenia tenacissima is a well-known anti-cancer medicinal plant used in traditional Chinese medicine. Drought severely affects production and no information on its transcriptional responses to drought stress is available. In this study, cDNA libraries on control (CK), drought stress (T1), and re-watering (T2) treatments were constructed and HiSeq 2000 sequencing was performed using the Illumina platform. There were 43,129,228, 47,116,844, and 42,815,454 clean reads with Q20 values of 98.06, 98.04, and 97.88, respectively. A total of 8672, 6043, and 6537 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified when CK vs. T1, CK vs. T2, and T1 vs. T2, respectively, were analyzed. In addition, 1039, 1016, and 980 transcription factors (TFs) were identified in CK, T1, and T2, respectively. Among them, 363, 267, and 299 TFs were identified as DEGs in CK vs. T1, CK vs. T2, and T1 vs. T2, respectively. These differentially expressed TFs mainly belonged to the bHLH, bZIP, C2H2, ERF, MYB, MYB-related, and NAC families. A comparative analysis of CK vs. T1 and T1 vs. T2 found that 1174 genes were up-regulated and 2344 were down-regulated under drought stress and this pattern was the opposite to that found after re-watering. Among the 1174 genes up-regulated by drought stress, 64 were homologous to known functional genes that directly protect plants against drought stress. Furthermore, 44 protein kinases and 38 TFs with opposite expression patterns under drought stress and re-watering were identified, which are possibly candidate regulators for drought stress resistance in M. tenacissima. Our study is the first to characterize the M. tenacissima transcriptome in response to drought stress, and will serve as a useful resource for future studies on the functions of candidate protein kinases and TFs involved in M. tenacissima drought stress resistance.
Regional Striatal Cholinergic Involvement in Human Behavioural Flexibility
Authors: Bell Tiffany , Lindner Michael , Langdon Angela , Mullins Paul Gerald , Christakou Anastasia 
Published: August 2018

ABSTRACTAnimal studies have shown that the striatal cholinergic system plays a role in behavioural flexibility but, until recently, this system could not be studied in humans due to a lack of appropriate non-invasive techniques. Using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) we recently showed that the concentration of dorsal striatal choline (an acetylcholine precursor) changes during reversal learning (a measure of behavioural flexibility) in humans. The aim of the present study was to examine whether regional average striatal choline was associated with reversal learning. 36 participants (mean age = 24.8, range = 18-32, 20 female) performed a probabilistic learning task with a reversal component. We measured choline at rest in both the dorsal and ventral striatum using 1H-MRS. Task performance was described using a simple reinforcement learning model that dissociates the contributions of positive and negative prediction errors to learning. Average levels of choline in the dorsal striatum were associated with performance during reversal, but not during initial learning. Specifically, lower levels of choline in the dorsal striatum were associated with a lower number of perseverative trials. Moreover, choline levels explained inter-individual variance in perseveration over and above that explained by learning from negative prediction errors. These findings suggest that the dorsal striatal cholinergic system plays an important role in behavioural flexibility, in line with evidence from the animal literature and our previous work in humans. Additionally, this work provides further support for the idea of measuring choline with 1H-MRS as a non-invasive way of studying human cholinergic neurochemistry.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTBehavioural flexibility is a crucial component of adaptation and survival. Evidence from the animal literature shows the striatal cholinergic system is fundamental to reversal learning, a key paradigm for studying behavioural flexibility, however, this system remains understudied in humans. Using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we showed that choline levels at rest in the dorsal striatum are associated with performance specifically during reversal learning. These novel findings help to bridge the gap between animal and human studies by demonstrating the importance of cholinergic function in the dorsal striatum in human behavioural flexibility. Importantly, the methods described here can not only be applied to furthering our understanding of healthy human neurochemistry, but also to extending our understanding of cholinergic disorders.
Preliminary Study of the Potential Mechanism of CTSD in the Aging Process ofSepiella japonica: Fundamental Function Analysis
Authors: Guo Baoying , Chen Yu , Qi Pengzhi , Ye Yingying , Lv Zhenming , Zhang Xiumei , Xu Kaida 
Published: August 2018

AbstractCathepsin D, a kind of endopeptidase, can degrade peptides and proteins in lysosomes, which are involved in cell apoptosis. Previous transcriptome analysis of optic glands ofSepiella japonicaacross four growth stages, expression of a cathepsin D-like segment was found to be significantly different. Based on the complete cDNA sequence ofS. japonica, the CTSD gene (also called sjCTSD, GenBank accession no.KY745896.1) was cloned using RACE amplification; this gene is 1389 bp in length and encodes proteins composed of 393 amino acids. Spatio-temporal expression profiles of the sjCTSD gene were determined using qPCR assays, which showed that the expression levels of sjCTSD constantly increased across four growth stages in 9 of 11 tissues that were investigated. In the optic glands, as well as pancreas and liver cells, sjCTSD expression levels sharply increased during the post-spawning phase. To investigate the potential role of the sjCTSD gene in aging progress, we constructed the prokaryotic expression vector of pET28a/sjCTSD. After induced by IPTG, the recombinant protein sjCTSD was obtained in the form of inclusion bodies, with a molecular size of approximately 40.3 kDa, the inclusion body of sjCTSD can be converted to soluble protein through the denaturation and renaturation. The results of functional experiments showed that sjCTSD could degrade bovine hemoglobin under acidic conditions, and inhibit the growth ofEscherichia coliandVibrio alginolyticus, which was speculated that the increased expression of sjCTSD may help inhibit the invasion of pathogenic bacteria with the immune function of cuttlefish declines during the aging process. To a certain extent, these results indicated the potential functional role of the sjCTSD gene in the aging process ofS. japonica. This study provides insights to further understand the roles of lysosomal proteins on anti-aging effects inS. japonicaand other cephalopoda species.
Intrinsic elasticity of nucleosomes is encoded by histone variants and calibrated by their binding partners
Authors: Melters Daniël P. , Pitman Mary , Rakshit Tatini , Dimitriadis Emilios K , Bui Minh , Papoian Garegin A , Dalal Yamini 
Published: August 2018

AbstractHistone variants fine-tune transcription, replication, DNA damage repair, and faithful chromosome segregation. Whether and how nucleosome variants encode unique mechanical properties to their cognate chromatin structures remains elusive. Here, using novelin silicoandin vitronanoindentation methods, extending toin vivodissections, we report that histone variant nucleosomes are intrinsically more elastic than their canonical counterparts. Furthermore, binding proteins which discriminate between histone variant nucleosomes suppress this innate elasticity and also compact chromatin. Interestingly, when we overexpress the binding proteinsin vivo, we also observe increased compaction of chromatin enriched for histone variant nucleosomes, correlating with diminished access. Together, these data suggest a plausible link between innate mechanical properties possessed by histone variant nucleosomes, the adaptability of chromatin statesin vivo, and the epigenetic plasticity of the underlying locus.SignificanceNucleosomes are the base unit which organize eukaryotic genomes. Besides the canonical histone, histone variants create unique local chromatin domains that fine-tune transcription, replication, DNA damage repair, and faithful chromosome segregation. We developed computational and single-molecule nanoindentation tools to determine mechanical properties of histone variant nucleosomes. We found that the CENP-A nucleosome variant is more elastic than the canonical H3 nucleosome but becomes stiffer when bound to its partner CENP-C. In addition, CENP-C induces cross-array clustering, creating a chromatin state that less accessible. These data suggest that innate material properties of nucleosomes can influence the ultimate chromatin state, thereby influence biological outcomes.
Towards a common and semantic representation of e-portfolios
Authors: Rezgui Kalthoum , Mhiri Hédia , Ghédira Khaled 
Published: August 2018

Purpose
Since the early 1980s, a paradigm shift, caused by the work undertaken in the field of cognitive psychology, has occurred. This shift is known as the move from teacher-centered instruction to learner-centered or learning-centered instruction, and emphasizes the importance of building new knowledge on previous ones, interacting with peers, making meaningful and reflective learning and being engaged in his own path to foster learning. This new vision of teaching has created a need for new learning and assessment instruments that are better adapted to these pedagogical realities. In this context, the electronic portfolio or e-portfolio is one of the most versatile and effective tools that have been proposed for this purpose. More specifically, the interest in e-portfolios has grown considerably with the emergence of the competency-based approach and portfolio-based competency assessments. The purpose of this paper is to describe a semantic-based representation of e-portfolios, defined on the basis of official e-portfolio standards and specifications. Moreover, a comparative study of several well-known e-portfolio solutions has been carried out based on different facets, such as functional features, technical and organizational features. The objective is to identify those features that are mostly supported by e-portfolio solution providers and accordingly to gain a fairly accurate idea of the common structure of e-portfolios. In addition, the authors take advantage of an already implemented ontological model describing competency-related characteristics of learners and learning objects and combine it with the e-portfolio ontology, with a view to support a more reliable and authentic competency assessment.

Design/methodology/approach
The proposed e-portfolio ontology was built following the ontology development methodology Methontology (Fernandez et al., 1997). In addition, it was constructed using the Protégé ontology environment (Protégé, 2007) and was implemented in OWL (Web Ontology Language) (Antoniou and Harmelen, 2004).

Findings
The proposed e-portfolio ontology provides humans with a shared vocabulary that enables capturing the most important elements in e-portfolios and serves as the basis for the semantic interoperability for machines.

Originality/value
The main advantage of the e-portfolio ontology lies in its ability to provide a common and semantically enriched representation of e-portfolio artifacts, thus facilitating the interoperability and exchange of competency evidences between different learning systems and platforms. In addition, capturing the semantics of e-portfolios helps to make them utilizable by intelligent applications.
Intellectual disability in Irish prisoners: systematic review of prevalence
Authors: Gulati Gautam , Murphy Valerie , Clarke Ana , Delcellier Kristin , Meagher David , Kennedy Harry , Fistein Elizabeth , Bogue John , Dunne Colum P. 
Published: August 2018

PurposeWhile individuals with an intellectual disability form a significant minority in the worldwide prison population, their healthcare needs require specialist attention. In Ireland, services for prisoners with intellectual disabilities need development. However, there is little substantive data estimating the prevalence of intellectual disabilities within the Irish prison system. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachThe authors systematically review published data relating to the prevalence of intellectual disabilities in prisons in the Republic of Ireland. The authors searched four databases, governmental websites and corresponded with experts.FindingsLittle published data were elicited from searches except for one nationwide cross-sectional survey which reflected a higher prevalence than reported in international studies. Studies from forensic mental health populations are narrated to contextualise findings.Originality/valueThis study found that there is little data to accurately estimate the prevalence of intellectual disabilities in the Irish prison system and the limited data available suggests that this is likely to be higher than international estimates. The authors highlight the need for further research to accurately estimate prevalence in this jurisdiction, alongside the need to develop screening and care pathways for prisoners with an intellectual disability.
Energy production, carbon emissions and economic growth in lower-middle income countries
Authors: Danlami Abubakar Hamid , Aliyu Sirajo , Danmaraya Ismail Aliyu 
Published: August 2018

Purpose
The persistent rise in the global discharges of carbon (CO2) emissions and the likely undesirable consequences of this practice on the global atmosphere attracts the attention of policy makers and researchers to argue on the causes and perpetrators of CO2 emissions at international level. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between economic growth, energy production, capital formation, foreign direct investment (FDI) and CO2 emissions in the LMI and Middle East and North African (MENA) countries for the period 1980–2011.

Design/methodology/approach
Two separate autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) models were estimated for both the LMI and MENA countries, for the period 1980–2011. Furthermore, a fully modified OLS (FMOLS) was estimated for the two regions over the same period.

Findings
The results indicated that for the lower-middle income countries, there is a positive significant relationship between energy production and CO2 emissions. In the long run while in the short run, FDI and EGP are positively related to CO2 emissions while gross capital formation (GCF) has a negative impact on the CO2 emissions in the short run over the same period. Similarly, for the MENA countries, there is a positive relationship between EGP, GCF and CO2 emissions in both the short run and the long run. Furthermore, the estimated group mean FMOLS indicated that apart from GDP, all other variables have significant positive impact on CO2 emissions.

Research limitations/implications
The study covers only the period 1980–2011. This was because of limited available data during the study.

Practical implications
The study recommended the adoption of green technology by FDI firms and also in the process of energy production such as in crude oil production.

Originality/value
The study carried out a complex analysis where simultaneously all the countries of LMI and MENA regions where considered. Furthermore, separate analysis where conducted for each of the LMI and MENA regions using ARDL model. Variable representing energy production was included in the analysis which was not considered by previous studies. Lastly, FMOLS was estimated for the pooled of LMI and MENA countries which further distinguished the study from the relevant previous studies.
Board structure and corporate disclosure via social media: an empirical study in the UK
Authors: Basuony Mohamed A.K. , Mohamed Ehab K.A. , Samaha Khaled 
Published: August 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of board structure on voluntary corporate disclosure via social media among the top 150 companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.Design/methodology/approachA disclosure index comprising of a set of items that encompass two facets of disclosure, namely corporate disclosure via social networks and social media sites, is developed and used. Binary logistic regression is used to test the research hypotheses.FindingsThe results of this study reveal the underlying relations between board composition and control variables as the determining factors of corporate disclosure, i.e. board size, board activism, board independence and board diversity (gender and ethnicity). The gender of the board can affect the corporate disclosure via a social network. The results of this study indicate that an increase in the number of female in the board members leads to higher corporate disclosure using social network. Moreover, firm size has a positive effect on corporate disclosure indicating that large firms tend to disclose more information on their websites and social networks.Practical implicationsThe paper provides new insights into the role played by the non-executive female directors in monitoring and controlling managerial processes related to corporate disclosure using social media.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper that examines the role of board structure in monitoring and controlling management decisions and managerial processes in the area of corporate disclosure via social media.
How does gender swapping impact online gamer loyalty? The perspective of interdependence theory
Authors: Tseng Fan-Chen , Chang Ching-Ter , Lee Hsing-Chen , Teng Ching-I 
Published: August 2018

Purpose
Gender swapping – when gamers choose avatars of the opposite gender to their own – is a common feature of online gaming behavior, and recent studies have explored the reasons for it. However, no study has yet examined the role gender swapping plays in determining gamers’ continual engagement with communication via online games, i.e., online gamer loyalty. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine this issue and develop hypotheses based on interdependence theory in the online gaming context.

Design/methodology/approach
Responses from a survey of 255 online gamers were used for the analysis.

Findings
Analytical results using structural equation modeling indicate that gender-swapping behavior is negatively related to social intelligence, which in turn is negatively related to network convergence (the extent of sharing a common social circle), thus contributing to relational switching costs and online gamer loyalty.

Originality/value
This study is the first to examine how gender swapping affects online gamer loyalty.
Impact of coexistent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on the survival of patients with small cell lung cancer receiving chemotherapy
Authors: Ju Sunmi , Lee Hyang Rae , Kim Ju‐Young , Kim Ho Cheol , Lee Gyeong‐Won , You Jung Wan , Cho Yu Ji , Jeong Yi Yeong , Lee Jong Deog , Lee Seung Jun 
Published: August 2018

BackgroundWhile there is growing interest in the correlation between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and non‐small cell lung cancer, very few studies have examined the interaction between COPD and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the impact of COPD on the survival of patients with SCLC.MethodsThe medical records of 110 patients with SCLC who received chemotherapy from July 2006 until April 2014 were retrospectively examined. The overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS) rates of spirometry‐diagnosed COPD and non‐COPD groups were compared. Predictors for poorer survival were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression.ResultsOf the 110 SCLC patients, 57 (51.8%) had coexistent COPD. The median OS for the COPD group was 11.6 months and for the non‐COPD group was 11.2 months (log‐rank test, P = 0.581), whereas the median PFS rates were 6.65 and 6.57 months, respectively (log‐rank test, P = 0.559). Multivariate analysis identified Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≥ 2 and extensive‐stage SCLC as independent risk factors for shorter OS; however, coexisting COPD was not a predictor of survival.ConclusionsAlthough over half of the SCLC patients receiving chemotherapy had COPD, coexisting COPD had no impact on the survival of patients with SCLC.